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Show JUNE 19, 1985 DAVIS REFLEX JOURNAL, DAVIS COUNTY CUPPER, JUNE 19, 1985 In Garys Opinion... Immiffiratioe Laws Are Unfair Some things in life just dont seem The Erasmus Family appeared in District Immigration Court in Denver last June 3 and have another court hearing Aug. 8 in Denver before the same judge. Family faces deportation. For nearly five years the Erasmus Family has lived an exemplary life. They have worked and paid local, state and federal taxes, obeyed the law, never relied on anyone for anything, and their three children have been educated in the Davis School District. BLODGETT Clipper News Editor By GARY R. fair! TOPPING this list of unfair happenings is the Lucas Erasmus Family of Farmington. Remember the incident last week? reported on the front page of the Clipper-RefleWhat cant understand is w hy our federal government is so sticky about some things and so lenient that it is pathetic about other things. IF AT that time the Judge rules against continued asythe Board of lum, the Erasmus Family could appeal to That appeal D.C. in Washington, Immigration Appeals three years to and months six up of minimum a take would to be heard. The Erasmus Family faces the decision of waiting for the appeal and having the cloud of deportation still hanging over their heads or accepting the denial of the judge and seek asylum in Canada. and respected where ever they THEY ARE well-like- d go. I know because they moved into Bountiful just around the corner from me and we both attended the Bountiful LDS 18th Ward. Now they face deportation because they are honest people, proud of their Rhodesian heritage. x 1 WHY, FOR example, are people allowed into this country from Mexico, Cuba, Vietnam, etc., without hardly a second thought - and without any concern as to their background. They are accepted because they either need a homeland or they want to improve their lifestyle. People of southeast Asia were forced from their country and sought political asylum in the United States. So did the Erasmus family. They, too, were forced, at gunpoint, from their native Rhodesia- - forced into South Africa where LUCAS notes that by staying without knowing his future would be hard on the family and his business. How could I justify offering a service and not knowing how long I will be in the country? ABOUT A year ago they were visiting a missionary friend - the same one who baptized them several years ago. and decided to have dinner across the border in Mexico. They were out of the country (USA) for only a few hours. But upon their return, a border guard asked their nationality and being honest they answered Rhodesian, but we have proper papers. They could have lied and said American and probably nothing would have happened. Lucas and his wife, Cookie, look American and both speak fluent -- -- - they applied for visa to the United States. Meanwhile, Lucas has been trying everything to keep his family here. The family has met personally with Conin Farmington gressman James V. Hansen who-- resides contact with has and in session is not when Congress both the U.S. senators from Utah. -- English. THATS WHERE the trouble began. They had not lived in South Africa, so technically the visa was illegal. But they had been accepted into political and have lived here for asylum in the United States nearly Five years - meanwhile applying for American Citizenship. NOW, BECAUSE of a fluke incident about a year ago, the issue has been brought to light - and the Erasmus CONGRESSMAN Hansen says he can not intervene as much as I would like to because the incident is a legal case and out of his jurisdiction or political powers. Its very frustrating, but only the courts can decide this matter. But if Congress makes the laws, why cant they have at least limited jurisdiction or power over situations like this. Its sad that something like this can happen in America! BUT BECAUSE of their honest answer, the guard inspected their passports and discovered the papers were from South Africa and the Erasmus Family did not live in South Africa. They were detained overnight and several weeks later were informed that they had broken a federal immigration law and must appear in District Immigration Court in Denver. - -- -- 5 Is GPA 3.0 Or Above? Employees NeedRules College Classes Now Offered Off-Camp-us exact in providing separation explana- By TOM BUSSELBERG CLEARFIELD - Employers should set down definite rules when they hire -- new employees. THAT SAVES potential anguish, misunderstanding, and possibly a lot of bucks, for one or both parties. Thanks to changes in Utahs Unemployment Insurance benefits program, caution is advised to set down clear communication between employers and employees, stresses Byron Davenport, chief of benefits with the state department of employment security. SPEAKING to the Clearfield Job Service Employer Committee meeting, last week, he laid down about a dozen suggestions employers could use to minimize their unemployment tax. clear statements of policy and rules concerning employee conduct at work. Not doing so, he said, could mean ruling in favor of a fired employee if a hearing was