The 2003 JACL youth conference, plus the affirmative action ruling

Vol. 137, No. 1, July 4, 2003. 12 pages. View this issue

The 2003 JACL National Youth/Student Conference was the lead story. About 100 people gathered at George Washington University, many of them first-time participants and a large group from the Intermountain District. Tracy Uba reported on the conference and on its workshops, which covered fighting hate crimes and Asian Americans in entertainment. Also on the front page, the Supreme Court upheld the University of Michigan Law School’s affirmative action program, and John Tateishi and Floyd Mori of JACL praised the decision. Another story reported that Randy Senzaki, a former JACL national director, had died.

Other pages looked at the civil rights debate over a proposed Patriot Act II, in a column by Michael Matsuda, and at plans to honor Rep. Robert Matsui at the JACL gala dinner. Community news included the Go For Broke Monument’s 4th anniversary in Little Tokyo. Sports covered Barry Bonds’ 73rd home run ball, Ichiro Suzuki and young athletes such as Michelle Wie.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• 2003 JACL National Youth/Student Conference Draws Large Number of First-Time Participants, by Tracy Uba, page 1. The 2003 JACL National Youth/Student Conference held at George Washington University drew about 100 attendees, including a large contingent from the Intermountain District and many first-time participants. Attendees discussed the importance of civil rights and shared their experiences of connecting with other Japanese Americans from across the country.
• Rep. Matsui to be Honored at 2003 JACL Gala Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Rep. Robert Matsui will be honored at the JACL national gala dinner in September along with Norman Mineta, Daniel Inouye, and Michael Honda. Matsui, incarcerated as an infant at Tule Lake, played a key role in passing the Civil Liberties Act and numerous trade agreements during his congressional career.
• JACL & NJAMF Organize First National Nikkei Golf Tournament for July 14, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JACL and the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation are organizing the first National Nikkei Golf Tournament fundraiser at Westfields Golf Club near Washington, D.C. Proceeds will benefit the memorial’s educational and operational needs as well as JACL programmatic work.
• NCWNP District Organizes Buses for JACL Nat’l Gala Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The NCWNP district has arranged deluxe tour buses from Sacramento, Berkeley/Contra Costa, and San Francisco to transport members to the national JACL gala dinner in Los Angeles. The buses will also take members to visit the Japanese American National Museum the following morning before returning to the Bay Area.
• Fighting Hate Crimes and APAs in Entertainment Among Hot Topics at JACL Youth Confab, by Tracy Uba, page 5. The 2003 JACL National Youth/Student Conference featured workshops on fighting hate crimes led by Midwest Regional Director Bill Yoshino, who discussed the history of anti-Asian violence and discrimination. Another workshop on APAs in entertainment featured producer Michael Trang and actress Joy Bisco discussing the challenges facing Asian Americans in Hollywood.
• 2003 CASIC Summer Internship Program Kicks Off, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The California Asian American Student Internship Coalition and CAUSE launched their 2003 internship program, placing seven selected students in legislative offices for eight weeks. The program, sponsored in part by JACL, offers students experience in the legislative process alongside leadership workshops and community events.
• Youth Conference Participants Discuss Identity, Assimilation and Community Engagement, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Vision Award recipient Vicky Nam spoke about her experience growing up in a predominantly white community and the challenges of finding Japanese American voices for her anthology ‘YELL-Oh! Girls.’ Conference participants also discussed the difficulty of engaging youth in JACL amid assimilation, dispersal, and the growing Hapa population within the Japanese American community.

Obituaries

• Randy Senzaki, Former JACL National Director, Passes Away, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Former JACL National Director and community leader Randy Senzaki passed away June 13 at age 60 after being discovered dead in his San Francisco apartment. Senzaki served JACL from 1993-95 during a difficult period and had a distinguished career in higher education, later teaching Asian American Studies at several colleges.
• Kenneth Meyers, Helped WWII Internees Get Insurance, Dead at 94, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Kenneth Gordon Myers, who persuaded insurance companies to provide coverage for Japanese Americans returning from internment camps after WWII, died at age 94 in Seattle. Myers was also a business and Presbyterian church leader who served as state campaign treasurer for two presidential campaigns.

National

• Supreme Court Preserves Affirmative Action in Narrow Ruling on College Admissions, JACL Hails Decision, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 1. The Supreme Court upheld the University of Michigan Law School’s affirmative action program while striking down the university’s points-based undergraduate admissions policy. JACL leaders including John Tateishi and Floyd Mori praised the decision as reaffirming that affirmative action promotes rather than denies opportunities.
• Clothing Retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Accused of Discriminating Against Minorities, by Associated Press, page 1. A federal lawsuit filed by nine Hispanic and Asian plaintiffs alleges Abercrombie & Fitch discriminates against minorities by favoring white employees for sales positions and desirable assignments. The company denies discriminating, though it has previously faced criticism for racially insensitive merchandise.
• Japanese Doctors Visit U.S. Survivors of Atomic Bomb Blasts, by Associated Press, page 3. A group of Japanese physicians from the Hiroshima Prefectural Medical Association conducted checkups on atomic bomb survivors living in the United States as part of a biennial goodwill and medical study program. The exams, which have taken place since 1977, covered up to 180 hibakusha living in Los Angeles, with additional survivors examined in Honolulu, San Francisco and Seattle.
• Senate Passes Bill to Rename Post Office for Mink, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 4. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill to rename a Maui post office in honor of the late Rep. Patsy Mink, sending the measure to President Bush for signature. Mink, who died in September at age 74, served in Congress for 24 years over two stretches.
• Honolulu May Pass Anti-Patriot Act Resolution, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 4. The Honolulu City Council’s Executive Committee passed a resolution opposing the U.S.A. Patriot Act, joining more than 100 other cities nationwide that have taken similar action. The resolution asks Hawaii’s congressional delegation to work toward repealing the act and restricts city resources from being used for activities deemed unconstitutional.
• Minority Groups Say New Federal Racial Profiling Policy Doesn’t Go Far Enough, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Advocacy groups criticized a new Justice Department policy banning racial profiling for containing a national security exception that undermines its effectiveness. Groups noted the policy fails to require compliance monitoring, doesn’t collect data on stops, and doesn’t ban religious or national-origin profiling.
• Affirmative Action Ruling Praised by Asian Pacific American Groups, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Several Asian Pacific American organizations, including OCA, APALA, and AALDEF, praised the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling as beneficial to promoting diversity in higher education. JACL had earlier joined 27 APA organizations in submitting an amicus brief supporting the University of Michigan’s affirmative action programs.

