Court Upholds Campus Military Recruiting

Colleges & Universities Service Academy Parents
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<p>Court Upholds Campus Military Recruiting
By GINA HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer </p>

<p>WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday that colleges that accept federal money must allow military recruiters on campus, despite university objections to the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays. </p>

<p>Justices rejected a free-speech challenge from law schools and their professors who claimed they should not be forced to associate with military recruiters or promote their campus appearances.</p>

<p>Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the court, said that the campus visits are an effective military recruiting tool.</p>

<p>“A military recruiter’s mere presence on campus does not violate a law school’s right to associate, regardless of how repugnant the law school considers the recruiter’s message,” he wrote.</p>

<p>The ruling upheld a law that requires colleges that take federal money to accommodate recruiters. In addition, justices said that Congress could directly demand military access on campus, even without the threat of losing federal money.</p>

<p>Law schools had become the latest battleground over the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy allowing gay men and women to serve in the military only if they keep their sexual orientation to themselves.</p>

<p>Many universities forbid the participation of recruiters from public agencies and private companies that have discriminatory policies.</p>

<p>The ruling was announced on a day that the court was jammed with visitors from the military, all dressed in uniform. Justices heard arguments in the case in December, and signaled then that they were concerned about hindering a Defense Department need to fill its ranks when the nation is at war.</p>

<p>“This is an important victory for the military and ultimately for our national security,” said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice.</p>

<p>College leaders have said they could not afford to lose federal help, some $35 billion a year.</p>

<p>Joshua Rosenkranz, the attorney for the challengers of the law, said that the case called attention to the military policy.</p>

<p>“We lost a skirmish in a much larger civil rights battle for the rights of gays and lesbians, which is a movement we are winning,” he said.</p>

<p>Roberts, writing his third decision since joining the court last fall, said there are other less drastic options for protesting the policy. “Students and faculty are free to associate to voice their disapproval of the military’s message,” he wrote.</p>

<p>“Recruiters are, by definition, outsiders who come onto campus for the limited purpose of trying to hire students — not to become members of the school’s expressive association,” he wrote.</p>

<p>The federal law, known as the Solomon Amendment after its first congressional sponsor, mandates that universities give the military the same access as other recruiters or forfeit federal money.</p>

<p>Roberts filed the only opinion, which was joined by every justice but Samuel Alito. Alito did not participate because he was not on the bench when the case was argued.</p>

<p>“The Solomon Amendment neither limits what law schools may say nor requires them to say anything,” Roberts wrote.</p>

<p>The case is Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights, 04-1152.</p>

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<p>I really see no problems with recruiters coming to our campus. They usually sit quitely at their table but are really nice to talk to (even if you are not interested in enlisting). Sometimes they try to convince me to enlist but once i tell them im applying to a service academy, they usually just share a common military bond.</p>

<p>I still think its completely fair that recruiters can come on campus as it is fair for all other companies (i see UPS almost every day at our place!) to offer information and collect information as well.</p>

<p>EDIT:
I also think its NEEDED given the fact how thinstretched our military is. With the numbers are the way they are, Im worried that future operations (Iran, Korea, etc) will stretch our military too thin…</p>

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<p>Yup—recruiting on campus is A-OK with me too.</p>

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<p>enlisted recruiters around here are kind of annoying. i told an army reserve guy i wanted to go to west point. he asked me if i considered doing army reserve while at west point (w.tf.o?). Also, my USAFA bound friend talked to a usmc recruiter who did nothing but spread misinformation… most people who graduate USAFA dont become officers, etc.</p>

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<p>I believe the court case was primarily directed at universities, but would extend to high schools as well.
Taffy, we are always concerned about mis-information by recruiters, but most of life is “buyer beware!” and “trust but verify.”<br>
Personally, there are so many groups, oddball, patriotic, artistic, etc. allowed on campuses, I never saw how they could NOT have recruiters - if you have corporate recruiters from all over, how could they not allow the US military? I am glad this is finally resolved. But anyone should do their research before signing on any dotted line.</p>

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<p>At my daughter’s university, the recruiters are pretty much treated worse than a terrorist. She is disgusted by the student body and faculty and their behavior. At Jake’s high school, I am happy to say that they are allowed on campus as well as all other organizations. Jake has gotten some cool stuff especially from the marines. If you can do a lot of pushups, you can get shirts, mugs. Jake and his friends look forward to when they come to campus.</p>

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<p>There has recently been a big stink in mid-Missouri because it “was discovered” that recruiters are given lists with every senior in high school’s name and phone number on it. A girl from St. Louis joined up and died over in Afghanistan/Iraq, and now her parents are starting a campaign to stop recruiters from “getting into the public schools.”</p>

<p>I have several problems with this. Obviously, their daughter joined for a reason – either because she believed in the cause or she knew that was a way to be assured a job when she graduated from high school or because they offered her college money that she wouldn’t have had otherwise. But if their daughter was legally an adult, I don’t see why they’re going on such a crusade – she made a decision, and sacrificed everything for her country. I respect that greatly, and wish I could have thanked her (and all the others who do the same) for her mature decision.</p>

<p>It’s always in the back of my mind when I hear about people who don’t want to allow recruiters to try to make contacts – what would happen if we went to war and the military were so low we needed to start a draft (gee, sound familiar?)? What would have happened in Louisiana and Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina if National Guardsmen and reservists hadn’t responded? Yes, there is a strong network of civilians in our country, but I strongly believe there is a need for military preparedness as well. I wish more people would stop thinking of life in the military as “throwing your potential away” (yes, I have had this said to my face) and start seeing it as an honorable job that is, in some respects, the same as any civilian job and in other respects, much more important.</p>

<p>Sorry for the little rant :)</p>

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<p>Lots of recruiting activity at USC here is So Cal, as well as three very active ROTC units—Army, AF, and Navy.</p>

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<p>The same at “our” USC as well. I can’t see too much harm in it myself. There are so many kids out there that have no real direction and they don’t know much about the military. The education is there for them to make good choices if they do decide its for them. Not so crazy about them hanging out at our high school though. College is better.</p>