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THURSDAY February 27, 2020

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Vol. 149 Issue 43

LONGFORM: PART 2 OF 4

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Food insecurity on campus: Addressing the stigma are fed afterward. Part of the reason the stigma around food insecurity persists is because the problem is easy to hide. And not just from friends, teachers and peers — but from family members, too. Pantin comes from a single-parent household, where her mom worked a lot to support them both. Years later, Pantin learned while she was in middle school, her mom didn’t eat. Taylor Chism, senior in FAA, also knows what it’s like to keep food insecurity a secret. Coming from a middle to lower class family in Joliet, no one talked money in Chism’s home. To this day, Chism still doesn’t really talk about finances outside her close friends. “I don’t bring (my financial situation) up in class or to my teachers,” she said. “I try to keep it more

BY ZAINAB QURESHI STAFF WRITER

A big part of the problem of food insecurity has to do with the stigma it carries, especially in a campus setting. The lack of awareness on college campuses combined with the psychological anxieties makes the issue that much more complex. Jessica Delost, the campus and community connector at University Place Christian Church, feels as though “people are often more open about homelessness than they are about food insecurity.” Delost mentions she’s much more aware of the attendees who have experienced homelessness than those who are food insecure. Delost often wonders whether the reason she has so many volunteers at the community dinners is because she makes sure they

personal.” Growing up, Chism had limited financial resources, so she didn’t always have access to healthy food. Her meals often consisted of PB&Js and hotdogs as a kid. For Chism, trying to institute healthy changes as an adult has been challenging. “The first time I went grocery shopping I had a panic attack in the grocery store because I was freaked out,” she said. “I try to make better choices than what I grew up with because being in college has taught me a lot about health. Not having a car is hard, and County Market is so expensive.” Now, when she goes shopping for food, she often finds herself weighing her health and her budget side by side. Knowing that produce expires much quicker than frozen food and ramen, she halfheartedly sticks to the

inside half of the grocery store, typically where the nonperishable items are located. When she does venture to the other side, she has to ask herself questions like, “Am I going to risk getting this?” or “Am I actually going to eat this?” Ben Joselyn, a coordinator at the Community Learning Lab, has been involved in multiple ventures to aid in the food insecurity epidemic across the community. He said the lack of understanding about food insecurity comes from a lack of understanding about poverty at large, saying “money is equated to worth.” He went on to explain how financial instability can be connected to feelings of unworthiness due to societally bred standards, manifesting anxiety and causing other mental health SEE UNFED | 3A

RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI

A volunteer offers community members milk, eggs and frozen meat at the Wesley Food Pantry on Feb. 20. Wesley Food Pantry hosts a community-wide pantry each Thursday from 5-7 p.m.

Students move from temporary housing Dorm lounges no longer in use as overflow accommodations BY ALIZA MAJID STAFF WRITER

University Housing has announced there are no students remaining in the temporary housing areas after an overflow of students last semester. The study lounges were essentially converted into dorm rooms this fall, said Jessica Skocinski, freshman in LAS. The tables in the study lounges were moved and replaced with four bunk beds. The Ikenberry Commons, ISR and FAR all participated in overflow housing efforts. Since there was a recordbrea king number of freshmen admitted into the University this fall, there was a need for the temporary housing facilities to accommodate incoming students. The University guarantees housing for freshmen, which is why this plan has been implemented. Students who were placed into these temporary lodging areas were given 50% off their housing fee during their stay in these areas. The University does not have this displacement issue every year, but it plans out the housing situation a year and a half before the start of the school year to make sure all incoming students have a place to stay on campus. The record number of first-year students forced the University to turn to temporary housing. “(We were) able to make adjustments to ensure that we were able to put as few residents in temporary housing as we could,” said Chelsea Hamilton, senior director of communications. As soon as people opt out of attending the University or as other living arrangements arise, students in temporary housing would be allowed to move in. “This year we had 25 students who were still in temp housing after fall break, and we leave them there because students have shared with us in the past that they don’t like to move toward the end of the finals because there’s been a concern for academics, so we just felt like ‘OK, we’re listening to a resident,’” Hamilton said.

ETHAN SIMMONS THE DAILY ILLINI

Dunia Ghanimah, senior in LAS and co-author of Illinois Student Government Resolution 03.61, presents her case for the resolution alongside authors Buthaina Hattab and Ahlam Hatib. Since its passing, the resolution sparked divided reactions and issues with voting records threaten to nullify the act.

Vetoed resolution faces potential nullification SENIOR REPORTER AND ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

The executive branch veto of senate-backed Illinois Student Government Resolution 03.61: “Violations of Human Rights in University Investments,” sparked divided reactions on either side of the issue. To opponents of the resolution, it was validation. To authors and supporters, it meant betrayal. Issues with voting records on the resolution threaten to nullify the entire resolution and executive action, potentially leading to a rehearing of the five-and-ahalf-hour senate meeting two weeks ago. The non-binding resolution called for the University to divest from defense companies Elbit Systems, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon, all of which have supplied weapons or defense technology to Israel. It passed the senate floor with 20 affirmative votes, nine

Because the residents liv ing in tempora r y housing were held there until finals were done, they were not moved into permanent housing until the spring semester. The transitioning period would have caused trouble for students during finals season, which is why it was held off until after break.

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Skocisnki said students who have lived in these t emp or a r y hou s i n g areas may have various experiences, but there are certain differences between this arrangement and a permanent dorming area. “It didn’t feel too different from dorms,” Skocinski said. “Except now that I’m in a new dorm, I see the

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things we couldn’t do in the temporary dorm. We couldn’t change our bed arrangements. It was just wherever, whoever got there first got to pick the best bed and desk. It was kind of stressful with three other roommates since we had to be in a quad.”

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY HOUSING

Temporary housing units in ISR converted lounges into makeshift dorm rooms using bunk beds and desks. All students living in temporary housing have been relocated this semester.

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against and seven abstentions at 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 13, but online records after the meeting displayed 21 in the affirmative. The petition was filed by Casey Griffin, ISG student senator and senior in FAA. Griffin was one of the student senators whose online voting record did not match the in-person decision. According to Griffin, the discrepancy stems from dead batteries in the iClickers student senators use to vote. When extra batteries weren’t available to fill their iClickers, senators had to use batteries from the iClickers of absent senators or use a different iClicker entirely. For Griffin, the concern is twofold — Griffin wants student voters to know where their college’s senators stand on the issue and wants to halt action on the resolution before things go further. “It’s really important we have accurate voting records and we know who’s voted

BY ETHAN SIMMONS AND YOOJIN SON

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• Robbery and attempted aggravated battery was reported in the 2000 block of Garden Hills Drive around noon Monday. According to the report, the victim prevented a robbery attempt on her purse. • An arrest was made on the charges of burglary from motor vehicle was reported in the 300 block of West Vine Street around 12:30 p.m. Monday. According to the report, the suspect was caught burglarizing a motor vehicle. Multiple reports of the suspect were made that same morning. A knife, credit cards, a GPS system and a radio were all reported stolen. • Battery was reported in the 5o0

block of South Prospect Avenue • An arrest was made on the chargaround 11 p.m. Monday. Accordes of domestic battery and home ing to the report, the offender, invasion in the 1300 block of who was intoxicated, got into a North Lincoln Avenue around 2 physical fight with the victim, p.m. Monday. According to the who was the driver of the vehicle report, the suspect broke into she was riding in. the victim’s apartment and battered her. University • Domestic dispute was report• Nothing to report. ed in the 500 block of Fairlawn Drive around 8:3o a.m. MonUrbana day. According to the report, the • Burglary from a motor vehicle offender and victim were in a datwas reported in the 800 block of ing relationship and have two West Iowa Street around 8 p.m. children together. The offender Monday. According to the report, went to the victim’s residence to the unknown offender entered discuss custody of the children, the victim’s unlocked car and and a domestic dispute started. stole the security lug socket for the car’s tires. news@dailyillini.com

