Judge Blocks Rochester Bar on Military Recruiters

By Millicent Lawton

The Rochester, N.Y., school board violated state education law last December when it barred military recruiters from its campuses because of the armed forces' ban on homosexuals, a state court has ruled.

State Supreme Court Justice Francis A. Affronti ruled on Feb. 13 that, based on the legislative history and intent of the education law, the unprecedented board action conflicted with the law, which requires school boards to give access to military recruiters "on the same basis" as any other employment or college recruiters.

"The beard of education," Justice Affronti wrote in his 1 l-page decision, "must perform the duties imposed upon it by law and provide the military the same access to school property as other recruiters are afforded for purposes of informing students of 'educational, occupational or career opportunities' regardless of the...