The Daily Illini Volume 150 Issue 28 by The Daily Illini

THE DAILY ILLINI

THURSDAY January 28, 2021

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Vol. 150 Issue 28

CU health district outpaces vaccine supply Public health expects four to six month vaccine rollout BY AMRITA BHATTACHARYYA STAFF WRITER

As the news broke that there is no federal stockpile of COVID-19 vaccines as previously stated by the federal government, some states scrambled after learning that their supply would lessen. However, Champaign County has not yet felt the effects. “We have not seen an impact locally out here because we still are receiving vaccines from the state, and the state has committed to providing us a minimum number of vaccines every week,” said Awais Vaid, deputy administrator of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. “So, that number has not changed since the news came out.” The amount of vaccines received is allocated according to population size, with Champaign County receiving a minimum of 4,000 to 6,000 vaccines per week. According to Vaid, C-U

has the capacity to administer 20,000 vaccine doses a week. At full supply, CUPHD could vaccinate almost the entire community within four to six weeks. However, with the current number of doses that Champaign County is receiving, Vaid says it will take around four to six months. “The question out here is not if we can get them vaccinated, it’s can we get the vaccines,” Vaid said. The CUPHD typically gets vaccine allocations every Monday or Tuesday for the following week, giving them a little less than a week to plan their vaccine distributions. According to Vaid, there is no “set formula” to decide the number of vaccines each vaccination clinic gets from the CUPHD. Rather, the amount given depends on the provider’s capacity to administer vaccines, as well as how many CUPHD receives in the first place.

The CUPHD has been working in partnership with Carle Health, OSF HealthCare, Christie Clinic, Promise Healthcare and the University to administer vaccines. “OSF HealthCare continues to collaborate with local health departments within the mass vaccination plan. As we receive doses to administer from the state and/or county, we will make sure those who are outlined to receive the vaccine do,” Shelli Dankoff, media relations supervisor for OSF HealthCare, wrote in an email. As of Jan. 25, 1.35% of the vaccine eligible population in Champaign County has been fully vaccinated. After the current vaccine Phase 1B is completed, people aged 16 to 64 years old with underlying health conditions will be able to get vaccinated. abhatt52@dailyillini.com

RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI

A Champaign County resident receives the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 12 at the I-Hotel. Champaign County is currently receiving a minimum of 4,000 to 6,000 vaccines per week.

RSO demands change after hundreds of bird deaths Wildlife Society petitions for birdsafe campus architecture

BY MATT TROHER STAFF WRITER

RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI

A masked student walks down a diagonal pathway on the Main Quad on Wednesday morning. Many Illinois students wrestled with the decision to return to campus this semester.

Should I stay or should I go? Freshmen mull second semester returns

BY VIVIAN LA STAFF WRITER

As the spring semester begins, freshmen students are making decisions about being on campus or choosing remote learning after starting college in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Decisions included moving on campus for spring after staying home for fall, choosing all remote learning or returning home after being here for fall. Nadya Widjaja, freshman in Engineering, stayed home in Jakarta, Indonesia, in the fall but decided

to come on campus for the new semester. “It feels amazing to be on campus,” she said. “Although I’ve only been here three days, I have met a few of my friends, safely of course, and everyone is just so welcoming.” Widjaja’s main reason for moving now was the challenging 13-hour time difference between Jakarta and Champaign-Urbana for online learning. Having a class at 3 a.m. isn’t at all productive and affected sleeping and eating, she said. Widjaja didn’t come for fall because the U.S. Embassy closed a nd her student visa wasn’t processed. Other students chose to come to campus this semester because of University changes to housing policies.

INSIDE

Features: Students and alumnus earn Grammy nomination

Sports: Hamish Carter starts 2021 season strong

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The change stated that students still need to fulfill the requirement of living on campus. Everyone is encouraged to live on campus given the success of the fall semester, the housing website states. Students have “two options to choose from, live on campus this spring or live on campus next year,” the webpage states. Younis Noora ldeen, freshman in LAS, said he would have to live in University Housing his sophomore year if he didn’t move on campus this semester. It was the deciding factor for him, but he probably would’ve still come if the policy wasn’t changed, he said. “I thought it would be really boring but now I’m on campus I just see that it’s a lot more fun than I thought it would be,” Nooraldeen said. Nooraldeen stayed home in Naperville, Illinois for the fall because he believed being on campus with all the restrictions wouldn’t be the full college experience. COVID-19 was also a concern but he said he feels safer on campus these days with the frequent testing and safety precautions. Madhu Vakkadala, freshman in Engineering, also moved on campus from Dallas, Texas after hearing the policy change. She would’ve stayed home for SEE STAY | 3A

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Earlier this year, Emmarie Alexander, junior in ACES, sat at her desk in her room in her second-floor apartment, taking one of her Zoom classes. Alexander was startled by a loud noise, quickly turning her attention away from her class. She investigated the noise and realized a bird had collided with her window, now laid on the ground below. Alexander has a passion for animals; she’s an animal science major and is the president of the University’s chapter of The Wildlife Society — a national organization dedicated to environmental stewardship and education. She brought up the incident with the bird and the window at a Wildlife Society meeting and learned about a group of graduate students who were surveying the amount of bird-window collisions on campus. The bird that hit Alexander’s window was not an isolated incident, but rather indicative of a larger phenomenon across campus. According to the survey, during the course of two three-week periods at the height of fall migration, more than 450 birds had died from colliding with

Opinions

Alec Luro, doctoral candidate in LAS, studies bird color and vision. Luro, along with Sarai Stuart and Rachel Skinner, both graduate students in LAS, led the campus bird window strike survey. As of November, the survey has found 489 birds that died due to building collisions on campus. “(Birds have) evolved over millions and millions of years, but they never had to deal with glass before,” Luro said. “If you think about (the) Beckman Institute, where the windows are mirrored, they’re seeing trees. They’re not seeing a window, something to avoid, they’re seeing images of things they’d normally fly to.” Beck ma n Instit ute, with its mirrored windows stationed behind a line of trees, has been the site of a startling number of bird collisions on campus. According to the bird window strike survey, 159 of the identified birds died after colliding with Beckman. Other buildings that have been the major causes of bird death include Temple Hoyne Buell Hall with 43 recorded bird deaths, the Electrical and Computer Engineering Building with 37 bird deaths, and the Business Instructional Facility with 29 recorded bird deaths. Each building features extensive glass facades. Part of the reason why so many birds collide with buildings on campus is due

“They’re not seeing a window, something to avoid; they’re seeing images of things they’d normally fly to.” ALEC LURO DOCTORAL CANDIDATE IN LAS

385 signatures. The cost of implementing these measures is unclear and would vary depending on the size of the building and the method chosen to retrofit existing buildings. The Wildlife Society has also reached out to the Illinois Student Government and the Student Sustainability Committee to help gain support for their cause. Additionally, the Purdue University chapter of the Wildlife Society has reached out to the Illinois chapter to ask for help campaigning the Purdue campus to implement bird-safe architecture policies.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY UIUC

The Wildlife Society UIUC student chapter Vice President Izabelle Jaquet (left) and chapter President Emmarie Alexander (right) participate in the bird collection survey.

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buildings on campus. To help combat this issue, the Wildlife Society has begun petitioning the University of Illinois System Board of Trustees to adopt bird-safe building measures. These measures include requiring all new buildings to feature glass that matches the standards of the American Bird Conservancy and to retrofit existing buildings to be bird-friendly. As of Jan. 26, the petition has

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Graduate organization holds book drive

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The Graduate Employee Organization’s mutual aid society is holding a book drive from Jan. 24 until Feb. 14 to support Urbana-Champaign Books 2 Prisoners, an organization dedicated to providing books to incarcerated individuals in Illinois. Books 2 Prisoners is an Illinois based project which provides books to incarcerated individuals for free via mail and county jail libraries. “The goal of the program is to provide access to reading material for educational and entertainment purposes,” said Becca Maree, GEO Administrative Assistant. Activities that are part of this program include responding to letters and sending books through mail. Books are selected from the donated collection and are sent per prisoners’s requests. The lending libraries in the jails were briefly closed after which they were restarted. However, they have been shut down again due to the ongoing pandemic as they needed more space to quarantine prisoners. “Many jails don’t have the budget for libraries,” Maree said. In order to cope up with the short supply of books due to the shutting down of library

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A UC Books to Prisoners drop-off box sits inside the School of Information Sciences building on Tuesday morning. The book drive runs until Feb. 14.

programs, volunteers are now collecting boxes of books every week. Donations have also continued at their designated drop-boxes. Drop off locations include the Orchard Downs main office, GEO Office, School of Infor-

mation Sciences at Illinois, IMC and Common Ground Food Coop. “As part of the Bookdrive, the books are sanitized at the drop off locations,” said Emiliana Cofell, GEO Mutual Aid Committee and MatSE Steward. “This commit-

tee focuses on aiding members of our community for this empowering cause. This initiative started during the pandemic because we wanted to reach out by helping a wider community.” payalr2@dailyillini.com

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UI President expects 300-500 new cases to start semester BY MATT TROHER STAFF WRITER

The University of Illinois Senate’s Executive Committee met over Zoom on Monday for University President Tim Killeen’s annual address. During his address, Killeen discussed his hopes for the spring semester regarding COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, the university budget and a new partnership with the University of Toronto. Killeen began his address by noting that, while COVID-19 vaccine distribution has begun in the community, the campus community must remain vigilant to minimize the spread of the virus during the spring semester. He also noted that the University’s SHIELD team — the body in charge of COVID-19 testing on campus — is concerned about the possible entry of the new coronavirus strain detected in the U.K. into the C-U community.

