The Daily Illini: Dining Guide 2021

Dining Guide September 15, 2021

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NEWS

The DI · Wednesday, September 15, 2021

UI breaks freshman enrollment record

By George Phelan Staff Writer

The University reported on Sept. 8 its largest freshman enrollment numbers ever from the 2021-22 academic year.

The class of 2025 is made up of 8,303 freshmen, making it the largest class in University history. It brings the total number of enrolled students up to 56,299, the largest student population ever.

There was also a record number of in-state students admitted during this admissions cycle. The number of accepted international students was up from fall 2019 as well.

The total number of enrolled undergraduates is 34,559 compared to 33,492 in fall 2019.

The rise in enrollment also saw a rise in test scores, as the average ACT for admitted freshmen was 31.4 up from 29.8 and the average SAT was 1410, up from 1331, according to a press release.

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The University reported on Sept. 8 that the 2021-22 freshman class is the largest class to ever be enrolled.

graduate students, surpassing the previous year’s record of 17,866 students.

Almost 45% of all graduate student enrollment is through online programs, which have become increasingly popular in recent years, according to the press release.

Master’s programs now account for 66% of all graduate enrollment due to an increase in demand for graduate education nationwide.

“We are thrilled with the number of students who accepted their offer this year,” Director of Undergraduate Admissions Andy Borst said in a press release.

These records are expected to remain records for at least one year, however, as the Undergraduate Admissions office plans on reducing the target number for admitted students by approximately 600.

About 58% of students submitted test scores with their application. The University is expected to return to a testmandatory admissions process for the fall 2022 semester.

Alongside undergraduate enrollment, the Graduate College also has a record- georgep2@dailyillini.com high number of new students with 20,567 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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NEWS

The DI · Wednesday, September 15, 2021

A student bikes to Quad Day on Aug. 22. Bike to Work Day encourages biking to everyday places instead of driving.

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Bike to Work Day encourages sustainability

By Royal Shrestha Staff Writer

On Tuesday, Bike to Work Day and Light the Night events will happen throughout Champaign-Urbana and on campus. It is a national day-long event to promote people to cycle to their everyday places in lieu of driving.

Due to the pandemic, this year’s Bike to Work Day event was moved from May to September, allowing students and faculty to participate in it as well.

Bike to Work Day will be taking place from 7-10 a.m. There will be a total of 17 welcoming stations

throughout Champaign County where nine of them will be on campus.

Students interested in registering for the event can fill out their registration form.

There will be food, Bike at Illinois merchandise and free T-shirts along the 17 different welcoming stations according to Gabriel Lewis, the transportation planner for the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission.

“Bike to Work Day is an opportunity to encourage people to ride their bike to their everyday destination whether that be class, work or school,” Lewis said. “It’s a day where we have our community encouraging that, along

with rewards for doing that. Our goal with Champaign County bike month is to ultimately get more people to ride their bikes.”

Transportation is only second to agriculture in terms of carbon emissions but is also one of the most manageable ones to reduce, according to Sartahk Prasad, who manages the Bike at Illinois program.

“Bicycling is one the most sustainable forms of transportation,” Prasad said. “We’re continually improving our infrastructure on campus and in Champaign-Urbana so that more and more people can enjoy biking. Not only is it a healthy and fun mode of transportation but

slowly incorporating it can make a difference.”

In addition to Bike to Work Day, the Light the Night event will be giving away over 800 free lights to anyone who shows up with a bicycle. There are three locations that include the Alma Mater Plaza, Hallene Gateway and the Campus Bike Center. Anyone wishing to volunteer may fill out the form.

These two events together will encourage more people to bike to everyday locations alongside reminding people about what it means to be a safe cyclist.

royals2@dailyillini.com

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LIFE & CULTURE

The DI · Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Alien Club ponders cosmos, debates conspiracies

By Aidan Finn Staff Wrtier

The Bermuda Triangle. The Roswell Incident. Crop circles. M. Night Shyamalan. Many wonder whether these fateful incidents and mysterious realms of uncertainty were the result of our species being graced by an otherworldly presence, from beyond the stars.

Student believers collected in the middle of the woods to discuss these theories at Astro-biology club.

The Astro-biology club, or Alien club as some call it, is an RSO with dozens of members fascinated by what lies beyond the stars.

