THURSDAY September 24, 2020
THE DAILY ILLINI
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Vol. 150 Issue 10
UI Senate endorses kingfisher mascot With warm responses on multiple University online communities, her design caught the attention of Illinois Student Government. Multiple representatives worked with Hulsey to introduce and gauge the design with the student body. Back in March, students voted in favor of adopting the kingfisher as a University mascot 4,222 to 3,597 in a non-binding poll, included on the Illinois Student Government ballot. Next, Hulsey will try to work with the Chancellor and his committees, as the final decision around a mascot lies with Jones and the UI athletics department. An athlete Q&A panel around the mascot is scheduled for October, Hulsey said. The University has been without a mascot for 13 years. Chief Illiniwek’s last official appearance at an athletics event was in February 2007, nearly two years after the NCAA ban of Native American mascots in 2005. “A mascot is the face of school spirit from many schools and we need something to represent us,” Hulsey said. “I’m really excited to see how this turns out. I think it’ll be a way for a University to show solidarity by saying that we are committing to the decision we made in 2007 and we mean it.”
BY ALIZA MAJID STAFF WRITER
A vast majority of the University Senate voted in favor of an orange-and-blue belted kingfisher as a new mascot for the University at Monday’s meeting. The resolution called for Chancellor Robert Jones to adopt a new mascot, condemn public displays of Chief Illiniwek and consider the kingfisher as a potential successor. Of the senators present, 105 voted yes for the resolution, two voted no and four abstained. Spencer Hulsey, creator of the kingfisher mascot and 2020 graduate of the University, was “apprehensive” about seeing the meeting’s results. “I didn’t know what was going to happen,” she said. “No one did.” But seeing the count roll in was exhilarating. “The live time reaction was intense, because (the votes) went from 50, 60, to 70 and then my friend was like ‘I think we could hit 100,’ and we did,” Hulsey said. “It was so quick. I could not believe it was such a consensus.” Hulsey grew up on a farm in Kinmundy, Illinois, where she saw countless birds flock to her pond. One day in mid2019, Hulsey doodled an Illini-inspired kingfisher and spread her design to a campus subreddit. alizam2@dailyillini.com
MARK CAPAPAS THE DAILY ILLINI
Students line up at PAR to vote on Election Day on Nov. 6, 2018. The early voting period in Champaign County began Thursday morning.
Early voting begins in Champaign County BY ALIZA MAJID STAFF WRITER
The Champaign County began its early voting period on Thursday morning at the Brookens Administrative Center/Gymnasium in Urbana. The Center is located at 1776 E. Washington St. Parking is on the north side of the building, off of Art Bartell Road. The facility opens for voters from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The location has been changed this year from the Clerk’s office due to the larger spaces needed to accommodate voters and abide by social distancing protocols. In a news release, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons encouraged vot-
ers to vote by mail if possible, but he said the next best alternative would be to vote early in order to avoid the lines on Nov. 3 and limit exposure. Early voting centers will have plexiglass partitions for judges, hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray, masks and gloves to ensure the safety of all participants, Ammons added. Eligible voters can vote at the Brookens Administrative Center/Gymnasium on the following dates and times: • Sept. 24 – Oct. 18, Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. • Oct. 19 – Nov. 2, Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 7
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p.m. and Saturday — Sunday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Another 11 sites will open in Champaign County for early voting, from Oct. 19 – Nov. 2. Each of the following sites will be available on weekdays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) – 201 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign, Illinois 61820 Illini Union – 1401 W. Green St., Urbana, Illinois 61801 Lake of the Woods, Elk’s Pavilion, 301 Senna Drive, Mahomet, Illinois 61853 Leonhard Recreation
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Center, 2307 Sangamon Drive, Champaign, Illinois 61821 Meadowbrook Community Church, 1902 South Duncan Road, Champaign, IL 61822 Parkland College, Student Life Center, 2400 W. Bradley Ave., Champaign, IL 61821 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 802 E. Douglas St., St. Joseph, IL 61873 The Church of the Living God, 312 E. Bradley Ave., Champaign, IL 61820 The Gathering Place (First United Methodist Church), 220 S. Marshall St., Rantoul, IL 61866
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Party complaints decrease since start of semester BY SAMANTHA BOYLE MANAGING EDITOR FOR REPORTING PHOTO COURTESY OF SPENCER HULSEY
Spencer Hulsey updated the design for her belted kingfisher mascot idea. Hulsey, 2020 University graduate, saw her mascot design win a nonbinding student body referendum on March 9, then it won the endorsement of University Senate on Monday.
New positivity rate, daily cases hit semester lows Under 0.4% of 8,000 daily tests have been positive in past 11 straight days BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR
The share of new COVID-19 cases continues to fall in this week’s rounds of campus tests. For 11 straight days, under 0.4% of an average 8,000 daily tests have been iden-
tified as new cases of COVID-19, a prolonged rate unseen since the summer. On Saturday and Sunday, the University confirmed just 13 and 11 new cases respectively, the two lowest daily totals in over a month. In the wake of the University’s two-week stay-athome order for undergraduates, the on-campus spread appears to be slowing. It’s no small feat. According to Martin Burke, professor in LAS and SHIELD SEE DAILY CASES | 5A
INSIDE
Opinions: Ginsburg bequeaths legacy of critical social change
Sports: Megan Cooney to lead young Illini team
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The number of large parties on and near the University campus has substantially decreased over the past few weeks, according to the University Police. The party decrease comes as the Division of Public Safety has been enforcing public health rules and students have been cooperating, the UIPD news release said. Since the start of the semester, police reports of complaints for loud noise or large parties have dropped by 61%. During the first week of school, there were a total of 114 reports of complaints; during the most recent week, Sept. 14 through Sunday, there were a total of 44 calls. Of the 44 from last week, 23 parties were in compliance with public health regulations meaning the gatherings had fewer than 10 guests maintaining social distancing. From Aug. 31 through Sept. 6, there were 74 reports and from Sept. 7 through Sept. 13, there were 48 reports. Other students have been fined for hosting parties. Two University students have been issued three citations each related to parties hosted on Aug. 28. Charges include a $750 fine for endangering public health, a $350 fine for hosting a nuisance party and a $255 fine for reckless conduct, adding up to $1,355 in total fines for each host. The news release stated that police and the Office
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for Student Conflict Resolution have been working together in cases where academic discipline is warranted. More recently, there’s been more widespread compliance from the University and C-U community as they have taken health guidelines more seriously. The stricter lockdown conditions the University put in place for two weeks have also seemed to reverse the rapidly increasing positivity rate on campus the first couple of weeks of the
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Party complaint calls trend down since beginning of semester
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semester. “This is what we want to see. We are glad to see that, in the vast majority of cases, students are voluntarily complying and cooperating,” said Executive Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Alice Cary in the news release. “We do not want to issue citations and fines to our students, and we do not enjoy being the party police. But the safety and the health of our community is our foremost priority, and right now, the global situation
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demands that we take this approach.” Collective action is more important now than ever before to public safety and well-being, Cary added in the news release. “It is inspiring to see the collaboration between our students, staff, faculty and administrators in keeping the spread of COVID-19 to a minimum, and I am proud to be a part of this community effort,” she said. sjboyle2@dailyillini.com
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report, a playstation VR headset was stolen from GameStop.
aware of the missing guns until the Danville Police Department recovered one of the guns. University • Criminal damage to property • Nothing to report. was reported in the intersection of Lincoln and Springfield aveUrbana nues around 4:30 p.m. on Mon• Residential burglary commitday. According to the report, an ted on the 1200 block of South unknown offender damaged the Busey Avenue around midnight victim’s car by hitting the vicon Feb. 1 was reported on Tuestim’s mirror, causing it to break day. According to the report, an and denting the vehicle. unknown offender entered the victim’s garage and stole two news@dailyillini.com firearms. The victim was not
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BY ALIZA MAJID
Samantha Roberson
STAFF WRITER
On Election Day this year, University students won’t have to worry about class conflicts when they go out to vote. At Monday’s meeting, the University Senate announced that Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020, will be the University’s newest official holiday.
Co-Publishers Kit Donahue Melissa Pasco
TODAY’S NIGHT SYSTEM STAFF Night editor: Ellen Barczak Copy editors: Citlaly Leanos, Jennifer Orozco, Madalyn Velisaris, Dan Harty, Jackson Janes, Hannah Stewart, Zainab Qureshi Designers: Ryan Ash Page transmission: JJ Kim Web manager: Samantha Roberson
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill in June that designated the upcoming Election Day as a state holiday. On Monday, the University followed suit, updating the 2020-2021 academic calendar to include Election Day as a holiday and to have no classes in session. The proposal will
not add any additional instruction days for this holiday as it will become an exception to the current Academic Calendar Policy Section 1.1, which states that “There shall be no fewer than 14 of each instructional day per semester and 13 weeks that have five full weeks of instruction (M-F).” Election Day joins
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS OFFICIAL NOTICE
SUMMER 2020 (Based on Data Collected SUMMER 2020)
The results from the Summer 2020 administrations of student ratings of instruction are included in this list. Results are based on the ratings from the Instructor and Course Evaluation System (ICES) maintained by Measurement and Evaluation in the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. The list is necessarily incomplete. Instructors who did not have students evaluate their classes or chose to use a form other than those reported here have no opportunity to be included. For some instructors who did use these forms, there is also the possibility that they chose not to be included in the list. For these reasons, in the past we adopted the title “An Incomplete List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students.” These reasons still hold and the list is still ‘incomplete’ but we have taken “Incomplete” out of the title. The results are presented in department alphabetical order. Criteria for inclusion follow. PREPARATION OF RESULTS This list is based on ICES forms completed by students during the Summer semester of 2020. Only those instructors who distributed ICES forms at least once during this time period and who released their data for publication are included in the list. Only numerical data from the ICES questionnaire results were used, and at least five students must have responded in each class.
