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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 28, 1979)
tirs Frances Schoen-Newapaper Poes U n iv e r s ity o f Or¿$on L ib r a r y Eugene, Oregon 97403 HEW finds PPS discriminates, changes decision Inform ation leaked from HEW , the Portland School D istrict, and other sources has caused confusion, anger and frustration over the pend ing decision on the Department o f Healrth, Education and Welfare's investigation o f racial discrimination charges against the school district. since HEW investigator Yvonne Tate states that agency policy precludes her devulging findings or decisions p rio r to o ffic ia l notification to the District, and the complainants, the following events are not fu lly verified. However, other sources in HEW claim their validity and they are being widely discussed in the Black communities o f Portland and Seattle. Informants state that Region X, HEW, found the school district in violation o f the 1964 Civil Rights Act and in non-compliance with Title V II. These findings were forwarded to the Washington office and, based on facts gatheied in the on-site in vestigation conducted earlier this year, the findings were verified. Then, in a Region X meeting, an HEW employee informed a member o f the school district staff about the findings. D r. Robert Blanchard, Chuck Clemmons, and attorney Mark Mc Clanahan, according to informants, travelled to Washington, D.C. early in June where they met with HEW personnel. Mysteriously, the HEW findings were changed and the district is not to be found in non- compliance. The explanation given is that Dr. Blanchard had produced material indicating that changes to take place in the next school year w ill alleviate some o f the problems and that since the district is not under court order to desegregate a finding o f discrimin ation could not be made. The official notification o f find ings has yet to be written, Mrs. Tate said, but within the next few days should be sent to the district and to the complainants, Mrs. Ruth Spen cer and the Oregon M in o rity Educators Organization, and Mrs. Vesia Loving. In early conversations, Mrs. Tate had indicated that no inform ation regarding the findings could be released to the district or to the com plainants p rio r to o ffic ia l notification. Then, i f the district were found in non-compliance, there would be a period o f up to 120 days available for negotiation. I f no ac ceptable solutions were offered by the district, federal fur.ds would be with held. Mrs. Tate also stated that i f the investigation found that the evidence produced by the school district differed substantially from the in fo rm a tio n provided by the complainants, they would be con tacted for confirmation. Mrs. Spenc er and Mrs. Loving state that they were not contacted by HEW. The explanation from the Washington office o f HEW was that although there is a disproportionate burden placed on Black children, both because they are forced to be bussed while white children are not and because they are bussed in greater percentages, that dispropor PORTLAND OBSERVER tionate burden is not illegal because the Portland District is not under court order to desegregate. I f the district were under court order, such disproportionate burden placed on Black children would be illegal. Rumors eminating from the school district involve Senator Bob Pack- wood in the decision. A Packwood aide. Bob W iteck, said he had inquired o f the staff and found no one who knew anything about it. “ I doubt i f anything like that could have happened without someone in the office knowing about it , ” he said. However, he had not asked the Senator. V o lu m e*N o . 26 Thursday, June 28,1979100 USPS 969 680 Court approves affirmative action The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that employers can adopt voluntary affirm ative action programs. The 5 - 2 decision found that Brian Weber, a white empoyee who was not selected for a training program that reserved half o f its positions for Blacks, had not been the victim o f racial discrimination. The voluntary affirmative action plan was adopted by Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Co. and the United Steelworkers Union after charges o f discrim in a tio n were leveled at the company. The Weber case was considered far more dangerous than the much publicized Bakke case, since an ad verse ruling would have eliminated v oluntary a ffirm a tiv e action programs. Companies that have been proven to have a history o f discrimination can be required to adopt affirmative action programs. Companies like Kaiser, that recognize that thier past perormance in equal employment opportunity is deficient, cannot admit d iscrim ination w ith o u t opening themselves to litigtion and potential financial obligations. 'Justice W illiam J. Brennan, Jr., writing for the Court said Weber’s claim that he was the victim o f “ reverse discrim ination” because Title 7 o f the Civil Rights Act o f 1964 protects whites as well as minorities against racial bias overlooked the significance that the purpose o f the a ffirm a tiv e action plan is “ to elim inate tra d itio n a l patterns o f racial segregation.” “ It would be ironic indeed if a law triggered by a nation’ s concern over centuries o f racial injustice and in tended to improve the lot o f those who had been excluded from the American dream for so long con stituted the firs t legislative prohibition o f all voluntary, private, race-conscious e fforts to abolish traditional patterns o f racial segrega tion and heirarchy.” "The purposes of the plan m irror those o f the statute. Both were designed to break down old patterns o f racial segregation and heirar chy. Both were structured to open em ployment opportunities for Negros in occupations which have been traditionally closed to them. “ A t the same time the plan does not unnecessarily trammel the interests