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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

Matt Troher

Matt Troher, Assistant Features Editor

Hello! I'm Matt Troher, and I'm a senior studying journalism and English. After previously serving as the Investigative News & Longform Editor, I am now serving as the Assistant Features Editor for The Daily Illini. I joined the staff in the early winter of 2020 and have been writing ever since, covering the COVID-19 pandemic, Champaign-Urbana politics, campus life, and what it means to be a college student in this crazy time. Outside of the newsroom and the classroom, I'm a captain for Adventure Club (a social club unique to the University of Illinois) and a dedicated fan of Swindon Town Football Club and Illini Athletics. I also enjoy reading, watching movies, cooking, jogging, playing tennis, and spending too much time on social media.

@[email protected]

A squirrel sits on a tree on the main quad. In 1901, around 100 squirrels were added to campus, and the population has since drastically increased.

What’s with the squirrels on campus?

By Matt Troher, Assistant Features Editor March 20, 2023
Set your sights on the best apartment possible

Set your sights on the best apartment possible

By Matt Troher, Assistant Features Editor February 20, 2023
New semester, new habits, new work style

New semester, new habits, new work style

By Matt Troher, Assistant Features Editor January 18, 2023
Illini fans discuss major rivalries

Illini fans discuss major rivalries

By Matt Troher, Assistant Features Editor December 30, 2022
UI Student wins national change ringing award

UI Student wins national change ringing award

By Matt Troher, Assistant Features Editor December 6, 2022
Stuffed sharks from IKEA known as blåhaj are piled on a table at the Courtyard Cafe in the Illini Union for a distribution that was run by Yuyang Zhao, senior in Engineering. They spent over $3,000 on around 140 blåhajar to distribute during the week of Sept. 12.

Student’s blåhaj distribution makes a splash

By Matt Troher, Assistant Features Editor September 19, 2022
Students respond to UI COVID-19 policies, reduced testing hours

Students respond to UI COVID-19 policies, reduced testing hours

By Matt Troher, Assistant Features Editor September 2, 2022
How are NetIDs created?

How are NetIDs created?

By Matt Troher, Assistant Features Editor September 1, 2022
RSO Bandside UIUC perform on the Main Quad during Quad Day on Aug 22. 2021. Quad Day is the last event for Welcome Week with other festivities including Illini Union Late Nighter and Illinois Sights & Sounds.

Welcome Week: Where, when to attend events

By Matt Troher, Interim Features Editor August 17, 2022
RSOs range widely from selective to inclusive

RSOs range widely from selective to inclusive

By Matt Troher, Interim Features Editor August 12, 2022
A University of Illinois police car patrols the streets on Sept. 29, 2020. An Illini Alert was sent out regarding shots fired on the corner of Green and Locust on Monday.

Shots fired at corner of Green, Locust streets

By Matt Troher, Interim Features Editor July 4, 2022

Live Updates: Illinois primary elections results

By Matt Troher, Interim Features Editor June 28, 2022
Blockchain bursts into student, academic life

Blockchain bursts into student, academic life

By Matt Troher, Interim Features Editor June 2, 2022
Illini Media alum, Mark Wukas, speaks with assistant sports editor James Kim during the newsroom and studio tour for the Illini Media 150 Reunion on Friday. Alumni from The Daily Illini and WPGU talk about their favorite memory during their time with Illini Media.

Illini Media Company alumni recount favorite memories

By Matt Troher, Assistant Features Editor April 12, 2022
Dian Nurfajriah, a graduate student studying labor and employment relations, with her husband and her children, Gentza, Ziya and Izan, at Orchard Downs during the winter. Nurfajriah and Ilze Vaivode, a graduate student in Education, talk about their experience juggling school and motherhood.

Student moms balance education, children

By Matt Troher, Assistant Features Editor March 30, 2022
Lester McKeever became the 60th Black CPA in the United States in 1960. McKeever studied accounting and joined the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity during his time at the University.

UI Alumnus Lester McKeever makes CPA history

By Matt Troher, Assistant Features Editor March 21, 2022
Student housing decisions encompass rent, location

Student housing decisions encompass rent, location

By Matt Troher, Investigative News and Longform Editor February 16, 2022
Professor Mitch Fisher lectures to his ACCY 201 class at Lincoln Hall Theater on Aug. 29, 2019. Students talk about how their learning styles are impacted from remote versus in-person learning.

Students reflect on learning styles after remote start to semester

By Matt Troher, Investigative News & Longform Editor January 25, 2022
The cover of the zine, Rabbiteen, displayed with other zines and comics in Quimby's, a Chicago bookstore. Rabbiteen centers around the "dark alternative" subculture in music, visual arts, and more.

Rabbiteen zine cultivates dark-alternative scene

By Matt Troher, Investigative News & Longform Editor January 21, 2022
The front cover of "Walrus," a student-run publication from the '60s. The Special Educational Opportunities Project, also known as "Project 500," recruited students from underrepresented populations, and it's implementation received mixed criticism from the student body.

Looking back: Project 500 in retrospect

By Matt Troher, Investigative News & Longform Editor January 19, 2022
As University administration salary rises, so does tuition

As University administration salary rises, so does tuition

By Matt Troher, Investigative News & Longform Editor November 24, 2021
Several colleges on campus lack gender diversity in enrollment

Several colleges on campus lack gender diversity in enrollment

By Matt Troher, Investigate News & Longform Editor November 2, 2021
Miranda Stillwell, sophomore in LAS, shares her opinion on protesting policies the University has put in place. The deadline for the public to comment has been extended due to feedback from students.

