Category Archives: Section

Indymedia at 20

  It was twenty years ago, September 24, 2000, when a dozen people crammed into my apartment on Carle Park. We began dreaming about the Independent Media Center that now graces the heart of Urbana, nurturing new friendships, growing new … Continue reading

Posted in Media, UC-IMC, UCIMC | Comments Off on Indymedia at 20

The University and its Workers during the Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has affected universities all over the country and the world. Different institutions have chosen different approaches, from keeping all courses online and discouraging students from returning (Smith College, Harvard University, etc.) to a full opening of residential … Continue reading

Posted in COVID pandemic, health, Labor, Labor/Economics, University of Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Comments Off on The University and its Workers during the Pandemic

COVID-19: Local Responses and Lessons for the Future

The Public i asked Professor Weissman, in light of his involvement with helping doctors with statistics, for his thoughts on the local response to COVID-19 and any lessons learned from it for the future. First, I think it’s more important … Continue reading

Posted in COVID-19, pandemic, Public Health, University of Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Comments Off on COVID-19: Local Responses and Lessons for the Future

Governor Pritzker has the Power to Halt All Utility Shutoffs by Signing an Executive Order

Robin Brown’s utilities in Champaign were shut off by Ameren Illinois on September 18, 2020, in the midst of our historical COVID-19 pandemic. When asked about how utility shutoffs affected her, Brown said “I’ve had to give away and separate … Continue reading

Posted in Corporations, COVID pandemic, Economy, IL, Justice, Labor/Economics, State Government | Comments Off on Governor Pritzker has the Power to Halt All Utility Shutoffs by Signing an Executive Order

What Educational Values and Beliefs Underpin a Decision to have Armed School Resource Officers?

This article was previously published in Smile Politely,  On December 17, 2019, the Urbana Board of Education (BOE) signed an intergovernmental agreement to approve funding of two full-time armed police officers (called School Resource Officers, or SROs)—one at the middle … Continue reading

Posted in African American, Education, Education, Police, Policing, Urbana, Voices of Color | Comments Off on What Educational Values and Beliefs Underpin a Decision to have Armed School Resource Officers?

The Decline of African Languages at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois used to be one of the best universities for learning African languages. Emeritus professor of Linguistics Eyamba Bokamba would always say, “here in Illinois we offer African languages from A to Z, Arabic to Zulu.” Unfortunately, … Continue reading

Posted in Africa, African Americans, University of Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Comments Off on The Decline of African Languages at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Disruptive Shift Changes for UIUC Custodial Staff

Jenni Walkup is a public anthropology MA student at American University who lives in Champaign. She works in education and writes about movements and social change. She’s very good at Bananagrams. In August, 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of … Continue reading

Posted in COVID-19, labor, Labor/Economics, University of Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Comments Off on Disruptive Shift Changes for UIUC Custodial Staff

SEIU Statement Regarding the Changes in the Building Services Department at UIUC

The University decided in mid-spring that it would reopen for the 2020 fall semester, a decision that would require drastic, “emergency” changes in our department and to the working conditions of SEIU members. Management didn’t notify union leadership until July … Continue reading

Posted in COVID-19, labor, Labor/Economics, University of Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Comments Off on SEIU Statement Regarding the Changes in the Building Services Department at UIUC

Police Unions: Solidarity and Accountability

The Police and Solidarity There are two major differences between police officers and other workers in both the private and public sector. The first is a truncated sense of solidarity, the second a lack of accountability. Unionized workers in both … Continue reading

Posted in police accountability, Police Brutality, Policing, union solidarity | Comments Off on Police Unions: Solidarity and Accountability

Chalk It Up to Protecting Property Over People

In July Michael Long, owner of the Rogue Barber Co. in downtown Champaign, implemented a discriminatory “membership only” policy. The issue came to public attention on July 23, when a female Champaign resident shared screenshots on social media of a … Continue reading

Posted in Alt-Right, bigotry, Community, police accountability, Policing | Comments Off on Chalk It Up to Protecting Property Over People

How Are Violent Police Held Accountable in Champaign County?

