THURSDAY November 29, 2018
THE DAILY ILLINI
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The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
Vol. 148 Issue 26
Study examines benefits of legalizing marijuana BY EMILY DAO STAFF WRITER
J.B. Pritzker’s gubernatorial win foreshadows the legalization of marijuana, a piece of legislation that found legalization would greatly boost Illinois’ economy according to a study at the Univeristy. The study showed decriminalizing recreational use of marijuana would create around 2,600 new businesses and 24,000 jobs, and would generate $525 million in annual tax revenue. “This is an economic opportunity of the state, while saving money for taxpayers,” said Frank Manzo, policy director of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute. “Legalizing marijuana would create an entirely new sector in the economy that’s already open for business in 10 other states.” The study also found that legalizing marijuana would save Illinois $18 million annually on law enforcement. Manzo said the money saved by reducing incarceration and policing costs, as well as legal fees, could be devoted to areas such as infrastructure and education. Robert Bruno, professor in the School of Labor and Employment Relations and director of the Labor Education Program, said decriminalizing marijuana would come with social benefits as well. Although both marijuana and alcohol are drugs, Bruno said there is more stigma around marijuana because marijuana is illegal. He said decriminalizing the drug would reduce negative stigma around casual marijuana users. Manzo said social costs of legalization are often inflated, as research shows legalizing marijuana would not dramatically increase or decrease use. Rather, the team found that legalizing marijuana would actually help curtail opioid addiction, which claimed 1,500 lives in 2016 alone due to opioid-related overdoses in Illinois. According to the study, research showed that legalization has been found to decrease opioid
MARK CAPAPAS THE DAILY ILLINI
Theresa Newman, administrative assistant, sits at the front desk of the Counseling Center. The Counseling Center is looking for ways to provide services for more students in need of counseling. Lack of space is the biggest limiting factor for the center.
Counseling services see long waits BY YOOJIN SON STAFF WRITER
As the semester progresses toward the end, more students are experiencing stress from an increased workload as finals approach. However, those who are seeking help with mental health might not be in luck; due to limited counseling services available on campus. Nichole Evans, assistant director of outreach and prevention and media communications coordinator of the Counseling Center, said counselors are making allowances in their schedules and are shortening some meetings to see as
many students as possible. “There’s nothing official, but I think everybody’s responding to this the best way that they can so that they can see the students who need it,” Evans said. Evans said a lack of space is the biggest limiting factor to the number of students the Counseling Center can see. “I’ve only been here for four years, and in the time that I’ve been here, we’ve taken over the whole entire basement of this building; we didn't used to have that,” Evans said. “I think administration at the University realizes that, and they're trying to come up with solu-
tions as best they can. But it takes time.” The McKinley Mental Health Center and the Counseling Center are the primary services available on campus. However, the high demand cannot be satisfied due to limitations of counselors and psychiatrists. Robert Woodward, medical director of McKinley Health Center, said the three psychiatrists try to see patients once a month for medication management. “Counselors have around four weeks to be seen and psychiatrists are showing available appointments in about four to six weeks from now,” Woodward said
in an email. Deborah Agoye, junior in Business, said her experience with McKinley Mental Health Center has been frustrating due to the one-month wait she had. “At that point, it’s like, you're going to be a whole different person, you’re going to find so many different things in a month. You’re not facing the same situation,” Agoye said. “If you really need to speak to someone, you can’t. So it’s just a bad system.” Robert Parker, director of McKinley Health Center, said although they are searching to hire more psychiatrists, there is simply a higher demand for mental
health services than there are psychiatrists. “You don’t have too much trouble finding psychiatrists in the big cities. Up in Chicago, there tends to be an abundance in that location. But you get south of I-80, you just don’t have enough psychiatrists,” Parker said. “There’s just a shortage compared to the amount of demand.” To release the pressure of the high demand, Parker said students who are dealing with medical issues such as a sore throat could benefit from their insurance and get help through telemedicine. Telemedicine is the use SEE COUNSELING | 3A
