IU, stick your neck out

Lampposts around campus are decorated with banners promoting "One For Diversity," and freshman orientation emphasizes acceptance of cultural differences around campus. At IU, we're taught from day one that discrimination against other human beings is unacceptable, so it's crucial for students to witness the University following through on the principles it espouses. \nIf students are to take seriously the University's message of respecting diversity, we must see IU taking the risk of speaking out about this bill before it passes the House of Representatives. \nSenate Joint Resolution 7 in the Indiana General Assembly defines marriage in Indiana as a union between a man and a woman and states that neither the state constitution nor other laws can "be construed to confer marital status or any legal incidents of marriage upon unmarried couples or groups." That would affect IU's current policy of offering benefits to unmarried partners. Students will travel to Indianapolis next week to protest the bill, but they are not the only ones who should lend a voice.\nThe University must uphold its duty to IU students and the state by pressuring the Statehouse not to ban benefits for same-sex couples. It would be hypocritical to comment on all forms of diversity except gay rights. "Incident teams" are not enough; IU must be proactive about preventing discrimination in law.\nProfessors and students base their decision to come to Indiana on dozens of factors. IU, despite all that we love about it, doesn't have the glamour factor of schools in New York City. If the state and the University can't compete on the civil liberties of its employees and students, we will see even more of the most talented people going elsewhere if they and their partners cannot share medical or other benefits.\nPassing this legislation would be a strike against Indiana. Closed-minded state policy is incompatible with a university trying to promote diversity in every form on campus, and it won't help IU break into the upper echelon of college rankings or improve the state economy.\nThe most recent gubernatorial campaign was based on progress. If Indiana is to move into the future and establish itself as a leader in biotechnology and other developing fields, the public interest of an open society must be the highest priority. \nEach of Indiana's 6 million citizens will benefit from attracting the best talent in the country and around the world, regardless of sexuality. Acceptance and understanding are the cornerstones of a successful, progress-driven university, community and state. It would be a shame if the University lost out on talent because a constitutional change made it impossible to offer benefits to same-sex couples.\nThis bill is exclusionary and sends an unfortunate message to people looking to live in Bloomington or elsewhere in Indiana. IU would send a damaging message as well if it fails to act on the openness it demands of our campus community. Furthermore, the state's economy needs every ounce of talent it can find. \nThe University and anyone else interested in progress should stand against this law and affirm IU's dedication to diversity. Passing this bill not only would put Indiana at a huge economic disadvantage but also send a terrible signal to all students, from kindergartners to graduate students, that diversity isn't important enough to stand up for.