Women in Sports Student Child Care Block Grant Cut Spotlight on Carol Menken-Shaudt Student Parents’ educational opportunities uncertain Photograph from OSU Archives By Tara Moore Paying college tuition is hard enough for most students, but for student parents can be especially By Tara Moore difficult. Carol MenkenChildcare costs and college Shaudt stumbled into tuition are often an equal strain on the sport that took her the budget—and student parents around the world, and usually have to find childcare even earned her a gold while in class. In this situation, medal at the 1984 student parents can pay twice as Olympics. much for their college education as Growing up in the students who do not have children. ‘70s, Menken-Shaudt According to the Oregon said that she wasn’t Student Association, which is an even aware of organization made up of studentwomen’s athletics. body presidents and one additional And under the student representative from all watchful eye of OSU member schools, the annual Women’s Basketball median cost for childcare in Coach Aki Hill, Oregon for a one year-old is Menken-Shaudt $6,480 and $4,920 for a four yearquickly learned the old. Carol Meken-Shaudt was the first athlete, male or female, to skills needed to play score 2,000 career points at OSU. The median cost of public the game, and she college tuition is $3,561 per year. would eventually discover the During the 11 years of its After a year at LBCC, Menkenpossibilities that opened for her as a existence, many student parents Shaudt was ready to make the move result of basketball. up to NCAA level. Unrecruited by any depended on the Student Child The 6’5” Jefferson, Ore. native was other school in the state, she came to Care Block Grant to assist with always noticeably taller than her peers. childcare as they worked toward a OSU to play for Coach Hill. She said that she changed many Menken-Shaudt remembers Hill as degree or certificate. This grant curtain rods and light bulbs before a was eliminated in September 2002. “a short, little Japanese lady, but a Linn-Benton Community College “Without the Student Child great teacher.” coach asked her to play for the Care Block Grant, student families Menken-Shaudt says that her women’s basketball team. (Continued on page 2) statewide are forced to choose between providing care for their Honoring Women Student Leaders By Lizanne Southgate Members of the OSU community gathered in the Main Lounge of the Memorial Union on November 21st to nosh and network at a ceremony to acknowledge OSU's Women Student Leaders. However, during the planning stage, Women student leaders came together from across campus to the event took on a celebrate their accomplishments, shown (from left) are Cadet Colonel Judy Wynans, Cadet Lt. Col. Melissa Bruebaker, and bittersweet flavor Cadet Lt. Col. Shannon McCormack of OSU’s Air Force ROTC. when the Rissers announced their upcoming departure, The event was sponsored by the so the ceremony was broadened to Women's Center, the President's include honoring the efforts of Les Commission on the Status of Women, Risser on behalf of women. the Women Studies Program and the (Continued on page 3) Faculty Women's Network to observe the record-breaking number of women students in leadership positions this year. The student body president, MU president, ASOSU undergraduate and graduate senate chairs, GPSA chair, Barometer editor, six of seven ISOSU officers, the Rainbow Continuum co-chair, KBVR staff, Air Force ROTC, and many leaders of cultural centers and other student organizations are women. Les Risser paid tribute to the student leaders, saying, "The aim of leadership is to advance the human spirit and human lives, and the women we are honoring do this every day." Photograph by Lizanne Southgate Women’s Intra — Campus Resource Exchange — Winter 2003 Olympic gold medallist Carol Menken-Shaudt to speak at Women’s Center on Feb. 6 th (Continued on page 2) Page 2 This is What Coercion Looks Like By Gretchen Goode Imagine the following… You begin to date the person whom you’ve had your eye on for a while. This person is charming, well liked, kind, smart and in your eyes extremely good-looking. You start seeing this person on a regular basis and think this is the person you could spend your future with. One evening you are lying in bed kissing and cuddling. This feels good just like it is – soft, long, passionate kisses while your bodies lightly rub together. After a while, he begins to take it a step further and unbuttons your pants. You move your hand and say, “No, I’m not ready yet.” “Okay, babe, but I want you so bad.” “I know, I want you too, but not now. Let’s just keep right “I know but let’s wait.” here.” “Come on. I want to be with “You’re so you so bad and you are beautiful and you are It has been esti- making me feel so making me so hot. mated that 74% good.” Come on.” “I know it feels of college women “No.” good but I am not have experienced ready.” “Okay.” sexual coercion at He continues trying “Come on, it’s not some point in to unbutton your pants like you’re a virgin.” their lifetime. and without saying no “So what, I’m not you just