Fast Company, May 2005, Issue 94, page 93

Title: Politically Proactive , By: Bacharach, Samuel B., Fast Company, 10859241, May 2005, Issue 94 Database: Business Source Premier
Section: PLAYBOOK
THINGS LEADERS DO
Politically Proactive

Make things happen by mastering the game of day-to-day politics.

» Most of us regard politics in organizational life with a degree of suspicion. Office politics--that behind-the-back world of gossip, whispering, manipulation, and Machiavelli--has tainted the positive aspects of having political skills. The difference between someone who can get an idea off the ground and accepted in an organization and someone who can't isn't a question of who has the better idea. It's a question of who has political competence.

Political competence isn't something you're born with, but a skill you learn. It's an out-in-the-open process of methodically mapping the political terrain, building coalitions, and leading them to get your idea adopted. Building a coalition lets you improve your chances of implementing your proposal, increases your chances for surviving any unintended consequences of your initiative, and enhances your position for pursuing future opportunities. Many of us absorb these things as we go, but a systematic approach can be helpful. Think of it as Brooklyn meets Harvard Business School. Here are a few ways to start learning those skills.

You want others to see your idea as you see it. The only way to do that is to constantly reverse the process and think about them and their needs as related to your idea. You have to anticipate what people will say. If you're a newly appointed leader who wants to shift your organization's strategy, there's bound to be resistance. Some may think it's too risky, while others may believe it'll make things worse or wouldn't change a thing. What would you expect? That your colleagues would wrap their arms around you as if this was what they'd been waiting for?

Political competence is methodical. Only through careful preparation and analysis can you understand to what degree key people in your company share your goals and approach. Few people will directly tell you their agenda, so you have to figure it out. Ask yourself: What are their goals? How do they approach implementing change? Determining potential allies and resisters to your idea will make it easier to build a coalition.

Words and approach matter. Persuading people to buy into your coalition is a question of language, expression, and the use of words. It's critical that you not talk past them; you need to make sure that you're talking to them on the same level. If Jeff is talking about IT security and droning on about servers and "Active-X controls," he's going to lose Melinda, whose knowledge of computers stops with email and the Web. Some may view your proposal as being broad and ideological; they're going to want to discuss subtle issues of meaning, symbols, and understanding. Others may consider your idea very specific and will want to get into the who, what, when, where, and why.

The small stuff makes a big difference. Ideally, in trying to persuade others, you should deal with big-picture issues first and then work out the nuts-and-bolts tactical matters. That said, tactical details can be the key to winning over those who disagree with your strategic goals. It may be easier to begin the dialogue with the details and develop trust and understanding that will result in consensus. You have the opportunity to persuade folks on a line-by-line basis. Consider politics in the Middle East. No one can agree on what the broader, strategic goal of peace means. So it's difficult to build a coalition that can support conflicting notions of peace--everything from "live and let live" to significant cultural and commercial exchange. Rather than being caught in the continual debate, if Israeli and Palestinian leaders could negotiate the basics of a shared industrial zone, maybe peace , would follow. You need to know when to focus on nuts and bolts and when to focus on principles.

Proactive political competence is empowering and essential to good leadership. And if done correctly, it'll serve you well.
PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE)
~~~~~~~~
By Samuel B. Bacharach

Samuel B. Bacharach is McKelvey-Grant Professor at Cornel/University and director of its Institute for Workplace Studies. He's the author of Get Them on Your Side ('Platinum Press, May 2005).

Copyright of Fast Company is the property of Fast Company and its content may not be copied or e-mailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder`s express written permission. However, users may print, download, or e-mail articles for individual use.Source: Fast Company, May2005 Issue 94, p93, 1pItem: 16657564

States News Service, April 28, 2005, Thursday

Copyright 2005 States News Service
States News Service

April 28, 2005 Thursday

HEADLINE: NRC ISSUES CONFIRMATORY ORDER TO VIRGINIA FIRM IN WHISTLEBLOWER CASE

BYLINE: States News Service

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

BODY:
The following information was released by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission:
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued an order to Soil Consultants, Inc., (SCI) of Manassas, Va., confirming a settlement agreement between the agency and the company resolving employee-protection complaints against SCI.
In the settlement, SCI agreed to pay a fine of $1,200 and to take additional corrective actions to promote a safety-conscious work environment. Those actions include hiring a contractor to develop a training course on employee protection for company managers and supervisors and implementing that training within six months.
The settlement was reached through the NRC's new alternative dispute resolution program, using a professional neutral mediator arranged through Cornell University's Institute on Conflict Resolution.
NRC's enforcement action stemmed from SCI's termination in August 2003 of a dispatcher it believed had reported safety concerns to the NRC. The NRC staff proposed an escalated fine of $9,600 because the violation was identified by the NRC rather than self-reported by the licensee, and because the company's corrective action was focused too narrowly and did not address management's understanding of NRC regulations on employee protection.
"This settlement shows the value of alternative dispute resolution in the NRC's enforcement process," said Frank J. Congel, director of the NRC's Office of Enforcement. "Soil Consultants, Inc., has committed to promote a safety-conscious work environment and educate its management about the employee-protection requirements in NRC regulations. While NRC will not pursue further enforcement action in this matter, we will evaluate SCI's implementation of the agreement in future inspections."
For more information about the agency's enforcement program, including details about significant enforcement actions, see the agency's Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/what-we-do/regulatory/enforcement.html.

The Baltimore Sun, April 28, 2005, Thursday

Copyright 2005 The Baltimore Sun Company
The Baltimore Sun

April 28, 2005 Thursday
FINAL EDITION

SECTION: LOCAL; Pg. 5B

HEADLINE: Ryan Matthew Holmes, 32, computer consultant

BODY:
Ryan Matthew Holmes, a computer consultant who worked in information technology, died of a heart attack Friday at Howard County General Hospital. The Columbia resident was 32.
Born in Worcester, Mass., he moved to Annapolis with his family immediately after his high school graduation.
Mr. Holmes earned a bachelor's degree in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University, where he was a member of Delta Phi fraternity and sang with The Class Notes, the school's a capella group. In 1996, he received a master of business administration from the University of Maryland, College Park.
He worked for Anderson Consulting, PeopleSoft and Nextel, and at his death was an information technology consultant at Bearingpoint Inc. in McLean Va.
A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. tomorrow at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 109 Duke of Gloucester St. in Annapolis, where he was member.
Survivors include his wife of nine years, the former Janine Lynne Gibson, social studies department chairwoman at Deep Creek Middle School in Baltimore County; two daughters, Riley Maria, 4, and Payton Elena Holmes, 2; his mother, Carol A. Holmes of Annapolis; a sister, Kirsten H. Neuman of New York City; his grandmother, Helen Lamy of Worcester; and a nephew.

INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL (LANCASTER, PA.), April 27, 2005, Wednesday

Copyright 2005 Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL (LANCASTER, PA.)

April 27, 2005, Wednesday


SECTION: LOCAL, Pg. B-5, LATINO NOTES

HEADLINE: Migrant workers sustain economies here, abroad

BYLINE: Enelly Betancourt

BODY:
To many of us, migrant workers are people seen only in documentaries or mentioned in books.
We have all heard of them, but we have no contact because they live on the periphery of society.
Who are these people, and where do they come from?
Many travel between homelands and the United States to work on a seasonal basis. Others are illegal immigrants permanently in the country. Some are legal immigrants. Few are American-born - other than the children, who often work alongside their parents.
They "are treated as second-class citizens. They're always treated as exceptions to labor laws," according to Vernon Briggs, professor for industrial and labor relations at Cornell University.
The migrant worker is not a product of the 20th century.
Women and men have been leaving their homelands in search of work elsewhere ever since payment in return for labor was introduced. The difference today is that there are far more migrant workers than in any period of human history.
Millions of people now earning their living or looking for paid employment came as strangers to the states where they reside. There is no continent that does not have its contingent of migrant workers.
Poverty and the inability to earn or produce enough to support oneself or a family are major reasons behind the movement from one region to another. Other reasons are war, civil strife, insecurity or persecution arising from discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnic origin, color, religion, language or politics.
Those in the United States who support open immigration policies point out that migrant workers play a key role in commerce and industry and keep overall costs low while boosting productivity. They argue migrant workers provide a source of cheap labor and take up jobs shunned by local workers.
In contrast, advocates of stricter border control point to ensuring homeland security and keeping control of government spending on social services.
Some farm laborers put their life in peril day after day as they work in direct contact with crops that have been profusely sprayed with pesticides.
Research states "exposure to pesticides causes an increase in cancer in migrant workers as compared to the general population." For children, the risk is even higher because they are exposed to toxins in the womb of mothers exposed to the pest-control chemicals.
They also are needed to shuck oysters, plant trees, cut lawns, staff kitchens and wait tables.
From the east to the west coast, thousands of businesses are being squeezed by a labor crunch as they scramble to hire employees needed for busy spring and summer seasons.
For more than a decade, they have relied on foreign workers with H-2B visas, a 1990 immigration program that allowed businesses to look outside U.S. borders for workers to fill temporary, nonagricultural jobs Americans increasingly shun.
But in 2005, the 66,000 visas authorized each federal fiscal year were gone by Jan. 3, less than three months after the program's annual start.
