Opinion
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
4A — Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Zack Blumberg
Emily Considine
Emma Chang
Joel Danilewitz
Emily Huhman
Krystal Hur
Ethan Kessler
Magdalena Mihaylova
Max Mittleman
Timothy Spurlin
Miles Stephenson
Finn Storer
Nicholas Tomaino
Joel Weiner
Erin White
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MAGDALENA MIHAYLOVA
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EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
T
hough it seems like it is
in the news quite often,
particularly because of
the #MeToo movement, sexual
harassment is an everyday
concern.
It
is
especially
a concern for workers in
restaurants, cafés and retail,
where most employees are
young adults. While this can
be beneficial, it can also create
a toxic environment for women
and students
– an environment
that
unfortunately
includes
sexual harassment.
Since the Civil Rights Act of
1964, sexual harassment in the
workplace is considered illegal.
Companies have since created
policies to prevent harassment,
but this does not completely
stop it. Rather, no-tolerance
sexual
harassment
policies
exist to encourage individuals
to report. However, companies’
investigations
can
be
as
damaging as the harassment.
Reporting and investigation
processes
need
reform
to
eliminate victim-blaming and
retaliation. Victims should not
be on trial.
I
experienced
a
poor
investigation first-hand. At a
café job in the summer of 2018,
a worker 10 years my senior
took advantage of the freezer’s
tight space, and he groped and
rubbed my body against my
will. I avoided him the rest of
my shift and tried to ignore
what
happened.
But
once
home, I obsessively recalled
every detail. It was not the
first time someone hurt me, so
I convinced myself I deserved
what he did. I mapped what I
did wrong and what I should
have done to escape his grip
sooner.
To
escape
further
harm, I quit before my next
shift and returned to my
previous movie theater job. I
was severely depressed and
terrified to report. After all, I
had been there for two weeks
and my assailant had been
there for a decade. However,
the general manager at the
café was suspicious and told
a worker whoever harmed me
would be fired. So, a week after
quitting, I emailed a report
to the manager. I assumed
corporate
would
become
involved, they would interview
my assailant and the decision
would be made without any
drama. I assumed incorrectly.
They
investigated
the
abused instead of the abuser.
Corporate talked about my
mental well-being to workers
uninvolved. They threatened
write-ups if the situation was
discussed,
yet
called
staff
repeatedly for questions. In
the
end,
the
environment
became hostile and fearful,
as my assailant was declared
innocent. I resented myself for
reporting.
Yet, I am not the only one
who has felt this way or who
has
experienced
retaliation
after
reporting.
Sexual
harassment is an epidemic
in the United States, and it is
not only a problem when the
news deems it one. Fifty-four
percent of women surveyed in
a 2017 ABC News-Washington
Post poll reported they had
been sexually harassed, and
30 percent said they had been
sexually harassed by a man in
the workplace. Moreover, 23
percent said it was a superior
who harassed them. Power
dynamics already take control
away
from
subordinates.
Whether it be boss to employee
or professor to student, the
superior can abuse their power
and
attack
young
women
and students without fearing
consequences.
Superiors
keep their position without
worry, while victims’ lives are
dissected.
Workers are then not only
in danger of being sexually
harassed but are in danger of
physical and mental outcomes
of harassment and retaliation.
According
to
NBC
News,
sexual
harassment
victims
can experience physical side
effects including headaches,
muscle pain and “chronic”
high blood pressure and blood
sugar
issues.
Furthermore,
mental health issues such as
depression, anxiety and post-
traumatic
stress
disorder
are prevalent among sexual
harassment survivors. For me,
I sank deeper into my self-
harm. For some, it can result
in suicide. Obviously, reform is
needed, but change can happen
only through proactive efforts.
Thoughts and prayers will not
solve the sexual harassment
crisis.
Companies must improve
training
and
investigations.
According to a study reported
by
the
Equal
Employment
Opportunity
Commission,
75
percent
of
those
who
report
harassment
in
the
workplace
face
retaliation.
