Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Scrapbooks 2008

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2005

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A WEEKLYLOOK AT COMMUNITY NEWS IN NORTH IDAHO •

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· Story by Cynthia Taggart I PAGE

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Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman¡R~

Tony Stewart, North Idaho College Instructor and human rights activist, Is close to reUrement from teaching. So he Is donating some 70 scrapbooks, dozens of Yldeo tapes and letters, notes and memorabllla from his 35 years working for human rights In Coeur d'Alene to North Idaho College's llbraiy.

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he ballpoint pens and lists of scnbbled munes

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that Tony Stewart collected over 35 years may seem like wo~ mementos to some.,But those itctm are part of a pricelem collection that could serve as the foundation for bnmau rights task forces everywhere.

"I have an incredible amount of materials, and rm the only one who bas them." Stewart says. "Recording history is so important So many things happen that are of significance that arc totally lost" ~ Stewart vowed as a ne1V North Idaho College political science instructor 36 years ago to ~ve anything coonected with NIC Ten years later, Stewart helped form the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relatioos and pledged to save everything CODDeCted with it.

Now, he has 16 boxes filled with memorabilia from the task force. Those boxes hold everything from the pen founer Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus used to sign human rights legislation to videotapes cA. the destruction of the watchtower at the Aryan Nations compound north of Hayden Lake. To celebrate its 25th anniversary this year, Stewart decided to donate m collection to NIC's library.

"Ifs an invaluable resource to anyone doing :resean:h on the history of human rights movementst says Denise Clark, one of the NIC.librarians working with the special collection.

"It's a great tool for historians but ~ small community that wants to see how a task force operates."

Stewart also plans to use the c:ollection in a Dine- or 10-part public affairs series that will air oo public television statiOllS in seven states and two Canadian provinces January through March. The documentary-style series will chronicle the history of.the task force, from events that led to its birth • through the transformation of the Aryan Nations compound into the Peace Park.

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Jesse TlflSleyflhe Spokesman-Re\

North Idaho College Instructor Tony Stewart, center, Is working with NIC llbrarfans Ann John~ton, left, and Denise Clark, rfgJrt, to put his entire collection of memorabrtla from the local human rfghts movement Into the NIC llbarary's special collectlons.

Saturday, September 24. 2005

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Jes.v TIIISley/The Spokesman-~

Ton, St8walt Is donatlnC IGlll8 70 scrapboalcs (Dice thli one), doZlllns of ,1cteo tapes and letters, notes and memorablla to NIC's llbrlly.

Histmy 'P,ntinued from 4 t b.e years since 1992. Stewart has , ideo recording.,; of every press t onference the task

force ~cheduled. ~ conferences dways were arranged around such ,urning points as the roadside 1 ttack on the Keenan family that led to the Aryan Nations demise in North Idaho.

Stewart plans to interview key players in the task force and back up their stories with video clips and other memorabilia from his collection in traditional documentary style. His videos will include a Hands Across the Border ceremony in 19')8 demonstrating the Inland Northwest's commibnent to human rights, and civil rights attorney Moms Dees speaking at the task force's annual human rights banquet following the trial that expelled the Aryan Nations from North Idaho.

They'll also include the last appearance of Bill Wassmuth.

Wassmuth was the St Pius Catholic church priest whose house was bombed by the Aryan Nations in the 1980s. He was the leader of the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment until he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. Wassmuth died in.2()()2.

For the last show, Stewart plans to discuss with three people who followed the task force for 25 years

bow its activities changed the Inland Northwest Those people may include a reporter and politician, he says.

"I want to celebrate 25 years and show the history," he says. "Many civil rights groups are 100 years old, but we may be the oldest human rights task force in the country."

Over the years. towns across the nation have invited Stewart and other task force leaders to share their experiences and help them launch similar efforts. Stewart's collection and the public affairs series NIC is producing will expand the task force's reach, says Qadc.

"We hope to digitize some of these materials and have some of the most interesting on a Web site on the Internet so they're available to the public," she says.

Most higher learning institutions in the region share information on an Internet pipeline. Oark: says NJC will add Stewart's oollection to that pipeline for cl~room use and research.

The NIC Public Forum television series of the task force's 25 years will start in January and run for two months over Idaho Public Television, channel 12, on Saturdays and Spokane Public Television, KSPS channel 7, on Sundays.

"You have to capture these things before it's too late," Stewart says. "From the task force's perspective, it's our gift t0 the population."

NIC paying tribllte to. Popcor~ Forum foundef -

The Spokesman-Review

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BY CAAL GIDLUND C0<respondent

Page 8

Saturday, April 8, 2006

North Idaho College is going to honor one of its own Wednesday evening with a concert by the school's Symphonic Band It's to · celebrate the life and contributions of distinguished faculty member Tony ~tewart.

The program is called "Bring on the Popcorn," an especially appropriate title in honor of the founder and chairman of the popular Popcorn Forum Lecture Series, now in its 37th year.

Coeur d'Alene attorney and civil rights activist Norm Gissel calls Stewart one of the most unselfish men he's ever known.

"He's never said a word about his own needs." according to Gissel "And when he commits himself to a cause, he stays committed until he's not needed anymore."

Stewart is nominally a political scientist and pre-law adviser at NIC, but to those who have worked with him on civil rights issues and public affairs activities for the past 36 years, he's much more: a virtually indispensable part of North Idaho's cultural

fabric.

The 64-year-old teacher is one

of the founders of the Kootenai County Task Fo_rce on Human Relations, formed in 1980 to counter the propaganda and activities of the Aryan Nations white supremacists.

A native of North Carolina and graduate of West.em Carolina University, he earned his master) degree in political science from the University of Tennessee, and did graduate studies toward a doctorate in political science at Washington State University.

Gisse~ who calls Stewart "a treasured and valued friend," says those Tennessee years provided him a front-row seat to the nascent civil rights movement led

by Martin Luther King Jr. For decades, Gissel says, members of the Aryan Nations and others tried to get Stewart fired from NIC because of his

civil rights activities. "But he stayed, even after many midnight harassing phone calls, even after

the murder atte.mpt on Bill Wassmuth."

The late Wassmuth, a Catholic priest and fellow civil rights activist, was the target of a bombing in 1986.

Coeur d'Alene attorney Janell Burke has been a frequent panelist on the North Idaho College TV-Public Forum founded by Stewart in 1972 and still produced and moderated by

him.

"We met when I was a guest on the program back in 1975," she recalls. "Tony invited me to return as a panelist, and the experience has certainly enriche< my life."

The 30-minute program has aired nearly l,700times on six public broadcast st.ations and is seen by viewers in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Utah and Canada. It has featured such luminaries as inventor Buclcminster Fuller, U.S. Sens.

Frank Church, Slade Gorton and James McClure, singer and activist Carole King. and civil rights leader Julian Bond · Stewart also produced and co-directed a 90-minute documentary titled, "Stand up to Hate Groups by Saying Yes to Human Rights: The First Ten

Years of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations."

And he's recently produced and aired a 10-week series celebrating a quarter-century of the task force's efforts.

"Tony is absolutely committed to equality and fairness," according to Burke, "and to excellence too, especially in teaching. He makes sure that anything he's connected with is done just right» Civic activist Mary Lou Reed calls Stewart "a magnificent impresario. He devotes countless hours to reaching people and developing themes, and our community has benefited tn mendously by his efforts." t 'he recounts that he has been

the Western Governmental Researcher.

His honors include the Northwest Communication Association's Human Rights Award. the North Idaho College Foundation Faculty Achievement Award. and the Civil Rights Award from the Spokane County Democratic Party.

For all that, he remaim a gentle man, says his friend Gissel "I've seen him mad only

FILE The Sfokesman¡Revlew

Popcorn Forum founder Tony Stewart Is being honored with a tribute concert given by the NIC Symphonic Band.

INFORMATION

Concert NIC Band Director Terry Jones said the Wednesday program will include "Fanfare for Tomorrow: From the Threads of Our Past, the Fabric of Our .future" (by Robert W. Smith), two movements of "Pictures at an Exhibition" (Modest Mussorgsky), American Civil War Fantasy" (Jerry H. Bilik), "Movement for Rosa" (Mark Camphouse).

"Godzilla Eats Las Vegas" (Eric Whitacre), plus clips of Stewart's Public Forum television shows and appearances by guests Norm Gissel and NIC President Michael Burke.

Call 769-3276 for more information.

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a Hospice of North Idaho board member, was an early co-chairman of the Kootenai Environmental Alliance and, in the 1970s, led a petition drive that

thwarted plans to build condominiums on the dike road between NIC and Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Stewart has also chaired NIC's division of social sciences, served as a commissioner of the Education Commission of the States, taught political science at WSU, and has written articles for many publications, including the Ripon Form, National Civic Review, State Government and

twice," he says. "Once was when somebody falsely accused him of being impolite. I can't even remember the other time."

Wednesday's musical-progra.,"11 which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m.. iI: Boswell Hall's Schuler Auditorium on the NIC campus.

THE

SPOKES

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REVIEW THURS0AY,FEB RUARY22,2007

'Local hero' to be honored NIC instructor Tony Stewart has spent decades.fighting for human rights

BY MEGHANN M. CUNIFF h umanities. J ohnson, vice chairwoman of the council, nominated her longtime colleague and friend for the Virginia J ohnson first met Tony Stewart at a North annual statewide award.

Idaho College faculty ~embly meeting in 1970. Johnson "He's built for the long haul H e does not give up, lose had been an English instructor at the college for a few hope, abandon anyone or any cause," J ohnson said. years; Stewart was in his first year in the political "He's just sort of a local hero, and rightfully so." science department A native of Robbinsville, N.C., Stewart was a leader in "Io came this guy with a head of curly hair and very the fight to expel the Aryan Nations from North Idaho, and he remains the area's most promine.n t human rights strong Southern accent, and he was just talking to everyone and being so friendly," J ohnson said. "I advocate. He came to NIC after earning a graduate thought, 'How did someone with a Southern accent get degree from the University of Tennessee, then doing a year of doctor al work at Washington State University. to Coeur d'Alene?' " Nearly 40 years later, Stewart's hair is thinner, but his "I thought I'd be here about three years," Stewart accent and friendly demeanor remain. He's a staple of recalls. But the job suited him, and he found causes that needed help. ' North Idaho College and a living legend in the field of human rights in North Idaho.

Now 65, Stewart is eligible for retirement. But he He'll be honored Friday evening by the Idaho Humanities Council for outstanding achievements in the See STEWART, A9 Staff writer

STANDING UP TO RACIS1Vl

JfSS[ l lNSLFY The Spokesman Review

Tony St ewart, a political science instructor at North Idaho College, points out memorabilia in his office relating to human rights events over his 37 years of teaching. He will receive an award from the Idaho Humanities Council for his work in human rights.

STEWART

Continued from A1

hasn't decided when he'll do that. And when he does leave the community college, he said he won't stop working. There's still more to be done - the human rights movement is never over, he said.

"I have a very broad view of human rights," Stewart said. ''I've just never understood discrimination in any form ."

Stewart's reluctant to talk about his life, calling himself ·•really, really shy."

"But l love talking about my work," he said. And his work dominates his life. Among Stewart's long list of accomplishments are his roles as a founding member of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, the Human Rights Education Institute and the Northwest Coalition

Against Malicious Harassment.

He said he'd be nothing without the support of countless others. "I have not done anything by myself," Stewart said. "It's always a group."

But his colleagues are quick to cite Stewart's leadership.

"It has been a team effort, but Tony's been the dominant leader of that team," said Doug Creswell, a member of the human relations task force and a retired school superintendent.

Stewart sees a four-step process for combating racism and discrimination. The first steps are ending slavery and segregation. The third is embracing tolerance. "Number four is when I celebrate who you are," he said.

Once tolerance is embraced, some tend to think "look how great I am because I tolerate you," and that's an attitude that

"I have a very broad view of human rights.... I've just never understood discrimination in any form."

Tony Stewart Human rights advocate

must end if true tolerance and equality are ever to be reached, Stewart said.

His first experience with racism came when he was about 10 or 11, visiting Charlotte, N.C., with family. He overhead two white boys insulting a black boy.

"They were saying just terribly harsh things... and I never forgot that," Stewart said.

"I just thought that was so, so awfuJ." He can't pinpoint what made him so passionate about human rights. He lived in the South during the height of the civil rights movement and followed the work of Martin Luther King

Jr. closely.

But he said, "No matter where I would have been, I ,think I would have this same attitude and drive towards fairness."

It· is because that attitude and drive have inspired and educated thousands of others that Stewart will be honored Friday, Idaho Humanities · Council Chairman Ron Pisaneschi said.

"The goal of the humanities council is to connect people with ideas. Who's done that more than Tony Stewart?"

Johnson said. "While he's this great Southern gentleman, he's also just fearless."

OPINION E D I T O R l .-\ L S

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Page 86 • Thursday • ilarcr. 15. ?007

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THE 5POKESi\AN·REVIEW THE EDITORIAL BOARD embers of the editorial board help to determine he Spokesman-Review's position on issues of interest to the Inland Northwes

Stacey Cowles Publisher Steven A. Smith Editor Doug Floyd Editorial Page Editor Gary Crooks Associate Editor Rebecca Nappi Associate Editor and columnist D.F. Oliveria Associate Editor and co lumnist Jamie Tobias Neely Associate Editor and co lumn st

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THE EDITORIAL BOARD Members of the editorial board help to determine The Spokesman-Review's position on issues of interest to the Inland Northwest

Th·: ',pckesmari-Rev,ew

Stacey Cowles Publisher Doug Floyd Editorial Page Editor Gary Crooks Associate Editor Rebecca Nappi Associate Editor and columnist D.F. Oliveria Associate Editor and columnist Jamie Tobias Neely Associate Editor and columnist

EDITOHL\L

Consider candidates' · integrity 1

Our View: Voters should look at core values, not positions o one needs a reminder that political races are under way (political races are a/ways under wav), but candidates did file fo·r office this week in Washington's 39 counties. That means campaign intensity will soon increase, and ·with the state's earliest-ever primary only a couple of months awav, voters need to be thinking about their choices.

One popular method involves what amounts to a scorecard. As candidates differentiate themselves on a limited number of specific issues, voters weigh those positions against their o,vn.

Taxation, land-use policies, street repair, police and fire protection - the candidate "vho matches up best gets the vote.

That approach is logical but insufficient.

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At most, there might be a dozen significant issues on which candidates can stake out positions prior to the election. But over the course of a term in office, countless unforeseeable challenges wi ll face a mayor, council member or school director. On many of these issues, there will be no record of campaign promises to guide decisions or shape public expectations.

So as the candidate evaluation process accelerates in coming weeks, voters should be exploring - and candidates should be explaining - ju·;t what kind of person will be in place to help resolve the situations that ·,vait around the corner.

In the interview excerpted on this page, human rights activist Tony Stewart notes that some political leaders live in "the immediacy of now," while others think about the consequences that will be felt well into the future because of the decisions they make today.

To Stewart, it's a question of integrity. and the best vvay to anticipare a candidate's future action is to learn his or her core values. And whether values trump politics or the other w ay around.

Some candidates will say, and even believe, whatever it takes to win votes in 2007. It's called being responsive to public opinion, which sounds good.

Others will also analyze their decisions in terms of the future they'll create and the values they reflect. · It takes courage and character for candidates to advocate policies that require sacrifice. Even if it's needed to assure a stable and just future, it doesn't look as attracti ve on a scorecard as quick, uncomplicated answers. Delayed gratification is a tough sell in the political world.

We need people of intelligence and integrity in leadership roles when demanding decisions are required. We need people who will look beyond Election Dav and consider the full effect of time. · If candidates will risk political fallout to give honest opinions, the rest of us owe them at least an open-minded hearing. \"./e might learn something a scorecard alone won't reveal.

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A monthly Q-and-A with The Spokesman-Review Editorial Board ~

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For the past quarter of a century, the name Tony Stewart has been synonymous with the human rights movement in Kootenai County.

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"There's a tremendous responsibility in crcaling an organization that people arc willing to follow."

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Tony Stewart, a profos,,or ol political scienc~ at North Idaho College in Coeu r d'Alene, helped fo rm a core of human rights activists who have rallied Kootenai County citizens to counter racist beliefs epitomized by Richard Butler's Aryan Nations.

Fo r the fourth installment of The Spokesman-Review's Leadership Dialogues series, Stewart talks to the newspaper's Rebecca Nappi, Colin Mulvany and Doug Floyd about integrity as a component of leadership.

Here is an excerpt from that conversation. A full transcript can be fou nd online at spokesmanreview.com.

Question: One of your colleagues heard your Southern accent and was caught by surp rise that you would be such an advocate for civil rights in I daho. Should that be an anomaly?

Answer: The closer you ar e to great challenges and di ffic ulties of p rejudice. I think the more clear it is to you the wrongs of those actions.

