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WEDNESDAY February 11, 2015

CUTTING BACK ON FACEBOOK

INTERRACIAL LOVE IN MILLENNIAL GENERATION

Columnist Alexandra advocates for using Facebook less to experience more in your daily life.

The ‘most tolerant’ generation for interracial couples still has its setbacks.

OPINIONS, 4A

LIFE & CULTURE, 6A

THE DAILY ILLINI 5he independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

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Vol. 144 Issue 55

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Kilgore hire inspires bill proposed by State Rep. Meier moves » to block the hire of ex-terrorist affiliates FOLAKE OSIBODU THE DAILY ILLINI

University Chancellor Phyllis Wise speaks at the grand opening of the Ameren Innovation Center at Research Park.

BY JOSH WINTERS

Ameren opens Innovation Center

STAFF WRITER

Research Park center will offer 12 part-time positions

BY KATHERINE BONCHER STAFF WRITER

Ameren Corporation, a Fortune 500 energy company based out of St. Louis, held a ribboncutting ceremony Tuesday to commemorate the opening of its Innovation Center at Research Park. Chancellor Phyllis Wise, Mayor Don Gerard and State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-103, were among those in attendance. Ameren has been building a relationship with the University for several years now, said Laura Weisskopf Bleill, assistant director for external relations at Research Park. In the past, the company has

worked on research projects with the College of Engineering. The decision to open an Innovation Center in Urbana-Champaign was made because of the University’s emphasis on engineering and green technology. “The University is looking forward to an ever deepening and widening relationship with (Ameren),” Wise said. “The Ameren Innovation Center will give our students the opportunity to work on smart energy solutions for the Midwest and beyond.” The center will be opening up part-time employment opportunities for up to 12 University students. According to a press

FOLAKE OSIBODU THE DAILY ILLINI=

Phyllis Wise, Mary Heger of Ameren and Champaign Mayor Don Gerard were among those who attended the grand opening. release, students across multiple disciplines will work on projects ranging from data analyt-

ics to mobile applications that focus on the future

SEE AMEREN | 3A

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For the editorial board’s opinion on the proposed bill and how it disregards the concept of rehabilitation, turn to Page 4A.

of Hearst Media Company heiress Patty Hearst. He was arrested for seconddegree murder and possession of an explosive device in 2002 for his involvement in a 1975 bank robbery that left one woman dead. He served six years in a California federal prison and was released in 2009. Kilgore worked in the Center for African Studies on campus from 2010 until August 2014, when he was told that his contract expired. In November 2014, the Board of Trustees voted to allow University units to rehire Kilgore. He currently teaches as an adjunct lecturer in the Global Studies program. Meier said he was also motivated to write the legislation after watching the spread of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, ISIS. If convicted terrorists are allowed to work at Illinois universities, Meier said, it would give groups like ISIS the green light to “invade

» » » » »

After learning of the University’s decision to hire James Kilgore in the fall, State Rep. Charles Meier, R-108, has introduced legislation to bar convicted terrorists from teaching at Illinois’ public universities. “I just fi nd that this idea that we would let convicted terrorists, whose whole plan was to destroy America, teach our youth ... (is absurd),” Meier said. Meier’s bill, HB 150 , “prohibits universities and community colleges from knowingly employing a person who has been convicted of attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, soliciting, or committing the offense of terrorism or any offense committed or attempted in any other state or against the laws of the United States.” Kilgore was a member of the radical Symbionese Liberation Army, known for the kidnapping

SEE BILL | 3A

Carle applies to open new medical facility in Research Park BY ANDREW NOWAK STAFF WRITER

PORTRAIT OF TEAM ILLINI (SEAN EBIHARA, IVAN VILLAMAR AND PATRICK REGAN) BY FOLAKE OSIBODU THE DAILY ILLINI

Team Illini makes finals Illini students to solve energy problem in BP’s competition BY LIYUAN YANG STAFF WRITER

