Equal benefits long overdue

UCF stands for opportunity" is the slogan your school promotes everywhere.
Commercials, posters and websites all attempt to convince people that your school is a diverse place where teachers and students can thrive. People from all walks of life have the chance to embrace the opportunities that only UCF can provide.

UCF's slogan is not entirely true, though.

By not offering domestic partner benefits for teachers and staff, UCF is eliminating opportunities for people based on their sexual orientation.

UCF's defense is that offering domestic partner benefits would be a violation of state law. This argument is weak, because the University of Florida is able to work around the law and offer benefits to domestic partners.

UCF can do the same thing. It just isn't a priority for the current administration.
Since 2005, the United Faculty of Florida has been attempting to help the administration implement domestic partner benefits. By setting up a separate fund that would receive private donations, UCF could extend benefits to domestic partnerships without breaking the law.

Besides discriminating against these people, UCF is reducing the chance for students to receive the best education possible.

According to the UFF, there are potential faculty members who will not work at UCF because they are gay, lesbian or straight allies who refuse to be employees of UCF because it lacks domestic partner benefits.

Qualified professors are not even options because UCF will not offer them the same benefits they offer married couples.

We are not sure why President Hitt would not act immediately on this project, especially when other universities have accomplished this task.

According to the American Association of University Professors, nearly 300 colleges and universities offer some kind of domestic partnership benefit.

Offering better benefits for current and future employees of UCF will only improve the school's reputation and attract the most qualified professionals. 

Denying domestic partner benefits is hurting educators and students.

UCF needs to stand behind its slogan and offer opportunities to all members of society.