Messages which absolutely need to be seen today due to time constraints or breaking news. Remember to check the"new answers" link for the most active topics. This topic will run for a week, and then we will start a new dated "urgent" file.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

Answers

Meg called ther FBI today at Marino's suggestion and they said it wasn't their business, even though she was an "elected official".. They need to have a federal law broken.,.this is only criminal mischief...go back to go, do not collect $200...guess it'll have to be something VERY serious before the G-Men take notice.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2000

Deborah Osherow's letter Oct 2.

Picked up a couple of copies of Smoke Signals at Tongore yesterday for our files. Blown away by the extremely peculiar cartoon bogeyman on the front page labelled "We're Watching" -- that's them watching us, or that's what they are watching out for? HUH? What are they burning and inhaling in that smoke signals fire? Maybe STAND should email them and ask them? (about the bogeyman, not about what they are smoking)

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2000

Here's another district ghoing through the same pains as we are...once again proving that we are not alone. Take heart!

http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/news/story100396.html

PS for those who care to comment on my letter to the editor which finally got published, see it at: www.kingstonfreeman.com in the Opinion section... Tobe

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

I spoke to Zone Sargent Cervini again yesterday: I can't get a definite response from him about the reward.

I think it comes down, basically, to whatever we decide...I'm for it: can we offer $1000? This will catch people's attention, no? Let's not think about where the $ will come from right now, it's such a long shot, but it does bring up the interesting question of raising money for our various activities, and I think we'll be able to do it when we need to. So....can we go for it? I'm gonna assume yes unless there's a response otherwise...

Testing: STAND (Support Tolerance and Nurture Diversity) hereby offers a reward of $1000 for information leading to the successful prosecution of the person or persons involved in the recent malicious mischief and vandalism directed at certain members of the Onteora community. Information should be given to the State Police, Kingston, 338 1702.

Ideas, revisions?

-- Anonymous, October 04, 2000

New version:

STAND (Support Tolerance and Nurture Diversity) hereby offers a reward of $1000 for information leading to the successful prosecution of the person or persons involved in recent acts of criminal mischief and vandalism. These acts of violence have been directed in a most cowardly way against members of our group who have opposed stereotypes in our schools. We call on all members of the Onteora community to condemn these vicious acts and assist in seeing to it that those responsible are punished to the full extent of the law. Information should be given to the State Police, Kingston, 338 1702.

-- Anonymous, October 04, 2000

We need to find out from the State Police [or a lawyer?] whether the money needs to be in an escrow account or with a bondsman(?), what they would do if several people offered information, how would they split it, etc. We should get an answer in writing, probably from someone who is a captain or above in rank. Surely they must have a written policy? Should we be talking with the head detective? Do we ask the DA?

I'd re-write Curry's suggestion as follows:

"Someone has been inserting nails in our tires. Our children -- and yours -- ride in those cars.

We call on all members of the Onteora community to condemn these vicious acts and assist in seeing that those responsible are punished to the full extent of the law.

STAND (Support Tolerance and Nurture Diversity) offers a $1000 reward for information leading to the successful prosecution and conviction of the person or persons involved in recent acts of criminal mischief and vandalism against property belonging to community members who have spoken out against racial stereotypes in our schools.

Information should be given to the State Police, Kingston, 338 1702. " [particular contact to ask for?]

-- Anonymous, October 04, 2000

I have been gone the past couple of days, after reading the proposed reward language it needs to be tighter, as it appears now the reward could be interpreted as $1000 per act of vandalism, a reward is not only an effort to resolve a criminal or other act, it is also to promote an agenda, concept or cause. STAND needs to control the reward and persons seeking to make a claim on the funds should do so with the assistance of the local or state police and the district attorney.

Charles

-- Anonymous, October 04, 2000

The advantages to being incorporated are many, most of which pertain to liability protection, the same protection is available as an LLC (Professional Limited Liability Company), both can be used to protect the membership of a profit or non profit entity, in this regard either would be a good choice.

I have seen rewards held by the registry of a court, the D.A., Police Chief, by attorneys and organizations, I would as the district attorney if they have a district policy, my guess is they do not. If anyone wants me to check I can call Thursday or Friday.

