Students assess Illinois spirit

published Nov. 18, 2008 in The Daily Illini

ILL-INI. Just how strong is Illini spirit?

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/11/18/students-assess-illinois-spirit

Student-parents believe University environment benefits children

published Nov. 13, 2008 in The Daily Illini

A look at the pros and cons, triumphs and challenges of raising children while studying at the University of Illinois.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/11/13/student-parents-believe-university-environment-benefits-children

Study abroad housing varies by location, program

published Nov. 7, 2008 in The Daily Illini

A housing story about the options available for students who study abroad - from dorms to apartments to host families.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/11/07/study-abroad-housing-varies-by-location-program

County clerk plans changes to election judge training

published Nov. 7, 2008 in The Daily Illini

After students complained of unfairly enforced rules regarding proof of residency at the polls, this story details the county clerk's response.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/11/07/county-clerk-plans-changes-to-election-judge-training

2008 election coverage

published Nov. 4, 2008 in The Daily Illini

I worked for 11 hours as a re-write editor during the 2008 presidential election.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/11/04/students-take-issue-with-ui-polling-places

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/11/04/election-judges-play-critical-role

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/11/04/students-vote-on-milestone-referendum-for-constitutional-convention

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/11/04/turnout-tally-high-at-mid-day-continues-to-climb

Student drinking stories exceed reality

published Oct. 30 in The Daily Illini

A different look at the topic of alcohol problems among college students investigates why students exaggerate stories of their drinking habits.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/10/30/student-drinking-stories-exceed-reality

Student, friend remembered at vigil

published Oct. 23, 2008 in The Daily Illini with an audio slideshow at www.dailyillini.com

Friends and acquaintances remembered Katie McGuire with a candlelight vigil. I gathered audio from the vigil to accompany photos in the audio slideshow.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/10/23/student-friend-remembered-at-vigil

UI student dies in car crash

published Oct. 22, 2008

A full print story about the tragic death of a 20-year-old University of Illinois junior. My second story about a student death in two weeks, this time I was able to speak with some members of the victim's family.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/10/22/ui-student-dies-in-car-crash

Interstate crash kills University junior

published Oct. 21, 2008 on www.dailyillini.com

An online update about the death of 20-year-old Katie McGuire.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/10/21/updated-interstate-crash-kills-university-junior

University legislators focus on retaining faculty

published Oct. 16, 2008 in The Daily Illini

An in-depth look at faculty retention and the University's strategies for keeping its instructors.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/10/16/university-legislators-focus-on-retaining-faculty

Officials await toxicology results of Cassidy's death

published Oct. 15, 2008 in The Daily Illini

More details about the process of determining the cause of a recent student's death.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/10/15/authorities-await-toxicology-reports-of-cassidy-s-death

Campus death investigated

published Oct. 14, 2008 in The Daily Illini

I found out as much as I could for a story about the life of a former student and fraternity member who died suddenly.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/10/14/campus-death-investigated

Former UI, current Parkland student died Friday night

published Oct. 13, 2008 on www.dailyillini.com

One of my first attempts at breaking news reporting contributed to coverage of the death of a former student still living on campus.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/10/13/update-former-ui-current-parkland-student-died-friday-night

Simple business practices determine rent

published Oct. 10, 2008 in The Daily Illini

Printed as apartment leasing season began, this story looks at how campus landlords set rent prices.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/10/10/simple-business-practices-determine-rent

Groups collaborate to maintain campus grounds

published Oct. 8, 2008 in The Daily Illini

A look at how much money and people-power is spent on landscaping on the large campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/10/08/groups-collaborate-to-maintain-campus-grounds

Senate discusses termination of academy for capitalism

published Oct. 7, 2008 in The Daily Illini

Post-coverage of a meeting of the Urbana-Champaign senate, which discussed the University's ethics policy and its effects on political expression.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/10/07/senate-discusses-termination-of-academy-for-capitalism

Senate Q&A may address ethics controversy

published Oct. 6, 2008 in The Daily Illini

Pre-coverage of a meeting of the Urbana-Champaign senate, also known as the faculty senate.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/10/06/urbana-champaign-senate-s-question-and-answer-session-may-address-controversies

