Faust To Attend ROTC Ceremony

Given the many ironies of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'—not least among them the central position telling has played in military life 'from time, from time,' if we translate literally a wonderful Levantine expression—one can only hope that the next administration will quickly do away with the oft-mocked policy. Meanwhile, Harvard's president, Drew G. Faust, will attend what is called a 'commissioning ceremony,' following—and perhaps in light of?—the right's flamboyant outrage at Harvard's various slights of the military. From the Crimson:

University President Drew G. Faust will attend this year’s Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) commissioning ceremony during Commencement, continuing a new precedent set by her predecessor Lawrence H. Summers.

According to Harvard spokesman John D. Longbrake, Faust will be “part of the program,” although he did not say what her precise role would be. Summers spoke at the commissioning ceremony each year as Harvard president in an effort to show support for students participating in ROTC.

Harvard has had a fractious relationship with ROTC since its removal from campus in 1969 in the wake of strident anti-war protests. ROTC remains banished due to the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which Harvard considers discriminatory, and is not deemed an official Harvard organization.

Harvard students involved with ROTC conduct their exercises with a battalion at MIT.

Moot in two years? Let's hope so.