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SWITCH FROM EMPANADAS TO BURGERS

ILLINI FACE HURRICANES In first road game of the season, No. 24 Illinois will be tested by No. 15 Miami

Jurassic Grill, formerly The Empanadas House, is reopening with a new focus

December 2, 2014

An American tradition experienced for the first time gives perspective to the holiday

SPORTS, 1B

LIFE & CULTURE, 6A

TUESDAY

OUTSIDER LOOKING IN ON THANKSGIVING OPINIONS, 4A

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BONEYARD CREEK REVAMPED Urbana’s local creek gets a renovation

BY WALBERT CASTILLO STAFF WRITER

Two years and $7.9 million dollars later, the City of Urbana is celebrating the completion of the first section of improvements to Boneyard Creek. The community gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 21 held to commemorate the completion of the Boneyard Creek Improvements Project, which redeveloped parts of the creek between Griggs Street and Broadway Avenue. The city has plans to develop five different sections of the creek, spanning from Founders Park in the west to the intersection of Vine Street and University Avenue in the east. The recently completed project, section three, covers a distance of approximately 800 feet and is located in the middle of the four

SEE BONEYARD | 3A

New features of Boneyard Creek park

An eight feet wide concrete pathway Public art depicting the creek’s history Renovation of the old wooden railroad bridge into a pedestrian walkway Accent lighting on the stairs leading into the park and along the bridge and pedestrian lighting along the pathway A public overlook near Griggs and Race streets A plaza near the Station Theatre

SOURCE: THE CITY OF URBANA

ZIANG XIAO THE DAILY ILLINI

The City of Urbana recently completed the $7.9 million Boneyard Creek Improvements Project, bringing a new pathway, bridge, local art and more to a section of the creek between Griggs Street and Broadway Avenue.

University holds Ferguson discussion BY EDWIN HSIEH STAFF WRITER

Emotions were high Monday night as students and community members discussed the recent events that took place in Ferguson, Missouri, last week and explored the role of the white ally in dismantling racism and violence. Since the Nov. 24 grand jury decision to not indict officer Darren Wilson of the murder of Michael Brown, students across the nation have brought conversations about race to their campuses by protesting and holding dis-

cussion forums. The University of Illinois Diversity & Social Justice Education hosted an open discussion, titled “What’s a White Ally to Do,” at the University YMCA to address feelings about the recent verdict. “Tonight is really to provide a space for people to reflect on the events happening in Ferguson the last four months and to talk particularly in terms of race relation and racism,” said Ross Wantland, director of Diversity & Social Justice Education. The discussion focused on the definition of a white ally.

SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SEC defers Salaita case, waits for report from committees BY ABIGALE SVOBODA STAFF WRITER

The Senate Executive Committee moved to postpone a resolution regarding Steven Salaita’s rejected appointment and the importance of shared governance, in a 7 to 5 vote with 2 abstentions. Two senate committees have been appointed to review how

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INSIDE

“Many of us here are pissed off about what happened in Ferguson, I am not sure even if I want to be here,” said Leslie Morrow, director of the LGBT Resource Center and Ph.D. student. Wantland led the charge in the discussion and asked the participants to redefine the words “ally” and what it means for race relations and the community as a whole. Amnesty, openness to possibility, mindfulness of action and words were among the many things that people said in regard to what one should do.

Classified Research Policy

The Senate Executive Committee discussed a proposed classified research policy, which will be discussed further at its Dec. 8, Academic Senate meeting. The resolution would allow the University to accept research opportunities and receive funding from organizations that use classified or restricted research, from organizations such as the Department of Defense or national security organizations. The policy would be applied to all three University campuses, Salaita’s case was handled. Nick Burbules, SEC chair of General University Policy, said he believes it is important to wait until those groups report back

Handouts were given to people in attendance, which listed the five qualities of a good ally: an ally listens, an ally is present, an ally opens doors, an ally takes chances and an ally gets support. People were later broken down into discussion groups and participants shared their perspectives and personal experiences on how Ferguson or racism has impacted their lives. “I think it’s really important (that) people, including white people, deal with white

SEE FERGUSON | 1A

a matter that raised concern about binding the units without consent. The policy also could keep students from publishing research findings. Committee members addressed many concerns over how the policy interferes with the University’s educational mission, as it would likely halt international students from participating in classified research. The SEC agreed to form an ad hoc committee to review the policy and report back to the senate before its Feb. 9, 2015, meeting. to the senate before the resolution is decided upon to ensure mixed messages are not sent.

SEE SEC | 3A

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The University discussion centered around the definition of a “white ally” and allowed student to share their opinions.

Armed robbery hits Urbana gas station DAILY ILLINI STAFF REPORT

An armed robbery was reported around 4 a.m. Sunday at a gas station in the 1800 block of Philo Road in Urbana. The offender pointed a silver semi-automatic handgun, which he held in his left hand, at a clerk and demanded money and cigarettes, according to a press release from the Urbana Police Department. Prior to the offender entering the gas station, a female came in and was possibly casing the store. The offender is described as a black male, about 6 feet tall with a thin build. He was wearing a navy blue hoodie, black pants, black shoes, a black backpack and a full coverage costume feminine face

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mask with an exaggerated smile. On Oct. 27, the same female entered the same gas station prior to another armed robbery by a similar offender. The offender is the same build, left-handed and wore a different mask in the previous robbery. Urbana Police Sgt. Dan Morgan said that although the suspects’ identities are still unknown, it is a possibility both robberies were committed by the same offender. The female is a juvenile and has been identified and interviewed, but was uncooperative.

Jessica Ramos and Miranda Holloway contributed to the report

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Tuesday, December 2, 2014

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Burglary was reported at Mia Za’s, 629 E. Green St., around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. According to the report, the offender entered the business and stole money from the cash register.

Theft was reported at Walmart, 100 S. High Cross Road, around 5 p.m. Sunday. According to the report, the suspect attempted to steal merchandise from the business. Theft was reported at

217 • 337-8300 Copyright © 2014 Illini Media Co. The Daily Illini is the independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The newspaper is published by the Illini Media Co. The Daily Illini does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of the University of Illinois administration, faculty or students. All Illini Media Co. and/or Daily Illini articles, photos and graphics are the property of Illini Media Co. and may not be reproduced or published without written permission from the publisher. Editor-in-chief Johnathan Hettinger editor@ dailyillini.com Managing editors Hannah Prokop Lauren Rohr reporting@ dailyillini.com Creative director Anna Hecht design@ dailyillini.com Design editor Torey Butner News editor Corinne Ruff news@ dailyillini.com Asst. news editors Eleanor Black Megan Jones Taylor Odisho Newscast director Tiffany Jolley Daytime editor Miranda Holloway news@dailyillini. com Asst. daytime editor Bryan Boccelli Sports editor Sean Hammond sports@dailyillini. com Asst. sports editors Peter Bailey-Wells Michal Dwojak Torrence Sorrell Features editor Sarah Soenke features@dailyillini. com

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Today’s night system staff Night editor: Muriel Kelleher Copy editors: Annabeth Carlson, Stephen Bourbon, Kevin Gibbons, Charlotte Carrroll, Leah Freemon, Maggie Pluskota, Sarah Foster, Christina Oehler Designers: Eunie Kim, Kelsie Travers, Hannah Hwang, Bryan Lorenz Page transmission: Franklin Wang Periodical postage paid at Champaign, IL 61821. The Daily Illini is published Mondays through Thursdays during University of Illinois fall and spring semesters, and Mondays in summer. New Student Guide and Welcome Back Edition are published in August. First copy is free; each additional copy is 50 cents. Local, U.S. mail, out-of-town and outof-state rates available upon request.

WEATHER Uncle Martin’s Bar, 1104 N. Cunningham Avenue, around 6:30 p.m. Sunday. According to the report, the reporting person left her wallet at the local business.

TUESDAY 37˚ | 25˚ Partly Cloudy

Compiled by Jessica Ramos

THURSDAY 34˚ | 30˚ Cloudy

HOROSCOPES BY NANCY BLACK TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

Today’s Birthday Spread your wings this year. Jot down your wildest ambitions before 12/23, when a new personal power phase launches (through 12/19/17). Clarify plans over summer. Entertaining travels and adventures arise through August, when your career grows. Domestic changes after 3/20 hold your focus. Love flourishes naturally. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) Today is a 9 — Separate business from personal. Work smart, not hard. Make the commitment you’ve been considering. Stick to the standards you’ve set. Reinforce your ideology with facts. Keep digging and find what you’re looking for. Pour on the steam and results surpass imagination.

up and organize. Refurbish an old piece you can’t part with. Make sure you get what you bargained for. Follow your heart.

plan. Use a friend’s influence to advance even farther. Provide excellent, respectful service. Satisfy your clients. Grasp a business opportunity.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22)

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22DEC. 21)

Today is a 7 — Today’s work leads to career advancement. Fix something before it breaks. Fit short-term tasks to your long-range plans. Stay in close communication with your team. Make sure everyone has what they need to get the job done. Chop wood, carry water.

