The Daily Illini Vol. 150 Issue 48 April 12 by The Daily Illini

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MONDAY April 12, 2021

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Vol. 150 Issue 48

State law broadens CU voter access, increases ballot drop-off boxes on the Main Quad, directly in front of the Union. “The new locations will increase voter access, especially in less equitable areas where accessing a mailbox might not be possible, like low-opportunity areas,” said Angela Patton, chief deputy clerk of Champaign County. In order to ensure that the voting process is secure and free of fraud, additional security measures will be implemented by the State Board of Elections, according to the text of H.B. 1871. One of these measures is the design of the boxes themselves. The boxes are constructed out of heavy steel, and “all collection sites shall be secured by locks that may be opened only by election security personnel,” a key step in protecting voter information, according to Pritzker. H.B. 1871 was passed in preparation for the elections currently held across Illinois. The Champaign County consolidated general election recently ended last Tuesday, and election results can be found at the Champaign County Clerk’s website. Voters can expect mail-in voting and curbside drop-off to be a part of Illinois elections in the future. “With H.B. 1871, more people will have the access they need to go vote, which is really important in ensuring our elections are healthy and represent our county,” Patton said.

BY ALEX CHANG STAFF WRITER

ELIANA CHANDRA THE DAILY ILLINI

University students exit the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District 120 Teal bus outside of the PAR dorm on Saturday. CUMTD will release two hydrogen fuel buses this fall to cut down on carbon emissions.

CUMTD transitions to hydrogen fuel BY PAYAL RATHORE STAFF WRITER

The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District has ordered two hydrogen fuel cell electric buses, which will be in service this fall in order to curb carbon emissions. This change has been made because the new buses do not produce tailpipe emissions. These buses have a comparable range to the current fleet, which is diesel and diesel-electric hybrid, and are also quieter than the current buses. “Hydrogen buses can be used in service much longer, and you don’t need as many compared to batteryelectric buses which need to be stopped and charged frequently,” said Timothy

Lindsey, senior advisor to the University’s Smart Energy Design Assistance Center. Most battery-electric buses are charged off the grid, leaving a carbon footprint, while the hydrogen fuel cell electric buses can produce the fuel with 100% renewable power. This stems from the fact that hydrogen can be produced anywhere with electricity and water available, using a process called electrolysis : An electric current is used to split hydrogen from oxygen. “The hydrogen fuel cell electric buses have a close cost parity with diesel,” Lindsey said, who estimates that the cost of electrolysis should plummet

over the next 10 years. The electric vehicle uses compressed hydrogen as an energy source. The bus has a fuel cell that acts as a continuous battery charger to extend the range of the vehicle. “Yes, MTD strives to reduce our environmental impact, including fossil fuel consumption and vehicle emissions,” said Jane Sullivan, CUMTD director of Grants & Governmental Affairs Director of CUMTD. Sullivan added that the only output from the tailpipe is water vapor that is clean enough to drink. Hydrogen has been deemed as a potential source to meet energy requirements while curb-

ing carbon emissions, according to Lindsey. Apart from being used as a fuel cell, it can be used with oxygen from the atmosphere as a source of heat or as a source of power for a combustion engine. Either way, water vapor is the only emission produced. The MTD will continue purchasing diesel-electric hybrid buses. “In the near term, we will have a fleet mixed with both hydrogen and hybrid buses,” said Sullivan in an email. “There is also potential of adding battery-electric buses and renewable natural gas to the fleet in the future.”

Voters in Champaign County now have more access to ballot drop-off locations thanks to the passage of a new state law funding installations of new boxes. House Bill 1871, signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, authorizes the state to use funds for the creation of additional drop boxes for ballots, expanding the current system of ballot boxes around the county. Specifically, these new ballot boxes are designed to be permanent installations, compared to the temporary drop boxes during election week. The new law goes into effect immediately. Additionally, H.B. 1871 also authorizes curbside drop-offs for ballots in all future elections, expanding the right for all Illinois citizens to vote from their vehicles and deliver their ballots to workers at designated sites. Previously, only voters with qualified disabilities were allowed to use curbside drop-off voting. “By making ballot drop boxes and curbside voting permanent features of our elections, we’re ensuring that all voters can access the ballot, especially our most vulnerable residents who may face barriers to voting in person,” Pritzker said in a news release. A list of ballot boxes in the Champaign-Urbana area can be found on the Champaign County Clerk’s website. The closest drop box to alexrc2@dailyillini.com the University can be found

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University provides nasal swab testing for Ramadan BY ALIZA MAJID ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI

A Champaign County ballot drop box sits outside the Illini Union on Oct. 4. Champaign County voters now have access to more ballot drop boxes after Gov. J.B. Pritzker passed House Bill 1871 to fund their installation.

INSIDE

ABE BAALI THE DAILY ILLINI

The Central Illinois Mosque & Islamic Center sits quietly at 106 S. Lincoln Ave. in Urbana on Saturday. The University is providing nasal swabs for individuals who partake in Ramadan in case fasting causes difficulties in saliva production.

alternative that they can use,” Khatib said. Students and faculty will have to request alternative testing and schedule an appointment in order to proceed with the nasal swab testing. Students can call the McKinley Health Center at 217-244-5661 and

state they are requesting nasal swab testing for religious reasons to schedule an appointment. Faculty and staff will have to call the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885 or request accommodations through their website.

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The University has announced a nasal swab alternative option that Muslims can request during the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and will take place from April 12 to May 12. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and devote themselves to reflection and contemplation during this holy month. “The University wanted to ensure that those fasting had an alternative option to saliva testing in case fasting associated with Ramadan caused potential barriers to participating in saliva testing because fasting could potentially interfere with the ability to produce saliva in quantities required for the COVID-19 testing,” said Allison Kushner, director of the ADA division of the office for Access & Equity, in an email.

This process will be available to individuals throughout the month of Ramadan and should be requested in order to make an appointment for proper accommodations. “It’s very impressive of the University to offer that because it’s not just giving another option for COVID-19, but I feel like it speaks on bigger terms and on larger mindsets that the University is showing kind of unity with the Muslim community on campus,” said Amani Khatib, a Muslim and sophomore in AHS. The information has not been shared outside of the “COVID-19 On-campus testing” section on the University’s website, which is why some students may not be aware of this alternative. “I do think they need to make it a little more known in a way and get more exposure about it, just so more students on campus are acknowledging that is a resource and that is an

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MARK CAPAPAS THE DAILY ILLINI

University students sit in a circle during SPAN 308: Spanish in the United States at the Foreign Language Building April 16, 2019. The University of Illinois plans to hold more in-person classes for the fall semester.

UI plans more in-person classes for fall BY THOMAS DEMOUY AND NESHMIA MALIK STAFF WRITERS

While priority course registration is set to begin on April 19, the size, location and delivery method for many University courses are yet to be determined. “(The) goal is to have the semester look more like fall of 2019,” said Robin Kaler, associate chancellor for Public Affairs. As COVID-19 vaccines become more widely available to students, many courses will likely return to an in-person format this

coming fall semester. “With the availability of vaccines and if case numbers stay low, we can go back to normal,” Kaler said. According to Kaler, the level of normalcy next fall will likely depend on several factors. In accordance with state guidelines, the University will not hold in-person classes with more than 200 people, and classrooms will be at a reduced capacity to start the semester. Campus social distancing requirements for next semester will depend on

the future availability of vaccines, their effectiveness and how the University decides to document individuals who have been immunized, according to Kaler. “(Vaccinated individuals) have to let us know and we need to document it,” Kaler said. Kaler also said that students cannot expect the online format to be offered for all courses, so it may be necessary for some students to plan accordingly. Current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines advise

people who have been vaccinated to continue to wear masks in public and avoid medium to large sized gatherings, especially those that occur indoors and in which social distancing is impossible. In a Massmail from March 26, the University announced that campus fees will likely return to thepre-pandemic amounts that were in place before the University adjusted them for fall 2020 and spring 2021. tdemouy2@dailyillini.com nmalik20@dailyillini.com

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NEWS

ABE BAALI THE DAILY ILLINI

The OSF Healthcare Heart of Mary Medical Center sits quietly at 1400 W. Park St. in Urbana on Saturday. The University is participating in a study to examine the effectiveness of vaccines and the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

UI participates in national COVID-19 vaccination study BY ROYAL SHRESTHA STAFF WRITER

