Get Connected
Search Public i
Public i
Get Connected
Archives
- December 2024
- October 2024
- July 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- February 2024
- November 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- February 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- September 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- November 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- September 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- September 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- January 2016
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- July 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- November 2008
- October 2008
- August 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- June 2005
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- March 2004
- February 2004
- December 2003
- November 2003
- October 2003
- September 2003
- August 2003
- June 2003
- May 2003
- November 2002
- October 2002
- April 2002
- March 2002
- February 2002
- December 2001
- November 2001
- October 2001
- September 2001
- August 2001
- July 2001
Category Archives: Section
“Congo to the Mississippi”: Recent Socially Conscious Music from Africa and the Americas
It is wonderful that so much music from around the world is now easily available to us, especially through the Internet and radio. My main source is Songlines magazine, a monthly published in print and online in London. Every print … Continue reading
Posted in Africa, Arts, Cuba, International, International, Music, South Africa
Comments Off on “Congo to the Mississippi”: Recent Socially Conscious Music from Africa and the Americas
Countering Disinformationhttp://publici.ucimc.org/wp-admin/edit.php to Build a Just Society
We have heard a lot about disinformation during this past year, but learning more about how information is manipulated, distorted and deployed to shape social debates can help you recognize when you are being targeted in a disinformation campaign. It … Continue reading
“It’s Scary Having a Fifteen-Year-Old Son”: Community Voices on Gun Violence in C-U
In the midst of the global pandemic, Champaign-Urbana has its own local epidemic: gun violence. As of July 20, police had received 95 reports in 2020 of shooting incidents in Champaign alone. This is more than double the total for … Continue reading
Posted in African Americans, African Americans, Gun violence, incarceration, Poetry, Violence, Voices of Color
Comments Off on “It’s Scary Having a Fifteen-Year-Old Son”: Community Voices on Gun Violence in C-U
Polish Women Take to the Streets
Following an October 22 Polish Supreme Court decision cutting off the main route to legal abortion in the country, Polish women, and many supportive men and children, took to the streets in the biggest mass mobilization in Poland in 40 … Continue reading
Posted in abortion rights, Feminism, International, International, Poland, Women
Comments Off on Polish Women Take to the Streets
Urbana Police Chief Finally Admits Misconduct in Aleyah Lewis Arrest
It has been more than seven months since the violent arrest of Urbana resident Aleyah Lewis. Tens of thousands of people have watched the videos of Urbana Police Officers throwing Lewis to the ground, pinning her, punching her in the … Continue reading
Posted in Justice, Police, police accountability, Police brutality, Policing
Comments Off on Urbana Police Chief Finally Admits Misconduct in Aleyah Lewis Arrest
“The Big Scary ‘S’ Word” is Coming for your Children
Did you know that Abraham Lincoln and Karl Marx had a correspondence; that Helen Keller was a socialist, as was Francis Bellamy, who authored the Pledge of Allegiance; that North Dakota practices public banking; and that in the 1840s … Continue reading
What I Learned While being the Poet Laureate for the City of Urbana . . .
I learned that the people of Urbana truly appreciated the emphasis on poetry in their public lives. They felt it improved their town in a tangible way. I learned that many poets live in this community who don’t always interact … Continue reading
Posted in Arts, Local Arts, Poetry
Comments Off on What I Learned While being the Poet Laureate for the City of Urbana . . .
The UCIMC Disinformation Defense Campaign
IMC working groups, projects, and partners are working to fight the tide of disinformation. We have just received a grant and extensive educational materials from MediaJustice to do this work. We will focus on racialized disinformation: disinformation campaigns that specifically … Continue reading
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
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
1,200 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