Pres Wild to decide whether to extend Marquette U benefits to gay & lesbian partners

Mother Theresa at Marquette U in 1981

In its monthly meeting yesterday, the University Academic Senate voted on important motions concerning the extension of benefits to domestic partners of university employees and the inclusion of senate members in meetings held by university higher-ups.

The first motion concerned “legally domiciled adults,” the domestic partners of Marquette faculty, staff and administrators, and their university-funded benefits.
Marquette currently extends benefits to spouses, dependent children and those “faculty and staff who reside in domestic partnership arrangements not defined by marriage are therefore not eligible for benefits,” according to a report done by Lisa Hanson, an associate professor of nursing.

While there was some discussion over the definition of “legally domiciled adults” and the overall cost to the university of extending more benefits, the motion passed.

The motion asks University President the Rev. Robert A. Wild to put such measures in place by the start of the 2011-’12 academic year.

Senate chair Christine Kreuger, an associate professor of English, clarified concerns of some senate members about the wording of the motion and whether it was intended as an order to Wild.

“What comes out of the UAS is not a command,” Kreuger said. “The UAS is an advisory body.”

Marquette Tribune