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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
Elizabeth Sayasane

Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor

I’m Elizabeth Sayasane and I am the Features Editor for this year. This is my third year working for the features team, and I am incredibly excited to continue working for this section that has brought so much joy to my time here! I’m a junior studying English, alongside my journalism and political science minors. Along with my work at The Daily Illini, I’m involved with the English Honors Society and the Women’s Resources Center. I love baking bread, reading, and watching dumb movies with my friends.

[email protected]

Illinois Student Government host law enforcement town hall

Illinois Student Government host law enforcement town hall

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • February 18, 2021
Prioritize the best time and place for roommate fights

Prioritize the best time and place for roommate fights

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • February 15, 2021
The Planters Peanutters wave from the Peanut Mobile while on the road. Tyler Towne, one of the peanutters, along with his coworkers recently made a stop in Champaign.

Peanutters program shells out a good time

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • February 4, 2021
Illinois graduate Surpreet Kaur poses for a graduation photo in front of Foellinger Hall. Kaur had difficulties finishing her final semester of college this past fall.

COVID-19 creates shaky futures for recent graduates

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • February 4, 2021
A Champaign County resident receives the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the I-Hotel on Jan. 12. Select members of the University community are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Education personnel now eligible for vaccine

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • February 1, 2021
Community health student shares vaccination experience

Community health student shares vaccination experience

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • January 14, 2021
Jessica Wynveen checks the level of saliva in her COVID-19 test tube on Oct. 9. While some are excited for the vaccine to be distributed, others are skeptical.

Triumph of vaccine clouded by misinformation

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • January 7, 2021
Sean Norris, Siddharth Salklan, Sathwik Reddy and Shivam Sehgal pose for a photo during Diwali on Saturday. Diwali celebrants had to adapt this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diwali celebrates light amidst darkness of pandemic

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • November 16, 2020
John, Anita, Emma and Ethan DeValk pose for a photo on the Main Quad. The DeValk parents were reluctant to send their children to campus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parents handle stress of kids on campus

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • November 9, 2020
College of Medicine ranks first among University dean salaries in 2020

College of Medicine ranks first among University dean salaries in 2020

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • November 5, 2020
Sophomore Michaela Patton poses for a photo. Patton has joined the club volleyball team this semester.

Athletes find community amidst COVID-19

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • November 2, 2020
Age of politics: electorate get younger, politicians get older

Age of politics: electorate get younger, politicians get older

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • November 2, 2020
Champaign County residents vote at the Brookens Administrative Center in Urbana, Illinois on Sept. 24. Polling locations nationwide have implemented COVID-19 precautions.

Election carries significance for first time voters

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • October 29, 2020
A student voter checks in to cast his ballot at the table in Multi-Purpose Room 7 at the ARC on Friday. There are multiple early voting locations on campus.

Election judges guide voting smoothly through pandemic

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • October 26, 2020
Junior Lavanya Srivastava poses for a photo in Muscat, Oman. Srivastava, junior in LAS, is conducting her classwork from home rather than from campus.

International student tackles additional COVID-19 academic challenges

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • October 22, 2020
Senior Mikaila Beauchamp poses for a headshot outside Foellinger Auditorium. Beauchamp’s studying process for the LSAT has been affected significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic.

LSAT prep takes on different level of stress during COVID-19

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • October 19, 2020
CDC guides people towards safer Halloweens

CDC guides people towards safer Halloweens

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • October 19, 2020
Gina Lee-Olukoya poses for a professional headshot. Lee-Olukoya, working as director of Student Engagement, has had to create new methods of engaging students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Student engagement balances out college experience

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • October 15, 2020
Executive Director of University Housing Alma Sealine poses for a headshot on Wednesday. Sealine has been in charge of housing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alma Sealine directs University Housing’s safety precautions

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • October 12, 2020
Director of Undergraduate Admissions Andy Borst poses for a professional headshot. Borst has had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic during this admissions season.

Andy Borst handles admissions amidst pandemic

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • October 1, 2020
COVID-Pals brings people together while stuck apart

COVID-Pals brings people together while stuck apart

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • October 1, 2020
Jahaira Bustos, freshman in AHS, wears a face mask outside. Bustos became a wellness ambassador earlier this year.