Charles

-- Anonymous, October 04, 2000

here's another relatively local school in the throes of cxhange. Don't have an update beyond this september report. Tobe

>This school is up in Ossining, New York. Leslie and Cathy Balloffet have been >fighting against the mascots, and would like a Native American to come so the >school board can hear it directly from us. If anyone can offer any assistance >please contact Leslie Plachta at and Cathy Balloffet > > >Leslie Plachta wrote: > > > Dear Day Starr, > > As promised, here is the article. The reason it took so long is > > that I had to scan it first, and I'm a novice at that (actually, I've been > > scanning things for a long time, but my skill level doesn't seem to > > progress!!!). > > The article was on two pages, the first had the headline "Fight > > song ban rallies Ossining teens," and a sub heading "Schools chief says > > tune stereotypes American Indians." On the continuation page, the headline > > was "Students oppose fight song ban." > > > > >The Journal News, September 23, 2000 > > >by Jayne J. Feld > > >OSSINING - When the Ossining High School Indians drive down the football > > >field today, don't expect the band to break into a spontaneous rendition > > >of the school's fight song. > > > The band is banned from playing "Cherokee," a remake of an old > > > jazz standard that includes an unmistakable tom-tom drumming beat. In > > > Ossining, as across the country, ethnic sensitivity and political > > > correctness are changing attitudes toward American Indian mascots, fight > > > songs and logos. > > > But kids, though sensitive to damage caused by ethnic > > > stereotypes, say it's silly to stop a tradition they say no one has > > > objected to - except the superintendent. > > > "I think this is being blown out of proportion by the > > > superintendent," said Ruth Morrison, 15, a drum line captain and an > > > editor of "Smoke Signals," the school's paper. "Most of the school just > > > thinks this is a sillydecision that doesn't make sense to anyone else." > > > Superintendent Robert Roelle said "Cherokee" has actually been > > > song non grata since the 1993-94 school year. Back then, students > > > actually dressed as American Indians and performed a "war dance" during > > > halftime, officials said. Although no one dresses as warriors any longer, > > > Roelle said, some people still do the dance. > > > "When that song is played, the war dance is performed, and it > > > contributes to the stereotyping of a race, in this case Native > > > Americans," he said. > > > The band learned of the ban earlier this week, while practicing > > > tunes for today's homecoming game against the Clarkstown North Rams. By > > > yesterday, the topic was hot news around school. Morrison said her > > > American history class discussed it briefly, and percussionists toyed > > > with the idea of defying the ban - but decided it wasn't worth getting > > > into trouble over. > > > The school paper may do an editorial on the matter as six editors > > > polled at Editor-in-Chief Corinna Zeltsman's house opposed the ban, said > > > Morrison, who attended the meeting. > > > Ossining High School Principal Joshua Mandel said the issue isn't > > > dead, even as the ban will be enforced. Just yesterday, he and band > > > members discussed the song and dance in the context of institutional > > > racism, he said. > > > He hopes to broaden the conversation to include whether it's time > > > to change the mascot, an Indian, he said. > > > "I think we should encourage dialogue about this," Mandel said. > > > "We should ask ourselves: Do we think this is some form of institutional > > > racism? Even though we had it as a symbol for so long, are we comfortable > > > with it? We should bring out all the issues." > > > The majority of students, he said, have said they want the Indian > > > to stay the mascot. > > > The controversy comes at a time when the board has been asked by > > > trustee Shandi Speller to consider whether it's time to find a new mascot. > > > Speller asked the board last spring to put the issue to community > > > members and students to at least debate. On the one hand, she said, she's > > > sympathetic to the views of American Indian leaders who are offended. But > > > she's also aware of the tradition behind using the Indian as a mascot. > > > "I believe its something that needs to be discussed," said > > > Speller. "I graduated from Ossining High School, participated on sports > > > teams, and I understand many of people's opinions as they relate to > > > memories. Then again, Ossining is also a district that prides itself on > > > diversity, and this may not be in alignment." > > > The issue flared in the early 1990s when opposition mounted > > > against the use of Americans Indians as mascots for pro teams like the > > > Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians and Washington Redskins as well as > > > colleges, universities and public schools across the country. > > > Locally, a handful of schools have Indian mascots, including John > > > Jay in Katonah Lewisboro, Mahopac, North Rockland, Nyack and Roosevelt in > > > Yonkers. > > > Although Elmsford's Alexander Hamilton High School teams still > > > call themselves Red Raiders, the Indian mascot was dropped probably 12 > > > years ago when the issue of Indian stereotypes came up, said Leonard > > > Mecca, Hamilton's principal. > > > New York's Education Commissioner Richard Mills is considering > > > whether to direct schools to drop Indian mascots, but has not yet > > > announced his recommendation, said Tom Dunn, state education department > > > spokesman. > > > At Ossining High School, students see the song more as a spirited > > > tradition, said Zeltsman. > > > "Students don't mean it in any offensive way," she said. "'This > > > is an overconcern for political correctness." > > > > Leslie Plachta > > lplachta@cyburban.com

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2000

Does anyone know Edwin E. Weaver, or anything about him, especially where he attended school and where he grew up.

-- Anonymous, October 08, 2000

Did anyone see the two letters in Freeman today? Both horrible. The first one makes it sound like OUR side is sending hate mail. Second one from Barbara Clare sounds like some veiled inference to Carol's wicca affiliation--or am I just paranoid? Check it out. --Donna

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000