After the recent repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy that discriminated against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender individuals in the military, Columbia University reintroduced the question of whether ROTC should be allowed back on campus. Literally a day after the repeal, the Student Affairs Committee of the University Senate announced that it would be forming a Task Force to oversee this discussion in the Spring 2011 semester. Despite the Task-force's claim that its “top priority is that the student voice is heard. Thus, this will be a student-driven, not a faculty-dominated process,” the process in which this decision is being made has been unacceptably undemocratic. Apart from soliciting opinions from a minority of students on campus, the university has barely provided enough information or time for the campus to seriously discuss and reflect on what the re-introduction of ROTC on campus will mean for the Columbia community.

We, the undersigned, demand that:


1) The Columbia University Administration and the University Senate fully disclose facts and details related to the effects of bringing ROTC with regards to off-campus recruitment.

2) All students and faculty at Columbia University be considered to gauge the opinions of the campus community, not solely students in CC, BC, SEAS, GS, or SIPA.

3) The opinions of all alumni, not just wealthy potential donors, be considered if at all by the Senate.

4) There be full disclosure of any negotiations that may have already occurred between the military and Columbia administration regarding ROTC.

5) The Columbia University Administration and the University Senate postpone the decision on whether ROTC should be allowed back on campus until the 2011-2012 academic year. This will the Columbia Community sufficient time to adequately discuss and debate whether ROTC should be allowed back on campus.

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