Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Lisa Kurian Philip @lkpwrites.bsky.social · 15h

Current speaker asks students to link arms, a position he says demonstrates their solidarity in the face of oppression

Lisa Kurian Philip @lkpwrites.bsky.social · 15h

At the University of Illinois Chicago where dozens are protesting ICE's presence in their city. Multiple students say #ICE detained two women unaffiliated with UIC near the campus Student Services Building yesterday (Weds)

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Reposted by Lisa Kurian Philip

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 1d

#WarRavagedPortland

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Reposted by Lisa Kurian Philip

Lex McMenamin (they/them) @leximcmenamin.com · 2d

23-year-old journalist Plestia Alaqad, like many Gazans, lost her home in the first days after October 7. unable to reenter her homeland, stuck watching the horror continue, she’s publishing her diaries from reporting on the ground.

full interview @teenvogue.com www.teenvogue.com/story/plesti...

Pic of Plestia Alaqad overlaid with text from interview: Plestia Alaqad: I can't believe that it's almost — [she pauses] no, it's not almost, it's actually two years. Okay, I can't believe that it's been two years of this ongoing genocide. When I was reporting in Gaza for 45 days, these 45 days felt like 45 years. And now it's 200 days feeling like 200 years for the people who are actually still on the ground facing bombing, displacement and starvation, which is being used as a method by Israel. Israel is literally ethnically cleansing people in Gaza, and we're watching a genocide unfold live on TV.

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Lisa Kurian Philip @lkpwrites.bsky.social · 2d

For 2 years, Palestinian-American students in #Chicago have had to go to class while witnessing extreme violence against their community in #Gaza: “You feel the guilt of, ‘How am I letting my people go through that?’”

@wbez.org @opencampus.org

bit.ly/3VTFGCU

This Palestinian college student and Chicagoan is feeling exhausted but empowered

A student activist at DePaul University says college helped her find her voice — and fully embrace her Palestinian identity.

www.wbez.org

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Reposted by Lisa Kurian Philip

Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃 @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 8d

A new initiative announced by City Colleges of Chicago and the Greater Chicago Food Depository aims to better address food insecurity among students attending community colleges in the city.

Partnership Aims to Better Address Food Insecurity Among City Colleges Students

This fall, free take-home meals at Malcolm X College, Kennedy-King College and Olive-Harvey College will be available for students and their family members.

news.wttw.com

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Lisa Kurian Philip @lkpwrites.bsky.social · 9d

In a few moments tune into @wbez.org 91.5 FM to hear Palestinian college student and #Chicagoan Henna Ayesh's story. The past two years have left her tired to the bone - but empowered.

#college #Palestine #activism

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Reposted by Lisa Kurian Philip

Loevy & Loevy @loevy.com · 12d

Several of us went to Broadview tonight to scope out the situation for ourselves. What we witnessed was a completely peaceful—even uneventful—protest/gathering, until the exact moment ICE unleashed a totally unprovoked and unwarranted tear-gas attack.

A black and white photo of 5 armed ICE agents atop the Broadview Detention Facility, looking down at the crowd, with an American flag waving to the left.

A dozen armed ICE agents silhouetted against the drifting tear gas, with a news van behind them.

A color photo of an ICE agent, seen from behind, standing in colorfully lit clouds of tear gas, aiming his weapon.

A black and white photo of silhouetted ICE agents stalking through the clouds of tear gas. A stop sign is in the foreground.

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Reposted by Lisa Kurian Philip

Saeed Jones @theferocity.bsky.social · 16d

I feel like news publications should put more energy into asking autistic people how they feel about all this because…

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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 16d

This is an absolutely terrific piece from @texastribune.org and reinforces my belief that the best coverage of right-wing cancelations occur at the local level, after years of the national media focusing on threats from the left.
www.texastribune.org/2025/09/19/t...

How a secret recording of a gender identity lecture upended Texas A&M

Officials have struggled to detail the exact reasons for the A&M professor’s termination, citing a technical issue with her course description. Faculty say the move was politically motivated.

www.texastribune.org

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Reposted by Lisa Kurian Philip

The TRiiBE @thetriibe.com · 21d

Playing a major role in this festival is Ald. Stephanie Coleman , who founded the Englewood Music Festival in 2021 with hopes to bring music and positive community energy to her Chicago ward.

thetriibe.com/2025/09/sout...

South Side love was on full display at 5th annual Englewood Music Festival • The TRiiBE

The free festival brought the community together with art and performances by gospel powerhouse Le’Andria Johnson and rap legend Boosie Badazz.

thetriibe.com

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Reposted by Lisa Kurian Philip

Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃 @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 29d

Employees at Fermilab in Batavia and Argonne in Lemont were recently offered voluntary separation packages. The move comes as the Department of Energy recommends funding for the local national labs be reduced by almost $240 million for the next fiscal year, and focuses on new research priorities.

Staff Shakeup at Fermilab and Argonne as Buyouts Follow Budgeted Funding Drop, Federal Research Shift

Employees at Fermilab in Batavia and Argonne in Lemont were recently offered voluntary separation packages. The move comes as the Department of Energy recommends funding for the local national labs be...

news.wttw.com

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Lisa Kurian Philip @lkpwrites.bsky.social · Sep 9

Stay calm & respectful, but know your rights. Carry your student ID card at all times. Avoid unnecessary risks.

These are some of the tips UIC officials sent students to prepare for Trump’s deployment of federal agents to the #Chicago area.

@wbez.org @opencampus.org

www.wbez.org/education/20...

