Unfettered Letters

In The Star’s Oct. 5 Letters, Bruce Rogers is giving high praise to various theater groups in Kansas City. And he is right on: We are very lucky in this “cowtown” to have so much excellent live theater.

But let’s not overlook the outstanding productions of UMKC’s Drama Department. I just saw “Noises Off!” last week — a play that requires lots of split-second timing. The students carried it off impeccably.

The play was the first of seven in their 2007-08 season. A first-time collaboration with the Unicorn Theatre for their second play opens Oct. 19 with “The Lieutenant of Inishmore.” Call the Unicorn at (816) 531-7529 or the Central Ticket Office at (816) 235-6222 for your tickets!

Diane E. Capps
Kansas City

Sex harassment case

I don’t know if the two UMKC faculty members are guilty of the charges made in the sexual harassment lawsuit the university recently settled. However, it doesn’t take a whole lot of brain power to realize that something is very wrong in both the lab in question and the university administration.

Why would the administration initiall fail investigate these charges, which were corroborated by other workers? Why would they decide to pay the two plaintiffs large sums of money if they felt the charges had no merit? Why then, would they choose to reward these men by giving them full professor status and a hefty increase in pay? It’s obvious the system failed these women and it is hoped that the university is taking steps to see that those failures are corrected.

Warren Thomas
Olathe

Sexual harassment case

Why should the University of Missouri-Kansas City be trusted to investigate itself when it failed so miserably the first time (7/14, Local, “UMKC inquiry under way; An official is looking into claims women were openly fondled, groped and subjected to explicit sexual talk”)?

The Affirmative Action Office does not appear to me to be the best place for these inquiries. I believe that the attorney general’s office should be involved because the reports indicate that the alleged actions of these professors went beyond sexual harrassment.

I hope that the public will demand that a third party get involved in these investigations and that the parties involved have real consequences for their behavior.

I distrust the ability and sincerity of the present chancellor because of his response to this situation. Does he really think it’s acceptable that the affirmative action department will have a response in one or two months? If the taxpayers can spend $1.1 million on an out-of-court settlement in this case, I think the university could afford a better investigation.

J.M. Keller
Kansas City

I was sickened as I read the details of the sexual abuse that allegedly went on at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Even more appalling was the statement that UMKC was going to look into it further. This institution didn’t get it right the first time. I think its time that a Jackson County prosecutor look into it. And you want to ask me again why women across this country want the Equal Rights Amendment passed?

Barbara Womack
Liberty

Harassment case

My husband is a UMKC alumnus. I was shocked to read The Star’s accounts of two psychology professors receiving promotions, pay raises and a new lab despite female employees’ allegations of sexual harassment, threats of violence and display of pornography in the workplace.

Any public school student accused of such behavior would be immediately suspended, if not expelled, and psychologically examined. The state might be called in to investigate. Older students could face legal charges.

Any public school teacher accused of such behavior would be suspended, probably unpaid, until a thorough investigation by child protective and/or law enforcement services was completed. The teacher would then have a permanent record of being investigated, even if shown innocent.

I quote a reference to the two professors from your recent story about the out-of-court settlement: “Both are large revenue generators for the university, mainly in the form of government grants, according to the deposition testimony of the case.”

No further comment is needed.

J.J. Stephenson
Kansas City

Sexual harassment settlement

I was hired at the University of Missouri-Kansas City the same year as Linda Garavalia. I feel fortunate to have worked alongside such a fine scholar as Linda. I recall her as bright, professional and reasonable, and pleasant to be around.

That she allegedly endured such unacceptable (and decades-passe) antics from two men in the Psychology Department is unconscionable. I applaud her courage and the efforts of her legal team in pushing her grievance forward to resolution - bittersweet and insulting as it appears to be (7/14, Local, "UMKC inquiry under way").

Sadly, universities clamor to be the next unattainably expensive American institutional failure, second only to health care. By advancing the professors accused of the sexual harassment, UMKC has done its part in pushing universities' bygone era of social justice leadership further into its history.

How is it possible for a departmental chairwoman to be unaware her university has an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Office? My condolences go out to women and students of color in the Psychology Department, should there be any.

S. Craig Rooney
Kansas City

The UMKC lawsuit story is a chilling reminder of my own victimization in 1979, long before sexual harassment was a common term. At that time, this type of unpleasantness was only referred to as "the problem."

In 1979 I was a graduate student at University of Nebraska at Lincoln. I had been recently divorced and been warned by my friends and classmates to watch out for a certain professor.

His class was a required course in my graduate program. Only because I had been told about this his modus operandi was I able to avoid his advances and scheme, which included suggested meetings after my 9 p.m. class for tutoring, etc. He threatened to take my credit-hours if I didn't comply.

I waited until the last week of class before I took this information to a faculty adviser. Since she had reports of other allegations concerning this man, she helped me through the red tape and then filed a report against him, and the university acted swiftly to correct the situation so my graduation was not affected.

