UW-Madison professors involved in the Faculty Senate relinquished sunny Monday afternoon weather to address topics concerning the university, including fundraising, upcoming campus renovations and the state Legislature's proposed amendment to prevent same-sex marriage.
Chancellor John Wiley announced early in the meeting that the \Create the Future"" fundraising campaign, which seeks to raise $1.5 billion by 2007, has already raised $1.1 billion. Donations include three of the five largest gifts ever to the university has ever received.
Alan Fish, associate vice chancellor for facilities planning and management, gave a presentation to the Senate about upcoming campus renovations. He said the university will begin to update its master plan for the campus next fall, a project which will include faculty input.
""It is really no longer possible for us to expand geographically,"" Fish said. ""As we look to the next 50 to 100 years on this campus, maybe even beyond, we are going to have to reinvent ourselves in place.""
Wiley joked he was taking bids for a chance to hammer at the Humanities Building, adding there are probably many students who would pay $100 to take a swing at it.
The Faculty Senate voted unanimously save for one ""no"" to approve a resolution against the state Legislature's recently passed move to amend the state constitution banning same-sex marriage or civil unions.
Speaking in favor of the resolution, Assistant Professor David Danaher said, ""It is war on gay people and their families. ... We can hardly imagine staying in the state if this resolution passes.""
After the meeting adjourned, Wiley shook Danaher's hand and thanked him for his statements.
