4 Wednesday, September 19. 1990 / University Daily Kansan Opinion Shocking results Two-year survey reveals that sexual harassment twice as prevalent in military as private sector In February 1988, after receiving numerous complaints concerning sexual harassment in the military, former Secretary of Defense Frank C. Carlucci mandated a survey to report sexual harassment in the military. Later that year, the Pentagon conducted its first extensive study of sexual harassment. Of the 38,000 men and women on active duty who were asked to respond to the poll, the Pentagon received 22,000 responses. They were shocking. Last week, the Pentagon released the results of the two-year poll. The reported incidents included touching, pressure for sexual favors and rape. Sixty-four percent of the women said they had been sexually harassed. That's about twice the 30 to 40 percent of private sector women who report in other studies of being sexually harrassed. The poll showed that men in the military experienced sexual harassment as well. Seventeen percent of the men polled said they had been sexually harassed by other males and females. Mai. Doug Hart, Public Affairs Officer for the Department of Defense, said last week that there were policies against sexual harassment in the military. Men and women are required to take a "social action" workshop where they are informed and have discussions about sexual harassment, discrimination and prejudice, he said. Yet, sexual harassment in the military is still outrageously prevalent. Women and men may be fearful to report sexual harassment because they believe nothing will be done or no one will believe them. How can men and women perform effectively in the military and work as a team when so many are sexually harassed by their colleagues? How can the military recruit and retain personnel when some already there find military life unbearable because of sexual harassment? Now that the results are complete, it's time for the Pentagon to enforce policies and establish programs to diminish sexual harassment in the military. Sarah Bly for the editorial board Leaders must lead Finney should take a stance, not pass the buck In addition to executing laws and administering government, the governor of Kansas must offer the state social vision and leadership. So far, Joan Finney has failed that requirement. Issues such as capital punishment and abortion, which intertwine values and public policy, will continue to hound whoever occupies the governor's office. But Finney has taken milquetoast positions on both of those issues. In keeping with her cultivated populist image, the Democratic challenger advocates a public vote to decide whether to reinstate the death penalty in Kansas. As a campaign tactic, declining to delineate her position may help. But as a tactic for governing, her nihilistic approach to the topic will backfire. The deep convictions of legislators make it unlikely they will punt the issue to the public. After all, state leaders are elected to make decisions not merely to administer referenda on tonics they find difficult. On the abortion issue, Finney has declared herself firmly outside the hotbox. She trumpets her staunche opposition to abortion and pledges to sign into law any restrictive abortion legislation that reaches her desk. However, she vows not to initiate the abortion debate or to press the Legislature to send her bills to sign. In short, she proposes abdicating the leadership of the governor on this emotional issue. One may disagree with Mike Hayden's adamant support for capital punishment. One may dislike his stance that abortion generally should be a private decision not regulated by government. But at least his direction is clear. Leaders must lead, and Joan Finney must learn that. Derek Schmidt for the editorial board A solution to the national debt here are all the Machiavellians? I'm surprised that the Gulf c I'm surprised that the Gulf crisis has gone this long without an economist stepping forward and saying, "Ignoring any morality or decency, Saddam Hussein's policy is unique and worthy of praise." Well, I'm no economist, and I find it difficult to ignore my conscience, but let's have a little fun. First, his economic theory simply has got to be the most original and inhuman economic theory since Karl Marx formulated scientific socialism a century-and-a-half ago. (Nazism is more of a socio-political theory, not an economic one, since Hitler knew less about economies that he did about decency.) Indebted to Kuwait for its aid during Iraq's war with Iran, Saddam turned around and conquered Kuwait. In amazing fashion, the debt was canceled. Saddam has to be a genius to think up such a simple way of getting rid of his country's foreign debt. Other nations, such as the United States, could learn a lot from this misunderstood economic genius. Reports of our increasing debt to nations like Germany and Japan fills the news, and if this administration were truly clever, it would take Husseinism (also scientific invasion) into account. Perhaps President Bush could even use it to improve Vice President Dan Quayle's image by reporting that he formulated the plan. The execution would be incredibly simple for us because we already have Navy and Air Force installations in Japan and Army and Air Force installations in Germany. We could just go on "maneuvers" and defy seize power, install the president's in laws as heads of state and annex the countries. And cancel the debt, of course. No, they'd never take to the in-laws. Maybe we'll just wait until the Japanese and German governments start pressuring us to pay back the debts. Then we can argue that they owe us money for our protection all these years. "Wha! Look at that — the debt you owe us is just about even to the debt we owe you. Wait, you owe us 74 cents. Never mind. We're such a kind and generous nation, we'll write it off." The idea of a nation annexing another nation that Michael Paul Staff columnist 'Whoa! Look at that — the debt you owe us is just about even to the debt we owe you... Wait, we owe you 74 cents. Never mind. We're such a kind and generous nation, we'll write it off.' What the United States could say decades or centuries ago was a part of that nation also is a unique concept. I think we need to take it one step further to be consistent in all respects. We'd all have to agree on the term "Americans." After all, this was their land not too long ago. Europe would have to be given back to the Romans, and the vast expanses of Asia would have to be given back to the Mongols. It's only fair; the Israelis have been doing this for centuries, and now Iraq has done the same thing with Kuwait. But how far back should we go with this concept? What if a group like "The Society of North America's Frozen Yet Incredibly Preserved