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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
NEWS
The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
A University Wellness Support Associate checks people into the BIF on Tuesday morning. The University did not hire enough WSAs to be stationed at every building on campus.
UI fails to staff all Safer Illinois checkpoints By Zainab Qureshi Assistant Copy Chief & Night Editor
The University has not employed enough Wellness Support Associates to have one stationed at every campus facility entrance to check Safer Illinois applications. Instead, it is rotating through buildings with the approximately 330 WSAs that it does employ; the University does not have any current plan to increase that number and is investing in other mitigation measures instead. “It would take a staff of about 3,000 WSAs to have someone at every entrance during all the hours buildings are open, and we have chosen to invest in a variety of layers of protection, instead of just this one component,” said Robin Kaler, associate chancellor of Public Affairs, in an email. The University has implemented various measures to prevent the spread
of COVID-19. One of those measures include mandating University-approved vaccinations for all individuals who are able and mandating compliance with a testing schedule every other day for those who aren’t vaccinated. Youngkwang Lee, junior in ACES, checks Safer Illinois apps at the Oregon Computer Lab and the English Building throughout the week. Lee doesn’t have many cases of students he has to turn away now but did have to turn people away from entering the building in the beginning of the school year. “I did have a couple (people not have building access) when school started, and I wouldn’t be able to let people who don’t have building access in,” Lee said. “It was awkward and kind of a complicated experience.” Despite knowing that not all buildings are being checked everyday, Lee still feels safe because of the additional mea-
sures the University is taking to stop the spread. “I still believe that I feel pretty safe,” Lee said. “It’s been a couple weeks and there haven’t been any major issues.” According to the SHIELD testing data, 121 new cases of COVID-19 have occurred in the past week, and the positivity rate for the virus has been on the decline since the initial spike as students returned to campus. However, some students on campus are still worried about the holes in the system and were under the impression that all buildings would have a WSA checking apps. “We were getting a lot of emails that said they were going to be doing that prior to the school year starting, and it’s only happened twice for me so far so that was kind of concerning,” said Dana Shuaibi, freshman in LAS. “I have had people who appear to be sick in my
classes, and it could be because they’re not vaccinated.” The University is confident in its mitigation system though, and is implementing measures to enforce the testing protocol even if there aren’t WSAs working at every building. Even if an unvaccinated individual didn’t get checked at the door, the University is still enforcing that they get a regular COVID-19 saliva test by an out-of-compliance notification. “We monitor testing electronically whether someone attempts to enter a building or not,” Kaler said in an email. “So, students who aren’t vaccinated receive notification that they are out of compliance. Those who don’t test and get back in compliance face discipline — up to and including possible dismissal from the University.” zqures7@dailyillini.com
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
NEWS
The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS POLICE DEPARTMENT
Police Chief Alice Cary of the University of Illinois Police Department responds to Reddit comments on her laptop. Cary answered questions from the University community to provide more transparency, specifically about campus crime.
UI Police Chief hosts campus crime Q&A on Reddit by Alex Chang Staff Writer
Police Chief Alice Cary of the University of Illinois Police Department took to Reddit Thursday to answer questions from the University community with a strong focus on the recent rise in crime. Redditors asked Cary about what the department’s plans were regarding increased law enforcement presence on Green Street, citing concerns of rising violent crime in the area. “I know you don’t cover the area, but how do you plan to stop the massive wave of violent crimes on green street from spilling over to campus?” a Redditor asked. “Every weekend there’s a new story about shootings or brutal beatings on green.” Cary replied, saying that UIPD is currently involved in the installation of additional security cameras on Green
Street, increased patrols in the area, and limiting after-hours access to certain parking lots that are prone to crime. “We were seeing people congregating in some of those lots, and that’s when disputes were breaking out. We’ve seen a lot of success with these techniques since they’ve been in place,” Cary said. Cary also mentioned that the local law enforcement has a role in patrolling. “Although we also patrol Green Street, it is officially the jurisdiction of the Champaign and Urbana police departments. They provide the primary patrol presence in that area, and the extra things we’re doing wouldn’t be possible without their collaboration.” In addition, Cary stressed that these physical measures were only meant as short-term relief for the visible effects of crime, and not solutions to the larger causes of violent crime in general. “When we successfully drive violent
crime out of one area, it can pop up in another area,” Cary said. “There are some really big community and social issues we are grappling with right now across the nation, and it’s going to take more than just the police to figure these out.” Cary noted that the recent issues, “may be partially tied to the increase in gun violence we’ve seen across the community” but are still relatively infrequent. “I would caution against qualifying it as a ‘massive wave’ of violent crime on Green Street,” Cary said. “Any amount of crime needs to be taken seriously … but no community is ever going to be completely crime-free. This underscores the importance of people taking steps to look out for themselves.” When asked about the recent hiring of social workers for the force, Chief Cary highlighted the addition of the
Response, Evaluations, and Crisis Help team. “Since the beginning of 2021, we’ve hired a Crisis Outreach Coordinator and two Police Social Workers,” Cary said. “Our Social Workers ride in patrol cars with specially-trained police officers (who we call Behavioral Health Detectives, or BHDs) to respond to mental health-related emergencies.” Throughout the AMA, Cary reiterated that keeping the CU area safe involves not just UIPD, but also the Champaign and Urbana police departments, and she expressed gratitude towards all three departments for cooperating to fight crime. “We are the University Police Department, so our main focus is going to remain on doing everything we can to keep the campus area safe,” Cary said. alexrc2@dailyillini.com
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NEWS
The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Undergrad vaccination rate reaches 91% By Brendyn Jones Assistant On-Air Editor
85% and the academic professional rate went up from 89% to 90%, according to Kaler. The largest increase was from civil service employees, which increased from 69% to 71%. Although Wednesday is the last day to start the vaccination process, Kaler does not anticipate a large increase afterwards. She says the next step is to continue to go through the exemption requests. “Over the next couple of weeks, people will continue to be working through the exemption requests,” Kaler said. “So, in this transition period, we’re still having everybody test as if they need to do that at the normal rate. But over the next couple of weeks as we get all the exemptions processed then we’ll determine those who need to test at a greater frequency.” McKinley will still be offering vaccinations to students who have not been vaccinated, however, Kaler says faculty and staff are encouraged to go through the community to receive their vaccinations.
