'Don't ask' policy okays descrimination

Author: Kevin Moss, Professor of Russian

When the faculty discussed barring the military from recruiting on campus, some of my colleagues suggested that it would increase diversity in the military if they could recruit Middlebury students. On the one hand, I find it curious to use a "more diversity" argument to support a policy that explicitly excludes a whole class of people - homosexuals. The argument about more economic or educational diversity seems to segue into an argument that more Middlebury-type students in the military might make it a more tolerant institution. In a submission printed in The Middlebury Campus last week, Dan Morosani spelled out the second argument, suggesting that Middlebury students might "help to liberalize the military." Unfortunately, the students in the Marine Corp's Platoon Leaders Class program don't seem to be likely to do this. Morosani, for one, supports the policy. As we stood in silence in the cold that Wednesday - yes, there were faculty and staff in the protest - another student refused a flier as he walked by. "You don't want to give me that," he said, "I'm in the program." If more Middlebury students in the military will help to liberalize it, it is hard to see how from this small sample. I am also troubled by the refusal of a Middlebury student - like that of Capt. Doucette before - to really engage or study the issue at all - don't ask, don't tell, don't even look at the facts. I know there are more tolerant service members, and the military could simply demand that service members treat everyone equally, as it did with racial integration. Why is it that soldiers can be ordered to kill and be killed, but not to serve alongside a gay colleague? Is it really that much harder? Are we that much scarier than the enemy's weapons?

While there is opposition to allowing gays in the military both in the armed forces and in society, it is not, in fact, as strong as the opposition to integration was in the 40s. Now I think even Capt. Doucette would agree that a segregated military is wrong. Today not allowing gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military is wrong. Blackmailing colleges and universities who stand up for their non-discrimination policies is wrong. Caving in to that blackmail is wrong.

To their credit, of my two dozen plus faculty colleagues who voted to give the military a special exception to our non-discrimination policy - special rights? - none spoke out in favor of discrimination or "Don't Ask Don't Tell." But I wonder if they would make the same arguments about "diversity," compromising with political realities, or bowing to financial or legal pressure if it were blacks or Jews being excluded. If they would and could still live with their consciences in that case, then fine. If not, though, I would urge them to consider why and to consider what that distinction means. Might they not be just a tiny little bit more willing to sacrifice the rights of our gay and lesbian students?