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SEMESTER IN REVIEW

THE DAILY ILLINI

MONDAY December 17, 2018

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The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

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Vol. 148 Issue 31

Top five moments from Fall 2018 BY KAREN LIU NEWS EDITOR

The Fall 2018 semester is coming to an end. Before students switch gears to enjoy the holidays and winter break with family and friends, it is time to look back on the most memorable events that happened on campus over the past semester.

BERCHAM KAMBER THE DAILY ILLINI

Former President of the United States Barack Obama speaks on campus urging students to participate in the midterm elections on Sept. 7. Obama also made a surprise visit to Caffe Paradiso after his speech in Foellinger Auditorium.

Obama speaks to UI System students

Former President Barack Obama made an appearance on campus to receive the Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government on Sept. 7. As part of his trip to the University, Obama gave a speech to students

at Foellinger Auditorium. Fewer than 1,300 students were randomly selected out of a pool of over 22,600. The speech was live-streamed online for those who could not be there in person.

During his speech, Obama addressed issues regarding the current administration, discussed the consequences of “sitting on the sidelines” and urged students to vote in the 2018 midterm elections.

After the speech, Obama also made a surprise visit to Caffe Paradiso — a local coffee shop — and interacted with owners and patrons before leaving with an order of black tea and tiramisu.

Campus bar turnover As students returned to school from summer break, some were surprised by the closing of The Clybourne and Firehaus, two popular campus bars located on Sixth Street. A 17-story high-rise will take over the space, with upper levels used as residential space and first floors as a commercial area. Former owner of the two bars, Scott Cochrane, said the beloved traditions of

the two bars will be incorporated into KAM’s, another campus bar located on Daniel Street acquired by Cochrane and associates over summer break. The demolition of the building that housed Cly’s and Firehaus has been underway since Dec. 7. However, new players were also added into the campus bar scene as students say goodbye to the two staples. After nearly a

year of construction, the revamped Illini Inn opened its doors to campus on Aug. 22. The now-three-story bar carries on its old traditions, such as the Mug Club, where patrons who are over 21 can chug a beer, ring a bell, sign the Mug Club book and recite their membership card number at the end of the night to join the club. The tradition has been going on since the 1970s.

QUENTIN SHAW (TOP) AND MARK CAPAPAS (BOTTOM) THE DAILY ILLINI

The 2018 midterm elections attracted a record number of voters on campus. Various polling locations saw long lines starting in the early morning.

2018 midterm elections

The 2018 midterm elections took place on Nov. 6, and various polling locations on campus saw a record-breaking number of voters. Starting Nov. 5, the Illini Union polling location,

which is one of the two busiest locations in the county, had lines that wrapped around flights of stairs. Some locations had students lining up as early as 9 a.m., while others maintained a shorter wait time

throughout the day. Various organizations on campus also encouraged people to vote by offering snacks to those waiting in line. The voter turnout rate for Champaign County was over 64 percent.

KENYON EDMOND (LEFT) AND BEN TSCHETTER (RIGHT) THE DAILY ILLINI

Campus bars The Clybourne and Firehaus closed down at the beginning of the semester. Illini Inn reopened after 18 months of construction on Aug. 22.

Sexual misconduct accusation against tenured professor

Illinois Commitment The Un iversit y announced free tuition will be offered to in-state students whose family income falls below $61,000 starting Fall 2019 through an initiative called Illinois Commitment. The program will cover tuition and fees all four

years for qualified freshmen and three years for all qualified transfer students. A total of $4 million will be allocated from institutional support and private donations for the tuition assistance program. Students who are quali-

fied for the program will also be considered for additional financial aid to cover the educational expenses, such as room and board and school supplies. However, existing students who meet the criteria will not be included in the program.

University tenured law professor Jay Kesan was sanctioned for sexual misconduct accusations by three accusers, including a former law student and two professors who are no longer at the University.

The accusations were made public after an investigation report from September 2017 was obtained by Illinois Public Media through the Freedom of Information Act. Following the publica-

tion of the report, the Student Bar Association signed a petition for Kesan’s resignation. Kesan will be going on a one-year unpaid leave and will receive counseling. karenl3@dailyillini.com

INSIDE Business turnover on campus

Self-made: from hobby to student-run business

Illini’s top moments of the fall

Pygmalion 2018 in photos

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POLICE Theft over $500 was reported at Walmart, 2610 N. Prospect Ave., around 11 a.m. on Nov. 5. According to the report, a gumball machine was taken from the store by an unknown offender or offenders. Lost articles were reported on the 200 block of North Vine Street at around 7 a.m. on Sept. 7. According to the report, a syringe with a red substance inside was found in a parking lot.

Battery was reported on the 1200 block of South Vine Street at around 2 a.m. on Sept. 7. According to the report, the offender and the victim were both intoxicated and started hitting each other with sticks. Public indecency was reported on the 100 block of West Springfield Avenue around midnight Dec. 6. According to the report, a man was seen masturbating inside his vehicle in a public parking lot.

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Impersonation of an officer was reported on the 100 block of South High Cross Road around 6 p.m. Nov. 12. According to the report, an unknown offender, who identified himself as a sheriff’s deputy, was in an online dating relationship with the victim. The offender threatened to write the victim a traffic ticket if they stopped talking to each other.

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Renovations commence on campus BY JOSE ZEPEDA STAFF WRITER

Each semester, the University and its surrounding area undergo construction to improve old buildings and roads and to build new facilities. This semester was no exception. At the end of the spring semester of the 2017-18 school year, Illinois Street Residence Hall closed its dining services facility to remodel. Construction began in May 2018 and is ongoing. Chelsea Hamilton, senior assistant director for communications and marketing at University Housing, said the dining hall remodel will restructure the dining process at ISR, creating nine microrestaurants. Instead of having food stations and a general seating area, ISR’s new dining hall will feature seating at each of the nine micro-restaurants. “We’re actually putting specific, individualized dining environments and experiences tied into these different stations,” Hamilton said. The restaurants will have a better ambiance and feel to create a better experience with University dining, she added. A new football center is being constructed at the corner of Fourth Street and Peabody Drive. The Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center will

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The ISR dining services facility closed its doors in May 2018 to allow renovations to begin. Construction on ISR is only one of the ongoing projects at the University.

become a two-story hub for the football team. Brothers Chris and Dale Smith donated $20 million to the University of Illinois foundation with $15 million of that sum dedicated to the new football center, which is named after their parents.

The total cost of the facility will be $79.2 million, according to the Join the I Fund website. The money will come from the donation and private gifts to the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. The facility will feature locker rooms, a sports

medicine facility, weight rooms and a players’ lounge, according to Brett Stillwell, senior associate director of athletics, capital projects and facilities at University of Illinois Athletics. jzeped4@dailyillini.com

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Corrections In the Dec. 10 issue, The Daily Illini incorrectly reported Samba Kane scored 16 points in 16 minutes. Kane scored eight points in 16 minutes. In the Dec. 13 issue, the Newsman Shares program was canceled Wednesday following print. The Daily Illini regrets the errors.

ACCURATE & ATTUNED

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MONDAY

December 17, 2018 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

NEWS Missing scholar case trial update

BY GILLIAN DUNLOP MANAGING EDITOR FOR REPORTING

It has been a year and a half since visiting scholar Yingying Zhang went missing in June 2017. Alleged kidnapper Brendt Christensen is facing a charge of one count of kidnapping resulting in death and two counts of making false statements to the FBI. The trial is set to begin in April 2019 in Peoria, Illinois.

2017

2018

June 9: Visiting scholar Yingying Zhang was reported missing.

July 12: A federal grand jury indicted Christensen with kidnapping Zhang.

June 12: Brendt Christensen was questioned.

July 20: Christensen pleaded “not guilty” to one count of federal kidnapping.

June 15: Police obtained a search warrant for Christensen’s vehicle. He admitted to giving an Asian female a ride, but he said he let her out of his vehicle shortly after picking her up. June 30: Christensen was arrested for kidnapping Zhang. July 5: Christensen was denied bail in federal court because he was deemed a flight risk and threat to the community.

Oct. 3: A federal grand jury charged Christensen with one count of kidnapping resulting in death and two counts of making false statements to the FBI. Oct. 11: Christensen pleaded “not guilty” to the three charges.

