February 14, 1997 Minutes
UC Irvine
1. MEMBERS PRESENT
on February 14, 1997
Ron Alexander - UCSB
Elbert Almozan - UCR
Bob Anderson - UCB
Sarah Archibald - UCSD
Al Aubin - UCLA
Todd Bowser - UCSC
Chris Browning - UCI
Shirley Bushnell - UCLA
Shih Chang - UCB
Sara Dozier - UCSC
debi fidler - UCB
Paul Harris - UCSD
Ron Kos - UCSF
Susan Lovercheck - UCD
Chad Sanger - UCSC
Nancy Stoller - UCSC
Allison Subasic - UCD
Pat Walsh - UCI
John White - UCSD
Jonathan Winters - UCB
PRESENT on February
15, 1997 (In addition to above)
Darnel Grisby - UCLA
Maggie Hawkins - UCR
Charles Outcalt - UCLA
ABSENT
LBNL Representatives
UCOP Representatives
LANL Representatives
UCLGBTA Co-Chairs Archibald and Winters convened the meeting.
1. FINAL PLANNING FOR UCLGBTA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1. Students from each campus to speak to student issues. Maximum 20 minutes.
2. Update on UCLGBTA Accomplishments1. Chancellor Advisory Committees at each campus
2. Resource Centers at most campus's
3. Queer studies at some campus's including UCB, UCLA, UCSC
4. Soft Benefits for domestic partners, some progress3. Domestic Partner Benefits Update to be provided by Nancy Stoller
4. Where to we go next? Will pass out index cards soliciting responses.
2. DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS
A designated group of Steering Committee members met with President Atkinson and other high level administrators at UCOP in December 1996. President Atkinson advocates bringing the issue of DP health benefits to The Regents during Spring 1997. UCLGBTA representatives advocated benefits for both same sex and opposite sex couples, as well as offering benefits for dependents of domestic partners. Lubbe Levin at UCOP is the designated UCOP contact for UCLGBTA on this topic. UCOP is working out the requirements to determine who domestic partners are, such as: 1) intimate, committed relationship, mutual and caring, 2) living together, 3) responsible for each other's living expenses, 4) over 18 years of age, 5) not married, 6) not blood related, 7) no other domestic partner, 8) not a different domestic partner within the past six months. Discussion is centered on health benefits for current employees and annuitants. Student health care benefits are discretionary at the campus level.
UCOP is planning to have representatives from UCOP administration and others make a presentation to The Regents during Spring 1997. This could include: Chancellors, members of Academic Senate, Staff Assemblies, Students, and public comment. It appears that UCOP is favoring only same sex benefits at this time, because health benefits are currently available for legally married people, because same sex only benefits will keep costs lower, and same sex benefits are in line with comparison higher education institutions. UCOP has requested assistance from UCLGBTA regarding the presentation to The Regents. The following people volunteered to assist as needed: Bob Anderson, Al Aubin, Ron Kos, Nancy Stoller, Jonathan Winters.
Discussion: Mention was made of requesting a continuity clause for transgenders. Chancellors could be asked to lobby local Regents and political leaders.
3. STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND CONTACTS INFORMATION
A list of steering committee members and contacts was distributed during the meeting. Everyone present was asked to review the information for accuracy and to provide changes or additional information to Jonathan Winters, UCLGBTA Co-Chair.
4. CAMPUS INFORMATION/SURVEYS
An attempt will be made to make key information related to LGBT resources at each campus available.
5. WEB PAGE
The Web Page is up and operating: http://www2.ucsc.edu/uclgbta/ Suggestions were made to identify steering committee members and to include information from the UCLGBTA Conference (program extracts, key discussions and decisions).
6. 1998 CONFERENCE
UC Santa Cruz volunteered to host the 1998 UCLGBTA conference.
7. CAMPUS UPDATES
Each campus provided a report and most campus's provided written summaries distributed at the meeting. In particular, it was noted that the new director for the LGBT Resource Center at UC Riverside is Maggie Hawkins. UC Berkeley and UC Los Angeles provided handouts with extensive information on LGBT Studies/Queer Curriculum.
8. RESULTS OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The three top topics for future work as identified by members of the General Assembly were:
1. Insure a LGBT Center at each campus,
2. Increase the number of paid staff at the LGBT Centers/Student Services Staff,
3. Form alliances with queer alumni and create alumni chapters at each campus.
Other suggestions included: more resources, education, and workshops for bisexuals, improve outreach to community colleges, domestic partner benefits beyond health benefits, address affect of Prop 209 on LGBT people, create links to corporate and off campus LGBT organizations, fight homophobia in the Sciences, expand queer curricula, improve communication links between students, staff and faculty, create opportunities for staff and faculty to work jointly on projects, and address military recruiters on campus.
Recorded by: John White, UCSD