The court at State Farm Center is set and ready as No. 3 Illinois will host Baylor for its second exhibition matchup of the season Friday night. The Illini are coming off a high-scoring victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats last week that gave a glimpse into what the identity of head coach Brad Underwood’s new-look roster will be this season, even without sophomore forward David Mirković, who will remain out Friday. 

Underwood and his staff have another opportunity in front of them to learn more about this team against an opponent who proved it can compete with the nation’s top program. Baylor pulled off a 6-point exhibition win of its own against No. 1 Florida Sunday, demonstrating that it could give another top-ranked team a run for its money in front of its home crowd.

True test of offensive capabilities 

Putting up 105 points against a defense that did everything in its power to force turnovers and contest shots was no easy feat for the Illini. At times, though, Illinois’ offense certainly made it look that way. With six players scoring in double figures, the Illini continued to unload their arsenal throughout the game, showing just how many weapons this offense has to combat opposing defenses.

While senior wing Andrej Stojaković led the way with 24 points, it wasn’t a full takeover, according to him. Rather, it was Stojaković playing within the fast-paced flow of the game. This led to the senior doing what he does best: getting downhill in transition. The same could be said for freshman guard Ethan Brown, who finished with 15 points in his unofficial Illini debut, capitalizing on 3-point opportunities, which is one of his strengths. 

Illinois’ offense passed the first test against Cincinnati with flying colors on its efficiency, but Baylor will present a different, possibly tougher challenge. 

Even with an aggressive style of defense, the Bearcats didn’t limit the Illini’s offensive efficiency one bit. Illinois shot an impressive 52.9% from the field, including a hot 42.4% from three, even on the road. That type of efficiency didn’t appear on the stat sheet for Baylor’s first exhibition opponent, Florida, though. Despite five Gators finishing in double figures in points, the Bears still held them 34.7% shooting overall as well as a poor 13.8% from 3-point range. 

As Florida finished last season with a 48.4% field-goal percentage, this clear decrease isn’t a statistic to ignore and could be an area of concern for Illinois. Between experienced interior defenders and high-intensity ball pressure on the perimeter, the Bears have the tools necessary to potentially give the Illini issues offensively. 

However, Underwood said the goal of these exhibitions hasn’t changed, and the next step for him is to not just tap into the depth of his roster, but see what combinations work the best together. Squaring off against a top defense is the perfect opportunity for Underwood to test those combinations on the offensive end. 

“We played small a lot,” Underwood said. “I didn’t play dual bigs very much. I think that’s something that was one of my points of contention going in was seeing how it looked with four perimeter players out there . . . We’ll see what it looks like with some double bigs. We’ll see what guards work well with that lineup.”

Concerning perimeter defense (again)

Although the end result was a win against Cincinnati, Illinois’ defensive performance showed glimpses of places where the team isn’t solid quite yet. That’s to be expected in an exhibition game, though. Still, defending Baylor’s offense, specifically on the perimeter, presents another chance for Illinois to get its defense up to par before the season officially gets underway. 

“I think that’s one of the byproducts of being able to schedule exhibition games is you get different styles,” Underwood said. “And this is a very, very good guard back court. They can shoot it, they drive it.”

This offseason, Baylor picked up sophomore guard Kayden Mingo from Penn State, who presented a problem for Illinois when it faced him last year. In the Illini’s Jan. 3 victory over the Nittany Lions, Mingo did just about everything on both ends of the floor, scoring a team-high 16 points while recording 5 assists and 4 steals. 

From the results of Baylor’s exhibition with Florida, it seems like Mingo has only improved from his freshman year. Mingo exploded for 31 points on 9-for-15 shooting from the field alongside 2-for-4 from three and 11-for-15 at the free-throw line. He also added 8 rebounds and 4 assists. 

As a three-level scorer who clearly knows how to get himself to the charity stripe, Mingo will challenge Illinois’ perimeter defenders and give some of the freshmen a taste of the level of guard play they will see across this season. 

Other Baylor guards Underwood made note of were freshman Dylan Mingo and junior Brett Decker Jr. Dylan Mingo’s mid-range game is dangerous according to Underwood, and Decker has proven he can knock down plenty of triples, as he shot 47.1% at Liberty last year.

“It’s just typical of (head coach) Scott (Drew),” Underwood said. “Scott’s always got great guards, and he lets them play and runs a lot of actions for them . . . The Mingos are just two more that are in line with the great backcourts he’s had.”  

Underwood said that communication is a key factor in cleaning up the defense, a statement that Stojaković also made Saturday. At the end of the day, continuing to build that chemistry is what these early exhibition games are for, as well as working on defending according to the scouting report. 

“I’ve always said that the hardest thing to do is build defensive chemistry,” Underwood said. “You got to speak it, and then you got to hear it and listen to it. When you’re in ball screen coverages, when you’re in rotations at different times, everybody’s got to be on point speaking it and then hearing it. So, we’ll get better at those things.” 

Rebounding for full 40

Alongside high-level perimeter play, the other half of Drew’s philosophy for building his teams has historically been having bigs who can clean up misses around the basket on both ends of the floor. Defensive and offensive rebounding will be a must for Illinois Friday, but not solely for a singular half or five-minute period. It will have to be a full 40-minute effort. 

“I spent most of halftime talking about what I thought was our lack of rebounding in the first half,” Underwood said. 

The Illini front court will have their work cut out for them, though, with senior center Juslin Bodo Bodo roaming around in the paint. Bodo Bodo grabbed 7 rebounds against Florida, and at 6-foot-11, he has the size to go to battle with Illinois’ two 7-footers. The Mingo brothers also aren’t afraid to crash the glass, as both of them recorded 8 boards a piece in the exhibition. 

While Illinois’ first-half rebounding performance was subpar against Cincinnati, Underwood said the second-half effort to crash the offensive glass was a difference-maker in the game’s result. Now, it’s about turning that into a consistent habit across an entire game. 

@evy_york2 

evyyork2@dailyillini.com 

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Pink Week, an annual campus initiative for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is fundraising Oct. 19-23 through the University’s American Cancer Society chapter.

October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month because of a week-long campaign in 1985 promoting early detection efforts. During this month, the University’s chapter of ACS hosts their own week-long fundraising event.

ACS is an RSO on campus dedicated to fighting cancer through efforts such as fundraising, advocacy and awareness. The RSO also hosts social events such as study socials and guest speaker talks with professors and cancer survivors. 

Grace Stuckey, senior in LAS and vice president of events, said ACS would be at Anniversary Plaza throughout Pink Week selling T-shirts and stickers as a part of its fundraising efforts.

“This year we are selling old T-shirts from past years,” Stuckey said. “Then we’re doing pre-orders for more shirts, so we have less overconsumption as well.”

The merchandise showcases a variety of phrases related to breast cancer awareness, such as “This Barbie Supports Breast Cancer Awareness” and “In October We Wear Pink.” 

Stuckey said all proceeds from the sales go directly to the national ACS chapter. With this money, the national chapter is able to help fund cancer research, patient support services and early detection initiatives.

While fundraising is a central part of Pink Week’s mission, the week also includes opportunities for ACS to spread its message.

Stacie Jeevanandam, junior in LAS, said Pink Week is not just about fundraising but also about bringing the campus and community together to build awareness. 

“We are doing a collaborative Instagram post for campus trying to advertise how you can keep yourself healthy,” Jeevanandam said. “How can you be checked for (breast cancer), and if you do happen to get diagnosed, how can you be treated the best way?”

According to ACS, about 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. She said the ACS executive board members are planning to work together to create content that increases knowledge surrounding breast cancer. The planned social media post, according to Jeevanandam, will give students a way to stay informed about breast cancer risks, creating an accessible community on campus.

Emily Hahm, senior in AHS, was previously ACS’s vice president of finance. She said she initially became involved in the organization because cancer affects everyone in some way.

“It’s so important to raise awareness and do our part,” Hahm said. “Everyone should do their part to aid in the fight, which is why we sell shirts every year.”

If students are not able to make it to fundraising events, Jeevanandam said there are still ways to contribute to Pink Week. She said students can share and repost ACS’s social media information to help spread the word to peers, friends and family. This is just one more way for the organization’s mission to be spread.

Outside of its fall fundraiser, ACS also holds a spring event, Relay for Life. According to Hahm, this is an honorary event on the Main Quad where people directly affected by cancer deliver testimonials. 

Hahm said that attendees play games and eat food while getting to know those around them. Towards the end of the night, they do a Luminaria ceremony with lanterns across the grass. The lanterns commemorate the lives of anyone who has been or is affected by cancer.

Jeevanandam said members work well across different committees to support Pink Week, with some focused on spreading cancer-related information and others organizing the tabling events. 

“Seeing it all come together this week is really special,” Jeevanandam said.

tlsmith3@dailyillini.com

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UIPD announced in a press release Thursday that Naavya Chhikara, an 18-year-old University student, was arrested Tuesday at 5:41 p.m. for unauthorized videotaping in bathrooms at Oglesby Hall. She pleaded not guilty in a preliminary court appearance, according to the court docket. 

Chhikara was charged with two counts of unauthorized videotaping by the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office, according to UIPD. Her charges violate Illinois statute 720 5/26-4(a), which states “it is unlawful for any person to knowingly make a video record or transmit live video of another person without that person’s consent in a restroom.”

Knowingly videotaping another person in a restroom without their consent is a Class 4 Felony. A conviction can result in one to three years in prison and fines of up to $25,000 for each charge.  

Chhikara was booked at the Champaign County Jail at 6:16 p.m. Tuesday, according to the jail’s inmate bookings report. 

In a court appearance Wednesday, Chhikara waived a preliminary hearing, pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested a trial by jury, according to the court docket. She was released pending trial, with a pretrial conference scheduled for Dec. 16.

