liberal mindset, like the
views of Mr. Lobenthal,
vouchers violate the sepa-
ration of church and state
clause of the U.S. Con-
stitution; and abortion is
an issue of privacy, also
protected by the Consti-
ution.
In the past six months,
several mainstream Jew-
ish groups, including the
Jewish Community Coun-
cil, the National Council of
Jewish Women and ADL
and activist Zina Kramer
have launched grass-roots
campaigns to boost aware-
ness of the new right.
Last month, Ms. Kramer
hosted an informal meet-
ing of women's groups,
religious groups, civil lib-
ertarians, educators and
concerned parents to
design a battle plan to
keep "stealth" candidates,
those put up silently by
the Christian Coalition, off
local school boards.
Meanwhile, Mr. Loben-
thal is continuing his
fight. He just launched
Mosaic, a broad-based
coalition which includes
Jewish, black, Asian, gay,
Arab and Christian com-
munity leaders.
Mosaic's first project will
be to develop a publication
on radical fundamentalists
in Michigan that will
answer questions such as
who they are, what they
are doing, who affiliates
with them and how many
of them reside in the state.
The U.S. Supreme Court
has upheld the constitu-
tional guarantees that pro-
vide for a separation of
church and state, which
include prohibition of
prayer at graduation and
the observance of religious
holidays in schools.
Yet Mr. Lobenthal and
Ms. Kramer fear these rul-
ings have prompted local
and national far-right
organizations to push a
return to a Christian
agenda.
"We tried to change
Washington," Christian
Coalition founder Ralph
Reed told the New York
Times in October. (Mr.
Reed managed the presi-
dential campaign of Pat
Robertson.) "The real bat-
tles of Christian concern
are in the neighborhoods,
school boards, city councils
and state legislatures." ❑
Schools Comply With
Graduation Prayer Ban
RUTH LITTMANN STAFF WRITER
he U.S. Supreme
Court last summer
banned prayer at
public school gradu-
ation ceremonies. The 5-4
ruling will likely create
few waves locally as stu-
dents and staff prepare
for the first commence-
ment since the decision
was rendered.
"I think that, long
before the Supreme Court
ruling, there has been a
widespread commitment
to do business in a way
that recognizes our diver-
sity," said Dr. Robert
Maxfield, superintendent
of Berkley Public Schools.
"We've never had prayer
as part of our graduation
ceremonies. We've come to
believe that there really
isn't a prayer that isn't
going to offend some-
body."
Last year at Southfield
T
,
High School, a senior stu-
dent referred to "Jesus
Christ the almighty" in
his speech during com-
mencement.
This year, Ken Wilson,
principal of Southfield
High, hopes that invoca-
tion and other graduation
presentations will remain
secular. He has discussed
the Supreme Court deci-
sion with students who
coordinate the graduation
ceremonies.
Feeling caught between
the law and the possibili-
ty of having to censor stu-
dents' speeches, Mr. Wil-
son said he let the stu-
dents decide for them-
selves what the ruling
implied. Students agreed
that the law prohibits
blessings at graduation,
he said.
at
Administrators
Southfield High and other
Volunteer-A-Thon
Provides Services
LESLEY PEARL STAFF WRITER
ike any nonprofit
organization, Volun-
teer Impact is con-
stantly struggling
for dollars for existence.
However, for the second
year in a row, funds will
be raised by engaging in
the work done year-round
by the organization.
It's called Volunteer-A-
Thon, and it will be held
May 15.
Volunteers will meet at
the Matthaei Center at
Wayne State University
at 8:15 a.m. Pledge sheets
and collected money for
eight hours of painting,
repairing, restoring and
providing services for
nonprofit organizations
will be collected.
A party, complete with
music, prizes and food
donations from Papa
Romano's will follow the
hours of sweat and ser-
vice.
Last year, 13 agencies
benefited from Volunteer-
A-Thon. This year, 28
organizations will receive
in-kind services — among
them are Coalition on
Temporary Shelter,
Wellness House and
Gleaners Community
Food Bank.
Liz Kanter, founder of
Volunteer Impact, hopes
to raise $30,000 for the
L
schools now audition stu-
dents before allowing
them to speak at corn-
"If people care to
pray, they can do
it on their own
time."
—Jeff Berger
mencement, though this
is no guarantee what they
will say during the actual
event, Mr. Wilson said.
Dr. Seymour Gretchko,
superintendent of West
Bloomfield Schools and a
member of Temple
Eden Cooper Sage helps at the Gleaners during last year's
Volunteer-A-Than.
organization.
"All the money raised
goes into helping us reach
more people in need," Ms.
Kanter said. "And almost
all the services we are
providing on May 15
would not otherwise be
provided."
Volunteers will plant
flowers and landscape the
Ronald McDonald House
and clean 46 vacant lots
in the Goodwill/Briggs
Community in Detroit.
"We're trying to clean
and beautify these areas,"
Ms. Kanter said. `We'll be
doing a lot of painting
of community centers,
painting over graffiti. It's
(graffiti) a negative image
to grow up around."
Emanu-El, said his dis-
trict has not invited cler-
gy to speak at graduation
for more than a decade.
He is not aware of anyone
who objects, he said.
Barbara Burns and Jeff
Berger, seniors at West
Bloomfield High School,
are planning commence-
ment as part of their
duties as members of the
student government. Both
say their peers have not
expressed concern about
the ban on prayer.
"We really don't have to
handle the issue because
it's never been a part of
graduation and it's never
going to be," Ms. Burns
said. "I don't think there
Ms. Kanter hopes the
Volunteer-A-Thon will get
individuals excited about
providing in-kind services
and giving back to the
community — Volunteer
Impact's year-round goal.
Each month Volunteer
Impact offers a variety of
several-hour and day-long
volunteer opportunities.
"There is a need we are
meeting," Ms. Kanter
said. "In March, 140 calls
came in from individuals
asking to be added to our
mailing list. People are
looking for a way to get
involved and a place to do
it."
For more information or
pledge forms, call Volun-
teer Impact at 353-6830
or fax a request to 357-
0112. ❑
should be a religious (ele-
ment) during commence-
ment. It's fine for private
schools. That's what you
pay them for."
Said Mr. Berger, "There
should be a separation
between church and state.
If people care to pray,
they can do it on their
own time."
Schools with a diverse
ethnic population, like
those in Berkley, South-
field and West Bloom-
field, are more likely to
comply with the law, said
Jim Ballard, associate
director for the Michigan
Association of Secondary
PRAYER page 16