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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

Jared Ebanks, Assistant Features Editor

[email protected]

Justin Janas walks through the dugout during the game against Purdue April 18. Five players from the Illini baseball team will made the All-Big Ten team this season.

Five Illini earn spots on All-Big Ten teams

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • May 30, 2021
Junior Jacob Campbell holds his mitt up to catch a ball during a game. Campbell was the leading force in the Illini’s dominant offensive performance this weekend despite losing to Rutgers in the final series of the season.

Illinois loses final series of season to Rutgers; Janas finishes with best batting average in Big Ten

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • May 30, 2021
Junior Kellen Sarver catches the baseball at first base against Maryland May 7. Sarver says the team will strike first like they have been for their game against Rutger May 28.

Illinois prepares for Rutgers in pivotal final series of regular season

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • May 28, 2021
Senior Jackson Raper rounds second base and attempts to reach third during the game against Purdue. The Illinois baseball team closed out their final homestand with a series win over Penn State.

Illinois closes out final homestand with series win over Penn State

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • May 23, 2021
Freshman Clayton Johnson pitches on May 7 against Maryland. The team is set to play against Indiana this Tuesday.

Illini take series win over Iowa decisively in back half

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • May 16, 2021
Left-handed pitcher Nathan Lavender pitches against a batter from Michigan State April 17. The Illinois baseball team travel to Iowa City for a three-game series against the Hawkeyes with three weekends left in the regular season.

Illini push through finals ahead of road series against Iowa

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • May 14, 2021
Sophomore Riley Gowens pitches against Purdue on April 19. The team prepares for their home matches against Maryland this upcoming weekend.

Illini snag two against No. 22 Michigan

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • May 2, 2021
The Illinois men's baseball team exits the dugout to celebrate a teammates home run during the game against Purdue April 18. Illinois will head to Evanston for a four-game series against Michigan this weekend in two double headers.

Illinois travels to Evanston to battle Michigan in four-game series

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • May 1, 2021
Sophomore Ryan Kutt is met by his teammates after an inning of pitching at a game against Purdue on Sunday. The Illini and the Boilermakers both won two games at this weekend's series at Illinois Field.

Illini split home pod against Spartans, Boilermakers

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • Apr 19, 2021
Sophomore shortstop Branden Comia fields a ground ball at a game against Northwestern on March 28. The Illinois baseball team will play four games this weekend against Purdue and Michigan State at Illinois Field.

Illini set to host Purdue, Michigan State in four-game series at Illinois Field

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • Apr 16, 2021
Freshman Peyton Hutchings pitches in a game against Northwestern on March 27. The Illinois baseball team lost their series to the Cornhuskers this weekend.

Illini drop grueling series against Cornhuskers

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • Apr 4, 2021
The Illinois baseball team celebrates after coming off the field during a game against Northwestern on March 26. The team is preparing to host Nebraska this weekend at Illinois Field.

Illinois prepares to host No. 1 Nebraska

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • Apr 2, 2021
Senior Jackson Raper sprints to third base during practice on Feb. 26. The Illinois baseball team won and lost a game against the University of Michigan as well as suffering another loss against Michigan State in Ann Arbor this weekend.

Illinois splits games with Michigan, Michigan State

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • Mar 22, 2021
Ty Rybarczyk pitches during a game on a sunny day. The Fighting Illini will take on the University of Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans this weekend.

Illinois travels to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan, Michigan State

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • Mar 19, 2021
Student fights pandemic through epidemiology

Student fights pandemic through epidemiology

By Jared Ebanks, Assistant Featured Editor • Feb 18, 2021
The Undergraduate Library sits empty on Nov. 15. The UGL has had limited capacity for study spaces since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Students search for study spaces

By Jared Ebanks, Assistant Features Editor • Jan 27, 2021
Junior in Media Victoria Anderson poses for a headshot. Anderson has been searching for roommates to live with next year.

Students search for roommates amidst pandemic

By Jared Ebanks, Assistant Features Editor • Nov 19, 2020
Junior Paulina Chmiel pours a drink before serving it to a customer during her shift at the Starbucks located on Oregon Street on Wednesday morning. Starbucks worker Aaliyah Johnson has found a comfortable balance between academics and work this semester.

