HOUSING GUIDE SEE INSERT MONDAY February 15, 2021
THE DAILY ILLINI The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
Download our app!
Vol. 150 Issue 33
County expands vaccine eligibility According to the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD), Champaign County residents age 40-64 with certain health conditions, as well as those in 1A and 1B categories, are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.
• Heart Condition • Immunocompromised State from a Solid Organ Transplant • Obesity • Pregnancy • Pulmonary Disease • Sickle Cell Disease
Phase 1A:
• Healthcare Personnel: Residents age 40-64 with Hospital and Non-Hosdisabilities or one of the folpital Settings lowing health conditions designated by the Illinois Phase 1B: Department of Public Health • Residents age 65 and (IDPH): older with or with• Cancer out underlying health • Chronic Kidney Disease conditions • C OPD (C h r on ic • First Responders Obstructive Pulmonary • Corrections Officers RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI Disease) An Illinois student receives the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday at the I-Hotel. Champaign County has opened vaccine • Diabetes SEE ELIGIBILITY | 3A appointments to residents age 40-64 with certain health conditions.
Eligibility
Variant, pandemic fatigue Champaign complicate spring return County combines high vaccine rate, volume University officials and SHIELD members have concerns about COVID-19 variants and pandemic fatigue and have used information from fall semester to guide spring plans. “What we really need over the next few weeks is that we need to redouble our efforts to protect ourselves and all the folks around us,” said Bill Sullivan, SHIELD member and Director of the Smart Healthy Community Initiative. Student non-compliance with public health guidelines and COVID-19 fatigue are serious problems, Sullivan said. Above all, figureheads in the University’s COVID-19 response team said the emergence of different COVID-19 variants is the biggest fear, and the next few weeks are crucial.
team that creates data models to help guide SHIELD’s testing program. Last semester, he said his team was surprised at the lack of student compliance with testing. After the surge in cases in fall, Goldenfeld said they added non-compliance into the data models, and this guided the spring return to campus with staggered arrivals and the initial lockdown. Additionally, University officials announced new consequences this semester to non-compliance such as internet cuts and loss of access to Zoom and other educational platforms. Goldenfeld said even within the past week, he’s seeing individuals test for the first time in all of 2021. “I think trying to enforce compliance where appropriate is an essential thing to do,” he said.
B117 variant, noncompliance raises concerns
Changes to Safer Illinois and future plans
BY VIVIAN LA STAFF WRITER
DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO
Members of the Students for Justice in Palestine organization protest during the Illinois Student Government Meeting at the ARC Multi-Purpose Room on October 23, 2019. A lawsuit between Speech First and the University was settled on Feb. 2.
UI settles free speech lawsuit Speech First group rose concerns over bias assessment response team BY MATT TROHER STAFF WRITER
The University of Illinois and free speech organization Speech First settled an ongoing lawsuit regarding a number of the University’s policies regarding bias and speech. This settlement came days before Speech First planned to submit the lawsuit to the Supreme Court of the United States. The lawsuit, initially filed by Speech First in May 2019, alleged that policies held by the University’s Bias Assessment and Response Team and University Housing’s Bias Incident Protocol, sections of the University’s student code and the University’s procedures for imposing No-Contact Directives violated students’ First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Speech First’s lawsuit argued that BART and BIP protocols led to investigations of students who shared controversial opinions about contentious issues such as the IsraelPalestine conflict and the University’s former mascot, Chief Illiniwek, which has been criticized and subsequently removed from campus for being deemed racially insensitive. The lawsuit was settled in an Illinois District Court
on Feb. 2 with no money paid to or by either party. Associate Chancellor for Public Affairs Robin Kaler expressed that the policies in question contribute to fostering an open and safe campus community. “The Universit y is pleased that Speech First agreed to drop its lawsuit after both the district court and appellate court ruled in the University’s favor denying Speech First’s motion for (a) preliminary injunction,” Kaler said in an email statement to The Daily Illini. “The courts rejected Speech First’s unfounded claims after the University showed how our policies and practices foster a community where tens of thousands of students and over a thousand registered student organizations freely express and vigorously debate beliefs spanning the ideological spectrum.” Speech First did not immediately respond to The Daily Illini’s request for comment. The terms agreed upon in the settlement clarified that neither BART nor BIP has the authority to enforce discipline on a student. Additionally, students cannot be disciplined for declining to speak with BART or BIP. The settlement also limits the circumstances under which a No-Contact Directive can be issued. Under the terms of the settlement, an NCD can only be issued when “a Disciplinary Officer determines that the speech is accompanied by allegations of an actual or foreseeable Stu-
DAILYILLINI, DAILYILLINISPORTS
INSIDE
Police
2A
dent Code violation, such as sexual harassment or stalking.” An NCD prohibits contact between two or more parties, usually following a verbal or physical altercation. Part of the lawsuit aimed at the former section 2-407 of the University’s student code, which prohibited students from distributing “leaflets, handbills and any other types of promotional materials of candidates for noncampus elections,” unless the student received prior approval from the University. The University eliminated this section from their student code in July 2019, after the initial lawsuit was filed. In accordance with the settlement, the University cannot reinstate the removed provision. This is the second settlement between Speech First and a major university, coming months after a settlement between the speech organization and The University of Texas at Austin, which resulted in the termination of the university’s Campus Climate Response Team. UTA’s CCRT functioned in a similar capacity to Illinois’s BART, allowing students to report incidents of bias, including derogatory graffiti, verbal harassment and hostile classroom environments. The lawsuit alleged that UTA’s Campus Climate Response Team violated the First Amendment. mtroher2@dailyillini.com
@THEDAILYILLINI, @DI_OPINION, @DI_SPORTS |
Life
&
Culture
4A
|
Crossword
5A
As of Thursday, there have been 11 confirmed cases on campus of the new COVID-19 variant that originated in the United Kingdom, known as the B117 lineage, according to Nigel Goldenfeld, professor in LAS and COVID-19 modeler for the University. Another seven individuals are being re-tested for the B11 variant. He said the variant’s increased transmissibility and new evidence that it is more dangerous than the current strain is what keeps him up at night. “You’ve got a double threat here,” Goldenfeld said. “You’ve got something that is worse and is more transmissible and a (campus) population that is not compliant with public health recommendations.” Goldenfeld is part of a
Opinions
NEWS EDITOR
With a month under its belt of consistent vaccinations, Champaign County is shaping up to be a leader in several key metrics of vaccinations. For one, the county ranks third in percentage of fully vaccinated residents, with 5.48% of residents having received both doses of a vaccine. About 3.13% of Illinoisans have been fully vaccinated. Champaign also ranks sixth in total administered doses, with 51,399 as of Saturday. Champaign County is the only one of Illinois’ 102 counties to be top six in both categories, and one of two in the top 10, alongside Sangamon County. Both counties are outperforming these metrics relative to their populations. Of 11 counties that have vaccinated more than 4% of their residents, Sangamon and Champaign counties are the only two with a population above 70,000 people. Sangamon has more than 195,000 residents, while Champaign’s population is
Updates to the Safer Illinois app have also been made after learning from the fall semester, Sullivan said. Sullivan is the head of Rokwire, an open source platform that developed Safer Illinois. As vaccinations become more available to the campus community, Sullivan said his team is working on a vaccine feature for the app. They want to include a feature to help people keep track of their upcoming appointments. However, there are challenges to this because it’s unlike the saliva testing data, which is conducted on campus and goes through McKinley, done “all inhouse.” Vaccinations can be done at any healthcare provider, not exclusively on
SEE VACCINE | 3A
INSIDE
SEE VARIANT | 3A
Features: Students strike a pose for The Fashion Network PAGE 4A
Sports: Bielema strengthens in-state recruiting presence
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
A University Wellness Associate checks a woman into Bevier Hall on Oct. 14. Students and faculty are unable to enter University buildings without building access being granted through the Safer Illinois application.
THEDAILYILLINI |
BY ETHAN SIMMONS
6A
@THEDAILYILLINI |
Letters
6A
|
Sports
PAGE 1B
THEDAILYILLINI
THEDAILYILLINI
1B
4B
|
Classifieds
|
Sudoku
THEDAILYILLINI 4B
|
buzz
6B
2A Monday, February 15, 2021
THE DAILY ILLINI 1001 S. Wright Street Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 337-8300 Copyright © 2021 Illini Media Co.
The Daily Illini is the independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. The newspaper is published by the Illini Media Co. The Daily Illini does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of the University of Illinois administration, faculty or students. All Illini Media Co. and/or The Daily Illini articles, photos and graphics are the property of Illini Media and may not be reproduced or published without written permission from the publisher. First copy is free; each additional copy is 50 cents.
THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
How to contact us
POLICE
Champaign
• Nothing to report.
University
• Deceptive practices were reported by a University student between Feb. 5 and Tuesday. According to the report, the student was contacted via social media by an unknown person who claimed to be wealthy and
offered to help the student. The offender sent checks to the student, who was directed to deposit the money into his account and then use an online banking app to send a portion of that money to third parties. The student then transferred $1,000 of his own money to other people, and learned later that the original checks never cleared.
Urbana
• Criminal damage to property was reported on the 1000 block of Kerr Avenue around 7 p.m. on Monday. According to the report, two unknown offenders slashed the tires of the victim’s vehicle. news@dailyillini.com
Photo editor
JJ Kim editor@dailyillini.com
Ryan Ash photo@dailyillini.com
Managing editor, Reporting
Asst. photo editor
Samantha Boyle reporting@dailyillini.com
Managing editor, Online
Kaitlin Mikrut design@dailyillini.com
Shana Olivero video@dailyillini.com
Asst. video editor
News editor
Special sections editor
Ethan Simmons news@dailyillini.com
N/A supplements@dailyillini.com
Asst. news editors
Asst. special sections editor
Diana Anghel Luis Velazquez
Online: If you have a question about DailyIllini.com or The Daily Illini’s social media outlets, please email our editor at online@dailyillini.com.
Placing an ad: If you would like to place an ad, please contact our advertising department. (217) 337-8382 or e-mail advertise@illinimedia.com.
