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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~NDHRC PAUR Report~ Visit our Website at www.ndhrc.org
June 9, 2003
Programs ~ Announcements ~ Updates ~ Resources
Hello members and friends of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition!
In this week’s PAUR Report:
1) Save the Date! NDHRC North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Fall Conference 2) Great opportunity to “Discuss our Disgust” About the 2003 North Dakota Legislative Session 3) The Missoulian Article, Bird Woman’s story 4) The Forum (Fargo) Article, Survey results disturb group 5) Bismarck Tribune Articles on Federal Funding Problems for UTTC 6) Bismarck Tribune Article, Two BSC employees leave school after investigation 7) The Forum (Fargo) Article, Barry Nelson letter: Sincere activists strengthen all of us 8) The Forum (Fargo) Article, Women inmates sue state 9) The Jamestown Sun Article, Stenehjem: Lawsuit filed by inmates has no merit 10) The Forum (Fargo), Forum editorial: A blunder degrades tax cut bill 11) The Jamestown Sun Article, Many more N.D. families won’t get more tax credit 12) (Reminder) Central Dakota PFLAG Pride Celebration Potluck Picnic, June 22, Bismarck 13) (Reminder) Hate Crime/Hate Incident Prevention and Response Action Plan Workshop, June 12, Moorhead 14) (Reminder) North Dakota Fair Housing Council Workshops, June 10 – July 16, North Dakota and Eastern South Dakota 15) (Reminder) Peace Rallies for the Near Future
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1.) Save the Date! NDHRC North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Fall Conference
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.) Great opportunity to “Discuss our Disgust” About the 2003 North Dakota Legislative Session
Great opportunity to “Discuss our Disgust” About the 2003 North Dakota Legislative Session WHAT HAPPENED TO
SAVING NORTH DAKOTA? Where are the jobs?
How much do they pay? Barry Nelson,
299-5437
Sponsored by: Fargo Progressives and the North Dakota Progressive Coalition (701)-224-8090, nodakpc@btinet.net
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3.) The Missoulian Article, Bird Woman’s story
Bird Woman's story
Symposium spurs lively
debate over life and name of the most famous woman in American history -
Sacagawea
The debate over
Sacagawea's story - and name - is lively as the 200th anniversary of the Lewis
and Clark Expedition approaches. The Shoshone teen-ager was, of course, the only
woman on the expedition. She accompanied her husband - who was hired as an
interpreter - carrying their 55-day-old baby boy.
<snip>
View full article here
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3.) The Forum (Fargo) Article, Survey results disturb group
Survey results
disturb group
The majority of participants in the first statewide discrimination survey said they don’t see discrimination as a significant problem in North Dakota.
Seventy-five percent of the 1,316 people who responded to the public perception telephone survey said they had never been the target of discrimination.
While such a percentage might seem hopeful to some, Cheryl Bergian, director of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition, says the numbers are not good news for the state.
“When a fourth of the people say they do feel they’ve been discriminated against, that’s a significant problem,” said Bergian, also a member of Fargo’s Human Relations Commission. That’s not the only survey statistic Bergian and others from the local human relations group find troubling.
Of those respondents who indicated they had been discriminated against, 72 percent did not seek help to resolve the problem.
“There’s a significant number of people who said they didn’t think it would make a difference, which is somewhat disturbing,” said Barry Nelson, chairman of the Fargo Human Relations Commission. “People don’t know they have a place to go.”
Nelson also was struck that more than half of the responding American Indians and those in the “non-white” category reported they experienced discrimination. Bergian agrees this is a major problem needing to be addressed.
Most who reported being discriminated against in the survey said it was because of race or disability.
<snip>
The results of the survey were presented to Fargo’s human relations group in May. Now the group is reviewing the findings to decide how the information should be used locally, said Dan Mahli, an assistant city planner and FHRC city liaison.
But Bergian said it will be up to the state to establish an action plan based on the findings.
“The North Dakota Human Rights Coalition will ask (the Labor Department) to have a publicized plan to address information from the survey,” Bergian said. “That’s their job.”
In the past, the Department of Labor’s Human Rights Division has not been timely with processing information, so the coalition will ask for a specific timeline for dealing with the survey results, Bergian said.
