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Wednesday, May 14, 2003

By Bill Schackner, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Ninety-three members of the law school faculties of the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State University and Temple University have signed a letter urging Pennsylvania's public universities to offer same-sex domestic partner benefits.

The professors say offering such benefits would show moral leadership and live up to campus anti-discrimination policies. They said the schools should form a united front. Temple's recent decision to offer the benefits, they said, means that "no other university will stand alone on this issue" should legislators or others make good on threats to cut off funding.

Copies of the letter were sent to the head of each institution. By signing it, the faculty members have stepped into a debate that has gotten the attention of the Legislature and governor's office, in part because of a 7-year-old lawsuit involving Pitt.

"Treating all employees fairly and equitably will assist our universities and their regions in attracting and retaining young professionals -- both gay and straight," the letter read.

"A truly great university must provide more than just academic excellence -- it must also provide moral leadership," the letter read.

Seven current and former Pitt employees have sued Pitt for the benefit. The city's human relations commission found probable cause that discrimination had occurred, but an Allegheny County Common Pleas judge issued a temporary injunction halting the case, saying he found no evidence of intentional discrimination.

A campus panel appointed by Chancellor Mark Nordenberg to study the idea of extending the benefit cited potential opposition from the state Legislature in recommending against the move.

Pitt spokesman Robert Hill said Nordenberg "has seen the letter. He thinks it's reasonable."

Hill alluded to the panel's recommendation that Pitt work with other campuses to find a statewide solution and said "the chancellor has taken the lead in initiating those conversations."

The signers included 32 of Pitt's 48 full-time law faculty, 38 from Temple and 23 from the Penn State Dickinson Law School, said Anthony C. Infanti, an assistant professor in Pitt's law school who organized the letter along with a colleague in the school, Lu-in Wang.

"We felt that law professors in particular might hold some weight given some of the issues that are involved," Infanti said.