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