Fall 2007/Spring 2008

Alternative Spring Break
Through hands-on, experiential-learning with grassroots social and environmental justice organizations, ASB aims to initiate students into direct service and activism. Students attend pre-break meetings, organize small fund-raisers, participate in leadership development workshops, and plan post-break projects in the local community. During the past decade, more than 1000 students engaged policy makers, built houses, tutored children, planted trees, changed their majors and much more during spring break. Past issues and sites include pediatric aids in Washington, D.C., Migrant Farm Worker Rights in San Juan, Texas, Youth Violence in Detroit, and Hunger and Homelessness in New York. While trips are open to all students, planning meetings are not. Look for next spring break's trip applications at the Y front desk.
Alternative Spring Break meets weekly on Sunday nights at 8 pm at the YMCA during the school year.

Amnesty International
Amnesty International is a multi-issue based human rights organization consisting of a million members and supporters in 162 countries and territories. Amnesty International works to promote all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The local chapter of the University of Illinois works on international and national levels. The group participates in the international letter writting campaign known as Urgent Actions. Millions of Amnesty members world wide write brief letters concerning a specific human rights violattion addressed to the country involved. The U of I chapter works locally to promote and educate about human rights activism by coordinating educational events, and organizing actions around a facet of issues.
Amnesty International meets weekly on Tuesday nights at 8 pm at the YMCA Murphy Lounge during the school year.

Campus Vegetarian Society
CVS works to increase awareness of Vegetarianism and promote a cruelty-free, low-impact, vegetarian/vegan lifestyle through peaceful, nonantagonistic means. They plan to become a resource for nutrition and compassion issues for the C-U community and help make the diversity of vegetarians known.
CVS meets weekly for meetings the 1st and 3rd Mondays at 7 pm in the YMCA Student Program Office and has potlucks 2nd and 4th Mondays at 7 pm in the basement of the Campus Lutheran Center.

Engineers Without Borders
For more information on Engineers Without Borders, please go to their website at ewb-uiuc.org.
Upcoming dates for EWB Clean Energy Technology Committee meetings are as follows:
Mon, Sept. 10th, 11am-12pm
Fri, Sept. 21st, 12pm-1pm
Mon, Oct. 8th, 11am-12pm
Fri, Oct. 19th, 12pm-1pm
Mon, Oct. 29th, 11am-12pm
Fri, Nov. 2nd, 12pm-1pm
Mon, Nov. 12th, 11am-12pm
Fri, Nov. 30th, 12pm-1pm

Biodiesel Initiative meets Wednesdays at 7 pm

Green Observer
The Green Observer (GO) is the student run environmental magazine for the University of Illinois which is published three times a semester. The group is a collaborative effort between several YMCA environmental organizations including SECS, RAG, Red Bison, CVS and SILA. GO reports on the events and efforts of student environmental groups, as well as relevant local and national news.
Green Observer meets weekly on Monday nights at 7 pm at the YMCA during the school year.

Korean Student Association
For more information on the Korean Student Association, please go to uiucksa.org.
KSA currently has no meetings for Fall 2007.

Libertas
Libertas is dedicated to raising awareness about human trafficking. Our focus is primarily on the United States and the Western world because, ironically, people are the least aware of it here. However, while people might be ignorant of the problem, human trafficking (or modern day slavery) is one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises in the United States and around the world. Slaves have been found everywhere including New York, Florida, Texas, California, Washington DC, and even here in Illinois. This club is dedicated to making people aware of the problem through different activities. Just a few ideas include fundraising, posters, and guest speakers.
Libertas meets weekly for meetings the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7 pm in the YMCA Student Program Office.

Philippine Student Association
PSA takes pride in being the oldest Asian registered student organization at UIUC dating back to 1919, when it was formally known as 'Philippine Illini.' Through the decades, this organization evolved into PSA in the early '80s. PSA presently consists of 100-150 members each year along with dedicated officers strive to continue the passion and drive to uphold their Filipino heritage. PSA provides diversity and family orientation with members of different ethnicity. The established committees allow PSA members to become actively involved in the planning of PSA's social, academic, and cultural programs.

Rainforest Action Group
The Rainforest Action Group is a student organization committed to educate the public on the importance of and awe-inspiring nature of the world's rainforests. RAG focuses on the causes of destruction and the associated plight of various indigenous cultures. Last year RAG played a large role in getting Menards, the Midwest's largest home improvement corporation to begin taking old growth wood off of their shelves. In the past, RAG pressured the University of Illinois to agree not to use rainforest timber that is unsustainably harvested in future university building projects. RAG members also give educational programs to area school children.
RAG is currently inactive. If you have intrest in this program please contact, Kasey Umland, Program Director.

Red Bison
Red Bison is the Native American term for prairie fire. The group started as a class project in which a group of students was asked to devise a restoration management plan for what is now the Red Bison Prairie Corridor. Red Bison cooperates with local prairie restoration groups on a variety of sites in east central Illinois. However, most of their time is spent working at their own site along Rt. 45, south of Winsor Rd. in Savoy. Students, eliminate invasive species, collect seeds, plant flowers, and of course, conduct controlled burns. The group is also active in education, to help people understand what precious resources, and special places, prairie remnants are. Red Bison is currentally working on a Native Landscaping project at the historic University YMCA building to view photos click here.
Red Bison meets at 7 pm on the first Thursday of each month during the spring and fall semesters, unless otherwise noted.

Students for Environmental Concerns
Students for Environmental Concerns (SECS) is the University of Illinois' oldest student led environmental organization. SECS's mission is to educate and inform students and community members about environmental issues and to work towards positive environmental change on a national, statewide, and local level. Yearly SECS programs include environmental education in area schools, environmental volunteering at road and river clean ups, planning the campus's earth day activities, and engaging in efforts to environmentally improve our campus and community.
SECS meets every Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the YMCA during the school year.

United Students Against Sweatshops
United Students Against Sweatshops' mission is to inform, educate, and activate the student body with regards to labor rights, by holding events and actions in partnership with other organizations and the surrounding community. We are a diverse group of students, coming from all ethnic, racial, and socio-econimic backgroundsto work for one common cause, and we actively integrate anti-oppression work into our organization.
USAS meets every Mondays at 8 pm in the Student Programs Office

Students Improving the Lives of Animals
SILA strives to peacefully advocate for non-human animals through outreach, education, and active animal rights campaigning. We believe that all animals have inherent dignity and deserve respect. They are not made for human consumption, use, entertainment, or abuse. SILA exists to promote compassionate lifestyle choices to students and to improve the lives of non-human and human animals at the University of Illinois and Champaign-Urbana. And check out our newest website www.dissectionchoice.org
SILA meets Tuesdays at 7 pm in the Student Program Office during the school year.

Vis-A-Vis
Vis-A-Vis is a student run volunteer organization. It was formed in 1981 to combat the loss of individual attention for students because of drastic cuts in funding for schools. Volunteers can work as classroom aides in elementary classrooms or as one-on-one tutors in the middle and high schools. Tutors volunteer approximately 2-3 hours a week for a semester. We are able to work around a volunteer's availability and area of knowledge. All of the schools are located along bus routes, so it is convenient even if you don't have a car.
The following are meeting times for Vis-A-Vis:
Wednesday, October 17th at 7pm: New Volunteer Orientation
Monday, November 7th: Bowling for Books
Tuesday, November 27th
Wednesday, November 28th
and Thursday, November 29th at 7pm: Volunteer Focus Groups