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Show 'i',Sexual harassment is the leastunderstood discrimination issue. Women have learned to avoid the situation. Men fail to understand · , \. · .., some of their behaviors constitute harassment" It was her job to listen to com~ plaints, get a statement from the accused and write reports and \ ,,. : pass them to a higher level. Her . I j II \ · . , reports were factual accounts. It ~ was up to superiors to resolve issues. Her personal opinions were kept to herself..... . ,_,. ,... ·,' .... '.:::,\. She does have an opinion on the . .-, .; Hill-Thomas issue. By Carolyn Monson "Members of the Senate JudiTHE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE ciary Committee's constant ques:· Helene B. Fairchild, Salt Lake ~ons as to why Ms. Hill waited so long before talking about the City, is determined to work problem showed their lack of unwith or without a paycheck. :· An inner-ear disease forced her derstanding. Where could Anita '1,'· 'Ryan Galbnitb/The Salt Lake Tribune lfeiene Fa.irchfld works even to retire in 1985 as a federal em- Hill take her complaint? Ms. Hill wtth<out a paycheck. _ ployee. She also had to quit driv- was at the top EEO level, the ing her car. The dizziness and loss Commission. · ·;• '" : · · of some hearing has not~ however, ! "Still, the federal government "Life" .is difficult for single Jcept her from putting in hours I is way ahead of private business mothers today. It was 'grimsville' each day as a volunteer and, on I in understanding sexual harassthen. The worst part is the same occasion, as a paid consultant pre- ! ment issues," Ms. Fairchild said. She sees the next major distoday as it was then, not having $enting retirement seminars to • anyone to share decisions. A singovernment entitie~d private I crimination fight to be age. "It's difficult to prove and it's gle parent has to solve every industry. · · problem alone." She has become a devoted Utah 1 nasty." Before her stint as an EEO speHer daughters are grown. One Transit Authority patron. is an artist, the other a businessThere is a never-give-up-or-in Icialist, Ms. Fairchild was writer woman. determination to Ms. Fairchild and editor for government pro"Not working gets old in a hurwho says she gives her age as "go- jects like dam, coal-mine and ry. There's a loss of identity with ing on 39 frQ!D_the other side." · power-plant sites. "Investigators retirement. Without a paycheck, Short in stature, she is big on made a total analysis of sites to people tend to feel worthless. It's fashion, dressed in a short, plaid detemwi~- the advantages and important to build a new i~entity pleated skirt, crested blazer and disadvantages, including the enviwhite dotted hosiery. ronmental impact of each project. "Notworking gets old in a hurMs. Fairchild's extensive ca- "There were·.up to 14 different ry. There's a loss of identity with reer as a volunteer has included impact studies - air quality to retirement. Without a paycheck, people tend to feel worthless. It's work for the Utah Arts Festival, , economic advantages to botany. important to build a new identity head of tour guides for the Cathe- Each specialist would then write a · a hurry, " she s~id dral of the Madeleine, tour guide report. It was my J. ob to compile, m su • · . Becoming a volunteer was Ms. for the Utah Heritage Foun- edit and write up a finished reFairchild's new identity. dation, chair of docents at the Mu- port according to government forseum of Fine Arts, University of mat. ·: ·.. "Volunteers are essential. "It was fascinating and enlightWithout the time and service conUtah, and president of the tributions of .. dedicated. .volun- -. Friends of the Salt Lake City Pub- ening," she said. "There'~ a frag1 teers, organizations, faced with ile interconnection for every aclic Library System. budget constraints, ,.would not be _ She is serving a three-year term tion taken on Earth." Ms. Fairchild graduated from able to offer patrons the service as member of the Salt Lake City levels they've come to expect." · · Public Library Board of Direc- then Weber State College with a degree in English and history. }• There's another bonus to betors. coming a volunteer. "If you get · As a former federal Equal Em- Just out ·of college, she went to ployment Opportunity (EEO) spe- work for Air Force Intelligence as ! into something and decide you .. f don't like it, it's easy to get out . cialist, who dealt with discrimina- a court reporter. In 1952, she said she martj.ed a j ··and go onto something else." ;· · tion, harassment and unfair employment practices, she found government intelligence agent , ·. She tells prospective retirees that a retirement has nothing to the Clarence Thomas hearings at whose idea of the perfect life was do with money. It is happy or not '. which Anita Hill testified "rivet- to become a beach bum. They lived on an island off the coast of depending on what a person ing." makes of it. ·· ,. :; "Sexual harassment is the least- Florida for six years before diMs. Fairchild's choices keep understood discrimination issue. vorcing. She returned to Utah Women have learned to avoid the with two daughters. In 1958, she 1 her busy every day. "On a busy week, I put in eight situation. Men fail to understand worked as an office manager for hours a day," she said. some of their behaviors constitute an architecture and engineering firm, staying 13 years. ~arassment.". _ . _. . 1t Ear pro m won t keen_-~her ' fa'()m Wo -,.k;n~ :.even fior faee.'\,\>.-: . l 1 1 1 I |
