When Indiana University announced last month that it would join a bipartisan coalition lobbying against a proposed state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, all eyes pointed to West Lafayette.
But Purdue University didn’t follow the lead of its Big Ten rival by joining Freedom Indiana, a group of big businesses, economic entities and others who hope the legislature quashes the matter when it comes up in January. Should it pass both houses, the matter will be put to voters.
Since IU’s announcement in late October, several higher education institutions and groups — Wabash College, DePauw University and the faculty of Ball State University — have joined the coalition or announced disdain for the proposed constitutional ban, which they say could curtail economic development and make talent recruitment more difficult.
Is pressure mounting on Purdue, which skirted the issue by stating the university avoids commenting on “social issues” to take a side?
“I’m kind of curious how definitive that initial reaction was and whether Purdue may be getting in the game,” said Ed Feigenbaum, editor of Indiana Legislative Insight. He is also an attorney and former director of legal affairs for the Council of State Governments.
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