The Daily Illini: I on Illini 2021 by The Daily Illini

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DI November 10, 2021

The DI · Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Cancer survivor seeks path in oncology By Madison Holcomb Contributing Writer

Mohammed Kadiri, junior in LAS, was 15 years old when he was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Now, he is on the pre-med track to become a pediatric oncologist. Kadiri underwent chemotherapy from April 2017 to July 2020. He has been in remission and declared cancer-free since June of 2017. “It wasn’t until I was diagnosed that I really got a better idea of what I wanted to do,” he said. “I was lucky enough to work with a lot of great doctors, nurses and practitioners. They really kind of gave me an insight into the field.” Growing close with hospital staff, as well as other patients, helped Kadiri realize his love for making connections with others. “That’s when I figured that I wanted to work with children, especially children

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Mohammed Kadiri, junior in LAS, is pursuing pediatric oncology. He was inspired by medics who helped him during his battle with cancer.

time I went, it was just like I was visiting friends,” he said. Kadiri explained that the University has helped him to learn more about oncology through a wide variety of classes, as well as on-campus organizations, such as the pre-med fraternity Phi Delta Epsilon. Kadiri is also the event head on the executive board of the Arab Student Association. The community that Kadiri found while receiving treatment and his support system back home, which consisted of family and friends, made a major impact on his life, and it’s what inspired him to go into the medical field. “I just want to emphasize that it’s important for people to try and find their support systems, too, because even if they think it’s not present or even if they think that talking to someone might not help, it actually really does,” he said.

that had to experience the same things that I had to experience,” he said. During his time in treatment, Kadiri went to the hospital from once a week to 2-3 times a week, which allowed him to gain insights on the close-knit relationships of the communities in the hospital. “It almost got to a point where any meh9@dailyillini.com The Daily Illini is the independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The newspaper is published by the Illini Media Co. The Daily Illini does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of the University of Illinois administration, faculty or students. All Illini Media Co. and/or The Daily Illini articles, photos and graphics are the property of Illini Media and may not be reproduced or published without written permission from the publisher. First copy is free; each additional copy is 50 cents.

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The DI · Wednesday, November 10, 2021

New hire mends relationships with Native tribes By Farrah Anderson Assistant Investigative News and Longform Editor

When Jacki Rand was a child, she was the kind of kid that was always asking, “Why?” Rand said she never understood things about her family, like why her mother could not speak the Choctaw language, which her grandmother could speak. But once she found out that her mother and her siblings had been taken from their families and forced into Indian boarding schools, she said so much of her family’s history began to make sense to her. “In one generation, that line of transmission was broken,” Rand said. Rand is now the Associate Vice Chancellor of Native Affairs at the University and started the position at the beginning of this semester. The first person to ever hold this new position, Rand is working to build relationships with Native tribes in Illinois and make the University a more welcoming place for Native American students. Before coming to the University this August, Rand worked at the National Museum of the American Indian. After she left this position, she went on to teach at the University of Iowa. There, she taught classes focused on Native American culture and policy and began working on a progress called the Indigenous Midwest. The digital research project seeks to remember Indigenous people who have called the Midwest home, despite a history of displacement and discrimination. Rand grew up in Oklahoma with her mom, a member of the Choctaw nation and a white father in the Air Force. Although the Choctaw nation is the third-largest federally recognized tribe in the United States, Rand said the national doesn’t have reservations they live on together. Because of that, Rand said it can be difficult to stay together and continue traditions. “ It’s made it pa r ticu la rly challenging for Oklahoma tribes to maintain a core kind of community,” Rand said. When she was in graduate school at the University of Oklahoma, Rand said the idea of settler colonialism was only referenced around other countries, not in the United States. But as she learned more about it,

“When I became an adult, I realized that I was part of a generation of native people who shared a common experience of being raised by survivors of the system that marked our relatives in different ways.” Jacki Rand, Associate Vice Chancellor of Native Affairs

