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Show Commentary . Sexual Harrassment Embarrasses Westminster Student did they do the things, they couldnt even maintain any variety! The same comments were made over and over and over to different girls, whether their parents were present or not. Then, when the three students ran out of campus preview girls to jeer at, they moved on to students already enrolled here. My favorite comment was, Man, I sure like the way she runs those copies. This was for the benefit of a woman in a skirt above the knee. It didnt last as long, because she let them know how much she appreciated the attention when (after five minutes or Of course, they so) there was no let-uturned to each other, laughed and all three of them said, Hey, man, whats her problem? You paid her a compliment (Give or take a colorful expletive here or there.) The entire episode left me with two . thoughts: hadnt I gotten out of junior high a long time ago? and if something qualifies as sexual harassment, this has to be it. According to Westminsters 1990-9- 2 Student Handbook sexual harassment policy, the college reaffirms the principle that its students, faculty and staff have a right to be free from ... sexual harassment by any member of the academic commu- by Bill Kilpack Forum editor TV hours were dediA hundred-plu- s cated to sexual harassment in the Thoma$ hearing. As they dominated the air waves, I was outraged that taxpayers money was being put to such a waste. I still believe that the hearing was way overdone, beating a dead horse with another dead horse, but if nothing else, it succeeded in making people think. On campus, there has been a steady murmurofharassment jokes justenough to keep a lot of people to avoid taking it seriously. Im as guilty as the next person who chose to joke about the topic rather than give it the respect it is due. Then we had our infamous campus preview, and I saw some things that not only changed my mind, but made me feel embarrassed for Westminster College. In Syme Lounge in Shaw, three Westminster students sat for at least a half hour on the couch and chairs nearest the cafeteria and career planning center and made asses of themselves through continuous comments about the way these high school basically girls walked, dressed, looked anything based upon their sex. They whistled, made catcalls and followed them toward the doors making hand gestures and faces as if they hadntbeen to the bathroom since August Ive never seen anything so insulting and kept telling myself that they hadnt actually done what theyd done, or that I must have heard them wrong. But not only p. nity. So I pondered it a while: what exactly is sexual harassment? According to Webster, theres no sucli thing unless you take the definitions of sexual and harassment and put them together, resulting with of, pertaining to, affecting, or characteristic of sex, the sexes, or the sex organs and their functions while irritating or tormenting persistently. form In Westminsters handbook, of employee or student misconduct which undermines employment and instructional or peer relationships, debilitates morale and interferes with the productivity and well-bein- g of its victims ... or to subject a person to unwanted sexual attention ... or to create a sexually intimidating, hostile or offensive working or educational environ- itsa ment Yep. Thats exactly what happened. Both definitions fit perfectly. Not only were the high school girls and their parents offended by the juvenile behavior, but it was embarrassing to be associated with them. Not to mention the effect it might have on at least 50 choices made next year on where some young women would like to attend college. Sexual harassment is banned by Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. It is also prohibited by the Utah Act. Various other statutes, Anti-discriminati- on by Carrie Stults Forum staff writer Tell me what is it you plan to do with your wild and precious life? Pulitzer Prizewinning poet Mary Oliver asked the audience at the second reading for the Westminster 1991-9- 2 Poetry Series on Thursday Dec. 9 in Nunemaker Place. Although death was a dominant theme of the evening, neither it, nor the weather could hampertheinquisitivenessofOlivers Olivers writing is a strong authentic voice ... vividly American ... unique in American poetry, said Dr. Katharine Coles, series director and English instructor. The mysteries in her poetry make us wonder, said Coles. Olivers images of fleeing grasshoppers, stampeding ghosts of American bison, the ascending sun and tormenting, refreshing rain created an audible awe among the listeners. Everything dies atlastand too soon, said Oliver, commenting later that for an unknown purpose the poems she had selected to read were leaning toward death. Possibly it was the drizzling rain trying to imitate snow outside the windows. When life has no purpose and is no longer civil or intelligent it begins to rain, said readers for naming The Training Table Restaurants, The Best Of The Best, in the recent readers Restaurant Poll.t So grab your friends and come enjoy what many have said are the "best hamburgers Imagine your choice of seventeen delicious, in Utah. varieties..vfrom the hearty flame-broile- d conduct. Westminster upholds these laws, ac- cording to the handbook, so I would suggest that the individuals who were harassed report the matter to the a faculty member and demand action. Make an example of them. Theres absolutely no reason for the campus preview girls, or anyone else to have to put up with that kind of moronic behavior. Sexual harassment is a two-wa- y street, the people on the receiving end should assess the situation, use some common sense and defend themselves. Ifsomeones being an ass, tell him so. In the case of the three shining examples of the kind of people Westminster chooses to educate, such admonitions had no effect on their actions, . V but its not always the case. I dont mean this to sound like a behave yourself, someone on Forum staff is nearby article. I just want to know if we, as educated adults, can keep ourselves under control. Pulitzer Poet Speaks Of Life images. Thank you UtahHolidaymqme constitutional provisions and common law causes of action prohibit sexual harassing Oliver. I lie in order to tell a more significant truth, said Oliver, quoting contemporary author John Cheever. The significance in her truths of the natural world are considered among tjie foremost in United States nature poetry. The reverent atmosphere in Nunemaker is perfect for a poetry reading. It not only looks right, it feels right. She was wonderful, said University of Utah student and avid reading attender, Joel Cath. Among Olivers numerous awards arc the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters Achievement Award, the Shelley Memorial Award arid fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Her recent books include House of Light, Dream Work, New and S elected American Poems and Pulitzer-winnPrimitive. er The poetry series is jointly sponsored by Westminster,7 A Womans Place Book Store, The Utah Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Friends of the Westminster Poetry Series. The next reading will bd Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. in Nunemaker. Author David Lee, recipient of two fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and 1989 Utah Arts Council Publication Prize winner, will read. to our new Monterrey Burgerto the one that made us famous... The Bleu Bacon Burger. Ten General Electric Top the time creates a Ten Taken David Lettermans X-M- as Experience The Training Tables fresh, crisp salads, creamy hot soups and tasty sandwiches. Or try our tasty new grilled chicken platters. And don't forget our great French fries and crispy onion rings... Imagine the possibiiities...at The Training Table! c?En ra tea estoiistijci 809 East Fourth South & ca 7 curs iveex BUOY ICY&E 4828 South Highland Onve 6957 South State Creekstde Place) 3 riE car cam rs 1 8 t Nowrter, 1989 IM Hott fctdrt ftetwjX Pol G T) Tmwg Top from 10. If one light bulb in your house goes out, replace them all. 9. Fluorescent tubes make great Star Wars swords for the kids. can be used to keep food 8. Blow-dryewarm. 7. Big corporations shouldn't commercialize this blessed season by handing out bonuses. 6. Keeping several TVs and radios on all TaUa tabu. 1591 Tips feeling of warmth and intimacy. 5. We heard that Sylvania bulbs give off some kind of poisonous gas. 4. Same deal with Westinghouse. 3. Electric toothbrushes should be left on all day to keep them loose. 2. A GE industrial turbine makes a stocking stuffer. 1 . Warranties, like greeting cards, should be thrown out. one-of-a-ki- nd Forum-Pag- e 5 4 |