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(03/09/00 10:00am)
Speaking in a Penn class, the lawyer also discussed sexual harrassment. Trying to spark an activist spirit in young women, Anita Hill spoke to a Communications class focused on women and leadership last night, urging the mostly female attendees to fight for gender equality. Hill, a 43-year-old lawyer, gained notoriety in 1991 when she accused Clarence Thomas, then a nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, of sexual harassment and testified about it during his Senate confirmation hearings. She came to Philadelphia primarily to endorse her old friend from law school, Democratic senatorial hopeful Tom Foley. While in town, she made an appearance at an undergraduate class titled "Empowering Women Leaders in Emerging Democracies" to discuss issues of women's rights and female participation in the political process. Hill said she was afraid that the public criticism she received back in 1991 would discourage others from coming forward in similar situations. "I thought that women would retreat," she said to the approximately 35 audience members, but added that, "In fact, what happened was quite the opposite." Hill asserted that in the aftermath of her accusations against Thomas, women began to run for political office and report sexual harassment in higher numbers. Although the class Hill addressed has about 20 students enrolled in it, her considerable name recognition also attracted a number of outsiders and members of the local news media. Audience members responded well to Hill's speech and were eager to discuss her experiences and ask for advice on coping with harassment situations. "When I heard that Anita Hill was coming to campus, my memory of the hearings stood out in my mind," College sophomore Caitlin Anderson said. "I thought it was great. I thought it was inspiring," she continued. Most audience members vividly remembered the hearings and Hill noted that she was surprised that such a young audience was aware of her role in sexual harassment history. "I'm not sure that anyone knew of the impact that the hearings would have," Hill said. Hill also advised the female audience members on how to deal with sexual harassment when they encounter it. "You have to know who you can talk to," she said. Hill also suggested that before taking a job, one should know the employer's sexual harassment policy.
(10/06/99 9:00am)
In an attempt to alleviate concerns about safety on and around campus, several University security organizations gave presentations last night on how students can protect themselves. Three Penn students -- Wharton senior Jennifer Tosti and College seniors Ariel Bierbaum and Anaita Kasad -- organized the event, at which safety information was provided by the University Police and Women's Anti-Violence Education, a Philadelphia-based non-profit group. Organizers provided handouts that contained general advice and dates for future sessions where students can learn self-defense techniques. "We just felt that having moved off-campus, we felt unsafe and we knew that our friends would be interested in learning how to handle uncomfortable situations." Tosti said. "Once we started planning it we decided to open it up to everybody." She acknowledged, though, that the majority of those among the small audience were friends or acquaintances of one of the organizers. Sara Shenkan, a Harnwell College House resident advisor who acted as co-sponsor on behalf of the house, concurred. "We wanted to educate Harnwell House and the community at large," the College senior said. University Police Det. Supervisor Patricia Brennan --Ethe acting director of Special Services -- and Penn Det. Jim Blackmore spoke for the Penn Police. Blackmore offered many practical bits of advice for how to avoid confrontational situations. He discouraged students from talking to or giving money to local vagrants, pointing out that the majority of them make up to $80 per day panhandling but spend all their money supporting chemical dependencies. The University's blue-light phone system, escort service and other basic safety support systems were also reviewed. One audience member posed a question concerning what the inquisitor deemed "grouping" -- or the tendency she noticed of local cops congregating in certain areas while others blocks are left neglected. Ultimately Brennan responded that she could only account for the University Police; the Philadelphia Police are beyond her control. Marie Bloom of WAVE explained how Penn students, particularly women, can protect themselves, using an energetic demonstration to show how to discourage potential attackers. Bloom also addressed the issue that served as an impetus for the meeting, the rapes of several college-aged women in Center City. A moment of silence to "acknowledge the reality" of the crimes was called for. Since the seminar was organized by three female students in response to the rapes, and most of the audience was female, women's safety was the primary focus. All the speakers encouraged audience members to attend the free rape aggression defense courses being offered by the Penn Police.
