Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / July 20, 1995, edition 1 / Page 15
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; v ",.. v: ‘" ft' **' M u 2 $ ~ .... % -;• \ >‘-:f ; : "'J3F -mf '•* V v v JaEMp. "J x^ v — * J| „v . Photo by Will Owens Bonded by journalism, Trish Richardson, Miguel Casas and Antoinette Parker enjoy an evening picnic June 30 with the Rainbow Institute. Rainbow staff reflects student diversity by Elizabeth Dorr and Patricia Yeh Register staff Miguel Casas and Antoinette Parker, two individuals with oppo site backgrounds, came together June 25 to July 14 to be resident assistants for the Freedom Forum Rainbow Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Trish Richardson has assisted the institute’s administrative work. Born in Vigo, Spain, 33 year old Casas has reported for the Spanish financial paper Expansion in both Madrid and London. Parker, 19, Lesbian lovers live in lockup by Amina Akhtar Register staff Of all the freedoms and luxuries taken away from prisoners of the N.C. Correctional Center for Women, the hardest ones may be sex and love. As the students of the Rainbow Institute walked into the courtyard of the prison, two prisoners dressed in blue, one woman and one man, were cuddling. On closer inspec tion, the students realized they were The Taste of Tor by Amina Abfitar Tbess me father for I have sinned *.. JfypocriticaC Cies spiffforthfrom Cips doomed to he true. White rohes- the cboth of the sacred v covering the drops of red \ the blood of the zveah. So save me, you b hasp homing bas \ I \gj s ave m Christ is rumored to kMi have once done! [A Save me and make me repent aff my sins, none of zvhich I com | All of ~olu.lt you Have. is a sophomore at UNC-CH and aspires to be a writer for Essence magazine or a newspaper. A gradu ate student in the UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communica tion, Richardson was editor of a weekly newspaper and worked in public relations in Florida. Comingfrom a family of 12, Casas has had experience living with large groups of people much like the 15 students in the Rainbow Institute. This is his second year working with the Institute. “You always learn from every experience in life,” said Casas. “You learn how different groups from both female. Correctional Officer Patricia Chapman said that some of the prisoners dress like men, or, as she called them, “stud muffins.” With short or long hair, the features of these women closely resemble men. Chapman also said that these women sometimes want to grab their “imagi nary” male genitals and some also walk with a cocky swagger, tryingto act like men. Chapman said that the women often turn to each other for corn FEATURES different backgrounds can come together and get along and get to know each other so fast.” “Miguel Casas implemented a style all his own,” said Tamekia White. “His Spanish accent won us over along with his playful smile. He’s someone we will all remem ber.” Casas left the institute July 8 to travel to Cuba with UNC School of Journalism Dean Richard Cole. Parker has also participated in the Rainbow Institute; in 1993 she was a student in the program. Parker describes the present class as “really great” and regards the panionship and sexual gratification. The rumors about homosexual relationships in men’s facilities have been rampant for years, while simi lar relationships in women’s facili ties appear to have gone unnoticed. That may not be the case any more. Chapman said that about 80 to 85 percent of the female prison ers indulged in homosexual rela tionships. Sexual relationships of any kind are against prison rules, and if the women are caught, they are written. Freedom Forum gives Institute funds by Nathan Postell IV Register staff Formerly the Gannett Founda tion, the Freedom Forum is a non profit organization based in Arling ton, VA, dedicated to “Free Press. Free Speech. Free Spirit. ” The organization does not solicit or accept contributions and is sup How to Get to Sesame Street: Institute Students Learn Behind-the-Scenes at PBS ****". - lil*, IMpu gs; * tjflß Photo by Serena K Custis From Barney to North Carolina Now, Rainbow students tour and learn about public broadcasting during a visit to the N.C. Center for Public Television. Institute’s directors as family. “I feel like Chuck [Stone], “Uncle” Merv [Aubespin], and Jan [Elliott] are family,” said Parker. “ J an is like a mom and this feels like a home away from home.” “Antoinette is very down to earth,” said suite mate Serena Custis. “She’s also very depend able.” Richardson assisted Director Jan Elliott in pre-institute administra tive activities. “Trish was some what visible during the program but provided a lot of the necessary behind-the-scene work,” Elliott said. up and can lose certain privileges. Before the tour started, Chapman warned the students not to approach any of the inmates. “Don’t be alarmed if you get any cat calls,” Chapman said to both the female and the male students. Many