New Center for Student Success centralizes support for Columbia
The new campus space was funded through a $5 million grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education, and has been planned since 2024.
Marc Balbarin, Deputy Editor
Nerves, excitement, new beginnings on move-in day
Students and families arrived Monday, Aug. 31 to start moving into Columbia’s residence halls as faculty and staff helped welcome them to campus for the fall semester.
Columbia celebrates first commencement under Bolton with dancing and a message about facing fear
Graduates from schools of Business and Entrepreneurship, Communication and Culture, Fashion, and Film and Television crossed the stage Sunday morning, May 17 at Credit Union 1 Arena during the first of the college’s two commencement ceremonies.
In pictures: Columbia’s second annual ‘Unity Ball’ celebrates queer culture
Columbia’s “Unity Ball” returns to highlight queer identity through dancing, music and self expression.
Breaking: Canvas access restored after cyberattack
Colleges nationwide reported outages after hackers allegedly targeted Instructure, the company behind Canvas, interrupting access to coursework, assignments and class communication near the end of the semester. The site was restored around 9:30 p.m., more than four hours after the attack.
Breaking: Columbia shifts oversight to five deans in administrative restructuring
As it continues to address the budget deficit, the college will replace 10 program directors with five deans across the existing schools. Two existing dean positions will be folded into the Office of the Provost. No programs will be cut, and Interim Senior Vice President and Provost Suzanne McBride said students may not notice what she described as “managerial changes.”
Junior Amelia Lutz to lead SGA after uncontested race
With 129 students casting ballots, the SGA election also named new executive board members and a Board of Trustees representative selected through interviews.
SGA set to conduct annual e-board election
Student Government Association will hold its annual executive board elections before students vote on campus leadership and representation.
‘Records never actually went away’: why Chicago listeners are keeping vinyl alive
Despite generational shifts in music consumption and industry preferences, LPs have maintained cultural relevance for many in the digital age.
Columbia interim provost signals enrollment rebound amid ongoing decline
Suzanne McBride told students the college is planning for a larger incoming class this fall, even as enrollment has fallen below 4,000 this spring.
Students mark end of Ramadan with campus event hosted by SDI
Eid al-Fitr begins Thursday night, March 19, marking the end of Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month of fasting, prayer and community.
Early surge signals interest in historic Illinois primary races
An unusually competitive Illinois primary election presented a rare opportunity for voters to redefine the state’s congressional representation for the next two years.
At C3Expo, alumni panel examines Asian representation in media and fandom
The discussion on Saturday, March 14 ranged from viral internet trends to the changing portrayal of Asians in film and television.
Three former presidents join thousands to pay final respects to Rev. Jesse Jackson
A jubilant service on Chicago’s South Side on Friday, March 6 honored the civil rights leader whose decades of activism reshaped national politics and grassroots organizing.
‘SAVE Act’ creates challenges for millions of voters
Students and faculty weigh in after the House passed legislation requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration.
‘Black Souls Welcome’ marks five years of Black joy, art and resistance
Through portraits, poetry and performance, students explored the many layers of Black identity and experience at the annual showcase.
Review: Joji’s ‘Piss in the Wind’ blows in the right direction
The 21-track album offers a 45-minute journey of lovelorn and yearning through a genre-blending mix of “trip-hop” and alternative R&B.
Only one seat filled in SGA spring election
The Student Government Association filled just one of nine open senate seats, reflecting broader challenges tied to student engagement and a shrinking campus population.
Nationwide ‘national shutdown’ protest over federal immigration enforcement and Minneapolis shootings draws mixed reaction
Some Chicago businesses shut their doors for the day, while others warned that a daylong strike could harm small businesses.
Latino Alliance brings holiday comfort to campus with posada
The group’s first Christmas posada offered a festive break at the end of the semester.
As student needs grow, ColumbiaCares expands its safety net
The program offers emergency food and clothing through a pantry and on-campus thrift store.
Flight delays cause distress to students traveling during holiday season
The Federal Aviation Administration is ordering a 10% cut in flights at airports across the country due to the recent government shutdown. As a result, students are unsure if they will make it home for the holidays.
Review: ‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4’ offers a dynamic and replayable experience
The latest remaster of “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4” combines nostalgia and modern polish to create a high-flying 2000s-era skateboarding experience.
Columbia hosts Estonian-led discussion on AI’s impact in art, education
Estonian President Alar Karis joined artists, educators and technologists from Estonia and Chicago to discuss how artificial intelligence is changing creative practice and the classroom. The event marked the first U.S. program by the Estonian-American Raud-Tartu initiative.
What to expect: Wicked Week 2025
From drag shows to dodgeball, Columbia’s Wicked Week makes its annual return, giving students a break from classwork and a chance to celebrate the spooky season.
Columbia expands creative access with new One Button Studio in Student Center
The third floor space is part of the college’s effort to make creative technology more accessible across campus.
Columbia grad blends photography, contemporary dance in Andersonville exhibition
Rooted in personal history, photographer Mark Hawk’s exhibition traces a journey through identity, trauma and transformation.
Columbia’s ASL Jam brings community together despite loss of major
Nearly a hundred people came together at the ASL Club’s first event this semester, filling the room with signed applause and fellowship.
South Loop Night Market winds down for season
The outdoor nighttime market at Roosevelt Collection Shops near campus closes Sept. 25, but an indoor version will open at the same location in early January.
Thousands protest near Columbia after Trump threats
Demonstrators filled Ida B. Wells Drive and Michigan Avenue on Saturday night, Sept. 6, denouncing plans to send National Guard troops to Chicago and to expand immigration enforcement.
Latino Alliance welcomes students amid ICE activity
As federal immigration enforcement ramps up in Chicago, some Columbia students are starting the semester with more on their minds than classes. The Latino Alliance is offering a refuge on campus.
Former Columbia student turns Chicago’s train lines into wearable art
Transit Tees celebrates the city’s shared rhythms and communities with unique designs.
What’s being done about Chicago’s affordable housing crisis
High rents are a challenge for Columbia students seeking affordable apartments near campus. With more than half of the city’s renters struggling to keep a roof over their heads, Chicago faces a housing shortfall too big to ignore.
New Illinois law set to shake college admissions
High school seniors will soon get direct admission offers from public colleges and universities without submitting an application under a measure aimed at saving students time and money.
Explainer: Breaking down how Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ affects student loans
Two weeks after President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Department of Education issued its first guidance on how colleges and universities should apply new federal student aid and repayment options.
Columbia students rev up race weekend with NASCAR fashion show
The high-speed collaboration between the Fashion Lab and NASCAR puts sustainable fashion on the fast track with a live runway show during Chicago’s Street Race weekend in early July.
Tens of thousands rally in downtown Chicago as part of national ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump policies, military parade
Amid nationwide demonstrations, Chicago protesters marched from Daley Plaza to Ida B. Wells Drive to oppose the Trump administration’s immigration raids and planned military parade in Washington.
Campus commuters at risk after transit funding reform fails
One in five Chicago area commuters are at risk of losing access to public transit amidst a potential $771 million budget shortfall for the RTA after state lawmakers failed to act, according to transit officials.