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Fair Wis. chapter approved by MUSG
By . Published October 10, 2006.
The Student Organizations Committee of Marquette Student Government has approved Students for a Fair Wisconsin as an official student organization, according to Mandy Vollmar, junior in the College of Arts & Sciences and Student Organization Committee Chair.
The group exists to "educate the Marquette Community about the effects that the proposed ban on civil unions and marriage would have on Wisconsin families," according to its constitution. The ban refers to an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution that voters will either approve or reject at the election Nov. 7.
Vollmar said she could not discuss what happened at the approval meeting on Thursday, but said it was approved because "it met the requirements of all student organizations."
Kelly Neumann, coordinator for student organizations and leadership, said she approved Students for a Fair Wisconsin on Friday morning after it went through the process as every other organization had to.
According to Neumann, the group stated in its constitution that it would only be in existence until the election.
Sarah Cotton, a College of Arts & Sciences senior who works for the statewide group Fair Wisconsin, said she heard of the approval Thursday night by e-mail and was not worried about Marquette not approving the group.
"I had every faith that the organization would get approved," Cotton said. "It is our intent to ensure that the entire Marquette community is educated about the amendment and its ramifications before they head to the polls on Nov. 7th."
Cotton said it was the group's decision not to explicitly state a position on the proposed marriage amendment because it wants to emphasize educating the Marquette campus amendment.
"The choice was ours alone. We faced no pressure by Marquette or the administration," Cotton said.
The statewide group Fair Wisconsin opposes the amendment, however.
According to Cotton, Students for Fair Wisconsin will be planning events for the next month including chalk writings, tables in the Alumni Memorial Union and possibly residence halls, outreach to other student organizations, sending Viewpoints to the Tribune and literature distribution.
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has publicly supported the amendment. A letter signed by the bishops in Wisconsin asks Catholics to vote for the amendment.
The letter said the church believes "an amendment to our state constitution is the prudent thing to do in light of judicial and legislative actions in other states."
The letter continues to say, "Catholics claim no right to force society to heed our teachings on marriage. But we do claim the same right due any citizen to proclaim our values, which contribute to the well-being of society and to urge society to affirm them in our public policy."
Margaret Fischer, chancery for the archdiocese, was unavailable for comment.
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