The March Issue

MARCH ISSUE

Is your relationship ready for spring break?

PARTY PLAYLISTS

UNOFFICIAL

2013

SPORTS SUCCESS:

BLACKHAWkS, BASKETBALL

EDITORS Amanda Tugade, Elise King, John Edwards, Lauren Rohr, Philip Johnson, Sarah Soenke DESIGN Caroline Broler Austin Baird Taylor Odisho Angela Yang

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emily Waldron ASSISTANT EDITOR Sarah Soenke

ADVERTISING For further details, contact us at spreadjournalism@gmail.com

STAFF WRITERS Taylor Odisho, DainyaWesley F. Amanda Tugade Dan Broderick, Melissa Espa単a, Imani Brooks, Blaize Stewart Liz Amanieh Maise Sackett Phil Johnson PHOTOGRAPHER Scott Jackson

THE SPREAD IS A DIGITAL PUBLICATION OF THE REGISTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATION JAMS (JOURNALISM, ADVERTISING & MEDIA STUDENTS) OF THE COLLEGE OF MEDIA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

RELATIONSHIPS 4 SPRING BREAK: What’s your relationship status?

SPORTS 30 ILLINI BASKETBALL

BACK ON TRACK

30 ON FIRE: THE BLACKHAWKS

6 common mistakes

to scare your crush away

LIFESTYLE & EVENTS 7 SPRING BREAK SLIM

DOWN: WHY IT’S A WASTE

MUSIC 16 that’s my daddy!

18 the world’s not

ready...for a paramore/FOB comeback

8 What else is there

22 STRFKR ALBUM REVIEW 23 MUSIC FOR THE MASSES

9 BRACING FOR

PLAYLISTS:

OF TIME to do on unofficial?

UNOFFICIAL

13 the state of

marijuana

20 DRUNK PLAYLIST 21 HUNGOVEr PLAYLIST 22 HIGH PLAYLIST

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RELATIONSHIPS

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H

ave you wondered why your heart keeps getting broken? Do you keep telling yourself that it was them not you? Sorry to burst your bubble, but remember the saying, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me?� Here are some of the ways you might have scared them off and how to fix it.

Common Mistak Scare Your Crus Angela Yang

Try not to lie about yourself. This may sound obvious, but many people do not realize how much they hype themselves up to impress someone they like. Just be you.

If someone does not like you for being yourself, then you do not want him/her in your life anyways.

Do not talk about your exes.

Bringing them up in almost every conversation is painful for your significant other. By doing this, you are constantly comparing them to your exes. It shows them you still have relationship baggage that you need sort out.

Stop celebrating weekly anniversaries. We get it. You have been together for ten days, eleven hours, three minutes, and fourteen seconds. If this is someone you truly care about, then an expiration date will not matter. Try to enjoy the relationship process instead of what will happen at the end.

Talking about marriage early in the relationship is a big one. Even if it seems to be love at first sight, you will scare the other person off by discussing your ten year plan with them. Wait until the relationship becomes more serious to bring it up in a conversation.

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kes To sh Off

Personal hygiene is mandatory. If you do not smell good, you are telling the world you do not care about yourself. Good hygiene is sexy. People are attracted to people who care about themselves. It never hurts to dress or smell nicer, and you will feel more confident by doing so.

Being a momma’s boy shows that you still have a lot of growing up to do.

No one wants to date a baby. It will actually make your significant other feel like a third wheel throughout the relationship. Just don’t do it.

Talking too much is a bad thing.

It shows that you are not a good listener, which can eventually lead to a lack in trust. People will not feel comfortable talking about themselves around you.

The conversation with the other person should be like a game of ping-pong: constant reciprocation.

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Having manners cannot be stressed enough. It is extremely frustrating when your date does not offer to pay for dinner or has you pick them up because he or she is too lazy to ask your parents for the car. Also, constant teasing and giving him or her a hard time is not funny. You are likely coming off as rude, and by then they will not want to be around you at all. Manners matter.

