The Daily Illini: Volume 143 Issue 90

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LEAVING HIS MARK ON THE ILLINI

Dining hall workers emigrate from Greece, find balance

As Illinois turns its focus to the Big Ten Tournament, Jon Ekey reflects on his season in Champaign.

Dimitris and Maria Yfantis enjoy keeping busy while working for the University.

LIFE & CULTURE, 6A SPORTS, 1B

THE DAILY ILLINI

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UI preparing for potential funding cuts University could lose out on $80 million reward from budget BY MARYCATE MOST STAFF WRITER

The Illinois State Board of Higher Education has indicated that a 12.5 percent cut in state funding to state universities may be foreseeable in the next year, University spokesman Tom Hardy said. “Nothing has been settled or determined yet,” Hardy said. “This is a possibility. It would have a broad impact if it happens, but it is important to say that it is very preliminary.” The potential cut to the University’s funding would come as a result of the expiration of a temporary income tax increase that is set to end in January, Hardy said. In Fiscal Year 2014, the University is set to receive $647 million from the state of Illinois, the same total as FY2013. With a $647 million appropriation, a 12.5 percent cut would mean the University would lose out on $80 million annually. Over the past five years, the appropriation has dropped from $697 million to $647 million, a $50 million, or seven percent, decrease. Revenue from state appropriations accounts for 14.5 percent of the University’s overall budget. In his address to the Urbana-Champaign Senate on Monday, Roy Campbell, Senate Executive Committee chairman, discussed steps senate leaders and administration will take to counter potential budgetary diffi culties, specifically in regard to pension reform costs and cuts to state funding. Campbell emphasized

the importance of shared governance in this process. “It is not necessarily possible that we can give you our instant comments on this, because sometimes it can get very complicated, but those discussions do exist,” he said to faculty senators. Chancellor Phyllis Wise also addressed concerns about pension and state funding in her remarks to the senate. “It is very important to consider in the face of the uncertainties related to the pension that the administration is working really hard to try and fi gure out ways that we can have fringe benefits that are very comparable and competitive with our peers,” Wise said. “The possible sun setting of the income tax that was supposed to happen at the end of 2014 is something that we have to plan for and make sure that we have accommodations to deal with that very substantial cut in our budget.” The University will know whether the cut in state funding will be occur in May after the governor and state legislators decide whether to extend the temporary tax increase. The State Board of Higher Education does not have a fi nal say regarding the income tax but plays an advisory role in the decision. “The State Board of Higher Education does planning and recommendations and develops budgetary parameters to the governor,” Hardy said.

BRENTON TSE THE DAILY ILLINI

Julio Luna prepares a crepe at Crepe De Licious in the basement of the Illini Union on Tuesday. The restaurant is set to close this semester.

Crepe De Licious, restaurant in Illini Union, to close March 21 BY ANDREW YOON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A popular campus restaurant will be forced to shut down on March 21, after failing to meet contractual obligations with the Illini Union. The restaurant, Crepe De Licious, opened in the Illini Union food court in July 2010 and has become popular because of its unique menu and fresh ingredients. Lori Holmes, manager of vendor contracts at the union, said they are terminating the contract because of business reasons, despite the restaurant’s popularity. “I would be happy for him to stay,” she said. “He’s not doing a bad job — he just hasn’t met the standards of his contract. “We have sent him several

MaryCate can be reached at most2@dailyillini.com.

warnings, but if you don’t meet the obligations, you are breaking the contract.” Owner Rakesh Chopra started the business after he approached the Canadian company about opening a chain in Urbana, but he eventually made his own variation of the restaurant to retain creative control over the menu and ingredients. After a health decline in 2012, Chopra gave up management to local business owners. When he returned in the summer of 2013, he found that the restaurant was six months behind in paying rent and utilities, Chopra said. “At fi rst, (the Illini Union Board and) I agreed to pay $500 a week to catch up in what I was behind in,” Chopra said, “And then they started asking me to speed up the payments.”

Chopra said he didn’t want to raise prices on his food to keepup in the increased payments for the student’s sake. “It’s the student first, business second,” he said. “Higher sales don’t necessarily mean higher profitability. I have made-toorder fresh quality ingredients for an economical price for students. Quality ingredients means a higher food cost. I serve free coffee and tea to any student — even those who do not buy anything.” Crepe De Licious is the only restaurant in the food court that serves a Muslim menu with “Halal” food, and this is one of the reasons why Fera Mohamad, junior in LAS, toyed with the idea of starting a petition to keep the restaurant open. “There is no hesitation buy-

ferent races can be interpreted as STAFF WRITER acts of nonphysical aggression — Several students who took part can affect students psychologicalin the silent protest Being Black ly. She said she supports students at Illinois met with University offi- in their efforts to address racial cials on Monday in an effort to climate issues on campus. address race issues on campus. “I know how difficult and chalDuring the meeting, students lenging that could be,” she said. voiced their concerns to Renee “As a faculty (member), I am comRomano, vice chancellor for stu- mitted to creating a campus clident affairs, and Charles Tuck- mate in which all students feel er, vice provost as though they for undergradare respectuate education ed and valued and innovation. members of the They expressed community.” that they want Neville said more than a disit is important cussion — they that students want action. begin to articuStudents were late and define primarily contheir expericerned that the ences. This University does would consenot require any quently eduform of diversicate the camHELEN NEVILLE, pus by showing ty education for COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY CHAIR graduation, an that racism still issue that Romahappens, and it no said falls in could begin to Tucker’s purview. bridge the gap between racial “I always think it’s important communities on campus, she said. to hear from students about their “We need to push for ways to experiences because until you establish meaningful connechear it directly from a person, tions and interactions across you can’t really appreciate what racial groups that create a perthey’re talking about,” Romano sonal, meaningful relationship,“ said. Neville said. To be more informed, Neville Helen Neville, counseling psychology chair in the College of recommends students take coursEducation, said issues of racial es dealing with topics of diversimicroaggression — a theory that ty, a suggestion students made to interaction between people of dif- Romano and Tucker.

“We need to push for ways to establish meaningful connections across racial groups.”

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Some of Neville’s research focuses on black racial identity. She has found that experiences with racial microaggression can have a negative effect on a person’s psychosocial well-being. Through meta-analysis, a method that hopes to identify patterns within studies, she has found that there is a relationship between perceived racism and higher levels of depression. Neville is interested in finding ways to overcome this. She said addressing the concern through activism and providing social support can be helpful. “It’s important to address it (the issue of racial microagression) ... to acknowledge that it actually happens,” she said. “People try to create an ideology that race doesn’t matter, it’s not important. What we know, and another part of our research, is that it’s not true.” Neville also said the University should focus on increasing the representation of the black community. Black students currently comprise about 5 percent of the campus’ student population, according to the Division of Management Information. The most recent data compiled in the 2007 cohort from DMI states that black students hold the lowest six-year retention rate at 71.9 percent. The students involved in Being Black at Illinois will continue sharing experiences of racial acts of microaggression through posters while their mouths remain

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Tuesday’s numbers suggest a higher turnout than normal for a primary BY ELEANOR BLACK STAFF WRITER

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0RUH RQOLQH For more information regarding the protest and faculty meetings, visit DailyIllini.com.

taped shut on the Quad for the rest of the week. Neville said the silent statement helps to increase people’s awareness about students’ experiences, as it puts a face to some of the experiences so that people can develop a sense of empathy. “It’s empowering for students to name their experiences,” she said. “It can inspire (people) ... to also take a stand.” Romano said the group of students agreed to have further conversations regarding inclusivity. The students plan to regroup and discuss their next step. She expressed that listening to their experiences and getting a sense of their experiences on campus was a good idea.

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DAILY ILLINI STAFF REPORT

U.S. News and World Report’s rankings for 2015 were issued Tuesday, placing the University in a six-way tie at 41st for national universities, maintaining the school’s ranking from last year. The other schools tied with the university were Boston University, Lehigh University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of California Santa Barbara and University of Wisconsin-Madison. In a three-way tie with California and Wisconsin, the university ranked 11th among public universities, also no change from last year’s ranking. Other rankings for the univer-

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Jessica can be reached at jramos34@dailyillini.com.

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sity in the report included coming in sixth for best engineering graduate school, 26th for education graduate school, 35th for business graduate school and 40th for law schools. Princeton University, Harvard University and Yale University rounded out the top three spots, respectively, on the National University ranking list. “We know that prospective students pay attention to rankings, and it’s always nice when they recognize our excellence,” said Robin Kaler, University spokeswoman in an email. “However, they do not represent the metrics by which we measure our success and impact.”

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Illini Union is that any voter (registered in Champaign County) can vote there no matter where they live,” Hulten said. “So they don’t have to figure out where to vote, they can just go to the Union.” This applies to all early voting locations, which election judges David “Dutch” Powell, of Champaign, and David Hickman, of Savoy, said has

UI holds onto No. 41 rank

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With one week until the Illinois general primary, the early voting station located in the Illini Union opened Tuesday at 10 a.m. It is one of eight early voting locations in Champaign County and is mandated by law as the campus early voting location, said Gordy Hulten, Champaign County Clerk. “The nice thing about the early voting location in the

PORTRAIT OF AJA BECKHAM BY KEVIN VONGNAPHONE

@THEDAILYILLINI, @DI_OPINION, @DI_SPORTS |

Andrew can be reached at ayoon4@dailyillini.com.

Early voting open for business in Illini Union

Student protesters address racial inclusivity with faculty BY JESSICA RAMOS

ing food from here since the price is so low and the taste is very good,” she said. “The owner takes the time to remember students as well, and this encourages me to come here more.” Chopra intends to leave campus on good terms and thanks his customers for their continual support. “As a small business owner, I may not have the backup of the larger corporations, but I have my students, who are like my kids, backing me up. That itself may not save my store, but the support really touches me. I want to thank all the students who have patronized Crepe De Licious and wish all of them well.”

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

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POLICE

Champaign Q Identity theft was reported on the 2600 block of North Prospect Avenue at 10 a.m. Monday. According to the report, an unknown offender used the victim’s identity to buy three iPhones. Q Theft was reported on the 500 block of South Sixth Street at 11 a.m. Monday. According to the report, a victim visiting a friend’s apartment

had their laptop stolen from the residence. Q Aggravated battery was reported near White and Sixth streets at 10:30 p.m. Monday. According to the report, an unknown offender battered the victim while she walked down the sidewalk.

University Q

A 27-year-old male was

arrested on charges of failure to appear in court to face a charge of manufacturing/delivering cannabis at the 900 block of South First Street, Champaign at 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday. According to the report, an officer was aware of the outstanding Champaign County warrant and recognized the man.

Compiled by Miranda Holloway

HOROSCOPES expenditures, and stick to your budget. Friends help move the ball forward, with extra energy (now that Mars is in Aries).

BY NANCY BLACK TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

Today’s Birthday (03/12/14).

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22)

Mars enters Aries today (until 4/20), providing an energy boost to launch your next year. It comes in handy, with all this creativity propagating. Play with passion projects, revise routines for efficiency at home and work, and enjoy young people. Summer gets romantic, and a career leap in August occupies your energy. Relax regularly. Keep love in focus. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) Today is a 5 — A surge of power and energy accompanies Mars in Aries (until 4/20). Don’t steamroll anyone with your feisty enthusiasm. Today and tomorrow seem lucky and playful. Keep it respectful, and play full out. Push your favorite game forward.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) Today is a 5 — Attend to domestic projects today and tomorrow, with a surge of creative energy. Keep it manageable. Mars moves into Aries today (until 4/20), providing a power boost.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) Today is a 7 — Graceful communications serve you well today and tomorrow. Ignore a rude remark. Keep track of all

Today is an 8 — The most expensive choice isn’t always the most beautiful. Today and tomorrow business booms, especially with Mars in Aries (until 4/20), for added oomph. It gets profitable and exciting.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) Today is an 8 — You’re strong and creative today and tomorrow. Pay your way, and ask for what you want. Tempers could get short. Don’t let it crimp your style. With Mars is in Aries (until 4/20), blast ahead with new energy.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) Today is a 7 — Today and tomorrow favor thinking and consideration over big action, although Mars enters Aries today for a power-boost (until April 20). Compromise and plan the course. Listen to what your team says. Take a philosophical view.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) Today is a 7 — Fun with friends could either distract from work, or conversely, benefit it. Your team inspires today and tomorrow. Your superpowers seem charged up, now that Mars is in Aries (until 4/20). Use them to clean a mess.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) Today is a 7 — Consider new opportunities today and tomorrow.

