Bob Suzuki cleared at Cal Poly Pomona, and JACL looks to its own future

Vol. 117, No. 8, September 10, 1993. 8 pages. View this issue

Cal Poly Pomona President Bob Suzuki was exonerated after a two-and-a-half month inquiry into the hiring of Henry and Jennifer Whang, and Chancellor Barry Munitz said no state law was violated. The same front page covered the tri-district JACL conference in Cleveland, where national president Lillian Kimura led a leadership workshop and Teresa Maebori was re-elected governor of the Eastern District Council. A report from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights described worsening racism across the country.

Inside are plans for the 1994 national convention in Salt Lake City, including an optional trip to the former Topaz camp, and word that the JACL Legacy Fund Campaign had passed $4.24 million. Commentary came from Bill Hosokawa, Karl K. Nobuyuki and Ron Wakabayashi, who wrote about Dennis Hayashi’s tenure. Joe Horiye described his Mike M. Masaoka Fellowship in Washington, and the issue closed with community news and obituaries.

What’s in this issue

National

• Cal Poly Pomona President Bob Suzuki Cleared of Wrongdoing in Hiring Case, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Cal Poly Pomona President Bob Suzuki was exonerated after a two-and-a-half month inquiry into allegations involving the hiring of Henry and Jennifer Whang to develop the English Language Institute and a housing stipend controversy. Chancellor Barry Munitz confirmed no violations of state law or misuse of funds occurred, and Suzuki’s housing allowance was properly used to refurbish Manor House.
• Racism Worse Than Ever—Everywhere, Says U.S. Commission Report, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A report from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights found a nationwide resurgence in racial tension, with officials in Florida, Kentucky, and Ohio describing worsening racism in their communities. The commission will also participate in a study on the role of telecommunications in hate crimes and violence based on ethnicity, religion, race and sexual preference.
• More Laws Needed to Fight Hate Violence, Says California Official, by P.C. Staff, page 3. California Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy called for new legislation to combat a rising epidemic of hate crimes, including bills to fund a statewide hate crime database, develop community-based prevention programs, and establish a California Schools Human Rights Advisory Commission. He cited a record 736 reported hate crime incidents in Los Angeles County in 1992, an 11 percent increase over 1991.

JACL

• Cleveland Tri-District Conference Leadership Workshop Explores Qualities and Challenges, by Richard Suenaga, page 1. At the Aug. 20 tri-district JACL conference in Cleveland, national president Lillian Kimura led a workshop on leadership qualities such as communication, vision, and integrity. Discussion also covered challenges facing JACL including burnout, generational differences, and balancing issue-oriented versus social chapter activities.
• EDC: Maebori Re-elected, New Internship Added, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Teresa Maebori was re-elected governor of the Eastern District Council at the tri-district conference, with Ron Uba, Boots Nezu, and Lily Okura serving as vice governors. The council reported on internship research into educational guidelines, chapter fundraising events, and a New York protest against the film Rising Sun.
• 1994 JACL Convention Previews: Salt Lake City Offers Variety of Activities, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The 1994 National JACL Convention in Salt Lake City will offer attendees access to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, free tours of Temple Square, and other local attractions. A family history workshop is also planned, led by Shake Ushio, taking advantage of the nearby Family History Library’s genealogical resources.
• Mike M. Masaoka Fellowship: Joseph Horiye’s D.C. Experience, page 4. Joe Horiye, a fourth-generation Yonsei from San Diego, serves as the Mike M. Masaoka Fellow working in the office of Congressman Norman Mineta on agricultural and other issues. The fellowship, named after the JACL’s first Washington representative, gives young Japanese Americans firsthand experience in government and legislative work.
• Legacy Fund Campaign Reaches $4,240,000 Mark, by P.C. Staff, page 5. JACL’s Legacy Fund Campaign has raised more than $4.24 million as of July 30, 1993, with some chapters achieving over 140% of their goals while others lagged far behind. Chairwoman Grayce Uyehara announced the campaign, which began in 1990 with a $10 million goal, will officially close by fall 1995 due to slowed fundraising and staffing gaps.
• Grants Give Chapters Creativity to Tell Japanese American Story, by Donna J. Choo, page 5. The 1993 JACL Legacy Fund Grants Program awarded $12,000 across eleven projects, including a Riverside youth education program, a Cincinnati resettlement anniversary exhibit, a Portland Nikkei history book, and a Salt Lake City art exhibition on internment camp art. Twenty-three applications were submitted, nearly triple the previous year’s number, reflecting growing chapter enthusiasm for grant-funded community projects.

