Young to assist suspended ROTC gays
Lost scholarships to be replaced with funds found by chancellor
will find alternative funds to replace lost scholarships
By Patrick Marantal
Daily Bruin Contributor
On a stormy January day, Huong Nguyen, an ROTC cadet placed on
leave last May for revealing herself as a bisexual, spoke amid a
crowd of supporters asking Chancellor Charles Young to protect
program members from discrimination.
And nearly a month later, the storms have subsided and Nguyen’s
call to Young has been answered.
"The chancellor has offered to assist students similarly
situated, whose education is threatened because of loss of ROTC
financial support, and find alternative sources of financial aid to
replace those funds," said Diana de Cardenas, a public information
representative speaking for Young. "He will continue to support
students who face this situation and will do everything to assist
them."
Young’s announcement was generally well-received by Nguyen’s
supporters.
"Our goal was to protect cadets in the program because no one
should be forced to choose between being honest and staying in
school," said Ali Beck, Nguyen’s partner and editor in chief of
TenPercent, UCLA’s gay, lesbian and bisexual newsmagazine.
"And if we don’t have a commitment to pick up the scholarships,
that’s exactly the situation we’re creating," Beck added.
And others agree with Young’s stance on Nguyen’s case.
"I think that it is very unfortunate that some students go
through what Huong has," said Charles Outcalt, the director of the
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center. "I’m glad
that the chancellor has found ways to be supportive."
Other supporters agreed that Young did what was appropriate
considering the position he was in.
"I think it’s the best that he (Young) can do. It’s the best
alternative," said Jarret Gorman, a first-year undeclared student.
"At least someone’s trying to help people in the same situation
out."
Nguyen has found alternate means to pay for her education
without any direct support from Young through a part-time job and
financial aid. But Nguyen did go through a trying period when her
ROTC scholarship was temporarily revoked after she was placed on
leave.
"It was difficult when I lost it. I reflected back on how hard I
worked in getting it," Nguyen said. "I put energy in qualifying
myself and also competing in a process that took almost two
years."
Despite the setbacks to her military career, Nguyen has now
shifted roles from a casualty of "don’t ask, don’t tell," to an
active opponent of the Defense Department’s policy on homosexuals.
Nguyen is trying to convince Young to draft and sign an amicus
brief representing UCLA to file in one of the current "don’t ask,
don’t tell" cases being litigated in the court system.
An amicus brief is an official opinion on an ongoing court
case.
Furthermore, Nguyen and Beck are trying to get Young’s statement
written into policy.
"I understand that he has written letters to the Secretary of
Defense and that his next step would be a very positive one,"
Nguyen said. "I really encourage him to take this next step. And
this next step is to sign an amicus brief and write it (the
statement) down on policy so the next chancellor can use
it."Comments to webmaster@db.asucla.ucla.edu