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‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ rally draws 100 near Park Library; reception mixed

By Brian Barton on September 29, 2010 5:00 am in Featured, University / 11 comments

 
‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ rally draws 100 near Park Library; reception mixed
Students surround Owosso junior Sarah Winchester, political co-chair of Spectrum, as a rally to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" military policy begins. "Love not hate, don't discriminate" and "Fight, fight, equal rights" were chanted by the crowd in support of the repeal. (Sara Winkler/Staff Photographer)

CMU students gathered Monday to protest the U.S. military’s upholding of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” a week after its repeal was rejected.

About 100 opponents of the policy gathered outside Charles V. Park Library to let their voices be heard on the issue.

On Sept. 21, efforts to repeal the military’s 17-year-old ban on gays serving openly in uniform fell short of earning the 60 votes needed with the Senate voting 56-43 to keep it.

College Democrats treasurer and Midland senior Adam Federspiel took the microphone and described his frustration with the decision by senators and the situation in the military.

“We’re here to bring awareness of the failure by senators to repeal the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy,” he said, with his statement echoed by boos from the crowd.

The gay and straight alliance group Sprectrum was behind the decision to organize a rally after hearing the results of the recent vote.

“I’m really happy to be doing this. There are a lot of excited people here,” said Owosso junior Sarah Winchester. “I can’t express my disappointment with our leaders right now.”

As Winchester took the microphone, she said many Americans serve for years hiding their relationships. It is a case of little support by leaders for a large majority of people.

“I’m here to make a statement that our leaders have wronged us,” she said.

The crowd of repeal supporters chanted, “Love, not hate, don’t discriminate,” throughout the rally.

“I think the rally went very well,” said Bloomfield Hills junior Alex Meyers. “I would have liked to see more participation from non-Specturm members, but overall it was a success.”

A portion of the rally was also devoted to expressing support for the passing of the DREAM Act.

The proposed bill would grant conditional citizenship to undocumented immigrants who arrive in the country under age 16. The individuals must complete two years of service in the military or two years at a four-year college or university.

“I think the DREAM Act is a great idea,” Meyers said. “America is meant to be the land of the free and if these immigrants are putting time and effort into attending a university, then we as a country should grant them citizenship at least.”

 

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  • Michmediaperson

    The Leaders who went wrong were the Democrats. Ever since Al Franken was declared the winner of the Minnesota race, the Democrats had the votes in the House, Senate and Barack Hussein Obama to sign it………The Democrats did nothing!!!!!!!!

    They could have passed the Dream Act. The Democrats did nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    You can't blame conservatives, Republicans, Rush Limbaugh, George Bush, Dave Camp on this one. We Limbaugh Republicans DID NOT have the votes to stop this from passage. You Libs had control of the House, the 60 votes in the Senate and Obama's signature. It's the fault of Debbie Stabenow, Carl Levin, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, the Michigan Democrats in the House and Obama. They told you during their campaigns they would do this. They lied. There was no Obama Hope and Change. Young people fooled by socialists! Your protests should not be at CMU, but at the offices of Levin, Stabenow and the Democrats.

    Your problem now is with conservative Republicans who will win big this fall, this isn't going to pass for many, many years. Neither one of these items. We're not going to allow it to pass since it will wreck morale in the military and we're sure not going to pass the Dream Act.

    What you should do is boycott the Democrats this fall at the ballot box. Two years ago, I voted for some unknown third party, let John McCain lose and Obama in so he could wreck the economy, the military, raise the deficit and collapse the country……and look what happened……about 58 percent of the country is so upset that they're going to vote conservative Republican this fall and we'll get back the power. We'll boot Obama in 2012. We're going GOP for Governor. Levin and Stabenow will get their unemployment papers the next election.

    Your leaders did wrong you…..Levin, Stabenow, Obama, Biden, Reid, Pelosi. Time to put them on the unemployment line.

  • Khajiit

    I don't believe it is mentioned in the article that the rally was against conservatives, although it was John McCain who filibustered. Why so defensive?

    If service members really cared about whether their brothers and sisters at arms are gay, maybe more than 29% of the 400,000 people surveyed by the Pentagon should have replied.

  • whatev

    you fail for naming your political affiliation after a tv personality. What's next? Snookie Libertarians.

  • PKDan

    I adore that this went on. I wish more people would step forward in more places. Maybe then they'd finally get the message.

  • John

    There is nothing wrong with the policy. If your straight, gay, asexual, or anything else please just keep it to yourself. The sexuality of soldiers shouldn't be a pressing issue for them when they are fighting for us.

  • foxxgirl

    I am amazed that whenever I see a comment about the current leadership of this country. People please use the GOD given sense that was given to each of you, this economy was already in shambles before Pres. Obama took office, please remember we had 16 years of Bush's that took our country to hell in a hand basket created a WAR we didn't even need to be apart of and I can go on and on… People need to be fair and realize that OUR president can't change our economy over night. He has done more for ALL people in this country than the last few presidents we have had.

  • Is Glen Beck a terrorist?

    Except for the fact that only those who are gay are required to hide their orientation in order to avoid being thrown out.

  • Is Glen Beck a terrorist?

    It's an even bigger failure than that, considering Limbaugh is an opiate addict that values family so much, he's moved on to his third wife. That's a “Conservative.”

  • Retired Alumnus

    Anyone who has served in the military would understand that “Don't Ask” actually protects those who are different from harassment. Go through boot camp and then try to argue that being openly gay serves the common good. Right or wrong, that's the reality. If you're not comfortable with that, don't serve – it's that simple. At least we all have a right to choose.

  • Is Glen Beck a terrorist?

    “Anyone who has served in the military would understand that “Don't Ask” actually protects those who are different from harassment.”
    They're being oppressed for their own good; how magnanimous. If they have the courage to face such bigotry openly, why should they be denied?

    It'll serve the common good when the bigots get the punishment deserved for their harassment and the problem gets solved.

    “Right or wrong, that's the reality.”
    So was segregation, for similarly weak reasoning. That got solved.

  • Is Glen Beck a terrorist?

    “Anyone who has served in the military would understand that “Don't Ask” actually protects those who are different from harassment.”
    They're being oppressed for their own good; how magnanimous. If they have the courage to face such bigotry openly, why should they be denied?

    It'll serve the common good when the bigots get the punishment deserved for their harassment and the problem gets solved.

    “Right or wrong, that's the reality.”
    So was segregation, for similarly weak reasoning. That got solved.