FALL BREAK EDITION THURSDAY November 19, 2020
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Vol. 150 Issue 26
Semester in review: UI adapts to pandemic COVID-19 exposure puts BY ETHAN SIMMONS
Thanksgiving plans at risk
NEWS EDITOR
Despite an abbreviated in-person tenure, the University’s fall 2020 semester was anything but uneventful. The advent of a cuttingedge saliva-based COVID-19 test by University faculty and students guided the return of around 40,000 people to the C-U campus. What followed — “hybrid” instruction, a spike and decline in cases, a lockdown, student protests and struggles — captured national attention. Here are the highlights of the University’s threemonth rollercoaster ride:
BY MONA ALRAZZAQ STAFF WRITER
As Thanksgiving break approaches, some students’ plans to return home for the holiday might be interrupted due to an unexpected need to quarantine. Sarah Mendes, junior in LAS, was advised by the C-U Public Health District to quarantine for two weeks after being exposed to somebody who tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. Though she has been tested twice and the results came back negative, she is hoping that result stays consistent over the next week. She had a plan to head home for the week off but might now put that plan on hold. “It was a lot of back and forth with my parents about whether I should come home or not,” Mendes said. “At the end of the day, I decided that for their safety, in the event that I do test positive, it’s better that I do just stay on campus.” If Mendes’ tests remain negative, her plan changes to going home for the weekend and self-isolating in her room for the remainder of the two-week period. Despite the disappointment of potentially remaining on campus when she planned to go home, she is coping well. “I’m kind of really focusing on school work and trying to keep myself busy to not dwell on the fact of that possible positive COVID test,” Mendes said. Marianna Kalembasa, senior in LAS, has also been recently exposed to COVID-19. Though she did not receive a call from any officials, she took it upon herself to do her own research and isolate herself accordingly. “I will be quarantining for a full two weeks for the safety of my other two roommates,” Kalembasa said. “I don’t want to get anyone else sick.” Kalembasa has been taking COVID-19 tests every other day since she was exposed. So far, they have also all come back negative. Her plans for Thanksgiving break are impacted slightly due to her situation, though she hopes they are not permanently altered. Saturday will be two weeks since her exposure, so she will head back
Expectations meet a surge
On the eve of the first week of classes, University administrators gathered with the Shield: Target, Test, Tell team to share their plans and forecasts for the semester. The hope: The campus population would test twice a week and avoid most unsafe gatherings, responding to contact tracers if exposure occurred. The converted Veterinary Diag-
CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
Illini football players Doug Kramer Jr., Owen Carney and Marquez Beason take a knee to honor those who have died at the hands of police during a Black Lives Matter protest on Aug 31. Hundreds of students and community members participated in local BLM protests this fall.
nostic Laboratory would process tens of thousands of campus tests each day, returning results in a matter of hours. After a bump in cases, University and public health efforts to control the
spread would curb the virus to a trickle for the rest of the semester. Un iver sit y mo delers nailed the number of imports; about 300 COVID-19 positive people in
the entry screening of tests. What happened afterward was a murky mix of late test results, weekend social gatherings and refusals to respond to contact tracers. COVID-19 cases swelled
far beyond University expectations. By Sept. 1, after the first week of class, more than 1,200 people had been infected on campus. SEE SEMESTER | 3A
Marching Illini find new ways to support each other BY ROYAL SHRESTHA STAFF WRITER
The feel of the football season is certainly not the same without the fans cheering and the band playing. Instead, Memorial Stadium is packed with over 300 cardboard cutouts of Marching Illini performers, with pre-recorded touchdown and end-game winning performances that are played throughout the football game. “It’s still not the same, but we are still part of the experience and that’s the key thing for us,” said Barry L. Houser, director of athletic bands. “We are able to support our team no matter what, and that they hear and at least see a little bit of our support for them along the way.” Since the beginning of March when COVID-19 hit, every student at the University was impacted, but for students pursuing fine arts and music, the experience has completely changed. With the Marching Illini’s band having over 400 student members, the pandemic certainly had a “significant
impact on the students, as coordinating rehearsals and practices over Zoom was just impossible,” Houser said. Because of the latency issues over Zoom, this has become a challenge not only for Illinois but for many other schools in the U.S., Houser said. Instead, the students have been utilizing the extra time to learn more about inclusiveness and diversity, and open up more about how they’re doing along with their mental health. These aspects, Houser believes are something never really talked about in a normal football season with so much going on, but he believes that the most important thing is “continuing to engage and meet, just being able to have a conversation, which is hard to do these days.” Houser organized a performance by a small, senior group of Marching Illini members to play during the 100th celebration of the Altgeld chimes on Oct. 30. As there were a lot of wind instruments during the
THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO
Members of the Marching Illini stand in the end zone before the game against Minnesota at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 3, 2018. The Marching Illini recently performed during the 100th anniversary of the Altgeld bells.
event, intensive research studies were done on aerosol particles produced by such instruments months prior to the event. Bell covers and special student masks were created just to help negate the spread of these particles. Houser was able to share these research results with high schools and colleges and was eventually contacted by
the Illinois Department of Public Health. “We were able to share the research information, and the IDPH and our team were able to create some really safe guidelines together so that programs throughout the state could actually meet once again and continue to teach music,” Houser said. The feedback to the guide-
lines was really positive and schools over Illinois have already started to implement them, Houser said. It will still be a while before the Marching Illini can perform like in a regular season, but he believes massive leaps are already being taken to move forward with music. royals2@dailyillini.com
LONGFORM
What America has failed to hear A Year of Racial and Political Division: Where do we go now? BY GRACE MALONEY STAFF WRITER
A Movement Re-Ignited
KAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI
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Shootings. Protests. Riots. A movement ignited. Eight months. Over 250 days. That’s how much time has passed since Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency room technician from Louisville, Kentucky, was fatally shot by police officers executing a no-knock warrant in her apartment. One of the officers, Brett Hankison, was fired on June 23, over three months after Taylor’s death. The other two officers involved — Jon Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove — were placed on administrative reassignment. Not one of them has faced criminal charges, but hundreds who have protested in response to Taylor’s death have been arrested
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instead. A grand jury did not charge any of the police officers with Breonna Taylor’s killing, though one former detective was indicted for “recklessly firing” into a neighboring apartment during the raid, according to a New York Times article. A Change.org petition, started by law student Loralei HoJay, is calling for the arrest of the three officers involved in the case. It addresses President Donald Trump, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, state Attorney General Daniel Cameron and others. The petition has garnered over 10 million signatures, the secondhighest amount in history. Seventy-three days — two-and-a-half months — after the death of Breonna Taylor, another name was added to the list of Black people killed by the police. “Please.” “Mama.” “I can’t breathe,” George
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Floyd — a 46-year-old Black man — begged at least 16 times. “My stomach hurts, my neck hurts, everything hurts,” he told the four Minneapolis police officers — only to be told, “You are talking fine.” On March 25, Floyd was killed at the hands of a white police officer who knelt on his neck for almost 9 minutes. The arrest was for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill. His death sparked a national outcry for justice. The petition garnered over 19 million signatures — the highest in history.
Features: Contest rewards creative writing student PAGE 4A
Decades of damage
It is more than the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd that have incited hundreds of marches and protests in all 50 states. It’s more than
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2A Thursday, November 19, 2020
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• An arrest was made on the charge of aggravated battery on the 00 block of East Washington Street around 4:50 p.m. on Monday. According to the report, Gary Kiskaden was arrested. • Forgery was reported on the 200 block of West Kenyon Road around 9 a.m. on Oct. 5. According to the report, two suspects cashed forged checks from the Champaign Urbana Public Health District. • Theft was reported on the 00 block of East Armory Avenue around 6:15 p.m. on Sunday. According to the report, the vic-
tim reported his vehicle stolen the vehicle. while he was out delivering a piz- • Theft $500 and under was za. The vehicle was left unlocked reported on the 800 block of West and running with the keys inside. Green Street around 12:51 p.m. on Nov. 5. According to the report, University unknown offenders stole the vic• Nothing to report. tim’s package of clothing from his apartment mail room. Urbana • Burglary from a motor vehicle • Theft of a motor vehicle was was reported on the 700 block reported on the 1700 block of of West Illinois Street around Philo Road around 2:41 p.m. on 6 p.m. on Sunday. According to Monday. According to the report, the report, the unknown offendthe offender rented a vehicle from er entered the victim’s unlocked an Urbana business. The offender car and removed miscellaneous has not returned the vehicle to documents. the business and has not attempted to pay for the continued use of news@dailyillini.com
Carle Health System shares COVID-19 data BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR
The Carle Health System will be sharing daily updates on the number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 across its five hospitals, as well as COVID-19 testing trends via an online dashboard. Tuesday’s first update revealed 76 people are hospitalized for COVID-19 in Carle Foundation Hospital, with seven in the Intensive Care Unit. Since March, 79 people hospitalized for the virus in Carle Health’s five hospitals have died, while 481 COVID-19 hospitalizations have been discharged. Carle Health’s updates present a fuller picture of area hospitalizations than Champaign-Urbana Public Health’s website does since the latter only reports the number of Champaign County residents who have been hospitalized for the virus. Currently, 10 residents are hospitalized for the virus. “We need the information to inspire action rather than spread fear,” said Charles Dennis, chief medical officer for Carle Health. “We’re at a critical juncture in our fight. Our teams are continually rising to the challenge, but the reality is the rapid
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The Carle Foundation Hospital on March 2, 2019 is pictured above. Carle Health has recently began sharing COVID-19 data.
growth in cases and hospitalizations is straining our healthcare system and staff.” In addition to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Carle Health reported another 22 hospitalizations at its Bro-
Menn Medical Center in Normal, Illinois, and eight at the Richmond Memorial Hospital in Olney, Illinois. No hospitalizations at the Hoopeston Regional Health Center or Eureka Hospital were COVID-19 positive.
