University of Illinois

Friday, November 20, 2009

Fate of UI's Washington arts program up in air

URBANA – A University of Illinois arts program in Washington, D.C., supported by former Chancellor Richard Herman, is awaiting word on its fate after a review by a high-level campus committee.

"Illinois at the Phillips," the brainchild of art history Professor Jonathan Fineberg, offers UI art students courses and internships at Washington's Phillips Collection, the first museum of modern art in the United States. Fineberg is a trustee of the museum.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

UI receives federal grant for carbon dioxide study

CHAMPAIGN (AP) – The University of Illinois is getting a roughly $900,000 grant to study the possible environmental impact of storing the chief man-made greenhouse gas under water reservoirs.

The EPA grant covers what could be a three-year research project involving subsurface storage called sequestration.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Tentative deal between UI, GEO ends two-day strike

URBANA – Graduate students are expected return to teaching duties today after the University of Illinois and the Graduate Employees' Organization reached a tentative contract agreement on Tuesday.

 

The three-year agreement, which is retroactive to August 2009, addresses the last major sticking point – tuition waivers.

Financial report on UI athletics can be misleading

Things may not be great on the playing field for University of Illinois athletics, but financially they're not as bad as a report to the federal Department of Education portrays.

The report, available at http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/, shows that revenue to the Illinois athletic program for the fiscal year ending June 30 was $55.6 million, a decline of $1.5 million from a year earlier. Three other Big Ten universities also reported drops in their revenue last year – Purdue (down $2.1 million), Michigan (down $3.9 million) and Michigan State (down $2.1 million).

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

GEO to meet on contract, could return to work Wednesday

URBANA — Graduate students could return to teaching duties Wednesday after the University of Illinois and the Graduate Employees’ Organization reached a tentative contract agreement Tuesday morning.

The three-year agreement, which is retroactive to August 2009, addresses the last major sticking point — tuition waivers.

UI press release on tentative GEO contract

A statement issued Tuesday by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign regarding the tentative contract reached between the UI and the Graduate Employees Organization.

Monday, November 16, 2009

GEO strikes; UI says few problems so far

URBANA – More than 500 people marched in the rain Monday morning in the first-ever strike by University of Illinois graduate students.

Not all were members of the Graduate Employees' Organization, which has about 2,700 members. Many were undergraduates and faculty, the GEO said.

Tuition waivers the main sticking point in UI, GEO talks

Representatives from the union representing graduate and teaching assistants at the University of Illinois dispute a claim by the university that their demands concerning tuition-waiver security are an "11th hour" proposal.

"Our original proposal on April 21 included a request for tuition-waiver security," said Graduate Employees Organization spokesman Peter Campbell. "Most of the press releases the GEO has released include requests for tuition-waiver security. This is not an 11th-hour proposal."

UI spokeswoman to students: Go to class, if possible

University of Illinois spokeswoman Robin Kaler said several UI instructors have moved their Monday classes to new locations as a result of the GEO strike.

"Students should still go to all their classes on Monday unless their instructor has moved their class to an alternate location because they don't want to cross the picket lines," Kaler said. "If you go to a class and find no teacher there, let the department head know and they will help you out."

Sunday, November 15, 2009

A decade later, jury's still out on UI Research Park

As the University of Illinois prepares to expand its 10-year-old research park onto university land east of First Street, The News-Gazette has spent several months examining how the park has fared in its first decade.

N-G reporters Julie Wurth and Christine des Garennes sought to answer basic questions – just who works in the research park? – as well as broader ones. Has the park fulfilled its promise? What could its future entail? The reporters worked with Marissa Monson and Stephanie Lulay in a UI Department of Journalism partnership. 

CHAMPAIGN – A decade ago, visions of a Silicon Prairie that would rival the best research parks in the country took hold in Champaign-Urbana.

A giant parcel of land down the block from university cattle and sheep barns was chosen as the site for the experiment, to be known as the University of Illinois Research Park.

GEO, UI remain at odds over tuition waivers

Representatives from the union representing graduate and teaching assistants at the University of Illinois dispute a claim by the university that their demands concerning tuition-waiver security are an "11th hour" proposal.