Video editor
Cassidy Brandt visuals@dailyillini.com
Newsroom
Advertising
Asst. design editors
Managing editor, Visuals
(217) 337-8300 (217) 337-8382 (217) 337-8345 (217) 337-8320
Letters to the editor: Letters are limited to 300 words. Contributions must include the author’s name, address and phone number. University students must include their year in school and college. The Daily Illini reserves the right to edit or reject any contributions. Email opinions@dailyillini.com with the subject “Letter to the Editor.”
Design editor
Brian Nguyen
Main number: Advertising: Newsroom: Production:
Calendar: If you want to submit events for publication in print and online, visit dailyillini.com.
Cameron Krasucki
Samantha Roberson online@dailyillini.com
General contacts
Employment: If you would like to work for the newspaper’s editorial department, please fill out our form or email employment at dailyillini.com.
STAFF
Editor-in-Chief
The Daily Illini is located in the basement of the University YMCA at 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, IL 61820. Our office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday.
The Daily Illini is online everywhere you are.
Tara Mobasker
Website dailyillini.com
Shivali Shukla
Asst. daytime editors Buzz editor Heather Robinson Salem Isaf
Jillian Little
Sports editor
Carolina Garibay Ava Traverso
Gabby Hajduk sports@dailyillini.com
Asst. sports editors Jackson Janes Carson Gourdie
Asst. sports editor of on-air Brendyn Jones
Features editor Elizabeth Sayasane features@dailyillini.com
Opinions editor
Play Store, App Store
Copy chief Haley Follman copychief@dailyillini.com
Asst. copy chiefs
The Daily Illini The Daily Illini Sports
Rachel King Citlaly Leanos
Social media director Jane Knight disocial@dailyillini.com
Brand Manager
Asst. features editors Samantha Roberson Rohit Jammu Co-Publishers Jared Ebanks
The Daily Illini App
Asst. buzz editors
Kit Donahue Melissa Pasco
Andrew Prozorovsky opinions@dailyillini.com
Asst. opinions editor Maii Rashed
Longform editor Zainab Qureshi longform@dailyillini.com
TODAY’S NIGHT SYSTEM STAFF Night editor: Matt Troher Copy editors: Kathleen Findlay, Zainab Qureshi, Jennifer Orozco Designers: N/A Page transmission: JJ Kim Web manager: Samantha Roberson
PHOTO COURTESY OF TERESA CRAWFORD/AP IMAGES
Dr. Ngozi Ezike speaks about the COVID-19 pandemic during a news conference on July 15. On Feb. 6, Illinois reached a new single-day high in COVID-19 cases.
Twitter @TheDailyIllini @DI_Sports
New COVID-19 variant identified in Illinois BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR
A case of the more infectious virus variant first seen South Africa was confirmed in Rock Island, Illinois, on Thursday by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Illinois has now confirmed the presence of both known virus variants, including the B117
strain from the U.K., of which several cases have been identified in Champaign County. “We expected to see more cases of variants detected in Illinois, including the B1351 strain,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike in a statement Thursday. “These variants seem to spread more rapidly,
which can lead to more cases of COVID-19 and even another surge. Our best path to defeating this virus as quickly as possible remains wearing our masks and getting vaccinated when it’s our turn.” T he st ate has announced 22 known cases of the B117 strain in Illinois as of Thursday. Another 79,704 vacci-
nations were administered on Friday, bringing Illinois’ vaccine total to 1,724187 administered doses. After Friday’s doses, 399,166 Illinois residents have been fully vaccinated. @esimmsnews ecsimmon@dailyillini.com
Instagram @TheDailyIllini
Snapchat TheDailyIllini
Corrections A source and quote from Career Guide have been redacted because the source was not on the record. The Daily Illini regrets this record.
THE DAILY ILLINI
THE BEST WAY TO KEEP UP WITH THE NEWS
DEGREES / FLIGHT TRAINING / UAS (DRONES)
Use the QR code to sign up for our newsletter and get headline newssent to your email!
you were
born to fly. Channel your independence, responsibility, and determination at the Institute of Aviation at Parkland College. Our programs will put you on the flight path to success. Associate of Aviation Science Pilot and Instructor Certificates & Ratings Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drone) Certificates
dailyillini.com
aviation.parkland.edu
3A
NEWS
MONDAY
February 15, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
New cases grow during third week of class 1000
Fall semester Spring semester
800 600 400 200 0 Move-in:
First week of class
Second week
Third week
Source: Illinois SHIELD Team CASSIDY BRANDT THE DAILY ILLINI
UI’s spring case count continues to rise BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR
in spring, 139. By the second week of class, a spike: 895 new cases in seven days—this year, 256. The third weeks, however, are remarkably similar. After a week of lockdown, 340 new people tested positive on campus in fall. Last week, 325 new positives. This is not how campus officials expected to start the semester. University system president Tim Killeen said he expected 300-500 cases through the screening week and beginning of the school year. Since Jan. 15, when students began moving back in, there have been 915 cases of COVID-19 identified on campus. Almost 700 of those cases have come after classes began.
By this point in fall semester, more than 1,500 University students, faculty and staff had tested positive for COVID-19 in the last three weeks. Undergraduate students were in the throes of an “essential activities only” lockdown to control rampant spread in early days of testing. A spike that large, and that early, has been avoided so far in spring semester. But with cases still rising in the third week, and the infectious virus variant first identified in the United Kingdom now on campus, the next few weeks will be crucial to stymie another spike. Here’s how semesters compare: by the end of the first week of fall classes, 443 cases in seven days— Champaign County
Another four Champaign County residents with COVID-19 have died, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District confirmed on Sunday. After the NovemberDecember surge in cases, deaths are catching up across the state and country. Ten people have died in the county in the first two weeks of February. According to CUPHD, in November, 35 residents died from the virus. Another 27 passed in December, and 22 in January. Of all recorded deaths from COVID-19 in the county, 76% of them have occurred in November or later. Hospitalizations in the county continue to drop. Thirty-eight COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized in Carle hospitals, with 32 of them —including seven in the intensive care
unit — at Carle Foundation Hospital. Two weeks ago, 73 people were hospitalized for the virus in Carle, with 14 in the ICU. Test positivity in Champaign County and the surrounding Region 6, excluding the University’s saliva tests, is still hovering around 4%. To date, 17,482 county residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Of them, 772 are active for the virus, 16,587 are considered “recovered,” 17 are hospitalized and 123 have died. The county has processed 1,614,488 COVID-19 tests, while 22,928 have been ordered to quarantine after potential exposure to the virus. @esimmsnews ecsimmon@dailyillini.com
SCREENSHOT OF ZOOM
Students discuss the Title VI complaint through Zoom with panelists Martin Levine and Dima Khalidi. Jewish organizations have filed a Title VI federal complaint against the University.
Students discuss anti-Semitism Title VI complaint BY MONA ALRAZZAQ STAFF WRITER
Students asked questions and shared their responses to a Title VI federal complaint filed by Jewish organizations against the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign with professiona ls through Zoom. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination against any race, color and national origin by federally funded educational institutions. The Title VI complaint against the University was publicized by the Brandeis Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing Jewish rights and advocating for Israel. The complaint urges the University to “recognize the seriousness of this problem and devote the necessary resources to combat the scourge of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism on its campus.” This complaint includes instances of anti-Semitism, such as swastikas found on cars, walls of school buildings and dorm room doors. Other instances of antiSemitism include a rock thrown through the window of a Jewish fraternity
and the repeated vandalization of Chabad Center for Jewish Life menorah. It also lists forms of antiZionism, such as the introduction of a resolution that “called for the University to divest from three companies that supply defense technology to Israel” by the Students for Justice in Palestine and a presentation given by a University multicultural advocate that “implied that the very existence of a Jewish state was a racist endeavor,” according to the complaint. Dima Khalidi, lawyer and director of Palestine Legal, an organization that provides legal advice to advocates of Palestine, said that this Title VI complaint is “launched against Palestinian rights activists.” Martin Levine, coordinating committee member of Chicago chapter of Jewish Voices for Peace, said that Zionists frequently “weaponize anti-Semitism” and “particularly use it as a weapon for those advocating as a right to Palestinian people.” Jonah Messinger, senior in Engineering, grew up in a modern Orthodox-Jewish community with pro-Israel and Zionist sentiment.
Although he wasn’t a proIsraeli activist, Messinger said that Zionism was part of his worldview for a while. A f ter conversations with students on campus and research, Messinger began to change this worldview. Currently, he does not consider himself neither a Zionist nor an anti-Zionist. “Meeting more Palestinians and listening just to some of the horrendous situations that them and their families have gone through ... it’s sort of hard to ignore that,” Messinger said. In regards to the Title VI act, Messinger said that it is “100% clear” that antiSemitism is on this campus, noting the desecration of the Chabad Center for Jewish Life menorah as a clear anti-Semitic act. However, he did not agree with the allegations in the complaint that the University doesn’t handle it well. “I think there’s plenty of room, and this is just in general across the country, for thinking about how to combat anti-Semitism,” Messinger said. “But I think it’s quite clear for me that this is not what it’s about.” Khalidi said that the goal with filing the complaint
wasn’t to win a lawsuit, but rather to silence Palestinian activists on campus, and Messinger agreed. The University created the Advisory Council on Jewish and Campus Life in response to the complaint. A lthough Messinger believes this advisory will be used to have a quicker response to anti-Semitism on campus, he also believes it will “be a very convenient way for Jewish Zionist organizations on campus to go after Palestinian activist groups.” Levine said that this compla int insinuated “anyone who challenges the concept of Zionism as engaging in anti-Semitism.” Messinger stated that although there can be anti-Zionists who are antiSemitic or engage in antiSemitic behavior, the two terms aren’t the same. “There are plenty of folks that are anti-Zionists who are not anti-Semites and there are plenty of people who say anti-Zionist things, that is not the same as anti-Semitic things,” Messinger said. monaa2@dailyillini.com
FROM 1A
ELIGIBILITY • Education (in-person status not required) • State of Illinois approved Early Childhood and Licensed Daycares • K-12 (public, private and parochial) Schools • Essential frontline workers who work or live in Champaign County: • Grocery Store Workers: Baggers, Cashiers, Stockers, Pick-Up, Customer Service • Food and Agriculture Workers: Processing, Plants, Veterinary Health, Livestock Services, Animal Care • Shelter/Adult Day Care Workers • Postal Service Workers (includes UPS, Amazon, etc.) • Manufacturing Workers: Industrial production of goods for distribution to retail, wholesale or other manufacturers • Public Transit Workers: Flight Crew, Bus Drivers, Train Conductors, Taxi Drivers, Para-Transit Drivers, In-Person Support, Ride Sharing Services
Appointments
Locations
• Champaign County Vaccine Clinic at Kohl’s Plaza • 1901 N. Market St., Champaign (Previously the Dress Barn location) • Online appointments: MyCarle.com • (Beginning Monday, Feb. 15 at 8 a.m., if you don’t have a MyCarle account currently, you can request one online at MyCarle.com or at any Carle location registration desk.) • Phone appointments: (217) 902-6100. • (For faster service, you can request a call back 24/7 by entering your information at bit.ly/ Carlevaccinecallback.) • The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District • 201 W. Kenyon Road, Champaign • Phone appointments: (217) 531-4538. • Email address for questions and assistance: coronavirus@c-uphd. org. • Rantoul Youth Center • 1306 Country Club Lane, Rantoul • Phone appointments: (217) 892-6844. • Email address for questions and assistance: vaccinations@myrantoul.com. For more information about vaccine eligibility, follow The Daily Illini.