Sept. 1: Christensen’s attorneys Tom, Evan and Anthony Bruno asked to be removed from the case, citing Christensen does not have the necessary funds to pay them if he is charged with higher charges.

Nov. 9: Christensen’s attorneys asked for a delay in the trial for more preparation time.

Sept. 8: The Brunos were granted their request to leave the case, and Christensen was given a team of public defenders.

Nov. 15: The request for a trial delay was denied.

Jan. 19: Former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions released an intent to seek the death penalty against Christensen. Feb. 9: Christensen’s defense team asked U.S. District Judge Colin Stirling Bruce to recuse himself from the case. Feb. 12: Christensen’s trial was pushed to April 2019. Oct. 13: Christensen’s wife, Michelle Christensen, filed for divorce. Dec. 7: Christensen’s trial was moved from Urbana to Peoria. gdunlop2@dailyillini.com

ISG looks back on past semester New staff discusses expectations BY HONGBIN JEONG STAFF WRITER

ISHA KULKARNI THE DAILY ILLINI

Howdy, a fast food restaurant to be opened on Green Street, is among the various new businesses on campus.

Business turnovers bring options to UI BY ZIHAN WANG STAFF WRITER

a new Chinese restaurant, opened on Green Street. Ted Xu, manager of the restaurant, said he started the business because he wanted to own a restaurant and needed a job after graduation from the University. He also wanted to bring some authentic Chinese flavor to campus, unlike the American-styled Chinese restaurants on campus. Xu said he doesn’t have time and money to advertise for his restaurant. He attributed word-of-mouth to the growth in the number of his customers in a short period of time. There were only three customers on the first day, but by the fifth day, the restaurant was almost full. Simon Hu, sophomore in Engineering, said he found out about Shiquan Wonton when his friends recommended it to him. “It was pretty nice,” Hu said. “The food tastes really good. The choice at this time is pretty limited. There were a lot of foods on the menu that was just not available now. But other than that it is pretty good.” Xu is confident about the food at his restaurant. He said he would remove some food items from the menu and add more next year. Because it is a small restaurant, Xu said it’s better for the chef to focus on a few dishes rather than provide too many options. “What I want to do is just to keep the quality of my food,” Xu said. Meanwhile, several shops on campus moved to new locations. Campus Ink moved to the corner of Sixth and Daniel streets, and Suburban Express vacated its office on campus. Some restaurants also changed their names and owners, including New Asian Taste on John Street and Mr. Chou and Charles on Green Street, both Chinese restaurants.

As students say goodbye to some familiar favorites in Fall 2018, the University also welcomed an array of new businesses to enrich the lives of students on campus. To make space for the 17-story residential building on the corner of Green and Sixth streets, campus bars The Clybourne and Firehaus, sandwich chain Jimmy John’s and Korean restaurant Woori Jib, all closed their doors indefinitely. Additionally, Campus Florist also closed its business after 77 years on campus. Smoothie chain Jamba Juice, originally located on the first floor of Illini Union, also said its goodbyes over summer break. However, businesses such as Shiquan Wonton on Green Street, Blaze Pizza in the Union and campus bar Illini Inn on Fourth Street opened their doors to students this semester. A new restaurant sign that reads “Howdy” also went up on Green Street; the establishment is expected to open soon. Josiah Pearson, general manager of Illini Inn, said the bar reopened in August after being closed and under construction for 18 months. He said Illini Inn has been a tradition of the University since 1970. He said he hopes to have more victories and traditions celebrated in the bar in the coming year, including Moms Weekend and graduation. Pearson said the Mug Club, an Illini Inn tradition where bargoers over 21 can become members by chugging a beer and signing a book, is still growing. Illini Inn is racing for the record of 100,000 customers. “I’m sure in the next year we will hit that and have a heck of a party,” Pearson said in an email . In May, Shiquan Wonton, zihanw4@dailyillini.com

The Illinois Student Government achieved its main goal of getting votes out during the midterm election this semester. ISG increased voter turnout compared with the 2014 midterm election, said Susan Zhou, chief of staff of the organization and sophomore in LAS. ISG’s Get-Out-The-Vote Task Force final report stated, “the overall turnout on campus is the highest it's been in over a decade, and in terms of ballots cast, at least 3.1 times higher than in 2014.” Zhou said she believes the ISG succeeded in getting out the vote through social media and having students out on the Main Quad to

encourage people to vote. “We worked with a lot of different campus administrators, student groups and then as well as Champion County, the clerk office that runs the elections,” Zhou said. “We did a really good job working with them.” Alissa Xiao, speaker of the senate and sophomore in LAS, said in an email she’s seen a higher number of committee membership and participation in the ISG leadership. Next semester, the ISG will be focusing on some of the goals President Walter Lindwall, senior in LAS, and Vice President Alice Zheng, junior in LAS, campaigned on last year, such as focusing on environmental sustainability and sexual assault prevention, as well

as helping out both international and undocumented students on campus. The ISG has dealt with the allegations of sexual assault against a professor in the College of Law at the beginning of this semester. To take action, the ISG published a resolution demanding his resignation and sent it to the chancellor. “We’re moving on toward establishing a process that professors who get accused of sexual assault, and if we find out that there’s enough ... evidence to confirm that the stuff has happened, then professors need to start facing real and actual consequences for their actions against students,” Zhou said. Zhou is working toward providing premenstrual products for free in some of the buildings on campus

and hopes the coin dispensaries will be gone by the start of summer of next year. Other than administrative goals, ISG hopes to have better communication efforts for next semester. “Speaking for my experience from not only this year, but especially last year, sometimes the administration will read our emails and then forget about them. So hoping for some improvement on that,” Zhou said. More communication with the student body is also what ISG hopes to achieve next semester. “We would like more students to reach out to us with what changes they would like to see on campus,” Xiao said. hbjeong@dailyillini.com

Dates to know for winter break: FINALS

Friday, Dec. 21 Saturday, Dec. 22 RESIDENCE WINTER LAST DAY OF COURSES BEGIN HALLS CLOSE FINALS

Thursday, Dec. 20

Friday, Dec. 28

FINAL GRADE ENTRY DEADLINE

RY A NU

Thursday, Jan. 10

DEAN’S LIST REVIEW BEGINS

Sunday, Jan. 13

Monday, Jan. 14

RESIDENCE SPRING HALLS OPEN INSTRUCTION BEGINS

SOURCE UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC RECORDS UNITS

BERCHAM KAMBER THE DAILY ILLINI

Monday, December 17, 2018

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

Chancellor’s commission will not name new mascot Group aims to find other ways to promote expression BY JULIE KANG STAFF WRITER

Chancellor Robert Jones announced the commission he appointed to discuss native imagery will not focus on actually selecting a mascot for the University but rather help establish a path toward it. Jones said the purpose of the committee is not to name a new mascot. The panel is working to develop a process for creating new traditions to replace the void left by the Chief’s discontinuation, but they will not be in charge of naming a mascot. The Chancellor’s Commission on Native Imagery: Healing and Reconciliation specifically focuses on Native American imagery and how the history of Chief Illiniwek affected the University climate. The team consists of 17 members, including students, faculty and alumni. Jones appointed the commission to talk about suggestions from his Critical Conversation on Chief Illiniwek. The chancellor began his Critical Conversation series last fall to establish a collaborative way to talk about the University. Aejis Poe, sophomore in Business who identifies using they/them pronouns, said they believes the Chief was a racist caricature of indigenous culture. Poe said it is disrespectful to Native American people, especially given the oppression they still face in society today. “I’m glad that the Chief is officially gone, but I feel like the school should still do more to try to erase its lingering presence,” Poe said. In his State of the University Address last year, Jones said the Critical Conversation series was presented

Critical Conversation Overview To date, four critical conversations events on Native imagery have been held:

April 10 University stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, and individuals become involved with the continuation of the former tradition

April 21 Illinois Alumni Volunteer Leadership Conference

May 1 General Public Charrette

May 11 Illinois Alumni Association Board In a one-month period, these events have engaged over 600 current students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members.

THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO

SOURCE

SOURCE CHANCELLOR’S CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS ON NATIVE IMAGERY REPORT

as “a way to speak directly about our campus climate together” and a method of leading the school to “solutions that improve the climate for everyone in ways that lead to a cohesive, collaborative and welcoming community.” There were four Critical Conversations on the top-

Chancellor Robert Jones helps his wife, Lynn Hassan Jones, exit their car due to the 2017 Homecoming Parade being blocked by an anti-Chief Illiniwek protest organized by Illinois Student Government. The chancellor created the Chancellor’s Commission on Native Imagery: Healing and Reconciliation to continue discussion from his Critical Conversation on Chief Illiniwek last fall.

ic of Native Imagery this past April and May. More than 600 students, faculty, staff, community members and alumni attended the meeting to discuss the tradition of Chief Illiniwek on campus 11 years after its departure. Poe said it is good the committee is working to resolve the issue and still raise school spirit without the Chief, whether this is through creating a new

mascot or not. Eric Jolly, convener and co-chair of the Chancellor’s Commission on Native Imagery, knew Jones before he was appointed to the committee. The two met when Jolly was in charge of the Minnesota Science Museum and Jones was working at the University of Minnesota. Jolly said he had been working with Jones’ leadership team on understanding

issues of race and cultural identity. The team wanted to pursue a larger focus on the issues they were facing with the symbol of Chief Illiniwek and asked Jolly to join the commission. The Commission is planning on accepting internetbased reflections on people's perspectives regarding the symbolism of Chief Illiniwek and the impact it has had on campus. Essentially, Jolly said,

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rather than looking to name a new mascot, the commission is working to help the Chancellor move forward to promote alternatives in achieving expression and demonstrating school unity. “We are going to hopefully provide a guided path and not a solution. The solution belongs in the hands of the students, fans and alumni,” Jolly said. sekang2@dailyillini.com

MONDAY

December 17, 2018 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

OPINIONS Juuling acts as lesser of two evils JOSEPH DILLIER COLUMNIST

U.S.

MARGARET KOTS THE DAILY ILLINI

‘Battlefield 1’ trivializes tragedy with terminator-style automatic weapons and vintage vehicles rolling COLUMNIST around like hot-rods — “Battlefield 1” has its main fault in its failure to grasp fter four years and the inherent tragedy of over 35 million dead, World War I. the Western world Anyone who has played swallowed a bitter peace first-person shooters in 1918 so World War I set during World War may indeed be the “war to II should know that we end all wars.” almost never play as A hundred years later, Nazis. Such games as in 2018, as former enemies “Call of Duty: World War in Europe affirm their I” and the “Wolfenstein” friendship with parades series both involve your and exhibitions, Swedish typical American hero game developer EA DICE plowing his way through slapped a limited-time armies of Nazis. We simdiscount on the premier ply don’t get to see the war World War I experience, through the eyes of Nazis available for only $6. Yet, because it is ingrained in despite its lush graphics, our culture that they are immersive first-person evil incarnate. gameplay and a stunning Besides, nothing satisscore of nine out of 10 on fies our desire for heroIGN, “Battlefield 1” canism more than virtually not hide itself as a lousy, squeezing the trigger on over-the-top apocalyptic these ruthless people, all shootout throwing history the while fighting a righinto the dustbin. teous crusade to save While complaints exist humanity from oppresabout the game’s ridicusion and genocide. lous exaggerations — sol“Battlefield 1” followed diers clad in heavy armor suit. All six single-player sweeping the battlefield campaigns unfold around GUZI HE

men from Allied Powers; Germans or Austro-Hungarians almost always show up as faceless enemies in helmets and gas masks (such attributes can even be modified as cosmetics in the multiplayer arena). By booting the Central Powers from the story, “Battlefield 1” had no idea of the history it toyed with. Unlike World War II, World War I didn’t have the narrative of good versus evil, only one of senseless carnage between people who were no different from each other. “We could be brothers,” mourned Paul, a German soldier in the 1979 film “All’s Quiet on the Western Front,” as he removed the coat from his French counterpart who slowly succumbed to his wounds. Night and day, men blinded by such illusions as empire and manhood slaughtered each other in the trenches, only to find out they were exactly the same without the uniform and helmet.

Germans in World War I were not Nazis — only people obeying orders and trying to make it through the day. Yet “Battlefield 1” successfully made these men into hordes of cold-blooded killers who would stop at nothing to get to the player. What happened to “But behind every gunsight is a human being,” proclaimed with such gravity by the narrator in the game’s opening cinematic, as though it’s not hypocritical enough? Should we really play a game forcing us to have fun killing people who are just like us? Of course. That is the fundamental mechanics behind a multiplayer arena. If we abandon “Battlefield 1” for the aforementioned reason, then we might as well give up all multiplayer shooters. But rest assured, infantrymen in 1918 didn’t fight in their couch, munching chips and mashing buttons.

e-cigarettes have had on aggregate teenage nicotine consumption. The CDC’s data, best understood through a summary made by the Christian Science Monitor, shows the use of all tobacco products is declining with the most precipitous fall being in cigarettes. E-cigarettes, like JUULs, are the only nicotine product whose use is not decreasing. They now hold the top spot among teens that cigarettes once had. Despite their newfound popularity, however, they are not widespread enough to reverse the overall decline in teen nicotine consumption. The CDC found just over 10 percent of American high schoolers had used an e-cigarette in the last 30 days. Additionally, while vaping is by no means healthy and the negative effects are still largely unknown, they certainly contain fewer carcinogens and produce a vapor that is less dangerous than secondhand smoke. E-cigarette users have healthier hearts, lungs and blood pressure than traditional smokers. JUULs are clearly a lesser of two evils, and that — evil nicotine use — is on the decline anyway. In a rush to make people healthier, the anti-smoking crusaders have run past science and built a cultural stigma against nicotine addictions of any kind; the goal is to make people think smoking is not simply unhealthy, but gross. They are now trying to get JUUL banned, which is clearly healthier than the alternative: teens smoking cigarettes. Teenagers will always do risky and stupid things, but Juuling is safer than cigarettes.

Food a nd Drug Administration announced in September that five e-cigarette manufacturers — JUUL, MarkTen, Vuse, Blu and Logic — had 60 days to demonstrate how they can stop minors from obtaining vapes. Incidentally, the only major news to develop around this issue since then was an FDA raid on JUUL Labs’ headquarters to obtain documents concerning the company’s marketing tactics. Additionally, the FDA also declared teenage vaping an emerging “epidemic.” These actions have given JUUL a notoriety outside of the high schoolers, college kids and vapers who know this hobby all too well. Upon this declaration, a slew of New York health writers bravely ventured into America’s public schools to document the menace firsthand. CNN even went so far as to pose the question: Are JUULs the “health problem of the decade?” Parental advice columnists commented on this issue, decrying the dangers of vaping by writing Black Sheep-worthy listicles like, “How to Tell if Your Kid is Vaping.” When these writers were our age, America had a bigger tobacco problem. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in 1976 almost 30 percent of high school seniors had smoked a cigarette in the last 30 days, as compared with 6 percent in 2016. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a betJoseph is a junior in LAS. ter picture for the effect dillier2@dailyillini.com

Guzi is a freshman in LAS. guzihe2@dailyillini.com

CASSIDY BRANDT THE DAILY ILLINI

‘13 Reasons Why’ portrayal of suicide exacerbates issue ALICE LEE COLUMNIST

he number 13 has always been synonymous with bad luck. From worrying about having 13 guests at the dinner table to avoiding parties on the 13th day, people tend to hold this dreaded number in contempt. It seems fitting Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why” purposefully highlights this unlucky number. The University of Michigan’s medical center, Michigan Medicine, recently conducted a study to see whether the show had contributed to suicide-related symptoms among at-risk youth. Researchers surveyed a total of 87 teens, most-

