President Joe Biden enacted a $95 billion national security package on Wednesday, which includes a provision to ban TikTok in the United States if China-based parent company ByteDance fails to divest in the app.

Biden signed the bill into law following the Senate’s 79-18 decision Tuesday night, with 15 Republicans and three Democrats voting against it. 

ByteDance must decide to either sell their U.S. assets entirely or lose access to their 170 million users in the U.S. They have nine months to figure out a plan, which could be extended another three months by President Biden if substantial progress is observed. 

This decision was driven by the widespread fear of surveillance from China among United States legislators. Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fl, Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said that the bill’s passing will bring a much-needed change to the country.

“For years, we’ve allowed the Chinese Communist Party to control one of the most popular apps in America that was dangerously shortsighted,” Rubio said. “A new law is going to require its Chinese owner to sell the app. This is a good move for America.”

However, this law is far from a decisive move. A myriad of problems could arise during the processing period and even after.

TikTok’s price creates a barrier to purchase, considering the U.S. portion alone is estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars. Despite this, several potential buyers have aspirations to leap on the opportunity.

“It’s the largest entertainment and business network in America as it stands today, so it’s of great interest and great value,” said former “Shark Tank” judge Kevin O’Leary. “It’s a very interesting deal, and I like it.”

TikTok and the Chinese government are in firm opposition to such a sale and have plans to inhibit this process from getting that far.

A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the ban “would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, devastate seven million businesses and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy annually.”

In concurrence with TikTok, the Chinese commerce ministry intends to challenge the law.

On Friday, the Cyberspace Administration of China indirectly retaliated against the bill by catalyzing a removal of Meta’s WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store, according to Apple. The government mirrored the U.S. Congress in citing national security concerns as their reasoning.

Other U.S. officials took dissenting positions to the ban, claiming that the loss of the app would do more harm than good.

“We have people, communities that are able to organize, that are able to meet, that are able to find space for their businesses to grow (on TikTok),” Representative Summer Lee said. “We need to actually think about what the consequences of that are, not political consequences alone.”

meghna4@dailyillini.com

ms98@dailyillini.com

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In a brief meeting on Tuesday, the Champaign City Council moved forward in voting on several resolutions and ordinances, taking decisive action aimed at improving the city’s welfare. 

One of the highlights was the appointment of Francesca Morgan to the Housing Authority of Champaign County’s Board of Commissioners, as described in Resolution CB2024-043. This appointment emphasizes the council’s ongoing desire to address housing needs and support community growth within Champaign.

Another important item was Ordinance CB2024-044, which proposed changes to the salary and position control report of the City of Champaign for the fiscal year 2023-2024. According to Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen, the purpose of this bill was to amend the salary and staffing ordinance to adjust staffing levels, job titles and pay classifications of several positions in five departments.

The council also considered Resolution CB2024-045, which approved the development of the preliminary/final plat of the S&J Real Estate, LLC subdivision, subdividing an approximately two-acre track at the northwest corner of Bradley and Prospect Avenues into two commercial lots.

After that, the council passed a series of resolutions to address various maintenance projects across the city. 

Resolution CB2024-046 authorized the city manager to enter into a contract with A&A Concrete LLC for the 2024 Infrastructure Maintenance Project. Council member Kathy Shannon stopped to point out that this bill would involve replacing the detection loop at the intersection of Paula Drive and N. Mattis Avenue.

“I know neighbors have been frustrated with that for a long time, you can sit at that and have it not detect that the car is there, so I’m excited about that being fixed,” Shannon said. 

The council also authorized the purchase of road salt from the Illinois Department of Central Management Services in Resolution CB2024-047, ensuring the city is well prepared for transportation in the colder months of 2024-2025.

Next, council member Vanna Pianfetti moved to consolidate Resolutions CB2024-048 and CB2024-049, which involve accepting a bid and authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement for phase two of the Public Works Center HVAC Replacement Project and execute an agreement for the construction of controls for the same phase of the same project. 

Finally, the passing of Ordinance CB2024-050 approved amendments to Sections 12.5-12 and 12.5-32 of the Champaign Municipal Code to add the qualifications-based selection process as an authorized negotiating purchasing method.  

Overall, the Champaign City Council’s recent meeting served to approve a series of resolutions and ordinances aimed at improving the city’s governance, development and infrastructure maintenance. 

Each one of these council bills was passed unanimously, 9-0, demonstrating a complete consensus and shared vision among council members on the priorities and direction of the City of Champaign moving forward. 

City Manager Dorothy Ann David noted that, instead of a Study Session, a special regular meeting of the council would be scheduled next week to implement items of business necessary to keep the downtown pilot program on task. She also mentioned that the annual town meeting will be held next week.

meghna4@dailyillini.com

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In the Champaign-Urbana area, where academia meets agriculture, Best Liquor Store might just be the biggest no-brainer category out there. 

As one of the top party schools in the nation, students need to find their buzz somewhere, and the overwhelming majority chose to crown Illini Pantry their winner, a beloved liquor store known for its impressive assortment of refreshments and welcoming atmosphere. 