Sept. 15, was the last day for University members to either receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination or submit a vaccination exemption request to the University following Governor J.B. Pritzker’s mandate on Aug. 26. The mandate, which also coincided with a renewed indoor mask mandate, stated that all state employees and University students must be vaccinated against COVID-19. Since then, two emails have been sent updating the University on the vaccination percentages in the community, one Massmail on Aug. 26 and an email from the COVID-19 Executive Steering Committee on Sept. 8. Robin Kaler, associate chancellor for Public Affairs, said the number of vaccinations have increased since the last update on Sept. 8. The vaccination rate for undergraduate students has increased from 90% to 91%, the graduate student rate has increased from 92% to 93%, the fac- @brendyn_ jones ulty rate has increased from 84% to brendynjones@dailyillini.com
CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
A syringe filled with the Moderna vaccine sits beside boxes of bandages and wipes at the Church of the Living God on Feb. 20. The deadline to begin the vaccination process at the University was Sept. 15 and the undergrad vaccination rate is currently at 91%.
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
In-person Greek life fosters community By Liz Gremer Staff Writer
As the new year of classes began in August, members of sorority houses moved in and began to prepare for the fall 2021 rush. In comparison to last year’s virtual fall and spring rush, this year was a hybrid session. As the houses prepare to open up their homes to new members, the importance of being in person and staying COVID-19 safe were top priorities, Lauren Kowalski, sophomore in LAS, said. Prior to returning to campus, COVID-19 regulations were put in place for girls who were living in houses, such as required vaccination or testing if one is not vaccinated. In both Kowalski and Melody Reyes’ houses, all members that are living in them have been vaccinated for COVID-19. However, in the weeks leading up to in-person rush, COVID-19 infection rates increased and specific rush rules were set in place in each sorority house. Reyes, sophomore in LAS, house, said in her house, all guests are required to wear masks and members must test if they begin to feel sick or show symptoms. During rush, potential new members, or PNMs, found the rules to create a safe environment and felt safe throughout the process, Natalie Carlisle, freshman in Engineering, said. “I felt pretty safe,” Carlisle said. “They organized the talking in a way that you had the same few people that you would be talking with throughout the rounds. Overall, I felt fine with how rush was handled in regard to COVID-19.” Kowalski said the in-person events of rush are vital to the process. “I think that it was very important to meet individuals in person so that they can get the whole vibe of the house,” Kowalski said. “By being in person, even though we had individual conversations, PNMs were able to see the rest of the chapter and get the full experience of Chi Omega.” By allowing PNMs to come to the houses in person, Reyes said the rush process felt easier in comparison to last year. “I think that having girls come to the house is so much better than online rush,” Reyes said. “It’s less awkward than talking over Zoom on a screen and feels more natural and comfortable.” Throughout the rush experience, being able to have PNMs in the house was an advantage in comparison to virtual rush. Being able to show off the house and its
CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
The Chi Omega sorority house is part of the University Panhellenic Council and one of the many houses that fosters community within students. perks is helpful, Kowalski said. “I think that seeing the physical house was great for PNMs,” Kowalski said. “Location is something that is very important, especially since many houses have live-in requirements, so seeing the actual building may have impacted some individuals’ opinions.” Most sorority members live in the house during their second year of membership. After living in a dorm freshman year, Kowalski enjoyed living in the house more. “Living with 51 girls has actually been very fun, and it has been a lot more inviting of an environment than I would first expect,” Kowalski said. “I do prefer it to the dorm because I get to live with all of my friends, and I have really gotten close with the girls who are living in.”
