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,
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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
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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