The Daily Illini Moms Weekend Guide Apr. 12, 2023

GUIDE

News you missed this week

Q&A with new UI trustee

Urbana Police responded to a shooting during a home invasion on April 1st and another shooting at a convenience store on April 2nd, both investigations are ongoing.

Meet the Candidates: Unit 4 District School Board Election

Unofficial vote counts have been posted to Champaign County Clerk’s webpage, the county is still awaiting mail in ballots, so results are subject to change. Check back for ongoing updates.

Student Injured on Green Street

UIPD was alerted to an alleged battery incident on East Green Street when a student physically engaged a group of men after they directed racial slurs at him.

Urbana police investigate 2 shootings over the weekend

Urbana Police responded to a shooting during a home invasion on April 1st and another shooting at a convenience store on April 2nd. Both investigations are ongoing.

Man Charged in Altercation at Chinese Restaurant

Charles Bell, 43, was apprehended by Champaign Police after reports of an altercation with staff at a Chinese restaurant located on the 400 block of East University Ave.

Unofficial Champaign municipal election results released to the public

Unofficial vote counts have been posted to Champaign County Clerk’s webpage, the county is still awaiting mail in ballots, so results are subject to change. Updates to come.

Read the full stories online at dailyillini.com/news

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Illinois House passes bill to ban Styrofoam in restaurants

By Michael Bales Staff Writer

The Illinois House of Representatives voted to pass a bill that would ban single-use polystyrene plastics from food service institutions this past month.

On March 21, the Illinois house voted to pass the Polystyrene Reduction Act with a vote of 67-43. If passed by the Senate and signed by Gov. JB Pritzker, the bill would ban the use of polystyrene plastics, like foam takeout boxes, by 2025.

Though the bill is still in the Senate, Illinois did pass Senate Bill 1915 in June 2022, which “prohibits the procurement and use of single-use plastic disposable foodware at State parks, natural areas and the Illinois State Fair.”

“I’m all for it,” said Joshua Huang, freshman in AHS.

Huang, who sees the proposed bill as a shift towards “more sustainable and more viable options” for our ecosystem, was a patron at Raising Cane’s, which would potentially be affected by the bill.

A study by the Rochester Institute of Technology from 2016 found that 11 million pounds of plastic go into Lake Michigan every year. Lake Michigan provides 85% of the water for public systems in northeastern Illinois, which includes Chicago and its surroundings.

“See here, they’re very cautious about the environment,” said Phouvong Phetohanevno, owner of the Y Eatery on campus, referring to his establishment. The Y Eatery made the switch from Styrofoam to sugarcane-based takeout boxes in August 2022, but it hasn’t come without drawbacks.

“These boxes will soak up all the

moisture out of the food,” Phetohanevno said. “So when we let people know here, if you’re taking liquid stuff out of here in these boxes, the box is gonna get really soggy after a few hours.”

While the longevity of food is an issue, the most significant issue comes down to cost.

“(Cost) is pretty much the biggest thing that deters pretty much all the restaurants,” Phetohanevno said regarding the change to more sustainable products. At the Y Eatery, each sugarcane-based takeout box costs about 25 cents — two and a half times higher than the previously used 10 cent Styrofoam boxes.

However, the Polystyrene Reduction Act would not apply to restaurants with a gross income below $500,000 per year. The average restaurant in the U.S. brings in just under that at $486,000 annually. The exclusion also extends to food pan -

tries, soup kitchens and nonprofits. From a business perspective, the change may cause a hit to the pocketbook. But for others, it is what Huang describes as a “necessary change.”

“I think that’s a good step forward to implement greener options,” Huang said.

mcbales2@dailyillini.com

ANNE SCHMIDT THE DAILY ILLINI

Many local restaurants use Styrofoam containers to package their food.

UNIVERSITY

ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

A guide to C-U’s bars

Marta Narag News Editor mnarag2@dailyillini.com

Jessie Wang Assistant News Editor jessiew4@dailyillini.com

Layli Nazarova Assistant News Editor laylin2@dailyillini.com Anneliese

Like every fun-filled University tradition, Moms Weekend comes with an intoxicating thrill. Ranked the 10th top party school in the U.S. by Niche, our local institutions will guarantee you and your mom a good time this weekend.

Moms and mom figures of all ages will have the opportunity to show off their wild side to their students through the selection of local bars and restaurants near campus. Even if drinking is not their scene, food and games will be offered at most of these locations.

Here is our guide to what local establishments are preparing to give you and your mom for a weekend of entertainment.

Joe’s Brewery

Located just a block off Green Street, Joe’s Brewery will have its doors open to the eligible public beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday of

Moms Weekend.

For a quick and slick entry into the bar, Joe’s will have wristband packages available for both those affiliated with Greek life and any party interested in planning an event for a group. Their rooms, including the Upper Deck, the Brew Room, the Pool Room and the Dance Bar are also available for rent.

According to Mitchell Thompson, the manager of Joe’s Brewery, their team plans on having food packages and merchandise to pass out to the bar goers during the weekend.

“And maybe Saturday during the day, some Mom competitions, but those are still TBD,” Thompson said. This is different from their events during Moms Weekend 2018, when they planned a brunch for all moms interested. The ticket included entrees and four sides, as well as a Bloody Mary bar, mimosas and tequila sunrises.

