CHAMBANA, ILLINOIS from Anthony Brummett [amb 43790] at [uxa.cso.uiuc.edu] This isn't exactly my hometown, because my hometown would probably be dried up by 2050. POPULATION: Human: 62% Elf: 20% Dwarf: 9% Ork: 5% Troll: 4% Other: 1% WHEN TO GO The weather around here is just about like any other midwestern town: sweltering hot in the summer and bitterly cold in the winter. If you really want to come here, do it in May and June or September and October. January and February, temps are usually well below freezing, sometimes getting to -40°C during the night. Spring is the wet season. Pollution from other parts of the continent have changed the weather patterns over the last 50 years so March to early May is almost like monsoon season (be sure to look out for those tornadoes, too). Summer is always hot and humid. GETTING THERE Chambana is about 280 km south of Chicago on route 57. The six lane highway is well maintained and well policed. Besides the airport, I-57 is the only lifeline to the civilized world. Willard airport is about 1 kilometer south of town. Compared to the long drive from Chicago, security at Willard is relatively lax. A couple of contacts, a few bills and you're in. >>>[You expect me to know someone in Chambana?]<<< --Ginsu (18:47:12/2-23-53) >>>[Hey, I know someone who's dad's roommate's cousin's mother's stepson drove through once. :)]<<< --The Joker (23:50:14/2-23-53) WHAT IT COSTS The public transit system here is quite good. Fifty cents gives you a ride just about anywhere in town. There is a cab company, but the bus is cheaper (unless you need something more private). The prices of most consumer goods is inflated 10% or more due to this being a campus town. For more "normal" prices, you'll have to go to the outlying residential areas. TOURIST INFO LEGAL ASSISTANCE For students, the Student Legal Center is located in the Student Services Building. It is funded through student fees, and it is free to them. The faculty have a similar service. For persons not directly connected with the University, there are private lawyers around. The Metahuman Rights Agency of Chambana (located at 1542 W Springfield) provides assistance to any Metahuman that can prove citizenship to the UCAS (because it's subsidized by the government); although if you're a hard luck case, they'll let you by. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE The only public hospital is the Urbana Public Hospital. It is overcrowded and understaffed. McKinley Clinic (called McKillMe by the students) is run by the University and only admits students, staff and faculty. Carle Clinic is the hospital of choice around here, even though they're prices tend to be a little on the high side. >>>[Just thought you might want to know that the medical examiner spends about half his time at the Urbana hospital.]<<< --Sinjin (00:52:12/1-25-53) CHIPS 'N STUFF According to the recruitment pamphlets, there is no problem with illegal substances. If you believe that, I've got some ocean front property for you. A recent, unpublished survey of UofI students showed that over one fourth of undergraduates use some form of controlled substance(s). Alcohol is relatively free- flowing from the many bars and parties around. ENTERTAINMENT This being a college town, everybody and his uncle is in at least one band. All this means is that there are a lot to choose from, not that you'll find a good one. Seriously, though, there are two or three good ones around. The night life is all around, sometimes even during the day. Every fraternity and sorority has a party every weekend (you'll even find six or seven during the week). On every block, you will find at least one bar. Their styles and clientele differ so much that there's one for everyone. CITY AT A GLANCE GEOGRAPHY If you're taking a Geo. class, let me help you out a little: flat, corn, soybeans. >>>[You forgot barn, cow, and beer can.]<<< --The Joker (16:36:39/11-19-52) POLITICS The city is completely owned and operated by the University. Chancellor Martin Keene would be the equivalent to mayor here. Under the Chancellor is the Board of Directors made up of ten people. The vacancies are filled by a vote of the board. ECONOMY Everything around here is made and packaged for student consumption. That makes everything cost about 10% more than in the surrounding areas. There is another, somewhat hidden economy around the research done here (that's probably the one you're interested in). >>>[Ya mean, there's a reason for 'runners showing in Chambana?!]<<< -- Arthur Murray (10:07:01/08-04-52) NEIGHBORHOODS THE QUAD Rating AA Every college has a quad, and this one is no exception. All of the older buildings on campus are located here. It is constantly patrolled be campus police on foot and bicycle. In 2046, a mutant virus escaped from the biology lab and killed all the vegetation in the quad area. The grass has been replanted and is making a comeback; however, they have not been able to get the trees to take hold. CAMPUSTOWN Rating C This is the "seedy" part of town, although it probably pales in comparison with some of the places some of you are used to. With the exception of Marketplace Mall, all the bars, shops, and eateries are located here. The University has put a boundary on Campustown, not allowing any new building unless new ground is rezoned by the Board >>>Fat chance of that<<<. This has caused the property values to skyrocket recently. MARKETPLACE MALL Rating A This is the other place to find "student stuff." There are guards walking around constantly, but they are prohibited from carrying firearms on duty. Unlike most other multi-story buildings in this part of the country, Marketplace has only one floor above ground. The other two are below ground. SPORTS ARENA Rating B The Morrow Sports Center was built in 2016 next to Assembly Hall. The new facility is about the size of Madison Square Garden in New York City. It features a 2500 seat theater, football field, and full size urban brawl arena, all indoors. >>>[Come now, tell them why it was built.]