Today is a 7 — Your desires and effort seem aligned. Find ways to economize. Don’t let go of what you’ve achieved. Let your partner take the lead. Handle business along the way. Action comes easily, and things fall together effortlessly. This could get fun.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22)

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22JAN. 19)

Today is an 8 — Work out like you mean it. Greater effort wins greater reward. Get help with the heavy lifting, and get household chores out of the way. An amazing discovery unveils. Set work aside a bit early. Repay a favor. The action is behind the scenes.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22)

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) Today is an 8 — Study for more options. Think it over before making big decisions. Bring in an expert with practical experience. Complete an emotionally charged project. Work at home if possible, and take advantage for simultaneous lounging and productivity. Get comfortable, and crack those books.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) Today is a 7 — Handle your end of the business, especially details. Magnify the impact by collaborating with partners and friends. Your discipline is admirable. Clean

Today is a 7 — It’s smart to work hard now. An older friend provides just what you need. Group effort pays off big. Collaborate to grow family resources. Take care of others and your own needs get met. Disciplined actions get results. Store those nuts for winter.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) Today is an 8 — Get into action! A collaboration’s red hot. Consider the future result desired, and then look back to get the logical previous step, to the present. You’re gaining notoriety, respect and income. A business opportunity is there for the taking.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) Today is a 9 — Put your back into your work and a fat haul is possible. Do what you promised, and stick to the

Today is an 8 — The next two days are good for making changes at home. Make household decisions and clean up a mess. Neatness counts. Increase peace with compassion. Take care of business. Get in action on an old project. Then think of the places you can go.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) Today is a 7 — Work smart for career advancement. Keep track of earnings. A business opportunity comes your way. Go by the book, and go for it. Your ability to concentrate seems extra keen for the next two days. Study, without pressure. Find safe places to stash your treasure.

WEDNESDAY 39˚ | 25˚ Partly Cloudy

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PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20)

Today is an 8 — Business takes center stage, and it’s starting to heat up. Let your subconscious mind solve the problem. Your work now pushes your career in an enticing direction. Improve your working environment and increase your family’s comfort. Set your infrastructure up to support everyone.

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CORRECTIONS When we make a mistake, we will correct it in this place. We strive for accuracy, so if you see an error in the paper, please contact Editor-in-Chief Johnathan Hettinger at (217) 337-8365.

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Hit-and-run accidents with bikes more frequent in LA

BY ARMAND EMAMDJOMEH, LAURA J. NELSON AND JOSEPH SERNA TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

LOS ANGELES — Paul Livingston pressed his left arm to the pavement of Santa Monica Boulevard and slowly dragged his mangled body out of the street and onto the curb. A car had just slammed into him at a red light in Beverly Hills, throwing him from his bike. As paramedics lifted him into an ambulance, he heard a man nearby shout that the driver “just took off!” He blacked out. That was June 2011. The musician, then 35, spent the next three years struggling to recover and to seek accountability from the woman who hit him and drove away. Livingston’s case is part of a troubling trend. Hit-andrun collisions involving bicyclists surged 42 percent from 2002 to 2012 in Los Angeles County, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis of California Highway Patrol crash data. The increase came as the overall number of hit-andruns involving cars, cyclists and pedestrians dropped by 30 percent. Between 2002 and 2012, nearly 5,600 cyclists were injured and at least 36 died in crashes in which drivers fled the scene. The rising number of col-

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Hundreds of thousands of times each year in the United States, children go to emergency rooms with bone fractures. But new research from University of Maryland School of Medicine shows that the injuries are almost never splinted properly. Ninety-three percent of the splints that are used to immobilize fractured limbs temporarily are not put on correctly, according to the study of pediatric patients in the Baltimore area. And that can lead to swelling, skin injuries and other problems — some of them long-term. “I did the study because I see a lot of splints on wrong, but I didn’t think it would be that high,” said Dr. Joshua M. Abzug, the director of pediatric orthopedics at the University of Maryland Medical Center and the lead author of the study. “This is really a baseline study that shows, ‘Hey, there is a problem and we recognize that it exists.’ The next step is education.” Abzug, who is also an assistant professor in Maryland’s School of Medicine, studied 275 children and

FROM 1A

FERGUSON supremacy and racism, that we work with each other and push each other,” said Joe Minarik, program coordinator for the Diversity & Social Justice Education. The room was filled with a racially diverse group of students and adults, and many of them said they were interested in what people had to say regarding to the ruling.

FROM 1A

SEC “I’m certain that the issues are going to look different after those committees have reported out,” Burbules said. “I think we owe it to the senate and to those committees for a chance to make their statement before the senate takes any stance on those issues.” The resolution was coauthored by Ben McCall, SEC member and professor in chemistry, and Kirk Sanders, SEC member and associate professor in classics, and will now be presented to the academic senate at its Feb. 9, 2015, meeting. “I can’t imagine CAFT (Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure) comes out with a report that convinces me that academic freedom isn’t important,” McCall said. The goal of the resolution is to “try to seize middle ground and to try

NEWS BRIEFS TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Obama proposes $236 million for training, body cameras for police WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is proposing new rules for local police agencies by giving access to surplus U.S. military equipment, such as the armored vehicles, assault rifles and body armor that police in Ferguson, Mo.,

used in their attempt to quiet protests this summer. Obama is also proposing a three-year, $263 million spending package to expand training and increase the use of body-worn cameras for monitoring police interactions with the public.

Congressional staffer quits after criticizing first daughters online WASHINGTON — A Republican congressional staffer, who took Malia and Sasha Obama to task for how they behaved at last week’s White House turkey pardoning, is quitting her job, according to NBC News. The staffer, Elizabeth Lauten, has been communiJAY L. CLENDENIN TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Hit-and-run victim Luis Avina on Hope Place, where he was struck by a car that turned in front of him, on Nov. 3, in Los Angeles. lisions underscores the delicate balance on Los Angeles streets, where more bicyclists are sharing lanes with vehicles. The number of Angelenos who are commuting by bike is slowly growing, federal data show. And in the last five years, Los Angeles has added more than 120 miles of bike lanes to promote safety and encourage more people to get out of their cars. For cyclists who are hit, a major frustration is how infrequently drivers are caught. The Los Angeles

Police Department closed one in five hit-and-runs from 2008 to 2012, meaning about 80 percent were unresolved, according to data the department reported last year to the Board of Police Commissioners. Less than half of those cases were closed through an arrest. Traffic investigators say that they are faced with thousands of hit-and-run collisions a year involving bikes, cars and pedestrians, and they must focus on cases with strong leads, such

as eyewitness reports or the car’s license plate number, and on crashes that kill or maim the victims. More than three years after the crash, Livingston has tried to let go of the anger, pain and frustration of the last three years. Loud noises and heavy traffic still put him on edge, though. And his bike sits unused. “My life is getting back on track. I know it could be much worse,” Livingston said. “But nothing will ever be the same.”

Study shows many fracturesetting splints done incorrectly BY MEREDITH COHN

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

teenagers who came to a Maryland pediatric orthopedist from a community hospital emergency department or urgent care center in the region. He presented his findings in Washington last month at a conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The splints that are used to stabilize broken bones usually include a strip of rigid material, a wrapping of soft padding and an elastic bandage to hold them in place. Most of the time, Abzug said, the application is good enough for a patient who will see an orthopedist within a few days. The orthopedist can evaluate the patient and put on a cast. But if that visit is delayed, he said, serious problems can develop. They include wounds that require skin grafts or even surgery to reset a bone. In 77 percent of the cases Abzug studied, elastic bandages were incorrectly put directly on skin. In 59 percent, joints were not immobilized correctly. In 52 percent, splints were the wrong length. About 40 percent of the kids had skin and softtissue complications. Those percentages are

Jessica Ryan plays with her two 1-year-old sons Hayden, left, and Hudson in her home. Hudson broke his leg and the splint ended up giving him a sore. particularly troubling, he said, given the numbers who are splinted. Nearly half of all boys and a quarter of girls suffer fractures before age 16, Abzug said. Almost 1 million kids under 15 fracture limbs each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found in its 2010 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, and millions more get splints for sprains or strains. Abzug suspects that adults are also not splinted properly.

The researchers could not identify who was applying splints incorrectly most often — doctors, nurses, physician assistants or medical assistants — because parents couldn’t reliably tell them. They planned to demonstrate up-to-date techniques to staff in area hospitals and urgent care centers and perhaps provide some posters and pocket-size cards for reminders. Abzug said they would redo the study to see whether splinting improved.

“I want to be a part of any kind of campus response to Ferguson,” said Lailye Weidman, a graduate student in FAA. “It was a really great beginning, and a nice way to network and open conversation that will hopefully be continued.” Several participants said their main takeaway from the discussion was that white supremacy does exist and that it will be a long process for it to disappear. Discussion leaders urged white peo-

ple to acknowledge the existence of race, to listen to what others have to say and to take action against racism. Wantland urged people to get more involved with diversity and race relation-related activities or workshops on campus to raise awareness. “This conversation around white allyship are few and far between, and we need to increase the number of dialogue around race in our community,” Wantland said. “I believe tonight’s event will

provide an opportunity to think critically about what a white ally could be and what work we have to do to come together as a community,” The Central Black Student Union with hold another discussion regarding race and race relations on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Florida Avenue Residence Hall in Oglesby Lounge.

to bring people together, coming from different perspectives on the Salaita case,” McCall said. The proposed resolution states the decision to not forward Salaita’s appointment to the Board of Trustees was inconsistent with the University’s principles of shared governance. Additionally, it urges senior administrators to go through appropriate processes of consulting with academic units when they oppose recommendations. “The senate ... rejects the notion that a university should value ‘civility as much as scholarship,’ since the free expression of scholarly opinions is the essence of academic freedom,” the resolution stated. Calvin Lear, graduate student and SEC member, had reason to agree with McCall’s statement on the unlikeliness that the two committees reports will change the resolution. “There is a big portion of this campus that believes

that the senate, and the senate executive committee by connection, is either unwilling or unable to help them improve their lot in life; so there is an impetus to try and consider something,” Lear said. “It’s not that we’re tone deaf and we don’t get it, it’s just that we have some concerns.” Lear suggested presenting the resolution at the senate’s Dec. 8 meeting, where opposed members could voice their concerns to the whole senate. This way, all members would be given the opportunity to weigh in on the subject and the resolution may still be held until February. Burbles reminded the SEC that the committee’s purpose is to be “thoughtful and considerate.” “I’m not very moved by the concern that we have to do something because people want to see the senate do something,” he said.