<snip>
The results were first released to North Dakota legislators this past January after being kept under wraps for almost a year.
Survey results are available to the public at the North Dakota Department of Labor Web site.
State Labor Commissioner Mark Bachmeier plans to use the information as a guideline for public awareness and education, possibly including business training guides, informational brochures, presentations and seminars.
<snip>
Although the survey states that most North Dakotans do not see discrimination as a “very significant problem,” Bachmeier said that doesn’t mean there’s no work to be done in the state.
“Just because less than half of the people said they were discriminated against, doesn’t mean it’s good,” he said. “Any discrimination is not good news.”
<snip>
View full article here
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4.) Bismarck Tribune Articles on Continued Federal Funding Problems for UTTC
UTTC
deserves better from Washington Bismarck Tribune – 6/5/2003
It is
frustrating that, for the third year in a row, United Tribes Technical College
must justify its existence to the Bush administration. The administration keeps
wiping federal support for the college, about $3 million, out of the budget of
the Department of the Interior, which contributes to the support of Indian
colleges around the country.
That seems
inadequate when we're talking about a 34-year-old college -- senior to many
Indian colleges -- that has served 10,000 students from 100 tribes around the
country in its hardworking history. Furthermore, UTTC is at the apex of its
usefulness in arming students for today's world of work, with a record
enrollment this spring of 444.
Link unavailable on web site.
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UTTC has
big economic footprint Bismarck Tribune – 6/5/2003
Your May 31
story, "UTTC makes case for funding," was an OK start toward explaining the
value of United Tribes Technical College to the Bismarck-Mandan area. But it
failed to describe the magnitude of our economic impact on the community, and it
ignored the opinions of one of our key supporters.
The figures
and methods used for examining this vibrant local contribution appeared in a
well-documented economic impact study released May 30. It used the North Dakota
Input-Output Analysis method familiar in many North Dakota economic reports. One
of the co-authors was F. Larry Leistritz, of North Dakota State University, who
developed the model.
Link unavailable on web site.
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5.) Bismarck Tribune Article, Two BSC employees leave school after investigation
Two BSC employees leave school after investigation By Sheena Dooley Bismarck Tribune – 6/5/2003
Two Bismarck State College employees won't return to the classroom next year after an investigation into allegations made by a student of violations of the school's sexual harassment policy and inappropriate behavior by the employees.
BSC energy technology online instructor Rick Kerzman's contract was nonrenewed without explanation, while department chair for industrial technology Lee Husfloen turned in his resignation May 22 after college officials met with him about the investigation, said Pat Seaworth, general counsel for the North Dakota university system.
Both men deny any wrongdoing.
Although Seaworth couldn't comment on details of the allegations because of confidentiality issues, he said BSC's sexual harassment policy includes the standard definition of sexual harassment, while also making supervisors responsible for taking immediate action if they become aware that it is happening. If they don't report it, the policy states they are condoning that behavior.
Seaworth said the investigation also involved allegations of inappropriate behavior, such as partying with students and inappropriate relationships with students.
After an almost month-long investigation by school officials that involved interviewing former students, the school determined allegations by former students of inappropriate behavior were credible, Seaworth said. He said that doesn't mean the two were guilty of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior. That determination would have to be made in a hearing, if the instructors chose to confront the allegations, Seaworth said.
Kerzman, who was an instructor at BSC since 1995, had a year-to-year contract, which could be nonrenewed by the school at any time without giving reason. Kerzman said BSC wouldn't comment on why he was being nonrenewed, and he was unaware of the investigation.
"They didn't say anything," Kerzman said. "I asked them if there was a reason for this, and they didn't give me any reason. It didn't sit real good with me. If there are allegations of something like that, I should have been told something."
Kerzman said he didn't know where the allegations were coming from but said they were false. "Frankly, I am floored," Kerzman said. "I had a good relationship with all of my students. I am always fair. That is just wrong."
Because of his tenure status, Husfloen was informed of the investigation and given the opportunity to have a hearing, Seaworth said. After meeting with BSC officials he turned in a letter announcing his retirement. A spokesperson for the college said "retirement" was Husfloen's choice of words in his letter of resignation, but it was a resignation, and he wasn't given an early retirement package.
Husfloen said he wasn't informed about the investigation, and the college simply offered him early retirement.
