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Great post MT2R.
I'm glad that you have taken this experience as rolling over a speed bump instead of running into a brick wall.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread.
As a current UofI student, I have not run into anyone using illegal drugs (besides weed, of course). I do not hang out in social circles that use drugs recreationally, so I'm not familiar with all of the different types of drugs, what the effects are, etc.
When you were here, did you notice a trend of hard-drug usage among certain groups of people (i.e. Greek houses or other campus organizations) or was it scattered randomly throughout campus? I've heard rumors of certain houses who incorporate hard drugs into initiations and the like.
Also, just for kicks, what APT. complex did you live in before and after your prison term?
It is really random where drugs take hold on campus. If you aren't around the drug scene, you won't even notice most of it other than weed here and there and, possibly, ecstasy. Those that smoke and buy alot of weed will come across things. Some of it is in the frats. Some was in the student-athletes. Some was with the non-greeks. Some was with the townies. It really cut across all spectrums. One frat lost its charter at UofI over an event where they smoked 8-balls and got naked with some ladies on the quad. Another frat had a problem with using E at a pledge event. Hard drug use was really an individual or small group thing and not an institutional matter. Most drug use should be unseen, even though it's happening all over campus. It's not good to make yourself known. I personally never interacted with campus, champaign, or urbana police ever. Only my close friends knew of my use. When I was on G at a bar, most just assumed I was drunk. I confined other drug use to safe environs.
Let's see, pre-prison, I lived in the following places:
Hopkins Hall
48 E John (CPM apt complex at the corner of locust and john--this was where I lived when busted)
102(?) Gregory (Gabe's place apt building at the corner of first and gregory)
since:
Forbes Hall
a house on Wright just north of White--I forget the address
305 E Green (apt building by where Burger King used to be, across from Gully's)
48 E John (again)-much different vibe the second time around
806 W Oregon- house
I now live just off the corner of Lincoln and Oregon in a Gabe's Place apartment building
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(OT) What are your thoughts on Ron Zook? Prediction for next years football team? I've sat through 13 games in my 1.5 years here and well...it's mostly miserable (exception OSU this year).
Again, thanks for doing this. Great thread.
I'm real excited about Illini football. Zook is a recruiting machine. It seems very likely they will be bringing in a marginal top10 recruiting class to Champaign this year. The young guys are going to get lots of experience on the field as they did this year. Experience on the field counts big time. With that talent getting playtime, Illinois will be a top20 team within 2 years.
Unfortunately, Zook isn't the greatest game coach. His clock management sucks. He is excellent at developing the defense (which is his baby). Locksley is a good OC and a great playcaller. I am concerned that Locksley will be on to either a head coaching job or pro coordinator job in the near future.
The Illini schedule gets tougher next year, which sucks. The crazy thing is Illinois should've been a bowl team this year. They outplayed Ohio, Indiana, Penn St, Wisconsin, and were in great shape verse Purdue. The fumble issues, inexperience, punting game, and weakness at left tackle really hurt. All of these things should improve. Hopefully, Zook will have a good kick returner back the whole year instead of just the last few games. With the number of big play potential guys the Illini are bringing in, the return game should be huge.
I expect a low bowl game next year and competing for the Big10 crown (but falling short) in two years. The future is bright and I think Zook is going to make it big at Illinois do to his recruiting and strength at developing the defense, despite his below average game coaching.