The Daily Illini: Grad Guide 2022

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SYDNEY LAPUT & JULIA EVERSMANN THE DAILY ILLINI

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NEWS

The DI · Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Students demand UI divest from fossil fuels

By Thomas DeMouy Staff Writer

University students gathered at Alma Mater on April 22 to demand that the University divest from fossil fuels, which it pledged to accomplish by 2025.

Leah Tritabaugh, freshman in LAS and chairman of the Young Democratic Socialists of America, spoke on behalf of the YDSA during the strike.

“We’re here today to express our discontent with the University’s refusal to divest from fossil fuels,” Tritabaugh said.

Tritabaugh participated in the YDSA’s year-long campaign to encourage the University to divest from fossil fuels more quickly.

YDSA was one of many registered student organizations that participated in the Earth Day Climate Strike led by Students for Environmental

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Diego Lopez, freshman in LAS, holds a protest sign during a Climate Strike on April 22. The strike was organized by Students for Environmental Concerns, and protesters marched throughout campus.

Concerns.

Shallon Malfeo, senior in LAS and president of SECS, spoke at Alma The Daily Illini is the independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The newspaper is published by the Illini Media Co. The Daily Illini does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of the University of Illinois administration, faculty or students.

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Mater to kick off the rally. She demanded that the University divest fully from fossil fuels by 2025 and achieve full carbon neutrality by 2030.

“Our main campaign has been divestment for the past 10 years,” Malfeo said. “We’ve worked with administration, had strikes. We had today, teachings and educational events, and we do a lot of stuff for Earth Week.”

Malfeo said she was passionate about sustainable agriculture and transitioning to clean energy.

“We’re here near the end of the semester as a culmination of all our actions,” Tritabaugh said. “We’re in the final push this week for the University to divest.”

The group marched down Green Street before returning to Alma Mater. tdemouy2@dailyillini.com

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LIFE & CULTURE

The DI · Wednesday, May 4, 2022

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Sousaphone players run 5K for Crisis Nursery Marching Illini members participate in one of many races during Illinois Marathon Race Weekend

Sousaphone players from the Marching Illini, present and past, and instrumentalists from Northwestern University ran. Each one of them dashed into Memorial Stadium, hearing the cheers while they crossed the finish line.

“I enjoy being able to share (the experience) with so many people, especially the freshmen, because it’s a tradition that I’m glad hasn’t died,” Shoucair said. “I’m glad that I got to keep it going because there was a lot of doubt whether or not we’d be able to do it, especially with a twoyear gap.”

Shoucair hopes the Marching Illini continue the tradition after he graduates.

“Sousaphones are heavy,” Shoucair said. “It’s not particularly easy, but it’s a really unique event that brings people together.”

By Nicole Littlefield Staff Writer

The Marching Illini’s sousaphone players helped raise money for the Crisis Nursery by running in a 5K Friday evening during the Illinois Marathon Weekend hosted by the Christie Clinic. This was the first time the race was held in two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The race was held during National Child Abuse Prevention Month and helped bring awareness to the only emergency child-care center in Champaign County, the Crisis Nursery.

Jan Seeley, the director of the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon, worked on the organization of the race weekend.

“For a long time, we didn’t know if we were going to even have race weekend because of the shortage of police and public works here,” Seeley said. “Finally, in mid-February, we got permission to have all of the events except for the marathon, which was super painful because it’s the signature event.”

The marathon used to be the highlight of the race weekend, but this year, the Christie Clinic rebranded the event into a race weekend that included six events: a half-marathon, a 10K race, a 5K race, a relay race, a youth run and a mile run. Even with the signature event canceled, there were around 11,000 participants total running throughout campus during the weekend.

“This is the largest community event in the town,” Seeley said. “It shines a really bright light on our community, and we’re just so happy to have it back.”

About 4,000 people gathered outside near the I Hotel and Conference Center for the start of the race. Annie Mattson, senior in Engineering, was one of the many racers carrying a hefty sousaphone. Mattson said she was saddened by the cancellations the last two years.

“I think it’s unfortunate that the race got canceled the last two years,”

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Michelle Bell, a graduate student studying wind band conducting, runs with her sousaphone during the Illinois 5k Marathon on Friday. Around 30 Marching Illini sousaphone players participated in the run.

Mattson said. “Especially because we missed out on raising money for Crisis Nursery.”

Although she said she didn’t take the race too seriously, Mattson and the rest of the sousaphone players who participated ran with their instruments for the entire three miles. Each sousaphone weighs around 30 pounds, but that didn’t stop the runners from supporting a good cause.

Michael Shoucair, senior in Engineering, helped facilitate the Marching Illini’s involvement and was enthusiastic about the event’s return.

“I think we had about 30 people running, all with sousaphones on,” Shoucair said. “We raised a little over $5,000 for the Crisis Nursery, and we’re really proud of that. Being able to organize and work with all of these

amazing people has been a highlight.”

Michael Montanile, senior in Engineering, participated in the run three years ago. Although he said it was unfortunate that the race was canceled two years in a row, he was glad to be able to run one last time as a student.

“My favorite part about this is being able to go to the Crisis Nursery and interact with the staff and all the kids that are there,” Montanile said. “Every year, we get to record a video with some of the kids and the other people working at the nursery just to see what they’re doing, their facilities and how they operate. It’s always a heartwarming experience.”

