On campus: Record-high enrollment
Tim Killeen, UI System president, addressed the Senate Executive Committee on Monday to discuss record-high total enrollment across the three UI System universities and the system’s current financial challenges.
Other meeting topics included the struggles in the University’s library system. Ralph Mathisen, professor in LAS and chair of the University’s Senate Library Committee, raised concerns about the stalled redevelopment of the Undergraduate Library.
“The UGL is still sitting like a blight on the southern campus, with everybody wondering when the work will begin and (when) we can get on with our lives,” Mathisen said.
During the meeting, there was debate about the University’s honorary degree selection processes and the recent rejection of billionaire alum Shahid Khan. Khan was previously rejected in 2013 due to his company’s labor violations.
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On campus: Missing student found
Missing student Krystian Kozieja was located just before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday after the UIPD launched a search for the 18-year-old earlier that morning.
“The student has been located and is safe,” UIPD said in a Facebook post. “We would like to thank the neighboring police agencies and community members for their assistance with the search.”
On campus: Fears over federal funding
On Wednesday evening, Killeen sent out a Massmail to address concerns about federal funding.
The Massmail came after President Donald Trump initiated a federal spending freeze on Monday, prompting uncertainty about the future of student financial aid. On Wednesday, the Trump administration rescinded the pause.
“Next week, I will travel to Washington, D.C., for meetings with the federal relations team and members of our congressional delegation to learn more about what we should anticipate and how all of us might be affected,” Killeen said in the Massmail.
On campus: Senate continues search for Jonesʼ successor
The Chancellor Search Committee held focus sessions at the Illini Union on Tuesday and Wednesday to hear campus input in the ongoing search for a new chancellor.
After Chancellor Robert Jones announced he would step down from the position this June, the University Senate established the Chancellor Search Committee to advise Killeen in selecting a successor for the role.
The committee said the goal of the focus groups is to understand what leadership qualities are most important to the campus community.
On Friday, Jennifer Bernhard, professor in Engineering and Advisory Committee Chair, sent a Massmail to announce that another open focus group will be held from 3:30-5 p.m. on Wednesday at the Campus Instructional Facility, room 2035.
“(The committee) is hosting an additional in-person open forum for undergraduate and graduate students in order to collect more input from you as important constituencies to inform the committee moving forward,” Bernhard said in the Massmail.
In the US: Deadly plane crash
On Wednesday night, a collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army helicopter resulted in the deadliest air crash on United States soil in more than 20 years.
The crash occurred just before 9 p.m., approximately three miles south of the White House. The plane was about to land at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The plane carried 60 passengers and four crew members. Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter at the time of the crash. On Thursday morning, officials reported there were no survivors.
Investigators are unable to determine the cause of the collision. However, the National Transportation Safety Board announced it would release a preliminary report within 30 days.
In a briefing on Thursday, Trump acknowledged that officials cannot yet conclude what caused the crash but speculated that DEI initiatives could be at fault; however, he did not provide evidence for this claim.
Recovery efforts are still ongoing as of Sunday afternoon.
“This is heartbreaking work,” said Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly Sr. in a news conference. “This has been a tough response for a lot of our people.”
In the US: Trump levies tariffs against Canada, China, Mexico
On Saturday, Trump signed an executive order to impose tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico. The order is set to go into effect on Tuesday. The move has the potential to increase inflation and negatively impact U.S. relations with its largest trading partners.
Doug Ford, premier of Ontario, announced retaliation against the imposed tariffs, vowing to eliminate the sale of American alcohol in the province and adding that Canada would impose tariffs of its own.
“As long as I am premier, I will stop at nothing to protect Ontario,” Ford said on Saturday. “As the federal government proceeds with retaliatory measures, I want them to know they can count on my full support. I believe we should hit back, hit back hard and hit back strong.”
The executive order calls for 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports and 10% tariffs on goods from China. The main sectors likely to be impacted are the tech, auto and oil industries.
“China hopes for the best and prepares for the worst,” said Henry Wang, adviser to the Chinese government and founder and president of the Center for China and Globalization, to CBS News.
On Saturday evening, Mexico and Canada announced firm plans to impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.
Worldwide: Hamas releases hostages
On Saturday, Hamas released three Israeli hostages, and Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement.
By Saturday evening, 37 of the 50 sick and wounded Palestinian children traveling for medical treatment arrived in Egypt through Gaza’s Rafah Crossing. It marks the first opening of the border since Israel captured it nine months ago.
Worldwide: Russia makes advances in Ukraine
Russia claimed on Friday it successfully captured another village in southern Ukraine, indicating that Russian troops are edging closer to the key city of Pokrovsk, a supply hub roughly 336 miles southeast of Kyiv.
The Russian military claims to have seized control of Novovasylivka, located about seven miles southwest of Pokrovsk. Ukrainian officials have yet to confirm or deny Russiaʼs claims.