Resolution 0405-AU-010

A RESOLUTION ON PROPOSED STATE ISSUE ONE

Author: J. Briggs Cormier(.5), President Emeritus

Approved 29 October 2004

WHEREAS the Council of Graduate Students has supported domestic partner benefits at Ohio State for more than ten years; and

WHEREAS this past summer the Board of Trustees, in an effort to improve our competitive edge, unanimously approved extending health care benefits to the domestic partners of students, faculty, and staff; and

WHEREAS Proposed State Issue One, if approved, will restrict the definition of marriage and will further prevent "this state and its political subdivisions...[from] creat[ing] or recogniz[ing] a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage"; and

WHEREAS the State Attorney General has determined that the passage of this constitutional amendment will prevent public institutions such as Ohio State from offering domestic partner benefits to its faculty, staff, or students; and

WHEREAS the State Attorney General has determined that the passage of this constitional amendment will result in millions of dollars worth of lawsuits both within the public and private sectors in Ohio; and

WHEREAS offering domestic partner healthcare benefits is in the best interest of public health not only at the University, but also within the greater Columbus community; and

WHEREAS other domestic partner benefits are potentially also at stake, including access to athletic tickets, the University Library, and leave policies; and

WHEREAS offering domestic partner benefits is vital if the University seeks to recruit and retain outstanding students, faculty, and staff; and

WHEREAS offering domestic partner benefits is further vital if the University seeks to create a rich and diverse educational environment, a commitment expressed in the University's Diversity Action Plan; and

WHEREAS President Karen A. Holbrook, on behalf of the University, has spoken against Issue One because of the negative impact it will have on Ohio State; and

WHEREAS numerous political leaders on both sides of the aisle, also have spoken against Issue One because of the negative impact it will have on the State of Ohio,

THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED that the Council of Graduate Students reiterates its support of Ohio State providing domestic partner benefits to graduate students and the rest of the University community; and

LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of Graduate Students charges its President to communicate to the Ohio State University community the Council's position on this matter as established by this resolution.

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