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LIFE & CULTURE

The DI · Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Up to no good: Campus geese frighten students

By Aidan Finn and Ashleigh Kendrick Staff Writers

They surround the campus and walk among the student body. Emerging 12 million years ago in prehistoric Northern Eurasia, they have outlived the most treacherous and powerful empires.

Humanity is nothing but a blip in their existence.

On the ground, they are a gaggle, and flying close together, they are a plump.

But to many, they are simply known as geese.

Geese have been a prominent staple of the University campus’ natural scenery. The University’s unofficial subreddit, r/UIUC, frequently features pictures of geese in wild places. Sometimes, the birds are pictured caring for their young and crossing the street. Other times, they are seen on the roofs of buildings.

While many students adore and admire the waterfowl’s inclusion in campus scenery, many have more negative opinions toward geese in the area, citing past instances of violent attacks and intimidation tactics.

Liz LeBeau, sophomore in LAS, explained an unpleasant encounter she had with a campus goose.

“I was walking with my boyfriend from I Hotel after (a) vaccine study, and while we were passing the State Farm Center, there was an angry goose that flew at us,” LeBeau said. “We ran away and thankfully weren’t hurt, but it was a lot.”

Lauren Buccelli, sophomore in LAS, also had an encounter with agitated geese.

“On campus at a park, I was trying to walk on the sidewalk to get to a place to lay out a blanket and sit down,” Buccelli said. “There were geese on the path, though, and they would not let me through, and they started to get angry.

I had to find a path around the geese because everyone knows they’re evil but eventually, they started to walk up to me after I set my blanket up. I had to leave.”

Brian VanDyke, a graduate student studying chemistry, explained his troubled past involving geese, recalling a time at a golf course where he worked in high school.

“The geese would come in from the neighboring farm, poop on the tee boxes, eat from the pond and then poop on the green,” VanDyke said. “They’re pretty much short grass-seeking poop missiles.”

VanDyke and his colleague Rodney were using weed whackers on the course when they had a violent encounter shortly after.

“Rodney had gotten too close to the

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geese and spooked them,” VanDyke said. “A bunch of them charged him, weed whacker and all, and chased him all the way back to the golf cart. When he was getting in, one of them bit him.

The dude floored it, but those geese followed him until the next hole.”

However tumultuous the relationship between geese and man may be on campus, the University has extensive academic resources and studies done on the waterfowl by a diverse assembly of professors in the Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences in the college of ACES. Michael Ward, professor in the college of ACES, spoke about his experience studying geese as well as his understanding of the possible reason for their outbursts. Ward specializes in preservation concern and developing new approaches to protection like radio monitoring of the behavior and migration of birds.

“They are very interesting creatures,” Ward said. “At this time of year,

they are breeding, and they have goslings here. So when you walk by a pair on the Quad and they act aggressive, they think you are a predator, so they’ll want to defend.”

Ward explained that defensive actions include posturing, lowering and raising their heads and hissing toward suspected threats.

“It’s when they perceive you as a threat that they will fly at you,” Ward said. “Then some people obviously are more afraid of birds than I am, so they might run. I’ve seen or heard instances where they chase people.”

Joy O’Keefe, a professor in the college of ACES, also spoke about the geese situation on campus, explaining that the territorial nature of the species is in full swing.

“We have a pair hanging out near Turner Hall here on the south side of campus,” O’Keefe said. “They change their positions daily. We see them setting up shop, and they probably have a nest there somewhere, but I’m not

aware of where it is.”

O’Keefe has spent years studying zoology, ecology and wildlife biology, with a focus on the coexistence of bats and humans in human-altered landscapes. Nonetheless, she has seen her share of geese activity, recalling an encounter during her time in college where she was attacked by Canadian geese.

“My house had a walking path around it when I was in college, and I was with some kids I was babysitting,” O’Keefe said. “I tried to check them out, and we got a little too close, so they came after us and tried to bite us.”

Despite the student testimonies, Ward shared his belief in the inoffensive existence of the geese on campus and their natural mannerisms.

“There’s really, in my opinion, very little threat from geese,” Ward said.

“They can’t really hurt you too much.” aidanf3@dailyillini.com akend2@dailyillini.com

The DI · Wednesday, May 4, 2022

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The DI · Wednesday, May 4, 2022

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Rileigh Kilgore, a graduate student studying social work, grew up in Watseka, Illinois, and is the first in her family to go to college.

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Fabian Lopez, senior in Business, moved to the U.S. from Mexico with his family to pursue higher education.

Diplomas mean more for first-generation graduates

By Yuzhu Lui Staff Writer

When Rileigh Kilgore, a graduate student in Social Work, was about to walk onto the stage to accept her bachelor’s degree a year ago, five family members surrounded her, repeatedly adjusting her gown to ensure all wrinkles were out and her cap was on straight. Kilgore was the first in her family to go to college.

Despite the COVID-19 protocol at the time, Kilgore remembered the euphoria she felt when her whole family shot confetti poppers at her as she stepped out of the auditorium.

Kilgore later mounted her diploma in a frame and hung it on the wall. Now awaiting the graduation ceremony for her master’s degree on May 14, Kilgore said the diploma always humbles her by reminding her of the obstacles that made her who she is today.

“It shows that it’s possible to change the trajectory of a family,” Kilgore said.

“A family who has previously been homeless, low-income and struggled with drugs and alcohol can turn it around.”

