The Daily Illini http://www.dailyillini.com/ cae026d4676148ccc06a5ca71cf8cf7b Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 2009-07-03T11:32:17-05:00 urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:ffda8df0407d1e9320444af0e5f6d7dd 2009-07-03T11:32:17-05:00 2009-07-01T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. COLLEGE The bonds developed between players on any team are strong. Many maintain friendships long after they've graduated. That's why, for the former Illinois basketball players who attended the tailgate, there was little catching up to do. "The good thing about it is, there's no drop off," Illinois men's basketball assistant coach Jerrance Howard said. "We could go six months to a year without seeing each other, but when we get with each other, there's still that brotherly love and no drop off. We all stay in contact with each other, you know with e-mails, text messages and phone calls." Quite a few former athletes including Luther Head and James Augustine had last-minute conflicts come up, and were unable to attend the charity event. "These guys are just coming from different situations, so they're not able to come and spend this time with me, but throughout the summer we always hang out, we always meet up. If all of them could make it, I know they'd be here," Brown said. While most Illini fans only see the relationships of players on the court, Brown has kept up with his former teammates. "I always talk to Deron (Williams) on the phone, every once in a while Luther (Head). I played with Roger (Powell Jr.) and Brian (Randle) this year in Israel. Warren (Carter), I played with last year, so you run into these guys all the time. Of course we keep in contact, we love each other, we've been through so much," Brown said. Rich McBride's continued friendship with Brown is what led him to attend Brown's charity event. "I see Dee pretty often. It's pretty cool though just to see him in general because he's such a cool guy, but it's a nice event," McBride said. NBA While McBride is good friends with Brown, the tailgate showed that another type of camaraderie exists between professionals. Several NBA players donated items for a silent auction at the tailgate. Various items were up for bidding, including shoes signed by members of the Utah Jazz, a signed Dwayne Wade jersey, shoes signed by Andre Iguodala and more. According to Brown's mom, Cathy, all she needed to do to acquire the items was ask. "Of course, they're like all brothers, so whatever you trying to do, they do for you," Cathy said. "Andre, I called his mom last week, and Andre's publicist came to my house and brought me the shoes. So it's a big family, just like the U of I. We're all trying to all help each other." FANS Without Illini fans, the tailgate could not have happened. Those that came out for the event were some of the biggest fans around, and a few never even attended school at Illinois. Even the event's host, Teresa Sturdy, fell into that category. Although she went to Iowa, Sturdy became an Illini fan after marrying her husband, who attended Illinois as an undergraduate. Now, a garage and entire wing of the Sturdy's home in Rochester, Ill., is devoted to the Fighting Illini. In the Illini rooms, everything is somehow Illini related, including office chairs, sofas, a pool table and more. Brown was honored by the support from the Sturdys, and cites it as yet another reason why he loves the University of Illinois. "It's amazing to me, when I first saw this home. Illini fans are the truest, realist fans in the world," he said. Like Sturdy, Brad Biar of Springfield didn't attend Illinois, but is now a huge Illini fan. He enjoyed the charity event because it brought Illini fans close to the players they once watched. "Dee sat down with us for probably 15 or 20 minutes talking about some Final Four and some NBA, and I got it all on video so it's better than I expected," Biar said. "I think it's great that they allow us to come out here and walk through the place and see everything and hang out with the players. With it being the first annual I hope it continues, because we'll be back every year." According to Sturdy, the charity event was set up as a tailgate so fans could see firsthand the compassion that Brown and other Illini have for their school, teammates and fans. "I think it was totally a success, because the people that came ... got to see (Brown) one-on-one and see what I see in him, that he's such a nice guy," she said. Champaign, IL Kevin Kaplan Former Illini keep bonds strong The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:3e8ea9c2f373f6dfd09a50ad6bcf8cfa Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:7edf03f83163d27ad1c05141a850a935 2009-07-02T13:55:32-05:00 2009-07-02T13:55:32-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A full-fledged marketing campaign to advertise the Crystal View Townhomes complex now under construction in Urbana will begin as soon there is a clear, concise plan to be able to house individuals, said David Edbrooke, property manager for Ludwig Co., which will manage the new housing complex that will provide affordable housing for low-income individuals in the community. The townhomes are being built on the site of the former Lakeside Terrace public housing project, located on Broadway Avenue and just south of Kerr Avenue. Construction on the townhomes is still in the preliminary stages, as the groundbreaking was in late May. Thus far, everything is on schedule, said Aaron Smith, executive director of the Homestead Corporation, which along with main developer Brinshore Development, LLC is assisting in the development of the complex. Although the full project isnt scheduled to be done until spring 2010, Smith was hopeful that a few units would be ready to live in within two months. We may not make that deadline, but were hoping to try and get at least the first set of units ready to rent by August, Smith said. The 70-unit development will be comprised of 17 buildings, and Smith said construction crews are moving along pretty well, as two buildings are already framed up and enclosed. With that in mind, Edbrooke said the marketing campaign could begin in July. For now, though, Ludwig & Co. has just had interested parties fill out pre-interest cards to get some of the individuals information. They need to get a little further into the construction process so we get definitive dates as to when homes are becoming available, Edbrooke said. When it does come time to fill out formal applications, Edbrooke said it will be first-come, first-serve. He added the estimated 40 to 45 individuals who have already shown preliminary interest will have a chance to rent the new homes assuming, of course, they qualify within the income parameters. The townhomes will be rented out based on an individuals or a familys income level in relation to the median income in the area. A press release stated, The new development will include 35 units affordable to low-income households, 28 units affordable to very low-income households and 7 market-rate rentals. When it does come time to seriously market the townhomes, Edbrooke didnt think thered be much of a problem getting applicants, saying the new homes would be filled very quickly. Smith agreed, in large part because he believes the Crystal Lake townhomes will be a great place for people to live. Its a great location, its right next to Crystal Lake Park, its a really beautiful neighborhood, Smith said. Also, theyre larger three- and four-bedroom units that are affordable (for big families). Champaign, IL Cody Westerlund Crystal View townhomes get underway in north Urbana The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:17cec10e671b521138ee3d5b5e9e4514 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:821e285c628af2b11510bf56253e5d05 2009-07-01T16:57:10-05:00 2009-07-01T16:57:10-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. On March 8, the Illinois baseball team celebrated its biggest series win of the season after taking two of three games at then-No. 1 LSU. On June 24, the LSU baseball team celebrated its biggest series win of the season after taking two of three games against No. 1-seed Texas. There was a big difference in the series wins, though, as the Illinis came early in the regular season and the Tigers came in Omaha, Neb., to secure the national title at the College World Series. So where does the Illinois program stand after a season that saw the Illini win a series over the eventual national champions but finish 34-20 while just missing out on the NCAA Regionals? The LSU series, it showed not only our team, but people across the country that we have improved as a program and we can compete against some of the top teams in the country, Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said. It was just a step in the right direction for us. Delving a little deeper, Hartleb said consistency in hitting, pitching and defense is the most important aspect to go from being a solid program to one that regularly qualifies for postseason play, where anything can happen, if one just looks back to the underdog Fresno State Bulldogs championship run in 2008. We just need to be consistent throughout the year, have that mind set that we should be in the NCAA Tournament on a regular basis, Hartleb said. Hartlebs thoughts are supported by the up-and-down results of the Illini. As the series win over LSU showed, the Illini can compete with anyone in the country. But Illinois also faltered at times against weaker competition during the 2009 season, going 4-5 against smaller out-of-conference opponents in mid-week contests once Big Ten play began. Illinois middle infielder Josh Parr pinpointed something else for the Illini to improve on that is an important characteristic of elite teams. They compose themselves real well, Parr said of the nations top teams. Theres times when I made big mistakes in games (last season). It happens. When you smooth out those things, you can compete at the national level. Hartleb doesnt see much talent discrepancy on the field between his Illini and the college baseball elite, saying, Were very talented, theres a lot of teams across the country that are very talented. However, he did admit teams like LSU often have more depth, in large part because of ethical Big Ten recruiting rules that dont allow its teams to overextend money like other conferences do, he said. The Illini lost three starters Brandon Wikoff, Joe Bonadonna and Dominic Altobelli in Junes First-Year MLB Player Draft. But Hartleb is excited about his incoming recruiting class and believes his team can build on this past season. We have a good group coming in, Hartleb said. I think we have some guys that will have an opportunity, at least talent-wise, to play right away I dont think one person has to replace a specific guy, if everyone hits five points higher and drives in two or three more runs, you replace a person that way. Champaign, IL Cody Westerlund Hartleb reflects on state of Illini baseball The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:74a190a673b9880b825416fd36a44eb3 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:867045e5985e868671d3522565662f72 2009-07-01T12:55:58-05:00 2009-07-01T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Think twice before asking to use a friend's i-card to enter the Activities and Recreation Center this summer. Students registered for at least three hours of classes at the University this summer are covered by the Student Service Fee for entrance into any Campus Recreation facility, but if they are not enrolled in any classes, there's a fee to pay. "If you are not a student during the summer you'd have to pay $78 for a membership from June 15 to August 21," said ARC employee Andrew Dorgan. "I have seen abuse of the i-card with people using their friends in order to get into the ARC." Erik Riha, lead assistant director of marketing said that even though he knows that sharing of the i-cards occurs, there is a penalty if someone is caught in the act. "We know that some people will use their friend's card," Riha said. "If we catch them using a friend's card, the i-card is confiscated and is given to the i-card office. Both the person who used it and the person whose card it is will be temporarily suspended from the Campus Rec facilities." If the card is stolen from its owner, said Riha, it is that person's responsibility to report it as stolen. If it is reported, then they will not be suspended from the facilities and will receive a refund for a new i-card. When someone is found to be using another person's i-card around campus on multiple occasions, they may receive a worse penalty than being suspended from the facilities, said University Police Lt. Roy Acree. "The i-card is viewed as property of the University," said Acree. "If someone is caught using one that is not their own, there will be disciplinary action that is taken. Depending on how many times they had done something like this in the past, it's possible that they could be suspended from the University." Acree said that this type of offense would be directed to the University's Office of Conflict Resolution in order to decide the punished. The Office of Conflict Resolution was unavailable for comment. Along with providing access to Campus Recreation facilities, i-cards also contain access to dining halls. It is also possible to link a TCF Bank debit account to the card. "Students and other owners of these cards have to be aware of the technology that exists," said Acree. "It's essential that someone notifies the authorities whenever they lose or have something stolen. If someone finds a missing wallet, the offender is likely to use it as quickly as possible before a person deactivates it." Champaign, IL Landon Cassman Students face stiff penalties for sharing i-cards The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:dd9902bc56a9d85cdc62c00083ea4871 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:cd9610a1a507cb86516fe061bee6df29 2009-06-30T23:02:54-05:00 2009-06-30T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Samantha White, 6, ran behind a bush and found a wrapper and a fountain drink cup. She picked them up and threw them into her reusable green grocery bag. "I'm trying to collect garbage to help the Earth," White said. White already had six pieces of trash in her bag that she found from scouring the grounds surrounding the Savoy Recreation Center, 402 Graham Dr. She said she hoped to find more trash than the 11 other children roaming around collecting garbage in their reusable bags. White and the other children collecting trash were participating in a contest to see who could find the most garbage littered on the ground. But no matter who had the most in their bag at the end of the search, everyone was a winner. They had all won because they had improved the environment for themselves and for others. This was the concept their instructors, Courtnie Swearingen, a senior at the University, and Julie Zientek, a junior at Eastern Illinois University, said they hoped the children would learn from the day's activity at Go Green Camp, a new summer program at the recreation center aimed at teaching children ages five to 12 how to protect the environment. "I think we're all finally getting to understand the concept that we're ruining our planet," Swearingen said. "If we don't start to take care of it now, who knows what will happen in the next couple of generations." The activities the children participate in at the camp teach them what is good and what is bad for the environment as well as what they can do to save the environment, Swearingen said- and the younger they learn this, the better. "If you can start young I think it's an idea that will grow with kids, and as they get older, they will teach it to their kids and can hopefully get us back on track," Swearingen said. She added that although some of the children were too young to grasp some of the deeper concepts about the environment, there were certain ideas everyone could understand. "We do our best to try to get them at least to get the basics down," Swearingen said." They understand reduce, reuse, recycle." The instructors try to incorporate the "Three R's" as much as possible into the camp's activities, said Kip McDaniel, program director at the recreation center. He said the children made paper mache bowls, personalized bags and plastic bottle crafts all out of recycled materials throughout the week-long camp, which wrapped up on Friday, June 26. A favorite concept among children of all ages was the idea of reusing old materials to make new treasures. "I really like making new creations, period, but I also like using recycled things because they're really good to use," said Mina Projansky, 8 of Urbana. Garret Gauze, 5, said he liked the outdoor activities, like collecting the garbage, but also enjoyed the messy crafts such as the paper mache. "Recycling saves junk and you can make stuff out of it," Gauze said. Dakota Harris, 12, of Savoy said she had been watching environmental channels, and thought it would be nice to learn how she could "go green". "We need to recycle and help pick up, because a lot of stuff can be made out of recycled things," Harris said. McDaniel said while these same concepts will be instilled, new activities will be incorporated into the second session of the camp. "We don't like to do the same things over and over again, we like to throw out new ideas, new imagination to the kids to help them learn more," McDaniel said. The second session will run from July 27 through July 31 and still has spaces available, McDaniel said. The registration deadline is July 20, and the cost of the camp is $42 for residents and $55 for non-residents. McDaniel said the creation of Go Green Camp was in response to parent feedback about wanting to teach their children to help the environment, and in collaboration with a larger effort on the part of the recreation center to go green. He said even small efforts such as keeping a scrap paper bin and turning off lights when leaving a room can make a contribution to the green effort, and encouraging these habits early on will make a difference for the future. "We need to make them know at a younger age if you can help out our environment, it will help us out in the long run," McDaniel said. Champaign, IL Erica Yuenger Program teaches importance of protecting the environment, recycling The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:00e0110785e648e8fdcb880c86d0f014 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:7d9092b04ab5226f4af4431079dc0070 2009-06-30T23:02:01-05:00 2009-06-30T12:20:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The "ultra fast" rail service would run from Chicago to St. Louis, cutting the travel time between the two major Midwest cities to just over two hours. It currently takes about five hours to make the trip via train. The rail line would run through Kankakee, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur and Springfield. It would also put Champaign-Urbana within one hour and 14 minutes of St. Louis. "220 miles per hour is one of the most important investments in downstate Illinois we can make," Illinois Senator Michael Frerichs (D-Champaign) said in a press release. "Better connections to St. Louis and Chicago is what downstate needs to grow our economy." Rick Harnish, executive director of MHSRA, said his organization wanted to show it was possible to have a high speed rail service through Illinois. He said the next step is for Gov. Pat Quinn to request federal funds to do an alternative analysis study. Harnish said he hopes Quinn will make such a request sometime in July. Harnish also warned this is a long-term project, which is why "we need to get started now," he said. The proposal was in a MHSRA study. Champaign, IL Cody Westerlund 'Ultra fast' rail service through Champaign proposed The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:7cf91b300ff3ecef82c59dd47b89253a Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:3fda647c061b817cc0a7f0721062ab43 2009-06-30T23:00:38-05:00 2009-06-30T15:56:18-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. : "Phone service to the central part of the campus has been degraded. It is suspected that this is due to a buildup of moisture in the phone cable conduit. The moisture is believed to be the result of issues with underground steam facilities and is not weather related. The impacted area is approximately south of Green Street, west of Lincoln Avenue, north of Gregory Drive and east of Fifth Street and includes both the Henry Administration Building and the Swanlund Administration Building. CITES staff is working with Facilities & Services and AT&T to resolve the phone problems as soon as possible. Phone calls to the affected areas are going through but you may experience poor connection quality (e.g., static on the line or an abundance of background noise). To report a problem, please contact CITES Customer Service at 333-1161. At the present time, we do not have an estimate about when phone service in the affected area will be restored to normal. Please check CITES Status of Services for on-going updates: http://status.cites.uiuc.edu/index.cgi" Champaign, IL Erica Yuenger Phone service to central campus 'degraded' The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:c2d2db7da651df36ea69da7bee48304b Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:099002d3dc39bddae08b7ab9642d993b 2009-06-30T22:50:57-05:00 2009-06-29T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Those who attended the first Dee Brown Tailgate in Rochester, Ill. on Saturday had the opportunity to play cards with Jerrance Howard and Rich McBride, bid on a pair of Derek Fisher's shoes and play bags and basketball against Dee Brown himself. The first of what could be an annual event was just a part of Brown's goal of giving back to his community. "A lot of things that we're going to do, a lot of things that I've done, are strictly for the kids and letting them know that we are trying to better our community and have more kids go to college, more kids see the life that I'm seeing. To do that, you've got to reach out and help," Brown said. The purpose of the tailgate was to raise money for the CB and JT Family Foundation, a non-profit organization started by Brown's mom Cathy and her cousin Judith Thomas. The organization's goal is to build a youth center in Chicago. "We want to give our youths in Chicago a chance to do something," Cathy said. "I think sports are good, because kids watch too much television, they really do. So we're going to make it a sports center, but other things (as well) ... Some kids don't even know you got to apply to go to college. They actually don't know that. So they don't write applications, they don't know to prepare themselves." Cathy stresses the importance of education, but not necessarily the kind that kids learn in school. That is why the center, which has become her main pursuit, would primarily act as a resource for youth. "They can prepare themselves in their freshman year. They don't have to wait until senior year. Say 'Look, I want to look at Illinois,' and they (would) know what the expectations are in their freshman year," Cathy said. According to Cathy, the center would not act solely as a resource for academic information. Mentoring youths about issues such as teen parenting is another point of emphasis for Cathy. "Shame to say, there's a lot of young teenagers out there that get pregnant, and parenting is hard. So, we want to have a center where we have people coming in, talk to others that are more knowledgeable of things, and also have somewhere to go besides stand on the corners," she said. Teresa Sturdy, who hosted the tailgate at her house, said that Cathy's work ethic brought them together as friends. The two met at an Illinois basketball game. "The first time I met her, we were talking about different things and I saw that she was a workaholic like I am," Sturdy said. "She's really motivated and I think that's why I like her, because she's a hard worker and she's done so much just to have her son be where he's at. I mean, she had three jobs at one time just to get her son to be ... in those (league) tournaments." While the Browns stress the importance of college academically, Dee loved his time as a student-athlete as well. While many young high-profile players today consider skipping college and playing basketball overseas to transition to the NBA, Brown, who is coming off a stretch playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, would not trade his time at Illinois. "I played for a great program, great organization, so if you pick your right school you don't have to go overseas, but the money's right," Brown said. "I can't tell an individual not to go make money ... but for me, I got a great education, I got a degree, close to getting my masters, so I'll tell a kid to do what's best for you in your situation." Brown said he's about 30 hours away from his Masters degree. "Once you get into the real world, bills start coming in and you become a dad, (and) you start getting far behind or caught up in living the adult life instead of focusing on school," he said. "I'll go back eventually, you know, knock the 30 hours out. I promised my mom I'd get my masters, but I got my bachelors. That's the first step." In the meantime, Brown is still pursuing a career in the NBA while giving back to his community and helping his mom create the center that has become a focus for her. When asked what she'll do once the center is actually built, Cathy's answer was simple. "I'm working at it, definitely," she said. Champaign, IL Kevin Kaplan Fans get close to Dee Brown, Illini players at 1st Tailgate The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:41de90c717ed710bbfc3e3a37b5f430a Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:a204bab63f530adbc128aa99ea7c24c3 2009-06-30T22:48:00-05:00 2009-06-29T23:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Initially hoping for at least a solid top ten finish at the meet, Bizzarri's chances to move up increased before the race even started, according to Illinois distance coach Jeremy Rasmussen. "I think there were three or four really good girls who just decided to run a different race at the championships, so it opened the field up a little bit," Rasmussen said. "We didn't really know until the start of the race who was running in it." That's not to say the competition proved easy to overcome. The top 14 competitors all ran faster than Bizzarri's NCAA title time of 16 minutes, 17.94 seconds, and the top six beat her previous personal-best of 15:37.39. Kara Goucher of Nike won the race in 15:20.94, while Bizzarri timed 15:33.02. According to Rasmussen, the high-quality field is exactly what Bizzarri was hoping for. "For her, getting in to a race like this, you hope it will be faster," he said. "Anytime that Angela goes out there, she competes well, and if the race is fast, she runs fast." Bizzarri herself said that if she can stay with the pack, she's confident in her ability to finish strong - and that's what happened in Eugene. As the race began to separate, she slowly but surely moved past individual runners - eventually edging out the fourth and fifth place finishers around the final 400 meters. "I always just try to stick with the group, because I knew if I was anywhere near the front (toward the end of the race) I'd definitely be right on top," Bizzarri said. But while Bizzarri did finish towards the top, she fell short of hitting the 'B' standard (15:25.00) to qualify for this year's World Championships in Berlin, Germany. To qualify, USA athletes must both finish in the top three in their event at the USA Championships and hit the standard. Rasmussen said that although the pace started out where he wanted it, tactics started taking over towards the middle and it slowed down, and "as far as (Bizzarri) running really fast, kind of out the door." Bizzarri must now decide whether or not she will run another race to try and hit the 'B' standard, therefore assuring a trip to Berlin. "We've been talking about it. We think we're going to go out and try to find (another) meet and get her in the 5k," Rasmussen said. According to Rasmussen, Bizzarri will have little time before her next race. If it happens it will most likely be within the next two weeks. And it may not be on her home soil. "There's not a whole lot of meets left in the States so she might have to go overseas," Rasmussen said. But after a collegiate season where Bizzarri won both a Big Ten and NCAA title in the 5k, Rasmussen stressed that she has nothing to prove. "If she's able to get (the standard) great, if not, she had a great season and she can hold her head high for sure," he said. Champaign, IL Kevin Kaplan Bizzarri gets 3rd place at USA Championships The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:654f44bbdf1894d0d1ab934282e9444e Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:d4b50f7402c46601d0d3291e5b2b5233 2009-06-30T22:46:36-05:00 2009-06-29T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Admissions Review Commission uncovered additional "clout list" related e-mails on Thursday, further promulgating the University's admissions controversy. Gov. Pat Quinn formed the Admissions Review Commission to investigate the Chicago Tribune's allegations that University officials have been admitting certain applicants based on political connections rather than merit. When the commission was formed the University pledged to fully cooperate with all of the Commissions requests. "The Commission will have access to everybody and everything it needs to conduct its work," said President B. Joseph White in a statement. Despite this pledge, the commission recently discovered that one set of e-mails was concealed, said Abner Mikva, chair of the Admissions Review Commission. On Thursday the University released this last batch of e-mails to the public. They contained conversations between Chancellor Herman and Heidi Hurd, dean of the College of Law, among other admissions officials. Several conversations speak of admitting "Special Admits" despite the fact that some of these candidates GPAs and test scores were below the medians and special admissions requests were frequently discussed. In an e-mail from Paul Pless, associate dean for the College of Law, to Dean Hurd in March of 2007, Pless wrote, "We currently have admitted 6 SI (special interest) applicants for the Class of 2010. These all came from high profile donors of the College. While all six have LSATs below the median and four have GPAs below the median, overall they would have fit the profile of