University of Colorado Student Union

Legislative Council

June 15, 2006 65LCR1-Domestic Partnership

Sponsored by: Jeremy Jimenez Education Senator

Anthony Morfa Graduate School Senator

Authored by: Jeremy Jimenez Education Senator

Anthony Morfa Graduate School Senator

Leslie Herod Former President

A RESOLUTION

___________________________________________________________________________ Resolution History

The University of Colorado Student Union (UCSU) has a long history of supporting equality for all students, faculty and staff at the University of Colorado at Boulder (UCB).  UCSU has supported equality in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to; 54CLR04, 56LCB09, SORCE, and the Women’s Resource Center. This support has not changed and should change not in the future.  The current political climate of Colorado is one that could affect the availability of equal rights for UCB’s students, faculty and staff.

In Colorado committed same-sex couples lack the legal protections and responsibilities automatically granted to married couples. To significantly enhance the fairness and equality under Colorado law for all couples, our statutes must be improved. The Domestic Partnership Referendum I is designed specifically to remedy the legal disparities that exist between committed same-sex couples and straight couples. These benefits include rights to hospital visitation, health care and pension benefits, property, inheritance, and others, both on and off the University of Colorado campus.

UCSU has worked hard to ensure equal rights for same sex partners at all UCSU cost centers and will continue to look for ways to ensure equality across UCB.  The Regents of UCB have also taken appropriate action in ensuring equality by modifying Article 10 of the Laws of the Regents to include; “The University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation,…” To ensure that the University of Colorado remains an accessible institution of higher education we UCSU must support any issue that supports equality and encourages the UCB community to do the same.  UCSU also acknowledges that this issue may be confusing for the campus community and encourages each member of campus to educate themselves on the issue and support equality.  To this end, UCSU encourages all organizations promoting equality to help educate the UCB community.

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Resolution Summary

WHEREAS: The University of Colorado Student Union has repeatedly and consistently supported the rights of the student body, faculty, and staff,

WHEREAS: Committed same-sex couples are represented in the student, staff, and faculty at the University of Colorado; and

WHEREAS:  UCB is the premiere higher education institution of the state of Colorado; UCB has an obligation to set an example by supporting equality for all members of the UCB community.

WHEREAS:  Current Colorado statues do not provide for equal rights for same sex partners.

WHEREAS: The University of Colorado System currently offers a wide arrange of domestic partner benefits to students, faculty, and staff that currently are not state verifiable; and

WHEREAS: The Domestic Partnership Referendum I would provide couples access to a state registered civil contract between a committed same-sex couple; and

WHEREAS: USCU oversees the rules, regulations, and budget of many cost centers that will be affected by the passage of the Domestic Partnership Referendum, including, but not limited to, Wardenburg Health Center; and

WHEREAS: Together, we will work to make the University of Colorado at Boulder a great place to learn, live, and work; and

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THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Legislative Council of the University of Colorado Student Union, THAT:

SECTION 1: The University of Colorado Student Union declares support of the passage of the Colorado Domestic Partnership Referendum I.

SECTION 2: The University of Colorado Student Union encourages all members of the University of Colorado community to support the Domestic Partnership Referendum I.

SECTION 3: The University of Colorado Student Union calls on the students, faculty, and staff of UCB to educate themselves on the issues and consequences of the Domestic Partnership Referendum I, and the proposed ballot measures entitled, the Colorado Marriage Amendment, the No Legal Status Amendment, and the Domestic Partnership Amendment.

SECTION 4: The University of Colorado Student Union supports the passage of pro Domestic Partnership Referendum resolutions by the University of Colorado Regents.

SECTION 5: The University of Colorado Student Union calls on the administration and the University of Colorado Board of Regents to continue to support equality for all students regardless of the outcome of the Domestic Partnership Referendum I.

SECTION 6: This resolution will be sent to the Regents of the University of Colorado, CU-System President Hank Brown, CU-Boulder Interim Chancellor Phil DiStefano, Incoming Chancellor Bud Peterson, Governor Bill Owens, the Colorado General Assembly, the Boulder City Council, Coloradans for Fairness and Equality, and any other parties requesting the said resolution.

SECTION 7: This resolution takes effect upon passage by Legislative Council and upon obtaining the signatures of the Council President and Tri-Executives.

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Vote Count

7/13/06 Passed Acclamation

7/27/06 Passed Acclamation

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Joseph Martinez Ashley Nakagawa

UCSU Legislative Council President UCSU Tri-executive

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Andy Aitchison Charles Johnson

UCSU Tri-executive UCSU Tri-executive