‘A’ For a Lay

Ottawa (CUP)-A recent inci-
dent at the University of
Ottawa has -starkly revealed
the need for a sexual harass-
ment grievance committee
there.

An international student who
was having problems with a
class approached a professor
for help. He offered tutoring
at his home. When she went,
he made physical advances
and when she protested, he
didn’t stop. He raped her.

The woman said nothing of
the incident that occured in
early February, untilone week
later when she told two of her
classmates. They were shock-
ed and urged her to visit the
women’s centre on campus.

She went but refused to make
a formal complaint for several
reasons. She had recently be-
come a Canadian citizen and
felt very frightened and con-
fused. She was not sure
whether the professor’s ac-
tions weren’t normal, but her
classmates assured her they
weren't.

Roxanne Lepine of the U of O
Women’s Centre says in these
cases the centre offers the vic-
tim support, understanding
and compassion. If the woman
chooses to report the incident
they will assist her in any way

they can. but if she doesn’t
their hands are tied.

And the U of O isn’t the only
university faced with the prob-
lem of sexual harassment, al-
though it is one of the few that
has yet to establish procedure
to deal with the problem.
Campuses that have establish-
ed such a procedure include
Concordia University, McGill
University, the University of
Alberta and York University.
The Universtiy of Toronto is in
the process of creating one.

Yvon McNicoll, U of O super-
intendent of protection serv-
ices, said in his six years at the
university no rapes have been
reported on campus. Does this
mean none have occured?

“‘No, it doesn’t mean that it
doesn’t happen,”’ he said. ‘‘It
means that we don’t know
about it.’’

Caroline Andrew of the
women’s studies co-ordinatin
committee says fear of repris:
has to be alleviated before stu-
dents will come forward with
complaints.

“It’s difficult for students to
report this sort of thing as
there are so many other vari-
ables. Marks are a consider-
ation as well as how it will
affect the rest of their educa-
tion.”

 

 

 

  

From Kenests

A recentarticle in the London
Sunday Times says the found-
er and publisher of Penthouse
magazine has joined forces
with a leading Israeli - arms
dealer and a former colonel in
Israeli intelligence to tackle a
puzzle that has baffled scien-
tists for 30 years. ‘‘Should
they solve it, they will make
Israel preeminent in nuclear-
energy technology and pro-
vide the country with the
means to earn billions of doll-

 

  

Px Pi, bi 7 hy
rts Nukes
ars in exports,’’ said the
Times.
The attempt is to build a nuc-

lear reactor using fusion ener-

gy.

Penthouse publisher Bob
Guccione has put up $14.7 mil-
lion as an initial stake in the
California company,
(which is funded by Guccione)
,and has pioneered technology
in this area. The Penthouse
publisher is prepared to invest
a further $61.1 in the project

 

to build a live reactor in Israel.

by Dee Thomas

The Women’s Centre at
Douglas College was host to
an information session on
March 24th on women, minor
tranquillizers and alcohol.

There’s a real concern that
some of women’s social, and
relationship problems are be-
ing handled by doctors with a
prescription, or by women re-
sorting to alcohol use.

Approximately twenty-three
professional women attended,
whose associations include
Coquitlam Family Life, health
collectives, Status of Women
and the B.C.T.F.

The instructor, Joanne Pall-
ette, is with the Alcohol and
Drug Program of the B.C.
Ministry of Health. The basis
of Pallett’s presentation is a
resource kit, called ‘‘It’s Just
Your Nerves’’, created by
Health and Welfare Canada.

Developed over several
years, Pallett says ‘‘the kit is
meant to be used in a prevent-
ive sense, an educational tool
among different groups of
women, all over Canada. It’s
for use by persons who don’t

‘necessarily have expertise to

handle the topic of drugs and
alcohol, as its focus is to raise
women’s issues and drugs
(secondly).”’

An additional part of the pre-
sentation is a 15 minute film
called ‘‘All in the Same Boat’,
that looks at frustration of
women in a domestic role and

| the use of alcohol and pres-

cribed drugs for relief. Health
and Welfare also supplies a
suggested list of films, supp-
osedly available in local areas.

The main point as intended
by the kit, according to Pallett,
is the discussion of the social
context of drugs related to
women. ‘‘The whole issue is
best explained in terms of lim-
iting roles and options for

THE OTHER pREss ) ( WOMENS PA GE ) \___PAGE7

 

“It’s Just
Your Nerves’’

women. Women are raised to
expect to be happy in domestic
roles.”’

‘*Those values are so laid in,
we can’t even recognize the
social conflicts. When back-
pain and sleeplessness show
up, we go to a doctor. In our
culture, it’s normal to do this-
we don’t go for ‘stress manag-
ement’.”’

‘‘Women who are alcoholics
are judged harsher than men.
Why? Because they give up
their roles of caring for other
people. They are ‘selfish’.’’

The complexity of the drug
issue was evident in feedback
from group discussion. Ques-
tions were raised about doctor
ponent responsibility, choices

or women and resources in
the community.

Several of the participants
expressed criticism and anger
at the medical profession and
pharmaceutical companies.
One person said that “‘it is
easier, due to time contraints,
for the doctor to fill out a pres-
cription than to talk about the
problem.”’ Ste

Another suggested that
‘doctors are under the influ-
ence of advertising and pushy
sales people to promote new
drug products.’’ Compound-
ing this is the female patient
‘looking for mechanistic solu-
tions.’’ These types of solu-
tions often mean medication.

Most everyone agreed that
women are not taught to be
assetive in the medical sys-
tem.

It means taking responsibil-
ity for oneself and body; not
handing it over to the doctor,
to realize one has a choice and
can make decisions.

Nevertheless, th¢ partici-
pants identified a real power
difference between doctors
and patients. ‘‘Because of su-
perior knowledge and train-

‘ing, patients have to rely on

them to some extent.’’ One

participant said that women
have ‘‘to prepare to confront
the doctor. Be aggressive and
maybe even downright obnox-
ious! Ask for second opinions
and insist on the right to an-
swers.”’

Real-life stories were ex-
changed. Some were amusing.
Some not. Like the one about
the woman who was put on an
anti-depressant to ‘help her
cope’ with the birth of a child
20 years earlier-and was never
taken off it.

Prevention and intervention
seemed to be on everyone’s
mind. Suggestions were, tea-
ching (women) confidence ,
control over one’s own world;
and changing social policies,
attitudes.

Discussion was tempered at
times with heated argument
and differences in opinion on
what solutions would work.
Perhaps this is one intention-
to have women talk about the
alternatives, the complexity of

‘the issues involved.

The Health and Welfare kit
seems to be fairly comprehen-
sive. A flip chart, with bold
print and colour, illustrates
major points. Each topic can
stand on its own. A very de-
tailed guidebook explains the
contents and purpose of the kit
and includes a bibliography,
examples and good graphics.

Pallett herself, has worked in
the Alcohol and Drug Program
for six years and the Women’s
Program,(such as the sessionat
Douglas) for three. She is us-
ually involved in training with
professional groups. The aim
here seems to be in the estab-
lishment of a resource base for
women in the community.
Personal interest in the kit can
be addressed.-to:

Western Regional Office
Health Promotion Directorate
Health & Welfare Canada
202-560 West Broadway
Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 1E9