the College's entering class 3 years ago with an average LSAT of 162 and GPA of 3.6." The majority of the e-mails focus on the College of Law applicants. "We don't know of others at this time. I hope this is a limited occurrence, but it is still very troubling," Mikva said. The relationship between Chancellor Herman, Dean Hurd and the other players is still unclear. It remains to be seen whether officials were acting on higher orders or by their own accord, Mikva said. Both Herman and Hurd will be asked to appear before the commission, Mikva added. The commission heard from Keith Marshall, assistant provost for enrollment management, earlier this month. Marshall was reportedly uncomfortable with admissions process. "Clearly pressure was being put on him from within and out of the university," Mikva said. "Now we have to go to the higher ups he reported to." The commission has limited time to evaluate the process; its 60 day limitation began when the group was formed, on June 10. The official schedule for the proceedings is set to be scheduled on Monday. In this span of time they hope to uncover any corrupt behavior, Mikva said. "Exposing all this and making it transparent will make it clear that these are aberrations and they are not acceptable behavior," Mikva said. "The University is taking steps to make sure this doesn't happen again." Ultimately, the Commission's goal is to resolve the controversy. "Unfortunately Illinois has a way of getting in these quagmires in an excess," Mikva said. "Our goal is to help the University clear its name." Admitted students may not be invested in the controversy, but it has an all-encompassing effect, Mikva added. "Anything that helps or hurts the University or graduate schools directly affects the students, the alumni and the future students," he said. Champaign, IL Bridget Mulcahy University releases last of 'clout list' related e-mails The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:f93377eb0523ea6a0cb96d6b7c780f59 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:a955b8f113af8711cf8fcf9ffcc6e681 2009-06-30T22:45:57-05:00 2009-06-26T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. With the economic crisis and unemployment rates rising in the area, Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) has lowered the annual pass rate from $235 to $60 to ensure that mass transit remains affordable. The MTD's Board of Trustees met on Wednesday to discuss the FY2010 budget. Along with lowering the annual pass rate, the Board also discontinued high school and younger school passes as well as seasonal passes. According to a MTD press release, these revisions are being adopted on a one-year trial period, but depending on the outcome, at the end of the year the Board will consider making these changes permanent. "We're hoping that it's very successful," said Tom Costello, assistant ,managing director of C-UMTD. The student fee is separate, however. MTD consults with the University Board of Trustees to set the price. The student price for next year will be $38.00. The affordability of this pass may encourage students to purchase them, Costello said. "We think were going to sell quite a few of these," he added. One benefit of the bus system's availability and newly lowered rate is that it many students become comfortable with riding a bus and take that skill with them when they graduate, Costello said. MTD was able to lower annual pass rates because Illinois' mass transit subsidy increased. "The increase in state subsidy was pretty significant," said Willard Broom, MTD board chairman. This also allowed MTD to make price cuts without cutting revenues. "The loss in fares is made up by the state subsidy," Broom added. According to the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), the economy has had a negative effect on mass transit, especially in Chicago. Chicago's current combined shortfall from Transit Authority, Metra and Pace is approximately $61 million. RTA attributed this gap to reduced collections of sales and real estate transfer tax. Additionally, the American Public Transportation Association cited that more than 80 percent of U.S. transit agencies are encountering falling revenues. The state subsidy will aid C-U MTD in combating falling revenues, but it remains to be seen if the state subsidy will continue and what effect it will have on the their permanent policy and rates. "We'll just cross that bridge if and when we come to it," Broom added. Champaign, IL Bridget Mulcahy MTD lowers rates, makes passes more affordable to community The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:55b631a083678b1748313493a183a42b Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:a0a619a7cff94aab25a967120e6046b3 2009-06-30T22:43:58-05:00 2009-06-26T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The University of Illinois Board of Trustees Executive Committee approved a 2.6 percent tuition increase Wednesday for incoming fall 2009 freshmen. The increase is less than the original proposal of 4 percent that was to be voted on. The meeting in Chicago was a special session and some called in via teleconference. It was held because officials and executive committee board chairman Niranjan Shah in particular decided families of incoming students should not have to wait until July when the next regular Board of Trustee meeting is scheduled to find out tuition prices. Mike Lillich, assistant director in the Office for University Relations, said the reason the tuition vote came so late was because of the Illinois state budget, which has yet to be finalized. "With all the political turmoil, there hasn't been a (state) budget bill passed yet," Lillich said. "There is a budget bill that is a 1.1 percent increase to the University from the state. That's passed, but the governor hasn't signed it. There's been a lot of uncertainty ... with the budget in particular." Typically, tuition is voted on in March with all the Board of Trustees members present to vote. But Wednesday's meeting, which was deemed an emergency matter, gave three trustees Shah, Frances Carroll and Robert Vickrey the power to act for the full board. Trustee David Dorris and student trustees Craig McFarland and Elias Pittos all argued in favor of a no tuition increase during the teleconference. After "vigorous discussion," Carroll proposed an amended item calling for the 2.6 percent increase, which was voted on unanimously by the three-member executive committee. Randy Kangas, the assistant vice president for planning and budgeting at the University of Illinois, acknowledged that it's "very difficult" to plan a budget and set tuition prices when the state budget is not yet approved and the University does not have an appropriation bill from the state. When asked if a tuition freeze was possible from a budgeting standpoint, Kangas said, "Anything is possible," but added that such a freeze would increase the re-allocation of funds and affect the quality of programs and units. With the increase, tuition for incoming freshmen at the Urbana-Champaign campus will cost $121 more per semester and a full year will now cost $9,484. That price is locked in for four years. Freshmen still must pay more than $8,600 for room and board, which was increased by about 5 percent in January. This year's 2.6 percent tuition increase pales in comparison to the 2008-09 increase of 9.5 percent, but Lillich said it was still necessary. "Costs go up," Lillich said. "You need to be competitive in professors' salaries, or they get poached by other universities for more money. Even in times like these, you still have some inflation." Kangas said he did not know what the extra money from increased tuition would go toward, adding funds would likely be re-allocated once all state funding was finalized. Neither University of Illinois President B. Joseph White nor University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Richard Herman was present at the meeting or joined in Wednesday's teleconference. Lillich said White usually attends executive committee meetings but had a conflict Wednesday. University chancellors usually attend executive committee meetings when there is a matter pertaining solely to their university branch, Lillich said. White and Herman did not learn of the 2.6 percent increase until it had already been voted on and approved. Nevertheless, White was pleased in a press release statement. "In my discussion with state legislators about operating funds for 2009-10, I said we would do our best to minimize as much as possible this year's tuition increase for students and their families," White said. "The more modest tuition increase for 2009-10 will help us maintain academic excellence and increase financial aid." Champaign, IL Cody Westerlund Tuition rate set for incoming freshmen The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:42f968aed18eef0d52fb31dee10ea5a1 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:d1c8c1308444395b00825df847dfb0f1 2009-06-30T22:41:57-05:00 2009-06-30T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Earlier this month, we gave our support to an Illinois income tax increase to restore crucial funding to social services. Unfortunately, we could easily run a piece with the same sentiments today because Governor Quinn and the state legislature have made no progress on the budget since that time. While food pantries, homeless shelters, and state agencies struggle to plan for a fiscal year that is so far only half-funded, Quinn and legislative leaders are stuck in yet another round of negotiations about the budget. Both the Governor and the Legislature need to act now to resolve the budget crisis and give state-funded programs a sense of certainty about their future. On Monday, the House and Senate both adjourned after meeting for only a few minutes. The governor spent the rest of the day with lawmakers to garner support for his tax hike proposals. We did not elect lawmakers to go to Washington, sit around for a few minutes and leave without doing their jobs. The stubbornness of both sides has taken the place of substantive action, keeping state-funded programs around the state in limbo. According to the Associated Press, the earliest a vote on budgetary proposals would be next Tuesday, which is the last day of the fiscal year. Procrastination is, as always the wrong way to go.Time is running out for Quinn and the Legislature to fix a budget that is sorely lacking. The budget passed by lawmakers at the end of May has a $9.2 billion deficit and, in its current form, entails 50 percent funding cuts to social services. Stubbornness on both sides is to blame for the current impasse. While political tensions are high in Springfield, it's time for our lawmakers to put aside their petty issues and put the people of Illinois first for once. The Legislature hastily adjourned at the end of May and hastily dumped an unbalanced budget in the Governor's lap, and Quinn has yet to find his footing on a counterproposal. With both sides unable to compromise, the people furthest removed from this political power drama­­-occupied with the day to day needs of keeping food on their tables and a roof over their heads-will pay the price. The governor and some legislators continue to emphasize their commitment to restoring the social cuts. Republican legislators insist that solutions can be found through spending cuts, but no one has demonstrated that they care enough to take the initiative. It's time that both sides put their words into action. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Editorial Board Ill. officials must take action to pass state budget The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:e317f8e550a112aa3947547bc7c83fa9 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:3634fd2950514cfc1de21ac36c221815 2009-06-30T22:40:15-05:00 2009-06-30T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Beginning July 1, the University Police Department will charge a fee for fingerprint services upon request. When a person comes in to request a fingerprint, it will cost $5 for University students and $16 for non-University residents. "We've been providing fingerprint services for some time without any charges," said Cheryl Johnson support services coordinator for the Division of Public Safety. "If someone needs fingerprints either for a job or some other purpose, we will do it. The fingerprints we take will not be kept on file. The fingerprint card will just be in the hands of the person who requested it." Johnson said that other police departments in the area, such as the Urbana Police Department, offer such services for a similar fee. Those who apply for University positions such as a security guard, continued Johnson, are not required to pay the fee. There are a handful of jobs which would require an applicant to provide a fingerprint for their background check, said Gail S. Rooney, director of the University Career Center. "There may be a change in the future, but as of now, jobs dealing with security and safety or anything confidential would require a in-depth background check," said Rooney. "More and more jobs may be using it to protect the unit from any liability. If the job involves children or is harmful, a fingerprint usually is included in the application process." Although the fingerprints that are requested from the different police departments are not kept in their own records, departments use their own fingerprint database to help in tracking down crime suspects. "The department uses the AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) all of the time for investigations," said Urbana Police Department evidence technician John Lockard. "The fingerprints are most effective in burglaries, car thefts and residential thefts." On Friday, fingerprints led to the arrest of a man who was involved in an Urbana residential burglary in January of this year, said Lockard. "Fingerprints and DNA are the biggest breakthrough that had ever happened for police investigations," said Lockard. "They have been essential in arresting many suspects all over." Champaign, IL Landon Cassman UI police to charge fee for fingerprints The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:bd988b0e7b1fdfeb2f7f883fd067887b Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:7ca1e24e53227cd7dd9a67268ab11608 2009-06-30T22:38:15-05:00 2009-07-01T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Champaign A 37-year-old man was arrested at the 1300 block of Honeysuckle Lane, Sunday night. According to the police report, the man was arrested on charges of operating an uninsured motor vehicle and having an in-state warrant in his name. A 29-year-old man was arrested at the 900 block of West Maple Street, Sunday night. According to the police report, the man was arrested on charges of battery. A 21-year-old woman was arrested at the 1600 block of West Springfield Avenue, early Saturday morning. According to the police report, the woman was arrested for driving without a license during a traffic stop. A 50-year-old man was arrested at the intersection of First Street and Springfield Avenue, June 22. According to the police report, the man was arrested for driving with a suspended license during a traffic stop. A 19-year-old man was arrested at the 00 block of East University Avenue, Saturday afternoon. According to the police report, the man was arrested on an in-state warrant. Residential burglary was reported at the 200 block of East Daniel Street, early Tuesday morning. According to the police report, an unknown offender entered the residence and took a beer pong trophy. A 34-year-old man was arrested at the 600 block of Bradley Avenue, Saturday night. According to the police report, the man was arrested on charges of unnecessary vehicular noise, driving with a revoked license and driving without insurance. Urbana Theft was reported near Kerr and Cunningham Avenue, Monday afternoon. According to the police report, a women's Schwinn bike was stolen. Burglary from a motor vehicle was reported at the 110 block of East Pennsylvania, Sunday night. According to the police report, an unknown offender took the victim's wallet out of his unlocked vehicle. University A 20-year-old woman was arrested at the intersection of Green Street and Lincoln Avenue, early Monday morning. According to the police report, the woman was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and breath alcohol over the legal limit. A 23-year-old man was arrested at the 1500 block of Lincolnwood Drive, Monday night. According to the police report, the man was arrested on charges of possession of a stolen motor vehicle. He is accused of stealing a van belonging to the University. Theft was reported at the English Building, 608 S. Wright St., sometime between 3 p.m. June 12 and 7 a.m. June 22. According to the police report, a portable oxy-acetylene torch worth $300 was stolen. Compiled by Melissa Silverberg Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff Daily Illini Article 227461 The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:820d7297223d5e401166cb6cbfd53b1f Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:de48a5367a1bdaf974f690ac5a689ad2 2009-06-30T22:14:28-05:00 2009-07-01T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Earlier this month, the US Department of Energy announced plans to appropriate one billion for FutureGen, a Mattoon-based clean energy project put on hold by the Bush administration. FutureGen is a public-private partnership to develop a coal burning power plant in which carbon emissions would be sequestered underground and is expected to provide significant economic benefits for the area. We applaud the Obama administration for committing support to this economically and environmentally valuable project. In 2007, the Department of Energy gave tentative approval to funding for FutureGen before rescinding the project for what it called cost overruns, but some observers thought instead it was favoritism for a site in Texas. The project sat idle for the last year and a half before being revived as part of the Obama's administration sustainability initiatives. Under current plans, the plant would be designed initially to capture 60 percent of carbon emissions, with 90 percent retention possible in the future. Cleaner sources of energy are a crucial part of fighting climate change, and FutureGen is a significant step in this direction. FutureGen would also test other energy-saving technologies for use in commercial plants in the future. Research and innovation are a necessary part of moving the US towards more sustainable sources of energy. FutureGen represents an environmentally sustainable way of using a resource Illinois already has in abundance. The plant is expected to employ around 150 people once it is up and running. Construction is expected to bring around 1,300 jobs to the area, as well as generating secondary jobs and tax revenue. Mattoon is sorely in need of an economic engine, having faced unemployment rates as high as 13 percent in the past, and dwindled from 20,000 to 18,000 residents as people left to seek jobs elsewhere. FutureGen is a worthy investment in restoring jobs and confidence in an economically suffering area. Unfortunately, the project isn't out of the woods yet. Two partners in the project, American Electric Power and Southern Co., recently withdrew citing cuts in their own budgets. The entire project carries a price tag of $2.1 billion, leaving $1.1 billion in additional funding needed after the federal appropriation. The Department of Energy has done their job. Now energy firms need to step forward with an investment in clean energy and jobs for Illinois. FutureGen is a perfect example of how sustainability and increased employment can go hand in hand. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Editorial Board FutureGen a crucial step toward sustainable energy The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:019876c43e8893dbb2d1cbbac77eb59b Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:e450125fdf45073a72dec0cac30c9b61 2009-06-30T21:56:12-05:00 2009-07-01T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. WASHINGTON - It looks like catfish, it tastes like catfish, and it acts like catfish. But to U.S. catfish farmers, the whiskered, bottom-feeding fish from Vietnam is something else: a cheap variety that's usurping the humble catfish's place on Americans' tables and threatening their livelihoods. So after years of arguing that the Vietnamese fish isn't catfish - and winning a federal law saying as much - the U.S. farmers are now trying to have it both ways. Under their latest lobbying strategy, they want the Vietnamese imports considered catfish so that they will be covered by a new inspections regime that they pushed through Congress last year. The move - an example of how influential industries work their will in Congress - could block Vietnamese imports for years and risks a broader trade war. If the Obama administration signs off on the plan, the fish that's long been a staple of Southern cooking could unravel years of improving relations between the U.S. and its former enemy. The inspections feud is the latest in a long-running battle between a $400 million domestic farm sector that raises catfish in ponds across the Mississippi Delta and a burgeoning industry in Vietnam, where fish are raised in ponds and cages along the Mekong River. The U.S. industry - mostly located in Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas - has had a string of successes on Capitol Hill and in Southern legislatures. Along with winning frequent federal aid, it pushed a labeling law through Congress in 2002 that forced the Vietnamese fish to be sold in the United States under unfamiliar names such as pangasius, basa or tra. A year later, it won an antidumping case authorizing tariffs of up to 64 percent on the Vietnamese fish. The southern states where most catfish farming is done now require restaurants to disclose where their fish was raised. Despite that, the value of Vietnamese imports jumped from $13 million in 1999 to $77 million last year, according to the Commerce Department. Over the same period, U.S. production fell from $488 million to $410 million. The inspections requirement could be the U.S. producers' silver bullet, stopping imports in their tracks. Applying to all catfish sold in the U.S., it would require Vietnam to establish a complicated inspection system and demonstrate that it is equivalent to U.S. inspections, a process that could take years. Last year, the industry convinced catfish-state lawmakers led by Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., to slip the inspection requirement into the massive farm bill. Seafood typically is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, which administers spot inspections that are relatively easy for foreign countries to participate in. Cochran's provision singles out catfish as the only seafood to be regulated by the Agriculture Department, which traditionally oversees only beef, pork and poultry products. The law leaves it up to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to define what species would fall under the "catfish" definition, and that has triggered a furious lobbying campaign. Vilsack's decision is expected soon, but a draft recommendation obtained by The Associated Press calls for the Vietnamese pangasius to be covered. Vietnamese officials say such a move would add insult to injury. Their "catfish" industry employs some 1 million people and accounts for more than 2 percent of the country's economy. Calling the inspections a backdoor tariff, the government is hinting at consequences for U.S exports to Vietnam. "For the U.S. to now reverse itself to prevent Vietnamese product from entering the market appears to developing nations hypocritical," Vietnam's ambassador to the U.S., Le Cong Phung, wrote in a letter to U.S. lawmakers. Such a decision, he wrote, could "significantly impact the bilateral relations between Vietnam and the United States." Others such as Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., are getting involved, worried that their states' interests might get caught in the crossfire. Vietnam is now the third-largest export market for U.S. beef. The Catfish Farmers of America, the industry's leading trade group, declined to discuss the inspections, saying they didn't want to speak publicly as Vilsack weighs his ruling. But in various forums, the industry has argued that the new inspections would prevent scares like those involving lead-tainted toys or poisonous dog food that could damage the image of their product. The industry has pointed out that the FDA inspects only around 2 percent of seafood imports and that a better system is needed to keep banned chemicals out of the U.S. They also point to cases in which importers have been caught selling pangasius under false names and avoiding tariffs. Cochran, the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, also declined to be interviewed. His office instead issued a statement saying that catfish farmers approached Congress about improving safety after recent food scares and that the new inspections will benefit consumers. Critics, including U.S. distributors who buy the Vietnamese fish, say the safety argument is a red herring. "If there's really a belief that farm-raised fish needs more inspections, then why not all farmed fish? Why not tilapia? Why not salmon?" said Matt Fass, president of Maritime Products International, a Virginia-based distributor. The real reason, he said, is money. "It will benefit a small number of what I would call domestic catfish kingpins," he said. "The less farm-raised fish that can be imported into this country, the more they can sell theirs for." Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff THE INFLUENCE GAME: Catfish plan risks trade war The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:a286be2b8cb6de66943d8025b3fa7e33 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:bb62ab2477820a322c1841eaa693b343 2009-06-30T12:22:01-05:00 2009-06-30T12:09:04-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The "ultra fast" rail service would run from Chicago to St. Louis, cutting the travel time between the two major Midwest cities to just over two hours. It currently takes about five hours to make the trip via train. The rail line would run through Kankakee, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur and Springfield. It would also put Champaign-Urbana within one hour and 14 minutes of St. Louis. "220 miles per hour is one of the most important investments in downstate Illinois we can make," Illinois Senator Michael Frerichs (D-Champaign) said in a press release. "Better connections to St. Louis and Chicago is what downstate needs to grow our economy." Rick Harnish, executive director of MHSRA, said his organization wanted to show it was possible to have a high speed rail service through Illinois. He said the next step is for Gov. Pat Quinn to request federal funds to do an alternative analysis study. Harnish said he hopes Quinn will make such a request sometime in July. Harnish also warned this is a long-term project, which is why "we need to get started now," he said. The proposal was in a MHSRA study. Champaign, IL Cody Westerlund High-speed rail service through Champaign proposed The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:2704910c10c56a7b11432fb3c698f10c Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:ad9106b2c43703a9a01ca4893b436ac6 2009-06-29T22:23:14-05:00 2009-06-29T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. NORMAL, Ill. - When Toshiba went looking for the everyday ways people use laptop computers for an advertising campaign, it decided to focus on two towns whose names scream run of the mill. Normal, meet Boring. Boring, Ore., that is. Toshiba plans to film a handful of people in each city. Normal is in central Illinois' flatlands while Boring is near Portland. Toshiba plans a July 27 online contest to decide which town wins $15,000 worth of laptops for its local school district. Beyond that, Toshiba is mostly mum on its plans for the towns with ho-hum names. It won't say which locals it picked to concentrate on. Or just how normal or boring they are. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff Toshiba pits Normal against Boring in ad plans The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:663cbae89ccfbb0ab05119a672fb1b9e Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:5cea122812d5d1c8a56941a50182e559 2009-06-29T22:22:44-05:00 2009-06-26T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. An age restriction barring admission of younger students to the University of Illinois may soon become obsolete. Senate Bill 263, sponsored by State Sen. Michael Frerichs, recently passed unanimously in the Senate and with only a single nay vote in the House. The legislation was sent to Gov. Pat Quinn for approval, but has not yet been signed. If approved, the bill will require the University to remove the minimum age restriction from its admission policy. Current guidelines state that applicants must be at least 15 years of age at the time of desired enrollment. No other four-year public university in Illinois has this restriction. Frerichs stated in an e-mail that he introduced the legislation after meeting with Kelsey Caetano-Anolles, a young applicant who was initially denied admission to the University. After graduating high school at an age when most of her peers were just entering as freshmen, Caetano-Anolles applied for admission to the University, where her father is a professor of crop sciences. She was turned down, not because of her academic performance, but because she was not yet 15. "After meeting with her, I could tell that she was academically, mentally and socially prepared to enter into college," Frerichs said in the email. So Frerichs moved forward with the legislation and, earlier this year, Caetano-Anolles provided testimony to the State Senate's Higher Education Committee. "It was unfair that students were blocked by this troublesome legislation discriminating against young students with a lot of potential to pursue studies at their institution of choice here in Illinois," Caetano-Anolles said. "Age should have never been a factor in the selection process of U of I students, and that is the reason this legislation needed to be eradicated." While Caetano-Anolles acknowledged that there have been some concerns about younger students' maturity levels and their ability to cope with the pressures of college life, she suggested that the University could implement an interview process to evaluate students on those rare occasions. Now 15-years-old, Caetano-Anolles, is currently enrolled at the University and is pursuing degrees in both political science and psychology. Though the road for her has not been easy, she is optimistic that the new bill will prevent other young prospective University students from facing the same challenges she did. Mike Lillich, assistant director of the Office for University Relations, said the University is also backing the new legislation. "We supported the bill because it was an antiquated provision, and it only applied to the U of I," Lillich said. "Our admission policy is to admit the best qualified applicants." Champaign, IL CARRIE MARLETT, Contributing Writer Age restriction for admission to U of I may soon be eliminated The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:b32a0e6fda31ee75a103500e772d1ac3 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:89677c45e81283ed26c4ffbca91b6eb9 2009-06-29T22:21:45-05:00 2009-06-26T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Plans to develop a "clean coal" research project in Mattoon, Ill., previously killed under the Bush administration, were recently resuscitated. On June 12, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the FutureGen Industrial Alliance, Inc., agreed to move into the next phase of planning and development for the FutureGen coal-fueled power plant. According to Phil Bloomer, spokesperson for Congressman Tim Johnson, the project has received widespread support from the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation. He added that both U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Congressman Johnson worked together to keep the project alive for several years. Bloomer said the project was important to Johnson because the FutureGen plant is the first of its kind, it would boost both local and state economies, and offer an alternative to Middle Eastern oil. "It's going to be great for clean energy, fuel independence and the creation of jobs," Bloomer said. According to information on the FutureGen Alliance's Web site, construction alone could create approximately 600-700 jobs. Once operational, the plant could potentially support a permanent workforce of more than 100 employees. And with a project of this size, one or two additional spin-off jobs are expected for each new job created. Fred Gottheil, an economics professor at the University of Illinois, said in an e-mail that the project should result in positive, long-run effects on national income. But not only would the economy be stronger, our atmosphere would be healthier too. Christina Mulka, Press Secretary for Sen. Durbin, said one reason the senator had invested so much time fighting for the project over the past five years was because of the impact the FutureGen plant could have on the environment. "Senator Durbin supports the technology," Mulka said. "He believes in cleaner, more efficient energy." According to the FutureGen Alliance, the goal is to design and construct a commercial-scale power plant capable of capturing up to 90 percent of harmful carbon dioxide emissions and burying those pollutants thousands of feet below Earth's surface. Because of its innovative nature, the Mattoon plant would primarily serve as a research and development facility, testing advanced technologies with the purpose of producing clean, affordable energy. If successful, other power companies may follow suit and eventually be capable of providing this type of electricity at competitive prices. Of course, contemporary projects such as FutureGen are rarely accomplished without risk. The cost to build the plant and implement the carbon capture and sequestration technology is currently estimated at $1.5 billion. Since FutureGen is a public-private partnership between Alliance members - consisting of twelve of the world's leading private energy companies - and the DOE, expenses will be shared. Since Alliance members intend to contribute nearly $400 million each, the financial risk for each company is significant. However, while plans for FutureGen are progressing, Mulka says the project is still in the early planning stages and the decision has not yet been made about whether it will actually be completed. That will not be determined until more cost estimates and additional studies are done. "We expect to know more by early 2010," Mulka said. Champaign, IL Carrie Marlett, Contributing Writer FutureGen project moves to next phase of planning The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:7b93e5f6737b062ac280b16064851446 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:c8ab75d2751205afe03e1e70c840ff97 2009-06-29T22:15:14-05:00 2009-06-29T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Sunday marked the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which was the beginning of an unsung civil rights movement in American history: the gay rights movement. The police raid at a gay bar in New York's Greenwich Village called the Stonewall Inn in the early hours of June 28, 1969, put the rights of gay Americans into the limelight. But forty years later, even after significant changes in cultural attitudes, equal rights for gay people is not a prominent issue on the state or national political agenda. In fact, a civil unions bill was proposed in Illinois during the spring legislative session but was not voted on. We urge leaders in Illinois and around the country to make equal rights for all people regardless of sexual orientation a priority. Polls show support for civil unions in Illinois to be around 60 percent. The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act was re-referred to the House Rules Committee at the end of the last legislative session as budgetary matters took center stage, even though infighting between legislative leaders and the governor took the place of substantive deliberations. While lack of a well-planned budget will debilitate the state governmet, lack of equal rights for the people of Illinois hurts the citizens and disables their trust and faith in govenment. The lawmakers in Illinois cannot continue to put issues of fundamental civil rights on the back burner. We urge the sponsors of this bill to reintroduce it in the fall and hope lawmakers will finally address this baseless source of inequality. The Illinois Legislature and Congress lag sorely behind society in recognition of gay rights issues. Seventy five percent of Americans support repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, and 63 percent support civil unions. During his campaign, President Barack Obama promised to end "don't ask, don't tell," and to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and woman. So far, the president has yet to act on either of these goals. Some observers speculate that President Obama's reluctance stems from a desire to not see his own health care proposal "sabotaged" by the controversy over the same-sex marriage debate. But basic civil rights for gay Americans have taken a backseat to supposedly more pressing issues for far too long. The president should fulfill his campaign promises and his commitment to equality by putting gay rights on the national agenda. While Illinois residents, gay rights supporters and even Gov. Quinn took part in the festivities of the Gay Pride Parade in Chicago on Sunday, the reality of the situation is not as festive. It's time for Springfield and Washington to understand the importance of these reforms for gay citizens and take action to undo one of the last great barriers in civil rights. Forty years is too long to wait. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Editorial Board Legislators must act for equal rights The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:35cd7a1a6e09477ae2a0ab2fc0314b0d Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:7fa1f09f0c5d33e92a85aea040307bd6 2009-06-29T21:59:36-05:00 2009-06-30T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Man gets 81 years in prison for 2006 Ill. pizza delivery murder ST. CHARLES, Ill. - A judge has sentenced a 31-year-old man to 81 years in prison for the 2006 death of a suburban Chicago pizza delivery woman. Bradley Justice of Sandwich showed no emotion in court on Monday as he was sentenced. Last month, he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and armed robbery in the death of 41-year-old Karen Hassan, whose body was found in November 2, 2006, in an industrial park in West Chicago. Prosecutors say Justice beat Hassan with a hammer as she delivered the pizza. Justice was arrested in Tuscola the following day after he was traced using Hassan's cell phone and credit cards. Legislator wants luggage limits CHICAGO - An Illinois Democrat is making airline luggage a legislative priority. A bill U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski introduced this month would set a federal limit on the size of carry-on bags and personal items passengers can take onto airliners. He says safety and convenience are at issue. Since most airlines began charging for checked baggage, people are carrying more onto planes. And Lipinksi says those who board last often don't have space for their bags. He's worried about bags falling from compartments and hurting passengers. Lipinski's not stopping there. Among other proposals is legislation to cap the fees airlines can charge for checked bags. Daycare worker gets probation in child battery case HARRISBURG, Ill. - A daycare worker who investigators say put hot sauce on the tongues of children as a way to discipline them has been ordered to spend a year on probation as part of a plea deal. Twenty-eight-year-old Christi Bailey of Harrisburg also was fined $1,000 when sentenced Friday after pleading guilty in Saline County to one count of battery that accused her of dragging a child by his arm. Authorities had said Bailey put hot sauce on the tongues of four children at Little Angels Learning Center between last October and Feb. 13. Investigators also contend Bailey grabbed a child and slammed her into a chair and dragged a child into the daycare's office while squeezing his arm. From Associated Press reports Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff Odds and Ends 6-30-2009 The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:bebd2716e83d7472b111e5fef377b46e Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:a267e10b3437c7a40d6b23cfb28218d2 2009-06-29T21:52:30-05:00 2009-06-30T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Champaign A 31-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were arrested at the 600 block of East Columbia Avenua, early Sunday morning. According to the police report the offender left the scene of an accident and the passenger in the vehicle reportedly obstructed justice by giving officers a false name and date of birth to avoid arrest. Theft was reported at the 300 block of North Randolph Street, Saturday night. According to the police report the victim was identified in a stairwell where there was an unsecured door. Several gold and silver jewelry items were reported stolen. A 25-year-old man was arrested at the 2400 block of North Neil Street, early Sunday morning. According to the police report, the suspect fled the police and threw an open bottle of vodka as he left. He was later apprehended and taken to jail for resisting arrest and having an in-state warrant in his name. A 20-year-old man was arrested at the 100 block of East Bellefontaine Street, Sunday morning. According to the police report, officers responded to a fight and prevented further flare-ups. One offender was issued a notice to appear in court for refusing police orders. Criminal damage to property was reported at the 00 block of East John Street, Friday morning. According to the police report, the unknown suspect broke a rear window of the victim's vehicle Urbana A-24-year-old man was arrested at the intersection of Goodwin and Fairview Avenues, Saturday afternoon. According to the police report the man was issued a city notice to appear in court for loud vehicular noise. Arson was reported at the 1000 block of South Lierman, Saturday night. According to the police report, an unknown offender had reportedly set fire to a vacant apartment building at Urbana Townhomes. University Property damage was reported at the 700 block of South Gregory Drive, between 2 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. June 26. According to the police report an unknown offender slashed the front passenger side tires of a parked vehicle on the street. An 18-year-old man was issued a city notice to appear in court at the 600 block of East Green Street, early Saturday morning. According to the police report, the man was issued the notice to appear in court for battery. A 22-year-old man was issued a Champaign city notice to appear in court at the 500 block of East Green Street, early Monday morning. According to the police report the man was issued the notice to appear in court for battery. Compiled by Melissa Silverberg Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff Police Blotter 6-30-2009 The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:93b15568bf62800c943b22da7d8ed13f Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:ad06134a5493a197bc4c1d00a7a210b5 2009-06-29T21:43:32-05:00 2009-06-30T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. SEATTLE - Apple Inc. co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs is back at his office a few days a week after taking a 5 ½ month medical leave and getting a new liver. Jobs, 54, will work from home on days he doesn't work from Apple's Cupertino, Calif., headquarters, company spokesman Steve Dowling said Monday. Dowling did not say exactly when Jobs returned to the office. The state of Jobs' health and the timing of his return have been watched closely by investors and the media, because few CEOs are considered as instrumental to their companies' success as Jobs has been to Apple. He is seen as the visionary behind Apple's popular iPod music players and the iPhone, which left far more experienced mobile phone makers scrambling to catch up with similar touchscreen devices. The Apple chief was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer called an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor. He had surgery in 2004 and announced then that he was cured. Last year, Jobs' dramatic weight loss prompted new questions about his health, which Apple only intensified by saying in December that the CEO would not deliver the opening keynote at the upcoming Macworld conference. In early January, Jobs said in a statement that he was suffering from an easily treated hormone imbalance, but he reversed course less than two weeks later, saying his medical condition was more complex than he initially thought. He announced he would take a leave of absence until the end of June. Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute in Memphis, Tenn., said last week that Jobs had received a liver transplant. Medical experts who were not involved in Jobs' treatment have told The Associated Press that cancer cells not removed in the original surgery could have spread to Jobs' liver. The hospital would not say when the transplant took place, but in a statement said Jobs was recovering well and his prognosis is good. Since Jobs returned to Apple in 1997 after a 12-year hiatus, the company has expanded from a niche computer maker to become the top producer of portable media players and an increasingly important player in the cell phone business. Job's insistence on elegant design, and his ability to persuade consumers to spend more for it, has also given Apple's Mac computers a boost. But under the direction of Apple's chief operating officer, Tim Cook, the company had continued to release well-received products during Jobs' leave, including updated laptops with lower entry-level prices, updated Mac software and a faster iPhone with many longed-for features. Apple sold more than a million of the new iPhone 3GS during its first three days on the market. News and rumors have about Jobs' health sent Apple stock soaring and sinking, but the company has largely kept investors in the dark about the details of the CEO's condition and care. Federal rules around what information Apple must disclose to shareholders aren't specific on the matter of executive health unless the information would affect a reasonable investor's decision to buy or sell a stock. Shares of Apple slipped 47 cents to close Monday at $141.97. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff Apple CEO Steve Jobs back at work few days a week The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:80ebbb3510090df5521e42994353a471 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:c88a9d0ab13a76a63dee66be72639456 2009-06-28T23:19:17-05:00 2009-06-29T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Champaign Robbery was reported at the 300 block of Kenwood Road, early Sunday morning. According to the police report, the victim was jumped while he was riding his bicycle. The offender stole his ID, checkbook and cash. A 23-year-old man and two 21-year-old men was arrested at the 100 block of Ells Avenue, Saturday night. According to the police report, a search warrant was conducted as the result of a drug investigation and cannabis and drug paraphernalia were location inside the residence. Retail theft was reported at the 2000 block of North Neil Street, Saturday night. According to the police report, an unknown offender committed theft and stole 30 pairs of shorts form New York and Co. An 18-year-old man was arrested at the 500 block of East Grove Street, Friday night. According to the police report, the offender was observed improperly walking in a roadway. Upon conducting a pat down of the suspect, the officer felt an item indicative of packaging for illegal drugs. The man was later arrested for possession of cannabis. Criminal damage of property was reported at the 1200 block of West Bradley Avenue, June 12. According to the police report, an offender tried to break out a window to the victim's residence after the same victim reportedly would not let him enter the house. Urbana A 32-year-old man was arrested at the intersection of Goodwin and Fairview Avenues, Saturday morning. According to the police report, the man was arrested for having a loud car stereo. Criminal damage to property was reported at the 300 block of Abbey Road, Saturday morning. According to the police report, an unknown offender sprayed ketchup on the victim's vehicles and threw eggs at his house. Burglary from a motor vehicle was reported at the 100 block of North Vine Street, Saturday night. According to the police report, an unknown offender removed items from the victim's vehicle through an open window. A cell phone, digital camera, drivers license, credit cards and purse were reported stolen. A 45 -year-old man was arrested at the 1300 block of East Washington, Friday night. According to the police report, the offender was armed with a knife and the victim was in fear of being battered. University A 21-year-old woman was arrested at the 600 block of East Green Street, early Friday morning. According to the police report the woman was arrested on charges of obstructing or resisting a police officer. Compiled by Melissa Silverberg Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff Police Blotter 6-29-09 The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:d0b5eca03e134d06550912d2a5c1f314 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:ad5cff6fd657dc1fccc6f185f47f2ef6 2009-06-26T12:15:08-05:00 2009-06-19T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Speed Enforcement Program instituted by the Champaign Police Department has received grant funding for three years from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to curb speeding. "Speeding is a contributor to about 40 percent of all crashes," said Mike Stout, director of the Division of Traffic Safety with the IDOT. "The best result that we hope for is a decrease in fatal crashes. In Illinois last year, there were about 1,000 deaths from crashes on the highways ... Nationwide that number was at about 40,000 deaths." The number of vehicles stopped for speeding by the Champaign Police Department for the month of May increased to 270 from 249 in 2008 and 206 in 2007. The funding the police department received was used to hire additional officers for traffic enforcement that targeted speeders in four different locations in Champaign. "They have to demonstrate that there is a problem in order to be eligible for a grant," Stout said. "Champaign had to identify four areas of concern where problems occurred. The grants are then required to focus on those areas. In this case, hiring more speed enforcement officers." Champaign police sergeant Dave Griffet said that the grant funding has helped immensely in the areas where police resources were focused. "Last year, we worked towards reducing the number of speeders on Bradley Avenue," Griffet said. "And with the grant money, we were able to accomplish that. This year, one of our focuses is University Avenue which has seen a fair number of crashes." The grant, which the Champaign Police Department received in September 2008, provides funding for one year. The focus of the funding this year will be on University Avenue, from Mattis Avenue to Wright Street, Windsor Road, from Neil Street to Staley Road, Church Street from State Street to Mattis Avenue and Neil Street from Windsor to Interstate Drive. "I think the Speed Enforcement Program has been pretty effective," said Champaign mayor Gerald Schweighart. "There are still a lot of speeders, and they have been issuing a lot of tickets in the designated spots." As to why the number of citations has increased, Griffet said that it is due in part to the addition of two to three new officers who are paid for by the grant. "Since the city is trying to cut certain expenditures out of its budget, this grant helps the city be more efficient with its money," Griffet said. "The additional officers are funded entirely by the state grant instead of coming out of the city's taxpayer's pocket." Stout said that the grants provided by IDOT are given with the intentions of decreasing the amount of accidents in the state. Griffet and the Champaign Police Department's hope is that the Speed Enforcement Program will help in decreasing the number of fatal crashes per year as much as they can. "We're going to apply for a grant next year," Griffet said. "But, it's not realistic to stop everyone from speeding. We use the grant to only decrease the number of speeders who are on the streets of Champaign." Champaign, IL Landon Cassman Police program aims to curb speeding The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:2bb4997e9e7e9f45820e6df11e801f88 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:7338dd9cf18f4a09a147ad1849d43988 2009-06-26T00:04:00-05:00 2009-06-26T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Champaign n A 24-year-old woman was arrested at the 200 block of West Springfield Avenue, June 17. According to the police report, the woman had a warrant out for her arrest. n A 52-year-old woman was arrested at the 300 block of South Second Street, Monday night. According to the police report,...Champaign 24-year-old woman was arrested at the 200 block of West Springfield Avenue, June 17. According to the police report, the woman had a warrant out for her arrest. A 52-year-old woman was arrested at the 300 block of South Second Street, Monday night. According to the police report, the woman stole the victim's cell phone while sitting outside at a picnic table and was later located and arrested for the cell phone theft. Residential burglary was reported at the 900 block of South Third Street, early Tuesday morning. According to the police report, an unknown offender attempted to gain entry to her apartment by removing the window screen. A 21-year-old man was arrested at the 2000 block of Moreland Boulevard, June 17. According to the police report, the man had a warrant out for his arrest. A 43-year-old man was arrested at the 500 block of West Kirby Avenue, early Tuesday morning. According to the police report, the man was observed sleeping on playground equipment in the park and was in possession of alcohol on public property. He resisted arrest and was later taken to jail. A 19-year-old man was arrested at the 1200 block of Walnut Street, June 12. According to the police report, the man had a warrant out for his arrest. Urbana A 20-year-old woman was arrested at the 100 block of High Cross Road, Wednesday afternoon. According to the police report, the woman took several cosmetics items and left the Walmart without paying for them. The woman had previous theft charges and was taken to jail. Forgery was reported at the 1000 block of West University Avenue, Wednesday morning. According to the police report, the offender presented and cashed a counterfeit check worth $776.84. Deceptive practices were reported at the 2300 block of South Lynn Street, Wednesday afternoon. According to the police report, an unknown offender stole the victim's ATM/Debit card number and used it without the victim's permission to purchase several items in Canada. University Theft was reported at UI parking lot E-33, 1235 S. Oak St., between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday. According to the police report, a license plate, parking pass and reflector bolts were stolen from a scooter parked in the lot. A 56-year-old man was arrested at the Illini Union, 1401 W. Green St., Wednesday morning. According to the police report, the man was arrested on charges of trespass to state-supported property. Compiled by Melissa Silverberg Champaign, IL Melissa Silverberg Police Blotter The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:bb838bff2c2120b9237cac812c1019f8 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:a1c585bd18727824810d8e5b99410a15 2009-06-25T23:46:34-05:00 2009-06-26T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. With the collegiate track and field season over, ten current and former Illini are competing on the international circuit. Illinois track and field is represented in the USA Championships in Eugene, Ore., Canadian Championships in Toronto and Jamaica National Senior Championships in Kingston. The top finishers in each meet will earn a spot on their county's national team. The biggest track and field meet this year will be the World Championships in Berlin, Germany from Aug. 15-23. For Andrew Riley, the Jamaican Championships provide both high-level competition and a rare opportunity to go home. The two-time All-American had not been home since coming to the University for the first time in January. "I'm pretty excited to go back home to see family and friends, and also to compete on my home soil. I'm just so happy," Riley said. Riley will run the 110-meter hurdles on Sunday. If Riley advances from the semifinal round, he would run in the finals, also on Sunday. According to Riley, his experiences as an Illini will help him to compete at higher levels. "Performing on a college circuit ... helps you tremendously when you're competing," he said, Riley added that he's "not going to change anything" as far as preparation is concerned. If Riley doesn't make it to the World Championships, he also has a chance to compete in Cuba for the CAC Senior Championships or in Trinidad for the Caribbean Games. While the Illinois 2008-09 Newcomer of the Year believed that his Illinois experiences will help him on Sunday, he acknowledged that international competition is in a league of its own. "It'll be great for me to go back and compete against the big guys," Riley said. Though Riley is the lone representative of the Illinois men's track and field team this weekend, nine members of Illinois women's past and present teams will compete. Competition for both the USA and Canadian Championships started on Thursday. On Friday, 2009 graduate Deserea Brown will compete in the 400-meter hurdles semifinal. Senior Aja Evans will compete in the shot put and senior Angela Bizzarri will run the 5,000 meters. Bizzarri will run the 5k for the first time since winning the event at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships. "It's really just to get an opportunity to race some really fast girls," Bizzarri said of the USA Championships, after her win at nationals. The competition will be a stronger test of fitness than Bizzarri usually encountered on the college circuit, according to Illinois distance coach Jeremy Rasmussen. "She's really only had to run one race really hard in the 5k," Rasmussen said after nationals. "The rest were more tactical races, I think she's definitely got room for improvement." The pace at the USA Championships will be much faster, according to Rasmussen, who said that Bizzarri should be up to the challenge. "I think having more people around her to be able to push her will help. I think she can go out there and really kind of mix it up. Not necessarily up at the very front, but I think she can be in the top-ten for sure," he said. Champaign, IL Kevin Kaplan Top track athletes compete for spots on national teams The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:29ccd48e559a99dc8054041bc90be347 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:80ad3c10327621f46448ac35cec3537b 2009-06-25T23:39:58-05:00 2009-06-26T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Representatives from the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) and four surrounding public health departments came together Thursday morning to discuss the potential effect of state budget cuts on public health. "The budget that has been proposed by the legislature is completely unacceptable," said Julie Pryde, public health administrator for CUPHD. Pryde said that for Champaign County alone, nearly $1 million in cuts would be made to CUPHD revenues - cuts that would result in the reduction and possibly even the elimination of programs such as vaccines for children, teen parenting services, breast and cervical cancer screenings and the ability of the public health district to contain disease outbreaks. "The timing of these proposed cuts is especially alarming, given the status of the H1N1 virus as a pandemic and its expectancy of becoming a greater threat in the fall," Pryde said. "When we're facing a pandemic, this is not a good time to cut the budget for public health. You do not play games when people's lives are at risk." Joining Pryde in her stance against the proposed budget cuts were health department representatives of Vermilion County, Dewitt-Piatt Bi-County, Douglas County and Ford-Iroquois County. All said they were facing significant revenue cuts which