13 REASONS WHY

CINDY OM THE DAILY ILLINI

ly ages 13 to 17, and found that among the 43 who had watched the show, 21 said it heightened their risk of suicide. We all know correlation doesn’t prove causation, so we know the study doesn’t confirm the show causes an increase in suicide risk. However, the study

does confirm the adverse impact a show which depicts suicide can have on vulnerable and impressionable youth. From the show’s inception in early 2017, “13 Reasons Why” has been a hotbutton topic that’s drawn numerous critiques over its controversial portrayal

of suicide and the graphic nature of some scenes that can be triggering for young viewers. On the flip side, supporters have applauded the series for pushing the envelope and bringing a topic most are uncomfortable with talking about to the forefront. Regardless of whether you like or dislike the show, there’s no questioning the easy access to such media content draws mainstream attention to suicide. The mere-exposure effect says people tend to develop a preference for things or people the more they’re exposed to it. For vulnerable teens who are already teetering on the edge, watching the show may be just enough to push them over. When looking at the key demographics for viewers of “13 Reasons Why,”

data shows it skews heavily toward young females, with 65 percent of viewers being female and 75 percent being under 34. Teens are even more susceptible to outside forces influencing their own thoughts and decisions; the rational part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex, doesn’t fully develop until around age 25. Teens may make impulsive decisions and adopt the show’s beliefs as their own. The problem behind “13 Reasons Why” isn’t because it’s about suicide; it’s because any show about suicide cannot guarantee an at-risk teen won’t see the material and take it the wrong way. Sure, the show may raise awareness on the dangers of bullying and suicide, but is it worth the potential loss of life of

even one person because of it? Netflix took a big risk in producing this series; with a focus on such heavy content, it had to toe a very fine line with its decisions. The balance between raising awareness for an issue and encouraging unwanted behaviors is hard to find, and “13 Reasons Why” is an example of that. Philosopher Albert Camus once said, “Good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding.” The people behind “13 Reasons Why” weren’t ill-meaning when they created the series, but the aftermath clearly shows they bit off more than they could chew. Alice is a freshman in LAS. alicewl2@dailyillini.com

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS | opinions@dailyillini.com with the subject “Letter to the Editor.” The Daily Illini reserves the right to edit for length, libel, grammar and spelling errors, and Daily Illini style or to reject any contributions. Letters must be limited to 300 words. Contributions must be typed and include the author’s name, address and phone number. University students must include their year in school and college.

Monday, December 17, 2018

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STEM-based organization inspires girls Expanding nonprofit makes strides to diversify field BY MEGAN BRADLEY STAFF WRITER

MakerGirl, a University-based nonprofit, is taking steps to educate 10,000 girls in the next five years. MakerGirl was founded in 2014 by Elizabeth Engele and Julia Haried as a way to encourage interest in the science, technology, engineering and math industries for young women. It accomplishes this by offering educational sessions to girls ages 7 – 10. Now, a few years after the nonprofit’s start, MakerGirl just hired its first fulltime CEO, Stephanie Hein. Hein, who previously worked with MakerGirl on campus, is now beginning her work running the nonprofit and encouraging its outreach to more girls. Claire Follis, senior in Education, is the Chicago academies manager for MakerGirl and oversees the company’s current expansion to DePaul University. “Stephanie is a great addition to MakerGirl, especially as a CEO, because of her focus to help us expand and reach more underserved girls,” Follis said. “The company as a whole is taking a big leap forward with her to help (meet) our goal of reaching 10,000 girls by 2023.”

“This small interaction helps the girls know they are powerful.” CLAIRE FOLLIS SENIOR IN EDUCATION

Participation in a MakerGirl session is more than just an educational opportunity for girls who sign up. MakerGirl can offer confidence and inspiration to encourage more female participation in STEM. Mary Hadley, senior in LAS and MakerGirl’s managing and curriculum director, said the girls who attend sessions leave with knowledge, confidence and an actual 3D-printed product they create themselves. “It benefits young women to see university women either in STEM majors or knowing girls in STEM, and they look up to them as role models,” Hadley said. “Seeing that someone else can do it can make them aspire to go into STEM as well.” As a way to further its reach, the nonprofit started #MakerGirlGoesMobile in 2016. The company took a road trip around the U.S. and taught 1,000 girls about 3D printing and STEM. Ma kerGirl has also opened academies at other universities, such as Northwestern University and DePaul. Illinois’ MakerGirl has become the headquarters for the company. Rachel Berg, senior in Engineering, works as MakerGirl’s team relations manager. Berg said by hiring a full-time CEO for MakerGirl, she anticipates the company will be able to grow nationally because there will now be someone fully invested in MakerGirl rather than having a staff of solely University students. “Stephanie will be key in helping establish academies in other locations, recruiting ChangeMakers to lead them and ensuring a smooth transition for all academies,” Berg wrote in

MARGARET KOTS THE DAILY ILLINI

an email. Although the company mainly offers 3D printing sessions, Hadley said it is called MakerGirl so they don’t feel restricted to one category. Ma kerGirl has also offered sessions from a partnership with MU Spacebot, where girls were taught how to code their robots to do various actions. Berg said one of her favorite MakerGirl memories came from this session when a young girl was cer-

tain she wouldn’t be able to remember how to code her robot. “When her mom came to pick her up, she was so excited to show her mom what she had learned. She was saying how she wanted to go straight home to keep working with her robot,” Berg wrote. “Helping this girl realize her potential is the reason I keep returning every year to MakerGirl.” To reach their goal of educating 10,000 girls in the next five years, MakerGirl’s new CEO will be

spending about 60 percent of her time in the Champaign headquarters and the other 40 percent traveling to different conferences and locations to spread the word about MakerGirl. The nonprofit’s growth is able to attract more girls to participate in sessions and become “MakerGirls,” which is the name the company uses to describe the girls who will drive forward equality and diversity in education and future workplaces. MakerGirl has become

an important resource for educating girls in limitedaccess communities about STEM, where they otherwise may not have had the opportunity to learn about 3D printing, robotics or coding. “MakerGirl helps bring that technology and opportunity to them,” Follis said. “This small interaction helps the girls know that they are powerful and can follow their dreams no matter what those may be.” meganmb2@dailyillini.com

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Monday, December 17, 2018

Student crafts career out of hand-built furniture BY EMMA PALATNIK STAFF WRITER

John Bieber has practiced woodworking since he was 15 years old. Now, he’s trying to make a business out of his hobby. Bieber, junior in ACES, runs JB Woodshop; a business where he creates custom, affordable furniture for other students. He learned his woodworking skills from his father, but Bieber found out over winter break some form of carpentry or woodworking has been in his family since the 1850s. The problem with furniture bought online or in department stores, Bieber said, is it’s not of high quality. He started his business to create furniture he said “makes the room,” while also earning money on the side. “That’s the drive behind me making what I do. It’s quality stuff that’s going to last, that fits perfectly for the situations all at once,” Bieber said. Bieber builds shelves, TV stands, flower stands, multimedia centers and more. Right now, he’s making a couple bookshelves and a multimedia stand. For Bieber, a typical order starts with a Facebook message or phone call where he goes over what the customer wants and what they are expecting for the piece. If he’s at home, Bieber drives to the customer’s house, measures out dimensions and sees the space to ensure he’s making a complemen-

tary piece. Next, he draws a 3D sketch of the piece and shows the customer to make sure they’re on the same page. Then, he starts the creation process. Bieber purchases materials and supplies — like wood, glue and screws — at either Menards or smaller lumber stores. The last part involves putting the piece together. Each project takes Bieber about a week, from start to finish. He also makes sure to keep the customer updated throughout the entire process. With each project, Bieber likes to challenge himself and expand his knowledge. Every project is different. Bieber said he changes it up by using different hinges or joinery techniques which challenges him to some degree. “I try to do that with every project just so it’s as educational for me as it is someone who’s never really thought of getting hand-built furniture for their own place,” Bieber said. Bieber works on the projects wherever he can. He sometimes goes home for a weekend to get all the boards cut, as that’s where he keeps his table saw. Bieber usually saves around five orders to cut in bulk at home. He transports the boards back down to campus and does the rest of the work in his apartment. With the tools he has in his apartment, Bieber can do joinery with chisels and

JEANNETTE YAN THE DAILY ILLINI

John Bieber, junior in ACES, works on one of his pieces in his apartment on Sept. 11. Bieber builds furniture, including the tea table at his apartment, for friends and family.

drills. He can also put the piece together, glue it and stain it. He saves the heavy power parts to do at home. The price for each piece varies. Ninety percent of the cost is materials and Bieber charges around $20 for labor. He’s able to make the pieces affordable because he’s not trying to make a living off the

JEANNETTE YAN THE DAILY ILLINI

In recent years, Bieber began commission work. He uses his apartment on campus as a temporary studio while working on main pieces at his house in the suburbs.

