attitude toward rotc cadets

live4ever

live4ever

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2007
Messages
102
Has anyone experienced a situation within a college where rotc cadets were given discriminatory treatment either by faculty or peers?
 
It is very rare that you will see a conflict between two students just because of their military/civilian status.
 
I was doing some internet surfing looking for info on Army ROTC at Tufts University. I found some hits on a letter/report by an ROTC Cadet written in 2005 and 2006, that seem to indicate the faculty and Administration at that school was not very receptive to the ROTC program. In fact at that time they wouldn't give credit for ROTC courses. I posted the links below.

To answer your question I believe that you need to ask the appropriate questions when you interview at each school to get a feel for how the school supports the ROTC program.

T

http://tuftsprimarysource.org/?p=46
http://www.goactablog.org/blog/archives/2006/11/defending_rotc.html
 
Last edited:
Yes, good advice to do research at the specific college(s) you are interested in by actually talking to current students, faculty and the admissions departments as it relates to their ROTC program.

Both of the above links look like 'editorials' written by disgruntled students, so probably not a bad idea to do more research before drawing significant conclusions (some may recall that dreadful article by the student at Barnard!!!). One person could have had a bad experience for a variety or reasons. The internet can be a source of good as well as bad information.
 
i know my parents would make jokes behind their backs about them, with the rest of the college, of them being "pretend soldiers"... 70's, what do you expect.... but after enlightening them upon the fact that they were much more, and telling them that it was part of my interest to be in rotc, they kindof saw it in a different light.... They went to IUP.. They are much less on that side now, and one of the good old types now (it was kindof the thing back then I hear)
 
I know from friends in AFROTC as CU-Boulder that they cannot wear their uniforms in class because of the teachers. They also have to be careful walking through the student center thingy or risk being spit on by the anti-war protesting students....
 
Hi Thurl -

I think you are a parent - is that right?

I have a son who is in NROTC in that group (Harvard/MIT/Tufts) and it is a great group. The Mids are as amazing as you would see anywhere and I'd bet that the Army ROTC students are likewise.

If your son is interested in that ROTC unit call the leadership there (super people) and ask them to put a current Cadet in touch with you or your son.

I'm slightly ashamed to admit that I expected an extreme bias against ROTC students at my son's campus that has not materialized. I did address my fears to two outstanding Mids there (they must get tired of that) and got an unvarnished view of their experiences. Most of the bias comes from older faculty - and they get older every day.

The bottom line is to not let fear be the determining factor in your final decision. Your son will do a huge service to that college campus by representing his desire to serve. He's gotta be smart if he's looking at Tufts and he's probably a great kid, too. I think how lucky those non-military students will be to rub shoulders with him.

Lots of folks are of the opinion that elite colleges are hostile to ROTC students but I don't think that it is a static situation. My sense is that there is amicable movement towards those students rather than galvanizing against them.

I have never heard of any spitting incidences, BTW. Spitting really reflects the bottomless poor judgement of the dumb guy or gal who does it. Anyone in uniform anywhere can be subject to spitting no matter where they go to college.

Just my very humble opinion. Good luck.
 
Don't buy the "it was kinda of the thing to do" back then excuse. The people using that are the ones looking for an out. My parents didn't...maybe because my father's father had been a 1LT during Korea, or maybe because they were above it.


Not everyone is going to warm up you your uniform...maybe they think you're a baby killer, maybe they think you're too dumb to work in the private sector...don't worry about what they think. They're young and stupid, and some of them will stay stupid they entire lives, and some of them will run for Congress...you do what you need to do, and you do it for your country, the patriots and the bigots alike.



I've seen Barnard, I slept overnight there (with a shipmate so we could catch a few NHL games in the city). The coed bathrooms were a bit much, but I didn't feel any ill feelings, and we both showed up in uniform and slept on the floor of a HS classmate's room.
 
Don't buy the "it was kinda of the thing to do" back then excuse. The people using that are the ones looking for an out. My parents didn't...maybe because my father's father had been a 1LT during Korea, or maybe because they were above it.


Not everyone is going to warm up you or your uniform...maybe they think you're a baby killer, maybe they think you're too dumb to work in the private sector...don't worry about what they think. They're young and stupid, and some of them will stay stupid their entire lives, and some of them will run for Congress...you do what you need to do, and you do it for your country, the patriots and the bigots alike.



I've seen Barnard, I slept overnight there (with a shipmate so we could catch a few NHL games in the city). The coed bathrooms were a bit much, but I didn't feel any ill feelings, and we both showed up in uniform and slept on the floor of a HS classmate's room.
 
Sealion - I knew you would show up!

LITS is correct - I went to college in the *cough*70's*cough and we had ROTC and I never saw any animostiy toward ROTC cadets - this was a state U in the Northeast. Back then the cadets wore their uniforms a lot more than they do today. OK - I do admit some were made fun of (the really hoorah ones)- but we made fun of jocks too, and preppies and hippies and.......

