Hire Evanston Youth First

We are glad to see that, even though the City's Human Relations division has been micro-ed down, the summer youth job employment program and its companion job fair have survived. Both are important programs for the youth of our community, their only drawback being the disproportionate number of jobs and employers to applicants.

Anyone concerned about the state of Evanston youth should drop in at the Civic Center on April 21 and listen to the kids who arrived at 4 a.m. or earlier to interview for a job. Look at how these kids have dressed for the occasion; listen to their eagerness. And if possible, hire one or two of these youths for the short, six-week summer program.

This is the year the City has put some substance into its commitment to youth, approving the Youth Engagement Initiative in this year's budget, and this should be the year that even more businesses open their doors to teach our youth how to prepare for their future. There is value in the mix of the workplace and a teen can learn a lot in a summer.

Even a routine job will teach youths the importance of showing up on time, dressing for the workplace, cooperating with fellow workers, performing menial but necessary tasks and completing them on time. The culture of the workplace also teaches by osmosis: Young people will learn the intricacies of the business, office politics and the necessity of treating their colleagues with respect.

Some of our larger institutions have participated in the summer youth employment program for years, and we hope that others will follow suit this year.

For small businesses, participation can be more difficult, as they must create a job, find a supervisor and find the funds for a temporary position. But the enthusiasm of teenagers who really want to work can be a great source of energy and effort especially for a small business.

As businesses of all sizes and types are looking around for help for the summer, we hope they will look first at Evanston youth.

Clara, Lu and Em - and Don

Don Imus's barb against the Rutgers University basketball team hit some national nerves, as we ponder the place of sexist and racist remarks in what he claims was "humor."

A local contrast is on page 12 of the print edition of this newspaper, the second part in Janet Messenger's series on three young women from Evanston who in the 1930s captured the hearts of America with their own brand of humor.

Humor is a twist on a given condition or situation, and thus is one way of controlling it - the fresh take is a slight transfer of power from those who wield it to those who observe or are affected by it. It can be the juxtaposition of opposites or, like irony, the distance we put between ourselves and something out of our control.

Humor can exploit fears in both positive and negative ways, by identification or by separation. Clara, Lu & Em appealed to the (by our standards) not-very-empowered housewives who were bewildered by the slings and arrows of everyday life. Their cheerfulness and exaggeration in the days of the Great Depression were keys to getting people to identify with them.

Much modern "humor" comes in the form of separation from the subject: incredulity, sarcasm and denigration. No doubt the present-day culture of fear contributes to the atmosphere in which this sort of discourse thrives.

As a newspaper, we champion free speech, with the understanding that those who cross lines must face consequences.

As a medium of public discourse, we deplore the lack of civility and respect that has become a market engine in this country.

Blame It On April

By Charles Wilkinson

Every year in the middle of winter I catch myself wondering, "What am I doing here? Why do I let Chicago winds and snows beat me into feeling so sorry for myself that I vow, ‘Never again!'" This year a long-weekend reunion in Tampa and two recent weeks in Fresno with an ailing sister helped me get through, but re-entry after both trips upped the volume of my misery. The past week or so I have not been wondering; I have been wailing.

I'm guessing (hoping?) that by the time this piece is being read, spring will be teasing us with its dance of daffodils and curtsies of crocuses, warm breezes from the southwest, green-lace trees and a once-gray lake as "blue as the skies above." I mean, it has to happen sometime! It's just that this past winter has felt a lotta bit longer than usual.

I am not one who complains about the weather. I learned early on that there is really nothing anyone can do about it except to dress accordingly and plan around it as best one can. In the middle of winter I do just that.

But, come April, when I am ready for spring, dressing accordingly becomes a major challenge.

Around these parts, no other month has multiple personalities like April. Robert Frost, in his poem "Two Tramps in Mud Time," has diagnosed the month perfectly:

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March.

I would like to say, "Knowing that helps." In some ways it does, but thus far it has not mended my patience frayed while awaiting the arrival of spring. I can say this, however: No other month makes me appreciate the seasons of the year and their changes more than April, which, if anything, does not usually encourage indifference.

