Text and Photos by Sarah Miller, Class of 2015

"The history of Chicago is very interesting.  I'm well-versed in my hometown's history, but I don't know as much about Chicago.  Living here and working on the Charnley House is giving me wonderful opportunities to learn more about Chicago's past," said Emma Kinsley, a student in Dr. Rebecca Graff's Archeology Practicum.

Register for the 2011 South Side History Bike Tour: email David Hays.

Whether biking for recreation or transportation, sticking to the same tried and true route can become a force of habit. But on Saturday, October 1, 2011 participants in the annual South Side History Bike Tour will take the "road less traveled" through historic neighborhoods.

Even long-time South Siders are likely to discover something new about events and people that shaped Chicago-both the city and the University. Tour guides include John W. Boyer, Dean of the College; Terry Nichols Clark, Professor in Sociology; and J. Mark Hansen, Dean of the Social Sciences Division.

Bikers will get a first-hand look at historic Bronzeville, sneak a peek at the residence of the late Mayor Richard J. Daley, admire the rugged limestone Union Stock Yard Gate, and learn about the Settlement House movement at the Jane Addams Hull House. For those who participated in last year's tour, the route and stops will be similar this year.

Participants, who must have their own bike and helmet, will meet at the Quad between Bartlett Dining Commons and the Regenstein Library at 10:30 a.m. In case of rain, the tour will be rescheduled for the Spring of 2012. Email dhays@uchicago.edu to register.

Bicycling Resources in Chicago

• Video and Feature Story from News Office from previous tour
  
• recycles Bike Share Program
• Blackstone Bike Works
• Active Transportation Alliance
  

Chicago celebrates its 174th birthday today. Wishing the City that Works the best!

Celebrate this afternoon at the Chicago History Museum

For the first time since the class of 2011 was born, the city of Chicago has elected a new mayor: Rahm Emanuel.

Also in this election:

• Booth alumna Stephanie Neely won reelection as City Treasurer
  
• Dual-degreed alum Will Burns (4th Ward Alderman) won his bid to fill SSA Alum Toni Preckwinkle's 4th Ward Aldermanic seat.
• UofC Fourth-year and Bridgeport native Johnny Kozlar garnered a respectable 22% in his challenge to long-time 11th Ward Alderman James Balcer.
• Law School alum Carol Moseley Braun was unsuccessful in her mayoral campaign.

For full results (including sortable mayoral results), visit: http://elections.chicagotribune.com/results/.

If you're reading this post far into the future or want to check out past elections, visit the Chicago Board of Elections website: http://www.chicagoelections.com/

Compiled by Lynda Lopez, News and Public Affairs Intern

After 21 years of Mayor Daley, the city of Chicago is getting ready to elect a new leader. The election, which is set for February 22nd, has become one of the most contested in the city's recent history. There are currently 6 candidates running for office, including former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel and former chairman of the City Colleges of Chicago Gery Chico.

There has been no lack of coverage on the election, as every major media outlet is putting the candidates under public scrutiny. With an endless amount of coverage on the mayoral candidates, it can be quite difficult to filter through the media cloud to find the actual important content.It is important to make the right decision on election day, as the future of the city is going to be shaped by our new mayor. In order to facilitate your voting in February, here is a handy resource guide containing everything from how to register to vote to the best websites for candidate information.

Eligibility to vote:
-- be a U.S. citizen;
-- be at least 18 years of age by election day;
-- live in your precinct at least 30 days before the election;
-- not be in prison/jail serving time for a conviction; and,
-- not claim the right to vote elsewhere

How to register to vote:
-- by submitting this mail-in form. This form can be used: to register for the first time; to file a change of address; or, to file a change of name.
-- in person at 69 W. Washington St., Sixth Floor.
-- at any Secretary of State's office where driver's licenses and state IDs are issued.
-- through an active deputy registrar affiliated with a local organization, such as a political party, ward organization or other state-certified body.

