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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1988)
January 13, 1988, Portland Observer, Page 3 NATIONAL NEWS UPDATE Happy Birthday Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.! Delta Sigma Theta Sorority celebrates its Diamond Jubilee birthday January 13, 1988. For 75 years women of this predominantly Black organi zation have carried out the mission set by its 22 Founders on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., January 13, 1913. The then infant Sorority set out on a course of "public service'' and has not waivered from that course in its colorful 75-year history. The Sorority's ranks have grown to over 125,000 women in over 750 chapters throughout the U.S.A., Liberia, West Germany, and the Carib- beans. The local chapter, Portland Alumnae, was chartered in 1945. It has evolved into over 100 members who still strive to carry out the lofty ideals of those 22 Founders. National celebrations will begin the weekend of January 29, in Washing ton, D.C., with gala celebrities including Honorary Members Lena Horne and Ruby Dee. A visit to the Howard University campus will be included. This Diamond Jubilee year will culminate with a Gran Celebration during Deltas National Convention in San Francisco, California, July 8-14, 1988. Locally, Portland Deltas will hold birthday celebrations during their Feb ruary 6 meeting. $861 Million Lewis Amendment Signed Into Law — Representative John Lewis (D-5th-GA) won a major legislative victory when President Reagan signed into law H.R. 2310, the Airport Improvement Act. This legislation contains the Lewis Amendment which mandates the issuance of not less than ten percent of contracts under the $8.6 billion Airport Improvement Program to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs). A total of $861 million is set aside under this Act for W a s h in g t o n , o .c . disadvantaged businesses over the next five years. , "I believe we must open the doors of opportunity to everyone and this legislation guarantees that disadvantaged businesses will receive a fair share of federal contracts for improvement work at our nation's airports. I am particularly proud that my colleagues and the President supported this amendment. I feel this is one of the most significant pieces of legislation for small and minority businesses approved in the 100th Congress, said AIDS prevention efforts must reach U.S. communities poorly ser ved, if at all, by information and health care systems and who, there fore, are particularly vulnerable, the American Friends Service Commit tee said December 17, 1987. "These groups include poor com munities, men and women of color, prisoners, undocumented immi grants, farmworkers, and many young people," the Quaker organi zation's Board of Directors said in a formal statement entitled: "The AIDS Crisis, Education and Policy Issues." The AFSC said Contin ued and intensified efforts to reach gay and bisexual men are impera tive." Stressing the importance of pre vention education, the statement said "Evidence suggests that inci dence of the disease is growing throughout the U.S. population. It has become increasingly clear that the issue is not risk groups, but risk behaviors. "Education efforts will have to be tailored to the particular needs of each group if they are to be heard and acted upon." Asia A. Bennett, AFSC Executive Secretary, said some of the worst tendencies in U.S. society, e.g., homophobia, racism and sexism, pit affected groups against each other. "AIDS has intensified these ten dencies," she added. Rep. Lewis. "In my hometown of Atlanta, Hartsfield International Airport, now the nation's busiest airport, stands as a model for the nation to show that small and disadvantaged businesses can make major contributions to the develop ment of our nation's airports. I am confident that DBE project contractors participating under this Act will prove to be as successful as those who participated in the Hartsfield project," concluded Congressman John Lewis. King Announces Radio Coverage of Tyson vs Holmes Fight Don King Productions announced today that National 8lack Network sports will have the exclusive En glish language radio rights to broad cast the world heavyweight cham pionship bout between reigning champ Mike Tyson and former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes. The fight will be broadcast on January 22, live from Atlantic City's Convention Center, and will be beamed by staellite to NBN's 125 affiliates across the country. In making the announcement, promoter Don King said, The time has arrived for radio to reclaim the glory of yesteryear. I am totally committed and dedicated to being a part of the return of the fascinating, informative, exciting, and entertain ing medium of radio. Who knows the unparalleled ex citement, the drama, the suspense that reveals itself to the sports and entertainment fan . . . listen to the radio and find o u t!!!" National Black Network was the nation's first Black owned and ope rated line-connected radio network in the U.S. and has its head quarters at 10 Columbus Circle in New York City. Xavier University to Build Model Student Community Service Program The Xavier Univer sity Office of Student Service has received a $45,800 grant to establish a student community service organ ization that will be a model for his torically Black institutions through out the U.S. The grant, awarded by ACTION, agency, will enable Xavier to create a campus service organization and set up a coalition among New Or leans schools that will pool resour NEW ORLEANS — ces and provide student volunteers for a range of community projects. " It is our hope that this demon stration program will be replicated in communities around the nation, says ACTION Director Donna M. Alvarado. The program will provide numerous leadership opportunities for students. Results of the pro ject's year-long acitivities will be dis seminated nationally. 