Unofficial St. Patrick's Day

Students have been planning for weeks, their celebration of Unofficial St. Patrick's Day at the University of Illinois. The event, known as the "Biggest Party in the Big Ten", is the supposed work of local bar owner Scott Cochrane. The celebration encourages 24-hours of "drinking till you're Irish". The day is marked by green shirts, green beer, and a loads of trash. Many students come from surrounding areas to join their friends in the celebration.

Multiple efforts have been made over the past month to prevent as many problems as possible, including a no-visitor act in the dorms and multiple emergency city orders regarding the selling of alcohol. The event has spawned a lot of debate between those who support the party and those who don't. We've seen letters to parents and mass mails to students from the Chancellor regarding student activities on Unofficial. It is unclear at this time whether these new mandates will have any effect on this year's celebration.

So whether you are going to drink today or not, have a great Friday. Be smart. Be safe.

Leap Day 2008!

Here it is... we've been having such fun that this year we get an extra day: 366 days of the year! Seriously, tomorrow is a leap day. We only get one every four years. That means there is only one leap day in your entire college career (assuming you only go for four years). I think that that is reason enough to celebrate. Why don't we celebrate this wonderful day? I mean we celebrate St. Patrick's day on a day that is not even St. Patrick's day! Maybe it's because we don't understand this 29th day of February. Well, according to Wikipedia: "A leap year is a year containing one or more extra days in order to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical or seasonal year. " That's it, that's all there is to it. So why not celebrate. Come on everybody, let's get crazy and take advantage of this extra 24 hours. I mean, we'll have to wait four more years to celebrate it again.

Fun fact: Leap years fall on the same year as US presidential elections!

Happy leap day!

Wikipedia Article on Leap Year

EOH Countdown: One Week

Engineering Open House 2008 is just about a week away. The festivities will hit the Bardeen Quad at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, March 7.

"Sparking Curiosity"...Engineering Open House, March 7-8

Unofficial Urban Dictionary Showdown

Unofficial is on many students' minds here at UIUC. Here are some of the recent stories.

First of all, there is an Urban Dictionary Showdown happening on the popular website. For the last few months, the only entry of "Unofficial" was a post detailing the event at UIUC. Early this week, however, a second definition was added to the UD database. The second definition mocks the Unofficial holiday at the University of Illinois. Click the link below to read (and vote) for either of them:

Urban Dictionary: Unofficial


Monday evening, Chancellor Richard Herman called on the cities of Champaign and Urbana to end Unofficial. Nothing will likely come of these pleas, however, as both cities make a large profit from the taxes brought in by this "holiday."

"Many of us are working hard to make Champaign-Urbana a destination for people to come to," Herman said. But Unofficial St. Patrick's Day, a promotion founded by bar owner Scott Cochrane, is giving Champaign a black eye, with busloads of students from other colleges expected to hit campus this Friday and Saturday to drink.

News-Gazette: Chancellor calls for end to Unofficial

Last week, UIUC law professor Francis Boyle asked Illinois State officials to end unofficial.

"The good citizens of Champaign and Urbana will suffer from civil disturbances, large-scale public drunkenness, destruction of property, physical assaults and batteries, rapes and more deaths," Boyle said in his complaint.

News-Gazette: Professor pushes for prevention by state intervention

Vote Tonight!

Student elections will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday. Be sure to vote online:

https://www-s.uiuc.edu/election/vote

Officials Increase Mandates on Unofficial

The day-long St. Patrick's Day celebration known as "Unofficial St. Patrick's Day," is less than a week away. As students are preparing their oh-so clever t-shirt designs, Mayor Jerry Schweighart of Champaign is initiating an "emergency order" regarding alcohol sales around campus town.

