Naval ROTC Hinges Upon Professorship

Naval ROTC will leave Harvard when the Corporation terminates the professorship of Naval Science, Capt. Thomas J. Moriarty, commanding officer of NROTC and professor of Naval Science, said yesterday.

The Faculty-adopted SFAC resolution requests the Corporation to terminate the Faculty appointments of the present instructors of ROTC courses "as soon as possible after the end of the current academic year."

Federal Law

Moriarty said that without a professorship, NROTC could not remain at Harvard without violating a Federal law which states that no ROTC unit may be maintained at an institution unless "the senior commissioned officer of the armed force concerned, who is assigned to the program at that institution, is given the academic rank of professor."

Moriarty said that he could only interpret the Faculty's decision on ROTC as withdrawing ROTC's "invitation" to remain at Harvard. He added that the Faculty is mistaken if it expects NROTC to violate Federal law or to go to Congress to change the law.

The Faculty-adopted resolution on ROTC calls for providing "scholarship funds where need is created" for ROTC students at Harvard.

Matching The Navy

Moriarty said that despite the resolution, Harvard would fall $130,000 short of matching the Navy Moriarty pointed out that the Navy, unlike the financial aid office, does not award scholarships solely on need and has paid $180,000 this year to NROTC students whereas the financial aid office, at SFAC hearings last October estimated the need of NROTC students at $50,000.

Indignant alumni and other fans beseiged the Army ROTC office with telephone calls after Tuesday's Faculty meeting, protesting the change in ROTC's status. Dean Ford's secretary also reported two calls, one from "an angry lady who wouldn't tell me what she was angry about."

Some callers, a secretary in the ROTC office said, suggested ROTC call "certain individuals" on the Board of Overseers.

Yesterday Moriarty issued a statement on the current position of NROTC, guaranteeing continued financial aid to regular NROTC Midshipmen who still want to seek a commission. For all men still interested, NROTC will "provide a means by which commissioning requirements will be met, either on or off campus."

'Limbo'

For the 1969-1970 NROTC program, Moriarty said that he has ordered the end of the 'recruiting effort." He described Harvard's NROTC unit as being "in a sort of limbo."