There are plenty of selfish, insincere people in this world. However, if you learn to pick up these red flags when getting to know someone better, you might just prevent another lonely night with your dear pals Ben and Jerry. Love is not for the weak at heart. Good luck!

Spring Break Slim Down:

Right after Christmas Break and just before Spring Break are quite possibly the worst times of the year for a person who goes to the gym consistently. In January, everyone crowds into the gym, working towards losing weight as part of his or her New Year’s resolution. Fortunately, most give up after a couple of weeks, and things at the gym return to their less crowded state.

It stays that way for a couple of months. But roughly two weeks before Spring Break rolls around, the gym will become jampacked with people trying to lose all their drinking/fast food weight before stripping down to their bathing suits.

Let’s get real. If you have been working on that beer gut all year, what makes you think it is going to go away in a few days?

It takes work to get out of shape. It takes even more work to get back into it, and a 5-minute run around the track isn’t going to do much.

However, somehow these deluded people have convinced themselves that they can lose this weight with a fifteen minute workout -- and I use the term “workout” lightly. We have all seen the packs of sorority girls squeezed into tiny workout clothes, slowly making their way around the track, gossiping away and blocking the track for the rest of us.

Of course you can’t forget about the guys in the basement who think they are going to get jacked after lifting one time. It is usually pretty crowded down there to begin with, so people who go regularly tend to get their workout done and move on so someone else can get started. What you should not do is lift one time then get on your phone, send a text, check Facebook or do anything that wastes time. You are just going to make people mad.

No one wants to spend hours at the gym waiting for machines. These almost-Spring-Breakers need to realize they aren’t going to see any lasting results from their sad attempt at getting healthy. Plus, their efforts are ruining the gym for everyone else. If you were really worried about what you’ll look like for Spring Break, you should have started working on it months ago.

A few days just isn’t going to cut it.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to get into shape or shed a few pounds. But like I said, it takes months of work to accomplish this. It is work that cannot be compressed into a time frame of two weeks. So, even though you might be able to lose a couple pounds before you hit the beach, the only six-pack you should expect to see is a six-pack of beer.

By: Blaize Stewart

Why it’s a waste of time

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LIFESTYLE & EVENTS

Stay in Urbana

Maybe it’s because it doesn’t have the main campus bars or maybe it’s because it’s too far from them. Maybe it’s because there’s a large population of engineering majors at one of the residence halls or maybe it’s just because it’s filled with too many hipsters.

But there’s something about Urbana during Unofficial that just doesn’t compare to Champaign. If you’re looking for a way to avoid all the drunken frat boys around Green Street and the Six Pack, then staying with a friend who lives in Urbana should be a safe bet.

There is usually less craziness happening on this side of campus.

What else is there to do on Unofficial?

Every year, students at the University don every bit of green they own and celebrate Unofficial Saint Patrick’s Day, despite the University’s efforts to bring it to an end. However, not every student participates in the drunken debauchery that is expected at Unofficial.

Some students don’t participate in the yearly event; some are underage, some don’t want to get in trouble and some just don’t want to get involved. Not everyone thinks it’s fun to parade around campus under the influence for 24 hours. Whatever the reason, some students just don’t want to join in on the shamrock festivities and, although most of the day’s events revolve around drinking, there are other things to do that Friday that don’t have the risk of getting caught by the police.

Melissa España

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Go to the mall or just stay off campus

Chances are, the buses going to and from the mall and movie theaters aren’t going to be that crowded since everyone will be on campus. So take advantage of those good bus seats and head to the mall, Buffalo Wild Wings or anywhere else that isn’t crowded with drunken people in green. The best part is that, when you’re craving a bite to eat, the restaurants that are located off campus won’t have lines filled with people that take 10 minutes to order just because they can’t form a coherent sentence.

