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MONDAY October 19, 2020
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Weekly new case count hits semester low BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR
Last week was the University of Illinois’ best week in controlling the spread of COVID-19, recording fewer than 100 new cases for the first time since the summer. In all, during the week that ended on Friday, 85 people on campus tested positive for COVID-19 for the first time, with another 54,000 tests administered during that time period. Since classes began, 2,400 students, faculty and staff have tested positive for the virus on campus. The bulk of this came in the second week of classes, when nearly 900 new people tested positive within a one-week span. The University then entered a two-week lock-
down, and the testing protocol underwent several changes. Graduate students, faculty and staff were only 1000 required to test once a week, and undergraduate students in high-risk areas were asked to test three times a 800 week. For the five weeks afterward, the University found 600 a steady load of around 200 new cases per week, which was lowered from the lock- 400 down, but not the steady decrease campus officials hoped for. “The numbers have not 200 come down as much as we would like,” said Rebecca Smith, epidemiologist and 0 co-leader of the SHIELD Target team.
Campus sees decrease in new cases since August
85 new cases
Aug. 15-21
Aug. Aug. 29 Sept. 22-28 -Sept. 4 5-11
Sept. 12-18
Sept. Sept. 26 19-25 - Oct. 2
Oct. 3-9
Oct. 10-16
Source: Illinois SHIELD Team
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BRIAN NGUYEN THE DAILY ILLINI
Repurposed ice arena leaves ice sports dry The lobby of the Ice Arena is currently being used as a COVID-19 testing site, and the ice of the rink has been melted down since the start of the summer. Teams have developed different plans for the year, including off-ice practice schedules or practices at alternative locations. University-affiliated ice teams and clubs met on Oct. 12 to discuss different options for their seasons and how to make the most out of the circumstances. Each team has its own plans. Men’s hockey will have a delayed start in January. In the meantime, the team is looking at surrounding rinks to schedule tryouts and practices. Meeker said the team and other ice clubs are communicating with the Office of Registered Student Organizations to come up with a safe protocol to travel back
and forth from off-campus rinks. The closure of the UniverWhen Jessica Homan, sity Ice Arena due to COVjunior in LAS and president ID-19 safety concerns at the of IllinoiSkating, found out start of the semester left the University rink would be many ice teams and clubs, closed, her team’s executive including four Universityboard had to make drastic affiliated teams, without a changes. primary facility to practice “(Synchronized skating) at, prompting many to come focuses solely on being able up with alternative solutions to ice skate and using a rink to their seasons. facility, so we had to think Sports affected by the clocreatively,” she said. sure include the University Their current practices men’s and women’s hockconsist of twice-a-week offey clubs, the synchronized ice conditioning and a lot of skating club team and the activities to get to know the regional speed skating club. team members, especially “Obviously we were pretwith the addition of several ty bummed out ... but we’re freshman players this year, very understanding of the she said. circumstances,” said Zach Homan also learned about Meeker, senior in LAS and other collegiate teams going president of the Illinois to different rinks, prompting men’s D2 club hockey team. her and the executive board “So it’s tough to be disapto look into surrounding pointed, and financially, we locations that were open. understand where they’re The synchronized skatcoming from.” ing team began practicing at Bloomington Ice Center, an hour drive from the C-U area, on Friday. It plans to be there every Sunday for practices. Champaign Regional Speedskating, a recreational club that normally rents out the University Ice Arena, began practicing at Bloomington Ice Center in early October. It is having biweekly practices on Saturdays. “They’ve been very accommodating to fit us in and allow us to use their facility,” said Randy Sears, president of the speedskating club. The club has 26 members, RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI all of whom are participatThe entrance to the University of Illinois Ice Arena rests closed ing this year. The relocation on Saturday morning. University COVID-19 testing is now being has not created any serious conducted inside the building. issues. BY VIVIAN LA STAFF WRITER
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eight to 10 (priority sample batches) and then an addiEvery hour, vans marked tional 10 to 15 batches,” she “Test Delivery Vehicle” criss- said. cross the campus, collecting From there, the samples their cargo — boxes of COV- are put directly into hot ID-19 test samples — from water baths, where they are the University’s 14 testing heated for 30 minutes at 95 sites. From there, they speed degrees celsius in order to off toward the south of cam- deactivate any virus that pus, where the University’s might be present. Then they Veterinary Medicine Basic are cooled in ice water for Sciences Building is tucked another 10 minutes. away. Afterward, the samples From the exterior, it are then taken by the batch doesn’t really look that spe- into plating rooms, where, cial, just another gray, con- under a biosafety cabinet, lab crete building on a universi- technicians manually pipette ty campus filled with many 100 microliters of saliva from similarly brutalist struc- each sample into four 95-well tures. Yet it is here where PCR plates containing a bufevery saliva sample collect- fer solution. There are actued by the University will end ally 96 wells in each plate, but its journey, here in the hands one well is reserved for a conof a lab technician at the Uni- trol sample. versity’s Veterinary Diagnos“We’ve had some people tic Lab, or the VDL. plate up to 20-some plates Originally designed to per shift," said Evette Vlach, handle diagnostic testing for a Veterinary Research Speanimals, the VDL has recent- cialist at the VDL. "That’s a ly shifted its focus toward lot of samples if each plate conducting COVID-19 tests has 95 samples. That can get using a method developed at hard on your hand, too.” the University that involves After that, the 95-well testing saliva samples via plates are taken to a lab robot real-time polymerase chain that automatically pipettes reaction, or PCR. the saliva-buffer solution While the VDL still con- from the 95-well plate into ducts animal diagnostic test- a higher capacity, 380-well ing for its clients, a section plate — in reality, 384 wells — of the lab containing space has the chemibeen set “It got to the point where cal reagents aside and necessary to reconfigfacilitate the you could hardly move, ured for rea l-time process- because so (many samples PCR used to ing COVfor the were) coming in, and we test I D - 1 9 presence of t e s t s . didn’t have the people to COVID-19. Tow a rd The plate is the end of then sealed process it fast enough.” the hallin plastic way and and ready EVETTE VLACH VETERINARY RESEARCH SPECIALIST past a set to be tested. of recently T h i s installed sealed plate glass doors, lab techni- is taken to a corner room cians — both veteran VDL containing six QuantStudio staff and newly hired “visit- real-time PCR machines. ing research specialists” — The sealed plate is insertwork around the clock label- ed into one of the machines, ing, scanning, pipetting and which then outputs the test testing roughly 10,000 saliva results that are analyzed by samples a day for COVID-19. lab technicians. “That’s quite a tall order The lab also maintains a for any diagnostics lab to do,” dedicawted PCR machine said Dr. Timothy Fan, a mem- used for retesting. Dr. Leyi ber of the SHIELD team and Wang, professor in Veteriprofessor in Veterinary Med- nary Medicine and virologist icine who works at the VDL. who oversees the processing of COVID-19 tests at the UniThe Testing Process versity, stated the VDL’s testUpon delivery, the sam- ing procedure calls for any ples, which arrive in racks of samples that initially test 95, are taken to into a pro- positive to be tested a second cessing room where racks of time for confirmation. saliva samples are stacked “We want to be sure that on a table in the center of we can get (the positive the room, forming a vener- result) duplicated before we able wall of plastic and sali- tell someone they tested posva towering roughly half a itive,” Vlach said. meter above the three or four lab technicians work- Bumps in the Road ing meticulously below. Despite being originally The arriving samples are designed to process about split into batches of 380 sam- 10,000 COVID-19 samples ples, or four racks. Lab tech- per day, during the first few nicians then individually weeks of widespread testlabel the sample tubes from ing at the University, the one to 380 with a marker and VDL was receiving upwards scan their barcode stickers of 18,500 samples per day, into an Excel spreadsheet. which significantly strained Brianna Salgado, a techni- the lab’s infrastructure and cian at the lab, said she typi- staff. cally handles around 18-25 “We did it,” Vlach said. “It batches per day. just wasn’t in the fashion we “Sometimes we get around SEE TESTING PROCESS | 3A BY WILLIE CUI
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“We love the Big Pond and look forward to the reopening of our home arena,” Sears said. “We also understand the situation and will continue our season alternatively until that can happen.” COVID-19 safety protocols have been followed throughout all the logistics of relocating practices, from moving equipment, transporting players and within the rink itself. Meeker said Bloomington Ice Rink and Kankakee Ice Valley Center are viable options for club hockey’s future practices. He said the rinks generally have very safe pandemic regulations and protocols. “Everyone has to dress outside of the rink,” he said. “(We have to stay) more than six feet apart in the parking lot. When you go into the rink, you can put your skates on, but you have to stay far away from people ... The rinks are doing everything they can.” The decision to close the rink for the rest of 2020 was announced prior to the start of the school year. It was made at the end of July, shortly after J.B. Pritzker released the state’s All Sports Policy where risk levels and recommended guidelines for specific sports were stated. Hockey is listed as a highrisk sport. Jessica Salmi, senior in Engineering and president of Illini Women’s Hockey Club, said she took over the executive role in the middle of the pandemic and
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POLICE trespassed previously, and was located nearby and arrested.
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• Theft over $500 was reported on the 800 block of South Oak Street around 5 a.m. on Thursday. According to the report, an unknown offender stole the victim’s bicycle after cutting the lock off. • Motor vehicle theft was reported on the 1500 block of North Neil Street around 11 p.m. on Oct. 12. According to the report, the victim called the police to report his vehicle stolen. The victim’s girlfriend is believed to be in possession of the vehicle and has not returned it. • An arrest was made on the charge of aggravated assault and trespassing around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday. According to the report, the offender threatened an MTD bus driver with a metallic weapon believed to be a knife. The offender had
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• Fraud was reported on campus on Wednesday. According to the report, a University student reported someone had fraudulently used their name, birthdate and Social Security number to purchase a cell phone contract. The fraud was discovered after the student noticed their credit report showed a bill for $7,252.24 to a cell phone company.
