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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
Mona Alrazzaq

Mona Alrazzaq, Assistant News Editor

[email protected]

Priests and friends mourn over the body of Al Jazeera Palestinian journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, on May 11 before her body is transferred for burial from a hospital in Jenin. Abu Akleh was shot dead as she covered an Israeli army raid on the West Bank's Jenin refugee camp.

Letter to the Editor | Demand justice for Shireen Abu Akleh

By Mona Alrazzaq and Buthaina Hattab • June 21, 2022

UI celebrates Women’s History Month with campus events

By Mona Alrazzaq and Vivian La • March 2, 2022
Sherman Hall and other University Housing facilities have been considered COVID-19 hotspots and have switched many events to be virtual.

COVID-19 cases spike in residence halls

By Mona Alrazzaq and Weiyu Ding • February 16, 2022
Chef Mike and other University Housing workers prepare food at the ISR dining hall. The dining halls have been working efficiently even with staff shortages.

Staff shortages, COVID-19 precautions impact dining halls

By Weiyu Ding and Mona Alrazzaq • February 16, 2022
Graduate student Drake Materre speaking during the George Floyd protest at the Champaign County courthouse on June 1, 2020. Materre focuses a lot of his time on community projects such as Project 1000.

Local activist takes on more community projects

By Mona Alrazzaq, Assistant News Editor • November 16, 2021
Kailee Crayton, a sophomore in Media, works the night shifts at McDonalds who has seen some crazy things happen.

The employee in the midst of drunk chaos

By Mona Alrazzaq, Assistant News Editor • October 13, 2021
A woman fills a syringe with a Moderna Covid-19 vaccine on Feb. 11 at the I-Hotel. The University received 750 requests for Covid-19 exemptions because of religious reasons.

750 religious exemption requests made for COVID-19 vaccine mandate

By Mona Alrazzaq, Assistant News Editor • October 7, 2021
Bird's-eye view of a COVID-19 testing center in Florida. The Delta variant and how to prevent is discussed.

Students show concern regarding Delta variant spread

By Mona Alrazzaq, Assistant News Editor • September 7, 2021
Freshman talk with another group of students at the Welcome Celebration in Lot 31 after the New Student Convocation on Friday. Students are both nervous and excited for the beginning of the semester.

UI students move in, look forward to upcoming term

By Mona Alrazzaq, Assistant News Editor • August 25, 2021

Readjust to in-person learning, campus life

By Mona Alrazzaq, Assistant News Editor • July 15, 2021
The Community Closet stands next to the Independent Media Center in Urbana on June 6. The closet is intended to help others who can't afford clothing in the Champaign-Urbana area.

Local activist creates community closet

By Mona Alrazzaq, Assistant News Editor • June 16, 2021
A man holds up a sign during the One Night event with C-U at Home. C-U at Home is temporarily closing due to staff shortage.

C-U at Home faces short-term pause

By Mona Alrazzaq, Assistant News Editor • May 26, 2021
Sarah Kishta looks over lecture slides at 2:15 a.m. from her home in Zagazig, Egypt. International students at the University reflect on their time doing school abroad.

International students reflect on past year, prepare for in-person upcoming year

By Mona Alrazzaq, Assistant News Editor • May 10, 2021
Author Michael Fischbach poses for a photo with his book “Black Power and Palestine” at the Middle East Studies Association awards on Nov. 16, 2018. University RSO’s Black Students for Revolution and Students for Justice in Palestine spoke with Fischbach about intersectionality of Black and Palestinian struggles.

RSOs discuss intersectionality of Black and Palestinian struggles

By Mona Alrazzaq and Brendyn Jones • May 3, 2021
Students in a statistics class listen attentively to a lecture at the Lincoln Hall Theater on December 2, 2019.

Take advantage of mental health resources

By Mona Alrazzaq, Assistant News Editor • April 25, 2021
Photos, candles, flowers and posters are placed on a bench in front of the Illini Union to honor the late Daunte Wright. The vigil was held by University students to honor victims of police brutality.

Daunte Wright vigil held to honor victims of police brutality

By Mona Alrazzaq, Assistant News Editor • April 19, 2021
University students protest on the steps of Foellinger auditorium on Wednesday. Unite for Uighur UIUC organized the event to raise awareness for the Uighur Muslims and the abuse they’ve been facing.

[Photo] UI RSOs protest oppression of Uighur Muslims

By Ali Abdullah, Contributing Writer • April 12, 2021
A pharmacist at the Church of the Living God fills a syringe with a Moderna vaccine on Feb. 20. Community members 16 and under are the next in line to obtain the vaccine and receive herd immunity.

Vaccine push continues, individuals under 16 key group to attaining herd immunity

By Mona Alrazzaq, Assistant News Editor • April 1, 2021
A woman administers a Moderna vaccine at the Church of the Living God on Feb. 20. Students are having mixed reactions on how the University of Illinois has responded to the pandemic.

UI students express mixed reactions to COVID-19 response

By Mona Alrazzaq, Assistant News Editor • March 25, 2021
Dr. Luis Rodriguez and his students participate in an online video discussion regarding Puerto Rico hurricane relief on Oct. 17, 2019. The University recently sent a Massmail informing students there will be more in-person classes next year.

