■« « ¡ W W
K •
"B*
Page 4 • Portland Observer • March 21, 1990
NSBA Urges Supreme Court
Guidelines on Desegregation Laws
ALEXANDRIA, VA--The National
School Boards Association is calling upon
the U.S. Supreme Court to determine when
a school district has effectively resolved its
non-compliance with desegregation laws,
and also when such a district regains the
right to make policy decisions on desegre
gation without regard to a previously court-
ordered plan.
In a brief submitted to the court, NSBA
declares it is "im perative that national
rules be established." It notes that the high
court has not yet specified the rights and
obligations of school boards after it has
been determined that a formerly segregated
system has satisfied its legal requirements.
The NSBA brief was submitted in
connection with the case of Board of Edu
cation of Oklahoma City Public Schools v.
Robert Dowell, now pending before the
co u rt
The present lack of clarity in the law,
NSBA says, may discourage school boards
from taking corrective action on segrega
tion, even though this could lead to future
litigation.
Politically, any course of action a school
board may take regarding desegregation is
"fraught with controversy," the brief ac
knowledges. For that reason, it is "im por
tant that all the players know the rules o f the
gam e."
At issue is the belief of some that a
school district, if it was once segregated,
should forever bear the burden of proving
that any subsequent changes will not ad
versely affect desegregation in its schools,
the brief asserts. Others, it points out, be
lieve that, after a school district proves it
has desegregated, any accusers then have
the burden of proving that future changes
are discriminatory.
If the Supreme Court should determine
that affected school districts must remain
under the jurisdiction of the courts, " s o be
it,” the brief says. "A t least each school
board will know that its policies must be
formulated with the Supreme Court's stan
dards in mind. ” If the Supreme Court rules
otherwise, a school district found to be
incompliance with the law "w ill know that
it can now operate without court over
sight," the brief points out.
In the absence of Supreme Court guide
lines, formerly segregated school districts
“ remain in the dark as to who has final
control - the school board or the courts,”
the brief declares.
The brief asserts that it is * ‘counterpro
ductive" to wait until a school district has
taken corrective action and then decide that
"th e action taken must be subjected to a
degree o f scrutiny that the district may not
be in a position to meet.”
NSBA urges the Supreme Court to
"tackle these difficult issues now, rather
than wait for additional appeals court rul
ings." Delay, it says, “ could cause need
less harm to the educational process in
those communities where the board is de
laying action because of a fear of reversal or
is taking action that will be reversed after
the action has been taken. ” If a dismissal of
charges does not relieve the district from a
court’s jurisdiction, “ there seems little point
in seeking such a dism issal," the brief
notes.
W.»
J
Phony Secured Card
Offers Fleece Consumers:
Consumer Group Releases List of
Legitimate Secured Card Programs
Consumers trying to rebuild damaged
credit are being victimized by "credit
doctors" and “ quick fix" artists who charge
hefty fees for phony services, says Elgie
Holstein, director of Bankcard Holders of
America (BHA), a national consumer credit
education group.
"M any of these services offer ‘secured
card' programs marketed by unscrupulous
middlemen who take hundreds of dollars
from consumers and vanish--leaving the
bank issuing the card, and the consumer
without recourse," Holstein said. BHA has
scrutinized numerous secured card offers
and today released a new list of legitimate
secured card programs which can be used to
establish initial credit or re-establish a
damaged credit rating.
Secured cards are Visas and Master-
Cards made available to applicants in ex
change for a deposit in a bank account. The
deposits usually earn interest, and they
serve as collateral for a line of credit on the
bankcard equal to seventy-five to one hundred
percent of the deposit amount. Secured
bankcards look and are used just like any
other Visa or MasterCard. Since a Visa or
MasterCard paid on time, over a period of
time, is one of the best references on a
credit report, a secured card can convince a
banker that a customer with previous credit
problems has "turned over a new leaf” and
is now a responsible credit user.
"Secured credit cards can be an effec
tive way to establish, or re-establish, a
positive credit history." said Holstein. “ But
the misleading ways in which many of
these programs have been marketed have
earned them a dubious reputation among
consumer protection professionals and the
credit industry.”
"T here is no easy way to erase bad
credit once you have it," Holstein said. The
solution is to find was - such as legitimate
secured card program s-to build positive
credit references, which, over time, will
show a lender that you’ve put your credit
problems behind you.”
To help consumers avoid unscrupulous
secured card programs, BHA has screened
and compiled a list of reputable secured
card programs. The list includes the names,
addresses, and phone numbers o f seventeen
secured card issuers and includes all the
financial details of each program. The list
also includes tips on choosing and using a
secured card and is available, together with
a free pamphlet on avoiding the dangers of
unscrupulous credit clinics, for $3.00 (postage
and handling) from: Bankcard Holders of
America, Secured Card List, 560 Herndon
Parkway, Suite 120, Herndon, VA 22070.
ARS lab to leant about the structure
and richness of the region’s soils.
ADL Announces Major Victory
In Battle Against Hate-Inspired
Violence by Skinheads
NEW YORK. N Y .-T he Anti-Defa
mation League announced that the convic
tion of five neo-Nazi Skinheads in Dallas
for civil rights violations against Blacks,
Hispanics and Jews was " a major victory in
the continuing battle against hate-inspired
violence by Skinheads around the coun-
- — ■ ( •
try.
In a statement issued against her , Justin
J. Finger, ADL’s associate national direc
tor, said that the convictions o f the five
Confederate Hammerskins “ sent an em
phatic message that bias-related crimes of
violence will not be tolerated in our soci
ety ."
