University opinions
Ball State
The administration has asked the faculty council to decide what stance it will take on House Joint Resolution 6. HJR 6 would define marriage in the Indiana constitution as between one man and one woman.
Indiana University
IU declared its opposition to the house resolution Monday.
Purdue University
Purdue is remaining neutral.
Ball State administration has asked the faculty council to decide what stance it will take on House Joint Resolution 6 after an email was sent to President Jo Ann Gora Wednesday. HJR 6 would define marriage in the Indiana constitution as between one man and one woman.
The email followed Indiana University declaring its opposition to the house resolution Monday and Purdue University remaining neutral.
Jay Zimmerman, coordinator of Safe Zone, which provides workshops to “help create a community of allies within the university” for the LGBTQ community, sent an email asking people to email Gora their opinions.
“I sent her an email expressing my views and then sent an email to a lot of people who I know who would oppose HJR 6 on campus and ask them to do the same,” he said. “I’m hoping hundreds, if not thousands, will send her an email.”
Zimmerman said Ball State isn’t a campus that discriminates.
“I think as a university we have to take that to the next step and encourage our legislators not to pass a piece of legislation that is clearly discriminatory that will become part of the constitution of the state of Indiana,” he said.
At IU, Mark Land, the associate vice president of IU communications, said employment is one reason the university decided to oppose HJR 6.
“This [HJR 6] is against our core values as a university,” Land said. “Also, there is an equally important issue here. IU is one of the largest employers in the state of Indiana. We need to be able to compete with other states and companies for the very best people and anything the state does to make Indiana seem less inviting and less welcoming to the broadest range of people makes our job to recruit a little bit more difficult.”
Purdue declined to answer questions.
“Over the years, Purdue has traditionally declined to comment on social issues that have been contended in the public arena,” said Julie Griffith, vice president of public affairs at Purdue, in a press release. “Any departure from this policy should be undertaken only after careful consultation with the university’s many and diverse stakeholders.”
Joan Todd, Ball State executive director of public relations, said discussions on HJR 6 have already begun within the faculty council to determine how to address the university’s stance. Once a resolution is passed by the faculty council, it will advance to the University Senate for a vote, then move to the administration if passed.
“My hope is that [Gora] will support it at that point,” Zimmerman said.
Read More
Over 3,000 Cardinals join the Ball State family of alumni following commencement
By Ella Howell / YesterdayThe Quad filled with approximately 3,000 graduating Cardinals and their loved ones the morning of May 4 in preparation for the 198th Ball State University Commencement.
Board of Trustees approves new Ball State Athletics Performance Center during May meeting
By Olivia Ground / 2 days agoThe Board of Trustees met May 3, revealing plans for an upcoming renovation of the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) building, plans for an upcoming sports performance training center, changes in the university core curriculum and many hiring and human resources developments being made in the upcoming months.
