This diary is about the University of Louisville Lambda Law Caucus opposing JAG recruitment on their campus. While I didn't have anything to do with writing this diary, I am proud to call the author and the activist friends. Please give them words of encouragement by clicking on their names below.
This is reprinted with permission by the author, Jeff Jones. He wrote this, with local information based on an original e-mail from Chris McDavid, a first-year law student at the University of Louisville.
There has been an exciting story going on at the University of Louisville Law School in recent weeks. I wanted to report on it with some help::
BACKGROUND:
In 1994 Congress passed the Solomon Amendment forcing universities that receive Federal funding to allow military recruiters on campus. The Solomon Amendment was the act passed by Congress to punish law schools that do not allow JAG regardless of the school's anti-discrimination policy. The Bush administration interpreted the Solomon Amendment, passed in 1994, to allow them to punish the entire university rather than just the law school for not allowing military recruiters at the law school. Several law schools formed FAIR (Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights), and sued on First Amendment grounds. The case, Rumsfeld v. FAIR, resulted in the US Supreme Court reversing the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and ruling in favor of the government. Some of the justices openly encouraged student and administration protest against JAG and their enforcement of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Basically, the justices' opinion was that schools had to allow JAG to recruit if they took Federal money but that the law schools had an equal right to express their opposition to such discriminatory recruiting.
The American Association of Law Schools requires all accredited law schools to have on-campus recruiters sign a non-discrimination agreement, all except for the military. They also require the administrations to make a statement that the military is only allowed to break our policies because we're under duress from the government, and to ameliorate the loss of career opportunities by providing additional recruiting opportunities for LGBT students.
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
UofL Law School students have a Lambda Law Caucus of GLBT and supportive students. Taking up the justices' urging, they have been involved in a protest against JAG recruitment at UofL. After all, one role of attorneys who will work in JAG is to prosecute and discharge soldiers discovered to be gay/lesbian.
UofL Law School have Air Force JAG doing an informational session on the 14th, and Army JAG doing interviews on the 15th. Lambda Law Caucus (LLC) is circulating a petition asking students to express their opposition to JAG's discriminatory policy, and affirming their
dedication to non-discrimination. They are also asking for a more public opposition by the administration, and pressuring the administration to fund GLBT students' attendance at Lavender Law this fall in Chicago in accordance with the American Association of Law Schools directive. LLC will have info tables all this week asking students to wear ribbons in solidarity with LGBT law students. Finally, they are making the group's presence known at the info sessions by asking questions about JAG discrimination policies. One LLC member says "I found the most effective thing I've said to fellow students has been, "You do realize that part of your job as a JAG officer would be to prosecute people like me in a Don't Ask Don't Tell dispute, don't you?" They don't think about having to uphold the actual policy until you point it out."
The petitions, however, have been repeatedly vandalized and led Associate Dean Trucios-Haynes to issue this email:
It has come to our attention that a student organization's petition relating to military recruitment at the law school, as well as fliers advertising the military recruitment opportunity, have been removed or defaced by one or more unidentified persons. The law school believes strongly in the free and open exchange of information, including information about upcoming events here at the school and on campus, whatever the subject matter. If we learn who has been taking this action, or who does so in the future, the behavior will be the subject of action under the University Code of Student Conduct, and it will not be tolerated.
Enid Trucios- Haynes, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
Timothy Hall, Associate Dean of Student Life
The destruction of the group's petition finally stopped after this email, and LLC has not had any problems with our posters, a modification of WWII propaganda posters for use against Don't Ask Don't Tell. The group also has made postcards out of posters with talking points on the back. Starting today, LLC is handing them out, giving out other info, giving out ribbons, and getting signatures. The Dean wrote a letter in support which the group is displaying. Tomorrow during JAG's info session, LLC and supporters will be wearing OUT JAG t-shirts and standing along the side of the room where they are speaking. The group plans to not be disruptive, but after students have had the opportunity to ask their questions, LLC students are going to question the JAG representatives on things like whether part of the job as a JAG officer would be to prosecute people under DADT, etc.
Several heterosexual women at the Law School also baked triangle-shaped sugar cookies with pink icing that will be handed out at the LLC info table.
Here's the talking points on the back of the Lambda Law Caucus cards:
"You don’t have to be straight to shoot straight." - Sen. Barry Goldwater
· As a JAG officer, part of your job is to enforce the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, prosecuting gay and lesbian soldiers who are serving their country with honor.
· In the past five years, 64 Arab and Farsi linguists have been dismissed under DADT, undermining national security.
· "Don’t Ask" is a myth...service members ask about each other’s private lives every day.
· DADT has cost taxpayers an estimated $363.8 million.
· A 2006 Zogby poll showed that 73% of military personnel are comfortable serving with LGBT soldiers.
· More than 10,000 service members have been expelled since 1994 under DADT.
· There is no other law in the United States requiring an employee be fired for being gay or lesbian.
· 60% of the Iraq coalition forces serve in a military that allows all qualified citizens to serve.
· Gen. John Shalikashvili, the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when DADT was implemented, now says, "[We} must welcome the service of any American who is willing and able to do the job.
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is a discriminatory policy Congress forces upon the Brandeis School of Law in contradiction to our anti-discrimination policy by mandating JAG’s presence. We all pay tuition, but only some of the qualified students are considered by the military recruiters. Until all qualified Brandeis students have equal access to career opportunities, please stand with us against the un-American discrimination policy of the military.