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NYRA Freedom
ISSN 1933-5229
Volume 7, Issue 5
May 10, 2007
Contents:
Introduction
NYRA Election Coming Up
Fundraising Update
Cell phone and email issues in Buncombe County, NC
Youth Rights Network
NYRA-DC Continues Fight Against Club Ban
Adam King Interviews Brad White
News from the Web
Conclusion
Introduction
There are some interesting things on the horizon. Adam King continues
his struggle for youth rights in North Carolina, and NYRA-DC has
raised more concerns over Councilmember Graham’s club ban bill. We’re
in the final stretch of the NYRAthon and need everyone to contribute
to make this year’s fundraiser a success. The next month could be
very good for youth rights.
NYRA Election Coming Up – Candidates Needed
Every year, NYRA members elect a new board of directors and vote on
changes to NYRA’s bylaws. Anyone who has paid $10 in member dues is
eligible to vote in the election and run for office. NYRA’s board of
directors elects NYRA’s officers and sets the organization’s general
course for the year. This year we have a number of qualified
candidates, but we always need more. If you are at all interested in
running for the board of directors you are strongly encouraged to do
so. All NYRA members are able to run for the board. There are nine
seats on the board of directors.
Voting will begin on June 28th and end on July 28th when results are
read at the annual meeting in DC. If you would like to run for the
board, or attend the annual meeting (which will feature lots of cool
workshops) please email akpalicz@youthrights.org.
Fundraising Update
NYRA’s annual fundraising contest, NYRAthon, ends on June 1st. So
far, NYRA has not raised as much money as it had anticipated. It is
important that people participate so NYRA can continue to pay its
staff and rent its office. Prizes will be awarded to the people who
donate the most before June 1st.
Please visit http://youthrights.org/donate.php if you would like to
make a donation. Donations to NYRA are tax deductible. Special
thanks to all those who have already participated in the contest.
Cell phone and email issues in Buncombe County, NC
School officials expressed an interest in banning the use of cell
phones by students in Buncombe County. This represents a gross
violation of student rights, as students have many legitimate reasons
to use cell phones during class changes and lunch time. There was
also a proposal to ban personal email in Buncombe County. This is
even more ludicrous than the cell phone policy. NYRA Vice President
Adam King, who is a student leader in Buncombe County, opposed the
proposed changes. Adam King was partially successful – cell phones
will be banned during class changes but not during lunch. Board of
Education Chairman Richard Greene also stated that he is willing to
revisit the ban on personal emails. For more information visit Adam
King’s blog at http://www.studentonthemarch.org
Youth Rights Network
The youth rights network is a collaborative tool used by the youth
rights community. Similar to wikipedia, the youth rights network
contains important information regarding youth rights, and can be
edited by everyone. There is already a lot of incredible stuff at the
YRN, but we’ve barely scratched the surface. Anyone who’d like to
contribute should visit www.youthrights.net.
NYRA Continues to Fight Club Ban
(From the NYRA Blog)
As was reported in a previous NYRA blog entry, NYRA participated in
several work group sessions with DC City Councilmember Jim Graham.
Graham wanted to introduce an ageist bill, but was willing to listen
to some of what we had to say, and the final draft of the legislation
was significantly better than what Graham was going to introduce
before. While NYRA appreciates Councilmember Graham’s willingness to
let us participate in the legislative process, we are still opposed to
his bill for a number of reasons.
Last night several NYRA members attended a public committee hearing at
which Graham’s bill was discussed at length. Towards the end of the
hearing, NYRA Executive Director Alex Koroknay-Palicz, NYRA President
Scott Davidson, and ACLU of the National Capitol Area Legislative
Council Stephen Block testified against the bill. Mr. Block’s
testimony focused on the provision in the bill that makes underage
drinking a criminal offense in certain places. The remarks that
Koroknay-Palicz and Davidson delivered to the committee focused mostly
on the aspects of the bill that make it more difficult for those under
eighteen to enter bars and clubs.
Councilmember Graham introduced his bill in response to the tragic
death of Talesha Ford, a seventeen year old woman who was shot at a DC
night club. In addition to making clubs safer, the bill will keep
young people out of many bars and nightclubs. NYRA feels that instead
of violating the civil rights of potential victims, the government
should work to keep dangerous criminals out of these establishments.
