University of Illinois expects surge in student cases
URBANA — The University of Illinois is expecting a surge of COVID-19 cases as students return to Champaign-Urbana for the spring semester. The goal now is to prevent those who have caught COVID from spreading the virus further, according to epidemiology assistant professor Rebecca Smith. “We really encourage people to be cautious over the next […]
Need for mental health services on campus grows but resources remain tight
Despite a growing need for mental health services in the community, the director of the Counseling Center at the University of Illinois says the resources remain underfunded and understaffed. “I think mental health services everywhere are underfunded,” said Center director Carla McCowan. “How many staff members do you need before you meet demands? What’s that […]
Chemical created during water disinfection could affect reproduction, according to University of Illinois researcher
URBANA — In order to make water safe to drink, it has to go through a process called chemical disinfection. This process, however necessary, creates byproducts. University of Illinois researcher Lois Raetzman says it is possible that one chemical byproduct could have serious health effects. “So we’re absolutely not saying you should not disinfect water. […]
Energy secretary promotes infrastructure law at University of Illinois biofuel lab
URBANA – U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm stopped in Urbana on Thursday as part of her two-day tour of Illinois energy facilities. She listened carefully as researchers at the university’s Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory described how they turn sugar cane into fuel. “What today is about is seeing what the opportunities are and building […]
U of I chancellor offers optimism as pandemic continues
URBANA – Coronavirus transmission remains high. Gun violence is up. Despite these worrying indicators, University of Illinois Urbana Chancellor Robert Jones said on Thursday he sees causes for optimism. “I know there are a few of you asking, ‘Jones, did you once again accidentally put your rose-colored glasses this morning?’” Jones joked. Thursday marked the […]
University of Illinois service workers protest for $5 hourly raise and pay for overwork
CHAMPAIGN — University of Illinois service workers want a raise of $5 per hour. They say wages haven’t kept up with inflation and contribute to staffing shortages. Members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73 protested working conditions on Wednesday at the corner of Oak Street and Kirby Avenue in Champaign. “We have […]
University of Illinois administrators address possible Quad City expansion, student diversity questions
URBANA — Faculty and students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign get an annual chance to air grievances and clear up rumors with the president of the university system. One rumor at the latest U of I Senate’s Annual Meeting of the Faculty was whether the university system is planning to expand to the Quad […]
LB Jake Hansen’s career at Illinois ends after knee surgery
CHAMPAIGN — Illinois linebacker Jake Hansen will miss the rest of the season after having knee surgery. Hansen was injured in the second quarter against Wisconsin on Oct. 9 and made his announcement on Twitter. He says it pains him to say he won’t play another game for the Illini. He thanked coaches, teammates, staff […]
UI Freshmen Class Breaks Record Despite Decrease In Minority Student Enrollment
URBANA – With a total of 8,303 students enrolled this fall, the freshmen class of 2025 is the largest ever at the University of Illinois Urbana campus. Yet, a recent university report shows a decrease in minority students enrollment. Director of Undergraduate Admissions Andy Borst said there was an increase this fall of students coming […]
Tens Of Thousands Gather For Illini Football Opener: Few Masks Worn, No Vaccinations Required
An estimated 40,000 football fans, most unmasked, packed Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois Saturday for the first full-capacity game since the start of the pandemic. Spectators didn’t need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to watch the Illini go head-to-head with the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, said Kent Brown, Illinois’ associate director of athletics. […]
University Of Illinois Athletics To Open All Venues To 100% Capacity In 2021-22
URBANA – On Friday, the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced that all venues will open up to 100% capacity for the 2021-22 season. The decision came in conjunction with the state moving into Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois plan. When Illinois women’s golf tees off its season on Aug. 23, the […]
New Study Reveals Pandemic-Related Changes’ Effects On STEM Students
CHAMPAIGN – A new study of 182 students in a biology course at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign last spring shows that marginalized students don’t necessarily become demotivated under pandemic-related stress. This is in contrast to concerns that arose suggesting underrepresented students would crack under pressure and drop out of college. Illinois Newsroom student journalist Carolina […]
Transgender Students Protest Deadnaming At University of Illinois Graduation.
URBANA – Donned in a blue and orange cap and gown, Cyrus Arnieri had prepared for his graduation ceremony at the University of Illinois longer than most. As a transgender student, Arnieri says he had been corresponding with the University for months to ensure his preferred name was called at the ceremony. Despite legally changing his […]
University Of Illinois Class Of 2021 Graduates Reflect On COVID Graduation
URBANA — Bells rang across the University of Illinois’s main quadrangle as seniors lined up at Alma Mater to take graduation pictures by Altgeld Tower. Pandemic or no, May is still graduation season on the Urbana campus. An estimated 5,600 University of Illinois students graduated during the weekend of May 15. However, for many […]
C-U Asian American Community Speaks Out About Recent Racism
Listen to members of the AAPI community in Champaign-Urbana in their own words URBANA — Aaron Chun, a Korean-American college and career counselor at Centennial High School in Champaign, was walking around the University of Illinois campus at the start of the pandemic last year when a group of men drove up near him. They […]