Film Historian Speaks at Annual MLK Celebration, Democratic Senate Candidates Debate ICE and Campaign Funding

The Maroon recaps the top stories from the week.

Film historian Jaqueline Stewart spoke on the power of media at the University’s annual MLK celebration. At I-House, candidates in the race to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Democratic Senator Dick Durbin debated policy objectives and “dark money” campaign funding.

Featuring: Aubrey Barb and Amber Lin

Edited: Aubrey Barb

The Maroon Weekly: My.UChicago Data Breach, Mearsheimer Discusses U.S. Relations with Venezuela and Iran

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 Weekly: AI at ISAC's New Data Research Center, Hear About How a Legal Aid Clinic for Immigrants Has Adapted Amid Heightened ICE Presence

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

The Maroon Weekly: Officers Detain Man in Hyde Park, Meet a 2026 Rhodes Scholar, Student’s Startup Streamlines High School Club Communication

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 Maroon Weekly: Kuvia Returns, UChicago Researchers Recognized at 2025 Chicago Quantum Summit, Performative Male Contest

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

The Maroon Weekly: Vigil for UChicago Dining Employee, University Trustees in Epstein Files, Budget Deficit Update

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

The Arts Podcast, E7: Tate McRae Got So Close

It’s episode seven of the Arts podcast!

Episode Description

On this episode, your favorite podcast hosts review Tate McRae’s most recent album, So Close to What. They are joined by special guest Justin (resident Tate McRae stan and expert) as they spar over whether or not this album was able to achieve what seemed to be Tate’s vision. Tune in to hear what we love and hate from Tate!

Hosted by: Elizabeth Eck, podcast editor; Tiffany Li, editor-in-chief; Nolan Shaffer, arts editor Edited by: Tiffany Li, editor-in-chief

The Arts Podcast, E6: What We’re Listening To Recently

It’s episode six of the Arts podcast!

Episode Description

For this episode, each of your favorite arts podcast hosts picked three songs that they have been listening to recently, and played it for everyone. There was some fierce debate over who has the better music taste (and deep disagreement on how to pronounce Bladee’s name). Tune in to find out what’s been playing in our ears!

Hosted by: Elizabeth Eck, podcast editor; Tiffany Li, editor-in-chief; Nolan Shaffer, arts editor

Edited by: Elizabeth Eck, podcast editor; Nolan Shaffer, arts editor

The Arts Podcast, E5: Looking Back At the Grammys

Episode Description

Your hosts are back with an episode on the Grammy awards! Who deserved it? Who didn’t? Find out with Elizabeth, Nolan, and Tiffany as they discuss, disagree, and dissect.

Hosted by: Elizabeth Eck, podcast editor; Tiffany Li, editor-in-chief; Nolan Shaffer, arts editor

Special Episode: “Administrative Fiat” or “Living Tradition”?: Annotating the Kalven Report

Episode Description

In 1967, University President George Beadle appointed a faculty committee—chaired by First Amendment scholar Harry Kalven Jr.—to prepare “a statement on the University’s role in political and social action.” Journalist Jamie Kalven, Harry Kalven Jr.’s son, sat down with the _Maroon_ to walk through the Kalven Report. In the 14 years he spent editing his father’s manuscript on the First Amendment and the American tradition of freedom of speech, Jamie Kalven reviewed hundreds of Harry Kalven Jr.’s papers to familiarize himself with his father’s thinking. Providing context on his father’s writing, Jamie Kalven argues that we, now in a moment of attacks on academic freedom and higher education, should return to “the point of departure” provided by the document. 

An annotated version of the 1967 report based on our conversation, along with the interview itself, can be found on the Maroon's website (https://chicagomaroon.github.io/data-visualizations/2025/kalven-report-annotated/).

Hosted by: Anushree Vashist, managing editor and Celeste Alcalay, Grey City editor Edited by: Celeste Alcalay, Grey City editor and William Kimani, Podcasts Co-Head Editor