THE DAILY ILLINI
THURSDAY October 8, 2020
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Vol. 150 Issue 14
Dining halls rework menus, add variety UI opens new in-person eating options with limitations
inspired cuisine. Up until two weeks ago, all dining halls served the same menu choices to avoid a certain location being favored. Other COVID-19 precautions have been adopted. There is a line of student workers that are in the dining hall to help students pick out certain food choices and to help reduce person-toperson interactions. Dining hours have been extended from previous semesters to avoid crowding. Melissa Schumacher, assistant director dietician for dining services, described the difficult transition over the last few months. “We have both local and state guidelines that must be met, while feeding over 5,000 students daily, three
BY ROYAL SHRESTHA CONTRIBUTING WRITER
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
A coronavirus test site worker organizes vials at the Illini Union on Sept. 30. Some students who have previously been infected by COVID-19 are now getting false positives from their tests.
False positives affect recovered
Precision testing detects virus in previously infected students BY ALIZA MAJID STAFF WRITER
Students who have previously contracted the coronavirus are facing issues when getting retested due to virus remnants in their system. Delaney Fayland, junior in AHS, contracted the virus earlier this summer in her hometown and recovered before returning to campus only to test positive once again a few weeks later. “I did a full quarantine at home and when I came to school I was told that I could still test positive for up to 90 days, but I tested negative like three or four times on campus,” Fayland said. “When we had a big spike here and started to go on the two-week quarantine that’s where I tested positive.” The COVID-19 test is highly sensitive and “can detect down to 500 cop-
ies per milliliter of SARSCoV-2 in the saliva,” according to Martin Burke, associate dean for research at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. It’s unclear how many fa lse positives have occurred, but the University’s testing process has been able to control the spread of the virus due to its sensitivity. This precise testing detects the virus at its early stages and allows the University to lock down on individuals before they become infectious. “The idea there is that when you become infected, your viral load goes very high while you’re in your isolation and then it starts to come down,” Burke said. “But, there can be a window of time after the isolation where we can still detect it in the saliva because it’s so sensitive, but that doesn’t mean you’re infectious.”
Students who are having issues with these inconclusive positive tests work with Dr. Robert Parker from the McKinley Health Center and the ChampaignUrbana Public Health District on a case-by-case basis to ensure they aren’t showing symptoms. “If you have a test after isolation and your viral load still is very high, then Dr. Parker works with those individuals and helps make sure that they don’t go out and affect other people. That’s why we still test to make sure that the viral load is in a safe range,” Burke said. Fayland had to contact her primary care physician at home to prove she had previously tested positive and didn’t have the virus again. During the verification process, Fayland had to quarantine in her apartment for more than a week until her results from home
University finds 48 new COVID cases on Monday
alizam2@dailyillini.com
More students utilize Computer-Based Testing Facility services for exams
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
As many courses have shifted online amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a sudden emphasis on virtual proctoring. As such, the Computer-Based Testing Facility (CBTF) has been forced into the limelight, as it handles all traffic that goes into the auto-grader and now proctors nearly 6,000 exams per week this semester, CBTF Manager Carleen Sacris said. This semester, 150 classes are using the CBTF, about four times more classes than the Fall 2019 semester, and three and a half times last semester’s total. The CBTF isn’t handling any in-person exams this semester due to the reduced capacity as a result of safety and health guidelines. CBTF Online uses human proctoring via Zoom for exams on PrairieLearn, Gradescope and other similar platforms. Students make reservations for their exams through the CBTF Scheduler, check in a few minutes before the exam and use the Zoom link provided on a separate device, which acts as a document camera, monitoring their workspace. The students’s behavior during exams is monitored, and any “suspicious behavior” that may indicate cheating is followed up on. “If we determine that something is suspicious, we usually take a few exam days to observe the students,” Sacris said. “So, once we note that something is not quite right, then we note it down and then we follow the students over the course of the semester to see if it really is intentional
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or if there is something malicious about it.” Clear violations, like a student’s notes being visible on-screen while he or she is taking a test, are dealt with through the process specified in the student code in the Faculty Academic Integrity Report. As of Oct. 1, 12,776 University students had registered for an online exam. More staff is being hired and trained to keep up with the demand for proctors, Sacris says. “My usual average staff is about 30 proctors, and now we’re trying to hire about 80 proctors,” Sacris said. Apart from supervising the exams and ensuring no unfair means are being used by students, proctors have also had to deal with technological issues, including when students are unable to join the Zoom meeting or if
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12,776 students made reservations or took an exam as of Oct. 1, 2020
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their connection gets cut off mid-exam. “Those are the sort of things that we are trying to support the students in,” Sacris said. “We’re just not as quick to jump to conclusions, because if they say that, ‘well, I have an internet connection problem,’ there’s really no way for us to not believe them, we have to give them the benefit of the doubt.” Students have been excused in the case there has been a roommate in the background to accommodate students who have to stay in their dorms due to COVID-19 regulations, as long as they weren’t conversing with each other. To better educate students about the system, the CBTF website has articles and pictures depicting how to position the camera to properly show the workspace. Step-bystep instructions are also giv-
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en to sign in to Zoom using the Single Sign-On (SSO). “We also have office hours that are really designed for them to go in, practice their camera angle, ask proctors any questions that they have and get settled in the logistics of taking the exam,” Sacris said. “We even encourage students who have not given an exam yet to try to join the Zoom call from their phone for practice.” Students who receive help through Disability Resources and Education Services are also given time extensions and are recommended to be seated in an area with minimum distractions to accommodate their needs. “We are here for the students,” Sacris said. “We are very deliberate in our hiring (of proctors) and are open to any feedback.”
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NEWS EDITOR
Another 48 new people tested positive for COVID-19 on campus on Monday, bringing the University to another unforeseen benchmark: more than 2,500 cases since students began returning to campus in mid-August. There is a typical bump in new cases on Mondays and Tuesdays of every week, which modelers attribute to weekend spread of the virus at campus gatherings. Monday’s 48 cases is the most on a Monday since Sept. 7, back when the University was in its early lockdown stage after a big spike in cases. That week, 69 new people tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, Sept. 7 and another 81 did on Tuesday. This comes after an encouraging weekend, when University tests identified just 16 new cases from more than 8,200 tests on Saturday and Sunday. The singleday totals — nine new cases on Saturday and seven on Sunday — were the lowest all semester. Sunday’s single-day new case rate, 0.16%, was the lowest since Aug. 12, before the University ramped up its @esimmsnews testing efforts. ecsimmon@dailyillini.com
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Since classes began on Aug. 24, 2,245 people have tested positive for COVID-19 on campus, and 394,000 tests have been conducted in that span. Another 288 people tested positive between Aug. 15 and the beginning of the semester after 55,000 tests. These were most of the “imports” of students, faculty and staff who arrived on campus with the coronavirus. Over the summer, 87 individuals tested positive from almost 33,000 on-campus tests. In all, since the University’s testing program began on July 6, 2,620 people have tested positive for COVID-19 after 481,906 on-campus saliva tests. According to figures provided by University spokesperson Robin Kaler, 48,605 individuals have been tested since July 6, and 46,904 people have been tested since Aug. 15. Therefore, 5.4% of people who’ve ever taken a test on campus have tested positive for the coronavirus. According to Kaler, about 38,000 people are testing every week.
BY ETHAN SIMMONS
INSIDE
Features: Bevier Cafe fights food insecurity
buzz: mxmtoon’s new EP signals selfempowerment
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were approved. “I got my results from my immediate care from home and I had to email them the results,” Fayland said. “(CUPHD) didn’t call me for like a few more days after that, and it was a really long process overall.” The University is currently working on finding an efficient process for the post-positive testing program to track these cases and deal with them accordingly. “I think it is really important to point out that we’re about to enter a very challenging time. It’s getting KEVIN GAO THE DAILY ILLINI cold, the weather is going Prepackaged meals wait to be picked up by students at the to be bad and the flu sea- SDRP on Friday. All dining halls are now offering in-person son is coming,” Burke said. dining. “We don’t have a vaccine for COVID-19 right now, but we do have a flu vaccine. We’re trying to encourage everybody to get their flu shot done.”
Online exam overflow creates demand for proctors BY PAYAL RATHORE
Since Sept. 20, students with on-campus meal plans have been allowed to participate in limited in-person dining at all dining locations. For some dining halls, such Pennsylvania Avenue Residence Hall, 25% of the normal seating will be offered, with tables spread more than six feet apart. The typical carry-out and express options for meals are still available. Halls like Illinois Street Residence are offering a wider variety of meal options with international
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• Theft under $500 was reported report, an unknown offender at Bousfield Hall, 1212 S. First took mail and packages from the St. on either Sunday or Monday. victim’s mailbox. University According to the report, a Uni- • Criminal damage to property • Check fraud was reported by versity student’s bicycle was was reported on the 700 block a University student. Accordstolen while locked to a rack and of North Busey Avenue around ing to the report, someone had has an estimated value of $450. 11:30 p.m. on Monday. Accordwritten 19 fraudulent checks ing to the report, an unknown totaling $1,841.73 and charged Urbana offender punctured the victim’s it against the account of a Uni- • Theft under $500 was reporttires on their vehicle. versity RSO. The checks were ed on the 700 block of Colowritten between April 27 and rado Avenue around midnight Oct. 1. on Sept. 22. According to the news@dailyillini.com
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BRIGIDA DOCKUS THE DAILY ILLINI
University of Illinois police respond to a call at the corner of South Third and East John streets on Sept. 29. The CPD made an arrest Tuesday morning for a suspect in a February shooting on charges of first-degree murder.
