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THURSDAY February 11, 2021

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UI sees highest daily case count of new year 300 250

D’s now get degrees: UI adds grade options the deadline to drop a course without a grade of W to 11:59 a.m. Central Time on “the last day of instruction” for all courses. For full semester and second term courses this would be May 5, and for first term courses, the deadline would be March 19. At the Senate meeting, several faculty senators expressed concern over how the now-approved proposal might affect College of Education students. Karla Möller, faculty senator and professor in Education, noted that the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) normally requires grades of at least C- for the University to recommend students for professional licensure. Meghan Hazen, the University Registrar, responded that a member of the College of Education contacted

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150 100 50 0

Vol. 150 Issue 32

BY WILLIE CUI

200

1/1 - 1/7

1/8 - 1/14

Source: Illinois SHIELD Team

Student return week

First week of class

Second week of class

Monday

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Restrictions lift as new cases rise BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR

The University’s COVID-19 trend isn’t anywhere near where it was a semester ago, but it’s not encouraging either. The same day the University lifted its “essential activities only” directive for students, Monday’s COVID-19 tests brought back 78 new cases of the virus — a new daily high for 2021. Even Sunday’s case count — 42 new unique positives — is the highest daily total on Sunday since campus’s August surge in cases. Weekends always draw far lower testing totals. So why lift the restrictions in the first place? According to University officials, the cases are confined to certain identifiable clusters, while continued restrictions would be tough on community stakeholders and could have impacts on student mental health. “It is difficult to sustain

an essential services-only period for an indefinite amount of time,” Robin Kaler, spokesperson for the University, said during Monday’s UI Senate meeting. The restrictions had lasted since Jan. 20, five days before classes began for returning students. During the first week of class, only 128 new cases of COVID-19 were identified. However, even in Chancellor Robert Jones’s Massmail announcing the lifted restrictions, he urged “extreme caution” in daily interactions, and acknowledged a “small spike” in cases attributed to student noncompliance. This increase comes just as the B117 variant has been confirmed on campus, though it’s not clear how much of an effect the variant has had on new cases. Regardless, the uptick is not very small; 294 cases in the second week of class is the highest since early November, when the virus was surg-

ing across the country. According to Rebecca Lee Smith, the University’s epidemiologist and associate professor in pathobiology, the majority of the spread on campus is currently taking place in a handful of housing units on and off-campus. Smith said the University may revert to an essential activities order if there was evidence of the virus-carrying out from campus into the broader C-U community. “We have to balance these broad strong activities orders with these effects on student mental health and wellbeing,” she said. “We needed the broad approach to start the year. Now we have a little better sense and can target clusters a little more closely.” One behavior may help stymie the spread, though: regularly attending class. “We have evidence from the fall semester, people who attend in-person classes are less likely to be infected,” she said. “In-person classes are

not a risk factor.” With building access restricted to those who keep up with testing patterns, inperson class tends to encourage good COVID-19 etiquette for those on campus. Even with restrictions lifted, the next few weeks are no time for reckless abandon. “Please do not take this as an invitation to break COVID-19 safety guidance and have parties,” Jones wrote in the Massmail. “We know that if this happens, our positivity rates will spike, and those who participate could suffer health risks, face university discipline, and the university will be forced to enact another essential activities only period. I do not want this. You do not want this. Please help me in encouraging your friends and peers to continue to be vigilant.” @esimmsnews ecsimmon@dailyillini.com

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The University Senate voted to pass EP.21.062 at their meeting Monday afternoon, giving students the option to elect for a “Pass COVID/No Pass COVID” grading mode that would not factor into GPA calculation. Under the proposal, students with grades of D- or above can replace their grade with “Pass COVID,” which would show up on transcripts as “PZ” and count as course credit. Students with grades below D- can replace it with “No Pass COVID” or “NZ” on their transcript and will not receive course credit. The proposal gives students a six-day window — from May 22 to May 27 — to elect for “Pass COVID/No Pass COVID” this semester. Students in Law, MD or DVM programs will not be able to use this option. The proposal also extends

SEE GRADE | 3A

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

A limited number of students attend an in-person lecture on Nov. 2, 2020. The University Senate has voted to pass a resolution giving students the option to elect for a “Pass COVID/No Pass COVID” grading mode.

University shrinks list of Smell, taste challenge helps detect virus vaccine-eligible groups Online survey BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR

A fter several weeks where UI students and staff in facilities and services, housing, tech service, athletics and other in-person workers were getting vaccinated, a dwindled stockpile is leading the University to limit vaccine eligibility for the time being. “Some groups that had an opportunity to register for a vaccine recently are not on the upcoming list because the number of available vaccines in this round is smaller than the number that were available then,” said Robin Kaler, UI spokesperson. “Champaign-Urbana Public Health District determines which groups can be offered the vaccine in any specific round, and we follow their guidance.” Champaign County is still in Phase 1B of the vaccine rollout, focusing on residents 65 and older along with essential front-

line workers in education, shelters and adult daycare, transit, postal service, grocery stores, manufacturing and more. From Feb. 10-12, CUPHD will be administering second doses to those 75 and older who’ve received the first dose of the vaccine. “I just ask everyone to continue to be patient as we advocate for moving everyone as quickly as possible to get vaccinated,” Chancellor Robert Jones said. At Monday ’s Senate meeting, Chancellor Jones mentioned that an announcement about expanding UI’s saliva tests to the community is coming soon, probably within the next couple of weeks. “We still have a few critical points to, from a financial perspective, to figure out,” Jones said. “We’re having a follow-up meeting about this week. The rollout is going to be some-

monitors early COVID-19 symptoms, aids sensory awareness BY ALEXANDRA GERGOVA STAFF WRITER

In an effort to assist with COVID-19 detection, the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research recently released a digital taste and smell challenge that allows participants from all over the globe to monitor variations in sensory abilities related to olfaction and gustation. While a sudden loss of taste or smell currently serves as the best indicator of a COVID-19 infection, the purpose of the website is not limited solely to detecting the early stages of COVID-19, according to SEE VACCINE | 3A M. Yanina Pepino, professor in ACES and one of 11 members serving on the GCCR leadership committee. Although it is primarily used to assist with early detection, the website also acts as a tool to heighten general awareness of the importance of the two most neglected senses: Taste and smell. “In this brief taste and Sports: Pat Embleton smell (challenge), we are targeting everybody,” Pepfinds calling with ino said. “So you could be recruiting in the healthy population. It can be people with disorPAGE 1B ders that were before COVID or people that are under-

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Professor M. Yanina Pepino poses for a headshot. Pepino is a member serving on the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research leadership committee whose website has a taste and smell challenge to help detect COVID-19.

going a cold or flu — anybody can participate, not just people who are undergoing a respiratory illness or COVID in particular. And this survey, a very brief survey, was designed also to increase the awareness of our sense of taste and smell and create a habit of paying attention to these senses.” When accessing the website for the first time, individuals will be provided with brief background information and instructions before being prompted to indicate whether they have received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis or experienced symp-

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toms from an attached list. Pa r t icipa nt s, a f ter selecting a beverage, will be asked to rate its sweetness, sourness and bitterness. After successful completion of the brief questionnaire, participants will receive a visual graph that monitors and depicts fluctuations each day the survey is completed. “The idea is that by doing these repetitively and with the same beverage, you can self-monitor,” Pepino said. “But also you get into this habit of paying attention because we always take it for granted. We are busy when

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we are drinking something or eating. Many times, we don’t pay attention to what we are doing. We are just reading a book, watching TV or listening to some music. Now we really want you to take the time to pay attention because we are asking you to rate something.” Because the University has a successful and effective COVID-19 testing program, Pepino hopes that this challenge can complement the already existing program. “I feel that we as a comSEE SMELL | 3A

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POLICE on the 1500 block of North Lincoln Avenue after midnight on Tuesday. According to the report, an University unknown offender broke into the Nothing to report. air machine at a Circle K gas station and took an unknown amount Urbana of money out of the machine. Criminal damage to property Theft over $500 was reported and theft over $500 was reported on the 500 block of Springfield

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A student types on their laptop. Around 2,000 Illinois students recently received a phishing email.

Phishing email reaches 2,000 students BY CHIEH HSU STAFF WRITER

Earlier last week, around 2,000 students received an email from a self-proclaimed Dr. Thalicia Melendez regarding a job offer that was too good to be true. The fictional Dr. Melendez was offering a job with fictional extravagant payment in hope that students will provide their address, phone number and personal email address. The email also mentioned bank account information, but it is unclear if they were aiming for that data as well. Some students saw through this ploy. “The email talks too

much about money,” said Nick Allen, freshman in LAS. “It doesn’t feel like they are requesting any other information other than the contact info. It doesn’t go too much into the tasks of the job either.” The Cybersecurity Operations Center at the University has identified the email as a phishing attempt. “Phishing attempts happen every day,” said Jeremy Watson, manager of the Cybersecurity Operations Center for Technology Services. “They often contain a clickable link that takes the target to a fraudulent website that looks like a legitimate login page.”