Scholarship aims to fund FAFSA-ineligible students BY ALIZA MAJID STAFF WRITER

TheHOPEscholarshipisa student-lead initiative that focuses on providing financial aid for students who aren’t eligible for government-based funding. “That includes, but it isn’t limited to, undocumented students, trans students, students with misdemeanors and then we have a supplemental insight on the side in case of emergencies for international students,” said Arnoldo Ayala, junior in LAS, HOPE department director and speaker pro tempore. The scholarship focuses on giving opportunities to students who are unable to pay for higher education. Much of the scholarship is influenced by the recent RISE Act passed in Illinois that allows this scholarship to exist. “The HOPE scholarship is not only for undocumented students; it also includes the same groups that the RISE Act includes,” said Executive Associate Vice Chancellor Gio Guerra Pérez. “So the HOPE scholarship mirrors the RISE scholarship, so you can not remove one from the other.” The funding for the scholarship will come from the tuition all students pay

and would provide these individuals the finances needed to receive a proper education. “Basically, everybody’s tuition would be just getting an extra fee of $3.50, and this would all be going to the college for these students,” said Kevin Garcia, junior in Business and president of iCause. This initiative has been repeatedly advocated for over the years. With the RISE Act gaining attention and being adapted into various colleges, many potential students are able to receive higher education. The process of creating this scholarship has been long and strenuous, but the students in charge of this procedure are determined to make this a reality. The scholarship is a student initiative, with many of the students taking charge to pass it and help fellow peers who may need this aid, according to Pérez. “I am proud of their resilience,” Pérez said. “I’m proud of their commitment to help fellow students who, because of their situation, had confronted a lot of barriers in getting financial aid or financial support to cover the cost of tuition, tuition fees and more. So that is what I’m very proud of: this solidar-

The HOPE Scholarship The HOPE scholarship is in the midst of development to aid students who aren’t qualified to receive financial aid from FAFSA

Who is eligible for the HOPE scholarship:

- DACA recipients - Transgender students - Students with minor misdemeanors - International students - Students who have over 75 credit hours Source: https://osfa.illinois.edu/types-of-aid/other-aid/rise-act/ CADE WHARTON THE DAILY ILLINI

ity that has been shown to these students.” The students continue to advocate for individuals who may need financial aid and aren’t able to receive government funding. As of right now, the scholarship is still processing in the system, and the students are moving forward with their plans. The students in charge of this scholarship have been communicating with Illinois Student Government to move forward with this project. The initial reso-

lution was passed in the spring last year and is currently in the midst of budgeting and planning the application process. “As of right now, this past semester in the fall, we had to present to the Student Financial Advisory board, and we had to come up with a whole presentation as to why this would be important for students and kind of come up with the structure (of the scholarship) a little bit,” Garcia said. alizam2@dailyillini.com

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Corrections In the Feb. 24 edition of the Daily Illini it was stated that Illini Hall is being renovated. However, it is being replaced by a new building. The Daily Illini regrets this error.

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problems for those facing impoverished conditions. “The stigmatization comes from the fact that not having enough is equated to not being enough,” he said. “If we’re not doing well (financially) then we tend to think there is something wrong with us inherently. People are unwilling to talk about food insecurity and not having enough because it is widely viewed by society as flaws with the individual.” Joselyn further explained how food insecurity falls under the larger umbrella of poverty. “We place poverty and broad societal problems on the backs of individuals, and we believe that if people are poor it has something to do with their character,” he said. “Until we solve that, it’s going to be very hard to convince people to talk about their personal situation.” Studies have proven the benefits of eating while studying. The pressures of school combined with lack of energy contributes to more physical and mental stress on students. These students can be caught up in mere survival, Joselyn said. “We find that people who are poor do worse in school

because they’re looking at solving their immediate situation,” he said. “The subjects they’re studying aren’t as interesting because they have more pressing problems.” Joselyn himself was food insecure as an undergraduate student at Everg reen State College in Washington. From his experience, he knows how not having enough food affects academic performance and mental health, which he said later “leads to the inability to acquire better opportunities.” Chism currently lives with anxiety about having enough resources to sustain herself. Growing up, she lived “paycheck to paycheck.” Now, as a college student, she is constantly thinking about how she is going to support herself. “I’ve always felt, even when I was a child, that I’m not going to have enough,” she said. “I try to save as much as I can because I feel like I’m not going to have it the next day.” Students like Chism and Pantin have more responsibilities than other students. “I didn’t receive any financial assistance from my family,” Pantin said. “If anything, I financially

assist them, and so I can only imagine for other people who may not have the scholarships or who had to take out loans how stressful this can be.” For those attending a university where students come from different backgrounds and financial situations, being food insecure can feel isolating at times. Simply put, you can’t always tell when someone doesn’t have enough to eat, but people who don’t have enough to eat may be acutely aware of how often and how much others spend their money. This can contribute to the stigma surrounding food insecurity and make asking for help even harder. “Being at this school, (it feels like) there are so many rich people,” Chism said. “Everyone is buying Starbucks every day and going out to (The) Red Lion and spending $20-40 every night, and that’s not really me.” The stigma also fosters feelings of shame these students have to carry with them. “Even now I don’t want a lot of people to attach my name to my face (and know this is about me),” Pantin said when referring to being interviewed for this article. zqures7@dailyillini.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF UIUC BLACK AND LATINO MEN’S SUMMIT

Members of the Black and Latino Summit pose with the graphic promoting the 2020 Summit on Saturday. A decade-long event, this year’s event was themed “Unearthing the Root — Cultivating a New World.”

Black, Latino men gather for summit Workshops explore ways to mediate inequalities, injustices

BRIGIDA DOCKUS THE DAILY ILLINI

A community member makes their way down the buffet-style food service line at the University Place Christian Church on the evening of Feb. 19.

BY LASZLO RICHARD TOTH STAFF WRITER

Students from over a dozen institutions all around Illinois and parts of the Midwest came to the University on Saturday to be a part of the Black and Latino Male Summit. The free annual summit is organized by students with the assistance of the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center and La Casa Cultural Latina and has been going on for over a decade. The event provides an opportunity for enrichment for black and Latino men on campus. This year’s theme was “Unearthing the Root — Cultivating a New World.” Attendees could choose from three of nine potential workshops to attend throughout the day, which represented various subthemes like history and world building. Workshops included “Queering Brotherhood: Unity in Hermandad,” which explored transphobia and homophobia in the U.S. and how the activism done by Latino and black men to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights is consistently ignored. The “5th and Hill: We’re not Stuck on Stupid,” work shop i n for me d students about the former chemical plant located in the predominantly black neighborhood of Fifth and Hill in Champaign. Universit y a lumnus Perry Benson, who now is a professor of sociology at the College of Lake County, served as this year’s keynote speaker. During his speech, Benson provided seven suggestions for what actions can be taken by students of color to help mediate the inequalities and injustices in the world around them, which often directly pertain to their lives. “ Un d e r s t a n d a nd recognize that being a student of color, in particular at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, is a great privilege, and opportunity and responsibility,” Benson said. “We need to make

FROM 1A

RESOLUTION

PHOTO COURTESY OF UIUC BLACK AND LATINO MEN’S SUMMIT

The Black and Latino Male Summit took place Saturday at the I Hotel and Conference Center. Students organized the event with assistance from the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center and La Casa Cultural Latina.