ever needed to clarify whether an employee should receive unemployment insurance. Under new guidelines enacted Jan. , employers play in to the unemployment insurance fund use of based in part on these monies. -- WATCH new employees progress carefully. The time to remove someone is before the person builds up a lot of wage credits with you. Its too late to wait six months for the first employee evaluation, for instance, because then all U.I. benefits could be drawn from your contribution since its based largely on a quarterly year. -- Keep accurate records of attendance, tardiness and all warnings given. That can prove invaluable upon a firing for proof and also to verify equal treatment among employees. Employees have won hearings because of proof other workers were treated differently, he told the meeting of employer representatives. 1 -- TERMINATE but dont condone employees with care, violations--eve- Be r. tions. Say claimant was absent for two days and did not call in "vs. "absen-teeim- s. -- Carefully reply to all notices concerning benefit claims and requests for information. Make sure you put down all the facts-- do not draw conclusions. File all relief or applea on time. for requests someone attends heard and ings appeals who has knowledge of the reason for termination. emOffer job openings to laid-of- f is shut If if plant your possible. ployees, down and other work such as maintenance or inventory work is available, offer employment to current employees not yet eligible for vacation leave. EMPLOYERS can't be considered fired for just cause and a denial of benefits wouldnt be made for several reasons. Those include: inefficiency, mere mistakes or unsatisfactory performfailure in performance due to inance, good faith errors ability or incapacity; in judgment or discretion and minor but casual or unintentional carelessness or negilgence in isolated instances. If employees must work length requirements before termination, they can earn from $25 to $186 a week unemployment insurance benefits. That ranges from weeks, Mr. Davenport said, noting U.I. contributions go from federal taxes to support all state Job Service programs while other monies cover costs of actual unemployment benefits. These totalled $148 million in 1983, skyrocketing from $40 million in 1978, for instance. HE COMPARED the U.I. program to a regular health or car insurance, where taxes are like a premium paid by the employer. Those with claims, file. If enough time has elapsed a payment is made otherwise, as with deductables on insurance, no funds will be forthcoming. The employer committee meets three times each year, discussing employment-relatetopics of interest to businesses with committee members drawn from businesses across the county as well as various governmental agencies. -- MAKE SURE first-han- 10-2- 6 d By TOM BUSSELBERG How would you FARMINGTON like to get a head start on finishing off straggling high school credits while also catapolting ahead into college courses? ing will be included. Basic Acting I. will also be offered, giving an introduction to acting experi- ence for the general student, brought together in performance situations. Introduction to Music has three sections and is course in music appreciaa tion for majors. non-technic- al IF YOUVE got a 3.00 point (B) grade h grades, average or above from for Davis a candidate County youre Schools new Off Campus Class Addition program offered in conjunction with the University of Utah. The Concurrent Enrollment program, as its called, is open to incoming seniors and seniors who graduated this month. Credit earned in a myraid of courses will apply toward high school graduation and University of Utah graduation requirements. non-mus- ic 9th-llt- UP TO the tuition costs to nine quarter hours will be paid by the school district with registration possible up to 16 credit hours in any undergraduate course if youve met prerequisites. Classes start Tuesday at the University of Utah with June 28 the last day when fees can be paid without an extra charge. Classes run through Aug. 14 while final exams follow Aug. one-ha- lf 15-1- 6. COURSES cost $131 for one credit hour and $21 more for each additional hour up to $425 for 15 although the student would only pay half that . Subject categories include: fine arts, science, social science and humanities. IN FINE arts, classes include: Introduction to Ceramics, providing an introduction to basic handbuilding techniques in clay, including clay preparation, decoration techniques, glazing and Firing. Reading assignments, lectures and test SCIENCE classes include General Biology, with biology looked at as a modern science stressing organization, genetic control, development, ecological interrelationships, evolution, physiology and behavior. Human Ecology will discuss the biological approach to mans ecosystem. Three course offerings are available in social sciences. General Introduction to Economics as a Social Science explores the role of economics in understanding social problems and in developing techniques for their solution. Topics such as unemployment, inflation, energy scarcity, environment, poverty and role of government are included. INTRODUCTION