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SEBASTIAN HOLT THE DAILY ILLINI
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The DI · Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Protesters march in support of Palestine By Willie Cui and Lika Lezhava News Editor and Contributing Writer
Protesters gathered in front of Foellinger Auditorium and marched across campus on Monday, April 18, in response to Israeli police raiding the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on Friday, April 15. “Just a couple of days ago, Israeli occupation forces raided our beloved (Al-Aqsa Mosque) during the holiest month of the year for Muslims,” said Buthaina Hattab, senior in LAS and president of Students for Justice in Palestine, the RSO that organized the protest. Aaron Dille, junior in AHS and member of SJP, noted the mosque is a holy site for many Palestinians and said the attack, which occurred during Ramadan, was “very disrespectful and reeks of destroying culture itself — destroying people.” The protesters marched from Foellinger Auditorium to the Office of the Vice
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D'Meneca Turner-Winston and Sara Hijab, freshmen at Parkland College, protest at the Swanlund Administration Building on April 18 in response to police raiding the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, then to the Illini Hillel and the Swanlund Administration Building, before concluding the march at Alma Mater. 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. All Illini Media Co. and/or The Daily Illini articles, photos and graphics are the property of Illini Media and may not be reproduced or published without written permission from the publisher.
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The protest raised some concerns for the Illini Hillel, which was providing kosher food for Jewish students celebrating Passover. Erez Cohen, executive director of the Illini Hillel, said they found out about the protest othe day before, and some students were concerned it could turn violent. Cohen also said a “verbal attack” occurred at the Hillel during the protest and that someone threw something at the building for which the Hillel “will need to check our cameras.” “When people come to the Jewish center to yell against Israel, they’re creating an equation between any Jewish person and the state of Israel,” Cohen said. “That’s singling out an entire community based on a country that’s miles away.” williec2@dailyillini.com lezhava3@dailyillini.com THE
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LIFE & CULTURE
The DI · Wednesday, April 27, 2022
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Environmental groups gather for Green Quad Day By Jacqui Nguyen Staff Writer
In celebration of Earth Day, RSOs and community groups with a focus on sustainability gathered for “Green Quad Day” on Friday. The Student Sustainability Leadership Council facilitated the event, which resembles the University’s Quad Day at the start of the fall semester. The organizations ranged from the Beekeeping Club to the Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment. Besides celebrating Earth Day, the organizations showed students the many ways they can help keep the environment clean. Maddie Burke, senior in LAS and president of the Beekeeping Club, said the club informed students about the importance of bees. “We want to create a fun outlet for people to not only see how cool bees are, but also educate people on how important pollinators are for the environment,” Burke said. The Beekeeping Club was founded in 2017 and currently has three hives around campus that members check on. During check-ins, members participate in hands-on beekeeping where they harvest honey, some of which was given out during Green Quad Day. “There’s an incredible amount of things that bees do for us, and they provide so many necessities for the environment,” Burke said. “So, it’s really cool to be able to house honeybees and educate people about the importance of pollinators.” At Green Quad Day, students could sign up to participate in environmental research with iSEE. iSEE has been a hub for sustainability on campus and hosts a variety of different programs, classes and research with the goal of becoming a global model for sustainability. One initiative iSEE was involved in creating was the Illinois Climate Action Plan, also known as iCAP. The main goal of iCAP is to follow the University’s plan to be carbon neutral by 2050. April Wendling, communications specialist with iSEE, said the institute tries to make information about the environment accessible to all students. “We host a series of classes for students to put the data we get from the environment into writing that people want to read,” Wendling said. “A lot of people read about the environment,
IRENE MARIA BOGUSZ THE DAILY ILLINI
The Beekeeping Club participates in Green Quad Day on Earth Day, Friday, April 22. Many other RSOs and community groups gathered to bring awareness to climate protection. and sometimes it is too depressing or too dense to read. So, we publish our students’ work in our magazine every semester to make reading about climate change more digestible.” Some organizations also used Green Quad Day as an opportunity to remind the University of what they can do for the environment. The Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter at the University is an organization dedicated to advocating for the needs of workers and students. This semester, the YDSA has focused on pushing the University to divest from fossil fuel companies. Diego Lopez, freshman in LAS and member of the YDSA, said the club wanted to help spread awareness about the importance of divesting from fossil fuels. “We’re demanding the University stops investing in fossil fuels and start investing in students,” Lopez said.
“Especially with Earth Day happening, it’s a really important time to get the word out.” The Studens for Environmental Concerns was among the groups honoring Earth Day. On Friday, the organization held a climate strike in which protestors marched from Alma Mater to Foellinger Auditorium. Aside from celebrating the Earth, the organization wanted to remind University officials of previous demands made to address climate change. For the past decade, the organization has been working to hold the University accountable to the Illinois Climate Action Plan. They have also been facilitating the University’s divestment from fossil fuel companies. Shallon Malfeo, senior in LAS and president of SECS, spoke about the accomplishments the organization has made so far, including their collaboration with other student organiza-
tions to write a comprehensive letter to the University’s administration that demanded divestment from fossil fuel companies. They were also involved in the creation of Solidarity Gardens C-U, a collaborative project aimed at reducing food insecurity in the community. Regarding future projects, SECS has been working toward building a green rooftop on campus. They have been continuing to raise awareness about climate change. “I’m proud to be here celebrating our hard work, and it gives me hope that this movement is growing,” Malfeo said. “Wherever your passions lie in environmentalism, your efforts do matter, whether that be art, music, poetry, farming, engineering, city planning and design, passion and hope is what drives us to keep going.” jnguye75@dailyillini.com