“There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, but there’s still a lot of darkness until we reach the end of the tunnel,” Killen said, referring to the months before the majority of the campus will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Killeen emphasized the successes the university experienced during the fall semester. Among these successes included the completion of 1.1 million COVID-19 tests, no student hospitalizations or deaths due to the virus and the announcement of a 20 million grant for other universities to purchase access to the University’s SHIELD testing system. Among these universities include Notre Dame University, Indiana University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Despite these successes, Killeen noted that he expects to see 300-500 new COVID-19 cases on campus during the beginning weeks

PHOTO COURTESY OF UI NEWS BUREAU/L. BRIAN STAUFFER

University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen poses for a professional headshot. Killeen gave his annual address on Monday via Zoom, where he addressed varying topics including COVID-19.

of the semester. Killeen also addressed the University’s budget. He noted that the Board of Trustees recently approved a tuition freeze for the sixth of seven years, along with a four-year price guarantee, meaning the price of tuition during a student’s freshman year will stay consistent for their entire academic tenure at the University. This comes along with an 8% increase in the number of student applications compared to the number of applications submitted last year, which Killeen attributed to the success and publicity of the University’s COVID-19 testing facilities. On the faculty side of the budget, Killeen noted that, despite the financial constraints the pandemic has put

RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI

Pharmacist Katie Lampman fills needles with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 12 at the I-Hotel.

on the University, there have been no faculty layoffs or furloughs — although there was no pay raise this year either. However, some faculty members opted for a “voluntary salary decrease.” Killeen discussed a recently-launched partnership with the University of Toronto in Canada. On Oct. 29, the University of Illinois System, the Council of the Great Lakes Region and the University of Toronto signed a memorandum of understanding officially launching the binational Great Lakes Higher Education Consortium. The partnership was launched with the intention to strengthen higher-educa-

tion across the Great Lakes region and provide a platform for institutions of higher education to collaborate across borders on socioeconomic and environmental issues. Killeen also discussed another international partnership between the University of Illinois at Chicago and Monterrey Institute of Technology in Mexico. This partnership was created to strengthen collaboration between faculty and students amongst the two universities. Zowards the end of the meeting, Chair of the Senate Executive Committee Robin Kar opened an opportunity for faculty senate members to ask Killeen questions and

address any concerns. Some concerns brought up by faculty included addressing student and faculty mental health and morale, encouraging fellow faculty members to listen to students and be flexible during spring semester, emphasizing a need for competitive pay-increase to retain faculty members and to show support for graduate students. Kar also opened an opportunity for public comment. However, there were no public comments to be made. The Senate meets every Monday and is available to the public through live stream. mtroher2@dailyillini.com

Chancellor stresses care, vigilance BY SAMANTHA BOYLE MANAGING EDITOR FOR REPORTING

Care and vigilance was the main idea of Tuesday’s Massmail from Chancellor Robert Jones to all students, staff and faculty. While reminding readers that all COVID-19 policies and rules are still actively being enforced, he also understands that requesting a limit on activities may be rather difficult. This semester, students who don’t comply with

COVID-19 requirements such as social distancing and limitations on gathering sizes, may end up losing access to University Wi-Fi, Zoom, Compass and other technologies the University offers. “We will take enforcement seriously,” Jones wrote in the Massmail. “But the honest truth is that the safety and health of this community depends on the decisions each of us makes on a daily basis.” The email came the Mon-

PHOTO COURTESY OF REDDIT USER SIMPL3Y

Patrons of Chipotle wait outside the restaurant on Monday night. The recent Massmail sent by Robert Jones encourages students to take precautions against COVID-19

FROM 1A

STAY the spring if she could because of concerns about COVID-19. “It’s sort of scary to go outside and do anything in public, but I would also prefer getting an apartment sooner rather than later,” Vakkadala said. “So having to only stay one semester instead of an entire year just seemed like a much better option.” Students choose to stay home for the spring semester. There are also some students who are choosing to finish the year remotely, whether they were online or on campus in the fall.

No official data currently exists for the number of students doing remote learning or are on campus, Robin Kaler, University associate chancellor said. Compiling this information is often difficult and is not as easy as it seems, she said. “We find that in COVID, many students don’t make the decision of whether to return to campus until the semester has started,” Kaler said in an email. For Josie Mendez, freshman in LAS, saving money and the pandemic were the main reasons for staying home both semesters. It didn’t make sense to pay for dorm living but have all online classes, Mendez said.

day after long lines were seen across campus at bars, like The Red Lion. “When we decide to stay home rather than attend a party or stand in a crowded line — even though we just want to pretend the world is ‘normal’ again, even if it’s just for an hour or two,” Jones said regarding decisions everyone might make to value the health and safety of the community. Jones went on to describe some of these decisions as “life-changing.” Jones attended the “Open Hearts” memorial, which is located on Green Street at the Unitarian Universalist Church. The memorial was to honor those who have died from COVID-19 and the grounds were marked with more than 100 markers. As of Tuesday, Champaign County has had 107 deaths due to COVID-19 and a total of 16,012 cases, according to the Champa ig n-Urba na P ubl ic Health District. “For those of us, including myself, who have lost family members in the pandemic, we see the faces and hear the voices of those we knew and loved in those markers,” Jones said. “This is a singular sadness I would spare anyone if it was in my power.” sjboyle2@dailyillini.com

Mendez also admitted that staying home for her first year has been hard for her mental health. “It’s still hard to be physically distant from people and overall lack a big sense of community,” she said. Mendez also said since it’s her freshman year, it’s been especially hard. “It does make me a little sad that I’m missing out, but I do keep in mind often that plenty of other students are in the same predicament I’m in,” Mendez said. On a positive note, she said doing school from home is productive and free of distractions. Staying home in the fall has helped her learn to balance home and school better, Mendez

RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI

A robin sits in a tree off of Wright street on Tuesday morning.

to the geographical location of Champaign-Urbana. Every fall, around late September to early October, billions of North American birds migrate south for the winter. One of the main migratory paths birds take, the Mississippi Flyway, passes right through Champaign-Urbana. “Most people might see a bird hit a window and think ‘oh, that’s sad,’ but it’s happening everywhere every migration,” Luro said. “It’s a really terrible thing that’s happening, and I think it’s time people start thinking about it, especially the University. If we want to have

a role as one of the leading institutions in the country, then we should try and have some exemplary conservation efforts as well.” The issue of birds colliding into windows stretches far beyond campus. According to various studies, between 365 and 988 million birds die each year from colliding with manmade buildings — most often those with large, reflective windows. Laura Whipple, graduate in ACES, is former president of the Illinois chapter of The Wildlife Society. Whipple took part in the bird window strike survey, scouring the campus for evidence of dead birds. While she is no longer a student, Whipple continues to

support the group’s campaign to install bird-safe architecture. “Birds are really important to the ecosystem,” Whipple said. “They’re a big part of the food chain, and we as people heavily depend on healthy environments, and birds are a really big part of that. We’re seeing a huge loss of bird diversity, and these window strikes are a really big part of that. There are millions and millions of birds flying over the school during peak migration. It’s kind of crazy, we’re really in the middle of a major migratory pathway, and it seems irresponsible to not address that problem.”

said. Devan Jackson, freshman in business, also said she’s looking forward to having her own private study space. Jackson was on campus for the fall and decided to move home to Chicago this semester. “There wasn’t much motivating me to be on campus,” she said. Another main reason was to save money. Jackson said she’s excited and relieved to be home because she has new projects to work on, like redecorating her entire apartment space. As for the pandemic, it was a concern for her at school, but unavoidable in a city like Chicago, Jack-

son said. Students, whether remote or on campus, aren’t concerned academically, but rather about the pandemic and socializing. If a ny thing , doing schoolwork in a dorm will be better for some. “Being in a dorm, it’s going to hold me more accountable and be more responsible,” Nooraldeen said. He also said he’s a little worried about meeting new people, as there are already established friend groups. But he’s optimistic because “it’s a new environment so it just takes time to get used to.” Widjaja is also concerned about meeting new people but not having deep

connections. “Getting to know someone is harder than usual,” she said. Her favorite activity since coming on campus is exploring the school and walking around, saying she’s had a healthier lifestyle since being here. “I want to know the many places and buildings around my housing and beyond,” she said. “There are still a lot of things I have yet to do.”

FROM 1A

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Krannert Art Museum reopens in February Campus museum plans to feature Asian ceramics exhibit upon reopening

BY ALEXANDRA GERGOVA STAFF WRITER

The Krannert Art Museum recently completed the first phase of its reinstallation for the new display of Asian ceramics in the Moore Gallery of Decorative Arts, which is named after local benefactors Theresa and Harlan Moore. The gallery, which spans the entirety of the west wall, will be open for visitors to view after the University allows individuals to participate in nonessential activities after Feb. 8. The exhibit’s recent reinstallation featured around 80 Asian ceramic works, according to Maureen Warren, curator of European and American art at KAM. “The vast majority of those come from China,” Warren said. “That is because the collection is especially strong in Chinese ceramics and also because for the history of ceramics, especially porcelain, China is incredibly important. It also includes works from Korea, Taiwan and Japan, so it’s got quite a wide range.” The dominant Chinese ceramics that adorn the gallery exist in part due to China’s extremely established global trade in ceramics during and after the Song dynasty. This global trade influence marks one of three themes the first reinstallation and those after seek to reflect. “Trade is one of the three themes that I’m exploring in the larger reinstallation of that gallery,” Warren said. “This is just the first phase — there’s going to be a second phase. Trade, collect-

RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI

The Kinkead Pavilion of the Krannert Art Museum lies empty on Wednesday morning. The KAM has recently added a new display of Asian ceramics in the Moore Gallery of Decorative Arts.

