The Daily Illini Vol. 150 Issue 41 March 18 by The Daily Illini

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THURSDAY March 18, 2021

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Vol. 150 Issue 41

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A student sits on Alma Mater after the Illini became Big Ten champions on Sunday. A crowd of students ran down Green Street in celebration of a historical win.

Students celebrate Big Ten win, rush Campustown BY AMRITA BHATTACHARYYA NEWS EDITOR

An orange wave of cheering students filled Green Street soon after the Illini won the Big Ten Championship Sunday afternoon. Awarded No.1 seed in the Midwest region for the first time since 2005, it was the fourth time in school history for Illinois. Katie Sackrison, freshman in Education, was walking on Green Street with

her friend when the game ended. When they saw a crowd of students rush past them, they knew Illinois had won the game. “The energy in the air, you could tell everyone was so happy and it was just like such an accomplishment, even for the school,” Sackrison said. Sack rison followed the crowd headed to Alma Mater. “There were people climb-

ing Alma,” Sackrison said. Literally on top of her, at the highest point.” Ali Abdullah, sophomore in Gies, was watching the game with his friend who lives on Green Street. Around 10 minutes after the game ended, Abdullah saw a “huge swarm of people” running toward the Main Quad and the Union. According to Sackrison, the celebration felt surreal because she hadn’t seen so

many people together in one place due to COVID-19. “I expected a lot more people to be like worrying about COVID.,” Abdullah said. “I thought everyone would be wearing their mask.” According to Abdullah, around half of the students in the crowd were either not wearing masks properly or not wearing them at all. Notable events of the celebration included someone lighting fireworks, as well

as a truck trying to drift but subsequently popping a tire on Green Street. The celebrations went into the evening, with the street being filled with more people than usual. “At some point I was like, I don’t know if the cars are honking for them to get out of the street or because they are celebrating that we won,” Sackrison said. Illinois has clinched an NCAA Tournament berth

after eight seasons and will be playing Drexel Friday. “I feel like since we had such a good team this year people have been really tracking the progress,” Sackrison said. “And I know a lot of people are excited for March Madness. They think we’re going to make it to the Final Four. And I feel like celebrations for that would be even bigger.” abhatt52@dailyillini.com

Illini Solar Car team reveals new vehicle, anticipates success CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Illini Solar Car team recently unveiled their second vehicle, a car named Brizo, in anticipation of this summer’s slate of solar car competitions. Brizo’s first competition will be the 2021 American Solar Challenge, which is scheduled to take place across multiple days spanning from late July and early August. The team will drive Brizo along the 800mile Santa Fe Trail, stretching from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico. This new car represents a significant milestone for the Illini Solar Car team, as it will likely allow the team to compete at a higher level in the future. Tara De Souza, junior in Engineering and director of operations for the team, introduced Brizo in the unveiling video. “As our first car, Argo had its shortcomings, and we were really eager to show that we are capable of creating something better,” De Souza said.

Tim Damisch, senior in Engineering and president of the team, recalls the very beginning of the new car. “Brizo was actually first conceptualized at Bangkok Thai on Green Street in 2018,” Damisch said. “Some of our alumni got dinner there and discussed the fundamental improvements they wanted to make with the next car.” Brizo replaced Argo, which was the first solar car built by the Illini Solar Car team. Improvements over Argo include a sleeker body design, lighter build and improved power management. Brizo is named after a goddess in ancient Greek mythology who was known as a protector of mariners and interpreter of dreams. This choice is intended to follow Argo alphabetically and stays true to the theme of Greek mythology established by the first car. Like anything over the past year, the process of designing and building Brizo has been complicated by the impact of COVID-19.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ILLINI SOLAR CAR

The Illini Solar Car team unveils its second generation vehicle named Brizo. The car’s first competition will be an 800-mile trek in the 2021 American Solar Challenge.

“Last year, we made a good transition towards an online format, but it has been very difficult to collaborate on these technical engineering projects,” Damisch said. “It has also been difficult to ensure steady construction of Brizo since we would often get a lot of work done

with a large group of people over the weekends.” The Illini Solar Car team annually consists of approximately 80 students from a wide variety of majors. After unveiling Brizo Saturday, the team still has more work to do to prepare for the upcoming

competition. “We have made a tight schedule of deadlines and goals for us to meet, so we are hoping to have Brizo driving mid-April, so keep an eye out for Brizo around campus,” Damisch said. Damisch also said that teamwork plays a crucial

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The DI joins College Media Madness fundraiser DIANA ANGHEL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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us to continue. They give room for future journalists to grow. Working in the newsroom teaches us things no other class could; it is our hope that this option will be viable for future Illini. This contest ends April 5, and we are currently in fourth place. Seeing as we are a top seed in the March Madness, it would be amazing to see the DI next to the No. 1 spot on the Media Madness website. Currently, Mizzou, Syracuse, Central Michigan and University of Florida are defeating us in donations. With a little more help, we can move up to third place or

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NEWS

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHAMPAIGN-URBANA JEWISH FEDERATION

An advertisement banner for the Jewish Film Festival is pictured above. The festival will start with the film “Kiss Me Kosher” which goes over cultural and historical differences of an Israeli woman marrying outside of her religion.

‘Kiss Me Kosher’ kicks off local Jewish Film Festival BY GEORGE PHELAN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Such an expansive film requires an equally expansive cast, as the film “includes a mixed cast of a German, American and a pretty well-known Palestinian actor,” Harris said. Harris will lead the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation discussion of the film on March 21 at 7 p.m. The Jewish Community Center of Chicago will also feature a discussion with the film’s producer, Christine Guenther, on the same day at 11 a.m. In order to watch the film and attend the discussion, viewers will need to buy tickets for $15 online. The Jewish Film Festival, which began in order to inform audiences of issues in Jewish culture through the perspective of Jewish filmmakers and writers, will continue until June and will feature other films such as A Starry Sky Above the Roman Ghetto, Tango Shalom and Dayan, the First Family. In 2019, the festival drew over 17,000 moviegoers. However, how the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will impact that figure remains to be seen.

Viewers interested in learning more about Jewish culture through film should look out for the ChampaignUrbana Jewish Federation’s annual Jewish Film Festival. Screening of the first film, “Kiss Me Kosher,” will start on March 19, with virtual discussion sessions about the film’s themes and topics on March 21. The film tells the story of Israeli Shira, who wants to marry her German fiancee Maria in Jerusalem. The couple must overcome the cultural and historical differences between their two families, as well as Shira’s grandmother, who attempts to prevent the marriage. “The film offers an interesting and original take on different segments of Israeli society,” said associate professor in LAS, Rachel S. Harris. “It highlights the many divisions of Israeli society,” Harris said. Not only does the film cover the GermanIsraeli cultural and historical difficulties which Shira and Maria face, but it also delves into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Shira’s grandmother in a secret georgep2@dailyillini.com relationship with her Palestinian neighbor.

PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUTUBE

Luise Wolfram and Moran Rosenblatt star in “Kiss Me Kosher.” The film was released on Sept. 10.