Living in a sorority house provides members an opportunity to live with fellow members and have experiences that make it appealing, Reyes said. “I love the old house feel that it has to it, it makes it cozier and feel more like home,” Reyes said. “I prefer it to the dorm 100%. It is so much homier and cozier in comparison to the dorm since you know that you vibe with everyone who’s there.” The environment at the house also encourages sorority members in an academic sense, Kowalski said. In her house, there is a silent study room furnished with 12 cubical-style desks that come with charging ports, long tables and white boards. “My favorite memory is honestly very mundane, but it would have to be sitting
in our group study room at 2 a.m. doing organic chemistry with about five other Chi Omegas,” Kowalski said. “It was so memorable because we all were doing some stressful work, but we were able to do it all together and it made the work less stressful.” Although Carlisle has only been a member of her sorority since Sept. 13, she can already see herself living in next year and being able to have that experience. “My parents both did Greek life at UIUC, so they really want me to be involved, and I want to be involved in it too,” Carlisle said. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about living in, so I can imagine myself doing that next year.” egremer2@dailyillini.com
The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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Landlords' exploitations impair living conditions WELCOME TO WEST QUAD. STUDENT LI
By The Daily Illini Editorial further implementationSTUDENT of the tenant for what it really meant,” Lopez conELCOME TO Board WEST QUAD. LIVING REDEFINED. rights legally listed by the Tenant Union. tended. Fortunately, resources like the Apartment and leasing nightmares are one of the most abundant resources the Champaign-Urbana area offers. Whether it is the tale of someone off the street ravaging a resident’s bedding or the annual “Homeless Week” where students are suddenly vagrant between leases, there is no shortage of leasing terrors. In a constant contest to exploit student leasers, apartment companies incompetently manage and provide unpleasant conditions to Illini. Moreover, present residential circumstances in C-U are producing housing inequality alongside contemptible services to students. Thus, reform is long overdue. Underutilized services like Student Legal Services already exist to aid students in this venture, yet Illini deserve improved relief with lease reform and long-term strategies. The typical relationship between landlord and tenant in C-U is frail at best. Seemingly, only responsive to the threat of poor reviews, and repeatedly holding security deposits for little to no reason, landlords reign over C-U due to little accountability. Therefore, the premier place for lease reform to begin is with
Appearing on the list are several violations that, nearly occurring daily, receive little to no response other than criticism on the University’s Reddit page: roof/ceiling leaks and/or infestations to name a few. The rise of luxury apartments in C-U also represents a need for local housing refinements. “Nobody earning under 150% of the federal poverty level can afford rents in ChampaignUrbana,” reported the News-Gazette in August 2019. With the advancement of opulent apartments, little development has been made to better affordable housing options across campus. Likewise, with the rise in these apartments, students’ budgets are being dedicated less to other necessities. An immense implication of these rising costs has been the escalation in food insecurity. In May, Illinois Newsroom documented Ricardo Lopez, a senior at the time, as an example of the consequences of increasing housing prices. “I did not have the financial literacy or sort of like the ‘know-how’ to really examine a lease and kind of budget
Food Assistance & Well-Being Program and Bevier Cafe counterpoise food insecurity from these leases, yet these are only band-aids in the injurious landscape where landlords overpower students. Furthermore, “Homeless Week,” every August, represents Illini in between leases spawning situations where students are forced to obtain storage units, hotel rooms or impromptu stays with friends. Despite certain landlords allowing tenants to move in early to avoid Fully Furnished this dilemma, other students may find themselves with disconnected 12-month Designer Bathrooms leases. Although the only viable option remains to ask a willing landlord, defi- Appliances JULIA EVERSMANN THE DAILY ILLINI Stainless Steel cient solutions persist without proper address. given to appalling landlords cannot Euro-Style Cabinetry C-U, currently, is a playground for be offered. One must inform themself Incapitalize Unit Washer Dryer leasing companies to on col- of and their rights, as legally declared by lege students. Power, subsequently, is the Tenant Union, and advocate for Flatrefined Screen TVconditions and addiendowed to these landlords who reguleasing larly disregard Illini’s concerns tional affordable housing options on Cable andand WiFi Included housing troubles. Besides local gov- campus. ernment action, students should recWithout local pressure, leasing comAnd More! ognize and seek out the Tenant Union panies will endure in their exploitaor Student Legal Services if they per- tions of apathetic tenants. ceive dilemmas. The “same old same old” consent opinions@dailyillini.com
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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LLCs offer social enrichment, academic resources By Alexandra Gregova Staff Writer
Outside of enrolling in RSOs or choosing to rush pre-professional or social Greek life, many students also select an opportunity much closer – one that lies within their living quarters. The University offers 11 distinct livinglearning communities situated on specific floors in residence halls that specialize in certain areas and provide resources. These include but are not limited to the Business LLC, LEADS LLC, Honors LLC and Sustainability LLC. According to Isabella Palm, sophomore in Engineering and Honors Ambassador for the Honors LLC, living-learning communities provide a crucial environment for like-minded individuals with shared interests and passions. “It’s just a great community where you’re able to essentially live with people who are also going through similar courses like you,” Palm said. “Typically, you have similar interests as you’re all honors kids. So you’re gonna share experiences in maybe STEM related fields or business – there’s a wide range of majors.” Palm decided to join the Honors LLC her freshman year because she felt that it would otherwise be more difficult to find students similar to her that valued academics equally as much as social interactions and pursuits. “I noticed that for a top school for a lot of things, obviously, you’re gonna have people who are really passionate about what they do, but being part of the honors community made it a lot easier at least to find people living right next to you who are really into architecture, or design, or engineering or different things like that,” Palm said. “It’s really nice to see other people who genuinely like the stuff that they are working on but also still have a good social side to them.” Like Palm, Aarushi Raizada, freshman in Business and the Business LLC, similarly joined a living-learning community in order to meet individuals who shared similar interests. “I really wanted a smaller community that not only shared my interests but could make the University feel that much smaller and less intimidating,” Raizada said. “I didn’t really have a lot of connections at the school, so I was definitely looking for something that not only would give me extra opportunities to grow and expand on the professional side but would also help me to make closer knit friend groups with people who shared my interests.” Because LLCs center around a specialized program, they seek to introduce and
CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