PHOTO COURTESY OF JACKI RAND

Jacki Rand, associate vice chancellor of Native Affairs, devotes her time to mending relationships with Native tribes in Illinois to make the University a more welcoming place for Native American students. Rand said she started to understand that that was what had happened to her family and the Choctaw. Then, the term “settler colonialism” began to be used more and more as people began to understand what the United States had done to Indigenous people. “We were able to develop a language as scholars that began to challenge the way our history was being misrepresented or being erased,” Rand said. As Rand grew older and studied the history of Native American people in the United States, she said she began to understand what history lessons could teach her about her own family’s past. “When I became an adult, I realized that I was part of a generation of native people who shared a common

experience of being raised by survivors of the system that marked our relatives in different ways,” Rand said. As a scholar of American Indian studies, a group she says is small and intimate, Rand said the University had been on her radar because of Chancellor Robert Jones’ work to move past the University’s history of displaying Native American imagery through the past mascot. One of the most infamous symbols of the University’s relationship with Native Americans is Chief Illiniwek, whom many in the campus community say is racist and offensive. Although the mascot was officially retired in 2007, the Chief image is still displayed on spirit wear at sports games and on decorations at businesses throughout Champaign-Urbana.

“The Chief tradition was an invention,” Rand said. “It can be uninvented.” As someone working toward creating a more positive image of the University with Native American people throughout the county, Rand said the current displays of the mascot can set back progress. “I have to be attentive to the fact that our visitors might randomly go into a bar that has Chief stuff on it,” Rand said. “And I have to be able to explain to them, these things are not what the University is about. That’s on the community of (Champaign-Urbana).” As a new member of the ChampaignUrbana community, Rand said the Chief doesn’t deter her from the community. Instead, she said she just makes the conscious choice to not support businesses that display the Chief. “For a native like myself, I just vote with my feet,” Rand said. “I go where I’m not going to have to deal with that kind of thing.” Rand said she has sent out her first letter to the Peoria tribe who were displaced by the University. She said that she will work with them in whatever they feel comfortable with. But, she said the mascot still has a legacy that could make this outreach difficult. “There are going to be some people out there who say, ‘you get no grace for me after that mascot,’” Rand said. “And we have to live with that.” farrah@dailyillini.com

The DI · Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Soccer kicks off future physician's inspiration By Royal Shrestha Staff Writer

For Bishal Baskota, sophomore in LAS, life was vastly different when he lived in Nepal. With electricity only available for a few hours of the day, Baskota played soccer to pass the time. His passion for soccer led him to wanting to become a physician. As a kid growing up in Nepal, a third-world country, Baskota and his friends often played street games due inaccessibility to electronics . “Out on the streets and alleys, I often played many street games with my school friends including stone skipping, badminton, hopscotch, cricket and of course, soccer,” Baskota said. “I remember back in Nepal when electricity was available during certain hours, we used to gather around and watch the World Cup on a small TV screen.” Baskota described how these street games allowed him and his friends to relieve stress and forget about their challenges in life. As the years went by, he began to grow more interested in soccer and had a tightly knit group of friends with whom he could share this passion. “The simplicity of playing soccer makes it an inclusive sport for everyone, regardless of their backgrounds, whether they are privileged or underprivileged,” Baskota said. In his high school years, his family immigrated to the United States in search of better opportunities for him and his education.

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Sophomore in LAS Bishal Baskota's passion for soccer prompted his journey to pursue medicine.

Baskota described the difficult transition of learning English and adjusting to new customs in the U.S..As his college career continues, he is still adjusting to the American culture. Baskota slowly began to make friends as he started to play soccer with the students in his high school. At the same time, he was involved in introducing soccer to young kids in his local community. “While soccer was going great for me, toward the end of high school, I began to wonder what my future would look like, and what I should make out of my career,” Baskota said. While pursuing an Integrative Biology degree and continuing his passion for soccer by joining an intramural team, he decided to pursue a career in medicine and chose the pre-med track as it aligned with his perception of soccer. “Two major attributes that soccer shares with pursuing medicine is the ability to create a sense of unity and compassion among each other,” Baskota said. Through his journey as a pre-med student, he volunteered locally in Chicago and in ChampaignUrbana for the underserved population. As he began to dedicate more of his time to his local communities, his passion for medicine increased. “I intend to serve the underprivileged populations by getting them access to proper health care and making them feel included,” Baskota said. royals2@dailyillini.com

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The DI · Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Sociology professor raps in campus hot spots By Vivian La Assistant Daytime Editor

