Columbia University has long been associated with its Leftist activism, and its 1969 ban of ROTC has become a symbol of Columbia's positioning on the political spectrum.  However, the University Senate resolution on April 1st to remove the ROTC ban was a significant shift for Columbia.  The Senate's vote of 51 to 17 with 1 abstention sent a clear message that the University is not simply a cornerstone of liberalism.

The decision has sent ripples across the various news outlets, and while other universities have also been re-examining their ROTC policies given the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, the contrast of Columbia's traditional stance with this decision is particularly provoking.  The New York Times reported yesterday that, "For reasons both of history and institutional character, however, none [of the similar initiatives at other universities] has the importance of Columbia, which was home to a particularly vigorous chapter of Students for a Democratic Society--some of whose most militant members helped form the left-wing radical group the Weathermen."

Perhaps it's flattering that there is so much attention regarding the Senate's decision, but on the other hand, it certainly raises questions about the extent to which Columbia's history plays a part in its political alignments and image today.  Some students are unhappy about the somewhat proactive and possibly aggressive role the university administration has had in the proceedings.  During one ROTC townhall meeting, Dean Moody-Adams made some opening remarks that were much more pointed than some students had expected.  Some question whether the ROTC issue received the amount of deliberation and consideration it deserved, judging the three months of debate to be rather inadequate.  Others laud the university for its ability to consider the issue without Columbia's past obscuring new developments.

In any case, the groundbreaking decision will certainly lead to further discussion about the place ROTC has on campus and how we can best change with the times.