Anusha Adira, freshman in Engineering, studies in the lobby of Weston on Saturday. Weston is home to the LEADS living-learning community. offer a plethora of events that only members can take advantage of. For the Honors LLC, these range from professional to social events, according to Palm. Some professional events include inviting companies to host talks, professional headshots and conversations by invited staff members. Other social events, which Palm hopes to have one or two times a month, include trivia nights and haunted mansions. Unlike Palm, Raizada is discontent with the lack of events offered by the Business LLC considering students in living-learning communities must pay a specific fee to reside in the area and participate in the program, which frequently comes at the cost of $300. “As far as the activities go, I do wish that I got a bit more,” Raizada said. “I wish that they had had more events, or
we got more things. I wish that they had done a little bit more on their end.” However, Raizada believes that the social enrichment with like-minded and intellectual peers the Business LLC balanced her concerns over the lack of events. “If I wanted to go out and join a club, I could reach out to my neighbor or I could ask my friend who lives down the hall if they want to do it with me,” Raizada said. “(The) kids in the Business LLC are so open minded about this stuff that I really love the people and how open everybody is here to forming connections.” Palm echoed similar sentiments regarding the beneficial social atmosphere. “You always see people in study groups hanging out in the dorms working, and even when they’re not, they’re just hang-
ing out and having fun playing games or whatever inside their dorms,” Palm said. “It definitely is like a good mix of academics and a normal college life.” In order to join a living-learning community, interested students must apply by writing a brief essay explaining how they can benefit from the program and what they can offer, according to Palm. While Raizada hopes to live in an apartment next year, she believes that livinglearning communities are great ways for freshman to become acclimated to the University. “I’m not really sure how much I’m going to want to live in the dorms next year, but I would definitely recommend it as an experience for freshmen,” Raizada said. gergova2@dailyillini.com
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
UI dining offers variety of vegetarian dishes By Alex Chang Staff Writer
For students living in University Housing, including most freshmen, a main complaint from vegetarians and meat-eaters alike is the monotony of food that sets in after a few weeks. Finding a meal that satisfies dietary rules for vegetarians and vegans, however, can be tricky. Add the difficulty of finding something that also is tasty, and the act of picking what to eat at a dining hall can be surprisingly hard. Dining hall operators have to take into consideration health, taste, cost and ease of cooking among a myriad of other factors in designing a menu, says Melissa Schumacher, assistant director and Dietitian of Dining Services. “Our job as the Dining Services team is to ensure that all of our customers get meals that they want to eat, while also making sure what they eat is conducive to a healthy time at the University,” Schumacher said. “It’s this really fine balancing act, but it’s a lot of fun to think of new ways to fulfill their needs.” Part of that variety includes main entrees, which are the hardest part to design, Schumacher said. “Main courses are the star of the show for a meal, and our goal is to always include at least one main dish that is vegetarian so everyone has something to eat.” Part of that variety includes main entrees, which are the hardest part to design and “the star of the show for a meal,” according to Schumacher, who works with the
CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
ISR's Grains & Greens station has a variety of vegetarian options, including customizable meals.
same, so I never left to try any of the other halls, and man was that a mistake,” Bodicherla said. “Now I realize that each hall has its own quirks for its food.” Around campus, students commonly rave about ISR’s Grains & Greens and LAR’s Field of Greens. Both are micro-restaurants dedicated to serving the vegetarian and vegan community. “Since Grains & Greens offered us a chance to newly design from the start something to show off the vegetarian dining experience, we chose to reflect that in its green and earthy colored theme which perfectly complements the vegetable-focused dishes that it serves,” said Carrie Anderson, administrative executive chef. Students seem to agree as well. When asked about the dining hall with the best vegetarian and vegan options, one choice that consistently emerges is ISR. ISR’s food quality and made-from-scratch focus is extremely appealing to students, who often travel across campus just to eat there. “I really appreciate that the food is cooked in front of you and you can see all the grills and stoves that are being used to make the next batch of food,” said Arnav Sethi, a sophomore living in Hopkins Hall. Despite the distance from other University halls, ISR acts as a magnet for hungry diners all across campus. “The building looks like a high end shopping mall and I love it! Even if I have to bus all the way across campus to ISR, the food and experience is so good that it all becomes worth it for me,” Bodicherla said.
team to ensure that at least one main dish offered at the dining hall is vegetarian. Students who live in University housing, such as sophomore and vegetarian Nihar Bodicherla, have discovered that the key is bouncing around different dining halls attempting to explore their options. “At first I thought that all the dining halls were the alexrc2@dailyillini.com
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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Before you rent, check out …
OFF-CAMPUS COMMUNITY LIVING Off-Campus Community Living 300 Turner Student Services Building
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
››
IMPORTANT!
PURCHASE RENTER’S INSURANCE Your landlord is not responsible for loss to your property resulting from theft, natural disaster, or any other cause other than landlord’s negligence. Renter’s insurance should cover replacement costs for personal property loss, the cost of a hotel if displaced from your home, and liability insurance.
HOUSING SEARCH TIPS • Make a budget. • Identify your “must have” and “wish list” items. • Keep your options open: University Housing, Private Certified Housing, apartments, homes, etc. • Search online and set up appointments to view multiple listings. • Check websites such as Yelp, Google reviews, or UIUC's Reddit page for peer reviews about the rental company. • See the EXACT unit you plan to rent … not the model.
Off-Campus Community Living 300 Turner Student Services Building
(217) 333-0112
occl.illinois.edu
off-campuscommuityliving@illinois.edu
@occluiuc
The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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READ! READ! READ!
YOUR LEASE Leases are BINDING legal contracts.
Once you sign it you are responsible for the ENTIRE term. Before signing the lease, you should … • read the lease • negotiate with your landlord adding or deleting clauses for anything that concerns you • require the landlord to put any promises they have made to you into the lease • request two copies of the lease — you want to have the landlord's original signature and take a copy with you • Set up a lease review with OCCL
Student Affairs UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
››
VISIT occl.illinois.edu FOR ADVICE ON …
COMMON CONCERNS Roommates
Sublease
• Choose roommates based on compatibility … not friendship. • Complete a roommate agreement to establish expectations.
• Get written consent from the landlord. • Complete a sublease agreement between both the original tenant and the subtenant.
Landlord Concerns
Security Deposits
• Give landlord time to rectify the situation. • Meet with Off-Campus Community Living to identify options.
• Clean the apartment before moving out. • Take pictures. • Change address with post office.
