With the current strike going on, I figured it would be useful to inform you of other protests that U of I students have been part of. Almost two weeks ago, as in Friday, November 6, eQuality-CU held a protest at Tim Johnson’s (Republican) office. His office was located at 2004 Fox Drive, which according to representatives of the organization, wasn’t very accessible. It’s in a business district.

Members at the Protest courtesy: Robby Wilkinson

The group held the protest at his office because he hasn’t voted for LGBT issues. “He hasn’t really been a friend or ally of the LGBT community,” said Steven Wyatt, member of eQuality-CU. He was for the Defense Against Marriage Act (DOMA) and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT). In addition, he has voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crime Prevention Act (also known as the Matthew Shepard Act), as explained by Wyatt.

The approximately 30 people in attendance at the protest represented several organizations such as Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), Graduate Employee’s Organization (GEO), Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), and the International Socialist Organization (ISO).

According to Wyatt, the organization (eQuality-CU) sent a letter to Johnson’s office two weeks ago requesting a meeting with him with media presence. A response came back saying that he’d be in Washington, D.C. at the time. The organization was informed that they could meet with his aides.

Members at the Protest courtesy: Robby Wilkinson

“The point of the rally was to draw attention to the fact that Tim Johnson was against LGBT issues,” said Wyatt,”We didn’t have the disillusionment that we’d be able to change his mind.”

Three of the individuals at the protest went into the building to speak with one of Johnson’s aides. Representatives from the Daily Illini as well as some TV stations were there, but individuals in Johnson’s office claimed their wasn’t enough space. The media crew went in later, according to Wyatt.

The aide explained that Johnson wasn’t going to change his position. Despite the bad news, Wyatt believes that, “Just by being there and getting more activists involved, we’re in a much stronger position to further LGBT activism in CU (Champaign-Urbana).”

Members at the Protest courtesy: Robby Wilkinson

Lena Reynolds, university student, attended the rally, and explained why the organization was preparing for a letter writing campaign that happened earlier this week. The three students who went in to speak with Johnson’s aides reported to others in the group that his office hadn’t received a lot of letters on this issue. Thus, the letter writing campaign.

“It was small, and his response was depressing, but it was motivating,” said Reynolds.

The pictures in this blog were taken by Robby Wilkinson, who also attended the protest and said, “The protest essentially was to call on Tim Johnson to support LGBTQ issues and to show that there are people within his constituency that care deeply about these issues.” As Wyatt and Reynolds said, Wilkinson further explained, “The outcome of the meeting was a little disappointing, but not totally unexpected. Johnson’s representative basically said that, he respected our right to free speech, but in the end Johnson was not going to budge on these issues.”

This was something I wrote last Sunday, but I think it’s representative of any day here at UIUC. Listening to Ani DiFranco on repeat may have led me to writing this piece…see for yourself.

This campus is wrapped with apathy. I’m in no way absolved from this claim. As a Big Ten school, it makes sense that we stand by the claim that “we pregame harder than you party.” Maybe, just maybe it sometimes gets to be too much? I’ll leave that for you to decide. Let me attempt to paint a picture for you…

We’re just about a moth away from finals, but I think some people may have missed the memo. It’s Sunday night around 11:30 pm. I walked down Green Street to get a bite to eat, but it’s easier to get a beer than a sandwich at this time of night.

I notice Subway’s “OPEN” sign from across the street. As I continue walking toward my destination, I see a kid passed out at an unknown doorway near Dunkin Doughnuts. I pause, consider trying to summon him back to reality, but I stop myself and walk away. Why? It’s simple. There have been weird police reports recently of individuals deceiving passersby by asking them for a cigarette and then mugging them with a gun. Being the lone female that I was, I didn’t want to take the chance. All I could think of was, might this be one of those tricks?

After about ten minutes, I’m sitting down to eat with a delicious sub and I hear the blaring sirens of an ambulance. Turns out that kid needed some help. He was beyond intoxicated, and I did noting. Apathy?

