Another blow was delivered to same-sex couples Friday, with the state court's decision to ban same-sex health care benefits.

The ruling follows the state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage from the 2004 election — it passed with 59 percent of the vote.

According to the court, when Michigan voters approved the ban on gay marriages, they also banned domestic partner benefits as well.

During the run-up to the election, proponents of the gay marriage ban stated early and often that same-sex couples retain all the rights afforded to them. Essentially, people advocating the ban made it seem like the only thing at stake was use of the word "marriage."

Opponents worried the broad, vague wording of the constitutional amendment (one of the absolute hardest pieces of legislation to overturn or change) could be interpreted to justify exactly the kind of decision that has come to pass — and their fears proved correct.

Nevertheless, this decision is troubling. We suspect most people who voted for the amendment were misled or simply didn't think the amendment through. They probably did not intend to deprive Michigan citizens of their health care benefits. As many proponents said, they just wanted to "defend the sanctity of marriage."

This new decision, reverses a 2005 decision from an Ingham County judge that said universities could provide said benefits if they so chose.

While the University of Michigan and Wayne State University have filed a brief in the case, arguing that universities are given autonomy by the state constitution and should be able to provide benefits regardless of measures against same-sex marriage, MSU released a tepid statement from President Lou Anna K. Simon that the university will, essentially, see what it can do about retaining those rights.

While this is a solid move, why didn't MSU take similar legal steps? For a university that is arguably progressive and dedicated to preserving diversity, why are we constantly lagging behind U-M in terms of actually taking a stand? Why are we never on the front lines, fighting and standing up for causes such as this?

The argument in the brief drafted by both U-M and Wayne State was rejected, but at least they tried. While we hope MSU can find a way to preserve the heath care rights for same-sex couples on staff, it'd also be nice to see the university stand up for something every once in a while.

Unassertive statements — or worse, silence — just aren't cutting it anymore.