BY MARCELINA PEDRAZA AND JACOB PERASSO 
CHICAGO — As the final weekend of the Young Socialists' National Fund Drive approaches, the Chicago YS chapter has been in active pursuit of reaching their goal, through keeping politically active not only in Chicago, but throughout the Midwest.

On October 23 Migdalia Jiménez spoke at a Pathfinder Fund event in Des Moines, Iowa, on her participation earlier this year in a demonstration in Puerto Rico demanding the release of independence fighters from U.S. jails and the removal of U.S. Navy forces from Vieques. Jiménez traveled to the Des Moines forum with another YS member from Chicago and two other socialist workers from the Midwest. Along the way, the team stopped in Waterloo, Iowa, and sold 11 Militants and 4 copies of Perspectiva Mundial at the IBP meatpacking plant.

After the forum, a number of participants went to a social event at the United Steelworkers of America Local 164 union hall supporting the Titan Tire workers. YS member Marcelina Pedraza spoke to some of the workers, who have been on strike for more than 18 months now, who said they will stay strong in their fight and were grateful for the amount of support they have received on a nationwide level.

The Chicago YS held a Halloween dinner the following Saturday, which netted $60 profit. The admission was $12 without a costume and $7 with a costume. This encouraged many participants to be creative in choosing a costume. After eating enchiladas, rice, picadillo, Caesar salad, dessert, and more, most stayed for card games and pumpkin carving. Awards for best costumes were given; one of the winners was airport worker Betsey Stone. "It's good that everyone got to relax for a while," she said.

The entire Chicago YS chapter drove to Beloit, Wisconsin, November 1 so that Jiménez and Pedraza could speak about Puerto Rico to students at Beloit College. About 20 students came to the presentation, which was held in the college's Multi-Cultural Center.

The presentation concluded with an interesting question and discussion period. Students were very involved and wanted to hear more from the YS members. There were several questions and comments raised about the independence struggle in Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rican political prisoners, and the fight to demand the U.S. Navy get out of Vieques.

One of the student leaders helped to plan the event and organized a $195 honorarium from the school for the YS speakers. The honorarium is going towards traveling expenses for the trip to Beloit and the remainder is going towards the YS National Fund Drive. Some of the other students expressed an interest in the Young Socialists, and one of them purchased a Pathfinder catalogue for the group so they can try to build the center's library with Pathfinder titles.

The Chicago YS will definitely try to do more events like this, not only at Beloit, but at campuses in Chicago and beyond in order to successfully build a larger and stronger YS, while at the same time raising funds for the national goal.

Finally, the chapter here held a yard sale November 6–7, raising $275 over the weekend. Items were donated by supporters of the Young Socialists and the sale was staffed by YS members.  
 
 
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