Baseball, Sex and Budget Requests

All in the timing. Today's Wisconsin State Journal has a story about how the UW shortly will be the only Big 10 school not to offer benefits to same sex partner employees.

Health insurance for domestic partners is not allowed for state employees, including at the university, under Wisconsin law. Coupled with the state's long-standing, lower-than-average salaries, it hurts the university's competitive edge, school officials said.

The university does offer other incentives that are legal under state law, such as dental insurance. But officials say it's not enough.

"The absence of domestic partner benefits is really a serious recruiting issue for us," said UW-Madison Provost Peter Spear. "We know of instances where we have lost outstanding candidates because of it."

Just wait until the budget cycle is complete and watch how quickly the move is made to remove the UW from this ban.