FROM 1A

cations director for Rep. Stephen Fincher, R-Tenn. A firestorm arose when Lauten’s comments about the first daughters, which she posted on Facebook, went viral. “Try showing a little class,” she wrote in a post addressed to the girls.

Janay Rice discusses reasoning behind apology on Today show During a lengthy interview on NBC’s “Today” show with Matt Lauer, Janay Rice discussed a number of topics, including explaining why she apologized following her husband’s highprofile domestic violence incident. The first part of the “Today” interview aired Monday, featuring comments from Janay. A second segment featuring comments from Ray Rice, the ex-Ravens running back who was reinstated to the

NFL last week, will air Tuesday. “I apologized for the part that I took in this,” Janay Rice said in the interview, explaining a much maligned news conference at the Ravens’ facility in May. “And I apologized because, for one, this press conference was something Ray and I put together. I was ready to do anything that was going to help the situation, both help the way we looked in the media, help his image, help obviously his career.”

Bill Cosby gives up seat on Temple University board of trustees PHI L A DEL PHI A — Under fire from at least 20 accusations of sexual assault, Bill Cosby on Monday resigned from Temple University’s board of trustees after for 32 years. The decision came amid mounting pressure for the Philadelphia university to cut ties, including a change. org petition with more than

1,000 signatures. “I have always been proud of my association with Temple University,” Cosby said in a statement, released by the university. “I have always wanted to do what would be in the best interests of the university and its students. As a result, I have (resigned) from the Board of Trustees.”

Iraqi leader releases 24 officials after 50,000 ‘ghost’ soldiers arise

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Abigale can be reached at asvobod2@dailyillini. com.

Edwin can be reached at eehsieh2@dailyillini. com.

BONEYARD other sections. Alderman Charlie Smyth, Ward 1, said the bridge at Race and Griggs streets across Boneyard Creek needed to be replaced and Race Street needed roadwork and street beautification. Not only does the $7.9 million project include a new bridge at Boneyard, but also roadwork and beautification to the surrounding area. The project provided an eight-foot-wide pathway for bicyclists and pedestrians, art sculptures that depict the history of life forms found underneath the creek, over 20,000 native plants that will sprout in the springtime, an irrigation system to help decontaminate the water supply and redeveloped animal habitats, said Brad Bennett, assistant city engineer and project manager for the Boneyard Creek Improvements Project. “On the north side of the channel, we planted a lot of

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi dismissed 24 senior Interior Ministry officials Monday in an effort to “reform and rebuild” security institutions in the embattled country, the government leader announced via Twitter. The dismissals, which al-

Abadi described as retirements, followed his report Sunday that an investigation of the Iraqi armed forces’ payroll had turned up 50,000 names of “ghost soldiers,” fictitious troops drawing salaries that go to senior officers, Middle East media reported.

Missing Canadian-Israeli woman reportedly captured by militants JERUSALEM — Mystery surrounds the whereabouts of an Israeli-Canadian woman who joined Kurdish forces battling the Islamic State in Syria, with unconfirmed reports saying she may have been captured by the terrorist group. The governments of Canada and Israel were trying

to obtain further information about the whereabouts of Gill Rosenberg, official statements from both said. According to the U.S.-based intelligence group SITE, a message on a known militant Internet forum claimed Islamic State had captured a “female Zionist soldier” in Kobani, Syria.

MARIAH MATTHEWS THE DAILY ILLINI

A faculty member shares the highlights her group discussed and explained their choice not to take notes. native vegetation, more so like a prairie mix to provide habitats for animals such as woodchucks, squirrels and ducks; the south side is more park-like with more trees and shrubs planted alongside the creek,” Bennett said. The construction part of the project was the most difficult, Bennett said, because the city had to work around a railroad that involved a multitude of permits, which took time. Bennett said the project encountered complications with construction near the railroad portion as well as several utility issues, involving the movement of fiberoptic cables underground. The initial planning stages of the project started in 2008, said Alderman Dennis Roberts, Ward 5. However, construction did not start until 2012. The construction project impacted local property owners surrounding the area due to streets being closed, Bennett said. He expressed his gratitude to them for their patience and support for the project.

Because this was a tax increment financing, or TIF, project, Mayor Laurel Prussing said any increases in the value of development will be sent back to the TIF district. “This is an area that needed redevelopment, we thought that beautifying the creek would be a huge incentive for new businesses and residential construction,” Prussing said. The money raised toward the project was paid by taxes from the properties surrounding the area, rather than the general revenue collected by the whole city, Bennett said. Aldermen Symth and Roberts said they hope the recent completion of improvements to the center of Boneyard Creek will drive the city to begin redevelopment of the other four sections in the near future. Specifically, Roberts hopes improvements will begin with section one on the western side of the creek near Founder’s Park.

Walbert can be reached at wcasti2@dailyillini.com.

TUESDAY

OPINIONS

THE DAILY ILLINI

EDITORIAL CARTOON

E D I TO R IAL

GARY MCCOY CAGLE CARTOONS

James Scholar program gives hefty title but little else

o be one the best universities in the nation, you need the best students in the nation. To recruit these students, universities focus their attention on the following: program prestige, the campus, athletics, dorms and Greek life. But The Daily Illini Editorial Board has found that the University lacks one of these aspects — a prestigious academic honors program. As it currently stands, the University has Chancellor’s Scholars and James Scholars. While Chancellor’s Scholars have a standard, selective application process, the James Scholars program lacks consistent requirements across different colleges, and the lack of benefits these programs offer make joining the programs not worth students’ time. The honors program requires students to maintain a specified GPA and complete additional activities, which can include completing extra work in their classes, involving one-onone projects with professors, or doing research — the activities vary by college. Additionally, the program hopes to make students competitive candidates if they decide to apply to graduate school. The extra work leaves students with the perk of registering early for classes and a resume boost, according to the University. But do future employers really know what it means to be a James Scholar? And for that matter, do we really know what it means to be a James Scholar? Some believe the program allows students to build stronger relationships with their professors through the one-on-one projects. In other instances, smaller classes are reserved specifically for scholars. However, students have the ability to bond with a professor without needing to do special projects. Some James Scholar programs in different colleges offer more than others, so there is no consistency about what it means to be a James Scholar. For example, the College of Business offers an MBA scholarship if a student decides to come back here after receiving an undergraduate or graduate degree. There are clearly some perks to being the programs, but not all scholar students have the opportunity to experience them. The program could be enhanced by offering more equitable James Scholar perks among all colleges, making it more worthwhile to these students. The University is one of the top schools in the country and offers plenty of incentives for future students, but making these changes could help the University recruit even more talented students. A more consistent honors program across the campus, with increased perks, would benefit not only honors students, but the University as a whole. The University should take the next step to help attract more students.

Journey to the center of the mall CARLY CHARLES Opinions columnist

he month of November bore witness to many celebrated American traditions: Thanksgiving, NoShave November and, most importantly, Black Friday. For anybody who doesn’t follow my weekly columns, two Tuesdays ago, I explored the Black Friday phenomenon, what it represents to American consumers and my predictions with regard to the anticipated unruly turnout. This week, I come to you from a different, more worldly vantage point. For now, you see, my opinions and attacks on Black Friday will not come from loosely formed hypotheses. No, today, I write to you as a veteran of the infamous Black Friday sensation. As the detailed log of my Black Friday endeavors will show, I was neither the occasion’s biggest fan nor its biggest consumer. 3 a.m.: I woke up from a peaceful and full-to-bursting-stomach-aided slumber. I realized that it had been a mere two hours since I fell asleep in the first place. On such an inadequate amount of sleep, pushing through soc-

cer moms and tech-savvy uncles enraged with determination in their quest to secure to-die-for deals did not float my boat. I slipped back into a content slumber. 10 a.m.: I woke up once more, and this time I stayed awake. I laboriously completed the standard wake up, brush your teeth, make your bed, justify-leftover-pumpkin-pie-as-being-an-acceptable-form-of-breakfast type tasks. Then, my Black Friday partner in consumerism, Robby, and I embarked on what I will refer to as “Journey to the Center of the Mall.” 12 p.m.: Who wants to shop on an empty stomach? It became imperative that we address this concern, so we pulled in to the nearest McDonald’s. Unfortunately, other shoppers — probably a good deal of those perusing the IKEA down the road — had similar thoughts. The lines were atrocious and it took Robby approximately seventeen minutes to procure three burgers and a medium order of fries. Things weren’t off to a good start.

1 p.m.: Eventually, we arrived at the mall. The parking situation was similar to that of Disney World: Our car was situated hundreds of feet away from the mall’s entrance. Unlike Disney World, however, there was no tram or monorail system to transport us closer to the gates. We walked, and it’s quite possible that I burned off the entirety of my pie-forbreakfast caloric intake. 1:15 p.m.: We made it to the entrance of the mall and began to observe the ambiance and the sales. A woman turned violently toward the face of her infant child and screamed rather loudly, “YOU’RE BEING TOO LOUD.” A mall cop slid by, equipped with a helmet and a Segway. The crowd level, on a loosely defined ten-point scale (based on people per square foot, noise level, etcetera), was approximately nine. I grabbed onto the end of Robby’s coat, lest we become separated by a family of five carrying somewhere close to six shopping bags per person, or a Segway-yielding mall cop.

Pushing through soccer moms and tech-savvy uncles in their quest to secure to-die-for deals did not float my boat.

