Faculty Moves to Allow Students to Take ROTC

Students will be able to cross-register in non-credit Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) courses following a Faculty decision yesterday to change 1969 legislation barring ROTC from campus.

The resolution, which passed by a large majority, is an effort to clarify the existing legislation, Francis M. Pipkin, associate dean of the Faculty for the Colleges said at the Faculty's monthly meeting.

Harvard's ROTC program was the focus of many of the student strikes in 1969.

Exit Dreben

Dean Rosovsky announced that Burton S. Dreben '49, whose three-year term as dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ends in June, will be replaced by Peter S. McKinney, now administrative dean of the GSAS.

McKinney will serve as acting dean for a year, Rosovsky said.

Rosovsky told the Faculty the extra-curricular ROTC program at MIT may not be the "long term answer" to the issue of "the basic relation of Harvard and the military." But he added that if a large number of students wish to enroll in ROTC courses the matter will be reconsidered.

Delay Voted Down

John Womack Jr. '59, professor of History, said he believes the "larger issue" should be further clarified before the Faculty voted. He proposed tabling the ROTC motion while a Faculty council subcommittee examined it further, but the motion was defeated.

Several Faculty members said they believe students should not be prohibited from non-credit, extracurricular activities.

"The issue is whether we should regulate the relation of our students to the military and I would regard that as an act of moral imperialism," Joseph S. Nye Jr., professor of Government, said.

Allowing students to enroll in non-credit ROTC courses will allow those interested in a military career to begin training, and will open scholarship funds to students in the middle income bracket, Pipkin said.

"Besides, it's better to have some of us amongst them than be totally alienated from the military," he added.

Steven A. Peck '79, one of three students who asked the administration to allow their enrollment in the MIT program, said yesterday he will enter the army ROTC course as soon as possible.

Peck said he will apply for a three-year army ROTC program, which would pay full tuition and a $100 monthly allowance, as well as book and lab fees in return for four years' army service when he graduates.

Charles DePriest '77, who enrolled this winter in MIT's air force ROTC program with special permission from the Faculty, said yesterday "it's about time" the Faculty passed the resolution.

Women are fully eligible for the ROTC scholarships and program at MIT.

President Bok announced that John P. Coolidge '35, Boardman Professor of Fine Arts, will serve as acting chairman of the Fine Arts Department next year.