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LIFE & CULTURE
The DI · Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Yung Gravy whips up the sauce at Spring Jam By Matt Troher and Nicole Littlefield Assistant Features Editor and Contributing Writer
All aboard the gravy train! Next stop: Champaign. Sunday afternoon, State Farm Center, usually home to the Illini basketball team, became home to a different type of player — Minnesota rapper and self-proclaimed MILF-connoisseur Yung Gravy. With Gravy’s arrival to Champaign-Urbana, Spring Jam, an annual free concert held on the Main Quad, returned to campus after a two-year hiatus. Previous years’ concerts featured artists such as Lil Yachty, Post Malone, T-Pain and B.o.B. Since dropping his debut single “Mr. Clean” in 2016, Gravy has been producing a steady output of eclectic, groovy material, taking inspiration from contemporary hip-hop, SoundCloud trap, ’50s soul and ’60s doo-wop. Although Gravy was scheduled to perform on the Main Quad like past Spring Jam artists, this year’s show was moved inside State Farm Center due to rain. Spring Jam was held in part by Star Course — an RSO dedicated to organizing and promoting concerts throughout the school year. In November 2021, Star Course sent out a survey asking students to vote for their favorite acts from a long list of artists. According to Corey Elliott, senior in Media and the senior manager for Star Course, Gravy was the most popular choice by a wide margin. “When we saw that the most students wanted him, we kind
SYDNEY LAPUT THE DAILY ILLINI
Rapper Yung Gravy speaks to the audience before performing his song ªOopsº during the Spring Jam at State Farm Center on Sunday. Gravy performed many other of his hits, such as ªMr. Cleanº and ªGravy Train.º of responded,” Elliott said. “Then, we also saw he fit in our price range and we could grab him in terms of routing. It all worked out.” Elliott said Gravy was the obvious choice since he was the highest-voted artist. “It was just kind of a no brainer at that point because it’s like, when you see what everyone wants ... you’ll want to bring that artist,” Elliott said. “When it just happens to fall into place, you can’t pass that up.” Following an opening set by DJ Overkast, a student performer selected by Star Course, Gravy took the Spring Jam stage donned in an all-black Burberry outfit accented by a plaid scarf. During the show, he took off the outfit and scarf to reveal a half-buttoned button-down Hawaiian shirt. Gravy performed a variety of songs throughout his nearly hour-long set, including fan favorites “Mr. Clean” and “1 Thot 2 Thot Red Thot Blue Thot.” Gravy closed with his most
well-known song, “Oops,” which currently has over 91 million plays on Spotify. Even some of Gravy’s lesser-known songs had fans in the crowd singing along to every word. Jack Miller, senior in LAS and self-described Yung Gravy superfan, said he was excited to see the rapper perform. “I had the highest of expectations because I view Yung Gravy as a toptier artist, and the show absolutely lived up to my expectations,” Miller said. “My favorite part of the show today was when he told me to put my hands in the air.” Yung Gravy and his DJ, DJ Tiiiiiiiiiip, seemed to enjoy telling the crowd to put their hands in the air. The pair would often use it as a metric to decide what side of the crowd was more hyped. Throughout his set, Gravy periodically threw various items into the crowd, including water bottles, T-shirts, multiple boxes of Froot Loops, towels, Zebra Cakes and a Lunchables. Mari
Yamashita, freshman in Engineering, caught one of the Zebra Cakes while standing near the back of the crowd. “I had no idea it was coming this far back and I was so excited when it landed in my hands,” Yamashita said. “There are two options for what I can do with it: save it forever or eat it right away.” For many students in attendance, Gravy’s performance was their first Spring Jam due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jolene Morgan, senior in LAS, attended her first Spring Jam and said Gravy’s performance exceeded her expectations. “I knew a few of his songs before coming — like maybe half of his stuff — but I had so much fun,” Morgan said. “It was super lit and everyone was hyped. It was super fun when everyone thought he was done but he came back out.” mtroher2@dailyillini.com nicolel4@dailyillini.com
The DI · Wednesday, April 20, 2022
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UI conference to address anti-Asian racism `Asian America Otherwise' to take place May 6 and 7 at cultural center By Vivian La Assistant News Editor
The Department of Asian American Studies and the Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory will be hosting a conference centered on anti-Asian racism next week on May 6 and 7. The conference will represent the culmination of a year-long effort to bring attention to issues impacting Asian Americans. According to Susan Koshy, the director for the Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory and a conference organizer, the conference’s name will be “Asian America Otherwise,” which refers to how society should imagine things differently in terms of criticisms and responses to racial issues. “It’s really to spark conversation, discussion and questions,” Koshy said. “It will also create a space for people to come and share ideas.” Koshy said the conference will be an opportunity to learn from the racial violence that has occurred since the start of the pandemic such as the murder of George Floyd, the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color and the Atlanta Spa Shootings. “It’s not just that people were reacting and mobilizing, but also what we are seeing is a sort of ‘explosion’ type of thinking — creative work, a public statement and various other kinds of expressions — by Asian Americans who felt there’s a real need to respond in new ways,” Koshy said. Another goal of the conference is to give Asian Americans in the campus community a space to share personal stories and shape education. “These conversations and knowledge about anti-Asian racism is primarily something that Asian Americans often share with each other,” Koshy said. “However, that conversation and knowledge have been sequestered, compartmentalized and kept outside of broader conversations about racism.” Koshy also said addressing that problem will require recognition of how such complex racial issues cannot be solved from just one perspective. Instead, it will require an intersectional approach with other minority
JAMES HOECK THE DAILY ILLINI
A banner for the Asian American Cultural Center hangs inside the entrance of the building. The Department of Asian American Studies and the Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory will be hosting a conference called ªAsian America Otherwiseº on May 6 and 7.
“These conversations and knowledge about anti-Asian racism is primarily something that Asian Americans have and often share with each other.”
“There’s a way these issues just kind of come and go, and we don’t have enough time to really process the range of issues that we’re facing.”
