Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 1981)
Sexual harassment Problem plagues both women, men By LORI PUTNAM OllwEmnW In one women's bathroom on campus is a short list of professors who allegedly sexually harass female students But because sexual harassment is such a touchy issue the transition from bathroom-wall scribble to an affirmative action complaint often is shunned Under the Civil Rights Act. sexual harass ment is considered sexual discrimination Alth ough many admit it’s a problem on campus, no one knows its scope Affirmative Action Director Bean McFadden says she can’t tell if harassment problems at the University are increasing or decreasing National studies indicate women are embar rassed to report sexual harassment incidents Several myths keep women from reporting har assment the reports show, including the idea that harassment is a personal matter between a man and a woman Another myth is that the woman must have done something provocative to bring on the harassment But McFadden says sexual harass ment has nothing to do with sex or romance “Sexual harassment is a power play and an abuse of one s position of authority." she says Another problem with reporting sexual har assment is its broad definition Defined by the University as any "unwanted and repeated sexual remarks and behavior," harassment can be anything from crude joking to rape McFadden says "repeated' in the definition is important because a comment may be harass ment to one person and a compliment to another "All of us are socially inept some of the time " Women should tell men when they're offend ed or made uncomfortable by a comment McFadden advises But this solution isn't perfect According to one report, men and women are socialized to believe women are coy and like to play hard to get " Secondly, women who face harassment from men in authority positions may not have the option of quitting a job because of harassment And harassment is not limited to women University GTF Dan Henry says he has been harassed by women once by a student "One woman told me I would be damned to hell if I didn't have intimate relations with her he says Despite the difficulties in defining and reporting sexual harassment, the University has what is considered a good weapon to stop harassment — a formal and informal internal grievance system Complaints usually are resolved through an informal procedure A staff member talks to the accused offender without identifying the student who made the complaint No one at the University has filed a formal sexual harassment grievance in two years. McFadden says housing referral, inc. LOWER YOUR HOUSING COST We can assist you in locating a roommate and/or living space We professionally screen all prospective roommates which makes less hassle for you All applications are confidential Qualified referral or your money back. LET US HELP1 Special student rate of $13.95 Must be accompanied by this coupon Please call Laura at Housing Referral, Inc for more information 344-8306 Feel free to visit our office at suite 312. Atrium Bldg., 99 W 10th. Eugene Our hours are 10-5 pm Mon-Fri.. or by appointment ,* I (V COME IN WERE OPEN MON-FRI SAT 13th & Kincaid Mon-Fri 8:15-5:30 Sat 10:00-2:00 BOOKSTORE Textbooks 686-3520 • Genera) Books 686-3510 • Supplies 686-4331 8:15-5:30 10:00-5:30 For your convenience, we’U be open untiJ 8 pm for the first 3 days of classes Affirmative Action handles grievances One way to guard against discrimination on campus is to bring problems to the Affirma tive Action offices in Room 472 at Oregon Hall Affirmative Action's respon sibilities extend beyond coor dinating the University s Affir mative Action program which stresses positive ways to en sure equal educational and employment opportunities, according to Colleen Fong, the equal education specialist The Affirmative Action of fices also handle grievances from minorities and sexual harassment cases. Fong says And last winter, when hand icapped students com plained to Affirmative Action about the lack of wheelchair accessibility in part of the newly remodeled Fishbowl, the oversight was corrected before the end of the school year she says Sexual harassment cases, usually handled by director Bean McFadden are usually very clear The women often feel violated." Fong says However, a large number of the problems aren't actual harassments, but ' misunder standings.'' she says Minorities also have a powerful friend in Affirmative Action, Fong says, adding that “culture is definitely lacking (in this area) Minority students from large urban areas can't possibly be as comfortable here in Eugene as in their home towns “ Fong says she believes one way to combat that problem is to bring keynote speakers to the campus, which Affirmative Action will do this November when it sponsors the Wil lamette Valley Racial Minori ties Consortium The consortiums four speakers are Lucie Cheng Hi rata. director of Asian- Amer ican studies at UCLA Eugene Newport mayor of Berkeley Jose Angel Gutierrez, as sociate professor of Political Science at Western Oregon State College, and Felicia Hodge, executive director of the Northwest Indian Health Board The Affirmative Action staff welcomes everyone to their office, which is open Monday through Friday from 8 a m to noon and 1 p m to 5 p m Veter “We don't want students to study tor tour years and not get a degree " Even under ttie new require ment. tull-time students who take 12 hours of courses that apply toward their maior may elect to take additional non major courses, she says Young says she doesn't think many veterans will object to the new requirement "It won't be a problem for vets who are serious about their de gree," she says However "for persons just taking courses to get the ben efits, it will be a problem " The Veteran s Affairs Office currently is working on a procedure that would require veterans to see their advisors only once a year with a list of acceptable courses for an en tire year kept on file, Young says 2ND FLOOR CENTRE COURT 44W. 8R0 CLASSIC LADY tV)GENE,OREGON 97401 'Show off your style with the 3 piece separates outfit The quilted vest is reversible: one side is a floral print, the other is solid The 100% cotton vest, ruffled dirndle skirt and mandarin collar blouse are available in black/multi, navy/multi and green/multi floral print Vest, blouse, skirt All are available in sizes 3/4-13/14