Students underuse Facebook privacy settings

published Oct. 3, 2008 in The Daily Illini

After one of Facebook's many changes to its security structure, this story investigates how college students use (or don't use) the privacy features.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/10/03/facebook-privacy-settings-sometimes-go-unused

Engineering job recruitment keeps pace

published Oct. 2, 2008 in The Daily Illini

Written for the fall career guide, this story looks at job recruitment on campus for engineering students and the reasons it remained steady during the beginning of a recession.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/10/02/engineering-job-recruiting-keeps-pace

Gender not an issue for co-ed roommates

published Sept. 30, 2008 in The Daily Illini

Written for the fall housing guide, this story looks at the benefits, challenges and lifestyle of mixed-gender apartment mates.

http://www.dailyillini.com/special/2008/09/30/gender-not-an-issue-for-some-students-living-with-members-of-the-opposite-sex

Cities allow partial occupancy after inspections

published Sept. 29, 2008 in The Daily Illini

A follow-up to my living with construction story, this piece explains how residents can live in a building before construction is complete.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/09/29/cities-allow-partial-occupancy-after-inspections

Students choose Living Learning Communities

published Sept. 26, 2008 in The Daily Illini

A look at students' reasons for living in a themed floor or a topic-specific dorm area.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/09/26/students-choose-living-and-learning-communities

Construction crane temporarily closes Green Street

published Sept. 25, 2008 at www.dailyillini.com

A web update relating to apartment construction I followed on the housing beat.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/09/25/crane-repair-to-temporarily-close-green-street-friday

Students' reactions vary to living with construction

published Sept. 23, 2008 in The Daily Illini

This piece investigates the issues presented by the multiple dorms and apartment complexes still under construction when the school year began.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/09/23/students-reactions-vary-to-living-with-construction

Housing slump misses Champaign market

published Sept. 22, 2008 in The Daily Illini

A story connecting a national drop in home sales to its effects on the Champaign-Urbana area housing market.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/09/22/champaign-housing-market-remains-stable

New sorority leases fraternity house

published Sept. 18, 2008 in The Daily Illini

How a sorority new to campus found its housing.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/09/18/alpha-xi-delta-leases-fraternity-house

Double majors, second degrees offer flexibility

published Sept. 15, 2008 in The Daily Illini

A rundown of the ways the University of Illinois allows students to major in more than one subject.

http://www.dailyillini.com/special/2008/09/15/double-majors-second-degrees-offer-flexibility

Sorority recruits weigh options

published Sept. 12, 2008 in The Daily Illini

The ins and outs of sorority recruitment at a school that always claims it has the "largest" Greek community in the nation.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/09/12/as-fall-sorority-recruitment-comes-to-close-prospective-members-weigh-options

Magazines give University mixed ratings

published Sept. 11, 2008 in The Daily Illini

How did the University of Illinois stack up against schools and programs ranked by magazines including U.S. News and World Report.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/09/11/magazines-methods-give-mixed-ratings-to-university

Project PEER prepares freshmen for healthy year

published Sept. 5, 2008 in The Daily Illini

An introductory story to a study of a peer-mentoring program designed to ward off the "freshman 15" in new female students.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/09/05/project-peer-prepares-freshmen-for-healthy-year

Summer salmonella outbreak leaves area untouched

published Sept. 10 in The Daily Illini

Recap of how local businesses dealt with summer foodborne disease outbreak.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/09/10/summer-salmonella-outbreak-leaves-area-untouched

Varied reactions to New Testament handouts

published Sept. 4, 2008 in The Daily Illini

How students reacted to a the yearly handout of Bibles on a secular campus.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/09/04/student-reactions-to-free-new-testament-booklets-vary

Lease details tenants miss are not necessarily hidden

published Sept. 2, 2008 in The Daily Illini

What should student-tenants look out for before signing their apartment leases.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/09/02/lease-details-tenants-miss-are-not-necessarily-hidden

Quad day showcases variety

published Aug. 25, 2008 in The Daily Illini

Coverage of the quintessential University of Illinois variety show: Quad Day.