You’re attracting the attention of an important person. Take direction, and use it. Practice makes perfect. With Mars in Aries, extra energy abounds. A rise in status becomes available.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) Today is a 6 — Plan for the future and schedule actions (including travel) over the next two days. Check your agenda. Clarify the request. Get lost in your studies. Wash everything in sight. There’s a trickle of cash.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) Today is a 7 — Mars moves into Aries, powering and energizing your next month. Join forces to get the funding you seek. Diplomacy’s useful here. Stay out of somebody else’s argument. Wheeling and dealing may be required. Discuss shared finances.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) Today is a 7 — Let others help today and tomorrow, especially with a new assignment. Compromise with your partner. Choose romance over righteousness. Be respectful, even as you jump into action with Mars in Aries (until 4/20). Don’t overpower. Collaborate.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) Today is an 8 — Dive into work with a month-long energy burst, as Mars enters Aries. Everything moves forward with more velocity... try not to run anyone over. Sort through feelings as they arise. Follow a female’s lead.

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CORRECTIONS In the March 11, 2014, edition of The Daily Illini, the article “Putting the ‘Evans’ in Evans Scholars�stated that Northwestern University did not have any female Evan Scholars until 2010. It should have said Northwestern did have female members, but only some were living in the house because it was being renovated. The article also stated that caddies can arrive at 10 a.m. It should have said 7 a.m., and it also also misspelled Sam Telfer’s last name on second reference as Teifer. The article also stated that Julie Homerding has known Evans since 2010, when they both started working at Beverly Country Club. Homerding started working in 2007. In the March 11, 2014, edition of The Daily Illini, the article “Campus tunnels: A world of underground connections,� stated that a tunnel can be accessed in Bevier Hall behind Room 180, designated by a tornado shelter sign. It should have said that the room is across from room 100D and to the left of room 131. The Daily Illini regrets these errors. When we make a mistake, we will correct it in this place. We strive for accuracy, so if you see an error in the paper, please contact Editor-in-Chief Darshan Patel at (217) 337-8365.

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Corrections: If you think something has been incorrectly reported, please call Editor-in-Chief Darshan Patel at (217) 337-8365. Online: If you have a question about DailyIllini.com or The Daily Illini’s social media outlets, please email our Web editor Folake Osibodu at online@dailyillini.com. On-air: If you have comments or questions about The Daily Illini’s broadcasts on WPGU-FM 107.1, please email our managing editors, Maggie Huynh and Ryan Weber, at onair@dailyillini.com. Employment: If you would like to work for the newspaper’s editorial department, please fill out our form or email employment @dailyillini.com. News: If you have a news tip, please call news editor Lauren Rohr at (217) 337-8345 or email news@ dailyillini.com. Calendar: If you want to submit events for publication in print and online, visit the217.com. Sports: If you want to contact the sports staff, please call sports editor Eliot Sill at (217) 337-8344 or email sports@dailyillini.com. Life & Culture: If you have a tip for a Life & Culture story, please call features editor Alison Marcotte at (217) 337-8343 or email features@ dailyillini.com. Photo: If you have any questions about photographs or to suggest photo coverage of an event, please call photo editor Brenton Tse at (217) 337-8560 or email photo@ dailyillini.com. Letters to the editor: Letters are limited to 300 words. Contributions must be typed and include the author’s name, address and phone number. University students must include their year in school and college. The Daily Illini reserves the right to edit or reject any contributions. Email opinions@ dailyillini.com with the subject “Letter to the Editor.�

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Study: Gene may influence brain injury recovery BY CLAIRE HETTINGER STAFF WRITER

University research suggests that one gene in particular plays a role in how well a person recovers from a traumatic brain injury. Aron Barbey, study leader and professor of speech and hearing science, psychology and neuroscience, explained that patients with different variations of the brainderived neurotrophic factor gene react differently to brain injury. The variants involve a change in either the valine or methionine amino acids in this gene. The gene combinations are either Met/Met, Met/Val or Val/Val, depending on which genes were received from parents. “What our findings indicate is that if an individual has the Val/ Val combination then their performance on a battery of cognitive tests was remarkably lower than that of individuals who had the Val/Met or Met/Met combination,” he said.

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EARLY VOTING already affected early voting numbers. Last year they had 19 total voters at the Union location for the entire week; by the end of the day Tuesday, they had 39. These voters were a mixture of upperclassmen, graduate students, faculty members and other University workers, Powell and Hickman said. Powell added that early voting usually does not see a large number of younger students because they may still be registered in their hometowns. “Today is surprising; on midterms and primaries you don’t see a lot of voting in general,” Powell said. “You expect the vote to turn out to be well below the 35 percent, which is the average for a presidential election.” He said voter turnout for midterms and primaries is typically around 15 percent, but he believes this year’s primary may see a higher turnout based on Tuesday’s attendance. Hulten said that compared to voting on Election Day, voting early has a multitude of benefits. “If you vote early, you don’t have to worry about something happening on Election Day that could prevent you from voting,” Hulten said. “If there is, for some reason, a problem with your voter registration or a mistake has been made on your voter registration or you need to

This research found a molecular genetic marker predicting cognitive outcome following a brain injury. It shows that patients with certain genes will react to injuries in certain ways, and it predicts their recovery, Barbey said. The participants of the study were found on the Vietnam Head Injury Study registry, which includes American male veterans who all suffered brain damage from penetrating head injuries during the Vietnam War. These veterans did not show any difference in general intelligence prior to their brain injury. After their injury however, those with the Val/Val gene variant scored an average of eight points lower on general intelligence tests. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene is involved with the growth factor and the production of new neurons in the brain, Barbey said. The study also considupdate some information, if you fi nd that out during early voting there’s probably still time to fi x it.” Both Powell and Hickman said early voting helps lessen the traffic at some polling stations. One big difference when voting early is that identification and address verification is required, Powell said. One early voter, James Quisenberry, associate director of Housing for Technology Services at the University, said early voting provides convenience benefits. He said some people may not be able to get away from work on Election Day, so having hours the week before, including on Saturday, allows more opportunities for voters. The Union polling location will be operating from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Friday, and will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. “I believe strongly in early voting. I like the idea that voting isn’t based on one particular day. As many people as we can get to vote as possible is good,” he said. “Having this week where anybody can come to the Union and vote is great.” Four polling places will open on campus for the March 18 primary and will operate from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The location people are able to vote at depends on the address provided when they registered to vote.

Eleanor can be reached at eablack2@dailyillini.com.

ered the relationship between the gene variation and the preservation of general intelligence after a traumatic brain injury. General intelligence is measured by standardized tests of intelligence including verbal comprehension, perceptual organization, working memory and processing speed. Barbey said the research team was interested in understanding how individuals recover from traumatic brain injury because little is currently known. They wanted to study individuals with previous brain injuries and identify specific principles that predict recovery or continued problems following traumatic brain injury. Jim Monti, postdoctoral research associate at Beckman Institute, said there are three levels of traumatic brain injury — mild, moderate and severe. These are classified by how long a person is unconscious — mild being zero to 30 minutes, moderate 30 minutes to 24 hours and severe

more than 24 hours, he said. He said brain injuries can occur when any force acting on the body “causes the brain to rapidly accelerate and decelerate.” He explained that these injuries can come from many situations ranging from a person falling and hitting their head, to the whiplash of a car accident or a bomb going off near a person. “There is definitely growing interest on our campus in doing (traumatic brain injury) research,” said Rachael Rubin, postdoctoral research associate at Beckman Institute who is involved in traumatic brain injury research. She said her research seeks to revamp traumatic brain injury classifications. She said the current system of mild, moderate and severe has been used since the 1970s and is outdated. Things like concussions are considered a mild brain injury, and penetration of the brain is usually considered

severe, she said. “The term ‘mild’ is misleading, because there can actually be pretty severe consequences as a result,” Rubin said. She said it would be better to characterize a range of brain injuries to better understand what impairments a patient has at neurological and behavioral levels. “It is a challenge developing treatments and therapies for traumatic brain injury just because there are so many different kinds of traumatic brain injuries that we are not always sure what the underlying cause is,” she said. If the specific variant of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene is known, then treatment can be tailored to fit the needs of the individual, Barbey said. A patient with the Val/Val combination, as the study found, is more likely to need treatment focused on their cognitive functioning ability. “We want to understand ... what principles predict the kind of cog-

nitive impairments an individual might have following a brain injury and the time course of those impairments, like how long and to what extent can individuals recover over time,” Barbey said. He said patients may be tested in the future following a brain injury to see which gene variant they have and that this information may help guide clinical therapy and identify a specific treatment approach that is tailored to the needs of the patient. “These findings also emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to understanding traumatic brain injury that incorporates neuroscience, psychology, molecular genetics, and medicine — to understand the mechanisms and treatment approaches that make recovery from traumatic brain injury possible,” Barbey said in an email.

Claire can be reached at hettngr2@dailyillini.com.

Beckman Institute’s INSIGHT launches brain study BY ALEX SWANSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois have began a study titled “INSIGHT” to study different brain training methods to enhance human intelligence and reasoning. The results of the INSIGHT study have the potential to enhance abstract and logical thinking through brain training. Beckman researchers are examining brain training methods in four categories: cognitive, physical fitness, neuroscience and nutritional. Almost a year ago, President Barack Obama launched the BRAIN initiative and called on the scientific community to conduct research to further understanding of the human brain. The INSIGHT study aligns with the initiative’s goal to “better understand how we think, learn and remember.” This study, along with the multitude of other cognitive research studies done at the Beckman Institute, answers Obama’s call to better understand the human mind. INSIGHT will be one of the largest scientific studies to examine fluid intelligence. About 2,000 people will be organized into four categories to assist with research, according to Beckman Institute’s website. Beckman scientists expect the study to take place over a three-and-a-half year period. The study is still seeking par-

ticipants between the ages of 18 and 44 to participate in training programs for 18 weeks to improve reasoning and problem solving skills. The sign up link is on the Beckman Institute’s website, and participants can receive up to $1,020 for participation. University Speech and Hearing Sciences Professor Aron Barbey heads the INSIGHT study with co-investigators including Neal Cohen, Randall Engle, Wai-Tat Fu, Arthur Kramer and Aptima researcher Alexandra Geyer. INSIGHT supports the Strengthening Human Adaptive Reasoning and Problem-Solving Program, or SHARP, which is managed by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, or IARPA, and project manager Adam Russell. “If brain training proves effective in improving adaptive reasoning and problem-solving, the INSIGHT project — along with the other SHARP projects — will help to highlight what works about brain training, why it works, if there are individual differences between people that make it more or less effective,” said Russell in an email. “Even if ... brain training does not prove effective, the project will have advanced the science to better inform future research in this area,” said Russel about the potential combined impact of SHARP and INSIGHT projects. IARPA has funded the INSIGHT study with more than $12.7 million over the last several months,

according to Beckman Institute’s website. Barbey has extensive experience with human performance research as he has performed multiple studies examining brain injuries in study participants to better understand cognitive function. Additionally, he has studied general intelligence’s relationship to social and emotional intelligence. “Our goal is to develop evidence-based tools and methods that improve the quality of human judgment and reasoning in complex, realworld environments,” Barbey said. In addition to the potential scientific and research related benefits of INSIGHT, the program also has a positive impact for the University, as discussed by INSIGHT project manager Patty Jones. “This study is a very cool example of the interdisciplinary collaboration work Illinois can do,” Jones said. Speech and Hearing Sciences Department Head Karen Kirk spoke about the positive impact of Barbey’s research on the department and the University. “It’s a wonderful recognition for what goes on among our faculty — we’re very proud...” Kirk said. “It also provides an opportunity for our students to have our graduate students or from the campus as a whole get involved with cutting edge research.” Barbey also said he thinks the study will positively affect the University.

