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U n iv e rs ity o f Oregon L ib ra ry
gene, Oregon 97403
Hamilton seeks Teen-Age title
PORTLAND
OBSERVER
Volume 8 Ne. 12
Thursday, March 1«, 1978
Mr». Marilyn Sykes will again take ;mrt in the March ol
INme* W alk-a-Thon on A .iril 15th. Mr». Sykes ha» been the
Ito .ter ce;.y
rham.uon fund-raiser lor the laut three year».
Three-time w in ner rea d y to march ag ain
What makes Marilyn Sykes like to
walk?
First, she says, because it is a good
cause - she walks so youngsters may
someday walk. And then, she admits, she
likes to have a new car to drive each year.
Mrs. Marilyn Sykes is the champion
walker in the annual March of Dimes
Walk a Thon. In the last three years, this
smiling, claims and inquiry clerk at the
Main U.S. Post Office, has won the full
use of a new car for a year.
This year the 7th annual Walk, which
will start at 8:00 a.m.. Saturday, April
15th, from the Memorial Coliseum - will
be her fifth. Last year from her sponsors
she collected $2,621; the year before was»
$1.801. Already in the first week of»
March she has pledges of more than
$2.000 for the 20-kilometer. And, she
admits, she has been slowed by a sick
child.
The main prize is the use of a new
Volkswagen Rabbit for one year, donated
by Riviera Motors. The top prize for
walkers eleven years old and younger is a
trip to Disneyland for two. But the young
walker must have pledges of $1.000 or
more to be in contention.
Nearly 10.000 walkers raised approxi
malely $250.000 last year for the March
of Dimes important research into the teen, and Vanessa, fourteen. In addition,
cause, effect and the alleviation of birth there will be her nephew Michael Wash
defects.
ington, fifteen. Of course, she'll also
How does Mrs. Sykes, who with her have the usual entourage of postal em
husband Earl, are employees of the ployees. who like to walk with the
Postal Service, get so many sponsors. "Champ”.
Well, many of her average 450 sponsors
Between Walk-a-Thons Marilyn keeps
are fellow employees of the Postal Ser fit by walking and taking other exercise.
vice.
“I'm really not an athlete.” she confesses,
“I’ve got one good fellow employee who
“but I do like to watch athletic events,
donates $10 per mile, or $200," she
reveals. “That's a big help right there. such as the State Basketball Tourna
ment."
And then, there is a secretary of a
Youngsters in Multnomah, Washington
company, near the Post Office, who
and
Clackamas counties now are signing
donates $100. But many of the donations
up for the Walk and scrambling to get
average $10.“
sponsors. Each walker must have an
Mrs. Sykes has an eight year old son.
Earl Jr., who was struck with tuberculo official sponsor, and a minimum of five
cents per kilometer is required.
sis meningitis, when a few months old.
It's now a birth defect, but it has caused
Sponsor sheets may be obtained from
the son to be spastic on his right side and KGW Radio, school offices or at the
caused some mental retardation, his Tri-County Chapter of the March of
mother said.
Dimes headquarters in the Woodlark
“It's not a birth defect, but my many Building in downtown Portland. The
visits to hospitals and seeing the suffer
office is open Monday through Friday
ing from birth defects has made me all until 4:00 p.m.
the more sympathetic to the March of
Mark Gambee. a pre-med student at
Dimes' cause."
.Portland State, again is youth chairman
On April 15th, Marilyn expects to be for the fourth year. Dave Twardzik,
"rarin' to go" at 7:00 a.m. She will be guard for the World Champion Trailblaz
accompanied by daughters Carmen, fif
ers, again is honorary chairman.
Portland Muslims m ake p ilgrim age to Mecca
Three Portland men, Emam Tauheed
Saddnn, Nuntaisir Rushdan, and Nabeeh
Uudair Dawan, were among 350 Ameri
can Muslims who participated in the an
nual Haijj. The group was sponsored by
the World Muslim leagu e and they were
guests of the government of Saudi Ara
bia
The Americans, members of the World
Community of Islam in the West (former
ly the Nation of Islam), were accom
panied by Emam Wallace D. Muhammad.
