As last semester drew to a close and students hurried to finish their term papers and cram for finals, a major decision was handed down in a Philadelphia Appeals Court.

The decision stated that universities can successfully bar military recruiters and organizations from campus without the threat of losing federal funding. The basis for the opinion rested on a case brought by a coalition of law schools, charging that the military’s treatment of gays and lesbians violates the schools’ nondiscrimination policies.

Sacramento State’s nondiscrimination policy clearly includes sexual orientation as a “protected class” along with race and gender. Student groups, Greek organizations, and even the College Republicans can’t bar someone from their group because they are gay or lesbian. Yet we allow the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and ROTC to discriminate openly.

While the court decision focused on military discrimination against the gay and lesbian community, I believe a move to demilitarize Sac State is justified for other reasons as well.

Documented cases of entrenched discrimination against women, non-Christians, and ethnic minorities abound in the files of both the military and public judicial systems.

Beyond this, recruiters disproportionately target low-income and minority youth, promoting lies that the army offers the best and sometimes only way out of a tough upbringing.

Our last campus president, Dr. Gerth, came close to removing the recruiters from campus and phasing out ROTC. However, he was forced to relent when a move by Congress threatened federal money flowing into the campus.

Now the proverbial gun that was put to our last president’s head, the Solomon Amendment, has been scrapped. The question remains now, will Alexander Gonzales show the courage of his predecessor in facing down intolerance? Given the decision of the 3rd District Court of Appeals and the discriminatory policies of the armed forces, I feel it is time for Sac State to take a stand for what is right.

Bar the recruiters from campus, phase out ROTC, and take down the National Guard posters in our classrooms. It’s time for us to demilitarize Sac State.

Sean Catanese can be reached at [email protected]