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Arts censorship dilemma

Description: At ICA, advocates of freedom of expression defend the Mapplethorpe exhibit. Opponents at State House press conference claim the photos are obscene and should be censored. Discussion of what makes something art, what makes something obscene, and how to judge a community standard.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 07/31/1990

Carl DiMaiti

Description: Marcus Jones reports that the DiMaiti family has created the Carol DiMaiti Stuart Foundation to memorialize Carol Stuart, who was murdered. The foundation will fund scholarships for residents of the Mission Hill neighborhood and activities to bolster race relations in the city of Boston. DiMaiti family members hold a press conference. Carol's father Giusto DiMaiti talks about his daughter. Interview with Carol's brother Carl DiMaiti, who is the president of the foundation. He talks about his sister and the activities of the foundation, saying that the foundation would like to grant scholarships to students who have achieved academically or who have contributed to their schools. DiMaiti says that the foundation and its advisory board will try to fund innovative programs to improve race relations in the city. DiMaiti says that more must be done to improve race relations. This tape also includes footage from WCVB news coverage of the Stuart murder case. Editor's note: The b-roll following this edited story on the tape was entire comprised of third party footage, and so has been edited out.
1:00:04: Visual: Footage of Giusto DiMaiti (father of Carol Stuart) at a press conference on January 25, 1990. DiMaiti says that Carol Stuart was a loving, caring person. Marcus Jones reports that the DiMaiti family has created a foundation to memorialize Carol Stuart; that they hope to fund scholarships for residents of the Mission Hill neighborhood; that they hope to fund activities to bolster race relations in the city of Boston. V: Shots of the members of the DiMaiti family at a press conference; of the media at the press conference. Shot of a color photo of Stuart wearing a bridal veil. Jones reports that the foundation has received over $260,000 worth of donations. Jones reports that Carl DiMaiti is the president of the foundation; that Carl DiMaiti hopes to begin granting scholarships in the fall. V: Footage of Carl DiMaiti being interviewed by Jones. Jones asks what kind of people will receive the scholarships. Carl DiMaiti says that the foundation would like to grant scholarships to hard-working students who have achieved academically or who have contributed to their school. Carl DiMaiti says that the foundation would like to grant scholarships to students who want to give something back to society. Carl DiMaiti says that Carol Stuart was a tax attorney; that Stuart volunteered her time at a Latino community center in Somerville; that Stuart helped people with their taxes during tax season. Jones asks about the foundation's goal of funding activities to improve race relations. Carl DiMaiti says that the foundation would like to fund innovative programs that bring together people from different backgrounds. Carl DiMaiti talks about an city-wide basketball league or an exchange between suburban and inner-city schools. Carl DiMaiti says that the foundation will look to its advisory board for guidance. Carl DiMaiti says that more can be done to improve race relations in Boston. Jones asks Carl DiMaiti for his opinion on race relations in Boston. Carl DiMaiti says that race relations can be improved; that the Carol DiMaiti Stuart Foundation cannot improve race relations by itself. Carl DiMaiti says that some people have been surprised that the family started the foundation. Carl DiMaiti says that the family has derived many benefits from creating the foundation. Carl DiMaiti says that the family has begun to see how many good people live in the city of Boston.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 02/26/1990

Citywide Parents Council

Description: Meg Vaillancourt reports that members of the Citywide Parents Council have criticized the Boston School Committee's decision to release superintendent Laval Wilson from his contract. Press conference with Council members Jackie van Leeuwen and Glenola Mitchell. Van Leeuwen says that School Committee members acted unethically and unfairly in firing Wilson. Mitchell says that she believes that race played a role in Wilson's firing. School Committee members were critical of Wilson's communication skills, but rated him as fair or better in all other categories. School Committee members deny that race played a role in the firing. Parents are demanding a voice in the selection of Wilson's successor. Vaillancourt adds that the School Committee has been forced to cut back on spending and that money will be tight for the next year. Vaillancourt's report is accompanied by footage of a Boston School Committee meeting and footage of Wilson speaking to the media.
1:00:06: Visual: Footage of Dr. Laval Wilson (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) speaking to the media on February 14, 1990. Wilson says that he is Boston's first African American superintendent of schools; that he has been a successful superintendent who has worked hard for all groups. Meg Vaillancourt reports that the Boston School Committee voted to replace Wilson last week. Wilson notes that Wilson has had problems in the past with the Citywide Parents Council; that the organization spoke out in support of Wilson today. V: Footage of Jackie van Leeuwen (Citywide Parents Council) at a press conference. Van Leeuwen says that members of the Boston School Committee acted unethically and unfairly in firing Wilson; that Wilson should have been provided an opportunity to discuss his evaluation. Vaillancourt reports that the School Committee evaluation rated Wilson as fair or better in all categories; that members were critical of his communication skills. V: Shot of John O'Bryant (Boston School Committee) speaking to members of the School Committee during a break in a meeting in February of 1989. Wilson looks on. Vaillancourt reports that Wilson's supporters believe that his professionalism is more important than his personality; that Wilson's supporters question the professionalism of the School Committee. V: Shots of a white female teacher teaching students in a classroom. Shots of individual white and African American students. Footage of Glenola Mitchell (Citywide Parents Council) at the press conference. Mitchell questions how the School Committee found the money to buy out Wilson's contract. Mitchell says that the School Committee could not find any money for crucial programs or teacher contracts. Footage of Von Leeuwen saying that the School Committee is supposed to represent the interests of parents and schoolchildren. Von Leeuwen says that the School Committee has shown no regard for the opinions of parents and students. Shot of members of the media in the audience. Vaillancourt asks Mitchell if race played a role in the School Committee's vote against Wilson. Mitchell says that the pattern of the vote shows that race did play a role for some members. Footage from a School Committee meeting in February of 1989. Shots of the members of the School Committee seated at the front of the School Committee chambers; of audience members crowded into the School Committee chambers. Shot of Wilson standing alone as he drinks from a cup. Shots of School Committee members Daniel Burke, Peggy Davis-Mullen, Kitty Bowman, and Robert Cappucci conferring during a break in the meeting. Vaillancourt reports that white members of the School Committee deny that race played a part in the decision; that Wilson declined comment on camera today. Vaillancourt reports that Wilson is being considered for superintendent's post in Florida. V: Shot of the audience at the press conference of the members of the Citywide Parents Council. Vaillancourt notes that the Miami Herald has quoted Davis-Mullen as saying that Wilson is a "rigid, inflexible centralist." Vaillancourt notes that the Miami Herald quoted Davis-Mullen as saying that Wilson is unable to take criticism or move with the flow. V: Shot of Davis-Mullen speaking at a School Committee meeting. The quote by Davis-Mullen appears written in text on-screen. Vaillancourt reports that parents have demanded to meet with the School Committee; that parents want a voice in the selection of Wilson's replacement. V: Shots of attendees at the Citywide Parents Council press conference. Shot of Julio Henriquez (aide to School Committee member Daniel Burke) standing at the rear of the room. Footage of Mitchell saying that she is concerned about the members who do not have children in the school system; that those members are not users of the system. Vaillancourt reports that the School Committee's decison to fire Wilson comes at a bad time; that the state budget crunch has forced the School Committee to cut back on spending. Vaillancourt notes that the Boston City Council has not come up with funding for next year's teacher contracts; that a new student-assignment plan was scheduled to go into effect in the fall. Vaillancourt adds that Wilson will have to meet those challenges as "a lame-duck superintendent."
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 02/20/1990