Eve n as a child, I've always been so strongly in support of social justice and fairness, and when I experienced those examples it just magnified my passion for human rights. I brough t that from my background here, not knowing that, of course, we would face the long struggle that was here in the Aryan Nations. I also had parents that were strong advocates of treating people with dignity.

Q: Were there glimpses at that time of your willingness to step out and rally others arou nd you?

A: I've never been silent. My parents and I from west North Carolina were visiting in Charlotte, N.C., and a group of young white men made a terribly derogatory statement toward a young African-American boy. and I stood up for him. I was very angry w ith how he was being treated, and they threatened to beat us up. But we were able to move back into the homes where we were, but that imprint has stayed with me.

WhiJe we were visiting there. this beautiful African-American ladr, she had a voice verv much like Mahalia J ackson and she sang and played the piano and we wanted to bring her to west North Carolina. my parents did, to be at our church and perfor m, and the church eld ers said no. I have never forgotten that.

Q: How do you feel about the stre ngth of integrity to motivate someone to leadership?

How's that differen t from gett ing the stl'eets paved or the library built?

A: I am really particularly a follower of a core values system.

The late Dr. Harold Lasswell indicated ther e were eight core values. Three of his e ight values are affection and love for other human beings.

And the second value he calls rectintde or justice for others. And the third one he calls deference and respect. I think those have been at the core of my passion fo r the integrity of all people.

One of Dr. Lasswell's values is power . Another one is weal th. And I've witnessed times in the legislative process where a person had to ask themselves the question. will I opt for that value power so I can stay in office, or will I opt for the

three values t hat I consider the greatest integrity.

that I will e,¡en take a votP that may defeat me on behalf of the values that I believe are h r our societv~ A p~~itive leader will work to br/n,.the best

out of us. A negative leader, oftentimes to gain power, to keep it, will try to bring out in us the worst, to bring out our fears, our anger, our insecurities.

Q: In an ·area where passions run so highly, you're asking people who follow you and follow those ideals to put themselves sometimes at risk. ~at enters your mind when that's the issue?

A: There's a tremendous responsibility in creating an organization that people are willing to follow.

I think Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. knew in his nonviolent movement that there were real consequences, including the death of the children in the bombing at the church and others

.About this series

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• The leadership Dialogues is ~ six-month series of editorial board conversations with community leaders. The purpose is to identify the qualities of leadership - !n the hope the dialogues will encourage high-quality candidates to step fofward and run for elected office - and allow the community at-large to recognize and respond to positive leadership traits. · • On the Web: Transcripts of the' monthly dialogues, along with Colin Mulvany videos of the leaders interviewed, will be available· at spokesmanreview.com/ ·

sections/leadership. " ~ Schedule: Today- Tony Stewart, North Idaho human rights activist; March Tl - Gary Livingston. chancellor of Community Colleges of Spokane; April 8 - Ron Sims, King County executive; May 13 - Linda Sheridan, retired Shadle Park High 5cf:io.ol coach; July 8 - Mary Selecky, secretary of the Washington State Department 6f Health; Aug. 12 - Eckart Preu, music director'of the Spokane Symphony.

that were killed on the marches, but he, I think, had a very clear vision that even though there may be victims, and he certainly was one himself at age 39, that the alternative is not acceptable.

You do all you can to make people safe, b.ut we could never have had a democracy and it will not continue to evolve playing everything safe.

Q: Is leadership something to be sought or is it thrust upon you?

A: I really think there are certain things that are just almost innate in certain people, and one of those is the question of vision. I don't think you can teach that. Some people can see that certain actions we take now have consequences or importance years from now. Other people are always living in the imme_diacy of now.

I think there should.be a lot of humility in leadership, and once that's seen in an individual, once one is willing to take a stand, you are chosen by people. I don't think anyone can ever just say, "I have the map and I'm going to be your leader." It has to come from the people.

Q: Can you remember a time you experienced great fear during the anti-Aryan movement?

A: Twice I went home late at night, and it was always empty, and I got two telephone calls - not

the : arne night - and one of them was a statement that we know where you live, we're coming to get you. We're going to cut your head off and dump it out at the weigh station. We're going to cut your heart out and send it' to the ADL, Anti-Defamation League.

The other one was late in the night. I got a call, they said we know where you are, we're gonna get you, and then there was a recor.ding of a machine gun going off.

You don't take those lightly, and you do take some precautions. When Father Bill (Wassmuth) called me when we were so close and worked together, he told me he got a call and they told him to do something that was not physically possible, and he and I laughed about it, and the bombs were the next night.

But he made a very important statement. He said, "I want to live a long life. And I was afraid, btit I refuse to live a life of fright and being afraid. I will stand for what I believe in. I refuse . to give in."

Q: Is compassion ·an important leadership trait, and did you feel any compassion for the Aryans?

A: How can you be supportive of these principles we're talking about, such as equality and dignity to all persons, if you don't have compassion? Dr. King said you must not hate. To hate you die inside. So you don't hate the individual. You certainly stand against them. And so he said you must hate the doctrine. You direct it at the message, and that's what we've tried to ' do.

The. other thing that I've tried to do personally is to think of those individuals, particularly young people like racist skinheads who have been brought into it. A lot of times Aryan Nations are families, might have been in jail, and I think of them as tragic figures, because if they refuse t o exchange ideas and experience with different cultures, they're ·robbed of that richness.

Q: When you look at your student$ today, what qualities· do they need to be a leader like you in · the social arena? . A: 'One is they have to decide what th~ir core values are. But then I think there is a three-step process. One is you have to become an enlightened person and that's through information, knowledge, education, and then wisdom will follow. You have to be dedicated and enlightened. Number two, you have to be ready if the moment comes where you can possibly be a leader. You have to recognize that moment. And then, three, you have to seize it.

And when you do all that it'll take some courage, because you will be criticized. And if you don't want to be criticized you have to stay on the sidelines, and I don't think that's a good option. · Q: What do you hope will be the legacy of Tony Stewart?

A: My hope would be that those that I have been in touch with, particularly my students, over 10,000 of them, and others that I've · associated with and worked with, that I have convinced any of them to be absolutely committed to the dignity and respect of others and not do anything that demeans people or attacks the self-esteem and worth of other individuals. That's civil rights. That's human rights.

Suppo1ting each other in the fight against racis1n They call it now the "foxhole," the psychological place where the North Idaho men dwelled together while doing battle against the white supremacists who wanted to make North Idaho into an Aryan homeland. Dozens of women and men fought for civil rights during the 1980s and 1990s in North Idaho, but the core group included Tony Stewart, the subject of our leadership dialogues profile today, the late Bill Wassmuth, whose house was pipe-bombed by racist extremists in 1986, the late Larry Broadbent, a Kootenai County undersheriff

who hated the hatred in his community, attorney Norm Gissel and real estate agent Marshall Mend.

Great leadership requires unwavering support from tough and kindred spirits. Stewart felt supported in his leadership during the hardest times of the civil rights movement in North Idaho.

In turn, he gave support to the men \.dth whom he shared the foxhole. This is how two of them remember that support: Norm Gissel: "We had conversations among ourselves whether we should even continue. It's

one thing to volunteer for a civic endeavor. But it's a complete new concept when your efforts can end in death.

"Tony's leadership never wavered. We had to keep our eye on the prize, he said. Tony was raised in the South. He, more than anybody, understood the cultural disease of racism. He announced early on his intentions to move forward, because he knew what was at stake. And so it was everybody's heaitfelt decision that we must press ahead."

Marshall Mend: "I was investing in real estate when I moved here in 1980. The last thing on my mind was getting involved in human rights. And then this Aryan Nations member threatened a

family (who had) biracial children. And then there was no sa)'ing no. We all had death threats.

"Tony's leadership style? He never djd anythjng in a small way. He always did it bigger and better.

We went to him asking for one program, one speaker, at the Popcorn Forum. He brought in seven speakers. It went for a whole week. We had (national civil rights leader) Julian Bond here!

"The things we did, the places we spoke. It was the highlight of my lffe. We went to Noxon, Mont., together, and we spoke to a group of 400, and about 45 or 50 in the audience were Nazis. Our message: 'This is the United States of America and it's for all people. We all have the same rights.' "

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Th e Coeur d'Alene Resort All who attend will be charged $10.00 at the door.

Leadership Coeur d'Alene Presents:

Tony Stewa rt "The Characteristics and Meaning of Effective Leadership" Sponsored by:

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Lifestyles

More than a great place As I. like many North who has served the Jobs Plus Idahoans, left a recent session board for several years. of our amazing annual 3 'if Mikki Stevens, instructor in Poocom Forum. I thought of our Culinary Arts program, is the many ways perhaps better known as the North Idaho founder of tJ1e Red Hot Mamas.

College conRobert Singletary, who teaches tributes to our in our Communications, Fine region.

Arts and Humanities division, Tony may be best known as a local Stewart. NIC historian of renown. faculty member Paul Manzardo, who chairs and Popcorn Physical Education and Resort Priscilla Forum Recreation Management. is founder, is just often seen on area basketball Bell one example court officiating games. Alex Your - albeit a Harris, recreational sports coorCommunity special one dinator, officiates adult softball - of what NIC and high school boys and girls College does beyond basketball. Eric Murray, vice the classroom. president for student services, A couple of staff members kept trin1 ilie last two years by were asked how NIC personoCficiating area high school socnel repay tJ1e region that does cer. Fellow Vice President Rolly so much for NIC. It didn't take Jurgens can usually be found long. on weekends serving at the Take Sherry Wallis, our Lake City Community Church custonli7..ed training director. soup kitchen.

She is ilie chair of ilie Post Philosophy instructor Falls Chamber of Commerce Michelle Lippert is a vet- , and is active witJ1 the Women's eran member of tl1e Post Falls Leadership Conference of the school board. Music instructor Inland Northwest. Or her boss Terry Jones, when he isn't leadRobert Ketchum, executive ing NIC music groups, keeps director of workforce training, his own skills sharp in the Fort

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Sherman Band.

Athletics director Al Williams deserves a paragraph all his own, given his participation on tJ1e Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. the Human Rights Education Institute, and ilie Nortl1 Idaho Boys and Girls Club boards.

Virginia Tinsley Johnson, who chairs ow· Communication, Fine Arts and Humanities division and has served NIC nearly fow· decades. is active in the Coeur d'Alene Arts and Cultural Alliance, among otJ1ers. Public information officer Stacy Hudson and NICTrusteeJudy Meyer serve on ilie Chan1ber Education Committee.

Gary Stark, physical plant supervisor. coaches an American Softball Association softball team in Coeur d'Alene.

Sandra Jacquot, senior accountant, volunteers time to MRP to help senior cit:i7..ens prepare tJ1eir lax returns.

Erna Rhinehart, our communications and marketing director, is active in Sunrise Rotary and on the board for tJ1e Kootenai County Task Force

on Human Relations. Stewart is a founding member.

TI1ese examples are a fraction of the contributions our faculty and staff make to improve the quality of life in North Idaho. My apology to ilie scores of others who dedicate time and talent to service clubs and civic groups, churches and communities around the region.

Many faculty and staff work hard each year helping to raise ftmds for United Way. And if you have admired some of the publications promoting Sting soccer, ilie Coeur d'Alene Marathon and others, chances are they were done by NIC graphic design students.

I could, and al some point I might, continue on this theme with some samples of NIC personnel who are similarly involved at the state, regional and even national level. But for now, you get the picture. NlC is a wonderful place, but its people are its true strength.

Priscilla Bell is President of North Idaho College. She can be reached by writing her at North Idaho College. 1000 W . Garden Ave .• Coeur d'Alene, ID. 83814.

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C4 TH E PRESS Friday, April 18, 2000

UI commencement May 1O Corp., which encompasses newspapers -including The Press; publishing, property management and hospitality services, including The Coeur d'Alene Resort.

MOSCOW - A total Among numerous honors, of 1,429 students are eliHagadone received the 2004 gible for graduation from Horatio Alger Award. He and the University of Idaho's his wife are active supportMoscow campus on ers of community organizaSaturday, May 10, at 9:30 tions, including the Kootenai a.m.

Humane Society; the Coeur Two North Idaho comd'Alene Library Foundation, munity leaders will receive the Coeur d 'Alene Summer honorary degrees at the Theatre and United Way. ceremony.

Hagadone was twice the The candidates have applied for 1,096 baccalaure- chairman of the Kootenai ate degrees, 91 law degrees, County United Way Fund, in 1964 and 2007. He cur11,3 doctoral degrees, four rently is honorary chairman specialist degrees and 195 master's degrees. Final grad- of the committee to build uation numbers will be avail- a new Boys and Girls Club able following the semester's for Kootenai County. He has endowed 60 annual scholarend. Some students may ships for Idaho students to earn multiple degrees. This event marks the university's att'end colleges and universities in Idaho.

113th commencement cerHe has been inducted emony in Moscow. into the University of Idaho Statewide this spring. commencement ceremonies Alumni Hall of Fame and the Idaho Hall of Fame, and celebrate the accomplishreceived the 2006 Idaho ments of 1,747 University Business Leader of the Year of Idaho students who are Award. Hagadone will receive eligible to graduate.

Honorary degrees will be an honorary doctor of busigranted to Duane Hagadone, ness administration degree Roger Ottmar and Tony from the University of ldal,o.

Stewart.

Stewart is a professor, Hagadone is a thirdlecturer, human rights advogeneration Idahoan. He cate and author. Stewart ¡ began teaching political sciis chairman and chief ence and advising pre-law executive officer of Coeur d'Alene-based Hagadone students at North Idaho

Duane Hagadone to receive honorary degree from college

College in 1970, where he served as chair of social sciences for 14 years.

He founded and chairs the North Idaho College Popcorn Forum Lecture Series, and found ed and introduces ''North rdaho College TV-Public Forum.''

Stewart was a founding member of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and the five-state Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, and served terms as president of both organJzations.

He also served as founding board member of the Human Rights Education Institute, is vice chair of the North Idaho College Human Rights and Diversity Committee, and has served for 18 years as faculty adviser of the North Idaho Human Equality Club.

Among his many honors is the 2006 Idaho Humanities Council Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities. He earned a bachelor's degree from Western Carolina University and a master's degree from the University of Tennessee.

He has done graduate ¡ work toward a doctoral degree at Washington State University. Stewart will receive an honorar y doctor of human e letters degree from the University of Idaho.

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North Idaho human rights activist Tony Stewart set to retire COEUR D'ALENE , Idaho Tony Stewart, a longtime human rights champion and prolific public television show host. is set to announce his retirement after 38 years at North Idaho College.

Stewart. 66. a rounder ol the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. would not answer questions about his plans lrom The Spokesman-Review ol Spokane on Monday but wrote in an e-mail to the community college community, lriends and reporters that he would make a lormal announcement at a gathering on Thursday.

·1 wish to use this public venue to say goodbye and thank you." he wrote. "You have been my special family lor a very long time."

He added that he would remain at the school through July or early August to help with the transition to a new instructor.

Stewart's TV show, "The NIC Public Forum." has aired 1,800 episodes· the most of any collegeproduced program in the country. He also organized Popcorn Forum, a lecture series that has brought leading speakers to town for 37 years. and the 23-year-old Human Rights Celebration for area youth.

Stewart was reared in North Carolina. earned a graduate degree at the University of Tennessee and spent a year in a doctoral program at Washington State University before coming to the two-year school in 1970 to teach political science. For 14 years he was chairman or the Department ol Social Sciences.

Much of his prominence stems lrom helping to start the task force In 1980 as the leading local voice against Aryan Nations after the northern Idaho-based white supremacist group headed by Richard G. Butler began drawing national attention .

Stewart and the group were Instrumental in a lawsuit by a mother and her son who won a S6.3 million judgmen t against Aryan Nations In 2003, forcing the group Into bankruptcy and out of its compound In Hayden Lake.

Marshall Mend, another task force founder, sa id Stewart had a central role in establishing human rights as a community value after many sought to ignore issues underlying the wh,te supremacist group's presence and activities.

"He definitely is a human rights hero." Mend said. "There was a time when people fett as a human rights organization we were a little too outspoken. and if we'd Just keep quiet the Nazis would go away.

Ou r answer Is always that silence gives consent."

The unprepossessing Stewart was awarded an honorary doctorate Saturday by the University of Idaho in Moscow.

"He is so humble." said Erna Rhinehart. a spokeswoman at the two-year school wh ere he works. "He was almost uncomfortable to have that much attention placed on h,m.•

THE SPOKESMAN~ T UESDAY.MAY 13,2008

â&#x20AC;˘

S POKE SMJ\N RE V I

REVIEW Rights leader retiring from NI C Stewait helped lead Aryan Nations fight

BY SHAWN VESTAL

another organization. Stewart,

Staff writer

66, would not answer questions

Tony Stewart, a longtime champion of human rights as well as a college instructor and public-television host, is stepping down after 38 years at North Idaho College.

