The Daily Illini: Quad Day Guide 2021

THE DAILY ILLINI

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Quad Day Guide

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

The Daily IllinI

2

Freshman year part two

Sophomores should take advantage of all in-person events on campus

BY GWYN SKILES FEATURES EDITOR

Last year was pretty terrible.

As a freshman, I expected the year to be tough. Finding new friends is daunting, living independently is an adjustment and classes are totally different from every prior school year.

But even more so, there was a global pandemic that made the aforementioned even harder.

There was hardly any orientation last year. And aside from Greek life, it was difficult to find extracurriculars to join. Not to mention, many of us had only one or two in-person classes — and that was if you were lucky.

For these reasons, the 2021-2022 school year will be like freshman year part two for incoming sophomores.

Sophomores will experience their first Quad Day, go to their first football game and step into the library for the first time, like many of the incoming freshmen.

I personally am done dwelling on what our class missed out on last year. I’m excited to actually get the “college experience” that I was promised when committing to this University.

Granted, COVID-19 and the delta variant once again have left everything up in the air.

With the Massmail that was sent on July 29, suspicions were confirmed and students were told all indoor University facilities will require face coverings.

So … our sophomore year might be very similar to our freshman year in some respects. But that doesn’t mean we can’t take advantage of what is going to be offered — even if these events are catered

JULIA EVERSMANN THE DAILY ILLINI

toward freshmen.

I urge all sophomores to attend Quad Day. Even if you found an extracurricular activity you’re passionate about, it’s worth taking a look.

If you’re working a booth like I will be, make sure to look at other organizations.

College is the time to discover new inter-

ests and pursue many passions. Last year, it was very difficult to do that through a computer screen. This year, let’s make sure we safely take advantage of every in-person opportunity. gskiles2@dailyillini.com

The Daily Illini

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

3

How to navigate Quad Day (by a student who has never been)

BY AIDAN FINN STAFF WRITER

Ah yes, it is time. With the anxiety-ridden transition back to campus, it is time to celebrate the forthcoming months of retinaburning study sessions and stress-induced binge eating at Noodles & Company that will come to involuntarily dominate your life as a college student. It is time to have the entire student body stand in the middle of a field together amidst 90 degree heat, all while being sold the prospect of joining questionably legal crypto student clubs by desperate sophomore interns.

Alas, this portrayal of the anticipated event was only conjured by the inferred words of the wind and passively aggressive Reddit threads, as I was not present at Quad Day 2020 during my freshman year. Neither were any of my journalism peers. Nor anyone. The whole event was shut down due to the pandemic. Instead, my warm welcome to University life was highlighted by getting lost in the outer-Champaign area wasteland of dying outlet malls and questionably licensed fast food establishments topped off with an admirable move by University Housing to create socially distanced social circles to make friends, which was accompanied by the other resident halls of the Six Pack lawn doing the same thing, leading to a ton of students standing in the middle of a field together amidst 90 degree heat.

Nonetheless, I grew acquainted with my surroundings, with time exploring the vast campus, and failure in finding the Dairy Queen at Altgeld Hall. I do, however, have anticipation for the upcoming Quad Day as it highlights an event I was robbed of by circumstance. While I am involved, as many freshmen were during 2020, having a spectacle event to signal a new year is a joyful time that should be enjoyed, no matter the THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO year. Here are some helpful tips for enjoy- A student involved in MEDLIFE UIUC speaks with another student about their secular, volunteer-run global health organization during Quad Day on ing your time at Quad Day 2021!

Aug. 26, 2018. Better your Quad Day experience while walking along a diverse range of RSOs by utilizing the tips below. band music and distant generator noise. It’s like any festival: full of environmental stimuli If we have learned anything from the pan- to make you crazy. Be cool and be willing to demic, it’s that there is no respect or cour- listen, you may find a club that suits you more tesy toward employees of minimum wage. than you expect.

Thousands of WorldStar and r/PublicFreakouts have made the depressing reality of commerce apparent. Now, we face the realm of Be strategic unpaid volunteer work by club members hopQuad Day is all about exploration and ing to spread fun ideas. Please, be calm and fun, but alas you are still at a school. Be collected while speaking with these other stu- strategic in what organizations you join and dents like you, who also are enduring heat and avoid overbooking yourself to too many the sounds of hyperactive crowds, distorted commitments. You have to prioritize what

Be open, watch for freebies Be kind Whatever you do, do not go in without an open mind to the wondrous and fun opportunities Quad Day can offer. Dozens of great and interesting clubs will be representing their team. Do not ignore the various flyers and swag goodies being given out. Who doesn’t love a free T-shirt two sizes too small!

is important to you as a student, and on top of that aim to join groups that fall close to your Venn diagram of needs and interests.

I may not have gotten the freshmen college experience of a childhood of Disney Channel Original Movie painted (mine was more in line with a Franz Kafka novel), but I hope everyone who missed out last year can make the best of things and enjoy Quad Day! aidanf3@readbuzz.com

$1,00 $1,000

Learn Ame Bookstore W Kerby Ln Learn more at Gift Card AmericanCampus.

