Letters to the Editor

   The Tech_ demonstrates both shoddy journalistic practice and callous
   indifference to sexual harassment victims with its front page article
   regarding the accusations of sexual harassment and discrimination
   brought by Marina R. Erulkar SM '92 against Professor of Management
   Gabriel R. Bitran ["Jury Rules for MIT in Harassment Suit, Nov. 6].
   
   First, the sub-headline of the article states "Bitran Did Not Sexually
   Harass." Simply because the jury did not find the defendant guilty
   does not mean the harassment did not occur. In the trial, Bitran
   admitted openly that he had kissed Erulkar on three occasions, and
   that on each and every one of those occasions she had strongly
   objected to his actions. Erulkar told him that his behavior was
   unwelcome and harassing, yet he continued in spite of this. In his
   defense during the trial, the professor stated that he "could not
   control" his impulses and eventually "suggested" that Erulkar find
   work elsewhere. By both MIT policy and EEOC guidelines, Bitran did
   indeed sexually harass Erulkar.
   
   Second, I noticed that in the discussion about Judge Elizabeth
   Butler's jury instructions, the date of the 1987 Massachusetts Supreme
   Judicial Court ruling in _College-Town v. MCAD _was_ conveniently
   omitted, though the date of Gnerre v. MCAD, another SJC ruling from
   l988, was included. While Butler does have discretion in instructing
   the jury, I find it irritating that she chose the earlier wording,
   requiring "severe and pervasive" conduct, rather than the language of
   the more recent case, which states that conduct sufficient to create a
   hostile, intimidating, or sexually offensive environment provides
   grounds for the plaintiff to recover in a sexual harassment suit.
   
   I suggest that the entire _Tech_ staff would benefit from one of the
   freely available "sensitivity" training sessions in sexual harassment.
   While these training sessions offer little to victims of harassment,
   the staff's attendance might provide the insight they are obviously
   lacking.
   
   Mary E. Herndon G
   
   _Editor's note: _The Tech stands by its interpretation of the jury's
   ruling.
   
   Students Must Help Solve Campus Problems
   
   It is commendable that Michael K. Chung '94 noticed some of the
   problems facing MIT ["A Wish List of Ideas for Changes on Campus,"
   Nov. 6]. What would be even more commendable is for him to take
   action. Everyone I've met at MIT has at least one complaint; yet most
   everyone also feels that it is someone else's job to change MIT. Well
   I've got news for you: it's your job, and my job, and everyone's job.
   
   The second half of the column was devoted to problems Chung has with
   MIT's food service. If Chung feels so strongly about it, he (or any
   other undergraduate student) can join the UA Committee on Food
   Services. There are also committees on the Course Evaluation Guide,
   elections, housing and Residence/ Orientation Week, safety,
   educational policy and student life. All these committees still have
   some open seats on them and are open to any undergraduate. And if a
   problem is not covered by these committees an ad hoc committee can be
   created to deal with it.
   
   The UA is often considered ineffective because it doesn't solve the
   problems on campus. But when students elect UAC members who don't
   care, there is no doubt the UA will seem weak.
   
   Overcrowding seems to be a serious problem this year, yet there are
   only six people on the UA Housing & R/O Committee (most of whom were
   required to be on a committee because they are council members). I
   cannot believe that only six people out of 4,500 really care about
   overcrowding; but the actions of the students say otherwise.
   
   Any government body, be it committee, council, or otherwise, is only
   as good as its members. While it is nice to see a student taking an
   interest in the problems of MIT, it would be nicer if he were to take
   action to solve them.
   
   Mark A. Herschberg '95_Chairman,_ UA Housing & R/O Committee
   

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Copyright 1992 by The Tech. All rights reserved.
This story was published on Friday, November 13, 1992.
Volume 112, Number 57
The story was printed on page  4.
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