In the week ending Saturday, 14.9% of COVID-19 tests processed at Carle Health detected the virus, up from just under 8% in early October. @esimmsnews ecsimmon@dailyillini.com
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Corrections In Monday’s paper, a caption in”Public opinion challenges election forecasters” incorrectly stated the subject of a photo was an alumnus of the University. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. Also in Monday’s paper, in “UI receives grants to reduce pollution,” the photo displayed an institution not affliliated with the grants. The Illinois Sustainability Technology Center allocates the grants.
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NEWS
Illini partner with MaskNow coalition Students organize Students look to provide community with masks BY ALIZA MAJID STAFF WRITER
University students are partnering with MaskNow Illinois in order to help the coalition fund their work and provide masks to the public. The MaskNow Coalition in Illinois is a national public service organization that allows people to volunteer their time to create masks for those who are unable to provide their communities with proper personal protective equipment. “It’s very exciting to see students wanting to make a direct impact against the pandemic, which is the most pressing and timesensitive issue that our society is facing today,” said Ravi Thakkar, service chair for the Engineering Freshman Council. The goal of this partnership is to provide more resources for those in the Champaign-Urbana community as well as cam-
FROM 1A
QUARANTINE home then if she continues to test negative. “My biggest fear is just getting other people sick and impacting someone else’s life,” Kalembasa said. Because one of her roommates comes in contact
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SEMESTER Universit y of f icia ls blamed “illegal student behavior” for the spike; students disobeying isolation orders to retest on campus, while others attended or hosted parties while being COVID-19 positive. In the first couple of weeks of large-scale testing, the University topped more than 17,000 tests several times. Results turnaround reached up to 48 hours for some students during Labor Day Weekend.
Lockdown, stasis, another uptick
On the Wednesday after Labor Day, Chancellor Robert Jones issued a mini stay-at-home order for the undergraduates on campus,
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DIVISION just the deaths of Ahmed Arbery, Emmett Till, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Pamela Turner, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Walter Scott, Korryn Gaines, Alton Sterling, Atatiana Jefferson, Stephon Clark, Shantel Davis, Philando Castile and the many others who have lost their lives due to their complexion. It is more than these individual killings, but rather the collective of Black people who have been killed for hundreds of years due to the color of their skin. These deaths are one of the many products of the systemic racism that has been woven into the fabric of the United States. The systems of society — the economy, education, health care, criminal justice — are infused with the inherent racism in which they were created and maintained. Institutional racism — also known as systemic racism — is racism that is embedded into the organizations and power structures. The term was first used in Black Power: The Politics of Liberation by Stokely Carmichael and Charles V. Ham-
text-based mental health support group
pus members. A network of MaskNow is currently being set up at the University in order to further develop this service. “We mostly serve health care facilities and social service organizations but we’re willing to give masks to anyone in the community who needs them and up until now I think we’ve sewn, collected and distributed about 44,000 cloth masks,” said Emma Davenport, state lead of MaskNow Illinois. The coalition hopes to create mask patterns that are easily accessible to the general public and provide equipment for health care institutions that may not be able to purchase masks for their work. “Social service organizations and smaller health care facilities don’t have the means to purchase them or to compete in the supply chain market,” Davenport said. “They can’t purchase masks at bulk retail prices because they’re still very expensive at that cost so we’re filling the gap.” A mask drive and various fundraising events are in development in order to help the coalition with mask production. As of right now, there is a lot of focus on funding
and expenses because the coalition is in need of more material to make masks and they are currently asking for donations in order to fund these services. “Surprisingly, one of the biggest challenges I faced is my age, which surprised me,” Davenport said. “There’s a lot of outreach that I can’t do because I’m 17. I can’t apply for grants because you have to be 18 older to do that. We’re looking to our community to be
able to help provide funds for us to continue shipping and buying elastic, which is incredibly expensive and that sort of thing.” In order to help the coalition people can visit their website and sign up as a volunteer or email Emma Davenport at masksnowil@gmail.com for further information.
with people through work and her other roommate has asthma and is therefore at risk, Kalembasa is taking extra precautions to prevent them from getting sick. “I wear a mask around my apartment, I wipe up everything with disinfectant wipes after me and I make sure that nobody is
downstairs when I do go downstairs to get water,” Kalembasa said. Regarding the possibility of rerouting her plans for Thanksgiving break, she has developed an “it is what it is” mentality. “I will be disappointed, I love Thanksgiving, but I’m sure my mom will bring me leftovers, and I will enjoy
Thanksgiving in my room by myself,” Kalembasa said. Despite the uncertainty and bad timing of an unfortunate situation that they are in, both Kalembasa and Mendes remain optimistic about returning to their daily activities soon.
limiting them to “essential activities.” Students in high-risk living environments were ordered to test three times a week. Student disciplinary actions were publicized, with hundreds facing probations, even suspensions and dismissals, for violating COVID-19 policies. In all, the lockdown slowed campus spread. By early October, the University was below 150 new cases a week — a far cry from the September surge, where 895 cases were identified in seven days. But the damage of the surge was already done. Cases grew in late October-early November, off the back of continued campus gatherings — Illini Football watch parties and Halloween were likely culprits — and colder weather.
Though there’s little evidence that COVID-19 spread from campus to the broader C-U community, more than 3,800 students, faculty and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 just a few days before fall break, with around 95% of them being undergraduates. Toward the end, University officials believed the spread was coming from the community into the campus, not the other way around. Increasing faculty and staff cases likely came from the larger virus trends in Champaign County and Illinois, where test positivity continues to climb.
Matter movement, while protesting several notable shootings and killings from police. Local activists brought hundreds out for a protest near the Alma Mater after the shooting of Jacob Blake, while Illinois Athletics banded together to lead a massive BLM turn out a few days afterward. The deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor animated the C-U community over the summer as well, with thousands attending a citywide march in June, as calls for racial justice grew across the nation.
Student activism
An historic election
ilton in 1967. They wrote that institutional racism is less perceptible than individual racism because of its “less overt, far more subtle” nature, stating institutional racism also “originates in the operation of established and respected forces in the society and thus receives far less public condemnation.” This institutionalized racism in society leads to discrimination in criminal justice, employment, housing, health care, political power and education, which supports the continued unfair advantage to some people and disadvantage or harmful treatment towards others based on race. Systemic racism in COVID-19, healthcare Institutional racism has been specially brought to light during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past several months, COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted Black, Latinx and other minority groups regarding the number of cases and death rates. An article from the University of Minnesota highlights several studies that depict the health disparities revealed by COVID-19, stating COVID-19 rates are elevated in minority populations. A study group in
the JAMA Network Open commented on two of the studies. “The elevated incidence of COVID-19 among Black and Hispanic communities, largely attributable to social and structural vulnerabilities, seems to drive the differences in mortality among Black, Hispanic and white populations,” they wrote. “In short, rather than validating long-debunked hypotheses about intrinsic biological susceptibilities among non-white racial groups, the evidence to date reaffirms that structural racism is a critical driving force behind COVID-19 disparities.” A report updated on July 24 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed the increased case and death rates among minorities. The data shows the American Indian, Black and Hispanic populations’ case rates are 2.8, 2.6 and 2.8 times higher, respectively than the case rate of the white population. Their hospitalization rates are 5.3, 4.7 and 4.6 times higher, and death rates are 1.4, 2.1 and 1.1 times higher, respectively. The study discusses that discrimination, limited healthcare access, occupation, income, socioeconomic disparities and housing
conditions are several factors that have put racial and ethnic minority groups at a higher risk for contracting and dying from COVID-19. Dr. Jennifer Lincoln from Portland, Oregon, declared in her viral TikTok that these health disparities and implicit biases against minority populations are not new. She shared the prevailing biases among medical professionals about the Black population’s ability to feel pain. She stated that “50% of medical students and residents thought that Black people couldn’t feel pain the same way because their skin was thicker or their nerves didn’t work the same way.” As absurd as this may sound, it is a prevalent perception in healthcare and is a threat to the well-being of all Black patients, as they are less likely to receive adequate pain medications, will have longer waiting room times and are less likely to be taken seriously in hospitals and doctors offices. LaShyra “Lash” Nolen further discusses in her Twitter thread the many examples of institutional racism in medical education, specifically physical exams. Dozens of medical conditions require a physical exam for diagnosis, yet the majority of medi-
Forum plans to support students’ needs BY PAYAL RATHORE STAFF WRITER
GRAPHIC COURTESY OF MASKNOW ILLINOIS
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Alongside campus COVThe 2020 election regID-19 management, Univer- istered the highest voter sity students and commu- turnout ever recorded, and nity members showed up in so did Champaign County. droves for the Black Lives More than 95,000 peo-
Abdallah said They are currently working on related details such as the platform to be used and the students which need to be recruited. “Being able to implement something like the group text gives students a chance to be understood and speak with individuals in similar environments and situations so that they don’t feel like they are alone,” Abdallah said and added on about being open to extending this initiative in person if possible. Current resources such as peer counseling, group counseling and other such programs are available at the Counseling Center and McKinley Health Center, but they’re not always visible students. Early calls to book appointments are hit or miss, and some students find it difficult to schedule an appointment on the same day. “I spoke with one of the associate vice chancellors and his argument against that was that some students do not show up to their appointments and spots don’t get filled,” Abdallah said. “But you can’t necessarily compare this semester with any other and these are just risks that need to be taken.” Currently, there are about 40 counselors for approximately 52,000 students which results in a ratio of 1 counselor for every 1300 students.
