The Daily Illini Vol. 150 Issue 52 April 26

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MONDAY April 26, 2021

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Vol. 150 Issue 52

Vaccine availability Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes in 2019 surpasses demand LONGFORM

Anti-Semitic hate crimes make up over 60% of reported hate crimes in 2019

STAFF WRITER

Religious bias Hate crimes motivated by religious bias accounted for 1,650 offenses reported by law enforcement. A breakdown of the bias motivation of religious-biased offenses showed: 60.3% were anti-Jewish.

13.3% were anti-Islamic (Muslim).

4.0% were anti-Catholic.

3.6% were anti-other Christian.

3.0% were anti-Sikh.

2.8% were anti-Eastern Orthodox (Russian, Greek, Other).

2.5% were anti-multiple religions, group.

1.5% were anti-Protestant.

0.8% (Fourteen offenses) were anti-Mormon.

0.4% (Seven offenses) were anti-Hindu.

0.4% (Seven offenses) were anti-Jehovah’s Witness.

0.4% (Six offenses) were anti-Atheism/Agnosticism/etc.

0.3% (Five offenses) were anti-Buddhist.

6.5% were anti-other (unspecified) religion.

Source: FBI

A campus divided against itself

JONAH OZER THE DAILY ILLINI

Jewish students allege UI inaction U.S. college campuses, the University does not find itself immune, according to a complaint filed within the Office of Civil Rights and the federal Department of Education. The University claims it “must do more” as Jewish students on campus allege widespread actions of anti-Semitism.

After collecting incident reports over the span of five years, a group of Jewish students came forward to file a complaint against the University.

The complaint alleges Jewish students have increasingly faced antiSemitism during their time at the University including sightings of Swastikas, vandalism of Jewish centers and feelings of exclusion from institutions across campus.

BY FARRAH ANDERSON ASSISTANT INVESTIGATIVE NEWS & LONGFORM EDITOR

Part One: Jewish Voices

Jewish Studies Professor Rachel Harris was setting up for class when a student entered her classroom visibly upset. After talking with the student, she learned he had been harassed on the Main Quad by an antiSemitic ranter.

Harris urged the student to report the incident but said the student believed the University wouldn’t do anything.

“I saw the student’s despair that nobody cared what he had been through, and that’s not a climate that we want to be promoting on campus,” Harris said.

As hate crimes and antiSemitic incidents rise across

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion stated in an email they cannot comment on an ongoing lawsuit for this story.

Following the complaint, the University released a joint statement in November with the Jewish United Fund, Illini Hillel, Hillel International, Illini Chabad, Arnold & Porter and the Brandeis Center.

The statement emphasizes that although members in the community may not always share the same feelings, it is the University’s goal to foster a safe environment for Jewish and pro-Israel students.

“Students who choose the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for their college education make that decision with an

demand.

“If a student wants to get a vaccination today, we have open slots right now,” Parker said.

Parker roughly estimates that about 10,000 students have been vaccinated through the University.

“Because demand is softening, CUPHD is saying, ‘We’ll keep our vaccines in deep freeze’,” Parker said, describing how the CUPHD has responded to the drop in student demand.

The University also plans to continue delivering second doses of the vaccine to students even after the end of the semester, so that students don’t need to worry about not being able to receive a second dose.

If students must return home before receiving their second dose, then they will be able to arrange a second dose appointment with the health authorities of their home county.

With roughly 38% of the eligible population currently fully vaccinated, the struggle going forward will center on outreach toward those who have not yet received the vaccine.

“The challenge right now is that most of the people who really wanted the vaccine have either already gotten the vaccine or they have been scheduled,” Vaid said. “Now the challenge is to encourage people, to educate people who are not yet willing to get the vaccine or are unaware that the vaccine is available.”

Both the CUPHD and the University are launching outreach programs to educate residents about the vaccine’s safety and eligibility.

BY GEORGE PHELAN

expectation that they will find the freedom and security to grow, to explore and to express their whole and best selves,” the statement said.

“But, sadly, that is not the experience of all members of the student community. Anti-Semitic acts and expressions are all too common in our country and in our world, and examples of that intolerance have occurred at this University as well. This is unacceptable. While the University has taken measures in the past to address this problem, the University must do more.”

Although many students, faculty and staff praised this statement, others said that it was just the first step in

Despite the expanded eligibilit y increasing demand, health officials with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and the University are reporting an expected surplus of available vaccines. On April 15, the CUPHD announced that it would be expanding vaccine eligibility to all Champaign County residents 16 years of age or older.

The availability of vaccines is helped in part by the increased number of vaccines that the CUPHD has received.

“In the last two weeks, we have seen a much higher allocation of vaccines for Champaign County, which has made it a lot easier for anyone 16 and older to get an appointment within the same week,” said Awais Vaid, deputy administrator and epidemiologist of the CUPHD. “Two weeks back, we were getting about 2,000 to 3,000 vaccines a week, but last week we got about 10,000 doses of the vaccine.”

According to Vaid, this increase in doses, all of which are either Pfizer or Moderna, was not impacted by the recent halt to distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to health concerns.

“We did not receive much of Johnson & Johnson at all when it was available,” Vaid said.

With the supply exceeding demand currently, the CUPHD is planning to open vaccine clinics at C-U high schools starting next week.

For Dr. Robert Parker, the director of McKinley Health Services, there’s also no question that supply is currently exceeding student georgep2@dailyillini.com

SEE DIVIDED | 3A

Muslims fast on campus during Ramadan

BY ALI ABDULLAH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Muslim Holy month of Ramadan started on CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI April 12. This will be the A Champaign County resident receives the Moderna COVID-19 first Ramadan on campus vaccine at the Church of the Living God on Feb. 20. The vaccine for students at the Universupply now outpaces demand in Champaign County. sity in several years.

Muslims all over the world fast from dawn till dusk during this month.

The pandemic and fasting on campus have changed the fasting experience for students on campus.

“This is my first Ramadan being away from my family and most students are facing a similar situation,” said Sufyan Baig, Sports: Illinois Opinions: ‘The Boys’ junior in LAS and the presimen’s tennis seniors exposes superheros’ dent of the Muslim Student ABE BAALI THE DAILY ILLINI discuss returns darker tendencies Association. “Personally, I The Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center sits quietly at 106 S. Lincoln Ave. in Urbana on

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SEE RAMADAN | 3A

April 10. The Muslim holy month of Ramadan started on April 12 and will be the first fasting experience some students have had on campus.

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Champaign police officers patrol the Green St. Campustown area on March 31, 2019. The Champaign Unit 4 school board recently voted to re-enlist two school resource officers for the next year.

The Champaign Unit 4 school board recently voted 6-1 to re-enlist two school resource officers for the next year.

The Champaign Police school resource officers have been serving the Champaign Unit 4 School District since 2006, as per guidelines implemented by the National Association of School Resource Officers.

The goal of the School Resource Officer program is to provide safer learning environments and resources to students and staff members to create a congenial environment for the success of students.

Elizabeth Sotiropou-

los, member of the Unit 4 Board of Education, was the only board member to vote against the contract and cited the lack of an actual plan for restorative justice as one of the reasons for doing so.

“This district’s administrative decisions continue to marginalize the students of this district,” Sotiropoulos said in her board comment. “I am voting no on this contract, because you could have — and should have — done better.”

Many other board members that voted for the renewal of the contract also wanted to see the eventual end of the program but argued at a board meeting April 12 that the program is cur-

rently still necessary.

“We’ve asked for better control over their movement and have been given that,” said Bruce Brown, member of Unit 4 of Education. “I look forward to the day that we don’t need (a School Resource Officer), but I know that we’re not there yet in our community.”

Brown pushed for antiracism training for SRO’s, similar to what teachers go through, and added that they should be aware and sensitized regarding the environment that they are working in. Local activists also spoke in the meeting and urged for the removal of the officers.

“As students, we reach out in solidarity to the teachers and the students

that are actively fighting for SRO’s to be removed,” Drake Materre, community activist, said in the meeting.

Many parents present in the meeting also expressed their concerns over SRO’s and mentioned that their children should not have to be re-traumatized by the presence of SRO’s that bear resemblance to the officers that patrol the streets.

The full recurring costs of re-enlisting two school resources officers is $349,611 for the next year, according to the amendment. The renewal of the program will begin on July 1 and will end on June 30, 2022. payalr2@dailyillini.com

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MONDAY April 26, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

NEWS

Program supports Black students, mitigates trauma

BY NESHMIA MALIK STAFF WRITER

The Champaign LIFT program, a partnership between the Champaign City Council and school districts to help Black students thrive in their academic environment, will take off in October. The Champaign City Council discussed the program this past Tuesday before it gets finalized in May. University researchers are also said to be involved in analyzing the effectiveness of the program. The LIFT program directors will be working closely with the Center for Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment in the College of Education at the University to analyze the demographic disparities in these schools.

Since 2018, the City and school districts noticed a drastic increase in violence in the community with nine young people in the community at the age of 17 and younger being victims of gun violence — an issue that left three dead and six injured.

