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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 26, 1987)
Sexual harassment review a necessity The Status of Women Committee took a belated and necessary step forward Thursday with its overview of sexual harassment at the University, and we commend the action as a forum for needed change. The first-degree rape and sexual-abuse charge convic tions of University religious studies Professor Stephen Reynolds, coupled with alleged sexual harassment charges against Reynolds by at least six women during a 14-year period at the University, illustrate how an offender could circumvent the normal channels that deal with sexual harassment. Following the Ruynolds harassment disclosure. Univer sity President Paul Oium asked the Status of Women Com mittee in November 1986 whether a review of the Univer sity's policy of sexual harassment was necessary. It subse quently found need for review, with its results first being aired May 21. Sexual harassment is markedly different from other forms of discrimination and should be governed by pro cedures that are different from those for discrimination as well as other academic and employment grievances. More privacy during the investigation and decision process is necessary. We agree a grievance hearing otticer would do mucn to bring definite accountability in terms of action taken as a result of a sexual harassment complaint. We encourage the counselor to take an advocate role, rather than advisory, to assist the grievant in formulating and following up the com plaint and to represent the grievant in any capacity. The grievance officer also should be independent of the Office of Affirmative Action. Wo wish to see joint Universi ty/student incidental fee-funded implementation of the pro gram so the service would be available not only to students but faculty and staff as well. The present sexual harassment definition is inadequate, and we salute the committee's effort for a more detailed definition of the problem. Victims of sexual harassment often are unsure whether their complaints are valid. A clear definition of harassment would do much to end the ambigui ty of questionable actions. Wu question the present system of handling complaints and encourage greater statistical record keeping of grievances. With both informal and formal complaints, the complainant does not know what action, if any, has been taken as a result, and no permanent record of the complaint is kept by the University. This will allow the complainant to decide if he or she is satisfied or wishes to appeal the decision. Indefinite records should be kept to monitor repeal of fenders. and statistical summaries of sexual-harassment complaints should be circulated to draw attention to the situation. The present three-year period for keeping formal sexual-harassment records remains inadequate because the University cannot plot long-term problem areas. Informal complaints deserve the same status; they presently are not filed. The Status of Women Committee open forum was a needed step in addressing the long-term problem and often unspoken issue of sexual harassment. Identifying the pro blems shows initiative; solving the problem will show com mitment. We hope the Status of Women Committee, in con junction with the University and the ASUO. can cure one of the campus' overlooked and too readily accepted ailments. r BfiEKBDOLL S8S3SS5 ATO apology To whom it may concern: I would like to apologize on behalf of my fraternity for its ac tions during the Greek Week Variety Show. Unable to attend the function, I unfortunately heard about the incident well after It happened The comments made to other fraternities and sororties were definitely uncalled for. not to mention the choice of language used. I personally extend an apology to parents, faculty, alumni and to the rest of the University for creating an em barrassing situation. Franklin W. Bender President, Alpha Tau Omega SPA pranks Old ideologies die hard. A plea for women-only drivers for Saferide in the May/June Reconi stated "it is impossible to develop criteria" to distinguish between men who would or wouldn't rape. Furthermore, The Record has an impassioned plea for a last minute sale of the anti apartheid posters since "rumor has it" that the Executive suite ..... ■ . » Oregon Daily Emerald Th« Oregon Daily Emerald la published Monday through Fiiday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co , at the University of Oregon. Eugene. Oregon. 