Peace and Justice of La Luz

Sky Yates (J.R. Oppenheim ADN)

Alamogordo Daily News
By Elva K. Österreich, Associate News Editor
04/07/2009

In an event designed to affirm the freedom of everyone in the community to not be sexually assaulted, the Take Back the Night Committee had more than 300 people marching in the sandy, windy evening of April 4.

With exhibits and events beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Tays Special Events Center, Take Back the Night offered 16 information tables, a self defense workshop, an art show and a poetry slam as precursors to a rally and march.

“For as crummy a weather as we had, I think the attendance was fabulous,” said Tina Godby-Ware, one of the organizers and a coordinator for the local Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program. “I am thrilled with the response.”

ONE IN SEVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICTS DO STUDENT DRUG TESTS WITHOUT ANY CAUSE

NORML One in seven public school districts randomly drug tests their student body, according to survey data published this month in the American Journal of Public Health. The percentage is approximately 50 percent higher the total number of schools that reported performing suspicionless drug testing five years ago.

Among the schools that employ random drug testing, 93 percent test student athletes, while 65 percent test students who engage in extracurricular activities – a practice that was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2002 in a 5-4 decision. (more…)