Following the reintroduction of the Marriage Protection Amendment (MPA) to the U.S. Senate, students are starting a letter campaign to further protest the amendment.

"We're definitely concerned, and we will fight it at all costs to make sure it doesn't pass," Allies President Christy Merchant said.

"But we try not to give too much notice to it, because that justifies and [validates] the amendment being reintroduced," she added.

Originally called the Federal Marriage Amendment, the MPA defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman and was rejected last year. However, a group of Republican senators brought it to the floor again last week, once again sparking debate over the definition of marriage.

Merchant added that the senators in favor of passing the amendment represent only a small contingent of the Republican Party.

"They are drumming up trouble, bringing negativity to the LGBTA [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered community and its allies] community for their own personal gain," she said.

College Republicans President Andy Banducci said he believes the amendment should be debated on the federal level.

"This is certainly something that we should have a public debate on," Banducci said. "The main point on this issue, which is difficult for a lot of people, even in the Republican Party, is the balance between liberty and whether government should have a say over the lifestyles of a lot of people."

College Democrats President Megan Green, though, said the amendment has been defeated by Congress and should not be reintroduced.

"I don't think that it really has much ground. They tried to do it once before, and it didn't succeed," she said. "It got shot down once already. I don't think it has a lot of clout."

Green also said there has been a growing trend of tolerance toward gay and lesbian couples in the United States, which will likely sway Congress to defeat the amendment for a second time.

"Personally, the only difference I see between gay marriage and non-gay marriage is tax benefits," Zachary Simonetti (senior-information sciences and technology) said. "Why not give them [gay couples] the title? They should have the same rights as a man and a woman."

Andrew Wheelock (freshman-musical theatre) said he disagrees with the amendment because it infringes on personal freedoms and violates the separation of church and state.

"It's not fair for the state to make this amendment," he said, adding he does not believe it will be passed. "I'd like to believe it's going to be dismissed."

Chearine Pringle (freshman-electrical engineering) said she disagrees with gay marriage and thinks Congress could pass the amendment.

"I think that it's possible," she said.