President Bush reaffirmed his commitment to change the current immigration regulations, which he acknowledged are not keeping up with the reality of the situation.
No one can deny migrant laborers fill a critical role in the U.S. economy, regardless of their legal status. What's more, they are playing a more important role back home.
Of the total remittances sent back to Latin America and the Caribbean, about 75 percent came from migrants working in the United States. These workers conveyed $16.6 billion to Mexico, $5.6 billion to Brazil and $3.9 million to Colombia.
The workers who send money back to Latin America are living and contributing in two countries, two economies and two cultures all at the same time.
This column appears on alternate Wednesdays and is written by Enelly Betancourt, editor of La Voz Hispana for Lancaster Newspapers Inc.v

Village Voice (New York, NY), April 26, 2005, Tuesday

Copyright 2005 VV Publishing Corporation
Village Voice (New York, NY)

April 26, 2005, Tuesday

SECTION: CITYSTATE; Pg. 20

HEADLINE: NO HARD HATS WORN HERE

BYLINE: tom robbins

BODY:

The American labor movement appears headed for a bitter brawl this summer when the annual convention of the AFL-CIO convenes in Chicago in late July. The sharpest debate will be over a demand advanced by several of the nation's biggest unions that labor rededicate its resources to a massive organizing blitz aimed at big non-union shops like Wal-Mart. It's a demand that carries echoes of the feisty organizing drives of the old CIO in the 1930s, when a revitalized union movement fought to extend bargaining rights to unskilled industrial workers. These days, the workers left out in the cold are more likely to be low-wage clerks at big box stores like Wal-Mart, or undocumented immigrants who are increasingly being handed the nation's toughest chores.
But while fierce debate wages within organized labor over how to proceed, some of the unions espousing the grow-or-die strategy are putting their money and energies where their mouths are. One of them is the Laborers International Union of North America, the 800,000-member construction workers organization that is trying to fight its way back from years of corrupt domination by leaders who were cozier with the mob than with their own members.
Last week, the Laborers collected 50 organizers from around the country and turned them loose in the streets of New York to spotlight non-union jobs, while at the same time providing hands-on training for new recruits. Organizers came from Seattle, Cleveland, Miami, and Los Angeles. Part of the strategy, explained David Johnson, director of the union's Eastern Region Organizing Fund, is to utilize rank-and-file members who show on-the-job spunk and smarts, giving them technical training through Cornell University's labor studies program while at the same time providing a trial by fire, sending them into non-union workplaces.
In an exercise that illustrated what unions are up against, as well as the exploitation faced by some workers, the Laborers targeted one chronic headache, a major interior-demolition company called Advanced Contracting. The Manhattan-based firm has long resisted unionization, while handling work at many of the city's biggest and swankiest office buildings.
The union adopted a two-pronged strategy: It put picketers on the street outside the giant 2 Penn Plaza on West 34th Street, where Advanced is carrying out office demolition on several floors, and secretly dispatched two organizers to work for Advanced to check out conditions and employee sentiments.
The union "salts" were Otto Montenegro, 34, and Luis Guanoquiza, 33, members of Laborers Local 79 for the past five years. Virtually all of the workers for Advanced are Latino, the union said, and it was hoped that Montenegro and Guanoquiza, both from Ecuador, could easily blend in.
They had no problem and, within minutes, had decoded a key secret: Most workers aren't employed by the company itself, they reported, but are hired from temporary labor agencies and treated as independent contractors. A supervisor for the demolition firm told them that in order to be hired, the workers needed to first go to a small temp agency in Forest Hills where they could fill out the necessary paperwork. At the R. Friends Cleaners & Services Corporation on Austin Street, the undercover organizers were asked few questions. They were told they should buy themselves work boots and show up at 2 Penn Plaza at 6 p.m. The pay was $7.50 an hour. "Don't worry, easy job, very easy," a clerk at the agency told them.
It wasn't. The work involved pulling down ceilings and walls and ripping out bathrooms. It was hot, dusty, and dark. "There were no lights," said Montenegro. No hard hats were provided, and workers were given only flimsy paper masks and thin gloves. If you get cut, they were warned, bandage it up or go home. Some areas, the men said, were laced with toxic asbestos, which is supposed to be handled only by licensed workers. No water was provided, they said, or time allowed for breaks.
The pace was relentless. One foreman was "a watcher," who made sure no one slacked off, said Guanoquiza. The other was "a pusher" who drove the men to keep working.
The two organizers kept at it over the next three nights, working 11-hour shifts until 4:30 a.m., when they went home exhausted. No overtime pay was offered or provided.
Since the union's incursion into Advanced was as much for its educational benefits as for its organizing possibilities, an executive decision was made after the third day that the job was simply too dangerous to the organizers' health. Otto and Luis were told to approach their fellow workers, offering them union cards to sign. "We figured the other workers would be sympathetic, but too scared to sign up, and that once the foremen saw what was going on, they would just fire our guys," said Johnson.
But when the organizers passed out cards and explained the benefits of a union contract, 17 of the 18 other workers immediately began filling them out. The foremen, however, behaved as predicted. "You causing problems on my job?" said one supervisor, who immediately ordered them to go home. When they asked if he was firing them, the foreman hedged, presumably aware that to fire workers directly engaged in union organizing can be an expensive violation of labor laws if prosecuted. Instead, he called security guards to evict them.
But this too didn't work out as planned. The other workers announced that if Otto and Luis were being booted, they would go as well. About 15 workers took the elevator downstairs where they were met by Johnson and a backup contingent of Laborers members. After a sidewalk strategy session, Johnson and another veteran organizer, Jerry Ball, who heads the union's organizing efforts in Seattle, called one of the foremen to say that the men had walked out in an unfair-labor protest, and were making an unconditional offer to return to work. This too was a tactic, designed to protect the workers' rights if the complaint reached a labor board hearing. The flummoxed foreman wasn't sure what to do. "You'll have to speak to the top boss," he told them.
The day after the protest, the Laborers invited all of the workers who had walked off the job to meet at the nearby offices of Local 79 on Eighth Avenue. Of the seven men who showed up there the next morning, all but one said they had arrived in the country illegally within recent years, leaving homes in Honduras, Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico. Robert Fuchs, an immigration attorney working with the union, took general histories from each of the men, and explained their options under the law.
All of the workers said they had been dispatched to Advanced by the temp agency, R. Friends, which was listed on their paychecks. No taxes were deducted from the checks and no pay stubs provided. The men said they were told upfront at the temp agency that all hours worked would be paid at the same rate. In what the union said was an apparent dodge of overtime laws, the men received a separate check from another temp agency with the same address as R. Friends covering any hours worked beyond the 40-hour federal limit.
Last week, a woman answering the phone at R. Friends confirmed that Advanced uses workers from the agency but said she couldn't provide any information. Eugene Skowronski, the listed owner of Advanced, did not return calls. Also ducking questions was Vornado Realty, the powerful corporate owner of 2 Penn Plaza as well as many of the city's biggest office buildings. The firm is currently bidding, as part of a partnership with Related Companies, to handle the $600 million transformation of the Farley Post Office into a new midtown train station.
Johnson, the Laborers' organizing director, said there was little surprising about the problems discovered at Advanced: "Abuses of immigrant workers today are like the abuses of unskilled workers in the 1930s that organized labor fought to address. This is the next battlefront."

IPS-Inter Press Service, April 25, 2005, Monday

Copyright 2005 IPS-Inter Press Service/Global Information Network
IPS-Inter Press Service

April 25, 2005, Monday

HEADLINE: RELIGION-US: 35 MILLION AMERICANS ARE ANTI-SEMITIC, ADL POLL FINDS

BYLINE: By William Fisher

DATELINE: NEW YORK, April 25 2005

BODY:
Nearly 35 million U.S. citizens -- 14 percent of the adult population -- hold "strong" anti-Semitic beliefs, according to a new nationwide survey by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) watchdog group.
"When it comes to Jews, old stereotypes die hard," said Abraham Foxman, ADL's national director, "especially about loyalty, the death of Jesus, and power."
For more than 40 years, one of the most stable and telling indicators of anti-Jewish prejudice in the United States has been the question of fundamental Jewish loyalty to the U.S. The survey found that 33 percent of U.S. citizens believe Jews are more loyal to Israel than the United States, no change from 2002. In 1998, it was 31 percent; in 1992; 35 percent.
The 2005 "Survey of American Attitudes Towards Jews in America", a national poll of 1,600 adults conducted in March, found that 30 percent of respondents believe Jews were responsible for the death of Christ, up from 25 percent in 2002.
Previous ADL surveys over the last decade had indicated that anti-Semitism was in decline. Seven years ago, the number of U.S. citizens with hardcore anti-Semitic beliefs had dropped to 12 percent, from 20 percent in 1992.
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, fights anti-Semitism through programmes and services to counteract bigotry.
"What concerns us is that many of the gains we had seen in building a more tolerant and accepting America seem not to have taken hold as firmly as we had hoped," Foxman said.
Ken Jacobson, Associate National Director of ADL, told IPS, "It's true that the experience of Jews in America is different from that in many other parts of the world, such as Europe and the Middle East. Jews have become assimilated and accepted in American society. But what the survey tells us is that even America is not immune from anti-Semitism."
"While there are many factors at play, the findings suggest that anti-Semitic beliefs endure and resonate with a substantial segment of the population."
