The Daily Illini: Volume 141 Issue 139 by The Daily Illini

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Tuesday April 24, 2012

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Vol. 141 Issue 139

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URBANA-CHAMPAIGN SENATE

Wheeler reelected as senate chair; Roy Campbell wins vice-chair

Flashback virus poses dire threat to security of campus Mac users

BY LAUREN ROHR STAFF WRITER

BY DANNY WICENTOWSKI STAFF WRITER

The virus-proof mystique of Mac software took a beating April 12 when a virus dubbed Flashback began infecting more than 500 Macs on campus, according to CITES senior security outreach specialist Brian Mertz . While the number of infections isn’t “cataclysmic,” said Mertz, the Flashback virus is unique in its ability to automatically install itself after the user visits an infected webpage. Once installed, the virus goes to work: logging keystrokes, digging through fi le folders and monitoring web activity to steal usernames and passwords. “(This) is the defi ning, big moment for Mac viruses,” said Mertz, a Mac user himself. “Prior to Flashback, virusmakers would have had to somehow trick the user into entering their password to prompt the virus’s download and installation. Now (Mac users) have the same risks that every Windows computer has dealt with for a decade.” Security analyst Wayland Morgan said CITES quick ly moved to shut down the wireless con nections of the infected Macs due to the viruses’ ability to quickly and covertly steal login information. “If an attacker would be able to get a user’s password, they could access, modify or even destroy University data,” Morgan said. “While being disconnected is certain-

See VIRUS, Page 3A

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT DURAND THE DAILY ILLINI

The Urbana-Champaign Senate announced its new leadership for the upcoming academic year at its meeting Monday afternoon. After a week of online voting, Matthew Wheeler was reelected as the senate’s chair. Roy Campdi rec More on-air: bell, tor of graduTune in to WPGU 107.1- ate admissions FM at 5 p.m. and advanceto hear more about ment for the department of the U-C Senate’s new leadership for computer scithe upcoming year ence, won the race for senate vice-chair. “I want to make sure that all the faculty are involved and engaged in the way the University is going to go,” Campbell said. “I think we have a really exciting future, and the difficulty is always to get everyone to participate. I hope I can do that.” Outgoing University Senates Conference representative Kim Graber, who lost to Campbell for the vice-chair position, said she is confident in Wheeler’s and Campbell’s abil- WHEELER ity to lead the faculty senate. “Both (Wheeler) and (Campbell) are excellent leaders, and the senate will be in very good hands with them as our leaders,” Graber CAMPBELL said. Campbell was also elected to take Graber’s place in the University Senates Conference, or USC, along with George Francis, a current USC member. Outgoing senate vice chair Joyce Tolliver was nominated from the floor and elected for membership in the USC. As a newly elected USC member, Tolliver was also selected as the USC delegate that would serve on the senate executive committee, or SEC. The senate also voted to appoint three committee chairs to serve on the SEC. Academic freedom and tenure committee chairman Eric Johnson, equal opportunity and inclusion committee chairman Har-

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See U-C SENATE, Page 3A

Questions arise on impact of Quinn’s pension reform plan on University tion to limiting our ability to pay our bills,” Quinn said. “This plan rescues our penGov. Pat Quinn’s recent plan to reform sion system and allows public employthe Illinois pension system is raising con- ees who have faithfully contributed to cerns about its effect on the University. the system to continue to receive penThe plan, which Quinn introduced at sion benefits.” an April 20 press conBut several tenets of ference, would seek to the plan have received achieve 100 percent fundcriticism because of their ing for pension systems in potential effects on the Illinois by 2042, raise the University. Jeffrey Brown, retirement age to 67 and director of the Universishift the responsibility ty’s Center for Business for paying pension costs and Public Policy and to employers. fi nance professor, called According to a press Quinn’s proposal “highly release, the Illinois penflawed.” sion system has an unfundBrown stated that one ed liability of $83 billion, problem is that the plan meaning that employees in would shift the cost of UniIllinois have been promversity employees’ penised $83 billion more in sions to the University. benefits than the state has “If the University of IlliGOV. PAT QUINN assets to pay. For fi scal nois is forced to absorb an increase in payroll costs year 2013, which begins due to picking up penJuly 1, Illinois must pay $5.2 billion in pensions, only 22 percent sion costs, this money has to come from of which will go to state employees. somewhere,” Brown said. “Part of it will “Unsustainable pension costs are undoubtedly come through higher tuition squeezing core programs in education, for students (and) part of it will come public safety and human services, in addi- through reduced spending on student and BY MATT RICE STAFF WRITER

“I urge the General Assembly to move forward with this plan, which will bring a new era of fiscal responsibility and stability to Illinois.”

INSIDE

academic services.” Amanda Kass is the research and policy specialist in pensions at the Chicago-based Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. Kass said Quinn’s plan has a fundamental flaw. “Current employees would have to choose between a reduced benefit option or keep their current benefit options with consequences. If they keep their (current) plan, they give up retiree healthcare, and future raises would not count toward their individual pension benefits.” Kass said if passed, Quinn’s proposal may face legal challenges. “It is questionable if it’s constitutional because there’s a clause in the Illinois constitution that says pension benefits cannot be reduced or diminished,” she said. Kass will speak at a forum about the State Universities Retirement System, the agency that administers pensions to University employees. The forum will be held at the University YMCA on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Despite criticisms, Quinn is hoping the plan gains enough support to be enacted. “I urge the General Assembly to move forward with this plan, which will bring a new era of fiscal responsibility and stability to Illinois,” Quinn said.

Israel Illini offers free falafel

ROSIE POWERS THE DAILY ILLINI

Scarlett Andes, freshman in LAS, left, gives out free falafel to students on the Quad as part of Israel Week on Monday. Alli Gattari, freshman in LAS, attended the event. She said she found the event to be very informative and that it “gave (her) a little briefing about Israel.” Israel Illini hosted Israel On the Quad on Monday, the first event of Israel Week. On Tuesday, Israel Illini will host a ceremony for Yom Hazikaron at the Cohen Center for Jewish Life. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. and commemorates Israel’s fallen soldiers and citizens. The ceremony will feature poetry, memoirs and music. On Wednesday, Israel Illini will host a party celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut at Fire Station from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. The party will celebrate Israel’s 64th birthday. Students can purchase wristbands for $5 and then drinks for $1 for the duration of the event. On Thursday, at the Cohen Center for Jewish Life, Israel Illini will host a barbecue. The event will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 pm., and the menu includes hamburgers, kabobs, hot dogs, hummus and baba ghanoush.