Oregon Daily
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28. 1993
EUGENE, OREGON
VOLUME 94, ISSUE 90
University’s harassment
code doesn’t match law
j University has known for
years that codes don’t
conform, advocate says
By Colleen Pohhg
Emeiaici Associate Eoiiot
The University has known for a! least
three years that its definition of sexuat
harassment doesn't conform with state
and federal law. the director of the Offii e
of Student Advocacy said
Marlene Drescher. whose salary is paid
through student incidental fees and not
by the University, said she has requester!
that the University administration come
into compliance with the state's defini
tion and rules for several years
In a June 8. 1992 letter from Alison
Baker, executive assistant to University
President Myles Brand, to the President's
Office, Baker writes that ' the University
has been engaged in reconsidering its ap
piTiaclies to .sexual harassment for more
than five years and has not yet com# up
with rules that work" and "our defini
tion of sexual harassment does not com
port with the law.”
Baker said the University is in the pro
cess of drafting a new definition of sexu
al harassment that would conform with
the law, and she expects the proposed
rule change to go through the University
hearings process before the end of the at:
ademic year.
The University's definition of sexual
harassment in Oregon Administrative
Rule number 571-13-025 sub-section t
(C) reads: It takes the form of physical
contact or imminently threatened physi
cal contact which has the purpose or ef
fect of unreasonably interfering with the
work or academic: performance, or of cre
ating an intimidating, hostile or offensive
working, or academic environment for
the individual who is the abject of such
conduct "
This sub-section is the problem area.
Baker said, because as it mads, a hostile
work environment can only be created
through physic al contact.
"You can i reate a hostile environment
with actions and conduct w ithout physi
cal contact.” Baker said. "It can lie non
verbal like putting dirty posters on the
walls, etcetera, and those kinds of things
are just as offensive,
"Our rule implies onl\ pinching or
petting can create a hostile environment,
and to that extent, our rule isn't in com
plianr.e," Baker said.
Baker said though technically the .deli
nition isn't in compliance with state and
federal law. the University has I men ig
normg our own rule " in complaints Off
sexual harassment
Dan Williams and Norman Wessells.
the two vice presidents who make the fi
nal dot isions regarding disi iplinarv ac
lions for discrimination cases, both said
they were unaware that the University s
definition of sexual harassment hasn I
Been in compliance with stale and feder
al law,
"The distinctions between the law are
not that important." Williams said "If
you think sexual harassment in the
workplace is unhealthy, the distinct defi
nitions of the law hecome less impor
tcm t.
The University has also violated the
mandatory .'to-day completion date of in
vestigations in some cases. Baker said.
In at least one case last summer, the
Office of Human Resources extended the
case deadline by one month, so that the
investigation lasted two months until
completion, which was a violation of
state law
Another c omplaint Dresc her had with
the University's affirmative action pro
cess of handling sexual harassment c ases
is that the victim is prohibited from
knowing the outcome of the complaint
and investigation Because of state public:
Turn to HARASSMENT. Page 3
Mali vaulting
Frvota c>y ftflcn***
Steve Coxon, a pole vaulter from Lane Community College, was one
of nine pole vaufiers who took part in a promotion Wednesday for the
Eugene Indoor Track and Field meet senes, this weekend at the L ane
County Fairgrounds The event took place at Valley River Center
(From Mt) Mott Johnson. Edward Caba, Jamas Jassia and
Saan BurwaU an part of tha Kappa Alpha Pat map show.
Kappas to step it up Saturday
Early African rhythm*, chants and dances will
mi* with the Americaniamd art form of stepping
this weekend at the annual step show hosted by
the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
The show will latgin at 3 p in. Saturday in the
EMU Ballroom. From 9 p m. to 1 a m., the Kappas
will also host a dance.
Neil Johnson, a Kappa and step performer, said
the rhythmic chants and beats are similar to Afri
can tribal dances, but the process has been Amer
icanized.
•*Our stepping came from ancient Atrium cere
monies," Johnson said. "A tribe off the west roost
of Angola called the Nupes used sticks in their
done:#."
Johnson said the sticks have evolved into
cane*, now a trademark in Kappa stepping.
Johnson said the judge* will oe looking for uni
son of moves, enthusiasm and crowd response in
determining the winner. A trophy and $100 will
go to the winning fraternity or sorority.
Efrem Mehretab. also a Kappa memlier. said
that stepping is a very popular "black greek
thing" in the South.
This year, step groups from the University of
Washington, Oregon State University and Port
land State University will come to compete
against the Kappas.
WEATHER
The mercury will slide down
just e little bit. as temperatures
go down into the 40s once
more Cloudy skies are also
under way.
Today in History
Twenty years ago. in 1973, a
cease fire officially went into
effect in the Vietnam war
INCREASE THE PEACE IN NYC
NEW YORK (AP) - After months of protest, diatribes and sitdowns, the
dt> of New York is trying another approach to racial healing: laughter.
An assortment of top comics will appear |une 6 at the Lincoln Center in
a benefit for the city's Increase the Peace volunteers, a group that works to
ease racial tensions around the Big Apple.
Organizer and comedian Alan King promised the festival would attract
everybody from Henny Youngman to Dennis Leary." The exact line-up
will he announced April 18.
New York Citv Mayor David Dinkins credited his Increase the Peace vol
unteers with helping to keep the city calm after the Rodney King verdict.
SPORTS
BATON ROUGE. La. (AP) - Dale Brown s first ejection in 35
yean of coaching was a little on the bland side
Those guys are gutless,' he said of the offic iating after
watching from the locker room tunnel as No. four Kentucky
completed a 102-65 drubbing of the Tigers Brown, who
went all last season and 17 games of this one without so
much as a technical, got two Tuesday night, good for an
automatic ejection
There were times I should have been thrown out. but not
tonight.' he said. 'I was sitting down I did not say profanity,
I wasn't mad. I didn't yell. I just said Call a foul.' and he
turned around and said. 'You're out of here '