The survey shows that anti-Semitic incidents reached their highest level in nine years in 2004. A total of 1,821 anti-Semitic incidents were reported last year, an increase of 17 percent over the 1,557 incidents reported during 2003.
Stereotypes about "Jewish power" in the U.S. have replaced many of the classic ethnic stereotypes previously attributed to Jewish Americans.
The survey revealed that while the percentage of people who believe Jews have too much power has diminished -- 15 percent, down from 20 percent in 2002 -- those who hold the most anti-Semitic views are preoccupied with perceptions of Jewish control of politicians, the media and show business.
Many Americans blame such Jewish influence for the U.S. invasion of Iraq, which has taken a high toll of American lives - over 1,500 at last count.
Those who believe that Jews have too much power in the business world have declined in the general population, from 23 percent in 2002 to 19 percent this year. But this view is held by 80 percent of the most anti-Semitic Americans.
The survey also revealed that 35 percent of foreign-born Hispanics hold hardcore anti-Semitic beliefs, (down from 44 percent), while 19 percent of Hispanics born in the U.S. fall into the same category.
The number of African-Americans with strong anti-Semitic beliefs has remained high and stable since 1992. The 2005 survey found that 36 percent of African-Americans hold strong anti-Semitic beliefs, four times more than the 9 percent for whites.
"We are heartened to see some progress in the Hispanic community," said Foxman. However, "We continue to remain troubled and somewhat at a loss to understand why African-Americans consistently have such strong anti-Semitic propensities." African-Americans usually cite economic reasons for their attitudes.
Less educated and older people are also more likely to hold anti-Semitic views.
Jews, however, are not the only victims of hate and stereotypes. In a study conducted late last year by Cornell University to determine how much the public fears terrorism, almost half of respondents polled nationally said they believe the U.S. government should -- in some way -- curtail civil liberties for Muslim Americans.
The survey found that about 27 percent of respondents said that all Muslim Americans should be required to register their location with the federal government, and 26 percent said they think that mosques should be closely monitored by U.S. law enforcement agencies.
Twenty-nine percent agreed that undercover law enforcement agents should infiltrate Muslim civic and volunteer organizations, in order to keep tabs on their activities and fund raising.
About 22 percent said the federal government should profile citizens as potential threats based on the fact that they are Muslim or have Middle Eastern heritage.
In all, about 44 percent said they believe that some curtailment of civil liberties is necessary for Muslim Americans.
The Media and Society Research Group, in Cornell's Department of Communication, commissioned the poll, which was supervised by the Survey Research Institute, in Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Results were based on 715 completed telephone interviews of respondents across the United States.
The survey also examined the relation of religiosity to perceptions of Islam and Islamic countries among Christian respondents. Sixty-five percent of self-described highly religious people queried said they view Islam as encouraging violence more than other religions do; in comparison, 42 percent of the respondents who said they were not highly religious saw Islam as encouraging violence.
In addition, highly religious respondents also were more likely to describe Islamic countries as violent (64 percent), fanatical (61 percent) and dangerous (64 percent). Fewer of the respondents who said they were not highly religious described Islamic countries as violent (49 percent), fanatical (46 percent) and dangerous (44 percent).
But 80 percent of all respondents said they see Islamic countries as being oppressive toward women.
Researchers found that opinions on restricting civil liberties for Muslim Americans also vary by political self-identification. About 40 percent of Republican respondents agreed that Muslim Americans should be required to register their whereabouts, compared with 24 percent of Democratic respondents and 17 percent of independents.
Forty-one percent of Republican respondents said that Muslim American civic groups should be infiltrated compared with 21 percent of Democrats and 27 percent of independents.
On whether mosques should be monitored, about 34 percent of the Republicans polled agreed they should be, compared with 22 percent of Democrats. Thirty-four percent of Republicans said that profiling of Muslim Americans is necessary, compared with 17 percent of Democrats.
The survey also showed a correlation between television news-viewing habits, a respondent's fear level and attitudes toward restrictions on civil liberties for all Americans. Respondents who paid a lot of attention to television news were more likely to favor restrictions on civil liberties.

Crain's New York Business, April 25, 2005, Monday

Copyright 2005 Crain Communications
All Rights Reserved
Crain's New York Business

April 25, 2005

SECTION: REAL ESTATE; Pg. 24

HEADLINE: Lender advances on Fifth Ave. office;
CIT Group eyes space in new tower; Cornell finds it's better to rent

BODY:
In another promising sign for Manhattan's office-leasing market, commercial lender CIT Group is jockeying to grab space in one of the city's few office buildings constructed without any committed tenants at the outset.
CIT executives are negotiating a deal to rent up to 200,000 square feet at 505 Fifth Ave., at East 42nd Street. CB Richard Ellis is representing CIT, and Cushman & Wakefield Inc. is representing building owner Kipp-Stawski Management Group. Asking rents at the building average $83 a square foot.
Sources say that CIT executives had considered a move downtown to 7 World Trade Center, but that Chief Executive Jeffrey Peek preferred to stay in midtown.
CIT, which is renting 200,000 square feet at 1211 Sixth Ave. through 2008, declined to provide details about a prospective lease.
``As a matter of business practice, we periodically evaluate our needs for office space as it relates to our business requirements,'' says a CIT spokesman.
Brokers for the 28-story, 275,000-square-foot-tower are negotiating offers from financial firms of all sizes that like the building's proximity to Grand Central Terminal.
--christine haughney

LEASE RENEWAL IN CORNELL'S PROGRAM
Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations is staying put in Murray Hill, after searching in vain for an affordable building to purchase in the current high-priced sales market.
The school has renewed its lease for 51,000 square feet of offices and classrooms at 16 E. 34th St., between Madison and Fifth avenues, for the next decade. The building's owner, SL Green Realty Corp., agreed to give Cornell the option of cutting back its space to 34,000 square feet in 2009.
Brokerage Newmark represented Cornell, and SL Green represented itself. Asking rents in the building average $35 a square foot.
The university started out hoping to invest in its own real estate, but officials discovered they couldn't afford to buy in a location as central as where they were already leasing.
``(The building) works for their clients, staff and faculty. The Grand Central commuters like it. The Penn Station commuters like it,'' says Cornell's broker, Mark Weiss.
--christine haughney
MONDAY PROPERTIES GETTING JUICED
The busy season for Jamba Juice has started with the return of warm weather, and the chain's chilled fresh-fruit shakes are drawing long lines of customers at its nine Manhattan locations.
Real estate owner Monday Properties wants to get in on the opportunity. It recently leased to Jamba Juice a 1,300-square-foot storefront at 1440 Broadway, at West 40th Street.
``It's popping up all over Manhattan, and people seem to love it,'' says Deborah Frank, a leasing associate for Monday Properties.
Jamba Juice, based in San Luis Obispo, Calif., opened its first store in New York City early last year. The company has four more Manhattan stores under development, slated for summer openings, and plans to operate at least 20 by year's end, says Susan Young, director of real estate for Jamba Juice.
``(During the next) two years, we will do as many stores as possible, based on the availability of quality real estate and acceptable business terms,'' Ms. Young says.
Northwest Atlantic Real Estate Services represented the tenant in the deal, and Monday Properties negotiated on its own behalf. The asking rent was $225 per square foot.
--elisabeth butler

Liquid Africa, April 25, 2005, Monday

Copyright 2005 Comtex News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Copyright 2005 Internet Securities, Inc., all rights reserved. A Euromoney Institutional Investor Company.
Liquid Africa

This content is provided to LexisNexis by Comtex News Network, Inc.

