THURSDAY October 22, 2020
THE DAILY ILLINI The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Vol. 150 Issue 18
University cancels spring break BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR
The UI senate has agreed on a revamped spring semester with a week-late start, three more noninstructional days and no spring break. Campus officials passed the resolution 129-13 at Monday’s meeting after several proposed amendments to modify the num-
ber and nature of the noninstructional days. The semester will begin on Jan. 25 instead of the original Jan. 19 start date, while adding Wednesday, Feb. 17; Wednesday, March 24; and Tuesday, April 13 as off-days. Commencement will occur at its originally scheduled May 15 date. “When this proposal was
introduced at Educational Policy Committee, none of us were thrilled learning that one of the recommendations was canceling spring break,” said senate chair Linda Moorhouse. As of Oct. 13, eight other Big Ten schools had already canceled spring break. Modelers at Illinois’ SHIELD team endorsed the semester changes at
Monday’s meeting, laying out the health risks a spring vacation could create. “We know that travel is a risk to members of our community,” said Rebecca Smith, epidemiologist and co-leader of the SHIELD Target team. Smith cited a report from Morbidity and MorSEE BREAK | 3A
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS URSO
Beachgoers enjoy the sun in Florida during spring break 2019. The University has canceled spring break 2021.
UI details fall break, spring return plans First week post-return dedicated to COVID-19
• Freshmen and new students should be tested Jan. 18 and Jan. 22. “Please give yourself plenty of time to receive two negative test results and ensure your second test is on or before Jan. 22,” Jones wrote. “Students who fail to follow our testing policies are subject to student discipline.” The University clarified its testing policies for the rest of the year and spring semester shortly after announcing the cancellation of spring break. “Travel is a real risk for reintroducing infection to a community that has it under control,” said Rebecca Lee Smith, an epidemiologist and professor in AHS. “There is a very clear signal of the spread of infection throughout the country after spring break.” The Shield Target team, which Smith co-leads, determines on-campus testing frequency and other related decisions. Smith’s team made official recommendations that led to the University’s plan, but not before consulting the graduate student on the team who works as a TA with undergraduates, lending a student perspective to the suggestions the team made. “One of the recommendations that we are making is to delay the start of the spring semester, but to not delay the start of students returning to campus, simply so that we can have a longer period of testing before people start their activities,” Smith said. “So, we’re recommending that people come early and start testing and that they selfquarantine until they have two negative tests.” The hope is that the extended time frame and the slightly flexible selfquarantine system will help to contain the spread of coronavirus across campus. The first test will be used to catch anything that may have happened in the previous week, and the second to check for any exposure that the student may have had while traveling. As always, measures of social distancing and wearing masks will be essential for containing the virus.
BY PAYAL RATHORE STAFF WRITER
KENYON EDMOND THE DAILY ILLINI
A truck drives between cornfields as the sun sets on E. County Rd 1000 N in Mattoon, ill. The University has received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture dedicated to supporting agricultural producers’ mental health.
Grant works to improve farmers’ mental health BY ALEXANDRA GERGOVA STAFF WRITER
In an effort to increase resources targeted toward improv ing the mental health of agricultural producers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded funding to the University of Illinois, one of four regional entities that received funding from a $28.7 million pot. UI got $7.2 million, which it’s giving to the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center, a 12-state network seeking to expand and create mental health resources targeted at farmers. The main network, born from the 2018 Farm Bill and entitled the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, was created by Congress to combat the extremely high levels of anxiety, depression and suicide reported in the agricultural community, all of which have been
worsened as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a 2020 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, suicide rates are 1.5 times higher among male farmers than any other male occupational group. An integral part of the NCFRSAC system is that it recognizes how resources catered towards farmers differ from traditional ones, said Josie Rudolphi, professor in ACES and one of the leaders of the NCFRSAC project. “We realize that farm and ranch stress assistance looks a little different than the traditional stress mental health outreach,” Rudolphi said. “And so we’re really working through the various channels to provide services and resources that meet farmers where they are.” The NCFRSAC additionally serves to collect
