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LIFE & CULTURE, 6A TUESDAY December 3, 2013
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THE DAILY ILLINI The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
55˚ | 48˚ Vol. 143 Issue 53
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University administrators oppose pension bill BY ELEANOR BLACK STAFF WRITER
The University has announced its opposition to a pension bill that administrators say will put the University at a “competitive disadvantage.” The bill, which will cut pension benefits for state employees, aims to address the worst state credit rating in the country and will be discussed at a Tuesday meeting of the General Assembly. University President Robert Easter, along with the chancellors of all three campuses, signed an email to University faculty Monday. The email stated that they “are profoundly disappointed
that in nearly three years of engaging the legislative process on this crucial issue, the state’s nine public universities’ counterproposals will not be included.” State lawmakers agreed on the proposal last week after years of discussion in an attempt to fix the state’s pension system that faces an estimated deficit of more than $100 billion. Under the proposal, state employees will lose a number of benefits. Using 10 percent of the money saved from these cost-cutting measures, as well as annual payments of $364 million in Fiscal Year 2019 and $1 billion from Fiscal Year 2020 to 2045,
the state will fully fund the pension system by Fiscal Year 2044. Professor Harriet Murav, president of the Campus Faculty Association, said the bill would have a negative impact on faculty recruitment at the University. In April, the Urbana campus announced plans to hire 180 employees this year and 500 new employees over the next five years. Murav said the University wants to recruit not only those in early stages of their careers, but also those in advanced stages of their careers. She added that a disadvantageous pension plan would not attract potential employees who are
planning for their retirement. “When you’re in the middle of your career, one of the first questions you ask about a prospective place of employment, ‘Well, what’s the pension like? How will I be able to plan not only for my child’s college education, but for my own retirement?’” she said. “If they can’t plan for their family’s future, they’re not going to want to come here.” Murav said the plan would not only affect potential faculty, but it would also affect current employees at the University. Under the proposed changes in the bill, a salary cap of $109,971 will be placed on all faculty. She said pres-
tigious faculty who have made significant contributions to the University who make more than the cap will not be given a fair pension in return. In its September report, the Task Force on Faculty Concerns and Issues said the Urbana campus does not pay its faculty members as well as its competition. The campus ranks 16th out of four-year public universities in average full professor salary with $141,000. Even ranking 16th, these faculty members make more than the proposed pension salary cap. Currently,
SEE PENSION | 3A
Under proposed changes, state would fully fund pensions by 2044 State to fully fund pensions by 2044 The state will fund 100 percent of the pension system by the end of Fiscal Year 2044. The state will contribute $365 million in Fiscal Year 2019 and $1 billion annually through Fiscal Year 2044 and 10 percent of the saving from pension reform, beginning in Fiscal Year 2016.
Cost of living adjustments
Missing adjustments
Changes in retirement age
Pension salary cap
Other changes
Annual cost-of-living adjustments will be equal to 3 percent of years of service multiplied by $1,000 ($800 for those coordinated with social security). The adjustment is for retirees and current employees. Retirees with annuities fewer than years of service times $1,000 will receive a 3 percent increase until it reaches that amount.
Employees will also miss future annual adjustments based on age. Employees 50 years or older will miss one adjustment. Employees age 47-49 will miss three adjustments. Employees ages 44-46 will miss four adjustments. Employees under 44 will miss five adjustments.
The retirement age will increase by four months for each year that a Tier I employee (an employee hired before Jan. 1, 2011) is under the age of 46. The maximum increase in retirement age is five years, making the maximum retirement age 67, the same age as Tier II employees.
The Tier II salary cap of $109,971 will be applied to all employees. Salaries that exceed the cap or will exceed the cap because of raises in a current collective bargaining agreement will be grandfathered in. Currently, 2,984 faculty in the University of Illinois System make more than the salary cap.
Q Employees will contribute 1 percent less of their salary toward their pension. Q All pension matters, except pension pickups, are removed from collective bargaining. Q The state pension systems cannot use pension funds to pay health costs.
