n In your article, the headline “Homosexual benefits letter signatories decry Silber denials” appears misleading (March 24, pg. 1). My understanding is the letter sent to Boston University dealt with offering equal benefits for same-sex/unmarried domestic partners. That is an important distinction when one considers equity in administering benefits. This would seem to be supported by the Equality at BU mission statement.

As a clarification, the quote attributed to me that states that “offering domestic partnership benefits ‘helps with recruitment'” should have been quoted in its full context of faculty and staff recruitment. Many institutions have found that in promoting understanding and inclusion in their benefit policies, they actually leverage differences as a competitive advantage.

It is encouraging to see that the university is beginning to recognize this principle in attracting the best and the brightest. In the recent BU Bridge article “University to provide health coverage free to supported grad students,” the university announced it is providing free health insurance to graduate students in order “to keep these positions fully competitive on the national scale, so that our departments and research programs can successfully recruit the best applicants available for admission to our graduate programs … to know that the University is fully committed to meeting their needs.” This is generously being offered despite the increased expense barrier mentioned in The Daily Free Press article. This can only serve to enhance Boston University’s image as a benchmark leader in benefit policy and in developing leadership that values unique perspectives.

Brad Peloquin

Director of Admissions, School of Music