University releases graduates’ annual Illini Success report BY AMRITA BHATTACHARYYA NEWS EDITOR

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Illinois graduates jump in the air on the Main Quad after a previous year’s commencement. The Illini Success team recently released a report detailing post-graduation pursuits of bachelor’s degree recipients who graduated during the 2019-2020 academic year.

unteer or service work. According to the report, the average salary of the 2019-2020 full-time employed graduates is $65,178. The average jumps to $86,149 for Grainger graduates. Overall, the full-time employed annual salary has seen a small increase in recent years, as it was $60,885 for the 20172018 graduating class and $63,515 for the 2018-2019 graduating class, according to an Illini Success report which analyzes three-year trends. “In this year when so many lives and jobs have been disrupted by the pandemic, it is gratifying to see that an Illinois degree provided so many of our recent graduates with a solid foundation for these critical first steps in their careers,” Jones wrote in the Massmail. The Illini Success initiative began gathering data about post-graduate pursuits in August 2014. According to the report, “The project tells the Illinois story of graduate successes, demonstrating a wide variety of paths and destinations, with high quality information, updated annually.”

The University has released a report detailing post-graduation pursuits of bachelor’s degree recipients who graduated during the 2019-2020 academic year. The report, written by the Illini Success team, gives an annual review of first career destinations of recent graduates, as well as other statistics like average salary rate by college and major. The report has identified post-graduate outcomes of 57% of graduates, as compared to 75% from last year’s report. “ W hile the sur vey response rate by graduates was a bit lower than our experience in typical years, the report reflects the outcomes of more than half of all graduates for that time period,” Chancellor Robert Jones wrote in a Massmail. The knowledge rate also differs significantly between colleges, with the response rate 44% for the College of Fine + Applied Arts but 85% for the Gies College of Business. The known secured first destination rate of graduates is 91%, compared to 93% from last year. The first destination rate accounts for graduates who are employed, continuing education or engaged in vol- abhatt52@dailyillini.com

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LIFE & CULTURE

Sophia Byrd reflects on Grammy nomination MATT TROHER LONGFORM EDITOR

Sophia Byrd, senior in FAA, drove home from the recording studio in the early afternoon on Sunday, trying to distract herself from something on her mind. She had just finished recording the vocals for her upcoming solo album, but the album didn’t seem to weigh heavily on her mind. Instead, she was anticipating the Grammy Awards. Rather than watching to see her favorite musician perform or win album of the year, Byrd was anxious to know if she had won a Grammy. Byrd was nominated in the category Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance, along with the rest of the Place Orchestra, for her work on “Place”— an oratorio composed by Ted Hearne. Sunday afternoon, right before the Grammys livestream began, Byrd hopped on a Zoom call with the rest of the team that worked on “Place” to watch the awards together. Although Byrd and the rest of the Place Orchestra did not win the Grammy, she attributes her success, both separate from and with the Place Orchestra, to her time at Illinois. “The very first time (the piece) was handed to me, I had about a week to learn it,” Byrd said. “My voice teacher that year was really, really helpful. We sat and

worked out all the rhythms for the piece because the things that Ted can come up with are just astounding. When we went back to do the studio recording, which is what’s nominated for the Grammy, I coached it with Micheal Tilly in the lyric theater department. We worked on that like every week for several months to get it the final product.” According to By rd, “Place” centers around the topic of gentrification, and explores the effects it can have on communities of color. Hearne’s work often centers on heavy topics; his 2007 oratorio “Katrina Ballads” was written about the media’s response to Hurricane Katrina, and his 2014 oratorio “The Source” concerned Chelsea Manning’s disclosure of classified military information to WikiLeaks. While the subject matter of “Place” was heavy, Byrd said the supportive environment between her and the other performers allowed for them to be vulnerable. “I think with any other group of people, it would have been very challenging, because you have to be very vulnerable about something that affects me, and directly affects a lot of other people who were involved with the ensemble,” Byrd said. “But the cast felt like a family, a lot of us had sung together in the Chi-

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOPHIA BYRD

Sophia Byrd, senior in FAA, poses for a photo. Byrd was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance category.

cago Children’s Choir so we knew each other and were able to support each other and really have honest and open conversations about it,” Byrd said. “Saul and Ted and Patricia McGregor, the director of the performance, also were very dedicated to making sure we were staying emotionally and mentally healthy throughout the

whole thing.” Despite not winning the award, Byrd said that being nominated for a Grammy while still in college was a huge accomplishment and felt honored to be recognized for her work, along with her collaborators. “I’m so thankful to even be nominated,” Byrd said. “I know everybody says that but being nominat-

ed next to these people that are on this project feels like a dream. I have major imposter syndrome, because they’re all so talented, so accomplished, and I’m 22 and in college. I’m grateful and humbled to have been nominated.” The album Byrd was recording on the day of the Grammys will be her first solo album. Byrd said

the album is a “jazzy, funk, R&B” album that centers around the concept of the meaning of time — more specifically, the lack of meaning of time. More information about Byrd’s upcoming album will be released on her Instagram account, @sophiarosebyrd, this following week. mtroher2@dailyillini.com

Fine arts classes offer valuable skills for non-majors BY MATEO BAUTISTA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A student’s burned-out eyes stare at a computer screen, mouse hovering over the Netflix icon. Instead of clicking, she presses the power button and wonder what to do next. The School of Art + Design might have an answer. The school offers a variety of courses for non-arts majors to take, whether students want to better their artistic technique, develop their critical thinking or just have fun. All skill levels are welcome and photography lecturer Rachel FeinSmolinski said everyone who comes in has at least some experience. “However old you are, that’s how much experience you have with the visual arts,” Fein-Smolinski said. “Because you have been working with it since you have had access to it.” Fein-Smolinski said knowing what an art piece is saying and how to craft such messages in your own work are two skills that are developed through fine arts classes. Being able to contextualize your work and understand how it will be perceived is a benefit in

fields outside the artistic realm. Fein-Smolinski pointed to a study published in a journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology where students were split into two groups; the first group took six art courses taught by professional art educators and the second group did not. Upon the first group’s completion of the art courses, both groups were instructed to diagnose eye disorders solely based on eye photographs. The group that had taken art classes did significantly better diagnosing each picture. In fine arts classes, the skills students learn can already be seen in the job market. Stacey Robinson, assistant professor in FAA, said visualizing ideas is important and has helped some of his former students start their careers. Images they made, such as designing their own website or creating presentation mind maps, have peeked employers’ interest. “When you have this new medicine, this new idea that is a great idea, at some point it has to become more than

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a philosophy and more than a theory,” Robinson said. “You have to test that theory, and you test that theory by visualizing it. You have to make that tangible. It’s the same thing you’re doing in art.” Art is not just creating new ideas, but also creating new and effective ways to express ideas. Despite art being one of the first activities people learn, the School of Art + Design recognizes that the expression of ideas is not always taught to students. “It’s a gross misstep in our culture where we don’t celebrate the arts,” Robinson said. “It’s one of the first things that children know how to do, they find something that makes marks and they mark up the walls. They make marks on everything.” It is this basic instinct motivation to create that is also a source of joy and stress relief for students from all sorts of majors and backgrounds. Laurie Hogin, associate director and professor in FAA, said very fruitful discussions occur in art courses for non-arts majors where students come from diverse backgrounds.

