PERSON TO KNOW : Fred Kummerow, the man behind the trans fat ban. Turn to Page 6A
TECHNOGRAPH ON STANDS TODAY
Scheelhaase leaves legacy as yards leader
New algorithm could set new pace for amputees
The senior accumulated 10,634 combined passing, rushing yards at Illinois
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THE DAILY ILLINI
WEDNESDAY December 4, 2013
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The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Vol. 143 Issue 54
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ILLINOIS PASSES PENSION REFORM Sweeping overhaul awaits signature of Gov. Pat Quinn
How your local representatives voted
BY ELEANOR BLACK STAFF WRITER
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After decades of attempting to fix 0RUH LQVLGH the state’s pension system, which 'PS DPMVNOJTU faces an estimated deficit of more .BY 'JTIFS T than $100 billion, the Illinois General Assembly passed the comprehensive PQJOJPO PO IPX QFOTJPOT pension reform bill Tuesday by a vote DBO BGGFDU TUVEFOUT UVSO of 62-53 in the House and 30-24 in UP 1BHF " the Senate. The measure aims to eliminate the worst state credit rating in the country by reducing cost-ofliving adjustments and increasing the retirement age, among other changes. Using 10 percent of the money saved from these cost-cutting measures, as well as annual payments from Fiscal Year 2020 to 2045, the state will fully fund the pension system by Fiscal Year 2044, according to the bill. University President Robert Easter, along with the chancellors of all three campuses, signed an email announcing the University’s opposition to the bill Monday. University spokesman Tom Hardy said the University and other Illinois public universities submitted official slips of opposition during Tuesday’s hearings. “It will go to Governor (Pat) Quinn, and he has said he’s going to sign it,� Hardy said. “The legislation is virtually certain to undergo a constitutional challenge, and it will be determined by the courts whether or not it ... will become the law of the land.� Quinn released a statement Tuesday supporting the bill. “This bill will ensure retirement security for those who have faithfully contributed to the pension systems, end the squeeze on critical education and health care services, and support economic growth,� Quinn said in the press release. In the meantime, the University will continue to look into how the legislation will affect the school and its employees. Hardy added that the University will be investigating whether
Rep. Naomi Jakobsson D-103
Sen. Michael Frerichs D-52
Nay
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Nay
House
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Senate
62 Yeas 53 Nays
30 Yeas 24 Nays
Absent or “Present� vote NATHANIEL LASH THE DAILY ILLINI
SOURCE: Roll Call Vote of Senate Bill 1
SEE PENSION | 3A
Vigilance still encouraged as crime rates decrease
Illini Union celebrates CLASS grand opening
Recent robberies remind students to remain on their guard as winter break approaches
Decrease in campus area robberies Reported robberies have decreased in the past two years, although they still remain a threat. On campus 10
BY BRITTNEY NADLER
The total number of robberies in Champaign decreased from 14 in 2010 to eight in 2012, but University of Illinois Police officers encourage students to be vigilant in coming weeks, as there is generally a jump in robberies prior to and during winter break. Deputy Chief of UIPD Skip Frost said there is no steady trend in the numbers, and the threat of robbery is always there. Algis Marcinkevicius, sophomore in LAS, saw this firsthand after returning from Thanksgiving break. Although he locked his apartment’s doors when he left campus, the front door was unlocked when he returned. He soon realized his apartment had been robbed. “There’s light timers that alternate being on and off in your house to make it seem like you’re living there, so I’m definitely getting one of those and installing one ... and turning them on during breaks,� Marcinkevicius said. A 19-year-old male was allegedly robbed by two unknown suspects on Nov. 21 at around 6:30 p.m. at 510 E. Stoughton St., according to a Champaign Police Department report. The victim was approached by the two men upon arriving at his apartment. One suspect allegedly pointed a gun at him and robbed him of several electronic items. The suspects then forced the victim to open his apartment door, at which point they stole a set of headphones before escaping in an unknown direction. Frost described the crime as “extremely disturbing� for Uni-
BRENTON TSE THE DAILY ILLINI
Students look for jobs over interests in major Only 36% of students select a major in line with their interests BY ZILA RENFRO STAFF WRITER
Like 1,774 other freshmen this year, Haley Voltz entered the University as a student in DGS, unsure of what she wanted to major in. As the fall semester closes, she is now leaning toward majoring in accounting — something she enjoyed in high school. Though she is unsure whether she will still continue to be passionate about the subject, she said there is an important reason why she is sticking to accounting. “I know you make good money
with accounting,� Voltz said. “I want something that will keep me financially stable in the future.� Choosing a major primarily for job security is not unique among freshman this year. According to the ACT’s College Choice Report, only one out of three incoming freshmen in 2013 chose a major that matched their interests. The study compared the majors ACT-tested students chose to their ACT Interest Inventory score. Around 32 percent of students chose a major that was labeled a “poor fit� with their interest. “(This trend) has gotten more and more prevalent because of the economic situation and also the rising cost of higher education,� said Keith Marshall, executive director of the Campus Center for Advis-
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ing and Academic Services. Marshall explained that many times parents put pressure on students to choose certain career paths because they “don’t want to spend $30,000 a year on something that doesn’t seem like it’s preparing you for a career or a profession.� For this reason, many freshmen end up going into majors in fields like business, biology and engineering, despite the fact that they do not have a particular interest or aptitude for these areas, Marshall said. While it is common for students to choose majors that do not match their interests, it can have negative effects on their academic performance. ACT research
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versity police officers. “Whether we’ve had 10 (robberies) in the last week or we don’t have one for the next six months, that shouldn’t stop people from being extremely alert and aware of their surroundings,� Frost said. “If you see something that doesn’t look right, contact the police as quickly as possible.� One offender is described as a dark-skinned black male in his early 20s who is approximately six feet tall with an average build.
He was last seen wearing black clothing with a black bandana over his face. The second offender is described as a light-skinned black male in his teens who is approximately 5’6� to 5’8� with an average build. He was also wearing black clothing and had a gray bandana covering his face. “It’s got nothing to do with
SEE MUGGINGS | 3A
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Lowa Mwilambwe, director of the Illini Union, speaks during the grand opening of Computer Lab And Study Space at the Illini Union, on Tuesday.
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