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Thursday April 18, 2013

The Daily Illini

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The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

Vol. 142 Issue 141

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Foreign students feel left out by UI International student survey ranks Illinois close to bottom in helpfulness BY JOHNATHAN HETTINGER STAFF WRITER

BRIAN YU THE DAILY ILLINI

Brad Dorner, a graduate student at the University, hands out “pot brownies” on the Quad on Wedensday. Dorner is part of a group on campus that is fighting for the legalization of marijuana.

Student groups use ‘pot brownies’ to protest War on Drugs BY NYAJAI ELLISON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The local chapter of Young Americans for Liberty set up a table on the Quad to protest the War on Drugs by giving away free “pot brownies.” The brownies were given out of an actual pot to students on Wednesday in anticipation of the upcoming unofficial holiday for those who support the legalization of marijuana: 4/20. Dan Humbrecht, president of YAL and sophomore in Engineering, operated the table along with 15 other members of the Registered Student Organization. “4/20 is basically the day that everybody comes together for the idea of legalization and support for ending marijuana prohibition,” he said. “It’s just our way of bringing awareness to how the war on drugs has really failed, and it’s time for us to pursue some other options.”

Jason Spangehl, a civil and defense attorney, supported the group’s message and stopped by the table. “I do a lot of small criminal defense work for people who have been arrested for marijuana infractions, and I definitely support legalization,” he said. “It’s definitely not a good lifestyle choice, but at the same time, we’re not making any improvements in their life by putting them in jail.” Humbrecht added that the pursuing of drug crimes, instead of violent crimes, is inefficient. “It’s a huge drain on government resources, too, to have law enforcement pursuing victimless crimes like drug crimes and to spend their resources doing this rather than investigating violent crimes and things along those lines,” Humbrecht said. Also on Wednesday, the Illinois House passed a measure that would allow medical marijuana to be

prescribed to patients with illnesses that were laid out in the law. Gov. Pat Quinn indicated that he is openminded to signing the bill into law. Jvon Howard, junior in LAS, spoke about the government’s influence. “The government is working to protect us, and we’re going against the government by trying to influence the drug into society, and that’s messing up peoples lives,” he said. Economics lecturer Isaac DiIanni said that full legalization or medical legalization would be beneficial economically for the U.S. “I would support legalization for personal liberty reasons,” he said. “The cost savings on the drug war would be positive. I believe that the benefits of legalization outweigh the cost.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Nyajai can be reached at nelliso2@ dailyillini.com.

“It’s definitely not a good lifestyle choice, but at the same time, we’re not making any improvements in their life by putting them in jail.”

STAFF WRITER

President Barack Obama released the 2014 budget plan last week featuring a few different proposals to highlight the importance of improving higher education in America. According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Education, the president’s plan includes a request for comprehensive reforms in higher education with the goal of increasing affordability and quality. Among these reforms is a $1 billion investment for the new “Race to the Top: College Affordability and Completion” competition. This competition is meant to provide incentive for states to lower college costs so it becomes more affordable for young adults to attend college. University spokesman Tom Hardy

believes the University’s involvement in this program is part of an ongoing trend. “The University of Illinois itself puts in more than $61 million a year in institutionally supported financial aid for students attending the University who qualify for it,” he said. “You’ve got Pell Grants and MAP grants and tax deductions that families can take, so there’s a lot of different ways and a lot of different sources to try to make college more affordable.” Hardy said the cost of a college education has continued to rise sharply across the nation, and the cost of attending public universities like Illinois increase specifically because of declining support from the state. “We get less and less state tax-supported funding from one year to the next, so we have to make up for that

by raising tuition in order to maintain quality,” Hardy said. Another proposal in Obama’s plan to make college more affordable is the First in the World Fund, named after the U.S.’s previous higher education ranking, which has been budgeted at $260 million. According to the U.S. Department of Education, officials named the plan after this previous ranking in hopes of returning to this status. According to the press release, America “just one generation ago” led the world in percentage of adults with college degrees, while now the U.S. is ranked 14th. This program provides funds for innovation that will lower costs and leverage advances in teaching sci-