As Alex Koroknay-Palicz said in his testimony “…the person we need to
blame is the man who pulled that trigger. The shooter is and was an
adult. If this bill was enacted then, it would have done nothing to
stop him from being at that club. His stray bullet would have just hit
someone else and a different family would now be mourning.”
The hearing lasted about four hours, and most of the people who
testified supported it. Much of the testimony did not deal directly
with the issues with which NYRA was most concerned. NYRA brought a
number of young people to the hearing, but they had left by the time
NYRA representatives testified.
NYRA does support certain aspects of this bill. We think that having
clubs submit security plans and allowing clubs to directly hire off
duty police officers are excellent ideas.
Adam King Interviews Brad White
April 13, 2007
Adam King
*Adam:* My name is Adam King, and I'm the Vice President of the National
Youth Rights Association. I am doing this interview for "NYRA
Freedom." Our interview today is with Brad White, former Director of
Public Relations for NYRA. Welcome, Brad.
*Brad: *Hi.
*Adam: *How did you find out about NYRA?
*Brad: *I don't have any idea. I believe I just came across the NYRA
website through an Internet search for something related to youth
rights.
*Adam: *What inspired you to join the youth rights movement? Did you
have any personal experiences where you were directly affected by laws
based on age?
*Brad: *I grew up in a household where politics was a typical dinner
discussion. While my father will contend he is a conservative, his
viewpoints fall closer to a Libertarian. Because of this environment,
I always had an interest in politics, and much of my initial
viewpoints were based on the culture around me. I cannot say I was
ever particularly affected by laws based on age any more than anybody
else. The typical
R-rated movie was the most a 13 year old could get upset about during
the teenage years. The only thing I ever truly felt passionate about,
which grew during my high school years, was that the voting age at 18
prevented our voice from being heard. And while many contend that the
youth will only vote with their parents voice, or they will not vote
at all, does nothing to support those that want their voice heard.
Politicians ignore the youth because we have no vote.
One very good example I have of that was in high school.
*Adam: *Tell me about it.
*Brad: *Myself and two friends started an ACLU chapter at my high
school. One of our big fights was to stop th school from wasting our
tax payer's dollars on a security camera system that would not benefit
the school. Their claims that it would cut down theft and help secure
the school from others trying to attack the school, such as school
shootings, were unfounded. Look at Columbine - those kids were on
camera. A kid who wants to shoot people at school wants the attention.
Plus the school claimed the cameras would never be watched live to
stop the "privacy" concerns of faculty and students. And on the topic
of theft. The people who were having theft issues were people that
were stupid enough to leave their locker open or their purse in the
library. I didn't realize we needed to spend tax payer's dollars to
help stupid people who don't know how to protect their belongings. But
after collecting signatures from the majority of the student body,
parents, as well as school officials, including the principal, the
school board ignored our case and voted to approve the cameras.
despite our publicity all over the Chicago papers, being on the front
page, gathering a majority of signatures from students, parents, and
faculty, they ignored us because we were 16
*Adam: *I recently tried to add a student advisor on my county's
school board, and despite the wide support, they rejected my proposal,
too.
You joined the NYRA Board of Directors when you were 18, and you
served for 2 years. What did you like the most about serving on the
board for those 2 years?
*Brad: *Probably being an opposing voice on many issues. There was one
board member in particular, and I forget his/her name, but we just did
not agree on anything. I'm very strong in my opinions, and so it
resulted in some very interesting conversations and board meetings.
*Adam: *I am not sure how much you have been keeping up with NYRA
lately, but how do you feel about NYRA's current activities - or how
is it different today?
*Brad: *Well I haven't been very good about keeping up with NYRA's
activities. From the little bit I see, it seems they have fallen off
the radar on many issues. I recall quite a few significant pieces of
coverage that NYRA generated back a few years ago when I was still
relatively involved, and much of that seems to have gone away. For
NYRA to be successful in their goals, they need to work hard to have
their voice be heard, as well as stay focused on what is important and
ignore outside issues like the war. I'm not saying they haven't been
doing this, but it is imperative for the future of NYRA in my opinion.
NYRA does not need to become the next SDS, which started off as a
great organization, and turned itself into nothing more than an
anti-war group.
