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!