Blue Jersey - Recommended Diaries

Joey Novick Testifies at Assembly Judiciary Committee

deciminyan — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:54:55 GMT

Blue Jersey's Joey Novick testified at this week's Assembly Judiciary Committee hearings on marriage equality.

A challenge to marriage equality opponents

tabbycat31 — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:11:14 GMT

I spent two days in two weeks (and preparing for more) at the statehouse listening to testimony on marriage equality. While I have yet to give a testimony myself (as a straight ally, I don't have as good a story as the LGBT community does), I did give a written testimony on why it is important to me that this bill is passed (unfortunately I probably live in the worst district in the state when it comes to marriage equality).

In the two days of testimony, all of the opposition's arguments against marriage equality had to do with religion. And in a country with freedom of religion, there are many various religions (and lack thereof) practiced in the United States, let alone a diverse state such as New Jersey (which is not exactly in the Bible Belt). Quoting the Bible has absolutely no meaning to a non-Christian.

Now by posting this challenge on Blue Jersey, I know that I am not exactly preaching to NOM's choir, but I will post to any lurking marriage equality opponents. Pretend that the legislature is 100% atheist. Any arguments you make mentioning God, the Creator, scripture, etc are irrelevant. Give ONE compelling reason why a non-believer should oppose marriage equality.

Rally Yesterday at Rutgers Camden

birdofprey — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:42:45 GMT

Students, alumni, faculty, and staff of Rutgers Camden held a townhall meeting/ rally yesterday to discuss the proposed takeover of the campus by Rowan University. The main venue, the Gordon Theater, which seats over 600, filled up and the overflow attendance was directed to the student center for a live wireless broadcast. That area also holds hundreds, and it also filled up. Smaller groups gathered in a few other satellite locations on campus.

Chancellor Wendell Pritchett moderated the discussion, after expressing his own opposition to this plan to combine the two institutions. Students who spoke talked about the reputation of Rutgers, the value of a Rutgers degree, their inability to attend the larger Rutgers campuses due to family or work requirements, the importance of having a university with an international reputation in the area, their sense of community, and the outreach the university does to non-traditional students such as returning veterans, older students, and those with family responsibilities. One student recalled his first visit to Rutgers Camden, at age 7, coming to class with his college student mother. He returned as a student himself.

The faculty talked about the importance of the Rutgers name when recruiting new professors. One recounted a recent conversation in an interview with a potential hire. When asked why she was interested in the job she said it was the possibility of working at Rutgers. One of the law faculty talked about the potential legal issues with the proposed combination of the two schools.

Rutgers Camden students are not known for activism. Like many commuter students they have families and / or jobs in addition to college classes and papers, with limited time for campus events. The turnout yesterday was geometrically larger than the turnout for any other campus event in over a decade. It is a sign of how important this issue is to the students and alums.