At approximately 4 p.m., 60 JROTC students and JROTC supporters from Lincoln

Boarded two buses headed for 555 Franklin St., the SFUSD school district office in order to attend a Board of Education meeting based around the issue of keeping or ridding the school district of the program. There were two very distinct issues that were to be addressed at the meeting; JROTC as a viable program that teaches valuable curriculum, and the presence of recruiting officers in the program. The meeting began promptly at 5:30 and was extended ‘till 6:50 in the evening.

An estimated 100 JROTC enrolled students from each school arrived to support the program. Although the Irving G. Breyer meeting room could only hold 136 people, many stood outside in the reception area and outside the building. Within the meeting room was predominantly Lincoln JROTC students with a few other from Mission and Lowell. Signs reading “Save JROTC” and “JROTC is my choice” flooded the room. Aside from supportive students, many anti-JROTC individuals arrived to push for the closure of the program.

First, the floor was opened up to all speakers who registered to speak in support of JROTC. 50 speakers composed of current and former cadets, teachers, principles from other schools and parents of students enrolled in the program from around the city spoke on behalf of the program. They praised it for it’s ability to build positive characteristics in students such as self-esteem, leadership, discipline, good citizenship and that it helped students in their academic lives. Such speakers from Lincoln included Principle Ronald Pang, SAI Col Robert L. Powell, Activities Director Rosemary Kampkar, P.E. teacher Rick Boyle, Student Delegate, senior Allen Wong, sophomore Vienna Luu, junior Jeffrey Webb, junior Jeffrey Sie, junior Stephanie Wong, junior David Ziman, junior Winfield Yee, and senior Matthew Grove. All students who spoke were enrolled JROTC students.

Following those speakers were those opposing the program. They were composed of worried parents, ex-soldiers and anti-war activists. Counterpoints they provided were that JROTC was recruiting tool used by the government, that army life was presented in a more favorable light in order to encourage enlistment after high school, and that minorities were being slowly manipulated into joining the military. All speakers were given one minute to speak. After all the registered speakers spoke, the floor opened up to anyone else who wished to speak. But they were only allotted 30 seconds.

Following this was a conversation held by the board members on the issues and what course of actions could be taken. All members seemed to agree that valuable lessons were being learned from the program, but that the military presence was something one that bothered all the members. A task force is being assembled in order to look into alternative means to teach students the same skills and lessons as the JROTC program, but without a military funded program and presence being necessary. Board President Eric Mar then ended the meeting saying the issue would be discussed further.

“This was a very good opportunity for young people to educate the board about the role of the JROTC department on many campuses,” Eric Mar said. “ I feel very uncomfortable about the presence of a military funded program in our schools however.”