This program was built to provide support for African American students in communities that are subject to violence, mental health issues and trauma as well as assisting Black students in academic success.

The staff report stated

FROM 1A

DIVIDED the University’s process of regaining the trust of the Jewish community on campus.

Despite reaching out to dozens of University students, many didn’t feel comfortable describing their experiences. Lawyers defending the complaint against the University didn’t want students speaking out to the press. This complicated the reporting process.

Even after reporting incidents to administrators within University departments, some students said anti-Semitic actions were simply labeled as vandalism. During interviews, students said their experiences are common, persistent and something their families prepared them for before they left for college.

“Students don’t just go to federal authorities every other day to ask for support,” said Erez Cohen, director of Hillel at the University.

The following experiences are detailed recounts of individual students who have experienced challenges as a part of the University’s Jewish community.

Zelner

With the light from his

the large gap in proficiency rates between Black and white students, with white students scoring significantly higher than their Black counterparts.

In order to be eligible for this program, students must meet criteria ranging from homelessness and food insecurity to 10 or more absences and three or more suspensions. There were 78 students from 67 different families who were eligible for this program, according to the staff report.

This prog r a m is estimated to cost about $594,000 in its first year of action, with the City of Champaign paying for roughly half of that and the school district paying for the remainder.

According to the staff report, LIFT was scheduled to go into motion last year, but as the pandemic rolled around at the same time, the program initiatives were put on pause.

Katina Wilcher, director of the Center for Family and Community Engagement, explained how because the program is still fresh, they will need to assess the program as they go in order to evaluate the number of staff members needed.

“We understand that because this is a newer program, we’ll have a hard time making sure things go smooth so really we’ll know how things go with trial and laptop illuminating his face, a University senior sat in the living room of his apartment late one night. Suddenly, a loud banging erupted from his balcony window.

Alarmed, he opened the door to find shattered eggshells and yolks running down his light blue and white Israeli flag.

Although Jeremy Zelner, senior in LAS, said he and his roommates reported the incident to the University of Illinois Police Department and the University’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion, he said nothing ever came from it.

“It’s very obvious the school doesn’t care,” Zelner said.

“A student who would like an update on a conversation or response to an incident should not hesitate to let us know,” the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion responded. “For new information about an investigation as it evolves, students should follow up with UIPD.” That morning Zelner said he posted photos and videos of the vandalism on his Facebook page to note the blatant act of anti-Semitism.

‘The world needs to see this,” Zelner said in the video. “This is happening in Champaign, Illinois. onethirty in the morning.’”

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

The Champaign Unit 4 District building sits quietly at 502 W. Windsor Road on Saturday afternoon. The Champaign City Council is partnering with school districts to create the Champaign LIFT program and to help Black students thrive in their academic environment.

error,” Wilcher said.

A steady concern that Champaign City Council members have had was the large-scaliness of this program, and the possibility of the program not being able to support all the families meeting the

criteria.

If the intergovernmental agreement gets approved next month as scheduled, staff would be hired this summer with the program beginning this upcoming fall.

Clarissa Fourman, City

of Champaign Council member, conveyed her excitement for the rise of the program.

“In order for Black kids to really get that equal opportunity in life, these are the types of programs that need to be initiated,

Anti-Semitism in Champaign-Urbana Champaign-Urbana had not had any reported anti-Semitic incidents from 2010 to 2016, though 5 were reported in 2017.

From 2017 to 2021, there were 28 reported incidents in Champaign-Urbana.

10 8 6 4 2 0

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Source: Anti-Defamation League

JONAH OZER THE DAILY ILLINI

Zelner said reporters started contacting him wanting to tell the story.

Although Zelner said he doesn’t mind the visibility, he wants real action to be taken by the police and the University.

“Sometimes it’s just a story,” Zelner said. “The people that could actually make a difference and do something — nothing at all.”

Before he left for college, his dad told him to join a Jewish fraternity house.

While he was rushing, he

said he encountered fraternity members and houses he said he knew were antiSemitic. To avoid any risk, he said he decided to join one of the three Jewish fraternities where he knew he would be safe.

“That’s when I realized that my dad was right,” Zelner said. “He said, ‘Join a Jewish house. You will always feel safe no matter what.’”

Now a senior set to graduate this May, Zelner said he overcame many instances of

anti-Semitism.

As a bartender at Joe’s Brewer y, Zelner said one night after asking a coworker to help him out at the bar, the coworker shot back a microaggression.

“They said, ‘Oh, you’re being a lazy Jew’,” Zelner said.

Zelner said he was angry, but because he was at work, he didn’t feel comfortable defending himself.

“I was like, ‘If I wasn’t working right now I would light you up,’” he said.

Although Zelner said nothing ever came from the statement, he said as a Jewish person, it’s common to be in conflict with people.

He said some of the things he’s seen throughout his time at the University raise concerns for future Jewish students.

“We’ve had bricks go through our house,” Zelner said. “People throw stuff at us. I’ve seen Swastikas in bathrooms, stuff like that, and is that concerning?

Yeah.”

Zelner said anti-Semitism isn’t something new to Jewish people. However, he said it’s now necessary for that to change.

“We’ve lived a history where persecution has been the name of the game for a very long time.” @farrah2@dailyillini.com This is only a portion of the story. Read the full article by scanning the QR code below.

ABE BAALI THE DAILY ILLINI

Jeremy Zelner, senior in LAS, poses for a photo on his balcony in front of his Israeli flag on April 14. Zelner is one of the many victims on campus to have experienced antisemitism.

so I’m really glad that this is being pushed,” Fourman said. “I just hope they’re consistent with it. This is going to be the perfect step to giving these students what they need.”

nmalik20@dailyillini.com

FROM 1A

RAMADAN live next to the masjid so it has been very easy for me to pray every day. The masjid provides free iftar (the first meal eaten after sunset) boxes every day so living next to the masjid has made my life a little easier.”

Amira Dadar, freshman in Education, mentioned that the community aspect of Ramadan has significantly changed during the pandemic; however, she still tries to break her fast and eat before dawn with her friends as much as possible.

“It is going better than I expected it to,” Suaad Rashid, freshman in LAS, said. “I usually break my fast with my family every day but now it’s different eating dining hall food compared to the traditional Arab food at home.

Praying is also different on campus compared to back home.”

Baig and Rashid both mentioned that Ramadan has not made an effect on them academically.

The only thing they have changed is their sleeping pattern. They now sleep and wake up later; this is possible due to the online format of several classes.

The Muslim Student Association has hosted a few events for the holy month, and they have a few more events planned for the rest of the semester.

“So far, we were able to host an iftar on the South Quad,” Baig said. “We put in a space request for the South Quad. We invited people using RSVP forms.

We broke our fast together.

We prayed Maghrib together. Right after that, people brought their own food, so we sat together and ate food. It was a good experience overall.”

The pandemic has added a few hurdles for the MSA and the students in it.

“COVID definitely made Ramadan more difficult this year,” Baig said. “This is the first year the MSA board has to deal with Ramadan on campus. It has been a challenge for sure.

COVID makes it more difficult to find spaces to host events at. We have to plan things more in advance.”

Baig also mentioned that they have to make sure that everyone is tested and take extra precautions to abide by the University’s rules.

alia6@dailyillini.com

4A

MONDAY April 26, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

LIFE & CULTURE

Students prioritize passion over money

BY LIZ GREMER STAFF WRITER

When high school seniors apply to colleges, they are faced with the question: What should I major in? While the answer can change throughout one’s time studying at the collegiate level, many students enter college with a general idea of what career that they plan to pursue.

As students decide their future careers, multiple factors are taken into consideration. A primary conflict for students when picking their major is whether to pursue a career based on what their passion is or what will provide them future employment and financial security.

Like any university, some students choose their major based on their passion and love for their prospective field. When deciding her major, Grace DeGroff, freshman in Business, wanted to pursue a career that would allow her to help others.

“I guess what really drew me to it is that my whole life I wanted to do something in medicine to help people since that’s what I thought was the only way to give back,” DeGroff said. “Then, I did not do well in organic chemistry and I decided that was not the path for me. Then, in high school I was involved with a philanthropic organization, and I just decided to do business because I could easily align that and gain skills within the business school and

then work at a philanthropy or non-profit group.”

While deciding on a major, Caleb Lair, junior in LAS, decided to pursue a dual degree that combined two of his passions.

“I’m double majoring in physics and astronomy, so I can go on studying astrophysics,” Lair said. “Certainly gazing at stars and pondering the universe is really cool, but more than that I love math, physics, astronomy and even computing now so my majors make total sense for me.”

Similar to Lair, other students go on to pursue dual degrees that combine both passion and future financial security. Jessica Foster, junior in LAS, is pursuing a degree in English and East Asian Languages and Culture.

“I’m honestly in my majors for passion,” Foster said. “I love literature and writing, and I have been interested in East Asian geography and cultures since high school, so yeah I think it’s more so passion for me.”

While some students pursue their majors based on their passions, many students decide on their major based on future financial stability, even if they are not passionate or confident in it. In a 2019 study by Ellucian, 52% of Generation Z students are confident in their career path when they enroll in college.

