Invisible Children event Thurs Nov 12th!

The Invisible Children Roadies will be coming to SAIC next Thursday!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

4:15pm - 5:30pm

280 S Columbus Dr.

Join us for a screening of the documentary "The Rescue" and learn more about this organization working to address the needs of children in war-torn Northern Uganda.

Check out the event page here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=200974680929&ref=nf

Awareness leads to action. Passion fuels change. Injustice drives humanity to join together and seek peace. Invisible Children, an organization committed to raising the profile on Africa’s longest running war, held an event earlier this year called ‘The Rescue’ where participants gathered simultaneously in 100 cities around the world. The event brought participants together to stand against the injustices in Northern Uganda and be a voice for the voiceless. We came together in solidarity, abducting ourselves for the abducted children in East Africa. The purpose of the event was to raise the profile on the war in Northern Uganda that has been called the most neglected humanitarian emergency in our world by asking our local and national media, politicians, and celebrities in each city to come out to the event in support of our efforts to end the atrocities that the rebel movement (LRA) has been committing for the past 23 years. The documentary film about this event is called ‘Together We Are Free’, and will be screened in the Columbus Drive Auditorium on Thursday, November 12th at 4:30pm. The Invisible Children roadies will be in Chicago for the screening to speak about this crisis and inspire others. This event will be hosted by the SAIC Student Activists group.
For more information visit www.invisiblechildren.com or please contact Hillary Strack at hstrac@saic.edu

THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
Please spread the word, just remember to bring an id so you can get into the building.

ALL STUDENT MEETING with SAIC President Reiter

Join Student Association for the first All Student Meeting of the academic year! Students will hear from President Duke Reiter as well as from other members of SAIC administration. Stick around after the short presentation and get your individual questions answered. Snacks will be served as students chat with a wide variety of administrators and staff! See you there! All Student Meeting with President Reiter Hosted by your Student Association Monday, November 16th 4:30pm MacLean Center Ballroom

$10,000 for Peace!!

Projects for Peace Information meeting
Tuesday, November 10, noon to 1 p.m. 817 Sharp Building (37 S. Wabash)

What's your idea of peace for the 21st century?
Want to win $10,000 to help make it happen next summer?
Find out how at this meeting.

One SAIC undergraduate student is guaranteed to realize his or her project.

Find out more here: www.davisprojectsforpeace.org

Nov 12th: Invisible Children Screening at SAIC

Nov 12th
Invisible Children Screening and Discussion at SAIC.

Time/Location t.b.a.

For more information about Invisible Children, check out their website:
invisiblechildren.com

Here's some info you can find there:

In the spring of 2003, three young filmmakers traveled to Africa in search of a story. What started out as a filmmaking adventure transformed into much more when these boys from Southern California discovered a tragedy that disgusted and inspired them, a tragedy where children are both the weapons and the victims.

After returning to the States, they created the documentary "Invisible Children: Rough Cut," a film that exposes the tragic realities of northern Uganda.s night commuters and child soldiers.

The film was originally shown to friends and family, but has now been seen by millions of people. The overwhelming response has been, "How can I help?" To answer this question, the non-profit Invisible Children, Inc. was created, giving compassionate individuals an effective way to respond to the situation.

Our approach to humanitarian work is founded in the strength and intelligence of the Ugandan community. We learned early on it was not only important but essential to heed the wisdom of people that had not only lived in the war, but were surviving it. People who would know better than anyone what the greatest needs were and the best ways to meet them. What we came to find is that while there have been many efforts to address the issues that stem from living and fighting in such a long-lasting war, the people of Uganda are asking for a future beyond the conflict.

Their pleas have become our development strategy.

All of our programming is a partnership between those of us at Invisible Children and those in the Ugandan community. We focus on long-term goals that enable children to take responsibility for their future and the future of their country. Our programs are carefully researched and developed initiatives that address the need for quality education, mentorships, the redevelopment of schools, resettlement from the camps, and financial stability.

Join us at SAIC on Nov 12 to find out more!

Fundraising Idea

Student Activists member Megan Pryce is working to organizing a fundraising drive to support the efforts of Peacepedalers (http://www.peacepedalers.org) to set up a school in Rwanda for children orphaned by AIDS
http://www.goodhopeschool.net

They already have a school in Uganda and need to raise 18,000 dollars for the new school.

This could be a great time of year to do a fundrasing project, in light of the holiday season. Megan was thinking that we could raise the money by creating peace sign ornaments to sell to families, friends etc. and to set up fundraising tables in the lobbies of SAIC buildings.


