By Maggie Huynh
Daytime editor

It was move-in day my freshman year. I had unpacked all of my things into my brand new dorm room and to my horror, aside from the flip-flops on my feet, I had left all my shoes at home.

Hopefully, you won’t forget to pack up your shoes like I did, but you may have forgotten to bring some of your day-to-day necessities like toothpaste or soap. Luckily, there are a ton of places in and around campus to shop for whatever you may have left behind.

The Walgreens on Green Street is probably the most

convenient spot for students to go to when they need to pick up those everyday essentials. It’s located on the same street as most of the restaurants on campus, so if you’re already out grabbing lunch or dinner, Walgreens is an easy place to stop at if you need to pick up a toothbrush or some shampoo. It might be a little pricey, but it’s an easy walk from most dorms. However, if you’re looking to fill a prescription, be aware that this Walgreens doesn’t contain a pharmacy.

If you’re willing to go a little further, there’s also a County Market located a couple streets away on Stoughton Street. It’s a grocery store, but in my experience, it’s easier to find things at a cheaper price there. While you’re there, you can also grab some snacks for your dorm room.

Off campus, there’s a Target and a Walmart that you’ll be able to find whatever you might not be able to find at the stores on campus. If you have a car, it’s an easy drive there. If you don’t, all you have to do is hop on the 1N Yellow MTD bus and there are stops that will drop you right off at any of those stores. The 1N Yellow will also take you to Market Place Shopping Center if you’re looking for a mall to shop at.

There’s also the option of shopping online if you can’t find what you’re looking for in stores.

Amazon.com usually sells at a lower price, but what’s the best part? You can get it delivered straight to your dorm without having to leave.

Maggie is a junior in media.

By Samantha Kiesel
Editor in chief

For the past three years, Dads Weekend and Homecoming haven’t really meant much to me.

Despite having a family full of Illini fans — my parents and my two older siblings attended Illinois — I didn’t get much out of these specific days.

The main reason was for the fact that I saw my parents every single home football game because they have had season tickets for the past four years.

Last fall, I saw my parents on eight Saturday’s for at least a few hours. These were fun days for me, obviously. I loved seeing my parents and they loved being on campus. But because I saw them for every football game at Memorial Stadium, the special weekends didn’t mean much. It was just like every other weekend.

Until this coming year. This being my last year of college, it also means it is the last time my parents will have a child in Champaign, which they have had for the past nine years.

There are times I think I didn’t appreciate their visits the past three years. It was always the same; they would come bringing me new clothes for the changing season, some food and that was it.

We might have grabbed something to eat if the game was late enough. We would then both watch the game in our separate seats and they would be on their way home after the game.

I took many of these visits for granted, but to be honest, what was I to expect when I saw them week after week? Don’t get me wrong, I love my parents all so much, but sometimes I enjoy my freedom. I like going tailgating with my friends, but I always felt obligated to be with my parents and their friends, too.

It was a dilemma each week.

But standing where I am now, I love that I have spent all those football games either tailgating before or after the game with my family.

Of course, sometimes I kind of wished I did things with friends, but I am proud to say that I had the cool, or at least I pretend they are cool, parents who had the tailgate set up for any of my friends to join.

I had the older siblings who would share stories and memories with my friends.

I had the Illini parents.

The ones who knew what was happening with the administration, athletics and everything in between. Sometimes I think they love this campus more than I do.

I am so grateful to have such active parents. Of course, sometimes I don’t know what to do with them when they come down because they know everything.

But it makes me proud that they can buy the alumni shirt plus the “I’m an Illini Mom” shirt.

So my advice to parents: You should have gone here. No, just kidding. But what made my college experience so much the better, at least to this point, is that I have parents who care what was going on down here. I could tell them that Zorbas finally opened again and then they would recall memories back from then.

We all share this campus together. It is a place that in the future we can come back to and bond over.

It will always be special to me, but the fact that I have also shared memories here with my family makes it even better.

You don’t have to have gone here to be part of this campus.

Do research, and you will connect with your child a lot better than if you just send them on their way and only see them when they come visit.

What is even better is that if you didn’t go to Illinois, take them to your campus. Show them around your familiarity. Sharing the college experience with your child is a rare one. They are finally growing up to understand what it means to be an adult. Bonding with them about when you were young is actually a fun time.

