ILLINI MEN’S BASKETBALL: NCAA tournament hopes on the line against Nebraska. SPORTS, 1B March 4, 2015
THE DAILY ILLINI 5he independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Editorial board argues MAP recipients should be allowed to leave post-grad
UNOFFICIAL use of the CHIEF » » » » » BY JOSH WINTERS STAFF WRITER
BRENTON TSE THE DAILY ILLINI
Ivan Dozier, a graduate student, dressed as “Chief Illiniwek” walks around the stadium during the game against Northwestern on Saturday. Many Unofficial shirts use versions of the Chief logo and can sometimes have questionable meanings.
Unofficial Chief shirts cause division of opinion over shirt’s message As Unofficial draws closer, spirit wear stores around campus remove their orange and blue attire from the mannequins and replace them with traditional green clothing to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Since the retirement of Chief Illiniwek, many stores have decided to print their own versions of the Chief in hope of keeping the honor and memory alive, said Te Shurt owner
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Michele Fassett. However, selling shirts can become tricky, since certain depictions of the Chief are copyrighted by the University. Campus Licensing Coordinator Marty Kaufmann said the University can only control one version of the logo — the circular depiction of Chief Illiniwek. He said the University is active in ensuring no one uses its copyrighted material and will intervene with manufacturers if
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columnist Alex’s opinion on choosing respectable Unofficial apparel, turn to Page 4A
copyright is violated. However, when a vendor decides to capitalize on its own version of Chief Illiniwek, there is little the University can do unless the picture of the Chief is accompanied with the
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One of several Unofficial shirts that have caused controversy on campus
UI denies violating free speech DAILY ILLINI STAFF REPORT
The University was recently placed on the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education’s “10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech in 2014” list. FIRE, a nonprofit educational foundation, released its yearly list on Tuesday, naming schools with fi rst amendment violations. The University was placed on the list as a result of the Steven Salaita con-
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STAFF WRITER
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Changes to MAP grants in the works
UNOFFICIAL 2015
BY MADISON JOHNSTON
20˚ | 7˚
Vol. 144 Issue 87
troversy, according to a press release from FIRE. Salaita’s job offer to work in the American Indian Studies program was revoked after he posted controversial= tweets regarding the confl ict between Israel and Palestine. Other schools on the list include Chicago State University, placed on the list for censoring a faculty blog, The University of Iowa and Brandeis
0RUH RQOLQH For University. The University denied move coverage claims that it violated free about free speech, speech, as members of the head to DailyIllini.com and campus community have expressed a wide array check out “Freedom Sings” of opinions on the hiring witnessed the vigorous decision. “This is the kind of free and passionate debates discussion that is the bed- that have taken place and rock of our institution and are still taking place on our all of higher education,” campus would appreciate said University spokes- that there is plenty of space woman Robin Kaler in an for freedom of expression email. “Anyone who has and opinion.”
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In an effort to increase the efficiency of Monetary Award Program grants, State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-51, introduced four bills to the General Assembly to alter the program’s existing eligibility and payment requirements. “We need to do more with less,” Rose said. One of Rose’s bills, SB 1591, would prohibit students of for-profit universities from receiving MAP grants. By passing the bill, Rose hopes to steer students away from these institutions, which have come under fi re for low-quality education and training programs, as well as inflating post-graduate job placement numbers to mislead new recruits. “The reality is in years past, the state of Illinois has spent anywhere between $17 to $25 million on for-profit university MAP grants,” Rose said. “That’s a kid at the U of I that didn’t get a MAP grant.” During the 2013-2014 academic year, nearly 6,700 University students received a MAP grant with an average value of $4,147.28. The total amount awarded in map grants reached $27,774,397, according to Michelle Trame, senior associate director of the Office of Student Financial Aid. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission, which awards MAP grants, announced in February the suspension of the grant to students whose applications were received on or after Feb. 22, the earliest
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MAP freeze could affect thousands of students While MAP grants may be suspended for the 2015-‘16 academic year, the number of University students receiving need-based financial assistance has increased over the last 5 years
2009-‘10
$9,868
2010-‘11
$10,885 $11,504
2011-‘12
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$11,557
2012-‘13
$12,363
2013-‘14
0 3000 6000 9000 12000 15000 Average need-based scholarship or grant (11,301) (10,323) (11,223) 10000 (10,973) (9,804) 8000 12000 Number of students
WEDNESDAY
6000 4000 2000 2009- 2010- 2011- 2012- 2013‘10 ‘11 ‘12 ‘13 ‘14 Number of students who received need-based aid (scholarships and grants)
SOURCE: Department of Management Information
THE DAILY ILLINI
deadline in the commission’s history according to the University’s student fi nancial aid website. The suspension was in response to the state’s ongoing budgetary crisis and higher level of early applications. “Demand far exceeds available funds for certain state grants such as the Illinois Monetary Award Program, as well as for some institutional aid,” said Eric Zarnikow, executive director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission in a statement. Rose said the bill has received bipartisan support, and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin supports the measure. However, Rose also said the for-profit college
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Campus minority groups hold town hall meeting BY YI ZHU STAFF WRITER
Leaders of seven minority groups on campus held a town hall meeting Tuesday evening at the Materials Science and Engineering Building. The meeting was held in response to a column published by The Daily Illini on Oct. 2 that discussed the Society of Women in Engineering. Some believed the column looked at the organization — and organizations like it — in a negative light. Stephanie Lona, president of the Society of Women in Engineering, said the town hall meeting also served as a way to let people know the significance of minority organizations. “In my first ever engineering class, there was only one girl — which was me — out of 30 people,” Lona said. “So it was actually very evident to me that I was a minority.” She said the reason these organizations exist is to form
a sense of community. Terrance Phillips, president of the National Society of Black Engineers, said minority organizations provide a support system to minority students and give them a space where they belong. He said women in engineering often feel discouraged after receiving unequal treatment. However, by joining minority organizations and seeing other women who are also engineering majors, it can help build up their confidence and keep on going. Minority organizations are not set up mainly for women in Engineering; people of all genders and races who feel they are a minority in their field can join these organizations. “We provide an inclusive environment, and we attract students of all backgrounds,” said Vox Dombek, co-president of Society of Women In Physics. Dombek said the minority organizations cooperate
LIFE & CULTURE
and collaborate with other organizations to give students more opportunities. When students first join the organization, they are often guided by an older “sister” or “brother” from the same major who offers them professional advice. The organizations also have programs to instruct students on how to deal with problems they might face in class or in life. When asked how to treat gender discrimination on campus and improve gender equality, Phillips said he believes the education and job opportunities at the University are almost equal; rather, it is more of a visibility issue. Often, minority students don’t believe they can enjoy the same opportunity as other students, Phillips said, so minority organization help these students and encourage them to pursue their goals.
yizhu5@dailyillini.com @mikeyizhu
SPORTS
Big strides made since last year in track and field Cheers to easy Unofficial recipes PAGE 6A
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Senior Zahn takes home 3 gold medals
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YI ZHU THE DAILY ILLINI
Supervisors of seven minority groups on campus joined a town hall meeting Tuesday evening at the Materials Science and Engineering Building to discuss their purposes.
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University sees increased heroin usage
Increase tied to abuse of prescription narcotics, officials respond
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Lenten season a good time to encourage religious tolerance Religious ignorance not an excuse for rude remarks
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