2008 Woodie Awards
UI drops 'pink' issue
Emileigh Barnes - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 10/21/05 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 1
Following heated debate over the Kinnick Stadium's pink visiting locker rooms, UI President David Skorton abruptly ended the university's involvement and said the school will not further investigate the issue.
For now, it appears, the locker room will keep its pink walls.
Skorton on Thursday announced his decision to take no action toward investigating alleged sexism and homophobia in the locker room's hue, after meeting with the University Steering Committee for the NCAA Certification Review.
"Because I'm a girl, I'm feeling too docile and passive to respond with a comment," said Associate Professor of law Jill Gaulding, who previously had spoken out against the color of the locker rooms.
Skorton's decision to stop involvement went against the steering committee's request to find another panel to address the issue separately.
"I respect that recommendation, but I have decided to take no further action," Skorton said in a statement.
UI Associate Provost Pat Cain, who was the chairwoman for the recertification committee, said the locker room was not a central issue for the panel.
"We didn't think the locker rooms was a gender-equality issue," Cain said, adding no students were harmed by the locker rooms or the hotbed of discussion.
"He always consults very widely, but in this case, it was his judgment," said Steve Parrott, the director of University Relations. "He's just made a judgment that the more important thing to do is pursue" sex- and minority-equity issues.
The UI has also come to a standstill with investigations regarding threats aimed toward individuals who wanted the color changed.
Because the threats were anonymous and not made through UI servers, the investigation into the threats has reached its end, barring future developments, said UI General Counsel Marc Mills.
Erin Buzuvis, the UI adjunct lecturer who first brought the issue to light and received numerous threats on her Internet blog, did not return phone calls Thursday. Lawrence Langley, the associate director of the UI police, said Buzuvis did not file a formal complaint with the department.
E-mail DI reporter Emileigh Barnes at
emily-a-barnes@uiowa.edu
For now, it appears, the locker room will keep its pink walls.
Skorton on Thursday announced his decision to take no action toward investigating alleged sexism and homophobia in the locker room's hue, after meeting with the University Steering Committee for the NCAA Certification Review.
"Because I'm a girl, I'm feeling too docile and passive to respond with a comment," said Associate Professor of law Jill Gaulding, who previously had spoken out against the color of the locker rooms.
Skorton's decision to stop involvement went against the steering committee's request to find another panel to address the issue separately.
"I respect that recommendation, but I have decided to take no further action," Skorton said in a statement.
UI Associate Provost Pat Cain, who was the chairwoman for the recertification committee, said the locker room was not a central issue for the panel.
"We didn't think the locker rooms was a gender-equality issue," Cain said, adding no students were harmed by the locker rooms or the hotbed of discussion.
"He always consults very widely, but in this case, it was his judgment," said Steve Parrott, the director of University Relations. "He's just made a judgment that the more important thing to do is pursue" sex- and minority-equity issues.
The UI has also come to a standstill with investigations regarding threats aimed toward individuals who wanted the color changed.
Because the threats were anonymous and not made through UI servers, the investigation into the threats has reached its end, barring future developments, said UI General Counsel Marc Mills.
Erin Buzuvis, the UI adjunct lecturer who first brought the issue to light and received numerous threats on her Internet blog, did not return phone calls Thursday. Lawrence Langley, the associate director of the UI police, said Buzuvis did not file a formal complaint with the department.
E-mail DI reporter Emileigh Barnes at
emily-a-barnes@uiowa.edu
