Liberty's Blog: Supreme Court Rules for Millitary Recruiters

Monday, March 06, 2006

Supreme Court Rules for Millitary Recruiters

If schools want federal money than they must allow millitary recuiters an opportunity on campus. Restrictions on the campuses was based on the colleges objections to the "don't ask don't tell" policy, which is a policy that is based mostly in good old common sense. The Supreme Court decided unanimously that if the colleges want to accept federal money, than they have to accept the recruiters on campus. As Jim Dallas guest blogger on Off the Kuff says, "that those law schools which sued the government recently were trying to take the money and run, so to speak." I agree.

A unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday that universities that get federal funds must allow military recruiters on campus, even if their law schools oppose the Pentagon's policy prohibiting openly gays and lesbians from serving.
The high court upheld as constitutional a federal law dating back to 1994 that allows the government to withhold money from universities that deny military recruiters the same access to campuses given to other employers.

I do find one part of the ruling a little disturbing. As reported by the Houston Chronicle.

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.

That doesn't sound right. I'm no constutional expert, but as I understand it, it's unconstutional for our military to demand quarter. Its purely an accademic matter though, no liberal college is likely to forego federal money, and Congress would be pretty unlikely to actually force the issue.