0MARCH 1988 News Features

U. THE NATIONAL COLLEGE NEWSPAPER 5


0 MARCH 1988 u News Features U. THE NATIONAL COLLEGE NEWSPAPER 5

Victims of
harassment
fight back
By Veronica Flores
Daily Cougar
U. of Houston, TX
The first time Sandra went to her pro-
fessor's office for help, he gave her a
hug. A second visit brought a startled
Sandra a kiss on the cheek.
The number of students wanting to
file a sexual harassment complaint is on
the rise, said Simon Brown, U. of Hous-
ton's (UH) director of equal opportun-
ity. But most students drop the case
when they find out they will have to use
their names.
Sexual harassment can be inter-
preted as a breach of the trusting rela-
tionship that normally exists between
students and others in the academic
community, according to Jean Hughes'
Guide for Women Students.
Hughes says harassment can be ver-
bal or physical and is primarily an issue
of power, not sex.
Victims of sexual harassment are
generally referred to the Counseling
and Testing Center, said Associate
Dean of Students Richard Padilla, be-
cause it is hard for victims to sort out
thiris eed to have a friendly ally,"
itir s arassment eefrien. aly,
Center director Gerald Osborne said,
"because their credibility will be ques-
tioned."
Connie Tornabene, a graduate health
education student, said she formed Ral-
ly Against Intimidation and Sexual
Harrassment through Knowledge
(RISK) to re-direct her anger at her
situation.
RISK provides emotional support for
students who have been sexually haras-
sed or intimidated by a teacher, Tor-
nabene said.
"The problem is that the person who
is doing the harassing usually doesn't
recognize what is being done," she said.
To take action against the perpetra-
tor, sexual harassment victims are re-
ferred to UH's Affirmative Action office
to file a complaint, which should be done
within two weeks of the incident, Padil-
la said.
If the problem is with a professor,
Brown said, he and the student talk to
the department chairperson. Students
may also confront the professor or write
a letter.
The complaint is then either directed
to the dean of the college, or a formal
complaint is filed if an informal discus-
sion cannot solve the problem, he said.
The formal complaint is a written
allegation of the harassment, with sug-
gestions on how the situation can be
improved, Brown said. Students must
then follow standard grievance proce-
dures.
Admission testing nixed
Many prestigious schools, in-
cluding Harvard B-School, MIT
and Brown U., have waived admis-
sion testing scores. A recent
National Center for Fair and Open
Testing report said these schools
have "prospered . . . since reducing
the role tests such as the SAT,
MCAT, and GMAT play in their
admissions process." Report author
Amy Allina said "there was satis-
faction with the caliber of students
applying ... and the whole new

admissions system.". Mary Ashkar,
The Rice Thresher, Rice U., TX

Subculture surfacing in USSR

"Our young people know more about
rock music and Sylvester Stallone than
the heroes and battles of their own his-
tory." Sound familiar?
How about: "Many of the new genera-
tion don't know the value of a dollar and
expect to be supported well into their
20s."
Change 'dollar'to 'ruble' and you have
two of the most common complaints
directed toward young people in the
Soviet Union today.
Increased contact with the West has
led to the exchange of ideas as well as
hairstyles and is also responsible for the
dramatic changes in Soviet countercul-
ture.
Heavy metal clones hang out in Gor-
ky Park listening to the Russian bands
Aquarium, Zukimu, Alisa, Kuro and

Televizer.
This music subculture is officially
banned, although some bands have
been recorded on the Meloydia state
label.
Aquarium, the first band to be "offi-
cially" recognized, sold more than
300,000 albums last year-the most in
Soviet history. But, band leader Boris
Grebenschikial said, "We haven't seen
any of the money we were promised. It's
better to sell your music on the black
market."
And there is a huge black market in
the U.S.S.R.
Videotapes are the hottest black mar-
ket commodity. A current, undubbed
Western film can fetch 200 rubles
($300), while a dubbed film starts at 250
rubles ($377). Pornographic videos can

bring in 500 rubles ($700).
The most popular underground video
is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The
Soviet government may allow it to be
shown in theaters in response to its pro-
fitability.
As.the "unofficial" elements of West-
ern and Soviet culture become in-
creasingly sanctioned, many artists and
hope that the banned music, literature,
art and movies will be made available
and exchangeable with Western coun-
tries. But, as Grebenschikial said,
"We've hoped for so many things that
have never happened. They keep prom-
ising and we keep hoping." . Excerpted
from a series on the Soviet Union by Wendy
McArdle, Daily Bruin, U. of California, Los
Angeles

44MOm says the
house just isn't the
same without me,
even though Ws
a lot cleaner.l

Just because your Mom
is far away, doesn't mean
you can't be close. You can
still sharethe love and
laughter on AT&T Long
Distance Service.
It costs less than you
think to hear that she likes
the peace and quiet, but
she misses you. So go
ahead, give your Mom a
call. You can clean your
room later. Reach out and
touch someone*
AT&T
The right choice.

I Liz Corsini-BostonUniversity-Class of 1990