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“It gets students to really learn how to look and see,” Hogin said. “It’s a good experience to gain that critical toughness, where your work is being critiqued.” ART 102: Drawing for Non-Majors, ART 103: Painting for Non-Majors, ART 104: Sculpture for NonMajors and ART 160: Photography for Non-Majors are some courses that nonarts students can take. Each professor also stressed the emotional outlet these classes and the arts

provide for students, especially during the pandemic. Fein-Smolinski told a story about a Zoom lecture she gave to a group of medical professionals and the Q&A session that followed. “Someone unmuted themselves and started asking this question, and at first I thought their audio was cutting out, but it turns out she was sobbing,” FeinSmolinski said. The arts can not only develop students’ critical thinking or professional

skills, but also their compassion and emotional intelligence. Robinson shared a similar experience with students in a graphic design course he was teaching. “People are tearing up, because they are learning about someone different than them, but who made such a real experience that they can relate to,” Robinson said. “That’s the power of the arts.” mateodb2@dailyillini.com

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Future Illini talk application, expectations Incoming freshmen remain hopeful for first semester LIZ GREMER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The process of applying to college is a difficult task for many, from asking for letters of recommendation to writing countless essays and sending out transcripts. However, many incoming students found this process to be further complicated by the global pandemic. This year, due to COVID-19, the application and admissions process was unique from years prior, said Andy Borst, director of undergraduate admissions. Major differences included making ACT/SAT scores optional, delaying the early action deadline and releasing all admissions decisions on the same date. “Many students were admitted to highly competitive programs without test scores,” Borst said. “Our priority was on evaluating students’ applications within the context

of limited testing options during a global pandemic. We were diligent in ensuring that if a student elected to be considered without a test score, they were not disadvantaged in our review.” Approximately 44% of applicants applied testoptional. The Academic Senate recently voted to extend the test-optional application for the next two years, and the board of trustees will discuss this matter at their next meeting. Given the new requirements for applications this year, Abby Hammer, incoming freshman in LAS, said the process of applying to the University was simpler and not as stressful in comparison to other schools. “Because of COVID-19, a lot of (standardized tests) were being moved to a later date,” Hammer said. “When I was applying to UIUC, I hadn’t taken any, but it was a really great selling point for me and made the whole application process more relaxing in comparison to some other schools I applied to.” The pandemic prompted the Office of Admissions to update its services for prospective students, such as providing new virtual alternatives for students to

S AT

learn about campus with an updated virtual tour video. Additionally, Borst said students have the opportunity to learn about the University through virtual information sessions, one-on-one appointments with admissions counselors, group sessions, academic meetings and nonacademic meetings. Since all in-person tours are cancelled, applicants faced a disadvantage. However, many students have utilized virtual resources and planned day trips to campus. Incoming students who visited campus in person still found a sense of home at the University despite the pandemic and the changes it has brought. “After stepping onto campus, I totally felt at peace and at home, which is crazy to say since I’ve only visited once or twice,” Hammer said. “But after seeing the students thriving on campus, totally gave me the sense of home. It just made me feel really great to visit campus and get the feeling of belonging.” Like every year of admissions, prospective students considered many factors when deciding which college to attend. The reason why students choose

to come to the University has stayed the same. Lauren Debs, incoming freshman in Education, said the special education program inf luenced her decision to commit. “I picked UIUC for many reasons,” Debs said. “It’s a reasonable distance from my hometown, which I was looking for in a college. It also has a really fantastic special education program which separated itself from other schools I applied to. Just in general, the school really did feel like a home away from home.” A lthough predicting what the future holds is difficult when there is still so much uncertainty around the pandemic, incoming students are excited for their experience at the University. As the vaccine rolls out and the number of COVID-19 cases decrease, incoming students hope to have an experience different from the past year. Debs said the transition from high school to college is a major change but that she is hopeful for what the fall semester will bring. “My senior year was definitely impacted by COVID-19, so I anticipate the academic transition to be slightly more difficult than in the past,” Debs said. “But

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it will be nice to really get to know people with similar interests as me. When I come to campus, I plan on rushing, participating on club tennis and just finding new opportunities to help me grow.” As the University plans for the upcoming semester in regard to class instruction and COVID-19 protocol, Hammer said she has a sense of hope and excitement for the future.

“I know we might still be wearing masks when I get down here, but I am hoping for more socialization,” Hammer said. “I’m hoping to have somewhat of a social experience because I am the type of person who loves to get involved with things in my community.” egremer2@dailyillini.com

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ACROSS 1 Spider-Man villain ___ Octavius 5 Beefeater and Bombay Sapphire 9 Woes 13 Prefix for many Ocean Spray products 14 Oak, in a nutshell? 16 The Big Easy 17 What a pratfall may be done for 20 Communist party systems 21 YouTube count 22 Actress Anne with four Emmy nominations 23 Some theater honors 25 Program followed in Alcoholics Anonymous 31 Proper way to pass 34 Sour-tasting fruit 35 A Stooge 36 What a swish misses 37 Agency HQ’d in Atlanta 40 May day celebrant 41 Bedouin, e.g. 43 Title that translates to “great sage” 46 Sing under pressure 49 Talk a big game 50 Change in the Middle East, say 54 In a jubilant fashion 56 Bug 59 Where magazines may be laid out 61 Apartment listing info 62 Apartment listing info 63 Way to go 64 ___ Scamander, protagonist of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” 65 They may be set aside in a collaboration

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66 Chuck DOWN 1 Razor handle? 2 Meet-cute in a romance film, e.g. 3 2021 Super Bowl host city 4 Where we are 5 Mother to the Titans 6 “Rhyme Pays” rapper 7 Doesn’t make it through a lecture, say 8 Honorific from Sanskrit 9 Overruns 10 Movie magnate Marcus 11 Entities with passthrough taxation, briefly 12 Got into the swing? 15 ___ Shute, “A Town Like Alice” novelist 18 Part of a cabinet

19 Vassal’s plot of land 24 “___ By Golly, Wow” (1972 hit by the Stylistics) 26 Judge of the Bible 27 Proof parts 28 California : palms :: New England : ___ 29 “That’s nonsense” 30 Match before the final 31 Its flag displays a curved dagger known as a khanjar 32 Filmmaker Ephron 33 ___ player 38 It holds water 39 Props, so to speak 42 Something kids often lose 44 Like some glasses 45 Question one might ask when looking at a banana taped to the wall

47 ___ contendere 48 ___ McCheese of old fast-food fame 51 Padmé Amidala’s home planet in “Star Wars” 52 Rockefeller Center statue 53 Orchestra section 54 Feature of a creature feature, perhaps 55 Some 57 Cowboys QB-turnedbroadcaster 58 Antarctica’s ___ Sea 59 Let go 60 Part of Italy where Calabria is found

The crossword solution is in the Classified section.

