Let's talk about sex,baby at Antioch it's mandatory
May I please nibble on your ear?
It might not seem natural asking, but at Antioch College, no permission means no deal. Those are the rules.
Antioch's Sexual Offense Policy, initiated by students last year, has gained nationwide attention for its strict definition of consent.
Dubbed "checklist love" by syndicated columnist Clarence Page, the policy requires students to get "the verbal consent of the other individual[s] involved" whenever sexual contact is not "mutually and simultaneously initiated." The policy also states that consent must be specific to each act.
Three years ago, after a growing problem of sexual assault came to light on campus, a group called the "Womyn of Antioch" demanded that the college develop a comprehensive sexual assault policy.
Although many have interpreted the code as another example of suppressing student rights, few at Antioch say they oppose the measure which students helped to draft. "I think [the policy] is really effective," says Randy Reiss, a senior. "The goal here is preventative measures."
Alison Clark, also a senior, agrees. "It's very clear and
Oberlin College in Ohio has offered a three-year undergraduate program since 1986-87, and the number of students opting to graduate in three years has quadrupled since then, according to President Frederick Starr.
Albertus Magnus College in Connecticut offers a similar program, and schools from Stanford U. to the 64-school State U. of New York system are exploring the possibility of a three-year plan.
RON NELSON THE MINNESOTA DAILY U. OF MINNESOTA
Burgeoning tuition costs and an increase in the number of students transferring credits from high school have brought about the concept.
concise, and it's also easy to follow. What is really important is that the policy says that you can't assume."
David Yagobian, a senior, has been the most vocal opponent. "My biggest concern is, how does one prove oneself innocent?" Yagobian says. "These offenses occur for the most part in private. This policy does not concern itself with the rights of the accused." Andrew Levy, The Michigan Daily, U. of Michigan
Are you broke or a brainiac? Try the three-year plan
Just when you were getting comfy on that five-year couch, some Doogie Howser comes along and makes everybody look bad.
Many of today's students are finding that they can't even afford to stay in school for four years, and universities are starting to take notice with the three-year plan.
Michael Bastedo, a history major in his third and final year at Oberlin, says, "For people like me who want to save money, it's great. But it's not for everybody."
Overall, the goal of a three-year degree could be termed "learning efficiency," particularly in light of tough economic times. Bastedo estimates that his family saved $11,000 because he cut his college career short. He says there are drawbacks, however. "You miss things. I wasn't able to do foreign study," he says. "All my friends are graduating after me. I'd like to be here with them."
"It's a matter of looking at the product. What outcomes do you want? Can they be achieved in three years?" asks John Weisenfeld, vice president for planning at Cornell U., and head of a task force for examining undergraduate education. "There's a big difference in offering a three-year curriculum and a three-year experience." Jon VanZile, The State News, Michigan State U.
Ex-Con goes for law degree amid furor
He's mild-mannered, wears glasses and dresses casually — in fact, he looks pretty much like any first-year law student.
But James Hamm, 45 is a convicted murderer. And the decision by Arizona State U.'s College of Law to accept him even though he served nearly 18 years in state prison for a 1974 drug-related murder has
At ASU, the debate continues: Should an ex-con be at law school?
sparked a statewide controversy.
BAN FTZ26REALD STATE PRESS, ARIZONA STATE U.
Some state legislators are angry at the university for accepting Hamm.
"I just think it was an irrational thing for the [admissions] committee to do," says State Senate President John Greene, R-Phoenix. "Hiding behind academic freedom and diversity and all that stuff is like being on another planet, as far as I'm concerned."
College of Law Dean Richard
Morgan disagrees.
"When [Hamm] was convicted, he forfeited a number of his rights, but he didn't forfeit the right to apply to a state university or law school for an education." Morgan says.
While in prison, Hamm graduated summa cum laude from a special Northern Arizona U. program for prisoners. He scored in the 96th percentile on his LSAT exam and his supporters describe him as a successfully rehabilitated criminal. Others, however, maintain that Hamm fills the spot of a more deserving, law-abiding student and that his presence hurts the credibility of the law school.
U. News
Although Hamm says his critics are stereotyping him, he's not taking the situation personally. "These people don't know James Hamm," he says. "They're just looking at the category — he's a felon, it was a capital crime, he's been in prison for a long period of time."
The Arizona Board of Regents has directed the state's universities to review policies regarding admissions for convicted felons.
Greene has suggested that the state legislature pull funding from the law school if the admissions policy were not re-evaluated.
Hamm says such drastic action would be a mistake. "[State legislators] have the right to express their opinion. But I think that to go beyond that and to threaten one of the major institutions in the state — I honestly believe that is very injudicious." Jake Batsell, State Press, Arizona State U.
More Short Takes
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PO'D PROFS:
BOWLING GREEN, KY. At Western Kentucky U., students may not be the only ones filling out teacher evaluation forms. A former physics and astronomy department chairman allegedly has been doing a little evaluating himself.
Thomas Coohill resigned last spring as a result of allegations that he filled out evaluation forms for three professors he didn't like.
Now he is being sued by the professors for "oppressive, fraudulent and malicious conduct," according to Reginald Ayers, the professors' attorney. Coohill allegedly filled out blank evaluations during a five-year period. He was finally accused after officials thought they recognized his handwriting on the forms.
Coahill originally admitted to filling out the forms, but has filed a counterclaim denying the allegations of the suit. He refuses to comment.
KITTIES LITTER GAMPUS:
ROHNERT PARK, CALIF.—Sonoma State U. was under siege this fall, and the culprit wasn't Steven Seagal but more than 100 unattached cats. The cat population had burgeoned since last year, when a local animal rights group trapped, neutered and immunized 25 strays and re-released them on campus.
Three people were bitten, and one of the victims filed a lawsuit against the university for medical expenses and damages.
Upon the advice of the National Humane Society but against the wishes of many students and a local animal rights group the school trapped the errant felines and put them into a local animal shelter.
even shorter takes
RECUPERATING: More than 200 participants in a melee that followed a September football game between Pierce College and Harbor College, two California community colleges. The brawl started after Pierce beat Harbor 23-0. Both players and fans participated, and an offensive line coach for Pierce was rendered unconscious when a Harbor player hit him with a crutch.
REINSTATED: Texas Southern U.'s Ocean of Soul marching band. The band was dissolved in December 1992 after some 30 members allegedly stole $22,000 worth of electronics during a field trip to Tokyo [U.Magazine, March 1993].
TEACHING: Junk bond salesman Michael Milken, at UCLA. The class? What else — "Special Topics in Management."
Briefs compiled from the U. network and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
MOVEMBER 1993
U. Magazine
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