“Whenever somebody asks me what I want to do in the future and I say ‘I

MADELINE PIERCE THE DAILY ILLINI

Students study at the Undergraduate Library on March 12, 2019. Students must weigh between choosing a major based on their passions or monetary concerns.

want to work at a non-profit or philanthropy,’ they’re like ‘Oh that’s so amazing.

I wish I could do that, but I want money,’” DeGroff said.

“It is so sad that some people are in certain organizations, and they are setting themselves up for 80-hour work weeks for two or three years just for the money — and I’m just wondering why.”

According to a recent survey conducted by Federal Reserve Economic

Data, about 7.2% of recent college graduates were unemployed in the U.S. in March. This percentage has increased recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but these rates can support one’s decision on whether or not to pursue a major based on passion or financial gains.

In the 2019-2020 annual Illini Success report of 4,630 students, it was reported that 48% of them were employed and

9% were actively seeking employment.

Despite the relatively high rate of unemployment for recent college graduates, Lair isn’t worried about future job prospects while pursuing a passion-based career.

“I’m unsure if I want to work in academia or in the government sector,” Lair said. “Either way from what I’ve read, most stay in the field of astrophysics but many also find success

in other fields, so I’m not concerned about not finding a job.”

While every student has the choice to pursue whatever major they want, many students at the University have demonstrated interest in their field due to passion.

“I want to wake up in the morning and have something that I look forward to with my job,” DeGroff said.

“I don’t want to hate it.” egremer2@dailyillini.com

Siebel Center for Design prepares to open in fall OLIVIA VAMOS STAFF WRITER

The Siebel Center for Design is located on 1208 S. Fourth Street in Champaign and will open to students this fall.

The building will be a collaborative space with several unique features according to Lisa Bralts, associate director of Marketing and Kendra Wieneke, associate

director of Business Development and Advancement.

“We will have social events, making events, lectures and speaker series, either that we’re doing or we’re doing in collaboration with other campus partners,” Wieneke said. “And then with all this collaboration space we will be hosting project teams, RSOs as well as just a great place to study,

hang out and get inspired.”

All kinds of people using the facility are encouraged to visit, regardless of their major or academic status.

Bralts and Wieneke said they want people to know that the Siebel Center for Design is open to all. However, to use equipment in the maker space, a student must receive permission.

Supervision and training

will be provided.

Bralts said there are currently two classes in Course Explorer that will take place in the Siebel Center for the fall semester.

Gail Rost, research assistant at the Siebel Center for Design, is also a doctorial student in Art Education.

She said that work at the Siebel Center for Design “tends to be very fast paced

LANIE HIBEL THE DAILY ILLINI

The Siebel Center for Design sits quietly at 1208 S. Fourth Street in Champaign, Illinois on Sunday afternoon. The collaborative space will open to students in the fall.

WE HAVE

OFFICIAL RCH ME

and we work with faculty, and we work with students and we’ve been doing more and more work with the community.”

The resources at the Siebel Center for Design aren’t limited to the inside. There is an outside terrace as well.

“Eventually we will have furniture outside where you can meet a friend or do work outside,” Bralts said. “Most buildings on campus don’t have grounds the way The Siebel Center for Design does.”

Wieneke said the building cost $48 million. Most of the funding came from donations by Tom Siebel. “(Tom Siebel) made the lead gift of $25 millions to support and name the center,” Wieneke said. “The rest of the funding came from campus.”

Wieneke said a lot of thought was put into the design of the building.

“The way that the building was designed was around three things — inspiration, ideation and implementation,” Wieneke said. “The inspiration and the ideation stuff are upstairs. We’ve got art, music, a media studio,

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study space, lots of windows, scenery. (As for ideation), we’ve got areas for ideation for brainstorming, for project work, for collaboration.”

Both Wieneke and Bralts said COVID-19 has made it difficult to open the center. However, they said they adapted.

“Just like anyone else, we constantly have to pivot and come up with something new and come up with new ideas to be responsive to what’s going on, which even though things are sort of generally looking up who knows now,” Wieneke said.

Overall, Wieneke said she hopes students utilize and appreciate the work that went into creating The Siebel Center for Design.

“I hope (people) feel like they belong here and I hope they feel comfortable and understand that it’s for them,” Wieneke said. “And then when they’re here I hope they get inspired and are able to develop creative confidence, and come up with ideas they wouldn’t have come up with otherwise.” ovamos2@dailyillini.com

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

Monday, April 26, 2021

5A

UI students reckon with death of Adam Toledo

BY ALEXANDRA GERGOVA STAFF WRITER

In a dark Little Village alley on March 29, a shot reverberated throughout. Within seconds, Adam Toledo, a 13-yearold Latino boy, crumpled to the ground following the gunshot fired by Chicago Police Department officer Eric Stillman, according to body camera footage released to the public on April 15 that documented the fatal encounter.

In the released footage, Toledo is seen complying with the officer’s orders by raising his hands right before Stillman fired his gun. While a gun was located at the scene, the footage revealed that in the brief moment leading up to Toledo’s death, the child was unarmed while raising his hands and turning toward the officer.

This incident is indicative of a racist system that continuously criminalizes and kills Black and brown individuals, according to Genesis Rivera, freshman in Education who is from Little Village.

“This was a 13-year-old kid — he was a baby — and (cops) still shot him because when police look at Black and brown bodies, all they see are criminals,” Rivera said.

“We’ve been criminalized since the beginning of the United States, and so it just goes to show how no matter what you’re doing, police are still going to shoot. Adam did not have a gun. He had his hands up. He was being compliant, and he still got shot because police are racist and they criminalize Black and brown bodies — Black and brown youth.”

Following the release of the video of Toledo’s death, an array of comments attempting to justify the murder of a Latino child saturated social media feeds, which made it more difficult for Rivera to grieve. The comments ranged from blaming his parents for allowing him to be out at night to blaming him for his supposed involvement in a gang.

“The first thing that I felt when I read (about the shooting) was sadness, but as soon as I read those comments, I was just filled with anger and frustration that all these people were trying to justify the death of a 13 year old kid,” Rivera said.

Josh Small, freshman in LAS, who grew up in Chicago, similarly found himself disheartened by all the comments that sought to justify this interaction and felt that

it spoke to a breakdown of the Chicago community.

“It’s just disheartening to see people try to justify someone being killed,” Small said. “This whole case is just disheartening really, but it brings awareness to the issue of, ‘Where are we in the community right now, what is happening in the community?’ That’s really what I’m passionate about — bringing the community back together.”

However, Rivera emphasized that it should not matter whether Toledo was or was not partaking in gang activity because he was ultimately just a child whose death was unwarranted. His gang activity speaks to larger systemic issues saturating Chicago and its citizens.

“Literally if he was gangbanging and stuff, so what?”

Rivera said. “So does every other kid here because that’s all we know. Growing up in a community that continues to be disinvested and disenfranchised with no mental health resources — no resources for our youth — of course you’re going to join a gang and of course you’re going to find safety in gangs because where else are we going to find safety? Not in police.”

In response to the death of Toledo, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that a foot pursuit policy would be created. Presently, Chicago only has a foot pursuit training bulletin that states the following: “When making the decision to pursue or to continue to pursue, the safety of the public, Department members and the fleeing subject should be the foremost considerations.”

Small, who wholeheartedly supports Lightfoot and has confidence that she will ensure justice is served, believes this is an effective first step albeit there is more to be done. He wishes to see accountability from this incident, which he believes can be done through an external investigation as well as Lightfoot’s efforts to reduce the divide between CPD and Chicago residents.

“I want to see the gap bridged between the police department and the residents of Chicago, and not only of Chicago, but in this instance in Chicago, just the whole police versus citizen thing — citizen versus police.” Small said. “I just want to see the community come together as one.”

Small said he believes that something must occur for trust to return in Chicago communities between cops and Black and brown individuals.

“Right now there’s no trust in the community and with no trust comes death,” Small said. “The police are scared of us and we’re scared of the police. I don’t think that police officer intended to kill him, but I don’t think it was just.”

Unlike Small, Rivera adamantly opposes this policy and urges Lightfoot to resign.

The solution to instances like these is not small reforms but rather the abolition of the entire system, which includes police and prisons, according to Rivera.

“They still have the power to shoot someone and their kids, and our communities are still going to be criminalized by them,” Rivera said. “It addresses no systemic issues, and that’s why reform does not work. It does not matter how many laws you put in place because if the system is still there, stuff is still going to happen because it’s the system that was built to criminalize us and to have Black and brown youth and Black and brown people in prisons.”

Rather than sustaining these racist systems, Rivera believes funding must be allocated toward the Chicago community in the form of schools and mental health resources.

“Our neighborhoods have so much trauma and we’re not getting any help,” Rivera said. “When a white kid shoots up a school, the first thing they talk about is mental health. What about us? We literally grow up seeing kids our age getting shot by (cops) and getting shot by other kids our age.”

