8th May 2025

Fern & Flora: A Campus Flower Shop Blooms Through Sustainability Amid Tariffs

n the heart of the University of Illinois campus, Fern & Flora is more than just a flower shop. It’s a blooming example of sustainable entrepreneurship. Co-founded by a former travel nurse turned flower farmer, the shop thrives on local sourcing, student-friendly designs, and a zero-waste ethos. As global tariffs squeeze the floral industry, Fern & Flora’s homegrown approach proves both resilient and forward thinking, redefining what it means to be rooted in place.

The Daily Illini • 5th May 2023

ME 200: Thermodynamics award ceremony promotes sustainable future

The ME 200: Thermodynamics final project award ceremony and exhibition was held on the Monumental Study Steps of the Campus Instructional Facility on Wednesday at 11 a.m.

The ceremony featured the final projects of ME 200 students who were challenged to combine art and engineering to tell “their story” about fossil-fired steam power.

Students took the challenge creatively, conveying their message through interpretive dances, graphic novels, virtual reality simulations and more. In total, the e...

The Daily Illini • 25th April 2023

Salaam Cultural Center empowers Middle Eastern, North African community

The Salaam Middle East North Africa Cultural Center, a recently opened cultural center at the University, boosts recognition of the Middle Eastern and North African community on campus, providing a home for all people interested in these diverse cultures.

The new cultural center had an unofficial opening in mid-December, and four months later, the center has a cozy space furnished in ethnic motifs and visitors coming to enjoy Middle Eastern and North African cultures every day.

According to Si...

The Daily Illini • 14th April 2023

Moms Weekend: A guide to C-U’s bars

Like every fun-filled University tradition, Moms Weekend comes with an intoxicating thrill. Ranked the 10th top party school in the U.S. by Niche, our local institutions will guarantee you and your mom a good time this weekend.

Moms and mom figures of all ages will have the opportunity to show off their wild side to their students through the selection of local bars and restaurants near campus. Even if drinking is not their scene, food and games will be offered by most of these locations.

Here...

The Daily Illini • 31st March 2023

Engineering Open House kicked off inspiring future engineers

On the Bardeen Quad, several tents are showcase various projects of Engineering Students on Friday.
The Engineering Open House kicked off on Friday however events were moved inside or rescheduled due to the weather.

Engineering Open House opened its doors today on the Bardeen Quad for everyone interested in STEM.

Dozens of booths across the engineering quad and inside its buildings presented exhibits of UI STEM major students, including Material Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engi...

The Daily Illini • 29th March 2023

Engineering Open House empowers STEM community this weekend

Student gather on Bardeen Quad for the 2022 Engineering Open House. On Friday and Saturday, the event will return for 2023.

The Grainger Engineering Open House, the nation’s biggest student-run STEM fair, will be held this Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, on the Engineering Quad.

This year, EOH is expecting around 30,000 to 45,000 visitors, a prediction exceeding its own previous record.

“This is the nation’s largest student-run STEM fair, there really is no other university, institut...

The Daily Illini • 24th March 2023

Two students stabbed on Green Street

Two University students were reportedly stabbed on Green Street at around 2 a.m. Friday, according to University police.

Police responded to a call at 1:54 a.m. regarding the stabbing at the 100 block of East Green Street.

One of the victims was found with multiple stab wounds to his abdomen and the other had a superficial wound, according to police.

Victims were taken to Carle Foundation Hospital for treatment. Injuries were not considered to be life-threatening.

An Illini-Alert was sent to...

The Daily Illini • 27th February 2023

HackIllinois celebrates its 10th anniversary

From Feb. 24 to Feb. 26, HackIllinois welcomed all people interested in computer science and coding to the Campus Instructional Facility and the Thomas M. Siebel Center for Computer Science to celebrate its 10th anniversary, learn and compete.

It’s the first in-person Hackathon since 2020, and this is what makes it “special,” according to Jonathan Gao, co-director of HackIllinois.

“It’s our first in-person event in three years, and it’s our anniversary all together, which is super exciting and...

The Daily Illini • 25th January 2023

UI operations adjust to winter storm

On Wednesday, the University Facilities & Services team worked to remove snow accumulation from the winter storm that morning. Early in the day, there was heavy snow fall and conditions were slippery.

Yesterday evening, the University was overtaken by a winter storm which unleashed wintry and snowy weather on campus.

On Jan. 24, students received an email from Chancellor Robert J. Jones with information about the upcoming storm and the organization of classes the next day.

“Classes will meet...

The Daily Illini • 2nd December 2022

GEO holds protest before bargaining session

Graduate Employees’ Organization members rallied on the Main Quad in front of the Illini Union on Thursday right before a bargaining session with the University.

“We all are out here today putting pressure on the administration and saying that we are really not going to quit until we get a fair contract that addresses all of our members’ needs,” said Megan Mericle, GEO communications co-chair and research assistant in the English department.

In a later email, Mericle said that the GEO has “sch...

The Daily Illini • 9th November 2022

Florida Avenue Residence Halls: The least crowded polling place on campus

Political campaign signs placed outside of the entrance of FAR, the least-crowded polling location, on Nov. 8.

One of the many polling stations was located in the Florida Avenue Residence Halls. Starting from 6 a.m. the doors of Oglesby Hall lounge were open for all voters. FAR became the least crowded polling station on campus on Election Day.

