Organization calls for benefits

Students and speakers banned together for the second time in two weeks to keep domestic partner benefits on the minds of residents.

"One thing is that we don't want the community to get apathetic, we want to keep our voices out there," said Paul Patton, Ohio University junior and member of The Federation of United Queers.

The group organized the event, which included several speakers in favor of benefits for same-sex couples and unmarried heterosexual couples, at 12 p.m. at the west portico of Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.

Patton said the group will continue to speak out in favor of domestic partner benefits.

"The more we speak out, the more people will join," Patton said.

OU junior Heather Lanfranchi, who also spoke at the event, said she is working to organize a statewide rally in opposition to proposed Ohio House Bill 234. The bill states that any acts or records granting benefits to unmarried couples are void.

Rev. Jan Griesinger, director at the United Campus Ministry's Center for Spiritual Growth and Social Justice, said institutions like OU need to spearhead the issue.

OU President Robert Glidden had no comments on the issue.

– Laura M. Schneider