The retaliation can vary from
gossip, undeserving discipline,
reassignment, demotions and
being fired. A University of
Massachusetts Amherst study
found two-thirds of victims
who press charges are fired.
Despite the fact that firing an
employee for pressing charges
is illegal in the United States,
it is overwhelmingly common.
Hence, only companies can
change their behavior when
they do not abide by the law.
The BE HEARD Act is a great
legal start, but if companies
do
not
already
follow
laws, we cannot anticipate
strong results. The sexual
harassment
reporting
and
investigative processes need
to be analyzed and reformed
to aid the victims, not further
attack them further. Workers
should not be at risk when on
the job. For student workers,
they already are at risk on
campus for sexual harassment
and retaliation. They deserve
to be safe at their jobs.
Workspaces should be positive
environments
spurring
productivity, not trauma.
Women
and
students
can take action by starting
the
conversation,
perhaps
meeting with supervisors to
discuss
sexual
harassment
policies
and
prevention
training.
Students
can
be
ambassadors
to
provide
a
testimonial
perspective
and be their own advocate.
However, the extra effort is
not solely the responsibility
of women and students. It is
not up to the oppressed to
overthrow the oppressor when
companies are a resourceful
bystander. It is impossible
to change workplace sexual
harassment without company
involvement.
While
many
have
training
explaining
the no-tolerance policy, it
obviously does not do enough.
When I worked at the café (a
major chain), the only sexual
harassment training was the
scheduling
manager
saying
it was a no-tolerance policy.
In a place where most of the
staff are teenagers and young
adults,
this
is
dangerous.
Women and students are in
peril when companies do not
value employees. The training
must focus on how sexual
harassment harms people, not
how it harms the company.
People
are
more
invested
in learning when it directly
involves
them.
In-depth
workshops
should
discuss
how sexual harassment affects
the work environment, how
it affects life outside the
workplace and how it affects
mental health. Each side effect
impacts the other and can
take years to heal from, if the
survivor heals at all. Sexual
harassment
goes
beyond
causing a bad day – sexual
harassment sabotages daily life
and can even end one.
CHLOE PLESCHER | COLUMN
Young, working and sexually harassed
A
t the end of July in
downtown Detroit, the
crowded Democratic field
of presidential candidates took
the stage at the Fox Theatre in the
midst of what could be another
severely divisive election cycle in
America.
Discussing some of the most
pressing matters across our nation
in an effort to ultimately take
the White House from President
Donald Trump in 2020, the
candidates blasted each other, as
well as the current and former
presidents on a wide range of
controversial
issues,
especially
stressing
immigration,
climate
change, healthcare, gun violence
and criminal justice.
But the truth is that virtually
all
American
politicians
are
disregarding an issue that could
be the most serious threat to this
nation’s survival: our staggering
national debt.
Conservative or liberal, we
should all be alarmed by this
deepening
crisis.
Currently
standing at over $22 trillion and
growing with no end in sight, our
debt is continuously forcing our
country further into a hole that
could one day be inescapable.
Unfortunately,
politicians
for
decades
have
determined
that
combating
this
financial
catastrophe is not worth the
political price of being voted out of
office, deciding instead that their
careers take precedence over our
country’s future.
The blame should not be placed
on any one party. While our
federal government did achieve
a surplus during the Clinton
administration when there was
more support for measures aimed
at cutting back the debt, we have
since then experienced immense
irresponsibility,
making
our
nation more vulnerable with each
passing year.
Under President George W.
Bush, the national debt rose $5.8
trillion,
more
than
doubling.
The problem continued under
President Barack Obama, with the
figure growing by a shocking $8.6
trillion during his two terms as he
was forced to deal with the worst
economic crisis since the Great
Depression, leading him to increase
government spending to stop the
economy from sinking further into
recession. And, should President
Trump remain in the Oval Office
until 2025, he is expected to
contribute a disturbing $9.1 trillion.
