Chicago Maroon: News

The Maroon has the top stories from the week. A data breach in the my.UChicago portal may have allowed users unauthorized access to personal information. Political science professor John Mearsheimer packed the room for his talk on the U.S.–Venezuela relations in the aftermath of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s ousting. Featuring: Aubrey Barb and Amber Lin Edited by: Aubrey Barb

The Maroon has the top stories from the week. The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC) launched a new data research center that uses artificial intelligence to aid researchers. A South Side legal aid clinic for immigrants is adapting amid heightened ICE presence; reporter Celeste Alcalay discusses how organizers say their work has changed. Featuring: Aubrey Barb, Amber Lin, and Celeste Alcalay Edited by: Aubrey Barb

Reporters Aubrey Barb and Amber Lin interrupt coverage to share sad news. Fourth-year student Joyce Qi passed away in an "automobile accident" early on the morning of January 18, Dean of the College Melina Hale wrote in an email to students. The email invited students to "gather, connect with others in our community, and honor Joyce’s memory" at Bond Chapel on Monday, January 19, between 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. The top news stories from the week: A man was detained in Hyde Park on the morning of January 14 in what is suspected to be federal immigration activity. Rhodes Scholar Tori Harris opens up about embarking on research in African diasporic archaeology at Oxford University. Finally, a look at ClubHub, a third-year student’s start-up which seeks to improve the organization of student-run clubs in high schools around the country. Featuring: Aubrey Barb and Amber Lin, Edited by: Aubrey Barb

The winter festival Kuvia, a beloved campus tradition, returns this week for the first time since 2024. At the eighth annual Chicago Quantum Summit, two University researchers received awards for their work in the field of quantum computing. And, back in November, the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality hosted a so-called Performative Male Contest, joining the viral internet trend and opening up discussions about gender as a social construct. Featuring and edited by: Aubrey Barb

Maroon reporter Aubrey Barb has an update on the latest news, as students return from winter break. The Organization of Black Students held a vigil for Keith Butler, a cook who worked at Bartlett Dining Commons. Businessman Thomas Pritzker and New York Times columnist David Brooks appear in new photographs released by the Epstein estate. Also, university administrators remain cautiously optimistic about future reductions to the budget deficit. Featuring and edited by: Aubrey Barb

On Episode 118, Greg and Jake are joined in the studio by Tiffany, a second-year who is joining the section. She tells us about the new contract that Facilities Services workers reached with the University. We also discuss the venture funding won by event-planning app Lynkr and the Microsoft Outlook outage that affected university students.  Featuring: Gregory Caesar, Tiffany Li, Jake Zucker. Edited by: Jake Zucker.

On the first episode of a new mini-series covering Undergraduate Student Government (USG) here on campus, Jake talks to USG President Jefferson Lind about his experience in the role. They discuss upcoming changes to the Lyft program, the University's financial malaise, and diminishing RSO funding, as well as how USG fits into that puzzle. Host: Jake Zucker. Guest: Jefferson Lind. Edited by: Jake Zucker.

On Episode 117, Celeste shares her insights into new agreements reached between the administration and nurses and graduate students, averting multiple potential strikes. We also discuss a recent settlement that the University reached and the attempts of the Chicago White Sox brass to use public money to fund a new stadium. Featuring: Celeste Alcalay, Gregory Caesar, Jake Zucker. Edited by: Jake Zucker. Sponsored by: Steppenwolf Theatre!

On Episode 116, Greg and Jake discuss cultural issues facing the cross country team, more perspectives on University finances, and a recent Maroon piece analyzing the political contributions of faculty. Featuring: Gregory Caesar, Jake Zucker. Edited by: Jake Zucker. Sponsored by: Steppenwolf Theatre!

On Episode 115, a couple new voices join us in the studio. Michael Plunkett, Lead Developer for the Maroon's Data section, told us about the work he did to create a map that updates every day with crime data in and around Hyde Park. And Henry gave us a report on the University's plans to address their budget deficit; we also hear reports on a planned grad student strike, how cost-cutting measures have already led to University employees losing their jobs, an update on the Botany Pond, and more. Featuring: Celeste Alcalay, Gregory Caesar, Pravan Chakravarthy, Henry Lako-Baldwin, Jake Zucker. Guest: Michael Plunkett. Edited by: Jake Zucker.

