The DI Year in Review: May 2024

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Editor’s note

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

JACOB SLABOSZ editor@dailyillini.com

Oh boy.

To say the least, the 202324 academic year has been rough for most. Countless global events have redefined our worldviews, and numerous campus happenings will be ingrained in our memories for the foreseeable future.

The constant through it all is the tireless and consistent coverage provided by the dedicated staff of The Daily Illini. In fact, as I sit here in the basement of the University YMCA, producing a newspaper all the while covering a student encampment and protest on the Main Quad, I’m re-

Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jacob Slabosz editor@dailyillini.com

Managing Editor: Lillie Salas reporting@dailyillini.com

Visual Director: Matt Stepp visuals@dailyillini.com

Special Sections Editor: Ella Narag specialsections@dailyillini.com

News Editor: Mary Piacente news@dailyillini.com

A&E Editor Maaike Niekerk features@dailyillini.com buzz@dailyillini.com

Sports Editor: Ben Fader sports@dailyillini.com

Copy Chief: Athena Ly copy@dailyillini.com

minded of this team’s level of commitment.

As dedicated reporters, columnists, photographers, designers, graphic artists, creative developers, copy editors and web developers, our team of nearly 200 people works to keep students and members of the Champaign-Urbana community upto-date on all local happenings.

In August, we sent two reporters and two photographers to Lollapalooza in Chicago and published 39 stories on the festival.

In October, we covered the swarms of students lining up outside the JSM Living leasing office through the night to try to get a spot in one of more than 40 properties the group owns.

In February, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performed at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

Tickets sold out weeks in advance as the public anticipated the show in the Foellinger Great Hall.

In March, the Illinois men’s basketball team made it to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2005. Green Street was flooded with crowds clad in orange and blue. Hundreds rushed to Alma Mater to celebrate, as featured on the cover.

In April, the Main Quad was more jam-packed than KAMS on Unofficial as thousands watched the solar eclipse.

Just days before the release of this edition, we had all hands on deck to coordinate the coverage of the proPalestinian encampment and protests at Alma Mater and on the Main Quad. Through rain and wind late into the night, our staff was on the scene providing live updates and an Instagram livestream.

In this edition, we’ll take you back through some of the top events we’ve covered during the academic year, and at the end, you’ll find some useful information for incoming students.

Photo Editor: James Hoeck photo@dailyillini.com

Graphics Editor: Anna Fedczuk graphics@dailyillini.com

Design Editor: Lux Lin design@dailyillini.com

Audience Director: Jack Larson social@dailyillini.com

ON THE

COVER

On March 28, the Illinois men’s basketball team defeated Iowa State to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2005. Green Street was alive with orange and blue as students and community members ran by the hundred to Alma Mater to celebrate.

ALYSSA SHIH THE DAILY ILLINI

ISSUE

This issue explores the entire 2023-24 accademic year. Featuring the editorial team’s opinion of the year, various crime and police reports, pop culture, entertainment and sports moments, this edition reminisces on the ups and downs throughout all the journeys this school year has seen. Flip through the pages to go on the same journey and re-experience it all.

Year in Review: 2023-24

The year 2023 was a mixed bag, but 2024 is looking like a great year to be an Illini.

The editorial for the 2022 Year in Review began by describing an increase in COVID-19 positivity rates. This, paired with a saddening loss of human life in countries such as Ukraine and Yemen and the overturning of Roe v. Wade, resulted in a rating of 2.5 out of fve stars.

On May 5, 2023, the World Health Organization ended its declaration of COVID-19 as a global health emergency. For this editorial, we will use May 15 as the beginning of our reviewed year, exploring how the pandemic’s welcome dissipation afected campus life.

The tragic death of 21-year-old alum Eva Liu shook the student body when the story broke in June. That same month, smog from the Canadian wildfres reached the Midwest, and the dreadful orange haze paused summer activities.

If the past was any indication of the future, it would seem as though the

2023-24 school year was of to a rough and bizarre start.

Until, of course, the strangest crossover event in history: a dramatic biopic and a plastic doll fnding her place in the universe. The opening weekend of Barbenheimer grossed the most money for the movie industry in a weekend since the pre-pandemic year of 2019. The world was pulled together by the power of sheer cinematic strangeness. Having a pandemic intertwined with multiple school years crafted a less-than-ideal social environment, especially for students whose college ex perience hinges on constant socialization. Students fnally tapped into that dearly missed way of campus life, coming together to fll up RSOs and other student groups.

One such group near and dear to our hearts, The Daily Illini, received a record-breaking number of applicants during the application session in Sep-

tember and grew as an organization. Our social media engagement has increased, and our switch to a monthly publication has ensured that all of our print stories are ones that we are proud of.

The DI certainly isn’t the only organization on campus that has observed increased involvement — the underlying cause may be an innate desire for togetherness.

The opening of new venues like Brothers Bar & Grill, which opened in October, and The Space in April, provided students with yet another place to come together and celebrate the best years of their lives.

Together, we watched Illini sports perform at their highest level in quite some time. This culminated in the men’s basketball team reaching the Elite Eight in March, where students focked to Alma Mater to celebrate.

Women’s track and feld took the Big Ten championship in the indoor season, sparking a nice run for Illinois athletics. Women’s basketball followed suit, winning the inaugural WBIT, while the men took the conference title and the previously mentioned March Madness run.

Spring sports continued the Illini success, boasting No. 18 men’s golf, and the tennis duo of Hunter Heck and Karlis Ozolins ranked No. 9 in the nation.

All around, this was one of the best sports years in a long time around Champaign, providing fans and programs something to build of of next year.

We’d be remiss if we failed to mention when the student population came together on the street to sort out their housing situations, courtesy of JSM Living’s 18 hours of chaos.

The end of the year saw a positive swing, the world looking forward to 2024 with hope in their hearts, not least of all due to a promising U.N. climate report happily letting us know we’re not as environmentally doomed as we thought.

We’ve had a complicated fve-month relationship with 2024 so far.

The year began with the passing of Akul Dhawan, freshman in Engineering, in frigid late January, not close to having left public memory when two more tragic deaths shook the campus in April.

But campus life soldiers on, and the ballot for the March student elections shook many politically inactive students out of the woodwork.

A record number of students turned out to the ISC polls to save the Ice Arena — and even more pivotally, decide on access to abortion pills on campus, a matter that hopes to gain traction after McKinley Health Center provided easy access to Plan B pills in April 2023. We proved we still care about bettering the world around us and that we can have a good world to live in when we come together.

Hopefully, this sentiment will apply in the November 2024 presidential election, which we’re currently eyeing cautiously through our now-expired eclipse glasses from the safe precipice of May.

Our ofcial rating for this momentous year — 3.5/5.

Any year with tragedy (and no year is without its fair share) cannot be rated any higher. However, we’re all optimistic about the year moving forward, and maybe in the pristine future, we can look back and bump it up in hindsight.

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This year’s top 10 news stories

AIDAN MILLER-HISGEN aidanm5@dailyillini.com

Students endure cold, sleep on sidewalk to sign leases with JSM Living

Last October, hundreds of students lined up overnight in the cold along East Green Street hoping to sign a lease with JSM Living. Despite the company’s offce not opening until 9 a.m., people began lining up as early as 9 p.m. the night before, with the line quickly wrapping around the corner of Green and Wright streets.

As conditions became increasingly hostile through the night, JSM Living, along with local police, decided to shut down their ofce for the day. The company later released a statement apologizing for the situation and pivoted to an online application format.

UI reports record low acceptance rate, high diversity in 2023 admissions cycle

The University’s Ofce of Undergraduate Admissions published its annual frstyear enrollment report on Sept. 11, 2023. The report detailed data from the 2023 admissions cycle such as the University’s selectivity, diversity and yield rate.

One notable fnding from the report was a record-low acceptance rate, dropping from 44.8% in 2022 to 43.7% in 2023. Another notable fnding was a recordhigh percentage of “underrepresented minorities” enrolled in the University, from 19.5% in 2022 to 21.5% in 2023. Beyond that, there was an increase in student enrollment overall, including an increase in frst-generation student enrollment.

UI rises in U.S. News & World Report Ranking

The U.S. News & World Report Ranking, released last September, ranked the University of Illinois as the No. 35 best national university, tied with three other

universities. The ranking is an increase from the previous year’s ranking, which placed the University of Illinois at No. 41. The report ranked the University of Illinois as the 12th best public university, tied with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of California, Santa Barbara. Beyond that, the Grainger College of Engineering and the Gies College of Business both received high rankings in the report, with Engineering ranked as the No. 5 best undergraduate engineering program, and accounting ranked as No. 2.

Severe weather tears Willard Airport roof, causes damage across Champaign County

On June 29, 2023, severe weather conditions throughout central Illinois forced all commercial fights out of Willard Airport in Savoy to be canceled. The winds, which reportedly reached over 80 mph, caused severe damage to the terminal’s roof.

Several severe weather warnings were active on June 29, warning central Illinois locals of high wind speeds, hail and a possible tornado.

According to WCIA, the Willard Airport terminal roof was ripped of, landing near the terminal’s base. Despite the damages, fights resumed as normal the next day, June 30.

Maize on First and Green streets to close in June

Maize Mexican Grill located on First and Green streets will be closing in early June, with demolitions and building projects planned on the land where the restaurant sits. Little is known at the moment about what the building plans entail. Armando Sandoval, owner of Maize Mexican Grill, said property owners alerted him about the plans two years ago, with demolition originally scheduled for last January before being pushed to early June. Maize Mexican Grill frst opened in October 2011 in its location on First and Green. Since its opening, the restaurant has expanded immensely, now boasting a food truck, a location in downtown

Champaign and a location in the Illini Union basement.

UI alum killed afer attack in Germany

Two University alumnus, Eva Liu and Kelsey Chang, were assaulted last June while hiking near Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. The attacker, an American man named Troy Bohling, assaulted the pair and then pushed them down a 165foot ravine. Chang sustained minor injuries while Liu died from the fall.

Liu and Chang both graduated from the University in May 2023. At the University, Liu received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer science and Chang received a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering.

SJP, community members hold Palestine solidarity rally

Students and community members gathered at Alma Mater on Oct. 12 for a rally hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine, a Palestinian advocacy group on campus. The rally was held in response to the Israeli government’s actions following the attack Hamas perpetrated on Oct. 7. Community members and representatives from various registered student organizations on campus spoke at the rally. SJP organizers introduced diferent chants for the crowd to repeat, including “Show me what solidarity looks like, this is what solidarity looks like” and “Palestine is our demand, no peace on stolen land.”

IGSA holds candlelight vigil in memory of Akul Dhawan

The Indian Graduate Student Association organized a candlelight vigil on Friday, Feb. 9, to honor the life of Akul Dhawan, the 18-year-old freshman in Engineering who was found dead on Jan. 20.

