Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 August 1999 — Page 1

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INDIANA STATE l(BRAKY 140 \ SENATE AVE INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46204-2207

INDIANA’S GREATEST KLY NEWSPAPER

f04th YEAR ■ NUMBER 32 ■ FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1999 ■ PHONE 317/924-5143 ■ www.lndianapolisrecorder.com ■ 75*1 ■I .. .. ■■■■•'■ — ■ — 1

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William G. Mays

Staff reports and wire services

Mays Chemical Company recognized as ‘GM Supplier of the Year’

General Motors recently announced that Mays Chemical Company is Supplier of the Year for 1998. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Mays Chemical Company is a fully-integrated chemical distributor offering chemicals and qther related raw materials, cleaning and sanitation products, outsourcing services, consolidation and materials management. The 1999 Supplier of the Year award marks the sixth time in seven years that Mays Chemical has peen a recipient of the 'prestigious General Motors award.

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Multicultural Infusion Conference returns to DPS The Indianapolis Public Schools

Office of Multicultural Education will host the 12th annual Conference on faifusion of Culture and History Into the. School Curriculum on August 12

and 13.

The nationally renowned conference at Crispus Attucks Middle School, 1140 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St., is co-sponsored by The Tuskegee Airmen and the Indianapolis Commission on African American Males. The theme for this year, a continuation of last year’s popular conference, is “Using Technology to Build Cultural Bridges.”

IpAAM and the IPS Office of Multicultural Education Hiunches city-wide j|ientoring program The Indianapolis Commission on i^frican-American Males (ICAAM) dnd the IPS Office of Multicultural Education have worked diligently iring the past school year researchig mentoring programs, best prac;es that work and began to impleient the “Talks” curriculum in fifteen *S, one Lawrence, one Pike and ohe barren schools. ‘ The curriculum offers a unique solution to the challenge with a one with free approach - one man mentoring t|ree young men. This concept multpplies the effort, discourages manipulation and unhealthy bonding and provides interesting dynamic for interaction. Mentors meet with their mentees for 30 minutes each week throughout the school year at their mentee’s school. On Friday, August 13 from 8 a.m. until Noon, Dr. Harold Davis, author 6f the “Talks” mentoring curriculum, and his wife. Dr. Ollie Watts Davis, will bring the keynote address at the 12th Annual Conference on Infusion of Culture and History Into the School Curriculum sponsored by the IPS Office of Multicujtural Education. V For additional information, contact Lyman Rhodes at 327-5775 or Pat Payhe at 226-4613.

O’Banoon urges needy

*M4y for

summer cooling help

' In response to several days of scorching heat - and forecasts for even more - Governor Frank O ’ B annon last week authorized the use of $500,000

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IPS dress code places responsibility at home

By ANNETTE L. ANDERSON Recorder Correspondent

School days, school days, dear old dress code days are here for Indianapolis Public School students. Although some schools already have dress codes in place, resolution #7426, unanimously approved by the IPS school board, holds “parents or guardians and students responsible for their dress and grooming.” Some of the requirements include: wearing clothing that is clean and in good repair; not wearing clothing that may be identified with a gang or promotes violence, tobacco, alcohol or other drugs, and not wearing clothing that displays indecent words or are sexually revealing. Although one parent totally agrees with the code, he is skeptical about its effect to some degree. “It’s a great idea and should encourage more responsible behavior among students,” noted Larry Smith. "But I hope the school board doesn’t think it’s a panacea for its problems. Prohibiting

students from wearing gang paraphernalia is not going to mean it will stop gang activity in school.” Educator Sandra Young, Special Education Dept, at Broad Ripple High School said, “I don’t think having a dress code could hurt anything...! know how boys want to wear their pants, and how much girls want to reveal, i$a challenge for all of the school^. Since there is already a dress code, having the new one (implemented) will just involve everybody (parents, students and school personnel) in a more * distinctive or definite way. Students coming to school with their pants hanging, or skirts and dresses too short are very much aware they are breaking the rules. But perhaps now whatever the consequences will be for disobeying the code, will be effective enough to insure that the school environment is conducive to learning and not spending time addressing student at-