On Episode 114, we are joined by recent alumnus and former Podcast section member Carter Beckstein! We hear from him about what he's been up to since graduation, and we discuss labor issues with the UCMed, Chicago's Restaurant Week, Study Abroad, and, of course, the financial issues facing the university. Featuring: Celeste Alcalay, Pravan Chakravarthy, William Kimani, and Jake Zucker. Guest: Carter Beckstein. Edited by: Jake Zucker.

On Episode 113, we discuss the now-infamous Moongate and the impact that Sidechat has on campus. We also chart the discourse around University's finances, as seen in the Maroon's Viewpoints section, and talk about the arrests of students who were protesting on behalf of Palestine by conducting a sit-in at the University's admissions office. Featuring: Celeste Alcalay, William Kimani, Kentaro Mathis, and Jake Zucker. Edited by: Jake Zucker.

The following is a series of audios recorded on the main quad of the University of Chicago on Thursday, October 19, 2023. It features interviews with pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli community members demonstrating at around 12 p.m. It also features an interview with Maroon News reporter Emma Janssen recorded on November 9, who attended and reported on the rallies. The rally was organized by a collection of UChicago Jewish organizations, including Law Students for Israel, the Jewish Business Student Association, and UChicago Maroons for Israel, who scheduled the rally with the University from noon to 1 p.m. at the center of the quad to express support for Israel following the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas. This rally came as Students for Justice in Palestine continued its daily occupation of the quad from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., which began on Monday, October 16. The audio is mostly unedited, with some segments omitted for brevity’s sake. Interviews were conducted by reporters from The Maroon’s Podcasts division, who strived to remain impartial and provide an unbiased record of the events of that day. Some listeners may find the recordings offensive due to antisemitic and Islamophobic language. Hosted by: Gregory Caesar Featuring: William Kimani, Nolan Shaffer, Emma Janssen, Jake Zucker, and Celeste Alcalay Edited by: Gregory Caesar and Erica Cai

On Episode 112, we share an exclusive report on the University's precarious financial position and consider its implications for the future. We also discuss conspiracy theories about recent cuts to the Lyft program and the University's property investments, attempt to remember what USG actually does, and give an update on activism happening around campus. Welcome to the branch, Kentaro! Hosted by: Pravan Chakravarthy Featuring: Jake Zucker, Celeste Alcalay, Kentaro Mathis, and Gregory Caesar Edited by: Gregory Caesar

Cops and robbers, (yet) another political rally, and more updates on the latest happenings on campus on Episode 111. Hosted by: Celeste Alcalay and Gregory Caesar Edited by: Gregory Caesar

It's been an...eventful week on campus, to say the least. Hear about our encounters with pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protestors, a new spate of robberies in Hyde Park, and a flyover by the Air Force on Episode 110 of The Weekly. Hosted by: Gregory Caesar, William Kimani, and Celeste Alcalay Edited by: Gregory Caesar

Hear about the University's newest initiatives for freedom of expression, Hyde Park migrant crisis tension, and a new local green space on the latest episode of the Weekly. Welcome Erica, Sofia, Celeste, and Melanie to the branch! Hosted by: Gregory Caesar Featuring: William Kimani, Erica Cai, Sofia Castro, and Celeste Alcalay

We're back! On the first Weekly episode of the 2023–24 academic year, Greg and Jake give their hot takes on UChicago's latest ranking, changes to the University's Lyft program, and a burgeoning racket sport. Hosted by: Gregory Caesar and Jake Zucker Edited by: Gregory Caesar

Welcome (back) to campus! On the 2023 O-Week podcast, Jake, Pravan, and Greg offer advice to first-years adjusting to UChicago life and reflect on their past two years in the College. They're joined by alumnus Carter Beckstein, Lead Podcasts Editor from 2022–2023, who offers insight into life after UChicago. Hosted by: Jake Zucker, Pravan Chakravarthy, and Gregory Caesar Featuring: Carter Beckstein Edited by: Gregory Caesar

In the first-ever crossover podcast between Northwestern and UChicago, Anita Li of The Daily Northwestern joins Gregory on UChicago's campus to answer student questions about life on each other's campuses. Hosted by: Anita Li and Gregory Caesar Featuring: Leon Gold, Charlie Ortega Martinez, Vikram Mehta, Melody Dias, Alexandria Porter, Anusha Kumar, Jeremy Chung, Jeremey Lu, Kate Wojciechowski, and Zoryah Gray Edited by: Anita Li