Friday, November 21, 1997
Regents face final vote on partner benefits
POLICY: Long-debated proposal awaits decision
described as ‘biggest yet’
By Caroline M. Bontia
Daily Bruin Contributor
After over 15 years of emotional debate, the regents will
finally decide today on the the domestic-partnership proposal, a
plan that would extend benefits to same-sex couples for UC faculty,
students, staff and retirees.
The regents’ Committee on Finance voted Thursday, 9-2, in favor
of the initiative. But the critical, binding vote will take place
today.
Gov. Wilson condemned the domestic-partnership proposal, arguing
that it would devalue the institution of marriage and cause future
legal misery.
Supporters of the measure, gathered at Covel Commons (formerly
Sunset Commons), said it would strengthen the UC’s ability to
compete for faculty and staff, as well as accommodate the changing
demographics of families nationwide.
As students, "we are all races and ethnicities, regardless of
abilities or disabilities, marital statutes or sexual orientation,"
argued Kami Chisholm, a representative from the UC Student
Association.
Domestic partnership would provide medical, dental and vision
care benefits to same-sex partners of employees and include equal
housing opportunities for faculty, staff and students.
Opponents argued that the measure would make the UC susceptible
to future lawsuits.
"The real issue is not whether gay and lesbian staff are
entitled to live together. The real issue is whether or not the
university is clearly going to to treat something that is less than
marriage as the equivalent of marriage," Wilson said. "We are faced
with a very high-risk, not simply of increased costs, but we are
being compelled to offer benefits to heterosexual unmarried
couples. I don’t think that was what (UC President Richard
Atkinson) intended."
Regent Tom Sayles rejected Wilson’s case against the
measure.
"It is not about the same-sex issue. It is about fairness. We
can’t correct discrimination with further discrimination," Sayles
said.
"The housing programs effect all students, not just heterosexual
students and not just married couples," argued Chisholm.
Along with an appeal to the diversity of students, Chisholm
cited the rise in the average age of graduate students, now in the
30s, which leads to an increased housing demand for partners of
employees and students.
Regent Ward Connerly commented on the importance of the
vote.
"This is perhaps going to be the most difficult decision we are
going to make," he said.
During the public-comment period, Dr. Rose C. Maly, an assistant
professor of medicine, said: "Every constituency of the University
of California … as well as a majority of California citizens
support domestic-partner benefits.
"Please do the right thing, avoid divisiveness and vote for
domestic partner benefits, and if you cannot, please abstain."