Last year, the local bar was open at the same times, with Happy Hour from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, and “Block” starting Saturday at 11 a.m. The same tentative plan will be followed again this year, meaning the cocktails, burgers and other brunch staples will remain available.

Joe’s is expecting a busier crowd for Moms Weekend this year, and

PHOTO COURTESY OF @REDLIONCHAMPAIGN / INSTAGRAM

MOMS WEEKEND GUIDE

details about their events will be available on their social media.

Murphy’s Pub

Off the intersection on Green and Sixth street, Murphy’s Pub, first established in 1969, is known as Campustown’s local Irish pub. Compared to other nightlife institutions on campus, Murphy’s is considered to have a more relaxed atmosphere.

The pub also has plenty to do besides eating, drinking and socializing — goers can enjoy various activities from billiards and slots to air hockey.

The bar is working on its regular schedule, though they are expecting a larger crowd this particular weekend. Be ready for Saturday Karaoke from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., and the Sunday Trivia that will also start at 9 p.m.

Specials at Murphy’s include $8 cheeseburgers with fries on Friday and Saturday as well as discounts on pints throughout the weekend.

KAMS

KAMS, first known as Kamerer’s Annex, will welcome the “Drinking Illini” and their mothers on Friday starting at 6 p.m. Its famous blue guys will be pouring all night and all day Saturday.

Springtime weather calls for a good time on KAMS’ upstairs patio. There, moms and their students can

enjoy cocktails, picnic benches and a scenic view of Green Street while sipping on the drinks they offer.

First opened in 1933, the popu lar Green Street bar will celebrate moms with clothing merchandise. Last month, KAMS had Moms Week end 2023 cotton shorts and longsleeved T-shirts available for sale on the bar’s website. Purchasers can pick up their orders at KAMS during the festive weekend.

They had a similar gathering last year, and to promote their merchan dise, a follow-up Instagram post was captioned, “LETS SEE IF UR MOMS CAN OUTDRINK YOU THIS WEEKEND.”

The Red Lion

On a typical night out, students often face the same repeated dilem ma — Lion or KAMS? The Red Lion, a staple of the Champaign bar scene, is located on the corner of Third and Green streets and is under the same management as KAMS.

According to a post by The Red Lion, or Lion for short, their build ing was named the Official Top Jag ermeister Account Worldwide in 2018, featuring a beer garden, out door seating and medieval motifs.

The home of Happy Fridays and Thirsty Thursdays will be working on its regular schedule for you and your parents, offering campusknown drinks for a reasonable price.

Last year, Lion had the same pro mo of $2 beers and $2 Jager Bombs. They also had a promotion giving away free Moms Weekend T-shirts at the door on a first come, first serve basis.

They haven’t advertised any clothing giveaways yet, so keep yourself updated by checking their social media.

Illini Inn

Opened in 1970, Illini Inn, the cozy bar on South Fourth Street has become one of the “Illini traditions.” For Moms Weekend, the bar will be open for celebrations.

“Home of the Mug Club,” the Illini Inn will serve cocktails, appetizers and Texas toast, known to patrons as “Illini Melts.”

Ian Klump, one of the Inn’s bartenders, said he recommends one of their specialty shots to be paired with patrons’ favorite mixers in celebration of Illini Moms. McGillicuddys are offered as a specialty shot this upcoming weekend as well, according to Illini Inn.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m, the Illini Inn will offer champagne mimosas as a beverage option for $5.

Illini Inn’s doors will remain open for endless hours of good food and cocktails all weekend.

three-in-one venue. This unique place gathers the void room, the small theater and the theater under its roof, making the venue more accessible for artists coming to perform.

At 10 p.m. during the first night of Moms Weekend on April 14, Canopy Club’s doors will open and festivities will be kicked off with their event titled “Latin Night Easter,” so be ready to hit the dance floor with DJ Zay and Latin music!

This is the first year they are putting together this specific event, and students and parents both are looking forward to its occurrence. Tickets are sold on the Canopy Club website.

Planned for Saturday night at 9 p.m. is Canopy Club’s special event for University moms and nostalgia seekers — “Now That’s What I Call the ‘90s Party.”

The “Smells like Nirvana Tribute” cover band is coming to Urbana to perform world-famous hits for moms and their students. Tickets to this event are also available on their website for anyone interested.

Fancy cocktail lovers can enjoy a wide range of drinks in the Canopy Club bar right near the stage. The Moms Weekend special will be there too: Margarita special, Scooby Snack Special, the “Hello Spring” drink and plenty more.

Missing Nirvana? The Canopy Club has a special treat for you and your mom!

PHOTO COURTESY OF @REDLIONCHAMPAIGN / INSTAGRAM

PHOTO COURTESY OF @ILLINI_INN / INSTAGRAM

Chloe Burrus, senior in ACES (middle le ), and Gracyn Allen, senior in ACES (middle le ), stand with their mothers at Illini Inn during Moms Weekend last year.

Congratulations Dear Mom Contest Winners!

Andy Yin 1st Place

Dear Mom,

You’ve never been perfect.

When you eventually remarried, I was mad. I couldn’t understand why and called you selfish. I remember you being hurt by that.

