
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 22, 1993                   TAG: 9304220433
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WHINING WOMEN AT ODDS WITH IDEALS

THE RECENT controversy over the alleged harassment of women by male members of the Jefferson Society at the University of Virginia (April 10 story, "Jefferson group investigated for harassment") is a prime example of why today's feminism is a bankrupt morass of whiners.

While physically and sexually overtaking an unconsenting victim is abominable, most of the complaints made were ludicrous and reflect nothing more than self-victimization by a few women posing as "today's woman."

Apparently, a potential member was told she had been allowed to give a speech because she was cute and wearing a miniskirt. It was ungentlemanly, may have been rude and deserved a slap, but it was not a basis for calling in officials and other sensitivity Nazis. If she had been a little more self-confident and clever, she could have returned the barb with equal wit and verve.

They complained about the "Simon Award," which supposedly is a box of condoms given to the member who "scores" with the most probationary members. Shocking! Who does expect a lot of college men not to screw around (so to speak), whether straight or gay? It would have been a much stronger statement from a feminist perspective if one of those women had gone out for and won that award.

As for the female student who refused to report an incident of sexual assault by a Jefferson Society officer for fear of being denied membership, why didn't she? Where were her ideals, integrity and sense of justice then? Clearly, if an assault took place, it is better to catch the guy later than never. But as with Anita Hill, the timing diminishes the size of the stones she may cast.

Their complaint also called for a look at the Jefferson Society's treatment of minorities and homosexuals. Of course, where there is one victim group there must be another. Right? Wrong! I never witnessed hostility toward minorities, and certainly not toward gays or bisexuals (who are or have been openly represented in the group).

It's great that, thanks to western liberalism, women can lead their own lives and participate in society more than ever before. The insistance by these women that they be coddled and that their insecurities be indulged is at odds with the ideal of the independent woman. DAVID W. GARLAND UVa, '91 ALEXANDRIA

by CNB