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Steven Asbury
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Thom Schoenbom
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Steven Asbury &• Sarah Kickler
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Ashley Bach & Brian Diamond
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EDITORIAL
Policy changes reflect, improve campus reality
■ OUR OPINION: The new laws
dealing with sexual misconduct
and student/faculty relationships
will help solve difficult problems
The decision has been made. The
University Senate approved
changes to the Student Conduct
Code and a proposal for an Ore
gon Administrative Rule Wednesday
that clarify and create University policy
for relationships between students and
faculty as well as sexual misconduct.
That’s a lot to swallow. But put sim
ply, the decision helps clear up the
messy world of sexual assault and in
jects a bit of common sense into policy
regarding student-professor relation
ships. We support the senate decision,
on both counts.
- -i . a-**
Last fall, we were less than enthusias
tic about both policies. Our present
change in heart mostly lies in specifics.
Last fall, neither policy had any. Now
they do.
The original changes in the conduct
code were particularly troublesome. In
October, we called the policy’s defini
tions of sexual assault and explicit con
sent “broad” and “dangerous.” After
months of work, the Student Conduct
Code Committee worked to improve
many of these deficiencies. We applaud
them for that.
Now explicit consent is defined as
“voluntary, non-coerced and clear com
munication indicating a willingness to
engage in a particular act.” This reflects
more accurately the reality of sexual be
havior among University students. Other
important terms specifically defined in
elude “sexual assault” and “rape.”
Another welcome addition is mandat
ed punishment for those who have sex
with students who are in “mental inca
pacitation,” like under the influence of
drugs or alcohol. This is also an impor
tant aspect that reflects much of what
happens on and off campus among the
student body.
The student-faculty edict is a bit more
simple. It seems the only people getting
up in arms about it are faculty and per
haps a few students with wide dating
preferences. With this law especially,
we wonder why it wasn’t implemented
long ago. Of course professors should
not be dating students they supervise. Of
course this is a conflict of interest.
Even our original fear of this law being
a “broad proclamation banning chaste
behavior” seems to have been quelled.
The specific language of the law pre
vents witch hunts or abolition of proper
student-professor relationships.
The fact that a third party can issue a
complaint has also become less prob
lematic. Now, any parties with com
plaints “found to have been intentional
ly dishonest or made with willful
disregard of the truth” will be punished
with the "full range of sanctions avail
able.”
We like all these changes. Now let’s
get these new rules into effect so they
can start making a difference. Even if
they don’t automatically make the cam
pus community safer, they’ll definitely
make it a lot simpler.
This editorial represents the opinion of
the Emerald editorial board.
Media innate
common
sense story
weeks in advance.
Before that, it was former journalism
dean Arnold Ismach suggesting that
we devote more energy to this
“important” issue.
Yesterday, Good Morning America,
ABC News, The Oregonian, the Associ
ated Press, Portland television and
radio stations from Southern California
called the University to get informa
tion on the subject.
What’s the topic all the nation’s
media want to know about? The
University’s new sex policies.
The University Senate’s move to
revise the Student Conduct Code's
definition of sexual misconduct and to
reprimand faculty members who
engage in sexual or romantic relation
ship with students they directly super
vise is important, and we commend
their decision. But it’s not the most
important thing happening on campus.
There’s a bill before the Oregon
Legislature that could possibly
eliminate the incidental fee process
and the student programs it funds.
There’s a debate between President
e expected reporter Tad
Shannon and The
Register-Guard to cover
it — but not three
Dave Frohnmayer and student groups
over corporate sponsorship and farm
workers’ rights. Measure 47 is forcing
the University and the surrounding
community to plan for major budget
cutbacks.
The concept that teachers shouldn’t
date their students isn’t a revolution
ary idea. Neither is students’ needing
explicit consent before engaging in
sex. These concepts should be part of
everyone’s common sense — not the
hottest topic since the discovery of
possible life on Mars.
Now that the senate’s decision has
been made, our energy should be
focused on some of these other issues.
Maybe the media will follow.
ui inio iiu i bninduiwuMUiON
One final note: When ABC News
called the Emerald to inquire about the
sex policy, they said they’d be coming
to campus on Tuesday, and they asked
us where they could find a good party.
Anyone got an idea?
This editorial represents the opinion of
the Emerald editorial board.
READER VOICES
Do you think students should be allowed to date professors?
PY
“I don’t think it’s right be
cause it could lead to eth
ical problems and a con
flict of interest, whether
or not they’re taking a
class from them."
Reuben Burda
Freshman
“It could be a problem
if it leads to special
treatment. A line has
to be drawn some
where for profession
alism."
Dennis Asa!
Freshman
“If they’re not in a class,
they can date them. If
they're in the professor's
class, I don't think they
should ,if not, then it’s
OK."
Connie Rawson
Sophomore
“I feel that teachers
should be able to date
their students only af
ter the student is done
taking a class from
them.”
Jessie Thompson
Sophomore
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LETTERS
Biking maniacs
This marks the fifth time I
have been struck by a bicycle
while walking on University
sidewalks. The fact that I am
bruised and sore shouldn’t stop
folks from racing around on
pedestrian walkways. What
should stop them is the law.
I have always been on a side
walk when these collisions oc
cur. Am I at fault? Probably so if
(gasp) reading while walking
counts.
I just have a feeling the if I
were to take a Harley and do the
same ride as some of our bicy
clists, I would soon be looking
at a judge. I have noticed a dis
regard of offenses by our cam
pus gendarmes — I suppose
parking tickets are of much
more importance than public
safety.
Riding bicycles on sidewalks
upon the University’s grounds
is illegal and occasionally very
painful to old folks (original
word replaced) like me.
If you can’t help yourself and
just have to ride the walks,
could you at least slow down?
W. Richard Patty
General Science