Members of the faculty and staff gathered Tuesday to discuss benefits for same-sex couples at Iowa State.

A group of more than 20 attended the discussion in the Cardinal Room of the Memorial Union. The event was part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Alliance Awareness Days.

Kevin Stow, human resources specialist for Human Resources, discussed topics of housing benefits provided to ISU faculty, staff and students.

“In 1993, the Board of Regents approved domestic partnership coverage, but it wasn’t until February 2001 that Iowa State began contributing the same amount to domestic partnerships as they do for married couples,” Stow said.

“The state of Iowa does not recognize domestic partnerships. By making it a university policy, we’ve taken it out of the Legislature’s hands.”

Johnny Rogers, LGBT Student Services coordinator, wants to add housing policies that will benefit same-sex couples.

“Priority is placed on students with dependent children and those who are married. In the literature, there is no mention of domestic partnerships,” said Rogers, graduate student in educational leadership and policy studies. “Though, if you go to various Web sites, you can find the information.”

Rogers advocates school policies on domestic partnerships printed in the literature. The absence of a clear policy could be why students have not tried living in a domestic partnership in married student housing.

“They are worried they’ll have to come out on a high level,” Rogers said. “We need to make sure this change gets made on paper.”

Todd Herriott, LGBTAA faculty adviser, said students in residence halls should be able to live with their domestic partner.

“I remember back in `94. The [Department of Residence] did not want to encourage or have domestic partners living together on campus,” said Herriott, coordinator of disability resources for the dean of students.

“Hall directors can have domestic partners, but students don’t have the same privileges.”

Sine Anahita, graduate assistant in sociology, said hate speech at Iowa State needs to be taken more seriously.

“I would like to see heterosexist and homophobic speech on the same ground as racist speech,” Anahita said. “All departments need to implement some policy that is at the same level as the university-wide non-discrimination policy.”

Anahita said that many of these comments are made out of ignorance, not malice. However, she said the university must protect its students.

“As of right now, there is no consequences for the student that says `All homosexuals are evil, immoral and going to hell,'” Anahita said. “We do have freedom of speech, but we need to be careful how we protect students in class.”

Rogers said if hate speech is reported, there can be serious consequences.

“Students can report these comments to the Dean of Students Office and take action,” Rogers said.

“The classroom has to be a safe environment.”