What local colleges are telling students to do during increased federal immigration enforcement

Students are being told to avoid unnecessary risks and to contact university police if federal agents approach them.

www.wbez.org

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Lisa Kurian Philip @lkpwrites.bsky.social · Sep 2

I will be following this closely. If you're a student or educator who has questions or wants to discuss your experiences, please DM me or email me at lphilip [at] WBEZ [dot] org

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Lisa Kurian Philip @lkpwrites.bsky.social · Sep 2

#Illinois is the fourth state to be targeted by the Trump administration over long-standing state laws providing reduced #college tuition to #immigrant students who reside in their states but lack legal status.

@wbez.org @opencampus.org

www.wbez.org/immigration/...

Trump administration targets Illinois in-state tuition for immigrant students lacking legal status

Federal officials allege the practice violates federal law and discriminates against U.S. citizens living in other states.

www.wbez.org

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Reposted by Lisa Kurian Philip

Stephanie Kollmann @slkollmann.bsky.social · Aug 27

Also, note that simultaneously with these changes in that destroy full loan forgiveness/the financial feasibility of entering a low-paying career like social work without being independently wealthy, sharply limiting diversity in a profession with a great deal of cultural competency need
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Lisa Kurian Philip @lkpwrites.bsky.social · Aug 27

Social workers in Illinois and across the country say the new loan limits will stymy efforts to get more people, especially those from diverse backgrounds, into their field.

My latest for @wbez.org and @opencampus.org:

www.wbez.org/education/20...

Federal loan limits could turn off prospective social workers from going to school, advocates say

Hospitals, schools and community groups depend on social workers. But some are concerned students will be deterred if they need costly private loans to get a master’s degree.

www.wbez.org

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Lisa Kurian Philip @lkpwrites.bsky.social · Aug 26

"The doctors have been meeting with members of the Chicago-area congressional delegation and other political leaders, urging them to speak out against Israel’s starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, where famine has been declared, and settler violence in the West Bank."

www.wbez.org/politics/202...

Chicago-area doctors are returning from Gaza with horror stories and demands for elected officials

A group of doctors who worked in Gaza is urging members of Congress to support a bill limiting weapons sales to Israel. They say they can feel the tide turning.

www.wbez.org

Reposted by Lisa Kurian Philip

The TRiiBE @thetriibe.com · Aug 6

NEW — Dozens of Black and brown youth graduated from summer Peacekeeper training led by GoodKids MadCity.

“I just want to be a person for the youth and be somebody they can look up to, they can talk to and learn from,” GKMC member Reece Johnson said.

thetriibe.com/2025/08/i-ju...

'I just wanted to see a change,' Chicago youth reflect on their experience as peacekeepers • The TRiiBE

Dozens of youth peacekeepers completed a Peacekeeper training this summer. They marked its end with a graduation and hip-hop celebration.

thetriibe.com

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Reposted by Lisa Kurian Philip

Asawin Suebsaeng @swin24.bsky.social · Jul 26

Looking back on the past couple of horrible years I do greatly appreciate the simple moral clarity of Bill Burr when he had that infuriating sit down with Bill Maher and they talked about the campus Gaza war protests and Burr simply said “I’m on the side of the kids.” He didn’t need to …

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Lisa Kurian Philip @lkpwrites.bsky.social · Jul 25

More than 1.6 million people in Illinois owe federal student debt. The Trump administration is trying to speed up their repayment. Here are some steps you can take to prepare.

@wbez.org @opencampus.org
www.wbez.org/education/20...

Big changes are coming to student loan repayment. Here’s how to prepare.

More than 1.6 million people in Illinois owe federal student debt. The Trump administration is trying to speed up their repayment.

www.wbez.org

Lisa Kurian Philip @lkpwrites.bsky.social · Jul 23

Psyched to have this story about the Womb Service at DePaul featured by @19thnews.org! Big thanks to @opencampus.org's Colleen Murphy for pitching it ❤️

19thnews.org/2025/07/depa...
#reproductiverights #journalism #college #education @wbez.org

Their student-run birth control service was banned on campus. They're still delivering.

“Womb Service,” a contraceptive delivery network, lost its status as a student group suddenly last month. It's still going.

19thnews.org

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Lisa Kurian Philip @lkpwrites.bsky.social · Jul 5

I recommend checking out the group's Instagram account: @depaul.ppga

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Lisa Kurian Philip @lkpwrites.bsky.social · Jul 3

Meet the "Womb Service," a group of DePaul University students who supply birth control to classmates. The Catholic school has long banned the distribution of contraceptives on campus. Womb Service volunteers say the policy is dangerous.

@wbez.org @opencampus.org

www.wbez.org/health-medic...

Student group banned by DePaul continues to run covert birth control delivery service

University officials recently suspended the group from campus because of its affiliation with Planned Parenthood. Student leaders accuse DePaul of kowtowing to President Donald Trump.

www.wbez.org

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Reposted by Lisa Kurian Philip

Christopher Schroeder @chrislschroed.bsky.social · Jun 20

"This type of student loan, called an income share agreement, could become more appealing in the next few years as President Donald Trump and conservative lawmakers claw back access to federal student loans and grants. . . ."

www.wbez.org/education/20...

@wbez.org @lkpwrites.bsky.social

Helping hand or scam? A different approach to paying back student loans is under scrutiny.

These loans, called income share agreements, could become more popular as President Donald Trump’s administration claws back federal loans and grants.

www.wbez.org

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