Now that I’m older, I can only imagine how lonely you must have felt. Working everyday with no friends or family supporting you.

You once told me that I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you. Bust wasn’t able to say it back.

I’m sorry.

You’re all that I have. Whenever I go through hard times, you’re there. I don’t know what I would do without you. I love you.

Izabella Angulo 2nd Place

Dear Mommy,

You have been there for me through everything, o ff ering your unconditional love and support always. Your guidance and encouragement have helped me navigate life’s challenges and has allowed me to grow into the person I am today.

Your devotion to our family is unmatched. Your e ff orts to make sure we are happy and health do no go unnoticed. You have sacrificed so much for us and have always put our needs before our own.

I am in constant admiration of your strength.

Love, Savella

First-gen students value moms’ hard work

By Azucena Gama Staff Writer

** The interview with Erika Arreguin is translated from Spanish **

Everybody’s immigration story is different. Family and culture are the core of who many first generation students are. University students recognize their parents’ sacrifices for them to have a better life.

According to the Illinois News Bureau, 23% of this year’s first-year class are first-generation students, with their families hailing worldwide. This number is up from 20% in 2021.

Adapting to college life can be difficult for both kids and their parents. Dana Arreguin, freshman in Education, said the new environment is something unlike she’s ever experienced, which made her transition from home to the University emotional and reflective.

“Both of my parents didn’t even get a chance to graduate high school because it was very expensive in Mexico,” Arreguin said. “So, when they arrived here it was very important to them that I continue my education at least until high school.”

Arreguin’s mom is from Guanajuato, Mexico. Her family now lives in northern Illinois. Arreguin is the first in her household to attend college. Her mother, Erika Arreguin, was encouraging of Arreguin’s choice to go to college.

“I told her whichever (college) you wanted, whether it’s near or far from home, I’ll support you,” Erika Arreguin said.

The University’s Latino population makes moving easier for Latino

students.

“There’s organizations at the University that make me feel at home, like La Casa Cultural Latina or Latino Student Association,” Dana Arreguin said. “They make me feel at home and connected.”

Sometimes, being away from each other can be the most challenging part for first-generation students and their families. Jenna Bui, freshman in LAS, said her mom’s been afraid of being so far from her daughter.

“Usually, in Asian cultures, most families and relatives live near each other or live in the same house,” Bui said.

Bui’s mom is from Vietnam and currently lives in the Chicago suburbs. Bui is the first daughter to attend college.

“For my immigrant parents, having a kid that goes to a good college makes them proud because they worked really hard to be in the position where they’re at now,” Bui said. “My mom worked a lot, it wasn’t easy for her.”

Both sets of mothers and daughters talk on the phone everyday and visit each other as often as possible.

Bui and Arreguin expressed their gratefulness for thier mothers and they understood the complxities of adjusting to a new environment.

Both mothers are happy to have given the opportunity for their daughters to attend college.

“Take advantage of everything you are doing because, at the end of your studies, it will be worth it,” Erika Arreguin said. “All the sacrifice, all the sleepless nights, is worth it. Because you are going to come out of college successfully.”

gama3@dailyillini.com

UI’s lack of parent events

Nontraditional families feel excluded from Moms Weekend

By Megan Krok Staff Writer

Many colleges have designated parent and family weekends that invite families to join their students on campus and participate in an array of activities. However, this University is one of the few schools that chooses to have a separate Moms Weekend and Dads Weekend.

Nearby schools, including Eastern Illinois University, Loyola University and Illinois State University, all have a Family Weekend. Others, like the University of Michigan and Washington University in St. Louis, have a Parent and Family Weekend.

Some students see this University’s distinction as unaccepting.

Sydney Robison-Girard, freshman in DGS, said that she finds the separate Moms and Dads Weekends to be an “extremely odd way” for the University to label these weekends.

Robison-Girard’s father died when she was a junior in high school.

“I think that these weekends are exclusionary,” Robison-Girard said. “I felt it firsthand. I think that the title of these weekends is what makes students feel excluded.”

Robison-Girard said that her upset feelings during her first Dads Weekend could have been lessened if there wasn’t a weekend specifically for fathers.

Xeniya Green, junior in LAS, has separated parents and said that she has “mixed feelings” about the two weekends.

“I think (the separate weekend) is very beneficial for students who have parents that wouldn’t necessarily enjoy being together on the same weekend,” Green said.

However, Green also said that she would prefer a family weekend because she has a large, close family, so the separate weekends are not ideal.

“Aside from those who may only have a mom or only have a dad, there are also family situations where students may not have either and giving out these titles

could have a negative impact,” Green said.

The separation between these weekends are rooted in tradition.

Terry Thies is the assistant director of family and constituent engagement at the Parent and Family Programs Office,. According to Thies, the Moms and Dads Associations at Illinois have been a part of the University for a hundred years. Moms Weekend and Dads Weekend have been at “the core of the Associations’ service to students and families.”

“Moms and Dads Weekends are offered separately to celebrate the different roles of fathers, mothers or other significant adult figures in students’ lives,” Thies said. “The common goal of all these events is to bring together families and help them stay connected with their student.”

The Dads Association at Illinois is the oldest collegiate parent organization in the country, so these weekends are important to the group.