Susan Koshy, professor of Asian American Studies
Junaid Rana, head of the Department of Asian American Studies
groups, genders and classes. Using intersectionality, the conference organizers have picked scholars affiliated with institutions all over the country to speak. One speaker will be Ronak Kapadia, an associate professor of gender and women’s studies at the University of Illinois at Chica-
go. Kapadia will discuss how queer and transgender people of color have contributed to frameworks regarding healing and justice. Intersectionality has been one of Kapadia’s interests as a scholar, and he said he is always thinking about the overlapping systems of power that
shape lives. “That’s always been the question: Who are the folks most impacted and the most harmed?” Kapadia said. “How can we learn from the genius, the wisdom, the creative, artistic and activist practices of people who are marginalized?” According to Junaid Rana, the head of the Department of Asian American Studies, the conference will be a culmination, not an endpoint, of questions that organizers have been asking in their year-long speaker series, “In Plain Sight”. “In Plain Sight” has aimed to combat the lack of awareness about antiAsian racism and also proposed new ways to address current problems. Speakers of “In Plain Sight” included authors Cathy Park Hong and Erin Khuê Ninh, whose speeches have been important in giving context to issues impacting Asian Americans today, according to Rana. “There’s a way these issues just kind of come and go, and we don’t have enough time to really process the range of issues that we’re facing,” Rana said. “How can we think about that, not only as something just now or contemporary, but what’s the history of this?” According to a press release, the speaker series was funded by the Chancellor’s Call to Action to Address Systemic Racism and Social Injustice Research Program, a $2 million annual commitment “to respond to the critical need for universities across our nation to prioritize research focused on systemic racial inequities and injustices.” Organizers for the upcoming conference said they’re most excited to explore new ideas and hear what people have to say. “The energy of a conference is about the newness of ideas, how the ideas can spark conversations and how they can go a particular way,” Rana said. “I, as a scholar, thrive off of that, and that kind of energy is what I live for.” Koshy said there is a lot of strength in the diversity of Asian Americans, which can become a “creative energy” to drive change. “There’s no fixed way to think about what it means to be Asian American,” she said. “At the core of the identity is the struggle for justice, not just for Asian Americans, but I think for everyone.” vla2@dailyillini.com
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The DI · Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Yingying Zhang's story still resonates on UI campus By JP Legarte and Aditya Sayal Investigative News and Longform Editor and Assistant Investigative News and Longform Editor
Yingying Zhang arrived at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in April 2017 as an international student and a visiting scholar. After graduating, she was planning on marrying her fiancé and returning to China to become a teacher. However, in June 2017, Zhang was raped and murdered by Brendt Christensen when he lured her to his car and took her back to his apartment. Two years after the murder, there was a vigil and fund to honor her and assist international students and their families. In a previous article published by the Daily Illini on Aug. 19, 2019, her family discussed setting up Yingying’s Fund because they wanted to honor Zhang’s willingness to help others and to give back to the campus community. Five years later, Zhang is still remembered in other ways. Her death is part of a greater conversation about campus safety for Asian Americans. “The scariest thing or the thing that stood out to me the most was the fact that she was at the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Samantha Boyle, graduate student and former editor for The Daily Illini who covered Zhang’s story. Boyle discussed how events like the violence against Zhang still occur and wondered what tangible steps could be taken to tackle the issue. While news stories focused on the actual crime, Boyle emphasized the importance of remembering that Zhang and other victims of similar violence were human beings who had families. Jiayan “Jenny” Shi is a video journalist and documentary filmmaker that created the documentary “Finding Yingying” which explores who Zhang was as an individual and the journey of Zhang’s family as they sought justice for her murder. Shi discussed the stereotypes surrounding not only international students but also Asian and Asian American women. “I feel like, in mainstream culture, again people still have a sort of stereotype of Asian women,” Shi said. “Even in mainstream media, when we see an Asian woman, we don’t really see that person as someone who has power.” After the documentary was released, Shi had conversations with other filmmakers that focused on the representations of Asians and Asian Americans in media. Shi further explained that Asian and Asian American women are often
PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRENCE ANTONIO JAMES/CHICAGO TRIBUNE/TNS
Yingying Zhang's father, Ronggao Zhang (far left), speaks at a press conference in Peoria on June 24, 2019, as Dr. Kim Yee and Yingying's brother, Zhengyang Zhang, console Zhang's mother, Lifeng Ye. seen in more supportive, passive roles. Shi emphasized how Zhang broke away from stereotypes surrounding Asian and Asian American women, highlighting the inaccuracy that accompanies these stereotypes. “She was such a powerful woman,” Shi said. “It’s exactly the opposite to the stereotype that a lot of people had about Asian women, so I think that’s why we really wanted to highlight her (and) introduce her to the audience.” Shi said the documentary can play an important role in changing the understanding of Asian women. “It’s really helpful to create a kind of neutral understanding and to reduce misunderstanding of Asian women,” Shi said. When reflecting on how Zhang and other victims of violence can continue to be remembered and honored, Shi discussed how news coverage focused on minorities and people of color needs to improve through more accurately reporting their names and through restructuring the
way narratives are told. According to Shi, the restructuring happens when more personal stories are told, highlighting how individuals would not know much about who Yingying was if they didn’t hear her or her family’s personal stories. Shi said sometimes the personal stories involve learning from tragedy and, ultimately, remembering that these personal stories help remind others that these victims had lives of their own. Shi said it was important for her documentary to humanize Zhang. “To me, it was really important to highlight who Yingying was,” Shi said. “The mainstream crime story narrative is really investigation-heavy and also focused on the perpetrator, but sometimes we forget about people left behind (in) those tragedies, so that’s why I wanted to tell a story on Yingying and her family.” As she talked with Zhang’s family and other individuals who knew Zhang, Shi discovered that Zhang was not only tal-