ing histories and technology are all themes that are very important.” Besides being organized chronologically, the exhibit is also organized thematically by decorative schemes. The decorative schemes include celadon (bluish-green), blue and white, famille verte (green), famille rose (pink), Satsuma (gold and polychrome), Dehua ware (monochrome white) and other colorful monochrome glazes, according to Warren. KAM classifies its galleries into two distinct categories: permanent installation galleries and temporary galleries. “The temporary galleries are our exhibitions that open every semester, that rotate and change all the time,” Warren said. “So you

might only have as short as three months or as much as a year to see a particular exhibition before it’s down. But the permanent collection galleries are composed of primarily or entirely objects that belong to Krannert Art Museum, and those stay up a lot longer.” The permanent collection galleries are prone to minor tweaks and changes; however, the Asian ceramics gallery, a permanent gallery underwent a full reinstallation. The reinstallation has been in the making for an extended period of time, originally intended to be completed under the previous curator of European and American art. “I was hired in 2005 and immediately, they told me, ‘You know, this is something that we’d like to see

happen,’ but as a brand new hire, I needed to become familiar with the collection and get to know the objects and think about the themes and ideas that were important to me for my reinstallation,” Warren said. “So it took me some time to really get to know the collection.” After Feb. 8, individuals will have the option of registering online for a visitation time slot or simply walking into KAM. However, there are still strict rules implemented to ensure the safety of everybody, according to Julia Nucci Kelly, assistant director for marketing and communications at KAM. “You have to sign in, give your contact information, and you have to wear a mask,” Kelly said. “We allow around 20 people per hour to come through the muse-

um and they can be individuals or in small groups as long as they keep (their) distance from people. We have hand sanitizer throughout the building.” During the spring semester, KAM will be operating on Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Thursday operating until 7 p.m to make it easier for students to attend. Spring operations are nearly identical to fall operations, outside of the brief period for essential activities only. “We had a lot of things in place to allow us to reopen in the fall, and the reason that we had to close was because of the governor’s change of mitigation stage,” Kelly said. “He closed all the museums in the state. So we would have reopened, but

this year the University asked us to just stay closed just a little bit longer until we’re done with the waiting period and our students can go through their early semester testing.” While all of the events at KAM are currently virtual on the website, there will be available in-person experiences. When students feel comfortable visiting, they can access a page on the website that documents various health and safety measures to keep in mind. “I think visiting the museum itself is a really perfect in-person experience,” Kelly said. “It really is one of the special things that you can do on campus that’s not virtual.” gergova2@dailyillini.com

Attention University of Illinois Seniors:

Last call for Class of 2021

Senior Pictures FEB. 23 - MAR. 14 Your safety is our #1 concern. See our website for more details. Portraits are from the waist up so dress accordingly. We provide the cap & gown!

Schedule your appointment at illioyearbook.com illio yearbook

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THURSDAY January 28, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

LIFE & CULTURE

Illini receive Grammy nominations

UI student, alumnus gain accolades on a national scale through musical prowess BY KAYLA MISH STAFF WRITER

Sophia Byrd, senior in FAA, was with her siblings over Thanksgiving break when she received a “Congratulations!” text from a friend. At first, she wasn’t sure of what she was congratulated for but quickly found out she was nominated for a Grammy. Byrd sings in Place Orchestra, which is nominated for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance and Best Contemporary Classical Composition. The piece is largely about gentrification and displacement. It was composed in 2018 by Ted Hearne with librettist Saul Williams and director

Patricia McGregor. “It makes me feel so incredibly grateful to be a part of this journey with all of these people,” Byrd said. Throughout Byrd’s music career, she has a very specific driving factor for the music she works on: “I am a multi-hyphenated creator seeking to amplify the marginalized and disseminate joy.” “I think, as I’ve been a music student, specifically in college, I have had the experience being the only person of color in the room and frequently, almost always the only Black person in the room,” Byrd said. “It’s always a weird feeling when you are talking about Black music and the civil rights movement and how that relates to music . . . via textbook that was written by a bunch of old white men who understand these concepts via their research, but not through experience.” She saw Place Orchestra as a way to create change. “If I am going to continue to pursue a career in this place that is so whitewashed and whiteness is the norm and standard, then I always need to be doing something

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN PISANO

Sophia Byrd performs “PLACE,” the piece nominated for a Grammy award, at the BAM Next Wave Festival in 2018. It was Byrd’s first professional stage job.

to push back against that,” Byrd said. Due to the pandemic, Place Orchestra was recorded and premiered virtually.

“To see the fruit of that labor to show up as a Grammy nomination is just so humbling and I feel so special and I feel like unworthy of it, but I’m so thankful that it’s happening to me,” Byrd said. For University students hoping to succeed in the music industry, Byrd commented that a lot of it is being in the right place at the right time. The other part is finding projects which make a difference in the world, bring joy or pay bills. “If the art isn’t saying anything, then it’s not really doing anything in the first place,” Byrd said. “I would say coming up with pillars that are important to you, and then when you consider working on projects or starting your own projects, really think about whether you are fulfilling those pillars for yourself.” James Blachly, who graduated in 2013 with a master’s in orchestral conductPHOTO COURTESY OF JAMES BLACHLY ing, was also nominated for Illinois graduate James Blachly poses for a professional headshot. Blachy has been nominated for a Grammy in the category the Best Classical Solo Vocal Album Grammy. of Best Classical Solo Vocal

Album for the first recording of Dame Ethel Smyth’s composition “The Prison.” “It’s thrilling and gratifying and, in some ways, reaffirming what all of us who worked on the recording already knew, which was the piece of music is deserving of the world’s attention,” Blachly said. He said this was Ethel Smyth’s final large-scale composition, and he wants to advocate not only for this piece of music but also for the rest of Smyth’s music because it has been underperformed for too long. “I feel she was sharing something vulnerable and deeply personal and the more that I engaged with her music, the more that I felt it start to have an effect on me, so I’ve just been grateful to experience her music in this profound way,” Blachly said. Blachly also said one way of finding a successful career is by “choosing something that you want to work on for the rest of your life, and then no matter what happens with your career

you will be fulfilled.” Donald Schleicher, professor of Music and Daniel J. Perrino Chair of the Conducting Area, worked with Blachly when he was getting his master’s at the University. “I recall James well and he was like a sponge. He tried everything that I asked. He’s smart and worked hard and therefore I’m not surprised that he has been very successful. He is a wonderful and humble person,” he said. Schleicher also said musicians and conductors should strive to carve their unique path, and Blachly has done just that. “Music students have to work incredibly hard, so the ones that are successful are those that don’t do anything else besides practice their instrument. One can’t be a professional musician and not work hard,” Schleicher said. The 63rd Grammy Awards air Sunday, March 14 on CBS. kmish2@dailyillini.com

Students search for study spaces on campus BY JARED EBANKS ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

The back of Ben Laurx’s desk chair rests inches away from the foot of his bed. On the adjacent wall, a whiteboard hangs with scrawlings of notes, reminders and dates. Post-it notes liter the surrounding space of the wall like planets orbiting around the streaky, discolored whiteboard. “I’m just happy if I make it out of bed,” Laurx said.

Taking a 10-minute walk to the UGL for an all-nighter or sitting down at Starbucks in the Illini Union to knock out a few assignments hasn’t been an option for students since Spring 2020. Besides the desk in a dorm room or apartment, few locations exist around campus where students can safely practice social distancing while studying. Coffee shops like Espresso Royale and Starbucks are

out of the picture as they’ve removed all seating options. However, students venturing into yet another pandemic impacted semester have acclimated well to the constant surrounding of the walls of their rooms. Laurx is a junior in AHS who spent last semester on campus. In his first two years at the University, the ACES library was his go-to study space. “It has good natural light-

ing,” Laurx said. “The whole place is quiet so it’s easy to focus. And I think it’s a lot more conducive to studying rather than the UGL which can sometimes turn into a social hour.” While libraries across campus offer reservation only study rooms, these spaces can fill extremely quickly. ACES only offers six study rooms for reservation and the UGL’s max capacity is one per room. Students

spent a majority of their first semester rolling out of bed, taking a few steps to their desks, and logging into zoom lectures. The current temperatures outside will only increase the latter. “With the winter months being so miserable, sometimes I’d rather stay at my own place,” Laurx said. “If I had a car or a friend who has a car I’ll hop in and get a ride over there, but if I have to make a 5-10 minute walk,

it’s not that worth it.” While some students prefer the vibrant energy of the first floor on the UGL, others need pin-drop silence for optimum focus. For Laurx the smallest distractions within the UGL can be a break from strenuous studying, making the work slightly easier. “But if I’m hunkering down studying for a final or working on an essay, I need SEE STUDY | 7A

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Thursday, January 28, 2021

Professors earn recognition as University Scholars BY SANA MADHAVAN STAFF WRITER

Five professors on campus have been recognized as University Scholars for their outstanding achievements in scholarship, research, service and teaching. With this award, the distinguished faculty were also awarded grants to further their academic career and positive contributions at the University.

Meghan Burke, Special Education Professor

Throughout her academic career, Burke has focused on advocacy for families of individuals with disabilities and disability policy. She conducted research developing and testing interventions to educate and empower families with children who have disabilities to access services. She also established the Volunteer Advocacy Project, a 36 hour training program for parents to advocate for their own children with disabilities but also for other families. “I’m just really proud of creating something that seems to be effective in families helping not only their own children but also helping other families,” Burke said. “And also it’s something that can be implemented in the community and doesn’t have to be done by a researcher.” Being named a University Scholar is an honor to her and a step towards her future research goals. “I’ve been really humbled by this award from the university,” Burke said.

FROM 6A

STUDY

all the distractions gone,” Laurx said. “Either the quiet floor of the UGL or the ACES library where I just pop in headphones and work.” For students outside of University housing, venturing beyond their room for studying is an increased challenge. For students living in dorms, some spaces remain open. Chelsea Hamilton, Senior Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing for University Housing, echoed housing’s priority to offer residence hall students spaces outside of their dorm room to study. Both the first and second floor of the SDRP Learning Commons, as well as the Ikenberry Commons Library, will remain open to students this semester.

