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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 8, 1987)
Equality achieved in Court's ruling All-male clubs could become a thing of the past after the Supreme Court's ruling on Rotary clubs last Monday. The 7-0 decision stated it was not within the constitutional boun daries of Rotary International to deny women membership. This ruling emphasizes a growing trend toward opening the doors of male clubs to the opposite sex. as well it should. The personal and social benefit that members gain should not be donied to women simply because of their gender. The case was brought to the Court after the Rotary Club in Duarte. Calif., was kicked out of the larger Rotary Interna tional club because they gave membership to women. Rotary International said women membership violated its charter. It also claimed it was within its constitutional rights to exclude a person on the basis of sex because of the First Amendment's right to freedom of private association. Hut the Court did not agree. In the majority opinion justice Lewis Powell said the association was not "intimate or private" and did not fall under the constitutional protections. I,ewis also pointed out that the Rotary charter also states community service goals. These objectives could be more easily attained if women were allowed in the clubs. A more representative cross section of community leaders with a broadened capacity for service can be obtained, I-ewis emphasized. This decision follows a 1984 ruling which forced the jaycees to admit women because membership was determin ed on a "large and basically unselective nature,” Allowing women into these clubs will not harm the reputation or prestige of membership. As women enter into jobs once dominated by men. they become an integral part of the field. They can offer the clubs a different level of prestige. In turn the women also will get the job benefits that their male counterparts get from socializing at the clubs. IXispito the non-business atmosphere the clubs claim, these opportunities do exist One member of the Metropolitan Club in Washington. DC., said he joined because "it im presses the hell out of out-of-town clients." It is inevitable that women will gain access to these ex clusive clubs by force or changing attitudes. State laws prohibit discrimination in club admission, but despite finacia! pressures the clubs still refuse. They have nothing to fear, however: allowing females in won't turn the club into Hetty Crocker's kitchen or lane Fonda's workout. Some clubs, like the Union League (dub of Philadelphia, have willingly dropped the all-male policy. One member of the club said, "The club didn't change at all. It was almost not noticeable." The Court's ruling is a significant first step to abolishing the men-only policy. Now the federal government must take action on this important issue. The states have started by passing anti-discrimination laws. Hut stronger legislation is needed. There is nothing to fear by letting women into what some have called "one of the last male bastions." It's only a sign of the times, Qp)WfiC», trsKKM VOQ’HP?O^J°C OpWYoi#f'WVfiS „ ODMKY MXjcTS. Letters Hard talk Racism historically has been an issue with women's organizations. White women's voices have been heard since the suffrage movement. As time progressed this privilege has led to disparity within women’s communities. With civil rights and women’s rights working hand in hand, it became apparent that we needed to look at the issues of women of color and poor women. Now in the '80s. we are still running up against our racism. The division of women must Ire examined, our racism challeng ed and rectified. There are no more excuses. The Women's Referal and Resource Center took and main tains a stand against the Women's Symposium and we appreciate the courage it took the ASUO to cancel it. Women's Task Force: it is no longer valid to hide behind the excuse that "The issues of women of color are hard to even talk about." W.R.R.C. staff Mercea Mabry Becky Bilyeu Mary Sullivan Kari Rothi Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald la published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oreoon Dally Emerald Publishing Co, at the University of Oregon, Eugene. Oregon. 