Like Rivera, Angelo Guzzo, freshman in Engineering and from Chicago, believes this incident speaks to a larger issue of systemic racism.

“There’s a culture where police officers are killing people,” Guzzo said. “It’s the same culture where police officers have been targeting Black and brown individuals long before that, especially in the mid 1900s with the civil rights movement. It’s the same system that targeted Black and brown people during the Jim Crow times.”

Due to the repetitive nature of these fatal shootings between officers and Black and brown individu-

Demographics of Individuals Shot By Police In Chicago Between 2010 and 2015, the Chicago Tribune reported 435 incidences of police gunfire.

528

People were shot at by police

262

Were hit by bullets Breakdown of the 262: - 210 were Black - 35 were Hispanic - 14 were White - 2 were Asian

Of the 262 shot, 92 were killed Source: Chicago Tribune JONAH OZER THE DAILY ILLINI

als, Guzzo said he has grown extremely disillusioned by the system and is unsure how to properly address something so inherently corrupt.

“I just think about the system, and I wish it was for us,” Guzzo said. “I can’t help but look at it and say, ‘Wow, you know, no one’s really doing anything to help!’ We have a mayor, and we have these people on top. We’re supporting them, and nothing really has happened.”

In response to the death of Toledo, Guzzo said he has felt it extremely difficult to carry on with his life and obligations.

“I just don’t know what

to do with my life because I don’t know how I can just continue with my life, get a degree and, you know, just live like nothing happened,” Guzzo said.

Like Guzzo, Rivera has also found it impossible to grasp and deal with Toledo’s death, especially given her Mexican identity and desire to become a teacher in Little Village or surrounding communities.

“At the protests, we were all chanting ‘We are Adam!’ because we are,” Rivera said.

“That could have easily been me. That could have easily been my best friends. Thinking about the fact that I want to be a teacher in Little Vil-

lage or surrounding areas, that’s going to be my future students — my future kids.”

This instance, as well as other similar instances, force Small to reckon with the high possibility that in the future it could be him and those close to him.

“When I see these videos, it’s kind of like, ‘Who is that?’” Small said. “You know, is it me or is it someone that I know or someone in my family? You know, one of my friends. And I think that’s how we all relate to it. We are not all getting shot at, but we can all feel the pain.” gergova@dailyillini.com

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD

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ACROSS

1Quick punch 4Submitted a résumé 11 Old-fashioned record collection, for short 14 Friend in France 15 Comedian Jimmy who joked of his “schnozzola” 16 The “A” of I.P.A. 17 Collectible toy vehicle 19 Long-bodied jazz instrument, for short 20 Mother hen’s responsibility 21 Mil. branch with dress blues and dress whites 23 Couch 24 Bygone Swedish auto 27 Energy-efficient illumination sources, for short 29 Birthplace of General Motors 33 Nosy sort 34 Flowing, musically 35 Those who are not among us (or are they?)

38 Locale for the radius and ulna 39 Family 40 Use needle and thread 41 “Here, you’ll like it!”

43 Prefix with red or structure 45 Certain online dating bio 48 No more than 49 Yanks’ opponents in the Civil War 50 Plummet 53 Birdsong 56 Sierra ___ (African land) 57 Predicament 58 1980 Stephen King novel … or a hint to the beginnings of 17-, 29- and 45-Across

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PUZZLE BY DANIEL GRINBERG

62 Preceding, poetically 63 Flipped (out) 64 Squid’s defense 65 “You called?”

66 Glittery dress adornments 67 Investments with account nos.

DOWN

1 Door parts 2 Bitter Italian liqueur 3 Removed with the teeth 4 Condition that affects concentration, for short 5 Stop on a drinker’s “crawl” 6 Expert 7 Not stringently enforcing the rules 8 Nighttime demons 9 Greek letters that rhyme with three other letters

10 Laura with an Oscar and an Emmy 11 So-called “Sin City” 12 Tots’ time together 13 Health class subject 18 Classic eyes for Frosty 22 Prank interviewer who referred to Buzz Aldrin as “Buzz Lightyear” 24 Person who might bother a bedmate 25 Elemental part of an element 26 Band aid 28 Contents of some drifts 30 Imbecilic 31 White ___ of Dover 32 Artist Matisse 35 Famous almost-last words from Caesar 36 Security alarm trigger 37 They establish order in language classes

39 Door part 42 Skunk funk 43 Rageaholic’s state 44 Tree in the birch family 46 Algebra, for calc, e.g.

47 Like art that might offend prudish sorts 51 Without interruption 52 Corner offices and prime parking spots, for company V.I.P.s 54 Tightest of pals, in brief 55 Old Italian money 56 Blokes 57 Funny Tina 59 ___ de vie 60 Hit the slopes 61 Point value for a “Z” in Scrabble

The crossword solution is in the Classified section.

6A

OPINIONS

MONDAY April 26, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

Swift evokes genius with Easter eggs

CAMPUS SCOUT

NOAH NELSON SENIOR COLUMNIST

W

hen one thinks of iconic Americans, many names come to mind like Elvis Presley, Lucile Ball, John Wayne, Shirley Temple, Mark Twain, Henry Ford and Marilyn Monroe.

Nowadays, it’s safe to say global superstar Taylor Swift should join those ranks if she hasn’t already done so.

Whether you listen to her music or not, everyone knows who she is and can name a few of her songs — at a minimum. But only her true fans, the Swifties, know she is a genius — a status she doesn’t look to drop anytime soon.

Early in her career, Swift left fans little Easter eggs in her music videos, photos and the like about upcoming music, tours, etc. It wasn’t always a big deal, but nowadays, it’s what Swift’s fans look forward to every day. Frequently, it’s what maintains their excitement about Swift’s new projects.

Last week on April 13 — 13 being her lucky number — Swift appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in which she revealed numerous Easter eggs about the upcoming re-release of her fifth album, “1989.” And fans were quick to unravel all of the details.

In doing so, she showed a “mood board” filled with pictures of Colbert.

One photo showed him in New York and one of him from 1989. Swift, notably, has a song about the famous city from that

JONAH OZER THE DAILY ILLINI

Memorial Stadium ‘Avengers: Endgame’ fiasco upends civility

M PHOTO COURTESY OF ULTIMATEWARRIOR13 / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Taylor Swift performs on stage during her Reputation tour in May 2018. Columnist Noah Nelson exclaims that Swift is a genius for implementing hidden easter eggs throughout her song lyrics and music videos.

album called “Welcome to New York.” There was also a picture of a seagull on the photo board as well — another parallel to the cover of the album.

Plus, Swift asserted the album’s name and its first original single, “Shake It Off,” clear as day. That has to be a sign, right?

Not only the photo board, but Swift added she enjoys author Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower” series — first published in 1989. She told viewers to check Colbert’s Wikipedia page for his birthday, May 13, and fans conclude she will release the new album on that day, or if not, something corresponding to it like

an announcement or a single.

Besides the aforementioned information, Swifties uncovered countless other Easter eggs from the interview, but most of them included too much math. Nevertheless, this all goes to show that Swift is a mastermind.

There’s no doubt she’s strategic about what details to disclose with her fans without giving too much away. Still, she’s gradually turning us all into amateur detectives, and no one seems to have a problem with that.

Better yet, if Swift is planning to re-release “1989” anytime soon, I

won’t be able to control my excitement: I attended a show on that tour in 2015, and since I know that album better than the others, I will be enthusiastically waiting when it hits store shelves again.

“Call it what you want” about Swift, but she’s a prime example of a celebrity who genuinely cares about her fans.

She aspires to keep them on their feet, and by scattering these Easter eggs, she is doing so every day. Some might call her crazy, but I call her a genius.

Noah is a junior in Media. noahen@dailyillini.com

‘The Boys’ illuminates superheroes’ dark sides MATTHEW KRAUTER SENIOR COLUMNIST

D

espite a year of vacant movie theaters, the cultural craze over Marvel’s superhero film franchise has presently persisted in streaming services through shows like “WandaVision” and “Falcon and the Winter Soldier.”

The generation that grew up with Iron Man on the big screen loves watching their heroes in action. That is, until a speedy hero runs through their girlfriend, killing them instantly.

Amazon’s “The Boys” is a darker flavor of the superhero genre.

The Marvel movies are loveable for their familyfriendly tones and endearing characters, but get a bit repetitive with uninspired villains facing the uncompromising good guys. Accordingly, Joaquin Phoenix’s “Joker” is the darkest supervillain movie in recent memory, finally meeting the audience’s expectations for a villain.

The superheroes in “The Boys” have the same look and charisma as the mainstream characters, but as soon as they walk away from the TV cameras, their smiles fade as they sexually assault women or shoot up illegal drugs.

Their hero meetings aren’t about crimefighting; they focus their efforts on stopping bootleg sales of their merchandise.

