When Clarence Met Anita

Ever since Anita accused Clarence of it in that celebrated committee hearing two years ago, sexual harassment has become the issue of the day.

In response to it, those accused have either crawled off in embarrassment or apologized abjectly and thrown themselves on their swords.

But today, we have something different, a guy who not only won’t apologize and won’t impale himself, but who demands a public apology from those who have allowed the accusation to go forward.

His name is Lawrence (Chuck) Jorgensen and he’s a professor of history and political science at L.A. Valley College, where the charge was made.

Unlike those who seek refuge in secrecy, Jorgensen has distributed hundreds of leaflets throughout the campus outlining the incident and has alerted the media to his intention to fight it to the bloody end.

At stake, he says, is academic freedom at LAVC and a reputation built over 34 years of teaching.

The case has become a cause celebre at the little community college, with students taking sides, the president of the faculty association backing Jorgensen and the administration wishing the whole thing would just go away.

A gruff, outspoken man, Jorgensen is not about to let it go away. While he might admit to a sailor’s mouth, a sexual harasser he is not. He isn’t even sure what it is.

And frankly, folks, neither is anyone else.

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Hardly anyone ever heard of sexual harassment before Anita Hill accused Clarence Thomas of making “unwanted advances” toward her on his way to becoming an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Since then, it has grown almost as popular as bingo, striking fear into the hearts of individuals and institutions who must deal with it.

Ohio’s Antioch College is a unique example of one such institution so terrorized by the very notion of sexual abuse that it enacted a code requiring verbal approval for every sexually tinted act, including kissing and hand-holding.

“Maybe” isn’t good enough at Antioch. A firm “yes” is necessary every step of the way. Written approval may be next.

On the other extreme, you’ve got Oregon’s Sen. Bob Packwood, whose tendency to paw, grope, strip and take notes borders on dementia.

Packwood has defined sexual harassment in its classic state, but there are more obscure situations to cope with too. Chuck Jorgensen’s case is one.

The incident occurred last August during the first session of Political Science 1, which is taught every Tuesday evening. There were approximately 50 students in class at the time.

As he tells it, Jorgensen, 59, was outlining the course when he was asked how one could earn extra credit. He replied offhandedly, “Well, I used to accept sexual favors, but I don’t anymore.”

Then he went on to tell a joke that used the (gasp) F-word, though not in a sexual sense. It was, in fact, a joke that favored Native Americans and probably would have been cheered on the reservation.

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A female student whose name was not revealed complained that she was offended by Jorgensen’s humorously intended sexual favors comment and by his use of That Word.

How this came to be sexual harassment is unclear, though Jorgensen feels the student was induced into filing the charge by an overly zealous administration that loves to tamper with teaching methods.

He doesn’t argue with a student’s right to be offended by his language. Others have also objected to it over the years.

“I put on a show,” he said the other day. “That’s what I do. At least it proves they’re listening.” He adds: “But offensive language isn’t sexual harassment. Calling it that is censorship under a different name.”

Jorgensen’s unorthodox method of teaching hasn’t discouraged most students. He’s taught 14,000 of them since coming to Valley College in 1964. They line up to get into his classes.

Beyond the apology he demands from the college, he basically wants to be allowed to teach without interference. “Just give me some chalk,” he says, “and leave me alone.”

The charge against him, which could result in dismissal, is being processed in the kind of murky way that characterizes college handling of a ticklish situation. Even Jorgensen isn’t sure where it stands.

One member of the Valley College administration calls the incident “a borderline thing that’s gotten way out of hand.” Jorgensen calls it a lot worse than that. Typically, his language is inappropriate. But it sure makes the point.