According to Watson, phishing campaigns happen after a University account becomes compromised. The ‘bad actors’ obtain the username and password of the account and use it to further compromise other accounts for other purposes. This can result in the loss of personal data or information. “The University has many tools to detect and prevent fraudulent emails, but some make it through those initial barriers,” Watson said. “Bad actors play on people’s emotions, personal connections, and desires. And they might use familiar-looking but

ultimately fake images or wordmarks, and many other tactics.” According to Watson, students should report phishing messages and spam emails to reportspam@illinois.edu. Students are advised not to click on the links in those emails. To report compromised accounts, students should email consult@ illinois.edu. For more information on phishing, students can visit https://techservices.illinois.edu/security/phishing and Training - Security Program (uillinois.edu) for cybersecurity training. chiehh3@dailyillini.com

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NEWS UI study says surgical masks best for speaking BY AMRITA BHATTACHARYYA STAFF WRITER

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The Illini Union stands at the end of the Main Quad on Oct. 29. Nine presidents of Illinois public universities have signed a letter seeking additional COVID-19 relief.

Illinois universities plea for relief BY ROYAL SHRESTHA STAFF WRITER

It has been almost a year since the beginning of the pandemic and 10 months since the university began to receive support relief from the federal and state governments. Over these months, with football and basketball games canceled, residential housing capacity reduced, and a reduction in student fees, the fiscal impact caused by the pandemic is well over $225 million for UIUC. With such a financial impact over these past few months, nine presidents of Illinois public universities have signed a letter seeking additional relief. Soon after the pandemic began, many students faced financial hardships and no

longer had access to the university’s support including Amartya Shah, sophomore in LAS. “This pandemic affected me a lot financially during the early months as I had to adjust to online classes. As my parents also struggled quite some time with their jobs and as bills quickly came, it took a toll on me,” Shah said. Shah wasn’t the only one who needed financial help as 12,448 students in UIUC were given emergency Dean’s funding ranging from $1.000 to $2,000. “This aid came from a combination of federal funding from the CARES act along with institutional aid to provide support to students,” said Paul Weinberger, Director

ning a multitude of countries, the taste and smell challenge targets individuals over 18 years of age in dozens of locamunity, since we are so tions around the globe. Curlucky that we are being test- rently, the website has been ed so frequently, can pro- translated into over 15 lanvide really good quality data guages to ensure global accesfor control groups,” Pepino sibility and has been comsaid. “I feel that testing, pleted by a little over 1,000 getting some signaling and individuals. knowing what happened “Some of them have already with the sense of smell can repeated the test since the complement and help for very beginning since it came public health use or for bet- out and others just joined,” ter understanding some of Ohla said. “We are translating the effects of COVID on the as quick as we can, but each sense of smell.” week a new language is comThe project, which was ing so we expect many more initiated in late November people to participate.” and released on Jan. 5, is the Although the COVID-19 work of hundreds of scien- pandemic has caused extreme tists within dif f iculthe GCCR ties, Pepias well as no believes “In this brief taste and that one patients who tested positive smell (challenge), we are has come the website prior to from this targeting everybody.” its release virus and to ensure its impact: M. YANINA PEPINO it wa s the recent PROFESSOR IN ACES compreemphahen si ble, sis on the according senses of to Kathrin Ohla, a psychol- taste and smell. ogist serving on the leader“The senses of smell and ship committee and one of taste have been neglected nine founders of the GCCR. for the whole of the hisThe GCCR is a global group tory of humankind,” Pepof roughly 640 scientists in 63 ino said. “They have been countries who joined togeth- neglected and called the er in response to anecdotal minor senses, but they are reports documenting the loss so important for quality of taste and smell associated of life. I feel like now peowith COVID-19. ple that have this smell “The Consortium is really and taste dysfunction for growing and it has brought us the first time at least are three different international going to get more attention or global studies also out to from their doctors, from investigate smell and taste science and from moving with relation to COVID-19 the science forward. So I but also other respiratory ill- hope that this is a new way nesses,” Ohla said. “And more to better understand the recently, we’ve also been mov- senses.” ing forward in more generally raising awareness for taste gergova2@dailyillini.com and smell disturbances.” Because the GCCR is an interdisciplinary group span-

of Federal Relations. “The total amount awarded was $15,724,089 (from federal aid) and $3,576,930 (institutional aid).” As a whole, the financial impact on Illinois public universities has been over $533 million with UIUC comprising over half of this total amount. By the end of the spring semester, Illinois public universities expect the financial burden to grow to be over $819 million. The University has over $2.35 billion in reserves in the form of endowment funds. About 98% of this total has restrictions imposed on it, said Weinberger. Just recently, however, the CRRSAA bill was passed giving $44.6 million to UIUC. $15.7 million of

this was set aside for students and UIUC is currently awaiting guidance from the U.S Department of Education on just exactly how funds will be distributed. The presidents of over nine Illinois public campuses are supporting the American Council Council on Education request asking for over $123 billion to support emergency funding for public universities along with research programs. About $97 billion will be allocated to emergency funding and $26 billion will be set aside for research grants and funding. royals2@dailyillini.com

The head-shaped speaker was used so that the experiment could be repeatable, also built in such a way that closely mimicked a human talking pattern. “There are some variables that the artificial head doesn’t account for, like the movement of lips or sort of how well the mask fits on the face and the spatial pattern of the mouth,” Corey said. This led Corey to also use a human talker, but a disadvantage was that the talker can’t produce the same exact sound twice. “So, neither data set is perfect,” Corey said. “But, the good news is the results were pretty similar between the two, at least in terms of the relative performance of the masks.” Corey was inspired to pursue this experiment after his friend who works in a school for deaf and hard of hearing children was wondering what kinds of masks to wear to best communicate with the students. “It’s important to understand exactly how much of a barrier these masks pose to communication,” Corey said. “And the challenging thing is that this is not something that a person with hearing loss can do much about. It really matters what other people are doing.”

A study comparing different face masks finds that surgical masks are the best for being heard clearly. Ryan Corey, postdoctoral research fellow at the University and co-author of the study, compared medical, cloth and transparent face masks consisting of different fabrics and layers. Using both a custombuilt, head-shaped speaker and a human talker, the study measured the acoustic attenuation of 12 types of masks, which were provided by friends, community members and Carle Hospital. According to Corey, the mask’s type of weave mattered more than the thickness of the mask in terms of being heard clearly. Surgical disposable masks, which are made from nonwoven polypropylene fibers, performed the best. The more “exotic” fabrics such as denim were much more difficult to hear through, Corey said. Shields and masks with windows also performed worse than opaque cloth masks. Corey found that wearing a mask does not affect speaking into lapel microphones, so talkers could wear window masks with lapels to preserve visual cues without sacrificing high-frequency sound cues. abhatt52@dailyillini.com

MARK CAPAPAS THE DAILY ILLINI

Junior Colin Heeneman waits in line to vote on Nov. 3. Heeneman is wearing a surgical mask, which according to a recent study, is the best type of mask to wear to be heard clearly.

FROM 1A

SMELL

RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI

A Champaign County resident receives the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the I-Hotel on Jan. 12. Nearly 16.8% of Champaign County residents has received a first dose of the vaccine.

FROM 1A

VACCINE time in the latter part of this week or next week. I’ve been told it’s going to be within the next week or two.” Within the month, the UI hopes to be testing first responders, local government workers and school employees and “underserved group and dependent of University employees,” Kaler added at the meeting.

FROM 1A

GRADE ISBE and was told that ISBE “passed a dispensation” and “will accept grades as low as a D- towards certification.” However, Jim Shriner, faculty senator and profes-

CUPHD administered another 1,487 vaccine doses on Monday; 825 more people received their first dose while 662 received their second, final dose. Nearly 16.8% of the 20 0,0 0 0 -plu s Cha mpaign County population has received a first dose of the vaccine, while just under 4% have been fully vaccinated. Stacked up with other Illinois counties, Champaign is performing very well in several key metrics. The county ranks sixth in

total doses administered with 43,528, behind only the five most populous Illinois counties. Champaign County has the 11th highest population in the state. The local percentage of people who’ve been fully vaccinated — 3.98% — ranks fifth in the state, and first among the 20 most populated counties. Adams County, which leads the state at 4.43% of people fully vaccinated, has a population of 65,691 people. Another four county residents have died from the virus, CUPHD announced

Wednesday, pushing county deaths to the virus up to 116. Another 122 cases were confirmed by the health district on Wednesday, along with 10,586 newly processed tests. To date, 17,186 Champaign County residents have tested positive for the virus, with 770 of them active for the virus. The county has processed 1,566,869 tests since the pandemic began.

sor in Education specializing in special education, claimed that he had heard the opposite from his contacts in ISBE. “We heard it differently for special education majors, that a C- was required,” Shriner said at the Senate meeting.