More insight on INSIGHT

INSIGHT stands for “An integrative system for enhancing fluid intelligence (Gf) through human cognitive activity, fitness, high-definition transcranial direct-current brain stimulation, and nutritional intervention.” INSIGHT is a comprehensive brain training system that incorporates: 1. An adaptive cognitive training protocol 2. An advanced, high intensity aerobic and strength training program 3. High-definition transcranial direct-current brain stimulation 4. Nutritional supplementation for enhancement of neural plasticity and optimization of mental performance SOURCE: ARON BARBEY, BECKMAN INSTITUTE

“ It ’s g re at for I l l i nois,” Barbey said. “It once again shows h igh - qu a l it y i nter d iscipl i n a r y c ol l aborat ive research.”

Alex can be reached at amswans2@dailyillini.com.

“ I love being in debt. ” — said no one ever

DISH is a Fortune 200 company and is hiring for this summer. www.dishd2d.com

At 19, I was managing a team and earned over $100,000. If you’re looking for a summer job that will pay off all year, this is it! —Tyler Colbert

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New student trustee has good intentions but does not offer any concrete plans

Quick Commentary delivers bits of relevant and important issues on campus or elsewhere. We write it, rate it and stamp it. When something happens that we are not pleased with: DI Denied. When something happens that we like: Alma Approved.

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ucas Frye, the new student trustee, says he wants your voice to be heard among a chorus of 40,000 University of Illinois students. Frye’s predecessor, Mike Cunningham, made similar promises to promote and increase student engagement (both began their terms wanting to build a consortium of registered student organizations), but we haven’t seen it work yet. The Daily Illini Editorial Board spoke with Frye on Monday night to learn more specifically what he plans to do now that’s he been elected. Frye’s campaign focused on this RSO forum, in which 20 to 30 student leaders from major organizations — such as the Interfraternity Council or the various cultural houses — would meet to give RSOs on campus a louder voice. Part of this initiative includes creating a mechanism that would allow these RSOs, among other organizations on campus, to present their events calendars, making them widely available to students. We think Frye is onto something here: It’s impossible to meet with the thousands of RSOs, which vary in size and popularity, and equitably represent them. But if we’re going to try, he said, let’s start with the major organizations on campus and go from there. But the mere presence of an RSO forum isn’t enough because students need to be incentivized to take advantage of it. Frye wants to give the Illinois Student Senate more visibility on the illinois.edu homepage, for example, so that students can know the agenda of the largest student lobbying body on campus. Regardless of how visible ISS is throughout campus, we fear students won’t see an incentive to seek out the information even if it were more visible. Or they may not feel compelled to act on the information, say, to figure out how to get a campuswide referendum in the spring election. Frye does not have a definitive plan to incentivize students to use these resources, and we continue to see that as a problem. Without a concrete plan ready to go by July 1 when he’s officially sworn in, his largest plans are doomed to fail like those of his predecessors. Still, Frye is setting goals and making decisions while bearing in mind that, as student trustee, he needs to be realistic about what he can do. Over the course of the next year, we expect that the search committee tasked to hire University President Robert Easter’s replacement is open and transparent, especially given the poor hires we’ve had in the past. We also expect Frye to advocate for an open search committee, even if he isn’t directly involved in the search. He said that he thinks it would be impossible to inform the public of every step in the search, but that there should be some form of public vetting. He’s trying to be realistic about it, even though we disagree. An open search process, especially for a position as significant as University president, could become disorganized, and even hinder the ability of the search committee to fulfill its duties optimally. We’ve argued that the University needs to keep in check its continually growing out-of-state population because, as a land-grant institution, it has a duty to Illinois students first. It also has a duty to create a campus that reflects a diversity of students and an increasing global presence. And Frye knows that we need to strike a balance between the in-state students this University should serve and the out-of-state students who give the University and students global value. Whether he’s awarded the official vote among the student trustees at the Chicago and Springfield campuses, we will look to see that he works to maintain a productive balance. Though we don’t know if Frye will hold the official vote on the Board of Trustees, he nonetheless has the will to spark constructive change on our campus. Increasing accessibility and transparency is the first step in uniting such a diverse campus, and Frye could make it happen.

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If you have not watched Zach Galifianakis’ episode of “Between Two Ferns� with President Obama, do yourself a favor, stop reading this and watch it. As per usual for Galifianakis, the quirky, sixminute Internet clip is filled with uncomfortable eye-contact, awkward silences, comedic stabs and other examples of his unique humor — and Obama sure knows how to keep up, equally returning the hilarious pokes back. We can’t fully explain it’s hilarity in a couple hundred words, so just go watch it.

Hallelujah, “The Bachelor� is finally over and we can stop hearing about Juan Pablo Galavis and all of the drama in the relationships between him and 50 women that we don’t even know. Now let’s enjoy the downtime before we are bombarded with yet another season of unrealistic, semi-scripted love stories.

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The joke is seriously getting old, Madre Nature. Tuesday we’re walking across the Quad in shorts and crop-tops (we guess not unlike a typical Saturday night), and now we’re all putting in last-minute orders for parkas. It’s been a long winter, Madre. Is it too much to ask to reinforce the fact that grass still exists under the snow?

Here are highlights from the week’s most creative headlines: “Amanda Bynes Reveals Her Hidden Talent� Surprisingly, discreetly throwing bongs out of windows isn’t it. “Julianne Hough Proves Short Shorts Season Is Back� That’s fine, as long as cargo shorts season remains extinct. “Shakira Makes A Surprising Confession� Only one of her hips doesn’t lie.

Freshman year could debunk preconceived college myths SIMRAN DEVIDASANI Opinions columnist

I’m

a second semester freshman — already. It’s strange to think how time passes so quickly, and how the same fear and excitement I had almost a year ago while visiting this campus has either amplified or evaporated. My perception of being a freshman college student versus actually being a freshman college student has shifted completely. With Admitted Student Days spanning through the months of February to April at the University, I cringe at the fact that I’m almost going to be a sophomore — a grade level which is often known as the “awkward� year; we aren’t considered babies who are fresh to campus, but we aren’t experienced juniors or ruling seniors. We’re just, there. Living on campus and experiencing college life for almost a year, though, has taught me a lot. Many of the myths my peers and I thought were true have transformed.

Myth 1: No one takes attendance in college — so you don’t have to go to class. High school had always been an endless torture of avoiding tardies and absences. As a high schooler, I used to look forward to being a college student — being able to make my own decisions of when I want to go to class. A lot of classes on campus, however, have teachers who do take attendance. Even in big lecture classes, we have i>Clickers, which tally who is there and who is not. And even if you do not care about i>Clicker points, because participation is a small grade, you definitely will not absorb the materi-

al in the same way as if you went to class. After all, textbooks and lecture slides are completely different for many teachers, and you will only break down the lecture slides in class. Personally, the guilt kills me when I don’t go to class. My parent’s are paying thousands of dollars for me to attend, so by sleeping in and missing my macroeconomics class, I’ve just flushed their money down the drain.

Myth 2: You don’t get enough sleep. I’ve spent many of my high school days with groggy eyes and a messy attire because I only got four hours of sleep the night before. And while it’s true that this happens in college too, there is something wonderful about not taking back-to-back classes as I did in high school. Nothing is more satisfying than going back to my dorm and being able to nap. According to the Center of Advancing Health, just 8 percent of high school students get enough sleep. Most college students, on the other hand, get between six and seven hours of sleep per night, which falls within the range of the recommended six to ten hours. With the flexibility of schedules and proper planning, it is possible to be awake in your classes and function properly during the day. By keeping a planner and timetable, you can schedule in hours to work, hours for break and hours to sleep. If you have major exams coming up, you should get a good night’s sleep instead of cramming information last minute. Regardless of a college student’s busy schedule, getting enough sleep is possible.

Myth 3: You’ll be pressured into drinking. We’ve constantly been told in high school, through our health education classes and parents, that we’ll be pressured into drinking. While

it’s true that we are exposed more to drinking culture, it’s not true that if we don’t succumb to it then we won’t fit in. Of course, if a student is trying to befriend a certain friend group who does these activities, then it may be tough, as social pressure might get to them. But it comes down to choice and sensibility. We are put in such environments to test us and see how much we have learned from these lectures about drinking we’ve received. But in all honesty, I haven’t been pressured at all to succumb to any of these drinking activities. In fact, none of my friends have. If people want to drink, they’ll drink, if they don’t, then that’s acceptable too. It is a personal choice.

Myth 4: You don’t learn anything in large classes. It can be difficult to learn anything in large classes. In fact, that’s why I avoided choosing some universities over others after hearing their class sizes. However, I’ve come to realize that that’s not the case. In every large class I’ve had at the University, I’ve had TAs who have discussion sections in which we go over class material. Professors also have office hours in which you can discuss questions and concerns. We also have technology where one email can clarify any misconception. Learning is up to you and how much effort you put in, but there are resources available at college at the end of the day. Overall, freshman year has been an experience — however, any of the preconceived notions I’ve held have changed, if not reversed. College is about personal choice and building your own lifestyle, one that fits you.

Simran is a freshman in Media. She can be reached at devidas2@dailyillini.com.

Chivalry sexist, in direct opposition with feminism SEHAR SIDDIQUI Opinions columnist

In

the truest sense of chivalry and feminism, they just cannot coexist. While I view chivalry as concerning itself with honorable and gallant behavior toward women, I believe feminism focuses on the importance of advancing women’s rights as human rights. The actions of chivalry aren’t so much the issue, but the fact that a man feels the need to do something nice for someone solely because the individual is a woman is a problem. I don’t think women need special treatment by men or in general, but they do deserve to be treated equally in all areas of everyday life, whether in terms of salary in comparison to men or having more women represented in politics. But special treatment of women from the macro-perspective, even in a seemingly harmless chivalrous sense, is still treating women differently from men. Chivalry makes it seem as if there is something inherently unique about women — such as the view that they are the weaker of the sexes — which causes men to treat them with special care. For example, a man might perceive going out of his way to help a woman carry her heavy belongings as chivalrous. But to a woman, she might perceive this action as indicative of the man’s perception that she is physically weaker, despite her showing no signs of being weak or of needing help. This situation can be extrapolated to other sit-

uations in which women are treated differently and often unfairly. In another example, it is common knowledge that in the workplace, women are often not seen as leaders and therefore typically hold less powerful positions than men do. Even though females are just as capable as males at performing a variety of work tasks, the perception of women as weaker and therefore incompetent may contribute to them receiving fewer executive roles than men. This notion that a woman should be treated in some special manner because she is of “the fairer sex,� or a fragile woman, is at the core of everything against feminism. However, this same idea is one of the main facets of modern day chivalry. It’s quite the oxymoron considering one goal of feminism is to promote the independence of women. Like pretty much any other individual, a woman should be able to help herself. Doing things for a woman in consideration of her sex, despite her not expressing any desire to be helped, implies that she needs it. Therefore treating a woman differently because of her sex, to me, is a direct violation of her independence and the core of feminism. The differentiation of the sexes that comes along with chivalry is already an issue in itself. Consider linguistic differences, such as when men refer to women as “fair.� The connotation of “fair� places an emphasis on the physical traits of a woman, implying that they are “more delicate� than men. But how often do you hear a woman refer to a man as “fair?� You don’t: We use words such as handsome and strong instead. Sure, referring to a woman as “fair� might be

justified in a chivalrous sense, but when we consider what sex we refer to as “fair� — women, not men — and what it places emphasis on — physical characteristics — it automatically implies that men are the stronger and more able-bodied sex. This is a problem because once you start differentiating the two sexes from a single characteristic, you open doors to differentiate them in other ways, too. Since a goal of feminism is to realize that female capability equals male capability, placing emphasis on the differences between men and women, which chivalry ends up doing, strays away from the core concepts of feminism. Although chivalry might seem harmless, it isn’t excluded from the category of sexism as men’s behavior toward women indirectly puts them down. As described by an article from the American Psychological Association, “Portraying women as wonderful but childlike, incompetent, needing men to protect them, and therefore best suited for low status roles, benevolent sexism justifies gender inequality.� Although chivalrous acts aren’t always carried out from the perspective of a man believing he has authority over a woman, the intentions behind them hint at societal paradigms of misogyny and women being weaker than men. As long as these ideas of female incompetence are rooted in acts of chivalry, we will continue to see harmful distinctions made between the genders, and subsequent actions that conflict with feminism will ensue.

