(CHICAGO) Dozens of anti-Semitic fliers were found in several buildings on the University of Illinois at Chicago campus Tuesday.
The fliers accused Jews of controlling a disproportionate amount of the wealth in the United States, stating “Ending white privilege starts with ending Jewish privilege,” the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.
The fliers were found in the Richard J. Daley Library and in the campus student centers, according to Eva Zeltser, a communications student and president of Rohr Chabad, a Jewish student organization at UIC.
Zeltser said there were dozens of fliers in the multistory library.
“They were found by a handful on each floor, I can only estimate [there were] more than 100,” she said.
Zeltser and some peers collected the fliers they could and brought them to the attention of the university’s administration. She also took a photo of a flier and posted it to Facebook, where it was shared more than 2,000 times as of Thursday.
In a statement released Tuesday, UIC said such actions “will not be tolerated on our campus.”
“Such actions do not reflect the values we hold as a community,” the statement said. “As we investigate this recent event, we strongly encourage all members of our university to exercise their right to free speech in a manner that recognizes these principles and avoids prejudice or stereotypes.”
Zeltser said she saw no one passing out the fliers, though it was not the first time Jewish students had been harassed on campus.
A window was smashed and swastika stickers were placed on the door of a downtown synagogue in January. Bomb threats were called into the Jewish Community Center in Hyde Park in February and the Jewish Day School in Edgewater in early March.
Rabbi Bentzy Shemtov, also of Rohr Chabad, said a meeting with university officials, campus police representatives and Jewish students was held Wednesday to address concerns.
“Although people are shaken, I feel that the students are grateful for the quick response from the university to investigate and get to the bottom of this,” Shemtov said.
Rabbi Seth Winberg, of Metro Chicago Hillel, located on UIC’s campus, echoed Shemtov’s sentiments that the university was taking a proactive approach.
“We appreciate that Chancellor [Michael] Amiridis immediately and unequivocally called the fliers anti-Semitic,” Winberg said in an email Thursday. “Based on the dramatic rise of anti-Semitism on college campuses, this could have happened anywhere and universities need to have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism.”
Meteorologist Ray Stagich’s Forecast:
Temperatures will heat up into the 90s from Friday into Saturday before cooler air settles in on Sunday Saturday – Thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 90’s and lows in the upper 60’s. Sunday – Mostly sunny. Highs in the low 80’s and lows in the low 60’s.
White Sox Play at Home with Live WLS-AM 890 Pre-Game Broadcast
Date: Saturday, June 11, 2016
Location: U.S. Cellular Field, Section 112, Chicago
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Join Connor McKnight at the Xfinity Zone in Section 112 of U.S. Cellular Field before the game on Saturday, June 11 for the pre-game show LIVE beginning at 12:30 p.m.!
Date: Saturday, June 11 – Sunday, June 12
Time: Noon until 10:00 p.m.
Location: Logan Square, Chicago
“The street fest celebrates art made using recycled and found materials, and it features local artists, 12 eco-friendly workshops, and live music played by bands from all over the country. Special Events Management puts on a whiskey and wine tasting at the fest for attendees 21 and older.”
Traffic Alert: Milwaukee will be closed between California and Fullerton from Friday through Sunday night.
The Cure at UIC Pavilion
Date: Saturday, June 11
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: UIC Pavilion, Chicago
When they sold out their first concert scheduled for Friday, June 10, The Cure surprised fans with a second show on Saturday, June 11. Tickets are still on sale here!
Wells Street Art Festival
Date: Saturday, June 11 & Sunday, June 12
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: Old Town, 1200-1600 N. Wells St.
There is free admission, though a suggested $7 gate donation benefits the Old Town Merchants & Residents Association.
Iconic early-summer art extravaganza in the historic Old Town neighborhood features the works of more than 225 juried artists from across the nation.
Traffic Alert: Wells Street closed between Division on the south to North Avenue on the north.