Chhikara, who was a resident at Oglesby Hall, no longer lives there.

The investigation remains ongoing, and UIPD wrote it is working with its campus partners to “support those who may have been affected.”

The press release noted that arrested individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and formal charges may change throughout the judicial process.

Anyone with information can contact UIPD at 217-333-1216 or police@illinois.edu. Witnesses who wish to remain anonymous can call Champaign County Crime Stoppers at  217-373-8477, visit 373tips.com or use the P3 Tips mobile app on iOS and Android.

vturner4@dailyillini.com 

sophiav5@dailyillini.com

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Owen Burton said he didn’t anticipate much to come from his first solo project, Ovven. For him, the sold out shows and admiration that followed were pleasant surprises. 

Now, he’s set to return to the Rose Bowl Tavern Friday, performing with openers Lys Allen and Marble Teeth. 

Burton released his debut album, “Gnawing At The Cord,” under the name Ovven in February, which blends alt-country with indie rock. He said he didn’t anticipate the success and appreciation the project would go on to receive.

“I made that record and put it out with little or no expectation, and it just kind of started getting some traction,” Burton said. “Got a lot of word of mouth and started spreading around on its own — it took on a life of its own.”

The album wasn’t Burton’s first time making music, he said, as he’s been playing the guitar since he was about 9 years old. Burton said he graduated from DePaul University’s School of Music, and since moving to Nashville, Tennessee, he has consistently performed with other artists’ bands. He’s currently a member of Dallas Ugly, and said Ovven originated thanks to songs he created that didn’t make the cut for the band. 

Inspired by artists like Wilco, Burton said he admires music’s ability to resonate with people. When his own work began to impact others the way that he had been impacted by his favorite artists, he said he felt fulfilled.  

“So many times in my life, I’ve come across new records that really meant a lot to me and touched on things that I felt or intuitively knew but didn’t have words for,” Burton said. “That’s something music can do really well: say things that are hard to say with words. … People reach out to me now and say that my album does that for them in some kind of way, which is really cool and gratifying.”

Burton said he has performed at Rose Bowl “a bunch of times,” to the point where he has lost count. According to him, the venue is one of his favorites, and he first performed there when he was 19. 

After graduating college, Burton said his life took a bit of a pivot when he went into the Peace Corps in Senegal. He said being abroad for years made him feel extremely homesick — an emotion he honed in on as inspiration for some of his songs. 

Burton said a mix of humor and melancholy influences his music. According to Burton, his song “Embarrassing” is a clear example of this. He said its opening lyric comes from a quote his friend said that struck him: “There’s nothing more embarrassing than to be alive.”  

“Having lyrics that make me laugh is important to me because I think that’s just really how I see the world,” Burton said. “So, I like finding that kind of balance between, you know, sometimes a song is funny and sad at the same time.” 

Despite his origins as a guitar player, Burton said he feels his strongest strength is his songwriting. For him, moving to Nashville — which he described as “a bottomless pool of extremely good” musicians — meant focusing on making his voice as unique and true to himself as possible. 

For those attending his performance at Rose Bowl, Burton said they can expect a variety of sounds. He said songs in the show will range from intense bursts of energy to solemn, quieter moments. 

“The power of this music is that we cover this wide spectrum, especially on the live show, of bang your head and push people around,” Burton said. “It’s loud, rowdy rock music, but then maybe even later in the same song, you might just really get drawn in to like a lonesome fiddle sound. So, I think what to expect out of the show is something that’s both rowdy and intimate.”

sonalik4@dailyillini.com

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Purdue junior linebacker Jojo Hayden would be a big help to Illinois’ (3-3, 1-2) defense this season.

His 48 tackles and two interceptions would lead the team, and even though the Illini have a game in hand over the Boilermakers, Hayden is still racking up tackles at a higher rate than any Illini. 

To be fair, many players would be a big help to Illinois this season. Head coach Bret Bielema would surely love to watch an orange-and-blue-clad Jeremiah Smith perform superhuman feats at Gies Memorial Stadium every Saturday.

But unlike Hayden, Illinois didn’t lose Smith in the transfer portal this winter. 

A big reason behind the Illini’s shortcomings this season is their subpar transfer class. While injuries have done the team no favors, Illinois just didn’t do enough to remain competitive and is now paying the price.

It’s not an unexpected outcome, either. 247Sports ranked the Illini’s class as 11th-best in the Big Ten. Nine of the 10 teams with stronger transfer groups currently have better records than Illinois, with only Penn State — scrambling to replace the 47 players it lost following former head coach James Franklin’s departure — faring worse. 

In the great flea market that is the college football transfer portal — with desperate players peddling their wares and programs lining up in search of diamonds in the rough — the Illini simply got skunked.

Nowhere is Illinois’ inability to pony up more apparent than its defense. 

Bielema admitted this summer that Illinois blew its wad on its offensive line, leaving the program cash-strapped when it came to defense. Illinois couldn’t keep defensive linemen Angelo McCollum and Tomiwa Durojaiye around, and couldn’t afford to replace them. 

In the wake of the roster shakeup, Bielema implemented a 3-3-5 defense. The new scheme didn’t live up to its potential upside and left former defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck without a job after just four games.

Illinois rushed into the flea market and fell for the surplus of used power tools near the entrance. Sure, it was an important purchase, no doubt a savvy buy, but the team couldn’t afford the bicycle it also needed and had to make do with a second-hand scooter. 

Meanwhile, two of the team’s premier offensive additions — fifth-year wide receivers Alex Perry and Jayshon Platt — have both missed the entire season with injuries. 

At least Perry’s and Platt’s situations can be chalked up to bad luck. Illinois took a gamble on a vintage crockpot, only to plug it in and find it doesn’t work. It was a good purchase; it would’ve added a lot to the kitchen, but now the trusty Dutch oven is playing a bigger role than initially expected.

On the other side, it stings to see former Illini find success elsewhere, especially those like Hayden who never got quite as much playing time as they should have.

Redshirt senior wide receiver Mario Sanders is also making the most of his opportunity with Southern Mississippi. Sanders ranks among the top 40 FBS players nationally in receiving touchdowns (five) and receiving yards (492). 

Fellow redshirt senior receiver Justin Bowick is doing just as well at Oklahoma State, where he’s collected six receiving touchdowns on 469 receiving yards. 

Fifth-year kicker David Olano is one of the most accurate kickers in the FBS this season, going a perfect 11-for-11. He’s been good from 57 yards and is 4-for-4 on kicks of 50 yards or more for Texas A&M. 

The Illini parted with an old jacket only to realize too late that they’d left a bundle of twenty-dollar bills in one of the pockets. For a team as desperate for cash as Illinois, it was an unaffordable mistake — and it shows in the standings. 

To the team’s credit, not everything they crammed into their van after a day at the flea market proved faulty. Fifth-year quarterback Katin Houser and seventh-year offensive lineman Jake Renfro both emerged as captains and, despite Houser’s injury, have performed admirably.

Junior defensive lineman Will Holmes and fifth-year defensive lineman Carter Janki — both transfers — are the only Illini with multiple quarterback hurries this season. 

But overall — whether because of a lack of resources, poor planning or just bad luck — it was a largely unsuccessful transfer class for Illinois. 

In January, Illinois should take this season in stride as it hits the flea market once again. Perhaps this time it’ll have a better strategy to canvass the vendors, but bringing more money wouldn’t hurt, either.

@BrendanGallian

bdg4@dailyillini.com

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Maligaya’s Oriental Market opened in 2003 as a family-owned business. The original owner’s son, Eric Maligaya, helped with the store before officially becoming its owner and, in 2021, moved to a new location next to Iglesia El Shaddai. 

Maligaya said he had an agreement with the church’s pastor, who owned the building, in which he had five years, starting in 2021, to rent the building plus another three years if he wrote a letter of intent. After those eight years, Maligaya said the pastor would let him move into the space next door to expand his business.

However, he forgot to write the letter of intent to keep the store. The pastor took back the building and, according to Maligaya, went back on the agreement for moving spaces.

“I told him, ‘Please forgive me. I forgot to send a letter of intent, but you know my intentions,’” Maligaya said. “But the only thing he said was, ‘I’m sorry.’”

According to Maligaya, starting over in a new space would cost around $50,000 for the permits and plumbing in accordance with city specifications. He said he’s hesitant to continue because business is slow and he doesn’t have the money for a new space. 

Maligaya said he is also the director of activities for the Filipino American Association of East Central Illinois. He posts and advertises it throughout the store, which he said has a strong relationship with the organization. 

Maligaya also said he knows many of the Filipinos in C-U by name because he picks up balikbayan boxes, which are boxes filled with goods Filipinos send home to the Philippines.

“This is not just a store,” Maligaya said. “It’s an institution of Filipinos here in Champaign.”

Ethan Lopez, senior in LAS and president of the University’s Philippine Student Association, said he has worked with Maligaya through the Filipino American Association of East Central Illinois.

Lopez said ordering Filipino products online is not the same as supporting a member of the community. He said being able to go into a store and smelling the scent of home is what made the shopping experience special.

“It’s a special thing to have that anchor from home here when we’re on campus,” Lopez said.

According to Lopez, he has spoken to his executive board in PSA to brainstorm ways it can help Maligaya. He said the RSO will be stocking up and encouraging other students to check out the store.

“We’re here, and we’re ready to assist in any way that we can logically,” Lopez said.

Maligaya said he’s interested in the space that was Green Onion Asian Market, but that it would cost $9,500 a month to rent the whole building and $4,500 for half. Maligaya remains hopeful, he said, but the space is expensive.

As of now, there is no definitive answer on whether Maligaya’s Oriental Market will return in a new location, but junior in LAS and Vice President External of PSA, Rochelle Sazon, said that PSA would be open to fundraising.