“I really wanted to bring more awareness to Astro-biology because aliens are a topic I think everyone is really interested in, so I wanted to bring people together,” said Jessica Xhumari, president of the club and senior in LAS. “Talk about the science of it and get people involved.”

Rather than sit in a tin-hit circle and discuss conspiracies like Malaysia Flight 370 and horse-dewormers, the group aims for a more concentrated discussion of outer space and the possibility of a third kind.

Xhumari highlighted how the group aims

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ASTRO-BIOLOGY CLUB

Members of the Astro-biology club gather during a social event. The Alien club, an extraterrestrial themed RSO, discusses conspiracy theories. to have night trips, fundraisers, movie and social events, as well as professional events doing research and trying for internships in the NASA field.

The group has an active newsletter highlighting upcoming events for the club, but acting also as a discovery newsletter on the topic of extraterrestrials. The latest edition focused on articles about a new

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“I’m excited for everything man,” Popovich said. “There is a lot of potential with what this club is about. It’s very interesting to people and has a lot of pop-culture history, as well as scientific background to it.”

Sofovich was beaming with excitement for the many future events planned by the new group. It hopes to lead students with such extraterrestrial thinking toward many science-related resources on campus.

Briana Bragg, junior in LAS, acts as vice president of the club and said she was excited to make new friends and to have fun discussions. She said she wants to stress that the club welcomes all — science-major or not.

“I believe it is very valuable,” Bragg said. “Getting everyone’s insights and point of views on the subject.”

Xhumari discussed the point of how everyone and anyone interested can and should get involved.

“Yes, of course, everyone should come,” Xhumari said. “Doesn’t matter what student you are, undergraduate or graduate, what major you are.”

class of larger exoplanets with oceans and hydrogen atmospheres that can broaden the search for habitable planets, as well as details about Japan’s Martian Moon eXploration craft planned to launch in 2024.

Eli Sofovich, senior in LAS, is a new number of the club and shared his excitement to meet like-minded believers. aidanf3@dailyillini.com

LIFE & CULTURE

The DI · Wednesday, September 15, 2021

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9/11 first responders honored with stair climb

By Gwyn Skiles Features Editor

The University of Illinois ROTC program gathered on Thursday at Memorial Stadium to climb stairs to honor the sacrifice and service of first responders during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

This time, the ROTC invited all students and staff to join them in climbing 1,980 steps that represented the number of steps first responders had to climb to rescue those trapped in the World Trade Center 20 years ago.

Annika Coester, junior in ACES who is in the ROTC, said the physical fatigue after the climb is nothing to complain about.

“We were out on this beautiful Memorial Stadium where it’s like 50-60 degrees out,” Coester said. “But (the 9/11 first responders) were doing this with a lot of gear where it was hot and there was smoke inhalation. So this is nothing compared to what they had to go through, but it’s a little thing we can do to remember that day.”

Most of the students participating had no memory of the tragedy that took place on Sept. 11, beyond what they’ve learned from history classes and the stories their parents told them. “ It ’s go o d to see all the young faces here remembering a day 20 years ago that most of you probably don’t remember,” Commanding Officer Capt. David Casteel said in his opening remarks.

K el ly Bickhart, freshman in AHS, is not in the ROTC. Even though she wasn’t alive on Sept. 11, she said she came because it was important to her to honor the first

responders that served, especially on the 20th anniversary.

“Twenty years is a long time but also not a long time at all,” Bickhart said. “It’s enough time that I wasn’t alive during 9/11, but I’ve seen the impacts of it and have had family members that knew people that were impacted.”

Logan Wright, a firefighter stationed in Normal, Illinois came to Memorial Stadium to pay his respects.

Wright was in third grade when the Sept. 11 attacks occurred.

“I think it’s great that (students) are out here paying their respects even though they weren’t here that day,” Wright said. “It just shows the character of everyone out here.”

The attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 sparked the longest war in American history. On Aug. 30, the U.S. departed Afghanistan.

In many ways, participants said they feel as if this isn’t just the 20-year anniversary of 9/11, but the end of a 20-year war.

“I can’t believe that a war that started 20-years ago due to 9/11 has come to an end,” Coester said. “My entire l i f e we’ve h a d troops in Afghanistan.

