AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

 of Champaign County

 

 Steering Committee

 June 7, 2007

 

Present: Bill Brown,, Elaine Gehrmann, Carol Inskeep, Esther Patt, Stephen Portnoy, Lynne Rudasill, Shirley Stillinger,

 

Absent with notice: Susan Cohen, Mary Cory, Rachael Dietkus, Ben Grosser, Ward Henson, Stan Levy, Carol Spindel, Paul Wisovaty, Marsha Woodbury

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by the chair, Esther Patt,

The minutes of the May meeting were approved as distributed.

 

Old Business

 

(a) Legislative update: the civil unions bill was not called; it may be brought back in 2008.

 

(b) Table at Farmer’s Market: we have a table reserved for June 9 and 23 and not again until September. People welcome to help.

 

(c) Citizen Police Review Boards

Champaign: looking at a proposal from staff; council will have a study session sometime this summer.

Urbana: the mayor says an ordinance proposal should come to the council this summer.

 

(d) U of I free speech and discipline issues

Hate speech legislation for the Senate is in the works.

Carol suggested a public forum in the fall, sponsored with other groups, on hate speech v. free speech. Carol will coordinate this effort.

 

New Business

(a) Paul Pless was elected to the steering committee

 

(b) Habeas Corpus

Carol may be able to attend the event in Washington June 26

 Esther is setting up a meeting with Rep. Johnson around the 4th of July. Ed Yohnka is available to join the meeting. Steve, Carol Inskeep, and Lynne are willing, also.

 

(c) Fourth of July parade: the committee decided not to participate

 

(d) Safe Schools

Elaine distributed materials from a project in Peoria, where a public forum was held around the issue of bullying and harassment, especially involving sexual orientation and gender identity issues. Bloomington is planning a forum now. Elaine will spearhead getting together people and groups here for a similar effort. The goal is for schools to set up programs and procedures.

 

(e) Esther will invite Randy Rosenbaum, the Public Defender, to meet with the steering committee in October or November.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:35.

 

After the meeting was adjourned, a visitor presented a personal problem. Esther took his number, saying she would call him with some information.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Shirley Stillinger

 

 

 

 

 Next meeting: Thursday, September 6, 2007