At the street corner in front of Alma Mater, it isn’t uncommon to see a man animatedly gesturing and rapping along to music only he can hear. He’s occasionally loud enough that passersby on the Main Quad turn their heads. His clothes can range from business attire to sweats or a bright yellow vest, but a microphone, glasses and black headphones are constant. He calls himself Reginald A. Stuckey. It’s the stage name of Reuben A. Buford May, a sociology professor at the University. “It’s an extension of myself,” Stuckey said. “It is a way or an outlet for me to share creativity in a way that I really feel very strongly about.” Professor May is known in the academic community as an award-winning author, scholar and teacher. The persona Stuckey first came about when he was a college student at Aurora University in the suburbs of Chicago. “I was just in a gym one day, shooting around, and you know how you pretend like the clock is running out? Five, four, three, two, one — ‘he shoots and he scores, Stuckey scores,’” he said. “I’m thinking, ‘Oh, well, Stuckey is a good little nickname.’” It became a nickname and a new identity, Stuckey said. “This personification of the best, the best basketball player, the best student, the smartest guy,” he said. Stuckey has been rapping since the 80s, when hip hop first became popular in his native Chicago. He always made personal videos and produced music, but he didn’t go public until one of his students at Texas A&M University asked him to rap for her in 2011. Stuckey told her he didn’t know his own lyrics, and she told him to learn them. “I started practicing rapping, to memorize the lyrics and build up my confidence outside,” Stuckey said. “I started standing on the benches and standing on the street corners, and I discovered that it’s one of those things I really, really enjoy.” He compared his street corner performances to a runner’s high; even talking about it gets him excited, Stuckey said. “It’s so cathartic … It’s just something I never would have understood that I enjoyed that way until the student was like, “Hey, you need to learn your lyrics,’” he said. Songwriting is like writing in a dia-

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

Reginald A. Stuckey, sociology professor at the University, raps on Green Street at his alma mater as a way to express himself creatively. ry, Stuckey said. He often translates his life experiences to his raps, usually using metaphors and codes. In one song, Stuckey raps about two girls being interested in him, but he said it’s actually referring to two different universities making him a job offer. “This is all part of my life; I just translated it into hip hop music, and I enjoy doing it,” he said. Stuckey grew a following at Texas A&M University after performing for several years, to the point where he would get stopped in restaurants by students telling him, “You’re a legend.” He performed at Texas A&M University’s football stadium and even at Chicago’s House of Blues. But Stuckey said the reception at Illinois hasn’t been the same. “People are a bit more low-key here,” he said. Well-aware that many may see him as “a crazy homeless person,” Stuckey said people just need to understand it’s his passion showing through. He’s even been offered money and has to explain that he’s a professor.

“I think it’ll open up when they see that it’s really a passion and a natural enthusiasm for what I’m doing,” Stuckey said. He’s even interacted with the local police numerous times. “As soon as they talk to me, they realize, ‘Oh, this guy, he’s not crazy, he’s not homeless. He’s just having fun,’” Stuckey said. As to why this is the automatic reaction, Stuckey said that people naturally make snap judgements. “I don’t have an experiment or anything going, but what I’m always struck by is that people never really know that I’m that same person.” Fatou Jobe, graduate student in LAS, said she first saw Stuckey a few months before the interview process for her doctoral sociology program, where he was on the interview committee. Jobe said she was really surprised when she finally made the connection that her professor was also the man she saw rapping around campus. “I became interested in learning more about his approach to dividing

the academic life and also personal life because it’s really hard to bridge that gap,” Jobe said. “I’m also a big fan of hip hop.” Stuckey’s different identities as a Black man, a respected professor and a musician inspired Jobe to balance her own identities, she said. “He inspires me to be unapologetically me,” Jobe said. Stuckey said personal passion drives him to continue producing and performing music. It’s also about connecting with people, students like Jobe and other musicians or artists, with whom he said he’s always happy to work. “This gives me another way to connect with people and share an inspiration,” Stuckey said. Stuckey said he hopes those walking by realize he’s just doing his thing and are not afraid to say hi. “They don’t have to stop me, just come up to me,” he said. “Fist bump me and that way I know. And then I’m really enjoying myself.” vla2@dailyillini.com

The DI · Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Does Greek life correlate with sexual assault? By Samuel Rahman, Talia Duffy, Nathaniel Langley A 2019 report prepared for the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs concluded that joining a sorority is correlated with an 80% increase in sexual assault amongst its members compared to the general student population. A staggering statistic, the following statements correspond with the students’ sentiments on whether this is true in their experiences. What do Illini think of Greek life leading to these percentages and should the University or Greek life take responsibility in changing this rate?

