Vol. 80, No. 7, February 21, 1975. 4 pages. View this issue
Trouble inside JACL and worry about the economy ran through this four-page issue. The Pacific Southwest District Council passed a resolution asking the National Board to begin impeachment proceedings against National President Shig Sugiyama, a move reported by Harry K. Honda that stemmed largely from dissatisfaction with National Director David Ushio. In his own column, To the Point, Sugiyama wrote that Japanese Americans, though now largely prosperous, remain open to scapegoating when the economy turns, as in the 1942 Evacuation. The Eastern District Council asked that staff salaries be made public.
Other front-page news included the appointment of Wayne Horiuchi as JACL Washington Representative and a JACL appeal to the Senate on cloture rules. Also inside are a federal grant for Asian American bilingual education in Berkeley, a gerontology project in Chicago led by Momoko Iko, and a complaint of race bias at WNBC-TV. On page 4, Kets Kunitsugu’s Nisei Voice column considers the death penalty.
What’s in this issue
Commentary
- To the Point: Economic Downturns and Japanese Americans, by Shigeki Sugiyama, page 1. Sugiyama argues that Japanese Americans, though now largely prosperous, remain vulnerable to economic downturns and scapegoating as seen during the 1942 Evacuation. He urges vigilance against the economic motives that have historically fueled discrimination.
- Nisei Voice: Discrimination and the Death Penalty, by Kets Kunitsugu, page 4. The columnist reflects on capital punishment, questioning whether it can be justified in certain cases after viewing a television drama about a Navy chaplain court-martial. The piece raises troubling moral points about retribution.
JACL
- JACL Urges Vote for Cloture in Senate Be Lower, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL has urged Vice President Rockefeller to support modifying Senate cloture rules so debate can be limited by a three-fifths vote rather than two-thirds. JACL cites bills benefiting the public that were blocked by filibusters.
- Pacific Southwest District Council Move on for Impeachment, by Harry K. Honda, page 1. The Pacific Southwest District Council passed a resolution asking the National Board to begin impeachment proceedings against National President Shig Sugiyama. The move stemmed largely from dissatisfaction with National Director David Ushio.
- EDC Wants Staff Salaries Public, by P.C. Staff, page 1. At the Eastern District Council session in Rosslyn, Va., delegates requested that JACL staff salaries be disclosed to members. The National Board had previously ruled salary discussions confidential.
- Wayne Horiuchi Named JACL Washington Rep., by P.C. Staff, page 1. Wayne Horiuchi was appointed JACL Washington Representative by National President Shig Sugiyama. Horiuchi’s background includes legislative advocacy work and academic achievement.
Community
- 700 Expected for Fellowship Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Ogden Mayor A. Stephen Dirks will speak at the Intermountain JACL District Council meeting in Ogden, Utah, March 1-2. The Wasatch Front North JACL chapter is hosting the session.
- New Program for Asian American Bilingualism, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Berkeley Unified School District received a federal grant to develop Asian American bilingual education materials. Japanese was initially omitted from the proposal but a fifth class in Japanese has since been added for the second year.
- Chicago JASC Gerontology Project Coordinator Named, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Momoko Iko was named coordinator of the Japanese American Service Committee gerontology project serving Asian American elderly. The federally funded project aims to produce training and reference materials by June.
- Sugel Files Complaint Alleging Race Bias at WNBC-TV, by Leslie Hiraoka, page 1. The New York JACL board voted to support a complaint by Roth Sugai alleging WNBC-TV failed to hire him because of his race. The complaint cites hiring of less qualified individuals of other races.
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