Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 12, 1978)
Paea4 ■ I Thuraday. October 12. 1978 ---- 1 ■ Larry Baker »35021 O .S .P Correspondent by Julius D. Snowden »38013 First, an accepted understanding o f society — a prisoner is the product o f an injustice perpetrated against society and or a system. Depending on the intelligence o f the masses, their concept o f justice, humanity and etc. , . the information given them by the necessary authority would and could be tolerated However, for one confined behind the gray walls o f O .S .P .. the many dimensions presented as avenues for construction, in some respects are more destructive than constructive. Today for those incarcerated the input is placed on rehabilitation — a change — rather than punishment. However for this change to come about there must exist some form of motivation in order to warrant the action — opportunities for construc tive corroctiveness to not only the prisoner and society. but the so- called necessary authorities who are compelled to concur their con clusion. findings . . . that would allow a prisoner to be returned back as a responsive and responsible citizen o f the community A ll the psychiatrists, sociologists and psychologists could never truly un derstand the whys and why nots o f someone who has been committed to an institution o f this caliber fo r long periods o f time, especially when you consider the hypocrises, hum iliation and mistrust they are forced to en dure by both authority and fellow inmates in their pursuit o f construc tive change. (T ru th . Justice, Mercy and Love are not empty concepts they are as real as strength and weakness.) It is said that rehabilitation must first begin with the prisoner. This is an undeniable fact! There must also be a force, a true motivating factor capable o f bringing about this change. However, rehabilitation — like metamorphosis, a change o f the physical mental structure — is an ac tion occuring with time (need I say tune is one thing we prisoners have plenty of?) But because o f a pastence our efforts for constructive change, individually , are stymied. (The individual is more important than the state. The things men have in common are stronger than the things which separate them.) A young man confined to the S&I unit one night took his own hfe. Why? Could it have been because he lacked the incentive, mental strength in coping with requirements associated with this farce called rehabilitation? A senior resident on the honor block one dav complained to the sergean. o f said block about having chest Ju liu s D Snowden »38013 Poetry Editor pains and asked for a pass for the hospital. The block sergeant told him that sick call was in the morning and that he (the sergeant) was not making out anv passes. That afternoon the old man was found in his cell where 1« had died o f n heart attack! A ll the present existing programs dealing today with criminal rehabilitation are a hoax. In order for one to return with a positive at titude back into society he must believe and know that by returning he will be able to add something, not just to his growth, but to society as well. W ithin these walls there are programs dealing with vocational training (depending on the population) and they are available to those who can meet the criteria. .Again, depending on the education or trade level an inmate has, his or her (O W ’C C ) chances o f par ticipating in such programs are far and few — almost like a pipe dream to some. _ A nd there are those existing within the system who refuse to acknowledge a decision handed down from the courts regarding a prisoner's sentence — at times forc ing him or her to undergo such degrading and humiliating con ditions and or acts that m order for some to maintain/" hold onto what sanity they may still have they are Com pelled forced to assume an at titude already displayed before so ciety (by a system more corrupt than those they are responsible for a supposed rehabilitation) as being — a n im a ls ' In order for rehabilitation to exist constructively, the person or persons involved should First understand the sigmficence of this endeavor to not only the prisoner, his or her family and friends, but to the true inner self in beginning a program that in the long run strengthens a concept o f understanding. The crime or reason should be second (although they too are factors) to the person. N ot only must the prisoner — man or woman — change (rehabilitate), but society too. It seems that once a person is committed to such institutions people have the tendency o f forget ting that one day that same person will again be returned back into the same society. In ordeT for rehabilitation to work, as it is put up to be, we must all become involved . . . Outside as well as inside must unite true efforts if this avenue called rehabilitation is to be a fact rather than what it is — a F A R C E . Prison reform and the elimination o f crime in the street. . . begins with you, the person! MARIE’S KITCHEN E Behind the wall by Ruth Spence The Portland Public Schools, un der C E T A IV , have been awarded a grant o f $398,975 for a Child Development Specialist project con taining 34 employment slots. It ’ i aim is to prevent behavior problems in the primary grades o f the Marshall High School feeder schools. Mrs. Bertha Baugh, a teacher at Bridger Primary School, is volun tarily retiring from the Portland Public Schools after 25 years with the District. M r. Robert Blanchard, Superin tendent o f Portland Public Schools, explained that the excessive suspend ing o f Black children