Bork nomination, Asian American admissions and a slur from a Cabinet appointee

Vol. 105, No. 13, October 23, 1987. 12 pages. View this issue

Senator Daniel K. Inouye announced that he would oppose Judge Robert Bork’s confirmation to the Supreme Court, and the Pacific Citizen reported that Senator Spark M. Matsunaga of Hawaii would also vote against it. Ron Wakabayashi examined studies fueling concern about bias against Asian American students in university admissions, and George Johnston covered the first national convention of the National Democratic Council of Asian & Pacific Americans in Los Angeles. The paper also reported that Reagan’s incoming commerce secretary, William C. Verity, used a racial slur in a speech, and that JACL wrote to him demanding an explanation.

Inside are a report on the UC Berkeley conference on the World War II incarceration (often called internment), with Peter Irons and Gordon Hirabayashi among the speakers, and Bill Hosokawa on a proposed memorial center in Ontario, Oregon. JACL news includes two candidates for national president, a Life Membership drive, the Washington Leadership Program and the National Board’s summary of motions. Readers’ letters address redress and the Census Bureau’s plan for Asian-Pacific categories.

What’s in this issue

National

• Inouye Opposes Bork Nomination, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Senator Daniel K. Inouye announced on Oct. 5 that he will oppose the confirmation of Judge Robert Bork to the Supreme Court, citing concerns over Bork’s narrow interpretation of the Constitution. Inouye said Bork lacked the compassion and sensitivity needed for constitutional interpretation despite his legal credentials.
• NDCAPA Convention Flexes Might, by George Johnston, page 1. The first national convention of the National Democratic Council of Asian & Pacific Americans was held in Los Angeles Oct. 16-18, drawing top Democratic presidential candidates including Dukakis, Jackson, and Simon. The convention aimed to unite Asian and Pacific American groups politically and increase their influence in the 1988 election process.
• Reagan Appointee Makes Slur, by P.C. Staff, page 2. William C. Verity, Reagan’s incoming commerce secretary, used the slur ‘Japs’ during an Oct. 16 speech, prompting outrage from JACL National Director Ron Wakabayashi and Rep. Robert Matsui. Verity later called it ‘just a slip,’ but JACL sent him a letter demanding explanation and corrective action.
• Bork Opposed by Second Hawaii Senator, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Senator Spark M. Matsunaga of Hawaii announced he would vote against Judge Robert Bork’s Supreme Court confirmation, citing concerns about Bork’s judicial philosophy and record on civil rights. This follows a similar announcement by Senator Daniel Inouye, also of Hawaii.

