Reserve Officer Training Corps soon might be safe once again in the realm of the public university thanks to a bill on Gov. Jim Edgar’s desk in Springfield.

The proposal, which recently was passed by the state legislature would prohibit Illinois public universities from barring ROTC programs from their campuses.

“The bill has not been acted on yet,” said a representative from the governor’s office. “We don’t know if the governor will veto the bill or let it pass,” he said, adding Sept. 22 is the drop date.

Sen. Judy Baar Topinka, of the 22nd district, said the bill was supported strongly by both parties in the senate and house.

The house voted 100-2, five voting present, and five not voting to pass the bill, Topinka said. There were no negative votes in the senate.

“The bill prohibits the governing boards of public colleges from barring U.S. armed forces training programs or military organizations from their campuses, because the programs or organizations comply with rules and policies of the federal government,” Topinka said.

She said administrations can’t kick an ROTC program off their campus for living up to federal law with compliance of the Supreme Court and following Department of Defense mandates.

Topinka said if anyone has a problem with ROTC, they should take it to their Congressman or the Department of Defense—not to their local ROTC organization.

Topinka said Illinois and the country should be interested in preserving ROTC.

“ROTC provides scholarships especially for minorities and women. Twenty-five percent of all ROTC scholarships go to minorities,” she said.

Topinka said ROTC is one of the very few ways Illinois does get federal dollars.

The senator said it cost the U.S. $45,000 to instruct a citizen in military training in a ROTC program compared to $200,000 to train the average West Point cadet, she said.

Topinka said that ROTC is a quality program. She pointed to the example of Colin Powell, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is the first ROTC graduate to hold that position.

“Noise is beginning to be made in other states on the ROTC issue,” Topinka said.

“Ohio is asking to see our bill. They want to copy it. You may see NIU as the seed that started a movement in the U.S.,” she said.

Topinka said the bill was voted last on June 26. The bill then has 60 days to be signed or vetoed by Edgar. The governor can also let the bill expire in which case it becomes law.

Topinka said she doesn’t see the bill having much trouble being signed.

“The bill moved very smoothly through the legislature,” she said. “It shouldn’t have much of a problem.”

Ann Groves, secretary to President John La Tourette, said the president is just waiting to see if the governor will sign the bill and that the president had no formal comment.