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An arrest was made on the charges of first-degree murder in the 1100 block of North James Street around 11 a.m. Tuesday. According to the Champaign police press release, the 33-year-old suspect was located by the Champaign County Street Crimes Task Force and the United States
Marshal’s Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. The suspect was arrested for a shooting that happened on Feb. 3 around 3 a.m. Police responded to a reported shooting in the 1300 block of Mariner Way where they found an unresponsive man inside a vehicle. The 33-year-old victim was found with a life-threatening gunshot
wound to the abdomen. The victim was eventually transported to a local hospital but shortly died due to his injuries. Champaign police eventually identified the suspect and the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office obtained an arrest warrant. The bond on the warrant was set for $2 million, and the suspect was transported
to the Champaign County Correctional Center where he is awaiting court proceedings. Champaign police stated that although there was an arrest, the homicide remains under investigation and that anyone with additional information should contact the police department. news@dailyillini.com
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THURSDAY October 8, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
NEWS
Campus fitness groups return with new looks BY CHIEH HSU CONTRIBUTING WRITER
PHOTO COURTESY OF ILLINI CHAARG
Members of Illini CHAARG gather for a workout session while remaining socially distant. Illini CHAARG, along with other campus fitness groups, are adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last semester, nearly every fitness-centered Registered Student Organizations were forced to halt their meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many of them are reconnecting with their members with renewed modes of operation. In order to maintain social distancing, various conditioning facilities, including the dance studio at the Activities and Recreation Center, are closed for public use. As a result, the Illini N Motion Dance Team has found it difficult to locate adequate space for dance practices, according to Alison Crivlare, senior in LAS and president of the dance team. “Usually we practice at the ARC, and I put in a space request a couple of weeks ago but haven’t heard back from them (ARC staff ) yet,” Crivlare said. “We have been practicing outside on a field,
which is kind of difficult for us because we are used to having mirrors and a nice floor. It’s not ideal, but we are making it work until we hear back from them.” Despite the circumstances, some fitness RSOs were still able to find an ample number of new recruits for this fall. Charlotte Trecartin, junior in AHS and president of the Illini Fitness and Wellness Club, said her club achieved a new record of recruitment this year at the Virtual Quad Day, with 84 new members for the 200-person RSO. “Last year, we had a ton of sign-ups at Quad Day, but that’s people walking around and just sign up for everything that they wanted,” Trecartin said. “This year the Quad Day being online the people who signed up actually wanted to join.” The Illini Cha nging Health, Attitudes, + Actions To Recreate Girls, the all-girls workout com-
munity better known as CHA ARG, was able to recruit new members and maintain the size of the organization. “Last year our numbers were around 300 members but a majority of our girls were not able or willing to join this year due to COVID,” said Kayla Vargas, junior in ACES and vice president of media for Illini CHAARG. “Our new members though have allowed us to build a new closer community to our organization.” Campus limits on in-person gatherings posed a serious risk for the Illini Cross Country Club. Rather than ceasing operations, the club was able to gain new members through social media and organize unofficial practices with fewer than six people through their Facebook group, according to Jeffrey Hesselbein, junior in Engineering and webmaster of the Illini Cross Country Club.
“Cross Country is a large group sport, so our practices are far too large to be within the 10-person group size,” Hesselbein said. “We also don’t have any meets to compete in, since all races we would run have been canceled.” The fitness communities on campus are working their best to keep their members safe. Although many of them have steered away from in-person events, they are still ambitiously looking for new recruits and finding new ways of supporting each member even in the most desperate times. “It’s not too late for people to join,” Trecartin said. “Since our mission is supporting and informing UIUC students about health, we’re doing Zoom panel discussions on different aspects of health. It brings people together and helps the members to connect with each other.” chiehh3@dailyillini.com
Temporary street closures announced in CU area Repairs, road construction lead to lane shutdowns
Tremont and Maple streets. Through traffic will not be allowed to pass through, but access to all properties will still be available. State Street is being closed in order to complete rail and pavement maintenance. The street BY SAMANTHA BOYLE is planned to reopen on MANAGING EDITOR FOR Oct. 16. REPORTING Starting Tuesday, a couStarting next Monday, ple of lanes by the interState Street in Champaign section of Randolph and will be closed between Church streets will be
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
A sign warns of a lane closure at the intersection of Church and Randolph streets on Tuesday afternoon. Multiple streets in Champaign have lane closures this week.
FROM 1A
DINING
Last year, the 12 meals per week plan cost $4,630, $170 less than the current figure, and the 10 meals plan cost nearly $200 less. “The food shouldn’t cost ($14 a meal); stay home if you can and enjoy homecooked meals instead,” Veljacic said. Students like Veljacic who are currently living in a dorm have shared their frustrations of being forced to choose a meal plan, knowing the experience wouldn’t be the same as last year’s. “I would rather dine out every day than pay ($14) for the same pasta meal every day,” Veljacic said. Part of the semester dining fee will be prorated and reimbursed for students that leave University Housing after fall break. The dining halls will remain open, and those who stay on campus will still be able to use them. Though the menus are fixed every week, Schumacher advises students to try different entrees and appetizers each day, as “it’s very easy to get stuck in a routine of opting to eat the same items each week.” Food choices are regulated on a local and state basis. As the dining halls are allowed more flexibility, however, they will begin to reintroduce old favorites as well as introduce new concepts, said Carrie Anderson, administrative executive chef for residential dining.
times a day,” Schumacher said. “We have had to update our facilities, modify our menus and services and learn to engage with our customers in a different manner.” Almost two months in, students like Rino Veljacic, sophomore in LAS, have expressed their dissatisfaction with the new dining experience. “There is a drastic difference between the food choices; last year there was a whole variety to choose from, but this semester’s so far has been lackluster,” Veljacic said. Veljacic said he has been skipping out on his meal swipes because “every day is essentially the same.” He’s been ordering in from Uber Eats for most nights due to the lack of variety. Last semester, he enjoyed creating salad bowls and customization at PAR’s “late night” dining hours, and he said they were worth the relatively hefty price per meal. Now, the variety of choices has significantly decreased and dining-in is now at a 25% capacity for some halls such as PAR. The cheapest meal plan, 12 meals with 15 cafe credits, goes for $4,800 for the academic year, $12 per meal this semester. The 10 meals-45 credits plan costs $5,514 for the year, or nearly $14 a meal. royals2@dailyillini.com
closed in order for water main repairs to be made. According to a Champaign press release, the eastbound lane of Church Street between State and Randolph streets will be closed. The southbound lane of State Street will also not allow any turns east onto Church Street. However, the westbound lane of Church Street will stay open. In addition, a northbound lane of Randolph Street will be closed between Park and Church streets. These lanes will be reopened on Oct. 13. Lastly, one westbound lane of University Avenue will close between Third and Second streets on Friday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. University Avenue will be closed in order for a crane to be able to place equipment at 210 E. University Ave. Westbound traffic will have to merge into one lane. Construction on Green Street will move between Bu sey Avenue a nd McCullough Street starting Thursday starting at 7
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
Construction workers perform maintenance on a water main at the intersection of Church and Randolph streets on Tuesday afternoon.
a.m. until further notice. This construction is part of the Multimodal Corridor Enhancement Project 5. Project 5 includes the
complete reconstruction ing to an Urbana press of Green Street from Busey release. Avenue to Race Street and the replacement of all side- sjboyle2@dailyillini.com walks and ramps, accord-
Testing sites shift indoors for cold weather BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR
Beginning Oct. 12, several campus COVID-19 testing locations are shutting down for the semester, while other indoor locations are taking their places. Thirteen of the remaining 14 sites will be indoors for the colder weather. In a Massmail sent on Wednesday, the University announced that the COVID-19 testing sites at Freer Hall, Graziano Plaza, Illini Grove, Lot 31, South Quad and Washington Park will no longer be in use. Three new testing locations are opening at the Funk Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Science Library Heritage Room on 1101 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, the Ice Arena at 406 E. Armory Ave., Champaign and the Activities and Recreation Center at 201 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign. All three sites are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, while the Funk ACES Library location is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Saturdays and Sundays. Four existing testing locations are shifting indoors: The Alice Campbell Alumni Center, Foellinger Auditorium, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
Alexa English inspects her test tube to see how much saliva it contains while taking a COVID-19 test at the Illini Union on Sept. 30. Several testing sites will shift indoors beginning Monday.
National Center for Supercomputing Applications. The Veterinary Medicine site at 2001 S. Lincoln Ave. is the only remaining testing tent. “Heaters will be added to maximize comfort for the testing site employees and those who test,” wrote the COVID-19 Executive Steering Committee on Return
to On-Campus Operations. Nine testing locations are open over the weekends, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. • Alice Campbell Alumni Center • Campus Recreation Center East • Funk ACES Library Heritage Room • Ice Arena
• Illini Union Illini Rooms • Illinois Street Residence Hall • National Center for Supercomputing Applications • State Farm Center (open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday) • Student Dining and Residential Programs Building @esimmsnews ecsimmon@dailyillini.com
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THURSDAY October 8, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
LIFE & CULTURE
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
A FSHN 340: Food Production and Service student prepares a salad while working at the Bevier Cafe located in Bevier Hall on Friday. The Bevier Cafe has recently established its “Everybody Eats” initiative to fight food insecurity.