“While many colleges have decided to offer a combined weekend, the pride and tradition of both organizations being rooted with so much history and tradition makes it unique,” said Jeff Boykin, president of the Dads Association.

Although these weekends may seem exclusionary, the Moms Association said they plan a variety of activities that can be enjoyed by all ages and family members.

“By offering two distinct weekends, we can engage many more families than if only one weekend was offered,” said Kristen Miller, president of the Moms Association.

The Dads Association said they are moving towards a marketing approach where everyone is invited to Dads Weekend.

Despite the move towards more inclusivity, students still think that the University should consider more family-centered titles for these weekends.

“I would like to see more changes made towards this weekend that gears towards inclusivity,” Green said. “This could be in the form of a name change, more events, more affordable activities and better accommodations that support all the different families that the University has.”

AMY SANCHEZ THE DAILY ILLINI

Moms Weekend Events Preview

By Sarah Bond and Matt Troher buzz Editor and Staff Writer

It’s the time of year. Make your reservations, clean your apartments and get ready for a weekend like no other. It’s Moms Weekend.

As Illinois’ beloved mothers make their annual pilgrimages to campus for the weekend, make sure to plan your schedule to make the most of the weekend.

Here are some events you won’t want to miss.

Illini Union

The Union is hosting a few Momthemed events this weekend!

At 8 a.m. on Saturday, the Moms Association will hold their annual meeting and awards ceremony at the Union.

At 10 a.m. on Saturday, the Illini Union Board’s Moms Weekend Craft and Vendor fair will be held. Running for most of the day, the event will have

dozens of booths with craft vendors.

At 10 a.m. on Sunday, the Moms Association will be hosting their annual Moms Weekend brunch at the Illini Union Ballroom. Tickets are $35 and seating is limited.

Around town

Start your Moms Weekend off right by attending the Moms Weekend Kickoff Event at Jupiter’s at the Crossing, a combination pizzeria/bar in southwest Champaign. The event begins Friday at 6:00, and tickets are $35. Admission price will cover dinner at the pizza buffet and one drink at the bar.

The cash bar will be open, so rock on over to keep the night going. The night will be accompanied by live music from The Other Guys, one of the University’s premier a capella groups.

The University’s Horticulture Club will host their first-ever Spring Plant Fair all-day Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. Held in the Plant Science Laboratory, the event will feature a wide array of plants cultivated by club members alongside a plant sale. Here, you’ll certainly feel spring is in full swing.

Saturday night at 7 p.m., the Illini Muslim Moms will host their Illini Iftar Dinner at the new Dubai Grill. Alongside dinner, the event will also feature Ramadan goody bags. Make sure to RSVP, as there is limited capacity.

Make sure to stop by Mia Za’s Sunday afternoon for the Illini Mom’s Weekend Fundraiser. Present the fundraiser’ flier found on the Moms Association Website with your order, and a percentage of sales will go to support the Illini Moms Association. Mia Za’s serves a variety of Italian dishes created to your liking.

At 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery is hosting spring-themed Cheese Church services with author and cheese preacher Erika Kubick. She’s celebrating her book “Cheese Sex Death: A Bible for the Cheese Obsessed!”

The annual Boneyard Arts Festival is a four-day event spanning the entire weekend showcasing art all over Champaign County. This collaborative event takes place in nearly 80 venues and features the work of sculptors, weavers, painters, photographers and other artists. Venues on campus include the University YMCA, Krannert Art Museum and Spurlock Museum. You can find the full list online.

Sports & activities

Whether your parents are the sporty kind, or you just want a day out at about, there are plenty of sporting events to add to your Moms Weekend roster. All softball, baseball and tennis matches are free.

On Friday, the Illini softball team will take on Ohio State at 5 p.m., and the Illini baseball team will play

BRIGIDA DOCKUS THE DAILY ILLINI

Visitors at last year’s cra and vendor fair, held by the Illini Union Board, look at jewelry for sale. The fair will return for this Moms Weekend from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

LOGAN HODSON THE DAILY ILLINI

Families eat at the annual Moms Weekend Brunch held in the Illini Union Ballrooms on April 3, 2022. This year, the brunch will be on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

MOMS WEEKEND GUIDE

rivals Indiana at 6 p.m. If you’re not a fan of bat-and-ball sports, Illini Men’s Tennis is taking on Wisconsin at 6 p.m. as well.

On Saturday, Illini softball will continue their series against Ohio State at 1 p.m., and the baseball team will suit up for a rematch against Indiana at 3 p.m.

On Sunday, the softball and baseball teams will close out their series at noon and 1 p.m., respectively. Illini tennis will play Nebraska at noon as well.

If you’re looking to take part in an activity rather than just watch, the ARC will host several group fitness classes specifically for the Moms Weekend festivities. Registration is $10 for non-ARC members.

Two group cycling classes on Saturday will be held from 10-10:45 a.m. and from 1-1:45 a.m. Two more cycling classes will be offered Sunday from 9:15-10 a.m., and from 10:15-11 a.m. A special Zumba class is slated for Sunday from 1-2 p.m.

Saturday morning, the Society of Women Engineers and the Illini Mom’s Association are co-sponsoring the 5K Run/Walk. The race begins at 9 a.m. and will take participants around the Main Quad and into campus. Registration is $13 and all proceeds will go towards the Mom’s Association Scholarship fund.

