THURSDAY October 22, 2020
THE DAILY ILLINI The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Vol. 150 Issue 18
University cancels spring break BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR
The UI senate has agreed on a revamped spring semester with a week-late start, three more noninstructional days and no spring break. Campus officials passed the resolution 129-13 at Monday’s meeting after several proposed amendments to modify the num-
ber and nature of the noninstructional days. The semester will begin on Jan. 25 instead of the original Jan. 19 start date, while adding Wednesday, Feb. 17; Wednesday, March 24; and Tuesday, April 13 as off-days. Commencement will occur at its originally scheduled May 15 date. “When this proposal was
introduced at Educational Policy Committee, none of us were thrilled learning that one of the recommendations was canceling spring break,” said senate chair Linda Moorhouse. As of Oct. 13, eight other Big Ten schools had already canceled spring break. Modelers at Illinois’ SHIELD team endorsed the semester changes at
Monday’s meeting, laying out the health risks a spring vacation could create. “We know that travel is a risk to members of our community,” said Rebecca Smith, epidemiologist and co-leader of the SHIELD Target team. Smith cited a report from Morbidity and MorSEE BREAK | 3A
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS URSO
Beachgoers enjoy the sun in Florida during spring break 2019. The University has canceled spring break 2021.
UI details fall break, spring return plans First week post-return dedicated to COVID-19
• Freshmen and new students should be tested Jan. 18 and Jan. 22. “Please give yourself plenty of time to receive two negative test results and ensure your second test is on or before Jan. 22,” Jones wrote. “Students who fail to follow our testing policies are subject to student discipline.” The University clarified its testing policies for the rest of the year and spring semester shortly after announcing the cancellation of spring break. “Travel is a real risk for reintroducing infection to a community that has it under control,” said Rebecca Lee Smith, an epidemiologist and professor in AHS. “There is a very clear signal of the spread of infection throughout the country after spring break.” The Shield Target team, which Smith co-leads, determines on-campus testing frequency and other related decisions. Smith’s team made official recommendations that led to the University’s plan, but not before consulting the graduate student on the team who works as a TA with undergraduates, lending a student perspective to the suggestions the team made. “One of the recommendations that we are making is to delay the start of the spring semester, but to not delay the start of students returning to campus, simply so that we can have a longer period of testing before people start their activities,” Smith said. “So, we’re recommending that people come early and start testing and that they selfquarantine until they have two negative tests.” The hope is that the extended time frame and the slightly flexible selfquarantine system will help to contain the spread of coronavirus across campus. The first test will be used to catch anything that may have happened in the previous week, and the second to check for any exposure that the student may have had while traveling. As always, measures of social distancing and wearing masks will be essential for containing the virus.
BY PAYAL RATHORE STAFF WRITER
KENYON EDMOND THE DAILY ILLINI
A truck drives between cornfields as the sun sets on E. County Rd 1000 N in Mattoon, ill. The University has received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture dedicated to supporting agricultural producers’ mental health.
Grant works to improve farmers’ mental health BY ALEXANDRA GERGOVA STAFF WRITER
In an effort to increase resources targeted toward improv ing the mental health of agricultural producers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded funding to the University of Illinois, one of four regional entities that received funding from a $28.7 million pot. UI got $7.2 million, which it’s giving to the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center, a 12-state network seeking to expand and create mental health resources targeted at farmers. The main network, born from the 2018 Farm Bill and entitled the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, was created by Congress to combat the extremely high levels of anxiety, depression and suicide reported in the agricultural community, all of which have been
worsened as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a 2020 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, suicide rates are 1.5 times higher among male farmers than any other male occupational group. An integral part of the NCFRSAC system is that it recognizes how resources catered towards farmers differ from traditional ones, said Josie Rudolphi, professor in ACES and one of the leaders of the NCFRSAC project. “We realize that farm and ranch stress assistance looks a little different than the traditional stress mental health outreach,” Rudolphi said. “And so we’re really working through the various channels to provide services and resources that meet farmers where they are.” The NCFRSAC additionally serves to collect
information from the other regional states and facilitate the development of new efforts and resources, said Courtney Cuthbertson, professor in ACES and another leader of the project. As a result of the recent funding, one of the new resources in development is a website that will serve as a regional clearinghouse, which compiles various support services from all 12 states in the network. “The central clearinghouse will include centerwide resources and services and then also provide a link to our partnering states and their specific clearinghouses,” Rudolphi said. “The clearinghouse will include things like telephone hotlines that the state is promoting, other types of clinical care or clinical intervention and resources that may be useful for somebody who has
experienced natural disasters or other types of traumatic experiences.” Cuthbertson echoed similar sentiments, adding that another feature will include the implementation of various training programs for both farmers and those who engage with farmers but don’t necessarily participate in the work, such as veterinarians, seed dealers and mechanics. “The training will work to improve mental health literacy,” Cuthbertson said. “What I’m referring to is the knowledge that people have about signs and symptoms of mental health issues, how to communicate with someone who might be experiencing mental health difficulties and then how to refer someone to appropriate resources that help, which might include a healthcare SEE FARMERS | 3A
New early voting sites open at University buildings BY CHIEH HSU STAFF WRITER
As Election Day approaches, early voting sites have opened at the ARC, Illini Union and University YMCA from Monday, Oct. 19 to Monday, Nov. 2. Their hours are 10 a.m.6 p.m. on Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. “The students are very welcomed and encouraged to vote by my administration,” said Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons. “We hope to see a lot of students to partake in the election in Champaign County.” Compared to the previous presidential election, the voting site at the Illini Union moved from the fourth floor to the first floor, and two sites have been added on the second floor of the University YMCA and at the ARC. Once a voter arrives on a site, an election judge will verify the voter’s identity and give them a ballot. The voter should then proceed to a voting booth and fill the
oval for the chosen candidate. Next, the voter should insert their ballot into a tabulator machine located next to the exit that helps determine whether the ticket is valid. Alternatively, vote by mail began on Sept. 24. Due to COVID-19, Clerk Ammons strongly encourages voters to utilize vote by mail for this election. To request a vote by mail ballot, voters should go on the County Clerk Office’s website and fill out an electronic form before Oct. 29, but the office encourages voters to do so as early as possible. After receiving the mail ballot, voters should complete it based on the instructions in the envelope. “Make sure you sign the envelope! If you forget the Clerk’s Office will not be able to cast your ballot until you provide a valid signature,” according to the County Clerk’s website. To return the vote by mail ballot, a voter can drop it at any post office mailbox or in
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A solitary voting station stands in the ARC on Monday. Multiple early voting locations across campus opened on Monday morning.
a secure dropbox. There is a dropbox on the northwest corner of the South Quad, 1401 W. Green St., which is accessible by foot or bike only, and on the south side of the Illini Union. Voters do not have to worry about the cost since the postage is already paid for. Each vote by mail ballot also comes with a tracking
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feature, so voters will be able to check if the Clerk’s Office has received the returned vote. However, due to a large number of tickets received each day, voters should anticipate at least 48 hours before the status of their ballots is updated in the voter portal.
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Features: Altgeld ringers celebrate 100 year of music
buzz: Bar hosts dog lovers’ event for charity
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In the last two weeks before fall break, University students will be asked to restrict their movements significantly in preparation for their returns home. “Students who plan to travel during Fall Break should limit themselves to essential activities only, such as attending in-person class, testing, visiting the pharmacy and buying groceries between Nov. 6 and Nov. 20,” Chancellor Robert Jones wrote in a Massmail sent Tuesday morning. “Limiting your activity may help you remain COVID-free before you return home and may help keep you and those you care about safe from possible virus spread.” The same applies for students who are staying in the Champaign-Urbana community during and after fall break. According to Jones, more than 1,000 students have faced University discipline for COVID-19 policy violations, including not participating in on-campus testing. Once students return in the spring, a new set of testing protocols will begin. All students must receive two negative test results on campus between Jan. 15-24, no sooner than three days apart, before resuming regular activities. The University laid out the following recommended testing schedule based on students’ years in school: • Gr adu at e s t udent s should be tested on Jan. 15 and Jan. 19. • Seniors should be tested on Jan. 15 and Jan. 19. (Seniors who live in University Housing will test on Jan. 17 and Jan. 21.) • Juniors should be tested on Jan. 16 and Jan. 20. (Juniors who live in University Housing will test on Jan. 17 and Jan. 21.) • Sophomores should be tested on Jan. 17 and payalr2@dailyillini.com Jan. 21.
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2A Thursday, October 22, 2020
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Campus Target store set for grand opening
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The Campustown Target Corporation, after more than a year in development, will have its grand opening on Sunday. Located at 706-708 S. Sixth St., Target will occupy the first two floors of The Dean, the 17-floor, high-rise apartment complex in the heart of campus. The store will take up around 17,000 square feet, according to the corporation’s upcoming locations web page. It’ll be the second Target built in Champaign, after the one at 2102 N. Prospect Ave. A soft opening for the new store occurred on Tuesday, though the Jimmy John’s below the store has been open all semester. “We see an opportunity to serve more guests in the Champaign-Urbana community, and as we are opening these doors across the country, one of our priority areas is opening stores on or near collewge campuses,” said spokeswoman Jacqueline Debuse in April. “We know that there is a need we can fill. We can bring an easy convenient shopping experience to those communities and that is what we intend to do with this store.” The new Target store occupies land where the
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Customers enter and exit the Target located on Green Street during a soft opening on Tuesday afternoon. The store’s grand opening is on Sunday.