The vigil began at Alma Mater, where a crowd of students and parents gathered. After an initial speech, IGSA passed out fowers and candles to attendees. From there, the procession walked down Green

and Goodwin streets to the back porch of a building at the 1200 block of West Nevada Street, where Dhawan’s body was found. The vigil concluded with two minutes of silence and a triple chant of “Om Shanti Shanti Shanti” before attendees came forward to place fowers and candles under a picture of Dhawan with burning incense.

Repeated health violations found at Espresso Royale at Grainger Engineering Library

The Expresso Royale at the Grainger Engineering Library violated health codes in its health inspection on March 3, for “repeated poor food handling practices that may jeopardize the public’s health.”

According to the Food Establishment Inspection Report from the ChampaignUrbana Public Health District, there were eight risk factor/intervention violations. Some of these risks included food not being preserved in “good condition, safe and unadulterated.”

A “yellow Food Safety Alert” was placed on the establishment, with a follow-up inspection planned for within the next fve to seven business days. The follow-up inspection conducted on March 12 gave the location a green inspection result and found zero violations.

College of Veterinary Medicine sends acceptance letters to wrong students

The College of Veterinary Medicine sent acceptance emails to the wrong group of applicants on Feb. 26. Reports indicate the College of Veterinary Medicine has an acceptance rate of 11%, typically admitting approximately 150 students each year.

Forty-four applicants who intended to be assigned waitlist status mistakenly received acceptance ofers. According to Robin Kaler, spokesperson for the University, a correction email was sent within 10 minutes of the initial email, informing applicants of the error.

buzz, your 2023-24 Wrapped is here

Lollapalooza: Opening day

Starting the festival strong with headlining performances from Karol G and Billie Eilish, Lollapalooza 2023 was a year to remember. Huge crowds came in for Noah Kahan, Carly Rae Jepsen and Matt Maltese, bringing the day’s total attendance to roughly 120,000 people.

Lollapalooza: Closing day

A stark contrast to the heat of Day One, Lollapalooza’s closing day brought about cloudy skies. However, the dreary weather didn’t take away from the day’s stellar performances. Lana Del Rey, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lil Yachty, Joey Bada$$ and more brought a storm of festival goers to close out the weekend of live music.

ELLNORA festival brings diverse range of guitarists

Krannert Center for the Performing Art’s biennial ELLNORA guitar festival, named after the venue’s co-founder, Ellnora Krannert, brought guitarists from across the globe to Champaign-Urbana for a weekend of live music. The festival’s 2023 edition saw performances from Rodrigo y Gabriela, Ani DiFranco, Andy Summers and more.

Ebertfest celebrates 25 years

Ebertfest’s 25th edition celebrated renowned flm critic and Urbana native Roger Ebert at the Virginia Theatre April 17-20. Opening with “Star 80” and featuring centerpiece “The Best Man,” the festival saw special guests and panelists such as Sony Classics co-president and co-founder Michael Barker, actor Eric Roberts and more.

Tessa Violet talks viral fame

Known for her viral music popularized by TikTok, Tessa Violet stopped at her dream venue, Chicago’s House of Blues, on her “MY GOD!” tour in August 2023. The Daily Illini sat down with her after the performance to discuss the creation process behind her album of the same name and expanding her musical journey.

Ax and the Hatchetmen lights up Pygmalion

Chicago-based band Ax and the Hatchetmen stopped at The Canopy Club’s Red Room in September for C-U’s annual Pygmalion festival. The band’s lead vocalist and guitarist Alex Ellis and bassist Hunter Olshefe, talked to The Daily Illini before their performance about visiting C-U for the frst time and discussed the band’s history and the creative world behind their music.

TWINSICK returns to C-U

Minnesota DJ duo TWINSICK, consisting of Alex Ingalls and Casey Schneider, stopped in C-U for their “Hard Launch” tour in February. After playing the KAMS LineLeap event in 2023, the DJs were welcomed back to campus by an energetic Canopy Club crowd. Ingalls and Schneider spoke to The Daily Illini about their musical careers and touring the world.

Emily How speaks on future music goals

Emily How dove into her EP “Flight Behavior” in an in-depth interview with The Daily Illini. Releasing her latest single, “Useless,” in March, How amassed thousands of listeners on Spotify and is a frequent performer at campus venues. The up-and-coming local artist spoke on the difculties of the writing process and her vision for a full-time music career.

JACOB SLABOSZ THE DAILY ILLINI

JAMES HOECK THE DAILY ILLINI

PHOTO COURTESY OF KORY THIBEAULT

JAMES HOECK THE DAILY ILLINI

PHOTO COURTESY OF TWINSTICK

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOPHIE HUBER

PHOTO COURTESY OF TESSA VIOLET

DAMINI RANA THE DAILY ILLINI

Most unforgettable Illini sports moments from this year

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

TESS EKEN teken2@dailyillini.com

Sophomore offensive lineman Hunter Whitenack lifs junior wide receiver Isaiah Williams afer a touchdown against Wisconsin on Oct. 21.

Miracle at Memorial Stadium, overtime touchdown brings walk-off win for Illini football

Jessica McDowell wins 200-meter race, Illinois women’s track and field wins Big Ten indoor championships

For the frst time since 2013, the Illini took the title at the Big Ten indoor championships. The women’s program obtained 104 points, toppling over its competitors in Geneva, Ohio this past February.

A key moment came from junior Jessica McDowell when she competed in the 200-meter dash. McDowell sprinted her heart out to secure a frst-place fnish. Not only that, but she got the program’s second-fastest time in this event, ending with a time of 23.32 seconds.

of the game due to foul trouble midway through the second half. He returned to the game to put on a show-stopping performance, dunking the ball and fring up the Illinois fans in attendance. He fnished with 29 points, fve rebounds and two assists, all leading to the celebration of a Sweet 16 victory during March Madness.

Danielle Davis hits grand slam in Big Ten so f ball tournament, upsets No. 5 Wisconsin

In May of 2023, No. 12 Illinois secured a massive upset over No. 5 Wisconsin to push them into the quarterfnals of the Big Ten tournament. Despite being down two runs to begin with, the Illini fipped the switch on ofense in the third inning and asserted their dominance over the Badgers.

Junior outfelder Stevie Meade scored the frst run of the night for the Illini with a sacrifce fy, and then an infeld single from sophomore infelder Sydney Malott tied the game at two. Soon after, senior third baseman Delaney Rummell singled and senior shortstop Megan Ward walked to load the bases with senior outfelder Danielle Davis stepping up to the plate. With three players on base and a bat ready to swing, Davis smashed the ball in the air for a grand slam, exciting all the fans at Eichelberger Field. The four runs she brought in gave Illinois a 6-2 lead over Wisconsin, and the defense helped ensure the win at the end. The fnal score of the game was 8-4, and the Illini moved on to play No. 4 Nebraska in the quarterfnals.

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon in Champaign with all eyes glued to the debut of the fully orange Illinois uniforms playing on the bright green turf in Memorial Stadium. Senior quarterback John Paddock scrambled away from the line to reach junior wide receiver Isaiah Williams for a 21-yard touchdown to grab the victory over Indiana for Dads Weekend. With that, the crowd got on its feet, cheering with joy.

It was an ofensive masterpiece for the Illini this day in November. The team totaled 662 yards on ofense and 500 came through the air — the most since 1980.

It seemed like smooth sailing for the Illini as they had a 39-27 lead over the Hoosiers at the start of the fourth quarter. However, the Hoosiers fought until the very end and scored a touchdown and two-point conversion with 28 seconds remaining to force overtime. Indiana got the ball frst in the extra period and scored a feld goal to give them a three-point upperhand. With everything on the line, Paddock found Williams wide open near the two-yard line, and he hustled into the endzone to secure the win over Indiana, 48-45.

McDowell earned 10 points in this event and fnished with the most individual points for the team, totaling 16. She added six more through her contribution in the 4x400 relay, and her eforts, alongside the other talented women, brought a stellar trophy to Champaign.

Terrance Shannon Jr. dunks basketball in Sweet 16, team advances to Elite Eight

With just 28 seconds left of the highly anticipated matchup between No. 3 seed Illinois and the No. 2 seeded Iowa State, senior guard Terrance Shannon Jr. showcased his athleticism for the Sweet 16 dagger. Shannon stole the ball in typical fashion and took it all the way himself for a dunk to secure the victory. The game concluded 72-69, advancing the team to the Elite Eight for the frst time since 2005.

There was an abundance of discourse prior to this game. Odds turned in favor of Iowa State, as its defense was ranked No. 1 in the country according to KenPom. The Illini ignored these predictions, and went on to play tough as ever against the Cyclones.

Shannon sat out for nearly 10 minutes

Final buzzer at WBIT in Indianapolis, Illinois women’s basketball secures first postseason title with victory over Villanova University

After all the ebbs and fows of the 2023-24 season, Illinois women’s basketball was able to declare itself as the champion of the newly implemented Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament. The Illini defeated the Villanova Wildcats 71-57.

While the game was set in Indianapolis, it almost seemed like a home-court advantage for the Illini, with a sea of orange flling the lower bowl.

Senior guard Makira Cook ended with 27 points, and 22 of them came in the second half. Senior guard Genesis Bryant and senior forward Kendall Bostic fnished in double-fgures as well — 11 and 15 — respectively. As the fnal buzzer rang in the feldhouse, the team joined together, jumping and cheering in joy, and a win on their shoulders in just the second year under head coach Shauna Green.

CANDICE ZHOU THE DAILY ILLINI

Redshirt senior outfielder Danielle Davis at the plate on April 16, 2023.

JAMES HOECK THE DAILY ILLINI

OLIVIA MCAFOOS THE DAILY ILLINI Illinois Womens Basketball team gathers together before tip off on March 24 at the State Farm Center.

Illinois endures rising crime rates

SLOTTER ANDY CHO ccho2@dailyillini.com

Illinois crime rates have risen in 2024, with Illinois police departments and the University of Illinois Police Department specifcally evaluating solutions for crime rate reduction on campus and across the state.

SafeWise’s overall crime rate report showed 21.7 incidents per 1,000 individuals in Illinois. Property crime rates were 17.8 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime rates were 3.9 per 1,000 residents.

Compared with the previous year’s overall crime rate of 19.7 per 1,000 residents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there has been roughly a 10% increase in the crime rate so far this year.

Property crime rates in 2023 were 16.83 per 1,000 residents, which increased over 5% this year, and violent crime rates were 2.87 per 1,000 residents — over a 35% increase this year. Specifcally, property crimes have made up at least 80% of the overall crimes in the past two years.