would result in the elimination of vital services to community members. Linda Bolton, community relations coordinator from the Vermilion County Health Department said cuts to the Local Health Protection Grant would affect three basic services public health provides: food inspections, sewage and water inspections and communicable disease prevention and control. "Cutting the Local Health Protection Grant or some of these other cuts that are being proposed for public health eliminates our ability to fight disease and help the public deal with the impact of a pandemic," Bolton said. Dewitt-Piatt Bi-County Health Department administrator Dave Remmert said some people may feel public health does not concern them, and that they have never received a public health service, but that everyone has benefitted from public health services in some respect. "If you've ever drank a glass of water, if you've ever drank a glass of milk, if you've ever been to a restaurant, if you've ever had your children immunized against different childhood diseases ... you have received public health," Remmert said. It is these basic services that make public health so important, said Amanda Minor, administrator at the Douglas County Health Department. "When you reduce the funding for our services, that's going to reduce the services that we can provide to the community," Minor said. "When these services are reduced to the community, what is going to increase are the E.R. visits and the hospital visits." She said this will actually increase the money needed to take care of these problems, and it would take less money to fund preventative efforts. Doug Corbett, administrator at the Ford-Iroquois County Health Department, said his department is facing a 50 percent reduction in revenue, totaling $1.29 million in cut services, including services that currently provide 1,400 low-income children with vaccinations free of charge. "We are preventative in nature, and we do stop things from happening before they become full-blown problems," Corbett said. He said these preventative measures are provided to the people who need them most, and if he cannot offer those, he is doing a disservice to his community. "If we can't take care of people, people that need public health services the most in today's economic ages, we are not a civilized society," Corbett said. Champaign, IL Erica Yuenger Public health departments express concern over potential budget cuts The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:110e71dd8e23f87f715956349fdd0fd7 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:88d4cf69319d9362df23aae7c4671be2 2009-06-25T23:35:42-05:00 2009-06-26T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. On Friday, the House is scheduled to vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, the US's first program for addressing climate change. Also known as the Waxman-Markey Clean Energy Act, the bill establishes a cap and trade program for greenhouse gas emissions and promotes solar and wind power...On Friday, the House is scheduled to vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, the US's first program for addressing climate change. Also known as the Waxman-Markey Clean Energy Act, the bill establishes a cap and trade program for greenhouse gas emissions and promotes solar and wind power. While Waxman-Markey Act is far from perfect, we salute Congress for developing an important first step in the fight against climate change, and urge the passage of this bill. Under the cap and trade program, power plants and factories would have to pay for pollution "permits" from the EPA and could then buy and sell them to other companies. Over the next 30 years, this policy is expected to result in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing half a billion cars from the road. These emissions reductions would play an important role in reducing the carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere from 387 parts per million to the 350 parts per million that would halt further climate change. The Waxman-Markey Act comes at a momentous time, with a conference to establish an international climate treaty in Copenhagen in December. Passage of the bill would send a strong message to the rest of the world about America's commitment to fighting climate change. With China and India demanding that the US take more significant steps towards reducing emissions than we have in the past, the Waxman-Markey Act would also encourage others to follow in our footsteps. Unfortunately, coal and oil interests have succeeded in influencing Congress to dilute some important provisions in the bill. Lobbying from these sectors resulted in an increase in the number of free pollution permits granted to companies, and a reduction of the original 25% target for electricity from renewable sources to 12%. Though these compromises weaken the legislation, the US cannot afford to wait for a perfect bill. Congress should embrace the opportunity to take definitive action against global warming. Opponents argue that the bill imposes a "hidden energy tax," but an analysis conducted by the Congressional Budget Office shows that costs to consumers would be relatively small (around $140 a year for upper income households) and that poor families would save around $40 a year due to increased energy efficiency. Opposition to this bill is extremely short sighted. For a small financial savings in the short run, we would be auctioning off the future of the planet to the highest bidder. "We cannot be afraid of the future, and we cannot be a prisoner of the past," observed President Obama. For the prosperity and health of future generations, it is essential that Congress seizes this opportunity to reform how we use energy. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Editorial Board Clean Energy Act a significant step in fighting climate change The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:e1ea274b18a0e5bde67da64ea2010562 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:8a3b6d6c24566043536b0b08a7906231 2009-06-25T23:16:24-05:00 2009-06-25T09:39:11-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The notice was sent out at around 7:30 Thursday morning by Michele Thompson, secretary for the Board, yet gave no explanation of what constituted the 'emergency.' The trustees will meet at the Chicago campus in closed session and discuss employee matters and pending, probable or imminent litigation against the University, according to the e-mail. The only business held in open session will be a motion to hold executive session, according to the agenda. This meeting comes a month before the next scheduled Board of Trustees meeting set for July 22 and 23 in Chicago. Champaign, IL Melissa Silverberg Board of Trustees calls emergency session The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:36a213dec58f9ae20b81cd14d3358981 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:2389501997ee10c380cb6ad1fd0ed54d 2009-06-25T23:04:17-05:00 2009-06-25T23:04:17-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The trailer outside the Illini Union has gotten more crowded this summer. For the first time, students can get an Orange Krush membership along with their football tickets. The decision of Illinois primary student-section to recruit early came in light of last seasons drop in membership. This summer, the Krush are trying to capitalize on the excitement for Illinois generated by registration. When leaving the Union, (incoming freshman) are all pumped about Illinois, they just want to get involved so were trying to catch that rush, said Orange Krush President Matt Jones. As President, Jones has two responsibilities: pump up the Illinois basketball team and raise money for the charity. In order to do both things effectively, he needs members. Basically the sole way to get the most money for charity is just to get more members, Jones said. Because of the need for members, the highest priority of the Krush this summer is recruitment. Historically solid football ticket sales during the summer helped the Krush decide to set up shop on the quad. This year tickets for the Block I, the main student section for football, sold out on the fifth day of freshman orientation. According to Brett Zimmerman, who operates the Krush booth nearly every day of registration, the organization has had a positive turnout as well. So far for Orange Krush, we have over 180 new members that we may or may not have had, Zimmerman said. According to Zimmerman, the Krush benefits from the early registration even when students dont immediately join. If they dont sign up now, they still get the information and are able to raise money earlier, which is a benefit because as a freshman its hard to raise money in the first four weeks youre down on campus, he said. According to Kelly Cunningham, a recent graduate of the University who occasionally works at the Krush booth, most of the attention comes from incoming freshman, even with summer school in session. Most of the returning students are not aware that were doing it this summer, Cunningham said. In recruiting members, there is only so much the Krush can do, as a lot of it depends on the basketball teams performance, according to Jones. I think (the two are correlated) .9999 percent, Jones said. Last seasons drop-off in Krush membership followed the 2007-08 season, where the basketball team posted a disappointing 16-19 record. On the other hand, membership was at its highest ever during and immediately following the 2004-05 season, where Illinois went 37-2. With the basketball team coming off a 24-10 season, Zimmerman said interest is starting to rise again. Theres definitely a spark of excitement because were coming off a good season, the recruits are coming in here, everything heres sounding good.(The team is) maybe in for something special this year, Zimmerman said. While recruitment is the most important thing, the Krush has other things to take care of during the summer as well. The applications for grants were posted in mid-June. According to Jones, once all the grant applications are in, the Krush board debates on which organizations get the money and how much they get to spend. Its really a tricky part of it, because some of the debates get really heated, Jones said. Last year, the Krush held that meeting in late September, he added. After last season the Krush donated to 49 different organizations, as well as the Lou Henson Coaching Endowment Fund. While the grant-selection process doesnt start until fall, the Krush are currently brainstorming alternative ways to raise money and cut costs. According to Jones, Gameday Spirit, 519 E. Green St., soon will begin selling Honorary Krush shirts. The shirts are produced at no cost to the Krush, who will be awarded $3 for every shirt sold. Its just one more thing that were doing to bring in more money for charities, because last year we honestly got hit kind of hard because we only had like 650 members. So were trying to keep numbers high. Were trying to cut out the fat, Jones said. A way the Krush is trying to cut out the fat is by converting its identification system to an electronic system. An electronic system will be easier than keeping track of each members pledges manually and will allow for more frequent updates, according to Jones. Of course, the Krush has been spending the summer looking for ways to help the basketball team as well. And new chants are just a small part of what the Krush has in store for opposing, according to Jones. Coach Weber has a great team for us and its just up to us to provide that spark at Assembly Hall, he said. Champaign, IL Kevin Kaplan Orange Krush eyes new members The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:b33e197c4fdad374692ca3d65509d771 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:23254dfad8b477942b7d58910fb859f1 2009-06-25T22:56:42-05:00 2009-06-24T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Illini Alert, a system of communication via text messages and e-mails that are sent out to registered students and faculty in emergency situations, was activated to notify the University community about severe weather around 7 p.m. Friday. It was the first time the alert system was used to warn of hazardous weather conditions. The text messages said, "Emergency! Tornado expected to hit UI campus. Seek shelter indoors immediately and turn to local media for details." As it was, a tornado never touched down on campus or in Champaign-Urbana. There was damage in the area due to the high winds and heavy rains. Regardless of the result, though, Todd Short, the director of emergency planning in the Division of Public Safety, said the decision to send out an alert is simple. It's all based on the local tornado sirens. "If the sirens sound for Champaign County, we send out a full campus alert," Short said, adding the public safety branch in the police department makes the decision to sound the sirens. The reason for what some may deem as drastic wording in the text message – "Emergency! Tornado expected to hit UI campus" – was that the experts thought there was a good chance a tornado would hit. Short said storm spotters in Savoy, Champaign, Tolono and Philo "observed a wall cloud ... that had the rotation in it that was lowering, which is a probable tornado." Short said about 33,000 text messages and 116,000 e-mails were being sent out simultaneously. Many students who are signed up for the service likely weren't on campus but still received the message. That's something that cannot be avoided, Short said. "We can't subdivide a full-campus alert, so it's an all-or-nothing proposition," Short said. Mike Corn, chief privacy and security officer in the Office of the CIO, oversees the technical side of the Illini Alert. He said if some registered users of the service didn't receive the warning message, the problem did not originate with the Illini Alert system. "999 times out of 1,000, when a message isn't received, we've sent it," Corn said. "We hand it off to whoever your carrier is, and at that point, who knows? When we send an e-mail, it leaves our system and we have a record showing it was sent out of our system at a certain time. We can't guarantee it will show up in your inbox." Corn said text messages are even harder to track because there's no way to know what happens once they are sent out to carriers. But, he added, almost all messages are correctly sent out. Even though a tornado didn't hit, Short said he was "150 percent" certain the right call had been made. "We have to err on the side of caution," Short said. "Anybody that's lived in the Midwest and has to deal with tornado activity (knows) it's impossible for us to predict the path of a storm ... The last thing we want to do is fail to take an action that would advocate personal protective actions by the people that are counting on us to notify them of a potential emergency." Champaign, IL Cody Westerlund Emergency messaging effectiveness questioned The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:8cf639fc4bb4f35a2bb4105e85ff9957 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:7a7675bfedba2cb7fd0c9583f2981ce9 2009-06-25T22:48:16-05:00 2009-06-24T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Gakologelwang Masheto is a long name. 'Shoes' is much shorter, and is the nickname that Masheto went by during his three years on the Illinois men's track and field team. Contrary to popular belief, it is a nickname with no track and field affiliations. Masheto was first called 'Shoes' while he attended grade school in his home country of Botswana, when the only sport he played was soccer. "There was this great player from South Africa (nicknamed Shoes). My coach just believed we had something in common. Since then the name has stuck with me," Masheto said. Various people have guessed where the six-time Big Ten Champion and two-time All-American got the name. Some have been closer than others. "Sometimes people just ask me 'Where is this name coming from? Is it because you used to run barefooted or something like that?'" Masheto chuckled. After a summer class Tuesday, Masheto practiced on the Illinois track under instruction by Illinois men's track and field head coach Wayne Angel. Though everything seemed like business as usual, he was training exclusively for international competition. For Masheto, it hasn't quite sunk in yet that his collegiate career has ended. "It feels like there's no difference, because (this time) last year I was training here by myself," Masheto said. "The only difference ---linebreak---(is), I'm not going to run for Illinois anymore. I don't know, maybe I'll feel that difference as time goes on." A difference that Masheto left out was that on Tuesday, he wasn't training alone. Andrew Riley of Jamaica also has an international season ahead of him. Like Masheto, Riley made an immediate impact during his first year as an Illini. And during his talented freshman season, Riley watched 'Shoes' very carefully to learn all he could. "One thing I observe about him, he takes this track thing very seriously," Riley said. "I remember at nationals when he didn't do good, I mean, I felt it for him. It just gave me motivation to just go out there and do my best for Illinois." "He's a guy that has really worked hard in training, I see that and I just look at him and just apply it. I mean, if a guy can come here and do (as) well as Shoes, I mean why not study his types of techniques and his style of training?" According to Angel, Shoes was always a team player and still is. However, his teammates are no longer Illinois athletes, but members of the Botswana 4x400-meter relay, who hope to make it to this years' World Championships in Berlin, Germany. "He's got to help Botswana qualify on the 4x400, and he also has to qualify in his individual event," Angel said. "Those are the key things that he's got to take care of right now. Just ... helping out his country and then, whatever he wants to do for himself individually, that'll be up to him. But he's a team player, so he's going to do what Botswana asks him." Tuesday was Masheto's first practice since his collegiate season ended with injury. According to Angel, Masheto has spent the time since the injury "resting from a long season. Getting revived mentally, physically, so that he can start up again." The earliest Masheto will compete again is July 18th in Nigeria. "The catch word right now is 'train'," Angel said. "Just get ready, and I think I can have him ready by the time that he needs to go (to Nigeria)." The coming months are critical for Masheto, who has yet to decide if running is something he wants to continue doing after college, which the Kinesiology major will finish up this fall. "I just want to finish (school) and see if I'm going to continue with running after that," Masheto said. "It depends on how I run this year. If I run the way I want to run, I'm going to continue running even after college." The 24-year-old still has things he has yet to accomplish. If he does not accomplish them now, there might not be many chances left. "I've been running for many years, now it's time to see if I can reach certain goals. If I can reach those certain goals, I'm going to run. If not, I don't think there's anytime that I'm going to reach them if I don't do it now, because I'm 24 ... I'm getting old." Masheto keeps what exactly those goals are to himself. "The way I set my goals, I don't tell people that 'I want to do this'," Masheto said. "It's just a personal thing." No matter what the future has in store, practicing on the track at Illinois will always bring out memories of 'Shoes' time as an Illini. "When you mention Illinois track, I'm just thinking about all those memories when I was here representing Illinois," Masheto said. "It (felt) kind of special to put on (those) orange and blue colors to represent this school, you know. This is an opportunity that I'm going to miss a lot. That's the past now, (I) need to focus on the future." Champaign, IL Kevin Kaplan Illinois track now just a memory for 'Shoes' The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:4e688af00e7dcc3aa74cf59301228626 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:ff1f974ae4e96a91290d7d5e9a6a1e65 2009-06-25T22:46:52-05:00 2009-06-24T12:51:23-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Jeff Jordan, two-year reserve point guard for the Illini basketball team, has decided he will not be returning for the upcoming season. Jordan, son of Michael Jordan, said that he wants to focus more on academics and life after college. "I loved playing for the Fighting Illini and appreciate the support I was given by my teammates, coaches and the great fans here," Jordan said in a press release. "But I have come to the point where I'm ready to focus on life after basketball. I will concentrate on earning my degree from the University of Illinois and the opportunities that await upon graduating." Coach Bruce Weber said that he respects Jordan's decision and only wishes him the best in his future endeavors. "Jeff was an invaluable member of our team the past two seasons and I thank him for his contribution to our program," coach Bruce Weber said in the press release. "He brought great work ethic to the gym and pushed himself, as well as his teammates, each and every day to improve. We will miss him, but we fully support the decision he has made. When the game of basketball has been a top priority throughout your life, it is very difficult to transition away from playing. I know Jeff has given this much thought. He is an outstanding, mature young man who will be successful in whatever areas he pursues in the future." Champaign, IL Landon Cassman Jeff Jordan leaves men's basketball team The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:f962ca0f52cb4fb4658780f317085ddb Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:81f619298d961340b1a5c45bcef217ae 2009-06-25T17:21:39-05:00 2009-06-17T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. There are two routes you can take here, and I couldnt decide which was best. Ive kept a few and wear them when Im at home, but you wouldnt catch me dead on campus wearing crimson or maize (or North Carolina baby blue for that matter). So I let other students give their advice. Heres what people had to say about what to do with T-shirts and assorted paraphernalia from other colleges, particularly Illinois biggest rivals: I didnt really have anything from other schools except an Oxford shirt, but I still wear that. Stan Marquardt, Communications studen I still kept it because I dont like throwing things out. But I dont wear any of it here. Except Wisconsin stuff because my sister went there, but I get bad looks when I do. Kathleen Oyama, ACES student Oh yes, I kept it. Iker Garcia,graduate student Editors note: Iker was wearing a Wisconsin T-shirt I kept them but I dont wear them around campus. I felt like I would be a traitor if I did. Mariam Mafee, 2008 alumna of LAS I still wear all of it. Its not that bad ... right? Alex Brucks, students LAS Me and a bunch of buddies got messed up and burned all of it. It was fun at the time. We thought we were going to have school spirit. -Andrew Shallenberger, students ACES Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 17: (Dont) trash your Michigan and Indiana apparel The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:61fb56acb88a66651048b4b2086d5b5a Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:d767743546cef96e2548b652f302322f 2009-06-25T17:19:32-05:00 2009-05-30T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Your senior year of high school matters more than you might think. Hopefully, you have avoided that final-year laziness and done well with your senior years workload. If not, you could be in for a rude awakening. Each year the University rescinds the acceptance of a dozen or so incoming students for having final semesters that dont meet academic standards, said Stacey Kostell, director of undergraduate admissions. On our offer of admission letter it clearly says your acceptance is contingent upon the condition that you continue to do well in classes and complete the courses you said they were signed up for, Kostell said, When your final transcript comes in, we look at it to see if a student failed a course or if they dropped an AP class. If a student fits into this category, Kostell said he or she will be notified approximately two to three weeks after the final transcript is sent. The first step is to contact the student and tell them we are considering dropping their admission status, Kostell said. They then have a chance to respond with the reason why their performance slipped, whether its mono or a car accident or something like that, we take that into consideration. If there is no response or its not valid, the offer is rescinded. Kostell said that an A student getting all Bs is no reason for concern for the student or the University. But if a student fails a class or drops a class that was contingent on their acceptance, then the University may choose to get involved. If say youre applying to be a biology major, and you said you were going to take AP biology and calculus and we find out you dropped those classes, thats a red flag, she said. A student whose admission is rescinded can reapply after attending community college or another university but must do so as a transfer student. In rare cases, the college the student was accepted into will readmit the student if he or she takes some course work at a community college for a semester. The majority of kids dropped have been for grades not changes in coursework. Typically, its caused by senioritis where the student just took senior year off mentally, Kostell said. Think of it like youre training for something, like a race. You wouldnt take a significant portion of your preparation time off when youre training. Stay in your core academic classes and do well in your classes. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff May 30: Senioritis can have harsh consequences The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:872e74ed09be5d2537336920d33c85e6 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:12e50c9f64ccd2e0ea3856cd78a60666 2009-06-25T17:19:19-05:00 2009-05-31T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Since Facebook opened its doors to high schoolers some time ago, you probably have an account on the social networking site already. If you dont get one. Facebooking, though often a tool for stalkers and procrastinators, is an asset for college students who want to find or keep in touch with old friends. That said, there are several precautions that you should take. Most importantly, keep your profile as private as possible. Big Brother is always watching, and with Facebook he has an even better microscope. It is now no secret that job applicants are finding potential employers judging them based on their social networking profiles. The difference between you and another candidate could be whoever doesnt have Drinking tequila by the fifth, ditching classes and cheating on exams listed under their interests. The privacy settings are made to fit whatever purpose you have for the site. So if you only want you friends to view your profile, lock it down and make it so. And dont friend random people. It could be your next boss. Also, remember, the legal drinking age is 21. Photos of you doing keg stands and playing beer pong can be considered evidence, and police and universities are using Facebook to spot underage drinking. Dont put incriminating photos of yourself on the site, and untag yourself from those that friends post. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff May 31: Facebook a must, but tread carefully The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:92a7881427b4548fca6a406e4a67b3c0 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:158c17dca47dbc49587baa34e3c67db3 2009-06-25T17:19:11-05:00 2009-06-01T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Orientation is packed with events without nearly enough time to see the entire University and accomplish tasks that can only be take care of while on campus. What you should do is plan a visit on a day when you have ample time to explore campus and it all it has to offer. Sample a few of the local eateries and start getting a taste for Campustown food. Try to arrange a meeting with the dean of your college or the head of your department. Visit the residence hall youll be living in and get a feel for how long it will take you to get to class. And, maybe most importantly, walk your schedule. Just like in high school, freshmen are easy to spot a mile away. They walk around the Quad with giant maps and venture aimlessly at night in large groups looking for the parties they have heard so much about. Weve all been there, but you can at least avoid the first stereotype by taking the time to visit all the buildings your classes are in. It would be wise as well to actually try to find the classroom because many of the buildings are a labyrinth of stairways and corridors that dont always lead to rooms you expected them to. Orientation is a great day to register for classes, maybe meet a few people and talk to your adviser. But in less than a day, you wont really get a feel for the University. Explore campus on your own and begin to get connected with your home for the next four years. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 1: Plan a visit during summer vacation The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:177b118df5660fca13bd6dcee756f398 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:c67bc455318d339937d523f800823c88 2009-06-25T17:18:58-05:00 2009-06-02T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Unless youre able to go home every few weeks and con someone into doing it for you, laundry will quickly become an undesired, but nonetheless important chore. For the next three months when youre home, take it upon yourself to learn how to wash your clothes. It seems basic enough, but Ive observed some of my friends wash their clothes with a highlighter in a pocket and turn everything a beautiful neon yellow, accidentally put clothes into a second washing machine instead of a dryer, transform a comfortable pair of jeans into a spandex-tight pair of pants my 14-year-old sister couldnt even fit in and turn their white sheets pink after washing them with a red comforter. Ladies, guys werent the only culprits. Female friends ruined plenty of expensive outfits because they didnt realize those items werent meant for industrial dryers. It might be a pain, but hand-washing clothes or hanging them to dry is the safest route. If you must wash your clothes, it comes down to this: learn to love the cold water cycle. Dont take chances with that shiny new Class of 2012 T-shirt. So suck it up and give your mom a break. Do your laundry for a few months and youll thank me later. