217 Today: A student vandalized a University of Illinois building. U of I prohibited him from coming back onto campus.

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Adam Ahmed spray painted the word "divest" onto the columns of Foellinger Auditorium in April. The columns are currently covered with orange and blue U of I-themed plastic.
  • Photo: Arjun Thakkar / IPM News

Monday, September 29, 2025

Today’s headlines: 

  • A former student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is now prohibited from coming onto campus after he vandalized Foellinger Auditorium last semester.
  • The Fighting Illini capped off Homecoming with a nail-biter of a win against USC yesterday afternoon. Illinois beat the Trojans 34-to-32.
  • A celebration of African American music history took place Sunday at Skelton Park in Champaign.
  • A new tool from the federal government will bring together data on drought and flooding in the Mississippi River Basin.

In today’s deep dive, a University of Illinois student was suspended after spray painting the word “divest” onto a campus building last semester. 

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Orellana. Reporting today contributed by Mae Antar, Jonathan Matthew, Giuliana Means and Kate Grumke.

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Stephanie Orellana