503 303 304 301 202
ADVERTISING RAQUEL,S
409
AGRICULTURAL AND CONSUMER ECONOMICS GUNDERSEN,L 100 ANIMAL SCIENCES EMMERT,J * RICHARDSON,S ANTHROPOLOGY * SILVERMAN,H ARABIC * ABDULLA,W TA HERMES,Z MOHAMED,M TA
205 250 180
407,408 199,202 403,404
ARCHITECTURE BLISS,A
572
ART AND DESIGN GUNJI-BALLSRUD,J HETRICK,L
209 100
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BARBEAU,A 340 BRADLEY,J 551 FRICKE,M 403 * LAMARE,J 590 * LUCKMAN,E 311 WOLTERS,M 395 BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL WRITING * DUDEK,J 250
Special Notice: In the past, to be included on the list instructors needed to be rated among the top 30% across campus in their respective Elective-MixedRequired course group. Beginning with the Fall 2000 semester ICES results, our office has shifted to a set of criterion cutoffs for the List. The ICES average (mean) ratings needed to make the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students are listed in the table. Faculty must meet the requirements for both Item 1 (“Rate the Instructor’s Overall Teaching Effectiveness”) and Item 2 (“Rate the Overall Quality of this Course”). Teaching assistants must meet the requirement for only Item 1. ICES Item #1 (Instructor Overall Teaching Effectiveness) Required Mixed Elective Course Course Course Faculty
4.4
4.5
4.6
TAs
4.3
4.4
4.5
ICES Item #2 (Overall Quality of Course) Required Mixed Elective Course Course Course Faculty
4.3
4.4
4.5
TAs
-na-
-na-
-na-
CHEMISTRY LEVERITT,J NICELY,A
108 442
CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING GURFINKEL,G 469 KRISHNAN,S 469 LIU,L 422 PAWLIKOWSKI,J 498 SCHMIDT,A 598 ZHANG,S 470 CLASSICAL CIVILIZATION KARNES,V TA 115 MERKLEY,K TA 224 * WEED,A TA 224 COMMUNICATION AXTMAN-BARKER,P TA * GOLDING,W TA O'GORMAN,T * PULIDO,M TA WILSON,S TA
340 340 529 336 260
COMMUNITY HEALTH ADAMSON,B RINALDI-MILES,A
101 206
COMPUTER SCIENCE BAJPAI,T TA LIN,P TA MOZAFFARI,S TA
173 173 173
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION HINZE-PIFER,R 550 DANCE SAPOZHNIKOV,A
FRENCH AND ITALIAN
Outstanding ratings (marked with an asterisk) are still awarded to instructors who obtained ratings of “High” (top 10% on each item for faculty and top 10% on item one for teaching assistants). INTERPRETATION OF LIST Instructors' names are listed alphabetically within each department. The specific courses that were used in the ratings are indicated by the course numbers that follow the instructor's name. The symbols used in the list have the following meaning: T.A. - Teaching Assistant
EARTH, SOCIETY, & ENVIRONMENT TOMKIN,J 360
GENDER AND WOMEN'S STUDIES TA 201 * ACKERMAN,A COLE,C 100 GEOGRAPHY & GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE ROBERTS,N TA 204 WINATA,F TA 105 ZAIMI,R TA 101 GEOLOGY ALTANER,S PETTIJOHN,J CASTLE,J JOHNSON,L
118 117 GERMAN TA
LYNN,J
The list of excellent teachers was compiled by staff at Measurement and Evaluation in the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. More information about the list may be obtained by contacting Measurement and Evaluation, 247 Armory Building, 244-3846, ices@ illinois.edu. Recent lists can be found on the Web at go.illinois.edu/lotrae.
ECONOMICS AGIAKLOGLOU,C SUN,Y
101 101
504 590
EDUCATION POLICY, ORGANIZATION & LEADERSHIP * HOOD,D 586,587 * LEE,S 500 MASON,C 548 MOTON,T TA 548 * PAK,Y 586,587 EDUCATIONAL POLICY STUDIES ANDERSON,M TA 415 BURBULES,N 415 DOUKMAK,N TA 415 MATTINGLY,S TA 590 PAK,Y 405 TZIRIDES,A TA 590 EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY * MATTINGLY,S TA 408,560 TA 408,560 TZIRIDES,A ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING CHENG,Z 206 KUDEKI,E 329 ENGLISH AS AN INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE * IONIN,T 422 ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE DUNN,F TA 512 PENNELL,J 522
580
FINE AND APPLIED ARTS BECKER,S 220
ZENG,H
JAPANESE TA
364 535
201
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS AVGAR,A 542 LEROY,M 522 LINGUISTICS BHATT,R
100
MBA DOLGOPOLOV,V WATKINS,R
590 591
MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY MEHRTENS,B 150 RIVIER,D 252 MUSIC 569 532 447,545 528 444
NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES DEMEJIA,E
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GOLDMAN,S * HIGHMAN,M HOWLAND,P * INAFUKU,D LYNCH,M MOY,B MOZAFARISHAMSI,T NEWTON,D O'BOYLE,M SCHUMACHER,K THIBODEAU,M YUAN,J
TA TA TA TA TA TA TA TA TA TA TA TA
214 213 212 101 102 213 213 212 102 214 213 102
POLITICAL SCIENCE * WINTERS,M
597
PSYCHOLOGY * LLERAS,A * LLERAS BUETTI,S
230 230
REHABILITATION COUNSELING RICE,L 330
KOREAN
* BARRETT,J GALLO,D KRUSE,A MAGEE,G * SWEET,B
Snapchat
257
201
PYO,J
@TheDailyIllini
102 250
INFORMATION SCIENCES * ALVAREZ,B 505,590 * BARNHART,A 590 BENSON,S 590 DIEKMAN,L 445 EGAN,K 590 HOLBA PUACZ,J 504,508 JONES,J 590 LUCHT,K 403 NAPPO,C 502 PINTAR,J 101 QUEALY,K 590 SALRIN,M 584 * SONG,Y 539,590 TRAINOR,K 452 WONG,M 458,504 INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY * MANASTER,J * O'DWYER,A
RECREATION, SPORT, AND TOURISM DANIELS,T 485 FARR,J TA 242 FRATILA,I TA 100 PARK,J TA 100
HISTORY
* - The instructor ratings were outstanding.
ALMEIDA,H
alizam2@dailyillini.com
CLAY,A HILL,L
FINANCE 100
Labor Day and Thanksgiving break as the only holidays with no classes in UI’s fall semester. The resolution came just a day before National Voter Registration Day. In 2016, around 240,000 people were registered to vote in Champaign County.
FOOD SCIENCE & HUMAN NUTRITION BURKHALTER,T 120
LIST OF TEACHERS RANKED AS EXCELLENT BY THEIR STUDENTS
ACCOUNTANCY HECHT,G JOHANNS,A TA KOO,S LYMAN,R TA SHAPLAND,J
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Senate designates Election Day as newest UI holiday
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Students vote at the ARC on Nov. 6, 2018. The University Senate has made Election Day the University’s newest holiday.
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ORGANIZATIONAL AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP SMIST,J 260 PHYSICS * ABBOUD,N TA 101 BAKER,C TA 101 BOWERS,J TA 211 DHRUV,V TA 213
RELIGION PITARD,W
106
RHETORIC * BOWMAN,A TA TA * HARMS,L WILLIS,I TA SOCIAL WORK AKHTAR,W BEDIENT,M CAMPBELL,C CINTRON,V FAULKNER,S HOUSTON,L KINGERY,L MAUCK,C
105 105 105 436 531 502 505 470 451,531 451 526
SOCIOLOGY CLARKE,C DILL,B KHALIL,H SINGH,A
TA TA
101 161 310 275
SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE ANTON LOBATO,M TA 228 BEDIALAUNETA TXURRUKA,I TA 101 CUMMINGS,L TA 307 * GALLEGOS PEREZ,C TA 202 * VICENTE URRUTIA,J TA 141 YARRINGTON,K TA 102 SPECIAL EDUCATION * KALANTZIS,M LIGHT SHRINER,C * MATTINGLY,S TA * TZIRIDES,A TA
413 488 413 413
SPEECH AND HEARING SCIENCE ARONOFF,J 580 DAHMAN,J 575 STRATEGIC BRAND COMMUNICATION MABRY-FLYNN,A 508 URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING ALLRED,D 136 VETERINARY MEDICINE AUSTIN,S BARGER,A CONNOLLY,S FEHR,J KELLER,K MARSHALL,T PAVLOVSKY,G ROSSER,M SULLIVAN,D
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THURSDAY
September 24, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
NEWS
Residents object to forced movement of food pantry BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR
Severa l communit y members spoke up at Tuesday night’s Champaign City Council meeting about the forced move of a small food pantry which serves low-income and homeless citizens in Downtown Champaign. The pantry was located on a sidewalk on Washington Street near Neil Street. On Tuesday morning, a handful of city workers approached the site with a pickup truck, ready to remove it. The city’s workers told the pantry’s creators that their structure was the recipient of multiple anonymous complaints, and it had to be moved for violating the city’s right-of-way ordinance. After several minutes of conversation with the workers, maintainers of the pantry, Champaign residents Justin Hendrix and Rita Conerly, agreed to move their pantry to a different location, and the city workers drove away. Within a couple hours, the pantry was rolled across the street, near the Orpheum Children’s Museum. Conerly live streamed much of the encounter on Facebook. People who upkeep the pantry, and some city council members, said that the city response was an overreaction and expectations weren’t adequately communicated. “I know that the ordinance it was concerned about was the city right-ofway, but (the pantry)sits in front of a vacant lot. There’s an alley right there for a fire truck to pull into, it’s not an emergency,” said Marshall Allston-Yeagle, Urbana resident and creator of the pantry. “I just wish the city had directly reached out to us before wasting energy to move something aggressively, and the resources within it.” Conerly also spoke, saying the city displayed “a
lack of concern” for the vulnerable “by attempting to remove a food pantry from Downtown in a food desert in the middle of a pandemic.” Kerri Wiman, Champaign neighborhood services director, detailed the city’s communication with the pantry’s keepers. Wiman said she corresponded with Conerly in “late July, middle of August,” when the pantry was on the south side of Washington Street, and that the pantry was soon moved to private property on the north side of the street. When the pantry was again moved to a public sidewalk in the last week and a half, the city posted a 72-hour removal notice on the pantry on Friday. At 9 a.m. on Tuesday, the pantry would be abated, and the pantry’s owners would have five days to claim its contents. However, Wiman said the owners of the pantry were not contacted via any other method than the paper notice. “Could we do more to reach out? Absolutely,” she said. “That was the point of the 72 hours. We thought we were being generous by offering to hold the material. That’s why we offered to hold it for another 5 days. It is my understanding that it is now on private property, so the case is considered closed.” Councilwoman Clarissa Nickerson Fourman represents Champaign’s District 1, where the incident occurred. She called the city’s response “reactionary” and “agitative,” criticizing the lack of extra communication with the pantry’s representatives. “You guys can throw ordinances at me and tell me why it’s OK,” Fourman said. “I want to ask the human nature part of it is: Why are we OK with taking food away from people?” Councilman Matthew Gladney concurred, call-
PHOTO COURTESY OF JUSTIN HENDRIX
Words drawn in chalk are displayed outside the Downtown Community Food Pantry near Orpheum Children’s Museum on Tuesday afternoon. The pantry’s keepers were forced to move the pantry from its spot on Washington Street for blocking a sidewalk.