Someone else may have, but from the looks of it, I think a cop passed by and saw him there. I didn’t see anyone around who looked like the good Samaritan. Though, I may be wrong; the lights at the scene were awfully blinding.

Fast forward twenty minutes, and I’m walking to my friend’s apartment feeling distraught and horribly guilty. As I approach her street, I hear sirens. No one running or walking toward the sound but me. I begin to walk a bit faster when I realize it might be coming from my friend’s place. I pass it up and see the source of the gawking fire alarm.

As I quicken my pace toward the building, a few individuals are casually walking out of the building. Two guys mutter some comments reflecting their annoyance with the whole thing. Shadows move in the windows of apartments in this supposed burning building. Tenants from the building stand outside, and no one can tell me which apartment it’s coming from. So, I rush in.

From all the fire safety discussions I had since middle school, I gather up the idea to check the doorknobs. A hot one indicates a fire (I believe). I’m checking and smelling for smoke. From what I can tell, and all the door knobs I checked on every floor, this may be a false alarm. Some girls pass me on the third floor claiming they may have heard some drunk people talking outside their door, and that they may have pulled the alarm. I look on the third floor and see the pulled alarm.

I hear the fire truck and go downstairs to meet the firefighters. I told them what I knew and excused myself. I think it was a false alarm, but I’m not sure.

As the firemen were working on shutting the alarm, people stepped out of their apartment (adjacent to the alarm) because one of the firemen leaned on their door. How they managed to hear that amidst the blaring alarm escapes me. Who ever pull the alarm could face up to three years in prison. (I believe that’s the warning I saw written on the alarm switches in the building.)

As I headed back the way I came to get to my friend’s apartment, I saw people standing outside their buildings looking towards the source of the alarm, but no one came to help.

I realized a few things that night. First, some people have redefined the meaning of partying on a Sunday. Being passed out drunk and pulling fire alarms (though, not at the same time) aren’t the best ingredients for an 8 am Monday class.

Second, this campus needs more “good Samaritans” and people that actually pay attention or just care about those around them.

Finally, I think I need to get an apartment in Urbana for next year. This night in Champaign was a bit much for me.

Earlier this semester, I got really excited when I saw the free newspapers being distributed across campus and even more so when I noticed that after 5 pm each day, it’s rather difficult to find a Chicago Tribune. I thought this meant U of I students were engaging in the world around them, and being more conscientious people.

After that night, I’m not sure if we (as a student body) are.

On a side note, with tomorrow’s strike impending, I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Hey all, I’m back. Check back every so often, I’ll try and have a nice “Kevtchy” post for you.

Considering the season that is upon us, I figured Halloween would be a great topic. Being an Illini myself, I see a hefty amount of orange as it is, but I’m about ready for this holiday to be over. Anyone else with me?

I mean, how many skeletons, cobwebs, decapitated heads, and orange pumpkins does a person need to encounter? I think this holiday season pretty much did me in.

This is the first Halloween since I was a kid that I’m actually going to be dressing up. Hypocritical? Perhaps. I figure if I participate, this holiday may pass sooner. I’m going to be dressing up as one of a few things, the actual decision hasn’t been made yet. I always wanted to be one of those clever costumes. My friend is being a cop, so I was thinking I could be the “Cover” or “Undercover” to her cop? Or the Rat…to the undercover cop role. If I was that, all I’d have to do is get a tail and ears. Do any of you have clever costume ideas?

According to The33tv.com the top costumes of 2009 include Michael Jackson, Kate Gosselin, Balloon Boy, Amy Winehouse, and Lady Gaga. I wouldn’t be surprised if you saw some rude Kanye’s or offended Taylor Swift’s.

Kate Gosselin, the real and fake Source: The33tv.com

I spoke to Sargent Robert Fitzgerald from the Urbana Police Department. They’re not expecting a lot of trouble this weekend, though Fitzgerald told me “we’ll have extra officers in our part of the city to deal with parties.”

