William Blakley, Editor in Chief
Columbia housing waitlist expected to clear days before fall move-in starts next week
Students spent the summer waiting for assignments as the college worked to accommodate those left without rooms in April.
Breaking: ‘We slowed the bleeding’: Columbia pushes faculty to move forward
Administrators highlighted improving enrollment and retention as faculty pressed for more details about how the college will address its financial and institutional challenges.
Columbia alerted late to potentially harmful weather
The South Loop and much of the larger Chicago area were hit with violent storms and tornado warnings on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
After 35 years, Lollapalooza fans still ask: who is the festival for?
Festivalgoers reflect on Lollapalooza’s audience, prices and artists on the final day of the festival.
Festivalgoers make the most of Lollapalooza despite delays, mud, cut performances
While some attendees were disappointed in the decreased set times and cut performances on the third day of the festival, many people still enjoyed the muddy day at Grant Park.
Lollapalooza loudly celebrates young and emerging Chicago artists
Despite rain, Lollapalooza attendees enjoyed the local artists who performed on day two of the festival.
‘I want to go out and move:’ Lollapalooza highlights rock and EDM in a packed first day of performances
Lollapalooza’s 35th year festival features a heavy focus on rock, EDM and the debut of P-Pop in Chicago.
Columbia replaces Handshake with ColumWorks
The new platform is now the college’s hub for on-campus jobs, internships and creative career opportunities with employers off campus.
Breaking: College lays off 5 instructional specialists
The college currently has no plans to replace the staff who helped managed spaces such as the print center and photo studio.
‘Free to Be Proud’: Chicago Pride Parade celebrates joy, resilience, transgender visibility
Thousands gathered for Chicago's 55th annual Pride Parade on Sunday, June 28, celebrating queer joy.
Editor’s Note: Why we’re changing how we identify part-time faculty
Going forward, the Chronicle will identify these employees as "adjunct faculty" on first reference. We believe this term is both accurate and easily understood by readers while aligning more closely with the terminology used by many academic institutions.
Breaking: College lays off 6 tenured faculty in fourth round of cuts
Columbia has laid off 54 full-time faculty since January 2025, including the six whose positions were eliminated on Wednesday, May 27, as part of an effort to address declining enrollment and a budget deficit that has grown to more than $40 million.
Breaking: Columbia suspends faculty sabbatical leave for a second year
Interim Senior Vice President and Provost Suzanne McBride announced the decision during the Friday, May 22 Faculty Senate meeting, citing ongoing financial pressures at the college. The move reflects broader cost-cutting across higher education, though relatively few colleges and universities have publicly announced pauses to faculty sabbaticals specifically.
‘Boom-chicka-boom’: Columbia graduates close commencement with joy, reflection and uncertainty
Graduates from the Schools of Theatre and Dance, Audio and Music, Design, and Visual Arts crossed the stage Sunday afternoon, May 17 at the Credit Union 1 Arena during the second of commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2026. About 1,200 students were awarded degrees at Columbia this spring.
Students question impact of personal sustainability efforts amid larger crises
Students balancing daily habits and global concerns say meaningful climate action extends beyond individual choices.
Breaking: Columbia finalizes deal with Dwight to clear housing waitlist for Fall 2026
The one-year agreement follows weeks of uncertainty after the college ended two previous housing agreements, including one at the Dwight, leaving more than 200 students without on-campus assignments.
NBCUniversal donates studio equipment to two Columbia programs
The gift, tied to a Chicago studio overhaul, will upgrade student broadcast facilities and expand hands-on training across the School of Communication and Culture and the School of Film and Television.
Mayor Brandon Johnson outlines arts, housing priorities in Columbia visit
During a campus conversation originally tied to President Shantay Bolton’s investiture, students raised concerns about access and housing, while the mayor emphasized arts funding and economic development.
‘Lee Cronin’s The Mummy’ is dead on arrival
Lee Cronin’s reimagining of the classic horror monster is just another disappointing possession movie with shallow characters and scares.
Columbia showcases faculty films in month-long celebration
Columbia’s Celebration of Faculty and Staff Creativity Film Screening highlights films that celebrate many cultures and genres through weekly events.
Columbia students bring decades of rock to life in annual performance
The third annual ‘An Incomplete Journey Through Rock and Roll’ traced the genre’s evolution through a two-hour, 29-song performance.
Provost finalist calls for stabilization, arts-centered strategy
Cristina Goletti, the current dean in the College of Performing and Visual Arts at the University of Northern Colorado, is one of three finalists for senior vice president and provost.
The meaning of commitment is changing for Gen Z
Between finances and the endless scrolling on dating apps, Columbia students are re-examining what true love means to them.
Student-run dance concert spotlights storytelling through movement
The third annual Musical Theatre Dance Concert will have a second show Friday night, Feb. 20 at the Dance Center, showcasing one of the largest ensembles in three years.
Review: ‘Pillion’ drives a motorcycle straight into its audience’s heart
Harry Lighton’s romantic comedy delivers an erotic and serene sensory experience that reminds its audience that they must love themselves before they love someone else.
Anthony ‘Tony’ Ward, who helped generations of Columbia students master film equipment, dies at 52
A 1995 graduate of the college, Ward spent more than three decades managing equipment centers and supporting students and faculty in the School of Film and Television.
Capstone Production Salon offers students opportunities in film production
From zany comedies to down-to-earth dramas, Columbia students present a diverse lineup of productions seeking student collaborators.
Hermosa residents rebuild community support after neighborhood association closes
After the Hermosa Neighborhood Association closed, residents and organizers are working to fill the gap in community support amid increased ICE activity.
Preview: Columbia theatre students stage macabre trio in ‘Slice of Death’
A free showcase of three student-directed plays — each mixing dark themes with offbeat comedy—opens this week for the campus community.
Review: Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ is a beautiful, complicated monster
Despite some flat character work, “Frankenstein” manages to successfully and emotionally adapt the classic novel.
The Dark Market returns to ShopColumbia with ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’
From silly little pumpkins to eyes in jars, Dark Market’s 2025 theme brings every side of Halloween to Columbia.
Thousands pack State Street for Arts in the Dark parade celebrating Chicago’s creative spirit
Hours after peaceful demonstrators marched through downtown for the “No Kings” protest, spectators lined State Street in the South Loop for a night of lights and performance during the city’s annual Arts in the Dark parade.
Columbia alum’s short film picked up by two festivals
Drawing from his religious upbringing and Chicago’s punk scene, filmmaker Nolan Rutland crafts a comedy that embraces both the sinister and the sweet.
Columbia’s Student Diversity and Inclusion program hosts ‘Lunch and Learn’ honoring LGBTQ+ History Month
Students told the Chronicle that they are finding comfort and community at Columbia despite recent government attacks on the LGBTQ+ community.
Columbia’s Cult Cinema Club hosts screening of animated film ‘Fixed’
The newly released movie was directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, who studied film at the college. Cult Cinema Club’s screening of “Fixed” resulted in laughs and walk-outs — and made animation students hopeful for the future of the industry.
Columbia alum launches Chicago-made TV pilot to boost opportunities for local filmmakers
Frustrated by a lack of chances for Chicago creatives, Eric Almond is funding “The Village” himself, aiming to keep production, and talent, in the city.
Columbia alumni stun in new play ‘Queen For A Day’
The production is a story about love and growth, presented in a gut-busting and heart-wrenching one-act play at Andersonville’s Bramble Arts Loft.
