Dear Readers,
A month of change is upon us. The delicious chill of autumn has crept into the air, pumpkin spice has seeped into our beverages, and the leaves are starting to catch that golden-amber glow. October is officially here, and with it will come flannels and scarves, barn dances and bonfires, and of course, all things Halloween (did someone say candy corn?). The start of the fall season is arguably one of the best times of the year, so it is with great excitement that I present our first publication of the semester: The October Issue.
It feels great to be back, and as the season is experiencing change, we at The Spread are too. This year, we have more writers and editors than ever before – and we are thrilled to welcome some very talented photographers to our staff as well. Our magazine’s family is growing, and this month’s issue contains more articles than any of our previous ones. I cannot wait for you to see what we have in store.
Dive straight into the issue and immerse yourself in seasonal topics. Read our tips for decorating your dorm or apartment for Halloween, start planning your perfect group or couples Halloween costume, and check out our recommendations for spooky films you should watch this month. Get an inside look at the Downtown Urbana Farmer’s Market, learn more about Stranger Things, arguably one of the hottest shows on Netflix right now, and make sure you know the dos and don’ts of barn dances before donning your denim and flannel.
In addition to October-themed stories, we always take pride in covering topics related to UIUC. This month, you can learn more about places and events on campus to help relieve stress, while simultaneously reading our midterm survival guide. You can hear from students on the differences between life in residence halls and private certified housing and get the inside scoop on some of the most popular restaurants our university has to offer.
This month we feature interviews with Dr. Jeff Frame, one of the University’s standout professors, and Dee Brown, Director of Player Development and Alumni Relations and a former Illini and NBA basketball player! Read one of our senior writer’s guides to incoming freshmen and hear the stories of this year’s transfer students. We also have an amazing video for you to watch that will take you on a journey through a few of the many shops in Campustown.
This does not even begin to describe what this month’s issue has to offer, however – and I don’t want to spoil the surprise! So get cozy and read through the articles with a bowl of candy corn and a toasty latte in hand. I hope you enjoy this issue as much as we enjoyed creating it.
From The Spread family to you, happy reading and have a wonderful October!
With love and pumpkin spice,
Madison Gillespie, Editor-In-Chief
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Original pumpkin image from http://data.whicdn.com/
Graphic edited and created by Madison Gillespie
The Spread 