Community

• Illinois Ethnic Group to Discuss Negative Images in Film, TV, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Illinois Ethnic Coalition is sponsoring a forum titled ‘Ethnic Images in Hollywood: Presumed Innocent or Lethal Weapon?’ to address concerns about negative stereotypes in films and television shows. Speakers will include film and TV critics discussing works like Rising Sun, Falling Down, and The Cosby Show.
• Personally Speaking: Business, Politics, and Youth News Roundup, by P.C. Staff, page 7. This roundup column returns after a hiatus to highlight achievements of Japanese Americans including Paul Watanabe’s honorary degree from Willamette University, David Kikumoto’s appointment at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Colorado, and Patrick Takasugi’s election as the first Sansei to chair a county Republican committee in Idaho. Other items cover Washington state government appointments and a youth participant in the American Legion Boys State program.
• Randy Shibata Gets Award for Human Rights Achievements, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Albuquerque Human Rights Board recognized Randy Shibata for his consistent work promoting human rights on behalf of Japanese Americans and other minority groups. Shibata, a former JACL Mountain Plains District Council governor, has worked with law enforcement agencies and outreach coalitions at Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia National Laboratories.

Incarceration & Redress

• Take a Trip to Topaz: Excursion Planned for 1994 Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The 1994 Convention Committee is planning an optional excursion to the former Topaz internment camp near Delta, Utah, following the success of a similar ‘Return to Topaz ’93’ trip held in May 1993. The camp housed 8,000 internees, mostly from the San Francisco Bay Area, during World War II.

Commentary

• Cracking the Glass Ceiling, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. Hosokawa argues that more Nisei and Sansei professionals occupy top business positions than commonly realized, citing examples like David Kikumoto, named CEO of Rocky Mountain Health Care Corp., Scott Oki of Microsoft, and Dr. Stuart Takeuchi of the University of Colorado. He suggests the community’s press has been too focused on internal controversy to notice these successes.
• Communication and the League, by Karl K. Nobuyuki, page 6. Nobuyuki argues that JACL should modernize its communication methods between national headquarters and local chapters by adopting electronic communication tools like personal computers and fax/modems. He suggests a pilot program could demonstrate how such technology could improve dialogue, feedback, and efficiency within the organization.
• Hayashi Issue Overblown, Says Former National Director, by Ron Wakabayashi, page 6. Wakabayashi, a former JACL national director, argues that press coverage of allegations regarding weak JACL support on the ‘Jap Road’ issue overstates the controversy given the lack of formal investigation. He praises Dennis Hayashi’s tenure as JACL national director, saying he served the organization and community well through thoughtful leadership.
• Clarification on Immigration Reform and Control Act, page 6. A letter writer clarifies that the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) only applies to employers with 4-14 employees regarding national origin discrimination, while Title VII of the Civil Rights Act covers employers with 15 or more employees. The writer, identified as Kato, an attorney and JACL legal counsel, advises most employees facing discrimination to contact the EEOC rather than the Office of Special Counsel.

Obituaries

• Yukimi Nakashige, page 8. Mrs. Yukimi Nakashige, 92, of Chicago, passed away on April 11, 1993, with memorial services held at the Buddhist Church of Ogden, Utah. She is survived by her brother, five children, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
• Peter I. Yamamoto, page 8. Peter I. Yamamoto, 69, of Walnut Creek, California and born in Salinas, passed away on July 30, 1993. He is survived by his wife Midori, brother Joe, and sisters Fumikita and Kiyo Yoshida, with a memorial held in Salinas.

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