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Chicago Tribune
24-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
University of Chicago considers restructuring arts and humanities division to cut costs
The University of Chicago is considering a substantial restructuring of the school's Division of the Arts and Humanities to cut costs, citing historic financial strain under the Trump administration. 'University leadership is looking across the entire institution for ways to significantly reduce costs and increase revenue, while continuing to fulfill our mission,' Nelson wrote in the email. The faculty-led committees were instructed to propose changes by the end of August. The Chicago Maroon, the university's student newspaper, first reported on the reorganization efforts Monday. A U. of C. spokesperson told The Tribune in a statement that similar 'focused planning' is taking place across the university. 'This spring and summer, academic leaders across every school and division have been working with faculty and other colleagues to make timely strategic plans for this academic year and years to come,' the spokesperson said. The move comes as the Trump administration exercises increased scrutiny against colleges and universities across the country, including taking steps to pull funding at elite institutions. Nelson pointed to cuts to federal research funding, shifting policies surrounding international students and graduate student loans, and general volatility in the American economy as sources of U. of C.'s underlying fiscal pressures. The proposed changes could be enacted for the 2026-27 academic year, she told faculty. 'The status quo is not an option,' Nelson wrote. 'To simply copy and paste means the inkpad will run dry, and the Division of the Arts & Humanities will very soon be a pale, indecipherable version of what we once aspired to be.' Nelson has been communicating with faculty since January about efforts to plan for the division's future, the university spokesperson said. More than 40 faculty members are participating in the committees. The committees target five different areas for restructuring and cuts: college teaching, divisional organization, languages, master's programs and PhD programs. Each group received a list of 'questions for exploration,' according to documents reviewed by The Tribune. Among those questions: 'Could we envision an organization with 8 departments?' and 'Are there languages we no longer need to teach?' Faculty members described an environment of confusion and frustration in the division, as speculation swirls about the impact of possible cuts. Tyler Williams, an associate professor in the Department of South Asian Languages and Civilizations and a member of the languages committee, said much of the group feels unequipped to suggest changes in a limited time frame. Many are hesitant to propose any spending reductions. 'The process is too fast and too uninformed,' Williams said. 'We're being asked to think of suggestions that could affect dozens of jobs, which could affect the way all languages are taught at the University of Chicago.' Other committees have prioritized identifying changes that would minimize the impact on students. Daisy Delogu, a professor of French literature, was assigned to the PhD programs committee. Her focus has been on finding ways to streamline the PhD process to reduce administrative spending. 'We've been asking ourselves, 'Are these requirements evaluating or advancing students towards certain goals? Do we have milestones in place that are meaningful to students' learning? Or do they feel kind of like giant hoops?'' Delogu said. Some faculty members fear the reorganizing efforts could jeopardize the work of small, specialized departments and their professors. Andrew Ollett, an associate professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of South Asian Languages and Civilizations, specializes in philology and Sanskrit. Because the discipline is so specialized, class sizes are often small — but the department is nationally ranked, Ollett said. 'We have a historic department that has had many luminaries associated with it in the past,' Ollett said. 'I'm really shocked to think that we could just cease to exist over the next year, without substantive discussion, without real faculty consultation, without a review of our program.' In recent years, U. of C. officials have outlined plans to reduce the university's climbing deficit, which topped $288 million last year. But a slew of federal changes under President Donald Trump have thrown the higher education landscape into uncertainty. The National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation have frozen or terminated millions of grants, with little communication to researchers and universities. U. of C. relied on $543 million in federal grant funding in 2024, which accounted for 18% of its revenue, according to bond issuance documents. The school has also faced inquiries from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security on admissions practices and international students. In her email, Dean Nelson highlighted the threat of an increased tax on the university's $10 billion endowment under Trump's 'big beautiful bill.' Federal legislators initially proposed a draft that would have cost the school more than $50 million in additional taxes — but the final version of the bill has no impact on U. of C. based on its student-adjusted endowment. 'The looming federal crisis seems to me to have been very substantially diminished or postponed,' said Clifford Ando, the Robert O. Anderson Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Classics. 'So why not put the brakes on and run this process deliberately and carefully?' It's not the first structural change in recent months – U. of C. announced the merger of the Division of the Humanities and UChicago Arts in April. That move was a strategic decision to 'better reflect and support the incredibly vibrant intellectual and creative community' at U. of C., the spokesperson said. Nelson framed the committees as a way to ensure thoughtful faculty input wth restructuring. The Division of the Arts and Humanities remains in a 'relatively good budget position' heading into the upcoming fiscal year, she said. 'If we do nothing, or if we become divided, we will essentially hand over control of shaping the future of the arts and humanities at UChicago to others outside our division,' Nelson wrote.