Open from 10 a.m. until midnight every day, this store is more than just a place to buy alcohol — it’s an orange-and-blue haven for beverage enthusiasts where the beers stay cold forever, the wine selection rivals that of a Napa Valley connoisseur and the spirits can rejuvenate even the most defeated and lonely of students.

As soon as you set foot in this mystical building, you will be overwhelmed by row after row of bottles, fridges full of cans and six-packs stacked sky-high. The knowledgeable staff at Illini Pantry are like the fairy godparents of alcohol, ready to wave their magic wands and guide you to your perfect drink. 

Near the front of the store, Illini Pantry has a wide array of snacks perfectly suited to cure all your hangover cravings. Behind the counter, an extensive collection of vaping gadgets and accessories awaits your discovery. Finally, if you’re looking for a keepsake to cherish and pass on to future generations, consider acquiring a set of souvenir shot glasses.

All of this, of course, only if you’re 21 or over. Be sure to bring your ID, and perhaps a map — because with this crazy selection, you might just get lost in the aisles. 

meghna4@dailyillini.com

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nuEra stands out as the premier destination for cannabis fans throughout Champaign-Urbana for a multitude of reasons. While other smoke shops might boast larger or flashier varieties of glassware and accessories, nuEra has the goods consumers are looking for and in whatever form they care to find them. 

Whether you’re shopping for flower, edibles, vape carts, pre-rolls, tinctures, topicals or concentrates, nuEra has you covered with its comprehensive inventory full of high-quality products. It carries a diverse range of strains, such as its meticulously cultivated cobra milk, winner of the 2023 High Times Cannabis Cup, as well as elevated tissue-culture twists on popular classics like sour diesel and blue dream. 

nuEra caters to both recreational and medical users, offering detailed guidance on obtaining a medical marijuana card as well as a generous $100 discount for newly registered medical patients.

Its website also includes a Higher Education Hub with resources aimed at creating a more enlightened cannabis collective. It frequently carries featured deals and discounts, and you can even sign up to join its rewards program, the High Flyers Club, to earn points for every purchase you make. 

Overall, this dispensary’s approach to customer service is more than just transactional — it is also committed to building a community of well-informed and responsible cannabis enthusiasts. With its unparalleled selection, quality and care to share expertise, nuEra sets the gold standard, claiming the title of Best Smoke Shop in C-U.

meghna4@dailyillini.com

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The cities of Urbana and Champaign are joining the University to invest in the expansion of Willard Airport at the University of Illinois in Savoy, Illinois. The project is meant to transform the air service sector in Champaign County and stimulate the economy of the region.

Currently, the airport only offers flights to O’Hare International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport — major international hubs that mainly function as connection points for passengers headed to other locations.

A key aspect of the plan for the Willard Airport expansion involves introducing leisure-class passenger service to popular tourist destinations such as Florida, Nevada and Arizona. Adding flights to these locations would not only strengthen the connectivity of the region but also lessen its reliance on airports that are farther off. 

Tim Bannon, executive director for Willard Airport, emphasized that low cost — roughly $40 to $60 one way — would be economically invaluable to travelers.

Travel data shows that there are Champaign and Urbana residents who are already flying to these locations for vacations by using Willard Airport to catch connecting flights there, or driving to airports in Bloomington, Chicago or Indianapolis instead.

“We only serve about 20% of the travel demand in our area,” Bannon said. “The remainder of people drive to other airports, and we’re trying to recapture those. That’s really the goal — create onsite jobs, allow people to save money spent driving to other airports and paying high parking rates. What we’re trying to do is offer value to our travelers, add air service to our market and grow our airport to serve the needs of our population here.”

Led by local authorities, the project aims to attract an airline that can offer leisure flights at Willard Airport by gathering community funding to ensure a minimum revenue guarantee for them.

A minimum revenue guarantee is money that would compensate for any deficits in an airline’s projected earnings in the first two years of operation and has become a standard aspect of initiatives aimed at persuading airlines to offer services at smaller airports like Willard Airport. 

The University has already displayed its commitment to the project by pledging a substantial $500,000, underscoring the importance of the project to not only the regional economy but also the community. 

The airport is now seeking an additional $500,000 from alternative donors like local governments and employers. As of February, preliminary approval for contributions has been granted by the city councils of both Urbana and Champaign, with a proposed $50,000 from the city of Urbana and $75,000 from the city of Champaign.

Bannon said the airport cannot fund the initiative independently due to federal restrictions, so the money has to come from the community. Because raising money is “always a challenge,” finding ways to do so has been discussed in many meetings.

Willard Airport is also continuing efforts to pursue a carrier that can offer direct flights to Washington D.C., which is another service in high demand. This initiative would also involve providing an MRG, which would be covered by the University along with an $850,000 grant given by the U.S. Department of Transportation for this flight service in 2022. The introduction of this new route has been delayed due to obstacles such as the nationwide shortage of pilots and difficulty finding a slot but is hoped to be added next. 

However, the airport expansion entails more than just additional flights. According to an article on BNN Breaking, the authorities in Urbana see the initiative as a driving force for enhanced tourism, increased ease of access for business travelers and a competitive advantage for the businesses in the area. 

Previous renovations made to the airport in 2023 involved bringing in larger aircraft, more frequent flights and first-class seating options. The boarding terminals were also upgraded during a six-month restoration that followed $1 million in damages from severe storms last June.  

