Letter to the Editor:ROTC should not recruit at orientation

By:

Posted: 7/7/05

I attended a session of EIU Debut for incoming freshmen (a day for orientation and registration) on July 6. A representative of ROTC on EIU's campus opened the session, welcomed incoming students and their parents and then spoke, using effective marketing strategies, for about ten minutes about the advantages to students of joining ROTC. Only then did the program turn to general orientation. I wonder how many of us in the EIU community are aware that ROTC has this position of privilege and prominence at our orientation sessions for new students. Is this really how we want to be perceived: before all else, as a recruitment site for the armed forces? I would prefer to present ourselves as above all an institution of higher learning.

ROTC should be allowed to have a booth at the "Panther Fair" alongside other campus organizations and services. It should not dominate the orientation for new students as it now is being allowed to do.

Anita Shelton

EIU History Department