Illinois PFPO Fall 2019 Continuing Student Newsletter

IlliniFamily A publication of the Illini Union Parent and Family Programs Office • union.illinois.edu/pfpo

FALL 2019

Get Connected The Illini Union Parent and Family Programs Office works with the Moms and Dads Associations to keep you informed. Check out our website to sign up for newsletters, e-updates, and crime alerts. You can also learn about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. Get online today: union.illinois.edu/ PFPO.

Inside This Issue

Welcome Back ..................... 1 Welcome Back from UIPD.......................... 2-3 May 2019 Honorees ............ 4 Smith Football Center.......... 5 Dads Weekend 2019 ........... 6 Campus Career Fairs ........... 7 Scholarship Raffle Ticket Sales..................................... 7 CU & Local Festivals ............ 8 Time Management ............... 9 Bike Illinois! .................. 10-11

Welcome Back!

Zuri White – Parent & Family Programs Manager We are about to embark on another exciting year here at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign and I am looking forward to welcoming back our returning students and their families.

We spent majority of the summer welcoming our new parents and families to the Illini Family, we are looking forward to seeing our new and returning Illini families throughout the year.

Our current Illini Family Resource Guide can be found online at union.illinois.edu/ PFPO. We publish an updated version of the guide every summer with parents and families in mind. We encourage you to read it and keep it handy. You still have an awesome opportunity to be part of the Moms or Dads Association, where you can volunteer at many of the events during Moms and Dads Weekends, or even apply to serve on the board of directors. These are all great opportunities for you to be an active member of the Illinois community.

For more information about the Moms Association visit IlliniMoms.com and for more information about the Dads Association visit IlliniDads.com.

union.illinois.edu/PFPO

Have you joined the University of Illinois Parent and Family Facebook Group? We created a group for parents and family members of Illinois students to connect and communicate with each other about whatever they would like i.e. sharing tips, have questions, carpools, etc. To join, click here.

No matter their year in school, we know that this is an exciting time in your student’s life and we want it to be an exciting time for families, too. The more you know about the university and your student’s place in it, the better you are prepared to be of help and support to your student. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us via phone (217) 333-7063 or email iuparentfamilyprograms@illinois.edu.

Go Illini!

Web Addresses Illini Union

union.illinois.edu • Illini Union Parent and Family Programs Office union.illinois.edu/PFPO • Illini Union Board union.illinois.edu/iub • Illini Union Office of Volunteer Programs union.illinois.edu/ovp • Illinois Union Tech Zone union.illinois.edu/techzone • Illini Union Hotel union.illinois.edu/hotel • Illini Union Bookstore bookstore.illinois.edu

Student Affairs

Campus Recreation campusrec.illinois.edu The Career Center careercenter.illinois.edu Counseling Center counselingcenter.illinois.edu Dean of Students odos.illinois.edu Disability Resources & Educational Services disability.illinois.edu UI Police police.illinois.edu Financial Aid osfa.illinois.edu Housing housing.illinois.edu Inclusion and Intercultural Relations oiir.illinois.edu • 0Asian American Cultural Center • 0African American Cultural Center • 0Diversity and Social Justice 0 Education • 0La Casa Cultural Latina • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Resource Center • Native American House • Women’s Resources Center McKinley Health Center mckinley.illinois.edu Off-Campus Community Living occl.illinois.edu Study Abroad Office studyabroad.illinois.edu Student Affairs studentaffairs.illinois.edu

UIPD Police Beat

Patrick Wade – Communications Director, University of Illinois Police Department The University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) is constantly evolving to meet the needs of its campus community, and public safety officials are providing a number of tools to make sure students and others have all the information and resources they need to take control of their personal safety.

The University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign is a very safe campus.

But it is also a very large campus, with tens of thousands of students, faculty, staff and visitors every day.

Like any community of its size, the campus community will never be entirely crime-free — making it essential that students and others take advantage of the available resources to look out for themselves and each other.

