"sfpj@listserve.uwec.edu" Archive

For a perspective on the effects of this program on our campus LGBT populat ion, please see the attached e-mail I received from a student last week.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Karen Peterson Welch, Ph.D. Director of Composition Department of English University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004 Office: (715) 836-4630 Fax: (715) 836-5996 welchka@uwec.edu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-----Original Message----- From: sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu [mailto: [mailto:sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.e du] On Behalf Of Hale, Kate Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 12:46 PM To: Pope, Karen O.; SFPJ Subject: Re: ROTC for UWEC?

Just a quick note regarding involvement of university senate-I'm on my way to a meeting-the press release notes that:

"After the pilot phase, if the ROTC program is approved through the univers ity's shared governance system, it will become a series of courses offered through the College of Business, he said."

________________________________ From: "Pope, Karen O." <POPEKJ@uwec.edu> Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:39:19 -0500 To: SFPJ <sfpj@listserve.uwec.edu> Subject: ROTC for UWEC?

Hi SFPJ folks: This press release causes me some angst/ alarm, and I expect SFPJ folks mig ht want to be included in any campus wide debate.

I couldn't help but be dismayed and a little alarmed that, of all the cours es of study UWEC could add and all the needs we have pressing on our resour ces at the University, UWEC is adding ROTC. It sounds "free" but we know i t is not; and once added, it's insidious and awfully hard to change course/
mind. Was there a pressing, public need expressed? What was wrong with
the current arrangement for 8 students to take courses via Stout? I guess
I don't get it. Is this what the premier liberal arts undergraduate insti tution wants, really?

Do we want to take a position as a group on this issue? Will it come up i n the Fac./student Senates?

Karen Osborne Pope Associate Professor Emerita, McIntyre Library University of WI - Eau Claire popekj@uwec.edu cell 715 529 0272

Subject:�� ROTC Program

Hi - I'm e-mailing you because I'm looking for support. (Perhaps someone on campus has already raised this issue?)

UW-Eau Claire is piloting an Army ROTC program which begins next fall. While I absolutely believe that the military is and can be a phenomenal career opportunity for many, my concern is that the ban on GLBTQ people in the military has not yet been lifted. The current policy, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Harass, Don't Pursue" provides limited (some would argue no) protection for gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members and no protection for transgender service member. The policy states that "while homosexuality is not a bar to enlistment, engaging in homosexual [behavior] is incompatible with military service." This means that if a GLB service member even states that she or he is gay or lesbian, they can be discharged because the statement indicates a "propensity or intent to engage in homosexual [behavior]."

My concern is that this program (which is being sponsored by UW-Eau Claire) excludes those UW-EC students who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.

I'm not sure yet how to go about raising this issue--letters, I imagine. First, I'm just looking for people who are willing to spread the word that 1) the military still openly discriminates against LGBT soldiers and sailors and 2) some students at UW-Eau Claire will be excluded as a result of their sexual orientation.

If you could, would you be willing to forward this on to people who might be interested in knowing about this.

Thank you.

John

"We are your daughters, your sisters, your sons, your nurses, your mechanics, you athletes, your police, your politicians, your fathers, your doctors, your soldiers, your mothers. We live with you, care for you, help you, protect you, teach you, love you, and need you. All we ask is that you let us. We are no different. We want to serve, like you. Need love, like you. Feel pain, like you. And we deserve justice, like you." - Margarethe Cammermeyer

RE: ROTC for UWEC?