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was reported on the 700 block of North Busey Avenue around 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 6. According to the report, an unknown offender damaged tires on the victim’s vehicle. • Theft of a motor vehicle was reported on the 500 block of South Vine Street around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday. According to the report, an unknown offender entered a locked vehicle at an Urbana car dealership and removed the vehicle from the lot without authorization. • Criminal damage to property was reported on the 200 block of Crystal Lake Drive around midnight on Wednesday. According to the report, an unknown offender threw a concrete block through the victim’s RV window.
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No charges filed for incidents during July protests BY SAMANTHA BOYLE MANAGING EDITOR FOR REPORTING
No criminal charges have been filed against any individuals in connection with incidents that happened outside of Rogue Barber Shop during a protest over the summer. Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz informed the city on Oct. 2 that the pickup truck driver who drove through a small protest on July 25 will not face any criminal charges. In addition, after four police reports were submitted regarding vandalism and threats to the barber shop and its owner, the State’s Attorney Office did not file charges against any individuals for the alleged vandalism or threats. Rogue Barber Shop, located on 12 E. Washington St., then closed on Aug. 6 after only being open for nine months. According to a Champaign press release, the State’s Attorney’s Office declined to file charges against the truck driver
for several reasons: The driver was driving slowly away from the scene, one protestor put his bike in the way of the truck and other protestors put themselves in front of the truck, pounding on it or converging on it, instead of moving away from it. “I am declining to file state criminal charges with regards to any of the situations,” Rietz said to Champaign Police on Oct. 2. “Champaign City Legal is welcome to consider ordinance violations as may be appropriate.” During the July protests, Rogue Barber Shop had been the subject of criticism and the site of Black Lives Matter protests after a Facebook post made by the business in July stated it was now going to be a private membership “(not unisex)” and would require members to fill out an application, the NewsGazette reported. Many have criticized the post as being discriminatory and the post has since been deleted.
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A red pickup truck drives through a small protest outside of the Rogue Barber Shop on July 25. The Champaign County State’s Attorney will not be filing charges against the driver.
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October 19, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
NEWS
Campus pantries target food insecurity BY ROYAL SHRESTHA STAFF WRITER
Amartya Shah, sophomore in Engineering and Allen Hall resident, didn’t think he’d need to make use of a local food pantry this semester, until his appetite led him to the food pantry at the ARC. “Having a meal plan doesn’t necessarily mean I don’t have food insecurities; it is in fact quite the opposite,” Shah said. “I often find myself having to skip out on eating breakfast or dinner on some days just to have enough meal swipes for the week.” Since late August, pantries such as the Food Assistance & Well-Being Program at the ARC and Uniplace Community Dinner at the University Place Christian Church have opened up for students with food insecurity. The pantries in the ARC and Uniplace Community Dinner are open to all students, even those living in residential dorms, replete with hot to-go and singleserve canned meals. Shah added with the limited food options at dining halls, pantries like the ARC and Uniplace Community Dinner have helped him when he ran out of meal swipes or when he wanted to try something new. Alana Harris, assistant director for Student Wellness at the ARC, has recognized the food insecurities students have been facing and said that “hundreds of students have utilized the service since the opening on Aug. 25, with over
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did not have high hopes for the upcoming season back then. “But the best we could do was treat it as if we were playing because we would hate for us to actually get there, realize we’re playing, and not have anything planned,” she said. Illini Women’s Hockey Club is still discussing the possibility of going to other rinks for practices. Salmi also said recruit-
20 students each day.” “Our shopper-style program seems to be the most well-received among students and helps minimize food waste,” Harris said. Before opening, Harris and her team at the ARC did extensive research and collaborated with other existing pantries, such as the Wesley Food Bank, with locations at Burrill Hall and Parkland College. Harris found many students preferred singleserve meals and fresh produce, which is what the ARC pantry currently has in place. “Popular foods students have requested can be found here, and they can even request certain options using our Amazon food wish list,” Harris said. Uniplace Community Dinner serves on Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. and gives students the option to grab to-go dinners. The pantry’s workers recognize more students than ever are facing food insecurities during the pandemic and allow students to grab multiple dinners if needed. “I have been using the services at Uniplace for over a year now and enjoy the freshcooked meals, and this pandemic has definitely not changed that,” Shah said. Shah added these services are for the students and open to the public where they shouldn’t be afraid to use it. Everyone has been affected by the pandemic. Harris described how all types of students come in to use the ment has been a challenge. Part of her responsibilities as president during the pandemic era has been ensuring people are still interested in hockey. “We just want people to stay interested so that when we do have actual practices and games again, we have people who are interested in being part of the team,” Salmi said. Meeker said his team’s off-ice practices have been an opportunity for recruits to come out and meet the current team as well as give
SCREENSHOT OF ALICE CARY ZOOM
Pictured is University of Illinois Police Department Police Chief Alice Cary in a Zoom call on Oct. 12. During the call, Cary discussed a potential community outreach and support team as well as the behavioral health unit she plans on implementing.
UI police chief unveils community programs JONATHAN GOSSETT THE DAILY ILLINI
Senior Cindy Alcala grabs a food item from the ARC Food Assistance and Well-Being Program on Oct. 10. Pantries like the one at the ARC provide food for students and community members facing food insecurity.
pantries’ service. In addition, the ARC pantry also has an educational component to guide students for making better food choices. “Students in our pantry are from the Food Science and Nutrition Program on campus and have developed some
educational resources for students,” Harris said. Topics within the program include preventing food waste, making low-cost and healthy items and making healthy foods.
them the sense that they’re working toward something. Another main priority for many of the teams’ leadership is their skaters’ safety. “I want to make sure that we’re following guidelines that the University approves of and the state to make sure that we’re ensuring our skaters’ safety because that ultimately comes first,” Homan said. She also said off-ice practices are still really beneficial to their growth and development as a team
because despite the challenges, “the members of the team are what make it special and so fun to participate in.” Meeker is looking forward to just being able to play again but also having a team. “At the end of the day, it’s all about the relationships you form and the team aspect and that sense of unity,” he said. “Everyone misses it.”
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A University worker unloads completed COVID-19 tests outside the Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building on Friday. The Veterinary Diagnostics Lab staff is equipped to test about 10,000 saliva tests per day.
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TESTING PROCESS anticipated it would be in.” This near-doubling of tests the VDL was expected to conduct inevitably overwhelmed the staff tasked with conducting them. “We all probably had the same outlook of ‘this is too much’ if it’s 18,000 a day,” Vlach said. “We were all just like, ‘OK, we were doing less than this, and now we’re doing … what?’” As the number of samples began to accumulate, the staff “took it in stride,” doing their best to process as many samples as they could. They worked longer days, and while their shifts technically last for nine hours with an hour lunch break, many technicians stayed behind after their shift to help out. “Everybody was putting
in a lot of extra effort,” Vlach said. “It had to be done. The people that were available did it.” As samples kept coming in, the lab ran into another problem; it was running out of space. Vlach described having “major issues” storing COVID-19 samples as well as supplies in the lab, with the backlog of sample boxes reaching up to the ceiling at times. “It was almost like ‘Hoarders’ on TV,” Vlach said. “It got to the point where you could hardly move, because so much was coming in, and we didn’t have the people to process it fast enough.” Slight tweaks were made to the VDL’s testing process that helped ease congestion. The VDL’s director, Dr. Richard Fredrickson, arranged for an external storage trailer to be brought in so emp-
ty sample racks and sample totes could be stored outside the lab for sample delivery drivers to pick up. “That really helped eliminate a lot of the congestion,” Vlach said. “But if we were still getting 18,000 samples a day, the congestion is only relieved so much.” Eventually, the University changed the testing requirements for on-campus students and staff, targeting populations more likely to have been exposed. Since then, the VDL has been receiving the number of samples it was set up to handle: around 10,000 per day. “Now that it’s at around 10,000, it’s much better,” Vlach said. “For the staffing that we have, that’s like the maximum comfort zone.” Despite consistently processing about 10,000 tests a day for the past few weeks,
Wang and Vlach maintain the VDL is understaffed. “On certain shifts and certain days, we have just the right amount of people,” Vlach said. “There (are) other days where we have little coverage.” Reflecting on her time at the VDL, Vlach appreciates being able to work with staff from many different walks of life and seeing them contribute to the lab. “Even if they didn’t necessarily have a heavy scientific background, they just have a lot of common sense,” she said. To Vlach, the testing process is “like a machine.” “We all have a certain role,” she said. “Everyone has their position, and it runs.” williec2@dailyillini.com
BY MONA ALRAZZAQ STAFF WRITER
behavioral health unit with the UIPD. This program will consist of officers specialized in crisis intervention that provide services or referrals to help supply meals and shelter for those in need. The behavioral unit will also include different components to help with community members struggling with mental health. A licensed clinical social worker will be assigned to the unit to “be a conduit between social services and law enforcement.” Sergeant Landers, Sergeant Carter, and another officer with a master’s degree in social work will eventually be joining the unit. However, it is starting off with one detective to be “conscious of not pulling everybody off of their patrol duty,” Cary said. Cary hopes to expand on this behavioral unit and eventually have 24 hour services available for residents. In addition to the officers on this unit, animal therapy dogs will be utilized in order to help reduce stress. The last program Cary mentioned attempting to implement was the Excellence in Law Enforcementbased Victim Assistance Training and Enrichment program, or ELEVATE. This is a 10-week program that includes a partnership with the FBI in order to focus on “victim-first” approaches to law enforcement. Currently, the UIPD is on the waitlist for ELEVATE. More immediate steps to improve its response to sexual assault calls that Cary is looking into is to have an “advocate or someone trained in victim witness response in order to be a co-respondent for sexual assault reporting.” These three programs are all in their beginning stages but are planned to be implemented in order to “build communication and trust ... in order to contribute collaborative efforts to find resolutions.”
