The Reporter. (Akron, Ohio), 1989-02-18

              A CigUt InlJhe Darkness VOL. XX NO. 22 FEBRUARV 18. 1989 THRU FEBRUARY 25, 1989 2S t LiNTS PLR COPY CONRAD OTT ALLEGEDLY EXPELLS 50 BLACK MALES IN LAST 30 DAYS, WHY? M3E Set-Aside Update Consortium of 28 Organizations to conduct MBE SetAsides Update Vel's-On-TheCircle Monday, February 27, 1989. Tall states, "The purpose of the Conference is to review the impactof the latest Supreme Court ruling on all local agencies MBE programs, and dear the air for local MBE contractors."Also, a performance Update of achievement for 1988 will be on the agenda. Keynot presented from Richmond, Virginia representatives, defendants of the SuEreme case as well as Leon lamilton Coneressiional Liaison from Washington, D.G A 12 noon Press Conference shall be conducted prior to the keynote address by Leon Hamilton and the Richmond representative. For reservation, call 991-4250 or 9218314.Booker Tall U.N.C.F. Continues A 123 Year Tradition The Youngstown area has B'ven generously to the United eero College Fund. Civic anu business leaders from the community have show a genuine concern and willingness to help when asked to coordinate the campaign that solicit the corporations and foundations of tne Valley. On Friday, February 24 at 7:00 p.m. at the Maronite Center, Christopher Edley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the United Negro College Fund, will be the keynote speaker for a major fundraising banquet. As President of the United Negro College Fund, Mr. Edley heads the largest and most successful Black fund-raising organization in America. In aduition to his demanding workwith U.N.C.F., Mr. Edley sits on the Board of Directors of American Airlines and Pa cific Tea Company (A & ?). A native of Charleston, West Virginia, Edley is a 1949 graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C. Mr. Edley makes it a point to emphasize that the education of our youth is a job that can't be done alone. The McDonalds and Pepsi Cola Corporations in the Youngstown area are major sponsors of the banquet. Herbert Thomas, owner of the McDonalds on Fifth Avenue in Youngstown, will seive as Master of Ceremonies. Mr. Thoma is a graduate of Xavier University in Noew Orleans, Louisiana, a U.N.C.F. school. The public is invited. Donation is $15.00 per person. Call 788-6519, 743-9136 or 7439938. Mrs. Thelma Clark is Banquet Chairperson. Christopher F. Edley Judge Williams Sworn In Judge James R. Williams was sworn in last Thursday as the first black judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Summit County. An overflow crowd of more than 500 friends and supporters attended the 4:00 p.m. ceremony as Judge Nathaniel R. Jones of the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals administered the oath of office. Judge Jones presented Judge William* as a person of "character, knowledge and commitment" who is in touch with the world and in touch with his community. Judge Williams said his diverse backgrown should help him to be a good judge at the Common Pleas level. He was a Continued to Page 8 Judge James R. Williams (left) is sworn in as Summit County's first black Common Pleas Judge by U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Nathaniel Jones on Thursday; Al Teodoslo - Snmmlt County Democratic Party Chairman ' congratulates Common Pleas Judge James R. Williams. Nominated For Awards Superstar Michael Jackson will be presented with the third annual Heritage Award at the 1989 "Soul Train Music Awards," airing live in prime time on Wednesday, April 12, 1989 from the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium. Previous recipients of the Heritage Award are Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight and The Pips. The award recognizes outstanding career achievements and contributions to the music industry. Jackson will also be the first recipient of a new special award named in honor of Sammy Davis, Jr., which recognizes outstanding stage performance. Filmstar/comedian Eddie Murphy will join Sammy Davis, Jr. in making the presentation, according to Executive Producer Don Cornelius and Steve Binder. The "Soul Train Music Awards," now in its third year, hgpors the best recording of ill? previous year by R&B, Jazz and Gospel artists. Twelve categories will be decided based upon ballots returned by recording artists, radio executives and record retailers. Officials nominees will be announced on Thursday, March 2, 1989, during a Eress brunch at the Beverly [ills Hotel. National television distributions and sales will be handled Tribune Entertainment mpany for the third year, while Cornelius and Anthony Sabatino will produce. Ronde Moraes of "Entertainment Tonight" will direct. Tribune Entertainment, a subsidiary of Tribune Broadcasting Company, Inc., ac3uires, develops, produces and istributes programming for television. Michael Jackson Conducts Monthly Executive Meeting The Ohio Civil Rights Commission will conduct its monthly Executive Session meeting at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 22, 1989, at the Agency's Central Office Conference Room, 220 Parsons Ave., Columbus, Ohio. The Commission's Business Session will be held at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, February 23, 1989, at the Agency's Central Office, Conference Room, 220 Parsons Ave., Columbus, Ohio. This meeting will consist of the Director's Report, which is open to the public unless per sonnel matters are being discussed. Next the Commissioner will make determinations and/or confirm staff findings listed on the February agenda. This facility is architecturally accessible for the handicapped/disabled persons an interpreter will be provided for the hearing impaired upon request. This service requires at least a seven day notice prior to meeting date. TTY telephone number 466-9353. The public is invited to attend the Business Session on Thursday. SupL Con rod Ott Suddenly and without notice on Wednesday, January 25th at approximately 2:30 p.m. at Firestone High School - 33 Ramport Ave., Akron, Ohio, an incident involving Girls Basketball Coach/teacher Vicky Snyder and Brian Parker - student. The alleged incident resulted from Brian Parker taking a chair from one area to another to sit by the door to wait for the Metro Bus to go home. Teacher Vicky Snyder allegedly ordered him to return the chair to the other end of the hall. An argument ensued when Brian attempted to get to the Bus. The teacher allegedly grabbed him knocking Brian against the wall. When Brian got home at 3:15, his mother called the Akron Police to report the incident. She look Brian to