• Vaccinations will be done by appointment only. • Vaccination appointments are for next week. chiehh3@dailyillini.com
FROM 1A
VARIANT
campus. It’s their primary challenge at the moment as well as prioritizing user privacy, Sullivan said. “It’s not nearly as simple or as direct because the data are all over the place,” he added. In regards to user privacy, Sullivan said the app’s privacy features are something he’s very proud of. The app administrators don’t have access to testing data because of the way it’s encrypted, he said. This data is only available to University administrators who handle positive cases, as well as track testing non-compliance. Sullivan and his team are also working on a new app that will allow family members of University employees to get tested, called Safer Community. Although it’s not yet released, Sullivan anticipates it will be out this week and said he’s very excited about opening the University’s testing capabilities to the surrounding community. Safer Illinois is commonly used as a way to attend in-person classes; students have to show their status at the door in order to enter any University class. Robin Kaler, University spokesperson, said there are 2,200 in-person sections this spring, slightly less than in the fall. Building monitors are students hired by the University to check class attendees’ statuses at the entrance of each building. Kaler said there weren’t any drastic changes to the way building monitors are organized. Maddie Shannon, freshman in AHS and currently employed as a building monitor, said there weren’t any changes between her responsibilities last semester and now. She said she received a
FROM 1A
VACCINE just under 210,000. By Saturday’s tally, 11,511 residents have been fully vaccinated in Champaign, and nearly 40,000 have received their first dose.
Age demographics
vague email at the end of fall semester, thanking her for her work and saying that the University would let her know about hiring for the spring. Kaler said over 90% of building monitors returned for the new semester, and new monitors were hired to fill the vacancies.
Officials offer advice, acknowledge COVID-19 fatigue
As B117 cases are likely to increase, Goldenfeld recommends that everyone double mask. “It’s the cheapest, quickest and easiest way to slow down the spread of COVID,” he said. A study by University researchers also supports this practice. Additionally, eating with others can be dangerous and lead to superspreader events, Goldenfeld said. The Ikenberry Dining Hall and ISR Dining Hall opened up for limited indoor seating on Thursday, much to Goldenfeld’s concern. While restaurants and dining halls are opening up, he said that “the levels are not down low enough that you can say there’s still no transmission.” Sullivan said he recognizes the challenges at this time, especially as spring approaches. “All of us are going to want to do the things that humans do, especially as the weather gets warmer, and we’re just feeling the joy of spring,” he said. “It’s going to be hard.” Goldenfeld said that we don’t want to undo the work we’ve already done. “This is worth hanging in there for,” he said. “We may have pandemic fatigue,” Goldenfeld said. “The virus does not.” vla2@dailyillini.com
18.72% of seniors had been fully vaccinated in Champaign County, good for second in the state, behind Adams County’s 33.25%. Champaign County is in the later stages of the 1B phase of vaccine rollout. This week, residents 40-64 years of age with certain underlying health conditions and disabilities are eligible to receive a vaccine. Statewide, 1.3 million people have been administered at least one dose of a vaccine.
Champaign ranks very high in another area: the percentage of seniors that have been fully vaccinated. More than 45% of the county’s doses have gone to residents 65 and old- @esimmsnews er. After Friday’s doses, ecsimmon@dailyillini.com
4A
MONDAY
February 15, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
LIFE & CULTURE
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FASHION NETWORK
Left: Tyler Hixton and Elizabeth Karlovics model for a photo shoot that celebrates gender-neutral clothing in February 2020. Right: Chester Wilson III models for a photo shoot that celebrates gender neutral clothing in February 2020.
Students share passion for fashion BY JENNI KALLENBACK STAFF WRITER
For the fashionably inclined or the photography inspired students on campus, finding a community of other folks with similar interests can be as simple as turning to the RSO catalog. There, one can find The Fashion Network, a fashion magazine that works to produce high-quality content highlighting the fun and the fabulous. The Fashion Network attracts photographers, beginners and experienced, models, stylists and writers to contribute. They have published one issue per semester filled with sharp photos and compelling articles. Their most recent issue came out in January under the direction of previous President and Editor-in-Chief Sidney Madden and incoming President and Editor-inChief Jessie Peng. While their approach to putting together their latest project had to be adjusted to accommodate all COVID-19 procedures, the final product dazzles and intrigues those with an eye for the glamorous. “I think we’ve had a very successful semester being online,” said Nubaira Kabir, treasurer of The Fashion Network. Most organizations and clubs on campus have not been able to meet as a whole since back before March
of 2020. Members may be meeting virtually through Zoom or contributing and participating individually from different locations and time zones. Some made an effort to hold socially distanced in-person meetings when the weather was more temperate. Some have found this to contradict the purpose of an organization: to come together because of a common goal or interest. However, organizations have been doing the best they could given the circumstances. The situation for The Fashion Network had added complications with their Zoom meetings, due to the immense amount of coordination between the several individuals that are required for their work. Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, though, The Fashion Network has continued to publish content and create a fashion community on campus. The Fashion Network published its Fall 2020 issue, Issue 06, on Jan. 1. Because some members were off campus, they had to make do with Zoom or FaceTime photoshoots. “If you were modeling, you could FaceTime a photographer, and they would tell you how to pose and how to take pictures on your phone. They really made it easy for people
to do,” said member Nataleigh Rix. Rix has styled and modeled for The Fashion Network and used clothes she designed for photoshoots. Under normal circumstances, models would get their makeup done by makeup artists and stylists would bring clothes, but last semester, models styled themselves. The Fashion Network’s Fall 2020 issue discusses how fashion is related to social issues and activism and emphasized the importance of voting. “ We want to tailor our magazine to current events and voting is such an important issue that we want all members to participate in no matter what they believe in,” Kabir said. “Voting is such an important power that people have.” If members wanted to be involved in the “Vote” photoshoot, Rix said they had to apply by saying why voting was important to them and why it should be included in the issue. The Fashion Network collaborated with Kat Walk, a modeling RSO, for this shoot. The accompanying article discussed how clothing can be used to judge the people wearing it, especially women. One photo shows a model Kat Tamayo with two female gender symbols painted on her face.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FASHION NETWORK
Alanis Caref, Christine Chustak and Irene Ryu model for an early 2000s–inspired photo shoot in February 2020.
“If you have these cool pictures of models on the page, you’re really drawn to whatever it is they’ve written about,” Rix said. The Fashion Network also sells “Vote” stickers and accessories on RedBubble. In addition to creating a community for fashion lovers and raising awareness about social issues that intersect with fashion, The Fashion Network provides an opportunity to make connections with brands for those interested in the fashion industry. Before the pandemic hit, The Fashion Network part-
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.
nered with brands by wearing their clothing during shoots. The Fashion Network is also sponsored locally by Karma Trade, which is a clothing swap service where people can trade in their old clothes for store credit. Kabir said the biggest challenge for The Fashion Network has been not being able to bring all its members together, as social events and coordinated photoshoots haven’t been possible. Also, as an economics and biology major, she enjoys getting inspiration from members’ unique styles. “I love being involved
in that world especially because my major and what I do at school has nothing to do with fashion,” Kabir said. Rix said she was amazed by how members still came together because of their passion for fashion despite the pandemic. “If you’re looking at the issue compared to any issue in the past, it doesn’t seem any different,” Rix said. “It doesn’t even seem like there’s a pandemic which I think is really cool and I’m really proud of how that turned out.” jk31@dailyillini.com
100
$
(Includes domestic shipping; International shipping $50 extra)
Order your yearbook online at
illioyearbook.com or call 217-337-8314
THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
5A
Monday, February 15, 2021
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
The front of the University YMCA is pictured above. Several students live as residents on the third floor of the building.
YMCA residents describe living experience BY MATT TROHER ASSISTANT LONGFORM EDITOR
While students look for leases and discuss which forms of housing suit them best for the next year— whether that be University Housing, Private Certified Housing, Greek Housing or privately rented apartments — there remains another option. Students can rent space and live in the oldest housing option on campus: the University YMCA. Located on the corner of Wright and Chalmers streets on the West side of the Main Quad, the YMCA, with its red and grey bricks, shares the architectural style of many of the campus’s other buildings, such as the nearby Gregory Hall. The YMCA was the first building on campus to offer housing for students, first offering residency in 1908. The tradition is still alive today, with the top floor of the YMCA dedicated to housing up to twelve students each year. Due to the YMCA’s origin as a male institution, the YMCA only offers housing to male-identifying students. During a normal year, the YMCA’s third-floor houses twelve students in a com-
bination of double and triple rooms. The residents also share a kitchen, complete with a shared oven and wide cabinet space, and a living room, contributing to a sense of communal living. Michael Grovier, junior in Media, lives in the YMCA. Having transferred from Parkland, Grovier scoured the internet for housing options, looking to avoid the dorms crowded with underclassmen. He stumbled upon a listing for YMCA housing on a Facebook page and was intrigued by the idea of a convenient location and affordable cost. “Living at the Y has been really good; great location, great price, as long as you’re ok with the whole living with someone in the same room and sharing the facilities and stuff,” Grovier said. “To be honest, the triple is a little small, and I don’t personally think I would like to live in a room with two other people.” He said they have a little less privacy considering everyone shares a living room and bedroom. Next year, he plans to find one of the doubles to live in. Due to social distancing guidelines brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic,
the YMCA has limited their housing to only four students, converting all double and triple rooms into singles. However, Ann Rasmus, associate director of the YMCA, expects housing to return to full occupancy for next year. “The YMCA is concerned about public safety, and as we looked towards this fall, we didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize the wellness of our students,” Rasmus said. “We kept the rooms to individual occupancy, which is not necessarily the guidance that came from the University, but we felt it was the right thing to do.” Living at the YMCA allows residents easy access to all of the Y’s facilities and programming, such as “art at the Y” where the YMCA displays different art exhibits surrounding issues of social justice and activism on the first floor in the Murphy Gallery. They also host a weekly event they call “Forum Fridays” which is a series of lectures and discussions. This series seeks to raise awareness in the campus community about national and international trends and events. The forum program has been taking place for
KEEP YOURSELF AND OTHERS SAFE!