This is the first time that a large group of
American born Muslims have partici
pated in the Haijj.
The Haijj is the Fifth Pillar of the
Muslim faith, required of all Muslims who
are physically and economically able to
go, and is a visit to the holy places at
Mecca involving prayer and sacrifice.
"This was an experience that has
completely changed my life,” Nuntaisir
Rushdan said. "I continuously remember
the things that happened and the things I
learned. It is still hard to imagine that I
walked on the very ground where Abra
ham walked.” Nabeeh Uudair Dawan
explained the feeling of unity gained by
being among 2.5 million people - all with
the same purpose. “Although we were
with people from all over the world and
from all walks of life, there was no
conflict.
Everyone found a way to
communiifti-,"
Dawan explained (hat for the first time
he found himself in a place where he had
no fear and felt no hostility. “I became
aware that I didn't have to constantly
watch behind to be sure I was safe.
Everyone had the same feeling of broth
erhood everyone was equal. It was a
revelation to return to this country and
when landing at the airport to feel the
hostility and the conflict. There was none
of that in Arabia. Although there was
security and of course police and an
Army, there was no outward show of
force.”
Among the holy places visited were the
Kaaba. built over the remains of the
house built by Abraham. Pilgrims walk
around the Kaaba seven times and visit
other historic areas including the place
where Huggar ran between the moun
tains Safa and Marwa seeking water for
her baby.
At Arafat they visited the Mount
sermon, now the site of Namra Masjid,
and climbed the Mountain of Revelation.
During the Haijj. a gown is worn so
that all pilgrims have equal status. "You
could be standing next to a Prince, but no
one would even know. The rich and the
poor are equal at this time.”
Although many native languages are
spoken, greetings and prayers are in
Arabic. The three Portlanders had the
opportunity to talk to hundreds of Mus
lima from nearly every nation and also
attended seminars and classes. Dawan,
who hopes to go again, plans to study
more Arabic so he can communicate more
easily.
Muslims come from all over the world,
many at great personal sacrifice. For
example, a large group walked all the
way from Nigeria. Although the Ameri
cans were housed at a university, most of
the pilgrims camp in small tents in the
dessert. The mutual sacrifice and barren
living conditions is an equalizer that not
only puts all of the participants in equal
circumstances but emphasizes that many
of lifes luxuries are not necessary. “I
came back with a great appreciation for
the physical comforts we have in Ameri
ca and although I enjoy having them, I
now know that I could get along with
less,” Rushdari explained.
The United World Community of Al
Islam in the West is now directed by
Wallace D. Muhammad, the son of its
founder, the Honorable Elijah Muham
mad. Formerly called the Nation of Islam
(or the “Black Muslims" by the press), the
group emphasized Black pride, separa
tion from whites, and economic develop
ment. When Wallace D. Muhammad took
over the leadership three years ago, after
his father's death, he changed the direc
tion to reject racism and bring to the
organization the true beliefs and prac
tices of Islam.
In the words of Dr. C. Eric Lincoln,
"Wallace D. Muhammad does not stand in
his father's shoes, but on his father's
shoulders. The vista he sees from that
vantage point is in broader perspective,
and it is multi dimensional. Under his
leadership, the Nation of Islam has in
orderly and timely transition become the
World Community of Islam in the West.'
Respected by Christian and Jews alike,
it is bidding for a responsible place in that
traditional triumvirate of great religions,
here in America.’’
(See .ilctures on Page 5,|
Attractive activist Camille Hamilton,
seventeen, West Linn High School is the
first girl student body president and the
first non white student body president in
its 53 year history. Ms. Hamilton is a
national contestant in a prestigeous scho
larship program and state finalist in
“Miss National Teenager" contest.
Having won competition for nomina
tion by West Linn High School chapter of
the National Honor Society, Ms. Hamil
ton is now a candidate for National scho
larship honors in the society. She is also
scheduled to participate, as a finalist, in
the “Miss Oregon National Teenager”
Pageant at the University of Portland
May 12th through the 14th.