Superheroes in the show aren’t focused on saving

Scout couldn’t help but conceal himself as he understood that, shortly, SATIRE the pursuit for peace would fall upon his shoulders. emorial Stadium Thereafter, the stood silent Liberal Arts and STEM Saturday night as members further stashed the crowd sat shocked themselves across succeeding a screening Memorial Stadium. of Marvel’s “Avengers: Murmurs arose of a Endgame.” In a scene 3:45 a.m. showdown experts described as between the leaders of “Ever Given-esque, but each group: a clash for replace the Suez Canal the ages. Lacking any with the Memorial sign of recovery and the Stadium’s gates,” sun concealing itself for following the film’s nearly several more hours, the four-hour-long runnight and its nonsense time, exits were overrun continued. with disgruntled youth Additionally, at trapped in the arena. this moment, Scout Scout, naturally, was comprehended that on the scene and found balance — like in all it difficult to cover as things — was required. this miniature society An opportunity for swiftly collapsed. As the unity arrived around night wore on for these 3:33 a.m. when — exasperated adolescents, as respective group anarchy ran rampant leaders prepared for amongst the crowd. war — Scout proceeded A scene that would’ve toward center field. pleased Thanos himself, Here, Scout recognized Scout bore witness as his superpower to hunger, dehydration and establishing complete irritation quickly stormed camaraderie between students. Groups, the clashing clans: relay subsequently, formed as the poorest conceived the early hours of Sunday opinions to unify the revealed that any hope to communities against exit Memorial would soon Scout. be dashed.

Gradually, Scout Henceforth, civilization stated dreadful, selfwould be forced to manufactured “hot endure in the turf-ridden takes.” Scout then began, community of Memorial claiming, “Thor: The Stadium early Sunday Dark World is the best morning.

Marvel movie” — with “If we can efficiently that, one child of STEM delegate responsibilities, appeared from the our predicament will obscured shadows. go by faster,” declared Next, Scout asserted, one makeshift Avenger.

“SeaWorld is underrated.

“There’s only one way The way they rescue and to power through this: train animals deserves everybody split up more respect and public between majors. We’ll support.” have STEM people on the Accordingly, a great west side; everyone else many STEM and Liberal heads towards the east Arts students assembled side.” from the destitute And so it began. The corners of the stadium — people had gathered, and admonishing Scout for his it would only be a matter ghastly statements. Scout of time before conflict recommenced, this time brewed. declaring, “Our tuition Scout, the independent merits the high-cost. If figure he is, relegated anything, it shows the himself to reporting university cares for its along the center of the student body by charging field. Every so often Scout them more each year for would be approached by that better quality!” an overworked student, At that, the “Endgame” yet Scout knew better survivors organized than to choose a side and themselves against Scout concede to abhorrent and — with previously partisanship — that would tossed popcorn bags — be a flagrant violation of scooped the field’s turf Scout’s values! and pelted the reputable As 3 a.m. perched on investigator. the horizon, cries for Eventually, the sun help were only returned emerged as Sunday with drunken screeches morning punctured from passers-by strolling the previous drama. home from their night Scout stood solemn as out. Likewise, the oncescores of undergrads amicable conditions commemorated the gates between those in the opening and departed the STEM and Liberal Arts distressing colosseum. camps were promptly Leaving a night consisting diminishing. of a football stadiumAt approximately 2:47 sized balkanization, few a.m., a member of the glanced or thanked the STEM group crossed the journalist who prevented Memorial’s makeshift their prospect for a demilitarized zone to nightmarish endgame. request assistance in the A night like no other STEM strategy to escape warranted a reporter the stadium. Upon this like no other. The search appeal, a select number of continues.

Liberal Arts undergrads responded, “Why leave?

Submit tips to: This is our home now.” scout@dailyillini.com CAMPUS SCOUT

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB

Dominique McElligott, Antony Starr, Jessie T. Usher, Chase Crawford, Aya Cash and Erin Moriatry star in “The Boys.” Columnist Matthew Krauter argues that the show highlights the dark sides of superheroes in a way that the Marvel franchise has not.

the world or stopping crime. Their real business is a multi-billion dollar entertainment industry like in the real world.

Their company, Vaught, only sends them to fight crime when they’re flanked with cameras for social media.

The “supes” are a roaring criticism of modern celebrity culture. Their public lives are a facade, designed to sell a perfect and unattainable ideal.

Their wealth and status are far more important to them than their fans or their charitable initiatives.

Their lives of substance and sexual abuse are all too reminiscent of the likes of Lance Armstrong and Harvey Weinstein.

Under a legal system like the United States,’ superheroes could never be permitted to exist. Vigilantes are

rightly illegal because they circumvent the law enforcement infrastructure and systems of due process we trust in.

The government has the sole claim to these roles and is accountable for its failures.

Something often neglected in movies is the collateral damage superheroes cause. The Avengers were reeled in by the UN with the Sokovia Accords after their encounter with Ultron, but on a day-by-day basis, an exorbitant amount of damage and lives would be lost by their destructive antics. It’s not something fun to think about amidst the lightheartedness of the movies, but it’s real.

Homelander, a cross between Captain America and Superman, is the most terrifying superhero in the show.

He nonchalantly murders bank robbers moments before posing for a selfie with teens. His word-for-word perversion of George Bush’s 9/11 bullhorn speech to politicize a plane crash for his company’s gain is gutwrenching to watch.

Homelander embodies the mistake people make when they assume superheroes, or real celebrities, have supernatures. The real villains aren’t always obvious.

The heroes in “The Boys” capture a dark side of human nature, but one that ordinary people can overcome with enough courage.

These themes, and the ridiculous use of superpowers, make “The Boys” a must-watch.

Matthew is a junior in LAS. krauter3@dailyillini.com

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

1B

MONDAY April 26, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

SPORTS

MEN’S TENNIS

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

LEFT: Senior Vak Budic talks to teammate Siphosothando Montsi in between points against Minnesota April 4.

RIGHT: Senior Noe Khlif lunges to hit a ball in a singles match against Minnesota April 4.

Seniors make a racket, reflect on returning for fifth year

BY ENJI ERDENEKHUYAG STAFF WRITER

Before they could outrightly become the outright Big Ten West division champions and set themselves up to crack an NCAA run they always had hoped for, the seniors of the Illinois men’s tennis team — Noe Khlif, Vuk Budic, Zeke Clark and Aleks Kovacevic — first needed to address a significant fork in their lives: opting in to play for a fifth year.

Khlif has grown fond of plenty of his teammates and coaches during his years at Illinois. Not only

has he displayed some of his best tennis performances while playing alongside a supportive cast of friends and coaches, the French native also developed an affinity for Illinois itself.

“Everything was new the first time I came here,” Khlif said. “It’s a completely different culture, completely different environment with the school and everything, and I mean, I’m pretty happy. I had an unbelievable experience.”

Khlif already had chosen to play for head coach Brad Dancer and Associate Head Coach Marcos Asse regardless of the

extra year of COVID-19 eligibility. Last year, he suffered a wrist injury that prevented him from playing for about eight months. Having missed out on the opportunity to advance his game as much as he would’ve liked, Khlif decided to return as a redshirt senior.

Deep into his final season, Khlif is cruising with a 10-match singles winning streak and sports an 11-1 singles record that totals to a 55-30 career record.

“It feels great,” Khlif said about his win streak. “You have some good days. You have some bad days, so it’s

never easy. It’s obviously easier to win when it’s good days, but you also need to find a way when you don’t feel well on the court, and that’s what the 10-match winning streak is all about.”

In May, Khlif will graduate with a master’s degree in accounting and plans on staying in the United States. With Dancer’s help, Khlif is looking for a job and finishing up his application for Optional Practical Training, which permits international college students to stay on their student visas for another year while working with their

degree.

When Budic got the option to return for a fifth year, it was a no-brainer that he too would return. As he’s also completing a master’s in accounting, he said his time at Illinois would’ve felt empty if he wasn’t playing this year.

“As soon as I realized that I could play another year of tennis, I was thrilled to be able to come back and play with my teammates, especially my senior class,” Budic said. “I think we all had some unfinished business that we had to take care of … Chasing a Big Ten

title is something that we’ve always wanted when we came in as freshmen, and that’s where we’re on the road to now.”

En route to trying to achieve the Big Ten title, Budic has accumulated 51 career singles wins. When Budic isn’t playing, he’s still heavily present on the courts. He’s developed into a player-coach, giving his teammates tactical insights and support between points.

“I can only hope that my coaching has been benefiSEE SENIORS | 3B

WRESTLING

From player to coach: Poeta goes full circle, accepts dream job

BY WILL PAYNE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

When Mike Poeta was introduced to the Illinois faithful as the new wrestling coach, he knew he had big shoes to fill. However, all early signs are pointing to the fact that Poeta was a fantastic hire for the future of the team.

“I am honored and consider myself extremely lucky to be standing up here as the next head wrestling coach for the University of Illinois,” Poeta said. “It was a dream of mine to come here as a wrestler, it was a dream of mine to come back here as an assistant coach and, now, an absolute dream to be the next head coach.”

Poeta recently took over for former head coach Jim Heffernan, who spent a combined 29 years with Illinois wrestling. During his tenure, Heffernan established the Illini as one of the strongest programs in the country, amassing 13 top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships and coaching 11 national champions.

