              | New School Year Begins sJ??b COGIC Convention Highlights Pa^A7 I | ?tjE Stporter ^ f. m n ? ? a. m r v. , /I Light In The Darkness W ^ ^ Your Reporter Newspaper's primary mission is to... Cover ttK News ot Northeastern Ohio comprehensively. fairly, and accurately" -MM (f -4 < ??M????????? ? II.?????? I ?? ' ? ?? .1 .. I ? | - r Serving: * Akron "Canton "Cleveland "Columbus "Elyria "Lorain "Mansfield "Oberlin "Ravenna "Sandusky "Warren "Youngstown "& Northeast Ohio VC 7 NO. 46 AUGUST 22, 199S THRU AUGUST 29,1998 Section A 25 CENTS PER COPY Z. ___^MMM.M?-M.MM_????M.MM?MM??-M_??M?M?^^____ - ? f\ ^ America Owes U.N. $12 Billion In Back Oues The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has called on the United Slates to pay its $1.2 billion in back dues to the United Nations and reclaim its "full participation in the international system." The call was made m a statement issued by the fraternity's World Policy Council."Our consistent refusal to pay (U.S. dues) over the past several years is a threat 10 the stable international order we have sacrificed so much to erect , it erodes our credibility as a leader in international affairs, and jeopardizes our own national interests," the statement said. U.S. participation in a structure for the maintenance of international order is essential to a durable world peace, the statement went on. It was released today by former Ambassador Horace G. Dawson, Jr., chairman of the fraternity's World Policy Council. The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity is the nation's oldest and largest African-American, university-based fraternity It has approximately 150,000 members, and in its ranks have been some of the nation's most influential leaders, including the late WEB. DuBois, the Rev Martin Luther King, Jr., and former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Among its current members arc former U.S. Senator Edward Brooke, historian John Hope Franklin and Congressman Charles Rangcl The Council's statement took note of what it called "genuine and deeply held beliefs about abortion and UN reform," issues that have blocked U.S. payment of its arrears. But, "these issues arc separate and should not be linked to our solemn obligation to pay our dues," the Council declared. "Wc do not believe America's international commitments should be held hostage to an issue that should be debated and resolved independently of other moral concerns." Dawson added in separate re- , marks In addition to Chairman Dawson, who is director of the International Affairs Center and the Patricia Roberts Hams Public Affairs Program at Howard University; Senator Brooke and Congressman Rangel arc members of the fraternity's World Policy Council The Council's statement recalls the leadership of the United Slates in creating the U N in the wake of World War II, its role in nurturing and supporting it in its formative years, and the widespread, bi-partisan support it enjoyed throughout the country All of us should be justly proud of the record our nation compiled in the decades following the end of World War II in providing responsible and mature leadership for a world weary of war and searching for a durable structure to maintain w orld peace We were convinced that in the universality of the United Nations rested the best hope of restoring and preserving order and peace in a world far too prone to destructive tendencies and far too well equipped with weapons of mass destruction." The fraternity statement contrasted that attitude with the current one which seems "eager to reject the attitudes toward the world and our role in it that guided us in the years immediately following World War II "It is." the statement continued, "as if we have turned our backs on our belief in the power and necessity of international cooperation we appear ready to jettison the unwieldy and sometimes inconvenient responsibilities of international cooperation The temptation to forget the rest of the world and do it 'our way' appears dangerously irresistible," the Council said The Council s statement went on to point out the many threats to international peace since World War II that were successfully contained by the UN. beginning with the 1950s conflict on the Korean pcninContinucd To Page A3 African Continent An Easy Target For Terrorism by Judith Achicng' and Lewis Machipiia Africa's weak security is increasingly rendering the continent a much easier target for international terrorism, African analysts say "The intensity of terrorism is shifting from Europe and America totvard Africa ivhcrc there arc still many weak points," Okoye Obosi at the University of Nairobi says, commenting on the Aug 7 bomb attacks on the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam. Tanzania. Obosi, a lecturer at the university 's department of government, says recent cases in Algeria, Egypt, and the recent twin bombings in the East African capitals, are indications of a new trend of international terrorism making its way into Africa from Europe and America. "Nairobi and Dar es Salaam were weak points where terrorists knew they could cause the greatest damage," he says "They (terrorists) are trying to look for other places apart from Europe and America, which recently have tended lobe forewarned and prepared" The two bombs, estimated to weigh six tons each, exploded simultaneously near U S embassies in the rwo countries, killing at least 210 and injuring 3,000 people There is