Portland observer., February 09, 1978, Page 3, Image 3

Portland Observer
Thursday. February ». 1978
Page a
as
• •*
D r a ft« « is oae trade available at O.S.P.
Joe Potter teaches new enrollee the art of welding.
From behind the wall
by L a rry Baker,
O.S.P. Corres.ioadent
Billy W hitm ire, »39007
Asst. O.S.P. Cori es;>ondent
There is an area above the prison
library - a craft workshop and chapel - to
get there you have to travel down a long
corridor until you arrive at some class
rooms and offices, which are crowded
with chairs, desks, blackboards, and
books; this is what is known as the
Education departm ent to the inmates
and staff at O.S.P.
Pushed far in the back is a tiny
enclosure that is hardly large enough to
contain a large walnut desk, upon which
computer charts, drafts, and documents
are neatly stacked, along with a carved
redwood nameplate stating...T. Crowlgy.
Tony Crowley, a heavy set individual
with the look of professionalism, sat very
much at ease during an interview , as he
gave a detailed history on the position he
holds today. Apprenticeship Coordinator
at O.S.P. Crowley, in his late 30's or
early 40’s addressed himself as being
“just a mountain hillbilly from Block,
Tennessee, population 'few'."
course, and has worked hard since;
O.S.P. now has tw elve business machines
in the Vocational Training Program.
The O.S.P. Vocational Training in
Business Machines is completely sponsor
ed by Xerox Corporation. Portland, Ore
gon (except for the staff). “This means
that if an O.S.P. inmate completes the
one year course, he then gets a certificate
making him a full-fledged apprentice.
And he is then guaranteed $800 per
month, plus benefits upon placement and
release from incarceration," stated Tony
Crowley.
Crowley, as O.S.P. Apprenticeship Co­
ordinator governs other
Vocational
Training programs inside the prison
walls, i.e. D rafting. W elding, Body and
Fender, Cabinet-making, Plumbing. A u­
tomotive and Small M otor Repair. Each
shop is equipped with one or two instruc­
tors who are highly-skilled in their
profession. Not only do they train, but
they also teach inmates on-the-job funda­
mentals; such as how to get along with
A fte r tw enty years 11955 1975) Crow
ley retired from the U.S. A ir Force, employers and other employees, safety
where he not only obtained his G .E.D ., as rules and regulations, and sanitation.
To be admitted into a Vocational
many of the inmate students are trying to
accomplish or already have, but Crowley Training program at O.S.P. an agreement
also excelled in the ability to become very is signed between the trainer and the
knowledgeable in the field of electronics. trainee upon applying. The trainee must
For fourteen years Crowley worked as an have a high school education and must
instructor in the service.
continue with college courses related to
In 1975. Tony Crowley settled in the field the inmate is training in. The
Salem, and continued as an instructor at inmate also has to stay trouble free of
Chemeketa Community College - even
prison disciplinary problems. Presently
tually coming to work at O.S.P. Crowley enrolled in the Vocational Training pro­
spoke very proudly about the achieve­ grams are 80 inmates. Crowley hopes to
ment he developed by building up see an increase in future plans.
O .S.P.’s Business Machine repair course.
( It has been stated by many of the
When Crowley arrived the prison only counselors at O.S.P. that a prisoner with
had one business machine in the Voca­ a sentence more than five years, will find
tional Training Shop to work on. He has it very difficult to get enrolled in one of
every right in doing so. Crowley was the Vocational Training Programs by
sent to Washington. D.C. to study the Court recommendation. Many Judges
. . . U N IO N OR C O M P A N Y
DENTAL INSURANCE
is a valuable asset. . .
y o u r h e a lth
and
a p p e a ra n c e
C O M P L E T E C O O P E R A T IO N -
ON ALL
D E N T A L IN S U R A N C E C L A IM S
W E H A N D L E A L L T H E D E T A IL S OF
C O M P L E T IN G Y O U R C L A IM f o i X
N O APPOINTMENT NEEDED
Come in at your convenience
PARK FREE-Any Park n Shop Lot
H O U " S:
Dr. Jeffrey BRADY,
Dentist
S .W . 3R D A Y A M H IL L ST.. P O R T L A N D , O R EG O N
T A K E E L E V A T O R T O 2N D F LO O R 3R D 8 T . E N T R A N C E
Julius D. Snowden »38013,
Poetry Editor
throughout Oregon state in their sentenc­
ing report that they are sending the indi­
vidual to prison to learn a trade.)
Motivation plays a very large part in an
inmates’ success in Vocational Training
programs.
