Reading Geoff Heiple's Viewpoint letter on Friday, I was both saddened and frustrated by the University's decision banning cadences, camoflauge on campus and the use of rubber weapons in training exercises. At a time when the rest of our nation is uniting behind our leaders and military personnel — those who are serving and protecting us in this time of tragedy and unrest — the administration at Notre Dame has done the exact opposite.

We should be showing our support and gratitude to the students who are sacrificing and preparing to serve and protect our country in the Notre Dame ROTC program. Instead, the University has only shown these men and women disrespect by placing unfair restrictions upon them, hiding behind the ridiculous excuse that ROTC is "scaring" the student body. Please.

On Saturday, only a day after learning about the new (and absurd) ROTC policy, I became even more frustrated while in the stands at the West Virginia game. After every touchdown, P.A.T. and field goal, the West Virginia Mountaineer mascot fired his rifle into the air in celebration. Apparently when football is involved, the University can be as hypocritical as it wants. It is acceptable for the West Virginia Mountaineer to fire multiple shots in the midst of 80,112 cheering fans, but unacceptable for our ROTC cadets to wear camoflauge, sing cadences and train with rubber weapons. I guess in the University's eyes, the opposing team deserves more respect than those students who will soon serve and protect our nation.

Malia Lam

senior

Lyons Hall

Oct. 14, 2001

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