Commentary

• Thank You JACL and P.C., by Mary Kawakami, page 2. A letter writer from American Fork, Utah thanks JACL and the Pacific Citizen for their support during a land dispute with a major developer that was amicably settled, resulting in a road being named Kawakami Drive. She reflects on how her generation, having survived WWII internment, initially felt unable to stand up for their rights but found strength through JACL’s support.
• An Intent to Disparage, by Damon Sasaki, page 2. A letter writer strongly criticizes a previous column that attempted to justify use of the word ‘Jap,’ citing the term’s historical use in wartime propaganda that contributed to Japanese American internment. The writer argues the word’s disparaging nature is tied to its historical context regardless of intent, comparing it to the N-word.
• Do We Have to Destroy Freedom to Save It?, by Michael Matsuda, page 3. The columnist warns about the proposed Patriot Act II, which would expand federal surveillance powers without a sunset provision and allow extradition of citizens at the request of foreign nations. He cites the case of Nabil Ayesh, detained without charge, as evidence of civil liberties erosion reminiscent of Executive Order 9066.
• Asian Americans in Law Firms, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Columnist Bill Marutani reflects on the dramatic evolution of minority representation in major law firms since his early career when Asian American lawyers were virtually absent. He cites a Minority Law Journal survey showing Asian Americans now predominate among associates at 6.2 percent, though representation among partners remains lower relative to other groups.

Community

• ‘Honoring Our Heroes’ Tribute Draws 500 People to Go For Broke Monument’s 4th Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 4. More than 500 people gathered in Little Tokyo to celebrate the Go For Broke Monument’s 4th anniversary, featuring civil rights attorney Dale Minami as keynote speaker. The event included a floral tribute to Nisei military units and the unveiling of the first 231 names engraved on footsteps at the monument’s base.
• Diane Ujiiye Appointed to Commission on Asian & Pacific Islander American Affairs, by P.C. Staff, page 4. California Governor Gray Davis appointed Diane M. Ujiiye of Gardena to the Commission on Asian & Pacific Islander American Affairs. Ujiiye has served as prevention director for the Asian American Drug Abuse Program since 1991 and holds several other advisory council positions.
• Linda Toyo Obayashi Named One of Maryland’s Top 100 Women, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Attorney Linda Toyo Obayashi was selected as one of ‘Maryland’s Top 100 Women’ for her distinguished service and professional accomplishments. Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, she is a partner in the mediation law firm of Miller & Obayashi.
• Akira Ken Nakano Receives Order of the Sacred Treasure from Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Akira Ken Nakano was presented with the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays, from the government of Japan at a ceremony in Seattle. Nakano, born in Portland and later living in Hiroshima, survived the 1945 atomic bombing before returning to the U.S. and serving in the Army and working as an engineer for Boeing.
• Wasatch Front North Chapter Awards Scholarships, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The Wasatch Front North chapter in Ogden, Utah, awarded $500 scholarships to 10 outstanding students heading to universities. National JACL President Floyd Mori was the keynote speaker at the presentation, which also featured a miso cooking class organized by chapter president Linda Kunie Oda.

Sports

• Bonds’ 73rd Home Run Ball Sells for $450,000, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Barry Bonds’ record 73rd home run ball sold for $450,000 at auction, less than predicted, following a court-ordered sale after a dispute between Alex Popov and Patrick Hayashi over who caught the ball. The winning bid was placed by comic book creator Todd McFarlane, who previously purchased Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball.
• Suzuki Shows Off Rare Power, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Ichiro Suzuki hit his second career two-homer game, leading the Seattle Mariners to victory and raising his home run total to seven for the season. Suzuki, previously known as a singles hitter, is outpacing Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui in home runs this year.
• Former Major Leaguer Suzuki Ticketed for Drunk Driving, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Orix BlueWave pitcher Mac Suzuki was ticketed for drunk driving in Kobe, Japan, after being pulled over by police. This marks Suzuki’s second drunk driving incident, having previously been arrested while playing for the Seattle Mariners in 1999.
• Thirteen-Year-Old Golfing Phenom Captures First National Title, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Thirteen-year-old Michelle Wie became the youngest winner in the 27-year history of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, defeating Virada Nirapathpongporn in a dramatic comeback. Wie overcame a 4-up deficit with her exceptional driving distance to win the title.
• Long Beach to Get ABA Team, by P.C. Staff, page 7. An American Basketball Association team will begin play at Long Beach State’s Pyramid in November, owned by Japanese business executive Hiromu Ikeda. Ikeda also owns Japan’s Niigata Albirex basketball and soccer teams.
• 15-Year-Old Okuji Joins Women’s Premier Soccer League, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Fifteen-year-old Kelli Okuji of Salinas, California became one of the youngest players in the Women’s Premier Soccer League when she joined The Blues team. Okuji, who was named to the 2003 All-County Girls Soccer Team, called the experience valuable preparation for college-level play.

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