WEAR YOUR
MASK!
THE
DAILY ILLINI
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
The common area of the University YMCA residence is pictured above.
over 90 years. Due to the YMCA’s status as a center for the community, Rasums said housing at the facility attracts students who are interested in being involved. Many also have an interest in the overall mission of the YMCA and the goals it seeks to attain through the programming it offers. “Students choose to live here because of the loca-
tion, it’s people who want to be close to the heart of campus, and we have a very affordable option,” Rasmus said. “We tend to have pretty studious students, it never likes a party floor. It’s generally people who are pretty serious about their classes and students who are engaged in other parts of the mission of the Y, which are social justice and environmental
stewardship.” For the upcoming school year, housing at the YMCA costs $410 a month for space in a triple, $470 a month for space in a double, and $940 a month to convert a double into a single. The YMCA also offers summer housing at a reduced rate, costing $675 for the entire summer. mtroher2@dailyillini.com
NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1 Periodically sold fast-food item 6 What melting ice cream cones do 10 Swindle 14 Actress Donovan of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” 15 “Othello” villain 16 House in Mexico 17 Less risky 18 Cast celebration at the end of filming 20 Feelers 22 Frozen expanse 23 Olive ___ (Popeye’s sweetie) 24 It can be used for welcoming or wrestling 25 Charged particle 26 Souvenirs from Havana 31 Loosen, as laces 32 CPR performer 33 Occupants of kennels 37 Subjects in which women have traditionally been underrepresented, for short 38 Letters between thetas and kappas 40 Human rights attorney Clooney 41 FX network’s “___ of Anarchy” 42 Mediterranean, e.g. 43 Prenatal test, for short 44 Going from nightspot to nightspot 47 Soccer star Hamm 50 Buffoon 51 “___ you serious?” 52 Worker just for a summer, maybe 54 Source of healthful fat and fiber 59 Certain online board for discussion of a topic 61 Like an angle less than 90°
1
2
3
4
5
6
14
15
17
18
20
7
28
24
29
38
41
42
52
13
34
35
36
56
57
58
30
37
49
12
25
32
48
11
22
31
47
10
19
21
27
9
16
23 26
8
33
39
40 43
44
45
50
51
53
46
54
59
60
55 61
62
63
64
65
66
67
PUZZLE BY MARTHA KIMES
62 Old Russian ruler 63 Brontë’s “Jane ___” 64 Ethical 65 Divisions of tennis matches 66 Rocker Lou 67 Popular vodka brand, for short
DOWN
1 Flat-topped hill 2 Extended family 3 Break in relations 4 “Understood” 5 Without exception … as in dry counties? 6 Hindu festival of lights 7 Hard to find 8 Supermarket chain that’s big in small towns 9 Breakfast treats from a toaster 10 Read over
11 Rap’s ___ B 12 Member of a majorleague team with a name that’s out of this world? 13 Like an early Central American civilization 19 “Nobody ___ Baby in a corner” (line from “Dirty Dancing”) 21 Big Apple inits. 24 Many a baby’s first word 26 Talk a blue streak? 27 “Do ___ others …” 28 Vitamin also known as PABA 29 Goals 30 Do better than average, gradewise 33 Like a just-used towel 34 Hilton alternative 35 Profit 36 Trudge
38 Bahamian or Fijian 39 Egg: Fr. 43 Ways to earn college credits while in H.S. 44 Part of a reactor 45 Stopped 46 60 minuti 47 Sprays 48 Occupied 49 Chance for a hit 53 Blunders 54 Command to a cannoneer 55 Edinburgh native 56 Continental currency 57 And others: Abbr. 58 Where you might find the starts of 18-, 26-, 44- and 59-Across 60 Easter egg colorer
The crossword solution is in the Classified section.
6A
OPINIONS
MONDAY
February 15, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
Streaming services dilute TV ALICE LEE SENIOR COLUMNIST
It
PHOTO COURTESY OF DUOLINGO
The Duolingo logo is pictured above. Columnist Chiara asserts the Duolingo app helps users adequately learn various languages through a game-like structure.
Duolingo teaches well and quite addictive video game presence. And so, on my phone’s home screen, it COLUMNIST takes a seat next to Instagram and Snapchat. The player gets five ountless hours are hearts and loses a heart spent on our phones each time they get a queschecking our friends’ tion wrong. The questions new posts on Instagram, range from translation watching what influencto matching to speaking. ers have to say on Youtube Completing certain lesand scrolling through Tik sons unlock other topTok’s many wormholes. ics such as food, animals We play games for hours on and flirting. Duolingo has end, from Candy Crush to a scoreboard which comFIFA 21. pares your amount of lesSocial media and video sons to all the other people games are great forms of that are learning the same entertainment and comlanguage. munication. That’s why Inspired from Snapwe keep using them in our chat, Duolingo has streaks daily lives. My screen time which consist of how many reaches around eight hours days in a row you have met a day if I include my comyour daily goal, which can puter time—and not all of it range from one five mincomes from schoolwork. ute lesson to four lessons During winter break, as I a day. But one of its best sat staring at, you guessed features is the community it, my phone, I decided to group chats. Here, one can download Duolingo, an app meet people from all over that makes language learn- the world and speak in the ing a game, essentially language they are trying combining entertainment to learn. Think of it as the with communication and Clash of Clans global chat. learning, making this app a Currently at a monthrealistic way to tackle lan- long streak, I now realguage goals. ize how genius the creI’ve always wanted to ators of Duolingo are. I, improve my Italian, but like almost every young I pictured myself sitting adult, constantly use social in front of a textbook and media and video games to found the image too stress- quench my boredom. Duolful and boring. Howevingo essentially combines er, Duolingo disguises its the best aspects of social textbook heart with a fun media and video games. CHIARA AWATRAMANI
C
This makes language learning entertaining and fun — and quite addictive, at that. What’s most impressive about Duolingo is the fact that it unlocks a world of opportunities and people to users. Language connects people. With Duolingo, I can talk to my Nonna better. I can order in Italian restaurants. All of this from playing a game for five minutes on my phone everyday. Duolingo’s crucial concept of disguising learning in the form of a game inspired me to start searching for other learning games. Among one of my favorites is by far Quizlet. I use Quizlet to study for all my classes because this app, just like Duolingo, is a game and keeps me engaged in the same way other games do. Overall, when looking for ways to learn a language, Duolingo is one of the best and most realistic ways to learn a language as it breaks up language learning into lessons that are formatted as games. So, when looking to acquire new languages either for an exchange year or a vacation, Duolingo is worth a shot.
is often said there can never be too much of a good thing, but moderation is key, and excess of anything typically leads to bad things in the long run. In the entertainment landscape of streaming platforms and internet media, the wide variety of services offer a diverse selection of interests, but ultimately create more confusion and disruption in the curation of one’s television content. Netflix, Hulu and Amazon — the big three giants of streaming — consistently remain the most popular among consumers, with the former deserving the credit for transforming the future of television. Since the inception and growth of streaming as a viable entertainment option, an influx of other subscription services have entered the fold. By no means is this an exhaustive list, but it gives an indication of the many platforms offered: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, CBS All Access, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, Peacock and Quibi. Not to mention, this array of services doesn’t fully account for the innumerable boutique options available, such as Showtime and Starz channel extensions or live sports add-ons. With the myriad of new
streamers entering the market, it raises the serious concern of whether the surfeit of content exceeds consumer demand and overcomplicates the simplicity viewers are looking for when watching television. Whereas content was once easily accessible in one spot, today, content is spread across various platforms and depending on personal preferences, many viewers find themselves subscribed to more than one service. In a TV Time and United Talent Agency study analyzing consumer views of the streaming media landscape, 70 % of respondents feel there are too many streaming choices, with cost being the most common complaint. Media companies are clearly aware of the profitable power behind releasing their original content directly to the consumer through their own distribution service, but an excess of options may lead to consumer confusion and fatigue when it comes to athome entertainment. The constant disruptions with platform exclusivity and creative licensing only augment public pressure for consumers to subscribe to numerous platforms in order to access content of their choosing. HBO Max experienced a surge in subscriptions at the end of last year after announcing the premiere of “Wonder Woman 1984” and entering a deal with Roku TV.
With several more WarnerMedia films scheduled for exclusive release on HBO Max in 2021, it is likely subscription numbers will continue to increase. There is no denying the golden age of television the world is currently experiencing, and it may seem like a champagne problem to debate the complexity behind the streaming world and all of its nuances. While having an abundance of options does seem like a fortunate problem to have, too much of a good thing eventually leads to unforeseen consequences down the line. An oversaturation in the field of entertainment services may backfire for new streamers who are unlikely to experience the same level of success or popularity as previously established platforms. Similarly, consumers are not willing to add more subscriptions to their expansive list of TV services in perpetuity. In the era of post-cable television and cordless streaming, viewers are inundated with services offering selections of varying content and programming. When it comes down to it, the average person prefers simplicity and convenience — too many options would only serve as a deterrence and complication most people aren’t looking for. Alice is a junior in LAS. alicewl2@dailyillini.com
?
