01-14-02 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 14, 2002 that Plan Z is a good plan. However, the one thing that is necessary at this time is compromise and no one is going to get everything they want in this situation. He noted that the plan has to be looked at and studied very carefully in order that it makes some sense to all. Obviously, whenever there is a compromise everyone has to give a little bit. Mr. Melvin Reed, 3310 Dunham, South Bend, Indiana, stated that the school issue is a very dear matter to him because through education he has been able to enjoy the style of life that he has. He noted that he attended a small school from K -12 where all the children went to one school and growing up with this diversity has enabled them to work with everyone. He noted that the decree order is a standing order. In regards to trust, the Consent Agreement that was entered into was a trust arrangement with the community and the school corporation in 1980. What is being asked today is that that agreement be negotiated away to have less. Mr. Reed asked that the Council think about the children in the community and the fact that the community is still living with the past in a lot of things and the way to get the children beyond that is for them to be diverse. Separating the children is not a good situation. Mr. Reed suggested that the Council watch a movie entitled "Separate But Equal" in light of what the community is presently going through with this issue. Mr. Jonathan Schwartz, no address given, suggested that the thing to keep in mind is that when it comes to principles of human rights of which segregation and quality of education is a part there truly can be no compromise. He stated that as elected public officials it is the Council's responsibility to stand up for what is right regardless of who is listening. This issue is about fundamental human rights and the equality of education and the fact that Plan Z would be a significant step back. The progress of evil requires nothing more than that good people remain silent. This is not an issue about a particular project in which two sides can compromise. The issue is basic constitutional and basic human rights of which equal education is the bedrock and cannot be compromised. He stated that he believes this is a sign of how far we have retreated from the ideals of the civil rights movement of the 50's and 60's that elected public officials can even talk about compromising on things that should never be compromised. Mr. Seabe Gaven, no address given, a life long resident of South Bend, stated that when he looks at Plan Z and the possibility of segregating children, it is foreign to him because he grew up in South Bend where he had the opportunity to play with not only children of his own race but different races. Mr. Gaven wondered if this is allowed to happen where will it all end. He believes that public officials have the responsibility to speak up to the issue. He noted that the community might not agree with what they say but the voters need to hear from City officials because this is deeper than education. This issue could divide this community in half. He further noted that there is the possibility of having only one (1) high school on the west side of Michigan Street and that high school will be more than ninety per cent (90 %) minority. Mr. Gaven asked if there was any trust in this plan and noted that no trust has been shown. He noted that his plea to the Council is that the school corporation needs to hear from them as this is a community effort. He further noted that there can be no compromise on the decision that was voted 9 -0 in the Supreme Court. That is the most powerful statement that can be made when the Supreme Court voted 9 -0 against segregation. As a registered voter, Mr. Gaven stated that the community does need to hear from elected officials and if the elected officials do not stand up for what is right then the voters need to exercise their opportunity to put individuals in power that will listen to what they have to say. Ms. Alethea Jones, 1319 East Victoria Street, South Bend, Indiana, noted that she listened to commitments from two (2) Councilmembers but nothing from the remaining six (6) Councilmembers. She stated that the silence of those Councilmembers may say more than what they realize. She further stated that she recently heard a statement that a community is in trouble when its elected officials will accept segregation. She noted that she was not present to say that the Council is accepting segregation but that their silence says a lot. In conclusion, Ms. Jones reiterated that a community is in trouble when its elected officials will accept segregation at any level and she asked the Council to please keep that in mind. -13-