Illinois has also experienced an elevation in homicide rates and violent crimes involving frearms.

According to Safe and Sound Security, “The state experienced a 15% increase in incidents involving frearms, with a notable rise in gun-related homicides.”

While looking at the data of Chicago, the largest city in Illinois, there was a similar trend in perceived crime rate, as the number of violent crimes has climbed from 29,604 cases to 33,399 this year — almost a 13% rise.

However, not all the cities in Illinois have followed this pattern. In 2024, Naperville, an Illinois city in a west suburb of Chicago, is ranked as the eighth safest city in the United States and the top safest city in Illinois.

There have been only 52 violent crimes occurring per 100,000 residents in Naperville, which is also the lowest among all the American cities on the list.

Unlike the majority of other cities in Illinois, Champaign County’s crime rate has decreased.

According to the Illinois State Police

Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting, Champaign County’s crime rate was 17.38 per 1,000 residents in 2023. It fell to 10.55 per 1,000 people this year, seeing a decrease of a little over 39%.

Nevertheless, the current reports only take data through April 2024, not accounting for what will happen throughout the rest of the year.

According to the crime statistics report from the University Division of Public Safety, there have been three times more crime reports taken by the University since the pandemic, moving from 848 reports during the 2020-21 school year to 2,409 during

the 2022-23 school year.

Yet, this growing trend in crimes recorded from the last three years does not refect the actual situation, according to University Police Department spokesman Patrick Wade.

“We saw a massive decline in crime on campus (during the pandemic) simply because people weren’t here,” Wade said.

“So, once people started coming back to campus, we saw the crime numbers going back to pretty close to the same levels that we were at prior to the pandemic. Overall, if looking at the long term, it is relatively stable.”

Wade also said crime issues tend to be relatively few and far between on the University campus, especially compared to major cities.

“College campuses in general, across the country, are very safe places to live,

work and study,” Wade said. “There’s no exception here.”

As one of the largest public universities nationwide, Wade said national crises are more likely to also be a problem on campus. Gun violence has become one of the issues afecting the University in the past few years.

“We saw a spike in gun violence nationally, and our Champaign-Urbana community was also afected by that,” Wade said. “Fortunately, through a combination of steps that local police in C-U took at the time, as well as a national receding of that gun violence, that trend has dissipated. So, we are doing better in terms of gun violence in our community.”

To maintain safety on campus, the UIPD has been working on various initiatives, hoping to reduce the crime happening on campus.

One of them is expanding the Response, Evaluation and Crisis Help program to add more on-call social workers to address mental health emergencies. REACH aims to prevent at-risk students from harming themselves and other individuals alongside them.

“With the trend we are seeing nationally where mental health is becoming more and more of an issue, that’s a huge resource to have here on campus,” Wade said.

UIPD has also taken parts of Campustown that were previously served by the Champaign Police Department in October 2022, hoping to monitor campus more effectively by allocating more ofcers where crimes tend to take place most often.

“That is a good thing for students, not only because we can provide a really good visible police presence, which is a deterrent to crime, but our UIPD ofcers also have access to more resources that are more student-specifc,” Wade said.

Similarly, in the annual report released by the ISP in 2023, it has also planned to achieve additional goals in the future, including the reduction of violent crimes involving frearms.

UIPD and local police serving in Illinois have been attempting to implement initiatives and work closely with each other in hopes of seeing a potential reduction in statewide crime rates in the future.

“We have a great working relationship with our local police departments,” Wade said. “We share those resources, we make sure that everyone has adequate coverage and that goes the other way too.”

It is impossible to be completely crimefree in a community, Wade said. There are, however, several methods to reducing the risk of being targeted by criminals — including, but not limited to, locking the doors and staying in groups while walking at night.

“If you can (follow) that to the best of your ability, you signifcantly reduce your chances of being targeted,” Wade said.

Another important thing is to be open with the police department about any potential issues.

“We can’t address safety issues if we don’t know about them,” Wade said. “We just want people to be upfront and let us know what they are seeing in reporting suspicious activity so we can address that before it becomes a crime.”

Alcohol-related arrests spike in 2023-24 school year

STAFF WRITER

MEGHNA SARKAR

meghna4@dailyillini.com

The University saw an increase in the number of drinking-related arrests during the 2023-24 school year, refecting students’ return to campus postCOVID-19 and the newly increased presence of UIPD in Campustown.

In an in-depth interview, UIPD’s Senior Director of Strategic Communication Patrick Wade shed light on some of the statistics involved in alcohol-related ofenses, as well as the Division of Public Safety’s strategies for addressing and preventing these issues.

From Aug. 1 until mid-

session of alcohol, underage drinking or public possession, such as having an open container out on the sidewalk. For comparison, Wade mentioned that the 2022-23 school year had 111 incidents, and 2021-22 was a record low, with only 16 tickets issued due to the low number of students on campus in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minor in possession of alcohol and public possession charges are both classifed as city ordinance violations, which are much less punitive than criminal offenses and legally comparable to receiving a speeding ticket.

Driving under the infuence of alcohol, on the other hand, is a criminal ofense that involves larger fnes, as well as potential jail time. Over the past seven years, there have been a total of 146 DUI arrests, with annual fgures showing fuctuations: eight so far in 2024, 22 in 2023, 31 in 2022, 16 in 2021, six in 2020, 18 in 2019 and 13 in 2018. These crimes are most prevalent among individuals who are white, male and between 2029 years old.

According to Wade, the number of city ordinance violations goes up when the police force does special alcohol enforcement details, where they bring ofcers in on overtime and pair up with the Illinois State Police and Illinois Liquor Control Commission to conduct checks.

“Some students call them bar raids — we don’t like that term, but we call them bar checks,” Wade said. “Several weekends every semester, we will go into bars and liquor stores to make sure people are following the law. And obviously, when we go into campus bars where the entry age is 19 years old, we tend to fnd violations. So the number of tickets tends to go up on those weekends, and a lot of the time we schedule those around events that have a history of being associated

with alcohol.”

Wade said special alcohol enforcement details are often done around Unofcial, Homecoming, Halloween and any other big party weekends. Besides these periods of intensifed enforcement, regular patrol remains present on the streets to address violations throughout the year.

Wade also emphasized the department is most concerned about minimizing unsafe behaviors associated with alcohol consumption rather than the act of underage drinking itself. This philosophy is part of a greater understanding of the role that alcohol plays in campus safety issues, where statistics show that either the victim or perpetrator of other crimes was often under the infuence.

“We don’t mind if people want to be social and enjoy the college experience, but it has to be done in a way that’s respectful of others and healthy,” Wade said. “We don’t want people getting hurt. So when consumption of alcohol escalates into behavior that becomes more dangerous, like fghting, sexual assault, people walking around in trafc or getting behind the wheel of a car — those are the things we’re really concerned about.”

The Division of Public Safety’s community outreach eforts are involved partnerships with residence halls, McKinley Health Center and the Counseling Center to provide students with resources on the safe consumption of alcohol and its broader impacts on community safety and personal well-being. Police are often invited to fraternities and sororities for safety talks to proactively educate on these issues.

In residence halls, alcohol-related infractions are typically handled through the student disciplinary process and remedial actions instead of campus police. This choice highlights the University’s preference for safety education and prevention over harsh punitive measures in managing student behavior.

“I think a lot of people are surprised by that,” Wade said. “It’s a bit of a myth that underage drinking enforcement is a huge

part of what we do. It’s really not. If we really wanted to crack down and focus on it, that’s all our ofcers would be doing. They literally have thousands of people who they could stop if they wanted to. We don’t do that because it’s not the alcohol itself that we’re necessarily concerned about. It’s the unsafe behaviors that are associated with it.”

Moreover, despite the numerical increase in citations, Wade said that a mere 154 tickets were issued in the entire school year among a student population of over 50,000, suggesting that most students are engaging in responsible behaviors, or at least behaviors that are not concerning enough for law enforcement to step in.

“It is a possibility that if you’re engaging in underage drinking or public possession, you’ll get a ticket,” Wade said. “I kind of liken it to speeding, where our ofcers are not going to catch every single person going over the limit. They’re going to look for those egregious ofenders. It is something you can get a ticket for. But if you aren’t escalating into those criminal behaviors, or behaviors that are putting yourself at risk, you’re probably not going to have an ofcer’s attention drawn to you.”

Wade believed that the increase in alcohol-related citations is due to increased enforcement and recently heightened police presence in Campustown rather than a true escalation in drinking culture.

“I do think the alcohol culture still exists and is very pervasive,” Wade said. “But I think there’s less social pressure now than even 10 or 20 years ago to engage in it. I went to college here in the mid-2000s, and I feel like there was a strong pressure. I’m sure that still exists today, but I think there’s less. I think people today may be more respectful of people’s attitudes and decisions around alcohol, and that’s a very, very good thing. When we don’t have people feeling pressure to drink all the time, they’re less likely to engage in it and maybe even develop an addiction to it. That’s just sort of a feeling that I get from talking to students.”

Pop culture moments of

MAAIKE NIEKERK

maaiken2@dailyillini.com

The past year has been a whirlwind of unexpected events in the world of pop culture. With the ever-rising accessibility of social media, viral trends and drama can spread quicker than ever before.

If you’ve forgotten any of the wild trends, moments or people of the past year, we’ve got you covered. Below is The Daily Illini’s list of the most insane pop culture moments since the summer of 2023.

“Barbenheimer”

When the internet realized “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” were both set to release on July 21, plans to watch the two as a double feature couldn’t be made quickly enough. The viral “Barbenheimer” trend hugely boosted revenue for both films.

Combining Christopher Nolan’s three-hour film about the creation of the atomic bomb with Greta Gerwig’s pink-tastic commentary on gender constructs in children’s toys created a viewing experience like no other.

If you have yet to participate in a “Barbenheimer” viewing yourself, the experience is highly recommended — just make sure you start with “Oppen heimer” to avoid ending on a bit of a bummer.

2023-24

Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s return to fame

Hulu’s 2019 mini-series “The Act” brought the story of child abuse survivor Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who was convicted of second-degree murder for the death of her mother in 2015.

When Blanchard was put on parole in December 2023, she immediately rose to fame online. She hit over nine million TikTok followers before eventually deleting her public social media accounts.

From her bizarre life history to her extremely public marriage and divorce, Blanchard’s popularity was far from unexpected. While the ethics of her fame may be questionable, there is no doubt her resurgence on the pop culture scene was a standout moment of the past year.

Lesbians are taking over the world

The year of lesbian icons taking over the pop culture scene was 2023-24,and possibly more than ever before.