1988 Transamerica Bicyclists W anted Bicyclists from Oregon are gearing up now to take part in the Trans america Bicycle Trek, the largest coast-to-coast, non-competit.ve bicycling event ever held in the United States. ' Next summer more than 300 enthusiastic cyclists will ride in second annual event which leaves Seattle in June of 1988 and arrives July 22 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The route will take adventurous cyclists from Seattle through the rugged Cascade Mountains to Spokane, then northest across the panhandle of Idaho to Montana. Going-to-the-Sun Highway in Glacier National Park wi, be one of the highlights of the trip Heading east across the■ snaces of the Great Plains, cyclists will ride through Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota, stopping for a midwest welcome at many of the small towns U have .¡me to be Inend.y Continuing east, they will r o a n , t h r o u g h Minneapolis, Wisconsin's rolling hills, Milwaukie, Chicago and the farmlands of Indiana and Ohio. In Pennsylvania, the challenge of the Appalachian Mountains awaits, then cyclists will head for the finish in Atlantic City with a very special welcome, seven weeks and 3500 miles from Seattle. For information on how you can become a part of this cross-country bicycling adventure, contact the American Lung Association of Oregon The Christmas Seal People at 224 5145 in Portland Los Angeles Couple Gives Black Waitress Their Restaurant AIDS Prevention Must Reach Poorly Served Communities The Quaker organization said it opposes mandatory testing in which whole groups of people are singled out; however, it does not oppose testing in certain circumstances such as donations of blood, organs for transplant, and semen. NEW YORK - waitress in the 1950's, have now given her their restaurant business as a gi "Nobody in this day and age gives somebody else a business, Barbar Knox, the waitress, told a reporter for this week's Parade magazine, but that is exactly what the Shulkins have done. Mrs Shulkin explained, "Lou had thought about retiring for a while but he worried about Barbara. After all, she had spent her entire life here. Both of our kids were taken care of. Barbara was a daughter to us. He wanted to make sure that she was taken care of. He had talked about what he was qoing to do, but I don't think she thought he would really do it. The Shulkins, who are white, hired Mrs. Knox in 1955, when civil rights was just beginning to be talked about. "T h e y just took me in,' she recalled. The Committee said each propo sal for mandatory testing should be evaluated separately for its impact on the principles of (1) respect for persons; (2) harm to individuals weighed against benefits to others, and (3) justice, particularly avoid ance of invidious discrimination and assurance of fairness. The AFSC emphasized that so ciety's responses to the AIDS epi demic must be based on the univer sal values of compassion, respect for the dignity of individuals, and equal treatment for all individuals and groups. The AFSC said the Committee's concern with AIDS grew out of both the organization's spiritual values and its program experience. The Committee plans to share the statement widely with sister organi zations and policy makers. "These principles alone cannot rid society of AIDS," the Commit tee declared, "but they can assure that the disease does not attack the bonds of humanity and commu nity." Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program The program used to be called the Congressional Teacher Scholarship program, but was renamed by the U.S. Congress. This is a federally funded pro- Black Scholars to Analyze Key Issues John E. Jacob, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Urban League will lead a panel of distinguished Black scho lars in an analysis of key issues con fronting Black America during the release of "The State of Black Ame rica 1988" at 10 a.m. Thursday, January 14 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The authors and articles are: Dr. Niara Sudarkasa, "Black En rollment in Higher Education: The Unfulfilled Promise of Equality"; Dr. Bernard C. Watson with Fasaha M. Traylor, "Tomorrow's Teachers: Who Will They Be, What Will They Know"; Dr. Dianne M. Pinder- hughes, "Civil Rights and the Fu ture of the American Presidency"; Dr. Price M. Cobbs, "Critical Per spectives on the Psychology of Race"; Dr. Charles V. Willie, "The Black Family: Striving Toward Free dom "; Dr. Bruce R. Hare, "Black Youth At Risk"; Dr. Lee P. Brown, "Crime in the Black Community"; Dr. Alvin J. Schexnider, "Blacks in the Military: The Victory and the Challenge"; Dr. David H. Swinton, "Economic Status of Blacks 1987"; Dr. Billy J. Tidwell, "Black Wealth: Facts and Fiction"; and Dr. Garry A. Mendez, "Crime is Not a Part of Our Black Heritage." "The State of Black America 1988” will also be telecast via The Howard University Black College Satellite Telecommunications Net work in cooperation with the Lea gue's Office of External Affairs and its affiliate network, to more than a million people across the nation. "The State of Black America 1988" addresses some of the dis parities existing in the country and is the most authoritative document examining the current status and conditions of Blacks in America. The report also gives insight into issues that need to be addressed and the work that must be done towards making a just and equitable society. The 1988 report is the thir teenth annual edition. The book will be availalbe to the general public through the National Urban League for $18.00. Lou and Anita Shulkin of Los Angeles, who hired a Black gram to encourage and enable aca demically excellent students to pur sue teaching careers. Applicants must graduate in the top 10% of the class from an Oregon high school, or obtain a GED which is equivalent to the above require ment. Applications must be en rolled or plan to enroll in an under graduate course of study which will lead to a career in teaching. Reci pients who do not teach must repay the funds at a substantial interest rate. For more information, contact the Grants and Administration Depart ment, State Scholarship Commis sion, 686-4166. "They treated me like one of their own." Describing the relationship, Knox said, "W e re family. We have been through a lot of ups and downs together. They have tried to help me with mine, and I have tried to help them with theirs." Through the years, Knox, who is a devout Baptist, regularly invited the Shulkins to gatherings at her church, as well as family parties. The Shulkins who are Jewish, invited Barbara and her