LETTER: Not Harassment

To the Editor: It disappointed me to see Panhellenic Council president Debbie Frank's comments, suggesting that last Monday night's incident was an act of sexual harassment. University Policies and Procedures define sexual harassment as "unwanted attention that: "1. Involves a stated or implicit threat to the victim's academic or employment status; "2. Has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual's academic or work performance; and/or "3. Creates an intimidating or offensive acadmic, living or work environment." The "hooting and whistling," in the context of that single meeting, fails to meet the University's own definition of "sexual harassment." The young men who committed this "unholy of all P.C. acts" have not been formally charged with sexual harassment by Tricia Phaup, director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, nor has there been an opportunity for a fair trial through the student judicial system. Instead, they and all fraternity members are considered guilty by misleading suggestions and unfair generalizations. If this incident represented such "inexcusable" behavior, why weren't formal charges being pressed? Finally, how dare Mia Piggee, Bicultural InterGreek Council president, suggest there should have been "some kind of sanctions on the bids" without any formal charges or hearings. Feminist dictator Pigee also suggests Panhel does not condone sexist attitudes which are, in fact, protected opinions under the University's Open Expression policy. Penn students, beware the politcially correct mandate for a homogeneously-thinking society. DWIGHT ARAKAKI College '96