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Gay ban may keep military off Chabot

Don't Ask Don't Tell may violate college's nondiscrimination policy

By Katy Murphy / Oakland Tribune

HAYWARD — This semester, Chabot College modified its nondiscrimination policy to include sexual orientation.

Friday afternoon, student leaders challenged the Chabot College Council, chaired by President Robert Carlson, to uphold that policy by taking a stand against allowing military recruiters on campus.

Since the U.S. military doesn't allow openly gay members, the students argue, it should be considered a discriminatory employer and banned from recruiting on campus.

"We are really talking about the violation that's taking place on campus," Shwanika Narayan, a member of Chabot College's student government, said after the meeting. "The subject is not about military recruiting. It's about people not having a fair environment."

The college council discussion took place just days after the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would consider whether universities can ban military recruiters on the basis of discrimination policies without risking the loss of federal funds.

The federal law in question, the Solomon Amendment, requires colleges and universities to grant the military the same access to their campuses as other employers.

While students and faculty engaged in a spirited discussion Friday at the Hayward campus, the council postponed any decisions until its members have a chance to do further research on the matter.

"I want the discussion to come from a place of knowledge, rather than passion," Carlson said.

After reviewing reading materials that Carlson will collect and distribute, the council will resume the discussion during its May 20 meeting.

If the council were to support the students' proposal, it would be mainly a symbolic gesture. Any policy changes must happen at the Chabot-Las Positas Board of Trustees level, where the students aimnext.

Joseph Trujillo, the student leader who spearheaded the effort, said he was encouraged by the meeting."These things do need to be looked at more deeply by them," he said.

Although several faculty members   in attendance strayed from the students' discrimination argument to discuss broader concerns or beliefs about the military and its recruitment efforts, Carlson brought the discussion back on point.

There are two main issues for the council to address, Carlson said: whether military recruiters are working within the same parameters as any other employers on campus; and, if it's determined that the military — or any other employer — does have discriminatory policies, whether it violates school   policy to allow them access to campus.

"I hope the students feel like we're taking them seriously and will take their views into consideration, because we will," he said.