On a heavier note, in this age of global warming, I find myself reluctant to think of just how many Robert Frost Aprils remain. When I do so, my impatience dwindles considerably - even while I am wishing to be "one month on in the middle of May."

The RoundTable received this on April 20, partly in response to questions raised at the April 16 School Board meeting.

ETHS, Oakton Community College to Strengthen Partnership for Adults, Students

A Guest Essay By ETHS Superintendent Eric Weatherspoon

On April 16, the Evanston Township High School (ETHS) Board of Education took the first step toward building a stronger partnership with Oakton Community College to provide and expand educational programs for Evanston adults and exciting new academic opportunities for ETHS students.

By strengthening the ties with Oakton, we know Evanstonians interested in adult-continuing education would continue to receive similar support and many of the same programs they experience now-some free or at a reduced cost. In addition, we will expand opportunities for ETHS students to simultaneously earn their high school diploma and Oakton college credits that will also be accepted at colleges and universities across the nation.

What would change?

Not very much. Oakton's Alliance for Lifelong Learning, which ETHS has asked to join, has a long history of running adult education programs in the Maine, Niles, and Glenbrook high-school districts. The ETHS program would be administered by the Alliance, instead of by ETHS, but many classes and instructors would remain in place. By shifting the program administration to Oakton, ETHS would save administration expenses over time and still be able to offer Evanston residents the high-quality programming they have come to expect.

Where would the adult education classes be held?

Right here in Evanston-at ETHS and the various satellite sites that are already established throughout the community as well as at new community locations.

What adult education classes would be offered?

Everything currently offered would remain in place. All of the adult basic education, literacy classes, English as a Second language, and GED programs-both daytime and evening.  Most of these programs are subsidized by state grants, so they are free of charge to eligible residents.  ETHS and Oakton are particularly committed to retaining programs for our expanding Hispanic population including Spanish GED, Cursos Técnicos en Español, citizenship classes, and computer and clerical classes, among others.

What about the array of continuing education classes?

Most current courses would continue, assuming the instructors are qualified and available and there is sufficient enrollment for each class. Also, new credit- and non-credit-bearing courses could be offered. As a member of the Alliance for Lifelong Learning, Evanstonians could also choose from among the many classes offered in other Alliance districts. Oakton wants to survey our community to find out what additional classes residents want to take and to host an Open House this fall at ETHS for community members to share program ideas or learn about teaching and volunteer opportunities.

What about costs for these classes?

Continuing education courses would remain fee-based. However, Oakton receives state funding that allows it to subsidize adult-continuing education classes, savings that are passed on to many district residents. ETHS charges a $20 registration fee; Oakton's Alliance only charges $5 to register.  Senior citizens (age 60 or over) especially benefit: ETHS offers a 10% discount, Oakton offers a 50% discount to all seniors in most classes. Also, Oakton's Alliance has a Scholarship Fund.

What's this about ETHS students earning college credit through Oakton?

ETHS and Oakton now offer "dual credit" for a few career and technical education courses taken at ETHS. Students in these courses earn both ETHS and Oakton college credit. We have begun discussions to expand the number and variety of dual-credit classes, including core-academic courses. Oakton has made a three-year commitment (through 2009-2010) to waive all course tuition and charges except for a one-time application fee. Because dual-credit courses appear on students' Oakton transcripts as regular college courses, they are transferable to all colleges and universities that accept Oakton's coursework. Oakton has an outstanding record for course transferability; as we expand our dual-credit opportunities, ETHS students could earn as much as a semester or more of college credit before they graduate from high school.

This is an exciting time in Evanston. We are seizing new opportunities. A stronger, value-added partnership between ETHS and Oakton truly benefits our community. Evanstonians will be able to gain life skills, prepare for careers, enhance current workforce skills, and pursue other special interests through both credit and non-credit/continuing education courses. We will be able to expand the number and variety of courses offered in Evanston-for adults and students alike- and enable Evanston residents to take courses in neighboring communities that are Alliance members. This is a win-win for our total community.

Northern Suburbs Should Re-Commit In National Fair Housing Month

A Guest Essay By Margaret Feit Clarke, Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs

April 11 marked the 39th anniversary of the federal Fair Housing Act. April is National Fair Housing Month, a perfect time for our communities to re-commit to the core values of this momentous legislation.

