Administrative Assistant Mercie Fernandez has worked in the Santa Cruz County Extension Office, in Nogales, for 19 years. As she says, proudly, "I do a little bit of everything-—answer the phone, meet the public, refer people to someone who can help them. I enjoy having a very, very interesting and diverse job."

Mercie is bilingual (Spanish and English), which is a tremendous advantage in Nogales where about 25 percent of Extension's clientele speak only Spanish. As Dick Harris, the County Director, says, "Mercie is a big asset for Cooperative Extension." Dick also praises Mercie's loyalty, and her ability to be pleasant on the phone, no matter how aggravating the caller becomes. An avowed computer-phobe himself, Dick is particularly impressed with her computer skills. "Mercie became a topnotch computer expert, partly by taking UA classes on her own time."

A native of Las Vegas, Mercie prefers Nogales, where "everything is pretty calm, even though we have our problems and idiosyncracies." Her home has "finally calmed down, too," she says with a smile. "I can be my own person." But, she readily admits that her family is most important in her life. She raised five children and two grandchildren, but they're all grown now.

I just read the Identifying Racism article in your June issue and felt the need to express my opinion. The article itself is racist. It is written with the underlying assumption that whites are the racists and people of color are not. Some individuals in minority groups have prejudices against people from other minority races. Racism is not an issue of whites against every other ethnic group; it's an issue of fear of the unknown and can be found in all people groups. What we need to focus on is the individual. We are all unique, yet we all have the same basic needs. We really aren't that different from each other. I recently read there is no genetic basis for race in humans. In other words, we are all one race with a lot of external variations. Wouldn't it be nice if we all acted as if we believed we were the same? -- Elaine Hassinger, Assistant in Extension, Maricopa Agricultural Center

At some time in our lives, we're each "young" and "old." But as we grow up, we tend to forget language that abused us as children. And, until we are elderly, we are oblivious to ways language discriminates against older people, too. To avoid ageism in communication: · Designate age only when relevant; · Use accurate terms for age groups and the activities you're describing. "Juvenile" has a negative image; use "grandmotherly" only when appropriate to what's going on. · Recognize that, old or young, people are individuals. Don't be amazed at the endurance, involvement, and intelligence of older people. Recognize children's self-reliance and citizenship. · Let children and older people speak for themselves.

2. The number of adherents to Islam in the United States is approximately: a. 1 million b. 6 million c. 3.5 million d. 600,000

3. This quote "Today the L.A. Rams became yet another sacrificial gift from the football scheduling gods not taking pity on the sorry Rams and their erratic quarterback, Jim Everett—nicknamed Chris Everett by some of his team mates..." is an example of: a. The macho obsession with football and with winning b. run-on sentence c. how comparing a man to a woman is in and of itself an insult in our culture d. an insult to Chris Everett

4. The immigrant group identified as holding the highest percentage of managerial professional jobs comes from: a. India b. Japan c. Canada d. Germany

Affirmative action is becoming a complex and contentious issue for higher education, says the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC). The focus of an intense and growing public debate may make the issue even more hotly contested. A national Gallup poll shows Americans are split on the issue, depending on the specific affirmative action program. Attacks are leading to legislative initiatives that force higher education to take a close look at current policies.

Two bills could drastically change the way most universities operate. The first would end all racial and ethnic preferences in all federal programs. The second bill would prevent all organizations with 15 or more employees from basing their hiring on race or ethnicity. NASULGC president C. Peter Magrath says, "We will continue to be closely involved in these issues, both as an association and as a participant with others in the national debate. "Our public universities know well the vital role that diversity plays in higher education, and we will continue to make access and opportunity one of NASULGC's top priorities."

• How about an honest, equitable relationship with white women—based on trust, free of gender roles and biases, sexual expectations and violence, full of honesty and growth?
• How about an equitable relationship with people of color—based on trust, free of racial stereotypes and white guilt, free of subordination and false superiority, full of honesty and growth?
• How about an equitable relationship with gay men and lesbian women, based on trust, free of sexual fear and violence, free of misunderstandings, full of honesty and growth?
• How about a chance to not be the bad guy—not to have to be the sole supporter, free to cry, live longer, to be a hero not of conquest but of healing, to be able to stay home and raise the children—to love truly and be loved truly as we are?

• Don't make off-hand or sarcastic comments relating to people;
• Be aware that your public actions and words send two messages: the content of your decision and the process you use to make it;
• There is no "they." If you don't take the lead, no one else will.

George Simons, Sally Walton

"Test" Answers

1: (b); 2: (c); 3: (c, although all answers are accurate) and 4: (a)