After the suicide awareness vigil that took place last week, students continue to advocate for mental health resources on campus and have created a forum in order to gather more support. “There is already a negative stigma around mental health and illnesses but given the pandemic, the fact that we have to social-distance just creates a distance from family and friends,” said Sarena Abdallah, junior in AHS. “I definitely think that being online is also a struggle because we aren’t really getting that interaction between our professors or our classmates.” The increased coursework online has added to the anxiety of students as they struggle to take care of their mental health while coping up with deadlines in this new setting. Many students face financial issues during these times with the lack of employment opportunities and many layoffs. The group’s current goals include creating a textbased support group and continuing to advocate for the need for more funding. “I had made a poster and had put it by the Alma Mater and it just says ‘text HOME to 741 741,’ free counseling, which anyone can use,” payalr2@dailyillini.com ple voted locally this year, eclipsing the previous record by more than 3,000 votes. Many local and state elections hung in the balance of mail-in ballot counts, including a presidential race that dragged on for days. University students gave a significant in-person presence, with lines stretching out of the ARC, Illini Union and University YMCA by Election Day.
Mental health struggles
cases, pre-fall break guidance and ramped up courseloads have put a strain on the social lives and wellbeing of students. Tens of thousands of students will return to their homes next week, leaving the quasi-bubble of campus behind for the rest of the semester. Whether a fully online finish or more time with families improves the mindsets of students remains to be seen. Many will carry on in C-U in offcampus housing. In many ways, the last days of 2020 will look much like they did nine months ago — a nation struggling with an infectious virus, and dealing with the consequences of sequestered, online life.
The mostly online semester pushed many University students to their limits. Stories of burnout, anxiety and overwhelming workload have dragged on the back half of the semester. Mental health vigils and resources became a staple of the fall campus pres- @esimmsnews ence. Rising COVID-19 ecsimmon@dailyillini.com
KAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI
cal material does not discuss how these physical signs appear on Black skin, even when certain conditions disproportionately affect Black and Latinx people. Fortunately, Malone Mukwende, a 20-yearold medical student at St. George’s University of London is combating this lack of medical material by taking action against this disparity in medical education, according to an article in the Washington Post.
gnm22@dailyillini.com To read the rest of the story, scan the QR code below or go to longform.dailyillini.com
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THURSDAY
November 19, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
LIFE & CULTURE
Illini Motorsports rev up to compete
PHOTO COURTESY OF URBANA PARK DISTRICT’S FACEBOOK
A person dressed in a turkey costume poses for a promotional image for the 2020 Turkey Trot. The event will be held virtually this year.
Turkey Trot opts for virtual route BY MATT TROHER ASSISTANT LONGFORM EDITOR
KENYON EDMOND THE DAILY ILLINI
The Illini Motorsports team practices with its car in parking lot E-14 on Sunday. The team competes twice annually in Formula SAE Michigan and Nebraska. Last year the team finished 17th overall in Michigan and 34th in Nebraska against over 100 teams.
English student wins short story contest BY ROHIT JAMMU ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR
As events and programs were cut or altered dramatically to reinforce COVID-19 precautionary practices, the Illini Union Board, an organization whose main focus is student engagement, had to reassess. It came up with programing that would keep people safe while still feeling like an active member of the campus community. One idea that came from the arts committee was to host a short story contest. It accepted submissions from students all across campus for the month of October. Generally speaking, a short story would be described as a piece of prose fiction that can be read in one sitting and focuses on a majorly self-contained narrative. The short story format has been one of the oldest types of literature and has existed in various forms across various different communities across the world.
KAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI
Kanika Leang, the arts director for the Illini Union Board, said she personally runs the arts committee, a sect of the Illini Union
Board, and thus was directly happy with, considering it involved with the organiza- was our first year attempttion of this contest. ing this type of contest or “We received 13 submissions which we were quite SEE SHORT STORY | 5A
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Ever y Thanksgiv ing morning for the past several years, nearly 2,000 runners have showed up to Urbana’s Crystal Lake Park to partake in Urbana Park District’s annual Turkey Trot. Participants run, walk or roll along the mile-long course, getting their steps in before celebrating returning home to celebrate the holiday. Unfortunately, thousands of people gathering in a park is a thing of the past for the time being. This year, the Urbana Park District has decided to hold the annual Turkey Trot virtually in order to keep the tradition alive while still honoring social distancing guidelines. Instead of holding a singular event on Thanksgiving morning, the Urbana Park District has expanded the event to encompass the entire month of November. Participants are encouraged to complete their one-mile course either by themselves or with people in their immediate social circle on their own time, whenever they see fit. While the Turkey Trot was officially announced as a virtual program with the release of Urbana Park District’s Fall program guide, the idea to hold the event virtually has been floated since the pandemic began in mid-March. Elsie Hedgspeth works as the Phillips Recreation Center outreach & wellness manager. Hedgspeth is in charge of organizing the Turkey Trot and explained how due to the event’s size, the decision to move it virtually has been a long time in the making. “I feel like it’s been in the back of our minds essentially since the park district shut down early on in the pandemic,” Hedgspeth said. “We closed up
shop and started working from home and canceled all programs starting March 17. The Turkey Trot is such a big endeavor, we have a timeline of tasks all throughout the year. It’s been in the back of our minds since then, but we didn’t make the official call until about August.” To keep a sense of community alive while running the event in such a distant format, Hedgspeth set up a Facebook page for participants to share mile times, race photos and memories of Turkey Trots in the past. While participation has been low thus far, she believes participation will increase closer to Thanksgiving. “My guess is that this is such a tradition for people, I anticipate a lot of people waiting until the day before Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving day.” Hedgspeth said. “It’s so ingrained into their tradition of doing it on Thanksgiving morning. We’re not encouraging gathering this year, but I’d anticipate several people still coming out to Crystal Lake Park and running the traditional course on Thanksgiving morning and taking their photos just to say they’ve kept the tradition alive.” The Turkey Trot isn’t the first Urbana Park District fun-run to be shifted to an online format. In July, the park district held its “Power of Parks” 5k virtually due to lockdowns and social distancing guidelines. Fun-runs aren’t the only events that have been shifted to a virtual format because of the pandemic. Hedgspeth, along with Phillips Recreation Center outreach & wellness coordinator Ashley Denis, worked hard to ensure Urbana residents would still have programs during SEE TURKEY | 5A
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5A
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Campus encourages UI bicycle culture BY MATT TROHER ASSISTANT LONGFORM EDITOR
When you walk around campus, the shiny bicycle racks standing outside most buildings are integrated into the scenery. Bikes are stacked handleto-handle with a number of different locks securing them throughout the day at some racks. They come in a variety of colors and styles. One can hear the occasional clicking of the bike chain skipping over the teeth as people ride by. Campus bike racks are just one resource the University has to promote a healthy bicycle culture on campus. A bike center with a variety of educational programs, a new national bicycle registration system and a campus-wide bike-share program all contribute to the atmosphere on campus. “Good ( bike) culture is indicative of a healthy environment, a healthy and engaged student population that is interested in maintaining their health, and interested in self-sufficiency,” said Jacob Benjamin, manager and mechanic at the Campus Bike Center. There are an estimated 10,000 bikes on campus, with as many as 5,000
FROM 4A
SHORT STORY
virtual engagement.!” she said in an email. While the identity of the judge who reviewed each submission will remain confidential for the sake of privacy, Leang did reveal the judging was in fact done by a graduate student in the English department who volunteered their time to help out the organization for the contest. “There is a specific rubric that the committee designed for this competition,” Leang said. “The rubric mainly relied on Content, Language and Style, and Organization.” The Illini Union Board listed no specifics for the subject matter to be covered or really other writing requirement; the only criteria was the piece had to be under 7,000 words. Leang also said the winners are awarded a special package of Illini Gear including a tote bag, moleskin journal, pens
actively being used during peak hours, according to the 2018 University bike census. Joseph Choi, sophomore in Engineering, enjoys biking to and from class and is encouraged by the fact that there are many programs to support this mode of transportation. “I like to dictate exactly where I want to go, unlike riding a bus,” Choi said. Also available to students is the campus bike share program, VeoRide. First implemented in 2017, the program provides five hundred turquoise bicycles scattered throughout campus that can be activated through an app. These colored bikes are routinely found lying on the sides of sidewalks, propped against academic buildings and, in one instance, in a tree at Ikenberry Commons. For Isabella Palm, freshman in Engineering, the public bikes are convenient and she regularly uses them once a week for class. “It’s really nice, actually,” she said. “I didn’t want to take the bus because the bus routes didn’t always work out.” Additionally, the University implemented a new bike registration program this past summer called Proj-
ect 529, a national registry. Sarthak Prasad, sustainable transport assistant at University Facilities and Services, said this system was chosen since it would benefit students even after they graduated. “If they register their bicycles here, they’re here for four years, then they’re gone,” he said. “If their bicycle is registered in the national syste, their bicycle will be protected wherever they go.” With nearly 1.5 million bikes registered in the United States and Canada, Project 529 ensures bicycle owners will have protection wherever they are, Prasad said. University Facilities and Services is interested in promoting sustainable transportation methods, and biking is one example. “It’s a healthier lifestyle and we want our students to choose bicycling as a more sustainable, healthier and safer option,” Prasad said. Located on Gregory Drive, the Campus Bike Center is another resource whose goal is to educate bicycle users and provide learning opportunities. It operates through a nonprofit organization, The Bike Project of Urbana, and
and other items. “Since the intent of this contest was to engage the campus despite our fellow Illini being all over the country and world right now, I was pleasantly surprised to find we had done so to at least some extent,” she said. T he w i n ner was announced Monday after careful deliberation by the anonymous judge. Emma Rose Ryan, senior in LAS, took the first place prize with her story, “Janet Green in Liminal Space.” Ryan, who graduates this spring with her bachelor’s degree in creative writing, is currently working on her master’s degree in library science at the iSchool. While she’d been entering short story contests since middle school, she had never won any of them. When the call came for submissions for an Illini Union Board short story contest, she decided to go for it. Ryan said her story was about a college freshman
who isn’t having a good time, mildly put, who then develops supernatural powers. “She’s miserable and has become so lonely that she’s started seeing ghosts,” she said. This does not make her mental health predicament any better, so she decides to take a train out of town Ryan said she combined the idea for a superhero origin story where a person’s loneliness gives them the power to see ghosts who still lurk unseen in our world with her experience during her freshmen year, which was a very difficult time for her. “For a variety of reasons, I was feeling very hopeless, lonely, and isolated during my freshman year,” she said. “So I took those two story plot threads and mashed them together.” She said she wrote down the first few lines of the story in a notebook in 2016 and had been expanding it and revising it ever since. However, the biggest decision
KEEP YOURSELF AND OTHERS SAFE!
