Life after the military: Find out how Illinois’ student veterans are coping
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The Daily Illini
Monday November 12, 2012
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UI, GEO see little progress with federal mediator changes that the administration has (to) tuition waivers at The University and Graduate the bargaining table,” she said. Employees’ Organization met These waivers are the differfor the fi rst time with a fed- ence between whether top-tier eral mediator Friday as they graduate students attend the worked to draft a new contract. University or not, Seawell said. This was the 22nd time the two Without these waivers, gradugroups have met since April. ate employees fi nd themselves GEO spokesperson Stepha- “paying the University for the nie Seawell said little progress privilege of working for the toward an agreement was made, University,” said Erin Heath, but the mediator was brought a member of the GEO bargainup to speed by both sides about ing team. what proposals are still on the “This is an issue of how much quality education there table. The GEO will be taking a will be at the University of Illistrike authorization vote Mon- nois because let’s be clear, if day, which will run for four you don’t have top-tier gradudays to give members a chance ate students, you are not going to cast their votes. On Nov. 16, to have top-tier faculty,” Seathe votes will be counted. If the well said. “Faculty want to work vote authorizes a strike, the with top-tier graduate students, organization will form a strike and so what this will have is a committee and will only autho- trickle-down effect all the way rize a strike if necessary. to undergrads, and we see this GEO leaders have stated that as an issue also because underthey would rather not strike — grad tuition is continually raisand University officials feel the ing so much.” same. The Univer“The Unisity position versity doesn’t remains that the tuition waivwant a strike ers awarded to and believes current grada strike isn’t uate students necessary as long as the parwhen they fi rst ties continue entered their to negotiate in program will remain as long good faith and as these stay work with the ROBIN KALER, in the same federal mediaCampus spokeswoman degree program tor,” said University spokesin good academwoman Robin Kaler in an ic standing and make adequate e-mail. “We’re preparing for progress to their degrees, Kalthe possibility of a strike, with er said. the goal of minimizing any “However, the University impact on our undergraduate wants to preserve its existstudents.” ing management right to alter Three more federal media- tuition waiver support for tion sessions have been sched- future graduate students not yet uled. The next session will take admitted to the U of I,” she said. place Wednesday. An issue of what Seawell Seawell said healthcare, wag- calls “access and equality” is es, tuition wavers and some the expansion of bereavement issues of access and equality leave to include more memare still being discussed. bers, as the current contract The University does not have only includes GEO members any specific terms they are try- who are married to their parting to obtain in negotiations, ner or significant other. Kaler said. “What we’re looking for is “We want an agreement that’s a way to make sure that those fair, that reflects the difficult members, if their partner passeconomic times we’re in, and es away, could go and attend a that appropriately reflects the funeral without incurring penrights and interests of each alties,” Seawell said. “They’d side,” she said. have to make up the work or Tuition waivers, a protection whatnot, but their job wouldn’t won in the GEO’s 2009 strike, be in jeopardy.” is an issue of contention, SeaThe University’s contract well said. See GEO, Page 3A “We want (to) negotiate any BY TYLER DAVIS STAFF WRITER
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Members of the Air Force ROTC bow their heads in a moment of silence at the Tri-Service ROTC Veterans Day Ceremony, held Sunday at the Armory. The Army, Marine and Air Force ROTCs came together for the event featuring a 21-gun salute and a wreath-laying ceremony.
University ROTC honors veterans »
Tri-service ceremony hosted on campus raises awareness BY ZIKE CHENG STAFF WRITER
Members of the University’s Army, Marine and Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps dressed in uniform lined up in traditional military formations at the Armory for a ceremony honoring veterans on Sunday afternoon. The students joined forces for the Tri-Service ROTC Veterans Day Ceremony. The event featured a color guard, a wreath-laying ceremony by senior cadets and midshipmen and a 21-gun salute by seven Naval ROTC midshipmen. Jack Dempsey, executive director of Facilities & Services and a veteran of the United States Naval Engineering Corps, presented a speech at the ceremony. He talked about a brief history of the Armory as well as the
tect the interests of the United States and the freedoms we all enjoy,” Dempsey said. Military instructor and Master Sgt. Jason Staub, who has been serving the United States Army ROTC programs’ contributions for 21 years, said the ceremoto military services. Dempsey ny brings the whole community thanked the University for pro- closer to military services, whose viding resourcservice members es and services are often ignored because people to veterans and enjoy freedom members of the and peace in their armed forces everyday lives. in ChampaignGunnery Sgt. Urba na. He Michael S. Hnyla, also addressed assistant Marine the importance officer instrucof honori ng veterans. tor of the Naval “These are ROTC, also said people who are he appreciates this aspect of the primarily motivated not by monceremony. JACK DEMPSEY, ey and prestige “I think it’s executive director of Facilities & but rather by a really easy for Services and veteran of U.S. Naval people to be comsense of patrioEnginneering Corps tism, people who fortable with are willing to their freedom, make sacrifices at times in dan- especially when, unlike other gerous situations in order to pro- countries, our freedom is not so
“These are people who are primarily motivated not by money and prestige but rather by a sense of patriotism.”