97403 The Emerald opeiates independently ol the University with offices on the third floor ol the Erb Memorial Union and is a member ol the Associated Press The Emerald is private property The unlawful removal or use ol papers is prosecutable by taw Qeneral Stall Advertising Director Susan Thelen Production Manager Michele Ross Classified Manage' Alyson Simmons Assistant to the Publisher Jean Own bey Advertising Sales: Peter LaFleur/ Sales Manager Teresa Acosta, Janelle Heitmann. Catherine lil|a. Rick Mart;, Joseph Menrel. Joan Wildermuth Advertising Apprentices: Ten Boring. Heather Mull. Bar bar a Rogers. Julie Paul News and Editorial 686 5511 Display Advertising and Business 686 3712 Classified Advertising 666 4343 Letter Perfect Graphics 666 5511 Prooucnon 666 4381 Clreul.. nn 686 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 Altai's Student Government Student Activities General Assignment General Assignment Michelle Brence Lucinda Dillon Michael Rivers Stephen Maher Tim Chaurnn Michael Drummond Angela Munir Dennis Fernandes Maria Corvallis John Giustlna Lorraine Rath Michael Rivers Janet Paulson B J Thomsen Chns Notred Laurie SchwarU Carolyn Lamberson Sarah Kitchen Alicia Gano Scott Maben Reporters: Jackie Barry Mary Courtis. Gary Henley Will Holbert Photographers Sherlyn B|orkgren. Shu Shing Chen. Der rel Hewitt. Tim Jones Bobbie Lo, Dan Wheeler Production: Michele Ross / Ad Coordinator Supervisors: Sandra Bevans, Shu-Shtng Chen, Eliot Knight Angela Munir, Ingrid White Technicians- Kelly Aleiandre Ronwm Nicole Ashton. Virginia Baniaga. Samantha Barbitta. Sara Briscoe, Janet Emery. Judith Gatr Lisa Haggerty Linda Jones. Jung Lee. Donna Leslie. Bobbie Lo, Kelh Mason, Mike McGraw. Rob Miles. Diana Moy. Julie Paul, Serena Williams would be cleansed of some of the politically “correct” art we've suffered for years. Should anyone really be surprised? Ask laiura Romano. Adam Apalategui and Jim Randall who suffered vicious smears from the SPA for deviating from ideological purity. As SPA ideology degenerates into the politics of special interest corruption, the SPA will continue to use intimida tion and harassment to enforce party discipline. This will lead to more bizarre SPA propaganda and more ideological defectors. Andrew Beckwith Graduate, physics In-bom quality Recent letters have presented the argument that homosexuali ty is not a natural, in born quali ty. I disagree. Homosexuality runs in families! I have many friends who could vouch for this, but in my case, for example, we are five for five. Like me, my four sisters and brothers are gay and my parents are very an drogynous people. When science becomes sophisticated enough to measure extremely complex hormonal balances between estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, we will be able to prove this special difference. It's true that a gay person can live a heterosexual lifestyle just the way a naturally left-handed person can be forced to live a right-handed lifestyle. But society has come to recognize that trying to change Letters Policy The Emerald will attempt to print all letters containing fair comment on topics of interest to the University community letters to the editor must be limited to 250 words, typed, signed and the identification of the writer must be verified when the letter is turned in The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style Let ters to the editor should be turn ed into the Emerald office. Suite 300. EMU left-handedness was oppressive and damaging. I hope society will soon realize the same thing about trying to change the natural quality of homosexuality. The genetic basis for gay peo ple’s androgyny is not deter mined by one single gene, but by many interacting genes, as with the genetic basis for intelligence. All women and men have the potential, through genetic recombination, to produce a gay child. If the mother is very estrogen-laden ("macho") thore will be less than a 10 percent probability that their child is gay. white if both parents are androgynous, the probability will be greater than 10 percent The delicate hormonal balance underlying homosex uality is cherished by nature and will always come back, generation after generation, ac cording to a 10 percent probability. I.aura Desert rain. Ph.D. Kugene Housing woes As a currant dormitory resi dent, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the hous ing department for its efficient and neutral housing selection policy. After waiting 26 hours to choose a room, it was a blessing to start the selection process at 5:30 instead of the specified 5. To compound my delight, however, was the lack of responsible and knowledgeable housing personnel. No one knew exactly what the proper procedures were, or how to implement them. Not only did they segregate the returning residents by desired huusing complex, but neglected to pro cess the line in the honored and equitable first-come, first served basis. In the future. I must consider the terms housing department and efficient mutually exclusi' Kurt Heppler Political science
