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ACLU Announces State Approval of Alternate Testing Dates for Russian Old Believer Students, Important Religious Freedom Accommodation in Administration of HSGQE.

Feodor Reutov, Tatiana Reutov, Kiril Kalugin, Anfisa Kalugin, Stan White, and Effimia Basargin, and other Voznesenka community students’ family members met with ACLU of Alaska Executive Director Jeffrey Mittman to discuss a formal request to the State to allow alternate testing dates.

The Alaska State Department of Education and Early Development has agreed to respect the religious freedom of Russian Old Believer families and arrange alternate testing dates and security procedures for administration of the High School Graduation Qualifying Exam (HSGQE) which, as currently scheduled, conflicts with Holy Week for Russian Old Believer students. Rather than being forced to miss the testing on April 6 – 8, or violate their religious dictates which require that Russian Old Believers not work or attend school during Holy Week, students will now have the opportunity to take the test on March 29 to April 2, under special security procedures and agreements which protect the validity of the tests. See the ACLU of Alaska’s Press Release. See correspondence to the Department of Education.

ACLU Joins NARF, Northern Justice Project, and State Of Alaska in Announcing Settlement In Yup'ik Language Voter Assistance Case. The ACLU of Alaska Foundation, the ACLU Voting Rights Project, and the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) joined the Northern Justice Project, four Alaska Native elders and four tribal governments and the Alaska Attorney General's Office in announcing a settlement of litigation in Nick, et al. v. Bethel, et al. According to the settlement, the state of Alaska will make enhancements to language assistance for Yup'ik-speaking voters available at elections in the Bethel area. “The right to vote – to have an equal voice in the political process – is the most fundamental of civil liberties,” said Jeffrey Mittman, Executive Director of the ACLU of Alaska. “The ACLU is pleased to have partnered with NARF in vindicating the Constitutional rights of the Alaska Native community, and ensuring the right to vote regardless of what language one speaks.” See the full press release and a copy of the settlement agreement.

SCHOLARSHIP WINNER ANNOUNCED:

Celaena Powder is this year’s recipient of the 2010 ACLU of Alaska Student Activist Scholarship. The announcement was made as part of the annual Liberty Awards Gala held January 23rd at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage, Alaska.

The ACLU has historically provided scholarships to the nation’s most committed, young civil liberties activists who become part of an elite class of scholar-activists participating in ongoing activities with the ACLU. Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to civil liberties through some form of activism and be a high school senior planning on entering college as a full-time, degree-seeking student.

This year’s scholarship winner, Celaena Powder, an 18-year old Alaska-grown senior attending Wasilla High School, is an outstanding model of activism. Celaena serves as juvenile representative on the Alaska Statewide Suicide Prevision Council and advocates for LGBT acceptance via her position in Wasilla High’s Gay Straight Alliance. She passionately believes in, and fights for, the civil liberties for those commonly oppressed. Celaena also serves as Activities Coordinator for her school’s National Honors Society, Vice President of Student Government, and Secretary for the Mat-Su Borough’s Student Advisory Board.

As this year’s scholarship winner, Celaena was awarded $2,500 to be used during her first year of college for tuition and study expenses. Celaena is considering her college options, but knows that someday she will pursue a career as a lawyer.

MULTIMEDIA: Listen to media reports on the lawsuit challenging the Lt. Governor's improper certification of the extreme "embryo personhood" initiative.

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