YEAR IN REVIEW
THE DAILY ILLINI
MONDAY May 10, 2021
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM
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Vol. 150 Issue 55
DI looks back on top five moments of this year BY AMRITA BHATTACHARYYA NEWS EDITOR
With this entire school year having taken place in the midst of a pandemic, it was like no other. Here is a look at the top five moments of the 2020-21 school year, in no particular order. Saliva-based COVID-19 test The University has become a leader with their saliva-based COVID-19 test, which enables fast and frequent testing on a large scale. On July 8, the University opened on-campus testing sites for students, staff and faculty. By mid-August, the University received Emergency Use Authorization by the Federal Drug Administration for their saliva-based COVID-19 test. The University has worked to develop a comprehensive testing system, from creating a COVID-19 dashboard analyzing trends of infection rates to the creation of the Safer Illinois app, which provides building access passes and exposure notifications. Now, the University has plans to roll out its test to the larger C-U area. Big Ten win On March 14, the Illini won
the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Championship. The Illini were awarded No.1 seed in the Midwest region for the first time since 2005 and the fourth time in school history. Students celebrated this historical moment by rushing the Main Quad, rallying around Alma Mater and even lighting fireworks. Festivities lasted well into the evening, with Green Street busier than usual on a Sunday night. Although the Illini’s run was cut short in March Madness, the Big Ten win and following celebrations were memorable moments for Illini fans.
was to reallocate 25% of the total UIPD budget, which is roughly two million dollars. The reallocation focuses on investing in more community services and less policing. However, it is not set in stone yet. Since students voted to approve the referendum, it now takes the form of an administrative recommendation, which has to pass a review process by the Board of Trustees and the University. This semester also saw an increase in anti-Asian sentiments nationwide. In April, the C-U community rallied in support of the Asian American Pacific Strides in social justice Islander community, holdThis year saw multiple ing protests to stand against advances in social justice, Asian-targeted violence. such as the Black Lives Matter movement and Kingfisher mascot local activists advocating On Sept. 22, the kingfishfor change in C-U. Over the er mascot received majorsummer, protesters engaged ity endorsement from the in a series of marches in University senate. With C-U, demanding police past discussions about reform. The Champaign possible mascots such as County Community Coali- Alma Otter or Champ, a tion also met and began the World War I veteran, the process of discussing police kingfisher marks the first reform locally. successful mascot proIn late March, 78% of vot- posal to pass through the ing students voted to reallo- University senate. There is cate the University of Illi- no official precedent for a nois Police Department mascot adoption process, funding. The referendum but the next step is conven-
CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
Illini football players Delano Ware, Moses Okpala, Jartavius Martin, Owen Carney and Khalan Tolson march down First Street to protest police brutality in the black community on Aug. 31.
ing with Chancellor Rob- was dismissed by the Uniert Jones and the Univer- versity Jan. 29. After his sity administration. case received international attention and pressure from COVID-19 dismissals the Illinois legislature, and This school year saw high- with a petition reaching over profile dismissals of stu- 40,000 signatures, the Unidents, especially relating to versity reinstated Chen on COVID-19 testing noncom- Feb. 16. Chen’s case highpliance. Ivor Chen, gradu- lighted the lack of clarity ate student in Engineering, regarding COVID-19 disci-
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A group of students link arm and arm singing the “Oskee-Wow-Wow” Fight Song after the Illinois basketball team won the Big Ten tournament on March 14.
pline policies, according to the Graduate Employees’ Organization. Antonio Ruiz, graduate student in LAS, was also dismissed from the University March 25 for testing noncompliance, after Ruiz failed to utilize the salivabased test due to disabilities. abhatt52@dailyillini.com
CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
A COVID-19 testing worker hands a student a funnel at the ARC on Feb. 1.
International students reflect on school year during pandemic International students who stayed abroad during the pandemic faced unique challenges this year, while attempting to complete their online learning from across the world. According to the University’s most recent numbers, 839 fewer international students are enrolled at the University this spring, compared to last spring. For those who did decide to enroll at the University, the obstacles they were faced with while adjusting to remote learning from home were plentiful. The adjustments ranged from lack of motivation to time difference challenges. Jiwon Lee, sophomore in Engineering, resides in Daegu, South Korea. This past
year, she had classes at 4 a.m. Korean Standard Time. “The biggest challenge I faced was making the deadlines because of the time difference, but I was able to overcome that by asking for extensions,” Lee said. Jana Barghouthi, freshman in LAS, currently lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Despite the difficulties they had to deal with, Lee and Barghouthi both agreed that a major benefit of staying at home this past year was being able to spend more time with their families. “This past year gave me more time with my family which I will forever appreciate, ” Barghouthi said. “Moving all the way across the world is not an easy task, so the past year has allowed me to really spend time with them before moving the
coming fall.” As the year wraps up and vaccines become more widely available in the United States, many international students are planning to experience campus life next school year. “My motivation to study dwindled week by week, but thankfully I realized that I’ll soon be on campus and I just had to push through and finish the semester strong,” Barghouthi said. Although it saddens Barghouthi to think that she lost her college experience the entire first year, she expressed her excitement to finally be surrounded by other students, attend classes in person and hang out with people who she has spoken to online. While some international students are excited to live on campus next semester, oth-
er international students are nervous about the environment they will be returning to. “I’m planning to return in person next semester because I’m a resident adviser and I’m feeling a bit afraid of all the Asian hate that is going on in the U.S.,” Lee said. However, Lee hopes to gain a more “quality education,” as she believes that online learning has limitations that in-person classes do not have. Barghouthni expressed a similar sentiment. “I am thrilled to be on campus next year,” Barghouthi said. “I believe that I am completely ready to do my best, enroll in more classes, form friendships and be an actual college student for my sophoPHOTO COURTSEY OF SARAH KISHTA more year. ” Sarah Kishta looks over lecture slides at 2:15 a.m. from her
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home in Zagazig, Egypt. International students at the University reflect on their time doing school abroad.
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