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THURSDAY October 22, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
NEWS
Chancellor Jones signs Illinois Climate Action Plan Plan aims to switch to clean energy BY SAMANTHA BOYLE MANAGING EDITOR FOR REPORTING
The newest version of the Illinois Climate Action Plan was signed and approved at the Campus Sustainability Celebration during a Zoom call on Tuesday by Chancellor Robert Jones. This plan is developed in order to commit the University “to divest from fossil fuels, switch to clean energy sources, cut landfill waste and pursue environmental justice,” according to the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, And Environment website. The 2020 iCAP is led by iSEE and Facilities & Services and will be the third plan that has been approved and published. Previous versions were published in 2010 and again in 2015. The ideal goal of iCAP is to achieve net-zero carbon emissions on campus as soon as possible — by 2050 at the latest. “This newest iteration of Illinois Climate Action Plan is bold and ambitious, there’s no one who will be looking down the list of goals and will accuse the University of taking the easy path when it comes to sustainability and to climate,” Jones said at the Campus Sustainability Cel-
SCREENSHOT OF ZOOM
Chancellor Robert Jones speaks about the Illinois Climate Action Plan on Tuesday. Jones signed the newest version of the plan during the Zoom call.
ebration on Tuesday. The 2020 iCAP is organized into eight key themes: energy, transportation, land and water, zero waste, education, engagement, resilience and implementation. Each theme contains different objectives, the main three being to increase the number of trees on campus, use clean energy sources for 15% of the total campus energy demand and reduce net air travel emissions by 100% by fiscal year 2030. Another priority of the iCAP is to increase the vis-
ibility of sustainable practices across campus. Some of these ideas include a broadening of sustainability education for the entire curriculum, beginning with freshman student orientation, supporting programs for children to develop a love of nature and sustainability and promoting zero waste events with durable goods instead of disposables. “We are proud of the Universit y ’s commitment to sustainability and appreciative of Chancellor Jones’s support as we con-
tinue to take action,” iSEE Interim Director Madhu Khanna said in a news release. “Over the course of this year, campus and community members developed ambitious objectives, and we must work together to see them through. The Illinois family is passionate about sustainability and resilient; each one of our efforts helps to make a difference.” Khanna was one of the speakers at Tuesday ’s event, as well as F&S Executive Director Mohamed Attalla and a few student
sustainability leaders. Chancellor Jones also made a few comments before signing the plan. Jones touched on how the COVID-19 pandemic has been a reminder of how the world can change instantly overnight. As society has continued to rely on land grant universities for innovations and discoveries throughout the pandemic, Jones said he believes the University of Illinois will continue to be a point of dependance during the rebuilding period. “I believe our society
will continue to depend on us to lead the rebuilding that will come,” Jones said. “We must be committed to creating a future for our University that ensures that we will be ready and be able to meet this need. The iCAP 2020 is not just a map for a more environmental and sustainable university, I believe that it is a guide to make sure we are more resilient, adaptable and more sustainable in every single phase of our mission for decades to come.” sjboyle2@dailyillini.com
Housing to suspend, review Multicultural Advocate position BY LUIS VELAZQUEZ ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
University Housing’s Multicultural Advocate position expresses awareness of social issues within the residence halls through community and staff involvement. However, University Housing will
suspend this position for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. The MA student position was created 19 years ago. The role is intended to bring together students of different cultures and backgrounds. MAs in each building create events and
facilitate regular dialogues on current social justice issues. “MAs serve as leaders and role models within the residence hall community by confronting acts of intolerance or hate, encouraging dialogue among students and working toward
MADELINE PIERCE THE DAILY ILLINI
A trio of biology students discuss a homework assignment in the main lounge of Allen Hall on March 9, 2019. University Housing plans to suspend and review the Multicultural Advocate position for the 2021-2022 school year.
FROM 1A
BREAK tality Weekly that found a single spring break trip in 2020 resulted in 64 cases of COVID-19: 60 cases among 183 travelers, one from a household contact and three from community contacts. Smith also mentioned the hassle a mass return from travel would create
FROM 1A
FARMERS provider, primary care or a mental health provider specifically.” While the majority of the programs are currently in development and utilizing the resources provid-
the creation of truly inclusive communities,” reads the job description on the Housing website. Chelsea Hamilton, senior assistant director of communications and marketing for University Housing, said the Multicultural Advocate program will be on hiatus for the 2021-2022 academic year due to an internal and external review of University Housing. Hamilton said the assessment could not be done over a summer period. “In order to do this successfully and efficiently, we really need that full year in order to do this and not trying to squish it all into a three-month time period,” Hamilton said. “So the best way to kind of describe this and what our staff has been using is we are taking a moment to reimagine what the multicultural programs will look like in the future.” “While the final decision of having the MA program to be on hiatus was made on Sept. 16 and shared with staff on Sept. 21, the overall review of the program began in Spring 2020,” said Cristian Biviano the interim assistant director for social justice and leadership education for Univer-
sity Housing in an email. Hamilton said the assessment will begin in Jan. 2021. Although the decision was made, there has not been a committee created for this plan. University Housing plans to create a committee that includes campus partners, community stakeholders and selected student leaders and alumni in order to get viewpoints from current students and former students who have been in the MA role. Current MAs will still work under their contract and are encouraged to partake in another leadership role within University Housing. However, certain aspects of the MA role could be rolled over to the Resident Adviser position for the upcoming year due to the hiatus. The current University housing staff is working on that plan, according to Hamilton. Upcoming RAs will be expected to have more social justice training due to this decision. Gonzalo Higuero, junior in Business and current RA, said the MA hiatus could have an effect on University housing residents. Higue-
ro said in the past years there have been great connections between the MAs and residents; however, it is a little bit more difficult to accomplish that through Zoom. “I think that the position is more needed in order to create those affinity groups in order to create those connections amongst marginalized communities and much less people,” Higuero said. Hamilton said she asks students who are affected by the decision to be flexible with this new upcoming shift of the MA program. “University Housing knows the needs of today’s college students have changed in many, many ways since we began this program 19 years ago,” Hamilton said. “So, with a whole new generation living with us and a whole new generation coming into University Housing, we want to remain as a department that is committed to social justice. We also want to be able to share a program with our residents that meets the needs of the future.” lvelaz20@dailyillini.com
if everyone were required to self-quarantine for 14 days as the Centers for Disease Control recommends, effectively pausing in-person instruction. A delayed start to the semester also gives time for entry testing to control the spread, requiring two negative tests before resuming on-campus activities. “We know that universities that had entry testing had fewer cases in the fall
semester,” Smith added. “But we have found that at least one week and preferably more is needed to complete entry testing prior to activities.” The off days were carefully selected as well. “(The schedule) avoids Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays as days off to discourage three-to-four-day weekend travel, and it preserves the end date of the semester, so as not to cre-
ate conflicts with employment, appointment dates, commencement and the summer 2021 term,” Moorhouse said. Kevin Pitts, vice chancellor for Undergraduate Education, said “mental health concerns for our students, faculty and staff” were a driving force in including the three extra off-days. A few amendments were introduced, and defeated, to add extra off-days or to
allow professors to select the days of class for their students to take off. Many agreed that the proposal would be inadequate to improve the stress levels of students. “I’m concerned right now, in this current term, about the level of burnout that students are experiencing,” said Jeffrey Eric Jenkins, professor in FAA. A proposal to add two additional non-instruc-
tional days was denied in the senate 35-103, while professor Bruce Rosenstock’s amendment to allow the teachers to select offdays was voted down 11-108. “We recognize that the schedule isn’t everyone’s first choice, but I believe we are doing as much as possible to balance these competing interests,” Pitts said.
ed by the funding, there are existing programs that will receive funding to ensure they continue and expand. One of these examples involves two workshops already established for four years now by Michigan State University. “One is called ‘Communicating with Farmers
under Stress’ and the other is called ‘Weathering the Storm,’ and these two programs are meant to educate people about specific stressors for farmers and ranchers, to talk about agricultural economic trends, to talk about warning signs of suicide and stress on the body, how to communicate
with someone and how to reach out for help,” Cuthbertson said. “The center is going to help so that other states in the North Central region will have access to be able to offer these classes or workshops within their own context.” Rudolphi attributes a lot of the development of the
network to the staff and faculty. “We are lucky and very fortunate to have an existing network of collaborators and colleagues who have been working in this space for some time and others who are trying to kind of burgeon into the space,” Rudolphi said. “It
was really this group of like-minded people who are passionate about the subject that really inspired the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center that we’re starting here at the University of Illinois.”
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THURSDAY October 22, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
LIFE & CULTURE
Chimes players ring in 100 years BY FARRAH ANDERSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Tucked past three flights of steep staircases, the chimes room in Altgeld Hall is home to shelves of handwritten music, wooden pedals connected to wire cables and the Altgeld Ringers, a group of student chimes players. After October, however, the future of the chimes is uncertain. Because of Altgeld Hall’s structural damage over the years, a $192 million project was approved to renovate Altgeld Hall and replace Illini Hall. As of Tuesday, “no plans have been made to shut down the chimes within the next year,” said Sheldon Katz, the dean’s special advisor in LAS. LAS Facilities Director Derek Fultz said the project for renovating Illini Hall and Altgeld Hall will span several years and that “every bit of the buildings will be touched.” “We understand our project and the impact that the chimes have on campus,” Fultz said. “Our intention is to work with the players so the chimes can be played as much as possible.” With the most extensive renovations scheduled to begin in August 2021, the work to Altgeld Hall includes historical restoration, improved structural reinforcement and the updating of stairwells that possess “no modern codes for accessibility,” Fultz said. Albert Lua, sophomore in Engineering, started playing the chimes with the Altgeld Ringers his freshman year. Because of the impending renovations, though, Lua said he’s disappointed about the possible shutdown.
