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YEAR IN REVIEW

THE DAILY ILLINI

MONDAY May 6, 2019

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

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Vol. 148 Issue 62

MARK CAPAPAS THE DAILY ILLINI

The construction on Sixth and Green streets awaits new developments on Thursday. The new structurewill feature a two-story Target location and 15 floors of housing.

UI reflects on top five moments this year BY SAMANTHA BOYLE NEWS EDITOR

From former President Barack Obama coming to speak on campus to rumors spreading about Champaign gangs initiating new members by attacking students with bricks, a lot has happened this past year. In no particular order, here are the top five moments of the 2018-19 school year.

President Obama speaks at Foellinger

On the rainy day of Sept. 8, former President Barack Obama came to Foellinger Auditorium to accept the Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government. Students across the University of Illinois System were able to enter a lottery in order to try and get tickets to see Obama speak. About 22,000 students applied for tickets and 944 students across the UI System actually received tickets, 756 being from the Champaign-Urbana campus. During his speech, Obama stressed how important voting is for younger generations.

Sexual misconduct allegations

T wo i nvestigations regarding the University's misconduct policy were conducted this year. Last semester, law professor Jay Kesan was under investigation for allegations of sexual harassment. Starting in January, Kesan took a voluntary, unpaid leave of absence. In the spring semester, Joe Petry, professor in LAS, was on leave due to the University's investigation into misconduct allegations. In return for Petry's resignation, the University has agreed to conclude the investigation.

ing out at night, especially around Washington or “Frat” Park. According to some of these messages, a gang in the Champaign area was initiating new members, and part of that process was to beat up random passersby with bricks. Since these messages have circulated, police said these were only just rumors. Although some crimes can go unreported, there was only one official report of battery during this time, and no gangs have been linked to this event.

Construction continues on campus

This school year started with the demolition of two bars: The Clybourne and Firehaus, both located on Sixth Street. This marked the start of the construction of the high rise, which will feature a Target store, in its place. Later on in the year, the Multimodal Corridor Enhancement project took to Wright Street. The current construction on Wright Street is predicted to end by the end of summer and will move to the other side of the road in the fall. The current phase is set to be finished in December 2020.

Grainger College of Engineering

After more than $300 million in donations and support from The Grainger Foundation, the University’s College of Engineering announced on April 15 it will be renamed the Grainger College of Engineering. The money donated to the college is the largest amount any organization has ever donated to a public university to rename an engineering college. Additionally, this is the second college at the University to be renamed after a large donation. In Rumors of gang violence October 2017, Larry Gies and bricks and his wife made a $150 Toward the end of April, million donation to the busistudents started getting ness school, now the Gies messages and warnings College of Business. from friends or peers that they should be careful walk- sjboyle2@dailyillini.com

INSIDE

News: Trial of Brent Christensen set for June

Sports: Board games bring players together before games

PAGE 3A

PAGE 2B

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INSIDE

Police

BERCHAM KAMBER AND KENYON EDMOND THE DAILY ILLINI

Top: Former President Obama smiles as the audience engages during his speech on Sept. 8. The former president came to

Foellinger Auditorium to accept the Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government

Bottom: Students lie on the edge of Boneyard Creek on the Bardeen Quad. The University’s College of Engineering

announced on April 15 it will be renamed the Grainger College of Engineering

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Top five police reports collected in 2018-19 BY JOSE ZEPEDA ASSISTANT DAYTIME NEWS EDITOR

Ha r a ssment was reported on the 2000 block of Joanne Lane around 1 p.m. Monday. According to the report, the victim was receiving emails from an unknown offender claiming to belong to the Zetas drug cartel. The offender told the victim to send money or else the cartel would harm his family. Disorderly conduct was reported at the Illini Union bus stop, 1401 W. Green St., around 4 p.m. Monday. According to the report, a boarding passenger attempted to use the bus’s services without paying the fare. When the bus driver asked the passenger to pay, the boarding passenger yelled at the bus driver and left

the bus. K id n appi ng was reported at Circle K, 1511 N. Prospect Ave., around 10 a.m. Feb. 7. According to the report, the victim offered a ride in her vehicle to the offender. The offender later forced the victim into the trunk of vehicle. The victim was found in the trunk of her vehicle with no injuries in Danville, Illinois. The 32-year-old male offender was arrested. Theft was reported at Meijer, 2401 N. Prospect Ave., around 4 p.m. March 6. According to the report, a Meijer employee had been eating food on display at their cashier lane for the last few weeks. Theft was again reported at Bob Simpson’s Autotown, 1200 W Bloomington Road,

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

The Champaign-Urbana community seems to have adopted the phrase “out with the old, in with the new” as a number of familiar businesses have closed this academic year, allowing fresh faces to make their way onto campus. Although not all restaurants or stores that closed have a replacement set in place, listed are the ones that closed and what businesses are now in their place, if applicable. Out: Mr. Kyoto; In: PvP Bakery Although the Mr. Kyoto at 601 E. Green St. closed, PvP Bakery, an Asian bakery, was built in place of the Japanese cuisine restaurant. Out: Slice Factory; In: Howdy Burger Slice Factory, a former Campustown pizza place, has been replaced by Howdy Burger at 625 E. Green St.

Out: Urban Outfitters, The Clybourne, Firehaus, Woori Jib, Jimmy John’s; In: Target and high rises The businesses along the southeast corner of Sixth and Green streets have closed to make room for a new building called The Hub, currently under construction by the real estate management company Core Spaces. As of now, the company plans to make the first two stories of The Hub a Target and the remaining 15 floors apartment spaces. The Target and high rises are expected to open in 2020. Out: Campus Florist; In: Unknown Campus Florist closed after 77 years on campus. There is currently no evidence of any plans for the property as of now. Out: Which Wich; In: Unknown There have been rumors circulating that a Taco Bell will be built in place of the former

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Police confront a man and issue a drinking ticket during Unofficial on March 1. The top five police reports were collected over the last year.

around 7 a.m. April 9. According to the report, a male suspect stole a vehicle from the dealership. As the suspect stole the vehicle, an employee jumped on the trunk

of the stolen vehicle and hung on while the suspect drove. The employee was eventually thrown off the vehicle. jzeped4@dailyillini.com

Changes bring new businesses to Green Street BY JULIE KANG

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Which Wich, located at 512 E. Green St. However, there currently is no evidence to confirm this speculation. Out: Seoul Taco; In: Tsaocaa Tsaocaa has replaced the Korean-Mexican

fast food restaurant Seoul Taco, located at 608 S. Sixth St. Tsaocaa doubles as a bubble tea joint and shabu-shabu — a dish similar to hot pot — restaurant.

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Corrections BEN TSCHETTER THE DAILY ILLINI

Patrons enter Urban Outfitters, formerly located at 507 E. Green St., on Sept. 28. The clothing store is among the group of recently closed businesses around Green Street.

When we make a mistake, we will correct it in this place. We strive for accuracy, so if you see an error in the paper, please contact Editor-inChief Kelly Johnson at (217)-337-8365.

NEWS

MONDAY May 6, 2019 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

Lack of mascot still stirs debate BY CLARE BUDIN ASSISTANT DAYTIME NEWS EDITOR

From the continuing controversy of Chief Illiniwek to the short-lived saga of the Alma Otter, The Daily Illini is reviewing the University’s past with mascots.

1926

Chief Illiniwek is established as one of the first University mascots in the country with his first performance at Memorial Stadium.

1943

The first and only "Princess Illiniwek" is presented by Idelle Brooks due to a shortage of men during World War II.

1989

In response to rising protests, the Illinois State Legislature passes a resolution in support of the Chief.

1991

Chief Illiniwek is officially present for the homecoming parade and the pep rally for the final time.

2000

The tribal council of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, the closest descendants of the Illiniwek, passes a resolution opposing the usage of the Chief

2005 THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO

The Orange Krush student section holds up “Chief” signs combatting the earlier anti-Chief protests before the Illinois vs. Purdue basketball game on Feb. 22, 2018. Protests like these have been common on campus since the mascot’s retirement in 2007.

The NCAA bans schools like the University using "hostile and abusive American Indian nicknames" from hosting postseason games

2007

The board of trustees universally rules to retire Chief Illiniwek on February 16; the Chief's last game time performance on Feb. 21.

2016

The University begins a formal search for a new mascot by setting up a mascot implementation committee.