Heffernan is happy about the hiring of Poeta, as he believes Poeta was a perfect fit for the role.

“I’m so happy for Mike and the program,” Heffernan said. “It’s been fun watching this process come full circle from Mike’s days as an Illini studentathlete, to running a successful club, coming back to campus as an assistant coach and now leading the

program.”

Anyone taking over for Heffernan would have to know that to continue this type of success, proper recruiting and training would be paramount. And it is clear Poeta has the track record to back up his hiring, as he has been involved in wrestling his whole life.

The Highwood, Illinois, native began his wrestling journey in the early 2000s.

During high school, Poeta was rated the No. 1 poundfor-pound recruit in 2004 after he won two Illinois High School Association state championships and three high school national championships.

This impressive high school resume led him to the wrestling program at Illinois, where he was a member of the team from 2004-2008. Poeta went down as one of the most successful wrestlers in Illini history.

He was a vital member of the 2005 Big Ten championship team and gathered a plethora of awards while on the Illinois roster. Poeta was a three-time AllAmerican, two-time Big Ten champion (2008 and 2009) and two-time NCAA finalist. His career record in college was an impressive 105-14, and he ranked second all time in win percentage (.891) and 15th in career wins.

After graduating from Illinois, Poeta spent three years wrestling professionally. He represented

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS

Athletic director Josh Whitman (left) poses with new head wrestling coach Mike Poeta (right) at a press conference Thursday.

Poeta takes over for recently retired coach Jim Heffernan.

the United States at the 2010 World Cup in Russia and competed at the 2012 Olympic Trials.

Poeta stopped wrestling professionally in 2012, and he opened the Poeta Training Center in Lake Forest, Illinois. During his five years as the head coach and owner of the training center, he coached 19 high school and junior high state champions.

Poeta joined the Illinois wrestling coaching staff before the 2017-2018 as an assistant and established himself as one of the top development and recruiting coaches in the nation.

Now, in his role as head coach, Poeta wants to continue his great recruiting track record and turn Illinois wrestling into an elite program.

“I have a lot of ideas on

how we can get this program to an elite level,” Poeta said. “And the top priority of mine is to keep the Illinois kids, and recruit them and keep them in the state of Illinois.”

Poeta has decades of experience in the world of wrestling. As a wrestler, a coach and at an administrative level, he has displayed excellence and competence over the years. Illinois is

lucky to have this type of successor to Heffernan, and there is no doubt Poeta is ready to take Illinois wrestling to new heights.

“Everyone in this sport, in this country and the Big Ten are really competitive, and that includes me,” Poeta said.

“It’s going to be fun, and I am excited to get to work.”

@will_payne33 wpayne2@dailyillini.com

2B Monday, April 26, 2021

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

MEN’S GOLF

Illinois swings past competition, tops Big Ten rankings

BY CHRISTIAN JONES STAFF WRITER

Golf is an inherently mental sport. Without defenders waiting to swat putts off the green or raucous crowds whose only goal is to overload auditory senses, all that’s left is the golfer and their mind.

It’s important for golfers to stay calm and focused, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult for all of us to do so this year. “(COVID-19) has had implications on a lot of people, people close to me,” senior Michael Feagles said. “I’ve seen it, just the way you get kind of stuck in quarantine and the inability to go outside as much and live your life the way people are used to living it.”

Feagles is right. In March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a 14% increase in adults with symptoms of an anxiety or depressive disorder between August and February.

In addition to the pandemic, Americans have witnessed a rise in violence toward Asian Americans and the death of more Black Americans at the hands of the police.

Despite the turmoil that has grasped the nation, the Illinois men’s golf team has remained consistent and is poised to compete for another championship. The Illini are currently ranked eighth in the nation, and they are the highest ranked team in the Big Ten by a significant margin, as there are no other conference teams in the top 25.

Their success has been a true team effort, and no single player has carried the burden. According to Feagles, it “speaks volumes about the depth of this team.”

“Coach mentioned to us a couple weeks ago all five of our guys are contending for golf tournaments,” Feagles said. “Might not be at

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS

Sophomore Jerry Ji observes as his ball flies through the air during competition. Ji and other members of the men’s golf team have used golf as an outlet for stress relief during the pandemic.

the same time, but any given week, any of our guys are in contention to win, which is huge for a team.”

The team is strong because they can rely on each other in a sport that is, under most circumstances, individual. When one guy struggles, the rest of the team is consistent enough to stay in contention.

Feagles started the season with three straight topfive finishes, but he hasn’t been able to crack the top10 in the last three events.

Still, the Illini haven’t floundered.

They have yet to finish outside the top five in any event this season and, most recently, finished second at the Boilermaker Invitational, led by a fourth-place finish from junior Adrien Dumont de Chassart.

Dumont de Chassart has quietly put together a great junior season. Though he has yet to record a victory, he’s finished in the top 10 in all but one event this year.

He finished second, behind sophomore Jerry Ji in the Illini’s historic win at the Louisiana Classics and has led the Illini in two events

this year.

Ji also has had success. In addition to his tournament win March 16, ninth-place finish at the Boilermaker Invitational was his third top 10 finish this year. He admits it hasn’t been easy.

“We’re in a bubble, and we can’t really see any other people than our golf team,” Ji said, “And it’s hard because I still have a lot of friends outside of the golf team, and not seeing them is not easy.”

It’s been over a year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19

had reached pandemic status. During this time, many people have experienced isolation like Ji describes.

Isolation is known to have a negative effect on mental health.

“What is good about us, or what we do really well, is that our team bonds really well,” Ji said, “Like when we need to do something fun with the team, we’ll go like a whole day just playing Spikeball or something, and it just keeps our mind kind of off the whole COVID-19 thing.”

Under most circumstanc-

es, golf is not a team sport.

Players can’t pass the club when they lose confidence in their shot, and coaches can’t bring in a substitute when a player isn’t doing well.

But this team has been able to rely on each other, both on and off the course.

“If you put everything aside, we were so very lucky that we’re able to play this spring,” Ji said, “So, I’m not complaining about anything ... We’re really lucky.”

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Monday, April 26, 2021

3B

SOFTBALL

ELIANA CHANDRA THE DAILY ILLINI

Sophomore Delaney Rummell gets ready to hit the softball April 16 against Purdue. Though Delaney has had many challenges, she has not let anything stop her from overcoming them.

Rummell succeeds in second season despite past injuries

BY ALLENDE MIGLIETTA STAFF WRITER

Sophomore utility player Delaney Rummell makes every moment count. In the process, she has found and molded her role on the team, her groove on the field and her consistent mindset.

She has overcome challenge after challenge, each time motivating herself to push through toward success. At a young age until now, Rummell has been on a journey through highs and lows, but nevertheless, she persisted.

Before even turning fourteen, Rummell had two surgeries after tearing her ACLs in both legs. Her world suddenly flipped upside-down; she took this crucial moment to motivate herself to get back into rehab and back on the field. As a seventh grader and a freshman in high school, Rummell had to learn to be grateful for every opportunity, as you never know when something will be taken away from you. She strove to do everything she could to fulfill her aspiration of playing college softball,

FROM 1B

SENIORS cial to my team,” Budic said.

“I know a few of my teammates have been appreciative of me for coaching them, and it’s been really nice to me to see that I can help in any way possible.”

Clark also was bound to join Khlif and Budic in coming back to represent the Illini once more. Even before the NCAA officially announced the extension, talk lingered, and Clark kept hope alive.

“I told Brad and ‘Cos if for some reason we would be able to get our year back, I would come back 100%,” Clark said.

In his fifth year, Clark has seen his presence, both on and off the courts, in a new light that enables him to ease the pressure he used to put on himself. In doing so, he’s had the chance to further develop his leadership.

“Ever since I stepped foot on campus, I’ve tried to be an emotional leader for the team,” Clark said. “I’d always bring good energy, and that’s just kind of a role I feel like I’ve played on this team for five years, and now I feel so comfortable in those shoes.”

Clark’s contributions to the team have also manifested in his array of accomplishments. This season alone, Clark remains undefeated with 14 singles wins to go along with 12 doubles wins. April 11, Clark

and she did it.

“I feel like overcoming those challenges at such a young age really gives me that ‘I can do anything’ mindset,” Rummell said.

This year, Rummell has experienced the best of both worlds in terms of practice time. Coming into this season, she solely had preseason experience, since COVID-19 cut the season short right before Big Ten play started. But that didn’t stop Rummell. She used this to her advantage, starting all 22 games last year at third base and was an Illinois Athletics Freshman of the Year finalist and earned a Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week award.

She used this extended preseason to keep a consistent mindset and take advantage of every moment.

Through it all, Rummell has created a new appreciation for her and everyone’s role on the team. No matter who you are and what you’re doing — practicing on the field, doing charts or calling pitches — Rummell

emphasizes that with every role, it is vital for everyone to pull their weight for the team to be successful.

Success is about being proud and owning your individual role to be able to bring the mental and physical skills, techniques and tactics to the team. Rummell says this is a great way to have fun, dig into her teammates, get out of her head and play for the people next to her.