Chiara is a freshman in LAS. cawatr2@dailyillini.com
ANGELINA CHAN THE DAILY ILLINI
Pixar’s ‘Soul’ amplifies the power of gratitude, appreciation RAYNA WUH COLUMNIST
T
his year has been a challenge for everyone, even if those challenges were not always related to the pandemic. In times like these, gratitude can be a powerful tool that shifts perspectives and captures some of the good in the world. Pixar’s newest release “Soul” follows Joe Gardner, a middle-school band teacher caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life in New York City. Unfortunately, just as he is about to catch his big break, an unexpected turn causes his soul to separate from his body. While his body remains on Earth, his soul enters the “Great Before,” where unborn souls develop their personalities. There, he meets a rebellious soul named “22” who had evaded living a life on Earth for many millennia, scorning it as meaningless and full of suffering. Joe and 22 hatch a plan to fulfill their respective goals, for
KAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI
Joe, returning to his body, and for 22 bypassing life altogether. However, in true Pixar fashion, things go awry and 22 unwittingly gets a taste of life as a human. Despite her original apprehension, 22 quickly embraces life and finds excitement in the most mundane aspects of living. For 22, actions like skywatching, and walking that are often taken for granted are novel and fascinating. She relishes in bonding with others and throughout her day collects little treasures that look like mere trash to
the common eye—a pizza crust, a half-eaten bagel, a dirty lollipop, a spool of thread, a crumpled metro ticket and a seed that fell from a maple tree. Genuine joy can be sparked even in the most seemingly inconsequential moments. The ability to recognize and show appreciation for experiences that are easy to take for granted is powerful.“Soul” expresses the heartfelt message that, though we tend to value big results and accomplishments, the regular aspects of life can
be just as meaningful. Several scientific studies also suggest that the practice of gratitude can change you and your brain for the better. In his essay “Why Gratitude Is Good,” psychologist Robert Emmons writes, “[gratitude is] an affirmation of goodness. We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we’ve received.” Just by acknowledging the good, we can amplify it and increase its benefit. A study conducted by researcher Y. Joel Wong among adults seeking Uni-
versity-based psychotherapy services affirms this notion. Participants were assigned randomly to one of three conditions. Each of the nearly 300 participants received either psychotherapy only, psychotherapy plus expressive writing or psychotherapy plus gratitude writing. Expressive writing focuses on deep thoughts and stressful experiences, while gratitude writing focuses on expressing thanks. The researchers found that those in the gratitude condition reported significantly better mental health than the other two conditions. Additionally, the mental health of those in the expressive writing and the control conditions did not differ significantly. When the researchers analyzed words from the expressive and gratitude writing, they found that the lack of negative emotion words was the distinguishing factor that accounted for the differences in mental health between the writing groups. Thus, not only does gratitude help reaffirm the good, but it also helps remove attention from toxic emotions. Since the new year, I have
taken additional steps to apply those same principles to my own life. Every day, I document three things that I am grateful for. What I write about can range from my relationships with others and meaningful interactions to the sun being out or waking up early one morning. This simple exercise makes me actively seek out and identify little scattered delights in my life. Even on the days when I am struggling to find motivation, I have been able to more easily separate from toxic feelings and increase my sense of fulfillment. Maintaining a positive mindset during dire or difficult situations can be more harmful than helpful. However, inviting a greater sense of gratitude into our lives can help relieve some of the pain and enhance the good. While it is no panacea or cure to all ills, expressing gratitude has a significant impact. Especially with everything going on, we all deserve to step back, slow down and find appreciation in the smallest of details. Rayna is a freshman in LAS. rwuh2@dailyillini.com
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS | opinions@dailyillini.com with the subject “Letter to the Editor.” The Daily Illini reserves the right to edit for length, libel, grammar and spelling errors, and Daily Illini style or to reject any contributions. Letters must be limited to 300 words. Contributions must be typed and include the author’s name, address and phone number. University students must include their year in school and college.
1B
MONDAY
February 15, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
SPORTS
VOLLEYBALL
FOOTBALL
Bielema increases state, transfer portal presence BY CARSON GOURDIE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
PHOTO COURTESY OF FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS/ CRAIG PESSMAN
Senior setter Kylie Bruder rises up to serve during a game against Wisconsin at Huff Hall on Jan. 29. Bruder has overcome many challenges to become one of the team’s star players this season.
Bruder steps into expanded role BY WES HOLLENBERG STAFF WRITER
For senior Kylie Bruder, her role has changed from a self-described cheerleader on the bench to an integral piece in Illinois’ rotation almost overnight. With head coach Chris Tamas opting to run a 6-2 rotation, which utilizes two setters, Bruder got the nod at the start of the season and hasn’t looked back. Though she is a major part of Illinois’ offense this season, it didn’t always look like she’d get to play much. “I came in in my freshman year and tore my ACL, so I didn’t get to play at all that year,” Bruder said.
“When I came back from that injury, I was kind of a mess playing-wise. I hadn’t played in eight months, and it wasn’t pretty.” Bruder struggled when she returned from injury, but Illinois had the infrastructure for her to fall back on. Tamas was a setter during his playing career, and the program had an alltime great setter in Jordyn Poulter at the time. “Chris is a great setters coach, and he’s taught me a lot,” Bruder said. “I also got to learn from someone like Jordyn who is an amazing setter and could be an Olympian one day, so she’s an awesome person to learn
from. (Diana Brown) and Mica (Allison) are pushing me every day in the gym. They’re both really talented setters. I think just being surrounded with people like that has helped me grow a lot.” Before things got better for Bruder, they got a bit worse. When COVID-19 hit, Bruder was worried she may have taken the court for the last time. “It was definitely hard at first, just emotionally, especially when our fall season got canceled, not knowing if I was ever gonna play a competitive volleyball game again,” Bruder said. “That was definitely
The biggest factor that determines whether a budding program is a sleeping giant: a fertile recruiting base. Illinois basketball has always garnered more respect than its football counterpart over the past 30 years due to its ability to recruit the state better. The 1980s era of Illini basketball were dominated by Lou Henson and Jimmy Collins’ abilities to build a diverse coalition of homegrown talent. They were able to pick off athletes from Chicago powerhouse Simeon, Chicago suburbs Aurora and Matteson and deep south Carbondale. The statewide roster led to arguably Illinois’ most talented, successful season — leading to a 1989 Final Four appearance. Illinois has since struggled to consistently live up to those expectations of recruiting Illinois’ best high school talent, though there has been an awakening since the arrival of Morgan Park graduates Ayo Dosunmu and Adam Miller. While Illinois basketball
has found success in recruiting, parlaying it into a strong foundation for the future, the football team hasn’t had the same good fortune. If a program’s own in-state talent doesn’t respect you, other states probably won’t either. Bielema has a plan for his program to reignite past struggles defending their own turf. After billing up a new, innovative plan to recruit the state, Bielema and the program have revealed each Illinois recruiting territory the 10 coaches on the staff are responsible for, signaling a direct response to one of the Lovie Smith tenure’s biggest flaws. At the same time, Bielema plans to continue Smith’s success with bringing in graduate transfers. “To be able to build relationships, that’s why we divided up the state into 10 different segments,” Bielema said. “Our coaches will begin to contact these (high school) coaches now and just say, ‘Hey, is there anybody that’s popping up?’ Sometimes, even those coaches won’t, SEE PRESENCE | 3B
tough mentally, and I think all the seniors sort of felt that way. There were a lot of unknowns. After that, we just came in. I think the team did a really good job of working hard every day despite the circumstances.” Now that the season is underway, Bruder’s worries have mostly vanished as she’s gotten on the court with her teammates. She’s played in all 24 sets so far this year, and in that time she’s excelled. So far, she’s averaging a serviceable PHOTO COURTESY OF FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS/MICHAEL GLASGOW 4.04 assists per set. New Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema receives a While seeing major play- personalized jersey from Josh Whitman on Dec. 22. Bielema ing time is a first for Brud- plans to recruit future players from Illinois to increase chances SEE BRUDER | 2B
of team success.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
DOSUNMU PUTS TEAM ON BACK LATE IN OVERTIME WIN BY JACKSON JANES ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
On Thursday, the Illini were supposed to be in Ann Arbor for one of their biggest games of the season: a showdown with the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines. Instead, that game got postponed for unclear reasons, and Illinois was forced to play one of its postponed games from earlier in the season. The Illini traveled to Lincoln on Friday night to face a Nebraska team that had yet to win a Big Ten game this season. It seemed like it should’ve been a cakewalk for the Illini, but it was anything but easy for the sixth-ranked team in the country. Illinois needed a five-minute overtime period for the second time in three games to take down an energetic Nebraska team, eventually winning 77-72 for the team’s fifth straight win.
Illini fans should be thankful Thursday’s game got postponed, as the Illini looked completely out of their element for most of the game, playing sloppily on both ends of the court. If not for the late-game heroics from junior Ayo Dosunmu, the Illini might’ve been on the wrong end of one of the most shocking wins of this college basketball season. It certainly won’t be a night to remember for Brad Underwood’s squad, but let’s take a look at seven Illini performers from Friday night’s ugly win. Note: Despite starting the game, Jacob Grandison did not play enough for me to fairly assess his performance. Giorgi Bezhanishvili also will be omitted from these grades, as he played only six minutes. Neither player would get high marks, though, so it shouldn’t matter too much.
KOFI COCKBURN
It’s rare for Cockburn to have an off night, and Friday was no different. The sophomore center finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, which is his 11th double-double through 13 Big Ten games this season. Early in the game, it seemed like the Cornhuskers figured out how to contain the Illini big man, often putting two defenders on him in the paint to eliminate the feed pass. It didn’t take long for Cockburn to find his groove, however, as the Jamaica native put up video game-like numbers once again, using his size and strength to brush off weaker Nebraska defenders.
On the defensive end, though, Cockburn didn’t look very comfortable, and Nebraska took advantage of that, converting several easy layups. He also failed to get his hands on missed Cornhusker shot attempts, which almost came back to haunt the Illini late in the game. In overtime, Cockburn found himself at the free throw line often, though he made just two of his six attempts. Thankfully, Dosunmu bailed him out, but Cockburn needs to get his free throw situation sorted out. A 57.6% free throw percentage isn’t good enough for someone who gets to the free throw line as often as Cockburn does, and that free throw issue almost cost the Illini on Friday night.