Chicago Tribune
18-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
University of Chicago faces inquiries from Dept. of Justice on international students
The U.S. Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security have requested information on admissions practices and international students at the University of Chicago. U. of C. disclosed the inquiries in bond issuance documents dated July 11. Bloomberg first reported on the documents Friday. 'There may be prospective investigations or inquiries,' the documents said. 'While the immediate financial impact on the University is not material at this time, these and other developments involving the federal government may, directly or indirectly, have a material adverse effect on the financial profile and operating performance of the University.' A spokesperson for U. of C. declined to comment. The documents provided no additional details on the timeline or subject of potential investigations. The Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Universities across the nation have faced increased scrutiny under the Trump administration, which has cracked down against diversity, equity and inclusion policies, frozen federal research funding and imposed stricter vetting policies on student visas. International students make up 18% of undergraduates at U. of C., and 32% of the total student body, according to the bond documents. 'Limitations on the ability to enroll certain international students or other factors leading to a sizable reduction in the enrollment of students at the University … would have a materially adverse impact on the financial condition of the University,' the documents said. U. of C. is also one of 45 universities under investigation by the Education Department for alleged Title VI violations for a program aimed at increasing the diversity of PhD students. The university relied on $543 million in federal grant funding in 2024, which accounted for 18% of its revenue, according to the bond documents. Several of the school's grants have been pulled by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and other organizations, the documents said. Northwestern University has also been targeted by the Trump administration. More than $790 million in federal research funding has been paused while it faces multiple federal probes for alleged civil rights violations against Jewish students. President Michael Schill is slated to testify for the second time before Congress in August.
Chicago Tribune
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Daywatch: Pro-Palestinian campus protesters speak out
Good morning, Chicago. Six months have passed since fourth-year University of Chicago student Mamayan Jabateh last stepped foot on campus. Jabateh was one of two students arrested after she participated in an October demonstration calling for an end to the university's investment in weapons manufacturers arming Israel. The protest, which drew a crowd of more than 150 people, was initially peaceful, Jabateh said. Students and staff stood before the crowd giving speeches, later moving through the campus. When campus police intervened, that all changed. Last spring, university students, including Jabateh at the U. of C. and others across the country erected 130 encampments on the lawns of their campuses, barricading themselves from law enforcement to stand in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where bombardments have destroyed nearly all higher education institutions. Many students dove into the protests, understanding the consequences they'd face — possible suspension, expulsion, and, for some, their diplomas withheld. Yet, they continued, they said, passionate about the cause they were fighting for. More than a year later, the repercussions continue as well, as the Trump administration aims to punish the students who participated, signaling a wider, more coordinated federal crackdown on pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses. Read the full story by the Tribune's Ikram Mohamed. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: what's next for the pope's boyhood home in Dolton, a detailed look at the Chicago Fire's proposed stadium for the South Loop and see Chicago's winners from the 2025 James Beard awards. Today's eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History As communities are urging their representatives to support an environmental ordinance introduced in April to the City Council, a neighborhood group released maps showing large swaths of land across the city are currently zoned for commercial warehouses and industrial manufacturing that don't require public notice or city approval to be developed. The governor signed his seventh state budget, balanced as he promised with cuts, taxes and one-time revenue boosts but leaving for future months the battle over one major spending issue, an expected $771 million shortfall for Chicago-area transit systems. A Merrillville woman has sued the Lake County Sheriff's Department, saying she was slammed to the ground and arrested in a June 5, 2023 traffic stop after she told officers she was pregnant. Shikeia Randolph, now 31, a receptionist with the Gary Housing Authority, suffered a miscarriage three months later at 23 weeks, according to