North Dakota Human Rights Coalition
Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights
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North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights |
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~North Dakota Human Rights Coalition PAUR Report~ Visit our Website at www.ndhrc.org
July 22, 2003
Programs ~ Announcements ~ Updates ~ Resources
Hello members and friends of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition!
In this week’s PAUR Report:
NDHRC Announcements 1) Multicultural Social at the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Fall Conference, October 24, 2003, Fargo, ND 2) July 2003 Web Site Calendar of Events 3) NDHRC Informational Brochures Available in Braille
Newspaper Articles 4) Bismarck Tribune Article, Investigation of Reinbold proper 5) The Forum (Fargo) Article, Pat Matthys letter: ‘Dinosaur’ should resign immediately 6) The Forum (Fargo), Forum editorial: PSC’s Reinbold should leave public life now 7) Bismarck Tribune Article, Reinbold will have to pay for own ticket 8) Bismarck Tribune Article, Things seem backward at the Public Service Commission 9) The Forum (Fargo), Political notebook: Reinbold still says he’s quitting due to health 10) Minot Daily News Article, Is there really freedom here? 11) Bismarck Tribune Article, Fired employees contest decision 12) The Forum (Fargo) Article, Indian ranchers battle USDA 13) The Forum (Fargo) Article, Civil Rights Commission report criticizes USDA
Events 14) 2003 Northern Plains Conference on Aging and Disability, Fargo, September 10 &11, 2003
Reminders 15) FM Pride 2003, Fargo-Moorhead, July 25-27 16) North Dakota Medicaid Buy-In, A Passport to Work Conference, Bismarck, July 29 & 30, 2003 17) 36th Annual Fort Totten Days Wacipi, July 24-27, Fort Totten, ND 18) North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project, “Plan for Achieving Self Support Workshops”, August 4-7, 2003, Various Locations in ND 19) Summer Theological Conference, “In the Name of God: Religion and Violence in the Middle East,” July 21-23, 2003, Moorhead, MN
********************************************* NDHRC Announcements *********************************************
1.) Multicultural Social at the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Fall Conference, October 24, 2003, Fargo, ND
Join us on Friday, October 24th for an evening celebrating North Dakota’s rich and diverse cultures!
We’ll have a multicultural social on Friday evening to kick off our Fall Conference on Saturday, October 25 for the human rights network in North Dakota. The social will be a casual setting for a cross-cultural exchange designed to encourage collaboration and conversation, and promote understanding and respect for people from different cultures and communities in our area.
Please plan to join us for this social the evening before the Fall Conference.
And Don’t Forget to Save the Date!
NDHRC Fall Conference Saturday, October 25, 2003 Fargo
Ideas & suggestions for topics are welcome, contact Andrea at andreadeegan@ndhrc.org
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2.) July 2003 Web Site Calendar of Events
We recently made some improvements to the web site calendar of events. Your input and information regarding upcoming events for the calendar would be much appreciated.
View the NDHRC web site here
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3.) NDHRC Informational Brochures Available in Braille
NDHRC has brochures available in brail. Contact Andrea at andreadeegan@ndhrc.org for a copy.
********************************************* Newspaper Articles *********************************************
4.) Bismarck Tribune Article, Investigation of Reinbold proper
Investigation of Reinbold proper
<snip>
View full article here
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5.) The Forum (Fargo) Article, Pat Matthys letter: ‘Dinosaur’ should resign immediately
Pat Matthys letter: ‘Dinosaur’ should resign
immediately
I read the Leo Reinbold story with shock. It is truly a travesty that the 21st century woman still has to suffer humiliation and degradation in the work place, and a state agency no less.
Reinbold is a dinosaur who clearly represents a “good old boy” way of doing things that unfortunately still exist, but whose time needs to end once and for all. This kind of abusive power puts women in a vulnerable position, with the fear of losing their jobs should they report this behavior.
