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The Daily Illini
Friday December 7, 2012
www.DailyIllini.com
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Vol. 142 Issue 70
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Veterans center gets $4 million from state BY ILYA GUREVIC STAFF WRITER
A total of $4 million of state funding has been released for the construction of the Center for Wounded Veterans in Higher Education at the University, Gov. Pat Quinn announced at the Khan Annex in Huff Hall on Thursday. The center, which will be located at 908 W. Nevada St. between Goodwin and Lincoln avenues in Urbana, will serve as a hub for University students who have been injured during military service. Quinn emphasized the center’s value as a welcoming place for “wounded warriors” at the University. “We want to build (the center) so that wounded heroes from all over our country can come to a place of higher learning and get the best education imaginable because the University of Illinois is second to none,” Quinn said. “It is very, very important that we make it accessible to all of those who have borne the battle.” The center, which is under the umbrella of the College of Applied Health Sciences, intends to offer life skills management, counseling, academic and assistive technology services, among others, according to the center’s website. The three-story facility will also serve as a living space for up to 14 injured student veterans. Most of the estimated $12 million construction expenses will be funded through private donations. The building will be named in honor of the Chez family, in recognition of a $6 million gift from Illinois alumnus and U.S. Army veteran Ron Chez and his family’s foundation. And now with $4 million from the state, the remaining $2 million will
be covered by institutional fundraising by the University. Tanya Gallagher, dean of AHS, said that representatives of her college plan to come before the board of trustees at its January 2013 meeting to request approval to start the building’s construction. Jean Driscoll, assistant dean for advancement of AHS, said groundbreaking should take place later next year. Assistant Secretary of the Army Thomas Lamont applauded the center’s progress. “To have a facility like this available to (injured veterans) ... is just spectacular. We can’t thank the University and the Chez family enough,” said Lamont, an Illinois alumnus and former chairman of the board of trustees. “We know it’s truly the only facility in the country that’ll be able to do this.” Many members of the armed forces attended Quinn’s announcement Thursday. Travis Dodson, a disabled veteran and junior in ACES recognized by Quinn at the event, praised the initiative. “I think it’s great the University isn’t trying to make something that only exists on paper. They’re making a tangible thing to actually help,” he said. “I’m very impressed by them trying to help us out.” The $4 million is part of Illinois Jobs Now, a $31 billion plan started in 2009 to boost economic recovery with hundreds of infrastructure improvements around the state, over $100 million of which has been committed to renovating Lincoln Hall and the construction of the new Electrical and Computer Engineering Building.
Ilya can be reached at gurevic2@ dailyillini.com.
CHONG JIANG THE DAILY ILLINI
Gov. Pat Quinn speaks during a news conference at the Khan Annex of Huff Hall, where he announced the successful funding of the Center for Wounded Veterans in Higher Education on Thursday. The center, which will provide housing and support to disabled veterans on campus, was funded jointly by University alumnus and veteran Ron Chez, the “Illinois Jobs Now!” plan signed by Gov. Quinn, and University donors.
Church withdraws demolition plan BY CORINNE RUFF STAFF WRITER
ROCHELLE WILSON THE DAILY ILLINI
West Urbana homes sit across the street from the Twin City Bible Church, which recently withdrew a plan to demolish a residential home it owned in the area to make way for a parking lot.
Illinois house proposes new pension reforms
When Louise Kuhny received a courtesy letter from the city stating the demolition of a house just beyond her backyard was to take place within 45 days, she was irate. “This would negatively impact the historic and residential nature of the community that everyone is committed to,” she said. “People have put a lot of money into their houses in the area where they thought the preservation was going to remain intact.” Kuhny, a long time resident of west Urbana, said she and her neighbors should “enjoy what we expected when we bought out homes, to live in an area where historic preservation is taken seriously and is valued.”
That house, located at 804 W. Michigan Ave., won’t be demolished any time soon. The Twin City Bible Church application to demolish the house was approved by the city, but the church withdrew the proposal on Wednesday after meeting with concerned neighbors like Kuhny last week. According to a plan put together by the church, the demolition of the house planned to open up space for additional parking and green space to compensate for the church’s rising membership. Shannon Caughey, senior pastor of Twin City Bible Church, said providing parking for its members has been an ongoing challenge, and the demolition was one solution. “We were surprised by the level of concern that was expressed
by our neighbors about the development for our property,” he said. Libby Tyler, city planner, said she addressed at least four calls from concerned neighbors and met personally with a few residents who lived in close proximity to the church. On Nov. 28, a special meeting was called at the City Council Chambers that included leaders of Twin City Bible Church, residents of the West Urbana Neighborhood Association and city council member Brandon Bowersox-Johnson, ward 4. The issue around the church’s parking lot stems from more than the demolition of just one house. Kuhny said the intrusion of businesses and high-density apart-
See CHURCH, Page 3A
Clybourne, others look to cash in on video gambling
Santa baby
BY CHRISSY PAWLOWSKI
BY EMMA WEISSMANN
STAFF WRITER
STAFF WRITER
Illinois lawmakers proposed a new plan Wednesday to correct the most underfunded pension system in the nation. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, representative and chairwoman of the House Personnel and Pensions Committee, along with State Rep. Daniel Biss, D-Evanston, and other colleagues proposed eventually raising current employee contributions by 2 percent, staving off retirement for younger employees and limiting cost-of-living adjustments. According to the bill the sponsors submitted, those aged 46 and older will not see a change in their retirement age, but all other employees may see their retirement age increase somewhere from one to five years. The bill will also reduce cost of living increases and shift more teacher pensions costs to school districts. “We need to do something, and we need to do something sooner rather than later,” said State Rep. Dave Harris, R-Arlington Heights, and sponsor of House Bill 6258. “Our state is being ruined fi nancially by our increasing pension obligations.” Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon said she feels this
The Clybourne may be set to join Firehaus Restaurant and Bar, Murphy’s Pub and Legends Bar & Grill in offering video gambling machines to customers, despite prior resistance from some members of the University community. The Illinois Gaming Board reported Monday that 23 Champaign County locations hold licenses and 48 other locations have applications pending, including The Clybourne. Bar owners could not be reached for comment. The law restricts customers to betting only up to $2 in games, such as poker and blackjack, and allows each player the potential of winning up to $500 in a single try. Game manufacturers and the business receive about 70 percent of profits, the state receives 25 percent, and municipal governments receive 5 percent. “It’s a high payback rate, and it’s designed for the entertainment value,” said Tom Fiedler, owner of Melody Gaming, the company that provides machines to Legends, Murphy’s and Firehaus. “Obviously everybody wants to win something, but it’s not there like
See PENSION, Page 3A
INSIDE
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MICHAEL BOJDA THE DAILY ILLINI
Ben Barber, junior in FAA, cries as he sits on Santa’s lap Thursday afternoon on the Quad. UIUC photography seniors held the event to raise money for their spring show, giving away cookies and selling pictures with Santa. When asked why he was crying, Barber said he was “So excited to see him!”
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See GAMBLING, Page3A
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