Ryan Dilger, Animal Sciences Professor

opportunities to do research to being a full professor here, and a University Scholar,” Freeburg said. “It’s a journey that was challenging but exciting and I feel very grateful that I was able to not only achieve it, but also be recognized for it.” He currently mentors students through research projects, providing them the opportunities that got him recognized. “Part of the idea of working closely with students is helping them to have some confidence about the possibilities of being a professor in the future,” he said. Through his publications, Freeburg sheds light on his academic interests and contributes to the collective understanding of Black culture. “I’ve never seen a book about Black culture that was aimed toward a broader audience, but at the same time it still grappled with and dealt with real intellectual issues and controversies and questions that people seem to be fascinated with,” Freeburg said.

Dilger takes an interdisciplinary approach to his research and academic career. Digler is a part of the Division of Nutritional Sciences, the Neuroscience program, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and the Beckman Center Institute for Genomic Biology. Within his research stretching into neuroscience, health and nutrition, he studies the microbiota gut brain axis which is how bacteria influences the major organ of the gastrointestinal tract and its interactions with the brain. His translation pig model in his lab has implications that stretch far beyond domestic species and has many multifaceted interactions. “My training as an interdisciplinary scientist is what’s brought me to this place as a University Scholar where I’m able to kind of showcase the research, the teaching and the extension outreach to the public,” Dilger said. “Illinois allows us to kind of express all those different components, and to be named University scholar, it’s just quite an honor to be so and it’s just a proud Ned O’Gorman, moment.” Communications Professor O’Gorman has multifacetChristopher Freeburg, English ed focuses in rhetoric, politProfessor ical theory, media studies Freeburg is known for his and history. He also applies academic career and publica- his interest in political thetions in African American lit- ory as it relates to mass comerature and culture. munication in society to his “It just means a lot to come latest publication, Politics for from a summer research Everybody: Reading Hannah opportunities program for Arendt. minority students that was Through his platform as an designed to kind of promote editor for The Journal for the “Furniture in these locations have been arranged specifically to follow social distancing guidelines and face coverings are required at all times,” Hamilton said over email. “To further reinforce the face-covering requirement and ensure the safety of those using these spaces, there is now a no food or drink policy in these three locations.” Unlike the UGL and ACES, the smaller seminar rooms in the SDRP that were once reserve-only are not available this semester in accordance with the SHIELD Committee and Chancellor Jones’ essential activities regulations. On Feb. University housing will reevaluate the openings of these spaces. Inside the second-floor learning commons lies the Ikenberry residence hall

library. The University Library system spent the majority of last semester transitioning their complete print collection into an online format. Residence hall libraries were not included in the transition as they receive their own reduced budget for such processes. However, unlike the University library, ISR and Ikenberry Commons’ libraries remain open for students to request and checkbooks out from. With a limit of two patrons, Laura Poulosky, Residence Hall Librarian, said their system has run effectively. “We are allowing people to check things out of our location,” Poulosky said. “We’re able to do touch screen checkouts by scanning the back of an I-card. And then we’re quarantin-

KEEP YOURSELF AND OTHERS SAFE!

WEAR YOUR

MASK!

THE

DAILY ILLINI

PHOTO COURTESY OF NED O’GORMAN

Communications professor Ned O’Gorman poses for a professional headshot. O’Gorman is one of five professors recently recognized as University Scholars.

History of Rhetoric, he pursues political and public discourse further. “I get everything as an editor for that journal,” O’Gorman said. “From essays on Plato, the Greek philosopher Plato, to, you know, white supremacist discourse in 21st century America. So it’s a very broad journal, but the common theme is public discourse and the vitality of that public discourse.” With all his progress in scholarship, publications and teaching, he is honored to be recognized by the University. “The kind of research I do is solitary and so I spend a lot of my time by myself work-

ing, and so for my work to get recognized by the University in this way and publicly recognized, it’s not only an honor it feels like an affirmation of the work that I’ve done today,” O’Gorman said.

Rachel Whitaker, Microbiology Professor

cated members of the University and surrounding communities. “I am privileged to work with dedicated, passionate and engaged teams of students, staff, community member, and faculty,” Whitaker said in an email. “Together we embrace education, research and service with our whole selves, and believe in doing impactful, collaborative science that is accessible to everyone. The University Scholar recognition shows that approach is valued at University of Illinois.

Whitaker’s scholarship and research focuses on analyzing the evolution of microbes and viruses in natural environments as opposed to clinical settings. W hitaker expressed appreciation for how the University values women in science. She also said she is grateful for the dedi- smadha8@dailyillini.com

ing items for three days upon return before they go back into circulation.” While somewhat tucked away, the residence hall library can be extremely useful for undergraduate students who have questions about navigating the multitude of services both the residence and University libraries offer. The residence hall librarians are welcoming, warm and more than willing to help students who find themselves in the commons. “It went really well last semester,” Poulosky said. “We do want to be able to help students because University library services are a little more limited right now than usual so we want THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO to be a point of access.” The Undergraduate Library sits empty on Nov. 15. The UGL has had limited capacity for study spaces since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

jaredde2@dailyillini.com

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Wild party 5 With 5-Down, some emergency bulletins 10 Certain breakdancing move 14 Piece by Puccini 15 Lover of Giorgetta in Puccini’s “Il Tabarro” 16 Native language of 50 million citizens of India 17 Spill a shipment of bowling balls? 20 Gets down cold 21 Kind of engine 22 Person not to be trusted 23 “I knew I was going ___ when it was taking longer and longer to wash my face”: Harry Hill 24 Works during a slow day at the restaurant? 30 Hidden drawback 31 “Paradise Lost” and others 32 Certain deposit 34 “The Game of Strategic Conquest” 35 Word with rule or tackle 36 Advantage 37 Do drugs 38 Piece of curling equipment 39 Poker slang for three of a kind 40 Go on a date with a honeybun? 43 Body part that’s also a woman’s name 44 SOS response 45 A bit of resistance 48 Gets away 52 Is unable to get away, say … or a hint to 17-, 24- and 40-Across?

21 22 24

38 40

PUZZLE BY BILLY OUSKA

55 One target of doxycycline 56 French setting for Puccini’s “Il Tabarro” 57 “This round’s ___” 58 Sad sound 59 Half of a 1960s folk/pop group 60 Run over

DOWN

1 Lip ___ 2 Concentration 3 Plops down 4 Series of goals 5 See 5-Across 6 Makes a duck face, say 7 Part of an Instagram profile 8 Part of one’s mental life 9 “Good ___!” 10 “You got that right about me!” 11 Advantages

12 Not going anywhere 13 Zero 18 Tract of low-growing vegetation 19 Separates, in a sense 23 There are more of these in the U.S. in October than any other month, surprisingly 24 Pants measure 25 Adrift 26 Cons 27 Speak out 28 “Honest!” 29 Not hold back fury 30 High-quality French vineyard 33 Start of this clue 35 Endurance of hardship without complaint 36 Polar bear, to seals 38 Font flourish

39 How often Bette Davis won Best Actress 41 Baby rabbit 42 Pageant identifiers 45 Kind of artist 46 Dish that might be seasoned with adobo sauce 47 Actress Kendrick of “Pitch Perfect” 48 It destroyed the town of Mascali in 1928 49 What benchwarmers ride, with “the” 50 1815 novel made into films in 1996 and 2020 51 Provide initial funding for 53 Org. whose vision is “a great public school for every student” 54 Barely perceptible, say

The crossword solution is in the Classified section.

THURSDAY January 28, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

OPINIONS Maintain healthy reading habits

THE DAILY ILLINI EDITORIAL

NOAH NELSON SENIOR COLUMNIST

Read beyond your expertise, discover your literary niche to train your brain

JULIA EVERSMANN THE DAILY ILLINI

Vaccinations do not grant immortality

the spring semester begins, students are more anxious than ever for a return to normalcy. For many, vaccines appear to be the catalyst. However, it is worth remembering that a vaccine is not a free ticket to break University and state guidelines with impunity. Similar to how the initial refusal to adhere to a state lockdown has prolonged the pandemic, the situation will only be exacerbated if students use the vaccine as an immediate means to end mask-wearing and social distancing. The idea that one could be vaccinated from the virus and still compelled to isolate is infuriating, but the extra patience is required in order to promptly revive society.