If you are interested, please contact Megan at mpryce@saic.edu

American Bankers Assoc. Protest Tuesday 10:30

If you're itching for a protest march, join the supporters of Arise Chicago this Tuesday morning:

Host:	Arise Chicago, SEIU & many partners!
Type:	Causes - Protest
Network:	Global

Date:	Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Time:	10:30am - 12:00pm
Location:	Chicago
Street:	Wacker and Stetson

Email:

stopbankgreed@arisechicago.org

Banks took $15,000 for every man, woman and child in the U.S. The top six banks raked in $30 billion in profits in the first half of 2009. Yet ordinary Americans are still struggling to stay afloat... The average homeowner lost $110,000 in home equity. Unemployment is at its highest rate in 26 years. Every thirteen seconds another American home goes into foreclosure.

Tell the Big Banks to Fix What They Broke

Tuesday, October 27th
10:30 AM: March Begins at Wacker and Stetson
11:00 AM: Rally at the Sheraton, 301 E. North Water St.

For more information, visit www.stopbankgreed.org.
facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=141949243931

Contact Arise Chicago if you are interested in helping to organize student outreach: stopbankgreed@arisechicago.org
www.arisechicago.org

Meeting Tuesday 10/27 at 4:15

Hope you can make it to our meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, at 4:15 in Michigan/MacLean room 1302.

We have a number of projects underway: Presentation by the Beehive Collective on Nov 4th, Invisible Children screening + discussion on Nov 12th, a proposed show of Rwandan artwork, Marie’s ongoing recycling campaign, and more!

Have ideas for additional projects? Bring them to Tuesday’s meeting!

Looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

Don't Miss the Discussion THIS FRIDAY: "Iran: Debating Engagement"

Hope you can make it to the panel discussion "Iran:Debating Engagement" sponsored by the SAIC Student Activists.

FRIDAY 7 pm, Columbus Building auditorium.

Hear from experts and participate in a lively q + a to follow!

Click here for the event announcement:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=138894642011



The present moment is pivotal on two levels: in the aftermath of its
June presidential election, Iran has seen the largest political
upheaval in the three decades since the revolution; and just this month
the U.S. and Iran engaged in historic discussions on Iran's nuclear
program. Are these two developments related? How should the peace
movement make sense of them? Are antiwar activists in the U.S. tuned in to what the democratic movement in Iran is thinking and saying about the current situation?

This timely discussion will address these questions and illuminate the
multiple issues in play. Robert Naiman, National Coordinator for Just
Foreign Policy, supports engagement unconditionally. Kaveh Ehsani, a
professor of International Studies at DePaul University and a member of the editorial boards of Middle East Report and the Tehran-based journal Goft-o-gu (Dialogue), has long advocated improved relations between Iran and the US but believes that Iran's June presidential election was stolen and that Ahmadinejad now leads a coup d'etat administration that should not be rewarded/legitimized with international recognition.

Come hear these two experts explore both their common ground as well as their disagreements on these vital questions.

Sponsors: 8th Day Center for Justice | American Friends Service
Committee (AFSC) - Great Lakes Region | Buddhist Peace Fellowship -
Chicago Chapter | Chicagoans Against War & Injustice (CAWI) | F
Newsmagazine | Fellowship of Reconciliation – Chicago Chapter | In
These Times | Logan Square Neighbors for Justice and Peace | Logos: A Journal of Modern Society & Culture | Middle East Reasearch and
Information Project (MERIP) | National Iranian American Council (NIAC) | No War on Iran Coalition | SAIC Liberal Arts Department | SAIC Student Activists | North Shore Coalition for Peace, Justice and the Environment | North Suburban Peace Initiative (NSPI) | Truthout |
Voices for Creative Nonviolence

Iranian FIlm at Gene Siskel

From the Gene Siskel Film Center:

20th Annual Festival of Films from Iran

The Gene Siskel Film Center welcomes you to the 20th anniversary celebration of our Festival of Films from Iran, October 3 through November 1, with a very special additional program on November 21. In this year in which Iran remains very much in the headlines, we look forward with film premieres and also take a look back at earlier films and the work of major artists.

Click on their website for more information! http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/iran_2009

Make your voice heard online at SAIC!

An online discussion board is now up and running on the FNews website!

Topics include SAIC, Museums/Galleries/Exhibitions, and Everything Else!

Click here to check it out! http://fnewsmagazine.com/forum/

Voice your thoughts/opinions to the SAIC community and beyond!