ing for the council to consider amending the rightof-way ordinance. “I don’t like when we’re shutting down food pantries, especially during a pandemic,” he said. “I don’t know how well it speaks to our soul. I would be open to at least reviewing our regulations on that and having that discussion.” Brian Dunn of Champaign attested to the critical role the pantry plays for nearby residents. “I have seen the pantry utilized by many community members, I’ve seen
people from Washington square apartments, I’ve seen individuals I’ve recognized from the daily soup kitchen,” Dunn said. Conerly knows folks who stop by the pantry nearly every day for food and toiletries. “Instead of removing a much-needed resource, how about the city consider collaborating with pantry creators to create solutions and join the community’s efforts in giving back, helping others and showing what community looks like through acts of love,” Con-
erly said. “That’s what this specific pantry has been a representation of.” Councilman Will Kyles and Mayor Deb Frank Feinen both said the city is “not at war” with this food pantry, but emphasized that the ordinance should be applied in an even-handed way. “The reality is, if I say ‘you don’t have to follow that ordinance because I believe in feeding the homeless,’ because I really do, then there’s going to be somebody who sticks it to me on another ordinance,
and says ‘Oh, so you believe in choosing ordinances?’” Kyles said. With the pantry in a legal spot, Feinen was confident that the situation could be sorted out. “I am convinced that we can figure it out in a way that maintains an accessible sidewalk,” Feinen said. “We need people to be able to get their wheelchair or walker or whatever it may be down our city right-of-way.” @esimmsnews ecsimmon@dailyillini.com
Food truck says goodbye to CU, moves to new state Storefront location on campus to remain open BY SAMANTHA BOYLE MANAGING EDITOR FOR REPORTING
The Cracked: The Egg Came First Truck will be moving to Gary, Indiana after the Lincoln Square Farmers Market in Urbana this Saturday. The food truck has been operating in ChampaignUrbana since 2012, while the Cracked storefront on Green Street has been open since 2017. In order to say thank you and goodbye, Cracked owner and University alumnus Daniel Krause wrote a letter to the C-U community thanking them for their support over the last 10 years. “Our ultimate goal is to bring the same food truck culture to Gary as we have seen grow in C-U,” Krause wrote in the letter. “We can only hope to have the same amazing experience there as we’ve had in Champaign-Urbana.” Although the truck will be feeding customers from around 125 miles away, the storefront located at 619 E Green St. will remain open. At first, the plan was to move the truck in front of an old steel mill in Indiana, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, plans were changed and with the amount of people that would’ve gathered there, it just would not have been
MARK CAPAPAS THE DAILY ILLINI
The Cracked: The Egg Came First food truck sits parked out front of Joe’s Brewery during Unofficial on March 1, 2019. The truck will be moving to Gary, Indiana this Saturday after eight years in the C-U community.
possible, Krause said. The City of Gary has been working with Krause in order to get a plot of land that is usable in order to start selling food. “COVID was making
everything impossible so then the City of Gary really jumped in and moved us to this vacant land they had available,” Krause told The Daily Illini. Krause added in his let-
ter that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has struck the business pretty hard. Along with other food and beverage industries, Cracked had to figure out other ways to make sure
a new project and getting ready to move the truck has been exciting during a time where positive news has been minimal. A new Cracked location was also opened in Chicago earlier this year but was impacted hard when the pandemic took over in March. “It’s been a real shining light in a really grim, horrible year,” Krause said. “And so we get to work on this new project and get creative.” In its new location, the food truck will be operated by someone from Gary, but Krause will travel there for a couple weeks to get it up and running. After that, he will come back to Illinois, but may “go back and forth every once in a while.” “We look forward to having another amazing 10 years slinging breakfast sandwiches to the entire Champaign-Urbana community,” Krause wrote at the end of his letter. “Thank you again for everything you have given us over the years, we are truly in debt to this community forever.” Krause said it’s been a fun experience to work with the City of Gary and an interesting project to be a part of in general. He also recognizes the significance C-U has had on his company. “It’s been a pleasure to have the truck on campus, and it has been the catalyst for my company to get started,” he said. “So, so much thanks to the community.”
their doors can stay open. While it is a tough time for everyone, in his letter, Krause encouraged everyone to support local small businesses during this time. However, working on sjboyle2@dailyillini.com
4A
Thursday, September 24, 2020
THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
Siebel Scholars Class of 2021 The Siebel Scholars program was founded in 2000 to recognize the most talented graduate students in business, computer science, bioengineering, and energy science. Each year, over 90 outstanding graduate students are selected as Siebel Scholars based on academic excellence and leadership and join an active, lifelong community among an ever-growing group of leaders. We are pleased to recognize this year’s Siebel Scholars.
BIOENGINEERING JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY WHITING SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Ines Godet Bria Macklin Yuan Rui Alexandra Sneider Sarah Marie Somers
Prashanth Srinivasan Shreya Deshmukh Hannah Kempton Margarita Khariton Namrata Anand
MIT SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Ishwar Kohale Noor Momin Molly Parsons Caroline Werlang Ian Andrews
Nicolas F. Altemose Alison N. Su Marc Adrian Lim Anjali Gopal Zoë R. Steier
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO JACOBS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Haleh Alimohamadi Gabrielle M. Colvert Dhruva S. Katrekar Gregory D. Poore Juliane R. Sempionatto Moreto
BUSINESS MIT SLOAN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
STANFORD UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO BOOTH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Benjamin Dalusma George Eliades Philip Onotu Olga Timirgalieva Liza Xu
Brian Aoyama Mariana Martins Bianca Pinasco Austin Ward Joshua Yang
David Hoogmoed Erik Leiden Dennis Shea Aashna Singh Houren Zhu
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
Dylan Sun
COMPUTER SCIENC E CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
Lijun Yu Megan Hofmann Fish Tung Rogerio Bonatti Brandon Bohrer HARVARD JOHN A. PAULSON SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & APPLIED SCIENCES
Julia Ebert Anitha Gollamudi Sophie Hilgard Fritz Lekschas Bryan Wilder MIT SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Camilo L. Fosco Aspen Kennedy Hopkins Ticha Melody Sethapakdi Lisa Yang Brice Huang
Sotiris Apostolakis Kyle Genova Wei Hu Divyarthi Mohan John Li STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Jabari Hastings Yutong He Ariel Leong Vincent Nicandro Matthew Radzihovsky TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Yukuo Cen Haoxi Zhong Jiacheng Wu Zu-Ming Jiang Ziran Li
Jason Zhou Tiffany Chien UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
Steven Anthony Buschbach Yongshan Ding Huiying Li Amanda Kristin Whaley Junwen Yang UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Suneer Angra Beleicia Benita Bullock Bhavana Mahendra Jain Haoyang Wen Andrew Bumsok Yoo
ENERGY SCIENCE CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
Mingyi Wang MIT SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Manxi Wu POLITECNICO DI TORINO DOCTORAL SCHOOL
Pier Giuseppe Anselma
STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF EARTH, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Aisulu Aitbekova
Phuc Thanh Huynh
TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Yingzhe Cui
Kalimuthu Selvam
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
José Daniel Lara PRINCETON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCE
Joseph Clay Hamill Jr.
www.SiebelScholars.com
THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
Thursday, September 24, 2020
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Champaign community listening sessions start Thursday Members of community share their vision, ideas for public safety
BY SAMANTHA BOYLE MANAGING EDITOR FOR REPORTING
Earlier this month, the City of Champaign announced dates for community listening sessions, which would allow members of the community to share their vision and ideas for the future of public safety. The first listening session is scheduled for Thursday from 6-8 p.m. These sessions will be a resource for the City Council as they decide how to best address public safety needs, interests and values of the public. “The community is our best partner, and it’s important our neighbors have the opportunity to voice their thoughts and expectations around policing directly to the City to help guide our future work as public ser-
vants,” said Chief of Police Anthony Cobb in a City of Champaign press release on Sept. 10. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the listening sessions will be held via Zoom. Other sessions will be held on these days: • Sept. 29, 6-8 p.m., • Oct. 3, 1-3 p.m., • Oct. 9, 1-3 p.m., • Oct. 13, 6-8 p.m. Cobb, City Manager Dorothy David and other city officials will all be present at each listening session. A moderator will also be present to help facilitate dialogue during sessions. Each session will be dedicated to listening to the community input and suggestions, and each session will be recorded and available later on the City of Champaign’s website. More in-depth discussions will follow the listening sessions where community members can talk about the future of policing in a series of smaller “study circles.” Information from the study circles will be shared with City Council as well as with the public in a written report.
QUENTIN SHAW THE DAILY ILLINI
Champaign Police Chief Anthony Cobb kneels with protestors as organizer Drake Materre speaks outside of the Champaign Police Department during a protest following the death of George Floyd on June 1. New listening sessions will allow the community to address public safety needs.
“This is unquestionably an important time in our country, and identifying a path forward we can all be proud of begins with listen-
ing, learning and working together,” Cobb also said in the news release. “We are committed to growing and strengthening the bonds of
trust between law enforcement and our community through empathy, mutual understanding and education. To help in this endeavor,
we hope to hear from many in our community during the listening sessions.”
FROM 1A
are found in the sample. The rate of invalid tests has dropped quite a bit. Invalid tests are usually improperly done by the saliva sampler —eating or drinking under an hour before the test or submitting too little saliva. From July to late August, around 5% of all tests came back invalid, said University spokesperson Robin Kaler. From Sept. 13-17, just 0.67% of all tests came back invalid. Back in the first week of testing, when mostly Illinois athletes were being tested, a full third of tests were invalid. On Monday, 42 new cases were identified from 10,474 tests, nearly identical to the Monday previous: 40 new cases from 10,214 tests.
DAILY CASES
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
Junior Tony Glatz sits underneath a tree on the Main Quad on Wednesday morning. Overall, testing efficiency has improved — with most results being updated within 24 hours, the rate of inconclusive tests has remained stagnant and the rate of invalid tests has dropped from 5% to 0.67% from July to mid-September.