It’s just c r a z y to wrap my head around the fact t h a t we’re not a part of that conflict anymore. I’m looking forward to what we do in the future and how we can learn from our past to better defend our country.”

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Two firefighters climb down the stairs of Memorial Stadium on Sept. 9 to honor first responders that saved lives on 9/11.

gskiles2@ dailyillini. com

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Commanding Officer Capt. David Casteel speaks to ROTC members, students and staff during his opening remarks before they began to climb the steps of Memorial Stadium on Sept. 9.

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

A group of men walk up the steps on the Northside of Memorial Stadium on Sept. 9 to pay tribute to those who served on 9/11 as the sun rises.

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The DI · Wednesday, September 15, 2021

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BUZZ

The DI · Wednesday, September 15, 2021

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Sophomores miss out on dining hall experience

By Aidan Finn Staff Writer

As you walk past the reception desk at ISR, you are greeted with a scene reminiscent of a massive shopping mall, a heavily gentrified, stinky and minimalistic mall, but a spacious environment nonetheless brimming with life and inexpensive food courts.

College students come to enjoy meals between classes, rent library books and soak in the atmosphere of new, likeminded freshmen who are just starting their exciting college adventure, sure to have several wondrous nights teeming with friendship, fun and forever to be cherished memories.

Then there are the sophomores.

Micheal Garrity is one of them, a computer engineering major.

Favoriting the gyros at the Latitude, Garrity was not on campus his freshman year and is experiencing the many facets of ISR for the first time with a positive attitude.

“It’s pretty good,” Garrity said. “I like how much variety there is in ISR, but I feel like it’s always overcrowded.

Some things are out of order like the soft serve machine and the Silk/almond milk dispensers, but that’s just in ISR. Everything at the other halls I’ve been to seems completely open.”

His positive vibes while eating a gyro are shared by many freshmen, who are oblivious to the experience had by their few sophomore dorm neighbors.

Several prominent dining halls are now open to near-full operation for the 2021-2022 school year, reminiscent of the years prior to the pandemic. But last school year, many new freshmen had a diluted dining experience with many serving stations not only closed but the remaining offering the same cycle of pasta and cheese pizza.

Caleb Berry, sophomore in Business who lived on campus last year, had adamant negative comments to share on the experience with dining halls last year.

“I believe I definitely missed out on a dining hall experience,” Berry said, “For starters, I visited my girlfriend in Iowa, and their food was legit 20 times better than ours. On top of that, we had the same dishes everywhere, long lines, no ice cream and overall a terrible experience. I would never pay for again.”

The frustration over such was not

“I visited my girlfriend in Iowa, and their food was legit 20 times better than ours. On top of that, we had the same dishes everywhere, long lines, no ice cream and overall a terrible experience. I would never pay for again.”

Caleb Berry, sophomore in Business exclusive to Berry. Some had a more objectively negative reflection on their meal plan last year, now outside of the program as sophomores.

Noelle Crawford, sophomore in Engineering, lived in PAR last year and was not a fan of the limited vegan options she endured.

“I think not being able to sit in the dining halls, especially at the beginning, really limited social opportunities,” Crawford said.

“Because as a vegetarian, it was really hard to eat healthy in the dining hall or just find things to eat in general.”

While the negative memories are adamant, some students were a bit more apathetic to the whole experience.

Jason Flanagan, sophomore in Engineering, shared his mixed feelings about his ISR experience last year.

“I’m not too sure,” Flanagan said. “I really did enjoy having takeout because it helped with a flexible schedule, and now I don’t know what to do when the lines are super long and I can’t wait for food. But being in a buffet lets me get more of the food I like, and I get to eat with more friends than before.”

Another student who shared Flanagan’s appreciation for the mild advantages of the diluted experience was Brian Yang, sophomore in Engineering, who also was not really upset.

“I feel like I didn’t really miss out on much,” Yang said. “In fact, I felt like there was a big unspoken advantage last year because we could take boxes out to go! That’s usually why I decided

JULIA EVERSMANN THE DAILY ILLINI

not to continue with the food plan this year because there’s just no option to take stuff to go anymore.”

