THURSDAY November 14, 2019
THE DAILY ILLINI The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Vol. 149 Issue 24
RSOs address pollution in Champaign community Ameren leaves behind factory, toxic chemicals
Fifth and Hill streets. Residents have been fighting to have Ameren clean up the site for the past 12 years because of the health risks it poses to people in the surrounding area. “The contamination was there for so long before Ameren started cleaning it up that it moved off-site, out into the neighborhood during the movement of groundwater,” said Claudia Lennhoff, director of the Champaign County Health Care Consumers. “The groundwater can pull some of those chemicals, like benzene and naphthalene, and move them through the soil and increase the health risks to the residents.” The manufacturing plant used coal as its primary energy source, which caused coal tar waste to accumulate over the years. It was open for nearly 80 years but closed in the mid-1950s without any clean up after it shut down. The Fifth and Hill Campaign was initiated in 2007, which was when the community became aware of the toxic pollution harming their community. Those who were informed of this tragedy were alarmed and outraged that the company failed to warn the public about the situation. Ameren was contacted for more information regarding this issue. Illinois EPA and Ameren held an open house to provide explanations; however, the information was technical, not user-friendly
BY ALIZA MAJID STAFF WRITER
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
Jacob Benjamin, manager at the Campus Bike Center located on Pennsylvania Avenue, repairs a bike on Friday. The staff of the bike shop, Benjamin included, teaches people how to perform bike maintenance, like flat tires.
Students learn bike main BY MICHAEL CARUSO CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Campus Bike Center hosts two “Bike Fix-A-Flat” events this semester. One session was already hosted on Nov. 6; however, another will be available Dec. 6. The events teach attendees how to repair flat tires. “Flat tires are regarded as the most common repair issue and the most common reason people come into the shop,” said Jacob Benjamin,
manager of the Campus Bike Center. The events are available to non-bike owners as well because this class is solely a demonstration. The classes are free for anyone, which reflects the philosophy of the Campus Bike Center. “Repairs are a more expensive endeavor at other bike centers, and they’re less education-based,” Benjamin said. The Campus Bike Cen-
ter operates on a unique system compared to most bicycle repair places, Benjamin said. The center offers two methods of payment: $30 or volunteering for eight hours. The volunteering option makes these resources much more within reach for students, and expertise in bikes is not needed. “Volunteering can be anything from checking flat tires, sweeping, cleaning up
to explaining rules and regulations,” Benjamin said. Jonathan Albrecht, freshman in Engineering, said he learned a lot while his bike was being repaired. The center has a future goal, supported by local cyclists, of expanding its classes and events. In addition to Fix-a-Flat, the center was also involved in organizing other cycling events, SEE BIKES | 3A
The Fifth and Hill community has been exposed to toxic chemicals for over a decade due to the toxic waste left behind from Ameren Corporation’s old manufacturing plant. Now, student organizations, such as Black Students for Revolution and Students forEnvironmentalConcerns, are trying to get the University more involved. DimitriLove,seniorinLAS and Education and co-leader of BSFR, said one event the organization is holding is an information session on Nov. 21 about what exactly is going on at Fifth and Hill and how people are being poisoned. BSFR and SECS also plan to hold fundraisers and start GoFundMe pages. The fundraising will help obtain radiation cards that test the indoor air in people’s homes and determine if there are any toxic chemicals in the area. “The reason we’re fundraising is because it costs $100 for each test, and we’re going to do six tests in the residents’ homes just to collect data to see whether or not these contaminants are inside the homes,” said Abigale Pstzroch, senior in LAS and vice president of SECS. “If we find them, then that tells Ameren that they have to clean up.” Ameren has a former manufactured gas plant at
SEE POLLUTION | 3A
Protests in Lebanon influence campus BY SALEM ISAF STAFF WRITER
Beginning Oct. 17, protests erupted all across the country of Lebanon. While this issue may seem half a world away to most, it is affecting many students on campus who call the country home. According to Lebanese students at the University, these protests are a long time coming, with rampant government corruption dominating the country for the
last 30 years. Along with this, the Lebanese government has consistently raised taxes on working-class citizens. “It was basically like boiling a frog, with the government slowly taking more and more money over the years, with nobody reacting until now,” said Antoine Menassa, graduate student in Engineering. “Thank god (the protests) actually erupted.” Menassa, who lived in Lebanon his whole life and
completed his undergraduate degree at the American University of Beirut, said many people have to leave the country to find opportunities. “More than 50% of my graduating class for undergrad (isn’t) living in the country anymore,” Menassa said. “Our education system is so good. If we could get graduates to stay in Lebanon, we could really use them to improve the country.”
Marc Sleiman, senior in LAS, was born in the United States but goes back to Lebanon for a month every year to see family. Sleiman describes a few more of the problems citizens of the country have faced. “People are getting taxed higher and higher rates, and the money isn’t being used properly by the government,” Sleiman said. “There’s incompetence when dealing with basic public utilities like infrastructure, trash not being cleaned up and airports not being taken care of.” While a few key figures BRIGIDA DOCKUS THE DAILY ILLINI have resigned, including Dimitri Love, senior in LAS and co-leader of the Black Students former Prime Minister Saad for Revolution, speaks on Nov. 7. Love assists with fundraising Hariri, the results of the pro- and efforts to help the environment in the community. tests remain uncertain, but the majority of Lebanese students agree these protests are a great step toward a united Lebanon that cares for its people. “This movement that’s happening on the ground isn’t governed by anyone; it’s everyone from all religions being on the streets together for the same purpose, which is that we can’t live with this Features: Community Sports: Men’s, economy anymore,” Menassa women’s teams travel combats opioid crisis said. “We are fed up with the to NCAA Regionals with education corruption.”
INSIDE
PHOTO COURTESY OF LEBANESE DEMONSTRATORS
Lebanese students show solidarity with protesters in Lebanon on the Main Quad on Oct. 18. The protests reflect government corruption, and Lebanese students at the University wish to support those protesting to advocate for a better future for their country.
SEE LEBANON | 3A
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