Pa*«4 Portland Observer Thursday. August 3. 1978
FLASH FLOOD
Behind the wall
Larry Baker 935021.
O.S.P. Correspondent
Vemetl Franklin 940071.
Assistant O S. P. Correspondent
Julius D Snowden 938013.
Poetry Editor
*- V
“ Ho* far will our grievances
go?” asked one Black inmate who
stated he has been incarcerated for
eighteen years.
“ Will they be watered down to the
point to where they will have no
effect at all?” asked another.
These were the questions placed
before Robert Hughes. Conciliation
Specialist, Community Relation
Services, a branch of the U.S.
Department of Justice and Paul
Aronson, Corrections Ombudsman
for the State of Oregon.
Representatives from the Black,
Indian, and Mexican American
inmate culture groups, along with
other inmates, met for the fourth
time to discuss ways and means to
handle charges of discrimination
problems within the walls of O.S.P.
Many of the inmates believed such
an important meeting and subject
should be brought to the general
population so that all inmates would
become aware of what was being
stated each time this group of
individuals came together. They felt
that passing ‘word of mouth' was
very dangerous.
These minorities’ discrimination
grievance meetings were the result of
charges being made against this
institution when Benjamin Hooks,
national director of the NAACP
visited O.S.P. last July 1st, along
with local NAACP members.
John Jackson, Portland Branch
NAACP President, in mid July
called on the U.S. Justice
Department to intervene in order to
help solve some of the issues brought
forth by the minority inmates.
Some of the issues presented were
as follows:
1. Over-crowded conditions.
2. More minority employees in
decision-making positions.
3. Minority sensitivity training
sessions for all personnel in Oregon
Correctional System.
4. Employee willingness to escort
minority inmates on community
speaking engagements, community
projects and bedside visits when
family members are ill or in
hospitals.
3. Religious diets placed on
mainline chow.
6. Equal worship services for
Muslim faith.
7. .All material adherent to rules
and regulations distributed and
posted in Spanish.
8. Equal choice in selection of
‘outside’ entertainment sponsored
inside the prison.
9. G reater access to legal
envelopes and to a Notary Public;
inmates in isolation and segregation
receiving legal books and material.
10. Visiting conditions.
11. Medical conditions.
12. Legal mail being withheld.
13. More minorities allowed in
transitional and drug programs.
There were other grievances, but
these were the main concerns that
Aronson and Hughes sat down with
the Superintendent and his staff to
iron out at this time.
H.C. Cupp related to the
Ombudsman and Conciliation
Specialist that he welcomes this type
of communication about problems
and that all channels are open to the
Superintendent's office for such
problems to be discussed.
Cupp is known throughout the
prison population for making
himself available to listen to
individual problems in the mess hall,
on the yard, walking through the
shops, etc. (a rarity many other
prisons do not have) — this
Correspondent would like to offer
this bit of information which might
surprise many of the inmates and
‘Behind the Wall’ readers.
When the O .S.P. Law Class,
which hosted Hooks’ visit to this
institution, sent out letters for
support, Paul Aronson and the
Correction Ombudsman Office were
the first to come forward to offer
Rain
sunshine and clouds,
lightening, then thunder.
287-0215 or 288-5692
and later . . .
flowers fragrance,
sunshine,
The N a w York Lifa agent
in your co m m u n ity ia a
good parson to kn o w .
drying riverbed;
life returns.
by Robert F. Re
Blind Ignorance
I
The sense of
non
sense
is harder
to penetrate
than the darkness
of pride
PAUL ARONSON
support.
Many times solving issues takes
time, but Aronson assured the group
that each and every grievance wiK
receive his office’s full attention. He
stated, “ th a t’s why I am here,
because it’s my job to do exactly
this.”
Aronson continued to say “ Many
times the Correction Ombudsman
likes to play ‘low key’ in handling
issues. We work better that way, but
1 am asking each minority club to
invite me to their meeting so we
may get to the heart of every
problem.”
The minority club representatives
stated they would offer the
invitations.
Hughes said he will meet again
with the group in the near future as
soon as Aronson has written his
report on the grievances.
This Correspondent must applaud
the inmates and these two gentlemen
in the m anner in which they
discussed and presented issues that
need to be aired out all over this
nation.
Carter urges vigorous affirm ative action
Bakke decision by the U.S. Supreme
Court enables the federal govern
ment and his Adm inistration to
continue affirmative action efforts at
increasing m inority employment
“ without interruption.”
“ With your help,” the President
told department and agency heads,
“ this Administration has been able
to
develop
and
implement
m eaningful affirm ative action
programs throughout the federal
government, and as a result minority
employment has increased to its
highest level in history.”
“ Since my Administration began,
PEGGY JOSEPH
Rivers of rain,
wind,
* H yeei
DAY
S IR V IC I
M O D ER N DENTURE
Tech n iq u e
★
PRICES
QUOTED
MAOVANCE
Ceme in bafora 10 e .m . end W e Will Try »e
Deliver your Dentures by 4 p.m . Some Day
Save T im » a w a y fr o m Y o u r J ob
S a ra E m b a r r a a r m a n t . . .
No A p p o in tm e n t N eed ed
FRFF
Estim ates
Sodium Pentothal
FOR
by Julius D. Snowden
Visit:
M b Advantage b f this
M fe o r Y e a r D entu re» W h en You A w a k e !
III
While the dark is,
it only last,
and last. . .
and last. . .
until you -
i
8
h
t . ..
a candle.
Interested In current books
about African Liberation?