Wellness Ambassador encourages healthy campus collaboration

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • September 28, 2020
Student Body President Alexis Perezchica poses for a professional headshot outside of the Illini Union. The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated the new president’s goals.

Life during COVID-19, Illinois student body president Alexis Perezchica

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • September 24, 2020
Current senior Ananya Cleetus sits in Lincoln Hall on Jan. 22. Cleetus is one of the three members of the CS Mental Health Committee.

Committee for mental health focuses on CS community

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • September 17, 2020
Jessica Black and Audrey Dombro wait to assist local residents in getting counted in the Census on August 25. The recent MCORE public transportation project was able to happen because of accurate Census data.

Champaign census workers reach out to college students

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • September 8, 2020
The organizers of the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival set up a stand in the parking lot of the Lincoln Square Mall. Community members can drive by and pick up bags of sweet corn as well as commemorative totes and face masks.

Urbana Sweetcorn Festival goes virtual

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • August 24, 2020
Members of the Illinois Student Government sit together after being interviewed at the ISG Complex on Oct. 12, 2019.

RSOs offer leadership opportunities on campus

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • August 19, 2020
Furniture fills the common area of one of the newer dorms, Wassaja Hall, on August 17, 2016.

Take full advantage of living in residence halls

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • August 17, 2020
An I-Guide helps a student moving into a dorm in the Ikenberry Commons move their things from a car to a cart on Aug. 22, 2013.

No one tells you about packing these items

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • August 5, 2020
A New Delhi street is filled with early afternoon traffic on Dec. 3, 2019.

Make effort to keep in contact with loved ones an ocean away

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • July 31, 2020
Crowds gather on the main quad to enjoy the weather during Mom's Weekend on Saturday, April 6 2019.

Myths on American universities get debunked, authenticated

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • July 31, 2020
A promotional image for the PBS Short Film Festival.

PBS Short Film Festival highlights independent filmmakers

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • July 21, 2020
High School senior Sophia Lowery poses for a senior photo.

High school seniors head into uncertain future

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • April 28, 2020
An ecosphere made by student Sarah Kemp using water taken from Boneyard Creek sits near a window.

Student makes a Boneyard Creek jarrarium

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • April 22, 2020
Senior Sudasharna Rao poses for a photo on the University of Illinois campus on May 4, 2019.

Campus advocate shares experiences during Sexual Assault Awareness Month

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • April 15, 2020
Dr. Sandra Darfour-Oduro poses for a photo in a local park. She encourages people to remain calm and follow preventative measures during the coronavirus pandemic.

Experts weigh in on COVID-19 pandemic

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Features Editor • March 26, 2020
Dylan Abrams (left), Blair Polinsky (center-left), Katie Underwood (center-right) and Jake Tennant, founders of College Ventures, discuss the organization’s future plans on Tuesday evening. College Ventures was initially started to make education more accessible for those with limited financial means in the Champaign-Urbana area, with the ultimate goal of funding Champaign Central High School students’ University tuition.

College Ventures ease access to education

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Assistant Features Editor • February 27, 2020
Emily McKown performing at the RoseBowl tavern on Monday.

Local businesses shine at Lovey Dovey Hootenanny Pop-Up

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Assistant Features Editor • February 12, 2020
Rachel Otwell, NPR Illinois journalist and lead reporter for the ProPublica Local Reporting Network series, Campus Complicity, speaks at a forum on faculty sexual misconduct reforms at the Main Library on Tuesday.

Forum addresses NPR Illinois’ reporting on campus sexual misconduct  

By Elizabeth Sayasane and Sidney Madden • November 20, 2019
PygHack will be hosted Sept. 27-28 at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Donte Winslow, design strategist at the Siebel Center of Design, created PygHack to bring people together from the C-U community to design solutions to local problems.

PygHack tackles technological problems in CU

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Assistant Features Editor • September 23, 2019
A free full-moon yoga class was taught at Allerton Park on Saturday.. Josie Heck has been teaching yoga classes for the past five years, and college students often travel from all around Illinois to attend her classes, including Springfield, Decatur, Champaign-Urbana and Tuscola.

