SPORTS Durham Bulls YouthAthletic League begins VOLUME 13 NO. 17 WE WEEKEKOF OF AP RIL17,2011RIL17,2011 ONE DOLLAR THE TRIANGLE’S CHOICE FOR THE BLACK VOICE Religious leaders defend Racial JusticeAct By Sommer Brokaw THE TRIANGLE TRIBUNE RALEIGH - State legislators passed the N.C. Racial Justice Act in 2009 to ensure that race is not a fac- tor in death sentences. A Forsyth County Superior Court upheld the ruling after a challenge by the District Attorney. Now, it’s facing another chal- lenge from lawmakers. The new bill, H615, sponsored primarily by four N.C. Republicans, calls for reform of the RJA based on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in McCleskey v. Kemp, a Georgia case that found statistical study insufficient to support discriminatory purpose. Several religious leaders say the name of the new bill, “No Discriminatory Purpose in Death Penalty,” is misleading because it would gut the RJA. The four Republicans - Rep. Paul Stam, R-Wake; Rep. Justin Burr, R-Montgomery; Rep. Dan Ingle, R- Alamance; and Rep. Sarah Stevens, R-Alleghany - could not be reached for comment. The current law allows defendants to show by statistical or other evidence that race was a “sig- nificant factor” to impose the death penalty, and, if proven, their sentences can be commuted to life without parole. But if H615 were to be enacted, defendants would have to prove that “the state acted with discriminatory purpose in seeking the death penalty or in selecting the jury that sen- tenced the defendant, or one or more of the jurors acted with discriminatory purpose in the guilt-in- nocence or sentencing phases of the defendant’s PHOTO/BO trial,” to have their sentences commuted to life. “They want to bring us back to the 1980s when Protestors let their opinions be known Monday in front of Shaw’s campus. prosecutors would have to say yep, I was racially discriminatory intentionally. That’s what this bill leaves us with - nothing, absolutely nothing,” said Stephen Dear, executive director of People of Faith Against the Death Penalty. Pastor Barbara Davis of the New Hope Presbytery in Rocky Mount with churches in the Triangle, Shaw students protest agrees. “The current bill does not in any way prevent le- gal procedures to go forward, but the way they’re picket sign. Winters said students were concerned about trying to take so many portions out of it that would instructors being dismissed without their knowledge. Unfair conditions “They can’t keep pushing teachers under the rug and not See N.C. RELIGIOUS/2A let us know what’s going on,” she said. “We’re the ones pay- By Bonitta Best ing $21,000 tuition, and we deserve a good education.” Board chairman Willie Gary hired new president Irma THE TRIANGLE TRIBUNE McClaurin, the first woman to hold the position on a per- manent basis, last September. Even before McClaurin came RALEIGH - Shaw University students and former faculty on board, Nelson said the gap between the haves and have- gathered outside Estey Hall Monday to protest what they say nots was there. are unfair practices on the historically black campus. “You have some faculty barely making $32,000 with no Led by former faculty member James Nelson Jr., protest- pension and other administrators making up to $225,000 ers said instructors and staff are being fired for no appar- with moving expenses, company credit cards, generous ent reason or for speaking out against the administration. travel and phone perks, and exquisite bathrooms in their They say the dismissals are eroding the education of stu- offices,” he said. dents who are being taught by inept teachers. One of the flyers Nelson distributed said in November “They want their voices heard even though speaking out 2008, almost 30 staff members were terminated in what is causing them to be dismissed,” said Nelson, a popular in- the campus called “the Thanksgiving massacre.” Since then, structor who was fired in 2010 after 13 years. “We are try- other personnel have been dismissed. He listed eight re- ing to get the attention of the administration and the board cent firings that were particularly upsetting: Janine Woods, (of trustees) that the students’ education is being hindered. director of sponsored programs; Tom Poitier, vice presi- Faculty making low salaries are fearful from one day to the dent for fiscal affairs; Eugene and Kesha Myrick, office of next about their jobs.” strategic communications; Rudolph Tripp, Divinity School; As Nelson talked, the sparse crowd started to grow with Maxine Highsmith, science department; April Abbott, more students as flyers were handed out to passersby. Humanities department; and himself. Security was stationed at every entrance to the campus, in- Nelson said the protest had nothing to do with sour