THURSDAY March 18, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

OPINIONS THE DAILY ILLINI EDITORIAL

Bitter conspiracies weaponize isolation

grief of losing a loved one to a confining cult of conspiracy; this dreadful fallOPINIONS EDITOR out appears as a dedicated symbol to the “Q-cause” who gloat losing their here exists holrelationships. low ground where QAnon presently preprofound grief vails without its ineffiand loneliness incencient commander: former tivize individuals to President Donald Trump. enlist in communities of Those who question how a conspiracies. conspiracy lacking a pedMost markedly dler persists must underwithin the outlandish stand that this phenomQAnon conspiracy — the enon is more a cloistered inept belief that the world company of conspiracists is supervised by satanic, than a grand insight into a Democratic pedophiles — “global cabal” propagated QAnon coerces permissive by Trump. individuals into its deceitEmma Bowman, a jourful embrace and promise nalist for NPR, insists of amicable company. that following the cataCertainly, there remain clysmic Capitol insurreccomplex paths for one to tion, the QAnon cultists KAITLIN MIKRUIT THE DAILY ILLINI plunge into the QAnon are no less incentivized rabbit hole. However, than before. Describing those afflicted by crucial the failed prophecy of a emotional factors — grief, Hollywood-like coup for alienation and anguish President Biden’s inaugu— demonstrate QAnon’s ration, Bowman remarks, ers Dolores Huerta, Cardomineering siphon, com- “the QAnon communiol Jenkins and Eleanor pelling a person to acquire ty has survived multiple Smeal note in their op-ed such outlandish beliefs. unrealized predictions for USA Today, “There’s Still, devious schemes preached on internet mesno deadline on women’s like QAnon weaponize sage boards since 2017.” equality,” that notoriousthese specific desolate Intrinsically, QAnon ly it was Abigail Adams feelings to amass loyalty will continually endure in 1776 who urged thenfor their ulterior motives failed forecasts as its comfounding father John — further dividing fragile munal aspect triumphs. Adams to “remember the individuals away from any Bowman additionally ladies and be more genersemblance of reality. taps the premier QAnon ous and favorable to them T. Nelson, a journalauthority, journalist Trathan your ancestors.” ist at Vice, chronicled this vis View, who disputes Over two hundred years tragic phenomenon when the foundation of QAnon’s predating any serious observing QAnon-relatintensity not to originate administrative power for ed Facebook groups back in Trump, but rather, “It women in this nation, Abi- in 2019, and frequently really is about the comgail also obliged, “do not noticed the Q-inclined munity and the feeling put such unlimited powwere, “elderly right-wing- that they have some sort er into the hands of the ers who have gone too far of inside information husband.” down the online rabbit about what’s going to hapSadly, this expectation hole.” pen, so there’s really no for a legitimately equal Likewise, Nelson notahead of the snake.” nation did not originate at bly noted within this This sentiment of its premier founding, and “online rabbit hole” that acquiring “inside infortoday it regularly lags in “almost every single mem- mation” fuels this embodying the “more per- ber of Q’s following seems unhinged pursuit for a fect union” outlined in its to have one glaring and truth that does not exist. constitution. unifying trait: they are A demented inquiry, noneThe condition for women deeply, heartbreakingly theless, epitomizes QAnon today has improved from lonely.” detaching individuals its last consequential occaSusceptible to this lone- astray from sensibility. sion — the 19th amendly-rabbit hole by way of One of the more melanment — yet when the bare their aged, reclusive state cholic corners of the interminimum is complete — aggravated only more net lies with Reddit’s “r/ equality in the law, the bar by the present pandemQAnonCasualties.” With could not be any lower. ic — loneliness and social over 143,000 members, “r/ Nevertheless, for this isolation, as articulatQAnonCasualties” stands Women’s History Month, ed by the CDC, is a gateas a genuine community Congress and this nation way for troubling physifor those afflicted from must prioritize the parcal and mental health losing their dearest. amount passage of the complications. In an article for ERA to ensure an imparCiting a comprehensive Newsweek, Jon Jacktial union exists in this report on social isolation’s son expands on Reddit’s nation that has perpetueffects, the CDC connects accounts and begins by ally neglected “the ladies” loneliness with “higher recounting one such story at justice’s behest. rates of depression, anxiof Susan and her mother. ety and suicide.” IncorpoSusan’s mother wistrating insufferable loneli- fully capitulated to the ness with a “plugged-in” irresponsible void that is older generation, and the QAnon. In an additional aforementioned outcome letter to Newsweek, Susan is the elderly enticed by illustrated, “the mom as donors than voters, which an online collective of I remember will probably should be obvious given the “patriots.” never be seen again. She is cyclical nature of AmeriWith their steadfast forever lost in this realm can elections. Writing a passion and resolve for of fantasy and drama.” representative accomplish- forwarding QAnon’s frenThis agonizing acknowles nothing besides making zied fiction, these dedicat- edgment for QAnon’s toll their paper shredder work a ed “elderly right-wingers” on personal lives is revelittle harder that day. have isolated themselves latory in comprehendThe elimination of lobby- not only from all realing the exhaustive sorrow ing is a crucial start on the ity but as well as beloved besieging all facets of a long and arduous journey family and friends who conspiracy theory. of fixing the broken syscannot sustain the illogiSusan’s supplement of tem. Only when sums from cal convictions surround- modern, digitally-driven 10,000-100,00s have left the ing their cult-community grief is merely one recent conversation can the will of of conspiracies. introduction to these conthe average voter be heard. In a feature detailtemporary, conspiracy As loud as a voter might yell, ing the socially disrupconundrums. it will always be drowned tive tendencies of QAnon, Grief regularly overout by the cacophony of a Quinn Meyers of MEL rides one’s senses of ratiomillion credit card swipes. Magazine indicated the nality, yet, it is by way of The number of unique common rebuttal from shrewd conspiracies like individual donors is a much “Q-Shepards” who comQAnon where gloom and better measure of a polimonly contend, “for those isolation are continuoustician’s actual popularity who say their family won’t ly harnessed against one’s rather than the gross total speak to them any more: own family, friends and — of their campaign fund. The ‘We are your family now.’” as profoundly exhibited United States needs legisla- Meyers also demonstraton January 6 — democrattion that limits the size of ed one account of a man ic society. campaign donations, which beholding QAnon conApart from false promwill put each individual on sume his girlfriend, and ises of finishing all socia much more level playing equated the grief-ridden etal ills, QAnon’s greatest field. rabbit hole as “like losdetrimental assurance lies The effort for a genuinely ing a loved one to drug in its commitment to its accountable political struc- addiction.” counterfeit community. ture is extensive, but it is Besides the harrowworth exerting to unite the ing factors influencing Nathaniel is a sophomore in will of the voter. conspiratory rabbit holes LAS. — specifically, enraged ntl3@dailyillini.com Dylan is a senior in Media. media — nothing can kdg2@dailyillini.com match the subsequent NATHANIEL LANGLEY

Equality awaits conclusive ratification

he glass ceiling has surely cracked nowadays, yet an absolute shatter remains prolonged with crucial codification for women being delayed. Despite a momentous year for improved societal representation — especially as America elected its first female Vice President, Kamala Harris — the nation continually lacks the required legal representation to ensure women are not secondary to men. Additionally, for fulfilled protection of women, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) must not only be endorsed and promoted by politicians, but it must garner genuine ratification to demolish the invasive glass ceiling. Drafted originally in 1923, the Brennan Center for Justice chronicles the amendment’s origin subsequently was “the next logical step following the successful campaign to win access to the ballot through the adoption of the 19th Amendment.” Conceptualized as a specificity for gender equality in the constitution, the ERA was and remains, for many, the imperative hammer to pulverize society’s patriarchal obstacles. The amendment itself underwent a lengthy journey, culminating in 1972 when Congress delivered the final text to the states declaring, “equality of

rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” Flying through both chambers of Congress — far ahead of the two-thirds needed — the ERA’s development through the 38 states needed for ratification is an expedition ranging from Hawaii in ‘72, with about 30 other states approving that year, to Illinois conclusively licensing in 2018 and Virginia ratifying the amendment last year. Despite Virginia being the crowning state needed for this constitutional modification, the ERA’s recent progress has been suspended to a standstill. Following troubles in court and a few states vying to rescind their ratification, the ERA’s remaining prospect lies in a congressional extension: an item currently awaiting a vote in both the House and Senate. Notably, this extension has garnered bipartisan support as Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Ak.) have introduced a Senate resolution matching the House’s proposed, equivalent measure; House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer asserts a bipartisan extension will pass in the House momentarily. It is the Senate, none-

theless, where the ERA’s voyage, coupled with the crippling filibuster, will be the climactic watershed for this gratifying amendment, a century in the making. However, renewed interest in the ERA is not clear of criticism. Detractors of the amendment argue that this addition, proposed over one hundred years ago, serves futile purposes in protecting women. Additionally, critics perceive today’s improved representation — namely women in Congress and now the vice presidency — as proof the ERA is extraneous. Besides the flagrant disregard for the continuous lack of equal representation in government — women representing more than half of the US, while only portraying about a quarter of Congress — the ERA is the entitled foundation of outstanding codification for women. In enshrining against the discrimination “on account of sex,” the ERA establishes a progressive roadmap for other belated policies — strikingly in the region of equal pay and treatment for working women. Even more so, Ms. Magazine articulates the ERA as the essential “Marshall Plan for Moms,” with the ERA guaranteeing that mothers are assured decisive equality in their nation’s constitution. Correspondingly, writ-

Corrupt corporate lobbying strangles accountability DYLAN GRAY SENIOR COLUMNIST

or much of the latter 2020 election cycle, there was an immense focus placed on the concept of “political accountability,” and the idea that to achieve political goals as a group, it is the duty of the people to hold elected officials accountable. This discussion became especially prevalent as the election neared with Joe Biden as the frontrunner, and continued to escalate following his electoral victory and subsequent January inauguration. Emphasis was, and still is, placed on the need to “pressure” politicians, like President Biden, into serving the interests of their constituency: “I scratch your back, you scratch mine,” so to speak. However, this notion is most absurd. Politicians are largely unaccountable to their so-called base, especially in the American twoparty system. When choices are offered

in a narrow binary like this, it becomes impossible to force a leader’s hand if the only alternative is defeat. The pendulum must swing back and forth; it is accountable to no one but gravity. Holding a politician “accountable” is not only laughable, but it completely misses the forest for the trees of American politics: if the official is already elected, the voter’s collective bargaining power is gone. The most effective way to hold an elected official responsible — if such a thing was ever possible — is to use one of the most versatile items in one’s tool-kit: the vote. Remember that no lawmaker is entitled to a vote, it must be earned. It is an unfortunate reality that lobbyists and colossal corporate donors have far more sway over representatives than a constituent who calls in or writes a frustrated letter. This will continue to be the case as long as money plays a comprehensive role in American politics. Accountability is not a cudgel that can be used to beat politicians into submission until they agree to serve public interests.

It is a much more ethereal, selective concept, in this case, where the lawmaker in question is either directly in danger of losing or legitimately has a moral qualm with voting a certain way. Because the latter is virtually nonexistent when discussing public servants, the former must be applied. Confronting Biden is an unfortunately unrealistic notion when he has already won the election. When a deal is made, it is best to see the money first. Once a candidate is in office, voters have virtually no leverage against them unless they occupy a particularly contentious district. With this in mind, it is important to follow the voting history of each officeholder and not merely the empty platitudes they choose to pay lip service to during their campaign. Of course, this is predominantly an exercise in hope and futility. American democracy, therefore, warrants fundamental reform for accountability to become a relevant component. As aforementioned, politicians are far more accountable to corporate

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.

THURSDAY March 18, 2021 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

SPORTS

WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS

Illinois uses record-setting display as motivation BY JONAH PEREZ STAFF WRITER

Heading into a conference tournament, everybody wants momentum or something to give them radiating self-confidence, whether it’s a win or even a great week of practice. But, what the Illini women’s gymnastics team did was on another level. “It means a lot to the program, because I think it means a ton to the student athletes that bought into the vision four years ago,” said head coach Nadalie Walsh. “Where we’ve been talking about wanting to break the school record and accomplished some major milestones. So for this group of young women, to be able to conquer that milestone, I think is a really great victory and a win for not only us, but the people in the pro-

gram before us.” Right before the competition, the coaches could sense a slight difference in the team’s attitude and body language. There was a different type of happiness and natural confidence in the air. Everything seemed easy leading up to the meet, and they just had a good handle on all of it. The Illini broke two team records by getting the highest score in program history with a 197.575 and the best on beam with a 49.525. The team feels like they can hang with anybody, and this embodies that mindset. Multiple gymnasts also tied or broke 13 personal records. On vault, sophomore Mia Townes broke her personal best with a 9.925. Senior Nicole Biondi, sophomore Mia Takekawa and

freshman Abby Mueller tied theirs with a 9.900, 9.800 and 9.775, respectively. On bars, Biondi and freshman Amelia Knight broke their bests with a 9.950 and 9.925, respectively, while senior Rachel Borden also tied hers with a 9.850. On beam, Townes and junior Shaylah Scott broke their bests with a 9.950 and 9.875, and Borden tied hers with a 9.875. Townes and freshman Kaitlyn Ewald both broke their career-highs on floor with a 9.925 and a 9.825, respectively. Biondi also broke her all-around high score with a 39.525. The Illini started out the season hot, winning their first three meets and six of their first seven road matchups. However, things got bumpy from there. They

hadn’t won a meet since Feb. 13 against Penn State, and it was their only win since Jan. 23. They had their struggles, but they were close. We saw flashes of what they could become when they broke their season high multiple times. This is why the small details are so important. The margins between a good team and a great team are slim, and it’s the reason they focused so much on the minutia. This performance is just their demonstration of blossoming from a potential top team to a contender. “The last weekend we competed, on the bus ride home we talked about us being a little bit more intentional and truly looking at the details, because the only reason why we were losing or not getting the scores that we

wanted were because of tiny things,” Townes said. “So, in the gym that next week, we really, really pushed. We were so intense. We were so intentional with our gymnastics ... I think being that intentional during practice and then mentally all of us being in a strong, mental state and all of us being unified for each other ... was what really made it happen altogether.” Scott added their mindset wasn’t bad, as they just all needed to shift a little and get on the same page. The gymnasts’ goal this season was to first win the Big Ten for the first time, win their region and then go deep at the NCAA Championships. If they can replicate their performance from last weekend, their goals will be attainable.

