THE JEWISH NEWS
SERVING DETROIT'S JEWISH COMMUNITY
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
OCTOBER 4, 1991 / 26 TISHREI 5752
Rev. Al Sharpton Invited
To Debate At Michigan
NOAM M.M. NEUSNER
Staff Writer
T
ALSO INSIDE:
Guaranteed
Did Israel lead U.S. Jews
down the primrose path?
Page 31
he Rev. Al Sharpton, a
self-proclaimed
"premier civil rights
leader," is scheduled to
speak in Ann Arbor later
this month.
The New York-based
preacher most recently stag-
ed a rally in the Crown
Heights section of Brooklyn
to protest a "cover-up" in the
investigation of the acciden-
tal death of Gavin Cato, a 7-
year old black boy who was
hit by a car driven by a
Chasidic Jew. The incident
touched off a week of anti-
Jewish rioting in Crown
Heights.
The Rev. Sharpton has a
long history of antagonizing
whites over what he
perceives as ingrained social
racism. For this, he has often
been quoted in the media —
"No justice, no peace" is one
of his rejoinders.
U-M's University Ac-
tivities Center (UAC), a
student-run group, invited
the Rev. Sharpton to their
Viewpoint speaker series.
The series encourages
debate over social issues and
does not shy away from con-
troversial topics. Last year,
a debate on abortion rights
between Sarah Weddington
and Phyllis- Schlafly packed
Rackham Auditorium.
The Rev. Sharpton will be
paid $2,500 for his ap-
pearance out of the univer-
sity-funded UAC budget. He
will be joined by Moses
Stewart, father of Yusaf
Hawkins, a black who was
killed by a group of white
youths in the Brooklyn
neighborhood of Ben-
sonhurst.
Mark Bernstein, a U-M ju-
nior who runs the Viewpoint
series, said the Rev. Sharp-
ton was chosen because he is
capable of raising important
issues.
"This kind of program
stimulates thought and
discussion," said Mr. Berns-
tein. "That is the most
healthy process you can pur-
sue on a university campus."
But Mr. Bernstein's
perspective is not shared by
all. Although no opposition
to the speech has been voiced
by any student organization,
some students have
grumbled.
Some black student groups
have reportedly held inter-
nal debates over whether to
support the Sharpton
speech, since there is
criticism that he does not
represent all blacks.
In a May 1990 Daily
News/WABC poll, black
New Yorkers were asked
which figure or institution
most hurt race relations.
Some 73 percent answered
the Rev. Sharpton.
The U-M event promises
not only a speech, but a
chance for audience mem-
bers to "talk back." The Rev.
Sharpton will be given one
hour to speak, and the au-
dience will have two hours to
ask questions or make
statements.
"This is a unique oppor-
tunity for anyone who has
contrasting views with this
man," said Mr. Bernstein.
Extending an invitation to
Continued on Page 30
Federation Study
Of JHA Expected
KIMBERLY LIFTON
Staff Writer
T
he Jewish Home For
Aged's board of direc-
tors this week will
find out how the Jewish
Federation hopes to enhance
its financial standing.
For years, the Home has
been operating on a deficit,
and Federation officials
have said they expect Home
administrators to balance its
budget.
Accordingly, the Federa-
tion stepped into the Home's
budget arena in July after
questions arose over sup-
plemental allocations totall-
ing $4 million in the past
five years. The Federation
wanted to know how the
JHA put the money to use.
Federation appointed
Jerome Halperin of the ac-
counting firm of Coopers and
Lybrand to chair a com-
mittee to study day-to-day
operations and financial
management at the Home.
Mr. Halperin was schedul-
ed to present findings and
recommendations for im-
provement at the Home's
board meeting last night.
Federation President
Mark Schlussel and Home
President Jack Schon said
they have not reviewed the
report. Mr. Halperin was out
of the country and could not
be reached for comment.
"The report will evidence
there are significant oppor-
tunities for cost savings at
the Home for Aged while
enhancing the quality of pa-
tient care," Mr. Schlussel
said. "We have been able to
come up with some answers
in assisting the Home in ob-
taining these objectives,
which is the first and
foremost concern of the
Home as well as the Federa-
tion."
Meanwhile, the Home has
appointed board member
Marvin Fleischman to lead a
search committee to replace
outgoing administrator Alan
Funk. Mr. Funk resigned
last month, but has said he
will remain in his position
through the end of October.
When Mr. Funk leaves,
operations will be handled
during the interim by a team
of assistant administrators:
Arnold Budin, who is devel-
opment director; Jack Ellias,
who is Mr. Funk's deputy di-
rector; and Gary Anderson,
director of finance.
Home President Jack
Schon will oversee the team.
Meanwhile, the Home is
still proceeding with plans to
move to a new facility on the
campus of the Maple-Drake
Jewish Community Center,
Mr. Budin said.
"We are proceeding up to a
point," Mr. Budin said. "We
will give a status report on
the move to the Federation
in October."
Home officials have ac-
knowledged financial prob-
lems, citing as reasons a
shortage of nurses and the
ballooning costs of medical
care. ❑