Alessandra Lopez, freshman in LAS “Well, personally, I’ve heard of a lot of cases where that is actually true, so I feel like they definitely have to do something about it. I feel like people do report (sexual assault), but nothing really happens, so that’s a big problem. Personally, that's also one of the reasons I didn’t join. Because I feel like you are more susceptible to that kind of danger. I mean, anywhere in college to be honest. But I feel, especially in frat houses, everything is swept under the rug, and it's kind of scary. “When I heard about the kids who were hazing, they publicized it. They made it known — this fraternity or this sorority, they were caught doing this. They should be doing the same thing when it comes to sexual assault, like make people aware: This is what this shady *** fraternity is doing.”

Jacob Rossel, senior in LAS “I think it is definitely correlated with that increase. I think it is a lack of awareness that certain Greek life supports and enhances that (sexual assault) in happening, and I think more people think that Greek life should take more accountability of certain practices like hazing and bullying. “I’m a two-year transfer. I’m a veteran, so I never had to experience that stuff. But a lot of things we experience in university stems out of military structure. Our campus is very much structured like a military base. The chain of command and leadership is very much like the military. So I see a lot of similarities that have stemmed down into Greek life. There needs to be more accountability

JAMES HOECK THE DAILY ILLINI

Helene Simmons (left), freshman in ACES, and Hayden Fischer, freshman in LAS, discuss their thoughts on the correlation between Greek Life and sexual assault. for students who hold those positions, and I think that will help this stuff doesn’t happen.”

Nolan Peacock, sophomore in Media

Hadyn Fischer, freshman in LAS “I think that’s a fair study. I mean, stereotypically, fraternities and sororities are associated with more sexual activity. But being in a fraternity or sorority is not an excuse to assault anyone or be assaulted, but I think the University should address it because it's such a huge topic and our Greek life system is so big.”

"I mean obviously I think that’s really terrible. I think it's a holdover from old school stuff like 'Animal House' that really makes people have an even worse image of Greek life. Obviously, if these statistics are out there, there is a really negative trend. I think the University should (take action). I don’t know what actions they can really take. I know FYCARE and stuff like that are really solid foundations for training these people — semester workshops, etc.”

Helene Simmons, freshman in ACES

Vinay Panayanchery, freshman in Engineering

“We had the required FYCARE, and there was no mention of sorority or fraternities. I think there should be. If girls are rushing and guys are joining fraternities, they should know that and be more educated on that as well.”

“I think with Greek life, there are a lot of benefits, but there are a lot of downsides if you are not careful. I think that statistic is just a really good example of bigger downsides that negatively affect the perception of Greek life. I don't think

Greek life is about that at all. I don't think it should be. I don't think it's meant to be. "I think it just feeds into itself. As it happens, it gets worse. I think (with) FYCARE ... they are at least trending in the right direction. It’s not a solution by any means, but at least it's showing the students, the faculty and the staff here that the University is conscious about it and trying to make an effort.” If you require reporting an incident of sexual misconduct or assault, various resources can be found with the McKinley Health Center, Counseling Center and/or Champaign-Urbana police departments. Do your part in preventing incidents by remaining vigilant and completing University training, supporting victims and knowing your rights when reporting. Samuel is a senior in LAS. srahma37@dailyillini.com Talia is a freshman in Media. taliagd2@dailyillini.com Nathaniel is a junior in LAS. ntl3@dailyillini.com

The DI · Wednesday, November 10, 2021

What do you think about Undergraduate Library moving? By Nick Johnson and Axel Almanza

Valentina L pez, senior in LAS

Amir Dadar, freshman in AHS

The Undergraduate Library, or UGL, is a capstone of the Main Quad, providing undergraduate students with a vital study location in the heart of campus. Due to a massive University Library renovation initiative, the University plans to close the UGL in Fall 2022 and convert it to a dedicated special collections facility, along with plans to repurpose the Main Library as more of an accessible study spot. The following quotes from current students illuminate some concerns held by the student population about the University’s plans for the UGL.

“I think it’s really sad that the UGL is being decommissioned. I feel like it’s been a very big part of my undergraduate experience — I go there and study a lot, and I feel like there aren’t many good study places that are going to be left on that side of campus.”