ented and hardworking but also a pillar in different communities. “Just based on how her friends, her colleagues and her parents and family members described her, I feel like she was a very talented, promising young scientist,” Shi said. “She was also a very good friend, and she was good at many things other than studying (and) research. She was a singer in a band when she was in college. She always smiled, and she always brought happiness to everyone around her.” Boyle also described how motivated Zhang was for school, and she mentioned that Zhang wrote down many optimistic quotes in her journal. Shi referenced that one of the most challenging parts of creating the documentary was that the documentary would tell a sad story. Others had to be convinced Zhang’s story was worth telling, and once the process of creating the documentary started, Shi also had to consider how much of the actual crime to include. While a key goal of the documentary was to provide a holistic picture of Yingying and how much her life impacted others, Shi wanted to spark a conversation focused on international students, dispel stereotypes that surround them and increase support and safety for them. “I’m just hoping that the University can really think about how they can better support international students, their life in the U.S. and also specifically think about campus safety,” Shi said. “I think that’s another thing we thought about in terms of what kind of impact we want to create after the film was released.” According to Shi, the timing of the documentary’s release was also appropriate and important considering the cultural and political climate of the nation at the time of the release. “I think we released the film in a perfect time because we released the film in 2020, and that was the time during a very strong anti-Asian sentiment and also COVID,” Shi said. “I think we just really need a film to show who we are. Shi said as time goes on, it’s important that the media continues to spark conversation about honor Zhang’s legacy. “Doing news coverage, telling the story again after almost five years — it’s still something good,” Shi said. “We are (remembering) her and honoring her life.” jlegar4@dailyillini.com asayal2@dailyillini.com
The DI · Wednesday, April 27, 2022
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Celebrating the roots of UI cherry blossoms By Nicole Littlefield Contributing Writer
In the spring every year, students and C-U community members go to see the pink and white Japanese cherry blossoms bloom at the Japan House. However, not many are aware of the history behind the University’s trees. In Japanese culture, cherry blossoms are called “sakura,” which symbolize a time of renewal, birth and death. Diana Liao, an education associate for the Japan House, explained the significance of the cherry blossom trees to the University and Japanese culture. “In Japanese culture, the charm of cherry blossoms is their fleeting quality which reminds us of the impermanence of life and how to appreciate the present,” Liao said in an email. “Usually, they can blossom from as early as late March through April, and if we’re lucky, blossoms can still be spotted in early May.” The goal of the Japan House his to teach traditional Japanese arts and culture primarily through a Japanese tea ceremony, or “chod.” Tea ceremonies were where the University sakura trees planted their roots. In 1998, the Urasenke Foundation and the foundation’s 15th head, Dr. Genshitsu Sen, donated three traditional Japanese tea rooms to the Japan House. Japanese master carpenter, Seiji Suzuki, was sent by the Urasenke Foundation to install the tea rooms. When Dr. Sen returned for the Japan House’s 10th anniversary in 2008, he mentioned to the former house’s director, Kimiko Gunji, that having more greenery would promote a more tranquil environment. According to Liao, the Japan House only consisted of a dry rock garden and a tea garden. So, to fulfill his vision, Dr. Sen donated 50 cherry blossoms. Three types of trees were donated: Yoshino, Sargent and weeping. “Real sakura trees tend to be specially grown in nurseries then transported to be planted at arboretums and botanical gardens,” Liao said. “It was such an incredible gift from Dr. Sen and the (Urasenke Foundation) to offer not just a couple of sakura trees, but 50.” With the help of Dr. Sen’s gardener, Katsuo Kubo, the cherry blossoms were planted, and the Sen Cherry Tree Allée — a tree canopy — was created. Cherry blossoms are not common in the area nor suited for the harsh win-
Students and community members pack the walkways and green spaces at the University Arboretum on April 16.
“In Japanese culture, the charm of cherry blossoms is their fleeting quality, which reminds us of the impermanence of life and how to appreciate the present.” Diana Liao, Japan House education associate ters of the Midwest. So every year, it is a gamble when the trees will bloom. This year, the sakura trees bloomed in mid-April. “Since then, we see thousands of visitors come through each year to enjoy the flowers and view of the gardens,” Liao said. “They’ve come quite
SIDNEY MALONE THE DAILY ILLINI
a long way since their planting, and are quite large now.” Erin Han, freshman in LAS, visited the Japan House for the second time on Friday. She said previously, she missed the sakura tree’s prime. “(The first time), we came too late in the year,” Han said. “We were going to look at the plants and stuff, but everything was dead. This visit has been much nicer. It’s warmer, so that’s good.” Similarly, Gouri Vinod, junior in Engineering, also visited the Japan House with friends. “It’s very pretty,” Vinod said. “We were planning on having a picnic here and just look at the cherry blossoms. We are also planning on taking a few photos.” nicolel4@dailyillini.com
SYDNEY LAPUT THE DAILY ILLINI
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The DI · Wednesday, April 27, 2022
The DI · Wednesday, April 27, 2022
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Sri Lankan students protest for reforms Local community shows solidarity with anti-government protests in homeland By Dayae Lee Assistant News Editor
ALEXIS RAMIREZ THE DAILY ILLINI
California passes China for nonresident enrollment University says high acceptance rate pushed incoming class to 8,303 By Royal Shrestha Assistant News Editor
For the 2021-2022 academic year, the University saw an increase in outof-state enrollment, with the number of new enrollments from California now outnumbering those from China, which used to be the University’s largest source of nonresident students. The University’s enrollment goal for new students in the 2021-2022 academic year was 7,700 students, but in actuality, 8,303 students ended up enrolling, according to a presentation given to the University Senate Admissions Committee in March 2022. This was due to an increase in the
number of students coming from resident and nonresident states as well as international countries. Dan Mann, the associate provost for Enrollment Management, said much of the unexpected increase in the number of enrolled students was due to a higher than anticipated yield rate — the rate of accepted students who decide to commit to the University — compared to previous years. “Yield rates were just much higher than anticipated,” Mann said. “Probably most people would not have anticipated that, given that we had no on-campus visits. We were doing everything virtually and we were still in the middle of a pandemic.” Of the 603 additional students that enrolled in the University, 355 of them were from other states such as California, which accounted for 136 of those students. “The place where we saw the larg-
est increase in applications was with nonresident applications in California,” Mann said. “I think more Californian students applied because the Common App was something available to them.” Although actual yield rates were higher than expected for international countries, there was a decrease in the number of enrolled Chinese students in 2021 compared to 2020. Still, the University saw an increase in international students coming from countries like India and South Korea. Mann also noted that most of the other Big Ten universities, including the University of Michigan and Purdue, also experienced a higher enrollment due to an unexpected increase in yield rates. Moving forward, the University now has three ways students can apply for admissions: the Common App, Coalition App and the myIllini website.