“I’ve only been playing for a year, and I want to keep playing,” Lua said. As the centennial celebration of the Altgeld Chimes runs from Sunday to Oct. 31, ringers say they hope to increase their visibility on campus through a week of concerts and expand their Black, Indigenous and People of Color music repertoire. Chimesmaster Tina Horton, graduate student in FAA, said the question she hears over and over outside Altgeld Hall is, ‘are those bells played by computers?’ “Guess what? Chimes players exist,” Horton said. “We’re human, and this tradition has been here for 100 years.” Horton was nominated Chimesmaster in 2019. As the third female and first BIPOC chimes master, Horton said she has made it her mission to expand the library of music and plans to give a concert for Filipino American History Month on Sunday. “If I’m in charge of this organization, I have a responsibility to make a change,” she said. “It’s not anything big, but if music can reflect more what campus looks like then that’s important. We need more representation in so many different mediums. Music still has a lot of work to do.” Horton said the University is home to one of the few chimes left on U.S. college campuses. From classic church hymns to “Toxic” by Britney Spears, the chimes can be heard ringing across the campus between passing periods and on holidays. The Altgeld Chimes, also known as the Senior Memorial Chimes, were a gift from
MARK CAPAPAS THE DAILY ILLINI
Michael Broussard, assistant chimesmaster and graduate student in Music, speaks about the chimes at Altgeld Hall on Friday. The Altgeld Chimes were gifted to the University from its students from 1914-1921.
students to the University from 1914-1921. Chime historian Liam Flood wrote that Hale “Pete” Daugherty, editor of The Daily Illini in 1913, is known as “The Father of the Chimes” because of his efforts in rallying the student body to gift the chimes to the University. Flood wrote that Daugherty published many “fiery editorials” by students at The Daily Illini in support of the chimes. Eventually, the bells were installed in Altgeld. “The reason the bells exist is because of the students,” Horton said. As a part of the centennial celebration, the Altgeld
Ringers opened a composition contest for composers across campus to submit original compositions and arrangements of music by people of color. Nick Perozzi, graduate student in Engineering, submitted arrangements for both the original composition and BIPOC arrangement sections. Perozzi said he wanted to choose something relevant to students and landed on “It Feels Like Summer” by Childish Gambino. “The BIPOC influence on American music is astounding, and it only seems appropriate to ensure BIPOC music is a part of what cam-
pus hears every day,” Perozzi wrote. By expanding the chimes music library, Chimesmaster Horton said she wants a larger repertoire for future chimes players to choose from. “We want more pieces to play, and we love to know what students and community members want to hear,” Horton said. “Sometimes it can feel very alone in the tower not knowing what people want to hear.” Usually brimming with chimes players and visitors throughout the year, the chimes room in Altgeld Hall has been closed to
tours because of structural damage and safety precautions. Despite closed tours and COVID-19 restrictions, though, the ringers say the chimes room still feels like home. “It is nice to feel like you have this special place on campus,” Horton said. As the ringers prepare for the possible changes during the renovations, Assistant Chimesmaster Michael Broussard said they have “gone into overdrive” for the centennial celebration. “It’s really a last hoorah,” Broussard said. farrah2@dailyillini.com
BrewLab, coffee industry adapt to pandemic BY MATT TROHER STAFF WRITER
During a typical school year, the campus’ multitude of coffee shops are filled with students studying, hanging out with friends and, most importantly, drinking coffee. However, this isn’t a typical school year. Many students’ favorite study spots have had to close off or severely limit their indoor seating due to social distancing guidelines instituted by the cities of Champaign or Urbana, leading to a decrease in business. Decreased foot traffic as well as the absence of students from March until the beginning of the school year in August have also factored into the drop in business coffee shops have experienced. One popular campus coffee shop, BrewLab, has adapted to the new business landscape created by COVID-19.
“At first when COVID shut everything down back in March, it was kind of like a really prolonged summer — no students walking around and coming in, everyone was working from home — so at the beginning of the school year, it was really slow,” said Gabe Wikoff, BrewLab general manager. “But recently, we’ve had an upturn in business and have been pretty comparable to pre-COVID for the past month. I’m not exactly sure why, maybe people are anxious to get outside and do things.” BrewLab, located at the corner of Fifth and Green streets in the heart of Campustown, had to renovate to accommodate social distancing guidelines. When the pandemic began in March and throughout the summer, the city of Champaign instituted an ordinance requiring all restaurants and cafes to remove or close off their indoor seat-
ing. Wikoff decided to convert parking spaces located on the side of the building into outdoor seating. This effort encouraged customers to patronize BrewLab while adhering to social distancing guidelines. Once students returned to campus in August, the city of Champaign relaxed its social distancing guidelines, allowing cafes to reinstitute indoor seating as long as tables were six feet apart. Adapting to requirements set by the city has resulted in creative solutions for accommodation. “One of our bathrooms is full of chairs right now because we’ve had to find the extra room to store our seating because they can only be six feet apart in the cafe,” Wikoff said. BrewLab was known for hosting specialty coffee RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI tastings and brewing work- Gabe Wikoff, BrewLab general manager, serves a customer on Tuesday. The coffee shop, along SEE BREW | 5A
with other similar businesses in the area, have had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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5A
Thursday, October 22, 2020
Local ballot sees female representation Champaign County election features 18 women BY GWYN SKILES STAFF WRITER
A regular day for a young employee at Jarling’s Custard Cup became a devastating tragedy when news about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death reached the counter. S eventeen-yea r - old senior at Champaign Central High School and prospective University of Illinois student Riley Anton was shocked. The grief for the powerful female hero she admired overwhelmed her. When Anton’s initial shock passed, she was filled with thoughts of dread. “She has to survive,” Anton said. “The rights of so many people are in her hands.” Anton’s anguish carried her and her mother to Ginsburg’s funeral in Washington, D.C., and to a rally hosted by Planned Parenthood to empower Ginsburg’s dying wish: not to have President Donald Trump determine her replacement. Anton explained how the representation Ginsburg provided American women in the Supreme Court remains an impactful legacy. She stressed the importance of female representation at all levels of the government. “When you’re growing up, it’s really important to have representation,” Anton said. “If (women) do end up winning, or even just their presence will inspire more women to think, ‘this is actually something I can do.’” Women are represent-
FROM 4A
BREW shops, but it had to cancel all events for the foreseeable future. Still, business is returning close to normal, averaging over 200 customers a day, due in part to the expanded outdoor seating. Wikoff, who graduated from the University of Illinois in 2019 with a degree in Spanish, plans to advance in the coffee industry and work as a consultant for independent coffee farmers in Central America. In addition to the pan-
ed in many spaces on the Champaign County ballot for the upcoming general election. This year, 18 women will be candidates bidding for office in the county, what the Champaign County Clerk’s Office believes to be the most in history. Four are Republican and 14 are Democratic. Lisa Burgoon, co-host of the Champaign-Urbana Women’s Rally in March 2020 and retired director of the minor in leadership studies within the University’s College of ACES, said she noticed the disproportion between the female representation of both
are not as concerned about that,” Burgoon said. The Daily Illini reached out to Illini Republicans and Turning Point USA at the University of Illinois for a comment but received no response. Carol Ammons, the first black female to serve as the 103rd District State Representative will be running for re-election. She expressed her elation at the local female representation being shown on the ballot for Champaign County. However, Ammons then emphasized the need for further representation of colored women.
“When you’re growing up, it’s really important to have representation.” RILEY ANTON CHAMPAIGN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
government are the people who are like you because they’re the ones who are best going to understand what your community needs and what your experiences are like,” Minor said. “That’s why it’s so important to have diversity in the government because you need everybody from different walks of life and all backgrounds to really understand the importance of what individuals of our community need,” she said. While Burgoon thinks the increase of local female representation on the Champaign County ballot is commendable, she explained the need to vote for these females. “Women running for office who then get that office might go onto a higher office where eventually policy can be made at that level, so we need to start local and try and get the issues out there,” she said. For individuals under the age of 18 such as Anton, voting in this general election is not possibile. Anton found other routes to express her political beliefs, though. Anton said educating oneself and sharing knowledge helps to further the movement for women’s rights and representation. “Even though I traveled all the way to D.C., you don’t have to do that to be involved,” she said. “Educating yourself and working to educate those around you is important.”
