Moore leadership Junior aids Illini on, off the court SPORTS, 1B
Tuesday December 11, 2012
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Vol. 142 Issue 72
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Champaign to hold software design contest
It’s Mr. Steal Yo Girl
BY CORINNE RUFF STAFF WRITER
EMILY OGDEN THE DAILY ILLINI
Trey Songz performs at Assembly Hall on Monday, one stop on his 25-date Chapter V tour around the United States.
In an effort to solve community problems and increase interaction between city government and residents, Champaign is seeking useful applications of the city’s database. Champaign is one of four cities to pilot the Illinois Open Technology Challenge, a competition to create software applications with the ability to address civic issues. The three-month initiative aims to increase visibility of the Illinois database at data.illinois.gov. Champaign residents and city staff met at the Champaign Public Library on Thursday to brainstorm ideas for potential uses of this data. Some application suggestions brought up at the meeting included a program that would contain city council agendas, meeting minutes and video, and a community service program similar to Adopt-A-Highway. Mayor Don Gerard said he thinks the competition will help create a more interactive relationship between city government and citizens. “I think the more connected people are to local government, the more useful they find it,” he said. “They see the tax dollars
at work. It’s great for us to be in touch to let them know how we benefit them.” The Illinois Science & Technology Coalition and Smart Chicago Collaborative are working with Champaign, Belleville, Rockford and Chicago’s south suburbs to provide the municipalities with the technology to publish the data. Gerard said everyone is encouraged to submit ideas. The challenge will end Feb. 28, and each city will choose the best application, awarding the inventor $18,750 from the state. Currently, there are no criteria to determine a winner, but Daniel O’Neil, executive director of Smart Chicago Collaborative, said official rules will be solidified by Feb. 1. He added that although there will be one challenge winner, cities may decide to implement other applications that were submitted. O’Neil said that as long as the application uses data from the site and relates to a Champaign city problem, inventors have a lot of freedom to be creative. “My goal is that we find all sorts of innovations and have people that want to make their
See OPEN TECH, Page 3A
SEC discusses Ill. pension reform Concerns over unsolicited emails, visits from RSOs also discussed at meeting BY CHRISSY PAWLOWSKI STAFF WRITER
After state representatives introduced a pension reform bill Wednesday, the Senate Executive Committee at its Monday meeting discussed what action faculty members should take. The bill, House Bill 6258, could raise employee contributions by 2 percent, increase the retirement age for younger employees and limit cost-of-living adjustments. John Kindt, chair of faculty and academic staff benefits, attended the Institute of Government and Public Affairs’ Illinois Public Policy section of the 2012 conference Nov. 27-28, which included discussion about the pension reforms. The session on public pensions intended to educate and raise awareness of the reforms
proposed by Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, and Rep. Daniel Biss, D-Evanston, on Wednesday. Kindt said he found the event educational. “We had several colleagues there, and I think it was an excellent event for information,” Kindt said. “I think former Sen. (Richard) Winkel (director of IGPA’s Office of Public Leaders) did an excellent job; I’m sure my colleagues would share that opinion.” Kindt reminded SEC committee members that the new bill will be discussed when the Illinois General Assembly meets Jan. 3-8. Because reform is still up for discussion, Kindt recommended that faculty voice concerns now. “If people want to indicate their general concerns about any particular issue, now is the time,” Kindt said. “The ripple effect of anything that you say to a decision maker really does have an impact.” The senate also discussed the issue of faculty members’ unwanted emails and office visits at Monday’s meeting.
With more than 1,000 reg- vidual concerns about how to istered student organizations fi lter the emails and visits. on campus, faculty members After being reviewed by the have issued informal com- committees, the draft would be plaints about receiving unnec- sent to the Information Technoloessary emails and visits from gy committee and then back to the g roup mem senate if passed. Aminmansour bers, and they have requested a said his goal is way to fi lter the to create a draft by early January interruptions. The commitand have reform enacted by the tee suggested an opt-in versus middle of the opt-out fi lter and spring semester. the possibility of Senate chair informing faculMatthew Wheelty of their rights er concluded the JOHN KINDT, to block emails discussion by and turn away chair of faculty and academic staff proposing the benefits visitors. SEC hold “a balAbbas Aminanced discussion mansour, Faculty Advisory at some point” to both inform facCouncil and Illinois Board of ulty of their rights and allow them Higher Education representa- to voice any concerns they have. tive said the fi rst step of regThe issue will be further disulation is sending a draft of cussed at the next meeting on reforms to chairs of several Jan. 14. senate committees. They would share the draft with their com- Chrissy can be reached at capawlo2@ mittee members to discuss indi- dailyillini.com.