UIPD is a full-service department which provides all the traditional police services and some additional resources uniquely-tailored to a college environment. The department maintains a campus security network which includes about 1,800 cameras, and its staff of 65 sworn police officers is supplemented by additional patrols from the Champaign Police Department, Urbana Police Department, Champaign County Sheriff ’s Office, and Illinois State Police. Between the various agencies, the Urbana campus is the mostdensely patrolled area in the region.

Still, students’ active participation in

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taking steps to ensure their own and others’ safety will always be the most effective tool in curtailing crime. It must be a community effort.

That is why police go to great lengths to inform the campus community of public safety issues in their area and have honest conversations with students and others about crime and what everyone can do to minimize their risk of being targeted by a criminal.

The following are just a few of the available resources. Police encourage campus community members to visit police.illinois.edu/safety for more information about campus safety tips and programs.

SafeWalks Criminals look for the right opportunity to act. By walking in groups and using well-lit, hightraffic areas, we can eliminate that opportunity and reduce our risk of being targeted by a criminal.

SafeWalks is a free service offered by trained Student Patrol Officers to ensure their fellow students always have someone to walk with. Anyone who needs to travel on campus between 9 p.m. and 2:30 a.m., seven days a week, is encouraged to call 217-333-1216 to request a walking escort.

Illini-Alert Illini-Alert messages are notifications sent via email, text message, and social media to our community members during a campus emergency like fire, severe weather, or if someone is trying to hurt

Get Involved! others. The messages include crucial instructions on which areas to avoid or how to protect yourself. Everyone with an illinois.edu email address automatically will receive Illini-Alert emails, but everyone should go to emergency.illinois.edu to sign up for text message notifications. Anyone not affiliated with campus, like family members or visitors, can sign up by texting “IlliniAlert” to 226787.

‘At Illinois, We Care’ Sexual violence and misconduct is a concern for law enforcement agencies across the nation – particularly on college campuses. All students are required to attend educational sessions during their first year on campus, but sexual assault remains pervasive. Nationally, studies have shown as many as 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men will experience sexual assault. There are several resources and reporting options available for students who have experienced sexual assault. At Illinois, we care and we support survivors. Anyone wanting to learn more about reporting methods,

confidential resources or other options should visit wecare.illinois.edu. wecare.illinois.edu.

Social Media

UIPD continues to make use of social media to ensure students and others are informed of public safety issues in a timely and effective manner.

Social media is one of the most important communication tools used by college-age people, and UIPD takes a proactive approach in talking to students about their safety. The department is encouraging everyone to follow @UIPD on Twitter or Facebook at facebook.com/UIpolice.

The police department believes it is important to engage students in an honest, realistic conversation about crime and public safety issues because students themselves truly are the most effective crime-fighting tool. It is important that we all make it a priority to report crime and suspicious activity and take steps to reduce our own likelihood of being targeted by a criminal.

The Moms and Dads Associations are two separate, non-profit entities that strive to serve all students at the University of Illinois.

There are many ways to get involved in the Associations. The Associations rely on volunteers for the success of their programs.

Some volunteer opportunities include Summer Registration, Moms Weekend, Dads Weekend, and Admitted Student Days.

If you’re looking to get even more involved, each Association has a volunteer Board of Directors. You can find nomination forms for each board at their respective website: illinimoms.com or illinidads.com To volunteer, email the Illini Union Parent and Family Programs Office at iuparentfamilyprograms@ illinois.edu, call (217) 333- 7063, or visit our website.

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New To Illinois

Campus Phone Numbers

Honorees named for May 2019

(area code 217)

The University of Illinois has announced 7,240 Dean’s List and 243 Bronze Tablet honorees and more than 9,000 graduates for the 2019 spring semester. Dean’s List eligibility is limited to the top 20% of a student’s college class or curriculum.

To be eligible, students must complete at least 14 academic semester hours taken for a letter grade. University Honors and inclusion on the Bronze Tablet are the university’s highest honors for graduating students.