the lawsuit. A contentious push to force Uber and Lyft to pay Chicago ride-share drivers more is settled for now after Uber and the unions behind the effort reached a labor peace deal. A former Dolton village employee is trying to block the village from using taxpayer money to acquire the childhood home of Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV. Lavell Redmond, who has an ongoing lawsuit against Dolton alleging wrongful termination in 2022, is asking a federal judge for a temporary restraining order. The Chicago Fire unveiled detailed renderings of their proposed privately funded $650 million open-air soccer stadium yesterday, a state-of-the-art facility at The 78 in the South Loop meant to look like it has been part of the city's sports landscape for a century. Wider sidewalks and new security bollards could soon come to Wrigley Field after aldermen advanced a ballpark security plan yesterday. But the new $32.1 million package set to face a final City Council vote Wednesday could bring far more than added safety to the Friendly Confines. Kumiko and Noah Sandoval of Oriole were announced as 2025 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards winners at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago, where the uncertainties of the country's shifting immigration landscape hung heavy over the ceremonies. Julia Momosé, who accepted the Outstanding Bar award for Kumiko, spoke of her Japanese heritage, while a representative for Sandoval, who was unable to attend, read his pre-prepared comments, which ended with '(expletive) ICE.' To properly celebrate Pride Month, you need quite a lot of energy and definitely a lot of cake. Thanks to October Cafe, Jennivee's Bakery and Chicago Sugar Daddy, there are plenty of ways to keep the caffeine tank full and the sweet tooth satisfied while also supporting LGBTQ-owned small businesses in Chicago. Back where he came from, the writer Rich Cohen spent a couple of evening hours last week signing copies of his latest book, 'Murder in the Dollhouse: The Jennifer Dulos Story,' at the Book Stall in Winnetka. There were a lot of copies to sign, because not only is this a very fine book, Cohen is a native of the North Shore and had many old friends dropping in to say hello, writes Rick Kogan. They also bought the book and now, after having some time to read it, they are likely to have been chilled by the story of the life and death of Jennifer Dulos, a person who might have been their neighbor, their friend.
Chicago Tribune
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
A year after encampments swept Chicago-area universities, 3 pro-Palestinian protesters speak out
Six months have passed since fourth-year University of Chicago student Mamayan Jabateh last stepped foot on campus. Jabateh was one of two students arrested after she participated in an October demonstration calling for an end to the university's investment in weapons manufacturers arming Israel. The protest, which drew a crowd of more than 150 people, was initially peaceful, Jabateh said. Students and staff stood before the crowd giving speeches, later moving through the campus. When campus police intervened, that all changed. Last spring, university students, including Jabateh at the U. of C. and others across the country erected 130 encampments on the lawns of their campuses, barricading themselves from law enforcement to stand in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where bombardments have destroyed nearly all higher education institutions. Since the October 2023 Hamas attack, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and more than 250 hostages, the ensuing war has killed 55,000 Palestinians according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Several Chicago-area universities, including Northwestern, the University of Chicago and Loyola, made national and international news for their encampments. Many students dove into the protests, understanding the consequences they'd face — possible suspension, expulsion, and, for some, their diplomas withheld. Yet, they continued, they said, passionate about the cause they were fighting for. More than a year later, the repercussions continue as well, as the Trump administration aims to punish the students who participated, signaling a wider, more coordinated federal crackdown on pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses. As universities continue to discipline student activists and attempt to quell on-campus demonstrations, the pro-Palestinian movement has become a flashpoint in the national debate over free speech. Loyola law student Zak Cheikho helped coordinate several encampments across the city last year as a member of Students for Justice in Palestine, and said he witnessed institutions 'exercising the police against their students.' 'It took the courage and bravery of students and educators … to put their bodies between the students at the encampment and the police,' for the encampments to grow. Cheikho knew the possible consequences but that did not dissuade him, he said. 'I think it's a very easy moral question,' Cheikho said. 