Unfortunately, housing discrimination persists in the northern suburbs today, often in more subtle manifestations than the blatant "no Negroes allowed" advertisements of the past. Maybe you've heard some of the following comments while looking for a place to live:"We don't rent to more than three people for a two-bedroom apartment." "You might not feel comfortable in this neighborhood." "We don't rent to families." "You can't build a ramp for access to the building - it won't look good." If so, you may be the victim of housing discrimination.

Under the Fair Housing Act, no person residing in the United States may be denied access to rental, for-sale housing or mortgages on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or presence of children. Illinois residents are also protected on the basis of age, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry or military-discharge status. Residents of Cook County are additionally protected on the basis of source of income or housing status. Some communities may have additional protections. For example, Morton Grove and Park Ridge protect families with Section 8/Housing Choice Vouchers from discrimination.

The Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs, founded in 1972 in the wake of the federal Act, is here to take and investigate your discrimination complaint, inform you of your rights and options and where appropriate, secure legal resources and file complaints with HUD, Cook County or the suburb in which you were denied housing. Please contact at 847-501‑5760 or ihcns@interfaithhousingcenter.org.

Margaret Feit Clarke is the Director of Communications and Advocacy of the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs.

The Wigged Wiggler

By Peggy Tarr

Years ago, when wigs became a fashion statement, the adult daughter of a woman visiting my mom stole one of my sister's wigs. The wig wasn't missed until after the women had left. My sister was furious, but it would have been difficult to identify and claim the wig since most wigs worn by African-Americans in my hometown were dark brown or black and similarly styled. That's not true today. Wigs are now worn in all colors and a variety of styles.

One night recently, as I quickly scanned an el car for a seat, I noticed a dark-skinned African-American person wearing large glasses and a light blond wig. It actually was the very large glasses on her narrow face that caught my attention. I sat down on the opposite side of the car from the wig-wearer, who then moved over to the seat behind me. I didn't give much thought to the move but soon became aware of the incessant wiggling of the wig-wearer.

I glanced over my shoulder at the wig-wearer's reflection in the window, trying to see what in the world the wig-wearer was doing. I could only make out the wig-wearer's hands going up and down toward her (?) head. I noticed other passengers watching the wig-wearer, too. I decided to read and try to ignore all this action behind me, but of course, my efforts to read were thwarted by the wig-wearer's constant wiggling and bumping of my seat.

The CTA, being the CTA, stopped just before reaching the Howard Street station and sat there. This seemed to heighten the wig-wearer's unrest, and the wiggling and bumping became feverish.

I couldn't take it anymore and got up and stood near the doors, hoping the train would move soon. Standing permitted me to get a good look at the wiggling wig-wearer. The wig-wearer now stood up, adjusting (or pulling on) some jogging pants, then, still standing, moved to the row in which I had been seated, then moved to the opposite side, stood for a while, then sat down.

Other passengers watched. The wig-wearer was at least six feet tall and now sat gazing at her (?) reflection in the window, constantly primping, patting and readjusting the wig. When at last the train pulled into the Howard station, a train for Evanston was waiting. I hopped on, sat down near a window and saw the wiggling wig-wearer pass by my window headed for the stairs.

Something changed the wig-wearer's mind. The wig-wearer abruptly turned and jumped on the train and sat down across from me even though the wig-wearer had passed empty seats before getting to this seat. My antennae went up, and I started making plans for what I would do if the wig-wearer got off behind me. I kept my eyes straight ahead but out of the corner of my eye, I noted that the wig-wearer was no longer wiggling. When the train reached the next stop, just as the doors were about to close, the wig-wearer jumped up and ran off the train, making passengers give the wig-wearer puzzled looks. Public transportation and the garden of life. I gave a sigh of relief. The wigged wiggler was gone.

Letters to the Editor

Saint Francis Hospital Observes 'Cover the Uninsured Week'

Editor:
Saint Francis Hospital and Resurrection Health Care join theannual nationwide campaign called "Cover the Uninsured Week" (April 23-29) that brings together individuals and organizations throughout the United States and demands that our nation's leaders find a solution for the more than 46 million Americans living without health insurance.