Commentary

• Studies Fuel Admissions Controversy, by Ron Wakabayashi, page 1. Studies including one by the California auditor general have fueled concerns about bias against Asian American students in university admissions, particularly at U.C. Berkeley. The author discusses how the issue has expanded from local concern to national media attention and may extend to graduate admissions and workplace discrimination.
• Year-Round Schools and Furutani, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This editorial discusses Warren Furutani’s role as the swing vote in the LA Board of Education’s decision on year-round schools and his subsequent motion to reconsider after insufficient public debate. The piece traces Furutani’s history with JACL and praises his commitment to community engagement and thoughtful governance.
• Center Would Be Reminder of U.S. Camps, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Citizens of Ontario, Oregon are studying building a Japanese American Cultural and Memorial Center to commemorate the WWII internment experience and honor local Japanese Americans. The project has support from several Oregon congressional delegates including Senator Mark Hatfield and Rep. Denny Smith.
• Koto Music and Memories, by George Johnston, page 5. This Iro Iro column discusses the author’s appreciation for koto music, including a recording sent by a reader from the Washington Toho Koto Society. The piece explores the history and cultural significance of the koto instrument and its differences from Chinese instruments.
• Holiday Issue Nightmare, by George Johnston, page 5. The author discusses the challenges of preparing the Pacific Citizen’s upcoming Holiday edition, mentioning the tentative theme exploring where Japanese Americans will be politically, socially, and culturally in the future. He calls for more submissions from readers for the issue.
• A Caring Friend, by Michi Nishiura Weglyn, page 5. This letter to the editor pays tribute to the late Ruby Yoshino Schaar, remembering her as a dynamic JACL supporter who helped promote the book ‘Years of Infamy’ and worked to build coalitions among Asian American groups. The author expresses gratitude for Schaar’s tireless efforts and caring friendship.
• Plan Is Not Bad, by Raymond Okamura, page 5. This letter to the editor argues in favor of the Census Bureau’s plan to eliminate separate Asian ethnic designations for a single Asian-Pacific American category, citing historical misuse of census data during wartime incarceration. The author contends that broad categorization provides safety against potential future government abuse of ethnic-specific data.
• In Favor of Redress, by Gunnar Olsborg, page 5. A longtime seafarer and WWII shipmaster writes expressing his support for redress, noting he has testified as a witness in favor of it. He states that Pearl Harbor could have been avoided and the incarceration was never justified.
• Another Kettle of Fish?, by Art Moriya, page 5. This letter questions whether Japanese Americans who evacuated the West Coast on their own during WWII without being placed in camps would be included in redress eligibility. The author criticizes congressional opposition to redress and compares the slow U.S. response to Germany’s settlement with Holocaust survivors.
• Don’t Ignore NJAHS, by Clifford I. Uyeda, page 5. This letter responds to a previous article about the coordination of the Oct. 1 Capitol steps ceremony, clarifying that the National Japanese American Historical Society had planned the event details months in advance. The author credits Pat Okura’s efforts in coordinating logistics and emphasizes NJAHS’s extensive planning work that should not be overlooked.

Incarceration & Redress

• Berkeley Conference on WW2 Internment Held, by Mark J. Jue, page 1. A conference titled ‘Views from Within: The Japanese American Wartime Experience’ was held at UC Berkeley Sept. 19-20, featuring speakers including Peter Irons and Gordon Hirabayashi discussing the internment and the Constitution. Panelists also discussed whether redress legislation might cause racist backlash and the status of the NCJAR class action lawsuit.
• Seniors Abandon Retirement Home, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Keiro Services’ board decided to abandon the earthquake-damaged 98-unit dormitory at the Japanese Retirement Home due to repair costs exceeding the building’s value. The board approved plans to convert other facilities to temporarily house displaced elderly residents until a new building is completed.

Community

• ‘Faire’ Celebrates Women Artists, by Phyllis Matsuno, page 2. The JACL Women’s Concerns Committee sponsored ‘An A Faire for Women: Celebration of Ourselves’ at Laney College, drawing about 200 Japanese American participants. The event honored artist Ruth Asawa with the Humanitarian Award and featured hands-on craft workshops, exhibits, dance, and storytelling.
• Carnegie Medal Awarded to Gerald Kazuo Yanaba, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The late Gerald Kazuo Yanaba was posthumously awarded the Carnegie Medal for attempting to save a drowning friend at Bodega Bay in November 1986. Yanaba died in the rescue attempt and is survived by his father in Berkeley.
• Job Discrimination Focus of Seminar, by Laurie Mochidome, page 3. A seminar sponsored by the Asian Pacific American Coalition in Los Angeles examined workplace discrimination against Asian Pacific Americans, featuring panelists who shared their personal experiences fighting discriminatory practices. Panelists discussed strategies including documentation and legal action, while warning of the emotional toll of challenging discrimination.
• Sac’to Home’s First Fund-raiser Slated, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Sacramento Asian Nursing Home will hold its First Annual Fundraiser on Nov. 12 at Confucius Hall, honoring donor Angelo K. Tsakopoulos who donated the land for the facility. The event aims to help the nursing home reach its occupancy goals and preserve financial reserves.
• Newsmakers, by P.C. Staff, page 6. This roundup covers several Japanese American achievers including Kansuma Fujima who won a National Heritage Fellowship, Arleen Furukawa’s new consulate position, and K. Patrick Okura’s recognition by the Asian American Psychological Association. Also mentioned are Yuko Sakamoto Hayakawa, Alvina Lew, Beverly Oda, and Dr. Audrey Yamagata Noji’s school board candidacy.
• Barbara Matsui Obituary, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Barbara Matsui, sister of Rep. Robert Matsui, died Oct. 15 at Sutter Memorial Hospital at age 44. She was born in Caldwell, Idaho and is survived by her father, stepmother, and brother Robert; funeral services were held at Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church.
• NCCJ Business Directory Aids Asian/Pacific Business Owners, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The National Conference of Christians and Jews coordinated creation of a new small-business development directory providing information for Asian/Pacific vendors seeking to work with corporations and government agencies. The directory was created with volunteer assistance from LEAP, PACE, and other community groups and will be distributed through local organizations.