"Our original proposal on April 21 included a request for tuition-waiver security," said Graduate Employees Organization spokesman Peter Campbell. "Most of the press releases the GEO has released include requests for tuition-waiver security. This is not an 11th-hour proposal."

Research Park growing, but UI tenants help fill the space

CHAMPAIGN – At the University of Illinois Research Park, State Farm Insurance runs a consumer research center, Caterpillar operates a simulation center and Archer Daniels Midland has a mathematical modeling center.

Over the years, park tenants have come to include large companies with satellite research operations or local startup companies like R Systems, which built a supercomputer in the park.

Project's employment numbers not as big as projected

CHAMPAIGN – Was it all "pie in the sky?"

When the University of Illinois Research Park was proposed a decade ago, supporters talked of the park's potential to have 5,000 employees within a decade, or even five years.

Late artist's work featured in one of I space's last exhibits

CHICAGO – One of the last exhibitions at I space, the Chicago satellite gallery of the University of Illinois, will feature works by the late David Bushman, including some of his last pieces.

Those are 13 smaller-scale portraits etched on plexiglass – technically not prints but "one of a kind" images that can't be repeated, said Jerry Savage, a UI emeritus art professor who curated the exhibition. It opens Friday with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m.

How UI park compares with Midwest neighbors

When it comes to university presence in research parks, the numbers are all over the map.

Purdue University has no university offices in its park, with minor exceptions. At Iowa State, up to 30 percent of the park's square footage can be university space.

UI opera students to perform in original musical '1787'

URBANA – Theater artist Robert Picklesimer has adapted for the stage fairy tales, Greek tragedies and even the William Faulkner novel "As I Lay Dying."

Now he's tackling a much bigger project, an original musical he titled "1787: We the People," about the creation of the American Constitution.

UI translation program already extending its reach

URBANA – Established a year ago at the University of Illinois, the Center for Translation is already working to build a name for itself in the community.

That name already is known a bit internationally, as well.

As the only program of comprehensive translation studies available in the Midwest, the center is well-placed to excel in its commitment to not only world-class education, but also to the art and craft of translation.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Still no pact between UI and Graduate Employees

SAVOY — A marathon bargaining session Saturday between University of Illinois administrators and the Graduate Employees Organization had not produced a tentative agreement by late evening.

GEO, UI resume negotiations Saturday

URBANA – The University of Illinois and its graduate student union will again negotiate at 3 p.m. Saturday, with a strike possible if the sides can't agree.

Among several things the UI and the union can't agree on is how much the assistants are paid in the first place.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Trustees: UI must tighten belt

SPRINGFIELD – Trustees at the University of Illinois unanimously voted for a $4.7 billion fiscal 2010 operating budget, but warned that expenses had to be cut.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Herman withdraws his name for NMSU presidency

URBANA – Richard Herman, former chancellor at the University of Illinois' Urbana campus, removed himself from consideration as the next president of New Mexico State University on Tuesday.

"We just decided it wasn't the right thing at this time. (Wife) Susan and I thought they were very gracious people doing some wonderful things, but this just isn't the right time," Herman said Wednesday.

Department of dance announces November concert

URBANA – Dance at Illinois this weekend will present its annual November Dance program, calling it "Student/Faculty/Exchange (SFX)."

It will feature new collaborations between students and faculty that reveal dance styles rarely seen on the November Dance stage, according to the University of Illinois Department of Dance.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Herman withdraws as New Mexico State candidate

URBANA – Richard Herman, former chancellor at the University of Illinois' Urbana campus, removed himself from consideration as the next president of New Mexico State University on Tuesday.

"We just decided it wasn't the right thing at this time. (Wife) Susan and I thought they were very gracious people doing some wonderful things, but this just isn't the right time," Herman said Wednesday.

Warning issued about threats on UI bathroom stall

URBANA – University of Illinois Police Chief Barbara O'Connor has sent an e-mail to faculty, staff and students warning them about threatening messages written in a bathroom stall on campus.

