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MONDAY August 28, 2017
THE DAILY ILLINI The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Vol. 147 Issue 1
80 days
UI ADMINISTRATION
SUMMER CRIME RECAP
JUNE 9
Visiting UI scholar Yingying Zhang remains missing nearly three months after disappearance
AUSTIN YATTONI THE DAILY ILLINI
Members of the Marching Illini at Memorial Stadium.
Majority of students left out of ‘War Chant’ decision Many question lack of involvement, notice in song’s retirement BY JESSICA BURSZTYNSKY NEWS EDITOR
Neither student government members nor Illini Pride officials were included in the discussions to retire the “Fighting Illini War Chant” from being played at sporting events. The dismissal of the chant — which was directly tied to the school’s old mascot Chief Illiniwek — was mostly discussed between University administration, the Athletic Department and leaders of the Marching Illini. Members of the Native American and Indigenous Student Organization (NAISO) were in talks as well. Sam LeRoy, senator in student government, said he wasn’t sure who made the ultimate decision, but plans to ask Chancellor Robert Jones at Monday’s Senate Executive Committee meeting. “I have a lot of questions for him about the process that went into this,” LeRoy said. “It’s really unlikely that a decision would have been made without at least the support of the chancellor, if not driven by the chancellor.” LeRoy was unaware that NAISO was in talks with anyone regarding the chant. The NAISO declined to comment, but did release an official statement regarding its thoughts on the retiring, saying the organization was “pleased to hear that the University has made the decision to remove the war chant during sporting events.” “We have had the opportunity to speak to members and leaders of the Marching Illini, and while we were personally not involved in final decision of removing the war chant, we are
JESSICA BURSZTYNSKY THE DAILY ILLINI
Yingying Zhang remains missing 80 days after her disappearance. The 26-year-old was last seen June 9 entering a black Saturn Astra.
NEWS EDITOR
Shortly after arriving on campus for the first time, Yingying Zhang — a visiting scholar in the College of ACES — was running late to a meeting to sign a lease with a landlord on June 9. The 26-year-old Chinese woman was last seen on surveillance footage entering a black Saturn Astra, allegedly driven by former University physics student Brendt Christensen, 28, on North Goodwin Avenue in Champaign at 2 p.m. on June 9. Many specifics of the case have not been revealed in the subsequent weeks, but Christensen is in custody, awaiting trial. Zhang is presumed dead, according to the FBI.
The initial process
The University of Illinois Police Department issued a Facebook post on June 10 asking for help in the search for Zhang, who had not been reached after several attempts to contact her. Police Chief Jeff Christensen sent out a community safety notice two days later, asking for continued help. He noted that while it was not clear whether she was in any danger, the UIPD is working to bring about any information. On June 12, surveillance footage showed Zhang entering the
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passenger side of a black Saturn Astra, after speaking to the unidentifiable driver for a few moments. “We are deeply troubled anytime we believe a member of our campus community may be in danger, but we are very grateful for our community’s support for Ms. Zhang,” wrote Christensen in a June 13 notice, adding that the FBI has become involved in the case. The FBI announced a $10,000 reward for those with information leading to Zhang’s location, who had been missing for eight days by that point. Zhang's father, boyfriend and aunt arrived in the U.S. from China on June 17. Her mother and younger brother arrived on Aug. 19, as they waited for Zhang's mother to heal from the emotional and physical distress the case was causing, according to Zhang's boyfriend, Xiaolin Hou. An additional $40,000 reward — later raised to $50,000 — was announced on June 19 by Zhang’s family, who was working with the Champaign County Crime Stoppers to help locate Zhang. It was also announced that Zhang’s case was a national priority for the FBI.
BY JESSICA BURSZTYNSKY
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UIPD posted on social media for info
JUNE 13
FBI became involved
JUNE 17
FBI announces $10,000 reward and GoFundMe was set up
JUNE 19
Family announces through Champaign County Crime Stoppers $40,000 reward
JUNE 23
FBI says case is a national priority
JUNE 27
Saturn Astra was located
JUNE 29
Memorial walk
JUNE 30
Christensen arrested
JULY 5
Federal grand jury indicted Christensen on charges of federal kidnapping Denied bail
BRENDT CHRISTENSEN
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JULY 12
Christensen pleaded not guilty
SEPT. 12
Upcoming trial
Zhang’s alleged kidnapper faces tricky legal process BY JESSICA BURSZTYNSKY NEWS EDITOR
Brendt Christensen’s upcoming trial in the kidnapping case of Yingying Zhang, a missing scholar from China, is expected to quickly come to a halt in the public eye. “The case isn’t nearly ready to go to trial,” said University law professor Andrew Leipold. He said there’s no way to tell what will happen, what a timeline will be or any other distinguishing information in the case in the coming weeks. Leipold said there is not much information available to the public until evidence is presented at trial. Christensen was charged with one count of federal kidnapping on June 30, denied bail on July 5 by Judge Eric Long, indicted by a federal grand jury on July 12 and formally arraigned on July 20. At the July 20 arraignment,
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Last seen in Urbana Surveillance video showed Zhang getting into black Saturn Astra
JUNE 10
Zhang’s disappearance
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Christensen pleaded not guilty and a trial date was set for Sept. 12. A pre-trial date is taking place Aug. 28, where Leipold expects the trial to be pushed back. “There’s a little bit of excitement about the idea that it was scheduled for September, but nobody thought it was going to happen within 70 days of the charge,” Leipold said. The defense team will likely seek delays due to the Speedy Trial Act, which is a federal statute that states a trial must begin within 70 days of a formal charge. The defendant can oftentimes waive these rights, said University law professor Eric Johnson. Tom Bruno, one of Christensen’s three defense attorneys, said there is no limit to SEE LEGAL | 7A
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