SEMESTER INREVIEW WEDNESDAY December 16, 2015
THE DAILY ILLINI The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Vol. 145 Issue 64
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UI staff changes in fall 2015 semester Name: Phyllis Wise Title: Chancellor Date resigned: Aug. 6 Reason: In her resignation letter Wise cited “external circumstances” that distracted her from her job. The University released over 1,100 pages of emails that skirted Freedom of Information Act requests. Interim: Barbara Wilson, dean of LAS
DAILY ILLIINI FILE PHOTO
Former Athletic Director Mike Thomas addresses the media following the dismissal of head football coach Tim Beckman Aug. 28.
Name: Ilesanmi Adesida Title: Provost Date resigned: Aug. 24 Reason: Adesida resigned nearly three weeks after Wise, on the first day of fall classes. In his resignation letter Adesida also asserted that current controversies were “causing too many distractions.” Interim: Edward Feser, dean of FAA
Investigations, lawsuits shake up Illinois athletics was expected to coach the team at the start of the season until Thomas received the preliminary results of the investigation and fired Beckman on Aug. 28, a week before the start of the season. Thomas cited that Beckman was found guilty of player mistreatment and scholarship mistreatment, forcing Thomas to fire the coach before the release of the full report. Offensive coordinator Bill Cubit was named the interim head coach after Beckman’s firing. Cubit provided calm and stability for much of the season until the full report was released on Nov. 9. The investigation revealed the extent of Beckman’s mistreatment of the player, including his lack of belief in hamstring injuries. No other coach on the staff was found guilty of player mistreatment. Although the report said Thomas did not show any prior knowledge of the wrongdoing by Beckman, Interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson announced that the former athletic director would be fired for all the negative light on the athletic depart-
BY MICHAL DWOJAK STAFF WRITER
The influence of social media and players’ willingness to speak up helped cause changes in the Illinois athletic department during the fall semester. A series of tweets sent out on Mother’s Day by former football player Simon Cvijanovic and additional reports of allegations of player abuse in the women’s basketball program ultimately resulted with the firing of the University’s athletic director Mike Thomas, head football coach Tim Beckman and assistant women’s basketball coach Matt Divilbiss. Cvijanovic’s tweets prompted former chancellor Phyllis Wise — who resigned in August — to launch an investigation into the accusations made by the former offensive lineman. Thomas stood by Beckman after the accusations were made, which might have sunk the former athletic director. Chicago law firm Franczek Radelet conducted the investigation for much of the summer. Beckman
Name: Mike Thomas Title: Athletic Director Date fired: Nov. 9 Reason: Thomas was fired due to too many investigations and lawsuits during his tenure, which cast the athletics department in a negative light. Interim: Paul Kowalczyk, senior associate athletic director Name: Tim Beckman Title: Head football coach Date fired: Aug. 28 Reason: Beckman was fired after allegations of player mistreatment and abuse of player scholarship were revealed in the preliminary report of an independent investigation. Replaced by: Bill Cubit, formerly Illini offensive coordinator
ment during the past year. While there was change in the football program, some spring cleaning was about to take place in the women’s basketball program. Former players accused head coach Matt Bollant and Divilbiss of player mistreatment, including mistreatment based on race. Wise announced that the University would conduct a separate investigation, this time by the law firm of Pugh, Jones and Johnson. Bollant fired Divilbiss before the release of the investigation, citing that it was in the best interest of both parties to move on. The final report was released on July 31 and found no wrongdoing by anyone on the coaching staff. The report suggested that the University could clarify the conduct expected for its coaches. While the investigations might be over, the athletic department still faces controversy. Paul Kowalczyk was named the interim athletic director when Thomas was fired. Kowalczyk and the rest of University leadership received a mixed
reaction from the Illini fan base when they announced just prior to the season finale that Cubit would receive a two-year extension. Wilson announced the formation of an eight-person search committee on Dec. 4, which will make recommendations to Wilson. The Board of Trustees will have to approve whomever Wilson recommends, and that decision is likely to be made at the board’s meeting in January. The University also faces lawsuits from seven former women’s basketball players and a soccer lawsuit. Casey Conine filed a lawsuit in Champaign County in June claiming she was cleared to play in October 2014 after suffering a third concussion. Beckman has mentioned he is considering suing the University for wrongful termination. While change is taking place at the University, the next athletic director will have a lot on his or her plate once he or she takes the job.
dwojak2@dailyillini.com @mdwojak94
University copes with unprecedented fiscal year
Lack of budget, possible cuts affect students BY CHRISTIN WATKINS STAFF WRITER
University President Timothy Killeen asked the University community to “pretend we are looking into a future with a state higher education budget,” at a town hall meeting on Monday Nov. 16.
The continued lack of funding from the state for higher education has become a running joke among the administration, one method among many the University has tried to cope with this unprecedented fiscal year. From the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences asking each unit to cut five percent of their budget, to thousands of students at risk of losing their Monetary Award Program grants, 2015 has become the year for bud-
get cuts at the University of Illinois. “As they say, we’re cutting into muscle, the fat is gone,” said David Tewksbury, head professor of College of Communication. Students feel the effects of these cuts every day in the classroom and the continuation of these cuts will lead to larger class sizes and fewer resources for students. “Every cut hurts,” he said. “Life for the students in that department gets a little bit
worse every time.” Students went to the state capital in October, hoping to make legislators aware of the negative impact the state’s proposed 31.5 percent cut on higher education would have. The “Cuts Mean Us” campaign initiated by the Illinois Student Senate aimed to place pressure on state representatives to fund higher education. “College education provides people for the capacity and the ability to get a job
that is going to contribute to Illinois’ economy,” said Matt Hill, former ISS Vice President-External. “That’s something we really want to push — that this isn’t just sending kids to school, this is something that is really impacting the lives of people and impacting the quality of our state, improving the quality of our state.” Killeen agreed that the University is an asset to the state of Illinois and should be a funding priority. “We see the University as
a profit-center for the state, not as a cost-center,” Killeen said. He hopes the state will recognize the importance of higher education to the future and will show this through financial support. “I am optimistic that the impasse will get resolved in the January timeframe,” Killeen said. “The state of Illinois needs us to be worldclass, and we cannot go down a path to deterioration.”
cwatki7@illinimedia.com
OPINIONS
LIFE & CULTURE
SPORTS
SPORTS
Looking back
Reversing the curse
Illini fight injuries
Football finishes 5-7
Reviewing big moments from the Fall 2015 semester.
From Wrigleyville to the Quad: There’s a new goat in town
John Groce and men’s basketball off to a rocky start
Shadow of Beckman hangs over season; Cubit begins as new head coach
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