1:45 p.m.: The sales we’d come across by this point were eclectically futile at best. One store sold $55.00 bow ties for roughly $50.00. Another provided the completely useful sales tactic of “Buy Three Life-size Stuffed Rhinos, Get a Fourth Rhino Free!” The line at Forever 21 appeared longer than the Raging Bull queue at Six Flags, and was dominated by Ugg-adorned tweens, to boot. 3:00 p.m.: We left the mall exhausted and empty-handed. After two long, wearisome hours of weaving through hair-straightening booths, Santaland, and hoards and hoards of equally exhausted shoppers, we decided we were completely Black Friday’d out. Having only spent $5 on McDonald’s for sustenance, we decided the consumer-heavy holiday just wasn’t for us, and mutually agreed to just buy everything on Amazon. In short, Black Friday was a rather entertaining spectacle to take part in, but the overly stupid amounts of road, food court and department store congestion were simply not an opportunity cost we found necessary to save maybe a few dollars on an already-expensive cashmere sweater.

Carly is a junior in FAA. She can be reached at ccharle2@dailyillini.com.

An outsider’s account of the great American Thanksgiving SHIVAM SHARMA Opinions columnist

rowing up in an Indian household, festivals have been a constant part of my life. Not just because us Indians happen to have so many of them, but also because each one was celebrated in our house with great preparation and enthusiasm. As a child, I eagerly looked forward to Diwali (better known in this part of the world as the Festival of Lights) or Holi (also known as the Festival of Colors). I would wake up to the smell of delicious homemade snacks and sweets and go to bed at night exhausted from the day’s festivities. It’s been three years now since I had the chance to be with my family on any of our festivals. I never thought that I would miss the festival aspect of my life, but since I moved away to college, that is exactly how I have felt. I was quite excited then when my roommate invited me to spend Thanksgiving day with his family. I would finally have the opportunity to experience my first traditional American Thanksgiving, in the great American suburbia.

My experiences over the course of the day convinced me that the festivals that people celebrate, no matter what part of the world they come from, have common threads tying them together, even amongst obvious differences. I arrived at my friend’s house on Thursday morning, a man on a mission. I was prepared to devour that massive deep-fried turkey that had stared me down on television programs over the years — a turkey I had always seen, but never had the chance to taste. I was also buoyed by a massive sense of irony, considering every festival in our house is strictly meat-free. I must say the turkey with all its condiments did not disappoint — further strengthening my view that Americans have barbecuing and frying down to a precise science. Irony struck again when I was offered a glass of wine after dinner. Alcohol during a festival! I could only imagine my mother’s disapproving face as I gleefully sipped the vino. Following dinner, as I sat in my friend’s living room, deep in that customary food coma, quietly observing the merry scenes around me, it struck me that despite the small differences, Thanksgiving wasn’t very different from the festivals I celebrated back home. An opportunity for fam-

ily and friends to get together around terrific homemade meals is a constant during holidays, no matter what part of the world you’re in. Yes, the interactions might differ and the food may change, but the basic concept remains the same. The fact that I could be sitting in an American household and feel included in the celebrations, despite the cultural differences separating us, helped me realize that people aren’t that different after all. I am sure my roommate would feel equally included if he ever gets the chance to experience an Indian festival at my house. People everywhere want to be treated with respect, people everywhere enjoy humor and, most importantly, people everywhere are just trying to get through life with their families and friends by their side. As the food coma subsided that evening, we proceeded to the next part of our day: Thanksgiving sales. Black Friday, in every sense, epitomizes our consumerist society. In fact, until this year, I had been convinced that Thanksgiving is a shopping holiday. While globalization has ensured that this consumerist culture has found its way to other parts of the world (certain festivals like Diwali in India now involve buying

gifts for friends and families), there really is nothing like Black Friday. In contrast to the calm, festive environment of my friend’s house, I found myself in the frenzy of stores packed with people rushing to fill their shopping carts with the best deals, some having camped out as early as Wednesday night. These are scenes that are absolutely unique to this country, at least in my experience. I felt sympathy for all those store workers who had been deprived of this friend and family time, almost crushing the holiday spirit that had been so real just moments ago. I did not really understand this, as back home no stores can be open on a holiday. As I went to bed that night, I couldn’t zero in on what American Thanksgiving is really about, but I was quite fascinated by the fact that this simple holiday was a rare occasion for people to be with their loved ones, but was also somehow a wacky race for the best shopping deals. It was an experience that I could connect with my own cultural festivals, because, in the end, holidays aren’t all that different.

Shivam is a senior in Engineering. He can be reached at ssharm16 @dailyillini.com.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS | opinions@dailyillini.com with the subject “Letter to the Editor.” The Daily Illini reserves the right to edit for length, libel, grammar and spelling errors, and Daily Illini style or to reject any contributions. Letters must be limited to 300 words. Contributions must be typed and include the author’s name, address and phone number. University students must include their year in school and college.

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

FROM 6A

JURASSIC fries and chicken wings. Also, despite the namechange, empanadas are still available. “When we opened Jurassic Grill, a lot of customers came asking for empanadas,” Olarte explained. The sign for Empanadas House is still in the window, right next to the new Jurassic Grill logo. Five of the most popular empanada flavors will be offered every day, including the spinach and feta and Bombay hot. They are working on improving their items with a better recipe for dough and new flavors, Olarte said. Juan’s flair for empanadas comes from Argentina, where he started his first two restaurants eight years ago before moving to the United States to be with his wife.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

For those looking for the full menu of empanadas, customers can still visit the Empanada House food truck or use their catering option. Though Jurassic Grill has only been open for a few weeks, they have gotten great feedback, he said. Chelsea Fry, junior in Social Work, was one such satisfied customer. “It was awesome! I’ve always been a fan of quality burgers,” she said. “You’re so used to burger joints where you’re not even sure what their ingredients are.” Fry, her boyfriend and her roommate have been back at least two times to Jurassic Grill and have plans to frequent the grill. “We’re very happy they’re around, because it’s very hard to find a good burger joint in Campustown,” she said. She compared the product to Five Guys, but said it was quicker and much more

affordable. She also said that Olarte was “so friendly, so excited, and so passionate about what he does and you can tell that he just wants to deliver quality food.” While she said she would try items from the expanded menu, she was content with the small, well-executed menu already available. “They’ve already won my business,” she said. Jurassic Grill will be open every day from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., and Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 3 a.m. The entire menu will also be available for delivery from GrubHub and EatCU. As time goes on, Olarte plans to continue defining the menu and restaurant as a whole, utilizing the opinions of students through all of Jurassic Grill’s future evolutions.

Lillian can be reached at lbarkle2 @dailyillini.com.

FROM 6A

WEAVERS don’t know if it’s my nature or their nature but I have a great respect for them and their ways,” Foxx said. He photographed the modest and changing lives of the living Maya and all of the protagonists carry significance to him now. Some of the people in his photographs are now deceased. Others have grown up, but what remains is a collection of photographs that narrates the story of a group of people at a crossroads, he said. With ancient traditions dying, the art of weaving is something that has followed and seen gradual change since and during Foxx’s time in Guatemala, he said.

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Edie of “Nurse Jackie” 6 Not quite right 11 Prime meridian std. 14 Hipbone-related 15 “Holy cow!” 16 Waikiki wear 17 Related add-ons, informally 19 “___ long gone daddy in the U.S.A.” (Springsteen lyric) 20Golden Horde members 21 Suffix with sucr- and lact22 Brouhaha 23 Tennis umpire’s call 24 “Straight ___ Compton” (seminal rap album) 25 Tom Cruise/Nicole Kidman racing film 31 Things confessed at confession 32 Bad things from sharks? 33 Dodgers great Campanella 35 It’s attention-getting 36 Figure skater Harding 37 Scotch ___ 38 Whiz 39 Place for a kiddie hawk? 40Elevator innovator 41 “That” something in an Arlen/Mercer standard 45Exotic jelly fruit 46“No thanks, I already ___” 47 The Beatles’ “___ Love Her” 48Org. whose only members with nonplural names appear at the ends of 17-, 25-, 41- and 56-Across 51 “Fiddler on the Roof” setting 55 Old-time actress Hagen 56 Keep cool in summer 58 Obama or Clinton, informally 59 Add-on 60So unhip as to be hip, maybe 61 Gridiron gains: Abbr. 62 One of the Coen brothers 63 Din-making

39 41

ANDREA CARLA MICHAELS

DOWN 1 Company that owns Ferrari 2 Milan’s Teatro ___ Scala 3 Gentle rise and fall of the voice 4 It makes things happen 5 Earthy tones 6 First anti-AIDS drug 7 Luck that’s workin’ for ya 8 “___ a Teenage Werewolf” 9 Jumbo, for one 10 “Oh yeah? ___ who?” 11 Fashionable celebs 12 Like the climate of Miami or Rio 13 Princess topper 18 Concerning 22 South of France 24 Follower of clip or slip 25 Not full-price 26 Famous Yosemite photographer 27 Fauna’s counterpart 28 Elixir

29 “Frida” star Salma 30 Acapulco article 31 Hot spot? 34 “You betcha!” 36 Business card abbr. 37 With it 39 Lawyers’ org. 42 Roman 506 43 Turn to pulp 44 Subject of a massive statue in the ancient Parthenon 45 Tastelessly showy 48 Call at a deli counter 49 “Splish Splash” spot 50 Gillette brand 52 Architect Saarinen 53 Cry made with a curtsy, maybe 54 Astronomical meas. 56 Honey Nut Cheerios mascot 57 Catch some rays

The crossword solution is in the Classified section.