Bevier Cafe launches initiative to combat food insecurity BY MATT TROHER ASSISTANT LONGFORM EDITOR
Bevier Cafe, an orange and blue cafe designed like a cross between a cafeteria and a home-town diner, used to serve upwards of 150 customers a day. The cafe, located on the second floor of Bevier Hall, staffed and managed by students in the Food Science and Human Nutrition department, was a staple for students and professors alike who spent their days in Bevier Hall. Then the pandemic hit. For the first few weeks of this school year, it would be a lucky day if Bevier serviced 20 customers. With minimal classes meeting in-person and few professors working in the building, the cafe was left without its main customer base. Instead of hunkering down and pushing through the school year with low service, Bevier Cafe decided to adapt. On Thursday, Sep. 24, the cafe began its “Everybody Eats” program, an initiative to combat food insecurity. The following week, the cafe serviced nearly 50 customers, with the “Everybody Eats” initiative being the driving force behind the influx of diners. Jordan Brotherton, a clinical assistant professor of Hospitality Management, teaches FSHN 340: Food Production and Service, the class which runs Bevier Cafe. After reading about the effect of the pandemic on food insecurity, Brotherton developed a way to help the community as well as his students. “I talked with some former students of mine who work at the ARC food pantry, and they explained to me the need for resources for food-insecure students on campus,” Brotherton said.
“I’ve learned over the past semesters, and especially during this pandemic, but that’s a real concern. We’ve only been doing it a week now. But the response from campus has been incredible,” he said. The “Everybody Eats” initiative includes multiple different payment options. Customers can either pay face-value or utilize a paywhat-you-want model, in which customers can pay as much or as little as they want and receive the same meal as face-value. Customers can also purchase a token for $10, which can either be distributed to other community members or be placed in a container near the door. These tokens can be redeemed for a free meal. Jacqueline Quintero, a senior in ACES, took FSHN 340 last year and is working at Bevier Cafe again this year as a learning assistant. Quintero helped students adjust to the kitchen workspace, especially during the first few weeks of the semester when students are still learning the ins and outs of the cafe. She said she believes that the “Everybody Eats” initiative is a great way to help college students struggling with food insecurity. “When I first heard about, I thought this was such a great program because I’ve been there personally,” Quintero said. “If you don’t have enough money, you can choose to pay whatever you can. Three dollars, five dollars, it can be anything you want. And there’s no judgment here. Because we all know that, you know as college students, we struggle with money sometimes,” he said. Food insecurity, an already pressing issue, increased drastically during the COV-
ID-19 pandemic. According to Feeding America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating food insecurity, more than 54 million people may experience food insecurity in 2020 compared to roughly 35 million in 2019. In addition to the “Everybody Eats” initiative, Bevier Cafe has also adapted to social distancing guidelines set by the state of Illinois. They’ve removed roughly half of their seating from the dining room and opened up additional seating down the hall in The Spice Box — a separate restaurant run by FSHN students geared towards a fine-dining atmosphere. Throughout the semester, students in FSHN 340 work on rotation, each taking different positions in either the management or the kitchen RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI staff of the cafe. FSHN 340 is a Above: A FSHN 340 student makes a burger while working at the Bevier Cafe on Friday. small class, typically running Below: An instructor teaches a FSHN 340 student how to use a machine in the kitchen of the with between 15 and 20 stu- Bevier Cafe on Friday. dents each semester, allowing for students to work in a tightknit collaborative environment. Antonio Lewis, a fifthyear senior in ACES, enjoys the dynamic pace of working in the cafe. Although the cafe hasn’t returned to the 150 customers per day they were used to prepandemic, the new “Everybody Eats” initiative has been mutually beneficial — helping the community by fighting against food insecurity “Working in the cafe, it’s a challenge,” Lewis said. “But it’s a fun challenge. It’s fun, having this camaraderie in the kitchen. I played football, and it reminded me a lot of that, having this team-based environment and getting to work closely with everyone in the kitchen.” mtroher2@dailyillini.com
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Thursday, October 8, 2020
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Greek life offers networking opportunities Students share professional benefits from fraternity, sorority participation BY KAYLA MISH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
When Felicia Jia, senior in LAS and member of Alpha Kappa Delta Phi, arrived on campus as a freshman, she had no intention of joining Greek life. Her impressions were based on the negative stereotypes she saw in movies and what she had heard from her peers. After one of her friends got involved, though, she decided to join and now says that Greek life was one of the best decisions of her undergrad. She said she initially decided to join for the community, but later realized the connections she gained from her organization would be vital during and after college. “Because we have such an extensive alumni network, you can really get connected to anyone you need to,” she said. “For example, my sorority keeps a spreadsheet of information full of
the alumna including their contact information, their profession and any skill sets they have that you might be interested in,” Jia said. With help from her sorority, Jia was able to get a part-time job and a professional internship at a cultural center. Similar to Jia, Saif Malik, senior in LAS and the president of Triangle Fraternity shared his experience with networking. Through his fraternity, he said he has been able to work on nuclear research. A lot of his brothers have also had success with finding internships and jobs, securing spots at Amazon and Facebook. CERL, a company in Champaign, is another place they have relations with and are able to fast track the application process. Some companies have even visited the Triangle Fraternity house looking for interns to grab for open summer positions. “In the STEM world, a lot of jobs are who you know and through recommendations, so having a large network of alumni is really beneficial for freshman getting their first internships and for seniors getting their first jobs after college,” Malik said. Malik said that his fraternity stresses that they are not purely social and that a
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
The Triangle Fraternity house sits on the corner of Second and Daniel streets on Wednesday morning. Students who participate in Greek life at the University talk about the benefits of having that connection, of which include: network of alumni, internship opportunities, potential for academic advancement, community with peers and skill development.
giant drawing factor is that they offer a huge range of professional and academic advancement. Another bonus of being in a fraternity, Malik mentioned, was the support from many of his brothers having the same course work. Being around other people with the same schedule and classes is nice
because they understand the stress and workload in your life. “There is a lot of return for your investment, in terms of having a good professional network and having upperclassmen and peers who have taken the same classes you are. That’s nice because when they are in the same classes as you,
you pretty much have the ity was how genuine her sissame schedule as them. ters were and how people This way, you can hang out gravitate towards them in and have fun on the same rush due to their “fun and schedule,” Malik said. natural light.” She wanted Maria Elena Kouriaba- to make sure everyone joins lis, junior in AHS and vice the sorority for the compresident of chapter devel- munity aspect and finding opment in Alpha Omicron happiness, not just for the Pi, has also made connec- title of being in Greek life. tions in her sorority. Her Students across camadvisor, who works in the pus join Greek life to netentertainment industry, is work, find community and always willdevelop skills ing to give that will help advice. them out Besides later in life. networking, While it isn’t t he comthe only way munit y in to network, Greek life is with their a huge facextensive tor in many database people’s deciof alumni, sions to join. it becomes For Jia, it a lot more was her bigconvenient gest motivato find tion to join. oppor tuni“When I was ties. Malik looking to stressed SAIF MALIK join, I was that having SENIOR IN LAS really interaccess to a ested in the pool of netcommunity. works will be It’s unique useful when because it’s searching so tight-knit for a job after and it really does feel like a graduation. family. I think that’s what “I’ve advanced profespeople are looking for when sionally more than I could they come to college, find- have on my own without a ing a sense of unity and doubt. It’s been one of the being a part of something best experiences that I’ve bigger,” she said. had,” Malik said. Kouriabalis also said that the main draw to her soror- kmish2@dailyillini.com
“There is a lot of return for your investment, in terms of having a good professional network.”
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
The Alpha Omicron Pi sorority house on South Mathews Avenue is pictured above on Wednesday morning.
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1 Cracked a bit 5 Gadget shaped like its first letter 10 Minor dust-up 14 Pixar film that premiered in Mexico 15 Conference group 16 Keepeth 17 Fried Hanukkah treat 19 Not bamboozled by 20 Watch brand featured in James Bond films 21 “Do or die” time 22 The one over here 23 Parapsychology research subj. 25 Apollo command module, for one 27 Thunder, but not Lightning 31 One doing menial work 32 100% 33 One adorns the Statue of Liberty 36 Rama and Krishna, e.g. 38 Home of Whitman College 43 “See ya!” 44What chickenpox can cause 45 Before time 46 “Butt out!,” briefly 48 Theater : usher :: restaurant : ___ 51 Fruity loaf with a moist texture 55 Trident-shaped letter 56 Soprano’s co-star? 57 Synthetic 59 Bank security option? 63 Got even with 64 Recover … or what 17-, 25-, 38- and 51-Across do? 66 French 101 verb 67 Zany action
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68 Natural sunburn soother 69 Meh 70 Bumps into 71 Tear up DOWN 1 AA 2 “What a ___!” 3 Berry from Brazil 4 Zoom 5 H&R Block worker, for short 6 Org. in “Die Hard” 7 Core of an alkaline battery 8 U, V or W, on the periodic table 9 Exaggerate for effect 10 Made like a shark? 11 One seeking change 12 Unfinished story? 13 The ones over there
18 Facial feature missing from many emojis 24 Big ___, nickname for slugger David Ortiz 26 Sonic the Hedgehog creator 27 Photographer Goldin 28 Group of voters 29 Devices that work by comparing air pressures 30 Mineralogical eponym 34 Key used to get out, not in 35 Polite term of address 37 Action under a File menu 39 Sporting event profiled in the 2014 documentary “Queens & Cowboys”
40 Gaming novice, slangily 41 Finish, with “up” 42 Get unionized? 47 Former pro wrestling star ___ Bigelow 49 Place to be marooned 50 Accessory clipped to a dress shirt 51 Some answers on history exams 52 Colleague of Ginsburg and Roberts 53 0% of the population 54 Not quite right? 58 Work with needles 60 Glen 61 Monopoly subj. 62 Scraped (out) 65 Keeps posted, in a way
The crossword solution is in the Classified section.
