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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
Review | In ‘Bottom of the Pyramid,’ Nia Sioux uncovers a televised childhood

Review | In ‘Bottom of the Pyramid,’ Nia Sioux uncovers a televised childhood

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Nov 23, 2025
Empty construction lots, closed off by metal gates and older apartment buildings under halted renovation line Green St. in Champaign on Sept. 13.

‘Putting in the work’: Latino community bolstering CU’s growth in construction

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Sep 25, 2025

Stiletto Queens click their way to self-confidence, community

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Sep 24, 2025
Large, tropical plants fill the conservatory at the Plant Biology Greenhouse in Urbana on June 21. The greenhouse is home to research and education on campus, but its conservatory and certain collections are open to the public.

Outdoor gems for connecting with nature

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Jul 17, 2025
Li Huanzhi leads an orchestra performance, kicking off the FusionFest Lunar New Year celebration at Foellinger Great Hall in Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on Feb. 2.

Explore, experience, belong: CU venues welcome all

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • May 12, 2025
Audience members fill the Virginia Theatre in Champaign during Ebertfest on April 26.

Ebertfest Day 2: Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’ stuns at Virginia Theatre

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Apr 25, 2025
Associate Spanish professor Ann Abbott in her office on March 24. Abbott teaches SPAN 232: Spanish in the Community, in which students help C-U community members whose primary language is Spanish.

Spanish as action: Ann Abbott’s mission in motion

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Apr 10, 2025
Models showcase outfits on the runway during the Circular Fashion Expo held on Dec. 7, 2024 at the Siebel Center for Design. The show emphasized creativity and sustainability, featuring designs made from upcycled materials.

CFE holds legacy of creativity, circularity

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Apr 10, 2025
The album cover for Lucy Dacus's new album “Forever Is a Feeling,” released on March 28.

Review | In ‘Forever Is a Feeling,’ Lucy Dacus sings familiar yet honest tune

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Apr 2, 2025
The album cover for Ariana Grande's new album “eternal sunshine,” released on March 8.

Review | Ariana Grande dazzles on her dreamy ‘eternal sunshine’

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Apr 1, 2025
Local community members gather at Gallery Art Bar on March 12 for VOICE, a monthly reading series featuring University graduate students studying creative writing.

VOICE transforms Gallery Art Bar into literary stage

By Chloe Barbarise, Felicity Abbott and Mariana Quezada • Mar 15, 2025

James Courter unravels murder mystery with novel set in Urbana

By Mariana Quezada, Senior buzz Reporter • Mar 10, 2025

Jonas Hassen Khemiri captivates with stories of memory, myth

By Mariana Quezada, Senior buzz Reporter • Mar 8, 2025
Two comfy seats located adjacent to the entrance offer a peaceful space for customers to enjoy their meal.

Best of CU ’25 | Best Study Spot: Caffe Paradiso

By Mariana Quezada, Senior buzz Reporter • Mar 6, 2025
Column | What’s wrong with ‘Emilia Pérez?’ A lot.

Column | What’s wrong with ‘Emilia Pérez?’ A lot.

By Mariana Quezada, Senior buzz Reporter • Feb 25, 2025
Misty Martin and Tyren Ollie play Faye and Reggie in “Skeleton Crew” at The Station Theatre in Urbana.

‘Skeleton Crew’ brings passion, dedication to The Station Theatre

By Mariana Quezada, Senior buzz Reporter • Feb 8, 2025
WRC empowers students to navigate challenging consent conversations

WRC empowers students to navigate challenging consent conversations

By Mariana Quezada, Senior buzz Reporter • Feb 4, 2025
buzz weekly new music rundown

buzz weekly new music rundown

By Annisyn Krebs-Carr and Mariana Quezada • Feb 2, 2025

New American Welcome Center champions Latino community in uncertain times

By Mariana Quezada, Senior buzz Reporter • Feb 2, 2025
buzz predicts 2025 Grammy Award winners

buzz predicts 2025 Grammy Award winners

By Annisyn Krebs-Carr, Felicity Abbott, Maaike Niekerk and Mariana Quezada • Jan 26, 2025
buzz weekly new music rundown

buzz weekly new music rundown

By Annisyn Krebs-Carr and Mariana Quezada • Dec 14, 2024
The album cover for local arist Adam Atrix's, "ATRIXXX."

Local artist Adam Atrix finds voice, passion through music

By Mariana Quezada, Senior buzz Reporter • Dec 14, 2024
buzz weekly new music rundown

buzz weekly new music rundown

By Annisyn Krebs-Carr and Mariana Quezada • Dec 8, 2024
Review | Drift into a dreamy journey with TV Girl, George Clanton’s nostalgic ‘Fauxllennium’

Review | Drift into a dreamy journey with TV Girl, George Clanton’s nostalgic ‘Fauxllennium’

By Mariana Quezada, Senior buzz Reporter • Dec 7, 2024
buzz weekly new music rundown

buzz weekly new music rundown

By Maaike Niekerk and Mariana Quezada • Nov 23, 2024
Column | Lady Gaga’s ‘The Fame Monster’ remains definition of iconic

Column | Lady Gaga’s ‘The Fame Monster’ remains definition of iconic

By Mariana Quezada, Senior buzz Reporter • Nov 18, 2024
buzz weekly new music rundown

buzz weekly new music rundown

By Amartya Nalluri and Mariana Quezada • Nov 17, 2024
Column | Art imitates life in Elif Batuman’s college novels

Column | Art imitates life in Elif Batuman’s college novels

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Nov 15, 2024
buzz weekly new music rundown

buzz weekly new music rundown

By Annisyn Krebs-Carr and Mariana Quezada • Nov 10, 2024
The poster for Jason Reitman's 'Saturday Night.'