A group of chemical engineering students from the University has advanced to the national finals of BP’s Ultimate Field Trip competition, where Team Illini will compete against six other universities this spring to win the “trip of a lifetime” to the company’s natural gas operations in Trinidad and Tobago. The annual competition asks students from across the country who are studying in science, technology, engineering and mathemat-

ics (STEM) fields to solve a real-world global energy problem. “BP believes that addressing America’s energy challenges requires long-term partnerships between the private sector and leading educational and scientific institutions,” said Khymberly Booth, U.S. university relations director for BP, in a statement. “The UFT has proven to be a fun and effective way to do just that.” The six other teams moving onto the finals are: Aquasolve from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Aquam Inc from Pennsylvania State University; Owls from Rice University; The Maroon COG from Texas A&M University; Blastoise from the University of Oklahoma; and Roden Analytics from the University of Texas. All three members of

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Team Illini, Sean Ebihara (chemistry major), Ivan Villamar and Patrick Regan (chemical engineering majors), are sophomores. This year, BP asked participants to find a solution for cleaning the contaminated water created by the oil industry. “One of the things about the competition is that you will never know what problem you are going to get this year,” Villamar said. He considers this to be the biggest challenge of the competition. Ebihara said another big challenge is finding the “novel solution” to the problem. He pointed out that there are already thousands of engineers in the industry who are trying to solve the same problem, so coming up with an innovative solution is the

SEE ENGINEERING | 3A

A proposed $23.1 million sports medicine and orthopedics facility by Carle Foundation may offer new benefits for student-athletes and students studying sports science and medical care. Carle has applied to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board for an Orthopedics and Sports Medicine facility and will address the board later this spring. The 52,000 square-foot facility would be located in Research Park, bordering First and Fourth streets and sitting south of Gerty Drive and north of West Windsor Road. The central location of the facility is ideal for the sports medicine staff since they travel to support local schools and events, Caleb Miller, vice president of surgical services at Carle, said in an email. “Carle Orthopedics is proud to partner with the University of Illinois (Division) of Intercollegiate Athletics for the medical treatment of their athletes,” Miller wrote. “And the facility allows us to provide a convenient location when they need care.” Miller also said Carle currently provides educational opportunities to University students and they will look at future opportunities as they move forward with this project. The facility will feature a 32,800 square-foot clinical area, which will include 66 exam rooms, a therapy gym

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Carle Foundation proposes 52,000 square-foot facility Project cost: $23.1 million Estimated completion: Jan. 31, 2017 Location: University’s Research Park Will feature 32,806 square feet of clinical space, including: Q Exam and procedure rooms for orthopedic and sports medicine providers Q Physical therapy gym and sports enhancement training and offices, Mark Schultz, public relations specialist for Carle, said in an email. Schultz said there is an increasing number of people with needs for orthopedic services in the ChampaignUrbana area. In 2014, Carle saw a 9.9 percent increase in exams relating to orthopedics and sports medicine. To meet the rising demand, Carle is currently recruiting orthopedic specialists to address the demand they are seeing for specialized orthopedic care, including treatment such as arthroscopic procedures and joint replacement. Carle’s current facilities for orthopedics weren’t originally designed to function as orthopedic practices. Orthopedic services for upper extremity, hip, knee, foot and ankle care are located in the Mattis facility and the sports medicine care is located at

X-ray rooms Cast bays Will feature 19,194 square feet of non-clinical space, including: Q Administrative space for leadership, case management and insurance experts Q Sports performance enhancement space Q Mechanical components and other building systems Q Q

SOURCE: CARLE’S APPLICATION TO ILLINOIS HEALTH FACILITIES AND SERVICES REVIEW BOARD

the Carle North Annex, just north of Interstate 74. This new facility would allow the orthopedic practice to be united under one roof and Carle believes it will enhance patient care. The facility would also allow for the additional space needed for patients in wheelchairs or who are using crutches or walkers. University spokeswoman Robin Kaler said the University could not comment on pending real-estate transactions. Laura Frerichs, Research Park Director, and Paul Schmidt, director of sports medicine for the Fighting Illini, were also unable to comment. According to Carle’s application, the estimated project completion date would be January 31, 2017.

Andrew can be reached at ajnowak2 @dailyillini.com.

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