Category Archives: Section

Building Community Consciousness Around Domestic Violence

Posted on 10/05/2010 by Rachel Storm

October is nationally recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) and the Women’s Resources Center—in collaboration with a variety of campus and community organizations*—has worked to both raise awareness of the realities of domestic abuse and to educate the community … Continue reading →

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The System of Snitching

Posted on 09/05/2010 by Barbara Kessel

“Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law. To declare that the government may commit crimes in order to secure the conviction of a private criminal_would bring terrible retribution.“ —Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Prisoners | Leave a comment

The U.S. (In)Justice System Doesn’t Work. The Alternative Just Might

Posted on 09/05/2010 by Mikhail Lyubansky

I’VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT justice lately, pondering the injustice of the way that justice is administered in this country. For years I’ve pointed out and lamented the racial bias evident in both law enforcement and the criminal courts. … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Prisoners | Leave a comment

Student Fees Make UI Sports Profitable

Posted on 09/05/2010 by Neil Parthun

HIKES IN TUITION, LARGER CLASS sizes, staff furloughs, pay freezes and acrimonious labor negotiations are common knowledge for UI students, graduate employees and staff. While many look at the exorbitant pay raise of President Hogan, the $150,000 rug and other … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Leave a comment

New Book of Poetry from Aaron Ammons

Posted on 09/05/2010 by Public i

A second book of poetry is now out from local poet Aaron Ammons, a.k.a. A-Dub, titled As I Travel My Creation. It includes dozens of new poems such as “Do I Remember,” reprinted below. This self-published book was funded in … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Arts, Voices of Color | Leave a comment

Flatlander Fund Created to Honor the Memory of Dan Schrieber

Posted on 09/05/2010 by Laura Huth

Dan Schreiber had big dreams, and the talent, enthusiasm, and vision to bring so many to fruition. He died in July at age 24. Known around town as “The Chocolate Man,” Dan was the genius behind Flatlander Chocolate, Illinois’ only … Continue reading →

Posted in Food | Leave a comment

Thoughts on the Professor Howell Controversy

Posted on 09/05/2010 by Belden Fields

The issues raised by the U of I Professor Kenneth Howell’s initial hiring at the University of Illinois, his e-mail to his students who were preparing to take a final examination in his course on Catholicism, and his subsequent termination … Continue reading →

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Kicking Coal’s Ash

Posted on 09/05/2010 by Amy Allen

COAL. OUR JOURNEY TO MODERNITY started with it, the oldest of our industrial fuels. It feels like something we’ve left behind a long time ago— most of us have much more personal experience with the other fossil fuels like oil … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment | Leave a comment

The Three R’s Project: Reading Reduces Recidivism

Posted on 09/05/2010 by townie7890

THE ACT OF READING IS A UNIQUELY human skill and can be transformative as well as entertaining. With this in mind, a relatively new group is seeking to provide reading materials to Illinois prison circulation libraries. The goals are to … Continue reading →

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UCIMC Summer Arts Camp

Posted on 09/05/2010 by Briawsome

WEEDING, PLANTING, and watering may not make it onto your list of favorite things to do, but, despite the heat and hard work, working in the Community Garden was worth it. We started off with just tomatoes and garlic chives … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts, UC-IMC | Leave a comment

Another School Year, Another War Year

Posted on 09/05/2010 by Sarah Lazare

CLASSES HAVE STARTED AGAIN and military recruiters are out in full force. Students spill onto the quad, the August sun blazes down on the sea of people rushing off to class or lounging in the grass. And there are my … Continue reading →

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The Battle of Mahomet

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Neil Parthun

STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS in Mahomet were back in class on Monday, Aug. 23 after the Mahomet Seymour Education Association (MSEA) and the school board were able to settle on a new contract on Aug. 20. The settlement marked an end … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Labor/Economics | Leave a comment

Message & Medium, Both Matter in Local Film Fests

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Jason Pankoke

For decades, Champaign-Urbana has inspired a long succession of independently made media created by citizens, academics, and students wishing to enrich and inform their friends and neighbors in ways avoided by commercial outlets. This has encompassed print, radio, theater, music, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts | Leave a comment

2010 U. S. Social Forum, Detroit

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Sarah Ross

If you want to connect to people involved in just about every social justice issue our nation faces, you would find your people at the US Social Forum. The first USSF was held in Atlanta in 2007. This year the … Continue reading →

Posted in Labor/Economics, National | Leave a comment

Education vs. Incarceration: The Early Release Program in Illinois

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Brian Dolinar

With a current state budget deficit in Illinois of some $13 billion, among the largest in the country, state legislators are making tough decisions about where to save money. Recently, Governor Pat Quinn proposed an “early release” program for prison … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Prisoners | Leave a comment

eBlack Project: Online and In The Community

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Noah Lenstra

The history of African-Americans in Champaign-Urbana has gone virtual! A new project, called eBlackChampaign- Urbana, is working to bring together the documentation of this important history online to find new ways to celebrate, remember and use it into the present … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Technology, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Odyssey Project

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Kerry Pimblott

For the past four years, the Odyssey Project has offered a free-college accredited course in the humanities to workers and low-income men and women in Champaign County. Thanks to support from both the Illinois Humanities Council (IHC) and the University … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Education | Leave a comment

Valedictorian Speech From The Odyssey Project

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Janice Walker

Good Afternoon Friends, Family and Faculty. Thank you for taking time to celebrate with the 2010 Graduating class of the Odyssey Project. About 2-years ago I saw the Odyssey Program advertised in the News Gazette paper and I thought WOW, … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Education, Youth | Leave a comment

Urbana Neighborhood Connections, Inc.

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Belden Fields

On January 19 of this year, Neighborhood Connections Center, Inc opened its doors as a community learning center for African American young people. It is located at 1401 E. Main Street in Urbana. The Center is the creation of Janice … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Education | Leave a comment

Kiwane Carrington Update

Posted on 05/05/2010 by Public i

According to Champaign City Manager Steve Carter, the appeal of a 30-day suspension given to Daniel Norbits, the officer who shot and killed Kiwane Carrington, was denied. A day after the suspension was announced, an attorney with the Fraternal Order … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights | Leave a comment