University of Illinois news stories on Newser

Wait, Beer Boosts Your Brain?

Kevin Spak — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:05:18 CDT

You know how you get when you've got a couple pints in you: You stumble a bit, talk too loudly, and completely rock at brainteasers. A new study suggests that downing a little beer actually improves some cognitive functions. Researchers at the University of Illinois in Chicago got a group...

Illinois Football Coach Doled Out 'Porridge Punishment'

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:11:36 CST

At one Illinois university, football players who didn't follow the rules faced an unconventional punishment: They were given porridge for breakfast at a recent banquet. New University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign coach Tim Beckman instituted the policy during his first season with the team, and says it was "a little...

Employers Like State School Grads, Not Ivy Leaguers

Kevin Spak — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:54:05 CDT

Move over Harvard; when it comes to hiring entry-level employees, most businesses prefer to recruit from state schools, according to a new survey. The Wall Street Journal polled 479 of the country’s largest companies and asked where they did their recruiting. Of the top 25 schools they named, 19 were...

Dear Mr. Ebert, Sorry I Was Such a Tool

M. Morris — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:16:49 CST

As a University of Illinois undergrad, Will Leitch lived the dream: He befriended his hero, Roger Ebert. "I wanted to be him, desperately," Leitch writes. "He was the reason I did anything." They fell out of touch, and the protégé later found himself in New York in the early days...

Jordan's Son Quits Illinois Hoops Squad

Ambreen Ali — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:51:01 CDT

Michael Jordan’s elder son is abandoning the University of Illinois’ basketball team to focus on school and his “life after basketball.” Jeff Jordan, a rising junior, earned a scholarship last season after making the team as a walk-on, and has played in 59 games; the son of the NBA legend...

Pols Pushed U. of Illinois Into Taking Students

Wesley Oliver — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:32:35 CDT

Prominent state lawmakers have been pressuring administrators at the University of Illinois to accept favored applicants or risk facing their wrath, the Chicago Tribune reports. Analyzing 1,800 documents, the paper found that subpar applicants on a “clout list” gained admission over the objections of admissions officers after school lobbyists...

University of Illinois Nabs 21 Students in Drug Sting

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 02 May 2009 19:28:56 CDT

University of Illinois police arrested 21 students on drug charges this week and are looking for more, the Chicago Tribune reports. In seizing 180 grams of marijuana, some cocaine, anti-anxiety medication, and $3,100 in cash, campus cops aimed primarily to cut down on pot distribution. "We decided to go...

Campus Tries to Keep Booze Out of Class

Ambreen Ali — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:32:01 CST

University of Illinois officials will search students’ backpacks and confiscate containers they suspect might contain alcohol during tomorrow’s “Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day,” the Chicago Tribune reports. Students typically pack campus bars for green beer as early as 8am, and some take drinks to class. “It is surprising that students would...

10 Biggest College Libraries

Victoria Floethe — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 07:09:45 CST

Whether your purpose is to study, flirt or nap, college libraries are "labyrinths" of opportunity. The editors of College on the Record list the biggest, and why they like them. Harvard (13,617,133 books): "Because size matters." Yale (9,932,080 books): "Because it’s funny to think how little...