The University is participating in a national COVID-19 research study that is studying the effectiveness of vaccines and virus spreading. The University is forming a partnership with 20 other universities across the nation in which about 12,000 students will be involved in the study. The study wants to address the question of how the virus can be transmitted in a population of vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

Joanna Shisler, professor in LAS who is currently leading this study, said “ W hat we’re not sure about yet is if people who received this vaccine can still shed virus and spread the virus to other vaccinated people.” In addition, the Champa ig n-Urba na P ubl ic Health District and the OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center will partner with the University to help collect samples and provide the vaccines. These studies have already begun and are still recruit-

ing more potential students to participate. Students will be reimbursed for participating in this study, up to a maximum of $900. Participants will be required to take nasal swabs each day and turn them in at the end of each week, along with occasional blood tests. To make it more convenient for the student, students will be able to turn in their samples when they arrive at their testing site located on campus. Students will have a chance to be paid based on how

frequently they do nasal swabs, visit clinics located at the I-Hotel to get their blood drawn and keep track of their daily symptoms, according to Shisler. “Students are welcome to join if they are between the ages of 18 and 26 and if they have previously never tested positive for COVID-19,” Shisler said. “Students will also be required to be near campus to turn in their daily swabs along with using an app to track any symptoms.” Students will be separated into two groups where

one group will receive the Moderna vaccine as soon as possible, and the other will receive it halfway during the study. Students who have already received the vaccine are still welcome to join the study. “This study is a win-win, as it helps researchers learn more about virus transmission, and it also is a nice way for students to earn some extra cash for five to 10 minutes of work each day.” Anthony Herrera, sophomore in LAS, taking part in this study said. Herrera will be staying

over the summer for schoolwork and will be required to do twice-a-week testing. He explained that the daily process of nasal swabbing along with keeping track of symptoms would only take a few extra minutes a day, and it would allow him to pay for his rent. This study will conclude in five months for all the universities participating, and the results will help the National Institute of Health with future planning, according to Shisler. royals2@dailyillini.com

RSOs protest oppression of Uighur Muslims State extends grants for small businesses, endows Urbana relief City of Urbana provides support to local economy, receives approval for eligibility modifications BY AMRITA BHATTACHARYYA AND SOPHIE CASABURI NEWS EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER

MONA ALRAZZAQ THE DAILY ILLINI

University students protest on the steps of Foellinger auditorium on Wednesday. Unite for Uighur UIUC organized the event to raise awareness for the Uighur Muslims and the abuse they’ve been facing. BY ALI ABDULLAH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Last Wednesday, the Unite for Uighur UIUC student initiative organized a protest to raise awareness against the abuse of Uighur Muslims. This systemic oppression has been flagged by several human rights organizations and many have referred to it as a “genocide,” according to BBC. The Chinese government has been accused of forcing the Uighur people into internment camps. The protest started at the Foellinger Auditorium and ended at the Central Illinois Mosque & Islamic Center. There were speeches made throughout the march by members of a variety of RSOs. Some of the organizations that were involved in the protest were the Muslim Student Organization, Students for Justice for Palestine, Arab Student Association, Black Student

Association, Pakistani Student Organization and the Underrepresented Muslims and Minority Advocates. Aliyah Mohiuddin, junior in Business, was one of the speakers at the protest. She spoke about the hardships that millions of Uighur Muslims have endured because of their culture and religion. “Since 2014, millions of Uighurs have been placed in internment camps,” Mohiuddin said. “This includes mass sterilization of women, birth rates dropping, physical and mental torture on the daily; all for the goal of the eradication of the Uighur culture and their way of life.” Mohiuddin encouraged spreading the word about this conflict because this is an issue that is not being talked about enough by the mainstream media. Yousef Ahmad, junior in Engineering, is part of this initiative against the oppres-

sion of the Uighurs. He mentioned that the goal of the protest was to raise awareness on this issue, to educate the students on campus about the abuse against the Uighurs and to raise money for the cause. According to the statement by Unite for Uighur UIUC, the initiative raised $789 for the Campaign for Uyghurs, a non-governmental organization with the goal of raising global awareness on this issue. Ahmad stated that the turnout at the protest was a little more than what he expected, which was a good sign. He said that he is proud of the progress that the initiative has made; however, there is still a lot more that needs to be done to raise awareness about this issue. Anthony Erlinger, junior in LAS, was one of the participants at the protest. He said that he found out about

the oppression of the Uighur people through social media and heard about the protest through a friend. “The speeches were very well done, everybody seemed very into it and it was very well organized,” Erlinger said. Unlike previous large protests on campus, this protest did not have a police presence. According to Ahmad, the University offered some type of police presence for the protest; however, the organizers of the event did not want any police presence at the event, thus they declined the offer. According to a statement by Unite for Uighur UIUC, “We must actively educate ourselves on what is happening, donate to organizations allocating resources to Uighurs suffering and advocate for suffering.” alia6@dailyillini.com

money to local businesses. Businesses in Urbana can reapply for additional funding from the grant, up to the maximum total of $20,000. In asking for a modification, the City of Urbana requested that rent utilities be included to help those business who were struggling to pay them. All eligible expenses are between March 1 and Dec. 30 of 2020, so business can only be reimbursed for costs during that time. Businesses must turn in eligible receipts and proof of payments before they can be reimbursed for costs. According to McMahon, the city has a longer timeline when it comes to the grant process as compared to the last cycle. “We don’t have to close out our payments until the end of June, whereas last time we had a very fast timeline and some businesses told me they just didn’t have the time to submit the application and gather all their receipts,” McMahon said. A full list of businesses that obtained funding and details on the monetary amounts received can be found on the Urbana Relief Grant website. McMa hon says that these grants can help with the overall cash f low in Urbana, as sales were so low during the pandemic. “It’s our goal to disperse all of the remaining funds, to get that in the hands of businesses who need it,” McMahon said.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has extended the deadline for applications for small business grants in Urbana under the CURES-ES program until May 28. CURES is a COVID-19 relief fund started by the DCEO that allows loca l governments to request economic support from the state, which is then given out to local businesses. The Cit y of Urba na wa s g iven $500,000 under the CURES program to give out to Urbana businesses, of which $252,020.91 was given out to 28 businesses last fall, according to a press release by the Urbana Economic Council. “The state gave us the oppor tunit y to apply for modif ication a nd extension to the grant, which we applied for and just received to hopefully grant out the remaining 200 -a nd-20 -some thousand dollars to our businesses,” said Stepheny McMahon, coord i n at or in Ur b a n a economic development. This second round of abhatt52@dailyillini.com grants will deal out the sophiec4@dailyillini.com remaining amount of

MONDAY April 12, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

LIFE & CULTURE

CU citizens protest Asian-targeted violence BY ROHIT JAMMU ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

After the Atlanta spa shootings in March that left eight people dead, including six women of Asian descent, a surge in the Stop Asian Hate movement has seen several hundreds of people joining protests, rallies and demonstrations across the country. Champaign-Urbana has been no stranger to this national movement. The Champaign-Urbana chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice, a national network with emphasis on mobilizing white people for racial justice, organized two rallies showing support for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. SURJ has organized rallies focused on working with white people. While SURJ said there can

be a culture of shame and blame in many activist circles regarding white silence, they remain determined to bring as many white people into taking action for racial justice as possible. Many people varying in race and age participated to show support for the AAPI community during both rallies. Jennifer Putman, long-time Urbana resident and graduate of the University, who served on the county board, attended both rallies organized on March 30 and April 7. Putman said there were a lot more people at the first rally despite the better weather for the second one. Putman grew up in Honolulu and attended the University of Hawaii. She said she was fortunate enough to grow up with people from a lot of countries

ROHIT JAMMU THE DAILY ILLINI

Champaign-Urbana resident Jennifer Putman poses for a photo during the #EndWhiteSilence street visibility event in downtown Champaign on Wednesday afternoon.

