NEW HAVEN Conn.
Yale Law School prepared Wednesday to end its policy of not working with military recruiters after a court ruling this week jeopardized about $300 million in federal funding.
Yale, along with other universities, has objected to the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that allows gay men and women to serve in the military only if they keep their sexual orientation to themselves.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Yale on Monday, rejecting its argument that its right to academic freedom was infringed by a federal law that says universities must give the military the same access as other job recruiters or forfeit federal money.
“The fact is we have been forced under enormous pressure to acquiescence in a policy that we believe is deeply offensive and harmful to our students,” said Robert Burt, a Yale law professor who was lead plaintiff in the case.
The funding loss would devastate the university’s medical research into cancer, heart disease and other illnesses, Burt said.
Yale Law School policy requires all recruiters to sign a nondiscrimination pledge, which the Pentagon has not done. Burt predicted that requirement would be waived when faculty vote on the policy Wednesday afternoon.