Learn more at Scan here to sche W Kerby Ln Tour and enter to win a Scan here to schedule a tour: AmericanCampus.com/Champaign Bookstore

Scan hereLnto schedu W Kerby Scan here topowered schedule and entera tour: to a Roommate Tour matching by win RoomSync

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

The Daily Illini

4

E Green St

LEASING OFFICE

W John St

E Green St

Great locations close to campus LEASING OFFICE

Fully furnished apartments OF UNIVERSITY E Chalmers St and townhomes available

S Neil St

ILLINOIS AT UNIVERSITY OF URBANA-CHAMPAIGN Academically oriented environments Prize and amenities ILLINOIS AT are subject St AmenitiesURBANA-CHAMPAIGN for a fitE Gregory and healthy lifestyle

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

S Neil St

S Lincoln St

Private bedrooms and bathrooms available E Chalmers St S 1st St

S Wright St

S 1st St

$1,000 Gift Card E Chalmers St

S Neil St

LEASING OFFICE

W John St

S 1st St

W John St

S Wright St S Wright St

E Green St

Individual liability Eleases Gregory St

E Gregory St

E Green St

Roommate matching powered by RoomSync LEASING OFFICE

AmericanCampus.com/Champaign

LEASING OFFICE

E Chalmers St Private bedrooms and Wbathrooms available Kerby Ln

S Neil St

S 1st St

enities are subject to change. Limited time only. See office E Green St

LEASING OFFICE

E Chalmers St

Prize and amenities are subject to change. Limited time only. See office for details.

S 1st St

ited time only. See office for details.

E Chalmers St

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

S Lincoln St

S Wright St

UNIVERSITY OF Great locations close to campus ILLINOIS AT Private bedrooms and bathrooms available URBANA-CHAMPAIGN Fully furnished apartments E Gregory St and townhomes available

Academically oriented environments Amenities for a fit and healthy lifestyle Individual liability leases

E Gregory St

Roommate matching powered by RoomSync W Kerby Ln

S Lincoln St

S Wright St

W Kerby Ln

S Neil St

W John St

Great locations campus Learn more atclose toW Kerby Ln S 1st St

Scan here to schedule a tour:

E Green St

UNIVERSITY OF Fully furnished apartments forand details.

ILLINOIS AT townhomes available

URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

Academically oriented environments E Gregory St

Amenities for a fit and healthy lifestyle

Prize and amenities are subject to change. Limited time only. See office for details.

Individual liability leases

Prize and amenities are subject to change. Limited time only. See office for details.

Roommate matching powered by RoomSync W Kerby Ln

Learn more at AmericanCampus.com/Champaign

S Wright St

Prize and amenities are subject to change. Limited time only. See office W John St

The Daily Illini

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

5

THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO

Two students show off their poster boards to passing students during Quad Day on Aug. 26, 2018.

Getting involved after a year of virtual activities

BY VIVIAN LA ASSISTANT DAYTIME NEWS EDITOR

It’s no question that you’re likely fed up with a year of doing everything virtually. Whether that’s class, graduation parties, club meetings or even dance practices. At Illinois, it also meant missing out on Quad Day, a campus gathering of free goodies, email lists and lots of enthusiastic RSO members attempting to be the most memorable. A virtual Quad Day replaced the in-person campus tradition, made up of a series of RSO logos organized in a categorized list on a website sent out to students. Slideshows and Google forms replaced colorful tables and posters. A majority of new students weren’t even aware of this online platform until after the fact.

This academic year, it will be the first in-person Quad Day for at least two incoming classes. For students that spent the entire year

online, perhaps in a different state, having an in-person welcome event such as Quad Day could be overwhelming. It would be easy to skip out on something like this, especially if you’re already stressed about transitioning to in-person college experiences. Perhaps thoughts of fellow classmates already having their social circles or clubs chosen will stop you from seeking out that one RSO on Quad Day. But from experience, putting yourself out there, especially when it comes to campus involvement and activities, will make the already stressful transition to college a lot easier. The great part about the size of the University is the many diverse communities you’ll find during these few years at school.

However, the catch of being involved in different communities on campus is making the effort to seek them out in the first place.

Unease about established groups is natural.

Just keep in mind that countless other students are likely in the same boat as you and that RSOs are some of the easiest ways to meet new people. After a year of low club turnout due to burnout from constantly conducting things over Zoom, RSOs will be more than happy to have new people interested in their causes. It’s also never too late in the school year to join. One advantage of 2020’s virtual Quad Day is that most of the contact information and rosters online are up to date, making communication with RSOs very clear.

Board members are nearly always happy to get an email from someone looking to get involved with them.

It’s something that’s beaten to death, but college really is about trying new things. You’ll do a lot of that living in a dorm, adjusting to Illinois weather or through classes. The easiest way by far to step out of your comfort zone at

the start of college is to take a flyer for that one RSO you have some interest in. It doesn’t have to be as niche as beekeeping or inline skating around campus in the early morning hours. But it could be. Or it could mean exploring your interest in theater or social justice.

Some RSOs might not be a good fit and that’s OK too. There are common stories about students attending a meeting for an RSO, not going again, but really liking some of the people they met in the process and staying in touch.

All in all, there’s little to lose and a lot to gain.

Quad Day is a fun opportunity to set the tone for the rest of the year. It’s also a testament to all the wonderful communities there are on campus – if you take the initiative to keep an open mind. vla2@dailyillini.com

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

The Daily Illini

6

RSOs explained: Sciences, arts and services

BY MONA ALRAZZAQ ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Association of Technology in Medicine

With Quad Day coming up, navigating your This organization allows students in way through the hundreds of tables can be engineering and medicine sciences to have difficult. Here are some RSOs that might pertain opportunities and learning experiences to you based on your interests! regarding technology in medicine by holding a variety of discussions and hosting guest lectures to speak on the topic.

Illinois Space Society

This organization is open to space enthusiasts as well as industry professionals. It is dedicated 8 To Create to serving the community through educational 8 To Create is an art event in which eight outreach as well as providing the opportunity to artists have eight hours to create eight works join diverse technical projects regarding space. of art in order to “to break down institutional and social hierarchies by bringing together a mix of artists from a variety of experiences Project Code and affiliations in one creative space.”

Project Code is an RSO that relies heavily on computer science. It allows students with an Champaign Photography interest in the field to further explore the field. Association Project ideas for the organization are presented The Champaign Photography Association and completed by group members. This gives is a club focused on giving students with an opportunity for beginner programmers to feel an interest in photography an opportunity comfortable, learn programming and explore their to learn and explore that interest further. interests.