University of Illinois Police Department’s Police Chief Alice Cary has plans to implement a community outreach and support team, or COST, a behavioral unit and a victim service program in response to calls for increased community involvement in policing. COST is a specialized unit of community policing to support student education that officially began on Oct. 12. This program partners with community members to address concerns within the community that are adjacent to campus, Cary said. “This community really wants a collaborative approach with law enforcement and public safety to get to better know us, and so that helps me in helping the community in and of itself,” Cary said. “Coming in as chief, I’ve been in a role of active listening and seeing what the community needs as well.” Within the program, individual officers would serve as liaisons to specifically work with certain groups both on and off campus, including student and athletic organizations on campus. It is also intended to support students, faculty, staff, visitors, athletes and the communities. She said she plans to implement a 21st century model of policing, which she said is important “especially now and moving forward with some of the downfalls of policing.” Cary said she adopted the NAACP shared principles in that model of policing in order to include all the components that include a “fair and balanced policing approach.” According to Cary, the main objective of COST “is to improve and refine interaction between the agency and the campus community that it serves.” Securing community involvement is important and effective for the policing model Cary is attempting to implement. In addition to COST, Cary has plans to create a monaa2@dailyillini.com
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big spike was enough to push us over a tipping point.” Double-digit new cases in a week is a pretty good trend, but there’s still a long way to go. According to Smith, there are currently 18 residences in private and off-campus housing that have earned the high-risk designation for inhouse COVID-19 outbreaks. Around 95% of campus cases have been undergraduates, which campus officials say has maintained throughout the semester. Illinois’ testing initiative began on July 6, and 48,605 individuals have submitted saliva samples for testing on campus. Of them, 2,775 have tested positive. The on-campus infection rate stands at 5.7%.
The gradual slide in cases is coming from two factors: math and socializing. There’s still an observable bump in cases on Mondays and Tuesdays, which the SHIELD team attributes to weekend socializing on Thursdays and Fridays. Additionally, the statistics phenomenon of “backwards bifurcation” is working against campus efforts to completely control the spread. “It says basically, if you get past a certain tipping point, it takes a lot more to get back to where you want to be,” Smith said. “So, the amount of effort to get things under control depends on where you’re starting from. And unfortunately, I think that ecsimmon@dailyillini.com
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LIFE & CULTURE
DEEP DOSHI THE DAILY ILLINI
Bryan Kang, sophomore in Business, sits on a bench outside Wassaja Hall on Sunday afternoon. Many students considered taking a gap year this fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several UI students take gap year Some choose to take gap year to preserve funds, mental health instead of experiencing ‘Zoom University’
BY AIDAN FINN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Every student at the University of Illinois takes a different path to their degree. The school takes pride in its diverse student body, whether students are coming from the bustling streets of Chicago, the quiet ambiance of small-town Ohio, the crowded highrises of Singapore or just two miles north of Champaign Central High School. As fall approached this year, though, one question united the student body: Would it be smart to go to campus amidst a pandemic? For some students, the idea of taking a gap year became very attractive. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a near 300% increase in gap years for incoming University of Pennsylvania students, while 20% of Harvard first-year students are opting to defer their admission this school year. While it varied from school to school, overall, more students are opting to take a gap year than in the years before. Isaiah Soto, senior in ACES, explained in an email why he decided to take a gap semester this year. “Basically, I realized last semester that having all my classes online was super demotivating, and I ended up having a lot of mental health issues just being holed up in my apartment by myself for three months,” Soto said. “During the summer I took classes too, but the problem still persisted, and I realized that if I wanted to do the best that I could in school that I would be better off taking some time to hope that things would get better by next spring.” Soto said the University’s hiring of full-time workers at the COVID-19 testing
sites around campus helped him with this decision, as it provided him a means for which to pay rent. He has an apartment on campus where he lives with his friends to combat the isolation he felt at the end of last semester. Some of Soto’s coworkers and friends have also shifted to being part-time students or taking gap semesters. Their reasonings range from concern about virtual classes to financial considerations. “The general reasoning is mainly that it’s really hard to stay organized and motivated with online classes, and it feels like a waste of money to pay so much just
“I realized that if I wanted to do the best that I could in school that I would be better off taking some time.” ISAIAH SOTO SENIOR IN ACES
changed about life on campus, students have many reasons driving them to hit the pause button. For some, though, gap years or gap semesters were not the right option. Caleb Berry, freshman in Business, gave a short and simple reasoning for staying on campus this fall. “I wanted to come to campus to experience college and get out of my comfort zone,” Berry said. “A gap year never crossed my mind. I have always been set on continuing my education through college right after high school.” Benjamin Arango Navar, freshman in LAS, came to campus this year and expressed the reasoning for his decision. “It was a tough decision since we could have saved quite a bit of money, but my mother and I agreed that if I went to college, then I would mature a lot and be more independent,” Navar said. “We noticed that kids who do not leave their parents’ houses tend to be less professional and less educated, so I did not want to be one of those people.” Navar also was unconcerned about the risks of the pandemic on campus, as he said he is very healthy and would likely be at greater risk if he stayed in Chicago. In his mind, Navar said a gap year would not be an option. “A gap year never crossed my mind because that feels like a wasted opportunity,” Navar said. “I would much rather get everything I need to get done at a younger age, so I could get a good job sooner, make good cash, then live a happy life traveling the world and having fun.”
to deal with lots of technical difficulties, online exams and worrying about quarantining,” Soto said. Soto’s comments reiterated the fear of not just COVID-19 on campus, but also the already taxing college life-work balance on top of it. Many students have expressed their frustrations with “Zoom University,” as some Redditors have mocked the online offerings of major universities. A petition has been circulating with more than 700 signatures to ban “Proctorio,” the online cheatingprevention system, from the University. With the closure of local businesses, the stress of new online courses and everything else that has aidanf3@dailyillini.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF CALEB BERRY
Caleb Berry, freshman in Business, poses for a headshot
PHOTO COURTESY OF BENJAMIN ARANGO NAVAR
Benjamin Arango Navar, freshman in LAS, poses for a headshot.
Attention University of Illinois Seniors:
Last call for Class of 2021
Senior Pictures ONE WEEK ONLY!
Open from November 9th - 15th 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
O F F I C I A L Y E A R B O O K AT T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F I L L I N O I S S I N C E 1 8 9 4
THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
Monday, October 19, 2020
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KAITLIN MIKRUIT THE DAILY ILLINI
Center shares how to celebrate Halloween safely Organization provides trickor-treating alternatives for the holiday BY ELIZABETH SAYASANE FEATURES EDITOR
As the end of October nears, students in Champaign-Urbana will be looking for ways to celebrate the Halloween season. While this time of the year normally sees campus filled with clever DIY costumes, cobwebs decorating busy house parties and friends visiting from out of town to partake in the festivities, the pandemic has put a halt to many of these traditions. The campus has implemented vigorous tactics to try and keep students and faculty safe, many guided by the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The campus has seen some degree of success with these precautions in limiting the spread of the virus; however, as the holi-
day approaches and students look for ways to celebrate, they may engage in riskier behaviors. The CDC’s page titled “Holiday Celebrations” says several factors may increase threats to the health and safety of a community during Halloween as well as other autumn and winter holidays. Some of these factors include location, travel, duration, numbers and behavior. Indoor gathering spaces pose greater risks to attendees than outdoor gatherings because of the lack of air ventilation. Inviting guests from out of town can also be dangerous. They may either be coming from areas with higher levels of COVID-19, introducing greater risk to this community, or they may come from lower-risk areas and their return home would spread it further. Short-term events and gatherings with small numbers are preferable to longerterm events with more people than can be responsibly socially distanced. The CDC offers no specific number for attendee limit recommendations; instead, it depends on
the capacity and capability of the venue to socially distance guests. Behavior is one of the primary factors in how safe an event or gathering may be for those who attend. In order to ensure the event is as safe as possible, guests must follow the procedures that have been recommended since March: Social distance from others, wear a mask covering both the nose and mouth and frequently wash hands. The CDC page sorted Halloween events and activities into three categories of risk: lower-risk activities, moderate-risk activities and higher-risk activities. They advise people to avoid traditional trick-ortreating, attending overly crowded costume parties, indoor haunted houses and gatherings with people outside of one’s own house. They also caution against using alcohol or drugs, as it can cloud decisions and increase risky behavior. For activities the organization categorized as moderately risky, it said people could have outdoor costume parties where attendants wear masks and stay
six feet apart. It clarifies masks must be the standard cloth masks people use from day to day and cannot be replaced by costume masks. They also warn not to wear a costume mask on top of a protective mask, as it can further inhibit breathing. Attending pumpkin patches, apple orchards or open-air haunted forests can be safe alternatives to crowded parties. This is, of course, if one manages to stay distanced from other groups. If technologically possible, groups can host outdoor Halloween movie nights with people spaced apart. Champaign-Urbana will be hosting several events during the next two weeks to provide festive alternatives to traditional Halloween parties and celebrations for community members. Throughout the month, the cities have sponsored a pumpkin hunt and a scarecrow hunt, providing clues for people to find the pumpkins and scarecrows hidden around town. They also have a virtual costume contest for participants to submit pictures of themselves dressed
up in their best costumes. A little further away in Farmer City, the town’s Main Street will be decorated as a haunted forest. In Gibson City, the Harvest Moon Drive-In Theatre will host a “Wicked Weekend” showing scary movies. The Courtyard Café will have a similar event with a movie night on Halloween showing “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” For those looking to stay as safe as possible, the CDC lists several activities as lowrisk, safe alternatives to celebrate the season. Students can stay in their
dorms or apartments and carve pumpkins or fill their rooms with DIY Halloween decorations. Roommates can have Halloween movie nights together. Those more ambitious Halloween fanatics can coordinate a scavenger hunt around their room, apartment or neighborhood looking for themed treasures and treats. All of these options would allow participants to fully embrace the spooky Halloween spirit without endangering those around them or themselves. eis3@dailyillini.com
KAITLIN MIKRUIT THE DAILY ILLINI
NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD
ACROSS
YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE!
