Purdue staying out of squabble over gay marriage

Purdue University isn't taking sides in the fight over a proposed state constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriages.

One day after Indiana University announced it has joined a campaign fighting the proposed amendment, Purdue on Tuesday said it would remain neutral on the issue.

Spokeswoman Julie Griffith told the Journal & Courier that Purdue traditionally has declined to comment on social issues that are being debated in the public arena.

The General Assembly approved the proposed ban in 2011, but the current Legislature would need to approve it again before it would go to voters in a statewide referendum. Indiana law already bars same-sex marriage, but backers of the constitutional ban say it would provide an impediment to potential court decisions that would overturn the state law.