EDUMACATION

JOHNIVAN DARBY

Collecting the textiles Almost simultaneously in 1977, an anthropologist and U.S. Diplomat were putting down roots in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala. Gerard Lopez, who had just been assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, met Margaret ‘Peg’ Kieffer, an established American anthropologist researching and working with the Tz’utujil Mayas of Santiago Atitlán. Lopez remembers making weekend trips with Peg up to the highland towns surrounding Santiago Atitlán to buy textiles and provide business to the weaving communities. Over the years, they collected thousands of textiles, most of which have been donated to the Spurlock Museum. There was one occurrence when Lopez was interacting with a young indigenous woman carrying a bundle of flowers heading to the market when large, government tanks pulled up to the agrarian Maya village and interrupted them. The government commonly used methods like this to keep the indigenous people in check during the civil war. Many aspects of traditional life were maimed during this 36-year period from 1960 to 1996, including the weaving culture. Along with the scare tactics, there was a genocide of an estimated 140,000, mostly indigenous people, thought to be rebel sympathizers. As a result, these communities no longer weave some of the textiles that can be found in the LopezKieffer collection at the Spurlock Museum. According to the museum exhibit, “With no cofradía there was no need to weave cofradía garments and the weaving of huipils such as the one on exhibit died out in Sacapulas.” “The Maya also have a similar belief in fatalism (as I) and the ability of the human spirit to weather adversity and survive in the long term,” Lopez said. In 2006, before Peg Kieffer had lost her yearlong fight with terminal cancer, she remained, just as she always had, positive the whole way. That was harder for Lopez to do. “(I miss) her warm generosity of spirit,” Lopez said. “(Her) exceptional ‘genius’ mind, creative and adventurous spirit, warm smile, and that she was always there to support me regardless of the situation I was facing.” When Lopez is at his Napa, Calif., home he is surrounded by thousands of artifacts collected through decades of traveling with his partner and lifelong companion, including the thousands of textiles and garments they collected together in Guatemala. His two children each

DOONESBURY

BEARDO

GARRY TRUDEAU

DAN DOUGHERTY

PHOTOS COURTESY JEFFREY JAY FOXX

Photographer Jeffrey Jay Foxx’s captured pictures of the Maya of Mexico and Guatemala for over 40 years. His work is now on featured in Spurlock Museum’s exhibit “Artists of the Loom: Maya Weavers of Guatemala.” took around 500 pieces. The Spurlock Museum itself claimed over 2,000, and guest curator Margot Blum Schevill selected the textiles on display in “Artists of the Loom: Maya Weavers of Guatemala” exhibit.

Connecting with the local community Even though a temporary exhibit, Spurlock Museum’s “Artists of the Loom: Maya Weavers of Guatemala” is connecting with the local Maya community. April will mark 12 years since Mateo Diego, a local Maya choral group music leader, made the 2,500-mile trek as an 18-year-old carpenter from the indigenous town of Santa Eulalia, Guatemala to Champaign. The country he left behind is a more stable one than the 20th-century version ridden with war and inequality issues, he said. Diego, unlike some of the first immigrants to settle in Champaign-Urbana from his region, did not leave for war reasons. Diego left his family’s ancestral maize fields to find work; he now works at Fiesta Café, a local Mexican restaurant in Champaign. As a native speaker of Q’anjob’al, one of the 20 Maya languages of Guatemala, Diego had no English or Spanish speaking community to support him. Instead, he lived a solitary life away from his family with the minimal support of a small concentration of Q’anjob’al speaking Guatemalans who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1980s as part of the sanctuary movement. “After a year, two years, the loneliness started to go away,” he said. Now, a community thought to be as big as 300 strong and counting, the Q’anjob’al movement in Champaign-Urbana is growing and diversifying, he said. However, traditions of

the homeland are being compromised for the North American amenities, Diego said. Many of the children of this Maya community are first generation Americans who no longer like wearing the traditional dress of “huipiles” and “cortes,” traditional blouses of the Maya. “We want the children to get a good education and better themselves, but we also don’t want to lose our traditions and customs,” Diego said. Diego, 29, has become an important figure within the Champaign-Urbana Q’anjob’al community. The Maya choral group that he helped start, Coro Universal, was instrumental in bringing a Q’anjob’al mass to St. Mary Catholic Church in Champaign, a place that hosted some of the first Sanctuary Movement refugees back in the 1980s. “In the beginning, there were only about 15 people at mass,” he said. “Now, the entire church fills up.” With the Spurlock Museum reaching out to the Q’anjob’al community through its exhibit and hosting events gauged toward the community’s attendance, the spotlight is now shifting. “I think that there were more people from different places and different countries that came to the exhibit than Guatemalans,” Diego said after an event earlier in November where his choral group performed. “It means that these people from different countries and cultures are interested in Guatemalan culture.” Diego, who now sends money back home frequently, says he has found a community where there was once a void, but he doesn’t know where “home” is anymore.

Eliseo can be reached at elizarr2@dailyillini.com.

106 N. Walnut, Downtown Champaign

PRESENTS THE 9th ANNUAL

12 Beers 4 oz. samplings of 12 seasonal holiday beers

Tickets: $20 in advance $25 at door Advance tickets can be purchased at Esquire Lounge. Quantities are limited. Must be 21 to participate.

Saturday, December 6 5:00-9:00pm 50% of ticket sales go directly to granting area children’s holiday wishes through Operation

Santa! 10 7.1

The 21st Annual Operation Santa is sponsored by WPGU and benefits the Champaign Crisis Nursery and Parent Wonders of Rantoul.

LIFE CULTURE 6A | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2014 | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

BY LILLIAN BARKLEY STAFF WRITER

Quality burgers in Campustown are not extinct, and The Empanadas House isn’t either. Jurassic Grill on Green Street offi cially opened on Dec. 1, with a new menu and plans for the future. The space was previously occupied by The Empanandas House, and though the name has changed, the owner has stayed the same, along with a selection of its menu. Juan Olarte opened The Empanadas House in September. Though he said the restaurant was doing well, he admitted: “it’s not a very well-known product in the American market. We realized that this location is a great location but that 95 percent of the market of customers are students.” With that in mind, Olarte began talking to students. He found out they wanted “a very good burger place, they wanted hot dogs – Chicago-style.” he said. Students provided names of popular restaurants, such as Portillo’s, to give him an idea of the menu they wanted. He then took their input a step further. “We had several different names, and we made them decide what’s the best, and they said that ‘Jurassic’ is cool, an attractive and catchy name,”

Olarte said. The name also allows Olarte to be creative with promotions, decorations and menu items. Most of the menu selections are named after dinosaurs. The classic “T-Rex Burger,” for example, is a double burger, while the “Compy” is a single cheeseburger, named after the small dinosaur from “Jurassic Park.” The newest item to start selling this week, the “Brontosaurus Burger” layers two 1/4 lb patties, one egg, ham, bacon, and any desired toppings. The toppings are a large part of the grill’s model: Over 15 free toppings are available, including those which would normally cost extra, such as grilled mushrooms, grilled onions and fresh jalapenos. Different types of cheese, such as gouda and provolone, will also be offered. With other Green Street competitors like Wendy’s and McDonald’s, Olarte says he is using quality to his advantage, with high quality meat, fresh bread and huge portions. When the restaurant soft opened with a limited menu in early November, burgers and fries were the KEVIN VONGNAPHONE THE DAILY ILLINI only offerings. But after listening to requests, Olarte plans on adding TOP: Jurassic Grill’s specialty, the Brontosaurus Burger with hot dogs, sandwiches, chili cheese Cajun Fries. The burger features two 1/4 lb. patties, one egg, ham, bacon, and any desired toppings. SEE JURASSIC | 5A BOTTOM: Portrait of Juan Olarte, owner of Jurassic Grill.

Spurlock exhibit brings Maya culture to Urbana BY ELISEO ELIZARRARAZ STAFF WRITER

The Spurlock Museum’s “Artists of the Loom: Maya Weavers of Guatemala ” exhibit, running until Jan. 25, displays the backstories of some members of the Mayan community. Three main people and communities were essential to the creation of the exhibits’ features.

Capturing the Maya faces Spending his days now stooped in his Brooklyn home, ethnographic photographer Jeffrey Jay Foxx has time to reminisce

about the faces and stories embedded on his collection of now obsolete fi lmstrips. Sporting a peppered beard, Foxx uses a cane with the same experienced hands he used to push down the shutter of his Nikon camera . The world-renowned photographer, whose work has been featured in The New York Times, LIFE Magazine and National Geographic Society, has taken photographs of the Maya of Mexico and Guatemala for over 40 years. Foxx’s work is featured at the Spurlock Museum’s “Artists of the Loom: Maya Weavers of Guatemala” exhibit. In the late 1970s, Foxx

and Christiana Dittmann, a young German photojournalist , embarked on a decade-long journey together to Guatemala that would lead them through winding highland villages, ancient Maya markets and fi nally to the doorsteps of the living Maya. “She has a hand in virtually any good thing that has happened in my life,” Foxx said of his lifelong friend, Dittmann. “I couldn’t be me if it wasn’t for her.” Foxx’s vehicle to explore the world became his camera. Sometimes, as a “gringo” snapping pictures, the camera got him into trouble, he said. However, it

After 50 Years of Civil Rights Laws

ARE WE STILL ON THE RIGHT PATH TO JUSTICE AND EQUALITY? A Lecture Featuring

Charles Ogletree

Professor, Harvard Law School Wednesday December 3, 2014 Noon - 1:30pm Ballroom, Alice Campbell Alumni Center 601 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana

Professor Ogletree will share his reflections on the past 50 years of civil rights activity, and his thoughts about the road ahead, especially in the aftermath of the Ferguson decision. Event is free and open to the public.

easily got him out of trouble too. He recalls being arrested on one occasion by religious officials for taking pictures in a highland town; however, a Polaroid picture would turn out to be his get-out-of-jail-free card. Foxx said the camera steered both him and Dittmann into the lives of the indigenous Maya people who, over the course of 10 years, would forever change the landscape of his life. “That exposure to those people could not possibly have not affected me, and I

SEE WEAVERS | 5A

PHOTO COURTESY JEFFREY JAY FOXX

A selection of Jeffrey Jay Foxx’s photos of the Maya culture is on display at the Spurlock Museum’s exhibit “Artists of the Loom: Maya Weavers of Guatemala,” open until Jan. 25.

