Don’t judge a book by its cover: Hometown doesn’t dictate who you are FEATURES, 6A
Breaking records for Illinois
Willie Argo leads the way in stealing bases and hitting triples SPORTS, 1B
The Daily Illini
Wednesday April 4, 2012
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www.DailyIllini.com
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
Vol. 141 Issue 125
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Bill could stop UI from using state cash on hiring committees
Dr. Congeniality: More than just a winning smile
BY LAUREN ROHR STAFF WRITER
JOSHUA BECKMAN THE DAILY ILLINI
Hands in the pockets of his laboratory overcoat, professor Jerrod Henderson poses with his Dr. Congeniality sash. The 2012 Dr. Illinois ChBE (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering) Pageant included costumes, talent shows and a Q-and-A session. The event was held Tuesday as a fundraiser to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life.
A state bill proposed by state Rep. Chapin Rose, R-110, would prohibit public universities from hiring outside search fi rms to assist in the selection of future employees using state funds or student tuition. The bill passed in the Illinois House of Representatives on March 23 and will now move on to the Senate for further consideration. Just last year, the University fi lled more than two dozen positions using external search fi rms, spending $1.1 million on outside executive search fi rms. Of that, only $54,665 came from state funds; the rest was from a variety of other sources within the University, said Tom Hardy, University spokesman. “The legislation as it is proposed would be in sync with how the University fi nances
See SEARCHES, Page 3A
Help stop crime, stay anonymous
Presidential Search for Michael Hogan Total cost: $302,295 Amount paid to executive search firm Isaacson, Miller: $130,000
Vice President and Chancellor Search for Phyllis Wise Total cost: $170,500 Amount paid to executive search firm Isaacson, Miller: $154,000 Total amount paid to Isaacson, Miller: $284,000
Spare change to halt injustice
Crime Stoppers accepts tips via text message, offers cash rewards and we do not want to know their name,” said John Hecker, Champaign County Crime president of Champaign County Stoppers, a non-profit organiza- Crime Stoppers. “If the information that compensates students tion does lead to an arrest, the and residents who anonymous- person who conveyed the inforly come forward with informa- mation becomes a candidate for tion about a crime, is changing a cash reward of up to $1,000.” its methods of Hecker said outreach. other services There are similar to this do not give out a three different cash reward until ways to report a tip: calling the the person who is Crime Stoppers’ arrested is conhotline, sending victed, which can a text message take up to two or visiting the years or could website. never even hapJOHN HECKER, Capt. Skip pen. Crime Stoppresident of Champaign County Frost of Universipers is unique Crime Stoppers ty Police said that because the tip students should only needs to lead to an arrest for take advantage of the texting service. He said the individual to be eligible for that it is probably the most con- the cash reward, and they remain venient way for students to help anonymous even if they wish to out with crimes if they wish to accept the reward, he said. remain anonymous. If the individual wants the “Whoever is conveying the money, he or she will meet someinformation, we guarantee that one who will have an unmarked we will not know their name, envelope at a pre-determined BY STEVEN VAZQUEZ STAFF WRITER
“There is nothing signed; we have nothing recorded, no cameras.”
How to Report a Tip to Crime Stoppers 1. Call or text the Crime Stoppers’ hotline or visit its website. 2. Receive secret code number. 3. The information is sent to law enforcement. If the tip leads to an arrest, up to $1,000 may be awarded. SOURCE: JOHN HECKER, PRESIDENT OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS
location. All the candidate must do to receive the payment is provide a pre-assigned number, Hecker said. “There is nothing signed; we have nothing recorded, no cameras,” he said. “We try to keep it as clean as possible.” The service has been in existence for 25 years. It is completely funded by fees collected from convicted criminals by local courts, fund raising and donations. In 2010, the service led to
See CRIME, Page 3A
WILLIAM SHI THE DAILY ILLINI
Sharon Lee, junior in LAS and member of IJM, left, accepts a donation from Michael Leung, freshman undecided, on the Main Quad. Tuesday kicked off the week-long fundraiser . More inside: Read about the student organization, International Justice Mission, and the missions they aim for on Page 3A
Bill to end allegedly corrupted scholarship program awaits vote in Senate BY MATT RICE STAFF WRITER
The General Assembly Legislative Scholarship program is in danger of being terminated. A bill in the Illinois House of Representatives, which seeks to dismantle the embattled program, passed in the House 79-25 last week. It now awaits a vote in the Senate. However, supporters of the bill fear that Senate President John Cullerton will attempt to prevent the bill from reaching a vote, as he has done with three similar bills from 2011 that still sit in committee. In 2011, 1,327 scholarships were awarded. At the University’s Urbana campus alone, 489 waivers were issued to undergraduate and graduate students. Gov. Pat Quinn has pledged his support for ending the scholarship program. “I applaud the members of the House
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for voting to end the legislative scholarship program,” he said in a press release. “As I have repeatedly advocated in the past, scholarships — paid for by Illinois taxpayers — should be awarded only to those with merit who are in true financial need.” By state law, members of the state legislators are allowed to award either two four-year or eight one-year tuition waivers to students of their choice, and the awards are neither need-based nor meritbased. Opponents have long complained that the program is corrupt because in the past, waivers have been issued to friends, family and political supporters. One state lawmaker gave $94,000 to the children of a political supporter. Even the one limitation that is placed on the scholarships — that they must be awarded to students residing in the legislator’s district — is not always being
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followed. Federal investigators are looking into whether or not some legislators gave scholarships to students from outside of their districts. “This is not really helping that many students,” said State Rep. Fred Crespo, D-44. “This is just a feel-good kind of thing.” Despite potential corruption, some representatives are in favor of keeping the scholarships, like State Rep. Monique Davis, D-27. “I just think it’s a nice thing we’re doing. I really do,” she said. “Look, there was socalled corruption or whatever in the governor’s race, but we still have a governor’s office ... When we start abolishing everything where we find some misdeeds, we might have to close up down here.” The waivers must be for any of the ten state-supported universities, which
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includes the University of Illinois. These colleges must then absorb the cost of these waivers, an unfunded mandate on the institutions. Some University students see flaws in the scholarship program. “I would feel better about it if it was need-based or merit-based,” said Arielle Contreras, senior in AHS. “There are a bunch of kids who need help.” Other students oppose the program because of its past abuse. Steve Guo, junior in Engineering, is worried about increases in government corruption that goes by unnoticed. “I really hate seeing stuff like this (misuse),” he said. If passed in the Senate, the bill would end the legislative scholarship program effective June 1st, 2012.
More inside: For the DI editorial
board’s perspective on the possible abolishment of the legislative scholarships, turn to Page 4A
By the Numbers 1,327
total scholarships issued in 2011
$13.5 MILLION
value of total waivers issued
» 489 » » » »
» »
scholarships awarded to University students
$5.6 MILLION DOLLARS
value of waivers awarded to University students
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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