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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
Royal Shrestha

Royal Shrestha, Assistant News Editor

Hello everyone, my name is Royal Shrestha! I am a current junior in Molecular and Cellular Biology Honors. I’ve been with the DI since sophomore year and have been able to get a lot of interesting aspects from the local CU community and the University! Being with the DI and working with everyone has been a great experience thus far, can’t wait to see what the future holds.

COVID-19 testing site with spaced out zones for people to take the PCR test at the ARC from Feb. 1, 2021. With the recent rise in cases, the University plans to revisit more COVID-19 precautions.

UI revisits COVID-19 policies due to recent rise in cases

By Royal Shrestha, Assistant News Editor • September 9, 2022
Student places their COVID-19 PCR testing vial in a container at the testing center at the ARC on Feb. 1, 2021. On Sunday the University addresses the increased COVID-19 cases via Massmail.

UI recommends masks as campus COVID-19 positivity rate hits all-time high

By Royal Shrestha, Assistant News Editor • August 30, 2022
The Illinois Cheerleading team run across with flags spelling out "Illinois" on the Memorial Stadium field during the Homecoming game against Wisconsin on Oct. 9. The the University’s Facilities and Services has started drafting up plans to renovate the historic stadium.

UI replaces turf in Memorial Stadium, begins renovation of State Farm Center

By Royal Shrestha, Assistant News Editor • June 6, 2022
Zain Bando, senior in Media, discusses how much he has been looking forward to graduation being in-person and the ability to celebrate with his friends.

Students anticipate first in-person commencement in two years

By Royal Shrestha, Assistant News Editor • May 2, 2022
Timothy Killeen, president of the University System, speaks at the Siebel Center for Design on Oct. 8, 2022.

UI System President Tim Killeen tests positive for COVID-19

By Royal Shrestha, Assistant News Editor • April 26, 2022
California exceeds China as largest source of nonresident enrollment

California exceeds China as largest source of nonresident enrollment

By Royal Shrestha, Assistant News Editor • April 26, 2022
Everitt Lab, located on Green Street, is the home for the bioengineering department when it comes to research and projects. Jinbei (Walden) Li, a former graduate student at the University, expresses concern of misconduct and behavior within labs.

Former graduate student voices concerns for misconduct in bioengineering research lab

By Royal Shrestha, Assistant News Editor • April 15, 2022
Dr. Mark Cohen exams a COVID-19 patient using a Microsoft HoloLens2 headset during his time at the University of Michigan. Cohen will be taking on his position as the new dean of Carle Illinois College of Medicine in May.

New dean for Carle Illinois to assume responsibilities in May

By Royal Shrestha, Assistant News Editor • April 13, 2022
Rick Sallinger has had made many contributions during his time at WPGU from an announcer to program director, and since then has worked for CNN and CBS Denver.

Former WPGU director, Rick Sallinger, enters Hall of Fame

By Royal Shrestha, Assistant News Editor • April 7, 2022
Freshman participate at the Welcome celebration in Lot 31 after the New Student Convocation at State Farm Center on Aug. 20. Even with the 33% increase in applications, the University has decided to decrease the size of next year's freshman class.

UI to reduce freshman class size despite record breaking number of applications

By Royal Shrestha, Assistant News Editor • March 23, 2022
Members of GEO protest against lifted mask mandate in front of the Swuanland Administration Building on Feb. 23. Since them GEO has been fighting with the University in regards to Covid-19 safety.

GEO continues negotiations with University over COVID-19 guidelines

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • March 4, 2022
The Organic Oneness Organization chalks the sidewalk with supportive messages on the quad on Monday. The C-U community comes together in response to hate crime.

[Photo] Antisemitic flyers spark response of local community

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • February 22, 2022
The home for the Department of Computer Science is located on Goodwin Avenue. The DPI has gifted money for more computer science education within Illinois.

DPI awarded $1 million for computer science education research 

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • February 22, 2022
With the University lifting the mask mandate there has been uncertainty with the difference between instructional and non-instructional facilities on campus.

UI to lift indoor mask mandate for non-instructional spaces

By JP Legarte, Ashley Gilbert and Royal Shrestha • February 21, 2022
A container filled with Covid test samples at the ARC on Feb. 1. The SHIELD saliva test will be implemented across Illinois public schools.

SHIELD Illinois spreads across Illinois, provides more COVID-19 testing sites

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • February 7, 2022
N95 masks are in a university resident's mailbox in FAR. The university has provided all students in university housing with a free N95 mask.

University Housing changes quarantine, isolation procedures

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • January 26, 2022
University students walk through the quad on Oct. 26. Tuition for both, Urbana-Champaign and Chicago, campuses will be increasing tuition for future students.