The University of Portland pageant is
the official state finals in the Miss
National Teenagers selection process.
The winner at this level will receive a
cash scholarship, a tuition-paid scholar
ship to Barbizon modeling school and an
expense paid trip to Atlanta. At the
national pageant in Atlanta, Georgia, in
August, more than $10,000 in cash scho
larships will be awarded.
The Miss National Teenagers Pageant
is not a bathing beauty contest, according
to its national director, but a selection
process stre ssin g high scholastic
achievements, poise, personality, partici
pation in school and civic affairs and
voluntary community service. In addi
tion each finalist is required to write and
recite an essay on “What’s Right About
America.”
The Afro-Asian-American beauty de
clines to speculate on her chances of
breaking the color barrier to become
"Miss National Teenager" or “Miss Ore
gon” in the Miss Teenager Pageant. She
is quick to point out that other partici
pants have impressive credits. More
over, fifty percent of the judging process
will be applied on the basis of ’beauty,' a
very subjective matter. She conceeds
she would be happier if more emphasis
were given to objective factors.
By objective standards Ms. Hamilton’s
record of achievement would appear to be
competitive. Despite a heavy schedule of
academic, extracurricular, social and
community activities, she has maintained
a straight “A" average during her senior
year and an overall average during her
high school career of “A-". At the same
time she continued to perform her news
paper editorship, student government,
and leadership activities at a level which
won her class vote for the leadership
award and the designation of “girl most
likely to succeed."
Recently she was a state finalist in the
Daughters of American Revolution “Good
Çjtizen Scholarship Award" after having
Won first place at the chapter and district
levels competition. She was unable to
MARCH 2 |PN S| - Since the massive
looting in the wake of New York City’s
(>ower blackout last summer, the image of
a violence prone urban youth has brought
fear and concern to American cities.
f Legislators, newspaper editors and cri
minal justice professionals have used the
same image of a rising wave of juvenile
violence as the rationale for a "get tough"
policy toward youthful offenders.
That policy has led to stiffer sentences
for juvenile criminals, accelerated youth
prison construction and a new emphasis
on control instead of rehabilitation in the
juvenile justice system.
I
But is the image a fair and accurate
• juvenile offenses are not directed
one? Recent evidence from the Justice disproportionately against the elderly
Department offers a different, less dra and the helpless, as often portrayed.
matic picture. Contrary to the standard
Actually, juveniles themselves are most
myths, the most recent FBI Uniform often the victims of juvenile crime.
Crime Reports show that:
It remains true that teenagers do
• Juvenile crime is less serious and commit more crime than their proportion
widespread than adult crime, which still of the total population would indicate. In
accounts for most crimes of violence.
1976, according to the FBI’s statistics,
Juvenile offenses are most often aimed at youths under eighteen accounted for
property, not people;
about ¿5 percent of all arrests across the
• juvenile crimes of violence, while country, while they constituted about 31
serious, are not increasing. In fact, of the
percent of the total population.
four major crimes of violence murder,
While these figures seem to suggest
rape, robbery and aggravated assault -
that young people commit fewer crimes
the statistic* show a marked decrease in than their proportion of the population,
juv nile offenses;
they ignore the fact that youth crime is
C A M IL L E H A M IL T O N
attend the DAR Convention in Medford
last Saturday because she was busy
competing successfully in district speech
elimination meet for the right to go to
state in a new event. Having peaked in
poetry last year when she won the gold
medal, after taking two silvers in succes
sive years, Ms. Hamilton switched to
expository this year and tied for first
place in eliminations at district last
Saturday.
By appointment of Governor Straub,
the civic minded Ms. Hamilton has
served this year as the only high school
student on the Citizen Foreign Policy
Council in the “Speak-Oregon" project.
By appointment of State Superintendent
of Public Instruction she is serving as the
representative of all students in the state
on the Competency Based Educational
Program Policy Board. She has served as
a volunteer at the Urban League s Senior
Adult Service Center.
Prior to her senior year, her most
rewarding special talent was reading and
writing poetry. With points accumulated
in poetry events she won the Goldfinger
Award two years in succession and the
right to have it permanently.
