TIFFANY BLANCHETTE | DAILY EGYPTIAN
Children toss leaves after school Oct. 22 at a playground in Ullin. Deanna Smith, 12, second from right, and her mother Frances, from Anna, came to Ullin to help babysit for their friend. Deanna said the fall weather has allowed for going outside more often, and the kids enjoy playing in the leaves. “Being outside keeps them out of my hair more,” Smith said. “I hope it stays warm all winter.”
Illinoisans have two big decisions to make by the Nov. 6 election: who they want to be the next president and whether they approve of a state pension amendment. The amendment, House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 49, is a change to the Illinois constitution regarding the General Assembly or governing body’s ability to increase pension benefits through a vote. The amendment calls for a three-fifths vote to increase pension benefits under any public pension or retirement system, which will affect public positions such as teachers, firemen and police officers. Democratic Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan proposed the amendment, which the house
unanimously approved in April, to place on the November ballot. The measure required only a 51 percent majority vote in the past. Illinois has an at least $83 billion pension fund deficit. To prevent that amount from growing, the state’s leaders have been examining ways to prevent passing pension benefit increases without a careful look from the legislature. People who want the Illinois constitution changed to require the three-fifths majority vote can vote yes on their Election Day ballot, and those who want the constitution to stay the way it is can vote no. Although the options seem simple, Bruce Appleby, a member of the State Universities Annuitants Association’s board of directors, said Amendment 49 is more deceptive than it reads.
“This amendment, if it’s passed, would remove that guarantee of pensions to state employees, and that’s the greatest danger,” Appleby said. While older individuals who are already on pension would not be affected by the amendment as much, Appleby said educators and anybody who looks to work an Illinois public job would be. “For (younger) people, it will have an effect on their future and whether or not they want to choose to stay in Illinois and work,” Appleby said. “This will have a direct impact on future benefits.” He said this change would dishearten him because it goes against the main reason he came to Illinois in the first place. Please see PENSION | 3
An administrative position vacated earlier this month has been partially filled by a university dean. David DiLalla has taken on a new responsibility as part-time associate provost for academic administration. Susan Logue, who retired Oct.1, previously held the position. DiLalla is now 50 percent associate provost and 50 percent associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts. He also is teaching a psychology graduate course for the remainder of the semester. “As associate dean, I had a lot of connection with Susan Logue and her role as associate provost,” he said. “I knew some things about what she did and how she worked. When she retired, it seemed like a natural kind of thing to consider applying for because the job is similar. It ultimately felt like a good fit.” The position search was conducted
internally at the university in which a committee was assembled and reported the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses to Provost John Nicklow. “The internal search for a replacement yielded some strong candidates,” Nicklow said. “Dr. DiLalla had the strongest campus support and brings a wealth of experience to the job. His background in academic administration, compliance and application of contracts will serve him well in this position.” DiLalla said his main purpose as associate provost is to provide consultation and advisement to the provost about personnel matters, the hiring policy and bargaining agreements. “A lot of it is stuff that when it’s working well you don’t want to pay attention to it,” he said. “It’s not the flashy stuff but stuff we have to make sure gets accomplished.” Please see DILALLA | 4