For the academic moms

For those looking to make their Moms Weekend a little more intellectually stimulating, there are plenty of options to be found. Friday afternoon at 4 p.m., Françoise Baylis will be giving a Distinguished Public Lecture in Genomics at the I Hotel.

Baylis, a respected bioethicist known for her work on issues of women’s health, will give a lecture entitled “Designer Babies: What are they & do we want them?”. The lecture will be free and open to the public.

On Saturday, the Engineering Undeclared Program will be hosting a Mom’s Weekend Trivia at the Campus Instructional Facility at 1 p.m. This student/parent trivia event will include light refreshments and test your knowledge along the way.

Sunday morning, the Office of Minority Students Affairs will host their Moms Day Scholastic Awards Ceremony. Celebrating the scholastic achievements of their students, the OMSA will confer several awards and feature several student and campus leader speakers. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in the Illini Union.

Live music

It’s a good weekend for choir lovers! The Women’s Glee Club and Black Chorus are both having Moms Weekend concerts.

Conducted by Andrea Solya, the Women’s Glee Club will be performing “Suffrage Cantata” by renowned composer Andrea Ramsey, along with three other pieces. The concert is at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Conducted by Ollie Watts Davis, the Black Chorus will be performing their concert titled “MOM, Our

Woman King.” The concert is at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Both concerts will be in Foellinger Great Hall inside the Krannert Center for Performing Arts.

Illinois Rip Chords, an all-treble a cappella group, is having their spring concert at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Foellinger Auditorium. A cappella group Xtension Chords and Rip Chord alumni will make special appearances.

The University’s Harp Studio is also holding a Moms Weekend performance. Featuring students of Professor Ann Yeung, the recital will be

a showcase of multi-stylistic harp music. The recital takes place at 11 a.m. on Saturday in the Music Building auditorium.

Alongside student music groups, many off-campus artists will perform in Urbana-Champaign this weekend.

Rose Bowl Tavern is hosting jazz and country musicians all weekend.

On Friday, Eric Lund’s Jazz Friends will play a night of jazz at 5 p.m. This group is a long-term popular staple within the local jazz community. At 8 p.m., Tom Grassman Band will play a setlist of popular rock song covers.

On Saturday, the tavern will host blues musician Andy Duncanson with the Black Eyed Lillies at 3 p.m. and country rock band New Twang City at 8 p.m.

On Sunday at 4:30 p.m., the tavern will see a trio of jazz musicians perform: Tito Carrillo, Jeff Helgesen and Saori Kataoka. At 6:30 p.m., there will be a country-themed open mic night called Nick’s Country Jam.

Alto Vineyards is also hosting musicians all weekend. Saturday at 3 p.m., the Fairchilds will perform. On Sunday at 2 p.m., Gloria Roubal will perform.

Canopy Club is hosting a “Now! That’s What I Call the 90s” party starting at 9 p.m. on Saturday night. A Nirvana Tribute band will be there, supported by groovy grunge band Dead Original. Later, there will be a ’90s throwback party with DJ NotoriousFavi.

Neil St. Blues is also hosting a decade-themed party. DJ Silkee will host a ’90s-and-2000s-themed night of fun music.

Live theater

There are few musicals in town! Catch Lyric Theatre’s production of “City of Angels,” a smart and stylish film noir musical, at the Virginia Theatre. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. There is a matinee show at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Student-run organization Illini Student Musicals is doing “Grease” performances this weekend. The shows, taking place in Lincoln Hall Theater, are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Parkland College is putting on a production of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” There are three shows this weekend: Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. All shows take place in Harold and Jean Miner Theatre.

JAMES HOECK THE DAILY ILLINI

Moms, students and families alike shop around at the Illini Union Board Cra and Vendor Fair last April.

JAMES HOECK THE DAILY ILLINI

During Moms Weekend 2022, families look at jewelry on sale at a vendor’s booth.

Moms go Greek

By Lika Lezhava Editor-in-Chief

Greek life at the University celebrates all campus-wide traditions, and Moms Weekend is no different.

Every year, moms come to the Champaign-Urbana area to have fun with their children during the warmer month of April.

Fraternities and sororities always exceed the parents’ expectations and plan big events. Colorful matching shirts, hoodies and many other accessories are gifted and shown off by the mothers and their children in Greek life.

Before they go to the bars for a night of fun, the houses hold more private events for the mothers.

The brothers of Phi Sigma Kappa are excited to open up their home to their mothers and host a weekend full of events. Similar to last year, to start off the weekend, they will be hosting a private mixer for the mothers to meet each other and the other members of the fraternity.

Ryan Moore, sophomore in Business and president of Phi Sigma Kappa, is very excited to welcome the mothers, especially his own.

“My mom is my role model,” Moore said when asked about his mother. “She treats everyone with a kindness that I aspire to achieve.”

always Instagram-worthy.

Kappa Delta has filled their Moms Weekend schedule with fun motherdaughter bonding activities.

“We show appreciation to the moms of our house by really making their weekend a time that they can spend with their daughters and having a great time with them,” said Ella Summerlin, sophomore in FAA and the president of Kappa Delta, when asked about the weekend’s plans.

The sisters of Kappa Delta took Moms Weekend as an opportunity to give back to the community last year.

