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University of Illinois

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Officials confident -- but cautious -- about Lincoln Hall renovation

The capital bill may have stalled, but the University of Illinois is moving forward as though the Lincoln Hall renovation might happen – if not next year, then someday.

The planning and design phase of the project should wrap up by the end of this month, and come Aug. 25, when the UI fall semester starts, classes will be held in places like Wohlers Hall and Smith Memorial Music Hall instead of Lincoln Hall.

Monday, July 14, 2008

"I" Hotel, Houlihans scheduled to open in mid-August

CHAMPAIGN – Peter Fox said he hopes to have a certificate of occupancy for the new "I" Hotel and adjoining Houlihan's Restaurant by July 29 and have both facilities open Aug. 11.

The manager of Fox/Atkins Development said he's spending much of this month at the site to make sure the 126-room hotel at First Street and St. Mary's Road opens as scheduled.

The five-story hotel, adjacent to a new University of Illinois-owned conference center, will have room rates starting at $119, with most guests expected to be business- or university-related, Fox said.

UI horse barn to be relocated Wednesday

You might want to avoid the far south side of campus Wednesday, as the University of Illinois plans to move a historic barn, weather permitting.

In order to make way for the expansion of the UI's softball field and the Atkins Tennis Center, the University of Illinois has hired a company to move the Mumford horse barn from the southwest corner of Florida Avenue and Goodwin Avenue extended to the southwest corner of Race Street and Windsor Road.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Supreme Court ruling has no effect on campus gun ban

Bring a gun to the Illini Union, a dorm, or elsewhere on the University of Illinois campus and you'll be slapped with a class A misdemeanor.

University policy, student code, not to mention state law, bars handguns, rifles and weapons like knives from campus.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Lame dogs sought for new study on supplement

The University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital is seeking dogs with signs of pain or lameness, such as stiffness or difficulty when rising, lameness after exercise, or difficulty going up or down stairs or getting into the car, to participate in a study of a nutritional supplement.

The nutritional supplement, S-adenosyl methionine, is an anti-oxidant commonly used in dogs with liver failure.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Federal court dismisses Chief logo lawsuit

URBANA – A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by Jack Davis, the designer of the Chief Illiniwek logo, against the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.

Davis' lawyer said the fight may not be over.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Chief Illiniwek logo lawsuit dismissed

URBANA – A federal lawsuit by Jack Davis, the designer of the Chief Illiniwek logo, against the University of Illinois Board of Trustees was dismissed today.

U.S. Central District of Illinois Chief Judge Michael McCuskey dismissed the suit, ruling that the federal court has no jurisdiction for the breach-of-contract claim by Davis.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Science fiction might soon evolve into science fact

URBANA – Harry Potter's invisibility cloak may soon be within the reach of any ordinary American with a little silicon photonic crystal and a Ph.D. in engineering.

Say you have a battleship and you want to park it in the Boneyard without plugging quarters into Champaign's exorbitant meters. The cloak thought up by two University of Illinois researchers would bend light around the battleship, saving you from getting a ticket.

UI scientist writes book of simple truths about food

URBANA – First the nutrition gurus told us we shouldn't eat butter because it's an artery-clogging saturated fat.

Then they told us to watch out for margarine because it's an artery-clogging trans fat.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

$15 million in grants will fund transportation studies

A campus research center will receive an influx of cash over the next three years to fund transportation projects.

The Illinois Center for Transportation at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana recently signed an agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation that will bring $15 million over three years to the center.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

UI economic index gives some good news

URBANA – The University of Illinois flash economic index halted its yearlong slide in June, signaling at least a brief pause in the increasingly slow-growing Illinois economy.

The index stood at 102.3 in June, the same as in May, after falling from 106.8 a year ago when the state economy was growing rapidly.

Monday, June 30, 2008

UI employees set for decrease in parking rates

Many University of Illinois employees will soon pay less to park on campus as the university begins to change how employees pay for parking.

The era of the flat rate will end and a new sliding-scale rate based on salary will debut.

"It'll be nice to have a little more in my paycheck," said Linda Mowry, a senior library specialist at the UI.

UI students begin work with Deere's engineers

CHAMPAIGN – Deere & Co.'s research center at the University of Illinois moves to a new home this week, but already students are working with Deere engineers on projects.

One student is working on engine modeling, another on control-systems development and the other five on sensor projects – chiefly to research and identify new sensor technologies.