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Chicago Tribune
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Evanston teacher preps discrimination complaint as advocates say appeals for Palestinian human rights are squelched
At an Evanston event Sunday, a teacher shared his experience of getting sanctioned by Evanston Township High School for displaying a poster that urges Jews to dissent when they feel it is morally necessary, and other speakers said they feel Evanston schools have censored their right to speak when they tried to advocate for human rights for Palestinians. Speakers with affiliations to Northwestern University and Evanston Township High School, community members and parents gathered at Lake Street Church to discuss several instances where they felt their voices had been suppressed when they spoke out advocating for Palestinian human rights. One of the speakers, Evanston Township High School history teacher Andrew Ginsburg, spoke about how ETHS has sanctioned him twice: once for displaying an image calling for Jewish people to dissent when necessary, and once again for displaying a letter explaining that the first image was removed at the behest of the school district. The letter called the removal of the poster an act of censorship. In response to the sanctions he has received, he said he plans to submit a federal civil rights complaint against the school. Ginsberg, who is Jewish and advocates for Palestinians' human rights, told Pioneer Press that he has done no wrong, despite his job at the high school hanging in the balance after receiving the two warnings. '[The district] has taught us to be relevant to the kids. They've taught us that you can't get the kids to share stuff about their lives if you don't share stuff about your life. I think I've been consistent with that, and I'm being punished for it,' Ginsberg said. The original poster Ginsburg displayed was a drawing of a shiviti amulet that Jewish artist Liora Ostroff created for the magazine Jewish Currents. The drawing was influenced by an essay titled 'Dissent' by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, who wrote, according to several sources, 'Dissent is indigenous to Judaism.' Ginsberg and his attorney, Rima Kapitan, plan to file a complaint to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that the school discriminated against him based on his religious identity. 'We feel that the school is violating his First Amendment right and also Title VII of the Civil Rights Act,' Kapitan said. Though his situation has received some attention from Evanstonians, Ginsburg said it is not unique, and that other people in Evanston, including Jews, have also felt backlash and repercussions for advocating for Palestinian human rights. 'This has happened to other teachers. This is happening at Northwestern [and] all over the place. This is happening in the city,' Ginsberg said. 'We like to talk about how progressive we are up here, but when it comes to Palestine… all the institutions in the city have gone out of their way to silence everybody (who) wants to talk about Palestine.' Speakers at the panel represented several Evanston institutions, including the Evanston Public Library, Northwestern University and Skokie/Evanston School District 65. 'You can't talk about Palestine in elementary school, you can't talk about Palestine in high school, and you can't talk about Palestine at college,' said co-host of the panel and former Evanston Librarian Lesley Williams. Last October a student group at Northwestern University, Jewish Voice for Peace Northwestern, celebrated the Jewish holiday of Sukkot at Deering Meadow. The group set up a structure with banners that read, 'Gaza Solidarity Sukkah' and 'Stop Arming Israel.' The group intended to celebrate the holiday for the entire week, but was ordered to leave after a few hours. Northwestern University's Vice President of Global Marketing and Communications Jon Yates told Pioneer Press then that Jewish Voice for Peace did not get its event application approved, and that the group's temporary structure did not follow the university's display policy. But the university's efforts to enforce its own code of conduct and display policy went further than that night, according to Isabelle Butera, a member of the Northwestern chapter of the Jewish Voice for Peace. 'We tried again to do this in compliance with these new restrictions, and we were told again that this was in violation, that we could all be facing expulsion, and that it was very clearly implied to us that the reason we were in violation is because our sukkah had a banner on it that said, 'Stop arming Israel' and 'Gaza Solidarity Sukkah,'' she said. 'Since then, a number of us have been placed on disciplinary probation. I graduated in June, and my probation is not up until September… Our club was put on probation,' Butera said. Shirin Vossoughi, a professor at the university, said Northwestern has a history of creating a 'repressive environment' when it comes to discussing Palestine, and it existed before Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack against Israel. The university's practice of doing so was exacerbated after the university updated its code of conduct, she said. 'I think the fundamental question for me as an educator is, 'What does it mean for our educational institutions to contradict the mission of the university to such a degree?'' she said. 'We want our students to interpret evidence. We want our students to stand up against moral injustices… They're [the students] punished, and I feel like what we've done essentially is sacrifice some of our education principles and mission in order to protect a state that is enacting genocide,' Vossoughi said. Northwestern University President Michael Schill is slated to appear for a second time before a congressional committee over alleged antisemitism on campus, according to a June 30 Chicago Tribune article. The committee chair, U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, a Michigan Republican, accused Northwestern of failing to fulfill its commitment to protect Jewish students. Reine Hanna, Evanston Township High School District 202's director of communications, told Pioneer Press the district does not comment on matters related to personnel. Yates, of Northwestern, did not respond to a request for comment after Sunday's event. As of last month, upwards of 55,000 Palestinians had been killed in the Israel-Hamas war, according to Chicago Tribune sources. The war began when Hamas-led fighters killed around 1,200 people, mostly Jewish civilians, in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack and abducted 251 hostages, according to sources. Israel says 58 hostages remain in captivity, with about 23 of them said to be alive, according to previously published reporting. The U.N. human rights office says it has recorded 613 Palestinians killed within a month in Gaza while trying to obtain food, according to Tribune sources. Previously, international humanitarian nonprofits oversaw food distribution, but the Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has taken over.