'The burden seems like a lot until you put it into the context of the others, of the suffering that's being faced by people, then it's very little.' When the bombardments on Gaza began in 2023, U. of C. grad student Mike Miccioli joined hundreds in protesting outside the Israeli Consulate in Chicago. His involvement continued in the following months — tabling daily in the quad at U. of C. and fundraising for Palestinians. The encampment at the Hyde Park school lasted eight days before being raided by campus police. Miccioli criticized the university's response to last year's encampments, also noting a 'violent' police raid at a protest on Oct. 11, 2024, that led to two student arrests and suspensions. Miccioli said he understood the consequences for participating in the demonstration. But his disciplinary case for participating in the demonstrations was eventually dropped, and he resumed his studies. As a precondition to negotiating, organizers insisted that the university implement a Gaza 'scholars at risk' program, where Palestinian scholars would study and teach at the U. of C. While some Palestinian scholars are now at U. of C., Miccioli said the university did not 'fully implement the program' and 'went back on their agreement.' In a statement to the Tribune, U. of C. said university faculty nominated one scholar impacted by the conflict in Gaza, approved by the Scholars at Risk committee, and the scholar has been on campus and teaching since winter quarter. The university said it welcomes nominations for more eligible scholars. But while the school portrays itself as the 'gold standard' of free speech and academic freedom, Miccioli said, it 'has shown that that only applies to certain types of speech.' In a statement, U. of C. said it is 'fundamentally committed to upholding the rights of speakers and protesters to express a wide range of views.' However, at the same time, university policies state, 'protests and demonstrations cannot jeopardize public safety, disrupt the University's operations, or involve unlawful activity.' Northwestern promised a similar program, agreeing to support two visiting Palestinian faculty members for two years and providing five Palestinian undergraduate students with the full cost of attendance. The Daily Northwestern, however, reported that only one Palestinian faculty member is currently a visiting scholar. Northwestern did not respond to a Tribune request for comment on the program. Several students told the Tribune that the U. of C. has been cracking down on alleged antisemitism on campus, following the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism's recent focus on investigating Chicago-area schools. The university launched an investigation in March into alleged antisemitic signs displayed in a faculty member's office. The faculty member voluntarily removed the signs, however, this marked the second probe by into antisemitism on campus following a March 13 incident involving vandalism of an on-campus Israel installation. Following the U. of C.'s implementation of revised protest policies that include the banning of encampments, overnight protests and demonstrations with 'amplified sound,' the advocacy group Palestine Legal filed a civil rights complaint on behalf of the campus group University of Chicago United for Palestine, demanding an investigation into the university's alleged 'nearly year-long, hostile environment of anti-Palestinian racism' on campus. Universities' responses to last year's encampments were typical, according to Genevieve Lakier, a University of Chicago professor specializing in freedom of speech and American constitutional law. However, what's occurred since then in recent months, she said, is increasingly concerning. 'Initially, universities responded in ways consistent with a long-standing tradition of permitting student protest,' Lakier said. 'Institutions like the University of Chicago, Columbia, and Harvard have historically welcomed protest as part of their educational mission. It's expected — students are supposed to question the status quo.' Lakier noted that the shift typically occurred after accusations the protests were antisemitic and schools began facing increased pressure from donors and their board of trustees to end them. It will be harder for dissenting voices to be heard on campus, she said. 'The university should not be governed by the desires of their rich alumni or boards of trustees, because that's inevitably, over time, going to mean that certain voices are going to be suppressed,' Lakier said. Pressure to keep pro-Palestinian protests off college campuses increased under the Trump administration, as President Donald Trump encouraged universities to have a heavier hand with student protesters, threatening cuts to funding and investigations into universities if they did otherwise. 'Trump is clearly signaling that universities need to not only discipline students more, but they need to change their speech rules altogether to make it harder for students to protest,' Lakier said. Until a couple of weeks ago, she said she believed the administration had succeeded in extinguishing the largest anti-war movement organized by students since the 1960s. But now, Lakier said, students are beginning to resist and push back. 'But the political environment is a very dangerous and scary one,' she said. 