The three University of Nebraska regents who tried to stop domestic partner benefits for gay couples

Tim Clare (Lincoln), Randolph Ferlic (Omaha), Bob Phares (North Platte)

On June 8, the NU Board of Regents voted 5-3 to extend benefits to employees’ domestic partners – whether same sex or opposite sex. Standing in the way were Regents Tim Clare (Lincoln), Randolph Ferlic (Omaha) and Bob Phares (North Platte).
     “Frankly it is embarrassing to admit that we don’t have domestic partner benefits. It’s a tough sell and getting tougher all the time.” said Professor Debora Hope, whose support of gay couples echoed the sentiments of most of the NU faculty.
     The arguments of the regents who voted for continued discrimination against gay couples (via Nebraska Watchdog):

• Ferlic said the argument that “everybody else is doing it” worked about as well as it did when his children used the argument.
• Phares said 99 percent of the people in his district were opposed to the proposal, which he voted against, saying he didn’t believe the University of Nebraska would be a second-class institution without it.
• Clare said he took into consideration morality, cost, administration issues and the fact that most of the constituents he heard from opposed the idea.