Page 4-The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 25, 1992
S eM ttigan 46ry
Editor in Chief
MATTHEW D. RENNIE
420 Maynard Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
764-0552
OpinionEditors
YAEL CITRO
GEOFFREY EARLE
AMITAVA MAZUMDAR
Edited and Managed
by Students at the
University of Michigan
Unsigned editorials represent a majority of the Daily's Editorial Board.
All other cartoons, signed articles, and letters do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Daily.
-?1HOWJDOES CL PEARL
CLIN'oNrOR ? AN A60UTMOVW&-rH APITA
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'U' should heed code input
T he public hearings about the University's pro-
posed Statement of Student Rights and Re-
sponsibilities wrapped up Wednesday night, and
the comments were anything but balanced. For the
first time in recent memory, right-wingers, moder-
ates, liberals, libertarians and leftists joined to-
gether to defend common student interests. Vice
President for Student Affairs Maureen Hartford
seemed conciliatory and open to suggestions from
students; the administration ought to take their
suggestions.
The most striking feature of the hearings is that
not a single person spoke in favor of the proposed
code. This is understandable - people who ap-
prove are less likely be stirred to action. Regard-
less, the anti-code consensus of the audience should
send a strong message to the administration.
And the students who spoke out against it
offered a volume of sober and pointed criticism.
As expected, students were galled at the code's
lack of due process - a cloudy appeals process,
and a prosecution-biased hearing procedure left it
open to attack. Speakers also labeled the
administration's code survey - which Hartford
admits was not scientific - as meaningless.
But Hartford conceded to some suggestions,
and students should hold her to them. She agreed
to set up additional hearings after the next draft of
the code comes out. This is a good idea, consider-
ing the University's tendency to overlook techni-
calities like the First Amendment in previous codes.
Other students with strong knowledge of the
issue offered to help draft revisions, and Hartford
seemed receptive. This too, is encouraging. The
University's lawyers utterly failed in their attempt
to keep vague language out of previous drafts.
Students with their own rights in mind might be
more inclined to tighten this up.
Another suggestion - and one that still goes
unanswered - is that if the University is so con-
cerned with student support of a code, why not put
it up to a vote? Although, Hartford did not rule this
out, the administration has historically opposed
any such move that would actually empower stu-
dents to make such a decision.
If administrators can be persuaded to allow such
a vote, they should be sure to offer students more
than a mere opportunity to rubber-stamp a flawed
code. Instead, they should offer students a choice
between the absolute minimum code allowed by
law, and the administration's version.
But for the moment, the administration would
do well to enact the thoughtful comments of the
students who have researched this topic. The courts
vindicated opponents of the last two codes. If the
administration ignores their input, it may go 0-3.
0
ISSUES FORUM
Read it, know it, join the debate
Help fight rape: Whose job is it anyway?,
FBI statistics reveal that one in three women is sexually assaulted at some point in her life. One out of every
four college women will be assaulted before she graduates. The FBI estimates that of the total number of
sexual assaults that occur only 10 percent are reported. Rape is planned 90 percent of the time. Eighty percent
of the time, the victim knows her assailant. The statistics are overwhelming. Where do we go from here?
Assault survivor tells how friends can help aid recovery
:F
r
by Rosanne Wild
Mxed reviews for assault bill
Recognizing the wide-spread problem of rape
and sexual assault, Rep. Tracey Yokich (D-
St. Clair Shores) introduced the Michigan Campus
Sexual Assault Victims Bill of Rights to the Michi-
gan House of Representatives. The bill is intended
to empower survivors of sexual assault, and focus
much needed attention on this crime. Spelling out
victims' rights is commendable and necessary,
and the bill deserves to be passed into law. Unfor-
tunately, the Bill of Rights is accompanied by a
statute requiring that all Michigan universities
adopt a code on sexual assault. As the current
debate concerning the Statement on Student Rights
and Responsibilities has illustrated, such codes are
unnecessary because federal law already prohibits
and punishes those guilty of this crime.
The new federal Campus Securities Act re-
quires that all colleges and universities disclose
crime statistics annually, or risk losing federal aid.
The University reported the second highest sexual
assault rate of all Michigan colleges, behind only
Michigan State University. These statistics add
urgency to cries to stem this crime.
Rep. Yokich modeled the Michigan bill after
the federal Campus Sexual Assault Victims' Bill
of Rights Act of 1991. Colleges and universities
that do not comply with the federal bill will lose
federal financial support. The Yokich bill now
extends the law to cover state assistance.
