On Oct. 6, the UW Board of Regents publicly announced opposition to the proposed state constitutional amendment banning same sex marriages, civil unions and domestic partnership. Bravo, regents.
The regents backed their position on the grounds that the amendment would blunt the UW System's competitive edge in attracting and retaining faculty. This editorial board supports their rationale, given the board's status as a body of public administrators.
The decision takes a rational perspective on a widely politicized debate. Void of emotional or moral arguments, the Regents took a posture on this issue after making a simple cost/benefit calculation: If the amendment passes, the cost of losing or alienating faculty will far outweigh any perceived benefits.
Moreover, the state already prevents UW System schools from providing benefits to domestic partners by disallowing funding.
The regent's opposition to the amendment protects the shadow of hope UW-Madison and all other system schools may have in overcoming state-level opposition and securing such benefits for future faculty.
UW-Madison already weathered the resignation of two top faculty members—former Dean of Students Luoluo Hong and engineering professor and promising researcher Rob Carpick.
For protecting the competitive edge of the UW system through pragmatic reasoning, the regents deserve praise.