Even though the cops aren’t worried, I would be. I guess the one costume I don’t recommend for this holiday weekend would be a 21 year old.

Have fun and be safe!

Set in 2012 amidst the signing of a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians, Motti Lerner’s play, Pangs of the Messiah, is an apocalyptic yet fiercely humane drama about eight West Bank Jewish settlers pitted against an Israel they feel betrayed by.

Photo by Michael Brosilow of James Elly in
Pangs of the Messiah at Silk Road Theatre Project, directed by Jennifer Green

The play focuses on a religious family that finds itself torn between fighting to stay in their settlement and obeying their government’s decision to dismantle it. Left hanging in the balance is the legacy of their beliefs.

The Silk Road Theatre Project showcases playwrights of Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean backgrounds, whose works address themes relevant to the peoples of the Silk Road and their Diaspora communities.

The play runs through May 10th in Pierce Hall at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St., Chicago.

Click here to view a clip from the play:
http://www.stagechannel.com/video.php?ebc=lEQNMxHdNGVH

Susan Adler, actress who plays the part of Amalia, believes that this production is a very real portrayal. “I think it’s time that the Jews own up to the fact that right wing fundamentalists exist among us” she said.

Jamil Khoury, co-founder of the Silk Road Theatre project, stated that this play was chosen because it “speaks to the audience.” He also believes that this play shows that there is “as much of a conflict between communities as is in them” he said.

Upon first reading the play, Khoury admits, “I felt a source of discomfort. I went to that place of discomfort and realized this is more of a reason to produce it.”

Photo by Michael Brosilow of Stacie Green and Brent T. Barnes in
Pangs of the Messiah at Silk Road Theatre Project, directed by Jennifer Green.

Though the play was written almost 20 years ago, “It still has a lot to say now,” said Jennifer Green who directed the production. The play was modernized at Theater J she said.

As an Isreali-American, with the Middle East conflict constantly a topic of discussion, this play simply scared me. Even though it is projected in the future, the issues depicted are very real. For anyone who has an interest in delving further into the complex aspects of this conflict, I urge you to stop in to see the play.

Bill Ayers was in residence at Allen Hall this week. I’m not sure how you could have missed all the buzz about him if you had tried. Various media outlets have been doing their best to send warnings to the public and campus community about this “terrorist.” Foundingbloggers.com explained that “If your kid attends the University of Illinois, Urbana, and is a resident in Allen Hall, then they are going to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to shack up with unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers.” I can’t believe I missed the first day of his presentation. I mean, they don’t always bring such interesting speakers to campus.

In case you missed it, here’s the DI’s editorial Cartoon from Wednesday

Ayers began his discussion Tuesday night about one of his many books, Fugitive Days. According to Ayers, the book is a story about a boy making decisions and choices in a “fraught world.” A lot of the presentation revolved around his own experiences protesting the Vietnam War. The cause was important to him because, “Every week that we failed to end the war, 6,000 people died,” said Ayers.

A lot of the publicity was torn down before he arrived and throughout the week. Apparently, crumpling up fliers was considered a wise idea by protesters. However, they didn’t stop there. At the end of the presentation, Mark Thompson, a member of the CU community, dashed for the mic to make a statement–a long one at that. In his prepared statement–or rather speech–Thompson claimed that Ayers is brainwashing students. He ended his statement with the phrase, “Don’t be an Ayerhead.” It was his goal to make the students in attendance think critically. By the mass of individuals who stayed afterwards to continue the discussion with Thompson, it seems that he accomplished this goal. Those students argued, rather than agreed, with Thompson’s position. It seems that Ayers had several Ayerhead’s working for him already.

Credit: Foundingbloggers.com Maybe Allen Hall should have used this image for publicity; it may have attracted more students to the programs.

