Tolerance for sexual harassment in military is more than zero

Confused? Don't be.

Take for example the catchy phrase "zero tolerance." It seems that these are the hottest two words spoken by people of power nowadays. Whether the situation concerns drugs, murder, or cheating on exams, "zero tolerance" seem to be the words on everyone's lips. School administrators in elementary and high schools give pronouncements that they have "zero tolerance" for drugs, weapons, cigarettes, and cheating. Colleges and universities, particularly the service academies, have honor codes and honor systems in which they too have "zero tolerance" for a variety of actions. The Clinton administration has "zero tolerance" for campaign fund raising which is not in accordance with the law.

The only organizations that are not shouting "zero tolerance!" seem to be the House and the Senate. Instead, their policy as usual is "anything goes!"

And then there is the military.

The "zero tolerance" policy adopted by the military in 1989 concerns the issue of the sexual harassment and sexual abuse of women in its ranks. When 26 women charged that they were sexually assaulted by officers at the 1991 annual convention of the Navy's Tailhook Association, military leaders proclaimed that there would be "zero tolerance" for such violent acts. After investigating the incident, the Navy learned that possibly 70 officers engaged in these assaults. "Zero tolerance!" they cried.

That was six years ago.

Now take a look in any newspaper today. The headlines still read "Scandal in the Military." At the Aberdeen Proving Ground, a toll-free hotline was set up last November for females who wanted to report abuse. In just one week, the hotline had received 3,9 30 calls; 101 of which dealt with sexual abuse, and 506 which were considered serious enough to be referred to the Criminal Investigation Command for further examination.

Then there is the sad tale of The Citadel. Two of the four females who were admitted to the previously all-male Citadel last August decided to drop out last month. Kim Messer and Jeanie Mentavlos claimed that they were assaulted, hazed, and harassed. A gr oup of male cadets there were accused of trying to set the women's clothes on fire, sexually harassing them, and putting cleanser in their mouths. One of the girls even received a death threat.

And what is the newest scandal? The Army's highest ranking enlisted man, the Sergeant Major of the Army, has recently stepped down from a panel exploring sexual harassment charges. The reason? A retired female, Sgt. Maj. Brenda L. Hoster, charged that Ge ne McKinney had sexually assaulted and harassed her during an April business trip to Hawaii. According to Hoster, McKinney kissed her, grabbed her, and asked her for sex in her hotel room while his wife was in another room a few doors away. Hoster's lawye r stated that "when she tried to get something done about it, essentially her commanders' response was, 'If you want something done about it, you're going to have to take care of it yourself and go confront him.'"

So much for "zero tolerance."

Let me point out that the reason for the military's existence is to protect the security of all Americans. But how can they protect us if they can't even protect their own? I'm sure you can guess by now what happened in each of the above cases. That's rig ht- absolutely nothing. Lt. Paula Coughlin still has to live knowing that the Navy officers at the Tailhook convention who forced her to run a gauntlet down a hotel hallway while they grabbed her and tried to remove her clothing got away with their crime. And Kim Messer and Jeanie Mentavlos won't be returning to The Citadel next fall.

So what now? If the military keeps up this attitude, I suppose all they'll have to do is come up with a new slogan to put our minds at ease. In that case, in this TV generation, they deserve a Golden Globe.

Jill Dellamalva is a sophomore majoring in journalism and creative writing. Her column, 'Focused Light,' appears every other Wednesday.

By Jill Dellamalva (columnist)
Arizona Daily Wildcat
February 19, 1997