This is accomplished by hosting different photography workshops to assist and increase knowledge in areas of photography.

Creative Writing Club

This organization gives students of all majors an outlet and allows them to write in multiple writing styles about any topic.

It allows fellow students to discuss their writing and meets weekly in the English Building.

Illini Service Dogs

This organization is dedicated to training mobility service dogs! Volunteers train dogs and learn more about disability culture and dogs. The service dogs are then placed to care for someone who needs them.

Volunteer Illini Projects, Inc.

Volunteer Illini Projects, Inc., is a volunteering organization with different student-led projects that work with community partners to combat different community issues. This organization holds year-round volunteer opportunities as well as unique service projects. monaa2@dailyillini.com

THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO

A student holds up a sign advertising Illini Service Dogs to passing prospective students during Quad Day on Aug. 26, 2018.

The Daily Illini

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

7

Take a leap by trying these unique clubs The Kat Walk

other Quidditch teams from across the nation. And for the Harry Potter fans less It’s your first year and you’re on the interested in physical activities: Check Aspiring models can try out runway first orientation tour. An impossibly out the Harry Potter Alliance club. modeling and other fashion related roles energetic guide walk s you around with The Kat Walk. The RSO allows campus, explaining the ins and outs of students to participate in runway shows, campus life. Then, it happens — you see photo and video shoots and provides a squirrel. “ Three minute matches, two killer models professional experience and “ We have a lot of squirrels here robots , one winner,” describes the skills, as well as career opportunities in on campus. We even have a squirrel organization on its website. The club is the world of fashion. Students interested watching club,” a guide tells you proudly. a subsection within iRobotics, featuring in more behind-the-scenes roles such as “And, a squirrel watching watchers club.” robots weighing anywhere from one to styling, photography and beauty can find While an RSO for watching people who 120 pounds, built to battle each other. roles with The Kat Walk as well. watch squirrels doesn’t officially exist, The robots knock out other opponents there are plenty of other unique clubs to using various weapons such as highjoin on campus that first year students speed rotating blades. should give a chance.

BY HEATHER ROBINSON

MANAGING EDITOR FOR REPORTING

Combotics

Illini Ridgebacks Quidditch

For the avid Harr y Potter fan, the Universit y Quidditch R SO of fers a gender-inclusive space for practicing the nonfictional version of Quidditch.

Not only does the team offer optional practices three times a week, but it’s also competitive, facing of f against

Alma’s Talking Dogs

Dog lovers will be pleased to learn of this unique RSO, which is described as an organization focused on enhancing communication b et we en dog s and h u m a n s u si n g s p i n a l p ro ce s si n g , machine learning and other technology to better understand dog behavior. The organization began as an engineering research project, but is now open to all majors.

Falling Illini Skydiving Club

For those not afraid of heights, the Falling Illini provides the chance of skydiving to students with or without prior experience. The RSO travels to sk ydiving centers in Illinois to jump together — or solo from the sky. Members are required to participate in facilitated training before going out into the field, but the reward is certainly high. hrr4@dailyillini.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FALLINGILLINI/ INSTAGRAM

Kelsey Strock and Nate Wetter Taylor celebrating their 300th jump of the Falling Illini Skydiving Club at the Chicagoland Skydiving Center on April 27.

WORK AT THE BEST RESTAURANT IN CU Hamilton Walker’s is employing servers, support staff, cooks, and hosts!

Previous restaurant experience required.

Send resume to jobs@hamiltonwalkers.com or apply in person.

www.hamiltonwalkers.com 201 NORTH NEIL STREET, CHAMPAIGN, IL (217) 350 - 0363 Reservations Suggested Online Ordering Available

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

The Daily Illini

8

THE

CANOPY CLUB

JUST 2 BLOCKS EAST OF THE MAIN QUAD 708 S GOODWIN AVE, URBANA

UPCOMING EVENTS FREE SHOW

8.28 GRAND REOPENING PARTY W/ NIC FOCUS MANIC FOCUS 9.5 MAGIC CITY HIPPIES

HOST YOUR NEXT EVENT HERE!

RENTALS@CANOPYCLUB.COM

L COMPANY W/ COOL COMPANY

9.9 9.11 9.17 10.2 TION: 10.5 OF PRINCE 10.9 10.10 10.13 10.16 10.30

RIOT TEN SNAILS SLUSHII CHEAT CODES NEW POWER GENERATION:

BOOK VIP SERVICE TODAY! VIP@CANOPYCLUB.COM

CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF PRINCE

RUSKO SODOWN SAINT MOTEL BEAR GRILLZ PEEKABOO

FOLLOW US The Canopy club

ZE, & SMITH. W/ BUKU, MIZE, & SMITH.

10.31 DIRT MONKEY

KUMARION W/ WRECKNO & KUMARION

11.6 11.7 11.11 11.12 11.13

NEAL FRANCIS ANDY FRASCO & THE U.N. VIRTUAL RIOT POST ANIMAL & RON GALLO HE$H

MMER & ZIA W/ BOMMER & ZIA

STAY TUNED FOR MORE AT

Canopyclub.com

@canopyclub @canopy_club

The Daily Illini

9

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

10

The Daily Illini

Take care of your mental health with these RSOs

BY CAROLINA GARIBAY BUZZ EDITOR

College is a time to explore independence, meet new people and of course, get a solid education. But something that can often get lost in the need to succeed is mental health, which is just as important as getting a college degree, especially during pandemic times.

Mental health holds a lot of weight, and it can make or break the college experience.

A great way to help keep mental health in check is by joining one of the many mental health-related RSOs on campus. This will allow for built-in time to actively take care of mental health and learn some tips you can incorporate into your daily life.