Honorees, who are the top 3% from each college’s 2019 graduating class, must have a total grade-point average of at least 3.5 (out of a possible 4.0), although in recent years an average as high as 3.9 was needed to make the list in some colleges at Illinois. The

Asian American Cultural Center................................ 333-9300 Bruce D Nesbitt African American Cultural Center.................. 333-2092 Billing................................... 333-2184 Career Center..................... 333-0820 CITES Help Desk................. 244-7000 CITES Help Desk........ (800) 531-2531 Counseling Center.............. 333-3704 Dial-A-Nurse........................ 333-2700 Disability Resources and Education Service ............ 333-1970 Emergency Dean................. 333-0050 Financial Aid........................ 333-0100 Health Insurance, Student.. 333-0165 Housing Residence Halls................. 333-7111 Private Certified Housing. 333-1420 University Apartments...... 333-5656 Illini Union............................ 333-4666 Illini Union Hotel............... 333-1241 La Casa Cultural Latina....... 333-4950 LGBT Resource Center....... 244-8863 Library................................. 333-2290 McKinley Health Center...... 333-2700 MTD Safe Rides................... 265-7433 Parent and Family Programs.......................... 333-7063 Police, University................. 333-1216 Records Service Center...... 333-0210 Registration Assistance ...... 333-6565 Student Employment ......... 333-0600 Student Patrol/SafeWalks... 333-1216 Student Programs and Activities............................ 333-3660 Study Abroad...................... 333-6322 Tenant Union....................... 333-0112 Women’s Resources Center.333-3137 University Directory............ 333-1000

first Bronze Tablet, bearing 14 names, appeared in 1925.

A total of 9,068 students graduated in May. Among the recipients: Spring 2019 Dean’s List honorees Illinois, out-of-state and international students sorted alphabetically by town.

Spring 2019 Bronze Tablet honorees Illinois, out-of-state and international students sorted alphabetically by town.

May 2019 Graduates Illinois, out-of-state and international students sorted alphabetically by town.

Note departmental and university honors conferred are included.

Campus to enforce ban of tobacco use The U of I at Urbana-Champaign is now a 100% smoke- and tobacco-free campus. The updated policy builds upon the smoke-free policy implemented in 2014 that banned the use of all smokeproducing tobacco products on campus.

The policy encompasses all forms of tobacco, including but not limited to chewing tobacco, snuff, snus and dissolvable forms such as orbs and strips.

Vaping devices such as e-cigarettes and Juuls are still prohibited. See the full policy in the Campus Administrative Manual.

Chancellor Robert Jones announced that the policy change was underway in a massmail to campus last fall.

“We are updating this policy to strengthen our Illinois commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles,” Jones

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said. “I ask everyone to respect our new policy to create a healthy environment for our entire university community.”

The updated smoke-and tobacco-free policy applies to everyone – students, faculty members, staff, students, contracted employees, and visitors. The banned locations include all campusowned property – indoor and outdoor – as well as private vehicles parked on campus-owned property. See the updated university map for official campus boundaries.

University police officers and security guards began enforcing the additions to the policy on Aug. 26, during the first week of classes. Fines will be consistent with the previous policy – the first ticket is a warning, a second ticket is $25, a third ticket is $50, and any subsequent tickets are $100 each.

New To Illinois

World-Class Smith Football Center Opens For Student-Athletes performance center. In recognition of the gift, the building will forever be named the Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center.

The Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center opened earlier this fall to the surprise of the players. The 107,650 square foot, $79.2 million facility is the new home for the Fighting Illini football program, including expanded strength, conditioning, and sports medicine space, coaches’ offices, position meeting rooms, player development areas, locker rooms, and other areas for recruiting and prospect hosting.

