"Those characteristics that are so valuableabout a Harvard education are not going to bepresent in young officers," says Lt. Col. BucknerCreel, professor of military science at MIT. Creelsays, a Harvard student was the top-ranked cadetat this summer's ROTC training camp at Fort Bragg.Such students are "the Colin Powells of 25 yearsfrom now," he says.

But Powell's name, a compliment in any militarysetting, means something different to the gay,bisexual and lesbian students who protested hispresence at Harvard's Commencement this spring.

And the University's link to ROTC for many ofthese students is a reminder of a policy that barsthem based on their sexual orientation."Discrimination against gays is unacceptable,"says Dennis K. Lin '93-'94, co-chair of theBisexual, Gay and Lesbian Students Association.

And he says he expects a "heavy backlash" afterthe disappointment of the Clinton administration'sJuly announcement.

Lin stresses that he does not blame or condemnindividual students for the policy of the nation'smilitary. "We're going to be opposed to havingthem on campus, he says. "I feel very bad aboutthat, but I feel like I have no choice."

So finally, it is once again up to theUniversity and to MIT to make a choice on the ROTCissue, as it has been for over five years.

"We're in the midst of a process that beganback in 1990," says Ronald P. Sudviko '72,assistant to the president at MIT for governmentand community relations. "I think our evaluationstill continues.