This year, many children stand to lose coverage altogether if federal funds are inadequate to meet existing program needs. Our nation's leaders have the opportunity to provide funding to continue to cover the children currently enrolled in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and expand the program to cover millions more children in need of health coverage.

After 10 years, SCHIP is up for reauthorization in Congress. At stake is the level of federal funding that will be available to support the program and whether it will allow states to maintain their current programs, let alone expand to cover more uninsured children who are eligible for coverage, but not yet enrolled.

Supporting this initiative is significant for us: It is integral to our mission, values, guiding principles and daily work. Renewing SCHIP with adequate funding is both an investment in our future and a symbol of our commitment to those who are vulnerable and least able to care for themselves.

There is little argument that children should have access to health care, and that low-income children should never forego a doctor visit because it was too expensive for the family. Every child, rich and poor and all gradations in between, should be able to receive routine preventive care, and, when necessary, acute care for serious conditions.

At Saint Francis Hospital, we believe we have a special responsibility to improve the health and well-being of the community. In FY 2006, Saint Francis Hospital provided more that $25 million in free care. The Saint Francis Community Health Center serves almost 12,000 patient visits a year - mostly women and children, many of whom are poor and uninsured, and none paying the full cost of their care. In fact, about one-third of these visits serve individuals without any insurance or Medicaid coverage.

Be assured that the long-standing mission of Resurrection Health Care, our support for Cover the Uninsured Week, and our commitment to high-quality care for all will continue in our pursuit to close the health-care gap. Resurrection Health Care and Saint Francis Hospital's history is rooted in community service. For more than 100 years, our religious sponsors have provided compassionate charity care to those in need, particularly the poor, marginalized and immigrant populations.

Saint Francis Hospital and Resurrection Health Care are committed to continuing our mission and providing accessible, affordable and exceptional health care to all who come to us seeking medical attention.
--Jeffery J. Murphy, Executive Vice President/Chief Executive Officer,
Saint Francis Hospital

ETHS Awardee's Excellent Teaching Not Test-Oriented
Editor:

Congratulations to ETHS for allowingAaron Becker to teach, and for his earning recognition from the Golden Apple Foundation.It is rare in both District 65 and District 202 to find suchcreative, exciting, uniqueand enthusiastic teaching, so when it does, it's wonderful to see it recognized.I imagine that there are those who would like him to change his approach to a more regimented and predictable method, more aligned with some curriculum document. I noticed that nowhere in the article that extolled many of his virtues was there reference to his interest in raising test scores, nor was there any interest evinced by his students as to the chances that they'll pass certain tests. On the contrary, Mr. Becker's larger vision and talentappear to be providing what used to be called a good education to his students - studentswho attend his classes in orderto gain a greater understanding of the large forces that have shaped our political, social, religious, and economic world. It does not go without saying that the narrow and short-sighted focus on test scores as a proxy for a rich,well-rounded education continues to drive our school system toward mediocrity, not away. One hopes that if Mr. Becker's students are given a good enough education, as they seem to be getting in his class, they will become the adults who work to eventually eliminate the simple-minded "measurements" of our school systems typified by the ISAT, the Prairie State Exams, et cetera. At least they willknow and understand the counterproductive and destructive monster known as "high stakes standardized testing." Clearly, our school boards do not.
--Charles Cole, Ed. D., Adjunct Assistant Professor School of Education, Loyola University

The First Amendment is Alive and Well in Chicago"

Editor:
On April 9, Laura Bernstein, Katie Dahlseng and I stood in front of a federal judge to face a charge incurred on Feb. 20th 2007. We committed an act of civil disobedience in the lobby of the Kluczinski Federal Building in protest of the $93 Billion Supplemental Spending Bill that went before congress (and passed) in March. At about eleven o'clock, we began reading the names of Iraqi and American war dead. After about 15 minutes, we were warned by a federal officer. We refused to leave, kept reading and then were arrested.

We chose to represent ourselves. The charge we faced was "failure to comply with signs and directions," a violation of the Code of Federal Regulations which we could not find.