100
$
(Includes domestic shipping; International shipping $50 extra)
sjboyle2@dailyillini.com
Team leader, around 35,000 people are testing for the virus on campus every week. From Aug. 15 to Monday, more than 2,100 students, faculty and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 on campus after 330,000 saliva tests. According to Burke, these days most test results are being returned within 24 hours after a lull from Labor Day weekend tests, many of which weren’t returned for over two days. Burke said the rate of inconclusive tests has remained steady, around 2% of all tests since they were introduced in July. Inconclusive tests are relayed when one or two of @esimmsnews the three COVID-19 genes ecsimmon@dailyillini.com
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illioyearbook.com or call 217-337-8314
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6A
THURSDAY
September 24, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
LIFE & CULTURE
KAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI
COVID-19 fellowship program changes lives BY NANDIKA CHATTERJEE STAFF WRITER
One consequence of the pandemic has been lost internship opportunities for college students from over the summer and into the fall. Another has been the loss of customers for small local businesses. University alumni Walker Post and Alex Littleton saw these two problems and thought of a way to help both situations. They started the COVID-19 Business Fellowship Program, or CBFP, in early April this year. Post graduated in 2018 with a major in broadcast journalism and a minor in political science. He currently works as a social impact consultant at Prosper Strategies, a company that helps non-profit organizations scale their impact through approaches like marketing, fundraising and strategic planning. In addition to this job, Post now operates as the the cofounder and Chief Operating Officer of CBFP. The idea of the program was a product of the negative impact of COVID-19. “Many of our younger peers were losing out on their internships for the summer,” Post said. “We know how important their internships were, we know how hard students work to receive those internships. To have that kind of opportunity taken from under their feet was challenging for us to see.” He said they simultane-
ously noticed a lot of small businesses that they would drive by in Chicago closing their doors, some of them for the last time. They had no way of reaching their customers because many of them were not prepared for the digital-first world. With a majority of the population indoors shopping and communicating via their computer or phones, small businesses were left crippled as the pandemic began sweeping the globe. Not only were they unprepared to face the digital world, but also underprepared to keep up with its pace. With no websites or feasible marketing strategies, they were unable to reach their customers. “We saw those two problems and married them into a solution,” Post said. Bailey Burke, senior in Media, connected with Alex Littleton through the professional business fraternity Phi Gamma Nu, or PGN. Burke, now involved with the program, shared her own story. “Unfortunately, due to the COVID pandemic, I lost my internship,” she said. “Initially, I felt helpless and upset until Alex and Walker approached with their groundbreaking idea for the fellowship.” When asked to explain how the program works, Burke said the fellowship unites students who lost internships with experienced mentors throughout Illinois to help struggling small businesses in
KAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI
the face of COVID-19. Over the summer, they were able to unlock over $175,000 in cost savings for 47 small businesses across Illinois, making a tangible impact on those communities. University students and alumni alike were able to help some of their favorite businesses stay afloat. Through the experience, they not only made a difference in people’s lives but also made connections with likeminded individuals. “As one of the first fellows, I had the unique opportunity to work both internally as well as directly with a digital boutique media firm in Chicago,” Burke said. “I was able to help create a marketing and social media plan and
PR strategy for CBFP. Additionally, I worked to develop a comprehensive SEO strategy for my client.” With this simple idea in mind, Post and Littleton had initially underestimated the scale their program would reach. Littleton used his connections at the Gies School of Business to pitch their idea. Post recalls how the business school was a tremendous help and served as a sounding board that supported them through their journey. While the process and results were extremely rewarding, Post recalled all the hard work he and Littleton had to put into setting up CBFP. “Every day was a com-
pletely different learning experience,” he said. “It brought about big challenges and stress, but also every day was incredibly rewarding. We were working 80-hour weeks, often Alex and I between our two jobs, to make this program successful.” As a journalism major, Post initially thought he would become a journalist, writing about people no one knew about. Come his senior year, Post said he became more interested in social impact; instead of just writing about these issues, he wanted to directly be able to impact them. Through his two jobs, he is now on a journey to make his dreams come true.
Encouraged by the engagement it received in April, the CBFP team is currently recruiting for its second round of the program, and their applications will close later this week. This will provide many more opportunities for students and touch many more lives. “CBFP presented me with a real-life connection affording me the ability to work, learn and grow, ultimately giving me a more marketable work experience upon graduation,” Burke said. “This summer taught me that even in the face of adversity, resilience and a can-do attitude can make great things happen.” nandika2@dailyillini.com
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7A
Thursday, September 24, 2020
Quarantine meal plans fall through BY ZAINAB QURESHI LONGFORM EDITOR
The University of Illinois’ COVID-19 testing policy has gained national attention as students across the country returned to their college campuses. Due to hiking infection rates, many colleges have since sent their students back home and shifted back to an entirely online curriculum — but not Illinois. Despite over 800 University students quarantining by early September and over 2,000 cases by midSeptember, the University has stood its ground. The University has remained optimistic about staying open this semester, even after the two week lockdown Chancellor Robert Jones imposed on the student body only two weeks into the new school year. With frequent testing, use of the Safer Illinois app and enforced quarantining, it seems as though the University has it all together. However, holes in testing protocol and the Safer Illinois application have been revealed. Incidents of students attempting to test out of their positive test result or using a screen recording of the Safer Illinois app showing a negative test result instead of showing their actual status have come out. Holes within the University quarantine facilities have also come to light. Illini Media received an
JACOB WARGO THE DAILY ILLINI
Students stand in line at the Ikenberry Dining Hall on Tuesday evening. Some quarantined students have had difficulty receiving food from University Housing.
anonymous tip from a concerned parent stating that their child was in one of the University quarantine and isolation facilities and had not received food for a day. While The Daily Illini was unable to trace down this specific student, two other students who were com-
fortable being interviewed also experienced inconsistency in food delivery. Rahil Sadruddin, freshman in AHS, was quarantined in Bousfield Hall earlier this semester. Sadruddin said he was not completely sure how he contracted the virus,
but believes he was infected before he came to the University and found out he had it when his first test result of the semester came back positive. Within 30 minutes of receiving his positive test result, Sadruddin got a call from the housing department
stating he would have to stay in isolation. “They give you your lunch and dinner at 10 a.m. every day, so that first day, I didn’t eat,” Sadruddin said. “I was calling them and I didn’t have any food, and I was just so hungry.” The University quarantine facilities also give quarantine and isolation residents a snack box as soon as people move in, according to Sadruddin. “I didn’t get that until the second or third day, and they didn’t give me water until the third day,” he said. “I was drinking tap water from the sink.” Sadruddin stated he also knew people from his high school community who were also quarantined in the same facility as him who had experienced similar situations. Sadr uddin a nd his friends weren’t the only ones who tolerated instances like this. Jonah Blazek, sophomore in Art + Design, is quarantining in Hopkins Hall and has also experienced inconsistencies with the meal plan provided to the residents in quarantine or isolation. He was exposed to the virus when a friend requested
JACOB WARGO THE DAILY ILLINI
Students eat and socialize in the Ikenberry Dining Hall on Tuesday evening.
he drive them to the hospital from their isolation room on campus. The next day, Blazek was notified he had to be quarantined for 14 days. “I noticed that for a couple days, I wasn’t receiving what I had picked on the survey,” Blazek said, referencing the meal plan survey students in isolation and quarantine receive. “I’m not a picky person, so I just ate it.” While some aren’t receiving food regularly, others have food that has been sitting outside their dorms for extended periods of time. “I noticed there’s a couple of doors that have two, three, four days worth of food outside, and it’s just sitting there,” Blazek said. Blazek also noted that the area around him was not well-kept; cockroaches and crickets — dead and alive — showed up in his dorm, in the halls and in the bathrooms. The University has stated it will provide “Daily meals, taking into consideration dietary needs and restrictions.” However, it seems as though there may still be holes in its system. zqures7@dailyillini.com
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ACROSS
1 Finishing touches, of a sort 7 Bases make up a part of it 14 Dr. Evil’s little clone in the “Austin Powers” films 15 Dainty dining decorations 16 *An old wedding dress might have this 18 & 19 Heretofore 20 See 3-Down 21 Root in Polynesian cuisine 23 Custom auto accessories 25 First name in jazz 29 *“Er … um …” 32 Relatives of violas 35 “So cool!” 36 Kitchen brand 37 Carrier of sleeping sickness 40 Mens ___ (legal term) 41 Pinches pennies 43 “Why ___ thou promise such a beauteous day”: Shak. 45 *Mickey’s rival for Minnie’s affection 48 Super’s apartment, often 49 Multivolume ref. works 50 Disgruntled 54 ___ cit. (footnote abbr.) 56 “So ___ heard” 58 It can be broken, but not fixed 59 Classic young adult novel … or hint to the path taken by four letters in the answers to the starred clues 64 Cure-all 65 Longhorn rival
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PUZZLE BY GRANT THACKRAY
66 Hypothetical solar system body beyond Neptune 67 White-barked trees
DOWN
1 “All good here” 2 Popular Oldsmobile model of the 1980s-’90s 3 With 20-Across, balance regulator 4 Tiny beef 5 Feds 6 Title with a tilde 7 “Get a room!” elicitor, for short 8 Ring-shaped cutters attached to drills 9 Hindu god of destruction 10 Some reds 11 Languish
12 Romania’s currency 13 -speak 17 Dipstick 22 Serenader on a pea-green boat, in rhyme 24 Beef, e.g. 26 “The ___: Generation Q,” sequel series starting in 2019 27 Shiny fabrics 28 “Please, have ___” 30 Request that’s risky if you’re over 18? 31 Must-haves 32 Pink alcoholic drink, familiarly 33 Former inmate 34 Peter of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” 38 It’s got teeth 39 Salinger title girl
42 Popular salad dressing 44 -y, pluralized 46 Jon Arbuckle’s dog 47 Issuance from an American embassy 51 QB protectors, informally 52 Dish served with a spoon and chopsticks 53 Big pitchers 55 A while ago 57 Grandson of Adam and Eve 59 College ___ (something that might include an SAT score) 60 Commercial lead-in to mart 61 Basic bio subject 62 Loosey-goosey 63 One-up
The crossword solution is in the Classified section.
