Inland Valley News

(CNN) -- A University of Texas at Austin student dormitory named after a man prominent in the Ku Klux Klan in the 1800s may soon have its name changed, university officials said.

University President William Powers Jr. will ask the university system's board of regents to rename Simkins Residence Hall, following a recommendation by a 21-member advisory group, according to a press release from the university.

Gregory Vincent, the university's vice president of diversity and community engagement, told CNN affiliate KXAN that naming a public building after a self-proclaimed racist compromised the university's image.

"We're certainly not erasing Professor Simkins from the annals of UT history," said Vincent. "All we are saying is that honorific is a very special designation and it should not harm the university's reputation."

If approved by board members, the building will be renamed Creekside Dormitory, for a creek that runs nearby, university officials said.

According to the university, the hall -- built in the 1950s to house male law students and graduate students -- was named for William Stewart Simkins, who was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Simkins taught at the university's law school from 1899 until his death in 1929.

The controversy over the dorm name came after a former UT law professor Tom Russell initiated research on Simkins.

Published early this year, Russell's research article claimed that UT officials named the dorm in the 1950s after a Klan member as another way to intimidate African-Americans after the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Brown vs. Board of Education.

"Professor Simkins helped to organize the Ku Klux Klan in Florida at the conclusion of the American Civil War, and he advocated his Klan past to Texas students," said Russell, now teaching at the University of Denver's Sturm College of Law.

"During the 1950s, the memory and history of Professor Simkins supported the university's resistance to integration. As the university faced pressure to admit African-American students, the university's faculty council voted to name a dormitory after the Klansman and law professor," Russell wrote.

"During this time period, alumni also presented the law school with a portrait of Professor Simkins. Portraits and a bust of Professor Simkins occupied prominent positions within the law school through the 1990s," he said.

KXAN interviewed a handful of students who expressed differing views on the name change.

Jillian Underwood, a UT senior, told KXAN that the name swap could create more controversy.

"There are Confederate names on buildings here, so are we going to draw the line on the KKK, or are we going to take it all the way and get rid of everything? That would significantly change the campus," she said.

Benjamin Bamgbade, also a senior, said that the university should review more building names and make further changes.

"You don't want to make a group of people uncomfortable coming to this university," he said.

In the ongoing saga of Detroit's dysfunction comes Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy's (pictured above) bright idea to jail parents in Detroit for up to three days for repeatedly missing parent-teacher conferences.

Worthy's argument is that parents who are not accountable for their children are part of the problem with elevated truancy, dropout rates and a recent rash of violent crimes involving teens:

"I have seen that younger and younger children are committing more violent acts, and we need to look at different approaches," Worthy told reporters. "I know we need to try something different. We should not have to legislate this, but what we have been doing is not working."

Worthy is drafting a proposal for the legislation and hopes to present it to county commissioners in August to persuade them to approve an ordinance.

So if you have a single parent who is working and unable to attend a conference, then that parent should be jailed, which would leave the child completely alone? Are you jailing a parent who's a deadbeat? Or is it just the primary caregiver? What about someone with 10 kids and 10 different schools? What about kids who just have bad parents? Will meeting with a teacher make them better parents? My parents didn't make every conference for my sister and I, and I haven't made every conference for my children. We all did well or are doing well in school. Is any of this logical?

Under Worthy's plan, Wayne County parents would be required to pick a time and day to attend one parent-teacher conference a year. If that conference is missed, the school would send out a letter to set up another within 14 days. If the second is missed, parents get a letter about sanctions, which could include up to three days in jail.

Worthy's office penalizes parents and guardians for school truancy, but by the time prosecutors get involved, large chunks of classroom time have already been missed. Hundreds of cases are reviewed each year, but only 50 or so result in prosecution. Educational neglect is a misdemeanor that carries up to 90 days in jail and a fine for parents. Older students could end up in juvenile court.

This proposal is unlikely to quickly become an ordinance because it would probably be challenged in court. For example, civil libertarians say it may be outside the law. Even some teachers, who often spend several hours waiting for parents who don't show up for the conferences, are skeptical.

If Worthy is looking for parent involvement, Hyde Leadership Academy, a charter school in Washington, D.C., seems to have found a good middle ground. It requires parents to attend Saturday workshops once a month, where they discuss issues in a group setting with their children. They also attend a three-day weekend retreat in the state of Maine, where they participate in more intensive workshops. If the parents do not participate, students will not be allowed to continue to attend the school, which is a high-achieving institution. Parents are informed of these requirements for participation when being interviewed for the school.