David Zhao, freshman in LAS, said he believes this unexpected influx in nonresident and resident enrollment will self-correct as the University collects more data on the newly implemented Common App and as the University intentionally reduced the size of the incoming class. “I expect that much of the growth was due to the pandemic where Chinese students were less interested in going abroad,” Zhao said. “Also the fact that the University went testoptional probably pushed a lot of students to apply that normally wouldn’t.” Mann said the University has already seen an increase in the number of nonresident and international applications but will closely monitor admittance so that enrollment remains within the bounds of University resources. royals2@dailyillini.com
On the afternoon of April 3, around 20-30 members of the Sri Lankan community on campus gathered on the Main Quad to protest the actions of the Sri Lankan government and show solidarity with similar protests occurring in Sri Lanka and elsewhere. “We decided as people — Sri Lankans who are in other countries — we should also protest to show solidarity with our fellow citizenry in Sri Lanka.” said Anjana Samarakoon, graduate student studying electrical and computer engineering and one of the protest organizers. Samith Sirimanna, graduate stu- Protesters hold signs in front of the Alma Mater statue after marching on the Main Quad on April 3. They call for the resignation of the president dent studying electrical and comput- of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa while also showing support for the people within Sri Lanka. er engineering who helped organize the protest with Samarakoon, said the Sri Lankan “community here is very “In parallel to those close,” which allowed them to organize the protest quickly, on the same protests in Sri Lanka, day it took place. The protest coincides with demonwe wanted to show strations in Sri Lanka calling for the support and solidarity resignation of the country’s current president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa. with our people . . . “In parallel to those protests in Sri Lanka, we wanted to show support and The community here solidarity with our people,” Sirimanna said. is very close, and it’s According to Sirimanna, the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the already very small also.” unstable economy in Sri Lanka, which led to shortages. In 2021, the governSamith Sirimanna ment declared an economic crisis, and later that year, a food emergency. Graduate student in electrical “(Sri Lankans) did not have fuel, so they could not fill up their vehicles PHOTO COURTESY OF ANJANA SAMARAKOON and computer engineering and move around,” Sirimanna said. Protestors walk along the Main Quad in protest for Sri Lanka on April 3. “And the other thing is they did not have local food to buy because there people came to power. They ended the organized a huge protest in Sri LanSamarakoon and his friends made a civil war, but then they started this ka in every city,” Samarakoon said. WhatsApp group chat as they individuwas a food shortage.” Sirimanna attributed the crisis to corrupted governance.” “This was not organized by a politi- ally contacted potential participants. the Sri Lankan government, specifiAs the protests intensified in Sri cal party. They themselves, through “We asked them to come, and everycally President Rajapaksa, for “cor- Lanka, government imposed a week- social media, started talking indepen- one came,” Samarakoon said. “Sri rupt governance,” which led to “a lev- end curfew and tried to take down dently. This is an independent protest, Lankans wanted to come. But when el that inflation was increasing over social media posts regarding the pro- not against a political party.” it comes to my department, I did not tests. The government also introduced The Sri Lankan community in the specifically ask. I just told them we the roof.” “His family basically has been run- an emergency law that allowed citi- U.S. participated in the protest move- are doing something and then they ning the country since like 15 years zens to be arrested without a warrant ment as well, organizing events on came just to show support.” now,” Sirimanna said. “It started with or a reason, according to Samarakoon. social media like the one on the Main the civil war in Sri Lanka, and these “On April 3, people in Sri Lanka Quad, according to Samarakoon. dlee256@dailyillini.com
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OPINIONS
The DI · Wednesday, April 27, 2022
EDITORIAL
SEBASTIAN HOLT THE DAILY ILLINI
Anti-Asian violence remains overlooked By The Daily Illini Editorial Board Last month marks the first anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings, in which eight people across three Atlanta spas were fatally shot—six of whom were Asian women. The suspect in the shootings, who claims he wanted to “eliminate his temptation” around massage parlors, awaits his trial this fall and seeks to avoid the death penalty. Though many continue to debate whether the incident should be classified as a hate crime, it is nearly impossible to deny there were underlying racist motivations behind the shootings. As we look back and honor the victims of this horrific incident, it is important to recognize the significant rise in anti-Asian violence since the beginning of the pandemic. Nearly 11,000 hate incidents have occurred against Asian American and Pacific
Islander individuals from March 2020 to December 2021, according to Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit organization that records documented instances of violence. At the beginning of the pandemic, many organizations such as Stop AAPI Hate took to social media to bring awareness to this increase in violence against Asian Americans, which was barely covered by traditional media outlets. This anti-Asian hate movement, labeled by #StopAsianHate, peaked on social media immediately following the Atlanta spa shootings. And as the pandemic is coming to an end, it seems the social media movements have halted as well. However, violence against Asian Americans has not. This past February, a man attacked seven Asian American women on the streets of Manhattan, injuring six and leaving the other unconscious. Two
weeks prior, an Asian American woman in New York City was followed to her apartment and stabbed to death. There was little to no coverage of these incidents, which highlights how performative the movement was overall. Although #StopAsianHate began with good intentions to spread awareness, the movement ultimately fell far from the mark. On one hand, the hashtag was a cesspool of traumatizing videos of violence against Asian Americans without content warnings. This served to help no one — it merely amplified the fear felt by Asian Americans that were subjected to seeing this violence on their feed and dehumanized the victims of these harrowing instances. On the other, equally unhelpful hand, many social media “activists” simply reposted #StopAsianHate on their Instagram Stories — which sometimes
contained just the hashtag and offered no additional resources — and might as well have been the equivalent of screaming into the void. This is not to say that social media activism has no redeeming qualities. Instagram is a great way to donate to local charities, support other people within your community and educate others. But ultimately, social media movements often end up being shallow and provide little help to communities that are in need. Venture outside of social media — take a class on the history of anti-Asian violence at the University or volunteer at the Asian American Cultural Center. Look beyond the infographics — start looking for active ways to support Asian American communities around you. opinions@dailyillini.com
OPINIONS
The DI · Wednesday, April 27, 2022
11
Model minority myth minimizes Asian American ordeals RAYNA WUH ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR
The model minority myth is a misconceived narrative that characterizes all Asian Americans as intelligent, industrious and obedient people. The stereotype falsely suggests Asian Americans exemplify the so-called “American dream” and hails the group as living proof that hard work alone is sufficient for success and acceptance. While the traits associated with the myth are seemingly positive, in reality, its destructive effects are multifold. The term “Asian American” itself was first publicly coined in 1968 by activists Emma Gee and Yuji Ichioka as a way to build a coalition and unite in the fight for greater equality. However, the use of such an umbrella term is a doubleedged sword. On the one hand, it is a way to find solidarity and acknowledge shared experiences. My identification as Asian American is distinct from my Japanese and Chinese ethnic background. While I embrace the latter aspects of my identity separately, being a proud Asian American has allowed me to connect and share with others whose ethnicities are not necessarily the same as my own. On the other hand, the term can also play into generalizations and present the group as a monolith. Over the years, I have personally heard variations of the joke that “all Asians are the same” countless times. This statement could not be further from the truth. The categorization encompasses over 20 ethnicities comprises a diverse set of people. Yet, stereotypes are taken and applied universally across Asian Americans. The model minority myth, which has now been repeated for over 50 years, is among the most pervasive. In a 2021 survey by the nonprofit Leading Asian Americans to Unite for Change, respondents were asked to list three adjectives to describe Asian Americans. As a whole, 19.4% of Americans answered “intelligent” or “smart,” while 9.3% answered “hardworking.” Among Asian Americans, 19.3% answered “intelligent” or “smart” and 13.3% answered “hardworking.” This consistency illustrates that the stereotypical views aligned with the myth are not only external, but are also internalized within the Asian American community itself. The demand to
ANGELICA ORDONEZ THE DAILY ILLINI
fit such a narrow standard is an unreasonable ask. The fact that these stereotypes are masked as compliments or praise makes the myth that much more insidious. Experiences that deviate from the expectation are then erased or invalidated as failures. Thus, the fear of being anything but perfect can manifest in extreme responses. I recently had the opportunity to speak on the local NPR station along with erin Khuê Ninh, associate professor in the Department of Asian American Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara and author of “Passing for Perfect: College Imposters and Other Model Minorities” about the relationship between the concept of the model minority and the pressure to be perfect. In both her book and the segment, Ninh highlights the issue through the examination of outliers. She dives into case studies of college imposters who were so overwhelmed by their need to succeed that they resorted to drastic measures. Azia Kim impersonated a Stanford
freshman, going so far as to live on campus and attend classes. Jennifer Pan hired a hitman to kill her parents after they discovered she had never received a high school diploma. Through these heartbreaking stories, Ninh explores systemic reasons to explain the actions of individuals. She argues that demands to meet the model minority standard are embedded into the Asian American identity and played a large role in the making of such illogical decisions. This tendency still rings true in less extreme situations. Despite receiving extensive familial support and being taught by my parents that failure is not only ok but also encouraged, my own inability to accept anything less than “perfection” has only grown. A combination of external expectations tied to stereotypes about my identity and my internalization of them contributes to extreme feelings of dread, fear and worry. Such feelings persist even when I know where they are coming from and can rationally conclude that “failure” is not as ruinous as it appears.