“We had a Kendra Scott pop-up shop come into our house and we were able to purchase some pieces,” Summerlin said.

“Ten percent of the proceeds went to our philanthropy, Crisis Nursery Champaign and Prevent Child Abuse America.”

Greek organizations on campus are known to embrace the opportunity to make their events both fun and charitable.Houses have the opportunity to have a good time while giving back to the community, making it an all-around feel-good day.

Kappa Delta will be hosting the pop-up shop and their annual mother-daughter brunch once again this year.

Chi Omega is also planning a Kendra Scott pop-up shop this year as well as an arts and crafts event for sisters and their mothers.

“This year we are having a tote bag painting event,” said Audrey Mazur, freshman in AHS and member of Chi Omega. “We are super excited to be celebrating this time and spending it with our moms.”

The brothers are also planning on hosting a personal brunch for their mothers on Saturday.

“Last year, we celebrated our moms with brunch,” Moore said. “We gifted them with T-shirts and plan to do the same this year.”

Sororities never shy away from the Moms Weekend traditions that are

During an academically difficult part of the semester, many students are likely to experience homesickness even more than usual. The campus tradition of Moms Weekend allows Greek and unaffiliated students alike to show their moms what makes our university special while spending quality time with family and friends.

So, during the week leading up to Moms Weekend, Greek life knows that when the mamas come to town, they should plan to be cherished, have some fun and join the families that their children have become a part of in college.

lezhava3@dailyillini.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF LUKE SINGLETARY / PHI SIGMA KAPPA

“We are super excited to be celebrating this time and spending it with our moms.”

Audrey Mazur, freshman in AHS, member of Chi Omega

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELLA SUMMERLIN / KAPPA DELTA

(Above) Members of Phi Sigma Kappa gather together at The Red Lion with their mothers for a Moms Weekend celebratory event in 2022. For last year’s festivities, the brothers gi ed their moms T-shirts, and this year, they plan to do the same. They will be hosting a private brunch as well.

(Le ) Ella Summerlin (middle), sophomore in FAA and president of Kappa Delta, stands with her mother, Diane Summerlin (right) and sister Averie Summerlin (le ) in front of the Kappa Delta chapter house on April 2, 2022. This year, Kappa Delta will hold a private Kendra Scott pop-up shop as well as their annual mother-daughter brunch.

‘Sweeney Todd’ performed after two-year delay at Parkland College

By Caroline Sweeney Staff Writer

On Thursday, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” began its run at Parkland College. Directed by Jeff Dare, the musical is running until April 23. On opening night, the musical received a standing ovation.

Originally created in 1979 by Hugh Wheeler, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” is a thriller musical set in Victorian England about Sweeney Todd, a murderous barber.

With almost every seat taken, a buzzing crowd waits in the Harold and Jean Miner Theatre. Some audience members hold bouquets of flowers and others flip through their playbills before the show begins.

The lights dim and the audience falls silent as an eerie theme begins to play. The sound fills the quiet theater and audience members wait for the first cast member to grace the stage.

The opening number was done well and truly brought the idea of Sweeney Todd to life before he even came on stage. With voices ranging from a deep baritone to a fluttering operatic tune, the contrasting sounds came together beautifully.

Jeff Dare, the director of this production, said the opening number is very grand.

“The very opening number we get this really cool musical moment where we get music coming from surround sound,” Dare said. “It’s big and dramatic and scary and that’s hopefully what people are coming for.”

One character that stood out in their performance was Nicole Morgan’s portrayal of Mrs. Lovett. Her performance was lively and brought a perfect comedic relief in the miserable existence of Sweeney Todd.

Through both actions and delivery of her lines, Morgan really brought warmth to the cold London town.

Another notable performance was Matt Hester’s portrayal of Sweeney Todd.

Ashley Kocanda, a member of the audience, said she thought Hester was very good as Todd.

“I thought the vocals were really strong in the cast,” Kocanda said. “(Hester’s) facial expressions and acting really drew me in.”

Another great performance was given by Alex Murphy, who portrayed Toby. Despite technical issues with their microphone, Murphy pulled out a great performance.

The mother-son relationship dynamic between Morgan’s and Murphy’s characters were full of great chemistry. In the song “Not While I’m Around,” the audience can see the relationship build between the two.

The supporting cast members gave good quality dramatic performances.

Jacob Deters plays Anthony, Tina Radi plays Johanna, Michael Stern plays Judge Turpin, Bryan Goode plays The Beadle, Adrian Rochelle

plays Pirelli and Caitlin Richardson plays Beggar Woman.

Director Jeff Dare’s last production was Memphis, about five years ago. Sweeney Todd had actually been in the works since 2021 and originally stopped production because of the pandemic.

“It’s been kind of an awesome journey to finally get to opening night,” Dare said. “And it’s wonderful that we were able to come back to it.”

Dare notes that a challenge he had was getting Sweeney Todd’s barber chair to work in the show. It’s an important factor to the storyline and it is one of the most notable parts of the musical, so getting it right was vital.

“The technical staff here at Parkland is absolutely amazing getting the chair coordinated with all of

the other pieces like the music and lights,” Dare said. “Getting all that timing down was awesome.”

Christy Verhelst, another audience member, said before the performance that Parkland always puts on a high-quality show.