The order applies to this coming Friday and Saturday, Feb. 29-March 1, and is similar to the emergency order Schweighart, the city's liquor commissioner, issued last year.
Highlights include:
– Restaurants and bars in the campus area won't be able to serve alcohol until 11 a.m.
– Sales of pitchers of beer or other alcoholic drinks, as well as shots of hard liquor, won't be allowed in the campus area.
– All drinks will have to be served in paper or plastic cups.
– All campus bars must have a doorman, age 21 or older, present and checking identification at all entrances during the bar's hours of operation.
– The mayor's office won't issue any keg permits for parties, meaning it will be illegal to have more than one keg per residence during the two-day event.
– For package liquor stores, customers will have to fill out an "adult responsibility form" that the liquor store must keep on file. Filling out the form will be required for anyone purchasing one keg; 168 (seven cases) or more 12-ounce containers of beer or malt beverages; or 24 or more one-liter bottles of hard liquor.

Officials also warn that there will be an excess of police patroling the area with a joint effort by the University police, Champaign Police, Urbana Police, and the Illinois State Police. Past festivities cost a UI alum her life in a motorcycle accident, while police arrested 159 individuals on "Unofficial" related charges. University Police calls for service increased 58 percent during the day (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Champaign Police experienced a 42 percent increase and the estimate of the increase in costs for city, university and state public safety officials was $10,000 on that day, according to a letter from Kris Fitzpatrick of the University of Illinois Police.

The News-Gazette - Champaign mayor sets Unofficial St. Patrick's Day rules
Moms' and Dads' Association - "Unofficial" St. Patrick's Day

Stay attentive to The Quad for our increased coverage of "Unofficial St. Patrick's Day".

Photo courtesy of the Daily Illini

SAT Suing Test-Prep Company

In a world where these tests are required to be admitted to a top-ranked university, it's not great to hear that these companies are becoming more and more dishonest. Are these tests good indicators of scholastic aptitude?

[The lawsuit] alleges that company employees were given copies of the PSAT administered last October that were provided by a Plano, Texas, high school principal whose brother works at the company ...

... The College Board maintains that students don't necessarily need an expensive preparation course. It recommends they prepare by taking practice tests, some of which are available for free on its Web site.

However, it also advertises its own online courses for $69.95.

CNN: SAT sues test-prep company over 'live' questions

From the Desk of Richard

Today I got an email from UIUC Chancellor Richard Herman. It was an email advertising the usefulness of Always Illinois, an alumni networking website that the University of Illinois has purchased. The email ended:

I am looking forward to seeing you again on Always Illinois,
Richard Herman, Chancellor
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

So, thinking that Richard wanted to be my friend on Always Illinois, I clicked the link and searched for "Richard Herman." I only found 3 Richard Hermans, one of which had to be the Chancellor, as it had the orange "I" next to his name, designating UIUC Faculty and Staff. To my dismay, though, it seems that our Chancellor has not yet signed up for Always Illinois! How is he praising the site if he doesn't use it? I'm very confused.

E-Week

E-Week is a week when the magnificence of Engineering is celebrated. There are free t-shirts, cheap lunches, video game tournaments, movie nights, free bagels, and more.

Check out the events at http://eweek.ec.uiuc.edu

Happy President's Day!

It's President's Day!! No School!!! Oh wait.

There are a few times during the year that I wish I were still in high school. Today is one of those days.

Well, even without a day of rest, we should attempt to honor this holiday. What exactly is president's day, you ask. Since I had to go to school today, I didn't have time to write about it; but here is an excerpt from Wikipedia:

Presidents Day (or Presidents' Day), is the common name for the federal holiday officially designated as Washington's Birthday, and both variants are among the official names of a number of coinciding state holidays. It is celebrated on the third Monday of February.

As the official title of the federal holiday, Washington's Birthday was originally implemented by the federal government of the United States in 1880 in the District of Columbia (20 Stat. 277) and expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices (23 Stat. 516). As the first federal holiday to honor an American citizen, the holiday was celebrated on Washington's actual birthday, February 22. January 1, 1971 the federal holiday was shifted to the third Monday in February by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. A draft of the Uniform Holidays Bill of 1968 would have renamed the holiday to Presidents' Day to honor both Washington and Lincoln, but when signed into law on June 28, 1968 simply moved Washington's Birthday.