Sazon said she hopes Maligaya is able to find a new space because the store is an important part of the Filipino community. 

“Not having this place for people to find their food anymore, this presence leaving Champaign, it will be felt,” Sazon said. “It really will be felt.”

tjl11@dailyillini.com 

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As fall returns to Champaign-Urbana, so will Pocketfest: a “pocket-sized” music and thrift festival. This year, it will be held in the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center Saturday from 1:30-6:30 p.m. 

Pocketfest will feature numerous vendors and nine musical guests, including Manifest West, The Collideoscopes and Current Conduct. Admission is free for all attendees. The festival was founded by Sierra Sikora and Max Crutcher, juniors in Media, in 2025. 

“I always say it’s like a love letter to the community,” Crutcher said. “It’s beautiful bringing everyone together like this.” 

In addition to running the event, Sikora will be performing alongside her band. Sikora said she will be singing a song off her new EP, “Aftertaste,” set to release Friday.

Crutcher said he and Sikora began working together after they met through Star Course, a nonprofit student-run promotion and production organization. Crutcher said they bonded over shared advertising classes and their love for C-U’s local music scene. 

Crutcher’s experience as a publicity manager for Star Course helped him become more familiar with local artists on and off campus, he said, and after befriending Sikora, he also began listening to her music. 

What started as a simple conversation between the two eventually blossomed into a community-wide event, according to Sikora.

“It was this long drive we had,” Sikora said. “I think (Crutcher) had mentioned, ‘I’d love to book shows or have my own venue,’ … I was like, ‘Hey, I have this idea, maybe we could collab.’”  

While neither founder earns commission from the fest itself, Sikora said the two profit off of seeing small businesses and local musicians thrive. 

Compared to its debut, Crutcher said the festival has seen an increase in both the number and variety of vendors. He said this year, vendors will sell a mix of clothing, jewelry, art, candles, soaps and more.

Pocketfest will also introduce a new house show after-party called Pocketfest After Hours. Joined by WPGU and The Collective Magazine, the show is 18+ and will feature five local artists. Doors open at 8 p.m., and costumes are encouraged. 

Kaylee Kirkland, owner of Blue Crow Lavender, said they first looked into Pocketfest after being approached by Crutcher and Sikora at Urbana’s Night Market at the Square in 2025. Kirkland said they felt the festival would be a good fit for their brand. 

Kirkland was one of the vendors selling merchandise at the original festival last year, where they said they enjoyed the experience and made profitable sales. Beyond that, Kirkland said the live music and overall atmosphere was enjoyable.

“I don’t see all the bands, but I get to hear them, and as someone who can be overwhelmed by the … louder bands … it was the perfect distance,” Kirkland said. “As someone who doesn’t typically go to a lot of live shows, it was very nice … (it) made the time pass in between people coming to the booth.”  

According to Kirkland, their experience last year made them excited to join Crutcher and Sikora again for Pocketfest’s second year, where they will be debuting Blue Crow Lavender’s new layered magnets.

Kirkland said the brand is defined by whimsical and cozy storybook illustrations. Currently, they sell watercolor prints, pins, magnets and more. 

“It’s a combination of things when I’m trying to come up with ideas,” Kirkland said. “Art inspires art is kind of a key thing.” 

Fellow artist Sikora said creating Pocketfest felt important to her because of her love for the tight-knit and diverse music scene at the University. She said she wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of turnout last year, but ultimately, she said she was able to see the “fruits of her labor.”

“I’m really glad that I got to contribute to an event that seems to be something a lot of people loved,” Sikora said. “It’s really cool for hard work to pay off.” 

Similarly, Crutcher said seeing the completion of Pocketfest was very meaningful to him. He said putting the festival together last year and watching it succeed was one of his proudest moments. 

“I’ve never put something together like this that is my own,” Crutcher said. “So, seeing it all come together in the end, it’s just beautiful.”

leahdf2@dailyillini.com

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McKinley Health Center hosted Junk Car Tuesday, an event focused on educating students about safe alcohol consumption and the dangers of drunk driving. 

The event, held outside the Illini Union near the Main Quad, featured pre-health RSOs, Greek life organizations and representatives from McKinley. Participants could buy sweets to support McKinley, take free boxes of Narcan, learn their blood pressure and play games relating to alcohol impairment. 

The main exhibit was the junk car itself, which was wrecked due to a collision with a drunk driver. According to José Cortez, a graduate student studying health administration and graduate assistant at McKinley, crashes like the one resulting in the junk car are much more common than students think. 

“This is just one of many examples,” Cortez said, pointing to the car. “This is just one of many car crashes that can happen.”

Although the number of drunk-driving fatalities in Champaign-Urbana has decreased in the last decade, Cortez stressed the importance of McKinley’s outreach program. He said that — given the amount of new and international students — many may be unaccustomed to C-U’s social scene or the risks of driving impaired. 

“They don’t really understand how we party, how everything works around here,” Cortez said. “They also might have questions that they may not know or (are) too scared to ask.”

Drunk driving outreach programs often require significant effort and planning to be effective, according to the Department of Transportation. Campaigns focused solely on abstinence, like the War on Drugs, have not achieved their intended results, but even after one drink, driving becomes very risky. 

According to Rubi De La Torre, junior in AHS and a McKinley volunteer, the Junk Car’s interactive and behind-the-scenes approach is critical to teaching others the dangers of drunk driving. 

“Making it very interactive, actually understanding the effects, all of our games and having approachable damage … (are) really helpful,” De La Torre said. “Instead of just being like, ‘no,’ we want to give a reasoning as to why we’re saying no.”

Along with promoting safety on the road, Junk Car also featured RSOs that taught students about preventative healthcare and general alcohol use.

According to Azul Rios, senior in LAS and president of the Illini Medical Screening Society, repeated drinking now can impact students’ health later on.

“We see that (for) a lot of college students, because of the increase of alcohol intake as well as sodium or fast food and stuff like that, their cholesterol levels end up rising,” Rios said.

High cholesterol levels are associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Rios recommends preventative measures for students, like frequently checking in on their health and utilizing McKinley’s low-cost medications.

“Never think (that) just because you’re uninsured that you can’t get any type of help,” Rios said. “You can get access to more resources; you just have to look for them.”

De La Torre suggested consuming alcohol on a full stomach and mixing water with alcohol to speed up absorption. She also said that students need to stand up for themselves to stay healthy.

“Be mindful of the decisions that you’re making, be with your friends and be able to learn how to say no to different situations,” De La Torre said.

Although they emphasized different techniques, the volunteers at the event recognized the importance of staying healthy and preventing injury and disease. 

“I always say, you can have a hundred problems, but the second that you have a health problem, you only have one because it’s such an important part of your life,” Rios said.

Continuing its alcohol outreach initiative, McKinley will host an Alcohol Awareness Panel Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Illini Union.

kaidb2@dailyillini.com 

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As the IBM-Illinois Discovery Accelerator Institute looks to expand its operations with the construction of a new quantum computing center in Chicago, University researchers have been at the forefront of quantum computing innovation.

The IIDAI was formed in 2021 as a research partnership between IBM and The Grainger College of Engineering. According to its website, its work focuses on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, material discovery and carbon capture.

The Institute’s work is closely connected to that of the Discovery Partners Institute, which is a research partnership between the University and the tech industry in Chicago.

The IIDAI and the DPI are both awaiting the development of the Illinois Quantum & Microelectrics Park in Chicago. The first phase of the Park is set to be completed in 2028.

Engineering Professor Klara Nahrstedt, director of research at the Discovery Partners Institute, said the DPI is excited to connect University researchers to Chicago industry.

“We want to really open up the collaboration of many of the Urbana researchers to the Chicago ecosystem,” said Nahrstedt. “We have invited various research groups to submit things that they see beneficial to Chicago, between Urbana and Chicago.”

Nahrstedt, a team lead for the AI systems research unit of the DPI, said the new quantum computing technology would be particularly useful for complicated problems in materials science and drug discovery. Even with powerful supercomputers, these problems often involve highly complex equations that are difficult for conventional hardware to solve.

To solve this problem, Nahrstedt and her team hope to build a software stack on top of the quantum hardware that can increase the efficiency of classical computers and allow them to use the power of quantum computing to solve these problems more quickly. 

“If quantum processors can speed up things, they can often provide us with multiple solutions at the same time,” Nahrstedt said. “It would tremendously speed up scientific discovery. I think this is what we’re all marching towards.”

Professor in Engineering Harley Johnson, who serves as Executive Director and CEO of the IQMP, said he was looking forward to working with the IIDAI to connect the University’s research to the Chicago tech industry. 

“We’re very excited about some of the things that are happening inside IIDAI, including efforts to connect existing resources, like computer systems on campus here at the U (of) I, with the quantum computing systems in Chicago,” said Johnson. “That’s going to be a tremendous step forward in understanding the technology.”

The University is home to several advanced computer systems hosted through the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Although these systems are located on campus, they can be used by researchers anywhere in the country.

Johnson said the quantum computing industry will create new opportunities for University students in Chicago.

“There are increasing research opportunities here on campus that are becoming available, that are related to all the work that’s going on in Chicago around quantum computing,” Johnson said. “We’re very optimistic about the industry and what that’s going to do for Chicago.”

The construction of the IQMP, which is set to be the first stage of an effort to develop a larger computing center known as Quantum Shore, has received varying reactions from the Chicago community about its potential effects on the city. 

While some, such as Gov. JB Pritzker, have shared Johnson’s optimism that the quantum computing industry will benefit Chicago by improving the economy, others have raised concerns that the facility’s construction will exacerbate pollution and gentrification in Chicago’s South Side.

Johnson said that IQMP’s operations are different from those of a data center.

