Yale Law, Newly Defeated, Allows Military Recruiters

RightinNYC · 10-02-07, 12:04 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/01/ny...84d&ei=5087%0A

Quote:

For five years, Yale Law School has fought to restrict military recruiters from its job fairs because of the Pentagon’s policy that bars openly gay or bisexual people from the military. But with the federal government threatening to withhold $350 million in grants if the university does not assist the recruiters, that fight will all but end on Monday.

After an appeals court ruled in favor of the Defense Department on Sept. 17, the law school said it would allow recruiters from the Air Force and Navy to participate in a university-sponsored job interview program for law students on Monday afternoon. For now, the legal battle to stop the recruiters is over, said Robert A. Burt, a Yale law professor and the lead plaintiff in the case.

Quote:

At question is a statute called the Solomon Amendment, which allows the federal government to withhold funds from universities that do not extend the same welcome to military recruiters as they do to other recruiters.

Since 1978, Yale Law School has required recruiters to sign a pledge of nondiscrimination. Military recruiters would not do that because of the Defense Department’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which permits homosexuals to serve in the armed forces as long as they keep their sexual orientation private.

But in 2002, the federal government threatened to withhold the millions it grants to Yale every year, mostly for medical and scientific research, if the law school did not accommodate the recruiters. The law school complied, but 45 members of its faculty filed suit, challenging the law as an infringement on free speech and association as well as academic freedoms. (Yale College has not restricted the activities of military recruiters.)

A district court agreed in 2005, and the law school again ceased to assist military recruiters. But in a broader case, the United States Supreme Court last year unanimously sided against a consortium of about three dozen law schools and universities seeking to bar recruiters from their campuses.

Quote:

Still, that did not lessen the ruling’s sting for gay rights advocates like Sara Jeruss, a third-year law student and the co-chairwoman of OutLaws, an organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students at the law school.

“We’re disappointed by it,” Ms. Jeruss said recently in an interview. “We obviously wish the government wasn’t forcing discrimination on us.”

Oh, you poor baby. You have to suffer the indignity of knowing that at some point during your three years, someone will set foot on the campus who is forced by Congress to adhere to a policy they probably don't even agree with.

These kids need to get over themselves. Nobody is forcing them to interview with the military recruiters, nobody is even forcing them to talk to them. The way OCI works, it's very likely that no student will even SEE the recruiters unless they actively seek them out.

But of course, as they have in the past few years, contingents of hippie law students from all over will march in protest, scream at the recruiters, and try to block them from physically entering the campus.

Here's an idea - if you have a problem with a policy that the military has, rather than freaking out on the recruiters who are simply trying to talk to students interested in serving, why don't you yell at the (Democratic) Congress who has the power to change this?

chevydriver1123 · 10-02-07, 12:08 PM

Since Yale is privately funded they have the right to do what they want. But I do think its pathetic that they wont let our armed forces recruit at their college.

tristanrobin · 10-02-07, 12:10 PM

They have always had recruiters in the past.

They objected when DADT became regulation. They are a no-discriminatory campus.

They would be happy to have the recruiters back when DADT is repealed.

The recruiters aren't actually on campus - they're at the Omni Hotel (about a five minute walk from campus).

Chevy, nobody is questioning their right. They are questioning the federal funding that is lost if they refuse.

RightinNYC · 10-02-07, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevydriver1123

Since Yale is privately funded they have the right to do what they want. But I do think its pathetic that they wont let our armed forces recruit at their college.

The issue is that they aren't privately funded. Yale receives $350,000,000 each year from the federal government. As a prerequisite to receiving that money, they have to allow military recruiters on campus. Up until this year they've managed, by virtue of lawsuits, to keep recruiters off while still getting the money. Now that the SCOTUS has decided 8-0 against them, they are forced with taking the money or standing on their principles. They chose the money.

RightinNYC · 10-02-07, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tristanrobin

They have always had recruiters in the past.

They objected when DADT became regulation. They are a no-discriminatory campus.

They would be happy to have the recruiters back when DADT is repealed.

And the federal government is happy to give them the funding when they are in compliance with federal statutes.

Quote:

The recruiters aren't actually on campus - they're at the Omni Hotel (about a five minute walk from campus).

It was my impression that the interviews themselves are taking place on campus, which is the issue.

new coup for you · 10-02-07, 12:16 PM

like someone that got into Yale would join the millitary

RightinNYC · 10-02-07, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new coup for you

like someone that got into Yale would join the millitary

One particular one sticks out in my mind...

Quote:

Teddy Pataki, son of N.Y. State Gov. George Pataki, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marines Corps, Saturday June 25.

More than 50 family members, elected officials, former Marines and N.Y. State Police Officers gathered at Pataki's residence in Garrison, N.Y., for the formal ceremony of the Yale University graduate.

...

Pataki is now in the individual ready reserves and will be attending Fordham Law School, Bronx, N.Y. for the next three years. According to the standards of Platoon Leaders Class law program, upon graduation and completion of the Bar and ethics exam, Pataki will them come on active duty and begin his three and a half year obligation to the Marine Corps. He will attend The Basic School in Quantico, VA, then nine week Judge Advocate General course and assigned to his first duty station where he will become a military lawyer.

Though he did also say this:

Quote:

Pataki, a 22-year-old native of Peekskill, N.Y., began seeking out information from the Marine Corps in February 2004 during his junior year at Yale. His interest peaked during a mundane summer internship working in a cubicle. He said at that time he wanted something more challenging, more adventurous.

As a football player and fraternity president, his peers respected and admired his choice to take the commission and become a Marine officer, however, it was a shock to Yale as not that many of the students choose to serve in the military. “It doesn’t affect me,” Pataki said. “This is something that I wanted to do.”

new coup for you · 10-02-07, 12:26 PM

he was a football player and in a fraternity. I wonder how he got into Yale.

WI Crippler · 10-02-07, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new coup for you

he was a football player and in a fraternity. I wonder how he got into Yale.

You know Yale. Perennial football powerhouse

They are known for accepting marginally acceptable academic qualifiers into their program so they can win national championships.

Oh wait, nevermind, they don't play in the SEC.

chevydriver1123 · 10-02-07, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new coup for you

he was a football player and in a fraternity. I wonder how he got into Yale.

In addition being Pataki's son but thats besides the point at hand.