How the Iran war impacts Chicago colleges: The Rundown
Good afternoon! It’s Monday, and watch out for flooding near the Des Plaines and Fox rivers if you’re in the western suburbs. Here’s what else you need to know today.
1. From canceled research to uncertain post-grad plans, the Iran war is affecting Chicago colleges
On college campuses across Illinois, students and faculty are grappling with the effects of the war, which has killed more than 2,500 people in Iran and injured another 26,000 as of Tuesday, according to the news outlet Al Jazeera, relying primarily on official government health and defense sources. Thousands more in Lebanon and across the region have also been killed or injured.
In the U.S., some students are not sure if they’ll be able to return home after graduation, while others trying to remain here have not been able to get their visas renewed, my colleague Mary Norkol reports.
The war has also had tangible effects on teaching and learning, with some colleges, including the University of Chicago, canceling or postponing study abroad and research programs in the region due to the violence.
And the conflict has raised larger questions about free speech on college campuses and the state of anti-war activism, as some students hesitate to protest during the Trump presidency.
Students are also more withdrawn and distracted, and some have stopped participating in class as much as they typically do, said Omer Mozaffar, the Muslim chaplain and a professor of Islamic studies at Loyola University Chicago. Some are skipping class more often and struggling to get assignments done. He’s heard rumblings of students discussing the possibility of being drafted into the military. [Chicago Sun-Times]
The parade typically draws hundreds to the neighborhood and celebrates Mexico’s victory over Napoleon III’s French army in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. But this year, Chicago’s Mexican community is still on edge in the wake of Operation Midway Blitz, the aggressive deportation campaign the Trump administration launched across the Chicago area last fall.
“Many families are experiencing fear and uncertainty due to increased immigration enforcement actions and the ongoing threat of raids,” organizers with the Cermak Road Chamber of Commerce and Casa Puebla said in a statement. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Though ramped-up enforcement has waned, the impact to Latino communities such as Little Village, Pilsen and the Southeast Side has lingered. [WBEZ]
Mather High School student Ricardo Navarrete and his mother were detained last month at a routine appointment related to their asylum case. Their detention has been a painful reminder for classmates and friends that President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign is not over. [Chicago Sun-Times]
3. A Loyola University lab turns used cooking oil into fuel to run the school’s buses
The environmentally friendly biodiesel, produced at Loyola’s Searle Biodiesel Lab in Rogers Park, is made of vegetable oil instead of fossil fuels. The process also recycles waste from Chicago-area restaurants, museums and other sources, including Loyola’s dining halls.
And anyone can drop off used cooking oil at the lab, my colleague Amy Yee reports.
“Maybe someone deep fried a turkey at Thanksgiving. We’ll turn the oil into fuel,” said Zach Waickman, who runs the lab as its senior program manager. “The oil goes to really good use.”
But don’t bring lard, pan drippings or petroleum products; the lab only recycles vegetable oil. Waickman also advised against dropping off plastic bags full of oil. [Chicago Sun-Times]
4. Restoration work has started on the pergola at North Lawndale’s historic Sears garden
As Chicago Sun-Times architecture columnist Lee Bey reports, the structure is the centerpiece of the nearly 2-acre garden built in 1907 as a rest spot for employees at what was then Sears’ sprawling campus headquarters.
“People are going to be amazed by the work,” said the Rev. Reshorna Fitzpatrick, chairperson of Friends of Sears Sunken Garden’s board. “The work is going to happen pretty fast, and it’s actually going to be pretty beautiful.”
The $1 million restoration is being funded by a grant from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.
The project is the first step in a larger effort to revive the entire garden, an idea launched by the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council’s Greening, Open Space, Water, Soil and Sustainability committee in 2021. [Chicago Sun-Times]
5. As Chicago’s indie venues struggle, local musicians face their own financial burdens
Now in its fourth year, a festival hosted by the Chicago Independent Venue League occurs at a crucial time in the local music industry, my colleague Erica Thompson reports.
Just one out of four of Chicago’s indie music venues is profitable, thanks to rising operational costs, according to a recent report by CIVL. Since its release, elected officials have reached out to the advocacy organization and local venues to “continue a conversation,” said CIVL Executive Director Billy Helmkamp. Meanwhile, a coalition of 33 states, including Illinois, recently won a lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation when a federal jury ruled the corporation had overcharged consumers and eliminated competition in markets across the country.
But Chicago venues are still struggling, and local artists are feeling the financial burden. In addition to working multiple jobs, they are seeking out alternative spaces and advocating for systemic change.
“We are making DIY shows happen, which are more well-paid than at a venue, because it might just be somebody’s house and they’re collecting 10 bucks at the door,” said Ava Brennan, a singer-songwriter who plays live a few times a month in the city. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Here’s what else is happening
- Here’s the latest on Iran war negotiations after the U.S. seized an Iranian ship in the Strait of Hormuz. [AP]
- Businesses have begun applying for refunds after the U.S. Supreme Court declared most of Trump’s tariffs unconstitutional. [NPR]
- These were the most frequently targeted books last year, according to the American Library Association. [NPR]
- Meet Bruce, a parrot who learned to joust and became the alpha of his group despite not having a full beak. [New York Times]
Oh, and one more thing …
We’re starting to see somewhat more consistent temperatures (knock on wood), which means a lot more people will be riding their bikes around the Chicago area.
Chris Willard, owner of Small Shop Cycles and Service in Bronzeville, said to check your air, brakes and chain before heading out for the first time this season — ideally at a bike shop. He added it’s “not a bad idea” to do this even if you’ve been riding through the winter.
For those of us less confident in our bicycling abilities (I admittedly never advanced past the training wheels stage as a kid), Willard recommends practicing at a flat parking lot, going as slow as you need to on the Lakefront Trail or checking out the Cook County Forest Preserves for fewer crowds. [WBEZ]
Tell me something good …
What’s your favorite place to go for a bike ride in the Chicago area, and why?
Feel free to email me, and your response may be included in the newsletter this week.
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