The reminder to socially distance through the semester is especially important given the odd decision made by the University to cancel Spring Break. This way, students supposedly will stay on campus all semester, but also that students will be on campus during St. Patrick’s Day, something the administration has been trying to avoid for years given the students’ exuberant observance of the holiday. Health experts recommend that compliance with pandemic guidelines continue until the threshold of “herd immunity” is attained, when enough of the population is vaccinated that the spread of the virus is severely stunted. Epidemiologist and now household name Dr. Anthony Fauci estimates that “herd immu-

nity” will be realized once 75% of the populace has been properly inoculated. Because of this high margin, it is extremely important for every student to get vaccinated once they have the opportunity and for them to encourage loved ones to do so responsibly as well. The sooner the process occurs, the sooner small businesses can reopen and the hardship can end. Furthermore, reports suggest the problem is not the production of vaccines but rather the solicitation of vaccination from people. The media has written countless stories on vaccine doses sitting around in hospitals and warehouses, waiting for arms in which to be injected. Even if you’re unsure if it is your turn for the vaccine, it is worth checking if there

are available vaccination times. As an Illini, remember to get tested frequently (with the University threatening heightened penalties for those who refuse) and to continue the standard precautions we have become cozy with these past few months. The production of vaccines at a miracle pace certainly deserves celebration — but not until the fat lady sings. The vaccine provides us with a light at the end of the tunnel but a hasty pursuit of it would prove counterproductive. Get vaccinated, be patient just a little while longer and soon enough we’ll be gathered and hugging (not touching elbows) and watching the fireworks in the sky on the Fourth of July.

r. Seuss once said: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” There’s no doubt reading is one of the most beneficial acts anyone can do. It provides entertainment, reduces stress and expands the mind. Nevertheless, it’s sad to say not many people take part in the wonderful joy of reading. According to the Pew Research Center, about a quarter of U.S. adults (27%) say they haven’t read a book in whole or in part in the past year, whether in print, electronic or audio form. Whether you are a voracious reader or someone who doesn’t do it at all, keep a healthy reading life, one that not only benefits now, but in the long term. In order to maintain those reading habits, you have to read books you enjoy. It doesn’t matter what it is, so long as you enjoy it and it keeps your eyes glued to the page. It could be anything from business to politics, poetry to fantasy, history to music. Whatever genre helps you laugh a little louder, think a little harder or maybe even write a little better, go for it. Reading what you like also comes along with the added bonus of stressing over not reading what’s trendy or is popular at

any given moment. Who cares? That’s the joy of reading; you should be able to read whatever you want without shame. Over the years, I’ve met dozens of readers who prefer to read beyond their own expertise. A small business owner once said he loves being scared by Stephen King novels. A history major at the University enjoys scientific research books. So go ahead and read anything you like; no one should be stopping you. While doing so, it’s okay to not finish a book. If you don’t care for it by page 50, drop it. There’s no use wasting your time reading something you don’t enjoy. The faster you quit reading something you don’t like, the more time you will have reading something you will enjoy. Why spend a reading life struggling to finish an awful book when you can spend that time reading something that will benefit you in some way? Nowadays, plenty of people like Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, Mark Cuban and so many others credit their fortunes and success to reading. You could too one day if you begin your reading life now. Pick up something you enjoy, find a comfy place to read it and let me your mind fall into the wonderful trance that is reading. Explore new worlds, meet new people and discover why things are the way they are. Don’t fear starting and keeping a healthy reading life. Rather, embrace it for all it is. You are sure to be glad you did. Noah is a junior in the College of Media. noahen2@dailyillini.com

Depression requires correct tools to be subdued ANDREW PROZOROVSKY OPINIONS EDITOR

have been blessed by familial genes that are relatively clean of illness. A few relatives have suffered from various forms of cancer or heart disease, but aside from common afflictions, I recognize I was born with fortunate genes — except one large caveat, a robust family history of depression. So when my diagnosis came, it should not have been a shock. Depression, like other mental illnesses, unfortunately, is attached to a plethora of stigmas and misconceptions. One large misconception is that depression is solely in one’s head. Depression is not only a mental illness but a physical condition. Someone suffering from depression will not just think they are tired or act lazy; they will feel physical fatigue and soreness. Their appetite will change, resulting in weight gains or losses. Sleep patterns will change. Headaches and stomachaches will occur more commonly. The human body is like a battlefield, showing visual signs of trauma and devastation in the wake of its war with depression. Depression also comes in various lengths. People take antidepressants under different circumstances. Some are struggling through a few bad months. Some take medication for a while with

the goal of weaning off eventually. Some suffer chronically from depression. And for some, few medications will actually treat their depression. Having grown up around family members with depression, I know firsthand the frustration of feeling like a depressed individual must simply be unsatisfied with their successes in life. Depression can be brought on by trauma or status, but it also often stems from a chemical imbalance — something congenital and not at all reflecting one’s own fulfillment. Many people feel perfectly accomplished and still suffer from depression. It is incredibly difficult to live with depression and watch family members blame themselves and obsess over where they believe they went wrong to trigger depression, so if you know someone with depression, do not assume their loved ones are responsible. Personally, it feels like a dark cloud that hangs and swirls above my head. There is no cause or reason for it to be there, yet it hangs. It is the most exhausting hill I ever have to climb and yet I know I must climb it every day. And although social company can be a great distraction from thoughts that haunt, depression is effective at decimating one’s social energy. Even in extroverts, depression can drain someone after fifteen minutes at a social gathering

and send them running for an empty room. People tormented by depression or anxiety deserve patience and understanding rather than judgment in situations like these. The scariest thing about getting help is you worry help will rob you of your identity. You worry your struggle has gone untreated so long that it has begun to define you. Who will I be without my depression? Is it not who I am? That fear protects depression from being caged. The struggle with depression is unique and much broader than the stereotype allows, but there are plenty of mitigators available. Therapy and medication have both worked for me but help me in different ways. Medication helps to hinder excessive emotionality and preclude wild mood swings, while therapy is good for personal growth and emotional catharsis. Beyond that, self-care helps. Dieting well and regular exercise are key to maintaining a good mood and high spirits. While in a depressive episode, that is much easier said than done. Exercise seems like a steep and daunting task and comfort foods temporarily bring joy. But once a routine is started, consistency is the key to robbing depression of its power over you. Similarly, hobbies are important. Having a hobby and working at it boosts one’s self-esteem as well as provides a distraction. For

REBECCA ORIZA THE DAILY ILLINI

me, playing the piano has always accomplished that. Do not be afraid to take time to yourself to relax and be unproductive — that time to decompress is important to mental health. But to the outsider, there are many “do’s and don’ts” when handling a depressed person. Trying to cheer someone up, talk him or her out of it or compare times you have been sad to their experience seldom helps. Compliments help and empathy is always welcome, but these approaches can feel dismissive or make the person feel more alienated and alone. There is also an invaluable difference between “I am here if you need anything” and actually reach-

ing out to that friend to check in. Even if they fail to respond to you reaching out, they appreciate it. It can be really difficult for someone with depression to reach out to someone and ask for help, especially since the feeling of being a burden is a frequent blight brought on by depression. I describe my experience with depression not to provide insight to those outside of its grip but rather to help others fighting the same conflict recognize there are others like them. It isn’t uncommon to suffer from depression or anxiety and one never should feel like he or she must suffer it alone. Everyone has a persistent difficulty they must manage — mine is depression.

It requires a lot of effort to placate. The struggles others face, albeit different, are no more or less challenging or fair. I am so much more than my depression. It makes you feel lesser, like a shell of yourself, and it is like chaining you to Plato’s cave wall and wiping your memory of the world beyond it. It makes the world feel like Picasso’s blue period. My family history may suggest that this is more than just an adolescent phase, but with the right toolkit, even the harshest depressive storms can be weathered. Andrew is a junior in LAS and the Opinions Desk Editor for the Daily Illini. atp4@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.

THURSDAY January 28, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

SPORTS

MEN’S GYMNASTICS

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

Junior gymnast Hamish Carter finishes his high bar routine and poses for the judges at Huff Hall on Saturday. Carter was named Male Gymnist of the week by the CGA and Big Ten.

College Gymnastics Association honors Hamish Carter BY BRADLEY ZIMMERMAN STAFF WRITER

Following a stellar return to the all-around competition against Ohio State on Saturday, which included two event titles, Illinois’ Hamish Carter has been named Male Gymnast of the Week by both the College Gymnastics Association and the Big Ten Conference. This is the third time in his career the junior all arounder has earned the Big Ten honor, having earned it twice last season. However, this is the first time in his career that Carter has earned the CGA honor, and Carter is furthermore the first Illini to receive it since Alex Diab in March 2019.

“It was a good start to my all-around performances,” Carter said. “I was happy to put in a solid all-around score. I had a bit of a shaky start on floor in my first event, but I managed to compose myself and get back in the game. It set me up very well for how I’m going to be performing in all-around this season.” “Hamish came out swinging. He had some really great high points for us,” said head coach Justin Spring. “That was great to see, and he’s only getting started. He’s only going to get better from here, and I’m looking forward to an exciting season (from him).” Carter’s high bar performance was a much-needed hit for the team. Enter-

ing the final rotation of all a full point lower than the meet, with Illinois on Manivong’s score. Carter high bar and Ohio State was next, on parallel bars, Illiand Spring nois led Ohio State described his routine as “must hit.” Ohio State wasn’t too far behind Illinois and 337.900could’ve easily made 334.650. Ohio State up the point differenhad just scored a tial on parallel bars. 62.900 on high bar, “This is where leaving the door open battle-tested teams for Illinois to do betcan give away ter. Sophomore Evan meets, and we Manivong started the were about ready event for Illinois with to do that,” Spring a 13.30, outscoring all said. “But here Ohio State gymnasts comes Hamish. except Tyndall. Not only was he in But the next three Illithat tough spot, but ni gymnasts to perform he’s got the hardall fell during their rouest routine. But he tines. Their scores were was the guy who

MEN’S BASKETBALL

MARK CAPAPAS THE DAILY ILLINI

Freshman forward Coleman Hawkins reaches up to block a shot against Purdue on Jan. 2 at State Farm Center. Hawkins has steadily increased his playing time for the Illini.

Hawkins brings promise to Illini Look at the second row of the Illinois bench after a made basket, and you’ll find the bench mob. The group is made up of players who don’t typically see a ton of time, like walkons Edgar Padilla, Zach Griffith and Brandon Lieb. Then, there’s 6-foot-9 Coleman Hawkins. The freshman forward is one of the most active on the bench, constantly cheering on his teammates. Hawkins was a star for powerhouse high school team Prolific Prep, but he’s become an integral part of Illinois’ team in a different way. “I think everyone has a role, and if you’re not in the game you have to do something to help your team,” Hawkins said. “I think being a good teammate and showing that on the bench and bringing energy for the team, that’s always a big thing, especially when there’s no crowd. You gotta be able to provide some source of energy.” But Hawkins is a little different from the walkons. Head coach Brad Underwood has used him in 14 games this season. In

@B_RadZimm bez2@dailyillini.com

Ellie Holzman dominates Iowa STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

ers — someone who can perform well at a critical moment and who can be trusted to come through in that critical moment. “Hamish is that guy who can step up and is someone I can count on,” Spring said. “He’s the one where, if it’s a super high-pressure situation, time and time again, he’s shown that he can perform his best.” With Carter’s clutch performance on high bar and the momentum swinging back in Illinois’ favor, senior Jordan Kovach followed Carter with a 13.30 to secure the victory for the Illini.

