On Campus: Chancellor Jones announced as class of 2025 commencement speaker
Chancellor Robert Jones will be the commencement speaker for the class of 2025 convocation, being held at Memorial Stadium on May 17. Jones is the 10th chancellor of the University and has served as chancellor since 2016.
During his nine-year tenure at the University, Jones helped create the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, led the campus community through the pandemic and expanded financial aid to Illinois families.
Jones’ commencement address will also mark his departure from the University — last November, Jones announced that he was stepping down from his role. Jones will become the 34th president of the University of Washington, overseeing the university’s three campuses: Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma.
“I can’t think of a better way to draw my time as chancellor to a close than celebrating our remarkable 2025 graduates as they take what they’ve learned at Illinois and go on to change the world,” Jones said in a press release.
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On Campus: UIPD reports third fraternity sexual assault since Feb. 21
On March 10, the campus community was informed through a Massmail of a sexual assault committed on March 8 at a fraternity, per UIPD Chief Matt Ballinger. The victim did not know the offender.
The two prior sexual assaults were also committed at fraternity houses: on Feb. 21, the UIPD sent a Massmail regarding a fondling that occurred at a fraternity. Then, on March 4, the UIPD sent a campus-wide safety notice informing the campus community about a sexual assault where the offender gave the victim a controlled substance before the assault.
In CU: Judge denies pro-Palestine motion to dismiss mob action charge
Judge Roger B. Webber of the Champaign County Circuit Court rebuffed junior Yafa Issa’s motion to dismiss a mob action charge on Wednesday.
Issa was charged with one count of felony mob action by Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz in July following her involvement in the pro-Palestine encampment at Alma Mater last April. Issa is also charged with resisting a peace officer.
Issa’s attorney Evan Bruno filed a motion to dismiss the charge in October, citing that the State’s use of the mob action statute criminalizes Issa’s First Amendment right to freedom of speech.
Issa’s next hearing will be on the morning of April 9.
In the US: Tariff turmoil continues
Trump has upended American economic policy, introducing tariffs on some of America’s biggest trading partners, many of which are allies. On Feb. 1, Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on goods from China, Mexico and Canada but delayed the tariffs on Mexico and Canada for a month.
On March 4, tariffs took effect on almost all imported products in Canada and Mexico. Tariffs included the imposition of 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, sparking a trade war with the United States’ northern neighbor.
Trump’s tariffs have also caused concerns on Wall Street, with the DOW Jones Industrial Averaging facing its worst weekly performance since March 2023. According to Yahoo Finance, U.S. stock futures fell on Sunday night, capping off a week of big losses for investors.