"When I left, both sides were getting along," said Husfloen, who started teaching at BSC in 1978. "They offered us (employees) a deal to negotiate an early retirement package. I presented them with my package, and they always counter-offer. I decided I need more than what they were offering. Later, I decided it was a good deal, and I decided to take their package."
As for the investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior, Husfloen said he hadn't heard anything about it.
"This is total news to me," Husfloen said. "I don't think there is anything to that. I don't know Rick's side, but I know my side."
Evaluations from supervisors and students for Husfloen and Kerzman that are kept in their personnel files were consistently positive. Every class of students surveyed on Kerzman's performance as a teacher since he began at BSC gave him an eight or above -- with 10 being the highest score -- in every category, which is considered a superior performance by the school's guidelines.
In an evaluation by his supervisor in April 2000 he was described as a "true team player who always conducts himself in a professional manner."
Husfloen had similar evaluations in his file and was described by students as conducting himself in a professional manner.
The school is still considering action against a third employee -- an administrator -- who supposedly knew about alleged sexual harassment by co-workers but didn't report it.
(Reach reporter Sheena Dooley at 250-8225 or sheenadooley@ndonline.com.)
Link unavailable on web site.
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6.) The Forum (Fargo) Article, Barry Nelson letter: Sincere activists strengthen all of us
Barry
Nelson letter: Sincere activists strengthen all of us
Thank God for activists. In a democracy it is the activists that make sure that even our elected government officials are reminded that they represent a people with diverse interests and concerns. It is the activist that makes sure that these same elected government officials never fail to remember that their term in office is dependent on the well being and satisfaction of their constituents, and that as comfortable as the status quo is and how easy it would be to make decisions without all that public input, that is what makes our country great.
It was activists that agitated until women received the right to vote, and much, much later, to see that they had as many choices as their male counterparts. It was activists that promoted the civil rights of all races in this country, that fought for tougher pollution standards so that large corporations didn’t make money at the expense of our air and water. Thank God for activists, who champion their cause often at their own expense in terms of money and the anger of those in the system they seek to change.
Thank God for John Strand and others who have been fighting the good fight to preserve the history of our community. To challenge county commissioners, the elected status quo has required persistence and a thick skin as they have withstood the slings and arrows cast their way. They have also had to observe the angry backlash of legislators who don’t like citizens to get in the way of their authority.
<snip>
View full article here
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7.) The Forum (Fargo) Article, Women inmates sue state
Women inmates
sue state
Two of North Dakota’s women prisoners have filed a federal lawsuit, claiming male inmates receive better housing and services.
In the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Fargo, Julie Roubideaux, 37, and Shelly K. Grossman, 47, say the state’s male prisoners live in “more favorable” housing and have better access to treatment programs and work opportunities than the state’s women prisoners.
Defendants in the lawsuit are Department of Corrections Director Elaine Little, Prisons Director Tim Schuetzle, James River Correctional Center Warden Don Rechmann and Missouri River Correctional Center Director Keith Grabowska.
Roubideaux recently filed a second lawsuit in state district court in Mandan. In that lawsuit, Roubideaux seeks a reduced sentence based on the same grounds as the federal suit, said North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem.
<snip>
View full article here
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8.) The Jamestown Sun Article, Stenehjem: Lawsuit filed by inmates has no merit
Stenehjem:
Lawsuit filed by inmates has no merit ‘‘The first claim is that the treatment women get at Jamestown is different and unconstitutionally so than that which the male prisoners get,’’ Stenehjem said Thursday. ‘‘I don’t think that’s accurate. ‘‘We’re not required to provide exactly the same treatment, we’re required to provide comparable treatment,’’ he said. The second part of the lawsuit has no standing because the facilities have not been completed and the programs have not been developed, Stenehjem said. ‘‘They don’t even have an issue,’’ Stenehjem said. ‘‘Until there is a contract to move them, their claim is premature.’’
<snip>
View full article here
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9.) The Forum (Fargo), Forum editorial: A blunder degrades tax cut bill
Forum editorial:
A blunder degrades tax cut bill
The tax cut bill signed last week by President Bush is a good start to stimulate the sagging U.S. economy. But a last-minute change made in a House-Senate conference committee has turned an otherwise good bill into a potential stinker.