business. “I’m just trying to expand my hobby into something a little bit more than a hobby,” Bieber said. “At the same time, I understand the value of being able to have a personal, unique piece for your apartment.” Bieber said he’s looking at his business right now as something that will help him build connections, and will give him a platform to expand on when he can build full-time. Sara Mason, junior in ACES, knows Bieber from classes. Bieber built her a desk shelf she uses for storage. “When I heard that he did carpenter stuff, I was like, ‘Oh, this will be a good way to get a really nice quality shelf that I can keep for a couple years. I don’t have to worry about buying it at like Ikea or whatever and worry about it breaking,’” Mason said. She sent him pictures and dimensions, and from there, Bieber came up with a plan. Mason said Bieber came up with many interesting ideas she wouldn’t have thought of. He asked what kind of wood, stains, trim and features she wanted, and if the shelf needed a back or crossbar. “I really appreciated that,

that he took a lot of input into what I wanted and it was like a collaboration,” Mason said. “He was the one building it, but he came and conferred with me if he had any questions or if he wanted to do anything that was maybe out of the norm.” The shelf is just what she wanted. It fits all her items, is sturdy and it looks great, Mason said. “The way it’s divided up, I have room for my books, I have room for my school supplies and makeup and any other kind of knickknacks I want to store,” Mason said. “It’s just storage, but there’s enough space that I can fit a mirror under and a desk lamp and I still have room to do all this stuff, and it doesn’t take up a lot of space on my desk.” Emma Robbins, junior in ACES, is dating Bieber. He’s made her three different pieces: a plant shelf, a shelf in her bedroom and an organizational shelf in her bathroom. Robbins said she had needed more storage for her spaces. So, Bieber came in, measured out the spaces and made custom shelves for whatever she needed. “My shelf in my bathroom sits perfectly around all my

outlets and where I have things hanging on my walls, so I didn’t need to move anything,” Robbins said. “It was custom made for my counter.” Throughout the whole process, Bieber updated her and sent her photos. Robbins said she loves how personalized her pieces are. She said there’s no furniture piece in a store that compares to a custom-made one. Robbins appreciated that Bieber took the time to measure out the space and consult with her. “I’m really proud, this was just something that he loved to do as a hobby and it’s something that he really, really enjoys,” Robbins said. She said she thinks it’s great that other people are starting to value Bieber’s work as much as she does. “To me, furniture is like the intersection of every skill you can have in woodworking,” Bieber said. “You have to have the measurements, the precision of chiseling. Every thirty-secondth of an inch will add up and it will change the project. So it’s insanely important to be mindful of the bickery of precision.” emmacp2@dailyillini.com

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1 Walk in the kiddie pool 5 Org. for the Los Angeles Sparks and New York Liberty 9 Minor fight 14 Affordable German car 15 Garden worker 16 “Star Trek” lieutenant who speaks Swahili 17 Drops dead 19 Tilts 20 Declare something completely finished 22 Cain or Abel, to Adam and Eve 23 Tiny 24 “___ we can” (2008 campaign slogan) 25 Self-proclaimed greatest boxer 28 One-named soccer great 31 Sis’s sibling 33 Expression of disgust in Valley Girl-speak 39 Give the glad eye 40Grp. to call to get a tow 41 Site with a “Shop by category” button 42 Have surgery 47 Not worth a ___ 48 One-named singer with the 1985 hit “Smooth Operator” 49 Concorde, e.g., for short 50 Ingested 53 Org. with the longtime leader Wayne LaPierre 55 QB’s mistake: Abbr. 57 Show up for negotiations … or a hint for 20-, 33and 42-Across 63 ___ Gay (W.W. II plane) 64 Act all hoity-toity 66 Indian princes

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10 Spiced tea from the East 11 Like some noses and egg yolks 12 Bandleader Shaw 13 Histories 18 Listerine competitor 21 McEntire known as “The Queen of Country” 25 Eagerly expectant 26 Italian body of water 27 Inuit shelter: Var. 29 Pinocchio, notably 30 Les ___-Unis 32 Request from a dentist 34 Clothing department with jackets and ties 35 [LOL] 36 Japanese sashes 37 Clods 38 No, in Moscow

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MONDAY

December 17, 2018 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

LIFE & CULTURE

QUENTIN SHAW THE DAILY ILLINI

Red Herring is a vegetarian restaurant located at 1209 W. Oregon St., Urbana. Lauren Kolb, alumna of the University, acts as chef and manager, leading her staff to foster an open space for creativity and activism.

Red Herring chef shows how life is unpredictable Law school graduate finds fulfillment in management BY MIN CHEONG KIM STAFF WRITER

Lauren Kolb, graduate of the University’s law school, never thought she’d be a chef at Red Herring, a vegetarian restaurant in Urbana. “If life has taught me anything, it’s that I don’t know where I’m gonna be in two years,” Kolb said. “I haven’t had a sense of what I wanted to be or what I had a passion for. Obviously, when I was in law school I thought I was gonna do that.” As Kolb studied law, she realized it became too complex in such a way that the content she was learning bothered her. She needed a break from that world and found herself at Red Herring. She had been a frequent customer of the restaurant. Although she did not know anything about cooking, she took a job at this nonprofit restaurant. “Keep yourself open to opportunities,” Kolb said. “I had no idea I would end up here right now. It’s amazing to me. It’s beautiful.” Kolb is currently a chef and manager at Red Herring. Many of the workers share the load, but Kolb’s primary duties involve cooking, inventory, menu planning and event planning. Many of her coworkers took a similar unplanned

path and found themselves at Red Herring. Paula Chmiel is a dessert manager and line cook who has worked at the restaurant for about four years. After receiving her degree in interdisciplinary health from the University, she lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but she found herself back in Illinois because she missed her family. “I’ve had all kinds of plans and non-plans,” Chmiel said. “I didn’t for sure decide what I wanted to do, so for the time being I wanted to work with vegan food.” Kolb gives projects to different workers, and her leadership is what makes Red Herring function in a respectful manner, Chmiel said. “She is really good at delegating roles in a non-bossy way. I think it’s proof that as a manager you don’t have to be bossy,” Chmiel said. “I feel like most people here are happier to do the tasks because she is the way she is. Everyone is happy to do something that she wants them to do.” Even when coming up with recipes, Kolb tries not to use products, such as fake meat, and opts to use wholesome ingredients. For the cultural dinners on Wednesdays, she does research, goes out to inter-

national markets and asks for advice to make the dishes as authentic as possible. Jenny Goodwine is a line cook with a degree in social work who graduated at the University at the same time as Chmiel in 2012. After graduation, she stayed in town to work for a local nonprofit that did work related to affordable access to health care. She then moved to Seattle to do more social work in relation to the prison system for a nonprofit. Goodwine used to live with Kolb in a housing coop and was inspired by her vegan cooking. She moved back to Illinois to be with her family. Now, she works with Kolb at Red Herring and prepares ingredients for the restaurant. “Lauren is very chill. That is the word that comes to mind,” Goodwine said. “She is very easy-going and flexible, very supportive and encouraging. I would ask something like, ‘Lauren, do you want the potatoes cubed this size or this size?’ then she would laugh and say, ‘They’re both great, Jenny.’” Many of the employees at Red Herring appreciate the people and management. They are a nonprofit restaurant that serves the community, but they are also among respectful workers who give the whole team creative liberties. “This place is so respectful and so power-with and not power-over,” Goodwine said.

RYAN CHOW THE DAILY ILLINI

Lauren Kolb grills lettuce for an order at Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant on Nov. 28. Her surprising journey to being the restaurant’s manager is marked by easy-going leadership.