Chicago Tribune
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Evanston celebrates Juneteenth with parade, Ingraham Park festival
The area's first heat wave of the summer wasn't enough to keep people from celebrating, parading, playing and marching in Evanston's Juneteenth celebration. The parade took off Saturday morning at Dempster Street and Dodge Avenue, featuring marchers representing Black Greek-letter organizations, Evanston Township High School, religious groups, the city of Evanston and the Jesse White Tumblers. The celebrations continued into the afternoon at Ingraham Park with live music, food and art. The parade, organized by the nonprofit Evanston Present and Future and supported by sponsors, is the sixth celebration of its kind in Evanston. Executive Director Kemone Hendricks presented awards to people and businesses who helped shape a way for Juneteenth celebrations and reparations in Evanston. Former 5th Ward City Councilmember and current Chair of the Evanston Reparations Committee Robin Rue Simmons received the Juneteenth Reparations Justice Award. 'We celebrate those who have made significant contributions toward healing historical wounds through advocacy, education, policy change or community empowerment,' Hendricks said. 'It highlights the ongoing pursuit of racial justice and acknowledges the importance of reparations as a step toward equity.' 'This is a form of reparations, whether you know it or not,' Simmons said in her acceptance speech, referring to Juneteenth being recognized as a national and municipal holiday. 'It's not just cash, not just a grant, but satisfaction is an area of redress which we are standing on and building on, and so this is an example of repair.' Nationally, the politics of Juneteenth have come into question, with the Trump administration stepping back from recognizing the holiday in an official manner, according to the Associated Press. On June 19, President Donald Trump wrote on social media there are 'too many non-working holidays.' Participants in Evanston's celebrations took a more hopeful note on Juneteenth, which became recognized as a federal holiday in 2021. ''I'm just in complete awe of what God is doing for Juneteenth, and how much it's bringing the community together and the world together, especially in this current political climate,' Hendricks said. Chaaze Roberts, a member of the S.O.U.L. Creations, performed on djembe drums and dunduns in his traditional West African group. He said it was the group's third year performing at Juneteenth, and that each time it has gotten bigger and bigger. S.O.U.L. stands for Spirit of Universal Love, Roberts said, and has been active in Evanston to promote arts and education, working mostly with kids. 'It's not new that things have been tried to be erased,' Roberts said, referencing the Trump administration. 'That's been going for decades — centuries, even. But we keep persevering, pushing though and everything is temporary. Even this administration is temporary. We'll keep standing strong and doing our part in keeping this alive.'