According to its website, Willard Airport is one of just two commercial airports in the United States that is owned and operated by an educational institution. Known by its FAA code “CMI,” the airport is named after Arthur Cutts Willard, a past president of the University. The airport was officially dedicated on Oct. 26, 1945, and its first scheduled flight took place in 1954.  

According to Bannon, what’s coming up next for the airport is a major plan to expand its TSA checkpoint from one lane to two. 

“We’re starting construction this year and will be finished early 2026,” Bannon said. “And then, in addition, we’re always working with the Federal Aviation Administration and Illinois Department of Transportation to secure grant funds to keep all of our airfield pavements and infrastructure in good condition.” 

meghna4@dailyillini.com

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The University of Illinois board of trustees has put forward a proposal to extend the contract of Timothy Killeen, president of the University of Illinois System, for an additional three years. 

The University of Illinois System consists of three universities at three campuses — Chicago, Springfield and Urbana-Champaign — with a combined enrollment of over 94,700 students. This extension is currently pending approval and subject to a formal vote at a board meeting in March. 

Killeen is the 20th president of the University of Illinois System. He first assumed his position in May 2015 and was granted a new contract in 2020, extending his tenure until June of this year.

The proposed extension, set to begin on July 1, 2024, ensures that President Tim Killeen’s current annual salary of $916,770 will remain unchanged. 

Under the terms of the extension, Killeen will also qualify for any merit-based salary increases up to the maximum allowed for all system administrators. Additionally, his deferred compensation amount will remain the same. 

“The proposed extension reaffirms the board’s confidence in President Killeen’s continued leadership of the university system and its universities,” said Chairman Don Edwards in a press release.

Killeen’s tenure as president has been marked by great accomplishments and progress for the system as a whole, including improvements in student enrollment, affordability, diversity, financial aid, research and statewide economic development, the press release stated. 

Last fall, the University of Illinois System saw its enrollment reach record highs for the 10th consecutive year. It has also been successful in reaching its goal of keeping more students in-state, with 79% of undergraduates hailing from Illinois, while drawing in representation from all 102 counties. 

Under Killeen’s leadership, the University of Illinois System has focused on improving access and opportunities for underrepresented students, whose population has grown by over 8,000. 

In order to do so, it has implemented affordability initiatives such as a tuition freeze in six out of the last nine years, as well as significant increases in the availability of financial aid, the release said. The system’s retention and graduation rates currently surpass national averages, while student debt rates fall below them. 

Meanwhile, research funding has surged to over $1 billion, highlighting the system’s dedication to driving innovation with worldwide impact, the release said. The universities have also coordinated fundraising campaigns that exceeded their $3.1 billion target, raising a record $3.6 billion in their history of philanthropic efforts.

With Killeen’s help, the University of Illinois System has significantly contributed to economic growth and workforce development throughout Illinois, including through the establishment of the Discovery Partners Institute and the Illinois Innovation Network, both of which aim to expand research and stimulate job creation, the press release stated. 

The University of Illinois System’s activities inject an annual $19 billion into the state’s economy. According to a 2022 study, there has been an 8.6% increase in the system’s contribution to the state since 2018, which amounts to roughly $1.5 billion. 

Additionally, the release noted that Killeen has strengthened the system’s commitment to providing a well-rounded education, initiating a program that put almost $3.5 million into faculty initiatives to support the arts and humanities.

“The U of I System under Tim Killeen’s leadership has navigated a period of extraordinary challenge and emerged stronger and more committed to serving our students and the state of Illinois,” Edwards stated in the press release. “His unwavering dedication to the system’s mission and core values is transforming the landscape of higher education within our community and state and has set a benchmark of excellence with inclusive growth for others to follow.”

According to his biography, Killeen joined the system with more than three decades of experience as an educator, researcher and administrator in public higher education and in leadership positions with national scientific research agencies.

Originally from Wales, Killeen received a bachelor’s degree in physics and astronomy as well as a doctorate in atomic and molecular physics at the University College London. 

He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2007 to serve as a member and past president of the American Geophysical Union and holds fellowship status with the American Meteorological Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 

Killeen has also held roles as vice chancellor for research and president of the Research Foundation at the State University of New York, assistant director for geosciences at the National Science Foundation, Lyall Research Professor at the University of Colorado, director and senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research and associate vice president for research at the University of Michigan, where he spent over 20 years as a faculty member. 

Given the proposed extension of his contract, Killeen expressed excitement to continue working with the board to uphold academic excellence throughout the system, while also remaining dedicated to serving the interests of the state.

“The board’s leadership and results-driven focus have been instrumental in bringing their vision for the future to fruition, and I am immensely grateful for their efforts,” Killeen said in the press release. 

“Our students deserve transformative experiences, and it is our responsibility to address the fundamental needs of our state,” Killeen said. “I am tremendously excited to build upon the momentum we have already established, with full confidence that we will seize opportunities to support and propel our great state forward, growing our impact here and around the world.”

meghna4@dailyillini.com

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The Indian Graduate Students Association organized a candlelight vigil on Friday to honor the life of 18-year-old Akul Dhawan, freshman in Engineering. The University community has been mourning his loss ever since he was found dead with signs of hypothermia on the morning of Jan. 20. 