Take photos of the mayhem

One of the greatest things about being sober on Unofficial is that you get to remember everything that happened. If all of your friends are deciding to go out, maybe it is a good idea to tag along, even if no drinking will be taking place on your part. Drunk people love to take pictures and sober people love to take those pictures and post them on Facebook the next day. Document the yearly adventure and snap photos of some ridiculous outfits or a drunken girl with her top off at the bar. Be especially sure to take pictures of your friends and every stupid thing that they do. Bonus points if you get some video footage of them singing karaoke, but you might not want to post that on Facebook without their permission. Even if the photos don’t go up online, they make for great memories down the line.

Visit your parents

The ultimate solution to avoiding Unofficial is to go home and pay your parents a visit. Not only will they be happy to see you, but they’ll be proud of you for not participating in any of those “unsafe” events that the University sent letters home about.

BRACING FOR UN

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NOFFICIAL I’m sure you’ve heard of the infamous holiday that takes place annually on the first Friday of March here on campus. It’s the day when it’s encouraged to drink at 8 a.m., consume green beer and spend the entire day at the bars.

Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day, the largest drinking holiday on a university campus, is bound to create chaos once again. Yet for Illini freshman, this day can be intimidating. Preparing for Unofficial for the first time will be an experience and a right of passage, but knowing how to enjoy the holiday without running into trouble is important.

To put the insanity into perspective, participants should be aware of the police and security. There is always a heavy presence of authority figures on campus. According to the Daily Illini report for Unofficial 2012, police wrote 289 tickets, 107 of which were written for University students; the rest were written for students from other schools. Not only are University students at risk, but so their guests.

A total of 168 students who received tickets last year were charged

By: Liz Amanieh

with “minor in possession.” The second most common charge was for public possession, resulting in a total of 80 tickets. Five tickets were issued for the throwing of dangerous materials.

It’s evident that authority does, as rumored, enforce the law on this day. However, being smart about where you go and what you do can keep you from receiving a ticket.

Police officers can ticket you for jaywalking any day. On Unofficial, you might be more likely to jaywalk, especially if you are intoxicated. If a police officer catches you, they could assume you’re intoxicated and will then have a reason to breathalyze you. You could receive a drinking ticket, along with the $300 ticket you would be issued for jaywalking.

Balconies seem to be a common place for students to celebrate. Illini students come out on their balconies and attempt to party with the crowd below, a tradition adapted from New Orleans’ Mardi Gras. Common sense prevails in that alcohol and a balcony just don’t mix well together. Students forget that a heavy presence of students on a balcony can be an indicator

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of how many people are occupying the apartment. This gives patrolling police a reason to raid parties for being over capacity.

If you’re underage, stay away from the bars. Don’t attempt to get into the bars with an ID that says you are 19 years old; bars raise the drinking age to 21. Throughout the day, police patrol the bars constantly checking for IDs. And if you get caught with a fake ID in the state of Illinois, you can be convicted of a Class A Misdemeanor; you could lose your license and be forced to pay excessive fines.

This holiday does revolve around drinking for the entire day and night, but remember to pace yourself. In past years, participants have died as a result of excessive drinking. Knowing your limit and taking breaks in between is key. According to the Daily Illini, in 2012 there were 12 medical calls and eight people taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Illini students pride themselves on this day, so keep celebrate the legacy. But make sure to be smart about it.

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Sophomore Kelsey Richmond, who participated in Unofficial last year, shares how she celebrated last year as a freshman.

“I woke up at 8 and drank a couple beers before my class at 10,” Richmond said. “After class, I went to my friend’s apartment where we played drinking games like Irish poker and categories, and I got pretty hammered. After the apartment, I was pretty gone by then. I passed out for like an hour then got up and got some food. After food I started drinking at another apartment where there was a keg and we ended the night with beer pong.”

Richmond practiced the essentials of preparing for Unofficial as a freshman, but for seniors who are of drinking age like Payam Vatani, Unofficial is more enjoyable because there is less concern about getting in legal trouble.