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2008/08/25/quad-day-showcases-variety

COD brings back child care: Program for students with kids ages 3 to 5

published August 2008 in the Naperville Sun www.napersun.com

After a one-year break, College of DuPage is reinstating its Child Care Services for Students program.

The program will occupy one room of the Early Childhood Center and will be available beginning Aug. 20 to students and part-time faculty with children ages 3 to 5.

For students like MIkata Jokkene, who will be at the college five days a week studying criminal justice and working in the student activities office, the program will save time and money.

"The fact that I go to school here and work here will give me the opportunity where I don't have to leave home as early; I don't have to get the kids up as early," said Jokkene, a 31-year-old mother of three. "I'll have them right near me if anything was to happen."

Two of Jokkene's children will be eligible for the program when it begins. Isaiah is 4, and Zoe will be 3 when the semester starts.

Jokkene estimates cutting a day-care center out of the trip from her home in Carol Stream to the college's Glen Ellyn campus will save 30 minutes each way.

For Maureen Walgren of Naperville, this child-care program may not be time-efficient, but it will be cost efficient.

Walgren, a 35-year-old mother of three, hires a nanny or uses a day-care center to take care of her kids, who are 8,5 and 2. Her 2-year-old, Shannon, will be 3 in October, so Walgren plans to enroll her in the program in January.

"Having a nanny saves on time, but the cost savings of using the program at COD would be worth it," she said.

Child Care Services for Students will cost $6 per hour for students and $7 per hour for part-time faculty. Those rates are both for one child.

A $50 deposit is also required to ensure a spot in the program, said Meri Phillips, director of student activities for the college.

Phillips and other staff conducted an online survey to gauge interest in reinstating the program after it was halted at the end of the spring 2007 semester.

She said about 60 people responded, and enough indicated they were willing and eligible to use the program to justify the hiring of an additional teacher.

"We have a good core to get started with, and we can build it from there," Phillips said.

The program's hours are 7:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays. Each child is allowed to spend five hours a day under the program's care.

"On the days I have classes, it will be very convenient," Walgren said. "It can adjust to my flexible schedule each semester."

Before Child Care Services for Students was halted, some form of it had been available at COD for 30 years, Phillips said. The retirement of a teacher and dropping enrollment numbers caused the cancellation of the program a year ago.

Phillips said very few changes will be made to the structure of the program, which is run like a typical day-care center.

Copyright 2008 Naperville Sun

Tower enhancement creates controversy: Man claims dirt path intrudes on his land

published July 25, 2008 in the Naperville Sun

William Miller lives on 75th Street in unincorporated Naperville, sandwiched between an American Tower Corp cell phone tower on the west and three Crown Castle International towers on the east.

On the night of July 16, he noticed some action at the American Tower Copr sight. A dirt path approximately 6 feet wide and 100 feet long had been built on an area he claims to be the southwest corner of his property.

"What I discovered when I went down there is they jumped the road onto my property," Miller said. "That used to be underbrush and trees back there. Now it's an open road from 75th Street to the Park District land."

The dirt path connects a gravel driveway leading from 75th Street to the tower, to teh grassy fields of Meadow Glens Park.

American Tower Corp. applied for a permit to build the tower in 2003, according to DuPage County records. The 902-foot tower is used by AT&T.

Construction at the site began last week, said Megan Roskopf, AT&T's Illinois spokeswoman. Crews from the Joliet firm Camco Construction worked at the site for three days to begin installing fiber-optic cables meant to enhance the tower's service providing ability.

A Camco official said the crews did not build a dirt path and only used existing roads to access the tower.

Roskopf also said she was not aware of any trees or bushes that were cleared, though the cables are being installed underground.

"Right now, there's no way of telling who put the road through there," Miller said. "I can't say who's guilty, and I doubt if anyone will fess up. People aren't that honest to admit their mistakes."

Sitll, Miller said he has no doubt a bulldozer came onto his property and knocked down plants to build the path.

"One small tree was sawed off," Miller said. "I found the stump there."

He also said the path has been driven on by construction trucks since it was built. But AT&T workers at the site Thursday accessed the tower from the park to the south, and left their three trucks parked there on the grass.