The truth is that while these
developments are dangerous for
everybody, the future is looking
the worst for young people who
will have to bear the brunt of this
economic crisis if politicians fail to
act now.
Without proper and effective
bipartisan action on this issue, we
are set on a course to economic and
social unrest that will spell disaster,
especially for millennials and
Generation Z. As the debt continues
on its alarming climb, the large
figure will ultimately drive interest
rates to high, unhealthy levels as
other nations — which already
own much of America’s debt — will
require more persuasion to invest
in our fiscally irresponsible nation.
In response to rising rates —
which will dramatically discourage
business investment, slow our
economy and lead to lower wages
— the federal government will be
forced to subsidize the heavy cost
of the interest by cutting spending,
especially through a reduction
in social programs such as Social
Security and Medicare. With a
decrease in social aid programs,
our country could be plagued
by turmoil and riots as everyday
citizens become unable to put food
on the table for their families. Still,
even after making these significant
cuts, the government will also likely
need to sharply raise taxes, which
again will steer our country toward
a severe economic downturn.
That is not all. In a scenario
that
becomes
more
probable
as this harsh reality worsens,
our government, in the face
of
uncontrollable
debt,
could
even fail to pay back some of its
debt, precipitating a worldwide
depression
and
calling
into
question the survival of this nation
itself.
Putting this aside, we have much
to worry about. In the midst of such
dangerous fiscal conditions, it is
only a matter of time before our
government may become unable
to borrow effectively in order to
solve situations currently posing a
threat to our nation, including war,
public health crises and natural
disasters. As the Committee for
a Responsible Federal Budget
states,
“Governments
often
borrow to address unexpected
events... This is relatively easy
to do when the federal debt is
small. However, with a large and
growing federal debt, government
has fewer options available.” The
speed and efficiency with which
our government is routinely able
to respond to society’s needs,
which is taken for granted
now, will undoubtedly become
challenging to maintain under
these circumstances.
Even our national security
is threatened by our debt crisis.
In February of this year, a bill
was introduced in Congress to
officially consider the debt a
danger to our national security.
“If we do not change our course,
we will be responsible for one
of the (worst) catastrophes this
nation has ever experienced: the
crash of the American economy
and the demise of a superpower,”
Congressman
Andy
Biggs,
R-Ariz., a bill co-sponsor, said in
a statement. Truthfully, we are
in trouble. Our politicians have
kicked the can down the road
for years, passing this crisis on to
the next generation. They have
greatly feared the political price
of attempting to address this issue,
but we can no longer ignore this
glaring problem. We must all,
regardless of political affiliation,
begin to make difficult choices
that will require strength and
compromise, resulting in a better
future for generations to come.
Whether we raise taxes, cut
spending, or both, we must
remember what is at stake, set
aside our differences and act with
a purpose. We owe it to ourselves,
our children and our nation.
We have an obligation to act
immediately.
The serious crisis nobody is talking about
Chloe Plescher can be reached at
chloebp@umich.edu.
ALICE LIN | COLUMN
Yin and Yang: Restoring the order of politics
EVAN STERN | COLUMN
A
t the first Democratic
debate,
he
proposed
giving $1,000 to every
American over 18. This is an idea
that few presidential candidates
have advocated for as openly as
Andrew Yang.
At the second Democratic
debate, he presented himself as
the antithesis of President Donald
Trump. “... an Asian man who
likes math,” Yang said, drawing
cheers from the crowd.
Throughout the 2020 race,
Andrew Yang has consistently
distinguished himself from long-
established politicians currently
dominating the field. With a kind
of honesty hard to find in politics
these days, he seems to genuinely
care about putting the people first.