JACL

• National Board’s Oct. 3-4 Summary of Motions, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. The National JACL Board met in Washington Oct. 3-4 and disposed of 23 resolutions including personnel manual adoption, SRS contract matters, and a deferred decision on the Bork nomination. The board also discussed convention planning for the 1988 Seattle convention and various committee reports.
• Two Prominent Candidates from Same District Plan to Run for National Presidency of JACL, by Harry K. Honda, page 10. Yosh Nakashima of Golden Gate/San Francisco and Mollie Fujioka of Diablo Valley, both from the NCWNP district, have announced candidacies for National JACL President ahead of the 1988 Seattle convention. This mirrors a similar situation in 1986 when two candidates from the same district competed for the top post.
• ‘Life Membership’ Benefits JACLers, by Tom Arima, page 10. A massive 1000 Club Life Membership drive is being launched before the current $500 lump sum fee expires at the end of the biennium in August 1988. Life membership offers benefits to both individuals and chapters, with funds going into a perpetual trust fund currently at over $200,000 aimed at reaching $1,000,000.
• San Jose Chapter Sponsoring Student for Presidential Classroom, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The San Jose JACL chapter is sponsoring one student to participate in the 1988 Presidential Classroom for Young Americans in Washington, D.C., a week-long civic education program in March. Applicants must be high school juniors or seniors of Japanese descent with JACL-member parents and a 3.0 GPA.
• Nine Participate in JACL Program, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Nine Sansei from the West Coast completed JACL’s Washington Leadership Program, which included briefings with government officials and meetings with Senators Inouye and Matsunaga and Representatives Mineta and Matsui. Participants toured the Capitol and Smithsonian Institution’s exhibit on the Japanese American experience and Constitution.
• The Porch: Hangout for Chapter Presidents, by May Sasaki, page 11. This Seattle JACL column celebrates the passage of H.R. 442 in the House and the Ninth Circuit’s vacating of Gordon Hirabayashi’s curfew conviction as major victories. The author discusses JACL’s efforts to build coalitions with other civil rights organizations including the NAACP and Urban League.

Arts & Entertainment

• PAAWWW Reads to a Full House, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Pacific Asian American Women Writers West presented a dramatic literary reading titled ‘Asian Women: Through the Minefields’ at the Los Angeles Hilton as part of the Fringe/Los Angeles Arts Festival. The reading featured works by several Asian American women writers and was performed by multiple actresses to a full house.

Military & Veterans

• First Recipients of LEAP Awards Named, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics established its first annual leadership awards, honoring Col. Young Oak Kim, a decorated WWII veteran who led the 100th Infantry Battalion’s Nisei soldiers, and Robert M. McIntyre of Southern California Gas Co. Kim’s military honors include the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star, and he has remained active in LA’s Asian Pacific community.

In-Depth

• Admissions Controversy Continued, by Ron Wakabayashi, page 10. This continuation of the front-page admissions article discusses how the Asian American admissions bias issue may expand to graduate admissions and faculty hiring patterns in higher education. The author notes parallel concerns about workplace bias against Asian Americans in corporate and government sectors based on university research using census data.

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