“It’s a little like Christmas Day,” said head coach Lovie Smith. “We got to witness genuine excitement for our players. We’ve been talking a lot about a new day in Illinois football and for me as a football coach, for our current players to have an opportunity to train in a facility as good as anyone’s around and that’s what we’ve given them.

We’re so appreciative. So thankful to the Smith family.

“When you see genuine excitement, that’s pretty neat to watch. Every player on our football team, of course, was really excited.”

The H.D. Smith Foundation, led by Dale and Chris Smith, donated $20 million to the University of Illinois Foundation, with $15 million dedicated to the

Driving the project’s need was to update Illinois’ outdated football facilities. Today’s program bears little resemblance to that which existed 30 years ago, when the previous football operations complex was constructed.

The new, world-class Smith Football Center demonstrates an institutional commitment to building, supporting, and sustaining a winning football program.

What’s Inside

• State-of-the-art sports medicine suite to rival any in the nation • Levenick Auditorium • Nutrition center and additional fueling stations throughout the facility • Grand lobby showcasing Illinois football history • Strength and conditioning complex • Head coach’s suite, featuring fireplace, sitting area, and private balcony • Position meeting rooms, staff meeting spaces, and coaches’ offices • Outdoor sitting area and balcony overlooking practice fields • Recruiting lounge • Expansive team locker room • Players’ lounge, complete with bowling alley, game room, and barber shop • Rooftop terrace with outdoor kitchen and recreational activities, including miniature golf • NFL alumni locker room

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Parent and Family Events Dads Weekend

Make plans now for Dads Weekend, November 1-3, 2019. Be sure to check the Parent and Family Programs Office website for complete information about Dads Association events and purchasing tickets.

Moms Weekend

Scheduled for April 3-5, 2020.

Bring the whole family to campus for this fun-filled weekend celebrating mom! Check the Parent and Family Programs website for more info. And don’t forget to book your hotel room today!

Admitted Students Days

A wonderful opportunity to meet with potential future Illini parents.

Share what your experience has been like, as they help their students make that final decision to attend the University of Illinois.

Admitted Students Days are scheduled during the spring. Check the Parent and Family Programs website for complete details.

Important Dates

Dad’s Weekend: November 1-3, 2019

Fall 2019 August

Tickets On Sale Now

Ticket Purchase

Each fall, the Illini Union Parent and Family Programs Office and the Dads Association co-sponsor the Dads Weekend events with a variety of programming for families. Major events for Dads Weekend 2019 include:

All tickets are to be purchased online.

Tickets are on sale now. Complete information about Dads Weekend and ticket purchasing is available online here.

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• Friday Night : Club Hockey game vs. Maryville University

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• Friday Night : basketball game vs.

Lewis University

Tickets may be picked up during designated pick-up times that are yet to be announced. Be sure to check the PFPO website for ticket pick-up information. Tickets WILL NOT be mailed in advance!

Freshman Move-In Day

Illini Union Late Nighter Returning Student Move-In Day Illini Union Quad Day

Instruction Begins

22 23 24 25 26

September Labor Day (No Classes) Tuition Payment Due

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October Homecoming

November Dads Weekend Thanksgiving Vacation Begins Undergraduate Residence Halls Close

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December Undergraduate Residence Halls Reopen 1 Instruction Resumes

2 Instruction Ends 11 Reading Day

12 Final Exams

13-20 Undergraduate Residence Halls Close for Winter Break 21

Spring 2020

January Undergraduate Residence Halls Reopen 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No Classes) 20 Instruction Begins 21 February Tuition Payment Due

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March Spring Break Begins 14 Undergraduate Residence Halls Reopen 22 Instruction Resumes

23 April Moms Weekend

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May Instruction Ends Reading Day

Final Exams

Commencement Undergrad Res Halls Close

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• Saturday pre-game: BBQ at the ARC (limited tickets available) • Saturday football game: Against Rutgers; crowning of King Dad at halftime • Sunday morning: The Illini Dad’s Association and No Comment A Cappella Present: A Tribute to Dad • Sunday morning: Dads and Students Brunch at the Illini Union • Sunday morning: First annual IlliniDads 5K Fun Run And a large variety of universityapproved events, such as men’s and women’s sports, campus events, theatrical productions, music concerts, and many others.