cluding Estey Hall, to keep protesters and reporters out. grapes. In fact, as more students arrived, many of them Several students said they weren’t afraid to speak out. One Opponents say a new bill in the General Assembly of them was freshman Monghany Winters, who held up a See SHAW/2A would ‘gut’ the Racial Justice Act and send possible innocent victims to their deaths. Gala to assist President Obama women pursing addresses National highereducation Action Network By Sommer Brokaw By Cyril Josh Barker THE TRIANGLE TRIBUNE THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS RALEIGH - Sisters For Your Journey, the nonprof- resident Barack Obama it charitable arm of Raleigh Diamond Divas, will hold went to New York last its inaugural Diamond Scholarship Gala on April 29. week with a renewed vig- The star-studded event will feature celebrities like PorP to address the National award-winning actress and TV producer Vivica Fox, Action Network’s annual gala. reality star Jennifer Williams, Michael Vick’s fiancee He hit on several key points as Kijafa Frink and Miss N.C. Adrienne Core. he praised the organization’s Themed “Stars - Leading, Lighting, Guiding While 20 years of existence. The now- Illuminating the Way,” the gala, at the Grand confirmed candidate for the Marquise Ballroom in Garner, will have a cocktail re- 2012 presidential election gave ception at 6 p.m., a ceremonial dinner at 7 p.m., a a rousing speech that was well silent auction, music and dancing. received by the nearly 1,200 “We came up with the theme that in and of itself people in attendance. After a gracious introduction is a power statement,” SFYJ President Andora Pyatt FILE PHOTO said. “That’s the way leaders and change agents op- from the Rev. Al Sharpton, the erate; they are lighting the way, and it’s almost like president received a standing PresidentBarackObamaan- they’re passing the torch for the next person and ovation. He opened his speech nounced his re-election bid that’s how we grow as individuals. Oprah is a prime by acknowledging Rep. Charles example. She doesn’t ask anyone to be like her. She Rangel, former Mayor David this week. asks people to be like yourself, to be your best self.” Dinkins and the 20th anniver- 2012 run, Obama highlight- The event will highlight local honorees’ Beverly sary of NAN, praising its con- ed his own achievements Powell, director of women at Abundant Life Christian tinuing relevance. along with commending his Center COGIC, and business owner of a women’s “The National Action Network supporters for their work boutique called A Woman By Design; Mimi Kimber, has not changed its commit- and loyalty to him. founder and owner of Diamonds and Daughters, ment in the last two decades,” “If you stand with me and which offers life coaching for teens having a diffi- he said. “Not only in the lives believe in what we can do to- cult time; and Abeni El-Amin, executive director of of African-Americans,” but for gether, if we put our shoul- the broader American family. Actress Vivica Fox will be among the attendees at the Making little mention of his See GALA/2A Sister For Your Journey gala. See PRESIDENT/2A New regulations for church baby Call us: 919-688-9408 or fax 919-688-2740 Ind Indexex E-mail: [email protected] cribs. Editorial 4A Sports 1B Focus 6A Classifieds 5B www.triangletribune.com Arts & Life 5B Religion 6B Remember to recycle 2A NEWS/The TriangleTribuneiangleTribune April 17, 2011 Shaw students protest campus conditions Continued from 1A ed and once that happened, nationally that a few have culated by disgruntled em- an orchestrated plan.” he said. “It took them so they didn’t need him any chosen to become involved ployees contains only par- In 2008, students rallied long to fix it, some students praised his efforts. more.” tial truths, and mixes em- against what they consid- were getting sick. The dorm “Dr. Nelson was a God- in university personnel mat- McClaurin released a state- ters, on which I am prevent- ployment activities that oc- ered unclean living condi- conditions are still bad. (The send,” junior Robert Finch ment: “...I think it unfortu- curred years ago for various tions. administration) wanted (stu- said. “He was a good ed from commenting for nate that at the very mo- confidentiality reasons. reasons with more recent ac- Finch said much hasn’t dents) to overlook all that, teacher, and he cared about ment Shaw is gaining posi- tions, and tries to convey changed. and (Nelson) was trying to his students. He helped the “What I can tell you is that tive recognition locally and the information recently cir- that these unrelated inci- “Mold spores were grow- change things.” university to get reaccredit- dents are somehow part of ing on the bathroom walls,” N.C.