Marc Balbarin

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
May 17, 2026

Manifest 2026: Live updates from Columbia’s 25th annual arts festival

Anna Bitz, Assistant Campus News Editor
May 16, 2026

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
May 9, 2026

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
May 7, 2026

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.”

Anna Bitz and Marc Balbarin
May 2, 2026

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
April 29, 2026

Student Organizations

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
April 20, 2026

‘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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
April 17, 2026

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
April 1, 2026

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.

Guadalupe Loza-Sanchez, Marc Balbarin, and Angel Cal
March 19, 2026

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
March 17, 2026

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
March 15, 2026

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.

Marc Balbarin and Liam Rieber
March 7, 2026

‘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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
February 18, 2026

‘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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
February 11, 2026

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
February 7, 2026

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
February 4, 2026

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.

Vivian Richey and Marc Balbarin
January 31, 2026

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
December 11, 2025

[Photo] Exclusive: Columbia to end Arc at Old Colony lease as housing demand drops

Anna Bitz, Reporter
December 8, 2025

As student needs grow, ColumbiaCares expands its safety net

The program offers emergency food and clothing through a pantry and on-campus thrift store.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
November 24, 2025

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
November 11, 2025

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.

Marc Balbarin, Staff Reporter
November 4, 2025

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
October 29, 2025

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
October 23, 2025

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.

Marc Balbarin and Uriel Reyes
October 16, 2025

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
October 4, 2025

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
September 26, 2025

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.

Guadalupe Loza-Sanchez and Marc Balbarin
September 19, 2025

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.

Emma Jolly and Marc Balbarin
September 6, 2025

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.

Julia Martinez Arroyo and Marc Balbarin
September 5, 2025

Former Columbia student turns Chicago’s train lines into wearable art

Transit Tees celebrates the city’s shared rhythms and communities with unique designs.

Marc Balbarin, Staff Reporter
September 5, 2025

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.

Marc Balbarin, Staff Reporter
August 27, 2025

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
August 12, 2025

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.

Marc Balbarin and Kate Julianne Larroder
July 22, 2025

Hope remains among fans, workers despite uncertainty for the future of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race

Matt Brady and Marc Balbarin
July 6, 2025

NASCAR fans, workers excited for race day

Matt Brady and Marc Balbarin
July 5, 2025

New EL Tracker app helps Chicago riders track their commute

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
June 27, 2025

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.

Allison Shelton and Marc Balbarin
June 23, 2025

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.

Marc Balbarin, Uriel Reyes, and Allison Shelton
June 14, 2025

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.

Marc Balbarin, Reporter
June 7, 2025

Marc Balbarin, Reporter

The Columbia Chronicle

The Columbia Chronicle

The Columbia Chronicle