Dads Association event tickets are available on a first-come first-served basis, and all events usually sell out.

Please note that all attendees at events, regardless of age, must have a ticket to enter, including Illinois students and all children. Students with their own season or individual football tickets will need to purchase a new ticket if they wish to be seated in the Dads Association section.

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Football Ticket Pick-Up

Deadline for purchasing tickets: September 30, 2019.

Ticket Prices

Nov 1: Hockey Game $10 per person Nov 1: Basketball Game $15 per person Nov 2: Pre-game BBQ & Football Ticket $65 per person Nov 2: Single Football Ticket Only $45 per person Nov 2: Single Pre-game BBQ Ticket Only $23 per person Nov 2: Tribute to Dad Concert $10 per person Nov 3: Dads Association Brunch $20 per person Nov 3: IlliniDads 5K Fun Run $35 per person

Exploring the Festivals of Champaign-Urbana Tim Manning – PFPO student employee

Flannel Fest, Oct. 11

Located in Hessel Park in Champaign, this festival is exactly what it sounds like. Put on your flannel to watch demonstrations of log rolling, axe throwing, and speed carving. There will also be music, arts and crafts, games, food, and the Lumberjack Dash.

C-U Folk and Roots Festival, Oct. 24-26

This festival brings together national, regional, and local artists and folk groups with over 80 performances and participatory activities throughout downtown Urbana. Other activities include dances, instructional sessions, jams, song-circles, family activities, storytelling, and instrument-making.

One of the most common phrases heard from college students on any campus is, “There’s nothing to do!”

On a campus the size of U of I, that could not be further from the truth. A quick look at the university’s calendar shows multiple events and activities each and every day. However, students sometimes become restless and want to get off campus. If that be the case, the Champaign-Urbana community and surrounding areas have multiple festivals and special events students can enjoy. The following is a small sampling of what the off-campus community has to offer this fall that students may want to check out.

C-U Pride Festival, Sep. 27-29

Now in its tenth year, this festival includes vendors selling pride merchandise, a parade, educational sessions and a kids area featuring children’s entertainment, bounce houses, and carnival rides. There are

also live bands and drag performances throughout the various bars and restaurants in downtown Champaign.

Pygmalion Music Festival, Sep. 26-28

Entering its fifteenth year, this festival draws thousands of music fans from across the world to hear over a hundred artists performing in multiple years throughout both Champaign and Urbana. Speakers and authors are featured, as well as multiple vendors.

C-U Oktoberfest, Oct. 5

Returning for its sixth year in the parking lot at Washington and Neil Street in downtown Champaign, Oktoberfest features local brews as well as locally owned restaurants offering authentic German foods such as Bavarian pretzels and sausages.

Live music will include bands Die Muskmeisters, the Polkaholics, and the Bolzen Beer Band.

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Gifford State Bank Country Christmas Craft show, Nov. 23-24

Over 8,000 customers descend on the nearby town of Gifford to see the offerings of the 300-plus vendors that kicks off the holiday shopping season.

Parade of Lights, Nov. 24

This community favorite features marching bands and lighted floats weaving their way through the streets of downtown Champaign. Pre-parade entertainment includes free hot chocolate and musical performances with a visit from Santa at the end of the parade.

For complete information on these and other festivals, visit the Champaign County Convention & Visitors Bureau at visitchampaigncounty.org.