No one has the right to harass or demean a fellow employee, whether they are male or female. If there are problems or issues amongst or between employees and supervisors, there should be an impartial entity to help resolve these problems without fear of retaliation. Because a person is in a position of power should not affect the credibility of a worker.
<snip>
View full article here
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6.) The Forum (Fargo), Forum editorial: PSC’s Reinbold should leave public life now
Forum editorial: PSC’s Reinbold should leave public
life now
It makes no sense for North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Leo Reinbold to delay his departure from public life to the end of the month.
Reinbold continues to deny a 20-year history of sexual harassment and intimidation of female Capitol employees, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Moreover, his colleagues and former supporters in the Republican Party have been brutally candid with him about the charges.
They don’t believe his denials.
Reinbold’s long career on the PSC has been permanently tainted by the harassment charges. His response to investigative reports has been unconvincing. His refusal to take the advice of his colleagues and former political allies borders on pathetic.
<snip>
View full article here
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7.) Bismarck Tribune Article, Reinbold will have to pay for own ticket
Reinbold will have to pay for own ticket By Dale Wetzel, Associated Press Writer Bismarck
Tribune – 7/17/2003
<snip>
View full article here
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8.) Bismarck Tribune Article, Things seem backward at the Public Service Commission
Things seem backward at the Public Service Commission Bismarck Tribune – 7/14/2003
Public
Service Commissioner Leo Reinbold may or may not have harassed a female
employee, but he should not have his travel privileges revoked on those grounds.
<snip>
View full article here
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9.) The Forum (Fargo), Political notebook: Reinbold still says he’s quitting due to health
Political notebook: Reinbold still
says he’s quitting due to health
<snip>
When sexual harassment allegations against North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Leo Reinbold surfaced in Bismarck and people with tickets to his retirement supper began canceling, many requested their $25 check be returned.
In at least one verifiable case, the retiring public service commissioner asked the person who was canceling if he could keep the money.
Last week, the Reinbold family canceled the supper.
The retirement was announced and the supper scheduled before other commissioners knew that a Highway Patrol investigation concluded Reinbold probably had sexually harassed a Capitol employee in an elevator.
<snip>
View full article here
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10.) Minot Daily News Article, Is there really freedom here?
Is
there really freedom here?
Israel Perez
<snip>
View full article here
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11.) Bismarck Tribune Article, Fired employees contest decision
Fired employees contest decision By Mike Albrecht Bismarck
Tribune – 7/17/2003
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12.) The Forum (Fargo) Article, Indian ranchers battle USDA
Indian ranchers battle USDA
FORT YATES, N.D. -- George Keepseagle still hasn’t fully recovered from back-to-back disasters that decimated his cow herd more than half a dozen years ago.
A disease called scours killed about 50 of his cattle in 1995, a loss repeated by the harsh winter of 1996, when a blizzard took another 50 of his Black Angus and Black Simmental cattle.
Together, the disasters claimed a third of his 300-cow herd, a loss that forced another calamity: the involuntary sale of 380 acres of pasture.
Both years Keepseagle’s region was declared a disaster area. But each time, no American Indian ranchers on the Standing Rock Reservation were awarded emergency disaster loans to help them weather the crises.
Any rancher in North Dakota is accustomed to having to fight nature in the constant struggle to earn a living running cattle.
<snip>
View full article here
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13.) The Forum (Fargo) Article, Civil Rights Commission report criticizes USDA
Civil Rights Commission report
criticizes USDA
The U.S. Department of Agriculture remains plagued with a bumper crop of criticisms for the civil rights protections it provides to American Indian farmers and ranchers.
A new report by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, adopted Friday, found continuing evidence of what one investigator called “institutional discrimination” within USDA, the defendant in a half dozen major lawsuits alleging discrimination by minority farmers.
The report, following up on an earlier study by the commission seven years ago, concluded that little progress has been made.
“Overall, the department has not made significant strides to address the commission’s 1996 recommendations or improve civil rights reinforcement,” the report found.