Iran Panel Oct 16th

Debating Engagement

A Critical Dialogue among Progressives

on Iran & the Peace Movement

Friday October 16 <> 7 PM

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Columbus Auditorium | 280 S. Columbus Dr. (between Monroe & Jackson)

Robert Naiman

National Coordinator of Just Foreign Policy

&

Kaveh Ehsani

Editorial Committee Member, Middle East Report & Professor of International Studies, DePaul

While progressives stand united in opposing U.S. aggression against Iran, we hold contending positions on whether the Obama administration should move forward with engagement now or hold off until the dust settles in Iran in the aftermath of the June election. This discussion will illuminate the critical issues at stake, and couldn’t be timelier as headlines abound with Ahmadinejad's UN appearance and the protests against him, renewed demonstrations in Iran, and talks over Iran's nuclear program set for October.

Free and Open to the Public

Sponsors

No War on Iran Coalition | SAIC Liberal Arts Department | SAIC Student Activists | North Suburban Peace Initiative (NSPI) | National Iranian American Council (NIAC) | Chicagoans Against War & Injustice (CAWI) | North Shore Coalition for Peace, Justice and the Environment | Logan Square Neighbors for Justice and Peace | 8th Day Center for Justice | Fellowship of Reconciliation – Chicago Chapter

Meeting Tuesday 4:15

At our last meeting, we decided that Tuesday at 4:15 worked best for most people as a time for our weekly meetings. I hope you can join us!

Room 1302 in the Michigan/MacLean Building this Tuesday at 4:15.

1302 is adjacent to the Student Association office, around the corner from the Radio Station.

See you there!

Vet Art Project: Poetry

News from the Vet Art Project:

Some of you may already know about the upcoming Warrior Poetry reading scheduled for Sunday, November 22nd following the matinee performance of Heros, but here's the salon program that kicks off the whole season. This panel features our own David Faigin. Please join in what will surely be a lively discussion if you can.

Details below . . .

Remy Bumppo Theatre Season Salon

Monday, September 14, 2009

7:00 pm / Doors open at 6:30 pm

Location: Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue

Our annual kickoff event, the Salon is a chance to meet and greet the artists behind Remy Bumppo as well as learn more about the upcoming season.

Admission is free and open to all Remy Bumppo subscribers and their guests.

A $10 donation at the door is appreciated.

Enjoy a lively, sometimes irreverent panel discussion and Q &A on the season theme of Friendships Tested. Continue the conversation over coffee and desserts in the lobby.

The 2009 Panelists include:

Kelly Kleiman, one of the "Dueling Theater Critics" on Chicago Public Radio "848" program (Moderator)

Doug Cassel, a Notre Dame Presidential Fellow and director of the Law School’s Center for Civil and Human Rights

David Faigin, a psychotherapist and member of the Advisory Board with the Vet Art Project

Alfred Gini, an associate professor of business ethics at Loyola University

James Bohnen, Remy Bumppo artistic director

RSVP here: http://www.remybumppo.org/pages/season_salon/95.php

vetartproject.com

lisarosenthal.com



“Veterans are the light at the tip of the candle, illuminating the way for the whole nation. If veterans can achieve awareness, transformation, understanding, and peace, they can share with the rest of society the realities of war. And they can teach us how to make peace with ourselves and each other, so we never have to use violence to resolve conflicts again.” —Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh

"The future of our Armed Services and the future of our country will be integrally linked with how we take care of our veterans." —George Washington

What Would YOU Like To Do FIRST?

What would you like the Student Activists' first activity of the semester to be?

A community service event?
A panel discussion?
A party with donations going to a specific charity?
A movie night?
Have an idea for something else?

Let us know! studentactivists@saic.edu

We are eager for members of the SAIC Student Activists group to take on more leadership roles this year, so if you have project ideas in mind that you would like to help work towards, please speak up!

Hope to see you at our first meeting of the semester!

FIRST FALL MEETING: Mon Sept 14th, 4:15

Join us for the SAIC Student Activists' FIRST FALL MEETING:
Monday Sept 14th
4:15 pm
Michigan Building: 14th floor lounge.

I hope you + your friends can make it to discuss our plans for the coming year. There are a lot of potential projects we can work on: continuing our film series on refugee issues, continuing our advocacy for recycling on campus, continuing our alliance with Amnesty International, Students United for Darfur, LiNK, the May Day group, and much more! Help spread the word!

If you aren’t able to come to this first meeting, but are still interested in participating in the group, please let me know.

