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MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2000FeaturePAGE 4 THE BEACONSkills for lifePaterson YouthBuild givesteens second chanceHPhe scraping of walls, pounding of hamJL mers and swooshing of paint rollers arefamiliar sounds on the fourth floor of aMain Street, Paterson office building. Buftthe construction Workers are not your typical hard-hat-wearing burly men. They areyoung men and women earning anew leaseon life by voluntarily participatingfritheSilk City YouthBuild, a non-profit Patersonprogram that takes "at risk" young adultsKen Reilly is the instructor for the 13member YouthBuild. Reilly, a graduate ofSeton Hall University, owns his own contracting business, K Home Improvement,and is teaching the young adults basic carpentry skills five mornings a week."I'm interested in teaching young people,to give them the skills that will get themgood jobs," he said.Reilly admits that he is confronted withchallenges in his role as instructor."It's hard to get them motivated to whereand teaches themmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmStory and photos by Ryan Caiazzommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmthey want to comeevery day," he said.Attendance atSilk City YouthBuildW e try to teach them averages between 80and 85-percent, Reilly .that quality counts more said, causing somethan quantity, that attitude frustration."We try topays, attendance pays. We teach them that qualityskills of the construction trade. The result6f the federally-fundSilk City YouthBuild members are learning the construction trade. The seven monthed program is eduprogram takes at-risk youth and trains them for skilled jobs.cated, skilled andemployable youth.Amir Ramadan also likesYouthBuild.Waynethat we are giving [the students] back their"We really clicked together," he says of theWitherspoon, thelives, giving them an out to welfare andgroup. Ramadan has been accepted toprogram's director,food stamps," Reilly said.William Paterson University's College ofhas been leading the try to give them enough selfAt the conclusion of the YouthBuild proYouthBuild sincegram, Witherspoon will have amassed a list Business on the condition that he take theconfidence to go into any pays' attendance pays. of jobs that Reilly's students can interview Scholastic Aptitude Test this summer.1998. The programbegan in late"It's fun and interesting," says Ruthyfor. The students are taught interviewingDecember, and the 13 endeavor and succeed. J JTorres, 20, "I have learned a lot." Torresskills and are able to secure steady employ: to go into any endeavparticipants for thehopes to become a medical secretary, butment with construction companies. Lastcurrent spring ses #i* or and succeed," Reilly year Witherspoon was able to place 90-perstill enjoys the construction work she does.sion are. expected toKen Reilly; continuedWilly Harper, another participant, saidcent of the participants in paying jobs.graduate this June.YouthBuildInstructor thebest part of YouthBuild "is learning dents have w o r k e dA typical day con- " " "" " "" m mmm m new things. It's something new for me," she trade and getting paid."on projects on both 24th Street and Jefferson said. Julia admitted that she would besists of both classroom education andStreet in Paterson. By graduation in June,hands-on activities. The crew of youngsleeping if she weren't at the YouthBuild.continued next pageadults is currently spackling, sanding, prim- the young adults will haveing and painting four offices on the floorlearned basic electrical,below the Paterson Coalition of Housing,painting, plumbing andwhich houses the offices of YouthBuild. The general carpentry skills.offices are being converted into classroomsBut teaching his studentsby YouthBuild for YouthBuild.tricks of the constructiontrade is only part of Reilly'sIn addition to hands-on training, thepassion.youth are taught all the necessary skills to"I want my students toearn a General Equivalency Diploma.be able to come to me as aStudents who receive their GED work fivedays a week at YouthBuild, while those who friend, not only a teacher,"he says.need to retest attend an average of threedays. .Reilly likes to take hisgroup on field trips and"It's short term pay for long term gain,"said Witherspoon about the YouthBuild pro- outings, for both learningand recreation. Reilly hasgram.plans to take the group toMany of the participants have had trouSix Flags Great Adventureble with the law, live alone and have givenin Jackson, New Jersey.up altogether on school. Many come fromThe relationship Reillybroken families and have had tough livesliving in the often-harsh urban environment fosters with his students isHIGH-QUALITY SERVICE AND GREAT PRICES, OFFERINGimportant to him becauseof Paterson and its surrounding areas.he believes that relation"School is not for everyone,"THE ULTIMATE, IN TANNING EQUIPMENT, FEATURINGships between young adultsWitherspoon said, "These are not bad kids.and authority figures suchThey want to have paying jobs. 