Sehar is a junior in LAS. She can be reached at shsiddi2@dailyillini.com. Follow her on Twitter @Nimatod.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS | opinions@dailyillini.com with the subject “Letter to the Editor.� The Daily Illini reserves the right to edit for length, libel, grammar and spelling errors, and Daily Illini style or to reject any contributions. Letters must be limited to 300 words. Contributions must be typed and include the author’s name, address and phone number. University students must include their year in school and college.

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

GREEK OF THE WEEK

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD ACROSS

PORTRAIT OF STEVEN HOLLON BY MELISSA MCCABE THE DAILY ILLINI

Greeks unite to support brother who has cancer BY SAMANTHA ROTHMAN STAFF WRITER

The day before heading back to begin his final year at the University, Steven Hollon, senior in Business, stopped in to see his doctor for a regular checkup. After a routine physical, Hollon’s doctor shared with him that something may not be right with his health, and the first round of tests was administered. After driving down to Champaign to begin the fall semester, Hollon had to turn around and return home for a second round of testing. The result: Stage two testicular cancer. After Hollon returned to the University, he went straight to a community where he knew he could get support: his fraternity, Sigma Chi. “They were so encouraging, supportive and helpful,” Hollon said. Hollon, the philanthropy chair of the University’s chapter of Sigma Chi, soon had to not only balance schoolwork and the demands of being a college student, but he also had to endure multiple rounds of chemotherapy as a part of his treatment plan during the fall 2013 semester. Since then, he has seen his health improve and continues to have regular checkups with his doctors. “(Second semester’s) been kind of tough because I have to do monthly checkups and testing every month to make sure everything’s going right and

to make sure the cancer hasn’t come back,” Hollon said. “But I’ve been able to balance it pretty well this semester.” This positive progress is something Hollon said he thhinks his friends, family and specifically his fraternity brothers have helped propel. Kevin Campbell, fellow Sigma Chi brother and senior in Business, said he kept in touch with Hollon by texting him and getting updates on his diagnosis. “We went up to see him a few times, talked to him, just to see how he was doing,” Campbell said. “(Hollon) came down here to visit. ... It gave him a sense of normality.” Support from the Greek chapter has come in other forms as well. For example, fundraisers for Hollon’s treatment were set up by his fraternity brothers at on-campus bars such as KAM’S, Joe’s and the Clybourne. “My girlfriend and one of the brothers in the house set up bracelets (as a fundraiser) and sold those around campus for me,” Hollon said. Additionally, the funds from Sigma Chi’s fall philanthropy event, Derby Days, went toward supporting Hollon in his battle with cancer. The event involves “teams” from many sororities on campus and features a week of different events and competitions. “The biggest thing was running Derby Days for me,” Hollon said. “I had no idea. They kind of surprised me with that.”

Beyond the support of his fraternity brothers, Hollon spoke highly of the entire Greek community and their outward support and kindness toward him. “I was in awe of how the Greek community came together. ... It was really cool to see.” Throughout this journey, Hollon’s friends have said he has continued to be confident, adaptable and motivated throughout the past few months. “He’s really never said anything negative,” said William Renwick, fellow Sigma Chi brother and senior in LAS. Staying positive seems to not only be something Hollon embodies, but also a way of life he recommends in regards to any situation. “See the positive in every situation you’re in. Being a college student, we get super stressed from (your) girlfriend/boyfriend issues, school (and) trying to find a job. ... See the positive about the situation and keep your head up, see the benefits,” he said. Hollon said that the support of the community has made the entire process easier. “Yeah, I’m going through a terrible thing, but (I) try to see the positive side of it,” he said. “I saw who my real friends were. I saw how close not just my house is, but the entire Greek community is, and that made it a lot easier to go through.”

STAFF WRITER

Lizzie Duckworth Carter has drawn national attention after her song “Let’s Move!” was featured in the National League of Cities newsletter commemorating the 4th anniversary of the Let’s Move! initiative. Duckworth Carter, of Urbana, said she was inspired to write the song while working in the Lierman Neighborhood Community Garden. Aldermen Diane Marlin, Ward 7, and Dennis Roberts, Ward 5, had heard about Duckworth Carter’s original compositions and approached her to write a song for the garden. Writing the song, she said, was a quick process. “It just came to me while I was working there,” she said. “I could hear it — the spirit singing to me.” The music video features

FROM 6A

STARTUP “We’re still in a very early stage. The process is more like hacking it together, and then we try to reach out to customers,” Chen said. “So I think one of the validations and interest we received online was just by people emailing us that this is something that they really need.”

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YFANTIS during each summer, they are reunited with their family and friends in Greece. Maria originally is from Milia, Greece, and Dimitris grew up in Agora. Maria moved to the U.S. in 1966 to meet her brother in Chicago. “We were kind of poor (in Greece), and I chose to come to America for a better life, which I think I got,” Maria said. In America, she met her first husband, and they started a family with three children. However, her husband died due to an aneurism while driving. Seeking a fresh start, Maria moved back to Greece in 1977. It is there that her

1 2 3 4 5 1 Celebrity ribbing 6 Hissy fit 14 10 Urban housing option 17 14 Dazzling success 15 Practice 20 21 16 Con artist’s mark 17 *Any foreseeable difficulty 23 24 20 Sitcom character from Mel29 30 mac 21 Oom-___ (tuba sounds) 33 22 Falling-out result 37 38 23 Good economic news 25 *“Good night, John-Boy” 41 series 29 ___ of Gibraltar 43 44 31 PC key below Home 50 51 32 Pay a call to 33 Lacrosse goalie’s area 55 36 Do some leg-pulling 37 Breakfast cereal … or a hint to 59 60 what’s found in the answers 63 to the four starred clues? 41 Mixed bag 66 42 “As I was saying …” 43 “Slung” stuff 44 Suffix with lion DOWN 46 Puts up 1 Fixes up, as a fixer-upper 50 *Fearsome shark 2 Spotted wildcat 54 Bit of harmless mischief 3 Totally in favor of 55 Official proceedings 4 Mule of song 56 Like a couch potato 5 Muscle car roof option 58 Night on which “60 Minutes” 6 “Quiet, please!” originally aired: Abbr. 7 It may elicit a 6-Down 59 *“Why am I not surprised?” 8 Multinational bank 63 Botanical wings that sponsored the 64 Gear-cutting New York City Maratools thon 9 “Reading Lolita in ___” 65 Yak, yak, yak (2003 best seller) 66 Specifications marked on 10 Make by hand 10-hole harmonicas 11 On a cruise 67 Knife of old 68 Quality that produces taste 12 Knighthood letters

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Duckworth Carter singing along with family members and former collaborator Lametrius Carter, who helped her to record the album ”God is Love,” which is available at the Urbana Free Library. Duckworth Carter said her granddaughter created the group’s choreography for the video. Marlin said Let’s Move! Urbana has asked the National League of Cities to forward the music video to the White House in hopes of hearing from First Lady Michelle Obama. The song commemorates a community garden started by the Lierman Neighborhood Action Committee. The Lierman Neighborhood Action Committee was started as a response to a high rate of emergency calls and economic distress in the area, said Robin Arbiter, president of the committee. She said the gar-

den has had the help of 70 volunteers and provided produce to more than 200 households in 2013. Arbiter said the idea of a community garden was a natural extension of what was already happening in the community. “People were already gardening and sharing with their neighbors,” she said. The community garden became a way to bring more community members together, Arbiter said. The garden project began in 2012, and Arbiter hopes to see it continue to grow in years to come. Right now, the action committee rents the land for $1 a year from the city, but she said she would like to see a more permanent deal worked out.

However, after competing in SSM, the StylePuzzle team does not see its second place victory as the end means of the app’s success and development. Rather, the group sees it as another opportunity to increase exposure and public interest. “You don’t actually win until you make the app successful,” Gong said. “It’s not like you win the competition and that app

automatically goes for a billion dollars.” Although the second place victory helped to boost their confidence in success of their mobile app, their end goal remains the same. “(We) want people to like our idea and use it every day. That is (our) goal,” Tobias said.

brothers introduced her to their friend, Dimitris, in 1977. “I liked her, and I saw that we could communicate together nicely – and she’s beautiful,” Dimitris said. They were married at a monastery in Pandali, a suburb of Athens, in 1982. Maria’s son Kostas decided to attend the University of Illinois in 1992. Two years later, Maria followed Kostas back to the U.S. She settled in Champaign and found work at Bromley Hall and Christie Clinic. Dimitris visited them in 1995 and moved to the U.S. to join them in 1997. The Yfantis have traveled to California, Las Vegas and Arizona. Dimitris most enjoyed the trip to California, yet he misses the weather, the sun and

the sea of Greece. “I cannot find that (Greek) water anywhere else,” Dimitris said. Maria also misses Greece, where their daughter, son-inlaw and 7-year-old grandson live. Every year during their trip, they choose a new Greek island to visit and celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in August. “Greece has a different beauty — we have the sea, the weather is better in Greece. Definitely the life is a little bit better,” Maria said. “But over here, the difference (is that you have) more convenient things, more money because you have work.”

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Mikayla can be reached at ostndrf2@dailyillini.com.

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JOHNIVAN DARBY

GARRY TRUDEAU

DAN DOUGHERTY

Eli can be reached at ejmurra2@dailyillini.com.

Stephanie can be reached at skim108@dailyillini.com.

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Samantha can be reached at srothma2@dailyillini.com.

Music video set in Urbana solicits national attention BY ELI MURRAY

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LIFE CULTURE

An outpouring of social support After Steven Hollon, Sigma Chi brother and senior in Business, returned to the University for his senior year last fall, he was diagnosed with cancer. Turn to Page 5A to read about how the University’s Greek community has supported Hollon through his battle.

