ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, April 8, 1996 TAG: 9604080063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER
A NEGATIVE COMMENTARY by the Richmond Times- Dispatch prompted several donors to retract their gifts to Virginia Tech, faculty say.
Women's Month at Virginia Tech culminated last Monday night with a packed audience of men and women crowding the aisles to hear feminist icon Gloria Steinem. Seated on stage in a strong symbol of university backing was Provost Peggy Meszaros.
But an editorial writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch apparently didn't share some of the upbeat attitudes about the topics discussed during the annual Women's Month.
A March 7 editorial, headlined "Money for Sex at Tech,'' asked whether the university frivolously spent money on talks such as "Women and the Catholic Church," sponsored by Protestant organizations; "The Idea We Live In," a ```collage of poetry and texts by diverse authors' that 'became a narrative about a woman going inside the home of her memories and desires'''; "The Sexual Politics of Meat," by Carol Adams, author of ``The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Narrative''; and "Thank God I'm a Lesbian."
The editorial, university officials say, prompted up to a dozen donors to Tech's $250 million capital campaign to pull out. One had promised about $50,000, said director of development Charles Steger.
President Paul Torgersen called the editorial an ill-timed "cheap shot" and said he had to explain Women's Month to three concerned legislators, including John Chichester, R-Fredericksburg and co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, in the days before a joint committee completed the state budget. But Torgersen said he doesn't think it hurt the school's appropriation.
In a written response, printed in full in the March 14 Times-Dispatch, Torgersen chided the editorial writer who "singled out a few controversial seminar topics from a month's worth of discussions celebrating the role of women in society and at Virginia Tech." He defended the university as a place for the free exchange of ideas, and said the $6,800 in university money spent on the month pays for a part-time coordinator and for printing and mailing the calendar.
"None of the specific programs singled out in the editorial was funded from this source," he wrote. "Speakers for most programs receive no honoraria."
"My point of view is it was a very successful month, and the editorial happened to pick out some of the more extreme feminist issues also included in the program, which should have been included on the program and were included on the program," he said later.
Said Meszaros, "We certainly have had some adverse reactions, but I think that from a university standpoint, where we encourage expression of ideas and discussion of topics that are both controversial and noncontroversial, that our stance is one to allow ideas to come forth."
Times-Dispatch editorial page editor Ross Mackenzie said he was reluctant to respond to the university's complaints.
"We're not in the business of publishing editorials that we know at the time we write them are incorrect. I know of nothing in the editorial that was inaccurate. ... The [women's month] brochure speaks for itself," he said.
More than 50 exhibitions, talks and events were held in conjunction with Women's Month, coordinated by a committee and sponsored by 21 campus and community groups. Among this year's events were the Purple Ribbon Campaign against sexual assault and a lecture on "Work and Retirement Planning." This year also highlighted 75 years of women at the former all-male military school with an awards celebration and commemorative book.
"It's been a time of celebration for women on campus, particularly the 75th anniversary," said Penny Burge, director of Tech's Women's Center.
Both Torgersen and Steger said they were concerned about donors who pulled out, but respected their wishes. They also said they hoped the pledges could be recaptured with further explanation.
Torgersen said he expects to meet with legislators, as well as potential donors, when the capital campaign swings through Richmond this month, in advance of next year's Women's Month.
"A university is a catalyst of ideas," Torgersen said. "My hope at this point is that some of the titles - not topics - would be a little less titillating. But no way would I attempt to change program material. That's not the way we do business."
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