'Who knows what is going to happen next?' While her recollection is hazy, Jabateh said officers at the October protest trampled students and began hitting fallen students with batons. They charged the crowd and pepper-sprayed students. At some point, she intervened, deflecting a baton from hitting a fellow student, and again, when the officer then attempted to beat her, she said. Jabateh was accused of hitting a police officer during the protest and was later charged with aggravated battery of a peace officer, as well as resisting or obstructing a peace officer. While Jabateh said the protest was initially peaceful and escalated by officers, a U. of C. spokesperson said protestors 'vandalized and damaged property, instigated confrontations with police by physically surrounding a police car, blocked the public road and struck police officers who responded.' Though she walked away from the protest, she didn't leave unscathed. She remained in pain for a week after, she said, and it took hours for her to completely wash off the remnants of being pepper-sprayed. Two months after the October protest during finals week in December, she was led off campus by officers in handcuffs and charged. Jabateh said spending 30 hours in jail after her arrest was 'very scary.' Jabateh was evicted from her dorm and banned from campus immediately after her release. Nearly six months later, she has yet to return to the university as she was suspended from campus for two years. Jabateh also pleaded guilty to the criminal charges filed against her to have them expunged from her record in one year. 'I do not feel safe at UChicago anymore,' Jabateh said. 'This is something that I'm going to take with me for a very long time.' Manuel Rivera, the other U. of C. student arrested and suspended due to his participation in the protest, filed a civil rights complaint against the university in January. Rivera also filed suit against Dean of Students Michael Hayes, and two unnamed university police officers. He alleges that the university's decision to evict and place him on an 'involuntary leave' from campus violated the First Amendment and Illinois and Chicago housing law. This is the first lawsuit and second civil rights complaint against the university regarding pro-Palestinian protests on campus in the last year. Despite what she's faced in recent months and the uncertainty of her future, Jabateh said she has no regrets. She is not deterred from voicing her support for Palestinians. 'If anything, this entire situation has enraged me,' Jabateh said. 'I'm sitting in a moment of rage. There's a lot of healing I need to do, but I don't think that's going to stop me. We've been committed to this movement, and … there's no going back.'
Chicago Tribune
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
More than 1,000 international students have had visas or legal status revoked
At first, the bar association for immigration attorneys began receiving inquiries from a couple students a day. These were foreigners studying in the U.S., and they'd discovered in early April their legal status had been terminated with little notice. To their knowledge, none of the students had committed a deportable offense. In recent days, the calls have begun flooding in. Hundreds of students have been calling to say they have lost legal status, seeking advice on what to do next. 'We thought it was going to be something that was unusual,' said Matthew Maiona, a Boston-based immigration attorney who is getting about six calls a day from panicked international students. 'But it seems now like it's coming pretty fast and furious.' The speed and scope of the federal government's efforts to terminate the legal status of international students have stunned colleges across the country. Few corners of higher education have been untouched, as schools ranging from prestigious private universities, large public research institutions and tiny liberal arts colleges discover status terminations one after another among their students. Trump administration revokes student visas from U. of C., Northwestern and U. of I. At least 1,024 students at 160 colleges, universities and university systems have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated since late March, according to a review of university statements, correspondence with school officials and court records. Advocacy groups collecting reports from colleges say hundreds more students could be caught up in the crackdown. Students apparently targeted over minor infractions Around 1.1 million international students were in the United States last year — a source of essential revenue for tuition-driven colleges. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid, and their ability to pay tuition often factors into whether they will be admitted to American schools. Often, they pay full price. Many of the students losing their legal status are from India and China, which together account for more than half the international students at American colleges. But the terminations have not been limited to those from any one part of the world, lawyers said. Four students from two Michigan universities are suing Trump administration officials after their F-1 student status was terminated last week. Their attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, Ramis Wadood, said the students never received a clear reason why. 