The Department of Defense would be “disappointed” if ROTC left NIU, but the program’s policy of banning homosexuals from becoming officers will not change.

J. Carroll Moody, executive secretary of the Univerity Council, got a letter Friday supporting the military’s position from Col. Ted Borek, director of Legislation and Legal Policy.

The letter stated “we do not plan to reassess the Department’s policy on homosexuality, though we will comply with any final court orders on the subject.”

Moody said the letter basically restated the DOD’s policy. On behalf of the council, Moody warned the DOD to change the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps homosexual-banning policies within two years or the program would be kicked off NIU’s campus.

The DOD’s letter stated the military does not discriminate on the basis of religion, national or ethnic origin, race, color or sex, but “the unique requirements of military service, however, do necessitate the establishment of certain essential, and legally permissible, enlistment and comissioning criteria.

“For example, in addition to being of heterosexual orientation, applicants must meet minimum and maximum age, mental, physical, moral, loyalty and citizenship standards,” the letter stated.

“Homosexual conduct is by no means generally accepted in our society,” it said.

The letter included a list of reasons why “the presence of homosexuals in the military adversely affects” the military, including:

*the ability to foster mutual trust and confidence among members

*the ability to ensure the integity of the system of rank and command

*to facilitate assignment and world-wide deployment of members who frequently must live and work under close conditions affording minimal privacy

*to maintain the public acceptability of military service

*in certain circumstances, to prevent breaches of security

The letter also stated that the “courts have protected military recruiting activities against local authorities seeking to enforce ordinances barring discrimination on the basis of sexual preference.”