that rim the Pacific Ocean like Japan, China, Korea, the Philippines and more. “The people who I grew up with, who I went from adolescence to young adulthood are the same people who are now subjected to this awful fear, anger and hate,” Putman said. Abby Schrantz, one of the lead organizers of such events at SURJ, started working with them since last June. Schrantz, who organized and attended a considerable amount of demonstrations during the last 10 months with the Black Lives Matter movements, noticed that word of mouth helped propagate these events more. While Schrantz still makes a Facebook event page and spreads the word across her personal circles, different online groups and local organizations, she said that word of mouth helped more because a lot of people who hear about a demonstration and attend it usually come to the next ones, sometimes bringing more people with them. The location is another crucial factor for the number of attendees and the exposure of these events. The organizers at SURJ had to find a safe spot with a good amount of space where protestors could be visible and heard. The location eventually chosen was in front of the Champaign City Building on the corner of University Avenue and Walnut Street. “We started doing them here around last summer, and we noticed that just this intersection was getting a lot of traffic and a lot of attention,” Schrantz said. “We were also doing some at the Urbana

ROHIT JAMMU THE DAILY ILLINI

Champaign-Urbana residents Luke Lee and Eddie Pratt Jr. pose for a photo at the #EndWhiteSilence street visibility event in downtown Champaign on Wednesday afternoon. The University’s chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice has organized two rallies thus far to demand racial justice for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

Police Department, but we felt that this was just a lot more engaging with everyone driving by, waving, cheering and honking.” For Andrew McDermott, recent admit to a University master’s program for urban planning, the rally was more of a family event. While McDermott didn’t attend the first rally, he attended the second one in April. “My mother who lives in the area, too, found the Facebook page for this rally, so I just came out, it’s been a whole family thing,” McDermott said. “She came out earlier.” McDermott and Qing Lu, with whom he attended the roadside demonstration, said that with racial justice being such a focus right now, continuing to get involved would

be a good chance to get their voices heard, not only for Stop Asian Hate but also to highlight the Black Lives Matter movement. Luke Lee, another primary organizer at SURJ who moved to the Champaign-Urbana area last September, has organized several End White Silence rallies with SURJ. “Whenever the weather was bad, and it was too cold for us to stand out like this for a while, we would just have car rallies — driving around with music and flags just to spread the message — to end white supremacy and end white silence,” Lee said. While it was not Lee’s first rally, the rally held on March 7 was Eddie Pratt Jr.’s first rally against Asian hate. Pratt had been involved in many other

rallies and campaigns. However, when Pratt and Lee got to talking, they realized they had both been involved in the No Ameren Shutoff campaign together and were surprisingly already acquainted with each other. “Solidarity is important, especially when you’re in this fight and you’re trying to do the right thing,” Pratt said. “It’s easy to be bogged down, to feel defeated, you can feel it fighting against you in so many places almost at once,” Pratt said. “If you get a chance to be part of an organized event like this where you can congregate with people who have the same ideals, it’s invaluable.” rjammu2@dailyillini.com

RSO organizes Earth Week, stresses sustainability BY NATE SUN STAFF WRITER

From April 17 to April 23, Students for Environmental Concerns will host an annual Earth Week as part of the larger Earth Month observance on campus. Each day during this week will include either an in-person or virtual event, all of which are iSEE Certified Green Events, where students and community members can participate. These include volunteer days, discussions, lectures and a trivia night. The theme of Earth Week this year will be “Coming Together to Heal Our Sick Planet,” as the ongoing pandemic has highlighted the interconnectedness of Earth, its systems and our wellbeings. Activities this year will focus on the importance of health and how it relates to the environment. “Earth Day, to me, is a day to really both admire the nature that we should be protecting all year, and to celebrate and promote the critical activism happening all the time in order to make sure that nature is protected for posterity,” said Andy Sima, treasurer of SECS and senior

in LAS. “SECS’ Earth Week is basically a way to make this bigger, and give it more of the spotlight that it deserves.” The event starts with climate strike sign painting on April 17, in preparation for the Climate Strike that will be held on the April 22. Here, participants can craft their own designs or messages to display during the demonstration. On April 18 there will be a “Plogging” 5K fun run where contestants will run a course around campus while picking up trash along the way. After the “Plogging” 5K will be an ecological restoration volunteer activity with the Red Bison organization on campus. Volunteers will get to help remove invasive plant species in the University’s South Arboretum Woods. April 19 will start off with a Virtual Sustainable Cooking session that participants can follow along to on Zoom. Another Zoom presentation will be held on April 20 that will feature a lecture on ecosociology along with a discussion afterwards. SECS will be hosting a teach-in over Zoom titled “People Over Poison” on April

21. This presentation will be about understanding the threats pipelines pose to the planet and indigenous communities. Also during the day will be an in-person hike through the University’s Arboretum where participants will get to observe native plants and learn about their importance to the local ecosystem. The aforementioned Climate Strike will take place April 22, Earth Day. Participants will get to take parts in chants, listen to speeches and voice their concerns about climate change. SECS expects this event to be the biggest and most exciting. Later in the day will be a roundtable discussion with the La Colectiva organization on campus. Here, topics that will be discussed include environmental health, climate refugees and environmental justice. This discussion will take place over Zoom. Afterwards, there will be a stargazing get together. The next day, April 23, will begin with a plant fundraiser. Money raised from sales will go to Planned Parenthood. Finally, the week will end with a Zoom Trivia Night and Happy Hour. Questions will focus on

WE HAVE

plants, animals, the history of environmentalism, national parks and environmental justice and policy. Winners will receive SECS merchandise. Owen Jennings, SECS outreach coordinator, said SECS is going to focus on individual health as well. “After a challenging year for the health of all those within our community, we at SECS are excited for the opportunity to ficus on what wellness might mean to us,” Jennings said. “It is our hope that throughout Earth Week we will be able to inspire dialogue on the intersectionality of wellness and sustainability, while encouraging members of our community to become more involved in creating a healthier community in every manner possible.” A full list of event times and locations will be posted on the iSEE Earth Month calendar as well as the SECS Facebook and Instagram pages. As mentioned before, SECS said the goal of Earth Week is to have people come together to take parts in all facets of environmentalism. In order to heal the sick planet, the connectedness of people and the many aspects of environ-

OFFICIAL RCH ME

mental concerns must be taken into account. “We must remember that the environmental struggle is intersectional, and we must uplift and protect all who are fighting for environmental justice,” SECS said in an official statement. “We hope that you will join us at our virtu-

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Students Shallon Malfeo and Nicole Muczynska pose for a photo at the Students for Environmental Concerns Climate Strike last fall. The RSO will host Earth Week events from April 17 to April 23.

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Monday, April 12, 2021

Students trust horoscopes for guidance

JULIA EVERSMANN THE DAILY ILLINI

BY MATT TROHER INVESTIGATIVE NEWS AND LONGFORM EDITOR

Taylor Cianci, sophomore in LAS, is a Virgo; according to her, Virgos are reliable, organized, reserved and just a little bit too critical. Cianci’s interest in astrology sparked at a young age when she developed an interest through her mother, who has been interested in astrology for as long as Cianci can remember. They’d discuss their zodiac signs and horoscopes over the dinner table. Then, in 2018, Cianci dow nloaded Co-Sta r, the then-latest trend in astrology. Designed with simplistic black-and-white style and a user interface mimicking a social media site, Co-Star is a horoscope app that allows users to connect with friends and view their birth charts.

“In times where I was going through something, I would really listen to (Co-Star) because I would rely on it to make me feel better like maybe this is what I should do,” Cianci said. “There are times where it has been scary accurate on my home screen and I actually rake through the whole thing and take it into account.” According to Co-Star’s website, the app uses ar tificia l intelligence that merges NASA data with the insight of human astrologers. Far from the days of checking the morning newspaper for one of twelve generic horoscopes, Co-Star asks its users the exact time and location of their birth to tailor its experience to every individual user. Apps like Co-Star have grow n in popularity

over the past few years, especially among collegeaged students. According to Business Insider, revenue for astrology apps has grown over $40 million per year. However, some astrolog y enthusiasts believe Co-Star is more focused on being a socialmedia brand than an astrology guide. Recent criticism and dissatisfaction with the app has led some of its users to delete it from their phones. Esther Phipps, sophomore — and Pisces — in Media, got into astrology during her freshman year of high school after hearing people discuss it on the microblogging site Tumblr. Phipps used Co-Star for a short time during the peak of its popularity but stopped using the app after allegations that the Co-Star’s founders would

