Journalist Will Potter felt the walls of the room he was in when he stretched his arms out to the side. He looked up at the ceiling a noticed a camera. A sheet of bulletproof glass was the only object between himself and Daniel McGowan, a prisoner in a West Virginia Counterterrorism unit. They spoke through headsets in the wall, McGowan using some of his four allotted monthly hours to speak to Potter. This was not a typical journalistic interview. “CMUs aren’t solitary confinement, but they radically restrict all of these to levels that meet or exceed the most extreme prisons in the United States,” says Potter regarding the…
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UIUC professor details his career in journalism – JOUR 200
Journalism professor Ben Holden is a jack-of-all-trades. From being a practicing lawyer to a journalist, and now a professor, one must wonder: how does he do it all? Holden developed his love for journalism at an early age. Although he faced the adversities growing up a poor person of color brings, Holden found his place in storytelling. Dedicating his time to a life of service, Professor Holden holds many values close to his heart. After earning a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and an MBA and Juris Doctor from Berkley, Holden served in both news and courtrooms. He now teaches Media Law at the University of Illinois…
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How a small high school program gives teens a big opportunity to start a business
Sometimes, beginnings can be more difficult than endings. This is especially true for those looking to make their way into the massive world of entrepreneurship. From learning basic economics to figuring out how to advertise a brand, it is no surprise many up-and-coming pioneers find themselves trapped in the “how’s” of opening a business. Yet for teenage entrepreneurs in Franklin County, Illinois, a program designed specifically for beginners gives newcomers a chance to enter the world of business with the aid of an experienced, helping hand. “My dad was an entrepreneur and started his own business,” says EDGE alumni Carson Webb, “I wanted to start my own journey in the…
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10 reasons college is the best time to start a business
When hearing the words “college life”, images of rowdy parties, waking up at 1pm, long walks to classes, uncomfortably small rooms, and questionable dining hall food dance along the imagination. While all those aspects of college are the elements to a great story told in the later years, many dreamers forget that college is also the ideal time to dive headfirst into the depths of your vast career. From Facebook to Insomnia Cookies, the best businesses begin as dorm-room startups. Ready to jump in? Here are 10 reasons why you should start a business in college. 1) You have a plethora of resources at hand The unfortunate truth is that…
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The local activist and her long fight for social equality
The early morning sun illuminated the wooden desks of an Urbana high school classroom when suddenly, commotion resonated through the hallways. “Come on, we’re leaving!” shouted several voices. Despite teacher protests, the students left their rooms. They exited Urbana High School and walked quietly to the Wesley United Methodist Church, and back. It was April 5, 1968 — the day after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. The Urbana MLK march was the first of a long resume of protests and acts of service that social activist, Cloydia Hill Larimore, participated in. Larimore, a resident of Urbana for 58 years, witnessed first-hand Champaign-Urbana’s social, physical and cultural evolution. Larimore’s first…
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Why are unemployment levels so high despite record job openings?
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic substantially rearranged countless sectors of everyday life. From having to learn the ins and outs of Zoom meetings to adjusting to a socially distant lifestyle, no one would argue that the times are simple. However, the virus has devastated the economy. March/April of 2020 saw the loss of 20 million jobs, resulting in an unemployment rate of 14.8%. As of September 2021, the country is still struggling to reach pre-pandemic levels: 5 million jobs remain lost, and the unemployment rate is a staggering 5.7% compared to 3.6% in January 2020. Even as the economy recovers with 10.1 million job openings in June 2021, 8.7 million Americans remain…
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MythBusters’ Kari Byron discusses future of education
On Tuesday night, students and community members gathered at the Illini Union to hear a voice many could recall from elementary science classrooms: Kari Byron. Byron was one of the busters on Discovery Channel’s hit 18-season series “MythBusters.” The docuseries followed five nonscientists: Jamie Hyneman, Adam Savage, Tory Belleci, Grant Imahara and Kari Byron as they attempted to debunk various urban legends and myths by explicitly testing them through the scientific method. Nostalgic students eagerly anticipated the event, for they have been watching Byron in “MythBusters” since elementary school. One student was Katherine Hilbing, junior in LAS at the University. “I’m excited to hear about her experiences and what she’s…
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University Housing coping with student labor shortage
When Colette Pinkowski, junior in FAA, walked into the Ikenberry Dining Center one evening, she noticed that the plastic china, cups and metal silverware were replaced with paper and plastic alternatives. “I was surprised,” Pinkowski said. “It was out of the ordinary.” Some students excused the use of such alternatives by assuming the dishwasher was broken. However, as time went on, and paper and plastic products were still in use, Colette and other Ikenberry residents began to understand: It was the labor shortage. “I quickly realized why, and it sort of made me think about how bad the shortage of workers is,” Pinkowski said. “They can’t even wash the plates.” The…
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Illini union hosts indoor trick or treating – jour 200
The sky darkened as night began to settle in across the University of Illinois’ main quad. A slight downpour chipped the autumn air, droplets nestling on the backs of students and faculty alike as they made their way into the Illini Union. The weather was chilly. It was a perfect, eerie October night for trick or treating at the University of Illinois. Thursday night, hundreds of students crowded into I-Rooms B and C inside the Illini Union for the 2nd annual “Treat or Treating on the Quad” event. Unfortunately, the downpour prevented the event from happening outside on the quad as it had the previous year, but the Halloween spirit…
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