Break With ROTC Urged

Members of the Civil Liberties Union of Harvard (CLUH) presented President Neil L. Rudenstine with a petition Friday signed by 275 students urging him to follow through with last spring's decision by the Faculty to cease formal support of ROTC.

The CLUH campaign came after what the union says was a reversal by Rudenstine this fall from his intention stated this spring to carry out the Executive Council of the Faculty's mandate. The Faculty last spring called for the University to discontinue payment of approximately $130,000 to MIT for Harvard students enrolled in the MIT program,

"We were unsure of what President Rudenstine's plans were when he turned around at the beginning of this year and suddenly said we need to re-think this," said project organizer Jeff A. Redding '96.

Redding said CLUH's efforts were intended to provide Rudenstine with evidence of student support for the elimination of ROTC on campus.

"Whether these petitions will help to influence Rudenstine or other people that heneeds to convince, we wanted to at least give himsomething tangible that he could show whomever isin charge," Redding said.

Redding said Rudenstine told the CLUH memberswho delivered the petitions that, while hepersonally supported their position opposing theban on gays in the military, the council mandatewas not his to implement.

"Rudenstine was both knowledgeable andforthcoming, but he said that the University'sBoard of Overseers really needed to decide, thatthis was not an internal decision he could make,"Redding said.

Rudenstine told CLUH members that the approvalof the Board of Overseers is necessary before anyaction can be undertaken because of the nature ofthe contract Harvard maintains with MIT.

Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Students Association(BGLSA) Co-Chair Natasha E. Litt '95 said thegroup was pleased by CLUH's action. "I think it'sgreat that there are people on campus who wouldactively support this, not because they're gay,but just on the theoretical grounds that thispolicy isn't right," Litt said.

CLUH members say they are optimistic that thepetitions will prompt administrative action.

"I think that the administration, andespecially President Rudenstine, is truly behindthe non-discrimination clause Harvard hasadopted," said CLUH Director Robert W. Yalen '95."But I think that administrators often try topoint to practical complications as reasons fortheir inaction."

Yalen said CLUH's pressure is designed toaccommodate administrative efforts. "We want tosupport those who want change and convince thosewho may not," he said

Redding said Rudenstine told the CLUH memberswho delivered the petitions that, while hepersonally supported their position opposing theban on gays in the military, the council mandatewas not his to implement.

"Rudenstine was both knowledgeable andforthcoming, but he said that the University'sBoard of Overseers really needed to decide, thatthis was not an internal decision he could make,"Redding said.

Rudenstine told CLUH members that the approvalof the Board of Overseers is necessary before anyaction can be undertaken because of the nature ofthe contract Harvard maintains with MIT.

Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Students Association(BGLSA) Co-Chair Natasha E. Litt '95 said thegroup was pleased by CLUH's action. "I think it'sgreat that there are people on campus who wouldactively support this, not because they're gay,but just on the theoretical grounds that thispolicy isn't right," Litt said.

CLUH members say they are optimistic that thepetitions will prompt administrative action.

"I think that the administration, andespecially President Rudenstine, is truly behindthe non-discrimination clause Harvard hasadopted," said CLUH Director Robert W. Yalen '95."But I think that administrators often try topoint to practical complications as reasons fortheir inaction."

Yalen said CLUH's pressure is designed toaccommodate administrative efforts. "We want tosupport those who want change and convince thosewho may not," he said