Historical Marriages Continue

FREEDOM & FAIRNESS co Srx VOL. 100 ISSUE 14 WWW.USFCA.EDU/FOGHORN FEBRUARY 26, 2004 Historical Marriages Continue VICTORIA LEON GUERRERO Newsom has added a spark to the StaffWriter nation-wide debate about whether or not banning same-sex marriage is This is the first of a two-part series about unconstitutional. the issues surrounding San Francisco's The mayor was outraged when he same-sex marriages. Next week's report heard President George W. Bush say will focus on the impact of religious and in the State of the Union that he social taboos against such marriages. would support a constitutional amendment banning same-sex mar San Francisco Mayor Gavin riages, according to an article in the Newsom made history just blocks San Francisco Chronicle. Newsom felt away from USF Feb. 12 when he "obliged to issue marriage licenses to allowed same-sex couples to marry. same-sex couples to avoid violating Since then, thousands of people have the equal protection clause of the flocked to City Hall to get govern California Constitution," as stated in ment recognition of their love. the article. He is also suing the state Newsom's actions came after of California based on this argument. Massachusetts' Supreme Judicial "This is a conflict between the Court ruled that the state's constitu California constitution that ensures KATIE REPPART/FOGHORN tion does not prohibit same-sex mar residents equal protection under the riage. But no same-sex marriage lis- law and Proposition 22, which Students rehearse tango poses in the ballroom dance class censes have been issued there because defined marriage in California as taught by Cecelia-Marie Bowman, lecturer in the visual and the high court gave the state's law between a man and a woman," said performing arts department. makers until May 14 to act on the rul- Professor of Law J. Harold Folberg. "By the mayor's interpretation, he was doing what he regarded as right under the California Constitution, and the mayor clearly wanted to bring it to a Ballroom's Fate "This is a conflict legal test knowing that there would be challenges by those opposed to same- sex marriages." between the The California Supreme Court Still Undecided has the immediate power to decide the fate of these marriages, Folberg Constitution... and said, setting a precedent for JILLIAN NGUYEN California. But if tne decision is StaffWriter appealed and makes it to the U.S. Proposition 22." Supreme Court, Newsom's actions The fate of the Lone Mountain Ballroom is still could potentially set a precedent for being decided due to a recendy approved ASUSF the whole country. "It's very hard for a Senate resolution. -J. Harold Folberg, professor case to make it to the U.S. Supreme Court ... but who knows, it could," USF performing arts, social justice, dance and MATT CRAIG FOGHORN other performing arts students and their faculty said Folberg, the former dean of approached the Senate in an effort to save the ballroom, USF's School of Law. "If the US. Newlyweds Tee Minot (left) and Lynn Dolce (right) are welcomed by same-sex marriage Supreme Court made the decision to which was slated last semester to be demolished and ing. Thus, San Francisco has become supporters outside City Hall in San Francisco Friday afternoon, Feb. 20. More than 3,000 turned into student residences and faculty offices. the first place in the United States to make it legal ... it could still be over same-sex couples have been married in the last couple weeks. ridden by a constitutional amend Kathileen Gallagher, associate professor for the perform same-sex marriages at the ment." Visual and Performing Arts department, said in the governmental level, according to mean time, nothing has been finalized, b»t the admin Assistant Professor of Sociology Kim been together and after our vows, she tried not only to stop the marriages, Although there have been several istration is looking for alternatives to the ballroom. Richman. gave us a big hug," Raeburn said. "We but also to invalidate those that have other cases concerning same-sex mar "Many administrators have assured me that they will Nicole Raeburn, chairwoman of were crying as we were exchanging already taken place. riages in other states, none of them find a new home for the dance program because they USF's sociology department, was one vows, both because it was personally As of press time, two San have ever made it to the U.S. Supreme acknowledge the valuable contribution it is making to of the first to stand in line to marry momentous and also because histori Francisco judges declined requests Court, where family cases are rarely the University and the greater Bay Area," Gallagher the day after Newsom made his cally it was incredible to be surround from two conservative groups to halt heard, Richman said. said. "We spend a lot of time in the ballroom every day announcement. Raeburn and her ed by hundreds of