| 33 | Rebecca Goldring | I am alumni and my umbc e-mail was rgoldr1@umbc.edu
Dear UMBC community,
When the university first opened its doors it was home to a very political-minded student body. My mother, who started her undergraduate studies at UMBC but finished them elsewhere, recalls politically active students who were avidly anti-war, pro civil-rights, and supportive of equality among all people. Since then UMBC has become a diverse and thriving community that is home to students of many different backgrounds, creeds, orientations, and persuasions.
Does ROTC have a right to operate within a public university? The answer is yes, and it already does. While I was at the university (2000-2005), where I earned both a bachelor's and master's degree, there were UMBC students who were enrolled in ROTC programs. So, this is not simply a matter of establishing a ROTC program at UMBC, there already is one.
My understanding of the issue is that, in establishing a fast-track ROTC program, UMBC would give the military a formal office at UMBC, with military personnel as instructors, instead of professors. It would establish a formal "military science" program in which students could earn a degree. I don't feel that this is in line with UMBC's efforts to establish a reputation for academic excellence. Having known several people who earned military science degrees at other colleges and universities, I can say that they came out of the program with few "real world" applicable life skills and absolutely no employment qualifications. Many described their military science degrees as "history-light," or as a joke. I cannot understand why UMBC, which has a fine History department, would want to establish a department where students can get easy history degrees in exchange for military service. A military science program will detract from UMBC's academic image.
Additionally, the military does not support many of the values that define UMBC. During my time there I found that, in general, students were open and respectful of others. Students at UMBC did not have to hide their sexual orientation, political views, religious affiliations, etc. in order to avoid being ostracized or humiliated. Bring a formal military program into play would mean that in some part of the university, that kind of freedom and openness, the liberty to be unashamedly one's self, would end.
Do I think it's acceptable for UMBC to deny ROTC programs a right to operate on campus or to ostracize students who enroll in military programs? Absolutely not. In a free-thinking democratic society there is room for all points of view and belief systems. Certainly, UMBC already has military personnel enrolled in classes, and ROTC members in training; this is enough. The University need not expand its ROTC program to prove that it is an American university, it need not expand the ROTC program to ensure that ROTC students can pursue an education there- they already can.
The only reason I can see for expanding a ROTC program is funding (although from the outside I can't be sure of this). Having spent time working for a firm that helps colleges and universities with strategic positioning plans for continued success in today's competitive market, I would say that increasing military presence and programming on campus at UMBC is not a smart move. It may bring in some funding for the military, but the fall out among the current student body, prospective students who are enamoured with UMBC's current image, and the blows dealt to UMBC's academic reputation will negate any of the more instantly gratifying aspects of the venture.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Goldring |
| 49 | Matt Maiatico | The very nature of military programs are at odds with the purpose of a university; namely, the pursuit of knowledge, the development of new ideas, and the betterment of society at large. Military organizations not only accomplish none of these goals, but actively opposes them. The military supports the suppression of knowledge, values blind obedience to analysis, and contributes nothing positive to society.
Allowing this organization onto our campus undermines everything UMBC stands for. Our integrity is at stake and I hope the administration will acknowledge this before making a decision. |