THURSDAY September 19, 2019
THE DAILY ILLINI
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Vol. 149 Issue 8
PHOTO COURTESY OF DIANE WOLFE MARLIN
The new Gather residential area was designed by real estate company Rael Development Corporation. The development will consist of two main buildings, a five-story apartment complex north of Clark Street and a three-story collection of hotel rooms and townhomes just south of it.
Construction company plans unique housing in Urbana STAFF WRITER
Demolitions have begun on the southeast corner of University and Lincoln avenues to make way for the new Gather residential area. The property, designed by real estate company Rael Development Corporation, will feature 200 apartments, 16 townhomes and at least 30 extended-stay hotel rooms. In all, it should house about 365 people, said principal developer Graeme Rael. Raelcorp has developed five other Gather student housing projects in different college towns, including Memphis, Tennessee; Oxford, Mississippi and Bellingham, Washington. Rael said his company paid special attention to the
renewed growth in the neighborhood surrounding Carle Foundation Hospital. We look forward to serving our new neighbors and their visitors through the services we provide
and collaborating with new business owners,” said Lynne Barnes, Carle’s chief operating officer in an email. A rezoning agreement to build the Gather proj-
ect passed the Urbana City Council Feb. 26 after a 4-1 vote. Several residents of the West Main Street Historic District, a couple blocks south of the development, expressed com-
W University Ave
Mulberry Alley N Busey Ave
BY ETHAN SIMMONS
aesthetics of surrounding buildings for their Urbana site. “We’re not going up 25 stories; we’re trying to build a project that’s beautiful and also one that fits into the Urbana historic district, so architecturally, it’ll blend in,” Rael said. The Gather property follows an influx of upscale student housing buildings coming to campus. Rael said this project will set itself apart with its unit types and convenient location for certain majors located near the North Quad. “We’re gravitating from the four-bedroom unit plan that’s prolific in the market; we’ll have a lot more studios and one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms that cater to the student who prefers a little more privacy,” Rael said. The residential area will sit near Carle Foundation Hospital, which has responded favorably to the new development. “We’re excited to see
N Lincoln Ave
New residential buildings to be located near North Quad
W Clark St
plaints prior to the vote. Among their concerns: the height of the buildings, increased sewer load, lengthy construction time and severe transportation disruption. The development will consist of two main buildings, a five-story apartment complex north of Clark Street and a threestory collection of hotel rooms and townhomes just south of it. The apartment complex will encompass the entire southeast corner of Lincoln and University Avenues, stopping at Busey Avenue on the east and Clark Street to the south. The hotel rooms and townhomes will take up the northwest portion of the Clark Street and Lincoln Avenue block. Rael expects to start construction on the project near the end of October. If all goes well, Gather will arrive in spring 2021, SEE HOUSING | 3A
SAMANTHA BOYLE THE DAILY ILLINI
INSIDE UI addresses Suicide Awareness Month Former University students BY JULIE KANG ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
The Un i v e r s i t y ’s Counseling Center and Student Assistance Center emphasize the importance of addressing mental health and suicide, especially in the month of September, National Suicide Prevention Month. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, in the state of Illinois, “suicide is the 11th leading cause of death resulting in more than 1,000 deaths each year.” A study from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America found one in four college students has considered suicide. Nichole Evans, assistant director of Outreach and Prevention at the Counseling Center, said although the stigma attached to suicide has decreased, it still exists,
Sports: Illinois takes on Nebraska in the Illini’s first night game of the season at 7 p.m. Saturday. PAGE 2B
Features: Students dish out at late-night diner PAGE 6A
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even more so in certain communities. “It’s important to be able to address suicide openly because when we do that, it can remove some of the shame people can feel about it, and it makes it easier for people who are struggling to get help,” Evans said. The Counseling Center
“It’s important to be able to address suicide openly ... ” NICHOLE EVANS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH AND PREVENTION AT THE COUNSELING CENTER
has not reached the recommended clinicianto-student ratio yet, and the staff is experiencing a growing demand for its services.
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However, the center currently has 31 full-time clinicians, which is more than last year, and several part-time clinicians who fill some of the staffing gaps. Evans said one of the ways the office deals with the staff shortage is with the triage team, whose main role is to help students who come in without a scheduled appointment because they feel they are in crisis. In addition, the team helps those who call after appointments have filled for the day. They are then given the option to speak to a counselor on the phone or through a brief in-person meeting to discuss how to manage their mental health until they can schedule an additional appointment. “It’s important to note that we have a same-day scheduling policy because it allows students to get SEE SUICIDE | 3A
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accuse previous professor, demand jury trial in lawsuit ASSISTANT DAYTIME NEWS EDITOR
Two former University students have accused former University professor Gary Xu of sexual, physical and emotional abuse. According to reporting by ProPublica Illinois, former student Xingjian Sun was named a plaintiff. She had a two-year relationship with Xu. They first met in spring 2013 when Sun was a 19-year-old freshman. Xu eventually became Sun’s instructor for an independent study course, where their relationship became intimate. The relationship described in the lawsuit shows that Xu allegedly raped and beat Sun, as well as isolated her from friends and kept the relationship a secret. jzeped4@dailyillini.com
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In an interview with CBS This Morning, Sun describes in detail a moment she alleges Xu tried to run her over with his car. She was surprised someone was willing to do that in public. Xu allegedly abused Sun for two years, intimidating her with the fact that she was an international student. Sun went to the University to complain about Xu three times, though she withdrew her complaints after being intimidated by Xu. Sun has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder but is trying to move forward. Check back with The Daily Illini for more updates on the lawsuit and allegations.
BY JOSE ZEPEDA
Sports
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