Natural areas you need to see
May 28, 2014
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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...
Think ahead by looking into internships
May 28, 2014
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There’s a lot to worry about as a freshman. Inevitably your first few months on campus will be spent managing your course load, adjusting to the dorms and rebuilding your social life. You should be focusing on the “now” and making the transition from high school to college as easy — and as fun ...
Five ways to prepare your college student for apartment life
May 28, 2014
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After their freshman or sophomore years, most students opt to live in apartments rather than dorms. As a parent you’re probably thinking of all that could potentially go wrong, but apartments offer students a great opportunity to learn the ropes of adulthood (cleaning, cooking, washing, paying bills...
Three things every student should know to fulfill their on-campus civic duties
May 28, 2014
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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
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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
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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
May 28, 2014
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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...