Bi. BERNARD R<
That Tea
IB MOST CASES
II
And woman
is
man's yes
that vibrates
the cosmic harmonies
SLEEP DURING
te B e a l W ith
E xtraction s & Fillings
NO INTEREST
OR
CARRYING CHARGE
in Attendance
★ Registered Anesthetist
FAST
Dentei Repairs
in c lu d in g
AU
Dental
Insurance
eCMTURE REPAIRS
I re 1 H e a r t
•
in * l e » f C e»
M OUt OWN M N IU U M W A TO tt
Phone — 227-242 7
Accepted
JOHN REED BOOK STORE
In the Dekum Building
519 S.W. 3rd Avenue
Sixth Floor
lim u t
•
D « N T I8 T
H oil r»
Street Leve!
5 1 5 $ W
Closed Saturdays
227 2902
I have been strongly committed to a
policy of affirmative action. It is
through such programs that we can
expect to remove the effects of
discrimination and ensure equal op
portunities for all Americans," the
President said.
The President said the Bakke
decision “ indicates that properly
tailored affirmative action plans,
which provide minorities with in
creased access to federal programs
and jobs and which are fair to all
Americans, are consistent with the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 and with the
Constitution.”
a
F o r m i A v a ila b le
a t o u r O ffic e
h .m < w i» sno p vt
Or call:
WASHINGTON — President
Carter has urged all executive depart
ments and agencies in the federal
government to make certain that
they follow through on the recent
Bakke decision and “ develop, im
plement and enforce vigorously af
firmative action programs.”
“ 1 also want to make certain that
the Administration’s strong com
mitment to equal opportunity and
affirmative action is recognized and
understood by all A m ericans,’’
President Carter said in a memoran
dum.
The President said that the recent
W a n t a «afa, sura incorna for the
rast of your life? CALL
Ave
A
<221
CtffTH in
OFFICES ALSO IN SALIM A I » « « ’
EXODUS
a n d ^ tea /m ee » / ¿ eeidre
1518 N f KILLINGSWORTH
PORTLAND. OREGON 9721 1
284 7997
Contractors barred from government work
WASHINGTON — A construc
tion firm from Pennsylvania and one
from Michigan are no longer eligible
for government business because of
equal employment opportunity
violations. Assistant Secretary of
Labor for Employment Standards
Donald Elisburg has announced.
Debarred from contract work are
American Sanitary Sales and Service.
Inc., a plumbing and steamfitting
firm based in Willow Grove,
Pennsylvania,
and
Painting
Corporation of Detroit, a Warren,
Michigan, company specializing in
paint and wall covering work.
The companies violated equal
e m p lo y m e n t
o p p o rtu n ity
requirements under Executive Order
11246. This presidential order
forbids federal contractors and
subcontractors
from
job
discrimination based on race, sex,
religion, color or national origin. It
also requires such firms to take
affirmative action — positive steps
— to hire and promote minorities
and women.
Executive O rder 11246 is
administered by the Office of
Federal C ontract Compliance
Programs (OFCCP) in the Labor
D e p a r t m e n t ’ s E m p lo y m e n t
Standards Administration.
Specifically, the two contractors
failed to meet hiring goals for
m inority workers in several
construction crafts. They also
neglected or refused to make "good
faith” efforts to reach these goals.
“ If federal contractors want to
continue their government business,
they cannot remain lax in their job
obligations to m inorities,” said
Elisburg.
“ Failure to comply is a breach of
contract, and, when necessary, we
will not hesitate to bar those
companies from further government
work.”
Both companies will be barred
from obtaining future government
contracts unless they can satisfy the
director of OFCCP of their
compliance with the executive order.’
Taxation forums offer information for voters
Portland Community College will
offer a series of eight evening forums
on taxation this fall to help people in
the metropolitan area consider the
taxation issue carefully before voting
on the property tax initiative
November 7th.
Entitled “ Taxation, Myths and
Realities,” the forum series will
begin Thursday, September 28th,
and run 7:00-9.00 p.m. each
Thursday through November ,6th.
Admission will be free.
The forums will be offered at three
PCC centers — Sylvania, Rock
Creek and Cascade.
“ Our plan is to have each forum
serve a particular area of the
m etropolitan com m unity,” Jim
Magmer. project coordinator, said.
"Sylvania, for instance, will serve
the southwest; Rock Creek the
northwest; and Cascade will serve
north Portland.
“ Two forums were scheduled for
following the election so the people,
depending on whether the initiative
passes or is defeated, can develop
personal stands for future reform,”
Magmer said.
The forums will be coordinated
with a series of articles prepared by
Courses by Newspaper, with the
same overall title as the forums’
“ Taxation, Myths and Realities.”
The articles will begin early in
September in the C immunity Press,
the Lake Oswego Review and the
Hillsboro Argus.
While admission to the forums is
free, anyone who wishes may take
the forum series for college credit in
the humanities by registering for the
forums as a course, Magmer said.
“ But registration is not required to
attend the forums.”
A PCC instructor will moderate
each of the forums. Community
leaders are being invited to take part
as speakers and panelists. The
audience will take part with
questions and comments.
Persons in the community who
would like to take part in the forum
as panelists and speakers should
write Jim Magmer at Portland
Community College, 12000 S.W.
49th Avenue, Portland, Oregon
97219.
Facts of Importance
V O L U M E III
AU G U ST 1978
SER IES I
Exodus completed its first certificate training course
for its counselors on July 21, 1978. This training
provides additional counseling skills to its staff, in
order to serve its clientele more consistently.
A similar course will be scheduled for the com
munity at large during the month of October. The
course will center around communication linkages
between substance abusers, spouse of substance
abusers, children who are substance abusers, and
parents of children who are substance abusers. This
course will be taught at the grass-roots level.
Registration for this course will be published in our
September column of the Portland Observer.
Our clients thank you for your continued support.