Page 4-The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, April 10, 1991 be £idb jau 1ail BUSH 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 Edited and Managed by Students at the University of Michigan ANDREW K. GOTTESMAN Editor in Chief STEPHEN HENDERSON DANIEL POUX Opinion Editors 0- 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. ONARCHY WJORTH FIGHTI NG FOR LOGIC IRA, E d f I Sexual harassment New policy protects students, but threatens faculty and staff S-exual harassment is a clearly defined problem within itself-both here at the University and in society in general. But when sexual harassment directly threatens a productive educational envi- ronment - specifically in the classroom - it becomes quite another dilemma. ,The University, in an attempt to curb this problem, will soon institute a new policy to regu- ljte sexual harassment by faculty and staff mem- bers. The policy will monitor reported sexual ha- rassment among faculty-student, staff-student or supervisor-employee relationships. One striking difference between the new and old policies is the fact that consensual romantic relationships will now also be scrutinized. The new policy frowns upon romantic and sexual re- lati6nships between supervisors and employees or faculty and other staff, and is aimed at preventing such activity. In addition, the new policy will not accept donsent as an adequate defense in the sexual ha- rassment cases it will monitor. In other words, a student who is involved in a consenting relation- ship with a professor - or other staff or faculty member-may file a charge of sexual harassment against that person, and the fact that the relation- ship is consensual would be a weak defense at best. Stich a provision is needed in cases dealing with student-staff and student-faculty relationships. The power-dynamics in these relationships are weighted heavily against students, and even in consensual situations, students are at a distinct disadvantage. Professors and teaching assistants wield ex- tensive control over their students' academic lives, and any romantic or sexual relationships between instructors and students may influence the use of this control. Instructors may use their academic power ad- vantage to manipulate a student with whom they are involved, and such behavior clearly questions the ethical basis for such a relationship. The Uni- versity has a responsibility to protect the student in such cases, and ensure that the sanctity of the academic atmosphere on campus is not violated. But only because student-instructor relation- ships potentially affect the academic environment at the University should they be regulated, and in no way should this policy extend to non-academic arenas. It is the University'sjob to uphold academic standards, but it does not have the responsibility - or the right - to pry into students' or faculty and staff members' private lives. For this reason, the part of the new policy which regulates intra-faculty and staff relationships is misguided. These relationships pose no threat to the academic environment, and are strictly a private matter. The University should not be the mecha- nism by which grievances between employers and employees are decided; there are state laws which deal with that. And any University inquiries into its employees' personal lives would certainly violate basic civil rights. The new sexual harassment policy does much to preserve the academic environment at the Uni- versity; it effectively protects students from the potential academic abuse of their instructors. But the policy also has the potential to violate the private lives of faculty and staff members which have nothing to do with this University's academic environment-and once again over-stepthe bounds of an institution of higher learning. I WORTH IGNORIN~G >.;". GEO talks Where was the coverage? To the Daily: I am very disturbed with the lack of coverage given the awareness week rally by the Daily. The rally was sponsored by the Lesbian and Gay Rights Organizing Committee (LAGROC) at noon last Friday (4/5/91) on the Diag. I went to read about it (even though I attended) and could not find an article about the rally. The Daily had a piece on a University graduate who won a photography contest, but something that is important to people who still go here was completely ignored. Anthony Glassman LSA first-year student On co-education... To the Daily: I couldn't help but notice the irony of the Daily layout of Playboy's plans to feature University women (preferably nude), right next to a report on the possibility that the University of Detroit Jesuit High School will admit female applicants (4/4/91). Sexual objectification of women is one of the main obstacles to full acceptance of women as equals and superiors in the workplace and classroom. As a student in a women's high school, I found that men and women have vastly different motives for gender segregation in education. Men, as stated in the article, shun women in the classroom because they are "a distraction." In contrast to the male preoccupation with women as prospective sexual partners, one seldom hears of a student who chose a women's school because she could not think of male classmates other than as sexual beings. While I am not ruling out the possibility that there may be