There are many ways students could get involved, such as cooking classes offered by the restaurant. Emmett Silver, the financial manager at Red Herring, has a degree in nutrition and helps with the classes. Volunteer opportunities follow an open-door policy; anyone can follow their social media or drop by to learn more about opportunities. Kolb also emphasized Red Herring’s role as a place where people can feel

at home and be comfortable in a creative space for the community. “If anyone is looking for something that we can provide, whether it’s a space for a student group meeting, activists or artists, we want to be an open space for those people, so just reach out if there is something we can do to help,” Kolb said. Although even two years ago she had completely different plans for her future, she found a new life philos-

ophy while working at Red Herring: if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. “This job has taught me the basics of what is required to be happy. Nutritious food, good company, people that trust each other,” Kolb said. “Take your time to figure out what makes you happy and learning what you need to be happy and being okay with that.” mckim4@dailyillini.com

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December 17, 2018 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

SPORTS

SOCCER

Team defeats top opponent No. 3 Duke BY MILES POWERS-HUANG ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Illinois soccer fans may not have seen it coming, but head coach Janet Rayfield’s squad is competing with some of the nation’s top talent. On Sept. 3, Rayfield addressed the media at Memorial Stadium before football head coach Lovie Smith’s weekly press conference. The Illinois soccer team has shown its close contest against No. 6 North Carolina and win over No. 3 Duke were not flukes. “Scoring goals was a challenge for us, and certainly this year, that has been a different story,” Rayfield said. “(At) Northern Illinois, we had eight goals from seven different goal-scorers and Sunday, we had five goals from four different goal-scorers, so certainly our ability to put the ball in the back of the net has changed, and that’s changed our confidence and the way we play.” The team is coming off a 5-14 season that left some questions about the future of the program, especially after a 2-9 performance in Big Ten play. It only took the Illini six games this season to pass up the total goals scored in last year’s campaign. On Aug. 31, Illinois clashed with No. 14 Oklahoma State Friday and picked up its third victory of the season. Much like its other battles against ranked opponents, it wouldn’t come easy as Oklahoma State’s SEE DUKE | 3B

COLUMN

Players tweet concerns off field ELI SCHUSTER SPORTS EDITOR

Knees weak. Palms are sweaty. Another loss already. Coran’s spaghetti. Illinois true-freshman quarterback Coran Taylor believes there is a personnel move the Illini need to make. In the second quarter of what would be a 63-33 loss at Maryland, Taylor took to Twitter for a wise proclamation: “You know I’m ready like spaghetti,” he tweeted. Rather than dissecting the complexity of the tweet, let’s just believe Taylor was speaking toward Illinois’ recent quarterback faults. Grad-transfer AJ Bush was benched in Illinois’ matchup against Wisconsin and appeared to lose the starting job to Taylor’s fellow true-freshman M.J. Rivers. However, when Rivers was taken out of Saturday’s game due to a concussion, Bush came back in for the Illini and Taylor took to Twitter. While some jumped to the quick conclusion that Taylor was tweeting his pasta rhythms from the sideline, he was, in fact, most likely sitting on a couch. Taylor currently isn’t on the travel list for the team, and his reacSEE TWEETS | 3B

AUSTIN YATTONI THE DAILY ILLINI

The Illini sing “Hail to the Orange” after winning the match against Penn State at Huff Hall on Nov. 10. The Illini won 3-2.

Top five Illini sports moments of semester BY MEGHAN REST ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The University of Illinois might not be home to the most successful teams in the country or even the Big Ten, but the fall season still proved to be filled with historic milestones and plenty of memorable moments.

No. 1 — Volleyball makes it back to the NCAA Final Four for the first time since 2011

The Illinois volleyball team not only finished the regular season with a No. 3-ranking in the NCAA but also won more than 26 games (28-3) the first time since the team was the NCAA runner-up in 2011 under former head coach Kevin Hambly. After cruising through the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament against Eastern Michigan (3-0) and Louisville (3-1) at home, Illinois blanked No. 14 Marquette in the third round and moved onto fellow Big Ten contender, No. 6 Wisconsin, in the Sweet 16. The Illini squashed the Badgers in four sets (3-1) to move onto the Final Four, which was held in Minneapolis on Thursday. The four-game winning streak in the tournament extended the team’s win streak to 17 games overall, marking Illinois’ first trip back to the Final Four in seven years.

No. 2 — Iowa bulldozes Illinois 63-0, ties for largest margin of defeat in school history

Illinois hadn’t lost a football game by a 60-point margin since 1906. That is, before the Hawkeyes rolled over nine touchdowns and 400 total yards on the Illini on Nov. 17. The last time Illinois was shut out that severely was at the University of Chicago in 1906, when the team was stifled 63-0 in an eerily similar fashion. During Illinois’ final home outing and it’s secondto-last game of the season, the Illini struggled to hang onto the ball and allowed the Hawkeyes to start drives six times in home territory throughout the night. The Iowa game pushed Illinois’ average points given up to 56.3 points per game in its six Big Ten losses before the season finale.

AUSTIN YATTONI THE DAILY ILLINI

Illinois tight end Austin Roberts (36) carries the American flag onto the field before the game against Iowa at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 17.

AUSTIN YATTONI THE DAILY ILLINI

Illinois head coach Lovie Smith talks to his team during the game against Minnesota at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 3. The Illini won 55-31.

AUSTIN YATTONI THE DAILY ILLINI

Illinois head coach Janet Rayfield talks to her team before overtime in the game against Indiana at the Illinois Soccer Stadium on Oct. 14. The Illini won 1-0 in double overtime.

No. 3 — Lovie Smith gets two-year contract extension after 4-8 season

Originally, Lovie Smith was signed to Illinois’ head coaching gig under a sixyear $21 million contract in March 2016. After going 9-27 in his three years at the helm of the program, Athletic Director Josh Whitman announced Smith’s twoyear extension into 2023. The announcement came at the end of this year’s 4-8 SEE MOMENTS | 3B

AUSTIN YATTONI THE DAILY ILLINI

Infielders meet with assistant coach Drew Dickinson at the mound during a pitching change in the game against Rutgers at Illinois Field on April 13.

Monday, December 17, 2018

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Monday, December 17, 2018

VOLLEYBALL

Bastianelli hits record books as middle blocker BY BRIAN BINZ STAFF WRITER

Nowadays, any Illinois volleyball fan can identify Ali Bastianelli, the starting senior middle blocker for the Illini, who is one of the best players to come through the program in recent years. However, not many people would remember the young, out-of-state freshman who was thrown into a starting spot on a Big Ten team straight out of Marysville High School in Michigan. “I didn’t wanna go anywhere too far, and Illinois was kinda that perfect distance,” Bastianelli said. “The Big Ten is a big draw for a lot of reasons.” Since then, Bastianelli has morphed into one of the most prolific middle blockers in school (and Big Ten) history, setting the school record for total blocks in a win over Northwestern earlier this year along with setting the Big Ten all-time block assists record in the win over Michigan last weekend. Bastianelli has always been good at blocking, but that alone isn’t what has made her into the best middle blocker in school history. The 6-foot-3-inch senior attributed a lot of her collegiate success to the coaching staff she has worked with, a group that has allowed her to separate herself from other middles around the country. “I had Kevin (Hambly) for two years; we have two middle coaches on our staff,” Bastianelli said. “They always push you to be your best.” To be her best, Bastianelli had to become an all Big Ten middle, not just defensively but offensively as well. As a freshman, Bastianelli hit 130 kills in 31 games

AUSTIN YATTONI THE DAILY ILLINI

Illinois middle blocker Ali Bastianelli hits the ball during the match against Michigan at Huff Hall on Oct. 19. The Illini won 3-2.

on a .230 hitting percentage. In her first year under head coach Chris Tamas, Bastianelli more than doubled that kill number in just four more sets, racking up 300 kills on a .378 hitting percentage. Since the arrival of junior middle blocker Ashyln Fleming Bastianelli’s total kills have gone down, but her efficiency continues to improve. She registered a .392 hitting percentage, the highest of any player on the Illi-

ni with more than 200 total attempts. No one has seen more of Bastianelli than fellow senior, setter Jordyn Poulter, who said the offensive development has not gone unnoticed. “Her arm swing mechanics have changed since our freshman and sophomore years, so she can get a little more crack on the ball,” Poulter said. “It always helps to balance the offense when the middles are getting up

quick.” Few players are as involved during a volleyball set than a middle blocker. On top of offensive duties, they have to contest the opponent’s best offensive players at the net, often covering a substantial amount of ground in a short time almost every possession. The grind wasn’t something Bastianelli has always embraced. “My freshman year, I was definitely overwhelmed by

worry about. “It’s awesome to have teammates you can trust,” Prince said. “Everybody on the team trusts her to do her job and have a steady emotional presence as well.” Bastianelli said the constant pressure helps her stay focused on every point, and it’s even become her favorite part of playing middle blocker now. “Whether you get a touch on the block or not, you’re still up in the play and have such a huge potential to make a difference in a game, and I love that,” Bastianelli said. Even the touches that don’t make Bastianelli’s recordsetting stat sheet are important for the Illini’s success, according to Poulter. “It’s pretty deflating when you get blocked,” Poulter said. “It’s always great to have blockers in the front row that slow down touches and stop hitters.” Behind Bastianelli’s defensive presence, the Illini have increased their digs per set and are on track to improve their total block numbers from a year ago, despite losing former player Brandi Donnelly to graduation. Bastianelli’s activity may go unnoticed by some, but Tamas appreciates what he’s working with. “To have someone who’s always involved in every play, literally she’s almost touching every ball … that’s why she’s the block assist leader,” Tamas said. “There’s no weakness. We’re always gonna have two blockers. You’re always gonna have to hit around us, and she’s a huge part of that.”