SPORTS

TUESDAY

A win at Miami could validate Illini in rankings ALEX ROUX Basketball columnist

oing into the season, Illinois head coach John Groce knew the fi rst week in December would feature a matchup with Miami in the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. I don’t think he (or anyone else) expected Tuesday’s game against the Hurricanes to feature both teams ranked in the Top 25. Miami sits at No. 15 in the nation after starting the year 7-0, with its banner win so far coming against then-No. 8 Florida. And yes, the Illini learned Monday that their 6-0 start, highlighted by Friday’s 62-54 win over Baylor, was good enough to squeak into the rankings as well. They checked in at No. 24 in the AP’s weekly poll. Now, Tuesday’s late game on ESPN2 has become somewhat of a marquee matchup. It’s one of four (out of 14) games in the Challenge that features two ranked teams squaring off. No matter how you spin it, this is a high-reward, low-risk game for the Illini. Barring an embarrassing blowout at the hands of the Hurricanes, this game won’t hurt the trajectory of Illinois basketball, win or lose. I fully believe Illinois is a program with the potential to be consistently ranked in the Top

25, year after year. But after almost a decade of being largely absent from the polls, Illinois needs to restore its reputation on a national level. When the country sees a number by the name “Illinois” on Tuesday night, it will enhance the image of Groce and his program in the nation’s eyes. It’s a game on national TV as part of a highly publicized battle between two conferences. It’s on the road, so Illinois likely wouldn’t have been favored in this game even if Miami hadn’t gotten off to a hot start this season. And at No. 24, newlyranked Illinois is in the position where it can raise eyebrows with its quick ascent but still not be expected to beat the No. 15 team in the country in its house. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not OK with the Illini losing to Miami, nor do I expect them to. A victory over Miami would add a huge boost of momentum to Groce’s self-described “freight train” that is Illinois basketball. If the freight train is already picking up momentum, escaping BankUnited Center with a win would push Groce’s train full-speed ahead into next Tuesday’s matchup with No. 10 Villanova. So, how does Miami stack up with Illinois? If you remember the Illini’s 2013 NCAA tournament demise at the hands of the Canes, that game’s fi lm won’t do you much

SEE ROUX | 2B

Power rankings DAILY ILLINI STAFF REPORT

Editor’s note: Every week, The Daily Illini football staff ranks the football teams in the Big Ten 1-14 and compiles the lists into its own Big Ten power rankings.

1. OHIO STATE (LAST WEEK: 1) The Buckeyes outlasted rival Michigan 42-28, but quarterback J.T. Barrett is out for the season, fueling doubts about the team’s ability to win the Big Ten title game against Wisconsin.

2. MICHIGAN STATE (2) The Spartans won’t be in the Big Ten Championship game this week, losing their spot to No. 6-ranked Ohio State, but only have two losses on the year at the hands of No. 2 Oregon and the Buckeyes. 3. WISCONSIN (2) The Badgers clinched a spot in the Big Ten title game with the help of another big game from Melvin Gordon, running for 151 yards. 4. NEBRASKA (4) It took a fourth quarter comeback and overtime for the Cornhuskers to beat Iowa this week, which wasn’t enough for head coach Bo Pelini to keep his job. 5. MINNESOTA (6) The Golden Gophers’ offense was hurt by a terrible passing game in Saturday’s 34-24 loss to No. 14 Wisconsin. Minnesota was 5-for-18 through the air for just 95 yards. 6. IOWA (5) Four interceptions hurt the Hawkeyes as they let a win slip away against Nebraska last week, losing 37-34 in overtime.

7. ILLINOIS (13) The Illini are bowl-bound after their defense forced five turnovers and the team put up a season-high 47 points against Northwestern. 8. RUTGERS (11) The Scarlet Knights’ defense allowed Maryland 476 total yards, but outgunned them through the air with 491 total yards of their own in a 41-38 win.

9. MARYLAND (8) The Terrapins allowed Rutgers 347 passing yards in Saturday’s loss. 10. PENN STATE (10) The Nittany Lions’ rushing game has struggled this year, gaining just 38 yards on 22 carries in a loss to Michigan State on Saturday. 11. MICHIGAN (9) Quarterback Devin Gardner’s 233 yards weren’t enough to push the Wolverines past Ohio State and into the postseason, losing 42-28.

12. NORTHWESTERN (7) The Wildcats had five turnovers in a 47-33 loss to Illinois, erasing their hopes to reach a bowl game this season. 13. INDIANA (14) Hoosiers’ running back Tevin Coleman reached 2,036 rushing yards on the year as his team beat Purdue for its first conference victory of the year.

14. PURDUE (12) Four turnovers plagued the Boilermakers as they lost to Indiana on a final-minute touchdown drive.

BRENTON TSE THE DAILY ILLINI

Illinois' Malcolm Hill converts the fast break layup during the game against Brown at State Farm Center, on Nov. 24. The Illini will face their first road test of the season against Miami on Tuesday.

Illini faces Miami in top-25 matchup BY NICHOLAS FORTIN STAFF WRITER

Much has changed for No. 24 Illinois since the team lost to Miami in the NCAA tournament two years ago. Last year the Illini fi ltered in a new class of players, including five freshmen, who matured on the court. This season, Illinois (6-0) has been prolific offensively, averaging 90 points per game in its first six games, and has a top-25 ranking to show for it. If Illinois’ performance last weekend in Las Vegas — where the Illini topped Indiana State and Baylor — showed one characteristic from the 2013 team, it’s the Illini’s defensive ability. “Our defense is still here,”

senior center Nnanna Egwu said. “That’s really encouraging. Obviously with the improvements we made offensively, sometimes we’re kind of relaxed defensively. But we’re still the same defensive team.” Illinois’ defense will face its biggest test of the season Tuesday when it travels to Florida to play one of the most explosive offensive teams it will see all season in No. 15 Miami (7-0). Junior guard Angel Rodriguez leads a deep Hurricanes team that head coach John Groce said reminds him a lot of last year’s Michigan squad: both teams have a multitude of shooters. Groce called Rodriguez one of the best, if not the best,

point guard in the nation and said Rodriguez plays with a swagger and an edge that will be hard for the Illini to stop. Through seven games the Hurricanes, like the Illini, are shooting the ball at an extremely high percentage from behind the 3-point arc. Miami is shooting 45.7 percent from three and 50.4 percent from field. “(They have) multiple shooters, passers, dribblers,” Groce said. “They execute well. Their spacing’s tremendous. “ T h ey ’ r e te r r i f ic offensively.” Illinois has been no slouch on the offensive side of the ball, shooting 43.4 percent from three and 48.2 percent from the field on the year.

No. 24 Illinois at No. 15 Miami When/Where: 8 p.m. Saturday, Miami, Florida TV/Radio: ESPN2 / Fighting Illini Sports Network Quick notes: Illinois faces Miami in a matchup of two high-powered offenses. Hidden stat: Both the Illini and the Hurricanes are shooting over 43 percent from 3-point range this season. While Miami’s varied offense has given opponents trouble this season, for senior guard Rayvonte Rice, the key to beating Miami is simple: Play good defense. “We just have to get back on defense and try to make it hard for them to score,” Rice said. Tuesday’s matchup will

SEE BASKETBALL | 2B

Football defense shows new strength BY SEAN NEUMANN STAFF WRITER

It may be shocking to some that Illinois is headed to a bowl game. But it’s how the team got there that’s the most surprising. The Illini defense struggled throughout the year, standing as the worst in the Big Ten heading into mustwin games against Penn State and Northwestern. Then, something changed, and Illinois won back-toback conference games to reach bowl eligibility. “I wish I could tell you we were doing something different, but those kids just played hard,” defensive coordinator Tim Banks said. “They understood the game plan and exactly what we were trying to get done.” Illinois allowed less than 200 yards in each of the fi nal two contests. The defense allowed an average of 267 yards in its previous 10 games. The team forced six turnovers in its fi nal two wins of the season after forcing just 12 in its fi rst 10 games, including three interceptions at Northwestern. Illinois had just four on the season heading into the game.

“I think we’re playing well on defense,” linebacker Mason Monheim said. “The last half of the season, we’ve really turned it up a notch.”

O’Toole giving Illinois an O’ffensive boost The Illini offense has also seemed re-energized, scoring a season-high 47 points in its fi nal regular season game at Northwestern. Senior quarterback Reilly O’Toole has made the most of his opportunity to play in relief of an injured Wes Lunt midway through the season. So much so that he’s taken his starting job. O’Toole ran for a careerhigh 147 yards and threw for three touchdowns Saturday, leading his team to its fi rst postseason since 2011. “It’s fun to be playing your best football at the end of the year,” O’Toole said. “I think any team can attest to that.” A damaged offense line even stepped up while missing two starting lineman — Simon Cvijanovic and Ted Karras. Illinois didn’t allow a

FOLAKE OSIBODU THE DAILY ILLINI

Illinois' Reilly O'Toole runs the ball during the game against Northwestern at Ryan Field on Saturday. The Illini won 47-33. sack on Saturday for the fi rst time all season.

Going Bowling The bowl-bound Illini will be the first team to reach a bowl game since 2011 and only the fourth in the past decade. “I didn’t realize (the program) was this down, but I think we’re moving in the direction we need to,” head coach Tim Beckman said. “Are we there yet? Heck no. I want to continue to build this thing into being a powerhouse.” Illinois has improved by two wins each season since Beckman took over as head coach in 2012. The Illini are likely to go to the Quick Lane Bowl in

Detroit, Mich., or the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl in Dallas, Tex., – both games are on Dec. 26. The team’s improvement late in the season also means Beckman and his staff will remain with the program for another season, according to a vote of confidence given by athletic director Mike Thomas on Sunday. “There’s no question this team is a family,” Beckman said. “That to me is what college football is all about, and I get an opportunity to be with the seniors again for another opportunity to play on the field.”