Ayer’s insight into his own experiences during a past controversial era was very relevant to the current war we’re in. In the ’60s and ’70s, Ayers was involved with the Weather Underground, and engaged in various acts of anti-war activism. The purpose of Ayers’ residency was to be accessible to students as well as offer them a glimpse into his own life experiences. As it stands, a majority of the nation opposes the war that we’re in now, but he wasn’t imposing his beliefs on us.

As a professor of education at UIC, Ayers has spent a lot of time “indoctrinating students” with his agenda. In case you missed it, that agenda is focused on social justice and education reform among other things.

A fight broke out at Cotton Club’s after party at CRCE. Several days, two DI articles, and one DI column later, how much has changed?

People who attended the event want their money back, others are curious to know what really happened. Stories keep swirling about the events of that night.

What was your take on the night? Know anyone who has more to say? Feel free to send responses via e-mail to me at lihyepstein@gmail.com (if you don’t want to put it up here).

Ashton, a blogger for U of I admissions posted this video of last years Cotton Club performance. I can’t find any footage of this years performance, but I figured this would give a good example of the event itself.

What a lot of people are forgetting is that this weekend had several events. The after party was just one part of it.

On Friday, there was an amazing fashion show, and I was lucky enough to attend. Tickets were sold out! The after party for that was at Canopy Club, and last I heard, that party wasn’t shut down. They did reach capacity though. My friend Kathy Kukuc, who was in the show, was turned away at the door because they couldn’t let anyone else in.

Femi Masha made comments in an article that was in the DI on Monday about his frustrations that only events that reflect badly on the Black community get coverage whereas other events that are positive are overlooked.

Two groups that are considered stark opposites actually took some time to have a chat. Members of CRU and the LGBT community held a panel discussion Feb. 19 in Loomis. In the audience, members from both communities came to show support and be informed. I feel that it went really well, of course it helps that I was one of the people on the panel.

As both a Jew…and a member of the LGBT community, it was interesting to talk to members of CRU, and actually forge friendships. It was amazing to have various people come up to me and thank me for what I said (both LGBT members as well as Christians). It seems that this will in fact be a start to merging both communities.

All 8 Panelists

One of the questions that we (LGBT side) were asked was: Are there any barriers that would prevent a lasting partnership to occur between our groups? Of course, I had to tackle this one.

It is my experience that there’s this societal notion that faith-based organizations, especially those affiliated with Christianity, are unwilling to accept LGBT people in their community. So many people assume that anyone who identifies as LGBT has rejected their faith completely, but it’s important to realize that a lot of people struggle with their faith because of their identity.

Often times, this stems from a lack of acceptance from these faith organizations. It’s not that LGBT people want to reject the religion, it’s that people associated with the faith have rejected them because of their identity.

I explained that there are two ways to break the barriers that exist, first, between our two groups, and then among people of our own communities. Active participation from members in both groups at each other’s programs, speaks volumes.

The other way is to have people of varying faith’s who are accepting of LGBT people discuss their choice of acceptance with members of their faith. It is also important for devout (in any religion) members of the queer community to share with others that they are in fact religious.

I asked most of the people who thanked me which group they came with (believe it or not, gay-dar isn’t always accurate). One person who came up to me explained that he came as a member of both groups. It’s amazing that such a program reached people that deal with this conflict. I hope that the honesty of the panel members will encourage him to be involved in both communities.

Just as I did when the Consulate General came to speak, I stayed after the program was over to converse with CRU people from the audience. That conversation touched on heavy questions related to Jesus and personal beliefs. It was interesting to connect with people that I would probably have avoided in any other situation.

This night helped me gain perspective. I really appreciate the fact that they (CRU panelists) denounced the preachers that chant on the quad.

I plan to attend various CRU events to keep the conversation going. CRU is a very welcoming organization for people of various identities and beliefs. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to meet them, and be a member on this panel.