Under this legislation, the colleges must recog-
nize the organizations that assist rape survivors,
like the Sexual Assault Prevention Center (S APAC)
on campus. Since September 1991, 131 women
cameto SAPAC after being assaulted. Some schools
across the state do not have a center where survi-
vors can go. Hopefully, this will change, because
every student needs this resource.
If the package had stopped there, it would
certainly deserve support. But requiring universi-
ties to adopt codes on sexual assault only com-
pounds existing problems. The University has al-
ready implemented such a code, abiding by the
1992 amendments to the federal Higher Education
Act. That federal law places the University in the
position of judging an accused student guilty or
innocent - something only courts of law are
equipped to do. The University administration has
broadened federal law into a comprehensive code
on non-academic conduct. If the state were to pass
this particular portion of the crime package, the
administration's position on the code would only
be strengthened.
When the sexual assault victim's Bill of Rights
is passed, women in Michigan university commu-
nities throughout Michigan will finally be treated
with respect and dignity. It is a shame, however,
that legislators have complicated the issue by re-
quiring the establishment harmful codes.
"Open Your Arms To Victims In
Darkness And, Together, Survivors
Can Come Into The Light." On Au-
gust 23rd at 2 a.m. a friend and I
trudged along Hill Street towards
Washtenaw Avenue with cans of gold
and red spray paint in tow. Our goal,
to mark my assault and celebrate two
years of survival and inspire others to
help and support survivors of assault.
Throughout my recovery, friends
have given me what I most needed --
unconditional support. The most
frightening moment a survivor of rape
faces is when she confides the story
of her rape to another person. I felt
this fear because I knew the knowl-
edge of my assault would deeply hurt
the people I love; though I needed
their support, it was difficult for me to
ask for it.
Perhaps the fear in telling some-
one close about assault stems from
the possibility that the person will not
believe. Disbelief can cause not only
self-doubt and shame to arise, but can
drive her to repress the pain of the
assault so deep inside that she will put
off dealing with the assault and the
recovery process.
Because rape is an issue people
tend not to consider until it directly
Wild is a 1992 University graduate
with a degree in Anthropology.
Readjustment of val
by Ivor Kiwih
affects their lives, many simply have
no idea of how to deal with some-
thing so devastating. There are guide-
lines which can be useful in helping
a survivor.
Be a good listener. Just having _
someone to listen and connect you to
reality is encouraging when trying to
sort the whirlwind of feelings which
can make sanity questionable.
to experience. Many people avoid
physical contact with a survivor, think-
ing that it will frighten her. Providing
a welcomed hug can go a long way in
restoring her trust in others.
The recovery from sexual assault
is a process without time limits. Rape
stays with a person forever. People
must take the responsibility to learn
about sexual assault in order to give
"
The most frightening moment a survivor of rape
faces is when she confides the story of her rape to
another person.
Don't make decisions for her or
force unwanted advice. Rape takes a
lot away from a person's sense of
control and security. Give her space
to recover in her own time. Rape is
painful and difficult to discuss. Pro-
tecting one's feelings and tiptoeing
around the subject at the expense of
the survivor is not supportive.
Guilt is a common feeling experi-
enced by survivors. A survivor often
blames herself for not preventing the
rape. She may feel that she did not
fight back enough or in some way
encouraged her assailant. Tell her
that she 'snot responsible for another
person's actions. Don't tell her what
you would have done or ask blaming
questions. Assure her that no one
asks or deserves to be raped, ever.
Touch is important for a survivor
invaluable support and be a positive
influence in the recovery process.
I've been lucky.
Friends have always extended.
themselves in listening and appreciat-
ing the impact this experience has had
on my life. Their strength has sup-
ported me at times when I felt helpless
to the pain of my assault. Others have
not been so kind, choosing not to'
accept the validity of the effects of the
assault or minimizing my pain. By
doing this, one may protect her or his
own feelings of security; but by doing
so, a person betrays the needs of those
who have had their feelings of secu-,
rity obliterated.
This inexcusable lack of concern
may be regretted someday if the real-
ity of sexual assault were to hit too
close to home.
ues, attitudes required for true change
_
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Wrapping up Iran-contra
According to the FBI one out of
every three women will be sexually
abused during her lifetime. I find this
fact shocking and disgusting. The root
of the problem is that many men do
not see women as being equals, they
see them as being inferior. Men rec-
ognize the vulnerability of women
and take advantage of them. The
mentality that a man has the right to
do with a woman whatever he pleases
is absurd, yet prevalent. It is sad that
many women cannot trust and do not
feel comfortable around many men.
