ILLINI OF THE WEEK: Softball freshman Carly Thomas slugs through the weekend PAGE 1B
WEDNESDAY April 1, 2015
THE DAILY ILLINI 5he independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Vol. 144 Issue 99
Students report racism
Dancing queen takes the stage
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Data from 2011, 2012 reveals presence of microaggressions have suggested that they do not belong at the Urbana One night while walking on campus because of their race campus Vanessa Gutierrez, or ethnicity. Pathways Project Manager, The majority of students was stopped by two police who took the survey — 51 officers because they sus- percent — reported experipected she had just complet- ences of stereotyping in the ed a drug deal, but her keys classroom. Twenty-seven were all she had in her hands. percent reported their con“It’s not about those two tributions to class discusofficers,” said Gutierrez. sions were minimized, and “It’s the whole structure that they were made to feel infeMARIAH MATTHEWS THE DAILY ILLINI needs to change.” rior when they spoke. Thir0RUH RQOLQH For video of Drag queen Aurora shows off her moves during the IUB Drag Show at Stacy Harwood, Mar- ty-nine percent of students the IUB Drag Show, visit: garet Brown Huntt, Ruby reported feeling uncomfortthe Illini Union on Tuesday. www.DailyIllini.com Mendenhall and their stu- able on campus because of dent research assistants their race and the place most are working to shed light on cited for discomfort was these issues with the recent “fraternity or sorority cerrelease of data collected in tified housing.” 2011 and 2012 in their report Harwood and her panel of “Racial Microaggressions in student research assistants the Classroom.” The report held a discussion on the findPell grant cuts will hurt students in the future BY CAELI CLEARY I think we should look at defines microaggressions as ings in the report Tuesday at STAFF WRITER The maximum amount received by a student from a behaviors or verbal remarks the Spurlock Museum. Gutiways to make college more 25000 that convey rudeness, insen- errez, Tanisha King and AshRepublicans looking to affordable.” pell grant has continually been increasing since sitivity and demean an indi- ley Ojiemwen, Moises Orozco balance the federal budget However, Charles Maythe program started, as has tuition in schools vidual’s racial heritage or and Shinwoo Choi all particihave proposed a resolution field, the associate directhroughout the years. Stalling the maximum identity. pated in the report as student that would freeze the Pell tor of student fi nancial aid 20000 amount received by a pell grant will grant at its current maxi- said this proposal is only the “It’s almost easier to deal research assistants. Each greatly affect students who rely on this with aggression when it’s student shared their permum amount of $5,775 for beginning of the process. grant to help them pay for college. the next 10 years. “An important thing to over t,” spective on 15000 the findings According to the U.S. remember in the budget s a i d of the study Department of Education, proposal process is that it’s Chanceland how Pell grants are federal the first of many steps,” said lor Wise, 10000 “It’s much grants that, unlike a loan, Mayfield. “The President, in the project UIUC In-state Tuition more difdo not have to be repaid. his proposed budget, sughas affectThe amount a student can gested a Pell grant amount ficult to ed their Pell grants receive depends on their for next year with a maxideal with lives at the 5000 discussion. fi nancial need, the cost to mum award of $5,915, but topics of “College attend college, their status again, those proposals are microagas either a part or full time the first of many steps in the years are a gression 0 very imporstudent and whether or not federal budget process.” where if you’re not STACY HARWOOD tant time in the student plans to attend The Institute for College CO-AUTHOR c a r ef u l , our lives and school for a full academic Access & Success’ report you might when I expeyear. on Pell grants said students not even rience racial With college tuition rising with financial need are elirealize it’s happening.” microaggressions, I feel like each year, this freeze will gible to receive a Pell grant SOURCE: The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid THE DAILY ILLINI Of the Urbana campus’ we don’t deserve this,” said negatively impact students if their family income is 0RUH LQVLGH For 10,800 students of color who Choi, “We are just here to who rely on Pell grants to below $50,000. However, year, 6,888 students benemore on potential could have taken the sur- learn.” afford college, said Brexton most grants are awarded to fited from Pell grants said The panel made it clear Isaacs president of the Col- students’ from households Mayfield, and 72% of the stuPell grant cuts, see vey, over 4,800 participated. The 45 percent response rate that their personal expelege Democrats of Illinois. with an average income of dent body received financial our editorial. Page 4A was significantly higher than riences are not isolated “The cost of college is ris- less than $20,000. Students aid of some kind. the average online survey incidents. ing and the level of assis- receive less grant monStudents who receive response rate of 11 percent. “You’re not alone, and tance will stay stagnant ey if they are part-time, Pell grants are more than a higher education. Actions such as develop- you’re not the only one