Although some people might not agree with President George Bush’s stand on the Persian Gulf Crisis, some members of NIU’s ROTC take the same stand.

At a Sunday morning press conference in Helsinki, Finland, Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev emphasized the need for a political solution and said the Soviet Union would not support a military move against Iraq.

But President Bush said the possibility of the United States using military force has not been ruled out if trade restrictions do not work.

However, Bush and Gorbachev agreed the best solution would be a peaceful solution.

Some members of NIU’s Reserved Officers Training Corps said they agree with Bush’s stand on the Persian Gulf Crisis.

However, ROTC Capt. Richard Walker said the ROTC does not usually take a stand on such issues because, he said, “our job is to develop leaders and train people.”

Walker said “students would look at it (the Persian Gulf Crisis) one way and instructors would look at it differently.”

Yet he said, “Whatever we’re called to do, we’ll do.”

OTC member George Carbray, a junior criminology major, said he agrees with Bush “wholeheartedly. I think it’s pretty much at a stalemate. We’re just waiting for (Iraqi President Suddam) Hussein to make a move.

“The U.S. won’t make a move, but if Hussein makes it war, we’re ready to act,” he said.

“I think it could escalate into war,” said Lori Durkowicz, an organizational corporate communications major and ROTC member. “But I think we’re doing the right thing having people over there.”

The Associated Press and CBS reported Monday that almost 200,000 U.S. troops are in the Persian Gulf. Problems began Aug. 2 when Iraq invaded oil-rich Kuwait.

Durkowicz said she is not worried that the ROTC would be sent to fight for the U.S. The ROTC would not be called for duty but the Army Reserves could be called to fight for the country, she said.

OTC Capt. Kenneth Elliott said students are not subject to be called for duty simply because they are enrolled in ROTC classes. However, if a student is a member of the ROTC and also in a Guard Reserved Unit or has contracted with the United States Army, he or she is eligible for duty in the Persian Gulf Crisis.