2018

The Alma Otter, which starts as a joke post on a University subreddit and Facebook page, explodes in popularity.

2019

PHOTO COURTESY OF AUSTIN LINDELL

The original Alma Otter design was posted by junior Austin Lindell on the University’s subreddit on Dec. 14. The proposed mascot failed to receive a majority vote on the 2019 Illinois Student Government ballot

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE SKIBSKI

Another student proposed mascot includes Champ, a World War I veteran. The proposal intended to connect the University with its military roots.

The Alma Otter fails to receive a majority on the 2019 Student Government ballot, leaving the mascot’s campaign in limbo. claredb2@dailyillini.com

Christensen faces trial for kidnap, murder in June BY YOOJIN SON ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Visiting scholar Yingying Zhang and former University graduate student Brendt Christensen crossed terrifying roads in 2017. What seemed like an innocent ride offer quickly turned into one of Champaign-Urbana’s most devastating federal cases. After almost two years since the Chinese scholar went missing, the alleged kidnapper and murderer Christensen will be on trial and may potentially face the death penalty on June 3 in Peoria, Illinois.

2017

June 9: University visiting scholar Yingying Zhang is reported missing, last seen outside the B-4 parking garage in Urbana before entering the passenger side of a black Saturn Astra. The driver is later identified to be Brendt Christensen. June 12: Christensen is questioned regarding his registered black Saturn Astra and surveillance video footage showing interaction with Zhang. June 15: A search warrant for Christensen’s vehicle is obtained. Christensen admits to giving Zhang a ride but denies allegations of

abduction, claiming to have dropped her off shortly after picking up Zhang. June 30: Christensen is arrested for the abduction of Zhang after law enforcement overhear his explanations of how he kidnapped the Chinese scholar. The Department of Justice presumes Zhang dead. July 12: Denied bail, alleged kidnapper Christensen is described as a flight risk and potential threat to the community by U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric Long. A federal grand jury indict Christensen for the abduction of Zhang. July 20: Christensen pleads “not guilty” to one count of federal kidnapping. Sept. 1: Tom, Evan and Anthony Bruno, Christensen’s attorneys, ask to be removed from the case due to the alleged kidnapper’s lack of necessary funds. Sept. 8: The Brunos are granted request to leave Christensen’s case. Public defenders are assigned to the case. Oct. 3: Christensen is charged with one count of kidnapping resulting in death and two counts of false statements to the FBI. Oct. 11: The accused

pleads “not guilty” to all three charges. Nov. 9: Christensen’s attorneys requests to delay trial originally scheduled for Feb. 27. Nov. 15: Court denies the motion to delay the trial.

2018

Jan. 18: Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions announces intent to seek the death penalty for Christensen’s case. Feb. 8: Christensen’s legal team askes U.S. District Judge Colin Stirling Bruce to recuse himself from the case without an apparent reason or explanation. Feb. 12: Trial moves to April 3. Oct. 13: Michelle Christensen, the accused’s wife of seven years, files for divorce. The trial is moved to Peoria, according to the request Christensen’s attorneys. The legal team states, among reasons, a trial in Urbana would prevent Christensen from obtaining a fair trial.

2019

Jan. 22: The federal death penalty case denies the motion by Christensen’s attorneys to dismiss death row and suppress evidence.

The defense team tries to suppress the following evidence: • Secret recordings of communication between the FBI and Christensen’s girlfriend. • Christensen’s statements made to law enforcement, his wife and his girlfriend. • Recorded phone conversations Christensen made during his time at the Macon and Livingston county jails. Feb. 6: Hand-shaped and other bloodstains are found in Christensen’s apartment. Investigations discover bloodstains on the mattress, bathroom sink and bedroom wall and floor in the apartment. Feb. 21: Christensen’s legal team asks to delay trial to July 1, which is over a year since the original trial date on Feb. 27, 2018. Accused’s attorneys reason Christensen’s psychiatrist would not have enough time to prepare an expert testimony for their mental health defense. The family of the missing scholar requests the trial not to be delayed past the two-year mark of Zhang’s disappearance. Feb. 28: U.S. District Judge James Shadid delays trial to

KENYON EDMOND THE DAILY ILLINI

A teddy bear rests at the site of Yingying Zhang’s disappearance in Urbana. Alleged kidnapper and murderer Brendt Christensen is set to go on trial on June 3.

June 3 in Peoria. March 29: Court documents reveal Christensen visited the Counseling Center at the University three months prior to Zhang’s abduction. Christensen reportedly told counselors he was having suicidal and homicidal thoughts. The accused admitted to abusing alcohol and his prescribed drugs to help with his depression and

sleep issues. The defense team asks for Susan Zoline, licensed clinical psychologist, to testify the University could have made more effort in following up with Christensen. Prosecutors do not wish for this request to be approved as the Counseling Center cannot be held liable. yjson2@dailyillini.com

LIFE & CULTURE

MONDAY May 6, 2019 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

Students balance academics, employment BY ALEX SARDJEV ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

College students often have part-time jobs, usually to avoid taking out loans to pay their tuition. But now, many students must work to pay for rent, books and other living expenses. Issy Marquez, sophomore in LAS, currently works two jobs for a total of 28 hours each week. She splits her time as a Main Library employee and resident adviser in addition to taking 15 credit hours, leaving her with little room for a healthy work-life balance. However, Marquez said her employment situation is not unusual. “All of my closest friends have at least one job,” Marquez said. “It’s like a mindset; it’s something we have to do.” The University has consistently had the second highest tuition rate among public Big Ten schools over the last decade. The University also has the fourth highest tuition among public universities in the Association of American Universities. Still, students choose to come here in search of opportunities and resources. “I’m paying for everything myself,” said Emma Young, sophomore in LAS. Young holds three different jobs, though she puts in the most hours at Espresso Royale. Some weeks, she works nearly 40 hours to pay back a loan issued by a family member. Young is enrolled in 16 credit hours; she often feels the effects of having multiple jobs on her academics. “Sometimes I will have time to do homework, but I’m just so tired from everything that I push it aside,” she said. Marquez and Young both want to pursue graduate level education; Marquez hopes to enter law

school to pursue student advocacy, and Young is considering graduate school for international human rights law. Though increasingly expensive, college degrees, on average, offer a higher return on investment. Employers across industries expect new hires to hold some kind of degree. Several efforts have been made by the University to curb the increasingly high cost of attendance. The Board of Trustees recently approved a fifth-straight tuition freeze for in-state freshmen this coming fall, marking the longest period of unchanged tuition rates since the 1960s. The University has attempted to increase scholarship opportunities for students. “During the 2008-2009 school year the campus awarded about $34 million dollars in aid, and (this school year) the amount awarded is $104 million,” said Michelle Trame, director of student financial aid. However, she also said scholarship funding has not necessarily kept pace with rising tuition over the past decade. Stefanie Villalpando, sophomore in LAS, is a student who has benefited from increased scholarship availability. Most of her expenses are covered through Illinois Promise, a program which provides grants and scholarships as long as they hold a part time job throughout their college career. “I used to work at Four Breakfast and More, but the amount of time they expected us to work there was too much, and my grades and social life were affected,” Villalpando said. She now works in the Illini Union, where she has found a much better work-life balance.

Need-based scholarships aim to help students from low-income families; often, the students who need them most. But there is little aid of this kind available for middle-income students whose families are unable to pay tuition. Scholarships based on merit exist, but student workers often have a difficult time earning the credentials needed to stay competitive for these scholarships because of their employment commitments. “All three of my sisters and I went here at the same time. I think between the four of us we got $400 in aid,” said Annie Mokate, senior in AHS, who works at Legends and at Beckwith Residential Support Services. Mokate said her family is “in a pretty decent spot” financially, but they have still struggled significantly with attendance costs. “I don’t know how other people do it,” she said. Aaron Talbott, sophomore in ACES and a Domino’s employee, has also felt impactful financial strain. He uses the money from his campus job to pay for his apartment, and he works another job back home, he said. “I am involved in a couple different things here, and my schedule is very busy. I personally average about four hours of sleep a night,” Talbott said. He plans on graduating with student loan debt. In trying to make their education more affordable, these part-time student workers sacrifice other parts of their college experience. “Work and school are 50-50,” Marquez said. “Everything else comes last.” sardjev2@dailyillini.com

ALEX SARDJEV THE DAILY ILLINI

Aaron Talbott, sophomore in ACES, looks up toward empty pizza boxes on the top shelf at Domino’s in Champaign Feb. 21. Talbott holds a job both on campus and at home.

