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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

Ethan Simmons

Ethan Simmons, News Editor

Hello everyone! My name’s Ethan Simmons, I’m a senior majoring in journalism with a minor in business. I spent three semesters in the Gies College of Business before transferring into our wonderful media college. I wrote local news stories for The News-Gazette in the summer of 2019, then interned as a business writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this summer. If I’m not writing or looking over stories with my reporters, I’m probably playing basketball, bass guitar or Super Smash Bros., though not all at once.

My inbox is always open for story tips and ideas about campus, Champaign County and east Central Illinois. I’d love to talk with. 

[email protected]

Graduating students wait to walk across the stage and receive their diplomas during commencement in 2018 at Memorial Stadium.

Commencement canceled due to COVID-19

By Ethan Simmons, News Editor March 17, 2020
Spencer Hulsey, senior in LAS, shows a Reddit post promoting the kingfisher mascot design at the Illinois Student Government complex on Friday. Students can vote on the new mascot proposal on Wednesday and Thursday.

Kingfisher mascot set for student vote

By Ethan Simmons, Senior Reporter March 2, 2020
Tori Hill, an organizer for the Warren Campaign, prepares canvassing materials at Caffe Paradiso on Sunday afternoon.

Democratic RSOs bring Iowa experience to campus

By Ethan Simmons, Senior Reporter February 13, 2020
Students board the 1S Yellow Hopper bus at the newly opened southbound stop in the Transit Plaza Friday. Workers will begin to rebuild the north side of Green Street from McCullough to Race streets.

MCORE to begin next phase north of Green Street

By Ethan Simmons, Senior Reporter January 27, 2020
Drone expert recaps US-Iran conflict

Drone expert recaps US-Iran conflict

By Ethan Simmons, Senior Reporter January 21, 2020
Sarah Gale, junior in ACES, speaks at the School of Social Work about her personal experiences with the California Wildfires. Her family had to evacuate their home due to a fire in 2003.

California wildfires impact University students

By Ethan Simmons, Senior Reporter November 7, 2019
Kingfisher design reignites mascot debate

Kingfisher design reignites mascot debate

By Ethan Simmons, Staff Writer October 24, 2019
University students disembark from the 9B Brown bus at the new Wright Street bus island on Friday. The northbound 1 Yellow, 13 Silver, 22 Illini, 9 Brown, 4 Blue and 5 Green buses have been running on Wright Street since Sept. 24.

Northbound buses return to Wright Street

By Ethan Simmons, Staff Writer October 7, 2019
Construction continues at the corner of Armory Avenue and Wright Street on Saturday. Work on Wright Street is expected to be done below Green Street by January 2020.

MCORE’s days on Wright are numbered

By Ethan Simmons, Staff Writer August 26, 2019
Cody Bainbridge, sophomore in Engineering, buys coffee from the Robot x Coffee Machine outside of Grainger on Apr. 14. The robot serves between 100 to 200 cups a day.

Robot arm serves coffee to community

By Ethan Simmons, Staff Writer April 15, 2019
Career professionals stress experience

Career professionals stress experience

By Ethan Simmons, Staff Writer March 25, 2019
Mike Adkesson and Jen Langan sit with a Humboldt penguin named Pepe, who resides in Brookfield Zoo’s Living Coast habitat. The UI alumni are working to save the penguins.

Alumni preserve Peruvian penguins

By Ethan Simmons, Staff Writer March 7, 2019
Mike Skibski plans to present his idea of a new school mascot, Champ, pictured above, to the University Board of Trustees on March 14.

Student proposes historical UI mascot

By Ethan Simmons, Contributing Writer February 25, 2019
The Natural History Building, located at 1301 W. Green St., Urbana, was awarded a LEED Gold certification for its sustainable structure and reuse of old materials in its renovations.

Natural History Building achieves LEED gold status

By Ethan Simmons, Contributing writer February 18, 2019
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