April 25, 2005 Monday

HEADLINE: Roots of Anti Semitism Run Deep Poll Finds

BODY:
Nearly 35 million U S citizens 14 percent of the adult population hold "strong" anti Semitic beliefs according to a new nationwide survey by the Anti Defamation League ADL watchdog group

William Fisher

NEW YORK,

"When it comes to Jews old stereotypes die hard " said Abraham Foxman ADL s national director "especially about loyalty the death of Jesus and power "

For more than 40 years one of the most stable and telling indicators of anti Jewish prejudice in the United States has been the question of fundamental Jewish loyalty to the U S The survey found that 33 percent of U S citizens believe Jews are more loyal to Israel than the United States no change from 2002 In 1998 it was 31 percent; in 1992; 35 percent

The 2005 "Survey of American Attitudes Towards Jews in America" a national poll of 1 600 adults conducted in March found that 30 percent of respondents believe Jews were responsible for the death of Christ up from 25 percent in 2002

Previous ADL surveys over the last decade had indicated that anti Semitism was in decline Seven years ago the number of U S citizens with hardcore anti Semitic beliefs had dropped to 12 percent from 20 percent in 1992

The Anti Defamation League founded in 1913 fights anti Semitism through programmes and services to counteract hatred prejudice and bigotry

"What concerns us is that many of the gains we had seen in building a more tolerant and accepting America seem not to have taken hold as firmly as we had hoped " Foxman said

Ken Jacobson Associate National Director of ADL told IPS "It s true that the experience of Jews in America is different from that in many other parts of the world such as Europe and the Middle East Jews have become assimilated and accepted in American society But what the survey tells us is that even America is not immune from anti Semitism "

"While there are many factors at play the findings suggest that anti Semitic beliefs endure and resonate with a substantial segment of the population "

The survey shows that anti Semitic incidents reached their highest level in nine years in 2004 A total of 1 821 anti Semitic incidents were reported last year an increase of 17 percent over the 1 557 incidents reported during 2003

Stereotypes about "Jewish power" in the U S have replaced many of the classic ethnic stereotypes previously attributed to Jewish Americans The survey revealed that while the percentage of people who believe Jews have too much power has diminished 15 percent down from 20 percent in 2002 those who hold the most anti Semitic views are preoccupied with perceptions of Jewish control

Those who believe that Jews have too much power in the business world have declined in the general population from 23 percent in 2002 to 19 percent this year But this view is held by 80 percent of the most anti Semitic Americans

The survey also revealed that 35 percent of foreign born Hispanics hold hardcore anti Semitic beliefs down from 44 percent while 19 percent of Hispanics born in the U S fall into the same category

The number of African Americans with strong anti Semitic beliefs has remained high and stable since 1992 The 2005 survey found that 36 percent of African Americans hold strong anti Semitic beliefs four times more than the 9 percent for whites

"We are heartened to see some progress in the Hispanic community " said Foxman However "We continue to remain troubled and somewhat at a loss to understand why African Americans consistently have such strong anti Semitic propensities "

Less educated and older people are also more likely to hold anti Semitic views

Jews however are not the only victims of hate and stereotypes In a study conducted late last year by Cornell University to determine how much the public fears terrorism almost half of respondents polled nationally said they believe the U S government should in some way curtail civil liberties for Muslim Americans

The survey found that about 27 percent of respondents said that all Muslim Americans should be required to register their location with the federal government and 26 percent said they think that mosques should be closely monitored by U S law enforcement agencies

Twenty nine percent agreed that undercover law enforcement agents should infiltrate Muslim civic and volunteer organisations in order to keep tabs on their activities and fund raising

About 22 percent said the federal government should profile citizens as potential threats based on the fact that they are Muslim or have Middle Eastern heritage

In all about 44 percent said they believe that some curtailment of civil liberties is necessary for Muslim Americans

The Media and Society Research Group in Cornell s Department of Communication commissioned the poll which was supervised by the Survey Research Institute in Cornell s School of Industrial and Labor Relations Results were based on 715 completed telephone interviews of respondents across the United States

The survey also examined the relation of religiosity to perceptions of Islam and Islamic countries among Christian respondents Sixty five percent of self described highly religious people queried said they view Islam as encouraging violence more than other religions do; in comparison 42 percent of the respondents who said they were not highly religious saw Islam as encouraging violence

In addition highly religious respondents also were more likely to describe Islamic countries as violent 64 percent fanatical 61 percent and dangerous 64 percent Fewer of the respondents who said they were not highly religious described Islamic countries as violent 49 percent fanatical 46 percent and dangerous 44 percent

But 80 percent of all respondents said they see Islamic countries as being oppressive toward women

Researchers found that opinions on restricting civil liberties for Muslim Americans also vary by political self identification About 40 percent of Republican respondents agreed that Muslim Americans should be required to register their whereabouts compared with 24 percent of Democratic respondents and 17 percent of independents

Forty one percent of Republican respondents said that Muslim American civic groups should be infiltrated compared with 21 percent of Democrats and 27 percent of independents

On whether mosques should be monitored about 34 percent of the Republicans polled agreed they should be compared with 22 percent of Democrats Thirty four percent of Republicans said that profiling of Muslim Americans is necessary compared with 17 percent of Democrats

The survey also showed a correlation between television news viewing habits a respondent s fear level and attitudes toward restrictions on civil liberties for all Americans Respondents who paid a lot of attention to television news were more likely to favor restrictions on civil liberties

The New York Times, April 24, 2005, Sunday

Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company
The New York Times

April 24, 2005 Sunday
Late Edition - Final

SECTION: Section 14LI; Column 1; Long Island Weekly Desk; Pg. 8

HEADLINE: Helping Small Businesses Get the Growth Capital They Need

BYLINE: By ROSAMARIA MANCINI

DATELINE: BETHPAGE

BODY:
THE growth of J.D'Addario & Company into a giant in musical-instrument accessories is a result of strategic planning and targeted marketing. But the loans arranged for the company by the Long Island Development Corporation cannot be underestimated.
''The L.I.D.C. helped to get us off the ground,'' said John D'Addario Jr., the executive vice president. ''They helped us with the financing we needed to build new facilities,'' he said, by assisting in getting three Small Business Administration loans.
J.D'Addario, based in Farmingdale, makes strings for musical instruments. In 1980, the year it received a $175,000 Small Business Administration loan, which helped pay for the construction of a 25,000-square-foot headquarters, the company had 110 employees and sales of about $5 million.
By its third S.B.A. loan in 1989 -- for $220,000, to build a 14,000-square-foot building for the automation and printing divisions -- the company had more than doubled its number of employees, to 225, and sales had tripled, to $15 million.
Today, the company has 950 employees, and sales last year totaled about $94 million.
J.D'Addario is among the companies, including Sleepy's, Uncle Wally's and Gold's Pure Food Products, that have grown because of loan programs assembled by the development corporation.
''They were with us, providing us with the right financial help when we needed it most,'' Mr. D'Addario said.
This year marks 25 years in business for the nonprofit private development corporation, which has closed 1,028 small-business loans worth more than $475 million. Loans worth another $100 million have been approved but have not yet closed.
''The mission has always been the same -- it's about small businesses investing in capital assets,'' said Roslyn Goldmacher, a founder, the president and the chief executive of the development corporation. ''If they do, they expand, create more jobs and invest in the Long Island economy. It's just a win-win situation.''
The corporation, based in Bethpage, has 22 employees and offers a variety of loans to businesses, including its most popular, the government-backed Small Business Administration 504 loan.
The S.B.A. 504 program works like this: The borrower puts down 10 percent, the development corporation picks up 40 percent and a bank covers the remaining 50 percent. The development corporation's money comes from government-backed bonds that have been pooled nationally by other providers in the S.B.A. 504 program and then sold to institutional investors. The loans are capped at different amounts depending on the type of business, ranging from $10,000 to $1 million.
''It's a program that doesn't require small businesses to sink a lot of their cash into the investment of capital assets and allows them to continue to operate smoothly,'' Ms. Goldmacher said.
The development corporation's loan programs have also helped to attract and retain businesses.
Last year, a $1 million S.B.A. loan helped the Lanco Corporation, a chocolate manufacturer, buy a 70,000-square-foot plant in Hauppauge and expand it by another 50,000 square feet.
''They made doing business in New York possible,'' said Brian Landow, Lanco's president. ''Our new building allows us to keep operations here.''
Steven Gold, an owner of Gold's Pure Food Products, which makes prepared horseradish and other condiments, said that in the early 1990's the company was considering whether to expand its plant in Brooklyn or relocate. The development corporation's financial plan lured the company to Hempstead.
''The Long Island Development Corporation made it really easy for us,'' Mr. Gold said. ''They did all the work and gave it to us on a platter, and we came.''
The development corporation's list of loan programs includes the Long Island Minority and Women Entrepreneurial Loan Fund, which offers loans up to $50,000 for businesses owned by women or members of minorities, and the Long Island Small Business Assistance Corporation, which offers loans up to $10,000 for businesses owned by women.
The development corporation has also helped Long Island businesses win more than $1 billion in government and private contracts under a procurement technical-assistance program, which it created with the Defense Department in 1986.
In 1994 the development corporation started working with Fireworks by Grucci, in Brookhaven, and helped it win a $1.3 million contract to make simulated missiles for Army training exercises. The company has continued to work with the military.
''This has been an excellent for us, and we are thankful to the L.I.D.C. for helping us to get started,'' said Phil Grucci, the executive vice president of Fireworks by Grucci. ''Without their help we would never be working with the government.''
Matthew Crosson, the president of the Long Island Association, the largest business organization in Nassau and Suffolk, described the development corporation as a ''bedrock institution on Long Island.''
''It's the place where small business can turn to for financial help and get it,'' Mr. Crosson said. ''Roz and her staff are spectacular.''
But Ms. Goldmacher never planned on a career in the financial world.
She received a bachelor's degree from Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations in 1975 and imagined a career as a union leader or organizer. She then studied labor law at Hofstra and began working closely with Irving Rome, a lawyer who was involved with the Long Island Economic Development Corporation. Steve Gurian, a former Unisys lawyer, was its president.
Ms. Goldmacher received her law degree in 1978 and started her own practice, and she slowly grew enamored of the financing aspects of economic development. She founded the Long Island Development Corporation in 1980 with Mr. Rome and Mr. Gurian, both of whom have since died.
She managed to balance practicing law and working at the development corporation for years, but in 1990 she decided to work for the L.I.D.C. full time.
''I never thought I would be doing this at all and never imagined giving up my career as a lawyer,'' she said, ''but now I can't see myself doing anything else.''

The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York), April 24, 2005, Sunday

Copyright 2005 Post-Standard
All Rights Reserved.
The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York)

April 24, 2005 Sunday
FINAL EDITION

SECTION: CNY; Pg. H6

HEADLINE: KATHERINE CONNERY EVAN P. METTER

BODY:
Marvin and Lenore Metter, of DeWitt, are pleased to announce the engagement of their son, Evan Philip Metter, to Katherine "Katie" Connery, daughter of Cheryl and John Connery, of Melrose, Mass.
