As a procrastinator and an overcommitted student, I sometimes wonder what I did wrong to deserve so many midterms and homework assignments this time of year. Even amidst all the stress, I am sincerely grateful for the excellent education I am receiving at UAF.

In the interest of preserving and improving that education, I, along with every current and future student here, have an interest in seeing that an April 3 advisory vote is struck down.

The question to be proposed to voters is whether or not benefits currently guaranteed to same-sex partners in the state of Alaska should be taken away from families that already have them, then banned in the future by way of a constitutional amendment.

Quite simply, the quality of our education is dependent upon the university's ability to provide it through many different avenues, including pay incentives such as health benefits.

The state and the university have spent considerable time and money toward building an ever-improving institution of higher learning.

The proposed BIOS Facility would facilitate additional faculty for advanced research. UAF students have access to Alaska's largest library right here on campus. Numerous other capital building projects have improved the education for UA students.

But great faculty are as essential as great facilities. Incentives are needed for the university to attract the best.

For the last 12 years UA has been offering benefits to same-sex partners as a tool for attracting excellent faculty and staff that have played an integral role in our education.

No harm has come from offering these benefits. It doesn't make sense to then not only harm families by taking away benefits they currently have, but also to remove a competitive hiring advantage for the university.

For the last 12 years UA has promoted the concept of equal pay for equal work regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.

This makes sense to all of us. If I do some work, I expect to be compensated the same as any other person with my experience and skills. Health benefits are a part of a worker's compensation. It would be a shame for the university to be forced into denying equal pay for equal work and for upcoming students to be witness to such a discriminatory policy.

The future of the families relying on their earned health and medical benefits today, many of whom are employed right here at UAF, is dependent upon the outcome of this vote. Our very education and so the future of this state is also dependent upon the outcome of this vote. This is not about issues such as gay marriage; this is about preserving equal pay for equal work and protecting the future of our education.

Mark your calendars. I am counting on my fellow students who value their education, the education of future UAF students, and the values we walk away with to join me in voting no on April 3.

Jake Hamburg is a junior political science student at UAF. He also works as ASUAF's organizing director. He is writing as a student, not as a representative of ASUAF.