The vigil began at Alma Mater, where a crowd of some 100 students and parents had gathered. After an initial speech, IGSA passed out flowers and candles to the attendees. 

From there, the procession walked down Green and Goodwin streets in silence before finally reaching the back porch of a building in the 1200 block of West Nevada Street, where his body was found.

“I’m here to pay respects to my friend that passed away,” said Jai Gupta, freshman in Engineering. “I hope the event brings closure to the people who were affected by his death, and I hope his parents can get something out of it as well.” 

Gupta and several more of Dhawan’s friends spoke at the site of the vigil after IGSA, sharing stories about their lost friend. They reminisced about his personality traits and quirks, what drew them to him initially and the time spent with him that they would cherish forever. 

Many of them expressed just how easy he was to connect with and talk to, the new perspectives he frequently brought to them and how unique he was.

“Akul was part of the Indian community, and we are the Indian Graduate Student Association, so we would like to form a deeper connection there,” shared Derek Pinto, secretary for the IGSA. 

While Pinto discussed the more lighthearted cultural impact that IGSA has on campus, he also stressed the importance of honoring Dhawan’s memory. 

“We do a lot of fun events and celebrations like Diwali, but this is also an event where we need to play a role,” Pinto said. “We’ve lost a member of our community, so we are here to honor and cherish his memory so that a part of him continues to live on campus.

“I think, first and foremost, this event highlights the life that Akul lived here on campus,” Pinto continued. “He came here with a lot of ambitions, he wanted to be an engineer. We have a message from his dad which also brings out his spirit, and this is a way to communicate with people what he could have been, or what he was; what his dream on campus was.”

The vigil concluded with two minutes of silence and a triple chant of “Om Shanti Shanti Shanti” before those attending came forward to place flowers and candles under a picture of Dhawan with burning incense. Many students lingered for long after the ceremony, forming a half circle while they reflected on his life.

“We didn’t know him, we’re just paying our respects,” said Rakshita Kunde, freshman in Business. “With the vigil, the community is working together to be able to share with other people what happened, to spread awareness of that and the dangers that come with being on campus.”

“It reminds us of the value of our loved ones and the people that surround us, so we can cherish those memories,” added Akanksha Kashyap, freshman in Business. 

The impact of Dhawan’s death stretches far beyond the University campus. The vigil attracted numerous parents who represented a broader community concerned about the welfare of Indian students in America. 

“He was my daughter’s friend,” said Jishnu Nair, father of a University student. “So when this happened, she was pretty upset. Parents all over India have raised concerns with regards to multiple incidents that have happened in the last few weeks. Most are upset, and they’re pretty helpless. They’re taking it up with the government of India and the congresspeople to see what can be done. There are many state governments that are getting involved with the universities as well, not only this one but the other places this has happened.”

“This is the fifth incident that has happened in the last four weeks,” Nair said. “There were two incidents at Purdue, and a couple more. Many of the incidents were something weather-related, is what the police are saying. So, this issue has been taken up by the media in India and was raised in the parliament, and there’s a lot of attention on it. A lot of parents are watching from India, and I and a few others are here representing that bigger group and their concerns.”

Despite the broader context of the issue, Nair shifted focus to the community’s reaction to Dhawan’s death, expressing appreciation for the outpouring of support from the student body.

“This is a very good thing that all the kids have come here to show respect, even though he was just a first-year student,” Nair said. “So within a short span of time, I believe he had a great impression here.” 

Ish Dhawan, Akul’s father, also echoed Nair’s concerns about safety in the University community. 

In late January, he and his wife decided to file a complaint against UIPD, claiming negligence in the search for their missing son. Dhawan had been missing for 10 hours when he was found by a school employee just 400 feet away from his last reported location.

“The reason he went to UIUC is because he really liked the school,” Dhawan said. “He was enjoying it, he had a really good time in his first semester, he was really looking forward to his second semester until this tragic incident happened. There’s no doubt about it: He held the University’s engineering department in very high esteem. He had offers from UCs, but he insisted on going to UIUC.” 

Reflecting on the distressing circumstances that led to the loss, Dhawan shared his grief and pointed out the preventability of this situation, stressing the need for vigilance in the community.

“What happened over there is a tragedy, and I think that could and should have been avoided,” Dhawan said. “And a young, bubbly kid, who was so naive and gullible. He was only 18, he just turned 18 and lost his life, which is so tragic. Every student should be concerned about their safety. It’s not that kids don’t indulge in reckless behavior; they do. But it should not come at the expense of their life. The professionals should have easily prevented this tragedy, but the tragedy is that it happened.”

Dhawan and his wife hope to use this platform to ensure that no other family has to go through what they did.

“Our intent is that we do not want a similar incident to happen ever again,” Dhawan said. “We have lost our son. He is not coming back. Can we use this platform to make sure nothing like this event ever, ever happens again?”

meghna4@dailyillini.com

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The University officially appointed Matt Ballinger as the next executive director of public safety and chief of police on Thursday, a role he has been fulfilling on an interim basis since October 2023. 