expeover the next decade, which attend a college with a low twice as likely to have loans “You’re going to have less will hurt students because tuition rate or have a fami- and the average debt for and less money available to ing critical thinking, increas- riencing these things,” said its not like the cost of col- ly income on the higher end recipients is $4,750 higher students in need from the ing intellectual engagement King. At the end of the presenlege is going to stop increas- of the range, according to than other, higher-income federal government that can and broadening cultural ing,” said Isaacs. “It’s going the report. The maximum students. go to paying off their school- awareness can enrich high- tation, Harwood opened the to make it harder and harder grant only covers less than Mitch Dickey, student ing,” Dickey said. “Students er education, according to floor for audience participafor students to afford edu- one third of tuition at a four- body president, said the Pell are either going to have to the report. However, the tion. Topics included instireport stated, minority stu- tutionalized racism in the cation and put students in year public college. grant freeze will impact a more and more debt when In the 2013-2014 school student’s ability to achieve SEE PELL GRANT | 3A dents who add to the diver- community, the Universisity of the campus often feel ty’s informal ownership of the Chief and moving forunwelcome. “Going to the classroom ward proactively. The report is a little bit like a battle- and the presentation stressed BY CAELI CLEARY The act will save the dent debt. going to be better members ground,” said Harwood, “And the importance of students STAFF WRITER “Democrats recognize the of our economy.” we need to change that.” and faculty working togethaverage student borrowCongresswoman Cheri er around $2,000 on their effects that long-term debt According to the survey, er with the administration to The same legislation was Bustos, D-17, introduced college loan, said Brexton has on people and how it can introduced in the U.S Senate students considered three effect real change. the Bank on Students Emer- Isaacs, president of the Col- negatively affect ones abil- by Massachusetts Sen. Eliz- qualitative questions: when “Part of it is trying to get gency Loan Refinancing Act, lege Democrats of Illinois. ity to succeed and do well,” abeth Warren and Illinois they felt uncomfortable, people to talk, think more allowing students with high He said it is a step toward Isaacs said. “When people Sen. Dick Durbin, accord- insulted, invalidated or dis- proactively and not be pasinterest rates to refi nance making college more afford- have less debt and aren’t respected by a comment that sive,” said Harwood. “Learn their loans at a lesser rate. able and could reduce stu- burdened by debt, they’re SEE LOANS | 3A had racial overtones, when to talk about it. It’s not easy, others subtly expressed ste- but it’s worth it.” reotypical beliefs about race/ ethnicity and when others mesulli2@dailyillini.com BY MAGGIE SULLIVAN STAFF WRITER
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“Going to the classroom is a little bit like a battleground, and we need to change that.”
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Proposed act could help students refinance loans
$1M grant helps minority STEM Ph. D.s BY ELYSSA KAUFMAN STAFF WRITER
Select University graduate students will have the opportunity to earn a $40,000 fellowship to continue research in their STEM field of study through a grant from The Sloan Foundation. The foundation recently selected the University as one of three institutions to create a University Center for Exemplary Mentoring and receive grant funding for minority doctoral students. The Sloan Foundation is giving a total of $3 million in grant money to the three chosen universities, which will be available in the fall of 2015 and will extend into 2018. The University will receive
$1 million to be spread across three years. Assata Zerai, associate dean of the Graduate College, said 12 departments in Engineering and six departments — labeled as the physical and mathematical sciences — in LAS will be part of the grant. The grant was needed to help further advance the goal of broadening participation in engineering, physical and mathematical science careers, said Sarah Lubienski, interim dean for the Graduate College. “Illinois was chosen for its world-class graduate programs, it’s proven commitment to supporting
LIFE & CULTURE
SEE MINORITY | 3A
Sloan Foundation aims to increase underrepresented minority Ph.D students in STEM
GREEN ST
Out of 5,000 doctoral students, only 9% are part of an underrepresented minority
Fraternity/Sorority Certified Housing 731 responses Of the 453 URM students, only about 20% are in engineering and physical science
SOURCE: Sarah Lubienski, interim dean for the Graduate College at the University of Illinois
Fire Service Institute Library recognized
Salaita files response Tangled web of to University motion inefficiency
Library one of 30 finalists to compete for National Medal
Salaita fights motion to dismiss case, urging it forward
Multiple class sites creates confusion for students, professors
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Places on campus where students reported feeling discomfort because of their race
Below are the numbers of under-represented minority doctoral students enrolled at the University
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