UI increases tuition by 1.8% for incoming in-state students, 2.5% for international students

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • January 25, 2022
Sophomore in LAS Bishal Baskota's passion for soccer prompted his journey to pursue medicine.

Soccer kicks off future physician’s inspiration

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • November 10, 2021
Tiger Sugar, international boba chain, is set to open on Green Street in December.

International boba chain expects Green Street opening by December

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • November 4, 2021
An aerial view of Japan House is shown above. The University wraps up Campus Sustainability Month.

University wraps up Campus Sustainability Month

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • October 27, 2021
A woman checks in a patient awaiting a dose of the Moderna vaccine at the Church of the Living God on Feb. 20. Pfizer booster shots are now available for health care workers, first responders, and the elderly.

Pfizer booster shots available for health care workers, first responders, the elderly

By Royal Shrestha and Alex Chang • October 1, 2021
Students sit around talking at a table eating food at Ikenberry Hall. Dining halls are now returning to in person dining this semester.

Smooth transition back to in-person dining at residential halls

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • September 22, 2021
A student bikes to Quad Day on Aug 22. Bike to Work Day encourages biking to places instead of driving to them.

Bike at Illinois organizes Bike to Work Day

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • September 13, 2021
A view from inside the new Siebel Center as it opens for students to use. The Siebel Center lets many students, regardless of their major, innovate and create.

Siebel Center for Design opens up to students

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • August 29, 2021
The Illini Union and Main Quad lie empty on June 26. Embracing everything that college has to offer will prepare you for a better college transition.

Do not be afraid of transition to college!

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • July 15, 2021

University requires vaccination of students

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • July 6, 2021
Human Zhao research group consisting of from front left, Stephan Lane, manager of the Illinois Biological Foundry for Advanced Biomanufacturing; graduate student Guanhua (Daniel) Xun; Huimin Zhao, the Steven L. Miller Chair of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and a professor of chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, and bioengineering. In back, from left, electrical and computer engineering undergraduate student Vassily Petrov; and mechanical science and engineering undergraduate student Brandon Pepa, who recently graduated pose for a photo. The team created a portable Covid-19 testing device.

New portable testing system allows for detection of COVID-19, other viruses

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • May 28, 2021
A SHIELD worker helps to test college students for COVID-19 on Sept. 30. SHIELD recently released guidance to schools to try and help them reopen for the fall semester.

UI launches a K-12 Shield guiding schools on reopening schools

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • April 29, 2021
The OSF Healthcare Heart of Mary Medical Center sits quietly at 1400 W. Park St. in Urbana on Saturday. The University is participating in a study to examine the effectiveness of vaccines and the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

University participates in national COVID-19 vaccination study

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • April 12, 2021
A COVID-19 vaccination worker checks in a patient at the Church of the Living God on Feb. 20. Two University students are organizing a pop-up vaccination clinic to serve impoverished community members.

Local community activists organize COVID-19 pop-up vaccine clinic

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • March 29, 2021
A piece of pottery from a recent acquisition of art from Native American artists is pictured above. The pot features imagery of abstracted feathers, wings, waves and crosshatching that refer to Hopi stories about their ancestors.

Krannert Art Museum acquires new Native American art

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • March 8, 2021
The Illini Union stands at the end of the Main Quad on Oct. 29. Nine presidents of Illinois public universities have signed a letter seeking additional COVID-19 relief.

Saddled with COVID debt, Illinois public universities plea for relief

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • February 11, 2021
The Main Quad of UW-Madison rests quietly on a summer day. UW-Madison has begun to implement UI’s COVID-19 tests on their campus.

UW-Madison starts semester with UI’s COVID-19 tests

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • February 1, 2021
Pharmacist Katie Lampman fills doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the I-Hotel on Jan. 12.

UI expects UK COVID-19 variant to enter campus community

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • January 21, 2021
The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday is pictured above.

Krannert cancels in-person spring events

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • December 9, 2020
Undergraduate Research Symposium to be held virtually again

Undergraduate Research Symposium to be held virtually again

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • December 4, 2020
Members of the Marching Illini stand in the end zone before the game against Minnesota at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 3, 2018. The Marching Illini recently performed during the 100th anniversary of the Altgeld bells.

Marching Illini finds new ways to support each other to maintain school spirit

By Royal Shrestha, Staff Writer • November 19, 2020
Senior Cindy Alcala grabs a food item from the ARC Food Assistance and Well-Being Program on Oct. 10. Pantries like the one at the ARC provide food for students and community members facing food insecurity.

Campus pantries serve students with food insecurity

By Royal Shrestha, Contributing Writer • October 19, 2020
Prepackaged meals wait to be picked up by students at the SDRP on Friday. All dining halls are now offering in-person dining.

Dining halls rework menus, add limited in-person dining

By Royal Shrestha, Contributing Writer • October 8, 2020
ILLordle: Play now