information from the other regional states and facilitate the development of new efforts and resources, said Courtney Cuthbertson, professor in ACES and another leader of the project. As a result of the recent funding, one of the new resources in development is a website that will serve as a regional clearinghouse, which compiles various support services from all 12 states in the network. “The central clearinghouse will include centerwide resources and services and then also provide a link to our partnering states and their specific clearinghouses,” Rudolphi said. “The clearinghouse will include things like telephone hotlines that the state is promoting, other types of clinical care or clinical intervention and resources that may be useful for somebody who has
experienced natural disasters or other types of traumatic experiences.” Cuthbertson echoed similar sentiments, adding that another feature will include the implementation of various training programs for both farmers and those who engage with farmers but don’t necessarily participate in the work, such as veterinarians, seed dealers and mechanics. “The training will work to improve mental health literacy,” Cuthbertson said. “What I’m referring to is the knowledge that people have about signs and symptoms of mental health issues, how to communicate with someone who might be experiencing mental health difficulties and then how to refer someone to appropriate resources that help, which might include a healthcare SEE FARMERS | 3A
New early voting sites open at University buildings BY CHIEH HSU STAFF WRITER
As Election Day approaches, early voting sites have opened at the ARC, Illini Union and University YMCA from Monday, Oct. 19 to Monday, Nov. 2. Their hours are 10 a.m.6 p.m. on Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. “The students are very welcomed and encouraged to vote by my administration,” said Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons. “We hope to see a lot of students to partake in the election in Champaign County.” Compared to the previous presidential election, the voting site at the Illini Union moved from the fourth floor to the first floor, and two sites have been added on the second floor of the University YMCA and at the ARC. Once a voter arrives on a site, an election judge will verify the voter’s identity and give them a ballot. The voter should then proceed to a voting booth and fill the
oval for the chosen candidate. Next, the voter should insert their ballot into a tabulator machine located next to the exit that helps determine whether the ticket is valid. Alternatively, vote by mail began on Sept. 24. Due to COVID-19, Clerk Ammons strongly encourages voters to utilize vote by mail for this election. To request a vote by mail ballot, voters should go on the County Clerk Office’s website and fill out an electronic form before Oct. 29, but the office encourages voters to do so as early as possible. After receiving the mail ballot, voters should complete it based on the instructions in the envelope. “Make sure you sign the envelope! If you forget the Clerk’s Office will not be able to cast your ballot until you provide a valid signature,” according to the County Clerk’s website. To return the vote by mail ballot, a voter can drop it at any post office mailbox or in
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JACOB WARGO THE DAILY ILLINI
A solitary voting station stands in the ARC on Monday. Multiple early voting locations across campus opened on Monday morning.
a secure dropbox. There is a dropbox on the northwest corner of the South Quad, 1401 W. Green St., which is accessible by foot or bike only, and on the south side of the Illini Union. Voters do not have to worry about the cost since the postage is already paid for. Each vote by mail ballot also comes with a tracking
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feature, so voters will be able to check if the Clerk’s Office has received the returned vote. However, due to a large number of tickets received each day, voters should anticipate at least 48 hours before the status of their ballots is updated in the voter portal.
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Features: Altgeld ringers celebrate 100 year of music
buzz: Bar hosts dog lovers’ event for charity
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In the last two weeks before fall break, University students will be asked to restrict their movements significantly in preparation for their returns home. “Students who plan to travel during Fall Break should limit themselves to essential activities only, such as attending in-person class, testing, visiting the pharmacy and buying groceries between Nov. 6 and Nov. 20,” Chancellor Robert Jones wrote in a Massmail sent Tuesday morning. “Limiting your activity may help you remain COVID-free before you return home and may help keep you and those you care about safe from possible virus spread.” The same applies for students who are staying in the Champaign-Urbana community during and after fall break. According to Jones, more than 1,000 students have faced University discipline for COVID-19 policy violations, including not participating in on-campus testing. Once students return in the spring, a new set of testing protocols will begin. All students must receive two negative test results on campus between Jan. 15-24, no sooner than three days apart, before resuming regular activities. The University laid out the following recommended testing schedule based on students’ years in school: • Gr adu at e s t udent s should be tested on Jan. 15 and Jan. 19. • Seniors should be tested on Jan. 15 and Jan. 19. (Seniors who live in University Housing will test on Jan. 17 and Jan. 21.) • Juniors should be tested on Jan. 16 and Jan. 20. (Juniors who live in University Housing will test on Jan. 17 and Jan. 21.) • Sophomores should be tested on Jan. 17 and payalr2@dailyillini.com Jan. 21.
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