Faculty members seek insurance
Stephanie Hall
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: News
"I thought he could bring it up to the Board of Governors, but he basically wasn't willing to do that," Mitchell said. "But he thought more research would have to be done before presenting it to the Board of Governors."
However, Mitchell said she thinks there is momentum building for the issue, and many universities are in the process of re-examining their insurance policies.
"It affects the ability of the University to hire the most qualified person, because in some instances the most qualified person might be gay, lesbian, bi-[sexual] - and they might not be willing to come if they don't have insurance coverage for their partners [when it's] provided by some of the major schools in the region," Mitchell said.
She said the main argument against the new policy would be the cost. Mitchell said she thinks an increase of people in the system will mean more money into the system, so cost shouldn't be an argument.
"It's more about change, and some people are more resistant to change," Mitchell said. "I don't know the political makeup of the Board of Governors, and if they have political views that would conflict, which is part of why we went with 'faculty plus one.'"
Senior Prism member Dan Heagney said it is a difficult time to propose the change because of the budget crisis.
"It will be the Board of Governors or the administration ... putting their conscious over their wallets, which, in this kind of world, is tough to do," Heagney said.
Heagney said Prism would work with Student Senate to get a resolution passed in support of 'faculty plus one.' He said Prism wants to support the issue without meddling because it's a faculty issue.
However, Mitchell said she thinks there is momentum building for the issue, and many universities are in the process of re-examining their insurance policies.
"It affects the ability of the University to hire the most qualified person, because in some instances the most qualified person might be gay, lesbian, bi-[sexual] - and they might not be willing to come if they don't have insurance coverage for their partners [when it's] provided by some of the major schools in the region," Mitchell said.
She said the main argument against the new policy would be the cost. Mitchell said she thinks an increase of people in the system will mean more money into the system, so cost shouldn't be an argument.
"It's more about change, and some people are more resistant to change," Mitchell said. "I don't know the political makeup of the Board of Governors, and if they have political views that would conflict, which is part of why we went with 'faculty plus one.'"
Senior Prism member Dan Heagney said it is a difficult time to propose the change because of the budget crisis.
"It will be the Board of Governors or the administration ... putting their conscious over their wallets, which, in this kind of world, is tough to do," Heagney said.
Heagney said Prism would work with Student Senate to get a resolution passed in support of 'faculty plus one.' He said Prism wants to support the issue without meddling because it's a faculty issue.
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