VOLLEYBALL

BY WES HOLLENBERG

BY BRANDON SIMBERG

could put up a big score and he did exactly that. He crushed it and did exactly what we needed to turn that momentum around.” A spectator mig ht assume Carter was feeling the pressure to perform well and hit his high bar routine, but he was feeling the exact opposite; he felt relaxed. “High bar is one of my best events and I’ve been competing at a high level both internationally and in college,” Carter said. “I’m still going for a clean set, no matter if the four guys before me have slayed their routines or if all of them have fallen. The job doesn’t change.” Spring described Carter as one of his clutch play-

their last outing against Penn State, Hawkins played a season-high 14 minutes and made his impact felt right away. He missed his first jumper, but got to the free-throw line two possessions later and drained both attempts. He would later hit his second three-pointer of the season and register a season-high three blocks. After the third block, Hawkins said something to an opponent, earning him a technical foul. Underwood pulled him out of the game but wasn’t too upset with his freshman forward. Hawkins would later reenter the game. “I really liked that,” Under wood sa id of Hawkins’ technical. “I say that in a half-serious way. He made a heck of a block and I kinda liked that grit. I was kind of that trashtalking ... that was kinda me. (But) he’s gotta learn you can’t do that in front of an official.” Hawkins’ upbeat vibe translates off the court as well. Teammates have raved about him as a person and as someone they enjoy spending time with. “You can ask anyone on

the team, you’ll know when I’m around,” Hawkins said. “It’s good to have positive energy. Nobody wants to be around a guy with negativity. For me, it’s always going to be positive.” For now, it appears Hawkins will continue to be used in a minor role. He’s playing behind veteran front-court players like Da’Monte Williams, Jacob Grandison and Giorgi Bezhanishvili. But games like the Penn State game show the flashes of what Hawkins can be. Down the line, he could be the third key piece in Illinois’ 2020 recruiting class. “You’re gonna see at some point in the not-toodistant future how good a talent Coleman Hawkins is,” Underwood said. “I love his skill set. He’s been great in practice. He’s a guy that does things you can’t coach.” Until that time comes, Hawkins can be found on row two of the Illini bench, encouraging his teammates on defense and celebrating their success on offense. @BrandonSimberg simberg2@dailyillini.com

ing thousands of fans can be a bit overwhelming for underclassmen experiencing it for the first time. “It kind of could be nice to not have all those eyes on you,” Holzman said. “It doesn’t feel as high pressure of a situation as it maybe could be with 4,000 people there.” This season, Holzman will get to play opposite the highly experienced senior Megan Cooney as pin hitters. With each hitter being a force in their own right, scheming against both of them may figure to be a nightmare for opposing teams. With the Illini already out to a 2-0 start, the sky’s the limit if the Cooney-Holzman tandem can continue their productivity from this past weekend. This upcoming weekend will give the duo a chance

to prove their potential as the top-ranked team in the country, as No. 1 Wisconsin comes to town for a doubleheader. Though the season is still young, coming away with wins this weekend would prove monumental for the program. “(Winning at Iowa) is a nice confidence boost,” Holzman said. “We have big games this upcoming weekend we have to look forward to, but it’s nice to get two wins under our belt and figure out what we need to work on this week.” Regardless of how this unpredictable, COVID-19 inflicted season plays out, Holzman’s early display of talent has shown the world that Illinois has a potential cornerstone piece for years to come.

For redshirt freshman Ellie Holzman, this past weekend’s volleyball matches against Iowa were her first official matches in over 800 days. With so much time off, a slow start would have been predictable, if not expected. Instead, she dominated Iowa to the tune of 27 kills over the two matches. With how excellent she looked this past weekend, it would have been virtually impossible to tell she was coming off of a major injury that had sidelined her last season. Though she’s flying high now, the path to being a key starter this season wasn’t easy. “(I’ve been) keeping my head forward, not dwelling on the past,” Holzman said. “It was a definitely @WesHollenberg hard time to go through, wih2@dailyillini.com but I knew that I had a lot to look forward to and a lot to be excited for. Just keeping my head down and working hard helped me get through.” The addition of Holzman came just at the right time for Illinois, as there was a major hole at outside hitter with the graduation of Jacqueline Quade, the team’s previous highly accomplished stalwart at the position. Holzman herself brings a strong resume, being named Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year in her senior year of high school. The great privilege of getting to play hasn’t been lost on Holzman, who has displayed a new appreciation of getting to be back on the court. “It’s definitely a big jump playing at the collegiate level, especially in the Big Ten,” Holzman said. “I had a year to watch it so I definitely think that was good for my game personally. Just to kind of see everyone and not have too much pressure. Now, being in it, I think I’m well prepared for it after watching for so long.” One potential factor in Holzman’s hot start to the season is the lack of fans due to COVID-19 restricPHOTO COURTESY OF FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS tions. While many players Redshirt freshman Ellie Holzman serves against Iowa on Friday feed off the crowd, hav- in Iowa City, Iowa.

2B Thursday, January 28, 2021

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FOOTBALL

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

Quarterback Brandon Peters looks to pass during the game against Northwestern on Dec. 12 at Ryan Field. Illinois will hope to improve in the offseason under Bret Bielema and his new staff.

Illinois looks to improve in Way-Too-Early Big Ten rankings BY CARSON GOURDIE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

There are 214 days until the Illini take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Dublin, Ireland. Granted, who knows if COVID-19 will allow the location to remain. Regardless, despite the season kickoff being months away, the foundations of Big Ten contenders are almost set. Fans expect 2021 to be an exciting Big Ten season with fresh faces, coaches on hot seats and programs ready to take the next step forward. Here are the Way-Too-Early power rankings for each Big Ten program next season.

Ohio State Buckeyes

The Buckeyes rode Justin Fields’ golden arm and a punishing run game for another Big Ten title and playoff appearance. Despite

Fields forgoing his senior season for the NFL, the Buckeyes are locked and loaded for another repeat. The Buckeyes return key skill players, including running back Master Teague and wide receiver Chris Olave, which helps ease the concerns of losing Fields. Ohio State is such a well-oiled machine now, any quarterback will step in and put up great numbers. Ohio State does have tough tests, though, especially a road game against east rival Indiana, who expects to have their best team in school history.

Iowa Hawkeyes

The Hawkeyes were arguably the Big Ten’s hottest team to end the season, finishing off the year with six straight victories. Back-toback one-possession losses

to start the season, however, kept the Hawkeyes from playoff contention. Iowa returns quarterback Spencer Petras, who torched Illinois for three passing touchdowns. But like all Hawkeye teams, success will run through the defense, which finished second in the conference last season. Iowa’s schedule is difficult, however, with crossover games scheduled with Indiana and Penn State.

Indiana Hoosiers

Despite a disappointing loss to Ole Miss in the Outback Bowl, Indiana put together a program defining season, finishing 6-2 with an impressive win over Wisconsin and a close loss at Ohio State. Indiana returns quarterback Michael Penix, who

suffered a season-ending injury before the Wisconsin game. Indiana, though — like Iowa — was anchored by its defense, which has improved dramatically since Tom Allen arrived in Bloomington. Indiana returns virtually all of its starters and hosts Ohio State in Bloomington, which could turn out to be the biggest game in program history.

Penn State Nittany Lions

The Nittany Lions started off 0-5 this season, but they turned it around to finish 4-5, including a convincing 56-21 victory over Isaiah Williams and the Illini. Penn State, who started off with Sean Clifford at signal-caller, gave life to backup quarterback Will Levis, which could open a quarterback battle in the fall.

Penn State struggled mostly because of COVIDinflected problems — especially the loss of linebacker Micah Parsons. With a normal regular season, expect James Franklin to get his program and an absurd amount of talent to rebound.

Northwestern Wildcats

Pat Fitzgerald proved his 3-9 season in 2019 was a complete fluke with a second division title in three seasons. Although his longtime defensive coordinator retired, the foundation of his defense is still intact. Offensively, the unit struggled with quarterback Peyton Ramsey, but they expect to get an upgrade with South Carolina transfer Ryan Hilinski along with the return of key skill players.

Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin looked like a national title contender after knocking off Illinois and Michigan, but Graham Mertz’s struggles — along with a lack of a running game — doomed the Badgers down the stretch. Mertz was only a freshman last season, so another year under his belt will surely help. But defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard coming back for another season will be huge, as he has overseen one of the top defenses in the conference for the past half-decade.

