ANNAPOLIS – Maryland’s law schools are considering action against military recruiters in the wake of a federal court ruling earlier this week making it easier for universities to ban them, but the state’s liberal arts colleges say they’ll continue their welcome.
A three-judge panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia ruled that if educational institutions wish to protest the Defense Department policy of excluding gays from military service they have the First Amendment license to do so.
The case involved several law schools challenging the 1996 Solomon Amendment, which denied federal money to institutions blocking military recruitment on campus. The ruling allows universities to ban recruiters without being penalized.
The Supreme Court has yet to hear the case, so most schools are wary about obstructing recruiters.
“If the ruling becomes final, I anticipate a number of universities will take action,” said Carl Monk, executive director of the American Association of Law Schools.
Certain law schools nationwide are limiting the presence of recruiters, but most have not completely barred them.
“I wouldn’t expect that we would stand at the door to the career center and prohibit them from entering,” said Gilbert Holmes, dean at University of Baltimore’s law school. “But we might limit their use of law school facilities.”
The law schools at the University of Baltimore and University of Maryland, College Park are members of the American Association of Law Schools, which has a policy explicitly prohibiting schools from providing employment opportunities that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.
“It is up to each law school, but it would violate membership requirements if they continue to allow military recruiters on campus,” said Monk.
Although the University System of Maryland has a similar policy which prohibits recruiters from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation, most Maryland campuses don’t forecast a ban anytime soon.
“We have always allowed military recruiters,” said George Cathcart, University of Maryland, College Park communications director. “If there was any revision to the policy I don’t think we would do it this quickly.”
But law schools and universities statewide may face increased pressure from civil rights groups and proponents like Monk if the Supreme Court upholds the recent decision.
“It is something that would organically have to spring up on various campuses,” said Dan Furmansky, executive director of Equality Maryland, a gay civil right’s organization.
But there aren’t many grassroots efforts being made yet.
“College Park might have student groups that would oppose military groups but we don’t have them here,” said Carol Williamson, Salisbury University’s vice president of student affairs.
University administrators view military recruiters as a career opportunity for their students they are not ready to relinquish.
“Our philosophy of career placement is that there are opportunities presented to students and students choose to take advantage of them,” said Catherine Gira, Frostburg University’s president. “We don’t believe we should limit those opportunities.”
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