“If people want to indicate their general concerns about any particular issue, now is the time.”
Homelessness still a problem in C-U Local activist Chynoweth advocates for the homeless and offers ways to help BY ILYA GUREVIC STAFF WRITER
Local community activist Danielle Chynoweth spoke about the issue of homelessness at the Women’s Resource Center on Monday afternoon. Chynoweth, a former Urbana alderman, has been an advocate for the homeless for years. She said she has taken in more than a dozen individuals to her home since 1995. According to the 2011 Community Report from the United Way of Champaign County, there are 418 homeless individuals in Champaign County at any given time. During her speech, Chynoweth said there are problems with fi lling in the gaps that local agencies cannot. “We as a society rely on a patchwork (of social service agencies),” Chynoweth said. “You can get food over here ... housing over there ... it kind of looks like a fish net, and there’s a lot of holes in it.” Chynoweth also addressed the importance of getting to the structural, institutional factors related to homelessness.
See HOMELESS, Page 3A
INSIDE
ROCHELLE WILSON THE DAILY ILLINI
The Women’s Resource Center held a homelessness conversation on Monday as a part of their diversity conversations lunchtime series. Speaker Danielle Chynoweth addressed key points on the fight against homelessness in the Champaign-Urbana area.
JONATHAN DAVIS THE DAILY ILLINI
U.S. Rep. Timothy V. Johnson, R-15, announced his retirement plans in front of the Champaign County Active Senior Republicans on Monday.
Johnson announces retirement plans to teach, work in law BY AUSTIN KEATING STAFF WRITER
Rep. Tim Johnson, R-15, spoke to the Champaign County Active Senior Republicans on Monday to announce his post-retirement plans. After winning the primary for Republican representative of the 13th District last year, Johnson dropped his re-election bid, citing the desire to “fulfill my obligation to my family,” he said in a press conference April 5. He will formally retire on Jan. 3 when his Republican successor, Rodney Davis, is sworn in. His retirement will conclude a 44-year-long career in public office, dating back to his time as an Urbana alderman, according to a press release on the event. During his speech to the Senior Republicans, he expressed gratitude for support he received during his time serving the district. “I leave with mixed emotions. ... I’m just very grateful for the special support from you all,” Johnson said to the crowd. When asked if he would ever seek another public office, such as city council, Johnson said he wouldn’t. While Johnson is retiring, he said he isn’t going to leave his career behind. He said he would continue to be politically active
and support candidates. Johnson will use his experience from his political career in his new role as political science professor at Illinois State University. He will be teaching a class on the war powers of Congress. Johnson said he expects to remain in this position for a few years. “Being able to teach at ISU is really a labor of love,” he said in a press release. “The lessons of history are a passion for me and one I hope to share with young people for as long as I can contribute.” Johnson also told attendees of the conference that he was made an associate at the Law Offices of Frederick W. Nessler and Associates, a firm with offices throughout Illinois. “More than anything else we’ve done, we’ve tried to help people,” he said referring to his political career. “What they (the firm) do is what I do.” Standing next to Johnson throughout the course of the interview was attorney Frederick Nessler, who spoke highly of the firm’s recent addition. “We are very honored to have someone of Johnson’s caliber,” Nessler said.
Austin can be reached at akkeati2@ dailyillini.com.
Po l i c e 2 A | H o r o s c o p e s 2 A | O p i n i o n s 4 A | C r o s s w o r d 5 A | C o m i c s 5 A | B u s i n e s s & Te c h n o l o g y 6 A | S p o r t s 1 B | C l a s s i f i e d s 4 B | S u d o k u 4 B