sure that we’re doing what we need to do in that responsibility … and being true to who we are as we grow and expand and connect with the greater University at large.” Benson noted the summit has become much more student-led since he attended as a student about 25 years ago. The BLMS has a sister summit, the Black and Latina Womxn’s Summit, which will be taking place this Saturday. According to Jorge Mena Robles, assistant director at La Casa who helped lead the student planning committee for the BLMS, said part of the reason there are two specific summits based on gender pertains to the fact that initially there had only been a male summit, so the womxn’s summit was created separately to bridge this gap. However, the separation of the two summits also reflects the fact the experiences and challenges

faced by people of color do differ individually based on gender. The BLMS provides an opportunity for black and Latino men to think about and discuss the issues that pertain specifically to them. “(The BLMS) was very strategically created as a space for men of color to be honest and vulnerable and share and learn, which unfortunately isn’t a possibility everywhere,” Mena Robles said. “It was strategically made by men as a space for men.” All in all, many attendees felt empowered by the summit. “Oftentimes I wouldn’t think I have much power, either within my community or within my organization,” said Alfredo Zavala, junior in ACES, who was in attendance at the summit. “One of the biggest things I got out of it was feeling motivated to actually voice all the opinions I have.” ltoth2@dailyillini.com

for what,” Griffin said. “We ended up reaching a stage past the deliberative action by the senate into executive action, where the president was able to pass or veto this resolution before we knew how individual senators had voted. Senators were not able to check the voting records and see if they voted properly.” The judiciary will determine if the vote on Resolution 03.61 followed “improper voting procedures” detailed in ISG’s constitution. The nullification discussion began at Wednesday’s judicial meeting. A ndrew Ma i k isch, associate justice and senior in LAS, is the longest serving member of the ISG judiciary, having held office since Sept. 2017. This is the first he can recall of the judiciary potentially nullifying a senate vote and executive action on a resolution. “Should precedent not already exist, then it’s possible whatever ruling follows will be the future framework for anyone who feels the student government has followed improper voting procedures on senate resolutions,” Maikisch said. Even if the vote isn’t nullified, the student senate could override ISG president Connor Josellis’s veto of the resolution with a twothirds majority. Considering Resolution 03.61 passed the senate with 20 affirmative out of the 36 responding senators, the margin would be tight.

Divided reactions

Josellis and Vice President Jack Langen have come under fire for vetoing Resolution 03.61 by the bill’s authors and supporters. UIUC Divest condemned the veto in a Facebook statement, endorsed by 26 other political, ethnic a nd env i r on ment a l organizations on campus and elsewhere. UIUC Divest is the organization

responsible for this month’s resolution. Dunia Gh a n i m a h , co-author of the resolution and senior in LAS, said the veto broke the solidarity she felt with October’s passing of Resolution 03.29: “Condemning Ignorance of Racism and Equating Anti-Zionism with Anti-Semitism.” “We felt like Josellis went against his own words in the (October) Massmail when he said anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism,” Ghanimah said. “That’s why it hurt more when (Josellis) vetoed because we thought he cared about Palestinian human rights and their voices on campus.” Josellis said he agreed the University should divest from companies that violate human rights and Israel has perpetrated human rights violations against Palestinians. “There were fears that this resolution leads to high rates of anti-Semitism, or fears (Jewish students) would have to hide their identities, and I can’t ignore that,” Josellis said. “I’m just not comfortable approving a resolution that so many students had those objections to and that they’d feel isolation if it passes.” The resolution has caught the attention of various national and international publications, including Fox News, The Jerusalem Post, Jewish News Syndicate and The Arab American News, among others. Illinois Rep. Bob Morgan, former ISG president, released a statement condemning the resolution after it passed through the senate. Daniel Raab, sophomore in LAS, voiced his support of the veto at Wednesday’s ISG meeting. Raab criticized the “harassment” toward ISG’s executive branch, and said its veto brought some “sense of normalcy and protection that Jewish students lack on this campus.” Ian Katsnelson, student senator and sophomore

in LAS, led the senate opposition to the bill. He said prospective Jewish students have reached out to him expressing that “they can’t go to this University” because of campus incidents of anti-Semitism. “The walkout we had in fall semester, the antiSemitism and swastikas here, the BDS resolution: These are all just multiple layers to the cake of why a student would feel unsafe going here,” Katsnelson said.

University statement, senator outreach

Many students were taken aback by University Student Affairs stating they had “no plans to act on” the resolution just minutes after the meeting. Griffin sat in on a meeting with Vice Chancellor Danita Brown Young, who said the statement was prepared by multiple departments prior to the ISG meeting on Feb. 12. “The fact is, if the actions of the student government didn’t matter, they wouldn’t have had that press release ready to go,” Griffin said. “There wouldn’t have been multiple units collaborating on it.” The authors said multiple senators reached out after the meeting looking to write divestment resolutions of their own. One opposed U.S. Immigration, Customs and Enforcement, another looked to oppose China for the detention of Uyghur Muslims. “The whole goal of the resolution was to set a precedent,” said Ahlam Khatib, co-author of the resolution and senior in LAS. “We’re Palestinians, so we’re going to call out human rights abuses committed against us. The goal would be that other groups would be able to uplift other marginalized groups to release their own resolutions or statements against their own abuses.” ecsimmon@dailyillini.com yjson2@dailyillini.com

THURSDAY February 27, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

LIFE & CULTURE

VISHESH ANAND THE DAILY ILLINI

Blair Polinsky (left), Katie Underwood (center-left), Jake Tennant (center-right) and Dylan Abrams, founders of College Ventures, discuss the organization’s future plans on Tuesday evening. College Ventures was initially started to make education more accessible for those with limited financial means in the Champaign-Urbana area, with the ultimate goal of funding Champaign Central High School students’ University tuition.

College Ventures challenges barriers Students raise funds to send Champaign Central high schoolers to UI BY ELIZABETH SAYASANE ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

of around 60 students. Each student will be expected to raise $150 by sending out their page to friends and family. By the end, he hopes the team will have collected $10,000, which they will give to a high school student to be used for college tuition. Abrams has plans to expand this organization to other campuses. When an acquaintance reached out on LinkedIn asking to get involved, Abrams helped him set up a chapter on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus.

After graduation this spring, Abrams will be attending a year of school at New York University and also hopes to set up a chapter there. “I plan on continuing to run it throughout the year, and I don’t have a deadline on when we’re going to stop,” he said. “It’s something that we’re always going to do.” Jake Tennant, senior in LAS and a founding board member, will also be continuing the mission when he attends law school. Tennant was a key player in the development process.

Abrams brought the idea to him last summer, and Tennant said he readily agreed. “I’ve been involved with numerous nonprofits before,” he said. “When (Abrams) explained to me the idea of College Ventures, I was thrilled to be involved.” What attracted Tennant to the idea was it is a studentfor-student charity. He said normally, older people are running nonprofit organizations. Having a college student-oriented outlook on the organization

Dylan Abrams, senior in ACES, came up with an idea to bridge the educational gap between the wealthy and disenfranchised poor during his daily meditation. Through his gratitude training, he realized how important his education was to him, and he wanted to help others have the same experience. College Ventures is Abrams’s initiative to get college students involved in raising money to help a high school student come to the University. He and his team hope to raise $10,000 for a student at Champaign Central High School. Gratitude training is a practice Abrams does to help himself be grateful for the life he has. One day, as he was thinking about gratitude, he said he thought about how thankful he was for his education. This led him to think of the millions of students who do not have the same opportunities. He said he felt an obligation to help those who lacked the same opportunities he had. “Education is really, really important,” he said. “You see the cycle of the affluent and the well-off going to great schools and being successful monetarily after they graduate, and it’s that cycle of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.” College Ventures works as a fundraising campaign through a crowdfunding platform. As Abrams describes it, the initiative will be organized into teams The founding team of College Ventures poses together in a Lincoln Hall stairway on Tuesday.

struck him as unique. Tennant said he wanted to have an impactful part in growing the organization. He has helped to develop a strategic game plan from Abrams’s initial idea. He brought on Katie Underwood, sophomore in ACES, to help with operations and outreach. He will also be bringing the organization with him wherever he goes next. “It ’s important for current students to really enable the next generation to have the education that they are currently having

VISHESH ANAND THE DAILY ILLINI

or maybe just finished,” he said. After both Tennant and Abrams leave campus in the spring, the younger members of the executive board such as Underwood a nd Bla ir Polinsk y, sophomore in Business, will continue growing the Champaign-Urbana branch. Polinsky knew Abrams from another organization she did marketing for, and he thought she would be an asset for College Ventures. She is currently doing the marketing and social media for the organization. While the organization is based on the idea of students for students, Polinsky said she has not seen the interest in this type of philanthropy from many students. “I honestly haven’t see that much of an urgency,” she said. “I feel that students don’t realize how lucky they are to be at such a great university and receive such a good education.” She hopes College Ventures will help grab the attention of students and focus it on this issue. Polinsky said this is an important cause for her. She said because she was fortunate enough to go to school with few monetary concerns, she would like to help lesson someone else’s anxiety about education. “College Ventures is really showing students that we are so fortunate to be able to be here, and we should be able to bridge that gap between lowincome students and higher education,” Polinsky said. eis3@dailyillini.com