Review | ‘Saturday Night’ captures the chaos

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Oct 18, 2024
Margherita Mazzucco and Gaia Girace in “My Brilliant Friend” (2018).

Review | From book to screen, ‘My Brilliant Friend’ shines on

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Oct 16, 2024
buzz weekly new music rundown

buzz weekly new music rundown

By Annisyn Krebs-Carr and Mariana Quezada • Sep 29, 2024
buzz weekly new music rundown

buzz weekly new music rundown

By Annisyn Krebs-Carr and Mariana Quezada • Sep 22, 2024
Beats y Bateria charms with groovy sounds as Pygmalion opener

Beats y Bateria charms with groovy sounds as Pygmalion opener

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Sep 21, 2024
Iranian Singer Mansour engaging with some of his fans while singing and dancing at the Mansour Live show at the I-Hotel on Saturday.

Iranian Heritage Foundation celebrates culture with Mansour concert

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Sep 15, 2024
The music band Squonk interacting with the audiences during their performance at the Krannert Center on Friday.

Krannert Center’s opening night energizes with colorful performances

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Sep 8, 2024
Tyler James Williams stars as Gregory Eddie in “Abbott Elementary,” produced by ABC.

Tyler James Williams charms at Union, talks ‘Abbott Elementary’

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Apr 25, 2024

Ebertfest day 4 showcases locally produced ‘Albany Road,’ shines spotlight on indie films

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Apr 22, 2024
The statue of Roger Ebert outside the Virginia Theatre in downtown Champaign during Ebertfest on April 17.

Ebertfest celebrates 25 years with gripping ‘Star 80’ as opening night showcase

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Apr 19, 2024
Review | Julio Torres is here to save us with ‘Problemista’

Review | Julio Torres is here to save us with ‘Problemista’

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Apr 11, 2024
Review | Vampire Weekend’s ‘Only God Was Above Us’ is triumphant

Review | Vampire Weekend’s ‘Only God Was Above Us’ is triumphant

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Apr 9, 2024
Shopfront of Macy’s located in the Market Place Shopping Center in Champaign on March 2.

Best of CU | Best Place to Take Your Mom Clothes Shopping: Macy’s

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Mar 28, 2024
Priyal Patel, senior in LAS, studies at the Main Library. The Main Library is a popular spot for studying with its many rooms and floors.

Best of CU | Best University Library: Main Library

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Mar 28, 2024
Album cover of Bleachers by Jack Antonoff.

Review | Jack Antonoff brings Bleachers back with self-titled album

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Mar 18, 2024
Movie poster of Drive-Away Dolls.

Review | Save a horse, ride with the ‘Drive-Away Dolls’

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Feb 28, 2024
Parkland’s ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’ makes you question your existence

Parkland’s ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’ makes you question your existence

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Feb 18, 2024
"Carnaval!" music performance at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday.

‘Carnaval!’ brings celebration of culture to KCPA

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Feb 14, 2024
Beyoncé at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 1, during her Renaissance word tour. Beyoncé announced a new upcoming album on Sunday during the LVIII Superbowl.

Beyoncé announces new singles in Super Bowl ad

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Feb 11, 2024
DJ Cassiana ignites the audience with Taylor Swift hits at the Canopy Club.

Canopy Club Swifts us away with Taylor-themed party

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Feb 3, 2024
Joaquin Phoenix in 2013 dystopia drama "Her." Columnist writes on the impact that the film holds since its original release.

Column | What ‘Her’ says about us, 10 years later

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Dec 18, 2023
(from left): Trent Sherman, Carissa Yau, Kyglo Webb, Bryce Bennyhoff and Ellen Magee star in "House of Desires" play at Urbna's Station Theater.

Step into the ‘House of Desires’ at Station Theatre

By Mariana Quezada, Staff Writer • Dec 9, 2023
Musical duo Sol y Canto, comprised of Brian and Rosi Amador, perform in the lobby of the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday.

Sol y Canto share music, culture at Krannert Center performance

By Mariana Quezada, Contributing Writer • Nov 9, 2023
Poster for 2013 Scifi-Fi Thriller "Gravity." Contributing writer Mariana Quezada looks back at the film as it reaches it 10-year anniversary.

Column | ‘Gravity‘ breaks boundaries in film, immerses viewers in space

By Mariana Quezada, Contributing Writer • Oct 4, 2023
Cover art for Lorde’s album “Pure Heroine”, released on September 27, 2013.

Column | A royal anniversary: Lorde’s iconic ‘Pure Heroine’ turns 10

By Mariana Quezada, Contributing Writer • Sep 27, 2023