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purposely send negative horoscopes to ‘troll’ their users. “Co-Star is run by two young women, and the app is super aesthetic; it’s super geared towards how you can add your friends and see what their horoscope says,” Phipps said. “Every day, they will send out like ‘This is your new daily horoscope,’ and on video, the two founders of the website/ app were like poking fun and saying ‘Yeah we lie all the time, just for fun.’ They just admitted to lying about peoples’ horoscopes, which may be funny to people who aren’t all that into astrology, but for some people that live their life by it, it’s just rude.” Rebecca Eng, senior in LAS, is a practicing Pagan, identifying most with Wicca, a form of modern Paganism. As part of her spiritual

beliefs, astrology plays a large role in divination, which according to Eng is the “ways of procuring desired information than our conscious minds can not immediately discover or compute through communicating with the subconscious.” Eng downloaded Co-Star and almost immediately deleted it. She was born on the Pisces-Aquarius cusp and felt that the app pigeon-holed her as a Pisces, whereas she finds predictions for Aquarius horoscopes more helpful. Eng also said she believes that Co-Star, and other astrology apps, commodify a spiritual practice to many. Still, she recognizes that apps like Co-Star may give guidance and help people gain a sense of direction, despite its shortcomings. “It commodifies Pagan

beliefs a bit by turning it into a fun trend,” Eng said. “I think many people are going to be a bit annoyed when you turn a special interest or something personal into something that’s mainstream, and I’m not above that. However, astrology has been a fad for a while now and more and more people have been growing disillusioned with organized religion, — understandably so — and turning back to Pagan religions, which have been stigmatized ever since Abrahamic religions became widespread. As such, I can’t complain. And if apps like CoStar allow people to make note of the synchronicities in their own life or gives them a sense of empowerment, guidance or direction, who am I protest?” mtroher2@dailyillini.com

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Schoolyard friend 9Strolled 15 Abandon 16 Percussion item that’s shaken 17 Manufacturing of factory goods, e.g. 18 Victimize 19 Ace of spades or queen of hearts 20 Biblical twin of Jacob 22 Existence 23 Before, poetically 24 “___ Beso” (1962 Paul Anka hit) 25 Shared with, as a story 27 Sandwich often served with mayo 28 Connector between levels of a fire station 29 “I’m shocked!,” in a text 31 Religion based in Haifa, Israel 34 Sulk 35 Bothered state 36 “What goes up must come down,” e.g. 37 NPR host Shapiro 38 Big name in transmission repair 39 Young lady 40U.S. sports org. with many prominent Korean champions 41 Gown 42 The Monkees’ “___ Believer” 43 Catch sight of 44Org. in “Zero Dark Thirty” 45 Noted children’s research hospital 47 Actor Philip with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame 48 Uncle ___ (patriotic figure)

27 31

51 55

52 56

53 57

54 58

PUZZLE BY ERIC BORNSTEIN

51 Dragon in “The Hobbit” 52 Legendary queen and founder of Carthage 54 Change domiciles 55 Tasket’s partner in a nursery rhyme 57 Hazards for offshore swimmers 59 Go to 60 Faucet attachments 61 Writings of Ph.D. candidates 62 X-axis

DOWN

1 Y-axis 2 Moon-related 3 Tennis’s Agassi 4 “___ be surprised” 5 Greek M’s 6 Swear (to) 7 Middle part of the body

8 One-named Irish singer 9 Bit of concert equipment 10 Stone for a statue 11 One of over 200 recognized by the American Kennel Club 12 “I’m listening” 13 Subject of this puzzle 14 “Nuts!” 21 Golden state? 24 “Night” memoirist Wiesel 26 Cheer at a bullfight 27 Sacks 28 “___ and Bess” 30 Classic Pontiac sports cars 31 Much-visited Indonesian isle 32 “Father” of 13-Down 33 Tries some food

34 Drew for an atlas 35 Singer Bareilles 38 Tennis score after deuce 40 ’60s hallucinogenic 43 Playwright O’Neill 44 Actress Priyanka who was 2000’s Miss World 46 Fakes out of position, as in football 47 Farewell 48 “Me too” 49 Prevent, as disaster 50 Complicated, as a divorce 51 “A.S.A.P.!” 53 Baghdad’s land 54 Baseball glove 56 Football scores, for short 58 Lie in the sun

The crossword solution is in the Classified section.

OPINIONS

MONDAY April 12, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

University athletes deserve momentous Supreme Court win

for these so-called amateur teams regularly fetch multimillion dollar salaries, SENIOR becoming the highest-paid COLUMNIST state employee. Since Lovie Smith’s departure, Illini a season of domimen’s basketball coach Brad nance by the men’s Underwood stands atop the basketball team University payroll making a came to a heart-wrenching smooth $3,408,000. close in Indianapolis, the The NCAA is fully aware fight over student-athlete of athletes’ earning potencompensation continued in tial: the justices observed the nation’s other highest colleges spending tens of court. thousands on insurance The Supreme Court policies for athletes in case recently heard arguments in they get injured before going the ongoing case of NCAA v. professional. Alston, concerning whether The only logical purpose the NCAA violated federal of this insurance is to keep antitrust laws by prohibitthe students in school loning student-athletes from ger. Justice Alito noticed receiving education-related that despite the NCAA’s JULIA EVERSMANN THE DAILY ILLINI payments above the cost of dedication to the education attendance. and long-term success of the The Supreme Court athletes, they have a noticeappears likely to side with ably low graduation rate. the athletes, rightly swatThey are seemingly used for ting away arguments by the school profit, then discarded NCAA that such payments to the side. busy college students. busy mothers — a demoson that people look at and would compromise the Players like Ayo Every week Nadiya trav- graphic often targeted for think, ‘I can be like her’” integrity of amateur play. Dosumnu, departing for els to mentor a different tips in the kitchen. The and “that’s a big deal.” The keystone of the NCAA the NBA, are the excepfamily — sharing recinumber of men and wom- Nadiya incorporates vari- argument is their dedication tion rather than the norm. pes and such “cheats” to en appearing on the show ous aspects of her backto upholding amateur play. Most college athletes will cut down stress and save is roughly equal. In addiground into her cookThey argue that educationnever go professional, quality time better spent tion to mothers, Nadiya ing through ingredients, al-related payments would they play for their enjoytogether with family. shares advice with a time- techniques and the dishes definitively transform their ment and to further their While many of them are poor trucker, a new father themselves. athletes from amateurs to academic opportunities. unconventional — includ- worried he is not doing In all of the episodes, professionals. This would If the NCAA was truly ing her use of canned enough to help around the there is an emphasis on put them in direct compecommitted to the long-term baked beans to make house and an overworked creating space and quality tition for viewership with success of their current falafels — they present veterinarian. time to spend with famleagues like the NBA and players, they would be fully realistic and accessible The diversity in who ily without compromisdetract from their dedicaaccommodating of colleges methods to create deliNadiya guides is refreshing the quality of the food tion to amateur student that desire to finance the cious meals. ing, and she, herself, aims or enjoyment of cookathletics. academic interests of playThe use of shortcuts to create strides foring. Drawing from both The educationalers in any shape or form. is something that has ward in representation. her cultural background related payments the athAt root, college sports are always been incorporated In another interview, she and creativity, she brings letes seek aren’t six-figure not meant to turn a profinto Nadiya’s cooking. In talked about how she joy to the kitchen reducsalaries. They’re more conit. Only five of 90 NCAA an interview with Refinnever saw Muslim or Ban- ing the regular fuss that cerned with graduate school national championships ery29, she discussed how gladeshi women of color usually detracts from scholarships, laptops and manage to turn a profit. The the show felt “so true and on the screen. For her, the the experience of cookacademic tutors. These pay- real aim is to enhance stuvery real to (her) expeidea of having her own ing. Nadiya’s charm and ments are completely unre- dent life and the sense of rience and background” show was too far-fetched vibrant energy continulated to the NCAA’s recent campus unity. and was, therefore “such and did not initially cross ally brighten the screen, move to allow players to When the men’s basketa natural show to do.” The her mind. making for light entermanage and profit from ball team beat the Ohio authenticity and compasNadiya expresses how tainment even when time their name, image and like- State Buckeyes in overtime sion she extends to guests having a cooking show is always seems to get in the ness in deals with third-par- at the Big Ten Tournament, on the show and the audiso much more than that way. ty companies. the roar of the ocean of ence reflects this sentiment. for her. She hopes that as The NCAA’s argument orange chanting I-L-L was Nadiya assists a wide a British, Bangladeshi, Rayna is a freshman in LAS. relies on a very shallow per- deafening. Attending that range of people includMuslim woman of color rwuh2@dailyillini.com spective of what constitutes game in person was a huge ing, but not limited to, she gets “to be the per a professional athlete. morale boost for the roomThe justices had little mates and me that made the sympathy for the NCAA, road trip after a dreary year pointing out the substanof lockdowns. tial amount of money It is past due that the revolving around college NCAA gives colleges the sports. March Madness freedom to continue giving alone is projected to make educational resources to the $800,000,000 annually, athletes that brighten colconstituting 72% of the lege campuses. NCAA budget. The Supreme Court is Universities receive mas- right to question the NCAA’s sive amounts through the amateur defense. Given NCAA’s revenue, and teleJustice Brett Kavanaugh’s vision providers make bilexperience coaching his lions off ads. Why should the daughters’ basketball teams, student-athletes who draw one can only hope the decithe crowds be denied a share sion will be a slam dunk for of the pie to further their student-athletes. education? Justice Thomas thought it Matthew is a junior in LAS. was strange that the coaches krauter3@dailyillini.com MATTHEW KRAUTER