Nevertheless, Dana Yun, student senator and junior in Engineering, said that “in the grand scheme of our entire student population,” implementing the proposal would do more good for the students than a harm. Yun also noted that last semester’s Credit/No Credit

policy helped to “relieve a lot of stress for people,” even for students who did not end up using it. “I think we have to recognize that we may have saved lives,” Yun said. “And I think that’s so powerful.”

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LIFE & CULTURE

Late night skaters explore CU, campus BY KAYLA MISH STAFF WRITER

It’s not unusual to see students biking or skateboarding across campus on the walk to class. What may strike some as out of the ordinary, however, is seeing students skating across campus shirtless at 1 a.m. Inline Insomniacs is an RSO that that meets on the Main Quad at midnight once a week to skate different paths around the Champaign-Urbana area. The club is open to bikes, skateboards, roller skates and pretty much anything else with wheels. Every skate, around 1 a.m., members go around asking what time it is and reply with, “It’s shirtless O’clock!” and if members are comfortable, they rip off their shirts and skate around town. Not only is the club a way to have some fun and meet new people, but it is also a way to relieve some stress for many of them. For Christina Simley, president of Inline Insomniacs and junior in Engineering, it’s a way to take a break from her homework. “Being an engineer, my nights are pretty much full of homework and this is something that I don’t really have to plan my homework around because we meet at midnight and it doesn’t really intrude on my schedule,” Simley said. “It’s a great way to get your mind off things and talk to people.” No prior skills are required to join the club. Simley said that when she first joined three years ago, she had no knowledge of how to roller skate. She said the club is a great place to start because everyone is super welcoming and willing to teach you. Apart from the midnight to 2 a.m. skates, they specifically

PHOTO COURTESY OF INLINE INSOMNIACS

Students Hanna Fei and Francis Coulter skate down South Fourth Street near Horse Research Farm during an Inline Insomniacs skate on Dec. 4, 2020.

created hour-long 11 p.m. skates to help beginners get acquainted. It also is a great way to get in shape. “Being out and exercising really helps get your mind off things, and I find it helps puts things in perspective,” Simley said. Hanna Fei, sophomore in LAS, participated in night skating in her hometown the summer before college and knew she wanted to continue after she left. She was hoping to find an RSO at the University that was similar, and she said that Inline Insomniacs was the perfect group for her.

Fei’s favorite part of the night is when they skate through parks. “Everything is just quiet and peaceful. You can just skate through the park and look at the stars and it’s really beautiful,” Fei said. The skates vary from short to long, depending on the night. They take breaks often so people can socialize or rest up. Being that they go out so late, one of the perks is that there aren’t many cars on the road. They are able to take up more space, while still being safe and alert. Luke Markuson, Treasurer and sophomore in

Engineering, said that this is one of his favorite parts of the club. “You get to fly down the road, usually shirtless, because it’s one o’clock, and I thought to myself, ‘Oh, is this what college is?’” Markuson said. Their most popular skate is the Halloween skate. In costume, they skate around the C-U area going from apartment to apartment. “We usually get really positive feedback, like if we are on Green Street, we will always have people cheering at us or trying to join us,” Simley said. There are usually a few

people who are weirded out or shocked when they see the group of skaters out so late at night. Simley said that they are thankful they are still able to continue the club in the pandemic with a lot of modifications to their normal skates. They make sure to follow all of the COVID-19 guidelines, and they said that they take it very seriously so that they can continue to skate. The club also serves as a place to socialize and meet new people. They host social events and meet with other skating groups around the Champaign-Urbana area. “Everyone in the club is

super nice and down to hang out so if you’re not that experienced with skating, that’s totally fine,” Fei said. “People are really encouraging.” The group usually has around five to 15 people per skate, but they have around 60 members. “You have a lot of freedom,” Markuson said. “No one’s on the road because it’s midnight, and you can choose wherever you want to go. It’s exciting to see the rest of Champaign-Urbana at night, it’s like a different perspective.” kmish2@dailyillini.com

COVID-19 precautions frustrate freshmen Incoming students lament their loss of normalcy BY AIDAN FINN STAFF WRITER

On Feb. 8, Chancellor Jones lifted the essential activities only restrictions on the student population following desired low numbers of COVID-19 cases in the student population. Even still, students are encouraged to take every precaution to minimize

positive cases. As March draws near and with it the anniversary of what many consider the start of life in a pandemic, some are analyzing the mental toll it has taken on those who envisioned a college life straight out of the movies. Many students like Kyle Johnson, freshman in LAS, expressed frustrations with the shortcomings of pandemic college life. “I personally feel as if the University cheated us,” Johnson said. “It was implied by the University, that with their whole testing system, students would have a close to normal experience. What actually happened is way different. University said there would be in-person class-

es, but there were barely any of them. I can’t tell you enough how terrible learning through Zoom is.” Johnson said he is extremely unhappy with the current situation on campus. He said staying home and attending a community college would give him the same experience as the University currently has offered. Not only that, but it would have been thousands of dollars cheaper. “Once this is all over, I hope myself and the other freshman who lost this year are able to make up what they have missed,” Johnson said. The negative attitude is not unique on campus. Many students had high

KAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI

hopes for the start or end of their college careers, and the pandemic disrupted almost all of them. The students’ disappointment,

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though, does not mean that lege students crave that the University has made no has been denied to them effort to maintain some this year is social interacsense of normalcy. One of the things colSEE COVID-19 | 5A

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Thursday, February 11, 2021

FROM 4A

COVID-19

NATALIA PTASZEK THE DAILY ILLINI

Long-distance relationships endure BY MACKENZIE STEPHENS STAFF WRITER

Those involved in longdistance relationships represent a small population of University students due to the difficult nature of maintaining romance from afar. The commitment and intention required to handle the challenges of a longdistance relationship can test the patience of both partners involved, discouraging many from participating in them. In addition to the obvious struggles these relationships experience, COVID-19 has imposed various new complications as a result of safety restrictions. Travel bans, social distancing and building access rules are a few among many restrictions that make it harder for partners to see one another. Patricia Madel, freshman in LAS, expressed her disappointment in dorm regulations. “I think the hardest part is him not being able to drive up and see me. Missing out on the opportunity

for him to stay overnight in a dorm, and being able to show him a University experience. Even though COVID-19 is not something I’d want to risk,” Madel said. Madel said that although she and her boyfriend began their relationship shortly before COVID began, being long distance was harder than she thought. However, she emphasizes the importance of making each other’s intentions clear when in a long-distance relationship before undergoing the challenge of being apart. It’s important that both partners are on the same page, and recognize the challenge of not being able to visit each other while the world navigates the pandemic. Even though COVID-19 has made the challenge of long-distance relationships even harder, various resources exist for couples to seek out advice on how to manage. Sehila Nuñez, freshman in LAS, sought out the advice of a close relative who also underwent a

similar experience. “I asked my sister for advice since her and her boyfriend were also long distance,” Nuñez said. “They saw each other at school, but not when they were on breaks. Especially in the beginning, I was asking her how to do it and what I should do, which helped because she told me everything.” Going through the hardship of juggling a longdistance relationship, a social life and school can be incredibly stressful and hard to handle for one person. Madel said she has learned many things alongside her partner, but most importantly the skill of good communication. She expressed the importance of being honest with one another when something is wrong, and overall practicing good communication about things going on in each other’s lives. That way, there is little room for miscommunication and chaos surrounding it. Paris Souza, freshman in

IF THEY CAN DO IT,

SO CAN YOU!

