United Council of UW Students, Inc. - 5

Agenda is ATTACHED BELOW

GA Update June 2008

      What have you been doing since the last GA?

      End of April and May.

      Referenda: I have traveled extensively since the last GA. I ventured to Barron County, Waukesha, and Manitowoc.

      Buddy Visits: Stout: Met with the new executives, talked with the new Leg Director regarding Vote, and discussed a variety of things regarding UC as an organization; Sheboygan: did a last visit/end of semester wrap up visit to Sheboygan during their spring picnic. Overall good bonding time with students and darn wonderful company.

      WI Non-discrimination Coalition Conference Calls

      Inclusivity Initiative Update:

      No update at this time.

      LGBTQ Summit Planning:

      Began contact with Speakers, Marinette already reserved rooms and is in motion in terms of fundraising.

      Contacted Magdalene. She is $2500 plus some other stuff. Bear is $3000. UC’s budget is 2500 so we will have to scale back on who we will bring given our budget.

      What Progress have you made on items discussed since the last GA?

      Housing Policy Research

      Gathered materials so that we could discuss the possibility of starting a pilot program with housing next year and what that project would look like.

      Researched information about the cost of Domestic Partner (DP) Benefits for the UC state budget priority for DP Benefits.

      Worked with UWS regarding safe space trainings- very little results. We may want to integrate the safe space with the housing projects just to see some results in both areas.  

      Legislative Update

      California Supreme Court nullified the same sex marriage ban. It has been said that “As California goes, so goes the rest of the nation.” Something tells me this is not the case, but maybe eventually. This is a really significant victory for a few reasons, first, a supreme court overruled the current ban/constitutional amendment meaning that other supreme courts could do the same. Secondly, this means that the issue of same sex marriage is being brought to the for-front of people’s consciousness again. Also, stating that the amendment was unconstitutional is wildly significant. This will become an issue in the presidential race. California will most likely have a referenda question regarding same sex marriage in November.

      Michigan repealed its DP benefits. The benefits have been taken away from all university employees. This has implications for WI. In the past we have used the messaging that neighboring states and that other systems with big ten schools have DP benefits and that WI is deficient in this area. This is a wait and see situation. There will be implications for WI.

      Things to think about for the upcoming GA.

      Campaign ideas- what do you want to see in terms of budget tactics, voter turnout, and any other campaigns ideas for the coming school year.

      Project Ideas- thinking about housing, safe space and such. We need to strategize for a victory regarding these issues which have been of interest to the committee for some time.

      Why this committee and director exist and why this work is important to the state and United Council as a whole.

      Important Dates

      MKE Pridefest: June 6-8^th

      Madison Pride July 18^th-19^th Brittingham Park

      Central Wisconsin Pride: August 2^nd

      LGBTQ Summit October 10^th-11^th at UW-Marinette