Katie is a 2002 graduate of Cornell University and is employed as an editor in the Child Development Depart- ment at Tufts University. Evan is a 2002 graduate of Cornell University's Industrial Labor Relations School. He is employed by NCR as the compensation and benefits director for Eastern Europe. He will be working out of their office in Vienna, Austria, for the next 18 months.
A September 3, 2006, wedding is planned in Ipswich, Mass.

The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York), April 23, 2005, Saturday

Copyright 2005 Post-Standard
All Rights Reserved.
The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York)

April 23, 2005 Saturday
MADISON EDITION

SECTION: LOCAL; Pg. B1

HEADLINE: COUNTY PERSONNEL OFFICER TO ATTEND SESSION ON AGING

BODY:
A Canastota resident was named a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in Washington, D.C.
Mary Krause, who is personnel officer for Madison County, was named to represent Central and Northern New York at the October conference by Rep. John McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor.
Krause has worked for the county since 1986, the year she graduated from Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations. She received her master's degree in public administration from Syracuse University.

The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York), April 23, 2005, Saturday

Copyright 2005 Post-Standard
All Rights Reserved.
The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York)

April 23, 2005 Saturday
FINAL EDITION

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. A8

HEADLINE: NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

BODY:
New Yorkers value higher education, but Downstaters might value it a bit more than Upstaters, a recent poll by Cornell University's ILR Survey Research Institute suggests. The poll of 802 adults, which was taken before adoption of the state budget, found that 68 percent of respondents statewide selected higher education as a "high priority" in the budget. Breaking it down by region, 73 percent of Downstate residents did, compared with 59 percent of Upstaters.

Business Wire, April 19, 2005, Tuesday

Copyright 2005 Business Wire, Inc.
Business Wire

April 19, 2005 Tuesday 2:00 PM GMT

DISTRIBUTION: Business Editors

HEADLINE: George Huyler Joins IRMC as Top HR Officer; Industry Veteran to Focus on Compliance, Global Workforce

DATELINE: NEW YORK April 19, 2005

BODY:
George M. Huyler, a leading human resources expert, has been appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Personnel Officer at IRMC, a premier provider of customer management solutions specializing in collections, accounts receivable management, and customer retention services.
"The backbone of our industry is our employee base," said Vikas Kapoor, President and CEO. "And no one knows the dynamics of a well-trained, motivated workforce in the new global environment better than George Huyler. George will bring a high level of professionalism and experience to IRMC as we grow the company in the United States and abroad."
Huyler has spent his entire career in human resource management, most recently as Senior Vice President of Human Resources at NCO Financial Systems, Inc. At NCO, Huyler was a senior human resources officer for one of the largest accounts receivable management and business process outsourcing firms in the world. His responsibilities included HR and payroll servicing for employees and sites, both domestic and international.
"The team IRMC has assembled is world-class, which is a big attraction as the company undergoes a significant overhaul of its operations and aims for a high-performance culture," said Huyler. "We aspire to the highest levels of client satisfaction across the board, and it starts with knowledgeable and well-trained employees. And we need to bring these standards to our 6,000 employees across the globe. I am up for the challenge because the roadmap IRMC has developed is an exciting one."
In addition to his industry experience in customer management and call centers, Huyler also has professional HR experience in the financial and industrial sectors.
Huyler is a member of the American Society of Training and Development and the Society for Human Resource Management and has been an industry speaker at a number of relevant conferences on human resource trends and issues. He also holds the professional designation of "Professional in Human Resources," from the Human Resource Certification Institute of the Society for Human Resource Management and has taught HR professionals for the Cornell School of Labor Relations.
IRMC provides client solutions through its global operations network of nearly 6,000 employees. With an experienced management team and top-tier investors, IRMC is a fast-growing company with expansion plans in North America, Europe and Asia.
The IRMC family of companies are united in a corporate vision and mission, while maintaining unique company names, including: Allied Interstate and First Contact in the United States; CBCL in Canada; Legal & Trade Collections, Legal & Trade Financial Services, Reachflow and Revenues Management Services in the United Kingdom; IntelliRisk Philippines, Inc. in the Philippines; and IntelliRisk Management India Pvt. Ltd. in India.

The Irish Times, April 19, 2005, Tuesday

Copyright 2005 The Irish Times
The Irish Times

April 19, 2005

SECTION: Education and Parenting; Pg. 10

HEADLINE: Noticeboard

BODY:

Upcoming education events
John Lovett Memorial Lecture at UL
The 13th annual John Lovett Memorial Lecture will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday, April 21st, in the Jean Monet Lecture Theatre, University of Limerick. Entitled Strategic Human Resource Management and Organisational Learning, this year's lecture will be delivered by Prof Scott Snell, from the School of Industrial and Labour Relations at Cornell University.
Further details from Paddy Gunnigle on 061-202637, or e-mail Patrick.Gunnigle@ul.ie
The Irish Times/Institute of Guidance Counsellors Higher Options Conference
Booking forms for Higher Options have been posted out recently. The conference, which will provide information on third-level choices for Leaving Cert students, school-leavers, mature students and parents will take place from September 21st to 23rd. Anyone requiring further information on attending or exhibiting at the event should e-mail higheroptions@irish-times.ie
Dyslexia Association of Ireland Annual General Meeting
The Dyslexia Association of Ireland (DAI) will hold its annual general meeting on Saturday, April 23rd, at the Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co Kildare, from 10am to 4pm. The programme includes the agm for DAI members, as well as talks on dyslexia at second level. Attendance costs EUR 10 for DAI members and EUR 15 for non-members. Full programme details are available on the DAI website, www.dyslexia.ie.
Reading Association of Ireland Spring Seminar
The Reading Association of Ireland (RAI) spring seminar will take place on Saturday, April 23rd, at 9.30am in the Church of Ireland College of Education, Rathmines, Dublin. Oisin McGann, children's author and illustrator, will present a workshop on writing with children entitled Giving Children Confidence to Write-Techniques that Work. Cost: EUR 25 for RAI members, EUR 30 for non-members and EUR 10 for students. Further details are available on the RAI website at www.reading.ie or from Tina Hickey at Tina.Hickey@ucd.ie. Tel: 01-7168432.
European Piano Teachers' Association Ireland seminar
Which Piano Diploma? Why? is the title of a training day by the European Piano Teachers' Association Ireland (EPTA) Ireland. Experienced examiners from the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM), Trinity College London (TCL) and London College of Music (LCM) will each give a presentation on their respective diplomas at the RIAM on Sunday, April 24th, from 11am to 4.30pm. Teachers and students are invited to attend. Information from Eithne Gallagher. Tel: 01-2899367. E-mail: gall@iol.ie
Waterford Institute of Technology Alumni Association
Waterford Institute of Technology alumni association is holding a networking event on Friday, April 22nd from 6pm to 8pm at Thomas Crosbie Holdings Offices, 97 South Mall, Cork. To register, contact Mary Lawless, alumni officer. Tel: 051-302848. E-mail: alumni@wit.ie
Introduction to University Programme at UL Campus
The University of Limerick (UL) is offering a summer programme designed for pre-Leaving Cert students, the Introduction to University Programme (IUP), covering third-level education and career choices.
The IUP is a one-week summer programme of interactive learning that allows the student gain practical experience of different career options available to them.
The programme focuses on a number of academic areas - law, business and management systems; engineering including manufacturing, mechanical, electronic and aeronautical; science and medical sciences including physiotherapy and nursing; humanities including music and dance, new media studies and liberal arts; education including teaching education programmes. Other areas covered include learning and study skills, exploring career options and career workshops.
Two one-week programmes are being offered, from June 13th to June 17th and June 20th to June 24th. The programme costs EUR 340 for a residential student and EUR 220 for a non-residential student. For further information contact: Bernie Fitzgerald, IUP, University of Limerick. Tel: 061-213059. E-mail iup@ul.ie web: www.ul.ie/ iup
E-mail any items for inclusion in this column, in advance, to noticeboard@irish-times.ie

Buffalo News (New York), April 14, 2005, Thursday

Copyright 2005 The Buffalo News
Buffalo News (New York)

April 14, 2005 Thursday
FINAL EDITION

SECTION: LOCAL; Pg. B1


HEADLINE: AREA GETS MAP FOR 'NEXT STEP' IN EDUCATION

BYLINE: ROD WATSON

BODY:
The Buffalo teachers union president likes to say he'll know when this area is serious about regionalism when we create a countywide school system.
The long-awaited report on "collaboration and shared services" from the Erie County Association of School Boards doesn't come anywhere close to that.
Still, it might . . . perhaps . . . maybe . . . nudge a skeptical public down that road.
Last week's report, prepared by Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, certainly lays the groundwork for looking at education through a regional lens. It notes, for instance, the link between socioeconomic status and achievement and concludes that "the success of (Buffalo's) students will make an important difference to the well-being of the region."
That's the kind of argument the Buffalo Teachers Federation has long made in calling for a countywide school system to prepare kids for a diverse world and to help erase inequities.
Even though city schools get significant state aid, they also have much higher costs because of more special education and non-English speaking students, said BTF President Phil Rumore. Those costs leave city schools strapped for basic supplies and equipment. "Walk into one of our schools and compare the schools," Rumore said. "Forget about the dollar expenditures. Just look at the schools."
