Oregon Daily
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22. 1993
EUGENE, OREGON
VOLUME 95, ISSUE 59
Charges of sexual
harassment must
show willful intent
j Changes to
administrative rules
stem complaints
Bv Rachel Kerman
For ine Oregon Deity Emerefet
Students must prove that a
professor or administrator com
mitted sexual harassment inten
tionally in order to subject t staff
to written reprimand or to have
sanctions instituted, act ordiug
to the Oregon Administrative
Rules.
in addition to proving intent,
to have a sexual harassment
complaint filed against a profes
sor who stated offensive materi
al in class, a substantial
proportion of the class must also
file a complaint to prove that the
statement was not misunder
stood.
This provision was supple
mented to the Oregon Adminis
trative Rules on sexual
harassment in June lf)l).'t. It has
also been sent for approval to
the secretary of state and
returned without am complaint
said Peter Swan, legal adviser to
the University president
If a student felt that their
rights had been taken away by
something a professor said, that
individual cannot claim dis
crimination or sexual harass
ment unless the majority of the
class claims the same thing."
said Lorraine Davis, the Univer
sity vicar provost.
This clause was added after a
public forum to eliminate "petty
grievances," Swan said.
Reference to the unintention
al is a subtle concept. It is so
someone who perceives some
thing wrong wouldn't have the
grounds to say it’s sexual harass
merit Lowers and law students
spend hours disc ussing this t on
i.opt." Swine said, "However, in
no wnv will this provision pre
vent the administration from
investigating or t.iking action
upon an individual."
Allegations that this provision
is iinethu al and is a huge step
backward for women was made
.it a sexual harassment panel last
Thursday in the Gerlinger
Lounge
"There are flaws in the new
Sexual Harassment Oregon
Administrative Rules because a
component was added without
any public discourse. It basical
ly states that unintentional dis
crimination i an not be
complained about," said Mar
lene Drescher, diret tnr of the
Universitv Offii.e of Student
Advocacy "If it is a raiaal state
ment concerning a black
woman, then that blac k woman
must prove the perpetrator's
intent, and then the perpetrator
has to admit it."
Slthough additions to statutes
are allowed under the presi
dent’s disc retion, the- provision
uncovers what happens to
women every dnv. especially
women who are of a minority,
and skews things m favor ol the
Universitv instead of favoring
the students. Dresc her said.
"This is one of the most
retroactive policies I have ever
seen all across the country,
Phyliss l). Barkhurst, executive
direc tor of Sexual Assault Sup
port Services, said with frustra
tion "As soon as the Packwood
c ase broke there was a Hood of
calls about sexual harassment
because there was an increase* in
acc essibility and validity I'his
provision takes that away
Students, professors reflect
on death of musician, friend
□ Ed Kammerer is
remembered as a
caring teacher
By Rlv«rs Janssen
Oepon OwA irmtatd
At the 1901 Eugene Celebra
tion jazz stage, the Ed Kam
merer/Charles Dowd quartet
was faced with a nightmarish
musical dilemma.
During the performance, the
wind kicked up and blew all the
written music off the stage. The
quartet was in the midst of a
brand-new, freshly-written
composition, which it had
rehearsed only once.
While each musician could
have panicked and given up the
Turn to MUSIC. Page 5
Ed Kammerer
Comfort zone
Oregon s Byron Rockwell is comforted by bis girlfriend. Julie Peterson, following the
Ducks' 12 15 loss to the Beavers on Saturday
Tenants request help from board
j Residents want to delay plans
to rebuild and demolish homes
By Ahk Hesseldahl
Otvgon Daily t rrxtfetki
Tenants of the Amazon student housing t (im
plex asked for help from the state Board of Higher
Education Friday, calling fur a temporary halt on
plans to refiuild and possibly demolish the facili
ty this spring.
Nam \ Forrest, a member of the Amazon Com
munity Tenants Counc.il. renewed the call for a
moratorium on plans to replace the complex I his
request has been supported In Kugeiie-areu state
legislators in recent weeks
"There were students here before us that fought
hard to keep Amazon here for us We must put
forth the same effort for low income students of
the future We are asking you today to support us."
Forrest said.
Forrest was oiut of four members of the Save
Amazon Low-Cost Housing Coalition to address
the hoard during the public comment part of the
hoard's meeting. The hoard took no action on the
request
Hoard Chairwoman Janice Wilson told the group
that the Amazon situation is a University issue
and encouraged the group to "work together with
t 'diversity to find solutions that work for the com
munity."
Wayne Ford ol the Homeless Action Coalition
told the hoard that the loss of Amazon will have
direr t effect on the entire community.
"The University does not exist in a vacuum The
housing crisis is so acute in F.ugene that we have
to build ( ampgrounds." F'ord said, referring to the
50-family homeless campsite near Autzen stadium.
Turn to TENANTS. Page 4