WEAR a MASK THE

DAILY ILLINI

ACES, has also learned not to let other people’s opinions cloud her judgment. “Don’t listen deeply to other people and their opinions on long-distance relationships,” Souza said. “I’m the type of person that asks for everyone’s opinions and it’s really disheartening. I would just say really stay true to yourself, and that you know in your heart if you want to make it work or if it’s not going to.” As the pandemic continues impacting everyday life, it is crucial that people remain cautious and abiding by safety restrictions to keep as many people safe as possible. For those in long-distance relationships, safety guidelines have required them to become more creative with ideas on how to connect with their partners. Technology has also enabled the possibility of “virtual dates” that can be thought up in many different ways. Souza said that she and her partner began watching “The Queen’s Gambit”

on Netflix using the web browser extension “Netflix party”, which is a website that enables groups of people to watch a show synchronously with a chat feature. Although it is not the same as being in-person, many typical dates can be held via FaceTime. Video chatting while eating breakfast, lunch or dinner can function as going out to eat with one another. A unique way to change this up could even be to order a surprise meal for one another and to eat it together while on the phone. Being far away from the one you love can be difficult, but there is a reason behind the saying, “distance makes the heart grow fonder.” For people who are willing to put in the time and effort, the reward of seeing one another again can be all the more gratifying. “It’s a really rewarding experience knowing you were there with that person while they were going through that,” Madel said. mas24@dailyillini.com

tion. Acknowledging this, many housing communities and LLCs arranged virtual activities for groups to socialize in, from Among Us nights to Origami tutorials. Maya Syed, sophomore in LAS, is a Resident Adviser for the Honors LCC in Nugent Hall and a facilitator of a multitude of virtual activities for residents to participate in. “It’s a lot of fun!” Maya said, “I help get these things organized and they are a great way to engage with other residents. Obviously not ideal given the circumstances, but what are you going to do. Helping connect people and make friends makes the stuff all worth it.” Paige Alyson Gieseke, freshmen in Media, has been struggling to stay upbeat as she adjusts to such an isolated life on campus. She is a first-year student and the latest in a line three generations long in her family attending the University. She said much of her life, particularly as it came time to make college decisions in high school, she has heard about this campus. “I was hearing from them about how great the school would be if I ever chose to attend, how many memories I would make and the different people I would meet,” Gieseke said. Gieseke lives alone in the dorm room alongside many other single rooms. She said she walks alone to the dining hall, gets her takeout boxed meal and sits in her room at her desk to eat. “While all of this is upsetting for a freshman experience, I am proud to be in the Marching Illini,” Gieseke said. “That has brought me a lot of joy during this time.” However, instead of marching on the turf alongside 300+ passionate members of the band family, she was marching on her rug in her room with Zoom class propped up next to her. “I did learn a lot, but it just didn’t feel as complete coming from the remembered joy I felt participating in an in-person marching band for four previous years,” Gieseke said. “I honestly hadn’t felt so isolated in my life, and I admit it was hard to adjust to.” aidanf3@dailyillini.com

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Java server 4 Drum typically played with one hand 9 Outfit rarely worn out, for short 12 Migration formation 13 Big wheels 15 Quick haircut 16 Cocktail specification 18 Top of the line 19 Chip in, in a way 20 “Get your negative energy outta here” 22 Bitter criticism 26 Symbol of freshness 27 Brian in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 28 Rare blood type, for short 30 Worked in a wood shop, say 33 “Thanks for noticing me” character of kid-lit 35 Volcanologist’s study 36 2007 black comedy directed by Frank Oz 41 Grain-shaped pasta 42 Wetlands waders 43 Twiddles one’s thumbs, say 45 Whole lot 46 What an electrolyte produces 49 Partner of fast 52 Magazine with the annual Black Women in Hollywood Awards 54 Fedoras, e.g. 57 Makes a scene? 58 Et ___ 59 Words of correction … or a hint to 16-, 20-, 36- and 54-Across 63 “Let’s go already!”

18 20 23

21 26

33 37

30 34

35 39

44 49

9 14

45 50

57 60

62 65

PUZZLE BY MATTHEW STOCK AND SID SIVAKUMAR

64 One whose work is on the books? 65 New Year’s ___ 66 Whole lot 67 Test, as ore 68 Main

DOWN

1 Sunburn cause, for short 2 Curtail 3 Abutting 4 Texter’s message of appreciation 5 Kind of TV cable: Abbr. 6 “Ultimate driving machine,” in ads 7 Poet who said “Let others praise ancient times. I am glad I was born in these” 8 Do a landscaper’s job on

9 Conflict waged on behalf of superpowers 10 Bring bad luck 11 Disney henchman with long, white sideburns 14 Italian stratovolcano 15 Results of some foreclosures 17 Gen ___ 21 They follow the nus 23 Animal also called a steinbock 24 Dark rock 25 Pope whose pontificate lasted less than one month in 1605 29 Apt rhyme of “nabs” 31 Actress Mendes 32 Indian lentil dish 33 Harmful bacterial secretion 34 Return online? 36 Blue-chip index

37 K’s help it 38 More than can be imagined 39 Exercises 40 What’s happening 44 Beantown team 46 Marks of a ruler 47 A to A, say 48 Brand with a threeleaved logo 50 Annual Austin festival, familiarly 51 What’s more 53 Chow down 54 Bit of trivia 55 Resident at 123 Sesame Street 56 Hindu honorifics 60 Oftenmispunctuated word 61 Mauna ___ 62 Suffix with brew or quack

The crossword solution is in the Classified section.

THURSDAY February 11, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

OPINIONS

American schooling COVID-19 complicates Valentine’s Day must focus on civics THE DAILY ILLINI EDITORIAL

or most, Valentine’s Day either represents a celebration of love with a partner or soul searching veiled by a swift attempt to secure a date for the big day. But in the midst of a pandemic which has demanded social isolation, Valentine’s Day has become a somber reminder of the impact COVID-19 has had on the world of dating. Data has suggested the stress of the pandemic has placed a considerable strain on existing relationships, but among single folk, the dating world has become uprooted by the coronavirus. Dating, in effect, like everything else, has become a mostly virtual venture. Dating apps like Tinder or Bumble have become invaluable tools to use as a precursor to any date, since the stakes are now higher for any live meet-up. They are also useful for simply meeting strangers, since most students are sheltered from contact with anyone outside a select few. While dating apps help many find love and can help avoid wasting time, they aren’t a means for everyone. Every component of a relationship has become complicated by the COVID-19 guidelines: the introduction, maintaining the relationship and even grieving breakups. Places one might meet someone new, like the library or one of many campus bars, are at limited capacity. Even then, most aren’t comfortable being approached by a stranger

published a writer who denied the existence of the SENIOR COLUMNIST Holocaust. Where does the Daily Illini or any other media organization draw the line at opinion and fact? rom the beginning of What about some of my Donald Trump’s politi- published pieces? Have I cal career, his camblurred those lines myself? paign became infatuated Possibly, it’s likely that I too, with lying. His comments on in some cases, should have Mexicans, lambasting the been more scrutinized. media for their reporting on Throughout the media his deficiencies and disputlandscape, we have been ing a legitimate election are spoon-fed atypical political examples of his fraud. debate for years. One imparHis lies led to an upristial anchor in the middle, ing of his mostly white, with people from different angry, frothing at the mouth sides of the political specsupporters determined trum on both ends yelling to destroy the Capitol. We at each other in a mindless, arrived at this moment not unnecessary and foolish by coincidence, but by a five- or ten-minute segment. significant portion of this We have falsely come to country who believe that think that those interacpoorly researched claims tions where lazy commentaKAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI are the same as facts. tors with poorly researched Conventional thinkviews are bastions of truth. haps a conversation before- ing tells us that everyone We must ask ourselves how hand would provide insight deserves to have their views we discern between fact on how to ensure each party heard and respected. This and opinion and fiction? Of is comfortable and not wor- frame of thinking created a course, I’m not advocating ried about spreading the problem where we have vali- that everyone holds similar virus. dated the opinions of people beliefs. That could arguably Dating under normal who lie, mislead and seek to be worse. circumstances is still not injure. However, we must recogstraightforward or easy, It explains why media nize that too many people but the pandemic has made networks covered Donald have ideas far beyond the socializing with new people Trump frequently in 2016, logical realm that can cause exceptionally difficult. Valonly to complain about the harm. Several people were entine’s Day may remind us rise of “Fake News.” When killed and injured in Washof the extra obstacles preslooking into this phenomington D.C. weeks before the ent in our love lives, but it enon, let’s examine the inauguration of Joe Biden, won’t be long before you can rhetoric following the 2016 all because of a lie perpetrataccidentally spill your drink election. ed by the former president, on someone in a crowded For months we were told his allies, and other forms of bar and fall in love all over to “listen” to our fellow “media” for months. Howagain. Americans who voted for ever tragic, it comes as no Donald Trump to “undersurprise. stand” them better. It didn’t How many people in the take long to recognize that United States know who much of their reasons for their local representatives voting for Trump were not are? How many are aware from a politically educated of how local, state and fedstance. eral government’s function? How many Trump supThese questions should not always difficult, whether it porters can adequately be difficult to answer. is physically, mentally or discuss matters of foreign In any society that prides socially daunting. policy? I’d wager that some itself on its people’s knowlStill, one does not hold the of them cannot, which edge, we should know the key to suddenly condescend explains why the man himanswer to these questions by others or construe their own self said at a campaign event default. I’m not advocating realities once attaining bet- that he “loves the poorly that 300 million Americans ter education. educated.” become political scientists Psychologically, it is Even Trump recognizes overnight. Still, I don’t think described as weak human that he stood to gain from it is hard to ask my fellow behavior for individuals to the intellectually chalAmericans to become more cover up their inaccuracy lenged in this country. It aware of how their country with incessant lies. Moreisn’t just Donald Trump, operates. over, if there ever is to exist a though. We have arrived at It explains why for great society, it will require a point where we conflate months, several people have recognition and seclusion opinion with truth and that begun doubting the science against those who continue itself presents a dangerous behind vaccines and social their fabrications and know- precedent. Yes, we can have distancing measures in the ingly mislead. our opinions, but opinions face of COVID-19. Some Irish literary genius should not substitute facts. people genuinely believe James Joyce once surmised, Several months ago, one that lockdown measures are “We are living in a sceptical of my colleagues penned an an affront to their liberties and, if I may use the phrase, article about Black Lives as if being told to don a mask a thought-tormented age: Matter and raised some con- when entering a public place and sometimes I fear that tentious points. He cited an is comparable to slavery. this new generation, eduarticle by Heather Mac DonWe are a nation of cated or hypereducated as ald, who wrote in the Wall morons. it is, will lack those qualiStreet Journal that police Proper civics education ties of humanity, of hospital- racism is a myth. is missing. It is showcased ity, of kindly humour which For most of us with an ele- daily by the nonsense that belonged to an older day.” mentary understanding of comes from others’ mouths As noticed by Joyce, the racial history in the U.S., we and into the minds of poorly issue of hyper-education know that there is a level of educated, somewhat illiterironically leading to misedu- bias in American policing. ate Americans. It’s fair to cation is not a contemporary I am aware that we are in have an opinion, but let’s not conundrum. Nevertheless, the business of giving opinmistake unverified views as Joyce’s assertion of hyperions. What does it say about facts. Even more so, if your education’s misgivings the Daily Illini to publish argument is grounded in paints a portrait of humanan article that essentially bigotry and indifference, it ity’s fragility: Humans denies the reality of system- should not be heralded. are vulnerable creatures, ic police racism? A failure The absence of critical and their first inclination of editorial standards. Why thinking has become fashwhen appearing wrong is to was there no proper filter in ionable, and we are worse deceive themselves and con- place to fact-check my coloff for it. demn others. league’s commentary? Hyper-education, placed It is hard for me to believe Dennis is a senior in LAS. with delicate egos, are weathat this paper would have dennisa2@dailyillini.com ponized daily and obscure other, more admirable human qualities “of hospitality” and “kindly humour.” Education is for those who can keep it, and it is every individual’s responsibility to seek the truth no matter how difficult it may be. Today and every day, hypereducation must be administered for societal good — nothing more and nothing less in an era where corrupt motives and cover-ups bunker society’s progress. DENNIS AUSTIN

