Judy Gerber
- - -
Photo by George Dombrovski
Gerber claims
rights violated
By SHAWN ROSS ITER
Of the Emerald
There seems to be a question
whether personal rights or
broadcast regulations have been
violated at KWAX-FM, the radio
station located on the third floor
of Villard Hall. Judy Gerber,
University sophomore and
outspoken feminist, feels she has
been unjustly replaced on the
program she originated, "The
Common Woman."
The half-hour show, now named
Today's Woman," was con
ceived last year as KWAX's only
outlet for political discussion on
sexism, feminism, lesbianism,
alternative health for women and
other topics concerning "the
woman-identified woman." After
producing and taping several
programs with guests such as a
gynecologist, representatives
from the Eugene Women Against
Rape and the Womens' Political
Caucus and a witch who
discussed herbal healing, Gerber
was informed of the staff's
disapproval.
John Shepherd, the director of
KWAX and the Division of
Broadcast Services and Televised
Instruction, and other staff
members objected to Gerber's
non-objectivity during her in
terviews. She included herself in
the questions and referred to her
own personal experiences during
the interview. Following Federal
Communication Commission and
State Board of Higher Education
regulations, partiality is not
allowed for a KWAX program
moderator, according to
Shepherd.
"I know it's hard as hell to be
objective," Shepherd said, "and
Judy has strong convictions
which I respect her for... but, we
couldn't allow her program to be a
soapbox."
Shepherd, along with other staff
members, thought "The Common
Woman" was too narrow in
scope. They wanted to see
housewives, policewomen and
secretaries brought in. The
audience appeal had to be
widened.
Gerber did not agree. She felt
her program reached the audience
it was created for.
Gerber signed a new contract
with KWAX last June, on a "triai
basis." The contract specified the
use of a disclaimer message
("views expressed do not
represent the licensee or ad
ministrative staff of KWAX"), that
the moderator remain neutral,
comply with the Fairness Doctrine
and that programs be taped and
filed 24 hours in advance of air
time. Gerber felt she complied
with the Fairness Doctrine which
demands an attempt at seeking
opposing viewpoints and giving
them equal air time.
After the contract was drawn up,
Gerber taped more programs and
decided she could not remain
objective about the status of
women in society. She suggested
another half-hour program for the
broader view of women and was
refused.
When Gerber realized she could
not remain neutral during the
discussions, she questioned that
point of the contract. By playing
the disclaimer and complying with
the Fairness Doctrine she said she
felt she was within her rights of
free speech.
Shepherd then solicited advice
from State Board representatives
and lawyers who maintained
Gerber's advocate position on the
program was illegal according to
two rulings: section 399 of the
Federal Communications Act
which reads, "no non
commercial, education broad
casting station may engage in
editorializing or may support or
oppose any candidate for political
office” and State Board of Higher
Education Article 42.110 which
reads, "no employee shall take
action which might be construed
as committing the institution or
the Board to a position on public
issues.”
A radio station does not have the
prerogative that the print media
has," Shepherd interpreted. "We
have to make sure we are offering
and designing a program that has
the largest possible outlet for
opinion."
After requesting Gerber bring
other views into the program, "it
became apparent that Judy didn't
want other views," Shepherd
claimed.
Gerber was replaced with Jerry
Wright, a senior in Journalism.
When Wright took over the
program, Gerber was given a
Publishers clean out sexism
( Continued from Page 5)
When the Women on Words and Images (WWI)
went through 134 readers from 14 publishers, they
found boys outnumbering girls five to two as lead
characters in stories. Their study uncovered six
biographies of males to every one biography of a
female. In mathematics books, WWI found boys
solving astronomy and chemistry problems and
learning to buy stocks while girls measured curtains
and bought flour.
While researchers, psychologists and educators
comb textbooks for further evidence of sex-role
stereotyping, federal and state governments have
taken some steps to eliminate the school book
sexism. Two bills which may have some effect have
already been passed by Congress and another is
pending.
One of these bills, Title IX of the Educational
Amendments of 1972, says that no person on the
basis of sex shall "be subjected to discrimination
under any educational program" receiving federal
funds. Whether or not this covers the subject of
textbooks has been a matter of debate.
The /Vew York Tirrms noted that Title IX failed 'to
cover discriminatory curriculum materials, such as
textbooks that contain Rex bios " The Department of
Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) added that
any attempt to Iran tire use of such materials "would
raise grave constitutional questions under the First
Amendment.’’
But according ter Wilma Scott Heide, past president
of the National Organization for Women (NOW),
''selo< tion of soxist texts by state action (via the
public school boards) is denial of individual First
Amendment rights of freedom of speech by ex
cluding, derogating, and-or stereotyping women."
Dr. Anne Scott, NOW legislative vice-president has
observed that, as is, there is nothing in Title IX "that
makes a school system accountable to its required
statement of non-discrimination."
Another bill dealing with sexist texts, the Women's
Educational Equity Act of 1973, was recently signed
by President Ford. The bill authorizes $30 million
annually to "encourage the development of new and
improved curriculums" and to implement com
munity-oriented educational programs on women in
American history.
Senator Charles Percy has introduced another bill
to Congress that would insure even more funding to
"help women gain their place as equal beneficiaries
of society." Percy's bill, the Women's Equal
Educational Opportunity Act, is still in committee.
But while the federal government continues
decisionmaking over the matter, eight state
governments have already outlawed sexism in
education and texts. For instance, in California sexist
textbooks must be phased out by 1975.
And publishing houses have begun ferreting out
sexist references in their books. J.B. Lippincott, the
D.C. Heath Co. and Harper and Row all have said
they are carefully examining their manuscripts for
offensive sex-role stereotyping.
McGraw-Hill, which has recently published an 11
page Guidelines for Equal Treatment of the Sexes
stated: “We realize that the language of literature
cannot be prescribed, but we want to encourage a
greater freedom for all individuals to pursue their
interests and realize their potentials."
Tuesday night, midnight to 2 p.m.
show and a warning from
Shepherd that the staff would
monitor the programs to check for
regulation agreement. If the rules
weren't kept, Shepherd said that
show also would be removed
from the KWAX II schedule. After
two programs at the end of
September, Gerber was
scheduled out of the October time
slot.
KWAX-11 coordinator Mark Chan
remembered that Gerber missed
the meetings where scheduling
was arranged.
Now, Gerber has five hours of
control board shifts each week.
She is one of a dozen persons
who are collectively planning and
promoting a community radio
station, KRAS, which is expected
to cost $15,000 during the first
year of operation.
Gerber has sought legal advice
and says she is considering
pressing charges against KWAX
for unfair discrimination and
limitation of first ammendment
rights. She is also looking forward
to a community radio station so
she "won't need KWAX
anymore."
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