ROTC ceremony draws Pax Christi protest
By KERRY SMITH
News Writer
Glimpses of the faces of those involved in both the Joint-Military Presidential Pass in Review and the Pax Christi protest of the event Wednesday revealed conflicting opinions of the role the ROTC program plays on Notre Dame's campus.
While Pax Christi members bowed their heads in prayers of peace outside Loftus Sports Complex, many ROTC students walked stoically inside with unwavering eyes.
As the almost 40 protesters listened to speakers, joined in song and passed out fliers, many ROTC students respectfully accepted the handouts and greeted acquaintances while some snickered or joked at the protestors' efforts.
"As Danielle Scorch was singing and we were all melting our hearts out, the reviewing officer [University President Father Edward Malloy] walked right by," said Pax Christi member Mike Griffin. "These are glimpses of the kingdom for sure."
Sponsored by the ROTC Council of the University of Notre Dame, the Pass in Review is an annual event in which ROTC students are honored and blessed by the University President.
Pax Christi, the Catholic awareness group that opposes ROTC's role on campus was on hand to voice its disapproval of Malloy blessing the ROTC students.
"We don't have a specific platform but we believe the role of the United States Military should be more limited than it is," said Griffin. "Many in the group are pacifists, but all of us would agree that the just use of force has been recklessly violated by the military."
Malloy and ROTC members disagree and believe there is no inherent contradiction in an institution, which espouses Catholic doctrine while also housing a ROTC program.
"Historically, there has always been a witness for a radical view of peace," Malloy said. "But Christians are more persuaded by the `just war' perspective."
Griffin and fellow members of Pax Christi cite as their purpose continuing the dialogue with the University to address what they see as the core issue: whether Notre Dame's ROTC program should be required to enroll in a course on Catholic teachings on war and peace.
"The issue is crystallized for us: Is it true that students of ROTC at Notre Dame are expected to have any instruction of Catholic social justice? The answer is no," Griffin said. "We want to see as a first step ROTC students at Notre Dame to have instruction on Catholic teaching on war. We think that is the minimum."
But according to Malloy, such an addition to the ROTC curriculum beyond the requirements imposed by the Pentagon is an unlikely future addition at the University. Malloy cited administrative staffing and financial burdens as impediments to the proposals to add a course to the curriculum.
Due to Pax Christi's decision to not disrupt the actual ceremony while it was in progress, the Pass in Review went as planned. Malloy addressed the ROTC students and blessed the graduating seniors in their future endeavors before bestowing students with awards.
"We gather today to honor academic achievements and leadership," Malloy said. "You will carry a bit of Notre Dame or Saint Mary's with you. For the graduating seniors, we pray for you and wish you well. We hope you will be emissaries of peace."
Nine ROTC students received awards for their service at the University.
The ceremony was originally scheduled to take place outside on South Quad, but citing inclement weather, Captain Patrick Casey moved the event into Loftus. Several members of Pax Christi questioned whether the event was moved because of their planned protest, but Casey denied that claim.
"I made the decision alone amongst my staff and informed the University that it would be moved to Loftus," Casey said. "On Monday at 8:30, the forecast was 42 degrees and wet weather. It was going to be very cold and probably a very muddy field. The weather turned out to be a bit warmer, but the decision was made on Monday."
All News Stories for Thursday, April 19, 2001