WEAR YOUR
MASK!
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DAILY ILLINI
ABE BAALI THE DAILY ILLINI
A student bikes east on White Street on Tuesday morning. The University and other programs have taken strides to promote the use of bicycles on campus.
can teach students how to do quick repairs as well as build a bicycle from scratch with the spare parts it has available at its garage. “Teaching people how they can do that themselves will definitely help, and that’s even more important now during a pandemic,” Benjamin said. “Learning more hands-on things is always good.” In a normal year, people could come into the center to buy a bike built by the student volunteer mechanics
or attend classes on specific repairs. With the pandemic, the business has been tough but Benjamin said “we’ll get through it.” Services are still available, just through appointment or virtually. But as a result of the shutdowns, Benjamin said air quality improved as a result of people traveling less. “Riding a bicycle is a pretty great resource and way to reduce your carbon footprint,” he said. “Something like 70% of our current
greenhouse gases are coming from transportation.” Benjamin also said that on a contained and relatively flat campus, bicycle culture can vastly impact the student body as well as the environment. “Having a good culture and having it be a welcoming and approachable endeavor is really important to helping this campus, community and planet,” he said.
she had to make was the ending. Worried the ending as was written would be too inconclusive for some readers, she workshopped it in a class. After she received feedback that showed everyone seemed to approve of the ambiguous note, she eventually chose to keep it. Ryan said while this story was partially based on her personal experiences, if any of the readers find themselves relating a bit too much to Janet and what she’s going through, she highly suggests going to therapy. “This character is a facsimile of me at my worst, and I never would have gotten better if I hadn’t gotten help,” she said. “Students at UIUC can reach out to the (McKinley Health Center) mental health office or DRES, while non-students can find lots of highly qualified therapists on the Psychology Today website.”
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purchased before the pandemic limited in-person gathering, so instead of letting the Urvana go to waste until next season, the park district turned it into a personal protective equipment delivery system, delivering masks, hand sanitizer and gloves to the community. With the pandemic casting a dark cloud of uncertainty over the past year, Hedgspeth emphasized the important role parks played in helping people through the difficult time. “Under the strictest of shutdowns, our parks and green spaces were something that was ok,” Hedgspeth said. “It was something that was allowable. People could get outside. We have people counters in some of our parks, and park usage was up exponentially throughout all of this. We truly think that parks have power, both for your mental, emotional and physical health.”
rjammu2@dailyillini.com
TURKEY
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the initial lockdown back in late spring. Hedgspeth and Dennis held virtual exercise classes three times a week, and despite lockdown restrictions loosening since then, have continued to hold the class once a week. “When we closed down back in March, we closed everything down,” Dennis said. “The point of our job is really to gather people together, so anybody whose goal is to do that with their work is hurting right now. We’ve found other ways. We’re getting more used to virtual platforms and doing some classes through those.” In addition to holding virtual events and classes, the Urbana Park District bought a mobile activity vehicle — affectionately named “Urvana” — intended to drive out to communities and provide free programming. The van was mtroher2@dailyillini.com
NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD ACROSS
1 Key for Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” 6A house may be built on it 10 Burlesque accessories 14 Web-footed mammals 15 A goose egg 16 Gimlet garnish 17 — 18 Locale suggested by this puzzle’s theme 20 Malcolm Gladwell best seller that explores the 10,000hour rule 22 Ice cream container 23 Virginia Woolf’s “___ Dalloway” 24 Statue of ___, figure atop the U.S. Capitol 26 ___ culpa 29 Autobahn hazard 30 Elflike 31 Big hopper 32 Things with perks? 36 — 37 “I need to speak with you,” briefly 38 Capote sobriquet 39 Cartomancy tool 40 Brand of spread for sandwiches and toast 41 Bouncer’s equipment 43 — 44 Ingredient in a Cuban sandwich 45 Spanish 23-Across: Abbr. 46 Holy Trinity part 47 Ones coming for a ride? 49 Select 52 Wood rich in tannins 53 “Yankee Doodle” epithet that’s also the name of a food 55 Nickname for 18-Across, and a hint to how four answers in this puzzle are to be entered
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PUZZLE BY LINDSEY HOBBS
59 Instrument played using circular breathing 60 Nashville music mecca, informally 61 “Old MacDonald” sound 62 — 63 Where Achilles took a dip? 64 Little ones 65 They can be treated with warm compresses DOWN 1 English town known for its salt 2 ___ de sel 3 Goes the distance 4 ___ Gawande, author of the 2014 best seller “Being Mortal” 5 Embodied 6 Catch 7 Take five 8 S.I. V.I.P.s
9 Balls of yarn, fake mice, etc. 10 Gossip 11 Big Alaska export 12 “You think that’s true about me?” 13 “SpongeBob SquarePants” setting 19 ___ Rebellion, 1808 uprising in New South Wales 21 Language that gave us “spunk” and “slogan” 25 Piece of information 26 Performers of the ceremonial haka dance 27 Noted example of corporate misconduct 28 Stone with curved bands 29 Violinist Zimbalist 31 Dweller in a eucalyptus forest 32 Capitulates
33 Have a loan from 34 Strand at the airport, maybe 35 Letter-shaped part of a sink 39 Whirled powers? 41 What it takes two to tie 42 Time it takes light to travel .3 mm: Abbr. 47 Novelist Santha Rama ___ 48 Grades 49 Hot alcoholic drink 50 1973 #1 Rolling Stones love ballad 51 Fishing spots 52 Traditional gemstone for a seventh wedding anniversary 54 Gas 55 Galas 56 Make a decision 57 Sardonic 58 Italian god
The crossword solution is in the Classified section.
6A
THURSDAY
November 19, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
OPINIONS THE DAILY ILLINI EDITORIAL
Appreciate diversity, scrutinize politicians death penalty law was unconstitutional on legal RAYNA WUH grounds 10 years later. COLUMNIST As D.A. of San Francisco, Harris started a program called “Back on hen Kamala HarTrack,” intended to guide ris took the stage low-level drug offendon the night Joe ers away from prison and Biden was declared the toward work and schoolwinner of the presidential ing, but also emphasized election, I admit I teared her high conviction rates. up. It was empowering In 2011, the Supreme to see not only a woman, Court deemed the conbut also a woman of color ditions of overcrowdset to take an influential ed prisons in California position historically held an instance of cruel and ANGELINA CHAN THE DAILY ILLINI only by white men. unusual punishment. Watching her speech When a federal court transported me back to ordered the prison sys2008 when Barack Obama tem to grant early release was first elected presito prisoners in line with dent. l remember watchthe Supreme Court’s through Christmas. If ing his inauguration decision, Harris’s office Macy’s Thanksgiving Day on the small television argued against it, claimParade can comply with mounted in the corner of ing it would impact wildcrowd guidelines, so can my first-grade classroom. fire-fighting efforts relyyour family. Although I was merely ing on prison labor. While Additionally, the Univer6 years old at the time, I the arguments may not sity administration request- knew I was witnessing a reflect her current views ed adherence to certain historical moment. and she has distanced demands through a recent Surely Harris’s elecherself from them, they Massmail: Get tested before tion as vice president had are inextricably attached you leave, and if you can, a similar effect on the to her legacy. don’t come back after the young children who witAs important as reprebreak. All in-person instruc- nessed the event. Her sentation is, it cannot be tion is suspended after fall new position demonthe only factor determinbreak. strates political barriers ing support for a politiAlthough physical touch for minority groups can cal candidate. “Saturday is traditionally a “love-lanand should continue to be Night Live” recently aired guage,” this year, the best broken down. She may be a sketch, “Your Voice Chi“love-language” is no conthe first, but she does not cago,” that satirized the tact with a six-foot distance. intend to be the last — a mental gymnastics some A hug or refusal to wear a necessary message to con- people perform to ratiomask may endanger loved vey to young girls. nalize standing behind ones in your life, so if not Voting in the first candidates based solefor yourself, keep them in female vice president, ly on their membership your mind this year as you however, is about more of certain marginalized embody the festive spirit than just Kamala Hargroups. and give thanks. ris herself. In her speech, The sketch was cenHarris acknowledged she tered around a woman stands on the shoulders of whose strategy for vetgenerations of, “ … women ting candidates in a local who fought and sacrificed election was, “Voting so much for equality, libfor Everybody Black.” erty and justice for all.” Despite the candidates The significance of having political beliefs in being able to identify direct conflict with her with politicians and other own, she found several prominent public figures illogical and comical ways should not be understatto justify voting for them. ed. Representation allows Although SNL exaggeroften overlooked or marated for the sake of comginalized populations to edy, the sketch illustrates feel heard and seen. As a valid point. While it is a young Asian American impossible to completewoman, observing this ly abstract Harris’s poligiant step forward filled tics from her identity, it me with pride. is crucial to observe her However, my feelings beyond the labels she fits. toward Kamala Harris Her decisions and actions herself remain ambivaof the past, the present lent. Harris’s record as a and the future deserve to part of the criminal-jusbe fully scrutinized, just tice system is complex. as with any other person KAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI Before being elected to in power. the Senate in 2016, she Overall, we can simulmoralize behavior as it has served as both District taneously celebrate the through drug laws. ReguAttorney of San Francisco progress this election lation of these substances and Attorney General of constitutes while still would not be a sanction or California. remaining critical of Harcondemnation, but rathAt times, her stances ris. As Harris said herer a reasonable way to fulwere contradictory. While self, once she and Biden fill market demand while she declined to seek the take office, “the real work safely controlling the distri- death penalty against a begins.” bution quantities, thereman who shot and killed fore limiting overdoses or a police officer on ideoRayna is a freshman in LAS. addiction. logical grounds in 2004, rwuh2@dailyillini.com Needless to say, drug she appealed a judge’s cartels would lose a lot of decision that California’s power without a bullet ever fired. Organized crime divisions would suffer from severed revenue streams. It is not too optimistic to argue legalization of substances undermines real criminal networks. The legalization of all substances, albeit complemented by regulation, may sound radical. But when one reflects on the past century of failed American drug policy, one must conclude that regarding drug punishment, less is more. At the very least, legislators must be open to drug policy reform, as the prohibition approach is antiquated and ineffectual. Hopefully, sometime in the near future, America gets the help it desperately needs and is able to wean off its addiction to societallyharmful treatment toward drug users and usage.
