Lorain County Community Guide - Dec. 14, 2023

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Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023

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Volume 10, Issue YY

Iranian OC prof put on leave CARISSA WOYTACH THE COMMUNITY GUIDE Oberlin College religion professor Mohammad Jafar Mahallati, a former Iranian regime official and ambassador to the United Nations, has been placed on indefinite administrative leave. Oberlin College Director of Media Relations Andrea Simakis confirmed the controversial professor was put on leave Nov. 28 but would not provide any

information why. Mahallati has taught at Oberlin College since 2007 and is the Nancy Schrom Dye Chair in Middle East and North African Studies at Oberlin College. Simakis also confirmed that the college is cooperating with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights regarding a 2019 complaint -- filed by a 1986 Oberlin graduate -- of alleged harassment of Jewish students on campus. It is not known if Mahallati is involved. “Oberlin abhors antisemitism

and all forms of hate, discrimination, and harassment,” she wrote. “The college works every day to ensure that our campus is safe for all students, faculty, and staff, including those who identify as Jewish.” The Chronicle has requested a copy of the complaint from the Department of Education. Mahallati has been the subject of several on-campus protests and a recent report by Amnesty International questioning his alleged role in covering up a nearly 35-year-old massacre of political

and religious dissidents in Iran. Amnesty International’s report questioned the role of former Iranian diplomats, including Mahallati, in the 1988 prison massacres. At the time of the massacre, Mahallati was Iran’s representative to the United Nations in New York and allegedly “played a critical role in denying and disseminating misinformation.” According to Amnesty International, between July and September 1988 Iranian authorities executed as many as 5,000

political prisoners. Mahallati was Iran’s United Nations representative from 1987 to 1989. While protesters have called for the college to fire Mahallati for his alleged involvement in the massacres, an investigation by the college concluded the allegations against Mahallati were unproven and Mahallati has denied them. Mahallati’s profile page has been removed from the Oberlin College website. He previously taught at Columbia, Princeton, Georgetown and Yale.

LifeCare, Amherst consider new pact

THE GIVING TIME OF YEAR

One more day to donate toys to C-T drive THE COMMUNITY GUIDE

It’s been a toy-dropping frenzy in the lobby of The Chronicle this week as tomorrow’s deadline to the paper’s annual Not-Forgotten Box toy drive nears. Hopefully, it will meet its goal of 8,000 toys, which are distributed through the local Salvation Arny. Servers from Basil’s Grill were among the generous donors, dropping off toys and a $1,500 donation from their tips last weekend. This is the sixth year Lisa Krugman and Codi Kinder have pooled their tips from a busy Saturday to give to the Not-Forgotten Box. “This was just our way of giving back to the community so that everyone can enjoy Christmas,” Kinder said, her son, Jerome Watkins, 2, in tow. Retired educators from Elyria, Amherst and Grafton came in to make their annual donation. The Wells Family, from Grafton, brought several bikes and bags of toys. Rudy Wells and his wife, Sue, joined by their greatgreat nieces Donna Britton, 15, and Ashley Britton, 10, trucked in their annual donation from their extended family. Giving to the Not-Forgotten Box has been a tradition for Rudy Wells and his family since the 1970s, he said. He remembers what it was like growing up poor, and as his economic status got better, wanted to give back. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at The Chronicle-Telegram until 5 p.m. Friday.

KRISTIN BAUER/CHRONICLE

Two-year-old Jerome Watkins seems to be giving a good-bye hug to one of the many toys his mother and the staff of Basil’s donated to the Chronicle’s Not-Forgotten Box. The Ohio Laborers Union Local 758 made the holidays a bit sweeter for Ohio Laborers Union Local 758 many children across Lorain County thanks to its donation to the Marine donates $4,300 Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. to Toys For Tots This year, the donation was a $4,358.05 check made out directly to the organization so that it can be used to

buy the specific toys requested. Lorain County’s Toys For Tots was singled out as the charity of choice for Local Chapter 758 because it is serves only Lorain County and because of the many Marines and former Marines here, business manager Chuck Brooky said.

LAUREN HOFFMAN THE COMMUNITY GUIDE The city of Amherst is considering accepting a new contract with LifeCare Ambulance Inc. that would cover the costs of unpaid calls within the Joint Sandstone Ambulance District. The district is composed of Amherst, Amherst Township and South Amherst and has previously been serviced by the independent ambulance company. Earlier this year, LifeCare dropped out of the contract with the district because representatives said it could no longer perform its services. “Currently, 40 percent of the patients we transport are either on Medicaid with very little reimbursement or have no insurance at all,” Kimberly Mason, chief operating officer at LifeCare, said. “This puts a large economic challenge on our company and so under this new contract we would like to see compensation from the city to help cover operating costs.” LifeCare was contracted to serve what is called the Sandstone district, Mayor Mark Costilow said during a committee meeting Dec. 4. “Earlier in the year it came to our attention that LifeCare was unable to perform their services under the old contract and so Sandstone sent out requests for proposals.” LifeCare responded to the request and was the only company to do so, but required the district to enter into a revised contract

SEE LIFECARE, PAGE A3

INSIDE THIS WEEK Amherst

Catch up on police news. Page 3

Oberlin

Celebrating Hanukkah. Page 4

Wellington

Santa train rolls into town. Page 5

OBITUARIES A2 • CROSSWORD A7 • SUDOKU A7 • KID SCOOP A8


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