Sean can be reached at spneuma2@dailyillini. com and on Twitter @neumannthehuman.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

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Spotlight will be on Beckman once again

Crawford playing smarter, more efficiently in her senior season

DI staff offers what they think Beckman needs to do to stick around

BY JOEY FIGUEROA STAFF WRITER

It’s no secret the Illinois women’s basketball team has a plethora of new, young talent. The highly-touted recruits and transfers were the main focus of the preseason, and all eyes remain on those new faces seven games into the regular season. Among all the hype surrounding Illinois’ roster renaissance, one returning player is easily overlooked. That player is senior guard Ivory Crawford, who has been playing the best ball of her career and is not ready to relinquish the spotlight that has been on her since last season. Crawford was one of Illinois’ lone bright spots last season, and she proved she could be a go-to scorer when there wasn’t much offense surrounding her. With all of the offensive additions around her this season, one would think Crawford’s scoring numbers would decline, but because of a more efficient approach, she actually sits at No. 10 in the Big Ten with 16.3 points per game. Through seven games this season, Crawford has attempted almost one less 3-pointer per game than last season. With more shooters around her, Crawford has attacked the rim and gotten to the free throw line much more often than previous seasons. Her field goal attempts have been much closer to the basket this season, which is apparent in her career-best 44.7 field goal percentage, more than a 5 percent improvement on her career mark. Before the season, Crawford said her main focus heading into her senior year was just playing smarter. “Foul-wise, I think I just need to keep my hands off,” Crawford said. “But then other than that, I’m really dangerous on the floor, and so are my other players.” For the most part, Crawford has been able to avoid foul trouble this season while remaining aggressive. Crawford’s wiser, yet assertive play has her in the top three in the Big Ten in steals per game, as well as in the top15 in the conference in offensive rebounds per game. Besides sophomore forward Jacqui Grant,

JOHNATHAN HETTINGER Editor-in-chief SONNY AN THE DAILY ILLINI

Illinois' Ivory Crawford attempts a shot during the game against Memphis at the State Farm Center on Thursday. Crawford is 10th in the Big Ten at 16.3 points per game.

Crawford is the only returning Illini to play more than 30 minutes total this season, and as the longest-tenured Illini in the rotation, she has embraced a leadership role. “To lead, I just have to do my part first,” Crawford said. “First you have to look at yourself and prove what you can do, so you can get the respect and the responses you need.” Crawford has put forward the body of work to be an unquestioned leader on the team, especially after becoming just the 27th Illini to join the 1,000 point club last season. She has been steadily climbing the Illinois scoring ranks and currently sits at 20th all time with 1,113 points. But Crawford said the records aren’t as important as winning. “That really doesn’t mean anything to me, points-wise,” Crawford said. “I just want to get wins and get where we need to be and make a difference from last year.” Like past seasons, Crawford has let her performance on the court speak for itself and has set an example for all of the young players on the roster. She may have arrived a few years too soon to be a part of a significant program turnaround, but Crawford has already left a notable mark on Illinois women’s hoops and still has a whole season ahead of her.

Joey can be reached at jfiguer2@ dailyillini.com and on Twitter @joeyfigueroa3.

End of an era for Bears without Briggs Sports columnist

BASKETBALL be Illinois’ first true road game of the season, as the two games in Las Vegas were neutral site games against Indiana State and Baylor. While the team is successful at home, sophomore guard Malcolm Hill said he doesn’t mind going on the road. “I’m always excited to play road games,” Hill said.

FROM 1B

ROUX good. Both rosters have almost completely turned over since, with only the Illini’s Nnanna Egwu and the Canes’ Tonye Jekiri as the holdovers still seeing meaningful minutes. Both teams are similar in that they shoot lots of threes and shoot them well. Miami is fourth-best in the country from deep,

Sports editor

The biggest improvement for Illinois football in 2015 needs to come on the defensive end, specifi-

MICHAEL DWOJAK Assistant sports editor

The key for Beckman will need to be consistency. He can’t afford to not make

PETER BAILEY-WELLS Assistant sports editor

Without late-season wins against Penn State and Northwestern, Beckman would be jobless right

Staff writer

FROM 1B

SEAN HAMMOND

SEAN NEUMANN

MUBARAK SALAMI

he season is over, officially. But then again, it’s really been over for a while now. After a 34-17 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, the Chicago Bears have now fallen four games behind the division-leading Green Bay Packers with only three weeks left in the season, eliminating any hope of a division title or a potential playoff berth. But a playoff berth wasn’t the only thing that slipped out of the Bears’ grasp on Thanksgiving. Thursday’s loss signified the end of an era defined by dominating defense and special teams; an era in which the Bears earned the nickname “Monsters of the Midway” due to their tenacious and hardnoised defensive units. For many years, linebacker Lance Briggs anchored those defenses. Those days are over. Briggs, the seven-time Pro-Bowler and three-time All-Pro, missed Thursday’s game with a groin injury and was placed on the injured reserve list Friday morning. Briggs is officially done for the season and most likely done with the Bears. With Briggs’s contract expiring, the Bears are looking to get younger at the linebacker position and on the defensive side of the ball as a whole. Briggs will surely be missed. For the past decade, defenders like Briggs, Brian Urlacher and Charles Tillman have been the face of the Bears’ organization. That era is over. Tillman, a mainstay and a cornerstone of the team for years, was lost way back in Week 2, when he suffered a season-ending, and potentially career-ending, triceps injury. It is the second time in as many years his season has been drastically cut short due to injury. Like Briggs, Tillman’s contract will expire at the end of the season, and like Briggs, there is a strong possibility Tillman’s days donning the navy and orange are over. As a long-time Bears fan, that’s a hard idea to swallow. Harder than the idea of the Bears season being over and completely wasted despite having a roster flooded

For the past three seasons, the Illinois defense has been terrible. The sto-

Tim Beckman’s going to need offensive consistency heading into his fourth year with the Illini. The battle for the startNUCCIO DINUZZO TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Chicago Bears outside linebacker Lance Briggs runs with his interception against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 5.

with talent. It’s tough to get over because the Bears players I have grown to know and love for so long are on their way out. However, what hurts worse is the way in which they are going to go out. They will leave on the sidelines, on a bad, underachieving team. Players like Briggs and Tillman deserve better than that. They deserve to go out on a high note. While both of them have seen their overall skill decline because of age, what they lacked in ability they made up for in leadership, locker room presence and other things that do no show up on the stat sheet. Briggs and Tillman have also had a profound effect on the young players on the team, mentoring them and teaching them to be professionals. Their impact will be felt long after they are gone. They are two individuals who can never truly be replaced. Two guys who will undoubtedly go down as two of the best in franchise history. So when the Bears take the field Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys with essentially nothing to play for, I will still be watching closely. I’ll be watching even though Briggs and Tillman will be on the sidelines. I’ll be watching because I know their days are numbered and it’ll be one of the last times I see them within the confines of Soldier Field. Besides, with the way the Bears have been playing this season, I need some sort of reason to watch the game.

Mubarak is a senior in LAS. He can be reached at msalami@dailyillini.com and on Twitter @justmubar.

TORRENCE SORRELL On-air sports editor

It looks like “Timmy B” is here to stay for another year after defeating in-state rival Northwest-

ALEX ORTIZ Video editor

It is hard to imagine Illinois will ever be a football school because basketball is, and will always be, king. But it is possible

STEPHEN BOURBON Senior writer

The Illini took steps forward in 2014 but will need to continue to improve in 2015 if Beckman will

ERIK PRADO Sports columnist

There are two areas Beckman should focus on:

ry, game after game, was that the defense couldn’t stop anyone. Even louder than the calls for Beckman’s head were the calls for defensive coordinator Tim Banks to be fired. But back-to-back strong defensive outings led to backto-back Big Ten wins and

a bowl berth. In order for Beckman to continue to keep his job, the defense must improve. At Cincinnati, Banks led one of the best defenses in the nation. Next year, with all juniors and senior starters, Banks’ unit needs to be better than mediocre.

cally the run defense. Illinois ranks last in the Big Ten in rush defense by a wide margin — some 40 yards per game behind the next closest team. The schedule is highly favorable, with Nebraska, Wisconsin and Ohio State all at home. A signature upset would really

help Beckman’s staff, but even just staying competitive with those teams would be an improvement. Unless quarterback Wes Lunt gets hurt again, the offense shouldn’t be a concern. But Beckman has his roots in defense and the Illini defense needs to improve.

a bowl game next year. Outside of getting more experience, making two straight bowl games will help build the foundation and draw the interest of recruits. The big question is whether Lunt can stay healthy. He’ll have a talented receiving corps that

includes standout Mike Dudek. The offensive line should be healthy and running back Josh Ferguson should bounce back from a rough 2014 season. If Lunt stays healthy, the offense can break school records as it was on pace to do before his injury.

now. Without a doubt, next season he must make a bowl game and establish the Illini as a contender in the Big Ten. That could mean six wins, or it could mean eight, but Illinois has to show consistent play. Beating nonconference teams by a touchdown isn’t good enough,

and losing to Ohio State by 41 isn’t good enough. With most of the offense returning, the Illini should beat up on early season opponents and hang around with superior Big Ten teams. Beckman needs to establish that 2014 wasn’t just dumb luck.

ing quarterback position heading into this season unexpectedly lasted all year with the injury to Lunt midway through the season and backup Reilly O’Toole’s surprising performance during his absence. With O’Toole graduating, there’s no doubt next season’s starter will be Lunt, and the

offense needs to regain the reliable production that made from the beginning of this year that made it one of the most threatening in the Big Ten. And with an entire offseason knowing who will be taking the snaps, next season’s offense should look the best it has since Beckman arrived in Champaign.