“We hope that people will share in our excitement about what this means right now,” Johnson said. “People have a lot of questions about, for example, AI and data centers, and this is very different from that. So we’re excited to show that story, and always happy to engage with students and the public to help tell that story.”

Although plans were announced for the Related Digital corporation to construct a one gigawatt data center on Quantum Shore’s campus in partnership with one of IQMP’s major tenants, it is unclear whether these plans are still in progress.

rubyd2@dailyillini.com 

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I, like many others in my generation, have begun to visit movie theaters more frequently. It’s a change of pace and a much better viewing experience than watching from my laptop at home. 

This summer, in particular, was huge for movie theaters. The domestic box office brought in $4.76 billion, higher than prepandemic sales. Hits like “The Odyssey” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” attracted huge numbers of viewers, the majority of whom are young adults. Millennials and Gen Z have been driving theater attendance: 82% of millennials and 87% of Gen Z have seen at least one movie in theaters in the past 12 months.

While it’s great to see the movie theater revival, I feel inclined to point out that going to the movies is perhaps the least social going-out activity one can do, and Gen Z is in desperate need of more connection. 

Three in five American adults say they feel lonely frequently, with higher rates among young adults. Americans across all age groups spend less than an hour socializing per day on average, but they spend over twice that amount of time watching TV. Perhaps most notably, over half of young adults report that they are almost constantly on their phones. It should be no surprise that discussion and connection over film takes place largely online. 

Letterboxd, an app where users can log and review movies, has seen massive growth over the past few years. The platform currently boasts about 30 million users, up from 1.8 million at the beginning of the decade. Users delight in selecting their top four favorite movies and responding to reviews, usually preferring one-sentence quips to long, in-depth reviews. 

Traditional social media has also become a more important factor driving moviegoing, with cast TikToks and social media reviews being some of the top ways to build excitement for new releases. 

I myself have enjoyed these different ways to engage with film content. Film reviews on TikTok and YouTube have driven me to see more movies in theaters. This past year, I attempted to watch all 10 movies nominated for best picture — I only got to eight — because some of my favorite film reviewers had watched them all. I likely wouldn’t have seen “Resident Evil,” released a few weeks ago, if I hadn’t seen so many clips of Austin Abrams and Zach Cregger circulating online.

But frankly, most of us could do with more socializing. If more people are already going to see the movies, why not create space to talk about film there, in person, instead of through a screen? 

Theaters with concession stands can be social hubs, and about 300 AMC theaters are also home to bars. What is stopping movie theaters from hosting social or happy hours following popular showtimes? Upcoming movies such as “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Dune: Part Three” are projected to draw in huge crowds. “Doomsday” has already brought in $50 million in presales. Imagine if theaters with the capacity to do so offered happy hours after select showings of these films. 

According to Fandango, the majority of moviegoers go out to eat or drink after seeing a film. A social hour following showings would not only be an opportunity for people to connect over the movie, but it would also be an incentive to buy a bite or beverage, drawing in more sales for the theater. 

Additionally, rewards programs could be a fruitful platform for developing social opportunities. Major theater chains have seen growth in membership. For instance, AMC Stubs has grown from 22.5 million member households in 2019 to 40.7 million in June. 

Members have access to exclusive deals and, occasionally, special screenings. Events could be an additional appeal to join Stubs. Theaters could host a few events per year where members can meet and mingle, with information about upcoming releases and member opportunities.

The Music Box, an independent theater in Chicago, offers free monthly screenings to members and hosts programming like sing-along showings of “The Sound of Music.” Movie trivia takes place every week at the Logan Theatre, another independent theater in Chicago. 

Several cities, including New York and Chicago, host free movie screenings in various city parks several times during the warmer months, making space for community members to enjoy films together. The Illini Union hosts weekend movie screenings throughout the semester. 

These sorts of events make it easier for movie lovers to meet and socialize, but the average American doesn’t have easy access to an independent theater that can screen films in 35mm and host member meetups, or live near a college that shows free movies every week. 

There should be more programming and more space for moviegoers to interact in person at national theater chains, cinemas the average American has access to. If we want to build in-person connections in an increasingly digital age, we need to make it easy to do so, and we need to be open and willing. 

Lillian is a senior in FAA

lwein3@dailyillini.com

The post Opinion | America needs connection, movie theaters could help appeared first on The Daily Illini.

Rating: 8.5/10

“Sense and Sensibility,” the newest film adaptation by Georgia Oakley, highlights how people experienced “situationships” and ghosting long before modern times. The movie is grandiose in scale, but also features individual characters in an intimately rich way. This feat, especially given the difficulty of adapting period pieces from novels, ends up paying off in its portrayal.

Adapted from Jane Austen’s 1811 novel of the same name, the story follows the Dashwood sisters’ quest to find suitors after they are left penniless due to their father’s inheritance being passed only to his male heirs. Characters in this movie are recognizable at their core, which allows audiences to resonate with one of the many story arcs that take place through the film’s progression.

Due to the law stating that inheritance can only be passed to male heirs, the viewer witnesses the Dashwood sisters and their mother’s material wealth stripped away and passed to their half brother, with whom they are not close. This sequence evokes rage, sadness and, ultimately, contempt among the viewers and characters alike. A grand manor, which once held the family and their livelihoods, is traded for a rural cottage far away from where they grew up.

To mitigate the loss of wealth and possessions, the two Dashwood sisters, Elinor (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Marianne (Esmé Creed-Miles), begin courting suitors in an attempt to regain status. The film follows their attempt, loss and reckoning, all framing the struggles of women during Austen’s time.

Elinor Dashwood is strongly devoted to her family and its success, while also maintaining a deeply emotional and intelligent approach to life. Her relationship with Edward Ferrars (George MacKay) is at the core of the film. This specific relationship stands out in theme and performance, with Edgar-Jones and MacKay portraying the ideas of true love, family name and social politics in a beautiful manner.

Marianne Dashwood, the other protagonist and second-born sister, is sent on a rocky journey of her own and must navigate the waters of scheming men and unrequited love. Her character, who is often impulsive and highly expressive, is contrasted with one of her love interests, Colonel Brandon (Herbert Nordrum), who is calm but also distant and stoic toward the happenings of life.

Both actors deliver skillful performances, especially Nordrum, who captures the trauma of war and the prospect of starting anew very articulately. He may also be recognized for his role as Eivind in “The Worst Person in the World,” another film lauded for its emotional depth and character-driven storytelling.

The film’s events stir various emotions and reactions alike, but the true crux is the theme of finding harmony between logic and rationality, represented by sense, and the feelings of love and passion, represented by sensibility. Elinor and Marianne Dashwood initially committed to those ideals to an extreme, but by the end of the film find a balance between the two.

Although this progression works well in the film, the true flowers should be awarded to the masterful storyteller Jane Austen, who wove her own social commentary on the 1800s into the stories she published. The universality of “Sense and Sensibility” has allowed the timeless tale to be adapted and retold countless times and is the reason she is considered one of the fundamental and classic writers of her time.

While themes and plot devices can be discussed much more at length in courses like ENGL 237: Nineteenth-Century British Fiction, the beauty of this film lies in two more things: its color and score. The color palette of the film is earthy and muted, which shows the somber nature of mourning and heartbreak. This contrasts with University alum Ang Lee’s 1995 adaptation, which can be overly polished with its bright colors, both in costume and color grading.

One of the beauties of modern filmmaking is the pairing of visuals, dialogue, story, cinematography and, of course, music. The ultimate feature of this film is the beautiful score that accompanies the Dashwood sisters’ progression. Unfortunately for the audiences of “Sense and Sensibility” in the 1800s, they only had words on a page. For modern viewers, we get treated to the aforementioned colors on screen, and a beautiful score by Roger Goula.

The music style sticks to the time period the story is set in, but also is distinctly modern and elegant in its features with its crisp sound and auditory engineering — a true testament to the feats that classic adaptations can achieve with their subject. Performed by the London Contemporary Orchestra, this score heightens every feeling from the film, from love to heartbreak, in a way that completes the feature.

For all of its beauty, “Sense and Sensibility” makes a few missteps when portraying the classic characters. For one, it seems that the tumultuous relationship between Marianne and Elinor is underplayed to focus more on their romantic prospects. 

On that same note, the role of the Dashwood mother is heavily minimized in the movie, whereas her book counterpart is depicted as intelligent and more involved in her children’s lives. Although cuts are bound to occur in adaptations, they feel overdone and thus stray a bit from the original subject matter.

For all its good, and some minor flaws, 2026’s “Sense and Sensibility” is worth the watch and a testament to how modern techniques and filmmaking can enhance an age-old story.

bmoor@dailyillini.com

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Among the contests are the fight to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski facing Republican challenger Jeff Wilson; Gov. JB Pritzker’s run for reelection; and a nonbinding advisory question regarding approval of an Illinois law that penalizes companies for boycotting Israel.

Early voting is open now at locations around Champaign County, including the Illini Union. Residents can also vote at any of the county’s polling locations on Election Day, which will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The University Library is hosting a nonpartisan workshop, Know Your Ballot: Researching Candidates, Issues, and Elections, Thursday in Illini Union Room 209 at 5:30 p.m. It is also hosting a second workshop Wednesday on Zoom. Those interested can register here for the in-person event and here for the online session.

U.S. Senate

Democrat and current Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Republican Don Tracy and Independent candidate Whitfield Harrington Jr. are competing to fill the seat held by the retiring Durbin, who has held it since 1997.

Stratton lists her priorities as improving affordability, expanding opportunities for the middle class and protecting democratic freedom. If elected, she would support Medicare for All, oppose the dismantling of the Department of Education and fight to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Stratton defeated nine Democratic candidates in March’s primary. Pritzker, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Durbin and others have endorsed Stratton.

