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Ebertfest UI hosts 14th annual Roger Ebert Film Festival, April 25-29 IN BUZZ

Thursday April 26, 2012

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Vol. 141 Issue 141

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ELECTIONS 2012

College Dems, Republicans try to increase youth voting Turnout falls from 18 to 4 percent in primary BY GEORGE COVENTRY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

MELISSA MCCABE THE DAILY ILLINI

Roger Ebert raises his hand to interject during his wife Chaz Hammelsmith Ebert’s (not pictured) speech at the Ebertfest Opening Night Gala at the President’s House on Wednesday during the the Ebertfest Opening Night Gala at the President’s House. Ebert lost his voice during his battle with thyroid cancer.

Ebert brings favorite films to C-U Critic to debut new voice during Sunday screening of ‘Citizen Kane’ BY JILL DISIS SENIOR WRITER

For 13 years, Roger Ebert’s fi lm festival, affectionately known as “Ebertfest” to regular attendees, has brought the fi lm critic’s favorite overlooked fi lms to his childhood home of Champaign-Urbana. While every year has showcased a new selection of guests and fi lms, patrons will get to experience something that hasn’t been heard in six years: the sound of Ebert’s voice.

Ebert, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, was left unable to speak in 2006 . But his wife, Chaz, noted one of this year’s special features in her speech at Wednesday’s opening night gala — a commentary track that will be played at Sunday’s showing of “Citizen Kane.” “One more time, in the Virginia Theatre. His voice,” she said. The 14th annual festival kicked off with the gala at the president’s house. Aside from Ebert and his wife, other attendees included guests from several of the fi lms, sponsors and University administrators. The event began with a presentation given by University presidentdesignate Robert Easter, chancellor and vice president Phyllis Wise and other administrators. Champaign Mayor Don Gerard was also present. He gave Ebert the key to the city, to which Ebert quipped,

“When you get a key to the city, where is the lock?” via a message given to his wife. The guests at the gala said they were eager for the fi lm series. David Graham, a fi rst-time sponsor, said he was interested in seeing several of the fi lms, including the Oscar-winning “A Separation” and the Indian fi lm “Patang,” which he said is “supposed to be visually amazing.” “After going for five years, I wanted to give back and be a sponsor,” Graham said. Kelechi Ezie was excited to see her 13-minute short fi lm “The Truth About Beauty and Blogs” on the big screen. It was shown at 10 p.m. at the Virginia Theatre. Ezie wrote, produced and starred in the fi lm. “The inspiration was my interest in reality TV and the kind of overexposure that everything is

Film Screenings for Thursday 1 p.m. “Big Fan” 4 p.m. “Kinyarwanda” 8:30 p.m. “Terri” 10:30 p.m. “Kind Hearts and Coronets” (Free) at Foellinger Auditorium

having now,” Ezie said. Ezie’s fi lm is about a self-obsessed YouTube blogger. While Ezie is not familiar with personally producing YouTube videos, she said she is an regular YouTube watcher and was inspired by online makeup tutorial videos. This year’s festival is dedicated to Paul Cox . A director, Cox is the subject of “On Borrowed Time,” a documentary that will be screened

See EBERTFEST, Page 3A

Despite a low turnout among young voters in the Illinois primary, political organizations on campus remain optimistic about increasing participation in the November elections. In the 10 precincts that make up the campus area, there are 11,816 total registered voters, according to Champaign County Clerk Gordy Hulten. Only 162 total ballots were cast during the Illinois primary held in March, a 1.37 percent voter turnout rate, compared to a 21.02 percent voter turnout rate for all of Champaign County. Hulten said the low voter turnout, which he called “atrocious,” may have been a result of the primary coinciding with spring break. Despite the scarce youth voter participation in the Illinois primary, the UIUC College Democrats and the UIUC College Republicans, both registered student organizations, said they believe that they will be able to mobilize the youth vote for the upcoming November elections. Since most University students will be signing new housing leases and changing residences around August 1, the president of the UIUC College Democrats, Shana Harrison, said the group won’t focus its efforts on encouraging voter registration until students are settled in their new addresses. “We’re going to focus on trying to work more and do more outreach to make sure everyone is registered by the deadline, which is October 9, and make sure that then those students have the opportunity to vote,” Harrison said. Despina Batson, president-elect of the UIUC College Republicans, said the group is currently concentrating on building up attendance and membership. However, over the summer they will be creating strategies for increasing student voting and start their campaign on Quad Day next year. One event that Batson noted as being successful in combating waning voting participation was “Legends with a Legend,” an event where a candidate or elected official would join them at the bar Legends Bar and Grill for drinks and appetizers. “These well-received events

See ELECTIONS, Page 3A

Waiting pays: Best time to look for apartments Rates often drop after fall lease-signing rush BY TIM REES CONTRIBUTING WRITER When it came to signing a lease this fall, Jill Marik , sophomore in DGS, considered apartment prices too high and turned to private-certified housing as an alternative. “For what I was being quoted at the time, (leasing an apartment) wasn’t worth it,” she said. “I thought I was better off going with private housing with my meals included again, as opposed to living in an apartment, paying a ton for the unit, utilities and food.” But once spring came around, Marik said the price for a two bedroom unit at 309 E. Green St. went down by about $200 a month. By that time, however, she had already committed to private housing. Such is the case for many students who sign leases in the fall under the impression that prices are static. Ethan Bruning, freshman in ACES, signed his lease for fall 2012 last October. Bruning said he got caught up in the “pressure to sign as soon as possible in fear of all the good properties

More on-air: Tune in to WPGU 107.1FM for the 5 p.m. newscast to hear more about college-town rent, from fellow students. fi lling up.” Esther Patt, director of the Tenant Union , said because most property management fi rms have an array of sites to choose from, most rental units are available well into the spring semester. She said students are often unaware that properties are still available later on in the year. According to classified advertisements in October 2010, The University Group stated that four-bedroom apartments on Sixth Street started at a rate of $300 per person. In April 2011, the rate for the same unit was lowered to $200 per person. The University Group could not be reached for comment. Tim Haas, leasing director for Roland Realty, referenced a chart that outlines lease prices for his company. According to the chart, a four-bedroom unit at 309 E. Green St. sells at

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See RENT, Page 3A

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