Playboy Distribution Choice Angers Women

Several weeks after it came out of the closet and into the light of day on reference shelves, Playboy's presence in Lamont library leaves women on campus divided on issues of pornography, free speech, and the appropriate response of the undergraduate community.

Some women say that the presence of Playboy in Lamont has the potential to make them feel uncomfortable.

"I think that if I were a freshman studying for finals and 2 guys across the table were laughing over the centerfold of Playboy, I would feel like the library was not a welcome atmosphere for me, and that strikes me as fundamentally wrong," said Avery W. Gardiner '97.

Women groups, in particular the Radcliffe Union of Students (RUS), quickly started to address the issue of how to respond to the magazine's presence, but have been unable to arrive at a consensus.

Megan L. Peimer '97, co-president emeritus of RUS, said, "The feminist community is divided over whether pornography should be legal.

There are women who feel very strongly that you shouldn't be allowed to objectify women in the way that pornography does. There's a whole debate going on. There's no way that RUS is going to bridge that." Peimer added, "RUS has a policy of not acting on something with political significance without a 2/3 vote [in support]."

Librarians in Lamont report little undergraduate response to the publication's presence. Previously, Playboy had been sequestered in "the closet," which, according to Heather Cole, librarian of the Hilles and Lamont libraries, is typically used only for magazines with missing issues which are being held until they can be bound.

"I know that one of the issues was that this is the only magazine that we have a subscription to that is kept in a secluded area, and I think that the question was--should that practice continue?" she said.

According to Cole, the decision was reached by Lamont's senior management group, which is composed of an assortment of library employees, including the head of reserves and circulation.

"They all have contact with the public and they are closely involved in doing the library's work," said Cole.

To date, Cole has spoken confidentially with one undergraduate who approached her. However, else-where on campus a number of female students have expressed concern over the publication's presence, and several have mentioned talk of other action in the fall. But for most, the issue comes at an inconvenient time, with end-of-the-year activities and moving out making it difficult to organize a response.

In addition, many campus activists feel that the Playboy fine for the library to carry magazines like Playboy presence, while troubling, takes a back seat to other issues of concern to women on campus.

"I think it's perfectly fine for the library to carry magazines like Playboy," Gardiner noted.

"In fact they probably should and there needs to be a balance struck between free speech and protecting a comfortable environment for everyone to study. I think that hiring more women Faculty is a more pressing concern," she added.

Karen Avery, dean for coeducation, was unavailable for comment

In addition, many campus activists feel that the Playboy fine for the library to carry magazines like Playboy presence, while troubling, takes a back seat to other issues of concern to women on campus.

"I think it's perfectly fine for the library to carry magazines like Playboy," Gardiner noted.

"In fact they probably should and there needs to be a balance struck between free speech and protecting a comfortable environment for everyone to study. I think that hiring more women Faculty is a more pressing concern," she added.

Karen Avery, dean for coeducation, was unavailable for comment