Ballinger joined the Universityʼs police force in 2004. Over the past two decades, he has amassed extensive experience across various leadership ranks, special units and roles, including METRO SWAT commander, field training instructor and supervisor for the county’s Street Crimes Task Force. Before his work in law enforcement, he served in the U.S. Army 3rd Ranger Battalion. 

“Chief Ballinger has clearly demonstrated a strong commitment to our university,” said Mike DeLorenzo, vice chancellor for administration and operations. “His detailed knowledge and dedication to public engagement helps him advocate for the safety needs of our entire university community.”

In light of his new role, Ballinger shares insights on his career journey, the challenges that lay ahead and his vision for enhancing community safety and engagement.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Daily Illini: How do you feel about transitioning from the interim role to the official position? What does it mean to you personally and professionally, and how has the transition influenced your approach?

Ballinger: I think it seems to have been a fairly easy transition, because I took the interim role very seriously, as if I were the chief at the time. So for me, not much has changed. But when you’re in that interim role, you don’t always get to just make changes, nor would you want to, because if you’re not the one that gets the permanent spot, you’ve created some chaos that other people have to change. But now you can move things forward as far as what you’d like to do professionally.

When I started my career as an officer, I never thought it would be at this level. I’ve continued to try and better myself throughout my years, and this is where I landed. Professionally, itʼs very, very interesting and kind of surreal, to be honest. For myself, I’m still grasping where I’m at. Like any job, you continue to get better and look at things you’re doing well, could have done better, or missed, and aim to improve. I learned to ask people around for input and try to become better. That’s a transitioning mindset.

DI: What are your most immediate objectives for the department? What do you see as the biggest remaining challenges facing the University in terms of public safety?

Ballinger: The most immediate needs are much of what we’ve been doing well. We have grown so much over the past three to four years, thereʼs been a lot of turnover. Weʼve got some young leaders, weʼre coaching them, theyʼre doing great. We’re looking at all the programs we added, our community outreach, our social workers, our therapy, our canines, our technology and emergency management. We took on Campustown, that was a large commitment, and that increased our call volume, close to double what we’re used to. So weʼve grown exponentially, and weʼre trying to catch up, administration-wise. Weʼre also looking to say, “Okay, weʼve done this, now letʼs examine it and hone in on it. How do we become better? How do we take it to the next level?” 

I think the same challenges we have faced will always be there. Weʼre always trying to protect the community from the criminal element with the service, trying to prevent crime, solve crime and get ahead of those trends.

Another thing that we ran into was how COVID-19 really shut down a lot of communication. The students felt it; we felt it too. So getting back out there face to face and building relationships, everybodyʼs extremely busy trying to play catch up, trying to be involved and have that outreach. Thatʼs going to be our top priority, reestablishing those lines.

DI: Can you share more about your background in law enforcement, and how all of your previous experiences have prepared you for this role?

Ballinger: I mean, when I was 17, I joined the military. When you’re jumping out of planes before youʼre 18, that kind of defines who you are. I was in the 3rd Ranger Battalion as part of Joint Special Operations. So I was around a lot of leaders and people that helped me launch into what I am today — that really redefined who I was and my limitations both mentally and physically, and all of that came back up later. 

I was 30 when I started to be a police officer. In 2004, I went through the Police Training Institute. A lot of those skills I learned earlier in life came back to law enforcement. There are a lot of similarities, like chain of command, the leadership aspect; and some of those traits and skills I learned earlier helped me transition as well. As a young officer, I started doing patrol and kind of joined all the units along the way — anywhere from bicycle police to being a part of the honor guard to field training officer, to just tons of classes and building experience and trying to get that training. I’m lucky that this department has afforded me the opportunity to get that type of training.

I became a sergeant. As University police, we have connections with housing, we teach RAs who speak to Greek houses. All those interactions in our policing led me further up the chain. And then as I got promoted, I went over to the joint county Street Crimes Task Force from 2015-2019 as a supervisor. That’s where we were targeting some of the people that were doing the most harm to the communities with gun violence. That was a lot of experience in that type of crime investigation and higher profile cases. It was very rewarding to help make the community safer by going after the people that were doing the harm.

After that, I was promoted to lieutenant. I came back to the University. Now you’re changing the administrative rules, looking at policies, guiding things. You’re not so much the one doing the stopping now. You’re trying to guide the people in the posts below you on how to do the job and be the next to replace you when you leave. 

All those experiences — they’re just so many in so many classes. I spent a large amount of my time on a joint county SWAT team, I held most positions on that. And then there’s the METRO SWAT team, board of the commanders, so before I came out of that and got promoted up to assistant chief, I had a lot of experience there on how to handle crises. Getting all your high-risk search warrants, your barricades, your hostage rescue, your response to school shooters. A lot of what I learned during that time, I was able to come back and help teach our people.

That was a big part of my career coming into this new role, and the administration side has catapulted me into something I wasn’t exposed to before— getting out there and meeting people on all levels, faculty, staff, students, that just wasn’t where my job title landed me before. Now that I’m in these roles, it has been extremely rewarding to go out and make those connections. During my interim role, that’s what I focused on: going out and meeting folks. So I’m going to continue to do that and I think that’s very critical and important for our department.