move his hand ready to be with you.” away. His hand tries to move up “Come on. I promise you will your shirt and you let him. This like it.” feels good to you so you let him “I said no.” continue. After a while he again “I know you want to. I can tries to unbutton your pants. You tell.” push his hand away although it “Yes, I do, but not now.” does feel good but you still don’t “Why not? This is the perfect want to have sex. He tries again to time.” unbutton your pants. “No.” “No. Not now. I am not ready. “Give me a good reason.” Let’s just stay where we are. “Because I don’t want to.” Doesn’t this feel good?” “But don’t you like me? And “Yes, but it will feel better you said you have had your eye when I am inside of you.” on me for a long time.” (Continued on page 3) Be Part of the 14th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference to be held on February 8th some of the FBI’s mo st renowned cases. She was one of three agents chosen to conduct the manhunt for the Unabomber in Lincoln, Montana. She has tracked Calling all women leaders! terrorists, been undercover as a Whether you hold a formal gangster’s mole and has even leadership position on campus or posed as the madam of a call-girl in the community, or you choose ring. The conference will also to lead by quiet example and include breakout sessions and a inspiration, this opportunity is for panel discussion. you! The cost per person is just $10, The 14th annual Women’s which includes all conference Leadership Conference will be materia ls as well as lunch. The held on Saturday, February 8th registration deadline is just from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the around the corner – January 31st – Memorial Union. The conference so don’t miss your chance to will be based around the theme attend this exceptional event. Breaking Through: Women in For more information or to Non-Traditional Fields, and will register for the conference, please feature keynote speaker Candice visit MU room 103, or contact DeLong, a former FBI agent. Tracy Glumich at 737-1568. DeLong has had her hands in (Continued from page 1) Leaders After thanking Les Risser for her ongoing advocacy for campus women, ASOSU President Bridget Burns announced her desire to personally assume Paul Risser's vacancy since "women are taking over the world, one university at a time." Once the speeches were out of the way, excited participants “Yeah, but I still don’t want to have sex yet.” “Come on.” “No. Maybe you should just take me home now. It’s getting late.” “Come on. Let’s just let me just take off your pants first. I’ve been so nice to you since we’ve been going out. And you’ve been all over me at every party and even now. I know you want to.” He starts unbuttoning your pants and you try to push his hand away but he is already pulling your pants down. “That’s the way babe. We’re getting somewhere now…” That is what sexual coercion looks like. Sexual coercion exists along a continuum, from forcible rape to nonphysical forms of pressure that compel girls and women to engage in sex against their will. hovered over plates of fruit and chocolate before introducing themselves to other honorees or continuing on to the newly decorated "Women are taking Quiet Lounge to over the world, one university at a time." view a display of Bridget Burns women students in OSU history. score 2,000 career points at OSU. success as a player was the result In 1981, she led the nation in of Hill. scoring with a 19.6 average. “I didn’t have any of the During 1980 and ’81, she led the fundamentals,” Menken-Shaudt nation in field goal percentage said. “She had to (.750). teach me One of Menkeneverything; how to Shaudt’s most shoot, run…” memorable games Hill’s at OSU was in 1979 investment in at the Association Menken-Shaudt for Intercollegiate paid off—the OSU Athletics for center spent 1978Women’s Region 81 breaking school IX Tournament at records for Montana State everything from University. The career total points winner would made (2243) to Today Menken-Shaudt stays busy advance to Palo field goals made Alto for the with a career and family. (955). She was the Western Sectional first player, male or female, to (Continued from page 1) Basketball (Continued on page 4) Others crowded around Les Risser to say goodbye and thank the woman Burns describes as "an elegant, gracious and altruistic human being." Barometer Editor Allison Pyburn, could not attend the event due to a scheduling conflict, wrote "It is a positive experience to look around myself and see fellow women student leaders doing a great job now, and preparing to achieve great things in the future." Burns concluded her remarks by reminding the audience that there is an obligation to pass on the support received from other women as she does by mentoring at an elementary school. She wants to teach younger girls to "not see the top as anywhere but the place you belong." Page 3 (Continued from page 1) Grant families or receiving an education that offers long-term security,” said the OSA. Between 1991 and September 2002 many student parents depended on the grant to pay approximately 75 percent of the