1996_10 Insight October 1996

              OCTOBER 9, 1996 I
WOMEN, continued from page 1
Fewer than one in five college
women today "definitely" consider
themselves feminists, reported
Elizabeth Fox-Genovese's new
book. "Feminism is Not the Story of
My Life."
Asked if she considered herself a
feminist, Lisa Voskuil. a psychology
student, replied, "Yes, because I
believe in the feminist ideals. A lot
of people have different ideas of
what feminism is, like being able to
do what you want and not having
restrictions. But I'm not a 'femi-
Nazi.'"
At a time when feminist ideas
about work and equality are widely
accepted, few American women
identify with feminism as a political
Supportive environment
It seems like feminism has
become the new "f-word," said
Francine L. Oputa, coordinator for
the Women's Resource Center.
"I think that for many women, the
word feminism and some ofthe
stereotypes that go along with it
have made women shy away from
being labeled as a feminist," Oputa
said.
The Women's Resource Center
offers a "non-judgmental supportive
environment" to enhance the
learning and work experiences of
women in thc university community.
But it's not just for women.
"A lot of young women take for
granted some of the opportunities
that lie before them now," Oputa
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said.
"How many vote? For some,
there doesn't seem to be the need
for young women to keep on
fighting."
Whatever progress has been
made since the women's movement
began, many key issues still
remain:      v
• Women still eani less money
than men.
• Women are still victims of
domestic violence.
Because the women's movement
has been so closely associated with
abortion rights, many don't see how
feminism can affect their everyday
lives.
"Feminism allows us to diverge.
It allows us to have different points
of view and disagree," Oputa said.
■** "The areas we have commonalties in, we come together on. In the
areas we have differences, we agree
to respect those differences."
Male-bashing?
Doris Zepezauer, coordinator of
the Fresno branch of the National
Organization for Women (NOW),
stressed the importance of male and
female involvement in the women's
movement
"Sexism and racism are rampant," Zepezauer said. "I don't
think there's been that much
change. It isn't just about women.
These issues affect men and
women."
To men, getting involved in
women's issues is sometimes seen
as an invitation to "male-bashing."
Many men don't feel that they have
a place in the feminist movement.
Fresno State student Tash Dhillon
is taking Women's Studies 131,
which he refers to as "Male
Bashing 131." "They, don't take all
the perspectives into consideration," Dhillon said. "They just
criticize the past."
More male participation
Despite the stereotype that all
feminists hate nien, philosophy
professor Terry Wiriant says, "Most
feminists don't in any way think
feminism involves being hostile to
men."
In fact, the Women's Resource
Center is looking for more male
participation in its activities and
discussions.
"I think it takes a very strong man
to come to the Women's Center and
participate in discussions," Oputa
said. <
"What happens is there are
individuals who are seeking truth
and men, particularly those who
realize the reality of male privilege,
are more open to understanding
what's happened to groups that have
been oppressed."
Oputa explained that feminism is
not solely directed at women having
equal power.
"We need to look at it as every
group having equal power — that's
the challenge," she said. "We're all
different, but we're all equal."
Low representation
Not only is there still an under-
representation of women in positions of power and in the
government, there is also a deficiency of women in the fields of
math, science and engineering.
Institutional research at Fresno
State revealed that last fall's
graduates in the School of Engineering consisted of 191 men and
23 women.
Such statistics could have *
devastating consequences for the
future of women and the nation,
according to a survey taken by the
American Association of University
Women (AAUW).
The survey revealed that women
are systematically discouraged from
a wide range of academic pursuits,
particularly in math and science.
Women's movement leaders say
more doors need to be opened by
the feminists of the future.
"The road is paved, but there are
still some cracks," said. Penny
Steele-Stumpf. a member of the
Fresno NOWi branch.
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Cameras will help fight car theft
I Parking lots will
be monitored by
video cameras
by Jo# Randall
Staff Writer , . f
Video cameras will scan all
campus parking lots by January
as a defense against car thieves,
according to campus Police
Chief Willie Shell. Fresno State
will be the first CSU campus
with such a system.
The pole-mounted cameras
will be connected to monitors at
the police dispatch office. If a
theft or theft-in-progress is observed,^ dispatcher will provide both campus and Fresno
police with a description of thc
car and where it was last seen
headed.
The videotape can later be
used in court as evidence in the
prosecution of the thief or
thieves.
Shell predicts the system will
reduce car thefts by 50 percent.
In 1995, 80 cars were stolen
from campus parking lots, a figure 58 percent higher compared
to the 52 stolen in 1994.
During thc same period, auto
thefts in Fresno decreased 7.5
percent, according to The
Fresno Bee. During 1993 and
1994, Fresno County led all
California Counties in the rate
of car thefts, putting the Fresno
area only slightly behind New
York and Miami in car thefts.
The reduction of car thefts in
Fresno was, according to Chief
Shell, responsible for the surge
of thefts from campus parking
lots.
Stricter enforcement by a cooperative venture by Fresno Police, the Sheriff's Office and the
Parking Lot G next to tbe dorms is one of the Fresno State
lots to be monitored by video cameras in January.
California Highway Patrol, through
a task known as "The Heat," reduced Fresno theft rate, according
to Shell.
Shell said "The Heat" droVe
thieves to the campus. "We did not
have the people to match the challenge of this invasion," Shell said.
"The demand on our sworn officers for service on campus activities
leaves little time to carry out programs similar to those in the city
and county.
Shell cited thc example of the
Sept. 9 mass swearing in of new
citizens at Bulldog stadium that required the services of every officer-
in thc department.
"This left the campus unprotected." Shell said.
The inconvenience of the theft of
a car is not the only price paid by
the victim. When thieves)stole the
light blue Toyota Celica owned by
21-year-old Shelli Foster, she was
relieved to be notified that Fresno
Police had found ihe car a week
later, even though its upholstery
was slashed, fenders dented and its
paint scratched.
Bui when Foster appeared in
court to testify againsi thieves, she
found a hostile environment.
in court and shook their fingers
at her 2-year-old son.
"The defendant and his friends
knew my address, the classes I
was taking, where I worked and
where I parked my car," she said.
"I was frightened and for months
did not go out at night."
The 18 parking officers who
patrol the campus are not effective deterrents to car thefts, according to Chief Shell. Thieves
know sworn officers — those
with arrest power — do not wear
the light blue uniforms of the
parking officers, who have only
radio contact with a police dispatcher.
Shell said thc majority of cars
stolen on campus are taken by
experienced or professional
thieves, who can drive a locked
car away in three to four minutes.
A "Club" attached to a steering
wheel can be removed in 30 seconds, he said.
Shell said within 24 hours a
stolen vehicle can be reduced to
spare parts in a "chop shop" catering to car thieves, leaving no
way of tracing it   .
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