“Hearing about the UGL shutting down, it’s kind of surprising. I would go there a lot and my friends and I would chill there all the time — not even doing work, just as a place to go hang out instead of sitting in our dorms. It’s kind of sad, but at the same time, I kind of get why; it can get pretty dead in there.”

Ibrahim Siddiqui, freshman in LAS

Mahica Iyer, senior in LAS

“After hearing the news about the UGL, I’m going to be quite heartbroken because when I first came here, I wasn’t really familiar with campus. My dorm is right by the UGL — within a walking distance — so I’d always go there and study. It was kind of like my safe spot on campus, so it hurts to hear that they’re removing it.”

“Personally it wouldn’t affect me because I’ll be graduating, but I think that knowing how the UGL has been such a resource for me and my friends over our years here, I’m not in support of it. I’m actually really sad that people won’t have it as a resource; I think considering the way that the UGL is set up, if the functions (of the two libraries) are switched, I don’t think the Main Library is designed in a way that can handle what the UGL does for students here. I just think it is a great resource, and people are just going to lose that resource while they’re here.”

Nick is a junior in LAS. nmj5@dailyillini.com Axel is a sophomore in LAS. aalman21@dailyillini.com

Andres Vasquez, freshman in ACES “I personally think that if the University thinks this is what’s in the best interest for students, for its academics and for its future over the next 50 or 100 years, then I’m not opposed to this at all. If this is what needs to be done for the betterment of our students and our academics here on campus, then I am all in favor.”

Janay Fuentes, senior in LAS “I’m pretty upset that the UGL is being decommissioned. The UGL is one of those quiet spaces that you can always rely on being open for you — there aren’t really any spaces like that anymore. The Union’s too loud, and the UGL has that cozy library atmosphere.”

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The DI · Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Making a splash Lily Olson seeks balance in classroom, pool By Jonathan Alday Staff Writer

Despite the adjustments that come with attending college nearly 2,000 miles from home, sophomore swimmer Lily Olson’s Midwest background made the transition easier. Born in Peoria, Illinois, she spent much of her early childhood in Illinois and northern Wisconsin until her family moved to California when she was eight. “Coming back here was definitely a bit of an adjustment, but it’s not extremely new to me since I’ve lived in Illinois and Wisconsin, so I’m familiar with the Midwest,” Olson said. For as long as she can remember, athletics have always been a part of her life.

Sophomore Lily Olson dives into the pool during the Orange and Blue meet on Oct. 9 in Champaign. Growing up, she also tried soccer, dance, gymnastics, basketball and track before ultimately settling on swimming. “My parents have always been big supporters of athletics, themselves being former college athletes,” Olson said. “It's just so good for your mind and your body and everything as a whole.” Olson began swimming in a club team

in Wisconsin alongside her older brother, Mick, at the age of five. “I got into swimming because my older brother was a swimmer,” Olson said. “He would go to swim practice, and I would have to go with so might as well start swimming. Swimming just happened to be the one I liked the most and was best at, and it was fun to be in the same

training groups with him and his friends growing up.” Having only one sibling, Olson developed a tight bond with Mick, who attended and swam at Division III Saint John’s University from 2017-2021. Lily always looked up to Mick, citing his confidence and how comfortable he looks when doing anything.

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Lily Olson returned to the Midwest for college after growing up in Peoria and moving to California when she was eight.

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attitude,” Olson said. “There’s a lot of schools that you can feel when they’re recruiting you that they’re recruiting Green St. you as an athlete and not really a person. But here, they are really personal with getting to know us as people, not just as students and athletes.” Despite other Big Ten schools putting a greater emphasis on athletics, Olson says Illinois has a greater balance of education and athletics. Illinois offers conflict practices for swim & dive members every day for athletes to maintain good academic standing, while allowing them to remain committed to their sport. “The school is really incredible in that way that they support you academically and athletically, and they care about you as people,” Olson said. Though the support helps her academically, she felt very hindered socially, especially after the pandemic restricted social interactions. The large student body was something that excited her when committing to Illinois, but she also recognized that being a student-athlete would come with sacrifices. “I knew coming in that being an athlete was going to be restricting (socially) for sure.” Olson said. “But it’s a sacrifice that I’m willing to make to do something that I love.” @JonathanAlday7 jalday2@dailyillini.com

