AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

 of Champaign County

 

 Steering Committee

 November 1, 2007

 

Present: Susan Cohen, Ben Grosser, Ward Henson, Carol Inskeep, Alan Levy, Stan Levy, Esther Patt, Richard Schnuer, Lynne Rudasill, Shirley Stillinger, Paul Wisovaty, Marsha Woodbury, Law School Chapter: John Mounce

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by the chair, Esther Patt. The minutes of the October meeting were approved as distributed.

 

Reports

Treasurer’s report: Total donations from the October 28 fundraiser were $2,195, larger than usual because of a $500 donation. Total assets are now $5,161.62.

 

Old Business

(a) Hate Speech Forum: Carol Inskeep reported that Bob McChesney cannot moderate the forum planned for late winter/early spring. Alan expressed that we need to do something before then because there is a crisis right now on the U. of I. campus. Stan agreed, stating that there seemed to be an attempt at thought control in the incidents of originally banning any reference to the Chief in the Homecoming Parade and the reaction to the four students who dressed as members of the Jamaican bobsled team from the movie Cool Running. Exten- sive discussion followed. It was agreed that Esther should invite Reneé Romano to our next meeting and ask the Public Defender to a later meeting.

 

(b) Speaker for the annual meeting: Esther will invite Colleen Connell to speak March 30, April 6, or April 13.

 

(c) Public Defender visit: Esther collected questions for him.

 

New Business

 

 (a) The committee agreed to support a screening of Jay Rosenstein’s documentary “The Lord Is Not on Trial Today” as a fundraiser for the ACLU and Planned Parenthood.