Category Archives: Uncategorized

I will never forget standing in formation after the end of our final “hump,” Marine-speak for a forced march, at the end of the Crucible in March, 1997. The Crucible is the final challenge during Marine Corps boot camp and … Continue reading →

“Women have no leaders who have been assassinated. Women just die every day.“ I spent four hours discussing the feminist movement of the 60s and 70s with local activist Barbara Kessel, who was part of the first women’s studies departments … Continue reading →

Born Seamas O’Conghaile on June 5th 1868, Connolly is one of the single most important persons in the history of Ireland in the last 100 years. Born and raised in Edinburgh Scotland to Irish immigrant parents, he joined the British … Continue reading →

INDYMEDIA IN AFRICA This January, Urbana IMC members Jason Turner and I traveled to Nairobi, Kenya to join dozens of independent journalists from Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Germany and the Prometheus Radio Project from Philadelphia. We built two … Continue reading →

Recently, University of Illinois Board of Trustees chairman Lawrence Eppley announced that as of February 21st 2007, the U of I team mascot called ‘chief illiniwek” would cease to perform at half-time events. To anyone who is unaware of the … Continue reading →

THE POLITICAL AND THE CULTURAL I have, for many years, been interested in how a single political ideology or a set of political institutions will vary when they are implemented in different cultural contexts. For example, in 1988 I published … Continue reading →

Former Sergeant William Alan Myers pleaded guilty to charges of felony disorderly conduct and misdemeanor aggravated battery on Monday, October 26. Charges of felony obstruction of justice and felony aggravated battery were dropped. He received two years probation, a $500 … Continue reading →

In a recent News Gazette article by Mike Monson, dated January 21, 2007 and entitled, Cities Taking Different Tacks on Police Review Issue, City Councilman, Michael La Due is quoted as saying that he would “want to see compelling evidence … Continue reading →

The public schools in Champaign and Urbana are meeting the needs of some students very well but are not meeting the needs of other students, low income and minority students nearly so well. All students should receive a secondary education … Continue reading →

During a recent trip to Arizona I learned that a Navajo woman’s traditional garb includes a special woven sash worn about the hips. This sash serves many functions: (1) tightening the sash creates a counterpressure that relieves discomfort from menstruation, … Continue reading →

On the afternoon of Saturday, November 25, 2006, we and other AWARE members Durl Kruse, May Xiong, Don McClure, David Green and Meg Miner handed out counter-recruitment pamphlets entitled What Families Need to Know About Military Recruiting in High Schools … Continue reading →

Beginning Aug 23, 2006, Campus Academy opened its doors to six families with African American male middle school-aged students seeking an innovative and advanced learning experience for their children. The purpose of this academy is to provide African American boys … Continue reading →

I would like to extend a happy birthday to my family: my father Jerry Ammons (Feb. 6), sister Alicia Boss (Feb. 18), grandfather Bob Bailey (Feb. 15), and Jelani Saadiq (Feb. 24) and to myself (Feb. 7). During this month … Continue reading →

A motion for a retrial filed by attorney Robert Kirchner on behalf of Patrick Thompson was heard Thursday, January 5, 2007. Nearly 50 of Thompson’s supporters were in the courtroom. In July 2006, Thompson was found guilty of home invasion … Continue reading →

NEARLY 3 AND A HALF YEARS after felony criminal charges were filed against Patrick Thompson, the founder of Visionaries Educating Youth and Adults (VEYA), the case is again scheduled for a third jury trial in late January or early February. … Continue reading →

A FACT AND A QUESTION Rafael Correa, a 43 year-old who took a Ph.D. in economics at the University of Illinois in Urbana, won big in Ecuador’s presidential election on November 26. Correa received 68% of the votes cast. His … Continue reading →

It’s sad to say and even worse to see Black on black crimes even within families We’ve fallen so far that funerals are the only place you’ll catch us giving hugs coming from real love Sure, our ambition is to … Continue reading →

A circle of such significance Sixty marks of mental anguish The short arm vaguely stating where the sun sits in the sky While the long arm moves with unbelievable regularity Followed by my anxious eyes The red arm flies over … Continue reading →

Ashley, hey can you hear me? I am running late, sorry, I am on my way Got something I need to ask you Remember the first time we me? Your eyes pulled my heart from my chest That day I … Continue reading →

On November 6, 2004 I was taken into custody by the Urbana Police Department for an incident that occurred at the Canopy Club. I was not right with my actions that night at the club, but that does not make … Continue reading →