News across Champaign County
Illini Electric Motorsports revs up engine to compete
For some, the screeching of tires, the smell of rubber and the soreness in their hands from gripping the steering wheel indicate a bad car ride. But for the Illini Electric Motorsports team, it signifies a successful day of training. Initially specializing in combustion vehicles,…
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…
4 book-to-movie adaptations to cozy up to this fall
As the leaves begin to change color and the air turns crisp, it’s time to pull out your sweaters and settle in. If visiting pumpkin patches, finding your way through corn mazes or going on hayrides isn’t your thing, you might find yourself wanting to lie back and enjoy a good…
Horse Lords, Barreleye hypnotize concertgoers at PYGMALION Day 4
Funky guitar swells and heavy distortion filled Gallery Art Bar on Sunday as Barreleye and Horse Lords performed for the final night of PYGMALION. Both bands brought an experimental feel to the stage, incorporating unique tuning styles and prolonged sequences, often transitioning…
Bielema speaks on Hauck’s departure, declines to name new play caller
“I just don’t know (that) our identity was really there,” said head coach Bret Bielema. Former defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck spoke with Bielema Sunday to discuss his role. They came to a mutual agreement that Hauck would step down as the defensive coordinator for Illinois.…
DI Voices | My experience founding an RSO on campus
Last semester, I founded an RSO on campus, Combating Screen Time Club. Two hours before writing this, I had a photoshoot with the executive board. As crows flocked above in the grey sky, we took pictures with a Kodak “digi” camera in front of my apartment building for an…
Column | What positions outperformed in Illinois’ loss to Ohio State
In football, like any sport, there are winners and losers. While the Illini (2-2, 0-1) ultimately lost to the then-No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes (3-1, 1-0), certain players and positions stood out for its individual performances. While some players for Illinois did all they could to…
The Cosmo grows up, moves from house to bar
On May 8, The Cosmo hosted its final show in the house’s basement, marking a bittersweet end for those who frequented the location — including attendees, bands that performed there and even the owners of the house itself. The DIY house show venue has championed itself since…
Second-half surge propels Illini to first Big Ten win
Coming off a tough four-game stretch without a win in Big Ten play, the Illini (4-2-5, 1-2-2) entered Sunday’s match at Demirjian Park in urgent need of a victory to climb the conference standings. Facing off against the Oregon Ducks (6-3-2, 1-3-1) on Senior Sunday and head coach…
Third annual bat festival celebrates bats, bugs, science
The third annual Central Illinois Bat Festival kicked off Saturday afternoon at Anita Purves Nature Center to raise awareness and enthusiasm for bats. This year’s theme was “Backyard Bugs and Bats.” The free, two-part celebration brought together talks from bat experts, guided…
UPDATED: Coroner identifies body found near Alma Mater
UPDATE — Monday, 7:32 p.m. UIPD confirmed Monday afternoon that the body found near Alma Mater Monday morning was 29-year-old Alex Rodriguez. According to the press release, officers found Rodriguez on a concrete bench at approximately 6:42 a.m. The Champaign County Coroner’s…