University plans for in-person academics for 2021-2022 year

By Mona Alrazzaq, Assistant News Editor • March 15, 2021
Technology Services Interim Chief Information Officer Greg Gulick poses for a professional photo. Gulick passed away in February from COVID-19 and was an essential part of the SHIELD team.

UI updates COVID-19 dashboard following death of tech services leader 

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • March 8, 2021
Enoma Egiebor and Nicole Arnold are two ISG senators and chairpersons who organized the first town hall meeting regarding free speech versus hate speech.

ISG holds town hall on “hate speech,” free speech 

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • March 1, 2021
Champaign-Urbana police respond to a call on Green street on Dec. 10, 2018. The department is developing alternate responses for mental health crises.

CU police develop alternate responses for mental health crises

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • February 25, 2021
Students discuss the Title VI complaint through Zoom with panelists Martin Levine and Dima Khalidi. Jewish organizations have filed a Title VI federal complaint against the University.

Title VI Complaint filed against UI alleges inadequate anti-Semitism response, draws student reactions

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • February 15, 2021
Champaign City Council member Clarissa Nickerson Fourman speaks during the “People’s City Council” forum on Thursday. Speakers at the forum discussed defunding the police in Champaign and Urbana.

CU candidates discuss concerns around defunding police 

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • February 8, 2021
A robot processes COVID-19 saliva tests in the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The lab has delivered an average of 10,000 test results per day between Jan. 21 and Jan. 29.

UI advances spring tests through automation

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • February 4, 2021
The UI Women's Resource Center is located at 616 East Green Street. The center was recently awarded a grant for $300,000.

UI’s Women’s Resources Center awarded $300,000 grant for reducing violence, stalking

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • January 29, 2021
Jessica Osemwngie checks in at the COVID-19 testing site at State Farm Center on Oct. 9. The University’s COVID-19 protocols were widely praised after the campus saw no hospitalizations or deaths in the fall.

Straw or funnel? New UI testing tools aid robotic processing

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • January 25, 2021
The profile picture of the Instagram account "unite4uighursuiuc" is pictured above.

UI RSOs aim to raise awareness for Uighur Muslims 

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • January 18, 2021
An Illinois student takes a COVID-19 test at State Farm Center on Oct. 9.

University continues push to authorize COVID-19 test for emergency use 

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • January 8, 2021
Fadi Al-Naji, co-developer of the UI COVID-19 test, showcases the plastic wells where saliva samples are submitted for analysis.

How sensitive is the UI COVID-19 test? Test developers explain

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • January 5, 2021
Greek life reflects on COVID-19 response after tough semester

Greek life reflects on COVID-19 response after tough semester

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • December 17, 2020
Ryiah Barnes poses for a headshot. Barnes is a recipient of the Prodigy SAINTS scholarship.

UI freshman receives scholarship from student-driven nonprofit organization 

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • December 7, 2020
Junior Jessica Osemwengie deposits her completed COVID-19 test into the receptacle at the State Farm Center testing site on Oct. 9. Some students are unable to go home for Thanksgiving break due to having to quarantine.

COVID-19 exposure threatens UI students’ Thanksgiving plans 

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • November 19, 2020
Demonstrators converge at the intersection of Green and First streets to listen to speakers during the CCARC protest on Aug. 28. CCARC is one of the local organizations raising money for Ale’yah Lewis.

RSOs raise money for Ale’yah Lewis whose arrest sparked protests

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • November 12, 2020
President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Reading, Pennsylvania, on one of four stops in the Keystone State on Saturday.

UI professor explains possibility of contested election

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • November 2, 2020
Student organizer Drake Materre speaks outside of the Red Lion bar during the “Dead Lion” protest on Sept. 17. Materre has recently turned his focus to food insecurity in the Champaign County area.

Student activist turns attention to food insecurity

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • October 29, 2020
Pictured is University of Illinois Police Department Police Chief Alice Cary in a Zoom call on Oct. 12. During the call, Cary discussed a potential community outreach and support team as well as the behavioral health unit she plans on implementing.

UI police chief unveils programs to involve campus community 

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • October 19, 2020
Marc Snir, retired computer science professor and president of the C-U Jewish Federation, joined the University in condemning a recent Illinois Student Government resolution.

CU Jewish organizations oppose student government resolution

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • October 5, 2020
Champaign Police officials gather in a Zoom call for the second community listening session. Dr. Travis Dixon (first row, center), professor in LAS, moderated the session via Zoom on Sept. 29.

Champaign police hear concerns of excessive force, mental health response

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • September 30, 2020
Robert Smith of Turning Point USA speaks at the Illinois Student Government Senate meeting on Wednesday. Smith denounced the resolution.

Student government resolution draws quick critique from UI admin, public

By Mona Alrazzaq, Staff Writer • September 28, 2020
Lundgren Hall stands on the corner of Gregory Drive and Fourth Street on Sept. 21. Lundgren Hall has many benefits that new students should take advantage of.

Around 100 Barton-Lundgren residents move out to create isolation spaces

By Mona Alrazzaq, Contributing Writer • September 21, 2020
Sarah Kishta looks over lecture slides at 2:15 a.m. from her home in Zagazig, Egypt. Kishta has had to adapt to virtual classes through a seven hour time zone difference.

International enrollment drops; remaining students struggle to keep up

By Mona Alrazzaq, Contributing Writer • September 17, 2020