FLETCHER HITS 3 HOME RUNS
FIFTH ANNUAL COMPETE FOR CURE
Illini baseball beats Southern Illinois 10-1 behind Fletcher’s big game.
SPORTS, 1B
Sunday afternoon, Phi Gamma Nu will host its annual event to fundraise for special education.
Tasers ineffective solution to crime The Daily Illini Editorial Board says Urbana police should not obtain conducted energy devices.
OPINIONS, 4A
LIFE & CULTURE, 6A
THE DAILY ILLINI
THURSDAY May 1, 2014
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
58˚ | 41˚ Vol. 143 Issue 115
|
FREE
Biomedical facility talks spark controversy Urbana residents voice concern over new venture BY ELI MURRAY STAFF WRITER
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT EMMONS
Gov. Pat Quinn speaks at the MAP Matters Day rally on Wednesday. Quinn has proposed to double MAP funding over the next five years.
Gov. Quinn stresses need for increased MAP funds Students across state voice support for Quinn’s proposal to double grant funding
and college affordability, where he was introduced by University PresiStudents from universities and col- dent Robert Easter as “a great friend leges around the state were invit- of the University of Illinois.” ed to come and voice their support Quinn plans to raise funding for increased MAP grant funding slightly for the University to $253.56 at a rally Wednesday in Springfield, million in the 2015 fiscal year, assiswhich was hosted by Gov. Pat Quinn. tant Illinois state budget director Illini Democrats and the Illinois Abdon Pallasch said in an email. Student Senate both had represenHe said that the “not recommendtatives attend the MAP Matters Day ed” budget — a scenario in which the rally to demonstrate their support temporary income tax hike would not for Quinn’s proposal to double MAP be extended — would cut state public university funding by 12.45 percent. funding over the next five years. Evan Keller, reporting director David Blanchette, spokesman for for Illini Democrats and freshman Gov. Quinn, said that increased MAP in LAS, emphasized the importance grant funding could affect college affordability across the state. of the scholarship program. “It’s going to greatly increase “It could affect literally thouthe number of first generation col- sands of people’s ability to attend lege students, which is completely the University of Illinois at Urbain line with democratic philosophy na-Champaign,” Blanchette said. “I and the philosophy of Illini Demo- can’t stress enough how vital this is crats,” Keller said. “We believe in for people who want to attend colmobility among classes, among peo- lege, but may not have the financial ple. And these people that have par- wherewithal to do so.” Specifically in regards to MAP ents that don’t go to college, if they worked hard, and they’ve done well grants, Quinn’s budget proposal in school, they deserve just as equal would increase funding for the proa shot as kids with more money.” gram by $50 million. With this monQuinn visited the Illini Union a few etary increase, the University could weeks ago to discuss MAP funding fund about 1,750 more students with BY ALEX SWANSON STAFF WRITER
MAP grants, Pallasch said. Jaclyn Gelfond, president of Illini Democrats and junior in LAS, attended the rally herself. She is a MAP grant recipient and she described the rally as energetic and optimistic. “If anything, it only made me realize more so how important MAP grant funding really is,” Gelfond said in an email. “Students depend on these grants, and we are lucky to have a Governor that is fighting for them.” She added that she heard personal stories about how MAP funding allowed students to attend college, including a first-generation student who attributed her opportunity to the scholarship program. Former Student Body President Damani Bolden offered his support for the MAP rally as well. “I am honored that the governor has called on our students to advocate for such a transformational program,” Bolden said in an email. “My administration is pleased to partner with Gov. Quinn to ensure that the funding increase in MAP grants becomes a reality.” Pallasch commented that state funding of education has remained
relatively constant over the past five years. He also said that over the past few years, Quinn usually has proposed more funding for MAP grants then is appropriated by the legislature. Pallasch also spoke about the more general current state of education funding in Illinois. “We do not spend at the foundation level,” Pallasch said. “We’re only at about 89 percent of what we should be right now spending in education. The proposal would correct that.” To apply for a MAP grant, a student must fill out a FAFSA report. The grants are distributed to the students based on need with expected family contribution, cost of institution, and amount of other financial aid taken into consideration. MAP grant recipients must be Illinois residents and enrolled in at least three hours at an approved Illinois college. Other requirements may be found on the Illinois Student Assistance Commission’s website.
The West Urbana Neighborhood Association listserv, or WUNA list, has seen a growing discussion of the impact of a newly proposed medical facility. Some area residents are even suggesting a “grassroots movement” to oppose the venture, which is backed by both the University and Carle Foundation Hospital. Area resident Dr. Andrew Scheinman shared with WUNA list an open letter to Chancellor Phyllis Wise. In the letter, he called on Wise to address community concerns regarding a public-private partnership between the University and Carle. “If you’re serious about following the advice of the reports you’ve commissioned, at what point do you intend to follow the advice of the first report on the importance of responsiveness to and interaction with the local community?” he wrote. A proposed biomedical facility is outlined in the report titled “Evaluating the Feasibility of a New College of Medicine in Urbana-Champaign” published on April 18. In it, the University discussed the benefits of adding a full-scale academic hospital to the Urbana campus. The report, jointly commissioned by the University of Illinois Foundation and Carle Foundation Hospital on Jan. 24, for up to $97,750 ($85,000 base pay and up to 15 percent for out-of-pocket expenses), outlines a plan to create a “specialized engineering-based college of medicine in Urbana-Champaign” through a partnership between the University and Carle Foundation Hospital. According to the report, the proposed
SEE HOSPITALS | 3A
School district hit hardest by tax exemptions
Carle’s tax exempt status in fiscal year 2012-2013 cost the county more than $6 million in tax revenue. Here’s the breakdown of where the funding was pulled from:
Alex can be reached at amswans2@dailyillini.com.