Fabian Lopez, senior in Business, said he finds inspiration from his parents who immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico decades ago.

Lopez said the celebration isn’t only for his graduation, but also for how far his family has come. He said his grandma is coming up from Mexico for his graduation.

“Seeing somebody in the U.S. graduate with a bachelor’s degree in accounting,

that’s something my grandma has never seen before,” Lopez said. “It fulfills the once-imagined vision of my grandfather, who was the first one to step into this country.”

Lopez said the cost of attending college discourages many Hispanic students from pursuing higher education.

With his business career path, Lopez said he aims to provide more financial resources catering to his community.

While Lopez encountered the same challenge in his first year, he was later granted multiple scholarships and grants that offered him a free degree.

“I see the incredible character stories of other people getting their master’s degree, and I was like, ‘Why not me?’”

Lopez said. “My parents’ faces lit up when I told them I’m gonna get my master’s degree paid. They couldn’t believe it, and I couldn’t even believe it myself.”

Jahlinea Cekander, senior in LAS, never applied for any scholarships.

“I’m not gonna show you how poor I am and work three times harder to prove to you why I deserve to go to college,” Cekander said.

Cekander said she was brought up by a single mother who works all the time and has no knowledge of taxes, the internet or higher education. Cekander learned to be self-sufficient and responsible at a very young age. When arriving at college, Cekander said she did everything on her own — from completing the applications to navigating the campus.

“I didn’t even know getting help in that area was a thing,” Cekander said.

Vincent Cunningham, associate director for the federal outreach service TRIO programs, encourages students to utilize University resources. He said he trains his staff as “clarity providers,” who open conversations and provide needed information including administration, financial aid and academic mentoring.

“No one does it by themselves, and that’s probably one of the biggest misconceptions about first-generation students,” Cunningham said.

Cekander said no one has told her what graduation will look like.

“I’m just like walking the stage and getting drunk afterward with my friends,” Cekander said. “If I’m overwhelmed, my mom doesn’t know what to do, so I’ll have to maneuver through the stress alone.”

Kilgore echoed Cekander’s experiences. She said she finds it hard to explain the college system to her mother, who doesn’t know what a semester means.

Though her family provides enough emotional support, Kilgore said they can’t understand why she has to miss Christmas due to assignments, finals or work.

Kilgore said first-generation students bear heavy pressure to be poster children, especially those with siblings. She pointed out the stigma around these students who are forced to demonstrate success and make no mistakes.

“I definitely know that my family is really, really proud of me,” Kilgore said.

“However, I also know that not all of them truly understood what it took to

get to the point that I am.”

Luckily, Cekander’s passion for books resonated with her grandmother, who majored in English like Cekander, but later dropped out because of pregnancy. Cekander said her grandmother has a natural curiosity about her classes, and Cekander enjoys giving back what she’s learning to someone who can comprehend.

Cekander said she knows how proud her family is of her graduation. She said she once hesitated about attending commencement because of her anxiety but eventually decided to go for her mother.

“When I told my mom I wasn’t gonna walk, she started crying,” Cekander said. “I am walking to give my mom that moment to feel like she did something right.”

According to Cekander, her younger sister sees her as a role model. Cekander said she will help navigate her sister through college.

“She finally has someone I didn’t have,” Cekander said.

Kilgore said that because she comes from a community full of doubts about whether she can achieve higher education, she must uphold the priority of education.

“The advice I would give to first-gen students is to do it for yourself,” Kilgore said. “I found so often that first-gen students who go to college to make their parents proud end up really struggling because it has to be for you.” yuzhul2@dailyillini.com

The DI · Wednesday, May 4, 2022

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COVID and the college experience Online courses, awkward social situations created challenging environments, some seniors say

By Sarah Bond Staff Writer

When the class of 2022 began college, none of them expected to spend two months of classes off campus and an entire year taking primarily online courses. Fortunately, many seniors overcame the difficulties posed by COVID-19 and will be graduating in person on May 14.

Sarah Sullivan, senior in Engineering, said she is an out-of-state student, and she didn’t know a lot about the University when she came here her freshman year. Like many others, Sullivan was unhappy about missing out on the typical college experience.

“Missing out on the end of year stuff, which is usually really fun, wasn’t fun,” Sullivan said.

Classes were held online for the entirety of the last quarter of the 2019–2020 school year, and although students could return to campus, many classes were online for the 2020–2021 school year.

Sullivan said she liked that she could rewatch online lectures and appreciates how virtual office hours have stuck around. However, she said she also felt a disconnect.

“My sophomore year, it felt like nothing really mattered anymore,” Sullivan said. “It’s definitely harder to feel connected to the class. Sometimes, you feel like ‘Oh, sorry, I really need to be paying attention right now.’”

A psychological study conducted by Arcadia University in 2020 concluded that the pandemic caused students to feel uncertain about their future and also significantly raised students’ stress levels.

Raefa Malik, senior in Engineering, said that because of her handson mechanical engineering major, online labs were a struggle.

“The (teacher’s assistant) would be giving us instructions through Zoom and wouldn’t be able to physically touch our circuits and help us out,” Malik said. “One time, I spent like, six hours figuring out what was wrong with my circuit. I kept sending photos to my TA, but he couldn’t

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“Thinking about graduating and moving on is hard, but I was given so much. I can’t imagine being anywhere else. This was the place for me.”

Elizabeth Meyer, senior in FAA figure it out just from photos.”