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Thursday, February 27, 2020

Group gives second chances for societal re-entry First Followers runs program, offers essential needs for formerly incarcerated BY SAMANTHA BOYLE NEWS EDITOR

Marlon Mitchell founded a re-entry program called First Followers in 2015 with James Kilgore, a professor at the University who also spent six years in federal prison. Mitchell said he came up with the idea of the program, because there was a need not being met. According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, about 28,000 people are released from prisons in Illinois each year. Many have nowhere to go, sometimes even going back to prison. Others make their way to Champaign County, a seemingly popular re-entry site for those who were formerly incarcerated. “People need these resources to get their lives together,” Mitchell said. “There’s no real structure or organization for when people leave prisons. We offer that.” Housed in Bethel AME Church in Champaign, First Followers is open to anyone who needs its services on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Anyone can go into the church, sign in and start meeting with team members to figure out what the next steps are. Even though First Followers is not a religious organization, the church and the church community have been more than welcoming of the program. Pa stor Te r r a n c e Thomas of Bethel said the relationship with First Followers started with the former pastor of the church

Larry Lewis. However, when Thomas took over in September, there was no doubt in his mind that he would continue this relationship. “We believe that having First Followers here would create a relationship between members of the community who needed a second chance, who needed a rebirth to the place that all second chances are rebirthed,” Thomas said. Unlike other church missions, the relationship with First Followers does more than just donate money or provide shelter and food. It provides a second chance and works to transform lives, he said. “This relationship I would argue is missional, which means it’s a little more intentional,” Thomas said. “It means that we’re helping people, not just giving them blankets and money and an occasional donation, but we’re actually giving space to those who are trying to help people reform their lives. We’re giving space to those who may have been impacted by the criminal justice system.” Thomas will often give impromptu workshops to First Followers whenever they are needed. He said his goal is not to profit or bring anyone to stay with the church but simply to be a spiritual guide. He said he focuses on trauma or the emotional/ spiritual side of reentry, guiding them through the experience and figuring out maybe, what it is that got them there in the first place, whether that is toxic masculinity or any other issue of the sort. Mitchell said any guidance is necessary, because formerly incarcerated individuals may face problems such as getting an ID card, finding a job or even finding housing. Sometimes these are things other people often do not pay attention to. The program also works to keep people from going

CASSIDY BRANDT THE DAILY ILLINI

back to jail or prison, called recidivism. “The people who study this stuff talk about the three-legged-stool,” said Andrew Leipold, professor in Law. “Jobs, family and a place to live. And if one of those is missing it’s going to be extremely hard for people to successfully reintegrate.” However, if someone does have all three in their life, they have has a great shot, Leipold said. First Followers receives a lot of help from the community. However, Leipold said that sometimes depending on how the question is asked, people don’t want to offer as much help. Ideally, most people want to help and think people being released

from prison should receive support. “Living in that community if asked, ‘do you want to provide places to live for the recently released,’ you might say no,” Leipold said. At the Champaign County Jail, however, jail superintendent Karee Voges and Sheriff Dustin Heuerman try their best to offer as many resources and guidance for reentry as possible. “Overall, the idea is to better people’s lives in the community,” Voges said. “And some don’t even realize what’s going on in our local government, because it hasn’t affected them in some way.” However, Heuerman said, it’s the taxpayers

who pay for the jail and the sheriff’s office salaries, so in hindsight, everyone should be paying attention and should care if the office is helping with re-entry and trying to decrease recidivism rates. He added the goal of the sheriff’s office isn’t to continuously just lock the bad guys away, but it’s to better the community. “I’m a sheriff, but I’m a taxpayer, too,” said Heuerman. While the sheriff’s office does not directly work with First Followers, they value its importance for the community. Voges is on the Reentry Council for the county where they often discuss how to help different programs such as First Followers.

Looking forward, Mitchell and Thomas see a long future for First Followers at Bethel. “As long as I am pastor at Bethel they will have a home here,” Thomas said. “They are an integral part of my church and community, and I absolutely love and respect them.” In addition to providing assistance to those reentering into the community, First Followers is also a point of education and awareness for others in the community. “People need to hear about us,” Mitchell said. “Five, six years ago, these conversations were not being had.” sjboyle2@dailyillini.com

CASSIDY BRANDT THE DAILY ILLINI

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The crossword solution is in the Classified section.

THURSDAY February 27, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

OPINIONS

THE DAILY ILLINI EDITORIAL

Stop appropriating celebrity grief

hen a celebrity dies, the world collectively pauses. Social media becomes flooded with the news of how and where, and for a moment, nothing else seems to matter. It’s interesting to see who comes crawling out of the woodwork following such a calamity and how their narrative will be twisted to lessen the significance of someone’s death. Famous people die, just as anyone does, but it seems to be happening a lot lately. A month ago, basketball star Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash. Last week, a group of people killed the up-and-coming rapper Pop Smoke. A few days ago Dixie Crush lead singer Lindsey Lagestee died in a car crash. There’s no doubt these people were extremely talented and were part of a lot of people’s lives. It’s hard to not feel like you personally know someone from their constant presence in popular culture. But you don’t know them, and it’s not your pain to feel. People are allowed to feel sad that their favorite artist will no longer produce music or that their childhood role model will never step foot on a

basketball court again. But whether consciously or not, many of the grievers who take to social media to express their sadness do so in a solely positive light. After Kobe Bryant’s death, tributes and homages circulated the web recounting his illustrious NBA career. His 2003 sexual assault case also resurfaced. People grieve celebrities because they display a god-like image. However, fans are fans for a reason. People only know the mask of the person and not the person themselves. This situation is similar to when a high school student dies, and it seems like they have hundreds of best friends that “knew them so well.” It’s easy to hop on the grief bandwagon, but competing for the title of who knew them best makes their death about you. It’s inconsiderate to the family and friends of a celebrity to act like you’re personally devastated. It’s rational to be sad about the passing of someone whose work you know, but the separation of those feelings with actually caring for a person whom you didn’t know is crucial.

Appropriating pain that doesn’t belong to you is not only rude but also egocentric. Make no mistake: You are taking grief from those who are actually impacted and molding it to fit your personalized view of the world: You are stealing. Giving the families and friends of dead celebrities room to grieve their loved ones is essential. Every other person in the world is afforded the privacy to mourn in peace when someone close to them passes, and it’s ignorant to assume those who were close to famous people don’t want this right as well. Just because someone chooses to live their life in the public eye, under the constant scrutiny of media outlets and fans, does not mean their family wants cameras and microphones in its faces as well. Conflating the wishes of a celebrity with the wishes of every last member of their family is illogical and careless. As Roeliff Coe Brinkerhoff said, “(F) unerals are for the living,” and thus, the rights of the surviving private citizens of a celebrity’s family must be respected. Stop stealing their grief; not everything is about you.

KAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI

PHOTO COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE

Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks with supporters at a phone bank at his presidential campaign office in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 28. Columnist Dennis questions Biden’s future.