'We don't know, and that's the scary part,' he said. The students were informed of the status terminations by their universities via email, which came as a shock, Wadood said. The reason given was that there was a 'criminal records check and/or that their visa was revoked,' Wadood said, but none of them were charged or convicted of crimes. Some had either speeding or parking tickets, but one didn't have any, he said. Only one of the students had known their entry visa was revoked, Wadood said. Last month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the State Department was revoking visas held by visitors who were acting counter to national interests, including some who protested Israel's war in Gaza and those who face criminal charges. But many students say they don't fall under those categories. Students have filed lawsuits in several states, arguing they were denied due process. In New Hampshire, a federal judge last week granted a temporary restraining order to restore the status of a Ph.D. student at Dartmouth College, Xiaotian Liu. On Tuesday, a federal judge in Wisconsin issued a similar order, ruling the government could not take steps to detain or revoke the visa of a University of Wisconsin-Madison gradate student. Two graduate students at Montana State University, Bozeman, on Tuesday were granted a temporary restraining order by a federal judge in Montana, restoring their terminated legal status and shielding them from efforts to remove them from the U.S. In a break from past, feds cancel students' status directly At many colleges, officials learned the legal immigration status of some international students had been terminated when staff checked a database managed by the Department of Homeland Security. In the past, college officials say, legal statuses typically were updated after colleges told the government the students were no longer studying at the school. The system to track enrollment and movements of international students came under the control of Immigration and Customs Enforcement after 9/11, said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association of international educators. She said recent developments have left students fearful of how quickly they can be on the wrong side of enforcement. 'You don't need more than a small number to create fear,' Aw said. 'There's no clarity of what are the reasons and how far the reach of this is.' Her group says as many as 1,300 students have lost visas or had their status terminated, based on reports from colleges. The Department of Homeland Security and State Department did not respond to messages seeking comment. Foreigners who are subject to removal proceedings are usually sent a notice to appear in immigration court on a certain date, but lawyers say affected students have not received any notices, leaving them unsure of next steps to take. Some schools have told students to leave the country to avoid the risk of being detained or deported. But some students have appealed the terminations and stayed in the United States while those are processed. Still others caught in legal limbo aren't students at all. They had remained in the U.S. post-graduation on 'optional practical training,' a one-year period — or up to three for science and technology graduates — that allows employment in the U.S. after completing an academic degree. During that time, a graduate works in their field and waits to receive their H-1B or other employment visas if they wish to keep working in the U.S. Around 242,000 foreigners in the U.S. are employed through this 'optional practical training.' About 500,000 are pursuing graduate degrees, and another 342,000 are undergraduate students. Among the students who have filed lawsuits is a Georgia Tech Ph.D. student who is supposed to graduate on May 5, with a job offer to join the faculty. His attorney Charles Kuck said the student was likely targeted for termination because of an unpaid traffic fine from when the student lent his car to a friend. Ultimately, the violation was dismissed. 'We have case after case after case exactly like that, where there is no underlying crime,' said Kuck, who is representing 17 students in the federal lawsuit. He said his law firm has heard from hundreds of students. 'These are kids who now, under the Trump administration, realize their position is fragile,' he said. 'They've preyed on a very vulnerable population. These kids aren't hiding. They're in school.' Some international students have been adapting their daily routines. A Ph.D. student from China at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said she has begun carrying around her passport and immigration paperwork at the advice of the university's international student office. The student, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being targeted by authorities, said she has been distressed to see the terminations even for students like her without criminal records. 'That is the most scary part because you don't know whether you're going to be the next person,' she said. ___ Seminera reported from Raleigh, N.C., and Keller reported from Albuquerque, N.M. ___ The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at Originally Published: April 17, 2025 at 6:53 PM CDT