97403 The Emerald operates independently ot the University with ollices on the third floor ot the Erb Memorial Union and Is a member ol the Associated Press The Emerald is private property The unlawlut removal or use ol papers is prosecutable by law General Stall Advertising Director Susan Thelen Production Manager Wayne Michael Lottlnvilte Classified Advertising Alyson Simmons Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales: Peter LaFleur / Sales Manager Teresa Acosta, Janelle Hettmann. Catherine Lilt*. Rick Mart;. Joseph Menrel. Joan Wtldermuth Advertising Apprentices: Ten Boring. Heather Mull. Bar bare Rogers. Julie Paul News and Editorial M* 5511 Display Advertising and Business MB-3712 Classified Advertising MB-4343 Letter Perfect Graphics BM-SS11 Production SM-43S1 Circulation BB6-5511 Editor Managing Editor News Editor Spectrum Editor Spectrum Assistant Editor Editorial Page Editors Sports Editor Photo Editor Spectrum Photo Editor Graphics Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Community Politics Higher Education / Administration University Affairs Student Government Student Activities General Assignment General Assignment Michelle Brence Lucinda Dtllon Michael Rivers Stephen Maher Stanley Nelson Michael Drummond Angle Munir Dennis Fernandes Maria Corvallis John Giustlna Lorraine Rath Lucinda Dillon Janet Paulson B J Thomsen Chris Norred Laurie Schwartr Carolyn Lamberson Sarah Kitchen Alicia Gano Scott Maben Reporters: Jackie Barry. Mary Courtis. Gary Henley Photographers: Shertyn Bforkgren. ShuShing Chen. Der rel Hewitt. Tim Jones. Bobbie Lo. Dan Wheeler Production: Michele Ross l Ad Coordinator Supervisors: Sandra Bevans, ShuShing Chen. Eliot Knight. Angela Munir. Ingrid Whits Technicians: Kelly Alexandre. Ronwm Nicole Ashton. Virginia Bentaga. Samantha Barbitta. Sara Briscoe. Janet Emery, Judith Gatr, Lisa Haggerty. Jung Lee. Donna Leslie. Bobbie Lo. Kelli Mason. Mike McGraw. Rob Miles. Diana Moy, Julie Paul. Serena Williams Cultural cut It has comt; to our attention that the Multi-Cultural Center is one of the programs being con sidered for cuts to alleviate the (Lane Community) College's budget problems. We here at the Center, as do many people in the community, feel that the loss of the Multi Cultural Center and of Connie Mesquita. would he a great set back for Latino and other minority students wishing to pursue a higher education. The staff at Chicane Affairs have re fared many potential students to Ms. Mesquita and the Multi-Cultural Center. The feedback we have gotten from these students has been very positive. We have seen the results the Multi-Cultural Center has pro duced for Spanish-speaking and other minority students. We have seen students enroll and continue in higher education who may have never had a chance otherwise. Many of these students have come from poor backgrounds. Many have worked as farm workers all their lives. Many have come from Third World countries seeking "the land of opportunity." The Multi cultural Center and its staff will always lie held in the highest regard by these students. Minority education has come a long way in the last 20 years. Lane Community College has a minority education service it can be proud of. It will be a great loss to the community. Lane Community College, and especially the present and future minority students if the Multi-Cultural Center is cut from existing programs. |uan Guerra Chairman Chicano Affairs Center Double scoop In response to Stan VerNooy (ODE. May 4): I liked your analogy between propensity for homosexuality and taste for ice cream. It worked pretty well until I realized that ice cream can't give me AIDS. Lucky for me, 1 can still got a double scoop of chocolate ripple and enjoy every delicious little bite. Blake Hastings Sociology No offense I have worked in the social services and as an educator in this community for almost 20 years. I have probably made some mistakes, but it was never my intent to harm or misuse any tradition. I do not bill myself as a Native American representative or as Indian. That was the understan ding I had with the Women’s Symposium. If I was billed in correctly it was without my per mission or knowledge. The NASU (Native American Student Union) did not contact me about the final decision to boycott, nor did they give me any opportunity to voice who I was and to respond to their con cerns directly or indirectly. 1 was not scheduled to teach anything of Native tradition. The talk that I was to give was on women in dysfunctional families, focusing on how to empower themselves and create peace inside. The dance was a non-traditional dance given to me by my grandmother and recreated bv a friend and I. I do teach wilderness treka called "InnerQuest: and Dream walk, a combination of many concepts designed to challenge physically and psychologically one’s own nature by confron ting Nature itself. 1 do not advertise them as traditional or Native American “Vision Quest." I have lectured on a topic known as “Vision Quest” utilizing examples of many cultures as a way to il lustrate our need to reconnect to ourselves, the earth, and our commitment to humanity. 1 did nut know that the title of "Vision Quest” was an ex clusive one. 1 apologize if I have offended anyone with its use. Norma Cordell Eugene