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Her books includethe bestsellers "Outrageous Actsand Everyday Rebellions" (1983)and "Revolution from Within: ABook of Self-Esteem" (1992).For all her accomplishments,Steinem was named Woman of theYear in 1972 by McCall's magazine. In 1993, she was inductedinto the National Women's Hall ofFame in Seneca Falls, New York.The lecture is co-sponsored bythe William Paterson Wome.n'sCenter and is the finale of Twilightand Dawn, a series of events commemorating the end of the 20thcentury and birth of the new millennium.VHR QUPERBEDVHR QTAND-UP BOOTH(WITH 8 BUILT-IN FACE TANNERS)THE ONLY ONES OF THEIR KIND IN THE AREA!ISix SessionsllOne Session!" ne"M nth " II Expires 4/20/00 6rP H Expires 4/20/00HUnlimited 491WP . . Expires 4/20/00WP ,MM MM MM MM MM MM MM MJIMI MM MM MM MM MM M MMD BY OUR REPUTATION!Open 7 DaysWalk-ins WelcomeGift CertificatesAll Beds with Double andTriple Face Tanners(no extra charge)

MONDAY; APRIL 24, 2000FeatureTHE BEACON PAGE 5Learning Tools of the TradeThe Silk City YouthBuild wascreated two years ago with a 450,000 grant from Housing andUrban Development, a federalagency that administers funds forpublic housing and such publicservice initiatives as YouthBuild.Witherspoon will be reapplyingfor a grant to continue the program next year, and hopes to berefunded so he can cpntinue togive Paterson youth an opportunity to succeed. Congressman William Pascrellis a staunch supporter ofYouthBuild, and has helped tosecure funding for the program.Home Depot has also been amajor supporter of YouthBuild,providing materials and traininglessons.YouthBuild recently celebratedits 20 year anniversary as anational foundation. There areapproximately 120 YouthBuildprograms across America, with,four in New Jersey: Silk City(Paterson), Great Falls (Paterson),Atlantic City and Trenton.For more information or tomake a donation to YouthBuiM,surf to www.youthbuild.orgAbove: Instructor Ken Reillyassists his students in the SilkCity YouthBuild. The youngadults are removing caked-onwallpaper from an office on thefourth floor of a Main Street,Paterson building.Right: Not all YouthBuild participants are male. Two femalesare using their recently learnedpainting skills to add color to adoor and trim inside the officebuilding.'EGG DONORS NEEDEDTHE NORTH JERSEY CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY ANDFERTILITY CENTER IS SEEKING EGG DONORS OF ALL ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS,BETWEEN THE AGES OF 21-32AS AN EGG DONOR YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND GIVE A COUPLE THEMOST PRESCIOUS GIFT, THE CHILD THAT THEY DREAMED OF HAVINGRESIDENTS OF NEW JERSEY ONLY, EACH CANDIDATE NEEDS TO SEND APICTURE WITH THEIR NAME ON IT, ADDRESS AND DAY TIME PHONE NUMBERAFTER THE DONOR HAS COMPLETED AN EGG DONOR CYCLE THEY WILL BECOMPENSATED 5,000For more information on our egg donor program call (973) 470-0303 andask for one of our nurses1035 Route 46 East, Clifton, New Jersey 07013

The Beaconm u«? EDITORIAL BOARDRyan CaiazzoNews EditorJennifer FletcherInsider EditorLaurie QuinlanSports Editoris;.PaulBonneyEditor in Chiefr w."-IMONDAY, APRIL 24, 2000opinions & ReviewPAGE 6 o THE BEACONThe opinions on this page do not necessarilyrepresent the opinions of the entire Beacon Staff.M&ilbagBeacon business manager responds to adAn advertisement that ran in last week's edition ofhe Beacon that questioned the validity of historicalnformation regarding Holocaust in Nazi Germany,'or those who read it, the advertisement for theCommittee for Open Debate on the HolocaustZODOH) may force you to open your mind a littlend possibly give some credence to the questions ofdid this really happen? are the stories we hear 100ercent true? is there something more to it?"CODOH questions the "allegedly unique monstrosy of the Germans before and during World War II."did while you may not want to give any credence tole fact, there are people who question what actuallyappened during World War II in Nazi Germany,ome will tell you that the entire event was a figmentf the imagination; some will say that the number of»ws, gypsies, homosexuals, and other "outcasts" ofjyan society who were killed have been blown out ofroportion; some will say that the evidence in Poland,lermany, and Austria were planted there by thoseersecuted to make their story believable.Personally, I do not buy into any of the ideas that the[olocaust did not happen with 6 million Jews dying,ith hard labor at the work camps, and with people(ring like sardines in concentration camps. From