1991-04-12; Central Michigan Life

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FRIDAY
April 12, 1991
VOLUME 73, NUMBER 77
© 1991 CM LIFE
MOUNT PLEASANT, MICHIGAN 48859
(517) 774-3493
16 PAGES
Groups speak out
against ROTC policy
_ LIFE Photo/Karen Hardwick
James Jones, assistant professor of German,  speaks during  a press conference Wednesday in  protest of the
U.S. Department of Defense policy which prohibits gays, lesbians and  bisexuals from serving in ROTC. Jeff
Hart, Sturgis junior (left) looks on.
by CORRIE PERNIK
LIFE  Copy Editor
The U.S. Department of
Defense policy discriminating
against gays, lesbians and
bisexuals was protested at a
press conference Wednesday.
The conference, in the Bovee
University Center, was part of
the National Day of Action
organized to bring attention to
the policy and to urge the
government to allow gays,
lesbians and bisexuals to openly
serve in the military.
Representatives from the four
groups that sponsored the event
read statements against the
policy and asked sanctioned
discrimination based on sexual
orientation to end.
The event was sponsored by
the Gay and Lesbian Association
for Student Support. Student
Government Association.
Faculty Association, and the
Lesbian and Gay Faculty and
Staff Student Group.
"Discrimination against one of
us affects all of us," said James
Jones, assistant professor of
German and the event's
co-organizer.
The discriminatory policy —
followed by CMU's ROTC
program — conflicts with the
University's    non-discrimination
stance, Jones said.
If the policy does not change
and ROTC cannot comply with
CMU's policy, the program
should not be allowed on
campu^      ^r\\d    Mark    Goodine,
See ACTION Page 2
A-Senate
continues
debate
by CORRIE PERNIK
UEE  Copy Editor
Although a meeting to debate
whether to keep ROTC on
campus is four days away, people
on both sides of the issue are
gearing up to convince the
Academic Senate to move in
their direction.
At Tuesday's Academic Senate
meeting, senators will discuss a
recommendation in the ad hoc
military science committee's
report. The recommendation
suggests CMU phase out ROTC
if the program does not comply
with the University's
See CONFLICT Page 1 5
Panelists encourage students to speak out against homophobia
by CORRIE PERNIK
L lf-b Copy Editor
Many members of the campus community say they are paying a
price for their sexual orientation.
Seven panelists at a homophobia forum Wednesday talked about the
cost of not educating people on discrimination and harassment against
homosexuals.
Homophobia is defined as the socially driven fear of gay, lesbian or
bisexual lifestyles, said Gary Silker, professor of counseling.
Presenting findings from a comparative study he conducted at
CMU, Silker said he found the campus more homophobic than other
universities.
"Students throw the word 'faggot' around without thinking," said
Arlene Battishill. instructor of political science. "We're hurting people
when we open our mouths that way."'
About 75 people attended the forum. Panelists included students,
faculty and staff members who shared their experiences and
knowledge of problems associated with homophobia.
No punishment sought
in wake of IFC violation
Several homosexual students discussed how homophobia and
discrimination affects their lives daily.
"Sexuality is a tiny part of our lives, just like it's a tiny part of your
life." said panelist Lisa Harris, Mount Pleasant senior. "Things aren't
that different for me except I have to put up with prejudice every day."
People often form incorrect perceptions of others based on sexual
orientation, Harris said.
For some homosexuals, prejudice can be a life-threatening problem.
One student told the audience he received death threats from his
social fraternity brothers after they discovered he is a homosexual. He
had been a member for two years.
He asked Angela Haddad, Affirmative Action Officer, what was
being done to stop discrimination within the Greek system.
Haddad, however, said the Affirmative Action Office has received
"zero complaints" this year against fraternities and sororities for cases
of harassment based on sexual orientation.
Action can only be taken if it is reported by the victim, Haddad said.
She encouraged anyone with knowledge of such cases to report them.
by NANCY SALLA
LIFE Staff Writer
Although an Interfraternity
Council executive board member
violated the group's bylaws, IFC
does not intend to take action
against him.
Members received updated
copies of the council's constitution and bylaws Wednesday. The
bylaws stated the secretary/
treasurer's duty includes giving
all member presidents copies of
IFC and Greek Week monthly
bank statements on a semiannual basis.
Further duties include
securing annual review of IFC's
accounts by CMU's internal
auditing department or by a
temporary co nmittee, and
distributing those results to all
presidents.
