<div dir="ltr"><b>Hello everyone,</b><div><b><br></b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><div><div><b>A few weeks ago legislators tried to pass a bill in New York that would cut funding to state universities and institutions that endorse the boycott of Israel. This bill basically makes boycotts (a right that is protected by the first amendment) illegal. People were able to get this bill tabled by calling their senators. </b></div>
<div><b><br></b></div><div><b>Now they're trying to pass another anti-boycott bill HERE in Illinois. There could be a hearing for this bill as early as TODAY, March 4. Please call your senators and tell them to kill the bill. </b></div>
</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px"><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">WHAT CAN YOU DO?</strong></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px"><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px"><em style="margin:0px;padding:0px">1) Contact your State Senators that are members of the Higher Education Committee.</em></strong></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">See a list of Committee members’ contact information and Talking Points below.</p><ul style="margin:0px 0px 0px 1em;padding:0px 1em 1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
<li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-size:13px;color:rgb(102,102,102)">If you don’t know your State Senator, <a href="http://www.elections.il.gov/districtlocator/addressfinder.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(203,77,38);text-decoration:none">click here and type in your address</a> to find out.</li>
</ul><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px"><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px"><em style="margin:0px;padding:0px">2) </em></strong><em style="margin:0px;padding:0px">If your State Senator is not in the Higher Education Committee, <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">contact, in this order:</strong></em></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">· <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px"><em style="margin:0px;padding:0px">FIRST: State Senate President, John Cullerton (D). </em></strong><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">CALL (217) 782-2728</strong>.</p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">· <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px"><em style="margin:0px;padding:0px">SECOND: Chairman of the Higher Education Committee, Senator Michael W. Frerichs (D).</em></strong><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">CALL</strong> <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">(217)<em style="margin:0px;padding:0px"> 782-2507</em></strong><em style="margin:0px;padding:0px">.</em></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px"> </p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
<strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px"><em style="margin:0px;padding:0px">3) Help spread the word.</em></strong></p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
· Share this message as widely and as quickly as you can!</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">· Try to get this information to people throughout the state...it important that this be a state-wide effort.</p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">· Send a letter to the editor in your local paper to express your opposition to this legislation.</p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px"> </p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
<strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">TELL STATE SENATORS:</strong></p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">I am calling to oppose the Higher Education Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3017.</p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px"> </p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
<em style="margin:0px;padding:0px">This amendment proposes that the legislature defund an Illinois state university which provides funds for membership, travel or lodging for any employee to attend activities of an academic entity which has issued a public resolution or statement supporting boycotting a country which is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) or higher education institutions in that country.</em></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px"> </p><ul style="margin:0px 0px 0px 1em;padding:0px 1em 1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
<li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-size:13px;color:rgb(102,102,102)">This bill is unconstitutional because the Supreme Court has ruled that boycotts are protected First Amendment activities.</li><li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-size:13px;color:rgb(102,102,102)">
The State cannot deny funding to universities because certain legislators don’t like the views that faculty and staff are expressing through protected First Amendment activities like boycotts.</li><li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-size:13px;color:rgb(102,102,102)">
Legislative intrusion in academic decision-making undermines academics’ abilities to associate and exchange views with their colleagues.</li><li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-size:13px;color:rgb(102,102,102)">It is fiscally irresponsible and unconstitutional to condition funding for the Illinois university system on the university’s censorship of academic associations’ political viewpoints.</li>
</ul><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px"> </p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
<strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">MEMBERS OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION:</strong></p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
<strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Illinois Senate Higher Education Committee:<a href="http://www.ilga.gov/senate/committees/members.asp?CommitteeID=1219" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(203,77,38);text-decoration:none">http://www.ilga.gov/senate/committees/members.asp?CommitteeID=1219</a></strong></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px"><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Chair: Senator Michael W. Frerichs (D) </strong>52nd District <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">(<em style="margin:0px;padding:0px">note: former teacher)</em></strong></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">CALL Springfield Office <a href="tel:%28217%29%20782-2507" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(203,77,38);text-decoration:none">(217) 782-2507</a></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">District Office: 45 E. University Avenue, Suite 206 Champaign, IL 61820</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
<strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Vice Chair: Senator Pat McGuire (D)</strong> 43rd District <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">(</strong><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px"><em style="margin:0px;padding:0px">note: former teacher and school board member)</em></strong></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">CALL Springfield Office <a href="tel:%28217%29%20782-8800" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(203,77,38);text-decoration:none">(217) 782-8800</a></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">District Office: 2200 Weber Road Crest Hill, IL 60403</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
<strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Senator Daniel Biss</strong> (<strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">D) </strong>9th District <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px"><em style="margin:0px;padding:0px">(note: lives in Evanston – former U of C math professor)</em></strong></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">CALL Springfield Office <a href="tel:%28217%29%20782-2119" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(203,77,38);text-decoration:none">(217) 782-2119</a></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">District Office: 3706 Dempster Street Skokie, IL 60076</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
<strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Senator Melinda Bush</strong> (D) 31st District</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
CALL Springfield Office <a href="tel:%28217%29%20782-7353" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(203,77,38);text-decoration:none">(217) 782-7353</a></p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
District Office: 10 North Lake Street, Suite 112, Grayslake, IL 60030</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px"><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Senator Dan Kotowski</strong> (D) 28th District</p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">CALL Springfield Office: (217) 782-3875</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
District Office: 350 S. Northwest Highway, Suite 300 Park Ridge, IL 60068</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px"><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Senator Kimberly A. Lightford</strong> (D) 4th District</p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">CALL Springfield Office: (217) 782-8505</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
District Office: 10001 West Roosevelt Rd Suite 202 Westchester, IL 60154</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px"><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Senator Andy Manar </strong>(D) 48th District</p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">CALL Springfield Office: <a href="tel:%28217%29%20782-0228" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(203,77,38);text-decoration:none">(217) 782-0228</a></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">District Office 103 West Main Street P.O. Box 33 Staunton, IL 62088</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
<strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Senator John M. Sullivan (D) </strong>47th District</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
CALL Springfield Office: <a href="tel:%28217%29%20782-2479" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(203,77,38);text-decoration:none">(217) 782-2479</a></p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
District Office 926 Broadway, Suite 6 Quincy, IL 62301</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px"><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Senator Chapin Rose (R) </strong>51st District</p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">CALL Springfield Office: <a href="tel:%28217%29%20558-1006" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(203,77,38);text-decoration:none">(217) 558-1006</a></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">District Office 510 S. Staley Road, Suite D Champaign, IL 61822</p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;line-height:18.003999710083008px"> </span><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
<strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Senator David S. Luechtefeld (R</strong>) 58th District <em style="margin:0px;padding:0px">(<strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">note: former teacher)</strong></em></p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
CALL Springfield Office: (217) 782-8137</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">District Office 700 North Front Street Okawville, IL 62271</p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px"><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Senator Wm. Sam McCann</strong> (R) 50th District</p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">CALL Springfield Office: <a href="tel:%28217%29%20782-8206" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(203,77,38);text-decoration:none">(217) 782-8206</a></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">District Office: 221 Dunlap Court Jacksonville, IL 62650</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
<strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Senator Kyle McCarter</strong> (R) 54th District</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
CALL Springfield Office: <a href="tel:%28217%29%20782-5755" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(203,77,38);text-decoration:none">(217) 782-5755</a></p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
District Office: 310 W. Gallatin Vandalia, IL 62471</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px"><br></p><p style="margin:0px 0px 1em;padding:0px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;line-height:18.003999710083008px">
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<div><font face="times new roman,serif"><i><b><font color="#ff0000">Students</font> for Justice in <font color="#009900">Palestine</font> </b></i></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman,serif"><i><b>University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign</b></i></font></div>
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