ALEX SARDJEV THE DAILY ILLINI

Issy Marquez, sophomore in LAS, packages books for mailing at the Main Stacks in the Main Library Feb. 27. Many students hold jobs on campus to help pay for their tuition.

Drag shows promote identity expression, inclusion BY EMILY DAO STAFF WRITER

The moment the music starts during a performance, Gigi Mayonaé, last year’s Illinois Drag Wars winner, turns into a “baby Beyoncé.” “When I hit the stage, I think, ‘How would Beyoncé do this?’” Mayonaé said. “’How would she carry herself?’ I try to embody what she would do. When I hit that stage, I’m pretty much demanding attention.” Mayonaé will pass down her crown at this year’s Drag

Wars, an annual lip sync battle in drag. This year, it took place at 51 Main St. in Champaign on April 19. However, Mayonaé said her journey into drag wasn’t smooth. She recalls sobbing the first time she performed in drag in 2016, a year after coming out as a gay man to her friends and family. During her set, she performed two songs: “Crazy in Love,” as inspired by her idol, Beyoncé, and her mom’s favorite song, “And I Am Telling You.” Her mom, who was

among those in the audience, had initially disapproved of her son’s decision to do drag. “I originally wasn’t going to do (drag) — I’m a big mama’s boy,” Mayonaé said. “After ‘And I Am Telling You,’ my mom just bawled. She called me the next day after watching the video and said, ‘I can’t believe this is you,’ and I said, ‘I can’t believe it’s me either.’” Now, Mayonaé said her mom loves traveling with her to watch her performances. “Drag has helped me discover myself as a gay man and

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMOGEN ETTIS

Student drag queen “Imogen Ettis” perfoms at the 2019 Purim Drag Show. The Illini Union Board Drag Show in April featured six drag queens.

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express myself for being gay after not being able to express my feminine side when I was younger but in the closet,” Mayonaé said. “Drag is an extension of your personality you can’t be on a day-today basis. It’s taught me not to conform to what society says that you need to be.” Only a few days before Drag Wars, the Illini Union hosted their annual Illini Union Board Drag Show at the I-Rooms. The show featured six drag queens, one transgender female entertainer and one male performer. “Drag shows aren’t just for the LGBTQ community. Anyone is welcome,” said Chloe Sun, cultural programs director at the Union. “It’s a good way to tell students they’re not alone. By having such events, they won’t be as hesitant to tell their friends about their sexuality.” Although the C-U community has taken steps toward embracing diversity in sexuality and gender, drag newcomer Imogen Ettis, sophomore in ACES, said the overall societal transition to be more inclusive of the drag community is fairly new. “Up until a couple of years ago, (drag) was very much shunned,” Ettis said. “It was

the dirtiest, cheapest art form, just something you see at bars maybe. But it’s kinda been elevated to this point to where people want to be them. They don’t just empower LGBTQ people, but also (cisgender) straight women who see ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ or drag queens in general and are like, ‘That’s beautiful. I want to be that.’” Clad in a corset tight enough to make “everyone else in the room want to faint,” a sky-high wig, teetering heels, hip and breast pads and three hours worth of makeup, Ettis took the stage for the first time in drag at this year’s Purim Drag Show in March at the Canopy Club. After Ettis dramatically dropped into the splits, the crowd went wild. All that followed was met with an equal eruption from the crowd as they eagerly offered dollar bills and cheers for the surprising newcomer. “I totally got lost in the performance,” Ettis said. “(Drag) is kind of like a mask. Your body is totally different, (and) your face is totally different. All the expectations people would have of watching you are gone. Going out there was like a new slate, and you can just portray whatever you

want with that.” For Ettis, embracing himself as a gay man and deciding to transition into drag was a difficult feat, especially in a conservative household. Growing up, Ettis described himself as heavy, insecure and introverted. “It really sucks to be in a position where you know who you are, but everyone is telling you, ‘That doesn’t exist’ or ‘That’s not right’, and you’re like, ‘It does exist because I’m here’,” Ettis said. “Even now, I’m not out to my whole family, but that’s fine. At this point, it’s pretty obvious they know that I’m gay, but only my sister knows I do drag, and that’d be a bigger issue.” Ettis advises anyone struggling with their sexuality or gender to prioritize their personal happiness first. “In some ways, everyone else around you is temporary,” Ettis said. “The only person who’s with you from the moment you’re born to the moment you die is yourself. You really have to realize that and be comforted by that. The world’s not perfect, but you can at least fight to make it better by making it better for yourself.” eidao2@dailyillini.com

GOOD LUCK ON FINALS FROM

THE DAILY ILLINI

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

Monday, May 6, 2019

Graduate school complicates social life BY TRISHALA BHAGAT STAFF WRITER

Serenity Orengo faces many challenges in being a student; the greatest may be trying to balance her education with her marriage and children. Orengo is in her fifth year of graduate school earning a doctorate in Slavic Languages and Literature. Orengo finished her coursework two years ago and currently lives near campus with her husband and daughter. “It’s hard to do everything you want to do,” she said. “Balancing motherhood and being a student is difficult. For me to go out and see people, it rarely happens, and (I would) rather just stay home.” Orengo received her bachelor’s degrees at New York University in Russian and Slavic studies and English literature and her master’s in Russian culture from Columbia University. While she was a teaching assistant in previous semesters, she now devotes more time to be at home while also participating in research for her adviser as a graduate assistant. “Before I had a family, I did work nearly 24/7. As an undergrad, I could do work whenever,” Orengo said. “Now I have to schedule my time and know when to stop working so I can see my family. It’s really different than younger students.” She said she is not usually on campus and doesn’t do much there. Orengo believes when graduate students are in their dissertation phase, it’s a little more isolated because it involves more independent research, and they are no longer taking classes. Sana Saboowala is a firstyear graduate student working toward her doctorate in the integrative biology department. She became a graduate student right after completing her undergraduate education. Saboowala received her bachelor’s degrees in biology and anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin. She said she hopes to work on an interdisciplinary project involving anthropology museum studies because she is currently focusing on the program for ecology, evolution and conservation biology. She made the decision to go directly into the doctor-

RYAN CHOW THE DAILY ILLINI

Matt Hoffman, graduate student in Business, discusses the differences between being an undergraduate student and being a graduate student at the Business Instructional Facility on March 11. Graduate students observe changes following their transition from an undergraduate education in balancing their responsibilities

ate program because she did not know which path she wanted to take. She had a project idea in mind, which she was passionate about and knew she wanted to work on in graduate school. “I was afraid that if I was working in the industry as a biologist, I wasn’t sure I could go back from that lifestyle to be a student again. I wanted to make sure I was working toward my goal,” she said.

Saboowala also feels the shift has been pretty big for her. “I definitely think the social scene as a graduate student was a big shift for me,” she said. “As an undergrad, you make friends in your classes, your dorm and extracurriculars, and it’s not the same in grad school. I’ve met quite a few people who are older than me. Some are married and have children and are in their doctorate

programs while being in a completely different stage in life than I am.” Graduate student Matt Hoffman is participating in a one-year program to receive his master’s degree in accounting while also becoming a Certified Public Accountant. He studied accounting as an undergraduate at the University, and the adjustment from last year to this year has been significant for him.

ing, and I need to plan my days strategically.” Hoffman said undergraduate students should manage their time while taking full advantage of being an undergraduate student. He said with all his obligations this semester, he is practically working 2 1/2 jobs. The variation in the graduate students extends beyond their academic focuses and extends into their social life as well. Orengo, who spends the majority of her time off campus, does not often participate in on-campus events. Some campus events she is unaware of as a result of finishing her undergraduate degree in New York. She said this campus is a great place to be a graduate student instead of a big city like New York because it is easier to stay focused since students don’t have as much to do. She just took her last exam for her doctoral degree, and she now hopes to create and work on her dissertation proposal. “Most of my friend group is in my Ph.D. in the same department or in a really similar department,” she said. “We’re all roughly at the same point. It’s totally different than New York; if you’re meeting your friends, you’re at a new restaurant or staying out super late, but here, I spend most of my time with my family.” Hoffman continues to make time for the things he loves, though it is more difficult than before he became a graduate student. “You really want to find the one or two things in life you want to keep around. Your life can’t just be studying, and the thing that helps me, personally, is working out so I can stay up late and making time to see my friends,” Hoffman said. For Saboowala, sometimes graduate students focus more on their degrees than creating relationships in undergraduate school. “Everyone is really caught in work, so it’s sometimes hard to meet people the same way you do as an undergrad. I feel as an undergrad you’re always looking for friends,” she said. “It’s six years of my life in my twenties. I don’t want to only spend my time doing work. I want to meet people and create meaningful relationships.”