physiological gender differences that contribute to this discrepancy, we also must examine the role played by the constant exploita- tion of women's bodies and sexuality in the mass media. There are, however, legitimate concerns about sexism in educa- tion and the discouragement of women from leadership roles which cause students to feel that they will best be able to reach their potential in a women's school. Except for a few colleges, however, these women's schools seldom garner the same prestige that men's schools hold. They often cannot charge the same tuition that parents are willing to spend for their sons, and women's education suffers. Actually, because women and men have traditionally had different learning styles, perspec- tives, and values, coeducation is enriching, a form of diversity. Even in cases where women benefit from single-sex education, I feel this is an unfortunate situation for society. Their would- be male classmates are deprived of exposure to some of the best - and often most feminist - female minds, and their image of young women continues to be shaped by what they infer from Playboy. Katherine M. Metres RC first-year student Philistine To the Daily: Philistine: 1. a person devoted narrow-mindedly to material prosperity at the expense of individual and artistic awareness; or (as an adjective) ignorantly uninterested in culture and ideas. (from The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms); 2. The human-being (Frederick Weihe) who in Friday's letters column ("Who should Judge?" 4/ 5/91) ignored the subtleties of sarcasm for the more scientific sledgehammer approach by writing about "a learn-nothing liberal arts education" and "snot- nosed college boy(s)" when faced with a point of view with which he didn't agree. Jon Heaten Stolen backpack To the Daily: I would like to comment on the student who stole my daughter's backpack from the West Quad cafeteria lockers on March 26: It is difficult for me to, understand how a person who meets the high standard of admission to this University has such a low standard of morality. Why would someone think that they have the right to steal my daughter's textbooks, notes and homework containing the information necessary to pass her courses, and which represented hundreds of hours of study as well as tuition dollars? Why would someone think they have the right to sell her books? To spend her EARNED dollars? To use her ID? To use or sell her backpack? To destroy or discard items that were worthless to them but valuable to her? I have learned there are several backpacks stolen every week at West Quad. I am sick- ened by the thought of people such as this representing the University. I am concerned for any community in which such people live. But, if it is true, as I have been told, that my value system is out of date, then whoever did this had better watch out - what goes around comes around. Judith A. Poger University parent The Daily encourages responses from its readers. Letters should be 150 words or less, and should include the author's name, year in school and phone number. They can be mailed to "The Michigan Daily," 420 Maynard, 48109, or can be sent via MTS to "The Michigan Daily Letters to the Editor." The Daily reserves the right to edit letters for style and space. 0 State mediator will be needed A ftermonths ofunproductive negotiations with the University, the Graduate Employees Or- ganization (GEO) still does not have a new con- tract for 1991-92. The talks between the union and the administration have dragged on for nearly the entire semester, and as of yet, a resolution does not appear to be imminent. While both sides must share responsibility for the stalemate, the University administration has been particularly unresponsive during the bar- gaining sessions. Instead of attempting to negotiate a compromise, University representatives seem to automatically reject the. current GEO proposal and make a ri- diculously low counter-offer. -The behavior of GEO and the administration is b&ming characteristic of pre-school rather than a p : 'giousuniversity.Betweenthe administration's rigid stance and GEO's righteous contempt for the University, the bargaining sessions have shown little resemblance to real negotiations. . Last week, the repercussions of the impasse finally hit the undergraduate students when GEO staged a one-day work stoppage. The situation has indeed become desperate when the union feels that the only way to affect constructive talks is to walk out. The posturing ofthe University has transcended ROU.DuPActing b The University of North Carolina (UNC) English department's decision to diversify reading requirements is an important leap for racial and gender equality and should be exemplified by the rest of the university's academic departments. Most English professors now recognize literature written by minorities and women, but they rarely include these works in the syllabuses. The omission of this fiction usually is easily explained. Professors tend to focus on the literature prevalent during the time period the course centers around. Often, the purpose of an English course is to teach what the bulk of that day's society read, so students can easily understand the society and history through the literature. For example, Charles Darwin's evolution theory spurred 