DI: What role do you believe the campus community and all the people that you’re meeting should play in maintaining a secure environment and helping public safety?

Ballinger: They’re crucial. That’s literally what community policing is about, getting their input, their buy-in, things that they find, things we should have addressed or how we address it and getting them involved in the solution. You can’t just believe that, as the police department, you know everything or what’s best. It’s about asking the community, “Well, what do you think? What is your opinion?,”and having those conversations. And then communicating properly why we’re doing what we’re doing to make people safe, why we believe this is a safety risk. It’s absolutely crucial to have that.

DI: Was there anything that initially inspired you to join the military or pursue a career in law enforcement?

Ballinger: Ah, let’s see, I always had an affinity for military books and stuff like that. When I went to go sign up, actually, I didn’t know what a ranger was. They showed me a funny video of a guy riding around on a little Zodiac craft. I’m like, “That’s cool. I’d like to do that and jump out of planes.” So, I was way in over my head. I had no clue what I was getting into.

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life; I was young. I was looking for something to latch onto that interested me, and I had no idea what that would do for me. When I was 30, looking at law enforcement, I’d been doing trades for five to seven years. And so I was looking for something different, with a retirement, the type of same service as the military. So I did a ride-along and I was like, “Wow, this is really cool, this seems fun.”

But when you get into being a police officer, it’s one of those things where you can never anticipate the impact that has to yourself, to your family, to those that you do help. You just don’t know until you’re in law enforcement. So getting into it was fairly naive, and that was my military career. But down the road, you’re definitely able to see the impact and what you did, helping people. That’s a great feeling to have.

DI: How would you describe your leadership style, and how do you think it will benefit the Department of Public Safety at the University?

Ballinger: I think it could be many. I kind of always go with servant leadership as my fallback. Treat folks like you want them to treat others, both inside and outside where you work, if you want them to replicate. For me, it’s about trying to work with your people, be there for their needs and what you can do for them, as opposed to just dictating. I think that’s critical for any good organization, some type of leadership that cares about their people enough to have those conversations, communicate their intents and be approachable.

DI: Do you see the role of campus police evolving in any other way in the next few years?

Ballinger: I think there’s going to be a lot of changes because technology is moving so quickly. Law enforcement is no different. There’s so many new initiatives; people are starting to think outside the box of what traditional law enforcement used to be. I can’t really anticipate some of those new things, but we’re forward-thinking and will look at those but properly vet them, because a lot of new initiatives sometimes aren’t very well crafted. We’ll go in measured steps with new stuff.

Technology has been extremely helpful for us, like our ALPRs (Automated License Plate Readers), cameras, those are all helping us identify and solve crimes, clear up cases, which is good to take the people that are trying to harm the community off the street, and then hold them accountable. There’s gunshot detection, there’s a lot of stuff out there technology-wise that can be of assistance to help us keep the campus and the community safe.

DI: Finally, what message would you like to convey to the students, faculty and staff at the University about their role in campus safety?

Ballinger: Please feel free to approach us, and if you have something that you see or feel is important, or dangerous, or could be better, our ears are open. We make ourselves available at several different venues. If you see me walking on the quad, my name is Matt, feel free to come up and say hi, and chat it up, and use those avenues when we’re out there. Or if you want to come by, I always have an open door.

meghna4@dailyillini.com 

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With the grant, the Developing Equity-Minded Engineering Practitioners center will be created in partnership with Morgan State University, a historically Black college in Baltimore, Maryland.

Partnership with Morgan State University began in the summer of 2023 with the Jumpstart DEEP Research Engagement initiative with the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. School of Engineering at Morgan State University.

DEEP’s goal is to train faculty on diversity, equity and inclusion principles and how to include them in their classrooms or labs. To help facilitate this, they plan to host workshops and provide examples of relevant lessons, according to the College of Engineering.

The proposal for DEEP was submitted in November of 2022 by the staff members at IDEA. IDEA was founded by Lynford Goddard, professor in Engineering and associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion at the College of Engineering. 

Associate Directors Ellen Wang Althaus and Ashleigh Wright were also heavily involved in brainstorming and writing the proposal, and the project received funding from the Office of the ADR’s Strategic Research Initiative Program.

“One of the priorities of Grainger is to not only diversify our faculty and staff populations, but to really build collaborations with our other engineering colleagues,” Wright said. “I think the college has done a really good job in investing in those initiatives primarily through the IDEA institute. The reason we’ve chosen Morgan State is because we have alumni from Illinois that are currently faculty there, so we decided that we wanted to really deepen our partnership.”

This involved doing a faculty exchange in August, where three members from each campus visited the other for a week to meet with the rest of the faculty, have conversations about the research they were doing and discuss potential collaborations.

“We believe that to have strong deep partnerships, particularly from institutions that have different cultural experiences, it’s really an experience, what each faculty goes through on their own campus,” Wright continued. “And so we wanted to have an opportunity where faculty could really visit the campus, be in the environment, see the spaces and talk to each other. And so that was the premise of the Jumpstart.” 

When asked about the main differences between primarily white institutions like the University of Illinois and HBCUs like Morgan State, Goddard explained that it involves the difference in scale of operation, as well as cultural context. 

