[NYRA] "NYRA Freedom" Volume 9, Issue 2

Tue Feb 17 14:19:47 EST 2009

---- NYRA Freedom ----

ISSN 1933-5229

Volume 9, Issue 2

February 17, 2009

Editors: Justin Graham and Lexi Johnson

---- Table of Contents ----

- NYRA to Weigh In on Supreme Court Cases
- Middle School NYRA Chapter Works to Lower Voting Age
- Anti-Age Discrimination Campaign in High Gear
- Florida Students Can Speak Out Against Discrimination
- Student Rights Union Looks Ahead to Next Year
- NYRA Still Seeking Interns
- Recent NYRA Blog Entries
- News from the Web
- Conclusion

---- NYRA to Weigh In on Supreme Court Cases ----

NYRA is looking into filing an amicus curiae, or friend of the court,  
brief in a U.S. Supreme Court case, Redding v. Stafford, in which a  
13-year-old female middle school student was strip searched for  
ibuprofen. In 2003, middle school student Savana Redding was strip  
searched for ibuprofen on the basis of a tip from another student. Her  
case is now before the Supreme Court, which will hear arguments in  
April.

In 1985, the Supreme Court, in New Jersey v. T. L. O., ruled that a  
school may make a search of a student based on "reasonable suspicion,"  
a more lax standard that the "probable cause" standard outlined in the  
Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, that the student has  
violated a law or school rule. The search itself must also be  
reasonable under the circumstances. NYRA intends to argue not only  
that this strip search for over-the-counter medication violated the  
"reasonable suspicion" standard, but that New Jersey v. T. L. O. was  
incorrectly argued in the first place, that a lax "reasonable  
suspicion" standard leaves the door open for these kinds of abuses,  
and that schools should be held to the stricter "probable cause"  
standard when conducting searches.

NYRA also intends to help organize a rally in front of the Supreme  
Court building similar to the one held in 2007 during the "Bong Hits 4  
Jesus" free speech case, this one demanding that youth be free from  
unreasonable searches and seizures in schools.

In addition, NYRA is getting involved in another Supreme Court case,  
Forest Grove School District v. T. A., this one involving a youth with  
"special needs" being sent to a "private school," and who should pay  
for it. The "private school" in this case is actually an abusive  
behavior modification facility, and the student's "special needs" are  
Attention Deficit Disorder and marijuana use. Together with partners,  
the Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth (CAFETY) and  
the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, NYRA hopes to write an  
amicus brief highlighting the abuses that occur at the private program  
at the center of this case.

---- Middle School NYRA Chapter Works to Lower Voting Age ----

One of NYRA's newest chapters, NYRA-Nanuet: Teen Suffrage  
Organization, is based out of a middle school in New York, and is  
NYRA's only currently active middle school-based chapter. The  
chapter's primary goal, according to chapter president Jackie Ferro,  
is to lower the voting age to 16. NYRA-Nanuet already has about 25  
members, and has garnered some positive press attention in local news  
outlets, including an interview on the Regional News Network, a cable  
news channel broadcast throughout nothern New Jersey, western  
Connecticut and southwestern New York.

Ferro plans to gain the support of local government leaders in order  
to advance the cause of youth suffrage. The chapter vice president,  
Jessica Kroner, has contacted the area's state assembly representative  
about lowering the voting age, and chapter representatives have been  
in contact with other local and state government officials as well.  
"The greatest thing about our nation," Ferro says, "is that our  
founding fathers knew it was imperfect but they made ways for us to  
fix and improve it." Ferro believes that youth are mature enough to  
have a say on issues that directly affect them. "We are working for  
the basic rights that we should already have."

Read some of NYRA-Nanuet's press coverage here:
http://www.lohud.com/article/20081229/NEWS03/812290354/1019

View NYRA-Nanuet: TSO's website here:
http://teensuffrageorganization.webs.com/

---- Anti-Age Discrimination Campaign in High Gear ----

NYRA is renewing its efforts to combat age discrimination against  
youth in business. We had many successes this past fall in getting  
businesses to change discriminatory policies, so we're revving up this  
campaign again and are hoping to achieve an even higher level of  
success in the coming months. NYRA is aggressively going after  
businesses who discriminate against youth, already filing a complaint  
with the Maryland Commission on Human Rights about one business'  
anti-youth policy, and working with other civil liberties  
organizations in other cases, such as a Chuck E. Cheese's in Michigan  
that prohibits people under 18 from being present without a parent.  
NYRA is also campaigning to get certain hotels in Maryland to change  
their policies regarding the minimum age to rent a room. Many hotels  
in the state require renters to be at least 21, in violation of  
Maryland's age discrimination law.

NYRA members across the country can help fight age discrimination in  
business. If there are any businesses in your area that discriminate  
against youth, ask them to change their policy. Explain why it's  
wrong. Research the laws of your state (the Youth Rights Law Library  
at http://www.youthrights.net is a good place to start) to see if the  
policy is against the law. Some states, such as Maryland and Michigan,  
have laws against age discrimination that apply to youth. You can make  
a difference for youth in your community by insisting that businesses  
respect their young customers.

