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SECTION C
THE DAILY ILLINI
TUESDAY October 1, 2013
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
83˚ | 60˚ Vol. 143 Issue 21
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Congress deadlock shuts down government BY ANITA KUMAR, WILLIAM DOUGLAS AND LESLEY CLARK MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON — The U.S. government started shutting down early Tuesday after a deeply divided Congress deadlocked over the budget and health care and let the federal fiscal year run out without any agreement over how to keep the money flowing. It was the first such collapse of the government in nearly two decades. The partial closure will delay Social Security payments, passport and visa applications, shutter national parks and museums and furlough hundreds of thousands of federal employees. Essential services will still be provided; the military remains on duty. President Barack Obama declared the government had officially run out of money when the fiscal year expired at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday. “Congress has not fulfilled its responsibility,” Obama said in a video message sent to the U.S.
military around the globe. “It has failed to pass a budget and, as a result, much of our government must now shut down until Congress funds it again.” The White House Office of Management and Budget sent an alert to all executive branch government offices, telling them to start implementing shutdown plans: “Agencies should now execute plans for an orderly shutdown due to the absence of appropriations.” The shutdown came after the Senate and the House of Representatives engaged in a highstakes political showdown well into the night — sending bills back and forth across the Capitol — but never coming close to a deal. It was driven by House efforts to try to force a weakening of the new Affordable Care Act, all of which the Democrats rejected. The Republican-controlled House voted 228-201 late Monday to fund the government for two months while delaying the new federal health care law’s man-
date that Americans be required to have insurance and canceling health care subsidies for members of Congress. The Democratic-led Senate voted 54-46 to reject the proposal, just as it did earlier in the day to a similar measure that would have postponed the entire health care law, the president’s signature domestic achievement. As the clock ticked toward deadline, the House readied a new tactic, looking to set up direct negotiations with the Senate by appointing a team of budget negotiators called “conferees” to work with Senate counterparts to hash out a compromise in the coming days. But the Senate flatly rejected that proposal without a temporary budget extension. “We like to resolve issues,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. “But we will not go to conference with a gun to our head.” About 800,000 of the more than 2 million federal employees will
stay home after the plans are implemented sometime Tuesday. But more than a million activeduty military will remain on the job and be paid, according to legislation passed by both chambers and signed into law late Monday. Joseph A. Beaudoin, president of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, said he was deeply disappointed in Congress’ decision “to allow politics to trump the best interests of the American people.” “Today, in communities across our country, vital federal services are being interrupted and hundreds of thousands of federal employees have been told to stay home without pay because Congress has failed to carry out the most basic of its constitutionally mandated duties,” he said. After the government reopens, lawmakers must decide whether employees _ both those who worked and those who didn’t _
MELISSA MCCABE THE DAILY ILLINI
The St. John’s Newman Catholic Center opened its “Newman Shares!” food pantry on Sept. 11, which serves University and Parkland Community College students.
Newman food pantry opens to help UI, Parkland students BY MIRANDA HOLLOWAY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
When it comes to needing proper food and nutrition, Sister Maryann Schaefer said college students are sometimes a forgotten segment of the population. Schaefer, of St. John’s Catholic Newman Center, said students living in residence halls and on meal plans usually have the food they need, but as students get older and live more independently in apartments off campus, they can sometimes run into trouble paying for food. The Center’s new program “Newman Shares!” food pantry was developed to meet this demand. The pantry, which opened on Sept. 11 in the Center, 604 E. Armory Ave., serves registered students of all ages and religious denominations. Open every second and fourth Wednesday of each month, the pantry offers food and other necessities to both University students and Parkland Community College students. A separate pantry is scheduled to open at Parkland later this fall, but the “Newman Shares!” pantry will continue to serve both schools. The idea for the pantry was introduced last September, Schaefer said. After speaking with local food pantries and a similar pantry at Michigan State University, the group’s project was officially planned in April with the intention of opening at the beginning of the fall semester. The pantry can be accessed through the center’s Armory Avenue entrance. Students who enter are only asked for their student IDs. When at the pantry, Schaefer said volunteers try to keep the process as confidential as possible.