“Most HBCUs are relatively small compared to UIUC,” Goddard said. “We have huge classes. The HBCUs tend to have smaller class sizes, the faculty hold a lot of office hours, and there’s a lot of one-on-one interactions between the faculty and the students because they’re not research-intensive. They’re moving towards research-intensive, which means that they’re going to expect their faculty to teach fewer courses and do more research.”

According to Goddard, while most professors at the University of Illinois teach two courses a year, or even just one if they are more focused on research, faculty at HBCUs tend to teach four courses per semester. 

In order to become more research-intensive, as potentially the first HBCU to move from R2 to R1 status, Morgan State needs to build research infrastructure and change the way they teach, for which the University of Illinois can provide a model. 

On the flip side, Morgan State can provide important insights for the College of Engineering’s efforts to incorporate more diversity, equity and inclusion topics into their curriculum, which is a priority for the engineering accreditation board.

“In bringing history and cultural context and the things that affect communities of color, the HBCUs are a lot stronger because they already do this,” Goddard said. 

“At Illinois, we don’t have that sort of cultural context to draw, so it’s harder to weave in concepts that are related to the community into engineering courses,” Goddard added.

According to both Goddard and Wright, there are plans to discuss further collaborations with Morgan State in the spring, such as an exchange of graduate students between the two universities next summer. 

They also hope to have deeper engagement with other minority-serving institutions in Illinois with the goal of expanding the existing framework of inter-institutional partnerships, as well as continuing to increase diversity, equity and inclusion at the College of Engineering. 

“We are honored to partner with Morgan State University to co-create a joint center to bring about positive change,” said Dean Rashid Bashir said on IDEA’s website. “We are committed to building a more inclusive college at Illinois, as well as a more diverse academic culture more broadly.”

meghna4@dailyillini.com

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Out on the Main Quad, students are walking around with their fathers and other family members, enjoying the crisp, cool air. Smiles and laughs are infectious and heartwarming conversations are exchanged between families.

The sidewalks of Green Street are even more crowded than a usual Friday evening — a majority of students are accompanied by their fathers, many of them proudly donning colorful Illinois merchandise. 

Families are taking pictures in front of Alma Mater, with parents standing beside their accomplished college students. 

Teague Cliff, an Illini dad, said he and his daughter were planning on going to the basketball game tonight against Oakland. 

“This is our third Dads Weekend,” he said. “Every Dads Weekend, it’s been a blast. We just have a lot of fun and it’s a lot of dad-daughter time.”

Tomorrow, they’ll head to two tailgates, one before and one after the football game. In the evening, he said he plans that the duo will be hanging out with his daughter’s roommates and their dads. 

Tony Riccio, one of many dads walking around campus town with his daughter, also said that they would be attending the football game tomorrow, along with a tailgate.

“After that, we’re going to an ax-throwing bar,” he said.

“And then dinner and probably more bars,” he added with a laugh. 

paul34@dailyillini.com

Friday, 7 p.m.

The sun has set and families opt to head indoors, away from the cold evening air. At the Illini Union, people spend time together playing laser tag or bowling while some choose to watch the basketball game instead. 

“It’s nice to see them, I think it’s a good time,” said Sam Shelly when asked about their experience with their parents during Dads Weekend. “I showed them around the campus, showed them where I had class and showed them around the arboretum, which is beautiful.”

This year, the New Students & Family Experiences and the LGBTQIA+ Ally Network Training Committee held a social event for families to mingle with each other. 

“I think it’s a great opportunity for families to see their kids, see them in their school environment,” said Jennifer Shelly, an Illini mom. “It’s a chance to check out their campus and engage in some fun activities together as a family.” 

“Every Dads Weekend since I was on the board,” said Chuck Dushman, former president of the Illini Dads Association at the University when asked about his participation in the tradition. He mentioned his numerous plans — to go to both football and basketball games and an a capella concert. 

Despite his daughter having graduated from the University, Dushman said this year is the most special Dads Weekend due to the ribbon cutting for the Illini Dads Centennial Plaza. “It’s the most special Dads Weekend, my wife is here, my daughters are here and it’s the opening of the centennial plaza,” Dushman said. 

sonpari2@dailyillini.com

Saturday, 10:30 a.m.

On this warm November morning, Grange Grove is a bit busier than usual as the Illini gear up to face the Hoosiers. At the tailgate, students can be seen in orange and blue, alongside their parents who don similar colors. 

Ryder Heit, senior in Engineering, attended the Solar Car tailgate with his dad. They said it was their third annual Dads Weekend together due to Heit’s freshman year being affected by COVID-19.

“It’s great, always a good time, the weather is gorgeous,” Heit said. “The football team is mediocre but (we’re) very excited.”

Last night, Heit and his dad went to Murphy’s Pub, located on Green Street, and noted the popularity of the location. 

“It was very busy last night compared to what it usually is,” Heit said. “There’s more traffic than usual.”

Gracie May, junior in ACES, shared similar observations about the traffic. May, who attended the tailgate with her dad Mike May and her stepmom Kelly May, said Dads Weekend reminded her of Homecoming Week. 