The report's authors apparently didn't, citing instead the benefits of schools that are "locally owned." That means we'll leave in place 29 school districts and 29 bureaucracies -- and 29 different funding levels.
But despite that nod to political reality in Erie County, the report does call for districts to "partner" with those that are demographically different. It notes that such efforts might "lay the groundwork for regional magnet schools."
That's a lot further than the city-county consolidation panel went in its report, which conveniently ignored education.
So I guess this is progress.
Jim Anderson thinks so. Anderson served on an advisory committee for the effort. He's also part of the Alliance for Quality Education -- a key backer of the New York City school-funding lawsuit designed to help urban districts -- so he's well aware of the inequities.
Even though the report doesn't go as far as he would like, he calls it "a good road map" that "keeps the discussion of regionalism alive."
For instance, Anderson was encouraged by the group's discussions of race and wealth and the need to educate all students, not just those in affluent districts. He recalled Sweet Home's school superintendent putting things on the right track by emphasizing that "all means all."
"It changed the climate in the room," Anderson said.
Still, how that will translate into closing the funding gaps between Buffalo and outlying districts is an open question.
Jacqueline Paone, the association's executive director, points to a recommendation to change state law to let Buffalo participate in BOCES cooperative ventures as one example that should help close the gaps. But she acknowledges that "the true test will be what happens over time."
Anderson agreed, saying the call for collaborations will reveal which communities are really ready to take "the next step."
We should know soon because, unlike the derailed city-county consolidation plan, this one tries to bring in the suburbs from the beginning. And it puts equity -- not just efficiency -- on the agenda as a formal goal.
That might be a baby step, but it's a step. It inches this region toward where we need to go.
Provided there's a real follow-through, it's also proof that -- when it comes to issues of equity -- Erie County needn't always be the punch line to the old joke that "you can't get there from here."
e-mail: rwatson@buffnews.com

The Times Union (Albany, New York), April 13, 2005, Wednesday

Copyright 2005 The Hearst Corporation
The Times Union (Albany, New York)

April 13, 2005 Wednesday
3 EDITION

SECTION: CAPITAL REGION; Pg. B2

HEADLINE: King's arrival at Potsdam campus unlikely to inspire royal reception

BODY:
State University of New York Chancellor Robert King might not be getting a red carpet greeting from some faculty members when he shows up as State University College at Potsdam's interim president.
There are some raw feelings over the fact that King will ease out of his chancellor's seat into a $206,000 lifetime professorship - a sum equivalent to the salaries of four average SUNY professors.
George Gonos, president of Potsdam's chapter of the United University Professions faculty union, acknowledged dissent has been bubbling since news of King's arrival broke last week.
"What I think rankles faculty is the idea that after he steps down from interim president, he's guaranteed such a high salary as a professor that's so far above where any of the rest of us are," said Gonos, who added that people were generally happy to get somebody of King's visibility at Potsdam, which is about four hours northwest of Albany.
In an e-mail to faculty last Thursday, the school's exiting president, John Fallon, defended King's appointment to the interim post.
"It would be a mistake to lament the process that culminated in this appointment or to focus on the fact that Bob King represents an unusual set of experiences and qualifications," Fallon wrote. "Instead, our attention might be fully and properly focused on the fact that the chancellor is among the very best known public servants in New York."
Timothy Schwob, president of Potsdam's faculty senate, said the faculty was looking forward to working with King. "My sense of the faculty here at SUNY Potsdam is that they are curious, intrigued, and most certainly interested in what Chancellor King will be bringing to this campus," he said. King's gig was approved Tuesday by SUNY trustees, who designated him a university professor - a title bestowed just 11 other times since 1988 - and awarded him the fat salary. It's not clear what King will do once his term as interim president at Potsdam is up.

Calming the waters
The new and improved Fountain Day makes its debut this weekend at the University at Albany - and early indications are students will cooperate. Although not without some complaint.
While many have cast a dubious eye on the school's attempts to restore some order to the annual rite of spring - which reached new heights of disorder last year - 2,333 students had registered to take part as of late Monday morning.
That pre-registration is just one change of many for the event, which had become an excuse for many students to cut class and begin drinking in the wee hours of the afternoon. Hooky is out this year, because the event has been moved to Sunday.
Despite the red tape, officials expect as many as 5,000 people to show up - more than last year, when a combination of drunkenness, ambulances carting away sick and injured students and plenty of television cameras added up to trouble for the school.
But even as administrators try to put their own stamp on things, there are rumblings that students might be planning their own unsanctioned celebration a few days later.

Education a family priority
Are you a Democrat living downstate between the ages of 18 and 35, making less than $35,000 a year, who isn't white and belongs to a household with children aged 12 to 17?
Then you're most likely to consider higher education a key state budget priority, according to a poll released last week by Cornell University.
The poll, conducted by the school's ILR Survey Research Institute, found that - not surprisingly - families with children 12 to 17 were most likely to consider it a high priority, with 80 percent of the respondents saying so.
Republicans were least likely to consider higher education funding a high priority, with 56 percent saying they do.

Hockey player scores degree
Yeah, sure, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is delivering Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's commencement speech in May. And Paul Volcker, who once chaired the Federal Reserve, will be on hand to get an honorary degree.
But Joe Juneau might be the most likely to get asked for an autograph.
Juneau, a 1991 RPI alum, played for six National Hockey League teams over a 12-year career. He'll get an honorary degree as well.
After quitting the league last year, he put his engineering degree to work by becoming a partner with Harfan Technologies, a company that helps others manage their infrastructure assets.
Campus Notebook is compiled weekly by Kenneth Aaron. He can be reached at 454-5515 or by e-mail at aaronk@timesunion.com.

The Irish Times, April 12, 2005, Tuesday

Copyright 2005 The Irish Times
The Irish Times

April 12, 2005

SECTION: Education and Parenting; Pg. 12

HEADLINE: Noticeboard

BODY:

A round-up of events taking place in the field of education.
Public Debate on Student Funding
Student Funding Review: What Role for the Community? is the title of a debate co-hosted by Clondalkin Partnership and Ballyfermot Partnership at The Moran's Red Cow Hotel, Naas Road, Dublin 22, tonight at 7.30pm.
Dr Mary Liz Trant, director of the National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education, will give a presentation on the work of her office, the ongoing review of student funding and future plans. A student representative from the community will respond and this will be followed by an open debate.
Participants will include public representatives, representatives of the Department of Education, college access officers, parents, teachers, community groups and students.
For more information contact: Hugh Doogan, community access officer, Clondalkin Partnership. Tel: 01-4576433. E-mail: hdoogan@clondalkinpartnership.ie
Music in the Classroom
The booking form for the 2005-2006 series of Music in the Classroom concerts for primary and secondary schools will be published in The Irish Times on Tuesday, May 10th. Only postal bookings with the accompanying booking form can be accepted. Any inquiries should be e-mailed to mitc@irish-times.ie
Kemmy Business School Distinguished Lecture Series
Michael O'Leary, chief executive of Ryanair Holdings, will deliver the next lecture in the above series in the Concert Hall, University of Limerick tomorrow at 5pm.
EU/Japan Year Project Competition for Post-Primary Schools
To celebrate EU/Japan Year 2005, the Post Primary Languages Initiative, in partnership with the UK, Germany and Japan, is organising a project competition for students of Japanese at post-primary level.
There are group and individual competitions, with two group prizes of participation in a conference on Japanese culture in London in November and four individual prizes of study visits to Japan in October.
Further details from the Post Primary Languages Initiative, Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9. Tel: 01-8057794. E-mail: bgilroy@mie.ie">bgilroy@mie.ie. "http://www.languagesinitiative.ie/">www.languagesinitiative.ie
John Lovett Memorial Lecture at UL
The 13th annual John Lovett Memorial Lecture will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday, April 21st in the Jean Monet Lecture Theatre, University of Limerick. This year's lecture will be delivered by Prof Scott Snell from the School of Industrial and Labour Relations at Cornell University.
Further details from Paddy Gunnigle. Tel: 061-202637 or email: Patrick.Gunnigle@ul.ie
Smurfit School of Business Open Day
Smurfit School of Business, UCD, Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin, is holding an open day on Monday April 18th from 3pm, There will be presentations on each of the school's programmes from graduate diploma to specialist masters to MBA level. www.ucd.ie/smurfitschool
Conference on Cultivating Person-Centred Planning
The conference will take place on Thursday, May 5th in the Astra Hall, The Student Centre, University College Dubli. Speakers include Peter Kinsella, Eric Emerson and Mary van Lieshout.
For further details contact Marie O'Connor, Centre for Disability Studies, UCD. Tel: 01-7168333. E-mail: marie.oconnor@ucd.ie
E-mail any items for inclusion in this column, in advance, to noticeboard@irish-times.ie

Buffalo News (New York), April 8, 2005, Friday

Copyright 2005 The Buffalo News
Buffalo News (New York)

April 8, 2005 Friday
FINAL EDITION

SECTION: LOCAL; Pg. D3

HEADLINE: REPORT OFFERS PLAN TO IMPROVE COUNTY SCHOOLS

BYLINE: By Mary B. Pasciak - NEWS STAFF REPORTER

BODY:
A yearlong study of Erie County schools has yielded a host of suggestions on ways the schools can achieve better results, save money and increase equity across districts.