Chicago Tribune
10-06-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Column: A high schooler gives voice to the StreetWise world
'StreetWise,' the man shouts at the snazzy corner of Michigan Avenue and Walton Street as people pass him by, 'StreetWise, here.' But of course there is shopping to do, lunch with friends, all sorts of other chores and engagements. … Hurry, hurry, hurry. has long been the excuse most people have used not to buy a copy from the people who sell it for a living. The publication has been around since 1992, a means by which people could earn money by selling what was then a newspaper. In March that year, I was told, 'It gives people a hand up and not just a handout,' by its first editor, Kathleen 'Casey' Covganka, before the first issue hit the streets that September. Ever since, few have taken the time to discover anything about StreetWise salespeople, the vendors. Some don't have the time to exchange even a glance, making the vendors among the city's most faceless citizens. That's not true of 17-year-old Anthony Mateos, who lives in Evanston and has just completed his junior year at Evanston Township High School. He has compiled and published a terrific book titled 'Who We Are: Stories From the Chicago StreetWise Community.' An oral history, it contains first-name-only interviews with many vendors and a few staff members, such as editor-in-chief Suzanne, who says. 'I don't want (vendors) to just be pitied and take money, and people say, 'Oh, isn't that special? Isn't that sweet?' That's patronizing for all of us. I want them to take the magazine, read the magazine, and consider the things that StreetWise is talking about, which are marginalized people and the question, 'How do we make Chicago better?'' Says one vendor named Lonnie, 'It's a great opportunity to get out there and talk to people, not only just to sell StreetWise. To let people know at the end of the day you're not by yourself and that's going to be okay. But you have to keep going, and you have to keep working hard. You have to take it to another level, knowing it's going to be a better day. Them better days outweigh a not-good day. I make the best of every day.' Here's Jimmie, who has been a vendor for nearly 20 years, saying, 'StreetWise picked me up when I was a mess. Once I got with StreetWise, it changed my life. It put hope in front of me.' There are similar sentiments and uplifting stories expressed throughout. For the $14.50 cost of the 67-page book (available at self-publisher with profits going to StreetWise), you'll get many similar sentiments and uplifting stories. And perhaps, as Mateos writes in his brief introduction, you might 'go beyond the pages. Next time you see a vendor selling StreetWise, buy a magazine and talk with them. If you cannot buy a magazine, offer them a smile or a wave. The kindness matters.' Mateos was inspired to this project by his mother, Elizabeth Schaefer, who is a professor and director of communications and marketing studies for National Louis University. Nearly a decade ago, he accompanied her when she was working on gathering interviews that became her book 'Women Are With You: An Oral History Book About Domestically Abusive Relationships.' She also helped navigate the self-publishing world, for which she has written and published a number of books. I have written about her before and, in the small world department, also about her mom, Trish Schaefer, who I met decades ago, when she was sitting behind a piano playing and singing at a number of clubs on the local scene. I wrote that 'she was one of the bright lights on the local club scene, juggling her singing career with acting, appearing in commercials, films and a TV show called 'Lady Blue'.' She gave up show business to raise two daughters, one of whom was Elizabeth. It's a creative family but Anthony, as empowered as he is by his first published book, is not dreaming of future bestseller lists. Raised as the only child of his single mom, he is an independent thinker, an honors student and member of the ETHS rowing team. The book, he says, 'Makes me proud and happy.' StreetWise has changed much since its founding. It's no longer a newspaper but a magazine, published once a week and sold by some 150 vendors. It has operated since 2020 in collaboration with YMCA Metropolitan Chicago and thus has been able to expand its services to vendors. They pay $1.15 for each copy and then sell them for $3. No one is getting rich. But the vendors, all of whom wear badges and have undergone training, can also avail themselves of such benefits as food, clothing and the assistance of social workers. Mateos tells me that most of the vendors 'were very receptive to talking to me, to sharing their lives.' He says that many of his friends and a few of his teachers were surprised by the book. He so far raised about $1,000. He is spending the summer on the Northwestern University campus, taking classes in one of his current interests, neuroscience. Northwestern is among the universities and colleges he will be applying to in a few months and any one of them will be lucky to have him.
Chicago Tribune
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Evanston Township's Class of '25, ‘last of COVID generation,' graduates
On May 18, Evanston Township High School launched more than 940 graduates at commencement at Northwestern University's Welsh-Ryan Arena at McGaw Memorial Hall in Evanston. Keith A. Robinson, associate principal for educational services at ETHS, coordinates graduation. For the Wildkits seniors of the Class of 2025, he said, 'This class is truly special. They're the first to complete all four years of high school after the COVID-19 pandemic, really the last of what many have called the 'COVID generation.' 'Their journey has been anything but typical, and they've shown nothing but resilience, heart, and growth. 'I've had the privilege of knowing so many of them throughout their high school careers, and their stories continue to inspire me,' Robinson said. When Max William Dahan of Skokie walked into the arena, he spotted enthusiastic waves from family, including great aunt Deborah Bono and Max's mother Rachel Dahan. About Max, Rachel Dahan said, 'He's worked really, really hard so we're so proud of him.' The program included traditional commencement moments. Some students decorated the tops of their caps or mortarboards. Commencement included keynote speaker Anders Holm from the ETHS Class of 1999. Holm is a movie actor, producer and writer. Holm used humor while giving the Class of 2025 practical advice, such as encouraging them to learn how to cook in order to be healthy and self-reliant, instead of ordering costly restaurant food from online quick delivery services. 'Let's talk about you,' Holm said to the graduating seniors. 'You are 100% unique. Do not confuse being unique with being special. 'You gotta earn special,' Holm said. 'But you are you and no one else is. 'That's your value-add in the world, you just need to figure out where you can add the most being who you are.' Jeanine Bahanuzi, who plans on becoming a lawyer, offered senior class remarks. 'I want to contribute to change,' Bahanuzi said. 'We often let our weaknesses and emotions become an excuse to give up instead of an excuse to take on a challenge and we fail to realize that some of our greatest strengths are developed through the training and resilience of our weaknesses. 'But, Class of 2025,' Bahanuzi said, 'I don't see that for us. I see perseverance, I see determination, I see grit, and most of all, I see greatness,' Bahanuzi added. 'I hope you not only remember ETHS for the community you created, but the community it created for you.'