Looking forward to it,

-Lisa Nonken
Student Leader, SAIC Student Activists
lnonke@saic.edu

New STUDENT LEADERS WANTED!

We Want YOU
to be a new
STUDENT LEADER
for the SAIC Student Activists!

Would you be interested in taking a leadership role in the Student Activists Group this year?

We are currently looking for 2 or more students to take over as the new Student Leaders of our group.

You would serve as a liason between the group and the Campus Life Office, and work to schedule activities, arranging meetings, and helping to direct the group's efforts.

Please let me know if you might be interested.

Best,
-Lisa Nonken
Student Leader: SAIC Student Activists
lnonke@saic.edu

May Day Rally THIS FRIDAY!!

Hope you can join us for Chicago's Historic Annual May Day March. Join other Chicagoans to take a stand for workers' rights, immigrants' rights, or whatever other cause is dear to your heart!

SAIC students will meet outside 112 S. Michigan at 10:30, and then take the Madison bus over to the rally.

Etta and her crew have made a ton of great signs, and you can feel free to bring your own as well!

Hope you can make it!

For more info about MayDay, check out the wikipedia article here.

Free Film Tonight! Crossing, 6 pm Ballroom

"Crossing" film screening and follow-up discussion with reps from LiNK: Liberty in North Korea

TONIGHT, (Sunday) 6 pm
SAIC Ballroom (112 S Michigan)

Free and Open to the Public!

"Crossing" is an award-winning film from S. Korea, an epic drama about the plight of North Korean refugees, S. Korea's nominee for the academy awards.

Pictures from the Darfur Rally

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Youth United for Darfur Rally this past Sunday. We had a great turn-out despite the drizzle. The bands rocked, we got great press coverage, and we raised over $15,000 to support education for Darfuri children living in refugee camps in E. Chad. The SAIC Student Activists raised close to $600, and it's not too late to make a donation: visit our donation page today!

Here is some press coverage for the event:

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6769455

http://www.wesay.com/Top_Photos/News/204200986341725/

More photos on view on the SAIC Portal + Facebook

Crossing/크로싱 Screening Sun April 26th

Crossing/크로싱
Sun. April 26th, 6-9 pm, 112 S. Michigan, Ballroom

Film Screening + Follow-Up Discussion
with representatives from the organization “LiNK: Liberty in North Korea”

Join us to watch this award-winning epic drama on the plight of a North Korean refugee family.
South Korea's selection for the 2009 Academy Awards. In Korean with English subtitles.

FREE + OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

Brought to you by the SAIC Student Activists, studentactivists@saic.edu, saicactivism.blogspot.com, Group Pages on Facebook + the SAIC Portal

click here to view the "Crossing" trailer: http://vimeo.com/3171196

Global Activism Expo Sat April 25th

Global Activism Expo 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009 @ noon - 6:00 p.m.
http://chicagopublicradio.org/Event_Detail.aspx?eventID=924

Hosted by Worldview’s Jerome McDonnell, Chicago Public Radio Presents…is thrilled to again present this remarkable celebration – complete with food, music and over 100 Chicago-area Global Activists, all featured guests of Worldview’s Global Activism series. On the air for over six years now, the Series continues to be inspirational, and bringing everyone together for this Expo has quickly become an annual event.

Doors open at noon on Saturday and stay open until 6 pm; it’s FREE – so bring your classes, your children, your neighbors, your friends and family.

Free parking is available in NEIU Lot L. View the NEIU Campus Map for detailed directions, and click here for directions to the campus by car and public transportation.

This year there will be a variety of food for sale from local ethnic restaurants (cash sales only!), and an outdoor eating area in addition to space set-aside in the Expo for your enjoyment. We’ve added a Performance Stage where the amazing talent associated with many of these organizations will be performing for you; and we’ve arranged for break-out rooms where presentations will be made by various organizations throughout the day, so that you can better learn what they do and how you can get involved.

Check out all the organizations that are scheduled to attend the 2009 Global Activism Expo.

View and print the schedule of breakout sessions with participating organizations.

There's a LOT Going on with the Student Activists

There is a lot going on with the Student Activists!!