<<< --The Joker (13:45:12/12-22-52) >>>[In 2015, Field collapsed during a riot after the I Bowl. Seems the ref made a bad call in favor of Penn State and Illinois lost the game because of it.]<<< --Gui (23:51:09/12-23-52) DOWNTOWN Rating D There's nothing important to see in the downtown area: just derelict buildings and squatters. This is where the kids go to blow off steam, hit a Stuffer Shack, or mow down some squatters. WEST SIDE Rating C This is the better of the two residential districts in town. All of the University employees that live in town live here. It takes up most of what used to be Champaign. SOUTH FARMS Rating B-C Ag students know this part of town like the back of their hand. Strange thing is that the number of Ag students has increased, while the number of farms has decreased. >>>[I've heard there's thieves around there. Who would steal a tractor???]<<< --Patch (00:21:43/1-22-53) >>>[They're not after equipment, they're after the real food]<<< --Kiso (02:31:00/1-22-53) >>>[I heard someone stole a cow last night]<<< --Patch (22:08:50/1-23-53) >>>[Don't you people have anything better to talk about?]<<< --Gui (23:48:21/1-23-53) EAST SIDE Rating D Formerly the residential district of Urbana, the east side has been severely neglected since the University took over. The people that live here are one step away from downtown. The cops don't come here, but crime is kept in check by vigilante gangs and neighborhood watches. SOUTHWEST RESIDENCE HALLS Rating B All the rich kids live here. They have the best security, the best food, and the best entertainment, I mean tutors. NORTHEAST RESIDENCE HALLS Rating B-C The NE residence halls is mainly for kids on financial aid. Life here is not much better than the east side. Yeah, the cops come around once and a while, but they don't care much. >>>[This is the route they put 'em on before they're out the door]<<< --Kiso (21:59:01/1-15-53) UNDERGROUND Rating E-X Under the campus is a network of steam tunnels that go on for miles. Many of the Orks and Trolls in town live in the "subtown." >>>[That's subsprawl for all you city folk]<<< --Smiley (23:15:53/1-28-53) They don't like humans, elves or dwarves much down there, so I don't know much about it. UNET Since the campus is very dependent on computers, there is an RTG dedicated to Chambana called Unet. Each college within the University (Engineering, LAS, Thaumaturgy, etc.) as well as administration and the student account system have their own LTGs. There are three other LTGs representing MarketPlace Mall and the old Champaign and Urbana. Probably between 1/4 and 1/2 of the students are involved in decking. There are times when the system load from them slows the local nets so much the only way to purge the system is to shut it down completely for a few hours. Access is relatively free. Every student is given a computer account for class work, information exchange, and, of course, playing around. Around the University records and research nodes, though, the IC is very thick. >>>[Every year, they have at least one student fry trying to poke around the top secret stuff]<<< --Joe Shmoe (12:14:24/12-13-52) >>>[The latest word out now is they're AI project. Supposed to be farther along than any of the major corps'. Does anyone else know anything specific about it?]<<< --Dangerous Dave (16:17:31/2-30-53) >>>[I'm sorry, Dave, I can't tell you that.]<<< --HAL (03:22:09/3-2-53) >>>[Yuk, yuk, yuk. You two clowns finished fooling around yet? Was any part of that routine based in fact?]<<< -- Micromara (10:25:12/08-04-53) >>>[Yeah, over at the cafeteria, at least one student fries every year. Usually, they just microwave soystuff.]<<< -- ENESTMP: No Stamp -- PLACES OF INTEREST ILLINI STUDENT UNION/ILLINI UNION HOTEL High Class Hotel(5 floors) 704 Green St. No racial bias LTG# 102 (33-2214) The Union was recently renovated after a fire that toasted the third floor. The rooms are large and comfortable. With each night's stay, you are given credit toward room service. The basement and first two floors are occupied by student offices and recreation centers. In the basement is a cafeteria, computer center and bowling lanes. BECKMAN INSTITUTE Office/research building(12 floors) 701 Springfield Ave. LTG# 253 (34-6482) This is the largest building in town, and one of the most impressive. The security here is top notch, probably because of all the government research going on in here. It is common knowledge, though, that there is a supercollider buried under the building. Also in here is the AI project for the University. C.O. DANIEL'S Night club and bar 613 Daniel St. LTG# 532 (68-6258) This is your basic hangout for the Greek geeks. Waiting lines on the weekends can be more than two hours long. I would tell you the name of the manager, but the place changes hands so often that the city's records are usually about three or four owners behind. BLIND PIG CO. Night club and bar 415 Oakland Ave. LTG# 532 (46-2842) The Blind Pig Company is where the local bands can get their first real gig. One night a week, they have an open stage where anyone and walk in off the street and play (assuming they can get past the check at the door). PHANTAZM Nightclub and bar 530 Springfield Ave LTG# 569 (28-4697) Wixo, the owner, owned a bar of the same name in Seattle before it was blown down in a gang war. After some flouting around, he settled in Chambana. The Phantazm, which opened about six months ago, has all the ambiance of a big city bar. >>>[This place is so popular with the kiddies they have to make a reservation about three weeks in advance.]<<< --The Joker (04:15:27/03-03-53)