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Wednesday, June 22, 1994
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No driving for one year.
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High school student settles case involving racial remark
The Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A mixed-race student said yesterday that she hoped racial tensions would be eased after a financial settlement of her lawsuit over a white principal's remarks against interracial dating.
The amount of money to be paid to the student, 17-year-old Revonda Bowen, wasn't immediately disclosed, but her attorney said it would help put her through college.
The amount will make public when U.S. District Judge Harold Albritton gives final approval to the agreement.
Under the settlement, neither Randolph County High School principal Hulond Humphries nor school board members admitted wrongdoing.
Bowen, president of the junior class at the rural high school in Wedoee, Ala., sued in federal court in March. She had filed for financial damages on her claim that her civil rights were violated when Humphries threatened to cancel the high school prom if interracial couples planned to attend.
Bowen, who has a white father and black mother, also claimed that
Humphries humiliated her in front of classmates when he told her that her parents' marriage and her birth were a "mistake."
The principal's comments to juniors and seniors in the gym Feb. 24 set off a furor among many African Americans in the county which is three-fourths white. Protests and a student boycott began after the school board voted to reinstate Humphries following a paid suspension.
A key demand by protesters was for Humphries to be removed as principal of the school which has 680 students, 62 percent of them white. African-American critics of the principal say he has a long history of bigotry in his 25 years at the school.
The settlement did not deal with Humphries status.
Donald Sweeney Jr., a Birmingham, Ala. attorney for the school board, issued a statement yesterday saying a goal of the agreement was to "help restore confidence and respect between all of the citizens of Randolph County."
Attempts to reach Humphries and his attorney for comment were unsuccessful yesterday.
Unanimous ruling awards custody to lesbian mother
The Associated Press
RICHMOND, Va. — A lesbian mother was granted custody of her son yesterday by a state appeals court that reversed a judge's ruling that her relationship with her live-in lover made her an unfit parent.
In a case closely watched by gayrights groups, Henrico County Circuit Judge Buford M. Parsons last year awarded custody of 2-year-old Tyler Doustou to Sharon Bottoms' mother, Kay Bottoms. Sharon Bottoms received visitation rights.
The opinion today by a three-judge panel of the Virginia Court of Appeals, which is likely to be appealed to the state Supreme Court, was unanimous. Among other things, it turned aside the lower court's finding that the fact that homosexual acts are illegal in Virginia should disqualify a lesbian as a mother.
Sharon Bottoms, 24, did not immediately return calls to her answering machine.
Judge Sam W. Coleman III wrote that the evidence failed to prove that Sharon Bottoms "abused or neglected her son, that her lesbian relationship with April Wade has or will have a deleterious effect on her son or that she is an unfit parent."
"A child's natural and legal right to the care and support of a parent and the parent's right to the custody and companionship of the child should only be disrupted if there are compelling reasons to do so," Coleman wrote.
The court said the child's grandmother has no more legal standing in the custody dispute than any other third party seeking custody, even if she is able to provide the child a more nurturing environment.
"Even when the parental level of care may be marginally satisfactory, courts may not take custody of a child from his or her parents simply because a third party may be willing and able to provide better care for the child," the court said.
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Before you make all of your final decisions on housing for the fall,make sure you check out all of your housing options. Check out NAISMITH HALL,KU's private student housing option-proudly housing Jayhawks for over 25 years!!
At Naismith Hall, we feature:
- Semi-Private Baths in Each Suite
- Excellent Campus Location-Front Door Bus Service to Class
- Swimming Pool and Fitness Center
- Macintosh and IBM Computer Lab with Laser Printer
- Weekly Maid Service to Each Room
- Active Social Calendar
- Fully Furnished and Carpeted Rooms
...and the best thing is,we're really affordable!!!
For a quick tour and information packet, just drop by-we're located at the corner of 19th street and Naismith Drive (just down the street from Allen Fieldhouse). You can also give us a call at 913-843-8559 and we'll be glad to send you an information packet. We look forward to meeting you and showing you what Naismith Hall can do to add to your college experience!!
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