University Daily Kansan / Thursday, April 23, 1992
7
Awareness of harassment rising on campuses
Continued from D.1
director. From there they went to the office of academic affairs, the American Civil Liberties Union and finally the Department of Education. Some of the complaints were verbal; most were written.
At one point in the process, a fourth woman added her complaint to the group and joined the other three women in going to the ACLU.
The second woman's case and one other case were dismissed by the University because administrators determined that the incidents did not violate the Faculty Code of Conduct. Another case was resolved by affirmative action Oct. 1. A resolution has not been reached on Kim's case.
Sources said that after last semester's publicity, several other students came forward with written complaints against Tonkovich.
A hearing regarding Tonkovich before the Committee on Tenure and Related Problems is scheduled, sources said.
Administrators would neither confirm nor deny that a hearing would take place or whether more than one complaint would be considered.
All University administrators interviewed said they were required to adhere to stricter confidentiality rules set forth in the Student Affairs and would not discuss specific cases.
This confidentiality has caused some uncertainty within the law school, particularly with students such as Pam Wiley, who will research assistant this semester.
"I'm not going to make judgment before I know anything," she said. "I've only had a good relationship with this professor, and I think he's a great teacher."
Pat Hamilton, third-year law student and secretary-treasurer of the Student Bar Association, has taken two classes
taught by Tonkovich.
"if bothers me, especially in the law school, that people are accepting rumors as truth without having the courage to worry very few people have heard the facts."
Tonkovic, a tenured professor who has been with the University since August 1981, did not respond to repeat calls from students. He contact him by telephone and mail.
Before coming to the University, Tonkovich, 40, was a special attorney in the criminal division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Chicago.
he complainants' stories are not unique to KU or the law school in.
unique to KU or the law school. In light of recently heightened awareness of what constitutes sexual harassment, more victims are coming forward in the workplace and in institutions of higher education.
The University of Kansas defines sexual harassment in its policy statement as unwelcome requests or verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that are made to be a condition of employment or education.
Some of the behaviors that constitute sexual harassment include verbal harassment or abuse, subtle pressure for sexual activity, unnecessary physical contact and demands for sexual favors in exchange for a grade or other academic incentive.
Berger, who now is acting director of affirmative action, said the Clarence Thomas Senate confirmation hearings people's awareness of sexual harassment
"After the hearings, the number of people who came to this office tripled or quadruped," he said.
"Most of those people who came forward didn't want to pursue anything formally, but after watching TV for that weekend and seeing the range of activities that sexual harassment covers, they just wanted to be on the record."
"Some people don't understand that sexual harassment is on a continuum — everything from the stereotypical whistles and catcalls to rape. "he said.
Berger said there was a wide variety of behavior included under the sexual harassment umbrella.
Some students perceive advances toward more personal relationships by professors as offensive and inappropriate, or that such behavior is not uncommon.
Psychologists conducted a study at a research university, which revealed that 37 percent of the 235 male faculty members surveyed had attempted to initiate a personal relationship with a female student. Or inviting a student to go for a drink.
The study, published in 1988 in the Psychology of Women Quarterly, showed that more than 12 percent of the professors surveyed said they had tried to draw a student into discussion of personal or sexual matters, and 11 percent said they had attempted to stroke or caress a student.
Punishment for different types of sexual harassment vary depending on the severity of the case and on different schools' policies. Other universities have gone so far as dismissing tenured researchers found guilty of sexual harassment.
In December, the Board of Regents of the University of Texas voted unanimously to dismiss a tenured professor of art history for harassing a graduate student on and off campus during a two-year period.
At Bennington College in Vermont, a tenured drama professor of 18 years was dismissed in 1990 after he was found guilty by a university committee of sexually harassing a male student. He was charged with shared sexual interests for grade
At KU, dismissal could be recommended for violating the Faculty Code of Conduct.
Kim said that Shankel stated in a Jan. 17 memo to her that administrators had determined that Tonkovich had violated the faculty code and that they had recommended a sanction of one year's suspension with pay, pending the outcome of mediation.
Administrators told her in the memo that dismissal would be recommended if she were terminated.
The administration would not confirm to reporters whether the saction was recommended. But sources said that the saction would be put on hold until mediation was completed.
Jerry said, "Professor Tonkovich and I reached a mutual agreement for the spring semester which reallocated his teaching responsibilities to some additional research projects."
Jerry would not comment further nor would other University administrators in his institution.
Robert Shelton, University ombudsman, who works as a mediator when conflict arises between members of the University, said that to protect all parties involved, investigations must be done confidentially.
"The fact that the administration doesn't talk may mean they are doing their job," Shellon said. "If the system is trying to protect the victim and assure due process to the accused, it is going to say that the University is hiding."
Because of this confidentiality, the University community has relied on eight months of rumors for information about what happened.
Meanwhile, Kim still is waiting for her complaint to be resolved.
"What happened to me in the summer of 1988 was not sex for grades," she said. "I was afraid and intimidated by him.
"I felt that if I did not comply, my grades were endangered. I was not actually physically forced to do it. I feared what would happen if I didn't."
AMERICAN BISTRO
Lawrence Community Theatre and Southwestern Bell Foundation present
The Rimers of Eldritch By Lanford Wilson
April 24, 25, 26*, 30 and May 1, 2, 3*
8pm and *2:30pm
In the Eldridge Hotel
814-8349
Brunch 10-2 every Sunday
only $9.95
Breakfast & Luncheon
Entrees
Salad Bar* Fresh Fruits
Desert Bar* Coffee & Juice
1501 New Hampshire, Call 843-SHOW for tickets
914 Massachusetts 841-6966
GIANT YUKON 100% ALLOY—100% TRAIL!
at $369.95, the Giant YUKON is a guaranteed "Best Buy."
RICK'S BIKE SHOP
916 Mass., Lawrence, KS (913)841-6642
SPRING INFORMAL RUSH
WHAT: An excellent opportunity for on-campus men to look into the option of Greek life at the University of Kansas.
WHERE:
Informational meetings and registration will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22 in the International room of the Kansas Union and also at 6 p.m. Thursday April 23 in the Walnut Room of the Kansas Union. A tour of each fraternity chapter will be Saturday and Sunday April 25 & 26 from 12:30 - 6 p.m.
This will be an excellent opportunity for all interested male students to explore the options of the Greek community. The cost is free and everyone is encouraged to attend.
For any further information, please do not hesitate to call the Interfraternity Council office at 884-3569
You can'tbeat our bundles.
Mac IIsi 5/80 • Personal Laser LS Bundle
Includes:
Mac Ilsi 5/80
13"RGB Monitor
Standard Keyboard
Personal Laser LS Printer
Claris Resolve
MacWrite II
Total Price:
$3779.00
Please add 5.25% sales tax.
Restrictions apply.
Stop by the store or call for details.
Added Bonus...FREE Starter Kit includes mousepad, 10 DSDD disks, Surge Protector, 500 sheets paper. It's a $39.95 value.
864-5697
KU Bookstores Burge Union, Level Two
PHI PSI 500
from Belfast, Ireland