Malik also said her courses were not her top priority while she was off campus. Instead, she focused a lot more on her health and spending time with her family.

Elizabeth Meyer, senior in FAA, had

a more positive experience. She said she had very compassionate and supportive professors when she was off campus during her sophomore and junior year.

“I felt like, even though I wasn’t on campus, my professors brought the campus experience to me,” Meyer said. “I really appreciated my junior year conducting class. I would participate on Zoom like everybody else, but I would have weekly (oneon-one) meetings with my professor, Dr. Solya.”

Meihua Yang, senior in LAS, said she was unhappy living off campus during her sophomore year and was glad to return when the campus reopened for the 2020 –2021 school year.

“I felt very free,” Yang said. “I was able to actually be around my friends, and I had my own apartment to sleep in and my own privacy. I had people I cared about that I was able to see on a regular basis again.”

Sullivan said it felt more normal to be on campus her junior year, but there were still setbacks. Social situations were minimal, and it was hard for students to be with their friends.

“It was harder to see people you’d normally see every day,” Sullivan said. “During COVID-19, you would only really see your classmates and who you lived with.”

Yang said she didn’t mind the smaller social bubbles.

“I was always one of the people who would be sitting in the car making fun of the people without masks trying to get into parties,” Yang said. “A lot of times when me and my friends met up, we’d have masks. COVID-19 didn’t really impact me on a social level on campus.”

Meyer said when she finally returned to campus her senior year, she was ready to make the best of her circumstances.

“I don’t think I’ve said no to anything,” Meyer said. “I feel like I’m trying to soak up the sponge and squeeze out as much as I can from my final year. I’ve been a TA for the University Chorus and I’ve been in nine or 10 ensembles this year, groups that I never dreamed of being in my freshman year.”

Meyer also said she absolutely loved her college experience and that she’s “actually quite sad” to graduate.

Laura Wilhelm-Barr, senior director of special events at the University, said in an email that she recognizes the circumstances that seniors have worked through.

“Commencement … recognizes the hard work, perseverance and the tremendous accomplishments of our students,” Wilhelm-Barr said. “Perhaps more than ever before, those qualities were critical for success as students tackled new ways of learning and adapted to the challenges of a global pandemic.”

This rings true for many seniors, as Wilheim-Barr shared that she expects a record number of graduates to participate in commencement this year.

Despite a difficult period, Meyer said she is thankful for her experience at the University.

“Thinking about graduating and moving on is hard, but I was given so much,” Meyer said. “I can’t imagine being anywhere else, this was the place for me.” sbond21@dailyillini.com

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The DI · Wednesday, May 4, 2022

The DI · Wednesday, May 4, 2022

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UI struggles to gather employment data on graduates Illini Success initiative faces low response rates from alumni during pandemic years

By Vivian La Assistant News Editor

SEBASTIAN HOLT DAILY ILLINI

UI resumes in-person commencement Ceremony to be held at Memorial Stadium for first time since 2019

By Royal Shrestha Assistant News Editor

After two years of virtual and hybrid commencement ceremonies due to the pandemic, the University will return to an in-person experience for the graduating class of 2022.

The University-wide Commencement Ceremony will return to Memorial Stadium and will not require students or guests to wear masks.

“The COVID-19 pandemic, all the restrictions, the loss of in-person classes — all that stuff is finally in the past and we can celebrate it the

right way,” said Zain Bando, senior in Media. “I’ve been looking forward to it all year, and it’s only a few days away. I can hardly wait.”

Bando said graduation is one of the most important college experiences as it acts as the final moment of closure to be with friends and others. He added it is also a time to reflect on the past four years of hard work.

“It’s certainly an experience as you sit in your chair with pride as you wait for them to announce your name,” Bando said. “It’s that moment as you walk across the stage where you’ll always be remembered as a graduate of the University of Illinois. That’s so special.”

Sierra Coyne, an alumni from the graduating class of 2021, described how students from last year had to reserve a 20 minute slot at the Kran-

nert Center for the Performing Arts during finals week in order to experience walking across the stage in a typical graduation ceremony.

“There were no speeches or ceremonies,” Coyne said. “You just went up and walked the stage in your gown. It was relatively nice compared to not having anything else. I went to my sister’s graduation in 2016 and had a good comparison. That was very different because everyone was out that day celebrating, and it was way more chaotic and a vastly different experience.”

Saba Bando, mother of Zain Bando, said the pandemic situation was so unprecedented and the University was just trying to make the best decision when it came to things like masks. She said if people are concerned, then they have the choice of wearing masks.

“Although the experience is not the

same, it doesn’t mean that you didn’t graduate and also doesn’t mean that you didn’t get your degree,” Saba Bando said.

“You just missed out on that important day.”

Although the University has invited all past graduates from 2020 and 2021, Coyne noted that she will only come back if others do, since college to her was about the people that she met across the four years.

“I didn’t know these past four years would go the way that it did, and I had no idea we would go through a pandemic on top of it,” Zain Bando said. “To have the final moments in Champaign the way that they are now and to have as normal a graduation as possible — I don’t think I could ask for anything more.” royals2@dailyillini.com

The University gathers career data on graduating students every year, including data related to employment, continuing education and volunteer work.

The initiative is called Illini Success and they’ve conducted annual reports since 2014, which identified the number of graduates who “secured a first destination.”

The report defines a first destination as “obtaining employment, enrolling in a continuing education program” or doing volunteer service after graduation.