parties. Burgoon noted the majority of female candidates coming from the Democratic Party indicated the party’s prioritization of serving American women. “I think that shows us a lot about the partisanship in the United States and that the platform for the Democratic Party is much more for women’s rights across the spectrum,” Burgoon said. “The Democratic platform seems to focus much more on ‘how do we care for our general population?’ and it does seem to me that the Republicans
“African American women have been striving for equal rights even before there was something called a women’s suffrage movement,” Ammons said. “We want equal representation in every level of government.” Erin Minor, freshman in LAS, reinforced Ammons’ comment and stressed the electorate’s need for such representation in the government. She stressed the importance of representative politics. “There’s this thing called representative politics, and it’s the idea that the best people to represent you in gskiles2@dailyillini.com
demic, coffee farmers and the coffee industry as a whole have had to adapt to another pressing concern — climate change. Coffee can only be grown in locations between latitudes 25 degrees North and 30 degrees South — a location known colloquially as “the coffee belt.” In addition, coffee plants are very respondent to rain patterns. With rain patterns becoming less predictable as the global climate shifts, coffee production in Central America is becoming less economically viable. Taya Brown, a research-
er at the Center for Coffee Research and Education at Texas A&M University, works as a consultant for independent, family-owned coffee farms in Guatemala. She spent two years living in Guatemala and working directly with coffee farmers, and has spent the last five years traveling between Guatemala and the United States. “If you have shifting rain patterns, you have a shift in when coffee is coming, so the farmers I work with will tell you the coffee’s coming earlier or later than normal,” Brown said. “It’s sporadic
MEET THE 18 FEMALE CANDIDATES These are the women who will be on the Champaign County General Election Ballot Betsy Dirksen Londrigan (D) 13th Congressional District
Erika C. Weaver (D) 15th Congressional District
Mary Miller (R) 15th Congressional District
Carol Ammons (D) 103rd State Representative District
Cynthia E. Cunningham (D) 104th State Representative District
Susan W. McGrath (D) Circuit Clerk - Champaign County
Katie M. Blakeman (R) Circuit Clerk - Champaign County
Chaundra Bishop (D) Coroner - Champaign County
Julia R. Reitz (D) State’s Attorney - Champaign County
Cassandra “CJ” Johnson (D) Treasurer - Champaign County
Diane Michaels (R) Country Board District 2
Kellie Lee Mansfield (D) County Board District 4
Emily Rodriguez (D) Country Board District 8
Jennifer Straub (D) County Board District 9 - Unexpired Term
Mary King (D) Country Board District 10 - Unexpired Term
Titianna Ammons (D) County Board District 11
Ramona Sullivan (D) 6th Circuit Court Judge
Cheralyn (Cherie) Kesler (R) 6th Circuit Court Judge
Source: Champaign County Clerk
JONAH OZER THE DAILY ILLINI
— they don’t always know exactly how the season will go, and that has some economic connotations. Coffee’s like a timebomb that you have to sell quickly, so you’ll have farmers who will sell cherries on the street market to someone who will pay them very little. The farmers don’t have much autonomy in that situation.” While technological innovations in the coffee industry mean coffee can still be produced under hardening climate conditions, the main effect of climate change will be on the producers who stake their live-
lihood on coffee production. According to Brown, coffee farmers in Guatemala only receive roughly 60% of their income from coffee production and have to support themselves and their families through second streams of income. Andrew Margenot, an assistant professor in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University, worked with Brown during her time in Guatemala. Margenot, who will begin teaching CPSC 117: Agriculture and Science of Coffee, in the spring semester, emphasizes ways students and coffee
shops in Champaign-Urbana can help support familyowned coffee farms half the world over. “Being mindful of where you source your coffee, that’s the best thing,” Margenot said. “Also, I think not buying into a lot of advertising myths is important. There are these myths in the coffee business that if they get perpetuated further, could potentially drive consumer preferences indirectly. Being educated about what is going on in the production areas is important.” mtroher2@dailyillini.com
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ACROSS
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10 Stars 11 Gluten-free noodle variety 12 They work as a team 13 Middle finger, with “the” 16 No-fault rulings at court? 21 Hero 23 Muscle-to-bone connector 24 Lunar phenomenon 26 Carne ___ 27 Small glass container 28 Avoid commitment 30 Meas. equal to 180°/π 31 Spring month in Paris 32 Chain where you can buy wet or dry food 33 Guy friends, in slang 36 Midwest tribe 38 Prepare runny, as an egg
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The crossword solution is in the Classified section.
6A
THURSDAY October 22, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
OPINIONS Judiciary disrupts balance of power is more difficult to hold the judiciary accountable for its decisions than COLUMNIST elected politicians. Similarly, the public tends to invest more trust in the courts than in Congress due to the supposed moral superiority of the judiciary. Different to a seat in Congress or the highest office of the State, sometimes occupied by the mediocre, only people with unshaken adherence to principle against every allurement of interest and we mourn the exceptional professional passing of former knowledge in law can fill Associate Jusa seat in the courthouse. tice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Only upon them can we KAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI her judicial philosophy bestow a job with such and that of her potential profound significance as successor, Justice Amy to protect our constituConey Barrett, once again tional system. gain national attention. But, for the same prinGreat as Ginsburg ciple, judges must be may be in her perseverextremely deliberate and ance with issues of femipunctilious with their nism, gender equality and authority. Otherwise, one minority rights, I disincompetent incumbent could bring COVID-19 back agree with her philosophy judge could prove more to campus for the spring of judicial activism and influential than anothsemester. believe the U.S. may be er representative due to The holidays will bring a better without it. seniority. The public, conjoyful sense of familiarity The political system of sequently, may begin to to an otherwise unorthodox the United States, also distrust the entire judiyear, but students ought to their known as the trias cial system. be mindful of reality. politica, may be the most Thus, it is self-evident The University has put intelligently designed why we need to avoid judiforth countless resourcgovernment in human cial activism. When the es to prevent the spread of history; it has embodsupreme judicial authorthe coronavirus; it canied the basic principles of ity is necessary, “sed quis not be allowed to fester as democracy for over two custodiet ipsos custopeople lower their guards. centuries and allows our des?” In other words, Although in-person instruc- country to flourish. nothing guards the guardtion is suspended after However, the balance of ians but conscience and Thanksgiving Break, that power of three branches loyalty to the law itself. isn’t a green light to forget is naturally unequal. Such On the basis of common everything we’ve learned. a situation inevitably law, judicial activism funBe jovial during the holiraises people’s concerns damentally opposes the days, but be shrewd. Santa about the alliance of two principle of democracy: Claus will be going down against one. using judicial decisions lots of chimneys come Our founding fathers to replace legislative acts Christmas Eve: you don’t also considered the same contradicts the idea that want to be the one responquestion in Federalist all laws should be prosible for spreading coronavi- Paper Article No.78: “It posed, discussed and votrus to the North Pole. proves incontestably that ed on democratically. the judiciary is beyond Notwithstanding the comparison the weakest conscience and profesof the three departments sional capability of the of power; that it can nevjudges, their viewpoints er attack with success on specific topics are ate in hopes to wage power, either of the other two; insufficiently representarather than dramatically and that all possible care tive of those of the public. set precedents by simple is requisite to enable it to Even if some legal provi5-4 majorities. defend itself against their sions are believed unsuitBy also creating a attacks.” able to the progressed supermajority prerequiThe authority of the society, the election of the site for declaring a statjudiciaryas we know itto- House of Representatives, ute unconstitutional, more day, however, was not held every two years, is power is geared to the established until Marfrequent enough to reflect appropriate political bodbury v. Madison, in which the evolving positions of ies: the legislative and exec- Chief Justice John Marthe electorate. utive branches. shall concluded it is the Congress can itself Subscribing to Doerjudges’ duty to review the solve the problem of antifler and Moyn’s reform is constitutionality of laws. quated legislation; the not a hard pill to swallow. The supreme authorinvolvement of the judiThrough entrusting the ity of a state ought to have ciary is not only unnecSupreme Court to form a its judicial authority con- essary in these matters, supermajority in order to stituted so as not only to but also threatens the balapply sweeping powers, the depend on it, but must ance between the three Supreme Court can avoid also balance it; for only branches. encroaching itself in politi- thus can we be saved from The arguments over cal matters that should be the tyranny of the major- judicial activism concern left for Congress and the ity and enjoy real justice reconstructing the balPresident to deliberate and equality. A judiciaance of power as defined over. ry with no authority can by our Constitution in The Supreme Court never be independent, and the spirit of federalism. should not have a say in justice without indepenWithout judicial activism, political matters. Its main dence is unjust. our political system will purpose is to deduce legal However, concerning be more balanced, fewer conclusions regarding cer- the overwhelming power issues will be hyper-polittain constitutional ambiof the legislative and the icized and our democracy guities. Furthermore, the executive branches, we will be better ensured. Supreme Court threatens should be similarly cauits legitimacy when weigh- tious, if not more so, of Shitao is a junior in ing in on matters for whithe same dangerous tenEngineering. chit has no constitutional dency of the judiciary. It sl53@dailyillini.com backing — especially in the business of elections. Similar to how Congress and the president are accountable to those who elect them, the Supreme Court is beholden to the constitutional framework their positions occupy. Not reforming this robust court is a crime to the path toward a more perfect union, and if there is any hope America will avoid reaching its brokenness as it has of late, the highest court in all the land must face its purpose and reform. SHITAO LIU
Court activism undermines authority of executive, legislative branches
As
THE DAILY ILLINI EDITORIAL
Prepare for atypical holiday season On New Year’s Day, 2020, people had so much hope and excitement for the new decade. One photo, widely circulated, illustrated all the holidays falling perfectly on weekends. It just so happened 2020 was the worst year for that fantastic phenomenon. Halloween is on Saturday this year. For most Illini, Halloween is a big deal. Not necessarily for the spooky spirit, but for the partying and socialization that accompanies it. But here is your reminder: The pandemic still rages on! It’s great to be festive and spirited, but avoid large gatherings and keep in mind that no good costume is complete without a mask! With coronavirus numbers so low right now on campus,
it would be a shame to do anything that could potentially jeopardize that. Additionally, it is best to discourage friends from coming to visit on Halloween, or at least advise them to do so safely. Campus normally sees an influx of visitors for the holiday: students should be aware of the consequences off-campus visitors may have on coronavirus mitigation this year. The holiday season will require a lot of adaptation this year. Some households will put out “purple pumpkins” this year to signify their home is safe for trick-or-treating. It’s worth considering: How will other holidays adapt this year? Will stores still attempt to hold Black Friday sales despite the annual chaos they bring?