6A
THURSDAY October 8, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
OPINIONS
THE DAILY ILLINI EDITORIAL
‘Jaws’ epitomizes Vietnam trauma DYLAN GRAY SENIOR COLUMNIST
W
ith the onset of October, Halloween is fast approaching, and one of the most popular Halloween traditions is watching scary movies. Be it John Carpenter’s “Halloween” or George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead,” there is no shortage of horror cinema to enjoy all month — and all year if one is so inclined. While many horror movies are enjoyed strictly ironically, the best horror films play upon the anxieties of not just an individual viewer, but society as a whole to paint a greater CASSIDY BRANDT THE DAILY ILLINI picture of what our fears say about us. One such film that does this very well is Steven Spielberg’s 1975 classic “Jaws.” At face value, “Jaws” serving of glorification and tells the relatively simple whose legacy deserves far fictional story of a shark more scrutiny. that inexplicably goes berHonestly, Columbus is serk, terrorizing a commusimply an overrated figure. nity of beachgoers in an A discussion regarding idyllic New England town native oppression extends called Amity Island during far beyond him, and the summer festivities. Sharks common claim he “discov- and the ocean are common ered” America is an irrefears for many people, so sponsible misconception. it is no surprise the premAmerica itself has truise is not only well rememly struggled to reconcile bered, but quite scary. with its past in a way that However, the true terror some countries have, like of “Jaws” lies beneath the Germany, New Zealand surface — pun intended. or South Africa. Even the In April 1975, the Vietattempt to take down stat- nam War ended. But for the ues commemorating Con- United States, the war had federate generals, traibeen over since 1973, when tors to the United States, the U.S. completed its full is incredibly contentious withdrawal from the contoday. flict that by then was clearThe adoption of Indigly a lost cause. enous People’s Day is a With this in mind, the great start, but largely Vietnam War was a fresh symbolic. Correcting hisand traumatic memory in torically inflicted wounds the American psyche. The on native peoples requires wounds were still too fresh more effort than simply for movies dealing with the changing the school maswar directly, and indeed cot or rebranding a holi“The Deer Hunter” would day. In fact, these steps be among the very first are arguably performative popular Vietnam War films compared to real action in 1978. to rectify the indigenous But thanks to Spielberg’s community’s woes. perhaps unintentional In 1492, Columbus use of allegory, “Jaws” is sailed the ocean blue. He able to act as a conduit for did not find America, a America’s anxieties about little-known fact among the Vietnam War. esoterica. UnderstandIn “Jaws,” the villain is a ing his sins is not rewritshark that attacks swiming history, but one should mers and other beachgonote that the true extent ers. Under normal cirof exploitation beyond him cumstances, a shark is no remains a mystery. threat to a human, as it
Columbus’ clout clouds criticism
W
ith a presidential election weeks away, activists and politicians continue to make their plea: Make election day a federal holiday. It would free up time for many to go and vote or serve as election judges, and perhaps the country would benefit from higher turnout. But like with any push to secure another federal holiday, lobbyists complain that with every holiday comes a loss of potential economic activity. With millions of dollars in potential value lost with every federal holiday, one would hope that each existing holiday is meaningful and worth the opportunity cost. And yet, the country continues to celebrate Columbus Day, a holiday commemorating Christopher Columbus, a man increasingly seen as one of history’s villains rather than someone worth memorializing. The University has not celebrated Columbus Day for years, but last year, the University finally moved to recognize Indigenous People’s Day in its stead. It is not a day off for students, but it is “recognized.” Indigenous People’s Day appropriately serves as the antithesis to the traditional holiday, which celebrates a brutal legacy of imperialism and subjuga-
tion in the New World. Additionally, recognizing Columbus’ misconstrued legacy and grand misdeeds is not an attempt to rewrite history, as some would claim; it is the recognition of history through an objective lens rather than a eurocentric or “patriotic” lens. To many students here on campus, Columbus is understandably vilified, and the holiday is not worth celebrating if it could potentially upset underrepresented groups who have suffered as a result of Columbus’ voyage. And yet, students would be wise to remember the problem does not begin or end with Columbus and his holiday. It would be too easy to tear down statues of Columbus, change the depiction of him in textbooks and claim history has been reconciled. He may have a complicated legacy, but he’s not the final boss. Maltreatment against New World natives was propagated by all colonial powers and, eventually, the tradition was upheld by freed colonies, such as the United States. This means while Columbus was an enslaver who served as the impetus for the Columbian Exchange, he is one of many historical figures who is unde-
KAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI
cannot go on land where humans spend almost all of their time. One has to go out of their way to be attacked by a shark. In the same way, Vietnam posed no threat to America, and only by entering the country were Americans able to be hurt. This unseen enemy that cannot be rationalized and is localized entirely within one area reflects Americans’ fears of guerilla fighters utilizing tactics the U.S. military of the time was incapable of countering. The shark attacks during Amity Island’s Fourth of July festival seem almost on the nose. The same way the Vietnam War hurt the pride of the American people, the shark attacks the festival built around the celebration of America. The reason why shark attacks keep occurring throughout the film in spite of the fact that simply closing the beach would make further deaths impossible is that many officials in Amity Island do not want to lose out on the town’s vital summer economy, based largely on tour-
ism. This is similar to the way U.S. politicians and generals carelessly wasted the lives of thousands of young men just to avoid the loss of an already unpopular war. In many ways, Amity Island represents the idealized version of America that exists only in the minds of many people. Beautiful, clean, safe and homogenous Amity Island is the white picket fence dream many Americans have. But the shark exists to ruin this ethereal dream. Like the specter of the Vietnam War, the shark creates mass terror that ruins the island residents’ enjoyment of their suburban paradise. While already a scary premise, the film’s ability to act as a catharsis for the American people to process their anxieties and lasting resentment about the Vietnam War has permanently cemented it into the American cinematic canon. Dylan is a senior in the College of Media. kdg2@dailyillini.com
CU community deserves right to access University’s COVID-19 testing TARA PAVITHRAN COLUMNIST
COV D-1 9
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round this time last year, my friends and I were in a frenzy of making plans to visit each other at our schools. I distinctly remember my twin sister’s first visit down here and mine up to Chicago, where she and some of our other high school friends attend college. Obviously, this year looks completely different. Going to the city in the middle of a pandemic doesn’t seem the most advisable, and having them come from the city could just bring the risk here. The prospect of visiting each other is shaky, so it’s mostly a non-option right now. But that doesn’t have to be the case. If all schools — and all communities, for that matter — were testing for COVID-19 at the capacity the University is conducting tests at, the definition of safe socialization could be completely reformed. And this raises the question of why this isn’t more of a priority. The University began
CADE WHARTON THE DAILY ILLINI
developing its own saliva-based COVID-19 test in mid-May. Only in midSeptember was there any mention of expanding the testing to the ChampaignUrbana community. Chancellor Robert Jones has been in contact with Urbana and Champaign officials about beginning testing in the community separate from the University and anticipates opening up testing about three to four weeks from now. While I commend this step in the right direction, I can’t help but wonder why the community in which most of us are guests was an
afterthought when it came down to who to test first. I was in my biology lab when the Massmail about the two-week lockdown was first released, and our teaching assistant said something that really stuck with me: in the event that the campus does shut down, students can just return home and be in their relatively safer communities. But we leave behind people who are here year-round, left to deal with the aftermath of whatever decisions college students are making. This raises the unique question of whose responsibility it really is to make
sure we’re being safe, too. Yes, we have a gold-standard testing and tracing program. But why was it up to the University to plan, fund and execute that? What does that say about universities that are smaller or less financially stable? In an interview with UI System President Tim Killeen, he said he is actively working with Governor J.B. Pritzker to make purchases to expand testing capacity and that the priority is “not to avoid outbreaks, but to deal with them.” He understands that in a school of 52,000 students, faculty and staff, preventing the
spread of the virus is almost unachievable. But it’s so important to work diligently to contain it. Without a reliable and accessible vaccine or cure, our best bet is testing and contact tracing. Following the example of countries such as Iceland could significantly reduce or even eliminate the virus’ impact on our everyday lives. Currently, the University is conducting around 11,000 tests a day. The process is quick and painless, both as a student who has to get tested twice a week and as an employee at the sites. Students check in using their
NetID to generate a label to go on the test tube, are escorted to a square on the ground spaced six feet apart from other squares and place their sample in a tub. For the sake of rapidly processing the tests and uploading multiple results per day to a common database, we are excluding the families of staff, faculty and students. These are people’s children, spouses and relatives who live with them and can be just as exposed to COVID-19. The approximate timeline for when the C-U community can expect testing to expand is around December, with the initial phases starting around three to four weeks from now. While this effort is commendable, at this point, a lot of the damage has already been done to the community. Ultimately, the surrounding community is what brings vibrancy to C-U outside of the academic year. Whether or not we care to admit it, community members are a part of our quarantine bubble — the least we can do is prioritize their wellbeing. Tara is a sophomore in LAS. tpavit2@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.