Biden’s future proves uncertain and Genna Contino of the Greenville News, nearly 40% of black voters supCOLUMNIST port the former vice president. For all intents and purposes, Biden could very ernie Sanders scored well win South Carolina in his second consecua matter of weeks, run the tive primary victory table toward the convention in New Hampshire on Feb. and walk out of Milwaukee 11. (For purposes of transas the nominee. parency, I was part of the A possible roadblock for 2016 New Hampshire cam- his return to the White paign.) As Sanders positions House is his performance in himself as the Democratic areas where many expected Party’s frontrunner, there him to perform well: prewas one other noticeable dominantly white workingobservation: Joe Biden’s class environments. performance. As I watched Biden decry What came as a surprise media pundits for bringing to many was the former vice the health of his campaign president placing fifth, com- into question, I was reminding behind Elizabeth Wared of two things: First, he ren, Amy Klobuchar, who has a point about the health experienced a post-debate of his campaign. Students bump heading into the eve- of political history should ning, and Pete Buttigieg. know slow and steady can After a similar showing in win the race. Bill Clinton Iowa last week where Biden did not have an impresplaced fourth behind Warsive start during the 1992 ren, I am now skeptical if primary calendar, mostly this is the candidate who due to issues surrounding can defeat Donald Trump extramarital affairs, yet he this November. would become the DemoSince entering the race, cratic Party’s nominee and we have been bombarded eventual president. with discussions on “electHowever, not everyone ability.” Biden has been can overcome their politicareful in his approach to cal demons. This leads me this topic, associating him- to my second point: What self with Barack Obama’s we’re seeing from the Biden legacy while touting his campaign could be as simpre-White House years as ple as false hope. Delaware’s long-term senaIf the former vice presitor who worked with senate dent believes he can lean on Republicans on an array of the shoulders of non-white issues, showing his ability voters to victory, let me to cooperate with others he point to failed Democratic disagrees with. nominee Hillary Clinton. So far, that strategy is Throughout her contenproving ineffective, as his tious primary battle against only hope of staying in the Bernie Sanders, she lost race is to cash in on South New Hampshire, MichiCarolina, whose primary is gan, Wisconsin, Indiana, scheduled for Feb. 29 and West Virginia and essenwhere a significant portion tially secured a tie with the of the voting bloc are AfriVermont senator in Iowa. can American. As of Feb. 12, With the exception of New things are looking promHampshire, where Clinising in the state, where, ton won by less than 1%, according to Kirk Brown she would lose these states DENNIS AUSTIN

against Donald Trump in the general election. The message here is obvious: Any candidate seeking to become president must be able to capture the support of the white working class. In 2008, with the exception of West Virginia, President Obama won these very same states to become the nation’s first African American president. He understood building a diverse and broad coalition would garner the best chance of electoral success, instead of relying on pre-existing coastal support to promise victory. Donald Trump became president because, like Obama, he was able to translate a message that resonated with their realities, fears and concerns. This is what surprises me about Biden’s performance so far. His campaign in recent weeks became resigned to the fact he would not perform well in these states, a clear sign of trouble. If he is only able to muster lackluster performances in these early states, how does that bode for him when the primary calendar arrives at the aforementioned states? How can someone who had a front row seat and was instrumental in helping then-Senator Obama connect with these voters show difficulty in attracting their support? Yes, it is still early in the primary season, and we have months to go until we name a definitive nominee. Notwithstanding, Biden must be able to find out what exactly is causing him issues in a demographic many expected he would carry with little challenges. If not, we may very well see a repeat of 2016. Dennis is a junior in LAS. dennisa2@dailyillini.com

Be inclusive of left-handed people in right-handed world MARYKATE GREEN COLUMNIST

eft-handed people struggle to do some basic, everyday things that right-handed people take for granted. Let’s go through a day in your life if you were left-handed. One of the first things you do in the morning is get dressed. Wearing jeans seems like a simple choice until you realize you have to fight with your zipper all day — the flap covers the left side of it, making it a breeze for right-handers but a struggle for lefties. After the taxing decision of choosing what pants to wear, you then go to drink your morning coffee. You decide to use the brand new mug your mom got you — but the funny joke on the inside of the rim is only visible if you hold the mug with your right hand. While drinking from the

not-funny mug, you then go to get your breakfast ingredients from the refrigerator, and BAM! You hit yourself with the door with a hinge on the right side and spill your hot coffee on yourself. You then get in your car to go to work and realize you have to shift gears with your non-dominant hand. You can finally sit at your desk and get to work. Unfortunately, your mouse is wired to the right side of the computer, so it looks like you’re using your nondominant hand again. Your boss comes in and asks you to cut some papers and hands you scissors. You go to use them only to discover they’re made for right-handed people, and it’s a struggle to cut. You return home to relax and decide to play the guitar. But it seems you forgot your guitar is in the shop and your significant other only has a righthanded guitar. You give up. Many of these everyday tasks are done without

BRIAN NGUYEN THE DAILY ILLINI

thought for those of us who are right-handed, and we take it for granted. The needs of left-handed people are not taken into

account at a young age. Starting in kindergarten, we teach children to cut with right-handed scissors. Left-handed

people shouldn’t have to use special-order scissors or mugs that work for them the way they’re supposed to.

As students, there’s even an issue with the desks we have to use every day. In some lecture halls, such as Lincoln Hall Theater and Foellinger Auditorium — the majority of seats have a movable desktop that comes from the right. Right-handed students have no issue using them, but for lefthanded students, they have to hope a left-handed desk is available, reach across themselves or use the desk for the hopefully empty seat to the left of them. All throughout history, right-handedness has been institutionalized — such as when nuns in Catholic schools were allowed to hit students on the knuckles if they attempted to write with their left hand — but I think we should be celebrating these differences and start to think of ways to be more lefty-inclusive. Marykate is a sophomore in DGS. mg22@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.

THURSDAY February 27, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

SPORTS

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Hoiberg rebounds from Bulls career Cornhuskers head coach returns to college hoops BY MILES POWERS-HUANG STAFF WRITER

If you asked Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg at the start of the 2018-19 NBA season where he saw himself coaching in 16 months, he probably would’ve said at the United Center in Chicago, continuing the rebuild with the Chicago Bulls. Hoiberg was coaching at Illinois Monday night, however, he was not roaming the sidelines of the Madhouse on Madison. Instead, he was taking charge of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, hoping to steal an upset victory from Illinois at the State Farm Center in Champaign. After accumulating a 115155 record in a little over three seasons with the Bulls, Hoiberg was fired on Dec. 3, 2018. Over the course of his JONATHAN BONAGURO THE DAILY ILLINI tenure in the Windy City, Sophomore guard Alan Griffin fights through two Cornhusker defenders during Illinois’ game against Nebraska on Monday. Illinois Hoiberg oversaw two very is one of three teams tied for third place in the Big Ten standings. different rosters. He started with a squad full of veterans with expectations such as Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, Pau Gasol and Jimmy Butler in his first two sea-

Illini vie for second place spot

sons before the team decided to tank and rebuild its roster around young talent like Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter, Jr. in his final two seasons. Although fans didn’t seem surprised when his termination was announced, it can’t feel good for Hoiberg to watch the franchise stagnate in his absence, with many placing a significant portion of the blame on his successor, Jim Boylen, for the Bulls’ struggles. In need of a new job, the former Iowa State head coach decided to make a return to the college game during the offseason and accepted the job at Nebraska. The Cornhuskers were recently seen nationally as a program on the rise with an up and coming young coach in Tim Miles. But Miles couldn’t build on his breakout 201314 job, in which he guided the program to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 16 years, and Nebraska has yet to make the Big Dance since. Hoiberg knew the job wouldn’t be easy, and the tough field in the Big Ten this season has done him no favors. The Cornhuskers sit second from the bottom in the conference after the SEE HOIBERG | 3B

BY MILES POWERS-HUANG STAFF WRITER

After taking care of Nebraska on Monday night, Illinois (18-9, 10-6) faces the other basement dweller in the Big Ten standings, Northwestern (6-20, 1-15), Thursday on the road. Illinois is looking to pile on wins with seeding for the Big Ten Tournament still up in the air. Although the Illini are winning games, sophomore forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili is in the midst of a slump, one that’s seen him relegated to a bench role. Though the Wildcats are certainly having a down season, they’ve competed hard and had a chance to steal wins on more than one occasion, including the last time the two teams met.

