For years, universities have facilitated military recruiters
despite discriminatory policies against gays.
Now, some schools may be able to change their policy after a
court ruling upheld the right of universities to bar discriminatory
groups ““ including the federal government.
But despite the ruling, UCLA should not block recruiters from
visiting campus.
Certainly, the military is wrong to discriminate against gays.
The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is a
euphemism that only perpetuates prejudice and inequality. It is
understandable that higher education institutions would want to
isolate themselves from such a philosophy.
But the Third Circuit court ruling does not apply directly to
UCLA. And even if it did, the university should be a welcome host
to controversial issues and dissenting viewpoints.
The ruling is a positive precedent in the gay rights struggle,
but if there is a place where military recruiters can do little
damage, it is on a campus like UCLA. Analyzing the impact of
recruiters at high schools in rural America or malls in poor urban
centers might be more meaningful.