VOTE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION
2020 Register to vote at ova.elections.il.gov THE
DAILY ILLINI
1 Insect that builds a paper nest 5 Takes a breather 10 Fig. of total economic output 13 Mayberry boy of 1960s TV 14 Make legal 15 Logs, for a fire 16 Riddled (with) 17 Lamented Princess of Wales 18 Sin often associated with green 19 Major-league team from the Motor City 22 Frozen H2O 23 Female deer 24 Not quite right 27 Start of a tennis rally 29 “Hold your horses!” 32 Variety 34 Prefix often associated with green 35 “You there!” 36 Ballot for candidates of more than one party 40 One that gives a hoot? 42 Humor 43 Container at a beer bash 44 Number of minutes on hold before getting a customer representative 47 Greek I’s 51 Two-___ sword 52 Precollege exam 54 Genetic material 55 Comes out ahead in either case … as exemplified by 19-, 29-, 36- and 44-Across? 60 Sources of much spam 62 Helper in conning 63 Nuptial exchange 64 At no cost
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PUZZLE BY JOHN GUZZETTA
65 Stage before metamorphosis 66 Gambling mecca north of Carson City 67 Gave a meal to 68 Helpers 69 Genesis garden DOWN 1 “People are saying …” 2 Each 3 Kitchen gizmo for flour 4 Equal 5 SiriusXM medium 6 Best of the best 7 Part of a window blind 8 Morrison who wrote “Beloved” 9 Gala giveaways 10 Item with cross hairs 11 Home of Carson City: Abbr.
12 Two-___ toilet paper 15 Physicist Enrico after whom element #100 is named 20 Three-time Pro Bowler ___ Beckham Jr. 21 Dine 25 “Nevertheless, ___ persisted” 26 Porker’s quarters 28 Big shot, for short 29 Italian for “seven” 30 French for “here” 31 Tick-___ 33 Green-fleshed fruit 36 How a person might feel after being passed over for a promotion 37 “Tiny” Dickens boy 38 Singer Urban 39 A narcissist has a big one 40 Be in debt
41 Lump of chewing gum 45 What good movie trailers do 46 Gridiron scores, for short 48 Sent to another team 49 “Can I get a volunteer? Somebody …?” 50 Jeans brand popular in the 1980s 52 Do, as a crossword 53 Book of maps 56 Mallorca, e.g. 57 Bangkok native 58 Something “in the hand” that’s “worth two in the bush” 59 Something an informant might wear 60 Very close pal, informally 61 Mine cart contents
The crossword solution is in the Classified section.
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MONDAY
October 19, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
OPINIONS Get informed first, vote second the guy who voices Olaf in ‘Frozen,”’ is not the type of COLUMNIST person I want voting on who represents my interests in government. This trend has gone so the trees change far that Kylie Jenner, memcolors and the ber of the infamous Karmornings become dashian clan, encouraged a bit more brisk, there’s usu- her 198 million followers to ally a few other ways you register with a thirst-trap can tell fall has arrived. on Instagram. The photo of Most notably, your social her posed in a bikini is capmedia feeds will be poputioned, “As I’m getting ready lated with pictures of girls to vote, I wanted to make wearing blanket scarves in sure you guys were ready pumpkin patches for the to vote, and registered, and next month. feeling great about it.” Worse yet, millions of dolWell, Kylie, as great as it lars worth of ads for grimy may be to receive messagpoliticians vying for your es from an amassment of vote will be pumped out horny, college-aged dudes in commercials, YouTube registered to vote, let’s just advertisements and billhit the breaks for a second. boards until Nov. 3. The incessant messaging While most of us have that all people should vote become numb to these is misguided for a number cyclical fall experiences, of reasons, the most importhere is one trend that tends tant being we’re not being to stand out among the rest honest with ourselves. as the worst feature of fall: If we are being honest, ads telling you to vote. ask yourself: Do you realPolitics is fascinating. ly want all people to vote? The subject is one of the Think about some of the most interesting discipeople in your own life. plines you can learn about, Do you really want the producing some of histosame lady who you saw ry’s greatest figures such arguing with the 16-yearas Abraham Lincoln, Nelold waitress at Denny’s son Mandela and Mahatma about not wearing her mask Gandhi. to vote? What about the guy Politics grapples with you saw on your friend’s some of our deepest and Snapchat story pounding a dearest-held beliefs and handle of vodka the night affects all of our lives, whether we like it or not. However, I realize although politics is one of my greatest passions, many people, for whatever reason, just aren’t that interested in the topic. Apathy toward politics has proven itself a major challenge, especially in America where over 40% of the U.S. electorate chooses not to vote and sits out of the electoral process. However, what is most definitely unhelpful in driving people to the polls are videos of nude celebrities telling me to get out to vote. Frankly, any person who views videos like that and says to themself, “That’s just what I needed to get me out of bed and registered to vote: a butt naked video of GRANT JOBE
As
PHOTO COURTESY OF MANDI WRIGHT/DETROIT FREE PRESS
President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the MBS International Airport in Freeland, Michigan on Sept. 10. Columnist and opinions desk editor Andrew exhorts the importance of unseating the incumbent president in the upcoming election to reverse the damage he has done.
Donald Trump must lose ANDREW PROZOROVSKY OPINIONS EDITOR
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he Trump administration can only be characterized as inexperienced, scandalous, authoritarian and untrustworthy. The president himself has misled or lied to the American public over 20,000 times during his presidential tenure. He has acknowledged making a mistake or taken responsibility zero times. Gone are the days of Harry Truman’s “the buck stops here.” With the presidential election around the corner, one should remember what is at stake. Four years is a long time, and the electorate has a short memory. Although the president didn’t fulfill many campaign promises made, he was certainly able to inflict quite a bit of damage while in office. Unpopular policy choices that would perpetually haunt any other administration just provided outrage to the public until the next scandal consumed the media cycle. By now, many voters have forgotten this is the same administration responsible for the “Muslim ban,” repealing net neutrality, implementing a ban on transgender personnel in the military and lowering emission standards. It is the administration that used the Children’s Health Insurance Program as a bargaining chip to get funding for the border wall. The president easily usurped the title of “Teflon president” from Ronald Reagan because despite how many scandals the president has had, his support never fell dramatically below 37%. He ordered violence against protestors in Lafayette Square, disparaged the U.S. in Helsinki while standing next to Vladimir Putin, was responsible for “Sharpiegate” and is somehow still in office after his family separation policy at the Mexico border. Regarding landmark legislation, the administration did some good, such as the United States-MexicoCanada Agreement or the First Step Act, and some bad, like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and passed up a lot of opportunities. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, there was no large infrastructure bill or health care reform as promised. The Trump administration has focused on dismantling current institu-
tions rather than building them up. The president filled many departments and agencies with heads who opposed the very existence of the agency they now lead. He radically reduced funding for diplomatic bodies like the U.N., NATO and the World Trade Organization. The U.S. withdrew from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accords under this administration. Similarly, Trump’s brand of politics would often shake the faith of the public in the legitimacy of American institutions. He called the media — a vital linkage institution — “the enemy of the people,” undermined the intelligence agencies, criticized military generals and even accused his own Department of Justice of being compromised by the “Deep State.” The administration constantly undermined the law — innumerable Hatch Act violations, obstruction of federal investigations and, according to the Government Accountability Office, a breach in law that would rightfully lead to the president’s impeachment. The lines between governance and campaigning were often blurred, which can only lead to abuse of one’s office. The Trump administration’s legacy will undoubtedly be the record number of judges confirmed in four years. After Mitch McConnell held up vacancies in over 100 judicial openings during the last year of Barack Obama’s presidency, the Trump administration was able to ram through justices that were always conservative and young but often unqualified. Three Supreme Court Justices will have been confirmed by the time of the election. Trump’s supporters would contend that he has “corrected” the judiciary to reflect that of a “centerright country,” except polls have consistently shown the U.S. has not been center-right and is becoming increasingly less so every year. Voter identification and polls gauging support on the issues emphatically confirm the country has leaned center-left and responds to Republican polarization by traveling further to the left. Therefore, the installation of young judges that will bend the judicial branch to the right for an entire generation seems like a desperate attempt to stick an increasingly left country with a system hostile to change. The administration
seemed to be governed by no principles except resolute sycophancy for Trump. The party often followed suit. Perhaps some Republicans would be redeemable and endorsable in this election cycle if — even once — they had told the emperor that he had no clothes. But from all but a few Republicans, radio silence seemed to accompany every scandal. Occasionally, a vulnerable senator would assert they were “deeply concerned.” There’s little doubt Trump is a racist. One has to look no farther than birtherism, a movement he orchestrated, to see that. But this is also the man who called for the death penalty for the Central Park Five, called Haiti and African nations “s---hole countries,” called Mexicans “rapists and killers” and has persistently pandered to white supremacists and right-wing hate groups. His foreign policy was abysmal. He engaged the U.S. in a trade war with China, abandoned the allied Kurds in Syria, murdered an Iranian general, nearly provoking a war and failed to defend U.S. allies. His record responding to crises was not much better. The administration tended to botch its handling of crises, such as wildfires, hurricanes, the COVID-19 pandemic and mass protests against police brutality. The American public witnessed the longest government shutdown in the country’s history. Much of the inadequate disaster aid can be linked to the president’s affinity to disregard science. He is not a believer in manmade climate change and suggested forest fires are caused by a lack of raking. Truly appreciating all of the administration’s failings is a daunting task. For every scandal, there are dozens of distasteful tweets and unfiltered, offensive remarks spewed from the president’s mouth. His brand of politics is one that must go extinct the moment he is banished from the White House. It will take a generation to undo the harm the president has imposed the last four years, but it must start on Jan. 20. He cannot be given another term. It is imperative for the sake of maintaining order and democracy that he lose his bid for re-election on Nov. 3. Andrew is a junior in LAS and the Opinions Desk Editor for The Daily Illini. atp4@dailyillini.com