The success of this school is not just isolated to academic achievement: Students and parents have grown closer, discussed and worked through issues they weren't able to on their own and learned from other parents and students. Teachers are also criticized or rewarded in a public forum.

Maybe Worthy should do some research on tactics that have worked in other districts with Detroit's demographics. Detroit really doesn't need any more people in jail. I mean, really.

Today's new dads equate being a good father with "being there, being present, spending time and being accessible," and not with being a traditional "breadwinner," according to a new study released by the Boston College Center for Work and Family.

With Father's Day around the corner, these timely findings demonstrate a shift in men's attitudes about parenting and workplace commitment.

"Overall, our research found fathers who were deeply committed to care-giving and sharing the work as evenly as possible with their spouses," the authors write. "Men seem poised to embrace a new definition of fatherhood and to step up to the challenges and the rewards of parenting in a much fuller sense than was the case in the past."

Surprisingly, most fathers in the study reported their self-image at work increased in a positive way after having children, enhancing their reputation, credibility and even career options. However, the researchers found that most new fathers did not arrange formal flexible work schedules, as new mothers often do, even though the dads say they felt supported by their bosses with regard to work-life flexibility.

Instead, the authors report, these fathers used more informal, sometimes "stealth" approaches to balancing work and family issues.

Less surprisingly, the men studied said they were not prepared for how much work it takes to care of a young child. Yet, they said they choose to spend time with their children, frequently at the expense of personal activities they previously enjoyed. Often, their priorities changed to focus more on family and less on work, say the authors. And, in some cases, the men adjusted their career ambitions to take into account their "new responsibilities and joys."

It is clear that women have earned legitimacy in both the home and the workplace, as women comprise 50 percent of the U.S. workforce for the first time ever, the researchers say. In addition, they report that young women are less likely to take on the position of "accommodating spouse," placing their career aspirations second to those of their husbands, and are just as likely as men to seek jobs with greater responsibility. Differences in values from the baby boom generation to the current Millennial Generation also factor in here, according to the authors.

"In many studies, younger workers have placed a greater emphasis on autonomy and work-life balance than is the case with previous generations," the researchers explain. "One hypothesis is that the affluence that the youngest working generation has experienced has led to a greater emphasis on and concern for quality of life issues, as opposed to simply focusing on earnings and promotional opportunities as the most important determinants of success."

The shift in men's attitudes about parenting and workplace commitment is attributed in large part to these demographic, societal and generational factors, but the researchers emphasize that men have not experienced a similar revolution in terms of their role in the home and family sphere.

"The low number of stay-at-home fathers suggests that for a whole host of reasons, men's role as father, nurturer and caregiver is still not fully embraced in our society nor by the vast majority of employers," the authors say. "Fathers struggling to balance career aspirations with a focus on parenting, thereby finding legitimacy in both work and home spheres, may encounter 'paternal walls' not unlike the maternal walls working mothers have faced."

In conclusion, the researchers suggest the view of fatherhood in the workplace must change, as fathers increasingly take on an equal share of family responsibilities. They say employers need to see fatherhood as a more serious and time-consuming role and stop assuming that being a good father simply equates to being a good breadwinner.

"Men seem poised to embrace a new definition of fatherhood and to step up to the challenges and the rewards of parenting in a much fuller sense than was the case in the past," the authors say. "It is time we helped and encouraged them to do so."

Los Angeles, CA-- It was announced that former NBA great and current ESPN/ABC personality, Mark Jackson, has launched a new basketball apparel line named Hand Down Man Down, with the acronym HDMD serving as the brand logo.

The apparel line derives its name from Jackson’s signature catch phrase “Hand Down, Man Down,” which has become a part of popular basketball lexicon thanks to Jackson’s emphatic use of the phrase during NBA telecasts on ESPN and ABC. The witty phrase, used to describe a player capitalizing on an opponent’s defensive mistake, immediately struck a chord with the public and is now regularly heard both on and off the basketball court, along with his other signature phrase, “Mama, there goes that man!”

HDMD is supporting the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, Autism Speaks, and will donate $1 of every t-shirt sale to help the organization fund global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; raise public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and bring hope to all who deal with the hardships of the disorder.

