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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

Karena Tse

A group of kids hold signs displaying phrases such as “#StopAsianHate” and “We Stand Asians” at a protest in downtown Champaign on March 30.

Anti-Asian violence scares UI community

By Gwyn Skiles, Jenni Kallenback, Farrah Anderson, Jacqui Nguyen, Karena Tse, Ryan Ash, Vivian La and Cameron Krasucki • Apr 22, 2021
DI Voices | Atlanta spa shootings: 24 hours

DI Voices | Atlanta spa shootings: 24 hours

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • Mar 30, 2021
Members of the Goodwin Avenue Trio Chanmi Lee, Andrew J. Buckley and Ethan Schlenker pose for a photo. The trio will make their debut on March 27 at Smith Memorial Hall.

The Goodwin Avenue Trio plays on

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • Mar 23, 2021
Seventh-grade student teacher Tammy Seto poses for a professional headshot. Seto works at Urbana Middle School and has had to adapt her teaching strategies to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Student teachers adapt to pandemic in classrooms

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • Mar 11, 2021
Habitat for Humanity ReStore worker Lloyd Addison wheels a cabinet towards the loading dock for a customer on Wednesday morning. The store has had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore adapts to pandemic

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • Feb 24, 2021
Illinois student Jake Fava poses for a professional headshot. Fava is running for Urbana Ward 1's city council seat.

UI students run for Urbana City Council 

By Karena Tse, Features Writer • Feb 9, 2021
Mother Nature pose for a band photo. The duo has continued their “Miseducation” workshops through Zoom since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Independent Media Center catches up with Mother Nature

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • Jan 29, 2021
Urbana mayoral candidate Andy Ma poses outside of the Urbana Free Library on Dec. 19. The primary election will occur on Feb. 23.

UI alum runs for Urbana mayor

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • Jan 25, 2021
V8 Vast Change performs at Coffeehouse & Deli in Normal, IL on Dec. 7, 2019.

CU Planet Music keeps Hip Hop alive in pandemic

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • Jan 5, 2021
Ja Nelle Davenport-Pleasure poses with the group of kids she taught to ballroom dance at the Lincoln Square Mall, on Aug. 18, 2019.

40North ACE Awards celebrate local artists

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • Dec 4, 2020
Public opinion challenges election forecasters

Public opinion challenges election forecasters

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • Nov 16, 2020
Senior Shravan Raghuram performs on the drums alongside senior saxophonist Kevin King on the South Quad on Oct. 22.

Drummer carries on with musical journey through pandemic

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • Oct 28, 2020
Sr. Wilson Roca and his daughter perform Brazilian & Afro-Brazilian folkloric music and popular music during the May 6 installment of “Sounds Like Community.” The Zoom series aims to foster a sense of community amidst the pandemic.

Virtual series spotlights arts and activism

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • Oct 15, 2020
Anika Nims, assistant manager of the Espresso Royale on Oregon Street, prepares a coffee order on Tuesday. Champaign-Urbana’s Espresso Royale locations reopened under the name Espresso Royale C-U.

Historic campus coffee shop, Espresso Royale, weathers the storm

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • Oct 1, 2020
Local artist Black Mage performs at the Canopy Club on Dec. 8, 2017. He recently released his new EP, “Hold This L.”

Champaign’s rap wizard releases ‘Hold This L’ EP

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • Sep 10, 2020
The bracket for the $500 Verse4Verse rap battle tournament lays filled out up until the final round.

Virtual rap tournament reinvigorates local hip hop

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • May 31, 2020
A sewing station where CU Mask Makers created face masks for the coronavirus pandemic sits in a livingroom.

CU Mask Makers respond to high mask demand during COVID-19 pandemic

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • May 5, 2020
Customers shop at the County Market in Champaign, IL on Feb. 16.

Local grocers respond to COVID-19 pandemic

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • Apr 23, 2020
Professors' new normal: Online instruction used during COVID-19 pandemic

Professors’ new normal: Online instruction used during COVID-19 pandemic

By Karena Tse, Staff Writer • Apr 7, 2020
Willard Airport's TSA security checkpoint on Feb. 4, 2019.

COVID-19 forces early return of students studying abroad

By Karena Tse, Contributing Writer • Mar 20, 2020
Kalief Dinkins was featured as a "Creative of the Week" for In Living Color, a performing arts organization catered to telling stories through the art of performance for people of color, by people of color.

New RSO helps artists of color express themselves

By Karena Tse, Contributing Writer • Mar 12, 2020