---- Florida Students Can Speak Out Against Discrimination ----

The Florida Commission on Human Relations is holding a contest  
inviting high school students in Florida to submit 25-second public  
service announcements about discrimination. The winning PSAs will be  
used to raise awareness of discrimination in Florida, and the winners  
will receive media attention. The public service announcements can be  
about age discrimination, so this is an excellent opportunity for NYRA  
members in Florida to make their voices heard in opposition to  
anti-youth discrimination.

Read all about the contest here:
http://fchr.state.fl.us/fchr/outreach/40th_anniversary_psa_contest

---- Student Rights Union Looks Ahead to Next Year ----

The Zionsville Student Rights Union in central Indiana is already  
looking ahead to next year, working with their school's administration  
on changes to the Student Handbook for the 2009-10 school year. The  
ZSRU has presented a comprehensive list of proposals to the school  
administration. Among their proposals are:

- Eliminating a requirement for students to answer questions from a  
staff member about possible violations of state or federal law, thus  
requiring them to incriminate themselves in violation of the Fifth  
Amendment to the United States Constitution.

- Changing the dress code to allow students their right to free  
expression of religion and their right to make political statements  
regarding drugs or alcohol.

- Allowing students to notify their parents and consult with legal  
counsel before being required to submit to a drug or alcohol test.

- Reducing the severity of discipline for tobacco use by  
student-athletes, and lifting restrictions on tobacco use by  
student-athletes who are 18 years old or older.

These proposals reflect the ZSRU's commitment to ensure that all  
students are allowed to exercise their constitutional rights.

---- NYRA Still Seeking Interns ----

NYRA is still looking for interns for the spring and summer semesters  
to help around the national office in Washington, DC! We already have  
one intern for this spring semester, Conor Nugent, but our national  
staff could always use more help. And of course we're looking for  
interns for the summer as well. Being an intern at NYRA is an  
excellent way to help the cause of youth rights while getting some  
great experience for your resume. If you're interested in interning  
for NYRA in either the spring or summer, please email your resume to  
nyra (at) youthrights (dot) org.

---- Recent NYRA Blog Entries ----

Youth Criminalized, Controlled & Commoditized Says Giroux
http://blog.youthrights.org/2009/02/17/youth-criminalized-controlled-commoditized-says-giroux/

Big Business:Ageist
http://blog.youthrights.org/2009/02/03/big-businessageist/

Social networking: facts vs. emotions
http://blog.youthrights.org/2009/01/29/social-networking-facts-vs-emotions/

Gulag School Case at US Supreme Court
http://blog.youthrights.org/2009/01/28/gulag-school-case-at-us-supreme-court/

---- News from the Web ----

Ariz. boy, 9, offered plea deal in dad's killing
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17649

Pa. judges accused of jailing kids for cash
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17640

State may compensate juveniles sentenced by judges in Luzerne
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17638

Chicago Public School Students Report Abuse by Teachers
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17639

Lawsuit: Girl Forced To Take Pregnancy Test
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17592

When Parents Call God Instead of the Doctor
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17557

AP: Some states disregard juvenile justice law
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17556

Teenage driving bill sent to House
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17538

Psychiatry's 'Shock Doctrine': Are We Really OK With Electroshocking Toddlers?
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17511

Teens who 'sext' racy photos charged with porn
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17510

Editorial: Judges Sentenced
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17507

Student withdrawn from UK school over CCTV in toilets
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17505

Ruling: Judge Can Address Murder Charge In Trial Of Boy, 9
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17501

Taking fear out of discipline
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17497

Good News: Bad Economy Killing Abusive Teen Programs
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17494

Teens face DoCoMo 'encounter' site ban
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17486

Court: No right to shout "douchebag" in a crowded blog
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17478

U.S. Supreme Court (Finally) Kills Online Age Verification Law
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17472

School kids need less work, more play
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17465

Slaughterhouse faces nearly 1,000 child labor charges
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17464

Strict rules of road eyed for teen drivers
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17463

Cop on runaway Silicon Valley teen couple: 'They've gone dark on us'
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17454

390,000 to access child database
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17451

Rules to curb online bullying raise concerns
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17417

Kentucky Bill Seeks Protections for High School Reporters
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17404

Teacher fired after taping student's mouth shut
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17368

Texas to reconsider $6M steriod testing in schools
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17356

Court to hear case of teen strip-searched for ibuprofen
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17354

Online Threats to Kids Overblown
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17349

Lawmaker wants to tighten Utah alcohol rules
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17340

Hidden Camera Found In Teen's Bedroom; Man Arrested
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=17327

---- Conclusion ----

This past month has brought unique opportunities for NYRA, including  
the opportunity to be involved with two important Supreme Court cases.  
Active NYRA chapters across the country are making progress towards  
their goals. Throughout the past month NYRA's action teams have been  
hard at work, writing letters, contributing to the Youth Rights  
Network, making blog entries and more. Everyone can find time to help  
out one (or two or three) of NYRA's action teams, or get more involved  
in their local chapter, or help wage our anti-age discrimination  
campaign, to help NYRA advance youth rights.