Stewart has scheduled a public gathering Thursday to announce his retirement and address his future plans - including his acceptance of a new position with

about his plans Monday, saying he wanted to wait until the formal announcement.

"I wish to use this public venue to say goodbye and thank you," he wrote in an e-mail message to the NIC campus, friends and members of the media. "You have been my special family for a very long time."

Stewart will leave a legacy as an educator and foe of racial

hatred. He was among the founders of the KooteWeb first nai County Task First reported on Force¡ on Human spokesman Relations, which review.com became the leading voice against Richard Butler's Aryan Nations at a time when the group's Hayden compound was attracting white supremacists and national media attention annually. The mother and son who sued the Aryan Nations - and eventually won a $6.3 million judgment against it in 2000 - worked

closely with Stewart and the task force.

At NIC he has organized the annual Popcorn Forum - a lecture series that brings top-tier speakers to town - for 37 years and the Human Rights Celebration for area youth for 23 years. College representatives say he's been a tireless teacher and supporter of athletics, and helped elevate the status of the school.

The public television show he hosts, "The NIC Public Forum," See STEWART, A13

The Spokesman-Review

STEWART

Continued from Al

Tony Stewart, left, receives his honorary doctorate Saturday from University of Idaho Provost and Executive Vice President D oug Baker.

has broadcast 1,800 episodes, the most of any college-produced program in the country.

"Myself and the rest of Kootenai County it's like we all won the lottery when he decided to move to Coeur d'Alene, and then to stay," said Norm Gissel, an attorney and friend of Stewart's who helped form the task force and worked on the case that brought the Aryan Nations to bankruptcy.

Marshall Mend, another founding member of the task force, said Stewart was a key figure in helping to estaJ:,lish human rights as a value in the community - after years when many wanted to ignore the issues underlying the white supremacist group's presence and activities. "He definitely is a human rights hero," Mend said. "There was a time when people felt as a human rights organization we were a little too outspoken, and if we'd just keep quiet the Nazis would go away. Our answer is always that silence gives consent."

Stewart was awarded an honorary doctorate Saturday by the University of Idaho. Several people who attended the event with him said he was honored by the recognition - but also a little out of sorts.

"He is so humble," said Erna Rhinehart. communications and marketing director at NIC.."He was almost uncomfortable to have that much attention placed on him."

The big question now is what comes next for Stewart, though it seems like ly it will be in the field of human rights. Some friends of Stewart's said Monday they hadn't known he was planning an ann0tmce ment this week, and they weren't sure what he would do now.

"We're just waiting to hear from him to see where he's going," Mend said. "I just don' t see him getting out of human rights."

Bob Bennett, former NIC president and now executive director of the Human Rights

FROM THE FRONT PAGE/BUSINESS Education Institute in Coeur d'Alene, said he hopes Stewart will keep working with the organization but knew of no specific plans. The institute grew up in the aftermath of the Aryan N arions lawsuit - it was created with a $1 million donation from Greg Carr, who also purchased the group's former compound.

Stewart has "certainly left his mark on this community and the college," Bennett said.

"He's one of the good guys, as they say."

Stewart's upbringing in North Carolina is evident in his accent and his courtly manner.

Those who know him describe him as unfailingly polite - and unfailingly tenacious in pursuit of a goal. He arrived at NIC in 1970, after earning a graduate degree at the University of Tennessee and spending a year in a doctoral program at Washington State University.

He taught political science and chaired the department of social sciences for 14 years. He also established the Popcorn Forum almost immediately; the event bas brought in speakers such as architect and thinker Buckminster Fuller, former Sen. Howard Baker, and civil rights leader Julian Bond.

"We have all learned so much from him over the years, from the people and programs he's brought to this campus," Rhinehart said.

In past interviews, Stewart has discussed seeing two white boys being cruel to a black child when he was growing up, and the lifelong effect that had on him. As the Aryan Nations became more and more established toward the late 1970s and as Butler talked about the creation of a white homeland in the Northwest, Stewart and others began to organize in opposition.

The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations was formed in 1980. In an interview with The Spokesman-Review in 2006, Stewart said the group's guiding principle was always to speak out against hate.

"We are a watchdog,'' he said. "For 25

years the task force has made a determination never to remain silent."

The work brought him death th.r eats as well as accolades, but the task force became one of several institutions that formed the foundation of Coeur d' Alene's human-rights network and helped create a focused community effort against hate groups, several people said.

When Victoria and Jason Keenan were chased and shot at by three Aryan Nations guards in 1998, they didn't turn to the police for help. They turned to the task force - and their lawsuit eventually bankrupted the group and led to the closure of the Aryan compound, which had been for years the site of national media coverage of stiff-armed white supremacists.

"There would have been no Keenan vs.

Butler had it not been for the task force, in my opinion," said Gissell.

The compound was also the planning center for violent and racist acts over the years; at one point, the group's members planned to firebomb Mend's office, according to court testimony. Former Aryan Nations members formed The Order, a racist group connected to murder, bombings and arson across the region during the 1980s.

Stewart plans to remain at NIC through July or early August to help with the transition to a new instructor, he wrote in his email message.

He said his Thursday announcement has a threefold purpose - to thank people in the college and community for their support; to outline "several challenges facing NIC"; and to say what he will do next.

Whatever it is, his admirers say he's already left a huge legacy in Coeur d'Alene as an opponent of hatred and discrimination. ''He just knew he had to stand up against that," Rhinehart said, "and get people to stand with him."

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SECTION

Tony Stewart leaving NIC Plans public farewell Thursday at college's Molstead Library

By MAUREEN DOLAN Staff writer COEUR d' ALENE - After 38 years at North Idaho College, polit-

ical science ins tructor and human rig hts activist Tony Stewart is moving on.

Stewart announced in an e-mail Monday that he will bid a public farewell to. NIC Stewart and the community at 1 p.m. Thursday in the college's Molstead Library.

"He's one of those people that's s hare the details of "a new position going to be irreplaceable. He's one or responsibility" he has accepted of a kind," said college communica- with another organization or institions and marketing director Erna tution when he says goodbye pubRhinehart. "North Idaho College licly Tiwrsday. has just been so fortunate that he Rhinehart said that cl11ring landed in· our lap and decided to nearly four decades al tJ1e college, s tay here for so long.''

Stewart's passion for education, Stewart. who did not respond to politics and human rights touched requests for comments Monday, wrote in the e-mail that he will see ST EWART, C2

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the lives of countless numbers of NIC students and community members.

Stewart founded the Popcorn Forum - NI C's annual lecture series, a 38year tradition that brought prominent personalities on campus to discuss cultural and political issues on panels and in workshops.

Since 1970, Stewart hosted 568 Popcorn Forum lectures that brought nationally known figures like civil rights leader Julian Bond, innovator and futuristic designer Buckminster Fuller, the late vice president Hubert Humphrey and musical artist Carole King to the NIC campus.

He also hosted 1,800 public television shows filmed at NIC over the years.

"North Idaho College TV - Public Forum," a weekly show that airs on PBS, is broadcast throughout the Northwest and Canada.

Rhinehart said the show is the longest running college-produced program in the country.

"One thing that I don't think people realize is he was paid as a political science teacher," Rhinehart said. "He did all these other things out of the goodness of his heart and the passion he has for: enlightening us to new ideas and philosophies."

Former state senator Mary Lou Reed was a panelist on Stewart's television show in the early stages when it was broadcast in black and white.

Reed, a founding president of the Human Rights Education Institute, said Stewart has been an outstanding contributor to the community for many years through his human rights advocacy efforts, but also as a political scientist "I think it's important to

appreciate that he has been a very vital force in encouraging political candidates," Reed said.

Stewart is most wellknown for his association with the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations.

Started in the early 1980s, Stewart and the group played a pivotal role in fighting _hate crimes and counteracting the presence of the Aryan Nations in Kootenai County.

The group had a compound in Hayden.

Area Realtor and fellow human rights activist Marshall Mend has worked alongside Stewart since the group's inception.

Mend said he and Stewart have been on "hit lists" and received threatening phone calls and letters and visits from the FBI. "Tony's got a lot of integrity. He's a very caring guy.

He really is a human rights mega-hero," Mend said. "He doesn't think anybody should be denied any rights, no matter what, ~d he's absolutely right It's tough sometimes when you're going with a cause and it's not very popular."

After Victoria Keenan and her son were shot at

by Aryan Nations members outside the Hayden compound in 1998, the Southern Poverty Law Center and local attorneys Norm Gissel and Ken Howard won the Keenans a $6.3 million settlement in a jury trial against the Aryan Nations.

Late Aryan Nations leader Richard Butler was forced to hand over the 20-acre Hayden compound to the Keenans who then sold the property to philanthropist Greg Carr. Carr donated the property to the NIC Foundation for use as a peace park.

'Tony's responsible for making that whole thing happen," Mend said. "Tony's the one who brought this woman (Keenan), who lived on the fringe and was afraid to do anything, to Norm Gissel.

Tony encouraged her."

Rhinehart said if it wasn't for Stewart, she believes the Aryan Nations would still be a major presence in North Idaho.

"He has worked tirelessly and passionately to educate the community about what human rights are," Rhinehart said.

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Stacey Cowles Publisher Steven A. Smith Editor Doug Floyd Editorial Page Editor Gary Crooks Associate Editor Rebecca Nappi Associate Editor and columnist

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o some minds, a Southern accent is a tip-off of potential racial hostility. Don't tell that to native North Carolinian Tony Stewart.

He will tell you that the closer you are to the challenges of prejudice, the clearer it is that it's wrong.

Still, the soft-spoken political science professor - who steps down today after 38 years on the North Idaho College faculty - is a walking paradox.

The quiet Southern gentility that marks his personality, for one thing, seems out of place alongside the personal courage that enabled him to denounce acts of racism as a boy in North Carolina and, later, to defy death threats as a human rights activist in the center of North Idaho's Aryan Nations infestation.

If Richard Butler and his Nazi cohort are largely relegated to this region's history now, Stewart had a lot to do with it.

Thanks to him and the colleagues who took inspiration from his unbending commitment to human dignity, the Idaho Panhandle that acquired an unwanted national identity with bigotry also won for Coeur d'Alene the first Raoul Wallenberg Community Award for Human Rights.

Stewart would tell you he's never been able to keep his mouth shut in the face of injustice. Among the founders of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, he is one of a handful of civic leaders (a term he's uncomfortable

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applying to himself) who were determined to eradicate the bigotry that took root in the Inland Northwest.

Although they spent decades at it, it was a demonstration of perseverance, not of patience.

"I'm afraid that in advancing humanity to the point where we should be, we have been too patient," he said once in an interview.

Earlier in his life, he considered politics as an outlet for his passion for human rights, but he event\.lally heeded a friend who counseled that he might be more effective working outside the system, speaking truth to power and pricking the consciences of those within.

When white supremacists embarrassed Coeur d'Alene with a nationally spotlighted march down Sherman Avenue, Stewart acknowledged their free-speech rights. But he became chief promoter of a "lemons to lemonade" strategy, securing pledges that raised thousands of dollars for human rights causes for every minute the racists · marched.

The official announcement of Stewart's retirement is scheduled for today, and he's promised to disclose the direction his life will take next. If anything is clear on this bittersweet day for NIC, it is that if a chapter of Tony Stewart's life is ending, the book will go on.

It would be startling if the next installment doesn't continue in some way to trace the course of human justice.

And if there's a cage to be rattled, look for Stewart's hand on the bars.

B FRIDAY MAY 16. 2008

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

IN BRIEF COEUR D'ALENE

NIC's Stewart to host interviews on KSPS Human rights activist Tony Stewart is leaving North Idaho College but continuing his conversations on big issues as a producer and host for a new serie~ of KSPS public television shows.

Stewart, who has taught political science for 38 years, is volunteering with the Spokane station to travel the Northwest and western Canada and interview academic experts on topics ranging from law and medicine to agriculture and the humanities.

"I'm going to have conversations with great minds in the academic world," Stewart, 66, told a standing-room-only 'crowd gathered Thursday to hear his future plans, which had been a well-kept secret.

Stewart leaves a legacy as an educator and foe of racial hatred.

He was among the founders of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, which became the leading voice against Richard Butler's Aryan Nations.

At NIC he. has organized the annual Popcorn Forum - a lecture series that brings top-tier speakers to town - since the 1970s.

Stewart said he doesn't know who will continue organizing the event.

- Erica F . Curless

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Stewart leaving NIC after 38 years

JEROME A. POLLOS/Press

Tony Stewart, political science instructor at North Idaho College and civil rights activist, receives a hug from a friend Thursday after he gave his f arewell speech.

Tony Stewart says farewell Instructor, activist will join KSPS 1V to produce, host PBS programming

By MAUREEN DOLAN Staff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - Tony Stewart may be leaving North Idaho College, but his work exploring society's intellectual, political and cultural climates while championing human rights is far from over.

Before a standing-room-only crowd

"I didn't want to leave until I had some . other mission that would be very rewarding."

TONY STEWART of more than 100, the 38-year political science instructor and civil rights activist gave a public farewell speech Thursday in the NIC library and announced he will be joining Public Broadcasting System affiliate KSPS in Spokane to produce and host PBS programs.

"I didn't want to leave until I had some other mission that would be very rewarding," Stewart said. "I want to have conversations with great minds throughout the academic world." see STEWART, A 11

''I will never be silent v1hen dealing with prejudice and bigotry."

TONY STEWART

STEWART from A1

throughout the country while working on behalf of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and with the Human Rights Education Institute.

"I will never be silent when dealing with prejudice and bigotry," Stewart said.

The farewell announcement included thank yous to the many people whose lives have intersected his throughout the years.

He also took the oppor tunity to make several recommendations regarding the future of NIC. He urged residents to support the proposed education corridor adjacent to the college and praised NIC, the city and the Lake City Development Corporation for moving forward with the project.

"The education corridor could make North Idaho one of the great education centers of the state leading to unlimited economic growth," Stewart said.

He encouraged NIC's decision makers to find a way to provide "meaningful raises" for all college employees, to continue recognizing human rights and to support legislation that will change current Idaho law and make retirement benefits available to all faculty.

Priscilla Bell, NIC's president, said Stewart has been an indispensable part of the college and the community by bringing change and new understanding to many, especially the thousands of students he taught throughm t his time at N1C. "I can tell you not one ~ f them will forget it," Bell said "He's an icon."

Stewart, 66, said he is creating a consortium of experts from higher education institutes throughout the Northwest and western Canada to "tap all these great minds for PBS conversations on an ongoing basis."

It's a broadening of the work Stewart has done for nearly four decades as a driving force behind NIC's Popcorn Forum lecture series, a signature program that brings nationally recognized subject Bell matter experts to the campus each year to dialogue about societal and historical issues and trends.

Hosting for public television is nothing new for Stewart whose show, 'The NIC Public Forum," is one of the most prolific PBS shows in the country.

"It's only been superseded by 'Sesame Street,"· Stewart said.

Claude Kistler, KSPS-TV's general manager, said the station is pleased to continue its collaboration with Stewart Film footage from last March's Popcorn Forum series hosted by Stewart, '·Earth in Crisis: A Search for Solutions," was edited into five one-hour documentaries produced and set to air on KSPS this summer.

"Tony has been a resource and a treasure." Kistler said.

Stewart will continue s peaking at human rights events on college campuses •

•

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The Press, Saturday, May 17, 2008

SECTION

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"This degree is for everyone who has ever helped us along the way."

Dr. 0. Tony S1ewart

Photo courtesy of Andy Finney

Dua ne B. Hagadone, right, and Tony Stewart, far left, help lead the traditional procession of graduates during commencement last Saturday at the University of Idaho.

I'S r. now Tony 'Ste , art, Duane Hagadon receive honorary doctorates

W

hen the University of Idaho awarded honorary dodoral degrees May 10, two-thirds of the recipients were from Coeur d'Alene.

most proud of.

While ·both men see the summit of their academic honors much the same way, how they got thne was decidedly different.

hard-drinking miners, and in time he was promoted to the lowest rung of the adver tising sales ladder in his hometown of Coeur d'Alene.

"I worked on 100 percent commission and within a year was the ••• Hagadone, who created and still top salesperson," he said.