Hoffman currently takes 16 credit hours and is a TA for ACCY 202: Accounting and Accountancy II. In addition to working toward his master’s and teaching accounting classes, preparation for the CPA exam takes up a large portion of his time. “Once you’re at graduate school, the biggest thing is time,” Hoffman said. “I’m taking a test that requires hundreds of hours of study- bhagat2@dailyillini.com

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1 Part of a jacket where a hands-free mic is attached 6 Powder for a gymnast 10 Part of a constellation 14 Michelle with the 2018 hit memoir “Becoming” 15 Gymnast Korbut 16 Columbus’s home 17 The end 18 Unruly crowds 19 Nevada casino city 20 Tea set? 23 ___ Paulo, Brazil 24 Five cards of the same suit, in poker 25 Tune you just can’t get out of your head 29 On fire 30 Suffragist ___ B. Wells 33 Rice or wheat 34 Slowly swivel sideways, as a camera 35 Unknown author, for short 36 G-string? 40 French assents 41 Bit of financial planning for old age, in brief 42 “The Little Mermaid” princess 43 Cory Booker or Cory Gardner: Abbr. 44 Spanish article 45 All together, as a crowd 47 Like many people after eating beans 49 Main squeeze, modernly 50 Beeline? 57 Earsplitting 58 Peter Fonda title role of 1997 59 “… and sometimes y” preceder 60 Org. fighting for immigrants’ rights

39 42

44 47

23 25

PUZZLE BY JOEL FAGLIANO

61 Lack of practice, metaphorically 62 Touches down on the tarmac 63 Corridor 64 Receives 65 Olympic sleds

10 Out of ___ (discombobulated) 11 “Here’s what you have to realize ...” 12 Slangy negative contraction 13 Tree anchor 21 What cigarette filters are supposed DOWN to block 1 Apartment in an old 22 Egyptian boy king warehouse district, 25 Certain frozen say waffles 2 Not much 26 Squabble 3 Breathe like a tired 27 1980 Scorsese/De runner Niro classic 4 Give off 28 What many of the 5 Band’s closing founding fathers number wore 6 Drum with a 31 Old Venetian rulers repetitive name 32 An obtuse one is 7 Tons and tons more than 90° 8 Rainbow symbol of 34 Links org. pride 35 Home of the Taj 9 Chess move Mahal involving the king and rook

37 Supreme Court justice nicknamed “The Notorious R.B.G.” 38 Shade similar to slate 39 N.B.A. souvenir 44 Thumb drive port, for short 45 ___ Field, onetime home of the Brooklyn Dodgers 46 Catch red-handed 48 Paula who once judged on “American Idol” 50 When tripled, “and so on and so forth” 51 ___ Raton, Fla. 52 Common email sign-off word 53 Lover 54 Microsoft search engine 55 Be an omen of 56 Kiss

The crossword solution is in the Classified section.

OPINIONS

MONDAY May 6, 2019 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

CHANTAL VACA THE DAILY ILLINI

Intersectional feminism needs recognition still haven’t grasped the concept of intersectional feminism. COLUMNIST Simply put, there cannot and will not be a revolutionizing movement withthe saying goes, out intersectionality. behind every Feminism is, by definigreat man is an tion, the “theory of the even greater woman. But political, economic and as more and more people social equality of the sexare recognizing the valid- es.” Intersectional femiity of the gender equality nism, on the other hand, movement, behind every recognizes the cross-secgreat man is not a womtion of the different types an; rather, she is beside of oppression women him, and she is with him. are experiencing. In the Though the understandfight for gender equality, ing of what feminism actu- we cannot leave behind ally means has come a women of color, who face long way since the days of additional discrimination labeling feminists as man- because of their race; for hating anarchists, people them, discrimination is ALICE LEE

not exclusive to their gender as traditional feminism might suggest. This notion applies to a wide scope of cross-sectional identities people tend to gloss over: race, socioeconomic status, gender identity and physical ability. A transgender person of color with a disability cannot prioritize which part of their identity is in most need of liberation. Society should not expect all women to fit the script of a one-size-fits-all movement that belongs to white, middle-class, cisgender, heterosexual and able-bodied women. Looking at intersectionality in the context of

violence, research finds bisexual women to be far more likely to experience sexual violence than other women. Of the people murdered in LGBT-based hate crimes, 78% were people of color. So while all women are at risk for gendered violence in the United States, some groups of women are far more at risk. It would be narrowminded to restrict the feminist movement to exclusively focus on women without considering the other layers of inequality minority women face. Take the gender pay gap: A woman makes approximately 72 cents for every

dollar a man makes, but that’s not the full story. Compared to a white man’s dollar, a white woman makes 72 cents, an African American woman 64 cents and a Hispanic woman 56 cents. If intersectionality isn’t recognized as an integral part of this movement, it won’t just be men who have left behind women; white women will have also left behind women of color. The “women first” trap takes away from solving the broader systemic issue of inequality because it disproportionately affects minority groups. Systems of oppression will overlap,

and the discriminatory effects will be compounded, but focusing on intersectionality will allow society to directly address the problem at its core, not cherry-pick which issue is more important — because they’re all important. Someone once told me there’s a crack in everything, and that’s how light gets in. But cracks are also what is responsible for things falling apart, and if we aren’t intersectional in our fight for equality, the most vulnerable and marginalized are going to fall through those cracks. Alice is a freshman in LAS. alicewl2@dailyillini.com

Focus on your own success values for yourself in order to live authentically. JOSEPH DILLIER We’ve all seen people COLUMNIST around us adopt society’s values without thinking. For example, I am acquaintollege is a transitional ed with someone whose period between adoles- journey to self-improvecence and adulthood. ment has led him both to That means it’s inevitably a rediscover Catholicism time when students strugwhile also trying to be more gle with existential crises. sexually active. From the During this time, coloutside, this seems like an lege students begin to figodd combination, but if conure out what kind of person sidered through the lens of they want to be and start societal pressure, it makes to take the steps to become sense. Our society is both that person. In this time of ostensibly Christian and immense personal change, libertine. Being able to talk they are especially vulnerabout Christ or brag about able to outside influence your sexual prowess are that misdirects their path to both socially useful and can self-improvement. impress people. This is not to say there is Another person I know anything wrong with the who is in a similar situaidea of self-improvement tion has career ambitions generally. Measures like directed toward business taking personal responsiconsulting. I remember him bility, going to the gym and telling me about how amazstudying more are objecing it would be to work at tively good things. But, McKinsey & Company soon self-improvement often after the New York Times suffers from how hard it released a story revealis to define. It means difing the consulting firm has ferent things to different actively been working to people, and improvement is bolster the reputation and subjective. efficiency of dictators across For instance, it is diffithe globe. Whether he knew cult to conceptualize what it about the story or not, I canmeans to be a better person not say for sure. or have a good career. Thus, His definition of success people often measure these is based on prestige. It is goals by what other people hard to define what a “good believe is a successful or job” is, and so instead of figgood person. The values of uring that out for himself, society or your parents have he seems to have borrowed already been defined, so it what society says is a good is easier to borrow them job. He has created a value than to create your own. It system which only has one is important to create your ethic: success. The ends jus-

