Volume 13, Issue 9 - Oct. 19, 1990

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THE

ETROPOLITAN

The Metropolitan State College of Denver student newspaper serving the Auraria Campus since 1979

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October 19, 1990

Volume 13, Issue 9

Denver, Colorado

NE\\'S

FEATURES

SPC)RTS

High-pressure mag sales tactics lead to complaints, arrest page 12

Sexploitation in advertising still killing us softly page 13

MSCD women's volleyball wins invitational tournament page 17

MSCD sexual·harass·rrient policy lacks stringency

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David 0. Williams News Editor

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Cathy Van Schwartz/The Metropolitan

Astudent, who ldentlfte<l hlmseffenlyas Amendment 1, tightens the noose on •JQ.e College Student's' neck. at an Oct. 17 protest march through campus. '·

Sexual harassment is a pressing issue for colleges and universities in the 1990s and Metropolitan State College of Denver is playing a game of catch-up with regard to its policy. Both the University of Denver and the UniversityofColoradoatDenverhavemore extensive policies and better developed mechanisms for dealing with sexual harassment than MSCD. CU-D issues an annual policy- 1990's was 11 pages - that details a grievance procedure that includes review before the Committee on Se~al Harassment and a campus sexual harassment officer. DU has an eight-page policy that is part of its Employee Handbook of Personnel Policies and Procedures. While DU does not have a sexual harassment officer, it does haveaSexualHarassmentPreventionBoard. MSCD has neither a sexual harassment officer, nor a sexual harassment committee or board. It does have an Affirmative Action Review Committee, but this is not specifically geared toward sexual harassment. "The (MSCD) President (Thomas Brewer) has set up what we call an Affumative Action Policy Review Task Force.and that was done about a year ago to review all of our policies and procedures as it relates to

affirmative action, including sexual harassment," said Percy A. Morehouse, Jr., director of Equal Opportunity and assistant to the president. MSCD's sexual harassment policy consists of two pages in the Affirmative ~ct ion Plan. The grievance procedure for pursuing a sexual harassment complaint is part of the overall procedure for dealing with a discrimination case on the basis of sex, race, national origin, age, handicap, or veteran status. There is also a disparity in the amount of time the three schools allow for the filing of a formal complaint alleging sexual harassment. All three institutions urge an informal resolution. MSCD allows 30 days to file after an incident, unless .that incident is "of an ongoing nature." However, CU-D allows for a 180-day period, but specifies that the time frame in not absolute. DU permits a 60-day period. MSCD's policy is currently being challenged by the Student Advocacy Organization. In a Sept. 17 Jetter to Morehouse, SAO President Joel Kleg and Co-President Anthony ·vanderHorst stated that the policy should be changed to 30 days from the date ·~ of discrimination or 14 days after the end of the term, whichever comes later. According to the letter, "This would give see HARASSMENT page 4

Student gov't, president lock horns over amendment 1 Kristi James The Metropolitan

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After an emotional plea from Metropolitan State College of Denver President Thomas Brewer, the student senate passed a resolution opposing Amendment 1despite opposition from Dan Holden, student body president. Holden urged the senate to support Amendment 1, known as the "taxpayer's bill of rights." In a memo to the senate, Holden stated "We need to put the politicians back under the control of the constituents they represent. Let us send them a message that we will no longer allow them to increase our tuition while they decrease our financial aid." The senate voted 4-2 to oppose the

amendment at the Oct. 17 meeting. Brewer thinks that Amendment I is not in the interest of MSCD students, saying, "We anticipate Amendment I will cause a budget cut, which could run as high as 10 percent." If MSCD has to take a I 0 percent cut, a cap will be placed on enrollment which woulddecr~eenroJlment by 2,000to 3,000 students, Brewer said. The proposed tax limitation amendment to the state constitution would require voter approval for higher tax rates and fee increases above inflation or more than one dollar. Student governments across Colorado are speaking out on this issue. The CU-D senate, CCD senate, ·and Colorado State University senate all have voted to oppose this bill. The Auraria Board of Directors and the Colorado Student Association, which is a cooperative effort of nine colleges in the

state, are also opposed to the amendment. _ The CSA sponsored an Oct. 17 antiAmendment 1 rally that started on the Auraria Campus and continued to the state capitol. The student governments from nine Colorado colleges, universities and junior colleges participated. The rally attracted about 40 students on a cold morning. "IfAmendment l would have been passed four years ago, there would be 20 percent less funding for higher education," Kurt Colburn, president.of the CSA, said at the rally. "To expect every citizen to become educated about every issue is simply unfair," Colburn added. "It could be very devastating to higher education," CSU Student Senator Scott Schneider said. Associate CSU Student Senator Karrie

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Sullivan agreed. "I think Metro should be especially concerned about (Amendment 1) since a lot of their students are in fmancial need," she said. The supporters of the proposed amendment say it would place a spending limit on state government and would provide a cap on property taxes. Opponents argue that the bill has many unclear provisions that would end up in litigation. The bill would diminish the role ofrepresentative government in favor of the "California model" with its emphasis on a government of initiative and referendum. Proponents cite statistics that point to a 123 percent increase in property taxes from 1980 to 1989 and a state debt that has increased 180percentfrom 1980to 1987 as reasons to support the amendment. Opponents maintain that there will be $15. l million less available for higher education if the ameodJDent passes. Q


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