There are chapters of the rest oversees one of the most diverse and dynamic business operations in of his story everywhere around North Idaho College instructor the entire Northwest, wasn't exactly you: The Coeur d'Alene Resort, this D. Tony Stewar t and businessman your stellar student. newspaper, the multimillion-dolDuane B. Haga done, both longtirnlar luxury condos on the lake. His '1 spent six months at the ers from the Lake City, joined scienUniversity of Idaho and flunked holdings stretch from Wisconsin tist and educator Roger D. Ottmar out," he said. "Well, it's the truth, to Hawaii, but what happened to as the university's 2008 honorees. and that's what I told the stu jents Hagadone on Saturday was singuConferring honorary doctorwhen I spoke to them last weekend. larly monumental. ates at UI dat !S back to 1894, I quit and came home, and that was "I was just extremely proud, and when Idaho Attorney General RZ. a huge disappointment for my parI was emotional," he said. "All the Johnson and Gov. W.J. McConnell ents ." top administrators, the top people received the first ln the ensuing Hagadone, now 75, explained from the university were all there. It 113 graduation ceremonies, two that his father's family couldn't was extremely h umbling for a guy more governors, a state Supreme afford college for their son, so Burl with so little formal education."

Court justice, a U.S. senator, even Hagadone emphasized the imporWhile Hagadone and academia a prince and a princess have been tance of college to Duane that much never quite made it as bedfellows, among the 226 recipients.

Tony Stewart h as never stepped far more.

It's a list relatively short on Duane said all he wanted to do from the light of higher learning. names and really long on esteem. was work .in the newspaper busiHe was well on his way to a PhD at "I would put tJ-js absolutely at ness like his dad did, so Burl sent Washington State University when, the top," Hagadone said in ranking in his words, "I let it get in the backhim to the Silver Valley to sell the significance of his degree. newspaper subscriptions. That was ground because of other work and "On a personal level? Yes, at the commitments." akin to a hell dweller being kicked top," agreed Stewart, noting that his out of his cave to sell matches. So That other work eventually took part in ousting the Aryans remains naturally, Duane Hagadone broke foremost among the activities he's records selling subscriptions to see HONORS, 04

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Stewart into uncharted intellectual and ethical territory.

Over the past four decades, he has become widely recognized as an outstanding political science professor at North Idaho College, visionary and driving force behind his annual Popcorn Forum, and perhaps most of all, as the region's greatest champion for human rights.

Just th.is week Stewart recorded the l ,804th installment of his weekly public

04 THE PRESS Saturday, M ay 17, 2008

forum program, which airs on half a dozen PBS television stations in the region , making the gentle, soft-spoken figure a welcome presence in thousands of households.

"I never missed a program," Stewart says, and that is about as close to prideful as you will ever hear him.

He describes his five or so minutes on the Kibbie Dome stage, being feted in front of 10,000 people, as "rather surreal. It was almost like, 'ls this happening?' It was a numb, humbling moment.

I remember thinking that I could list all of these people who should've been there, rather than I." Indeed, longtime friend, colleague and anti-Aryan attorney Norm Gissel told Stewart, "I get a little piece of that degree."

Gladly, Stewart said.

'This degree is for everyone who has.ever helped us along the way," he said.

become bigger than organizers had initially considered - big enough to sanction official matches.

Hagadone speaks fondly of Stewart as a man who has always stood up for what he thinks is right, and confesses he's in awe of Stewart's devotion to the Popcorn Forum and the weekly TV program.

"I was proud to be up there with Tony," Hagadone said. "His was an extremely deserving honor, and I couldn't have been more proud that of three doctorates, two came from Coeur d'Alene."

On Thursday, Tony Stewart said he's retiring from NIC to pursue another adventure with public television.

Hagadone, meanwhile, wili. continue to pedal the importance of education, both through his annual funding of college scholarships and through his words.

"When I was standing up there it was very much in â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘ Hagadone and Stewart, my mind how proud - well, starkly dissimilar from many the word is 'shocked' - my Dad would be," Hagadone perspectives, helped one recalled. this time laughing another along the way. about it. 'What I tell students Stewart tells the story of a time when Hagadone now is that my success would donated a tidy sum of money have been a lot easier if I'd for tennis courts at NIC, and, gotten a college education. in typical Hagadone fashion , Because I didn't, I had to work that much harder. " he nudged the project to

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Photo courtesy of University of Idaho

Flanked by President 1im White (left) and Provost Doug Baker, Duane B. Hagadone becomes Dr. Duane B. Hagadone.

. Hagadone: uII Businessr. ian, community leader and philanthropist Duane Hagadone is a .hird generation Idahoan who rose from being the neighbor hood paper boy to chairman and CEO of his own higl tly successful and diversifiej corporation, the Hagadone Corporation, based in his hometown of Coeur d'Alene.

His business interests have grown to include newspapers, publishing, property management and hospitality services. He is one of the state's largest private employers with more than 2,500

employees in Idaho, and the Hagadone Newspapers Company publishes 17 newspapers in Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wisconsin.

Few people can be said to have changed the course of a community and region, but Duane Hagadone is such a p~rson. He has taken North Idaho from a resource-extraction based economy to a thriving resource-based tourism powerhouse. see HAGADONE, 0 4

Photo courtesy of University of Idaho

Flanked by President Tim White (left) and Provost Doug Baker, D. Tony Stewart becomes Or. D. Tony Stewart.

D. Tonv Stewart: Political scientist and human rights activist Tony Stewart is a professor, lecturer, author and courageous community activist. His remarkable career of public service, human rights activism and enthusiastic educational outreach has distinguished him as "one of those rare spirits who combines the finest qualities of civility and gentility with

practiced raw courage and moral clarity."

Born in Murphy, North Carolina, Professor Stewart earned a bachelor's degree in social sciences with a concentration in government from Western Carolina University and a master's degree in see STEWART, 04

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HAGADONE

amenities in Coeur d'Alene annual scholarships for Idaho and North Idaho by operstudents to attend colleges from D1 ating restturants, marine and universities in Idaho. facilities, cruise boats, a In addition, he has been Mr. Hagadone envisioned shopping plaza and other inducted into the University a world-class destination facilities. of Idaho Alumni Hall of , resort on the shores of Lake In 2004, the Horatio Alger Fame and the Idaho Hall of Coeur d'Alene, and in 1986, Association of Distinguished Fame, and he received the The Coeur d'Alene Resort 2005 Idaho Businessman of Americans, Inc., presented opened to international Mr. Hagadone with the the. Year Award from Idaho acclaim. Conde Nast Traveler Horatio Alger Award. The State University and the 2006 magazine has cited it as Idaho Business Leader of the award bears the name of "America's Top Mainland the popular author, Horatio Year Award.

Resort" Alger Jr., whose tales of overDuane and his wife, Lola, A golf course with the coming adversity through have been active supportworld's only floating green unyielding perseverance and ers of community organizaopened in 1991 and Golf basic moral principles captions, including the Kootenai Digest called it "America's tivated the public in the late Humane Society, the Coeur most beautiful resort golf 19th century. d'Alene Library Foundation, course." The Hagadone Through the association's the Coeur d'Alene Summer Hospitality Company contin- scholarship program, Mr. Theatre and United Way. ues to enhance the tourism Mr. Hagadone was twice the Hagadone has endowed 60

chairman of the Kootenai County United Way Fund, in 1964 and 2007, and he was . the foun~er of Jobs Plus, an organization to help attract new businesses and jobs to the Coeur d'Alene area. He currently is honorary chairman of the committee to build a new Boys and Girls Club for Kootenai County.

In recognition of a lifetime of leadership and dedication to the state and the region, the University of Idaho is proud to confer upon Duane B. Hagadone the degree of Doctor of Business Administration.

Source: 113th University of Idaho Commencement Program

STEWART

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workshops with personalities that include the late Vice from 01 President Hubert Humphrey, former Senator Howard political science from the Baker, Buckminster FuJler University of Tennessee. In and Carole King. Stewart addition, he began graduate also introduced "North Idaho work toward a doctoral proCollege TV-Public Forum," gram in political science at that airs on six PBS television Washington State University. stations in the Northwest In 1970, he began teachand Canada. He has served ing political science and as program producer and advising pre-law students at moderator for more than North Idaho College, where 1,700 weekly programs on he served for 14 years as wide-ranging topics that have chair of the Division of Social elevated the quality of public Sciences and is currently a discourse. tenured faculty member.

In the 1980s, Professor Professor Stewart founded Stewart was a pivotal leader and continues to chair the in the decades-long grassNorth Idaho College Popcorn roots campaign to promote Forum Lecture Series, a sig- human rights in Idaho and nature event for the college the Northwest at a time and community. Since 1970, when the region faced rising the series has featured more tensions from a menacing than 540 lectures, panels and white supremacist threat. He

played a key strategic role in the pitched community battle to counteract the Aryan Nations and helped construct an impressive regional network of human rights organizations and task forces that continue to monitor hate groups and raise awareness about human rights today.

He was a founding member of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and the five-state Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, and served terms as president of both organizations. He also served as founding board member of the Human Rights Education Institute, is vice chair of the North Idaho College Human Rights and Diversity Committee, and has served for 18 years as faculty adviser of the North Idaho Human Equality Club.

In 2006, Professor Stewart was awarded the Idaho Humanities Council Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities, the latest in a number of prestigious awards granted over the years in recognition of his ongoing dedication to human rights awareness.

His tireless civic, journalistic and academic efforts to promote tolerance, civil discourse and human rights awareness have earned him noted accomplishments regionally as well as nationally. Therefore, in recognition of a lifetime of service to the state and region, the University of Idaho is proud to confer upon Doyle Tony Stewart the degree of Doctor of Human Letters.

Source: 113th University of Idaho commencement program

Idaho:Coeur D:.\lene - Tony Stewart. a longtime human rights chc1mpion in North ldc1ho, said he is retiring from teaching and hosting his public TV show after 38 years at North ldc1ho Colleie.

Stewart, 66. is noted for being che leadmg local voice against Aryan Nations after the white supremacist group began drawing national attention. His show at North Idaho College, The NIC Public Forum. has aired 1.800 episodes. He also organized the 23-year-old Human Rights Celebration for area youth.

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A city's hero Tony Stewart to be Cd'A parade grand marshal

By PATRICK O'BRIEN Staff writer COEUR d 'ALENE - Tony Stewart, the highly regarded fo rmer North Idaho College professor. has been selected as this year's grand marshal in the Fourth of July American Heroes Parade. "lt's a very hum"' bling experi ence." the retired political science instructor said TI1Ursday. "I don't feel lik e l deserve such Stewart wonderfu l honors.''

Others say he does.

Jonathan Coe, president alld general manager of the Coeur d'Alene Area Chamber of Commerce. said Stewart was chosen in part to commemorate his distinguished career at NIC. Further. the chamber selects a community member who exemplifies the parade theme. "American Heroes." ''He is a hero of the community in that he has championed human rights over the last 25 years.·· Coe said.

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Stewart bas received many honors for championing human rights, and was also instrumental in pursuing legal action against the Aryan Nations that led to its ultimate dissolution in North Idaho.

He retired from NIC in May to continue a career committed to social justice with the public broadcasting station. KSPS, in Spokane.

Stewart has worked closely with the chamber in his role as founder of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. ¡ "One does not succeed at any cause without a great team working together," be said.

The Fourth of July parade sponsored by Coldwell Banker

Schneidmiller Realty begins at 11 a.m. July 4 and Grand Marshal Stewart will float by early in the 80 entrant line-up.

Following the parade, this year's festival will include food , crafts, a pie-eating contest and music presented in City Park by sponsor Your Hometown Chevrolet Dealers.

Radio stations will round out the afternoon's musical entertainment and the day will end with the customary colorful explosions over the lake at dusk.

Bob Brooke is organizing a veteran float for the Republican party entry, and is looking for a few good men and women to model a historical array of U.S. military uniforms.

Brooke is also hoping to have veterans of any era join his float.

For information, contact Brooke at 762-3664.

The Press, Wednesday, July 2, 2008

SECTION

C ENTERTAINMENT: Angelina Jolie checks into hospital / C10

Plenty of festivities on July 4 Coeur d'Alene, Spirit lake, Bayview to hold parades

By BRIAN WALKER S taff writer KOOTENAI COUNTY - The

area will be bursting with activities on the Fourth - and in Bayview on Saturday.

Coeur d'Alene, Spirit Lake and be held at 11 a.m. on Sherman Avenue POST FALLS The city's first Fourth celebraBayview will all have parades and with former North Idaho College tion will take on a heritage theme fireworks. Two concerts will be professor and human rights advocate as th e Herborn (Germany) Big held prior to fireworks in Post Falls, Tony Stewart as the grand mars~. while Harrison will have its own Craft and food vendors will also be Band from Post Falls' associate fireworks show. available in City Park at 11 a.m. city and the birthplace of town Here are the activities by comfounder Frederick Post wiU per1l1e Big Mumbo Blues Band munity: will perform from 1-4 p.m. al U1e form at Q'emiln Park .from 6 p.m. park, followed by the rock band to dusk.

COEUR d' ALENE Limous ine from 5-8 p.m.

TI1e Ame1ican Heroes Parade will Fireworks will be at dusk. see FESTIVITIES, C12

A4 THE PRESS Thursday. J uly 24. 2008

N@rtli

Documentaries on global issues to air on KSPS A collaboration between North Idaho College and KSPS Public Television will come to fruition when five 90-minute documentaries tocused on global issues air on KSPS Channel 7 in August. : The documentaries are focused on the theme "Earth In Crisis: A Search for Solutions,'' which was also the theme of the Popcorn Forum and Convocation Series Symposium held at NIC in March. : "With the magnitude of nationally-recognized speakers presenting at the 38th annual Popcorn Forum as well as the urgency of the topic, we decided to bring the issues to an even wider audience by creating these documentaries," said NIC Political Science Instructor and Popcorn Forum Coordinator Tony Stewart.

In May, Stewart announced his retirement from NIC after 38 years with the institution. Host of the second-longest running PBS show the NIC Public Forum, Stewart also announced plans to join KSPS, an affiliate of the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), working with productions addressing issues of today. : 'This series of documentaries was born from a long-standing relationship between the NIC Popcorn Forum and KSPS," Stewart added. : The NIC Popcorn Forum provided the materials for the documentaries. Excerpts from each speaker's keynote address, an interview between Stewart and the keynote speakers, comments from response panelists, interludes from a tnusical piece commissioned {or the Popcorn Forum by

University of Idaho professor Vern Sielert and town hall meetings held at KSPS on each topic make up the documentaries, which were then edited and produced by KSPS. "KSPS is pleased to play a collaborative role with North Idaho College and NIC Political Science Instructor Tony Stewart in order to air the global issues series 'Earth In Crisis: A Search for Solutions,"' said Claude Kistler, general manager of KSPS Television Channel 7.

"The programs reflect the core mission of public television as over the course of the five week series, viewers will be exposed to critical global issues. Our hope is that viewers will listen, learn and participate in any way possible as we confront these important global challenges."

The documentaries will air on Sundays in August from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on KSPS Television Channel 7 in Spokane.

'The Causes of Global Warming" will be aired Aug. 3 and will feature Gregory C. Carr, the chief executive officer and chairman of the Gregory C. Carr Foundation and advisory board chair for the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University. Carr has pledged $40 million over the next 30 years to restore Gorongosa National Park in Mozambigue, Africa.

"Emerging Viral Diseases: A World Crisis" will air Aug. 10. Infectious disease expert Kenneth Alexander, M.D. and Ph.D., a leading researcher and professor at the University of Chicago, will lead the discussion on emerg ing viruses

and the factors that contribute to their emergence.

'The Threat of Contamination to the World's Consumer Products and Food Supply" will be aired Aug. 17. The discussion on this global issue will center around the address by corporate safety consultant Denise Pozen, who has worked as a liaison with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, negotiated product recalls and acted as a primary adviser for clients' international safety standards.

"The Threat of Domestic and International Terrorism" will air Aug. 24 and will feature two experts on terrorism. Jeffrey Simon, M .D., is the author of the critically-acclaimed book "'The Terrorist Trap: America's Experience with Terrorism."

Excerpts from the keynote address and interview with Philip Crowley, senior fellow and director of homeland security at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C., will also be part of the documentary.

During the Clinton administration, Crowley was special assistant to the President of the United States for national security affairs, serving as senior director of public affairs for the National Security Council.

'The Horrors of Ethnic and Tribal Genocide in the 21st Centur y" will air Aug. 31 featuring the history of genocide in the world as presented by James Edward Waller, Jr., Ph.D. Waller is a psychology professor at Whitworth University and the author of several books on racism and genocide.

Information: (208) 7697782 or www.ksps.org.

Friday

A2. THE PRESS Friday, August 1, 2008

August 1, 2008

Retiring instructor leaves Public Forum, Popcorn · Forum history to NIC With 38 years as a political science instructor at North Idaho College, Tony Stewart has given his time and talents to both the college and the community.

But before he closed his office door for the · last time July 31, Stewart left one final gift to ~forth Idaho College and the citi. zens of North Idaho.

Stewart donated the hard copies of every taping of the NIC Public Forum, the NIC-sponsored television forum that airs weekly on public television, to NIC's Molstead Library. Stewart has been the host of the program for more than 36 years.