6A | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

THEDAILYILLINI

PERSON TO KNOW

Worth the Distance

Working couple bring joy to others, find balance after long life in Greece BY MIKAYLA OSTENDORF STAFF WRITER

At 4 a.m., 72-year-old Dimitris Yfantis showers and then wakes up his wife Maria, age 70, 30 minutes later. By 5:20 a.m., they are in the car traveling to campus for another day of work in the campus dining halls. Dimitris, a kitchen helper at Bromley Hall, whistles as he walks across the cafeteria, cleaning counter tops, setting the salad bar and replacing napkins. He stops at tables to greet students by name and takes the time to ask how their day is. Dimitris and Maria both work five days a week. After seven and a half hours, Dimitris picks up Maria after her 6 a.m.-to-2:30 p.m. shift at Lincoln Avenue Residence Hall. Maria then heads to Champaign’s Christie Clinic to clean from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m., as Dimitris goes to Three Hierarchs Greek Orthodox Church to tidy the church around 7 p.m. “Our minds are just continuously thinking and being busy, and I think it’s wonderful for our age,� Maria said. Dimitris and Maria enjoy the social aspect of their jobs and say they do not plan on retiring for three years. Dimitris said every year brings new friends. “Dimitris is one of the guys if you leave him in the middle of the desert, he will find friends,� Maria said. “He likes to have friends around him.� Although Dimitris is not fluent in English, he still manages to make conversation and connections with the students, said Kristi Hogan, a Bromley front desk worker. “(The residents) all love him. He’s a good ambassador for employees to the students,� Hogan said.

In Dimitris’ early years as a Bromley employee, he worked in the food line where he was told to dish only one serving per resident; however, he could not resist serving two spoonfuls, which earned him praise from hungry students on Facebook: “If you want to eat good, go to Dimitris’ line.� Dallas Donahue, freshman in ACES, said she met Dimitris when he took the time to ask how her day was. “He has a very positive attitude about everything. It’s always nice to see him — he lightens the mood if you’re having a bad day,� Donahue said. “He’s the friendliest employee.� Stephanie Kuhns, a Bromley Hall cafeteria employee, recalled seeing Maria around Bromley when Maria came to bake. For Easter, Maria always prepares homemade dough and uses Bromley Hall ovens to bake 20 dishes of tsoureki, a Greek sweet bread similar to Hawaiian bread. She leaves one or two loaves for the workers, donates some to the church, and then keeps the rest at home. Maria enjoys praying at church, a habit of faith she finds comfort in after losing her first husband and her daughter in the last 40 years. Maria and Dimitris are thankful to Bromley Hall and to the University for allowing them time off to travel to Greece for their daughter when she was struggling with leukemia. “She’s very outgoing. She’s extremely nice,� Kuhns said. “I would say the same thing about Dimitris — he’s extremely personable and outgoing, and cares a lot about other people.� The Yfantis have met many friends through the church, whom they cook traditional Greek foods for. They are able to keep their Greek culture alive this way; Dimitris loves tiropitas, or a cheese-egg mix wrapped in phyllo dough, and Maria enjoys pastitsio, a Greek baked pasta dish. Still,

SEE YFANTIS | 5A

PORTRAITS BY ERIC ZIANG THE DAILY ILLINI

Graduate students place 2nd at Student Startup Madness BY STEPHANIE KIM STAFF WRITER

On Monday, graduate students Liz Li, Gong Chen and Tobias Lei won second place among eight finalists at Student Startup Madness, a national entrepreneurial competition. Their submission, a mobile app called StylePuzzle, is designed to create outfits tailored to a user’s closet and fashion preference. As a result of placing as the

top three teams, the StylePuzzle team was awarded $5,000 of credits for Google Cloud Platform to help build web applications and mobile app backends. Student Startup Madness first launched in 2012 at South by Southwest Interactive Festival, an annual festival in Austin, Texas, featuring emerging technology. As the director of the Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship at the Newhouse

School at Syracuse University, Sean Branagran developed SSM as a way to acknowledge student entrepreneurial efforts and phenomenal business plans. “These students amaze me because they’re off executing and they become inspired by each other,� he said. Looking to put their skills into practice, Li, Chen and Lei were inspired to create StylePuzzle after a friend asked for fashion

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“We want to let a few people try it out first and then improve,� Li said. “So we’re moving stepby-step, little-by-little.� And yet, although the mobile app is not available to users, fashion fanatics already await its debut from places in the U.S., Europe and Japan, evident by emails and tweets the StylePuzzle team has received.

SEE STARTUP | 5A

Name: Charlie Sterrett Fraternity: Delta Chi Hometown: Naperville Illinois Year: Sophomore Major: Political Science

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to post it online and want people to answer,� Li said. “They wanted instant, real-time solutions to their fashion problems.� A fter severa l months of codi ng a nd marketi ng, the mobile app is currently in the private beta version, meaning that a select few subjects test the product for efficiency, usefulness a nd overa ll performance before it goes out to the public.

Fraternity Man of the Month

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advice last October. Initially, StylePuzzle worked as a Q-andA forum in which users could exchange questions and answers about their fashion dilemmas. But after they competed in startup contests and worked with professionals such as Plug and Play Tech Center in California, they amended StylePuzzle to make it more personal to its users. “We found out that people have problems but don’t want

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Involvment: Charlie is an exceptional representation of the Greek Community, serving as the current President of Delta Chi and past Recruitment and External Philanthropy Chairs. He is also an active member of Student Alumni Ambassadors and is a Co-Director of I-Help. Â Charlie Sterrett, a true gentleman and a scholar.

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AT WPGU.COM

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SPORTS Illinois draws Indiana for opening game

ILLINI OF THE

WEEK

BY SEAN HAMMOND SENIOR WRITER

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY BRENTON TSE

JON EKEY

A 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds on the clock beat Iowa on Saturday, but Ekey has been impressing his coaches and teammates all season long. BY JOHNATHAN HETTINGER STAFF WRITER

Editor’s note: The Daily Illini sports desk sits down Sunday nights and decides which Illinois athlete or coach is our Illini of the Week. Athletes and coaches are evaluated by individual performance and contribution to team success.

J

on Ekey has always been a procrastinator. He waits until the last minute to write papers and do homework. So when he had an entire regular season to make a lasting mark in the collective memory of Illinois men’s basketball fans, he waited until the last second. With the score tied at 63 at Iowa on Saturday and the clock ticking down under 10 seconds, point guard Tracy Abrams dribbled up the court. Ekey, hovering on the perimeter, came to set a screen but pulled away, rolling left to the top of the arc. Ekey’s defender, Aaron White, didn’t immediately follow, creating a large enough gap for Abrams to pass the ball to Ekey. He squared up for a shot he’s hit countless times in his years playing basketball, but never with so much pressure on the line. He got his feet under his shoulders, lifted off the ground, adjusted his trajectory to avoid White’s 6-foot-9 frame, and let it fly.

0RUH RQOLQH Jon Ekey’s last-second With 0.5 seconds remaining in the regular shot sunk the Hawkeyes on season, the ball swished through the rim. Ekey had hit the biggest shot of the season — and Saturday. To hear from the senior made his lasting mark. forward on his game-winning 3-pointer, visit At least in the memory of fans. Head coach John Groce said that although www.DailyIllini.com this may be what fans remember, Ekey has already made a lasting imprint. Honorable mentions Since his arrival on campus over the sumIllinois women’s gymnastics team — mer, Ekey has been a leader. He helped shepherd the eight other newcomers over the sumThe Illini posted their best team score in mer and made sure the team took advantage program history with a 197.100 against of its limited time together. Lindenwood on Saturday. He quickly learned Groce’s offensive and Jesse Delgado (wrestling) — Delgado, defensive schemes and was able to help the new players pick up on the intricacies of the the No. 2 wrestler at 125 pounds, beat system. rival No. 1 Nico Megaludis of Penn State “He’s a very smart guy,� freshman Malcolm 3-2 in double overtime to win his second Hill said. “He almost knew the system off the straight Big Ten conference title. jump, as a new guy.� After just a few months with the team, before he had played a game for Illinois, his State, but fans quickly learned his name. In both teammates elected him as a captain. “I think his leadership by example for our the fourth and fifth games of the season, Ekey newcomers has been terrific,� Groce said. hit five 3-pointers and finished with 19 points. “That in itself is a tangible aspect is as, or In the next game, against UNLV, he scored more, valuable than the production piece, just three points, but it was his first big shot at which obviously he’s produced.� Illinois — a crucial jumper with 2:21 remainEkey opened the season quietly, with two EKEY | 2B points in his opening game against Alabama

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At this point in the season, there are no secrets. Illinois basketball knows Indiana well, and Indiana knows Illinois well. That’s the nature of conference play, and it’s the nature of the Big Ten Tournament. When the Illini and Hoosiers face each other in the early morning game Thursday in Indianapolis, it will be the third time the teams have squared off this year. The Illini bested the Hoosiers in Champaign on Dec. 31 and the Hoosiers returned the favor in Bloomington, Ind., on Jan. 26. “Conference tournaments are unique because you’re playing teams for the second or third time,� Illinois head coach John Groce said. “Familiarity breeds contempt. There’s not a lot of secrets with video today and scouting.� Kendrick Nunn is no longer a secret outside of Champaign. Neither is Noah Vonleh a secret outside of Bloomington. The two freshmen — both named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team this week — have made their mark on their respective teams this season. Vonleh, the conference’s freshman of the year, has posed a challenge for defenders all year long. He nearly averages a double-double with 11.4 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game as Indiana’s center. But the problem he poses is his versatility. Illinois center Nnanna Egwu said Vonleh doesn’t quite compare to any player he’s ever been matched up against. “He can face up, he can drive to the basket, he can pick and pop, shoot the three. He’s an all around player,� Egwu said. “He doesn’t play like a freshman. He

does things that veterans do and he’s just a really good player.� Vonleh will present challenges for Illinois, especially if Egwu finds himself in foul trouble. Another thing that could present a challenge for both teams is the early time slot. Illinois and Indiana tip off at 11 a.m. in the tournament’s opening game. Groce doesn’t figure the start time to be a problem though. He and his staff have prepared the team for that all year, scheduling practices both early and late in the day throughout the year. Illinois has not played a game earlier than 1 p.m. this year. “I’ve played some early games before,� Groce said. “You have to adjust how you do things. But you’ve got to be unconditional. I tease the guys all the time; we can’t control the dates of games or times of games. It’s not like we can tell the Big Ten to change the time.� Illinois has a chance at an NCAA Tournament bid. But a lot has to happen this weekend. The Illini figure to need three or four wins to secure a spot in March Madness. Anything less than that likely results in a trip to the NIT, in which Illinois last participated in 2010. “Everybody’s record is 0-0,� freshman Malcolm Hill said. “I expect it to be fun.� It doesn’t matter what the other 349 Division I college basketball teams are doing on that particular day. March is about matchups. Thursday is about Illinois and Indiana. There are no secrets. “This time of year it’s simply trying to be better than the team you’re playing that night,� Groce said. “It’s us and them.�

Sean can be reached at sphammo2@dailyillini.com and @sean_hammond.