“We get up at 7 a.m. and start with mimosas, kegs and eggs, and Irish car bombs,” Vatani said. “Then, we play drinking games like slap cup and beer pong. I decide whether or not to go to class, depending on what classes I have that day.

Usually I have lecture, so I don’t go, but if I have lab I do. Later on we go from apartment party to other apartment parties all day. Then we go to the bars at the end of the night.”

THE STATE OF MARIJUANA

By Dainya Wesley

The current legal state of marijuana has gone through many changes throughout America’s vast history. Recently, the use of medical marijuana has been accepted within 18 states in the U.S. And in November 2012, recreational use of marijuana became legalized in two states: Colorado and Washington. This is a major step for marijuana advocates. has gone through many changes throughout America’s vast history.

“I was not surprised because Colorado and Washington state have always been popular with medical marijuana,” said Mara Collins, senior in media. “It is the necessary next step for marijuana.”

Statistics show as many as 59 percent of voters in Washington State and 54 percent in Colorado were supportive of legalization, but there are some who do not see this as a benefit for their communities.

“I feel like marijuana being legalized is negative, and it is just one more thing that may lead

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to other drugs being legalized,” said Latrice Baker, senior in business. “It is one more step to having drugs basically everywhere.”

Marijuana is a controversial topic, but the view of marijuana is very different today than it was in the 17th century. According to PBS Frontline News, the Virginia Assembly passed legislation in 1619 that required every farmer to grow hemp. At the time, hemp could be exchanged as “legal tender” in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland.

In addition, cannabis was made available in American pharmacies after William O’Shaughnessy introduced it into Western medicine in 1941, according to DrugWarFacts.org. It began being restricted around 1860, and by the mid 1930s, it was considered a drug in every state in the U.S. It soon transitioned from a plant that was used for medical purposes to being a poisonous drug.

“I feel like legalizing marijuana is fine, and that people make it a much bigger deal than it is,” said Aleksandra Balabanova, senior in psychology. “I do not think that marijuana is dangerous. It is, however, psychologically

addictive. But then again, anything is bad for you if you become dependent on it.”

She added that she does not consider marijuana a “real drug” like heroin or meth. If it is legalized, she said, more focus can be placed on hard drugs that is more detrimental to people’s health.

Marijuana’s psychological effects are only part of the issue. For decades, prisons have been filled with people who were arrested due to marijuana possession. According to a report on annual marijuana arrests in the United States conducted by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, these numbers have been increasing in the past decade.

In 2010, almost 98 people were arrested per hour because of marijuana in comparison to two per hour in 1965 as noted in the chart above.

“Fewer people need to be in jail for marijuana to make space for real criminals,” said Balabanova. “Why is smoking something out of the ground any worse than cigarettes or alcohol? If people want to do it, who cares? And why is it considered to be worse than anything else?”

Sources: The Case for Legalization ProCon.Org Norml.org Schaffer Library of Drug Policy Marijuana Timeline

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The “war on drugs” has become a popular phrase, and it has been widely noted in the media. Jeffrey Blum, an associate professor of law, said the war on drugs is directed against a variety of different substances, some of which are highly addictive and unhealthy, while some are not.

According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States and is one of the most preventable causes of death in our society. Cigarette smoking does not just affect adults, it has made its way into the lives of the youth. Nationwide, 18 percent of high school students and 4 percent of middle school students were reportedly smoking cigarettes in 2011.

There has yet to be proof that marijuana usage is linked to deaths in America. According to The Lancet, a European medical journal, smoking cannabis, even longterm, is not harmful to health. The fact that cigarettes are so easily accessible to minors, however, may be a potential threat for pro-pot citizens.

Note: Cannabis remains a Schedule I substance under federal law as of 2012.

“If marijuana is legalized, children will have access to it just like they do with alcohol and cigarettes,” said Baker. “It is a lot easier than people may realize.”

