Virginia Tech officials are closely watching as proposed changes could end a federal prohibition on gays openly serving in the armed forces as well as the on-campus Reserve Officer Training Corps programs offered by the corps of cadets.
In his State of the Union address on Jan. 27, President Barack Obama announced a plan that would end the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, calling it a law “that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are.”
The policy, enacted by President Bill Clinton in 1993, allowed for gay soldiers to serve with strict rules barring “homosexual conduct.” As a part of the policy, those entering the armed forces would not be asked about their sexuality.
While the proposed policy change has sparked much debate in Washington D.C., Tech ROTC and corps of cadets officials are keeping their eyes on any change to the policy.
“We’re watching this like everybody else is,” said captain Daniel Forney, commanding officer of Tech’s Naval ROTC program.
Maj. Carrie Cox, executive officer with Tech’s Corps of Cadets, noted that while ROTC actions fell under the federal “don’t ask, don’t tell” policies, the civilian track of the corps falls under Tech’s Principles of Community, which prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.
About 100 students are in the civilian track program, some who are ineligible for ROTC service for various reasons, including medical issues. Cox said that the topic of gay students serving in the corps of cadets is a “non-issue.”
“It’s not something that’s been brought up,” Cox said.
Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Alliance were vocal in their support of a change to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
“It was an, ‘It’s about time’ type of thing,” said Aimee Kanode, a senior humanities, science, and environment major and serving as president of the LGBTA. “If not now, when?”
Kanode said that while a change in policy would not be “seamless,” it was important to support those who “want to defend the country.”
“Whoever wants to fight should be able to fight,” Kanode said.
Forney noted that while he didn’t expect a backlash from a change to the policy, military cohesiveness is a very important topic to consider in the debate.
“Being in the military, it’s like a team sport,” Forney said. Forney said that his program would follow the laws passed down from the federal government.
“In the Navy, we work for the civilian government, and we execute its policies,” Forney said. “If there were a policy change, I would say it would work out.”
Maj. Gen. Jerrold Allen, commandant of cadets, said his office worked to maintain respect among cadets.
“We welcome everybody to the corps of cadets, and we work hard so that we treat all with dignity and respect,” Allen said in a statement to the Collegiate Times.
The changes proposed by Obama have received approval from several prominent figures within the defense community in the past week, including Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Colin Powell, who opposed the inclusion of gay soldiers as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Clinton administration, said he supported the policy change.
“In the almost 17 years since the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ legislation was passed, attitudes and circumstances have changed,” Powell said in a statement.
Those who oppose the change propose it could negatively impact unit cohesiveness. Sen. John McCain called the proposed change to the policy “another challenge to our military at a time of already tremendous stress and strain.”
“Numerous military leaders tell me that ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ is working,” McCain said to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Feb. 2, “and that we should not change it now. I agree.”