thearspecti've of the advertiser, the point of printing anivertisement like this forces people to think, whichin sometimes be a dangerous experience. In this case,would venture to say that the advertiser got hisoney's worth.Maybe professors were hurt by the fact that the, Ivertisement challenged what was taught in today'sly saw some protesters that outright told people not to vote, andthen on the side, in thep StudentCenter Lobby, actually advocatedfor them to vote for the opposingticket, this violates the electionsguidelines as it pertains to "camTo the Editor.I am writing in reference to the paigning within 50 feet of therecent article on "stray'cats," that Student Center during the electionappeared in the March 27th issue period."of The Beacon. The article was very I would like to ask how a candidisturbing to the engineers who date could have fair election whenwork in the boiler room and other supporters of the opposing ticket.employees who work in this area are rallying and deterring peopleof William Paterson University. from voting. I know first hand ofArticles on cats being a health haz- students who were too intimidatedard could fit any animal you could to go into the Student Center and "It's about time," is one of thename. Would you rather have rats vote because they wanted to avoid yriad of thoughts that runconflict. Our elections committee rough my head as I think aboutthan cats in out area?shouldnot have allowed this s eight officers who entered theAbout eight years ago, peoplefrom Animal Control came on cam- behavior to go on, and even more iami family's home earlypus and trapped many raccoons so, in the Student Center Lobby turday morning to seize Eliansnzalez and reunite him with hisand cats. Within a short time after where voting was taking place.I believe that it was a failure on itient father.this, the rat population exploded!During the cold weather, rats move the behalf of the elections commit- For far too long, this young childinside buildings to survive, tee as they let this conduct contin- is been away from his father. Ithough the boiler room arid adja- ue to go on in the voting area. It n't'doubt the Miami family hascent area were clean, we were over was no secret that this event was eat intentions for Elian's physicalrun with rats.taking place, yet no one from the slfare, however, keeping this six,In the past, we have chipped in elections committee saw it fit to ar-old boy from his flesh andDod father, especially after losingand had a couple of cats spayed take any action.3 mother must have caused someEvenwithoutprovingthattheand given shots for rabies, but theyhave been killed by misfortune. demonstration came directly from . ychological sunburn.The rats have not bothered us since the two executive officers that were Staring down the lens of a videowe have been trying to keep cats in running for the positions, it is cnera to say that he likes it inour area. Just the fact that the cats understood that the situation clear- nerica and wants to remain here .are in our area keeps the rats away. ly revolved around a student who ies not warrant a. decision to keepIn from his father. The familythe story of people getting a dis- approved of and was formerly a is feeble minded to think that itmemberoftheirticket.Withthisease by stepping in cat's feces is auld. That tape seemed more likereally funny, since cats bury there fact in mind, there is no doubt that hostage negotiation than anyfeces! Thousands of people have this rally/protest had an element ngelse.walked these grounds in the fifteen of bias and discrimination against As per the crowds of people suryears that I have been here, and the members of my ticket.never have i heard of anyone stepIn .conclusion, I would like to unding the home, those settingping in it!state that this letter in not about tall fires and then throwing botGordon Beck bitterness (as most will interpret it) s at the fire trucks, those heavingLoe Hanvmon but about "fairness." I cannot say oient rocks at the police officers,that if the protest did not take place d waving the Cuban flag, yetthat I would have been declared a ring how they hate the country, Iwinner, but I can say the results of ly say, you can not fight Castro the SGA election were definitely th the innocence of a little boy.influenced by the "rally" and As per the family, who say that2y would have handed Elian"protest" that was planned toer peacefully and that there wasbegin on Tuesday, April 18 at 9:00a.m., which is the exact time thatSGA elections were to begin.To the Editor:As a member of the SGA forOn Tuesday, April 18, a . three consecutive years, I knowrally/protest began in the Student that nearly each and everyone of-Center just as the SGA elections us stand up for what we believe isbegan. It is my belief that the right. As