AMANDA KATZ THE DAILY ILLINI

Be aware of how data is used has become such a ubiquitous part of daily life that it fades to the background. COLUMNIST Whether it’s clicking a cookie agreement, agreeing to an unread privacy Bloomberg artipolicy when making a new cle from February account or side-eying that details how Amazon free Google Home that just and Google are looking to turned on even though you continuously collect data didn’t even set it up yet, we from their respective smart are blindly consenting to home devices to improve contracts we know noththeir services. While the ing about. It’s impossible hardware companies that to comb through every actually make those devic- company’s 300-page terms es, like smart lights or tele- and conditions, and we’ve visions, are pushing back become used to just clickagainst this move in the ing, “Yes, I agree,” with litname of consumer privatle to no thought as to what cy, it seems unlikely these we’re agreeing to. companies aren’t going to Despite being aware of get their way. the dangers of this massThis means Amazon and passive data collection, it’s Google will have informaincredibly difficult to contion about when users of sciously and consistently their products are at home, make decisions that make when they go to sleep and everyday life just a little even what TV channels more difficult in the name they watch and when, all of personal privacy. There’s without any actual user no way to truly stop any input to an Amazon Echo data from being collected or a Google Home. The at all, short of completely information would be con- unplugging or not producstantly reported, which ing any data, which pretty allows these companies much means being dead, to insidiously understand although that information user habits and lifestyles. would be collected as well. Although the specter of It’s important as condata collection is a consumers in the digital age stant looming shadow, it to be informed about how SANDHYA SIVAKUMAR

your data is being collected and used. It’s absurd to put the responsibility of managing what data you want to allow companies to access on the shoulders of consumers, especially when many companies purposely obfuscate the process. We need better, stronger and stricter legislation, but we’re not going to get it. Google CEO Sundar Pichai made a laughingstock out of Congress during his congressional hearing. It’s clear an elderly Congress doesn’t understand the kind of laws that need to be put in place and definitely doesn’t have the wherewithal to get past corporate lobbies to implement them. Taking an individual stand has pretty much no effect. Closing out of websites that ask for cookies as quiet rebellion is close to meaningless other than the minute personal satisfaction. The only power we have as consumers is to vote with our dollars, and the increasing conglomeration of corporate America means we’re losing that power as well. Sandhya is a sophomore in LAS. ssivak3@dailyillini.com

tify the means, and moral considerations go out the window. Additionally, there are all sorts of people attempting to sell self improvement. Jordan Peterson, psychology professor and writer, has developed a following of mostly young men who want his advice on getting their lives together. While he does seem to provide useful advice to many lost young men, his help is subtly wrapped in a political agenda. Men who only come for the self-advice often leave regurgitating his misconstrued view of postmodernism or eating his bowelbusting beef-only diet. Peterson is just one example. The explosion of self-help books since the 1990s has created opportunities for many snake oil salesmen to profit from people’s desperation. Be careful about how you change in college. Under the guise of self-improvement it is easy to find yourself becoming less authentic. It is important to spend time conceptualizing what self-improvement actually is instead of giving into conformity. The process of rejecting the value systems around you and creating your own authentic values is scary. It lends itself to being a time of uncertainty bordering on nihilism, but it is essential in order to live a life well examined. Joseph is a junior in LAS. dillier2@dailyillini.com

CHANTAL VACA THE DAILY ILLINI

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS | opinions@dailyillini.com with the subject “Letter to the Editor.” The Daily Illini reserves the right to edit for length, libel, grammar and spelling errors, and Daily Illini style or to reject any contributions. Letters must be limited to 300 words. Contributions must be typed and include the author’s name, address and phone number. University students must include their year in school and college.

MONDAY May 6, 2019 The Daily Illini DailyIllini.com

SPORTS BOXING

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Illini club boxing takes second in US BY JARED FARMER STAFF WRITER

AUSTIN YATTONI THE DAILY ILLINI

Guard Tyler Underwood drives to the basket during a game against Illinois Wesleyan at the State Farm Center on Nov. 2. The Illini won 83-67.

Underwoods ignore playtime criticism BY GAVIN GOOD STAFF WRITER

The State Farm Center was buzzing. Illinois was down three to Rutgers with two minutes, three seconds to go in the first half, one game removed from the program’s shocking win over No. 9 Michigan State. Head coach Brad Underwood pulled out stud freshman Ayo Dosunmu, who had two fouls in 16 minutes to go along with nine points, and inserted redshirt-junior Tyler Underwood, his son. Boos careened across the court toward the bench. Underwood neither batted an eye nor shifted a muscle in reaction. Tyler simply played out two uneventful minutes before the half, not registering a single stat, but he successfully closed out on one three-point attempt. “It’s really easy to say, ‘Well, he plays because he’s the coach’s kid,’” Brad said. The Illini ended up defeating the Scarlet Knights 99-94 in overtime, and Tyler never stepped back on the court. That game wasn’t the first time there were grumbles from the fanbase this season about the younger Underwood. After all, he has logged 57 minutes (4.8 per game in 12 games) total, even though he isn’t on a scholarship. It likely hasn’t helped 24 of those minutes on the court have come with losses to Georgetown (two minutes), to Iowa State (five), at

Nebraska (four), to Missouri (five), at Northwestern (six) and at Iowa (two). The thing is, the Underwoods don’t care how it looks when a coach’s walkon son is playing meaningful minutes on a Big Ten team. “Everybody in the program knows and all the players on our team know what (Tyler) does every day in practice has value to help us win,” Brad said. “I’m not putting him out there for any other reason other than to help us win. When he’s on the court, his plus-minus speaks for itself. His plusminus is No. 1 on our team.” To them, it’s natural — just as natural as blocking out the hate, which many in the program have acknowledged throughout a season plagued by frustrating losses to tough competition. “They’re not here every day in practice,” Tyler said. “It’s like I mentioned earlier; as a whole group, we try to block out the outside noise. We just try to stay positive with each other. I feel like I’ve earned the trust of my teammates and my coaches.” Tyler redshirted last year after following his dad to Illinois from Oklahoma State and, before that, from Stephen F. Austin. Picking up and moving frequently during his adolescent life and basketball career, Tyler is something of a journeyman. His road to meaningful minutes this season is long, winding and not with-

out adversity, regardless of how fans perceive whether he’s earned the playing time under his father’s watch. Tyler played high school ball in three different states, moving from Manhattan, Kansas, to South Carolina when his dad took the associate head coach position in 2013. His junior and senior seasons, Tyler played at Nacogdoches High School. There, the 6-foot-2-inch guard averaged 21 points, setting the school record for career three-pointers made. Throughout his high school career, Tyler benefitted from being around his dad’s basketball programs, though Brad kept more of a hands-off approach to Tyler’s development. “We share a passion for (basketball),” Tyler said. “Growing up, I was always in the gym with (my dad’s teams). After school, that was the place I wanted to go, the gym. I’ve just kind of always been a gym rat that way.” Brad leveled the gym rat description at his son, too. “The kid doesn’t know anything but a gym since he was old enough to remember,” Brad said. “It’s a passion with him that’s helped him succeed.” While his dad was an assistant coach at Kansas State, Tyler would hang around the gym, locker room and team soaking it all in and looking for ways to get better while forming

relationships with some of the players. He recalls getting close with Michael Beasley, who was selected No. 2 overall in the NBA Draft by the Miami Heat after his freshman year. “(Beasley) was my guy,” Tyler said. “He’s a big old kid. I remember being in the locker room with him and guys like (Kansas State all-time leading scorer) Jacob Pullen and just kicking (it), watching Spongebob (Squarepants), watching them play video games.” With that type of access, he did more than sit around and spectate. He learned the value of hard work and of being a relentless competitor. He developed a basketball mind. “You watch guys like Beasley who spend every day in the gym, guys like Jacob Pullen,” Tyler said. “It doesn’t even have to be guys like that. Guys like Will Sprawling — he was a (guard) at Kansas State — I looked up to. He taught me a lot about the effort plays in basketball, the high IQ plays. “The thing I learned most growing up is it’s not about scoring points and all that, it’s about winning. That’s what those guys taught me. They were all the most competitive guys in the gym.” It’s aspects like those, bits of knowledge gleaned from the front lines of highmajor basketball, that have set Tyler Underwood on his path. But with Brad almost constantly tied up with his own coaching duties, he rarely had time to see his budding son play. “When you’re earning your stripes in this business, you go see everybody else’s kids play and not your own,” Brad said. “That’s maybe regretful on my end, to a certain extent.” Tyler understood the pressing duties his dad had to fulfill though and, besides, he always had his mom there for his games. His mother, Susan, who strictly limits basketball talk at family meals and who he hails as “the boss,” helped fuel his desire to succeed in the sport and life.

