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• UW-Stout goes against students and lawmakers to out ROTC

By Brady Bautch, RiverTown Internet Publisher

Overruling the Student Senate and requests from three area lawmakers the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie denied the Army's request for a reserve officer training program on campus.

In a May 6 e-mail to UW-Stout staff, Chancellor Charles Sorenson announced his decision, basing it on the Reserve Officer Training Corp's policy of not accepting openly gay students.

"I do not think, in good conscience, we can invite an organization to campus that discriminates against anyone because of sexual orientation. At a time when we are promoting diversity and tolerance, ROTC would send quite a different message."

However, for Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls, the diversity argument given by the Sorenson should then apply to funding.

"Apparently, they will be tolerant of the federal government, who prescribes the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy, when the checks are in the mail, but not when it is time to train the men and women of our military," said Harsdorf.

According to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, UW -Stout received $16.3 million in federal gifts and grants this year.

"If they want to take a principled stand against the federal government's policy, give back the federal funding instead of holding our military men and women to a special standard," she added.

The school now risks losing that aid as a federal law passed in 1993 and strengthened in 1998 requires that universities receiving federal funds must allow access to military recruiters and allow ROTC programs.

However, a challenge to this law is being heard in the U.S. Supreme Court after a lawsuit was filed by a collection of universities and gay rights groups.

In a letter to Sorenson asking him to reverse his decision Harsdorf along fellow Republicans was Sen. Ron Brown, R-Eau Claire, and Sen. Dave Zien, Wheaton pointed out that other UW campuses have both diversity and ROTC programs.

"Several other campuses such UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Madison, and Marquette University have been able to promote an atmosphere of 'diversity and tolerance' while maintaining an ROTC Program."

In a letter received by Harsdorf on Tuesday Sorenson said he was sticking by his decision.

"I made the decision not to extend the invitation (to ROTC) and I stand by that decision."

According to John Enger, Stout's executive director for university relations the decision was not an anti-military decision.

"It is an academic issue about a program which is discriminatory," said Enger. "It is the right decision."

Brown, who is a military veteran and chairs the state Senate's Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs, Small Business and Government Reform doesn't see it that way.

"It is thoroughly disappointing that the chancellor's political objections to policy as determined by federal lawmakers are the barrier for supporting our military men and women prepared to fight for our freedoms," said Brown.

According to Enger the ROTC ban against openly gay personnel does not fit in with the university diversity plan which was adopted in 2004 and sets goals to be achieved by 2008. The university will still allow military recruiters on campus.

"ROTC would be our program, our staff, our facilities and our students, whereas recruiters are our guests. There is a huge difference," said Enger.

In addition to the having the support of the student senate, which viewed ROTC as an opportunity for tuition, it was also supported by the faculty senate. However, the Senate of Academic Staff voted against ROTC, according to Enger.

The closest ROTC program available to UW-Stout students is located at UW-La Crosse over 100 miles away.

Harsdorf said that the legislators will await the Supreme Court ruling before deciding what course of action they will take.