Off-Campus Community Living 300 Turner Student Services Building
(217) 333-0112
occl.illinois.edu
off-campuscommuityliving@illinois.edu
@occluiuc
The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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Sophomores reflect on their return to dorms By Olivia Vamos Staff Writer
Sophomores that chose to live in the dorms for a second year in a row said living in the dorms is better this year than last. They said they are provided with in person events and social interactions that can give them the normal college experience they missed last year. Sophia Guzman, sophomore in FAA, lived in Townsend Hall of Illinois Street Residence Halls and returned to live there again. “I feel like I didn’t get the full dorm experience the freshman year because everything was closed, and you really couldn’t spend too much time around other people because you didn’t have areas to sit, everything was socially distanced,” Guzman said. “This year I wanted to redo that dorm living experience, and it’s a lot better.” Guzman said last year felt more independent and socializing opportunities were more difficult. There were also less people on campus. She said that this year, because many people have returned, it is easier to be more social and living in dorms is better.
CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
Sammy Epstein, sophomore in Business, moves into Wassaja Hall on Aug. 20. Multiple sophomores have returned to live in the dorms hoping for a better year full of inperson events and social interactions.
Yoana Hernandez, sophomore in LAS, lived in Pennsylvania Avenue Residence Hall last year and is now living in Bousfield Hall in Ikenberry Commons. Living in the dorm as a sophomore is giving her the college experience that
she did not get last year, Hernandez said. “Last year because of COVID-19, I was stuck inside,” Hernandez said. “Since I knew that this year there was going to be more people coming I wanted to experience what it would have been differently.” Ryan Wold, sophomore in Business, lived in Nugent Hall in Ikenberry Commons last year and is living in Wardall Hall in ISR this year. “The dorms are a lot better this year just because of the social aspect,” Wold said. “More people are outgoing; they’re more willing to meet new people.” Wold said he often talks to people on the elevator. He said last year was difficult to socialize with new people because people wanted to keep to themselves and get back to their room with minimal interactions. This year, Wold said people feel more relaxed. Because people are vaccinated, they feel more comfortable being around others and going out, he said. Hernandez said with more people in the dorms, she has had an easier time making friends. Another thing Hernandez said she likes about living in the dorms this year is being able to have guests over.
“Last year they didn’t let us bring guests (in the dorms),” Hernandez said. “Now my friends can come over, we can watch movies, do face masks, versus last year we couldn’t.” Wold said he likes that the dining hall is open for dine in this year and he is able to eat with his friends and socialize. He said last year the dorms had free food events, where people could pick up food and then socialize over Zoom, but not everyone would attend the Zoom meeting. “This year they had an ice cream social, they had ping pong, they have door decorating, there’s a lot more activities and events that are going on on campus,” Wold said. Wold said there was high in-person attendance at these events. Hernandez said that her resident adviser is now able to host more social events. For example, there will be something happening for Halloween, and the floor meetings are in person instead of via Zoom, which Hernandez said she enjoys because she can interact with the RA and her neighbors. ovamos2@dailyillini.com
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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Upperclassmen share reactions to ISR renovations By Aidan Finn Staff Writer
It’s a relaxing Monday evening on campus. The cicadas are at it again, the trash from Saturday parties is still everywhere, passing police sirens blare for the seventh time tonight, and collective anxiety lingers amidst the dread of an early exam. Amelia Gallaher, freshman in ACES, is new to the University and resides in the newly renovated ISR. With it being her first campus experience of dorm life, she had a positive attitude to share about life there. “I really like living here,” Gallaher said. “Everything is conveniently located in one building. If I need to get my mail I go to the front desk, if I am hungry I can go to the dining hall or Terabyte. There are many cosy lounges to study in. We also have a small gym, meditation rooms and instrument practice rooms.” The 316,300 square foot renovation increased the building’s dining capacity, improved building efficiency and energy sustainability, as well as acting as a colorful, modern residence
CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
University students walk up the stairs from beneath ISR's dining hall on Aug. 27. Upperclassmen react to the new renovations at ISR and compare old versus new design.
space for new students and guests checking out the campus grounds. Past its reception is a grandiose, mall-like recreation and dining area. A bridge stretches across a colorful study area and library, with dining students able to pick from various food stalls and counters. For many other students, seniors and juniors who are in the natural state of endless panic, dread and existential fear of failure, these lengthy renovations had lots of expectations behind them,
some hoping the extensive work was worth the wait. Ian Katsnelson, senior in LAS, was one of those older students who had anticipated the new designs of the ISR. He browsed the newly renovated library on the lower floor for a new game to play with friends and shared his opinion on the state of the new look. “It is absolutely gorgeous,” Katsnelson said. “Not only did it meet my expectations of a new facility, but it exceeded it with the new study spaces, its resources for students and its extremely impressive dining hall, which is, in my opinion, some of the best food on campus.” Katsnelson described his favorite feature being the convenience of the student library, where he can rent out several board games for the weekend to play with his friends for free, as well as pick up some video games he hasn’t yet gotten to try out like “Detroit: Become Human” on PlayStation 4. The atmosphere on the lower floors was reminiscent of a gentrified Google office space, with a pinch more of minimalist gentrification. A tea shop on the corner had its chilled inhabitants
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studying away, and behind such was a colorful and compact convenience store. Alex Faught, senior in Engineering, lived in Daniels Hall across the street but frequents the new building for its amenities. He shared his feelings about the new renovations after watching the construction unfold across from him for years. Faught was chilling in the saucer section with his other groceries. “It’s nicer than Ikenberry,” Faught said. “That’s good I guess. I like the spot they got with the salads up top. It’s hard to mess that up. It’s good when it’s at the cafeteria, the food’s not always the best, but some things are pretty good.” Faught went on with similar admiration for the physical building renovations, enjoying the newer look of things. He is just one of several older students who’ve waited long for the new look, and like many more are happy with the state of things at ISR, hopeful for the new in-person year to be a pleasant one. aidanf3@dailyillini.com