Even so, it’s probably best to sit this one out and instead, sink your dollars into a social-distance-guaranteed Cyber Monday. Thanksgiving and Christmas bring lots of traveling. Although experts say it is unlikely one would contract COVID-19 on a plane, everyone should still be careful and take the necessary precautions, especially if the airports are as packed as they normally would be around this time of year. No one wants to be responsible for giving the family elders the coronavirus. Furthermore, given the horrible misfortune 2020 has been, people are certain to celebrate the new year. Fellow Illini will likely be home then, but be sure to represent the school well and don’t do anything that
Supreme Court warrants constitutive reform Democrats who — still reeling over the fatal Bush v. Gore — are restless over the COLUMNIST prospect of having three justices who also served on the Bush legal team: Chief he Constitution and Justice John Roberts, Justhe bodies governing it tice Brett Kavanaugh and are not set in stone. likely Justice Amy Coney America’s constitutional Barrett. government and its branchIt is abysmal America es are driven to always has reached such a high strive toward a more perlevel of concern over court fect union, but when a manipulation that apprebranch fails to meet the hensions not only threatexpectations of a more per- en the legitimacy of the fect union, reform is forenation’s courts, but also the seen as a remedy for Ameri- integrity of decisive elecca to progress on its path. tions are at stake with who In the case of the “controls” the Supreme Supreme Court, the passCourt. ing of an 87-year-old jusThe Supreme Court of tice should not rock the the United States should constitutional foundanot be serving the political tion of America to its core. interests of either politiSimilarly, having so much cal wing. It ideally serves hinge on what ideology as the living interests of the the court’s majority court Constitution and to be the holds is no condition under ultimate legal check in this which a government and democracy, not to act either its courts can continue to as a cheerleader or roadfunction. block for any given political Following the tragic party in power. death of Supreme Court To combat the Supreme Justice Ruth Bader GinsCourt’s politicization, some burg, President Donhave found solace in the ald Trump and Repubshort-sighted prospect of lican leadership have court-packing: adding judgfast-tracked their choice of es to a given court who will Judge Amy Coney Barrett be trusted not to block ceren route to fill the missing tain legislation or executive seat before election day. actions. Trump, per usual fashDating back to 1937 folion, has said the quiet part lowing President Frankloud in publicly proclaimlin D. Roosevelt’s landslide ing the late justice’s seat election, FDR proposed his must be filled contingent own Supreme Court-packon any pending disputes ing to counter his conflictfollowing the election. ing SCOTUS. FDR’s plan Responding to this flamet near-instantaneous grant use of power by backlash due to an inherent Trump, Democrats, led by fear of a spiraling sequence Joe Biden, have repeatof partisan court-packing. edly exclaimed all options The lesson learned from are on the table pending a FDR was that court-packpotential confirmation of ing was not a viable soluJudge Barrett. tion and it remains true to This abuse of power this day. Still, the Supreme especially hits home for Court is not an untouchNATHANIEL LANGLEY
T
able institution. Reforming the court is not a radical idea, and it should not be a partisan idea. Voices from both sides of the aisle have occasionally tossed in their thoughts as to whether the court warrants repair, from Sen. Ted Cruz who supported shrinking the number of justices to combat a potential Hillary Clinton presidency, to Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s court neutralization approach. Former Democratic candidate Buttigieg held Supreme Court reform front and center within his campaign. Behind Buttigieg’s proposed plan was to strategically expand the court from nine to 15 justices: five Republicans, five Democrats and five “apolitical” determined by the previous 10. Buttigieg justly foresaw the court favoring no political agenda as an imperative step in the right direction. University of Chicago law professor Ryan D. Doerfler and Yale University law professor Samuel Moyn today recognize the Supreme Court has less of a numbers issue and more of a power issue. Both assert in their piece for The Atlantic, “Reform the Court, but Don’t Pack It,” that, “the problem is not who serves on the Supreme Court but what power it has.” Doerfler and Moyn cite a 1920s progressive proposal as their suggested reform. This enduring proposal would “require six or seven justices (rather than the current five) to agree before declaring a federal statute unconstitutional functions similarly.” In creating a supermajority stipulaNathaniel is a sophomore in tion, the Supreme Court is LAS. therefore forced to cooper- ntl3@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 October 22, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
FOOTBALL
SPORTS
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Underwood faces schedule challenges BY BRANDON SIMBERG STAFF WRITER
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID CRAAN/FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS
Senior linebacker Jake Hansen smiles while holding the ball during football practice on Oct. 15. The Illini hope their defense will lead them to another upset against the Wisconsin Badgers on Friday.
Illini to rely on defense in Week 1 Team hopes for another upset against Wisconsin Friday BY CARSON GOURDIE STAFF WRITER
A year ago, Wisconsin came into Champaign as 31-point favorites against a reeling Illinois team. Sixty minutes of game time later, the Illini pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Big Ten history, stunning the Badgers 24-23. Flash-forward a year and pundits have a similar prediction. Despite being head coach Lovie Smith’s most talented team, Illinois enters Friday’s rematch as a 23.5-point underdog, renewing talks of disrespect from around the country. “If you look at their schedule from last year, I think they beat one team by 23 points,” said senior linebacker Jake Hansen. “It didn’t really make sense to me. I figured we would be substantial underdogs, but I didn’t think it would be (a) 23, 24 point area.” The upset is a steep task. Wisconsin enters this season as the division favorite to take on Ohio State. The game is taking place in Madison, and Wisconsin returns one of the best defenses in the country. However, one of Wisconsin’s built-in advantages — a sold out crowd — will be absent due to COVID-19. “If you’re going to ask me would I rather have 90,000 Badger fans there or no Badger fans there, I’m going to pick no Badger fans
at any time,” Smith said. “If anything, I think it has to be an advantage for the visiting team when you go into a hostile environment.” The Badgers’ homefield advantage has been decreased significantly, but that means it comes down to which team executes better. Last season, the direction of Illinois’ program going into its homecoming bout against Wisconsin was trending down from an outside perspective. Sitting at 2-4, Illinois suffered from an identity crisis after four straight setbacks, including a loss at home to Eastern Michigan. The defense was getting gashed by offenses through the air and ground. So when the Badgers came rolling into Champaign, few had faith that Smith’s defense could hold Jonathan Taylor and company in check. But three Wisconsin turnovers later, Illinois snatched a victory away from their division rival. The blueprint may not be different this season. “The defense has to take the ball away,” Smith said. “You can’t rely on turnovers. We practice it, we preach it, we live it. The turnover ratio determines the outcome of the game. “Every game I’ve gone into, you start off with a minimum of three takeaways a game. That’s the barometer you use.” While the Badgers are known for their run-heavy, conservative offense, the Illini were able to force them into mistakes last season, including a late Jonathan Taylor fumble in the fourth quarter. And for the season opener, the Illini will get to go against red-
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAMANTHA KAYE ANDERSON/FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS
Senior defensive end Isaiah Gay hits a practice dummy during practice on Oct. 12.
shirt freshman quarterback Graham Mertz under center, who’s making his first career start in place of injured senior Jack Coan. “Wisconsin is always going to have a big rushing attack, so you can expect them to ease the quarterback into it with some easier throws and rollouts,” Hansen said. “But it’s his first career start. We don’t have a ton of tape on him. We’ve been watching his Hudl highlights.” Mertz is not a nobody, however. Ranked as the No. 1 quarterback in his class, Mertz is a 6-foot-3-inches pocket passer who can keep defenses honest with his arm. Having attempted only 10 passes last season, though, making his first start against Smith’s defense could prove to be challenging, especially if Hansen and company can stuff the running game. But can the Illini score 20-plus points? It’ll be tough against the Badgers, who return nine defensive players from one the best defenses in the nation last season, so having a balanced attack is vital. “We’re going to have to run the ball,” said senior qua r terback Bra ndon Peters. “(Wisconsin) is really good in (stopping) the run game, using people from the safety position, from the nickel (to) get more guys in the box. For us, we are going to try to manipulate those guys.” The Illini do have a gap to fill in the running game after losing Reggie Corbin and Dre Brown to graduation. But this opens up the opportunity for junior Mike Epstein to take a bigger role in the offense, as long as he stays healthy. Epstein only had eight carries in the season opener last season before missing the rest of the season. When healthy, though, Epstein has accumulated over 800 rushing yards. But the X-factor of the game is Peters, who finished last season’s game with only nine completions but two big touchdown passes. Last season, Peters came into the year as the new guy, having only arrived in Champaign weeks before their game against Akron, and he was production, finishing with 21 total touchdowns. Along with additions in the passing game — junior tight endLuke Ford and sophomore wide receiver Casey Washington — Peters will be surrounded with the most talent he’s had since leaving Ann Arbor, Michigan. “I think last year, he was searching for answers,” said offensive coordinator Rod Smith. “Now he understands the offense. He knows where people want to be. I just think he’s more
Among the many challenges college basketball programs are facing entering the 2020-2021 season, creating a non-conference schedule is right at the top of the list. And thus far, Illinois men’s basketball head coach Brad Underwood and Assistant Athletic Director Joey Briggs have felt those challenges. “There’s been nothing like it,” Underwood said. “It’s truly COVID, 2020, unprecedented like so many things are. We don’t have a lot of answers. We have a ton of questions that have to be answered.” In a typical season, Illinois would play 11 nonconference games across the country and 20 conference games. This season, the NCAA announced teams would be limited to 27 games, including one multi-team event (MTE). Due to these restrictions, the Illini have already had to adjust their schedule. They are no longer in the Emerald Coast Classic, a four-team MTE in Florida. Their home series with Arizona was postponed a year and the annual Gavitt Games between the Big East and Big Ten have been canceled for this season. “We don’t have a schedule yet — that’s not a secret,” Underwood said. “We have had some teams that we’ve reached out to. As we continue to move forward and hear sooner rather than later from the Big Ten in terms of what our conference season looks like and when is it going to start.” While an official schedule has not been released, there have been reports of some games for the Illi-
PHOTO COURTESY OF FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood poses with a basketball. The team is currently struggling to create a non-conference schedule.