Understanding the difficulties of facing demands of perfection among Asian Americans requires recognition of the persisting effects of being viewed as a model minority. The model minority is not a myth in the sense that it is not real; the consequences of perpetuating it are tangible and damaging. What makes the notion of the model minority a myth is its disregard for individual experiences. The oversimplified and generalized statements contained in the myth fail to capture the reality of a complex and diverse set of people. The classification of Asian Americans is extremely broad, and while we can find solidarity based on shared experiences within the group, it is just as if not more important to consider and validate individual experiences as well. Dismantling the myth calls for the acknowledgment of both shared and individual experiences so we can tell the whole story — not just a misrepresented sliver of it. Rayna is a sophomore in LAS. rwuh2@dailyillini.com
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OPINIONS
The DI · Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Amazon Labor Union sets precedent for workers EDDIE RYAN SENIOR COLUMNIST
Coverage of noteworthy events, particularly when those events are deviant or mold-breaking, is usually laced with cliches. How often have we heard of a movement lauded as “grassroots,” or triumphed as a ‘Cinderella story?’ Such is the case with the recent unionization of an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, which established the Amazon Labor Union, the first in American history. Of greatest importance is the true grassroots character of the workers’ campaign. In contrast to other unionization efforts, including an ongoing battle in Bessemer, Alabama, to form another Amazon union, workers at the JFK8 warehouse declined to enlist the support of established unions. This achievement belongs to these workers — local people who, long-suffering under inhumane and oppressive labor conditions, caught a glimpse of the power of organizing and pursued it. Christian Smalls, oranizer of the union, gave the campaign its initial propelling thrust. After inquiring about the warehouse’s lack of COVID-19 safety precautions early in the pandemic, Smalls — a worker who had not tested positive for the virus — was dubiously placed in quarantine by Amazon. After breaking quarantine to lead demonstrations outside the warehouse calling for adequate COVID-19 protections, Smalls was promptly fired. This spurred Smalls and Derrick Palmer, another JFK8 worker, to launch a bold unionization drive in pursuit of better pay, benefits and safety for workers. This win reaffirmed what many already knew — Amazon abuses its workers and those workers have the right to unionize. What’s more, the Amazon Labor Union succeeded by returning to the fundamentals of labor organizing. The strength of American labor unions has dropped precipitously since the mid20th century, and Amazon has done its best to bludgeon organized labor even deeper into decline since the company was founded. A routinely deployed array of union-busting tactics has insulated Amazon from labor’s demands for over twenty years. These tactics include: giving out antiunion materials for managers to disseminate, launching propaganda campaigns in which unions are wrongly labeled
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREA RENAULT/AFP/TNS
Union organizer Christian Smalls speaks following a vote for the unionization of the Amazon Staten Island warehouse in New York on April 1. “third parties” and holding “captive audience” meetings where workers are made to listen to anti-union lectures from management. This is not to mention outright illegal actions like hiring Pinkerton agents — the violent strike-busting henchmen of America’s robber-baron era — to surveil workers trying to unionize. Amazon largely relied on this standard playbook during the JFK8 campaign. Nevertheless, the workers deftly thwarted the company’s efforts to defame and deny them. Management sold workers lies about the union’s intentions and miscast it as a “third party” rather than a representative body made up of the workers themselves. They plastered warehouse walls with signs reading “Your voice. Your vote. Vote no” before the unionization vote — a move described as “childish” by one employee. Management also ran numerous captive audience meetings at JFK8. Racism pervaded Amazon’s suppression of the union as well. The company apparently thought it could kill the movement by publicizing Smalls’ role in it. One executive called him “not smart or articulate” and said that Amazon should try to
make him the face of the budding union. Smalls, who is Black, embraced the idea and led the organizing effort with admirable charisma and savvy. It shouldn’t come as a surprise when Amazon’s tactics start looking dystopian, either. Citing the supposed risks of allowing “free text” on an internal messaging app for workers — namely, that workers might foster a “negative associate experience” with their complaints — the company created an “auto bad word monitor.” If implemented, this feature would censor anyone who attempted to write a word or phrase included in the list of banned speech. Those who study the list might discover with amusement that it inadvertently censors a lot of speech Amazon presumably favors — “I hate unions,” for instance — an irony likely lost on execs. In response, the ALU got creative. Organizers talked to workers at the bus stop in the morning, informing them of the union’s goals. They had a counter presence at every captive audience session, making their side of the debate known and even dialing back on boisterous disruptive tactics when they sensed this approach rubbed workers the wrong
way. Most importantly, the ALU ran a transparent, human-centered operation. These workers committed to the gritty work of educating one another and building solidarity, and did so without establishment resources. Therein lies the revolutionary potential of this victory, perhaps the germ of a resurgence for American labor. Corporate executives and labor leaders alike are debating the implications of the ALU’s win. It is, after all, a veritable “Cinderella story.” JFK8’s success could prove difficult to replicate, and Amazon unions in general face a different set of challenges than workers at companies like Starbucks, where it’s a matter of unionizing a café rather than a large warehouse of employees. Regardless of these uncertainties, the ALU served us all an important reminder: Return to the fundamentals of organizing, and do so with compassion and creativity. Their approach should inspire all activists fighting for workers’ rights today. Eddie is a junior in LAS. ecryan2@dailyillini.com
BUZZ
The DI · Wednesday, April 27, 2022
PHOTO COURTESY OF JP GOGUEN
Jose Jazz performs during an evening at the Rose Bowl Tavern. Slavic Reference Service will be hosting a concert at the Rose Bowl Tavern on April 30 to raise money for Doctors Without Borders.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF JP GOGUEN
Kurt Bielema performs an evening gig at the Red Bowl Tavern.