Overall, the mixed opinions and frustrations shared about the minute details of the dining experience is a symptom of a larger, more existential sense of missing out that’s surging amongst sophomores who lived on

campus the prior year. With so much excitement surrounding the reopening of college life, a constant reality check lingers. Sophomores are nearly halfway through college is alarming many — a psychological turmoil with no real solution. aidanf3@readbuzz.com

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The DI · Wednesday, September 15, 2021

for the Dining Guide. Thanks!

The DI · Wednesday, September 15, 2021

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Coffee shop eludes national worker shortage

By Sydney Wood Assistant buzz Editor

Patrons purchase food at Mia Za's (left) and Bangkok Thai (right) on Sunday. The two restaurants are campus favorites among Illinois students.

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

For the foodies: Explore campus' most beloved food spots

By Dhanashri Mandhani Contributing Writer

Many say food is a universal language of love, of some sort of deep human connection and that good food can never fail to bring people together.

Champaign-Urbana is almost a 154-year-old community, and with about 44,000 students on campus, food is at the heart of this town for many.

Commercial chain restaurants are everywhere, but local restaurants are one of a kind. They mean so much to the local community and have nothing but delicious food that is made with love by these very locals.

C-U has its very own popular, small local restaurants and cafes that have been serving students at fair prices all

throughout the year for many years now. Green Street is the community’s very own food street that is always hustling and bustling with students and C-U residents, especially during lunch and dinner hours.

But what is it that C-U loves so much about these local restaurants? The answers lie within those who visit and enjoy these places the most.

the restaurant is delicious “The portion sizes are great, so the money you spend on food here is worth it,” O’Brien said. “I end up spending about $40 every month at Bangkok Thai.”

Rebekah Kim, junior in LAS, said she has been coming to Bangkok Thai for four years now.

“The food is great,” Kim said.

“Pricing is really fair, and the delivery time is short. These things make me return to this restaurant almost every Bangkok Thai, as the name suggests, week.” is a Thai restaurant on Green Street that has won the hearts of almost everyone who has been there. Sam O’Brien, graduate student in LAS, said Down Green Street lies local Italian he loves the yellow curry at Bangkok joint Mia Za’s. Operating at the same Thai and everything he has tried at location for almost 20 years, it’s safe

Bangkok Thai

Mia Za's

to say that Mia Za’s is a community favorite.

Allison Kamrat, manager of Mia Za’s, has been working at the restaurant for four years and was a Illinois student until last December.

“People always tell us that our order placing system is very innovative,” Kamrat said. “Our customers never run out of options. People love our pizza and pasta.”

Zack Saudners, senior in LAS, has been going to Mia Za’s since he was a freshman.

“Mia Za’s is close to all my classes,” Zack Saudners said. “It’s quick, inexpensive and one of the best pizza places on campus.” dym2@readbuzz.com

A stroll down Green Street in Campustown highlights ChampaignUrbana’s reflection of the widespread restaurant staffing problems that are occurring throughout the nation. The multiple “Now Hiring” signs posted on doors and myriad of job applications available online are indicative of the numerous C-U restaurants that are experiencing their own labor shortages.

The National Restaurant Association recently released its “State of the Restaurant Industry” mid-year report in August, providing an updated look at the pandemic’s effect on the restaurant industry and the industry’s recovery through July.

The report found that despite the steady upward trend of job creation in the first half of 2021, eating and drinking venues are nearly 1 million jobs, or 8%, below pre-pandemic employment levels.

Food and beverage sales in the restaurant and food service industry, however, are projected to increase nearly 20% from 2020, totaling $789 billion.

According to the study’s data from June and July, 75% of restaurant operators said recruiting and retaining employees is their top challenge, which is the highest level the Association has ever recorded.

Flying Machine Avionics is a coffee shop located on the corners of East Clark and South First streets in Midtown Champaign. Owner Josh Lucas said the pandemic-related worker shortages haven’t drastically affected his business and ability to hire new staff, though.

Lucas said he understands why restaurants are having difficulty hiring new workers, and he’s noticed other local businesses experiencing this problem.

“I mean, I know a lot of other business owners in town,” Lucas said. “And everybody’s kind of a standing order at this point. It’s like, ‘Hey, we’re all hiring.’”

He said the worker shortages are a difficult topic to talk about because he doesn’t want to complain, yet he has worked a lot to cover the losses.

