Newspapers / The Carolina times. / Nov. 7, 1981, edition 1 / Page 16
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16 THE CAROLINA TIMES SAT., NOVEMBER 7. 1981 HOWARD UNIVERSITY PROGRAM HELPS NATION'S POOR Bv Henry Duvall Correspondent Bobbie Ross, a recent law school graduate working in rural Loui siana, tries to prevent foreclosure on a farmer's mortgage due to hard ship. Alphonso Gaskins, a recent law school graduate working in a low-income area of Washington, D.C., helps a young woman who has been denied workmen's compensation for an in- jury- , . James Richmond, a former appellate court judge working with Navajo Indians in Win dow Rock, Arizona, ponders damages arising from a spill of toxic and radioactive material in waters flowing into the Navajo nation. These three individuals and more than 280 like them are representing the poor in the Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellowship Pro-, gram administered by the Howard University School of Law.. Smith Fellows, com monly called "Reggies," spend up to two years rendering legal services to the poor in communi ty law offices throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Pacific island of Micronesia. They're' working in urban and rural areas, migrant labor camps, and on In dian reservations. By and large, they serve as staff attorneys in legal services programs. Funded by the Legal Services Corporation, the Smith Fellowship program operates on the premise that "vigorous practice of the law plays an effective and substan tial role in the alleviation of poverty," says John W. Davis, executive director of the program. The future of the pro gram, however, faces a road of uncertainty. Reagan administration budget cuts threaten con tinued legal services to the nation's poor. Twenty-five per cent of the funds for next year's program, says Davis, have already been slash ed, meaning the program will have .,75-80 fewer fellows next year. Ms. Ross, a 1980 graduate of the Southern University law schooljn Baton Rouge, La., is assigned to' the North Louisiana Legal Assistance Corp. She works with elderly blacks in rural Lake. Pro vidence, La., providing legal assistance in resolv ing housing, social security and health care problems. She also handles - domestic, unemployment compen sation and mortgage foreclosure : cases for both blacks and whites in northern Louisiana. A Louisiana native, the vibrant ybung black woman says, "A lot of people are inspired by my presence'. Many folks expect to'see a white male." Gaskins, a 1980 law school graduate of Howard University, is assigned to ' the Neighborhood Legal Services Program in Washington, D.C. He presents social service cases before ad ministrative law judges on behalf of low.-income residents in far northeast Washington. He also serves as legal adviser to People for Prison Pro gress, an organization being established to pro vide job training and counseling to ex-convicts from the District of Col umbia's Lorton prison facility. Richmond, a former iudee of the Arizona Court of Appeals who sat on the same bench with recent U.S. Supreme Court ap pointee Sandra Day O'Connor, is primarily serving in the capacity of a trainer for the legal ser vices agency serving the Navajo Indians. He trains young staff at torneys and Reggies as well as investigates the agency's complex legal cases. After eighteen years of law practice and four years of service on the Arizona Court of Appeals, the 58-year-old Richmond decided to work in legal services to make a "contribution" to society. Smith Fellows are re cent law school graduates as well as lawyers several years out of school who have demonstrated concern for the problems of poor people. Howard Unvier sity, handles , the recruiting, training and placement of Reggies. AH newly selected Smith Fellows are required to attend a week-long orientation program in Washington, D.C. Orientation includes community workshops that cover services to the elderly, migrant and rural services, legal research arid writing; litigation techniques, and community-based economic development strategies. With a starting salary of $15,000, the Reggies set out to represent the nation's Door, whether on Capitol Hill or in the courtroom. Joy West, a 26-year-old ' Reggie and graduate of Howard Law School, wrote an amendment to the Higher Education Act last year as a legislative advocate in the Migrant Legal Action Program in Washington, D.C. Her amendment to the act, which was signed into law October 3, 1980 by then-President Jimmy Carter, gives statutory authorization to two educational programs for migrant and seasonal farm workers. Another Reggie, Elaine Zamora, a graduate of the Loyola University School of Law in Los Angeles, has been representing the in terests of Hispanics in state and local reappor- tibjtiment in California. She is also involved in establishing a lawyer referral service to handle claims against the Los , Angeles police depart ment. Rodney "Roadrunner" Clarke, a Reggie assigned to the Idaho Legal Aid Ser vices' Indian law unit, is conducting research on a case involving a crime; committed by a non Indian on an Indian reservation. The graduate of the Universi ty of California-Berkeley law school, who is a descendant of the Klamath Indians, is also trying to improve rela tions between Indian tribes and federal agen cies,, and informing tribal councils of their legal rights. Norma Ramos, a Reg gie who graduated in 1981 from Temple University law school, is trying-to help the poor in public housing, adoption and consumer protection cases in Harlem. Still another Reggie, Paul A. Quander, Jr., a 'A 4z t 1 1980 Howard law school ; graduate, is representing low-income residents of Washington, D.C.'s far southeast area in litiga tion involving welfare, consumer protection, i land. , and landlord- tenant rights. The Reggie program started in 1967 at the University of Penn sylvania in honor of Reginald Heber Smith, a poverty lawyer : who believed that American justice should be impar tial that rich and poor could stand equally before the law. The pro gram transferred to Howard in 1969. "What I like about the program," says Ramos in Harlem, "is that you can have impact on the quality of life." The majority of Reg gies continue practicing poverty law. after com pleting the fellowship, ' says program director " ff'mteSfiSS STRENGTH THROUGH UNITY was the theme of the Solidarity Day