In the late 1980s, with a push from advertisers, the term Presidents Day began its public appearance. The theme has expanded the focus of the holiday to honor another President born in February, Abraham Lincoln, and often other Presidents of the United States. Although Lincoln's birthday, February 12, was never a federal holiday, approximately a dozen state governments have officially renamed their Washington's Birthday observances as "Presidents Day", "Washington and Lincoln Day", or other such designations. It is also interesting to note that "Presidents Day" is not always an all-inclusive term. In Massachusetts, while the state officially celebrates "Washington's Birthday," state law also prescribes that the governor issue an annual Presidents Day proclamation honoring the presidents that have come from Massachusetts: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge, and John F. Kennedy. (Coolidge, the only one born outside of Massachusetts, spent his entire political career before the vice presidency there. George H.W. Bush, on the other hand, was born in Masachusetts, but has spent most of his life elsewhere.) Alabama uniquely observes the day as "Washington and Jefferson Day," even though Jefferson's birthday was in April. In Connecticut, while Presidents Day is a federal holiday, Abraham Lincoln's birthday is still a state holiday, falling on February 12 regardless of the day of the week.

In Washington's home state of Virginia the holiday is legally known as "George Washington Day."

Jackpot

The college student's dream - getting a better grade than you were initially given. This just happened to me in my Quantum Physics class. We received an email that ended with:

Upon review (and with the input of a number of you), we realized that one of the exam problems actually had two potentially correct answers ... The bottom line is that we've given credit for all c-choosers. For the rest of you, don't worry, we didn't recurve, so no one *lost* points in the process.

The change improved my grade to the next letter bracket, so this was very good for me. This is the first, and probably the last, time that this has happened to me during my time here at the University of Illinois. For all the students out there, just remember that there is hope.

Tragedy at NIU

The University of Illinois has released information on the NIU gunman.

Offender identified in NIU shootings

More infomation on Illinois.edu

The following is a copy a MASSMAIL sent this morning to all university students from Chancellor Herman.

The University has learned that U of I student has been identified as the gunman in a fatal shooting at Northern Illinois University that left seven people dead and more than a dozen more injured.

The entire University of Illinois family extends its deepest condolences to the friends and family of the victims, and to everyone on the Northern Illinois University campus affected by today's tragedy. Counselors from the U of I are enroute to DeKalb to assist NIU's staff. And we will continue to offer whatever assistance we can.

In the days to come it is important for all of us in the Illinois community to come together to express our feelings concerning this horrible tragedy and to share the grief that follows. We can expect to feel a wide range of emotions.

That is why I strongly encourage any U of I faculty, staff or student who feels the need to seek counseling as a result of this tragic incident to
contact the Counseling Center. Students can call either 217-333-3704 or
217-359-4141 or go to http://ccserver4.ad.uiuc.edu/; faculty and staff can
call either 217-244-5312 or 217-244-7739, or go to http://www.fsap.uiuc.edu/.

Please remember that we are a community and, as such, we must continue to
care for each other. And, in dark moments such as these, we must turn
toward each other, not away.

Richard Herman

Chancellor

Online Learning Videos - MIT Open Courseware

My mathematics course this year is fairly difficult. Linear Algebra, MATH 415, is very conceptual, with proofs of theorems, definitions, lemmas, corollaries, and remarks. I find that I really would like to see some parts of the material again, but the book is dry and confusing.

A friend suggested I check out MIT Open Courseware. MIT records lectures of their classes and posts them online for free to the public. They have many different courses - from the Humanities to Engineering. The intro Linear Algebra class is on YouTube, as well as on MIT's website. I've found the videos to be very helpful, especially to reinforce the concepts that I have already heard once in person here at UIUC.

Sketch the Campus for Google

Google is once again offering the "International Model Your Campus Competition" this year. The contest involves using Google SketchUp, a 3-D modeling software, to model your university campus. The intention is to model the buildings in SketchUp, reference them in Google Earth, and upload them to the Google Warehouse so others can download your model. This is part of Google's campaign to create 3-D buildings for interactive use in Google Earth.