ni. Per college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, Illinois is hosting an MTE on Nov. 25 in Champaign with Wright State, Ohio and North Carolina A&T. Stadium’s Jeff Goodman reported Illinois, on Dec. 2, will take on Baylor in Orlando for the Jimmy V. Classic. The ACC-Big Ten Challenge is still on, tentatively scheduled for Dec. 8-9. If they do schedule a game with Missouri, that would leave room for just one more non-conference
game. While the MTE in Champaign doesn’t appear to be too strong (the average Ken Pom ranking of those three teams is 195), it could be used as a good tune-up to help the freshmen acclimate. Baylor will be a consensus top-three team, and they could play another top-10 team in Duke or Virginia. Different schools have different end dates to the end of the semester, meaning some teams’ off days SEE UNDERWOOD | 2B
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Kennedi Myles seeks year two jump BY NITHIN REDDY STAFF WRITER
Sophomore forward Kennedi Myles is coming off of a solid freshman campaign for the Illinois women’s basketball team. In her first season, Myles set the team’s freshman record for double-doubles and finished third on the team in scoring. Unfortunately for the Illini, those numbers did not help the team improve from the year prior, and Illinois finished with only two wins in the Big Ten ahead of only Penn State. This season, Myles is looking for different results. “Our biggest goal is to get more wins than last year, but on top of that we’re striving to win the Big Ten and make it into the NCAA tournament,” Myles said. Although Myles put up some solid numbers, she was playing out of position for most of the season, as injuries to Illini bigs forced her to play primarily inside. At 6-foot2-inches, Myles struggled against bigger opponents and her field goal percentage was affected, shooting 38% from the floor. Guarding mostly centers in the Big Ten, Myles had a tough time scoring as well as defending around the rim. This was most apparent in the Illini’s two matchups against Purdue. Myles scored just 12 points in those games and could not stop senior forward Ae’Rianna Harris who scored 13 points in the first matchup and 16 points in the second game while going a perfect 7-for-7 from the field. This year is different. Head coach Nancy Fahey and her staff emphasized finding inside help for this team, and it appears they have. 6-foot-5-inches redshirt junior center Eva Rubin stands out as the most obvious answer, but the addition of 6-foot3-inches JuCo junior transSEE DEFENSE | 2B fer Geovana Lopes will also
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
Sophomore forward Kennedi Myles advances the ball down the court during the game against Wisconsin on Sunday. The Illini lost the game 73-64.
help. Myles will finally have the chance to play a more comfortable role. “Kennedi played her heart out playing against all bigger players, she had to match up against every Big Ten 5-player,” Fahey said. “She’s said, ‘coach, it’s going to be nice to pull some people out, make them guard me facing up and have the ability post players. We’ve actually slid her to the three/four, her flexibility and because she plays so hard it’s that energy you want on that court.” Myles believes having bigs to play alongside her will only help her grow and improve this season. She cites the games she played with junior forward Mackenzie Blazek as reasons for
optimism this year. Myles, as well as Fahey, think she will be able to play to her strengths. Last year, Myles’ responsibilities were limited to staying inside the paint and defending the rim. Expect to see her stretch out a little bit and add to her offensive arsenal this year. “(Shooting) is one thing, especially during quarantine, that I’ve been working on,” Myles said. “Whether it be catch and shoot, off the dribble, mid-range (or) three-point, there’s definitely a lot more shooting that’s going to be coming from me.” Myles says her transition SEE MYLES | 2B
2B Thursday, October 22, 2020
THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
FOOTBALL
Homegrown offensive line to lead Illini BY GABBY HAJDUK SPORTS EDITOR
Senior quarterback Brandon Peters and his plethora of receiving weapons have garnered the preseason hype of the Illinois fandom. While senior wide receiviers Josh Imatorbhebhe and Trevon Sidney and junior tight endLuke Ford will likely bring an exciting flare to the offense, their success won’t happen without one group — the offensive line. Undisputedly the strongest position group of head coach Lovie Smith’s squad, the line features four multiyear starters either in their junior or senior year: Alex Palczewski, Doug Kramer, Kendrick Green and Vederian Lowe. The core four linemen have built chemistry on and off the field, as they’ve been by each others’ side since freshman year. But the line, ranked the best in the Big Ten by Pro Football Focus, hasn’t always been the Illini’s strength. “We’ve just seen each other grow up over these past three years,” Palczewski said. “And we’ve grown up from that terrible season in 2017 where we went 2-10 and knowing, just working every single day towards this goal. And just knowing how we work. Just being able to trust each other and knowing this whole team starts with us. “If we win, this entire team wins, and we understand that.” The gritty culture of the offensive line, however, wasn’t established by any of the current veterans. Former Illini and current NFL players like Nick Allegretti, Christian DiLauro and even Ted Karras served as the line’s trailblazers. While DiLauro is currently a free agent, Karras is the Miami Dolphins starting center and Allegretti is the Kansas City Chiefs’ backup guard. However, A llegretti earned national attention in the Chiefs’ Monday night matchup against the Buffalo
FROM 1B
DEFENSE
comfortable. I feel much better because it’s the first time I’ve had a second-year quarterback at Illinois.” Peters showcased a sneaky ability to pick up yards on the ground, giving defenses another thing to worry about. Most of his rushing yards, however, came from improvisation. In Wisconsin’s showdown with Oregon in the @gourdiereport Rose Bowl last season, gourdie2@dailyillini.com
FROM 1B
MYLES PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID CRAAN/FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS
Senior offensive lineman Doug Kramer prepares to snap the ball during practice on Oct. 15. The Illini will face the Badgers on Friday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
Bills after taking 89% of the offensive snaps. To Kramer and Palczewski, close friends and former teammates of Allegretti, hearing the praise for him on Monday was impactful. “Obviously it’s awesome to see someone you look up to like that and someone you’ve played with for years reach that final goal,” Kramer said. “And obviously, there’s still a lot to go for him, but it was awesome seeing him in the game and getting the shoutouts he definitely deserves because he works super hard.” As seniors, both likely to get drafted in 2021, Palczewski and Kramer will be the next to pass the torch to the younger linemen. A future offensive line leader may have already been decided, as Smith announced the new starting right guard on Monday. With the graduation of Richie Petitbon, Smith brought in transfer senior Blake Jeresaty to potentially fill that role. But, Jeresaty ended up having shoulder surgery, keeping him out for the 2020 season. Thus, a position battle was created between sophomore Verdis Brown and redshirt sophomore Jordyn Slaughter; Brown ultimately won
the job. “Verdis (Brown) is a great offensive lineman,” Kramer said. “He has all the tools to be successful. He’s a big, strong kid. I’m really looking forward to see what he can add to the group, and I think we’ve already seen some things in both the run and the pass game.” Brown, a former fourstar recruit, played in all 13 games last season as a backup. While Brown doesn’t have the same starter experience as the other four linemen, he shares something equally as important in common: He’s an Illinois native. “It’s awesome,” Palczewski said. “I always say the best offensive linemen come from the midwest and especially when it shows that this school really cares about our in-state ties. We’ve got guys from Rockford, Peoria, Hinsdale, Chicago, Mount Prospect, all anchoring your starting five. That’s where your offense starts. That’s where the team starts. “You recognize this team. We’re not dudes from everywhere else. You know our starting five are from Illinois. That just means a lot to me to know we’re homegrown.” With an established, tightknit group, the Illini offensive line is prepped to bring in
national attention of its own in 2020. Palczewski, Kramer and Green are Athlon and Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten selections on either the third or fourth team. Palczewski and Green were also named to the Outland Trophy watchlist, while Kramer was named to the Wuerffel Trophy watchlist. However, becoming the Big Ten’s best returning line didn’t happen overnight or even after one season. But each of the veterans saw the potential since freshman year and are excited to showcase their talents this season. “That’s been one thing I’ve always wanted,” Palczewski said. “Historically, Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio State, they always had these really good o-lines. And that’s something we’ve been able to build. We weren’t maybe the best offensive line in 2017 when we went 2-10, but now we’ve been able to build that by our own hard work. “Nobody else did that, but by coming in every single day and getting better and playing hard, we’ve been able to do that and make ourselves one of the best lines in the nation.” @gabby_h11 ghajduk2@dailyillini.com
Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert finished with three rushing touchdowns in their 28-27 win over the Badgers. Herbert, who has a big frame, caught Wisconsin off guard at times when the passing game was bottled. Will Peters try to replicate the Oregon blueprint for another Wisconsin upset? “I guess we’ll see,” Peters said.
the upcoming season. “As a team, our conditioning has jumped a lot, which is showing in the weight room,” Myles said. “Speedwise, my goal while working out is I have to have that mindset and ability to play and guard three through five.” If the Illini expect to compete in the Big Ten, Myles will likely have to improve on her freshman campaign. Despite leading returning players in scoring, rebounding, blocks and steals, Myles will have a completely different role this season, and how she adapts to it will be indicative of the amount of success Illinois can have.
from year one to year two playing college basketball has been pretty smooth, especially off the court. However, her offseason looked a bit different than usual. Due to the coronavirus, Myles was unable to play inside for much of quarantine. So, she used an outdoor hoop for most of her basketball-related workouts, though much of her offseason training consisted of running and anything she could do by herself. Myles believes the focus on conditioning for herself, as well as the team, will translate to results during nithinr2@dailyillini.com
FROM 1B
UNDERWOOD
to a 20-game conference slate, its schedule will be tough. The Big Ten was on pace to get nine teams into the NCAA tournament last season and should be nearly as good this season. For Underwood, getting to play in the Big Ten healthy is priority number one. “We want to be safe,” Underwood said. “That is the most important thing. Not every conference is testing the same way we are. Our biggest concern is to try to avoid (COVID-19), so we can play Big Ten games and play as many Big Ten games as we can.”