market rate of childcare minus the parent’s co-payment, which is based upon the parent’s financial ability. To qualify for the grant, student parents had to meet government low-income requirements, were required to be enrolled in a minimum of nine credits, meet the academic standards of their university and had to show that the child’s other parent could not provide childcare. When the Student Child Care Block Grant was purged from the Adult and Family Services Division of the Department of Human Services budget with the Governor’s 2002 final rebalance the waiting list held nearly 1,700 names. Since the program began, the wait to receive the grant had often lasted more than a year—which was a problem for those students who were enrolled in two-year programs. There have been people, such as the OSA, working towards the reinstatement of this grant since the funding for it was stopped in October 2002. “The OSA board has chosen the Student Child Care Block Grant as a legislative priority for the upcoming legislative session. Our goal is to get state and federal funding reinstated for the grant in the 2003-05 biennium,” the OSA’s Communications Director, Amelie Welden, wrote in an email. The Associated Students of Oregon State University directed $200,000 into a general contingency fund to assist students who experienced financial set back, which may have otherwise postponed their secondary education progression. To apply for this grant, a student has to fill out a form that can be obtained off of the ASOSU website. each other. Center Against Rape and The impact that sexual Domestic Violence (CARDV) coercion has on people’s CARDV offers a 24-hour hotline, enjoyment and experience of 24-hour emergency shelter, support their sexuality can be traumatic. groups, counseling and community Many people might internalize education. the bad feelings and blame 24-hour hotline 1-800-927-0197 themselves rather than label the (541) 754-0110 experience as sexual violence. Office (541) 758-0219 When women do this, they are E-mail Cardv@peak.org more likely to name their Website http://www.cardv.peak.org experience a “bad sexual experience,” rather than name it a readily believed and is therefore form of violence. silenced. They feel there must be These myths also set up a false something wrong with them and sense of safety leading people to question their perception of the believe they are safe within social incident. That is no wonder since situations and with people they common myths about rape and know. sexual assault collide with the Sexual coercion and beliefs that rape only involves intimidation, no matter how much extreme physical force and is one person likes another, is an act done by strangers at night. of violence and not consensual Anything less than this is not sex. If accepted, the student receives a one-time grant of up to $320, which varies upon need. Parents from other schools haven’t been as lucky to have an alternative grant set up for students to receive. Bridget Burns, ASOSU president said, “We’re the only school who’s provided back up funding.” Director of the Financial Aid Office, Kate Peterson, invites all parents who have documented childcare costs to bring in the receipts, with the hope that additional loans, grants, or work Student Child Care Block Grant as an additional funding possibility for many student parents, there are those who are left trying to figure out how to handle this trying time. “As the only statewide program that provided child care aid for student-parents, the Student Child Care Block Grant both empowered student-parents to realize their personal potential and provided a measurable social and economic return to the state. It helped hundreds of studentparents achieve their educational goals,” wrote the OSA. In order to resurrect the grant Burns, in association with OSA, is currently in search for personal stories of student parents who were assisted by the Student Child Care Block Grant, with the hopes that governmental officials would be inclined to reinstate the program’s funding if they were confronted with personal testimony of people who had benefited from it. study can be found. Further information can be Peterson said, “We anticipate obtained from Burns at (541) 737an increase in applications this 6344, or the OSA at (503) 286year because of the elimination of 0477. the child care grant.” With the current lack of the Graph from www.orstudents.org However, the most “typical” The touchstone of coercion is experience of sexual coercion that a woman lacks choice and among young women in faces severe physical or social heterosexual relationships is consequences if she resists sexual verbal pressure. advances. As seen in the script above, the It has been estimated that 74% man’s strategy to get his partner of college women have to engage in sex include continual experienced sexual coercion at arguments, put downs, some point in their lifetime. intimidation, and accusations. On a general level, sexual Inherent in verbal pressure is the coercion can be defined as “the emotional side of coercion. act of forcing, pressuring, Frowns, sulking, silence, or