Fairfield President issues statement on Marriage Forum cancellation | Press Releases

Following is a memo from Fairfield University President Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J. sent today to the University community on the issue of the cancellation of the Forum on Marriage Equality.

To: Fairfield University Colleagues
From: Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J.
Date: April 14, 2005
Subject: Forum on Marriage Equality

On Monday, April 11, I made the decision to cancel a Forum on Marriage Equality scheduled for April 14 after learning that one of the sponsoring organizations had sent a letter of invitation to the event to members of the Connecticut General Assembly. An accompanying flier indicated the organization, Love Makes a Family, as the principal event sponsor. The invitation also asked legislators to RSVP to the invitation by contacting the Chairperson of the Forum Planning Committee, naming an individual who has no relationship to Fairfield University.

I became concerned that the event, which at the outset had been an educational forum scheduled months ago with Fairfield's student group Alliance as the sponsor, had been co-opted by an outside organization with a clear agenda of advocacy and with the goal of influencing legislation under consideration by the Connecticut General Assembly. After consultation with senior administrators, I made the decision to cancel the activity.

In canceling the event, it was my hope that the faculty of Fairfield would assist our students in putting together a forum on the important public issues of domestic partner legislation and same sex marriage that would provide the University community an opportunity to discuss these issues in a more appropriate academic setting.

I understand that Fairfield Alliance and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology have scheduled an open forum this evening to address issues associated with the cancellation of the forum, academic freedom, censorship and the quality of life for our students. I look forward to hearing from students and faculty about the results of tonight's deliberations and any recommendations that might be forthcoming from the discussions.

As we at Fairfield University continue with our mission, I look forward to opportunities for discussion and debate on the challenging issues facing our society. I also want to find ways to assure all members of our community that they are valued and respected especially in regard to their difference and diversity, and will look for opportunities to do so.