Fleeced Again

The Federal Government sometimes uses its tax dollars to underwrite academic research that might charitably be described as frivolous. Among recipients of such largesse is Sociologist Pierre van den Berghe of the University of Washington, who used part of a $97,000 grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to underwrite a report by his researcher, George Primov, titled, "The Peruvian Brothel as Sexual Dispensary and Social Arena."

Primov made some 20 visits to the San Tutis brothel outside the Andean city of Cuzco. His interviews with the prostitutes led to the conclusion that brothels do serve as, among other things, a gathering place for drinking and storytelling.

Senator William Proxmire last week gave the study his Golden Fleece Award for "the biggest, most ridiculous or most ironic waste of taxpayers' money." Van den Berghe, the author of Academic Gamesmanship, professed to be pleased, saying: "My reputation in the academic community will be enhanced."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.