o f the white employees. The plan does not require the discharge o f white workers and their replacement with black hires. “ Nor does the plan create an abso lute bar to the advancement o f white employees; half o f those trained in the program will be white.” Dekum Court playground shrinking, but decision nears A fte r much negotiating by the C ity’s Office of Planning and Devel opment (OPD) with developer J.W. Bray son, the City has decided that its independent appraisal, which deter mined that lots a d joinin g the Housing A u th o rity o f P ortland’ s Dekum Court apartments are worth 595,000 per lot. underestimated the market value. The developer’ s asking price o f $13,000 per lot is now seen by the City to reflect fair market price. According to Concordia Com munity Association Dekum Court Task Force chairman Claudia Fisher, OPD went to Mayor Goldschmidt early this week to ask his blessing in offering Brayson $130,000 for ten lots, subject to Council approval. OPD and originally set aside, subject to C ouncil approval, $80,000 in federal Housing and Com m unity Development funds for repurchase o f the ten lots sold by HAP. Over protests by the tenants and neigh borhood, H AP had sold the lots along with adjacent property for private housing development. Through M ayor G oldschm idt’ s support o f tenant and neighborhood efforts to regain usable play and recreation space for Dekum Court and surrounding neighborhood children, progress with City bureaus has increased and continued. However, the Mayor has indicated to OPD, according to Ms. Fisher, that $130,000 is a lot o f money and that possibly Five lots would suffice. One o f Brayson’ s counter offers had been to sell four lots on the east side o f the com m unity b u ilding at $13,000 per lot and to donate the fifth lot for tax purposes. After clos ing costs, that would leave $25,000 o f the $80,000 for play equipment and property improvements. “ A p parently” , says Ms. Fisher, “ the Mayor has decided this is to be the most feasible route to follow .” The neighborhood association and tenants are considering their options prior to a City Council meeting to be held in about two weeks. Dekum Curt resident Ms. Randi Rodvick, while still wanting repurchase o f ten lots, has suggested for consideration a compromise proposal. She suggests that the neighborhood delay requesting H C D funds fo r play equipment until the next fiscal year and use the possible $25,000 now available tojpurchase two more lots to the west o f the com m unity building. When asked by Ms. Fisher about this option, OPD Neighborhood Programmer Chuck Olsen indicated that the developer’ s offer o f the free fifth lot would not apply, fo r tax reasons, if more than Five lots were purchased. Thus, to stay within the $80,000 the City is proposing, only one lot on the west o f the community building could be added. W ith the approximately 30 feet immediately adjacent to the building which re mains in H A P 's possession, the tenants could have about 80 feet of usable space to the west if one more lot is added. A ctivities most likely to suffer from loss o f part o f the ten lots Governor appoints Hays to Parole Board Mrs. Hazel G. Hays has been ap pointed to the Parole Board by Governor Victor Atiyeh. Mrs. Hays is manager o f the state’s Adult and Fam ily Services, M ultnom ah Region, which provides welfare assistance. She is a former manager of the Albina Human Resource Cen ter and was director o f Community Services for the Portland Develop ment Commission. The Parole Board is responsible fo r hearing and acting upon questions o f parole for inmates o f state correctional institutions with sentences of six months or more. The board also determines if a violation o f parole conditions exists and can establish rules and regulations ap propriate for parole. The law requires that at least one woman serve on the Parole Board. The position is fu ll-tim e , w ith a salary o f $35,808. Members o f the Board are Chalmers Jones, Ira Bla lock, Bill Cogswell, and Elizabeth Browne. Mrs. Hays replaces Eliza beth Taylor, who completed one term on the Board. Mrs. Hays told the Observer that she is looking forward to service on the Board. “ I am looking forward to a new challenge. It is an awesome responsibility.” planned for are Field games for older youth. With only Five lots to work with, tenants would probably decide to use the space fo r smaller children’s play equipment. There are 40 Dekum Curt units w ith a maximum o f 168 children permitted. To the north o f Dekum Court on Northeast Lomabard are apartments which in June o f 1978 had between 80 and 95 children who have no play space. Developer Brayson is building 32 units between N.E. Saratoga and N.E. Dekum. A t tw o children per unit, 64 more children in the immediate area could potentially make use o f play and recreation space at Dekum Court. “ We’ ve appreciated the Mayor’ s support and feel that City efforts have been sincere, even if a little slow in coming. And we know $130,000 is a substantial sum o f money, but the neighborhood w ill support tenant decisions as to the number o f lots they believe to be minimally accept able. We all s till hope that an agreement acceptable to all can be made and that City Council members w ill support repurchasing lots at the site.” Herb Cewthorne, director of the Portland State University Educa tional Opportunities Program, has indicated that ha is considering ap plying for appointment to the Portland School Board. Although urged by many community parsons to apply, Cawthorna told tha Observer that ha is keeping his options open. "I am definitely interested. I believe this is a crucial period for education in Portland and that I can con tribute to the serious decisions that must ba made. I will continue to discuss this and other alternatives with friends and parsons who have urged ma to apply." Tha appointment to tha position vacated by tha death of