Students flooded into the Noyes lecture hall, slouched in their seats, and appeared no more engaged than what you would expect from a typical class. However, the crowd that filled the seats on Monday, February 2nd was no ordinary classroom gathering. Orli Gil, Israel’s Consulate General to the Midwest, came to speak to strengthen ties between Israel and the United States.

Her speech began promptly at 7pm; though, the night began much earlier with protestors greeting those that came in support of Israel. Her purpose was to speak about the recent events in Israel, and their purpose was to seek answers for the injustice done against their people in Palestine. Within minutes, a clear boundary was drawn in the stands; not a doubt existed about which side people were on.

The only picture that I could find isn’t too clear, but the signs they held send the message.

Protesters Expressing Their Views before the Speech Courtesy of Sammy Marks

The signs read: “Stand Up Against Israel’s Terror,” “Stop the Rocket War on Arabs and Muslims,” “Stop Israel’s Slaughter in Gaza.”

Orli spoke of the beauty of Israel, in terms of the humanities, sciences, and incredible innovation. She spoke of the freedoms that the people of Israel have. Freedom of religion, speech, women’s rights, minority rights. She insisted, “This is the real Israel that I want you to see, no the one you see on T.V.”

Orli Gil, Isreal’s Consulate General to the Midwest Courtesy of Sammy Marks

As she spoke, it was obvious who the protesters in the lecture hall were. Looks of anger and frustration stuck out amidst the applause in the rest of the room. There were over 20 individuals that I could clearly identify as Palestinian students. This is based on their clothing as well as their comments during the Q & A portion of the night.

Most of the time that she spoke, Orli seemed to be justifying the attacks on Gaza. “For several years, 6500 missiles have been thrown from Gaza,” she then mentioned the impact on the youth in the area, “Children couldn’t go to school there.” I realize that both sides are appealing to the effects on children, but what about everyone else?

It’s great that the Consulate General came to speak, but it’s hard for students here to really understand what it’s like to live in the region. Can we actually fathom what it’s like to live with missiles going off everyday? Orli tried to explain by adding, “People couldn’t conduct their lives without entering into a death roulette.”

During the Q & A section of the night, protesters made their mark. Most of the people that were given a chance to speak made harsh comments and aggravated claims about what Israel is doing. They weren’t there to ask questions, they came to be heard. Arguably, everyone deserves a space to speak.

Rather than shouting out such claims about the injustices that Israel has allegedly committed, I think they should have asked questions that would have given attendees some perspective. The people that were brave enough to stand up and speak were mostly dismissed by the crowd. Every attempt was made to respectfully move on to the next speaker.

I looked around the room after the event was over, and I was angry. My anger stemmed from a new-found hatred towards persons I didn’t even know. The comments they made were personal because I am Israeli. All the attendees were engaging in a mutually tense situation.

Just a few days prior to the speech, there was a rally held on the quad by Students for Justice in Palestine. I left the rally with the very same feelings of anger. That day on the quad, many of these same protesters and others from their organizations were shouting out chants that seemed more like propaganda to me.

The looks that they gave showed their distaste for me, though they knew nothing about me but my religion. I showed up at the rally by mistake, and my friend pulled out an Israeli flag. Throughout the entire rally, only a handful of us (as in Jewish students) stood by the flag in utter silence. Nothing that we would have shouted could have competed with their megaphone.

The chants that I remember clearly are as follows:
“Money for Education, not for Occupation”
“Israel, Israel, you can’t hide, we charge you a genocide”
“Free, Free, Palestine, from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”

Throughout the rally, the protesters ended up turning towards our grouping of 5 and addressed their chants at us. This made me angry because I felt like I was being accused for the actions of the political leaders of a nation that I hold close to my heart.

It should be noted that after the speaker, I was able to converse with several of the protesters. From talking to them, I was able to gain some perspective and my stance is far more conflicted than I care to explain. Though I am, without a doubt, pro-Israel, I find myself struggling with the political actions of the country. It’s hard to know what is true in today’s media coverage, or rather whether or not we are getting the FULL truth.