before the election? I’m not saying you should have to be able to pass a U.S. citizenship test to vote — two of three Americans wouldn’t be able to. I’m simply saying organizations and individuals pushing this sort of political messaging do a disservice to the cause of increasing voter turnout. They devalue the weight and tremendous responsibility we have as American citizens of completing some minimal research about who we cast our ballots for. If you feel that because you already know all you need to know about who you’re casting your ballot for and that you don’t need to do any more research, great. Go out and encourage people not only to register, but also to do some research. Direct them toward sources that have helped you become politically informed. Methods such as word of mouth are practical options anyone could employ toward creating a more informed electorate. So, as we endure the final couple of weeks before election day, let’s aim for not just creating voters, but informed ones. Grant is a Junior in LAS. grjobe2@dailyillini.com
MELISSA ENGLISH THE DAILY ILLINI
Court dogma threatens minority rights sider the 2015 ruling that established a constitutional SENIOR right to same-sex marriage. COLUMNIST Having dissented in the original opinion five years ago, Thomas and Alito reafhe year 2015 sparked firmed their standing the debate and conversadecision needs to be fixed tion that saw breakbecause of its harm to relithrough legislation as well gious freedom. as a new American identity The Supreme Court is on the cusp of revolutionary currently set to hear a case progression. In 2015, Donthat could significantly scale ald Trump was fighting for back LGBTQ protections political power, Black Lives on Nov. 4: Fulton v. PhilaMatter protests permedelphia. The city of Philaated cities and a landmark delphia declined to renew case regarding gay marriage the contract of a foster-care came before the Supreme agency, Catholic Social SerCourt. vices, because of its objecDespite the time that has tion to approving same-sex passed, the realities of 2020 couples as foster parents. starkly parallel those of five CSS sued the city, citing its years ago. President Trump rights to free exercise of relinow has more political gion as entitling it to reject authority than ever, racial qualified same-sex couples. unrest over police killings It is clear there are ways remains a predominant for the Supreme Court to issue and LGBTQ rights dilute the rights of LGBTQ are — again — called into individuals without explicquestion. itly overturning the rulThe events of 2015 ing in Obergefell v. Hodges, encouraged a level of social which, de facto, legalized change and open acceptance gay marriage. Most likely, it that led many to believe may rule there is a constiit was a key turning point tutional basis for discrimiin American history with nation based on religious so much potential for the belief. future. It is incredibly disThe outcome of these heartening to realize not decisions can cause serious only has society remained detriment to the rights of stagnant since that transLGBTQ people, and there’s formative time, but minormore to fear from the ity rights that were so heav- Supreme Court. ily fought for are now being President Trump’s nomithreatened. nee, Amy Coney Barrett, Last week, Justice Clardescribed herself as an origence Thomas and Jusinalist at the Senate confirtice Samuel Alito released mation hearing on Tuesday. a statement urging the Originalism emphasizes Supreme Court to reconthe text of the ConstituALICE LEE
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tion as law and believes the meaning of the Constitution doesn’t change over time. Interpreting the intention of the Constitution to be as it was written by the founding fathers has serious implications for denying the rights of minorities. The ideological tenor of the Supreme Court as it stands causes alarming concern over the possibility of future decisions undoing the rights that have been extended to minority groups that have dealt with years of discrimination and marginalization. Should Coney Barrett be confirmed, the Supreme Court would be the most conservative it’s been since 1950, and that does not bode well for the progress society has made in the 70 years since then. Not only are the rights of LGBTQ people and immigrants vulnerable, but women’s reproductive rights are also in danger of being peeled back. Being on the “right side of history” is a phrase commonly referred to by progressives who see the events of the past as a liberating mechanism for moving toward a better future. Others take a more flippant attitude and believe there is no right side to history because progress is not guaranteed. The latter describes a bleaker outlook, and even though progress may not be a given, it needs to be fought for, protected and created. Alice is a junior in LAS. alicewl2@dailyillini.com
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS | opinions@dailyillini.com with the subject “Letter to the Editor.” The Daily Illini reserves the right to edit for length, libel, grammar and spelling errors, and Daily Illini style or to reject any contributions. Letters must be limited to 300 words. Contributions must be typed and include the author’s name, address and phone number. University students must include their year in school and college.
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MONDAY
October 19, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
SPORTS
FOOTBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Tough nine-game slate to Nancy Fahey begins practices with optimism pose challenges for Illini BY NITHIN REDDY
BY JOSH PIETSCH STAFF WRITER
and his team have not found the success they’re looking for since Frost was hired for the 2018 season. Quarterback Adrian Martinez, a skilled player on the ground and in the air, leads the offense that lost six receivers after 2019 either due to graduation or the transfer portal. However, the Cornhuskers are still projected to finish fourth in the Big Ten West due to a hopeful offense with Martinez. The Illini had a 35-21 second-half lead over the Cornhuskers under the lights at Memorial Stadium last season before blowing the lead and losing 42-38, a game where Martinez threw for 328 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 118 yards. The Illini are seeking revenge in Lincoln this season and could come out with a victory with their improvements on both sides of the ball.
Despite what is considered to be the best team of the Lovie Smith era so far in Champaign, the Illini are not projected to perform well in the Big Ten in this weird nine-game season. 247Sports projects Illinois to finish last in the Big Ten West, and most analysts have Illinois finishing at 1-7 or 2-6 before the ninth game of the year. It’s hard for faithful Illini to agree with that, however, after a Redbox Bowl berth while having an offense that adds new skilled pieces to an already-talented group. Illinois has the two projected division winners on its schedule — Wisconsin and Ohio State — and also has bottom-level projected teams in Rutgers and Purdue. Here are the least and most difficult games for the Illini this season, ranked from easiest to hardest. Week 9 (Dec. 19) vs. TBD The “eight-game plus one” Week 4 (Nov. 14) at Rutgers schedule will have the Illini Last year at Memorial Sta- playing the team in the Big dium, the Illini defeated the Ten East that finished in the Scarlett Knights 38-10 in same spot in the standings a game where the defense as they did, so the opponent forced three turnovers. Rut- is far from determined right gers brings back coach Greg now. But, this could be the Schiano, but he hasn’t add- competition gap in Illinois’ ed any key pieces that could schedule. The four games boost the team to another before this on the list seem level. Rutgers has struggled much more realistic for the mightily since joining the Big Illini to win than even the Ten and is projected by nearly next team listed, so the “plus every expert to finish last in one” game should be a good the Big Ten East. Some ana- test to see how the Illini have lysts think this could be Illi- developed by the end of the nois’ only win, and the Illini year. should be able to take care of business in Piscataway. Week 7 (Dec. 5) vs. Iowa The Hawkeyes are proWeek 2 (Oct. 31) vs. Purdue jected by 247Sports to finThe Illini went into West ish third in the Big Ten West Lafayette on a miserable, this year. But after losing rainy day last year and han- just 19-10 in Iowa City last dled the Boilermakers, win- year, this could be a chance ning 24-6. After initially opt- for the Illini to prove theming out of the 2020 season, selves against a top-dog in the Purdue star wide receiver conference. The Hawkeyes Rondale Moore is back and will be without quarterback ready to fly by Big Ten defens- Nate Stanley after what feels es. Despite Moore’s return, like a decade of him running the Boilermakers are pro- the Iowa offense, and they jected to finish sixth by will also lose three defen247Sports in the Big Ten West sive linemen, including firstwith a number of questions round draft pick AJ Epeneregarding the defense and no sa. Despite the losses on both surefire first-string quarter- sides of the ball, Kirk Ferentz back. The Illini should look is a proven head coach that at this as a favorable match- will keep the Hawkeyes comup when they play their first petitive in the league. The home game of the year. Illini, however, will be seeking a late-season upset in Week 8 (Dec. 12) at potentially their last home Northwestern game of the season. In what was the most disappointing Illini game of the Week 3 (Nov. 7) vs. year last season, on a cold, Minnesota rainy senior day, NorthThe Golden Gophers broke western defeated Illinois out last year. Head coach 29-10 at Memorial Stadium. P.J. Fleck and the team got But despite the Wildcats’ out to a 9-0 start last seawin over the Illini, they fin- son before finishing the seaished last in the Big Ten West. son at 11-2 after an impresThe Wildcats return 18 of 22 sive win over the Auburn starters from last season Tigers in the Outback Bowl. and have added new addi- Quarterback Tanner Mortions to the coaching staff. gan returns as one of, if not This year they are projected the most, accurate thrower in by 247Sports to finish fifth in the Big Ten, and the defense the Big Ten West. The Wild- stays strong despite losing cats are hoping that Indiana star defensive back Antoine transfer quarterback Peyton Winfield Jr. to the NFL. The Ramsey will be able to boost Golden Gophers do, howevwhat was the Big Ten’s worst er, lose their two best receivoffense in 2019. ers from 2019. The Illini were handled against the Golden Week 5 (Nov. 21) at Gophers last season, losing
STAFF WRITER
The Illinois women’s basketball team had its first day of official practice on Wednesday. Just one day in, head coach Nancy Fahey can already tell her team will be quite different from last season’s Illini. After struggling with size in 2019, the Illini looked primed to fare better inside. “Last season, every time I walked out except for the very early part of the games, I had three 5-players walking out in street clothes,” Fahey said. “Basically, in the Big Ten, I had to move a three to play a four-spot and played undersized. This year we (are 6-foot-5-inches, 6-foot-3-inches, 6-foot2-inches, 6-foot-4-inches). We have depth in that position, we can play inside and out, the balance just changes the game.” Fahey compared the impact men’s basketball sophomore center Kofi Cockburn had on head coach Brad Underwood’s team last year to what she envisions redshirt-junior transfer Eva Rubin to do for the women’s team. The men’s team struggled to defend inside and rebound, but once Cockburn came in, the Illini excelled inside. A season ago, the Illini used zone heavily on defense to combat size issues. This year, it looks as though the Illini will go with more manto-man defense and less “scheming” on that end of the court. Although the Illini struggled last year, the team gave underclassmen the chance to play valuable minutes. As the development of underclassman continues, Fahey believes success will follow. “We had three freshmen play a lot of minutes, and
PHOTO COURTESY OF ILLINOIS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL’S TWITTER
Junior guard J-Naya Ephraim dribbles past teammate Lyric Robins during practice on Thursday. Ephraim has stepped up as a leader since the Illini started practicing as a team.