Atmospheric course blows in new direction BY DAVID RUVINSKIY STAFF WRITER
Eric Snodgrass, professor in LAS who teaches the popular course ATMS 120: Severe and Hazardous Weather, will leave the University in January 2019. After Snodgrass’ company, Agrible, was bought by Nutrien in July, the company offered Snodgrass the opportunity to work there full-time. Avalon Ruby, junior in FAA, took ATMS 120 when she was a freshman. She thinks ATMS 120 is popular because the course is easy to understand. “It’s not like the material is spoon-fed to you super easy all the time, but it’s put into layman’s terms. Snodgrass is really good about making sure that his students understand what’s happening,” Ruby said. Jeffrey Frame, professor in LAS, thinks ATMS 120 is popular because it fulfills two general education requirements and meteorology affects everybody’s lives. “I’m really upset that (Snodgrass) is leaving. I think that he is a great teacher, and I love being in that class so it sucks that he is not going to be here anymore,” said Cassidy Manuel, freshman in DGS. Snodgrass said he will be transitioning to his new
position at his company at Research Park. He will be helping growers understand how weather and other factors affect global agricultural yields. During the spring semester, Frame will be taking over ATMS 120. Snodgrass thinks Frame will be able to maintain his legacy in the department. “I think that the students that are going to get to take Professor Frame’s “Severe and Hazardous Weather” class are in for a treat,”Snodgrass said. “Like I said, he is one of the world’s leading experts on severe weather, and he is respected throughout the entire community. So they’re going to get some incredible teaching from him.” Snodgrass will be teaching the online version of ATMS 120 for the last time during the winter semester. Bob Rauber, director of the School of Earth, Society & Environment, and Robert Trapp, department head of atmospheric sciences, have put together a search committee to hire Snodgrass’sreplacement by the end of the spring semester. “I will sorely miss teaching routinely at the University of Illinois. I will miss the stuSEE SNODGRASS | 3A
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Willard launches ‘Fly Local’ campaign BY CLARE BUDIN STAFF WRITER
The University of Illinois Willard Airport in Savoy is launching a campaign to incentivize Champaign-area residents to trade Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport for a closer, local option. On Oct. 26, the airport announced the new ‘Fly Local’ campaign, where local businesses and institutions are encouraged to pledge to check Willard’s travel options and expenses before exploring options at other airports. Part of the campaign is looking to schools in the C-U area, as well as faculty, staff and students who could benefit from a more convenient method of travel. Ashley Hipsher, assistant director of marketing and communication for Willard Airport, said part of Willard’s outreach efforts on campus is motivated by the
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PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHLEY HIPSHER
Willard Airport in Savoy is encouraging the community to fly locally. The airport is trying to connect with the University to reach more students and faculty.
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already large population of students and staff who have had experiences flying with the airport. “We are always marketing to everyone in the community that travels, including students and faculty,” Hipsher said. Alex Liu, sophomore in DGS, has taken advantage of Willard’s services for travel. He first flew from Willard to Chicago, then to Washington, D.C., for winter break last year. Liu said in an email that the attempt to catch an earlier flight ended poorly because of the small capacity of planes flying out of Willard, but despite having to wait several hours in the lobby, he was satisfied with the customer service. “I would not mind flying out of Willard again,” Liu said. “I personally think it is very convenient that Cham-
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paign has an airport that can fly out to a larger hub for a connecting flight for people that need to be somewhere quicker, especially for students who need to get to where they need to go after taking their finals for break.” Liu said he was unaware of the new campaign, but he added that formal advertising will help provide another source of awareness for possible student flyers. “Most students generally will find out that there is an airport in Champaign through other students or through student organizations,” Liu said. Since October, Parkland College in Champaign has already expressed its support to take the pledge, and Gene Cossey, executive director of Willard Airport, said he hopes the University will
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