For 2021 University graduates, 52% secured employment, and 42% secured placement in a continuing education program. In total, 94% of the class of 2021 secured a first destination — an increase from the previous year, which saw 91% of graduates securing a first destination.

Additionally, the reports include the “knowledge rate of where graduates landed,” which was 57% for the 2019– 2020 and 2020–2021 academic years — the years impacted by the pandemic.

The knowledge rate for the 2018 to 2019 school year was 75%, a significant difference from pandemic years.

The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is the largest college at the University, with 3,434 graduates last year. Of the 43% of LAS graduates that responded — one of the lowest rates across all colleges — 93% of them had secured a first destination.

The second largest college, the Grainger College of Engineering, had a response rate of 64%. For these graduates, 94% of them secured a first destination.

The third-largest college, the Gies College of Business, saw 98% of respondents having secured a first destination.

The college had the highest response rate for the class of 2021 at 85%.

According to Jennifer Neef, director of the Career Center who oversees Illini Success, the Illini Success team usually fielded the survey when graduating students picked up their caps and gowns in-person in previous years.

However, because the University switched to mailing students their

SEBASTIAN HOLT THE DAILY ILLINI

“We don’t know what we don’t know. So we caution people from making assumptions about data that is unknown.”

Jennifer Neef, director of the Career Center graduation regalia due to the pandemic, the team had to adjust to being unable to reach graduating students in person.

“We know that interaction either in

person, or an interaction from someone that the graduates know, has a positive impact on survey response rate,” Neef said. “And so this year, as we were going into the collection period, we really doubled down on partnering with the colleges and academic advisors in helping them by providing them with materials and messages to send to their students.”

This lack of in-person interaction with graduating students “has resulted in a decreased knowledge rate from our graduates,” according to Neef.

“We don’t know what we don’t know,” Neef said. “So we caution people from making assumptions about data that is unknown.”

Despite this, Neef said the over-

all outlook continues to be positive — graduates are landing in competitive industries or continuing their education.

“The story continues to be positive,” Neef said. “Our graduates are successfully landing in graduate school, professional school and employment.”

While Neef said she “wouldn’t necessarily call that a surprise,” she did find it reassuring, especially given challenges faced by students during the pandemic.

“It’s another reassurance of the talent we have at (the University), even through the most challenging circumstances,” Neef said. vla2@dailyillini.com

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OPINIONS

The DI · Wednesday, May 4, 2022

EDITORIAL

THE DAILY ILLINI PHOTO FILE

A person walks across the vacant Main Quad infront of a COVID-19 testing site on Aug. 21, 2020.

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Students sit together and cheer on the Main Quad during Quad Day on Aug. 22, 2021.

UI's flaws disproportionately endanger students The Daily Illini Editorial Board On Quad Day, seas of students covered every spot of grass, eager to catch up with their friends and greet the new class of 2025. It was a hot and humid day, and hardly a mask was in sight.

Though this may seem like progress considering there wasn’t a Quad Day the year before, it’s not. We may not want to hear otherwise, but the pandemic is still not over.

The University’s gradual removal of mandates throughout the school year has demonstrated that they are not devoted to stopping the spread and keeping their students safe. This needs to change next year.

COVID-19 burnout on campus has infected the mindset of students this year. But those that have the privilege to attend a maskless University-host-

ed Yung Gravy concert and ignore an unenforced testing policy are putting their high-risk peers’ lives at risk.

Even though the University boasts a praiseworthy testing system, the COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Data Dashboard shows a recent spike in new cases and a near-record low in daily testing in mid-April.

This concerning trend doesn’t affect all of us, which makes it easy to ignore. The bubble of supposed safety that once shielded much of Champaign-Urbana from the pandemic now only protects low-risk populations and ignores high-risk demographics that are disproportionately affected by this lack of concern.

University Housing requires students to test every other day if they live in halls with a higher prevalence of COVID-19 than the state average,

and cites that building access status will change if a resident fails to test.

However, building access status does not accurately reflect this policy and often displays the “granted” status regardless of adherence to these testing guidelines.

The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District recently lifted its mask mandate. Public transportation is a hub for contagious diseases, and now it is less accessible to high-risk residents that rely on MTD to traverse across C-U. The commonality behind these instances is that high-risk populations are disproportionately affected by these policies. The lack of empathy for these individuals is painfully apparent from the University and the general student body — they are forcefully isolated as other students

relish in the classic “college experience” and are blissfully unaware of the consequences that follow.

Yet, the consequences do follow.

Though high-risk students are more likely to get sick, no one is fully immune to the effects of the pandemic. Isolation is still a possibility for anyone, which has detrimental impacts on an individual’s mental and physical health — which makes it especially vital for everyone to stay cautious so we can get out of the pandemic for good.

The University and its students have the potential to do better as we move into the next academic year. College is such a vital part of our lives — in order to make the most of it, let us pop the bubble that surrounds us and be mindful of the people around us. opinions@dailyillini.com

OPINIONS

The DI · Wednesday, May 4, 2022

11

Forever an Illini: Create your UI legacy NOAH NELSON SENIOR COLUMNIST

Legacy is a tough word to swallow and can be interpreted in so many different ways, which makes defining it difficult.

Walt Disney’s legacy was creating magic for future generations. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy was advancing the civil rights movement. Marie Curie’s legacy was paving the way for women in science.

At the University, our time is limited.

