COAS must approve tenure for famed professor
The students of the Folklore and Ethnomusicology Department pose this question: When was the last time a woman was given tenure in our department? It is shocking that the answer, in a department with primarily female students, is more than 20 years ago (Ruth Stone, in 1984.). This question has been brought to light recently in the case of Dr. Pravina Shukla, whose current bid for tenure is being frustrated by the College of Arts and Sciences Tenure Advisory Board's (headed by COAS Dean Kumble Subbaswamy) refusal to recommend her for tenure. Dr. Shukla, celebrated internationally for her groundbreaking research in self-adornment in diverse cultures, and author of a forthcoming book from IU Press on women's body art in India, is admired and respected by students, colleagues and her field. Graduates and undergraduates alike flock to her popular courses in U.S. folklore, body art, museums, material culture and others. By refusing to recommend Dr. Shukla, the COAS board is going against the unanimous vote of the oldest and most prestigious folklore department in the country, as well as the recommendations of numerous prominent scholars in the field. It is incomprehensible to us, the department's students, that the board should ignore the opinion of Dr. Shukla's home department and discipline. Further, it is of special concern that Dr. Shukla is one of the few young, female, minority faculty in our department and the University as a whole. According to the IU Office of Strategic Hiring, only 38 percent of IU's administration, faculty and lecturers are women, and only 15 percent are minorities. IU attracts large numbers of female and international scholars -- these students need a diverse teaching body to serve in the classroom as mentors and on various committees. Dr. Shukla represents an opportunity for the University to retain an outstanding teacher and scholar with an impressive international reputation, and to simultaneously address a serious need to diversify the teaching body. We urge the College of Arts and Sciences to reconsider its decision and offer its support to this influential and important woman. Hilary VirtanenGraduate student and Folklore Student Association president
Sarah Lash
Graduate student
Super Bowl ads don't make reader feel 'left out'
The argument presented in Monday's Indiana Daily Student about the Dove Super Bowl commercial ("Testosterone Bowl," Monday) misrepresented women as a whole and was inherently inconsistent. The columnist is correct in stating that "women are not preparing the chips and dips; they're watching the game." However, she then proceeds to criticize Super Bowl advertisements and advertisers saying that they need to target the female audience with sensitive, containing ads with "significant impact." I certainly cannot speak for all women as the columnist attempts, but I enjoy sitting down to watch the biggest football game of the year, period. The commercials are of little importance to me. I'm not watching the game to be inspired by a Dove self-esteem ad; I'm watching the game for the game. Perhaps if the columnist wishes for women to be treated with equal footing in the way of advertising, she should respect that females can enjoy sexual and humorous commercials just as much as men can. Would Budweiser spend more than a million dollars for a 30-second ad during "Desperate Housewives" just so it can be fair to the minority of male viewers of the show who control the purchasing power of beer in the household? Absolutely not. So why expect a multitude of companies to come begging for airtime during a sporting event typically dominated by the male demographic? I don't know about you, Ms. Dorman, but I didn't feel "left out of the game" because of male-targeted advertising. Your article, however, made me think that you are trying to take me, and "the American mom," out of the game all together by self-segregation and stereotypical "estrogen" thinking. Jessica MoyerSophomore
Assault, rape must not go unnoticed by IU, Bloomington
As a recent victim of sexual assault, I found it extremely disheartening to read the comments made by Dean of Students Dick McKaig and IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger in Tuesday's article "Assault reports up, officials not worried." I think there is a real disconnect between the University officials and those who are directly involved with student sexual assault cases. Rape on college campuses is a growing epidemic -- and IU is no exception. The IDS only reports sexual assaults found on the IUPD blotter. But what about all of the rapes that happen off campus and are processed by the Bloomington Police Department? I was told by a University official that there were 12 rapes reported for the entire 2004-05 school year, but by this past Thanksgiving break there had been 15 sexual assaults reported during the fall '05 semester. This increase cannot go unnoticed or disregarded as solely an increase in women reporting rape. To Dean McKaig and Lt. Minger: This school is dealing with a very serious growing problem and needs to take a much more active stand against student rape both on and off campus. Hannah FidellJunior
Freedom of speech requires mutual trust
