Thursday, Sept 12, 1985
From Page One
University Daily Kansan
5
Gender
Continued from p. 1
"The medical officer told him that if I didn't have a penis I couldn't enlist, which I'm sure will come as a great surprise to all the women in the Army," he said.
The recruiter sent him on a bureaucratic chase, which finally led to Washington. The Selective Service, after confirming the validity of his birth certificate, dropped the matter.
Ruben said the Selective Service received his name this time from the Michigan Department of Motor vehicles. Although his Michigan license has been lifted, he asserted asexual status, the department's computer labeled Ruben as a male.
Ruben now has a valid Kansas driver's license. The license's sexual designation simply says, "0." The state had to program its computers to accept a third category, he said.
"I offered to reprogram it for them, but they used their own programmers," he said.
Ruben said he knew he was not a girl at age 2.
"I think at the time I had no real concept of gender and people were using words to apply to me that made no sense," he said.
Ruben said acceptance of his sexual identity was a difficult adjustment for his parents.
"My father tells me he feels as if he lost a daughter — as if his daughter had died," he said.
Ruben said his asexuality was always understood by his brother, who is now 21. Ruben recalled that when his brother was 8, he formed a club with some neighborhood boys. Of course, no girls were allowed, but his brother made an exception.
"I remember him telling them it was OK," he said, "because I was really a boy in a girl's body.
Ruben said that in adolescence, he insisted adamantly that he was not a girl. At 15, he legally changed his name to Simha, a Hebrew word meaning joy. He said the name could be applied to either sex.
"It was an unusual thing for a kid that age to say, but he was comfortable with the idea."
Miserable is the word Ruben said best described his experiences at school. He quit high school in the 10th grade, and at 15, attended Indiana University for a year. He earned an undergraduate degree in psychology
and computer science from Mary-
grove College in Detroit.
This is Ruben's second year at the University of Kansas. Last year, his Guaranteed Student Loan was delayed for six months because he could not verify Selective Service registration.
He finally received the loan in February, 1985.
"At the time I had $39 in the bank," he said.
His relationships are platonic. He said that a conventional marriage was definitely out of the question.
"If there was going to be that kind of relationship, it would not have to be with someone who had an unusual sexual identity, but someone who could live without erotic sexuality." he said.
Having spent so much of his youth squelching his own identity, Ruben just tries to be the person it pleases him most to be — himself.
"I found that when I'm comfortable with myself, I'm able to deal with people in a way that makes them comfortable with me," he said.
"I simply don't like the political games the Democrats started playing with this issue," he said, calling yesterday's vote "a calculated effort by the Democratic leadership to embarrass the president."
Continued from p. 1
Senate
The White House applauded the Senate action as allowing "the executive branch to conduct a responsible and flexible application" of U.S. influence on South Africa
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said the issue of tougher sanctions would not slip away and the legislation could be attached to other bills during the session.
"I doubt if any vote in this Congress is more important." Kennedy said. "This issue deals with the kind of society we are and the kind of policies we want this nation to reflect.
"The president's actions were "well-intentioned. I have not questioned his motivation. But they are ill-suited for the challenge this nation faces in our policy towards South Africa."
Sen. Lowell Wecker, R-Conn., called on the Senate to act now.
"We don't need days, weeks, months to make sure our message is heard clearly in South Africa and the world," he said.
On the Record
A double-headed parking meter, valued at $240, was removed Monday right or Tuesday morning from its metal post in the parking lot behind Robinson Center, KU police said yesterday. Police said the meter apparently was removed from the post with a hacksaw.
A radar detector, valued at $295, was stolen from a student's car Tuesday morning in the parking lot behind Robinson Center, KU police said.
**The word “pig” was scratched into the hood of a student’s car and both front tires were slashed between 9 p.m. Monday and 2 p.m. Tuesday, KU police said. The car, which sustained $400 damage, was parked in the Jayhawk Towers parking lot.**
A 40-year-old man was charged with petty larceny Monday after allegedly taking a 20-capsule package of Contact cold tablets and a 31-ounce bottle of Anbusol from Dillon's Food Store, 1321 W. Sixth St.
Lawrence said yesterday
Two foam rafts, two life jackets, one slam ski, one leather ski case and two water skis, valued together at $730, were stolen from a Lawrence man's boat Sunday night or Monday morning, police said.
■ A blue and white Chevy pickup truck parked at Seventh and Lyons streets was stolen about 9 p.m. Monday, police said. The owner's wallet and car keys also were taken. Total value of the stolen property was $2,000.
On Campus
The Episcopal worship service, sponsored by the Canterbury House, will be at noon today in Danforth Chapel.
■ KU Sword & Shield will meet at 7:30 p.m. today in the Walnut Room of the Kansas Union.
Shop the Kansan, Daily.
Ecumenical Christian Ministries will show the movie "The Natural"
at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave.
■ Women in Communications Inc. will meet at 4:30 p.m. Monday in 204 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
The University Placement Center will present a workshop. "Beginning the job search: Getting down to basics," at 3:10 p.m. Monday in 4023 Wescoe Hall.
TACOS
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MY KINGDOM COME?
In a period of spiritual bewilderment, this year's college graduates have been asked, often in the name of religion, to confuse selfishness with self-reliance, to regard their own government as an enemy, and to concentrate on their own material well-being. My kingdom come... My will be done... Hallowed be My name. James Reston
Sunday Worship: 10:30 a.m.
Lutheran Campus Ministry
1204 Oread 843-4948
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Call the new menu hot line to find out what's for lunch in the Kansas and Burge Unions. It's as easy as 4*5*6*7 to reach the recording of the day's entrees and soups.
Applications are available at the Student Senate Office, B105, Kansas Union Applications are due September 16, 1985
All students may enter their art work!
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