Received From Scott.Safier@ISL1.RI.CMU.EDU  Sun May  8 22:06:05 1994


----------------------------Original message----------------------------

From: snoopy@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Joseph Olson)

Newsgroups: soc.motss

Subject: Domestic Partnership at Northwester U. *denied*


That pretty much sums it up.  The proposal, based on the plan at the

University of Chicago, had the backing of the faculty organization, the

staff organization, and our student government.  Both gay and lesbian

groups

on campus (the undergraduate one, and the 'everyone else' one) met with

assorted administrators, including the Vice President for Finance and

the

President to plead our case.


The proposal would have provided equal benifits (medical, housing,

access to

facilities) for the same-sex domestic partners of faculty, staff, and

students.


Yesterday (May 4th), President Weber announced that in the decision made

on

April 25th, the Board of Trustees had turned down this proposal for this

year.  The reasons cited in the _Daily_Northwestern_ were that as

national

and local governments don't recognize these benifits, the school's

policy

could create conflict, and that the costs of the program _might_ be

excessive, and programs at other places need more time to create a

'track

record'.


These arguments are bull-shit, if you'll pardon my language.  At least

11

(and probably more) major universities have implemented these programs,

including U of C, who is in the same state as us.  As far as I know,

none of

these schools have had problems with legal matters (I wish I had a copy

of

our paper here so I could type the exact quote).


The other reason is also garbage.  When we met with the VP of Finance,

he

even said that the cost at the other schools has been mininal.  Plus,

when

you realize that if all of these bi, gay, and lesbian people were

straight,

the school would have a LOT more benifits to hand out.


As of right now, we haven't made plans as to a plan of action (our group

is

slighly in a state of disaray), however, President Weber is leaving at

the

end of this school year, so there's hope that the new president will

look on

the proposal with favor.


Well, I'll try to keep y'all informed, (and be less windy about it too)

Joe