AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
Of Champaign County
February 3, 2005
Present: Bill Brown, Ward
Henson, Gary Peters, Carol Spindel, Brian Isslieb, Roger Clark, Rachel Dietkus,
Susan Cohen, Kristin Solberg; and, Maeve Anderson, Nellie Waddell, Jim Adler,
all members of the Student ACLU branch.
Absent With Notice: Allan Levy, Stan Levy, Stuart Laird,
Rocky Maffit, Shirley Stillinger, Harry Hilton, Josh Rohrscheib, Jay
Rosenstein, Esther Patt, and Steve Shoemaker.
The meeting was called to order at
7:30 p.m.
Approval of Minutes:
The minutes were approved by
motion duly made, seconded, and approved.
Announcements:
A. Illinois State Bill 3186, banning
discrimination based on sexual orientation, passed both the House and Senate by
a slim margin.
B. Crue v. Aiken: Court of Appeals affirmed the District
Court finding unconstitutional University of Illinois’ gag on faculty and
students speaking to prospective student athletes and affirmed ACLU attorney
fee award against University of Illinois in the amount of $225,000.00. An additional $125,000.00 was recently
awarded to ACLU by the District Court for attorney fees incurred on the Appeal.
C. The connection between Provena
Behavioral Health and Mental Health of Champaign County has been severed.
D. Expectations of ACLU’s student branch’s
anticipated receipt of $10,000.00 from UI SORF funding organization for
sponsorship of Richard Clarke’s Foellinger Auditorium appearance dashed –
students told to reapply with particularized explanation of costs involved. Question raised of how much “notable”
speakers of Clarke’s ilk typically paid.
A. No January fiscal activity, thus no
Treasurer’s report.
B. Bill Brown slated to handle February 4,
2005 ACLU-IL conference call. Call is
regarding organization of state meeting to brainstorm state ACLU response to
last elections and anticipated heightened attack on civil liberties. Meeting will be held in Champaign-Urbana;
Bill will clarify date.
C. ACLU student chapter’s high school
committee, led by Maeve, wanting to do high-school presentations. Committee revamping program in wake of
feedback from Springfield-area high school presentations. Discussion of various ways to expand and/or
help high school outreach: (1) Check
national ACLU website for ideas, (2)
Check state office and national office for materials and give-aways, (3) Check
high schools for whether any old ACLU-provided materials still in evidence.
D. No Josh; no law school chapter report.
New Business
A. Champaign Citizens Advisory Board
report - There is new interest in
Champaign Police Department and
State’s Attorney’s office in use of “station adjustments” for
disposition of certain juvenile offenses; minority Champaign Police Department
recruitment efforts underway; Champaign Police Department undergoing
sensitivity training regarding racial issues.
B. Champaign County Juvenile Justice
Issues Forum group meetings progressing; next meeting February 11, 2005 from
8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Parkland College.
C. Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and
Justice “Forgiveness Weekend: Double Jeopardy or New Beginning”: Friday
February 18th and 19th, 2005.
E. Esther and Bill have list of potential
new steering committee members. Bill
will contact the three or four familiar to the committee to ascertain
interest. Question raised of possible
greater minority committee membership and how to achieve it.
President: Rachel Dietkus
Vice-President: Susan Cohen
Treasurer: Ward Henson
Secretary: Shirley Stillinger
G. Award Committee solicits input for
possible ’05 awards. Remember:
Chalmers: Service
to the Community
Stone: Lifetime Service
Norton: Service to
the Chapter
Prior recipients are listed on
chapter website. Possibility raised of
Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice as a recipient of the Chalmers
award.
There being no further business,
the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. by motion made, seconded and approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Kristin R. Solberg