By: Hailey Colwell

The University of Minnesota announced Wednesday that it will extend benefits coverage to employees’ same-sex spouses and their children starting Aug. 1.

Previously, this coverage was offered only to employees’ registered same-sex domestic partners, and the benefits were taxed as income — creating an extra cost for those employees.

Beginning Aug. 1, when same-sex marriages will be recognized in Minnesota, University employees who provide documentation of their marriage will no longer have to pay an extra tax to cover same-sex spouses and dependents under age 26, according to an email sent to University employees by Kathy Brown,  vice president for human resources.

The benefits changes apply to University employees living in Minnesota and other states where same-sex marriage is legal.

In March, University staff member Steff Yorek married her partner, Jess Sundin, in Washington. Yorek said she was pleased to hear about the change, which will allow her to include Sundin as a spouse on her employee benefits plan.

"I’m glad that things are the way that they should be," she said.

In the email, Brown said the University’s Office of Human Resources has received  a lot of questions about whether same-sex domestic partners can still be covered by employees’ benefits plans. She said she will hold discussions with affected employees about this and other aspects of the law change.

“Our goal is to ensure equitable benefits offerings to all of our employees,” Brown said in the email.

For now, employees with registered same-sex partners on their plan will continue to have the value of their benefits taxed as income unless they get married.

The University is asking employees with a same-sex spouse already registered as a domestic partner to provide a marriage license to cover their spouse on their benefits plan. It’s also requesting that newly-married employees who aren’t registered as same-sex domestic partners sign up for marriage benefits within 30 days of their marriage or before Aug. 30, if they were married before Aug. 1. Couples who don’t sign up during the 30-day window will have to wait until the next open enrollment for University benefits in November.

The University still awaits federal and state regulations that may result in more changes, the email said. For example, the University is waiting for federal guidelines on whether to tax married same-sex couples who work at the University but live in a state where same-sex marriage is not legal.

By: Roy Aker

Starting this fall, University of Minnesota students will be able to share their rental experiences and review other students’ property ratings online.

URentWise, a website for those with a University email address, will enable students to review, research and comment on hundreds of properties.

The project’s creator, University alumnus Adam Arling, said he came up with the idea as a University senior wanting to do community relations work. During that time, he discussed his ideas with Minnesota Student Association members and Student and Community Relations within the University’s Office for Student Affairs, but he decided to work on the project independently.

Arling has undertaken the year-long website project with the help of web designer Jonathan Sollie and web developer Brenden Ellingboe. Most listing information will come from the City of Minneapolis, Arling said.

The website, which Arling said he modeled on user-driven websites like Rate My Professors and Yelp, fills a need for University-area renters who may fall victim to poor-quality rentals or landlords, he said.

“One of the big issues being a renter is that you’re new to this whole market,” Arling said, “and often you don’t access information you should know until it’s too late.”

By: Janice Bitters

The National Center for Food Protection and Defense — a Department of Homeland Security center housed at the University of Minnesota — gained a new international partner this week.

President Eric Kaler and Li Xinshi, director general of the Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, agreed to a memorandum of understanding on food safety, food protection and food defense issues during a signing ceremony Thursday at the Campus Club in Coffman Memorial Union.

“Particularly in this area of food safety, where we are very strong … this connection with a premier organization around food safety in China is a big deal for us,” Kaler said. “I think it’ll open some doors and provide opportunities across the board.”

The CAIQ is a public research organization in China and leads scientific research related to food inspection and protection.

The University has been home to the NCFPD since 2004.

The two organizations have a common bond in working to prevent and combat intentional contamination of the food supply, whether for economic or terroristic reasons, said Amy Kircher, acting director and associate director of the NCFPD.

“Knowing that we have a global food system, it is really important that we work with our collaborators and find partnerships around the world,” she said.

The new partnership comes at an opportune time.

This year marks the 100-year anniversary of the first Chinese students attending the University — an anniversary the University will be celebrating throughout the 2013-14 academic year, Kaler said.

It also falls on the heels of Kaler’s visit to China, where he renewed partnerships with other Chinese research institutions and organizations.

Li acknowledged the anniversary during his speech, adding that he hoped the ceremony would “open a new age for collaboration for the next 100 years.”

Kaler said signing the memorandum was a significant step for the University’s partnership with China in areas of higher education and scientific endeavors.

“We are extremely proud and very eager to continue to work with [CAIQ] to tackle one of the world’s most critical public health and public safety challenges,” he said.

By: Roy Aker

After winning a competitive bidding contract, the car-sharing program HOURCAR will replace Zipcar at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in time for fall semester.

According to a press release, the St. Paul-based HOURCAR will have 10 new energy-efficient cars on campus by Aug 1.

The company is the largest car-sharing service in the Twin Cities and is run by the local nonprofit organization Neighborhood Energy Connection.

