At the University of Iowa, anti-war vandalism has inspired campus ROTC leaders to lift the requirement that cadets wear uniforms to classes. The glass doors to the ROTC office have been smashed, and messages such as "Stop U.S. military research," "Fuck all wars," "Bomb Bush," "USA = EMPIRE," and "Freedom dies when bombs fall" have been painted on buildings around campus. UI ROTC leaders are doing their best to downplay the decision, but the doublespeak that results is telling: "I am not concerned for the safety of the cadets, but I worry that their uniforms may provoke attention from a person who is looking to aim his antiwar sentiments at someone," Lt. Col. Carol St. John, a professor of military science, told the Daily Iowan. Apparently, it's more acceptable at Iowa to suggest that ROTC cadets in uniform are asking for unwanted attention than it is to decry the incivility and threatening behavior of anti-war protesters who have chosen to express themselves through the destruction of property and the threat of violence. The similarity of that logic to the logic that says a woman who wears revealing clothes may provoke her own assault is chilling.

Notice that when it's the ROTC that is targeted by campus vandals, no one yells hate crime. Compare this (which is not being called a hate crime) to this (which is) and behold the double standard in action.

UPDATE: Some readers are taking exception to my observation that the suggestion that ROTC cadets are responsible for preventing their own harassment bespeaks the double standard that surrounds the targeting of various kinds of campus groups. Let it be known that I am not alone in that assessment: Instapundit has spoken.

ANOTHER UPDATE 3/26/03: More language from Col. St. John about the decision to allow cadets not to wear their camouflage to class, this time from today's Chronicle of Higher Education: "We were simply concerned that many cadets walk around campus, and if they are out there they are a very large profile. There are antiwar protests on campus: These are emotional young people who may not respond appropriately."

In what way is that doublespeak? I read the colonel's comment as saying that her cadets can take care of themselves, but she doesn't want them harrassed; I'm sure she doesn't want them to have their uniforms ruined by some idiot throwing paint at them. Remember that these are students who are supposed to concetrate on going to class. Note also that cadets are perfectly free to wear the uniforms, but are not now required to do so. That strikes me as a good tactical decision. Your analogy at the end is absurd. "Chilling"? Hardly.

I have to agree with Michael that the grafitti on the ROTC, while hateful, is not a "hate crime" as that term is commonly understood. The grafitti on the African American coop, however, is clearly targeting the residents because of their race and is despicable. Having said that, despite my support of their right to assembly, I personally find it troubling that some African-Americans choose to self-segregate.

In the article about the vandalism at Berkeley, the author states that the vandalized sign "boasts Africa's national colors." Is there a country called Africa? I though it was a continent.

The Cadets are being asked (albeit by their own ROTC leaders) to stay in the 'military closet' and not parade their military orientation lest it offend others from the majority non-military campus community. Who said the age of irony was over. Ivan

Tommy

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;

--Kippling

Yep, Glenn backs you up, and you're both wrong. Some of the ROTC cadets are juniors and seniors, fully committed to serving; others are freshman and sophomores trying it on for size, seeing if it suits them. All are normally required to wear the uniform on certain days, and the colonel has merely made the tactical decision to let them choose whether to do so. I'd be willing to bet that she has talked with most of them individually or in small groups about what they ought to do and why she made her decision, and I'd be even more willing to bet that she didn't talk to the newspaper about those talks. Remember, this is not basic training, and a lot of these kids are not trained soldiers. The colonel had to make a decision about the best way to ensure the well-being of her troops and their morale based on conditions on the ground. She's there; you're not.