while everyone is supposed to observe social distancing. This Valentine’s Day will unfortunately be a forced confrontation for many singles with the loneliness the ongoing pandemic has engendered and the agoraphobia it has welcomed. For couples, the cause for celebration will be a sobering reminder that most restaurants, mini-golf courses and movie theaters offer a fraction of the experience or are closed completely. Don’t allow the holiday to pass as a melancholy day, turn it into a day of self-love or celebrate with a close friend group. Anything social and familiar might

soothe the frustration of pandemic dating. Many have considered the impacts of the pandemic on the economy and human psychology, but the difficulties in dating deserve recognition and validation for those struggling. One cannot simply get out for a night on the town to distract from the love blues, but with the vaccine being eagerly distributed, the light is at the end of the tunnel. If you do plan a date inperson, make sure you respect their boundaries (just generally, but particularly so given everyone’s different comfort level during the COVID-19 crisis). Per-

Unprincipled politicians weaponize higher education NATHANIEL LANGLEY COLUMNIST

arely does one consider education as an obstacle, yet in the case of crouching beliefs and polarization, hypereducation has become more of a flaw in society than a feather in its cap. Education — at its core — is designed to free one’s mind and liberate it onto a field of bountiful opportunities. However, in a world where access to information and education is more accessible than ever, one’s ability to filter their education has opened a disillusioned and polarized Pandora’s Box stonewalling society. Additionally, when one criticizes those who influence fringe conspiracies — such as QAnon — as mere ignorant collectives, one relinquishes the acknowledgment of the higher education behind those who lead and enable these schemes. A notable misconception arising from those criticizing Republicans for their gradual compliance with QAnon and its congressional representative Majorie Taylor Greene is that the GOP is now forced to divide their base between “uneducated” and “educated.” Earlier this week, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s new chair, Sean Patrick Maloney, exclaimed to Politico, “They can do QAnon, or they can do college-educated voters. They cannot do both.” Disturbingly — following only 11 Republicans voting to strip MTG of her House committee assignment — Republicans appear to forgo any decision for now and allow their broad, fragile tent to extend a bit further. MTG — a business graduate from the University of Georgia — certainly knows better; her “apology” consisting of projecting her

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GETTY IMAGES/TNS

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia, leaves her office on Capitol Hill on Thursday. Columnist Nathaniel argues that politicans like Greene have weaponized education in a polarized political age.

wrongdoing onto other outlets (in this case Facebook) reflects an intuitive technique conspiracy influencers use of yielding, “Well, I was just curious.” Even those who peddled other election conspiracies, primarily Ivy League Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, received their educations at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, yet empowered a disastrous insurrection in the country. Framing the reason for surging conspiratory Republicans on a lack of education is not the entire picture, and, particularly, for liberals to paint those such as MTG to be “white trash” is dishonest, unnecessarily frivolous and overlooking the larger problem at hand. In a recent dive by The Atlantic into the insurrection arrestees, researchers Robert A. Pape and Kevin Ruby discovered that of the 193 arrested, “40 percent are business owners or hold white-collar jobs,” while only nine percent were unemployed. Although certainly, a lack of education may have had an impact on the lives of those caught in conspiratorial winds, the question begs whether those with these higher educational levels truly knew no better, or did they knowingly surround themselves within a comfortable, informational echo chamber leading them down

this rabbit hole. In a 2014 article by The Atlantic on education and polarization, journalist Avi Tuschman noted “higher education has a polarizing effect on people: Highly educated liberals become more liberal, while highly educated conservatives grow more conservative.” In the information age, hyper-education and partisan confirmation bias have become more of a burden than a blessing for the prospects of a progressive, great society. On the one hand, when one achieves this higher education, he or she is better equipped to scour for information supporting his or her beliefs. On the other, living in an age where one never wants to appear misinformed, educated individuals now have better means to find information specifically fitting their narrative. Hypothetically, pair an individual with fragile selfesteem with a higher ascertainment of education, and voilà, one arrives at the present debacle where certain people’s defense mechanisms distort reality to comfort and feed their frail egos. Education is and always will be a liberating means for those seeking social mobility in society. It is those, however, who manipulate and weaponize their cognition and conclusively damage society all to shield Nathaniel is a sophomore in their self-esteem. LAS. Accepting the truth is ntl3@dailyillini.com

NATALIA PTASZEK 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.

THURSDAY February 11, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

SPORTS

VOLLEYBALL

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDY WENSTRAND/FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS

Senior Megan Cooney celebrates with her teammates after scoring a point during the match against Penn State on Feb. 5. Cooney is this week’s Illini of the Week.

Cooney surpasses 1000 career kills, sets new career high BY WES HOLLENBERG STAFF WRITER

When asked to describe senior Megan Cooney, her teammates and coaches alike have echoed the same description: calm, experienced and insanely talented. While the hitter shows out most weekends to the tune of dozens of kills, she maintains the same calm expression on her face regardless of circumstance. If she’s especially excited, you might be lucky enough to see her crack a smile. This past weekend was a special one for Cooney, setting a new career high with 20 kills and surpassing 1,000 career kills in a loss to Penn State on Friday. Despite having the historic night, Cooney remained deferential about the achievement. “It’s a really exciting accomplishment honestly,” Cooney said. “A lot of it comes out to my teammates. I’m the third person to touch the ball. Bump, set,

spike, so a lot of it goes out to my teammates.” For Cooney, this season has been a bit of an adjustment. Head coach Chris Tamas changed the team’s offensive scheme, and as a result, Cooney has had to change the way she plays for the first time in years. “Meg’s been asked to step into a different role,” Tamas said. “Six-rotation role; normally, she’s used to playing three rotations. Only past three rotations last year. This year she’s stepping up all six rotations and stepping up for us both from a passing standpoint and an attacking standpoint.” With the shift in schemes this year, Cooney’s touches have gone through the roof. In the first few matches of the year, Cooney averaged 3.9 kills on 8.8 attempts per set. However, her workload has only increased since Ellie Holzman was declared out for the season with a torn ACL. Since

then, Cooney is averaging 4.15 assists on 11.9 attempts per set. Even with so many touches, Cooney has remained steady about her role this season. “I was prepared to step into a bigger role this year,” Cooney said. “I think having that preparation and that long offseason has prepared me to have that many attempts and feel good about it.” Along with her large role as a player on the court, leadership has become an additional factor for Cooney the past couple of years. According to senior Kylie Bruder, a big tool for Cooney has been just how seasoned she is. She’s played in almost every match since the beginning of her freshman year, including playing a role on the 2018 Final Four team, so no stage is too big for her. This year, whenever the Illini have found themselves in a close set against

a big opponent, everyone looks to Cooney. “She’s been in all those tough, tight moments,” Bruder said. “Like we had a few this weekend against Penn State when it’s a tie game 25-all. I think she has experience in those moments, and she brings a sort of confidence to that that maybe not a lot of the more inexperienced players have.” Off the court, Cooney keeps it mostly low-key. According to Bruder, an average weekend for her and Cooney includes activities like getting food from Fiesta Cafe and hanging out with their teammates. While part of that helps keep the focus on volleyball, it also makes her much more accessible to her teammates, which is especially important with Illinois’ younger roster this year. While Cooney likes to give most of the credit to her teammates, the Illini

