Donate to the DI!
Listen to WPGU 107.1 FM!
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
Bryana Perez

Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Editor

Hi! My name is Bryana, and I am a junior double-majoring in clinical/community psychology and Spanish with a minor in adult development. I joined The Daily Illini in Fall 2024 as a reporter and worked my way up to Senior Arts & Entertainment Writer in my second semester. When I am not writing for The DI, I enjoy binge-watching a good show, listening to a podcast or exploring new spots around Champaign-Urbana! I love learning more about the C-U community and sharing unique stories, so for any inquiries, contact me at my email below!

Jessica Hernandez delivered her presentation, “Indigenous Earthkeeping: The Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Conservation,” as part of Native American Heritage Month Nov. 4 to a fully packed room.

NAH seeks to unify students through kinship, STEM

By Elizabeth Bichkoff and Bryana Perez • Nov 26, 2025
A person paying at a parking meter on North Chestnut Street in Champaign on Nov. 18. The City of Champaign is considering increasing the price of meters.

Deficit pushes Champaign to consider raising parking meter rates

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • Nov 25, 2025
Kelley Fong, assistant professor of sociology at the University of California, Irvine, answers a question at the 18th annual Brieland Lecture on Nov. 19 at the Illinois' School of Social Work. Fong presented the fears and her own research on how Child Protective Services can affect families.

Brieland lecture questions how CPS treats mothers

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • Nov 20, 2025
Street College brings hip-hop, STEM to Urbana Free Library

Street College brings hip-hop, STEM to Urbana Free Library

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • Nov 18, 2025
Rana Khoury, assistant professor of political science and author, signs copies of her book "Civilizing Contention: International Aid in Syria's War," after a book talk, that community members could purchase at the Illini Union Bookstore on Nov. 5.

UI professor presents research on Syrian War

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • Nov 7, 2025
Lights shine down on a dorm hallway in Wardall Hall, one of the ISR halls, on Sept. 16. This will be one of the residences affected by the new lottery-based signup for returning residents.

UI Housing introduces new lottery system amid rising demand

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • Nov 5, 2025
Illini Lights Out helps UI cut energy costs

Illini Lights Out helps UI cut energy costs

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • Nov 4, 2025
Sophomore guitarist and vocalist Damian Ruel Vergara Salinas of FAA, also known as “damianruel,” performs an original piece titled “see u” on Oct. 6. Individuals can attend Musical Mondays for free at the Illini Union every Monday starting at 7pm in the Courtyard Cafe.

Weekly Musical Mondays brings buzz to campus

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • Oct 16, 2025
Customers order pastries and coffee at BakeLab in Urbana on Feb. 10

CU best fall eats and drinks

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • Sep 25, 2025
Members of Chi Omega celebrate welcoming new members to their sorority after Bid Day on Sept. 15.

Is living in a Greek house all it’s cracked up to be?

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • Sep 25, 2025
A display of seasonal fall candles sits out at Fire Doll Studio in Champaign on Sept. 20.

A shopping guide to CU’s off-campus businesses

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • Sep 24, 2025
Wombo brings intimate energy to PYGMALION at Rose Bowl Tavern

Wombo brings intimate energy to PYGMALION at Rose Bowl Tavern

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • Sep 19, 2025
Otis Pavlovic, lead singer of Australian alternative band Royel Otis, performs with the band during the 2024 Pygmalion festival at The Canopy Club on Sept. 19, 2024.

PYGMALION brings rising stars, community to CU

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Writer • Sep 16, 2025
Mike Ross, director of the Krannert Center for Performing Arts, welcomes patrons to the ELLNORA guitar festival, which kicked off Krannert's 2025-2026 season on Thursday.

Krannert kicks off season with Opening Night Party

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • Sep 4, 2025
UPDATED: Champaign Fire Department responds to restaurant fire

UPDATED: Champaign Fire Department responds to restaurant fire

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • Sep 2, 2025
‘Dance Nation’ explores raw, relatable chaos of girlhood

‘Dance Nation’ explores raw, relatable chaos of girlhood

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • May 17, 2025
Freshman in college walks around alone, after having troubles making friends on a cloudy Friday, April 25.

An introvert’s guide to Welcome Week at UI

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • May 8, 2025
Advocates call for action beyond Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Advocates call for action beyond Sexual Assault Awareness Month

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • May 1, 2025
Audience memebrs watch the film “Touch” during Ebertfest at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign on April 26.

Ebertfest Day 3: ‘I’m Still Here’ warns audience that history can repeat itself

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • Apr 26, 2025
Good Judys owners Jeffery and Dakota Thomas-Wilhelm wash dishes together on March 21. The couple, originally from Iowa, opened the espresso and bagel bar in January 2024.

Good Judys builds connections a dozen bagels at a time

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter • Apr 10, 2025
Flying Machine Avionics, a coffee shop on South First St., hosted art pieces by Ray Glass as a part of Boneyard Arts Festival, held from April 4 to April 6.

Boneyard Arts Festival celebrates creativity in CU

By Bryana Perez, Senior Arts & Entertainment Writer • Apr 8, 2025
Senior Connor LaSalle plays guitar at the Courtyard Café on March 12. He performs a cover of 'The Gentle Rain' by Tony Bennett.

Noontime Performers energize Courtyard Café with student talent

By Bryana Perez, Staff Writer • Mar 25, 2025
The U.S. Constitution contains the 14th Amendment, which guarantees birthright citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States.”

UI organizations mobilize in response to Trump’s birthright citizenship order

By Bryana Perez, Staff Writer • Mar 6, 2025
KAMS staff prepares for customers as people fill the bar for Time Warp Tuesday on Feb. 25.

Best of CU ’25 | Best On-Campus Bar: KAMS

By Bryana Perez, Staff Writer • Mar 6, 2025
Ye Olde Donute Shoppe donuts, photographed on Wednesday, Jan 29th 2025.

Ye Olde Donut Shoppe bakes up sweet nostalgia

By Felicity Abbott and Bryana Perez • Feb 13, 2025

Review | ‘Better Man’ delivers beautiful story, undermined by an unusual choice

By Bryana Perez, Staff Writer • Jan 19, 2025
Illinois men's gymnastics cheers on its competing teammates in an upset victory over No. 1 Oklahoma.

Team Orange triumphs at Illinois gymnastics Orange and Blue meet

By Bryana Perez, Staff Writer • Dec 17, 2024
A bike sits on the rail outside the Independent Media Center in Urbana, IL., on Dec. 14, 2024.

CU organizations host annual bike giveaway for kids

By Bryana Perez, Staff Writer • Dec 13, 2024
A Takoyaki appetizer and Sukiyaki noodle dish at Kajiken Ramen, a new Japanese restaurant on Green Street in Champaign.

Review | Kajiken delivers bold flavors with unique approach to ramen

By Bryana Perez, Contributing Writer • Nov 22, 2024
Review | ‘Shawn’ explores folk in vulnerable but forgettable comeback

Review | ‘Shawn’ explores folk in vulnerable but forgettable comeback

By Bryana Perez, Staff Writer • Nov 21, 2024
(Left to right) DoubleSpot team Wei-Jui Chen, Chien-Hsuang Chang and Sean Chang

UI student startup DoubleSpot lands partnership with SCD

By Bryana Perez, Contributing Writer • Nov 14, 2024
The sun shines on KAMS located on E. Green Street on Oct. 17, 2023, as cars drive by.

KAMS and The Red Lion’s upgrades spark reactions

By Bryana Perez, Contributing Writer • Oct 28, 2024