Serving the Southern Illinois University community since 1916.

The Daily Egyptian
Serving the Southern Illinois University community since 1916.

The Daily Egyptian
Serving the Southern Illinois University community since 1916.

The Daily Egyptian
Jacob Bucknam, the owner of Soil Grown, tends to CBD plants inside a tented greenhouse Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Carbondale, Ill. “We grow and harvest and sell our own CBD flowers. This is just one of the beginning phases of it. We’ve had the place since February but COVID affected us pretty hard as far as getting the doors open. We didn’t really open the doors until July and ya know we’re just now starting to see an uptick in sales as people are finding out we’re here,” Bucknam said.

Photo of the Day: Local CBD

By James Allen, Staff Photographer
November 15, 2020
Pradip Acharya, an international student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, rides his bike in the morning on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, in Carbondale, Ill. “I used to go to the Rec Center regularly for exercise, but since COVID-19, I do not feel safe to go to the Rec Center. I find cycling a very good exercise and enjoy it in the early morning. COVID-19 has messed up our life, but I feel health is more important above all the hurdles. I hope everything will be fine in the end,” Acharya said.

Photo of the Day: Cycling during COVID-19

By Monica Sharma, Staff Photographer
November 13, 2020
Fernando Sanchez, a senior majoring in art, works on a tattoo Nov. 4, 2020, in Carbondale Ill. Sanchez said that he originally started as an engineering major but decided to study drawing instead. “I view this as another art form because at school I’m a fine artist. It’s a really nice opportunity to challenge myself with another type of canvas but still sustain myself as an artist,” Sanchez said.

Photo of the Day: Tattoo as an art

By Madison Taylor, Staff Photographer
November 6, 2020
Bristi Poudel, an international, second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Physiology, celebrates Nepal's largest Hindu festival in her apartment Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020, in Carbondale, Ill. “I feel like missing home while celebrating the biggest festival, Dashain,” Poudel said. "Receiving blessings and tika from the elder ones and putting tika to the younger ones gives me immense joy when I think of it. Coming here to the U.S.A. and trying to cope in the different culture is challenging for me but I have not forgotten my values and culture even though I am away from home,” Poudel said. Dashain is one of the major national festivals of Nepal which comes every year during the month of October and lasts for fifteen days. It is the festival of giving blessings to the young and celebrating with friends and family by receiving tika [a mixture of vermillion powder, rice, and yogurt that is worn on the forehead] and jamara [barley sprouts that are often worn behind the ear] from the elder members of the family. By giving tika and jamara to the younger members of the family, they are bestowing good fortune, health, and long life upon them. In Hindu culture, not having jamara and tika during Dashain would be like not having a Christmas tree on Christmas. On this occasion, people wear new clothes, eat delicious food, invite relatives to play cards, and celebrate with love and happiness. Dashain symbolizes the victory of good over evil by representing the victory of the Goddess Durga. According to Hindu Mythology, the demon Mahidhasura created terror in the world where god lives but the Goddess Durga killed the demon. The first nine days symbolize the battle which took place in different manifestations of Durga and Mahishasura. The tenth day is the day when Durga finally defeated Mahidhasura. 

Photo of the Day: Celebrating Nepal’s largest festival away from home

By Monica Sharma, Staff Photographer
October 30, 2020
Maria Cavral, a freshman, plays “Spooky Saluki Bingo” in the Student Center Oct. 28, 2020, in Carbondale Ill. “I came to this because I was tired of being in the dorms and this was something to do and have fun with friends,” Cavral said.

Photo of the Day: Spooky Saluki Bingo

By Madison Taylor, Staff Photographer
October 29, 2020
Mark Denzer, operator of Cache Bayou Outfitters, paddles his way through the Cache River Oct. 24, 2020 outside of Ullin, Ill. Cache Bayou Outfitters is a kayak and canoe rental service that also offers tours of the Cache River. As the seasons changing from fall to winter, many outdoor recreational businesses will be closing until spring. Cache Bayou Outfitters will ending their season this Saturday on Halloween.

Photo of the Day: Fall outdoor recreation goes into hibernation

By Jared Treece, Staff Photographer
October 28, 2020
Garrett Burns, a senior studying Criminal Justice, works as at the Student Recreation Center in Carbondale, Ill., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. “COVID has made us shut a lot of programs down, the ones that are still going are at a limited capacity, masks are enforced, and machines are restricted to help keep separation.” Burns said.

Photo of the Day: SIU Student Rec Center stays open during COVID-19

By Aimee Watts, Staff Photographer
October 27, 2020
Sudip Baral, an international, second-year master’s student from Nepal, prepares solutions for his thesis research Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in the Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructural Engineering department of the College of Engineering in Carbondale, Ill.” I have been doing research using nanotechnology to convert biomass waste products into biofuels. This research will not only contribute help in the reduction of carbon dioxide gas but also make it economically sustainable,” Baral said.

Photo of the Day: SIU research

By Monica Sharma, Staff Photographer
October 25, 2020
SIU student, Jordan Smearman, shows off the progress on her painting during the Painting on the Patio event at the outside of the Student Center Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. The event held a limited amount of people where painters could gather together to paint a fall themed subject.

Photo of the Day: Painting on the Patio

By Jared Treece, Staff Photographer
October 22, 2020
Mike Ricci, owner of Mike’s Music, works on restringing a guitar Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, in Carbondale Ill. Mike’s Music has been open for 29 years. Mike’s Music is open Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. “Our response to COVID-19 has been that we are asking that everybody wear a mask while they are here and we have had to stop in person lessons,” Ricci said.

Photo of the Day: Mike’s Music

By Aimee Watts, Staff Photographer
October 21, 2020
Jared Bilak emcees Hangar 9’s weekly trivia night Thursday, October 14, 2020, in Carbondale, Ill. Patrons form teams to answer a series of trivia questions in an effort to win cash prizes and other awards. Each game consists of 6 rounds with 10 questions each. “I’ve only been here for trivia once or twice, but I think it’s a blast. I don’t get into the competitive aspect so much, I like to just sit and sip my drink, keep to myself and see how many questions I can get right,” bar patron Steven James said.

Photo of the Day: Hangar 9 Trivia Night

By James Allen, Staff Photographer
October 15, 2020
Sudip Ghimire, SIU Computer Science major, plays soccer in a field near the Brookside apartment complex on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020, in Carbondale, Ill., “Football [soccer] is my passion even COVID-19 cannot stop me playing football. I come here every Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday to boost myself and try to be fit and happy,” Ghimire said.

Photo of the Day: Staying active during COVID-19

By Monica Sharma, Staff Photographer
October 12, 2020
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