STEM Mental Health Initiative

The STEM environment can be a really competitive one, and it can lead to a lot of comparison to others, which can often cause thoughts of doubt and insecurity. But the rigorous schedule and heavy workload STEM students often have doesn’t mean they need to forget about mental health to keep up with the demands that come with being a STEM student.

That’s why the STEM Mental Health Initiative exists. According to its RSO page, “The upbringing of a lot of students may lead them to believe that mental illness and related conditions are to be seen as a ‘sign of weakness’ even though it’s not. STEM students may have a hard time seeking help from professors in their technical courses because of the stigma carried around mental health.”

This RSO hopes to destigmatize mental health in the STEM community and educate the community about different mental healthrelated struggles. If you’re a STEM student and think this would be a beneficial RSO for you, you can visit the RSO page.

The Computer Science Mental Health Committee

Anyone studying computer science knows how taxing the workload and content can be.

Sometimes finding a moment to even think about what might be best for mental health is difficult, which is why this RSO is perfect. If you’re a CS major and feel that there isn’t time to focus on mental health, let this RSO be proof that it can be done.

According to the CSMHC website, the committee serves as a student organization dedicated to promoting dialogue and improving mental health resources for students in the computer science community. And despite the RSO’s name, any student can join, not just

JONAH OZER THE DAILY ILLINI

CS students.

The page also says that CSMHC has already spearheaded several initiatives, including mental health awareness nights and de-stressing events. It was involved in the policy initiative pushing the Illinois Senate to adopt the CR/NC grading option. The committee is working to further the discourse around mental health in the CS field both in the student population and in the wide University population.

If you’re a CS student, this is a great RSO to look out for on Quad Day. Everyone could use a mental health check, no matter what

you’re studying. For more information visit open environments where students actively the RSO’s page, website or contact: contact@ seek help when they need it. Active Minds mg.csmhcillinois.com. regularly holds activities, mental health body meetings and other social events, so this is another great way to get more involved in mental health awareness while being able to Active Minds UIUC is the University chapter meet new people and have some fun. of the national organization, Active Minds Inc. To learn more, you can visit the Active that focuses on creating healthy, welcoming Minds RSO page or the national organization’s environments on campuses to discuss mental website. health.

According to the Active Minds webpage, garibay5@readbuzz.com the RSO is changing the conversation about mental health on college campuses to create

Active Minds UIUC

The Daily Illini

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

11

Research Park

BLOCK PARTY 2 02 1

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Atkins Building Patio & Lawn Corner of First Street and St. Mary's Road

Research Park is the premier technology hub on campus made up of 120+ companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500s.

Join us for drinks, snacks, and mingling with company reps and student interns.

From freshmen to Ph.Ds, there's an opportunity for you at Research Park.

RESEARCHPARK.ILLINOIS.EDU #UIRP

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

The Daily Illini

12

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

13

Get experience, leave your dorm, be creative

BY MATT TROHER INVESTIGATIVE NEWS AND LONGFORM EDITOR

THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO

Students in the Illinois Outdoor Adventure Club recruit for their RSO during the 2018 Quad Day.

Illini. Point being, use your time here to get experience doing what you want to do once you’re out.

Second: an organization to get you out of the dorm. While a fitness-centered organization might not be for everyone — and I wouldn’t consider just going to the gym an organization — it’s important to not get bogged down with the daily grind of wakeclass-study-eat-sleep-repeat, and make it a point to actually get out every now and then.

Find an organization that motivates you to get out the door and meet new people, forge new connections and have new experiences.

This can be anything: an a capella group, a club sport, Greek Life, a book club, even an improv troupe. While I just over explained the importance of getting career-related experience while in college, not everything you do in college has to be related to your career. Have fun, do something. While it’s hard to say at this point how many organizations will be in person during the upcoming semester, as long as you wear a mask and respect other’s personal safety decisions, there will always be a way to get out of the dorm.

Third: an organization to be creative. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a creative person, the human desire to create is something that can’t be denied. When we hunted and gathered, we also drew on cave walls and sculpted figures out of clay. While the economic pressure of getting experience and turning every hobby into a side gig pervades college life, it is possible to find the time to escape all that. And if your other organizations are higher pressure and/or time-consuming, the benefits of a creative outlet will come to fruition in multiple ways. Anything that you do for you is an act of creation, and organizations that help you do that exist just as much as the others.

Of course, these are just guidelines. For some people, one organization can cross off all three aforementioned categories. Leadership positions can add an extra layer to what one can get from each organization as well.

The point of all this is to enrich yourself as a person, and get the most out of your time at Illinois. With more than 50,000 students, we’re the eighth largest public university in the country. To delve into a cliche — the opportunities are endless.

There’s an old adage that goes somewhat like this — find three hobbies: one to make you money, one to keep you in shape and one to be creative. A time-tested template for a fulfilling life. Everyone needs to make money, exercise makes you feel good and the human drive to create is as innate as our need to sleep or drink. And in college, anything that doesn’t revolve around the classroom can feel like a hobby.

Quad Day exists as a sampler platter of what one can do at Illinois outside of the classroom. But once the day passes and you’ve made your laps around the Main Quad, collecting enough free T-shirts to clothe a small village and absolutely ruining your chances of having a clear email inbox ever again, you’re actually going to have to choose which activities to stick with. Narrow down the wide world of possibility into a few concrete choices. Plot out your next four years, pad that resume with softs so you can get into a T-14 and conquer the world like you came to this University for.

The importance of not spreading oneself too thin is self-evident — it’s best to devote your time and energy into a few organizations and make earnest efforts to connect with others in the organization instead of being so busy, you can’t get anything accomplished. So, how do you choose what organizations to get involved with? I’d like to offer a modified version of that original adage: Find three organizations that will fulfill you in different ways.