Top mentions of these modern-day trailblazers include Reneé Rapp’s starring performance as Regina George in the movie-musical reboot of “Mean Girls,” pop star Chappell Roan’s newfound fame as an opener on Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour and Jojo

While they may not be inventing gay pop as Siwa claimed in an interview, the quick rise in popularity of queer female artists is certainly boosting the popularity of the genre in a way that hasn’t been seen before.

Celebrity losses

Of course, we can’t cover the year in full without also mentioning those we lost in recent months.

Notable celebrity deaths include “Friends” star Matthew Perry in October, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” actor Andre Braugher in December, celebrated British actor Michael Gambon in September, former football player O.J. Simpson in April and more.

Their legacies live on through the media and culture they brought.

Taylor Swift, naturally

You know you’ve made it when the name of your fan base has been named a finalist for Oxford’s Word of the Year. Sorry, Swifties, you took the loss to “rizz.”

Swift’s impact in the past year has been incompa -

from her highly publicized relationship with football player Travis Kelce to her Eras Tour reshaping the world economy. Not to mention the double-feature album she just dropped with no less than 31 tracks.

Swift shows no sign of stopping, as she is currently scheduled to continue the Eras Tour through early December. Whether it’s videos of her in the crowd at Coachella or public debates about her carbon footprint, there’s no denying it — Swift is everywhere.

CELEB SPOTTINGS: A recap of famous faces on campus

Tkmuha9@dailyillini.com

his year, many famous faces visited the cornfields. Here’s a look at who visited the University.

Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner visited ChampaignUrbana’s KAMS and Joe’s Brewery in October in promotion for her tequila brand, 818 Tequila.

Partaking in the college-bar life, Jenner took photos behind the bar and served customers drinks made with her 818 Tequila. Customers crowded around the entrance of the bars for the chance to try Jenner’s margaritas and even get photos with her.

redveil

Hip-hop and rap artist redveil turned Foellinger Auditorium into a mosh pit during his performance this past October. An auditorium that hosts classes during the day turned into a lively audience in the evening as show opener, rapper STVE SØL and DJ Razelle, buzzed the environment for redveil’s entrance.

redveil is one of the many popular artists that was brought to perform at the University through Star Course, a student-run organization that hosts famed artists to perform on campus.

During redveil’s concert, Foellinger was alive with chants, strobe lights and smoke machines. redveil even said he knew his performance at the University would be one of his favorite college performances.

“Lowkey, wish we could do this all night,” redveil said.

Monica Lewinsky

With the news that Monica Lewinsky, former White House intern during the Clinton administration, would be holding a talk at the University, it was no surprise students formed a line around the Illini Union with hopes of attending. For many students, it was an

opportunity to listen to a primary figure who overcame obstacles of cyberbullying and who turned an extreme experience into one that would advocate for change regarding online bullying.

During her talk, Lewinsky spoke on the interconnectedness of technology while touching on her personal experience with cyberbullying and humiliation. She highlighted how fast her life turned around in the public eye when she woke up one morning to being known worldwide and her name and face being thrown around in the media.

Students related to Lewinsky’s perspectives on mental health, a topic that may be very important to a young age group. Lewinsky said people don’t have a clue what those around them are suffering through, which is why compassion should be shown equally to everyone.

Lewinsky’s talk at the Union was one that reminded students that despite the extreme stories the media might

spread, there is always a story worth listening to and a person worthy of understanding.

NLE Choppa

Following a poll from the beginning of the semester, students voted on which artists they wanted to see perform at the University’s Spring Jam. Results returned with NLE Choppa winning the largest interest as the Spring Jam artist.

Students gathered at the State Farm Center on April 28 for a free concert by NLE Choppa to hear his largest hit songs like “Camelot,” “SL-- ME OUT” and his newest single “SL-- ME OUT 2.”

Tyler James Williams

In honor of the Illini Union Alumni Association Speaker Series, Tyler James Williams, most known for his acting role in “Abbott Elementary,” was invited for the event.

With a line wrapping around the

Union, audience members were ecstatic to attend his speech, as they had the chance to win participation in a meet and greet. Williams was chosen based on the large interest of the student body and was welcomed to the University with massive applause and enthusiasm.

With the majority of the audience being college students, many grew up watching Williams on their television. Williams spoke about his experience on “Abbott Elementary,” the movie “Let it Shine” and how much the industry had changed since he first joined.

Audience members said they enjoyed hearing about Williams’ experiences and pointed out how well he communicated with the crowd.

“I definitely liked his answers, especially the ones that were more deep and how he really went into detail about things he was really passionate about,” said Jovona Neely, freshman in DGS.

redveil performs at Foellinger Auditorium on Oct. 7, afer opener

Steve SOL.

JAMES HOECK THE DAILY ILLINI

This year’s hottest spots in CU

maaiken2@dailyillini.com

With each passing year, new spots take the Champaign-Urbana community by storm with newfound popularity. Whether it’s somewhere that just opened or an old favorite, C-U has several locations everyone should visit at least once.

The Daily Illini has you covered with a list of some of the hottest spots of the 202324 year, helping you fnd places to fulfll your campus and college experience.

Brothers Bar & Grill

After opening in early October 2023, Brothers’ new location has become an in-

stant hotspot in the campus community. Whether it’s to watch the Illini reach the Elite Eight or grab a drink with friends, the Bar & Grill has been a hit all year.

Winning multiple titles in The Daily Illini’s annual Best of CU competition within its frst year of operation, Brothers is a great place to spend time on campus. With its extensive drink menu and quality burgers, the restaurant shines as a great recent addition to the area.

Ice Arena

The Ice Arena gained attention during the 2023-24 school year because of the annual student elections in late February. Students overwhelmingly voted to renovate the rink for a $13 raise in student fees. The arena, the only of its kind in C-U, is

open to the public during the entire school year. The rink hosts regular games for the University’s club hockey teams, skate lessons and even classes for students enrolled in HK 104: Skating Activities.

The Literary

The Literary in downtown Champaign stands out as a well-rounded location for you to stop by on the weekends. The bookstore combined with a cofee shop, makes an excellent venue for assorted events coming to the C-U area. Special events have brought in guests for Pygmalion, local art shows and more.

The Literary is known across campus as a great place to study, grab a sweet treat or do some light book shopping. If you’re in search of a cute of-campus spot to show your friends, look no further.

The Bread Company

As a C-U staple, anyone who hasn’t stopped by The Bread Company within their frst year of living on campus is truly missing out. From their unique decor to their daily fresh-baked loaves, this Urbana

2024 Best of CU edition of The Daily Illini.

hotspot has it all.

Ofering delectable meals and that unbeatable Urbana vibe, The Bread Company is a great place to bring family and friends when you want to give them the perfect taste of C-U.

The Bread Company recently won Best Date Spot and Best Sandwich Spot for their food and ambience for Best of CU.

Students studying and enjoying drinks at the Literary Cafe at 122 N Neil St. The Literary was voted Best Study Spot - Coffee and Best OffCampus Study Spot in the

FASHION Ins and outs through-

out 2023-24

Every year, people wear clothes — hopefully. As you walk around and take notice of your surroundings, you may notice the increasing popularity of clothing items or accessories that may not have been on the fashion radar before. It can be hard to keep track of the ebbs and fows of fashion, so I present to thee what’s in and what has been discarded.

IN

Midi denim skirt

Denim is all the rage right now, especially during the incoming warmer months. The midi denim skirt is typically low to mid-rise with an opening in the middle to let those legs breathe. This skirt brings an alternative picnic groove to any occasion.

Jorts

At frst glance, one might say “yuck” to the sentiment that these pants are in style. However, keep an open mind to the possibility that, with the right styling, jorts can be super cute and casual. With cool sneakers or Mary Janes combined with a tank, it’s the standard big-pant, small-top combination.

Low-waisted anything

Super high-rise mom jeans had the spotlight for some time, but society has shifted its gaze to the Y2K aesthetic. Skinny or baggy, straight leg or bootcut, the low-rise ft is hard to mess up. Keep in mind this also translates to sweatpants, cargos and most other forms of pantaloon. This basic item is something that’s needed in the clothing rotation.

Coquette anything

A meadow of fresh fowers. A creamcolored vanity flled with glass trinkets and tubes of lipstick scattered about. Lana Del Rey on vinyl playing softly in the background. The coquette vibe has been all the rage this year. White bows,

blush pink colored clothing, linen dresses and lace have been collected in the wardrobes of many hopeless romantics.

Gogo boots

Since Sabrina Carpenter strutted the stage in her iconic white gogo boots, more and more individuals have gotten a pair of their own. These boots typically rise a little below the knee and give around four inches of length. Most commonly seen in white or black, these shoes give a fun and firty vibe to any outft.

OUT

The cat ear beanie

Typically adorned by those of the grunge category in the fashion world, the cat ear beanie is a knitted hat with the top shaped into cat ears. What was seen as new and funky has quickly dulled, as many stopped wearing their hats, and others celebrated because of this. If one still wants to wear their cat ears with pride, go ahead. Otherwise, put the Amazon order in a crevice in your closet and forget it happened.

Cow print

The distinction between cow print and cowboy-inspired styling must be made. Taking inspiration from Southern styles in your outft, with items like cowboy boots, embossed chain belts and even cowboy hats, has been increasingly popular. What should not be done is investing in cheaply printed Shein cow-print clothing. Unless you’re going as a cow for Halloween, what are you doing?

Amazon corsets

The periwinkle corset made a comeback of sorts recently, but the usage of this item has gone too far. Mass-produced and cheap-looking corsets have fooded into local watering holes, which is getting too overdone. Corsets have the potential to be super fashionable, and many can get creative with the way they

are used. Corsets in neutral colors with ribbon and lace to keep it tied together is a good avenue to go, but I give thee fair warning: stay away from the neon corsets with a simple pair of mom jeans.

With all of this being typed, fashion is a form of self-expression. If you feel confdent in what you are wearing, then what does it matter what others think? As the academic year comes to a close, it’s time to rearrange the wardrobe for the warm months.

JAMES HOECK THE DAILY ILLINI

A model walks in the CFE 5 runway, held on April 27 at the Seibel Center for Design in Champaign. The runway’s theme was “Return to Earth”.

BEST OF THE BEST

2023-24 Illinois athletes of the year

Male athlete of the year: Terrence Shannon Jr.

Illinois men’s basketball would not have achieved the level of success they did without Terrence Shannon Jr. The 6-foot-6 guard was a machine in his final season of college basketball, averaging 23.0 points per game — the third-best in the NCAA and second in the Big Ten.

Despite a controversial six-game suspension at the end of December, Shannon returned to play in mid-January without looking like he lost any confidence. The Chicago native led Illinois to the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten tournament, where he went on a monumental three-game run. Shannon reached the 2,000 career point mark by dropping 28 points in a nail-biting three-point win over Ohio State.

