A device ‘fit’ for a college student PAGE 6A MONDAY February 8, 2016
THE DAILY ILLINI The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Vol. 145 Issue 71
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UI reports record number of applications for class of 2020 BY SAMANTHA JONES TOAL STAFF WRITER
A record number of students applied for enrollment to the class of 2020 across all three University of Illinois campuses. The University system received 56,017 applications for freshman seats on its three campuses for the fall of 2016, according to a University press release. The apparent interest from students created a 13 percent increase in applications when compared to the 49,530 prospective students who applied to the University for the fall of 2015. In 2015, the University
adopted a single notification date, meaning the University no longer “wait-lists” applicants. Instead, prospective students can apply to the University’s various honors programs by Nov. 1 and to general admission by Dec. 1. All applicants were notified on whether they were admitted Friday. In a meeting with The Daily Illini’s editorial board, Interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson said the University found the wait-list system resulted in some applicants feeling like a second-choice admit, thus causing the University’s yield to suffer.
Enrollment has increased continuously since 2011 and newly released fall 2015 enrollment showed a record amount of students on campus. On the Urbana-Champaign campus specifically, freshman applications increased 11.2 percent, from 34,033 applicants to 37,844 applicants. According to the release, applications increased among Illinois residents, African-American students and Latino students. Applications from students in Illinois increased 9 percent, applica-
COLLEEN DEMPSEY THE DAILY ILLINI
Applicants to the University of Illinois’ Urbana-Champaign campus increased 11.2 percent in Fall 2015, from 34,033 applicants to 37,844.
SEE ADMISSIONS | 3A
‘It’s On Us’ engages campus singing groups with A Capella contest Happens To You” and upload a video recording of their University students are performance. hoping to bring awareness “We encourage the a capto sexual assault on college pella groups to sing their campuses through the pow- own versions. And they can er of song in the It’s On Us upload their submissions in campaign’s “Til It Happens the following four weeks To You: Sing for Survivors until the deadline, which Contest.” is on Feb. 26,” Avery said. The It’s On Us campaign, “After four weeks we will along with “The Hunting open the voting to the pubGround” documentary and lic on March 1.” ROK Mobile, launched the The winning group will a cappelh ave a la contest chance to to bring enga ge awareness in a “vidto sexual eo master assault in class” and the theme discussion of Lady with Diane Wa r ren, Gaga’s the co-writsong and er of the m u s i c video. song “Till “ B y It Happens To You,” calling KRISTIN AVERY and record on all a CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR IT’S ON US producer cappelDavid Fosla groups ter. The at colleges, It’s On winners Us is engaging new allies will also win a Skype sesin the arts community and sion with a cappella group empowering more young Pentatonix. “It’s the first time that we people to speak out about sexual assault,” said Kris- are doing campaign works tin Avery, campaign man- for people who are involved ager for It’s On Us. in music, so we are all very The contest is inviting col- excited about it,” Avery said. legiate a cappella groups to sing Lady Gaga’s “Til It SEE A CAPPELLA | 3A BY YI ZHANG STAFF WRITER
TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
Carl Huntere, 48, of Flint, Mich., walks home through the snow from the North End Soup Kitchen in Flint on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016, where he received a case of free bottled water.
UI finds Flint connection
Resident director raises money to provide water for residents BY ABIGALE SVOBODA STAFF WRITER
When Prince Robertson, a native of Saginaw, Michigan, heard about the water crisis in Flint, he knew he needed to help. While the nation raised concerns about the high levels of lead in Flint’s water system, Robertson thought about all the personal connections he has to the city. “I’m passionate about social justice issues, and with Flint being a predominately African-American community, this defi nitely is an issue that is unjust,” Robertson said. Robertson grew up almost 40 miles outside of Flint and has friends who grew up and still live in Flint. His mentor was a pastor in Flint; Robertson said they would visit his church and the community regularly. Additionally, his college basketball coach and some old teammates live in Flint. “It’s a special kind of connection between Saginaw and Flint residents,” Roberson said. That special connection encouraged Robertson to
“By calling on all college a capella groups, It’s On Us is engaging new allies in the arts community.”
Flint Water Crisis
fi nd a way to help Flint residents, despite being more than fi ve hours away in Champaign-Urbana. Robertson is a resident director for University Housing but said he took on the initiative alone. At the outset, Robertson, along with Tekita Bankhead, an assistant director in the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations , Dwarne McNair, Robertson’s fraternity brother in Saginaw, and Chavez Marshall, Flint native, aimed to raise $500. Through the creation of a 20 day GoFundMe initiative, the group was able to raise $1, 278 to benefit Flint residents. The GoFundMe initiative ended on Wednesday but Robertson said they will continue to collect donations of bottled water in hopes of making a second or even third trip to Flint. On Friday, Robertson, Bankhead and Laura Hamilton, University graduate student, drove to Saginaw to buy 13,000 bottles of water at a Wal-Mart in
40%
About of Flint residents are below the poverty rate.
$200 million
The new funding will be used to establish a Center of Excellence on Lead Exposure in Flint.
in federal funding will be appropriated to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Sevices.
It will cost approximately
$767,419,500.
to replace the City of Flint’s water supply infrastructure.
KAROLINA MARCZEWSKI THE DAILY ILLINI
SEE FLINT | 3A
SOURCE: CNN, Debbie Stabenow
The Illinois Xtension Chords A Capella group performs at the Homecoming pep rally on Oct. 23, 2015.
TIA MANGAHAS THE DAILY ILLINI
University designates all gender restroom signs DAILY ILLINI STAFF REPORT
As the fight over the right to use bathrooms according to gender identity have raged in legislatures from Florida to Texas, the University announced that “All Gender” campus restroom signs will be available in the Facilities and Services sign shop. The Chancellor and Provost Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Concerns
announced the signs on Thursday, explaining that the signs aim to identify already available singleuse, locking-capable restroom facilities in campus, such as family or wheelchair accessible restrooms. All gender restroom signs have already been placed in several campus buildings, including the Illini Union and Clark Hall. According to a press release from the commit-
tee, “The Chancellor’s and Provost Committee on LGBTQ Concerns officially recommends the usage of this sign for all applicable restrooms.” University Housing has already taken steps to introduce gender inclusive facilities, as Allen One North introduced gender neutral restrooms in Fall 2015. In addition, Allen Residence Hall plans to introduce gender-inclusive housing to stu-
dents in fall 2016. The University’s restroom redesignation follows in the footsteps of other Illinois colleges, as Illinois State University converted their campus family restrooms to all gender signage in 2014. In recent years, several state legislatures have attempted to pass “bathroom bills” or legislation introducing penalties for people who use restrooms that does not match the gender on their
birth certificate - regardless of gender identity. Although the Obama administration announced that transgender people are protected from certain discriminatory practices by the Civil Rights Act, the fight over what constitutes as discrimination continues in schools across the nation and in Illinois in particular. Township High School District 211 in Palatine announced last month that
the district would allow a transgender student to use the locker room consistent with their gender identity after a months-long legal battle. After a student filed a Title IX c omplaint against the district, federal authorities ruled that the district violated federal anti-discrimination laws in November. news@dailyillini.com
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Let there be laptops
A historical device
Another loss at home
Technology in classrooms has potential to help more than it hurts.
As students use their i>clicker for classes, they may not realize its roots.
No. 5 Iowa knocks out Illinois on Sunday, dealing John Groce’s team its eighth Big Ten defeat.
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