Chicago Tribune
18-04-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Evanston OKs site for student-built affordable home over neighbors' objections
The Evanston City Council moved forward at its Monday meeting with plans for Evanston Township High School to place a student-built affordable single-family home in the 9th Ward. The sale of the city-owned vacant lot at 1222 Washington Street to the high school received heavy support from the council, earning an 8 to 1 vote approval. It also received support from 9th Ward residents, according to the ward's councilmember, Juan Geracaris, but not from the proposed site's closest neighbors, who showed up to Monday's meeting and pleaded with the council to preserve the land as a garden. Neighbors advocated for the land to be used as a green space for people to socialize and mingle in. St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Pope John XXIII School, Rice Education Center and the Lydia Home, a social services organization for children, are located on the same block. 'There are not a lot of us that live on this block, because there are all these institutions on the block,' said resident Chelsea Edward. '(The lot) is a legit green space, and it should stay that way. Don't cut down the trees.' 'The residents on our block truly believe that this property is much better suited to serve as a community space to use for educational purposes, relaxation and natural conservation,' said resident Heather Miller. Prior to 2022, the lot was bigger and housed Butcher Boy School of Music Production at 1224 Washington Street and a green space with grass and trees to the immediate east of it. The Land Use Commission approved a zoning variance to split the lot in half to create two lots: 1222 Washington Street and 1224 Washington Street. In February, the City Council approved the purchase of the vacant lot at 1222 Washington Street for $231,000 with the intent to sell the home to ETHS. Each year, the high school teaches a class titled Geometry in Construction where students learn math and construction skills to build a home to be sold at an affordable price to a family that earns less than 120% of the area median income, which for a family of four would be $134,000. The city also approved setting aside $100,000, should the property itself need work done on it before the house is installed. As the Council was deliberating its decision to approve the sale, councilmembers strongly supported the Geometry in Construction program that some saw as a defining institution within Evanston. 'I represent the whole 9th Ward, not just one block,' Geracaris said. 'Our city needs more affordable housing, and this house, while small, is bigger than just this moment. In 50 years, myself and these neighbors, who are wanting to stop this from happening, will likely be gone, but that house will still be there. It will still be affordable for whoever lives there.' 'One of the hardest parts of this job is how to handle disagreement,' he continued. 'A lot of times the easiest course of action is just to maintain the status quo… This is a thing that's really tempting when we consider our decisions that we have to make around how to use the limited land we have: zoning. It's a big topic right now. It's an important tool to stop bad and inappropriate things from happening. I think we all could agree that we don't want to live next to a garbage dump, but zoning and the related approval process like we've seen here tonight shouldn't be really used as a weapon to stop good things from happening. And putting off things is just one way to make sure it never gets done.' At the previous City Council meeting on March 31, Geracaris attempted to pass the sale of the lot, but needed unanimous support from the Council to pass it on introduction. His attempt failed after two votes. Councilmember Devon Reid (8th) called into question the legitimacy of the neighbors' concern that a home would not be appropriate at its proposed location. 'I am calling into question the genuineness of it, because what's stopping you from doing that now with the (community members) — invite them into your backyard… This is is just one of the things… that frustrates me about Evanston, about this NIMBY culture that can be pervasive here.' Between Reid's comments, critics of the proposed home in the audience tried to get a word in. Reid asserted he had control of the floor. Mayor Daniel Biss called for order in the chamber. Councilmember Krissie Harris (2nd) defended the Geometry in Construction program against critics who said the ETHS student-built home could lower their homes' property values. According to data from Cook County, the median single-family sale price in that neighborhood in 2024 was $760,000. 'When a new family gets there, I hope we treat them with respect and don't undignify them because they couldn't afford a $700,000 home,' Harris said. Councilmember Tom Suffredin (6th), the sole councilmember who voted against the lot sale to ETHS, did not speak publicly about the ETHS home when the Council was discussing it.