First: an organization to give you experience. It’s not quite the same as money — experience doesn’t pay the bills — but it’s easier to make money with experience under your belt, and what better time to get that experience than while you’re still in college.

Whatever it is you’re studying and you intend to do after graduation, do it outside of the classroom as well. Nearly every major has a related organization on campus designed to give students practical experience.

If you’re an engineering major, there’s Engineers Without Borders, Illini Solar Car and the Society for Engineering Mechanics — among dozens of others. If you’re an advertising major, there’s the American Marketing Association, the American Advertising Federation and The Fashion Network. If you’re a journalism major, there’s no bet- mtroher2@dailyillini.com ter place to get experience than The Daily

JONAH OZER THE DAILY ILLINI

Time management is key to extracurriculars

BY AMRITA BHATTACHARYYA NEWS EDITOR

The time of the year is fast approaching in which hundreds of eager-eyed students fill the Quad, looking for free merch to take home and an RSO to join. Inevitably, some end the day with subscriptions to 17 different email lists, as a mixed result of truly wanting to join a club and feeling bad about saying no to the person who is handing you a sign-up sheet.

Joining extracurriculars is an important part of your college experience — solely committing to academics makes for a dull year and you could miss out on forming friendships and new lessons that a classroom can’t teach you. However, for freshmen especially, it may take a bit of stumbling before you figure out best time management practices. The first semester of classes may already seem overwhelming, and having to meet up during evenings for a club might be a bit hard to manage.

Here are some words of advice from a senior who has experienced two in-person Quad Days. (Through the lens of time management, because I was that student who signed up for around 17 different clubs my freshman year).

Don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone

With over 800 RSOs at the University, you can’t join everything. But there’s nothing wrong with joining clubs that you have no experience in or find interesting and are looking to learn more about. Whether it be the Beekeeping Club or the Creative Writing Club, you should validate your instincts and join clubs that sound appealing to you. College is a time for personal growth and development, and many students end up landing at a completely different place at the end of their undergraduate career than they had initially envisioned. There is no “right” path for you to take in mapping out the rest of your life, so fight the urge to only join RSOs which have a connection to your degree. Don’t let your major constrain you to clubs you join because you might be missing out on a different, amazing path.

There’s no harm in dropping clubs

RSOs understand that their member counts will most likely fall to some degree after the first couple weeks of school. No one will be upset if you sign up for a club just to realize it’s not for you. In fact, many RSOs will have informational meetings after Quad Day to give prospective members an idea of what they may expect and more about what the club does. Take advantage of those sessions to consider if it’s a right fit for you. Keep in mind that there’s only so many hours in the day, and focusing on your passions and doing what’s best for you is a good decision.

Cull your email subscriptions

This is best done around a month into school, after you’ve had a chance to get to know these different clubs and decide which ones you’d really like to commit to. Take some time to go through your emails and pinpoint the different clubs you signed up for on Quad Day. Which ones do you still actually attend meetings for? Which ones are you not really involved with? Are there any that you completely forgot you signed up for in the first place? Unsubscribe. Cutting down those emails will help you to focus more on the clubs that you actually want to be more involved with. By consciously zoning in on your favorite clubs, you’re not only making more of a commitment to them but also deleting the background noise of other less enjoyed clubs.

Stay organized

Keep track of your time commitments through a format that works best for you. Whether that be digital through platforms like Google Calendar or handwriting everything in a bullet journal, find a place to put down your class schedule, RSO meeting times and any other commitments you may have. This will give you a sense of when you need to be where, which will take chunks out of your day. Be conscious of the time you have left during each day and consider if it’s realistically enough time to not only do schoolwork, but if there’s time built in for unwinding too. abhatt52@dailyillini.com

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

The Daily Illini

14

Finding your glass slipper organizations

BY SYDNEY WOOD BUZZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

the top two or three RSOs that you’re particularly interested in instead of stretching yourself too thin.

As Quad Day rolls around, it’s important to keep your mind open to joining any registered student organizations, but it’s also a good idea to have in mind some ideas of potential RSOs that you’re already interested in.

Quad Day can be overwhelming for new and returning students with its jam-packed catalog of the University’s RSOs, surpassA few years ago when I was a new student, ing 800 in number. Though I definitely rec- my parents told me to join at least one RSO ommend going to Quad Day, here are some that relates to my major and to join at least things to keep in mind before the big day. one nonmajor, non-class-related RSO. Now, as a junior, I can attest to the validity of this advice. By joining the major-related RSO, you’ll gain knowledge and potential work experience, which is always great to put on a resume. On the other hand, the nonmajorrelated RSO makes it easier to maintain a So, let’s say you’re at Quad Day, and you work-life balance and pursue interests outspeak with an RSO president about the orga- side of your major and coursework, giving nization. And although you enjoyed talking to you a more well-rounded college experithem, you’re not really interested in the RSO, ence. Also, there’s the social aspect of RSOs, but now you feel obligated to join based on meaning you’ll meet people both within and the conversation you had with the president. outside of your field.

Or maybe you’re interested in joining multiple RSOs because the members seem nice, and you’re worried about missing out on certain experiences if you don’t join. First, take a deep breath. Quad Day isn’t the only time you can sign up for RSOs. If you’re unsure whether you’d like to join an RSO, it’s OK to The University has more than 800 RSOs. wait before registering and weigh the pros With so many options to choose from, it’s and cons. Don’t feel obligated to join every easy to get overwhelmed and want to sign RSO that piques your interest, or you might up for six or seven RSOs. Before committing overwhelm yourself. It’s OK to choose from to an RSO, think about your class schedule

Join a major-related RSO and a nonmajorrelated one

Don’t feel obligated by every RSO encountered

Think about your class schedule and flexibility

JULIA EVERSMANN THE DAILY ILLINI

for this semester and any potential time conflicts, whether it’s a class conflict or between leisure and coursework. Especially with the return of in-person classes and activities, make sure you understand the time commitment each RSO requires, and consider how these time commitments fit into your class schedule. It’s important to make time for both coursework and recreation, but ensure you’re aware of how your RSO and class schedules may potentially interfere with one another.