Miller believes the parh is on his land because a property survey he commissioned in 2004 shows no easement or extra space between the western edge of his property and the eastern edge of the tower's property.

To determine where the property lines lie and what the boundaries mean for the legality of the path, Miller hired a lawyer.

"We have to investigate to see first whether the path is on his property, and if so, why it's there," said Miller's lawyer, Joe Fortunato of the Westmont firm Fortunato, Knobbe, Davenport and Arnold. Fortunato said he will bring the surveyors back to Miller's property to find the iron pipes they placed underground in 2004 to mark the boundaries of his land.

If the path truly lies on Miller's property, Fortunato siad he would notify the owners of the adjacent land that they are not authorized to use it.

Miller, 84, lives with his wife Petronella, also 84. He said he not only worries about the unauthorized use of his property, but also about the safety issues associated with a new shortcut existing between a park and a large road.

"Kids are going to run through it," Miller said. "I was a kid once too and I know if there's a shortcut, they're going to take it."

Construction at the tower is scheduled to be complete in two weeks, according to Roskopf.

Once construction is finished and all the underground cables have been installed, she said crews will restore the area.

Copyright 2008 Naperville Sun

Precision flyers: Glider team heads to Turkey for world championships

published June 2008 in the Naperville Sun www.napersun.com

Richard Burnowski works in the roofing and construction industry, but he has commited his life to flying.

Burnowski, 51, of Boling brook is one of three senior pilots on a national team that participates in competitions with hand-towed gliders. On Monday, Burnowski, junior pilot Jeff Walter of Naperville and the rest of their five-member team will leave for Turkey to compete in the F3J World Championship.

In the competition, teams from 23 countries will be scored based on their ability to accomplish two goals. Pilots launch their planes at the same time and try to land them after exactly 10 minutes. They also aim for a target on the ground and receive more points for landing their planes closer to the target.

F3J teams include five members: a pilot, a team manager, a caller to inform the pilot about other planes and two towers.

"My job (as tower) is to get them in the air as fast as possible," said Richard's son Franklin Burnowski, 26. "We want them to think about flying and nothing else."

The team will spend two weeks in Turkey, and almost all of the time will be spent flying, Burnowski said.

"It's a dream come try because I've been working on it so long," Burnowski said.

Burnowski has been trying to make the national team since 1979. Now that he earned a spot, he is confident in his team's ability to place in the top three at the world championships.

Years of practice

Burnowski's confidence comes from years of practice and from knowing he is in control of his aircraft.

"It took every minute of practice - every day, every hour, every month, every year - to get to where I'm at now," Burnowski said. "If you practice really hard and you practice the right things, then you kind of expect to do well, and it raises your confidence level."

Walter, the junior pilot member of the team, began flying with his father nine years ago. The junior at Neuqua Valley High School has been flying competitively for two years.

Burnowski and Walter practice with a Chicago-based competitive flying team called SOAR, or Silent Order of Aeromodeling by Radio. They use sod farms as their practice fields.

Every weekend when temperatures are greater than 50 degrees, the team practices launching, landing, adjusting to wind speeds and dealing with weather conditions.

But living in the Midwest stops them from practicing during the winter months.

"We don't fly as much as the West Coast guys," Walter said.

Burnowski and Walter are the only pilots from the Midwest on the national team, and they said they will be the first from this are to compete in the F3J World Championships.

Making it to the world championships took teamwork and trust.

"When you fly as a team, it's almost like being married where you have to fully trust in the person that you're married to," Burnowski said. "You have to have full trust in the people (who)are working with your team."

Copyright 2008 Naperville Sun

Budding broadcasters: NCC radio camps turn airwaves over to kids

published June 2008 in the Naperville Sun www.napersun.com

Summer often means sleep-away camps or sports camps for junior high and high school students. But those interested in broadbasting now have their own radio camp at North Central College's radio station, WONC-FM 89.1.

Students who sign up for the weeklong workshops partner with the station's disc jockeys and producers to experience the environment of a radio station. They also get to go on air.

"They said they wanted to try whatever they could," said Michelle Corless, a camp counselor and North Central student. "They weren't expecting to go on air."

At least not right away.

