LETTER: Blackhawks should land on Quad
Editor,
Saturday’s halftime show deserves praise for its homage to the military. It was particularly poignant coming on the third anniversary of the tragedy that propelled American forces into combat against terrorism.
However, the contrast demonstrated by the overwhelming support for the armed services during the halftime show and the way the military is misunderstood by some campus organizations is appalling.
The tenuous relationship between the military departments and the College of HASS is one example. Each fall, Army ROTC lands Blackhawk helicopters on the Quad to carry ROTC students and prospective students on a short flight. This event lasts less than two hours once a year. It is the most exposure the Army has on campus, and is ROTC’s most effective recruiting/ retention activity. HASS administration, grossly misunderstanding its importance to the department, has decreed that the helicopters must be relocated because of their noise.
It’s true, they are loud – but that’s not the real issue. Five short periods of noise recurring five times over two hours is quite reasonable – especially considering other noise-making groups on the Quad haven’t been asked to curtail their activities (concerts with loudspeakers, etc.)
Why is the Army being singled out? Besides, removing ROTC from the Quad is outrageous – the Quad was originally built for military drill at the Utah Agricultural College! The Quad is also the centerpiece of campus, where the event will have maximum exposure. This is a clear failure on the part of HASS administration to recognize the purpose that the military has compared to other programs. The military has a purpose that isn’t better than other programs, but that affects the course of international events everyday.
More than 70 percent of U.S. Army officers come from ROTC programs. Recruiting intelligent, well-rounded individuals to participate in these programs is vital. Once they graduate, they will lead American soldiers in combat. The military is the machine that never sleeps, tirelessly prosecuting the war on terror and maintaining liberty in the world. America needs good officers making good decisions. No other campus organization has such a solemn responsibility. Recruiting high-caliber officers is as important now as it ever has been. Let the Army land on the Quad!
Josiah Griffin