But if you do anything, go to Dads Weekend, Homecoming, Moms Weekend. Go to all of it.
Because before you know it you’ll be down here in Champaign for graduation. And if it’s only the second time you have been down on campus, you’ll regret it.

Samantha is a senior in media.

Dining halls get a bad rap. But the dining experience doesn’t have to always be a bad one.

Choosing the right meal plan for your student is essential in making their experience an enjoyable one, especially when there are so many options. Mean plans range from six to twenty meals per week. For University Housing, less actual “meals” during the week means more credits  instead.  These credits give students the option to purchase meals or other items on their own terms, whether in the cafeteria or at one of the University’s other a la carte locations, where items are priced individually in credits. Read More »

While dads get all the attention during Dads Weekend in the fall, that doesn’t mean that moms are neglected.

In the spring, the University organizes a weekend dedicated to moms. Scheduled for April 12-14 of next year, this weekend is filled with activities just for moms and students.

The weekend kicks off with a Moms Association event Friday evening, where several moms are honored and a Mom of the Year is announced. Read More »

A college environment rightfully caters to its students.

After all, serving as an institution of higher education is at the forefront of any mission a university tries to uphold. But that doesn’t mean that the University of Illinois doesn’t have any ways for parents to have fun.

Dads Weekend, which takes place every fall, is a great way for dads in particular to come into town, enjoy a game and participate in some fun activities along the way. Dads Weekend 2011 takes place from Nov. 11-13. Read More »

For many parents, the realization that their son or daughter is now a college student – and completely on their own – can be very difficult. But paying a few visits to the UI campus is often an easy fix for this separation anxiety.

Visiting your kid at college is a great experience for both you and them. College life, while exciting, can be stressful and at times a hard transition for those just beginning it. A familiar face is sometimes the best fix for this. Both campus and the local communities have a variety of activities going on that are great for spending time with your family while experiencing local culture. And although four years seems like a long time, your kid’s time in college will fly by – so it’s important to discover campus while you still can.

Here are some things that every UI parent should do before their son or daughter graduates: Read More »

While packing for college is hard enough, there comes a whole new challenge with choosing the right school supplies. Here’s a list of your absolute essentials:

Computer: If you can afford it, getting a computer is indispensable. Whether you get a full-sized model or a netbook for taking notes during classes, a computer fits the bill perfectly. While there are plenty of computer labs on campus, having a personal computer allows for you to study wherever and whenever you want without having to worry about the availability of a computer. Read More »

It’s probably safe to say that for most freshmen, their time away from home during college is one of the first experiences they’ll have where they actually need to take care of themselves. No parents are around to take them to the doctor, be concerned when something seems out of place, or remind them to eat healthy and stay in shape. Read More »

Packing up for college is a fairly complicated process, but you at least hope that you’ve got it all in the end, right? After all, the essentials seem pretty obvious: bedding, mini-fridge, microwave, pictures of mom and dad (of course) … but inevitably, there are a few items that slip by. Read More »

Getting Here

The drive to Champaign is usually simple; however, during parents weekends and weekends of athletic events, traffic can be rough.

“I always carpool with my other mom friends,” Illini mom Sue Ganzer said. “The less cars the better. Nobody wants to deal with all that traffic. Just avoid driving if you can — hitchhike or something.”

Important dates to visit

• Dads Weekend: Nov. 12-14, 2010
• Moms Weekend: April 8-10, 2011

Where to Stay

There are an influx of hotels in the Champaign area. During big parent visit weekends, though, all hotels book up fast, so it’s important to make your reservations as early as possible.

For the Illini Union Hotel, there is a raffle drawing a year in advance to decide who gets to stay there, and they announce the winners during Moms Weekend.
Illini Union Hotel manager Wally Lotz said that every year, the hotel accepts mail-in letters or postcards from applicants that want to book a room for the following year’s Moms Weekend.

“The information (for reservations) is available to people at the front desk, by phonecall and through our web site,” Lotz said. “It’s just a drawing. They send us a letter with their name and phone number.”

He added that the number of winners depends on the number of available rooms because administrative units book hotel rooms, too.

What to Do

During special events weekends, the University sets up events for students to attend with their families.

Sororities, fraternities and residence halls often have special events for parents that often involve food or touring campus buildings.

Read More »