ROTC to Draw Fire During BGLAD Week

The Bisexual Gay and Lesbian Students Association (BGLSA) and the Civil Liberties Union of Harvard are joining forces this week to pressure President Neil L. Rudenstine to end Harvard's financial support of MIT's Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program.

On Thursday, the two student groups will set up tables around the College. At the tables, students will be asked to sign from letters requesting that the University return the percentage of tution which goes to support ROTC, according to former civil liberties union director Jol A. Silversmith '94.

Each year, the University pays a $130,000 fee to MIT to support the approximately 120 Harvard students enrolled in the program. That money comes from general student funds, Silversmith said.

"All students at Harvard are subsidizing a program that discriminates," Silversmith said.

The effort coincides with this week's Bisexual Gay and Lesbian Awareness Days (BGLAD). Students at universities around the country hold BGLAD weeks, according to Dennis K. Lin '94, co-chair of BGLSA.

The University has yet to act on the year-old Verba report, which called on Harvard to stop payment of the ROTC fee to MIT. Lin criticized the delay.

"We want Harvard to cut off ties with ROTC,"Lin said. "President Rudenstine has postponed thedecision for another year."

Jeffrey M. Hauser '95, assistant director ofthe civil liberties union, said he wantsRudenstine and the University's governing boardsto follow up on Faculty votes supporting asevering of ties with ROTC.

"We are attempting to put pressure onRudenstine and the Board of Overseers to act onwhat the Faculty...has voted," Hauser said.

Jeff A. Redding '96, leader of the civilliberties union's gay rights project, said theUniversity's support of ROTC contradicts itsnon-discriminatory policy.

"The principle of non-discrimination should behigher than any other belief in the university,"he said.

In addition to efforts geared toward severingties with ROTC, BGLSA will also be co-sponsoringevents to promote gay, lesbian and bisexualawareness throughout BGLAD week, Lin Said.

Events will include movies, a panel discussion,dances and a speech on Friday By U.S. Rep. BarneyFrank (D-Mass.), an openly gay member of Congress,he said

"We want Harvard to cut off ties with ROTC,"Lin said. "President Rudenstine has postponed thedecision for another year."

Jeffrey M. Hauser '95, assistant director ofthe civil liberties union, said he wantsRudenstine and the University's governing boardsto follow up on Faculty votes supporting asevering of ties with ROTC.

"We are attempting to put pressure onRudenstine and the Board of Overseers to act onwhat the Faculty...has voted," Hauser said.

Jeff A. Redding '96, leader of the civilliberties union's gay rights project, said theUniversity's support of ROTC contradicts itsnon-discriminatory policy.

"The principle of non-discrimination should behigher than any other belief in the university,"he said.

In addition to efforts geared toward severingties with ROTC, BGLSA will also be co-sponsoringevents to promote gay, lesbian and bisexualawareness throughout BGLAD week, Lin Said.

Events will include movies, a panel discussion,dances and a speech on Friday By U.S. Rep. BarneyFrank (D-Mass.), an openly gay member of Congress,he said