Phyllis Wiener will ba made by tha remaining members of tha School Board. Gilcrease to serve time on weekends U.S. District Court Judge Robert Belloni has recommended that Cleve land Gilcrease, former executive di rector o f PMSC who was recently convicted of mail fraud in connec tion with his election to the presi dency o f the National Association fo r Community Development, be allowed to serve his six month prison sentence on weekends. Judge Belloni ordered that Gilcrease be allowed to serve the sentence in an institution at or near Victoria, Texas. * The judge also delayed the date Gilcrease is to report to federal mar- shall’ s in Texas from July 2nd to August 3rd. Gilcrease has decided not to appeal the conviction, based on lack o f financial resources. The weekend imprisonment w ill allow him to retain his employment at Wellex Corporation in Victoria. Frustrated journalist wins ’Outstanding Young Man o f America’ award Gregory Gudger has been named an “ Outstanding Young Man ot America,” an award sponsored by the U.S. Jaycees. Gudgei is current ly a human relations specialist for the Metropolitan Human Rela tions Commission, providing re search and facilitating activities of the employment and education committees. Gregory Gudger A native o f Washington D .C ., Gudger is one o f six children raised by his mother and grandmother. “ When 1 was five years old my grandmother asked me what I want ed to be and 1 said I wanted to go to college. She said she would live to see the day I completed college, and she did.” Ten minutes after he turned in his last term paper, completing his requirements fo r graduation, she died, “ She had been very sick, in the hospital,” he explained, “ But she lived on and kept her promise.” His grandmother also told him that when a Scorpio dies, a child of the same sex would be born into the family. Less than a year after his grand mothers’ death, his daughter was born. This event changed the course o f his career, mandating that econo mics be considered before his love of writing Born on December 26th. the first day o f Kwanza, she was named “ Im a m i,” a fte r the last day o f Kwanza, the day o f celebration of First Fruits. The first o f his family to attend college, Gudger believes he inspired other family members to follow. A younger brother attends Howard, m ajoring in engineering, and a cousin is enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania. Gudger came to Oregon at the age o f seventeen, to enroll at the Univer sity o f Oregon, where he majored in journalism . He worked as a copy editor at the Em erald and, with Allison Batiste and Gloria Wroten, founded and edited Eugene’ s first Black newspaper, The New Birth, which covered local and national issues. While in school he was a research assistant in Marketing Insurance and Transportation for Dr. John Wish. He was an academic counselor for “ Project ’75” for two years, and a dot in counselor for a year. During his ju n io r year he was vice presi dent o f the Black Student Union. Gudger was the recipient o f a scholarship from the Am erican Newspaper Publishers Association and received the Leon Colbertson Scholarship for students o f Scottish heritage. For two summers he was an intern with the Oregonian. Follow ing graduation in 1975, Gudger moved to Portland. Failing to find employment with the press, he went to w ork fo r the C ity ’ s Human Resource Bureau, where he developed the Youth Service Division’s newsletter. Gudger was managing editor o f the River City Sun, a youth news paper funded through the Portland Metropolitan Steering Committee. The River C ity Sun published a newspaper directed to youth in the Roosevelt and Jefferson attendance areas, trained young people in w rit ing, photography, typesetting and re lated skills, and provided employ ment for low-income young people. Gudger trained and supervised a staff of up to thirty young people of high school and college age. A fter the St. Johns Review, the Oregon Journal and the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association saw the Sun as a threat to the legiti mate newspaper and through Oregon’ s congressional delegation were able to stop its federal funding, the sta ff that was left, including Gudger, formed Sun Graphics. Still funded by PMSC, Sun Graphics shifted to publishing and printing, along with training. Following the inevitable defunding of Sun Graphics, Gudger supported his family by doing freelance writing and photography. He served as a media consultant to the Teacher Corps, neighborhood associations, and the Columbia Regional Council o f Seniors. He also taught writing at the PSU Educational Center. After working with the City’s af firmative action office for a year, Gudger joined the staff o f MHRC. A member of the NAACP Board o f Directors, he is chairman o f the Press and P u b licity Com m ittee. During the 1978 National Conven tion, held in Portland, he served as a coordinator for the national press and covered the convention for the Observer. Although he has had to go into other fields because o f the need to support his family, Gudger’ s real in terest is journalism and his goal is to excel in that field. “ Writing is my strong suit and it’ s what 1 really want to do. I think I’m good at it and it can be my best contribution. The other fields I’ve gone into — employ ment, education, teaching — are im portant, but they are fields I believe I can deal with best through writing.” In a field with a great shortage of trained, skilled minorities, Gudger has failed to land a job. “ I’ ve ap plied with the local papers, but I haven’t pushed it. They know me. They know I ’ m here. I spent two summers with the Oregonian and they told me 1 was the best intern they’d ever had — but no jo b .” In the meantime, Gudger sharpens his skills with an occasional article for the Observer, including contributing to an aw ard-w inning series on segregation in the public schools.
