When the Navy Came to Campus: Columbia’s Navy ROTC Debate

Content warning: This episode discusses issues of sexual abuse and assault.  Welcome back to The Ear, Spectator’s podcast dedicated to documenting, excavating, and investigating Columbia’s past and present. In this week’s episode, reporter Annie Cheng traces the history of Columbia’s Navy ROTC program—from its establishment post-World War II to its discontinuation after the 1968 Vietnam War protests—and the contentious debate over the program’s return in 2011. What does the history of the Navy ROTC reveal about Columbia’s relationship with the military? And how does the debate over the Navy ROTC reflect a larger debate over Columbia’s institutional identity? Listen to find out! Credits: • Reported by Annie Cheng • Produced by Patrick Simpson • Music from Matthew Lucia, Sam Hyman, and "Palm in Mirror" by Disparation • Script edited by Sam Hyman and Cole Cahill • Sound effects provided via Freesound and Soundjay