“Familarity breeds contempt. There’s not a lot of secrets with video today and scouting. � JOHN GROCE, HEAD COACH

Bears release Peppers, shake up defense for 2014 J.J. WILSON Assistant sports editor

As

expected, the Chicago Bears shook up their defense Tuesday afternoon when NFL free agency began, but not the way most thought they would — and that’s just fine. The Bears released eight-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers on Tuesday night, which broke the hearts among the Chicago faithful. Since his arrival in 2010, Julius Peppers has stunned as a pass-rushing monster. Eight sacks in his first year improved to 11 in his second, and 11.5 in his third season in 2012. That year, Chicago’s defense had 13 more takeaways and averaged the third lowest points allowed per game, which was largely due to a lethal pass rush from Julius Peppers and his fellow linemen. Those were the glory days, when the Bears’ offensive blunders could be concealed behind the iron fortress that was their defense — fully equipped with pass-rush cannons and interior strangleholds that left few survivors. But guys, if 2013 proved any-

thing, it’s that those days are gone. It’s time for a change. Now, I’m aware of the circumstances. I can speculate what losing Charles Tillman and Lance Briggs to injuries did to the atmosphere of the defense last year. Losing leadership is never easy. I can also look at both players’ ages and guess what lengthy injuries might mean for their futures in Chicago. When Brian Urlacher was injured in Week 13 of 2012, he followed it up by retiring at 34 years old in the offseason. Tillman and Briggs are in similar situations, both at 33. It’s awfully risky to place much stock in either in a league that seems to get younger every year. And it’s even riskier to rely on 34-yearold Peppers, who turned in one of his worst performances since entering the league in 2002 while healthy. Fans are notorious for fearing change, especially changes involving big-time players. There are other numbers at work here than age, though. Just take a look at Chicago’s poor excuse for a defense in 2013. The Bears allowed 6,313 yards last season, nearly 2,000 more than Seattle. Their rush defense was ranked last — I’ll say it again: last — in the league by more than 400 yards. For God’s

sake, they were bottom dwellers in nearly every defensive category. That’s not something that calls for subtle change; that desperately screams for a total reimagining — and reimagining is exactly what Chicago is doing. Tuesday also marked the beginning of Lamarr Houston’s career with the Bears, the 26-year-old former defensive end for the Oakland Raiders. At 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, Houston doesn’t seem like an ideal fit for the position in a 4-3 scheme, but he brings variety to the lineup. He gives the Bears a chance to try something new on defense, and new is exactly what is needed to bury last season’s travesty. Houston’s signing doesn’t just fill the void of Peppers on the Bears starting line; it reinvigorates it with a new presence and play style. Peppers likely won’t be the only veteran released in the coming months, either. Chicago seems to be committing to change. With that there can be no half measures. Out with the old, in with the new is the only way to go. That’s not to discredit anything Peppers or the other defensive veterans have done for the team. For years, Tillman has been my favorite defender to watch play the game. But that game is changing. Younger

JOSE M. OSORIO CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Julius Peppers (90) of the Chicago Bears rushes Joe Flacco (5) of the Baltimore Ravens at Soldier Field in Chicago on Nov. 17, 2013. The Bears released Peppers, who joined the team in 2010, on Tuesday defensive units are developing, and Chicago clearly wasn’t on pace with that in 2013. Personally, I’m no more fond of hanging up my Peppers

jersey than I was when I put away No. 54. But if a shakeup is Chicago’s best chance at a championship, hand me a hanger.

J.J. is a sophomore in Media. He can be reached at jjwilso2@dailyillini. com. Follow him on Twitter @Wilsonable07.

Illinois men’s golf places 1st at Louisiana Classics BY DAN BERNSTEIN STAFF WRITER

The Illinois men’s golf team was able to prove why it’s the No. 6 team in the nation this week, as it defended its title at the 54-hole Louisiana Classics tournament in Lafayette, La., to a field of 12 teams. While winter weather in Champaign has prevented the team from practicing outside this year, the Illini were still able to showcase their talents Monday and Tuesday at the par72, 7,098-yard Oakbourne Country Club. The Illini fi nished fi rst in the

team standings, largely due to their record-breaking team score Monday afternoon. They fired an 18-under-par team score, which broke the record for the lowest team score in relation to par in school history. Junior Brian Campbell and senior Jonathan Hauter led the way with respective scores of 66 and 67, while Thomas Detry and Charlie Danielson also contributed to the record-breaking performance with scores of 68 and 69, respectively. “The second round won us the tournament,� head coach Mike Small said. “We had guys mak-

ing a lot of birdies and shooting 5 and 6-under-par, which fl ipflopped us from being down in the fi rst round to being up in the second, which gave us enough of a lead to hold on.� After 36 holes of golf Monday, all five of the Illini were in the top 10 in the individual standings, while the team led by 13 shots in the team standings over Louisiana State. Campbell held a one-stroke lead at 9-underpar after the fi rst two rounds, while Detry was in fourth place at 5-under. Danielson and David Kim were tied for fi fth at 4-under-par, while Hauter was

in a four-way tie for 10th. In recent years, Illinois has been a longer-hitting team capable of hitting the golf ball deep down the fairway to use length to its advantage. This year, Small thinks of his team as a group of fi nesse players, meaning each player needs to focus more on utilizing their own skill set to attack golf courses. The Illini still have guys who can hit the ball a long way, but being able to score will result more from being solid around the greens. “I didn’t hit the ball as well as I did on Monday, but I managed

to make a couple good up-anddowns and a couple of putts,� Detry said. “Overall, I’m pretty happy with my game. The course was pretty wide open, so in upcoming tournaments I’m going to need to work on hitting more fairways.� Despite rain during the fi nal round of play Tuesday, the Illini were able to manage the conditions well enough to win the team championship outright. Danielson and Detry put up respective scores of 3-under-par 69 and 2-under-par 70 Tuesday, both fi nishing tied for second in the individual standings. Daniel-

son was able to card five birdies and only two bogeys in his fi nal round, while Detry carded three birdies and only one bogey. “Winning here is a big plus,� Detry said. “Mentally for the team, winning always feels good. We all saw that we are able to shoot some low scores, make some birdies and get a win.� Campbell carded a fi nal round of 77 to fi nish tied for sixth, while Hauter fi nished tied for 13th and Kim tied for 20th.

Dan can be reached at daberns2@dailyillini.com and @yaboybernie11.

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

Illini baseball plagued early by inconsistency BY J.J. WILSON ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Head coach Dan Hartleb doesn’t need to analyze trends to figure out why Illinois baseball has lost three of its first four weekends on the road. He knows what happened, and he isn’t making excuses. It’s not that the competition is too tough. He believes his team can compete with any team in the country. Youth may factor in, but it’s not the main issue, either. And asking him about further pregame scouting will yield the same answer — he never has over-analyzed an opposing team and never will. The most important trend to him is the one his team is trying to correct. “If you look at our entire team, it’s just consistency,” Hartleb said. “It’s having those consistent games, having those consis-

tent bats and not letting failure affect you.” After the Illini offense opened the season with 29 runs in three games, it managed just five runs the next weekend. Meanwhile, the Illini pitchers worked opposite their offense, dropping their earned runs allowed from 27 to 7 in the second week. They also lowered the numbers of hits and walks. It wasn’t until the third weekend, where Illinois swept Florida and Florida Gulf Coast in four games, that both pitching and hitting stayed consistent. The Illini bats cranked 42 hits and 23 runs on the weekend, which took enough pressure off the pitchers and allowed them to hold the two teams to 23 hits and four runs. This start to the season (6-7) is most similar to its 16-game road stretch in 2011, when it returned

home at 6-10. That year, the Illini scored six or more runs in each of their wins while the pitching staff held opposing offenses to four or fewer runs in five of those six wins. Inconsistency in the other 10 games, however, resulted in losses. “You just need everyone firing on all cylinders,” pitcher John Kravetz said. The 2011 Illini squad also reinforced that youth has little correlation to rough starts. It might be easy to point to last year’s 13-4 start and blame this year’s struggles on the loss of five position players in the offseason; however, 2011’s squad started mostly upperclassmen and was inconsistent. To Hartleb, consistency is a mind set. He believes the Illini need to bring the same level of effort every week for them

to start proving their value as a team, which is part of what makes season-opening road stretches so important. RPI for the NCAA tournament factors in every game, including midweek games against in-state clubs such as Illinois State and Eastern Illinois. These midweek matchups have also been known to stump the Illini. In 2011, Illinois rebounded from its poor start and pushed its record to 30-27 overall. And yet, they were 2-5 in midweek games. “I think what happens sometimes in midweek games is when you don’t have good pitching depth, it affects those games greatly, and I know that’s what’s happened to us in the past,” Hartleb said. Leadoff hitter Will Krug isn’t making excuses, either. He

knows constant effort is the only trend that matters to his team’s success. “After the first week, I feel like everything is the same,” Krug said. “I think once everything gets clicking, it’ll be very important for us.” Hartleb has said it since the preseason: The only thing Illinois can control is itself, and that’s where the focus will remain — on bringing the same effort every game. “We need to have a mentality where people have to stop us,” Hartleb said. “And if people are trying to stop us, then we’re only worried about our club, and that’s the mentality I want the guys to have.”

“We need to have a mentality where people have to stop us ... then we’re only worried about our club, and that’s the mentality I want the guys to have.”

J.J. can be reached at jjwilso2@dailyillini.com and @Wilsonable07.

DAN HARTLEB, HEAD COACH

Mendenhall moves away from the sports spotlight ARYN BRAUN Sports columnist

I

llinois alumnus Rashard Mendenhall is retiring from the NFL at 26, and I think his decision is inspired. Before I read Mendenhall’s explanation appropriately titled “Why I retired at 26” in the Huffington Post, I thought it was a ploy for attention. Maybe he felt overlooked and anxious when his contract with the Arizona Cardinals expired, and this was a last-ditch effort to ignite enough attention to merit the interest of a new team. Or maybe he was done. Now I accept the latter explanation. I didn’t know Mendenhall professed himself as a writer, and I was pleasantly surprised as I read his blog posts. He is articulate and relatable, and apparently finished with football. It is because of his writing that I understand why. The Skokie, Ill., native was a staple of Illinois football in the mid-2000s. Running backs have found success at Illinois, and Mendenhall was one of the greats. Illinois fans will forever remember Mendenhall’s 2007 season, especially his 79-yard touchdown run against USC in the Rose Bowl. He earned firstteam All-Big Ten and Offensive Player of the Year accolades and was a Doak Walker Award Semifinalist — an honor awarded to the top running back in the nation. He was also a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award, which goes to college football’s player of the year. Mendenhall left school a year

early and was drafted No. 23 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2008 NFL Draft. Illinois football was probably pretty proud. But after five years with the Steelers and one with the Cardinals, Mendenhall is choosing to walk away from the NFL — from fame and fortune and also from a constant place in the spotlight — and he seems pretty fine with it. In his blog for Huffington Post Sports, Mendenhall explains the constant criticism associated with playing on the professional level of sports. Because of his mild demeanor and varied interests, Mendenhall was often regarded as seeming apathetic to football. “People in the sporting world have sometimes questioned whether or not I love the game of football. I do. I always have,” Mendenhall said. “I have always been a professional. But I am not an entertainer.” This is an important distinction in a sporting society where fantasy leagues sometimes seem to take precedence over the actual sporting event. Professional sports are a forum for entertainment, with athletes acting as players on an international stage. And for a mild-mannered man who professes a love of literature and travel, Mendenhall was done playing the part of macho athlete. We’ll never know how much of Mendenhall’s somewhat elaborate explanation for his retirement reflects his true reasons for leaving football. But if we take him at his word, Mendenhall holds his right to a personal life in higher esteem than a place in the public eye. He played football because he

DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO

Former Illini running back Rashard Mendenhall rushes during a game against Ball State at Memorial Stadium on October 27, 2007. Mendenhall has decided to retire from professional football after five seasons with the Steelers and one with the Cardinals. He spent three seasons in Champaign before declaring for the NFL Draft. Mendenhall is calling it quits at the age of 26. loved it, not because he wanted to be on the cover of magazines or have the coolest touchdown dance. Though, I’m sure those things weren’t scoffed at when he was new to the NFL. Mendenhall thinks football has changed, and while I agree, change in professional sports isn’t a new concept.

Technology turns the gridiron into a stage for millions, and social media makes athletes more accessible to fans. But in the 1940s, when sports were first broadcast on television, or in the 90s when the internet began to play a role, athletes had to adjust in the same way. Professional sports will con-

tinue to evolve and athletes along with it. They are entertainers as much as they are athletes, and Mendenhall seems nostalgic for a time that never was. Professional athletes have always been in the public eye. So while Illinois fans will miss watching Mendenhall on Sundays, it seems that he made

the right decision for the life he wants to lead. Football was a phase. He got everything he wanted out of it, and now it’s time to move on.