A-
AYO DOSUNMU
Coming off his first career triple-double on Saturday against and turned the ball over carelessly multiple times. Wisconsin, Dosunmu put the team on his back once again But as we’ve seen on countless occasions in Dosunmu’s on Friday night. The Chicago native scored the Illini’s career, he is one of the best closers in college basketball final 10 points in regulation before scoring seven of and rarely misses late in close games. Friday night was the team’s 11 points in overtime, finishing with 31 no different, as Dosunmu single-handedly carried points — a career-high for him in a Big Ten game the Illini, both offensively and defensively, to — six assists and four steals. avoid the catastrophic upset, adding anothIt looked like it was going to be a stunning, disaser jaw-dropping performance to his trous loss for No. 6 Illinois, just days after taking already impressive resume in Chamdown Wisconsin at home in one of the team’s best paign. Josh Whitman should already be performances of the season. Early Friday night, Dosunworking on getting Dosunmu’s name in the mu looked off his game, as he repeatedly looked slow and tired rafters at State Farm Center.
A+
TRENT FRAZIER
Following a slow start to the season, Frazier has found his tight defense throughout the game which forced the Corngroove lately, both on offense and defense. Friday was huskers into tough contested shots. One play in parno different, as the senior guard went for 10 points ticular that illustrates how vital Frazier is to this in the win. Illini team was when he forced a steal and took The Florida native looked solid once again on the ball coast to coast for an easy layup, showthe offensive end, and his veteran presence helped casing his abilities on both ends of the court. The calm the nerves of younger teammates with the senior guard’s energetic presence on defense is game on the line. Though he had a good shooting essential to this Illini team’s success going forward, performance, Frazier’s defensive showing was where something that proved pivotal for Brad Underwood’s he truly stood out. squad on Friday. SEE GRADES | 3B Frazier looked confident and reliable on defense, playing
B-
2B Monday, February 15, 2021
THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Jeanae Terry’s hot streak signals bright future
FROM 1B
BRUDER er, her play has looked like that of a seasoned veteran, as she’s made savvy plays left and right. One such play was a fake set she logged for a kill during Illinois’ only set win over No. 1 Wisconsin on Jan. 30. “I probably started doing that in high school,” Bruder said. “I think it honestly works better in college because people are less likely to think you are just going to do that because it doesn’t seem like it would work — just setting a ball over the net. When teams aren’t expecting it, it will go down. It’s something I’ve been doing for a while. It’s kind of a fun thing with our (defensive specialists) when I get them on one since they know I like to do it.” While kills are few and far between for setters, Bruder’s kill was especially valuable, as the set Illinois won against Wisconsin is still Wisconsin’s only set loss of the season through seven matches. With ma king slick, unconventiona l plays quickly becoming a niche for Bruder, it seems she may be taking part in a line of elite setters within the program. While Poulter was the latest great setter to pass the torch, Bruder is getting a brief chance to hold it herself, playing the setter position alongside redshirt sophomore Diana Brown this season. “I’m definitely just really grateful for the opportunity to be able to come in and play,” Bruder said. “It’s been a little bit of an adjustment for me from the past where I’ve just been a bit of a cheerleader on the bench. I enjoyed that role, but I have to be more engaged now in the game. A little bit of nerves at first, but I think I’m settling into the role, but I think that’ll come with time, too.” @WesHollenberg wih2@dailyillini.com
BY NITHIN REDDY ASSISTANT VIDEO EDITOR
Flint, Michigan, is no stranger to basketball talent. Just look at the NBA and WNBA, where Flint is represented by players like Draymond Green, Miles Bridges and Deanna Nolan. Illinois sophomore guard Jeanae Terry is trying to write her own path as the next great Flint player. Despite some struggles as a team, Terry has exploded for the Illini recently. In her last five games, Terry is averaging 18 points, 10.4 rebounds and six assists per game while shooting an efficient 46.8% from the floor. Terry has developed immensely in her short time at Illinois. In just her second year with the team, Terry has shaken off a middle of the season lull and is playing like a superstar. “In the beginning of the season, I had a lot of ups and downs being aggressive,” Terry said. “These five games (have) been about being confident and aggressive and looking inside. I think these games have just been me using my IQ against other players and knowing what spots are good for me on the floor.” Finding her spots on offense has been key for Terry, and her scoring jumps out as a result. She has broken double digits in each of the last five games, but she’s not just taking high volume-shots. Terry is scoring from three levels and forcing the defense to stay honest. Rebounding is a big part of Terry’s success. She is averaging a team-high nine rebounds per game, but her rebounds impact the game in a different way. When Terry gets a defensive rebound, she’s looking to push the ball and create transition opportunities. Terry is a decision-maker who makes plays when she
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
Sophomore guard Jeanae Terry passes during a game against Valparaiso at State Farm Center on Dec. 2. Terry’s confidence on the court and great leadership are for to the team this year.
has the ball in her hands, so the Illini benefit from her getting those rebounds and making decisions. Terry is also the team leader in assists. She’s always been a great passer, but this skillset only adds to her ability to change the game in a multitude of ways. It allows Illini head coach Nancy Fahey to change up lineups. “It’s kind of game to game. We need her in the backcourt as much as we need her in the four spot,” Fahey said. “We’re trying to use her to her best ability knowing that she’s that versatile, and we can use that in a lot of different areas.” Terry’s defense has also been stout in this run. It’s
easy to see the Wisconsin and Purdue games and think five steals in each of those games is what tells the story, but that only scratches the surface. Her off-ball defense is improving, and she is playing quality team defense all the way around. Her game has developed beyond statistics. A year ago, she was still learning to be a college basketball player. Now, she’s learning how to lead a team. Her voice has grown, and it shows through her communication on the court. When Terry draws a charge, she will let out a primal scream. When a teammate makes an andone, Terry will clap and
cheer on her teammates. “She’s taken a leadership role, and she’s taken the shots she’s needed to take. She’s leading the team, showing that this is what we need to do to score,” said sophomore guard Jada Peebles. “She’s doing what she needs to do on the court for us to get a win.” Terry is still not the extravert one might think. When talking with the media, she’s quiet and shy, but the best comes out of her when playing with her teammates on the court. The Illini have needed this outburst from Terry. Last year, Illinois had great perimeter play from players like Petra Holešínská and Ali Andrews, but they
lacked size inside. Fahey thought she might have solved the problem by bringing in transfer center Eva Rubin. Instead, it created a whole new problem. The depa r tures of Holešínská and Andrews created a scoring gap the Illini have not made up. They currently rank last in the Big Ten in scoring, but the Illini’s numbers have been increasing. The Illini still have a way to go, but with Terry emerging as the next Illini great, she’s on track to reach stardom like many of her Flint predecessors. @theindianmamba nithinr2@dailyillini.com
Housing Find your next home with
The Daily Illini
Start and end your housing hunt today!
housing.dailyillini.com
THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
Monday, February 15, 2021
3B
WRESTLING
Illini look to continue success in playoffs PRESENCE FROM 1B
BY ISAAC HEPPNER STAFF WRITER
It’s no secret that the Illini wrestling team is currently one of the best in the country. They are 5-2 and have numerous athletes on the team who have shined all season. With the Big Ten Championships right around the corner, Illinois will try and secure a title for the first time since 2005. A big part of the Illini’s success has been their intelligence off the mats. Redshirt junior Matt Wroblewski believes not getting shut down due to COVID-19 has had a great impact on the team. “We gotta keep being smart,” Wroblewski said. “Our biggest thing was that we didn’t get shut down this season. You see
these big programs getting shut down for two weeks, whether it was in December or now, but we’ve done a really good job staying disciplined.” Wroblewski is proud of the way everyone has been competing. He knows people did not expect them to be this good at the beginning of the season. After a disappointing end to last season, Wroblewski made it his goal to improve. He took full advantage of the COVID-19 situation and worked hard. “I think I made a big jump from last year to this year,” Wroblewski said. “I took advantage of the COVID situation and made the best out of what I had. I didn’t have the best season last year, and it left a little sick feeling in my stomach
that I didn’t like. I worked really hard in quarantine, and it’s finally starting to translate.” Though it wasn’t easy to practice during quarantine, Wroblewski found ways to get better during the tough times. “With everything shut down, it was a big challenge,” Wroblewski said. “It started off with running, jumping rope and biking. I did pull-ups and push-ups in my basement. One of the biggest problems last year was my strength, so staying consistent with lifting and working out was the biggest thing for me.” The Big Ten Championships are only three weeks away. Wroblewski and the Illini know they have to go out there and get the job done to move on.
“We have to just go out there and win,” Wroblewski said. “It’s the Big Ten Tournament. Anything can happen. Like you see in March Madness basketball, teams get upset all the time when the pressure is on. There are people who have decent regular seasons but have a breakout national tournament. We’ll see what happens.” The No. 11 Illini will face the No. 8 Nebraska Cornhuskers on Sunday. With only one regular-season match remaining, Illinois will try to end the season on a high note before the Big Ten Championships begin on March 6. @heppsballin iwh2@dailyillini.com
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
Illini wrestler Matt Wroblewski begins a match against Purdue on Jan. 24 at Huff Hall. Wroblewski has taken advantage of COVID-19 by working on his strength as the playoffs approach.
FROM 1B
GRADES Adam Miller: B
After a rough start to the season offensively, Miller seems to have found his shooting touch over the last few games. That was no different on Friday night, as the Chicago native finished with 10 points and seven rebounds, making his presence felt on offense and defense. Miller trusts his shot from beyond the arc despite shooting 34.6%. On Friday, however, the freshman guard got his shots to fall inside the arc as well, as he shot 40% on all field goal attempts. Late in the game, though, Miller stepped up defensively, forcing Nebraska to take tough shots and run down the clock with the game on the line. This intensity on the defensive end is crucial for this team to win games,
and the Illini easily could’ve taken the loss if it hadn’t been for the freshman’s efforts on defense. Miller still has to work on his maturity in terms of his shot selection, but he will certainly be a huge asset for the Illini in the postseason and beyond during his time in Champaign.
Andre Curbelo: B-
Saturday’s game with Wisconsin was the worst of Curbelo’s short Illini career. The Puerto Rico native easily could’ve come out Friday with that performance still on his mind and played poorly, but it looked like he put that game behind him. Though he didn’t score any points, the freshman racked up four assists in the win. With the Illini struggling to get shots to fall early in the first half, Curbelo was a spark off the bench, setting up two wide-open three-pointers to get the offense going.