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Residential halls transition back to in-person dining By Royal Shrestha Staff Writer
Dining halls have transitioned back to a fully in-person dining experience this semester. Many residential dining halls are becoming hybrid and giving students the option to take to-go meals. During the fall 2020 and spring semester, all residential dining halls primarily served to-go meals to students. Options were oftentimes limited due to certain food restrictions during last year. This year, dining hall menus are slowly transitioning back to what it was like prior to the pandemic. Carrie Anderson, interim senior assistant director of Dining Services, described how the transition has been going smoothly so far but one area of focus is dining halls going back to their same meal schedule. Last year, to ensure no dining hall was getting an influx of students, all the menus were kept very similar among all the dining halls. This year, as each dining hall has a chef in charge of designing the menu, there has been much more variety among the menus now. “The transition back to our in-person
which parts of our COVID protocols we wanted to retain for safety.” Last year, due to stricter COVID-19 guidelines, most residential dorms had a lower capacity of students living in them compared to the full capacity of this year. As a result, some COVID-19 safety guidelines are still in place as well as new ones being added on. Students living in University Housing can now use the mobile app, Order Ahead, to place food orders at FAR and also the 57 North location at Ikenberry. Anderson also described how this year, they are all excited to start offering more educational programs such as cooking demos and sampling events among the dining halls. “We are so very pleased to have our students and customers back in our dining spaces,” Anderson said. “When CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI we dine together, we strengthen our Alums Michael Mitchell and Robert Mitchell visit Nina Mitchell, sophomore in Business and LAS, communities. Knowing that our Illiand Sander Brissman, sophomore in Business, outside the Ikenberry Dining Hall on Sept. 18. nois community feels safe dining with Dining halls are returning to in-person dining this semester. us, is so very important to our commitment of creating spaces that prodining was a little simpler than our cess for in-person dining, we were able mote holistic health and well-being.” change to to-go last fall,” Anderson to identify which pieces could safely be said. “Since we already knew the pro- reimplemented in the dining halls and royals2@dailyillini.com
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
23
Newman Hall is my home away from home By Noah Nelson Senior Columnist
First Lady Rosalynn Carter once said, “There is nothing more important than a good, safe, secure home.” Located 30 minutes south of Springfield, growing up in the small town of Taylorville, Illinois — I always thought that was home. It still is in many aspects, too, but while attending the University for the past four years, I’ve found a new home at Newman Hall. In October 2018, I wrote that Newman Hall is my home away from home. Now, as a senior and having lived at Newman since freshman year, my stance is still the same. From the moment I first stepped foot out of the car at Newman a week before freshman year’s dawn, I entered a whole new world — not only at the University but at Newman. As Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me” blasted from a nearby boom box, it was the perfect song to welcome me home. Through the song, Newman told me, “You belong with me.” As the weeks and years carried on, I’ve made countless new friends, many of whom I still talk to today and are some
CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
Newman Center offers many students a place to live on campus. Columnist Noah Nelson prefers to live in Newman compared to apartments or houses. of my best friends. I’ve grown closer to the Newman community, especially the lunch ladies who never mind making me a BLT when they can. I’ve evolved and matured as a student and person at Newman. Whether down the halls, in the lounges, enjoying the café or in my room, it’s been a gratifying roller coaster ride of memories and fun. I’ve shared
countless meals with friends, passed exams, written songs and my first book, discovered my adult beverages of choice, performed songs on guitar and slowly, over time, have developed into a version of myself I’m proud of. Without Newman, I wouldn’t have had the college experience I have had these past four years. After rough days Noah is a senior in Media. or times when I’m high on life, I knew I noahen@dailyillini.com
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wasn’t coming back to Newman, I was coming back home. When I first wrote about Newman three years ago, I said that it was a welcoming community that made you feel at home. Those words are still true today. Newman has welcomed this small-town kid home and delivered him a college experience all the more delightful and memorable. Most college students, especially those at the University, despise dorms and choose to live in apartments, houses or with fraternities and sororities. I could never leave Newman. It’s been my happy place, a safe location; it’s been home. I can’t thank Newman enough for everything it has done for me. Who would’ve thought that my freshman year dorm would be my home for four years. Great memories were produced here, and there’s no doubt I will make more during the rest of senior year. Wherever life may take you, you’ll always find your way back home. For my college journey, my route home always led through Newman.
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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Since the 2018-2019 school year, the cost of each housing and meal plan option has increased. The University offers various housing options, with popular choices including traditional halls with and without air conditioning. From 2018-2019, the cost of a double in traditional housing with air conditioning (Babcock, Blaisdell, Busey, Carr, Evans, Hopkins, Oglesby, Saunders, Scott, Snyder, Townsend, Trelease, Wardall and Weston Halls) was $6,404, not including meals. For the 2021-2022 school year, the housing costs are $6,870, a 7.28% increase. For a double in traditional housing without air conditioning (Allen, Barton, Leonard, Lundgren, Shelden, Taft and Van Doren Halls), the cost was $6,068. During the 2021-2022 school year, housing costs increased to $6,512, a 7.32% increase. “University Housing is really expensive. I know it is more expensive than some other schools, but I am unsure of the exact factors that make it more expensive,” said Afshan Razzaq, senior in LAS. “I feel like the University could be more transparent about where their costs come from, especially since the prices are increasing.” During the 2020-2021 school year, the cost of living especially increased. The price of a double in a traditional air-conditioned hall increased from $11,820 to $12,252, a 3.65% increase over one year. After their freshman year, many students opt to live in off-campus apartments, which oftentimes has overall cheaper monthly rent than universi-
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CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
Griff Ahnert, an engineering major living at LAR Hall, skates outside of Weston Hall on Saturday. Some students are unhappy with increased University Housing costs.