perspective on Veterans Day, check out a student veteran’s story on Page A6
much challenged as much as it is in other countries,” Hnyla said. Hnyla said, as an ROTC instructor, he thinks the ceremony can drive people’s awareness back to veterans. “We are here because of our veterans,” he said. “We have these freedoms because of our veterans. I think that’s the least we can do.” Capt. J.D. Haugen, commanding officer and Naval Battalion, said the ceremony also offered an opportunity for midshipmen in the ROTC to learn from veterans of their respective forces. “It’s also an opportunity for the veteran students to come out and visit with the midshipmen, give them some guidance and hopefully some mutual understanding of what they can expect when
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See VETERANS DAY, Page 3A
Voter turnout on campus decreases About 46 percent of those registered showed up to vote DAILY ILLINI STAFF REPORT
Low voter turnout on campus this year followed the nationwide trend, said Champaign County Clerk Gordy Hulten . “We were hoping we’d be an outlier,” Hulten said. Just over 46 percent of registered voters showed up to vote at campus precincts, lower than the 49.1 percent campus turnout in 2008. It is also more than 10 percent lower than the 57.5 percent national voter turnout that was estimated by Curtis
Gans , director of American University’s Center for the Study of the American Electorate. A precise count is unavailable due to the millions of ballots that have yet to be counted. Voter turnout on campus ranged from 38.8 percent at the University YMCA to 65.9 percent at Daniels Graduate Residence Hall . It was also low compared to the city of Champaign and county-wide percentage of voters, which have both increased since the 2008 election; the percentage of voters who participated in the 2012 election in Champaign County the turnout was 69.3 percent. “It’s kind of one of those things we have noticed since
the beginning of the semester... We didn’t even hit our voter registration numbers that we wanted to hit,” said Shana Harrison, president of Illini Democrats. Turnout on campus may be low because many students vote in their hometown, said Despina Batson, president of College Republicans. In the polling precinct area surrounding Lincoln Avenue Residence Hall , turnout decreased from 65.5 percent in 2008, to 49.41 percent this year. Turnout also decreased from 55.1 percent in 2008 to 45.27 percent this year in the polling precinct surrounding Illinois Street Residence Hall . In the area surrounding Pennsylvania
Avenue Residence Hall , turnout decreased from 56.9 percent in 2008 to 41.1 percent While voter turnout did remain low on campus, city of Champaign precincts 2 and 3, where voting took place at the McKinley Presbyterian Church and Foundation , saw an increase this year. The city of Champaign precinct 2 saw a significant increase from 37.6 percent in 2008 to 66.1 percent this year. Turnout in City of Champaign precinct 3 increased from 39.39 percent in 2008 to 53.5 percent this year.
YOUR VOICE
What’s the best part of having your dad here this weekend? COMPILED BY YELE AJAYI STAFF WRITER
The Associated Press and Daytime Assistant Editors Emily Thornton, Tom Thoren and Hannah Prokop contributed to this article. “I enjoy Dads Weekend because I’m away from home so often that it’s a taste of home away from home.”
Gill concedes race 3 days after election District 13 congressional race one of the closest in the country BY CHRISSY PAWLOWSKI STAFF WRITER
Democrat David Gill conceded the District 13 congressional race Friday evening to Republican Rodney Davis. “It has become clear to me, based on the numbers I’ve seen, that there are simply not enough uncounted ballots remaining to wipe out the current 1,287-vote deficit I face in this election,” Gill said.
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Gill received 135,309 votes, Davis accumulated 136,596 votes and independent John Hartman received 21,241 votes. Even though the race was called Tuesday, Gill said he believed Davis’ 1-percent lead made it too close for him to concede. In a news release, Gill said the race in Macon County was one of the closest in the country. “The closeness of this race, less than one half percentage point, demanded that we diligently check the numbers,” Gill said in the release. The Davis campaign issued a release later that
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“We want an agreement that’s fair, that reflects the difficult economic times we’re in.”
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More inside: For more
BETH NOWICKE, graduate student in architecture
“It will require compromise and common-sense solutions to govern this nation and to serve this region.”
“I haven’t seen my dad in four months, so that’s the best part of having him here.” EMILY LECHIARA, sophomore in LAS
DAVID GILL,
Former candidate
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“It’s just really fun having everyone’s dads here this weekend and having a sense of home meeting everyone’s families.” CLARA LAGATTUTA, sophomore in Media
“The best part of having my dad here is receiving his Illini sweatshirt.” MARY DONOVAN, freshman in DGS
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