The Erie County Association of School Boards on Thursday night unveiled to its members the results of the $350,000 study. The 84-page report details 28 recommendations, many of them urging schools to explore certain possibilities, rather than suggesting particular courses of action.
"It's a vision for the future," said Jacqueline J. Paone, the group's executive director. "It's not an instant 'solve everything overnight' report, but it's a process that's going to get us from where we are today to something more hopeful and positive."
Two of the more concrete recommendations have the potential for multimillion-dollar savings.
School districts across the state have been grappling with huge increases in health insurance over the past few years. The report encourages school districts to join a group that was founded two years ago by Erie 1 Board of Cooperative Educational Services' 750 employees to handle their health insurance.
The group, called a trust, has moved to a single provider, Independent Health, which was selected by the employees. That change expanded their benefits while cutting the latest cost increase in half, according to the report by Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
Hamburg, Maryvale and Frontier are considering signing on, according to Donald A. Ogilvie, superintendent of Erie 1 BOCES. Each of the districts would begin by enrolling a small number of administrators.
The report also encourages schools to lobby for a bill that would change the state law to enable the Buffalo School District to buy up to $2 million in services through BOCES. The city would be eligible for state reimbursement of as much as 80 percent.
"Nested in there is the belief that the region includes Buffalo public schools as well as the suburban districts," Ogilvie said.
Other recommendations include:
Creating a common calendar among all public and private schools. Under the current system, districts pay as much as $9,000 in transportation costs every day that public schools are closed but private schools are open.
Establishing a regional "Principals Academy" to help train building administrators. The report notes that more than half the principals in the county will reach retirement age in the next five years.
Using distance learning to make advanced placement courses available to more students. Only two local districts offer AP Latin, and just one offers AP German. Those courses -- and others -- could be offered to students in other places by broadcasting the courses.
"Partnering" with a school in another district with different demographics. That could include anything from talking about curriculum with one another to having a student exchange. A more extreme outcome could lead to regional magnet schools.
Instituting mandatory training for new school board members. Topics might include school finance, labor relations and state standards for academics.
Working with local business groups to establish internships for students and coordinate some school programs with the needs of local employers.
The study did not explore the politically sensitive question of mergers.
"Bigger is not necessarily better or more efficient," the report said. "There is tension between the obvious efficiencies of combining local educational programs and the greater effectiveness of programs that are 'locally owned.' "
The report is available at www.ecasb.org/collaborationreport.htm.
The study was funded by grants from Erie County, the John R. Oishei Foundation, Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, the Rev. A Joseph Bissonette Memorial Foundation, Hyde Family Foundation and several local school districts.
e-mail: mpasciak@buffnews.com

TELEGRAM & GAZETTE (Massachusetts), March 31, 2005, Thursday

Copyright 2005 Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Inc.
TELEGRAM & GAZETTE (Massachusetts)

March 31, 2005 Thursday, SOUTH COUNTY EDITION

SECTION: LOCAL NEWS; IN THE RUNNING ; Pg. B3

HEADLINE: IN THE RUNNING

DATELINE: STURBRIDGE

BODY:
Sturbridge
ANGELA T. CHENG-CIMINI
Sturbridge School Committee
Incumbent
Length of term: Three years.
Age: 34.
Address: 8 Sidney Road.
Education: Harborfields High School, Greenlawn, N.Y., 1988; Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., 1992, bachelor of science degree in industrial labor relations.
Political experience: Sturbridge School Committee, three years.
Issues: Continuing to improve the quality of education; ensuring constituents have a voice and advocate.
Personal: Married, two elementary-age children, one in kindergarten, one in Grade 2.
Date of election: April 11.

The Times Union (Albany, New York), March 30, 2005, Wednesday

Copyright 2005 The Hearst Corporation
The Times Union (Albany, New York)

March 30, 2005 Wednesday
3 EDITION

SECTION: CAPITAL REGION; Pg. B3

HEADLINE: Counties association picks executive director

BODY:
ALBANY - The New York State Association of Counties Tuesday appointed Stephen J. Acquario as executive director.
Acquario, 40, a lawyer, had been interim director since Robert Gregory resigned in December. He joined the association in 1989.
A Bethlehem native, Acquario lives in Loudonville with his wife and two sons.
In 1988, he received a bachelor's degree in labor relations from the State University of New York College at Potsdam. He graduated from Albany Law School in 1998, and received a graduate degree in industrial labor relations from Cornell University in 1992.
- James M. Odato

The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York), March 29, 2005, Tuesday

Copyright 2005 Post-Standard
All Rights Reserved.
The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York)

March 29, 2005 Tuesday
FINAL EDITION

SECTION: NEWS; Comment; Pg. A11

HEADLINE: WORKING WOMEN IN HISTORY;
IF MEN SHOULDN'T BEAR OPPRESSION IN SILENCE, WHY SHOULD WOMEN?

BYLINE: By Greg Hart Onondaga Community College

BODY:
Since March is Women's History Month, we should take the opportunity to celebrate the contributions of women in American labor history. The remarkable determination of these brave women is an important chapter in labor's story. They frequently came up against fighting the injustices and dangers of the workplace, as well as gender discrimination.
The first wave of industrialization presented a new opportunity for women in the workplace. Prior to this, domestic work was the largest occupation for women wage-workers.
In the early 1800s, the need for workers brought thousands of women to the world of wage work. Many thousands were underpaid and exploited piece-workers (or "outworkers") who worked from home. The jobs were in all forms of textile and manufacturing work.
Unsafe conditions and low pay led women to stick together and form their own trade associations. Women activists, including tailoresses, shoe binders and textilers eventually grew these organizations into unions.
In the 1830s, Sarah Monroe led the New York City tailoresses. She chided the male unionists for making light of a wage strike by her union: "If it is unfashionable for the men to bear oppression in silence, why should it not also be unfashionable for the women? Or do they deem us more able to endure hardships?"
In June 1835, in a general strike in Philadelphia, 500 working women formed a city-wide federation, the Female Improvement Society, that won an increase for the seamstresses that sewed uniforms for the U.S. Army.
In 1865, Syracuse women banded together to form a mutual aid society to deal with the "merchant tailors." The organization was the Sewing Women of Syracuse Protective Union.
In 1840s and 1850s in Lowell, Mass., thousands of women, called the "Lowell girls," toiled in textiles. Women activists led the way to organize the workers. The Lowell Female Labor Reform Association became the biggest of several women's unions in New England. They raised money for causes and printed a newspaper called the Voice of Industry.
As advocates of women's rights and the 10-hour day, the LFLRA was ably led by a dynamic president, Sarah Bagley. She urged women in 1846 to "Resolve that you will think, reason, judge, love, hate, approve and disapprove for yourselves and at your own volition and not at the dictation of another." She wanted to change the notion that social activism was an "un-womanly" pursuit. Bagley was a respected labor leader and was a key speaker at the first National Industrial Congress in 1845.
Despite the disagreement over the role of women in the workplace, there were many examples of solidarity. A wave of work stoppages shut down the shoe industry in 1860. Twenty thousand men and women halted shoe production in factory towns in New England. This included many women "outworkers."
In Syracuse, a union called the Knights of St. Crispin was formed for shoemakers (also called cordwainers) and the women belonged to the Daughters of St. Crispin. On April 9, 1871, a shoe manufacturer arbitrarily fired three women for their union activity. Word spread, and women and men walked off the job and shut down all the shoe manufacturers until the women were reinstated on April, 21.
The story of women's contributions in American labor history is a rich and inspiring one. This tireless dedication by working women was and is evident in tens of thousands of locations across the country, including Syracuse.
Greg Hart is an instructor for the Cornell Industrial and Labor Relations/Labor Studies Program at Onondaga Community College.

Buffalo News (New York, March 28, 2005, Monday

Copyright 2005 The Buffalo News
Buffalo News (New York)

March 28, 2005 Monday
FINAL EDITION

SECTION: LOCAL; Pg. B5

HEADLINE: STANLEY F. WOZNY, CITY WORKER, UNION LEADER;
AUG. 31, 1913 -- MARCH 24, 2005

DATELINE: NIAGARA FALLS

BODY:
Stanley F. Wozny, who was credited with unionizing the city water treatment plant, died Thursday in his home. He was 91.
Mr. Wozny was born in Niagara Falls and graduated from Niagara Falls High School in 1931.
After working 13 years as a crane operator at the Union Carbide Corp. plant here, he joined the city Water Department.
Mr. Wozny took labor-management courses at Cornell University and later founded and served as the first president of the union at the water plant. He later was named an honorary member of Local 14551, United Steelworkers of America, which still represents employees at the plant. Mr. Wozny retired as a plant engineer in 1979.
He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
His family said he enjoyed golf and his dog, Brady, and was good at working on mechanical and electrical devices.
His wife of 61 years, Joan Ciepiela Wozny, died Dec. 31, 2001.
He is survived by two daughters, Arlene M. and Ruth E., both of Niagara Falls.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Holy Trinity Church, 1419 Falls St., after prayers at 9 in Zajac Funeral Home, 319 24th St. Burial will be in Holy Trinity Cemetery, Lewiston.
[Prohaska].