Students speak out against University-adopted policy regulating protests

By Matt Troher, Investigative News & Longform Editor October 14, 2021
A screenshot from the website Graykea is shown above. Manav Modi, junior in engineering, created a startup to help others pay for college.

UI student creates startup to help others pay for college

By Matt Troher, Investigative News & Longform Editor September 24, 2021
Julia Arciola, junior in LAS, holds her baton on Quad Day while performing with the Marching Illini on Aug. 22. Arciola reflects on her past successes and experience as a baton twirler at the University.

Marching Illini baton twirler reflects on success, experience

By Matt Troher, Investigative News & Longform Editor September 5, 2021
A College of Liberal Arts & Sciences decal is pasted onto the door of their main office Nov. 14, 2018. University students shouldn't rule out liberal arts if they are interested in pursuing it in the future.

Embrace a liberal arts mindset

By Matt Troher, Investigative News & Longform Editor July 15, 2021
The Chicago skyline is photographed by Jack Gillespie during a colorful sunset. Students Sierra Reed and Gillespie have garnered thousands of followers through TikTok by making the platform into a business opportunity.

Student influencers launch business through TikTok

By Matt Troher, Investigative News & Longform Editor June 5, 2021
Cicadas return, specific brood emerges in Illinois counties

Cicadas return, specific brood emerges in Illinois counties

By Matt Troher, Investigative News and Longform Editor May 10, 2021
A photo a book containing plays such as Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Tempest and Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare rests on display. Shakespeare’s birthday was remembered by a week-long celebration featuring his writings.

UI library celebrates Shakespeare week

By Matt Troher, Investigative News & Longform Editor April 29, 2021
Students trust horoscopes for guidance

Students trust horoscopes for guidance

By Matt Troher, Investigative News and Longform Editor April 12, 2021
UI, Penn State academics discuss climate change

UI, Penn State academics discuss climate change

By Matt Troher, Investigative News & Longform Editor March 31, 2021
Senior in FAA Sophia Byrd poses for photo. Byrd was nominated for Grammy in the category for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance.

Sophia Byrd reflects on Grammy nomination

By Matt Troher, Longform Editor March 17, 2021
Illini add a magical flair to campus

Illini add a magical flair to campus

By Matt Troher, Staff Writer March 1, 2021
Sophomore Natalie Bizon decorates her apartment on Oct. 2. It’s important to wisely decorate your living space.

Dos, don’ts of decorating on a budget

By Matt Troher, Staff Writer February 15, 2021
The front of the University YMCA is pictured above. Several students live as residents on the third floor of the building.

Students share experiences with YMCA housing

By Matt Troher, Staff Writer February 15, 2021
Datamatch forges love connections on campus

Datamatch forges love connections on campus

By Matt Troher, Assistant Longform Editor February 12, 2021
The Altgeld Bell Tower peaks high into the sky on Sunday morning.

Class gifts connect old alumni to new Illini

By Matt Troher, Assistant Longform Editor February 1, 2021
Student health facility workers receive vaccine

Student health facility workers receive vaccine

By Matt Troher, Assistant Longform Editor January 19, 2021
A person dressed in a turkey costume poses for a promotional image for the 2020 Turkey Trot. The event will be held virtually this year.

Thanksgiving on the Run: Turkey Trot goes virtual

By Matt Troher, Assistant Longform Editor November 19, 2020
Kathryn Newton stars in the movie “Freaky.” The film was released on Friday.

Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton talk “Freaky”

By Matt Troher, Assistant Longform Editor November 16, 2020
Multiple police cars respond to a shooting incident near the intersection of First and Green streets. No one was injured during the incident.

Police chief clarifies Halloween shooting incident

By Matt Troher, Assistant Longform Editor November 9, 2020
Two I-Guides assist a new student by pushing a cart loaded with their items during move-in on Aug. 22, 2019.

Resident Advisors coping with COVID-19

By Matt Troher, Staff Writer November 4, 2020
Children attending a drive-thru trick-or-treating event at the Champaign County Fairgrounds receive candy on Saturday. Many Champaign-Urbana residents celebrated Halloween with COVID-19 precautions this year.

Masked up: County, campus celebrate a COVID-19 Halloween

By Matt Troher, Assistant Longform Editor November 2, 2020
Lawn signs line the grass of the Main Quad outside of the Illini Union voting site on Thursday. Many important state positions are up for grabs in the 2020 Illinois election.

Illinois Elections: What’s at Stake for State Legislature

By Matt Troher, Longform Assistant Editor November 2, 2020
BrewLab General Manager Gab Wikoff serves a customer on Tuesday afternoon. The coffee shop, along with other similar businesses in the area, have had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BrewLab, coffee industry adapt to pandemic, climate change

By Matt Troher, Assistant Longform Editor October 21, 2020
A FSHN 340: Food Production and Service student prepares a salad while working at the Bevier Cafe located in Bevier Hall on Friday. The Bevier Cafe has recently established its “Everybody Eats” initiative to fight food insecurity.

Bevier Cafe launches initiative to combat food insecurity

By Matt Troher, Assistant Longform Editor October 8, 2020
Science of slowing down time during a pandemic

Science of slowing down time during a pandemic

By Matt Troher, Assistant Longform Editor September 21, 2020
ILLordle: Play now