Mr. Finger noted that 17 members of
the Confederate Hammerskins have now
been convicted on a variety o f civil rights
charges stemming from assaults against
Blacks and Hispanics in Dallas' Robert E.
Lee Park and the vandalism of Temple
Shalom and the Jewish Community Center
in Dallas. All the incidents occurred be
tween June and October 1988
Mr. Finger also commended the U.S.
Justice Department for its "superb han
dling” of the case and praised the investi
gative work of the Federal Bureau o f Inves
ligation, the Dallas County District Attor
ney’s Office and the Dallas Police Depart
ment.
ADL has monitored the rise of the neo-
Nazi Skinhead movement over the last several
years and has provided information on their
activities to law enforcement officials and
to the public through a series of in-depth
reports. The June 1989 ADL report—Sldn-
heads Target The Schools-revealed that
some 3,000 racist Skinheads were operat
ing in 31 states. The report expressed con
cern over the increased recruitment of
Skinheads in schools and their acquisition
of more deadly weapons
Mrs. Edgar Bronfman, Jr. Chairs
17th Annual March Party for
National Urban League
NEW YORK, N .Y .-O n March 1, Mrs.
Edgar Bronfman, Jr., hosted the Seventeeth
Annual March Party at The Plaza for the
National Urban League (NUL). The eve
ning of dining and dancing will benefit the
League’s general operating fund, which
underwrites educational and social service
programs for communities across the coun
try.
Low Prices!
The 1990 March Party marks the fifth
consecutive year that Mrs. Bronfman has
volunteered her services to assist the NUL
in this important fundraising effort. Last
year under her stewardship, the League
exceeded all previous records for the din
ner, raising more than $230,000.
"T h e start of this decade marks the
80th anniversary of the National Urban
League," Mrs. Bronfman noted. " I invite
you to join with our friends and supporters
as we stand tall and continue to ‘work
together to make a world of difference’ in
the lives of our constituents.”
Mrs. Edgar Bronfman, Jr.
“ Various constituent institutions of the
University of North Carolina have benefit-
ted over the years from the enlightened
generosity of your company. But this gift to
Winston-Salem State University, in your
hometown, is truly extraordinary. As Presi
dent of the University o f North Carolina, I
send my wannest thanks for this vote of
confidence in the future of Winston-Salem
State.
In time, you will see the difference
you have m ade,” Spangler wrote. “ And I
hope you will be dazzled."
The members of Mrs. Bronfman’s
Benefit Committee include: Francis Ar-
none, an NUL Board member; Jack R.
Battipaglia, Chairman of the Board, Retail
ers Alliance; John L. Bembach, President,
DDB Needham, Worldwide, and his wife
Jane; Daniel B. Burke, Chairman of the
Board and President, Capital Cities/ABC;
Caroline R. Jones, President, Caroline Jones
Advertising; James McQuay, fur designer
and manufacturer; Herman I. Merinoff,
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer, Charmer Imports; M ollie Moon,
A
•-•■i
J
9K
"I invite you to join with
our friends and supporters
as we stand tall and
continue to work together
to make a world of
difference in the lives of
our constituents."
TRUST SEARS
TO GIVS
YOU MORS
J'in g u u m most jieas see you'
ntaresl store lor be,tils Delivery
not mlcedoO nt enee ot «osi items
to o s ts y o ar baying pow er
A veiletle lor most motor par
dieses totaling >700 or more
In addition to oar e id a s iv e
Kenmore brand we carry over
SO other brands you look lor -
al a great low price every day'
No payments until September
1990 on Sears Deterred Credit
Plan There will be a linance
charge for the delerral period
SATISFACTION
GUARANTEED
on roue moatr
back
Not tost a slogan
but our promise'
Each of these advertised i ems is readily available for sale as advertised.
M erchandise in this ad available at most larger Sears
stores Unless qualified all prices are Sears everyday
regular prices A special purchase, though not reduced is an
exceptional value Unless otherw ise specified delivery
charges not included in selling prices of merchandise See
store for details
Satisfaction guaranteed
or your money back
C S m t s . Roebuck
and
Co..
1990
Hl « *
ra w
Ito
* &
J
We do our best to have adequate stock of advertised items
to meet demand Due to circumstances beyond our control
on occasion out of stocks occur When this happens Sears
will at its option substitute an equal or better item at the
advertised price or provide a raincheck Excludes limited
offers
Your money's worth
and a whole lot more.
President, The National Urban League Guild;
Joseph R. Perella, Chairman of the Board,
Wasserstein Perella, and his wife Amy;
Ponchita Pierce, broadcast journalist;
Gretchen Sicbel, Executive Vice President,
Parkchestcr Management Corp.; Herbert J.
Siegel, Chief Executive Officer and Presi
dent. Chris-Craft Industries; Wayman F.
Smith ID, Vice President Corporate Af
fairs. Anheuser-Busch; Dr. Gardner C. Taylor,
Minister of the Concord Baptist Church of
Christ, and his wife Laura; Mrs. Margaret
B. \ oung, and ZEZE, who has created
floral arrangements for the March Party for
five years.
Sherry Bronfman sits on the Board of
Trustees for the National Urban League and
on the Board of Directors for the Council of
Conservators of The New York Public
Library. Her husband, Edgar Bronfman,
Jr., is President and Chief Operating O ffi
cer of The Seagram Company Ltd.
Tickets for the black tie gala are $300
each. Tables of ten are $3.000. Sponsor
tables of ten are $5.000. For tax purposes.
$185 is deductible for the cost of each
dinner ticket. For more information or to
reserve a table, contact Mildred Hall (212)
310-9019.
1
A *•
'. I . ' - I ,- .
■