Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 June 2002 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, JUNE 7,2002

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE A7

Black studies scholar staying at ^ Harvard, at least for now

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The head of Harvard University’s Black studies department will not leave with two colleagues for Princeton in the coming academic year. But Henry Louis Gates did not rule out such a move altogether, telling The Harvard Crimson and The Star-Ledger of Newark that he would make a final decision on Princeton’s standing offer this summer. “It would be devastating to Afro-American studies to leave now, and I want to start rebuilding the department with my friends and colleagues,” he told the Crimson, which broke the story on its Web site last week. By delaying a final decision, Gates extends a drama that has played out on the rival Ivy League campuses since late last year. Two members of Harvard’s Afro-American Studies Department, regarded as one of the nation’s best, accepted offers from Princeton earlier this year after a dispute with Harvard’s new president, Lawrence Summers. Summers was criticized for not making a strong statement in support of affirmative action at an early meeting with department members.

He also reportedly accused professor Cornel West of allowing grade inflation and rebuked him for recording a rap CD and leading a political committee for the Rev. A1 Sharpton’s possible presidential campaign. West said he had been “dishonored,” and accepted an offer from Princeton in April. Another professor, K. Anthony Appiah, was appointed to Princeton ’ s faculty in January. He cited personal reasons, not the dispute with Summers. Gates told the Crimson that “What I have to figure out is if I can live without Anthony Appiah, and only time will tell.” In a statement. Harvard spokesman Alan Stone described Gates as “a very valued member of the faculty and the larger Harvard community. We look forward to his continuing presence at our university.” Princeton spokeswoman Marilyn Marks said her university’s interest in Gates has not waned. “We are actively recruiting distinguished faculty members to build what we consider a very strong African-American studies program,” Marks said.

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Lawsuit challenges jail's ‘booking fee’

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A federal lawsuit filed on behalf of two inmates alleges that a $25 processing fee inmates must pay when they are booked into the Clark County Jail is illegal. The lawsuit demands that the

people who are arrested,” Betteau said. “They have no procedural protection — no dueprocess rights — it just happens. And if they don’t like it, well, too bad.” The state allows counties to

county reimburse all inmates who have paid the fee since April 2001, when county commissioners approved an ordinance imposing it. The lawsuit claims the com-

missioners have not followed state guidelines regulating jail fees. Attorney Bart Betteau says the ordinance has no provisions to return money to inmates acquitted of charges or whose charges were dismissed. “Basically it’s an illegal tax on

collect a fee from prisoners but limits use of the revenue to maintaining and operating the jail. Clark County puts $10 from each fee into a fund to help pay for police pensions, while the remainder goes into the jail’s inmate medical fund.

Two years ago, Vigo County became the first Indiana county to impose a fee on inmates to help cover medical expenses. Since then, Clark and a handful of other counties have followed

suit. County Attorney Scott Lewis told The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Ky., that it was the government’s policy not to respond to pending lawsuits. Sheriff Michael Becher acknowledged last year that it was controversial to charge someone to put them in jail. But he said the ordinance was crafted under state laws that allow “home rule” for communities and counties. While the ordinance contains a provision exempting indigent inmates from paying the fee, Betteau said there is no established process to apply that provision. In practice, he said, the sheriff rarely waives the fee. One of the plaintiffs in the

suit is Cristobal Sanchez, who was arrested in January on a charge of receiving stolen property. Three months later, prosecutors dropped the charge, but Sanchez did not get the $25 fee back, Betteau said. The other man named as a

plaintiff, David Bezy, was broke when booked into the jail for not paying a fine for a traffic violation, Betteau said. The $25 fee was taken out of Bezy’s commissary fund, which was money his family had left for him at the jail, the lawsuit claims.

The jail currently is operating under an agreement settling a federal lawsuit, also filed by Betteau, that caps its population at 197 inmates.

IBE, health department hold tobacco workshop for youth

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IBE pageant contestants learn about tobacco use dangers.

By BRANDON JACKSON Staff Writer

The Indiana Black Expo and the Marion County Health Department teamed up to sponsor a tobacco workshop for Indiana Black Expo pageant contestants.

event. Gaylord gave a presentation on how African-Americans are affected by the tobacco industry and stated the many reasons why African-Americans are the number one target for the tobacco industry. “More African-Americans die

rate among African-American females ages 18-24 is 24.3 percent. The rate among AfricanAmerican males is at 35.1

percent, according to county health department records. For more information on how to obtain information about the

The workshop was held on May 30 at Wishard Memorial Hospital and featured a variety of community leaders who discussed tobacco use among African-Americans, which was co-sponsored by the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessa-

from lung cancer than any other race in the United States,” said Gaylord. “African-Americans males

dangers of smoking or to contact someone for questions contact Anita Gaylord at: [email protected].

tion Coalition. ITPC Director of Community Programs Anita Gaylord was on hand to facilitate the hour-long

and females between the ages of 18 and 24 are key targets for the tobacco industry and tobacco companies spend $60 billion dollars each year in advertisement dollars to persuade people to use their products.” The Marion County smoking

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