of the students laughed her warning off, exchanging nervous glances. However, during the tour, several inmates yelled out sexually insinuating remarks. Whether these were intended for the male or fe male students wasn’t known. ported by an endowment by Frank E. Gannett in 1935. The endow ment has grown to more than S7OO million. Focusing on media and journal ism affairs, The Freedom Forum has two main operating programs, The Freedom Forum Media Studies Center at Columbia University and The Freedom Forum First Amend Rainbow Register/Thursday, July 20,1995/ Shelter extends aid, support to homeless by Maria Montoya Register staff A ring of laughter echoes from the room where the television flashes reruns of “Martin” and is sur rounded by a group of 12 or so people. This could easily look like a small family gathering if it weren’t for a small sign that hung on one side of the wall: “ Please do not lie on the floor or put your feet on the chairs. If caught doing this you’ll be asked to leave the building for the rest of the day.” This isn’t in the living room of a Chapel Hill family. It is in the lounge of the Interfaith Counsel Commu nity Home just one block away from Franklin Street. The sign is just one of many that hang from the building walls to inform guests of what rules are to be followed when staying at the center. “ We really don’t have a problem with people follow ing the rules. But occasion ally like a fam ily, there are small inci dents,” said Raney Norwood, a nighttime manager at the center. Fighting and yelling is the usual ex tent of the in cidents that do occur on occa sion. According ,r We try to keep to our own, but in the end, we take care of each other.” Marie Hilliard Shelter Resident to many of the guests, the lack of problems probably stems from the fact that many of the people living at the shelter are very satisfied with the services and help they get from the center. “This is one of the nicest centers around,” said Marrie Hilliard, who has been staying at the center for a week and half with her husband and two children. The family left Washington DC a week and half ago and ended up at the shelter, where they’ve been ever since. The 30 -year- old mother says the hardest part about staying at the shelter is the nightly separation from her husband. “It is one of the few shelters that does let men and woman mingle in some areas,” said Hilliard, who only ment Center at Vanderbilt Univer sity in Nashville. The Freedom Forum funded the Rainbow Institute at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and at San Francisco State University for $70,000 each program for the fourth year. The San Francisco site was started in 1994 after the popu larity and success of the North Caro alluded to other shelters, but never allowed herself to go into deep de tail. Hilliard went on and said oth erwise she had no complaints about her new surroundings. “The people here are nice and have tried to do all they can for me,” she said. Some of those people who have helped Hilliard and her family in adjusting to life at the shelter are her two roommates. Seleta Taylor and Betty Small sit idly and talk in the room that has four bunk beds and a couple mattresses where their three children sleep. “I’m here because I had nowhere to stay,” said Betty, who also has a child and is now pregnant with twins. She look up to by Taylor who has a child, but for some reason that she would not disclose, is not with her at this time. Again the past was eluded to, but unlike the ideal family their his tory wasn’t something the three openly shared with each other. It was like a secret pact had been formed not to speak of their pasts and as long as no one broke this bond every thing flowed nor mally between the three. As the three woman spoke of their experi ences and of their children, a woman walked in to the room and asked what time Betty and Selta wanted to be awo ken in the morning. A chorus of sighs were heard throughout the room as the woman mumbled vari ous times. “ I need to be up by 4:30,” called out Selta who rises that early so that she can prepare for a long day of work at Home Depot. The women sat and talked as if they were sisters. The entire scene was comparable to one that could easily have taken place in the living room of any Chapel Hill Home .That could be because for the people of the Interfaith Counsel Community Home they are family. “We take care of each other,” said Hilliard. “We try to keep to our own, but in the end, we take care of each other.” lina program. “W e are appreciative of the Free dom Forum’s dedication to minor ity opportunities in newsrooms,” said UNC-CH director Jan Elliott. “To date, the program has given 89 young men and women a jump start on college and their careers.” The Freedom Forum has bureau offices around the world. 7
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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July 20, 1995, edition 1
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