Zipcar, which was founded in Massachusetts, held a contract with the University since 2005. In January, the New Jersey-based Avis Budget Group bought Zipcar for $500 million.

Jacqueline Brudlos, a spokeswoman for the University’s Parking and Transportation Services, said the bidding contract was non-monetary. She added that one of the reasons HOURCAR was chosen over Zipcar was because Neighborhood Energy Connection is a local nonprofit.

In addition to expanding at the University, Hourcar is growing its fleet throughout the metro and plans to have more than 80 vehicles by early 2014.

By: Roy Aker

The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ranks among the most LGBT-friendly colleges in the country, according to a recent rating by Campus Pride.

The national nonprofit organization, which measures inclusiveness in U.S. colleges, awarded the campus an overall Campus Pride Score of 99 percent and a Campus Pride Index score of five out of five stars for the second consecutive year, according to a University news release.

According to the ranking report, the University was given a five-star score in 8 areas including housing, academic life and counseling and health.

The ranking process includes more than 50 self-assessment questions corresponding to the 8 areas.

According to the release, the University received a 98 percent score on LGBT student life and a 96 percent score on LGBT policy inclusion.

Other schools that topped the list included Stanford University, Penn State University and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

By: Roy Aker

The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ranks among the most LGBT-friendly colleges in the country, according to a recent rating by Campus Pride.

The national nonprofit organization, which measures inclusiveness in U.S. colleges, awarded the campus an overall Campus Pride Score of 99 percent and a Campus Pride Index score of five out of five stars for the second consecutive year, according to a University news release.

According to the ranking report, the University was given a five-star score in 8 areas including housing, academic life and counseling and health.

The ranking process includes more than 50 self-assessment questions corresponding to the 8 areas.

According to the release, the University received a 98 percent score on LGBT student life and a 96 percent score on LGBT policy inclusion.

Other schools that topped the list included Stanford University, Penn State University and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

By: Roy Aker

The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ranks among the most LGBT-friendly colleges in the country, according to a recent rating by Campus Pride.

The national nonprofit organization, which measures inclusiveness in U.S. colleges, awarded the campus an overall Campus Pride Score of 99 percent and a Campus Pride Index score of five out of five stars for the second consecutive year, according to a University news release.

According to the ranking report, the University was given a five-star score in 8 areas including housing, academic life and counseling and health.

The ranking process includes more than 50 self-assessment questions corresponding to the 8 areas.

According to the release, the University received a 98 percent score on LGBT student life and a 96 percent score on LGBT policy inclusion.

Other schools that topped the list included Stanford University, Penn State University and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

By: Hailey Colwell

As the University of Minnesota adjusts its employee healthcare plan to accommodate the Affordable Care Act when it takes effect in 2014, some employees are concerned about how increased costs could affect them.

Because the recommended changes include increased out-of-pocket expenses for employees, some are arguing that the changes are unfair to employees on the lower end of the pay scale — and that the University is using the new legislation to justify shifting costs onto the lowest-paid employees.

In order to avoid a $48 million tax on the University, the Office of Human Resources has proposed changes to the UPlan — the health benefits plan currently offered by the University.

Representatives from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees wrote a letter to University President Eric Kaler protesting the cost shift in June, saying that the ACA is “being used to justify this move.”

“We believe that this proposal is not a result of the Affordable Care Act,” the letter said. “It is another example of the University administration’s decision-making that deliberately shifts costs to the most economically vulnerable workers.”

The union also started a petition requesting that the University stop the current plan and look for other savings in its budget to lessen the cost for employees.

About 1,100 University employees have signed the petition so far, said AFSCME Local 3937 President Barb Bezat. These employees hold all kinds of jobs — not just those covered by the unions, she said.

Planning for the coming year

The University’s Benefits Advisory Committee met Thursday to discuss the proposed changes. The BAC is a group of faculty and staff members and retirees who advise University administrators on employee benefits.

At the meeting, AFSCME representatives raised the issue of employees not being able to cover their healthcare costs.

Some union members have admitted refusing to seek medical care because the costs were too high, said AFSCME Local 3800 President Cherrene Horazuk.

“Let’s have the employer pay more,” said Horazuk, whose union represents University clerical workers.

Faculty representatives at the BAC meeting commented on the possible repercussions of the changes for University faculty members.

Some instructors at the University are paid very little, said Duluth campus professor Jennifer Schultz, so the University should decrease out-of-pocket healthcare charges or raise salaries to help meet costs.

Though a number of faculty members take issue with the changes now, they won’t really take effect until fall, when faculty and staff members can update or change their healthcare plan, said Twin Cities campus professor Richard McGehee.

For the time being, the BAC has put the subject on hold. Its next meeting will be held in September.

