I am writing a letter to University of Hawaii at Hilo's Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs regarding the presence of the Army Reserve Officer's Training Corps at UH Hilo. Students of UH Hilo are given the opportunity to serve our nation as soldiers by enlisting themselves directly through the ROTC program offered on-campus. Once they are enlisted and have signed a contract, the Army will pay for part of their education at UH Hilo, along with a monthly stipend, as long as they comply with army regulations and laws.
According to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue" law from the Clinton administration, soldiers are not required to disclose their sexual orientation in order to be included, or maintain a position in the military. Today, the U.S. government has a law banning homosexuals from openly participating in the military. Also, if a soldier were to openly identify as a homosexual, or get caught participating in a homosexual "conduct" that soldier would be discharged from the military simply because of being homosexual. Not only is this law unethical and discriminatory, but there is no evidence that suggests the U.S. military would be put "at risk" or become "immoral" for allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military.
I emailed the assistant professor of military science (ROTC program) at UH Hilo about the impact of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and open homosexual conduct on-campus. If a student enrolled at UH Hilo were to sign documents to participate in the military once their education at UH was completed, and if that student were receiving a military scholarship were to engage in homosexual conduct, they would loose their scholarship and their contract with the military would be denied. Also, that student would be obligated to pay back the military in the amount that was given to that student during their educational career.
According to the University's Nondiscrimination policy, programs offered on-campus are obligated to comply with this policy. In this case, ROTC is violating the policy by discriminating against people of homosexual orientations. The University Chancellors are obligated to make sure programs and activities are in compliance with UH policy's. Not only that, our campus values diversity in all aspects of life. I could not imagine the University ever mentioning that homosexuals would put the campus "at risk" or impact campus integrity negatively. UH Hilo should live up to its own policy's and value of diversity and remove the ROTC program on-campus until the law is changed on a federal level.
Go, Curtis! Very well spoken. I hope they listen.
ReplyDeleteLove, Reidun
This is such a great topic to write you paper on Curtis, not only because this topic needs to be addressed to the UH Hilo ROTC program but other ROTC programs as well. I find it sad that there is a “don’t ask don’t tell” policy, making homosexuals hide their identities from the people they are surrounded by every day. Your right, there is no evidence that suggests the US military would be put “at risk” by allowing homosexuals to be openly gay. By threatening to have your scholarship and contract with the military taken for being who you are, takes away the main focus of the militaries primary objective and that is to protect our country.
ReplyDeleteRight on Curtis!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great topic that will not only make a great paper, but will impact the unversity's policies.
Best Wishes!
Your topic is a crucial and dynamic one, and the underlying objective morally and ethically sound. I applaud your courage in tackling such a controversial and potentially volatile subject. It needs, certainly, to be addressed and in my humble opinion you are off to a great start. Last semester, I wrote a paper entitled "The Casualties of War at Home" and I'll freely admit that because I felt so passionately about the theme, and its resulting impacts on my own life and family, it nearly consumed me. I am a little concerned for you in this regard, not only because I know how important it is to you to expose the discrepency with university policies, but also because of the fact of your closeness to the issue and your own sensitivity. You are a bright and capable man, and I am confident that you will act with diplomacy. Just, please be careful. The military can be a very conniving force, and they dont hesitate to target American citizens that might frame their actions in a less-than-pretty light. Speaking from experience, after my little encounter with the government (And I was only trying to help get supplies for my husband's battalion), the personal repercussions went far beyond anything I had ever even dreamed possible. Our white-cristian-male-dominated society doesn't like to have its hypocrisies exposed. Be well my friend. It was a refreshing joy to participate with you in class. Be well. Much aloha. Jamila
ReplyDeleteCurtis! This is a policy that needs to be addressed! You have great claims and arguments and it's obvious that something needs to be done about this. It's obviously a discriminatory policy and I think if you help bring attention to this issue, more people will realize how illogical and discriminatory DADT is. Because ROTC is an appealing program for students to receive scholarships and help them in their future careers, many will be more prone to advocate a federal policy change for DADT if this is addressed on the University level. Keep up the good work...this is truly inspiring!
ReplyDeleteHey Curtis! Thers an artical in Friday's "The Washington Post", entitled "Gays in the Military: Let the Evidence Speak" (6/19)It appears that Obama is considering lifting the ban on gays in the military, despite opposition. You can check it out on line. Goog luck. Be well. :) Jamila
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