drop shadow decoration
Card-Carrying Member? Join ... Donate
Home → News → Release

ACLU of Southern California Celebrates Its Equal Educational Opportunities Campaign and Honors Its Contributors at 39th Annual Garden Party, June 10th

Thursday, May 17, 2001

LOS ANGELES - The ACLU of Southern California is holding its 39th Annual Garden Party on June 10, 2001 at the home of Betty and Stanley K. Sheinbaum in Brentwood. The event will celebrate the ACLU Campaign for Equal Educational Opportunities and honor some of the heroes involved in three of the ACLU's major education lawsuits.

"All of our honorees have displayed tremendous commitment to the cause of defending and fighting for equality in education," said Ramona Ripston, Executive Director of the ACLU/SC. "Their dedication and commitment has made a lasting and valuable contribution to ensuring that students throughout California receive the essential educational opportunities that they are without doubt entitled to."

Students and teachers from Jefferson High School, UCLA Law Professor Gary Blasi and students in his Public Policy Advocacy class will be honored for their involvement in the historic class-action lawsuit Williams v. State of California. The Williams lawsuit was filed on behalf of California public school children who are deprived of such basic and necessary learning tools as books, trained teachers, and seats for students.

Educators Jeannie Oakes and John Rogers will be honored for their involvement as experts in the Daniels v. State of California lawsuit filed on behalf of public high school students, particularly for students enrolled in lower income, predominantly African-American and Latino schools, who are being denied equal and adequate access to AP courses.

Students and teachers from Manual Arts High School and Locke High School will be recognized for their involvement in the Beltran v. UC Regents lawsuit filed on behalf of public high school students who qualified for a statewide special admissions to the University of California program called "Enrollment in the Local Context" (ELC) but whose schools failed to sign up for the program. Shortly after the filing of the lawsuit, the University of California announced that it would admit all of the qualified students.

Entertainment will be provided by comedian Paula Poundstone and The Buddy Collette Jazz Combo. Special guests include actors Daniel Benzali and Bill Schallert. The Garden Party will also feature food, awards and a silent auction. Children are welcome, and special activities for them are planned.

home | contact us | jobs | privacy policy | user agreement | legal intake | chapter calendar | RSS/feeds

This is the web site of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the ACLU Foundation of Southern California.
Learn more about the distinction between these two components of the ACLU. Copyright 2007 The ACLU of Southern California.