8A
THURSDAY
September 24, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
OPINIONS Dear freshmen: It’s going to be okay
THE DAILY ILLINI EDITORIAL
NOAH NELSON SENIOR COLUMNIST
To
CASSIDY BRANDT THE DAILY ILLINI
Ginsburg forged egalitarian legacy T here are said to be five stages of grief, the last being acceptance. In 2020, everyone has barely been able to suffer through three stages before restarting the process as a result of another horrifying loss. Unfortunately today, we grieve again in 2020. Regretfully, we lament the loss of the most prolific advocate for women’s rights in over a generation and the second woman ever to serve on the United States Supreme Court, the indefatigable and principled Ruth Bader-Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg, indelibly remembered as the “Notorious RBG,” dedicated her life fighting for a society in which men and women were truly equal under the law. The feminist icon worked with the American Civil Liberties Union much of her life to prove sex-based discrimination existed in the law and was unconstitutional. After receiving an education in law at both Harvard and Columbia, RBG found herself lacking employment opportunities because of her sex. Instead, she would work as a professor, while undertaking cases regarding sex-based discrimination. But she would not represent only female plaintiffs facing legally-codified sexbased discrimination, she would also represent males arbitrarily disfavored by statutes in order to make the case that discrimination on the basis of sex is uniformly unjust. Justice Ginsburg would be appointed to a federal Court of Appeals by Presi-
dent Jimmy Carter and promoted to the Supreme Court of the United States by President Bill Clinton. On the Supreme Court, Justice Ginsburg would gain her nickname for her scathing dissenting opinions. She famously authored dissenting opinions to Bush v. Gore, whose majority opinion is retroactively regarded as one of the worst Supreme Court decisions in the court’s history, and Shelby County v. Holder, whose majority opinion invalidated a critical part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Many of her famous decisions regarded, of course, gender equality, such as her decision in United States v. Virginia, which declared the Virginia Military Institute’s male-only admission policy unconstitutional. But beyond her judicial record and advocacy for women’s rights, RBG served as an inspiration and role model for all, not just feminist activists. RBG’s friendship with the late Justice Antonin Scalia, a staunchly conservative SCOTUS justice, represented the ability to have relationships that transcended politics. She frequently kept in shape through her rigorous workout routines, famously strenuous for someone in their eighties. Unfortunately, with her passing comes the intensely political gravitas of the court’s fresh vacancy. Minutes after the announcement of her departure, rumors of when her vacancy would be filled swirled. RBG’s legacy is one championing fairness, recti-
tude and consistency. For that reason, regarding the vacancy, it is the opinion of The Daily Illini that a lameduck president is still a sitting president, but given that — by that logic — President Trump was able to steal Justice Scalia’s seat from President Obama and have Justice Gorsuch confirmed, he should not be afforded the luxury of filling RBG’s seat until after the election results have been certified this November. Republicans have maintained that it is different since the Senate and White House are now run by the same party, but Constitutional responsibilities have never hinged on one’s party affiliation. Furthermore, when one considers that the structure of the Senate makes it more likely to be controlled by Republicans, this argument is clearly more convenient than reasonable. But this is simply arguing that only the Senate majority has the unilateral power to dictate when vacancies are filled. Anyone who truly believes that Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, was undeserving of a Senate hearing and confirmation vote for a year before the election but that RBG’s vacancy must be filled a month before an election should simply say the quiet part out loud: he or she is not motivated by principles but rather guided by the prospect of partisan victories. Perhaps there is less shame in owning up to prioritizing party over principles than in lying about it.
Furthermore, President Trump’s recently released shortlist of SCOTUS nominees is overflowing with less-than-qualified conservative ideologues rather than impartial, highlyrespected judges. It is said that justice is blind, something RBG worked tirelessly to ascertain, but this ideal would prove an illusion by the confirmation of one of these nominees. It is shameful to honor the legacy of a prominent feminist icon by replacing her court vacancy with someone whose sole purpose for being appointed is to strike down Roe v. Wade, which protected a woman’s right to an abortion in the first trimester. Notwithstanding one’s political beliefs, the work and dedication of Justice Ginsburg are admirable. The inspiration she offered to an entire generation of women as well as the importance of the legacy she leaves behind cannot be understated. With so much on the line this November, let’s uphold her penchant for political participation and turn out to vote in this election. Hopefully, hers will be the last tragic loss we have to lament this year. A lifetime spent forging a legacy of egalitarianism and emancipation from socially-defined gender roles will not be in vain. We’ll miss her dissents, her outstanding record fighting for gender equality and, of course, her undying will present in every aspect of her life, from the courtroom to the weight room.
the class of 2024, your Illinois college experience didn’t start the way you expected. There was no real Quad Day, few welcome events and a late start to the football season. More than likely, many thoughts and questions continue to run through your head. Should I quit college? Transfer schools? Or just keep going? It’s an unprecedented semester likely followed by an even worse spring and summer. If you’re struggling with school, trying to make friends, or fit in altogether, you’re not alone. There are plenty of upperclassmen who feel the same way. Freshmen, no matter what the rest of this semester brings, it’s going to be okay. University students were placed on a two-week limited interaction schedule from Sept 2. to Sept. 16, unable to participate in regular college activities. While cases on campus and in the Champaign-Urbana area have surged these last few weeks, other students are encouraged to only go out for necessities like class, groceries, religious celebrations and to seek medical attention. Everything about this semester is hard for everyone involved: Students, professors, parents and staff alike. So freshmen, when you feel alone and think you’re the only one battling this pandemic, think about all the others on the boat with you. While doing so, here are some tips to keep you grounded and sane. Above anything, focus on schoolwork first. Treat
it like a job. Your academic performance should be your top priority. Even though you may take the bulk of your classes online, you can still find ways to succeed with your studies. Grow to enjoy at least one course this semester. That way, you always have something to look forward to. While doing so, plan out everything you need to do for any given day and week for that matter. The quicker you take action on your schoolwork, the sooner you’ll find yourself occupied and achieving objectives you never thought possible. Besides school, take up a new hobby or continue an old one. No, you can’t do anything with a group, unfortunately, but you can still find other activities to do alone. Read that book you always wanted to get to but never did. Learn a new instrument or even a second language. Heck, you could start an online business if you’re feeling extra ambitious. The world is your oyster, and this semester might be the best time to do any of those activities. When you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or both, take a break. Find some time for just yourself. Use it to call your parents, take a walk or catch up on some Netflix. Relaxation will help you recharge your batteries and help you realize there can be some good moments out of this semester. Freshmen and fellow University students, everything will work out. There will be light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully sooner rather than later, we will all once again find ourselves back to normalcy, however that may look. Noah is a junior in the College of Media. noahen2@dailyillini.com
CASSIDY BRANDT THE DAILY ILLINI
Sign up to be an election judge, eliminate voter suppression you are required to understand how to use and troubleshoot provided equipSENIOR ment. In Cook County, COLUMNIST where I judged, the equipment, though a bit arcane, here’s been a lot of talk involved laptops, a mobile recently about voter hotspot, label printers, an suppression, both with I.D. scanner and the actual the whole vote-by-mail voting machines (mainly debacle, as well as other touchscreen). generally prohibitive voting Though every judge practices. I’ve got good news undergoes the same trainfor you, my dear college stu- ing, it is no secret that those dent, or otherwise technoof a certain age, shall we say, logically literate person: are not savants at technolYou can single-handedly ogy. For example, my fellow stop voter suppression. judges found themselves Become an election judge. unable to use a trackpad to An election judge is a pernavigate the laptops. son who sets up the polling I commend our retiree place, checks voters in and population which volunregisters those who did not teers its time to the demoregister prior to election day cratic process. I’m afraid, (at least in Illinois, but this however, that the demolaw varies by state). graphic of these judges I was an election judge could lead to voter supprestwice, once for the 2016 sion via their incompetence Presidential Election, and with basic technology. once for the 2018 Midterm The first time I voted, I Election. Both times, I was registered on election day. the only person under the As a judge in 2016, I regisage of 65 to volunteer. tered between 50 and 75 As an election judge, people through the day, a ELLEN BARCZAK
T
PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM GORMAN/FOR THE PATRIOT LEDGER
Socially distanced voters mark their ballots during early voting for the state primary at North Quincy High School in Quincy, Massachusetts on Aug. 22.
process which is quick and easy, if you understand what you’re doing. The woman electionjudging when I registered, however, did not understand how to register new voters, so I went behind the laptop and told her how to register me. If I hadn’t known how to direct her, it’s
likely I would have walked away from the polling place having not voted. Technology is practically a first language, a second nature, for members of my generation. The first time I used a computer, I was probably four years old. I learned how to use Microsoft PowerPoint when I was
eight. At my internship this summer, my older colleagues were impressed with my ability to quickly manipulate programs like PowerPoint. Those same individuals have Internet Explorer set up as their default browser. For my generation, though, when we see a requirement on a job application like, “Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite,” we laugh because the employer might as well have said something like, “Must know how to read.” So, my fellow young people, we have a talent many boomers do not possess, and that is fluency in the use of an internet browser and a trackpad. I don’t mean to rag on the older folks out there, but, let’s be real, we’re about ten times faster than they are. I urge you to use that talent not by ranting on Twitter, not just by voting, but by literally fighting voter suppression by operating the
laptop at a polling place. It’s a simple thing to ask, but it could make a world of difference to voters in your community. In Champaign County, after participating in four hours of training (virtually, this year, so all the more reason for young people to sign up) and judging on the day, you’ll get paid $200 and have something interesting for your resume. All you political science majors, all you people who take to Facebook to write dissertations about your political opinions, I beg of you, stop your bellyaching and instead be part of the solution. If you care about politics, if you care about our country and the democratic process, and you are also average at computers, you should be an election judge. Do something about it. Step up and make a difference. Ellen is a senior in LAS. ellenmb2@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.
1B
THURSDAY
September 24, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
SPORTS
VOLLEYBALL
Megan Cooney prepared for final run with Illini BY WES HOLLENBERG STAFF WRITER
Illinois senior Megan Cooney is a true veteran. The easy-going outside/ opposite hitter has seen Illinois volleyball at some of its highest and lowest points over the past few years, but now she may face her toughest challenge: adapting to change within the program. Illinois volleyball has changed in quite a few ways. For one, many of the key players from the 2018 Final Four team have graduated, leaving Cooney as one of the last links from the team. To Cooney, it’s been difficult to see the faces around the program change. “That’s been hard for me, just as I’ve been getting older,” Cooney said. “I’ve been very close with the senior classes. All of them. It’s been sad for me to see them go.” With her being one of the last connections to the Final
Four roster, a lot of responsibility has fallen onto her to share her experiences with the younger players. “We want to work towards the same goal of getting back to the Final Four like we did in 2018,” Cooney said. “They haven’t had the 2018 season that we had, so it’s just trying to lead them and show them what it’s like to play in those situations and what it takes to get there.” In Cooney’s case, she’s worked to show her teammates what it takes to make the Final Four through the effort she puts in in the gym as well as developing bonds with her teammates to help improve chemistry. When Cooney was an underclassman and Illinois made its Final Four run, she had teammates like Jordyn Poulter and Ali Bastianelli to look up to. Now that they’ve graduated, the baton has been passed to her
FOOTBALL
in terms of leading the team. Cooney said she learned a lot from Poulter and Bastianelli in particular as they each lead in unique ways. “Jordyn and Ali were great leaders,” Cooney said. “I think that they definitely portrayed (different styles). Jordyn was a little bit harder on us at practice where Ali was kind of the fun teammate, kind of bubbly. I think that both of their leadership styles on our team that season had an impact on our team and I definitely learned a lot from both of them.” Cooney has worked to find a middle ground between the two players’ styles of leadership but leans a little bit more towards Bastianelli’s. According to Cooney, it’s because she places a high value on knowing all PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDY WENSTRAND / FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS her teammates off the court. Then junior Megan Cooney speaks to her team during the game against Marquette at Redbird Arena on Sept. 14, 2019 in Normal, Illinois. Cooney is one of the final Illini from the 2018 Final
SEE COONEY | 2B Four run.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
NCAA gives clarity on basketball season BY BRANDON SIMBERG STAFF WRITER
PHOTO COURTESY OF GINA FERAZZI / LOS ANGELES TIMES
CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 22, 2019: Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers tries to evade the sack of Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus and ends up fumbling on the play in the second half at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sept. 22, 2019 in Carson, CA.
