MONDAY March 6, 2017
THE DAILY ILLINI The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
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Vol. 146 Issue 46
In remembrance of Jonathan Morales BY CLAIRE HETTINGER AND JASON CHUN NEWS EDITOR AND ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Morales fell off of a balcony during Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day and was found unresponsive.
PATRICK LI THE DAILY ILLINI
University student dies during Unofficial party DAILY ILLINI STAFF REPORT
A University student died on Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day on Friday night. Jonathan Morales, a 23-yearold student from Franklin Park, Illinois, fell off of a balcony at 51 E. John St. in Champaign, according to Champaign police. Morales was a junior majoring in communication. Champaign police reported that Morales fell from the balcony Friday evening and was found unresponsive. Police provided emergency care until medical personnel arrived. He was transported to Carle Foundation Hospital and pronounced dead at 11:50 p.m. The Champaign County
Coroner and police are conducting an investigation into the death, but it is thought to be an accident. According to a press release sent Saturday evening, the toxicology tests are still pending. Chancellor Robert Jones released a statement about Morales’ death. “We are saddened today over the death of a young man who had promise, potential and his whole life ahead of him,” the statement said. “On behalf of the university, I offer sincere condolences to his family and friends. Going forward, we must fi nd a way to work together as a community to end this event and avoid more senseless
tragedy.” According to University spokeswoman Robin Kaler, this is the third death on Unofficial. The first was alumna Caroline Yoon in 2006 after she fell off the back of a motorcycle. In 2011, Daily Illini reporter Brad Bunte was hit by two vehicles in Urbana. The police are asking that anyone with information regarding this incident call the Investigations Division at (217) 351-4545 or Crime Stoppers at (217) 373-8477. As of publication, Champaign Police could not be reached for further information.
BY ANDREA FLORES STAFF WRITER
One little-known option the University offers is to take a break from classes for a semester or a year to help students treat their mental illness. About one in four college students suffer from some form of mental illness, according to the Journal of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and around 44 percent of American college students report experiencing depression symptoms. Still, few students actually withdraw, which is a process offered by the University in which a student can leave school for a semester or more, due to extenuating circumstances. Erin Kim, junior in Engineering, knows first-hand about having depression and anxiety in college. Starting her freshman year, Kim began to develop depression but did not realize it at the time. “But as the school year went by, I fell into a really deep depression and had really bad anxiety,” Kim said in an email. “I was doing poorly academically.” Kim also faced difficulty doing daily tasks, like getting out of bed and attending classes, due to her depression.
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Symbol criticized as offensive to minorities, students BY JESSICA BURSZTYNSKY STAFF WRITER
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more in FAS, said she believes students at the University have constant exposure to the Chief’s image and don’t question the ethics behind using the likeness. “I was upset that, as a group that represents a political party, they decided to take this as an opportunity to take a stance on a different issue that relates to politics,” Lituma said. “To make a statement
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“I didn’t make many close friends after coming to college, and on top of that, I was isolating the friends I did have,” Kim said. “Basically, I felt alone, and I felt like a failure.” Kim remembered dreading coming back to school her sophomore year. “For me, withdrawing wasn’t an option so I gritted my teeth and started sophomore year,” Kim said. “After about a month, I was basically not a student anymore. I would miss all my classes and exams.” There is both academic withdrawal and medical withdrawal, and the needs and situation of the individual student dictate which withdrawal process they take. “In the (College of LAS) Student Academic Affairs Office, one of our primary goals is to help students move forward, to realize their goals. However, those may change or be impacted by other events/happenings in their lives,” said Robert Steltman, assistant dean for student academic affairs, in an email. Steltman acknowledged that there are several different reasons students may choose to
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Morales was a “happy spirited young man who loved dancing and music!” A friend posted, “You were such a genuine guy.” Another friend expressed shock and disbelief on hearing the news. “You were one of the good ones man,” they wrote. A friend posted that the world “got a lot less bright.” Friends and family close to Morales created a GoFundMe page to help pay for funeral expenses. As of publication, 158 people contributed to the page, and donated $8,077. The total goal is $10,000. “We were just gaining momentum, just getting things accomplished, when it was all cut short. On behalf of the other students in class, I offer my deepest sympathies to Jon’s family. I shall miss him very, very much,” DitewigMorris said.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF ILLINI REPUBLICANS
Illini Republicans’ new logo features an elephant in front of a depiction of a traditional Native American headdress. said he and other Illini Republican members do not see how the image can be interpreted as derogatory toward Native Americans. “It’s been a part of our school’s history for a long time. It was not meant in anyway insulting. It was not a race thing,” Kilcullen said. “We don’t see how that’s in any way targeting Indians.” Thereza Lituma, president of the Native American and Indigenous Student Organization and sopho-
PORTRAIT OF JONATHAN MORALES COURTESY OF THE JONATHAN MORALES GOFUNDME PAGE
Withdrawal process allows time to treat mental health
Illini Republicans’ new logo sparks controversy
Illini Republicans are drawing criticism for a change to the organization’s logo, which is part of the continued debate over the use of Chief Illiniwek’s likeness. The image portrays an elephant combined with features of Chief Illiniwek, the University’s mascot that was retired in 2007 after the National College Athletic Association, NCAA, said that mascots referencing Native Americans were “abusive” toward minorities. “We wanted to show school pride, show our support for our mascot, our school’s history,” said Timothy Kilcullen, Illini Republicans vice president and senior in LAS. An overwhelming majority of the organization voted in favor of the new logo, but the Illini Republican member who designed the logo did not want to make her name available to the public, said Kilcullen. Although the group has not been in conversation with the Native American and Indigenous Student Organization on campus, Kilcullen
Jonathan Morales, 23, of Franklin Park, Illinois, junior in LAS, is remembered as a kind man and a loyal friend. A family member posted on Facebook, “You were a smart young man, wild and free spirited. You touched lives in a happy unexplainable way!” His presence on campus had a positive impact on friends and faculty alike. “When you teach at 9 a.m. three times a week, it’s tough to have students who are consistently present, awake and ready to jump in,” Kate Ditewig-Morris, professor in communication, said. “(But) Jon Morales was one of those students.” Morales died Friday from injuries sustained after a fall from a balcony while celebrating Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day with friends. “He was a bright spot in my small business communication class — always engaged, smiling and respectful to me and the other students in class,” Ditewig-Morris said. “Slightly older than the others, Jon was establishing himself as a solid anchor among the others.” Like many students from the greater Chicago area, Morales was a proud fan of the Bulls and Chance the Rapper. When he had some time to himself, he enjoyed working out at the campus gyms, traveling, hanging out with friends and going to music festivals. One family member wrote that
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