UW-Stout chancellor blocks ROTC from campus

MADISON, Wis. — The chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Stout says the military, which does not accept openly gay recruits, is not acceptable on his campus.

The UW System on Monday began a review of Chancellor Charles Sorensen's decision to reject an Army ROTC program to protest the military's "don't ask don't tell'' policy on gays.

The review comes after Sorensen's decision touched off a furor from Republican lawmakers, who said it could jeopardize millions of dollars in federal funding and force students who want military training to drive hundreds of miles to get it.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule in the next year on whether the government can cut funding to campuses if they block military recruiters or Reserve Officer Training Corps programs to protest the policy on gays. A coalition of 31 law schools is seeking to overturn the law known as the Solomon Amendment that allows the funds to be cut in those cases.

Sorensen said in a letter to lawmakers that he stands by his decision. He said allowing ROTC would be hypocritical at a time the 8,000-student campus at Menomonie in western Wisconsin is trying to promote "tolerance and diversity.''

"I do not think, in good conscience, we can invite an organization to campus that discriminates against anyone because of sexual orientation,'' Sorensen wrote in a campuswide e-mail.

The review, ordered by UW System President Kevin Reilly, will look at whether the decision was in line with policies of the Board of Regents and state and federal law.

Three Republican lawmakers said in a letter last week they were concerned the decision "is not only motivated by political correctness but by general anti-war sentiments.''

Sens. Ron Brown of Eau Claire, Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls and Dave Zien of Eau Claire said in their letter that the decision could mean the loss of $16.3 million in federal funding for the campus.

The chancellor has said anti-war views had nothing to do with the decision and that military recruiters would still be allowed to visit campus.

Six UW schools, including the flagship Madison campus, have ROTC programs, in which students earn scholarships in exchange for getting training to be a military officer for a number of years after graduation.

Regents President Toby Markovich said Monday he believes the board should have the authority over campus ROTC programs, which he said are important.

"The regents have taken very strong stands on encouraging diversity and protecting people from harassment, and I don't think that policy is in any way contrary to having an ROTC program on campus,'' he said.

A handful of UW-Stout students in ROTC travel 110 miles to UW-La Crosse for training, and an Army ROTC official last fall proposed a program on the Stout campus after a study showed high enough demand.

The academic staff senate shot down the proposal 10-2, criticizing the policy on gays.

"It took us all by surprise,'' said UW-Stout Provost Robert Sedlak, who said discussion until then had focused on the potential benefits to students. "There are a number of things we weren't aware of that we are much more conscious of now.''

Sorensen said he would allow the program only if groups representing students, faculty and staff agreed.