‘Nadiya’s Time to Eat’ cooks empathy RAYNA WUH COLUMNIST

etflix’s “Nadiya’s Time to Eat” is a warm, relatable cooking show hosted by the 2015 “Great British Bake Off” winner Nadiya Hussain. Between the vibrant pastel colors of the kitchen and Nadiya’s radiant personality, “Time to Eat” is a feel-good series perfect for easy viewing. The episodes include a main course accompanied by baked sweets, snacks and light meals for any mood. Nadiya’s experience on “Bake Off” demonstrates her skill at utilizing more traditional and time-consuming techniques in the kitchen. However, in this series, her recipes emphasize what she calls “cheats.” In a time crunch, her judgment-free hacks can be used by anyone, including

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

MADELINE PIERCE THE DAILY ILLINI

An encouraging message reading “Be Positive Be Strong” is written on the cement column outside of the Union on Oct. 7.

Mental health catastrophe awaits post-COVID-19

ith the advent and ongoing distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, public discourse has naturally shifted toward the lifting of restrictions instituted in light of the virus’ spread. However, from the onset of the pandemic, the prospect of a postCOVID-19 world has been marked by the notion that, in some undefined capacity, the society to which we are returning will be unlike that which we knew before. That is to say, the

incurred losses and consequences of the pandemic are so far-reaching that they will be largely immeasurable for years to come. One such consequence seldom discussed is the increased need for mental health services. A colossal loss of human life and the universally shared experience of prolonged social isolation will invariably have, to varying degrees, yielded a detrimental effect on the psychological state of many. Considering that mental

health services were inaccessible to a large portion of the American populace on a cost-prohibitive basis alone before COVID-19, it is reasonable to assume that, without institutional change, the disastrous nature of American mental health policy will intensify. A post-COVID-19 world is one rich in opportunity for reformation. The federal government must reassess the functionality and ethics of the American approach toward mental

health service systems, as well as the broader domain of health care. If the government’s response to COVID-19 — such a monumental catastrophe — is bereft of substantive change vis-à-vis the American health care system, such change is unlikely to ever occur. The time for widespread, unwavering advocacy and collective action is now. Kaleb is a graduate student in Social Work. opinions@dailyillini.com

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

Junior Ayo Dosunmu looks to pass during the game against Wisconsin on Feb. 6. Columnist Matthew believes NCAA players like Dosunmu should be allowed to be compensated with more than just tuition by colleges.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS | opinions@dailyillini.com with the subject “Letter to the Editor.” The Daily Illini reserves the right to edit for length, libel, grammar and spelling errors, and Daily Illini style or to reject any contributions. Letters must be limited to 300 words. Contributions must be typed and include the author’s name, address and phone number. University students must include their year in school and college.

MONDAY April 12, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

SPORTS

MEN’S GYMNASTICS

Manivong goes viral with vaccination card celebration BY BRAD ZIMMERMAN STAFF WRITER

During Illinois’ March 22 meet against Minnesota, sophomore Evan Manivong celebrated his stuck vault landing with a move The Athletic’s Olivia Witherite called “the ultimate flex.” A f ter stick ing the landing and saluting the judges, Manivong reached into his uniform and pulled out his COVID-19 vaccination card, holding it up for his teammates — a nd the Big Ten Network’s cameras — to see. Video of Manivong’s vault performance and subsequent celebration was posted to the Illinois men’s gymnastics team’s official Twitter account. T her e was s ome confusion about what Manivong had displayed, but he cleared it up with a tweet of his own later that night while encouraging people to get vaccinated. “It ’s my vaccination card … go get vaccinated ever yone!” Ma n ivong tweeted. Ma n ivong a nd h is teammates were vaccinated a few weeks earlier when a local clinic had extra doses of Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot

vaccine. T wo we ek s a f t er Manivong displayed his card, Witherite shared the video on her own Twitter account, and the video went viral. As of Sunday, the video has more than 3.7 million views, and Witherite’s tweet has garnered almost 58,000 likes and 11,700 ret weets. Ma nivong ’s own tweet has around the same number of likes as Witherite has retweets, with 2,600 retweets of his own. The story was picked up by t he Ch icago Tribune, The Athletic, The Washington Post and CNN, among a plethora of other news sources. Stephen Colbert included the video in his April 6 show, calling Manivong’s celebration, “A very cool way to raise awareness about vaccination.” While Manivong turned the moment into a minivaccination awareness campaign, it was originally meant as a joke between him and his teammates. “ We were trying to think of fun celebrations we could do to get the team hyped,” Manivong said. “Other teams have

PHOTO COURTESY OF EVAN MANIVONG’S TWITTER

Sophomore Evan Manivong sticks his landing and celebrates after by showing off his vaccine card during the meet against Minnesota on March 22. While originally meant as a joke between teammates, Manivong used the stunt to raise awareness about vaccinations.

dances and really creative celebrations. So I was like, ‘Maybe I’ll pull out my vaccine card.’” As the Illini rotated to

vault, Manivong’s best event, he knew it was the perfect time for his planned celebration. But he had to make sure the

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

Sophomore Evan Manivong meets with his teammates after a routine against Ohio State Jan. 23.

card would stay tucked inside his uniform as he flew through the air. His warmups proved it would. Head coach Justin Spring knew at the start of the meet that Manivong had brought his card with him to Minneapolis, but he didn’t know why. “I didn’t k now it was going to make an appearance after a big vault,” Spring said. “I was just as surprised as anyone else.” Manivong’s celebration did its intended job of hyping the team up, as he says it gave the Illini some momentum for the remainder of the meet. Illinois went on to defeat Minnesota by a full point, 393.800-392.800. While he expected the rare stuck landing to gain some attention within the gymnastics community, he didn’t expect the celebration to go viral outside the gymnastics community. “I started to realize it was blowing up when (Witherite) posted the video, and I was getting

a bunch of tags (on Twitter),” Manivong said. “I was watching the views counter, and it had 10,000 views, and then it had 70,000 an hour later, and then 100,000.” For comparison, videos posted to the team’s Twitter account typically garner a few hundred views; the video of Manivong has a few million. T he com ment s on various Twitter posts regarding Manivong have generally been positive, praising him and his celebration. “It’s an insane feeling,” Manivong said. “It’s fun to be a part of.” Spring couldn’t imagine a better person on his team than Manivong to go viral. “He’s a great kid,” Spring said. “He’s a hard worker. And he’s super into social media. He does a lot of videography stuff for us, so I think this is a really great opportunity for his skill set.” @B_RadZimm bez2@dailyillini.com

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Departures pile up as two more players announce draft dreams BY JACKSON JANES SPORTS EDITOR

Junior Giorgi Bezhanishvili announced Thursday afternoon that he will be leaving Champaign and

declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft, joining teammate Ayo Dosunmu who made the announcement Tuesday. “From basketball to classes to dancing, it has been nothing

but love since my first day here in Champaign!” Bezhanishvili wrote in an Instagram post. “I would like to thank all of Illini nation from deep in my heart for everything! My journey

here at Illinois has been amazing. With that being said, I will be entering the 2021 NBA Draft and pursuing the next step of becoming a professional basketball