NYRA needs stronger leaders. And sadly that is not coming from the
younger generation. The youth generation is becoming less involved in
politics and issues because society does not expect them to be
involved. Right before WWII and Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the youth
were lying about their age to join the war. They cared about politics
and what was going on in the world. Nobody cares today. Sure, there is
plenty of anti-war sentiment, but that is only because its the popular
thing to do. I'm talking about a youth generation that needs to care
about their future. Care about the problems with social security and
other similar issues that will significantly hurt their future if they
do not stand up and make their voice heard.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to parents failing to hold
their children up to higher standards. Parents let their children slip
by, and schools let kids slip through the system. Finding the standout
individuals who will make a difference in the world are much more
difficult to find these days. And the only generation we can blame for
that is our parents. Their parents never did that for them, and its
unfortunate our parents generation has let it happen. Now I'm not
saying this is the case for everybody, but it is definitely a major
trend. And if the trend continues, our children will be much worse off
then we are today.
I just went off on a major tangent. Sorry.
*Adam: *That's okay. You left in 2004. What happened?
*Brad: *School, life, beer.
Like most college kids, we have two focuses. One, getting the grades to
graduate college. And two, having the best time of our lives. It's our
first chance at independence, and I wasn't going to be sitting on the
sidelines of my wild college days.
I attempted to stay involved with NYRA, but outside things pulled me
away. Friends, school, etc., I just didn't believe it was fair to give
a lackluster effort to NYRA. It was not beneficial to the organization.
*Adam: *Do you think you'll become involved with NYRA again sometime
in the future?
*Brad: *It's possible. I just don't know where I'll fit in the time. I
strongly believe in the causes NYRA is working for, but at the same
time I'm very passionate about a lot of things, and the most important
one to be is getting my career on the right path so I can provide a
future for my family.
*Adam: *You're now working with Ruder Finn, a public relations firm,
correct? How are you liking that?
*Brad: *It's good. I'm working with technology-related clients, which
is an area I am particularly interested in. But who I'm working for
also depends on who's asking. While public relations is my career
path, and Ruder Finn is my firm to anybody related to PR, I also am
focused on getting my startup company CareerMesh off the ground. I
will leave the PR field immediately as soon as funding comes to
fruition for CareerMesh.
*Adam: *What will be different about CareerMesh?
*Brad: *CareerMesh is focused on providing entry-level candidates with
the resources to make informed career decisions. Those entering the
job marketplace for the first time do not have the networking or
career experience in place to understand where to get their career
started on the right foot. For those that need a different type of
solution for their career search, CareerMesh will have the resources
to accomplish that. On the flip side, it's also about giving companies
the ability to stand out beyond a typical job posting on CareerBuilder
and Monster and have a better way to attract candidates.
*Adam: *That sounds great. Do you have anything else you would like to
add before we close our interview?
*Brad: *Yes, I predict the Chicago Cubs will win the World Series and
the Chicago Bears will win the Super Bowl this year to make Florida's
wins over Ohio State look like nothing.
*Adam: *Haha. We'll see.
Well, thank you very much for your time. This closes our interview
with Brad White.
News from the Web
DUNLAP: High school junior wins school board seat
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11161
Italians given drug test kits for teens
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11156
Adam King fights on for teen rights and representation
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11153
Swiss canton drops voting age to 16
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11119
Ohio Teacher Forces 6th-Grader to Urinate in Classroom
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11086
Student's Web death threat
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11085
Dad Upset Kid Banned From Wearing Pagan Symbol at Indiana School
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11081
$5M settlement in Fla. boot camp death
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11077
How'd You Do In School Today?
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11075
Straight Talk: Time to Rethink the Drinking Age
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11067
House says: Hang up and drive
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11061
Schuyler takes government to others
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11056
Complaint Lodged Over 'Quiet Room' at Ox Ridge Elementary School
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11042
Lower the drinking age
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11028
MP: Voting age should be lowered to 16
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11027
Torrance teens say curfew's comeback limits their options
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11026
Law Would Require Students To Apply To College
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=11005
Divorced parents clash over 12-year-old son's circumcision
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10998
Is it really spying if you love them?
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10996
Schools Banning iPods To Beat Cheaters
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10991
Conclusion
Some interesting things happened in April. NYRA is continuing its
fight against ageism, with important fronts in North Carolina and The
District of Colombia. This could be a very good summer for NYRA, with
some excellent board candidates and a lot of highly qualified summer
interns. We need your support to make it happen. Please donate
whatever time and money you can.
------NYRA------
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