The Importance of Time Management Tara Sohns – PFPO student employee

Scholarship Raffle Tickets on Sale The Moms and Dads Associations are currently selling tickets for their annual scholarship raffle. Once again, this year the raffle will be a 50/50 split. One winner will receive 50% of the net proceeds of the raffle, up to a maximum of $25,000. All proceeds benefits Moms and Dads Associations projects and scholarships and are strictly used to benefit students and families at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Tickets are $10 each, or $50 for six tickets. All tickets must be received by noon on Sunday, November 3, 2019. Winners will be announced no later than November 30, 2019. For a complete list of the official rules, visit the Moms Association website at illinimoms.com/tuition-raffle. Raffle tickets are included in this newsletter and can be mailed, along with your payment, to the address on the ticket.

You may also print out tickets from the Moms Association website. If you have any questions you can email iuparentfamilyprograms@illinois.edu or call (217) 333-7063.

The life of a college student can be overwhelming, and for many students, it’s more than just navigating life on their own for the first time, it’s remaining well rounded through balancing academics with the overall adjustment. While freshmen year requres students to tackle the acclamation to student life, the years following arrive with their own set of challenges, requiring that the initial adjustments continue to develop as your student progresses into sophomore, junior, and senior year. Living in the residence halls turns into living in their first apartment and the responsibilities that come with it. Balancing 100200 level courses turns into 300-400 level courses.

The life of a college student also requires multi-tasking, and can encompass research opportunities, on-campus internships, membership responsibilities in a registered student organization (RSO), student employment, committee involvement, and social activities.

Balancing all of these can become difficult, especially as your student tackles more leadership roles.

However, by implementing some time management techniques, your student can effectively take on a busy schedule.

Utilize Planners. One of the best ways to balance a busy schedule is by using a planner. Being able to visualize when every assignment is due, when important exams are coming up, and when major papers are assigned will help your student anticipate academic deadlines; this allows them to balance additional commitments better. Additionally,

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it helps to allot designated times for studying. Planning ahead helps your student estimate how long studying for each class takes.

Prioritization. An essential component of time management is prioritization. Balancing organizations, work, and academics creates cause for prioritization. Certain obligations may need to be sacrificed or side-lined to complete a more important task. This will help them lighten their stress since their main priorities are completed. Unfortunately, sometimes students will have to sacrifice things such as a fun night with friends to make time for their internship or research; however, by setting goals, this doesn’t have to be a daily occurrence.

Goal Setting. Setting goals for what your student wants to accomplish each day will also help them manage their responsibilities. Completing smaller goals will allow your student to complete major tasks in smaller increments. This allows larger assignments to appear less intimidating.

It’s important to understand the situation your student is in. These tips will help them effectively manage college life, despite its stressful nature. Parents and families can help their student by simply being the amazing support system they’ve been every year and reminding their student of these tips in times of stress.

Bike Illinois!

Jeff Yockey – Champaign County Bikes If you want to bring a bike on campus, here’s what to do: • Bring a quality bike. Cheap bikes won’t handle the weather and are not dependable.

• Register your bike. Bike registration is required and free for students, faculty, and staff.

• Buy a quality bike lock (no cables!) before you get to campus. Bikes aren’t allowed inside the residence halls, or any other University building, and they do get stolen. Save yourself the loss and hassle – spend $35 on a chain or heavy u-lock.

Having a bike on campus is all about good basic transportation and fun.

Here are some things to know about having a bike at the U of I. Bike at Illinois is a campus program that encourages bicycling in and around campus. Their website provides information on where to get a bike, bicycle registration, bike safety, bike maps, and more.

Getting around campus and Champaign-Urbana on a bike is easy: our topography is flat, the streets are mostly on a grid, traffic is generally light, and you will not be alone. All campus buildings have bike racks close by so you never have to worry about finding somewhere to lock your bike!

We live in a bicycle friendly community trifecta! Urbana (Gold), Champaign (Silver), and the U of I (Bronze) have all earned national awards in Bicycle Friendliness from the League of American Bicyclists.

This means we have bicycle master plans, complete street policies, bike lanes, bike share programs, education

programs, bike clubs, organized rides, and much more happening in our community!