As Yang explained in the second
debate, politicians are getting
caught up with what he called
“political theater” and losing
sight of what is important. At
these debates, policy is neglected
as those on stage are fighting to
come up with the best comebacks
for a few memorable seconds. It’s
tiring to see candidates attacking
each other when they should
be trying to convince us to vote
for them. Yang, however, stays
focused on what he believes in —
helping the people — and never
wavers in reminding us through
every response he gives. Amid the
chaos of Joe Biden takedowns,
Yang always manages to bring
back the discussion to the central
issue and educate people about it.
While all of these candidates
are running as the solution to
replacing Trump, their success
is contingent on what they have
to offer and on what makes
them stand out. At the end of
this campaign cycle, the final
nominee will have won their
spot because they were able to
convince the American people
they can deliver what is best for
the country. As voters, we should
look for a candidate who cares
about fixing our problems, and
Yang is slowly convincing me he
is the one. Throughout this race,
Yang is slowly bringing change
to the way we see politics and
setting a standard for the kind
of political leader we need. From
the start, he has been different
from the others with his complete
transparency in describing issues
and how he plans to solve them.
Despite being a political outsider,
he manages to command respect,
politely sharing what he has to
offer without stepping on the
other candidates. With Yang, it is
refreshing to see someone up on
the stage who is rising above party
politics to bring a “Humanity
First” campaign. His goal here is
to fight for the people and solve
problems that affect Americans,
not to bring a political party back
to power. This is the direction
that politics should be moving
in, away from partisanship and
toward securing the future of the
people that politicians represent.
In
addition
to
affecting
political change, Yang is also a
fighter. If his campaign journey
shows us anything, it’s that he
has potential to be an underdog.
As a former entrepreneur with
no political experience, he had
less than three minutes to speak
in the first debate. The lack of
airtime is unfortunate; with the
amount of proposals listed on his
website, Yang could give fellow
candidate Elizabeth Warren a
run for her money for having a
plan for everything. His proposed
policies cover everything from
family needs to federal reforms,
and he even provides a section
of miscellaneous ideas tailored
to improving everyday lives. No
other candidate has as many
ideas as thorough and detailed
as Yang’s. America needs a leader
who is able to deliver what they
are promising and is transparent
with the people in how those
plans will be achieved. Clearly,
Yang’s leadership qualities have
spoken to the people; he has been
performing far better than anyone
expected from a political novice
and became the ninth candidate
to qualify for the next debate.
Despite his lack of political
experience, Yang has proven
himself to be an educated and
eloquent speaker. He can tie
everything from health care
to climate change back to his
central point: lifting up the
American
people.
While
I
think providing $1,000 to those
over 18 would never work on
a national scale, he has slowly
led me to the realization that
our economic problems are
the root causes of all of our
other issues. It really does
seem simple from Yang’s point
of view: If we work to improve
American lives economically,
we are a step closer to equality
on so many levels. We can stop
scapegoating immigrants for the
loss of jobs, healthcare can be
affordable, and we can actually
address
racial
inequality
beginning with the wealth gap.
Yang is a forward-thinker and
anticipates new issues, showing
us, while he is aware of our
present problems, he is already
looking to fix upcoming ones
like the implications of artificial
intelligence.
I know it is unlikely Yang
will
secure
the
Democratic
nomination. America is still
far from being ready for such a
straightforward leader like Yang,
much less an Asian-American
president. But even if he falls flat
in the primaries, he has shown
himself to be the type of leader
we need. Throughout this race,
he has brought a new perspective
to
politics,
challenging
our
current system with his honesty.
At the very least, his foresight
has made us more aware of the
imminent problems and pointed
us in the direction of finding a
candidate who is focused on the
bigger picture for the future.
If we can learn anything from
Yang’s platform, it is that we
need to progress forward, and we
need a leader who can lead that
movement.
American
politics
needs to move in the right
direction, away from the last few
years of hatred and divisiveness
and towards acceptance and
unity. As part of a generation
finally able to vote, we should
take Yang’s message to heart:
“Not left, not right, but forward.”
Alice Yin can be reached
alicelin@umich.edu.
Evan Stern can be reached at
erstern@umich.edu.
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