Tracy has served as the Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party and has worked at several law firms in Illinois. He lists his aims as supporting the “American Dream,” lowering the cost of living and representing Illinois beyond just Chicago, among others. 

He would work to enforce the border and immigration laws, increase government accountability and reduce taxes for all Illinoisans. In a video linked on his campaign website, Tracy criticized Stratton and called her the “Lieutenant Governor of Automatic Tax Increases Without Political Accountability.”

Harrington Jr. is a member of the self-founded American Center Party and on his website has branded himself as an option for “Moving to the Middle.”

Harrington Jr.’s website details his responses to 10 campaign FAQs. Among his responses are claims to enforce immigration laws but rein in ICE’s conduct, pro-life beliefs, opposition to universal mail-in voting and a position on same-sex relationships based on the “biblical definition of marriage.”

U.S. House District 13 

Budzinski and Wilson will face off to represent Illinois’ 13th Congressional District. The district is home to three public state universities and contains portions of seven counties, as well as the state’s capital, Springfield. 

Budzinski is seeking her third term in the House. In a recent interview with The Daily Illini, Budzinski emphasized the topics she expects to address. 

“The ‘affordability’ word is the word of this election cycle,” Budzinski said. “It is having a real impact on people’s everyday lives.”

Budzinski believes ending the ongoing war in Iran, which has contributed to the 16% increase in the average U.S. residential electricity rate, will drive prices down. Additionally, Budzinski plans to grow the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Another area Budzinski hopes to tackle is taking money out of politics. In March, Budzinski introduced the PREDICT Act, which aims to disallow government officials from using insider information to trade on prediction markets. 

Wilson, the Republican candidate, also spoke to The DI, where he dove into his background and aims of his campaign. Wilson is a U.S. Navy veteran and is currently a member of the Champaign County Board.

In the interview, Wilson outlined several key points of his platform: increasing energy production in Illinois, addressing the nation’s federal debt and protecting the country’s borders. 

Regarding border protection, Wilson said he agrees with President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. 

Wilson, like Budzinski, also emphasized affordability for Illinoisans as a point of concern. Wilson opposes LIHEAP, instead listing on his website that “expanding nuclear energy, oil, and natural gas” would provide long-term results. 

Wilson also said he wants to bring back “Lincoln-esque values” to central Illinois, alluding to values stemming from the U.S. Constitution. 

“Freedom to worship, freedom to bear arms, private property, all those things Lincoln really fought for,” Wilson said.

Governor

Pritzker, the incumbent Democratic governor, will face Republican candidate Darren Bailey and independent candidate Collin Corbett to be Illinois’ governor.

Pritzker, in his aim for a third term, is running with former Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell as his lieutenant governor. In an interview with Capital News Illinois, Pritzker noted that fulfilling previously started initiatives, such as balancing the state’s budget, will be a main focus if reelected. 

The billionaire incumbent has also said he wants to see through his implementation of universal preschool, impose guardrails on artificial intelligence and regulate data center development.

Bailey has four issues he highlights on his campaign website: expanding quality education access, “restoring law and order” by supporting law enforcement, cutting the cost of living and lowering property taxes.

During his campaign, Pritzker has likened Bailey to Trump. Bailey told the Chicago Tribune his relationship with the president would be beneficial for his governorship, while Pritzker’s “refusal to work with the president is drastically hurting all of Illinois.”

Aaron Del Mar, a political organizer from Palatine, Illinois, is Bailey’s running mate. 

In an interview with The DI, Corbett, the independent candidate in the gubernatorial race, said he thought Pritzker and Springfield have let the state down in terms of data center development. 

Corbett described the current data center development situation as a “Wild West scenario,” stating on his website that he “will rein in unchecked data center growth.”

Corbett is running with Carolyn Schofield as his lieutenant governor. He said his main goals include affordability and reforming the state’s tax structure.

Illinois Attorney General

Kwame Raoul, the incumbent attorney general, will compete against Republican Bob Fioretti to keep his seat as the chief law officer of Illinois. 

Raoul, the Democratic candidate, has been serving as attorney general since 2019. Some issues Raoul lists on his campaign website include advocating for women, supporting survivors of violence and standing with workers. 

In his time as attorney general, Raoul has created “the state’s first Organized Retail Crime Task Force,” aimed at properly investigating “smash-and-grab” crimes. Raoul also leads the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which investigates and prosecutes child predators across the state. 

In his decades-long law career, Fioretti has represented Lafonso Rollins, a man who spent 11 years in prison for rape charges until being exonerated after DNA testing. Fioretti also represented Baby Tamia’s family, a high-profile case that led to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich signing the Adoption Reform Act in 2005. 

If elected, Fioretti will be committed to supporting local law enforcement to help protect communities from crime, holding the government accountable by exposing corruption and facilitating transparency, as well as other issues. 

Secretary of State

For Secretary of State, incumbent Democratic candidate Alexi Giannoulias and Republican candidate Diane M. Harris will go head-to-head. 

Giannoulias has been serving as secretary of state since January 2023 and was the treasurer of Illinois from 2007 to 2011. On his campaign website, Giannoulias highlights that during his latest term, he facilitated strict regulations on credit card companies by “authoring legislation to curb deceptive tactics marketers employed to prey on college students.”

The overarching goal Giannoulias states on his website is rebuilding trust amongst Illinoisans in the state’s public institutions and elected officials. 

Some of Giannoulias’ priorities he lists on his website include making roads safer, modernizing the secretary of state’s office, protecting voting rights and facilitating ex-offenders’ reintegration into society, to name a few. 

Harris, who describes herself as a “conservative leader,” is currently a Joliet Junior College Trustee and member of the 23rd Precinct Committee. Harris is running to serve and provide service to the public, not politicians, according to her website. 

If elected, Harris plans to expedite Department of Motor Vehicles services by increasing the number of self-service kiosks across the state. She also hopes to make DMVs more accessible for rural communities and modernize services with intuitive and secure technology. 

Outside of the DMV, Harris plans to review Illinois’ $885 million spending budget for waste and fraud, promote election integrity and advocate for safer transportation. 

Illinois House District 103

Incumbent State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-103, is running to keep her position. The 103rd district covers most of campus and a large portion of C-U. Write-in Keith Smith is challenging her, who only filed as a candidate in September.

Currently in her sixth term, Carol Ammons has focused on criminal justice reform, addressing the “historic harms of racism” and protecting resources like the Mahomet Aquifer from pollution.

Carol Ammons and her husband County Clerk Aaron Ammons were indicted for wire fraud and obstruction of justice in July, charges they plead not guilty to. Previously due to appear in court on Election Day, the couple will now go on trial in December.

University alum and former small-business owner Smith states on his website that C-U “deserves honest representation.” His platform focuses on property tax reform, supporting a moratorium on new data center development and supporting small businesses.

Smith is not running along party lines and is “a registered Democrat with independent ideas and conservative values when it comes to taxes, budgets, the Bill of Rights, and the rule of law.”

Illinois House District 104

Brandun Schweizer, the incumbent Republican candidate, will face off Democratic candidate Mary Catherine Roberson to maintain his position. The 104th district surrounds the 103rd district and includes surrounding C-U towns, such as Savoy, Rantoul and Danville. 

Schweizer, a Marine Corps veteran, has held his position since December 2023. Schweizer lists three objectives on his website: fighting rising costs, helping families and creating jobs. 

Schweizer plans to cut costs for Illinoisans by cutting property taxes and working to lower the cost of everyday life. To create jobs, Schweizer wants to cut restrictions that impede local business. 

Roberson is currently the Director of Constituent Services for U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-2. Before her campaign, Roberson states on her website that she’s been involved with public safety, economic justice and community building throughout her career.

Focal points of Roberson’s campaign include reducing prescription drug prices, reforming public safety, establishing an inclusive community and protecting public education, among others. 

Regarding prescription drug prices, Roberson supports the Prescription Drug Affordability Board bill. For public safety, Roberson supports “funding everything that works: police, prevention, and stable economic opportunity.” 

State comptroller

Republican Bryan Drew and Democrat Margaret Croke will compete to fill Susana A. Mendoza’s departure as state comptroller. 

Drew is an attorney who has run his own law firm for the past 25 years. According to Drew’s campaign website, he wants to stop wasteful government spending and hold politicians accountable for tax dollars spent.

Croke has been a state representative for Illinois’ 12th district since 2021. Croke is running for comptroller to balance Illinois’ books, to invest in Illinoisans and to lead with integrity, according to her website. 

If elected, she will continue to enforce Illinois’ Prevailing Wage Act. She also lists modernizing the comptroller’s office systems as a need. Croke said the modernization will show the public “the full life cycle” of people’s dollars in Illinois and reduce waste and fraud. 

State treasurer

Republican Max Solomon is challenging incumbent Democrat Michael W. Frerichs for the position of Illinois’ treasurer. 

Frerichs, who has served since 2015, lists his accomplishments as shielding schools and infrastructure against budget cuts “by earning over $5.6 billion in investment returns for Illinois” and returning more money to Illinois residents than any other treasurer with his I-Cash unclaimed property program.

Solomon, an attorney and professor, describes himself on his website as conservative, accountable and transparent — he vows to increase transparency in the role by launching an online financial dashboard and advocating for responsible investment practices.

Champaign County positions

There are two contested and two uncontested races for county-wide offices. 

Incumbent Democrat Aaron Ammons is facing off against Republican Alan Anderson for the role of county clerk, which oversees elections, county records, property taxes and more. 

Aaron Ammons lists his accomplishments during his clerk service as increased voter turnout, expanding construction of ballot drop boxes and protecting “our sacred right to vote from election-denying, voter-suppressing Republicans.”