He followed that up with a 40-point explosion in the semifinals, setting a Big

Ten tournament record. In the tournament finals, Shannon still had a hot hand, scoring 34 points to lead the team to their second Big Ten tournament championship since 2005. Shannon was also named the Most Outstanding Player, following in the footsteps of fellow Chicago native Ayo Dosumnu who won the award in 2021.

The Big Ten tournament title was only the start of Shannon’s postseason run. In the first round of the NCAA tournament — where Illinois was seeded third — Shannon broke the Illinois single-season scoring record. He then proceeded to drop 30 and 29 points in the second round and Sweet 16 respectively, hoisting the Illini to their first Elite Eight run since 2005.

Despite the team’s loss to UConn and it only being his second season donning the orange and blue, Shannon cemented himself as an Illinois legend and fan favorite, comparable to the likes of Deron Williams, Kendall Gill and Nick Anderson.

Shannon will prepare for the NBA Draft in the coming months, where he is projected to be drafted anywhere from late in the lottery to the end of the first round.

The last Illini to be drafted in the first round was Meyers Leonard (No. 11) in 2011.

Female Athlete of the year: Makira Cook

Despite head coach Shauna Green’s squad missing the NCAA tournament after qualifying last year, there were positives for Illinois women’s basketball this season, one of them being senior Makira Cook. Cook was a star for the Illini this year, continuing to impress after a very strong junior season.

The 5-foot-6 guard averaged 16.4 points, 4.4 assists and one steal per game this season while shooting 35.4% from three. Cook led the Illini in scoring in 14 games this year and recorded her second straight 500-point season.

Cook’s most impressive stretch of the season came when it mattered most: During the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament, the NCAA’s new second-tier postseason tournament. In the frst round, Illinois took on Missouri State at the State Farm Center, and Cook put on a show for the home crowd. She racked up 27 points and knocked down both of her three-point attempts. Cook followed her stellar performance up with

another strong game in the second round, recording a double-double (14 points and 10 assists), which set a postseason single-game assist record.

The next two games for Cook were some of her most efcient shooting nights of the year. She went 7-11 (17 points) against Tulsa and 8-13 (20 points) against Washington State, propelling her team to the fnals of the WBIT.

Cook’s run didn’t stop in the championship. She dropped 27 points and shot lights out from behind the arc, hitting fve out of six of her attempts from long range. Twenty-two of Cook’s 27 points came in the second half after starting the game slowly. Her 105 points scored set a new record for the Illini: most points in a single tournament. Cook walked away with the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award and left no questions in anyone’s mind as to why she was one of the most impressive Illinois athletes this season.

Honorable mention: Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton

Illinois football was painfully underwhelming this season, going 5-7 and recording their fourth losing season in the last five years.

However, there was a bright spot for Bret Bielema’s program: defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton.

The 6-foot-2, 295-pound junior was a force to be reckoned with the entire sea-

son, racking up 52 tackles and 7.5 sacks in his final season with Illinois. In his fouryear career, Newton recorded 18.0 sacks, tied with Moe Gardner for the most ever by an Illinois defensive tackle.

He also led the nation and set an Illinois record with four blocked kicks this season, all in Big Ten conference matchups.

Newton was also named Big Ten De-

fensive Player of the Year, the fourth in Illinois history. His consensus All-American status (22nd Illini to achieve this) cements his spot as one of the best Illinois athletes of the 2023-24 school year. Newton was projected to be a late firstround to early second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was ultimately picked in the second round by the Washington Commanders.

YEAR IN REVIEW

Top Illini teams

ALAURA MENDES

laurafm2@dailyillini.com

s the school year comes to an end, it’s time to review the best of the best in Illini sports this year. While all sports logged impressive moments, two sports stood out from the rest by breaking decades-old records.

Top men’s team

Men’s basketball

Men’s basketball was an undeniable force this season from beginning to end. Illinois started strong at the end of 2023, taking down No. 1 Kansas (preseason), No. 11 Florida Atlantic University and Mizzou in the annual McBride Homes Braggin’ Rights game.

After dropping a big game at Purdue and losing ffth-year guard Terrence Shannon Jr. to suspension, Illinois bounced back, winning six of its nine games in January and seven of its fnal 10 games to fnish of the regular season. With Shan-

now back on the team alongside senior forward Coleman Hawkins and ffth-year guard Marcus Domask, the Illini were a team to look out for when entering the Big Ten tournament. Beating Ohio State, Nebraska and Wisconsin, Illinois reclaimed the Big Ten tournament title for the frst time since 2021.

On came the NCAA March Madness tournament where the Illini earned a No. 3 seed following the conference tournament victory. Illinois advanced to both the Sweet 16 and the Elite Eight for the frst time since the 2005 season. They beat Morehead State and Duquesne to advance past the frst weekend, which had been a challenge under head coach Brad Underwood. Up next were the No. 2 Iowa State Cyclones, but in a hard fought battle, it was the Illini who danced on to the Elite Eight. Illinois ultimately fell to reigning and eventual NCAA champions UConn by a fnal score of 77-52.

The Illini ended the year ranked No. 6 in the AP poll after totaling 29 wins and claiming the Big Ten tournament title and the team’s best March Madness fnish in

19 years, solidifying Illinois men’s basketball as the best men’s sport this year.

Top women’s team

Women’s track and field

Women’s track and feld also saw an impressive indoor season this year. The Illini started of well, especially junior Darja Sopova. She was able to break a 21-yearold school record with a 13.56-meter triple jump at the Commodore Challenge in January. More Illini talent continued to shine with a trio of pole vaulters — junior Tori Thomas, sophomore Mia Morello and junior Kelsey Rothas — sweeping the podium for frst, second and third place respectively at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational.

With the indoor season almost halfway over, the Illini continued strong. In their frst home meet of the season, Thomas, Morello and Rothas all vaulted to the top three for pole vault once again, with several other athletes all taking a top-three fnish in the other track and feld events. Following that, graduate student Amber

Simpson broke another school record with a personal-best 22.01-meter weight throw in early February.

Then came the Big Ten indoor track championship, where the Illini took home the title for the frst time in 11 years. Junior Jessica McDowell was a big part of the Illinois’ victory, adding 10 points in the 200-meter dash, six points in the 400-meter dash and another six points with her contributions in the 4x400 relay late in the day.

Junior Bara Sajdokova also set a new program record in the high jump, clearing 1.89 meters for the Big Ten title in that event. The Illini additionally won the triple jump with Sopova’s 13.39 meters, while Thomas (4.40 meters), Morello (4.35 meters) and graduade student Leah Pasqualetti (4.15 meters) fnished in third, fourth and eighth respectively.

The Illini placed 19th at the NCAA championships, but the individual and team records speak for themselves. With a great year of Illinois athletics coming to an end, these two teams set themselves apart from the rest.

Best professional Illini athletes

Rajeev Ram

The No. 1 former Illini athlete is Rajeev Ram, who has been nothing short of dominant on the professional tennis circuit. Ram won nine national junior titles before arriving at the University and never lost a team competition in his lone year with the Illini. Illinois went 32-0 on its way to the 2003 national championship, and Ram won the doubles title with teammate Brian Wilson.

He was made for pro tennis, and continued to excel in doubles, seemingly aging like fne wine. His frst Grand Slam win came in 2020, taking the Australian Open doubles title. This was just the beginning of an exceptional run for Ram and teammate Joe Salisbury, who went on to do what no other duo has since the Open Era began in 1968.

Ram and Salisbury won their third consecutive U.S. Open men’s doubles tennis title in 2023, entering the history books. They also protected their title in the Nitto ATP Finals doubles tournament to cap the successful year. Ram currently ranks No. 5 in the world for men’s doubles.

Jordyn Poulter

A name forever etched in Illinois volleyball history, Jordyn Poulter continues to do great things in her professional career. Born in Naperville, Illinois, the 6-foot-2 setter remained in-state for college, helping the Illini advance to their frst Final Four in seven years in 2018. Poulter earned plenty of individual accolades in Champaign as well, highlighted by two All-American nods and the 2018 Big Ten Setter of the Year award.

Poulter took her game to the next level after departing Illinois, qualifying for the U.S. women’s national team. She won gold medals at the 2018 Pan-American Cup,

the 2019 and 2021 FIVB Nations League and the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Capping of a magical run starting for the national team, Poulter took home “best setter” of the Olympics honors.

In 2022, Poulter signed with the Italian club Igor Gorgonzola Novara, extending her professional volleyball career between events with Team USA. While she tore her ACL, MCL and meniscus over a year ago, causing a lengthy absence, Poulter completed a full recovery and once again made the national roster. She will represent the U.S. in Paris this summer, continuing her career as an elite Illinois alum.

Devon Witherspoon

The No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft is probably the most memorable professional Illini for current students. Just a year removed from his 2022 frst-team All-Big Ten and All-American campaign, the former zero-star recruit showed the

NFL what a kid from Champaign could do.

Most NFL fans remember Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” from the early 2010s, and Witherspoon’s addition to an already young and talented secondary gave Seahawk fans the closest resemblance to that Super Bowl-winning unit since. Surrounded by talent at the professional level, Witherspoon was given the freedom to play in a style Illini faithful remember all too well — top-notch physicality.

While only playing 14 of 17 possible games due to injury, Witherspoon still fnished top fve in the league in passes defended.

His most memorable play of the year came on a no look pass breakup against the future NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers.

Even while missing three games, Witherspoon showed he can hang with the NFL’s best. His eventful year ended with nods to the PFWA All-Rookie team and his frst Pro Bowl selection.

Fifth-year guard Terrence Shannon Jr. raises his wrists and covers his face during the team’s walkin on Jan. 27 when preparing to play against Indiana at the State Farm Center.

RIGHT – Senior offensive lineman #78 Isaiah Adams lifs senior wide receiver #14

Casey Washington into the air afer his touchdown against Northwestern.

LEFT – Champaign

Fire Department responds to a fire at 212 S. First St. on Nov. 11.

This photo received a first place award at the Illinois College Press Association conference in Chicago.

OLIVIA MCAFOOS THE DAILY ILLINI

MATT STEPP THE DAILY ILLINI

JAMES HOECK THE DAILY ILLINI Maximilian Elloye, junior in Engineering, and Jasmine Jacobson, senior in LAS, read the latest issue of The Daily Illini on the Main Quad.

ANGEL SALDIVAR THE DAILY ILLINI

JACOB SLABOSZ THE DAILY ILLINI

Sabrina Carpenter holds a perfomance at the Coinbase stage in Grant Park in Chicago during Lollapalooza on Aug. 4.

A pumpkin and blueberry and cinnamon mufns lay arranged on top of books.

