University Times

Hunger strikers want to discuss same-sex benefits with trustees

Nineteen Pitt students and one staff member vowed yesterday to continue the hunger strike they began on Monday until they get a meeting with the Board of Trustees.

The hunger strikers, who call themselves the Equal Rights Alliance, say they want an "open forum" with trustees to protest Pitt's denial of health benefits to same-sex domestic partners of faculty and staff.

"We're willing to go on as long as it takes until we get the open forum," said Robin Moll, a senior creative writing major, after he and other strikers met from 4:30-5 p.m. yesterday with Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Robert Gallagher, and Assistant to the Chancellor Nancy White.

According to Moll, Nordenberg said the administration would give Alliance members details today, April 15, on how non-trustees can request time to speak at a board meeting.

But Moll said the chancellor cautioned hunger strikers that it was highly unlikely they would be added to the agenda of the next full board meeting, scheduled for mid-June.

Moll said he and fellow hunger strikers continue to attend class and go to work. "We're trying to function normally. That takes a lot of commitment, but we want the administration and trustees to recognize that we are not going to back down easily. We want to make the point that institutionalized discrimination is just as bad as starvation," Moll said.

— Bruce Steele