that,” Bastianelli said. “Not that I wasn’t used to being in the middle, but the Big Ten was a whole other beast that I was not mentally ready for, and getting used to that was a huge step for me.” Between her freshman and sophomore years, Bastianelli saw her total blocks jump from 167 blocks in 120 sets to 201 blocks in 112 sets, still a career high for her. For junior outside hitter Beth Prince, Bastianelli is @ByBinz someone she doesn’t have to brianb2@dailyillini.com

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tion to the game on Twitter could very well be an expression of his thoughts on the matter. But even more interesting than the tweet itself is the pure concept of a player tweeting about his team in this way during a game. The blowout loss on Oct. 27 taught people a lot about the state of this program and possibly the concern of the inner workings. Taylor wasn’t the only athlete with an Illini relation to tweet during and after the game. Former Illini defensive lineman Rob Bain, who was a member of the team from 2012-2016, called out the coaching staff on Twitter during the game. “Maybe, it’s not all on the players,” he wrote. “Seems that other schools (and) the NFL has found value in those players that were once the scapegoats of the Illini’s woes. Maybe a mass exodus of players, both young (and) old, says something. Maybe quit reading between the lines (and) just read the story.” Bain was at the University during the Illini’s three coaching changes from Tim Beckman to Bill Cubit to Lovie Smith. His thoughts on Twitter sparked a large conversation among Illinois fans and also drew the attention of other current and former Illini who have experienced the Smith coaching regime. Current members of the team did not hold back, either. Tight ends Brandon

Julia Lenhardt scored with just a second remaining in the first half. This was a rather large momentum swing. Junior goalkeeper Jaelyn Cunningham emphasized the team’s self-confidence, which allowed it to forget about the end of the half and prepare for a comeback bid. “At the end of the day, we all really believe in this team and each other,” Cunningham said. The Illini would come out of the halftime break pushing for an equalizer and finally found one in the 65th minute. The Cowgirls failed to clear their lines off a cross from the right wing, leading to sophomore midfielder Hope Breslin baiting her defender to the right before quickly darting back left and heading the ball in. With just five minutes remaining, senior midfielder Katie Murray was taken down in the box and the ball spilled ever so slightly away from her feet. While the referee did not give a penalty, junior midfielder Arianna Veland pounced on the loose ball and hit a powerful shot into the top right corner to seal the win. Veland decided to keep playing until she heard a whistle, which only came to signal the goal after she put the ball in the back of the net. “I saw Katie go down, and I knew the ref wasn’t going to call it, so I just went for it,” Veland said. “I’m glad @MilesP_H that it went in.” milesp2@dailyillini.com

FROM 1B

MOMENTS season, after Illinois posted two notable losses to Iowa (63-0) and Northwestern (16-24) and saw the resignation of defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson. The team also had a slew of player suspensions earlier in the season. However, in lieu of the announcement, Whitman cited his faith in the program under Smith, especially with only nine seniors and 80 underclassmen on the team’s roster. “This extension demonstrates my belief in Lovie

TWEET COURTESY OF TITO ODENIGBO

Jones and Bobby Walker, along with offensive lineman Zeke Martin, all liked Bain’s tweet, demonstrating quite a bit of frustration could be linked between current players on the team and the coaching staff. Obvious disconnect between head coach Lovie Smith’s staff and former Illini players can be seen by the 16 transfers that exited the program at the end of last season. Among those transfers was defensive lineman Tito Odenigbo, now at Miami, who retweeted Bain’s tweet with a comment of his own. “I know one thing, this (Illinois) team definitely has talent,” he wrote. Questioning of the coaching staff, especially defensively, has been heightened this season. Another Illini transfer, Tre Watson, who played against his former team on Saturday until being ejected in the second quarter of the game, also retweeted the tweet with a comment that read “can’t ignore the signs.”

He didn’t stop there, sporting a picture of himself in a “Kingz of Littyville” tank top under his jersey and commenting on another tweet that “there are parts of the story you don’t understand.” Watson’s reaction toward the Illinois program was rather surprising, following in the footsteps of what appears to be several other former players who have a bone to pick with how things are being run. To continue the list, Kendrick Foster retweeted Bain’s tweet, and the recently kicked-off Bennett Williams also threw a like the tweet’s way. Graduated Illini Jaylen Dunlap, another positive voice for the program in recent years, shared a tweet similar to Odenigbo’s, referencing the team has enough talent on the defense to perform well. Foster’s engagement with the tweet comes off as rather surprising, after serving as a passionate voice for the program while also coming

back to the University several times this year. While for some, the engagement with these tweets is merely hitting the “like” button, it demonstrates an agreement of sorts for the sentiment being said. It seems clear players are feeling a sense of frustration with what is going on behind the scenes, and that may be a reason for the recent play on the field. In a year where Lovie Smith was perceived to be taking charge, with a majority of the roster comprised of his recruited players, the locker room tension was thought to be a thing of the past. But it may very well be back and stronger than ever. While the initial Taylor tweet comes off as silly, Taylor is a current player on the team who felt comfortable enough to voice his displeasure, along with many other players that have played under this staff. To me, that’s concerning.

Smith, his staff and the plan they have for the future success of Illinois Football,” Whitman said.

finished off the Blue Devils with two goals in the first half from freshman Makena Silber and sophomore Katie Lee, who scored off senior Patricia George’s corner kick. But Illinois’ win over Duke wasn’t an isolated incident. The team only lost one more battle (DePaul, 3-1) before embarking on a fivegame winning streak which would propel the Illini into their first winning season in three years and their first Big Ten tournament appearance in that period of time. Illinois capped off their season 6-5 in the Big Ten, going 11-8-1 overall with a notable shootout win

against Wisconsin during Teams from Curaçaou the first round of the Big Ten and Aruba were made up of tournament. invited players, current and former professional players No. 5 — Illini baseball and national team members. becomes first NCAA team Among them was Curato play in Aruba çaou’s former Washington Illinois took off on Nov. 18 Nationals and Minnesota for a six-day six-game series Twins pitcher Shairon Marin Curaçaou and Aruba over tis, who aided Curaçaou’s fall break. And although the 2-0-1 series win over IlliIllini went 2-3-1 on the out- nois during the first half of ing, they became the first their trip. Martis also played NCAA team to compete in for the Netherlends nationAruba. al team. NCAA rules limit teams Illinois spent the last to one international trip three days of its journey every four years, and Illi- in Aruba, where the Illini nois’ island trip followed the edged a 2-1 series win over program’s first excursion to their international foes and the Dominican Republic in took home the Aruba Cup 2014. title.

No. 4 — Soccer beats No. 3 Duke, makes first Big Ten tournament appearance in three years

The Illinois soccer team kicked off its fall campaign with a three-game losing streak but snapped it August 19 by toppling one of the best teams in the country. Illinois overcame No. 3-ranked Duke in a close 2-1 battle, marking the program’s first win over a topthree ranked opponent since defeating No. 3 Penn State 1-0 in 2012. The Illini

@Schuster_Elias eeschus2@dailyillini.com

The game on Aug. 31 was certainly intense, and the Illini rode the momentum from the upset victory to a lopsided victory over SIU-Edwardsville. Freshman for ward Makena Silber opened the scoring just 33 seconds into the match, and the attack continued to flow after that. Murray added two goals to her team-leading total of four, and upperclassmen forwards Caroline Ratz and Kelly Maday also scored on the way to a 5-0 victory. Rayfield feels her team’s drastic increase in goalscoring can be attributed to the players’ improved attitudes, as well as the addition of talented newcomers. “People keep asking the question, ‘Why are we scoring goals?’” Rayfield said. “There are several things that contribute to that. We’ve got some freshmen coming in (and) making an impact. Certainly, Makena Silber makes a difference. I think you also see some maturity in our other players.” Illinois went on to qualify for the Big Ten tournament for the first time since 2014. The team’s hot start certainly propelled the postseason momentum. “Certainly excited with where we are right now,” Rayfield said. “I think the most exciting thing (is) that last year, scoring goals was a challenge for us, and certainly this year, that’s been a different story. That’s changed our confidence, the way we play and our results.”