Local instructor teaches full-moon yoga class

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Assistant Features Editor • September 19, 2019
Political internships give clarity for careers

Political internships give clarity for careers

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Assistant Features Editor • September 3, 2019
How to live out of a dorm room

How to live out of a dorm room

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Assistant Features Editor • August 23, 2019
Don't be afraid of making big changes

Don’t be afraid of making big changes

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Assistant Features Editor • May 24, 2019
Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give, speaks at the Illini Union on Jan. 23.

‘The Hate U Give’ author Angie Thomas promotes activism, empathy

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Assistant Features Editor • January 24, 2019
The Other Guys a capella group performs at its holiday concert earlier in the month at the Lincoln Hall Theater.

A capella groups ring in holiday season

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff writer • December 10, 2018
Social media studies increase in importance

Social media studies increase in importance

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff Writer • November 27, 2018
Course aims to raise HIV/AIDS awareness

Course aims to raise HIV/AIDS awareness

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff Writer • November 5, 2018
Community seeks greater young voter turnout

Community seeks greater young voter turnout

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff Writer • October 22, 2018
Students discussed with team members during the annual 54 event. “54" is a three-day event providing a platform for budding entrepreneurs, sponsored by Founders.

54 event aids budding entrepreneurs

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff Writer • October 10, 2018
University programs smooth path to law school

University programs smooth path to law school

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff Writer • September 24, 2018
Faculty, students value non-STEM majors

Faculty, students value non-STEM majors

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff Writer • September 10, 2018
Toni Pantone

ARC group fitness class provides mixed martial arts, exercise

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff Writer • August 27, 2018
The Women in Math, Science and Engineering program houses over 130 women in dorms each year. WIMSE focuses on encouraging and supporting women who are entering the male-dominated STEM fields.

Housing option nurtures women in STEM

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff Writer • May 3, 2018
University promotes stress management

University promotes stress management

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff Writer • April 24, 2018
The Executive Board of Phi Delta Epsilon poses for a group photo at the Gies College of Business Instructional Facility.

Medical schools want more than a 4.00

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff writer • April 19, 2018
The Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities hosted the Bio-Humanities Symposium on March 30. Kris Saha from the University of Wisconsin-Madison gave a talk on “Editing Diseases in a Dish.”

Campus focuses on interdisciplinary approach to research

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff Writer • April 2, 2018
Appriximately 5,000 local men and women gather at West Side Park before marching through downtown Champaign on Jan. 21, 2017.

Women’s History Month tackles intersectionality on campus

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff writer • March 13, 2018
UI students pose for a photo in Newman Hall's dining hall.

Private Certified Housing adopt different Unofficial policies

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff writer • March 1, 2018
The Junior League of Champaign-Urbana poses for a group photo. The group will host its annual Leadership and Advocacy Conference on Thursday. Roundtable discussions at the conference will encourage women to talk personal health and politics.

Junior League of CU brings women to the table, discusses social justice

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff writer • February 12, 2018
Samantha Gerry stands in the Instructional Kitchen at the ARC where sessions are held to help students gain a healthier lifestyle.

ARC nutritional coaching brings health awareness to campus

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff writer • February 5, 2018
José Ángel, author of 'Illegal,' to discuss experiences as an undocumented immigrant at La Casa

José Ángel, author of ‘Illegal,’ to discuss experiences as an undocumented immigrant at La Casa

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff writer • January 25, 2018
Defining ‘Millennials,’ ‘Generation Z’ creates confusion at University

Defining ‘Millennials,’ ‘Generation Z’ creates confusion at University

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff writer • December 12, 2017
Medical students gain firsthand experiences at Presence Covenant Medical Center

Medical students gain firsthand experiences at Presence Covenant Medical Center

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Staff writer • November 30, 2017
The National Center for Supercomputing Applications is located at 1205 W Clark Street in Urbana.

University researchers collaborate overseas

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Contributing writer • October 31, 2017
Sammy Ferber, playing Mark Cohen in "Rent," performs during the show's opening scene, accompanied by a member of the ensemble.

‘Rent’ embodies societal issues at State Farm Center

By Elizabeth Sayasane, Contributing writer • October 12, 2017
ILLordle: Play now