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SIUC receives $300K from National Science Foundation RYAN VOYLES Daily Egyptian Almost $300,000 in grant money will be sent to SIUC courtesy of Jerry Costello. U.S. Congressman Costello (D-IL) announced in a press release Tuesday that SIUC would receive two grants, valued at $191,878 and $99,999; from the National Science Foundation.
“Federal support is an important element in basic research,� said Costello, a senior member of the House Science and Technology Committee. “Projects such as these help fulfill the academic mission of the University, and I will continue to work to ensure that we adequately fund federal research and development programs.� The $191,878 grant will go towards
the project, “NeTS: Small: Collaborative Research: Federating Disjoint Wireless Sensor Networks,� under the direction of Kemal Akkaya, an assistant professor in Computer Science. The $99,999 grant will go towards the project, “Constrained Statistical Inference and Information Theory,� under the direction of Bhaskar Bhattacharya, a professor in the mathematics department.
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Commission concerned with limited alcohol access
Vote to approve alcohol sales at arena, stadium postponed RYAN VOYLES Daily Egyptian
SIUC will have to wait for at least two more weeks to see whether it can sell alcohol at the new football stadium and the renovated basketball arena. The Carbondale Local Liquor Control Commission decided Tuesday to postpone the vote on whether to approve Chartwells group’s liquor licenses, which would make alcoholic beverages available in the club and suite areas of both athletic facilities. Mayor Brad Cole said there is still a chance for the license to be approved in time for football season, but the university needs to come and explain its plans to the commission. “We will let the university administrators know that they are requested to attend our next regular meeting (Aug. 3),� Cole said. Chartwells is contracted by SIUC for hiring and managing some employees around campus — including most of the workers at the Student Center. The group will control the liquor license and oversee the distribution of alcoholic beverages at the athletic facilities, said SIUC Athletic Director Mario Moccia. He said his department has no control over the license. Members of the committee expressed concerns over the guidelines of the license, which would not allow the sale of alcoholic beverages to anyone outside the designated areas. Councilman Joel Fritzler said he did not understand why many people are paying for something that only a select few could use. “The remodeled job is being paid for through our tax dollars and student fees,� he said. “Why should this only be available to those who can afford club and suite level tickets?� Cole and the commission were confused that no representatives from the university attended Tuesday’s hearing to explain details of the license. Matt Kent, director of Chartwells at SIUC, was in attendance; but could not answer any of the commission’s questions. Kent said because he is a representative of Chartwells, not the university, he could not speak on behalf of the university. Councilman Lance Jack said he was not opposed to the sale of alcohol, but he would be hesitant to approve the proposed plan. “To me, it smacks as a bit of elitism,� he said. “If you have the money to buy a suite ... to make a big donation or host a function, then you can have the ability to enjoy our sporting facilities with alcohol. But any adult who doesn’t have that money; they are really being thrown into a different class of people who cannot have the same luxuries.� The commission’s decision derailed what looked like a clear path for the university toward selling alcohol at the stadium and arena. Please see LIQUOR | 3
DIANA SOLIWON | DAILY EGYPTIAN
BUBBLY TRADITIONS Hsein-Tang Kuo of Taiwan prepares a strawberry banana fruit slush with juice and a Jell-Olike substance at QQ Bubble Tea Tuesday. The teas and flavoring shaken together produce air bubbles in the
drink, while tapioca can add texture. Drawings line every wall and the ceiling in the decorated shop on 701 S. Illinois Ave, which has been selling the distinct beverages in Carbondale for the last seven years, Kuo said.
Lease agreements lost in translation T
LAUREN LEONE Daily Egyptian
Elaine Conrad said miscommunication between the tenant and the resident is one of the main factors that lead to unreturned or delayed security deposits. Conrad, community programs coordinator, works specifically with international students who have difficulty getting their security deposits back. Conrad also helps students understand their rights and responsibilities before signing a lease. “Leases can be difficult to understand, even when English is someone’s first language,� she said. Conrad said leasing policies differ from one apartment complex to another. She said some complexes have security deposits, which are to be paid beforehand, and some deposits are attached to the monthly rent. Conrad said a verbal agreement is not enough. “You can avoid any misunderstanding in the lease by asking questions, and getting anything agreed upon that’s not in the original release, in writing,� she said. Richard Hall, a lecturer in the finance department, said security deposits are a hot issue in Carbondale, but there is an Illinois state law that can help residents in the event a tenant holds a security deposit for an extended period of time. The Security Deposit Return Act explains what a landlord has to do when returning a security deposit, Hall said.
he law states if management is aware of some damages but is unsure of the exact cost, it still has to tell the tenant how much it will cost after 30 days of sending the original statement out.
The law applies to tenants of residential real property containing five or more units. This would include the larger apartment complexes in Carbondale such as Home Rentals, Lewis Park, and Saluki Apartments, Hall said. The law states the lessor, or landlord, has 30 days from the date the resident vacates the premises to supply an itemized statement of all damages and the estimated cost for repair. “That is from the date the premises is vacated, not the date of the end of the lease,� Hall said. He said if the landlords do not supply a statement within 30 days, they are obligated by law to return the lease in its entirety within 45 days. The law states if management is aware of some damages but is unsure of the exact cost, it still has to tell the tenant how much it will cost after 30 days of sending the original statement out. This could lead to some tenants not seeing their deposits for nearly two months. Hall said if the time frame in the leases differs from state law, and the complex has five or more units, state law prevails. Conrad said she stresses for students, national or international, to read every point of the lease and to find out if the security deposit is refundable or not beforehand. She said there could
also be a cleaning deposit as opposed to a security deposit. Students need to take photos or have written record of any damages in the living space, she said. “If you can get them to sign off on that, or be present while you are taking pictures, that’s the smartest thing to do,� she said. Richa Asarawala, a graduate student studying electrical and computer engineering from India, lives in Campus Habitat and hasn’t had any issues with her tenants. “Before signing a lease, they need to read the whole lease papers carefully,� she said. “Not each and every lease is the same.� Conrad said the Students Legal Assistance Office, located on the 3rd floor of the Student Center, has representatives available when students need advice concerning legal issues with understanding apartment leases. Asarawala said students should be cautious when searching for apartments and not to rush into anything. “Before you sign the lease, they are very good with you, but after you sign the lease, they sometimes don’t care for you at all,� she said.
Lauren Leone can be reached at lleone@dailyegyptian.com or 536-3311 ext. 255.