Issue date: 9/24/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Benjamin R. Schilter Same-sex couple John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney share the story of the legal struggles they faced trying to marry in "Finally Equal," a panel discussion held during Constitution Week. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Benjamin R. Schilter Bottom: ASI Office of Governmental Affairs Project Coordinator Patricia Mata helps Sac State students register to vote during ASI's political mixer on Sept. 17. [Click to enlarge]

Sacramento State students, faculty and staff came together last week to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution by the framers of the document.

Campus organizations such as the PRIDE Center, the Women's Resource Center and the Community Engagement Center partnered with Associated Students Inc.'s Office of Governmental Affairs to teach students about the Constitution, which was signed on September 17, 1787. Presenters throughout the week not only shared their experiences with constitutional law, but also urged students to learn more about the Constitution and how to protect their individual rights.

In the presentation "Congress and the Constitution: The Founders' Intent," Sac State government professor Wesley Hussey said the founding fathers originally intended for Congress to be the most powerful of the three branches of the federal government. It was not until the 1930s that the executive branch became the most powerful of the three, Hussey added.

Hussey also shared little-known facts about the Constitution, such as the how the State of the Union could be delivered. He said the president could simply say, "The country is doing well," and he would have fulfilled his constitutional obligation.

The university asked Hussey to give a presentation on the framework of the Constitution. By discussing the Constitution, he wanted people to think about where this country came from and where we are today.

"It lays out not just government guidelines for the country, but it shows the importance of separating power." Hussey said. "Too much power in one hand is dangerous and history has shown that to be the case across the planet."

John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney shared their story of love and redemption in the eyes of the law during their presentation of "Finally Equal." They are now fighting to defeat Proposition 8, a state constitutional amendment which would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry.

"We are, right now, living civil rights history," Lewis told the audience of 60 people. "It's a time for engagement."

A state court ruled that San Francisco overstepped its boundaries in issuing same-sex marriage licenses and nullified Lewis and Gaffney's first marriage in February 2004. They remarried after the ruling was overturned by a California Supreme Court decision in May 2008.

After approving Lewis and Gaffney's marriage license, the county clerk gave them a packet on family planning and birth control. Initially shocked, Lewis and Gaffney soon realized this is what most married couples receive after their licenses are official. They kept the packets because they felt it was the "most absurd wedding gift."

"It was our favorite because that was what was happening now," Lewis said.

By voting away someone's fundamental rights, Lewis and Gaffney said same-sex couples would become second-class citizens. They asked what good the freedom to marry would be if one could not choose his or her partner.

Patricia Grady, director of the Sac State Women's Resource Center said bringing Lewis and Gaffney to campus to share their story gave a real face to abstract concepts.

Grady said she was proud to work with ASI and other campus organizations in organizing Constitution Week activities.

"I think those collaborative events and activities that bring together various student affairs programs and academic programs/departments are so important in making the educational experience of our students encompass both the in-class learning as well as the learning that takes place outside of the classroom," she said. " It's a wonderful partnership that really enhances the educational opportunities for our students."

On the 221st anniversary of the signing of the Constitution, ASI's Office of Governmental Affairs held a political mixer where students of various ideologies shared free pizza and drinks while discussing politics and the upcoming election. ASI Director of Government Affairs Erika Alatorre and project coordinator Patricia Mata distributed copies of the U.S. Constitution along with quizzes about Constitution Day.

Luke Polster, a junior economics and philosophy major, said he came to the mixer mainly for the food, but that he was also interested in what his fellow students had to say. Although a registered Republican, he dislikes the notion of political division.

"The problem is polarization," Polster said. "People who don't agree with the party line don't have representation in government, and people who vote for a third party are wasting their time."

Polster was just the kind of person that Chris Smith, junior business major and former Sac State College Democrats president, was looking to meet at Wednesday's mixer.

"It was a gathering of like-minded people," Smith said. "People who care about the political system and how it works."

As a volunteer for several political campaigns, Smith said he has a good understanding of California's constitution. He also has a good understanding as to why the state's budget is typically late.

Smith personally feels that requiring a supermajority to pass important legislation is a bad idea and suggested instead that the budget could be passed with a slightly lower margin.

"The issue before the voters of California this November in Proposition 8, if it passed, would limit rights for certain groups of citizens and treat them unfairly." Grady said, referring to the amendment to ban same-sex marriages. "The ideals of social justice mean that as community, we strive for equality and justice for all. These are the principles on which our country was founded and the U.S. Constitution is the articulation of those principles."

Ben Schilter can be reached at bschilter@statehornet.com

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