Natural areas you need to see
May 28, 2014
Here’s a staggering statistic for you courtesy of the Illinois Natural History Survey: Before the settlers arrived in Illinois, more than 60 percent of the state was covered in prairie — that’s about 22 million acres. Today, just over 2,000 acres of that remain. That’s crazy, right? The good...
Three things every student should know to fulfill their on-campus civic duties
May 28, 2014
College is a time for many to mature from adolescence to adulthood and a big part of that is learning to fulfill one’s civic duties. This campus of 40,000 operates like a little nation — it has its own culture, government and elections. And now you’re a citizen. Shared governance The basis of sha...
From student to celebrity, know these alumni who made it to the limelight
May 28, 2014
Considering the quality of education offered and the number of students who pass through this humble institution, it should come as no surprise that many of the University’s graduates have been quite successful. Here are just a few: Nancy Goodman Brinker Former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary and founder of ...
How to pick and settle in with your random roommate
May 28, 2014
It was, for me, one of the most anxiety-inducing parts of the transition into college: finding a roommate. I started out wanting to live with a friend from high school, but everyone I asked said they wanted to find a roommate on Facebook or just go random. They were afraid that living with someone t...
Six of the best study spaces
By Alyssa Voltolina
May 28, 2014
On a campus this big, it’s not hard to find a cozy corner to study in. Check out these locations, but you will probably find your own favorites as the year goes on: Caffe Paradiso The place to be for hipsters everywhere, this Urbana coffee shop is perfect for those of us who live east of the Quad. This ...
Champaign-Urbana and the University: An abbreviated history
May 28, 2014
You’re stepping foot on unfamiliar land — land that you know close to nothing about. That never happened to me, I grew up in Central Illinois. I’m comfortable here. The corn, the history, the people — I’ve known it all and loved it all for my whole life. I know close to everything there is...
Five must-have items for every University student
May 28, 2014
This campus will provide you with most of what you need to survive the school year, but I wouldn’t forget this other stuff if I were you: Warm coat/warm clothes Oh, does it get cold here! And it stays cold for what seems to be a good 75 percent of spring and fall semesters. If you don’t have warm w...
C-U: A waypoint for musicians, crossroads of jazz
May 28, 2014
You’ll have no shortage of things to do when you get to campus this fall — night life on this campus is lively, to put it mildly. You’ll have barn dances, frat parties, bar crawls, Illini Union Board events, club activities, concerts and any number of other opportunities to get you out of your d...
Reach out, let professors be an invaluable resource to you
May 28, 2014
Being a student on a Big Ten campus can seem intimidating, especially on a campus as big as the University of Illinois where class sizes can range from five to more than 600 students. Every once in a while, someone will ask me if I feel like just a number among the more than 32,000 other undergraduat...
Tastiest places to chow-down in Champaign-Urbana
May 28, 2014
Authentic Mexican: Maize $ Maize Mexican Grill, 60 E. Green St., offers a variety of authentic Mexican dishes ranging from tacos to tostadas. Maize has been open for a few years now and has quickly become a favorite among University students. Although the restaurant is small, it counters its size with amazin...
Five different music venues for University students to check out
May 28, 2014
While Champaign-Urbana is most famously known for the Pygmalion Music Festival and Ellnora, there are plenty of opportunities to explore venues and see local artistson a daily basis. The Canopy Club From Flux Pavilion to Aaron Carter, The Canopy Club is famous for hosting several top-name artists. The 18+ venu...
Avoid these classic freshman mistakes
May 28, 2014
Y ou’ve been tossed from the throne of high school seniority. From a place where you knew everyone, the best cafeteria foods and you could write an essay in a night. Now you are back to the dreaded freshman status in the fifth largest school in the Big Ten, and can only hope to avoid the embarrassm...