I am forever thankful for the positive power of sisterhood.

Sandra G. Riedel
Liberty

UMKC settlement

What's wrong with the University of Missouri-Kansas City? How on earth could they just reassign two professors whose behavior in the workplace is so abominable (7/13, A-1, "UMKC cites delayed action; The chancellor says staff vacancies led to a slow follow-up to sexual harassment complaints")?

In the corporate world, the consequence of viewing pornography online is often immediate dismissal, let alone viewing animal-torture videos. These two are in the medical school? And education administrators wonder why the public accuses them of the "ivory tower syndrome." Taxpayers are funding these professors' salaries! The two should be fired and have their pensions eliminated. Now.

J. Bentley
Kansas City

The $1.1 million settlement for alleged sexual harassment at UMKC  (Star, 7/12 and 7/13) is actually an example of power harassment. Because evaluating the performance of students, employees, faculty and administrators is a serious responsibility, policies to deal with power abuse by an individual within the academic community are essential.

Academic freedom -- the right to teach and do research in one's area of expertise -- is protected in the university by awarding tenure. Tenure does not protect individual bad behavior. The issue in this situation is not about revoking tenure. The issue before the faculty and administration of UMKC is whether to recommend dismissal.

If the latter occurs, the individual is entitled to a hearing by peers (other tenured faculty) utilizing the standards of the profession established by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). The hearing committee is responsible for making the final recommendation to the administration.

While the administrative decision to create an office to deal with complaints and to sensitize the faculty, staff and students is laudable, all members of the academic community bear the responsibility of accepting and enforcing policies.

Dolores Furtado
Professor emerita, University of Kansas Medical School
Past president, Kansas Conference AAUP
Overland Park

Sexual harassment case

There were two really scary front page news stories in Thursday's Star: one on al-Qaida and one on UMKC's response to blatant sexual harassment (7/12, A-1, "UMKC settles women's lawsuit"). I will address the latter.

As I was hurriedly reading through the article to make some sense of the university's response to the horrific working conditions in the psychology lab, I came across the words "large revenue generators of the university," referring to the professors involved.

In the business world, money is often the end-all as profits soar at the expense of just about anything. But we cannot tolerate this kind of mentality anywhere, especially in a community of learning, where respect for each individual should be the highest priority.

Although I am the mother of two sons, as a parent I feel a kinship with the mothers of daughters who still feel powerless in the face of such discrimination; such awful and inexcusable behavior. And, what's with the professors' promotions and raises? When many would have been disgusted if the people involved got just a "slap on the hand," we should now be outraged that they got a "pat on the back."

Ellen Davidson
Independence

Labor studies office

I am a city bus driver and I have a personal interest in saving the Institute for Labor Studies.

My first encounter with the institute was when it sponsored a Kansas City labor history tour. Our union, ATU Local 1287, provided the bus. My co-worker drove and was a presenter. I learned so much researching the Pullman car porters union and their connection to Kansas City. I am still learning by helping with the Heartland Labor Forum on KKFI.

The University of Missouri-Kansas City needs to continue to be a school for the whole community. That means the working folks, too. I hope it will reconsider cutting the Institute for Labor Studies.

Molly Madden
Kansas City

Institute for Labor Studies

I could give a laundry list of reasons why it is a mistake for the University of Missouri-Kansas City to close the Institute for Labor Studies (6/20, Local, “UMKC cancels Institute for Labor Studies”).

Looking beyond the autocratic process and the questionable fiscal justifications, how will closing the institute affect work-force development strategies in the Kansas City area?

The seldom defined term “work-force development” is code for the kinds of jobs American workers will have in the new economy and how we will be trained for those jobs.

The role of the labor centers around the country is to ensure that the agenda of business for a surplus of trained and ready workers is balanced with a working people’s agenda for an engaged citizenry working in jobs that support healthy communities.

This is the role that the institute plays when it provides leadership training and policy analysis to workers and community leaders.

UMKC should reconsider.

Susan Moir, director
Labor Resource Center
University of Massachusetts
Boston

Graduation address

For the last four years I have attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Today I will receive my degree. The hard work of every graduate will be rewarded with a few moments of glory before our family and friends. This celebration of achievement should unite us together behind such admirable success.

Although my degree will be awarded for political science, I do not think politics should have any part in a graduation. By often invoking political issues with which members of the audience inevitably disagree, partisan speakers divide graduates against each other on a day when everyone should be the most united. But many politicians simply see the opportunity as a chance to promote themselves or an agenda to a large, captive audience.

I was disheartened to learn that my graduation would be overshadowed by a politician: Sen. Claire McCaskill. My concerns have nothing to do with party affiliation. Graduation simply is not the place for political activism.

I sincerely hope that Ms. McCaskill breaks with typical politicians and leaves politics out of her speech so that the focus can remain where it belongs: on the graduates.

Justin D. Smith
Blue Springs