AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

of Champaign County

Steering Committee

November 3, 2005

Present: Roger Clark, Rachael Dietkus, Ward Henson, Allan Levy, Stan Levy, Esther Patt, Stephen Portnoy, Jay Rosenstein, Carol Spindel, Shirley Stillinger, Marsha Woodbury

Student chapter: Colin Bishop, Nick Smith

Law School representatives: Josh Rohrscheib

Absent with notice: Kristen Solberg

The meeting was called to order by the chair, Rachael Dietkus. The minutes were approved with the addition that, under Police Oversight, Stan had said that Champaign was "perking along" on considering a police review board.

Rachael reported that she and Paul Wisovoty had led an anti-war teach-in on the U of I campus with ten students.

Reports

Law School and Student Chapters

Josh reported that the law school chapter is cooperating with the student chapter on creating 7,500 bar cards and 5,000 door hangers. There will also be a web site, working with a committee of the Student Senate. The steering committee approved up to $500 toward this project.

Josh also reported that there will be a student referendum, soliciting student opinion on a faculty-student police review board for the U of I police.

ACLU of Illinois

Stan asked for someone to attend the next two meetings of the Chicago Division board in his place.

New Business

Finance

The committee passed a resolution making Rachael and Ward the approved signers of our checks.

Campaign for Comprehensive Sex Education

Esther reported that the November meeting of the Urbana School Board, at which comprehensive sex education was to be voted on, has been cancelled.

Proposed Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice

Stan reported that SB 92 passed the Illlinois Senate last spring. AFSCME strongly opposed the bill and it failed in the House. A compromise was worked out to satisfy AFSCME: current Department of Corrections employees will be grandfathered in.

Section 8 discrimination in Champaign

Esther reported that the Appellate Court ruled in a case in Chicago that Section 8 is a source of income. The City of Champaign does not consider Section 8 a source of income for purposes of its discrimination ordinance. Esther has presented this information to the Champaign Human Rights Commission, which seemed favorable to make the change. The Champaign City Attorney said that only the city council can make that decision so the commission will study the issue and present a recommendation to the council. Stan asked why it was not a Illinois ACLU case. Esther will consult with Mary Dixon before taking a public stand before the Champaign City Council. The steering committee passed a motion that if the Illinois ACLU approves, Esther should proceed.

Old Business

Annual Meeting

The annual meeting will be Sunday, April 23, 2006. It will be a brunch at The Great Impasta. Geoffrey Stone, law professor at the University of Chicago will be the speaker. Roger said that Victor Stone has agreed to introduce him.

Citizen Police Review Board

Champaign: Stan reported that Champaign is making some progress; the police have implemented some procedural changes. He thinks that there will probably not be an separate, independent review board.

Urbana: Esther reported that the mayor’s task force has met once. They are

looking at a police review board hearing appeals rather than original complaints.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Shirley Stillinger

Next meeting: Thursday, December 1, 2005