The apparel line, which is defined by the “Hand Down, Man Down” mantra, is versatile and hip. From street courts to arena floors worldwide, the brand’s gritty look embodies confidence, passion, and a winner’s attitude. The HDMD line includes long and short sleeve shirts (sizes Small to XXXL), wristbands, headbands and shorts, all of which will initially be sold online exclusively at www.HDMDgear.com. The brand is ultimately planned to expand to retail stores nationwide as HDMD expands its product line.

The HDMD line is being introduced globally during the 2010 NBA playoffs via a new, fully integrated, multi-media campaign handled by independent, urban-driven Hollywood production company Deon Taylor Enterprises (DTE). The launch effort includes numerous viral initiatives (including ring tones) as well as an upcoming launch event in Los Angeles. Esteemed writer/director/producer Deon Taylor (“Chain Letter,” “The Hustle,” “Dead Tone,” “Nite Tales”), who teamed with Jackson to develop the HDMD concept, is writing and directing the entire HDMD campaign, which will feature A-list actors, musicians and athletes.

Many of the campaign's creative elements integrate a viral call to action for consumers to obtain ringtone downloads. There will also be downloadable wallpapers and images, as well as applications to send a friend a catch phrase message from Mark Jackson.

Commented Jackson, “My job as an NBA analyst is to tell it like it is and bring insider knowledge and a bit of flare to NBA coverage. I’m just happy there is now proof that people listen to me! I could never have envisioned that my commentary would inspire an apparel line, but I think we have something special and unique here. It’s a very distinct line that captures the spirit of the game and the spirit of athletic competition in general. The HDMD line will have a look for everyone.”

Jackson added, “As a brand, we want to be socially responsible and believe in giving something back when provided the opportunity. It’s this belief that led us to the partnership with Autism Speaks, a truly amazing organization that does so much to address issues surrounding autism throughout the world. We feel good knowing that the brand’s success will directly benefit the ongoing studies to research and hopefully cure autism.”

A number of the NBA’s biggest stars have pledged to support the apparel line in an effort to help battle autism. Jackson has already enlisted the support of former NBA stars Mitch Richmond and Byron Russell as well as other professional athletes including NFL player Ephraim Salaam of the Houston Texans.

TV and online spots will air throughout the months of May and June, while the NBA playoffs are in full swing.

Former NBA standout Mark Jackson is a game and studio analyst for ABC broadcasts of the NBA. Jackson serves as a studio analyst for the NBA Sunday Countdown pre-game show on ABC, joining host Dan Patrick and analyst Michael Wilbon from the site of the ABC NBA Sunday game broadcast each week. Jackson provides analysis during the game, paired courtside with ESPN and ABC lead play-by-play commentator Mike Breen.

After starring at St. John’s University, Jackson was a first-round pick by the New York Knicks in 1987. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1988 and played 17 seasons for several teams including the Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets. He currently ranks third on the NBA all-time assists list with 10,323 and is also among the all-time leaders in steals.

As an analyst, he also does a weekly segment called “You're Better Than That,” which focuses on the NBA's best players in their not-so-great moments during the previous week. The title is based on one of Jackson's signature phrases, uttered in admonition of players for on-court mistakes. In addition to “Hand Down, Man Down,” Jackson's other well-known trademarks are: “Mama, there goes that man,” and “3-Ball Corner Pocket.”

Jackson and his family currently reside in Los Angeles where he and his wife Pastor a church in Van Nuys called True Love Worship Center International.

Autism Speaks is North America’s largest autism science and advocacy organization. Since its inception only five short years ago, Autism Speaks has made enormous strides, committing over $142.5 million to research and developing innovative new resources for families through 2014. The organization is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. In addition to funding research, Autism Speaks also supports the Autism Treatment Network, Autism Genetic Resource Exchange and several other scientific and clinical programs. Notable awareness initiatives include the establishment of the annual United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2 and an award-winning “Learn the Signs” campaign with the Ad Council which has received over $210 million in donated media. Autism Speaks’ family resources include the Autism Video Glossary, a 100 Day Kit for newly-diagnosed families, a School Community Tool Kit, a community grant program and much more. Autism Speaks has played a critical role in securing federal legislation to advance the government’s response to autism, and has successfully advocated for insurance reform to cover behavioral treatments. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 80 cities across North America. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.