MEN’S GYMNASTICS

will need to lean heavily on her if they are to succeed this season due to Holzman’s injury. With her seeing so many attempts, it’s possible for her to end up in some of the Illinois record books by the end of the year — num-

great blocker. Other than her playing ability, she’s a really good leader. She’s a great person to have on the court. I think she’s a calming presence, and everyone loves to play with her.” @WesHollenberg wih2@dailyillini. com

ber 20 on the all-time kills list is 1,109. Cooney will easily pass that given her current pace. “Meg ’s an awesome teammate to play with,” Bruder said. “She definitely gives you a big window to set the ball into. I think she showed this weekend that she’s a

FOOTBALL

Football director secures position in unstable career Patrick Embleton keeps personnel director job managing student athletes under Bret Bielema BY CARSON GOURDIE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS

Gymnast Brandon Ngai poses after finishing a routine during competition in the 2017-2018 season. Ngai has now graduated from the University but found ways to maintain involvement in the sport.

Illinois alumnus stays involved in gymnastics Former gymnast live streams commentary to support his sport BY BRADLEY ZIMMERMAN STAFF WRITER

Despite being retired from gymnastics as an athlete and now working full time, Brandon Ngai, graduate student in engineering, stays involved with the sport. After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in 2018, Ngai started his post-ath-

letic involvement as a judge for junior competitions and Illinois’ routines in practice, though he has since expanded his involvement to NCAA meets as well. He judged two events during Illinois’ meet against Ohio State on Jan. 23 and is scheduled to do so again for Illinois’ meet against Nebraska in March. With the advent of virtual gymnastics meets this season due to COVID-19, Ngai found other ways to stay involved with broadcasting and sports commentary. Using video feeds of

the competitions from the streaming platform Virtius, Ngai produces his own streams on Twitch, offering play-by-play commentary and color analysis. “Gymnastics is something that I’ve always wanted to stay in the loop with,” Ngai said. “I’m pretty busy with other things that are going on, but I’ve always wanted to have what I guess you can call part-time involvement in the sport in some way, something I can do on the weekends. I feel like judging and broadcasting meets

fits into that perfectly. It’s a really fun thing to do, and I don’t mind spending my free time giving back to the sport.” The inspiration for Ngai’s streams came from Illinois assistant head coach Daniel Ribeiro. Only a few days before Illinois was scheduled to face Northern Illinois in the NCAA’s firstever virtual meet, Ribeiro asked Ngai if he could produce a stream that offered commentary on the meet. SEE NGAI | 2B

All he wanted to do was provide for his family. Already the father of two young children, Patrick Embleton was ready to welcome a third child to the family when his wife became pregnant once again. Living in a smaller Champaign home, Embleton decided it was time to get a bigger house to accommodate his family while staying close to his job: director of personnel for the Illinois football program. Granted, he made these moves while Lovie Smith was still his boss. While Smith wasn’t creating a Big Ten contender, it seemed likely his regime was here to stay. Illinois was coming off two straight road victories in November, squeezing by Rutgers and smacking Nebraska. Smith’s seat

— for the moment — cooled. Then Iowa happened. Then Northwestern happened. Then the end of the Smith era happened. Usually, when the head coach is relieved of his duties, the rest of the staff is released, and this transition was no different. Every position coach or coordinator, aside from Cory Patterson, is gone. The newly hired staff has gone through that, too, in the past. Current offensive coordinator Tony Petersen had seven different jobs in the previous 14 seasons. Stability isn’t associated with coaching. But somehow, Embleton defied common sense and has been a fixture with the Illinois football program for almost a decade, despite three head coaches being fired since he’s arrived. “I think everybody in the coaching profession knows you will be hired and fired at some point,” Embleton said. “That’s just the nature of this business. But hard work, that’s what really helps me succeed. It’s what helped me survive the last couple coaching changes.” Although Embleton isn’t a position coach, he’s part SEE EMBLETON | 2B

2B Thursday, February 11, 2021 FROM 1B

NGAI

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

tual competitions, there’s an opportunity to offer a consistent, well-put-together broadcast, which is what I really try to do.” The current state of the sport is another reason. More than 92% of collegiate men’s gymnastics teams that were active 50 years ago have been discontinued, with only 15 teams left today. In the next two years, three teams — Iowa, Minnesota and William & Mary — are discontinuing their men’s gymnastics teams because of COVID-19. “At this point, I think it’s really important for people like alumni and other people who are engaged with the sport to continue to support the sport in different ways,” Ngai said. “For me, with some of the skill sets that I have, I’m trying to do that in the best ways that I can.” Ngai’s streams are free to watch, but he does accept donations from viewers to support his channel. Ngai donates half of the proceeds to the CGA to support it and the sport. “It’s been exciting to see the generosity from the audience members,” Ngai said. “We’ve been able to raise several hundred dollars that otherwise wouldn’t have been generated.” Ngai’s live streams can be viewed at https://www. twitch.tv/brandonngai42, and he announces through Twitter and Instagram which meets he will stream and commentate on.

Ngai delivered on the request. “I already had a pretty decent computer setup at home,” Ngai said. “I play some video games, and I work from home as well, so I was pretty well-equipped to do it. I kind of scrambled to get something together in the next couple of days and tried to make it look nice.” Ngai works with the College Gymnastics Association, or CGA, to promote the streams through social media, and the result has been a success. Ngai’s audience typically includes gymnasts from the competing teams who aren’t in the lineup, gymnasts’ families, gymnasts from other schools and fans of the teams or the sport itself. Ngai hopes to expand his audience beyond that to viewers who don’t have a background in gymnastics. While staying involved in the sport was the primary motivation for Ngai to produce the streams, there are a few other reasons he puts in the effort to make the streams happen and make them look presentable. “One of the main issues of gymnastics is that it can be pretty hard to keep track of where you can watch the meets,” Ngai said. “Some of them are streamed through platforms like (Big Ten Network+), and some of them aren’t streamed at all. There’s not one centralized location where you know you can have a good view- @B_radZimm ing experience. With the vir- bez2@dailyillini.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS

Brandon Ngai performs his pommel horse routine during competition.

FROM 1B

EMBLETON

of the staff, as he oversees all on-campus activities of student athletes in the Illinois football program. Whether it’s acting as a liaison to the NFL, working with academic departments or coordinating traveling for recruiting, Embleton’s communication skills have played a huge role in helping his athletes develop. But despite his decadelong commitment to a struggling program, his future was dependent on whether new head coach Bret Bielema decided to carry over a Smith staff member. Bielema decided whether Embleton would have to relocate his two children and pregnant wife from his newly purchased home. “Did it cross my mind? Heck yeah,” Embleton admitted. “That stuff worries you, but at the end of the day, you figure it out.” When Embleton met with Bielema, the personnel director didn’t know what to expect and didn’t plan on anything. He didn’t go into the meeting with the expectation of lobbying for a job. Instead, he provided Bielema a packet for his potential replacement. “I always put together something I think the next person needs to know,” Embleton said. “Whether it’s in-state relationships, stuff about academics here, just baseline information that somebody walking in needs to know.” W hile Bielema and Embleton walked through the packet, the Ohio Wesleyan graduate locked up a spot on Bielema’s staff, securing a position under his fourth Illinois head coach. W hile Embleton has had a front-row seat with a rapidly changing sport and Illini coaching changes, little has changed with Illinois’ results — zero winning seasons since 2011. For Embleton, his intention of joining a college

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID CRAAN/FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS

Director of football recruiting Patrick Embleton poses for a professional headshot. Embleton has been on the football team staff for over a decade under four different head coaches.

football program was to coach. Before arriving in Illinois, Embleton was the wide receivers’ coach at his alma mater. His meteoric leap from Division III to Division I was supposed to just be a brief hiatus from coaching. But Embleton adapted and grew to love his behindthe-scenes role. He has no desire to return to coaching, as he has found a passion for helping young men develop from high schoolers to college graduates. Now, Embleton will try to adapt Illinois’ recruit-

ing efforts under new management. “We have to stay in constant contact with our high school in the state,” Embleton said. “Now that we have the areas divided up, we’re going to start attacking it by calling every high school coach in the state.” Tim Beckham, Bill Cubit and Lovie Smith — his previous bosses — went a combined 34-72. Beckham was fired for player mistreatment, Cubit was an interim coach and Smith was a straight arrow who failed to energize the program enough.

