Racism, Power, and Privilege at UIUC

On Thursday of this week (Feb 1st, 2007), the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) will host a public forum titled RACISM, POWER, AND PRIVILEGE AT UIUC from 4 to 6:00 at FoellingerAuditorium on campus.

The forum is co-sponsored by the Chancellor's office and S.T.O.P., a coalition of students, staff, faculty, and community members committed to changing the ways in which UIUC's campus is unsafe and unwelcoming to marginalized groups. (S.T.O.P. stands for Students Transforming Oppression and Privilege.)

The forum will begin at 4:00 with statements by the event moderators and a student in the S.T.O.P. coalition. They will be followed by individuals within the American Indian community, including an elder and a parent.

The first portion of the forum is Open Mic, during which anyone can make a statement (two-minute limit) to the administrators on the panel.

The second half of the forum is a Q&A during which moderators will read questions to administrators.

Panelists responding to questions include UI President White, UIUC Chancellor Richard Herman, UIUC Provost Linda Katehi. During the Open Mic, audience can submit questions (on index cards) to ushers who will hand them to moderators.

This forum was set up during fall of 2006 as a result of student protests of the Tacos and Tequila party held in October of 2006. The recent incident on Facebook provides additional evidence regarding the negative climate on campus.