The solution to this problem is
education and awareness of both men
and women. It is important that men
become educated about how to be
less threatening and how to make
women feel more comfortable. Men
should talk about the issues amongst
themselves as well as with women. It
Kiwi is a junior in the School of
Natural Resources and Environ-
ment.
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is helpful for men to talk to women
friends for valid input and a different
perspective.
Women feel unsafe walking alone
at night. Unfortunately, any man, no
matter who he is, is suspect and con-
sidered a threat to a women. What
should a man do who is walking
down the street at night and has to
pass a woman. I feel compelled, as do
many men, to cross the street in order
to avoid causing her undo fear. Al-
though it is inconvenient, it has to be
done in respect of the woman. It
seems that all men carry the burden
of the few. There is something which
is fundamentally wrong, yet this is
the necessary reality.
Men should also confront their
male friends when they make a com-
ment which objectifies women. Lines
like, 'she deserved it,' or 'she asked
for it,' are inappropriate. In order to
change their mindset about this issue,
men need to learn what they are do-
ing wrong and how they can adjust
their beliefs and values. It is under-
standable that some men have a
skewed value set because they are
uneducated regarding women's issues.
Once a man learns more about women,
he will better understand the way she
thinks and adjust his actions to respect
her.
Women, on the other hand, have
to be educated as well. They need to
understand that certain things they
say, certain actions -even ways they
dress -may cause some men to think
or act in a particular way. This is due
to our male-dominated society's mis-
interpretation of a women's behavior.
Women have to avoid putting them-
selves in an uncomfortable position
where they could get hurt. It has been
proven that when walking alone, one's
posture tells a lot. At night if walking
alone, women should walk tall and
strong, not hunched over, looking at
their feet. And at night, they should
always walk with a friend, just to be
safe. The roles in the prevention of
sexual abuse have to incorporate both
women and men. The process of
change is always long and complex,
yet it is not out of grasp.
F ive-and-a-half years and $32 million later, the
independent prosecutor Lawrence Walsh is
ending the investigation of the Iran-contra affair.
The investigation did answer some questions and
indict top officials - although the most key indict-
ments were overturned on appeal - but it did not
go far enough in assessing the responsibility of the
highest figures in the administration.
In 1984, Congress passed the Boland amend-
ment, which prevented the administration from
sending any assistance to the contras - a band of
rebels seeking to overthrow the Nicaraguan gov-
ernment. After soliciting funding from the heads
of foreign governments, the administration con-
ceived a plan. Members of the National Security
Council staff, working out of the basement of the
White House, sold TOW missiles to Iran and then
diverted money from the sale to the Nicaraguan
contra rebels.
In the process, administration officials repeat-
edly lied to Congress, circumvented a host of
federal laws, violated the constitutional right of
Congress to appropriate funds, and most likely
President Bush was one of the chief supporters of
the operation." Memoranda signed by President
Reagan show that he was informed of the operation
at least one year before the scandal broke.
Walsh obtained 11 indictments, resulting in
eight convictions or guilty pleas. The record is
impressive, given the twin burdens of Congres-
sional immunity for most witnesses and an unco-
operative administration. Lee Hamilton, the House
chair of the Iran-contra committee, said Walsh
"reinforced the principle that all Americans regard-
less of their objectives have to be held accountable
for their actions."
Last month, intense speculation focused on the
possible indictment of President Reagan. There is
substantial evidence that President Reagan was in
full support of the operation. Many officials, in-
cluding former Secretary of State George Shultz,
Attorney General Edwin Meese, CIAdirector Rob-
ert Gates, and yes, President Bush could have been
prosecuted, or at least investigated fully.
Today, less than one-quarter of registered voters
can identify Iran-contra or the president it is asso-
SAPAC provides help for students, University community
by Debi Cain
The incidence of sexual assault in
this country is staggering. According
to Rape in America: A Report to the
Nation, a study published this past
April by the National Victim Center
and the Crime Victims Research and
Treatment center at the Medical Uni-
versity of South Carolina, 1871
Campus Sexual Assault Victims' Bill
of Rights Act of 1991 amendment to
the Higher Education Act, the legal
responsibility of universities and col-
leges to insure that survivors of sexual
assault are guaranteed rights. Among
those, "The right to have any and all
sexual assaults against them treated
with seriousness; the right, as vic-
tims, to be treated with dignity; and
services such as the counseling phone
line, support groups, advocacy and
counseling services. (3) Campus safety
concerns including the Safewalk and
Northwalkprogramsprovided in con-
junction with the Department of Pub-
lic Safety.
Rape is a problem that requires
our individual and collective commit-
ment - women, men, faculty, stu-
*1