Gay community blasts Law School decision

The Law School decided to allow military recruitment rather than risk losing government funding. The Law School's decision to allow military recruitment on campus despite the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy has left many lesbian, gay and bisexual students struggling to understand the school's motivation. Faculty members voted Monday to cooperate with the federal Solomon Amendment -- which requires law schools to permit military recruiters on their campuses or face the loss of financial aid -- for a period of one year. During that time, a committee of faculty and students will search for ways to combat the loss of government aid. But the decision is in direct violation of the school's non-discrimination policy, many students said. "I'm disappointed with the decision, even though the administration took the issue very seriously," said second-year Law student Todd Foreman, a member of the Queer Law Group. "The next question is whether or not the school is going to amend its non-discrimination policy, because I don't think it's true now." Law Professor Bob Gorman, a member of the committee that recommended approving the decision, said no one attending Monday's faculty meeting was pleased with its outcome. "We reaffirm our non-discrimination policy, and we are looking for ways to keep recruiters out and replace funding," he said. "We profoundly understand the distress recruitment will cause, and we are taking every reasonable step as an institution to combat the law which forced us to [accept recruitment] this year." Gorman stressed that Penn "is marching ahead of the pack of American law schools" by aggressively dealing with the problem, adding that he hopes students will "raise their voices and be heard in protest." Foreman said he expects such protests from the University's lesbian, gay and bisexual community. The Queer Law Group voiced its opinion at a town meeting last Wednesday held by the Faculty/Student Career Planning and Placement committee. And Law students will meet tomorrow to organize further opposition to the decision. Lesbian Gay Bisexual Center Director Bob Schoenberg said he was sympathetic to the Law School's dilemma, but condemned the military's strategy to establish on-campus recruitment. "The way the Defense Department threatened to hold back work study and financial aid is really a low blow in my opinion," he said. "What principle is going to be surrendered next in order to save the bottom line?" Even though most areas of the University currently permit military recruitment, several undergraduates also voiced discontent with the Law School's new policy. "I understand why the Law School faculty voted to allow the recruiters on the grounds," said Engineering senior Dan Weiner, co-chairperson of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Alliance. "However, I find it disheartening that in doing so they are willing to overlook discrimination towards the lesbian, gay and bisexual community."