mnrch " the j"?? ' Bri!if JdvlncS for rS of all University. The march which beKan at East Campus, proceeded to West Campus withot Inddent. More SSs ff m' than 150 persons participated in the march. Photo by Kelvin A. Bell phasizes. : iiacf - ..r ' . ' . . ' ' '.. . " '2'" Listening With The Other Ear Kit By Laura Parks NNPA Correspondent Europe was laughing itself silly when it heard that "tough cowboy" Reagan had dispatched three former Presidents to attend the Sadat funeral to represent the United States. The laughter grew to belly laughs when it was discovered that the former Presidents were to fly on the same plane. Wits in London and Paris were quick to sug gest that perhaps Reagan wished all three men out of the way permanently. The British were gleeful that their future King, the recently married Princ Charles was go ing to the .funeral while the "tough cowboy" re mained safely within White House walls. Hard pressed Britons still find it difficult to forget Nancy Reagan's expensive gowns worn at the wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diane. They feel it was a Hollywood type of upstaging of the Princess reminiscent of that town's gaudier days when those without talent were seeking the limelight. This British reaction toward the Reagans is an indication of the growing opposition to Reagan's policies insofar as they affect Britain and the rest of Europe. Europe feels that high American interest rates are forcing interest rates up in Europe, preventing economic recovery. Further, it is believed that high American in terest rates are a deliberate attempt by the United States multi national corporate establishment to gain supremacy over their European counterparts. It is said that the Reagan Administration cares lit tle if in the United States it drives small business to the wall, the cities to ruin and despair providing the giant multi-nationals achieve victory ovejrtheir international rivals. "The weanon Heine used in this war is the rate of in terest, held at ruin causing levels, as it fluc tuates between 12 and 20. Opposition to Reagan policies in Europe is broad and deeply felt. The feeling is particular ly strong against United States military plans for the. continent, Briefly stated, Europe does riot wish to become the bat tlefield caught between .the Russians and the Americans. The propos ed stationing of sophisticated American weaponry in Europe is regarded as greatly escalating the chances for a nuclear showdown discovered that many leading members of his own party participated in the largest mass rally in post war German history. The now historic Bonn Peace march has placed the Schmidt government in deep political trouble at home and has raised tbje anxiety level in the Reagan establishment, regarding the future course of German politics and the fate of American arms in Europe. Europe maintains that the Middle East will forever remain in tur moil as long as the United States is unwill ing to ...recognize the legitimate fights of the Palestinian peoples, and this right includes the right to independent na tionhood. While regret ting the death of Sadat, Europeans noted the hostility of the Arab world to the slain leader and the obvious indif ference of the Egyptians themselves at the news of NEW MOVES during homecoming are shown by the NCCU marching band during half time rnoio oy emn Farther they feel thai unT wittingly he and his aids will be responsible for destroying the long term viability of the Western, alliance, its economic, prosperity and social peace. Fof News Service Dial 682-2913 A 11 Leaders ot tne rapiaiy hic Aath growing European peace;, Again the Europeans crusade recognize . that are strongiy suggesting Europe must take - z that recent American ad calculated risk and begin ministrations have con unilateral disarmament. ;sjstenty pourec arms This is echoed by thend funs int0 tne hands leader of the British f ieaciers wh0 on the Labor Party and surpns- f face aDDeared to be in ingly enough by several mmmand 0f events but retired west oerman generals. Europe does not wish to die. In increaisng numbers the European peace movement is taking to the streets. In a speech before the West German Parliament, the German Chancellor Schmidt declared that the Ger man peace crusade has in , effect declared war against his government. He was particularly in furiated when it was MS Fire? ! L Tax-Exempt All Savers Certificates Mechanics & Farmers Bank has Tax-Exempt All Savers Certificates Available Now I Visit any of our convenient Durham locations, and we'll tell you more about Tax-Emempt AH Savers Certificates, because with us... You're Somebody MECHANICS & FARMERS BANK - 41 A nEETEEl 116 West Parrish Slreet 615 Fayetteville Street 411 E. Chapel Hill Street jcilSttfMiitcln -. , - who were in reality holding the lid on massive discontent. Europeans looking at fh. trnnhles in their own backyards and those of the Middle East are more than eacer to offer the suggestion that we in the l inited States are heading for deep troubles a year or so fmm nnw as the stub born Reagan policies ' mke hold of the nation. In short, Europe does not like Reagan, is distrustful of his basic philosophy and their practical implication. Caucus, (Continued from Page 13) 4) Reassess Caucus support for the reauthoriziation of the Refugee Act in 1982. The Caucus also said the Haitian refugee phenomcn results from political, social and economic pressures and that the U.S. should develop a foreign policy to influence Haiti toward adopting political and economic reform. Cable (Continued from Page 13) Washington. D.C; Dr. William Doublas, presi dent. Gary Communica tions Group, Gary, In diana; Zakee Ameer Rashcid. executive vice president and director of franchise, Tclccable Broadcasting, East Cleveland, Ohio; Alex Mcrcure, president, Mer cure Telecommunica tions, Arlington, .Va.; John Mansell, Jr., editor, Cable TV Securi ty and Cable TV Regula tions, Fall Church, Va. HDMY71 LJ L-O-ILJ fo) cn Most Christmas Club accounts don't pay dividends. Ours does - a full 5 vi, bearing an dnnual yield of 5.65. So start saving for-Christmas. 1982, with our dividend paying Christmas Club. When it comes to saving for Christmas, we've got a Mutual Interest. AND We still have all our regular savings plans. 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Nov. 7, 1981, edition 1
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