During lunchtime, while hundreds of people were waiting in lines at the ARC and Illini Union for more than an hour, FAR was relatively empty.

“It was...

The Daily Illini • 1st November 2022

UI expects record-breaking number of applications this year

The University’s Admissions Office forecasts a high number of applications for the Fall 2023 admissions cycle. Unlike last year, this year the admissions cycle will have two admissions notification dates. The early action deadline for Fall 2023 applications is Tuesday.

At a meeting of the University Senate Educational Policy Committee Daniel Mann, associate provost for Enrollment Management, announced that as of Oct. 24, their office has received around 9,000 applications. However, Mann mention...

The Daily Illini • 24th October 2022

In-person grad school fair enables students to make connections

Students browse and interact with different schools that were a part of the University’s Career Center Graduate and Professional School Fair on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the University’s Career Center organized the first in-person Graduate and Professional School Fair since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since 2020, all fairs have been conducted online which has affected the communication between recruiters and students. The Graduate and Professional School Fair made a real change for both...

The Daily Illini • 9th May 2023

UI student powers green energy forward

Aman Mehta, junior in Engineering, pushes green energy forward through his research and work at Cache Energy, a startup focused on creating green energy storage technology.

A dark-haired young man with eyes full of passion, Mehta is an international student born in Mumbai, India. A deforestation case in his home city inspired him to pursue his degree and work in the green energy field.

His first interaction with green energy was centered around wind energy in high school, which sparked Mehta’s...

The Daily Illini • 8th May 2023

Champaign County should invest in wind energy, researchers suggest

Dozens of snow-white turbines spring up from green fields, standing at around 260 feet tall.

Thirty-five minutes away from the University, Sapphire Sky Wind Energy Center in Farmer City, Illinois is one of the closest wind farms to Champaign County.

While other counties in Illinois and nearby states take action when it comes to wind energy development, Champaign County is slow, primarily because of the social “stigma” among landowners, not willing to sacrifice their land for wind turbines, exp...

The Daily Illini • 1st May 2023

UI events to support students during finals

A group of friends eat at last semester’s midnight breakfast at the Ikenberry Dining Hall.

With finals fast approaching, the University is preparing various events for students with increased stress. Here is a comprehensive guide to the programs and events offered by the University in the two upcoming weeks.

The Writers Workshop

The Writers Workshop is available for everyone during the school year and continues its work in the regular mode, providing extensive feedback on the papers of the st...

The Daily Illini • 10th March 2023

Ukrainian students want more support from UI

On Feb. 24, the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Ukrainian Student Association organized a fundraising event on the Main Quad in support of Ukraine.

Members of the organization sold sunflower pins and created a Ukrainian flag out of ribbons right in front of the Illini Union.

“We decided to create a Ukrainian flag out of blue and yellow ribbons on the quad, 365 ribbons in total, a ribbon for each day since the full-scale invasion,” said Veronica Kozak, vice president...

The Daily Illini • 17th February 2023

GEO left ‘devastated’ after failed contract bargaining

The Graduate Employees’ Organization held a press conference near the Illini Union after bargaining sessions with the University about economic proposals and labor contracts.

On Thursday, the Graduate Employees’ Organization held a press conference near the Illini Union after the University refused to negotiate on economic articles.

“During today’s bargaining session, the administration decided not to respond to our specific economic proposal around wages and health care,” said GEO co-presiden...

The Daily Illini • 13th February 2023

MTD, campus resources respond to recent cyclist collision

A student races past on a bike on South Wright Street in one of the University’s many bike lanes.

Following the recent incident on Wright Street involving a cyclist and an MTD bus, MTD said that the bus “was operating safely” and not at fault for the collision.

“We do not know what caused the cyclist to swerve toward the side of the bus, but we do know the bus was operating safely outside the bike lane and did not take action to cause contact,” said Amy Snyder, chief of staff at MTD, in an ema...

The Daily Illini • 5th February 2023

GEO makes progress at bargaining table

On Jan. 26, University administration and the Graduate Employees’ Organization reached seven agreements during their bargaining session at the Illini Union. The last session was held on Friday, but no updates were disclosed.

The seven agreements achieved included expanding the protection of GEO members in terms of discrimination and sexual harassment.

“The University expressed its desire to exchange proposals and make progress toward an agreement,” stated the University official bargaining ses...

The Daily Illini • 22nd December 2022

UI, GEO end semester with no agreement

GEO protesters on Feb. 26 voice opinions over mask policy.
GEO’s and University’s contract negotiations reach an inclusive agreement towards the end of the year.

Since its contract with the University expired, the Graduate Employees Organization has been in negotiations with the University for a new contract. However, the parties have yet to reach an agreement.

According to Karla Sanabria Véaz, GEO co-president and graduate student, over 3,000 graduate employees continue to work under an expir...

The Daily Illini • 10th November 2022

UI student found dead in Peoria

At around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Herb Jones, Director of Residential Life for University Housing, sent an email to Hopkins Hall residents informing them of the death of Deven Lane, freshman in Engineering and resident of Hopkins Hall.

He was last seen Friday, Nov. 4 in the Peoria area and was reported missing on Monday.

Fliers were posted around campus a few days ago with descriptions and phone numbers to contact family members and the Peoria Police Department.

According to the Peoria Police...