Consider any long-term goals for college

interests for your post-college life? Maybe there’s an RSO that relates to one of your future career path interests, or maybe there’s an RSO that focuses on a topic that you’d really like to learn more about, like weightlifting or environmentalism. Quad Day allows you to look at all the RSOs the University offers, so make sure you’re looking into some RSOs that can give you knowledge and experience relating to your long-term career interests and personal post-college goals.

Quad Day can be overwhelming, but for many, it’s an introduction — or reintroduction — to campus life and just a generally good time. Keep your mind and eyes open for new opportunities and RSOs, and everything will be OK.

Are there any RSOs that relate to your swood2@readbuzz.com

JULIA EVERSMANN THE DAILY ILLINI

The Daily Illini

15

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

The Daily Illini

16

WRITE. DESIGN. BROADCAST. SELL. CREATE. MANAGE. INSPIRE.

Are you interested in getting valuable experience in a fun and professional setting?

Come to one of Illini Media’s

FALL 2021 RECRUITMENT NIGHTS Dates and details to be announced.

Follow us on social media for more info.

Daily Illini Independent student newspaper

Buzz

Online entertainment magazine

Illio Yearbook at the University of Illinois

Technograph Quarterly engineering magazine

WPGU-FM 107.1 Commercial radio station

The Daily Illini

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

17

Depth vs. breadth: Limit your extracurricular commitments

BY SAMUEL RAHMAN

ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR

activities to a greater extent than you would if others clog your schedule. Do not solely be a member of four or five RSOs, but try to rise to leadership positions of one or two and dedicate yourself more fully to those activities.

I say, go to the first week or two of meetings for as many RSOs as you have an interest in.

Then, eliminate all but the select couple organizations that show the most promise and work toward more impactful positions beyond a generic member.

This could mean you carry over no RSOs from previous years and hit the restart button by filling your time with markedly different activities.

As long as you enjoy what you do, that is all that matters — whether you accept or reject my premise of selecting fewer organizations to select for involvement with this year.

Nevertheless, Quad Day is for you. Do not feel compelled by any type of social expectation to overextend yourself and join up with every organization that hands you a flyer. I still contend it is the depth — and not the breadth — of involvement in any given RSO present on the quad that will determine what you get out of your extracurriculars this year.

RSOs are a mainstay of the college experience — whether they be outlets for hobbies, pre-professional organizations, honor societies or any other gathering of like-minded students. The world is your oyster on this Quad Day, where University RSOs congregate in the picturesque backdrop bordering the Illini Union in an attempt to lure in new members for the upcoming school year.

Intimidation may set in as you gaze over the booths and attempt to count the options as you joke that you have seen beaches with fewer grains of sand than this quad has RSOs. While freshmen face the integral decision of what organizations to start their college careers with, the returning students must juggle joining organizations they may have missed in previous years, while reflecting on their continued memberships.

This may be a controversial position, but I argue it would be beneficial during this Quad Day to keep a goal of joining just a few organizations. I do not mean for an individual to become less involved in RSOs — measured in hours, meetings attended or any other metric — but lower the total number of organizations in which you are involved.

Time is a scarce resource and sidelining less pro- Samuel is a senior in LAS. ductive or satisfying organizations may allow you srahma37@dailyillini.com to become more deeply involved in your favorite

THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO

Gah Rahk Mah Dahng at UIUC representatives speak with students about joining their Korean traditional percussion band during Quad Day on Aug. 26, 2018.

Come take a peek!

Open 7 days a week.

Open Relationship

Flying Solo

It's Complicated

Taken Single

Self-Partnered

On a Break

Cuffed

FWB

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP STATUS

Where Fun and Fantasy Meet 2208 S. Neil St., Champaign

PATRICIA'S HAS WHAT YOU NEED

Mon - Thur: 9 AM - 10 PM | Fri - Sat: 9 AM - Midnight | Sunday: 1 PM - 10 PM

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

The Daily Illini

18

Plenty of potential outside the Quad

Opportunities aren’t limited to Sunday’s activities

BY CHIEH HSU MANAGING EDITOR FOR ONLINE

Hello, new student! Whether you’ve read my advice in the New Student Edition or the Move-In Edition, I’m back with new tips on extracurricular activities that you can and should consider taking part in.

On Quad Day, you might skim through dozens or hundreds of RSOs, and you might find ones that interest you. If you don’t, there’s nothing to worry about. There are so many more opportunities that await you during your college career, what matters is that you take your time during Quad Day to try to find them.

Trust me, those few hours you spend on that weekend could change your life.

The organizations you can join on campus can roughly be divided into two categories: object oriented and community oriented.

Although there’s not a limit on how many of them you can join at the same time, you might notice that the more time you spend on one, the closer you may be with the other

members and the more likely you can obtain a leadership position, which may look better on your resume… the list goes on forever. For this reason, you might be better off picking a handful of organizations at the beginning of the school year and reflect on two that you will commit to.

A special case of student organizations is fraternities and sororities because they are similar in structure but vary widely from one to another. They range from religionoriented to party-oriented, but they all aim to bring their members a sense of belonging.

I recommend visiting some of them during rush weeks to see if any of them might be a fit for you.

Professional fraternities are different from social ones. They’re usually co-ed and aim to improve members’ professional and academic standings in the business, engineering or medical fields. They provide workshops and networking opportunities that may go a long way depending on what you want to do for

THE BEST WAY TO KEEP UP WITH THE NEWS Use the QR code to sign up for our newsletter and get headline news sent to your email!

dailyillini.com

your future.