The year is 1960. The NCA A is holding its 28th NCA A Boxing Championship. The San Jose State Spartans are looking to capture their third straight National Championship. They’re looking to catch up in titles with the Wisconsin Badgers, who have dominated the college boxing world since its inception, the team that holds a comfortable lead with the most titles in the NCAA. But they wouldn’t ever get the chance. A fter the Spartans found success in capturing it’s third title, tragedy struck. At the championship, Wisconsin boxer Charlie Mohr suffered a brain hemorrhage and died one week later. This tragedy marked the end of the varsity sport, although it was in decline long before. Its popularity was at its peak in 1948, with 55 colleges producing a boxing program. But by the 1959 championship, only 20 teams competed. The NCAA has discontinued boxing as a college sport ever since. Recently the sport has begun to make a resurgence on campuses. In 2012 the United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association formed and began hosting men’s and women’s National Championships. The organization aims to reignite the popularity of college boxing by spreading across campuses. In 2013 the University of Illinois’ Illini Boxing Club became one of the 16 teams to join the organization. “We have a club side that mainly focuses on cardio workouts and intensity training, and we have a team side that also spars and has the option of entering competitions and tourneys,” said Allan Castellon, team president. “As far as membership, we’ve grown every year as an RSO on campus. This year we’ve had over 150 members each semester. It’s open to anyone that has access to the ARC.” Senior Castellon, has been boxing with the Illini since 2014. As the team’s third president, he cites its

availability to everyone as a key part of its large membership, from people who haven’t thrown a single punch, to those looking to compete on a national level. The boxers can be seen at the back of the third gym in the ARC every Tuesday and Thursday at 5 p.m. and every Sunday at 10 a.m. “We do an intense cardio workout, but from week one we teach people stuff like proper stance,” Castellon said. “Week two, basic jabs. Week three, straights. It’s very instructional, but we like to make sure everybody has a good workout.” Illini Boxing also functions as a social organization. The team bonds at bigger events like barn dances and bar crawls, hosts fundraisers and involves itself with several other events on campus. “It’s kind of cheesy to say, but we’ve developed this family culture, created a fighting family if you will,” Castellon said. “This team is really like family to me,” said sophomore Diane Pedro. “Everyone has to find their group when they first step on campus. This was the first club I joined, and I found a place that I belong. We’re all here to help each other academically, too, and oftentimes, older classmates are able to help me out or give me old textbooks. It’s just really great to have a group of people you fit in with.” Each practice varies in its content, but the team warms up by running laps and doing sprints for about 30-45 minutes. After a quick breather, the boxers stretch and start hitting the mat. As a club, the focus of practices usually revolve around fundamentals, form and stamina improvement. “By this point in the semester, we expect most people to have learned the basics, so now our training focuses on more advanced exercises,” Castellon said. “After the boxing slash stretching, we switch it up between core, back work, jump rope or just something fun,” Castellon said. “It’s really adaptive, which is what we want it to be. We always look for fresh opinSEE CLUB | 3B

For a full version of the story, see dailyilini.com AUSTIN YATTONI THE DAILY ILLINI

Head basketball coach Brad Underwood talks to his team during the game against Iowa in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament at the United Center on March 14. The Illini lost 83-62.

@itsallG_O_O_D gavinrg2@dailyillini.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF ILLINI BOXING

The Illini Boxing Club wins the United States Intercollegiate Bosing Association’s Men’s Team National in March 2019.

BASEBALL

Massey family bonds over shared love of baseball BY MEGHAN REST SPORTS EDITOR

It’s well past normal practice hours on Jan. 10, 2015, and the Bo Jackson Dome in Lockport, Illinois, is almost empty. Almost. Within the empty belly of the dome, a lone 17-year-old kid sits propped up between a blue plastic curtain and a thin support beam. His Chicago Blackhawks ball cap is tilted down to cover his eyes so the indoor field lights don’t interrupt his sleep. All the other players have

gone home. But for Illinois junior infielder Michael Massey — or “Mike” as his friends and family call him — the dome, rather the baseball field, has always been home. Although Massey is a Rawlings Gold Glove Winner for second base and has handfuls of Big Ten AllTeam accolades, his relationship with baseball has always been simple. His .987 fielding percentage and ability to play 60 straight games without a single error has grown from an unparalleled work ethic and inherent love

of the game. His father Keith Massey played baseball at Illinois from 1983-1986 as an infielder under the guidance of former head coach Tom Dedin. Keith committed to Illinois during his senior year at Oak Forest High School and made his collegiate debut as a backup infielder for a team fresh off a Big Ten title. It wasn’t until his sophomore season that Keith worked his way into a starting position at second base — the same position Michael was recruited for.

Keith’s baseball background stemmed from his father and four brothers, which he passed on to Michael and his older siblings Katie and Andrew. According to Keith, baseball was a “constant” in the Massey household. “Early on, a lot of my life consisted of baseball, baseball, baseball,” Michael said. “I always wanted to be a baseball player, and my mom and dad were instrumental in getting me to look at the world in a bigger way and impacting it through

baseball, winning championships and getting drafted and playing in the MLB and all that stuff.” If the Chicago Cubs or White Sox weren’t on WGN, there was a good chance the Masseys were watching Baseball Tonight or whatever game they could catch. Michael grew up to the sound of “Field of Dreams” and “The Perfect Game.” In fact, anything involving a little white ball with red stitches was welcomed in the family’s home in the southern suburbs of Chicago.

Michael went to his first baseball game when he was 3 or 4 years old, or “sometime around that age,” according to Keith. It’s hard for him to remember when Michael went to his first official game because once the youngest Massey entered a major league park for the first time, it was hard for him to stay away. For a full version of the story, see dailyilini.com @meghan_rest merest2@dailyillini.com

2B Monday, May 6, 2019

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

SOFTBALL

AUSTIN YATTONI THE DAILY ILLINI

Third baseman Annie Fleming gets ready to field the ball during the game against Eastern Illinois University at Eichelberger Field on March 26. The Illini won 8-7 in eight innings.

Traveling adds different dynamic to team BY RACHEL SPENCER ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Whenever a new season of Illinois softball begins, there are a few inevitabilities, the biggest being the time spent on the road. With conditions in Champaign less-than-ideal for spring sports until most students have left campus for spring break, the Illini can expect to be packing their bags and hitting the road at the start of the season. For newer Illini, this often means adjusting from old ways of traveling to and from tournaments in high school or earlier; freshman players will find themselves traveling in packs with more seasoned veterans instead of relying on mom and dad when necessary. Oftentimes this means going through airports in groups of three to guarantee everyone gets where they need to be, making big trips a major team effort. Rookie pitcher Sydney Sickels admitted she noticed the differences between traveling in high school, but she still gets to spend time with her family when they travel

with the team. “It’s a lot more team-oriented,” Sickels said. “In high school, we were able to kind of go with our families more, but when we go in college, it’s kind of all as a team. You get some time with your family, but not as much. They’re still there, and you get to see them once in a while.” By the time players get to be seniors, like third baseman Annie Fleming, being on the road becomes almost second nature. It isn’t unusual for traveling Illini to be spotted finishing homework in airports or toting a textbook onto a bus whenever they’re away. Fleming assured they all still find ways to have fun while traveling to and from tournaments — specifically by playing a different kind of game. “We play board games; we play ‘Head’s Up’ in the back of the bus,” Fleming said. “Especially like these first few weekends, it’s really easy to bring that energy because it’s all brand-new. I think just talking — and a whole bunch of people getting pictures of

people sleeping — just little things like that, that’s always really fun.” As a senior, Fleming also knows who she likes to team up with when getting competitive. Fleming shared she and fellow senior Kiana Sherlund enjoyed a victory against junior pitcher Akilah Mouzon and sophomore Katie Wingerter this past weekend while playing a board game. But just because the Illini are Division I athletes doesn’t mean they don’t run into some major delays or mishaps like any other traveler. Sometimes, the problems can be easily fixed, like packing the wrong jersey. Other times, they can make getting home on time for that first class on Monday nothing short of stressful. “(This past weekend) the travel agency forgot to book our flight, so we were in different groups,” Sickels said. “On the way back, we were in three different groups and one group got stuck in Dallas.” @rachelspenc rachels4@dailyillini.com

AUSTIN YATTONI THE DAILY ILLINI

Outfielder Kiana Sherlund gets ready to run to third during the game against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside at Eichelberger Field on Sept. 29. The Illini won 8-0.

