Daily fp Troian
Volume LXVII, Number 94
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
Tuesday, March 16, 1976
FEMINIST SPEAKS—Germaine Greer, author of The Female Eunuch, urged women to be more concerned about the way they treat their bodies, during her speech before several hundred people in Bovard Monday. DT photo by Bob LaBayne.
Attitudes on fertility attacked by feminist
By Peter Fletcher
Staff Writer
Germaine Greer attacked attitudes toward fertility and the way women treat their bodies in her speech before several hundred people in Bovard Auditorium. Monday.
Greer, a feminist and author of The Female Eunuch, spoke on “Fertility and Feminism,” as the final event of Women’s Week.
She criticized the society that gives women contraceptive devices that injure and kill them.
“The pressure should be mounting, the pharmaceutical companies should be running scared, but they aren’t.
“We don’t worry about the Pill because ofthe euphoria of being sexually active. When the Pill came into view, like the full moon, we fell down before it and worshipped it. We couldn’t wait to eat them,” she said.
“We ignored the side-effects. We didn’t want it to be taken away. The Pill seemed to. be a necessary evil.
“The sequential pills disappeared because they weren’t good for beagles. No one represents the interests of women in the drug companies.
“A study showed that the Pill causes clinicial depression in one out of three women. The Pill interferes with the sugar balance of the vagina. I’ve hardly met a girl who hasn’t suffered from repeated vaginal infections because of it.
“The Pill affects the endocrine system. It doesn’t affect just one link in the reproductive chain.”
She said that if women are going to use the Pill they should assess the risks involved.
Greer was even more critical of intrauterine devices that doctors prescribe. “The IUD isn’t even a contraceptive. It is effective because it causes inflammation.”
“Women do all this to avoid abortion. Why haven’t we developed a pregnancy termination method that is nontrauma-tic and easy?” she said.
She said men should be responsible for birth control, since they are “grotesquely fertile,” she said. “A male produces enough sperm in ten orgasms to populate China. Only one is needed to do the task. What purpose does this fertility serve?
“A reorganization is necessary. Men ought to be aware and ready to defend their reproductive rights. We can do with fewer men. Most male animals are castrated. Only certain members of the herd are allowed to fertilize. Theoretically men are in competition for reproductivity.
“Scientists have asked why humans are allowed to reproduce indiscriminately. We should be more choosy about giving reproductive rights,” Greer said.
“We could exploit the fertility of men to disenfranchise them.
“Reproductive disenfranchisement is a reality. This is the sort of problem men face because of their hyperfertility,” Greer said.
“Men are going to find it harder to get reproductive mates in the future because women will be looking for better mates.
“Women should be as careful as possible with their bodies. They should be as careful as they are with their childrens’ bodies,” she said.
Student Senate probe of aid office problems begins
By Cathy Taylor
Assistant City Editor
It was pretty quiet for a meeting about financial aid— especially one dealing with resignations and forced dismissals.
Members of MECHA, the Chicano student group; and the Associated Black Students of Southern California bantered around about how the investigation should be run, but staff members from the Financial Aid Office just didn’t have much to say.
David Blackmar, chairman of the Student Senate, outlined the initial steps and timetable ofthe senate’s investigation into the resignation of Michael J. Scarpelli from his post as director of financial aid. About 40 people crowded into the conference room in the Student Union.
“We’re not looking for charges or personal grievances,” Blackmar said. “We’re looking for things that can be proven.
Glenn Sonnenberg, director of the financial affairs unit of the senate said the Senate had been contacted last Friday by Richard Dolen, director of Student Administrative Services and asked to stop the investigation. Sonnenberg assured the group that the investigation will not stop.
Sonnenberg said that Dolen had stated that Scarpelli left because of his wife’s illness. Scarpelli’s family lives in New York.
A call to Mrs. Scarpelli Monday afternoon revealed that she’s in good health. “I’m not sick at all; I’m fine,” she said.