W
Avoid family gatherings, convey gratitude
As
backward as it may seem, the best way to demonstrate how thankful you are for your loved ones this year is to stay away from them. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has upended everyaspect of our lives, and now everyone must manage the reality that the pandemic has claimed the holiday season. Despite warnings from health officials and the government, many will still travel across the country to gather with their family for Thanksgiving. Many Americans have weighed the costs and the benefits when making decisions during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The trouble is, the costs can be nebulous and difficult to measure as it is difficult for one to grasp how one might
personally contribute to the spread of the virus. Rather than take the word of health officials that big Thanksgiving Day gatherings will have deadly consequences, look at Canada. Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October, a little over a month before the United States observes its version of the holiday. According to a rolling average compiled by John Hopkins University, Canadian Thanksgiving led to a massive spike in daily coronavirus cases in the Great White North. Although it will be tough, one must recognize that exposing oneself to other family members, particularly those seldom seen, undermines efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Masks and hand-sanitizer aren’t
ideal for a holiday traditionally celebrated by sharing the same dinner dishes, but the risks for not following state guidelines are steep. Think of those who don’t have a choice in the matter. Any faculty members or students who test positive for coronavirus this week or are exposed to someone who tests positive will almost certainly miss celebrating Thanksgiving with their families. If for nothing else, one should show solidarity with these fellow Illini by social distancing for Thanksgiving. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has compiled a responsible list of considerations for Thanksgiving Day gatherings. These rules represent the best path to avoiding record hospitalizations
America must counter drug addiction, its stigma rather to highlight inconsistencies in America’s drug codes. OPINIONS EDITOR Additionally, the crackdown on drug usage can be ascribed to political history. merica has a serious One former Nixon operadrug problem. Drug tive maintained the reaabuse and addiction son marijuana had been are serious societal issues, maligned by the adminisand one must not be insen- tration and crack cocaine sitive or callous regarding had seen more severe the lives ruined by these sentencing than powder difficulties. But abuse and cocaine was because the addiction are not the coun- crackdown on the substanctry’s drug problem; rather, es gave cause to the adminthey are intensified by it. istration to castigate Black America’s drug probAmericans and those who lem is how it reacts and opposed the Vietnam War. responds to drug addiction. Then, there is educaIt is how America poorly tion on drug usage. Cureducates its people on recrent curriculums surreational drug usage. It is rounding drugs and drug also is how addiction is not usage demonize all submet with empathetic rehastances and condemn any bilitation efforts, but rather drug usage. Ostracization incarceration. of this behavior has led to The problem begins with the exclusion of those who arbitrary substance classifi- engage in this perfectly norcation in the United States. mal activity. One convention America Education must be reingets right is that marijuana vented not to vilify those is a gateway drug. Howevwho partake in recreationer, it is only a gateway drug al drug usage but rather to because of how the U.S. encourage moderation and government treats the sub- to be honest about the constance — as a Schedule 1 sequences as well as the drug (though oddly enough, potential mental health not as a “hard drug”). If a benefits. Abstinence-only person smokes a joint and drug education simply fails finds it is not lethal or high- to provide students with a ly addictive, they may begin realistic set of life tools if to believe other Schedthey ever do choose to use ule 1 drugs are comparable drugs recreationally. or that drugs classified as Drug addicts are not losSchedule 2, 3 or 4 are less ers or outcasts. They are dangerous, which simply is simply people who require not true. help, not a prison cell and a While drugs that are not punitive sentence. highly addictive, such as Ultimately, America marijuana or psychedelics, declared war on drugs and are labeled as Schedule 1, lost. Millions face incarcersubstances that have been ation for nonviolent possesproven remarkably addicsion offenses, America has tive are completely legal a severe opioid crisis and, — substances like alcohol, according to the Center for tobacco and even sugar or Disease Control, the numcaffeine. ber of drug overdose deaths Alcohol has been comwas still four times higher pletely normalized and in 2018 than in 1999 after integrated into society trillions of dollars in spenddespite being both potening trying to curb drug tially deadly and intenseabuse. ly addictive. Withdrawal Prevention efforts from alcohol, unlike most through education have other drugs, can kill a perfailed, and response son. This is not to suggest through excessive punisha return to prohibition, but ment has also failed. ThereANDREW PROZOROVSKY
A
fore, drug laws require a societal overhaul, not more of the status quo. How should the country better control substance use? First, society must recognize there is a place for safe, responsible, recreational drug use. Decriminalization of all drug possession is a good start (which is not the same as dealing or distribution), but the legalization of most, if not all, substances would allow government agencies like the FDA to regulate these channels. Otherwise, the black market will continue to thrive by fulfilling the demand for drugs the government refuses to acknowledge. No regulation and no constraints lead to no other outcome than a lack of control of the situation. While the government should reduce the penalty for its controlled substances, it should match that new level of regulation vis-a-vis alcohol, tobacco, sugar and caffeine. These substances are addictive and sugar consumption has correlated with a worsening obesity epidemic, yet these substances are relatively unrestrained. All substances deserve the same moderate amount of market regulation. Government legislation should not be used to
Andrew is the Opinions Editor for The Daily Illini and a junior in LAS. atp4@dailyillini.com
KAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI
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
November 19, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
SPORTS BASEBALL
FOOTBALL
plays intra-squad Illini look to contain Cornhuskers Team series after cancellations BY CARSON GOURDIE
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
The last time Illinois knocked off Nebraska, Barack Obama was still president, Clemson hadn’t won its first title under Dabo Swinney yet and Lovie Smith was coaching Jameis Winston down in Tampa. 2015 was a long time ago, and the Illini will need a different performance from their defense if they want to knock off the Cornhuskers again. Since Scott Frost’s arrival to Lincoln, Nebraska, the Cornhuskers have run all over the Illini offensively. In each of the past two meetings, the Huskers have hung up 54 and 42 points respectively against Lovie Smith’s defense, despite missing bowl games in both seasons. “They’ve played outstanding football against us the last couple of times against them,” Smith said. “That’s why we are anxious to see if we can slow them down just a little bit more than we have.” Two seasons ago, the Illini didn’t stand a chance against the Cornhuskers. Behind the worst scoring defense in the conference — giving up 39 points per game — Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez routed the Illini for over 600 yards of offense, along with 54 points. But last season, even with a much-improved defense and a bowl appearance, the Illini defense didn’t stand a chance against Martinez, who rallied his team to knock off Illinois 42-38 in Champaign. They even increased their total yardage to 674. Despite the past two results, Illinois is facing a different Nebraska offense. After making “one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made,” head coach Scott Frost elected to bench his two-year starter in favor of redshirt freshman Luke McCaffrey, the younger brother of Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey. The results: a victory over Penn State and their highest point total of the season. “McCaffrey is an excellent football player,” Smith
Practice games replace exhibitions, boost morale BY RICH EBERWEIN STAFF WRITER
THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO
Illinois head coach Lovie Smith walks off the field after a disappointing 42-38 loss to Nebrasaka on Sept. 21, 2019. The Illini will look to beat the Cornhuskers this Saturday for the first time since 2015.
