News across Greater Champaign
Campus Scout | Your ‘business professor’ is actually AI slop
Zǎoshang hǎo, it’s your friendly Campus Scout here! Sorry about the Mandarin, folks. Scout’s artificial intelligence assistant, his new, improved and too-dangerous-to-be-publicly-released Brain-Blaster 2.0 must’ve had some Mandarin in its training data. Scout is not sure how it…
Letter to the Editor | UI students: SIUE’s student paper needs your help
College is perhaps the best place on Earth to develop critical thinking skills and real-world experience. At Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, those opportunities are under threat. I’m Dylan Hembrough, editor-in-chief of SIUE’s student newspaper, The Alestle. I’ve been…
$1.2M in red ink in budget for 2026-27
GIBSON CITY — The Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley school board is expected to approve a budget that shows a $1.2 million overall deficit for the 2026- 27 fiscal year, with red ink in six of the school district’s nine funds. The board is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the budget…
Referendum on sales tax for school facilities could return to Ford County election ballot
GIBSON CITY — For the second time in three years, Ford County’s three public school districts could seek voters’ approval to establish a 1% countywide sales tax to support the upkeep and improvement of school facilities. The possibility of pursuing a ballot question for the…
UI computer science professors discuss growing AI safety concerns
Artificial intelligence industry experts are expressing increasing concern in recent weeks about the growth of AI, calling on governments to slow down development and increase safety measures. Gov. JB Pritzker announced Tuesday the creation of an Illinois AI Cabinet to assess…
How is UI trying to lower textbook and course material costs?
As more textbooks shift from physical to digital and professors use more free resources, costs for students have dropped dramatically — by half nationally since 2007. The University has taken steps to keep up with the trend, such as expanding its Day1Access program. In most…
Visualized: UI welcomes largest-ever first-year class
On Sept. 9, the University released a report on first-year enrollment for Fall 2026. The annual report describes the demographic information, residency status and academic profiles of incoming students. Notably, this year’s report reveals that the incoming freshmen class is the…
Apartment living broadens housing knowledge
At the University, first-time students are required to live in housing approved by the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, according to the Student Code. Once that academic year is over, however, students are free to live wherever they choose. There are a plethora of apartments…
BRSS, Nugent Hall offer accommodations for residents
Starting in 1981, Beckwith Residential Support Services had been its own residence hall for students with severe physical disabilities under Disability Resources and Educational Services. Almost 30 years later, in 2010, BRSS and DRES partnered with University Housing when Nugent…
UI Housing tests new lottery-based system
In 2025, University Housing implemented a new lottery-based system meant to improve the experience of returning residents when signing up for a room assignment, starting with the 2026-27 school year. The University has enrolled its largest freshman class for the past two school…
Living on Green Street: Is it worth it?
Green Street has long been considered the heart of Campustown. Bars, restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops and bus stops are all within walking distance, making the street a convenient home for students who want to stay close to both their classes and their social lives. If…
Housing groups across campus offer summer cleaning
Whether it’s a dorm or an apartment, moving into new housing is no small feat. On top of the move itself, students typically face issues like adjusting to changes in social life, location and roommates, all of which can be mentally and physically exhausting. One thing tenants…