from schools (at six times the normal rate) was not for punishment; but, to get parents to come to schools for conferences. He did not indicate how the parent involvement component o f the Title V I I proposal related to these parents. Dr. D orothy Holden, Director of the Sickle Cell .Anemia Clinic, Down State Hospital Brooklyn, New Y o rk , was the recent house guest of her sister, Mrs. Edna Basket. M r. and Mrs. Earnest Gngsby and their young sons Eric and Trent recently vacationed in Disneyland. Maude Young. Alcenia Booger, Audrey Ellis, M a ry Fuller, M arjo rie Ingersall, Inez Mayberry, Kaye Bogle, Margaret HiU, Fannie Freeman, and Genevieve M artin About 2,000 persons a rt expected to attend the National Adult Education Conference OciobeT 25 th- 29th at the H ilton H otel in Portland. Education will cost the country $155 billion this year. Mrs. Geneva is a loan executive from Pacific Power to collect dollars for United W ay. She is assigned to the Education West Division in cluding colleges, high schools and elementarv schools. She expects to collect $93,000. Tuea-Thura 8:30 am -8 pm - Frl-Sat 9:30 a m -3 :3 0 e m — S u n 8 :3 3 e m -3 :3 0 p m 4M V were honored with beautiful corsages for dedicated service to Saint Phillips Church at a Daughter's o f the King Fellowship luncheon Saturday, Oc tober 7th, at Saint Phillips Parish H all. The Teacher Standards and Prac tices Commission requires applicants for Oregon Teaching certificates to "acknowledge that they understand two state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination in education.*' N O W OPEN BREAKFAST AT ANYTIME t« 5 2 4 6 N.E. U N IO N 2 8 7 -9 3 6 3 SERVICE COMPANY 'Exquisite Q uality” [LEATHER RECOLORIN VINYLREPAIR AUTO A FURNITURE ALSO LEATHER REPAIR W INDSHIELD REPAIR STRIPING A SIDE M O L D IN G COMPLETE A U TO TRIM SU N R O O F INSTALLATION 213 N . KILLINGSWOKTH PCC forums explore Oregon ta x alternatives T o bring a new perspective to the current tax controversy, Portland Community College is having three o f its humanities instructors conduct a series o f six free public forums on taxation. The forums, to begin Thursday, October 12th, will be held from 7:00- 9:00 p .m ., at the Sylvania, Rock Creek and Cascade Centers each Thursday until November 16th. The topic o f the October 12th forum is “ Public Financing for Hum an Needs.” Local officials and candidates running for public office in the November 7th election are being in vited to participate in the forums as panelists. Persons attending the forums will have ample opportunity to both question these officials and express their own views on the tax issues, said P C C ’ s Jim Magmer. who is coordinating the forums with the participating newspapers. W hile attendance at the forums is free, persons planning to attend all six forums may register for one college credit in Humanities Ex perience at the beginning o f the first forum , Magmer said. Cost will be forum s.” The main thrust of the forums will NOW OPEN G r e a t S a v in g s O n , H o u s e h o ld G o o d s MINI ROCKER $40 New $ 3 0 OPEN DAILY Reg. A $36 ANTIQUES FISHING EQUIPMENT M o n d a y -S a tu rd a y AND >.30a m. until8:00p.m. COSTUME JEWELRY 3 6 3 4 N . WILLIAMS AVE. 287-3152 EXODUS 'f/tf/ccÀo/tAm ^ t / t c a / t - n a / a e u / 3?tea/m eei/ ^ n n /et 1518 NE KILLINGSWORTH PORTLAND. OREGON 97211 284 7997 $13.50. “ But we want to emphasize that forum attendance is free,” Magmer said. “ The course arrangement m Humanities Experience is only for the convenience of those who wish college credit for attending the VALUES Center, and Magmer, whose background is literature and philosophy as well as journalism, will moderate the forums at Rock Creek. Forum topics are: "P ublic Financ ing for Hum an Needs,” — October 12th; "P ub lic Financing for Our Schools,” — October 19th; “ Cities: Financial Problems and Solutions,” — October 26th; “ Options for Reform o f Local Property Taxes,” — November 2nd; “ W hat D o We D o Now ? A Discussion o f November 7 election results,” — November 9th; and “ Well-Regarded Tax System — M yth or Reality?" — November 16th. 249-8111 FACTS OF IMPORTANCE VO LUM E V OCTOBER 1978 SERIES I undoubtedly be the property tax limitation measures on the Novem ber 7th Ballot (Measures 6 and 11), Magmer said. “ But because taxes,” as Oliver W endell Holmes said, "are the price we pay for civilization,” taxation as a public forum topic, is a very human one. The humanists conducting the forums will be able to bring insights from literature, anthropology, jo u r nalism and political science into the forum discussions," Magmer said. “ W e hope the humanists will be able to help the forum participants better understand the relationship between taxes and the quality o f life we er joy, or aspire to enjoy, in the Portland area. Fred W arner, whose field is English literature, will moderate the forums at the Sylvania Center; John Olson, a political scientist, will moderate the forums at the Cascade Directly, Exodus is working hard to improve the HEALTH, SAFETY and MENTAL OUTLOOK of people living in our community. One indirect result of our work in treating Alcoholism is the reduction of crime and crime potential; while increasing the overall productivity of our community citizens. Hunters! You can SEE, HEAR and THINK clearer WITHOUT Alcohol and Drugs. In te re s te d in c u rre n t books e b o u t A fric a n Liberation? V isit: J O H N REED B O O K STORE In th e D e k u m B uilding 519 S 3rd A v e n u e S ixth R oot W O r call: 227 2902 REGISTER AT: EXODUS 1518 N.E. Kllllngsworth Portland, Oregon 97211