husband, Warren, to religious feasts and family holidays. "W e were as uncomfortable in an all-Black situation as she was in an all-white situation, until we got to know each other, Mrs. ShUTheSmdstaurant, which had been called "Lou's Quickie Grill " is now known as "Barb's Quickie Grill." Explaining his action, Shulkin said, We re all brothers and sisters under the skin. We need to love one another. We're all under one Lord, you know." U.V.A. Joins Consortium For Black Engineering Graduate Students — The Uni versity of Virginia has been selected for admission to the National Con sortium of Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering, Inc., known as GEM, by a vote of the group's current members. The consortium is a network of 50 corporations and 53 comprehensive research universities that provide academic and financial support for minority students interested in gra duate school. American Indian, Black and Hispanic students are eli gible to apply, based on traditional underrepresentation of those ethnic groups in graduate programs. Students may apply in their third and fourth years as undergraduates. Third-year participants are eligible for summer employment with one of the consortium's member corpor ations, and fourth-year participants may also be employed in the sum mer before the first year of graduate CHARLOTTESVILLE, va school and each summer they re- main in school. Additionally, entering graduate students receive from the consor tium a $5,000 stipend plus funds covering a portion of their tuition charges. GEM accepts each year 125 students who must also apply and be accepted to specific member universities. In recent years, the GEM program has provided support to more than half of the Black, His panic and American Indian graduate engineering students in the country. For more information on the GEM program and how minority students can take advantage of U.Va.’s parti cipation in it, call Ron W. Simmons, assistant dean of the School of En gineering and Applied Science, at (804) 924-6425, or Ralph Lowry, associate dean of graduate studies in the engineering school, at (804) 924-3050. An Educator’s Opinion The Urban Challenge est urban districts make a mockery of funding In communities across America, lights of this equalization formulas. In these districts, less special season sparkle. But in America s cities, than $61,000 in taxable property value supports hopes dim. The accident of geography deprives the education of each student. Statewide, by millions of children of their brightest source of contrast, communities draw from over $213,000 hope, education. in property value per student. The Urban Chal Analysts trace this development to tne lenge initiative aims to redress this disparity—to 1970s, a decade during which the population make access to quality education less depen drain from urban centers was swift and dramat dent on the accident of geography. ic Those who fled were those who had the The legal logic that supports this effort means of mobility—in short, the affluent. They emerged from the landmark left behind a trapped people— 1971 decision of the California the poor, the destitute, the de Supreme Court. In Serrano v. prived and the desperate Priest, California’s highest They also left behind, many court found the state’s school analysts believed, school sys finance system unconstitution tems that would die slow al on the grounds that it made deaths, systems that would the quality of education a func wither as the poverty rate spi tion of local taxable wealth. raled and crime sprawled This system, the Court ruled, The analysts were right— introduced massive funding in and wrong. equities that clearly violated We in NEA know well the the equal protection provisions adversity that confronts urban of the C alifornia State school employees But we also Constitution. know that in the nation s most Ironically, the New Jersey urbanized state—New Jer- Supreme Court issued a simi sey—NEA members are break lar ruling in 1973 (Robinson v. ing new ground in the attempt Cahill). But today, 14 years lat to rescue urban schools from Mary Hatwood Futrell er, inequities persist. And the pulverizing impact of President. NEA NJEA’s urban initiative may best be understood as an attempt to end the P° VRoughly 40,000 of our 126,000 New Jersey violation of the equal protection clause that is members work in urban districts that rank the heart of Article I of the New Jersey State among the most disadvantaged in the United Constitution. States. Among cities with populations exceed In short, NJEA is demanding nothing more ing 100,000, for instance, Newark is the na and nothing less than fidelity to the principles of tion’s poorest. fairness and equality that the New Jersey Con But NEA members in New Jersey are resist stitution articulates. Toward this end, NJEA for ing despair. The Urban Challenge, a project mally recommended that the governor and the launched by our New Jersey affiliate (NJEA), legislature move away from over-reliance on lo aims to halt the callous pattern of neglect that cal property taxes. That action had impact: New has for so long victimized children who attend Jersey s State and Local Expenditure and Reve inner-city schools nue Commission is soon expected to make a NJEA began the Urban Challenge proiect similar recommendation to the state legislature. last year by sponsoring a statewide series of NJEA’s campaign is as much ethical as le hearings on the problems besetting New Jer gal. The ideal that animates the Urban Chal sey’s urban schools The results made it clear lenge program is the ideal of sharing. And the that underlying all other problems within city understanding that sustains the NJEA initiative schools—underlying the unmanageably large is the understanding that no state can for long class sizes, the antiquated textbooks, the rat- prosper if a third of its young people are denied infested buildings, the cycle of drug use. vio the gift of education. lence, and despair-are the stark funding dis In this season of gift-giving, we would all do parities between urban and non-urban school well to heed that message districts. , , , The local tax bases of New Jersey s six larg nea National Education Association NEA BOI S,«l««nW' S lrw t N W W .tfM nyon D C ZOOM .? < » )« » 7?00