tricking persons into a Most non- distancing, whining, sexual act against their consensual neediness, jealousy and will.” Several different sex takes anger are all part of forms of coercion can emotional coercion. They place among are red flags to someone occur including verbal, people who not respecting their emotional, substance know each partner when negotiating related and physical. other. Unfortunately, many sexual exploration of any people still believe that physical kind. coercion is the only type of Most nonconsensual sex takes coercion that constitutes rape. place among people who know (Continued from page 2) Coercion Page 4 (Continued from page 2) Basketball Tournament, the last regional competition before the national championship. That year the strongest teams in the Northwest league were Seattle University, Montana State, Oregon State, Washington State, and the University of Oregon. With a 23-0 season, and ranked at No. 20 in national polls, the Ducks were favored to win the tournament. OSU on the other hand, had a 14-5 record, and already had experienced two notso-close losses to Oregon. While Oregon drew a bye the first round, the Beavers played a close game against Montana State, eventually winning 76-73. Later OSU beat Washington State with a final score 71-62 to advance into the final round. OSU faced Oregon for the third time that season in the trophy game. Before a meager 120 fans, they did the impossible—OSU won 75-68. After graduation, MenkenShaudt began playing basketball in Turin, Italy. She has fond memories of her time there. “They paid me to play basketball and eat pasta for nine months,” she said. Menken-Shaudt tried out for the Olympics in 1980. She didn’t make the team, but had the chance to play on the 1981 World University team. “That was going to be the grand finale to my brief, but spectacular college career,” she said. The real finale came as a result of the 1984 Olympics. The major competition for the U.S. team was Russia, but that was the year of the Soviet boycott. “We just took off and dominated every game,” she said. The U.S. women’s basketball team demonstrated that domination during the gold medal game against South Korea. The final score was 85-55. Basketball may have taken her all over the world, but these days she’s back in the community where she played college basketball. “I’m a local trivia answer,” she said. When Menken-Shaudt goes to a game, these days she spends her time on the bench; it gives her a chance to watch her children Brian and Laura enjoy the limelight. Menken-Shaudt praises the benefits of team sports for the path that her life has taken. “It’s really opened up a lot of doors for me,” she said. “I’m a completely different person than I would have been had I not been involved in athletics.” Meken-Shaudt has spent many years sharing her story with a variety of groups, which is exactly what she will do at the Women’s Center on Feb. 6th from 12-1 p.m. as part of the National Women and Girls in Sports Day. Calendar of Events January th 30 — 12:30-1:30 p.m. Music and Social Consciousness presentation with Kate Campbell. February 4 th — 12-2p.m. Body B asics: What do You See? A look at 21st Juulie Downs, women’s basketball referee will talk about being one of the few women in her field and will share observations about women in sports. Molly Blue, a sportswriter for The Oregonian will share her story and talk about her profession. 14 — 4 p.m. Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues performed at 6 — 12-1 p.m. National Women and Girls in Sports the LaSells Stewart Center. Day, Carol Menken-Schaudt, former 6 p.m. V-Day Aphrodisiac Olympic basketball player will speak Feast, a potluck of aphrodisiac about her life as a woman in athletics. 1-3 p.m. Ref it or Write it: a panel discussion on female athletes, sportswriters and referees. dishes held between the Vagina Monologue performances. Guests are asked to bring an aphrodisiac dish with them, and be willing to try OSU Women’s Center Benton Annex 7:30 p.m. Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues performed at the LaSells Stewart Center. March 3 rd — 7 p.m. Independent artist 7-9 p.m. A musical performance Brenda Weiler will perform at by local musician Mina Carson. Century media images of women, 13 th — 7:30 p.m. Eve Ensler’s including a viewing of “Killing Us Vagina Monologues performed at Softly 3” followed by a discussion led the LaSells Stewart Center. by Mary Zelinka, of CARDV. th th others’ dishes. Corvallis, OR 97331-2503 ESCAPE in MU East. 13 th — 7 p.m. Independent Folk artist from Durham, NC, Jamie Women’s Center unless otherwise specified. The Women’s Center is wheelchair accessible. For more information please call the Women’s Center at (541) 7373186. OSU Women’s Center Phone Anderson, will perform at ESCAPE in MU East. (541) 737-3186 20 th — 7 p.m. Independent Portland artist, Lorna Hunt, will womens.center@mu.orst.edu perform at ESCAPE in MU East. Please call the Women’s Center at (541) 737-3186 for additional events. All events will be held at the E-mail Address Web Site http://womenscenter.orst.edu Publications Coordinator Tara Moore