On April 10, Urbana Police officers threw an African American woman, Aleyah Lewis, to the ground and punched her while she was down. She had protested the arrest of a friend. Caught on video, this led many people in the … Continue reading

Posted in police accountability, Police Brutality, States's Attorney | Comments Off on How Are Violent Police Held Accountable in Champaign County?

A Student’s Perspective on COVID-19

On January 21, 2020, the first case of COVID-19 within the US was confirmed. During the first few days of the University of Illinois spring break, it was announced that all courses would transition to online-only learning by March 23, … Continue reading

 1,146 total views

Posted in COVID-19, Section, Students, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Voices | Comments Off on A Student’s Perspective on COVID-19

Is the Addition of a Larger Police Presence to Urbana Schools a Human Rights Violation?

On February 4, 2019, I was in class at Urbana High School when a student came in and said there were students fighting in the hall and a teacher had been knocked out. My teacher quickly locked the door and … Continue reading

 1,929 total views

Posted in Education, Education, Police, Section, Students, Voices | Comments Off on Is the Addition of a Larger Police Presence to Urbana Schools a Human Rights Violation?

Struggles against Global Aquaculture: Ongoing Conflict between Coastal Communities and Fishmeal Factories in The Gambia

In June, 2018, I protested alongside locals to plead with the Gambian government to mitigate the ongoing conflict between a fishmeal factory and Sanyang village residents. The Nassim factory processes sardinella into feed stock, a flour-type material, for the Chinese … Continue reading

 1,488 total views

Posted in Africa, Food Insecurity, International, International, Section | Comments Off on Struggles against Global Aquaculture: Ongoing Conflict between Coastal Communities and Fishmeal Factories in The Gambia

The Pandemic and Pro Wrestling

In the November, 2019 Public i, I wrote about one of the earliest gig economies: professional wrestling. There, independent pro wrestler David Starr discussed the incredibly imbalanced power dynamics of the corporate wrestling scene in America. While watching corporations and … Continue reading

 978 total views

Posted in Labor, Labor/Economics, Sports | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Pandemic and Pro Wrestling

Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center Offers Digital Venue Space and Community with its Sounds Like Community Web Series

The UC-IMC has always been a popular venue space for performances of all kinds, from spoken word poetry to live music, to art shows, plays and much more. But when the pandemic struck, the IMC Board of Directors was forced … Continue reading

 962 total views

Posted in Arts, Community, Section | Comments Off on Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center Offers Digital Venue Space and Community with its Sounds Like Community Web Series

Public Speaks Out About Use of Force by Urbana Police–Council Reviews Police Investigation

  On April 10, Urbana police responded to a call on East Colorado Avenue about an armed man and possible shot fired. Police arrived, frisked an uninvolved youth, and then focused on a man and woman they suspected were involved. … Continue reading

 15,369 total views,  1 views today

Posted in Police, Policing, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Public Speaks Out About Use of Force by Urbana Police–Council Reviews Police Investigation

Comment from ACLU to Urbana City Council Regarding Aleyah Lewis’ Arrest

Champaign County ACLU appreciates the city of Urbana’s commitment to community-centered policing and to maintaining a well-trained professional police force that is held to the highest standards. We are concerned about the lack of professionalism during the April 10 arrest … Continue reading

 1,286 total views

Posted in civil rights, Police, Policing | Tagged , | Comments Off on Comment from ACLU to Urbana City Council Regarding Aleyah Lewis’ Arrest

The Trump Administration Just Opened a New Immigrant Prison in Rural Michigan

From his office at the Cristo Rey Church in Lansing, Michigan, Oscar Castañeda runs a campaign against a new federal immigrant prison, part of President Donald Trump’s escalation of immigration enforcement. In May, 2019, the Trump administration awarded a ten-year, … Continue reading

Posted in Immigration, incarceration | Comments Off on The Trump Administration Just Opened a New Immigrant Prison in Rural Michigan

This Month from the Archives

Established in 2000, the UCIMC was one of the earliest nodes in the Indymedia network, representing an anti-globalist and anti-corporate agenda. With the motto “don’t hate the media, be the media,” along with tools, training, and support, Indymedia encourages citizen … Continue reading

Posted in Media, UCIMC | Comments Off on This Month from the Archives