Proposals on the president’s 2014 budget plan

The Illinois Student Senate introduced and swore in its new executive board members for the upcoming fall semester at its transition meeting Wednesday. The executive board for the upcoming fall term consists of Student Body President Damani Bolden, Vice President-external Timmy Knudsen, Vice President-internal Jenny Baldwin, and Treasurer Kevin Seymour. Preceding Student Body President

Brock Gebhardt shared what ISS meant to him as he served for the past 12 months. “For me, to be able to serve in this capacity has truly affected my life,” Gebhardt said. “When challenges to our unity emerged, we rose to meet them. Facing the prospect of an internal division, we took decisive measures to safeguard our collective voice. There were very tough times for our student organization, but the toll would’ve been far worse had we not acted.” Newly elected senators were also in

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What was it like adjusting during your first week on campus? COMPILED BY JOHNATHAN HETTINGER

“It was totally a mess. I didn’t know how to get the building I need to go to for class, and I didn’t know how to take the MTD. I often need to ask the students here, and they are really helpful. They also provide really clear directions for where I need to go.” SHIYING ZHOU, freshman in LAS

President Barack Obama’s 2014 budget plan includes the following proposals for making higher education more affordable: Q Race to the Top: Creates

competition to provide incentive for states to lower college costs

Q First in the World fund: Helps low-

income high school students prepare for and attend college Q Campus-based aid programs:

“I had very similar experience. Everything was new, and I don’t speak too much English back then. It’s actually kinda frustrating the first week, and it’s definitely not easy to get through all the differences and stuff.” BEN ZHENG, senior in Engineering

Donates money to campuses who have already been helping lowincome students

See EDUCATION, Page 3A

Committee introduces, swears in new executive board members for fall STAFF WRITER

YOUR VOICE

JASON SPANGEHL, civil and defense attorney

ILLINOIS STUDENT SENATE

BY LIZ AMANIEH

See BAROMETER, Page 3A

STAFF WRITER

Obama releases budget plan for education BY BRITTANY GIBSON

When Hyeji Son arrived on campus, the South Korea native found herself lost when trying to find her classes and struggled with making friends aside from her fellow Koreans. According to a recent study, Son is not alone in having difficulty transitioning to campus life. The University is considering changes to the way it welcomes first-time international students after the International Student Barometer survey reported that foreign students are having trouble adjusting to life on campus. Julie Misa, director of International Student and Scholar Services, said her office is looking to change its orientation program after the University ranked 16th out of 21 United States universities surveyed regarding the arrival experience of international students on campus. Currently, international students are welcomed on campus through an “optional but highly recommended” program sponsored by ISSS. In the spring 2013 program, students learned about the services offered to them by campus programs, including the McKinley Health Center and the Career Center. Residence halls, academic units and registered student organizations also contribute to the welcome experience, according to Misa. But the first organization that international students interact with is ISSS, which is responsible for much of the immigration documentation that must be completed by

attendance and were sworn in for the upcoming semester. Gebhardt encouraged them to address the senate and engage in productive dialogue. Senators, consisting of both undergraduate and graduate students, were encouraged by Gebhardt to work as a team to bring students’ concerns to the forefront of the campus’ attention. “Together, with determination and hard work we will reinvigorate our government to advocate more successfully than ever,” Gebahrdt said. Previous Vice President-internal,

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Shao Guo, gave advice for newly elected senators. “All of the senator elects that are here, you matter,” Guo said. “You matter a lot to the students here. The only legacy you can leave behind here is this institution.” Fiscal responsibility was a topic of concern for many senators during the meeting, especially concerning a passed $1,000 senate allocation to the C-U Bike to Work and School Day event. The necessity and allocation of money

“Just sleep and go to the marketplace and buy things ... I think it was easy.” HAO WAN, freshman in Business

“It was hard, definitely hard. Actually, my English is not very good because it’s my first time coming here to America, so the weather change, the food change. I have no friends here, and I have to make new friends that are new people I haven’t before is kinda hard.”

See ISS Page 3A

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YITING YANG, sophomore in Business

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