As part of the ongoing investigation into Aaron and Carol Ammons’ corruption charges, Aaron Ammons faces one count each of conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Anderson — a University alum who worked in computer science and business —  is running against Ammons to “restore confidence by running the office efficiently and getting it right the first time.” 

His website cites recent ballot errors as a reason why improvement is needed. 

The other contested race is for county sheriff: Democratic incumbent Dustin Heuerman is facing Republican Gregory Worrell. 

In an interview with IPM Newsroom, Heuerman stressed the importance of working with local immigration programs such as the New American Welcome Center and said he has “no allegiance to federal immigration.” 

Worrell, an Air Force veteran and long-term law enforcement officer of Champaign County, said in his interview with IPM he would “like to support ICE.”

Democratic incumbents Michelle Jett and Byron Clark are running unopposed for the positions of county executive and treasurer, respectively.

Twelve County Board candidates from Districts 1 through 11 are also running unopposed, including three Republicans and nine Democrats.

Ballot measures

There are two referendum questions local residents may see, depending on their registered address. 

Voters with a registered address inside the Champaign Unit 4 School District will have a binding question on their ballot asking about a $192 million project to construct new, demolish old and improve existing facilities. 

Residents of Cunningham Township and Champaign Township will see a non-binding advisory question about a 2015 Illinois law that prevents the state pension fund from investing in companies boycotting Israel. 

Judicial and other

Two seats in Illinois’ 5th District Appellate Court are up for election. Republican Amy Sholar is running unopposed to fill the vacancy of the seat of Thomas Welch and incumbent nonpartisan John Barberis Jr. is running to retain his seat. 

In Illinois’ 6th Circuit Court At-large, four nonpartisan judges — Robert “R.C.” Bollinger, Jason Bohm, Dana Rhoades and Ramona Sullivan — are running to retain their seats.

Incumbent Republican Jon Kelly is running to keep his role as regional superintendent of schools for Champaign and Ford counties.

vturner4@dailyillini.com 

sg119@dailyillini.com

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The Illini (4-4-7, 1-4-4) return to Demirjian Park Thursday to face off against the Northwestern Wildcats (5-8-3, 3-5-1) at 6 p.m. 

Illinois is on the heels of a 0-0 tie against Nebraska, where it maintained a strong defense through the backline and conference-leading goalkeeping. 

However, the low shot volume from Illinois left it with room to improve in attacking play. 

Meanwhile, Northwestern is on a four-game losing streak, with its most recent loss to USC by a 3-goal margin. By contrast, when the Illini faced off against the Trojans, they tied 1-1 through a late-game goal at 75:20. 

This season, the Wildcats have performed significantly better on their home pitch than on the road. Northwestern boasts a 4-2-2 record at home, compared to 1-6-1 away, which could give Illinois an advantage in this upcoming faceoff. 

Beyond that, Illinois leads the all-time series 15-11-4. However, it is worth noting that the Illini have only won one of the last five games, showing that early program successes may not translate into contemporary results. 

Key offensive threats to Illinois in this game include Northwestern junior midfielder/forward Alex Fallon and senior forward Megan Norkett. 

This year, Fallon has taken 26 shots with 11 on goal. She has maintained a highly consistent career shot accuracy of 49.0% on goal. Fallon has two game-winning goals this season, proving that she is capable of generating results in critical moments.

After making the Big Ten All-Tournament Team last season, Norkett has sought a number of offensive breakthroughs this year. She has 10 shots on goal, including 2 against No. 3 Ohio State. 

On the other end of the pitch, freshman defender/midfielder Naomi Lofthouse has played 1,322 minutes, showing her defensive stamina. Despite this being her first season at Northwestern, Lofthouse brings high-level experience, having represented Canada at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. 

Additionally, sophomore goalkeeper Nyamma Nelson has a save percentage of 0.771, presenting a considerable challenge to the Illini offense, whom she had a clean sheet against last year. 

To find success in this game, Illinois should make sure to generate high-quality shots on goal, smooth out transitions across the field and alleviate the pressure on fifth-year goalkeeper Izzy Lee. 

Thus far, Illinois has limited offensive breakthroughs and a lower shot percentage of 0.061. To increase its efficiency, Illinois should attempt to generate more action inside the 18-yard box by preventing the opposition from packing the area and forcing corner kicks. 

The Illini must smooth out transitions to prevent the same blunders that led to a 0-1 loss against the Wildcats last season. Last game, Illinois was outshot 17-5 and Northwestern had a heavy 7-to-1 corner kick advantage. By cleaning up defensive rebounds and clearing sequences, the Illini could alleviate some of this pressure and maintain more possession of the ball. 

Finally, the team should attempt to relieve some of the pressure on Lee by minimizing second-half defensive dropping. This could force opposing teams into longer shooting distances and avoid the necessity of close-range saves, which the team has relied on, especially against Wisconsin. 

benoble2@dailyillini.com

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With Marvel and Disney live-action films dominating the box office, politicians making national identity and the “glorified past” central to their messaging and another revival of Fortnite OG, I’ve come to the realization that we love nostalgia.

I want to argue that the value and comfort that we place on the old is stopping the cultural progression of creating innovative ideas and media forms. 

Dec. 18 is a huge day for Marvel fans as it marks the release of “Avengers: Doomsday.” Now I, like many others, will be seated on the first day, looking to be entranced by the culmination of 18 years of storytelling.

But regarding the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you will often hear fans say that “Marvel fell off after ‘Endgame,’” referring to the last blockbuster film.

Arguably, this opinion stems from the fact that this film brought to a close the storylines of headline characters like Iron Man and Captain America.

After the release of “Endgame,” the next slate of films and shows, which looked to introduce new characters and legacy heroes, didn’t gain the views and box office numbers necessary to continue their stories.

Now, in the face of the next “Avengers” film, Marvel has decided to bring back Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans to absolve the disconnected fanbase and get people back in their seats.

This shows nostalgia’s value both culturally and financially, and how it affects our willingness to embrace new storylines and character focuses.

But I believe this is disabling our ability to create new media and forms of human expression, which all forms of art should focus on if we are trying to repeat or capture the magic of the past.

Marvel isn’t the only franchise doing such — Disney also demonstrated this concept by remaking formerly loved films into live action and investing in making film sequels, rather than making new content.

The box office numbers of “Moana 2” support this view, grossing over $1 billion worldwide, despite having a middle-of-the-road Rotten Tomatoes rating of 61%. Comparatively, the new Disney Pixar film “Hoppers” boasts an impressive rating of 94%, despite only grossing just under $400,000 worldwide.

So it seems that fans would rather see familiar stories than new characters and concepts. And what drives this? Nostalgia.

Our love for the heralded past is also followed in our interactions on social media. I coin this term the “Algorithm of Familiarity.”

Social media platforms are driven by engagement, like liking a video, commenting and sharing with friends. Nostalgia is almost a social process, where reminiscing often draws on shared experiences with those from that time period.

It would make sense that a video that talks about the shared experience of phases every high school goes through would be popular. Our first thought and action is to share such a video with those who experienced the same thing, as validation for a shared past.

While there is still new and original content being recorded, there will always be a revived trend or thought piece that breaks through the algorithm. 

The aforementioned point actually highlights a larger connection between Generation Z and nostalgia, to the point where it’s been researched.

Gen Z is the most nostalgic generation, with 15% preferring to think about the past rather than the future; this extends to nostalgia for times we never even lived through.

As arguably the youngest generation, with the privileges of technology, living in mostly peaceful times and blooming art and media, why are we the most nostalgic out of all generations?

Now, I would put this down to the effects of the pandemic, with Gen Z perhaps being hit the hardest. As a generation, we’ve had to deal with a pause in our educational development years, and our university and early careers were impacted by the two-year gap in socialization and normality.

Even post-pandemic, we are having to deal with the cost-of-living crisis and almost learning what is normal again. Henceforth, these past “simpler times” bring us comfort: the times people seemed to have fun socially, enjoyed being young and when milk was only $1 at the store.

Another fundamental part of society, politics, also uses nostalgia to gauge people’s interest.

Currently, Western countries are in an age of nationalism. This rise is being seen in America with the Trump administration, the UK, France and Germany. Countries are now looking to protect their own national interests because of the worsening economy, increased immigration and global conflicts.

A lot of these parties that push nationalist ideals intertwine such with nostalgia for times of social and economic stability.

Trump’s campaign slogan “Make America Great AGAIN” refers to America’s “glorious past,” and the UK left the European Union based on the same promise to have better control of its borders.

But politics should look to the future, so the government can facilitate change to fit evolving societies, rather than trying to stick to or go back to certain “comfortable” eras.

So especially in politics and even wider in our lives, it seems like when times get harder, we often like to look back at comfort rather than look forward to how to make a better tomorrow.

Now, I do find myself questioning: Is it necessarily all bad? And I don’t think it is. I would argue that nostalgia is definitely a way in which we preserve our past; the keeping of memorabilia like Nintendo Wiis and vintage clothing keeps historic cultures alive in a way that could be lost to time.

And we do still turn out for new films and ideas, like “Obsession” or the creation of new trends. We even have politicians like Zohran Mamdani and Andy Burnham looking to the future rather than the past in policy creation.

But nostalgia continues to be a tool that is overused, and rather than simply reflecting on the past, we actually are trying to recreate it. So, instead of going forward, we are culturally stagnating.


Ethan James is a junior in LAS.
ethanj6@dailyillini.com

The post Opinion | Is nostalgia stopping culture from progressing? appeared first on The Daily Illini.

Two candidates for Illinois’ open U.S. Senate seat — Democrat Juliana Stratton and Republican Don Tracy — discussed issues such as the housing crisis, inflation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conduct and agricultural policy in an informal debate Tuesday night in Chicago. The debate was hosted by WTTW, Chicago’s PBS station. 