to Sociology covers the nature and scope of sociology, including the systematic treatment of group life, social institutions, social problems, social change and social control. Current Social Problems in America follows the application of sociology to the study of social problems of particular concern to contemporary society. Informal Logic is the only humanities offering and is designed to acquaint students with some of the fundamental goals of the study or logic and introduces several techniques for evaluating the success or failure of attempts to prove something. FURTHER information is available by calling 581-876- 1. School Volunteers Love Their Jobs Force base. Officials there approached the district, Editor asking what they could do to help. They KAYSVILLE - Once you get a parent mentioned ready availability of experts in volunteer into the schools, they dont a myriad of Fields, from engineering and science to those who could present perwant to quit. sonal accounts of living in places the globe. around AT LEAST thats the response from dozens of volunteers surveyed at 11 CALLING IT a bevy of information, schools in one PTA district, says Edrice Christensen said some real excitMrs. Christensen, county PTA president who resulted in just this first year, ing things waxes full of enthusiasm when the past as personnel from the base did everything or recalled are efforts volunteer years from help with science fairs to provide the future envisioned. Some 53,000 volunteer hours were lectures on travel. Others have joined the growing progaccumulated across the districts nearly 70 schools last year. Even at the mini- ram, with Utah Power and Light now J.A. Taylor Elementary sponsoring mum wage, that would equal about in the School program taxall mill of a county levy to where employees give of their time in a services. their for were they paid payers variety of ways, such as tutoring or giving is A NEW energy level being instruction. breathed into the schools thanks to a PARENTS involved over the past year growing support from parents, grandpaenthusiasm, with one parent expressed business-aand ll combining rents, HAFB to enhance the educational product, she writing: it helped me better understand the program and observe the interactio- nsays, giving much of the credit to the Air By TOM BUSSELBERG Reflex-Journ- al -- : far-flun- ; one-quart- er adopt-a-scho- : ol g I will volunteer again. Another said it gave teachers more time with students and the knowledge that even one person can make a difference and gained insight into how she could help her children with school work at home. Many teachers expressed positive reactions, as well, one noting a volunteer had taped materials for hearing and visually impaired students that she didnt have time to do, for instance. Many volunteers meet with teachers during teacher preparation times and work out strategies, Mrs. Christensen noted. whats happening in the schools. Curriculum supervisors need to prothe use of EVEN grandparents or those without volunteers into summer inservice training youngsters in the schools can get in- while principals should feel less volved. After all, its still your tax dollars threatened about using volunteers in their paying for the schools, Mrs. Christensen schools. At the same time, volunteers said, noting cases where such couples can need to be aware of policies and proceoften impart expertise gained over a life- dures in various schools and the district, time, mixed with a special love for kids. the elementary council noted. Parents and volunteers can often enTEACHERS would do well to have a hance the curriculum through aftertime with their volunget acquainted school enrichment classes to giving an teers, discovering likes and dislikes, extra spunk to a music program. while also providing a time where volunteers can get familiar with students. WHAT ARE some areas where imPTA has been a prime factor in building the volunteer effort, Mrs. Christensen provement could be achieved? A sampling from the Davis South said, emphasizing solid cooperation beElementary PTA Council lists several tween the school district administration possibilities. and school board with local PTA officials. vide ideas on incorporating WORKING with volunteers takes a little time-y- ou have to train them and get a commitment, build a rapporte, she said, noting some initial resistance from a few principals and teachers to volunteers SUPT. LAWRENCE Welling, who WERE A lot more than punch and coming into the schools. It all benefits kids, she emphasized, Mrs. Christensen termed as very sup- cookies s, she reiterated, noting volunteerism helps everybody portive, should stress his feelings of noting there is a purpose were there, from students to teachers to the commun- support of volunteer use in all schools, not the least of which is to help spearhead including the Mountain High School, a growing volunteer effort that she ity as a whole. It helps bridge the void where money shortfalls cant reach and Davis Learning Center and the Davis termed as above now-a-day- Head-and-shoulde- rs gets stronger community involvement in Area Vocational Center. other districts around the state. I |