His energy and selfless passing are what make him such a promising prospect for the Illini, and those qualities were on full display on Friday night. Though he helped jumpstart a static Illinois offense, his impact wore off as the game went on, and turnover issues plagued the freshman once again. Once Curbelo gains some maturity, especially in terms of his overly ambitious drives to the basket, he has the potential to become an Illini great.
Coleman Hawkins: B-
Wow. I did not see this performance coming. After seeing limited minutes over Illinois’ last few games, Hawkins got 10 minutes of playing time on Friday, and he was put in to get the offense going. He certainly made his impact known, getting a circus shot two-pointer to fall before drilling a three, which is only his third triple
area products, including Isaiah Williams. Offensive coordinator Tony Petersen will lead two different regions in Illinois, with him having oversight in the Quad region near Iowa and Wisconsin and the Champaign area. Defensive coordinator Ryan Walters will oversee the Peoria and Bloomington region, though he doesn’t have immediate connections to the cities. But while recruiting the state of Illinois needs to improve to create a consistent bowl contender, the Illini still need to have a national recruiting presence. While the Illini may not be able to pluck five-stars from Texas, there’s one avenue Smith proved was successful: the transfer portal. Illinois’ most recent bowl team was built by the portal with Brandon Peters, Josh Imatorbhebhe and Milo Eifler transferring from blue blood programs to Illinois, which gave them the opportunity to receive playing time while Illinois acquired more talent. Though Lovie Smith was famous for the practice, one could argue Bielema was a pioneer with the portal. In fact, Bielema brought in both Russell Wilson and J.J. Watt from other schools, which helped lead the Badgers to back-toback Rose Bowl appearances in 2011 and 2012. Just a few months into his tenure, Bielema has acquired transfers from across the nation, including North Carolina State linebacker Calvin Hart and East Carolina running back Chase Hayden. In Bielema’s view, transfers who come from a flashier program to Illinois will be seasoned athletes who know the ropes better than high schoolers and are game ready by day one. “This whole graduate transfer is something I’ve been intrigued with for a long time,” Bielema said. “Graduate transfers make educational and business decisions. They’re going to make decisions on a smaller window. They’ve already seen the glitz and glamour; now, they want the meat and potatoes.”
even though they have a Division I prospect right in front of their face.” Illinois’ high school football talent has never been able to compete with the likes of Ohio, Georgia, Texas or even Pennsylvania. Compared to the Lone Star State or the Sunshine State, Illinois produces a fraction of four stars or five stars. Despite having less highend caliber high school athletes, the state isn’t completely bare of talent. The state produced several fourstar players this past recruiting class, and Minnesota and Iowa picked apart the state even though Illinois employed a former Chicago Bears coach. If a program can’t convince top talent from its state to come to its school, it’s unlikely four stars from neighboring states will come, too. To put it into context, Wisconsin high school football is not California. However, Wisconsin is still able to keep its best players at home, which has helped Wisconsin transition from a middling program to the most consistent one in the conference, aside from Ohio State. Bielema, who was the former head football coach at Wisconsin, understands the path to success will need to have a touch — or a major part — come from high schools in Illinois. “In the state, we have made several outreaches early on in the first two weeks, and that’s to build and grow,” Bielema said. “We will definitely make a thorough evaluation of every program in the state that’s playing football.” With each coach — even coordinators — having a slice of the pie, Illinois will have a full, 360-degree scope on the state’s high school talent. Offensive line coach Bart Miller will lead the attack in the Chicagoland suburbs, with a focus on Naperville and Aurora, which has slipped in recent years. Running backs coach Cory Patterson will retain his territory of St. Louis, as he’s a proven recruiter. Since Smith plucked him from the @gourdiereport high school ranks, Patterson gourdie2@dailyillini.com helped sign several St. Louis
since joining the Illini this season. Hawkins isn’t going to be a game changer for the Illini this season, but he can certainly be a spark off the bench when the team is struggling to get shots to fall. Though he seemed to get a bit overly confident after scoring five quick points, the California native can provide depth and energy off the bench whenever he’s needed.
Da’Monte Williams: C-
It’s hard to say much about Williams’ performances these days. On Friday night, however, the Peoria native was a liability on defense, consistently getting caught out of position and flat-footed which led to Cornhusker baskets. His inability to grab defensive rebounds was also a major cause for concern, including a missed rebound that led to a wide-open Nebraska three to widen Illinois’ deficit to six with just under three minutes
CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
Freshman Adam Miller goes for a layup during the game against Wisconsin on Feb. 6. Miller shot 40% on all field goal attempts during the game against Nebraska on Friday.
left. On the offensive end, Williams didn’t do much, as he didn’t take any shots, a surprising phenomenon for one of the most successful three-point shooters in the country. The Illini need the
senior guard to get back into his rhythm from beyond the arc moving forward, especially when the offense struggles to get going. @JacksonJanes3 janes6@dailyillini.com
CHAMPAIGN’S ALTERNATIVE
LIVE STREAM AT WPGU.COM
4B Monday, February 15, 2021
THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
11. Jun 2008
CLASSIFIEDS THE DAILY ILLINI
Help to make well known of sudoku-topical.c You like this website? Then recommend it to If you own yourself a website, place a link to If you print out the sudokus then print them t Tell your acquaintances, friends and teamm Just help to make this site well known.!
Classified advertisers can now place print and online classified ads directly at:
www.dailyillini.com/classifieds
Announcements
2 3 8 5 9 7 1 4 6
3 7 9 1 2 4 5 6 8
6 4 7 1 2 8 9 3 5
7 9 4 2 6 3 8 5 1
5 6 1 7 9 8 2 4 3
2 8 3 4 1 5 7 9 6
9 1 5 6 4 3 7 8 2
8 6 9 4 5 1 2 7 3
3 5 2 7 6 9 8 1 4
9 2 5 6 7 1 3 8 4
4 7 1 3 8 2 6 5 9
4 3 7 8 5 9 6 1 2
1 2 3 9 7 5 4 6 8
5 8 4 2 1 6 3 9 7
7 9 6 8 3 4 5 2 1
8 1 6 3 4 2 9 7 5
M E S A
8 5 6 7 1 9 4 3 2
Needs Your Help!
3 5 8 7 4 9 2 1 6
1 6 9 5 2 3 4 7 8
4 2 7 6 1 8 5 3 9
5 3 1 2 8 7 9 6 4
M I S T S
I N U S E
5 3 4 9 8 1 7 2 6
2 7 6 3 9 5 8 4 1
S L O G
The Daily Illini relies on inside sources to break news to the campus community. If you have information everyone needs to know, we want to hear from you.
2 6
8
9
8
2 6
19
7 9 2 4 5 6 1 8 3
6 2 8 3 5 7 1 4 9
11. Jun 2008 Submit a news tip to news@dailyillini.com 1
3 7 4 9 8 6 1 2 5
4 9 5 6 2 8 1 7 3
1
9 7 1 4 6 2 8 5 3
17
P ro te c t
y o u r s 5e 8l f
8
8
7
6 9
5 3
4 5 8
1
2
Enter the numbers 1-9 in the blank spaces so that each row, column and 3x3 square contains only one of each number. There is only one solution. (solution in Classifieds and online at www.dailyillini.com).
D E L I
4
7 1
6
4
5
8 Skill:
2
8
1 8 9 2 3 4 5 6 7
9 1 5 8 6 4 3 2 7 U N T O
3
2
2 6 5 1 7 8 3 9 4
8 4 3 1 7 2 6 9 5
C U S S
1
7 4 3 6 9 5 2 8 1
M A Y A N
4 9 7 8 2 3 6 1 5
S C A C A S P A R T U N D R T I O S D O G A M A A M N I O P P I N R E A X S E E A C U T M O R A S T O L
3 1 2 5 4 6 9 7 8
22
P O P T A R T S
21
B D R I A I A G R W R A N N A E O Y L M B A N C I G A T I E E M E M I O T A N S S E A C L U B H A O A F A T E R N F L B R E D D I T A R E Y R E T S R E E D
5
1 5 2 9 8 6 4 3 7
Deadline: 11:00 a.m. one business day prior to publication
I S E E
Sudoku Skill: 17 7
6 4 8 5 3 7 1 2 9
In addition to PAID ads for commercial businesses, we offer FREE ONLINE ads to UIUC students who sign into their accounts with “Illinois.edu” addresses.
R I F T
Announcements
THE DAILY ILLINI
Sign in to set up an account with us. Pricing is available on the site upon login. You can place ads in The Daily Illini print publications on Mondays and Thursdays, or on our dailyillini.com website, or both.
C L A N
Announcements
P
7
Part A
1
22
3
a n d
5
2
2
o t h e 5r s4
19
9
2
3
6 4 8
3 7 8 9 1 4 6 5 2
1 2 6 5 3 7 8 9 4
6 8 4 9 3 1 7 5 2
18
1 2 8 5 4 3 9 6 7
6 9 5 1 7 2 3 4 8
PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING 8 1 2 4 7 9 3 6 5
6
5
1
7 5 3 8 6 1 4 2 9
9 6 4 2 5 3 7 8 1
6
9
8
6 3 9 1 8 5 2 4 7
3
2 4 7 3 9 6 5 1 8
9
5 8 1 7 4 2 9 3 6
13
4 5 6 3 9 1 7 8 2
8 1 7 6 2 4 5 9 3
2 3 9 8 5 7 4 1 6
9 4 2 7 6 5 8 3 1
5 8 1 2 3 9 6 7 4
7 6 3 4 1 8 2 5 9
14
9
11. Jun 2008
4 6
6
3
3
8
1
7
4
1 8
8
4
6
6
3
7
3
4
3 25
8
4
3
7
1
6
1
7
7
1
2
7
5
3
4 4
9
2
5
8
8 2
1
9 5
7
9
3
1 8
6
2
4
1
7
5
2
5 5
1
6 3
4
4 3 5 ILLINI THE2 DAILY
THE
5
3
1 3
6 4
9
DAILY ILLINI
2
8
6
1 6 Attention University of Illinois Seniors:
8 5
7
1
Last call for Class of 2021
Senior Pictures FEB. 23 - MAR. 14 Your safety is our #1 concern. See our website for more details. Portraits are from the waist up so dress accordingly. We provide the cap & gown!