“I think this is a building block for the program,” Townes said. “This is definitely not where we stop ... I think we have the capability to go 198 anytime, so I think now it’s kinda like, ‘this is what we can do.’ “This is what we continue to do, because even after the meet, there were still a couple of things that we talked about as a team and we were like, ‘We could have done better on that’ ... I think this is just a moment for the world to be like, ‘Oh, Illinois is really like that’ ... For us to be able to just have that moment was definitely a building block for us, ‘cause it only goes up from here.” @jonahap2 jonahperez@dailyillini.com

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Dosunmu, Cockburn earn Associated Press All-American honors BY JACKSON JANES SPORTS EDITOR

When describing this 2020-2021 Illinois team, “historic” is one of the first words that comes to mind. Whether it be the Illini’s 16 regular-season Big Ten wins, the most in program history, their first Big Ten Tournament title since 2005 or the team’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 2013, this team will certainly be remembered for years to come. On Tuesday, the Illini achieved another first, as junior guard Ayo Dosunmu became the first player in program history to earn the Associated Press’ First-Team All-America honors. Joining him in the first team are Gonzaga’s Corey Kispert, Baylor’s Jared Butler, Iowa’s Luka Garza and Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham. Dosunmu wasn’t the only Illini on the list, as sophomore center Kofi Cockburn was named a Second-Team AllAmerican, joining Gonzaga duo Drew Timme and Jalen Suggs, Southern California’s Evan Mobley and Michigan freshman Hunter Dickinson. Dosunmu and Cockburn are also the first Illini to earn AllAmerica in 2006 honors since Dee Brown. Dosunmu put together one of the most impressive regular-season campaigns in program history and was unanimously named to the All-Big Ten First Team on March 9. Though he did not win the conference’s Player of the Year award, missing out to Garza for the second consecutive season, Dosunmu became

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS

Kofi Cockburn and Ayo Dosunmu embrace during the game against Iowa on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dosunmu and Cockburn were named to the Associated Press’ All-America teams on Tuesday.

the first player in the last 11 seasons to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and five assists per game; he’s averaging 20.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists heading into the NCAA tournament. The junior guard also became the third player in Illinois history to record a triple-double — and he accomplished the feat twice in the span of two weeks. Despite missing three games due to a facial injury, Dosunmu finished with the second-most

assists, the third-most points scored and the eighth-most minutes in the Big Ten. The Morgan Park High School alum is a Naismith Trophy semifinalist and a Bob Cousy Award finalist, which is given to the country’s top collegiate point guard. Dosunmu was also a unanimous FirstTeam All-America selection by Sports Illustrated and Sporting News. After a dominant freshman campaign, Cockburn got even better in his sopho-

more season, averaging 17.6 points and 9.6 rebounds while shooting 65.5% from the field. The Jamaica native is the only player across all of college basketball this season to average at least 15 points and nine rebounds while also shooting 65%. Cockburn was named to the Naismith Trophy Midseason Team and a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award finalist, given to the best college center. Sporting News named him to its All-Ameri-

ca Second-Team, while Sports Illustrated gave him its ThirdTeam honors. The sophomore center is known for his physicality and presence in the paint, as he is leading the nation in dunks with 70 this season. Cockburn was recognized for his dominance this season with a spot on the All-Big Ten First-Team for the first time in his career. To earn a spot in the rafters at State Farm Center, players must be consensus First-Team or Second-Team

All-Americans, and Dosunmu and Cockburn could both fulfill that requirement this season. With the NCAA tournament on the horizon, Illinois will look to advance farther than the Round of 32 for the first time since 2005, and the Illini will need their two All-Americans to step up if they still want to be playing in April. @JacksonJanes3 janes6@dailyillini.com

2B Thursday, March 18, 2021

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Sports staff breaks down Final Four, championship picks BY THE DAILY ILLINI SPORTS STAFF

For the first time since 2013, the Illini will be dancing in NCAA tournament, as they earned a 1-seed after amassing the most Quad 1 wins in all of college basketball, winning the Big Ten Tournament title and setting a program record with 16 Big Ten regular-season wins. With the tournament around the corner, The Daily Illini sports staff broke down their Final Four and national champion picks. Let’s take a look at their predictions and rationale. Jackson Janes, sports editor Final Four: Gonzaga, Arkansas, Illinois, Alabama This Illinois team has been special all year. Though the Illini are playing in a tough region, they have proven several times this year that they belong among the nation’s elite college teams, so I penciled them in as the team coming out of the Midwest region. Gonzaga has been by far the best team in the country for the entirety of the season, so it was also a no-brainer to include it as the West region’s champion. I went with two of the country’s hottest teams, both of which play in the Southeastern Conference, with my final two picks — Alabama and Arkansas — after both programs had tremendous regular-season campaigns. I’m not 100% confident with those last two predictions, but it’s called March Madness for a reason. Based on how dominant Illinois and Gonzaga have been all season, I have them going to the national championship, with Brad Underwood’s squad edging out the No. 1 overall seed for the Illini’s first-ever NCAA title. With clutch shooting, lockdown defense and selfless guard play, the Illini will emerge as the best team in the nation when all is said and done.

Arkansas, Illinois, Alabama These four teams are some of the hottest programs in college basketball, and they would make some incredible matchups deep in the tournament. To me, Gonzaga and Illinois in the Final Four is a no-brainer. Sure, you can make the argument that Gonzaga hasn’t played a real contender in a while, but the Bulldogs still are so elite on both sides of the ball. They’ve also already dominated several teams they might face in the tournament like Kansas, West Virginia and Iowa. Illinois is playing its best basketball right now. With Ayo Dosunmu performing at a pro level and role players finding their spots at the right time, it’ll be hard to stop the Illini from rolling through several teams. Alabama and Arkansas are another pair of teams that have been on a hot streak. Prior to falling to LSU in the SEC tournament, both teams were handling their opponents and putting on impressive offensive performances. And while Alabama has the better record, Arkansas beat them about a month back, proving how strong of a program it is. Ultimately, though, I think Gonzaga and Illinois meet in the championship, with the Bulldogs capping off an impressive season with a national championship. While the Illini are also elite on both ends of the court, I think the Bulldogs’ defense will be able to limit Dosunmu and Cockburn in a physical matchup. I do think it’ll come down to the final minute, and I just can’t count on Illinois making game-winning free throws. @gabby_h11 ghajduk2@dailyillini.com

Bra ndon Simberg, men’s basketball beat writer Final Four: Gonzaga, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Alabama West: Gonzaga. The Bulldogs are, and have been, the @JacksonJanes3 best team all season, and janes6@dailyillini.com their path to the Final Four is easy. No-brainer here. Gabby Hajduk, former South: Baylor. Another sports editor no-brainer, as Baylor has Final Four: Gonzaga, been the second-best team

JONAH OZER THE DAILY ILLINI

in the country throughout the season. Ohio State has been stumbling as the No. 2 seed, so I think Baylor’s path is pretty easy. Midwest: Oklahoma State. I think the Oklahoma State-Illinois game ultimately decides who makes the Final Four, but I’ll go with Cade Cunningham and the Cowboys. Upsets are bound to happen in March, and Cunningham is a guy that can make that happen. East: Alabama. Without Isaiah Livers, the Wolverines have been vulnerable. A potential Sweet 16 matchup with Texas is tough, but I trust Alabama’s weapons and No. 2-ranked defense. Final Four: Gonzaga over Alabama. Too much firepower from the ‘Zags, who will end ‘Bama’s great season. Baylor over Oklahoma State. Oklahoma State just beat Baylor in the Big 12 tourney, but I think the Bears get their revenge here. Final: Baylor over Gonzaga. Gonzaga’s undefeated season falls short, as Davion Mitchell and Jared Butler contain Jalen Suggs, and the Bears’ weapons hit enough shots to get