And Second Place Goes To…

As of Tuesday night, five programs sit tied for second place in the Big Ten at 10-6, including Illinois. Beyond that, Rutgers and Michigan each sit just a game back in the win column, with the latter arguably playing the best basketball in the conference at the moment. Although first-place and No. 9 ranked Maryland may have done just enough to put itself out of reach, the placing of the teams behind it is still up in the air. “It ’s the Big Ten;

JONATHAN BONAGURO THE DAILY ILLINI

Junior guard Trent Frazier launches the ball across the court at the halftime buzzer during the game against Nebraska Monday. Frazier made the shot and helped the Illini to a 6-point lead at the break.

everybody’s good,” said Illinois head coach Brad Underwood. “I’m not shocked by anything. This league has got great coaches. We all beat up on each other. There’s no easy nights.” While the squads sit jumbled up with two weeks of regular season basketball left to play, things should clear up as all the teams

fighting for second will square off with at least one other opponent, vying for the runner-up spot in the remaining games. For Illinois, that means a matchup on Senior Night in the regular-season finale against Iowa. Interestingly enough, though Ohio State is one of the six Big Ten schools currently ranked,

SOFTBALL

the Buckeyes actually sit two games back of the second-place contenders at 8-8, matching up with the Illini on March 5. This college basketball season has easily been the most unpredictable year in a very long time. In just the JONATHAN BONAGURO THE DAILY ILLINI past week, then No. 1 Baylor Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg motions toward one of his players during the game against Illinois on Monday at State

SEE WILDCATS | 3B Farm Center. The Illini won 71-59.

MEN’S GYMNASTICS

Diab earns still rings title at Winter Cup BY BRADLEY ZIMMERMAN STAFF WRITER

PHOTO COURTESY OF ILLINI ATHLETICS

The new indoor softball facility, depicted as a computer rendering, is set to open in December 2021. The construction of the facility is partially made possible by a $3 million lead naming gift.

Donation funds new softball facility BY RACHEL SPENCER ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Illinois softball will enjoy new digs by December 2021, the Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced Monday. Plans have moved forward for a state-of-the-art indoor practice facility for the program.

Funding for the project — which will include a full infield and hitting and pitching cages — was made possible by a $3 million lead naming gift from Rex Martin and his daughters, Ashley and Alexis Martin-Close. The indoor training facility will be named after Martin and

his late wife, Alice. Previously, the Martin family donated $1 million in 2008 to complete the current softball clubhouse. The total cost for the new facility will come in at $6 million and will also feature an expanded playSEE FACILITY | 3B

Illinois gymnasts Jordan Kovach and Alex Diab competed as individuals last weekend when they competed in the USA Gymnastics Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas. The duo experienced mixed success; Kovach was injured on Day One during his vault landing and was unable to complete the all-around event he was competing in. Diab, on the other hand, won the still rings title, adding another title to an already accomplished gymnastics career. “It feels good. It’s been my goal to be a Winter Cup champion,” Diab said. “I actually did a new ring routine and dismount. It was the first time I competed with it, and it went well. I had a good performance.” Diab scored 14.600 with this routine on Day One, placing first and qualifying for Day Two. He did even better on Day Two, scoring 14.850. With a combined score of 29.450, Diab won the event 0.65 points ahead of second place.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ILLINI ATHLETICS

Alex Diab holds steady while competing in the still rings event. Fellow Illini Jordan Kovach was injured on Day One of the Winter Cup Challenge and unable to compete, but, Diab took home the still rings title.

In addition to still rings, Diab also competed on floor exercise, vault and high bar, placing in the top 20 on all of these events. “I just wanted to go in and have good performances on all four of my events,” Diab said. “I did that both days, so

I’m happy with it.” By qualifying for Day Two of the Winter Cup Challenge, Diab qualified for the 2020 U.S. Men’s Gymnastics Championship, which will be held this June in Fort SEE WINTER CUP | 3B

2B Thursday, February 27, 2020

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

Illinois triumphs over Nebraska, maintains tournament hopes

JONATHAN BONAGURO THE DAILY ILLINI

Clockwise from top left: Sophomore guard Ayo Dosunmu drives past Nebraska forward Kevin Cross during the Illinois’ game against Nebraska at State Farm Center on Monday; Junior guard Trent Frazier (left) and senior guard Andres Feliz celebrate with each other; Frazier falls down with the ball; head coach Brad Underwood roams the sideline.

AGTECH SHOWCASE & NETWORKING RECEPTION

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

Thursday, February 27, 2020

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Dosunmu crowned Big Ten Player of the Week BY BRENDYN JONES ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Illinois sophomore guard Ayo Dosunmu was named Big Ten Player of the Week, Illinois Athletics and the Big Ten announced Monday. The award follows Illinois’ only game last week in which they defeated thenranked No. 9 Penn State on the road. Dosunmu was the best player on the court against the Nittany Lions, as he scored 24 points on 9-for15 shooting, including the game-icing bucket with less

than 30 seconds left on the clock. This performance came after Dosunmu missed one game with a knee injury suffered in the final seconds against Michigan State at home on Feb. 11. The victory against the Nittany Lions snapped the Illini’s fourgame losing streak. This is the first time Dosunmu has won Player of the Week in his career. The award joins two Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards he won last season. Dosunmu is the second Illinois player to win the award

this season, joining freshman center Kofi Cockburn. Dosunmu has another chance to win the award this week as the team faces three teams in the bottom five of the conference, with Nebraska on Monday, Northwestern on Thursday and Indiana on Sunday. @brendyn_jones brendyn6@dailyillini.com

Editor’s Note: The games against Nebraska and Northwestern took place following publication.

FROM 1B

WINTER CUP

Worth, Texas. Diab has no competitions scheduled between now and then, and he intends to use the time to refine his routines and add skills to increase their difficulty, which increases the score. Kovach, meanwhile, did not fare as well as his teammate. He was supposed to compete in all six events but only completed five of them. On vault, his third event, he landed awkwardly and hyperextended his knees. “It hurt pretty bad. I just laid on the vault mat for a little bit, and I had to get walked off to the training area,” Kovach said. “They were super locked. I couldn’t really bend them.” After being treated by athletic trainers, Kovach

FROM 1B

WILDCATS

lost at home to Kansas, Duke was blown out at unranked North Carolina State and undefeated San Diego State lost its perfect season at home to a .500 University of Nevada Las Vegas team. The Big Ten has been no different, and it would be nearly impossible to accurately predict how the final standings will shake out. The players who step up will determine who comes out on top.

Bad Bezhanishvili

JONATHAN BONAGURO THE DAILY ILLINI

Sophomore guard Ayo Dosunmu dunks the ball during the game against Nebraska on Monday. After the Illini defeated the Nittany Lions last week, it was announced Dosunmu earned Big Ten Player of the Week for the first time in his career.

FROM 1B

FACILITY er lounge, increased storage and improved parking. “This new softball team indoor facility will give the young women on the team the ability to develop their leadership, teamwork and

FROM 1B

HOIBERG

entire 2018-19 roster, outside of juniors Thorir Thorbjarnarson and Dachon Burke Jr., was turned over. During the pregame introductions, Hoiberg was greeted with boisterous boos from the Orange Krush student section. And the jeering didn’t stop there, as the students continued to jokingly jab at the Nebraska coach, many making references to his time with the Bulls throughout the game. On the night, Hoiberg’s team didn’t have enough bodies to compete with the Illini. Before the game even tipped off, it was announced standout sophomore Cam Mack would miss the game due to illness. Already dealing with an inexperienced, thin roster, replacing Mack’s 12 points, 6.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game wasn’t going to be an easy task for the former Bulls coach. Although his team fell well short, 71-59, Hoiberg’s team had more than a few solid individual performances, as Burke, Thorbjarnarson, senior Haanif Cheatham and freshman Yvan Ouedraogo all scored in double figures. “Considering what we found out before the game with Cam, I thought our guys when out and battled

decision-making skills,” said Rex Martin, per Illini Athletics. “These skills will allow them to be successful individuals and strong contributors to society.” This project marks the fourth naming gift in the past two years, after Demirjian Park, the Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football

Center and the Susan and Clint Atkins Baseball Training Center. Construction of the Rex and Alice A. Martin Softball Training Center is set to begin in late 2020 and will finish in December 2021.