O'Connor said in the e-mail that two or more persons wrote in a restroom stall in a men's bathroom at Everitt Lab at 1406 W. Green St., U.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

UI police issue warning about threatening messages

URBANA – University of Illinois Police Chief Barbara O'Connor has sent an e-mail to faculty, staff and students warning them about threatening messages written in a bathroom stall on campus.

O'Connor said in the e-mail that two or more persons wrote a series of messages to each other in a restroom stall in a men's bathroom at Everitt Lab at 1406 W. Green St., U., earlier this month.

Acting UI provost will take on more duties

SPRINGFIELD – Robert Easter will serve as both interim chancellor and provost in Urbana, if the University of Illinois Board of Trustees approves the promotion Thursday.

UI teaching, research assistants prepared to strike

URBANA – The University of Illinois' graduate teaching and research assistants could be going on strike for the first time.

On Monday, the Graduate Employees' Organization announced the results of its strike authorization vote. Spokesman Peter Campbell said 92 percent of participating GEO members chose to authorize a strike against the UI Board of Trustees in votes taken over the course of three days last week.

Lecture to focus on e-waste issues

CHAMPAIGN – The founder of PC Rebuilders & Recyclers will be on the University of Illinois campus Wednesday to discuss "The Truth, Tragedy and Transformation of E-Waste."

Willie Cade, who founded PCRR in 2000 to provide refurbished personal computers to schools, non-profits and at-risk children, will speak at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Illinois Ballroom of the I Hotel and Conference Center, 1900 S. First St., C.

Monday, November 9, 2009

UI, GEO headed for showdown

URBANA — The University of Illinois’ graduate teaching and research assistants could be going on strike for the first time.

Text of the GEO's news release on UI negotiations

Here is the text of the Graduate Employees' Organization news release on the results of its strike authorization vote.

Champaign cuts hours at post office in Campustown

CHAMPAIGN – Hours at the Station "A" post office at 302 E. Green St., C, will be reduced Dec. 1 to reflect traffic patterns, Champaign Postmaster Morrie Smith said.

Beginning Dec. 1, the office will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Current hours are 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays, so the reduction means the office will open one hour later and close a half-hour earlier than it does now.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Compute this: Work on new UI facility ahead of schedule

CHAMPAIGN – One of these days, fifth-graders will be trooping through the big building at the corner of Oak Street and St. Mary's Road.

Maybe they'll tap the bulletproof glass at the reception window as they wait their turn to go through the "man trap," the rotating door that will get you if you don't really have authorization to be there. Or maybe they'll get to blink at the iris reader instead.

UI theater major looking to make name as pop singer

Jaclyn Holtzman seems like any college student.

She's not sure what her life holds or what will happen when she graduates from the University of Illinois in May 2011. She's juggling schoolwork, a sorority, a boyfriend. Oh, and she's working on a professional singing career under her stage name, J Rose.

Studio Visit: Patrick Earl Hammie, 27, of Champaign

Q: When did you arrive here to join the UI's School of Art and Design?

A: Four months ago. My girlfriend and I found a house to rent in Champaign across from Hessel Park. I came here from the East Coast; I lived in Connecticut and South Carolina equally.

Legendary composer to be in-residence at UI

CHAMPAIGN – A legendary American composer who developed the Deep Listening philosophy and practice will be in-residence from Friday through Nov. 17 at the University of Illinois.

Pauline Oliveros will be on campus as a George A. Miller Visiting Artist, leading workshops and giving lectures that are free and open to the public.

New UI trustees chairman didn't exactly have write stuff

One thing is pretty clear. There's no way Christopher Kennedy could have been appointed to the University of Illinois board of trustees based solely on the application he submitted to Gov. Pat Quinn.

Politics – and the cachet of the Kennedy name and the fundraising connections it presents – had to have been a much bigger factor because Kennedy's application is so painfully weak.

Book looks at 150 years of nature, change

The modern story of the plants, animals and insects of Illinois is also the story of the Illinois Natural History Survey.

And it is the story of people and their impact on the landscape.

Friday, November 6, 2009

I Hotel owner puts green structure on display

CHAMPAIGN – The award-winning solar house designed by University of Illinois students settled into its new home Thursday near the I Hotel and Conference Center.