The government evidently did not regard us as a major threat, in that the prosecution of our case was entrusted to a law student. The first and only witness called by the government was the officer who arrested us, a pleasant African- American woman who seemed sympathetic. She testified that we were speaking loudly in the lobby of the building, she asked us to leave, and we refused. She also testified that no one was able to pass through security to enter the building at that time.

Then it was our turn. Magistrate Nan Nolan allowed us to make statements. Each of us explained what had led us to refuse to leave that day. My first co-defendant, Laura Bernstein, read an antiwar poem. My other co-defendant, Katie Dahlseng, read a very personal anti-war statement that reflected her feelings about the war and her impending motherhood.

I told the judge that in my job as a physician at Cook County Hospital, I had become extremely frustrated by the cuts in services, which has severely compromised our ability to provide health care to poor and working people. The outlook for next year is even worse.

We also told the judge that we were not blocking the entrance. In fact people were continuing to enter and leave the Federal Building.

We hoped for the best, but expected the worst. Miraculously, Magistrate Nan Nolan found my cohorts and me not guilty, based upon the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. She stated that the First Amendment required "balancing."

In this case, we were in a public place and the judge found that, even if our actions slowed things down in the building, the right to exercise our First Amendment rights outweighed the minor disruption in the building.

The First Amendment requires some "messiness," she said.

We have the highest respect for Judge Nolan. She should be commended in some way. After the savaging of Constitutional rights and liberties during this administration, it is heartening to see a person in authority invoke and protect these important basic rights.
-Marjorie Fujara

Whither the Civic Center? Seeing the Forest for the Condos

Editor:
As a resident of the Civic Center neighborhood, I have on occasion been asked my thoughts on the proposed Civic Center development currently being debated. To date, I've been reluctant to weigh in, as I typically take a pretty laissez-faire/free market/capitalist stance when it comes to most things commercial. I would usually contend that if you've got the wherewithal (cash/financing) and believe you possess the skills to make a project like the one proposed for the civic space succeed, who am I to stand in the way?

However, given recent developments in the mortgage market, I'm beginning to think there might be more to this conversation then letting the free market's, or Adam Smith's, "invisible hands" work. Clearly we're at a juncture where they aren't working, at least insofar as they relate to "sub-prime" mortgages.

I'm beginning to think there are more pertinent considerations in developing the Civic Center property than simply cost, density, highest and best use, etc. I think it might be worthwhile to review the proposed development in light of the national hot-button issue of sub-prime mortgages and the current implosion therein. I think it might serve us all (perhaps especially our City planners) to consider how the fallout from the deterioration of sub-prime loans might impact Evanston generally - and how they might impact the proposal for the "new" Civic Center space.

If you are anywhere near the downtown area, much of what you see will be brand spanking new or soon-to-be-new condo buildings. If you are at the corner of Ridge/Green Bay and Emerson (four blocks from the Civic Center), all you will see is new or soon-to-be-new condo buildings. You have probably asked yourself who on earth is buying all those $300, $400 and even $600 and $700,000 condos. Who indeed?

Apparently all these new developments are 60 to 80 percent "pre-sold." Just ask their builders, or the real estate brokers working with them. In fact, it is my understanding that many of them needed to be more than 50 percent pre-sold before they could get financing to build. But to whom are they pre-sold? Are condo buyers in Evanston somehow immune to the woes of the rest of the nation in how they expect(ed) to finance their condo purchases? I'm going to guess no.

If my guess is right, then a significant percentage of these new units have probably been financed by no-money-down, interest-only, "piggyback," "liar loans," or whatever else was in the sub-prime bin at the bank the day these nice condo-buying folks walked in. The number of units that appear to have been pre-sold in these new developments is likely to be larger than the number of those who actually are taking keys at the closing. Ultimately, I think this will leave us all looking at a plethora of empty/lights-out condo units dotting our fair City's landscape by the time the dust settles. In light of this very real possibility, does it serve any of us to add to that number with a massive new condo development at the site of the Civic Center?

In my humble estimation, the local and national condo/real estate boom is over. Elvis has left the building. That knowledge and 50 cents don't buy us coffee. But it might help answer the question of who is buying all those condos and how they are managing to get them financed. For my part, I'm hoping that our City planners are starting to wonder a little bit too.
-- John O'Brien