them over the top. @BrandonSimberg simberg2@dailyillini.com

Will Payne, assistant sports editor Final Four: Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois, Florida State Gonzaga is one of the most efficient and well-organized teams in college basketball. Behind senior Corey Kispert and freshman Jalen Suggs, I fully expect the Bulldogs to roll through the West region. Baylor is one of the best shooting teams in the country, and without many fans in the stands, I expect Jared Butler and MaCio Teague to come out firing on all cylinders. The Illini have played out of their minds since their loss to Michigan State, as Ayo Dosunmu’s injury has really galvanized the troops for a deep March Madness run. With suffocating defense and a great offense, Illinois is the easy pick out of the Midwest region (knock on wood). I love this Seminole team going into the tournament, as they boast one of the best offenses in all of college bas-

ketball and also rebound the ball well. I think they will give Michigan lots of trouble in this potential matchup. This being the first March Madness without packed stadiums, I expect 1-seeds to do fairly well. Without the added pressure of thousands of fans in the crowd, the best teams in the country will be able to do what they do best, which is running their efficient offenses and clamping down on inferior competition on the defensive side of the ball. That is why I have three 1-seeds in my Final Four. Final Four: I have Gonzaga defeating Florida State and Illinois defeating Baylor, setting up a national championship matchup between the Bulldogs and the Illini. In the national championship, I have Illinois defeating Gonzaga to win the 2021 NCAA tournament. After watching every Illinois game this year, and of course being very biased, I cannot imagine a scenario in which Illinois is not cutting down the nets in Indianapolis this season. Ayo Dosunmu, Kofi Cockburn and the rest of the Illini have dominated this year,

especially throughout the Big Ten Tournament. As long as Illinois continues to play lockdown defense and hit from three, I can see them victorious against the Bulldogs. @will_payne33 wpayne2@dailyillini.com

Josh Pietsch, assistant on-air editor Final Four: Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois, Texas Yeah, three 1-seeds is pretty basic, but I definitely think it’s justifiable for this year’s Final Four. This is one of those years where I think there are multiple teams that are a clear level above the rest, and those teams are Gonzaga, Baylor and Illinois. Gonzaga has beaten the second, third and fourth seeds in its region already this season, and despite playing in a less competitive conference, it would still take a major upset to keep Gonzaga out of the Final Four. Baylor is a little different. The Bears’ defense under Scott Drew is as impressive SEE STAFF PICK| 3B

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Thursday, March 18, 2021

MEN’S BASKETBALL

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

Brad Underwood speaks to the basketball team after a play against Nebraska on Feb. 25 at State Farm Center. Underwood built up the Illinois basketball program through team-building and establishing the mindset of “everyday guys.”

Underwood turns program around with team-building, culture BY BRANDON SIMBERG STAFF WRITER

When Brad Underwood took over Illinois in 2017, he knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Sure, Illinois was a program with some history and in a position to land recruits from one of the best basketball cities in the world. But, the coaches after Bill Self had failed to do that. Underwood inherited an Illini team that went 20-15 the previous season, but they missed the tourney for the third straight year. Gone was Illinois’ third all-time leading scorer, Malcolm Hill, and starting shooting guard Jalen ColemanLands. Underwood’s first

roster included five freshmen, three of whom were expected to contribute. Forecasts were not bright for Underwood’s first season, and in his first game as an Illinois coach, they lost an exhibition game to Eastern Illinois. The team finished the season 14-18, but to this day Underwood remembers how the season started. “You think I’ve forgotten the Eastern Illinois exhibition game?” Underwood said. “To sit there and be standing on a ladder in the best league, Big Ten champions in the best league in the history of college basketball. Man, you take all of that in.”

How Underwood turned this around is an interesting thought exercise in teambuilding. It started with Ayo Dosunmu, who in lots of ways is the perfect person to reinvigorate a program. Dosunmu was ranked 32nd in 247Sports recruit rankings but not seen as a guaranteed pro. Of the 31 players ranked ahead of him, only three are still in college as juniors. None of those players are still at their original schools. Underwood also struck gold with Kofi Cockburn. Cockburn was ranked No. 46 and was expected to be good, but with the exception of Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, no sophomore in the coun-

try has produced more than Cockburn. It’s more than recruiting. Underwood has brought this mantra to Illinois — everyday guys — and it looks like in year four, this team has a roster full of athletes who have bought into that mindset. Playing for Underwood isn’t easy, as he’s known for ripping into his players for mistakes. Underwood saw seven players transfer since he took over. Now, Underwood has players who embody what he wants to do as a coach. He prides his guys on doing the little things, and this year’s team has exemplified that. Earlier in the season, Dosunmu got on Adam Mill-

er in practice for not diving on a loose ball. A few weeks later, Miller sprawled out on the Cameron Indoor Stadium floor for a loose ball. On Saturday, in a key moment in Illinois’ win over Iowa, Andre Curbelo stripped Hawkeye guard Jordan Bohannon and dove on the floor, resulting in a dunk. “Those are all the details,” Underwood said after the Iowa game. “All the little things that don’t show up in a stat sheet. That’s just a play that wins games, and it’s our culture. I’m glad to see ‘Belo listen” On Sunday, Underwood’s voyage from Big Ten bottom-feeder to Big Ten cham-

pion was complete, as Illinois cut down the nets at Lucas Oil Stadium. While this was happening, the NCAA Selection Show was being shown on the Jumbotron. The No. 1 seed in the Midwest region belonged to Underwood’s crew, something he won’t take for granted. “There’s nothing better than hearing your name come across and be seen on the screen when it’s called for the NCAA tournament,” Underwood said. “There’s 353 Division-I teams, 68 get in. This group deserved that.” @BrandonSimberg simberg2@dailyillini.com

FROM 2B

STAFF PICKS as I’ve seen in defending guards, and their only two losses of the season came at Kansas and against a redhot Cade Cunningham-led Oklahoma State team in the Big 12 Tournament. But, they’ve also slowed down since the beginning of the year and missed some games due to COVID-19. Though Ohio State isn’t a bad pick to get out of this region, I’m still pretty confidently going with Baylor and the best backcourt in the country out of the South region. As far as Illinois goes, I think it drew by far the toughest 4-seed but also the easiest 2 and 3 seeds. The Sweet 16 should be an interesting test if they meet up with Cunningham, but if the Illini get through that, I see them with the best path to get to the Final Four other than the ‘Zags. Now we get to the East. Michigan hasn’t looked the same since getting crushed by Illinois, and though I think UConn has a chance at a Cinderella-esque type run, I think it’ll be Shaka Smart and Texas returning to the Final Four for the first time since 2003. I don’t see them slowing down after a Big 12 championship, and I think they’ll upset Michigan in the Elite 8 to reach the Final Four. Will one or more of these picks be wrong? Almost surely. But, I like what I’ve seen from these teams, and I also think we’ll see Gonzaga handle Texas and Illinois win a classic against Baylor to advance to the championship. And sorry Gonzaga fans, no undefeated year for you. I think it’ll be the Illini winning a close one over the ‘Zags in the final to win its first-ever national title.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TREVOR RUSZKOWSKI-USA TODAY SPORTS

Trent Fraizer goes for a layup as Jared Butler plays defence during the game against Baylor on Dec. 2 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Both the Illini and the Bears are popula picks make the Final Four, according to the DI Sports Staff.