ty housing. However, despite increasing costs, according to Off-Campus-Community Living Group, if one rents a 12-month $500 monthly apartment, it will likely be more expensive than living in the university residence halls, after factoring in the cost of utilities and food. “I feel like University Housing is cheaper than apartment living; that’s my initial reaction,” said Kennedy Hall, sophomore in LAS. “Although the monthly rent is cheaper than living in University Housing, with the extra cost of buying groceries and food, I think it adds up to be more.” sophiec4@dailyillini.com
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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University housing converts lounges to dorms By Fizza Hassan Staff Writer
The housing department at the University of Illinois has seen an overwhelming number of students sign up for on-campus living, which has been a challenging feat for the department to accommodate — especially for the four-people dorm rooms at the Illinois Street Residence Halls. Director of Housing Information and Marketing for University Housing Mari Curry explained how living has been impacted especially with the introduction of new dorm-lounge living concept. ‘The lounge spaces themselves are larger to accommodate up to four people so the square footage per person in some cases is larger for those residents than if they were living in a standard resident hall room,” Curry said. “However, when the lounges are occupied, that does increase the overall occupancy of the floor and repurposes the community lounges for a period.” The new dorm-lounges have served as a temporary readjustment for many
housing students before they settle into their permanent room assignment and at first were a point of concern for both students and parents. “We normally get some concern around the time of the initial assignment, but once students are here and settled, those concerns are alleviated,” Curry said. “Generally, we find that after residents see and move in to the space, their initial concerns are put to rest. Students participate in the floor activities and become a part of the hall community and in some cases, they end up liking the space so much that they don’t want to leave when a permanent space becomes available.” When asked if the overcrowding was a result of admitting too many freshman students, Curry said not necessarily. “Our housing population is made up of variety of different student groups, including new freshman, returning residents, transfers, exchange students and others who are upperclassmen but enjoy the benefits of living with University Housing,” Curry said. “This year we also had several students who returned to campus
GWYN SKILES THE DAILY ILLINI
Windows of a lounge in Illinois Street Residence Hall are covered with butcher paper on Monday. University Housing converted lounges to temporary dorm rooms due to an overwhelming increase in oncampus living.
in person to fulfill the campus liveon requirement after being complete- f hassan3@dailyillini.com ly remote last year. Each year those
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groups of students fluctuate.” With COV I D -19 g uideli nes, increased hustle was a definite point to address while catering students in these spaces. If the virus is caught by a student, Curry said the housing administration has a systematic way of tackling the problem. “We would follow our normal isolation and quarantine protocols which includes moving the student for their time in isolation or quarantine to spaces dedicated specifically for that use,” Curry said. Students were informed of their temporary lounge-dorm assignments prior to moving and will soon see a changeover moving to their permanent assigned rooms. ‘The next flurry of concern is centered around when students are asked to move to a permanent space,” Curry said. “However, we do everything we can, including curb-to-curb moving assistance, to make the move to a permanent space as least disruptive as we can for those students.”
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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Nectar prepares for Pygmalion, upcoming album By Sydney Wood Assistant buzz Editor
Over the past year, there has been an absence of shows, which has put many musicians and artists temporarily out of commission. This is not the case for Champaign’s own indie-punk band, Nectar, who has been busy releasing a single, practicing for its Sept. 23 Pygmalion set and preparing for its upcoming sophomore album release. Nectar is composed of vocalist and guitarist Kamila Glowacki, bassist Isabel Skidmore, guitarist Aaron Shults and drummer Jake Mott. The band is performing at Pygmalion, a multiday music festival held in Champaign-Urbana. This set will be Nectar’s second time playing at Pygmalion. The band will perform at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 23, at Nola’s Rock Bar in Urbana. Audience members must be 18 years or older. Also performing that night are Retirement Party at 9 p.m., and at 10:15 p.m., Dogleg is performing. Glowacki is looking forward to the band’s appearance at Pygmalion, saying she has a “newfound gratitude” for live performances, especially after expe-
riencing a lack of shows this past year. “Being able to play and to feel that sense of community and having friends and just other people that are excited to be there around me is something I’m really looking forward to because I’ve really missed that sense of community and just the act of playing music at shows,” Glowacki said. The setlist will include the band’s latest single, “Routine,” which was released on Sept. 9. Glowacki said the tune is inspired by the monotony of day-to-day life and learning how to find comfort in the routines she relies on, such as feeding her cats. Glowacki said she found the art for the single beautiful and sad. She related the image to “Routine,” saying, “With the theme of the song and even just the word ‘Routine,’ there’s connections there with the routine of the seasons coming and going, birds laying eggs every year.” Nectar played three shows this summer in Mahomet, Springfield and Urbana. Glowacki said all three shows were special for different reasons, especially because they were the band’s first gigs in more than a year. “It felt safe, too,” Glowacki said. “So
it felt good to kind of ease our way back into shows in a way that still felt safe and comfortable for everybody, and to reunite with friends that were playing with us or coming to see us. So, it was a really welcoming experience.” The band’s first summer show was at the Rose Bowl Tavern, which Glowacki said felt like, “a really perfect first show back, being at home in Urbana.” Performing at the Rose Bowl Tavern was a fulfilling experience that solidified her feelings as to how much she loves playing music, Glowacki said, saying the show was like a “welcome back or waking up sort of scene” for many local bands. On Oct. 24, Nectar will be playing at Nightshop in Bloomington, Illinois, with Bottom Bracket and Hit Like a Girl. Glowacki said she’s looking forward to the gig, saying, “It’ll be a really fun show.” Nectar is preparing to release its sophomore album early next year, and Glowacki encouraged readers to “hang tight” until the band is ready to announce more about the release. She said she’s excited to share the album, saying, “I feel like it’s just another part of myself that I’ll soon
be able to share with people.” “I’ve never worked so hard on something before,” Glowacki said. “So I feel extremely proud and eager to share this with everyone because I know I have given it as much attention and care as I could have in all aspects.” To purchase tickets to Pygmalion, visit thisispygmalion.com/nectar/. To listen to “Routine,” check out nectarnectar.bandcamp.com/track/routine. swood2@readbuzz.com
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Nectar will be performing at Pygmalion Thursday.
