8/OPINION November 25, 1991
Harassment victim
As a former victim of sexual
harassment in the workplace, I understand
Anita Hill's reluctance in reporting the
sexual harassment she experienced in the
early 'Bos.
At that time, sexual harassment was
defined as "...actions that would be found
offensive by a reasonable man." In 1986
the wording was changed to "...actions to
be found offensive by a reasonable
woman."
As an attorney in the EEOC, the
Professors voice opinions about diversity
Requirement is an insult
As a general principle, I believe
that divcrsity--racial, religious,
cultural, any reasonable kind-can be
wonderful, so long as a person
chooses it. And I also believe that
similarity of any reasonable kind can
be wonderful, so long as it is chosen.
A truly diverse society-that is, a truly
free and tolerant society—would let
citizens choose any mix of similarity
and diversity they want, however they
define those terms. That's one of the
two or three really important
improvements we've seen in political
and social philosophy in the last 200
years: The principle that you are
allowed to choose in every matter
unless there is a radically compelling
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agency that oversees discrimination, Anita
Hill probably knew that her chances for
seeing any results in reporting this crime
would have only induced more hardship for
her. She made the right choice in seeking
employment elsewhere.
I regret that I did not do the same.
I desperately wanted to stay in my job,
but it got to the point where I either had
to do something about the harassment or
resign. I chose to fight, but I can assure
you the process is long, painful and ugly.
reason, widely agreed upon, for choice
to be denied. So, I'm appalled that
Penn State has decreed that its highly
controversial and very politicized
conception of "educational diversity"
is going to be forced on students. It
will distort the curriculum by
privileging fashionable courses that
seek to legitimize the fetid
accusations of every crackpot theorist.
It is left-wing Puritanism, and I will
fight it just as my ancestors fought
the right-wing kind in Salem.
Michael Barton
Associate Professor of
Social Science and American Studies
stiff feeling pain
I think the most painful experience was
the indignant behavior and attitudes of
some "professional" women whom I
worked with for four years. I will,
however, be eternally grateful to the few
who showed me kindness and support.
I diligently watched Anita Hill's
testimony. I found her credible, specific
and articulate.
It's terribly distressing to see polling
results that basically indicate blame for the
victim. I wish pollsters would have
Requirement is needed
The diversity requirement is only
an updated version of a long
established goal of general education.
Far from distorting the curriculum, it
will exert pressure to expand offerings
in areas that have been shamefully
neglected here, especially international
and inter- cultural subjects. These are
directly pertinent to all life and work
today, not merely "fashionable"-the
United States is already a diverse place
and will become more so, and
academic disciplines have developed
exciting ways of understanding these
variations. Faculty always design
curricula to best prepare students for
careers and life; students choose to
meet these requirements in order to
Jogger sees sights
in Heights at night
Michael Stone
Capital Ttmes Staff
For a reason I cannot explain, I have
recently had the yen to get in shape. I
referee basketball-yes, by choice-and need
to improve my endurance for the season
ahead.
I decided to start jogging. If you are
like me, your exercise consists of going to
the fridge between Cheers and
Married... With Children. And probably,
leisure time is not in great supply.
I have thereby chosen to jog at
midnight, through the glorious housing
haven which we call "Meade Heights."
Yes, it’s a little crazy. And granted, I
have done safer things in my life. But
thanks to the painful exercise, I have
discovered a new world that I must share
with you.
You might be aware of your PSH
surroundings during the day. But at night,
my friends, this institution goes through a
metamorphosis.
At midnight, I experience the cold,
suburban air-marred by factory influences,
the airport, Three Mile Island and the
dreaded campus manure fertilizer. My
lungs turn frosty and a bronchial cough
makes me ashamed to produce mucus.
Halfway through the run, I encounter
the dumpster and old mattress burial
contacted me, I wanted to give them an
earful.
The Senate made major errors starting
with the judiciary committee, but what's
done is done—no one can repair the
damage. I only hope that the lessons
learned by this media carnival will raise
public consciousness to the deficiencies
that still exist within the system.
Name withheld at author's request
become educated. Students will be
able to meet this requirement in many
ways-often through work or
experience completed before enrolling
here—and will be able to choose
among a broad variety of courses. It's
not the advocates of diversity
education who are crackpots, but
rather those who see "fetid
accusations" festering in every class
on Soviet politics, international
management, race and ethnicity, and
women's history.
Louise E. Hoffman
Associate Professor of Humanities
and History
ground. At night, it looks like the scene
of every horror/slasher movie.
I also see many people. Drivers swerve
and give me the "are you for real?" look.
Women pedestrians look over their
shoulders and wonder if this person
jogging towards them is a potential rapist.
Don't let the heavy breathing fool you.
When I jog, I am physically drained and
my sexual desire is almost nonexistent by
mile two.
But as I run through the starry and
chilly nights, my thoughts wander from
my panting and the R.E.M. blasting from
my walkman.
Getting philosophical, I pose some
pretty significant questions to my psyche.
First of all, what am I going to do
with my life? Will I get a job when I
graduate? Will I like my work? Will I be a
"fry guy?”
What does the future hold? Will L.A.
Law be a Benny episode? What will the
kids be up to on 90210 ?
Does ANYONE listen to my radio
show? (WPSH, Wednesdays, 8-10 p.m.)
Did I correctly locate the seven pitchers
in the last Capital Times issue?
Did the Lion's Den actually have to get
with the times and get rid of the quarter
pinball machines? Everything is now 50
See Jogging, page 10