said. “He had the same type of effect that Isaiah (Williams) had on our football team this week. He can pass the football, and he’s good in space.” McCaffrey, in his first career start, played well but not spectacularly. He finished with 152 yards through the air with a touchdown and an interception. His legs, though, made him most effective, adding an extra 67 yards and a touchdown on the ground, a facet Illinois has struggled to contain in recent meetings. However, the offensive results can be misleading. Yes, the Cornhuskers tallied 30 points, but they also failed to manufacture 300 total yards of offense. One of their touchdowns came from a fumble return. Unlike Scott’s past two seasons, Nebraska’s offense has yet to find its rhythm, as they are only averaging 17.7 offensive points per
game. From an outside perspective, people would view the game against Illinois to be a perfect time to spark their offense. Through four games, the Illini are giving up an average of 34.3 points per game; however, the Illini are coming off their best performance of the season, holding Rutgers to 20 points while forcing three late turnovers. A bulk of Rutgers’ yardage came from two long touchdown passes, including a 66-yard catch that should’ve been intercepted by Illinois. If Illinois looks to contain a struggling Nebraska offense, the last thing it can allow is big plays that could spark the offense and give a young McCaffrey confidence. However, like almost every Illinois victory, Smith’s squad will need to manufacture turnovers. The last time the Illini won a game without winning
the turnover battle by at least two came back in September 2019, against a 2-10 Connecticut team. While McCaffrey has avoided massive mistakes, he has thrown a pick in each of the last two games. The Illini travel to Lincoln with the chance to turn around a once written-off season just a week ago. Winning back-to-back games despite being underdogs in both would quiet questions on the immediate future of the program. But if Illinois allows Frost to rejuvenate his spread offense, the Rutgers game could look like an outlier. “It seems like the Wisconsin game was a long time ago,” Smith said. “We’re better. We’re a better football team now. We need to be able to put it together two weeks in a row.” @gourdiereport gourdie2@dailyillini.com
After a relatively successful beginning of the 2020 season, which was highlighted by wins over two nationallyranked teams (Texas A&M and Oklahoma State), the baseball team is looking to build upon that success in the spring. Several returning players and some new transfers, including junior catcher Ryan Hampe, will be eligible for the 2021 MLB first-year player draft and will be eager to showcase their abilities to help the Illinois baseball team reach the playoffs, which they last did in 2018. Hampe is already showing signs of his value after hitting .500 in the Orange and Blue series with three doubles. Hampe’s decision to transfer to Illinois was in part due to the recruiting efforts of his high school teammate, junior Brandon Comia. Comia was not only the biggest presence at the plate for Illinois last season, but he was also ranked the No. 9 shortstop in the nation by D1Baseball. “We’re all pretty familiar with each other,” said Hampe. “We can really hold each other accountable without hurting anyone’s feelings.” With the Orange and Blue series complete, practices will not be held until January when the team returns from winter break. Until then, they will continue lifting and building their team chemistry off the diamond.
At the beginning of November, the Illinois baseball team competed in several intra-squad practice games, dubbed the Orange and Blue series. These games took the place of normally scheduled exhibition games against other teams, which were canceled due to COVID-19. Head coach Dan Hartleb said there were a lot of things that he liked from the Illini during the series, and that there were a few areas the team could use work on, but he felt there were a lot of good things overall. “I wouldn’t say there were one or two standout performances during the Orange and Blue series,” said Hartleb. “I would say the entire team was strong and played well together.” Sophomore pitcher Cole Kirscheiper expressed his happiness with the Orange and Blue series and said it was a great way to build chemistry. “I feel like everyone, the transfers, the returners and freshmen are all buying into the same mentality right now, and that’s that we all want to @ebs_rich win,” said Kirscheiper. rse3@dailyillini.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF ILLINOIS BASEBALL’S TWITTER
Junior Ryan Hampe runs the bases during the Orange and Blue series on Nov. 2. Hampe hit .500 in the series.
WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS
Kelsea Kocan provides Illinois with empathetic perspective New assistant coach joins staff, brings experience from athletic training studies BY JONAH PEREZ STAFF WRITER
Kelsea Kocan, the new volunteer assistant coach for the Illinois women’s gymnastics team, didn’t end up sticking with her first career choice. After going to college for athletic training and even earning a master’s in the field, working oneon-one with individuals made Kocan rethink what she wanted to do for a living. She viewed her original profession as the negative side of the sport. “Dealing with injuries and your kids feeling sad about having to quit their sport because of injuries was making me feel sad,” Kocan said. “So, I went back to coaching when I moved here (to Champaign) and just fell back in love with that connection I was making with people, fell back in love with helping people understand that they can do it, and they can have the confidence and they can be great and they can go for things they never thought they were capable of.” She went full circle,
going from coaching in high school, to rediscovering those feelings when she didn’t get what she had hoped for out of athletic training. To start the journey back to coaching, she moved in with her significant other. She didn’t want the relationship to continue being long-distance, but he happened to own the Champaign Gymnastics Academy, which gave her the chance to explore coaching. “He opened it up and brought some really great coaches,” Kocan said. “I started off just as a coach, and we just became immediately drawn to the same thing. The culture of his gym is about the community and about everyone feeling really good about themselves.” This gym is how she made the connection to Illinois. Assistant coach Kaitlyn Betts got to know her and thought she would be a good fit, so she got head coach Nadalie Walsh to sign off on it. Kocan was already a fan of the school because of the culture established. More than anything she admires how much they care about the athletes as people, not just for their talent. “Kelsea is somebody who has a lot of energy, really passionate, not just about gymnastics but about people and about the program,” Walsh said. “She’s passionate about what she does in
PHOTO COURTESY OF FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS
New women’s gymnastics assistant coach Kelsea Kocan poses for a headshot. Kocan joined the team after coaching at the local Champaign Gymnastics Academy.
her own life, whether it’s CrossFit or running marathons. I just really loved the fact that she had just a lot of passion and a lot of drive. Another aspect that has been great about her is she is local; she’s committed to being in this area and stability and consistency is something I was looking for.” Walsh considered Kocan a perfect fit, as she embodied the culture of valuing the whole person and not
just their athletic gifts. She pours as much into them as people, as she does improve their skills, which gives her the potential to be an exceptional college coach. She also liked how versatile Kocan is, as she always wants her coaches to have the ability to help on all events. Kocan started in September and has been excited to learn more about “the Illini way.” She has also been very appreciative of
how welcoming everybody has been. “It’s been super awesome,” said senior Jaylen Spence. “I think we’ve been very fortunate to have a bunch of coaches over our four years, and Kelsea’s has been a super cool addition and just having a different voice in the gym, just someone to give you a different perspective on things.” Spence added Kocan’s bubbly and energetic personality combined with her unbiased perspective is what makes her so great, but it didn’t take much for the athletes to accept this new voice and love her; it was an easy transition to accept her into the Illini family. She understands the demands of the sport as a former gymnast herself and can give a coach’s perspective as well as one from a teammate. “I was a club gymnast just like they were, and I trained 20 hours a week just like they probably did, some of them might have trained more, but you’re in 20 hours a week from the age of 13, all the way to 18,” Kocan said. “It’s basically like a part-time job; you give up a lot to be a gymnast, so I definitely understand that. These girls are also giving up a lot to continue on being a college gymnast, so it’s tough. There’s a lot of sacrifice in the sport.” However, she never ended up being a college gym-
nast. She could have if she pursued it, but by the time she thought about it, it was too late. She didn’t take the time to network with coaches and do all the necessary steps required to make it a reality. “I have a little bit of a different experience than a lot of these girls, but I think it’s really useful for them to have somebody that sees what a big opportunity this is for them. So that when they’re struggling, they were going through those hard times and then when they’re not feeling good about it, tell them we’ll take a step back and have them see, ‘look how far I’ve come and look where I’ve gotten to be,’” Kocan said. A nother thing that stands out about Kocan is she has been able to learn from and become really good friends with Olympians who have visited Flip Fest, hoping her connections will create dialogue for the gymnastics team. “We’ve actually had a couple of conversations about who she’s worked with, just because obviously growing up in the gymnastics world, you idolize these Olympians and these elite-level gymnasts, and the fact that she has their contact information is pretty cool,” Spence said. @jonahap2 jonahperez@dailyillini.com
2B Thursday, November 19, 2020
THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Illini receive preseason hype, plan to meet high expectations Illinois ranked second-highest Big Ten team in AP Poll BY BRANDON SIMBERG STAFF WRITER
PHOTO COURTESY OF ILLINOIS BASKETBALL’S TWITTER
Junior Ayo Dosunmu shoots the ball during practice at State Farm Center on Nov. 12. Dosunmu was named a first-team pre-season AP All-American.
Despite not playing a game this semester, it was still a memorable few months for the Illinois men’s basketball team. After the return of stars junior guard Ayo Dosunmu and sophomore center Kofi Cockburn in August, hype began building up around the program. Whispers of a high-preseason ranking came true a few weeks ago when head coach Brad Underwood’s squad checked in at No. 8 in the first AP Poll. The Illini hadn’t been ranked in a preseason AP Poll since 2010-2011. Illinois was the second-highest ranked Big Ten team in the poll. With high expectations
comes a tough schedule. Illinois is scheduled to play No. 9 Duke in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The two haven’t squared off since 2007. Illinois will also get a test in the Jimmy V Classic when it plays preseason No. 2 Baylor. The team expectations are there, but individual players are also getting recognized. Dosunmu was named a first-team preseason AP All-American, as well as first-team preseason All-Big Ten selection. Illinois has not had a preseason All-American since Dee Brown in 2006. “We’re gonna see an unbelievable Ayo Dosunmu this year,” Underwood said. “A guy that has worked very hard and was one of the best guards in the country last year. He’s ready to pick up where he left off. Part of that is not only being a first-team all-league guard but now he’s a first-team All-American.” Cockburn also received recognition, being named
to the preseason first-team All-Big Ten. Even incoming freshman guard Adam Miller got some love. In a poll on The Athletic, Miller received the most votes for Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Illinois had some whiffs on the recruiting trail, but it made the addition of four-star wing Luke Goode official when he committed on signing day. Goode is a versatile, sharpshooting wing that should be a good complement next to current freshman guards Andre Curbelo and Adam Miller. “He’s so multidimensional,” Underwood said of Goode. “He’s an elite passer, no matter where you put him. He became more of a facilitator than scorer, but he’s a guy that attracts a lot of attention because of his ability to shoot the basketball.” @BrandonSimberg2 simberg2@dailyillini.com
FOOTBALL
COVID-19 affects playing roster, leads to unprecedented season BY CARSON GOURDIE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Instead of fading away in the summer, COVID-19 continues to sweep through the United States, affecting everything from the economy to college football. While collegiate athletic fans thought the March Madness cancellation was the most impacted event, a delayed college football season — and an almost canceled Big Ten season — would have been the cherry on top. After a discussion and finding a scientific reason for allowing players to play, the Big Ten presidents gave the conference the green light to go ahead with a nine-game conference-only schedule. The
results: chaos. Indiana is ranked in the top 10 for the first time in 51 years. Michigan is off to its worst start since 1967. A playoffcontending Wisconsin has already had two games canceled. The only consistency is that Ohio State is off to a hot start. Hyped up as head coach Lovie Smith’s most talented roster yet, Illinois stumbled out of the gate, starting the season 0-3 before rallying to knock off Rutgers 23-20. Defense breakdowns, specifically the secondary, as well as a lack of offensive identity has doomed Illinois. COVID-19 has played a role this season, with senior quarterback Brandon Peters having to sit
out three games after testing positive, leading to the eventual start of fourthstring sophomore Coran Taylor. At 1-3, the Illini need to pull off a few upsets in order to secure bowl eligibility back-to-back years for the first time since 2011. Iowa, Ohio State and Northwestern are still on deck. With the playoffs on the horizon, the committee will have to compare apples to oranges, considering each team has a completely different schedule make-up. But, as long as too many games don’t get canceled, fans should expect to see another champion crowned in January. @gourdiereport gourdie2@dailyillini.com
QUENTIN SHAW THE DAILY ILLINI
Minimal fans watch Illinois play against Purdue Oct. 31. The Illini fell to the Boilermakers 31-24.