Stratton, the current lieutenant governor of Illinois, is favored to win the election over Tracy, who is an attorney and the former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party. 

Tuesday’s debate was the only one between Tracy and Stratton, although Republican and Democratic candidates had their own debates leading up to the primaries. 

The forum opened with a question addressing fuel costs and President Donald Trump’s plan to purchase Russian diesel. Stratton criticized Trump’s tariffs policies and the war in Iran, while Tracy said that Gov. JB Pritzker and Stratton’s efforts to “shut down clean fossil fuel plants” in Illinois contributed to more expensive diesel prices.

Turning to high inflation across the country, the two candidates had fundamentally different solutions to address the issue. 

“(We must) unleash American energy production,” Tracy said. “We need to have more refining capacity.”

Stratton countered, focusing on workers’ wages and taxes. She proposed a federal minimum wage hike from $7.25 to $25 an hour, along with a tax cut for middle-class families funded by a tax increase for households earning over $1 million annually. 

On housing affordability, both candidates acknowledged the strain of the current mortgage rate of 7.4% on prospective buyers. Stratton argued that the high rate is a “result of corporate greed” and that “people can’t afford (houses) because they’re competing against Wall Street.” 

Trade policy and its direct impact on Illinois farmers prompted disagreement between the candidates. 

“The jury’s still out,” Tracy said. “I like the fact that the president recognizes that we are being taken advantage of by the world and is using tariffs to reset world policy.”

Stratton pushed back, saying the Supreme Court already ruled the tariffs were unconstitutional. In addition, she said she would fight for refunds on tariffs for the people of Illinois. 

Addressing how to protect agricultural trade from tariffs, Stratton pointed to her and Pritzker’s trade mission to Mexico in 2025, an effort meant to maintain Illinois’ trade partnership with Mexico despite the federal tariffs on Mexican imports to the U.S. 

“Farmers need stability in an industry that is already so unpredictable, for lots of reasons,” Stratton said. 

In response, Tracy said farmers are consistently used as leverage in trade disputes. He said that a farm bill would be the most effective way of supporting farmers in Illinois and across the country. 

The debate then shifted to federal border security and immigration enforcement, with a focus on Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago last year. Stratton called for abolishing ICE and said the agency was “Donald Trump’s private police force.”

In Tracy’s response, he both rebutted Stratton’s proposal and raised concerns about Operation Midway Blitz. 

“Abolishing ICE really means … abolishing interior immigration law enforcement,” Tracy said. “I do fault the administration, because … they should have figured out a better way to enforce immigration law in Chicago.” 

The candidates were then asked about their positions on a federal transition to wind and solar energy. Tracy advocated for a balanced energy portfolio. 

“We do need to reduce carbon emissions … that includes supporting and promoting wind and solar to a reasonable extent,” Tracy said, adding that nuclear energy and traditional fossil fuels are an essential part of energy production in the U.S.

Stratton supported investing more in wind and solar energy and referred to the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act of Illinois, which was signed into law by Pritzker in 2021 and includes provisions to reduce carbon emissions across several areas. 

The discussion on foreign policy focused on the U.S.’s stance toward Russia and Congress’ role in diplomatic relations. 

Tracy took a firm stance, calling President Vladimir Putin of Russia a “thug” and asserting that “war should always be a last resort to international dispute resolution.” He said he would not vote in favor of a deal between the U.S. and Russia to end the war in Ukraine if it involved removing sanctions on Russia. 

Stratton targeted domestic leadership; she called Trump “the biggest threat to national security here in the U.S.” and emphasized that Congress “need(s) adults in the room.”

Stratton was then asked about how the federal government would pay for Medicare for All, a proposed bill that would establish nationalized, single-payer health insurance in the U.S.

“It’s a matter of priorities,” Stratton said. “We have a president right now, who has already spent billions on the war in Iran. … We need to make sure that people are not choosing between cutting their medication in half or going to the doctor and being able to put food on the table.”

Tracy was asked what he would do to improve access to healthcare for Illinois residents. 

“We need more market competition, more flexible insurance policies,” Tracy said. “We need price transparency (and) better negotiating of drug discounts.”

With respect to the dissolution of the Department of Education, the candidates had opposing views on whether it should be reformed or entirely dissolved. 

Stratton said “dismantling (it) … takes away resources, especially Title I funds from our most vulnerable students, students with disabilities, students in some of our most disinvested schools.” 

She said she promised to “fight to rebuild it” and “make it better.” 

In his response, Tracy pointed to the inefficacy of the department and his perspective on education policy.

“Public education has gotten worse,” Tracy said. “But I’m going to keep an open mind about it. … Overall, education is a local, state and school board responsibility.” 

To close out the debate, the candidates were asked how they would work to restore the public’s trust in government, which has decreased significantly over the past several years. 

Stratton focused on the importance of grassroots funding, and said she wasn’t taking corporate PAC money in her Senate campaign. 

“We have to deliver on our promises and let people know we’re fighting for them, not corporate special interests,” Stratton said. 

Tracy highlighted cooperation between Democratic and Republican politicians. 

“I like the Senate because of its bipartisanship … and I look forward to working across the aisle,” he said. 

Tracy added, however, that “it will be hard to work with socialists who want to destroy our free enterprise system that has given us the highest standard of living in the world.” 

On the ballot for U.S. Senate this November, Illinois voters can choose between Stratton, Tracy and independent candidate Whitfield Harrington Jr., who was not included in Tuesday’s debate. 

Early voting has started in Champaign County ahead of Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 3. 

ac197@dailyillini.com

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After years of tapping “Approve” on Duo Mobile, Microsoft Authenticator is taking its place. The University began phasing users onto Microsoft Authenticator Monday, and everyone who uses Duo, including students, faculty and staff will eventually have to switch. Technology Services announced the change in an Oct. 6 post. 

Once a user receives their first Microsoft Authenticator prompt, they have 14 days to make the switch. They can postpone setup each time they sign in, but after the deadline, they must complete enrollment before accessing University services. 

Gradual rollout

Rather than switching everyone at once, the University is phasing in registration from mid-October through the end of 2026, according to Mary Stevens, interim chief information security and privacy officer for the University. Most users are expected to switch by mid- to late November. 

“The phased approach allows us to provide setup guidance and support users throughout the transition,” Stevens wrote in an email to The Daily Illini. 

Duo has no announced shut-off date but will no longer be available during the Spring 2027 semester. Stevens encourages users to finish the switch before the end of the calendar year to avoid losing access to University resources. 

What’s different?

For now, not much, according to Stevens. Students will download the Microsoft Authenticator app, set it up and use it to verify their identity when signing in, much as they have with Duo. 

According to Stevens, the switch is part of a multiyear effort to make signing in to University services simpler and more secure. She wrote that moving to Microsoft Authenticator supports a more consistent sign-in experience across the University System and expands the ability to offer passwordless options in the future. 

The bigger change is expected later. Stevens added the transition will allow the University to expand the use of passkeys, which allow users to sign in without entering a password. Depending on the device, that can include facial recognition or a device PIN. 

“An important longer-term security benefit is the ability to expand the use of passkeys and other passwordless sign-in methods,” Stevens wrote. “Passkeys are designed to be more resistant to phishing attempts that try to trick users into revealing a password or approving a fraudulent sign in.”

Stevens acknowledged that changing something as familiar as signing in takes some adjustment and wrote that the University is providing guidance and support throughout the transition. For most users, she wrote, the immediate change comes down to which app they use for verification when logging in. 

“The larger benefit is that the changes create a foundation for simpler, more phishing-resistant sign-in options over time,” Stevens wrote. 

According to Technology Services, the University is also removing text message passcodes as an option because they are the least secure. 

Getting help

Students can follow the step-by-step setup instructions in the Technology Services Answers KnowledgeBase or contact the IT Service Desk for help with setup. The service desk is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from noon to 5 p.m. at 217-244-7000. 

The University also recommends setting up a second method, such as a passkey or YubiKey security key, as a backup in case a student loses or replaces their phone. 

bjwang1@dailyillini.com

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Despite a bounce-back victory against then-No. 22 Michigan State, Illinois (12-7, 4-4) couldn’t build on the momentum throughout the weekend, falling to Michigan (12-7, 3-5) in five sets.

This loss moves Illinois into the bottom-half tier of conference standings. It also lessens the chance that the Illini will be ranked again after joining the national rankings for the first time since 2022 and falling out a week later.

This is also a difficult loss since Michigan had only won two other conference games in contrast to Illinois who had that number doubled. This was the first unranked conference opponent Illinois has faced to this point in the season, a slate that has been challenging to say the least.

Formidable freshmen

Outside hitters Madi Miles and Maya Harris have been two standouts from the freshmen class so far, building off every performance and continuing to appear on the stat sheet. Miles posted her third straight start with 15 kills and had a career-high 4 digs. 

Harris tied a career high with 4 aces and has had multiple starts over 10 matches this season. Her striking prowess is a positive sign for the future as she gets more competitive time under her belt. 

The Illini set a new season high in aces with 11, demonstrating an aggressive serve style that matches the underdog mentality embraced by the athletes, according to junior opposite hitter Paityn Chapman earlier this season.

“We might be the underdog, or you may not think highly of us, but we’re gonna prove you wrong,” Chapman said.

Staying competitive

Chapman has been a consistent highlight reel for the Illini. She continued a streak of strong performances on Sunday when she finished with a career-high 23 kills, 5 digs, 3 aces, 2 blocks and a hit percentage of .348.

Illinois has also spread the ball around, with junior middle blocker Kristina Starostenko having 11 kills and 6 blocks and sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Aguayo matching the 11 kills alongside 8 digs, 2 aces, and a block. 

