[IMC] PSA/Press Release: Morality of Debt? Visit With Thomas Gokey of Strike Debt

[Megan Flowers]

*Press Release*
*For Immediate Release *
March 27, 2014

*For Media Inquiries, contact:* Megan Flowers, University Y Communications
Director [megan at universityymca.org; 217-337-1500]


*Morality of Student Loans/Debt?*
University YMCA Hosts A Visit With
Thomas Gokey Of Strike Debt

*[Champaign-Urbana, IL.,* *April 3-4, 2014]* Since last fall, the Illinois
Student Senate (ISS) of the University of Illinois has been pursuing
comprehensive reform of the federal loan system, raising awareness and
educating students. Involved in the Student Debt Awareness week last fall,
members of the University YMCA's Student
Board<http://universityymca.org/student_programs/stubo/> were
moved by student debt stories to get involved and support organizing
efforts.

"Debt is an issue that effects all students today.  Weighed down by student
loans and the fear of growing debt, students are having to plan careers
around short term futures over long-term futures, pursuing money
categorically over pursuing passions," says University YMCA Student Board
Member Paul Dolmon. "It's debilitating to our futures and the future of
principled and ethical leadership in our country. What's missing is a clear
articulation of an affordable alternative and what steps students can
take."

The University YMCA's Student Board represents 13 student programs of the
University YMCA, who connect campus to community around growing concerns of
social justice, faith, global engagement, and environmental protection.
Seemingly disparate groups are collaborating to continue to raise
awareness; what has initially come of this collaboration is a campus and
community visit with Thomas Gokey of Strike Debt.

Artist, educator, and organizer Thomas Gokey is visiting Champaign-Urbana
for two days to talk about questioning the production of debt and the work
towards building a global debt resistance movement. On the Thursday night
at the University YMCA, Gokey will give a talk on questioning the morality
of paying back student loans; and the steps students can take towards a
surprisingly affordable and practical alternative.  On Friday at noon, he
will talk about the *Rolling Jubilee <http://rollingjubilee.org/>*, a
project of Strike Debt <http://strikedebt.org/> which purchases and
abolishes debt for pennies on the dollar.  He will talk about how we can
create new bonds of cooperation to meet our basic needs.


*"Is It Moral To Pay Back Your Student Loans?"*Thursday, April 3 at 7PM
Latzer Hall at the University YMCA
1001 S. Wright, Champaign

*"Dreaming Beyond the Rolling Jubilee"*
Towards a Debt Strike and Global Jubilee"
Friday, April 4 at 12 Noon
Latzer Hall at the University YMCA
1001 S. Wright, Champaign

*What is the Rolling Jubilee <http://youtu.be/1Qs9w1XlJKE>?*

*BIO:* Thomas Gokey currently lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Before that,
he was an adjunct professor at Syracuse University. Gokey has an MFA from
the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and is currently a PhD candidate
at the EGS in Saas-Fee, Switzerland. Recent projects include the
LibraryFarm, a collective farm on public land in upstate NY; GutenbAAAAARG,
a DIY pirate printing press, and the Rolling Jubilee, a project of Strike
Debt which purchases pennies on the dollar. Strike Debt is an offshoot of
Occupy Wall Street which seeks to build a global debt resistance movement.

This lecture is a part of the Spring 2014 Friday Forum lecture series,
*Rethinking
Security: Community Approaches to Economic Development.* For more
information on each lecture, visit: universityymca.org/friday_forum/

*Additional Information:* The views expressed by the speakers do not
necessarily reflect the views of the University YMCA, co-sponsors, or the
Friday Forum committee. All Friday Forums are free and open to the public.
A sign language interpreter is available with a 72 hour notice (contact
Carol Nunn atcarol at universityymca.org). All Friday Forum lectures are
rebroadcasted at 6pm on WEFT 90.1 the Monday following the lecture. Video
recorded lectures can be found at the University YMCA's Friday Forum page.

*SPONSORED BY:* University YMCA, Wesley United Methodist Church, Wesley
Foundation at the U of I, Institute of Genomic Biology, Center for Advanced
Study, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Resource Center, Center for
Business and Public Policy, Russ Rybicki, AIF, of Progressive Asset
Management Group, the Socially Responsible Division of Financial West
Group, Member FINRA/SIPC Nancy Dietrich, Graduate Employees Organization,
Dept of Recreation, Sport, and Tourism, International Programs and Studies,
Prairie Research Institute, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and
Environmental Sciences, Social Action Committee of the Unitarian
Universalist Church, Asian American Cultural Center, Dept of Urban and
Regional Planning, Chapel of St. John the Divine, Dept of Latina/Latino
Studies, Dept of Sociology, College of Nursing, Dept of French, Dept of
Political Science, C-U Branch of AAUW, Channing Murray Foundation, Urbana
Champaign Friends Meeting, Jobs with Justice andThe Office of Public
Engagement and The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Access at the
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the Department of African
American Studies, First Mennonite Church.

Website: universityymca.org/friday_forum/<http://www.universityymca.org/friday_forum/>

###

-- 
Best,
Megan Flowers
Communications Director
University YMCA
Office: 217-337-1500
Fax: 217-337-1533
Email: megan at universityymca.org
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