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

Senior Trent Frazier passes the ball to his freshman Adam Miller during the game against Wisconsin Feb. 6. Frazier now moves on to the NBA Draft along with junior teammate Giorgi Bezhanishvili.

player. Thank you so much to everyone who has helped me along the way. I’m excited to see what the future holds.” Bezhanishvili’s production dipped over the last two seasons after a sensational freshman year, when he started all 33 games and averaged 12.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Last year, the Georgia native finished with 5.1 points per game and was not featured in the starting lineup. Bezhanishvili is not featured in any NBA mock drafts, though he will likely look for professional basketball opportunities overseas. Florida transfer Omar Payne should help fill in Bezhanishvili’s production, though Illinois is expected to make more moves in the transfer portal. Senior guard Trent Frazier also announced that he is declaring for the NBA Draft Friday afternoon, though he remains eligible to return for a fifth season, as he is hiring an NCAA-approved agent. “To my teammates, my brothers and all of Illini nation, I want to say thank you for being part of this special journey,” Frazier wrote in a statement on Twitter Friday. “We have created memories that will last forever. You guys took me in and helped me grow into the person I am today. The support you guys have given me has been overwhelming. You have made these four years incredible and so special. I will be an Illini forever!” “With that being said, I will be entering the NBA Draft

and hiring an agent. This is the moment I have dreamed of my whole life.” Frazier made an immediate impact after joining the Illini as a freshman, leading all conference freshmen in points (12.5), assists (3.1) and steals. (1.7). The Wellington, Florida native also made the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and was named a All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media after his first year in Champaign. After earning a second consecutive All-Conference honorable mention as a sophomore, Frazier found his defensive groove as a junior, leading the Illini with 29 steals while also racking up 12 double-digit scoring games. As a senior, Frazier started all 31 games and averaged 10.2 points per game, the third-highest mark on the team. He was also the team’s most reliable 3-point shooter, hitting 55 treys. Frazier was frequently tasked with guarding the opponent’s strongest shooter, so it came as no surprise when he was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team for the first time in his career. The senior guard also made the All-Big Ten honorable mention list for the third time. Bezhanishvili and Frazier are the third and fourth Illini, respectively, to announce their departures from the program, joining Dosunmu and freshman Adam Miller, who announced last week that he will be entering the transfer portal. @JacksonJanes3 janes6@dailyillini.com

2B Monday, April 12, 2021

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TRACK & FIELD

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL GLASGOW / ILLINOIS ATHLETICS

Members of the Demirjian family, along with other donors, pose for a photo in front of the bleachers at Demirjian Park Tuesday. The newly constructed park will serve as home to the Illini track & field, cross country and soccer programs.

Illini strengthen brand, reputation with Demirjian Park BY CARSON GOURDIE STAFF WRITER

When Mike Turk, the director of track & field and cross country, brings up Illinois’ program history, he doesn’t think it’s good; he thinks it’s historic, as it has featured Hall of Fame coaches, Olympians and 65 Big Ten championships. But something was off within the program. Athletes had no lockers. When it rained, the athletes had no locker rooms to go to. Spectators watched meets from a single set of stands. The old Illini track stadium was better suited for Champaign Central High School, not a top research institution. Now, with the opening of Demirjian Park, the new

home to the track & field, cross country and soccer program, the Illini have the capability to build up their brand and compete against the nation’s elite. “When you go to Indiana, Ohio State, Texas and see the facilities, it is impactful,” Turk said. “(Demirjian Park) shows the program is important and that there’s an expectation. I think it’ll open doors for recruiting.” It appears college athletics has become an arms race for who can have the nicest stadium and the flashiest facilities. But Turk praises the Illini for avoiding overspending and providing amenities that are directly beneficial for the program. The new park contains new amenities such as locker

rooms, video and meeting rooms, lounge and study spaces, sports medicine and nutrition facilities and coach offices that benefit 25% of all Illini athletes. “We went from the bottom half in facilities to the top,” Turk said. Turk has been in the coaching business for over 37 seasons. He’s been employed under numerous athletic directors who all say upgrading facilities is a must. Repeatedly, however, Turk had been let down, as the rhetoric involved no substance. Turk is said to build his program around a philosophy that is based on four core values: unity, integrity, transparency and focus. Athletic director

Josh Whitman hit that mark when he promised facilities would be improved soon under his leadership. While Turk credits the Demirjian family, along with seven other donors that allowed for the construction of the park, the process was overseen by the athletic director, who was able to get the ball rolling after years of no progress. “I’ve had some great athletic directors and some horrible ones,” Turk said. “But the thing about Josh, when you talk about what you want in a leader, it’s about what gets carried out. What he says he means. It was really easy for me to buy into his vision.” Under W h it m a n’s leadership, facility upgrades

haven’t been narrowed to only revenue sports, as he’s on track to eventually upgrade each facility while building a hockey stadium in downtown Champaign, which got stalled due to COVID-19. While the Illini managed to compete well against other Big Ten rivals, old facilities put them in a bind when competing for talent. Even when Demirjian Park was just being built, Turk could sense the new building was catching the eyes of high schoolers. Now, with the new park, the Illini will have a platform to hold home meets and conference tournaments. “It’s quite impactful when we are asked why we don’t have more home meets,”

Turk said. “Well, you have to have people who want to run there. Now, we can. Outside of our community, (Demirjian Park) created buzz.” On April 23, Illinois will host the Fighting Illini Big Ten Relays, allowing the conference to check out the new park for the first time. Turk, who’s been in coaching for almost four decades, has some nerves about the late spring meet. “I’m a little nervous; it’s a new event at the facility,” Turk said. “But it’ll be huge. Every school in the Big Ten will be there. There may be more athletes here than the Big Ten Tournament.” @gourdiereport gourdie2@dailyillini.com

THE DAILY ILLINI PRESENTS

Housing Fair 2021

Wednesday, April 28th • 3pm-7pm COVID safety measures will be followed FEATURING: American Campus Communities

• Bankier Apartments • Burnham 310 • Campus Circle Apartments • The Dean Campustown • First Column Student Living • Green Street Realty • HERE Champaign • One Illinois • The Pointe at Uof I • Smile Student Living

IN-PERSON EVENT · University YMCA

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Monday, April 12, 2021

MEN’S BASKETBALL

MARK CAPAPAS THE DAILY ILLINI

Illini basketball head Coach Brad Underwood finishes a timeout huddle with his team during the game against Purdue Jan. 2. Underwood has been using his time in the offseason to recruit players from the transfer portal.

No time off: Underwood recruits transfer portal BY BRANDON SIMBERG STAFF WRITER

As soon as Illinois’ season came to a conclusion on March 21, Brad Underwood didn’t have time to rest. Sure, his team won’t play another game for months and a long offseason awaits, but at that point there were already hundreds of players in the NCA A transfer portal. As of this past weekend, that number was over 1,000. With freshman Adam Mi l ler enter ing the transfer portal, juniors Giorgi Bezhanishvili and Ayo Dosunmu electing to turn pro and seniors Trent Frazier and Da’Monte

Williams both potentially not using their last year of eligibility, Underwood has been on the phone consta ntly recr uiting players in the portal. “It’s been the majority of my last 10 days,” Underwood said. The rise of the transfer portal stems from a rule change that allows players to transfer one time without having to sit out for a season. This is a stark change from how things used to be, and landing a high-priority transfer now feels equivalent to landing a five-star recruit. The NCA A champion Baylor Bears had four of its top

six scorers in its rotation come to Waco, Texas via the transfer portal. Underwood didn’t always believe in the transfer route as the way to build a team, but he understands the importance of it now more than ever. “I’ve always had the philosophy that I wanted to build with freshmen and develop them,” Underwood said. “I think we’ve been an unbelievable program in development of players. I’ll use Ayo (Dosunmu), a young man who’s gained 30 pounds and added nine inches to his vertical, couldn’t bench 185 when he got here and did it

16 times the other day. That is development and maturity.” Thus far, Underwood has had several swings and misses in the portal. He was successful in landing Florida transfer Omar Payne as a potential replacement or back-up for sophomore Kofi Cockburn. But the Illini narrowly missed on Texas Tech transfer Nimari Burnett, who elected to attend Alabama instead. Underwood and company appeared to be making progress on Indiana transfer Armaan Franklin, but he committed to Virginia this past week. There’s still plenty of

high-quality players in the portal that Underwood has been in contact with, and with plenty of scholarship spots available, expect the Illini staff to stay busy over the next few weeks and months. Another new wrinkle is the potential for a player to enter and then return to the school they transferred from. For Illinois, this could apply to Miller, who entered the portal a few weeks ago and has not yet ruled out a return to Illinois. “We want guys who want to be a part of what we do,” Underwood said. “As we have end of the season

meetings, we’ll have those discussions. But that’s the world we’re in ... They hold all the cards.” Basketball and skill development is still a priority this offseason. Underwood said he hadn’t watched the Loyola game yet, but he plans on it. Recruiting becomes more important than ever with the rise of the portal, and with the landscape of college basketball shifting, expect this to be the new norm for college coaches across the country. @BrandonSimberg simberg2@dailyillini.com

BASEBALL

LANIE HIBEL THE DAILY ILLINI

Sophomore Justin Janas hits the baseball during the Illinois game against Northwestern on March 26. Janas used the offseason to become one of the top hitters on the team.