Although he’s altered how he operates his business to adapt to these shortages, Lucas explained that he hasn’t fully figured it out yet. He works in his shop around six days a week, and he’s gradually hiring people while trying to get his business into a position where it can stay open later, so hiring in itself has not been a huge issue for him.

Lucas said he doesn’t believe in the

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common phrase, “nobody wants to work anymore,” which is a saying that has become increasingly common during the ongoing pandemic. Instead, he is using an approach that will attempt to change problems he’s witnessed throughout his extensive experience in the restaurant industry.

“What I’m trying to do instead is to kind of rebuild my business to a place that’s healthier to bring in people,” Lucas said. “And as far as wages goes and hours and all that stuff, trying to make it a place that people want to come back to

work to because there’s a reason a lot of people left this industry.”

He said he’s seen an uptick in customers after University students returned to campus last month, saying these past two years have felt like an extended summer break because business was slower without students being on campus.

“We’re kind of slowly getting back to being not as busy, but pretty close to as-busy as we were before the pandemic started,” he said. “Which was quite a jolt, given that we haven’t had that in almost two years.”

As the number of COVID-19 variants rises, the National Restaurant Association found that the looming threat of the Delta variant may reverse some gains made in the first six months of this year.

The study revealed that six in 10 adults altered their restaurant use in response to the Delta variant, 37% ordered delivery or takeout instead of dining in a restaurant and 19% stopped dining in restaurants altogether. smwood2@readbuzz.com

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BUZZ

The DI · Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Urbana's Bake Lab makes `dream come to life'

By Carolina Garibay buzz Editor

On Fifth and Green streets stands a small, quaint coffee shop that offers both a classic coffee menu featuring artisan drinks and a space for quiet studying that University students are always taking advantage of.

The place, of course, is Brew Lab. Harry Alexander Krigel, the store’s general manager, said he found out about Brew Lab the way most people discover their favorite coffee shops.

“I happened to stumble across Brew Lab on Fifth and Green, and I kept on going back,” Krigel said.

“I’m like, ‘OK, this coffee is amazing.

I love the environment.’ And I saw how things could be improved there.”

Now, Krigel is the general manager not only of Brew Lab but of its sister store Bake Lab, tucked in the lobby of Gather Illinois. Bake Lab officially opened on Aug. 30, and Krigel said the store is the product of five-star pastry chef Stacy Shi’s dream to own a place like Bake Lab. Tim Chao, owner of Brew Lab and Bake Lab, saw Shi’s dream and decided to make that dream come true as best he could, Krigel said.

“He really wanted to see her dream come to life about, you know, just showcasing these beautiful pastries and combining it with his coffee concepts,” Krigel said.

Krigel said the teamwork between him, Shi and Chao is what made Bake Lab possible since Krigel was able to take on the responsibility of hiring and training of both stores, so Shi and Chao could set up the kitchen and work with Gather.

But all this work paid off. Bake Lab has been received incredibly well by the community, already having a five-star rating on Google after being open for less than two weeks.

“Our sales at the new location are already matching our other location, and it’s just really taken off,” Krigel said.

What is it about Bake Lab that already has so many customers lining up to check it out? Maybe it’s the store’s prized oatmeal cookie latte or Shi’s matcha red bean cakes.

Or maybe Bake Lab’s appeal is its personable staff, which Krigel said he thinks really sets Bake Lab apart from other bakeries and coffee shops.

“I took my time hiring the right people,” Krigel said. “They have that spark. You want to talk to them, and they want to talk to you, and they’re great listeners.”

Krigel said this is important to him because he doesn’t want customers

PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLA MANUEL

The Bake Lab, at 410 N. Lincoln Ave. in Urbana, offers a variety of baked goods to complement its beverage menu.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLA MANUEL

Harry Krigel, general manager of Bake Lab, serves food from the drive-thru window of the Bake Lab. Bake Lab is located on Lincoln Avenue in Urbana. to feel like the employees don’t want to be there or are simply there to sell products rather than foster an authentic employee-customer experience. He said one of the ways his customers do this is by not relying on a script when speaking to customers.

“They’re not going to be like, ‘Oh, yes, you have to try our oatmeal cookie latte because, you know, like, I’ve got to sell 500 a day,’” Krigel said. “No, it’s because, you know, the oatmeal cookie latte is the best damn drink that you’ve ever had.”

hiccups since Krigel both has high standards for products and trains the staff carefully so that all drinks are the best they can possibly be.

