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Tuesday January 15, 2013
SPORTS, 1B
The Daily Illini www.DailyIllini.com
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
Vol. 142 Issue 79
BY NATHANIEL LASH AND LAUREN ROHR MANAGING EDITOR FOR REPORTING AND STAFF WRITER
Mandatory student fees may increase by 1 percent, or $30, next year, bringing the total annual bill to $2,916. University administrators presented these proposed increases, along with hikes in housing rates, to the board of trustees’ audit, budget, finance and facilities committee at the meeting in Urbana on Monday. The board will formally vote on the proposals at its Jan. 23-24 meeting in Chicago. Proposed fees are initially recommended by the Student Fee Advisory Committee and are sent to a number of University officials before they are forwarded to the board of trustees for approval. Christophe Pierre, vice president for Academic Affairs, said the fees presented to the committee “come straight from campus recommendations.” Unlike tuition, which is locked in for the years that a student remains enrolled, student fees can be changed from year to year for all students, rather than just freshmen. Included in fee increases is a $1.85 per semester fee to support the operations of the Illini Media Company, the nonprofit that operates The Daily Illini. This new fee comes after a spring 2012 referendum in which students voted in favor of a $3 fee for the company 1,809 to 1,212. These funds, if approved by the board, are expected to bring roughly $150,000 to Illini Media each year. University administrators also proposed a $291 increase in the room and board fees for undergraduates living in oncampus housing. This proposed increase is less than the original 3.5 percent increase University Housing requested, according to an Oct. 31 report from SFAC. Pierre said a significant part of this increase stems from the debt incurred as a result of the new dorm buildings being built in the Ikenberry Commons. This increase would bump housing rates for Urbana students up to $9,979 each year, which is lower than the Chicago and Springfield
SARI LESK THE DAILY ILLINI
Mengcen Li, sophomore in Engineering, looks for a physics book in the basement of the Illini Union Bookstore on Monday afternoon. Monday marked the beginning of the spring semester.
Pension reform bill fails, disputes go on STAFF WRITER
The Senate Executive Committee discussed pension reform at its Monday meeting after House Bill 6258 failed to progress at a state legislative session Jan. 3-8. The bill proposed a raise in employee contributions by 2 percent, an increase in the retirement age for younger employees and a limit to the cost-ofliving adjustment. Though it did not pass, Professor John Kindt, chair of faculty and academic staff benefits, still believes conversation is key. “If anyone has concerns, they should definitely express those concerns,” Kindt said. “You can really have an impact ... The legislature does respond to concerns of the public on various issues.” Kindt said he believes legislators will hear the opinions of the public and respond because this is such a large problem.
“This is obviously going to be a huge issue at the next legislative session, and something’s going to happen,” Kindt said. “Something has to happen.” Kindt said he thinks state legislators may be trying to assuage the pension debt situation by pushing the gambling expansion bill sitting on Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk. Many are hopeful that the billions owed to the state treasury from gambling companies could relieve some of the debt. “How (the bill) will be used is up for analysis, but Gov. Quinn vetoed the last gambling expansion bill, so it’s a complicated situation, but obviously the senate thinks there’s some linkage there,” he said. Senate member and associate professor Abbas Aminmansour said he wants to ensure the University faculty’s opinions are heard.
See PENSION, Page 3A
New alcohol law affects party hosts Serving drinks to minors now felony charge in Ill. BY CARINA LEE STAFF WRITER
Party hosts may have more to worry about than printing off and posting “Must be 21 to drink” signs before inviting guests. House Bill 1554 took effect Jan. 1, stating that any hosts who knowingly allow underage guests to consume alcohol will face a Class A misdemeanor. Any person facing the misdemeanor will be fi ned at least $500. Also, if any underage guest are involved in an incident directly or indirectly resulting in bodily harm or death as a result of alcohol consumption, the host will be charged with a Class 4 felony. State Rep. Carol Sente, D-59, fi rst sponsored the bill Feb. 15, and Gov.
INSIDE
Pat Quinn signed it Aug. 22. State Rep. Maria Antonia Berrios, D-39, is a chief co-sponsor of the bill and said the bill intends to encourage adult responsibility. “I do think that a law like this will help the liquor commission to make sure that (adults) are not giving liquor to minors, whether it’s their minors or their friends,” Berrios said. “I’m glad that we were able to pass this kind of legislation.” Capt. Roy Acree of the University police said this law will mostly affect students during holiday weekends, such as Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day. The previous version of the law subjected party hosts to city ordinance charges resulting from complaints, such as noise. “Normally, we deal with loud par-
See DRINKING LAW, Page 3A
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Board to vote on raising student fees
Springing into the new semester
BY CHRISSY PAWLOWSKI
High: 32˚ Low: 12˚
SETH PERLMAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Illinois Rep. Daniel Biss, D-Skokie, testifies during a House committee hearing at the Illinois State Capitol Monday in Springfield.
New company chosen for work on NHB The University selected the firm LCM Architects to work on the Natural History Building after a previous contract with another firm was nixed because of ethical concerns. University administrators reviewed the $4.6 million contract with LCM at the board of trustees’ audit, budget, finance and facilities meeting Monday. “It appears to me we’ve been following the appropriate procedure, and we’re back on track,” said Ed McMillan, committee chair and trustee. In December 2010, the University awarded local architecture firm BLDD with a $368,000 contract for conceptualization to renovate the Natural History Building. About a year later, another $4.3 million was given to the firm to continue work. But questions were raised about Jill Maxey, former associate director of planning, as her husband Bruce Maxey is a partial owner of BLDD. Awarding a contract to a spouse is considered a conflict of interest, according to the Illinois Procurement Policy Board. The University withdrew an additional $4.3 million contract with BLDD in July 2012, but the conceptualization cost was paid. Mike Bass, deputy comptroller for the University, said the changes that necessited a new architectural firm for the project have pushed back its scheduled completion to July 2016 — a 12-month delay — which Bass anticipates will involve an additional $1.1 million cost to the $70 million project. He said the full cost of the delay will not be known until after construction bids are opened in two years. campuses, proposed at $10,261 and $10,350, respectively.
Nathaniel can be reached at lash2@ dailyillini.com and Lauren can be reached at rohr2@dailyillini.com.
YOUR VOICE
Q: What are you most looking forward to this semester? COMPILED BY MEGAN PIOTROWSKI STAFF WRITER
“I’m starting my major classes, making new friends, of course, and hopefully ending it on a good note with good grades.” NAVEED RAHMAN, freshman in Engineering
“I’m looking forward to taking courses that are more unique to my major because I’m actually a political science major and they’ve offered some new ones that you can kind of put into your general eds and everything, so that’s pretty cool.” DIAMOND BELLAMY, sophomore in LAS
“Just finishing out my degree, getting ready to graduate, trying to find a job and figure out what I’m going to do next year.” KIM CERF, senior in AHS
“Probably my econ classes. I’m taking my more advanced ones, and I’m really interested in just how the economy works and stuff, so I’m looking forward to that and definitely not having morning classes for sure.” ROBERT OLSON, sophomore in DGS
Po l i c e 2 A | H o r o s c o p e s 2 A | O p i n i o n s 4 A | C r o s s w o r d 5 A | C o m i c s 5 A | B u s i n e s s & Te c h n o l o g y 6 A | S p o r t s 1 B | C l a s s i f i e d s 4 B | S u d o k u 4 B