extremely hard all the way to the end. I’m proud of them for that,” Hoiberg said. “They are continuing through a tough stretch (and) come in every day and work on getting better and continuing to come out and play with great intensity and great effort.” A perfect image to personify Hoiberg’s first season in charge of the Cornhuskers occurred at the end of the first half, as his team clawed its way out of an early deficit and looked to be headed to the halftime break in an optimistic mood trailing by just one possession. However, Illini junior Trent Frazier proceeded to drain a shot at the buzzer from the Cornhuskers free throw line to gut-wrenchingly extend the Illinois lead to 37-31 and energize the crowd at the halfway point. To turn things around in Lincoln, Nebraska, Hoiberg will likely utilize the same roster development strategy he did during his tenure at Iowa State, where he signed under-the-radar recruits and numerous transfers to build a Big 12 championship contender. While in Ames, Iowa, Hoiberg’s most famed recruiting pickups were lowfour star prospects Georges Niang and Monte Morris, while his best transfer additions included Royce White, Will Clyburn, Deandre Kane, Abdel Nader and Deonte Bur-

ton, all of whom went on to play professional basketball at some level, mostly in the NBA. Thus far, Nebraska has already landed a commitment from junior college wing Teddy Allen, formerly a highlyregarded player at West Virginia and then Wichita State. Look for Hoiberg’s staff to be active in the transfer market this offseason with both grad transfers and players required to sit out one season. Nebraska’s rebuild may even be aided by a new proposed rule the Big Ten and ACC have already announced support for in which NCAA athletes in football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and hockey would be granted the right to transfer once without having to sit out a season no questions asked. Despite the fact his team sits at 7-20 overall, including losses at home to Southern Utah, UC Riverside and North Dakota, there’s anticipation of a quick turnaround from Hoiberg in Lincoln, especially once transfer season heats up after the NCAA Tournament. “Well, they’re gonna be good,” said Illinois head coach Brad Underwood. “I faced Fred’s teams at Iowa State, and they’re gonna be good. There’s no doubt.”

A f ter coming out of nowhere to set records as a freshman, sophomore forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili has taken a step back in his second season at Illinois. After averaging 12.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in his inaugural season, including breaking the Illinois record for points in a single game by a freshman, Bezhanishivili was averaging just eight points and five rebounds per game heading into the Feb. 11 game at home against Michigan State. Bezhanishvili ended up shooting 1-7, including 0-3 from deep, with just two points in that game, causing Underwood to move him to the bench in the following game at Rutgers in favor of using Andres Feliz and going small with four guards. The sophomore has now come off the bench in Illinois’ three games since the Michigan State loss and has continued to struggle

was able to go back out and compete on parallel bars and high bar, but his knees started to lock up again, preventing him from competing on the floor exercise. “He’s a fighter,” said head coach Justin Spring, who was in Las Vegas with Kovach and Diab. “But when you injure your leg, it’s hard to do the landings.” Kovach is scheduled for an MRI on Thursday and will learn the results the same day. “We think it’s just tight, but we want to rule out all other things and make sure he’s good to go,” Spring said. While Kovach and Diab were competing in Las Vegas, associate head coach Daniel Ribiero ran the rest of the gymnastics team through two consecutive days of all-around competition to simulate the NCAA national championship.

“We had a rough Day One, but Day Two was much better. We had some guys really step up,” Spring said. “That was exciting, but not having a good Day One is a little concerning. It’s all about consistency as far as I’m concerned, and I was a little upset with our lack of consistency.” Illinois resumes team competition this weekend with a road match against Iowa, the most consistent team in the Big Ten, according to Spring. “If we open the door up by having a fall here or there, we’re going to get beat,” Spring said. “They’re not going to do that. They’ve been very consistent. We got to really make sure that we set routines in the lineup that are going to hit.”

offensively, scoring just eight total points during the stretch, including a goose egg against Nebraska on Monday. Although he grabbed four offensive rebounds and had ample looks from close range against the Huskers, Bezhanishvili couldn’t get the right touch on the ball, shooting 0-6. “I can’t explain it; we saw him (Bezhanishvili) set a freshman school record in here and didn’t miss anything,” Underwood said. “Sometimes, the game’s evasive — it gets really hard — and I don’t know why. All I know is to keep fighting, keep grinding, and it will come back to you. You can’t wallow in that moment that it didn’t work out. It’s on to the next, and you gotta show that grit, that fight. I think, we would all be very comfortable knowing every one of those shots he took tonight, I would feel great about him shooting every single time.” Once freshman center Kofi Cockburn signed with the program last spring, it was plausible to predict a possible playing time conflict would arise between him and Bezhanishvili, as modern-day basketball isn’t geared toward lineups with two traditional big men. The hope was the two would find a way to function together, and while it worked for the first three months of the season, it’s clear the approach, especially on Bezhanishvili’s end, needs to change for the Illini to be successful in March.

Wildcats’ woes

@B_RadZimm bez2@dailyillini.com

There isn’t a lot of positives to take away from this season for Northwestern head coach Chris Collins’ team, as the Wildcats sit at 6-20, including home losses to Merrimack College (playing in its inaugural season at the Division I level), Radford and Hartford. Although they didn’t come out on top at the end in any of the matchups, Northwestern pushed Maryland twice, Rutgers on the road and even Illinois in Champaign, Illinois, on Jan. 18. On the day, the Wildcats had four players score in double figures but just couldn’t stop a balanced Illini attack, as Illinois pulled it out, 75-71. “As I watched them, it felt a little bit like our team last year,” Underwood said following the Jan. 18 game. “Just youth and maybe not quite able to play 40 minutes, (but) they were really good tonight.” The Wildcats are led by sophomore wing Miller Kopp, who averages 13 points per game to top the team. Simply put, a loss to the Wildcats would be devastating enough to likely drop the Illini a full seed line in the bracket and possibly leave them on the other side of the bubble if they find themselves there on selection Sunday, so the goal heading into Thursday needs to be to come out on top by any means necessary. @MilesP_H milesp2@dailyillini.com

@di_sports sports@dailyillini.com

@MilesP_H milesp2@dailyillini.com

JONATHAN BONAGURO THE DAILY ILLINI

Freshman center Kofi Cockburn stretches for a layup during the game against Nebraska on Monday. The Illini won the match 71-59.

4B Thursday, February 27, 2020

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Thursday, February 27, 2020

buzz calendar

Beat winter blues with self-care BY CAROLINA GARIBAY AND JILLIAN LITTLE ASSISTANT BUZZ EDITORS

In the thick of every year, life can get difficult. Work piles up, responsibilities double and you feel like you’re drowning on a daily basis. Keep in mind something important: Always practice self-care. Self-care can reduce stress levels, improve your overall productivity and help you regain that pep in your step. Here are some of our song suggestions for when you’re doing those honey face masks, meditating and cleaning a little around the house.

Created by: buzz • 12 songs

PAUSE

SONG

ARTIST

“Rill Rill”

Sleigh Bells

“The Wind”

Yusuf/Cat Stevens

“Rainbow Connection”

Kermit the Frog

“Breath (In The Air)”

Pink Floyd

“Crystal Blue Persuasion”

Tommy James and the Shondells

“I Feel Alive”

TOPS

“Rare”

Selena Gomez

“Go Your Own Way”

Fleetwood Mac

“Get Up, Stand Up”

Bob Marley and The Wailers

“Good as Hell”

Lizzo

“New Light”

John Mayer

“NASA”

Ariana Grande

BY LIAM DWYER BUZZ CALENDAR EDITOR

THURSDAY, FEB. 27

TEDxElevate

 7-8:30 p.m.  University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign  Free On Feb. 27, TEDxUIUC invites you to our second salon of the year, TEDxElevate. Hear the stories of community members who are reflecting on what or who has allowed them to “elevate.” Our speakers will be talking about ideas and issues they care about and how they wish to make a change on a local and global scale.

FRIDAY, FEB. 28

HackIllinois 2020

exposing the hypocrisy of the Nazi party’s decadence before its power crashes down upon them in 1930 Berlin.

SATURDAY, FEB. 29

Leap Day Tap Takeover and Drag Show  3 p.m.-2 a.m., Drag Show at 9 p.m.  Quality, 110 N. Neil St., Champaign  No cover Quality will be hosting an all-day event this Leap Day in support of our local LGBTQ+ community. Quality will be donating a portion of every drink sold during the entire Leap Day event, with all proceeds going to Uniting Pride of Champaign County.

 4 p.m.  University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign  See website At HackIllinois, we’re committed to supporting the vision of open source collaboration and contribution, and we are excited to welcome you to join us in our mission. We are a beginner-friendly event, so don’t worry if you haven’t worked with open-source software before! We’ll have many accomplished contributors to help you get on the right track. Application required.