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THURSDAY October 8, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
VOLLEYBALL
SPORTS
Tamas prepares young team for unprecedented spring season BY WES HOLLENBERG STAFF WRITER
On Sept. 21, the NCAA Division I Council approved pushing the volleyball season to the spring, with a regular season start date of Jan. 22 and a 48-team postseason tournament rather than the typical 64. While many players and fans were disappointed to have the season flexed to the spring, the extra time to practice and prepare could be beneficial for a young Illinois roster in need of developing chemistry. If there had been a fall season, the team was likely to look raw due to roster turnover and a lack of practice time. Typically, the team practices throughout the spring, and summer practice begins in June. This year, spring practices were cut off when Illinois students were sent home in March and summer practices began about a month later than usual. “We’ve always had the mantra that we’re going to
get better every day and take it one day at a time,” said head coach Chris Tamas. “Happy that we have the time to train because we’re replacing five starters from last season, and we’re trying to get to know each other better.” Tamas is optimistic about the benefits of an extended offseason, given the chance freshmen have to improve and see more playing time. “Sometimes with freshmen, the toughest part is to get used to the speed of our game in a short period of time,” Tamas said. “Usually when we start, we have a fall camp. When we start the season, we only have 18 practices from our first day of practice to our first match, so I think it does help for freshmen getting adjusted. For sure, it could help their chances of seeing court time.” With the announcement of the postponed season, Tamas has begun treating team practices like offseason practices. By NCAA rules,
the team is only allowed to have 132 “full” practice days throughout the season, so Illinois is now saving those days for when they are closer to the season. When the team is using “full” practices, they are allowed 20 practice hours per week. Outside of those weeks, there is an eight-hour cap on practice hours, which is what Illinois is currently doing. According to Tamas, they spend four of those hours on strength and conditioning and four on the court. Tamas plans to resume full practice hours in either November or December. Even with reduced time each week, junior defensive specialist Taylor Kuper believes the longer offseason will help the team come out sharper. “Especially with this offseason, we have more time to tinker with the little things,” Kuper said. “When the freshmen come in and we have a month with the coaches —
BASEBALL
THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO
Volleyball head coach Chris Tamas watches from the sidelines during the game against Penn State on Nov. 15. Tamas remains optimistic about the extended offseason and the opportunity for new player improvement.
by that time it’s just go play. We’re in competition mode. Now we get everyone to get on the same page, what technique to use, what Illinois volleyball does. In a
way, I’m even more excited for this season to see what the extended preparation does for us.” For Kuper, the “little things” have meant breaking
down individual plays to their minutia. With so much time, she has been able to sit down with her teammates to disSEE TAMAS | 2B
MEN’S GYMNASTICS
Fletcher, Stephens rejoin team BY BRAD ZIMMERMAN STAFF WRITER
PHOTO COURTESY OF FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS
Illinois pitching coach Mark Allen poses for a professional headshot on Oct. 8, 2019. Allen joined the team one year ago.
Mark Allen reflects on year one BY RICH EBERWEIN STAFF WRITER
Illinois pitching coach Mark Allen was hired one year ago and has already made an impact as the team looks to bring a Big Ten championship back to Champaign. Allen came aboard last October following the departure of former pitching coach Drew Dickinson, who held the position for eight seasons. The program needed someone to fill those shoes and lead the pitching staff into a new phase, which Mark Allen has done despite a volatile year. “When we found out Drew was leaving, the pitching staff was a little down,” said starting pitcher Cole Kirschsieper. “Coach Hartleb sat us down and said he would move quickly but make a choice to fit the group. I feel like it all started with bringing Mark in. Mark has a personality that just grows on you. We could tell when he first walked in that he was going to be fun. Us pitchers as a group formed a bond.” Before joining the Illini, Allen served as the pitching coordinator for the San Francisco Giants. There, he oversaw the pitching development of nearly a hundred pitchers throughout the organization, from the training academy in the Dominican Republic to the Giants Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento. In addition to his work with the Giants, Allen also spent eight seasons in the Cleveland Indians organization where he contributed in a number of different ways through scouting, cross-checking and pitching development before eventually earning the assistant pitching coordinator position. Allen was also with the Indians when they won the American League pennant in 2016. When asked about the decision to come to Champaign, Allen said he came across Illinois many times in his
cross-checking days, and he was drawn to the humble yet hardworking environment that has made the team competitive on a consistent basis. Allen graduated from St. Gregory’s University in 1999 with a degree in health and wellness and immediately pursued a career in coaching. Throughout the 2000s, Allen worked as an assistant coach at a number of universities, most notably North Central College (2004-2008) and Seminole State College (2008-2010). During the months of quarantine in the spring, weekly Zoom meetings and regular communication over text were how Allen and the rest of the coaching staff kept the team sharp while they lifted and practiced on their own. Allen said the pandemic posed some challenges, but at the same time he thinks being under quarantine was an opportunity for the players to fine-tune their skills and tweak their game on their own. “It also made them hungry for baseball and allowed them to learn about themselves and hone their craft on their own for a while,” Allen said about the summer. “Self-growth is just as important as team growth. I think our guys made the most of their time.” Two of Illinois’s top pitchers, Ty Weber and Garrett Acton have moved on through free-agent contracts with the Giants and Athletics respectively, leaving the Illinois staff and Mark Allen in a position to develop new players to step into those roles. “We have some guys that were injured last year that have come back now and are in good spots,” Allen said. “You always hope that you have guys that will fill those shoes or step into those roles whatever they may be, and I feel pretty confident about this group that we have right
now. I like the growth and the maturity that has taken place in these guys just since last year when I got here. It’s been a short turnaround, but we’ve noticed quite a bit of improvement and maturity. “We’ve lost some guys, yes, but I think we’re in a good spot now where we’ll have some guys who will be able to earn those same stripes.” Last season, now sophomore Cole Kirschsieper sported an impressive 1.35 ERA over his four appearances and will likely be at the forefront of the starting rotation alongside juniors Ty Rybarczyk and Aidan Maldonado, who are looking for bounce-back seasons. Head Coach Dan Hartleb is confident Allen will get these players in shape to perform and win consistently. “He’s got an intensity and toughness to him that is infectious that I really like because you need to have a certain mentality to compete at a high level,” Hartleb said. “He wants zero focus put on him, it’s about the players, their progress and the things he can do to help them. He’s an impressive coach, an impressive human being; he’s the complete package and I’m excited he’s a part of our program. He has a good feel for pitching and the development process. All those things put together, he’ll have pitchers prepared to help us win.” Allen says the only thing he regrets about his first year at Illinois is the fact that the team was unable to finish the 2020 season. The Illini will undoubtedly be hungry to prove they’re top contenders for the Big Ten Championship, and Allen has plenty of fresh pitchers, as well as the skills to get the rotation and bullpen functional, for a tournament run. @ebs_rich rse3@dailyillini.com
Juniors Michael Fletcher and Clay Mason Stephens are once again practicing in Kenney Gym after the pair redshirted the 2020 season due to ACL reconstruction surgeries. Over the last 19 months, the two of them combined for three ACL reconstructions and have spent the majority of that time recovering from their injuries. Fletcher tore his left ACL in August 2019 while competing in the U.S. National Gymnastics Championships. Although he was able to have his reconstructive surgery fairly quickly, it wasn’t until the following January that he was able to start light practice. Those months of inactivity took a mental and physical toll on him. “It was tough for a while,” said Fletcher, who focused on his upper body during that time. “It was hard to find the motivation to work out without doing gymnastics because that has always been my way of working out. It did put my body at a disadvantage for a while, and I think I did lose a little bit of strength and endurance, but I guess that’s understood when it comes to injuries.” Once Fletcher was able to start practicing again, it was a slow easing back into the sport. He was unable to practice on floor or vault, and although he could practice on all of the other apparatuses, he couldn’t practice dismounts. Because this easing was expected to last the majority of the 2020 season, Fletcher chose to redshirt the season to retain a year of eligibility. “Those were big elements that I was missing last year that stopped me from competing,” Fletcher said. “I wasn’t in a shape or health standpoint to actually compete in a way that would help the team.” While Fletcher was easing back into the sport, Stephens had mostly recovered from
his own ACL reconstruction that happened five months before Fletcher’s did. As a result, Stephens was able to compete at full strength in 2020, but between finishing his recovery and attempting to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, he would’ve missed much of the Illini’s season. He also chose to redshirt the 2020 season. But in a cruel twist of fate, just months after finishing his recovery, Stephens tore his left ACL while competing in Australia, and the Olympics ended up being postponed to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic led both gymnasts to experience difficulties with finishing or starting their recovery processes. Stephens’s reconstruction surgery was delayed by a month, and both gymnasts had limited access to the resources they needed.