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His traits have immensely impacted the type of athlete and competitor she has become. Famously known on the team for being extremely relaxed and confident, she uses her older brother’s guidance when preparing for races. “When I’m at the meet, I’m just really relaxed, which my coaches have noticed and mentioned to me recently,” Olson said. “They’ve said, ‘Wow, you really just kinda relax and go, don’t you?’” While scouting out a team is common in any team sport where your performance is directly related to your opponent, it isn’t necessarily common practice in competitive swimming. The main focus is on your own individual performance and technique. Olson does not fit this traditional mold. Instead, she uses scouting as mental preparation before a match, further helping her stay calm. “I’m really good at researching the other teams,” Olson said. “I like to know, in my events, who’s their best girl, who was their best girl last year, what they did in their last meet; I really like to know the stats. It helps me a lot because it gets me in the mindset of, ‘Oh, she went 2:04? I need to go 2:04.’” Olson has shown she can meet lofty expectations. She was a four-year varsity athlete in high school, contributing to the success of Mater Dei High School, a private, Catholic school in Santa Ana, California. While at Mater Dei, she helped the program place third in the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Division I Championship in 2019. That same year, she was a finalist for the division, where she placed eighth in the 50-yard freestyle, won the consolation final in the 100-yard freestyle and anchored her team in the 200- and 400-yard relay, winning fifth and fourth, respectively. Since her college debut against Purdue on Jan. 16, she has become an immediate asset to the success of the team, contributing to relays, freestyle and butterfly events. At the 2020 Big Ten Championships, Olson placed 29th in the 200-yard butterfly, barely missing the cutoff to compete as a finalist in the event. Her efforts were seen by the coaches and teammates, and she was recognized as the most improved swimmer at the end of her freshman season. Most recently, she was recognized by Prairie Farms as the Scholar Athlete of the Week for her success in the Illini’s season opener against Indiana State. Although an intense competitor, she’s an equally dedicated student, one of the reasons she chose Illinois. “A lot of Big Ten teams that you talk to, you’ll find the ‘athletics first’ kind of

The DI · Wednesday, November 10, 2021

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The DI · Wednesday, November 10, 2021

CAPA RSO fuels campus interest on justice causes By Kylie Corral Staff Writer

Jacopo DeMarinis, president, secretary and co-founder of the Chicago Area Peace Action RSO, found his calling on campus during his freshman year of college. “I noticed when I first came to UIUC to tour the school, there were some students who were handing out petitions and were petitioning for a political class, and ever since then it really struck an impression on me,” DeMarinis said. “I realized that there was some real interest among the student body here in getting involved in political and justice related causes.” DeMarinis is a senior at the University, majoring in agricultural and consumer economics with a concentration on public policy and law in the college of ACES. DeMarinis described his involvement in the Chicago Area Peace Action as “a diverse coalition of students dedicated to justice; peace through justice and justice through peace building.” “We are nonpartisan,” DeMarinis said. “We welcome people of all political ideologies as long as they fundamentally

“We welcome people of all political ideologies as long as they fundamentally believe in our values of justice, equity and peace building.” Jacopo DeMarinis, senior in ACES PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOPO DEMARINIS

RSO President Jacopo DeMarinis describes the organization as a diverse coalition of students dedicated to justice.

believe in our values of justice, equity and peace building.” DeMarinis said the RSO is currently working on the Black Power Act, a campaign that would transfer money and land from current farmers to current or prospective Black farmers. DeMarinis said the campaign would work to correct the historical inequities in farming and land ownership in the United States to build wealth for Black citizens who have been deprived from

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that opportunity. Another campaign targets the goal of peace building in Chicago by investing in underserved communities, promoting restorative justice, peace education programs and truth and reconciliation to bring all of Chicago’s communities together. Regarding previous campaigns, DeMarinis discussed the Clean Energy Jobs Act, a kind of Green New Deal that works to put Illinois on a path toward clean energy jobs with a clean energy economy. DeMarinis met with a couple Illinois senators and the President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Toni Preckwinkle. “That bill was really focused on a lot of environmental justice, so improving