19th-century writers to question their own existence, and consequently, most of the widely-read literature of the day reflected these doubts and fears. In addition, fiction by women and minorities was rarely pubfished before the 20th century, so the white male tended to be the dominantauthor. Consequently,English professors today tend to focus on these prominent male to solve dilemma the bargaining table and entered the class room. Furthermore, GEO has threatened to go on a three- day walkout in two weeks unless the University becomes willing to enter into constructive nego- tiations. Meanwhile, amidst threats and posturing on both sides, a state mediator has been dispatched to resolve the impasse. All along, both sides have continually antagonized one another and have shown the necessity for third-party mediation. As required by law, the two sides must submit to the judgement of the mediator and despite this fact, GEO has threatened to hold a three-day work stoppage in two weeks. Furthermore, the Univer- sity is threatening to take legal action against those who participated in last Thursday's walk out. It is evident that neither side can continue these talks without the mediator. The actions of both sides have degenerated to the point that construc- tive dialogue between the two parties may not be feasible without a third party. Only the impartiality of the state mediator can resolve the disputes between the two sides to cooperate for the greater good of the undergradu- ates that will continue to suffer. The state mediator provides the best opportunity for a satisfactory settlement, not GEO , and certainly not the Uni- versity administration. ook smart writers. While this reasoning sounds logical, it contains a huge fallacy when defining who is considered impor- tant. Obviously, the literature that raked in the most money or shocked society the most is classified as relevant. However, although women and minorities have always been members of society, they have rarely been recognized as equals to men in the past. Simply because fiction from these groups never made it into the literary spotlight, it does not necessarily make sense that those works were not important or impactive. In fact, studying literature written by women or ethnic minori- ties often reveals how persecuted these groups were. Changing requirements so that a wider spectrum of writers is studied in higher level English courses is definitely apositivemove. This move to multiculturalism should be applauded, and other departments should take note and follow the English department's efforts. April 1, 1991, The Daily Tar Heel, University of North Carolina 0 }}"i .'J}: g ... ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . .....vi:........ ........................ . . ..... ................................................... ..tE ............. ,. A world order without the Kurds As a permanent cease-fire emerges in the wake of the Gulf War, it is becoming readily evident that there is nothing "new "in Presi- dent Bush's New World Order. For the last eight months, Brad Bush has bantered on Bernatek about the fruits of a new world in which the un-initiated aggression against peaceful countries would not be tolerated - and all along an indiscriminate slaughter continues in northern Iraq. Throughout the Gulf War, Bush continually called on the people of Iraq to overthrow the government of Saddam Hussein and bring Iraq Kurdish success seemed assured. But George Bush, in typical form, has decided to turn his back on them declaring he will not become in- volved in Iraq's "internal affairs." Bush's excuse is nothing but a cheap ploy meant to conceal more "politi- cal concerns." The massacre of the Kurds dif- fers little from that of Kuwait. In both cases Saddam Hussein has as- serted his claim over a region un- willing to accept his tyrannical leadership. However, unlike Ku- wait, Kurdistan, as a nation, is not recognized by United Nations and the world community. In Bush's view, the Kurds of Iraq lack national sovereignty and therefore must remain under the control of the Baathist central gov- ernment. If sovereignty involves the ability to defend oneself from an attack of overwhelming forces, then Kurdistan is not a nation. But was Kuwait able to thwart Hussein's invasion? For about an hour while tanks have severely weakened the Kurdish forces. More than amillion Kurds have attempted to leave the area and escape the unrelenting at- tacks of Hussein. Our country and the United Nations cannot accept Bush's feeble attempts to whitewash the situation. The United States and the United Nations can choose to make or break a country's sovereignty and appar- ently had little trouble doing so on Jan. 15. Borders and sovereignty are not the issue - human rights are, and for Bush to hide behind the sover- eignty of Iraq is ridiculous. Hussein's rule survives because he has sufficient military resources to annihilate any opposition and his mandate extends no further. Unless Bush's commitment to democratic causes extends further than a limited amount of relief aid to the Kurds, than his New World Order falls flat on its face. Allowing the Iraqi forces to rr~ntin., aApli~kan tP ottnrl'.oc ,,n ,.- Nuts and Bolts rZGPSE. AAARGH!! MV CASS CLOSE!> O NTE T 7Wt~,..-r IT Wi.Spi, by Judd Winick MS'CO F MerA 0