“I think that pulling from the talent in the community and their own academic community is great,” Verhelst said. “I’m expecting that it’s going to be top notch, great acting, great costumes (and) all around awesome.”

Verhelst also said that she’s seen the Sweeney Todd movie and loved it.

“I love the combination between horror and sort of operatic singing,” Verhelst said. “It’s a ridiculous show, it’s an emotional show, I just love it.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF PARKLAND COLLEGE Nicole Morgan (le ) and Matt Hester perform during a dress rehearsal of “Sweeney Todd“ at Parkland College.

GARY LARSON

Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Nichols Lewis

Rethinking the idea of motherhood

By The Daily Ilini Editorial Board

Motherhood is a difficult and bittersweet subject to write about.

In writing this editorial, we felt that it was important to do justice to the struggles of mothers — praising them for the hard work they put in — while acknowledging that there isn’t a clear-cut definition of what motherhood is.

In our society, we’re conditioned into believing in one notion of what motherhood is. It’s an expectation for girls growing up to become mothers, and they’re judged when they choose to stay childless.

When it comes to motherhood, there’s a perfectionist standard placed on mothers. This came with the advent of social media, where mothers’ lives are curated to hide away all the messiness of parenting. Given the monumental task of raising a human being, women are expected to know everything and are judged when they make mistakes. This needs to change. We cannot and should not expect perfection in

motherhood. We cannot ignore the fact that parenting is messy and imperfect.

Mothers in the United States lack support. We lag behind other countries when it comes to paid maternity leave, as there is currently no national mandate in place for paid leave. There are similar problems due to a lack of adequate universal childcare.

There are many different postpartum changes to a mother’s body after childbirth. The most well-known of these is postpartum depression, but there are also other mental and physical changes. Motherhood isn’t seamless and pretty; it changes you fundamentally — and the toughest parts of it are often swept under the rug. With child-rearing often comes a loss of identity as your priorities shift from focusing on oneself to focusing on raising a child. A survey from the Pew Research Center found that roughly a third of moms reported that being a parent was the most important aspect of who they are as a person.

When “Mom” becomes your name, hobbies and aspirations come second. Mothers and their children can have strenuous relationships — especially with adolescent daughters. According to The Wall Street Journal, mothers tend to see their daughters as extensions of themselves and act in ways that may be interpreted as controlling to prevent their daughter from making the same mistakes.

Children will incur a mental toll on their mothers regardless of age. With adolescence and beyond comes a different set of complex problems that moms have to deal with.

This Moms Weekend, we encourage you to acknowledge your mothers as human beings with lives that are separate from just being a mom.

Thus far, we’ve only covered one angle of what a mother could be. But motherhood isn’t just when you’re a mother who is taking care of her child.

Sometimes mothers have to rely on their own children to take on some of the responsibilities of motherhood

for their younger siblings, while they are preoccupied with working to support their family. This act of motherhood expands the definition of what motherhood can be.

Taking on a maternal role at an early age — and all of the responsibilities associated with it — is lifechanging. All of the current “mom friend” big sisters should also be given some recognition for being impromptu moms in their own right.

All families are different, and sometimes the mom niche is filled by a different kind of mom. Nannies, grandparents and adoptive moms should also be honored this Moms Weekend for putting in the same work required of a biological mom — and the mental toll that follows.

As a society, it’s imperative that we reject the notion that motherhood has a uniform “look,” and acknowledge that our mother figures are human beings who are allowed to make mistakes as they clock in for the hardest job in the world.

opinions@dailyillini.com

What our moms mean to us

Megan Harding

Aside from being one of the kindest people, I love how accommodating my mom is. I grew up with a chronic illness and my mom did everything in her power to make it easier on me. She makes herself available to me all hours of the day and always makes me feel so loved. I love you, mom!

Talia Duffy

I love my mom because she has taught me everything I know that matters in the real world. She taught me to be kind, compassionate and positive. She taught me to apologize when I hurt someone and how to fold laundry — but I’m still kind of bad at that last one. I love you, mom.

Raphael Ranola

My mom has always been a warm and loving presence in my life. She always makes herself available and loves to make small gestures like randomly calling me throughout the day to check up on me and let me know how the dog is doing.

Safia Khan

My favorite qualities of my mom are how patient and loving she is. We have been through difficult times together, but she never hesitates to help and support me. My mom is the most warm and caring person who tries to ensure my happiness.

Nathaniel Langley

My mom’s eyes follow the road; hands grip the steering wheel. Her baseball cap crowns an assured posture. She handles the single-mom hills and working-class winds pushing our family every which way. Her love and sturdy grip inspires me to drive through life confidently.

OPINIONS

I love my mom because she’s done so much for my family and I, being the best role model and even homeschooling me from grades four to six. She’ll always be my hero and she’s the reason I’m at this school in the first place.

Storey Childs

My favorite thing about my mom is that she has never told me to be anything but myself, I learned this growing up by watching her do the same. The all-encompassing love that she gives to those around her is something that I will forever be grateful for.

Maggie Knutte

My mom always tries to make things fun for my family by planning activities. She always provides for us and she makes sure that I have everything I need. She takes care of me and we always have a lot of fun together.

