EDITORIAL: A call to arms

It's time for decisive actionIt's time for decisive actionon the future of Penn'sIt's time for decisive actionon the future of Penn'sReserve Officers TrainingIt's time for decisive actionon the future of Penn'sReserve Officers TrainingCorps program.It's time for decisive actionon the future of Penn'sReserve Officers TrainingCorps program._______________________________ Despite the national institution of a "Don't ask, don't tell" policy, which allows homosexuals to serve in the armed forces if they do not publicly disclose their sexuality, the military still refuses to allow openly gay soldiers, sailors and airmen into its ranks. The military's ban on gays stands in flagrant violation of Penn's non-discrimination policy, which prohibits differential treatment based on race, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or status as a Vietnam-era veteran. Admittedly, money from the Defense Department is crucial to Penn's teaching and research missions. Without these grants, we would not be building the Institute for Advanced Science and Technology and our faculty members would not be making new discoveries that improve lives and result in positive peer recognition. Still, we are uncomfortable with the administration's consistent silence and foot-dragging on the issue of ROTC. The "arms-length" option may be nothing more than a symbolic or semantic change; some have called it nothing more than an administrative loophole and a convenient way for the University to save face in this matter. But the time for restrained negotiation and bargaining has passed. As difficult as it may be to reach, the time for a full and final resolution has arrived.