“The Student Senate only has the ability to extend the truth of the situation to staff faculty and students, and then make a recommendation to President John R. Hubbard,” he said.
Terry Hillis, codirector of the student affairs unit of the senate, described the senate’s position.
“We’ve known there are a lot of
problems in Student Administrative Services, but Scarpelli’s resignation sparked the investigation, which was on my agenda, anyway,” she said.
“This resignation just gave it a higher priority. It’s not just a bandwagon we’ve jumped on.”
Hillis said that they stumbled on more than they realized; that the senate is dealing with an important issue.
“Therefore, we don’t want to make any allegations that are false or based on partial truths—we feel very strongly that we have to be 100% accurate in everything we say,” she said.
As far as information sources are concerned, Blackmar said that the financial aid staff plays a key position, although there are other sources. He said staff morale is a key issue.
Blackmar distributed surveys to staff members concerning
their feelings about how the office has been run the past few months. Those who fill out the survey will remain anonymous.
“I don’t want to minimize or downplay risk,” Blackmar said. “We’re not trying to jeopardize anyone’s positions.”
Chris Winfrey, university affairs director for the Associated Black Students of Southern California, challenged the steps the senate proposed.
“I question how this survey will be effective in bringing our grievances to President Hubbard. More definite stands should be taken within the next week—before financial aid monies are given out,” Winfrey said.
Students from MECHA also delineated their position on the
issue.
There was one group, how-
, (continued on page 3)
Interim director named for financial aid office
Robert Johnson, assistant to the executive vice-president, has been appointed interim director of the Office of Financial Aid. The former director, Michael J. Scarpelli, planned to resign on March 31 for personal reasons, but was dismissed last Friday.
In a memo to all deans, directors and department chairmen from William Wagner, the special assistant to the president foracademic record services, Johnson was described as having extensive experience in management and organizational ad ministration.
Johnson told the Daily Trojan that he does not have much of a background in financial aid. But he said he sees the job as a challenge, and is not intimidated by it.
ROBERT JOHNSON
MECHA asks for resignation of president’s special assistant
By Denis Wolcott
Staff Writer
MECHA, the Chicano student organization, has asked for the resignation of William F. Wagner, as special assistant to the president for academic record services. The request came in the form of an open letter to the university Friday.
The letter requested that Wagner resign from his student administration services post. Wagner is also Dean of Natural Sciences.
The request came after the recent resignation of Michael J. Scarpelli, former director of financial aid.
“This resignation of Scarpelli further demonstrates the inability of Wagner to properly manage the Financial Aid Office with some stability and consistency,” said Danny Verches, a MECHA representative.
The letter stated that there were some reasons for Scarpelli’s resignation other
than what was published in the press or office memos.
“The inability to retain Scarpelli is indicative of Wagner’s style of overtly controlling the decision-making that has undermined the basic functions ol the financial aid staff,” said Verches.
Verches said there were other reasons for Wagner’s resignation. “Wagner’s ability to articulate technical statements on financial aid matters gives the impression that the services have improved, when in fact they have degenerated,” he said.
“In addition to the mismanagement of affairs, the office is now projecting an image of insincerity, insensitivity and uncooperativeness,” Verches said.
The letter listed seven bases for MECHA’s statements:
•There is seemingly no consistency or stability in policy determination regarding financial aid awards for students.
•There is and will be outrageous delays in resolving individual financial aid problems for the 1976-1977 academic year.
•There is no satisfactory provision made regarding the appeals-review process available to students regarding aid decisions.
•Priority in awarding entering students will not be given to those who meet minimum requirements but rather according to grade-point average.
•There are no provisions made to eliminate numerous conflicting award letters to respective students.
•There is insufficient staffing in the Student Aid Office to handle all of the normal operational requirement*
•There is a serious concern over Mrs. Wagner’s role and paid position in the Student Aid Office.
(continued on page 6)