Rose Bowl Tavern hosts benefit concert for Ukraine By Carolina Garibay Staff Writer
It’s been about two months since Russian troops invaded Ukraine, starting what some outlets have called the biggest war in Europe since World War II. The events unfolding in Ukraine over the past few months led to protests and other efforts of awareness raising throughout the world, including here in Champaign-Urbana, from student protests to sunflower billboards. The support for Ukraine continues to this day, especially through music. On April 30, the Slavic Reference Service at the University is teaming up with the Rose Bowl Tavern to host a benefit concert to raise donations for Doctors Without Borders. The apolitical, international humanitarian medical organization provides medical assistance to people in areas affected by conflict and endemic diseases. Joe Lenkart, manager of the Slavic Reference Service, said the idea for a benefit concert came out of a want to directly participate in aiding the humanitarian crisis happening in Ukraine. “We’ve seen this horrible piece of news, that there’s this conflict, and so
we wanted to figure out how we can be helpful,” Lenkart said. For many of the employees who work at the Slavic Reference Service, Lenkart said the war hits close to home, which was even more motivation for the concert. “All of us in the Slavic Reference Service have linkages, either personal or professional, but also, most of us are immigrants,” Lenkart said. “This is deeply personal, and on a personal level, you think about all of that stuff.” On top of the personal connections, Lenkart said he and his colleagues worked directly with Ukrainians when the pandemic started at the service. “It’s important for us to be involved because we get it in high definition — the costs of this,” Lenkart said. “So, that’s our primary reason why we’re involved in this.” He said the concert’s goal is to bring the University campus and Champaign-Urbana community together to support an important cause. “This is a fantastic region that really cares about what happens,” Lenkart said. “So we thought a benefit concert would be the perfect venue to bring all of these various groups together in a centrally located place, which is the Rose Bowl.” Katherine Ashcraft, pre-professional graduate assistant at the Slav-
ic Reference Service, said the concert also allows the service to reach not only Ukrainians but people all over the world — Doctors Without Borders houses humanitarian projects in over 72 countries. “We were thinking about what is probably most needed right now, and we also wanted to have an effort that was not just going toward Ukraine but other people suffering humanitarian crises as well,” Ashcraft said. She said through this event, the service aims to educate others about ways they can help, as well as directly contribute to helping those in at-risk situations. “Our ultimate goal here is really to raise some awareness of actions we can take and also hopefully raise some money for the cause,” Ashcraft said. For Jan Adamczyk, senior library specialist at the Slavic Reference Service, holding this concert allowed him to feel like he has even a small impact on an issue that’s so huge. “It’s almost for selfish reasons,” Adamcyzk said. “(Does it) make me feel like I’m doing something? Sure. The little effort of spreading the word is miniscule, but it’s easier for me to watch the news knowing that I did a little bit of something.” Members of the Champaign-Urbana community made it clear they care
about the humanitarian crisis happening in Champaign, too. Olga Makarova, graduate assistant at the Slavic Reference Service, said soon after reaching out to artists, she received enthusiastic responses, all of them more than happy to perform. “I was very pleasantly surprised how many were eager to help,” Makarova said. “We had to choose and prioritize some of the bands, unfortunately, and were not able to accommodate everyone who responded and was eager to perform and share their talents.” She said she hopes bringing friends and familiar faces together will create a more comfortable, encouraging environment for attendees to donate to the cause, especially considering that it’s been a while since the Slavic Reference Service has been able to host community events due to COVID-19. “Since it feels like we’re kind of recovering well, I think we might be doing more of what we used to do for our community,” Makarova said. The free benefit concert will take place at the Rose Bowl Tavern in Urbana on April 30 from 1-4 p.m. Bands performing include the Church Street Ramblers, Jean-René Balekita, the Klezmer Trio and John Coppess and The Limping Cowboy Band. garibay5@readbuzz.com
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BUZZ
The DI · Wednesday, April 27, 2022
The Powder Room provides safe space for local music fans Female founders of Urbana house show spot hope new tenants keep the bands playing By Marilyn MacLaren Staff Writer
The Powder Room is a new music venue located in Urbana that aspires to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all kinds of fans in the music community. Run by five seniors at the University, the house provides a platform for local bands to showcase their music and for fans to come together and enjoy the atmosphere. The DIY venue was started by seniors Marissa Cowan, Daria Wendell, Sarah Fries, Isabel Cassin and Rose Carroll, all whom had been actively involved in the local music scene since their freshman year. After moving in together, the girls combined their love for the Champaign-Urbana music community by deciding to give running a house show venue a try. Wendell described the house as the “perfect location right in the heart of Urbana and Campustown” to create a welcoming space for every kind of fan. A venue called “The Powder Room” is likely to get a few raised eyebrows. Carrol said she and her family used to watch old movies together, where films such as “The Glass Bottom Boat” would feature characters voicing their visit to the powder room. “It just made me think of how it used to be like a girl’s hangout and a place for girls to go,” Carroll said. “It resembles more than just ‘bathroom,’ you know, a place for females to gather. As an all-female house, we really wanted our name to reflect who we all are.” An unofficial pre-show before the venue opened was held on Nov. 13, with a Punk versus Funk night featuring The Data Waves and Kangaroo Court. After a great turnout, the girls decided it was time for the house to make its debut. The first official show was held on March 25 at 8 p.m. with a variety of bands coming out to introduce the
venue to the community, including New Game, Soft and Dumb, the Knee Hi’s and Kangaroo Court as the grand finale. Wendell described the event as “perfect chaos with all the best kinds of problems,” and Cassin added that the initial reception was “above and beyond” anything the girls had been expecting. There were some difficulties with the transition between the living and entertainment space, but the girls knew how to make it work and devoted plenty of time to prepare the venue for its first show. Wendell described how the seniors “flip the space into what we want it to be” to make room for the band, equipment and plenty of fans. “The fun of it for us is manipulating the space to create the vision that we have,” she said. Because the girls are graduating soon, they’re faced with the challnges of deciding the future of The Powder Room for the rest of the semester. Luckily, people who missed The Powder Room’s debut can look forward to one last big show before summer break. The founders plan to give smaller bands the opportunity to showcase their music. The five seniors have put their heart and soul into their venue, along with all of the help the recieved from friends and musicians put into making the first show a success. “We could not have done this show without the community of Urbana,” Cassin said about the support the group received. “It’s a huge effort, and we could not do it without these people.” The seniors hope The Powder Room will live on, and they have plans to keep it going after graduation with new tenants lined up to continue providing a safe space for the community and the music scene of Champaign-Urbana to thrive. marilyn6@readbuzz.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF @URCREEPER_ INSTAGRAM
Kangaroo Court rocks out during the Powder Room's first official show on March 23.