I am writing in response to Adam Sedia's column "Cartoon Hypocrisy" from Feb. 8. In said column, Sedia claims to be upset by the decision of a German newspaper to reprint the controversial Danish cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed, while on the other hand "any mention of Nazism is staunchly stifled in Germany." Here the author might be referring to article 130 of the German criminal code, which prohibits "incitement of the people," and which in 1994 was amended to make explicitly punishable any form of public denial of the Holocaust. Extrapolating to a more general point, Sedia accuses "the West" (but obviously referring to Western Europe) of a hypocritical response to the Danish cartoon controversy since "(the West) has thrown away its identity and has no foundation for its civilization, or what's left of it at least." Sedia should be commended for tackling such a difficult issue. However, his specific comments on Germany are wrongheaded. There is a difference between expressing an opinion and telling a lie. Anybody who insists that the Holocaust did not happen is telling the most terrific of all lies. Therefore, one can make the argument that Holocaust denial is not protected by freedom of speech, as seven European nations and Canada currently do. Moreover, anybody who follows public discussion in Germany can attest to the constant discussion of Nazism in books, newspapers and TV programs. The fact that two German movies dealing with aspects of the Third Reich were recently nominated for an Oscar (2005: The Downfall, 2006: Sophie Scholl) might be a small indicator of how little stifled public discussion of Nazi rule is in Germany. As for the column's general point: After centuries of war, Europe is finally emerging as a place dedicated to democracy and tolerance. Seen this way, it is good that Europe has shed some of its old identity and is currently reinventing itself. That this is a painful process is obvious, but I would see the current controversy as a sign of strength, not weakness. Incidentally, it also shows how shortsighted the neo-conservative project of revamping the Muslim world on the quick really is. Freedom of speech requires an amount of mutual trust which has to be established over a long time between cultures. John P. BaeslerGraduate student
Take a moment to reflect on Friedan's legacy
On Feb. 4, a very important woman in American history left this world. Her name was Betty Friedan, and one of her many works, "The Feminine Mystique," has inspired women nationwide since its first publication in 1963. She was a founder and the first president of the National Organization for Women. Friedan dedicated her life to public service. As an older woman, she worked as an advocate for the elderly and she never let go of her feminist activism. Friedan was an inspiration to many women. She made my mother realize that she didn't have to try to be content working at home all day or employed as a legal secretary. My mother went back to school and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees while raising me. And she's just one of the millions of women Friedan influenced. But Friedan's coffin will not be placed for viewing in any important government building. The nation and the government will not honor her as one of America's heroes. She'll drift quietly into the pages of history and her candle will burn out. I won't give her the credit for starting the feminist movement, but she did a great deal to make sure that every woman reading this editorial could have the chance to go to college, and that's something. Just like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., inspirational as he was, was not the only one to work on the civil rights movement, Friedan was one of many who organized for women's rights. So when you're reading this today, I ask that you take a moment and honor the woman who worked so hard to make it possible for you to be here. Without her, and without the movement she helped create, women would not be where we are today. Ms. Friedan, I just want to say thank you. Elisabeth CrumSenior
Embrace Coulter, see the truth of right-wing politics
I love Ann Coulter! I'm delighted that she's coming to IU, and not because I'm a conservative. Years ago, right-wing pundits like Coulter were one reason I permanently switched my allegiance from the Republican Party. Her poisonous invective will do more to move swing voters to the Democrats than the wit and wisdom of all left-wing commentators put together. Instead of heckling Ms. Coulter, I suggest that we liberals and progressives embrace the woman as the true face of American conservatism: hateful, bigoted, greedy, deceitful, unprincipled. I say, "Welcome to Bloomington, Ann Coulter. Show us your stuff." Christine PotterGraduate student
Article about baby's death increases family's vulnerablity
I would like to say that I do not appreciate the fact that your newspaper decided to print an article on the death of my baby girl ("Student's child dies on campus," IDS Feb. 2). I truly appreciate everyone's support, but did the author of this article ever stop to think of how it would affect me? Or even how much more vulnerable that might make my family feel? And then you listed her name and possible cause of death, but how could you possibly know these things? I know your job is to "get a story," but how about showing some consideration for her mother? By the way, her name is Kamryn. Sydney BaileyBloomington
