Illinois Public Media News

In-depth reporting from WILL, NPR, the Associated Press, and other sources

Contact WILL News at willnewsroom@illinois.edu

Play

WILL Newscast

Hygge: Winter comfort and coziness

A couple of years ago, the term hygge actually made the short list for Oxford dictionary’s word of the year. It’s defined as “a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” The 21st spoke with someone from the Danish Happiness Research Institute about the Danish concept of comfort and coziness. This segment originally aired January 6, 2021.

Jay Caspian Kang on Asian American History and Identity

Today we explored the question of what it means to be Asian American. Specifically, whether it makes sense to have a single marker of identity for that broad group of people hailing from a huge portion of the Earth’s landmass and how they fit into a nation that has a longstanding binary along the poles of Black and white. We talked about it Jay Caspian Kang, who explores the topic in his new book, “The Loneliest Americans."

Matthew Ehrlich, professor emeritus of journalism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and his new book

“Dangerous Ideas on Campus”: the evolution of academic freedom

The early 1960s were a time of transition in American—especially in higher education—when universities were preparing for the tidal wave of Baby Boomers that would be flooding onto campus and also reckoning with growing calls for more freedom on campus, especially among young women. We spoke with the author of a book on the subject.

More articles →