Schedule your appointment at illioyearbook.com illio yearbook
8
O F F I C I A L Y E A R B O O K AT T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F I L L I N O I S S I N C E 1 8 9 4
2
4
Par
THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
Monday, February 15, 2021
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.
MONDAY, FEB. 15
Champaign County Forest Preserve District Snowflake Search
PHOTO COURTESY OF SPOTIFY
The cover for Arlo Parks’ new album, “Collapsed in Sunbeams,” is pictured above. The album was released on Jan. 29.
Arlo Parks debuts new album buzz factor: BY SYDNEY WOOD STAFF WRITER
Released on Jan. 29, Arlo Parks’s debut album “Collapsed in Sunbeams” explores relationship complications, hopelessness and setting boundaries. Throughout the album, Parks blends expressive poetic lyrics with warm instrumentals, creating a pleasant album full of sweet harmonies and unique rhythms. Raised in West London, the 20-year-old singer-songwriter and poet is currently signed to Transgressive Records and has released two EPs and a string of singles in addition to her latest album. Parks’s music is a fusion of indie-pop, neosoul and lo-fi music. Some notable tunes in the album include “For Violet,” “Too Good,” “Black Dog”
and Parks’s title track at the album’s beginning. The spoken-word piece, “Collapsed in Sunbeams,” features vivid imagery and describes a tender, bittersweet moment between two people, creating an almost intimate experience between Parks and the listener. “Collapsed in Sunbeams” is the manifestation of Parks’s vulnerability and courage to expose her emotions to listeners willingly. Throughout the album, Parks connects with listeners and offers her own experiences with loss and finding herself, if only so listeners will relate and find comfort in their shared experiences with Parks. Parks explores depression and the almost unbearable weight of isolation in “Hope.” The tune’s optimistic title encapsulates Parks’s message of comfort
and encouragement to those feeling alone and low-spirited, and she assures listeners they are not alone in their feelings. The piano melody serves as the backbone for the song’s tempo, and Parks relies on repeated, harmonic piano chords to set the tune’s primary groove. Throughout the piece, percussive elements and the bassline complement Parks’ smooth voice and resonant harmonies. In “Hope,” Parks expresses her own experiences of depression and hopelessness, creating a profound, intimate link between Parks and her listeners. In “Bluish,” Parks uses tender lyrics to describe feelings of claustrophobia in a relationship, and she ties the whole piece together with the line, “When I say I needed some space, I SEE ARLO PARKS | 6B
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 a picture of your finds and share them on Facebook and Instagram pages using the hashtag #CCFPDSnowflakeSearch.
Virtual Open Mic Night with Canopy Club
7:30-11:30 p.m. A virtual event hosted by The Canopy Club Free Join the Champaign-Urbana Open Mic Nights crew, including Anika Emily, Jake Fava Music, Moe Pesci da Goodfella, Lola Honey and more for weekly COVID-19 induced Zoom open mics. Until we can all be back at The Canopy Club, this is the best we’ve got.
TUESDAY, FEB. 16
Looking for Lincoln
All Day A virtual event hosted by the Museum of the Grand Prairie Free Are you looking for something to do outdoors in the winter months? Want to remember Lincoln’s birthday? Why not look for Lincoln here in our home county?
Stay strong, Illini.
We believe in you. covid19.illinois.edu
There are eight Looking for Lincoln signs in Champaign County marking his 20-year career as a circuit lawyer traveling through the area. The Museum of the Grand Prairie is doing a Facebook series that will feature these signs, other sightings of Lincoln, fun extra facts about Honest Abe and give coordinates for a trip or two to see historical sites.
Black History Month Read Aloud: The Undefeated 1-3 p.m. A virtual event hosted by the Museum of the Grand Prairie Free Tune in for a discussion of this Caldecottwinning and Newbery Honor book that celebrates Black Americans throughout history: “The Undefeated” by Kwame Alexander, illustrated By Kadir Nelson. The book is a beautifully illustrated poem that “is an ode, as Kwame writes, to the dreamers and doers. Those who beat the odds stared down the fear, made this nation better … ”- Kevin Merida, editor in chief, ESPN’s TheUndefeated.com.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17
Culturally Informed Mental Health Practices
1-2 p.m. A virtual event hosted by Parkland College Free Presented by Dr. Marya Burke. The college will celebrate African Americans’ historical achievements with virtual events, including faculty lectures and student presentations. Parkland invites all community members to participate in the following virtual events on Zoom.
6B
MONDAY
February 15, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
buzz
‘Always and Forever, Laura Jean’ premieres on Netflix buzz factor: BY RUKAYAH HUSSEIN BUZZ CALENDAR EDITOR
Despite Valentine’s Day being yesterday, love is still in the air. Grab some cake batter cookies and strawberry milkshakes because the final film in the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” trilogy has premiered. “Always and Forever, Lara Jean,” based on the novel with the same name, has just arrived on Netflix on Feb. 12. This conclusion to the teen romantic comedy trilogy, starring Lana Condor and Noah Centineo, is not as action-packed or explosive as the previous two films. To catch everyone up to speed, the story of the young couple begins when the secret love letters of Lana Condor’s character, Lara Jean Covey, are sent out to the five boys she had a crush on throughout her life. Peter Kavinsky, played by Noah Centineo, is one of the recipients of these letters. However, because of complications in his relationship and Lara Jean’s secret crush on her sister’s then-boyfriend Josh, things quickly get messy. Lara Jean and Peter decide to “fake date” to make Peter’s ex-girlfriend jealous and throw Josh off of any suspicion about Lara Jean’s feelings. The first film, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” concludes with the pair admitting their real feelings for each other, after a lot of the drama you’d expect from a teenage romance. The second film, “P.S. I Still Love You,” begins as one of Lara Jean’s other crushes, John Ambrose McClaren, also received one of her infamous letters. John Ambrose, portrayed by Jordan Fisher, actually responds to Lara Jean, complicating her feelings for both him and Peter. When John Ambrose comes to town, tensions rise between Peter and
FROM 1B
ARLO PARKS
shouldn’t have to ask you twice.” Parks peppers the song with colored imagery of fake blood, violets and turning “bluish.” Her dreamy lyrics are poetic yet still relatable for listeners. Along with a unique, seemingly electronic bass melody, “Bluish” is driven by a percussive beat interspersed with delicate piano melodies and syncopated handclaps. The title, “Bluish,” represents Parks’s feelings of claustrophobia and difficulties with setting personal boundaries in friendships. Parks closes the album with a bittersweet message in “Portra 400.” Parks references drug use and other unhealthy coping mech-
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
Janel Parrish, Lana Condor, and Anna Cathcart star in “To All the Boys: Always and Forever.” The film was released on Feb. 12.
Lara Jean. Peter is suspicious, particularly when it comes to his ex-girlfriend Genevieve, and Lara Jean is struggling with the fact that she has feelings for both Peter and John Ambrose. As Lara Jean and John Ambrose get closer, Peter and Lara Jean draw further apart. However, in an epic romantic gesture at the end of the film, Lara Jean realizes that what she feels for John Ambrose can’t compare with what she thinks of Peter, and the couple is reunited again.
The final film, “Always and Forever, Lara Jean,” begins with Lara Jean and the rest of the Covey family in Korea, doing just what everybody wishes they could do in Korea right now. They visit the Seoul Tower, incredible Korean skincare stores, and adorable little cafes and restaurants. Lara Jean sends another letter to Peter, who has just accepted his admission offer to Stanford based on a lacrosse scholarship. Lara Jean has yet to know if Stanford has
anisms, and she flawlessly describes how good relationships can still spiral into toxicity with the line, “Making rainbows out of something painful.” Parks creates picturesque scenes with her lyrics in “Portra 400,” especially after the first chorus where she uses the imagery of “boiled blood star shifts in the window of my eye” and the poignant descriptor of putting salt on a wound. “Porta 400” is a fitting closing tune for the album and is supported by Parks’s dreamlike harmonies and an incredibly funky bassline that flows beneath the piano melodies and percussive rhythms. In “Collapsed in Sunbeams,” Parks explores a kaleidoscope of emotions as she navigates through feel-
ings such as shame, falling in love, unhealthy coping mechanisms and setting boundaries. By combining these themes with intoxicating harmonies, Parks has achieved an impressive feat for a debut album and has proven herself as a musician and a poet. “Collapsed in Sunbeams” is a welcome journey in a fearful time where travel and in-person contact is discouraged. Parks creates a sense of camaraderie with listeners through relatable lyrics delivered in descriptive imagery and poetry. Throughout the album, Parks holds out her hand for listeners to take. If only they will allow themselves to be pulled along for the journey. swood2@readbuzz.com
accepted her, yet the couple already has big plans for their time together in university. They pend on the idea of them being at Stanford together. However, things do not go as plan, as Lara Jean receives a rejection letter. Lara Jean spends the rest of the film dealing with the anxiety of telling Peter and deciding whether she wants to go to UC Berkeley, which is only an hour away from Stanford or to follow her new dream of going to NYU in New York City.
This film, which is a lot more relaxed than the first two, is full of adorable moments and the joy between Lara Jean and her friends as they experience their senior year of high school together. They go on their senior trip to New York, they have a fantastic time at prom and Lara Jean’s dad remarries. Even though Lara Jean and Peter have their share of issues to deal with throughout the movie, their love for each other remains strong. “Always and Forever,
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAMUELWREN98/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
ALL NEW
DAILY ILLINI APP
NEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS • Stay up-to-date on all things Illini • Get breaking news immediately • News, sports, features, opinions
Apple and the Apple logo and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
rukayah2@readbuzz.com
Alro Parks performs at the Alexandra Palace on Nov. 15, 2019.
ALL NEW
DOWNLOAD FREE. LISTEN NOW.
Lara Jean,” as well as the rest of the franchise, has created a world you can’t help but love. It’s full of beautiful colors and lighting and a great soundtrack that even includes some K-pop. Lara Jean is a character many of us can relate to. As she and Peter deal with more adult problems, like her uncertainty about her future and his reconnection with his dad, the pair love each other regardless — always and forever.
ALL NEW! Exclusive offers only available in the App
Apple and the Apple logo and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.