This diverse attack has been a perk of the Illini and was on display in the fourth set, where they demolished the Wolverines 25-14. 

However, Illinois couldn’t carry over this momentum into the final set, and once it was down late, the team had no energy to capitalize on, finishing the loss with a score of 13-15.

Pushing forward

Illinois is going into another Big Ten weekend double-header, starting at Maryland (12-7, 2-6) Friday and playing Rutgers (10-10, 1-7) Saturday. Illinois is undefeated against Maryland, with a series matchup record of 16-0. Both these teams are unranked in contrast to Illinois’ previous opponents, and the Illini are at a turning point now.

Illinois has entered an unranked portion of its schedule following the seven ranked challengers. The Illini will now look to add to their win column and turn the positive team chemistry into results as it enters the final month of regular season play. 

There is still time to challenge the rankings and forge a pathway into the NCAA tournament, but the team will need to take advantage of this portion of the schedule and transform it into positive momentum. 

sgboddy2@dailyillini.com

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For many of us, when we imagined “the future,” we pictured a world in which robots were our servants and our lives were breezily efficient because of it. Robots were supposed to do our work for us, freeing up our time for relaxation.

This is not how modern life turned out, but it’s how it should be.

When artificial intelligence allows professionals to finish their work faster, employers should reward them with free time instead of being expected to stay in the office. The latter is unfair and counterproductive because it promotes busywork and doesn’t allow for the easier life that technology originally promised.

A study by researchers at UC Berkeley discovered that, in many cases, whether due to direct instruction or workplace pressure, office workers are using this extra time for additional work.

This study of 200 employees found that those using AI in their work produced more output and worked more hours than those who did not. So instead of being dismissed after completing a day’s to-do list, professionals are being turned into productivity machines; they’re expected to work without limit or rest.

But wasn’t it the robots that were supposed to do that?

Humans are not machines. They need breaks to maintain their mental health and work performance.

It’s simple, really: Technology should be helping us, not hurting us.

Some might argue that there’s nothing wrong with overachieving, so if AI allows people to go the extra mile, so be it. But the problem is, AI can give everyone that ability, so what we now consider the “extra mile” could quickly become the standard.

This seems to be the way employers are going, seeing as using AI is a norm in the corporate world. If using AI becomes the expectation for all professionals, no one will stand out for the extra work they do — and therefore their companies probably won’t compensate them for it.

The bar for overachieving will just get higher, making it more difficult to move up the ranks within a profession. If that happens, workers might not be as motivated to improve because they won’t have the incentive of potential promotions.

The larger issue at play here is that there is an office culture that prioritizes consistently looking busy over efficiency. In one survey published by human resources information system BambooHR, American full-time workers reported they felt pressure to appear productive at work. Because of this pressure, many workers are pretending to work without actually achieving anything.

If superiors valued employee output more than how many hours employees spent on the clock, workers could actually take advantage of modern technology’s efficiency by leaving the office early after completing the normal amount of work.

So, what do we do?

The solution is in the hands of employers. If they’re going to make AI use the standard and their employees are consequently finishing earlier, their superiors should permit them to go home early, or, better yet, shorten the workday.

Those who want to work ahead still could, but there wouldn’t be pressure to.

That way, people wouldn’t have to do more work to be recognized than they had to before AI and could get the rest they needed.

If new University graduates knew their industries would reward their hard work, entering the workforce wouldn’t feel as daunting as it feels for young professionals now because there would be less pressure to overwork oneself.

As current University students begin to think about their futures, it would be nice to be able to think of them the way we used to — convenient, comfortable and rewarding.


Kelsey is a senior in LAS.
Khoev2@dailyillini.com

The post Opinion | In the age of AI, we are the robots appeared first on The Daily Illini.

This July in Chicago, Krishna Nathan, junior in Engineering, played competitive chess against the world’s current No. 1 player, Magnus Carlsen. The match was part of a special exhibition for the recently founded IMC Chess Academy to recruit top collegiate players in the country.

Nathan said that playing Carlsen was “extremely surreal” and “a dream come true for anyone who’s played chess.” 

For Nathan, who said he has followed Carlsen since his win at the World Chess Championship in 2013, Carlsen was more than a formidable opponent: He was his childhood idol. 

“Seeing him in person was so cool,” Nathan said. “(I) got an idol, just right in front of me, playing (against me).”

According to Nathan, Carlsen and the world’s No. 3 player, Fabiano Caruana, first organized collegiate qualifiers at several universities. The 24 students who won their respective qualifiers played games against Carlsen and Caruana at the exhibition, who competed against the finalists simultaneously. 

Nathan won the University qualifier in May, making him eligible for the exhibition. 

During the exhibition, Carlsen and Caruana walked from board to board in a circle, playing each opponent in separate games. Although playing Carlsen was difficult, Nathan acknowledged the unique aspect of competing against several players at once. 

“I thought it would be pretty one-sided,” Nathan said. “I think I put up a good fight, and it kind of made me realize that when he’s playing 20 people at once, it’s not the same as him playing just one player. He’s just trying to think about the simplest move, the move that’s gonna keep him in control of the position and then move on.”

Nathan noted that the unique format gave him insight into the intuition of world-class chess players like Carlsen. 

“I didn’t draw or win, but I learned a lot from it,” Nathan said. “I got to see a lot into his thinking process and the way he approaches each position and makes moves.” 

Nathan said he has played competitive chess since he was 7, starting at the encouragement of his parents but eventually finding his own passion for the sport. He went on to win a National Master title in his junior year of high school. Obtaining the title requires players in the United States to have a national rating of at least 2200, which can take years to accomplish. 

“It’s something I’ve been working towards for over 10 years, ever since I started playing tournaments,” Nathan said. “To actually be able to achieve that and get the certificate from the U.S. Chess Federation was really nice.”

Nathan said he now competes in the Collegiate Chess League, where he represents the University in team tournaments and individual elimination rounds. In the summer, he said he mostly plays online. 

Balancing chess competitions with his engineering coursework can be challenging, but Nathan said the game has given him many skills that translate beyond the chessboard. 

“It’s helped me with memory and pattern recognition,” Nathan said. “And, it’s taught me to be resilient (and to) persevere; those standard things you learn in any competitive sport.” 

His advice for young players looking to improve their skills is to focus on appreciating chess rather than following rigid routines. 

“Enjoy the game from the start,” Nathan said. “It’s the advice that I was always hearing when I was younger from my idols. Don’t try to treat it super seriously.” 

ac197@dailyillini.com

The post ‘Extremely surreal’: UI student talks chess match against world No. 1 player Magnus Carlsen appeared first on The Daily Illini.

Rating: 9/10

**This review is based on the experience of playing on a Steam Deck**

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is the latest addition to the over 30 games in the Castlevania franchise, which has a long history of games and TV adaptations surrounding the Belmont family on their journey to defeat Count Dracula and his many lackeys.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a single-player game set in 1499 that follows protagonist Rose Belmont, the daughter of the first man to kill Dracula, Trevor Belmont. She and her father are called to help save Paris from the mysterious and devastating evils beset upon it. Hordes of undead and zany creatures have ravaged the streets, buildings and underground of the city, leaving players to get rid of all the monsters that don’t belong in that world.

The Castlevania franchise is partly responsible for the genre of Metroidvania, known for its nonlinear map design and unique progression systems. After taking more than a decade-long hiatus from publishing new games, it seems that Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse has learned from the best of its genre. However, at times, it loses focus.

The game continually toes the line between exhilarating gameplay and moments that feel slightly off. 

The movement is initially clunky and odd to work with, but after a few upgrades, it becomes graceful and intentional. The game repeatedly flip-flops between feeling organic and feeling like steering a brick airplane. 

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse takes steps forward and backward seemingly at random, but the game is still so engaging that it becomes frustrating how close it comes to perfection. If the game felt clunky more often, it would not feel as disappointing when it fails to live up to the expectations it sets. The harshness of these moments is especially jarring.

The game keeps combat feeling similar to the movement: good most of the time, but sometimes slightly left of center. The complex aerial combos players can use against flying enemies or bosses are some of the most fluid and dynamic in the genre. 

Occasionally, there are enemies that don’t function the same way as everyone else, slowing the game’s usual acrobatic leaps to a crawl. This is noticeable when the previously hypermobile protagonist is suddenly bogged down by these encounters.

The most painful part of the sudden and harsh mediocrity is that the rest of the game is exemplary.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse goes to new lengths in customization, with the option to choose among seven different weapon categories, each of which hacks and slashes in its own unique way. Players can also pick from 16 different spell-like Arcanas to cast midfight to diversify their gameplay and more than 40 relics to modify how combat and traversal flow. 

While customization is quite extensive, it does seem to be slightly centered on a few key relics and Arcanas. Several potentially interesting relics fall below the power level of their contemporaries and may be pushed aside as the most optimal build emerges. Players can find enjoyment in the game with almost any set of items and any variety of playstyles, but additional work could be put into making these options more effective and appealing.

There are also a few growing pains regarding its plot. The game relies on what the series has established over the past four decades, but the dialogue and other in-game text can catch a novice up to speed fairly quickly. 

The Castlevania franchise is known for threading all kinds of myths and legends together — a tradition that Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse maintains by bringing historical characters into the mix. 

This intense hodgepodge makes the story sound like a parody of the game, but the worldbuilding, dialogue and voice acting blend together so well that it doesn’t matter. If Genghis Khan were a boss, he would be written into the overarching narrative as if he had always been associated with Dracula, and the game would still be incredible. 

Ultimately, the game is a story of family, loss, grief and revenge. It blends these aspects so well that the story still feels compelling, even when it plays such a small role in the core gameplay loop. 

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is an example of a video game that is not just a means of enjoyment but a genuine work of art, and that effort should be applauded.

lmtall@dailyillini.com

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