little information about the reasons behind the attacks, although fingers are pointed towards Islamic fundamentalists.One suspect of Arab origin has been arrested in Kenya, while in Tanzania, authorities have reportedly detained 12 people in connection with the attack Their identities have not been revealed In Kenya, anti-Arab and anti-Islamic sentiments are beginning to emerge Inbuscs.bars and the marketplace in Nairobi, discussions arc centered on the attack, with some people calling I for stiff action against Arabs and Muslims. Muslims account for about 10 percent of Kenya's approximately 30 million people, while in the United Republic of Tanzania, Muslims are 35 percent of the population of more than 29 million. "These cowards should be tracked and dealt with severely," says one Nairobi resident. "If the U S was the target, it was stupid of them, because Kenya was the loser at the end of the day," added another man Norman Nyazema of the University of Zimbabwe says Africa should not become the new playground for terrorism against the United States. "I can't understand the wanton destruction of human life. Wc arc so poor here in Africa. We are battling with HIV/AIDS and the next thing we don't want is some people coming to fight their wars on our continent. They should take their wars somewhere else," says Nyazema The United States and Israel have indicated that the bombings could be linked to a wealthy Saudi Arabian businessman, Osama bin Laden, who has threatened a holv war against U.S. Zimbabwean political analyst Thomas Deve, also believes Islamic fundamentalists are behind the bombings "Naturally these guys (Muslim fundamentalists) arc behind it," says Deve. "Kenya and Tanzania were considered soft targets "The problem lies at the doorstep of the countries concerned Tanzania and Kenya have a strong presence of Muslims, so the involvement of locals cannot be ruled out The attack would not have been possible without local assistance," Deve adds "Muslims are quite strong in Kenya and Tanzania There is a possibility that the attacks could have been engineered from the other end (the U.S.). This could be a way of pitting Muslims against Christians," another observer, who declined to be named, says But Deve believes the attacks may not necessarily lead to a worsening of Muslim-Arab/ Christian relations in Africa. "It's hegemony politics inspired by Islamic values What is happening is Muslims using force to drive out Americans, just like the Americans do to the Arabs "These two countries were targeted for not doing enough to be anti-American like some of the Muslim countries arc, so 1 don't think Christians will sec it as a clash of religions The two do business together," Deve adds "The message has been sent to the U S that they need to be careful when dealing with other countries The fact that those responsible could target and cause such damage, shows that we arc headed for tougher times." the Zimbabwean political analyst says Obosi of Kenya says while countries like the United States may take a hardline to bring the culprits to justice, there arc diplomatic issues at stake in tracking down those who was behind the bombings. "Handling Arabs is a risky business They arc unpredictable It needs tact and diplomacy," he says, cautioning that no one is really sure that the actual sponsors of the bomb attacks were Muslim Arabs School Board Meetings The Akron Public Schools have set a series of meetings to discuss policies related to students Section 5000of the policy book. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday. August 24,1998 The meetings set aside to discuss the student section of the policy handbook are Thursday, Scpiember 10, 198 at 5:00 p.m. and Thursday, September 24. 1998 Lucky To Be Alive! Four people are lucky to be alive after a natural gas explosion destroyed a West Akron home last Friday afternoon. The gas built up after Fred Mayfield hit a gas line while digging a drainage ditch with a back hoc. Mayfield was treated in Akron Children's Hospital Burn Unit for third degree burns. Also injured were Ms. Ursulla Rodgers - age 30, daughter Estachia Rodgers - age 5, and Graver Slone - age 36. The house, which suffered S4S.OOO worth of damage, was bulldozed down. U.M.A.D.A.O.P. State Conference The Urban Minority Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Outreach program, commonly referred to as U.M.A D.A.O.P., will host a three-day conference in Dayton, Ohio to ibcus on the latest t reatment in the area of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. The conference is expected to attract individuals from several Ohio cities and will focus on prevention strategies in the area of Alcohol, Tobacco, and other drug abuse, violence, teen pregnancy, spirituality and evaluation.In the mission statement of U M A D A O P 's of Ohio it reads "that the mission of the Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program is to ensure that alcohol services an/1 nth/tr /i run #?/?<?