Illinois alumni play in first two weeks of NFL season BY JACKSON JANES ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
While Big Ten football may not be back for another month, the National Football League wrapped up its second week of action over the weekend, with 10 former Illini currently listed on NFL rosters. Let’s take a look at how they’ve started the 2020 season.
Justin Hardee (Defensive back, New Orleans Saints)
Hardee enters his fourth season in New Orleans, though he is slotted behind the more experienced Janoris Jenkins on the depth chart. He has registered a tackle in each of the team’s first two games and has seen decent playing time on defense. The Saints are 1-1 on the season after a Week 1 Nick Allegretti (Guard, victory over the Tampa Bay Kansas City Chiefs) Buccaneers and Week 2 loss Allegretti, the most to the Las Vegas Raiders. recent alum of the Illini football program, returns Ted Karras (Center, Miami to the Chiefs after winning Dolphins) the Super Bowl in his first Karras, the only other year in the NFL. Though active Illini alum who has listed as the team’s backup won a Super Bowl ring durleft guard, Allegretti plays ing his NFL career, enters his a majority of his snaps with fifth year in the NFL, though the special teams unit, as he this is only his first as a Dolwas on the field during the phin after four years and Chiefs’ game-winning field two championships with the goal in Week 2 to defeat the New England Patriots. KarLos Angeles Chargers 23-20 ras is the Dolphins’ starting in overtime. The Chiefs are center and one of the team currently 2-0 after victories captains, and he has startover the Houston Texans and ed both games of the season the Los Angeles Chargers thus far, though the team is still looking for its first win Clayton Fejedelem (Safety, of 2020.
Miami Dolphins)
After starting every game during his first four years in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, Fejedelem signed a three-year contract with the Miami Dolphins and was named one of the team captains prior to the 2020 season. He has not played a game yet after being sidelined with a pectoral injury, though he hopes to return on Thursday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Dolphins are off to a tough start, losing their opening two games of the season by a combined 13 points.
After a longer than usual offseason, the NCAA finally provided some clarity about the 2020-2021 season. There will be a college basketball season played this year. In a press release last Thursday, the NCAA Division I Council approved for a start date of Nov. 25. This is 15 days later than the original start date, but starting on Nov. 25 means three-quarters of Division I schools competing will have finished their fall semester of classes. “The new season start date near the Thanksgiving holiday provides the optimal opportunity to successfully launch the basketball season,” said NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt. “It is a grand compromise of sorts and a unified approach that focuses on the health and safety of studentathletes competing towards the 2021 Division I basketball championships.” The 2020-2021 season won’t be completely normal. Instead of a typical 31-32 game regular season, teams have three scheduling options: 24 regular-season games and up to three games in one multi-team event, 25 regular-season games and up to two games in one multiteam event or 25 regular-
THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO
Junior Giorgi Bezhanishvili speaks to head coach Brad Underwood during the second half of the game against Michigan State at State Farm Center on Feb. 11. The NCAA recently clarified there will be a college basketball season for 2020-2021.
season games without play- unclear what its schedule ald Coast Classic from Nov. ing in a multi-team event. may look like. The Illini are SEE NCAA | 2B For Illinois, it’s still very slated to play in the Emer-
FALL SPORTS
Whitney Mercilus (Linebacker, Houston Texans)
The most experienced Illinois alum in the NFL, Mercilus enters his ninth season as a Houston Texan. Starting both games thus far, he has collected three tackles, with all of them coming in the team’s Week 1 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Though the team is 0-2, they have faced arguably the two best teams — and two best quarterbacks — in the league in Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs and Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDY WENSTRAND / FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS
Then-seniors Ashlyn Fleming and Jacqueline Quade attempt to block the ball during the game against the Pacific Tigers on Sept. 20, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The volleyball, cross country and soccer teams will now compete in the spring.
Board approves fall championships postponement BY GABBY HAJDUK SPORTS EDITOR
The NCA A Division I Board of Directors approved the postponement of fall sports championships to the spring, with the exclusion of football, on Tuesday. The postponement was originally recomSEE ALUMNI | 2B mended by the NCAA Divi-
sion I Council last month after several Division 1 conferences halted their fall sports seasons. The plan involves men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s water polo. “The plan sent to us by
the Division I Council provides the maximum number of opportunities to fall student-athletes to participate in NCAA championships while still being fiscally responsible,” said acting board chair Denise Trauth, president at Texas State. “We look forward to the spring, understand-
ing things will look a little different but knowing the competitions will be just as meaningful as in normal circumstances.” Illinois volleyball will be the first fall sport to start competition, with the chance to begin matchSEE FALL | 2B
2B
Thursday, September 24, 2020
THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
FOOTBALL FROM 1B
NCAA
THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO
Members of the Illinois football team celebrate on the field of Memorial Stadium after defeating Wisconsin 24-23 on Oct. 19. The Illini look to embrace the underdog mentality this year and defeat the Badgers on Oct. 24 in Madison.
Illini aim to replicate magic, stun Badgers BY CARSON GOURDIE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Last season, Illinois’ football program was at a crossroads. After starting 2-0 with wins over Akron and University of Connecticut, Illinois stumbled, losing four in a row. Eastern Michigan simply outplayed Lovie Smith’s squad. Nebraska ripped out Illinois’ heart, preventing head coach Lovie Smith from getting a signature win. Minnesota and Michigan ran all over the defense, scoring 82 points against then-senior linebacker Dele Harding and company. Smith saved his program, and perhaps his job, though, against the unlikeliest of teams. Last season, despite being 31-point underdogs, the Illini shocked No. 6 and thenundefeated Wisconsin Badgers 24-23, ending hot seat talk and sparking Illinois’ hottest stretch of football since 2007. In just over a month, the Illini will play a rematch against the Badgers on the road in the season opener, hoping to shock
pundits again. Amid COVID-19 and all of the postponements, this is the most talented team Smith has had. Illinois returns the 12th-most production in the country, along with key pieces on both sides of the ball, specifically senior quarterback Brandon Peters. While Peters was inconsistent at times — passing for only 78 yards against Nebraska — he proved to be invaluable to his team’s success when he was locked in with wide receivers while utilizing his legs. Although he doesn’t look like a dualthreat quarterback, Peters has hidden speed and instincts that allow him to extend plays. Against the Badgers, a diverse offense is essential for an upset. The Badgers come into this season ranked No. 12 despite losing some key pieces. After three years of gashing defenses, running back Jonathan Taylor forgoed his senior year and entered the NFL draft. For most programs, losing a running back who averaged
over 2,000 rushing yards a season would be a massive blow. But for Wisconsin, who has produced NFL running backs such as Montee Ball, Melvin Gordon and James White, any running back they place in will create some damage. Still, senior quarterback Jack Coan will have to step it up with his arm to keep defenses honest. Coan has not shown he can consistently will his team to score with his arm, as he was able to ride off Taylor’s coattails. Although his stat line looks efficient — 18 touchdowns and five interceptions — Coan was untested, as he only threw for over 200 yards in four Power-5 games. The key for Illinois — or any team that plays Wisconsin — is stuffing the run game or at least slowing it down. Although Taylor was still able to crack over the century mark for rushing, Smith and his defense didn’t allow any big plays. After slowing down the attack, turnovers were key in turning the tide, the trademark of the Smith
THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO
defense. Although the Badgers have question marks with their offense, the defense is projected to pick up exactly where they left off. Before the Illini shocked the Badgers, Wisconsin had one of the most dominant half-seasons in recent college football history. In their first six games, they allowed a total of 29 points and recorded four shutouts. While the Badgers started to show cracks down the stretch, they still finished in the top 10 in total defense and scoring defense. Smith has rebuilt the program by getting creative and taking advantage of new recruiting tools. Illinois will never be able to compete nationally against the Ohio States of the world when it comes to recruiting, but Smith adapted and made Illinois into a transfer portal hotspot. Players like Peters, junior tight end Luke Ford and senior wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe — who came from Michigan, Georgia and University of Southern California, respectively — have found a new home where they can showcase their talent that got overlooked at the blue blood schools. Smith has got his best team prepared, but it’s unfortunate Illinois fans only get a shortened season to see his work. This team has eight regular-season games and one extra crossover game to show off their progress. And while Smith would probably like a few non-conference games before diving right into Big Ten action, the fact is the Badgers are waiting in Madison as they prepare to defend their division crown. But if the turnover-forcing Lovieball is in store, as well as Peters’ ability to keep the defense honest, Illinois could replicate last season’s magic and shock the college football world.
The Illini football team and fans commemorate their win against the Badgers on the field of Memorial Stadium.
@gourdiereport gourdie2@dailyillini.com
FROM 1B
I can personally. Ultimately, it’s out of my control, so I’m just going with the flow, rolling with the punches right now and crossing my fingers for that season.” Cooney is known for her even-keeled personality, which has allowed her to take sudden changes such as the uncertainty of the season better than most. The chaotic nature of a pandemic has been stressful, but Cooney has not let her initial panic shake her permanently. Ultimately, a lot of Cooney’s value to the team this year will be helping to serve as a bridge between the team’s past in its 2018 tournament run and its future in underclassmen on the roster. Cooney has already contributed to many of Illinois’ highest peaks, but she will hopefully get the chance to have one more chapter in her story. On a team that could have used more leadership last year, this season will be Cooney’s chance to prove what kind of leader she is.