Although an audit of
off-campus accounts was
completed five months ago, IFC
President Ken Ruppel said
fraternity presidents will not
receive copies of the report or of
bank statements.
Ruppel justified Secretary/
Treasurer       Brad      Vernon's
breaking the bylaws because
Vernon, West Bloomfield sophomore, gave a brief oral report of
the council's financial situation
in January.
"Brad gave a verbal summation of the report and all of the
presidents seemed to be satisi-
fied," said Rupple, Midland
junior.
Vernon said April 3 he was not
going to distribute financial
information to all of the fraternity presidents as stated in the
bylaws because the Office of
Student Life still had the statements and reports.
Steve Grenus, assistant
director of the Office of Student
Life and Greek adviser, Glenn
Starner, director of the Office of
Student Life and Susan Repp,
assistant vice president for
Student Affairs said April 8 the
administrators did not have
IFC's off-campus accounts audit
report or bank statements.
Grenus and Starner said they
were not in contact with the
audit    and    bank    statements,
See IFC Page 5
Local NAACP chapter
will raise 'big voice/
says one organizer
by KRIS BANFIELD
LiEE Staff Writer
In order to increase awareness about minority contributions and
issues, students and faculty are forming a campus chapter of the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
About 130 people expressed interest in organizing the group after
a racism forum Tuesday.
The first meeting is planned for 6:30 p.m. Monday, said Tammy
Parker, Detroit junior. She will serve as chair of the organization.
"There is a need for it here," she said. "NAACP has a big voice."
NAACP — once active at CMU — has been "dormant" for awhile,
Parker said. She hopes the 82-year-old organization will serve "in
discussing issues and finding out how to take political action on
those issues."
Parker said the executive board of the Organization for Black
Unity will serve as the NAACP board. The two organizations'
functions are different, though, said Parker, who is student adviser
to OBU.
While OBU organizes events for students, the NAACP will focus
on addressing issues.
Ten NAACP chapters exist at other colleges in Michigan,
including Michigan State University and University of Michigan.
Five others state schools are organizing campus chapters, said
Delbert Sanders, president of the Michigan youth and college
division of NAACP.
"Each year is busy because we find, one year after another,
incidents on other campuses," he said.
"Most of the work we do is through the courts, education and
See NAACP Page 2
"My goal is to persuade everyone to be the eyes and ears of
Affirmative Action," Haddad said.
Students are not the only ones affected by homophobia at CMU.
James Jones, assistant professor of German, said he is the only
openly gay tenure-track professor at CMU because of the discrimination that takes place at all levels of the University.
He said one CMU instructor decided to leave the University because
of homophobia. Jones read a statement from the individual.
In the statement, "Homophobia — How Much Does It Cost CMU?"
the faculty member described how she did not feel valued for who she
was because of the treatment she received based on her sexual
orientation. .
Although many instances of harassment were discussed at the
forum, the goal was to educate, Jones said.
People need to understand sexual orientation is not a matter of
preference   or   will,   said   Dr.   Gay   Freeman   of University   Health
See PANEL Page 2
Fraternity hosts seminar
to educate against rape
by NANCY SALLA
LIFE  Staff Writer
Authorities on the subject
discussed gender socialization
and mythology of sexual assault
during Thursday's "Stand Up
Against Rape" seminar.
America's rape-supportive
culture teaches males to use
violent behavior at an early age,
said Norman Rasulis, associate
professor of English.
The coordinator for the
program. "Men Educating Men
Against Rape," Rasulis said
society molds young boys into
adult gender roles who highlight
physical and emotional strength,
as well as aggressiveness over
women.
INSIDE
"We teach boys to not hurt, not
feel — to shut down their
emotions," Rasulis said. "We
punish boys for crying and
repress the one avenue the child
may have, to relieve himself of
the anxiety he is feeling at that
moment."
Rasulis said this socialization
process also assumes a male
child does not need as much
affection as girls the same age
do.
"This    abandonment   leaves
■ University officials
outline      CMU's      sexual
assault policies.
See story, page 7.
them uncertain with their place
in the world," he said. "Their
feelings are dismissed as
unimportant."
Rasulis said society heralds
this unfeeling behavior through
the media as the definition of a
"real" man.
"Boys are expected to put girls
down emotionally, physically
and verbally," he said. "The
victim role ultimately also
belongs to the non-aggressive
males because their masculinity
is suspected.
"The women-hating attitudes
coincide with the homophobia
expressed toward the suspected
males," he added.
It should not be surprising the
socialization process causes men
to become compulsive about
sexuality. Rasulis said.
See SEMINAR Page 7
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