A giant crane stood ready to lift the house onto a new foundation poured this week just southeast of the hotel.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Concerns raised about e-mail, calendar services at UI

URBANA – The University of Illinois is moving toward better e-mail and calendar services – the same free ones you use.

CITES Express licensing expires Dec. 31, 2010. But even before that, many departments have been dissatisfied with the services and have moved on to products of their own choosing.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

State shortfall may spell furloughs at UI

URBANA – The University of Illinois has so far seen only $400,000 of $317 million it is owed by the state, leading to a virtual hiring freeze and the possibility of furloughs.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

UI flash index's big increase is its first in two years

URBANA – The University of Illinois flash index rose substantially for the first time in two years, but a UI economist said it's too early to tell whether the recession is ending.

The index rose from 90 in September to 90.7 in October, said economist J. Fred Giertz, who compiles the index for the UI's Institute of Government and Public Affairs.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Japan House fall open house Saturday

URBANA – The Fall Open House at Japan House will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Japan House, 2000 S. Lincoln Ave., U.

At the event, Hajime Sugawara, a sixth-degree black belt, and Masahiro Imafuji, a fifth-degree black belt, both of the Central Indiana Kendo Club, will give "Kendo: The Way of the Sword" presentations at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. James Bier, designer of the Japan House gardens, will give garden tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

4 finalists for UI College of Media dean

URBANA – The University of Illinois College of Media has whittled its dean candidates to four finalists, and none is a local faculty member.

The finalists are:

Friday, October 30, 2009

A traffic nightmare? UI game collides with trick or treat

Here's a scary Halloween story: Tens of thousands of (possibly frustrated) football fans will be driving through Champaign-Urbana just as costumed children hit the streets.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

UI receives H1N1 vaccine, but not the kind it needs

URBANA – H1N1 vaccine has arrived on the University of Illinois campus, but it came with two complications: It's the wrong kind for people who need it the most – those with chronic health conditions – and there's not enough of it to hold a walk-in vaccination clinic.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

UI gets some H1N1 vaccine, but...

URBANA — H1N1 vaccine has arrived on the University of Illinois campus, but it came with two complications:

It’s the wrong kind for people who need it the most — those with chronic health conditions —  and there’s not enough of it to hold a walk-in vaccination clinic.

Ex-UI chancellor now in running for NMSU presidency

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Former University of Illinois Chancellor Richard Herman is one of five finalists to become the next president at New Mexico State University.

UI team earns trip to world programming championship

URBANA – Three University of Illinois computer science students will go to China for the world championship in programming.

The UI's "Bardeen" team, named for the late Nobel Prize-winning UI physicist, edged out the University of Chicago by five minutes in solving seven of nine difficult programming and logic problems. The 34th annual Association for Computing Machinery International Collegiate Programming Contest regional competition was held at the UI's Springfield campus over the weekend.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

UI faculty members applaud outgoing leaders

URBANA – At the prompting of Stanley Ikenberry, University of Illinois faculty stood and applauded the university's outgoing leaders Monday afternoon after they delivered their last formal addresses to the campus senate together.

UI Library holding book sale on Thursday

URBANA – Shopping for a good used book? The University of Illinois LIbrary will hold its annual book sale Thursday.

The sale runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Marshall Gallery at the east entrance to the main library, 1408 W. Gregory Drive, U.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Herman: 'It's good to have the ambiguity resolved'

Chancellor Richard Herman, who announced his resignation last week, will spend his last day in office Monday. He sat down with The News-Gazette's Julie Wurth on Friday to talk about his decision to resign, his accomplishments and regrets over the past decade as provost and chancellor, the upheaval caused by the "Category I" admissions scandal, and the school's future. Excerpts follow. For the complete version, please click here.

New production of 'Camelot' coming to Assembly Hall

The Knights of the Round Table are coming to the University of Illinois later this month.

Lerner & Loewe's "Camelot," part of the WCIA 3 Broadway Series, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Assembly Hall Star Theatre.