Barista’s take on additional COVID-19 stress

By Jared Ebanks, Assistant Features Editor • Oct 29, 2020
Board members of campus group Covalence hold up signs to promote their organization. Covalence was formed April 9, and its primary function is to provide aid to those affected by the pandemic.

Covalence: students against COVID-19

By Jared Ebanks, Assistant Features Editor • Sep 28, 2020
Mariah Madison stands at a Buy Black Chambana pop-up shop in August. Madison’s blog sponsors Black-owned businesses within the Champaign-Urbana area.

Buy Black Chambana helps close racial wealth gap

By Jared Ebanks, Assistant Features Editor • Sep 8, 2020
Students sit in the shade of trees on Friday

Freshmen adjust to working remotely

By Jared Ebanks, Assistant Features Editor • Aug 27, 2020
A group of international students enjoys bubble tea on Oct. 19, 2019.

Pandemic creates challenges to navigating social life

By Jared Ebanks, Assistant Features Editor • Aug 19, 2020
A student grabs a Sprite at the 57 North convenience store located in the SDRP.

Keep your dorm stocked with snacks

By Jared Ebanks, Assistant Features Editor • Aug 17, 2020
Students pose with their artwork after the Paint and Sip for the Culture event hosted during the 2019-2020 school year.

Organizations, resources to welcome incoming Black students

By Jared Ebanks, Assistant Features Editor • Aug 5, 2020
Students build a snowman on the quad in front of the Illini Union on Oct. 31, 2019.

Learn how to properly dress for Midwest weather

By Jared Ebanks, Assistant Features Editor • Jul 31, 2020
Kevin Bacon stars as Theo Conroy in "You Should Have Left," written and directed by David Koepp.

Kevin Bacon reflects on his role in summer blockbuster

By Jared Ebanks, Assistant Features Editor • Jun 26, 2020
The King of Staten Island, starring Pete Davidson, is set to release on June 12.

Judd Apatow discusses ‘The King of Staten Island’

By Jared Ebanks, Assistant Features Editor • Jun 10, 2020
FSHN 175 Teaching Assitsant Max Holle (right) takes an on-site tour of Riggs Beer Company with Darin Riggs (left) for a video for his class.

Instructors bring wine, food to classroom

By Jared Ebanks, Assistant Features Editor • May 6, 2020
Graduate student Karthik Pattaje explains the results of a lab he ran for a lecture video he and other TA’s are responsible for filming for online undergraduate classes.

Life in the lab lives on for graduate students

By Jared Ebanks, Assistant Features Editor • Apr 8, 2020
Pictured above is Ajax Peak in Telluride, CO, Ajax Peak. Eric Schmidt and his family stayed in Telluride for their short spring break trip.

COVID-19 affects students’ spring break plans

By Jared Ebanks, Assistant Features Editor • Mar 25, 2020
Members of the Hive Society perform at the Illini Union on Friday. The Hive Society is an improv group on campus that allows comedy fans to express themselves and entertain the community.

Improv groups on campus find life lessons in comedy

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • Mar 2, 2020
(From left to right) John Koulentes, Sam Fourlas and Ayal Zipris pose with the wet floor sign and closet door from their most viral tik toks. The video using the wet floor sign is at 3.3 million views and the closet door video is closely following at 3.3 million views.

University students steal TikTok show, go viral

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • Feb 17, 2020
Laurie Johnson, professor in LAS, poses with “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” Tuesday. She is currently teaching GER 199/CWL 199: Harry Potter and Western Culture.

‘Harry Potter’ class asks students to analyze western perspective

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • Feb 6, 2020
Safety officer Aakash Patel hugs the Illinois Biodiesel Initiative new 500-gallon batch processor. The organization is hoping to make the community more environomentally friendly.

From plants to energy: Sustainability RSO makes biodiesel out of soybeans

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • Jan 21, 2020
Illinois fans rush the Memorial Stadium Field after Illinois upset Wisconsin on Oct. 19. The average attendance for Illinois home games has dropped from 45,644 in 2016 to 36,702 in 2019, according to the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics.

University works to define school spirit at Illinois

By Jared Ebanks, Staff Writer • Dec 9, 2019

Students wear sustainability on their sleeves

By Jared Ebanks , Staff Writer • Nov 26, 2019