WASHINGTON (AP) — A District of Columbia judge has ruled that seven current students and two current faculty and staff members have the right to argue against the proposed merger of the Corcoran Gallery of Art and its college.

Judge Robert Okun ruled Monday that the group could possibly be harmed by the merger and can intervene and present arguments on the Corcoran’s future. Okun ruled against allowing the larger group Save the Corcoran to intervene in this case.