Legacy isn’t something most of us think about, but we should. What do we want our legacy to be when we transfer our title from student to alumnus?

As a current senior graduating in May, I’ve been recollecting my past four years at the University in recent weeks. The word legacy continues to come to mind with the following thoughts of what I want mine to be when I graduate.

During my time on campus, I served as a senior columnist for The Daily Illini, was a member of Block I, Orange Krush and the Star Course Concert Committee. I’ve made and kept many wonderful

ALL NEW!

friends who are some of the best people in my life. I’ve grown as a writer and as a person.

But what is my legacy here at the University? Is it that if you were to prick my finger with a needle, I would bleed orange and blue? Is it my everyday wearing of cargo shorts no matter the weather? Or is it how I spent my time at the University?

I never conducted a chemistry experiment in a lab. I never joined a fraternity.

I never researched the soil at the Morrow Plots. I never made the Dean’s List. But that’s okay, because I did plenty of other activities on campus.

I’ve befriended professors. I’ve scored poorly on some exams (but aced plenty of others). I’ve bar crawled a few too many times. I’ve cheered on our varsity teams to victory. I’ve spent countless hours in the Grainger Engineering Library working on homework. Even with all of that, this isn’t my legacy.

I want my legacy at the University to be this: I’m a small-town kid who was able to call Illinois home for four years.

I embraced the institution wearing my orange and blue with pride, and each day, I make my mark at the University in some form or fashion.

SYDNEY LAPUT THE DAILY ILLINI

Senior columnist Noah Nelson talks about the importance of students creating their legacy at the University. Noah has been a part of The Daily Illini, Block I, Orange Krush and the Star Course Concert Committee.

I’ll forever be an Illini, and I’ll always be a part of its history. Regardless of where the University will be in a century, my legacy will be that I was one of the countless folks to play a special role in its story.

This leads me back to the initial question. Thinking back about your time at the University, what do you

want your legacy here to be?

You’re an Illini through and through, but it’s up to you what kind of legacy you want to leave, long after the South Quad Bell Tower has chimed and the last word of “Alma Mater” is sung.

Noah is a senior in Media. noahen@dailyillini.com

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OPINIONS

The DI · Wednesday, May 4, 2022

ANGIE ORDONEZ THE DAILY ILLINI

Graduating columnists bid farewell to The DI

By Noah Nelson, Andrew Prozorovsky and Jude Race Graduating Columnists

As this long and unpredictable year comes to an end, the Opinions section says goodbye to a few of its graduating writers.

Noah Nelson, wrote for The DI since August 2018 I’m not sure if genies or fairy godmothers are real. I have never asked any of them for a magical wish. However, I do believe dreams come true.

Four years ago, all I wanted to do was attend the University and make my mark at this wonderful institution. I like to think I did so with flying colors — those colors being orange and blue.

My time at the University was the best roller coaster ride of all. Filled with a

great education, incredible memories and even better friends, I cemented my name into University history.

None of it would have been possible without Block I, Star Course Concert Committee, The Daily Illini, Newman Hall, friends, family and my inner drive to accomplish what I always wanted to do.

I wear my orange and blue with pride each day. And I will forever be an Illini, the best title of all.

Andrew Prozorovsky, wrote for The DI since January 2019 In my freshman year, I joined The Daily Illini specifically to write for Opinions.

Along the way, I found a respect for the craft of journalism that I never expected.

There, I found a community within a community.

Opinions allowed me to explore my thoughts and values and put them down in writing, which evolved into stronger argumentation over time. I served as the Opinions Editor from 2020 to 2021.

I couldn’t have asked for a better team of committed, witty writers who joined the table every week and enjoyed the company of one another despite clashing ideologies.

In my experience, The Daily Illini embodies community, pluralism of ideas and the famous Illini spirit — oh, and hating the Oxford comma.

Jude Race, wrote for The DI since August 2021 Although I joined only eight months ago, writing for Opinions helped me grow exponentially as a writer and individual.

And while growth naturally comes with growing pains, writing for The DI was a

respite amid stressful times.

Our weekly section meetings were always something I looked forward to.

Sharing, agreeing and disagreeing with each other’s hot takes never failed to make me think and laugh harder than I would have without such kind, brilliant colleagues.

Wholeheartedly I can say it is a privilege to have worked alongside writers of such a high caliber. I look forward to the fast-approaching day when I can enjoy their columns as an alumnus of the University and The DI. I wish the Opinions Editor, assistant editors and columnists the best of luck in their future pursuits and thank all of The DI’s devotees for their continued readership. noahen2@dailyillini.com atp4@dailyillini.com jdrace2@dailyillini.com

BUZZ

The DI · Wednesday, May 4, 2022

13

Daniel Caesar explores mental health, love in new single

By Allyson Lin Staff Writer

Ashton Simmonds, known professionally as Daniel Caesar, has made a stunning return to the music scene with the release of his first single in almost three years, “Please Do Not Lean.”

Fans praise Caesar for his ethereal sound and nostalgic powerhouse songs.

His lyrics resonates with his audiences as they explore love, heartbreak, loss and essentially every other heart-wrenching situation one can be in.

Caesar has been hard at work on his new sound. In an interview with Complex Canada earlier this year, he said, “I hate stagnation — I don’t believe in it. While comparison is the thief of joy, I find myself unable to not compare myself, most importantly to my past self, but then also to my peers, idols, everybody.