Janas uses offseason to transform body, mindset, approach BY GABBY HAJDUK STAFF WRITER

In Illinois’ shortened 2020 sea son, thenfreshman Justin Janas recorded just six at-bats, failing to connect on any. When COVID-19 canceled the remainder of the season, Janas had two options: cruise through the offseason and occasionally pitch-hit in 2021 or transform his body and mindset to earn a starting role on a young team. Picking the latter option, Janas not only made his way into the starting lineup, but he became the Illini’s top hitter just six weeks into

his sophomore season. “This season everything was still pretty new to me because I didn’t experience a whole lot last year,” Janas said. “Everything has been going good. It’s kind of exciting. The first couple games there were a little bit of nerves, but as the season started to go on, everything started to flow together really nice.” Becoming the best hitter for Illinois is no easy feat, as the team is the secondbest offensive team in the Big Ten, sitting just behind Nebraska with a .285 overall batting average. And Champaign is home to some

big hitters like Branden Comia — who hit .426 last season — and Jackson Raper — who hit .436 in 2020 for Catawba College. Janas’ success didn’t come easily, though. Heading into the long offseason in March, Janas knew he needed to make changes, both physically and mentally. So he worked with Illinois baseball trainer Justin Houng to find a diet that would help him “lose some weight and turn everything else into muscle.” “Every week, I would send (Houng ) what I ate, like my whole diet

for the week and how many calories and stuff I consumed,” Janas said. “I would send that to him like every Friday I think it was, and he looked up on it, and he made sure I was putting the right things in my body. And I pretty much followed with that all throughout quarantine and that helped a lot.” When it came to building that muscle, Janas was able to work with his old trainer back home in Homer Glen to get advice from someone he trusted. With the plan for physical changes in place, Janas began to work on

the mental side of things. That started with just getting more comfortable with his swing, as he made some minor adjustments like closing off his stance a bit. Then it came down to getting the reps, so Janas practiced his hitting nearly every day through the spring and summer while teaching himself to simplify his swing. “The biggest thing for me is just keeping things really simple,” Janas said. “Last year, I had way too much going on and in my head, like trying to fix this, trying to fix that. This year, I just kind of just cleared

my mind and just trusted my ability, kind of just really thought about just barreling up the baseball like nothing special.” A simple yet matured mindset has helped Janas improve each weekend as a sophomore, as he has gone 14-for-26 over the last eight games. Janas has also solidified himself as one of the conference’s best hitters, ranking fourth behind Zack Raabe of Minnesota, Mike Nyisztor of Rutgers and Anthony Calarco of Northwestern. @gabby_h11 ghajduk2@dailyillini.com

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Monday, April 12, 2021

Nectar returns to music scene BY SYDNEY WOOD BUZZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

After recently finishing the recording of their sophomore album, Nectar is eager for people to hear its latest album and to return to the performance scene. The Champaign-based pop-punk band began recording its second album in February, yet the pandemic postponed the recording process, so the band finished recording last February. Nectar is composed of vocalist and guitarist Kamila Glowacki, guitarist Aaron Shults, bassist Isabel Skidmore and drummer Jake Mott. In 2018, the band released its debut album “Knocking at the Door.” Glowacki said that before the pandemic, the band members would see each other during their weekly practices, and oftentimes Nectar would play weekend shows or travel to out-of-town shows. She said how it was a special time to be together and play music, and it was also nice to be social, joke around and see each other. “It’s been really hard to have the sort of absence of that music community because it was such a constant presence in our life beforehand,” Glowacki said. Glowacki said Nectar’s latest album has many themes that connect to isolation, longing and struggles with mental health, including anxiety and depression. She also said the album focuses on moving from nervous energy to a feeling of vulnerability that incorporates many elements related to everyday routines and moments. She noted that the album’s theme of repetitive, everyday spaces is funny because the songs were written before the pandemic, yet the pandemic-induced isolation has given her time to sit and reflect on the songs and their meanings. “Because it has been such a long recording process, the lyrics that I’ve developed and the meaning of the songs take on a different tone and

resonate in a different way because of the pandemic and the sort of isolation and adjustment to this new routine and reality that we’re living in,” Glowacki said. She said she experimented with her vocals in the album by stripping down songs to allow her vocals to be more vulnerable and soft. She explained how Nectar’s last album was more of a power pop-punk record with many quick, upbeat songs, yet its latest album takes a step back from that energy, allowing for more openness and vulnerability. “I’ve definitely grown a lot through my vocal performance on this record,” Glowacki said. “It’s a nice balance of upbeat energy, poppunk kind of songs but then also softer, slower, starryeyed, swoony pop songs, too.” If fans want a taste of Nectar’s upcoming record, the band released two singles last year – “Blister” and “Fishy” – that provide a similar feel to the album’s vibe, according to Glowacki. Glowacki hinted that the album’s artwork will have certain details that connect to imagery in Nectar’s previous releases, but oth-

er elements will relate to some of the themes of the new record and themes of reflection and vulnerability. She said the album’s artwork is in its early stages, so she didn’t want to reveal too much about the design. Nectar is planning to return to the live music scene once businesses reopen, and the band has been communicating with venues to schedule outdoor gigs and other COVID-19-safe performance opportunities for the summer. As Nectar gears up to release its album and return to the live music scene, Glowacki said she is grateful for the opportunity to record the album after the uncertainty of this past year and to have music as an emotional outlet. “Because we were not practicing and playing shows, being able to be creative and express myself through the recording process was such a privilege,” Glowacki said. “It really meant a lot to me to be able to look forward to that and to be able to say that we created something in the midst of this really difficult time.” swood2@readbuzz.com

buzz calendar BY RUKAYAH HUSSEIN BUZZ CALENDAR EDITOR

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

TUESDAY, APRIL 13

Lunchtime Live Storytelling  1:15 p.m.-1:45 p.m.

The Mark of Slavery and Between  Virtual event hosted by Spurlock Fitness and Death (Virtual Museum Event)  Free  11 a.m.  Virtual event hosted by the University of Illinois Press  Free, registration required Join Jenifer L. Barclay, author of “The Mark of Slavery: Disability, Race and Gender in Antebellum America” and Stefanie Hunt-Kennedy, author of “Between Fitness and Death: Disability and Slavery in the Caribbean” for an event celebrating the release of their books on April 13 at noon EST. Daina Ramey Berry will moderate.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14

Mornings with the Museum: Natural Wonders  10 a.m.-10:30 a.m.  Virtual event hosted by the Champaign County Forest Preserve District  Free Bring your coffee and join Champaign County Forest Preserve District museum and education staff members for some casual conversation via Facebook and YouTube Live! The theme for this edition is “Natural Wonders.” With Earth Day and Arbor Day right around the corner, staff members will share tales related to the natural world. Hear about local natural wonders, examine artifacts from our collection related to nature and much more! Be sure to tune in to check out some “Natural Wonders” and share your stories!

Take a soothing lunch break and join Kim Sheahan Sanford, the Spurlock Museum’s assistant director of education and resident storyteller, for family-friendly stories from around the world. Access the Facebook Live event on our Facebook page.

Collage Concept | Crafty Adults

 7 p.m.  Virtual event hosted by the Champaign Public Library  Free, registration required Come to our live webinar to learn a new craft every month at Crafty Adults! Looking to take your paper crafting skills to the next level? Learn some collage concepts to create cards, original artwork or decoupage projects! Join Laura Reiss as she shares how collages can be used to tell a story, refresh a space or even preserve a memory. Crafters of all skill levels are welcome!