Bielema is set to change up the status quo that has handcuffed the program that produced Red Grange and Dick Butkus. “You really get to know the guy with just one conversation,” Embleton said. “He’s a fun, loveable guy to be around, and it’s infectious. When he speaks, you want to sit there and learn.” @gourdiereport gourdie2@dailyillini.com

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Thursday, February 11, 2021

MENS BASKETBALL

Two Illini vie for Naismith, Big Ten Player of the Year Awards BY JACKSON JANES ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Like most things nowadays, uncertainty is the name of the game for Big Ten teams. Just over four weeks remain in the regular season until the conference tournament starts on March 10. With program pauses, upsets and rescheduled games in the headlines over the last few weeks for many conference teams, let’s take a look at some of the biggest questions and talking points ahead of the final few weeks of the regular season.

How will the Big Ten determine its regular season winner?

As seen with Ohio State in the college football season, the Big Ten has not set a firm stance with how it will deal with Michigan, a team that will likely not play all of its scheduled games this season. The entire Wolverines athletic program was forced to halt operations after the B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant detected in several individuals linked to the department, and Michigan’s basketball team has not competed since Jan. 22, postponing five games during that stretch. It would take a jampacked schedule for the Wolverines to get all their games in, creating a situation that begs the question: How will the Big Ten decide who the rightful regularseason winner is? Michigan currently sits at 8-1 in the Big Ten, while Illinois sits 0.5 games back, with a record of 9-3. As things stand, would the Big Ten crown the Wolverines the champions since they have a higher win percentage, or would they go with the Illini due to their larger win total? It seems inevitable that the decision will be controversial if Michigan doesn’t play all 20 of its conferences, even more so if it doesn’t reschedule its game with Illinois, a matchup that would have

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

Iowa senior center Luke Garza attempts to defend as junior guard Ayo Dosunmu drives through the lane during the game between Illinois and Iowa on Jan. 29 at State Farm Center. Both players are potential candidates for Big Ten Player of the Year and Naismith Player of the Year.

major implications on the final standings. Hopefully, the Big Ten comes to a decision soon, or things could get ugly as the regular season comes to a close.

Inconsistency from all the top teams, except Michigan

Everyone knew this would be one of the most unpredictable and nailbiting seasons of all time, and the Big Ten certainly hasn’t disappointed. Any team can seemingly beat any other team on any given night, leading to several upsets, including Maryland taking down Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota on the road; Northwestern

knocking off Ohio State; and Minnesota triumphing over previously undefeated Michigan by 18 points. This inconsistency has seen Big Ten teams ranked all across the board in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, with 10 of the 14 conference members in the rankings at some point this season. Michigan, which was ranked No. 25 in the nation after the first week of games, is now third in the country and sits atop the Big Ten standings with just one loss, while Ohio State, which came into the season at No. 23 in the rankings, is now fourth. Michigan State is the biggest shocker, however, as

it was ranked fourth in the nation after four weeks of action but is now unranked and sits third to last in the Big Ten. Michigan has put together several impressive displays this season, including a 23-point win over then-No. 9 Wisconsin and a 25-point victory over thenNo. 23 Minnesota. Though the Wolverines have yet to face the Buckeyes, the Illini or the Hawkeyes this season, they look like the real deal, and it isn’t an accident they are currently first in the Big Ten. Every top program has a few upset losses this season, yet seven Big Ten teams

MARK CAPAPAS THE DAILY ILLINI

Sophomore Kofi Cockburn guards Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis during the game between Illinois and Indiana on Dec. 26.

Thank

you

for

are ranked this week, showing how stacked and unpredictable the conference is. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are at least eight or nine teams representing the Big Ten in the NCAA tournament this year.

Big Ten Player of the Year candidates

Big Ten Player of the Year is between Garza and Dosunmu, so it will be interesting to see how they finish their respective seasons, both personally and with their teams. Illini sophomore Kofi Cockburn is probably the dark-horse candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year right now. The seven-foot center is averaging 17.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, the most in the Big Ten, and has amassed a double-double in 10 of Illinois’ 12 Big Ten games this season. Cockburn is also tied for the most double-doubles in all of college basketball, with 13 through 18 games this year. The Jamaica native is probably the second-best center in the Big Ten right now, but if he can keep putting together dominant performances with Illinois, Cockburn could edge Garza for the award. India na sophomore Trayce Jackson-Davis is also in the running for the best player in the conference, as he is currently averaging the third-most points and rebounds per game, with 19.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Jackson-Davis has looked like the real deal in the Illini’s two meetings with the Hoosiers this season, but Cockburn has looked like the superior center due to his sheer size and strength. It looks like the Greenwood, Indiana native will miss out on the award this year, but he is certainly one of the best centers in college basketball.

After watching Illinois junior Ayo Dosunmu put together a triple-double — 21 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists — against Wisconsin on Saturday, it’s easy to understand why the Chicago native is considered one of the best players in all of college basketball. The junior guard is currently averaging 21.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, all of which are career highs, and he has been named the Big Ten Player of the Week four times this season and Naismith Player of the Week last week. With numbers like those, Dosunmu is in the running for Big Ten Player of the Year; the Bob Cousy Award, which is given to the best collegiate point guard; and Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year. Iowa senior Luka Garza already has a Big Ten Player of the Year and a Naismith Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award under his belt, but he is undoubtedly hungry for more. The Washington, D.C., native is averaging 25.5 points, a current career best and the most in the Big Ten, and 8.4 rebounds per game, and he is a shooting threat from all over the court, an unusually impressive feature for a col- @JacksonJanes3 lege center. At this point, the janes6@dailyillini.com

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Thursday, February 11, 2021

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. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEAM

A promotional image for “Yakuza 0” is pictured above. The game was released on March 12, 2015.

‘Yakuza 0’ elevates gameplay BY AIDAN FINN STAFF WRITER

buzz factor: It’s been over seven years since the last entry in the “Grand Theft Auto” series, the powerhouse open-world crime simulator by Rockstar Games. In its absence, we have seen a surprising lack of competition. The “Watch_Dogs” series by Ubisoft stands as the only crimesim this generation, with my GTA clones like “Saints Row,” “Sleeping Dogs” and “Mafia” have been MIA. An awful third installment of “Mafia” did happen and later died faster than a housefly. Though the West has experienced a drought, the East has been having a blast with the critically acclaimed “Yakuza” series. Developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios, and published by SEGA, this Japanese-based crime series has over seven titles spanning across three console generation. However, it wasn’t till 2017 that the series would gain popularity with western audiences with the prequel title “Yakuza 0” for PS4. Now, western audiences have been scrutinized extensively for their hostility towards foreign media. 2019 saw the Korean masterpiece “Parasite” winning the Academy Award for Best Picture, and the ludicrous means people went to either criticizing the film for not

having English audio is just a taste of the hostility. It got to the point where someone dubbed the entire movie in English. “Yakuza 0” shattered the mold with its combination of arriving at a starved market, and continues to be a genuine masterpiece. The crime-drama follows 20-year-old Kiryu Kazama of the Tojo Clan, a Yakuza crime organization in the fictional Kamurocho, Japan. The low-level hustler with big dreams makes a few bucks shaking down indebted business owners on the strip with his longtime friend Akira “Nishiki” Nishikiyama. His gig goes out the window when he is framed for the murder of a business owner, and he ventures into a 40-hour long storyline following a high stakes turf war over a single property lot. The game is a simple openworld beat-em-up with a wide array of melee weapons. Given Japan’s strict gun laws, firearms are rare, making the few instances of shoot outs intense. You can master three different fighting styles, all proving brutal and wacky takedowns. You can spice things up with weapons ranging from pistols to salt shakers. Virtually anything you can get your hands on is a lethal weapon. Where this title elevates itself from its western contemporaries is in its plot. The storyline is simultane-

ously silly and serious. Long conservations with the colorful cast are brought to life through excellent voice acting, transcending barriers to the point where you become emotionally invested in characters through just subtitles. The character models are also detailed that you read their whole personality based on their facial expressions. Grizzly Yakuza foot-soldiers and angel-eyed love interests bring to life a story of guilt and greed. Kiryu is a fascinating character because of his boy scout tendencies to do the right thing while having no hesitation to kill. He wants to do best for the people he cares for, in a corrupt underworld of greedy business people clashing with the police and even greedier corporations. Yet, at the same time, “Yakuza 0” takes time to breathe with its myriad of side activities. You can impersonate a film director, have a dance battle with a Japanese Micheal Jackson, battle a chicken in a game of bowling, on top of a multitude of disco clubs to dance the night away, then get back to the main storyline of murder and mob-loyalty. The game is a fantastic dive into the seedy underworld of crime and one that will stick with players long after the credits roll. “Yakuza 0” is available on PS3, PS4, Xbox One and PC.