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 2: Start doing your own laundry now The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:d0deaa11f4e5050a6b9ff605ed3864fb Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:b6e5612dfe5b5e8da230cdaa25ac1281 2009-06-25T17:18:47-05:00 2009-06-03T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Campus Recreation has two extensive gyms, one of which is currently expanding to become even larger. Campus Recreation Center East, or CRCE, is located in Urbana just east of the Quad, while the Activities and Recreation Center, or ARC, formerly Intramural Physical Education or IMPE, is located near Gregory and Peabody Residence Halls in Champaign. Some of the amenities included in these facilities are basketball courts, racquetball courts, free and machine weights, elliptical machines, bikes and treadmills. The opportunity to stay in shape, get into shape, or even bulk up is available to all full-time University students. But not all students use them. The freshman 15 is no myth, and unless you get yourself in a habit of working out now, it will be hard to get into a routine once you have to balance classes. Try to convince your high school to let you work out at their track, fitness center or weight room instead of paying for an expensive gym membership. But if you have to pony up some greenbacks, it will be well worth it to find a workout schedule that works for you before you start eating dorm food. Not to mention its beach season, so make sure youre looking your best. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 3: Start your workout plan while at home The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:ffd5a146054a13ce7bd23f9ed8612e7c Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:42a1d6c594496ea2b4b4368a11df1439 2009-06-25T17:18:37-05:00 2009-06-04T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Yea, yea, yea. You know. Your parents have been bugging you to get off your lazy butt, stop watching TV and get a job since you turned 16. But there are added incentives now that you are headed to college. First, the obvious. Summer is flat-out expensive. The pool, the movies, the late night Taco Bell runs, it all costs money. Dont dip into your savings just to have a few great months before you head to college as if this is the last summer youll ever have. Work a few days a week and give yourself a spending cushion. The not-so-blatant reason to get a job is so, well, you can get a job. Finding employment on campus is often more competitive than you think. The majority of jobs are in the service industry specifically dining and retail and they want the most qualified individuals working for them. If a bookstore is trying to choose between Tommy and Susie, and Susie has experience working in retail because she spent the summer folding clothes at Kohls, guess whos getting that job? Of course, the ideal situation would be to find employment related to your major. Maybe its just being a gopher at a law office (go for this, go for that) or filing documents for a doctor, but your ultimate goal should be to boost your chances of finding a job after college. If thats not possible, do something that will help you find a job during college. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 4: Find a job now to save cash and build a resume The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:f7464066678a4b2b73cd89da6c7c161c Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:34580cd50c842a5fdbc6c6a42c6738f5 2009-06-25T17:18:27-05:00 2009-06-05T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. If it were up to me, the first thing I would look for on a job application is whether or not a person has a Gmail account. However, it is required I hire and fire based on qualifications, a far less meaningful indicator. Gmail, or Google mail, is not only a way to send messages to people, its a lifestyle organizer. Even on the most basic level sending and receiving e-mail Gmail is advanced. The service allows you to forward mail from other accounts to your Gmail account and can sort all the mail in created folders based on who or where it came from. Plus, it has almost an infinite amount of space. As I write this, there are more than 6753 megabytes available for use in my account and that number grows every second. Never will an e-mail bounce because your inbox is too full. Having a Gmail account also allows you to share documents with others, so multiple people can see it and make their own changes or additions to it. This is especially handy for group projects or assignments. The same sharing capabilities includes photos. Ever wanted to chat with someone while on a computer that doesnt have AIM installed? Google Chat, a sidebar on your Gmail page, allows you to chat with other Gmail users and lets you sign into your AIM buddy list no matter where you are. The Google account that comes with Gmail also allows you to create a customized home page. Add your own widgets to get the latest sports scores, Daily Illini headlines, weather, RSS feeds from your favorite sites or blogs, sudoku or YouTube videos right on your home page. Maybe this sounded like one giant ad for Google, but I assure you, I have never received a dime from the company and I own no stock in their name. When youre juggling a lot of different activities with school, take any help you can get. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 5: Look smart: Sign up for a Gmail account The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:8e09c1416fa221eafaacbb6c60e11f02 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:5e41e328d47a9bab6a17822e9d819f0a 2009-06-25T17:18:15-05:00 2009-06-06T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. There is a great bus system set up that benefits student schedules and serves most of the residence halls, but this campus is really made for those who commute by foot. If you rely on the buses, as good as they are, youll be late for more classes than youll want to be. And, I missed my bus, isnt really an excuse college professors care to hear. So youll be walking ... a lot. And not just to class. Everything on campus is within walking distance, whether its friends in another dorm, the fraternity or sorority youre rushing or a decent restaurant. So a comfy pair of shoes is a must. Of course, a pair of shoes that wont give you blisters doesnt just come from a factory, but buy them now so you can break them in by the time you have to walk to your first class. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 6: Break in a pair of brand new shoes The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:7a91c4f04b7511738d399b187ddea317 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:310958d336221aceb99f4eff2eac83d6 2009-06-25T17:18:04-05:00 2009-06-07T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. For the most part, new students have very little say in their first semester classes. Advisers will help you sort through whats left after everyone else had their registration date and most likely sign you up for whatever general education requirements are still there. But at the very least, you can see what you are getting yourself into with ratemyprofessor.com. People use the site for different purposes. Some people want the path of least resistance and pinpoint easier teachers. Others want the teachers that may challenge them but prepare them most for their careers. Though the database is far from exhaustive, its still helpful on the most basic level. The site offers ratings based on easiness, helpfulness, clarity and the raters interest in the class. Youll be a step ahead when you have to register for second semester too. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 7: Use the Internet to find your professors The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:11f2365950119362500e06af693e380b Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:48c2a9da2f7814d46e8bf9325ec4824e 2009-06-25T17:17:54-05:00 2009-06-08T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. There is no rule that says a freshman cant have a car on campus. In fact, many first-year students do. However, the cost of the convenience may not be worth it, says Thomas Skaggs, Coordinator at the Universitys Facilities and Services Parking Department. We have a very comprehensive and convenient bus service throughout campus and both cities, Skaggs said. We are adding more bike trails too. With the current prices for gas and for parking, possession of a car on campus is becoming a less inviting option. Skaggs said the University has seen a slight influx in demand for parking, although it has leveled. Some students may think Campustown isnt set up to facilitate parking, but Skaggs disagrees. Despite the perceptions of some, UI Campus is actually a very friendly campus for parking, including student parking, Skaggs said. To gain a better perspective one only needs to compare UI with other Universities around the country and they would soon discover that student parking of any kind is a luxury. And on some campuses, when student parking is permitted (at all) it is often very remote from campus and far more expensive. Parking for students is limited to several lots E-14, F-23, and North Parking Deck B-4. Although Skaggs said permits for those spots dont become available until July, start thinking about it now because you have to consider the cost of a permit (more than $350 for nine months) and try to beat the rush once the permits are available. Special parking is available for the disabled. To find out more about parking availability all students go to www.parking.uiuc.edu or call the parking office at at (217) 333-3530. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 8: Want to park on campus? Start saving and planning now The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:980023eafc2c419180916d7eb6d29599 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:dc8d4fd728b7ecb9abaadf8813f88cbc 2009-06-25T17:17:43-05:00 2009-06-09T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. You may consider yourself somewhat of a music junkie and refuse to put any song with the word honkytonk on your iPod or play any artist that will make your car rattle from the bass. But for your own sanity, I suggest you start enjoying country and hip-hop soon, because you will hear those genres around campus often. By no means should you throw away your music collection, but college is a time to experiment, or resort to wearing ear plugs while walking around campus. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 9: Country? Hip-hop? Cant avoid it here The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:8aa168167e983b0cb8b753e7ce8f0307 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:9fa0b0cbe28b8f03753e7d81beada37d 2009-06-25T17:17:33-05:00 2009-06-10T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. You know exactly who is cleaning themselves in your shower at home. You have no idea who is in the dorm showers, what they are doing in there or what they are washing off themselves. Because of this, it is highly recommended that you wear flip flops when showering in the dorms. Its pretty weird to wear flip flops at first, but by the time you go home for fall break, it will feel awkward to shower without them. And its always nice to feel a little taller. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 10: Flip flops a must for dormitory showers The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:7fbeed7afa97cfc6f75f36fee05ac024 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:b867fcb60d539b7e03d60b712cbb44d3 2009-06-25T17:17:24-05:00 2009-06-11T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. In the 2007-08, more than $580 million in financial aid funds were administered and 77 percent of students on the Urbana-Champaign students received financial aid, according to the Office of Student Financial Aid. To be fully considered for financial aid, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (more commonly known as FAFSA) forms should have been completed by March 15, so you may have missed the boat on that. However, financial aid in other forms may still be waiting for your application. Scholarships are just one form of financial aid and hopefully you have looked into those that were administered by your high school and local communities. The Office of Student Financial Aid told me most scholarships have deadlines in March, but some state, federal and private scholarships still have open applications. To find these, check the scholarship page on the offices Web site (http://www.osfa.uiuc.edu/aid/scholarships/uiuc.html). You can also fill out an Undergraduate Scholarship Supplement Form to assist you in finding scholarships you qualify for. Like I said, it may be too late in many cases. But if theres a chance you could pick up a couple extra hundred dollars here or there, take advantage of it. Find out what scholarships are still out there or get a jump start into looking what you should apply for in 2010. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 11: Search for financial aid and scholarships The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:e221f76a7e0db31148d3229797c8e3c3 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:4eafd55c069a39b058fcd31072273d40 2009-06-25T17:17:14-05:00 2009-06-12T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Go through your couch cushions, keep your eyes open in shopping malls and never give away any change. A quarter is worth nearly twice as much as a dollar on a college campus. ... OK, thats not true, but youll find yourself wanting to trade dollars for quarters whenever you get a chance because they are a much needed commodity. The reason: laundry. Doing laundry on campus can be expensive. A wash usually costs 50 cents to a dollar per cycle and drying is another 50 or 75 cents, and it often takes multiple cycles to dry a single load. Dont go to extremes to procure quarters now, just be aware that it is a hassle to exchange bills for change no matter where you are on campus. Most of the residence halls have quarter machines in their laundry rooms, however, there is no guarantee that yours will be stocked, and asking a local vendor to make change is similar to asking them to give you their first-born child. The best option is to start saving quarters now. Go through your change after you break a 20 and put aside any quarters. It sounds cheap and childish (or old people-ish), but having a quarter jar is smart. Who knows, by the end of summer you might have even saved up enough to last you a semesters worth of laundry and it will feel like you havent made a dent in your cash. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 12: Looking for quarters makes a lot of cents The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:5a7a6185f07dab689218c182fcf3b4ae Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:2a1ef51dbf054d881051c2c56efd1f47 2009-06-25T17:17:05-05:00 2009-06-13T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Admittedly, this advice was given to me from a female, however, it makes a lot of sense. Facebook may be the easiest way to remember birthdays, but it is not always the most reliable. Not everyone is on Facebook and those that are dont always put their birthday information on the social networking site. Plus, unless your parents and other relatives have a Facebook account (in which case thats unfortunate for you), you wont be able to keep track of their special days. Other dates (parents anniversary, Mothers/Fathers Day, etc.) are smart to keep track of. Your family thinks youve forgotten about them when youre away at college. A phone call on their birthday will be a pleasant surprise. And unless you want Sara to totally not speak to you because you forgot her birthday, a detailed calendar might be necessary. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 13: Avoid losing sight of important dates The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:b62b2fca53f1466b2d09f6f05325e357 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:d4142b047a33a86c0425505f9d778f6e 2009-06-25T17:09:52-05:00 2009-06-14T00:01:50-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. You will cut packing, loading and move-in time in half if you store your belongings in boxes and dont have a thousand loose objects. Boxes are easy because you can throw everything in them and just stack them in the car. But the biggest benefit is in bringing your stuff from the car to your dorm room. The move-in process is a pain and whatever you can do to save yourself trips will make you and your family very happy. For starters, it will most likely be either the hottest day of the year or raining. The cart you will have to bring stuff up is about 3-by-5 feet. An I-Guide (sort of a University move-in helper) will be able to pull your cart, but they are instructed not to overload the cart. And they are the only people allowed in the elevators. Imagine the worst case scenario: Youre short on boxes so you have loose objects everywhere and soft duffle bags that cant be stacked. The I-Guide will have to make several trips to take your big items, while you and your parents are forced to go up and down non-air conditioned stairs until all your stuff is finally out of your car and in your room. Just hope your dorm isnt on the top floor of one of the high rises. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 14: Box it up to avoid a nightmare move-in The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:b9b1446d5dac7a83f7478d31f514dcf1 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:cc4e02b4d56d5767a726b6d9b81acebd 2009-06-25T17:08:58-05:00 2009-06-15T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Frisbee has survived on college campuses for decades, and the University of Illinois is no exception. Tossing around a disc on the Quad is on every Things to do before you graduate list. Youll see several games of catch going on from your classroom window (you might have even witnessed it yourself during orientation). Undoubtedly, one of the people will be noticeably challenged in the art of tossing a Frisbee. The wobbly disc spins too high before floating back to the tosser. Conversely, theres bound to be someone zipping frisbees around the Quad at a ridiculous range, throwing backhand and snatching them out of the air with a 30-inch vertical leap. Who do you want to be? Frisbee has even gone beyond recreation.< There are both a mens and womens club ultimate Frisbee team, the former of which has become a national contender. You dont have to be that good, but it is fun to grab a few friends and take a frisbee to the Quad. A little practice will go a long way toward preventing becoming the guy everyone judges from afar. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 15: Frisbee on the Quad a true stereotype The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:f54fd264edeb6c5043be90f1570d4ea3 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:ed2e9fd2d94941a72c9ad49e39bf8fef 2009-06-25T17:08:47-05:00 2009-06-16T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. This should be a no-brainer, but its summer time and its hard to keep track of where your money is going. You have a lot of free time and almost nothing you spend your time on will be free. However, there will be a lot of unexpected expenses that will come up throughout the school year outside of paying for room and board, tuition and books. Many of you will go Greek and house dues, event fees and clothing and other items with your new letters on them can all add up. Heading outside the dorms for dinner can be a pricey choice. If you plan on partaking in various activities of the night, You should be warned that drinking tickets in Champaign are $290. You might also get speeding tickets you wont want to tell your parents about, so youll pay the fine. These examples dont even scratch the surface. Be smart and save a good chunk of whatever you earn. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 16: Live the frugal life now to handle college costs The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:136e63893ca71445c0185e464cf12266 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:0263e1e36aee15e8b1edccc688be37f2 2009-06-25T17:08:30-05:00 2009-06-18T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Campustown has constantly increased the number of chain restaurants to accompany eateries unique to the area. Before I arrived on campus, there was no Chipotle, Noodles or Potbelly. Now, all three are within a block of each other. If you have a car, a bike or sturdy legs, you can find plenty of restaurants that youve heard of off campus too. Parents and relatives are always looking for good gift ideas to send the child they miss so much. They may be hesitant to just send ten bucks in the mail, however, they (probably) know you like food. A gift card to Chipotle or Subway always comes in handy. So do some research and find out what restaurants you enjoy that are available in Champaign or Urbana. A free meal may depend on it. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 18: Familiar restaurants are littered across C-U The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:d97abcf66ea8d5818ebf5eb128f0de13 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:2e23cbd3f53edd70de484e300fcdcc4f 2009-06-25T17:08:14-05:00 2009-06-19T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Ramen is cheap, filling, simple and, surprisingly, tasty. Its great for dorms because all you need is a bowl and a microwave. Unless youre the adventurous type. Personally, I like to make two packets instead of one, but use only the water needed for one recipe and only one of the seasoning packets (I prefer chicken). When its done, its more noodle-like than soupish. I also mix in some garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper. Its less likely youll have these ingredients lying around, which is why you should know what you need to make your perfect Ramen before you go. Web sites including www.mattfischer.com/ramen have a plethora of Ramen recipes to explore. A lot of the recipes include food you can find in any dorm room, such as Doritos, American cheese, tuna, Coke and beef jerky. You may not get sick of just noodles and the seasoning packet, but there are plenty of options if you do. Either way, you can get an entire meal for under a dollar and in less than five minutes. Not much beats that. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 19: Ramen: Incredible, edible, inexpensive The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:6c571f6008a9d6b943f8eba0dbaac3c8 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:132deae537d6f3e2bd85d657e66e8986 2009-06-25T17:08:05-05:00 2009-06-20T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. OK, this may seem like a shameless plug, but I promise, the benefits outweigh my bias. The Daily Illini is an award-winning college newspaper dedicated to delivering students and campus community members important news, issues, sports coverage and commentary and student lifestyle pieces. Of our many accolades, several belong to our highly decorated Web site, which has been a finalist for top college newspaper Web site two years running (second place last year, woot). Recently, DailyIllini.com was named the top newspaper Web site by the Illinois College Press Association. Before you say it yeah, were kind of a big deal. The best part about the DI is that its created entirely by your peers. As a student newspaper, we are dedicated to bringing you news that is important to you. There are many ways to get The Daily Illini, the most obvious being to pick up a paper on the way to class (and reading it during class). But you can also listen to our newscast on 107.1 WPGU every weekday at 5 p.m. Or, to get the best of both and the most up-to-the-minute news, visit DailyIllini.com. You can even sign up for our e-mail edition and receive The Daily Illini in your inbox weekday mornings or when breaking news occurs. Whether you realize it or not, you are a member of a new community now. So whether youre trying to figure out why the fire alarm went off in your dorm last night, how the Illini basketball team matches up against the Big Ten, who you should vote for in the student elections or how to scratch a record, stay informed. Check out DailyIllini.com throughout the summer and the upcoming year. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 20: Your new favorite site: DailyIllini.com The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:418140029d08ec9365aebdc9542616a0 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:f3ae1b5fd19b79296e58ec12ed440658 2009-06-25T17:07:54-05:00 2009-06-21T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Even as a journalism student, in which by definition Im supposed to be doing a lot of writing, I would estimate 95 percent of my homework is reading-related. Youll learn very quickly that teachers expect you to read along with the syllabus. They may not mention a single word from the text in lecture, but in many classes you can guarantee that questions from the readings will show up on midterms and finals. With the massive amounts of reading youll have to do, its important to keep your mind sharp during the summer. Reading a book (or two, or three ... ) will exercise your brain for all the course materials youll be required to absorb during the school year. You wouldnt run a marathon having not run a mile for three months. Here are a few books I recommend that make for good summer reads and will also keep the rust off those wheels in your head: Survivor: A Novel by Chuck Palahniuk East of Eden by John Steinbeck Bringing down the House by Ben Mezrich Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins The Life of Pi by Yann Martel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Freakonomics by Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt Road Swing by Steve Rushin Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 21: Read a book to keep your mind sharp The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:1a353732d2afaca3968f5aa91dcbd2ee Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:d149b650bb6c794fc0b0658035bbd672 2009-06-25T17:07:41-05:00 2009-06-22T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Whether its writing papers, taking notes for class, chatting with friends or just wasting time on the World Wide Web it goes without saying that a computer is the most important school supply you will need to bring. It just so happens to be the most expensive one as well, potentially making the process of finding a computer tedious. It becomes even more difficult when you dont know what kind to buy. Campus Information Technologies and Educational Services, or CITES, is the provider of campus-wide technology support services at the University. The service has a Web site set up to aid students in finding a computer that will be compatible with the systems set up through campus and one specifically for new students (www.cites.uiuc.edu/newtocampus). The site has information on everything: From what kind of software your computer should run to recommendations on memory size, operating systems, wireless cards and even monitors. Finding a computer to fit these requirements and the needs of a college student isnt difficult or expensive. Freshman shouldnt think they need to buy a top of the line performance computer if they just need it for classes, said Andrew Stuko, a CITES help desk consultant. You can find a computer between $800 and $1000 that will be good enough for their college experience. Stuko recommends getting free anti-virus/anti-spyware programs through the University and saving money on that. Different majors may have different requirements for the types of programs they recommend their students have available. Stuko said a computer science major, for example, may need a few programs that a business major wouldnt. Different departments sometimes post any additional requirements they have on the CITES Web site. Deciding between a laptop or desktop and a Mac or PC is really based on the preference of the student. Take some time to weigh the pros and cons of both and then decide on a computer that best fits your needs. The University is compatible with both PCs and Macs as long as you have an operating system as recent as Windows XP or Mac OS X. And choosing a laptop or a desktop should really depend on your major and personal preference. Just make sure when you get here, the computer that fits your needs also fits the Universitys compatibility. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 22: Find a computer that fits your needs The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:0729480724847e6fde22501c8360f5af Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:d320a0aae571dc4bbd7f2bd1290291d2 2009-06-25T17:07:28-05:00 2009-06-23T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The more your parents miss you, the more inclined they are to send you stuff (namely money) when you need it. But if your parents cant wait to get you out of the house, my guess is youll get less sympathy from them when youre in need. So stop the fighting because most of it is just bickering anyway, and Im sure you only care about it halfheartedly. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 23: End all unnecessary fights with parents The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:78359822d0b017483ac74c19ca10381d Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:46a1e623801f3f2beb3d1aea87f4a691 2009-06-25T17:07:15-05:00 2009-06-24T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. At some point youll probably want to send someone something without them knowing. Vague? Yes. But what wont be vague is you, completely out of the blue, asking your friend his or her address two weeks before their birthday. There are also circumstances you wont foresee wanting to send a card for a friend whose relative passed away, for example when asking for an address wont seem appropriate. Instead, put together a database of all your friends contact information at their new residence. And while youre at it put their phone number in it as well so you wont have to create one of those annoying I lost my phone, please give me your number!! LOL OMG!!! Facebook events. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 24: Create a contact list of your friends The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:01bfa6f22b2ebecc7539536db6ea78f3 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:c90a75b9f2c295e65f471e93530f44a8 2009-06-25T17:07:01-05:00 2009-06-25T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Maybe its because as a student you walk a lot, but it seems to rain more in Champaign-Urbana than anywhere else in the world. I dont have the numbers to back this up. Nobody does. So just take it as fact. On the days when the weather isnt walker friendly, the buses are overcrowded and it could take more time waiting to get on one than it would to just walk. The easiest and least expensive solution is to get an umbrella a good one that will encourage you to chuckle at all the pedestrians soaking from the downpour. However, if youre short, please be aware of your surroundings. You tend to take out heads with umbrellas as you pass through crowds. Campus has 11 umbrella-related deaths every year. Dont become a statistic. Practice umbrella safety. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 25: Dont get soaked, buy an umbrella The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:6623f60e12e3d40244a0a59f4f765695 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:98d66556f36973604c6325f77faa98d9 2009-06-25T17:06:44-05:00 2009-06-26T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. As long as you are safe, observant of pedestrians and balanced (meaning not a klutz), a bike is the best way to get around campus. However, some of the bike paths, particularly those around the Quad, are reminiscent of the autobahn and can be a potential disaster. Despite the old adage, perhaps youve forgotten how to ride a bike. I recommend taking the bike out this summer and use it as transportation, at least for close travels, just as practice. However, unless you have a piece of junk, I dont recommend bringing your bicycle to campus. Last year, 31 bike thefts were reported on campus, according to an article written by Eric Anderson of The Daily Illini. The value of your bike probably isnt worth the risk of it being stolen. Instead, consider buying a bike second hand. If you are going to bring your bike to campus, there a few precautions you should take, according to Andersons story. Register your bike with Campus Parking Know your bikes serial number Use a good U-Lock Take it from a victim, getting your bike stolen is no fun. Aside from its cost to replace, altering your schedule is a pain in the neck. Instead of leaving for class at 12:55 and arriving at 12:58, I have to plan around the bus schedule or just walk. Thats 10 minutes of my life, wasted! Im not bitter, as you can tell, but get a sturdy bike lock and dont leave your bike unattended on a rack for two long without checking on it. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 26: Take precautions if you bring a bicycle The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:0ad3140ed0cf59e84008db87c8c1106c Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:33e466acfc94b0c59c00b7c7ef1e073c 2009-06-25T17:06:34-05:00 2009-06-27T00:01:20-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Its about that time when a bonfire with a few good friends is the perfect activity for a summer evening. When the fire begins to burn out, throw all your rejection letters into the flames and enjoy watching them turn charcoal black. Encourage your friends to join you. It might seem dumb, but it actually can be quite therapeutic to get rid of all the negativity before heading to U of I. You were admitted to a great university, considered one of the finest public institutions in the country. Dont let the schools that said no to you define the person you become. Once youre here, no one is going to ask who you received rejections from. Nor will they care what you got on the ACT, what your class rank was or that your No. 1 choice was out of state, but Illinois was the less expensive route. Just as importantly, whoever is hiring you for your first job wont care either. Let whatever road got you here disappear when you arrive. More often than not, it only matters if you let it. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 27: Not going Ivy League? Burn away the rejections The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:0c31dda78664045d19fd1c04dc76abab Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:0ea07732681c1890f6648504ffe08b03 2009-06-25T17:06:21-05:00 2009-06-28T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Where ever you are, take some time to enjoy the holiday. Have a hotdog, play with sparklers, watch the fireworks, but most of all, spend the day with the people you are going to miss the most when you leave for school (which is now less than two months away). You can also begin to prepare for the U.S. History class youre probably going to have to take at some point. Here are some important things to know about the Fourth of July: Fireworks were actually developed by the Chinese for war rockets and explosives. The Star-Spangled Banner is actually set to an English drinking song. The Declaration of Independence, though adopted on July 4, 1776, wasnt signed by most delegates until Aug. 2 of that same year. The first celebration of independence took place on July 8, 1776. Until 1783, Boston celebrated the nations independence on March 5, the anniversary of the Boston Massacre. Work on the Erie Canal (1817), the first railroad (1828) and the Washington Monument (1848) all began on July 4. July 4th wasnt declared a legal holiday until 1941. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 28: Did you know? Facts on the Fourth The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:082925bd6347f8309fa790aa78d86f34 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:fe9a78fef5ebf234859efff2c99db089 2009-06-25T17:06:09-05:00 2009-06-29T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Let me tell you a horror story: During freshman year, my cell phone did not get reception in my dorm room. Scary, I know. And it wasnt just my phone. My friends who shared the same service provider couldnt get reception on half my floor unless we stood with our faces pressed against the screen window. My service on the rest of campus wasnt that bad, but for some reason, on that one floor, trying to get a bar was nearly impossible. But getting yourself cell-phone ready has two steps, and the first is making sure your provider has reliable reception in the area. Try www.cellreception.com, where you can search by zip code to locate cell phone towers. Its also important to find a plan that fits the needs of a college student. Ive survived most of college on a plan that had free nights and weekends and unlimited texting but only 150 anytime minutes. Doable? Yes. But know your own lifestyle before you commit to a plan that doesnt match up with your hours or method of communication. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 29: Be wary of a cell phone signal drop The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:e069a65788839872ffe1902a16286563 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:f1b230826d533a456b5a22d319d3d462 2009-06-25T17:05:58-05:00 2009-06-30T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. This one came from a Y-chromosome carrier as well (youre going to the University of Illinois, you should be smart enough to know what that means), but making scrapbooks is a creative way to document the good times so far. I am also told they make great gifts for friends cheap but great keepsakes no less. Give them to your friends as going away gifts and continue to make them throughout college. Photographs are a great way to capture the moments you wont remember but will never forget (awww) and keeping them in a scrapbook will make them that much more enjoyable to go through. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff June 30: Scrapbook to keep your memories The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:85e65e6138754b6cf6b99f10916325bc Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:5d96a984b4947a33d37331db3e685528 2009-06-25T17:02:55-05:00 2009-07-01T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Freshman year, I suffered nine months without a TCF bank on campus. I could not make a deposit without going home, and I couldnt use an ATM without paying that annoying fee. Therefore, every time I went home I would deposit a stack of checks close to expiring and then get a lecture from my father about how those ATM fees add up. Yea, I know, to $76.50, but whos counting. I then switched to National City, only to find out the University was in the process of entering into a partnership with TCF. It worked out for the best, though, because National City is conveniently located across the street from my work and has an ATM machine right on Green Street. There are a handful of banks in the area that also have nationwide branches, but some of the big name banks dont have a presence in southern Illinois. Make sure your son or daughter opens an account with a bank you will be able to access while you are on campus. Ironically enough, TCF is now the safe choice. The Universitys partnership with the banking company allows students to open free checking accounts and even link their TCF student checking account to their University-issued i-card for use as an ATM and PIN-based debit card. The Illini Union, the Illini Union Bookstore, Campus Recreation Center East, the Undergraduate Library, Grainger Engineering Library, Florida Avenue Residence Hall and Gregory Street Dining Hall all have TCF ATMs, according to the i-card Web site. Other options can be just as convenient, if not more depending on your childs location. Research your current bank and make sure you can find it in Campustown. Otherwise, it would be wise to open another account. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff July 1: Open an account at an on-campus bank The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:535464f977a45ab62af2578604d3f9f2 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:9d40c6d48e6b9dbc89c68ffb293b5a01 2009-06-25T17:02:41-05:00 2009-07-02T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ... And for next year. For those of you that dont know, these two weekends are a time where fathers and mothers come to campus to spend time with their kid. Dads Weekend takes place during the football season and usually lands on a home game some time in October or early November. Fathers come, tailgate with their sons or daughters, watch the Illini play and then spend the next few days being shown around the town, maybe stopping at a bar, passing out too early and leave some spending money before heading home. Moms Weekend is in the spring. Mothers come and watch the annual play, get a delightful dinner and then spend the next few days being shown around the town, maybe stopping at a bar, passing out way too early and then leave some spending money before heading home. It is truly a unique time of the year. Finding a hotel for these high-demand weekends is hard to do, especially when youre starting late in the game. Many of the hotels in the area use a wait-list system. Patrons that used the hotel get first choice on whether or not they would like to reserve a room for the following year, said Jackie Sams, who works the help desk at the Hawthorne Suites of Champaign, 101 Trade Centre Dr. If that person doesnt want a room the following year, then whoever is next on the waiting list moves up. At the Hawthorne Suites, Sams said the waiting list is already closed for Dads Weekend (Oct. 31-Nov.2) and Moms Weekend (April 17-19). People are already calling to be put on the waiting list for Dads Weekend 2009 and Moms Weekend 2010. Weve had to turn down a lot of people for Moms Weekend 09, Sams said. Were already taking names for the Moms Weekend 2010 to be put on the waiting list. The University has already released the dates for the next two years of Dads and Moms weekends. Dads Weekend 2009 will be Nov. 13-15 and 2010 will be Oct. 22-24. Moms Weekend 10 will take place April 16-18 and 11 will be April 8-10. Take advantage of this knowledge and start exploring hotel options now. Moms especially should book a hotel early because there is nothing you will find more disgusting than a college kids living quarters. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff July 2: Book a hotel for Moms and Dads weekends now... The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:c04a07ebb0330d7a876d124ba85d2a34 2009-06-25T14:48:43-05:00 2009-06-25T13:55:08-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The University of Illinois Board of Trustees Executive Committee approved a 2.6 percent tuition increase for incoming fall 2009 freshmen. The increase is less than the original proposal of 4 percent that was to be voted on during Wednesdays meeting. The meeting was a special session via teleconference. It was held because University officials and executive committee board chairman Niranjan Shah in particular decided families of incoming students should not have to wait until July when the next regular Board of Trustee meeting is scheduled to find out tuition prices. Mike Lillich, assistant director in the Office for University Relations, said the reason that tuition was voted on so late was because of the Illinois state budget, which has yet to be finalized. Typically, tuition is voted on in March. The cost for next years room and board was voted on in January. With the increase in tuition, incoming freshmen at the Urbana-Champaign campus will pay $121 more per semester. Tuition for a full year will now cost $9,484. But this years 2.6 percent increase pales in comparison to the 2008-09 increase of 9.5 percent. Champaign, IL Cody Westerlund Tuition increase for incoming freshman The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:b9f72ff6093556181cde376c247209c8 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:4decb182f2abfa5967ae77a46b0a3285 2009-06-25T14:42:54-05:00 2009-06-23T22:24:38-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. With energy efficiency on the rise, a committee requested the Champaign City Councils approval in applying for an energy grant from the federal government. The committee will submit an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant application by Thursday. The city has access to $763,200 from the federal government through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The specific sectors that would receive funding was open ended, said Teri Legner, Economic Development Manager. The application was wide open for the most part, she said. The committee suggested that the funds be directed towards city buildings, the police department and the fire department. The group also received input from the Universitys College of Architecture Smart Energy Design Assistance Center. They helped us kind of pare down where we need things and where theyre voids in our community in particular, Legner said. Smart Energy suggested that a portion of the funding be directed towards non-profit organizations. In the four years the organization has been operating, they have performed over 400 energy audits in Illinois, said Ben Sliwinski, technical director of Smart Energy. One area where we have not been able to serve the public is the nonprofit sector, Sliwinski said. Other funding will still be directed towards public buildings, Legner said. Weve got some building projects of our own and weve got some great ideas for own non-profits, she added. The city council expressed its interest in the grant, but also noted that they would like a grant with specific emphasis on new technology. We have the University of Illinois here and it seems like the perfect opportunity to try new things in our community, said Deborah Feinen, Champaign City Council member. Champaign, IL Bridget Mulcahy Champaign applies for energy grant The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:7e90c4b14a5e2e62f0323f94b6db015e Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:d12e8f942dc868de5593373d7b44e092 2009-06-24T18:31:18-05:00 2009-06-23T10:52:20-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Former Illini football player Vontae Davis' name appeared in a June 11 Champaign Police Department report. The report said that, on June 9 in Champaign, a man named Vontae Ottis Davis with an address of 920 Emerson Street in Washington, D.C. was arrested for unnecessary vehicular noise and driving without a valid license. He was given a notice to appear. Both the name and address match those of the former Illini star. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that Davis and his current team, the Miami Dolphins, said that Davis was in Miami for organized team activities (OTAs) on June 9 and 10. "I talked to Vontae," Harvey Greene, Dolphins senior vice president of media relations, told the Sun-Sentinel. "And he told me he was here all day on June 9. It was an OTA day, followed by a rookie symposium that we know kept him in the building until at least 3:30 (p.m.). There was no way he could have been in Illinois at 6:40 (p.m.) or whenever that happened." The incident occurred at 6:47 p.m. The report summary said the stop was a "Terry Stop," which Champaign Police Department spokesperson Rene Dunn defined as a routine traffic stop. Davis told the Sun-Sentinel that his wallet was stolen before leaving Champaign and that he canceled his credit cards after his wallet was stolen. Davis said it is possible that someone is still using his driver's license as a form of identification. On Wednesday afternoon, the Champaign Police Department issued the following statement: "On 6/9/09, Champaign Police officers stopped a vehicle for a city ordinance violation, loud music. The driver presented a Washington, D.C. drivers license representing him to be Vontae O. Davis, DOB: 5/27/88. The driver was issued a summons for the ordinance violation and a traffic citation and released at the scene. On June 23, 2009, a representative for Vontae Davis contacted the Champaign Police Department regarding the citation and reported that Mr. Davis denied having had contact with our department, or having been in Champaign, Illinois on June 9, 2009. The Champaign Police Department agreed to investigate his assertions, as well as re-examine evidence available from the original traffic stop. The preliminary findings suggest that Mr. Davis statements have sufficient credence that the Champaign County State Attorneys office and the City of Champaign Attorneys office have been contacted and asked to delay any further proceedings in this matter, until the Champaign Police department completes a follow up investigation." Davis is a rookie cornerback for the Dolphins, who chose him with the 25th overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft in April. In an earlier story, The Daily Illini incorrectly reported that former Illini football player Vontae Davis was at the scene and arrested. The Daily Illini regrets the error. Champaign, IL Daily Illini staff report Davis' 'arrest' probably situation of identity fraud The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:6e9feef0d48ead6730ce88ecc22b34cc Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:385eac97fcc9dcd146ae4e913f851d02 2009-06-23T23:34:25-05:00 2009-06-22T23:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The companies are seeking state approval for rate increases of about 34 percent (Illinois American) and about $150 a year for an average Ameren customer...Last week, State Rep. Naomi Jakobsson began a petition drive against rate hikes proposed by Ameren Illinois Utilities and Illinois-American Water. The companies are seeking state approval for rate increases of about 34 percent (Illinois American) and about $150 a year for an average Ameren customer. The increases still must be approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission. While there are valid reasons to demanding these rate hikes, the proposed increases are unacceptable in the current economic climate. Ameren cites increasing costs of materials for repairs in the wake of several heavy storms in the area and increasing numbers of bills that must be "written off" because customers are unable to pay as a few of the reasons for increasing rates. Ameren and other utility companies should realize that a rate increase is not the solution for customers that already have trouble paying their bills. Under the proposed increases, a typical residential customer would pay $97 more a year for electricity and $55 more for natural gas. Even among those who can afford these increases, people will have to sacrifice other necessities in order to survive day-to-day. In the long term, a rate increase for Ameren and Illinois-American is probably necessary, but in the short run it would only cause unneeded financial stress for families already struggling to make a living. The proposed increase seems particularly misguided given that Ameren raised rates last September. That amounted to a $6 to $18 dollar monthly increase for electricity and $4 to $9 increase for gas. It seems doubtful that costs for Ameren have risen so rapidly that this increase could not sustain them for more than a year. No doubt utility companies are hurting along with everyone else, but companies have financial resources that households do not. Every sector of society has been impacted by the financial crisis. Struggling families are the most vulnerable and therefore deserve the most protection. Since most households have roughly the same utility costs, an increase in gas and electricity rates hits the poorest of the poor harder than the middle class. With both Ameren and Illinois-American having already raised rates in the past year, the proposed increases are unnecessary and would adversely impact many struggling families. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Editorial Board Poor timing for increased rates The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:15f68be0f9f23b4653ab81fa42161a4a Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:27c2d66d5d2f4a8e7318ce8a73cf976b 2009-06-23T23:29:34-05:00 2009-06-19T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. - Maybe it was the intimidation of playing alongside the likes of Purdue's Robbie Hummel and Penn State's Talor Battle. Perhaps it was the presence of ESPN senior writer, Andy Katz, pacing up and down the sidelines for 72 hours. Or it could have been the tiny dorm rooms he had to stay in for three consecutive nights with the other seven-footers. Either way, Illinois big man Mike Tisdale was told to depart the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., around noon on Thursday, as he failed to qualify for USA Basketball's World University Games team. All Tisdale could do was wish the best of luck to his new friends before they head to Belgrade, Serbia on July 2 to compete for ten days. "It was a good experience," Tisdale said on his way out of the Training Center. "I think there's some really good players on the team, so good luck to them, and I hope they bring back the gold." Meanwhile, Illini head coach Bruce Weber was present at the trials as both a member of USA Basketball's five-member selection committee and Tisdale's supporter. Weber knew his player was an outside shot to make the team and said it was an uphill battle for Tisdale from the beginning. "I think the only way he would have made it - distinguish himself - is if he just shot lights out because that's what he does probably different than the other guys," Weber said. "He shot OK, but not great. If he would have done that it would have given him a little bit of a boost to get on the team." The selection committee was composed of coaches Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), Lorenzo Romar (Washington), Roy Williams (North Carolina), Weber and athlete representative Jay Williams, while the team will be coached by Wisconsin's Bo Ryan. Instead of Tisdale, the committee went with big men Jarvis Varnado of Mississippi State, Craig Brackins of Iowa State and Trevor Booker of Clemson, who scored 16 points in the Tigers' defeat of the Illini in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Dec. 2. Tisdale's original hope after arriving in Colorado Springs was that the committee would hear his voice on the court. "It's important to have a couple big leaders on the team, especially to bring people together," Tisdale said Tuesday night, following the first day of trials. "That's what I'm really trying to work on - being a leader for these guys and helping them out, and it will hopefully bring us all together." Despite the outcome, the Riverton, Ill., native was honored just to have the opportunity to try out. After teammate Mike Davis broke his ankle last week, Weber and the committee chose Tisdale to fill Davis' void at the trials. "It was pretty cool to be able to do that," Tisdale said about putting on a USA uniform for three days. "(Playing for) USA is a whole other thing than the Illini. All these guys are good players, and it kind of makes you realize what you got to go up against every day," Tisdale said. Weber said Tisdale has come a long way in his first two seasons at Illinois. "He's gained 50 pounds in the last year and a half, so we hope he can make some big strides," Weber said. "He's only 19-years-old. He was only a month or so away from playing for the 19-and-under (team), and he would have been the best player there. And that's what he's got to keep in mind - he's a young guy." Weber believes players must play against the best in situations like this in order to become the best themselves. "He learned a lot," Weber said of Tisdale. "I think he found out he can play with these guys, now he just has to go home and get strong. Two years from now, he has another chance to come out here and maybe make it." Champaign, IL Stuart Lieberman Tisdale fails to qualify for USA World University Games team The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:26e3dcb90aa10011db5b660c463f325f Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:ed36efefb9600aa36fc6ca1404844630 2009-06-23T23:27:46-05:00 2009-06-23T12:14:37-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Web site reports that Boise State will visit Champaign on Dec. 5. The story said, "University of Illinois officials confirmed Monday that the Broncos and the Fighting Illini have 'agreed upon a game.' Boise State has not yet signed a game contract with the Big Ten Conference school." Idahostatesman.com also reports there will not be a return game to Boise made by the Illini. Boise State finished 9-7 in the WAC last season and 19-13 overall, losing in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational to Stanford. Champaign, IL Daily Illini staff report Illini basketball to host Boise State The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:57d24b024678f5c614db5d48447871d1 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:e7f0e87a989f795e1213ff197fce76f7 2009-06-23T23:25:05-05:00 2009-06-23T12:56:41-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Metrorail transit system kept the old trains running despite warnings in 2006, said Debbie Hersman of the National Transportation Safety Board. It wasnt immediately clear what caused the crash and whether age played a role in the rush-hour collision Monday. The crash sent more than 70 people to hospitals. Metro officials said two men and seven women, all adults, were killed. Mayor Adrian Fenty said at an earlier news conference that seven people were killed and he hoped the death toll did not climb any higher. Hersman said investigators expect to recover recorders from a newer train that was stopped along the tracks waiting for another to clear the station ahead. But the old train that barreled down the tracks and triggered the collision was part of aging fleet and not equipped with the devices, which can provide valuable information on the cause of a crash. Hersman told The Associated Press that the NTSB had warned of safety problems and recommended the old fleet be phased out or retrofitted to make it better withstand a crash. Neither was done, she said, which the NTSB considered unacceptable. Metro officials planned to replace the old trains, but were years away from them rolling on the tracks. It was the worst crash in the history of Metrorail, the pride of the District of Colombia tourism industry that has shuttled tourists and commuters around Washington and to Maryland and Virginia suburbs for more than three decades. The operator of the train that collided into the stopped cars was identified as Jeanice McMillan, 42, of Springfield, Va., according to Metro officials. McMillan was hired in March 2007 as a bus driver and was tapped to become a train operator in December, but it wasnt immediately clear whether she had control of the cars. Metro has a computerized system on most trains during rush hour that is supposed to control braking, speeds and prevent collisions. The system, however, has failed before. In June 2005, in a tunnel under the Potomac River, a train operator noticed he was getting too close to the train ahead of him even though the system indicated the track was clear. He hit the emergency brake in time, as did the operator of another train behind him. Metro spokeswoman Candace Smith didnt know the outcome of the investigation into that incident, which she called highly unusual. The crash Monday occurred on the red line near the D.C. and Maryland border, in an area where higher train speeds are common because there is a longer distance between stops. Trains can go 55 to 59 miles per hour, though the trains speed hasnt yet been determined. One of McMillans neighbors said she was proud of her job and was a meticulous mother who ironed her Metro uniform every night. If she could have stopped the train, she would have done everything in her power, said Joanne Harrison, who lives across the hall from McMillan. Passenger Maya Maroto, 31, was riding on McMillans train. We were going full speed I didnt hear any braking. Everything was just going normally. Then there was a very loud impact. We all fell out of our seats. Then the train filled up with smoke. I was coughing, Maroto said. Maroto, of Burtonsville, Md., said there was confusion after the impact because no announcements were immediately made. She said some passengers wanted to climb out, but others were afraid of being electrocuted by a rail. Tijuana Cox, 21, was in the train that was hit. She had her sprained arm in a sling Tuesday. Everybody just went forward and came back, with peoples knees hitting the seats in front of them, said Cox, of Lanham, Md. The only other fatal crash in the Metro subway system occurred Jan. 13, 1982, when three people died as a result of a derailment. That was a day of disaster in the capital: Shortly before the subway crash, an Air Florida plane slammed into the 14th Street Bridge immediately after takeoff from Washington National Airport. The plane crash, during a severe snowstorm, killed 78 people. In January 2007, a subway train derailed in downtown Washington, sending 20 people to the hospital and prompting the rescue of 60 others from the tunnel. In November 2006, two Metro track workers were struck and killed by an out-of-service train. An investigation found that the train operator failed to follow safety procedures. Another Metro worker was struck and killed in May 2006. Champaign, IL By Brian Witte, The Associated Press NTSB: Train in DC crash should have been replaced The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:27c20a93c89bfd0336394f370163d43c Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:216924dbdf7754b7aa15d5781341274d 2009-06-23T22:37:58-05:00 2009-06-24T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Obama talks tougher on Iran, 'appalled and outraged' at violence WASHINGTON - Dramatically hardening the U.S. reaction to Iran's disputed elections and bloody aftermath, President Barack Obama condemned the violence against protesters Tuesday and lent his strongest support yet to their accusations the hardline victory was a fraud. Obama, who has been accused by some Republicans of being too timid in his response to events in Iran, declared himself "appalled and outraged" by the deaths and intimidation in Tehran's streets - and scoffed at suggestions he was toughening his rhetoric in response to the criticism. He suggested Iran's leaders will face consequences if they continue "the threats, the beatings and imprisonments" against protesters. But he repeatedly declined to say what actions the U.S. might take, retaining - for now - the option of pursuing diplomatic engagement with Iran's leaders over its suspected nuclear weapons program. Ship from N. Korea suspected of carrying arms to Myanmar could test new UN sanctions SEOUL, South Korea - An American destroyer tailed a North Korean ship Tuesday as it sailed along China's coast, U.S. officials said, amid concerns the vessel is carrying illicit arms destined for Myanmar. The sailing sets up the first test of a new U.N. Security Council resolution that authorizes member states to inspect North Korean vessels suspected of carrying banned weapons or materials. The sanctions are punishment for an underground nuclear test the North carried out last month in defiance of past resolutions. A U.S. official said last week that the American destroyer has no orders to intercept the ship, but experts say the vessel will need to stop to refuel soon. The resolution prohibits member states from providing such services to ships accused of bearing banned goods. Nearby Singapore - the world's largest refueling hub - says it will "act appropriately" if the ship docks at its port with suspicious goods on board. U.S. defense and counterproliferation officials said Tuesday that an impending missile test threatened by North Korea is expected to launch short- to medium-range missiles rather than a long-range missile similar to one tested in April. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff Odds and Ends The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:0b61a4e863c0f5e7e20001aea1c33962 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:b284f819fbac484a861d774ca9250386 2009-06-23T22:26:42-05:00 2009-06-24T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Champaign A 20-year-old man was arrested at the 300 block of West Green Street, Monday evening. According to the police report, the man and a female got in an argument. The man followed the victim after she left and battered her. A 16-year-old girl was issued a ban notice from Schnucks, 109 N. Mattis Rd., Saturday evening. According to the police report, the girl attempted to steal a package of organic yogurt. The store issued a ban notice and the girl was released to her father. Theft was reported at Chester Street Bar, 63 E. Chester St., late Sunday night. According to the police report, an unknown offender stole the victim's cell phone while she was inside of the bar area. A 39-year-old man reported criminal damage to property at the 1000 block of West Vine Street, early Sunday morning. According to the police report, an unknown offender slashed the tires on the man's vehicle and poured gasoline on it. A 24-year-old woman reported theft at Highdive, 51 E. Main St., Monday evening. According to the police report, while the woman was at the bar, an unknown offender stole the woman's purse, cell phone, debit card, drivers' license, cash and keys. A 19-year-old woman reported burglary at 600 block of South Fifth Street, early Monday morning. The suspect entered the apartment through an unsecured patio door and stole fifteen DVDs, a cell phone charger, an iPod, iPod dock, a flat screen television, cash and a MacBook computer. Urbana A 45-year-old man was arrested at the 2000 block of South Philo Road, Sunday night. According to the police report, the man attacked and choked a 44-year-old man without provocation. A witness observed the incident and separated them. A 25-year-old man reported burglary from his residence at the 900 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue, Monday evening. According to the police report, the suspect entered through an unlocked back door and stole a Playstation game system. A neighbor confronted the suspect, who ran away before police arrived. An 18-year-old man was arrested at Walmart, 100 S. High Cross Rd., Monday evening, on charges of retail theft. According to the police report, the man did not pay for a video game and took it past the last point of purchase. A 34-year-old woman was arrested at the 400 block of North Vine Street, early Monday morning, on charges of domestic battery. According to the police report, the woman and her boyfriend live together. The suspect battered the victim and threw his phone on the ground when he tried to dial 911. Compiled by James VandeBerg Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff Police Blotter 6-24-2009 The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:b192efefb07acda0fe16550b9d3135d1 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:5b8d711e24577e15da35c858e1cd6457 2009-06-23T22:03:43-05:00 2009-06-24T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. As foreign journalists have been blocked from protests by the Iranian government, local citizens have stepped up to fill the void. Traffic to the site from Iran has dropped 90 percent since it was banned by the government last week, but footage of the riots continues to be posted through users in the U.S. YouTube videos depict protestors being beaten by police, an attack on a dormitory at Tehran University and the shooting of Neda Agha Soltan, who has become a martyr in the Iranian resistance movement. As advocates of the right to free speech, we commend the Iranian citizens for having the courage not only to resist their oppressive government, but also for risking their own lives to document their resistance. In the violent chaos of the Iranian streets, anyone who draws attention to themselves becomes a police target and taking pictures or video is one way to draw that fatal attention. Citizens who report on events from Iran never receive a byline or credit for their work, but nevertheless put themselves in the line of fire. "They're shooting directly at civilians, but the civilians are undeterred. Have we ever been able to watch a revolution like this in real time?" wrote Atlantic Monthly commentator Andrew Sullivan. Citizen journalism in Iran sets a precedent for people around the globe fighting oppression. Keeping the rest of the world informed about the Iranian government's abuses serves a noble purpose. While President Obama has so far resisted intervention in the Iran situation, it is essential that the world community be able to see and hear reports of the violence if any country or group of countries plans to take action to help the Iranian people. In a country that censors access to blogs, YouTube and other Web sites, reporting itself is an act of resistance. The observer who took a video of Neda Agha Soltan's death sent the video to a friend who forwarded it to the London Guardian and other newspapers who publicized it worldwide. The publication of the footage transformed Neda from an anonymous victim into a hero of the Iranian resistance movement. Every picture and video that escapes from Iran is a crack in the brick wall that the Iranian government has built to squelch dissent. Our hats are off to the Iranian citizens who have courageously taken on the duty of documenting their resistance for the world. Through sheer grit, they have become the world's window into one of the most important struggles for freedom of our time. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Editorial Board Iranian citizens show courage by speaking out The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:3c0efc7a60a85e233fb20c2e475c7970 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:bb5df41902e6e0facdb3e4c4a81586d5 2009-06-23T14:47:06-05:00 2009-06-23T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. While residents in Urbana enjoy a recycling program that picks up their recyclables from the curb, there is no such program for local businesses. In order to remedy this situation, a voluntary program was proposed to Urbana City Council on Monday that would allow businesses adjacent to residential homes to utilize the citys Multifamily and Residential curbside program. [The program] would only apply to small businesses that are located next to residence, said Brandon Bowersox, Urbana city council member. These businesses would pay the same fee for program as residents of $2.50 per month and service would be based on voluntary enrollment. Then they would be able to place their recyclables on the curb just like residents and they would be taken care of. If we can help more businesses recycle thats great, Bowersox added. In addition, this program would be fairly easy to implement and efficient seeing as it would be an addition to the existing program. While more complex, broad recycling programs may be realized in the future, this program can serve the community immediately, Bowersox said. Another important aspect of this program is the sustainability factor. Along with that, people can save money if they recycle more and have less trash, said Charlie Smyth, Urbana city council member. I feel I save money by recycling, he added. Local businesses want to recycle, but a program does not exist. Instead they have individual contracts with haulers to take care of their waste. Some businesses that are located next to residents have started informally using the residential program simply by moving their recyclables over 6 inches, Smyth said. Im just putting what I see in practice into a formal program, he added. The city council will further discuss this program at its next meeting on July 13. As soon as the program gets approve by the Council, it will be put into practice, Smyth said. Its just a matter of adding them like we add any new customer, he added. There is not expected to be any resistance from the hauling company that runs Urbanas curbside program. It seems that businesses would prefer to have more customers than fewer, said Dennis Roberts, Urbana city council member. The program would answer to an existing demand, Smyth said. The first rule of recycling is to make it easy, he added. Champaign, IL Bridget Mulcahy UCC proposes recycling program for local businesses The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:48f7170b9b4bc029d38adcc2d157027a Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:e7bbae441e640a0e07872923434b537c 2009-06-23T14:07:37-05:00 2009-06-23T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Beginning March 16, six waves of vandalism were committed against the "Beyond the Chief" art exhibit in front of cultural houses along Nevada Avenue in Urbana. On June 13, a seventh crime was committed. But this one was different. It differed because, unlike the previous six cases, a suspect was identified on camera and arrested. The use of security cameras to apprehend a suspect guilty of vandalism and theft showed how such a device can be used effectively, according to University Chief of Police Barbara O'Connor. "The use of the cameras in that area was the most cost-effective way to apprehend the offender, and our recent success I think sort of proves that," O'Connor said. The University Senate Executive Committee (SEC) has been examining how to revamp and better the rules surrounding the use of security cameras on campus. According to SEC chair Nick Burbules, the discussion is now as important as ever. "I think the events at the Native American House ... may very well spark a larger discussion, which is a discussion that I think is worth having on this campus," Burbules said. While security cameras could be used in many places, neither Burbules nor O'Connor is in favor of using them arbitrarily or indiscriminately, citing privacy as an issue. Both consider security cameras successful when they balance privacy with safety and security. "I think from a security perspective, you evaluate the risk to the community," O'Connor said. "Are crimes occurring there? Are they an anomaly, or is it happening with some relative frequency? You couldn't put a camera everywhere to cover everything, it just doesn't make sense." The vandalism around the Native American House in particular warranted the installation of cameras, as opposed to putting them in front of other houses. But on a campus where cameras are relatively few and far between, Native American House director Dr. Robert Warrior described a somewhat prolonged process of getting them. "Robin Kaler, I know, has reported to the press that we were opposed to putting up cameras," Warrior said. "I initially expressed opposition to putting up cameras without being able to talk to members of my faculty about it. Once I had done that, then we certainly supported the idea. "It was several weeks ... and at least a couple more reported incidents of vandalism before the chancellor raised the issue again." However, Warrior was satisfied with the end result, as the cameras did catch a suspect. The ongoing discussion in the SEC surrounding the use of cameras also focuses on what they can be used for once installed. In the past few weeks, the discussion regarding cameras has focused on specific scenarios and what cameras could or could not be used for in those situations. "I think the important thing is to have policies for where these cameras can go and what the information that's gathered can be used for," Burbules said. "It needs to be very clear-cut." Burbules cited that progress has been made, with multiple committees having examined the issue. Currently, the University Police Department uses its discretion for the placement of cameras. And while the cameras' use must be carefully considered, O'Connor has found them to be beneficial. "I think from a police perspective, cameras in my experience ... have proven to be a very effective crime-prevention tool," O'Connor said. "And what people often misunderstand about cameras is their mere presence doesn't necessarily deter crime. People may not even know that the camera exists. Where you get the deterrent effect is over a period of time, you increase your apprehension rate." Champaign, IL Kevin Kaplan Cameras prove key in arrest of vandalism suspect The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:7c294b263646ae5cff036e366de104cf Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:6d8cbe4b61808f0ef5e841f49a6289e1 2009-06-23T14:05:08-05:00 2009-06-22T23:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Illinois Green Business Association (IGBA), founded by recent University graduates Mara Eisenstein and Cassie Carroll and Anthony Santarelli, senior in ACES, is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to help area businesses become certified for environmental sustainability. "A business owner is busy running the business and might not have time to do everything required," Carroll said. "We help facilitate through the entire process." IGBA helps businesses achieve the group's green business certification through the use of a checklist of prerequisites that covers nine general areas of sustainable practices. "There are both required and optional green management practices on the checklist," Eisenstein said. "The business must satisfy the required part as well as some of the optional areas, which allows for flexibility." The group continues to help the businesses in other ways by identifying areas of improvement, measuring operational performance and obtaining financial incentives. They also educate the public about the green practices in place at the business. "We market them as a green business and we put an educational poster on the business's wall," Carroll said. "The customer can walk out of the store and see that they can be part of this." Bates thinks that their help will reflect positively on her business. "I think it will definitely be worth it to work with them," Bates said. "We will communicate better to the community that we are interested in being green." The inspiration to implement this program stemmed from involvement in campus environmental organizations. "It all stemmed from realizing that we wanted to unify campus and the local community in a bigger way," Carroll said. "And through business leadership we were able to do that." The group also has a board to help in managing their work. "We have a vast diversity of different community leaders that give varied input," said Eisenstein. IGBA has an executive committee comprised of Mike Royse of One Main Development, Don Schlorff of Busey Bank, David Wilcoxen of University Facilities and Services and Dick Warner of the University Office of Sustainability. "The executive board is a huge part of the decision making process." Eisenstein said. The IGBA is currently in the pilot stage of their program. In the next few months, they will be working with 15 businesses in Champaign, Urbana and Savoy. Other goals the group has include working with the University to hold seminars and have a hand in University classes. They also hope to work on program development. "Over the next few months, we want to solidify our policies," Eisenstein said. "We want to make sure that certification is achievable and realistic for the business owners." Champaign, IL Kate Szyszka University graduates, students helping to make C-U a little greener The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:9ef7e0399a77b6c92061f717b147db71 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:c017af307cdaec98c1b739b7de6a8725 2009-06-23T02:07:53-05:00 2009-06-22T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The tornado warning this past weekend marked the second time that the Universitys Illini Alert system had been used since its creation. Around 7 p.m. on Friday, the school sent text messages and e-mail alerts reading, Emergency! Tornado expected to hit UI campus. Seek shelter indoors immediately and turn to local media for details after a tornado warning was issued when swirling clouds were spotted in Savoy. The decision to activate alerts like these is a serious one, and in the case of the severe weather last weekend, we feel the University got it right. In order to preserve the integrity of the message system, the University must make the decision to use it judiciously. While no tornado touched down in the campus area on Friday, the storm caused significant damage to property in Champaign and Urbana, and tornado sirens sounded around 7 p.m. The potential for a tornado in the area was a significant safety threat, making the storm a perfect example of when the Illini Alert system should be used. The campus-wide power outage in March did not demand the same treatment. We agree with the importance that school officials must be able to communicate with students in the event of a crisis. But we want the University to know that this Alert system cannot take it lightly. The alerts were sent for the first time during the March power outage, which we argue was not an appropriate time to use the communication. Illini Alert was created in the wake of shootings that occurred on campuses around the country, including the tragedy at Northern Illinois University in February 2008. While the explanation provided for the outage was helpful, it should not have been presented to students through an emergency alert. Along with causing unnecessary alarm, sending alerts in circumstances like these undermines the efficacy of the system. If alerts are sent for non-emergency situations in the future, students will start to ignore them, which could have disastrous consequences in the case of an actual emergency. We understand that the university does not take lightly the decision to send out an alert. However, in order in order for the system to be effective, it should be activated only in cases where an immediate threat to student safety exists. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Editorial Board Alert used appropriately The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:8b58bfa9e198667418d251769277200c Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:8ba4c0e1cf45520e101b10cbceb36157 2009-06-22T22:59:50-05:00 2009-06-19T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The protest, which began at 8 p.m., was composed of students of both Iranian and non-Iranian descent. About 70 to 80 students comprised the crowd to mourn those who were killed in the protests in Tehran, Iran. Many of those at the protest were hesitant to reveal their names because they were not sure how safe they would be for participating in such an event. One Iranian-born student said that he was protesting against a government that was not tolerant of any dissent. "There were demonstrations at the university in Tehran," said the man. "Even though they were peaceful protests, the whole university was attacked. Many students had died for speaking out against the election." Though the man did not personally know any of the people who were injured at the university, he had heard of others who were. Two younger women who were a part of the demonstration at the Alma Mater knew of people who were killed in the raids on on the University of Tehran. "This demonstration is a vigil for those who were injured both physically and emotionally in Iran," said one of the women present. "I know five students from my undergraduate college in Iran who were killed in the middle of the night at the university." The two women said that they are both insulted by the re-election of President Ahmadinejad. "We all went to vote on our campus," said the second woman. "Most everyone who voted here voted for Mir Hussein Moussavi. We think that it was probably the same in Iran as well." The man and the two women both think it is unfair that Ahmadinejad was elected. Though the president does not make any major policy changes, said one of the women, it's the little things that need to be changed. "My mom, who is in Tehran, said that it was a very, very sad day for Iranians when they heard he won," said the one woman regarding President Ahmadinejad. "The little things we want changed are the freedom of people to be in the streets, with no dress code, and without being harassed by the police." Iran's Supreme Leader will address the nation Friday morning for the first time since the results of the election were announced. "We are really waiting to hear what he has to say," said one of the women. "Whatever he says will determine how it will be. He won't explicitly call for a revote, but he will calmly say what he has to say to the Iranian people." Champaign, IL Landon Cassman Community holds campus vigil for victims in Iran The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:5b592a9e37c3474d12c4a05a1ef50598 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:60214fa42d8726e4fa09fbdf96ba7247 2009-06-22T22:58:41-05:00 2009-06-18T23:30:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Gymnast Paul Ruggeri took home the award on the men's side, while track and field and cross-country runner Angela Bizzarri claimed the award for the women. Ruggeri won the award after placing first at nationals in both the parallel bars and high bar as a sophomore. "It's a great honor to be associated with the award because so many great athletes, professional athletes, Olympians have come before me and received this award," Ruggeri said. A gymnast since the age of seven, Ruggeri hopes to follow in the footsteps of his coach, Justin Spring, who went on to medal in the Olympics after winning the Dike Eddleman award. During last gymnastics season, Ruggeri won conference championships on parallel bars and floor and took home 13 individual event titles in addition to his two individual national titles. Based on those results, Ruggeri may have more Dike Eddleman awards in his future, though that isn't something that he is thinking about yet. "Of course it's too early, you never know what can happen in the future, you know," Ruggeri said. "Injuries happen. I mean those are always unexpected, but you hope to avoid those, and if I continue to avoid those then continue to improve, (you) never know what can happen." While Ruggeri would be aiming at his second Dike Eddleman award next season as a junior, Bizzarri would be pursuing her third as a senior. The junior received the honor for the second year in a row after winning the 5,000 meters both at the Big Ten Championships and at nationals. Bizzarri also placed sixth at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. "It's been a really good season. I won my first NCAA title, so I couldn't be happier," said the multi-sport athlete. Winning the award a third time would not be out of the question for Bizzarri, who need only look at Illinois track and field great Perdita Felicien, who won the award from 2001-2003. Illinois women's track and field has been well represented in recent years, as Bizzarri's accomplishment marks the fifth year in a row that the women's Dike Eddleman award has been earned by a track and field athlete. "We have a really great track and field program, obviously, so I mean it's great to keep it on going. We have a lot of good girls now and hopefully it will continue for years to come," Bizzari said. Champaign, IL Kevin Kaplan Illini athletes receive Eddleman awards The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:0a78d9f8a1d2c2289e4410bcb0657b73 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:8a22f4a427ddb1ec932ad2c8836003e7 2009-06-22T22:57:49-05:00 2009-06-22T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Champaign Theft was reported at the 00 block of East Washington, Saturday morning. According to the police report, the suspect stole an MP3 player from the victim and then sold it to another subject. Burglary from a motor vehicle was reported at the 300 block of East Stoughton, Thursday morning. According to the police report an unknown offender entered the victim's unlocked car and stole credit and debit cards as well as several checks. A 22-year-old woman was arrested at the 1600 block of West Bradley, Saturday night. According to the police report, the offender was arrested for trespassing. Urbana Residential burglary was reported at the 400 block of East Main Street, Saturday morning. According to the police report, an unknown offender entered the victim's apartment by forcing a window open. The offender stole several CDs, an XBOX with two controllers and several games. Theft was reported at the 1500 block of Montgomery, Saturday morning. According to the police report, unknown offenders removed the victim's basketball hoop and backboard from the victim's driveway. A 33-year-old woman was arrested at the 200 block of South Lincoln Avenue, early Sunday morning. According to the police report, the offender was observed staggering into a local gas station with glassy, bloodshot eyes and the odor of alcohol on her breath. The woman was taken to jail where she refused chemical testing. A 19-year-old man was arrested at the 200 block of East Illinois Street, Friday morning. According to the police report, a crimestoppers tip lead to the arrest of the man who was wanted on an in-state warrant. A 24-year-old woman was arrested near the intersection of Lierman and Washington, Friday afternoon. According to the police report, the woman was stopped for a traffic violation and it was found she had a suspended license and a warrant our for her arrest. University A 22-year-old man was arrested at 907 W. Oregon St., Wednesday night. According to the police report the man was arrested for misdemeanor theft of two art signs that had been near the Native American Studies Building. Property damage was reported at the Ikenberry Commons, 107 E. Gregory Drive, sometime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday. According to the police report, a beer bottle was thrown through a second story window of the building, which is currently under construction. Compiled by Melissa Silverberg Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff Police Blotter 6-22-2009 The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:e0de515d51a339dd45431a0dd2af95ee Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:7f002c14dddcafbf78fa9f9e2382527f 2009-06-22T22:51:00-05:00 2009-06-22T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The qualifying rounds for Wimbledon began with 16 doubles teams and 128 individuals. They ended with four doubles teams, 16 individuals and two former Illini. After four Illini competed in the Wimbledon gentlemen's qualifying rounds, Rajeev Ram and Kevin Anderson advanced to the main draw, which kicked off Monday at 4 a.m. central time. "I think in the eyes of US fans, (Wimbledon) is THE tournament that people look out for. I'm really proud of both Rajeev and Kevin for them to get through," said Brad Dancer, Illinois men's tennis head coach. Former Illini Amer Delic and Ryler DeHeart were eliminated in the first and second rounds the gentlemen's qualifying singles, respectively. Anderson was eliminated by No. 2 seed Simon Greul. Though falling in singles, Anderson also teamed up with former University of Virginia star Somdev Devvarman to compete in the gentleman's qualifying doubles draw. The two overcame the No. 8-seeded duo of Sergei Bubka and Sergiy Stakovski and then defeated Alessandro Motti and Joseph Sirianni to advance to the doubles main draw. "I think Kevin's obviously disappointed in singles," Dancer said. "But when that happens you've got to do the best you can and rebound, and so he'll give himself a chance in the doubles, and you know he did pretty well there last year too in doubles." Anderson and partner Robert Lindstedt made it as far as the quarterfinals at last years' Wimbledon. Anderson and Devvarman are set to compete against Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles in first-round main draw play. Dancer believes that the duo will represent collegiate tennis well. "It's kind of fun that (Anderson) and Somdev, two former rivals in the collegiate circuit, (are) playing together. And you know, if you're looking for ambassadors for college tennis and who you'd want in there, maybe ... there's no two better guys than Kevin and Somdev out there," he said. Ram advanced to the main draw after defeating No. 18 seed Lamine Ouahab, Sam Warburg and Andrea Stoppini in singles qualifying. Dancer believes Ram's strengths, specifically his talent when playing on grass, could take him far at Wimbledon. "(Ram's) not a guy that anybody would be looking to compete against, I don't think. He's just very, very good on that type of surface," Dancer said. Ram's first test in the main draw will be Germany's Philipp Petzchner. Dancer cited just one thing that could prevent Ram advancing. "As long as the scene doesn't get too big for him, which I don't see why it would be because he's been in a lot of big matches before, then I think Rajeev has got a great chance of doing well," Dancer said. The "scene" of Wimbledon is the biggest in the world of tennis – or at least close to it. And for Dancer, just the fact that former Illini players have made it to that stage is something to be proud of. "It's great ... Wimbledon is still Wimbledon," Dancer said. Champaign, IL Kevin Kaplan Two former Illini advance to Wimbledon main draw The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:a60b48c9d56949d618129c45511b5cad Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:1f6e84839980a063eb7a19e9dee80100 2009-06-22T22:46:25-05:00 2009-06-22T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Green Silly String shot out of the canister toward the children, who scrambled away as quickly as they could. "I dodged the snot!" said Lauran Miller, 9 of Champaign. Miller and around 20 other children were part of Germ Buster Boot Camp, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District's new disease prevention program. Julie Pryde, public health administrator at CUPHD, said the group that came together on Friday, June 19 would act as a focus group to determine what materials would be used for the program when visiting schools, day cares and camps the rest of this summer and into the fall. She said the program was developed because of the pervasiveness of the H1N1 virus, and the expectation that it will get worse in the fall. "The messages are never going to change no matter how virulent this gets or how mild it remains," Pryde said. These messages are: 1. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve, not your hands. 2. Do not touch your "T-Zone," including your eyes, nose and mouth. 3. Wash your hands frequently using good hand washing practices. 4. Stay home when you are sick to prevent infecting others At the boot camp, the children learned these messages through various skits, videos and interactive activities with costumed characters named T-Zone, Sleevz, and Hand Wash-R. CUPHD Wellness and Health Promotion employees, Deb Fruitt, Jennifer Jackson and Maria Capps dressed up as these characters, and each taught the children about their respective messages. "They're doing really well," said Jackson. "They're already utilizing their information." Kamryn Pettigrew, 10 of Champaign, said she came to learn how to wash her hands properly, and how to tell her friends at school when they are doing something that would spread germs. Young children are just as aware of the swine flu epidemic as adults are, Pryde said, so they are a good resource for getting the word out about how to prevent the spread of disease. "Kids will reinforce this way better than we ever can so we're hoping that we can get Champaign County as healthy as possible this fall," Pryde said. Maya Pryde-Wait, 9 of Champaign said her friends are scared of the swine flu, but the boot camp taught her how to help prevent people from spreading germs, which helped to ease their fears. A favorite among the germ busters was a theme song set to the tune of "Ghostbusters." "We're going to send them back into the schools, and they're going to call us if the soap hasn't been refilled, if there are no paper towels, and we're going to get some little activists out there," Pryde said. "Who you gonna call?" the children sang as they danced around. "GERMBUSTERS!" Champaign, IL Erica Yuenger C-U kids get lesson in disease prevention The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:f0eefcbcfb4afc1b3fbef0018e0773a0 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:14387a5cb6265e0d746e20b041402bdf 2009-06-22T22:34:00-05:00 2009-06-23T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Loose pigs shut down Ark. interstate LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Hogs on the highway aren't always motorcycles. Arkansas State Police say a tractor-trailer rig hauling pigs overturned early Monday on a major highway and some of the four-legged hogs got loose. The wreck and the roaming porkers closed a stretch of Interstate 430 connecting Little Rock to North Little Rock. State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said morning commuters were detoured around the area as troopers and others tried to corral the escaped hogs. The swine could weigh 800 pounds each. Authorities said the truck was carrying about 90 hogs. Some of them remained in the trailer while others tried for freedom. Job search turns into tour of nation's major-league ballparks CINCINNATI - A Washington, D.C. couple who lost their government jobs are turning a job search into a tour of the nation's major-league ball parks. Roberto Coquis and Judy Pino say the idea hit them when they traveled to Indianapolis for job interviews. They had already been to a game in Washington to see the Nationals, so they have added home games with the Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates. On Sunday, they were in Cincinnati to see the Reds and Chicago White Sox, then left for Atlanta to see the Braves play the New York Yankees. Springfield cop accused of criminal sexual assault, relations with family SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A 22-year veteran of the Springfield Police Department has been arrested on charges of criminal sexual assault and sexual relations with family. The Associated Press isn't naming the 51-year-old officer because he hasn't been formally charged. He's in custody at the Sangamon County Jail on $250,000 bond. Springfield police say the officer was arrested Sunday evening on charges of predatory criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse and sexual relations with family. Springfield police say the officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of criminal and internal affairs investigations. From Associated Press reports Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff Odds and Ends 6-23-2009 The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:6a6a609a5ef03909b9297f07351739b2 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:cfd16a098d32f68ccc2dac3a55327fbd 2009-06-22T22:27:49-05:00 2009-06-23T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Champaign A 23-year-old man was arrested at the 500 block of West Breadsley Avenue. early Sunday morning. According to the police report, the man was issued a notice to appear in court for possession on public property. Criminal damage to property was reported at the 900 block of South Second Street, Saturday night. According to the police report, a basement window frame of the house was broken, it is unknown if entry was made. Theft was reported at the 1600 block of Windward Point, Thursday night. According to the police report, the victim had jewelry items stolen from her house while a moving company was moving her belongings. A gold and sapphire ring, a diamond tennis bracelet and a white gold set of diamond earrings were reported stolen. Burglary from a motor vehicle was reported at the 900 block of Berwick, June 14. According to the police report, the victim's vehicle was entered without her approval through a forced down passenger side window. A digital camera, credit cards and cash were stolen from her vehicle. A 26-year-old woman was arrested at the 500 block of West Beardsley Avenue, early Saturday morning. According to the police report the woman was issued a city citation to appear in court for loud music. Urbana Criminal damage to property was reported at the 1100 block of East University Avenue, Saturday night. According to the police report, an unknown offender threw something at the victim's vehicle causing damage to the windshield. A 20-year-old man was arrested at the 1800 block of Philo Road, Saturday night. According to the police report, an employee witnessed the offender in a parking lot smoking drugs. The offender was located, admitted to possessing drugs and was issued a city notice to appear in court for possession of cannabis. A 50-year-old man was arrested at the intersection of Lynn and High Streets, early Sunday morning. According to the police report, the offender had a valid warrant in his name and was arrested. Criminal damage to property was reported at the 500 block of East Washington, early Saturday morning. According to the police report, an unknown offender threw a brick through the back window of the victim's vehicle and broke it. University Theft was reported at UI Parking lot C-10, 510 E. Daniel St., between 11 p.m. June 18 and 2:15 a.m. June 19. According to the police report, an iCard, social security card, backpack and wallet worth a total of $115 were stolen from an unlocked vehicle in the lot. Compiled by Melissa Silverberg Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Staff Police Blotter 6-23-2009 The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:a89ab5f7e8a7f0419b5d07e00c521668 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:7d2eb10e465859279e0e01d9f73a28e2 2009-06-22T21:55:26-05:00 2009-06-23T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. WASHINGTON - Lamenting his first teenage cigarette, President Barack Obama ruefully admitted on Monday that he's spent his adult life fighting the habit. Then he signed the nation's toughest anti-smoking law, aiming to keep thousands of other teens from getting hooked. Obama praised the historic legislation, which gives the Food and Drug Administration unprecedented authority to regulate what goes into tobacco products, to make public the ingredients and to prohibit marketing campaigns geared toward children. But he didn't say how his own struggle was coming since he moved into the White House. And aides were no more forthcoming. As senator, candidate and now president, Obama has veered between frank and cagey about his personal battle with smoking. He promised his wife, Michelle, more than two years ago that he would quit if she let him seek the White House. He has often acknowledged since that he has "fallen off the wagon." But he hardly ever provides specifics. And though White House aides pack nicotine gum in their jackets to help him resist, they also refuse to give a clear answer to the question of whether the president still sneaks a smoke now and again. "I hate it," Michelle Obama told CBS' "60 Minutes" during the presidential campaign's early days. "That's why he doesn't do it anymore, I'm proud to say. I outed him - I'm the one who outed him on the smoking. That was one of my prerequisites for, you know, entering this race is that, you know, he couldn't be a smoking president." Well, not exactly. During Obama's two-year White House bid, he was known to occasionally bum a cigarette from a staff member - while also making sure to emphasize his efforts to stop for good and his progress from his onetime five-smoke-a-day average. During Monday's bill signing, Obama focused on how the new law would help keep future generations of kids away from the dangerous habit. The president mentioned his own experience very briefly - just 30 words. Almost 90 percent of people who smoke began at 18 or younger, he said. "I know. I was one of these teenagers," he said. "And so I know how difficult it can be to break this habit when it's been with you for a long time." And then he went back to the merits of the bill and the shortcomings of the tobacco industry, which he accused of targeting young people. One key provision in the new law bans candy-flavored cigarettes and the use of other flavored smokes that might appeal to teenagers. Ads aimed at young people also are banned. Aides refused to elaborate on his own situation. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said he hadn't asked Obama about his smoking and made plain that he didn't plan to. The presidential spokesman stuck to vague language that left the impression Obama still occasionally falls off the wagon, but he did not say so directly. "I don't, honestly, see the need to get a whole lot more specific than the fact that it's a continuing struggle," Gibbs said. "He struggles with it every day." Still, it's not as if Obama was ever even a pack-a-day puffer. "I've never been a heavy smoker," Obama told The Chicago Tribune in 2007. "I've quit periodically over the last several years. I've got an ironclad demand from my wife that in the stresses of the campaign I don't succumb. I've been chewing Nicorette strenuously." Champaign, IL Philip Elliott, The Associated Press Obama, citing his smoking woes, signs tobacco law The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:0789e47353cb91045d7bd8a39bff5d0b Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:7897f34136316849e46a46aca590a387 2009-06-22T12:05:49-05:00 2009-06-22T12:03:57-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. CHICAGO Gov. Pat Quinn has joined hundreds of demonstrators calling for an income tax increase so the state can avoid massive budget cuts. Quinn got so caught up in the moment he jumped up and down with supporters during a rally Monday at Chicago's Humboldt Park. He was joined by a handful of Democratic lawmakers, who say their colleagues need to pass a two-year, temporary income tax increase when they return to Springfield on Tuesday. The governor has called a special session to deal with the state's budget mess. But so far there hasn't been enough support among lawmakers to pass a tax increase that Quinn says is needed to avoid $9.2 billion in spending cuts. Champaign, IL The Associated Press Quinn continues budget campaign The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:7f91d39bc9175aa9a5ab21f76159ff3d Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:841e51b1ec08911b2852790d4ed7461e 2009-06-21T23:13:38-05:00 2009-06-19T20:05:11-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. University officials responded to the severe weather by utilizing the Illini-alert, emergency text messaging system to alert the student body. The first emergency text and e-mail were sent just before 7 p.m. and read, "Emergency! Tornado expected to hit UI campus. Seek shelter indoors immediately and turn to local media for details." This was only the second time the emergency text messaging system has been used to inform students, faculty and staff of a problem on campus. The system was also used in March to alert the community of a widespread power outage. Calls to University spokeswoman Robin Kaler were not immediately returned. Once the storm passed a second text message was sent. "The Tornado Warning for Champaign County has expired. It is now safe to leave your designated shelter locations," read the message sent around 7:40 p.m. During the severe thunderstorms and high winds that hit the area Friday afternoon several trees were knocked down and streets reported flooded. Friday's Taste of C-U was also rained out and the event will reopen Saturday morning at 11 p.m., according to the Champaign Park District Web site. A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect for Champaign County and much of Central Illinois until 10 p.m., according to the National Weather service. Stay tuned to dailyillini.com for updates Champaign, IL Melissa Silverberg Severe weather hits, moves through Campustown The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:a152eaeb339ba64af0201c75de9e12c0 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:cc705654c1a5087b42463d3830881cad 2009-06-21T22:51:58-05:00 2009-06-19T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The group held signs reading "Do the right thing" and "Put people first" and wore red shirts to signify the "bleeding" social services system if the proposed cuts go through. Social services provide programs and resources for vulnerable members of society. State-funded programs aid people with special needs, including helping them live independently and find employment. Gov. Pat Quinn spoke at the rally and stressed the importance of social services funding. "I see a lot of signs saying 'People first', and that's what it's all about," he said to the crowd. "I'm not here to cut social services for the people that need it the most," he added. Despite the need for funding, Illinois is in a significant amount of debt. In order to maintain social service funding, the state needs revenue. A tax increase is inevitable, Quinn said. "We have to do this to have a balanced budget and healthy state," he added. Not only would cutting down on social services leave people behind, it would also be detrimental to the economy to cut down on this network, Quinn said. The proposed budget would cut 30 to 40 percent of the funding for social services, said Mark Klaus, president of Charleston Transitional Facility. Some programs would be entirely cut out, he added. "People will realize that people with disabilities, special needs and kids are being used as a pawn to rally the troops and get things going," he said. "They are being used to make up for the deficit." These cuts would significantly impact the vulnerable members of society, Klaus said. "People will lose their jobs and won't be able to live independently in the community," he added. Brian Ritcher, developmental facility manager, has worked with people with special needs for 19 years. "These people don't really have any other options," Ritcher said. Not only do social services provide care facilities for those with special needs, they also aid people and provide them with the resources they need to thrive. With their resources taken away, they will no longer be able to function in society, he said. "As soon as I started working with (my patients), they take off," Ritcher said. The cuts would specifically impact grant funding. "They're saying that grant funding is done as of June 30th," he said. "Grant programs are usually smaller and independent of larger agencies," Ritcher added. Apartment services and job placement are typically funded by grants. "If you are able bodied and you're breathing, we want you working in the state of Illinois," Quinn said. Quinn also stated that programs for veterans, which fall under social services, are essential. "We have two wars going on," he said. "I'm not going to cut programs that help veterans coming home ... These programs are vital to the lives of people." Still, Quinn stressed that in order to maintain these programs tax increases are necessary. "My mission is to repair the damage," he added. Champaign, IL Bridget Mulcahy Quinn supports social service funding The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:ead316e44cc96ef5f2397ca7cceaba82 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:4ae6d3ef1043d97469e8504d4d0c365e 2009-06-19T21:48:49-05:00 2009-06-18T11:40:48-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The four new Illinois basketball players are on campus, and if head coach Bruce Weber has it his way, his upperclassmen will soon be reaching out and bringing everyone together. That, he said, is something the older players did not always do a good job of when his current group of upperclassmen came in. When these seven guys, our upperclassmen, came in, Im not sure we did a great job of reaching out and bringing everybody together, Weber said. The players didnt do it, for just different reasons, and Im kind of reminding these (upperclassmen), Hey, when you were freshmen, guys kind of left you out. So now reach out to this next group and bring them in, make them understand how hard we have to work, what its about, being on time, all those things that are important. But Weber has given the freshmen advice already, just in case the upperclassmen dont fulfill their role. Weve also told the freshmen, if the seniors dont do it, then go by them. You create your own timetable, your own style, your own tempo. You dont just wait for them, Weber said. From the sounds of junior center Mike Tisdale, Griffey, a 6-foot-9 forward from Ballwin, Mo., is not waiting for anyone in pick-up games, which have been quite competitive and intense lately. Hes real athletic, he can shoot, Tisdale said of Griffey. Hes really skilled. He reminds me of a European player. Tisdale will be one who is counted on to help get the freshmen acclimated. Even though he could be gone overseas for almost a month if he makes the Team USA roster that is competing in the World University Games, Weber was not worried. I think the advantages of playing the extra games, all the experience, probably outweigh being here, Weber said. Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I encourage it, all my experiences with international basketball, with USA basketball, its been the best memories I have probably of basketball. I hope he makes it. It would be tough (for us), but it challenges Demetri or any of the other guys to become a little more vocal leaders. For now, the freshmen have started voluntary workouts and are also taking a few summer classes. Weber hopes that will help them be prepared for what lies ahead when the players face the rigors of the season while taking a full class load. Its kind of a dress rehearsal for the school year, Weber said. You do have a couple classes (in the summer), so its not a full schedule, so you get used to that. (Lifting) weights is a big thing. Getting to know your teams camaraderie is a big part of the summer. Then just the playing, you hope they get in the gym and play, push each other. Champaign, IL Cody Westerlund Weber looks to upperclassmen for leadership as freshmen hit campus The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:1dfbda77c4310b8e6f421bd0bd33056c Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:5e59fbf8610d3734bdfbedfb0321c5a1 2009-06-19T03:06:11-05:00 2009-06-18T15:19:49-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. After recovering the stolen Beyond the Chief signs on Monday, University Police have arrested a recent graduate for theft. A crime stoppers tip led the University police to the accused party, Mark Nepermann, a 2009 graduate in FAA. We received a crime stoppers tip that this person looked like the person on the video so we spoke with him yesterday, said Tony Brown, University police Sgt. The footage obtain by the security cameras placed at the Native American House was vital in solving the theft. A video clip of the suspect walking by the signs was sited on the Division of Public Safety Web site. The specific clip was chosen because it was the best shot, Brown said. It was the clearest view of his face and what he was wearing, his body shape and size, he added. The police have reported that there is no indication of a hate crime, racial bias or anything related to the recently rescinded Fighting Illini mascot. The Beyond the Chief display has encountered multiple attacks since the signs were put up. John Mckinn, assistant director of the Native American House, believes that the attacks are related to the mascot. I believe people misread these signs to be a comment on the chief controversy when the signs are merely intended to memorialize the tribes that have historically resided in Illinois and have since been removed, Mckinn said. The signs have mirrored text of The Fighting Illini as well as tribes names. The indigenous history of Illinois is represent in the names of the signs, the names being twelve different tribes that historically occupy this land, Mckinn said. Despite the attacks, the Native American House is not considering taking the display down. We want these signs to be an educational opportunity, Mckinn said. After repeated attacks I believe it was a good decision to use the camera, he added. Nepermann is being charged with a theft misdemeanor and is scheduled to appear in Champaign County Circuit Court for arraignment on Thursday afternoon. Champaign, IL Bridget Mulcahy Recent graduate arrested for "Beyond the Chief" theft The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:4eef0e56a2db6b4950e05778b5351717 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:d08e949be379d2c2e726d62a89160d14 2009-06-19T00:12:22-05:00 2009-06-19T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The organizers have coordinated 21 vendors, offering fresh produce and fruits, free-range chicken and other meats, baked goods, barbecue and a variety of crafts. We applaud the organizers for creating an option for local residents to purchase fresh produce. This improved access to fresh produce for low-income families, college students and others affected by the recession encourages a healthy lifestyle that everyone deserves. According to a 2006 study, low income teenagers are 50 percent more likely to be obese than their upper-income peers. Even if families receive assistance through food stamps, cost and transportation are both barriers to access to health eating. Poor neighborhoods often do not have full-service grocery stores and even if they do, the fruits and vegetables tend to be costly. This farmers' market also accepts electronic benefits transfer cards, an aspect of the federal governments new food stamps program. While opening a farmer's market for those in need in Champaign is a helpful step in the right direction, the solution to the many problems of financially struggling are residents is still far down the road. Unemployment in Illinois jumped above 10 percent for the first time in decades during the month of May, and the need for assistance both for and from the community has never been higher. We hope that throughout a summer of layoffs and increasing financial stress that both the Champaign and Urbana governments and communities continue to step up and answer the rising and already present need. Champaign, IL The Daily Illini Editorial Board Market provides fresh alternative The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:e0d04159c4304a1f2a5e191f551f3a94 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:6dea879e425694a96dd1ed6467e41fc3 2009-06-19T00:00:03-05:00 2009-06-16T12:20:27-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Champaign Deputy Fire Marshall John Kohler reported that a worker was using the torch to cut a cast iron drain pipe in the building. It got hot enough where it caught some of the insulation on fire and that was the initial cause, Kohler said. The cost of the fire was also revealed to be $1.2 million, including $1 million in structural damage and $200,000 in lost contents. The blaze gutted the third floor of the building and caused water to rise literally up to the door knobs on the first floor. Two firefighters suffered injury while fighting the fire. The Champaign Fire Department derived some teaching points from the incident, pointing out that This fire was not reported to authorities for at least 20 minutes, and that Fire doubles in size every 60 seconds. Champaign, IL Kevin Kaplan Fire on John St. started by cutting torch The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:deee7af4f21266a3e8e85d593107aa89 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:1f811937a239db93b4555d9fdc73a172 2009-06-18T23:45:37-05:00 2009-06-19T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright 2009 The Daily Illini. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. With the weather finally warming up and the official start of summer just days away, the Champaign Park District is gearing up for one of its biggest and most entertaining weekends of the summer. The Taste of Champaign-Urbana is an event the whole family can enjoy. Located at West Side Park, 400 W. University Ave., the event will be held all weekend long, starting Friday evening and running until dark on Sunday night. This event isn't just the average carnival. With the live music selection on Friday, featuring bands such as Brat Pack, an 80s cover band, and Doko Benjo for those blues fans, it will be impossible to be disappointed. Bands, speakers, musicians and storytellers will be spread across three entertainment stations, so there is definitely plenty to choose from. Saturday will feature a local Zimbabwean group, Mhondoro, from Champaign, along with country singer Dayna Malow. The fun continues until Sunday evening, with acoustic and folk groups closing out the night. While music will be a major part of the festivities, that is just the beginning. The Fun Zone area will house "Game Show Gurus," a TV game show contest which will test festival-goers and stir up fun for all ages. A festival would not be complete without everyone's favorite foods. From Blues Barbeque and pizza, or Coldstone Creamery and Karen's Cheesecake, attendees' taste buds will be satisfied by the Taste of C-U's large array of bites to eat. With nearly 27 food vendors to choose from, no one will have to go home with an empty stomach. With the weekend creeping up and the sunshine still in the sky, many local residents may take advantage of the warm weather at the Taste of C-U. From pony rides for the kids to artwork for the adults, it will be loads of fun all weekend long. Tickets can be purchased at the park upon arrival for only $5 and will allow you plenty of chances to eat, be entertained or just have fun at the event. So don't miss out on a chance to get a small taste of many flavors of entertainment that Champaign-Urbana has to offer at the Taste of C-U. Champaign, IL Hannah Welker Taste of Champaign-Urbana kicks off Friday The Daily Illini urn:publicid:dailyillini.com:e6098d5b1d94ff8ff653522c48a3a327 Change 0 Usable