Since 1993 when the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy became law, it has dictated the way in which gay and lesbian military personnel have been identified and treated. Although U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently announced the easing of DADT restrictions, the psychological impact that has been experienced by servicemen and women—gay, straight, and transgendered—remains. To discuss this issue and its effect on the military and those serving, we gathered four Chicago School faculty.
The topic of veterans is an acutely personal one for me. My brother and I followed each other in our tours of duty in Vietnam. Though we both were disabled during our service, Tom, now deceased, suffered far greater harm. My disability was mostly physical, while Tom’s cut to the heart of how he perceived himself as a person, and cast an ever-present shadow over his remaining years.
Dr. Michael Barr, assistant professor of business psychology, was quoted in a Desert News website story titled, “Layoffs Can Take Their Toll on Workplace Survivors, Too” (2/1). He was also quoted in a College Recruiter website story titled, “Being Positive Doesn’t Mean Being Panglossian,” about positive thinking in the workplace (2/18).