*? ? ?????? w>??i UlUg JVlVltfcJ aiv available, accessible and affordable to African and Hispanic American population, and that these services are rendered in a manner that is reflective of and responsive to the cultural essence of the African and Hispanic American population " U M A D A O P has outreach programs in eleven cities which include: Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland. Lima, Mansfield, Akron, Lorain, Toledo, Warren anii Youngstown, Ohio The three-day conference will attract several of the nations leading experts in the field of alcohol and drug abuse, and treatment Jose Suarez, of the Bureau ofCrintinal Justice Services and Dennis Rahim Watson, of the National Black Youth Leadership Council, both from New York, will serve as keynote speakers Deborah Styles, executive director of U.M A DA.OP of Dayton, said, "This will be an exciting conference featuring experts from throughout the United States focusing on the creative ways to help to improve the fight in the war on drug abuse and alcoholism " One of the highlights of the three-day sessions will be an aduress by noted psychologist and pioneer in the development of an African-centered approach to modern psychology, Dr Na'im Akbar Dr Akbar teachers in the Department of Psychology ai Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida He also directs his private consulting firm Mind Productions and Associates, Inc. Dr Akbar will be the banquet speaker Also keynoting will be Dr Sehwan Kim, a specialist in research and evaluation of public policy He currently serves al the University of Mary land Rcbcra Elliott Foston, MD MPH is the ^rector of Ihc Foston .Adolescent Workshop, Inc. a program designed to help teenagers reach adulthood successfully and to train adults to facilitate this process This process will also be addressed by Dr Foston, a keynote speaker. The three-day conference is in cooperation with Wright State University and the Center for Professional Development Entertainment for the conference will be provided by Grammy Award winner Charles Fold and the Fold Singers of Cincinnati. Dayton's own Serious Young Musicians will also perform. The Ahki Brothers in Christ from Cleveland will participate with Charles Fold during the gospel fest. For registration and information contact the U M A.D A.O.P. of Dayton, Inc. office at 625 Salem Avenue or call (937) 276-2176 This year's conference will be the 10th annual hosted by U M A D A O P 'sofOhio U.M.A.D A O P. is funded by OADAS and The Adamahs Board of Montgomery County Nationwide Agent Cited For Homeowner Discrimination The Fair Housing Advocates Association (FHAA) has filed a racial discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) against Nationwide Insurance and its agent Bill Gearhart. The complaint, filed on Wednesday Augusl 19, 1998, was the result of an FHAA investigation which showed that a African American homeowner was subject to adverse and discriminatory treatment. while a white homeowner was not. The African American homescckcr did not receive homeowners insurance rate information, while the white homeowner did The FHAA conducted the investigation as a result of recciv ing a complain! from an African American homeowner who believed that Nationwide's refusal to improve her insurance coverage was because of her race In addition, the FHAA investigation showed that Nationwide Insurance may be in violation of the terms of a federal consent degree between it and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Nationwide was .." not to consider in any way the age or market value of a home as a criterion for eligibility for homeowner's insurance coverage or the eligibility of certain types of courage FHAA investigators, who inquired about home insurance, were told that guaranteed replacement coverage was only provided for homes 10 years ot age or younger. The FHAA will register a formal complaint with the U.S Department of Justicd this week. According to Vincent R Curry, we are certainly shocked and disappointed to find that Nationwide may not only be in violation of a federal consent degree, but appears to have subjected African American homeowners to discriminatory and discourage treatment We will certainly pursue these issues aggressively." Curry said that "It appears that blacks and minorities still do not have Equal Opportunity access to homeowner's insurance products" NAACP Honors BIG Leaders The MAACP recognized two members of Blacks In Government (BIG) for outstanding leadership in civil rights during its 89th Annual Convention in Atlanta, Georgia recently Oscar Eason, Jr.. of Seattle, WA, national president of BIG, received the Benjamin L Hooks Keeper of the Flame Award. Dr Doris SartorofMontgomcry, AL, chair of BIG's Program and Planning committee, received the Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award Mr Eason was presented the Keeper of the Flame Award "for his significant contributions to promoting civil rights, and continuing commitment and work in the area of equal opportunity" by John Johnson, chair of the NAACP Labor Relations Committee. As President of BIG since 1994. Eason has led the organi tauuii in an dggicsaivc (.ampaign against discrimination in the government workplace. He was cited for speaking out against disparate federal firings. oasca on a report that showed African Americans are dismissed from federal service at Continued To Page A3 YOUTH SAY MARCH WILL HAPPEN IN HARLEM "Harlem belongs to the community, and the future belongs to the youth," said Erica Ford, a representative of the New York City Black Power Committee (BPC). Ford's remarks were a direct challenge to Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's rejection of the group's proposal to host the Million Youth March rally in the heart of Harlem on Sept. 5. "We are not backing down from 'Adolph' Giuliani," asserted Jed Michel, another BPC representative. "This is our house, and we will have our Million