Top 3 takeaways
• Student Government Association encouraged Ball State to take a public stance against against House Joint Resolution 6
• HJR-6 would define marriage in Indiana as between a man and a woman
• SGA introduced the referendum during their weekly meeting Wednesday
The Student Government Association introduced a resolution during its meeting Wednesday to encourage Ball State to take a public stance against House Joint Resolution 6, which would recognize marriage in Indiana as distinctly between a man and a woman.
The first reading was only to raise awareness of the resolution, and SGA Senate will vote on it at its next meeting.
If HJR-6 is passed in Indiana, it will write the definition of marriage into the state’s constitution, and it will bar similar legal structures like civil unions and will threaten domestic partnership benefits.
Jack Hesser, SGA pro tempore and co-author of the resolution, urged senators to take initiative to talk to their constituents during the upcoming week to gauge reactions to this resolution.
“This is one of those times when you have to own up and not just talk to your closest friends,” he said. “If they choose not to sponsor it, that’s fine, but it needs to be [talked about].”
University Provost Terry King encouraged SGA to propose the resolution so the organization can make an official recommendation to the University Senate, which will vote on a recommendation to the university Nov. 14.
SGA President Chloe Anagnos and Vice President Alyssa France, along with Hesser, are the only student members of University Senate. Their three votes on this issue will represent the view of the student body.
The resolution cites The Beneficence Pledge that the Ball State community pledges to “act in a socially responsible way … and to value the intrinsic worth of every member of the community.”
According to Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy, found in the Faculty and Professional Personnel Handbook, Ball State provides equal opportunity in hiring and personnel matters, including employee benefits.
Con Sullivan, co-author of the resolution and political science graduate student, said Ball State’s policies are already contrary to HJR-6, and so the university needs to take a stance.
“We are the most educated people in the state,” Sullivan said. “We should not just sit on the sidelines. This is something we should take a stance on, whether it is for or against.”
At the meeting, SGA discussed a bill that proposes a $6,000 allotment specifically for Greek Life co-sponsorships and it was sent to the finance committee during its third reading on the SGA Senate floor.
The co-sponsorship committee, where the bill was last sent, recommended the bill be voted down because it violates co-sponsorship guidelines.
Senator Aric Hopper read the committee’s recommendations, stressing that co-sponsorship money is used specifically to fund events and cannot be used for events off-campus, recruitment money, scholarships or funding tutoring services.
“[This bill] sets a dangerous precedent for any organization that wants money from SGA,” Hopper said. “It shows a bias of SGA towards Greek Life. Any time an organization wants funding, they will come to us [first], which is not the appropriate place.”
The finance committee will see the bill, where it will be adjusted before it is brought back to the floor once again.
A resolution by Hesser and Richu Aby, another senator, to increase vegan dining options was given its first reading.
The resolution recommends hot vegan meals to be served at least once a week, something the authors said dining is already working on. It will be read again in the meeting next week.
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