We’ve raised over $400 through online donations and checks in our fundraiser to support education for the Darfuri refugees in the Djabal camp in E. Chad. If you haven’t done so already, please make a personal donation, and ask others to do the same: parents, friends, classmates, professors, EVERYONE. Our goal is $1,000 by the rally next Sunday the 19th. Visit youthunitedfordarfur.org to make a donation, or go straight to the Student Activists’ custom fundraising page: www.educationpartnership.org/groups/426

Sat April 11- Sat April 18th: “Witnessing Genocide” Show of drawings by children living in the Dafruri refugee camps + photos of these camps. In Flaxman Library and 12h floor of Sharp Building. Can you help me hang this show tomorrow (Friday)? Please let me know!


Monday April 13th 4pm SAIC Auditorium. Student Meeting with SAIC’s president Duke Reiter to discuss the current state of our school and the future of SAIC. Not to be missed!!


The Student Activists are bringing LOST BOYS from SUDAN to SAIC NEXT WEEK: WED and FRI NIGHT!! TELL YOUR FRIENDS/ CLASSMATES/ PROFESSORS, ANYONE!! OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!! THIS IS HUGE!!

Wed April 15th 6-9 Michigan rm 501. Screening of “Lost Boys of Sudan” + follow-up discussion with SPECIAL GUESTS Peter Magai Bul-- Assistant Secretary, Sudanese Community Association of Illinois and John Dut Kuol-- Treasurer, Chicago Association for the Lost Boys of Sudan. Find out first-hand about the experience of Sudanese refugees coming to America. This is the kick-off for our month-long “Conflict, Film, and Activism” Series of Film Screenings and Discussions sponsored by the Student Activists. Open to the public!! Bring friends, Tell classmates/professors. Help spread the word!

(We will also still have our regular Wednesday weekly lunch meeting in 1302 Michigan from 12:15-12:45 to check in about the Student Activists’ many ongoing projects and to voice your thoughts and ideas.)

Fri April 17th 4:30-7:00 Screening of “The Devil Came on Horseback” + follow-up discussion with a return of our special guests Peter and John Dut. Michigan rm 908. Watch a powerful documentary about the experience of a US observer sent to document-through photos and video- the continuing violence in Darfur. Talk with Peter and John Dut about the ongoing crisis in Sudan. Part of “Conflict, Film, and Activism" Series of Film Screenings and Discussions sponsored by the Student Activists. Open to the public!! Bring friends, Tell classmates/professors. Help spread the word!



Sunday April 19th: 1-4, YOUTH UNITED FOR DARFUR RALLY in Federal Plaza (intersection of Adams and Dearborn). FEATURED SPEAKERS: Congresswoman Schakowsky, State Senator Collins, Stella Kenyi from the Enough Project, Harold Rogers from Chicago Black Trade Unionists, Deng-Lost Boy of Sudan, Mohamed Kauda from Darfur Assoc in Illinois, Ashal Yai Sudanese Student and Poet, Rev. LaDonna Sanders from South Africa Ubuntu Project. FEATURED MUSICIANS: Company of Thieves, The Hood Internet, Scott Lucas of Local H, Paul Green’s School of Rock. Find out more at youthunitedfordarfur.org This should be HUGE!!!! Open to the public!! Bring friends, tell classmates/professors. Help spread the word!


In preparation for the rally, the SAIC Student Activists are asked to be in charge of the display of artwork. (drawings and photos will be on display in the Sharp building this week, then will be brought to display at the rally.) Can you help me construct a wooden display rack so that we can display the drawings at the rally? Please let me know if/when you have any spare second in the coming week so that we can get together in the wood shop to get this thing built!

Also, do we want to make signs or t-shirts for the rally? Maybe on Friday the 17th after our screening + discussion of “The Devil Came on Horseback” ?


Thurs April 23rd “Left Behind” SAIC Auditorium 6-9 pm Panel Discussion organized by Platypus, addressing issues of global capital, trade unions, workers rights, international solidarity, and immigration, in light of recent economic and political change. See the event page on facebook for more info. Looks like it'll be a great event.


Sunday April 26th 6-9, Ballroom, Screening of “Crossing” + follow-up discussion led by reps from LiNK: Liberty in North Korea. This is an epic dramatization based on the experiences of North Korean refugees. Part of “Conflict, Film, and Activism" Series of Film Screenings and Discussions sponsored by the Student Activists. We have the BALLROOM for this event. Let’s work together to make this event HUGE!! Open to the public!! Bring friends, Tell classmates/professors. Help spread the word!


Monday April 27th SAIC Auditorium 4:30-6:30 Screening of “Kuxa Kanema” + follow- up discussion about the role of film in addressing social and political conflict. Final Film in the “Conflict, Film, and Activism" Series of Film Screenings and Discussions sponsored by the Student Activists. Open to the public!! Bring friends, Tell classmates/professors. Help spread the word!