Eddie Ryan

I’m very thankful for my mom this Moms Weekend. She has shown me the meaning of kindness, hard work and has always been my confidant. And she’s a proud U of I alum! Love you, mom!

I love my mom because she is so resilient and strong. She has always done everything to make sure that my siblings and I have the best life she could possibly give us — even though she posts bogus pictures of me on Facebook,

Adam Gorcyca

Mother Gorcyca is one of the most confident people I know. Despite being half a foot shorter and 20 years older she still tries to take me in one-on-one basketball. She’s the epitome of love and a lifelong Lutheran. And everyone knows she’s the puzzle queen of Des Plaines.

Sanchita Teeka

My mom is one of the most successful selfmade people I know, and one of the most kindhearted people I know. Even though she built her career from nothing by herself, she still makes sure to help others. Her heart remains the purest and my most favorite thing about her.

Janessa Mosqueda

Aaron Anastos

Basketball needs players like Angel Reese

By Conor Blount Assistant Sports Editor

The final stage for the women’s NCAA tournament was set and ready to tip off at 2:30 p.m. CDT on April 2. Despite the horrendously chosen time for a championship round, the game between the No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes and No. 3 LSU Tigers managed to garner an average viewer count of nearly 9.9 million. To put it into perspective, this number completely shattered the already record-breaking 5.5 and 3.4 million average viewers from Iowa and LSU’s respective Final Four games.

As the most watched women’s basketball game ever, the lights were at their brightest and the two squads delivered. Iowa’s star guard Caitlyn Clark, who had already accumulated quite the media storm after posting back-to-back 40-point performances in the Elite Eight and Final Four, got off to a hot start. Scoring 14 of Iowa’s first 20 points, it looked like Clark was en route to yet another dominant performance while the Tigers held a much more team-orchestrated 20 points of their own.

But a third party quickly began to take over what was shaping up to be a classic performance. At the very least impartial with their dreadful judgment behind the whistle, the referees issued both Clark and LSU’s star forward Angel Reese several fouls that caused the two to take early trips to the bench.

For most, Reese was not a household name at this point, as her Tigers had been given significantly less media attention than Clark and the Hawkeyes until this point. Reese’s game may not have the awe of the three-point shotmaking that Clark has, but her results could not be argued with as the Tigers had upset both No. 1 Virginia Tech and No. 2 Utah on their way to the finals.

Reese was called for two fouls in the final minute of the first quarter and did not return until the start of the second half. Meanwhile, Clark had been assessed three fouls by the three-minute mark of the second quarter.

By the time Clark had to sit with her third, LSU had jumped out to an 11-point lead and just three minutes later when the teams retreated to their locker rooms for halftime, the lead was 17. As pointed out on the broadcast, no team had ever managed to come back from such a deficit in the women’s NCAA championship.

Despite this, Iowa came out firing and for a brief moment, looked like there was a chance at pulling off the impossible. Incredible shot-making from the Hawkeyes produced a couple of runs that cut the lead as low as seven, all while both squads were being peppered by horrific officiating.

The Tiger lead eventually burgeoned to a final score of 102-85 that hardly does any justice to the drama, skill and excitement of the actual game. When the final whistle blew and the Tigers were ultimately crowned champions, it would have been hard to predict what was about to unfold.

It must be mentioned that a key factor in Clark’s dramatic spike in popularity is that not only was she performing at a spectacular level, but that she let her opponents know too, doing wrestler John Cena’s “You Can’t See Me” celebration after recording 41/10/12 (P/R/A) in the Elite Eight against No. 5 Louisville. For Clark, these actions were viewed as endearing and part of her competitive nature.

Turning back to the championship game where in the spirit of competition, Reese had flipped the trash talk back on Clark a couple of times towards the end of the game. In Reese’s case, the most notable and, surprisingly, controversial actions were pointing at her ring finger and mimicking the same “You Can’t See Me” motion at Clark.

The negative reactions and vitriol towards Reese began almost immediately, with my least favorite of the buzzwords aimed at her being “classless.” Despite being a fabulous player all season long, averaging 23 points and 15.4 rebounds per game, good for fifth and second-best in the country, it was a pair of celebrations that had thrust Reese into the national spotlight.

This was not just unfair to Reese, who should have received even an ounce of coverage for being an elite player and now an NCAA champion, but for the entirety of women’s basketball. The most viewed, most electric women’s college basketball game

of all time had just taken place, but instead of celebrating the champions and acknowledging the success of the runners-up, the ethics of trash-talking was all anyone could talk about.

Whether it was the media getting everyone so attached to Clark that they could not handle it the other way, or the result of internal biases toward Reese and LSU, the fact remains that the two stars’ treatment was inconsistent. Either it’s wholly acceptable or wholly unacceptable, and if you truly believe that both Clark and Reese are classless I am inclined to believe you flat-out do not like sports.

In terms of a brand, personalities like Reese and Clark are what make viewers tune in, especially in a sport as interpersonal as basketball. At such a critical time in the popularity of women’s basketball, the stars who make the game interesting should be embraced, not shunned.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MADDIE MEYER / GETTY IMAGES / TNS

Angel Reese (10) of the LSU Lady Tigers reacts toward Caitlin Clark (22) of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the fourth quarter of the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament championship game at American Airlines Center on Sunday, April 2, in Dallas.