After the first semester, you might start looking into working with a professor for research or an internship with a company. For the former, you can look up each professor in your department and the topics their group is studying, find one that interests you and write a polite email to introduce yourself. In the email, you can include a professional resume, which you can ask the Career Center for help in constructing, and reasons that you’d be a good fit in the group. For an internship, you can utilize the career fairs that your college holds throughout the school year to talk to companies’ recruitment officers or you can use LinkedIn or Handshake to apply to interesting companies.

All in all, college is a place for self-discovery and improvement. Don’t hesitate to explore what interests you and have fun in the process! chiehh3@dailyillini.com

THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO

​ tudents gather on the Main Quad during Quad S Day in 2018.

WPGU 107.1 FM

INTERNS WANTED

­

The Daily Illini

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

19

WE HAVE

OFFICIAL RCH ME

NOW!!

Get your official WPGU 107.1 FM merch at

redbubble.com/people/wpgu/shop · T-shirts · Stickers

· Hoodies · Tote Bags

· Phone Cases · And More!

ATTENTION UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CLASS OF 2022 SENIORS:

Senior Pictures September 21 - October 10 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

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

The Daily Illini

20

Intramural, club sports keep students active, involved

BY JACKSON JANES SPORTS EDITOR

When you make the transition from high school to college, continuing to compete in sports you grew up playing or want to try becomes difficult with the increased work load, involvement in extracurricular activities and desire to maintain a social life. If the dream of competing in Division I sports has faded from reality, club and intramural sports allow you to stay active and involved in a variety of sports and across several different skill levels, while also giving you the chance to play your favorite sports with some of your closest friends.

Illinois offers several intramural sports, with some sports offered in all men’s, all women’s and co-ed leagues. Some of the dozens of team sports offered this fall include basketball, flag football, soccer and volleyball, while badminton, cornhole, pickleball, Spikeball, table tennis and tennis are offered for either smaller teams and individual participants.

Though there is a $50 individual fee to participate, it covers your involvement in all intramural sports offered during the fall semester, along with two intramural jerseys.

To participate on game day, you must have a “Building Access Granted” status on the Safer Illinois app, and masks must be worn in accordance to University policy.

If there is a sport that you want to play

THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO

Members of the Illini Men’s Water Polo Club stand outside of Lincoln Hall to attract potential players during the 2018 Quad Day.

but it isn’t listed as an option this fall, don’t worry! There may be additional sports offered during the spring semester, or you can look to gather a group of friends and play on your own somewhere on campus.

If you are looking for something a bit more competitive with additional time commitments,

practices per week, depending on the sport.

Tryouts are often held, though some sports are no-cut, meaning all students who try out will be able to participate in some form.

A few of the club sports offered at Illinois include some Division I sports — like baseball, basketball, gymnastics, soccer, swimming and volleyball — while there are other sports not offered at the highest level, like ultimate frisbee, hockey, lacrosse, rowing, rugby, water polo and various martial arts.

Each sport has its own commitment level, and it may involve traveling to games and tournaments outside the city or state.

Some club sports may focus on competition, which may consist of playing in leagues and tournaments, while others may be considered more recreational and focus mainly on skill development and improvement.

Whether you choose to participate in intramural sports and activities, club sports or just choose to play pickup games around campus, there are plenty of opportunities to stay fit and active on campus. Most sports compete on campus, including at various indoor and outdoor facilities, though the freedom to choose your commitment level makes these options easier for students to manage.

club sports might be the way to go. Unlike intramural sports that solely compete against fellow Illinois students, club sports may involve competing against students from other colleges and universities across the United States.

These sports are not as intense as Division I sports, though they typically involve a few janes6@dailyillini.com

ALL NEW

Student Engineering Magazine at the University of Illinois

PICK UP YOUR COPY ON SEPT. 1 ST IN THE

DAILY ILLINI

DOWNLOAD FREE. LISTEN NOW. Apple and the Apple logo and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.

The Daily Illini

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

21

Three things I learned after three Quad Days

BY ROHIT JAMMU

ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

Every year, Quad Day serves as a gateway to the University’s college experience for hundreds of freshmen. This year however, the stretch between the Illini Union and Foellinger will be occupied by countless booths for the 50th year. After experiencing three Quad Days, here are the three most important things I learned.

Sign up for everything

Free stuff

Another one of the biggest mistakes I made at my first Quad Day was NOT taking all the free stuff I could get my hands on.

I convinced myself that taking anything other than food or pens would be ‘unclassy’ of me and returned home to my friends lugging hordes of items they had taken. While it’s not a requirement for you to take everything within your field of vision, don’t hesitate to take things that you want because I assure you everyone is doing it. Goodies that you can score range from T-shirts, pens, fidget spinners, food, candy and tons of other stuff.

Having been on the other side of an RSO booth, I can say with certainty that RSOs are constantly looking to having increasingly fun, unique and representative things to give out in order to attract attention so you should be able to collect a wide assortment of things.

While I don’t mean literally everything under the sun, sign up for everything that catches your eye. One of the biggest mistakes that I made during my freshman year was secondguessing myself. There’s no limit on how many RSOs you can sign up for and more importantly, you can always remove your email from the emailing list.

On the flip side, don’t feel the need to sign up for every RSO. While Quad Day is the perfect show of all the RSOs available at your fingertips, it isn’t the only day that you can join one. Take your time exploring everything that The University is the home to hundreds is available to you, and make your decisions of RSOs, and although you won’t see them all in good time. all during your visit, the ones that you do visit still may overwhelm you. Ranging from squirrel watching to Quidditch to skydiving

Picking RSOs

there’s a club for everything. And if there isn’t, you can start one!

My first Quad Day was a restraint expedition, and as a result, I was an unhinged maniac on the Main Quad my second time putting my name down everywhere. Somewhere between my first Quad Day and my second one, I learned the balance of what I should have been registering for.

