Official statement
“In light of the ongoing debate about House Joint Resolution 6, Ball State University reaffirms our commitment to diversity and tolerance. We believe that providing a welcoming and supportive environment is not only morally right, but also economically sound. To attract the best and brightest students and the most talented faculty and staff, we need to recognize the diverse needs of the university community. On behalf of the faculty, staff and students, Ball State opposes adoption of the House Joint Resolution 6 and supports the goals of the Freedom Indiana Organization.”
- Statement read by Faculty Council Chairperson Kip Shwager during the University Senate meeting today. It was written with the help of the administration.
Ball State President Jo Ann Gora said Ball State will make a public statement against House Joint Resolution 6 shortly, following a vote by University Senate Thursday afternoon, recommending the university take a public stance.
If passed through the legislature and then by a popular vote in November 2014, HJR-6 would write the definition of marriage as only between a man and a woman into the state constitution, jeopardizing civil unions and same-sex partner employee benefits.
Senate voted in favor of the recommendation against HJR-6 51 to 9, with one abstention.
Gora said the vote today will be carried forward in the public statement.
“It was unequivocal in every group,” Gora said. “I think this was a very clear statement of the way the community feels. We need to be a welcoming community. [The vote] is not only ethically and morally right, it is good economic sense.”
Kip Shawger, chairperson of the Faculty Council, read the statement that was voted on. He said it was written with the help of the administration.
“Ball State University reaffirms its commitment to diversity and tolerance,” the statement reads. “To attract the best and brightest students and the most talented faculty and staff, we need to recognize the diverse needs of the university community.”
The statement also said Ball State supports the goals of the Freedom Indiana Organization.
According to Freedom Indiana’s website, the group is a statewide coalition dedicated to defeating HJR-6. The group is made up of business and faith leaders, community organizations and individuals.
Before the vote by University Senate, the Faculty Council, University Council and Student Government Association passed recommendations that the university take a public stance against HJR-6.
SGA made a recommendation to University Senate to vote to recommend Ball State publicly oppose HJR-6 after passing a resolution during student senate yesterday.
SGA pro tempore Jack Hesser addressed University Senate and said student senators reached out to more than 1,000 students through acquiring sponsors of the bill, an online survey and conversations.
The SGA resolution was sponsored by 324 students, a number Hesser said he has never seen.
“I would say there was a much larger number of sponsors due to the controversial topic,” Hesser said. “I’ve never seen more than 20 sponsors on a resolution, which is typically a respectful amount.”
University Senate Chairperson David Pearson said passing the recommendation was the right thing to do and others felt the same way.
“I think it shows the Ball state faculty, staff and students care about civil rights,” Pearson said. “Overwhelmingly, what we are seeing is the student body is changing. I think if you would have taken this vote 10 years ago, it would have been much different.”
Pearson said University Senate’s recommendation will official go to University Provost Terry King, who will meet with Gora.
When the administration makes the statement, Ball State will join Indiana University, DePauw University and Wabash College, along with the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Eli Lilly and Cummins in public opposition of HJR-6.
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