Aryn is a senior in LAS. Contact her at braun17@ dailyillini.com. Follow her on Twitter @arynbraun.

Bennett re-signs as Seahawks lineman

BY TODD DYBAS

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

SEATTLE — Monday morning Michael Bennett was touting suspense. The Seattle Seahawks’ versatile defensive lineman was making a television appearance with his brother, Martellus, about a day before he could become an unrestricted free agent. There were reports that Bennett would not re-sign with the Seahawks during the team’s exclusive negotiating period from March 8-11. Others touted the likeliness he would sign with the Chicago Bears to play with Martellus, who is a tight end there and openly recruited him. Bennett played it up on TV. Then came Monday afternoon. Bennett was wearing a Seahawks winter hat inside their practice facility. Walking toward a slew of cameras, he asked, “They make y’all work on your day off?” Everyone was back to work because Bennett signed a fouryear deal reportedly worth $28.5 million, with $16 million guaranteed, to stay with the Seahawks. At the NFL combine in India-

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EKEY ing that tied the game for Illinois. Despite the limited scoring, center Nnanna Egwu said Illinois wouldn’t have won that game without him. “UNLV that three was big,” Egwu said. “Talk about Mizzou, those two 3-pointers he hit were even bigger. He’s been making marks throughout the whole year. “If you take Ekey off the team, even with all the tough losses we’ve had all year, we’d have even more without him.” In Big Ten play, Ekey’s production fell off, his playing time fell along with it. With Illinois on an eight-game losing streak, head coach John

napolis, Seahawks general manager John Schneider labeled Bennett a top offseason priority. Three weeks later, Seattle was able to check Bennett off its to-do list before he hit free agency. The new contract also comes 10 days after they released defensive end Red Bryant. Essentially, Bennett’s new salary —he made $5 million last season on a one-year deal— replaces Bryant’s, which will help the Seahawks further manage the salary cap. Bennett played defensive end and tackle last season for the Seahawks when he led the NFL’s top defense with 8.5 sacks. Amplifying the thought he took less money to stay was the five-year, $42.5 million contract Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen signed Sunday. Griffen played 699 snaps to Bennett’s 598 last season. Despite the more than 100-snap difference in playing time, Bennett had more sacks (8.5-5.5), combined tackles (31-28) and stuffs (5-3). Yet, he ends up with less money. Nobody pushed Bennett hard-

er to sign somewhere else than Martellus. Michael said Martellus understood why he chose to stay with Seattle and not go to the Chicago Bears. “It’s all on me, not really him,” Bennett said. After signing a one-year deal with the Seahawks last year, Bennett had said he was better prepared to deal with free agency this time. Though, that didn’t make it much easier. Bennett also said he’s not concerned if he has the same role next year, saying he just wants to win games. Up next for the Seahawks will be a handful of other moves. They have to determine the market for unrestricted free agent wide receiver Golden Tate, who led them in receptions and yards last season. Defensive end Chris Clemons and tight end Zach Miller each carry large salary cap hits. Seattle will likely look to cut or restructure the contracts of each. Those decisions will come when free agency fully starts Tuesday at 1 p.m. Early on, the Seahawks have accomplished their stated top goal.

Groce took Ekey out of the starting lineup and replaced him with Hill. Ekey not only shared a position with the freshman but had mentored him during the season. “I’ve just been learning from him. He’s been talking to me, teaching me, especially on the defensive end,” Hill said. “(Without him,) I wouldn’t be as good offthe-ball player as I am now.” Groce said Ekey adapted to his new role well. His senior handled it well, another classy act by a “pro’s pro,” teaching the younger guys how to take disappointment in stride. Ekey said being in the starting lineup didn’t matter. All he cared about was winning. And that’s what the team did. In Ekey’s first game on the

bench, Illinois broke its eight-game losing streak, and the Illini are 5-3 since Ekey and fellow senior Joseph Bertrand were replaced by Hill and freshman Kendrick Nunn. “It doesn’t really matter when you get in the game,” Ekey said. “It doesn’t matter who they put where, we’re good no matter where you put us.” Ekey didn’t start against Iowa, but he played when it counted most. And Groce appreciates not only the shot, but everything the senior’s done for the program. “He truly has been a godsend for our program,” Groce said. “I just hope that he’s enjoyed it as much as I’ve enjoyed coaching him.”

Johnathan can be reached at hetting2@dailyillini.com.

SCOTT STRAZZANTE CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov stops a shot by the Blackhawks’ Bryan Bickell at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 14. Bickell’s strong performance in the playoffs last year hasn’t yet been repeated this year.

Bickell hopes erratic season is on upswing BY CHRIS KUC CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Talk to Bryan Bickell long enough and the Blackhawks winger will eventually utter the word “confidence.” Either he has it or he’s in search of it. Bickell, who turned 28 on Sunday, isn’t shy when it comes to discussing his psyche, how it affects his game and what he does to combat lulls in confidence in his hockey skills. Often, the solution is right at his fingertips. “Sometimes when I’m down and I feel I need a little boost, I go on the Internet and check out video clips — it helps,” Bickell said. “I go on YouTube and check out the fans and how much the Blackhawks mean to the city and how they show the passion they have, and it kind of gets you into the game and emotionally fires you up.” Then there are meetings with James F. Gary, the Hawks’ mental skills coach who is a fixture at home and on the road. Gary has had Bickell listen to motivational tapes, and the two confer at times throughout the season. While some players seemingly brim with confidence whether they are producing on the ice

or not, others need cajoling or a kick in the pants, usually from the head coach. “Every player is a little bit different with what you say, what you do, whether you communicate by ice time or whether you verbally say things,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. The biggest confidence builder for Bickell is scoring goals, which he has done twice in the five games since the Olympic break. It has been a roller-coaster season for Bickell. After a stunning performance in the playoffs last season helped the Hawks win the Stanley Cup, he signed a fouryear, $16 million contract extension. That led to high expectations for 2013-14 that haven’t been met. Bickell was limited to 7 minutes, 22 seconds of ice time during the Hawks’ 2-1 win over the Sabres on Sunday night and sits at 10 goals and two assists in 48 games. A knee injury suffered Nov. 19 against the Avalanche caused him to miss a month, and a run of rough games while his knee continued to heal resulted in being scratched for three games at the end of January. So is he back physically to where he was before the injury? A strong motivating factor is

the looming postseason. Bickell anticipates reaching the level he did a year ago, when he often dominated games and finished with nine goals and eight assists during the 23-game run to the Cup. That followed a regular season in which he had nine goals and 14 assists in 48 games. The postseason performance had Bickell in consideration for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs. “The first three quarters of this season wasn’t what I was looking for, but I feel more my game is playoffs and I need to pick it up,” Bickell said. “You want to have a good regular season, but you need to get into the playoffs to make yourself that player. We have a good team, and to have a good push again, I know I’m going to help out in any way. Hopefully, I can do what I did before.” Upon learning of that desire, Quenneville said: “Let’s hope so. He was a big factor. He was like a different player. He assumed a bigger role, his quality ice time changed dramatically and he influenced a couple of outcomes in series or games. This year, hopefully that trend is clicking at the right time.”

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

3B

Nebraska’s turnaround leads to a bye in Big Ten Tourney BY SHANNON RYAN CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Before two home games this season, a black cat crossed the path of Nebraska coach Tim Miles outside Pinnacle Bank Arena. Miles can’t pinpoint the opponents they played those nights, but he remembers the results. “I was like, are you kidding me?” Miles recalled on Monday. “But it didn’t matter. We still won. The black cat must’ve had some white on it somewhere, some white paws.” This is a curses-be-damned kind of season for The Cornhuskers will enter the Big Ten tournament as the No. 4 seed with a first-round bye Thursday. They’ll play the Purdue-Ohio State winner Friday. The team that upset Wisconsin in the regular-season finale Sunday, sparking a celebration usually reserved for the football team, has quickly become the Big Ten darling. If they keep it up and earn their first NCAA tournament bid since 1998, expect this year’s Cinderella to be wearing overalls. After all, this is the team that was picked to finish last at Big Ten media day in October. The team that started Big Ten play 0-4. The same program that went just 4-14 in the Big Ten in 201112, resulting in Doc Sadler’s firing. A team that a year ago, in Miles’ first season, earned just five Big Ten wins. And now? The Cornhuskers (19-11, 11-7) are on the verge of an NCAA tournament bid that, along with its sparkling new arena, could help take the program to the next level. Along with regular-season champion Michigan, Nebraska is the Big Ten’s hottest team, winning 10 of its last 12. The Huskers hadn’t beaten a top-10 program since 1993-94 but have done it twice this season. “We were ready for a winning culture,” said Miles, who started in NAIA and Division II before coaching at Colorado State. “... I just didn’t feel like any of those preconceived notions existed for us.” And it hasn’t been with a complicated formula. Just one, he says, that produces good karma. “It’s simply you recruit the right kind of guy,” Miles said. “Coach him the right kind of way. Good things happen.”

CHUCK MYERS MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

Creighton guard Devin Brooks drives between Georgetown forward Reggie Cameron and Georgetown guard Jabril Trawick in the first half at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., on March 4. Georgetown defeated Creighton, 75-63.

Breaking down Big East tournament BY GREG LOGAN MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

Some would argue that it’s not the Big East Tournament that the late athletic director/commissioner/visionary Dave Gavitt brought into being back in 1980. And it’s true that heavyweights Syracuse and Connecticut and the crowds they brought to Madison Square Garden (MSG) are gone along with the likes of schools like Pitt, West Virginia, Louisville and Cincinnati, who added to the aura in later years. But founding members St. John’s, Georgetown, Providence and Seton Hall remain along with Villanova, which joined the second year, and most importantly, the basketball-only roots are firmly in place.

Favorites Villanova (28-3) — The Wildcats are ranked No. 3 in the country but have managed to fly under the radar all season: a neat trick. Some might point to their three blowout losses — one at Syracuse

and two to league rival Creighton — as a sign of weakness, but they have quality wins over Big 12 champ Kansas, CAA champ Delaware, Iowa of the Big Ten and A-10 contender Saint Joseph’s. They also have a dynamic perimeter trio of wing men James Bell and Darrun Hilliard and point guard Ryan Arcidiacono. Nova can score (79.0), defend (66.7) and is the best rebounding team (37.1) in the league. Creighton (24-6) — Big East newcomer Creighton has the favorite for national player of the year in 3,000-point career scorer Doug McDermott and the No. 14 Bluejays lead the conference in scoring (79.9), field- goal percentage (49.6) and three-point percentage (42.0) and are second in free-throw percentage (74.8). Defenses that focus on McDermott risk the hot outside shooting of forward Ethan Wragge (10.7 points), and the guard combination of Grant Gibbs and Austin Chatman knows how to swing the ball and find open shooters for easy baskets. McDermott

bypassed the NBA for a special senior year and is inspired to greatness.

Dark horse St. John’s (20-11) — Often described as the “most talented” team in the Big East, the Red Storm disappointed with its 0-5 start in league play, and even after rebounding to finish 10-8 in league play had to deal with late-season turbulence off the court. But if freshman point guard Rysheed Jordan gets into the scoring mix with proven vets D’Angelo Harrison and JaKarr Sampson and shot-blocker Chris Obekpa anchors an athletic defense, then watch out for a surprise champ.

Others contenders Xavier (20-11) — Musketeers were inconsistent, going 5-7 at end. Post man Matt Stainbrook has been ruled out until the tourney final with knee injury, hurting chances.