Although some feel it may be a savior in our struggling economy, many are convinced that marijuana is a powerful drug that may lead to chaos.

Arguably, the legalization of marijuana may offer benefits and allow a bit more of control over the substance and who can access it. Collins said she believes government control and regulation over marijuana will make it harder for minors to get their hands on the drug.

“The only benefit would be less people going to jail,” Baker said. “There will be more drug dealers, and they will be taking money from people who most likely do not have it.”

The legal state of marijuana in the United States is far from being completely permissible. Colorado and Washington state may still soon reap major benefits after the passage of the 64th Amendment. According to the Huffington Post and a recent study by the Colorado Center on Law Policy, about $60 million, and the potential of $100 million, in annual revenue and savings will be a result of the passing of the amendment. This money can lead to major benefits for jobs and public education.

“If we put a tax on marijuana, the U.S. would gain money and create more jobs,” Collins said. “Our country as a whole could benefit from this.”

Individually we all have our own views on marijuana and how it may impact our society in the future.

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But Collins said legalizing marijuana could result in better drug awareness, especially among younger generations.

“We live in such a paradoxical society. We can rap, have festivals and have television shows about it, yet its still illegal,” Collins said. “Maybe if marijuana were legal, it would pressure parents to be better and have them teach their children about it instead of having them learn everything through television and the media.”

Regardless of your view on the issue, it is a very important and interesting topic that everyone should consider exploring. Remember, if you are a marijuana advocate, or even a consumer, be sure to stay up to date on laws because smoking marijuana is still illegal in a majority of the U.S. Be sure to stay safe and cautious if you plan on celebrating this 4/20.

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MUSIC

That’s My Dad By: Maisie Sackett

The outrageous has become expected from rappers. Whether it’s profanity-filled lyrics, nightclub brawls or clothes befitting a 300-pound man. Now, imagine your dad is that outrageous rapper. He’s wearing an outfit three sizes too big, chains so heavy they’re straining his neck, and when he smiles, all you see are a set of gleaming gold grills. That’s the lives of rappers’ children, meaning they’ll eventually understand what their fathers are rapping about and the gang signs they are still throwing up. Here’s a list of aging rappers and some of the lines they spit on the radio.

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ddy!

1. Lil’ Wayne ft. in “Faded” by Tyga – “Prior to me cumming, I had to stick my thumb in, her ass on time, smell my finger make you vomit” Lil’ Wayne may only be 30 –years-old, but he has four children — that might as well vomit.

2. Kanye West, “Monster” – “Have you ever had sex with a pharaoh? I put the pussy in a sarcophagus” Kanye West, 35, has an affinity for Egyptian history and expecting his first child with Kim Kardashian.

3. 50 Cent, “Candy Shop” – “After you work up a sweat you can play with the stick. I’m trying to explain baby the best way I can, I melt in your mouth girl, not in your hands (ha ha)” 50 Cent is 37 with only one kid, but hey! At least he has a candy shop.

4. Rick Ross, “Blow” – “Ha, they say life’s a bitch, but close ya’ eyes for a minute, and just bite this dick, it’s Ross” Rick Ross is 37 with two kids, and it was difficult to pick out his most outrageous lyrics.

5. Eminem, “I Think My Dad’s Gone Crazy” – “Fuck that shit, bitch, eat a motherfuckin’ dick. Chew on a prick and lick a million motherfuckin’ cocks per second” Forty-year-old Eminem has four children, although Hailie is his biological child. Oh! Fun fact: she is featured in this heartwarming song with her daddy.

6. Snoop Dogg (Lion?), “Sexual Eruption” – “I got her to the crib and exchanged some fuck faces, but it wasn’t no use for me to bust one cause I wanted her to have an eruption” Snoop Dogg, 41, has three kids and clearly making his wifey happy.

7. Diddy, “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” – “Young, black and famous, with money hangin’ out the anus” Diddy is 43 with five children who probably never ask him to borrow money.

