Daily Egyptian

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Daily Egyptian TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

SINCE 1916

VOL. 100 ISSUE 16

SIUC seeks approval for campus-wide drone use ANNA SPOERRE | @ASpoerre_DE

Jacob Wiegand | @JacobWiegand_DE Jan Thompson, professor of radio, television and digital media, explains the operation of her drone Monday at her home. Thompson used the drone in Montana during filming for a documentary. She said she wants to see the university become a Midwest region training ground that collaborates with the Federal Aviation Administration to offer certifications for drone operating. “This is an industry that’s not going to die. It’s blowing up now,” Thompson said. “It’s a matter of how do we make it safe and how can SIU tap into it, so that we can lead the pack and not be following the pack.”

The university is working to get Federal Aviation Administration approval to allow drone use outdoors on campus. “We’re beginning to find the application is practically endless,” said Jim Garvey, interim vice chancellor for research. Drone operations are banned by the federal government without an FAA permit. Until the university gets one, students operating one of these aircrafts will be told to stop, but will not face fines or repercussions, Garvey said. Despite the outdoor restrictions, drone use is still allowed inside buildings and caged enclosures. Garvey said the university is working to submit the permit proposal to the FAA by the end of the semester. He hopes drones will be allowed by spring, but said that may be overly optimistic. If SIU gets a permit from the FAA, Garvey said drones can be used in a variety of ways at the university, including aerial photography and animal tracking, as well as benefit university programs such as agriculture and aviation. As unmanned aircraft systems become more popular, concerns about challenges the technology can present have prompted bans on federal, state and local levels. Earlier this month a rogue drone crashed into a Ferris wheel in Seattle, according to the Seattle Times. “Now everybody wants to use them, and that’s the thing that’s got everyone concerned,” Garvey said. Individuals who wish to operate drones inside must first talk to University Risk Management.

Garvey said the aircrafts present a safety issue because they can be dangerous if the user does not know how to properly operate them. Jan Thompson, a professor of radio, television and digital media, has used drones in her work as a filmmaker. Thompson said she purchased a drone four months ago and used it to film in Montana, but has yet to use it on campus. Drones can be difficult to operate, Thompson said. After crashing several of them, she realized how easy it is for an inexperienced person to mishandle one. She now brings two people to assist her when operating the drone while filming. “It’s sad people aren’t taking the time to learn to operate these drones safely,” said Thompson, whose drone setup costs about $2,000. She said many people have the misconception that drones are toys when they can actually be dangerous. However, she believes the university could be a key player in figuring out how to operate them safely. “I think SIU is in a perfect place to be able to be a front-runner to help the FAA create standards and training,” Thompson said. “We should be the Midwest [region] training ground to certify people on how to use a drone.” Thompson believes the aviation program could be helpful in this endeavor. “It’s terrific technology,” Thompson said. “It’s a technology that’s not going to go away.” Students and faculty in the agriculture department are already planning for the permit. Please see DRONE | 2

Rauner temporarily suspends Illinois’ acceptance of Syrian refugees BILL LUKITSCH | @Bill_LukitschDE

Gov. Bruce Rauner said Monday that Illinois temporarily will not accept Syrian refugees in light of Friday’s attacks in Paris that left 129 dead. Rauner’s statement pointed to potential security threats Illinois citizens face. He said the state will consider all legal options “pending a full review of our country’s acceptance and security processes by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.” “Our nation and our state have a shared history of providing safe haven for those displaced by conflict, but the news surrounding the Paris terror attacks reminds us of the all-too-real security threats facing America,” the statement read. “We must find a way to balance our tradition as a state welcoming of refugees while ensuring the safety and security of our citizens.” The Obama administration’s decision to bring in 10,000 Syrian refugees has been criticized by GOP leaders after

officials said at least one of the Paris attackers was a Syrian refugee. Rauner’s decision aligns with more than half the governors in the country -- 26 states -- including Arizona, Michigan, Georgia and Maine. Federal law delegates state governors as responsible for administering and supervising refugee resettlement programs in their respective states. “Given that the governor’s first and most important constitutional duty is to protect the safety and security of Illinois residents, Gov. Rauner has simply taken the responsible and prudent step of suspending the resettlement of Syrian refugees pending this ongoing review of our participation in the refugee resettlement program,” Rauner’s press secretary Catherine Kelly wrote in an email. Bill Lukitsch can be contacted at 618-5363325 or blukitsch@dailyegyptian.com.

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