Honorable mentions:

The women’s cross country team never placed outside the top-five at each of their meets until the Big Ten Championships. The swimming and diving team sent an athlete to USA Swimming Winter Nationals for the first time in over five years. The Illinois’ athletic department announced new $8 million indoor baseball complex to be finished in 2021 on the corner of Fourth Street and West Kirby Avenue. @meghan_rest merest2@dailyillini.com

Monday, December 17, 2018

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

A quick look at head coach Lovie Smith’s salary Smith holds spot on list of highest-paid college coaches BY MEGHAN REST ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The list of college football’s top 10 highest-paid coaches features one name that doesn’t look like the others. Among the sea of seasoned and winningest coaches on the nation’s highest paid swims Illinois head football coach Lovie Smith, who’s bound in a four-way tie for the No. 10 spot on the list under his sixyear $21 million contract with the University. Despite Smith’s NFL experience, he sticks out like a sore thumb among all the other coaches on the list. Despite his NFL resume, in his three years at Illinois Smith has gone 8-22, while other household names like Ohio State’s Urban Meyers and Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh have years accompanied by dozens of wins under their belts. Smith still has the third-highest pay grade in the Big Ten but lacks the winning record many of the other coaches making the most money in college football have. Smith holds one of the worst records in the Big Ten at 1-3 and has gone 3-4 overall this season. Compared with his two previous years overseeing the Illini, this is an improvement. While Smith is making a few million less than Auburn’s Gus Malzahn and Georgia’s Kirby Smart, he’s still making more than Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, who has not only been with the Hawkeyes for 20 seasons but has also led them to victories in seven of their 15 bowl games, and Penn State’s James Franklin, who’s also driven the Nittany Lions to a bowl game

AUSTIN YATTONI THE DAILY ILLINI

Illinois head coach Lovie Smith shakes hands with fans along Grange Grove before the game against Purdue at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 13.

every season during his tenure. Topping off the list is Alabama football head coach Nick Saban, who made over $11.1 million last season, including a $4 million signing bonus. His annual salary, before bonuses, has been marked just above $8 million. But that gargantuan

payday didn’t happen overnight. It took 11 years and a record of 127-20 to slingshot Saban into the top slot. According to USA Today, Meyer and Harbaugh make up the next two spots, respectively, and first-year Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher sits in third collecting $7.5 million this

season. While Smith is collecting nearly half of what Saban is, he’s still an oddity among everyone else earning above $5 million. But Smith isn’t only among college football’s highest paid, he’s the also the highest paid public employee in Illinois.

Because the University of Illinois is a public institution, Smith is recognized as a “state employee” and the highest paid employee at the school. After Smith, the second-highest-paid state employee is head men’s basketball coach Brad Underwood, who’s set to collect $2.85 million this year. The

next highest-paid coach on the Illinois football staff is offensive coordinator Rod Smith at $500,000, however, former assistant coach Hardy Nickerson earned $650,000 a year before resigning mid-season. @Meghan_Rest merest2@dailyillini.com

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Monday, December 17, 2018

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Monday, December 17, 2018

Pygmalion Festival moves back to campus

KENYON EDMOND THE DAILY ILLINI

Nico Hualde and Michael Kramer of local band The Dry Look perform on the small stage at The Canopy Club at this year’s Pygmalion Festival, which happened Sept. 26-29.

KENYON EDMOND THE DAILY ILLINI

JPEGMAFIA performs at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center during Pygmalion. JPEGMAFIA’s energetic, provocative raps created one of the most memorable sets of the festival weekend.

KENYON EDMOND THE DAILY ILLINI

Cuco raps on the Theater Stage at The Canopy Club during Pygmalion Festival. Cuco’s personable demeanor set a feelgood mood throughout the venue.

KENYON EDMOND THE DAILY ILLINI

Local rapper CJ Run performs on the Theater Stage at The Canopy Club during Pygmalion Festival. In the last year, CJ Run has broken out of the local scene, playing in Chicagoland festivals like Wicker Park Fest.

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0 t 0 a 0 l k 5 s a d k r s ag a l A BY ZOE STEIN STAFF WRITER

Los Angeles-based Drag Queen Alaska 5000 might be the winner of the second season of RuPaul's “Drag Race All-Stars,” but she’s been a fan of the show since it first started. “I’m an obsessed super-fan who has seen every season several times,” she said. Recently, Alaska, who first appeared on season five of “Drag Race,” and season four contestant Willam started a podcast, “Race Chaser,” where they re-watch each season and provide commentary on each episode. “We love doing the podcast,” she said. “We’re both huge admirers of the phenomenon of ‘Drag Race,’ and we both have an insider’s perspective.” But the podcast isn’t just about re-watching the show. The duo dissects each episode, working to reveal why “Drag Race” is as popular as it is and identifies what makes it so entertaining. The reason for its popularity? The dedication and hard work of the creators. “It’s really good … it’s full of layers and Easter eggs and tidbits that keep on delivering even after multiple rewatches,” Alaska said. “It is clear that the people who work on this show really care about the product and make it something very special.” She’s frequently asked

when the podcast will dive into seasons four and five — Willam’s and her seasons, respectively. Alaska’s answer: “After we do seasons two and three!” But when the time comes, re-watching Alaska’s own season and eventual All-Star wins begs the question of whether or not she would change anything if she could do the experience over again. “I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve been given great blessings and I’ve also gone through the fire, but without those difficult moments I wouldn’t be who I am today,” Alaska said. “Winning was great. Losing was great too. It’s all about just taking in each moment and working hard and moving forward.” Don’t think “All-Stars 2” is the last you’ll see of Alaska on your television screen. Rumors have been swirling about an all-winners season of “Drag Race.” And if it does come, expect to see Alaska competing for the crown. “When RuPaul calls, I answer. So, of course, I would do it. I don’t think they’re going to any time soon, but Anus-thing is possible,” she said. The show has been invaluable for Alaska and her personal development, but has also opened up a slew of opportunities after as well. “The fact that RuPaul’s ‘Drag Race’ exists has given me the opportunity to have a career. I’m so grateful every day that I get to do this crazy thing called

drag for a living,” Alaska said. “Drag Race” has given Alaska a platform for her artistry. She’s been able to release several albums since her time on the show, including solo work and collaborations. Her most recent release, titled “Amethyst Journey,” was co-created with Jeremy Mikush and released under the moniker of Alaska and Jeremy. “We’ve been making music together for years, so we figured it’s about time we get into a studio and record an album,” Alaska said. “To write and conceptualize it, we went into the woods of the Russian River Valley in Northern California, and we listened to the river and the forest and put pen to paper. What was born out of that experience was ‘Amethyst Journey,’ which is really personal and really witchy and spiritual.” From being on “Drag Race” twice, creating and releasing music and countless other opportunities, Alaska’s tour schedule can be hectic. For her, self-care is a must. “The biggest thing is staying in the present moment. When I start thinking about how few hours of sleep I’ll be getting, and how many more shows in a row I have to do, I can get really discouraged and lose perspective,” she said. “When I’m able to take one thing at a time, and one moment at a time, I’m able to enjoy the process and be the best I can be.”

Of course, that’s all easier said than done. But with support from her fans, she’s able to enjoy opportunities as they come. Despite her success, at the end of the day, the fans dedication and support are what mean the most to her. Alaska, undoubtedly, loves her fans just as much as they love her. In every artist’s career, there comes an “I’ve made it” moment: that might come from winning an award, or releasing music or winning “Drag Race.” But for Alaska, that moment is none of those things. “The Alaska tattoos really get me,” she said. “They still do. There’s a lot of beautiful kids out there with my face or my symbol emblazoned upon their body. I’m so proud of that, and I want to be fierce for them.” Her strength and willingness to work constantly to reach her goals is inspiring to many. Her advice to local drag queens? “Work! There are opportunities everywhere, and it’s the queens who say yes that get more opportunities coming their way.” For Alaska, drag isn’t just about working gigs and making money. It’s about showing the world her art and giving audiences her all on stage, whether a gig is paid or free. “Drag is a gift. Give it wherever you can,” she said. zstein3@readbuzz.com

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