Briefs

Iraq ambassador named: President Bush named John Negroponte, the
United States’ top diplomat at the United Nations, as the
U.S. ambassador to Iraq on Monday and asserted that Iraq
“˜”˜will be free and democratic and
peaceful.”

Bush announced the nomination in an Oval Office ceremony.

At the United Nations, Negroponte, 64, was instrumental in
winning unanimous approval of a Security Council resolution that
demanded Saddam Hussein comply with U.N. mandates to disarm.

While the resolution helped the Bush administration make its
case for invading Iraq, the Security Council eventually refused to
endorse the overthrow of Hussein, opting instead to extend U.N.
weapons searches.

Regarding Negroponte’s new post, the president said there
is “˜”˜no doubt in my mind he can handle it, no doubt in
my mind he will do a very good job and there’s no doubt in my
mind that Iraq will be free and democratic and
peaceful.”

Compiled from Bruin reports and wire services.

Education head OKs school compliance, with
concern

The head of the California Department of Education determined
Monday that the Westminster School District’s policy
regarding discrimination based on “perceived gender”
passes legal muster, sparing the district from losing a large
portion of its state funding.

But in a letter to the district board president, Superintendent
Jack O’Connell said he’s concerned that its refusal to
adopt the recommended version of the policy indicates an
unwillingness to accept the state’s mandate.

“In fact, it appears the district may intend to deny
protection from discrimination and harassment to a class of
students that the law clearly protects,” O’Connell
wrote.

Three of five members of the school board had refused to adopt
the state’s version of a policy intended to protect
transgender students, and those whose appearance or behavior may be
considered unusual for their sex, from discrimination.

Judy Ahrens, Blossie Marquez-Woodcock and Helena Rutkowski said
they believed the state’s law is immoral and would promote
homosexuality and transsexuality.

The board’s majority adopted its own language that defines
gender in its discrimination complaint policy as “the
biological sex of an individual or the alleged
discriminator’s perception of the alleged victim.” It
goes on to say that the “perception of the alleged victim is
not relevant to the determination of “˜gender.’ … It
is the perception of the alleged discriminator which is
relevant.”

O’Connell and lawyers for the Department of Education
spent a week reviewing the district’s policy before
determining it was acceptable. But O’Connell had strong words
for the board.

“As a local board of education, you lack authority to defy
state law by adopting your own definition of gender based on your
own personal prejudice,” O’Connell wrote.

Reports from Bruin wire services.

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