“It was tough for a while. It was hard to find the motivation to work out without doing gymnastics because that has always been my way of working out.” MICHAEL FLETCHER REDSHIRT JUNIOR
that I had in there was limited,” Stephens said. “Going to (Memorial) Stadium twice a week was great, and I was super lucky that I had that opportunity, but still, if the gym was open, I would’ve been in the gym every day.” March would’ve been the time when Fletcher would’ve started running, tumbling, jumping and landing his dismounts. When the pandemic hit, Fletcher said that it “threw a pretty big wrench” into his recovery. “I was able to get some physical therapy at home during the pandemic, but it wasn’t as good as it could’ve been because I wasn’t able to get into the gym and train like I used to,” Fletcher said. “A lot of the recovery process with the lower body comes with doing jumps on the floor and the springboard and landing on mats. It’s not easy for a normal person to get access to that stuff.” Five months after his reconstruction surgery, Stephens is currently in a similar position to where Fletcher was in January: no vault, floor or dismounts for now, but he hopes to start practicing on those within the next month. Stephens is also hoping to be fully recovered by February when Australia restarts its Olympic qualification process. Fletcher, on the other hand, is fully recovered. By the time he competes again in January, assuming the NCAA season starts on schedule, Fletcher will have gone nearly 17 months without competing. He’s looking forward to that day. “I’m so excited to be back in Huff Hall and to get through a great routine and stick the landing,” Fletcher said. “Freshman year, those were my favorite moments, and I can’t wait to get back there. I’m more excited than anything else just to get back to competing for Illinois again.”
“I wasn’t able to get into a gym,” Stephens said. “A lot of time was taken away when it comes to having the right equipment and rehab facilities.” Because of travel restrictions, Stephens was unable to fly home to Australia, so he spent most of the summer in Champaign. He did gain access to the weight room and rehab facilities in Memorial Stadium to start the process, but it wasn’t ideal. “I was able to get back in fairly early, but the extent of @B_RadZimm what I could do and the time bez2@dailyillini.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS
Redshirt junior Michael Fletcher performs the splits while competing at the Big Ten Championships on April 6, 2019. Fletcher and Clay Mason Stephens return to practice with the Illini after sustaining injuries.
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Thursday, October 8, 2020
THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
FOOTBALL
Upsets, injuries headline week 5 recap TAMAS FROM 1B
BY CARSON GOURDIE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Another week of college football is in the books, meaning we are closer to the beginning of the Big Ten football season. Some highprofile opening week games for the Big Ten include Michigan taking Minnesota, Ohio State playing host to Nebraska and finally Lovie Smith and Illinois looking to upset Wisconsin in Madison. Still, Oct. 24 is far away, so Big Ten fans will have to tolerate watvhing the Southeastern Conference, among other conferences, for a little longer.
Game Recaps
During a pandemic, it makes sense upsets are occurring on a more regular basis. Spencer Rattler and the No.18 Oklahoma Sooners squandered a fourth-quarter lead, falling to the Iowa State Cyclones 37-30. The Cyclones, led by fifth-year head coach Matt Campbell, used a balanced attack and a late interception to upset the five-time defending Big 12 champions. It was the Cyclones’ first win over the Sooners at home since 1960. Rattler, who came into the season with Heisman hype, played well throughout the game, finishing with 300 yards and two touchdowns. However, when trying to lead his team to a gametying touchdown, Rattler threw an interception in the endzone, ending the Sooners’ rally. Oklahoma is now 0-2 in the Big 12 for the first time since 1998. After surviving a scare against Texas Tech last week, Texas’ luck ran out against Texas Christian, getting upset at home 33-31. Fans of the Longhorns are now floating the idea of booting Tom Herman out of Austin and replacing him with Urban Meyer, although it’s just talk. Still, “Texas is back!,” the phrase made famous by announcer Joe Tessitore, looks more misplaced every year.
THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO
Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan scans the field before throwing a pass during the game against Illinois at Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Oct. 19, 2019. Coan has suffered a foot injury and could be out indefinitely.
The No. 4 Georgia Bulldogs dominated the No. 7 Auburn Tigers at home 27-6, cementing their status as a College Football Playoff contender. After a very subpar outing against Arkansas last week, Georgia came ready to play, jumping out to a 24-0 lead. Despite losing quarterback Jake Fromm and numerous NFL talents, head coach Kirby Smart proved he doesn’t rebuild, he reloads. In other news, Arkansas won its first conference game since 2017, knocking off No.16 Mississippi State at home 21-14. No. 1 Clemson won yet again, blowing out Virginia 41-23. No. 2 Alabama routed Texas A&M 52-24, making Aggie fans wonder if head coachJimbo Fisher will ever take them to the next level.
Big Ten overview
Wisconsin received bad news that quarterback Jack Coan has suffered a foot injury and could be out indefinitely. Coan, who finished last season with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions, pro-
vided a steady presence for the Badgers, who usually rely on their running game. With Coan out, it appears sophomore Chase Wolf and freshman Graham Mertz will battle for the starting spot. Minnesota, on the other hand, received a pleasant surprise when wide receiver Rashod Bateman announced he’s returning to school after originally opting out of the season. Bateman was fantastic last season, finishing the year with 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns. A top target for quarterback Tanner Morgan, Bateman can help lead the Gophers to their first Big Ten West division title. Ohio State is projecting a $107 million deficit for the 2021 fiscal year, showing the impact the coronavirus has had across all sectors of America. Ohio State, however, is far from alone when it comes to fiscal turmoil. In times like these, pay cuts to coaches become regular, and maybe even elimination of some athletic programs in worst cases.
Illinois overview
The Illini are back in full pads as they get ready for their first game in just under three weeks. Hailed as Smith’s most — likely — talented team, there’s one glaring difference between other years: experience. The Illini have 25 seniors on the roster, more than 2018 and 2019 combined. Players like defensive back Nate Hobbs, linebacker Jake Hansen and offensive lineman Doug Kramer, who have been with Smith since the beginning, have the chance to give Illinois their first winning record in conference play since 2007. Illinois’ first opponent, Wisconsin, could have suffered a huge loss at if quarterback Coan is declared out for the season. With Coan out, as well as losing Jonathan Taylor to the NFL draft, the Badgers are battered on offense. Despite that, the Badger defense expects a big season, making a 13-10 type of game against the Illini appearing more likely. @gourdiereport gourdie2@dailyillini.com
have expressed little concern over the issue. “I think we’re (more of) a year-round sport anyways,” Tamas said. “Even though we have ‘time off’ usually in May and again in December, we’re touching a ball throughout the whole year. We don’t quite see as many impact injuries as maybe football would. Obviously, we have to be in shape, but we’re not a cardio sport either. “(We’re) kind of a weird hybrid between strength and conditioning, so as long as we’re in shape and in good health, I don’t see a concern of trying to go from one season to the next in a short period of time.” Regardless of how the specifics play out, the announcement of dates for the season has meant a collective sigh of relief for Illinois players and coaches alike. With Jan. 22 marked on everyone’s calendar, there’s finally a start date to work toward. “It’s more time to work on things that maybe we don’t get the time to,” Kuper said. “It’s really exciting to see everyone growing in the game. It’s exciting to see me grow in the game because I love this game and I want to be the best I can be for this team, so to have the time to really work on that, honing on certain skills, it’s just really exciting.”
cuss and practice exact angles the ball should be passed at. While there has been excitement within the team regarding the announcement of their season, there are still many questions and concerns regarding logistics in a world with COVID-19. For starters, volleyball may follow other college sports and only play conference opponents, which could have major implications for Illinois. “We’re trying to prove to the committee that we have a tournament-worthy team,” Tamas said. “We (normally) have a tough non-conference (schedule) and play traditional tournament-worthy teams. I don’t think (a conference only schedule) is that much of a blow. I like playing in the Big Ten. I like how competitive it is.” Due to how strong the Big Ten is, Tamas feels a conference-only schedule wouldn’t harm them as much as it would for teams in weaker conferences. With only 48 teams being selected for the tournament this year, this could be a crucial advantage for Illinois. Beyond just the schedule for this season, there have been concerns about playing a spring season and a fall season back-to-back in 2021. While every season can be both mentally and physical- @WesHollenberg ly taxing, Kuper and Tamas wih2@dailyillini.com
THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO
The Illinois volleyball team celebrates after scoring during the game against Penn State on Nov. 16 at Huff Hall in Champaign.
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THURSDAY October 8, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
COVID-19
Champaign County surpasses 5,000 total cases BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
A University coronavirus testing worker hands student Alexa English her test tube in order to take a COVID-19 test at the Illini Union on Sept. 30.