University, state and federal funding helps veterans complete education BY MARYCATE MOST STAFF WRITER
When Liz Ambros arrived on campus, she did not know that she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Ambros came into Applied Health Sciences after serving in the Navy for six years, including an eight-month tour in Iraq. After she visited the Counseling Center on campus, Ambros, a senior, was diagnosed with PTSD. “I didn’t realize I had it,” Ambros said. “I don’t think a lot of veterans realize that they have it either. You know, we always try to be tough. We always try to be strong. If there is anything wrong with us, we think, ‘There’s nothing wrong with us. We are normal. We are strong. We keep going.’ There are not only physical injuries. It is very common to have those invisible types of injuries — a lot more common than people think.” In addition to the obstacles that veterans must overcome due to their military experience, transitioning to college poses a unique challenge for the men and women who have served and are serving in the armed forces. Many of the servicemen and servicewomen don’t have financial support from their parents, some are supporting families, and 25 to 30 percent return with physical disabilities, said Director of Veterans Programs Nicholas Osborne. “Financially, anything we can do to help them finish their degree is the most important part of this,” Osborne
said. To aid these veterans, their tuition and fees are entirely covered by the federal government, the state government and the University. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission allotted $19.2 billion to create a veterans scholarship, said Randy Kangas, associate vice president of planning and budgeting. However, five or six years ago, as veterans began to return from tours in the Middle East, state funding started to run out, and the scholarship’s budget was cut to $36 million. Because these veterans are entitled to receive full tuition and fees, state universities are expected to waive the costs for veterans. In fiscal year 2013, the University system waived $10.3 million; the Urbana-Champaign campus waived approximately $3.9 million of that total, the Chicago campus waived approximately $4.7 million and the Springfield campus waived approximately $1.75 million, Kangas said. “Different universities are affected differently,” Kangas said. “For some of the community colleges, it is a very large number considering the size of the community college. The veterans are fine, the veterans are taken care of, and the University is happy to do that — so it has become in essence a waiver program instead of a scholarship program.” The University is waiving tuition and fees for roughly 400 veterans right now, who are completing undergraduate, professional or graduate degrees.
DAILYILLINI, DAILYILLINISPORTS
INSIDE
Police
2A
|
UI system distribution of aid to veterans The University system has consistently covered costs that the state of Illinois has failed to cover for veterans. URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
2A
|
Opinions
4A
|
SPRINGFIELD
$5,000 $4,000 $3,000 $2,000 $1,000 0 TOTAL WAIVERS FY 2010
TOTAL WAIVERS FY 2011
TOTAL WAIVERS FY 2012
TOTAL WAIVERS FY 2013
SOURCE: RANDY KANGAS, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR PLANNING AND BUDGETING AUSTIN BAIRD THE DAILY ILLINI
However, some of these veterans fees are covered by the G.I. Bill, and the Illinois Veteran Grant is used to cover graduate school or any additional cost of living that servicemen and servicewomen face when completing their education. “Many of our students treat this (college education) like a job and want to get finished to get into the work force,” Osborne said. “Having the G.I. Bill has made it so they don’t have to work as
Letters
2A
$3,012,799.78
City of Urbana
$822,343.96
Parkland College
$354,585.74
Unit School 4
$262,648.72
Mass Transit
$188,224.55
Cunningham Twp
$131,612.72
City of Champaign
$83,874.11
Public Health
$78,149.48
Forest Preserve
$60,110.87
Champaign Park
$45,202.25
Unit School 3
$24,804.68
School Dist 137
$23,842.71
High School 193
$15,240.36
Urbana TIF 51
$9,652.42
Village of Rantoul
$7,281.79
Champaign TIF 51
$6,281.90
Village of Mahomet
$4,767.07
City of Champ Township $2,576.43
|
Crossword
much or stretch themselves too thin.” The federal, state and University funding has already shown results, Osborne says. Due to programs such as counseling, student outreach groups, career advising and the waived tuition and fees, the University graduates around 76 to 78 percent of its veterans, as opposed to the national veteran graduation rate of 51 percent, Osborne said.
4A
|
Comics
4A
|
Life
Cornbelt Fire
$2,024.74
Mahomet Public Library
$1,739.90
Rantoul Rd & Br
$1,319.44
Rantoul Park
$1,300.42
Mahomet Rd & BR
$1,017.89
Rantoul Township
$879.25
Mahomet Perm Rd
$853.94
Mahomet Township
$688.34
Rantoul/ Lud Cemetery
$380.34
Rantoul - Ludlow MultiAssessor
$213.66
Total
$6,315,900.52
SOURCE: DAN WELCH, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY TREASURER
SEE VETERANS | 3A
@THEDAILYILLINI
THEDAILYILLINI
@THEDAILYILLINI, @DI_OPINION, @DI_SPORTS Horoscopes
CHICAGO
Unit School 116
&
Culture
6A
|
Sports
1B
|
THEDAILYILLINI Classifieds
4B
|
Sudoku
4B