ISU VOLLEYBALL LOOKS TO SMASH THIS SEASON
ISU STUDENT FINDS AND LOSES LOVE ON MTV FEATURES 7
SPORTS 8
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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
Vol. 129 / No. 01
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSIT Y’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1888
Relaxed pot laws change little on campus While marijuana criminal penalties have been removed in Illinois, ISU offenders still face consequences TOM HEAGNEY News Reporter | @TomHeagney
Illinois State University students excited about the state’s recent marijuana decriminalization bill should think twice about lighting one up on campus to celebrate. Senate Bill 2228, signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner on July 29, removes criminal penalties for those found in possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana and also does away with the state’s “zero tolerance” policy regarding state DUI laws. Under prior legislation, offenders found in possession of up to 28 grams of the drug faced misdemeanor conviction, probation and jail time. Previously, drivers found with any trace of marijuana in their system, regardless of whether they were intoxicated at the time, faced DUI arrest and conviction. The new law requires that offenders have at least five nanograms of THC in their system before being considered for such charges. Despite the statewide change in law and a widely anticipated shift in attempts to combat marijuana usage, offenders on campus are subject to different circumstances. “As an institution which receives federal funding through student loans and grants, we cannot permit cannabis use on campus as long as it remains illegal on a federal level,” ISU Police Chief Aaron Woodruff said. While Woodruff said the majority of ISU Police Department’s cannabis cases are for possession of less than 10 grams, he invites students to remember that sale
Connect Transit receives new routes, schedules KEVIN SCHWALLER News Reporter | @kevschwa
Students that use the Connect Transit buses can expect some new changes this school year. The Bloomington-Normal bus system rolled out new fares and routes last Monday. The new structure now gives riders the option to buy $3 one-day passes. Seven-day passes are available for $10, and the 30-day fixed route pass increased from $29 to $32. Single-ride fares are still available for $1. Connect Transit Business Development Manager Melissa Chrisman says the company has been helping customers transition into new routes and fares. “The administrative team has been hard at work with hosting numerous educational sessions with the public and presentations with community partners. We have explained the process of what to expect with the new routes and have done personalized trip planning on the new routes,” Chrisman said. “Over the next several weeks, we have events on the ISU campus to continue to spread the word to incoming students.” see ROUTES page 5
of any amount and possession of more than 10 grams are arrestable offenses even under the new law. In addition, Woodruff said that students caught with less than 10 grams will still have their marijuana confiscated and be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution and to the State’s Attorney’s Office for related civil fines. “Officers will still arrest individuals if they appear to be driving while impaired by alcohol, cannabis or any other substance,” Woodruff said. “However, the Illinois State Police Labs are still determining how best to process the test results for the appropriate levels of THC f o r
cannabis related violations.” Student penalties levied by the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution for possession of any amount of cannabis are quite steep. According to the office’s Alcohol and Other Drug Sanctioning Grid, a first-time offender in possession of less than 15 grams of marijuana is subject to a $150 fine and mandatory participation in a Marijuana 101 program. Possession or use of more than 15 grams subjects students to a $200 fine as well as a two-semester minimum disciplinary probation. Distribution or sale of less than 15 grams of marijuana is subject to a two-semester minimum disciplinary probation and $300 fine, while distribution or sale of more than 15 grams can result in a two-semester minimum probation, a $400 fine automatically billed to the student’s account, completion of off-campus counseling and potential drug testing and other conditions upon return to campus. “In regard to Student Conduct and Conf lict Resolution, this change in state law does not affect our educational response to students who violate the Code of Student Conduct,” Student Conduct and Conf lict Resolution Office Coordinator Michael Zajac said. “[The penalties listed in the sanctioning grid] are our typical, minimum response to alcohol and other drug violations of our code of Student Conduct.”
New student housing plan set for May 2017 STEPHANIE RODRIGUEZ News Reporter | @StephanieRoddd
New student housing across the street from Hancock Stadium is set to replace a former Super Pantry convenience store that has been vacant since the its closure three years ago. The closed convenience store sits across the street from the Illinois State University water tower next to Hancock Stadium. Brown Enterprises, a Bloomington company that builds student and residential housing, hopes to convert this abandoned store into campus-assessable student living. The Town of Normal Planning Commission unanimously approved the change of zoning for the site during its Aug. 4 meeting earlier this month. Owner of Brown Enterprises John Brown and architect Russell Arbuckle of EA Architecture & Design, Inc. were present during the rezoning meeting. According to the planning commission minutes, the pair had gotten all of the required soil testing cleared without stipulation before going in front of the planning commission. After the approval of the project, Arbuckle said he felt a sense of relief. “It is always a bit of a nervous feeling when approaching a commission or council. Obviously, we
make our best case argument for our client’s end goal and hope that we are persuasive enough to get a majority to see the benefit of our plans,” Arbuckle said. “In this case, support of the Commission was a little more expected because the site has been vacant for a while and has some other issues limiting its development with its current zoning.” By ot her issues, Arbuckle is referring to a covenant that the Normal Planning Commission said will not Anna Gallagher | Vidette Photographer allow a convenient store to be on the site. This, Construction for new student housing across Hancock Stadium will begin May 2017. along with the location, of the best student housing in the booming on many major colhelped make the case for new stu- country.” lege campuses including ISU’s,” dent housing easier for Brown This is not the first time that Arbuckle said. “In Normal, it is a Enterprises. Brown and Arbuckle teamed up very competitive marketplace and Brown said the location of the on a student housing project. The to make these projects work finannew housing — the corner of Main pair have worked together before cially, the project has to be at or and Willow — will become a build- on two other campus apartment near the top of the market. It is ing that the community will be projects. a high bar that is continually on proud of. As the number of incoming the rise.” “This is an A+ location for Illi- freshman and transfer students Arbuckle and Brown both said nois State University students,” increases every year, Arbuckle that the project is expected to Brown said. “[It is] very close to feels that student housing in an start construction in May of next campus and an added bonus for important element in Normal and year, or possibly sooner, and will student athletes as it is across towns like it. be ready for occupancy in August the street from the newly reno“With student enrollment of 2018 with pre-rental beginning vated Hancock Stadium. My team appearing to be on the rise, before that. looks forward to providing some the student housing market is