Policy

Notice of Military Discrimination and Law School Non-Discrimination Policy
Updated 8/13/2004

It is the policy of Northwestern University School of Law not to discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, handicap, or veteran status in matters of admissions, employment, housing, or services in the educational programs, or activities it operates, in accordance with civil rights legislation and University commitment. The Law School is committed to the same policy of equal opportunity for all students and alumni. The facilities and services of the Law School are available only to those employers whose practices are in agreement with the policy.

By statute the United States military will not employ for any position individuals whom it discovers to be lesbian, gay or, bisexual. Because of the conflict between the Law School's non-discrimination policy and the policy of the military, in the past the Law School has refused access to military recruiters.

Current federal law (known as the Solomon-Pombo Amendment), prohibits the federal government from providing funds by grant or contract to schools that have a policy or practice of denying military recruiting representatives entry to campuses, access to students on campuses, or access to directory information on students. A decision by the Law School to ban military recruiting would affect federal funding for the entire University. As long as this law is in effect, the Law School has reluctantly decided to allow access to military recruiters. This step is being taken to ensure the University and all its students maintain access to federal funding and in no way represents the Law School's approval of the military's policy or a withdrawal of firm commitment to our non-discrimination policy.

Message from the Dean on Military Recruitment