The television logs include the guests, topics and air dates for the more than 1,800 television shows that have aired over the years.

Additionally, Stewart will give his collection of Popcorn Forum folders to the library. This collection includes 38 folders, one for each year the forum was held, that contain information on guests, topics and panelists for each symposium.

7But of equal interest are the personal letters from many of our distinguished guests and in some cases, a hard copy of their formal speech," Stewart said. "'The folders include many letters from local · residents and their comments about the Popcorn Forum as well as photos of presenters, especially the Chautauqua performers."

The folders contain items such as an "Open Letter to Humanity," which was written by Buckminster Fuller during his visit to N1C as a Popcorn Forum presenter on April 12, 1982.

Fuller was an architect and inventor known to have dedicated much of his life to the concept that individuals alone can improve humanity as a whole.

The folders also include landscape sketches by artist, and member of the Japanese royal family, Kazan Hoshina, who was on campus in 1986, as well as the 1991 Popcorn Forum presentation

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Morris, prod ucer of the famous 1969 Woodstock Festival and the 30city Paul Stewart McCartney . and Wings Over Europe Tour.

The Public Forum and Popcorn Forum folders will be available to the community in the NIC Molstead Library's special collections section along with a human rights collection donated by Stewart in honor of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations' 25-year anniversary in 2005.

"The staff of NIC's Molstead Library is delighted that Tony Stewart has donated additional Public Forum and Popcorn Forum materials to the library," said NIC Public Services Librarian Denise Clark. "These materials will be housed in the library's special collections facility where they will be available to anyone who requests access to them. These invaluable resources will augme.nt the DVD copies of the Public Forum and Popcorn Forum already housed in the library's circulating and special collections."

IN BRIEF COEUR D'ALENE

Wednesday is free movie day Page 2 • Saturday • August 2. 2008

HANDLE

EXTRA

A Spokesman-Review publication

STOR Y IDEAS We want to expand our coverage of North Idaho neighborhoods and we need your help. All you have to do is let us know when something is happening that affects your neighborhood. We'll take it from there.

Contact Tad $rooks, Voices editor.

13208 E. Sprague Ave. Spokane Valley.

WA 99216 or e-mail idahovoice@spokesman.com.

LETTE RS Our goal is to make this page an open forum for readers to discuss neighborhood issues or articles that have appeared in the Handle Extra.

Send us a letter of up to 250 words. Don't worry about typos. We'll fix them.

Be sure to sign your letter with your full name and include your home address and a daytime phone number where you can be reached for verification.

Beginning this Wednesday, free movies will be shown in the Shirley Parker Theater in the Seagrave Children's Library, at the Coeur d'Alene Library, 702 E. Front Ave., every Wednesday at 11 a.m. through August. The movies will include free popcorn for viewers.

For details visit www.cdalibrary.org, and click on the children's program calendar on the right side of the page.

Next Saturday, three classic silent films by North Idaho moviemaker Nell Shipman will be playing in Community Room at 7 p.m. at the library. The event is free. · The films will be presented by Tom Trosky, director of the Hemingway Western Studies Center and professor of English at Boise State University.

For more information, call 769-2315.

KSPS to run 'Earth in Crisis' series North Idaho College and KSPS Public Television will come together to air five 90-minute documentaries focused on global issues. The documentaries will air on Sundays in August from.9:30 to 11 a.m. on KSPS Television Channel 7.

The documentaries are focused on the theme "Earth in Crisis: A Search for Solutions," which also was the theme of the Popcorn Forum and Convocation Series Symposium held at NIC in March.

"The Causes of Global Warming" will be aired on

Sunday and will feature Gregory C. Carr, the chief executive officer and chairman of the Gregory C. Carr Foundation and advisory board chair for the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University. ''Emerging Viral Diseases: A World Crisis" will air Aug. 10.

Infectious disease expert Kenneth Alexander, M.D. and Ph.D., a leading researcher and professor at the University of Chicago, will lead the discussion on emerging viruses and the factors that contribute to their emergence.

"The Threat of Contamination to the World's Consumer Products and Food Supply" will be aired Aug.17. The discussion on this global issue will center around the address by corporate safety consultant Denise Pozen, who has worked as a liaison with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, negotiated product recalls and acted as a primary adviser for clients' international safety standards.

"The Threat of Domestic and International Terrorism" will air Aug. 24 and will feature two experts on terroris~. Jeffrey Simon, M.D., is the author of the critically acclaimed book ''The Terrorist Trap: America's Experience with Terrorism."

Excerpts from the keynote address and interview with Philip Crowley, seninr fellow and director of homeland security at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C., also will be part of the documentaryI' i "The Horrors of Ethnic.and Tribal Genocide in the 21st Century" will air Aug. 31 featuring the history of genocide in the world as presented by James Edward Waller, Jr., Ph.D. Waller is a psychology professor at Whitworth University and the author of several books on racism and genocide.

For more information, call 769-7782 or visit www.ksps.org.

- From staffreports

EGION

PAGE B3

NEWS FROM NORTH IDAHO, THE VALLEY. SPOKANE AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

THURSDAY AUGUST 21. 2008

Randy Weaver's pickup for sale on eBay Owners say they'll use

proceeds to help veterans

BY ALISON BOGGS

Stall w,,ter

A Naples, Idaho, couple have listed on eBay a 1951 Chevrolet pickup they say belonged to Randy Weaver just before his standoff with federal authorities on Ruby Ridge, which began 16 years ago today.

Bret and Lori Skinner say they'll include with the six-cylinder manualtransmission truck a registration certificate showing that Weaver owned it from September 1990 to May 1992. The eBay posting says the light-blue-andrust flatbed has 131,854 mi.les on it.

"Yes, this is the 'Real McCoy,'" the auction notice reads. "We would be proud knowing that it went to someone who would possibly put it ... into a mu-

seum or establish a memorial somewhere as a reminder to what can happen."

White separatist Weaver surrendered to authorities Aug. 31, 1992, following a shootout and 11-day siege by federal authorities that left Weaver's son and wife and a deputy U.S. marshal dead.

The Skinners say they'd like to use money from the truck sale to provide care for needy veterans, to help people who have "defended freedom." Though a previous 10-day eBay auction garnered no bids, Bret Skinner said he thinks the truck could bring in a hefty sum, partly because he heard a Dodge Charger from the "Dukes of Hazzard" TV show sold for millions.

"I think they landed $8 million," he said.

In fact, a replica of that car brought in a bid of close to $10 million in May 2007. However, news reports later said

that the bidder's account had been hacked, and the sale didn't go through.

In February 2008, a replica of the Dukes' General Lee sold at auction for $450,000, according to the Web site worldcarfans.com.

A Coeur d'Alene human rights activist said he thinks it's both "significant and encouraging" that no one bid on the truck the first time it was posted.

"One should never try to make him (Weaver) into a hero," said Tony Stewart, a member of the Ko~enai County Task Force on Human Relations.

Bret Skinner said he and his family have lived at Ruby Ridge for more than 20 years. He said Weaver sold the truck in May 1992 and it changed hands several times before the Skinners bought it from a friend. He said they offered first dibs on the truck to people involved with the Weaver incident, including Gerry Spence, the attorney who defended Weaver at trial. Spence declined.

The 1951 Chevrolet pickup that Bret and Lori Skinner of Naples, Idaho, say belonged to Randy Weaver is for sale on eBay.

Courtesy of Bret and LorJ Slt1nner

The Skinners also have a business selling "memorial" rocks and walking sticks collected from Ruby Ridge. For $25, a buyer will receive a golf ball-size rock, a short history of the incident and

quotes from the Bible. Larger rocks can be had for $35 to $50, Bret Skinner said.

Contact Alison Boggs at (208) 765-7132 or at alisonb@spokesman.com.

KSPS Public 'T.i Television and North Idaho College have joined forces to present five 90-minute documentaries focused on global issues. which will air this month.

The documentaries are focused on the theme Earth in Crisis: A Search for Solutions, which was also the theme of the Popcorn Forum and Convocation Series Symposium held at NIC in March of this year.

"With the magnitude of nationally-recognized speakers presenting at the 38th annual Popcorn Forum, as well as the urgency of the topic, we decided to bring the issues to an even-wider audience by creating these documentaries," said NIC Political Science Instructor and Popcorn Forum coordinator Tony Stewart.

In May, Stewart announced his retirement from NIC after 38 years with the institution. Host of the second-longest-run ning KSPS show, the NIC Public Forum. Stewart also announced plans to join with KSPS to work on productions addressing issues of today. "This series of documentaries was born from the long-standing relationship between the NIC Popcorn Forum and KSPS," Stewart added.

11

"KSPS is pleased to play a collaborative role with North Idaho College and NIC Political Science Instructor Tony Stewart in order to air [this series}. The programs reflect the core mission of public television as over the course of the five week series, viewers will be exposed to critical global issues. Our hope is that viewers will listen, learn and participate in any way possible as we confront these important global challenges. " -Claude Kistler, KSPS General Manager The NIC Popcorn Forum provided the materials for the documentaries. Excerpts from each speaker's keynote address. an interview between Stewart and the keynote speakers, comments from response panelists. interludes from a musical piece commissioned for the Popcorn Forumby University of Idaho professor Vern Sielert and town hall meetings held at KSPS on each topic make up the documentaries, which were then edited and produced by KSPS. The fivetopics. in order, are: The Causes of Global Warming; Emerging Viral Diseases: A World Crisis; The Threat of Contamination to the World's Consumer Products; The Threat of Domestic and International Terrorism; and The Horrors of Ethnic and Tribal Genocide in the 21st Century.

The 90-minute documentaries will air on Sundays in August beginning at 9:30 am.

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Tony Stewart has given NIC and the community much of his time and talent during his 38 years as a political science instructor, but perhaps his most valuable gift to NIC and all of North Idaho came after his retirement in May. Stewart donated the hard copies of every taping of the "N IC Public Forum~ to Molstead Library. Stewart was host of the program for more than 36 years. The television logs include the guests, topics and airdates for the more than 1,800 television shows.

Stewart also founded the '"NIC Popcorn Forum" in 1970.

"The NIC TV "Public Forum" is leaving the air as the second-longest running PBS TV program in America." Stewart said "My favorite part of the 1V series was the extraordinary information and knowledge that we all acquired from our many outstanding guests on a wide range of issues. It was like attending class for the 36 and a half years of the 1V program.''

According to Stewart, the "Public Forum" went on the air in the fall of 1972 under the production of himself and the late Pat Richards, a former NIC communications instructor, and will continue to air on KSPS until December of 2008.The Public Forum will be canceled after its last airing.

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T ony Stewart donated hundreds of hours w orth of taped P opcorn Forums to NIC.

The NIC 1V "Public Forum·· aired on Idaho Public TV every Saturday at 7 am Pacific Standard time and 8 a.m. Mountain time and again at 6:30 p.m. The progran1 is also aired in Spokane at 9:30 am Sunday.

The program reaches an audience in all of Idaho, parts of six other Pacific Northwest states and all of Canada.

In addition, Stewart gave his collection of Popcorn Forum folders to the library. This collection includes 38 folders, one for each year the forum was held, that contain information on guests, topics and panelists for each symposium. ·Toe folders include many letters from local residents and their comments about the Popcorn Forum as well as photos of presenters/ Stewart said. "Especially the Chautauqua performers."

The folders contain items such as an "Open Letter to Humanity,· which was written by Buckminster Fuller during his visit to NIC as a Popcorn Forum presenter on April 12. 1982. Fuller was an architect and inventor known to have dedicated much of his life to the concept that individuals alone can improve humanity as a whole. The folders also include landscape sketches by artist and member of the Japanese royal family Kazan Hoshina as well as the 1991 Popcorn Forum presentation by John Morris, producer of the famous 1969 Woodstock Festival and the 30-city Paul McCartney and Wings Over Europe Tour.

Stewart said that during his more than 36 years of hosting the Public Forum he learned something and was inspired by every guest.

"My simple creed is to attempt in some small way to make this a better world than we found it at the time of our birth and to be judged by how we treat those in life who have not had the great opportunities that we enjoy." Stewart said "Another way to state it is in Biblical terms: ·'We will be judged by how we treat the least fortunate among us."

The ''Public Forum" and Popcorn Forum fulders will be available to the community in Molstead Library's special collections section along with a human rights collection donated by Stewart in honor of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations' 25year anniversary in 2005.

'Toe staff of NIC's Molstead Library is delighted that Tony Stewart has donated additional "Public Forumr and Popcorn Forum materials to the library." said NIC Public Services Librarian Denise Clark.

Stewart has no plans to return to the

See STtWART I PageB7

>STEWART

from page BS

classroom but said he might at some time in the future to give lectures at colleges and universities in connection with his human rights work. Some future projects of Stewart's. include doing quarterly PBS

1V specials for KSPS TV (PBS) in Spokane.

KSPS will announce the airdates. but Stewart said there should be a special every three months. He will also continue with his human rights work, including some consulting with a national human rights organization.

"I found teaching an extraordina1ily rewarding occupation. I was honored and priv-

ileged to instruct over 12,000 students in my career at NIC and one year al Washington State University," Stewart said. "It is very satisfying to observe the intellectual growth of students and follow their future success stories. Although I will miss the classroom, U1ere comes a time to take on other challenges.~

Stewart leaves Public/Popcorn Forum history to NIC After 38 years as a political science instructor at NIC, Tony Stewart has given his time and talents to both the college and the community. But before he closed his office door for the last time on July 31, Stewart left one final gift to North Idaho College and the citizens of North Idaho.

Stewart donated the hard copies of every taping of the NIC Public Forum, the NICsponsored television forum that airs weekly on public television, to NIC's Molstead Library. Stewart was the host of the program for more than 36 years.

The television logs include the names of guests, topics, and air dates for the more than 1,800 television shows that have aired over the years.

Additionally, Stewart gave his collection of Popcorn Forum files to the library. This collection includes 38 fo lders, one for each year the forum was held, that contain information on guests, topics, and panelists for each sym- Tony Stewart posium.

"But of equal interest are the personal letters from many of our distinguished guests and in some cases, a hard copy of their formal speech," Stewart said. "The folders include many letters from local residents and their comments about the Popcorn Forum as well as photos of presenters, especially the Chautauqua performers."

The folders contain items such as an "Open Letter to Humanity," which was written by Buckminster Fuller during his visit to NIC as a Popcorn Forum presenter on April 12, 1982. Fuller was an architect and inventor known to have dedicated much of his life to the concept that individuals alone can improve humanity as a whole.

The folders also include landscape sketches by artist and member of the Japanese royal family Kazan Hoshina, who was on campus in 1986, as well as the 1991 Popcorn Forum presentation by John Morris, producer of the famous 1969 Woodstock Festival and the 30-city Paul McCartney and Wings Over Europe Tour.

The Public Forum and Popcorn Forum folders are available to the community in the NIC Molstead Library's special collections section along with a human rights collection donated by Stewart in honor of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations' 25-year anniversary in 2005.

"These materials will be housed in the library's special collections facility where they will be available to anyone who requests access to them," said NIC Public Services Librarian Denise Clark. "These invaluable resources will augment the DVD copies of the Public Forum and Popcorn Forum already housed in the library's circulating and special collections."

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SFOlfESMAN-REVIEW SEPTEMBER 28. 2008

SPECIAL REPORT: RACE IN THE INLAND NORTHWEST

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Racial incidents fewer, not unheard of, around Lake Coeur d'Alene

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NI inorities overrepresented a1nong felony convictions

BY THOMAS CLOUSE Staff write,

With the presidential election sparking a renewed disc ussion of race, loc;il officials struggle to explain why minorities in Spokane County face higher conviction rates than white residents.

Statistics show tha t in Spokane County this year, black residents are eight times m ore likely to be convicled of a felony than a member of the 92-percent white majority.

J\sk for a cause of that racial dis parity and law enforcement officials use the sam e line: We arrest those who commit the crimes.

Continued from Al

some of the behavior Stewart cites to anti-gove rnment or private-property-rights age ndas.

But Stewart said four tribal members related a story to the task force a few yea rs ago that he sees as a "clear example ... of deep-seated, tragic prejudice."

During a meeting in St. Maries

Stall wnters

On the Web Find stories @ and photos

from the first installment of this two-part series at s-r.com.

Inside >

Kootenai County sent unusually diverse delegation to the Democratic National Convention. > A student talks about perceived racism in high school.

Pages AlO, All

he Aryan Natio ns no longer is the top concern o f a leading human rights activist in Nor th llbho.

Instead, Tony Stewart, co-founder of the Koote nai County Task Force on Human Relations. said he's focused on what he views as. mistreatment of Native Americans in the yea rs since the U.S. Supreme Court awarded control o f the lower third of Lake Coeur d'Alene to the Coeur d'Alene Tribe. .

Stewart. who has traveled the country teaching othe r cities how to combat racist groups, said the racism expressed toward the tribe is the "be~t exn mple" of how this region still struggles with bigotry. . .

That's not necessanl y a view shared by the chairman o f the Coeur d'Alene Tribe. who attributes

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See RACE, A10

See FELONIES, An

RACE

BY ALISON BOGGS AND KEVIN GRAMAN

regarding the tribe's plans for the lake, Stewart said, a man got up and said, "We should finish what we started in the 1800s."

What was perh aps more troubling. he added , was the response to the remark.

"Some members of the audience actually applauded."

Stewart said that since the tribe regained ownership of the lake in 2001 and began chargin!{

dock fees. 90 percent of the population has been cooperative. but 10 percent has not and many of those have made racist comments.

Prejudice is more likely to be displayed. Stewart sa id. w hen an incide nt occurs to spark it. ''The tribe has shown s uch dignity even when they have to deal with s uch offensive languag-e:· Stl'wart :.a id.

Coeur d"Alenc Tribe Chairman Chief Allan said he has the greatest respec t fo r Stewart. but feels he may be overslat ing the prejud ice that exists agai nst the tribe. " I don·t th ink it's gotte n worse-." Allan said. ''l lhink ifs !.!Otte n better. T he tribe is ihriving.·· Allan saiJ tha t as a ,·outh. he n..·mcmheri- cxpnien<"i n~

prejudice in Spokane. bcin~ watched or followed wlwn he went into stores and restaurants. I le said lw bclit·ves thinKS have changed for 1hc bette r, especially since the tribe hecame a major economic.: player in the region. '"Let's be honest; there is r:1cis111 on both sides:· All an said. "The hcst defense against racism is cd ucation.''

Allan acknowledges. however, that work remains to be done in tribal relationships with some government entities and residents.

1n October 2007. the Benewah County Sheriff's Department ended an agreemem to cross-deputize tribal police officers, as

See RACE, An

RACE

Idaho Democrats proud of delegates' diversity

Continued from A10

Kootenai County does. That means tribal police can d etain, but not arrest, violators until sheriff's de puties or Idaho State Police arrive.

Then in July, tribal police patr olling the lake pulled over Benewah County Commission Chairman J ack Buell and his wife, Eleanor, for allegedly violating a no-wake zone. T he police report said chat the Buells made racially motivated corrunents to the officers d uring the stop. In addition, tribal police are asking federal authorities to charge Eleanor Buell with felony assault on a police officer after she aJleged ly struck one of the officer's hands.

The U.S. Attorney's Office has not decided whether to file charges in the alleged assault on Officer John Dressler. a Coeur d'Alene Tribe member.

When media reports of the incident came out, Shoshone County commissioners adopted a unanimous resolution supporting Jack Buell. criticizing T he Spokesman-Review for its coverage and commending Buell for his service to the community.

T he Buells did not respond to re peated ri>quests from The Spokesmm-Review for comment at the time. However, a St. Maries Gazette Record story said the Buells denied the accusations and added that two witnesses, a nearby fisher man and a passenger in the Buells'

appreciation of diversity," Reed said. North I daho's delegation was a microcosm daho De mocrats are of a state delegation that touting the diversity of included five Native the North Idaho Americans; three blacks; delegation they sent to the three Hispanics; three Democratic National Asians; three gay, lesbian, Conven tion, a group that bisexual or transgender ed included two black men, a people; and three people ¡ Native American woman, a with disabilities, said state white woman and a gay man. Democratic Party Chairman That's from an area that is R. Keith Roark. predominantly white: No quotas were involved, Kootenai County is 96.3 Roark said, but the delegate percent white, according to selection plan encourages an 200 6 census figures. ethnic mix and requires .

"It looks like America; it balance in terms of gender. doesn't look like North "What we ended up with Idaho,'' said Mary Lou Reed, was incredible in terms of a former Democratic state ethnic mix," RQark said. ''I senator. would suspect that we "This re flects that we are probably have the most as a Democratic party alive diverse delegation of any o f and well and asserting our the 50 states."

BY ALISON BOGGS 51aff w11ter

I

boat, disputed the police ¡ version of events.

Allan, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe's chairman, regrets that Benewah County has severed the cross-deputizing agreement. ;'The tribe has a lot to offer and is willing to help these local communities, like Benewah County. who need help," he said. "When they are not willing to work together it makes the tribe scratch our heads and wonder why."

H e sees plenty of hope in the relationships the tribe has forg~d with the state of Idaho and Kootenai County, he said.

T his year for the first time, the Governor's Cup fundraising golf tournament was held in North Idaho, at tribe-owned Circling Raven Golf Course.

The event raised $750,000 for high school scholarships, and Allan is proud of the outcome.

"T wen ty years ago, that wouldn't have happened."

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SATURDAY OCTOBER 4. 2008

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1\VCA celebrates its honor roll vVomen of Achievement Awards pay tribute to community service PIA HALLENBERG CHRISTENSEN Staff writer

lt started as the "buck a month program" - a church program trying to raise enough money to feed homeless teens at Crosswalk a roast beef dinner instead of the usual spaghetti. And then it grew and its focus changed just a tad, too.

Today, Harriet Jacobson is running the "Sole to Soul" program which provides shoes, socks and coats to low-income and underserved youth. Last year, Sole to Soul collected $8,000 and on Wednesday Jacobson is receiving one of the YWCA's Women of Achievement Awards for her commitment to community service.

'Tm tlabbergastcd and it thrills me, it's a validation, I think," said Jacobson, a retired teacher who lives in Spokane Valley. "I fee l very humbled. There is a part of me that's gratified and then there's another part that says what l'm doing is what makes my

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If you go SPOKANE YWCA WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT LUNCHEON This year's keynote speaker is Dr. Mae Jemison, an astronaut, scientist and physician, who was the first black woman in space.

When: \/Vednesday,noonto 1:30 p.m. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.

Where: Spokane Convention Center, 334 VV Spokane Falls

Blvd.

Tickets: $125, which goes to support women and children's program sponsored by the YWCA. Call: (509) 326-1 190 ext. 154

Or lolwr ,, /()08 • Saturday • Page ES I he ~poke~miln

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in space. Jemison had worked as didn't take a poll to sec what a general practit1oner in Los people wanted - he did what was Continued from El excited."

Angdes and as a Peace Corps right." life "~Orth living.''

And .Jacobson has turned into medical officer in Sierra Leone Stewart retired from NJC. It was Jacobson who stood up an incred ible bargain hunter. and Liberia in West Africa. where he taugh t political science in front of the congregation at and produced the public TV "I go on my hunches a lot.'' she .Jemison left NASA in ·93 to Unity Church on 29th Avenue said, laughing. "When I feel like l fou nd The .J emison Group, show .. The NCC Public Forum." back in '93, and asked for one really should stop by which combinC'S solar powered in spring. Most people probably dollar from each congregation somewhere, I do, and there's gene rating systems and remember Stewart for his member. every month. usually something there." satellite-based communication to tireless work on the Human

By Christmas that year, and The Martin Luther King provide health care in West Rights Task Force. including many roast beef dinners later.

Center. Crosswalk and the supporting the lawsuit that Africa - among many other there was srill $500 left in the American lndian Center arc projects that combine science ultim:itcly bankrupted the Aryan .. buck a month'' program. among the eight s ites that :ind technology to helter human Nations in 2003. ..We app roached Target w hich receive shoes and clothes from ..You know. no one ever elects health. haJ just opened here, and they Sole to Soul.

Ifs no mistake, by the way. themselves a leader, it comes ~ave us a 40 percent discount on "We are hoping we can grow that there's a man on this year's from the people around you.'' everything.'' said J acobson. That this to 10 sites next vcar," said list.

Stewart said. "1 am so humbled. first load of shoes and shirts Jacobson. "And the.program fills Tony Stewart. fo11ndC'r of thl' There are so many 1:,rrcat people went to the transitional school a hole in my life: I don't play l'vc worked with over the vears Koo tenai County Task Force on the YWCA was running for bridge, l'm not a lady who - l'm accepting this award. in Human Relations and a retired homeless children at the time. lunches. I <lon·t always share a professor from North JJaho their names, for who they arc, fo r ''l'IJ never forge t the staff language with other women College. is receiving the Carl inspiring me." person looked at me and said: this program is a blessing for Maxey Racial .Justice Award. 'this is all new stuff, nobody ever n1e." l<cach Pia 1--/allcnberg T his award can go to any person gives us new stuff.' " said Keynote speaker at the lunch or organization that works to CT1ristc11se11 at (S09) 459-5<127 or .Jacobson. will be Dr. Mae C. J emison. who better human rights. piah@spokcsman.co111 Todav. the focus of Sole to joined NASA in '87 and was one "1 so admired Maxey's Soul is to provide new shoes for of the astronauts on the space commitment to civil rights and children. shuttle Endeavor when it took freedom of s pccd1." said "New shoes arc magical,'' said off in September 1992. Prior to Stewart. "He often took 3 Jacobson. "We ask the kids, how becoming the first black woman position that wasn't popular - Ill'

YWCA

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YWCA 2008 Women of Achievement Award winners >- Arts and Culture: Dr. Elizabeth Welty, for her commitment t o support arts >- Community Service: Harriet Jacobson, founder of the "Sole to Soul" program >- Professional achievement: Kathleen Kozlowski, the director of business development and community relations lor the Spokane Teachers Credit Union >- Science achievement: Kim Zentz; the executive director of SIRTI >- Young woman of achievement: Laurel Fish, a senior at St. George's School >- Carl M axey Racial Justice Award: Tony Stewart. retired professor from North Idaho College and the founder of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations (The Carl Maxey Award can go to a man, woman or organization working for human rights) Photo o l El11Jbeth Welty courtesy ol R1lk S,ng.,, Photogr aphy

The Spokesman -Revi ew

Oc tober a. 200S • Wednesday · Page A 3

Tony Stewart Carl Maxey Racial Justice Award Recipient Stewart is a dedicated community activist who has been combating hatred and racial injustice for decades. After a 38-yea.r teachjng career at North Idaho College, Stewart recently retired as political science instructor and pre-law advi sor.

Stewart has provided exemplary leadership at N1C and throughout the regio n to promote human rights and appreciation of di versity. Stewart is the founding father o f NIC 's ··Popcorn Forum.. seri es that brought hundreds of speakers from around the nation to increase aware ness. unders tand ing. and appreciation of diversity in Idaho and the Northwest. Stewart was also the host of the NIC Public TY Forum since 1981. The weekly program rurs on six PBS TY stations in the Northwest and Canaoa. reacrung thousands of viewers.

Stewart is a founding member of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relation~, the five- state N orthwest Co alition Against Malic ious Harassment, and Coeur d' Alene's Human Rights Education Institute. established in 1998 to promote educatio nal programs on human rights. Stewart ·s leadership through these organizations helped to lead to the lega l defeat of Richard Butler and hi s Neo-Nazi group.

Stewart has delivered countless lectures around the country addressing hate c1imes. overcoming racism. malicious harassment and terroris m. civil li berties and ci\'il ri ghts . Although hjs home base is N orth Idaho, his words and influence to promote social justice and eliminate racism have bee n carried throughout the Inl and Northwest and beyond.

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'60 Minutes' to feature HREI founder Greg Carr currently working in Mozambique

By ALECIA WARREN

Staff writer COEUR d'ALENE - Greg Carr isn't really the type to clamor for attention.

Despite the philanthropist's renowned streak of ch arity over the past decade, including a pivotal role in establishing the Human Rights Education Institute in Coeur d'Alene, the Idaho-born businessman is equally recogCarr nized for his taciturn modesty. If not fo r the buildings and memorials the former Prodigy chairman leaves in his wake, few mig ht be able to trace his contributions across the globe. see CARR, A9

Idaho

Courtesy photo

Over the last four years, Greg Carr has invested all his attention and about $40 million into Mozambique, South Africa.

CARR

THE PRESS Friday, October 24, 2008 A9

from A1

But all that changes this Sunday when ··60 Minutes.. will feature a segment on Carr"s latest obsession: Restoring the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique.

'Tm very glad to have these issues out there,·· said Carr, calling from a hotel in Maputo. Mozambique, on Thursday. "People can have a chance lo learn a little bit more about Africa.·· For the past four years. the former Internet tycoon has invested all his attention and about $40 million into Mozambique. a poverty-ravaged . South African nation still picking up the shards of civilization after 16 years of civil war.

His nonprofit Gregory C. Carr Foundation, forme d in 1999. is fixed upon restoring lhe vast savannas and wetlands of the national park. where the coumry"s species have been picked off by poachers throughout the nation ·s tumull uous past.

Literally lruC'king in animals across thousands of miles of African road lo restock the delicate ecosystem . Carr and his team plan on transforming the park into a tourist attraction and stable job source. Eventually. the surrounding villages. and the entire country, .viii use Gorongosa as a foothold lo hoist itself into a seu·-sustaining economy. he said.

.. I wanted a project that combined nature preservation and human developnent. and so I did a llttle study and came across this national park that was forgotten ...

Carr said. ··Really at the end of the day. I want this lo be (the villagers') project. It's thei r national park. it's their cou ntry. The idea is lo Leach human beings and nature to work together so in the end I can leave and let them continue without me."

So far. fonding the entire projtct out of his own pocket.

Carr has also foot the bill to construct health clinics and schools fo r local villages where hundreds will benefit from such faciliti es for the first time. His organization is also training an anti-poaching team lo ensttre the scarred jungle can heal for good.

He Oies lo Mozambique every other month to work with his team of native scientists and biologists. he said.

The first years were spent in endless safaris. camping out in tents among the park wilderness.

'"lt's true jungle,'' Carr said with a sigh. "You wake up early in the mornings. the birds are singing. We saw a lion in camp once. standing right in front of us. Elephants are poking their noses over the fence. l feel like I'm seeing some of the best that this planet has to offer...

He'll be embedded there for some time. as his foundation made a 20-year contract with the Mozambique government to run the park.

Meantime, he rarely find s chances to stop by his Massachusetts home, and instead divides his time between Africa and his hometown of Idaho Falls.

"Idaho and Mozambique, that's it." he said and chuck· led.

His native state is one of many Carr has showered with the rewards of his financial fin esse.

Wielding a master's in business Crom Harvard University. Carr built a technology empire over the '80s and '90s with telecommunications manufacturer Boston Technology Inc. and Internet giant Prodigy Inc. The business mogul sold his stock in 1999 to create his foundation and fund his true ambition: Promoting human rights and the arts. His donations and contributions have been set at a frenetic pace, pumping his hard-earned millions into projects across the country and around the world.

And he wasn't about to leave his home slate behind. '·He loves Idaho, he's been a wonderful fri end to our community." said Tony Stewar t. board member of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and longtime fri end of Carr's.

After the Aryan Nations in Hayden Lake lost a crucial lawsuit in 1999, Carr purchased the group's compound and donated it to North Idaho College to con-

vert into a peace park.

He also donated $1 million to the then-called Human Rights Education Foundation in 2002 to form an institute and restore the vineshrouded building on Mullan Avenue for its headquarters.

'We never dreamed of having a real center and hiring a staff,'' said Mary Lou Reed. board member of the HREI. "By trusting our group with that large amount of money, that responsibility

gave us the inspiration and the energy and the means that it makes sense to have a human rights center in Coeur d'Alene.'' · Stewart dubbed Carr's recognition on ''60 Minutes•· - 7 p.m. Sunday on CBS - as overdue. ''I would say that individuals like Greg Carr are the future hope of our planet." he said. ''His whole life is dedicated to making this a better world. and he ·s done it."

The Spokesman-Review

Page 86 â&#x20AC;˘ Sunday â&#x20AC;˘ O ctober 26. 2008

NORTHWEST

Young Republicans Club back at NIC Student resurrects group after several-year absence ASSOCIATED PRESS

Luisa Uribe noticed something as she walked across the campus of North Idaho College: Every day she saw a campaign table promoting Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, but none for RepubUcan candidate J ohn McCain.

So Uribe, a Republican, decided to start a Young Republicans Club - a group that hasn't been present at the college for several years.

"I' m not anti-Obama or anything, but what l would like is for students to have both perspectives, to be presented with both political spectrums," Uribe said.

So far, the club has signed on about 60 members, though many aren't active in the club. Still, Uribe said, it gives their political

views a voice on campus.

"The Young Republicans provides a place for them to feel support," Uribe said. "That somebody is behind them."

Representatives from the Young Democrats Club were unavailable for comment.

Uribe isn't sure why the Young Democrats Club has remained active on campus for years while the Young Republicans disbanded. But she said some students may be afraid to speak out about their views.

"There are people that I would say are not very outspoken and maybe they fear that something is going to happen to them, that a professor is not going to be objective or that the students are not going to accept them or something," Uribe said.

But Uribe said that's not the case. Former professor Tony Stewart, who retired from NIC last year after teaching political science for 38 years, is a good example, she said.

"He's a Democrat. I'm a Re publican. But that didn't matter." she said. "He would always tell me. 'You're capable of doing great

'Tm not anti-Obama or anything, bul what 1 would like is for students to ... be presented wilh both political spcctrums."

Luisa Uribe Young Republicans Club

things. Do what you think is right. Go for it,' even though we have different opinions."

Stewart said he always told students they should freely express themselves in his classrooms.

Some of the most powerful classes. he said. are those with respectful, lively discussions encompassing more than one side ofan issue.

"It has always been my philosophy and that of the college and. l think, of the students. that it is really, really important to have an open dialogue that includes everyone's viewpoints," Stewart said.

.\IO~D..\Y. ~O\'. 2+. 2008

CANIPU) i\.lEWS

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Former instructor wins award Tony Stewart honored for pursuit ofrarial justice in Northwest J\ like McCall ')'1,1// ( ol/lnhiaor

Tony Stewart. retired NIC political science instructor and communitv activist. received the Carl Maxev Racial Justice Award at the SpokMe VWCA ·women of Achievement Luncheon. ''It's such an honor Lo receive the award.'' Stewart said. "I am very humbled.''

Named after a man who left behind a civil-rights legal'y in Washington. the award is presented to any person or organization that has demonstrated a dedication in working Lo beuer human rights.

He taught at NlC for 38 years. retiring last July.

"It was time for me lo leave. wasn't it?." Stewart said jokingly.

Stewart created the Nl C Poi> corn Forum and coordinated il for 38 years. The forum featured more than 500 lectures. panels and workshops. He also founded the "North Idaho College Public 1V Forum." which has aired for more than 36 years. Stewart explained how he

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Tony Stewart, who retired after 38 years at NIC, shows his Carl M axey Racial Justice Award .

helped conduct ove documentaries at the end of last rear which will air for 10 weeks on PBS. Stewart has been active in civil 1ights in the community in a formal capacity since 1981. which he explained was a key factor in the '(WCA's $!enerosity in giving him the award.

He has served as president of three different organizations: the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. the Northwest Coalition against Malicious Harassment and the Human Rights Education Institute. the latter in which he

remains on the program committee.

Stewart founded the Task F,,rce in 1981 as a response to the harassment and criminal activities of the local white supremacist Aryan Nations group. The Task Force was active in supporting the lawsuit that ultimately bankrupted the Aryan Nations in 2003.

The Northwest Coalition agaim t Malicious Harassment was established in 1986 and worked with con stituents in sLx states.

The Human Rights Education Institute, located in downtown Coeur d'Alene. was established in 1998 and has served as a place for the community to pursue human rights work. l11e Racial Justice Award is named after Carl Maxey. a prominent civil-rights activist in the Spo,kane area "Maxey was an incredibly wonderful civil rights attorney," Stewart said.

An interesting footnote. Stewart explained. is that in 1972. the second year of the Popcorn Forum. Maxey spoke on the '1ne Role of the Black Community in the 1972 Presidential Election." ·wouldn't it be something if he was alive today to witness this?"

Stewart said about the 2008 presidential election. "It's an interesting connection after all these years.''

The Press, Wednesday, January 7, 2009

SECTION

C ENTERTAINMENT, COMICS HAVE MOVED: They can be found in Food/Health / D4, D5

Inauguration celebration set "11,is is a huge step, a major step. to have the first African American president ,"

By TOM HASSLINGER said Tony Stewart, Staff writer rvent coordinator. ··we've never done this COEUR d' ALENE - No airfare? before. We decided to Stewart No lodging? No problem. do a local party to cel111e Kootenai County Democratic ebrate the historic moment in our Party will be celebrating the inaucountry's history. ·· guration of Barack Obama as the Up lo five million people nation's 44th president from 6-9 are expected to converge on p.m. Jan. 20 at the Lake City Senior Washington, D.C., for the inauguration, which takes place at 9 a.m., but Center.

Tickets are $10, only 200 will be sold for event

for anyone who can't make the trip, members will be making the tri p to tlH' Ycan dance in the new adminthe nation·s capital for the inauguistration to the tunes of "All 11,at ration, including democratic chair Jazz" here at home.

Thom George, stat e vice chair The inauguration should be a Jeanne Buehl, members fro m the cause to celebrate for many people Coeur d'Alene T ribe and democrataround North Idaho anxious to ic delegate Maj and Justin S1ormshed the memory of when the Gibso11.

Aryan Nations called the Panhandle The Lake City Senior Center home, Stewart said . party will also feature a buffet din" It should mean a lot to us here ner. and around the nation; how far Tickets cost $10 and can be we've come as a whole in the last purchased by calling Stewart at 765halJ century," he said.

3932 or Amy Wilkerson at 683-2169.

Several local democratic party Only 200 ticke1s will be sold.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Gala Monday Event serves as Kootenai County Task Force's only fundraiser

By ALECIA WARREN

Staff writer COEUR d'ALENE -They

still have a dream.

And it will take some work. " U we're ever going to have victory over bigotry and preju,-------, dice, it has to be throug h education, to teach people at '!>;I a very young age to show respect for others and rid themselves of any prejudice," said Stewart Tony Stewart, board secretary of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations.

Locals can help that happen.

The task force will hold its 24th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Gala from 5-8 p.m. next Monday at the new Parkside Tower.

The gala is the nonprofit's single fundraiser of the year that ;)rovides means for all its activities.

"It's just a wonderful time for everyone to come together in support of human rights, it's a fun , festive evening." Stewart said.

The event will include wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, live and silent auctions and tours of Parkside with the architect and designer.

Tickets cost $40. and are available at the door or in advance from Stewart, who can be reached at 765-3932.

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The task force, sister organization of the Human Rights Education Institute, nurtures tolerance by donating to local hate crime victims, lobbying for equal rights legislation and speaking on civil rights at schools and churches across the

U.S. "It's all about addressing the rights of people and freedom and equality and justice," Stewart said.

The gala typically nets between $6,000 and $8,000, Stewart said.

The function is scheduled on the holiday as a culmination of a week-long education program about Dr. King that the task force has organized with the school district over the past 24 years.

One fifth-grader from each of the 14 participating elementary schools will present a speech at the gala about what the students learned.

"It's so uplifting, you'll be so inspired by what they say and do," Stewart said.

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The event also honors Dr. King's legacy in civil rights.

Stewart said the task force has witnessed great leaps in civil rights in its 28 years of existence. benchmarked by the bankruptcy of the Aryan Nations in Coeur d'Alene and now the inauguration of Barack Obama next Tuesday.

But there's still a long way to go.

'The work is not over and there's no community in

"The work is not over ... ••· TONY STtWART board secretary the world completely free of racism or other prejudice,'' Stewart said. "We've been here a long time and we'll continue to be here to support human rights and the protection of all peoples and their dignities."

And, as always, they will continue to dream.

The Press, Saturday, January 17, 2009

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Celebration of change Fifth-graders take part in 24th annual human rights event at NIC

By MAUREEN DOLAN Staff writer

COEUR d' ALENE - It was a celebration of diversity, dreams and having the courage to make a change in the world.

Area fifth-grade students participated in the 24th annual Human Rights Celebration at North Idaho College on Friday in conjunction with Martin Luther Jr. King Day. The program. entitled ··Everyday heroes ... The heart of us all,'' featured singing, dancing

CELEBRATE from

''Let ours be the generation that is known for having taken the challenge of not forgetting those in pain ... '' ANA DODSON, Peruvian Hearts creator and guest speakers.

"Let ours be the generation that is known for having taken the challenge of not forgetting those in pain, no matter where they are and to finally eliminate poverty wherever it exists," said Ana Dodson. a Colorado 17-year-old who started Peruvian Hearts, a nonprofit that provides health care, nutrition and education to impoverished children in Peru, when she was 11.

essays they had written about C1 their ever yday "-~ r .f" heroes and .: · ~ · Special Olympics Winter their dreams. ....

World Games are being held "I have a in Boise next month. dream that one Grogan traveled to Greece day families Stewart two months ago to accept won't have lo go the Special Olympics torch. and fight for their lives. that the Flame of Hope, for Idaho we could work together and before it began its trek be one nation, that we would across the continents toward look past our differences and Boise. focus on our similarities.·· '"Tne Special Olympics read Talia Ferguson from has transformed me from a Sorensen Elementary School. person who was shy with low "If we all come together and self-esteem to a confident listen to what each other has and determined person,'' said to say and be kind, I believe Grogan, 35. that we would stop war and Some fifth-graders read create peace."

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Born in Peru. Ana was adopted and brought to the U.S. as a baby.

She began her agency after visiting a Peruvian orphanage with her mother and a group of other kids who had been adopted in Peru.

Kirk Grogan, a Special Olympics World bronze medalist from Rathdrum, took a turn speaking to the students, timely since the see CELEBRATE, C2

The program was attended by 850 students from Coeur d'Alene and 500 from Post Falls.

Retired NIC political science instructor and local human rights activist Tony Stewart said nearly 30,000 fifth-grade students have participated since the program began 24 years ago.

'The first kids that went to this are now 33 and 34 years old. Their own kids are going to it now." Stewart said.

Stewart's college students would talk about attending the program as young children.

'They never. ever forget it," Stewart said.

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NIC cancels Popcorn Forum Funding, format cited as reasons for cut

By MAUREEN DOLAN

Staff writer COEUR d'ALENE -

There wiU

be no Popcorn Forum at Nortll Idaho

College tllis year.

It's the first time since 1970 that tJ1e annual lecture series and symposium will not be held on tlle coUege campus.

Open to the public each spring, the forum featured a week-long string of lectures, panel discussions and workshops focused on CJitical political and cultural issues.

'The Popcorn Forum has been a valued program at North ldaho CoUege

for more than 30 years," said N1C Vice President for Instruction Jay Lee. "And while it will certainly be missed this year, it has not been forgotten."

L=:ti!!â&#x20AC;˘li Lee cited budget and Stewart time constraints as the reasons the foru m is not being held this year, but said N1C is

forming a committee to explore ways the college can continue to provide the community witll lhe same kind of service the Popcorn Forum did.

Founded and coordinated by Tony Stewart, a political science instructor and human rights activist who retired from NIC last year, the forum drew see FORUM, A2

FORUM A1

of not only human rights, but the free exchange of ideas. That's how we all from become better thinkers and doers."

NIC spokeswoman Stacy Hudson thousands of attendees to the college said although the college is conunitted campus. to carrying on the Popcorn Forum's "I think it's an obligation of the legacy, doing it in the same format withcollege to continue a lecture series," out Stewart is a formidable task.

Stewart said. "From my perspective, it "Tony Stewart dedicated countless is the responsibility of all colleges and hours over the years at the helm of this universities to open the windows of the program, organizing volunteers and securworld to the community." ing speakers," Hudson said. "What the colLast year's forum, titled "Earth lege lacks at this point is the overwhelm in Crisis: A Search for Solutions," ing knowledge and experience that Tony addressed challenges facing the planet, brought as the founder and leader." including global warming, emerging Financing for the program came from a myriad of sources. The college presiviral diseases and terrorism.

Stewart, who taught at NIC for 38 years, dent's office and the student association said this is something the college needs to budgeted funds annually.

"Sources that fund the project simply continue doing for the community.

"It would be a tragic step backward if would not include it in their budgets this they didn't," Stewart said. '1bey should year since the event is not taking place," always continue to be in the forefront Hudson said.

Future of NI C's Popcorn Forum uncertain

PAGE BJ

SATURDAY JANUARY 24. 2009

NEWS FROM NORTH IDAHO. THE VALLEY. SPOKANEANDTHE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Former organizer tells college to keep series

BY ALISON BOGGS Staff writer

Tony Stewart, who for 38 years led North Idaho College's popular annual lecture series, gently chastised his former employer Friday for not making plans to continue the Popcorn Forum after he retired.

Stewart launched the series shortly after his arrival at the college in 1970 and led it until he retired last May. Over the years, the weeklong series brought in speakers as noteworthy as former Vice President Hubert Humphrey, civil rights leader Julian Bond and architect and visionary thinker Buckminster

Fuller.

Most colleges and universities have lecture series, Stewart said, and they are especially important in regions as homogenous as North Idaho because they he lp expose students to divergent viewpoints and different cultures. A former Sudanese slave who speaks nationwide about the Darfur genocide, for example, spoke at the 2007 forum.

"The college should not be stepping backward," Stewart said. "That is something the college owes the student body.

We need to move beyond the classroom and provide this additional information."

The college does not intend to allow the Popcorn Forum to fade away, said NIC spokeswoman Stacy Hudson, who called the lecture series a "tried and true tradition." A committee has been formed to examine ways to rejuvenate

it, but, she said, the college hasn't identified someone who could put in the same time and effort that Stewart did.

"He put in hours and hours and hours of contacts with speakers," Hudson said. "When you have a leader of a volunteer event like that, you have a leader that pushes it and makes it happen year after year."

The weeklong series generally occurs in March.

Stewart Stewart acknowledged that he had years of experience and contacts that helped the event come together. But he respectfully disagreed that the college couldn't pick up the pieces and go on.

The faculty and staff who devoted hours of volunteer time to put the event

together are still there and committed, he said. He urged the college to recruit a faculty member to take it over and to give that person free time to devote to it.

"It's never a one-person operation," Stewart said. "I might be the director of the band, but if there are no band members, there's no music. The infrastructure was in place to continue. Whoever coordinates the program has aJI of this support system in place."

The lecture series was funded primarily from two sources, Stewart said the student government budget and the college president's budget for "convocation." The Associated Students of North Idaho College budget still has a $6,000 line item for the forum. In ad-. dition, the president's budget has $8,000 designated for a speaker series of some sort, said Rolly Jurgens, vice

president for administrative services.

Stewart said $4,000 in grant money was left over as well, but Jurgens said that money was not designated in the budget for the Popcorn Forum as far as he could tell.

And those designations did not cover the entire bill. Stewart said he pursued additional funding from sources including Spokane Teachers Credit Union, the Idaho Humanities Council and local citizens Hke Scott and Mary Lou Reed.

Secondly, he said, he drew upon years of connections to bring in highly placed experts at budget rates.

"Most lecture series around the country spend much, much more," Stewart said. "We ran it very conservatively."

Contact Alison Boggs at (208) 765-7132 or alisonb@spokesman.com.

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After 38 years, Tony Stewart's Popcorn Forum gets the axe Scott Fink New., Editor

or the first time since ¡ 1970 the Popcorn Forum will not be heard. The 38-year-old lecture series created and organized by Tony Stewart has been cancelled indefinitely.

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Tony Stewart, former political science instructor, created the for um nearly four decades ago in order to provide students with a window to the world outside our conununity. With the help of businesses in the conununity and nearly 25 members of faculty and staff from the college, Stewart put the forum together to bring speakers and performers to the campus to -share their knowledge and understanding of topics and issues dealing with subjects from politics to cultural diversitv.

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To ny Stewart o pens the 2008 P op corn Foru m. "¡te Pho:o

Bv the Nu1nbers "It was a pleasure doing it," Stewart said. "I watched for 38 years as students came to U1e forum and were very inspired."

Last year's Popcorn Forum covered issues such as terrorism, global warming, pollution, disease, world hunger and economics. ltfeatured a foundation CEO from Harvard, a doctor from the University of Chicago and a director of homeland security from Washington. D.C. among several others.

Along with featured speakers. several prestigious doctors and businessmen and women from around the Northwest gathered for discussion panels. The panels expanded on the topics that were present.ed. Dr. Jay Lee, vice president for instruction is sad to see the forum leave NIC, but assure:- activities promoting the education of diversity and international issues will continue to be pre,ented at the college.

See POPCORN I Page A4

8,000

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"I think the difficult tiring is that S tewart did such a rcn1arkable joh. It t-, l 1ard to J'cplac<~hit 11. ,.

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"I am putting together a committee of faculty, staff and students to rliscuss what we will do to replace t11e forum:· Lee said.

Lee said the biggest issue io decid· ing to cancel IJ1e forum was IJ1e retirement of Stewart.

'Tony Stewart did the forum alone without compensation from ilie college. securing funds, scheduling

speakers and getting volunteers for the event." Lee said. '1 have a great deal of respect for him." · Lee said that it was time for the coUege to move in a new direction. ''I think t11e difficult thing is iliat Stewart did such a remarkable job."

Lee said .."ll is hard lo replace him."

Stewart diS<.."tlssed his discontent Lllat the forum was not held this year.

"I was hoping that the Popcorn Forum would go on this year because ilie funds were already appropriated," Stewart said.

According to Stewart; $6,000 was appropriated for t11e forwn iliis year.

A grant for $4,000 was also set aside from last year and is available for the lecture series. Besides funds alre.ady set aside for the forum, Stewart men-tioned donations by tl1e Spokane Teachers' Credit Union for IJ1C' past two years and by IJ1e Idaho Ilumanities Council for ilie past six years. ·n1ese donations combined from last year were in excess of $8,000.

Rolly Jurgens, vice president for Administrative Services, conf:umed

U1e funds set aside.for a rnnvocatio11s budget, though he wasn't certain how the funds would be spcnl.

'1bc use of those funds wiU be discussed hy a committee." Jurgens said.

'Tony Stewart called me and told me about t11e grant. but bcsicles Ihat I am not c(•rtain wh;it is b<'ing do,w with it. ..

According Lo Lee, more information will be available upon the fonnation of a committee to discuss plans for an alternative to the Popcorn Forum.

PAGEi&

EDITORIAl

Popcorri Forum :gone,notforgotten For 38 years the Popcorn Forum graced : this institution and community. It brought : speakers and performers from around the ¡ world to convene in one place to share their knowledge and experience with those from Coeur d'Alene and surrounding areas.

The cause for the removal of Tony Stewart's legacy, a welcomed educational tool, is dependent upon several factors, according to administrators, and we will be sad to see it go.

While there is promise that other activities promoting education and diversity as well as international issues will replace the forum, it is doubtful they will encompass such a broad spectrum of speakers and topics. But it is hoped that something comparable will be incorporated at N1C in its place.

The Popcorn Forum had a positive impact on the lives of many students and members of our community alike, providing intellectual stimulus to developing minds. We as students deserve to have these sorts of opportunities available to us in the future.

Mr. Stewart took it upon himself to find funding for and organize this event and, unfortunately, it was cancelled upon his retirement We would like to thank Mr. Stewart for all the time and effort he put into the Popcorn Forum during his tenure at NIC. Since 1970, Coeur d'Alene has benefited from the existence of the program and the people it brought to our campus from all walks of life.

In the words of Tony Stewart "If we have a great exchange of ideas, then each of us become better thinkers and doers."

I

the Sentinel

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW THE EDITORIAL BOARD Members of the editorial board help to determine The Spokesman-Review's position on issues of interest to the Inland Northwest

Stacey Cowles Publisher Doug Floyd

Editorial Page Editor Gary Crooks Associate Editor

FeL:,.. ~, ~ "o 'I Jhe Spokesman-Review

In their,· words A selection of quotations from people in recent news stories. big and small "We think it's important, especially during this economy, that there's not one extra penny taken from people's budgets."

- Assistant Attorney General Simon ffltch, chief of the office's General Public Counsel Section, after appealing a rate increase A vista i& seeking from Eastern Washington cmtomers.

"This creates a scary situation for coaches. You have to get beyond fear factor, 'Am I going to be charged with a crime?' and focus on, 'Am I protecting the kids?'"

- Assistant executive director John · Miller of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, after a high school football coach in Ke,:itucky was charged with reckless homicide because a JS-year-old player died of heat-related causes during an August practice.

Mountain man •1f there was a Mount Rushmore in Idaho, Harry Magnuson would be on il• · ·- John Mapuson, speaking at the funeral of his father, legendary North Idaho businessman Harry Magnuson.

"We can't enforce something that we broke."

- Spokane City Councilman Bob Apple, criticizing the inconsistency of a city plan to extend Riverside A venue east of Division along a route closer to the Spokane River than allowed under recently enacted shoreline rules.

"I might be the director of the band, but

if there's no band members, there's no "I understand what I've done is wrong. I should be punished in some way. But I'm not angry. I'm not rude. I'm not offensive.

I don't try to do mean things. I try to be a good person. I'm just addicted to drugs."

- Theft and burglary suspect Cory Morse, who, with his girlfriend, i& accused of stealing fentanyl patches from nursing home residents they pretended to visit.

"If a kid just out of high school wants to be rural director, he might not get the job, but we'll find a way to get him involved."

- Spokesman John Foster of U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick's staff, explaining why the freshman Idaho congressman is inviting all Idahoans to apply for the federal jobs for which he'll recommend appointees to President Obama.

music."

- Retired professor Tony Stewart, calling on North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene to use the resources already it.t place to continue the popular Popcorn Forum program that he launched while on the NIG faculty.

"There is no other country in the world that goes to so much trouble and effort to make sure these fallen heroes are returned with dignity, honor and respect" - Air Force Col Steven Harrison, an Idaho native who recently took command of the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, reflecting on his p revious assignment as head of the Delaware-based unit that returns the remains of fallen U.S. service members to the United States.

The Spol<esman-Review

The Spokesman-Review

March 17, 2009 • ,....._ • Pap A7

Tutu's daughter to speak at event COEUR D'ALENE

NIC concerts honor Stewart North Idaho College is launching a concert series to celebrate the spirit of longtime instructor and buma:n rights leader Tony Stewart.

"In the TS Spirit: Neighbors• will be performed by the college's jazz ensemble and small jazz choir and will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Bos~ell Hall Schuler Performirig Arts Center.

Stewart retired last year after 38 years with the college. All concerts in the series will have the -~ the TS Spirit" title but will have different themes.

For the "neighbors" concert, representatives from community agencies will set up tables in the lobby and present information on their services. Coeur d'Alene City Councilman Mike Kennedy will present the .city's 10-year. plan for han~ling homelessness, according to a news release.

"Part of the reason we're doing this is to show that North Idaho College is full of civic-minded people w ho do a lot for the community," NIC band Director T erry Jones said in the release.

"We want to be part of the solution and show that we are concerned about the issues that face our community.• The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call (208) 769-3276.

Nontombi Naomi Tutu, daughter of Bishop Desmond Tutu ofSouth Africa, will be the keynote speaker at the 12th annual human rights banquet in Coeur d'Alene on March 16.

Tutu will speak on "Healing the Wounds of Racism and Other Forms ofPrejudice" at the banquet sponsored by the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and the Human Rights Education Institute.

Tutu consults and lectures worldwide on the topic of erasing prejudice and bigotry.

She bas served as a consultant for the African Gender Institute at the University of Cape Town, the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Spiritual Alliance to Stop Intimate Violence. She also conducts race relations workshops.

Tutu was born in South Africa and educated in Swaziland, the United States and England. She has taught at the University of Hartford, the University of Connecticut and Brevard

College.

The banquet starts at 6 p.m. at the Coeur d'Alene Inn, 506 W. Appleway Ave. Tickets are $35 per person.

For more information, call Tony Stewart at (208) 765-3932 or the Human Righta Education ~tute at (208) 292-2359.

The Press, Tuesday, February 10, 2009

SECTION

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• Daughter of Bishop : Desmond Tutu to appear : at March 16 event COEUR cfALENE -Ms. : Nontombi Naomi Tutu will be the : keynote speaker at the 12th annual : human rights banquet in Coeur : d'Alene on March 16.

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Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and the Human Rights Education · "' Institute LUCY lEPINSICI announced KE~ Tutu's visit Monday.

"The Human Rights Education : Institute is fortunate to bring Ms. ; Tutu to Coeur d'Alene to speak wi~ us about healing the wounds ere- • ated by biases in areas such as race and gender," said HREI president Lucy Lepinski Nontombi Naomi Tutu was born in South Africa and educated in Swaziland, the United States and England. She divides her time between working in the United States and South Africa. see BANQUET, C6

the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. ,from Past keynote speakers at the human rights banquet She has taught at the have included Morris Dees :university of Hartford, the of the Southern Poverty :University of Connecticut and Law Center, Greg Carr of ;Brevard College. the Gregory C. Carr Human : Ms. Tutu is a consultant Rights Center at Harvard, :and international lecturer on U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, •the topic of erasing prejuMississippi State Attorney :dice and bigotry around the General Jim Hood and for:world. mer Sudan slave Francis Bok. : H~r topic for the human Tickets are $35 per person. :rights banquet will be Information: Tony Stewart, :"Healing the Wounds of 765-3932 or HREI at 292-2359. :Racism and Other Forms of '. Prejudice."

• "Ms. Tutu will address human rights from the global •perspective, which is what our organization does on a local and regional level," said Jo Ann Harvey, president of

)BANQUET C1

The Press, Friday, February 20, 2009

Celebrating Black History Month

SHAWN GUST/f'ress

Sironka speaks to The Friends of Sironka Dance Groupe, a group of Maasai tribe members from Africa, as second-grader Magnuson Mueller is the first of a group of students chosen to play a traditional tribal game Thursday during a performance at Hayden M eadows Elementary School as part of Black History Month.

Sharing a culture African dance troupe performs at Hayden Meadows Elementary

By MAUREEN DOLAN Staff writer

HAYDEN - The rhythms of Africa pulsed through the gym at Hayden Meadows Elementary School on Thursday.

Students bobbed and swayed as The Friends of Sironka Dance T roupe, a traveling group of young Maasai from Kenya and Northern Tanzania, shared their culture through song and dance.

Wearing traditional red dress and beaded jewelry, they plucked students and teachers from the bleachers to join them as they practiced common Maasai dance movements.

"I so want one of those necklaces," said fifth-

grader Becky Stratton of the dancers' brightly colored strands.

The troupe's visit to the elementary school was c<r sponsored by the Human Rights Education Institute as part of its celebration of Black History Month.

Formed in 2001 by Nicholas Sironka, a Kenyan artist and Fulbright scholar, the group not only showcases Maasai heritage, but provides a means for the performers to provide for their families in Africa while raising money fo r education and basic supplies in their home villages.

Nicholas Sironka spoke to the elementary school students emphasizing the importance of understanding different and unique cultures while honoring one's own heritage.

"Take time to listen to each other. Take time to understand each other," Sironka said. see DANCE, C4

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DANCE

from C1

Dance troupe members shared traditional Maasai folk and craft traditions - bead working, stor ytelling, batik dyeing and hair-braiding - with students during separate workshops.

Members of the Human Rights Education Institute's board of directors visited the school during the event to watch the dancers work with the children and to view a display of African-American history adorning one of the school's hallways. Created by students, the timeline chronicles black history from the 1600s through Barack Obama's inauguration.

'This is so important to teach and remember," said board member Tony Stewart.

Stewart said a school administrator told him that one parent, after hearing that Black Histor y Month would be celebrated at the school, demanded his child not be taught anything involving human rights.

"We still have a lot of work to do," Stewart said. 'That's why events like these are so

''This is so important to teach and remember.!'

TONY STEWART, HREI board member

SHAWN GUST/Press

Morio, a dancer with The Friends of Sironka Dance Groupe, performs with the Maasai tribe dancers Thursday for students at Hayden Meadows.

important.¡¡ A similar program

will take place at Winton Elementary School today.

The Press, Wednesday, March 4, 2009

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speakers lined up COEUR d'ALENE - 'foe Human Rights Education Institute announced Monday a list of speakers for the first quarter of t11eir ~o-ye~r s_eries, FASf FORWARD: .

Globahzal1on & Human Rights. The first quarter addresses "Political Power: Who's In Control and Who Benefits" and will run through June.

"The Human Rights Education Institute is pleased lo sponsor such an outstanding series of speakers and P~nelists for our community as ~ partial substitute for the eliminal1~n of the NIC Popcorn Forum," said HREI Program Committee ~p?kesman Tony Stewart.

111e speakers lined up for separ~~~ tl:.tes, one in March and the ~

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other in April, will give their keynote addresses in the Lake Coeur d'Alene Room in the student union building on the Nort11 Idaho College Campus.

A reception and response panel will be held the following evening at the Human

Rights Education Institute on Mullan Avenue.

• The first keynote speaker is Jamie Mayerfeld, associate professor of political science and adjunct associate professor of law at t11e University of Washington.

His topic is "Checks and Balances at Home and Abroad: Why Constitutional Government Requires International Law."

Mayerfeld will give his address March 17 at 7 p.m.

The reception and response panel will be held March 18 at 6 p.m.

• The second speaker scheduled is Mark Gismondi. associate professor of political science and international studies at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa. Gismondi will speak on the topic of "Power,

Principle & Human Rights: The Evolving Relationship Between Justice and Peace in the Int ernational System."

Gismond i's lecture will be on April 14 at 7 p.m. The reception and response panel will be held April 15 at 6 p.m.

The HREI series is Cree and open to the public.

Information : (208) 2922359

Natio

A S Hagadone News Network Friday, March 6, 2009

Human rights presentation Sunday The North Idaho Unitarian-Universalist Church will feature a presentation by Tony , - - -- - - , Stewart entitled "The Future of , 1 Human Rights in the Era of Globalization" on Sunday, March 8, at Stewart 10:30 a.m. in the Harding Family Center on 15th and Wallace in Coeur d'Alene.

The presentation is open to the public.

Stewart, a longtime professor at North Idaho College, raised not only the interest level in government and politics, but encouraged many of the students to run for student body elections, and helped many former students who ran for the Legislature, and other offices.

His most recognized achievements at North Idaho College was the formation

of the Popcorn Forum in 1970, and the NIC TV Public Forum which aired every week for 36 1/2 years.

"His work in human rights has played a dominant role in his life and he was involve d in the formation and operation of the Kootenai Task Force on Human Relations in February of 1981," according to a press release.

"He and others in the group, extended their boundaries in the formation of the Northwest Coalition against Malicious Harassment. The icing on the cake occurred in 1998 when they created the Human Rights Education Institute," Last May, Stewart received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Idaho for his work in civil rights.

During the ser vice, child care is provided. and a refreshment period follows the program.

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Human rights lectures to span two years Series divided into four separate quurtt:rs_. addresses ghbilization, political powers Connor DcVrics

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'l11e Human Rights Education Institute has aunounced the beginning of a new program Pntitled ·~111r Status of Ht1111an Rights in the Era of Globalization." ·nw series will run for lwu years anti is divided into four quarters. 111e program addresses the evolving human rights situation and how globalization has affected huma11 rights. ·'As we haw moved into a kind of world villa~e. we have become tied toget her economically and politically," said Tony Stewart, former political science instructor and creator of the Popcorn Forum. "Our question was, 'How does that :1fiect human rights?"'

111e first quarter of the series will begin this month. II is entitled "Political Power: Who's in Control and Who Be11elils" and will include keynote speeches by human 1ights experts, open discussion times and an exhibit at the Human Rights Center. 111c speed1es will be given

in the SUH. ?nd ;1,A ;,.,(!rl',_.ing discus~:.,cs will be held in the I luml\n Rig-his Cen!:-r.

"TI1is is lhc first time 1h,it we have decided to do something over a two-year period on a partirnlar subject," Stewart said.

Dr. Jamie Mayfield. associatr professor of political scienrt' and adjunct associate professor of law at the University of Washington in Seattle, will speak in the SUB at 7 p.m. on March 17. His speed1is entilll'd "Checks and Balances at I Iome and Abroad: Why Constitutional Government Requin.·s International Law." On March 18. TI1e lluman Rights Center will host a follow-up discussion at 6 p.m. in which students and community members will be e ncouraged to debate and discuss Mayfield's speech. A five-member panel, composed of human rights activists, professors and prominent community members, induding ASNIC president.Tack Vanderlinden, will preside over the discussion. ·'We would love for students to come and ask questions," Stewart

said. "Everyone is invited. It is free and opcn lo the public...

Dr. Mark Gismondi, associate professor of polilical science and internatfonal studies at Northwest Nazarene University. will give an address entitled "Power, Principlr and lluman Rights: tl1e Evolving Relationship Between Justice nncl Peace in the International System" at 7 p.rn.

April 14 in the SUB. Gismondi has authored sc•veral periodicals and the book "Ethics. Llbcrnlisrn, and Realis m in lnternalional Relations." He is also a lecturer for the Human Rights Center in Boise. Again, the Human Rights Center will host a discussion forum al Gp.111. lhe next day.

111c exhibit for the first quarter of the series has been set up in the Human Righls Center. It focuses on various propaganda used by countries, political parties and co11,orations. Slogans for contemporary corporations have been set up alongside historical propaganda from Nazi Germany. 111e idea. according to HREI members. is to show a wide range of propaganda. So far, eight college

classes have gone to see the l'Xhibil. ''l11e exhibit has already opened a lot of dialogue," s~tid NIC art instructor Rachel !Jolczal. who works for HHEI.

She explained that the exhibits for the series would b<' vt-ry arloriented. stJ·cssing tJ1c art in things like the everyday dolhing of v:uious cult11res.

'111is is not .t hoity-toity polilical discourse." she said. 'l11e Human Rights Education Center is also putting together a reading list lhat will be handed out al the speeches so attendees can further educate themselves on human rights. Several reading groups will be organized by the HREJ in which students and community members will read books on human rhthls and U1en discuss the mateiial. 111e meetings will take place in the lluman Rights Center. Times for these meetings are not yet confirmed.

"We would love Lo have srudents involved," Stewart said.

For information. students can contact HRE! at (208) 292-2359.