The New York Times, April 3, 2005, Sunday

Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company
The New York Times

April 3, 2005 Sunday
Late Edition - Final

SECTION: Section 3; Column 1; SundayBusiness; OFF THE SHELF; Pg. 8

HEADLINE: Easier Said Than Done: Getting People to Like You

BYLINE: By PAUL B. BROWN

BODY:
MAYBE Sally Field should head a Fortune 500 company.
When she received her second Academy Award in five years in 1985 -- for her role in ''Places in the Heart,'' after winning for ''Norma Rae'' in 1980 -- Ms. Field famously observed in her acceptance speech: ''You like me, right now, you like me!''
Countless comedians did riffs on the neediness suggested by that line, but it turns out -- according to several books coming into the stores this month -- that likability may be the easiest way to explain why chief executives earn as much as they do. (As critics of executive pay packages often say, performance doesn't always justify the big paycheck.)
In fact, Tim Sanders, a ''leadership coach'' at Yahoo, writes in his new book, ''The Likeability Factor'' (Crown, $23), having people want to be around you ''is truly the secret of a charmed, happy and profitable life.''
Mr. Sanders, who had a best seller three years ago with ''Love Is the Killer App,'' defines likability as ''an ability to create positive attitudes in other people through the delivery of emotional and physical benefits.'' Then, citing academic studies that seem to prove that likable people do better in life, Mr. Sanders outlines what he believes are the four aspects of likability:
Friendliness. ''Expressing a liking for another person; communicating welcome,'' is the way he puts it.
Relevance. He defines it as the extent to which you connect to another's wants and needs.
Empathy. ''Understanding so intimate that the feelings thoughts and motives of one are readily comprehended by another.''
Being real. He says it is important to be ''factual and actual'' rather than just trying to present an image to the world.
In his book, Mr. Sanders gives examples of each factor and goes so far as to offer exercises intended to increase your likability. To become more friendly, for instance, he suggests that you ''play greeter for the day, acting as a maitre d' would.'' His point is that you want to ''take it upon yourself to instill a sense of welcome in others.''
The examples, like the one above, may tend to sound hokey. Still, Mr. Sanders is on to something here. Likable people do seem more successful.
Samuel B. Bacharach, a professor in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, agrees that having people like you helps, but he adds that being liked will not in itself allow you to accomplish anything. You need to win support and convert skeptics to your point of view. And that means playing politics -- in the nicest sense of the word, he adds in ''Get Them on Your Side'' (Platinum Press/Adams Media, $19.95).
''Politics is simply the way we influence others to achieve our goals,'' he writes. ''As long as those goals are positive, and not achieved at the expense of others, the politics of getting them accomplished is neither manipulative nor negative. Dictators may be political, but saints might be, too.''
Having established that you need to forge coalitions, Mr. Bacharach divides his book neatly into thirds, with each section devoted to a task you must accomplish.
The first, Mr. Bacharach says, is to understand what you are up against. That means anticipating negative reactions to what you propose and understanding what will prompt those concerns.
That understanding in place, you lay the foundation for your alliances by establishing your credibility, explaining why people should believe your idea is good and outlining how to carry it out while anticipating objections every step of the way.
It is only then that you can make anything happen, Mr. Bacharach writes.
Unfortunately, whether you are trying to create a new project at work or trying to convince your spouse that it is time to move to a bigger home, real life does not work quite as so smoothly.
Still, Mr. Bacharach does an excellent job of outlining the resistance you are likely to encounter. He says, for example, that you are likely to hear one or more of six possible objections when you propose something new -- everything from ''it's too risky'' or ''it will actually make the situation worse,'' to ''you don't know the facts well enough'' or ''you have ulterior motives.'' He offers specific responses in each case.
But what is the best general path when dealing with people who don't see things your way, no matter how likable and persuasive you are? Negotiate with them, of course.
Here, Lacey T. Smith, who leads negotiation seminars, takes a counterintuitive approach. In his new book, ''Get It! Street-Smart Negotiations at Work'' (Davies-Black, $18.95), he writes that reasonableness in negotiations is overrated.
''My experience -- personal and professional -- tells me that the contour of almost every persuasion is shaped by emotions: hopes and fears,'' Mr. Smith writes. ''It's not about logic and rationality. Your task is to understand your emotions and those on the other side, because these emotions define our interests as we perceive them.''
Mr. Smith, who was a state senator and an assistant attorney general in Kentucky, says the key to having a negotiation go your way is to address the emotional concerns of the other side about what you are proposing. Invariably, he says, you will come out ahead if you can understand their hopes and fears.
To help you discover them, he offers a number of techniques, from asking open-ended questions to resisting the urge to make a counteroffer when someone puts forth a price. Instead of responding with a number of your own, Mr. Smith suggests that you say: ''That's an interesting price. Where did you get it?'' He says the response will often include something that you can use to your advantage.
Let's see. The secret to success at work is to have people like you, forge coalitions and negotiate. Maybe psychology professors should start writing business books.

ABA Journal E-Report, April 1, 2005. Friday

IMPACT OR INTENTSupreme Court Ruling Widens Path for Age Bias Suits
BY DAVID L. HUDSON JR.

Employees have a new avenue of relief for employment discrimination claims thanks to a decision handed down Wednesday by the U.S. Supreme Court. In Smith v. City of Jackson, a divided court resolved a circuit split and announced it would now allow plaintiffs to bring disparate impact causes of action under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
In employment law, disparate impact claims address employer actions that, while appearing facially neutral, result in a discriminatory impact on a protected class. An example of this would be a policy that required all employees to be a certain height or taller. While the policy might seem fair because it is evenly applied to all employees, its enforcement might discriminate against women, a legally protected class. Unlike in disparate treatment claims, an employer need not act with discriminatory animus to be liable.

Disparate impact claims have been recognized under Title VII since 1971, but the court had until this week put off deciding whether to green-light such actions under the ADEA as well.
The case before the high court involved age discrimination claims by about 30 police officers and public safety dispatchers in Jackson, Miss., who alleged the city’s performance pay plan discriminated against older workers. They advanced both disparate treatment and disparate impact claims under the ADEA. They argued that since the ADEA’s text was nearly identical with Title VII, the disparate impact claim was valid.

The city countered that the policy was not designed to discriminate on the basis of age; rather, the policy’s purpose was to bring its entry-level salaries in line with salaries offered by police departments in surrounding areas. The city also focused on a provision of the ADEA not included in Title VII that permits employers to engage in otherwise prohibited conduct if their reasons are "based on reasonable factors other than age."

Plaintiffs had lost on both claims at the federal district level. A three-judge panel of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had reinstated the disparate treatment claim but rejected the disparate impact claim, finding such a theory inapplicable under the ADEA.
Although the high court ultimately decided against the officers, the justices voted 5-3 to allow disparate impact claims under the ADEA. (The chief justice did not participate.)
Justice John Paul Stevens, writing for the majority, seized on text in the ADEA that stated an employer may not "limit, segregate or classify his employees in any way which would ... adversely affect his status as an employee, because of such individual’s age." He emphasized the "adversely affect" phrase in his reasoning that the law allowed disparate impact claims.
The opinion rejected the city’s argument that the ADEA’s reasonable-factor-other-than-age provision shows that disparate impact claims are not allowed. Instead, Stevens determined that provision actually supported the bringing of such claims. Stevens also noted that both the Department of Labor and the EEOC followed such an interpretation, having "consistently interpreted the ADEA to authorize relief on a disparate impact theory."

Ultimately, Stevens rejected the officers’ disparate impact claims, finding that the city’s pay plan was advanced for a reasonable factor other than age–—to increase the salaries of recently hired employees to compete with surrounding areas.

Justice Antonin Scalia supported the plurality opinion’s deference to the EEOC in his concurring opinion. "This is an absolutely classic case for deference to agency interpretation," he wrote.
Although Scalia has deferred to the EEOC’s judgment before, the decision to allow these types of claims wasn’t a sure thing. "The decision is somewhat surprising based on some of the justices’ comments in the past," says employment law expert Lawrence Rosenthal, an assistant professor at Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law. These comments, he says, "suggested that the court would come out on the other side of this issue."

Now that the court has ruled, lawyers on both sides of the aisle have to put it in the context of their practices. For Thomas C. Goldstein, the Washington D.C.-based attorney who argued the officers’ case, it’s a good thing. Having the option to file a disparate impact claim under the ADEA, he says, "is a very valuable tool for older employees, who frequently lack ‘smoking gun’ evidence of discrimination."

Michael Evan Gold, a law professor at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, agrees. "It was a victory in the war for older people," says Gold, who wrote an amicus brief for Cornell’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors in support of the officers. "It is important to older workers to be able to prove that practices with a disparate impact on them are illegal."
Understandably, defense lawyers were not so enthusiastic. "The court has been reluctant to extend disparate impact beyond Title VII, and it is unfortunate that the court has chosen to do so for ADEA claims," says John H. Findley, an attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation who filed an amicus brief supporting the city. "There are a lot of problems with extending disparate impact claims to the ADEA. The disparate impact theory is subject to abuse and can be counterproductive by encouraging employers to adopt surreptitious quotas."
"The decision will definitely have negative ramifications, including more lawsuits against employers," says Ann Elizabeth Reesman, general counsel for the Equal Employment Advisory Council, which filed an amicus brief in support of the city of Jackson.
Reesman believes employers are likely to successfully defend against these claims, just as the city of Jackson did. Nevertheless, she says, "that is cold comfort to employers who still have to defend this type of litigation."

©2005 ABA Journal