“There’s definitely a lot more people but kind of the same vibe as Homecoming,” May said. 

jessiew4@illinois.edu 

Saturday, 3 p.m.

In the final moments of the game against Indiana, the score hits 42-42 and goes into overtime. Real-time commentary plays over the speakers in the Illini Union Bookstore for those who haven’t gone to Memorial Stadium to follow along. 

Among those present is Jonathan Theis, senior in Business, who tries on Illini gear while his parents watch. 

“It’s awesome, I definitely look forward to my parents coming here,” Theis said. “We’ve gone to the football game in previous years, it’s fun. It seems like we’re winning right now, it all comes down to this play.”

“We’ve come to Dads Day every year,” said Ellen Theis, his mom. “We’re going to go see the Varsity Men’s Glee Dads Day concert at Krannert after this.”

While in overtime, Illinois finally secures the game-changing touchdown, and the Illini have won. The final score is Illinois 48, Indiana 45.

Hordes of people dressed in orange and blue pass down Green Street, entering shops and restaurants, gathering in groups to chant and celebrate in light of the win. 

One of the students returning from the game is Simone Daly, freshman in AHS. She shared that she and her father went to a hockey game the night before, and had plans to attend a barbecue later in the evening. 

“I think it’s fun to have my dad here, he grew up in Ireland so he doesn’t know anything about American college,” Daly said. 

“I’ve never had that kind of Big Ten American college experience,” said her father, Hugh Daly. “It’s wonderful, I love it, I think it’s my third time down here. Of course, the football game was kind of the center of the weekend. It was great, it was really exciting, the back and forth, and to go to a game with 40,000 or 50,000 people there.”

meghna4@dailyillini.com

Sunday, 11 a.m.

The smell of pancakes, waffles, bacon and coffee infused the air at the Illini Dads Brunch in the Illini Union. Dozens of dads and their children lined up to get a seat to enjoy their time with one another.

Among the crowd is Madison McKinney, freshman in ACES, who stirred her Starbucks drink while her dad, Scott McKinney, sat next to her. Madison mentioned that she and her dad participated in the Illini Dads 5K run earlier today. 

“It’s been fun that it’s just him and I,” McKinney said. “When my family visits for football games, the entire family comes but I enjoy the time we spent together.”

McKinney added they will spend time together for the rest of the day and her father will return home later.

Mckinney and her dad are not alone in parting, as with the final hours of Dads Weekend wrapping up, many other families are saying goodbye. Raymond Hill, father of Kaylee Hill, junior in Media, explained that it is bittersweet to leave his daughter. 

“I have had fun this weekend spending time with my daughter,” Hill said. “It was good seeing my daughter since she came to school.”

dstew7@dailyillini.com 

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iFAB is led by the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory, which is part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences at the University.

The 31 Tech Hubs were selected from a pool of 198 applicants that spans across 32 states and Puerto Rico. Each carries the potential for rapid growth in key technology sectors.

The Tech Hubs Program, originally created as part of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, brings together private and public leaders from industry, higher education, government and economic development organizations with the intent of furthering development on regional economic needs and growth opportunities, according to the office of U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski.

The collaboration with iFAB aims to advance domestic biomanufacturing, drive regional technology growth and propel the creation of jobs for American workers at all skill levels.

Already serving as a leader in biomanufacturing in the United States, the University is well-placed to grow and revolutionize the sector even further, while increasing the state’s presence in innovation, economic development and technology. 

According to the College of ACES, the iFAB project is intended to redefine synthetic biology, a rapidly flourishing new scientific field that involves genetically redesigning organisms to advance or add capabilities, which can then be used to solve problems such as pollution and resource utilization. 

The college said the project also involves precision fermentation processing, an up-and-coming industry that “harnesses cutting-edge technology to convert plant-based feedstocks into high-value commodities, such as food ingredients, fuels, and performance materials.” 

This project is supported by Innovate Illinois, a public-private partnership with the purpose of securing federal funding for such projects.

“As we work to drive 21st-century agricultural innovation, the University of Illinois is uniquely positioned to make significant technological advances,” Budzinski said in a press release about the matter.

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On Monday, Rashid Bashir, dean of the Grainger College of Engineering and professor of bioengineering at the University, was elected as a member of the National Academy of Medicine. 

Bashir was nominated to the Academy for “seminal contributions and visionary leadership in micro and nanoscale biosensors and diagnostics, bioengineering for early detection of infection and sepsis, and education in engineering-based medicine by helping to establish the world’s first engineering-based medical school at UIUC.”

The NAM is a private nonprofit institution that was founded in 1970 and selects no more than 100 new members each year to advise the U.S. government on issues of health and medicine. 

According to the organization’s website, its mission is to improve the well-being of the nation by advancing science and boosting equity in health care, and its activities include providing objective analysis to the nation, problem-solving the health challenges of today and informing public policy decisions.

NAM membership is reserved for distinguished professionals at the top of their field, and is “considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine.” New nominees are selected each year by current members based on major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, the website said.

Bashir’s research focuses on the integration of biology and medicine with engineering and technology. 

Bashir is the fifth University faculty member to be elected by the NAM in the last 20 years. He is also a member of the National Academy of Inventors, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 

meghna4@dailyillini.com

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