SPORTS BASEBALL SWEEPS SERIES OVER NORTHWESTERN, HARTLEB WINS 300 PAGE 1B
THE DAILY ILLINI
MONDAY April 6, 2015
5he independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
Vol. 144 Issue 101
Ebert Center offers new program to young critics BY ABIGALE SVOBODA NEWS EDITOR
Students who hoped to follow in University alumnus Roger Ebert’s footsteps will now have even more opportunities to pursue their career goals. The College of Media announced it will establish The Ebert Center to honor the Champaign native and film critic Roger Ebert. Jan Slater, dean of the college, said the University has been working on plans for the center since Ebert and his wife Chaz made a donation to the college in 2009. “This will be a program-
matic center — with a mission for engaging students, audience, scholars, faculty and filmmakers of the past, present and future,� Slater said. “The guiding principles are for it to emphasize the careful study and (appreciation) of film, filmmakers, and the industries that support them.� Students will also be able to earn internships and fellowships through the center’s programs. Slater said students can become Ebert Fellows by participating in the competitive application process. Of the 19 appli-
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cants, three students were chosen as Ebert Fellows for the upcoming academic year. Riane Lenzner-White said she’s excited for the opportunity to learn what “the real world of journalism� is like, outside of the classroom and work on different platforms within media. “It will encourage writers and filmmakers to think as critically about movies as Roger did. It will challenge them to craft more humanitarian films and tell stories that matter,� Chaz Ebert said in a press release. “These are
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the values Roger lived and championed with uncommon clarity and conviction.� Each year, students will work with a professional critic as Ebert Fellows and receive a $3,000 stipend. In the program’s first year, students will be mentored by Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune and work with him to produce content for local publications.
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DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO
Roger Ebert raises his hand to interject during his wife Chaz Hammelsmith Ebert's (not pictured) speech at the Ebertfest Opening Night Gala at the President's House.
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“It’s so much exposure in such a huge news market and such a great opportunity to learn from the veterans in the business,� Lenzner-White said.
The students will also be recognized at the annual Ebertfest Film Festival at the Virginia Theater.
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SONNY AN THE DAILY ILLINI
An athlete makes use of the University’s recently upgraded Paralympic facility on April 3. The upgrades include 10 new machines and increased space for athletes.
Paralympic site finishes renovations Renovations include new equipment and more space for athletes in training BY LIZ JASSIN STAFF WRITER
After five years, renovations of the University’s Paralympic training facility are complete, just in time for athletes to fi nish preparing for the April 20 Boston Marathon. The renovations, which were funded by the United States Olympic Committee and British Petroleum, provided the University’s 23 Paralympic athletes with 10 new rollers and three times the space. The rollers are similar to
treadmills, and five rollers are equipped with KICKR bike trainer devices, which add resistance to simulate biking uphill, said Maureen Gilbert, Disability Resources and Education Services coordinator. Several rollers also have monitors attached to track the athletes’ workouts and give immediate feedback on their speed and power output. The rollers will eventually have video cameras to monitor athletes’ strokes and allow them to see how they are sit-
ting in the chair, Gilbert said. Amanda McGrory, a University alumna who is competing in the Boston Marathon, said she was able to use topography to increase the intensity of the new rollers to match the path of the Boston Marathon. “The best part about it is that our history can now be public,� Gilbert said. “A lot of people knew about our program prior to us being designated as a training center because of our outstanding athletes and our outstanding coaches, however now it is very visual.� Arielle Rausin, junior in Business, who is currently training for the Boston Mara-
thon, said the new facility will give those who participate in marathons an advantage in the race. “This newly renovated space gives us a great competitive edge when training for marathons as important as Boston,� Rausin said. “The new equipment that was donated really helps simulate what it will feel like on race day, and the more opportunities we have to train in that environment, the better we can be.� The renovation has not only been a “motivational transformation,� Rausin said, but has also created more awareness
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“The new equipment that was donated really helps simulate what it will feel like on race day, and the more opportunities we have to train in that environment, the better we can be.� ARIELLE RAUSIN
JUNIOR IN BUSINESS
Illinois postpones recreational marijuana bill BY DAVID STAGE STAFF WRITER
LIFE AND CULTURE
Reach new heights on the Quad Student slackliners find zen, community through outdoor exercise PAGE 6A SPORTS
OPINIONS
Women’s gymnastics season finished
Student financial aid can’t compare
Team fails to qualify for Nationals, three to compete alone
Stanford’s new aid program impossible with Illinois funding
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DAILYILLINI, DAILYILLINISPORTS
INSIDE
Following national trends, State Sen. Michael Noland, D-22, has proposed a bill to legalize the possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis for recreational use for adults 21 and older. Under Senate Bill 753, adults would also be able to cultivate up to five cannabis sativa plants. The bill, proposed on Feb. 3, was postponed in the Illinois Criminal Law Committee on March 25. If passed, current sentences would be reduced and some felonies would become misdemeanors. Currently, only medical marijuana is legal in Illinois, but there are no dispensaries in the state. Approximately 2,000 of the 2,700 people who applied to the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program have been accepted, according to its website. Dan Walsh, Champaign County sheriff, said he believes the legalization of marijuana would not result in any issues with law enforcement. However, he said the pos-
sibility of people driving or operating machinery under the influence of marijuana could be dangerous. “This is like the use of alcohol in that there can be overuse and usage at unsafe times which people should not do and does need to be prohibited by law,� Walsh said. Medical marijuana is legal in 22 other states and the District of Columbia. However, the District of Columbia, Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon are the only states where recreational use is legal. Oregon’s Measure 91 is similar to Noland’s proposal. Measure 91 will go into effect on July 1, making recreational marijuana use legal for adults 21 and older and restricting residents to four cannabis plants per household. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission will license residents to produce, process and sell marijuana. According to the bill, licensing the drug will “prevent revenue from the sale of marijuana from going to criminal enterprises, gangs and cartels.�
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PROPOSED BILL WOULD DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA
WHAT IS SENATE BILL 753? t "NFOET UIF $BOOBCJT $POUSPM "DU t 3FNPWFT QFOBMUJFT GPS MPX MFWFM QPTTFTTJPOT
21
5
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Must be 21 years of age or older to possess marijuana
Can grow up to five cannabis sativa plants
Possession cannot exceed 30g of cannabis THE DAILY ILLINI
SOURCE: Illinois General Assembly
Oregon will tax licensed growers $10 per ounce of marijuana leaves and $5 per immature marijuana plant. Trae Wright, freshman in LAS, said he believes marijuana could also become a lucrative business in Illinois, if it were legal to sell, and lead to an increase in government revenue. According to a 2013 survey by Monitoring the Future, 36 percent of college students reported they have used mar-
ijuana and 5.1 percent reported daily use. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports longterm health effects can stem from the use of marijuana. According to the report, frequent users of recreational marijuana may experience breathing problems, paranoia and limited cognitive ability in people who do not have fully developed brains.
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