The Daily Illini Vol 149 Issue 34

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CAREER GUIDE SEE INSERT MONDAY January 27, 2020

THE DAILY ILLINI The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

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Vol. 149 Issue 34

CU gathers for Women’s March 2020

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

Students gather in front of the Alma Mater for the Women’s March, organized by Illinois Student Government, on the Main Quad Sunday afternoon.

Challenge inspires educational journey Magician Giancarlo Bernini BY ALIZA MAJID STAFF WRITER

The deadline for the Cozad New Venture Challenge, which welcomes students who have new business ideas, is on Feb. 3 with a $250,000 grand prize at stake. A ssociate Di rec tor of In novat ion a nd Entrepreneurship Student P rog r a m s Stepha n ie Larson said in an email, “The campus-wide Cozad New Venture Challenge or g a n i z e d by t he Technology Entrepreneur Center is an educational experience for anyone to develop their ideas … In 2019, teams competed for over $250,000 in funding and in-kind prizes.”

This challenge has encouraged many students to pursue their desires more in-depth. Participants are provided with support and mentorship for their projects throughout the challenge to better their business ideas and prepare them for the competition aspect of the challenge. As this challenge has been going on for more than 20 years, there have been changes to improve the structure and integrity of the challenge. “In recent years we have focused more on the educational aspect of Cozad and removed the elimination rounds,” Larson said. “Now, to compete in the final event,

the student needs to attend the workshop and complete deliverables asked of them. If they do this, then they can compete for funding and in-kind prizes at the final event in April.” As t he de ad l i ne approaches, there are already many applicants who are currently preparing for the competition ahead. Micheal Skibsk, junior in Business, is in the midst of designing an app that allows the user to organize their schedule and predict the best time one should work on certain tasks. “So what this app would do is would predict using machine learning algorithms to predict when the best time for a certain

person to work on their projects using past data,” Skibsk said. Currently, Skibsk is working on the research part of the project, as it’s still in its early stages of development, but he hopes to gain more experience throughout the challenge. The Cozad challenge allows students to enter the competition regardless of how developed the business idea is since the main goal is to offer mentorship and resources for the participants. “Students a re not required to have a finished product or a prototype to take part. Requirements SEE COZAD | 3A

enchants student scholars

said. Bernini performed tricks with dollar bills, a rope, an orange and even through a FaceTime call with an audience member’s friend. Bernini heavily relied on volunteers from the audience to perform his tricks, creating more of a surprise factor for the audience. Throughout the show, students were heard gasping at what they were seeing. A cloud of confusion hovered over the audience as the magician did his tricks. “Are you going to be the person who decided to figure

BY DIANA ANGHEL STAFF WRITER

The Scholar Support Programs presented student scholars with an opportunity to see a magic show performed by Giancarlo Bernini on Jan. 23 in the Lincoln Hall Theater. This event was available to I-Promise scholars, Stamps scholars and University scholars. Scholars were able to bring friends along to watch the show. Thomas Bae, freshman in Engineering, attended the show with one of his friends. “I thought it would be cool (to go) because you really don’t get to see a lot of things unless you’re in RSOs,” Bae

SEE MAGICIAN | 3A

INSIDE

Illinois Commitment raises income level requirement BY MICHAEL CARUSO STAFF WRITER

The Illinois Commitment Program plans to raise the income level for qualification from $61,000 to $67,100 for the 20202021 academic year. This program covers some, but not all, of a student’s costs at the University using both federal and state grant funds. The g uidelines for qualifying for the program include a household income below $67,100 with less than $50,000 in assets and require a student is an Illinois high school graduate who is an incoming freshman or transfer student who is enrolled full time at the University. Applicants must also be under the age of 24. “The program sounds like a great idea to help those who are less fortunate,” said Truman Silberg, freshman in Engineering. According to the Office

of Student Financia l Aid website, up to eight semesters of tuition and fees are covered for freshmen and up to six semesters of tuition and fees are covered for transfer students. However, room and board, summer or winter classes, study abroad programs and some other exceptions are not paid for by this program. The program began in the 2019-2020 year and has seen a 10% increase from its original income requirement of $61,000. “(Illinois Commitment) benefits students because it helps bring students from different backgrounds together, which improves the overa ll lea rning environment,” said Kevin Pitts, vice provost for undergraduate education. “It helps the state of Illinois because we are helping to train and educate Illinois residents from all income levels.” The increase in the i ncome requ i rement

Illinois Commitment Program Guidelines

wa s deter m i ned by the University Board of Trustees as well as Governor J.B. Pritzker. Pritzker spoke about the agreement during a conference about the License to Work Act. “You all know that a central priority for me in this office is making college more affordable for those who can least afford it, and this is especially true of our state’s universities and community colleges,” Pritzker said. “That means now, more than half of the households in this state will qualify for free tuition.” The increase in the number of people the program covers coincides with the first increase in University tuition rates after a five-year freeze, and costs of the program may factor into this change. While some new students have their tuition covered, other incoming students

The Illinois Commitment Program has changed its guidelines to cover more people. The changes will go into effect for the 2020-2021 Academic Year.

buzz: Musician talks importance of local politics PAGE 6B

$61,000 maximum family income for 2019-2020 $67,000 maximum family income for 2020-2021 $50,000 maximum assets under the age of 24 new freshman or transfer

SEE COMMITMENT | 3A

Features: Millennials learn about combatting climate change

Source: Office of Student Financial Aid

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EMILY HAZEN THE DAILY ILLINI

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