a faithful and activeorchestrated actions of protesters memberoftheStudentin the Student Center Lobby and in Government Association, whom I the surrounding area of the have given so much of my effortStudent Center violated the rules and time, I am asking that youof "fair play" as it relates to the reflect on the situation and now doTelection guidelines. It is my under- what is right as it pertains to thestanding, and experience, that SGA constitution and guidelines.many people gathered around the Thank you for your time."voting area" and proceeded todeter people from voting. I knowDaren P. Smithfirst hand because someone actualJuniorStaff membersfeel cats serveimportant roleclassroom when it comes to Holocaust education, saying that history may hot be what we think it is. Maybestudents have gotten to their saturation point when itcomes to Holocaust education. But now, even withYom Ha'Shoah, a day set aside to remember theHolocaust, a mere week away, people just may notwant to have to think about it anymore.When people make claims that you feel are untrueor have no validity, I challenge you to open dialogueand find out the information to back up your claim.Again, I-personally do not believe what this advertisement claims. I have studied the events of theHolocaust for longer than I care to remember and feelthat I have enough knowledge to make a decision formyself as to what is fact and fiction when it comes tothis time period. Others may not be so versed in thetopic. Instead of blasting out against, something justbecause it "sounds bad," take a few minutes to findout a little more and further your education; like thatyou can educate others.When we ask the questions, rather than yelling outat one another just because something doesn't" soundright, we all benefit from the answers. Let's find theanswers to these questions and broaden the educationwe all get at this university. Open you mind, ask thequestions, and listen for the answers. "Free your mindand the rest will follow; be color blind don't be so shallow." Wishing you a happy and joyous holiday (chagkasher v'sameach).Matthew G. HalpernBusiness Manager,The BeaconElian's return:*It's about time'Canditate upsetwith this year'selection processno reason to forcefully take himinto custody, I only say, this is whathappens when you push the envelope. This family was given a yardand they took a mile over and overINNER-COURSEIN PROGRESSBy Sherl A. Freemanagain. What did they think wouldhappen? Did they think Renowould sit back and twiddle herthumbs while they worked out aplan to further hold the boy?Essentially, it became kidnapping.Enough- was enough!listening the the fisherman whoheld Elian in his arms as .officersseized him, ask America what ithas done, makes my eyes well withtears. Here is a man who pluckedElian out of the waters when theboy was the only survivor among aboat of illegal immigrants headedfor America. Hearing him sob to aCNN reporter in front of the closethe was backed into would makeanyone sympathetic.However, seeing the pictureshown repeatedly Saturday ofElian perched against his father'sHave, your voice heardshoulder with his tiny handaround his father's neck, how cananyone say he doesn't belong withhis dad?The family has already said theywill travel to Andrews AirforceBase to see the child. As thoughtheir nearly five months with himwas not enough, they want to further disrupt Elian's peacefulreunion with his father, step mother and six month-old half brother.Now, who is looking to do thebrain washing?They say that Elian's father willre-program him to want to gq toCuba. They say he will brainwashhim. Just what have they done fornearly five months? Parading himaround television cameras to makehim feel like a star, introducinghim to materialistic possessions inorder to make him associate lots oftoys with America? Just what havethey done?Once again, it's about time.Hopefully, on May 20th, the judg'ewill either over throw the appeal ifthat is possible or very quicklydecide in the best interest of theboy, which would be to let hisfather gain full custody of his sonand Elian will never he without aparent again. If you disagree, fine!Send your child to another country,be apart from him or her for fivemonths, plead for their return andtry to be patient. Good luck!- - Send letters to the editor. .with your name,jrade level and major or campus affiliatioh tox * -4i . . . h e B e a c o nin the Student C

Silk City YouthBuild, a non-profit Paterson program that takes "at risk" young adults and teaches them mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm skills of the construc-tion trade. The result 6f the federally-fund-ed program is edu-cated, skilled and employable youth. Wayne Witherspoon, the program's director, has been leading the YouthBuild since 1998. The program .