Though Bake Lab just opened, Krigel said he has some big plans for the store, like potentially hosting brewed coffee workshops where customers can learn how to properly brew coffee or correctly use a French press.

Krigel said bringing the community into Bake Lab and Brew Lab and really connecting with them is important to him. He also said he regularly visits other coffee shops and is good friends with other local coffee business owners.

Krigel also said he hopes to add to the community, too, in whatever way he can.

“I was talking with one of my baristas the other day, where I’m like, ‘OK, well, it’s like, I’m gay,’ and I look at the area, and I’m just like, ‘OK, well, we don’t have bars, like, we don’t have a lot of representation in our neighborhoods,’” Krigel said.

He also said he hopes to host designated nights at the stores for queer folks in the area to show support and let the community know that Bake Lab and Brew Lab are safe spaces for everyone.

But in the meantime, Krigel suggests that visitors take advantage of Bake Lab’s cozy atmosphere, especially the shop’s leather booth seats.

“You have to sit in those leather booth seats,” he said. “It’s so freakin’ comfortable, and plus, it’s beautiful. It looks like West Elm and New York City had a coffee baby.”

Bake Lab is located at 410 N. Lincoln Ave. in Urbana and is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.

Krigel also said Bake Lab uses both high quality equipment and ingredients, like a La Marzocco espresso machine and Rishi teas. He says the investment in these types of things leads to high quality beverages for customers.

“It really does separate us because when you go and taste these other beverages at other places, it’s like, it tastes burned, or it tastes heavy or maybe not properly steamed,” Krigel said.

But at Bake Lab, customers can expect an experience free of those garibay5@readbuzz.com

The DI · Wednesday, September 15, 2021

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OPINIONS

The DI · Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Keep CU beautiful: Do your part, don't litter

By The Daily Illini Editorial Board

T

he representative stroll across campus frequently features the grand combination of pleasant people, places and nature.

Campus, decorated with delightful constructions — excluding the sporadic, brutalist architecture exhibited by the Psychology Building — and satisfying vegetation is once again a wondrous sight. Moreover, Illini are fortunate to possess a wonderful community and the opportunity to appreciate living and learning.

Presently, however, there exists an obstacle preventing full enjoyment of university moments: extensive garbage.

Polluting the typical campus musing, Illini are alarmingly littering and disrespecting their environment. Whether it be the disregarded red solo cup or the takeout that missed the garbage can, trash is piling up across C-U. One saunter throughout C-U would present to Illini the dreadful conditions of sidewalks and storm drains clogged with napkins and used utensils, and yards soiled with junk from the previous night’s shenanigans. Addi-

JULIA EVEVRSMANN THE DAILY ILLINI

tionally, Greek life centered in Champaign retain littered lawns awaiting one gust of wind to commence the garbage’s journey into neighboring parks or roads.

Illini are better than this. With the current litter predicament, Illini bear personal responsibility to not only clean up after themselves but to remind others of their environmental obligations.

In the 1974 Litter Control Act, the Illinois General Assembly outlined, “No

person shall dump, deposit, drop, throw, discard, leave, cause or permit the dumping, depositing, dropping, throwing, discarding or leaving of litter upon any public or private property in this State.”

If one were to peruse around campus, this law appears chilled in enforcement.

Therefore, there is only one appropriate request for this junked juncture: Keep C-U beautiful. There is no excuse to pollute the streets of our temporary home.

Justly, the 1974 act asserts in its introduction, “Litter is detrimental to the welfare of the people …” If students, faculty and community members expect to enjoy their surroundings, litter cannot enter the frame. Illini undergraduates carry the lion’s share of this responsibility.

Although, the University’s Student Code identifies littering tobacco products as a violation, cluttering campus and/or disregarding public trash is not identified as a code infringement. Likewise, with no clear consequences or enforcement, debris continues to accumulate — evidently in a cyclical fashion.

To respect campus is to maintain

its beauty. Furthermore, when polluting actors such as those in Greek life or irresponsible Illini do not value campus for its cleanliness, it is only equitable for fines to be administered until the garbage is managed.

Fortunately, for Illini interested in polishing C-U, both Champaign and Urbana currently possess programs to mitigate the present mess.