COONEY
This past year, however, has presented unique challenges to Cooney. Being a senior made it much more difficult to relate to her younger teammates while COVID-19 restrictions have presented a roadblock in her being able to spend time with them. Cooney has attempted to bridge the gap between herself and her younger teammates by simply being more actively involved in spending time with them. Cooney said she puts in extra effort to get one-on-one time to build bonds with her younger teammates. Part of the reason Cooney has had to put in this extra effort this year is also because the team has been more limited in their time together due to COVID-19. “We’re used to coming in a month earlier than we did in the summer,” Cooney said. “We would normally get to introduce the freshmen a little bit more before we start practicing with the coaches and everything. We’d normally get to be together, practicing
and working out together. I think working out together is a huge part to any team. Our summer workouts are tough, just pushing each other along really strengthens our team culture and everything.” Over the summer, the volleyball team was split into two different groups for workouts, making it difficult for teammates that weren’t in the same group to get to know one another. This was unfortunate for Cooney, as her easy-going and focused personality sets a great example for the tone head coach Chris Tamas’ likes to set during his efficient practices. Another example of Cooney’s great ability to adapt is how she changed positions after her sophomore year. During her first two years in college, Cooney played opposite hitter. When the team needed her to switch to outside hitter, she got right to work. “ W ho knows where I’ll be this coming year,” Cooney said. “I practice both positions equally and I like them both. I definitely need more practice on the outside. I’ve been
working hard with that for sure. Trying to improve my out-of-system game. That’s the biggest difference from outside and the opposite is just the amount of out of system balls that you get on the outside I’m just trying to improve my swings and range of swings that I can get from the outside hitter position.” Having such a laid-back personality has allowed Cooney to contribute immensely to Illinois volleyball, but even she has limits in terms of what gets to her. One thing Cooney has struggled with is the possibility of the COVID-19 pandemic interfering with her senior season. “It was really tough for me,” Cooney said. “In the summer, we didn’t even know if we’d have a fall season or not. With all of the unknowns, I was just very nervous about everything. Now I’ve been able to put in the mindset that I can’t control anything that’s going on in the world right now. I can wear my mask, but that’s about all I can do. I have no control over if we have a season or not, so I’m just doing the best that
@WesHollenberg wih2@dailyillini.com
the possibility of no fans at games. The Big Ten announced there will be no fans at any football games this season, so it seems unlikely there would be any at basketball games. “That ’s challenging because you’re so used to feeding off your crowds’ energy, the momentum and everything,” said senior guard Trent Frazier. “I think the biggest thing for us is having each other’s back. We’re going to have to feed off each other’s energy. Guys talking on the bench, everyone talking on the court, that is going to be our fans.” The upcoming hoops season will certainly look far from normal. An adjusted schedule, potential bubble situations and empty arenas will give the sport known for its raucous home courts a different vibe. But for an Illinois team that lost the opportunity to make their first NCAA Tournament since 2013, it’s hard to imagine they won’t embrace any opportunity given to them.
27-29 in Destin, Florida, though several Thanksgiving tournaments have already switched locations, including the Maui Invitational, which will now be played in Asheville, North Carolina and the Battle 4 Atlantis, which has been moved to South Dakota. Illinois’ first-round matchup is Florida, with Iowa State and Oregon on the other side of the bracket. It does appear that the ACC-Big Ten Challenge will happen this year, though. According to Jeff Goodman, stadium basketball insider, the challenge has “strong momentum to be moved to December 8-9.” As far as conference play goes, that schedule is still murky. The Big Ten has made no announcement on when those games will be played. Given the fact that teams can only play 24 to 25 games this season, a 20-game Big Ten schedule would appear unlikely. Another potential change @BrandonSimberg to this upcoming season is simberg2@dailyillini.com
FROM 1B
ALUMNI
Del’Shawn Phillips (Linebacker, Buffalo Bills)
The 2020 season saw Phillips named to his first 53-player active roster, and he saw action in Week 1 on the special teams unit during the Bills’ victory over the New York Jets. Phillips, listed as the team’s second-string linebacker, was sidelined with an injury in Week 2, though he will likely return to face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3. The Bills have started the season undefeated.
Dawuane Smoot (Defensive end, Jacksonville Jaguars)
Smoot is playing his fourth season in Jacksonville, and he is considered the team’s second-string defensive end. Smoot has recorded one tackle so far in 2020, coming in the team’s Week 2 loss to the Tennessee Titans. The Jaguars sit at 1-1 after two weeks of action, and they will play fellow Illinois alumni Fejedelem and Karras in Week 3.
Malik Turner (Wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys)
wide receivers Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup, Turner could get some playing time in the event any of them get injured. The Cowboys are 1-1 after a 20-point comeback victory of the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2.
Jihad Ward (Defensive end, Baltimore Ravens)
Ward enters his fifth year as a pro, and the Ravens are his third team in the NFL. Ward has earned some playing time on the defensive side of the ball despite being listed as a second-string defensive end. Ward has registered one solo tackle and seven assisted tackles so far in 2020 and has helped the Ravens to a 2-0 start after impressive wins over the Texans and the Cleveland Browns.
Tavon Wilson (Safety, Indianapolis Colts)
2020 is Wilson’s first season in Indianapolis and his ninth in the NFL. While he has gotten three snaps on defense, Wilson sees a majority of his playing time on special teams, though he is yet to register any tackles on the season. The Colts are currently 1-1, falling to the Jaguars in Week 1 before defeating the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2. Expect him to get some more playing time in the coming weeks.
After being claimed off waivers from the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 6, Turner has yet to see action in Dallas on the offensive side of the ball, though he has gotten playing time on the special teams unit, playing 28 @JacksonJanes3 snaps so far. Slotted behind janes6@dailyillini.com
FROM 1B
FALL
Soccer will also follow a 48-team NCAA tournament bracket, with selections being made April 18, a day after the regular season concludes. The tournament will feature 31 automatic qualifiers and 17 at-large bids. While conflict surrounded the crossover between a spring cross country season and track season, the NCAA’s plan has the cross country season ending on March 5 with championships set for March 15. The championships will feature 255 men’s runners and 255 women’s runners.
es on Jan. 22, a date set by the NCAA. Both Illini cross country teams can begin competition on Jan. 23, while soccer won’t begin until Feb. 3, at the earliest. Practices can begin at each individual institution’s discretion. The regular season for volleyball will go until April 3, with tournament selections made on April 4. The NCAA tournament bracket will be reduced to a 48-team bracket opposed to the usual 64-team bracket; it will feature 32 automatic qualifiers and 16 at @gabby_h11 large bids. The Champion- ghajduk2@dailyillini.com ship is set for April 23-25.
THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO
Then-senior Grace Rodgers rounds a corner during preseason camp on Aug. 30, 2019. Cross country teams can begin competition on Jan. 23.
3B
THURSDAY
September 24, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
COVID-19
Champaign County COVID-19 recoveries continue to rise Active case count sees downward trend BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR
Despite a steady stream of new cases in Champaign County, new recoveries continue to drive the county’s active case count down. On Wednesday, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District confirmed another 34 cases of COVID-19 from 9,624 tests, along with another 57 recoveries. The 4,046 of the county’s 4,370 confirmed cases are considered recovered, while the active case count sits at 304, 500 fewer than it was a little over two weeks ago. On Sept. 6, active cases peaked in the county with 888, largely due to spread on the University campus. CUPHD reported four hospitalizations for the virus, the same as Monday and Tuesday. ZIP code 61820 is Champaign County’s biggest contributor to the pandem-
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
Coronavirus testing worker Lynae Cox checks a student into the University testing site located in front of Foellinger Auditorium on Wednesday morning. Active COVID-19 cases in Champaign County peaked on Sept. 6 and have since been on a downward trend.
ic: 148 of the active cases reside there, and there have been 2,026 confirmed cases there. The ZIP code 61820 encapsulates the area
within I-74 on the north, Prospect Avenue on the west, Windsor Road on the south and Wright Street on the east, covering most of Campustown.
The same ZIP code leads Champaign County in total tests with 196,683. Adjacent ZIP codes 61801 and 61821 are second and third in county testing, with 103,935
The county has conducted over 450,000 tests for the coronavirus since the pandemic began. Over 65.5% of all county tests have been done on people between the ages of 10 and 30 years old. In total, 1,741 confirmed cases have been from people between the ages of 10 and 20, while another 1,182 confirmed cases have been between 20 and 30 years old. CUPHD reports breakdowns of cases and tests by race. According to their webpage, 63% of people who’ve tested positive in the county are white, 15% are African American, 6% are Asian, 16% are “Other” and 1% are unknown. By ethnicity, 16% of people who’ve tested positive identify as Hispanic, but only 2.6% of the tested population is Hispanic. Other cases to tests disparities exist in racial demographics. Asian people represent 6% of cases despite comprising 18.3% of tests, while African Americans comprise 15% of cases in the county with only 8.2% of tests.
tests and 39,988 tests to date. The ZIP code with the next highest number of active cases is 61801, with @esimmsnews 28. ecsimmon@dailyillini.com
New student body president assumes position during pandemic BY ELIZABETH SAYASANE FEATURES EDITOR
Junior in LAS, Alexis Perezchica’s excitement over winning the election for 2020-2021 Illinois student body president was quickly chased by the news about COVID-19 spreading throughout the country. Other schools were closing down and students of Illinois soon got the news that they would be returning home for the rest of the semester. Traditionally, the transition to a new president and assembly takes place at a gala. They honor those who served the previous term and welcome the new school leaders, however, this year, the transition took place over Zoom. “It was a hard transition mentally,” Perezchica said. “We had worked very hard to get where we are and what we were expecting didn’t happen.” All the initial meetings with administrators such as the Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs took place virtually. This made it difficult for Perezchica to form real connections with these people. She said meeting people in person and actually seeing their energy and behavior affects what kind of relationship she has with them. Nonetheless, as students moved back on campus in the fall, Perezchica threw
herself fully into her position as student body president. She had two priorities moving back: First, keeping students safe, and second, advocating for the issues she promised to work on during her campaign. “We’re working on our goals, while also COVID issues are on top of that, so we really had to take a step back and reprioritize things,” she said. COVID-19 has further complicated the issues they were already hoping to address. For example, Perezchica points to mental health services. While running, Perezchica voiced her support for bolstering mental health resources for students on campus. Since COVID-19 disrupted everyone’s lives, students are seeking out these resources but facing accessibility issues. Perezchica said students find the available time slots difficult to accommodate, not to mention the challenges faced by students living out of state since the Counseling Center can only counsel in Illinois. The challenge now is not just improving these resources, but also improving it for students who do not have the same access. In addition to the challenges of her presidency, Perezchica has to face all of the challenges every other student is facing right now with her classes. “I would say online learn-
ing is difficult because you’re at your computer all day, and sometimes teachers are giving us more work now,” she said. “They’re giving us more work because we’re at home and it seems like we’re less busy, but in reality, we’re busier now with a lot of the extra work.” Like everyone else, Perezchica misses hanging out with her friends, just to get dinner or grab a coffee together. She said she tries to find a balance between handling her school responsibilities while also making an effort to somehow safely connect with friends. As student body president, she is working hard to help other students in the same position. “I’m just trying my best to find how COVID is affecting students and see what I can do to help,” she said. “Who do I have to talk to, who do I have to collaborate with, what kind of initiatives have to be done.” Looking forward, Perezchica said one of her main focuses is trying to stay on campus until Nov. 20. She said if this campus cannot do it, no other school can. Even with the frequent testing and the Safer Illinois app, though, she said a lot of the effort will be left up to the students. Perezchica urges students to follow the CDC health guidelines and the rules put into place by the
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXIS PEREZCHICA
Student Body President Alexis Perezchica poses for a professional headshot outside of the Illini Union. The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated the new president’s goals.