Growth and change is what I’m all about.”

“Please Do Not Lean” was released on April 22, a week after its premiere at Coachella.

The single features Canadian jazz band BADBADNOTGOOD. Its soft, eloquent instrumentals and Caesar’s expressive voice make for a soulful collaboration.

The track addresses the fragile

relationship between love and mental health. Caesar begins by addressing his insecurities about his partner staying with him, despite the difficulties that mental health poses in relationships.

He stresses his feeling of insecurity and inferiority to other men who would be less difficult to love. He sings, “It’d break my heart, but I’d understand / If you’d leave me for another man / With a little less on his mind, less on his plate / Less in his brain.”

Caesar addresses a concern that many struggling with mental illness have when in a relationship: the feeling of being a burden or not good enough for the other person.

He uses repetition to emphasize the feeling that he cannot to be strong enough for both of them. The chorus, “Please do not lean on me, I’m unstable / You’re all you need, I’ve seen it, you’re able,” fuels the story of Caesar’s painful journey.

Caesar then turns to the physical aspects of their relationship.

“Sex in the air, deep in despair / Could you please act like you’re unaware? / But we both know I’m just a dog / Chasin’ his bone,” he sings. “Please understand, I’m just a man / That’s nearly figured out his master plan / Just stick

SPRIN 2022 G

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIEL CAESAR WEBSITE

Daniel Caesar released his latest single, ªPlease Do Not Lean,º on April 22. Caesar pulls from his personal experience to address the delicate nature of love and mental health in relationships.

around and you gon’ see / I’m worth every pound.”

These few lines represent a relationship that has been through hard times but remains strong because of the couple’s love for another.

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In his line, “I know that you gon’ always love me / In spite of things you’ve seen / In spite of things you’ve heard me say / No matter how obscene,” Caesar acknowledges how his past behavior put a strain on their relationship.

As he sings, “If I am the sky / You are the sea / Starin’ back at me,” his angelic vocals emphasizes that he and his partner are intertwined. “‘Please Do Not Lean’ represents a deeper understanding of myself and acknowledging the responsibilities I currently hold, respecting them and knowing my limits of when I can take on more,” Caesar explained in a press release. “This is an introduction to the sound and tone of the next chapter in my career.”

On collaborations for his upcoming project, Caesar said to Complex Canada, “It’s mostly me. I’m not much of a ‘go outside and be social’ type of person, and that was before the quarantine. So working on the album post-quarantine, you’re not really interacting with anybody else.”

“Please Do Not Lean” hints at the release of a third album and Caesar’s first under his new deal with Republic Records.

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SPORTS

The DI · Wednesday, May 4, 2022

MEN'S TENNIS

Heck, Stuart earn All-Big Ten honors Two shine in singles play throughout regular conference season

By Drew Friberg Sports Editor

Sophomore Hunter Heck earned unanimous first team All-Big Ten honors and graduate student Olivier Stuart earned second team All-Big Ten honors on Thursday afternoon after stellar performances in Big Ten play this season.

Heck’s nomination came as a surprise to him, despite his nomination to the first team being unanimous.

“It was a surprise for me,” Heck said. “I had a pretty good season, but I wasn’t expecting it.”

The sophomore’s “pretty good season” included going undefeated in Big Ten singles with an 8-0 record. His only unfinished match was against No. 3 Ohio State’s No. 11 JJ Tracy, with Tracy winning the first set 6-4 and Heck up 2-0 in the second set before the match was called.

Heck’s highest profile victories were against No. 6 Michigan’s No. 33 Andrew Fenty and No. 26 Northwestern’s No. 30 Steven Forman. Heck beat Fenty 6-4, 6-4 on Court 2, with Illinois eventually losing the match 4-1 afterward, and Heck beat Forman 7-6, 6-4 on Court 1 on the way to Illinois’ 4-1 upset over Northwestern.

Ending the season on an 11-win streak in singles, Heck’s confidence grew after his 6-5 start. Keeping the momentum from each win was key in taking down his next opponent.

“I didn’t have the greatest of fall seasons,” Heck said. “After talking with (head coach Brad Dancer), I was able to get focused again. I started putting in a little extra work here and there. That definitely helped get me in the right mental space for every match, and I was able to just carry that momentum once I started winning.”

Heck’s 17-5 overall singles record and 8-0 Big Ten singles record is extremely impressive, but he didn’t just shine in singles.

In doubles, with partner redshirt sophomore Lucas Horve, Heck achieved his highest ranking of the season. The pair earned a No. 35 ranking in doubles the week of March 14, after taking down No. 4 Baylor’s No. 19 Bass/Lah, 7-6 (9) on Court 1. Although

SIDNEY MALONE THE DAILY ILLINI

Hunter Heck hypes up the team before Illinois' match against Purdue on April 24. Heck earned an 8-0 Big Ten singles record, and Oliver Stuart (below) achieved a 4-2 Big Ten singles record. the pair encountered struggles in Big Ten doubles, collecting a 2-4 record in conference, they proved over the course of the season they could hang with the best, ending the regular season as the No. 77 ranked doubles team.

Stuart’s campaign was also solid, boasting a 4-2 record in Big Ten singles, with the Frenchman also leading in all three of his unfinished matches.

In Big Ten doubles, Stuart finished all of his matches, going 5-3 and winning with two different partners along the way.

Heck was one of these partners, as the team went 2-0 overall together in doubles.