UI's annual faculty meeting will have new roster at top

URBANA – Monday's annual meeting of the University of Illinois faculty may require a lineup card.

Normally the session hosted by the campus senate is a chance for professors to question the president and chancellor, and sometimes the provost, on all manner of issues.

Country-of-origin exhibition now on view at I space

CHICAGO – A nearly ubiquitous country-of-origin label seen on countless U.S. consumer goods is the subject of a new exhibition on view through Nov. 14 at I space, the Chicago gallery of the University of Illinois.

The exhibition, "made in china: Erik Hemingway and Allison Warren," explores the meaning of the phrase that appears on a practically endless stream of consumer goods marketed worldwide.

Outgoing UI chancellor opens up on his thoughts, views

Chancellor Richard Herman, who announced his resignation last week, will spend his last day in office Monday. He sat down with The News-Gazette Friday to talk about his decision to resign, his accomplishments and regrets over the past decade as provost and chancellor, the upheaval caused by the "Category I" admissions scandal, and the school's future.

Wine event proceeds to benefit UI hospitality program

URBANA – The local fifth annual celebration of a French wine release will be Nov. 23.

The Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration will include French wine and a cold buffet for $75 per person. Proceeds are for the University of Illinois' Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition's hospitality management program.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

UI trustees committee accepts Herman's resignation

CHICAGO – Richard Herman's resignation as chancellor of the University of Illinois was accepted unanimously by the board of trustees' executive committee Friday in a meeting that lasted less than 11 minutes.

Herman turned in his resignation Tuesday after months of revelations about interference with UI admissions by politicians and trustees. Last month, President B. Joseph White resigned.

Land-grant law keys wide-ranging talks

URBANA – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and several leaders at the University of Illinois are joining a host of government leaders, presidents of public universities and Lincoln scholars on the campus this weekend to discuss the future of higher education in the United States.

The conference, which kicked off Friday evening, is called "Lincoln's Unfinished Work: The Morrill Act and the Future of Higher Education."

Friday, October 23, 2009

Two companies share promising plans for future

URBANA – It's been a difficult year for many businesses, but two local companies said Thursday they won't let that stand in their way.

The chief executive officer of Champaign-based EpiWorks outlined his company's plan to expand into solar technologies, and the founder of iCyt Mission Technology introduced a new piece of cell-sorting equipment the company plans to distribute internationally.

Graduate student union plans attention-getting rally

CHAMPAIGN – The graduate student union at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana will rally Monday before a targeted audience: fellow graduate students.

From 8 to 8:30 a.m., the Graduate Employees Organization will rally outside the I Hotel and Convention Center, 1900 S. First St., C, where the Illinois Association of Graduate Schools Conference on Graduate Education and the Economy is being held.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Jogger dies after collapsing in front of UI police station

URBANA – The Champaign County coroner said he's not sure what killed a University of Illinois student who collapsed in front of the UI police station Monday morning.

Coroner Duane Northrup said Vincent J. Clarkson, 20, of Elburn was pronounced dead at 10:17 a.m. at the Provena Covenant Medical Center emergency room in Urbana. An autopsy showed no signs of trauma nor any suspicion of meningitis. He said a cause of death would have to wait until toxicology tests are completed.

Applicant files $5 million suit against UI

URBANA – A University of Illinois applicant has sued the university for $5 million over its now-discontinued "Category I" admissions system, a move administrators say they expected to happen.

Jonathon Yard of Taylorville, who was denied admission to the UI's Urbana campus, filed the class-action lawsuit Tuesday.

Funds or no funds, Lincoln Hall renovation fete is on

URBANA – University of Illinois officials are planning to celebrate the beginning of the restoration of Lincoln Hall on Friday – even though the long-anticipated project is still without a primary funding source.

UI student shares grand prize, nets $27,000

CHICAGO – A University of Illinois senior is $27,000 richer today, having shared the grand prize in the 2009 Collegiate Inventors Competition.

Stephen Diebold, 21, of Rolling Meadows was one of two grand prize winners named Tuesday. He was cited for his invention of the Drop Point, a device that helps quadriplegics with everyday tasks.