Pick up a free area bike map. It will help you choose good bike routes, find bike shops and repair stations, and the back is packed with bikerelated information. Produced by Champaign County Bikes (CCB), they are available everywhere, including the CCB and Bike at Illinois websites.

The U of I has a Campus Bike Center (CBC) on the south side of campus. It is a full bike workshop where students can borrow tools and work on their bikes. They also sell used bikes and supplies. The first visit is free, and a student membership is only $30/yr.

VeoRide is our campus and community bikeshare provider. You can rent a pedal bike for $0.50/15 minutes, or an e-bike for $1.00 plus $0.15/minute. There is also an annual subscription for $50.

With over 750 bikes around campus, you can find a VeoRide bike near you and start riding!

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• Take a photo of your bike and record the serial number, model and make, color and style, and send all this info to yourself in an email.

• Bring and wear a cool looking bike helmet. Your brain is worth protecting!

• You need lights on your bike to ride at night. A quality set of “visibility lights” are only $15 at the Campus Bike Center and will last four years easily.

We have lots of good local bike shops in town that are very student friendly.

Beyond the normal sales and service, some can store your bike over winter or summer break, have short and long term bike rental programs, offer bike maintenance classes, and sponsor recreational rides. Go to this link for a list of local bike shops: bike.illinois. edu/resources/where-to-get-abicycle.

Every bus has a bike rack, which extends your range and gives you a back up plan in case of rain or a flat Continued on page 10

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tire. All university students, faculty, and staff ride the MTD bus system for free, and our MTD buses and route system is second to none.

You can get a ticket for blowing through a red light or stop sign, and for riding the wrong way up a street on your bike. This is actually a good thing because we are encouraging good riding behavior around campus and our community. Check out Rules of the Road, Safe Riding Tips, and Safety Checklist and the Bike Safety Quiz for more information.

Bike-related UIUC students groups include: Bike at Illinois, Transportation SWATeam, Campuses Beyond Oil Campaign (sustainable transportation), the Illini 4000 (annual cross country ride to for cancer awareness and research), and Illini Cycling (social riding). Search for them at Illinois.edu.

Unless you plan to use your bike primarily for long rides out in the

Zuri White Manager Illini Union Parent and Family Programs zuri@illinois.edu

countryside, your best bet is a good commuter style bike. Here’s what you’ll want: • Fenders – so you can ride through puddles.

• Racks – so you can carry stuff.

• Higher Quality Tires – because they almost never get flats.

• Up-right riding position – comfortable, safe, and good for visibility.

• Bonus feature – an internal, 3-8 speed hub – zero maintenance, 100% dependability.

Here are all the local bike websites you’ll ever need: • U of I Bike at Illinois website: bike. illinois.edu • U of I Campus Bike Center: campusrec.illinois.edu/programs/ campus-bike-center/ • The Bike Project of Urbana-

Jamie Singson Director Illini Union jsingson@illinois.edu

Champaign: thebikeproject.org/ • Community Resources: www. champaigncountybikes.org/ • Bike Education: bikesafetyquiz.com/ And last, lose the distractions! Please keep your phone and ear buds in your backpack while you ride, as this is likely your biggest danger while riding a bike on campus.

When you ride a bike around campus, you’ll never be alone. There over 10,000 bikes on the campus of the U of I. (I know this because I help with a campus bike census every year!)

Between walking, biking, and the MTD bus system – you won’t need a car on campus or in our community.

And that’s actually a whole lot of freedom!

Jeff Yockey is a U of I alumnus, Board Member of Champaign County Bikes, and father of two kids who each used their bikes to get around campus and town during their college years.

Becki Salzman Assistant to the Director Illini Union rsalzman@illinois.edu

Consider a Gift to the Parent Fund

Your unrestricted gift to the Parent Fund helps Student Affairs augment existing and new programs. You can help provide the services and resources that are vital to the overall learning experience of our students.

To learn more on how you can give to the Parent Fund visit

uofiparentprograms.illinois.edu/Annual_Fund/Giving.html