for academic exams vary. In a typical year, Underwood would send his players home for the few days before Thanksgiving, typically Nov. 22 to Nov. 25, but with a game being played on the 25th that may not be possible this year. “The 22nd-25th we have sent our kids home, and now how do you do that and not have to quarantine them for a period of time?” Underwood said. “So there’s a lot of issues that don’t have anything to do with games but scheduling the games. It’s been @BrandonSimberg maddening. It’s been a simberg2@dailyillini.com challenge.” If the Big Ten does go
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3B
THURSDAY October 22, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
COVID-19
International student tackles school during pandemic COVID-19 creates unique academic challenges
BY ELIZABETH SAYASANE FEATURES EDITOR
As the University moved the majority of its classes online for the semester with a few options for inperson lectures and labs, students faced the difficult decision of where to study for the semester. Some had already signed leases for the year and decided to come back to campus even if all their classes were online. Others specifically adjusted their schedules to allow themselves to stay home and work remotely. For international students, this choice carried additional weight. Domestic students could always move back home if they decided campus was unsafe or move back on campus if being at home was too difficult. For students whose homes are across an ocean, though, travel restrictions would make their choice difficult to reverse if it did not work out one way or another. Lavanya Srivastava,
junior in LAS, took the plunge and moved back home to Muscat, Oman for the semester. Srivastava said in an email, “I chose to study remotely this year because it’s safer, of course, but it has also been a great opportunity to experience college a little differently.” Oman is located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. The flight from Chicago to Muscat takes between 16 and 17 hours and is nine hours ahead of Central Standard Time. This means that any synchronous classes Srivastava has in the traditional 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. time bracket happens between the hours of 6 p.m. and 2 a.m., which has been difficult to approach for her. “The difference in time zones sometimes makes it difficult to be as responsive as I’d like to,” she said. “There have also been instances where I’ve had to take midterms way early in
the morning, which sometimes isn’t the most convenient option.” She said she wished professors were more understanding and compassionate in that regard. “Couple things I definitely worry about are accidentally missing out on assignments or confusing the times for certain deadlines because of the difference in time zones,” she said. The physical distance from campus has also affected her attitude towards her classes. When everything takes place online and students have no face-to-face contact with their peers, it can be difficult to maintain the same degree of enthusiasm. Srivastava said staying motivated has been difficult for her this semester. “It also gets quite difficult to attend all your classes and work as hard and with the same drive as you would if you were on campus,” Srivastava said. The precautions being
taken on campus, Srivastava said, did make her proud of the University. Her friends on campus have told her that the University’s management of testing and the precautions being put into place have been great. Nonetheless, Srivastava said that she has experienced a couple of positive benefits to being a student while living at home. She said she does not have to worry about doing her laundry or preparing her own meals since those are taken care of for her. This has given her the chance to focus more on classes and schoolwork. She is now also able to spend more quality time around her family, especially since quarantine has kept everyone inside. Of her experiences so far this semester, Srivastava said it “could probaPHOTO COURTESY OF LAVANYA SRIVASTAVA bly make for an interesting story to tell in the future.” Junior Lavanya Srivastava poses for a photo in Muscat, Oman. eis3@dailyillini.com
Srivastava, junior in LAS, is conducting her classwork from home rather than from campus.
Positivity surges statewide Champaign County remains steady BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR
MARK CAPAPAS THE DAILY ILLINI
Chancellor Robert Jones prepares to deliver the State of the University Address at the Illini Union on Jan. 24. Jones discusses alumni donations, resources invested and tips for struggling students.
Chancellor talks money, resources How do alumni donations that have been made this year compare to last year’s donations?
Has the University invested more resources in the counseling center to counteract the effects that We know this has been a COVID-19 has on students’ difficult year for so many, mental health? and we are grateful for the generosity of our donors. Alumni and supporters of the university have given charitably to the university about 20% less than the same period last fiscal year.
How much money has the University received from alumni donations since the pandemic started?
From March 13 through the end of September, alumni and supporters of the University gave roughly $118 million. Many of our donors have shared that they have been inspired by our COVID-19 response. It is encouraging to see support for our university continue even in these unprecedented times.
When it became apparent that the Counseling Center would not be able to offer traditional in-person services, resources were invested to ensure that Illinois students would continue to be served. All staff clinicians were trained in telehealth, and policies and procedures were revised and rewritten accordingly. A HIPAA-compliant video platform, PHI Zoom, was added to ensure that telehealth services are provided safely and confidentially. The Outreach and Prevention Services were modified so that students could engage in skillbuilding and psychoeducation via online platform as well. The University also
just launched WellTrack, designed to help students track their moods and teach them about techniques to manage challenging emotions and situations.
All 11 Illinois regions are experiencing rising positivity rates for COVID-19, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker noted at this week’s press conferences. Region 5, which takes up much of southern Illinois, has moved into increased mitigation with the temporary closure of indoor dining and bar service and limited gatherings after hitting a seven-day rolling positivity rate of 9.1%. Regions 7 and 8 have both crossed the 8% threshold where additional restrictions may be at play.
Region 6, which contains Champaign County, began excluding UI tests for depressing the region’s positivity. Without UI’s tests, the region has had a sustained increase of COVID-19 rolling average test positivity for 14 days straight, all the way up to 7.6%. Meanwhile, the last week was one of encouraging lows on campus for the spread of COVID-19, featuring the lowest single-day and single-week new case counts of the semester. On Saturday, after 3,666 tests, the University found just two new cases of COVID-19, followed by six on Sunday. The last time oncampus saliva tests found such a low count was Aug. 10, before most students had moved back to campus.
For the week ended Sunday, the University totaled 74 new cases, 63 fewer than the previous week. Monday’s count of 18 new cases was also a low for all Mondays during the semester. UI modelers and epidemiologists agree that cases on Monday and Tuesday are a good indicator of how much socializing occurred the previous weekend. Since saliva testing began in July, the University has conducted almost 600,000 tests and found 2,800 individual cases of COVID-19 month. Tuesday marked a low for Champaign County as a whole, with just six COVID-19 cases confirmed after 5,868 newly processed tests. @esimmsnews ecsimmon@dailyillini.com
For students who are struggling to keep up, whether it be academically, socially, mentally or all three, what’s your message to those students?
I hope that whenever you are struggling at the University, you understand that you are not alone. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your friends, your professors and the resources provided by the University for help. I value every student at this university, and I am committed to providing our CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI students opportunities A University coronavirus testing site worker hands junior Jessica Wynveen a test tube at the to succeed, even as they State Farm Center testing site on Oct. 9. While Illinois is experiencing a rise in positivity rate, endure the challenges of Champaign County has seen a steady rate, with UI depressing the region’s positivity. this COVID-19 pandemic.
Stay
covered so you can stay here. covid19.illinois.edu
4B Thursday, October 22, 2020
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Thursday, October 22, 2020
5B
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, OCT. 22
Fall Prairie Skies
Thursday Night Trivia PHOTO COURTESY OF NIGHT CALL’S TWITTER
The cover art for the video game “Night Call” is pictured above. Developers Laurent Victorino
‘Night Call’ offers neo-noir style Video game developers share creative process BY AIDAN FINN STAFF WRITER
Whether it be a zombie apocalypse or the end of the world, there are more than enough games to throw money at to make you feel terrible. Yet, no other game effectively presents horror in how “Night Call” does. This single-player game, released in 2019, is a mix between vigilante detective work and a taxi driver simulation. Buzz spoke with Laurent Victorino and Corentin Brasart, the developers of “Night Call,” to get their take on how they went about creating the game. buzz: How would you describe “Night Call” to someone unfamiliar with it? Laurent Victorino: “Night Call” is a nonlinear narrative game where you play a taxi driver in Paris, France. Your job is to drive people from point A to point B.
Along the way, you talk with them as they share about their lives, passions and sometimes their secrets. At some point, you hear about a serial killer in your city, and the only thing the police know is that they get from murder to murder using taxis. It’s one of your customers. A dirty cop, who knows a lot about your troubled past, pushes you to help her catch the killer. If you don’t, you fail. You have seven nights to discover the killer’s identity but have to keep working and earn enough money because you need your taxi for the investigation. In “Night Call,” you’ll meet more than 80 unique characters. They all have their own lives and opinions, and one is the killer. buzz: How long was the development cycle of “Night Call”? LV: I had the original idea in late 2015, and we eventually released it in July of 2019. However, we started to work on it in May of 2017. The whole process was very long, as “Night Call” is a big project for such a small team. I’m glad we managed to transform an original idea into a playable game.
buzz: All the sounds created a cool, neo-noir atmosphere. How did you approach the game’s atmosphere from a design standpoint? Corentin Brasart: I wanted to make your taxi feel like a little bubble, a cocoon, in which you feel like time stretches out like you’re floating from one place to another. I have very fond memories of long night drives, and Paris itself is gorgeous at night, so I wanted to recreate that feeling of soft stillness when you’re lost in thought or conversation in a car at night. When we first talked about music, our team wanted to find a way to get that old noir atmosphere without using its classic jazz instrumentation. I looked at modern electronic scores and how I could create that same atmosphere and make every encounter feel like a recent TV show or movie scene. To that end, I think the dynamic music and sound effect system is efficient in creating an intimate space between you as the driver, and your cli-
7-9 p.m. Pour Bros. Craft Taproom, 40 E. University Ave., Champaign Free Join us for weekly trivia with gift card prizes for top teams, swag giveaways and draft specials. Pour Bros. is a food-friendly establishment, so bring some grub. Seating will be available on the patio as long as weather permits.
FRIDAY, OCT. 23
7 p.m. A virtual event hosted by Parkland College Free Join us during this virtual, live-narrated tour of the wonders of tonight’s sky, accompanied by some of the legendary stories of the ancient sky. Find out what constellations and planets are visible tonight and how to find them. This show is updated seasonally and is intended for all ages. This event will be available on Zoom.
SATURDAY, OCT. 24
C-U Folk and Roots 2020 Virtual Festival
6 p.m. A virtual event hosted by C-U Folks and Roots 2020 Virtual Festival Free This event will go through the weekend. With everyone’s health and safety in mind, the Champaign-Urbana Folk and Roots Festival will be presented online this fall. Some of the featuring artists include Dom Flemons, Nikki D and the Sisters of Thunder, Hot Club of Cowtown, Kyshonna Armstrong, Jake Blount and more.
Parti Gras HollowQueen Drag Show!
Market at the Square
7 a.m.-noon Market at the Square, Corner of Illinois & Vine streets in Downtown Urbana Free Urbana’s Market at the Square returns for another season. This year looks slightly different due to the pandemic, but you can still shop local vendors to get fresh produce from farmers in our area.
