Today, student body president Liam O'Rourke, of the Student Government at The University of Texas at Austin, signed a resolution in opposition of the ongoing denial of benefits to university employees in same-sex relationships. The resolution, A.R. 26, passed the Student Government Assembly overwhelmingly with no debate (24-1-1).
"The University of Alabama provides these benefits. All the Ivy Leagues have these benefits. Nine of our eleven peer institutions offer these benefits," said principal author John Woods, a doctoral student in Cell & Molecular Biology and Graduate School Representative in the Student Government Assembly.
Government senior and Liberal Arts Representative Andy Jones said, "The University of Texas wants to be the best public university in the country, but it's working with one hand tied behind its back in terms of recruiting."
Texas law has banned recognition of same-sex marriage and civil unions since 2003. There are, however, other states with such laws, including Michigan and Alabama, where universities do not deny benefits. In Texas, both the City of Austin and Travis County provide COBRA-like benefits to all employees in committed relationships. Many private schools such as Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, Trinity University, and Southwestern University provide these benefits as well.
While UT-Austin President William Powers has publicly stated that he is opposed to the denial of competitive benefits, such decisions rest with the UT System's Board of Regents.
John Woods continues to prove himself one of the most effective leaders on the UT campus. He helped start and organize the successful Students for Gun Free Schools that stopped the legislature from allowing concealed handgun license holders to bring their arms to school. This is just another important cause that he puts has put his name behind.
