An Illinois senator is trying to keep NIU from banning the Reserved Officer Training Corps because some feel it discriminates against homosexuals.

Sen. Judy Topinka (R-North Riverside) will introduce a bill banning public universities from barring any military training programs because of the Department of Defense’s policy.

The basis of the bill comes from a ruling by the Supreme Court upholding the Department of Defense’s right to deny promotions to officer status on the basis of sexual preference.

However, the bill would not prohibit NIU from banning ROTC altogether, said Dave Elder, a staff member to Topinka.

Elder said the bill only would apply when the reason for a ban is because of the homosexual policy.

Staff members to Topinka also are saying the bill was made to protect students who will get money from ROTC to get through school.

The March 7, 1992 deadline to review the ROTC, set by the University Council this year, will come up during the next academic year. Student Association Campus Welfare Adviser Curt Stein forewarned the SA senate at Sunday’s meeting about the deadline.

Last year, the Student Association did not support a ROTC ban.

The University Council decided it would review the ROTC in March.

If the university decides to get rid of the program, the ROTC will have a year to pull out from NIU.

NIU’s constitution does not discriminate against homosexuals.

Council member Sherman Stanage led the movement to give ROTC a deadline last year. He said at a council meeting last year that the deadline would be a test of NIU’s commitment to human rights.

However, Maj. Keith Wettig, the information officer of the NIU ROTC, said the unit is not worried about getting booted from the university because of the Supreme Court’s decision.

“This is a Department of Defense issue, not an ROTC issue,” Wettig said.

University Council members could not be reached for comment.

The bill is being closely watched by the Illinois Student Association, but the ISA has not taken a stand on the issue, ISA Field Representative Brian Monohan said.