Arabic Lecturer Uri Horesh began a hunger strike Monday in response to his denied complaint against the University's non-discrimination policy, which does not include health benefits for same-sex couples.
As of Jan. 1, the University of Michigan started offering some health benefits to employees and other qualified adults who have shared a residence for six months. This policy circumvents Michigan laws regarding same-sex marriage, which fueled Horesh's complaints against UT.
Horesh said he sent an e-mail to the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement in December and one on Monday about the strike, but has not received a response. Horesh said he will quietly abstain from eating until the policy is changed.
"I'm taking the responsibility on this somewhat creative idea whereby I could keep on doing my job until I may or may not be able to do it if something happened," Horesh said. "I can wear my rainbow-colored longhorn T-shirt or wear my little button, but who gives a damn about that? Maybe this would make more of an impact."
Division spokeswoman Deborah Duval said the office could not comment on Horesh's latest measure.
"I was thinking of a way in which I could on the one hand express my protest in a very physical way," Horesh said. "I started a Facebook group, but then I was thinking, 'What can I do that would actually be more proactive, but still non-violent and not jeopardize my fulfillment of my responsibilities as a faculty member?' Well, I was thinking, 'I can go on hunger strike.'"
Horesh was scheduled to have a meeting Monday with Gregory Vincent, vice president for the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, in light of Horesh's claim of being discriminated against by a University with a non-discrimination policy. Vincent did not attend the meeting.
Duval said Vincent was called away on business. Shelette Williams, an administrative associate in the division, said Vincent did not come in Monday for personal reasons, which were not disclosed.
Linda Millstone, associate vice president for institutional equity and workforce diversity, took Vincent's place in the meeting. She denied Horesh's initial complaint in November because she said the state law precludes the University from providing domestic partnership benefits to its employees. Vincent upheld her decision in December.
"I want to know how the University intends to work around that and provide its employees with the benefits they deserve. This law promotes bigotry," Horesh said.
Millstone said the failure to provide health care benefits to people who are not legally married in Texas not only affects people who are homosexual, but also people who are straight and live in committed partnerships.
The University is looking into further options regarding the issue, she said.
"The thing is this: If UT wants to really compete with high caliber institutions, it has to make a change and it has to make it quickly," Horesh said. "Gays and lesbians are treated as not equal, as people whose priorities and well-being is a low priority. I don't know exactly what you cover when you say 'diversity,' but it doesn't seem to cover sexual orientation."
Millstone said she disagreed, saying the UT Gender and Sexuality Center supports diverse sexual orientations among students.
"I do agree that the provision of benefits is a recruitment and retention issue for all of higher education, including this institution," she said. "But in terms of providing you today the University's procedures for moving forward, I am not going to do so."
Horesh left the meeting after about eight minutes.
"I am not very optimistic. I do not feel the actions of one person are going to change the conduct of the University, but I am hoping it will get the message out. I am creating a face to the problem," Horesh said.
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