that’s hard in the Big Ten, but guess what? They’re sophomores now,” Fahey said. “They have that experience now. They’re all enjoying the pace they’re playing (at), and it’s not always fast because you have to be efficient. Everyone gets a year older and that experience is just a different look on the team.” Despite the lack of experience with this team, there doesn’t seem to be much concern about leadership. Fahey anticipates roles developing naturally over time but said junior guard J-Naya Ephraim has stepped up as leader so far.
The Illini lost some of their best shooters from a season ago. Petra Holešínská and Ali Andrews made the most threes last season and both departed in the spring. Although Fahey isn’t looking to replace those shooters, she feels confident about the team’s ability to shoot from the outside. “(Sophomore) Jada Peebles is coming off of a lot of minutes as a freshman,” Fahey said. “Her confidence is so much different, and she’s looking to score with that aggressiveness. I also think Aaliyah Nye, our freshman, has been really looking for her game and her
shot. We brought in (assistant coach) Vernette Skeete, a great skill development coach from Marquette who has made our kids really buy in all summer long to improve as an individual.” Despite the season being about six weeks out, the schedule has yet to be released. Fahey anticipates the non-conference schedule will mostly feature local teams, so they can come in early and get tested the day before a game as a safety precaution. nithinr2@dailyillini.com
SOFTBALL
PHOTO COURTESY OF LIBBY KNIGHT/FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS
Illinois head coach Tyra Perry speaks to her team during the game against Baylor on Feb. 21. Perry is pleased all of her starters are returning from last year.
Team sees top players return from shortened season BY CARSON GOURDIE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Lights-out pitching and timely hitting made the Illinois softball team competitive last season, as they finished the coronavirusshortened season with an Nebraska 11-11 record. While the team Head coach Scott Frost SEE COMPETITION | 2B had its ups and downs — losing five out of seven games in the middle of the season— Illinois has an advantage this season: experience. Returning virtually all of their production from last season, only losing two backup seniors to graduation, the Illini look to take the next step forward as a program and compete for a Big Ten championship. The Illini resumed practice four weeks ago and it has gone smoothly. But this year, the Illini aren’t immune to the “new normal.” “We started out really slowly,” said Illinois head coach Tyra Perry. “There were a lot of masks, social distancing. But after a twoweek period, we were able to slowly unwind. But we have kept our players in groups of PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM ANDERSON/FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS about eight to 10.” Illinois head coach Lovie Smith instructs during practice on Throughout the counOct. 12. The season kicks off on Friday against Wisconsin in try, the NCAA and conferMadison. ences have had to make
tough decisions regarding how seasons will look. For football, shortened and conference-only schedules became a popular alternative, while the NCAA has postponed most fall sports to the spring. Coach Perry, though, hasn’t received the official word yet. “Those particular areas are up for discussion,” Perry said regarding whether there will be a postseason or non-conference schedule. “We, as Big Ten coaches, meet and give our recommendations according to the guidelines we feel are in place.” Regardless of when and where the Illini play, Perry can rely on at least one thing: starting pitching. Both of the Illini’s top starters, juniors Addy Jarvis and Sydney Sickels, are returning from last season looking to replicate the same consistency and, sometimes, dominance. Jarvis, who transferred from Youngstown State last season, transitioned to Big Ten play with ease, finishing the season with a 2.42 ERA, three complete games and six wins. While Jarvis was smooth sailing, Sickels may have had an even
bigger presence with a 2.38 ERA, 82 strikeouts and five saves, which showcased her versatility. “They’re excellent,” Perry said. “Just as far as pitching, they’re (highly talented). But they’re also great people, great students. I couldn’t ask for more in that area.” While the pitching duo shut down opposing offenses regularly, their records didn’t reflect their talent, as neither had a record over .500. The lack of wins, however, could be attributed to the Illini’s lineup that struggled to find consistent run production. Out of the 22 games played last season, Perry’s lineup scored two runs or less 13 times while finishing the season with a team batting average of .226. But the lack of results could be explained by some context. The Illini were incredibly young last season, playing zero seniors. Also, the team did only play 22 games before the weather or the bats started heating up. Just getting a full season could do wonders for the team. “We have a lot of returners who have seen significant time,” Perry said.
“Returning-wise, we have (sophomore) Delaney Rummell, who played third base for us last year. She had a great start in a shortened season, so we expect to see a lot more from her as well. She’s a power hitter. She has power potential. She also kind of hits for average, which is the dream, right?” Rummell led the team with five home runs while starting every game. The Gilberts native showed her youth and struggled down the stretch, finishing with a .194 batting average. Still, Perry saw a good enough sample size to have faith in her ability. Returning all of her starters usually makes a coach feel fantastic about an upcoming season, but Perry isn’t ready to hang the Big Ten championship banner yet. “I think it will, but it’s just so strange and different because of COVID,” Perry said. “We’ve all been in a survival and protection mode. I think a few more practices and getting into the season will start to see things click.” @gourdiereport gourdie2@dailyillini.com
2B Monday, October 19, 2020
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FOOTBALL
Josh Imatorbhebhe welcomes older brother to Illini BY CARSON GOURDIE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
It’s been one year since senior wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe packed his bags and left the University of Southern California for Lovie Smith’s program. The results? Nine touchdown catches, two program-changing victories and the school’s first bowl game since 2014. While the Illini gear up for an encore, Imatorbhebhe welcomes a familiar face to the program: his brother. After playing with his older brother for three seasons at USC, Imatorbhebhe reunites with his brother, senior tight end Daniel, as they look to carry the Illini to its best regular season in recent memory. “It’s awesome (having my brother here),” Josh said. “It’s kind of like the last go-around for both of us. Things didn’t really work out at USC for me or him really after he got injured. I feel like it’s an amazing end to our college stories.” T he Im at orbhebhe brothers have showcased potential despite constant setbacks. For Daniel, Illinois is his third team, as he was a member of the Florida Gators and USC Trojans. Daniel actually had a productive stint under Sam Darnold’s offense, being named an All-Pac 12 honorable mention after his freshman season. However, injuries set back the older brother. “This is a guy who stretches the field vertically and has an incredible range of motion,” Josh said of his older brother. “You throw it wherever he is, especially in the middle of the field, he’s going to catch the ball. He has tremendous body control, soft hands, great awareness. After getting his confidence back, it’s only up.” Head coach Smith and his offensive coordinator, Rod Smith, have a stockpile at
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID CRAAN/FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS
Senior wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe catches a pass during practice on Thursday. This fall, Josh will continue his leadership role, and this time he gets to play alongside his older brother Daniel.
the tight end position with the return of junior Daniel Barker while adding Daniel Imatorbhebhe and Georgia transfer junior Luke Ford. While all three can’t play at once, it’s possible the staff decides to go with two tight end sets, eliminating a spot for a wide receiver. “Having two tight ends indirectly benefits us because it increases competition (for wide receivers),” Josh said. “Since the tight ends are more talented, (wide receivers) are going to have to step up their game if they want to see the field.”
While Illinois might have a problem deciding who that second wide receiver will be, there’s no doubt Josh has cemented his place as senior quarterback Brandon Peters’ top target. Josh shattered expectations last season with 634 yards and nine touchdowns. Against Michigan State alone, Josh finished with 179 yards and two touchdown passes, bringing his team back into the game. Josh, who missed the last two games due to injury, appears to be healthy and ready for an encore.
a few spots where he can relax. “I’ve gotten used to (Champaign), but I don’t go out and do many things,” Josh said. “I come to the Smith Center, go work out, go to practice and go back home for the most part. There are some places I like to go and eat. I love Merry Ann’s, I love Culver’s.” While Josh was brand new last year, the wide receiver has settled in while bringing his big brother down to Champaign with him. The two, who are best friends, work out and hang out together, just like during their childhood. Josh, who looks up to his brother, attributes a lot of his success to Daniel Imatorbhebhe’s presence. “Everything he did, I wanted to do a little better,” Josh said. “If I didn’t have him as an example, I wouldn’t have the kind of drive to be the best. “When I was getting recruited by Boston College as a sophomore, I was stuttering on the phone, and I was nervous. Then I would see him talk to Florida, and he was so calm and mellow. I was like, ‘Wow, I want to have that.’” This year will be the most unique season in Big Ten history, with only a nine-game conference season. Josh could be a productive senior season away from securing a spot on Sundays with an NFL roster. But what if the season turns haywire? Could the Imatorbhebhe brothers return for their fifth and seventh year, respectively, if the NCAA allows it? “It definitely depends on how the season turns out,” Josh said. “I don’t have a crystal ball (to see) into the future. We’re going to let the chips fall where they may and see what the best decision would be.”