8. Jay-Z, “Big Pimpin’” – “You know I - thug em, fuck em, love em, leave em cause I don’t fuckin need em” Jay-Z is 43 with one daughter, Blue Ivy, who is sure to be the most talented baby ever, but Jay better not be pimpin’ on Bey.

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9. Ice-T in Law & Order SVU – “You have the right to an attorney and if you throw up in my car, I’ll kill ya.”

Ice-T, 55, has two kids, and possibly one on the way with his vanilla girl CoCo. Out of the rap game, he’s currently busy saying awesome one-liners on SVU.

The World’s

(For 20-Something-Year-Olds Screaming and Bringing Back Their

By: F. Amanda Tugade

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s Not Ready...

r Tiny FOB/Paramore Emo Tees And Shopping at Hot Topic Again) What’s up FOB/Paramore lovers?

Aren’t you like 20-something-yearolds now? Well, when the world revealed that Fall Out Boy came out of hiatus and that Paramore has a new album coming out on April 9, I feel like every 20-year-old, who went through some emo/pop-punk phase, literally shit themselves like The Red Lion girl and passed out.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love me a little P-Stump and Haley Williams because let’s face it, 1) They’re pop-rockin’ gingers and 2) They were like, uber popular in 2006, the year I was most susceptible to bad emo/screamo music.

I loved Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar We’re Going Down,” from the album From Under the Cork Tree, even though I had no idea what the fuck P-Stump was trying to say in the chorus, at first. I even remember doing the pogo stick and being in a baby mosh-pit when that song played at our eighth grade Halloween Dance.

My fave song from FOB though was “The World’s Not Waiting (For Five Tired Boys in a Broken Down Van),” from their very first album Evening Out with Your Girlfriend, because that was the original lengthy-ass titled song. Also, I loved the fake applause at the end, as well as that totally kick-ass, awkward clash of P-Stump’s and Joe Trohman’s guitars, which make them sound like they forgot some of the chords and just

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played that whole thing to be “punk.”

Lulz, too cute.

As for Haley Williams, I tried to dress like her. This was the beginning of my skinny jeans/converse/ heavy eyeliner/let-me-cut-my-ownhair-because-I’m-so-original/I’mmisunderstood phase. Thanks to Haley, I sang to “Pressure,” “Emergency” and “Misery Business,” for a good solid year in front of my mirror.

But as the seasons changed, FOB and Paramore kind of became irrelevant, at least to me. Well, you know, minus Pete Wentz getting married to Jessica Simpson’s slightly less talented sister

Ashlee Simpson (2008), the release of FOB’s sucky album Folie a Deux, and well, Haley kind of became a beeyotch, which made the two brothers in the band go bye-bye.

Haley also did that pop/rap song “Airplanes” with B.O.B., which then marked her a wanna-be mainstream pop artist. Good try, Haley. Way to go against “punk” music and the band code.

Anyways, I listened to the new Fall Out Boy song “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light ‘Em Up)” and the Paramore song “New,” and to be honest, I’m not feeling it. Why does FOB keep insisting on writing lengthy-ass titles? And Paramore is just not the same with-

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The

Stoner’s Playlist Anything by these artists is great to listen to while celebrating the 20th of April, along with the usual like Jimi Hendrix, Cypress Hill, Snoop Dogg — I mean Lion — The Doors, and so on. Happy listening.

1. The Beatles - Nowhere Man I think The Beatles created a majority of their songs with the idea that marijuana will be smoked beforehand. This song is no exception.

2. The xx - Intro There are no words to this song, just a beat that repeats itself a few times and it is perfect. If you really love it, there’s a 12-hour loop on YouTube that repeats over and over and over…and over.

3. The Weeknd - High For This The Weeknd is a great artist overall. This song is great overall. This will help you have a great high overall.

4. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible Arcade Fire is one of the greatest indie bands of this decade and this is a really mellow song relax to.

5. Kid Cudi - Day ‘N Night Because you can’t have a smoking playlist without at least one Kid Cudi song on it.

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MUSIC FOR THE

Mixing business with pleasure, Jason Jasinski, a sophomore in Accounting, founded Music for the Masses, a club open to all UI students passionate about making music and struggling to find resources such as practice rooms, instruments or recording equipment. The Spread got a chance to talk with Jason and his show coordinator, Jamie Stadnik. They shared the dreams and challenges of bringing music to the masses.

The Spread: Jason, how did you start this organization?

Jason: Freshman year, I got here, and uh, I realized there was no really music scene. And like Jamie, said to me, you don’t really know what’s going on here. No one really tells you where or when the shows are going to be. You really have to seek it. So, when I was trying to play with my band and because I love playing the drums, we realized it was really difficult to do so because nobody had like a drum set or anything like that. And if you’re

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not a music major, you’re kind of screwed on that issue…unless you live at Allen, of course, which I didn’t. I didn’t even know Allen had a drum set.

So, I thought it’d be a great idea to form a club where we could help on that issue, where we can provide the equipment, the practice space, connect everybody so that we can all get together and create bands and have fun.

TS: What obstacles or challenges

E MASSES Felissa Amanda Tugade

Contraband and other groups so that we can become more of a community, more tight-knit, so that we’re all working together because we’re all passionate about music. So, why not?

TS: What’s your plan for the next few months or within the next year?

Jason: The plan for this…What I wanted to do…First of all I want to get jam sessions probably weekly.

So, we need to get the equipment for that so that we could supply for those students who don’t have the equipment – their giant amps or drum sets – here. I wanted to get that out of the way. In order to do that, we have to fundraise. We have to fundraise to get equipment to get jam sessions so we can create bands so that we can put on shows.

Ideally, in the future, I would like to have some sort of routine schedule where we can have like show every other week, switching off between Allen and Illinites. And we can have jam sessions in between. I just want something that lasts longer than we do. I don’t want this to end as soon as we’re gone.

did you face trying to establish this organization?

Jason: Well, first of all, I really had nothing to base off of because as far as I’m concerned, I don’t think anything like this has happened at U of I or at least not successfully where I could research it or see what they did. So, I really had to lay out the ground work for what we want this club to actually be. The next hardest part…

Jamie: Well, um, it’s weird because I’ve been trying to see what to be

involved in with the music scene, trying to become a more integral part of it. And last year I was going to a bunch of C-U Collective meetings and those were pretty cool because they had a lot of ideas but um, I found out a few months ago that they just kind of dissolved.

I guess it’s like, I think one of the major conflicts is that there’s not enough collaboration between these different organizations that have all these similar goals for the local music scene. That’s what I’ve been trying to do – to get us involved in Pizza.fm and Illini

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TS: Where did the name come from? Who came up with that?

Jason: Actually, I did. It kind of just hit me when I was walking to class because it was bothering me for a long time. I was trying to think of all these cute little acronyms that could stand for music like “Musicians United.” I thought this was catchy.

Jamie: (laughs) It’s pretty catchy.

TS: What kind of music do you advocate?

Jamie: Everything really. It was kind

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SPORTS

illini b back o

P

By: Daniel James BroDerick

hew! I was go repeat where solutely Now t nally code to success this season. Our always shoot 3-pointers looking like that was th they could win. In their streak, the Illini have bee reliant upon the 3-point s defense was not exactly u ball movement became every offensive possessio be a one-on-one situatio result in a pull-u In the game 1 India witne han no c

l to fen

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basketball on track

I thought it oing to be a of last year the Illini aby crumbled. they have ficracked the o their earlier r guys could s, but it was he only way recent losing en completely shot and their up to par. The stagnant and on seemed to on that would up jump shot. e against No. ana, which I essed firstnd — there is othing like chanting LuLu-Lu-Losers at heartbroken and bewildered Indiana fans — the Illini started o click on ofse and de-

fense. That win has bolstered their confidence and now they are on a roll. Here are the key reasons why the Illini basketball team have turned it around and saved the season:

be really deadly in the NCAA tournament. The Illini will get more open looks, which will result in more field goals made. It all starts with going to the inside players early in the game.