ELENA BAKER THE DAILY ILLINI

The Illinois men’s basketball team comes out to shoot some hoops with Kappa Alpha Theta on Oct. 23. Kappa Alpha Theta hosted philanthropy event Theta Hoops to beneft children in foster care. The group raised over $14,000 in donations.

ABOVE – A UIPD offcer brandishes his nightstick at the encampment protest next to Alma

LEFT – The Illinois men’s basketball team celerbrate winning the Big Ten Championship on March 17.

Seniors Ariyana Shines and Lindsey Garcia view the solar eclipse in front of the Siebel Center for Design on April 8. In other areas across campus like the Main Quad, students gathered by the thousand to view the nearly once-in-a-lifetime event. Champaign saw 98% totality during the eclipse.

ISAAC PINKUS

ALYSSA SHIH THE DAILY ILLINI

A protester at the April 26 Palestine encampment near Alma Mater gets arrested by UIPD.

ISAAC PINKUS THE DAILY ILLINI

A cow curiously snifs the camera at the Dairy Cattle Research Unit on South Lincoln Avenue and Hazelwood Drive.

Mater.

OLIVIA MCAFOOS THE DAILY ILLINI

JAMES HOECK THE DAILY ILLINI

Lead guitarist for Foreigner, Bruce Watson, performs at the State Farm Center during the band’s farewell tour on Oct. 22.

ANH-KHOI PHAM THE DAILY ILLINI

The COVID-19 era: Enduring effects on UI student life

STAFF WRITER

QAASIM JATOI qjato2@dailyillini.com

When the University’s campus emptied in March 2020 as COVID-19 surged worldwide, the usual sound of student life was replaced by an unsettling silence. Lecture halls stood empty, dorm rooms were locked and the Main Quad — once a bustling crossroads — became eerily still. Emergency health measures were implemented, and students retreated to virtual classrooms, forced to navigate their lives from behind a screen.

More than four years later, the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on student well-being and academic performance are evident. The campus has repopulated, and life has returned to “normal,” but many of the changes and strategies adopted by students during the pandemic have remained.

The University emerged from the crisis, but the busy campus environment may hide the ongoing struggles that many students still face. The return of in-person classes is very diferent from the isolation and quarantine widespread at the pandemic’s peak; however, the psychological efects of that solitude continue to impact students’ mental health and academic engagement.

Dr. Ashley Ceniceros, infectious disease specialist at Carle Foundation Hospital, discussed unique aspects of COVID-19 and the short-term and long-term challenges the virus imposed on college campuses.

“Recent research has discovered long-term efects of COVID-19, such as ‘brain fog,’ which is characterized by fatigue, trouble concentrating and poor memory,” Ceniceros said. “It can persist for weeks to months after the initial infection.”

Ceniceros discussed the prevalence and varying severity levels of brain fog, as well as some alarming trends discov-

ered in patients with the condition.

“Even people who had mild COVID-19 symptoms report similar brain fog issues, and the more severe the initial illness, the more severe the long symptoms tend to be,” Ceniceros said. “IQ isn’t a perfect measure, but there are reports of decreases in baseline IQ scores in these patients.”

Ceniceros then talked about the potential academic repercussions that these symptoms might cause.

“As you might imagine, trouble with concentration and memory could signifcantly impact a student’s academic ability,” Ceniceros said. “This is especially upsetting for someone who’s used to academic success or someone who’s adjusting to a new baseline.”

Regarding the lockdown itself, Ceniceros mentioned that it led to decreased test scores and increased isolation, alongside the mental health efects. Those growing up in isolation may struggle with moving away from home to the bustling of a large campus like that at the University.

When asked whether COVID-19 is still a pandemic, Ceniceros mentioned that the virus’ ofcial distinction changing doesn’t mean it’s no longer a

am today.”

Banias also discussed the difculties of transitioning from online learning back to regular, in-person education.

“Studying from home led to a more relaxed approach to academics, which sort of makes you focus less and less,” Banias said. “Readjusting to the traditional, more structured academic environment since the pandemic has been hard.”

Hongyu Zhao, graduate student studying biochemistry, was also afected by the pandemic

“My parents weren’t able to see my college graduation,” Zhao said. “That kind of thing has a strong emotional impact on you.”

Zhao also said that global supply chain issues and lockdown measures led to a decline in her research and STEM research.

concern.

“The acute emergency has subsided, but cases are still spiking throughout the world,” Ceniceros said. “I’m not sure if the term ‘pandemic’ means much to us right now, but we should continue to think of COVID-19 as a novel virus.”

Ceniceros provided advice to students and institutions for being prepared for future health crises, which included the ability for a quick switch to remote learning and ample personal protective equipment.

“Institutions and students will be required to adapt often and quickly,” Ceniceros said. “Populations and organizations who were willing to do this during the pandemic had success.”

Students at the University shared their personal experiences dealing with the impact of COVID-19, both with the immediate difculties and the longlasting challenges to their academic and social lives brought by the pandemic.

“You know, it honestly feels like I lost a whole year or two,” said Illa Banias, sophomore in AHS. “Missing out on social experiences and extracurricular activities made it really challenging, and I defnitely think that’s impacted who I

“Only one person would be allowed to work in the lab at a time, and there were massive shortages of standard laboratory equipment,” Zhao said. “This had a huge impact on not just me but scientists all around the world.”

Feelings like Banias’s and Zhao’s are not unique and certainly not new. In 2020 and 2021, the University conducted student surveys, which found that a majority of students reported increased stress and anxiety levels.

Respondents also expressed a strong desire for more robust mental health support and opportunities for in-person interactions. Students cited the “lack of social interactions and the efects of isolation” as challenges for their mental health and academic performance.

There is no instantaneous switch from pandemic conditions to normalcy. Similarly, problems faced by students during the pandemic did not suddenly disappear when the state of emergency ended.

As the University community moves forward, the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic will likely shape educational policy and enhance services that beneft students for years to come. Embracing these lessons ensures that Champaign-Urbana and the rest of the world not only recover but emerge stronger, more connected and better prepared to face whatever challenges the future holds.

RHONE TATHAM THE DAILY ILLINI

A glimpse into the life of UI student artist William Hohe

tween individuals and groups interested in fashion on campus and in the community,” according to TFN’s LinkedIn.

Every 21 days, William Hohe, junior in Media, sits down and plans their outfts for each day of the three following weeks. Utilizing their expansive wardrobe and accessories, they wake up every morning with a carefully curated outft.

Hohe is known for their founding of the Circular Fashion Expo and various other artistic endeavors in the Champaign-Urbana area.

Having been raised Catholic, Hohe explores intersections between their religious upbringing and queer identity as a central theme in their art.

“I feel I’ve always wanted to be an artist, and I knew from a really early age that’s what I wanted,” Hohe said. “My love of art came from that curiosity met with the friction of the unserious perspective of what it takes to be an artist.”

Hohe grew up in a family where every moment was photographed and recorded in photo albums, exposing them to photography at a young age.

“That was a very archival process, and that inspired my love of photography,” Hohe said. “The idea of the perception itself changing based on who’s taking it and how you want it to be taken is what got my start with photography.”

Hohe looks to Keith Haring, an artist whose pop art emerged in the grafti subculture in New York City during the 1980s, as one of their biggest artistic inspirations, with multiple tattoos of his artwork on their body.

“His way of looking at art was so unconditionally inclusive,” Hohe said. “He was making art for himself, but at the same time, he didn’t really care how it was received, and I love that.”

Since arriving at the University, Hohe has been a pivotal part of The Fashion Network, which is an RSO dedicated to “fostering creative collaboration be-

After joining TFN during their freshman year, Hohe worked with some students to found the Circular Fashion Expo, the University’s largest fashion exhibition. CFE debuted at the Siebel Center for Design in Spring 2022.

“We wanted to make this event that celebrated sustainability action, which is circularity — keeping that elongated lifespan of garments and fashion alive,” Hohe said.

TFN has since put on fve CFEs, with the most recent one on April 27. Hohe stepped down after four semesters as lead organizer, taking a backseat to operations and assuming the role of art and design director.

“I’m just excited to see this spin people bring to it because I’m at a distance,” Hohe said. “I’d be their adviser and have

their questions answered, but I’m excited to see the new creativity that comes.”

Hohe hopes to spread CFE beyond the University, and they plan on staying involved after they graduate.

Looking forward, Hohe will spend this summer on the road, driving across the country with money from a grant they received in the fall.

“I’m just trying to follow what I like right now and see where that leads me,” Hohe said. “I hope to end up with some kind of photo book. I want to hold something in my hands and be able to say, ‘I made this.’”

Hohe has started applying to MFA programs, and they will have various exhibitions around campus in the fall. Beyond a career in the curation of art, they envision becoming a teacher.

With a wide range of interests, Hohe believes in the importance of being a multi-hyphenate person, especially as an artist today.

“Looking at the media of art, each media really speaks to each other,” Hohe said. “I think of myself more as a photographic thinker than a photographer because I use so many other forms of art to curate.”

Being an artist encompasses every aspect of Hohe’s life, and they have made a lasting mark on the University. With just one more year left before graduating, Hohe looks forward to continuing to create art with a core sense of authenticity.

“I have this dire, relentless need to keep creating and producing in a way that leaves an impact,” Hohe said. “I hope that leaves an impression on people.”

“I never thought of myself as a teacher until really recently,” Hohe said. “I would love to do some education for art or infuence some type of younger audience. Providing that to someone would be awesome.”

William Hohe, junior in Media, at their solo art exhibition “William’s Summer of Rest & Relaxation” in the Illini Union’s Art Gallery on Oct. 5.

DAMINI RANA THE DAILY ILLINI

What a lack of effort to see solar eclipses says about our elections

COLUMNIST

GEORGE ALEXANDRAKIS gca3@dailyillini.com

In 2017, I vividly recall the buzz surrounding that year’s solar eclipse. My incoming high school freshman class and I were blissfully unaware yet simultaneously excited about it.

During the frst day of high school orientation, we eagerly donned our “coollooking” glasses and stepped outside, anticipating a celestial spectacle. However, our excitement was met with disappointment as thick clouds obscured our view.

At the time, I couldn’t quite grasp why I felt let down. After all, all I knew about solar eclipses was the adults described it as a fascinating but occasional occurrence. I had no idea what it looked like, so with a shrug, I moved forward and navigated the awkward terrain of high school life.

Fast-forward to this year, and the ubiquitous chatter sprung up again. Remembering my disappointment seven years ago — despite not fully understanding what to expect — I felt compelled to make a serious efort to witness the event this time.

Even though Champaign was going to be at 98% coverage, according to the New York Times, I had heard that 100% — or totality — was entirely diferent and worth traveling for. So I did the hour-and-a-half drive southeast to Indiana, joining the 30 million people living in the path of totality and the millions more doing what I was.

