Emphasizing the need for increased diversity, the UW System Board of Regents met Thursday at UW-Platteville for its first monthly meeting of the 2006-’07 academic year.

The Business, Finance and Audit Committee passed a resolution to take a formal stance opposing the proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriages and civil unions�”the full Board is considering the resolution today.

This formal stance would further emphasize the Regents’ view of the importance of domestic partner benefits in the UW System and its concern regarding the state’s refusal to provide necessary funds for benefits.

“The current legislature sees things differently, and that’s certainly their right,” said Regent Charles Pruitt Thursday, regarding the current administration’s opposition to gay marriage. “But times have changed and this amendment could certainly tie the hands of future boards and legislatures.”

Additionally, the UW Arboretum will expand by 31 acres due to a land donation from the University of Wisconsin Foundation estimated at an $80,000 value if the Board adopts the resolution approved by the Physical Planning and Funding Committee.

The committee also approved a resolution to allow UW-Madison to lease patient and office space to the Wausau Family Residency Facility on behalf of the School of Medicine, to be voted on by the Board today.