"I just thought we would be on air the last day," said Anissa Bridgeforth, an 11-year old camper.

Shy broadcasters

Giving students the opportunity to read live news, sports, traffic or weather reports is a main focus of the camp, said John Madormo, the college's assistant professor of broadcast communication.

"It's rare that we have a student who elects not to go on air," Madormo said.

Some students are shy at first, but counselors introduce them to broadcasting slowly by recording them so they will not worry about freezing under pressure.

Others can stay behind the scenes and learn to use the sound board or work in the production studio.

"By the end of the week, each person ends up developing his own way of doing things," said Dan Goulson, camp counselor and North Central student.

Students are divided into groups of three or four based on gender. Each group of campers gets to answer phones and create their own radio drama.

"We help them to be creatively independent, but we're definitely there to oversee things," Goulson said. "We make sure that they're using time wisely and also having fun at the same time."

Career experience

For some, the camp is more than just a fun summer pastime. It is also an introduction to a career that many who attend the camp end up pursuing, Madormo said.

Jade Loeser, an 11-year-old camper, said she became interested in a radio career after reading the morning announcements at her elementary school. She said the camp has helped her understand the preparation that goes into each radio segment.

"It helps to choose what you're doing before you do it and get everything in line so you're not nervous," Loeser said.

The first two weeks of the camp, from June 9 to 20, are day camps for students entering seventh through ninth grades, while the week of June 23 to 27 is a residential program for students entering their sophomore through senior years of high school.

All who attend tour other local radio studios and hear speeches from North Central alumni who work in the radio industry including Maggie Peterson, assistant program director at WSSR-FM in Joliet.

"It's a really good idea because it shows what it's like to be in radio," Peterson said. "I think if you didn't attend a camp like this, you would have no idea what a radio station is like."

Copyright 2008 Naperville Sun

Warrior winners: Waubonsie celebrates girls state soccer title at pep rally

published June, 2008 in the Naperville Sun www.napersun.com

The first 45 minutes of the second-to-last day at Waubonsie Valley High School were dedicated to the annual recognition assembly for athletes.

For the second year in a row, the school celebrated the achievements of its girls soccer team in winning the Class AA state championship.

The 24-member team also boasts an undefeated season, a 58-game winning streak, and the winner of the Gatorade State Girls Soccer Player of the Year Award, junior Bri Rodriguez.

"As an individual award, she deserves it," coach Julie Bergstrom said. "But it also is representative of Waubonsie soccer and where we've come with the players on the team in the last few years."

Through all the team's accomplishments, Bergstrom has taught her players not to think about championships or winning streaks, but to take the season one game at a time.

And her players bought into her philosophy.

"We tried to take it one game at a time because we know that no matter who we're playing, every team is going to come out and try to beat us," Rodriguez said.

Bergstrom, a physical education teacher at the high school, also taught her players to step up in pressure situations and not to depend solely on a few star athletes to carry the team.

And when Rodriguez tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee in a tournament game Friday against Maine South, Bergstrom said the entire team stepped up.

Rodriguez said she gave her captain title to sophomore Vanessa DiBernadino after her injury. DiBernadino joined junior captains Rachel Bostick and Claire Hanold in the leadership position.

The team went on to clinch the state title with a 3-0 win against Belleville's Althoff High School at North Central College.

For seniors Emily Bielaga, Hillary Blake and Jessica Blake, the state championship game was their last in a Warrior uniform.

The location of the state tournament allowed Waubonsie's fans to continue attending games and supporting the team, Bergstrom said.

A slideshow at the pep rally showcased Warrior fans cheering on the team decked out in body paint, flags and all forms of green and gold gear.

"It's amazing, especially at the home games," Rodriguez said of the team's fan support. "It's probably hard to play against, but when you know it's for you, it definitely gets you pumped up."

Parents and family members also celebrated the team's achievement in the crowd of about 3,600 at the assembly.

"At girls events, let alone soccer, a lot of times you don't get much support," said Lisa McClellan, mother of junior Kiki McClellan. "The girls here and the students here love the coach so much and I think she has a lot to do with that. She makes all these T-shirts and really gets people excited about sports."

Copyright 2008 Naperville Sun