When my daughter visited a school - diverse U in a very large northern city - I asked about uniforms and attitudes - she was told by cadets there that they had never had a problem at all. The ROTC cadre said also that they don't really wear their uniform that much and depending on their schedule may never have to wear it to class.

Each school and unit has their own "relationship" - it pays to visit and talk to people and see if this is a good fit for you.
 
I was not an ROTC cadet, but I've had a few negative experiences with reactions to my uniform.

Across the street from the Coast Guard Academy is Connecticut College, Conn College we called it. One day as we were, playing sports I believe, on the parade field (part of the Academy that faces a main road), a Conn College student on the other side of the wall marched by screaming "Seig Hail" (Don't know if I'm spelling that correctly, and I took AP German...). He continued for probably 30 seconds until a growing group of Coast Guard cadets made their way towards the wall...the kid picked up the pace quite a bit and stopped the Nazi hand motions...


That's right up there with a popular rumor that "way back" while some fairly liberal Americans were protesting at the front gate of CGA, the Regimental Commander about-faced the Corps of Cadets, fixed bayonnets and marched (if not charged) the front gate...and scattered the group. I'm not advocating violance directed at Americans excercising their right to assemble, but in an "Us v. Them" mindset, it is a "nice" story. I would not recommend this course of action however, the rumor was followed up with information that many demerits had been given out after the incident.
 
Last edited:
I would have to say that for my son, ROTC cadets have no problems on campus.

He has faced more &*^% from people telling he was "crazy" for joining the military because of his political beliefs. (He is a moderate) Then again this came from a guy how didn't believe that women should not serve in the military. (they should serve god by reading their bibles and having babies) He told me this person's nuckles drag. His come back to him was "I thought the only requirement was that I was an American"
 
"SIEG, HEIL!" No offense, I went to grad school in Germany and taught German in college here in the states....:)
 
Just_A_Mom said:
I went to college in the *cough*70's*cough and we had ROTC and I never saw any animostiy toward ROTC cadets - this was a state U in the Northeast. Back then the cadets wore their uniforms a lot more than they do today. OK - I do admit some were made fun of (the really hoorah ones)- but we made fun of jocks too, and preppies and hippies and.......
Click to expand...


Speaking of a "state U in the Northeast", I visited Penn State for a football weekend in 1975. The opponent was Army and, to this day, I am still embarrassed by what I witnessed.

There were several busloads of USMA cadets who came to the game and they marched from the parking lot to the same gate I entered. 'Marching' right alongside the cadets were lots of Penn State students, most of whom appeared to be as drunk as brewery pigeons. The students were mocking the cadets, laughing at them, mimicking the marching as only drunks could do. To their credit, the cadets never acknowledged the presence of these idiots.

I really lost a lot of respect for Penn State that day. A few bad apples can severely spoil the reputation barrel.
 
rotc

As a professor at one of the other Big Ten Universities, I think you will find that in general, ROTC is more accepted in the midwest than the coasts (I realize this is somewhat of a generalization though). As to the razzing of USMA cadets at a football game, (and I am not trying to make an excuse), the behavior of many students as well as alumni on football Saturdays is embarrassing to all of us. The cadets were probably treated like any other group who would have attended the game wearing the colors of the opposing team.

Football Saturday at a lot of large universities has become a reason for the student body to drink heavily and act inappropriately. It is tacitly supported (or at least not restricted), by the local businesses, school administration and alumni of the university.

Mike
 
I remember attending a Penn State game where some PSU students taunted opposing team Auburn students by yelling "Marcia Brady went to Auburn!"
 
sealion said:
Hi Thurl -

I think you are a parent - is that right?

I guess my stripes have shown through! LOL


Hey sealion thanks for the kind words regarding my son. I appreciate it.

Tufts is probably a small stretch for him but he has a friend at Tufts from High School last year and he wanted to give it a shot. I will say that Tufts sent an admissions person to interview him a couple of weeks ago and he was very impressed. They talked for about 2 hours at a local cofee shop.Son came away very upbeat about the school. We are planning a visit there and expect to contact the ROTC unit.

Congrats on your son accomplishments also. Sounds like he is doing great. best of luck to him going forward.

The post I made wasn't meant to be negative. I was only trying to stress that there are potentially some schools out there that may be biased one way or another and everyone should visit and ask alot of questions.

again best of luck to your son.


T


Oh and by the way Lineinthesand, I grew up across the river from USCGA. Those are my old stomping grounds. If you want to chat sometime let me know. LOL
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Tufts is a great school - for sure. My nephew is there right now and Boston is a great town - of course your son will have to be a Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Bruins fan! :shake::wink:
MIT is the host university for AROTC at Tufts. You might want to find out if the classes are offered on the Tufts campus or if they will have to travel to Tufts each week.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top