SEE SHUTDOWN | 3A
Flags pay tribute to suicide victims on last day of Suicide Prevention Month
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEIDRE WEATHERSBY
The University of Illinois Counseling Center had a suicide prevention awareness booth on the south side of the Main Quad on Monday. Each white flag represented one of more than 1,350 college students that commit suicide each year.
“That’s the type of atmosphere we are trying to create so that they are not embarrassed,” Schaefer said. “(Make sure) there is nobody here to judge them or anything else. We’re just here to help you get through it.” Julie Melton, the director of marketing and development at the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, said 45 percent of people ages 18 to 26 were living at or below the poverty level in 2012. This includes college students who are living independently, working part time and paying for school. Schaefer said these students sometimes struggle to make ends meet, specifically when it comes to food. “I think it’s just realizing that there is someone there that can help them,” Schaefer said. “And we don’t care what race, color, creed they are. You’re a student, you’re paying for tuition and you’ve got to have proper nutrition to study.” When students enter the pantry, they receive shopping lists of the food and supplies offered to them. Additionally, those who come in are encouraged to choose healthier options like the pantry’s frozen meat and vegetables. “That conversation goes on just to try to encourage them to try to stock their shelves up with nutritional stuff instead of just crackers, popcorn, chips and things like that even though they’re available,” Schaefer said. Melton said having nutritious options are important, and the food bank is concerned with both the quantity and quality of the food students are receiving. “There is definitely a parallel between good nutrition and
SEE FOOD BANK | 3A
UI prepares for nearing campus-wide smoking ban Students and employees consider personal effects of UI smoking ban
BY MEGAN JONES CONTRIBUTING WRITER
As the upcoming smoking ban rests on smokers’ minds, the University prepares to release its resource plans to help those who want to quit smoking. The ban will take effect on Jan. 1, 2014. According to the Illinois Tobacco Survey conducted in late April 2012, 27 percent of students and 31 percent of faculty want to quit smoking. McKinley Health Center will offer programs geared toward students, while the UI Wellness Center will focus on helping faculty. “We are very aware that there are people who don’t want to quit smoking, but they want to comply with the rules,” said Michele Guerra, director of UI Wellness Center. “We want to help them be able to get through their day without feeling anxiety because they cannot nourish their craving. We are trying to offer a menu of services to cater to
SEE TOBACCO | 3A
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of employee tobacco users said they were less likely to stay at the University with the ban.
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30.4% of student tobacco users said they are less likely to stay at the University with this ban.
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QUIT SMOKING SOURCE: ILLINOIS TOBACCO SURVEY RESULTS COMPILED AND SUBMITTED BY DIRECTOR OF UI WELLNESS CENTER MICHELE GUERRA
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Freedom from Smoking: The eight-session program combines group cessation classes with nicotine replacement therapy. The program meets at the UI Wellness Center and starts on Oct. 8. The class costs $20, but after completing six sessions, attendees can receive a $10 refund.
For Students
Freedom From Smoking: Starting on the week of Oct. 14, the smoking cessation class certified by the American Lung Association will take place at McKinley. The class costs $25 and students will receive a rebate after successfully completing the class.
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For Faculty
Illinois Tobacco Quitline: The six-week program combines telephone counseling with nicotine replacement therapy and is funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Students and faculty can enroll online using a code. Quit Kit Pickup: This is an ongoing program offered by the UI Wellness center. Students and faculty can pick up a kit which provides items to help people quit smoking. Stopsmoketxt: The text messaging-based program is designed to provide 24/7 encouragement, advice and tips to help quit smoking. After filling out a survey, participants will receive texts personalized to one’s smoking behavior.
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Resources Offered: For All
As the University prepares to enforce a smoke-free campus, students and employees are faced with the decision whether to continue smoking.
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