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A8 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday June 14, 2000 ^ Defeating racism about education conference hears B y M ary Colette SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER W hile the m em ory of last February's attack on two Sikh students at Oakville Trafalgar High School still lingers, one of the victims says it's time to move forward. "People don't care anymore, It's over. We've all moved beyond it", said Asad Ali Moten at a youth conference on racism last week. Moten was one of three OTHS stu dents attending the Training and Assessment Program in Youth Leadership In Race Relations, hosted by the Halton Multicultural Council, at the Halton Region Administration building on Bronte Road, last Thursday. The other two OTHS students were Andrea Hamilton and David Perry. They were accompanied by teacher representative, Rick House. Moten said he was one of the Sikh students attacked after a snowball fight escalated into a racially-m otivated assault. Charges against six youths (five males and one female), all 15 or 16 years of age, are still in the courts awaiting trial. And while Moten would rather leave the incident in the past, the inci dent has left an impression on the east Oakville school. "There's still some sensitive scar tissue," said Perry. "We feel apprehension because it has happened, so there's always the fear that it could happen again. It does n't just go away," said Hamilton. This was the second youth confer ence on race relations hosted by the Halton Multicultural Council this year. The first session gave students an opportunity to discuss issues of racism and discrimination as they pertained to their school community, and to assist them in developing a plan to promote unity and diversity within their schools. The second session gave them a forum to share their progress reports. The OTHS students attended the first conference in March. Since then they have formed a group at the school to deal with racial issues. They plan to proceed slowly and assume a low pro file in order to nurture the fragile heal ing process that has only just begun. All three students will return to OTHS next year, and they are com mitted to implementing new ideas and future proposals. Their focus will be on diversity, making people aware of dif ferent cultures and how to embrace them. The students favour an affirmative slant that relies less on the "anti", or negative rhetoric of the past, and more on a positive approach. They share die belief that the two youth-oriented training programs in race relations have provided them with many of the necessary tools to con struct a more harmonious model that will benefit all cultures. "Com ing back here gives us a renewed boost, so that even though it's hard, we feel we can make a differ ence," concludes Hamilton. It's like w e equipped your w allet w ith a side-im pact airbag^ too. $ School N e w Beetle GLS boards set guidelines for volunteering requirem ents By Tim Whitnell SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER i C o m e s e q u i p p e d w ith A / C , a n anti-theft a la rm a n d a 6 -s p e a k e r s 299*/mo. 3 6 m o n th lease $2,285 due ct sxywig (plus 1* mo. pay., sec dep., PDI, ins., Ik. and taxes) s te r e o sy stem . Boy, w e 'r e really lo o k in g a fte r y o u , h u h ? Visit O a k v ille V o lk sw a g e n to d a y a n d ta k e a test d riv e. Drivers wanted.' (W /) ·Offer applies to a 36-month lease for a 2000 New Beetle G L S 5-speed and includes freight. $2,285 down payment, $298.89 first month's payment and refundable security deposit of $ 4 5 0 required at time of transaction. PDI, insurance, license, and applicable taxes extra. Monthly payments total $10,760.04. L e sse e responsible for insurance. At lease end, le sse e responsible for $0.10/km over 60,000 km, for dam age and excessive wear. Requires V W Credit Canada, Inc. approval and dealer participation. Dealer m ay lease for less. L ea se rate is based on an annual interest rate of 9.0%. Se e dealer for full details and purchase option. Offer ends June 30, 2000. Supplies are limited. C 2 0 0 0 Volkswagen. Oakville Volkswagen 557 Kerr Street, Oakville (905) 844-3285 Fundraising, coaching sports teams, organizing community events or taking part in environmental projects -- these are some of the eligible activities for high school students who must do 40 hours of volunteer work in order to get their diplo ma. The two school boards in Halton have established guidelines for the region's new secondary students now that com munity involvement is integral to their graduation. New Ministry of Education policy in Ontario makes it mandatory for every student, beginning with this year's Grade 9 class, to complete a minimum of 40 hours of community service before they receive their diploma. `W e've developed an extensive list of eligible activities to assist students in selecting interesting and appropriate opportunities for their community involvement," said Bryn Davies, princi pal of the Halton public board's Adult and Continuing Education Centre. He is also responsible for secondary school reform initiatives at the board. Collaboration between the Halton public and Catholic boards resulted in the development of guidelines found in an information manual entitled Community Involvement Activities. It is now available to students, parents and potential community activity sponsors. The manual and the government ini tiative, in general, are being well received by students and parents in Halton, said Davies. "I think we've had the full range of responses, some are excited about the concept of people helping people. I've had no negative calls (from parents), only positive calls. "I know some students who will be able to do their 40 hours over a couple weeks during the summer. So four to five years (in school) should be enough time to get it done. All secondary schools in the region will hold special assemblies or class ses sions before the end of this school year to provide current Grade 9 students with the information they will need to begin · their community service requirement Father's Day G ift Ideas BLACK, DECK PEGGY© distinctive ladies fashions Complete selection of machine-washable mix and match co-ordinates. Available in 100% cotton or 6 5 % - 3 5 % polyestercotton blend. Sizes 8 to 20 (your choice of many fashion colours). 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