Pharmacological references mixed up in columns
On Feb. 2, Ryan Phillips wrote about Errek Suhr, stating "the junior guard, and Bloomington native, spent the game scrambling all over the court like a 5-year-old on Ritalin ..." ("Suhr, yes Suhr," Feb. 2). On Tuesday, Jacob Stewart complained about a party by saying "the honking was like a clown with a blow horn on Ritalin" ("Fight Night," Feb. 7). I would like to inform the IU community and IDS staff that Ritalin is a medication used to help calm and focus people with conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. People who need Ritalin and take it would be less likely to be displaying the behaviors described by these authors. They must have meant to say the behavior was like that of someone who should be taking Ritalin, but who is not. In any case, perhaps there is a more sensitive and appropriate way to describe scrappy, erratic or excessive behavior to your readers. People who struggle with ADHD do not need to serve as the punch line in your columns. Jim F. JohnsonManager of scholarships, Kelley School of Business
Open your mind to Coulter, be respectful
The reaction of some leftists to the upcoming Feb. 23 speech by Ann Coulter is a perfect example of why she needs to be here. It is those who wish to stamp out dissent that need to be exposed to ideas they disagree with. College should be a learning experience, not a time to shut out what you do not want to hear. One "student" was quoted by the Indiana Daily Student as saying: "I hope that other students will join me in sending a message that speakers who preach such morally reprehensible things should not be invited to speak to students, and if they are, it's not a decision the student body will support" ("Ann Coulter coming to IU," IDS Friday). What about tolerating dissent and welcoming ideological diversity? Does respect for diversity apply only to race, sex and ethnicity and not to opposing viewpoints? Hopefully this freshman will mature over the course of the next three years and recognize the value of ideological diversity and the free exchange of ideas. Given the culture of censorship at this University, I do not hold out hope. I saw Coulter speak when she was here in 2001. She gave a great speech with sound argumentation. While I admit that Ms. Coulter is often provocative with her writings, I think to some extent she is playing a character to get a reaction in the media. No matter how "offensive" Coulter might be, nothing excuses physically assaulting her, which is exactly what leftist thugs did at another university. I was unable to attend the speech last year by David Horowitz, but several people who were there have described the reaction of his leftist critics as completely unacceptable. Screaming obscenities is not intelligent debate, and attempting to shout down a nationally known speaker does not reflect well on IU. It is worth noting that the speech by Al Sharpton was completely different, with conservative critics of Sharpton behaving in a proper and respectful manner. I hope people who protest Coulter's speech emulate Sharpton's critics rather than Horowitz's critics. Scott TibbsAlumnus
Sexual harassment problem trivial compared to other world issues
Of all the issues to focus on to improve mankind, I find the idea of sexual harassment to be the most trivial and farcical. There are serious erosions of democracy and the ideals of freedom that our fine republic has stood for, and focusing on sexual harassment over more substantial issues is the behavior that allows these erosions to happen. If you can't stand sexual harassment, then you might want to consider moving to another planet. We are here because our mothers and fathers had sex. It is the force of the yin and yang, the feminine and masculine polarities that make the world go round. The genetic program is to procreate. The nurturing from our environment leads us to seek positive sexual reinforcement. This is not something that should be shunned, but understood and enhanced so that many can benefit from the rewards of feeling sexually alive. To me, sexual harassment is the fact that women cover their breasts. Women cover their breasts to affirm the historical legacy of their subservience. Masking is used to delineate servitude. This goes back to ancient times. There is nothing dirty or sexual about breasts any more so than a man's chest. Women voluntarily submit to this subservience because capitalism in its essence is the prostitution of women. In our society you have to pay to be nurtured by the feminine form, and if you don't participate in the capitalistic ideal, you don't get to see nurturing breasts of women. If you want to create gender equality and eliminate the effects of sexual harassment, I have two pieces of advice: 1) Women reward all humans more with being open to advances from everyone. The greatest thing you can do for your community is improve the sense of enjoyment and well-being. 2) Women take off your damn shirts. If you don't want a neurotic response to breasts and the feminine form, then quit hiding them like it's a dirty secret. Otherwise, you deserve the neurotic hostility that emanates from suppressing sexuality. Maybe this is too commonsensical. Gabe RiveraBloomington