On Wednesday, the C-U Public Health District confirmed another 33 cases of COVID-19 in Champaign County, with 46 new recoveries. Hospitalizations decreased by four on Tuesday, so there are now two county hospitalizations for the virus. This Monday, another person from Champaign County died from the coronavirus. She was a woman in her 90s with underlying health conditions. In six days, four people in Champaign County have died from COVID-19, after 41 consecutive days with zero new deaths. Countywide fatalities for the virus stand at 24. There were also another 12,472 tests conducted in the county on Wednesday, bringing the test total up to 585,341. To date, 5,071 people in Champaign County have
tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Of them, 4,701 are considered recovered by CUPHD, and 347 are active. ZIP code 61820 is still Champaign County’s biggest contributor to the pandemic, with 2,396 confirmed cases there, 170 of them active. Sixteen new confirmed cases were added to the ZIP code’s total on Tuesday, though 32 more recoveries were reported, bringing the active case count down by 16. The ZIP code 61820 encapsulates the area within I-74 on the north, Prospect Avenue on the west, Windsor Road on the south and Wright Street on the east, covering most of Campustown. The same ZIP code leads Champaign County in total tests with 260,773, about 44.5% of all county tests. The ZIP code with the next highest number of active cases is 61801, in Urbana, with 35.
More than two-thirds of all county tests have been done on people between the ages of 10 and 30 years old. In total, 2,022 confirmed cases have been from people between the ages of 10 and 20, while another 1,389 confirmed cases have been between 20 and 30 years old. CUPHD reports breakdowns of cases and tests by race. According to their webpage, 65% of people who’ve tested positive in the county are white, 14% are African American, 6% are Asian, 14% are “other” and less than 1% are unknown. Other cases to tests disparities exist in racial demographics. Asian people represent 6% of cases despite getting 18.9% of tests, while African Americans comprise 14% of cases in the county while only receiving 8.1% of tests. @esimmsnews ecsimmon@dailyillini.com
Warning levels reached Small businesses work hard to serve community in 28 Illinois counties BY CATHERINE PAVILIONIS
BY THE DAILY ILLINI STAFF REPORT
paign County. Livingston County has a population of about 35,600. Macon has 1,760 positive cases and is about 50 miles from Champaign County. Macon County has a population of about 104,000. IDPH reports that warning levels can be reached for a number of different reasons, many common factors for increases could be due to college parties, sports teams or large gatherings and events, weddings and funerals, family gatherings and several other factors.
Twenty-eight Illinois counties are reported to be at a warning level for the novel coronavirus. Champaign County is not considered to be at a warning level; however, a few surrounding counties are. A county is considered to be at a warning level when two or more of the COVID-19 risk indicators increase, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. There are eight indicators to be considered when deciphering warning lev- news@dailyillini.com els. New cases per 100,000 people, number of deaths, A county is considered positivity rates, ICU availat warning level after ability, weekly emergency room visits, weekly hospital two of the following admissions, amount of tests points have been met: performed and clusters or outbreaks are all considered. The counties current• If new positive cases ly considered at warning are above 50 cases per levels are as follows: Bond, 100,000 people. Boone, Brown, Calhoun, • If weekly deaths Christian, Clinton, Coles, increases more than Crawford, DeKalb, DeWitt, 20% for two consecuFayette, Greene, Hancock, tive weeks. Jasper, Lee, Livingston, • If seven-day positivity Macon, Massac, Monroe, rate is above 8%. Morgan, Pulaski, Putnam, • If fewer than 30% of Richland, Saline, St. Clair, ICU are available. Wabash, Washington and • If weekly visits to Winnebago. emergency room As of Tuesday, Coles with COVID-19-likeCounty has 1,566 posiillnesses increases tive cases and is just about by more than 20% 50 miles from Champaign for two consecutive County. weeks. DeWitt County has about • If more testing is 144 positive cases and is needed in the area. about 40 miles from Cham• Clusters or outbreaks paign County. DeWitt Counare looked at to underty has a population of about stand increase in 15,700 people. cases. Livingston County has 445 positive cases and is about 60 miles from Cham-
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
In a time filled with so many unknowns, one thing a community can hope to rely on is the small businesses that provide their daily cup of coffee, health or beauty appointments or the special dinner they can share with loved ones. With quarantine and new restrictions set in place by the Center for Disease Control, going to visit favorite shops or restaurants may look quite different now. Their operations for best serving their customers have shifted as well. Amanda Baer, a nationally published hair artist and owner of Something You Salon and Spa, originally worked very extended hours. She said they started the morning opening the spa at 6:30 a.m. and closed at the end of the night around 10 p.m. When COVID-19 hit, Baer and her team found themselves having to extend their hours, so they could sanitize their space even more than before. This work put them to the test. “We’re hopefully going to get through this soon. If we follow the rules and we’re doing what we’re supposed to as businesses, we’re setting a good example for our community and hopefully we can keep things under control,” Baer said. Of course, the journey has not been smooth-sailing when making sure all the new rules are implemented. As a source of support, Baer turned to coaching groups through social media. “Just having a group to be able to reach out to that is going through the same things and to bounce ideas off of has been a really big
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
A worker at the Ye Olde Donut Shop checks out a customer on Wednesday morning. The Ye Olde Donut Shop, along with other local small businesses, has had to adapt to the pandemic.
help,” Baer said. “Just to know that I have a support system through all of the craziness.” To deal with the pressures of disagreements or impatience with these guidelines, Baer said she recommends people, “Extend grace wherever you go. The best thing we can do as humans is just understand the journeys that we’re all on and just to have grace when we go into places and to be more understanding and patient.” Colin deBlouwe, general manager of Ye Olde Donut Shoppe in Champaign, voiced similar thoughts on the virus and the importance of solidarity. “Every week has been a little bit different during these times,” deBlouwe said via email. “Focus on the things you can control. The best advice I would give to the people is to wash your hands / wear a mask / stay at home if you feel sick. We need people to care more about their neighbors than themselves right now.” Similar to Baer and deBlou-
Stay
we, Just Bee Açaí owner Emma Reinbold emphasized the importance of taking refuge in the supportive group rallying around her. “Honestly, the first ‘resource’ that came to mind that has helped carry us through COVID is the community. Central Illinois has proven time and time again to show up when you need them the most, so we had an overwhelming peace with that in mind as we entered this uncertain season,” Reinbold said over email. Speaking on advice that has been key for her during this time, she suggested that business owners should lean into other small businesses during this time. To show her support and solidarity, Reinbold collaborates with other small businesses through use of their ingredients or selling of their handmade goods, offering her customers the chance to appreciate the craftsmanship of local artisans. “This community is just waiting on their toes for
opportunities to support small local businesses; if you give them the chance in a way that meets their needs, they WILL come whether you are ready or not!” Reinbold said. Reinbold, as well as Baer and deBlouwe, look confidently to the future with ready faces and big embraces. With such a supportive community ready to fully support them during this time, they said they felt prepared for whatever may lie ahead. “There is no certainty in the world that we are living in right now, and for that, make the most of whatever unpredictable circumstances are placed along your journey each day. Feel them out fully, capitalize on them, reflect on them and most importantly, don’t let them tear you down. Let them build you up in all the possible ways. That’s all we can do right now, for the sake of ourselves as individuals and the sake of our community as a whole,” Reinbold said. features@dailyillini.com
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buzz calendar BY RUKAYAH HUSSEIN BUZZ CALENDAR EDITOR
The buzz calendar is a compilation of events happening in the Champaign-Urbana area. Follow our top picks in Monday’s and Thursday’s papers for ideas on what to do on any night of the week, from where to eat to what to watch. Want to submit an event? Email calendar@readbuzz.com.
THURSDAY, OCT. 8 PHOTO COURTESY OF JASON FISHER / WIKIPEDIA
mxmtoon performs in Portland, Oregon on Sept. 19, 2019. mxmtoon released her newest project, “dusk,” on Oct 1.
New mxmtoon EP signals change BY CASEY DALY STAFF WRITER
Twenty-year-old Oakland singer-songwriter, influencer and podcast producer, mxmtoon released her EP, “dusk,” to kick off the month of October. “dusk” is the counterpart to “dawn,” the animated and tangerine project released in April. If “dusk” is the beginning of a yoga class, the warmth of stretches and wooden floors, “dawn” is like the Savasana, the lilac scent of the hot towel and the release of the final pose and breath. Mxmtoon, also called Maia, has released three bodies of work — “dusk” included — since the colossal success of her 2018 bedroom pop project, “Plum Blossom.” The album was streamed over 100 million times after being recorded
FRIDAY, OCT. 9
The Idea Store: Lessons in Creative Use
! Noon-1 p.m. " A virtual event hosted by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center # Free The Idea Store celebrates its 10th anniversary this fall, proving that creative reuse efforts can garner community support. Through trial and error, it has learned what works and what doesn’t, with still much potential for improvement and growth. Store co-founder Carol Jo Morgan will share lessons learned, success stories, nuts and bolts, goals reached and plans to move forward. Every community can benefit from a well-organized creative reuse center!
Celebration of Music Concert
PHOTO COURTESY OF GENIUS
Pictured above is the album cover for mxmtoon’s newest EP.
via laptop in her parents’ bedroom. Staples of mxmtoon’s ever-developing sound include abundant reservoirs of layering, gushing beats, and dreamy landscapes of sound. Maia has credited Sufjan Stevens and Elliot Smith as influences,
The EP is reminiscent of a koi pond in the hues of midnight blue; “dusk” is infused with passable poetry, chirping birds and lush, dreamy harps.
though the comparison may end with gentle vocals and intimate lyricism. “bon iver,” the EP’s first track, was appropriately released on July 30. The music video featured Maia in a deep blue qipao, which she also wears in the “dusk” cover art, in tribute to her Chinese American identity. The video embodies “dusk” with color, nature and cartoon scribbles of shooting stars in the sky and illustrated butterflies, along with golden orbs and a soft breeze. “dusk” indicates a growing sense of exploration SEE MXMTOON | 6B
! 1-3:30 p.m. " A virtual event hosted by the University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra # Free Tune in to listen to the University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra play a program of works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Richard Wagner, Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Gustav Mahler virtually! We know you can’t come to hear us, so we’re coming to you! Featured are the newly formed Strings Plus and the Blue and Orange Strings.
