RESOLUTIONS APPROVED BY
THE PARKSIDE FACULTY SENATE, OCTOBER 31, 2006,
ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT
TO THE WISCONSIN STATE CONSTITUTION:

                                                           PSF 11 06/07                                                       

                                                                                                                                           

Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state.

THE FACULTY SENATE VOTED:

1) TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE FACULTY SENATE: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Faculty Document No. 2459, October 21, 2004

Resolution in Opposition to the Proposed Constitutional Amendment
Regarding the Definition of Marriage

Whereas, both branches of the state of Wisconsin Legislature, the assembly and the senate, have approved a joint resolution to amend the state's constitution by creating a new section 13 of article XIII with the following language:

Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state.

And, whereas such legislation would further intolerance and thus have significant and far-reaching societal consequences,

And, whereas current federal, state and university legislation broadly and specifically prohibit both harassment and discrimination,

And, whereas the recruitment and retention of high-quality faculty and staff is predicated on an inclusive climate that supports all individuals,

And, whereas such legislation is inconsistent with the faculty's values and commitment to provide a broad and contemporary education to its students,

Be it therefore resolved that

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside Faculty Senate stands in opposition to the recently passed Wisconsin Legislature's joint resolution supporting the above quoted constitutional amendment in that by narrowly defining marriage and denying "legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals" in the state, the joint resolution represents a signature and dangerous erosion of harassment and discrimination protections.

AND 2) TO STRONGLY REAFFIRM THE RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE UW-PARKSIDE FACULTY SENATE FEBRUARY 15, 2005, AS FOLLOWS:
Resolution in Opposition to the
Proposed Constitutional Amendment
Regarding the Definition of Marriage*
PSF 11/04-05
Whereas the Wisconsin Legislature has approved a resolution to amend the state constitution as follows:
“Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state.”
And whereas we believe the proposed state constitutional amendment to be inappropriate,
And whereas the proposed amendment would mandate discrimination against persons in same-sex and heterosexual domestic partnerships by denying them access to a legal status providing equitable compensation,
And whereas the proposed amendment may make it impossible for the university to recognize and provide benefits for the domestic partners of faculty, staff, and students, thus severely affecting our ability to recruit and retain high-quality faculty, staff, and students to our campus and sister system campuses,
And whereas we wholly support and heartily endorse, both in spirit and substance, the UW-System’s Inclusivity Initiative, and firmly believe its tenets to be essential to the continued viability and competitiveness of our university and the UW System,
Resolved , we oppose this proposed constitutional amendment,
Further resolved , we similarly oppose all legislative efforts that would prevent domestic partners of UW employees from receiving full and equitable benefits from the UW System, and
Finally resolved , we most strongly affirm our deep and abiding commitment to a fully inclusive society that recognizes the equality and human dignity of all individuals regardless of race, color, sex, creed, age, ancestry, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or marital status.