For Champaign, the “Keep Champaign Beautiful” initiative aims to improve recycling, reduce littering and “engage community members” for a better Champaign. For Urbana, the “Adopt Urbana Program” focuses on “arranging litter clean-ups” to aid in providing for a pristine community.

There is a power in properly picking up after yourself. Even more so, littering is a direct expedition to polluted minds and hearts if one discounts personal responsibility. Illini are prosperous when their community resembles their dedicated ambitions.

Let us, henceforth, respect and cherish our environment and produce impeccable surroundings.

opinions@dailyillini.com

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OPINIONS

The DI · Wednesday, September 15, 2021

13

UI meal plans should partner with local restaurants CHIARA AWATRAMANI COLUMNIST

D

ining hall food, through its varying degrees of palatability, fuels students through their days. Usually, a decent selection of food is available — ranging from noodles, pasta to maybe a few outrageously plain vegetables. Although some students may be satisfied with these meals, or at least try to be, others would rather have more choice: in both what food they have access to and where they get said food.

It would be convenient and economical for the University to partner with local restaurants so students could cash in their meal swipes for food. These restaurants could range anywhere from Subway to Bangkok Thai.

Many universities have partnerships with restaurants — providing evidence that students, indeed, like this style of meal plan. The University of Washington at Seattle partners with

Pagliacci Pizza and Starbucks. The University of Pittsburgh partners with Chick-fil-A. While the dining halls provide convenience, as they are on campus, they do not help those who are off campus looking for a bite to eat.

Convenience — for students taking an average of five classes plus maintaining a part-time job and participating in RSO’s — is essential. Pairing the dining hall plan with local restaurants would be convenient for students because they could eat at different locations off-campus. Who wouldn’t want that flexibility?

Partnering with a restaurant would also be economically beneficial to students because the University could negotiate a deal with the partnering restaurant. This deal could offer discounts to students who use the University’s meal swipes at these certain places. This would incentivize students to eat at these restaurants, which would prove economically favorable to the restaurant.

Also, students can select how much money to spend on their food as opposed to a set $10 for breakfast, $13

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

The Fusion48 Asian cuisine restaurant is now part of the new Illinois State Residence Hall dining area.

for lunch and $16 for dinner. To put these prices into perspective, $16 at Subway can buy three BLT footlong sandwiches and at Chipotle, two steak burritos: a lot more than an average student needs for one meal. Hence, if a student wanted to eat one burrito, they would only spend half the price that they would be eating at the dining halls.

What mainly makes this partnership attractive, however, is that we know students choose to eat at restaurants.

In fact, over half of students eat out

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once a week, with the main reasons for eating off campus being wanting delicious food that restaurants provide due to fresh ingredients and elaborate recipes, flexible location through on-and off-campus food options and a specific type of food, not just what the school determines for that day. Clearly, students are on the lookout for better food options than lackluster dining halls provide them.

Since students enjoy eating at restaurants, more students would be inclined to remain with the dining plan even when living off-campus. This would be beneficial for the University, as they would be getting some of the money students usually spend elsewhere.

Implementing a partnership with a restaurant not only would benefit the students of the University by offering much-needed flexibility, cost options and food choices, but also, the University would profit through the additional students drawn to this type of meal plan.

Chiara is a sophomore in LAS. cawatr2@dailyillini.com

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The DI · Wednesday, September 15, 2021

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SPORTS

The DI · Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Home at Huff

Olympians reflect on their gold-medal glory

By Jackson Janes Sports Editor

For the first time in history, members of Team USA women’s volleyball left the Olympics with gold medals around their necks.

Not just this, though. Three former Illini volleyball standouts stood on the podium as “The Star-Spangled Banner” blared over the speakers: Jordyn Poulter, Michelle Bartsch-Hackley and Erin Virtue.

The trio was honored at Huff Hall during the Illini’s volleyball home opener against Washington, along with the 2011 Illini volleyball team that advanced all the way to the NCAA national championship match, before being recognized at halftime at Memorial Stadium during the Illinois football game against the Universiy of Texas at San Antonio.

“Obviously so excited to be back here and celebrate this with Bartsch, and the 2011 team is a large part of why I wanted to come to Illinois originally,” Poulter said. “It’s awesome to have this all come full circle.”

