A student rally was held Thursday in support of domestic partner benefits for University of Texas at Austin faculty and staff.

UT students and staff spoke out demanding a change in the university's policy, which currently excludes benefits to same-sex partners of faculty and staff members.

The student-organized and student-funded rally represented several student organizations, including Student Government. The students said UT President William Powers is not being proactive enough in obtaining equal benefits for all UT staff.

One staff member, Karen Landolt, argued that UT cannot recruit or retain the highest quality faculty and staff, as long as the current policy stands.

"It hurts the university's credibility; it hurts our ability to recruit the brightest and the best, and to retain staff as well. The university competes on all levels for both faculty and staff, against institutions that provide better benefits and better opportunities," Landolt said.

In April, UT assistant professor Deborah Vargas turned in a resignation to take a job at the University of California, Los Angeles, sighting her inability to pay for her partner’s health condition while at UT.