Esports grow on campuses

ESPORTS

BY JJ KIM ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

PHOTO COURTESY OF ILLINI ESPORTS

The Illini esports League of Legends team compete at Huefest. The competition took place at Harrisburg University on Sept. 21

Most people find identifying new trends difficult until they’re already blowing up. Think of Apple Airpods or even the iPhone itself. Although they were revolutionary, not many people had an inkling it would be the next must-have gadget until everybody had it. That same revolution is taking form in the world of sports: esports. It’s taking off like no other entertainment industry, and people are beginning to take notice. The stigma of nerds wasting their time in a fantasy world has now turned into a mainstream activity. Esports include online competitive gaming such as League of Legends and Fortnite. A lot of this newfound acceptance has come from celebrities and athletes streaming themselves playing video games, creating a new space for them to interact with fans. It shows a more human side to the otherwise superstar lifestyle they seem to live. A lthough traditional sports generated all the views and money for companies through sponsorships in the past, the rise of esports has come to a point where it has begun to rival traditional sports in viewership and money-making

ability. Even in 2016, according to Statista, there were 162 million frequent watchers of esports, with more than 131 million who watch occasionally, which is more than the 2015 Super Bowl’s 111.3 million viewers. While traditional sports are seeing viewership taper off, esports has been growing exponentially every year. With most of the viewers in their teenage or young adult years, this age group is a coveted group for advertisers. This has prompted companies like Adidas, VISA and Pepsi to get a head start in the market by sponsoring different esports events and companies. As viewership in esports continues to grow, so does the money involved. Epic Games, the makers of the smash hit video game Fortnite, announced in May of last year they provided $100 million to fund prize pools for their competitions. League of Legends, renowned as the most popular PC game in the world, has seen its top tournament’s purse grow in size every year, offering $6.45 million in 2018. League of Legend’s rival game, DOTA 2, had about $26 million in overall prize pools, according to easportsearnings.com. While we wait for football

head coach Lovie Smith to put the finishing touches on the football team’s rebuild and pause before the basketball team goes to the Big Dance, why not root for our star-studded esports teams? Illini esports SMITE just won The National Association of College Esports’ SMITE Championship, and the Illini Esports League of Legends team will compete in the 2019 College Championship on June 7. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Most, if not all, esports teams at the University are top-tier. Esports on college campuses have definitely been developing rapidly. With the formation of NACE, better known as the esports equivalent of the NCAA, there are already 130-plus member schools and $15 million in scholarships and aid, according to their official website. We are witnessing history being made in real time. We’ve entered a new era where more people are beginning to interpret the phrase “warmup” for booting up their computer instead of stretching. For those who like to be at the forefront of trends, you better hop on the esports bandwagon quick. @JJKimSports jjk7@dailyillini.com

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Monday, May 6, 2019

MEN’S BASKETBALL FROM 1B

CLUB

AUSTIN YATTONI THE DAILY ILLINI

Guard Ayo Dosunmu waits to throw the ball in during the game against Michigan State at the State Farm Center on Feb. 5. The Illini won 79-74.

Nature of game changes with time BY MILES POWERS-HUANG STAFF WRITER

In 2000, Kenyon Martin, a senior from the University of Cincinnati, went first overall, and only five American players 19 or younger were drafted in the first round. Compare that to 2018, where a non19-year-old was not selected until the Sixers took Mikal Bridges with the tenth pick and 17 players either 19 years old or with one year of college playing experience were drafted in the first round. Furthermore, a non-freshman has not been drafted first overall since Blake Griffin in 2009. Looking ahead to this year’s draft, the trend slightly bucks, as more sophomores and juniors compared with recent drafts are projected to go in the first round at this point. However, at the top, three freshmen from Duke are expected to go within the first five picks and the other two players likely to go top five, Texas Tech sophomore Jarrett Culver and Murray State sophomore Ja Morant, will both be just 20 years old in their rookie campaigns, the normal age a one-and-done player turns as a rookie.

While the youth movement in college basketball and the NBA draft pool is constantly increasing, likely to the point the one-and-done rule will be ended soon, keeping players and developing them for multiple years is still the formula to win national championships. Since Duke’s national title win in 2015, just one true freshman has started on a national championship winning team: Villanova’s Jalen Brunson in 2016. And he did not turn pro after. Later on in his interview, Dosunmu also could not name a single member of “NSYNC” or the “Backstreet Boys.” As it turns out, when comparing college basketball in 2019 to the days when those bands were at their peak, the number of underclassman saying “Bye Bye Bye” to the collegiate game is increasing each year. @MilesP_H milesp2@dailyillini.com Editor’s note: The NCAA National Championship was won by Virginia on April 6.

“This team is really like family to me.” DIANE PEDRO ILLINI BOXING MEMBER

On March 24, the men’s competitive team left Syracuse with the overall tournament title for the second year in a row. “I think the team has evolved, Castellon said, Initially, our mission was just to expand as an RSO and prove that we’re a sustainable RSO that can continue to expand ... We’ve repeated the men’s team national trophy. Now we have the clout, we have the size, we have the membership status. I think our goal now is to spread this boxing culture within the University of Illinois, within the Champaign-Urbana community ... “There are so many clubs starting up at all these different colleges and universities, so we’re seeing how far we can ride that wave and see how far we can get,” Castellon said. “We want to three-peat that trophy and get a trophy on the women’s side. But at the end of the day, we want to remain the gold standard for college boxing and just keep on progressing.” @jaredefarmer jaredef2@dailyillini.com

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Jan. 17, 2000: It was on this day Illinois freshman guard Ayo Dosunmu was born, over 19 years ago. One day prior, “The Simpsons,” released an episode titled “Faith Off” in which Homer Simpson injures the star kicker on the Springfield University football team. However, don’t count on the Illini’s freshman guard to know that, nor “The Simpsons” at all, as he admitted in an interview on Big Ten Network he has never seen the iconic animated comedy. When asked if he could recall Homer’s signature catchphrase, Dosunmu was at a loss for words. “Nah, I’ve never watched that before,” Dosunmu said. Given the show’s impact on American pop culture since its inception in 1989, it is quite remarkable to think Dosunmu has never seen it once. The moment not only brought the cultural knowledge of today’s college freshmen into perspective, but it also reinforced how vastly different college basketball is

nowadays, in terms of player experience, compared to the turn of the century. In that season, Michigan State won the national championship with a lineup consisting of three seniors and two juniors, while freshman McDonald’s All-American Jason Richardson played as a reserve. Compare that to this year in which none of the leading contenders for the national championship can match that level of experience and where programs like Duke and Kentucky have embraced recruiting players they know will leave after one season, even making it part of their brands. Even top teams considered “old” by 2019 standards can’t quite match the 2000 Spartan’s experience, as Virginia starts both a freshman and a sophomore, while Tennessee has more juniors than seniors in its starting five. Not only are college basketball’s elite programs far younger than they were 18 years ago, but players have less patience in terms of growing their games before turning pro.

ions and new ways to train, and we take our members’ feedback and apply lessons and experience into our next practice.” All club members have the opportunity to try out for the competitive team in which practices have a significant uptick in their intensity. To go along with the drills done by the club team, the competitive team focuses on more advanced techniques, more intense workouts and sparring with partners. “Everybody on this side is fighting for that same goal, and each of us are there to push each other,” said junior Albert Lopez. “We talk about our weight in typical conversation just because it’s important to us as competitors. W hether it’s running laps in the ARC together or helping out with form, we’re always supporting each other.” Despite the slight differences, the club and competitive teams function as one. The competitive team frequently looks to the club to add new competitors, but both still operate as one unified RSO. “The team and club both do a lot to interact with each other,” Pedro said. “We go to competitions, and it becomes a different atmosphere because so many of us are all out there cheering each other on. I think it creates an atmosphere where you can become comfortable and feel safe. Even if you don’t feel like you’re putting up your best fight in the ring, it really doesn’t matter.” For Lopez, competing wouldn’t be the same without the support of the entire organization. “When you’re in that ring, you can hear the entire team,” Lopez said. “Even though there are two coaches in our corner, the entire team is right behind us the whole time.” As the RSO grew over the years, the Illini began to assemble a competi-

tive roster capable of taking home the National Championship. On March 22, the USIBA hosted its sixth Annual National Boxing Championships at Syracuse Univerity . In a field of 12 colleges and 60 bouts among 120 fighters, the Illini entered the competition with over a sixth, 22 fighters, of the talent pool. Seven of the 22 Illini walked away with a championship belt, each for their respective weight class and experience.