Originally scheduled for the summer of 2020, the Olympics were postponed one year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, something Virtue, an assistant coach at the Games, attributes to the team’s success.

“This group, I think honestly as much as no one really wanted to go through a COVID-19 year, it really strengthened our group,” Virtue said.

“Having a fifth year really strengthened the group; they worked a lot together, they worked a lot with our consulting coaches on board to really come together as a team. We knew that going into this Olympic Games it was going to be so much more than just about what we did on the court but what we did together on the court. It just showed; I’m really proud of the whole team.”

The United States went 7-1 in Tokyo, falling only to the Russian Olympic Committee during group play. After earning the top seed in its pool, Team USA didn’t lose a single set during the knockout stage, ultimately beating Brazil, 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-14), in the gold medal match.

Though none of the three Illinois gold medalists played in Champaign at the same time, they have all known each other for a long time.

Poulter, the youngest of the three,

PHOTO COURTESY OF ILLINOIS ATHLETICS

Illini volleyball alumni and Olympic athletes Jordyn Poulter, Michelle Bartsch-Hackley and Erin Virtue pose at Huff Hall on Sept. 3. The Olympians reflected on their gold-medal run. graduated in 2018, though she has known Bartsch-Hackley since she was 12 after attending a volleyball camp in Champaign during middle school, while Virtue coached her at both the youth and junior national team levels.

“To just have these people who have been very influential in my life, to finally achieve something this monumental with them has been really special,” Poulter said.

Poulter attended Illinois from 2015 to 2018, earning All-American accolades in each of her final three seasons, including first-team honors as a senior, the same season she guided the Illini to the NCAA Final Four. She also earned Big Ten Co-Setter of the Year, All-Big Ten and AVCA Northeast Region Player of the Year awards throughout her time in Champaign. She was named Best Setter at the Olympics.

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Bartsch-Hackley played for the Illini from 2008 to 2011 and received All-America honors three times, including thirdteam nods during her junior and senior years. She was also honored at Friday’s match as a member of the 2011 team and was named Co-Best Outside Hitter of the Olympics.

While two of the team’s 12-person roster attended Illinois, two-thirds of the squad players went to a Big Ten school, something that caused a bit of fun banter in the gym.

“It’s fun to just joke around and talk trash against other teams, but in the end, we’re all playing for USA now,” Bartsch-Hackley said. “It is fun to I-L-L across the gym sometimes.”

Virtue, who has been with Team USA in a coaching role since 2017, competed at Illinois from 2001 to 2004 and was a one-time All-America and

All-Big Ten selection.

“It’s cool to see the tradition carry on,” Virtue said of having three Illinois gold medalists from three different eras. “Just to see over time how this program has done such incredible things; it just makes me really, really proud.”

Having Olympians and successful former Illini also put slightly more pressure on the current Illinois squad as they competed in the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge in Champaign, though they used it as a learning opportunity.

“It just motivates everybody,” middle blocker Kennedy Collins said.

“They’ve done great things here and obviously in Tokyo, so just seeing them accomplish those things is a big motivator for everybody.”

The return of fans in Huff Hall for the first time since 2019, along with the added pressure from Olympians in the building, made things difficult for the Illini after playing in empty gyms for the last year, though the Games were played entirely without fans, making the return to the United States an emotional one for the trio after securing gold.

“I don’t know that (my friends and family have) ever been more proud of me in my life, which is understandable, and it’s cool to share that with them,” Poulter said. “The reunion at the airport when I came home was for sure very emotional; it’s really special.”

With the Paris Olympics now less than three years away, Bartsch-Hackley and Poulter don’t know what their futures hold.

Bartsch-Hackley doesn’t know when she will retire, though ending on a high note with some silverware is something she wouldn’t mind doing.

“To win gold and then not do it again; I feel satisfied,” Bartsch-Hackley said.

After winning the first gold medal in USA women’s volleyball history since the sport was added to the Games in 1964, Poulter says this team’s win was for all the teams and players that came before them.

“Every one of us have been chasing history, chasing that gold and to finally do it, we stand on the shoulders of those women,” Poulter said. “And it’s so cool to share this with them.”

@JacksonJanes3 janes6@dailyillini.com

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The DI · Wednesday, September 15, 2021