.- Minnesota’s
University of St. Thomas has announced a controversial decision which
bars unmarried staff or faculty, who travel officially with students,
to share a room on those trips.
The new policy
states that St. Thomas will pay for rooms for faculty and staff
traveling with students, but only heterosexual spouses and children can
share those rooms. The policy does not apply to staff traveling to
professional conferences without students
That decision,
made by university president Fr. Dennis Dease, is unlikely to end the
controversy that's divided the St. Thomas campus for the past few
months and left some wondering “what’s next?” reported the St. Paul
Pioneer Press.
While the travel
policy affects only a few professors, it became a flashpoint on campus
after two unmarried, heterosexual professors were told in December they
could travel with students only if they stayed in separate rooms.
As a result, the
unmarried couple declined to lead a student trip to Australia in
January. They and others noted that before last year they had traveled
together, and gay faculty had traveled with their partners, on student
trips and it was not an issue.
Some faculty
fear the new policy will impact university culture and dissuade gifted
faculty and students from coming to the university.
Fr. Dease said
he hoped his track record of hiring and diversity would provide a
comfort level for St. Thomas employees. He said gay and lesbian people
on campus “enrich the community as much as anyone else.” But he added:
"I hope that people don't expect that in order to respect their values,
I have to sacrifice ours as an institution."
University takes strong stand against unmarried staff cohabitating on student trips
Related news
Related articles
* The number of messages that can be online is limited. CNA reserves the right to edit messages for content and tone. Comments and opinions expressed by users do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of CNA. CNA will not publish comments with abusive language, insults or links to other pages
Featured Videos
May
22
Liturgical Calendar
May 22, 2013
Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary TimeAll readings:
Today »This year »
Catholic Daily
Gospel of the Day
Mc 9,38-40
Gospel
Date
05/22/13
05/21/13
05/20/13
Homily of the Day
Mc 9,38-40
Homily
Date
05/22/13
05/21/13
05/20/13
Most Popular
Ads by AdsLiveMedia.com