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job opportunities, communities of color and low-income communities,” DeMarinis said. “And also making sure that those who worked in fossil fuel jobs are compensated because they’ll be losing those jobs due to the shifts in energy.” DeMarinis also said one goal of the RSO is to vocalize their ideas to other environmental groups on campus to declare the importance of fossil fuel divestment and climate justice among the student population. Another primary goal as determined by DeMarinis is “spreading awareness of peace building and how to bring people together, people of different ethnicities, different sources of socioeconomic backgrounds and different political beliefs together.” DeMarinis said those interested in joining Chicago Area Peace Action can contact capa.uiuc@gmail.com. “If people don’t have previous experience and activism, that’s OK,” DeMarinis said. “As long as they are passionate about what they are doing. And besides that, we know how to have fun. We’re like a family!” kyliemc2@readbuzz.com

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The DI · Wednesday, November 10, 2021

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The DI · Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Student filmmaker creates spaces for Black voices By Sydney Wood Assistant buzz Editor

Kat Williams is not only a film creator but also a creator of spaces for other Black student filmmakers, aiding them in collaborating and learning more about filmmaking via Focus Pull, an organization she founded. Williams, senior at the University, is majoring in media and cinema studies. She is obtaining minors in critical film production and creative writing, and she also has a certificate in international development studies. Williams uses the name aristokatic in the creative industry. She began experimenting with filmmaking in high school, and she said she’s always known she wanted to be a storyteller. “I always knew I wanted to work in the industry in one way or another,” Williams said. “Nothing else has just ever really held my interest for very long.” Williams is the founder and president of Focus Pull, an organization she founded in June 2020. Made by and for Black student filmmakers, Focus Pull promotes Black creativity in the film industry. She said she formed Focus Pull in reaction to the racism she saw in the entertainment industry, and its creation was also partially influenced by the large number of Black Lives Matter demonstrations during that period. “I’m not particularly educated or aware or helpful when it comes to policy and government and things like that,” Williams said. “But I do know movies, and I know that there’s a massive lack of Black people who make movies and who are in movies, so I just wanted to change the way that works.” Before Focus Pull, Williams said, the University lacked a space for Black student filmmakers. She said predominantly white institutions like the University of Illinois can complicate and isolate the lives of Black students. “It can just be really hard to find your people sometimes,” Williams said. “So, I wanted to just make that possible for future kids here to make it easier to just kind of navigate existing at a white institution as a Black kid and also as a Black kid who wants to make movies.” The name “Focus Pull” references the focus puller’s role on a film set. Williams said a focus puller controls the focus of the camera lens, choosing

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Filmmaker Kat Williams, senior in Media, hopes to inspire other Black student filmmakers with her organization Focus Pull. what is blurred and what is focused. She explained how people of color, especially Black people, are typically blurred into the background of history and the film industry, saying, “We’re a big part of everything that happens, but you never really see us.” “I want to be changing the focus of the media industry to more so highlight what our community does and the talents within our community and just foster that,” she said. Williams also mentors the underclassmen in Focus Pull. She said it’s fun to see students growing as creatives and developing those skills, and she sees a younger version of herself reflected in the students she mentors. One of the hardest aspects of filmmaking is writing the script, Williams said, because she has to find inspiration before beginning to

write, saying the creative process is a “nightmare.” “Inspiration-wise, it makes me nauseous to even think about,” she said. “Like, ‘Oh, a creative thought.’ That’s so terrifying because then it’s just going to become my baby, and I’m going to have to make it, like everything is going to take over.” Despite the pressure of deadlines and scriptwriting, Williams said one of the most rewarding moments of filmmaking is seeing the finished product and showing it to others. “I really like when things come out, and I watch it with other people, and I know that a really cool shot is coming up, and then I get to watch them see it,” she said. “I think that’s really fun. It makes me happy.” “Gay Card” is one of Williams’ favorite projects she’s worked on. It was also the longest project she’s

worked on; the finished film was just over two hours. It was her first time having a major role on a feature project, and she had the opportunity to take many creative liberties and decide how she wanted to convey moments on screen. Williams said she’s open to many avenues of filmmaking – like producing, show running and directing – once she enters the film industry. “Anything would make me so happy,” she said. “Anything where I just get to be part of that process and make those stories happen. “If you want to make movies, make movies. If people are telling you that’s not a viable career option, they’re wrong. OK, that’s the moral of the story.” swood2@readbuzz.com

The DI · Wednesday, November 10, 2021

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