Friday May 1st: Chicago’s Historic MayDay Rally! “Because immigrant and labor rights are human rights. Because human rights are fought for and won.” Get together with other Chicagoans and take a stand for workers’ rights, immigrants’ rights, or whatever cause is dear to you! SAIC students being organized by Student Activists and Platypus. We’ll be sending out more info on this in the coming weeks.

As a precursor to the May Day rally, there’s a great event going on at Roosevelt University TOMORROW, Friday April 10th:
Roosevelt University Activist Alliance presents a panel on May Day/International Worker Solidarity: Speakers: Les Orear - 98 year old former Chicago Stockyards Worker and current President Emeritus of the Illinois Labor History Society will share his experiences and knowledge on the history of May Day, especially as it relates to Chicago history. Aaron Hughes - an Iraq Veteran Against the War will share his report back from a trip to the first ever Iraqi Freedom Congress. and more! Friday, April 10th, 2009, 6:00pm-8:00pm, Roosevelt University
430 S. Michigan Ave., Spertus Lounge, AUD 244


The SAIC Student Activists are in high demand! President Duke Reiter has asked if the Student Activists would like to schedule a meeting to talk with him and discuss our ideas about improving the community at SAIC. What times look good for you guys? Maybe the last week of classes?

Also, Bert Schlingmann from the IRFM office would be happy to meet with our group to talk about SAIC’s current “green” initiatives and to listen to our ideas about how to improve SAIC’s environmental responsibility. What days/times would work with your schedule? Maybe the week after next?



Whew! There’s a lot going on, and the success and coolness of our events depends on your participation, and our ability to promote our events to get a big turn-out. Please help spread the word about our many ongoing projects!


Got some design skills? Please help design posters and flyers for our film + discussion series “Conflict, Film, and Activism”, or other events! You’ve got all the info in this email. Please let me know if you’re working on a flyer, and send me your designs asap! We’ve got FUNDING for printing!!


Hoping to hear how you can help out: flyers, posters, rally signs, rack to display Darfuri artwork at rally, write an article about our activities, fundraising for Darfuri students, helping to promote events, There’s lots to do! Gimmie a call or float me an email about what you're interested in helping with.

Looking forward to all of our awesome activities in the coming weeks,

Regards,
-Lisa Nonken

Student Leader, SAIC Student Activists
studentactivists@saic.edu

Also make sure to join the SAIC Student Activists' group pages on Facebook and the SAIC Portal!

Darfur Event at Chicago Cultural Center THIS THURSDAY!!

Building Peace in the Pursuit of Justice:

Perspectives on Darfur

Thursday, April 2nd

6:30pm Doors Open

7 – 8pm Program

8 – 9pm Refreshments

and Exhibits

Chicago Cultural Center

78 E. Washington St.

Chicago, IL 60602

5th Floor – Garland and

Washington Rooms

Admission is FREE!

RSVP to darfur@parliamentofreligions.org.

For more information call Alisa Roadcup

at 312-629-2990 ext. 237.

Join us for an evening of compelling and inspiring presentations,

interactive exhibits and a LIVE QUESTIONS CAMPAIGN BOOTH on

the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

Ameerah Haq, the Deputy Special Representative of the

Secretary-General for Sudan will share her inspiring story of

involvement with the United Nations Development Programme.

Brief presentations on the 2009 Parliament of the World’s

Religions and Amnesty International’s Darfur Campaign will

also highlight the evening.

Learn what you can do right now to promote peace and

reconciliation internationally and in your own backyard!

This event will feature an interactive art exhibit, Displaced, a

traveling installation that will guide you through four themed

refugee experiences: Conflict in Darfur, Flight and Displacement,

Life in a Displacement Camp, and Toward a Solution. Placards,

photographs, maps and handouts form the core content of

each theme.

You will have the chance to make your voice heard through

participating in the LIVE QUESTIONS CAMPAIGN BOOTH hosted

by FLASHPOINT The Academy of Media Arts and Sciences

Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to discover what

other activist groups are doing about pressing social concerns

in their communities. Bring a friend, bring your class, but most

importantly, bring yourself to this exciting and interactive event.

Select Partners for this event include: SPIN (Student Pluralism Interfaith Network), Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice at the Lutheran School of Theology Chicago and FLASHPOINT The Academy of Media Arts and Sciences, Amnesty International, Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions, and the United States Council for the UN Development Program.

