2008 Woodie Awards
Defining Discrimination
Why The NROTC is in Fact Constitutional
Michael Valenzano
Issue date: 12/11/03 Section: Opinion
Recently, the court deemed Bill #F2003-020 unconstitutional. This bill would have endorsed an NROTC program at Montclair State University, making our campus more attractive and accessible to potential students, as well as contributing to our nation's armed services development. The bill was approved by the legislature, and went to President Hudnut to either veto or sign. He then used his authority to apply for a writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court. After reviewing the bill, the justices deemed it unconstitutional saying:
"Montclair State University is a public university, and as such, it maintains the highest degree of respect and openness to all persons. Each and every student at Montclair State University is protected under the auspices of the ratified Students Bill of Rights, which makes certain that no person shall be discriminated against due to "creed, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender, [or] national origin"
This decision implies that the NROTC would not be an entity that the SGA can constitutionally sanction due to perceived noncompliance.
Discrimination, however, is defined in dictionaries as treating one person unfairly over another according to factors unrelated to their ability or potential, such as age, disability, sex, or national origin. Discrimination in any form, and for whatever reason, should be condoned, but I submit that the NROTC is not discriminatory under this definition.
A discriminatory organization would be an organization like the KKK; a group who spreads hate and bigotry. It does not allow people to participate who do not fit a certain racial, ethnic, or religious background. The ROTC and the military do. Individuals can be an African American, Jewish-American, or any other ethnicity in the United States Marine Corp, but cannot be an African American or Jew in the KKK.
Another example of a discriminatory organization would be the Black Panthers. They completely discriminate against Caucasians and are another racially hateful group. But, in the United States military a person can be white, black, purple, blue or polka dotted, so long as they do their duty.
"Montclair State University is a public university, and as such, it maintains the highest degree of respect and openness to all persons. Each and every student at Montclair State University is protected under the auspices of the ratified Students Bill of Rights, which makes certain that no person shall be discriminated against due to "creed, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender, [or] national origin"
This decision implies that the NROTC would not be an entity that the SGA can constitutionally sanction due to perceived noncompliance.
Discrimination, however, is defined in dictionaries as treating one person unfairly over another according to factors unrelated to their ability or potential, such as age, disability, sex, or national origin. Discrimination in any form, and for whatever reason, should be condoned, but I submit that the NROTC is not discriminatory under this definition.
A discriminatory organization would be an organization like the KKK; a group who spreads hate and bigotry. It does not allow people to participate who do not fit a certain racial, ethnic, or religious background. The ROTC and the military do. Individuals can be an African American, Jewish-American, or any other ethnicity in the United States Marine Corp, but cannot be an African American or Jew in the KKK.
Another example of a discriminatory organization would be the Black Panthers. They completely discriminate against Caucasians and are another racially hateful group. But, in the United States military a person can be white, black, purple, blue or polka dotted, so long as they do their duty.