What I saw was far more incredible than anything I’ve ever witnessed. The harmonic combination of sudden darkness and the white, glowing corona behind the moon in the sky blew me away. After the last gray hues disappeared and the temporary coldness dissipated, I found it profoundly saddening I would

have to wait 20 more years to experience something similar.

When I saw pictures and videos of the University’s Main Quad jam-packed with eager students, I was admittedly surprised. Just a short hour south was the most incredible thing I’ve ever witnessed, and it felt like most students believed the extra journey wasn’t worth it or weren’t even aware of the diference between 98% coverage and totality.

Much like 14-year-old me, I felt deeply disappointed by not seeing the expected eclipse solely from what I had heard; people behave similarly in our politics today. In both scenarios, the consequences of relying on incomplete information can lead to uninformed decisions, which may lead to undesirable outcomes.

The term for this is rational ignorance, or when the cost of learning information is greater than the potential

benefts of having that information, according to an academic article from Clemson University.

In 2017, I naively assumed a solar eclipse was no big deal when I had not educated myself on the topic whatsoever. Many people on the Main Quad this year likely also assumed that the 98% coverage was barely diferent than the totality one hour south and therefore found it pointless to make the expedition.

In the same way people at the University this year decided that the partial eclipse was sufcient, many voters may believe the knowledge they already have on political issues is enough. Our tumultuous political circumstances come into play when the issue of rational ignorance comes up in voter participation and even knowledge of some political issues.

The issue will not be solved over-

night, but an important frst step is realizing the problem exists. A notable study conducted by political scientist Larry Bartels found that incumbent presidents did almost 5% better in elections than they would’ve if all voters in presidential elections were fully informed. With the past presidential elections being as close as they have been, 5% of the vote could decide an entire election.

With a discrepancy that signifcant, voters need to acknowledge that our elections might be swayed because of a part of the voter base that is uninformed. Whether intentional or not, we need to look further into issues we might believe we already fully understand. Otherwise, we might be left unsatisfed with the outcome we have — just like the stark diference between 98% coverage and totality in this year’s solar eclipse.

Los Angeles Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle

“OBVIOUSLY!” BY CHANDI DEITMER

ACROSS

1 Luminescent gems

6 Fish head?

10 “Who Let the Dogs Out” group __ Men

14 Act extempore

19 Lear daughter

20 Breakfast scramble

21 Some deleted contacts

22 Enlightenment philosopher Thomas

23 Poorly put together trays?

26 Mary-inmourning piece

27 Marshmallow Man in “Ghostbusters”

28 Capital of Tibet

29 Literary whaler

30 Start and end of a faceoff?

31 __ of strength

32 Boyfriend

33 Rap’s Snoop

37 God destined to slay the sea serpent Jörmungandr

39 Donkeys who got caught in the rain?

45 “Snowy” bird

47 Ice rink leap

49 Self-satisfied

50 Bankrupt

51 Pews?

54 Sacred text

55 Bob in the Basketball Hall of Fame

56 Dutch painter Frans

57 Pat Benatar’s “Love __ Battlefield”

59 Historic space station

60 Stern direction?

61 Stinging insect

62 Dorky one

64 Picnic pest

65 “We all see the obvious here, right?,” and how to make six long answers in this puzzle match their clues?

70 Citrusy suffix

71 Piccata bud

72 Marine mammal in a matrilineal group

73 Anti-fraud org.

74 Bear’s lair

75 Reddit forum for inquiries

76 Early educ. 77 Potent potion 81 Purple or green

Spine-chilling

Request from one who prefers dry mashed potatoes?

95-Down beds, maybe

Talk back to 99 Yule tune 100 “No problem!” 102 Spy org.

Surreptitious one

French composer Gabriel 109 Former police procedural starring Kathryn Morris 114 Jazz great Armstrong 115 Energy supplies that are just OK? 117 “You mean a lot to me”

Edited by Patti Varol

118 “This __ fair”

care brand

“Ew, stop sharing”

Steamed bite

Abolitionist Harriet

Conditioning, as a bamboo cutting board 44 Hägar’s dog

Like some glasses

Path of __ resistance 52 Gp. concerned with crashes

53 Swiss instrument traditionally made from red

“Raw” org.

Puckered expression in a selfie

Swiatek’s org.

More on edge

__ awareness

Twistable

69 Birds mummified in ancient Egypt

Madison Ave. industry

Ensembles associated with Hillary Clinton

Bonus, in 70-Down lingo

“Bearded” flower

Marbled breads

“Try to stop me now!”

Nickname that drops -ing

French pronoun

“TBH” kin

Gave a boost

“Mrs. America” Emmy winner Uzo

Marina space

Centers

Currency also known as the renminbi

Rock, in Rock, Paper, Scissors

__ Mae Bullock: Tina Turner’s birth name

Gaul or Breton

Ocean Spray prefix

chemical opposite

Complete groups

Provincial petrol provider

Old-timey “ugh”

Camping gear co-op

I spy three Alma Mater’s striking her pose, The new Illordle Logo that just arose,

The Woolly Mammoth with one tusk, Can you find the ruler that you can’t trust?

Best kept secrets you should know

Sidney Lu Nap Pods

In order to escape the hustle and bustle of a lively college campus, it is necessary to fnd a good secret spot, or multiple, where one can run away and hide from the masses. Whether it be a secret bathroom or a cheap place to eat, these secrets are essential to keeping the student body running.

Illini Union second floor bathrooms

A quiet, nice-smelling public restroom is hard to come by on this campus. Located on the second foor of the Illini Union are two public restrooms that are clean and free from disturbances, allowing students to conduct their business without anyone else present.

Quality nap spots can be found all around campus, from any available seating in academic buildings to a grassy patch of sun on the Main Quad. However, there is only one that gives you a futuristic napping experience. Located in the Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering building, the third-floor nap pods allow students to enjoy a peaceful slumber in an ultramodern lounge chair.

Communications Library

With the large population of students on this campus, finding an available place to study can be rough. The Communications Library located in Gregory Hall is a guaranteed quiet and unpopulated study location. Open until midnight five days a week, the Communications Library is the easiest library to snag a seat in

during midterms and finals weeks.

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

If you’re looking for an outdoor spot, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts is for you. The roof of KCPA is easily accessible and there is rarely anyone up there. It is a great place to bring a group of friends for a light-hearted adventure, or for a solo decompression session. KCPA is also the perfect place to find cheap entertainment. Frequently hosting shows with extremely cheap tickets, KCPA is perfect for a night out when you’re not feeling up to going to bars or parties. The shows are quiet and generally range from a student band showcase to unique visual art shows.

The Empanadas House

There are so many places to eat on

campus, however, when you need a late-night cheap meal, your options suddenly become limited. With cheap South American cuisine available until 11:45 p.m. every night, The Empanadas House at 404 E. Green St. is a perfect way to satisfy your late-night cravings.

Chin up, king.

MANAGING EDITOR

LILLIE SALAS lmsalas2@dailyillini.com

ISTAFF WRITER

LISA CHASANOV lisamc3@dailyillini.com

t’s Saturday night. White sneakers are permeated with radioactive liquid on cracked concrete foors throughout The Red Lion. Nostrils are graced with the tantalizing olfactory experience of a fraternity basement. The romantic ambiance has driven students to engage in primitive mating rituals.

Even after centuries of evolution, the courtship displays adopted by early-20-somethings are usually slightly more civilized than those commonly associated with western lowland gorillas. Rather than beating on his bare chest or triumphantly urinating on surrounding land, the frat boy proudly presents the soft glow of his Snapcode to draw a bleach blonde co-ed to his dingy, unwashed room.

Within minutes of arriving at a local watering hole, it is common to see stampedes of post-adolescent boys quickly swarm a handful of gorgeous bleachblonde sorority girls in strappy Shein tops and generous layers of spray tan. Regardless of whether the boys in question are attractive or interesting in any way, the female onlooker may engage in some form of comparison.

One may ask, “Why are these women the object of such intense afection while I am left to sip on my hastily prepared lighter-fuid-and-cranberry juice all alone? Will the reject pile only begin to fock in my direction after they have struck out too many times with the Panhellenic crowd?”

If ever faced with this kind of inner monologue, I urge you to remove yourself from the confnes of the University for one moment. Every attractive woman is not a 5-foot-2 blonde. Every attractive man is not a tall, lanky and functional alcoholic in a basketball jersey. College beauty standards are not based on anything organic or sustainable — they’re frmly rooted in the dirt that flls the planters outside of KAMS.

Even when bearing this in mind, it can be difcult to part with the notion that those who ft the college mold are more deserving of love or companionship than those who do not. It can be tempting to box yourself into the culture’s narrow and unforgiving expectations. However, it is crucial to remain headstrong in reminding yourself that you are worthy and deserving of happiness, irrespective of your adherence to beauty standards.

Dating, in general, has tribulations that almost everyone faces, and a com-

mon cross many seem to bear is imposter syndrome. Thinking back to the past lovers we have since parted with, there were multiple instances where insecurity and anxiety got the best of us.

Too much time is wasted every day wondering if your signifcant other could do better than you or if you’re overthinking small — and possibly meaningless — texts. Anxious or avoidant attachment styles don’t matter, as the plague that is imposter syndrome stops for no one.

Self-doubt and a critical perspective toward any connection set you up for failure, not just in a romantic context, but for your own image of yourself.

Is it true you have to fully love yourself to be in a successful relationship? Must your mind be cleansed of the inherited family mental illness? From what we’ve learned during our years of college, no.

Insecurity and unfavorable thinking patterns don’t go away overnight; for some, those feelings may never really leave. It is not to put you in a downcast state, reader, as there is hope.

Some truth may be found in the statement, “To love others, you must love yourself,” but love isn’t so cut and dry. In our most miserable states, we have been in invaluable relationships and have found ourselves enamored with a partner. However, it’s hard to argue against the fact that being in a negative headspace will most likely sour the connection.

The vicious cycle of waking up and breaking up with a new partner every so often is tiring and draining for everyone

involved. After many failed attempts, we realized there is little truth in the “mental health matters” motto.

Restructuring the way you think about yourself is key to improving selfesteem and minimizing anxiety. The mental monologue is crucial if you’re constantly criticizing your appearance, mannerisms, etc.

Take your deepest insecurities — the ones you can’t change — and accept them. Instead of staring in the mirror and picking yourself apart, point out things you enjoy. Do you have cool hair, nice eyes, a contagious laugh or cool clothes? Picking out even the smallest thing about yourself to appreciate is a step toward feeling good enough.

After each person that comes and goes in life, you will always be left with yourself. Knowing that you’re the prize will not only radiate a confdent energy to others, but it will make the time spent alone more bearable.