people who were the marriages until the cases challeng One of the only family law cases for classes and rehearsals." partner of more than seven years, Liz cheering you as you exchange vows." ing them are heard in court next decided in the Supreme Court was Sara Steele, sophomore class representative, Pesch, waited for two hours to be But not many others are cheering month. that of Loving v. Virginia in 1967, brought forth a resolution to Senate on Nov. 4, 2003 married by San Francisco's Assessor- these marriages on. In fact, two law which declared a ban on interracial asking, "that the Senate gives their full support to these Recorder Mabel Teng. "It was really suits and an order from California The Legal Debate marriage unconstitutional. Therefore, sweet... she asked us how long we've students and faculty and ... that the administration delay Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have MARRIAGE: PAGE 2 construction on the Lone Mountain Ballroom until communication can be opened up between administra tion, faculty and students and a comparable space can be guaranteed to the students and faculty." In addition to the proposed resolution, an ASUSF Senate Planning Action for 2004 impromptu * petition was circulated around dance KATHLEEN EMMA Masera, vice president of business administration, Tim Keane has spoken with Jackie Newsom, secre "The Ballroom is an classes to show StaffWriter and Carter will be driving up to Stanford tary ofthe Board ofTrustees, about raising the stu Senate that a University, which already has such technology, for dent activities fee in order to provide the USF stu lot of students Although Senate has only completed its third ideas. dent body with more opportunities. Newsom said , /- agreed with meeting of the semester, all three meetings have even if the proposition to raise the activities fee was been jam-packed with new activities, decisions and Services that Benefit Students passed in the upcoming election, it would not go important part of the proposal. projects. into effect until the 2005/2006 school year. Keane Steele's reso Some senators have been working to make . Other senators have been working to develop will continue to do research on the proposition, and lution passed programs to benefit students on campus. Students Senate will encourage 20 percent student approval n physical changes to the USF campus. Natalie our dance program. and the dance Rocha, freshman representative, has heard com of Disabilities representatives, Rebecca Raffle and in the elections. Keane recently appointed Sara faculty and plaints from her constituents about Lone Kim-Lan Stadnik, have been hard at work plan Steele, sophomore representative, to the position of students were Mountain's slippery steps during the rainy season. ning Disabilities Awareness Week, which will take vice president of internal affairs, taking Richard . -Kathileen Gallagher, associate thrilled to Students are worried that more injuries will occur place Mar. 29 through Apr. 2. Alvias place while Alvia is studying abroad. Steele have their due to the lack of grip on the stairs. Rocha spoke Chris Cooper, off-campus representative, and was approved by Senate, and is currently working ballroom for with Glenn Loomis, head of Facilities Casey Farmer, an on-campus representative, have with the Space Committee in their efforts to find professor, performing arts another Management, about this safety issue. There are been working to finish surveys regarding the pend suitable placement for University majors and pro semester. "The ravel pads for the inside stairs of Lone Mountain, ing ban on smoking. Farmer is also working with grams. ballroom is the her other on-campus representative, Goncalves, to best place on f ut not for the 103 stairs leading up to Lone Mountain. survey constituents and find out what students Recent Action this campus to hold dance classes because it is well want and need. Farmer is working with senior class equipped," said Stephanie Bernhard, a performing arts Erica Goncalves, one of the two on-campus representatives, has been working since the begin representative Rikki Maynard to keep Parina At the Feb. 3 meeting, Shannon Hamelin pro- and social justice major. Lounge open 24-hours a day. Maynard is working osed that Senate say the Pledge of Allegiance Some of the alternatives being considered as tem ning of the school year to open a bike room on campus. Over break, Goncalves met with the to inform seniors about graduation tickets, and Eefore each meeting. Hamelin felt the values and porary spaces to hold dance classes include Hagan Gym make them aware ofthe many resources the Career virtues extolled by the Pledge would set a tone in and other rooms in the Koret Health and Recreation Office of Residence Life and Facilities Management, who did not approve the idea to have Services Center offers.

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