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November 19, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
COVID-19
Students search for roommates amidst pandemic BY JARED EBANKS ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR
This month, student class Facebook groups have been filled with messages from those looking to sublease a room in their apartment for either the spring semester or the following year. In years past, a majority of these vacancies came from students preparing to attend their study abroad program. However, with a large portion of the student body completing the semester remotely and the uncertainty of the next academic year, a mass amount of students are looking for roommates to sign sublease agreements. Vic tor ia A nderson, junior in Media, posted in the University’s class of 2022’s Facebook group last week, hoping to connect with two students interested in becoming roommates with her and her sister for their senior year. A nderson’s cu r rent roommates plan on only staying on campus for the fall semester of their senior year, leaving them unable to sign the full year lease
agreement. She figures finding new roommates now would be a less stressful process as opposed to looking for students to sign a sublease midway through next year. Knowing one’s roommates will be there the entire year helps too. “I believe the main priority is finding suitable roommates who are willing to pay the price of rent in the building that I have a lease in, ” Anderson said over email. “However, if the pandemic were to extend to next year, I believe there would be a struggle in finding people returning to campus to sign a lease.” The uncertainty of the virus’ impact on the next academic year is daunting to a majority of students, especially those entering their senior year. The camaraderie of a solid group of friends helps immensely, though, according to Anderson. While unable to socialize with other tenants in the complex, Anderson says it’s important that other students see each other, making the search for two
new roommates even more pressing. Unfortunately, Anderson and two other roommates tested positive for COVID-19 during the semester; one roommate remained negative. “The one who did not test positive was able to stay healthy by wiping down surfaces, washing her hands and social distancing, while the rest of us were infected,” Anderson said. Anderson says she’s always considered herself somewhat of a “neat freak.” However, the pandemic has increased the habit. “The pandemic probably increased how many days I cleaned and how thoroughly,” Anderson said. “I’ve purchased products with bleach and other germ killers to ensure apartment cleanliness.” Residents of 309 Green, A nderson noted that they’ve taken a number of precautions to prevent students from testing positive. Partnered with RB, the makers of Lysol, Green has overhauled their clean-
ing supplies, including increased cleaning of common areas. Gyms, pools and study spaces have remained closed for the semester, yet these amenities are not prorated from the tenants’ rent. “I would say these policies have greatly increased the stress of myself and other tenants because we are not able to experience a normal semester as college students,” Anderson said. While Anderson added that the precautions are mandatory, the feeling of being alone or cooped up isn’t a sustainable position to live in. During a hard semester, it is important that students see one another and are able to interact socially. “But, of course, precautions must be made during this unprecedented time and students are willing to abide by these adjustments,” Anderson said. jaredde2@dailyillini.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF VICTORIA ANDERSON
Junior in Media Victoria Anderson poses for a headshot. Anderson has been searching for roommates to live with next
Champaign County active cases triple after seven days Twelve county residents die from virus in two-week span, backlog of tests adds 1,100 cases in two days PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIAN CASSELLA/CHICAGO TRIBUNE/TNS
Gov. J.B. Pritzker spoke on April 19 at the Thompson Center during the coronavirus pandemic. Pritzker announced that on Friday, Illinois will reenter Tier 3 mitigations to contain another wave of COVID-19.
New Illinois COVID-19 restrictions start Friday BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR
A “second wave” of COVID-19 has arrived in Illinois, and every county must abide by a new set of restrictions starting 12:01 a.m. on Friday. “To slow the spread and until we can begin to bring down the infection rate, you should not attend dinners, events, gatherings or meetings beyond your own household,” Pritzker said at Tuesday’s COVID-19 briefing. Illinois is reentering “Tier 3” mitigations, which pause all indoor service at
bars and restaurants — requiring them to close by 11 p.m. — suspend all indoor group sports and set occupancy limits for fitness centers, grocery stores and retailers down to 25%. All indoor recreation centers, including museums, movie theaters and performing arts centers, are closed, along with casinos and gambling machines, party rooms and country clubs. “Tier 3 boils down to this: If you don’t need to do it, don’t,” Pritzker said. On Tuesday, state offi-
cials announced another 12,602 cases of COVID-19 and 97 more deaths from the virus. COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have quickly risen in November. According to Dr. Ngozi Ezike of the Illinois Department of Public Health, one in four hospital beds in the state are currently occupied by a COVID-19 positive person. “The second wave is now here, and it’s more dire than what we saw in the spring,” Ezike said. For Thanksgiving,“we are asking people to choose
Zoom,” Pritzker said. An individual region can move back to less restrictive Tier 2 mitigations once three criteria are met: — Declining seven-day COVID-19 hospitalizations average in seven of 10 straight days. — Seven-day average test positivity rate below 12% for three straight days. — Greater than 20% available ICU and hospital bed availability for three consecutive days. @esimmsnews ecsimmon@dailyillini.com
Stay
BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR
jumped up by four, up to 16 residents currently hospitalized for the virus. Test positivity in the county and for Region 6 continues to climb ahead of the Tier 3 mitigations that begin on Friday. As of Saturday, when the most recent data was shared, Region 6’s sevenday average test positivity stood at 14%, while Champaign County’s — both excluding University tests — held at 9.6%. Counting the University’s tests, seven-day positivity for the region would be just 5.4%. The University has increased its test load in the last week, after the order for faculty, staff and grad students to test twice a week once again. On Monday, the University conducted 13,545 COVID-19 tests on campus, the most since Sept. 4, and found 51 new cases. In the week ended Sunday, another 282 people tested positive on campus after more than 64,000 new tests. As of Monday, 3,851 people have tested positive for COVID-19 on campus after more than 835,000 tests.
After a backlog of tests was processed, Champaign County added more than 1,100 new COVID-19 cases to its total in the last two days. The active case count has tripled in a week — from 528 on Nov. 11 to 1,589 on Wednesday. Another two county residents, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 100s, died from the virus on Tuesday and Wednesday. During the last 13 days, 12 county residents have died from the virus, marking Champaign’s deadliest period from COVID-19. Wednesday broug ht 225 new confirmed cases in Champaign County, along with 144 new recoveries and 117 more people @esimmsnews quarantined. ecsimmon@dailyillini.com Hospitalizations also
covered so you can stay here. covid19.illinois.edu
4B Thursday, November 19, 2020
THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
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Thursday, November 19, 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, NOV. 19 PHOTO COURTESY OF GENIUS
Elton John smiles out at the crowd while performing “Bennie and the Jets” during his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour at Amway Center on March 18, 2019. John recently released his newest album, “Jewel Box,” on Friday.
‘Jewel Box’ takes listeners on Elton John’s musical journey BY RAINA KUTLIROFF
buzz factor: STAFF WRITER
Elton John has blessed the world with a new release, an eight-CD box set titled “Jewel Box.” A treasure amidst the current chaotic times, “Jewel Box” features a total of 148 fan favorite songs, including 60 unreleased tracks. The highly anticipated album, released on Friday, consists of four sections. The first, “Deep Cuts,” features John’s meticulously chosen favorites. The second, “Rarities,” is a three-CD collection of 65 songs mostly recorded in 1965 before John and his band Bluesology officially signed with a record deal. This section will easily be a favorite for any Elton John fanatic. “Come Back Baby,” the first track on “Rarities,” was the first song ever written by John. The third section, “B-Sides,” has songs written between 19762005 that were initially only available on vinyl. The fourth and final section, “And This is Me…” features 16 songs spotlighted in John’s recent autobiography “Me.” A personal favorite song “Come Back Baby” performed by John and Blue-
sology listeners feeling as though they have escaped to a nostalgic ‘50s blues club. An emotional ballad, “Chameleon,” makes listeners forget all of their worries as the beautiful harmonies distract from life’s unfortunate realities. “The Power,” featuring rock and roll legend Little Richard, is full of ‘80s rock and roll vibes. Uplifting and funky, “Regimental Sgt. Zippo” contains some rather unusual sounds and musical techniques, such as the sound of a gun firing, haunting harmonies and a killer electric guitar solo. “Scarecrow,” a song that can only be heard by purchasing the vinyl or CD box set, is the first song John wrote with songwriter Bernie Taupin. Taupin has long collaborated with John, with the pair having written most hits together. On Oct. 30, John expressed his excitement about the project’s release in an interview with Rolling Stone. “I always want to push forward with everything I do and look to the future, but having time during lockdown to take stock and pull these moments from my memory from each era has been a joy,” John said. “As a devout record collector
myself, this project has excited me, and I couldn’t be happier with the level of craft involved in such a carefully curated, lovingly constructed box set. I’m sure my fans will enjoy it as much as I have.” Fans can purchase the “Jewel Box” Deluxe Edition set, including the CD box set as well as a 100-page book full of photographs of original lyric sheets, fun facts, liner notes and more. The album is available for listening pleasure through vinyl, CD box set or any streaming service. “Jewel Box” is a masterpiece designed by rock and roll superstar Elton John, who hardly disappoints. Full of unreleased and remastered songs, the album deserves undivided attention for the eight hours and 43 minutes of total listening time. “If we hadn’t written those early songs, we would never have progressed as songwriters,” John said. “It’s just a lovely, lovely journey.” Listening to “Jewel Box” really does feel like venturing on a musical journey with Sir Elton John himself. rkutli2@readbuzz.com
KAM Event | Virtual Opening Event for Bea Nettles: Harvest of Memory
Noon-5:15 p.m. A virtual event hosted by Krannert Art Museum Free Join Krannert Art Museum by Zoom to celebrate the opening of Bea Nettles: Harvest of Memory with the artist and other special guests.