Along with his return, pundits and teammates have heightened expectations. “Stepping into a leadership role isn’t something I want to take lightly,” Josh said. “The guys usually follow what I have to say. Last year, I definitely helped our team win some games. It’s something I’m embracing more and more.” In what could be his final season in the orange and blue uniform, Josh’s stay in Champaign has been football-focused. Moving from sunny Los Angeles to Champaign is definitely a @gourdiereport change, but he has found gourdie2@dailyillini.com
FROM 1B
COMPETITION 40-17 in Minneapolis, but an improved offense and defense should make this year’s game a lot closer.
Week 1 (Oct. 23) at Wisconsin
The Badgers are projected by most analysts to land a spot in the Big Ten Championship game and win the Big Ten West this season, despite losing star rusher Jonathan Taylor to the NFL. Everyone remembers the upset of the college football season last year when the Illini took down the No. 6 Badgers 24-23 after McCourt’s walk off field goal. But Wisconsin is looking for its revenge to start the 2020 season. Redshirt freshman Graham Mertz will start the season for the Badgers as quarterback while senior Jack Coan is out with an injury, but the Badgers boast one of the best defenses in the conference and have possibly the best defensive line in the Big Ten. So, the Illini will need more magic than they did on Homecoming last year to leave Madison with a win.
Week 6 (Nov. 28) vs. Ohio State
This game will undoubtedly be the toughest for the Illini this year. The Buckeyes bring back Heisman-hopeful quarterback Justin Fields after falling to the Clemson Tigers in the semifinal of the College Football Playoff last season. The reigning Big Ten champions lost star defensive lineman Chase Young and defensive back Jeff Okudah, who were taken with the second and third picks in the 2020 NFL draft, and lost nine players total on defense. The Buckeyes also lost star rusher J.K. Dobbins to the NFL, but they boast many highly-rated recruits to try and replace them. Ohio State is nearly every analysts’ pick to win the Big Ten, and the Illini will need to play like it’s 2007 to upset one of the best teams in the country. @JPietsch14 pietsch3@dailyillini.com
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COVID-19
State excludes UI tests from regional virus data BY ETHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR
The Illinois Department of Public Health has begun separating University tests from regional data, instead of excluding Champaign County as a whole. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and state health officials have said that the high volume of campus tests — around 55,000 per week — is clouding virus trends from surrounding areas in Region 6. Excluding the University’s tests, the region’s seven-day rolling test positivity rate has bounced recently, up to 7.6% as of Thursday, up almost two percentage points from a week prior. A rolling positivity rate above 8% would subject Region 6 to additional restrictions, “including no indoor bar service or dining
at restaurants, and limiting the size of event gatherings,” according to IDPH. Including the University’s tests, the regional positivity would sit at just 2.5%. “As has been noted, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is performing repeated saliva testing for staff and students,” wrote IDPH in a press release. “This is resulting in a tremendous number of tests, which can average up to 20% of all tests done in the state during some weeks.” According to IDPH, Champaign County would still be subject to mitigation efforts if Region 6’s positivity eclipsed 8%. On Sunday, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District confirmed another 49 new cases of COVID-19 after 8,327 new tests.
CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
Student Shaina Lohman sanitizes her hands after completing a University COVID-19 test at State Farm Center on Oct. 8.
Another 61 people were reported “recovered” by the health district, which means they are no longer considered contagious, even if they’re still dealing with prolonged health effects of the virus. Fourteen more people were ordered to quarantine after being in close contact with a COVID-positive person, bringing the active quarantining total to 1,151 people. To date, 8,523 people have been ordered to quarantine in Champaign County. More than 10% of them — 895 quarantiners — tested positive for the virus after their quarantine order. In ZIP code 61820, which encompasses most of Campustown, active cases have declined significantly. Seventy-nine people in the ZIP code are considered “active” for COVID-19, down from 242 active cases two weeks ago. Countywide, 5,603 people have tested positive for the virus and 5,235 of them are considered recovered. Meanwhile, 340 people are active for COVID-19, and five of them are currently hospitalized. According to CUPHD, there have been no student, faculty or staff hospitalizations for COVID-19. As of Sunday, 28 people in Champaign County have died from COVID-related complications. ecsimmon@dailyillini.com
CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
Junior Jessica Wynveen takes a COVID-19 test at State Farm Center on Oct. 8. The Illinois Department of Public Health has decided to separate University test results from regional data.
LSAT causes different level of stress during pandemic BY ELIZABETH SAYASANE FEATURES EDITOR
Mikaila Beauchamp, senior in Business, has her sights firmly set on law school. As every pre-law student knows, that means she has spent the end of her junior year and beginning of senior year with her mind focused on the LSAT. For the first time since the LSAT’s creation, though, prelaw students must do their studying and preparation in the middle of a pandemic. COVID-19 has shocked the world and altered almost every aspect of daily life, and these standardized admissions tests, including the MCAT and GRE, have not escaped. Through April 2021, all LSAT administrations will be done online. This has added an additional layer of stress for students like Beauchamp. Beauchamp has taken the exam twice and will be taking it again in November, as she was not satisfied with her original scores. Her preparation for this exam has been extensive over the past several months. “I was basically going to be teaching myself,” Beauchamp said. “I decided to start studying earlier than most would. I studied probably a total of
seven or eight months.” Initially, Beauchamp thought quarantine could actually be beneficial for her studying. She wanted to study every day, and the internship she had lined up for the summer was canceled. Beauchamp said she was able to study and take a test every other day. Unfortunately, she said, this ended up being detrimental to her performance in the exam. “I burnt myself out,” she said. “I got to the point where I absolutely hated the test. I couldn’t imagine studying, I didn’t even want to think about taking the test ever again, so when I was taking it, my mind would just be elsewhere because I was just so burnt out.” This also came into play when it came down to the amount of time she spent on her laptop. During a normal school year, Beauchamp would be out and about on campus, attending classes and meetings, whereas this semester, she has had to stay inside staring at her screen all day. When it comes time to study, then, the monotony takes a toll. “Every day is kind of a struggle of ‘OK, you just had
an exhausting day listening to presentations, doing all of this work on your laptop, and now you have to do even more,’” she said. “Sometimes it can be very tempting to just close your laptop and call it a day, which I’ve fallen victim to.” As the November exam approaches, Beauchamp has taken a step back from the intensive studying. She said she has given herself time to take breaks, knowing she has learned about everything she can at this point. By reeling back the study sessions and taking time to enjoy her life, Beauchamp has done well on her recent practice exams. She plans on going into the test calm and collected, knowing she has done this before and will have her mind fully present for the exam. Aside from the stresses of studying for the exam, though, is the additional pressures that come with the new format of the LSAT. The test normally consists of five sections that take three and a half hours to complete in person. Because of COVID-19, the exam is three sections in a shorter time limit. Test-takers also do not go to a testing site but must find a quite place at home where they can work.
While initially the idea of a shorter exam sounds good for many, Beauchamp warns of the difficulties associated with it. “At the end of the day, having less sections gives you less room to make mistakes,” she said. “So you have to be fully there from start to finish.” Another added element of pressure comes from actually submitting applications. Beauchamp said she attended a law school admissions panel that said the competition was far fiercer this year. More people are applying, so students have to try and submit their applications earlier and make them stronger than ever. The application materials submitted by students this year must go the extra mile to stand out, Beauchamp said. Throughout the course of this process, Beauchamp said she has learned how to cope with her stress and find ways to succeed that work for her. “Just make sure to always take care of yourself and carve out time for things just beyond the application process and the LSAT studying and all that so you can stay PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKAILA BEAUCHAMP sane while being in a very Senior Mikaila Beauchamp poses for a headshot outside stressful time,” she said. Foellinger Auditorium. Beauchamp’s studying process for eis3@dailyillini.com
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the LSAT has been affected significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic.
covered so you can stay here. covid19.illinois.edu
4B Monday, October 19, 2020
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Monday, October 19, 2020
5B
buzz calendar BY RUKAYAH HUSSEIN BUZZ CALENDAR EDITOR
The buzz calendar is a compilation of events happening in the Champaign-Urbana area. Follow our top picks in Monday’s and Thursday’s papers for ideas on what to do on any night of the week, from where to eat to what to watch. Want to submit an event? Email calendar@readbuzz.com.
MONDAY, OCT. 19
Hootenanny All-Stars: Hosted by Emily Anne
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
Ali Mian and Soloman Breland star in “Baby.” The film was released on June 21, 2019.
Celebrate the LGBTQ community with these underrated short films BY RAINA KULIROFF STAFF WRITER
On Oct. 11, we celebrated National Coming Out Day, where we acknowledged and celebrated the LGBTQ community. Many films have highlighted the challenges and the awesomeness that are LGBTQ. Here is a list of short films that tackle what it means to be a part of the LGBTQ community in the spirit of continuing to celebrate. All of these are easily accessible online and deserve some extra praise.