Drew Baldridge at The City Center

Cabaret

That’s What Teens Say Performance

 7:30-9:30 p.m.  Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana  $15 students, $10 UI students, $25 standard Willkommen! Bienvenue! Welcome! This joint production celebrates Krannert Center’s 50-year partnership with the School of Music, Lyric Theatre @ Illinois, Illinois Theatre and Dance at Illinois. In a historical moment marching toward unimagined horrors, a sexually free cabaret emcee guides us on a journey through the lives of the naive, the passive, the respectable, the nationalistic, the fervent and the optimistic while

 8 p.m.  The City Center, 505 S. Chestnut St., Champaign  $15 Party Pit, $10 general Drew Baldridge is an American country music singer and songwriter. He has issued several independent singles via Cold River Records and has charted several times on Country Airplay.

SUNDAY, MAR. 1

 3-4 p.m.  The Virginia Theatre, 203 W. Park Ave., Champaign  $5 suggested donation Following a weekend of empowerment, improv games and storytelling taught by Jenette Jurczyk of The She Said Project and a team of mentors ... these teen girls will take the stage to bravely share a personal story from their lives. Come support our Champaign-Urbana teens!

The buzz calendar is a compilation of events happening in the Champaign-Urbana area. Follow our top picks in Monday’s and Thursday’s papers for ideas on what to do on any night of the week, from where to eat to what to watch. Want to submit an event? Email calendar@readbuzz.com.

KENYON EDMOND THE DAILY ILLINI

VENICE BAROQUE ORCHESTRA: THE SWEDISH NIGHTINGALE

TH FEB 27

WE MAR 4

Krannert Uncorked with the Chip Stephens Organ Trio

5PM

7:30PM

Illinois Modern Ensemble // School of Music

// Marquee

7:30PM

Cabaret // Illinois Theatre

TH MAR 5

FR FEB 28 7:30PM 7:30PM

5PM

Cabaret // Illinois Theatre Illinois Wind Orchestra and Hindsley Symphonic Band

7:30PM

Krannert Uncorked with Dearie // Marquee Venice Baroque Orchestra: The Swedish Nightingale // Marquee

// School of Music

FR MAR 6 SA FEB 29 6:30PM 7:30PM

10AM

Dessert and Conversation: Cabaret // Cabaret // Illinois Theatre

Dance for People with Parkinson’s // Marquee

Illinois Theatre

SA MAR 7 7:30PM

Diamonds and Gems // Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra

ACCESS FOR ALL TWO-SEASON CHALLENGE Everyone deserves a chance to experience the life-affirming power of the performing arts. In celebration of Krannert Center’s 50th anniversary, make a gift today at KrannertCenter.com/Give to ensure access to the arts for all. Every dollar given will be matched by generous sponsors.

KR ANNERTCENTER.COM • 50 0 S. GOODWIN AVE., URBANA • 217.333.6280 /80 0.KCPATIX

THURSDAY February 27, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

z buz

KENYON EDMOND THE DAILY ILLINI

Patrons of Exile on Main watch as Zzo performs for record store day on April 13. Zzo’s newly released EP “Temporary Bliss” offers three jazz-influenced tracks.

Zzo delights listeners with whimsical melodies BY KATIE POWERS BUZZ EDITOR

buzz factor: Local singer-songwriter Zzo, real name Zoe Willott, released a new threesong EP this month, titled “Temporary Bliss.” The EP comes as a follow up to her album “Telling Other People’s Stories” which she released in 2018. Although it is brief, the EP offers simple yet powerful,

personal stories and a showcase of Willott’s delicate voice and jazz influence in a wellproduced, sophisticated package. Willott’s voice is soft and airy, but on each track, she still commands attention from listeners without getting lost in the vibrant piano, another area in which she is highly skilled. The EP’s title track “Temporary Bliss” as though the listener is being lifted off the ground and off into the sky. Sonically, the track is whim-

sical thanks to the airy harmonies and repetitive piano chords. This sense of escapism is a powerful juxtaposition to the song’s story by providing the experience of escaping the difficulties of reality for a fleeting moment, which is a distinct, familiar feeling. The next track, “Alone” turns the concept of loneliness on its head in a way that’s complex but still subtle enough to feel nuanced. Throughout the song, Wil-

lott sings about the joy and relief of being alone following a difficult relationship, but set against a languid piano with a distinct jazz influence, the song is rather melancholy. The EP concludes with “Here,” in which Willott repeatedly sings, “where do we go from here” in gentle harmony. Although the repeating theme and overall message of the song is relatively straightforward, it is perhaps the most abstract addition to the album, a result of the chaotic

piano backing behind. While the song is most likely a reflection on a broken relationship and what it means to move on from it, the motif fits well into the meta-question as to the kind of themes, both lyrically and sonically, that Willott’s music will take on in her future projects. It’s easy to imagine the experience of listening to the songs on this EP in a live setting. Willott’s voice echos through each track, and while it isn’t exactly party music, it’s

exciting to think about how it would sound in a venue filled with a captivated crowd taking in her sound and the message of her music. The lyrics on each track of “Temporary Bliss” are simple but smart and stunning. The production of each track is professional and showcases the depth of Willott’s musicianship. “Temporary Bliss” is currently streamable on Spotify. kmp2@readbuzz.com

Celebrate Leap Day in CU BUZZ STAFF REPORT

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELSINORE

Members of the local band Elsinore pose for a group photo. Frontman Ryan Groff (front right) will perform at the Leap Day Show at Seven Saints in Champaign on Saturday.

February is technically the shortest month of the year, but between the bad weather and the difficulties of the first half of the semester, it often feels like it goes on forever. But this year is a leap year, which means it’s an extra day longer. At first glance, an extended calendar during one of the coldest months of the winter season might seem like a pretty big bummer. But take the extra day of February this year to enjoy some community events or enjoy a lively night out with friends. Check out some of these ChampaignUrbana and campus-based events, and make the most of Leap Day, a day that only comes around every few years.

Leap Day Tap Takeover and Drag Show

PHOTO COURTESY OF WE THE ANIMALS

Members of the local band We the Animals pose for a group photo. Along with other local musicans, Kayla Brown (back left) will perform at Seven Saints in Champaign on Saturday.

Quality Beer is a new addition to the downtown Cha mpa ig n d r in k ing landscape. On Leap Day, they’ll be hosting a Tap Takeover and Drag show in support of the local LBGTQ+ community. According to its Facebook event, the evening will feature a drag

show hosted by Peach of the Midwest starting at 9 p.m. and will feature a set from DJ Baracala starting at 8 p.m. The event is a great opportunity for beer fanatics to try some local favorites as features from Blind Pig Brewery Founders Brew ing, Lef t Hand Brewing Co., Stone Brewing Wake Brewing will be on hand. A portion of proceeds from each drink sale during the event will go toward Uniting Pride of Champaign County (formally known as the UPcenter), so it’s a great opportunity to support a worthy cause and a new local business.

Leap Day Show with Ryan Groff/Kayla Brown/Paul Kothmeir

the C-U area for years. If you’re a local music lover, you’d be remiss not to catch them during your time in the area.

Odd Request’s FrogThemed Leap Day Improv Show

OK, so this one isn’t actually happening on Leap Day, but it’s in the spirit and celebration of it, so we say it counts. Odd Request is a short-form comedy troupe that performs on campus regularly. According to the group’s Facebook event, their Leap Day show, which starts at 7 p.m. on Thursday, is also frog themed. We’re really not sure what this means, so audience members will have to get to the gig and figure it out for themselves. Their performances are high energy and fast-paced, so it should be a good time regardless. The show is conveniently located at Noyes Laboratory on the Main Quad, so it’s an easy walk from just about anywhere, whether you’re living or hanging out on campus.

Ryan Groff of Elsinore, the frontman of one of C-U’s most beloved local bands will perform alongside Kayla Brown of Dearie and We the Animals and artist Paul Kotheimer on Saturday at the Seven Saints in downtown Champaign. All ages are welcome to attend the event. Elsinore recently released a new album “Life in the 21st Century” and has been performing in buzz@readbuzz.com

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