College can be a trying time in terms of self-image. From social media to frat parties, there are a variety of avenues for being judged and scrutinized by onlookers.

Nobody knows when the modern beauty standards arose — perhaps their origins are as debated and shrouded in intrigue as the Pizzagate conspiracy theory. It is imperative you do not allow these standards to impact your self-concept.

While it can be difcult to maintain confdence when faced with casual dating and party culture, we urge you, dear reader, not to let your crown slip.

Chin up, king.

What we’ll miss from campus

STAFF WRITER

ANNA KOH eunsung4@dailyillini.com

As the spring semester draws to a close, students are ready to leave Champaign-Urbana and enjoy their summer break — a time when they don’t have to worry about projects, assignments, exams and discussion boards.

As much as we hope students will enjoy their deserved break, the campus won’t be the same as they left it when they return.

The Daily Illini is here to wrap up the year with a list of places and people who are permanently leaving campus after the 2023-24 school year.

The Illinois men’s basketball team

The Illinois men’s basketball team has had one of its most successful years in recent memory with its Big Ten championship win and Elite Eight fnish.

However, some key players who contributed to this success are leaving Illinois.

Fifth-year guard Terrence Shannon Jr. will leave the Illinois men’s basketball team, concluding his two years in Illinois.

Over those two years, Shannon played a major role in leading the team into victories, receiving numerous recognitions, such as “Most Outstanding Player” for the 2024 Big Ten tournament, and leading the team in scoring.

Senior forward Coleman Hawkins will also leave Illinois for the 2024 NBA draft.

Junior guard Luke Goode and redshirt junior forward Dain Dainja will depart, as they recently announced their entrances to the transfer portal.

In thier farewell announcements, all players thanked the Illini nation for their unwavering support and the fans who made the experience unforgettable.

Although their leaving may sadden the Illini fans, we wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

The original Maize Mexican Grill

The original Maize Mexican Grill, located on First and Green streets, will be closing in June due to the building’s demolition decided by the property owner. Ever since Maize’s opening in 2011, owner Armando Sandoval had been informed by the property owner that the building is prone to demolition at any time.

Despite this, the restaurant managed to survive for 13 years. Maize’s closing announcement was disheartening even more as it was awarded this year’s Best of CU award for Best Mexican Food. Even though the original Maize is closing, students can enjoy the Mexican grill in the basement of the Illini Union and the food truck.

Residence Hall Libraries

All University Housing’s residential libraries will close as of July 1. When students return for the fall semester,

borrowing books and games will no longer be available at the Ikenberry Library and the ISR Library.

The libraries previously allowed students with an i-card to easily borrow an item for a specifed amount of time without charge. Despite the convenience the libraries bring for students, students will now have to look for alternative places to meet their academic and enjoyment needs.

Exciting new additions to CU await students in Fall 2024

features of a coffee house menu.

Tlnc4@dailyillini.com

he class of 2028 is not the only new thing we are looking forward to this upcoming school year. Many exciting things across various categories are coming to ChampaignUrbana.

With many unique restaurants native to the C-U area, more continue to open, each with a completely different ambiance than the last. In Fall 2024, the area will gain a new rarity.

The Scratching Post Café will begin taking reservations around the start of next school year, but what makes this new attraction so interesting goes beyond coffee, snacks or any typical

The new business is a cat and board game cafe where customers can reserve a table to play favorite board games or book an hour-long time slot to play with adorable rescued cats.

While the café will serve as an ideal study break for any cat or animal lover, it aims to address the issue of overcrowding shelters in the area and hopefully find some of the cats a permanent home. Twenty percent of profits will go to the café’s partner rescues.

While the new café differs from any other business currently opened in the area, Champaign plans to add a popular name with Crumbl Cookies at 2005 S. Neil St.

Since opening in 2017, Crumbl has

expanded to over 980 bakeries in the United States and other international locations. Crumbl is a commonality in Chicago and its suburbs and features locations in Peoria, East Peoria and Normal.

The store was to open in March 2024, but was postponed due to other construction within the C-U area. It will hopefully be open for business before the upcoming school year.

These are only a few of the multitude of incoming restaurants, but new menus are not the only advancement that will enhance the college town. This past February, the Champaign City Council accepted a state grant to help fund the construction of Phase One of the Downtown Plaza Project, which will commence this summer.

The construction plans to remodel and expand the existing One Main Plaza.

The council introduced this plan with three specific goals: dedicating the space to special events, expanding downtown’s appeal for all ages and lifestyles and improving the community image. The city council intends to utilize community feedback to enhance the renovation and make improvements according to communal needs.

The Scratching Post Café, Crumbl Cookies, Neil Street Plaza and other new additions to the community will give students many things to look forward to when they return to campus next fall. Whatever you are most excited for, The Daily Illini will keep you updated on the newest hotspots in town.

ANNA FEDCZUK THE DAILY ILLINI

10 of the best study spots on campus

SENIOR COPY EDITOR

ETHAN OSKROBA ethanro2@dailyillini.com

Every college student knows that navigating the switch from high school to college contains a myriad of drastic shifts, including a location change, a new schedule and living with a roommate. But perhaps the most signifcant diference in the college lifestyle is the sudden infux of independence. Nigh-perpetual strings of classes no longer govern every aspect of a student’s day, once halted only by approved bathroom breaks and frenetic passing periods. In college, class time is sporadic and often devoid of attendance checks, making for a far more fexible experience.

LIBRARIES

The Main Library

Wedged between the campus’ Main and South quads, the Main Library is a serene, no-frills place to be productive. Constructed in 1924, the venerable edifce doubles as a capsule of the University’s history, featuring the Georgian Revival style that characterizes many of the campus’ early buildings and is complete with ornate sculptures and a colossal collection of books. It’s a place by the erudite, for the erudite, so when it’s time to don your thinking cap and make things happen, the Main Library is the place to be.

The Grainger Engineering Library

The Grainger Engineering Library isn’t the most beautiful or welcoming structure, but its pragmatic utility more than makes up for its imposing exterior. Open 24 hours during the school week and available to all students and faculty regardless of their afliation with engineering, the Grainger Engineering Library has a well-earned reputation as a place students go with their backs to the wall to get things done. If you’ve procrastinated a fnal project you had a month to take care of until a few hours

before the deadline, the Grainger Engineering Library is a phenomenal spot to grit your teeth, lock in and fnd a way to turn that thing in on time.

The Funk ACES Library

Don’t be fooled by the polygonal edifce’s brutalist appearance — the Funk ACES Library is warm, welcoming and breathtaking throughout its lofty interior. Its overhead window and central well allow a deluge of natural light to permeate the building, galvanizing the multilevel structure and providing a sense of openness. The library’s sheer magnitude also enables each student to fnd an intimate locale conducive to their study skillset, making the Funk ACES Library a perfect balance between open-concept and cozy and a prime example of why you never judge a book — or a whole library — by its cover.

The Communications Library

A gem hidden in plain sight in the prominent Gregory Hall, the bijou and homey Communications Library presents a precise blend of classic and modern with its mahogany-hued bookshelves in stark contrast to the television screens that adorn the walls. It truly feels more like a home than an academic building, so if doing homework around the kitchen table as your siblings ran around pestering you brings back fond memories, the Communications Library is the perfect place to rekindle some of that familiar spirit.

OUTDOOR SPACES

The Main Quad

During the rare days when the sun holds dominion over the tumultuous and malevolent elements that have their way throughout most of the Midwest’s academic year, the Main Quad is the place to be. Every time the sun peeks out from its perch beneath the clouds’ celestial shroud and imbues the land with warmth, the Main Quad immediately morphs into a beacon of productivity and joy. In true Rockwellean fashion,

the gentle chirping of birds, the clap of frisbee meeting hands and its persistent whir upon being discharged again and the constant buzz of amicable interaction make for the perfect spot to study on an idyllic spring day.

The South Quad

Hidden in plain sight, the South Quad receives far fewer visitors than its more central counterpart, but for those seeking a quieter outdoor study space, it’s an outstanding choice. The verdant swathes surrounding the magnifcent bell tower comprise a fawless backdrop for productivity. The peaceful quietness of the area creates an ideal space to lock in and get things done. It’s a wonder why more people don’t take the short trek and amble over from the Main Quad to the South Quad, but as long as the South Quad remains underappreciated, it will have no reason to rescind its status as a prime locale for hardcore outdoor study.

Boneyard Creek

A fxture of the Champaign-Urbana area, this winding tributary slices directly through campus, making its banks a charming backdrop for academic labor. Boneyard Creek isn’t just a study spot, either — it doubles as a perfect place to clear your head and drive out stress by taking in nature’s beauty. Winner of The Daily Illini’s “Best of CU” category “Best Place to Cry,” Boneyard Creek’s banks are a picturesque place for pensive thought, mental decompression and, if you’re up to it, a little bit of studying. You might not want to lug your chunky textbooks to Boneyard Creek, but some quick fash cards and contemplation as the water fows by could be a recipe for a mental and emotional revival.

COMMUNAL SPACES

The Illini Union

For students who thrive upon being inextricably woven into the campus’ pulse, the Union is a fantastic study spot. Situated at the head of the Main Quad, the Union is the epicenter of campus life, enveloped in a constant buzz of

convivial chatter. While the noise can feel strident to students who need silence to study, those who are invigorated by the building’s palpable energy can reap a plethora of benefts. The Union contains no shortage of comfortable chairs to sink into as well as a myriad of restaurants and shops. For students who can halt their typing to snag a cup of coffee or catch up with a classmate before diving back into their work with even more conviction, the Union is an excellent place to get work done and have fun doing it.

The Campus Instructional Facility

Built to provide a new state-of-the-art educational building on Illinois’ monolithic and perhaps slightly antiquated campus, the CIF accomplished that aim upon its completion in 2021. The nascent building has yet to lose any of its shine and is the type of unrestricted, open-concept haven that lends itself to unobstructed thought. The whimsically constructed building does contain several classrooms — a hotbed for student trafc — but if that’s not a dealbreaker for you, you can’t go wrong by taking advantage of one of the University’s newest and most advanced spaces.

Siebel Center for Design

If you need a non-constricting, aesthetically pleasing space to unlock your mental capacity, Siebel’s sprawling and thoughtfully adorned confnes are a perfect study spot. Despite the building’s vast and imposing structure, it’s easy to fnd a cozy nook to nestle in and get things done. Unlike many popular study spots, which seem cramped and confned by academia, Siebel’s vast windows and open concept provide a sense of freedom that is often lacking amid the voluntary bondage of studying. The building’s creative aesthetic does come at a cost, however, as minor noises are often amplifed as they spring of the oddly positioned surfaces, making Siebel a suboptimal spot for students who require extreme quiet to do their best work.