Final Four: Virginia, Baylor, Illinois, Alabama I’m certainly going to get at least one of these wrong, but I’m going with Alabama, Illinois, Baylor and Virginia — assuming they don’t have to back out — in the Final Four. Virginia and Alabama will face each other, while Illinois and Baylor will meet again. Illinois and Baylor played earlier this season, and Baylor easily won the matchup. Granted, things are different now; Baylor didn’t advance to the Big 12 title game while Illinois won the Big Ten Tournament, and I predict Illinois will go to the title game. In the other semifinal, Alabama will beat Virginia and go to its second “revenue sport” championship of the 2021 calendar year. In the title game, Illinois and Alabama would be pretty evenly pietsch3@dailyillini.com matched, but a strong Illi@JPietsch14 nois performance would ease Illini fans’ nerves, givClaire O’Brien, sports ing Illinois its first NCAA video editor tournament title in program

history. @obrien_clairee claireo3@dailyillini.com

Jonah Perez, beat writer Final Four: Gonzaga, Texas Tech, Illinois, Florida State I have the No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga Bulldogs beating the 3-seeded Florida State Seminoles, and 1-seed Illinois beating the 6-seeded Texas Tech Red Raiders for spots in the national championship. I believe Gonzaga will beat Illinois 64-58 in the national championship. The reason is because of the reliance on Ayo Dosunmu to always come through when they need him most. Nobody’s 100% at anything, and while Ayo is an amazing player, sooner or later he won’t come through when they need him. Not because he’s not good, but because nobody can come through every time. I have questions about

who will step up and close for him in the event it isn’t his night in the closing minutes of a nail-biter. Senior Trent Frazier is a good bet or even Andre Curbelo, but that hasn’t been their roles this season, and developing a closer mentality can take time. Gonzaga is not just any team; they are undefeated and are a team with two potential top 10 picks in the NBA draft. They also have been here and done it many times before, and head coach Mark Few has experience in this situation.

talent is legitimate, and they’re entering the tournament hot, winning 14 of their last 15 games. Talent and momentum are huge in this tournament. I see some upsets coming in the rest of the field. Villanova will be missing its star guard, Collin Gillespie. This will hurt them on both sides of the ball, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them lose in the first round against Winthrop. Michigan State got off to a rough start, with several games postponed and players missing games throughout the year. However, they beat Illinois, Michigan and @jonahap2 Ohio State late in the season. jonahperez@dailyillini.com The Spartans have momentum, and they are more talChristian Jones, beat ented than their record writer shows. I see them as a CinIllinois is a 1-seed in the derella team this year. Big Dance for the first time since I learned how to read, @JonesChristianT so of course I have it going ctjones3@dailyillini.com all the way. This isn’t just bias, though, as the Illini are Enji Erdenekhuyag, a well-rounded team with beat writer scoring on all three levels Final Four: Gonzaga, Ohio and a solid defense. Their State, Illinois, Alabama

The Big Ten champs are bound to win it all. There are few, if any, distinguishing characteristics from players who come off the bench because Illinois is stacked with wellrounded personnel who all collectively complement each other’s skills. Entering the Big Dance with momentum, the team has continuously proven they are capable of draining shots and defending the basket. Granted, doing this against Gonzaga, the nation’s highest-scoring team that just so happens to also hold the best record in college basketball, will be trying — especially because the Illini are not without their own occasional faults — but that is all the more motivating. The championship game between the Illini and the Bulldogs will commence in a high-scoring, nail-biting fashion, but I would not expect, or want, anything less. enkhjin2@dailyillini.com

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Thursday, March 18, 2021

buzz calendar BY RUKAYAH HUSSEIN BUZZ CALENDAR EDITOR

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

THURSDAY, MARCH 18

SATURDAY, MARCH 20

Art Talk Thursday: Andean Art with Kasia Szremski and Allyson Purpura

KAITLIN MIKURT THE DAILY ILLINI

Get pumped for March Madness BY NATE SUN STAFF WRITER

Check out Nate’s playlist to get you pumped for March Madness! Follow buzz on Spotify @ buzzmagcu. 1. “Sky” - Playboi Carti 2. “Boomer” - Bartees Strange 3. “Champion” - Fireboy DML, D Smoke 4. “Savage Remix (feat. Beyoncé)” - Megan Thee Stallion, Beyoncé 5. “MAZZA (feat. A$AP Rocky)” - slowthai, A$AP Rocky 6. “Wants and Needs (feat. Lil Baby)” Drake, Lil Baby

7. “Obeah” - Haviah Mighty 8. “4 Thangs (feat. Big Sean & Hit-Boy)” Freddie Gibbs, Big Sean, Hit-Boy 9. “Show Out (with Skepta & Pop Smoke” - Kid Cudi, Skepta, Pop Smoke 10. “Made Me Everything Pt. 2 (feat. Maxo Kream)” - TOBi, Maxo Kream 11. “1995” - Juicy J, Logic 12. “Santos Party House (feat. Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y, BigK.R.T., Girl Talk)” - Smoke DZA 13. “Spaceships” - Boss Wood, Big K.R.I.T.

14. “On My S*** (feat. Joey Bada$$)” - Phony Ppl, Bada$$ 15. “NIKE SHOE BOX” - Lou Phelps, KAYTRANADA 16. “Keep It Moving (feat. Nas, Joey Bada$$, Gary Clark Jr.)” - Statik Selektah 17. “Comfort Zone” - T Star, Big K.R.I.T. 18. “Big A$AP (feat. Monica)” - A$AP Ferg, Monica 19. “I Can’t Lose” - Erik the Architect 20. “Drankin N Smokin” - Future, Lil Uzi Vert

Champaign-Urbana Winter Farmers Market

 4:00 p.m.  Virtual event hosted by Krannert Art Museum  Free, but registration required This month’s event will feature Kasia Szremski, associate director of Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and director of the Huanangue Valley Archaeology Project and Allyson Purpura, senior curator and Curator of Global African Art, as they highlight art in the Ancient Andean Gallery.

 8 -11 a.m.  Lincoln Square, 201 Lincoln Square, Urbana  Free Shop from all of your favorite, local, craft, food and farm vendors indoors at Lincoln Square Mall. Masks and social distancing will be required in the space and limits on the number of shoppers that can be in the market area at the same time will be in effect.

March Dance 2021

 2-3 p.m.  Virtual event hosted by Urbana Free Library  Free, but registration required If you have an interest in bugs or learning about etymology, this is the event for you. Join the Urbana Free Library on Zoom to learn all about the fascinating world of etymology from real entomologists. You’ll even be able to watch live insects! This event is open to all ages, and the registration link can be found on the Urbana Free Library website.

 7:00 p.m.  Virtual event hosted by Krannert Center for Performing Arts  Free Ongoing event. These performances will be livestreamed to a broad viewing audience and performed live for a small audience of students, staff and faculty as part of the Dance at Illinois curriculum following university-approved COVID-19 safety guidelines.

FRIDAY, MARCH 19

Insect Fun

Trivia Night on Zoom

Yoga at KAM: Virtual Edition

 Noon.  Online event hosted by Krannert Art Museum  Free Enjoy a free weekly yoga practice, presented online by Krannert Art Museum and taught by Jodi Adams, certified yoga instructor and Ayurveda specialist.

 6:30 p.m.  Virtual event hosted by Champaign County Library and Champaign County Library North Lewisburg Branch  Free, but registration required Enjoy the pub trivia experience from the comfort of your own home during virtual trivia night, where you’ll be put into teams of four to six people to answer questions from a wide range of categories, including history, science, current events, pop culture, sports and more.

nssun2@readbuzz.com