PHOTO COURTESY OF @URCREEPER_ INSTAGRAM
Attendees dance along with Kangaroo Court's March 23 set at The Powder Room.
SPORTS
The DI · Wednesday, April 27, 2022
15
Illini offense looks promising in spring game Tommy DeVito, Isaiah Williams stand out in OC Lunney's scheme By Josh Pietsch Sports On-Air Editor
It’s very hard to get a read on an offense as a whole during a spring football game. The first team offense plays against second and third-stringers on defense, so you can’t truly tell how good certain players look. However, there are some things that show signs of success, many of which were displayed on the field Thursday night. Starting at the most important position on the field, likely starter senior Quarterback Tommy DeVito looked solid in his first time playing in front of fans at Illinois as quarterback. The transfer QB comes to Champaign after spending four seasons at Syracuse and has one year of eligibility left to play for Illinois. In the game, DeVito completed 16 of his 20 pass attempts for 248 yards and three touchdowns. His touchdown passes were for 25, 21 and 44 yards. He likely would have had another touchdown, one of 50+ yards, had sophomore receiver Isaiah Williams not dropped a pass in the middle of the field. Admittedly, the ball was thrown a little behind him. DeVito looked comfortable, strategic and accurate. For a debut in front of fans, there wasn’t much more you could’ve asked for out of the transfer quarterback. One of his touchdowns was a 25-yard corner route to Williams and another was on an inseam route to sophomore tight end Tip Reiman. We saw some diversity out of DeVito, which is good to see from the likely starter of a quarterback room that has struggled over the last half-decade plus to find talent under center. Speaking of Williams, I really liked what I saw out of the receiver room, specifically from Williams and transfer senior Brian Hightower. Hightower joined the Illini in 2020 after starting his collegiate career at Miami-Ohio and had a decent season. He missed most of 2021 with injuries and is now healthy and preparing for the upcoming season. And, he showed off some of his skill in the spring game. High-
SYDNEY LAPUT THE DAILY ILLINI
Junior running back Chase Brown receives the ball from senior quarterback Tommy DeVito during the first half of the Spring Orange and Blue Game on Thursday. Brown and sophomore running back Josh McCray ran for a combined 174 yards during the game. tower caught four passes for 80 yards and did a bit of everything in terms of route running. I expect him to be a topthree receiver next season along with Williams and junior Casey Washington, who was sidelined due to injury. Williams caught six passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns during the game, looking like the clear number one target for DeVito this year. Williams has so much talent that hasn’t been used properly in past years, but I expect that to change a lot with a new offensive coordinator. I was looking forward to seeing freshman Shawn Miller play, but the early enrollee was also sidelined due to injury. The running back room looks to be picking up where it left off last year, and then some. Junior Chase Brown and sophomore Josh McCray are at the top of the group once again, as the duo combined for 174 yards and three touchdowns during the game. But they aren’t the only ones that looked good in the group. While I was looking forward to watching freshman Aiden Laughery, who was sidelined due to injury, freshman Jordan Anderson proved to be extremely fun to watch in his
place. He was on the Blue team, which was the non-first team, but he still shined. Anderson was active both on the ground and in the air, rushing for 30 yards and a touchdown and also catching a pass for 14 yards which set up the score. The running back room is loaded for Illinois right now, but I think Anderson will definitely be a star for the Illini in the future. The offensive line will need some polishing before the 2022 season kicks off, especially after losing key pieces such as Doug Kramer and Vederian Lowe to eligibility. But, with super senior Alex Palczewski returning, the line should be alright no matter what. Junior Julian Pearl was out, but we still got to see guys like sophomore Isaiah Adams and junior Jordyn Slaughter get some good minutes. I was arguably the most pleased with newly hired offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr., who impressed me with his offensive schemes during the spring game. Now would be a good time to reemphasize that it’s very hard to tell how well an offense will work when watching them compete against backups, but I still really liked the ideas Lunney displayed.
Lunney understands that Illinois’ best offense last year came through the running game, but there are also other weapons to be used. His offense featured a strong run game, which is what he should do considering he has a two-headed monster of Brown and McCray in the backfield. But, there was also a good amount of passing, which he likes to do fast. DeVito got the ball out of his hands quickly, not waiting around for many deep-ball attempts. What I liked most is that Lunney got the ball into the Illini’s best players’ hands. Brown and McCray got the ball a lot, and DeVito’s main target was Williams, who has the potential to explode this season. Former offensive coordinator Tony Petersen didn’t use Williams even close to how he should have been last season, but Lunney has already shown that won’t be the case in 2022. It’s very early on, but I expect a significantly better and well-rounded offense this upcoming season compared to 2021. @JPietsch14 pietsch3@dailyillini.com
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The DI · Wednesday, April 27, 2022
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