SUNDAY, OCT. 25
Britt Black Benefit
1 p.m. One-T’s Cornerpocket, 123 S. Mattis 6:30-10 p.m. Ave., Champaign NOLA’s Rock Bar, 119 W. Main St., Free Urbana Join us on Sunday at One T’s Free Cornerpocket as we gather to help local Costumes! Candy! Queens! Don’t miss our musician Britt Black! Britt has played a Parti Gras HallowQueen Drag Show this significant role in our local music scene Friday night! The queens performing are and has recently fallen on hard times! Stop Kelasia Karmikal from Las Vegas, Karma out and show your support! This event Carrington, Ceduxion Carrington and will have all-day music with performances Peach of the Midwest Carrington. by Hunter Lucas, Acoustica, The Tones, The After Party, Jack Daniel and Boxcar Graffiti. We want to give a huge thanks to Jim M. for organizing this and many other events to support this cause!
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THURSDAY October 22, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
buzz Hannah Mayree performs at CU festival BY CASEY DALY STAFF WRITER
we were dealing with changing business hours, changing guidelines, the looming possibility of outside only and having to change our entire service model. As things became more consistent, we felt comfortable bringing the event back to be safe for everyone involved and follow guidelines. The biggest change to the event is that we are now taking reservations. It was more of a freeflowing event in the past. We had less interaction between groups, as guests and dogs are all at assigned tables. We offered multiple time slots to allow more participation and better spacing between groups. buzz: Why was Hospice Hearts the chosen charity for this event? JF: We started our partnership with them last year. As we began reaching out to local groups for involvement in the event, we focused on local and non-profit. We also looked for most charities to be dog-focused because this is a dog-focused event. We love what Hospice Hearts does in providing care and placement for pets that have been separated from their humans due to nursing home admission, serious illness or death. buzz: What did attendees participate in at Pups ‘n Pints? JF: We had a fun time planned for all. We had drawings for some swag from Titos Vodka and Pour Bros. and picture opportunities for the dogs and their owners. This month’s Barktoberfest featured a costume contest for the dogs.
During these “socially distant” times, the event also allowed a safe space for owners to bring their dogs for a little socialization and time out of the house. We had a water bowl at each table to keep the pooches hydrated, and the owners had access to the bar. buzz: What is the most exciting part of Pups ‘n Pints, in your opinion? JF: Being a dog owner myself, I think the most exciting part is seeing the dogs enjoy themselves with their humans in a different environment. A lot of places allow pets on their patios. However, this is an actual dog takeover of the patio. People who come out for these events absolutely love their dogs, and seeing the joy that both dog and owner get out of this while supporting a good cause is amazing! buzz: What is something you want people to know about Pups ‘n Pints this year and in the future? JF: This was the last one of the patio season. We also had a new addition to the event as Pura Vida Pets was selling some awesome treats and toys. A percentage of these sales will also be going to Hospice Hearts. Titos Vodka has played an important role in providing for these events and charities. We want to thank the Champaign-Urbana community for their support of this event, these organizations and our business through some trying times. We’re looking forward to offering Pups ’n Pints for a long time to come. nssun2@readbuzz.com
This year’s fourth Annual C-U Folk and Roots Festival will shift onto an online live stream with the public’s health and safety in mind. The volunteer-run festival, which has traditionally occupied downtown Urbana, embraces dynamic folk and bluegrass performances and incorporates jam sessions, presentations and family activities into its lineup. This year, over 10 artists and groups have confirmed their participation in the festival. Hannah Mayree is one of these artists, but her focal point at the festival is presenting information on her influential organization, The Black Banjo Reclamation Project (BBRP). The project, currently headquartered in Oakland but outreaching nationwide, was founded on the understanding that the banjo is an instrument that was appropriated from West Africa and popularized by slaves in the 19th century. BBRP undertakes to fundraise for music education and salaries while also physically accepting banjos as a form of reparations. “I feel like people donating banjos as a form of reparations is a beautiful thing, and it’s something that we’re going to continue to do,” Mayree said. This year, the BBRP started to build banjos as well. “When we did a banjo build, we had 15 people who did that for 10 days,” Mayree said. “We fundraised it, and those are the types of events we’re going to advertise to the public. At this point, we are transitioning into a more organized form while developing into our roles.” Hannah Mayree, alongside her musical and BBRP collaborator Seymour Love and the growing Black Banjo Reclamation team, collaborates with farmers across the nation to sustainably cultivate and harvest gourd plants and materials for banjo assembly. During their workshops, they teach others to do the same. “Yes, we are musicians, but at the end of the day, we’re people living on this earth,” Mayree said. “Us connecting with the earth and being able to steward land freely is the basis of this project,” Mayree said. “Originally, when people made instruments without going to the store and pay-
Every single song you hear inside your taxi complements the dialogue, so it follows the narrative at all times while still feeling like an organic, regular musical piece. buzz: Are there any other games that inspired the design and the look of “Night Call”? LV: Movies like “Taxi
Driver” and “Drive” were huge inspirations. But there is also this French movie “La Haine,” which depicts the life of three French young men in the suburbs. The film is 25 years old now, but everything you see in it is still relevant. That kind of “real situation transposed to a media to tell real stories” vibe was a huge
inspiration. But most of all, social media was a significant influence. Real stories of real people helped us create some of our customers and give them some credible thoughts. buzz: Any words of advice you would give aspiring indie game developers out there? LV: Don’t make video
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Pups ‘n Pints supports local pet BY NATE SUN STAFF WRITER
On Sunday, Pour Brothers Taproom hosted Pups ‘n Pints, an event taking place during Barktoberfest, where patrons can bring their dogs and participate in a dog costume contest. Proceeds from Pups ‘n Pints were donated to Hospice Hearts, a local animal rescue organization. Although this event has taken place for a few years now, Pups ‘n Pints operated differently due to COVID-19 restrictions. We got a chance to talk with Jason Fowler, coowner of Pour Brothers Taproom, to get his insight. buzz: How long has Pups ‘n Pints been running, how did it start and have you all supported different charities in the past? Jason Fowler: We started these events last summer (the first when our patio was open) with a series of four events. They were held one Sunday per month, and all were focused on a local charity. Last year’s charities include Champaign County Humane Society, Hospice Hearts and Cunningham Children’s Home. We planned on doing five or six this year, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will only (do) two. September’s event was for the Humane Society and this month’s is for Hospice Hearts. buzz: How has COVID-19 affected the event this year? JF: The biggest effect has been the reduced number of events. During the first couple of months after reopening, there was a lot of uncertainty. Week to week,
FROM 5B
NOIR ent. Every encounter starts with the sound of rain pouring down on your windows and the warm rumbling of your engine. Those sounds are made to react to a music track that goes up and down in volume appropriately.
YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE SO MANY GREAT MEMORIES FROM YOUR TIME AT COLLEGE. HOLD ON TO THEM FOREVER WITH THE OFFICIAL U OF I YEARBOOK.
ing for them, we did that by growing the materials and stewarding the animals that could produce them.” The Black Banjo Reclamation Project considers the ideology of self-determination and functions “through perspectives of Afro-futurism,” a philosophy shaped by black musicians, artists, scholars and innovators who aim to construct how the future could look. This philosophy also regards the intersection between black culture, technology and progress. For Mayree, this means looking foward and working on the project’s potential. “We want to expand because we’re also Afrofuturist, which is about imagining and creating those futures,” Mayree said. “Those are the ways that we’re all employing our imaginations and our work.” The Black Banjo Reclamation Project is multi-faceted in its basis and goals. So is Mayree’s music. According to her website’s biography, Mayree was raised by a violist mother and journalist father in a mixed-race family. Her music connects urban and rural ways of life and invites the listener to reconsider the boundaries between the masculine and feminine, the world of matter and the world of spirit. Her 2 017 a lbu m “Thoughts of The Night” adheres to stripped-down and lyrical folk while also allowing for movement in layering and vocals, which thrive in the album’s healing, resonant soundscape. But that’s not all. She also engages with electronic elements, specifically some of her Soundcloud pieces.
“I think (the album is) important because it’s an excellent way for people to be introduced to my music in a way that’s pretty stripped down,” Mayree said. “I’m very rooted in folk music and acoustic music but do a lot of work with looping and going in electronic directions too. That sort of speaks to the Afro-futurist aspects of it. It’s rooted in something that is from the earth but also can expand into a lot of different things.” Mayree sees the C-U Folk and Roots festival as an opportunity to educate the community on the banjo’s diasporic journey, the Black Banjo Reclamation Project and community work that lies ahead for dismantling behaviors of appropriation, such as playing the banjo without considering its origins. “I have enjoyed being able to share ideas about this because they’re not always topics that people are talking about, and sort of connecting in this way,” Mayree said. “It’s a perfect introduction for white folks who are feeling like they want to step into more of an allyship role. This event is also perfect for people who are experiencing more of a desire to learn about antiracism and how to be part of dismantling white supremacy.” The C-U Folk and Roots Festival will take place on Friay and Saturday. Hannah Mayree will represent The Black Banjo Reclamation Project on Friday at 8 p.m., and Seymour Love will represent the organization on Saturday at 11:40 a.m. caseyd2@readbuzz.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF AVÉ-AMEENAH LONG
Hannah Mayree and Seymour Love of the Black Banjo Reclamation Project pose with their banjos in front of some foliage.Mayree will perform at the online C-U Folk and Roots Festival this weekend.
games. It’s harder than you think. That’d be my first advice. Please make video games, as the world needs to see what you have to express and how unique your vision is. That’d be my second advice. More seriously, thanks to technology, anyone with a computer and access to the internet can make a video game these
days. And that’s awesome. What makes the difference are the guts, personal experiences, and the part of you that will mix with the code, the game art, music and narration. “Night Call” is available on Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. aidanf3@readbuzz.com
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