The commission’s report is the latest in a series of internal audits, congressional reports and civil rights inquiries that have found systemic failures.
Among the problems noted in the commission’s report:
- Discrimination com-plaints brought by minority farmers involving federal farm programs take an average of 676 days to be resolved. The target date for completing investigations is 180 days, but the average investigation took more than twice as long, 315 days.
- The backlog of discrimination complaints within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, though reduced by more than half since 1998, remains at almost 700. The delays mean some farmers must go without financial assistance and can miss a planting season while waiting for complaints to be resolved, investigators said.
- Compliance checks found that outreach and legal assistance for American Indian farmers were lacking in virtually all states examined in the late 1990s.
“The discrimination is institutional and it’s been around a long time,” said Margaret Butler, a civil rights analyst for the commission and team leader for the report.
Ed Loyd, a USDA deputy press secretary, said the department hasn’t had a chance to review the report, and therefore can’t make detailed comments.
The appointment in April of an assistant secretary for civil rights, a new position, is an indication of the department’s commitment to protecting minority rights, he said.
“The creation of that position was an acknowledgment that there are some historical issues,” he said. “There are a lot of changes that have been implemented and continue to be implemented.”
The authors of the report said reasons vary for the continued problems in protecting the rights of minority farmers.
One problem is USDA’s sheer size, a sprawling and decentralized bureaucracy with offices in counties throughout the nation. Officials in Washington have little or no control over the hiring of county-level officials or committees -- the front line for key decisions about eligibility for programs, Butler said.
Despite the new assistant secretary position, funding and staffing for civil rights remain insufficient, the report found. There is no single budget line for civil rights enforcement, but its office for civil rights enforcement budget grew modestly to $13.8 million last year, from $10.7 million in 1997.
However, many of the employees who were the subject of discrimination complaints remain in the job, the report found.
“Now there’s every indication that they’re still having to deal with the same employees,” said Terri Dickerson, the commission’s director of evaluation.
Records indicate USDA took disciplinary action against 203 employees, 19 within the Farm Service Agency, the primary branch dealing with farmers. Four of the 19 were removed, Butler said.
Given the continued problems, it appears the fundamental problem is that a culture continues to dominate much of the USDA bureaucracy, despite attempts to weed it out, Dickerson said.
Ultimately, that is because accountability for civil rights compliance remains too fragmented, without clear lines of responsibility under the office of civil rights.
The complaint process, where complaints often “bounce back and forth” between offices, should be streamlined, Dickerson said.
Also, the U.S. Department of Justice is supposed to review civil rights programs within USDA, but has failed to provide oversight, she said.
“We think that could be a big help,” Dickerson said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Patrick Springer at (701) 241-5522.
********************************************* Events *********************************************
14.) 2003 Northern Plains Conference on Aging and Disability, Fargo, September 10 &11, 2003
The Northern Plains Conference on Aging and Disability is a preeminent event designed to bring together elders and professionals who share a common interest in the graying of the northern plains. Dialogue and collaboration between professionals and consumers is taking on expanded importance as consumers increasingly find their voice. Public and private agencies and organizations of every category are seeing the wisdom of working together. The 2003 conference offers the opportunity for older and disabled adults, senior adult advocacy groups, health care professionals, government representatives, long-term care professionals, home and community based service providers, human services workers and city and county planners to focus on the future.
Concurrent Sessions will be offered on a variety of topics including: Memory Loss, the National Family Caregiver Support Program, Developmental Disabilities, Diabetes Care, Identify Theft, Vision, Disability Legislation and the Therapeutic Effect of Essential Oils.
For registration information, a conference brochure or answers to questions, please contact Sandy Arends at (701) 298-4411 or 1-888-342-4900.
********************************************* Reminders *********************************************
15.) North Dakota Medicaid Buy-In, A Passport to Work Conference, Bismarck, July 29 & 30, 2003
This conference is designed to disseminate information regarding the recently passed North Dakota Medicaid Buy-In bill and its implementation plan. The most current information pertaining to Medicaid Buy-In and Personal Assistance Services will be provided.