Stuart’s singles ranking fluctuated throughout the season, going from unranked up to No. 51 on April 6. Stuart was consistently the highest ranked Illini in singles, with only Heck contesting him throughout the season.

Additionally, his strong doubles performance earned him high rankings with redshirt junior Siphosothando Montsi, as the pair peaked at No. 61 for two weeks in late March.

Playing alongside Stuart was a priv-

ilege for much of this Illini lineup.

With his final year of eligibility being used this season, the team wishes that all five of Stuart’s years could have been spent in Champaign.

“It’s been really fun playing with (Olivier),” Heck said. “He’s been a great addition to our team. He’s really focused and just a fun guy to be around. Competing with him has been really fun. He’s been really consistent for us and I’m excited to see what we can do with him in (the postseason).”

Both Stuart and Heck have the opportunity to add their alreadydecorated individual seasons at the NCAA Tournament. With the draw happening this week, the Illini will learn their postseason fate. Despite last week’s awards, the pair is completely focused on the postseason.

“It’s obviously a really good feeling,” Heck said. “But then again, the job’s not done.” @DrewFriberg9 friberg3@dailyillini.com

SPORTS

The DI · Wednesday, May 4, 2022

15

MEN'S GOLF

Rally against MSU brings seventh consecutive title

By Matthew Sinele Contributing Writer

Illinois men’s golf won its seventh consecutive Big Ten title following an unprecedented comeback in the third round of the Big Ten Championships in French Lick, Indiana on Sunday.

The word ‘rallied’ is the key word for this Illinois tournament win. The team edged out No. 46 ranked Michigan State by just one stroke as the tournament came to a close. This marks the smallest margin the Illini have won the Big Ten tournament by in this seven-season stretch. This win was a sigh of relief after all of the pressure and expectations were lifted off the golfers’ shoulders.

In the first round of the tournament, senior Adrien Dumont de Chassart led the way, shooting just one shot behind the championship record and closing out the first round atop the leaderboard at 64. The current record belongs to former Illini Dylan Myer at 63 in 2017.

The rest of the team had a bit more trouble on the first 18 holes. Junior Jerry Ji finished one over par (73) in the first round, followed by sophomore Piercen Hunt (74), freshman Jackson Buchanan (75) and senior Tommy Kuhl (76).

Despite a rocky front nine, the Illini were able to recover in the back nine, which was enough to put the team in third place heading into the second round, trailing Wisconsin by two strokes, and Michigan State by ten strokes.

Saturday marked the second day of the tournament and saw a much more balanced look for the Illini. Each member of the squad shot 73 through the second 18 with the exception of Hunt, who finished just two strokes behind with 75. The team combined for +4 on the day, which was just one stroke back of the best score in round two, posted by Maryland. This effort was enough to cut Michigan State’s lofty first-round lead to just one stroke as Illinois headed into round three.

Ji’s second straight round shooting 73 pushed him up the overall leaderboard 12 spots, tying him for 12th overall. Dumont de Chassart remained at the top with 7 strokes under par through two rounds.

Sunday, the third and final round, provided an unprecedented challenge from mother-nature. Head coach Mike Smalls deemed Sunday a “slobber-knocker,” as Illinois battled the wind, the course and the rest of the pack.

“The biggest opponent was the wind,”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ILLINOIS ATHLETICS

The Illinois men's golf team with their Big Ten Championship trophy at the Pete Dye Course in French Lick, Ind., on Sunday. The Illini secured their victory on the third day with a score of +19.

Smalls said. “But we had to stay in the present; stay in the next shot and put our energy out in front of us.”

The Illini were able to do just that. In an 18-hole spectacle, the team battled the Spartans, coming into the day just one stroke back. The Spartans finished the round at +21, while Illinois was able to post a score just two strokes better at +19 for the day, crowning them as the Big Ten champions after three rounds that forced the golfers to adapt to their conditions.

Hunt had a round that was nothing short of masterful, as he conquered the winds and posted a 72 in the final round, which led the way for the rest of the team and was good enough to earn him 9th place overall. Dumont de Chassart posted a 79 in the last round, which resulted in a 2nd place finish and his

third time medaling at the championship. The rest of the team was rounded out by Kuhl finishing tied for 27th, Buchanan at 33rd, and Ji at 36th.

When asked how the team intends to improve in May before the NCAA tournament, Dumont de Chassart responded positively, saying the team is still learning from every round of golf and has its eyes set on a national championship victory at the end.

“I think just playing this course with this wind, we learned a lot from it,” Dumont de Chassart said. “You have to stay patient. It’s championship season.

Even though the championship isn’t as big as nationals or regionals, it still matters a lot to us. We play as hard as we can and I think we’ll learn a lot from it and get better.”

Sunday’s round was a mental battle,

testing more than just golf skill. Mental toughness was required to earn this year’s Big Ten title.

“This was about who could survive until the end and avoid the big numbers,” Smalls said. “And we did that at the end.

I’m happy for these guys that put up with the expectations and embraced them.”

Seven Big Ten titles in a row is no small feat, and it is a testament to how much discipline runs through the veins of the program. However, Coach Smalls is not satisfied with just a conference victory. He remains hungry for more.

“This is a young team… we’re still learning,” Smalls said. “But we have to get better in the next couple weeks if we’re gonna compete at the national level.” msinele2@dailyillini.com

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The DI · Wednesday, May 4, 2022