Last day to register to vote is on January 25, 2011!
If you miss the deadline, you can still register until February 15th if you...
Pass by the Chicago Board of Elections in person at 69 W. Washington 6th Floor
To find your polling place, go to Chicagoelections.com/voterinfo

Voting Early
You can vote early starting January 31st until February 17th. Go to chicagoelections.com to find out which locations have "Early Voting."

On Election Day:
Election Day is Tuesday, February 22nd. Polling places are open from 6am-7pm.
If a candidate does not receive the majority of votes (50%+1 vote), there might be a "Run-Off Election" on Tuesday, April 5th.

Mayoral Candidate websites
William Walls: http://wallsformayor.com/
Rahm Emmanuel: http://www.chicagoforrahm.com
Carol Moseley Braun: http://carolforchicago.com/
Miguel Del Valle: http://www.delvalleformayor.com/
Gery Chico: http://www.gerychicoformayor.com/
Patricia Van Pelt Watkins: http://www.patriciaforchicago.com/

Election News Sites
http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=481786
http://www.earlyandoften.org
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/elections/
http://www.examiner.com/chicago-mayoral-election-2011-in-chicago
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/index.html

Volunteer for the election
Rahm Emmanuel: http://www.chicagoforrahm.com/action/volunteer
Gery Chico: http://www.gerychicoformayor.com/get_involved.aspx
Carol Moseley Braun: https://services.myngp.com/ngponlineservices/volunteer.aspx?X=4sEYvJt99957195ouYMbmQ%3d%3d
Patricia Van Pelt Watkins: http://patriciaforchicago.blackdogcreativegroup.com/about/
Miguel Del Valle: http://www.delvalleformayor.com/2010/11/join-volunteer-team.html
William Walls: http://wallsformayor.com/volunteer-signin/

UCSC accepts story submissions from contributing writers that take a timely national issue and examine it in the local perspective. To join the pool, or learn more, visit http://tiny.cc/ucsc-civic-journalist.

Video: Mollison Elementary & CUIP video honors MLK

King's legacy in Chicago is complicated. Forty-five years ago this month, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. moved into an apartment at 1550 S. Hamlin in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood on the west side. He worked with local leaders for open housing. Chicago challenged him in new ways.  Of his time in Chicago, he said: "I have never seen, even in Mississippi and Alabama, mobs as hostile and as hateful..."

• Video: Dr. King - Housing March in Gage Park Chicago, 1966
• Tribune coverage of march in Marquette Park
• Tribune video from 2006
  
• Encyclopedia of Chicago Entry on King in Chicago
  

By Claire Brindley, a student in the College

Chicago is home to a lot of great landmarks--the John Hancock building, Wrigley Field, the Bean (or Cloud Gate, if you prefer). But the Windy City also has a couple of skyscrapers that are a little less family-friendly, the Fisk and Crawford coal-fired power plants.

These edifices may not be a part of the famous skyline, but they are a serious threat to the health of Chicago's residents. Built in the 1920s, they face lenient emissions standards, are the reason that Chicago now has one of the nation's highest asthma rates. In addition to chronic illness, air pollutants from Fisk and Crawford are responsible for 500 emergency room visits and 40 premature deaths each year.

Now is the time to clean up emissions from the old coal plants--not only for environmental reasons, but also for the health of Chicago residents. On Saturday, October 10, people from around the world will gather to support clean power in their communities and political action for sustainability as part of 350.org's Global Work Party.

This will be the most widespread day of political action in history, with 6227 events in 185 countries. Green Campus Initiative Students for a Just and Secure Future will be leading U of Cers downtown to join their fellow Chicagoans in demanding a cleaner, coal-free future. We'll be meeting in front of the Reg (1101 E 57th St) on Sunday, October 10, to bike or take the CTA to the rally. If you need to borrow a bike, check out the UChicago bikeshare program.

Please come out to make the call for a clean city even louder! Get to work, Chicago!