Ernest Watson, a Black 30 year-old
inmate welder trainee states, "When I .
came to prison I had hardly worked a day
in my life, and now that I've got the
o;»;«ortunity to become a welder, and
make a decent wage to support my
family. I don't w ant to go a day without
working."
This O.S.P. Correspondent was im ­
pressed with the knowledge tnat the
Automotive Repair Shop has a 53 percent
job placement success of inmates who
have completed the program and were
released back into society.
Extensive
follow-up is maintained.
But as Tony Crowley admits, O.S.P.
and the Vocational Training program
cannot claim the success of these pro­
grams alone...No, it took people beyond
these walls - employers, businesses,
labor, educators, clubs and organizations
- found in communities and cities of
Oregon. People who are willing to give a
man the opportunity of a decent wage for
a decent days work.
Maybe someday the word Rehabilita­
tion w ill fade from the lips of many, who
look upon prisons as trying to accomplish
such, and the word Opportunities will
focus into vision. For the effort of the
inmate, correctional official, and the
public, only time w ill tell, and Tony
Crowley will know.
[Note: This is the first in a three ;»art
series - "Counseling, Educations, and
Vocational Training at Oregon State
Penitentiary.”]
Mondale explains CR record
Vice President W alter F. Mondale, in a
speech to civil rights leaders, stressed
the importance of the C arter Adm inistra­
tion's commitment to equal opportunity
for minorities, saying that the challenge
America faces today is “to summon up a
new constituency of conscience in A m eri­
ca around the broad issues of economic
justice and human rights.”
Speaking to the 20th Annual M eeting
of the Leadership Conference on Civil
Rights, Mondale hailed the conference as
“one of the great success stories of our
time," and called for it to be a driving
force “in the new struggle for civil
rights."
“W e need your leadership, and we need
your voice as never before today," the
Vice President told the Leadership Con
ference. “In many ways the challenges
we face in civil rights are even more
difficult than those in the past."
T ’e issues are less dramatic than the
right
sit at a lunch counter or th.i right
of evei citizen to vote. The b ru ttlity is
less visit e when a Black teenager can't
find wort, than when a civil rights
marcher is set upon by dogs. Yet you and
I know the damage is just as real."
The Vice President outlined the Carter
Administration's principles of “the pro­
mise of equal rights” that include:
• Strict enforcement of civil rights laws.
• Strong support for Affirm ative Action
programs.
• New government recognition to special
needs of minorities, women and the
disabled.
A continuing support for human rights,
education, health care, decent neigh
borhoods, and jobs.
He also described the Administration's
1979 budget proposals to provide benefits
to aid the needy.
“Our new budget calls for the largest
increase in funds for education since the
Elem entary and Secondary Act was
passed," Mondale said, “and basic oppor
tunity grants for college students from
low and middle income families.”
"W e have asked for funds to provide
assisted housing for 400,000 low income
families, and in March, President C arter
will announce a new urban policy to
provide our cities with new commitment,
new funds, and new hope.”
E
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The Vice President also called for
__
granting full voting rights to the citizens
of the D istrict of Columbia, the passage of
the Equal Rights Amendment, and a
reformed welfare program.
“So much remains to be done," he said.
“But history teaches us that working
together - in the spirit of commitment
and belief that has always been a part of
the civil rights movement - we will
prevail.”
“W e will bring our nation back to full
employment. We will rebuild our cities
into communities of hope.
W e will
achieve the promise of America of justice
and equal rights.”
Stock No. 16-001
*1 9 8
Editor discusses nuclear power
W illiam Boly, senior editor of the
“Oregon Times Magazine,” will discuss
the economics of nuclear power at a
public workshop February 15th.
The
workshop is being sponsored by the
Trojan Decommissioning Alliance as part
of its educational program.
Boly is the author of numerous articles
on nuclear power; one ef which has
received national attention, “Inside Tro­
jan: Building a Nuclear Lemon." He has
Quality performing
convertible
dishwasher with
2-level washing
action and
Normal Wash
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Soft
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Disposer.
Dual
detergent dispenser.
Tuff Tub in terior.
Faucet Flo-Unicouple.
L ig h ts OH-Str—t Parking. . . I ASY
also testified on utility forecasting before
the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
and the Oregon Public U tility Commis
sioner.
The workshop begins at 8:00 p.m. at
the Sunnyside Methodist Church, 3520
S.E. Yamhill Street, Portland.
The
workshop is free and child care will be
provided. For further information call,
231-0014.
3
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