NEWS
Sexism battle over bathroom scale nears conclusion
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by Becky Vevea
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
After about a month of negotiation, the battle over an antique bathroom scale ended Tuesday evening with the Memorial Union agreeing to return the scale to the Campus Women’s Center.
Wisconsin Union President John Barnhardt and Union Director Mark Guthier informed the CWC in an e-mail the Union would be giving the scale to the group on a permanent loan, saying “Campus Women’s Center will maintain complete possession from this date forward.”
The CWC originally stole the scale from the fourth floor women’s bathroom of Memorial Union in fall 2005, believing it to be a symbol of sexism and displayed it in their office down the hall, according to UW sophomore and CWC Support Services Coordinator Chynna Haas.
According to Barnhardt, the scale was taken back about a month ago by the facilities department of the Union because it was Union property. He added the Union assured the CWC that the scale would not be put back in the bathroom, and they tossed around different ideas of what to do with it.
The CWC contacted Paul Broadhead, assistant director for facilities, saying they would like to have it back, and he directed them to the Union Council Facilities Subcommittee.
“It was really unclear why we were going through them because it wasn’t a policy issue,” Haas said.
Barnhardt said there were issues with simply giving the scale back to the group because a student organization cannot legally own state property.
Haas said she then received a letter from Barnhardt stating the Union wanted to return it to the CWC, and they were embarrassed by the situation.
According to Barnhardt, the Union had previously considered giving the scale to the Associated Students of Madison, the only student organization allowed to own state property, which could then give it to the CWC.
Haas said the CWC has received feedback from several women who were glad the scale is no longer in the bathroom.
“Having to see that scale was something that they remembered, and they would avoid that bathroom,” Haas said.
While the scale was in the CWC office, the organization used the scale as a symbol for women to discuss body image, including allowing women to put Post-Its on it saying what they liked about their bodies.
“They liked having it in there because it’s a safe place for women to see the scale,” Barnhardt said. “To talk about what it means, some of the thoughts it provokes.”
Anonymous (April 23, 2008 @ 2:13am):
THANK GOD THIS CRISIS IS OVER. PERHAPS NOW THE RAPES ON CAMPUS WILL END.
Anonymous (April 23, 2008 @ 3:35am):
This pretty much says it all:
âThey liked having it in there (the CWC) because itâs a safe place for women to see the scale,â Barnhardt said. âTo talk about what it means, some of the thoughts it provokes.â
What utter bullshit. What the Union should do is prosecute the CWC for theft.
I had a scale in my bathroom but it wasn't a safe place to see it so I moved it to a bank vault.
Anonymous (April 23, 2008 @ 7:07am):
The CWC should purchase the scale from the Union for a nominal fee, which resolves the legal issue of theft of state property.
Anonymous (April 23, 2008 @ 7:59am):
Does going back and purchasing the items from the store after you have gotten caught shoplifting them resolve the legal issue? No -- you still stole the items.
Anonymous (April 23, 2008 @ 9:15am):
I don't like to be reminded that I've put on pounds. Maybe I can get one of the cone things (like they put on cats after an operation) so I can't look down and see my fat belly?
Maybe if I never see that I'm fat I'll feel better about it all?
Anonymous (April 23, 2008 @ 1:45pm):
I always did think that scales were cruel because ours often made my momma cry.
Anonymous (April 23, 2008 @ 4:04pm):
I love the message = steal and get what you want
Mubic Shepard (April 23, 2008 @ 5:21pm):
paper towels
paper dowels
at night, the raper scowls
vapors, owls
in flight
the capers, the caped escapers,
the apes, the tapirs,
they drape their paper towels
unfurled from paper dowels.
the world is shaped by trowels
the mason sculpts the howls
of tapirs apes and owls
Mubic Shepard (April 23, 2008 @ 5:24pm):
scalps and scowls
cityscapes and gritty growls
Anonymous (April 23, 2008 @ 6:05pm):
really? this is what the campus women's center uses their staff time for? staff time paid for by our student segregated fees? who do i contact from the women's center for a refund?
Mubic Shepard (April 23, 2008 @ 9:17pm):
the nascent paper dowel
Anonymous (April 23, 2008 @ 11:54pm):
I saw a great looking painting on the third floor of Grainger. Anyone know how much the Campus Women's Center charges for their services, as I'd really like to have it at my place, and simultaneously make Grainger feel bad about subjecting me to it.
Thanks in advance.
Anonymous (April 24, 2008 @ 8:04am):
it's pretty sad that we don't support each other as women. it's also sad that you all don't have the self esteem to demand that you are seen and treated equally to men.
Go job, CWC! Little victories add up. :)
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