By: Hailey Colwell

As the University of Minnesota adjusts its employee healthcare plan to accommodate the Affordable Care Act when it takes effect in 2014, some employees are concerned about how increased costs could affect them.

Because the recommended changes include increased out-of-pocket expenses for employees, some are arguing that the changes are unfair to employees on the lower end of the pay scale — and that the University is using the new legislation to justify shifting costs onto the lowest-paid employees.

In order to avoid a $48 million tax on the University, the Office of Human Resources has proposed changes to the UPlan — the health benefits plan currently offered by the University.

Representatives from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees wrote a letter to University President Eric Kaler protesting the cost shift in June, saying that the ACA is “being used to justify this move.”

“We believe that this proposal is not a result of the Affordable Care Act,” the letter said. “It is another example of the University administration’s decision-making that deliberately shifts costs to the most economically vulnerable workers.”

The union also started a petition requesting that the University stop the current plan and look for other savings in its budget to lessen the cost for employees.

About 1,100 University employees have signed the petition so far, said AFSCME Local 3937 President Barb Bezat. These employees hold all kinds of jobs — not just those covered by the unions, she said.

Planning for the coming year

The University’s Benefits Advisory Committee met Thursday to discuss the proposed changes. The BAC is a group of faculty and staff members and retirees who advise University administrators on employee benefits.

At the meeting, AFSCME representatives raised the issue of employees not being able to cover their healthcare costs.

Some union members have admitted refusing to seek medical care because the costs were too high, said AFSCME Local 3800 President Cherrene Horazuk.

“Let’s have the employer pay more,” said Horazuk, whose union represents University clerical workers.

Faculty representatives at the BAC meeting commented on the possible repercussions of the changes for University faculty members.

Some instructors at the University are paid very little, said Duluth campus professor Jennifer Schultz, so the University should decrease out-of-pocket healthcare charges or raise salaries to help meet costs.

Though a number of faculty members take issue with the changes now, they won’t really take effect until fall, when faculty and staff members can update or change their healthcare plan, said Twin Cities campus professor Richard McGehee.

For the time being, the BAC has put the subject on hold. Its next meeting will be held in September.

By: Roy Aker

Thousands of people carrying handmade signs and chanting “No justice, no peace,” packed the Government Plaza in downtown Minneapolis Monday evening to protest the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin last year.

Zimmerman, a Sanford, Fla. neighborhood watch volunteer, was cleared of all charges Saturday in the fatal shooting of  Martin, the teenager whose death sparked national debate over Stand Your Ground laws — which exist in Florida — and racial profiling, according to The Associated Press.

Speakers at the Minneapolis rally organized by the non-profit organization MN Neighborhoods Organizing for Change demanded justice for both Martin and 22-year-old Terrance Franklin, who was shot and killed by Minneapolis police this spring.

Many at the rally held signs drawing parallels between Martin and Franklin, localizing the national dialogue on race relations.

Amber Jones, incoming president of the University of Minnesota’s Black Student Union, said the rally made it possible for people to “share their burdens, grieve, and support one another.”

“It might have been a case involving just one young black man,” she said, “but it hurts for a lot of people who went through very similar situations.”

Rally attendees flooded the Government Plaza early in the evening and later marched to Hennepin Avenue and back, with Minneapolis police and rally volunteers redirecting traffic.

Community activists and leaders, including local musician Brother Ali, spoke at the rally and called for “justice for Trayvon” and an “end to racial injustice in the court systems.”

The protest was widely attended by members of the University community, including BSU, Voices Merging, Black Motivated Women and several fraternities and sororities.

Rally attendees included people of different ages, races and religions affiliations, which is something Alpha Kappa Alpha President Mercedes McKay said she was glad to see.

Lori Kellers, who was at the rally with members of her church, said she thinks it’s important for people of all “walks of life” to participate in the “public rhetoric” surrounding the Trayvon case.

For social change to occur, she said, people need to “step outside their world for awhile and take a hard look at the term ‘post-racial society.’”

Taking action

Rally participants agreed that the event — and the case itself — need to spark a push for widespread change.

Jones stressed the importance of the rally not being a “one-time thing,” and said the Martin case highlights a larger issue of “criminalization of black youth in America” and race relations nationwide.

“We don’t want to just be reactionary,” she said. “We want to be proactive.”

Part of that proactive attitude was demonstrated at the rally by volunteers who helped attendees register to vote and volunteer for future demonstrations.

The rally, which was driven strongly by the use of social media, including the Twitter hashtag #hoodiesupmn, needs to be action-driven, McKay said.

“With our generation, we’re very technologically savvy,” she said. “We’ll say what we want to say on social media and then we’ll leave it at that and think that we’ve done our part.”

Instead of waiting for change to happen, McKay said, people need to take direct action.

“We have to organize and make sure our voices are heard,” she said. “As long as were just talking and we’re not taking action, nothing will get done.”