NYRA Freedom
ISSN 1933-5229
Volume 2, Issue 8
September 6, 2002
Contents:
Introduction
Sharper Image
Age Discrimination Victory
Election Almost Over
Recruiting Plans Canceled
Web Promotional Campaign
Chapter News
Recap
Introduction
Welcome to another edition of NYRA Freedom. We are back to our text format due to lack of help in the Office of Public Relations. (hint hint, anybody want to help out?!?) Elections are currently underway and this is your last opportunity to take part in the future of NYRA for the 2002-2003 term. NYRA also has received publicity in many main stream sources, such as the LA Times and the New York City NPR station, WNYC, which is the leading adult station in New York City. Many other exciting things went on in August, and I hope you continue to read…
Brad White; NYRA Freedom Editor-in-Chief
Sharper Image
Sharper Image, a nationwide chain of electronics stores, currently has a policy that prohibits individuals under the age of 16 in their store with a parent or guardian. This policy is setup to protect the various expensive items in their store from “reckless” teenagers. Along with NYRA’s Age Discrimination Campaign, NYRA President Alex Koroknay-Palicz wrote a letter to the company’s headquarters. A response has still not been received, yet an update on this should be available in next month’s issue.
Age Discrimination Victory
NYRA’s campaign against Age Discrimination in business is far from over but “NYRA Freedom” has some solid victories to report. A 7-11 In Columbia, Maryland had a policy that did not allow more than 3 people under 18 in the store at any one time. A CVS Pharmacy in Alexandria, Virginia did not sell cigarette lighters to people under 18. After speaking with their managers, both stores agreed to stop their Age Discrimination. NYRA Won! A 12-store chain of supermarkets in Maryland is next on NYRA’s agenda.
Election Almost Over
Tomorrow is the last day you can vote in the NYRA General Election. So far voter turnout has been far lower compared to years past, so get out there and vote! It is your right as a NYRA member to elect the Board of Directors, approve Bylaw changes, and pick the new NYRA Slogan. Voting will continue until 4 PM on Saturday at the Annual Meeting where voting will end. All NYRA members are invited to attend, the Meeting will begin at 2 PM in room 245 of American University’s Mary Graydon Center. The results of the Election will be announced on Monday. This is your last chance, go to www.youthrights.org/election.shtml and vote now!
Recruiting Plans Canceled
NYRA President Alex Koroknay-Palicz and NYRA member Dave Varney went to the Nissan Pavilion in Virginia on August 3 to recruit members at the Smokin’ Grooves tour. After about five minutes, local police showed up to remove the two from the venue, claiming it was private property and that the venue owners did not want the two “non-concert go-ers” on their property. Plans to recruit at Van’s Warped Tour and Ozfest were also canceled.
Web Promotional Campaign
The Office of Public Relations is beginning a campaign to increase awareness of NYRA on the web. If you are interested in helping out, they are very interested in your support. One way of helping out the campaign is to put the new promotional banner on your web site. The banner is available at: www.nyrafreedom.org/promo.html. If you are interested in helping in other ways, please send your ideas to nyra@….
Chapter News
NYRA-North Dakota
NYRA-ND has contacted the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) to fight a local school’s filtering policy. The state chapter plans on putting together a petition to present to the school board on September 16 to remove their filtering software. If the school board does not remove their filter, NYRA-ND will take the help of the EFF to protest on September 18 in coordination with the EFF nationwide campaign against school web filters. NYRA-ND is also looking to get local media involved to help increase awareness. If you are interested in helping, please email Johnathan McClure at johnathanmcclure@…
NYRA-Tennessee Valley
In March of 2001, Hamilton Place Mall in Chattanooga, Tenn., adopted a policy requiring that individuals under the age of 18 be escorted by a parent or legal guardian between the hours of 6 and 9 P.M. on Friday and Saturday evenings. This policy was enacted to stop youth delinquency that had become a considerable problem for mall officials.
NYRA-Tennessee Valley has requested Hamilton Place Mall officials work with the chapter to research a potential alternative approach to their youth delinquency problem that would not involve curtailing youth liberty. On August 23, chapter president Stefen Samarripas presented research gathered from more than one-thousand pages of data to mall officials that supports an alternative approach. “The suggested alternative provided not only provided the necessary security, but also brings people of all ages closer together to meet the human needs of the community adn to increase the business of mall merchants,” Samarripas said. On August 29, General Manager Henry Jones expressed his desire to open communications to discuss the research. If you are interested more information, contact tvyouthrights@….
NYRA American University
A new school year has just begun and there has been a change in leadership at the American University chapter. Becky Bellville and Aaron Bitterman are the new President and Treasurer of the chapter. Former chapter President, [[Alex Koroknay-Palicz]] is no longer an AU student and is confident in the talent and commitment of the new chapter leadership. The chapter recruited many new members at a Club Fair on Wednesday, September 3. Next week the budget application process begins.
Recap
Another school year has started, and NYRA is on a long journey to help increase awareness of youth rights and help grow the organization. Many new chapters are beginning to form, including New York City, University of Missouri-Columbia, California and North Carolina. Many different offices are looking for help, so check the national web site for internship openings.