PHOTO COURTESY OF JANELLE ABAD

Members of the Champaign-based pop-punk band Kamila Glowacki, Aaron Shults, Isabel Skidmore and Jake Mott pose for a photo. The band recently finished recording their second studio album after a year of setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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buzz

Taylor Swift fearlessly reclaims voice with new album BY CAROLINA GARIBAY BUZZ EDITOR

In 2005, 16-year-old aspiring country artist Taylor Swift signed a 13-year record deal with Big Machine Records. Sixteen years later, Swift is now a record-breaker and an 11-time Grammy-winning singer and songwriter. Most recently, Swift became the first female artist to win album of the year three times. But that’s old news. On Friday, Swift released “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” the first of her series of re-releases that was a result of a feud between Scott Borchetta, Scooter Braun and her. If you haven’t heard about this, Borchetta sold BMR to Braun (which included the original recordings, or masters, of Swift’s first six albums) without giving Swift the option to purchase them herself. Braun then sold Swift’s masters in a $300 million deal with Shamrock Holdings. Swift decided to re-record her first six albums in order to not only reclaim her life’s work, but her brand and the sense of pride she had when releasing “Fearless” in 2008. Swift announced the release of “Fea rless (Taylor’s Version)” in February, saying, “Artists should own their own work for so many reasons, but the most screamingly obvious one is that the artist is the only one who really knows that body of work.” With this announcement of the “Fearless” re-release also came a wave of

emotion and excitement from fans, many of whom see “Fearless” as a defining moment of their teenage years. “Fearless” is a look into Swift’s teenage diary, which for many fans, was pretty similar to their own lives. This is why so many Swifties feel such a close connection to this album and were so excited for its re-release, among millions of other reasons. No one was really sure whether to expect a copycat version of “Fearless” or instead, a reimagined album with several noticeable changes. What Swift gave us was both strikingly similar to the original album but also contained just the right number of differences, mostly stylistic ones, for hardcore fans to tell that this album, like Swift herself, has grown up. For the most part, “ Fe a r l e s s ( Ta y l o r ’s Version)” sounds identical to the 2008 album, the biggest difference being the maturity in Swift’s voice. She obviously sounds older, but she also sounds more confident (maybe because she’s surer of herself knowing how big this album was). But she also retains the youthful sound and energy she had in “Fearless,” which is what makes this album so nostalgic yet so new at the same time. The song “Fearless” was a genius way for Swift to start the album in 2008, and it’s just as iconic in 2021. When that first guitar strum hits fans’ ears, they’re immediately brought back

to their childhoods when they were first enamored by the way Swift perfectly captured all of their experiences in one album. Many fans are younger than Swift and saw “Fearless” as a collection of experiences to look forward to in the future. “Fifteen” was once a reflection of an age that seemed so important to Swift fans but is now probably the cause of a lot of cringing and self-reflection about some questionable outfit choices. This song also holds more weight for fans because they can now look back on the age of 15 and relate more to lyrics like, “But in your life you’ll do things / Greater than dating the boy on the football team.” “Hey Stephen (Taylor’s Version)” invites fans to remember their first crush’s name when they probably haven’t thought about that person in years. Fans get to relive the first time they heard Swift sing, “All those other girls / Well they’re beautiful / But would they write a song for you?” followed by Swift’s iconic, playful laugh. Swift released “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” in February, and it contains the most noticeable differences, mainly the way Swift sings certain lyrics. “You Belong With Me (Taylor’s Version)” is just as serotonin-inducing as the original, and you can almost hear Swift smiling throughout the song as if she’s saying, “Yeah, I know this song is one of the greatest songs ever released,” because it is.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BETH GARRABRANT/GENIUS

The cover of Taylor Swift’s “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” album is shown above. The album released on Friday.

Fans listening to “That’s The Way I Loved You (Taylor’s Version)” now know that the narrative Swift described in “That’s The Way I Loved You” was totally unrealistic. Swift sings, “I miss screaming and fighting / And kissing in the rain,” but how many people actually kissed someone in the rain and can say, “I’m so in love that I acted insane,” if we’re being honest? “Forever & A lways (Taylor’s Version)” is one of the best songs on this album and instantly makes you want to dance around your room and sing into your hairbrush again, and there was nothing wrong with it when you were eight, and there’s still nothing wrong with it when you’re 21.

Swift also released “vault” songs, songs that she wrote for the album but didn’t end up including for reasons that she says “seem unnecessary now.” The best of these are “Mr. Perfectly Fine (Taylor’s Version),” inspired by Joe Jonas, and “That’s When (feat. Keith Urban) (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” which was surprisingly one of the best songs on the album. If you find yourself on Taylor Swift TikTok, you’ll be met with thousands of clips comparing the two albums and pointing out every difference down to the way Swift breathes on each version. But every Swiftie’s experience listening to “Fearless” and “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” is

different, and everyone has different connections to certain songs. Swift, like Swifties, is grown up now, and though you can hear the maturation in her voice, the lyrics and music are identical, which provides fans w ith the same satisfaction as “Fearless.” This album is a musical representation of what it means to be a teenager and grow up and learn that though we should always be learning from our past, we never really need to leave it behind, and actually, it’s OK to embrace your youth and dance around your room to Taylor Swift, no matter how old you are. garibay5@readbuzz.com

Begin your mindfulness journey with these meditation apps BY CAILEIGH ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER

The past year and a half has been tough on everyone. Between the anxieties of COVID-19, political strife, missing friends and family and adjusting to online

school, the world has been stressful. During this time, we must find things to do for ourselves to destress our lives and make us feel more in control. One way to do this is through meditation.

ANGELINA CHAN THE DAILY ILLINI

Mediations can have some negative connotations. It’s not about being completely peaceful or zen, but more about taking control of your mind and your thoughts. I have been incorporating mindf ulness into my everyday life since August, and I have seen significant results. Med it ation is not always the pleasant and p e ac ef u l ex p er ienc e everyone assumes it to be. Just like everything in life, mindfulness takes practice, and the more you do it, the more control you have over your mind and body. Mindfulness and meditation are not only about developing compassion for ourselves but for others around us, as well. That being said, it is never easy. Unpleasant thoughts will come up and the goal is to label these feelings or sensations until they eventually pass. As humans, we tend to ruminate in feelings of pain and suffering, which

meditation cannot cure, but can vastly improve. If you are planning on bringing mindfulness into your everyday life, having a routine to start is useful. Maybe you find yourself being more alert in the morning, or maybe you tend to feel more energized at night. Whichever you prefer, try to make this a habit. You could start by doing a 10-minute meditation every time you wake up or go to bed. The time of day is up to you, but it is helpful to be consistent. If you start to do it at the same time every day, it will become part of your everyday routine. Another suggestion is to download a mindfulness app. Here’s a list of some of the best apps you can download to help you along your mindfulness journey.

Simple Habit

The main thing that turned me away from mindfulness for so long was the time commitment. I didn’t believe I had enough

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time a day to set aside for mindfulness. This app is great for beginners because it provides you with brief, five-minute meditations to calm anxiety, to help you calm down or to be present in the body. I’ll even find myself using this app if I am completing a stressful assignment and am needing a little break to just be with my thoughts and my body.

Mindfulness App

mindfulness journey and those who are experienced w ith mindfulness practices.

MyLife Meditation

The best apps for m ind f u lness, in my opinion, are the ones that ask you how experienced you are with mindfulness practices and meditation. This question allows you to be honest with yourself and truly investigate why you want to begin mindfulness. It also lets you set an alarm so you can be reminded to practice every day. The app has experts design a program for you, and it is geared towards your personal emotions and struggles. Personally, I have been dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety, and the app provided me with a program to specifically combat those emotions. I would highly recommend this app to anyone who is dealing with excessive amounts of stress.

This is one of the toprated mindfulness apps in the app store. It ’s great because the app is suited for you and is flexible to your lifestyle. I downloaded this app about three months ago and have found myself using it at least three times a week. It provides you with a vast option of meditations that range from about three to 30 minutes. I also have an alarm set every morning at 8 a.m. that reminds me to meditate every morning. This app is great for people just beginning their cda8@readbuzz.com

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