( CNN ) -- The presidents of Harvard and Yale universities have expressed interest in ROTC programs after Congress voted to repeal the military 's controversial `` do n't ask , do n't tell '' policy that has banned openly gay and lesbian service members . The universities ' statements come five months after Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan , then a Supreme Court nominee , came under criticism by Republican senators who complained that she actively tried to block military recruiters from Harvard Law School when she was dean because of the `` do n't ask , do n't tell '' policy . Kagan and the White House have strongly defended her actions , saying that while she opposed the military 's policy , Kagan never kept recruiters off the university . Four months after taking the job as Harvard 's dean , in October 2003 , Kagan offered students her thoughts in a campus-wide e-mail , saying that to give recruiters equal access to the campus `` causes me deep distress . I abhor the military 's discriminatory recruitment policy . '' She called it `` a profound wrong - a moral injustice of the first order . '' In a written statement , Harvard President Drew Faust called the act to repeal `` do n't ask , do n't tell '' a `` historic step . '' `` It affirms American ideals of equal opportunity and underscores the importance of the right to military service as a fundamental dimension of citizenship , '' Faust said . `` I look forward to pursuing discussions with military officials and others to achieve Harvard 's full and formal recognition of ROTC . I am very pleased that more students will now have the opportunity to serve their country . '' Yale University President Richard C. Levin said in a written statement that Yale is `` eager to open discussions about expanding opportunities for students interested in military service '' and will discuss the matter with the faculty of the college in the spring semester . `` Meanwhile , I have asked General Counsel Dorothy Robinson , Secretary Linda Lorimer and Yale College Dean Mary Miller to consult with officials in Washington early in the new year to determine the military¹s interest in establishing an ROTC unit at Yale , '' Levin said . `` We are very hopeful that these discussions will enable us to begin a new chapter in the long history of Yale 's support of the U.S. Armed Services . '' President Barack Obama will sign the repeal on Wednesday morning , the White House has said , setting the stage to allow gay people to serve openly in the military . But the changes are n't expected to take effect for at least a few months . The Pentagon has an 87-page implementation plan for the repeal of `` do n't ask , do n't tell . '' Over the next several weeks , military officials need to examine and rewrite a series of policies , regulations and directives related to the current law . Once that potentially lengthy process is complete , Obama , Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen will each have to certify that the repeal can move ahead without negatively affecting unit cohesion and military readiness . After the certification , another 60 days will need to pass before the repeal is officially enacted . Even after the repeal , gay and lesbian service members will not have every right and privilege accorded to heterosexual members of the military , largely because of the federal Defense of Marriage Act . A Pentagon study released this month concluded that allowing openly gay or lesbian troops to serve in the military would have little lasting impact on the U.S. armed forces . Opposition to the change was much higher in Army and Marine combat units than in the military as a whole . CNN 's Bill Mears , Barbara Starr , Larry Shaughnessy and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report .
Congress votes to repeal the military 's policy banning openly gay and lesbian members . Harvard president : `` It affirms American ideals of equal opportunity '' Yale is `` eager '' to open talks about expanding opportunities for students interested in military service .