As synonymous with the college experience as lounging on the quad or late-night keg parties, a good political protest is a staple of any university. Young people, full of energy and enthusiasm, have a natural propensity to make signs, yell chants and generally be outraged. UT is blessed with a politically active student body ready to lend its voice to any worthy cause.
Next Thursday two student organizations, StandOut and Burnt Orange Benefits, are co-hosting a rally at the Texas Union patio with the aim of lobbying the University to extend domestic partner benefits to gay and lesbian faculty and staff. Currently only the married spouses of University employees are eligible for such benefits, which include health care.
On Facebook pages advertising the event, the groups call current University policies “unacceptable” and “backwards.” The groups argue that the lack of such benefits for the partners of gay and lesbian professors is a detriment to the University, and that the quality of education suffers under a policy that hampers recruitment and retention of gay and lesbian professors. While there is no data to back up these claims, proponents of the movement cite anecdotal accounts of professors leaving the school. The event descriptions state that the rally is targeted at President William Powers and the UT System Board of Regents to convince them to reverse current policies.
Such a rally would be a prime example of student activism, if the reasoning behind it were sound.
But the cause isn’t likely to see success unless the activists change the scope and focus of their movement. Namely, because there’s nothing that Powers or the Board of Regents can do about the issue. In 2005, the state of Texas amended its constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. As such, the state does not recognize same-sex relationships, including the types of domestic partnerships to be highlighted in next Thursday’s protest. Since UT is a public university, health care is controlled by the state government. The University’s hands are essentially tied.
If proponents of domestic partner benefits truly want to see a reform of current policies, they should direct their protests at a body that could truly bring about such change: the Texas Legislature. The Legislature has the power to overturn the measures passed in 2005 and recognize same-sex unions.
Such a shift would be a complete about-face for the Legislature, which has been Republican-controlled for the last several election cycles. But, even then, an overturn of state law may not be enough. On Nov. 3 voters in the state of Maine passed a referendum to overturn a new state law that legalized gay marriage in the state. The referendum was brought about after opponents of gay marriage petitioned and gathered enough signatures to merit a statewide popular vote on the issue. If gay marriage cannot even pass in Maine, then there is no chance that similar legislation would stand up to Texas’ historically conservative voters today.
Students and faculty, regardless of their views, have every right to protest. But if those protests are not aimed at achievable objectives, then they are in vain. UT is unlikely to see domestic partner benefits until drastic changes are made on a statewide level.
While the extension of benefits for same-sex couples might indirectly improve the quality of education offered by the University, there are much broader social implications involved. An effective campaign for those benefits must address the gay and lesbian equality movement, not just focus on the immediate benefits for students. If you’re going to campaign for equality, say so.
Player is a Plan II junior.
5 comments
2. To provide knowledge of; instruct in.