“Flex”
exercise com mercia l. Although Charles is somewhat of a dork, it is difficult not to admire his character’s sweetness. Although it is a slightly awkward viewing experience due to second-hand embarrassment, “Flex” hilariously captures relationships through love, sexuality and loss.
“Baby”
This eight-minute film is full of sweet romance. “Baby” shows Ali, a Dominican-American teenager from the Bronx, preparing for a date. The film is beautifully produced, including exquisite cinematography and a very fitting soundtrack. Filmmaker Jessie Levandov was even able to incorporate an exciting plot twist at the end. The film manages to put the viewer inside the life of a teenager living in New York, and it’s definitely worth a watch.
ite of the three films, stars actors Nick Frost and British Academy of Film and Television Arts nominee Nicki Amuka-Bird. Filmmaker Kate Cox creates a unique and stunning 12-minute short film that tells the story of long-time married couple Emelia and Jeff as they celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. For their anniversary, Emelia purchases Jeff a gift of “Vert” glasses. When worn, these unique glasses depict your ideal self, living in a perfect world. Although Jeff is nervous, he eventually agrees to enter the world of “Vert” in which Emelia learns a longkept secret of Jeff, who now prefers to go by Gem, with female pronouns. This film is beautifully acted and produced and leaves the viewer appreciating the finer things in life, such as letting go and finally sharing a long-kept secret.
“Flex” tells the story of an awkward yet lovable man who just got out of a long-term relationship with his girlfriend. Feeling lost, Charles Gould decides to explore his sexuality with a Tinder date by changing his preferred gender from “female” to “male.” This short film depicts the excitement of sexual awakening, even if “Vert” it is from an overly steamy “Vert,” a personal favor- rkutli2@readbuzz.com
6-8 p.m. Rose Bowl Taven, 106 N. Race St., Urbana Free Emily Anne is back playing songs at The Rose Bowl Tavern, and this Monday will be the last of this fall series. Bring some food while you enjoy other music performances by Sam Fowler and Rory Book. Remember to bring a mask, and tips for the artists are always appreciated.
Virtual Open Mic Night via Zoom!
7:30-11:30 p.m. A virtual event hosted by The Canopy Club Free Join The Canopy Club & ChampaignUrbana Open Mic Nights crew, including Mike Ingram, Anika Emily, Moe Pesci da Goodfella, Jake Fava Music, Lola Honey and more for weekly COVID-19-induced Zoom open mics. Until we can all be back at The Canopy Club, this is the best we’ve got.
TUESDAY, OCT. 20
Chicago Farmer’s Folkin’ Tuesday Livestream 7 p.m. A virtual event hosted by Chicago Farmer Free Every Tuesday, Chicago Farmer streams live from his Facebook page. Expect songs, stories, special guests and other shenanigans.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 21
Wednesday Night Trivia at Barrelhouse 34
7-9 p.m. Barrelhouse 34, 34 E. Main St., Champaign Free We’re back! Grab your friends and join us for the best weekly trivia around! Each week, we have seven rounds of trivia designed to challenge you and ensure it’s your best night of the week. See you there!
David Howie at the Clark Bar
7-9 p.m. Clark Bar, 207 W. Clark St., Champaign Free Join David Howie as he performs at Clark Bar. Expect to hear some of his original songs along with choice covers.
Champaign Farmers Market
3-6 p.m. Champaign Farmers Market, 310-330 N. Neil St., Champaign Free The Champaign Farmers Market returns for another season of fresh local food and fun! This year looks slightly different due to the pandemic, but you can still shop local vendors to get fresh produce from farmers in our area.
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October 19, 2020 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com
Indulge in sweet treats with Oh, Honey Pie Truck Leslie Till runs CU food truck selling pie with husband BY CAILEIGH ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER
Ever yone fantasizes about what their dream job would be. In most cases, these jobs are unrealistic and humorous, which leads people to choose ordinary life paths instead of following their passion. Leslie Till is a perfect example of never giving up on a dream. After a decade, pie expert Leslie Till decided teaching was not her true passion. When her boyfriend, now husband Matt Till, asked her what her dream job was, Leslie decided to run a food truck. In 2018, combining her desire to sell food with her passion for making delicious pies, Leslie and her husband officially opened Oh, Honey Pie Truck.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OH, HONEY PIE TRUCK
Oh, Honey Pie Truck owners Leslie and Matt Till pose with an arrangement of their pies. The couple opened the pie truck in 2018.
It’s safe to say people are looking forward to the food that comes with the holiday season. Nothing screams fall more than a creamy bite of pumpkin pie, the tart
PHOTO COURTESY OF OH, HONEY PIE TRUCK
The Oh, Honey Pie Truck sits parked on the side of the street.
flavors of caramel apple or the contrasting sweet and salty delight of pecan pie. Oh, Honey Pie Truck offers all these options. Recently voted as best pie in Champaign-Urbana in the News-Gazette 2020 People’s Choice Awards, Oh, Honey Pie Truck provides a variety of desserts and flavors, rotating several flavors weekly. According to Leslie, the “salted honey pie is our specialty.” Other top sellers are the coconut, chocolate, ginger peach and strawberry rhubarb. Another sweet treat the pair offers is homemade whipped cream and an apple dumpling,
which is a “Granny Smith apple baked in pie crust and covered in homemade caramel sauce, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and nutmeg.” Oh, Honey Pie Truck doesn’t stop at sweet pastries. They offer savory delights, including chicken pot pie, shepherd’s pie, mac & cheese pie, broccoli cheddar, biscuits and various quiches. Leslie and Matt also make dog treats for furry friends. Oh, Honey Pie Truck usually runs its business from the truck. However, it is in the process of finding a new truck and is now running the business from
the couple’s house. People can order individual pies or desserts, but the business also provides catering services for large events, such as weddings or birthdays. Mini pies cost $6, while full-size pies range from $20-30. The couple offers the mini pies in a mixed four-pack based on weekly flavors. This option also comes with a free container of homemade whipped cream. Since Leslie and Matt run the business by themselves, it is hard to make last-minute pies. That means if you have an event coming up or are simply craving a delicious treat, make sure to
order in advance. You can order pies on Oh, Honey Pie Truck’s website every morning from Wednesday to Saturday. The desserts can be picked up on Saturday mornings from Marble Catering or delivered on Saturdays from 11 a.m.1 p.m. With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, make sure to follow the Oh, Honey Pie Truck Facebook page to stay updated on upcoming desserts and flavors to treat yourself as an end to this crazy year. cda8@readbuzz.com
Failed Poem Records spotlights musical artistry in CU BY NATE SUN STAFF WRITER
Places like Chicago, New York City and London all have a categorical music scene — a background shared by many musicians that helps define the sound of each artist regardless of genre. What can anybody say about a small metropolitan-area like Champaign-Urbana and its music culture? Although the answer may not be so clear, new local record label Failed Poem Records aims to share a piece of what it believes is C-U’s unique musical personality. “Let’s find something that actually focuses on the characteristic,” said Stephen “Sven” Johnson, owner of Failed Poem Records. The inception of the label comes from adoration for local artists and an appreciation for physical copies of music. Surprisingly, though, Johnson may not have even created the label had it not been for the COVID-19 lockdown. Johnson
and his friend exchanged field recordings and sound effects back and forth from their homes, which led to an idea. “I just decided … why don’t I just see what it takes to put this on tape,” Johnson said. Johnson and his friend then decided profits made from these tapes should go to charities geared toward helping people who are struggling from the pandemic. “I don’t need money, you don’t need money, let’s pick a charity,” Johnson said, recounting his thought process. This concept subsequently gave him the idea of producing music for other artists. In keeping with the label’s foundational principles, profits will be donated to a charity if the artist chooses to do so. As it goes right now, these records won’t see a wide release. Failed Poem Records prides itself on capturing a special memo-
ry with an artist’s release — a physical recording of an album that resembles a piece of C-U. By this virtue, Failed Poem Records is also keeping the marketing low-key, mostly done through social media or word of mouth. “If (the artists) are active and moving through the Champaign-Urbana music scene, it shouldn’t be too hard selling 50 copies,” Johnson said. He emphasizes the intention of Failed Poem Records not being a typical large distributor, but rather an opportunity for people within the C-U community to share music. “I don’t want this to be popular,” Johnson said. “I just want this to be.” For Johnson, it all comes back to his idea of the local music scene. To him, the community is very collaborative, close-knit and full of diversity. It may just be the fact that C-U has a relatively small music collective that makes Johnson
believe it is the perfect realm for Failed Poem Records. “People are aware of the musicians,” he said. “Everybody’s open to having these varieties.” As such, it is the perfect mix of range and closeness for a small, community-minded record label like his. Johnson does not see Failed Poem Records derailing from its principles in the future. “I feel like where it’s at is balanced. It feels about right,” Johnson said. “The amount of (cassette copies) I’m mailing out is at a good rate.” Johnson still leaves room for the label to progress naturally, though. This growth will come with the more variety of music he will get to work with in the future. All the same, he only plans to release two to three new albums or other works every year. As Failed Poem Records is still new, Johnson wants people to keep an eye on
YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE SO MANY GREAT MEMORIES FROM YOUR TIME AT COLLEGE. HOLD ON TO THEM FOREVER WITH THE OFFICIAL U OF I YEARBOOK.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FAILED POEM RECORDS’ FACEBOOK
The logo for Failed Poem Records is pictured above. The founder, Stephen “Sven” Johnson, hopes to promote Champaign-Urbana music culture with his new record label.
what will be coming out helps people see how great from the label. it is.” “It’s such a privilege we get to see what happens nssun2@readbuzz.com in C-U,” he said. “I hope it
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