Akron Childrens Hospital where he was treated for bumbs and bruises. On Friday, January 27, a hearing was held at the Administration Building with Larry Weigle officiating. Mrs. Faye Hodoh Vicky Snyder, the teacher, did not appear. No eye witness to the incident appeared nor testified. Brian told his part and the hearing closed. Mrs. Hodoh attempted daily during the next week to get the results of the hearing. It wasn't until February 6th, the Hodohs were notified that their son had been expelled by Conrad Ott, Superintendent of Akron Public Schools. According to Akron School records this is the 50th case of expulsion in the last 30 days against Black males. Since Akron's first teachers strike Black observers are saying that teachers are using Gestopo type tactics. You want the children to grow up in this society to treat people like they want to be treated, but you give them gorilla's, S.W.A.T. Teams, Security Guards, and Militant Advisors to teach them, instead of caring teachers that said they wanted to share the knowledge that they've obtained to our children. A Black parent vented his Brian Parker anger asking: "Do you ever wonder why our children have a problem in the Akron Public School System?? Have you ever thought it could be the system of the school system that create instead of alleviating these problems. Your staff treats our children like their common current criminals with no regard for anyone's feelings, especially when it comes to these teachers. Their not always right!!!!!!! They do not always use the better judgement!!!!!!!!!!! At present the Schools are charged with not handling things with regards to a learning experience. You make decisions and that's the end of it! Yet you teach our children to ask Why! Then you won't allow time for answer or response, these children feel they have to defend themselves against you and your staff. RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN, (but are you and your staff the only people allowed to do this?) More Children Living With Parent, Census Bureau Reports The proportions of Black, White, ana Hispanic children living witi. one parent increased significantly from 1980 to 1988, according to a report from the Commerce Department's Census Bureau. Tne percent of Black children under age 18 living with one parent rose from 46 percent in 1980 to 54 percent in 1988. The proportion for White children increased from 15 percent to 19 percent, and the Hispanic proportion rose from 21 percent to 30 percent. Since 1980, the number of children living with only one Sarent has increased by 50,000 for Blacks, 1.7 million for Whites, and 895,000 for Hispanics. The 1988 totals were 5.2 ir.illio Black, 9.6 million White, and 2.0 million Hispanic children. Ninetyfive percent of Black children, 85 percent of White children ana 90 percent of Hispanic children in one-parent situations lived with tneir mother. Black children in a one-parent situation in 1988 were most likely to be living with a parent who had never married (54 percent), while White children were most likely to be living with a divorced parent (50 percent). Hispanic children living with one parent were about equaily likely to be living with a never-married parent (33 percent), with a married parent whose spouse was absent (31 percent^, or with a divorced parent (30 percent). As in all surveys, the data are subject to sampling variability and response errors. These statistics are from a final report on these subjects. An advance report that did not contain the data highlighted was issued in September 1988. It was titled Households, Families, Marital Status, and Living Arrangements: March 1988 (Series P-20, No. 432). Coppies of the report, Marital Status and Living Airangements: March 1988, Series P20, No. 433, are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. "Bush To Enlist Blacks" Says GOP Head Lee Atwater, Chairman of the Republican National Committee was the main speaker at tne 57th Lincoln Day Dinner sponsored by the Summit County Republican Party and attended by over 800 e two major command focused of the Party and at the urging of President Bush are: 1) the campaigns of 1990 & 1991 & 2) tnat the Bush personnel recruiters and the Republican party recruiters must seek to carry out a mandate of previously overlooked groups including Blacks, Hispanics, Asian- Americans and tne disabled."The Republican Party must be the leader in minority outreach" noted Atwater. The Republican message, he indicated, must be taken into the inner cities. "Republicans", he ile. stated... ."are the pulse of the middle class ana the baby boomers, there is a thriving black middle class who has been overlooked. This is a long term commitment." The command focus on minority outreach had great meaning to those present especially since the dias lacked people of color. During his talk, Atwater indicated that the mega mistake made by the Democrats during the last campaign was their 50 state strategy. The Republicans targeted and targeted early. It became clear that Ohi was, is and will be central to this targeting effort. Atwater described himself as a grass roots, nuts & bolts politician who "does not intend to be kinder and gentler nor bipartisan." Atwater was introduced by Jim Wray, Assistant Director for Political Affairs, office of the President and chief political advisor. Wray's father is a resident of Tallmadge. Tommy Bryant had an oppor tunity to mention the importance of the Ohio Republican Council prior to the dinner to Lee Atwater. Following the dinner and Atwater indicated an interest in additional information on the Council and would be contacting Bryant. Included in the crowd were" Seth Taft, George Voinovich, Paul Pfeifer, Judge Sam Bell, Bill Miller, Herb Johnson Sr., Norman Purnell, State Senator Roy Ray, Summit County Prosecutor Lynn Siaby, Asst. County Prosecutor larry poulos, Rabbi David Horowitz, Tommy Bryant (Akdon/Summit County President of the Ohio Republican Council), Bob Deitchman (Pres. Equal Access To Education Association), Helen Brown, Joyce J. George, Judge Ted Schneiderman, Judge Mary Spicei, State Representative Tom Watkins ana Ohio Republican Chairman Robert Bennett. Lee Atwater AIDS Awareness Poster Contest Dr. Ronald L. Fletcher, director, Ohio Department of Health (ODH), today announced that ODH and the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) are co-sponsoring a statewide AIDS awareness poster contest for ninth grade Ohioans. The goals of the contest are to promote AIDS awareness in tne schools and to educate communities through public display of the winning posters. Continued to Page 2