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Thursday, April 14, 2011

Women still suffer from unequal pay to this day

On Tuesday, people from all over the United States celebrated the 15th annual Equal Pay Day. Although wages for women have improved since the first celebration of the day in 1996, it is clear that women still have a long way to go before real pay equity is achieved.

Today, women make only an average of 78 cents to every dollar a man makes. The pay gap for women of color averages roughly 67 cents to every man’s dollar. Even as more women earn advanced degrees, the pay gap persists, and every woman on this campus will struggle with the pay gap at some point during her life. This is an issue that we must not forget.

This week, women across the country will be advocating for equal pay. The members of the Illini Democrats will be calling our elected officials and ask them to support equal pay. We encourage every student at the University of Illinois to join us in doing the same.

The message is clear. Women deserve a raise. Women deserve equal pay for equal work. Pay equality affects all of us. It is what’s fair; it is what’s right. I hope all students at the University of Illinois will stand up with women and take action.

Shana Harrison
Communications Director

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Why can’t we enjoy a nice lunch in downtown Chicago?

Today, getting from Champaign to downtown Chicago quickly is no easy, inexpensive task. Even if you have a car on campus (or have access to a ride) it can take more than three hours one way from the Quad to the Loop, and that’s a best case scenario. Bus services, while more accessible to the average student, are left to the whims of Interstate 57 and the Dan Ryan just like a car is.

Without a car your options are limited. The current Amtrak service from downtown Champaign to Union Station, while reasonably priced if booked in advance, can take more than four hours as it crawls along, waiting for freight trains to pass. It takes longer than equivalent train services did decades ago.

Flying? Enjoy that. Due to an understandable lack of demand, service at Willard Airport is infrequent and expensive. The flight itself is fast but incredibly pricy, well out of the budget of the average student, and by the time you check in, fly, grab your bags, and get on the Blue Line it’s basically the same time budget as if you stayed on the ground and drove.

Because of the lack of good transportation options, students think of Champaign and Chicago as distant cities. They aren’t. In a straight line (essentially the line that Illinois Central train tracks run) it is only 126 miles from downtown Champaign to downtown Chicago. According to a study commissioned by the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, a train traveling at a top speed of 220 miles an hour can cover the distance in only 45 minutes, including a stop in Kankakee. Imagine the world of possibilities this would open up. Afternoon class canceled? Head downtown to Michigan Avenue for lunch. Warm day? The beach beckons. The possibilities for collaboration between the University and businesses in Chicago are limitless, and anything that makes it easier for recruiters to get on campus is something worth its weight, literally, in gold.

This isn’t a pipe dream, nor does it rely on some undiscovered technology. In Germany these trains run as frequently as every half an hour, with fares rivaling those of a Suburban Express bus. The first step, and the first stop, should be right here in Illinois.

Owen Marsden
Treasurer-Elect

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Republicans have demonstrated clear disinterest in job creation

Thursday, April 14, will mark the 100th day of the 112th Congress that is composed of the newly elected wave of republican members. Traditionally the 100th day is when the media analyzes the snot out of our newly elected officials — so here we go.

After campaigning for nearly 18 months on the Democrats’ “inability” to deal with job creation, this new Republican-controlled House of Representatives has yet to introduce a single bill pertaining to job creation. Meanwhile, no thanks to Republicans, unemployment has gone down to 8.8 percent and over 216,000 jobs were created in March (bls.gov). This is usually when I hear the snide remarks that government doesn’t create jobs and that I’m just another “uneducated liberal.” Speaker Boehner made his message loud and clear that if jobs are lost through the Republicans’ actions ... ”then so be it.” Just the other day Judy Biggert (R-Ill.) told Democrats to “stop talking about jobs.” This is coming from a woman who represents all of you from Naperville, Lemont and Orland Park. Their intention was never to create jobs; that was just a great talking point the Republicans used to get elected.

What is truly the top priority of the GOP and their radical Tea Party base? As of Tuesday it became clear that it is now to kill Medicare. It’s the same Republican antics that we’ve seen for the last 50 years. Even when Bush tried privatizing Social Security, he got the door slammed in his face. The following midterm elections didn’t fare well for republicans; they lost 30 seats in the house and six in the senate and more again in ‘08. 2012 is coming fast. You can choose to be a voice or a bystander. If you see what I see, please get involved.

Casey Williams
Political Director