Minutes

Minutes, Truman Chapter of AAUP
May 1, 2009, 4:33 pm
University Club

0. Several members provided snacks and we all dug in as we informally discussed Monday's town hall meeting on Ashcroft.

1.Minutes of April 3 approved as submitted.

2.Domestic partner benefits. Betty reported on the results of her research. Missouri Statutes emphasize that the only marriage bond that is legally recognized by the state is that between a man and a women. Although no mention is made if this extends to the question of domestic partner benefits, language in the law "A marriage between persons of the same sex will not be recognized FOR ANY PURPOSE...." suggests that it would not.

TSU HR says that it does not have a policy, nor does it provide domestic partner benefits, but there are no long term financial concerns because the cost would be the same as for married couples. Issues of whether something is prohibited or just not mentioned, and it appears that it is not mentioned. How is this different from TSU's designated guest program, which also involves cost?

Betty also asked 24 neighboring schools for policies, and 6 have now responded:

a. Missouri State University does not provide benefits.

b. Newman University, a catholic university in Wichita, Kansas, works with a health care plan that does not disallow benefits for domestic partners of opposite sex, provided there is steadfast proof of a common law marriage certificate. They don’t provide for same sex domestic partners.

c. University of Northern Iowa's collective bargaining unit was able to write domestic partner benefit language into contract.

d. Indiana State has provided it since 2005.

e. University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana provides benefits for domestic partners, same and opposite.

f. The University of Missouri does not provide benefits to unmarried domestic partners, has no experience on this issue, and apparently no one has raised the issue.

So, there are models and we have precedence for pushing this policy forward. Dave: a prof at KU has done a similar study for AAUP and will send it to Betty. James: what is threshold for relationship to be able to receive domestic partner benefits? Martha: because of marrying Andy she lost social security from first husband. There are sometimes financial motivations for opposite sex couples not to marry.

We may be able to build a strong case, perhaps with the help of faculty senate on a proposal. Dave: we maybe need to ask for the help of an AAUP lawyer on this issue. We need to continue working on this issue over the summer and present something to faculty senate in the fall. Sylvia: do we need a case to challenge the University on this issue? Wolfgang: better benefits might make us more attractive to job candidates. James C: Also basis of premise of liberal arts education.

How much of this is a cover for homophobic attitudes? Dave: this is a concern given the current situation of a very conservative president and BOG.

The committee of David Robinson, Betty McLane-Iles, Bonnie Mitchell, Monica Barron will continue to work on this.

3. Ashcroft. Faculty and students want input before decisions about honorary degrees and commencement speakers are made. How active of a role should faculty take? Dave: proposes that we join in these efforts and that we ask the Student and Faculty Senates about participating in decisions regarding the selection of commencement speakers and recipients of honorary degrees and to do that by using the language of Chett Breed's letter. Betty seconds. We direct it to the president of the university, BOG, and 2 senates. Passes unanimously.

What do we do on Saturday at commencement? Students plan to hold up copies of Index with petition. Roger: proposes that people who are opposed quietly stand up and turn back. Jerry: banners on public property. Sylvia: boycott. Problems: is it visible? What about family members who come from a distance and at significant cost come to commencement? Roger: Daily Express makes call to boycott; wonders if this place will be crawling with security. Dave: people need to make make individual decisions. Jerry: is working on media (KBIA, Columbia, blogs). Wolfgang: so what are we going to do? Dave: we need to share information, and will continue to meet with students to decide on actions. Jason: we should circulate suggested actions. Probably no plans for distributive actions. Consensus is that we encourage concerned individuals to act according to their own conscience, with respect for the public attending the ceremony.

Jason and Dave will work on a press release outlying AAUP's position on this issue.

4. State of the University survey. Betty, Elaine, Judi, and maybe Dave will meet on Fri, May 8, to work on a survey for fall 2009.

5. Elections: Dave nominates that Betty continue as president. Approved by acclaim.

Betty moves and James seconds Jerry as VP. Approved without dissent.

Secretary: Diane? Dave will stand in if no one else can.

Treasurer: James, by acclamation and with thanks for his long service, our senior officer

Members at large: Sylvia & James C.

6. Next year meeting schedule: we will continue on the first Friday of the month at 4:30pm. Can we sometimes meet at a local establishment?

Adjourned: 6:08 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Marc Becker, secretary