Opinion
The Cadre
10 * 27 October 1998 a matter of opinion. Sexual harassement
pro ;
By RYANO'CONNOR committee at UPEIl
The Ben Johnson race was beneficial to all parties involved. It’s plainand simple. Youcan complain as much as you want that the event was cheesy, or that it was much like a freak show, but the fact is that it was exactly what it set out to be: an entertaining event for everyone, with all the proceeds going to a worthwhile charity. So I'll go by the major players in the event.
Children’s Wish Foundation: First of all, the Children’s Wish Foundation. The PEI branch raised well over $9,500, which is nothing to sneeze at. And to quote Mike Randall (mediarelations for Atlantic Lotto), “the race was] a success prior to the event, in getting (the Children’s Wish Foundation) name into the public.” Notto downplay the funds raised, but just as important for a charity is to get theirname well known, and with media picking up this story all over North America and Europe, this was indeed a success.
Ben Johnson: The man, the myth, the legend. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. You could look at it that way, but why? He was the chiefreason that the event went over better than anyone’s wildest imagination, so let’s cut him some slack. After all, he did appear for free, the only expenses incurred were for Atlantic Lotto, who covered his transportation and accommodations.
He also benefitted from the event. He may be 36 and physically over the hill, but the competitive juices are still flowing. The problem with this is that his lifetime ban from competition still stands, despite his appeals. However, getting the public behind him can only help in his appeals, and his popularity among many has grown leaps and bounds as a result from his charity work.
You could also say that this is demeaning him and making him look pathetic, but really, it was for the kids. Public officials all over do “demeaning” things, such as getting their hair shaved off for cancer research. Is it right to mock them for shedding their hair for a great cause?
Prince Edward Island: The entire Island came out winners after this event. Not only were we the recipients of some unique entertainment at atime of the year that many complain to be rather bland, but we received some great promotion the world over. For an economy so tourism-conscious, getting our names plastered in magazines and mentioned on television is a great thing; it’s invaluable advertisement. And to think the province got it for free, that’s the best part.
Quote ofthe night: “Put Ben Johnson on ahorse, that would be bitching!” UPEI student Jared Stretch
Con By RANDY McDONALD
I first heard about Ben Johnson’s race for the Children’s Wish Foundation at the Charlottetown Driving Park on CBC radio while I was driving to UPEI.
At first, I was interested to learn what Ben Johnson was doing more than a decade after his disgrace at the Seoul Olympics. | was also surprised that Ben Johnson was coming to li’! old Charlottetown.
As the segment on the radio continued though, I increasingly felt pity for him. If only he hadn't decided to take steroids to enhance his already impressive ability as a runner, he might have won the gold medal entirely on his own merits. Of course, he did take those steroids, and he was caught, and his reputation was destroyed. Banned from professional running, the only way that Johnson could ever run again in a competition was to take part in ridiculous contests that put him up against two horses and a race car. (Guess who won.)
I also feel sorry for the Children’s Wish Foundation, which itself chose to engage in this race in order to raise money. Perhaps I’m wrong, but the Children’s Wish Foundation -- as a charity with a very high profile in Canada -- shouldn’t have to engage in such bizarre publicity stunts as the Johnson race to raise money. As nothing else does, this simple observation clearly demonstrates how desperate the Children’s Wish Foundation is for donations from a supposedly generous Canadian population. Of course, even this demonstration did relatively little for this deserving charity -- even after an international publicity campaign, only nine thousand dollars profit was raised.
This whole escapade demonstrates how badly Canadian civil society has deteriorated over the past little while, to drive worthwhile charities and decent individuals to this base level in their search for success.
In adecent society, the Children’s Wish Foundation wouldn’t have had to resort to the recent race here in Charlottetown to raise money; its coffers would have been filled to overflowing from donations by Canadians who believe. Ben Johnson wouldn’t have been enlisted in this publicity stunt; he would either have continued his middle-class life in peace and quiet, or even been allowed to engage in professional running once that he had proved to be off steroids for good.
In short, in a decent society, | wouldn’t need to write this piece.
Here’s hoping that I won’t have to write it again.
" Birds are entangled by their feet, and men by their tongue
Join the Cadre
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By BARBARA CURLEY
Yes! There is a Sexual Har- assment Committee at UPEI.
Itis madeup ofone member each of theteaching staff: Dr. David Sims, Anatomy & Physiology (566- 0812), Chair; supportstaff: Barbara Curley, Office of the Dean of Sci- ence, (566-0382); student services: Robert Pritchett (626-4368); and nominee of the President: Dr. Roberta MacDonald, School of Business, (566-0348); and two members of the student body: Matt McQuaid, c/o Dept. of Chemistry, (566-03 14), and Pauline Tran, c/o Student Union, 566-0648. Any member of the Committee can be contacted for information or aid in sexual harassment cases.
According to the UPEI Sexual Harassment Policy, “sexual harassment, whatever its form, should be met with censure and not allowed to diminish the rights of faculty, staff and students; it is not tolerated at the University of Prince Edward Island, and the Uni- versity will make every reasonable effort to ensure that no one is subjected to sexual harassment.”
What is sexual harassment? Sexual harassment may include,
but may notbe limited to, behav- iour such as: “crude, offensive or suggestive remarks, gender based insults and taunting, leer- ing, and humour based on stere- otypes, directed at a person be- cause of his/her gender or sexual orientation; or unwanted and un- solicited sexual advances (in- cluding innuendoes and sugges- tiveremarks inviting intimacy and sexual contact) and physical con- tact which take place in the con- text of academic, professional or work-related transactions; or solicitation of sexual activity by expressed or implied romise of reward or threat of reprisal; or coerced sexual relations.” (UPEI Sexual Harassment Policy, as amended by Senate on 29 Janu- ary 1993) The complete Policy can be found on the World Wide Web - www.upei.ca, and by se- lecting “Official University Docu- ments”. ' te
If you or any of your friends have been sexually har- assed or have any questions, please contact any member of the UPEI Committee listed above. Absolute confidentiality is guar- anteed.
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