1913 was a big year in the history of the suffrage movement in Illinois. The State Legislature passed a suffrage bill that recognized a woman's right to vote for Presidential electors (first state east of the Mississippi) and many local officials. Ida B. Wells-Barnett founded the Alpha Suffrage Club, believed to be the first such organization for Negro women in the country.

The passage of the suffrage bill was possible because of the hard work of activists led the Chicago Political Equality League, especially Grace Wilbur Trout (at right). From the Wikipedia entry: "One of her [Trout's] assistants, Elizabeth Booth, cut up a Blue Book government directory and made file cards for each of the members of the General Assembly. Armed with the names, four lobbyists went to Springfield to persuade one legislator at a time to support suffrage for women. In 1913, first-term Speaker of the House, Democrat Champ Clark, told Trout that he would submit the bill for a final vote, if there was support for the bill in Illinois. Trout enlisted her network, and while in Chicago over the weekend, Clark received a phone call every 15 minutes, day and night. On returning to Springfield he found a deluge of telegrams and letters from around the state all in favor of suffrage."

The suffrage movement had long roots in Illinois and continued until the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. More information on the 1910-1913 campaign for suffrage in Illinois.

This week marks the 90th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Fourth-year Hallie Trauger and graduate student in philosophy Mark Hopwood say you don't want to miss Art in Action 2010. Here's why:

What is it?

Art in Action is an annual event, now in its fifth year, that brings together a diverse group of students and local residents to plan a day-long celebration of art, music, and community. Last year the event was hosted by First Presbyterian Church in Woodlawn, and over 400 people attended. The founding ideal of AiA is that art itself can be a form of activism: one that breaks down barriers, forms relationships and raises consciousness. The event is completely free, and has in the past included a huge diversity of musical acts, art projects, political discussions and children's activities.

Who runs it?

AiA is planned and run by a team of volunteers drawn from the communities of Hyde Park, Woodlawn, Kenwood, and the broader southside. AiA was started as a collaboration between two organizations - the Southside Solidarity Network (SSN), a student group at the University of Chicago, and Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP), a Woodlawn-based community-organizing group - but in recent years the planning committee has included a wide range of members from a variety of different backgrounds. AiA is based on the principle that diversity is something to be celebrated, so anyone and everyone is welcome to get involved.

What happens on the day?

Last year's AiA featured music from rapper HB Sol, local blues star Queen Portia, rock band Lifestyle Choices, and a variety of other musical styles including gospel, folk, jazz, and belly-dancing. The popular group discussions focused on the themes of policing, the Olympic Games, and urban development, and the arts and crafts tables gave both adults and children the chance to cut, stick, color, and have their faces painted. All around the outside of the field, a ring of tables offered religious and political materials, free BBQ, and the chance to browse the work of local artists and artisans. This year's event will feature a similar array of activities, but it's likely to be bigger and better than ever before.

When is it?

AiA is held every year on Memorial Day weekend. The date of this year's event will be Saturday May 29th.

Where can I find out more?

For more information on this year's event, visit our website at:

www.artinactionchicago.com

For general inquiries, email:

Divya Sundar divyasundar@uchicago.edu (408) 406 1280

"Now in its third year, the event has blossomed into a full day of music, hands-on art, and community discussions ... at least for this day there were attempts to breach the wall that often separates the campus from the rest of the neighborhood."

--The Chicago Weekly (05/28/08)

Two Sundays ago, I joined a crowd at the viaduct at 16th Street and Halsted, in the Pilsen community. There were men in (fake) bloody butchers' aprons, three piece suits, an Alan Pinkerton (with squirt gun), and a brass band on a carriage drawn by a white horse. I donned a Keystone cops helmet & trenchcoat, grabbed a fake billyclub and waded into the mob of angry workers.

All of this activity was organized by UofC grad student Paul Durica, whose Pocket Guide to Hell tours and reenactments treat participants to little known pieces of Chicago's history that illuminate a larger picture of the city.

• Viceland's Coverage of the Battle of Halsted Viaduct
• Pocket Guide to Hell Tours on Facebook