Telling Turkey Tales with Champaign Public Library
6-7 p.m. A virtual event hosted by Champaign Public Library Free Gobble up an hour of Thanksgiving tales read to you by our very own Children’s Staff. The library will be broadcasting this Telling Turkey Tales event on the library’s website and its Facebook page. This program is designed for families with preschoolers and school-age kids.
FRIDAY, NOV. 20
Yoga at KAM: Virtual Edition
Noon-1 p.m. A virtual event hosted by Krannert Art Museum Free Enjoy a free weekly yoga practice, presented online by Krannert Art Museum and taught by Jodi Adams, certified yoga instructor and Ayurveda specialist. During the Fall 2020 season, the museum will publish a hatha yoga video to its Facebook event each week at the regular yoga time. You can follow along from wherever you are. Yoga at the museum gives you time each week to breathe and reflect and connect, even during a time when we need to be distant.
Virtual Festival of Trees
6 p.m. A virtual event hosted by Junior League of Champaign-Urbana Free
This year, this event has been reimagined to support the well-being of our community. As such, the Festival of Trees will take place from Friday through Sunday, virtually! The online event will be accessible to all, and social media will be enhanced to provide a wonderful holiday experience.
SATURDAY, NOV. 21
Genomes at Home
2-3 p.m. A virtual event hosted by Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology Free Participate in a series of hands-on activities from the comfort of your own home. Scientists from the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology will lead these activities over Zoom and cover topics including the environment, energy use and production, health and fundamental research, in an approachable manner for all ages. You can pick up materials for these activities at either the Champaign Public Library or the Urbana Free Library during regular hours. Simply go to the specified desk and ask for a kit.
SUNDAY, NOV. 22
Music by the Fiddle-Sax Band
4-4:30 p.m. A virtual event hosted by the Urbana Free Library Free The Fiddle-Sax Fusion Band was started by the husband-and-wife team Jessie and Brian Stark to provide safe, socially distanced concerts for the east Urbana neighborhood during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are joined by their neighbor, percussionist Stephen Busath, as they play a mix of Old Time and Irish fiddle tunes, folk hymns and blues repertoire. In addition to weekly concerts in their front yard, they have also performed for the CUIMC Sounds Like Community, On DeBand Live, the Bean Blossom Music Series and at the Rose Bowl Tavern.
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THURSDAY
November 19, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
buzz
Organization strives for inclusion in music industry BY CAILEIGH ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER
Celebrating its 35th anniversary in December, Women in Music has been allocating and supporting women who want to make it in a music career as an artist or in business roles. Nicole Barsalona has been the president of Women in Music since 2019, and it is clear how much of an emphasis this organization shines on inclusion. This non profit organization was founded to help spread “awareness, equality, diversity, heritage, opportunities and cultural aspects of women in the musical arts through education, support, empowerment and recognition,” Barsalona said. Originating in New York, Women in Music is one of the most diverse organizations, and now has 25 chapters nationally and globally, to help bring people together in the industry. This year, it has added 15 new chapters in the United States and 10 international chapters. “Panels, showcases, achievement awards and youth initiatives (in each chapter) celebrate the female contribution to the music world and strengthen community ties,” Barsalona said. Women in Music’s core belief is to provide an education for women wanting to be successful in the industry, which includes d iver se memb er sh ip opportunities worldwide.
CLAIRE HULEN THE DAILY ILLINI
For most of the Women in Music leaders, they know the struggles women have to face in the music industry and life. The organization’s goal is to ensure it is easier for women in the future. Women in Music want to expand its membership and diversity. It has numerous programs to extend its community presence. Since its mission is to diversify the field, it accepts college students and people
who aren’t going to a fouryear university. It wants to empower and educate women no matter their background and upbringing. It’s no secret being a woman can be a barrier to success in any career, especially music. Some of the most prominent struggles for women in the music industry are “harassment, scarcity of opportunities for professional advancement, lack of industry, related education, the pay
gap and lack of visibility,” Barsalona said. The organization leaders try to minimize these challenges by focusing on visibility, education, discrimination, harassment, business development and networking. Visibility is a bi-monthly program that brings in leading speakers while also giving performance opportunities to members. The education program is a monthly occurrence with
become a member of Women in Music. You can register for a membership on its website, www.womeninmusic.org. With a membership starting at only $75 a month — $40 for students — you can access seminars, workshops, meetings with professionals and many more amenities. However, continuing with its diversity goal, it also offers financial support for those in economically disadvantaged areas who might not be able to afford the membership costs. Women in Music loves and strives for student involvement, and students can register on its website to have a chapter at their college. Women in Music has loved and supported all of its members for 35 years. It has educated women on how to succeed in the music industry and how to face challenges. Women in Music strives for gender equality in all avenues of life. Unfortunately, for its 35th anniversary, it cannot have the gala it originally planned. But according to Barsalona, “this doesn’t have to be a negative thing.” Instead of an event that would be celebrated in different parts of the country and the world, it will host an online event where everyone can be together. This way, the organization can celebrate change-making women in all corners of the world.
seminars that provide information and materials on multiple industry areas. Discrimination and harassment programs give women access to information to help identify and report harassment and discrimination. Lastly, the business and networking program is an online forum that brings in hundreds of professionals worldwide to help members find and promote resources. Everyone is welcome to cda8@readbuzz.com
Explore these go-to local destinations for music lovers BY RUKAYAH HUSSEIN BUZZ CALENDAR EDITOR
Music is an integral part of our lives. It fills the silence and can get many of us through a lot. It allows us to stay sane in the worst of times and celebrate in the best of times. Music, in any form or genre, is essential to our culture — and for many of us, our lives. Thankfully, there are many places in and around the Champaign-Urbana area to fuel our love for the art form! One of the first places music lovers should check out is Corson Music. It is one of the oldest independently owned musical instrument stores in Champaign and has been operating since 1996. If you are interested in purchasing a new instrument or upgrading your equipment, its is the place to visit. It sells several types of guitars, from multiple wellknown brands, amps and DJ/Sound Reinforcement equipment. Corson Music also offers repairs for your instrument, and if you are interested, some lessons in
guitar, bass and more! Another hot spot for music lovers is The City Center in Champaign. Once our world can safely go back to normal, with everyone’s health in mind, what better way to celebrate the end of the pandemic than with some live music? Unfortunately, The City Center cannot have the same level of live music as it usually would. Still, it is a great place to keep in mind for the future if you are ever in the area and want to see some incredible live performances. For avid record collectors and connoisseurs, there are several great locations to get records. The first, located near downtown Champaign, is Exile on Main Street. It has been named one of the best record stores in Champaign, and it offers a wide variety of records, CDs, tapes and more in many different genres! Exile on Main Street has also hosted live performances in its store, so music lovers are encouraged to check them out! If you are in the market
for some collectible items, Record Swap is another music store to browse. Located in Urbana, it also possesses an incredible inventory of CDs, LPs and tapes in your favorite genres. Record Swap also holds rare and vintage collectional items for music lovers everywhere. See You CD & Vinyl is a newcomer when it comes to record stores in the area, but that does not mean it doesn’t carry records for music lovers in C-U. It sells music in multiple formats and genres too, so while you are on a physical music shopping spree, why not support another independent local music store today? It is located in Urbana, so check it out soon. Items sell out quickly! Yet another record store in the C-U area is Parasol HQ. Parasol HQ is both a mail-order music store and a record label. While it is not currently buying and selling new releases, you can still check out its brick and mortar headquarters in Urbana, where it carries over 7000 LPs, CDs and 45s.
KENYON EDMOND THE DAILY ILLINI
Patrons of Exile on Main Street shop for vinyl records on Record Store Day, April 13, 2019. Exile on Main Street is one good spot in Champaign-Urbana for music lovers.
Shop to your heart’s desire, and make connections with a great music cornerstone of the area. Finally, for music lovers who love live music, NOLA’s Rock Bar is a great place to visit, under safe conditions, to see some excel-
lent local bands play and experience the joys of live music. When things return to semi-normal, it is a great bar in Urbana for Friday Jazz Happy Hour and local rock performances. Music is everywhere in C-U in all different ways!
From physical music stores to live performances to places to take lessons and instrument shops, music lovers will find everything they need to fuel their passion for the art of music. rukayah2@readbuzz.com
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