4B Monday, May 6, 2019

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Front of House Staff Champaign Country Club is recruiting seasonal, full and part time Bussers, Servers, Banquet, Bartenders & Valets to join our TEAM. Our outstanding reputation is based on the Club’s commitment to excellence in our quality of services and the experiences we provide to our membership and guests. Each team member contributes to our success. If you are looking for an opportunity to join an awesome team that prioritizes working hard while having fun, Champaign Country Club is THE place. WE OFFER- Competitive wages, meaningful benefits, approachable managers who care about your development, opportunity for advancement, flexible scheduling, free staff meals during shifts, golf benefits, and a great environment. A Successful Employee must possess a positive attitude, outgoing personality, professional appearance, punctual, team player, friendly, energetic, desire to be rewarded for hard work, willingness to learn, and pride in performance.

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Monday, May 6, 2019

Benefit concert promotes local talent BY SHRUTHI MEKALA STAFF WRITER

After facing financial setbacks, the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center hosted a benefit concert featuring a lineup of local artists. The concert was part of a series of efforts to fund new musical projects including new sound equipment and a community recording studio. Local band Motes and acoustic pop singer Anika Emily both performed at the event. Shared among them is a belief in the importance of the IMC as a resource for artists in C-U and support for its promotion of inclusivity and accessibility in the local music scene. The IMC has been an important part of the C-U community since the late ‘90s. It was particularly influential during the second Gulf War when it made use of its modest resources to encourage community members to create their own media such as newspapers and documentaries. “(The IMC) really anticipated the need for people to tell their stories in a time before social media and the internet as we know it today,” said Elizabeth Majerus of Motes. But in today’s era where news and media are more easily accessible, the IMC’s role in the community has evolved and found a new purpose as a cost-effective, inclusive space that promotes all forms of art through a variety of events, including live musical performances. For many of the artists appearing at the benefit concert is an opportunity to support a worthy cause. They are rallying to fund the center’s future musical projects, which may not happen otherwise given their recent financial problems. “We would be happy to support the IMC any time, but it’s especially important now,” Majerus said. “In fact,

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we had a show put together for the end of March, but we actually moved it because we preferred to play at the benefit.” Both Emily and Majerus agree a community recording studio would significantly reduce costs for artists looking to produce highquality music. As a musician with three projects under

her belt, Majerus believes having a community recording studio would be great for local musicians. “It democratizes musical opportunities in our town,” she said. “You don’t have to be a trust fund kid or have a lucrative day job to be able to record your art.” As a recent University of Illinois graduate, Emily

Champaign Country Club is now recruiting seasonal, full, and part time staff. Champaign Country Club is recruiting seasonal, full and part time Bussers, Servers, Banquet, Bartenders & Valets to join our TEAM. Our outstanding reputation is based on the Club’s commitment to excellence in our quality of services and the experiences we provide to our membership and guests. Each team member contributes to our success. If you are looking for an opportunity to join an awesome team that prioritizes working hard while having fun, Champaign Country Club is THE place.

understands how difficult it can be to acquire the funds and resources to record music. “It would help so many aspiring musicians to be able to see their goals coming to life instead of waiting around for something to happen,” she said. But the benefits of a shared studio go beyond cost-effec-

“It would be great to have the technology and people to teach people how to use the equipment since not everyone knows a great deal about sound recording,” Emily said. “Even having the information available would be really beneficial.” It would also give artists the ability to take more liberties with their music. “It would be great to be able to take more time to record music, have more options in terms of the product you want to create and not feel the same pressure to finish that artists sometimes feel at professional recording studios,” Majerus said. The IMC also hopes to raise funds for new sound equipment, which would boost the center’s reputation as a live music venue and open up opportunities for artists looking to perform within the C-U community. “There have been a lot of venues closing or going under new management,” Emily said. “It’s kind of hard to find spaces to perform as an artist when you’re just getting into the scene more. Having another place available with a good sound system would be really valuable.” But local artists also view the benefit concert as a way to give back to a community resource that supports the local music scene and showcases local talent. “The IMC already does a great job of being inclusive and branching out into those different genres that may not be just acoustic pop like I play and encouraging really unique things that people are doing with music,” Emily said. “Acquiring the new sound equipment and starting the shared recording space is an expansion of that.” The benefit concert took place at the Independent Media Center on March 30 at 6 p.m.

tiveness. It would also promote inclusivity and break down barriers for artists in the community. The recording studio would give musicians who aren’t well-connected in the industry to access resources that could enhance their craft and help them gain the knowledge to produce high-quality recordings. smekala3@readbuzz.com

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PHOTO COURTESY OF VERONICA MULLEN

Kamila Glowacki performs with Nectar at Blips and Chitz on March 24th, 2017. The band has performed there frequently since the venue’s founding in 2016.

Blips and Chitz founder says farewell BY KATIE POWERS BUZZ EDITOR

For the past few years, DIY house venue Blips and Chitz, formerly located in downtown Champaign, has provided a supportive and welcoming environment for local artists to share their talent with the community. Earlier this year, Blips and Chitz founder, Veronica Mullen, bade farewell to the house and venue, which has made significant contributions to the growth of the local music scene. Mullen, a Champaign resident, moved into the house that would become Blips and Chitz in August 2016. Her decision to open her home up to artists and supporters within the music community was an easy one. “I had been booking shows at another space in town for a few months,” she said. “I decided that starting my own venue space would be a fun way to continue putting on shows.” The first show, which took place a few days after she moved in, featured several acts both from the nearby area and the greater Midwest. Mullen cites it as one of her favorite memories of her time running the venue. “It’s so nostalgic to look back on how much things have changed since then and how much I’ve learned in regards to booking shows,” she said. Since then, Mullen and Blips and Chitz have hosted dozens of shows featuring local, regional and even

PHOTO COURTESY OF VERONICA MULLEN

Chicago-based band Retirement Party performs at Blips and Chitz on March 24, 2017. The venue has hosted local, regional and national artists at their shows.

national talent. Mullen fondly remembers the monumental “Mom Jeans” show that took place during the summer of 2017, which featured a lineup of six touring bands from around the country. “It was probably the biggest show that ever happened at Blips,” she said. “It was stressful but awesome.” On April 3, Blips and Chitz hosted its final show before new tenants moved into the house and the venue ceased to exist. The lineup featured local singer-songwriter Clockwork Owl, Spring-

field band Bottom Bracket, Philadelphia band AllegrA and local DIY group Nectar. As each act performed their set, they were illuminated under the stage’s signature silver and purple floor to ceiling lighting and brought their own unique energy into the venue. Before the music began, the show bookers welcomed guests into the basement stage area, establishing Blips as an open environment. Merchandise from each group was available for purchase. Safety is consistently a priority at Blips and

Chitz, and at this show Blips organizers offered stacks of informational pamphlets from the Urbana-based organization Rape Advocacy, Counseling, & Education Services containing information on reporting and seeking support in the aftermath of sexual assault. Throughout the evening, members of each band made themselves accessible to the audience both inside and outside of their sets, engaging in conversation and consistently expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to share their music.

Champaign-Urbana DIY. Some audience members sang along to their lyrics. “I don’t think I’ve processed this is the last time we could be in this basement,” said Kamila Glowacki, the group’s founder and lead vocalist. Glowacki has made a significant impact on the growth of the DIY community through her work in Nectar and her other local music projects. She also took the time to praise the people who open up their homes for shows within Champaign-Urbana. “It’s awesome,” she said. “It helps our scene so much.” Going forward, Mullen plans to stay involved in the DIY scene and will continue to book shows within the community from time to time. Currently, the future of the house as the venue remains uncertain. “This is the end of an era,” she said. “It’s possible that someone else may move into the house and continue doing shows but not under the Blips and Chitz name.” As much as Mullen’s house has influenced the DIY scene in ChampaignUrbana, she recognizes the way the venue has impacted her, too. “I just want to thank everyone who’s ever attended or played a show at Blips,” she said. “I have a lot of great memories surrounding my time there, and I won’t ever forget them.”

Between bright, electric guitar riffs, members of Bottom Bracket took time to reflect on Blips and Chitz and its role in their origins. “We played our second gig ever as a band here in 2017,” said the band’s lead singer, Mario Cannamela. They also announced that they were in the process of making a recording, which received a warm response from the crowd. Local pop-punk band Nectar closed out the show with a set that paid homage to the venue and reminded the crowd of the magic of kmp2@readbuzz.com

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