Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 August 1997 — Page 1

Four Sections

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102nd YEAR ■ NUMBER 34 ■ SATURDAY, AUGUST 23,1997 ■ PHONE 317/924-5143 ■ www.lndlanapoll8recoidef.com ■ 75»

“Sugar Shack” spoils downtown image?

By MONYCA D. COLEMAN Staff Writer

South Meridian Street business owners are angry the new Sugar Shack nightclub, located at 225 S. Meridian is re-opening for business Friday, August 22. Representatives for The Slippery Noodle Inn, Hollywood Bar and Filmworks, The Omni Hotel and the Indianapolis Police Department converged at the City County Building Monday, begging the Indianapolis Alcohol Beverage Commission to shut the nightclub down, citing the club’s July 18 opening had South Meridian Street in a frenzy. “The crowd the Sugar Shack attracts is prone to violent behavior,” Ted Boulthaup of Hollywood Bar and Filmworks said. “Patrons

Indianapolis Polloe Department Deputy Chief Deborah Saunders of Its downtown district, says her main

concerns are the public’s safety and the safety of law enforcement. (Recorder Photo By Curtis Quynn)

have to go through metal detectors just to get in the door! To me that says they are expecting trouble.” The Sugar Shack owners disagree. “We have gone above the call of duty to make sure our business is safe,” Joseph Smith Jr.,oneof the SugarShack’sowners said. “Our metal detector is a deterrent for those that may try to enter with a negative attitude.” Deborah Saunders, IPD deputy chief of its downtown district was present to give her account of what happened the night of July 18. “All incidents did occur outside of the establishment,” Saunders said. “Law enforcement’s two concerns are public safety and the safety of the police officers.” Saunders also told the commission she met

See SHACK, Page A4

Is teacher retention IPS’

latest hurdle?

By BARATO BRITT Staff Writer

As students await the upcoming school year, advancing to the next grade level may not be the only change they have to deal with. For the Indianapolis Public Schools, administration is entering its 1997-98 school year hiring new teachers to compensate for the high number of resignations tendered over the summer break. To date, IPS teachers have turned in approximately 30 resignations, with that number projected to increase by 10 when school reconvenes. Leaves of absences and retirements are included in this number. However, while this number may seem alarming, there’s no need for panic, according to IPS officials. In fact, resignations tendered at this time of

year are a common occurrence. Charlie Kent, assistant superintendent of human resources, believes that IPS will compensate thoroughly to meet faculty replacement demands. “There’s no need to panic. We’re getting the schools filled,” said Kent, “The board has not yet approved all of the resignations yet, but always at this time of year vacancies are created. In a district this large we may see more resignations to come.” While a number of teachers have decided to resign due to reasons beyond their control, a larger percentage of the faculty are leaving the school system for the purpose of financial advancement. In public institutions such as IPS and surrounding townships, faculty payroll and benefits are determined by federal funds and revenues generated from respective tax bases. With the IPS district being the lowest in tax base, and with townships still receiving money from the desegregation order, IPS has the lowest pay rate for teachers in the Indianapolis area, with the ex-

ception of private schools. Additionally, with money established by local entrepreneurs for the upcoming choice lottery, some $270,000 donated to a scholarship lottery for underprivileged students, outside money is scare in coming for the struggling school

system.

“All of us like to advance and make more money,” said Kent. “We can say that IPS is competitive but the township salary structure is quite higher.” Advancement is also a goal of ] many educators, according to Kent, who was brought into IPS administration in October where his pay was increased from his previous position as well. New teachers, especially, have used IPS for experience until a pay raise incurs in a new area, a proving ground of sorts. School system officials however, does not feel IPS is used in this type capacity at all. “One has to feel he or she is bettering themselves. Even we in education need to make career moves,” he said. Where is the loyalty to inner city students and a school system in need of assistance? For teachers remaining in the IPS structure, who are getting paid less than their counterparts in townships, there will be no immediate pay increases, only new students to nurture. ’Teaching is not about making

As state Rep. Gregory Porter presents Dr. Carolyn Dickson with the Sagamore of the Wabash award on behave of Gov. Frank O’Bannon, he said “We love you and God bless your {Recorder Photo By Curtis Guynn)

Dickson, 84 and still helping others

widgets,” said Kent. “We talk about

money being an issue, but when you talk about teaching, it’s a gut level feeling. The real loyalty is to the kids. If I’m teaching in IPS, I’m loyal to students in that system. You’re loyal to the kids in the place

you are teaching.”

For students in the IPS system, education is contingent on what their educators teach them. But as the gap between teacher’s wages

By CONNIE GAINES HAYES Managing Editor

Many in Indianapolis were in attendance last Friday to pay homage to one of the city’s great physicians - Dr. Carolyn Dickson, who at age 84 is

still practicing family medicine.

To honor Dickson, the Governor’s office presented her with the Sagamore of the Wabash award. “The governor gives this award, it is the highest

award a civilian can get and she (Dr. Dickson) has

and fringe benefits gets larger a beautiful spirit and is deserving of it,” said Rep. within the systems, inner city stu- Gregory Porter, the award presenter, dents may find their favorite edu- Joseph Miller opened the doors of his home for

cators leaving soon.

an informal gathering of family and close friends of Dickson. Family members include her son Leon Dickson, Jr. Ph.D, Silver Springs, Maryland; her daughter Carolyn Whitfield Broome Ph.D, Silver Springs, Maryland; her sister-in-law Helen Lucas and her cousin Joan Wake. Besides receiving this prestigious award, Dickson was recently awarded a State of Indiana Half Century Business Award for 74 years of service to the Indianapolis community with her medical practice, which is known as General Medical Practice of Carolyn Lucas Dickson.

See DICKSON Page A4

Lucky students win

CHOICE

grants

Pictured from the left are; Alphonso Harrell, Ericka Lewis and their mother Barbara Lewis who nervously await their names being among the 110 lucky Individuals to win a tuition grant for the 1097-06 school year during a recent lottery launched by CHOICE

Indiana Black student 1 st

in law school class

BY MICHELLE LOCKE The Associated Press

BERKELEY, Calif. - The only Black student in the first law school class since the University of California dropped affirmative action said Monday he has been “given a unique opportunity” to improve the campus for minority students. Surrounded by news cameras, Eric Brooks of Bloomington, Ind., acknowledged he’s been thrust to the forefront of the race debate. But he said he expects to be treated as “an individual who has earned die right to attend this prestigious university.” “Much of the reason why I de-

cided to become a lawyer was to effect change in our society and fight for those things in which I believe,” said the soft-spoken Brooks, reading from a statement in his only comment of the day. T believe that by attending Boalt this fall, I have been given a unique opportunity to work to make needed changes and improvements for future students of color here at Ber-

keley,” he added. Other first-year students said they had been pondering the challenges their classmate will likely face. “It’s really gutsy for him to come here. That’s honorable, I

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