SPRING TECHNOGRAPH SEE INSERT THURSDAY April 27, 2017
THE DAILY ILLINI
62˚ | 49˚
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
Vol. 146 Issue 59
Campus begins master plan
LONGFORM
BY LUKE COOPER STAFF WRITER
Life as a postdoc
BRIAN BAUER THE DAILY ILLINI
Postdoctoral researcher Roberto Andresen Eguiluz studies chemical and biomolecular engineering. He worries about the quality of his research while publishing papers and securing funding. He believes the pressure to publish work quickly is problematic at the University and in the postdoctoral system.
University researchers face challenges in starting their careers, publishing BY EMILY SCOTT STAFF WRITER
So far, life as a postdoctoral researcher is what Kenneth Hernandez-Burgos expected. “You’re expected to know what you’re doing,” he said. “You don’t have to take any more exams, so you have the freedom of just developing yourself as a scientist.”
Postdoctoral researchers, or postdocs, are researchers who have doctrates and are pursuing additional research to prepare them for their career. Hernandez-Burgos is one of over 500 postdocs at the University. Originally from Puerto Rico, he started as a postdoctoral fellow over a year ago, studying analyti-
cal chemistry. So far, Hernandez-Burgos believes the training he’s received will help him achieve his goal — to one day be a professor with his own laboratory. The role and experience of postdocs varies from person to person, but overall, they are expected to generate research ideas
independently. “Either (postdocs) can come and complement something that you need in your lab, or they can come and add something that is completely different to what you do in your lab,” said Joaquín Rodríguez-López, professor of chemistry at the Uni-
SEE POSTDOC | 3A
Criminal history may no longer be factor for admission tion acts as “a barrier” to higher education, Wheeler said. Public colleges and universi“If a person (with a criminal ties in Illinois may soon be pro- background) is applying to colhibited from considering crimi- lege, then obviously they want nal history during the admissions to move on with their life,” said process. The Criminal History Rep. LaShawn Ford, co-sponsor in College Applications Act, HB of the bill. “I think it’s irrelevant 3142, has been passed by the Illi- whether or not a person’s been nois House and is awaiting Sen- convicted of a crime to justify if ate vote. they should go to college.” Many college applications, The main source of resistance including the Common App and to the bill, Ford said, is the conthe University’s, have a sim- cern of how it might impact cample yes or no checkbox asking pus safety. whether the applicant has been However, according to a study convicted of a by the Center misdemeanor or for Community Alternatives, felony. “We are, like no link between admitting stuthe other pubdents with prilic u niversior convictions ties in Illinois, in opposition to and decreased this particular campus safety piece of legislahas been estabtion as it’s curl i sh e d . The rently written,” st udy fou nd LASHAWN FORD said Tom Hardy, that the 38 perDEMOCRATIC MEMBER OF THE executive direccent of respondILLINOIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tor of University ing schools that relations. do not consider Rep. Barbara Wheeler, chief criminal history during their sponsor of the bill, said the use admission process do not have of criminal justice information a higher rate of crime on their affects three populations: those campuses. who do not submit an application “The question is, are peobecause of the question, those ple going to college to commit who do not complete the applica- crimes?” Ford said. “I don’t think tion because they fail to respond so. People aren’t spending hunto follow-up inquiries about their dreds of thousands of dollars criminal history and those who and going into debt to commit are rejected because of their crimes.” criminal history. Wheeler said current admisFor the three populations, the sion practices that consider crimuse of criminal justice informa- inal justice information impact
HB 3142
BY LEON LI
STAFF WRITER
“The question is, are people going to college to commit crimes? I don’t think so.”
DAILYILLINI, DAILYILLINISPORTS
INSIDE
Police
2A
SEE MASTER PLAN | 3A
INSIDE those who do not complete their application because of the question the most. A U.S. Department of Education report in May 2016 urged colleges and universities to remove the question on grounds that it could negatively impact potential applicants, deterring them from following through with the application process. “It’s been proven with job applications that once a person discloses that they’ve been convicted of a crime, their application is often tossed in the garbage,” Ford said. “The chilling effect spills over to universities and colleges as well.” Currently, the University system considers criminal history as
@THEDAILYILLINI, @DI_OPINION, @DI_SPORTS |
Opinions
4A
|
Letters
4A
The University released its Preliminary Master Plan, outlining plans for development and renovation of campus infrastructure and land for the next 10 years. Both University committees and the national design fi rm SmithGroupJJR designed the draft campus plan, which was unveiled on April 11. The plan’s proposals are subject to change based on student and public feedback. The Board of Trustees votes on its finalized version next fall. Mary Jukuri, senior planner at SmithGroupJJR, said the plan is designed to meet the University’s existing development policies and to accommodate a gradual increase of students. “The master plan is based on somewhat conservative (student) enrollment growth projections,” Jukuri said. “The Master Plan is addressing not only future growth, but balancing that growth against the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) goals for managing energy use, reducing water use and reducing carbon emissions.” Under the iCAP, the University abides by a “zero net growth policy,” requiring eliminated square footage to equal that same amount it adds. This is in order to maintain the University’s current gross square footage, Jukuri said. In addition to the $132 million Memorial Stadium renovations and the Siebel Center for Design developments, the Master Plan draft includes a resource center for the campus cultural centers in Urbana, a new building for the Carle Illinois College of Medicine and an improved aesthetic for campus entrances. There’s also the proposal to install an Illini Union South on the South Quad field between the McFarland Carillon and the Undergraduate Library. Jukuri said it’s more controversial than the other plans. It was proposed to address limited food locations and meeting spaces in the southern part of campus, which SmithGroupJJR planners observed in their analyses. “Some people would prefer to see that as open space,” Jukuri said. “It’s an idea that our master planning team is proposing to the University, but depending on feedback, that idea may change.”
|
Crossword
one of many factors, said Robin Kaler, associate chancellor and director of public affairs. “A prior conviction means that the University will scrutinize the applicant more closely,” Kaler said. “However, just as no single factor is sufficient to determine whether a student should be admitted, a conviction alone does not necessarily keep a student from being admitted.” Hardy said the University makes it clear on the application that a prior conviction is not a hard line criterion. “There’s a holistic process that the University uses when considering whether or not to admit
|
Life
&
PAGE 4A
Mark Smith commits to Illinois
SEE CRIMINAL | 3A
THEDAILYILLINI 5A
The Editorial Board thinks Nick Offerman was a great choice
Culture
PAGE 1B
@THEDAILYILLINI 6A
|
Sports
1B
|
Classifieds
THEDAILYILLINI 3B
|
Sudoku
3B