Youth March no matter what he says." Several days before Mayor Giuliani released a statement detailing his opposition to the march being held on Malcolm X Boulevard and offered alternative sites at Randalls Island or \fan Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. "Those locations are not relevant to us," Michel blasted. "Harlem is our community, it is the Black Mecca of the United States, and there will be no equivocation from us. The March will happen in Harlem." The Million Youth March comes on the heels the successful Million Man March in 1995 and the Million Woman March last year. The stated demands/objectives of the group are: an end to police brutality and harassment of Black and Latino people, reparations for the descendants of enslaved African people of the middle passage, freedom for all political prisoners and prisoners of war and the building and nurturing of independent institutions. -- Herb Boyd, The New York Amsterdam News TRAINING BASE FOR TUSKEGEE AIRMEN COULD BECOME A NATIONAL PARK SITE Moton Field, the small airport that served as a training site in World War II for the all-Black air corps unit known as the Tuskegce Airmen, may become the newest addition to America's national park system. A study by the National Park Service (NPA) has concluded that the airfield qualifies as a national historic site and legislation sponsored by Rep Bob Riley (R-Ala ), is already moving through Congress to add it to the federal park system. Details of the 10-month MPS study were presented at the 27th Tuskegce Airmen National Convention held Aug 6 in Washington, D C. Jerry Bclson, NPS Southeast regional director informed those in attendance that the study, conducted in cooperation with the State of Alabama and Tuskegee University, outlines four alternatives for commemorating the Airmen. Those alternatives range from a minimum effort to identify the s"c and provide visitor information to an extensive tourist attraction complete with a Tuskegee Airmen National Center that would house a museum with period aircraft. Under the most ambitious alternative, Tuskegee University would establish a Department of Aviation Science at the center to offer continued training to pilots and aeronautical engineers. The center would he financed largely through private donations CUBA SET TO DEEPEN CARIBBEAN LINKS ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada (IPS) ? Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, will have another high-profile chance to thumb his nose at the United States when he sits with Caribbean leaders in the Dominican Republic later this month. This comes on the heels of his recently-concluded three-nation Caribbean tour which took him to Jamaica, Barbados and Grenada The leaders have invited Castro to the meeting for several reasons, chief among them to step up the pace of efforts to get Cuba into the lucrative European Union market. Under the successful Lome Agreement, most Caribbean states, as one clement of the African. Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) grouping, have enjoyed selective preferential trade access to European markets. Officials say the visit is also designed to show the once ostracized pariah that he is a full family member once again. Dominican organizers has invited the defiant Castro and others, as well, to mark the 500th anniversary of Santo Domingo, the first city in the western hemisphere But part of the significance of his visit lies in what appears to be the Cuban leader's belief thai the end is near as far as hemispheric isolation is concerned. To show his gratitude to the region. Castro has announced a generous aid package to the Community despite the island's dire economic circumstances Students from the Caribbean region will benefit from 1,000 new scholarships (up from 120 a year ago) in such fields as medicine, language training, marine biology and many others ? Bert Wilkinson FULL-SCALE WAR BREWING IN ANGOLA UNITED NATIONS (IPS) ? The Angolan government and the rebel UNITA movement are on a recruiting drive to boost their troop strengths and. with an increase in aimed incursions, the nation appears headed (or a new round of warfare, sav U N officials. According to the official, who spoke to IPS on condition of anonymity, the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) have begun a nightly round-up of youths in (he capital Luanda to gather recruits for combat in zones held by the forces of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) in central and eastern Angola. "Even local U.N staff arc saying they have to pay off the FAA or send away family members so thev won't be recruited to fight." the official said The U N Observ er Mission in Angola (MONUA), a peacekeeping force comprising more than 700 soldiers, has gathered evidence that UNITA has tried to reoccupy some 70 localities which it was to have turned over to government authority under the terms of a 1994 peace accord In recent months, UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi has failed to hand over four rebel strongholds - including his base in Batlundo -despite several rounds of U.N -brokered talks Meanwhile, the United Nations is stepping up efforts to boost humanitarian aid for Angola. They estimate that since March some 120,000 Angolans have been internally displaced by fighting, while the estimated total number of internally displaced persons is as high as J.3 million - or a tenth of the entire population - Farhon Hag