The
Forensic Club voted her best freshman,
best sophomore, best junior and presi
dent of the club for her junior year. At
district competition level, she took two
first and one second place in poetry
during her first three years in high
school. She had the same fortune at the
WILCO League level. At the invitational
tournament level she picked up eight first
place trophies and one second place.
(Please turn to Page 4 Column 3)
Commission hearing addresses domestic violence
Thousands of women in the Portland
area endure repeated physical abuse in
their own homes. Is there any way out
for these women or must they accept
abuse as a fact of life?
A public hearing on the subject of
domestic violence is being organized and
co-sponsored for the Portland area by the
Governor’s Commission for Women,
Bradley Angle House and the Coalition
for Battered Women. The hearing is
scheduled for Tuesday, March 21, 1978 in
the Portland State University Ballroom
commencing at 6:30 p.m. The hearing
will consist of a panel presentation by
Multnomah County law enforcement offi
cials and others who are familiar with the
problem of domestic violence, followed by
testimony, questions and comments from
the public. The purpose of this public
hearing is to gather information from the
public concerning the nature and extent
of domestic violence in the Portland area.
Victims of domestic violence are in
vited to share their experiences and
concerns by giving testimony during the
public hearing.
However, for those
persons who wish to share their exper
iences but are unable to do so during the
D r. E r u m u Ogbuoblri at Beaaevllle Hewer gave Desiree
King and Karla Talley, students in Portland State F T*nrntitnal
( enter's (re-engineering course for minority Ugh school
Juvenile crime: Myth and reality
by Elliott Currie
< ■ * * ”'*
concentrated in the higher age brackets,
from fifteen to eighteen.
Still, the statistical portrait of youth
crime provides a different picture than
the myth: In 1976, people under
eighteen accounted for only 9.2 percent of
all murder arrests - while Americans
over 45, supposedly the least crime prone
segment of the population, accounted for
13.5 percent. Youths under eighteen
committed 1,302 murders in 1976, while
the much smaller 25 to 29 year old group
committed more than twice that number
For most other crimes of violence, the
picture is similar. The only officially
designated violent crime in which teen
age youths are over represented is rob
at udenti, a guided
Opea Henee. The at
M r. and M r». N o n
bery - 33.5 percent of arrests in 1976
were of youths under eighteen. Signifi
cantly. robbery is a property related
crime. It is in crimes against property
that juveniles are clearly over represent
ed, accounting for slightly more than half
of all arrests for burglaries and motor
vehicle thefts, and about three fifths of
arrests for vandalism.
In terms of violent crime, juvenile
offenses are actually declining, both in
the nation as a whole and in the cities.
Between 1975-76, the number of juvenile
arrests nationwide dropped 17.3 percent
for murder, and 19.3 percent for robbery.
Youth arrests for rape and aggravated
aaaault also dropped by 3.4 percent and
public hearing, testimony will be taker
privately by representatives of the spon
soring organizations in Room 353, Smitl
Center, Portland State University be
tween 5:00 and 6:30 p.m. on March 21
1978. Persons who cannot attend the
hearing but who wish to make a state
ment can do so by calling 281 2442 or by
sending a written statement, signed or
unsigned, to the Governor’s Commission
for W omen, 116 Labor and Industries
Building. Salem, 97310.
For additional information, call Marilyn
G. Miller, Executive Director, Governor's
Commission for Women. 378-6520.
r during P 8U Engineering Department
nts were accom.tnnied by their .wrente.
King and M r. and Mrs. Ren Talley. .
4.4 percent respectively.
For the most serious and terrifying of
violent crimes -- murder - juvenile
arrests have been declining since the
early 1970s. Between 1972 76, juvenile
murder arrests dropped by more than 27
percent.
JUVENILE VICTIMS
Not only are the stereotypes about
juvenile criminals misleading, but so are
those regarding the victims of juvenile
crime. Data from recent surveys by the
Law Enforcement Assistance Adrnini
stration show clearly that life is far more
threatening for juveniles than for adults
-- and, in general, least threatening for
(Please turn to Page 2 Column 4)