Providence (20-11) — Long Island’s Tyler Harris adds to core vets Bryce Cotton, LaDontae Henton and Kadeem Batts. Quarterfinal vs. St. John’s is big for NCAA hopes. Georgetown (17-13) — Guard combo of Markel Starks and D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera is terrific, and Hoyas can beat anyone when they’re on as Michigan State win at MSG shows.

Story lines New Big East at MSG. Attendance might suffer without traveling throngs from Syracuse, UConn and Louisville. A St. John’s run would do wonders for the gate. How many NCAA bids for Big East? Old league dominated NCAA bracket routinely, including record 11 bids. Only Villanova and Creighton are sure bets. Doug McDermott showcase. The son has dreamed of giving father, Creighton coach Greg McDermott, place in the Garden spotlight and, ultimately, a Final Four trip.

Players to watch Doug McDermott, Creighton, F — Nation’s leading scorer at 26.5 points adds 7.2 rebounds per game. Watching him move with the ball is a clinic. Bryce Cotton, Providence, G — Versatile point guard is second in Big East scoring (21.7), first in assists (5.9), first in minutes played (40.1). Indispensable. D’Angelo Harrison, St. John’s, G — Junior rebounded from season-ending suspension as a sophomore to regain leadership role, average 17.6 points, play tough in crunch. Semaj Christon, Xavier, G — Outstanding scorer (17.0) and floor leader (4.1 assists, 1.4 ste a ls), he emb o d ies Musketeers’ tough-mi nded approach. Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova, G — Wildcats wings James Bell (14.9 points) and Darrun Hilliard (14.4) are superb, but Arcidiacono (10.0, 3.5 assists) is the glue.

Maryland prepares for last ACC tourney BY JEFF BARKER MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

For years, the Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball tournament has had a distinctly North Carolina flavor, characterized by barbecue joints, sweet tea, Waffle House restaurants and southern drawls. As familiar as Maryland became with Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum, the Terps — who play there Thursday against Florida State in their final ACC tournament before departing for the Big Ten — could never quite shake the sense that they were guests at somebody else’s party. Maryland had its share of tournament success — winning titles in 1958, 1984 and 2004 — and its fans developed cherished roadtrip traditions often involving golf, drinking, barbecued ribs, or all three. But the Terps, who are 47-56 in the tournament since it began 60 years ago, sometimes felt diminished in a sea of Carolina or Duke blue.

“It was always like we were the visiting team,” said former Maryland coach Lefty Driesell, citing the proximity of Wake Forest, Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State, all within a 75-minute drive from Greensboro, which has hosted the tournament more than any other city. Driesell’s teams lost five straight tournament championship games — each one to a North Carolina-based school — before finally prevailing over Duke in 1984. Driesell couldn’t help but notice that the crowds weren’t excited about his team. It was as if the non-North Carolina schools were preliminary concert acts, and the Dukes, North Carolinas and North Carolina States were the headliners. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was asked several years ago what he thought about playing in Greensboro, about 60 miles from the Duke campus in Durham. “It’s been the best place to have it,” Krzyzewski said. “It’s a place — a neutral site. It’s where our

conference offices are.” But Maryland never considered Greensboro — or Charlotte, N.C., where the tournament has been held eight times since 1990 — neutral territory. Including this year, the tournament has been held in North Carolina 19 times since 1990 and outside the state five times. Maryland lobbied for years to bring the tournament north. The games did come to the Washington, D.C., area in 1976, 1981, 1987 and 2005. When it was held in downtown Washington for the first time in 2005, the Terps lost the opening game of the tournament to Clemson. In November, the ACC announced that the 2016 tournament will be held at the Verizon Center in Washington, a 25-minute drive from Maryland’s campus. Since the Terps will be in the Big Ten by then, some have wondered whether the ACC is trying intentionally to make the school feel left out. The conference remains in a legal battle with Maryland

over the legality of a $52 million exit fee it says the school must pay for leaving for the Big Ten, effective in July. The conference said in November that it selected Verizon Center because it has first-class amenities and an established track record in hosting big events, and because Washington is “an appealing tourist destination.” ACC officials indicated this week that the possibility of returning to Washington was considered before Maryland made its decision in November 2012 to leave for the Big Ten. The Big Ten’s men’s basketball tournament, which began in 1998, has either been held in Chicago or Indianapolis throughout its history. Next season, the ACC tournament will return to Greensboro minus the Terps. Maryland’s absence will surely sadden some longtime fans who have grown fond of making annual March treks south — even if outnumbered by the local schools’ supporters.

SAM GREENE MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine turns over the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday. The Buckeyes defeated the Spartans, 69-67.

Big Ten tournament: Expect surprises, upsets along the way BY SHANNON RYAN CHICAGO TRIBUNE

CHUCK LIDDY MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

North Carolina's Marcus Paige and Duke forward Jabari Parker battle for a loose ball in Durham, N.C., on Saturday. The two teams will be playing in the ACC tournament in Greensboro, N.C., this week.

Depending on perspective, the Big Ten is either enjoying a renaissance or is in the middle of a mess. The Big Ten tournament, which begins Thursday in Indianapolis, might sort that out. If Nebraska’s upset victory Sunday night against Wisconsin is any indication, the conference tournament should be a place where anything can happen. The Cornhuskers locked up the No. 4 seed, earning a first-round bye along with top seed Michigan, No. 2 Wisconsin and No. 3 Michigan State. A tournament trophy is at stake, but teams are vying just as much for NCAA tournament seeds. The conference is likely to send at least six teams to the NCAA tournament, but the highest seeds probably will be No. 2 slots for Michigan and Wisconsin. A Big Ten tournament title would bolster the hopes of landing a No. 1 seed should a team like Villanova slip up in the Big East tournament. With a No. 1 seed and a bye in the Big Ten tournament, the Wolverines are on a five-game winning streak. Wisconsin’s nine-game winning streak ended against the Cornhuskers.

But is there a dominant team in the Big Ten? The conference as a whole is perplexing. The No. 2 seed just blew it against Nebraska. The No. 3 seed, Michigan State, has lost seven of 12. No. 6 seed Iowa, which was picked as a preseason dark horse, has collapsed. The Hawkeyes have lost five of their last six games as they head into Thursday’s tournament opener against No. 11 Northwestern. The No. 5-seeded Buckeyes, who will play No. 12 Purdue on Thursday, aren’t sitting pretty either. Their regular-season stretch run included losses at Penn State and Indiana before they bumped off the struggling Spartans. Like Nebraska, Minnesota enters the conference tournament with something to prove. The Golden Gophers helped themselves by beating Penn State on Sunday. They face the No. 10-seeded Nittany Lions again on Thursday. No. 9 Illinois and No. 8 Indiana will kick off the tournament Thursday morning with both teams hoping for a miraculous tournament run.

4B

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

Marching Illini to tour, perform through Ireland get back there for a couple of years now,� Houser said of the festival organizers, students and alumni. “I think a lot of that is just built from the history back to 1992, and a lot of our alums have great memories of those trips and they want to see our current students experience the same things. So it made such great sense to continue with that tradition.�

BY DECLAN HARTY STAFF WRITER

Though most identify St. Patrick’s Day and Ireland with the color green, the Marching Illini will be celebrating in blue and orange. On March 17, they will march down the historic winding streets of Dublin, Ireland, in the St. Patrick’s Day parade. The trip to Dublin is nothing new for the band; this will be its seventh trip and its first since 2008. Barry Houser, director of the Marching Illini and athletic bands, said that while he hopes the band can participate in the parade on a consistent basis, the trip is a once-in-alifetime experience. “For a lot of our students, this may be the last opportunity that they have to do some international travel to this extent,� Houser said. “I think most importantly is just the fellowship that each of them has with one another. We talk with our students a lot that these are performances and experiences of a lifetime — just being a member of the Marching Illini — that they aren’t going to have these experiences later on in life.� The Marching Illini will travel to Ireland to see a variety of tourist attractions and perform for the seventh time in the St. Patrick’s Day Festival Parade in Dublin. The band will depart Thursday from Chicago’s O’Hare airport, and the trip will last a total of six days and five nights. The trip has been a trademark for the band since 1992, with one having been planned every three to four years. However, according to Houser, due to a variety of transitions in leadership in the band program, they had a “brief hiatus� in holding the trip. Now in a stable place, the band looks forward to continuing the tradition. “They have been wanting us to

“It isn’t just a performance; it is a trip. I expect the performances to be good quality, but I don’t expect it to be mentally exhausting.� AMY BISCHOFF, TRUMPET SECTION LEADER

This trip has been in the works for over a year, Houser said. While the trip typically fell over spring break in past years, students attending this year will miss four days of classes with the academic schedule’s recent shift. Despite missing classes, the band will given opportunities throughout the trip that cannot be experienced in central Illinois. Throughout the trip, the band will spend the first two nights in Limerick and finish with two nights in Dublin. The Marching Illini will see not just tourist attractions like the Cliffs of Moher, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Guinness Storehouse, but will also be allotted time each day to tour the areas of Limerick, Dublin and the town of Ennis, a traditional Irish town with a popu-

lation of more than 25,000. Even with the Marching Illini’s amount of travel to games and athletic events across the county, the opportunity to perform in another nation is something that excites students and puts the band in a different element. “I mean, being in a different country gives you a different vibe as compared to game day,� said Ilona Widomska, drum major and senior in FAA. “Game day is really exciting and really just cheering on the football team or basketball team or wherever performing. But over there, we will be performing for people of a different country. So I think (there will be) a different vibe — especially being in Ireland and an area that we aren’t familiar with.� On St. Patrick’s Day, the Marching Illini will perform as the final group in the parade, which begins at noon in Ireland or 7 a.m. in Illinois. The parade is the highlight and one of the final events of Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival, which lasts from March 14 to March 17, St. Patrick’s Day. This year’s parade has taken on a theme of “Let’s make history,� according to the festival’s website. The theme focuses on the past and is a part of a three-year sequence in which the festival will explore the past, present and future. “I think it is a good representation of Illinois in general,� Widomska said of what the Marching Illini brings to the parade. “I think it also brings more of an excitement of a collegiate marching band over there, just seeing a different vibe.� The parade will last approximately two hours long, Houser said, and the route is approximately 1.5 miles long in downtown Dublin. Ending just past St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the parade will pass the

PHOTO COURTESY OF BARRY HOUSER

The Marching Illini wear their warm-up suits and march down the streets of Dublin, Ireland, in the St. Patrick’s Parade in 2008. On Monday, the Marching Illini will perform in the parade for the seventh time since 1992. O’Connell Bridge over River Liffey and near Trinity College Dublin. Following the parade, the band will take a trip to the Guinness Storehouse, one of Ireland’s largest tourist attractions, where they will play a 15-to-20 minute performance. Amy Bischoff, music section leader for trumpets and senior in FAA, said that because the band will be standing on one of the three levels of the building, they will be able to “throw in our own personal grooves and personal dance� for a lot of the songs. Despite the performances being

in such prominent settings, the trip for students is much more than just an opportunity to perform. “I like that it is broken down, it is a trip for us,� Bischoff said. “It isn’t just a performance; it is a trip. I expect the performances to be good quality, but I don’t expect it to be mentally exhausting.� The trip will bring a total of 325 people, Houser said, with 275 of them being members of the Marching Illini. A variety of faculty, staff, parents and alumni will also join the band for the trip. Despite the struggles of man-

aging the varying hotel and room situations, traveling and setting up the performances, Houser said that his main focus for the trip is the students. “I am excited that our students get this experience ultimately,� Houser said. “I hope the students enjoy it, and that is where my greatest satisfaction will come from ... (seeing) them have a great time and having those performances of a lifetime.�

Declan can be reached at dharty2@dailyillini.com.

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