Tyler Griffey has gotten out of the rut! Griffey is a fantastic stretch power forward…when he is hitting outside jumpers. He really is the key to the offense. When he hits shots, the opposing teams have to respect him on the outside, allowing guys like Brandon Paul, Joseph Bertrand, and Tracy Abrams to drive to the basket.

When Griffey was missing shots during the losing streak, teams would simply pack the lane and force pullup jumpers. Griffey has also been a beast on defense and on the glass.

Turnovers have been down! The Illini have been careful with the ball during this winning streak, minimizing the offensive possessions for the opposing teams. And even when the Illini do turn the ball over, they make up for it with tough D. It also helps that Groce is usually on the court playing defense with his team.

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The team has made going inside to Nnanna Egwu and Sam McLaurin a priority early on. Both players can be effective from the low post, but they need more touches. Coach John Groce has made going to the post a major point of concern, especially during the first ten minutes of the game.

Going to the post at least makes the opposition aware of their inside presence, giving space for open shots on the outside. If the bigs can play more consistently down-low, this team can

D.J. Richardson has been hot!

I really hope that this is a new evolved D.J. Richardson. He has always been an amazing shooter, but now his game looks really polished.

Lately it has been looking like D.J. has some NBA potential. Brandon Paul certainly has the best chance to get drafted to the NBA, and probably will be, but D.J. appears to have a fire in him that I hope does not die out.

He has even been driving the ball into the paint, which earlier in his career you would not see him do. All of his shots are going in and he is making the smart plays. His defensive has been nothing short of stellar. Richardson really has ‘put da team on his back’.

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They’re I

magine if Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s baby, Blue Ivy, had a future child with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s currently unnamed and presumably male baby. That baby’s hotness would still pale in comparison to the Chicago Blackhawks.

The hellaciously hot Hawks entered their February 19 home game with the rival Vancouver Canucks at 12-0-3, giving them a chance to tie the NHL’s all-

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That hot

time record for most games without a regulation loss to start a season. What in the name of Stan Mikita got into these boys?

It all starts in the net in hockey and no team allows fewer goals than the Hawks. Goaltenders Cory Crawford and Ray Emery have combined to allow less than two goals per game. On the offensive, the Hawks have scored the second most goals in hockey. Patrick Kane, the 24-year-old first pick of the 2007 draft, is playing like an MVP. He leads the team in goals and assists and has notably improved defensively.

While the dynamic defensive duo of Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith have remained strong, it has been the second defensive line of Johnny Oduya and Niklas Hjalmarsson that leads the team in plus/ minus. Nick Leddy, the 21-year-old third line defenseman has also stood out with his strong two-way play (2 goals, 4 assists, plus-5). The youngsters have been strong on the of-

by: Phil Johnson

fensive end as well. Andrew Shaw, another 21-year-old, has six points working as the third line center.

It seems like everywhere you look on the Hawks roster, someone is doing something to help the Hawks win.

How else could it be when a team is over a quarter of the way through the season without a regulation loss?

While stats get some people going, nothing screams Hawks more than the incessantly upbeat sounds of “Chelsea Dagger” by Scottish indie rock band The Fratellis.

You know the song. Every time the Hawks score? That “duh duh duh, duh duh, duh duh duh duh duh duh.”

That song may be the best representation of the Hawks. Things keep getting better. The games are fun, appealing for guys and girls alike and impossible to ignore. So turn on your TV, crank some Chelsea Dagger, invite some friends over and cheer on the Hawks as they continue to check the competition into oblivion.

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