Section 3 CONFORMITY TO LAW

1. This Agreement is subject in all respects to the laws of the State of Michigan and the United States with regard to the powers, rights, duties, and obligations of the University, the Association, and employees in the Bargaining Unit.

2. In those instances where any state or federal law is contested, the provisions of that law shall be binding upon the parties until such time as a court of competent appellate jurisdiction declares it to be unconstitutional and of no legal effect.

3. In the event that any provisions of this Agreement shall at any time be held to be contrary to law by a court of competent jurisdiction from whose final judgment or decree no appeal has been taken within the time provided for doing so, such provision shall be void and inoperative. The parties shall meet for the purpose of rewriting directly affected provisions of this contract, and those provisions only. However, all other provisions of this Agreement shall continue in effect and such court determination shall not affect any other portion of this Agreement.

4. The parties to this contract share a commitment to equal opportunity and affirmative action. Should it become evident that particular provisions of the contract are preventing the successful implementation of the University's Affirmative Action Plan as it relates to the filling of vacancies in positions covered by this contract, the parties to this contract will meet to discuss and attempt to resolve these problems.

5. The Association and the University agree that the terms of this collective bargaining agreement shall be applied without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, sexual orientation, or marital status.