Having one or two RSOs that are centered around your major or your primary interest can be greatly helpful. You meet people with complementing goals, ideas and skills. RSOs that are related to your major can greatly increase your exposure, expand your networks and really help you narrow down your specialization (at least that was my experience with engineering).

To balance that out, joining RSOs that really expand on your other interests and passions can really be a break from the monotony of college you may experience from time to time. Since the frequency and intensity of each RSOs activities vary finding your own balance is important. I personally enjoy making music and writing, so I joined the DI (who would’ve guessed?) and the Writing Club. Although those were some of the first organizations that I took part in, I did end up joining and consequently drop-

Luxury Student Housing In The Heart Of CampusTown In Champaign Stop by or call our office to take an in person or virtual tour of our amazing community!

THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO

A student looks at a map of all the booths on the Main Quad in The Daily Illini student run newspaper during Quad Day on Aug. 26, 2018.

ping them later on.

College is about exploring and pushing your boundaries. Take your time, pick what you want and always remember you can just remove yourself from the mailing list. rjammu2@dailyillini.com

• Outdoor amenity deck with a pool • Fully equipped fitness center including yoga

www.liveseven07.com 217-294-6260

and fitness rooms • Indoor half-court basketball court • Spa with tanning and sauna • Indoor garage parking with free bike storage area

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

The Daily Illini

22

Get in on our EARLY BIRD PRICE of

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.

$

95

if you ORDER BY AUGUST 31ST Price increases on Sept. 1st

Order your yearbook online at

(Price includes domestic shipping; International shipping $50 extra)

illioyearbook.com or call 217-337-8314

Housing Find your next home with

The Daily Illini Start and end your housing hunt today!

housing.dailyillini.com

The Daily Illini

23

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

DI Voices | Overwhelmed but well informed

BY NICK JOHNSON

ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR

Quad Day has been one of the University’s stored traditions for generations, and with good reason. An extravaganza of information booths, the event stands alone as the best opportunity for students both new and current to find a registered student organization or RSO to become involved with.

However, it can be difficult for one who has yet to witness Quad Day with their own eyes to accurately picture what over 600 RSO booths sprawled across the Main Quad actually look like. To mitigate any impending stress or feelings of being overwhelmed that may flood over students attending the event for the first time, an accurate picture must first be painted.

For an enhanced narrative experience, feel free to read the following tale in the voice of the French narrator from the Spongebob Squarepants television series: Ah, Quad Day. An event that is as true a display of university culture as Homecoming Weekend, a sold-out State Farm Center brimming with orange-clad Illini basketball fans or the act of plunging fingers into sticky drinks in search of unwanted ice cubes. As the sun rises over the South Quad bell tower and resides comfortably above Foellinger Hall, RSO members begin to unfold tables and assemble tents in preparation for the looming chaos.

Now that everything is set, thousands of undergraduate students arrive with tote bags aplenty, prepared to slalom through the troves of booths that line the quadrangle’s cement walking paths.

Let’s focus on the journey of the definitely-not-fictional student Kin G. Fisher, an LAS undergraduate student who is especially interested in checking out the Illini Media booth, as he’s heard from hundreds of reputable sources that The Daily Illini is the coolest organization on campus but again, that’s just what he’s heard.

The first thing that strikes Fisher is the explosion of vibrant colors before his eyes; hundreds upon hundreds of booths with brightly colored tents, displays and flyers stretch as far as the eye can see. Second, Fisher notices the ocean of students swimming to and from information booths. The hectic and fluid nature of the crowd reminds him of downtown New York City or a farmer’s market gone wildly out of hand.

Taking a deep breath to relax his nerves, Fisher lowers his shoulder and plunges headfirst into the bustling mass of swarming bodies.

As he emerges on the inside, he couldn’t be happier he dived. Before him is an assortment of booths touting RSOs ranging from student body leadership to environmental science, intramural sports to creative writing and Greek life to professional development

THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO

Two students look at a poster board with the list of all RSO booths on the Main Quad during Quad Day on Aug. 26, 2018. It is normal to feel overwhelmed during the big day but important to stay informed about all the organizations you can join.

and that’s just what he sees at first glance.

Eager to explore the opportunities that the swathes of RSOs have to offer, Fisher races down the walking paths with nimble fingers and an open mind. Fisher, feeling as if he has no control over his actions, begins flinging flyers and pamphlets into his orange and blue drawstring bag with as much zeal as Chancellor Robert Jones sends Massmails to the email inboxes of his students.

As he emerges from the flock of curious students at the opposite end of the quad from where he began, Fisher takes a moment to catch his breath and examine the spoils that are bursting from the seams of his bag. As he reaches his hand in, he finds several free

stress balls, event schedules for dozens of RSOs that caught his eye, and 15 pamphlets encouraging him to join the club rowing team?

How on earth did those get in there?

Fisher’s visible confusion quickly fades, as he realizes that he holds a plethora of different potential college journeys in the palm of his hand. Will he join the club basketball team and continue playing the sport he loves at a competitive level, showcase his astounding breakdancing skills by joining the Dancing Illini or discover the dormant outdoorsman that resides deep within him by becoming a part of the Outdoor Adventure Club?

The beautiful thing is that, at the University, the possibilities are endless and he can’t go

wrong no matter how he decides to apportion his extracurricular involvement.

Quad Day is by no means the end-all-beall of RSO involvement. Students can partake in the opportunities offered by these organizations at any point in their college careers.

However, students would be remiss to not take full advantage of what Quad Day can offer.

Should one choose to attend, they will likely find themselves a bit overwhelmed but, above all, well informed and excited for what the future holds. Happy RSO hunting, fellow Illini.

Nick Johnson is a junior in LAS. nmj5@dailyillini.com

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

24

The Daily Illini