Friday, October 23, 2009
Partners of KU faculty and staff members in domestic partnerships do not receive benefits equal to the spouses of KU faculty and staff members who are married. This is not only discrimination, but it is detrimental to the University because it could cause a loss of exceptional professors and staff.
A change needs to be made, and the Faculty Senate’s recent approval of a task force to look into creating benefits for University employees in domestic partnerships should be both commended and supported by the University community.
This new task force has been charged with looking at possibilities and barriers to providing these benefits. Co-chairman Steven Maynard-Moody, professor of public administration, said the task force is moving along rapidly and should have a report out by December.
“Clearly, we have a very strong statement of non-discrimination against sexual orientation,” Maynard-Moody said. “But, we deny very clear benefits to same-sex couples who are engaged in a long-term relationship. We are looking into this area of discrimination.”
The University would not be the first to pass such a measure. The Universities of Texas, Colorado and Iowa, among others, have a policy similar to what is being discussed. An update needs to be made in order to keep up with and compete with these schools.
Lori Messinger, a professor in the School of Social Welfare, and also a member of the task force, said there would be multiple advantages to providing this new policy.
“It would be a very big step at this University,” Messinger said. “We have lost some faculty members to other schools who have these domestic partner benefits. It helps us be more competitive.”
Maynard-Moody said though interest in the task force has begun in earnest, many roadblocks stand in the way of figuring out just how to include the benefits for all faculty members while still appeasing the state government. Figuring out a way around these roadblocks has presented the task force with many challenges.
“The faculty and staff of this University are state employees,” Maynard-Moody said. “The state has passed the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines [marriage] as among different-sex couples, and benefits are provided only through the state. This is one of the issues that we are struggling with a bit.”
While still remaining in the deliberation stages, this task force has undertaken a huge responsibility for the LGBT community. For being progressive in its stance and acknowledging that a change needs to be made, the Faculty Senate should be proud of the steps it is taking to provide domestic partners with equal benefits. For Messinger, the progress being made further solidifies her personal stance with the University.
“I find the University a welcoming place, I feel comfortable here as an out lesbian,” Messinger said. “To be a good school, this is what we need to be doing, and I feel very good about that.”
Along with other benefits, this possible new policy is important to the University’s future. Not only will it help current faculty members, but it will also attract new talent and give them a good reason to stay. The administration and the community should support the task force and this endeavor to end this form of discrimination.
Editorial: Domestic partnerships deserve equal benefits
KU should align itself with its nondiscrimination policy and the example set ...
Editorial: University should provide health care for ...
The university should take a lead in domestic-partner benefits.
Group seeks equality in University benefits
University Senate will consider task force recommendation to extend employee benefits to ...
University Senate considers offering financial aid program ...
A University Senate task force is finding a way to offer the ...
City adopts registry service for same-sex couples
The city commission became the first in Kansas to create a registry ...
Cosby: University needs to address gender equality
On this year's anniversary of the February Sister's occupation of Wescoe, improvements ...
City commission? What?
Within the last six years, the Lawrence city commission banned three unrelated ...
Pride Week increases awareness
KU’s Queers and Allies celebrates the gay community in a multitude of ...
Free: Court ruling a victory for equal ...
The LGBT scored a major victory earlier this month in the overturning ...
Task force aims to curtail textbook costs
A bill to allow tax-free textbook purchases was denied by Legislature, but ...
Highberger re-elected to city commission
Schauner falls short in bid for re-election, while Bush and Maynard-Moody also ...
Institute to highlight need for technology
The program will promote use of technology in humanities department.
Congressman to visit Lawrence Amtrak station
Dennis Moore will discuss improvements to the station and a possible change ...
County employees get added benefits for certain ...
The City Commission approved the benefits 2-1.
Editorial: Proposed cuts risk future funding for ...
No matter how the student senate defines it, funding for important resources ...
Task force to restructure teacher evaluation methods
Panel will determine which type of evaluation is most effective in assessing ...
Cosby: Domestic violence revealed
Student Group Delta Force works to educate the Lawrence community on domestic ...
Editorial: Recommendations are solid, if they come ...
Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little's task force on graduation and retention needs more than ...
Task force shares plan for retention, grad ...
Only 32 percent of students graduate in four years — 61 percent ...
KU group heading to Haiti
Faculty will depart on a 10-day trip to strengthen ties with the ...
Facebook adds new relationship status options
Domestic partnerships and civil unions can now be officially recognized on Facebook.
Legalizing Love: the state of same-sex marriage ...
A look at the battle for marriage equality.
A question of identity
The Comanche Nation informed KU that a professor who claims he's Comanche ...
Racial protest sparks change
Letter to the Editor: Chevron give University ...
Partnership with Chevron has been mutually beneficial.
New evaluations will benefit teachers and students
To stop complaints from both students and teachers of current evaluations, a ...
University suspends faculty discounts
Tightening budget leads to temporary removal of basketball, Lied Center ticket discounts ...
Editorial: Commission vote defies community values
City should protect transgendered people from discrimination.
Editorial: Standardized exit exam is unreasonable
Graduation assessments could provide insight but must be tailored.
Alcohol related deaths could impact dorm privacy
Change to policy could eliminate need for search warrants in dorms.
Candidates include four newcomers
How much do you know about the candidates for today's city commission ...
Editorial: Handicapped spots should be priority for ...
Lack of spots makes parking harder for physically disabled students and staff.
Editorial: Closing schools not the solution
Schools should not be closed because of budget deficit.
Editorial: Students should show support for anti-discrimination ...
Despite inconvenient meeting times, students should give support of Human Rights Ordinance.
Lawrence group hopes to revamp train station
Sante Fe Depot represents Midwestern modern architecture and may get a face ...
Turnout in election primary voting low
Six candidates advance to the April 3 general election. Officials hope to ...
Admissions bar to raise for Kansans
Editorial: Student needs should come first
University must focus on student relations in Provost candidates.
Gardasil clarifies label warning
Vaccination still offered at Watkins, staff says fears are unwarranted.
Ordinance would make domestic registry in Lawrence
The Lawrence City Commission will discuss a new city ordinance that would ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID