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LAWSUIT FROM PAGE A1 It also calls on officials to post notices of the settlement at the factory while also implementing anti-discriminatory policies that ban such acts. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the civil action against Carolina Metal Finishing late last September, filing the lawsuit in a U.S. District Court in Columbia. The EEOC is a branch of the U.S. government charged with enforcing federal employment discrimination laws and imposing the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1991.
Tieron L. Parks, a 35-year-old powder coater who worked at the Bishopville plant, was the whistleblower who tipped the federal agency off to the conditions at the Bishopville metals workshop. According to the lawsuit, he underwent more than six months of harassment at the hands of two white co-workers, who used the Nword and other variants of the racial slur on an almost daily basis. Parks, who is black, said the two men used racially charged terms such as “field n-----,” “lazy a-- n-----,” and “s---ting a-- n-----” in his presence or when talking directly to him. He said the two used derogatory slurs openly
when talking about black people and often in the presence of both black and white employees. On one occasion in May 2012, he said one of the workers commented that he named his dog the N-word, and the other began laughing at the statement. Parks reportedly told managers at the plant about the pair’s use of the slurs on several occasions, including at least three separate times between January and May 2012. However, the plant managers never took action, and the harassment continued, the lawsuit alleged. He eventually filed a report with the EEOC. When he told his supervisors about the complaint to the
This will be Szlavik’s third competition, and Corrigan serves as her trainer. It’s all about a competition lifestyle, Szlavik said — good diet that builds muscle and helps you lose fat along with exercising five days a week. “Missy is good about building in rest days,” Szlavik said. “They’re important for muscle growth. How you space them out is completely up to you.” As a working student, it’s also important to her that she doesn’t spend her life at the gym. The routines normally take an hour to an hour and a half, Szlavik said. “I don’t have to give up any other aspect of my life,” she said. “Well, maybe partying, but I still have hobbies. It’s not consuming, and I enjoy it. You learn a lot about yourself.” Besides the myth of spending hours exercising to achieve these physical results, Corrigan and Szlavik have faced the misconception they starve themselves or use steroids. Corrigan has competed in bodybuilding competitions in the past, but as she is the event organizer, she’s not participating in this one. “With drug testing, it’s an even, standard playing field,” Szlavik said.
Yes, as the name might imply, there will be drug testing before competition as well as a polygraph, according to the flyer. “With the testing requirements, anyone has a chance to win,” Corrigan said. Other myths include buying a bunch of expensive food or supplements and having a boring diet, but Corrigan said it’s more about avoiding processed foods and substances containing high amounts of sugar. For some, this sort of competition is more of a “bucket list” item to check off, Corrigan said, and for others, it becomes a lifetime sport. “She told me once I compete, I’d love it or hate it,” said Roselyn “Roz” Ginn. “I fell in love with it. I like the challenge of it. It’s you versus you. I don’t do as much as you might think. It’s not easy, but it’s not a burden. It’s a lifestyle. If you think you want to do it, just do it.” Her bodybuilding competition days started in 2011, and last March, she and a friend, Renee McCord, opened Katalyst to help others reach their fitness goals. Though not participating at this particular bodybuilding event as it is too close to another one for the Phy-
sique competitor, Ginn said she is excited to see it come to Sumter. “I’m fully supporting it any way possible from marketing to volunteering back stage,” Ginn said. “Now that I’m training, I have a whole new perspective. The coach can tell you a million things to do, but if you don’t like and trust the coach, it’s not going to work. It’s a relationship just like with your doctor or your hair dresser. It’s been very enlightening and very humbling.” You have to be 18 or older to participate, and the cost is only $40. “Since it’s a nonprofit organization, it’s more athlete focused, and with sponsorships, it’s more wallet friendly,” Corrigan said. Besides GNC, 10 other sponsors have signed up, including The Sumter Item. The entry form also features a section to share transformation stories, and special awards will be given in this area to inspire and motivate spectators, Corrigan said. The event is being held at Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St., and is open to the public. The prejudging part starts at 10 a.m., and entry is $15. Finals start at 5 p.m., and entry is $20. For more information, visit ymcasumter.org/scbc or contact Corrigan at mcorrigan@ymcasumter.org or (803) 774-1404.
FIRESIDE
School Class, $200; in honor of Faith Circle from Goodwill Presbyterian Church, $75; Barbara and Buddy Gulledge, $100; in memory of Jean Hoyt from Lula June Stoudenmire Circle St. James Lutheran Church, $75; in memory of Charlene M. Geddings from Charles and Faye McAlister, $100; United Methodist Women of St. Marks United Methodist
Church, $50; Thomas and Mary Tedder, $50; and Afternoon Women’s Bible Study Group from Crosswell Baptist Church, $50; Total Combined Anonymous: $327 Total This Week: $3,427 Total This Year: $38,418.27 Total Last Year: $62,869.17 Total Since 1969: $1,422,598.46
BODYBUILDING FROM PAGE A1
FROM PAGE A1 open, especially if it’s a gas stove,” said Senior Airman Spencer Douglas. “It can be a hazard. Also, make sure you have plenty of space around your space heaters. Those are the two main causes of house fires we see off base.” The treasurer for the association also recommends testing your heater before you run it each winter to check for shorts or other problems. Bethel Volunteer Fire Station also gave a large donation of $250 in memory of Station 13 members who have passed away. If you need heating assistance, call The Salvation Army office at (803) 775-9336. To donate, mail checks to The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29151. Donations also may be dropped off at the office, 20 N. Magnolia St. Names will be printed as given, so please check that they are correct. Spell out acronyms. Donations as of Monday included: Shaw Air Force Firefighters Association Fund, $1,000; Jimmy and Eunice Bradshaw, $200; Unity Sunday School Class at Crosswell Baptist Church, $100; in memory of Porter Medley Jr. from Gail Medley, $100; in memory of Jeanette Harrison from Faye Heape, $50; in memory of Morsby Holland from Willie Mae Holland, $50; Women’s Literacy Club, $50; Faith Sunday School Class from First Baptist Church, $50; Ruth Sunday School Class from Bethel Baptist Church, $50; and Stanley A. Kohli; $100. In memory of Station 13 members who have passed away — Frank Sniecinski, Jerry Williams, James Nettles, Bobby Geddings and Tommy Geddings — from Bethel Volunteer Fire Department, $250; Helen Freeman, $50; in memory or Rose Metz from Richard Metz, $200; Mrs. Paul Hoza, $100; Janette Sisk, $50; St. Mark’s Euzelian Sunday
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federal agency in May 2012, they fired him by the end of the work day. “We are pleased that Carolina Metal Finishing settled this case and that the company will provide training to employees on federal anti-discrimination laws,” Lynette A. Barnes, a Charlottebased EEOC attorney, said in a statement from the agency. “Racial discrimination remains a problem in today’s workplaces and a major concern to our agency. The EEOC will continue to fight for the rights of employees affected by such illegal employment practices.” Officials at the Bishopville plant did not return a request for comment on Monday.
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Roselyn “Roz” Ginn and Natascha Szlavik strike one of the poses they will each use in the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation’s Amateur South Carolina Bodybuilding Championships to be held in Sumter in April.
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