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TERP DERP The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Illinois falls to Maryland on last-second field goal By Jackson Janes Sports Editor
The visitors put up 62 points last week against Howard, and after struggling against Brennan Armstrong and the Virginia Cavaliers last weekend, the Illini came into the game in desperate need of defensive changes. The Illinois defense looked much more aggressive and disciplined early, holding quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa and the Terrapins to just 40 total yards in the first quarter. “I did like the way that our defense responded overall from where they’d been from the last couple weeks to get out there and play the way they did,” Bielema said. But despite making big stops on defense, the Illini offense couldn’t capitalize, punting twice in the opening 15 minutes while also having a 26-yard field goal attempt blocked following an otherwise solid drive. The return of Brandon Peters, who had been sidelined since the team’s season opener against Nebraska, was highly anticipated for Illinois after the offense looked static and outmatched against both the Roadrunners and the Cavaliers over the last two weeks. His return wasn’t very productive, though, with Peters throwing for 185 yards and an interception, completing 10 of his
CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
Illinois linebacker Jake Hansen tries to tackle Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa on Sept. 17 at Memorial Stadium. 26 pass attempts in his first game back from injury. Neither team was able to find the end zone in the first 30 minutes of play, with a short field goal from both teams the only scoring of the first half. Chase Brown and Isaiah Williams were the difference-makers for the Illini in the first half, as Brown notched 88 total yards and Williams made two catches for 47 yards as he continued to show that his transition from quarterback to receiver has been a success. With the score knotted at 3-3, Tagovailoa opened the second half with a bang, scrambling for 35 yards before ultimately handing the ball off to Tayon Fleet-Davis for a 2-yard score just under two minutes into the second half. After a quick three and out on the Illini’s first drive of the second half, the Terrapin offense looked like it had kicked into second gear. After getting into the red zone on its second consecutive drive, Maryland looked eager to extend its lead, but a forced fumble by Jartavius Martin gave the
Illinois offense a second chance to get going. And that’s exactly what it did. Two big plays — a 19-yard Brandon Peters scramble and a 21-yard pass to Chase Brown — set up a 38-yard touchdown run by Josh McCray, the first of the freshman’s college career, a score that tied the game at 10. Illinois’ momentum continued after linebacker Seth Coleman ripped the ball right out of running back Penny Boone’s hands. But the Illini’s drive didn’t last long, with Peters tossing an interception on the very next play. After flip-flopping unsuccessful drives, the Illini took their first lead of the game under one minute into the fourth quarter. Reggie Love III had a 33-yard run, fumbled the ball and Casey Washington picked up the loose ball and took it 30 yards to the house. The Terrapins appeared to answer right back, but a chop block on the offensive line negated the 41-yard touchdown pass. A sack by Owen Carney put an end to the Maryland drive, but the Illini couldn’t extend their lead. Maryland took full advantage of the
Illinois’ offense’s faltering, tying the game with 2:13 left in the fourth quarter via a 10-yard pass from Tagovailoa to Fleet-Davis for his second score of the game. Illinois couldn’t do anything in its offensive possession, which faltered after two sacks and an intentional grounding penalty, giving Maryland plenty of time to manufacture enough yardage after getting the ball at the Illinois 46 with under a minute to play. And the Terrapins didn’t let the opportunity slip away, with the visitors kicking a 32-yard field goal as time expired to escape Champaign with a crucial Big Ten victory. “The last series, the complete opposite of what we want to accomplish,” Bielema said. “The first thing I do; I told our coaches, ‘Let’s win this game. Let’s not play for a tie or play safe; let’s try to go win this game.’ I think it’s important for us as a program to try to win football games, not just play in them.” @JacksonJanes3 janes6@dailyillini.com
The DI · Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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E Chalmers St
Prize and amenities are subject to change. Limited time only. See office for details.
S 1st St
ited time only. See office for details. E Chalmers St
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
S Lincoln St
S Wright St
UNIVERSITY OF Great locations close to campus ILLINOIS AT Private bedrooms and bathrooms available URBANA-CHAMPAIGN Fully furnished apartments E Gregory St and townhomes available
Academically oriented environments Amenities for a fit and healthy lifestyle Individual liability leases
E Gregory St
Roommate matching powered by RoomSync W Kerby Ln
S Lincoln St
S Wright St
W Kerby Ln
UNIVERSITY OF Fully furnished apartments forand details. ILLINOIS AT townhomes available
URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
Academically oriented environments E Gregory St
Amenities for a fit and healthy lifestyle
Prize and amenities are subject to change. Limited time only. See office for details.
Individual liability leases
Prize and amenities are subject to change. Limited time only. See office for details.
Roommate matching powered by RoomSync W Kerby Ln
Learn more at AmericanCampus.com/Champaign
S Wright St
Prize and amenities are subject to change. Limited time only. See office W John St
S Neil St
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