THURSDAY January 23, 2020
THE DAILY ILLINI The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Vol. 149 Issue 33
McKinley Health Center responds to coronavirus infection C THE DAILY ILLINI STAFF REPORT
Starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, McKinley Health Center will start screening students who come in for any respiratory illnesses due to the coronavirus infection that recently made its way to the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the coronavirus was first identified in China and resulted in about 300 confirmed cases. From these cases, nine resulted in death. The first case in the U.S. was reported on Tuesday in Seattle, Washington. The coronavirus infection can be spread through coughing and sneezing of an infected person, and McKinley is advising the
use of surgical mask as a precautionary measure. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, area hospitals and McKinley Health Center are working closely together to ensure safety around campus and the community, according to the McKinley press release. THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO
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McKinley Health Center, located at 1109 S. Lincoln Ave., is pictured on Oct. 19, 2017.
UI police address marijuana policy on campus BY YOOJIN SON ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
The questions following the new year’s welcome of marijuana’s legalization about how it translates to campus have been clarified by the University of Illinois Police Department. Supporting the University’s Smoke- and TobaccoFree Campus policy and federal restrictions effective to all federally-funded colleges and universities, use of all forms of marijuana remains
illegal on campus property. In transparency, campus property includes all property owned, leased, occupied, operated or controlled by the University. This extends to cover outdoor spaces, sidewalks and University-owned roads. With this, students of a non-U.S. citizen status are urged to be cautious in understanding potential implications subsequent to the use and possession of marijuana in concern of
their immigration status, visa applications or ability to enter the U.S. Violations of federal law concerning marijuana could affect a student’s immigration status or the naturalization process regardless of whether actions remain legal under state law. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services identifies violation of federal controlled substance law as a condiSEE MARIJUANA | 3A BEN TSCHETER THE DAILY ILLINI
Engineering students talk to company representatives at the Engineering Career Fair at the ARC on Sept. 11, 2018. The unemployment rate has recently dropped to its lowed rate since 1969.
Unemployment drops to its lowest rate in nearly 50 years BY HEATHER ROBINSON STAFF WRITER
Deputy selected as new interim chief BY LASZLO RICHARD TOTH STAFF WRITER
A new interim chief of the University of Illinois Police Department has accepted the position after Craig Stone stepped down Jan. 15. “I feel comfortable taking over and steering the ship for a while we go through this interim period,” said Matthew Myrick, the interim chief. “We’re blessed to have some really good people, some dedicated staff.” Myrick previously served as deputy chief for the University Police Department since 2016. “We are fortunate to have someone who’s already in that leadership position, [Myrick] knows what’s going on at the department, knows the people, PHOTO COURTESY OF UIPD he’s obviously been here Matthew Myrick poses for a headshot. He has recently for a long time now,” said accepted the position of interim chief for the UIPD. Patrick Wade, communications director for the UIPD. at the head like this.” Christensen, retired. “It’s good to have that Myrick also served as “I think with any intersteady, reliable leadership interim chief in 2018, after SEE POLICE | 3A when we do have a change the previous chief, Jeff
Although the last decade saw a decline in the unemployment rate, according to Howard, there is not room for much more improvement. Some sectors are growing at a faster pace, such as health care, education and data analysis. Other fields, such as manufacturing, are projected to decline. “Students that are about to graduate should feel fortunate that the economy is in a sustained boom. And younger students should hope it keeps going” said Howard. hrr4@dailyillini.com
INSIDE
Recent unemployment rate Features: Harry Potter Alliance hosts charity event
The unemployment rate has been decreasing, reaching a low by the end of 2019.
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PAGE 4A 4.3% Unemployment rate
BRIAN BAUER THE DAILY ILLINI
People wait in line outside of Sunnyside Dispensary on Wednesday. The University will maintain a strict policy on the restriction of marijuana use and possession campus.
In 2019, the U.S. unemployment rate fell to a mere 3.6%, which is the lowest number the country has seen since 1969. With a rise in available jobs of various fields, graduating students are entering a market with increasingly vast opportunities of employment directly out of university. Still, there remains a stigma tied to college graduates having difficulties with finding employment following graduation. Addiel Martinez, senior in Engineering, said during his time at the University he didn’t have much thought or care regarding what his job would be. He was more focused on the amount of money he would be making. “Now I have a software development job lined up, set to begin in the summer,” Martinez said. “I do see companies nowadays growing and
hiring much more than in the past.” Gregory Liang Howard, assistant professor in LAS, said in an email the current low unemployment rate is a result of the growing economy during the past decade. “Graduating when the economy is booming is enormously beneficial. Economic research suggests that how the economy is doing when you graduate has effects that last for many years, in terms of your salary and job prospects,” Howard said. Aside from the unemployment percentage, there are a few hidden numbers, such as those who are not actively seeking employment. Howard added other statistics, such as how the employment-population ratio is also strong, but one might not be quite as optimistic looking at these figures. For example, at the end of 2019, the employment-population ratio measured at 61.0.
4.0%
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3.6%
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2017
2018
Sports: Illini win fifth straight game against Purdue
2019 Source: Congressional Budget Office
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BRIAN NGUYEN THE DAILY ILLINI
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