A variety of speakers will enlighten the audience with interactive discussion on disability related issues.
For more information or to register contact Tom Alexander at (800) 233-1737 or email: talexander@minorstateu.edu.
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16.) FM Pride 2003, Fargo-Moorhead, July 25-27
FM Pride™ 2003 is scheduled for July 25-27 at various locations in Fargo-Moorhead.
Activities will include Games, Gay Movies, and a Dance at Pride Collective in Moorhead; Drag Show at the I-Beam, Moorhead; Pride Festival, Main Shelter, Gooseberry Park, Moorhead with live entertainment (Ira Levi and Cory Moore); Poetry reading; and other events.
If your organization or business is interested in being a vendor or having an informational table during the Pride Festival on Saturday, July 25, please contact the Pride Collective at webmaster@pridecollective.com for approval. A registration form is available online in PDF format.
For more information visit the FM Pride web site here
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17.) 36th Annual Fort Totten Days Wacipi, July 24-27, Fort Totten, ND
Pow wow grand entry times are Thursday, 7pm; Fri, 1pm and 7pm; Saturday 1pm and 7pm; and Sunday 1pm.
Admission is free.
Singing and dance contests for northern, southern and straight categories.
Other events at the pow wow include basketball, softball, and a horse shoe tourney.
Contact the Devils Lake Hotel for room reservations.
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18.) North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project, “Plan for Achieving Self Support Workshops”, August 4-7, 2003, Various Locations in ND
A Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) is a way in which a person with a disability or blindness uses or sets aside income or resources to reach a work goal. For example, a person could set aside money for an education, a training program, to start a business or to purchase technology or a vehicle.
Any person who receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) because of a disability or blindness may have a PASS. In addition, a person who does not receive SSI because his or her income or resources are too high may use a PASS to become eligible for SSI.
People with disabilities interested in a PASS and professionals who provide support to them would benefit from attending this workshop.
The PASS workshop will be presented in four locations in North Dakota:
August 4, 2003 Bismarck, ND
August 5, 2003 Minot, ND
August 6, 2003 Grand Forks, ND
August 7, 2003 Fargo, ND
The deadline for registration is July 31st. To register or for more information contact Vickay Gross at vgross@state.nd.us, (701) 328-2950, (800) 472-2670 (voice), or 711 (ND Relay).
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19.) Summer Theological Conference, “In the Name of God: Religion and Violence in the Middle East,” July 21-23, 2003, Moorhead, MN
Religion clearly plays a role in the various conflicts in the Middle East. Exactly what the role is is not so obvious. More importantly, is there something about the monotheistic religions that dominate the region that stimulates, or at least provides sanction for, violence? Why does Western diplomacy consistently fail to address this key feature of Middle Eastern culture and political life?
Christianity is a tiny minority in the region, but its influence is enormous because of the power and influence of the United States. Does religion play a covert role in American policy? Is America engaged in a new Crusade in the Muslim world?
This conference is intended to shed some light on this very complicated situation-and to raise questions that the religious community needs to take very seriously.
For more information contact the CHARIS Ecumenical Center at (218) 299-3566 or email Vicki Juven at juven@cord.edu.
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***Member Reminder*** Please keep us in mind for your group or church social action/social justice meetings! We’d be happy to provide a presentation at a meeting or provide newsletter articles for your organizations.
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Do you have a Program, Announcement, Update or Resource that you would like shared on our weekly PAUR report? If so, please send an email to AndreaDeegan@NDHRC.org and we will do our best to accommodate you.
If you are not a member of NDHRC yet, what are you waiting for? Sign up now! On-line or by mail, it's all set at: http://www.ndhrc.org/membership.htm
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North Dakota Human Rights Coalition P.O. Box 1961 Fargo, North Dakota 58107-1961 Phone: (701) 239-9323 Fax: (701) 478-4452 Email: humanrights@ndhrc.org
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