Mastadons" forms, and they get an ACLU lawyer to argue their case in court? I'm sure if we gave Saddam enough time, he'd get these trouble spots corrected and his theory would be spotless. It really isn't surprising that most economists, or any other people for that matter, don't understand the man. As Emerson wrote, "To be great is to be misunderstood." Michael Paul is a Manhattan sophomore majoring in journalism and political science. Pet owner finds that even a cat means a responsibility to be taken seriously When I moved out of the dorm, I was dying to get a pet. After mulling over what kind of ball of fur we would choose, my roommates and I decided to buy a fur box and don't need a lot of space. The midnight black cat was lovingly referred to as "Slash", "Sebastian" and "Spot" because of the diversity of our personalities. We knew a dog would need more room than our apartment offered. In addition, we would need to walk the dog, and none of us had the time. Christine Reinolds Staff columnist But we found that cats are not all that unlike dogs after all. These furry bundles also come with a bundle of responsibility. They need health care just as much as we need an annual checkup. In addition to feeding Spot every once in a while, owners need to check with their veterinarian for information on shots and neutering. I cannot stress enough to neuter your kitten or puppy. If you adopt a pet from an animal shelter, you are required by state law to neuter your猫. Don't let your pet roam all over the city. If you own a male cat, chances are he's out making more little friends than you will never make it across the alley. Last year, the Lawrence Humane Society had to destroy 2,137 animals. I stumbled upon these outrageous numbers as a reporter for the Kansan last semester. These animals are put to sleep when there is no more food in the area, and then them. The shelter employees try to keep the animals as long as possible. These numbers are upsetting -but prevention is the answer, not irresponsibility. By reducing the number of strays, road kill also would decrease. Nectering the animal prevents senseless deaths which are the direct result of negligent owners. If no puppies were born this year, the overcrowding at the shelter would be eliminated. On to a lighter subject, a scratching roommate is a good indication that your pet has self-sheltered his fleas, which have been especially bad this year. Pet owners should dip their fur and cats along with using collars. Most animals require shots within the first three to six months of their life and yearly thereafter. These vaccines are required for children who are required for a happy, healthy I don't want to preach, but animal rights begin right here in our community. We need to learn that animals are not a convenience animal. Lately, everyone is being encouraged to take responsibility in preserving and restoring our earth. Animals are part of the earth and if each pet owner is responsible, then the animal owners will be responsible for pound murders or this column. Christine Reinolds is a Tulsa senior majoring in journalism. LETTERS to the EDITOR U.S. not so innocent In an effort to promote unbiased journalism, there are a few things we need to know about U.S. involvement in the Middle East. We fail to remember that, until the British decision of the 1920s, Kuwait was, in fact, part of Iraq. We criticize Iraq and other countries for violating United Nations Security Council agreements, yet the United States concludes that U.N. agreement when it is in our best interest to do so. (For example, U.S. aggression in Panama was condemned by the U.N. General Assembly). region. We demand that Iraq pull out of Kuwait, yet several offers have been made by Iraq agreeing to complete troop withdrawal from Kuwait (Aug. 12 and again Aug. 23), but such offers, considered viable by our allies, have been flatly turned down by the United States without the least consideration. We will fight to demand that oil continue to flow out of the region, yet we have no problem stopping them. But it has been said as has been discussed, into the It is perhaps the most tragic mistake made by the United States that we continually inter-relate with our own family, according to our own eth- nocentric bias, refusing to understand from a cross-cultural point of view. This is a dangerous perspective because in this light we cannot understand Iraq in the case of war and, more importantly, because it prohibits understanding and peaceful resolution. Deb Greene St. Cloud, Minn., graduate student Deb Greene Pearson hall livable As director of Pearson Scholarship Hall, I feel a need to address the story concerning the Pearson renovation (or lack thereof) that your publication ran Thursday. First of all, I believe I should have been contacted by your staff writer for some input for the article. Tony Romero, Pearson's general maintenance resident director, Matthew Thomas, Pearson's proctor, and I directly deal with the problem one of us was approached by the Kansan for information to do with the present condition of the hall. The conditions within Pearson are quite livable. Granted, improvements are needed. The fact remains, however, that maintenance problems similar to the ones we are experiencing could be eliminated an entirely revised facility. This is not meant to disclaim my residents' complaints. But until the aforementioned renovation becomes a reality, I believe the men of Pearson are lucky to live within an environment conducive to constructive learning and enjoyable camaraderie. Randall Griffey Pearson Scholarship Hall director KANSAN STAFF DEREK SCHMIDT KRISTIN SCHMITT Editor KJERSTIN GABRIELSON Managing editor TOM ELBN General manager, news adviser Editors News Julie Mettenburg Editorial Mary Neubauer Planning Pam Solliner Campus Holly Lawton Sports Brent Maycoot Photo Andrew Morrison Features Smith Scott MARGARET TOWNSEND Business manager TREET TOWNSEND Business manager MINDY MORRIS Retail sales manager JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser business staff Campus mgr. Christ Dool Regional sales mgr. Jackie Schmalzmar National sales mgr. David Price Co-op sales mgr. Deborah Salzer Production mgr. Missy Miller Production assistant. Jaxle Aylan Marketing director. Audra Langford Creative director. Gail Einhinder Three Imaginary Girls Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. Writers affiliated with the University of Kansas will not receive the standard response. Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be reordered. no Kanan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kanan newsroom, 111 Staffer-Flint Hall. Letters, columns and cartons are the opinion of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kanan. Editorials are the opinion of the Kanan editorial board. By Tom Avery