University YMCA
When you wish upon a jar
to participate in #GivingTuesday BY ARIANA CONNER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Following Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the University YMCA on Tuesday will participate in #GivingTuesday, a national social media movement aimed to encourage people to give back to their communities, donate to charities and support various causes. The University YMCA used Facebook and Twitter to promote the event, and the social media platforms continue to be the primary tools through which the community can donate. By following a secure link on the YMCA’s Facebook page or Twitter account, @UniversityYUIUC , online users can donate money by inputting their credit card information and choosing a recipient for their donation. The University YMCA also sent out tweets and Facebook posts leading up to the day-long event, which encouraged its viewers to give, said Alicia Beck, development director of the University YMCA. The movement was founded in 2012 by a core group of founding partners, one of which includes the United Nations Foundation. “Giving Tuesday is a counter narrative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday because it reminds us that the spirit of the holiday-giving season should be about community and not just consumerism,” said Kathy Calvin, CEO of the UN Foundation, in a press release. “The most meaningful gift we can give our children, loved ones, friends and neighbors is the commitment to work together to help build a better world.” Beck said that in this season of generosity it is important for people to remember that they are participants in a community. She said that “as community members, our gifts can make our community stronger, and when we participate together in that, giving the gift is even greater.” Beck said the YMCA’s goal is to raise $25,000, which will go toward a number of student programs that engage with the community. The programs
PUJA PATEL THE DAILY ILLINI
Crystal Ramirez, junior in LAS, laughs as she decorates her wish jar as a part of an Illini Art Therapy workshop at the Women’s Resources Center on Monday.
ISS looks to create RSO funding policy BY MEGAN JONES STAFF WRITER
After deciding against allocating funds to the Black Chorus for robes, the Illinois Student Senate now faces what Student Body President Damani Bolden calls “a dangerous precedent” in regards to not being able to fund other registered student organizations. “The senate needs to undergo a fundamental reexamination of its principles and standards when it comes to serving the students at the University of Illinois,” Vice President-External Carey Ash said. “No student group should ever come before the student senate and leave empty handed.” While considering funding the Black Chorus, the senate addressed what it would do if each MEGAN JONES THE DAILY ILLINI of the more than 1,000 RSOs on Senator David Mischiu, senior in FAA, speaks with members of the campus asked for funding. Black Chorus about their request for funds to purchase new robes at “The senate needs to come up the Nov. 20 senate meeting. with clear and articulated standards as to what types of projIf all RSOs asked the senate for a dangerous precedent, as we ects are funded and by what money, the senate would be bank- are called upon multiple times amounts,” Ash said. “The Com- rupt, which Ash said sheds light on throughout the year to lend a helpmittee on Internal Affairs and the the larger issue of expanding the ing hand to a multitude of student Committee on Financial Affairs senate’s budget. organizations.” should take a strong look at the “The body has set precedent RSOs typically receive fundprinciples of student government, that we are not in the business of ing from the Student Organization and we should publish those to the allocating funds to student orgastudent body at large.” nizations,” Bolden said. “This is SEE RSO FUNDING | 3A
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Student Organization Resource Fee funding standards for 2013-14
SORF funds a variety of registered student organizations that request funding based on the following standards: Does fund: Q Up to 50 percent of contract fees, for example hiring speakers, performers, referees for games and judges to host competitions Q Travel and lodging costs
Does not fund: Q Coaches, teachers or instructors defined as the same individual leading the same group in multiple similar workshops or activities Q Internal meetings, leadership activities Q Retreats, practices, rehearsals Q Costumes or uniforms SOURCE: 2013-2014 SORF STANDARDS
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include tutoring programs in Champaign-Urbana public schools, Alternative Spring Break service projects and other causes. The donations received by the University YMCA will also help with the organization’s global health initiative and environmental sustainability issues. “The money that we raise helps support those students programs, and in turn those students programs give a lot of volunteer hours,” she said. “Online is an easy arena for people to participate in because they don’t have to write a physical check or come in and give a donation.” Sally Feng, Student Board chair at the University YMCA and senior in LAS, is a member of Alternative Spring Break, a registered student organization on campus and one of the organizations that will receive donations from #GivingTuesday. Feng said that participants of ASB travel across the country to learn about and combat social justice and environmental issues. Through ASB, students have the chance to both grow as individuals and give beyond the local community, she said. “#GivingTuesday is an excellent reminder to be grateful. We always want what we don’t have, but we may not realize that what we have is more precious than what we don’t have,” Feng said. Another RSO that will benefit from #GivingTuesday is Invisible Conflicts, which is “committed to exposing the ‘invisible’ conflicts overlooked by mainstream media, governments, and international institutions,” according to the University’s RSO database. “My hope for this year is able to sustain our resources for our staff and personnel and that we continue our activities despite budget cuts,” said Paul Dolmon, Invisible Conflicts president, secretary on the University YMCA’s student board and senior in LAS. Beck said she hopes people will value #GivingTuesday because the campaign will help create tomorrow’s leaders and improve their communities.
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