From the official Google blog:
The Google 2008 International Model Your Campus Competition is now live! Here's another opportunity for you to show off your 3D modeling skills, and this time students around the world can compete. You can team up with other students, or take the project on yourself. Just model your school's campus buildings in Google SketchUp, geo-reference them in Google Earth and submit them by uploading to the Google 3D Warehouse. You may enter this competition if you're a student at a higher education institution almost anywhere in the world.

Entries are due by June 1st, 2008. Check out what last year's winners modeled to get inspired, then visit the competition site to register. Good luck and happy modeling.

When this contest was offered last year, I fell right into it. I thought it would be easy to model the campus and I figured I could get it done in my free time and win first place. Needless to say, I got as far as a full model of Foellinger and a partial version of Engineering Hall and Assembly Hall. The process is more time consuming than expected. Besides the actual structure of the building, you have to decorate the wall surface of each of the buildings. I tried this by taking a picture of each outer wall face and overlaying the image onto the 3-D model. The problem with this method is that in order for the building to look like just a building, you have to remove anything that is not part of it from the picture. This took a lot of photo editing to remove a lot of trees. This is not to say that the job in impossible, it just takes a lot of time.

I encourage any of you who are interested in design, especially 3-D, to attempt this feat. Be sure to find some friends to help, at least with the dirty work. The fact is, as one of the nation's premier academic institutions, there is no reason that the University of Illinois cannot create a 3-D model of our campus. For the sake of Illini pride, let's win this contest!

Engineering Open House

Engineering Open House 2008 is less than a month away. Things are really heating up at EOH headquarters.

For the sake of full disclosure, I'm a board member of the EOH Central Committee, but that does not skew my opinion of EOH and how it's the best engineering event this side of Boneyard Creek. I thought I'd take a few minutes to write about some of the behind-the-scenes action that is going on just north of Green.

EOH Volunteers

The EOH volunteer info nights are coming up next week and the following. Volunteering at EOH is a great experience for UIUC students, and for each hour that you work, you get chances to win a free X-Box 360 or an iPod Shuffle.

http://eoh.ec.uiuc.edu/volunteers

EOH T-Shirts

A question that is always asked is, "What will the T-Shirts look like this year?" Well I can't divulge that information, but what I can say that they will feature our logo and will be based around this year's primary color, green. Plus there will be special T-shirts for volunteers.

Exhibits

I'm told there are over one-hundred exhibits this year. Many of these exhibits will be judged in a new contest, the Spirit of Illini Engineering Contest. This award will go to the College of Engineering Department that best represents the ideals and innovation that is Engineering at Illinois. The winning department, as well as all of the EOH Exhibits winners, will be announced Saturday night at the Knights of St. Patrick Ball.

Upcoming Events

ExCEL Scholarships - Due Wednesday, February 13

Friday, February 29 - Unofficial St. Patrick's Day - News-Gazette: Officials gearing up for Unofficial St. Patrick's Day

March 7 and 8 - Engineering Open House

Illinois T-Shirt Design Contest - Due Thursday, March 13

Monday Exams

I'm an advocate for holding midterm exams on Mondays. Why would I want to be tested on the first day of the week? I study all weekend for exams no matter if they happen on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday (Thursday is pushing it) anyway. I'd rather get the exam over in the beginning of the week, so the rest of the week can be productively filled with homework and other obligations.

Photo used with permission under Creative Commons.

Happy 200!

This is the 200th post for The Quad. Thanks to all our faithful readers for keeping this blog going. Also thanks to our crazy world both here at UIUC and around the country for feeding us with exciting and interesting news to share.

It is our continued desire to bring you the most important news and information to you. If, at any point, you have suggestions for stories or something you'd like to hear about, please drop us a line and we'll try to help.

Enjoy the rest of the semester and go Illini!

