ill IHIilll I? III I
Photos by Layla Farntct
Protesters stand outside of Joel Coliseum.
Protest
from page Al
include families headed by
same-sex couples. The pro
testers said that it is past time
for the YMCA of Northwest
N.C. to follow suit.
"There still seems to be
some hesitation to really fully
embrace an inclusive mem
bership," said Mary Jamis, a
lesbian woman who organ
ized the
rally.
"We're
really here
to encour
age them to
take a risk
and step out
and do what
other
YMCAs are
doing
Hairston
across the state and across the
nation, by having a broader
definition of family."
Jamis, a mother of two
who has been with her part
ner, Starr Johnson, for 11
years, says she was inspired
to take action after reading
about local couple Mark
Maxwell and Timothy Young,
a same-sex couple who began
speaking out about the
YMCA's policies in March,
after they learned their family
was excluded from discount
ed memberships.
Association Board Chair
Michael Lischke said the
Y MCA Board did discuss the
possibility of changing its
membership policies at last
Thursday's meeting, but he
said no decision was made at
the meeting.
Mark Maxwell and
Timothy Young
"I think that folks realize
that the perception is that
there's some exclusivity (in
the membership policy), and
that's never been what the Y's -
about," he said. "...The
intent is for the Y to continue
to be a community resource
that is open to and available
to everybody."
The board typically
reviews its membership poli
cies every four to five years
to ensure that the categories
still accurately reflect the
community the YMCA
serves. Lischke said. The
board is also considering
other membership categories,
such as one for seniors with
dependents, to accommodate
the many grandparents that
are now raising their grand
children, he added.
"We're trying to be very
mindful of what our commu
nity looks like today ... and
then being even more mindful
of what it will look like five
years from now," he said.
Lischke, a member of ihe
Kernersville Family YMCA
for the last 14 years, says he
does not believe that same
sex couples and their children
should have to pay more than
traditional families for mem
berships.
"My wife and 1 and our
kids are no different than
(Maxwell and Young)," he
said.
The full association board
is slated to meet on July 22 to
vote on any recommendations
in changes to membership
categories, Lischke said.
Rev. D. Charlie Davis, the
mtaister of the Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship of
Winston-Salem, and his wife
of 22 years, Gail, were among
the supporters at the rally.
0avis, who is white, and
Gail, who is black, say they
see many similarities between
the issues faced by interracial
couples and the struggles
faced by same-sex couples.
The couple held up a two
part sign that read "We Are
Family... Since 1967," refer
encing to the 1967 Supreme
Court ruling that legalized
interracial marriage.
"We've just always been
real supportive of gay rights
and also just being aware that
the concepts of family
change," said Charlie Davis.
"It's a matter of human
and civil rights." said Gail
Davis. "I don't see how you
could see it any differently."
Jamis says a petition,
which already has nearly 4()0
names, has been started to
encourage the YMCA to
change its policy.
Phmo by Ljyl?
Firmer
J a i d e n
Teague and
K o r a
Ferjuste are
huge fans of
M r
W'ormack's.
Wormack
from page A J
Classified Employee Committee, which was
created by the school system over a year ago to
increase non-certified school system employ
ees' access to top administrators, said
Committee Chair Brian Elliott, a senior com
munications analyst. Part of the committee's
goal was to implement the yearly award, which
mirrors those the school systems already gives
for Teacher of the Year and Principal of the
Year.
"Mr. Wormack stood out because
he went above and beyond the call of
duty," said Elliott, who added that
the school system plans to use
Wormack 's curriculum as a best
practices model for other schools.
"He took it to the next level."
Wormack also coaches boys soc
cer and track at Rat Rock, in addi
tion to leading the co-ed step team he
founded and the school's gymnastics
classes.
He was selected for the Classified Employee
of the Year honor from a pool of more than 90
The committee conducted interviews and
solicited statements from semifinahsts to select
the top four finalists, which also included
Home-School Coordinator Denise McKoy of
Konnoak Elementary; Data Manager Teresa
Scott of Old Richmond Elementary; and Bart
Rodden. a custodian at Meadowlark
Elementary. Committee members observed
each of the four finalists as they went about
their daily duties.
They all were impressed with Wormack
"He's really doing a great job of building
and molding the kids' character," said Carol
Montague-Davis, assistant superintendent of
Elliott
middle schools. "He's not only doing the aca
demic piece, making sure they get their work
done, he's also ... changing their behavior, in
order for them to he able to cope when they get
back into the classroom."
Wormack. a Winston Salem State
University alumnus, has been with the school
system since the late 1990s. He taught physical
education at Hill Middle School last year,
before making the transition to Hat Rock.
"1 was excited because I knew it was a new
challenge and I love challenges." the
LumDerion native said ot leading the
1SS program. "I never have a prob
lem reaching (the kids). . . I just show
them that I actually truly care about
them. When they know that you care
about them, you can get them to do
anything that you want them to do."
Seventh graders Jaiden Teague
and Kora Ferjuste said they were
pleased to see Wormack honored.
"Coach Wormack really did
deserve it. out of everybtxly in the
school." said 13 year-old Kora. "He
can be fun. hut when it comes to your
education and the way that you act. he's very
strict."
"It makes us very proud because we're very
close to Coach Wormack. We look up to him."
commented Jaiden. 13. He really shows that
he cares about you He always puts a smile on
your face, no matter what you're going through
If you don't have a smile on your face when
you're walking through school, he'll make sure
that he changes that "
Wormack said he was honored to receive the
distinction.
"I'm excited to be nominated and recog
nized for all the work and time that I put in. but
it's a team thing." Womack said "This is a team
honor, it's not just my honor "
Dean Morant addresses
Pepperdine law graduates
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Wake Forest University
School of Law Dean Blake
Morant gave the commence
ment address at the
Pepperdine University
School of Law on May 21.
He also received an hon
orary doctor of laws degree
during commencement exer
cises at Alumni Park on the
Malibu (California)
Pepperdine Campus.
His speech focused on
the 21st century lawyer as
citi/en and professional,
incorporating references to
Sir Thomas More, the famed
Lord Chancellor of England
during the reign of Henry
VIII.
"Delivery of the com
mencement address to the
faculty, staff and graduates
of the Pepperdine School of
Law was both a privilege
and honor," Morant said.
Pepperdine University
School of Law began as the
Orange University College
of Law in Santa Ana, Calif.,
in 1964. The school was
acquired by Pepperdine in
- 1 ? nmrlMW^l^^fn | -i? rn? ?
Photo courtesy of WR.
Dean Blake Moranl holds his honorary degree.
1969. By 1975, the
Pepperdine's School of Law
had received its full ABA
approval and full State Bar
Accreditation. In 1978, the
school moved to
Pepperdine's 830-acre cam
pus, which overlooks the
Pacific Ocean, according to
the school's Web site
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