FINAL THANKS TO UNIVERSITY Columnist Rebecca appreciates all the opportunites and experiences gained here.
January 20, 2015
Local bands gather in two-weekend-event to cover classic hits and raise money for charity.
Turn to our special edition for recent conference basketball coverage
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Big Ten Hoops Guide
THE GREAT COVER UP
THE DAILY ILLINI 5he independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Tuition freeze for future instate students »
Student fees, room and board cost still set to increase BY ABIGALE SVOBODA
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Vol. 144 Issue 62
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FREE
Students gather to spread values represented by MLK
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0RUH LQVLGH For our
editorial board’s opinion on the new tuition freeze and its effect on in-state students, turn to 3DJH $
STAFF WRITER
For the first time in 20 years, the University will freeze tuition for in-state freshman enrolling this fall. The Urbana campus’ baseline tuition will remain at $12,036 and out-of-state tuition will increase with inflation. For the past two years, base tuition increased by 1.7 percent annually, according to reports by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees met Thursday in Chicago and unanimously agreed to not
raise tuition, in an effort to keep the University competitive in comparison to other schools. However, student fees and room and board expenses will increase slightly. Student fees on the Urbana campus will increase by $34, to stand at $3,018 a year. Room and board will increase by $152, to stand at $10,332 per year. Additionally, non-resident tuition will increase
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Members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority gather in the Illini Union to make Valentine’s Day cards that will be sent to soldiers abroad. This was part of a volunteer project held on Monday afternoon in commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the values he represented.
More challenges face 2015 Illinois
Compromise, conflicts ahead for Governor Rauner BY JOSH WINTERS STAFF WRITER
While the chaos of November’s elections may be over, the 2015 legislative session promises to be a challenging one for Illinois politicians, particularly as major fiscal challenges face the state.
“The top issues will be fiscal; how to reduce spending and increase revenue,” said Brian Gaines, professor of political science. “On the revenue side, the top question is whether the General Assembly and Bruce Rauner can reach a compromise on some extension of an income tax rate over 3 percent, but under 5 percent.” NANCY STONE TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE To close the gap in Illi- Bruce Rauner with his wife, Diana, by his side is sworn in nois’ budget shortfall, new- as governor of the State of Illinois on Jan. 12 at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, Ill. Rauner's 6 SEE GOVENOR | 3A children and son-in-law are on the stage with them.
NEW LAWS IN ILLINOIS
Hemp research legalized for 4 Illinois universities BY FARAZ MIRZA STAFF WRITER
Four universities within Illinois, including the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, will soon be able to grow hemp for research purposes, thanks to a new Illinois law, HB 5085. The law, effective Jan. 1, allows universities, which are registered with the Illinois Department of Agriculture, to cultivate hemp for academic research purposes and must study the hemp’s
BY JOSH WINTERS
Illinois rang in the new year with a few new laws on education, health and technology. Below is a compiled list of some of the most notable laws to pay attention to this year.
State universities with a four-year agriculture degree can grow and conduct research on hemp, the stalk of the cannabis plant species that also produces marijuana. The universities must work with the Department of Agriculture by providing quarterly and annual reporters on the research.
HB 5701: Employers can’t ask about criminal history until the interview This law prohibits companies with 15 or more employees from asking applicants about their criminal history until they have been offered conditional employment or selected for an interview. The law excludes applicants for emergency medical service and security-related positions.
HB 4207: Schools combat cyberbullying Illinois schools will receive tools to protect their students from cyberbullying. Students cannot be subjected to cyberbullying if it interferes with their ability to learn or the school’s ability to educate. Schools can investigate cases even if the bullying happened over private internet devices.
SB 2636: MyoclonicAstatic Epilepsy patients can get medical marijuana This law adds myoclonic-astatic epilepsy to the list of “debilitating medical conditions” that qualify for medical marijuana. Cannabidiol is a major non-psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that has been used to treat patients suffering from frequent seizures.
This law creates the Chicago Educational Governance Task Force, which will examine the Chicago public school system and assess the best procedure and structure for governing the largest public school district in the state. The task force must report to the General Assembly by May 30, 2016.
Eligibility for Illinois universities to research hemp
Eligible and interested in cultivation
2 Eligible but haven’t expressed interest
You may not get Grandpa’s Camaro when he passes away after all. Under the law, if a deceased person’s estate is worth less than $100,000 dollars, the executor of the small estate affidavit must first list and pay all outstanding debts their client owed before their heirs or legatees receive any of possessions.
Not eligible Chicago State University Eastern Illinois University Governor’s State University Northeastern Illinois University Northern Illinois University
SOURCE: Illinois Department of Agriculture
Sign up for 13-week classes by Jan. 27 and transfer full credit.
www.parkland.edu/uiuc
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Eligible but not interested Southern Illinois University Western Illinois University
Eligible and interested University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Illinois State University BRYAN LORENZ THE DAILY ILLINI
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It’s not too late to register!
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Not eligible to grow hemp
2
SB 2985: Deceased owners of small estates must pay debts before heirs receive
HB 1152: Task force created to review structure for CPS schools
SEE HEMP | 3A
Of the nine public four-year institutions in Illinois, only four are eligible to grow hemp for research purposes. In order to be eligible, a university must be certified and registered with the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
STAFF WRITER
HB 5085: Universities can research hemp
growth, cultivation or marketing. The other elligible universities are Illinois State University, Southern Illinois University and Western Illinois University. Bruce Branham, crop sciences professor researching weed science, said an eligible university’s decision to actually cultivate and grow hemp is based on whether there are faculty interested in pursuing hemp research,
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