Back to:
Current year's news releases
All news releases
News and information home

Media Memo: University Senate Resolution Regarding Marriage Amendment

TO: News/Assignment Editors

FROM: Mike Rindo

DATE: Oct. 25, 2006

SUBJECT: University Senate Resolution Regarding Marriage Amendment

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire University Senate on Tuesday, Oct. 24, passed a resolution supporting the UW System Board of Regents opposition to the Nov. 7 marriage amendment.

The UW System Board of Regents voted Oct. 6 to formally oppose the proposed amendment that would change the state constitution related to defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Regents said the amendment would be a significant setback for the university as it seeks to recruit and retain faculty and staff.

A clause in the proposed amendment would not allow Wisconsin to recognize a legal status "identical or substantially similar" to marriage, UW System Legal Counsel Patricia Brady told a regent committee. This could lead to "uncertainty" about what benefits the university or state would be able to provide to employees, Brady said.

Current state law prohibits the UW System from offering domestic partner benefits.

For additional information about the UW-Eau Claire University Senate resolution, contact the University Senate office at 715-836-3419.

Back to:
Current year's news releases
All news releases
News and information home