Reaction to Harvard ROTC

Harvard President Drew Faust and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus just signed the agreement officially welcoming ROTC back on Harvard grounds.

Senator Joe Lieberman (I, Conn.), the lead sponsor of the DADT repeal and a supporter of ROTC, applauds Harvard and urges other universities to follow Harvard’s example.

I applaud Harvard University for its decision to return the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program to campus after a nearly forty year absence. Our universities have a major role to play in helping to educate and train our military’s officer corps. As the Department of Defense works to implement legislation to allow gay and lesbian Americans to openly serve their country, I urge Harvard not to delay implementation of their new policy and other universities that bar ROTC to follow Harvard’s example in bringing this program back to campus. Our precious freedoms are guarded by our men and women in uniform and it is imperative that universities do their part in supporting our military.

John Kerry calls on Yale to recognize ROTC: “As an alumnus whose life and values were in part shaped both by Yale, and by my service in the United States Navy, I would like to see Yale join Harvard's lead welcoming ROTC back to campus in New Haven.”