Cool Archives at UI Library

In an effort to connect with the community, the UI Library system is introducing February 2008 as "Cool Collections Month". The library is offering various events from now to March 7th. The library is set to display their "Special Collections" for the public at these events. Parts of these collections include Red Grange's diagrams of "T-Formation" football plays, a manuscript draft of H.G. Wells' "War of the Worlds" – handwritten notes and all, and the musings of Hef (as in Hugh Hefner) in a 1948 edition of the campus magazine "Shaft."

'Special Collections,' is the term of art for such library and archival material as rare books, manuscripts, prints, posters, maps, photographs, sound recordings, music scores and instruments, moving images, art works, coins, and other items of historical and cultural importance. The University Library, especially, has profited from the general bibliomania of librarians, archivists, faculty members, donors and even University Presidents, and has many collections so interesting, unique, and world-renowned that the only encompassing word for them is 'cool'.

The "cool collections" website includes some archived images of these cool items. I have been to the website and there is some really cool stuff there (no pun intended). Check out the website for all the details on the cool stuff and the calendar of events.

Happy Cool Collections Month!

Writers' Strike Ends

Just minutes ago, the Writers' Strike came to an end. Now Colbert will have some fresh material, although the Conan-Colbert-Huckabee bit was amazing television.

"It's over," Eisner said. "They made the deal, they shook hands on the deal. It's going on Saturday to the writers in general."

Eisner, speaking live on CNBC's "Fast Money," seemed to hesitate initially about whether it was possible that the writers could still reject the agreement, but finally suggested the deal's acceptance was inevitable.

Deal Has Been Reached to End Writers' Strike: Eisner

Super Tuesday

You've been hearing about it for over a year, and today is the day. Well, almost the day. Today is the primary election in Illinois and 23 other states. For US citizens of 18 years of age and older, today is your day to take to the polls and cast your vote. Let your voice be heard. Despite popular belief, your vote matters. Chancellor Richard Herman sent a mass-mail to all University students yesterday:

Dear Friends:
It has often been said that silence is permission. In the United States,
that silence too often takes the form of disinterest, cynicism, and apathy
among voters. Yet, democracy can only function with active participation by
its citizens.

Super Tuesday is an opportunity to participate in one of democracy's most
hallowed rights. That it why I am urging all of you in the university
community to make your voice heard loud and clear, to Rock the Vote right
here at the University of Illinois.

Reasons to vote are as varied as the many critical issues we face as a
nation, a state, and as a land grant university. President Lyndon Johnson
said, "The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for
breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison
men because they are different from other men." Want your voice heard on
global warming, poverty, campaign financing, heath care, or Darfur? Give
voice to those issues by voting for the candidate that comes closest to
your point of view.

Most importantly, with your single vote you reject the all too easy path of
apathy and cynicism. You are saying that you believe in the power of people
to effect change and that you will not be silent.

Here at Illinois we are one campus with many voices. Tomorrow, let yours be
heard.

Richard Herman
Chancellor

Click here to check your voting registration status in Champaign County.

Make sure you are registered, and please vote!

College Eating: Orange Juice with Calcium

This post is the first in a series about food tips for dorms and apartments.

I'll have some orange juice with extra calcium, please. No seriously - they sell orange juice with extra calcium. And the orange juice with calcium is the same price as the normal stuff. Why not get some extra bone strength?

I was wondering, however, if this stuff really helps. I heard somewhere that you need vitamin D to allow your bones to absorb the calcium - so simply consuming calcium does no good. According to this website, however, the orange juice with calcium is better than nothing - and especially good for a college diet - which is normally void of and vitamins or minerals at all. Happy bone building.

Many people turn to calcium supplements, calcium-containing medications like TUMS, and calcium-fortified products like orange juice, he says. They will work fine - one glass of juice with calcium has 30 percent of the U. S. recommended daily allowance - but have a few disadvantages ...

USC Care: Got Juice?

Frozen!

We should do this on the quad on the first day of classes next year.

No snow day

When I woke up this morning, the roads were very snowy. I just knew there would be a snow day. Then I log on to uiuc.edu, and No snow day: Classes are on. Gah!