THURSDAY, FEB 11

Champaign County Forest Preserve District Snowflake Search

 All Day  Champaign County Forest Preserves, 109 S. Lake of the Woods Road, Mahomet, Illinois  Free Get out and explore your local winter wonderland in search of snowflakes! The Champaign County Forest Preserve District, along with the Museum of the Grand Prairie and Homer Lake Interpretive Center, have hidden 30 creative snowflakes and winter fun facts throughout Champaign County Forest Preserves. Can you find them all? Bundle up and find as many as you can! Please take pictures of your finds and share them on Facebook and Instagram pages using the hashtag #CCFPDSnowflakeSearch.

FRIDAY, FEB. 12

Mardi Gras Party With Dennis Stroughmatt & Friends

 8 p.m.  A virtual event hosted by the Rose Bowl  Free Along with Greg Bigler (on bass), we’ll be taking a Mardi Gras road trip that will include French songs from Old Upper Louisiana (Missouri-Illinois-Indiana) and Cajun and Creole music from southwest Louisiana.

SATURDAY, FEB. 13

Champaign-Urbana Winter Farmers Market

 8-11 a.m.  Lincoln Square, 201 Lincoln Square, Urbana  Free Shop from all of your favorite local craft, food and farm vendors indoors at Lincoln Square Mall. Masks and social distancing will be required in the space, and limits on the number of shoppers that can be in the market area at the same time will be in effect.

A Valentine’s Stroll

 5-9 p.m.  Allerton Park & Retreat Center, 515 Old Time Road., Monticello, Illinois  Free ($10 donation suggested) It’s the season of hearts, chocolates, flowers and snuggles! As a special treat, we’re reopening the Light Walk to feature a special Valentine’s Stroll. Enjoy an after-dark experience at the park, with a romantic twist. Grab your sweetheart, a few friends or make a solo trip to Allerton for a charming evening adventure through the lights.

SUNDAY, FEB. 14

Japan House Shares “Year of the Ox”

 4 p.m.  A virtual event hosted by the Japan House  Free The Lunar New Year is a time of celebration, and people often create a variety of contemporary and traditional foods to honor and highlight the animal of the year. We decided to pair with Suzu’s Bakery (Japanese Bakery in downtown Champaign) to see what they could create for this special Year of the Ox. Watch as Alex prepares a delicate “Cow Roll Cake,” which is beautiful to look at and even more delicious to eat. Watch. Learn. Eat. Sounds like a good plan for the New Year!

Valentine’s Day Virtual Beer Tasting with Riggs  6-7 p.m.  A virtual event hosted by Riggs Beer Company  $14 for a beer sampler Make Valentine’s Day special with a virtual beer tasting and a little live music! Matt Riggs (of Riggs Beer Company) will lead a tasting of four beers: Hefeweizen, Weizenbock, Red Lager and Doppelbock. In addition to discussing each beer’s unique flavors and aroma, he will discuss the ingredients and brewing process behind each beer and some of Riggs’s sustainable practices in their production. We’ll also enjoy some music by members of the Hot Club of Urbana.

aidanf3@readbuzz.com

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Last call for Class of 2021

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THURSDAY February 11, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

buzz

Try these recipes, restaurants to get through winter BY BUZZ STAFF

Casey Daly

In a cold, dark, central Illinois winter, I find myself doing the opposite of what I would expect in terms of food. Winter is the season of hibernation. I’d expect myself to burrow in a deep cave of thread-counted blankets, with bowlfuls of crockpot meals, cheese-loaded pasta and cities of fudge brownie towers. And it would all be perfectly acceptable. This winter, however, I’ve found myself craving healthy foods. It may be that I’ve been more conscious of my health, in the time where a runny nose sends me to a panicked spiral. I’ve been indulging in sweet smoothies, warm oatmeal and apples and peanut butter straight from the cutting board. I like to make black bean burgers and eat them with a fork and knife; I’ve also found myself very friendly with a NutriBullet. Smoothie-making gives you a good amount of freedom, but here’s my general guideline: You want your smoothie to be one-third frozen fruit, onethird something liquid and one-third something substantial. I usually measure out a frozen wildberry mix, empty out a yummy yogurt cup, smush in half a banana, add a cup of almond milk, a packet of Stevia, a pinch of chocolate granola and some flaxseed for texture.

Carolina Garibay

If you haven’t noticed, the weather is getting colder, and students are walking faster to get to their destination to avoid the cold. Luckily, the cold weather can also be an excuse to order in some comfort food that is perfect for a cold winter’s day. My favorite food to eat during these cold weeks is Mexican, whether from Maize Mexican Grill (the GOAT),

THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO

Burritos made by the chefs at Maize Mexican Grill are placed on the counter inside the restaurant. Maize is a favorite food location of multiple buzz writers.

Burrito King if you’re feeling something a little greasier or Taco Shack, a newer taco joint on Green Street. An obvious snack to get from these places is, of course, tacos, but if you want to change things up, I suggest nachos. Nachos may not seem like the typical cold day food, but try it out, and it might become your go-to on a cold day. Nothing quite satisfies your taste buds on a cold day like a big plate of warm nachos with melted cheese and a heaping serving of toppings. Another Mexican food favorite for a cold day is que-

sadillas. Something about melted cheese seems so perfect for a winter’s day, and if you’re feeling crazy, you can even get one with chicken or steak inside. And don’t forget to wash everything down with a fresh horchata, the perfect way to end your feast on a cold day.

Rukayah Hussein

Winter seems never-ending in the Midwest. When you think that the season won’t be as bad this year, we get hit with multiple snowstorms and below zero temperatures. The best way to combat the winter woes is

with some fantastic food. In the winter, I always want something warm and filling. One restaurant I would recommend on campus, especially when you’re too lazy to make something at home, is Ambar India on Wright Street. Ambar India is an incredible Indian restaurant steps away from Green Street and Alma. I always find myself ordering myself a feast from there. If you are looking for something that will satisfy your craving for Indian takeout in the winter, try their chicken tikka masala with a side of white rice or several pieces of naan. The

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Burrito King offers students cheap Mexican food and is a favorite of buzz writer Casey Daly.

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chicken is cooked perfectly in a creamy tomato sauce with masala spices. If you are a vegetarian, you can also pair the rice and naan with paneer tikka masala. It is the same dish, but instead of chicken, it is cubes of paneer, a type of cheese. It is creamy and heart-warming, and I would recommend the meal all year round, but especially when you want to warm yourself up and stay in for the night.

Nate Sun

Sydney Wood

When the weather is cold enough to cut through multiple layers of winter jackets and nights seem to get longer instead of shorter, my favorite distraction from coursework is ordering food from Maize Mexican Grill. My goto order is their chicken burrito–without tomatoes and sour cream, of course–with a side of guacamole and chips to split between my roommate and me. I also enjoy the restaurant’s fish tacos, chicken tostadas and steak fajitas. The warm, delicious food is always the remedy for any of my winter blues and class-related stressors, and it’s perfect for eating while watching movies or chatting with roommates. Whenever I order from Maize, there is always enough food for me to have leftovers, which is super helpful when I don’t feel like cooking dinner the next night. When I’m craving a hot meal on cold winter nights, ordering from Maize is the only logical solution to my cravings, and it’s a needed distraction to prevent me from watching prerecorded lectures until midnight or later. Also, Maize is available to order for delivery or pickup, so I always get to choose whether or not I want to leave my apartment when ordering food. During the first few weeks of the spring semester, ordering from Maize is my preferred method of distracting myself from the outside chill and impending flood of due dates and deadlines.

On a cold winter day, the move is always to layer up and grab a hot cocoa or a warm bowl of soup. But let me educate you in the gospel of warm ice cream. Yes, you heard me right. We’re not talking about taking a bowl of ice cream and microwaving it — we’re talking about tastefully warming up a bowl of ice cream. What I mean by this is baking a warm, sweet loaf of banana bread and letting the ice cream slowly melt over the cozy caress of the bread and soak into its pores. You can use any banana bread recipe and whatever ice cream flavor you desire, but here are some ways to up your game. Try throwing some brown sugar into your banana bread recipe for a richer flavor. It goes well with a hearty scoop of butter pecan ice cream! Maybe add some chocolate chips to your bread as well, or even some butterscotch if you’re feeling adventurous. Finally, top it off with some hot fudge! Now you have a sweet, meltin-your-mouth, cakey treat to comfort you for those days where the weather makes you want to snuggle under a blan- buzz@readbuzz.com ket all day.