ern. Within the last two years, Beckman’s win total increased by two. More importantly, the defense showed up in those big games against Minnesota and Penn State. While the defense is a common topic that will remain in discussion next season, the special teams is a concern that

starts first with the kicking game. While special teams doesn’t get as much attention, it can simply make or break a crucial game and shouldn’t be taken lightly. I’m looking forward to the growth and development of receiver Mike Dudek and hopefully attendance numbers will rise.

to build enough success and momentum to at least generate more excitement than there has been the past few seasons. It’s understandable that the programs does not sell out every game, but to get to the point of social media laughing at Block I card stunts should not become the norm. For opposing

fans to basically negate home crowd advantage is embarrassing. It should not be acceptable to go to a few bowl games a decade. Illinois does not have to be a football powerhouse, but should at least be able to generate enough excitement and respect to not be at or near the bottom consistently.

remain here long term. It all starts with the defense. The Illini defense fueled the team in each Big Ten victory. They will need to be better on a consistent basis to take the next step. I think the schedule is manageable for next season, but I want to see Illinois actually compete

in its games against the big boys. With a winnable game on the road at North Carolina, the Illini will have a chance to get off to an early start and be 4-0 before hosting Nebraska on Oct. 3, with a big game looming on Homecoming against Wisconsin on Oct. 24.

recruiting and competitiveness. It’s time for Beckman to show off those recruiting chops he was known for and have his 2015 class ranked in the top 30. I will also look for the team to be competitive in their games against

Nebraska, Wisconsin and Ohio State. The last three years have seen the Illini blown out in all their meetings with those teams. The Illini don’t necessarily have to win; rather, keep it close and don’t get embarrassed. from time to time. It’s never a good thing when your football team is receiving negative press for something happening off the field. Everyone makes mistakes, but if Beckman believes the Illinois football arrow is trending up, he should make sure people see him as a competent leader on and off the field. consistency to remain in the national limelight. Beat Miami, Villanova, or both, and the Illini’s nonconference resume could be glistening come March. They’ve gotten some recognition, and Tuesday is a golden opportunity to prove it’s deserved.

“Those are always some of my favorite games to play, because it’s just me and my brothers against the world.” For the Illini, the biggest challenge may be not letting revenge get the best of them. The last game these two teams played was for a chance to go the Sweet 16, and Groce said the Illini will need to play with emotion, but not get overly emotional thinking about the past. Egwu echoed his coach’s

sentiment, while pointing out the differences between the two games. “Tomorrow’s a whole different team, whole different challenge,” Egwu said. “This game’s played in December. That game was played in March. Right now we want to get a good road win.”

Nicholas can be reached at fortin2@dailyillini.com and on Twitter @IlliniSportsGuy.

The most important thing Beckman needs to improve on is his public persona. For the most part, Beckman is kind to

the media, and generally answers the reasonable questions. That being said, during his time at Illinois, Beckman has found himself receiving negative attention for things he’s said in press conferences. If Beckman wants the state of Illinois to take his program seriously, he should watch what he says

shooting threes at a 45.7 percent rate. If the Canes’ deadly backcourt of Angel Rodriguez (14.9 ppg), Sheldon McClellan (16.7 ppg) and Manu Lecomte (13.3 ppg) get hot from deep, the Illini could be in for a long night. However, the Illini have a good chance to win, due to the fact that they match up fairly well with the Canes’ backcourt and are playing efficient basketball at this point in the

season. Illinois’ turnover rate is low (8.8 per game) and its assist-to-turnover ratio is high (1.85). Combine that with a scoring average of 90 points per game, and the Illini seem about as formidable as the Hurricanes do on paper. Also, with Miami’s big win over 3-3 Florida looking less impressive by the day, this really is the perfect opportunity for Illinois to steal one on the road.

Looking back to the big picture, rankings can be arbitrary and even silly until late in the season, but there’s no doubt that the little number boosts the perception of a program. Recruits and casual observers take notice. Nearly every game will have its highlights shown on SportsCenter. Even if coaches won’t admit as much, it legitimizes what your program is working to achieve.

Illinois has now cracked the Top 25 in each of Groce’s first three seasons at Illinois. In his first season, the Illini peaked as high as No. 10 before falling out for good early in the Big Ten season. Last year they were ranked for one week in January at No. 23 before beginning a disastrous eight-game slide. Groce’s third team looks to be his best yet, and will have to play with

SAM SHERMAN Sports columnist

Alex is a junior in AHS. He can be reached at roux2@dailyillini.com and @aroux94.

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Watt should be the NFL MVP

The defensive end does everything for Houston, including play offense, as the team pushes for postseason (offense? Keep reading), he’s a threat to make a game-changing play. This season, Watt was supposed to line up opposite the No. 1 overall pick, Jadaveon Clowney. With Clowney on one side of the line and Watt on the other, the Texans’ pass rush was going to be unstoppable. Instead, Clowney has spent much of the season injured and Watt has flown solo, often drawing double teams. It doesn’t matter, as the 25-year-old has put up his best season to date, already surpassing his sack total from last season, and recording his first career defensive touchdowns. But Watt hasn’t just scored on defense. The Texans are 4-1 when Watt has scored a touchdown. He has scored five times this season: once on a fumble recovery, once on an interception return, and three times on receptions. Employed as a goal-line tight end, Watt has rumbled out of the backfield and used his enormous hands (think baseball gloves) to reel in all three of the passes thrown in his direction — two of which were caught in spectacular fashion. But what about Aaron Rodgers? The field general of the NFC’s best team has been seemingly unstoppable since he told the Green Bay Packers’ fan base to “R-EL-A-X” after the team’s 1-2 start. His team just knocked off the Patriots,

PETER BAILEYWELLS Assistant sports editor

t’s terribly interesting to talk about football. Somehow I manage to do it every week in this column, but for a while, I’ve virtually ignored what might be the biggest on-field story of the NFL in 2014. J.J. Watt is a monster. Actually, I take that back. He’s a “Manster,” part man and part monster. Off the field, the Houston Texans defensive end appears to be affable: not as nutty as Rob Gronkowski and not as funny as Peyton Manning, but likeable nonetheless. On the field he’s terrifying. And that’s why he should be the NFL MVP. Gronk, who might be Watt’s only competition for most impressive physical specimen in the NFL, has been the Patriots’ MVP because of his ability both as a pass catcher and run blocker. But he’s not Watt. No one is. Watt’s Texans stand at 6-6, second in the AFC South. Without Watt, the Texans might be among the NFL’s worst teams. Watt leads the team with 11.5 sacks — tied for fifth in the league. He also leads the NFL in fumbles recovered, with five. Every play Watt lines up on the field, whether on defense or offense

considered the best team in the NFL prior to visiting Lambeau Field. Rodgers has been good, but the Packers have other weapons. The Texans had the worst record in the NFL last season, and this season, despite the absence of their No. 1 pick (Clowney), the team is at .500 and isn’t out of the playoff hunt. Watt deserves much of the credit for that — his team probably will have zero other Pro Bowlers at the end of the season. The MVP should be measured primarily by how replaceable a player is. That’s why Gronk or Watt is more deserving of the award than Rodgers, Tom Brady or reigning MVP Manning. Those three quarterbacks are relatively interchangeable — put any of them with another’s team, ignore change of scheme and their team would probably win. Gronk is semi-replaceable (the Patriots have managed without him), but Watt (who hasn’t missed a single game in his NFL career) doesn’t have an equal in the NFL. No player could fill his spot and have a similar impact on the Texans’ season. That’s why he’s the real MVP. No one can match up with the Manster.

Peter is a sophomore in Media. He can be reached at baileyw2@dailyillini. com and on Twitter @PBaileyWells.

ED SUBA JR. TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Houston defensive lineman J.J. Watt catches a 2-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Mallett in the first quarter of the Browns 23-7 loss to the Texans on Nov. 16. Watt has caught three touchdown this season, in addition to two defensive touchdowns.

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IDS at CHRISTMAS IDS at CHRISTMAS IDS at CHRISTMAS DONATE TO

With purchase of any haircut & style at regular price with participating stylists. (First time clients only)

OPERATION SANTA

Expires 8/15/15

www.wpgu.com/santa

20 OFF Highlight

With purchase of any haircut & style at regular price with participating stylists. (First time clients only)

Expires 8/15/15

707 S. Sixth St. Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 344-0097 www.lando-salon.com

Where Massage is Powerful Medicine

Windsor Rd • 217-351-1011

15Color OFF

www.indi-go-art.com

ARC on Campus • 217-239-5865

QUIET.QUIZ Radio SHHHHHHH!

FARM TO TABLE HOLIDAY FOODS, ARTISAN CHEESE, GELATO AND MORE. TASTE THE TERROIR OF OUR PRAIRIE SOILS. VISIT WWW.PRAIRIEFRUITS.COM FOR FARM HOLIDAY SHOPPING HOURS AND MORE.

It’s time TO study for that

Look for the DI’s finals Edition on Thursday, Dec. 11

PRAIRIE easonal Beers FRUITS FARM & 12 Beers CREAMERY THE LITTLE VOICE IN YOUR HEAD THAT SAYS Sat., Dec. 6 • 5-9pm

HEEL TO TOE

4 oz. samplings of 12 seasonal holiday beers

BUY THE SHOES, THAT’S THE ONE TO LISTEN TO

gly

Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at door

50% of ticket sales 106 N. Walnut Street Downtown Champaign

goes directly to Operation Santa to purchase holiday gifts for area children.

M-Th

9:30AM-5:30PM

106 W Main St., Urbana Friday 9:30AM-7:00PM 217-367-2880 Saturday 9:30AM-5:00PM

Put your

Tis the season...

Christmas Sweater on

WPGU WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU A

WONDERFUL

HOLIDAY SEASON!

earbook

THE PERFECT WAY TO PRESERVE YOUR COLLEGE MEMORIES

with

Go to illioyearbook.com to order your 2015 Illio Yearbook today.

ys! a d i l o H Happy r friends at from you

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