News across Champaign County
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…
Liam Kazar closes out PYGMALION with folk-rock finale
Liam Kazar closed out a weekend of music for the final day of PYGMALION Sunday night, bringing a blend of folk-rock and alt-country to the Rose Bowl Tavern. Since its founding in 2005, PYGMALION has expanded as a festival to include more than just music. This year’s lineup…
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…
‘Everyone’s beatable’: Illinois sweeps No. 23 USC before facing undefeated Washington
Even after a 3-1 upset win over No. 15 Minnesota (6-4, 0-2) Thursday, Illinois’ coming-out party didn’t end there. The Illini (10-3, 2-2) swept the No. 23 USC Trojans (7-5, 1-1) Saturday for their first back-to-back wins over ranked opponents since 2019. While Illinois may not…
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…
Column | Notebook from Illinois’ conference-opening defeat
Score vs. stats While Illinois (2-2, 0-1) lost handily to No. 5 Ohio State (3-1, 1-0) 42-19, the stats told a different story. The Illini racked up 462 yards of offense and averaged 6.5 yards per play, not far behind the Buckeyes 518 yards and 7.6 yards per play. Eight of…