CUPHD. “I’m really proud of our community because most students are doing what they’re supposed to,” she said. “It’s just the couple of students who don’t care about their community that are really putting everybody else in danger.”
Stay
Even with the stressful position she is in, Perezchica said she is trying to maintain a positive outlook. She clarified, though, that this does not mean she is ignoring the circumstances and telling people to ‘just be happy.’ She said while she understands the
situation, she still wants to take advantage of what she has. “We really have to learn from the situation we’re in right now, we have to get something good out of it,” Perezchica said. eis3@dailyillini.com
covered so you can stay here. covid19.illinois.edu
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Thursday, September 24, 2020
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Thursday, September 24, 2020
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buzz calendar BY RUKAYAH HUSSEIN BUZZ CALENDAR EDITOR
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.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 24
Fall Prairie Skies
Pygmalion 2020
! 3 p.m. " A virtual event hosted by Pygmalion 2020 # Free This event is ongoing. This festival features a mixture of curated components from over 15 years of its existence, from your favorite indie bands, like the New Pornographers, to prominent comedians like Eric Andre and Michelle Wolf. Don’t miss their literature series, hackathon and Made Fest for a full three days of entertainment.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 25
Pride Fest 2020: Staying Apart, Rising United
CADE WHARTON THE DAILY ILLINI
Embrace changing seasons with fall-inspired playlist Jam out to everything from Queen to Harry Styles BY RUKAYAH HUSSEIN BUZZ CALENDAR EDITOR
The fall season is finally upon us! There are many reasons to love fall, from the fantastic weather to pumpkin spice lattes and even the endless Harry Potter marathons. The atmosphere surrounding fall is one of the many joys in life, and it is especially great when paired with some amazing music. For a playlist that reminds you of cooling weather, changing leaves, cozy sweaters and new beginnings, look no further! 1. “Sign of the Times” - Harry Styles 2. “Partner in Crime” - Chloe Collins 3. “Do I Wanna Know?” - Arctic Monkeys 4. “Sedated” - Hozier 5. “O Children” - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds 6. “Hello” - Adele
7. “Killer Queen” - Queen 8. “Landslide” - Fleetwood Mac 9. “Cinnamon Girl” - Lana Del Rey 10. “Out Of The Woods” - Taylor Swift 11. “Moral of the Story” - Ashe 12. “Something In The Way” - Nirvana
rukayah2@readbuzz.com
! Noon " A virtual event hosted by The United Pride Center of Champaign County # Free This event is ongoing. Pride Fest is going virtual! Stay apart but rise united with your LGBTQ+ community. We offer a full schedule of virtual workshops, mixers and youth programming throughout the weekend. You can also connect through our “Pride Guide ” of local businesses supporting our work and shopping locally at our online auction.
The Blues Deacons
! 7-8 p.m. " A virtual event hosted by Parkland College # Free Join Parkland College for this virtual, livenarrated tour of the wonders of the night sky, accompanied by some of the legendary stories of the ancient sky. Find out what constellations and planets are visible tonight and how to find them. This show is updated seasonally and is intended for all ages. Join through Zoom.
New Souls: Late Night with Strick Lee
! 7-10 p.m. " Rose Bowl Tavern, 106 N. Race St., Urbana # Free New Souls will be live outside at The Rose Bowl Tavern patio Friday night. Bring food and the tavern has beverages for purchase. The band will play tunes for three hours of entertainment.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 26
Market at the Square
! 7 a.m.-noon " Urbana’s Market at the Square, corner of Illinois and Vine streets, Downtown Urbana # Free Urbana’s Market at the Square returns for another season! This year looks slightly different, but you can still shop local vendors to get fresh produce from farmers in our area.
! 6-9 p.m. " Huber’s West End Store, 1312 W. Church St., Champaign # Free SUNDAY, SEPT. 27 Huber’s welcomes Champaign-Urbana favorites The Blues Deacons to the parking Wine Down with Jenny and Shawn lot patio! Social distancing and wearing ! 2-4 p.m. masks is required when not eating or " Alto Vineyards Champaign, 4210 N. drinking to stay safe. Duncan Road, Champaign # Free Join Alto Vineyards Champaign for a free concert with Jenny and Shawn. With outdoor seating, there is plenty of space for social distancing while enjoying your favorite glass of wine.
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THURSDAY
September 24, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
Tawny Newsome and Diana Silvers star in the Netflix show “Space Force.” Newsome will co-host the podcast “Yo, is this Racist?” with Andrew Ti during Pygmalion this Friday.
Pygmalion will offer variety of virtual acts BY BUZZ EDITORIAL STAFF
Pygmalion will be hosted from this Thursday through Saturday, but it will be entirely online after most festivals were canceled due to COVID-19 this summer. The festival’s movement to an online platform saddened the ChampaignUrbana community, especially since last year’s performances were phenomenal. Artists like Eric Andre, JID and Japanese Breakfast all graced the Canopy Club’s stage and gave festival-goers an experience to remember. Thankfully, there are a few Pygmalion virtual events we are excited about this year and some that will hopefully pique your interest. The events of this year’s festival are entirely free to the public. However, donations will be accepted for organizations that will help people in need during these rough times.
Jillian Little
If you haven’t seen “Napoleon Dynamite” already, it’s a movie worth putting on your watchlist. Luckily, Pygmalion will have a full screening of the film this Friday, so you won’t miss out on the awk-
ward dialogue, the infamous dance scene and Tina the llama. The showing will be followed by a moderated discussion with Jon Heder, who played Napolean Dynamite, Efren Ramirez, who played Pedro, and Jon Gries, who played Uncle Rico. Despite the movie being released almost two decades ago, it remains an adored cult classic in many hearts. “Illinois Country” will also have a showing. This one-hour documentary focuses on Illinois’ role in country music history, and it is crazy how it only took a year to shoot. Produced by Sarah Edwards and Liza Bralts, the documentary goes through the timeline of country music’s beginnings, hoedowns and Illinois-raised Grammy winners. In the film, there are many interviews with smalltown locals and performers, and country music scholars like Don Cusic and Dennis Stroughmatt discuss the genre’s common roots. “Illinois Country” will screen on Saturday from 6-7 p.m. Afterward, there will be a panel discussion with Illinois Public Media about the music industry. The pan-
PHOTO COURTESY OF TIM SOTER/WIKIPEDIA
Nabil Ayers poses for a professional headshot on June 15, 2019. Ayers will host “The Worst Show Ever” during Pygmalion this year.
elists will detail the realities of starting a career in the industry and how COVID-19 has impacted everything. This event is a mustgo for any music enthusiast. Pygmalion will also host a range of activities individuals can partake in from the comforts of their home. One that catches the eye is Exit Stage Left: A Pygmalion Mystery Escape. Each day of the festival, individuals can sign up for a 30-minute slot and participate in a live-action game. Hosted by C-U Adventures in Time and Space, the game will combine immersive theater and escape room style puzzles for thrill-seekers. Up to six people can participate in one session.
Ava Traverso
Even though we can’t come together and celebrate for this year’s Pygmalion, there is still a ton of fun to be had! There are lots of top-notch acts from the looks of the lineup. The two I’m most excited about are Friday Beers with Jim Ward and Worst Show Ever with Nabil Ayers. I’m excited for Friday Beers because they always post the funniest memes on their Instagram page, which can put a smile on anyone’s face. Their page is full of memes and videos, truly displaying how a Friday beer just “hits different.” If you aren’t already, I highly recommend following @friday.beers on Instagram. Friday Beers with Jim Ward will take place on Friday, from 5-6 p.m. As for Worst Show Ever by Ayers, the concept sounds incredibly interesting. I’ve never seen or heard Ayers’ work, but I’m looking forward to tuning in. It should be fascinating to attend the event because Michelle Zauner from Jap-
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
Actors Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez star in Napoleon Dynamite, which was released on Aug. 27, 2004. A viewing of the film will be hosted during Pygmalion this Friday.
anese Breakfast will make an online appearance. At last year’s Pygmalion, she performed alongside Japanese Breakfast and was a moderator for Antoni Porowski. She radiated so much positive energy to the show, and I’m looking forward to seeing her on stage again, even if it’s in a different format. Although things will be different this year, there are plenty of acts worth seeing at Pygmalion. Tune in this weekend for tons of good music and commentary.
Carolina Garibay
“Yo, is this Racist?” is hosted by Andrew Ti, creator of a blog with the same name, and the blog has become a podcast. Ti and co-host Tawny Newsome, an actress who stars opposite Steve Carrell and John Malkovich in Netflix series “Space Force,” host this podcast every Wednes-
day. Their guests answer questions from fans about whether or not something is racist. This concept seems super exciting and especially relevant now, given the Black Lives Matter movement’s spreading awareness and coverage. If you’re looking to learn more about racism in an engaged way, this is the event to tune in to. Being culturally aware and sensitive is extremely important, so consider watching this event to see Ti and Newsome answer some hard-hitting questions about racism. This event will happen on Friday from 6:307:30 p.m. Literary Marathon! is a weekend-long event that will occur each day of the festival from 5-11 p.m. During these times, over 20 poets will gather to share their poems with the public. Each poet has been selected based on their work and stage pres-
ence. A few of the poets participating include Ann Flesor Beck, a third-generation Greek confectioner and independent scholar; Koritha Mitchell, author of the award-winning book “Living with Lynching”; and Jonathan R. Eller, Chancellor’s Professor of English and director of the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies at Indiana University’s School of Liberal Arts. A fun fact about him is that he was friends with Ray Bradbury from the late 1980s until Bradbury died in 2012. This event is perfect for writers, poets, readers or simply anyone interested in hearing from distinguished poets involved with the C-U community. buzzeditorialstaff@readbuzz. com
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