Two incoming freshmen at Northwest High School had very different views about

the code. Felicia Howard, 14, said the code is good for students. “Girls should respect their bodies, and boys should dress their age by not showing their bottoms,” she commented. “But I don’t think the students are going to respect the code, because they will want to dress their own way. Myself, I just wear jeans and a shirt.” When asked what she thinks the punishment should be for not adhering to the code, Felicia responded, “Definitely afterschool detention or suspension.” However, 14-year-old Neitra Guzman adamantly disagrees. “I don’t like it,” she said. “We should be able to wear what we want because teachers don’t buy our clothes. And it should not distract boys when girls dress a little (provocatively) because they shoqld be disciplined enough to just concentrate on school.” Neitra’s 15-year-old sister Natasha, a sophomore at Northwest, believes students

See IPS Page A3

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Escaping an ordeal

IVRP changing culture, perception of law enforcement

By BARATO BRITT Staff Writer

For many in the inner city community, there is an inherent distrust of law enforcement. Various altercations between citizens and law enforcement have added problems to an already strained relationship. Off the record, some law enforcement officials will admit that many police officers can develop unfair steneotypical perceptions of citizens living in various comfhunity segments. Often, that misperception has carried

ourts, where many citizens believe they arc r '

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a clearer perception or itsen, while tmpreviitg

awareness and motions with the community, each of the city’s law enforcement agencies have begun a collaborative initiative called the Indianapolis Violence Reduction Partnership (IVRP). The program is a continuation of the Strategic Approaches to Community Safety Initiatives, a national initiative developed by the Department of Jus-

tice to reduce violent crime.

For over a year now, the IVRP has offered the community an opportunity to meet with officials to find ways to • - -tj , , ■ ~*t- change the culture and relationship between the commuAn unidentified woman is led away from an Atlanta office building July 29, aftar suspect Mark O. Barton, 44, nity and law enforcement. Their community approach is opened fire in two office buildings, killing nine people and wounding twelve others. (AP Photo/Alan Mothner) similar to that of programs in Boston and New York, both >■ ofwhom have seen dramatic reduction in homicide since

• ''' See IVRP, Page A2 Peterson, Carson demand Barton Apartments stay open

By AMOS BROWN III Recorder Correspondent i-, ■■ ■' /'V ' . / ;4 • ' " . ; > The residents living in the John Barton Apartments are getting high-powered help in their battle to keep their apartments from the city’s wrecking ball. Democratic Mayoral candidate Bart Peterson is demanding that the City and the Indianapolis Housing Agency, which oversees the city’s public housing communities, end their efforts to sell the Barton Apartments and scatter the residents. Peterson made his declaration outside the Barton Apartments at 555 Massachusetts Avenue last Saturday (July 30th), flanked by the elderly and disabled residents of the Barton Apartments. Joining Peterson’s call to end efforts to sell another low-income apartment building in ■ the downtown was Congresswoman Julia Carson, Indianapolis NAACP President Rod Bohannon (who also represents the legal interests of the Barton’s residents),. State Representative Bill Crawford, State SenatorGlenn Howard, City County Council candidate Ron Gibson, members of the Concerned Clergy, and housing advocates. Peterson, Carson and Crawford strongly criticized the Goldsmith Administration and its public housing agency’s lack, of commitment to providing affordable housing for senior citizens, the handicapped and poor and working families. Charges Eugene Jones, Executive Directqr^fIndianapolis Housing Agency, strongl denies. “The people who live here (at the Barton Apartments) don’t want to move out,” said Bart Peterson. “Asking the residents to raise $25 million to save their building, while the city is looking to sell it is ridicu

Julia Canon and Bart Pataraon aland putalda Via Barton Apartmanta, 866

Saa BARTON, Paga A4

O’Bannon, Carson endorse Gore for President Special to the Recorder

The third visit by a Presidential campaign in ten days resulted in major endorsements by top Indiana political leaders. Saturday, Governor Frank O’Bannon, Lt. Gov. Joe Keman, along with Congresswoman Julia Carson, Attorney Gen. Jeff Modisett and Indianapolis State Senator Billie Breaux endorsed Vice-Presi-dent A1 Gore for President. The endorsements, which came as no surprise, were made during a visit to Indianapolis by Tipper Gore, the Vice-President’s wife. In his endorsement. Governor O’Bannon praised the Vice-President for being the only candidate “with solid positions on the issues.” “A1 Gore has the experience and feeling about people to be President,” the Governor said. “He’s the man who can lead us into the 21st Century.” Praising the Vice-President as one who “puts families first”, the state’s Chief Executive praised Mr. Gore for his solid positions on education, his support of pre-school and increased educational standards and assessments. • “A1 Gore has helped achieve a balanced budget. He’s protecting Social Security and Medicare and working for safe communities,” the Gov

; &— GORE, Paga A3

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