Grant Park Blues Festival
Date: Friday, June 10 – Sunday, June 12
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Location: Grant Park, Chicago
From cityofchicago.org: The Chicago Blues Festival is the largest free blues festival in the world and remains the largest of Chicago’s Music Festivals. During three days on five stages, more than 500,000 blues fans prove that Chicago is the “Blues Capital of the World.” Past performers include Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, B.B. King, the late Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy and the late Koko Taylor.
Traffic Alert: Jackson Blvd is closed between Michigan and Lake Shore Drive for the festival.
Columbus is also blocked between Monroe and Congress.
Set-up for the Blue Festival from Wednesday through Friday.
Via the City of Chicago Website
Andersonville Midsommarfest
Date: Friday, June 10 – Sunday, June 12
Time: Friday, 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Location: Andersonville, Chicago
Although there is free admission, there is $10 suggested donation.
One of Chicago’s most legendary street festivals and Andersonville’s quintessential yearly celebration, Andersonville Midsommarfest, returns for its 51st year in 2016.
Traffic Alert: Clark Street closed between Foster on the south and Bryn Mawr on the north
Back of the Yards: 47th St closed between Ashland and Damen for the 26th Annual Fiesta Back of the Yards set up and festival. Closures beginning on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. through 5:00 a.m. on Monday. The festival begins Friday at 5:00 p.m. and runs thru 10:00 p.m. Sunday.
Lower Wacker Drive westbound between State and Lake there is construction work blocking the right lane blocked for Riverwalk construction.
Blue Line: Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Irving Park and Logan Square, resulting in minor delays nightly 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. the next day.
The Addison station on the Blue Line will temporarily close. A bus shuttle will operate between the Addison and Belmont stations.
Red, Blue, Brown, Pink & Orange Line Alert: Extra capacity is being provided for customers attending the 2016 Blues Festival, Rib Fest, and Spring Awakening events.
Metra’s $8 Weekend Pass
From Metrarail.com: Unlimited rides on both Saturday and Sunday. Can be used in conjunction with Metra’s Family Fares. Not valid for travel on the South Shore (NICTD).
Kids can ride Metra trains for free with their families Memorial Day through Labor day as part of an expanded Family Fares program. More information here.
Hiawatha Service offers new Saturday night round trips starting May 21 and running through September 3, 2016. With the start of the new schedules, Train 343 will depart Chicago at 11:10 pm, and Train 344 will depart Milwaukee at 10:40 pm. Trains 329 and 330 will operate only on weekdays during this three-month period.
(CHICAGO) A woman died Friday morning after falling from a staircase at the University of Illinois at Chicago campus on the Near West Side.
About 4 a.m., rescue crews responded to the Department of Political Science Behavioral Sciences Building at 1007 W. Harrison St., authorities said.
The 20-year-old woman fell from a staircase on the outside of the building, according to UIC spokeswoman Sherri McGinnis Gonzalez.
She plummeted two floors and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, authorities said. The Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed the fatality, but did not release additional details Friday morning.
McGinnis Gonzalez said the woman was not a student and had no affiliation with the university. The staircase is open to the public.
Additional details were not immediately available as UIC Police conduct a death investigation.
(CHICAGO) A University of Illinois at Chicago student was ordered held on $500,000 bail Monday after authorities accused him of re-creating kinky scenes from the bondage-themed movie “Fifty Shades of Grey” while sexually assaulting a woman on Saturday, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.
Mohammad Hossain, 19, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault, authorities said.
The woman, also a UIC student, was allegedly attacked by Hossain during a sexual encounter in a dorm in the 900 block of West Harrison about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.
Under questioning by police, Hossain allegedly made statements indicating “that he was recreating scenes from the movie ’50 Shades of Grey,’ ” the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office confirmed in an email.
A spokesman for the UIC did not respond to a call seeking comment. Prosecutors said Hossain knew the woman he is accused of sexually assaulting.