Flyer PDF is uploaded on the "files" folder on the Student Activists'  SAIC Portal Group Page.  Check it out!

Sign Up on Darfur Rally's RSVP Page

Go to http://www.savedarfur.org/page/event/detail/4vxr5#rsvp to RSVP for the Youth United for Darfur Rally:

This year's Youth United for Darfur rally will take place at the Federal Plaza on April 19, 2009, at 1:00pm as the culmination of a Chicago-wide fundraising effort, lasting 10 weeks. Through raising awareness in their local communities, student activists will support the ENOUGH Project's Sister Schools program, which provides educational opportunities in eastern Chad to children displaced by the Darfur crisis, and the local Sudanese Community Center that meets the human service needs of Illinois residents of Sudanese descent. Collaborative efforts with major international organizations such as the Save Darfur Coalition and Amnesty International will bolster the power of youth and their ability to make a difference locally and globally. Additionally, this rally will emphasize the importance for the Obama Administration to take swift action in promoting peace and justice in Darfur. Since the Holocaust Remembrance Day falls in April, the rally will encourage attendees to take action and make "Never Again" a reality. This event will include speeches by respected dignitaries, live music, and opportunities to take action through letter writing and petitioning. For more information about the rally please visit www.youthunitedfordarfur.org or send an email to info@youthunitedfordarfur.org.  

Time:	Sunday, April 19 from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location:	Federal Plaza (Chicago, IL) 50 W Adams Chicago, IL 60610

Darfur Fundraising Flyer

Dear SAIC Faculty and Students,

 

As part of a Chicago-wide effort to end the genocide in Darfur, the SAIC Student Activists are participating in the Youth United for Darfur Rally that will take place on April 19^th at 1:00pm at Federal Plaza in Downtown Chicago.  The event is being organized by our coalition of over 35 student groups, including high schools, colleges, and youth groups.  We are collaborating with major human rights organizations, such as the Save Darfur Coalition and the Enough Project in order to create an effective and successful event.  Our goals are three-fold:

 

1. Showing Darfuri children in refugee camps that residents of President Obama's home state stand with them and that they are not forgotten.

 

2. Showing the world the fact that Illinois' American and Sudanese youth are working together in their efforts to bring peace to Sudan.

 

3. Showing President Obama that Illinois vocally supports new efforts to end the conflict in Sudan.

 

In case you are unaware, the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, which began in 2003, has taken the lives of up to 400,000 people and has displaced over 2.5 million people.  Although international efforts have attempted to stop President Omar Al-Bashir and his Janjaweed militia from murdering, raping, and displacing so many innocent people, demands for peace and justice have been largely ignored.  And yet, there is still hope.  Through united actions such as the one that the Student Activists are part of, we can demand that politicians make it a priority to address this ongoing crisis. 

 

Prior to the rally, student groups, including the SAIC Student Activists Group, will be fundraising for the Sister School Program, which supports schools attended by Darfuri refugees in the Djebal refugee camp in Eastern Chad.  By supporting these schools, displaced youth will gain the education necessary to eventually return to their homeland and create a better future. 

 

The SAIC Student Activists aim to raise $1,000 to support these important efforts toward the overall goal of $15,000 by April 19^th.  We are doing our part in fundraising by asking classmates, teachers, family and friends for small donations that will truly make a tremendous difference (Your donation of $25, $15, or even $5, makes a huge difference!).  Please consider donating money to help Chicago’s students successfully support the less fortunate youth affected by the genocide in Darfur. 

 

To make an online donation, visit www.youthunitedfordarfur.org.  On the home page, click “Donate.”  You will be taken to a page on which all of the student groups involved are listed.  Please select the link for the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  From there, click the “Donate” button (you can choose how you want to donate; $20.00 will provide a student with a desk and bench, $6.00 pays for a textbook, and $50.00 supports a teacher’s kit, $10.00 buys a basketball) and safely enter your credit card information to make a contribution.  If you would like to donate with cash or checks (checks made out to “Enough Project”), you can drop them off in my mailbox in the Columbus Building outside the Sculpture Department Office.

 

Thanks so much for your help in our efforts!  If you have any questions, please email studentactivists@saic.edu or call me at (860) 916- 8278. 

 

Sincerely,

Lisa Nonken

Student Leader, SAIC Student Activists

chicago.indymedia.org Terrific Website for Chicago Activism

Check out the website for Chicago's Independent Media Center:

http://chicago.indymedia.org/

Their event calendars are great resources for upcoming activist events in the Chicago area.  