C-U Jazz Festival presents Melvin Knight
! 7-7:45 p.m. " A virtual event hosted by The Urbana Free Library and the C-U Jazz Festival # Free This October marks the C-U Jazz Festival’s sixth anniversary, bringing together audiences and high-quality jazz experiences. This year, you are invited to enjoy an online performance by Melvin Knight. Knight brings his personal touch for creating and elevating melodies inside relatable lyrics all within infectious energy. Don’t miss your chance to hear some of the best croonings this city can offer.
Fall Prairie Skies
! 7 p.m. " A virtual event hosted by Parkland College # Free Fall Prairie Skies is a virtual, live-narrated tour of the wonders of the night sky, accompanied by some of the legendary stories of the ancient sky. Find out what constellations and planets are visible tonight and how to find them. This show is updated seasonally and is intended for all ages. Join us on Zoom.
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
! 7:30-9:45 p.m. " Rose Bowl Tavern, 106 N. Race St., Urbana # Free The C-U Jazz Festival presents the AfroCaribbean Jazz Collective! They’ll bring some new music. Social-distancing is required.
SATURDAY, OCT. 10
Market at the Square
! 7 a.m.-noon " Corner of Illinois & Vine streets in Downtown Urbana # Free Urbana’s Market at the Square returns for another season. This year looks a little different to start the season, but you can still shop local vendors to get fresh produce from farmers in our area.
Old To The New
! 9 p.m.-2 a.m. " NOLA’s Rock Bar, 119 W. Main St., Urbana # Free The IDEAL DJs are back! Every Saturday, we will be at Nola’s in Urbana, spinning our old to the new style. It’s time to get out of the house and get your IDEAL on!
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THURSDAY October 8, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
buzz
Add these hidden gems to your Netflix watchlist ed must-see for anyone looking for a brilliant indie-type Netflix enthusiasts know tearjerker. most nights during the quarantine were spent scrolling “The Florida Project” through random film cateThis one is not so “hidden,” gories and adding dozens of but it seems after its preunderappreciated movies miere, the film quickly left to “My List.” Over the past the press and made a quiet few months, there have been debut on Netflix. “The Flormany opportunities to watch ida Project” is a breathtakentertaining and aestheti- ingly beautiful indie film full cally pleasing films without of many newcomer actors, leaving the comforts of home. including a little girl who Here are a few hidden gems steals the show. that could be worthwhile to The film’s narrative is watch on Netflix. told from the perspective of a little girl who grows up “The Kindergarten Teacher” in a world where drugs, sex In the Netflix original film, and homelessness are the Maggie Gyllenhaal plays an norm. Willem Dafoe plays ordinary and well-orga- an angry yet lovable motel nized kindergarten teach- manager, while newcomers er who dreams of becom- Bria Vinaite and Brooklynn ing a poet, even though she Prince fit perfectly into their knows her writing isn’t very roles. The cinematography is creative. She overhears one just as impressive as the actof her students, 5-year-old ing. After finishing the film, it Jimmy Roy, played by Park- will leave you wanting more. er Sevak, reciting a poem-like phrase during carpet time. “American Honey” The rest of the movie follows Studio A24 is doing everyGyllenhaal’s character as she thing right lately. “American becomes engrossed in pro- Honey” is a coming-of-age tecting Jimmy’s talent. story of a character named It’s understandable to be Star, played by Sasha Lane. hesitant of Netflix originals She leaves her challenging because they can be cheesy life behind and joins a life on at times. However, “The the road selling magazines Kindergarten Teacher” is and partying with a gang incredible and can easily of teenagers, one of whom be added to anyone’s list of is played by Shia LaBeouf. five all-time favorite mov- Through her new and excities. Gyllenhaal is fantastic, ing experiences, Star can see and this film is an underrat- the world from a completeBY RAINA KUTLIROFF STAFF WRITER
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
Willem Dafoe and Brooklynn Prince star in “The Florida Project.” The film was first released on March 1, 2018.
ly different perspective. She finds herself in intense situations, ultimately learning what she wants out of her own life. Lane perfectly fits the role in “American Honey” after starring in other hits like “Hearts Beat Loud” and “The Miseducation of Cam-
eron Post.” And of course, up with her high school boyShia LaBeouf is outstanding friend and another girl who in every role he plays. is currently dating him. Starring Dylan Sprouse, Hannah Honorable Mention: Marks and Liana Liberato, “Banana Split” this movie is unique and fea“Banana Split” tells the tures some quirky cinemastory of the unlikely friend- tography effects. The film ship between a girl who broke falls short, as the plot is rel-
The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective prepares for performance BY JILLIAN LITTLE BUZZ EDITOR
Each year, visitors and community members celebrate the achievements in music during the C-U Jazz Festival. This year’s festival, occurring Oct. 8-11, will offer various jazz artists performances, both virtually and in person. One of the in-person headliners includes the AfroCaribbean Jazz Collective. The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective formed two years ago and has performed around the C-U area ever since. Most of the group’s members met while studying at the University of Illinois School of Music. “I was roommates with our current bassist and slowly met the rest of the band in different ensembles,” said Jose Guzman, the group’s guitarist. “The percussionists, which were the missing links to the ensemble, and I met in the (University) Latin Jazz Ensemble.” Like most groups over time, The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective’s artistry has changed since the band’s formation. It began playing different fields of jazz using the Great American Songbook, which most band members knew. “We then slowly ventured into more Cuban and Puerto Rican focused music,” Guzman said. “Our music has
definitely matured since two years ago, and I’m excited for what the future holds.” Each Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective member brings in their own musical influences, from salsa to traditional Brazilian music. “We’re all at seven different points of view,” Guzman said. “At the start of the group, we’ve tried to incorporate this as best as possible, but we also like trying different things.” Guzman, originally from Ponce, Puerto Rico, has been playing the guitar for 17 years. He started out learning how to play rock ’n’ roll, but he’s always been passionate about jazz music. At the age of 18, Guzman moved to San Juan to study engineering. However, he realized he had a calling to music and changed his mind. “Latin jazz is the domain of Puerto Rico and runs through our veins,” Guzman said. “I was into jazz long before getting my undergraduate degree in jazz studies.” When COVID-19 hit, Guzman thought the time during quarantine could be used to hone in on his musical skills. In July, he had the opportunity to put together a cover of “I Can’t Help It” by Michael Jackson with his friends. However, he also experienced some adverse effects. “The money-making and
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most likely take a hit during the winter season, but fans of the Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective should expect some new releases in the future. “After rehearsing for our performance, and we’re going to be talking about how to move forward,” Guzman said. “We’re certainly looking at doing another recording because we have only a few up on Spotify right now.” Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective will perform Friday from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Rose Bowl Tavern. jel3@readbuzz.com
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PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSE GUZMAN
of the group members are parents, so we don’t want to risk anything.” The group members were given a grant by the Urbana Arts Council, and they wanted to use it for a dance party during their performance. The idea was ruled out due to the progression of the pandemic, so Guzman has composed music to be a part of their performance instead. “We’re going to be exploring grooves from Cuba and Puerto Rico that we haven’t done before,” Guzman said. “Hopefully, it gets some people to move and feel better.” Live performances will
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and development between projects. It holds onto fixations of the ukulele and the bedroom-pop soundscapes of “Plum Blossom.” In “dusk,” Maia grapples with the introspective thematic schemas of identity, landscape and, of course, love. Songs such as “bon iver” and “show and tell” exemplify a growing sense of compositional strength. The EP is reminiscent of a koi pond in the hues of midnight blue; “dusk” is infused with passable poetry, chirping birds and lush, dreamy harps. In “dusk,” mxmtoon plays with excellent vocals, and there is an unmissable Carly Rae Jespen feature in “ok on your own.” The dreaminess is unmistakable, yet the track tempos prove monochromatic, and some of the poetry doesn’t land on its feet. Mxmtoon falls victim to a category of Generation Z bedroom pop stars who refuse to use capital letters in their song titles and depend heavily on soundscapes. But there is talent evident in her stylistic choices, thematic playgrounds, vocals and, most of all, composition. “dusk” is an EP where this rings true.
Jazz musician Jose Guzman poses with his bandmates for a full band photo. The group will be featured during the C-U Jazz Festival from Oct. 8-11.
the gigging has certainly diminished to the point where our upcoming performance will be my second show in seven months,” Guzman said. “There was also a lack of seeing musicians face to face and enjoying the process of making music together because communication was through email.” Despite these difficulties, the Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective is currently gearing up for its performance at the C-U Jazz Festival. “We’re going to be rehearsing in an outdoor setting because of regulations and safety,” Guzman said. “Some
atively bland and leaves viewers with a very unsatisfying ending. While there were several plot holes, the film’s epic soundtrack and overall feel deserve an honorable mention.
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