In the beginning of the year, Rummell struggled offensively. She took this opportunity to find her groove to produce more successful outcomes.

“I feel like in our lineup, there’s no weak spots,” Rummell said. “The bottom is able to switch over to the top, the top is able to keep it going and the power is able to produce. That just makes us go hard to defend for any other team. I’m just glad I’m on our side of the ball when we’re hitting.”

In the first series of the season, Rummell went 2-for3 with two runs batted in

clinched his 100th career singles victory, becoming the 16th Illini in program history to achieve the feat.

Though the milestone came as a surprise to Clark, he was more than honored to join the decorated group of alumni.

“To be in a group of guys that I’ve heard so much about and looked up to — you know, most of the guys hang up on banners above indoors at Atkins, I see them every day, and it’s pretty cool to even consider myself in that group, so I feel privileged to be able to say that,” Clark said.

Out of the four seniors, Kovacevic’s decision to return wasn’t as quick and easy. With professional aspirations, Kovacevic thought he’d mostly be playing in tournaments after college, but that was complicated by COVID-19.

After careful consideration and persuasive conversations with his teammates, he first decided to come back for the pre-season matches, and then the whole season. He credits a big part of his return to the seniors’ “unfinished business” in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.

“I wasn’t really planning on staying the whole time, then I kind of got attached to the team when I came, and I saw they wanted to win it,” Kovacevic said. “It felt like a team on a mission, so I kind of wanted to be a part of that … I saw how determined everyone was,

and I was like, ‘They wanna do this. I wanna do this.

Let’s do it.’”

Since then, Kovacevic has maintained a balance of finding success both collegiately and professionally. He’s closing in on the century benchmark with 96 career singles wins, eight of which come from being undefeated this season. His most commendable professional run occurred in mid-March at the Cleveland Challenger, where he progressively improved each match to make his first career semifinals appearance.

Looking back, Kovacevic knows he made the right decision with this fifth year.

“The experience hasn’t stayed the same, which is very important,” Kovacevic said. “You always wanna grow as a person and learn something new each year, so that’s definitely something that’s happened. If you start to have the same experience, it just gets a little monotonous, but every year for me has been a different step for my tennis and just life in general.”

Now that the seniors are nearing the end of their last season on a wellequipped team, they will try to cement their mark by achieving those coveted tournament titles. They’ll make their final run in the Big Ten April 30 and the NCAA May 7.

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

TOP: Senior Zeke Clark waits for the serve during the match against Minnesota April 4. enkhjin2@dailyillini.com

Illinois’ 8-0 series finale win over Penn State March 14. She continued to progress, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored while hitting her first home run of the year during the doubleheader against Nebraska April 10.

Her journey didn’t stop here. Rummell is currently on a hitting streak that started in the series opener against Wisconsinon April 2.

Rummell received the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week and Big Ten Co-Player of the Week for her outstanding performances so far this season. In the fourgame series against Purdue April 16-18, Rummell went 9-for-12 (.750) with 10 RBIs and four extra-base hits, one home run, three doubles and two runs scored.

Rummell’s success grew as she continued to find motivation in every opportunity. She couldn’t have done it alone, though, and she emphasizes that her success flows through that of her teammates. Before

coming to Illinois, Rummell attended softball games and watched the upperclassmen that she now plays alongside.

She looks up to her teammates as motivation to learn from them and finds new ways to improve her game.

“Seeing my teammates succeed is something that really motivates me,” Rummell said. “I love seeing them ball out and do everything they can, whether it’s hitting a bomb or making the other team miss on a pitch. It’s so awesome to see. It motivates me because I want to be just like them.”

Life moves fast; it is crucial to make the most of every moment or opportunities might pass on by.

Rummell underlines the phrase, ‘be where your feet are’, meaning live in the moment. Before Illinois, this was the first time she heard this phrase; yet, it’ll be one to stick with her through the rest of her journey. “(If I could go back in time) I would tell my younger self just to soak in every moment, live in the moment

and just be where your feet are,” Rummell said.

Next on Rummell’s to-do list is to continue to trust in her ability to stay mentally consistent and physically motivated. There will be obstacles along the journey; what matters is how you respond to them. Rummell took every challenge and opportunity thrown her way and used it to her advantage as she grew into her role, her groove and her consistent mindset.

“I feel like how you respond (to challenges) is a big character assessment of who you are, not only as a softball player but a person in general,” Rummell said.

“That’s just something that I strive to be consistent at and sometimes softball can make that hard.

“My next goal is to keep a consistent mindset through all the highs and lows of the season, (and) to keep trusting myself whether it’s on the field or at the plate.”

@allendeauguste allende3@dailyillini.com

BOTTOM: Senior Aleks Kovacevic hits a ball during his singles match against Minnesota April 4.

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Monday, April 26, 2021

5B

buzz calendar

Bar rekindles live music scene

BY MICHAL SZCZEPANIAK STAFF WRITER

As the pandemic continues to rage around the world, many industries are fighting to stay afloat amidst the chaos. Among those industries struggling to regain stability are leisure facilities and food services, though many establishments have been able to safely reopen their doors despite the uncertainty of these times.

Huber’s West End Store is a family-owned bar in Champaign, Illinois that provides guests with live entertainment during the pandemic. While many performance stages have been dark during this past year, Huber’s West End Store has taken the necessary safety precautions to allow for live music again.

Large tents are arranged outdoors to provide guests with a secure viewing experience. Inside the tents, tables are distanced from one another to limit unsafe interactions among audience members. Performers are also completely isolated from guests at the bar and perform their shows from a separate tent, which limits unnecessary exposure.

Musician David Howie has been a Huber’s West End Store fan favorite for the past 10 years. When the bar initially shut down due to the pandemic, Howie turned to Facebook Live and other broadcast services to release content to his supporters. After several months of online shows, Howie reflects on returning to Huber’s West End Store for live performances.

“Playing live for people …

Oh my God,” Howie said. “I closed my eyes, and I heard the clinking of glasses and plates, and I heard people laughing. It was an awesome feeling. I hadn’t heard that sound in a year. I always think singing in front of people is some ridiculous act of bravery, so it’s a very life-affirming, therapeutic

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, APR. 27

Spring Exploration Activity Guide

PHOTO COURTESY OF DELLA PERRONE

Musician David Howie poses for a photo. Huber’s West End Store bar in Champaign, Illinois hosts artists like Howie in their outdoor COVID-conscious seating area.

experience for me to be performing back in Huber’s.”

Like many others, Howie has relied on music to bear the nature of the pandemic.

In both his virtual and live performances, he encourages guests to choose a song from nearly 400 selections that he has in his repertoire, almost like a jukebox. Part of the old-school experience of a jukebox is that it “developed patience as a listener,” and it was a way for audiences to learn new music.

From Louis Armstrong to Britney Spears, Howie offers a large variety of selections that are guaranteed to get audience members up on their feet (from a safe distance, of course).

Genres range from oldschool rock ‘n’ roll to modern-day pop. While he has many performances a year, Howie continues returning to Huber’s West End Store because of the fans’ electric energy.

“Huber’s is a fantastic place for musicians because the people who go there to hear music are deep listeners,” Howie said. “The level of appreciation is incredibly high and palpable, which is always very reas-

suring during a performance. Some people come ready with their sets prepared on their phones. It’s really a no-brainer to go and play as often as I can.”

Through the pandemic, we have experienced significant changes in how we engage with others. While returning to live performances has been great for Howie and his peers, there are still several restrictions that prevent them from the complete live experience.

“After the pandemic, I’m looking forward most to giving people hugs and getting hugs from people,” Howie said. “I’ve hit enough elbows for my life.

Boy, it’s gonna be so much nicer when we can just embrace each other and relax.”

With the vaccine becoming more readily available, there is a glimmer of hope that live shows will regain a sense of normalcy in the following months. Until then, establishments like Huber’s West End Store will continue to make do with the pandemic-related restrictions in place.

 All Day  Virtual event hosted by the Champaign County Forest Preserve District  Free Spring is here! Head outside to look for signs of spring, from wildflowers to migrating birds and the return of the butterflies! Download the activity guide or pick one up at one of Champaign County Forest Preserve District’s facilities to help you explore nature at the preserves or even your own backyard this spring. Grab your gear and start exploring!

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FriendShop Bookstore Open

 Noon-3 p.m.  Champaign Public Library, 200 W. Green St., Champaign, Illinois 61820  Free Bargain books and more! The FriendShop Bookstore offers more than 20,000 nearly new books, CDs and movies. Staffed by volunteers, all proceeds benefit the library.

Your purchase helps provide the resources that get kids to love reading.

Lunchtime Live Storytelling

 1:15 p.m.-1:45 p.m.  Virtual event hosted by Spurlock Museum.  Free Take a soothing lunch break and join Kim Sheahan Sanford, assistant director of education and resident storyteller, for family-friendly stories from around the world.