Michigan Wolverines

Jim Harbaugh needs a stellar season to prove his program is heading in the right direction, as last season nearly derailed it. In his SEE RANKINGS | 4B

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UI posts 140 fewer cases in first eight days than last semester

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Early spring testing compares favorably to fall BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR

On the first day of class of the spring semester, campus testing brought back 26 new cases of COVID-19 among students, faculty and staff after 11,662 newly processed tests. Last semester, 79 new cases were identified on the first day of class, just a week before the case count

ballooned on campus. So far, UI’s newest COVID-19 numbers look favorable to the same point last semester. By the first day of class last fall, 354 people had tested positive in the last eight days. This semester, the last eight days of processed testing have found 214 cases, with no day hitting 40 new cases. In that same time period

last semester, UI conducted 68,000 tests, compared to nearly 73,000 this year. UI tossed its 2021 spring break for a COVID-19 screening week at the beginning of this semester, where on-campus activities were limited and the recommended arrival times for students were staggered. Students were required

to garner two negative tests more than three days apart to participate in in-person classes. Last semester, there were no University-imposed limits on nonessential student activity when thousands arrived on campus. The message from University administration was “party safely,” while local governments limited the

size of in-person gatherings to 10 people or fewer and indoor dining was limited. Even then, by the second week of class, more than 1,000 students had tested positive for COVID-19. The Chancellor’s call for essential activities lasts until Feb. 8, unless testing trends push it further. So far, there have been 467 new recorded cases of

COVID-19 at the University since the new year began. In all, since the UI testing program began, 5,110 students, faculty and staff have tested positive for the virus after more than 1.18 million tests. @esimmsnews ecsimmon@dailyillini.com

County continues vaccine push for residents 65 and older BY JJ KIM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

County, 172,760 or about 82% of the population is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, according to CUPHD. Out of the 18,847 administered, only 2,354 people are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. When compared to the entire state, 145,772 people are fully vaccinated, which makes 1.14% of the population of Illinois fully vaccinated. Chicago (143,903) and Cook County (128,536) have administered the most vaccines in the state, accounting for nearly 40% KEVIN GAO THE DAILY ILLINI of the states administered The sun sets over Green Street in Champaign on April 14. Another Champaign resident has died from COVID-19, bringing the vaccines. death total to 107.

Cha mpa ig n Cou nt y has administered 18,847 COVID-19 vaccines or 1.36% of the eligible population according to the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. From a state perspective, Illinois has administered a total of 719,995 doses of the vaccine as of Jan. 26. Cha mpa ig n Cou nt y is currently in Phase 1b, where only health care personnel, long-term care facility residents, persons over 75+, persons 65+ with underlying health conditions and persons 65+ are eligible to receive the vaccine. Out of the 209,922 jjk7@dailyillini.com people in Champaign

Another Champaign County resident dies from COVID-19 BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR

RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI

Needles wait to be filled with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Champaign County has administered 18,847 COVID-19 vaccines.

A nother Champaign County resident has passed away after being infected with COVID-19, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District announced on Wednesday. This brings the county death toll from the virus up to 107, including 17 in the month of January. The last three months have brought the lion’s share of the county’s death toll from the virus. In November, 35 county residents died from COVID-19, while another 27 died in

December. Meanwhile, 49 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the county after 11,598 newly processed tests. The number of hospitalized residents dropped by two, to 22, while 65 more people are considered “recovered” from the virus. The active case count is down to 639 people in isolation. Another 267 “close contacts” have been released from quarantine, while another 16 people exposed to an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 have

Stay

tested positive for the virus themselves. To date, more than 21,000 people in Champaign County have been ordered to quarantine after exposure. Of them, 2,482 have tested positive for the virus after exposure, while 837 are actively quarantining. State and countywide test metrics continue to drop. According to the most recent data, the seven-day rolling average test positivity rate dropped below 5% in Champaign County, while Region 6’s positivity is at 5.3%.

Overa ll, Champaign County has found 16,061 individual cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, after 1.42 million tests. Almost half of county cases — 7,919 — have come from people between the ages of 10 and 30 years old. More than half of the Champaign County residents who have died after contracting the virus — 57% — were at least 80 years old at their times of passing. @esimmsnews ecsimmon@dailyillini.com

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MENS BASKETBALL

Dosunmu aims for Cousy Award BY GABBY HAJDUK SPORTS EDITOR

RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI

Junior Ayo Dosunmu looks to pass during the game against Penn State on Jan. 19. Dosunmu has recently made the top 10 list to receive the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award.

FROM 2B

Maryland Terrapins

RANKINGS

defense, however, the team was extremely young and expectations were inflated after a season-opening win over Minnesota. Michigan is changing things up at quarterback, electing to go with Cade McNamara, who sparked life into the offense after Joe Milton’s struggles. But biggest of all — as the team only had two seniors starting — Michigan is expected to return its entire offensive line this year.

Minnesota Golden Gophers

The Gophers were disappointing last season mostly because of Tanner Morgan’s decline, whose passer rating dropped by 50 points. In his defense, he was playing with a new offensive coordinator, but Morgan just seemed less aggressive. Minnesota is set to lose his top target Rashod Bateman to the NFL, so PJ Fleck will need to get creative in order to help Morgan get out of a slump that’s hurting the program’s trajectory.

Maryland was incredibly inconsistent last season, with the offense scoring either 40 points or six points. Mike Locksley’s team only played five games due to COVID-related issues, but Taulia Tagovailoa showed flashes of brilliance in wins over Penn State and Minnesota. However, if Maryland wants to contend for a winning season, giving up 32 points a game won’t cut it. The Terps have to increase their presence in the trenches, as they gave up 232 rushing yards in a contest.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska finished the season strong with a close game against Iowa and a win over Rutgers, but the Cornhuskers’ lack of top tier talent hurt them against the likes of Ohio State and Wisconsin. Adrian Martinez is returning for another season as he earned the job back after struggling midseason. Frost desperately needs at least a bowl appearance to stay off of the hot seat.

Ayo Dosunmu has been selected as a top 10 candidate for one of college basketball’s most prestigious awards, the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Monday. The award has been on Dosunmu’s mind for quite some time as he mentioned it as a longtime goal in the Twitter video where he announced his Year 3 return to the Illini. The only Illini to ever win the award was Dee Brown in 2006. While the list can change at any point during the 2020-2021 season, right now Dosunmu is joined by Florida State’s Scottie Barnes, Baylor’s Jared Butler, Minnesota’s Marcus Carr, Oklahoma

State’s Cade Cunningham, Villanova’s Collin Gillespie, Louisville’s Carlik Jones, Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs, Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV and Creighton’s Marcus Zegarowski. Over halfway through the season, Dosunmu is averaging 21.7 ppg, ranking second in the Big Ten (behind Iowa’s Luka Garza) and eighth in the country. He is the only current Cousy Award nominee to rank among the country’s top 10 scorers. The candidate closest to Dosunmu is Carr who averages 20.9 ppg (third in Big Ten, 19th in the nation). The Illini junior also ranks second in the NCAA with nine games of over 22 points and is one of just nine players who has scored 30-plus points in three or more games. Dosunmu has contin-

@gabby_h11 ghajduk2@dailyillini.com

Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State showed potential last season with upsets over No. 13 Michigan and No. 9 Northwestern. The Spartans are cleaning house with Mel Tucker having a desire to get his own guys in East Lansing, so growing pains are inevitable. Luckily for the Spartans, they have three seasons to build around Naperville native quarterback Payton Throne as Rocky Lombardi — a turnover machine — has finally left the program for Northern Illinois.

Illinois Fighting Illini

Lovie Smith has been replaced with Bret Bielema, which sparked excitement into a sluggish program. Although Bielema had an impressive track record at Wisconsin, rebuilding the Illini will be a challenge. Luckily for Illinois, Bielema was able to convince key players to return for another season, including virtually all of the offensive and defensive linemen. Even with the loss of Josh Imatorbhebhe, Illinois returns a lot of skill players,

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF ROMANCE/PALM BEACH POST

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields scrambles during the third quarter at the College Football Playoff Championship Game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Jan. 11.

including Chase Brown and Daniel Barker. But the biggest X-factor will be Brandon Peters, who’s expected to earn his job back from Isaiah Williams. Which Peters will show up, though? The Nebraska Peters or Wisconsin Peters?

Purdue Boilermakers

Rondale Moore is gone, but wide receiver David Bell returns for another season. The Boilermakers expect

to have another quarterback battle between Aidan O’Connell or Jake Plummer, which are both capable of putting up absurd numbers under Brohm. However, the defense will be key if Purdue wants to shoot up the rankings, which allowed 30 points a game last season.

its most successful season since 2014. However, Rutgers benefited greatly from turnovers, an incredibly unpredictable attribute. Rutgers will be able to scrape together a few wins as they aren’t a laughing stock anymore. Still, the Scarlet Knights’ lack of blue-chip talent and having to rely on Nebraska transfer Rutgers Scarlet Knights Noah Vedral has a ceiling. Rutgers was a pleasant surprise last season, upset- @gourdiereport ting three Big Ten teams for gourdie2@dailyillini.com

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ued to be an elite player even when he isn’t scoring. He ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 4.9 assists per game and 19th in the conference with 6.3 rebounds per game. Dosunmu is one of just two players in the NCAA to be averaging at least 20 points, five rebounds and four assists. The Bob Cousy Award isn’t the only honor Dosunmu is being considered for. Before beginning his third collegiate season, Dosunmu was an AP Preseason All-American and a unanimous preseason selection for the All-Big Ten Team. He is a midseason candidate for the Wooden Award and is in the running for National Player of the Year.

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Thursday, January 28, 2021

buzz calendar BY RUKAYAH HUSSEIN BUZZ CALENDAR EDITOR

The buzz calendar is a compilation of events happening in the Champaign-Urbana area. Follow our top picks in Monday’s and Thursday’s papers for ideas on what to do on any night of the week, from where to eat to what to watch. Want to submit an event? Email calendar@readbuzz.com.

THURSDAY, JAN. 28

Yoga at KAM: Virtual Edition

Build Your Business Plan

MADELINE PIERCE THE DAILY ILLINI

Students travel between classes during a snowstorm on Oct. 31, 2019. Jillian Little, buzz editor, has created a winter playlist for students to listen to.