With Democrats excluded from the conference committee, Republican conferees axed a child tax credit for families with incomes between $10,500 and $26,625 -- that is, the people who need a break the most.
In North Dakota, some 19,000 working poor and low-income families will be cut out of the tax bill’s child tax credit benefits. Across the nation, millions of families with children will not receive the additional child tax credit.
What happened? The credit was included in the bill that went to the conference. When the final legislation emerged (senators did not even get to see the final bill until after debate was over) the child tax credit for low- and moderate-income families was gone.
The spin coming from Republican apologists is that in order to reduce the full tax cut package to $350 billion, the committee had to pare back some reductions. Republicans are saying it was done because moderate GOP senators and Democrats insisted on the smaller tax-cut bill.
<snip>
View full article here
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10.) The Jamestown Sun Article, Many more N.D. families won’t get more tax credit
Many N.D.
families won’t get more tax credit
Dorgan, D-N.D., said it’s one example of how the bill favors people with high incomes. “That’s why I voted no,” he said.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal group, says that wording of the bill means nearly 12 million children nationwide are left out of the tax credit, or one of every six kids under 17.
Dorgan’s office got its figures from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.
Couples at the high end of the spectrum who make more than $110,000 also won’t get it, but that was planned all along, say those who followed the bill.
<snip>
View full article here
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11.) (Reminder) Central Dakota PFLAG Pride Celebration Potluck Picnic, June 22, Bismarck
The Central Dakota PFLAG will host its first Pride Celebration Potluck picnic in Bismarck on Sunday, June 22 at Hillside Park Shelter 2 from 4-10 p.m. Hillside Park is off of Boulevard (the street that runs south of the capitol) and 16th street.
For more information visit the Central Dakota PFLAG web site here
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12.) (Reminder) Hate Crime/Hate Incident Prevention and Response Action Plan Workshop, June 12, Moorhead
Cultural Diversity Resources will host the second part of a series of workshops that address hate crime/hate incident prevention and response in the Fargo-Moorhead area:
When: Thursday, June 12, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (registration at 12:45 pm – 1:00 p.m.)
Where: Northwest Technical College, Commons Area (1900 28 Ave S Moorhead, west door #2)
Why: In December 2002, over 70 people turned up for the first hate crime/hate incident workshop. The purpose of the second workshop is to take that information and develop an action plan that will address hate issues in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
All are welcome to attend. RSVP Rachel at Cultural Diversity Resources by May 28 at (701) 526-3000 or officecdr@mcleodusa.net. Upon receipt of your RSVP, you will be sent an agenda and materials for the workshop.
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13.) (Reminder) North Dakota Fair Housing Council Workshops, June 10 – July 16, North Dakota and Eastern South Dakota
In 2003, the North Dakota Fair Housing Council (NDFHC) will sponsor a number of fair housing workshops across North Dakota and eastern South Dakota. The workshops will focus on: Learning what Federal and State Laws say about Fair Housing; learning about the complaint filing process; what’s illegal and what’s not; and more… They will be informative for tenants, users of housing services, non-profit organization and housing providers to learn how to end housing discrimination and what happens when discrimination occurs. Take home materials will be provided.
These workshops are open to the public and free of charge; however, seating may be limited. Please RSVP in advance to the NDFHC to ensure adequate seating and hand-outs. The following workshops have been scheduled to date:
Contact the NDFHC with any questions about the workshops or to register. Toll Free: 1-888-265-0907. Bismarck area: 221-2530.
For more information visit their web site here
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14.) (Reminder) Peace Rallies for the Near Future
The North Dakota Peace Coalition and the Red River Anti-War Coalition (RRAWC) sponsors pro-peace demonstrations in Fargo in front of the Federal Building (657 2nd Ave N) at noon.
The RRAWC has moved the rallies to once a month during the summer to accommodate vacation schedules and avoid diluting the rallies. The rallies will respond to events as they unfold and will be on the first Saturday of the month.
The RRAWC will continue to have weekly organizational meetings, which are expected to evolve into planning/strategy meetings in preparation for the monthly rallies for the fall and for the beginning of the political season.
The RRAWC meetings are Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm.
For more information visit the Red River Anti-War Coalition's website here
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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 PAtop: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> ************************************************
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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