25 O’Clock Brewing Company Trivia Night

 5:25 p.m.  25 O’Clock Brewing Company, 208 W. Griggs St., Urbana, Illinois 61801  Free Speed round starts at 5:25 p.m. Five rounds at 6:15 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, APR. 28

Craft Story Time

 10 a.m.-10:30 a.m.  Virtual event hosted by The Urbana Free Library  Free, registration required Join the Library for the Zoom edition of Crafty Story Time for young children from ages two to five! As with the in-person storytime programs, they’ll practice early literacy skills in a playful, supportive environment filled with music, rhymes, active learning and of course, books! They’ll also have a fun craft.

All you’ll need are scissors, paper, glue and crayons. Can’t wait to see you there!

michal4@readbuzz.com

We are showing the world what we are made of.

Together, we can do so much. covid19.illinois.edu

6B

MONDAY April 26, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

buzz

‘Hyper Light Drifter’ composer reflects on success

BY AIDAN FINN STAFF WRITER

Years ago in the basement of a Staten Island household, Richard Vreeland watched as his stepfather, music director at his church, hosted band practice for his Beatles cover band, The Blue Meanies.

He would go there to play the drums, fueled by a fascination with percussion. But despite also having a mother who both sang and played the piano and a sister who had been singing since childhood, Vreeland didn’t really feel compelled to dive deeper into music. But he was fascinated with other mediums, like computers, visual design and finding a passion for drawing and making stuff.

“At eleven or twelve, I started messing around with my mom’s Macintosh — she is a graphic designer — so that was around, and that was where I started with getting

into being creative,” Vreeland said.

Years later, Vreeland would be credited as the lead composer for the 2015 horror mega-hit “It Follows,” providing a now-iconic score reminiscent of John Carpenter’s ‘80s synth that would elevate his name to new heights amongst the electronic music scene.

Just a year later, Vreeland would create the soundtrack to a little Kickstarter video game by the name of “Hyper Light Drifter,” a Zelda-like dungeon crawler with a pretty pixel art aesthetic that followed suit with many indie games of the mid-2010s.

This game, in time, would become one of the most revered games of the decade due in part to the title’s superb score. Five years later, Vreeland, best known as Disasterpeace, reflects on the title and how he got involved.

“Alex brought me on right before we announced the Kickstarter,” he said. “Our mutual friend Roger Hicks connected us. When I saw what they were working on and that Beau Blyth (Samurai Gunn, 0space) was leading up gameplay design, I knew I wanted to be involved.”

“Hyper Light Drifter” is a 2016 2D action role-playing game developed by Heart Machine. Visually reminiscent of 16-bit games from the ’90s and the likes of “The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past,” the game follows an unnamed, sword-wielding hero who embarks on a quest to defeat a monstrous evil force from destroying the world in classic fantasy fashion. Striking in its artful use of pink and red color patterns painting a beautiful overworld, the game has you travel to multiple realms in classic Zelda fashion to conquer

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEAM

Gameplay from the video game “Hyper Light Drifter” is pictured above. The game explores the dangers and technologies of a beautiful yet ruined world.

dungeons and fight increasingly intimidating monsters.

Your move set is both familiar and liberal in its mobility and fast-paced attacks.

Upgradable firearms also add a welcome layer of strategy to your attacks, allowing for quick movements and ranged devastation with good timing.

Despite lacking in dialogue, it’s never too obscure to follow, and the map is traversable without making it easy to get lost. It’s a good eightto 10-hour romp that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

Now, if it was just that, “Hyper Light Drifter” would fall into obscurity amidst the booming indie scene and be another nostalgia-driven title fueled by the Kickstarter craze that has now burnt itself out. Without any context, that is, “Hyper Light Drifter” shows rather than tells, yet, at the same time, provides a story larger than most games could ever achieve.

Underneath the surface of the game is a plethora of dark, heavy subject matters, the likes of death and hopelessness against disease. Heart Machine, the game’s developer, is an independent studio founded by Alx Preston.

Preston has suffered congenital heart disease since childhood, a condition that led him to hospitalization on multiple occasions, and he’s faced several near-death situations. The feelings of hopelessness, inevitability and the fragile nature of life are the core of “Hyper Light Drifter.” The game is a metaphor for the tale of a hero set on an increasingly bleak quest and is the artistic expression of a man who can never be normal, yet can find so much beauty in the world around him. So much color and cre-

ativity can be found around you in the unfortunately short game.

How such grand themes can be told in a game without any dialogue comes down to Disasterpeace’s score. Something that had a lot to juggle yet achieved far more than expected.

“Getting to know the creative director Alx and spending personal time with him definitely helped me inhabit a mood … there is a certain brooding nature to the game, yet it has very vibrant, dynamic qualities too,” he said.

Vreeland’s music background was no stranger to video games. Many first learned about him with his work on the 2012 platformer “FEZ.” He has extensively explained his differing attitudes for film composing and doing so with games. “(The) biggest difference is probably structural,” Vreeland said. “Film projects are shorter and the work is more like paint by numbers, albeit challenging. Game projects tend to drag on forever, and without a very concise plan, it can feel at times like long wanderings in a desert. Films tend to be more solidified early because, relatively speaking, there’s less course correction happening between finished script and finished movie.”

When it came to “Hyper Light Drifter,” Vreeland said he struggled to grasp the theme of the game, which shifted constantly amidst three years of development, and he experimented extensively. Many ideas were scrapped, although some instances had him discarding ideas that Preston later picked up and approved.

Back and forth between

the two, the thematic elements of the game started to materialize, including the haunting yet adventurous atmosphere. One particular song, “Vignette: Panacea,” would end up becoming the signature piece from the soundtrack.

“I had a large library of piano sketches and the Debussyness of the piece, while still inhabiting the game’s harmonic sound world, seemed a perfect way to close it all out. Somewhat like ‘Claire de Lune’ in the ending to ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ but less fanciful and uplifting — more of a poignant, melancholy feeling,” Vreeland said.

When asked what advice he would give to college students looking to enter the professional music composition scene, he elaborated extensively.

“Put yourself out there.

Work hard, try to get your work in front of as many eyes as you can,” he said. “People need to know that you exist and that you have a desire to work on things. Build longterm relationships with people on similar or complementary paths — fellow musicians trying to enter the space or people working in other disciplines whom you might be able to collaborate with.”

He said to keep an open mind and to be proactive rather than waiting for opportunities to appear on their own.

“When you’re young, it’s the perfect time to stick your neck out beyond your comfort zone and test your boundaries,” he said.

“Hyper Light Drifter” is available on PC, iOS, PlayStation4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. aidanf3@readbuzz.com

‘Uncanny Counter’ combines mystery thriller with comedy

BY AMANDA LEONARTO STAFF WRITER

Up for fantasy, mystery and thriller? “The Uncanny Counter” is the answer for those who are looking for those genres. This South Korean television series is based on a webtoon called “Amazing Rumor” that was released in November and ended in January.

The show’s plot revolves around a teenager named So Mun (Cho Byeong Kyu) who survived a tragic accident, which severely injured him and killed his parents.

However, his parent’s deaths were not caused by a simple accident, and there is more to the truth of their death.

The story opens with Mun’s accident that caused injury to his lower limbs, and then the story jumps to the present. Despite the tragic accident, Mun is a bright person who is kind and caring toward his friends.

Besides Mun, there are

three other characters called “counters:” Hana, Mo Tak and Mae Ok. As counters, they tediously work to summon spirits to the spiritual world and hunt them.

Since the series is a fantasy and leans on the heroes’ adventures, the main characters become extremely powerful and gain superhuman abilities. As Mun walks back home, his body suddenly becomes possessed by another spirit from heaven who gives him superpowers.

Mun doesn’t understand the existence of his power until he faces a dramatic physical change and is persuaded to join the counters.

However, upon learning that becoming a counter also has hazardous conditions, Mun is hesitant and turns down the offer to become a counter. He doesn’t want to get into trouble and die and leave his grandparents, who practically raised him.

Although hesitant, he has a change of heart because he

has the ability to meet his parents’ souls if he becomes a counter. This series focuses a lot on Mun’s character development, and people may find his character to be soft and emotional during his journey fighting evil spirits. He also acts whiny and selfish when it comes to capturing his parents’ killer. Nonetheless, these flaws only make Mun more human, and we can’t expect a character to be perfect all the time.

You can expect a good amount of comedy inside the series, as well, and the mystery is not really complicated for people to understand.

Every two or three episodes the main characters encounter new enemies, which leads to a discovery of the real enemy. It also focuses on the political brutality of the enemy’s greed. The series actually messes a bit with your emotions by using the personal connection between Mun and his team. It may

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB

Joon-Sang Yoo and Yeom Hye-ran star in the TV series “The Uncanny Counter.” The show debuted Nov. 28.

seem simple, but the fact that they trust each other is touching. The series also showcases the balance of action, comedy and drama besides the initial genre as a mystery thriller.

The show uses lesser-

known actors, but their characters prove to be interesting and fun to watch.

They grab viewers’ attention with their acting. The series is pretty light for a mystery thriller and will entertain you, rather than disturb

you. The story is also original and unique, and it is different than any other Korean drama because it feels light, even though it has a good amount of conflict. amandal7@readbuzz.com

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