Use music to reminisce summer ing episode of the “What’s • “After The Storm” by the buzz?” radio show Kali Uchis As the semester begins, next Wednesday at 7 p.m. • “Dark and Handsome” by it can be difficult keeping on WPGU 107.1. Stay calm Blood Orange sane with insanely cold and buzz on! • “In My Life” by The weather. Thankfully, the Beatles coldest month is almost • “Good Days” by SZA • “California Soul” by over, and spring is around • “Ripple” by The GrateMarlena Shaw the corner. We still have a ful Dead • “Suddenly ” by Drug little ways to go though, so • “Vienna” by Billy Joel Dealer why not freshen up your • “Love In My Pocket” by • “Gypsy” by Fleetwood music repertoire with Rich Brian Mac these songs to keep some- • “Yes I’m Changing” by • “Running Around” by thing to look forward to? Tame Impala Buddy Ross Speaking of which, be sure • “Les Fleurs” by Minnie to tune into another excitRiperton jel3@readbuzz.com BY JILLIAN LITTLE BUZZ EDITOR

 8-9 a.m.  A virtual event hosted by Champaign Public Library  Free, but registration required Learn how to use our free online library resources to create a business plan. Find out how Gale Business: Plan Builder and Statista can help you structure, run and grow your business and how you can use their step-bystep online planning tools to help you start, manage, market and optimize a business or nonprofit. Creating a business plan is a way to think through and detail all the critical elements of how your business will run.

Gallery Conversation with Bea Nettles

 4 p.m.  A virtual event hosted by Krannert Art Museum  Free, but registration required Join exhibiting artist Bea Nettles and Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art Amy L. Powell for a virtual gallery conversation covering fifty years of Nettles’s experimental photographic techniques and formats.

FRIDAY, JAN. 29

FROM 8B

Champaign County Area Restaurant Week: Takeout Edition

BUNNY

 8 a.m.-10 p.m.  Visit Champaign County  Free We’re reinventing Restaurant Week for our fifth year to meet safety guidelines established by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. Like past years, this will be a nine-day celebration of local food where you can discover our award-winning food scene, from authentic cuisine from Laos and Zambia to Italian dishes, Asianinspired cuisine or classic American dishes. Restaurant Week will satisfy all our hunger pangs.

in the cancellation of live performances, “Blame Game” displays Beach Bunny’s growth through the band’s snarky, selfassured and slightly more aggressive lyrics compared to their last album. “Blame Game” showcases Beach Bunny’s talent in blending their power-pop instrumentals with meaningful commentary on societal issues. smwood2@readbuzz.com PHOTO COURTESY OF BEACH BUNNY’S FACEBOOK

Beach Bunny pose for a full band photo.

 Noon-1 p.m.  A virtual event hosted by Krannert Art Museum  Free We will be continuing our weekly practice together with our instructor, Jodi Adams of Blue Skies Yoga, with a new session posted every Friday at noon here on Facebook, on KAM’s YouTube channel and our website. And as always, it’s free. We hope you can join us for this peaceful, renewing practice. Be well, art friends.

SATURDAY, JAN. 30

Collaboration Launch Party

 11 a.m.-1 p.m.  Ashley HomeStore, 602 W. Anthony Dr., Champaign  Free Visit our Champaign location, shop your favorite local influencer’s top picks from Ashley HomeStore, enjoy local food trucks, celebrate small businesses in our area and meet @thehonestmamablog and @ aboveableshop.

Kilborn Alley Blues Band

 9 p.m.  Rose Bowl Tavern, 106 N. Race St., Urbana  No cover Kilborn Alley Blues Band bring their blues and soulful, groovin’, hard hitting, dance floor busting sound to The Rose Bowl Tavern in downtown Urbana.

SUNDAY, JAN. 31

How to Write and Publish Your Own Book

 3:00-4:15 p.m.  A virtual event hosted by Mahomet Public Library  Free, but registration required Many of us feel we have a book inside us, waiting to be written. Or maybe you’ve written a book, but you have no idea what to do with it until now! Megan Olavarria, local author and editor-in-chief of Advancing Wolf Publishing, will discuss how to write and publish a book.

WPGU 107.1FM

RECRUITMENT

Applications open now until Feb. 18th Apply at wpgu.com/apply Attend one of our zoom recruitment meetings Zoom Recruitment 1 Jan. 28th, 6-7PM ID:880 0387 4245 PW: 293737

Zoom Recruitment 2 Feb. 11th, 6-7PM ID: 896 3132 9280 PW: 782364

buzz

THURSDAY January 28, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

‘Blame Game’ comments on victim-blaming culture Beach Bunny signals new direction with recent EP release buzz factor: BY SYDNEY WOOD STAFF WRITER

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB

Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr., Eli Goree, and Kingsley Ben-Adir star in “One Night in Miami.” The film was released on Dec. 25.

Regina King makes directorial debut ‘One Night in Miami’ spotlights African American legends buzz factor: BY RAINA KUTLIROFF STAFF WRITER

Legendary Sam Cooke, Jim Brown, Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali spend the night in a Miami hotel room together. No, this is not the beginning of a joke, but rather a historic moment for these four powerful Black men. Regina King’s “One Night in Miami” tells the story of what happened in Malcolm X’s hotel room after one of Muhammad Ali’s fights when all four men partied together (mostly) sober. When discussing her passion for this film, director King explains: “It’s a beautiful story of brotherhood, just a display of Black men expressing themselves healthily in a space that we don’t get the opportunity to see Black men be.” Barring a striking resemblance to his real-life character, Kingsley Ben-Adir takes on the intense role of human rights and political activist Malcolm X. The three other men fight with Malcolm X throughout the film. However, they have difficulty staying mad at him, as he has a way with his words; his character admits that he “only wants what is best for his friends.” Even though he struggles with his reli-

Beach Bunny’s latest release, “Blame Game,” blurs the lines between a lt er n at i ve -p op a nd indie-punk music. It creates a masterful four-track extended play that fuses powerful yet simplistic melodies with angsty lyrics that criticize sexism and society’s tendency to play the “blame game” on survivors of sexual assault. “Blame Game” is the band’s fifth EP following the band’s debut album release last February. The Chicago-based band is signed to Mom + Pop Music and composes of vocalist Lili Trifilio, guitarist Matt Henkels, drummer Jon Alvarado and bassist Anthony Vaccaro. In the EP’s first track, “Good Girls (Don’t Get Used),” Trifilio uses clever, catchy lyrics to mock players with lousy communication skills and questionable relationship skills. Trifilio’s unfaltering voice carries the tune as she defiantly defends her emotions against people who use mind games to get what they want. Alvarado maintains a strong, steady tempo on his drumset throughout the tune, creating a driving force that crescendos into the song’s cli-

max after the final chorus. In “Love Sick,” Trifilio’s lyrics are vulnerable yet relatable as she sings about her fears of romantic involvement and letting people in. Vaccaro’s bassline elevates the tune’s musicality by locking in with the drumset’s tempo and grounding with the harmonic structure within the tune’s instrumental bridge before the third verse. “Love Sick” contrasts the other songs in “Blame Game” by exposing Trifilio’s feelings and fears about relationships. Trifilio speaks directly to self-declared nice guys who send mixed signals and have large egos in “Nice Guys.” The tune’s chorus denounces men who are only interested in sexual relations, as shown through the lyric, “You win me like a trophy, not a consolation prize.” In “Nice Guys,” Beach Bunny uses snarky lyrics and heavy, simple guitar lines to carry the tune while maintaining a nice blend between vocals and instrumentals. Beach Bunny addresses society’s tendency to blame victims for unwanted sexual advances and the sexism rooted in this blame in the tune “Blame Game.” These themes are prominent in the chorus, where Trifilio says, “Guess it’s my fault my body’s fun to stare at / Sorry my clothes can’t keep your hands from grabbing.” “Blame Game” is a highlight of the EP, and the chorus is the focal point of the song as Trifilio’s powerful voice effortlessly soars over the instrumentals. Despite COVID-19’s role SEE BUNNY | 7B

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB

Leslie Odom Jr. stars in “One Night in Maimi.”

gious and political identity, Malcolm X inspires Cassius Clay, better known as fighter Muhammad Ali, to join the Nation of Islam. Viewers can witness an intimate moment between the two while Malcolm X prays with Clay using a traditional Muslim prayer mat in a hotel room right before Clay’s big fight. Cassius Clay, played by Eli Goree, faces a dilemma when he thinks about what it means to be joining the Nation of Islam and converting to the religion, with the first rule being that he won’t drink alcohol anymore. Clay and Malcolm X have a very stable and close relationship until he realizes why Malcolm is trying to inspire him to convert for personal gain rather than a passion for Islam. Clay is pretty set on his decision the moment the reporters knock on the hotel

room for photographs of the soon-to-be Muslim, and Clay stands smiling right next to Malcolm. “Hamilton” actor and singer Leslie Odom Jr. is perhaps the true star of the film, captivating the audience with one simple, graceful falsetto note while shedding a single tear. Sam Cooke is ashamed to admit that his love songs are not changing the world and is envious of Bob Dylan’s ability to influence listeners with only words. Yet, he is afraid a Black man will be unable to do the same. Cooke eventually writes and performs “A Change is Gonna Come,” which comes about with a push from frenemy Malcolm X. A close friend of Clay, football player Jim Brown, played by Aldis Hodge, appears at the hotel room looking for a party and is disappointed when he

realizes the four men will be sitting alone in the room all night with no liquor. Brown realizes this is the perfect moment to reveal his secret to Clay: that he will become an actor. Disappointed when Clay responds with a burst of laughter, Brown rolls his eyes, although he eventually retires his athletic shoes to become a professional actor. While no one exactly knows what went down in that hotel room, much of “One Night in Miami” is based upon the play of the same name written by Disney Pixar writer Kemp Powers. According to Powers, “this play is simply about one night, four friends and the many pivotal decisions that can happen in a single revelatory evening.” rkutli2@readbuzz.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF GENIUS

The cover for Beach Bunny’s new EP, “Blame Game,” is pictured above. The project was released on Jan. 15.

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