If there's an event that looks particularly interesting to you, please speak up so we can bring it to the attention of other SAIC Student Activits!  

It's great if we can all help each other keep track of the many events going on around the city!

Earth Day Plans

That's right! Earth Day will be here in less than a month!  I bet you have creative ideas for how the Student Activists can capitalize on this momentous day to raise awareness about environmental responsibility at SAIC.  

Here are some great links about Earth Day 2009:

http://www.earthday.net/earthday2009

Earth Day Events in Chicago

More Chicago Earth Day Events

Earth Day Events in Chicago's Parks 

Even More Chicago Earth Day Events from the Chicago Reader!!

Please share with me your ideas, and consider taking on a leadership role in this initiaitve, as part of the Student Activists' Environmental Sub-Committee.   

 

In our Earth Day activities, we will be able to work with SAIC's office of Instructional Resources and Facilities Management.  For instance, their trash and recycling contractor, Allied Waste, would be able to place put a large cube of crushed aluminum outside the Columbus Building for the day.  This would function well as the centerpiece to our Earth Day awareness activities ie, members of the student activists could team up for shifts to hand out flyers about recycling in Chicago and at SAIC.  It would be great to have some give-aways like stickers or the like.   

Want to design flyers or posters or banners for us to use?  What messages would you like to send about environmental responsibility at SAIC and in Chicago?  Please share your ideas!

Earth Day will also be the kick-off event for our campaign with Res Life and IRFM to make the end of the semester more “Green”, focusing on urging dorm residents to recycle or donate all they can as they clear our their rooms.

 

I hope you can join us for the meeting with representatives from the Res Life and IRFM offices to discuss Earth Day plans and ways to make the end of the semester more environmentally responsible.  Wed April 1^st 12:30 room 820D Sharp.  

Right after the meeting, Student Activists who are able will head to the Corner Bakery to snack and solidify our next steps toward the realization of our Earth Day projects.  

 Join us!

Earth Hour Sat 8:30 pm

Student Association encourages you  to save the date for Earth Hour 2009!

Earth Hour 2009
Saturday, March 28th
8:30pm - 9:30pm

It?s time once again to turn out and take action against global climate change. Nearly a billion businesses, organizations, schools and individuals around the world will turn off their lights on Saturday, March 28, at 8:30pm during Earth Hour, and we encourage you to join in.  SAIC will be participating by dimming the lights in classrooms and lounge areas that are not in use during this time frame.

Chicago is proud to return as a flagship city for Earth Hour, a global movement led by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and presented locally by ComEd. Last year, more than 2.7 million adults in the Chicagoland area turned off their lights, resulting in an electricity savings of 7 percent in the region ? the equivalent of taking more than one million cars off the road for one hour, or planting 158 acres of trees.

We hope you?ll help build on last year?s momentum by participating in this exciting global initiative. We encourage you to register your support at  www.earthhourus.org/chicago. You can also download outreach materials and get suggestions for Earth Hour activities.

Saturday, March 28th at 8:30 pm: Turn out. Take action. Earth Hour 2009.

For more information on Earth Hour, please visit EarthHourUS.org

The First Free Speech Board is Finally Going Up!

Introducing the FREE SPEECH BOARD!

 

SPEAK UP & SHOUT OUT!

 

Starting next week ,this new message board outside the Student Association Office on the 13^th floor of the Michigan Building will be a place to POST WHATEVER YOU WANT: personal messages, event announcements, questions, requests, ads, love letters, rants, ANYTHING!   Unlike the other bulletin boards on campus, messages on the Free Speech Board DON’T need to be approved by SAIC’s office of Campus Activities.  Try to include a contact email address on your posting, so that people can respond to your message.   All messages will be removed at the end of each month. 

 

The next month will be a “TRIAL” period to see if people actually make use of the board.  If the experiment is deemed a success, the project will be become much more ambitious, with the prospect of a Free Speech Board installed in every SAIC building, and a Free Speech channel on SAIC’s portal homepage.  With your participation, these Free Speech Boards can become a valuable forum for communication within the SAIC community.  So get up to the 13^th floor and POST YOUR MESSAGE TODAY!!

 

 

Brought to you by the SAIC Student Activists.  saicactivism.blogspot.com

 

Questions?  Contact SAIC’s Office of Campus Activities:  312.629.6883

 

Note:  For info on SAIC’s POSTING POLICY, which pertains to all other bulletin boards on campus EXCEPT the new Free Speech Zone, go to the portal page:  Services> Campus Activities> Posting Policy