Lisa Kurian Philip
@lkpwrites.bsky.social
Covering racial inequity in higher education for WBEZ Chicago and Open Campus Media. I love making radio. Like, LOVE it.
You can hear directly from Tyrek, Charles & Farid at the link above. Click the red "LISTEN" button.
A big thanks to my editors Johanna Zorn and Kalyn Belsha for getting this across the finish line, and to @edwriters.bsky.social for the space to work on this project.
Photo by: Candace Dane Chambers
A big thanks to my editors Johanna Zorn and Kalyn Belsha for getting this across the finish line, and to @edwriters.bsky.social for the space to work on this project.
Photo by: Candace Dane Chambers
December 19, 2025 at 4:35 PM
You can hear directly from Tyrek, Charles & Farid at the link above. Click the red "LISTEN" button.
A big thanks to my editors Johanna Zorn and Kalyn Belsha for getting this across the finish line, and to @edwriters.bsky.social for the space to work on this project.
Photo by: Candace Dane Chambers
A big thanks to my editors Johanna Zorn and Kalyn Belsha for getting this across the finish line, and to @edwriters.bsky.social for the space to work on this project.
Photo by: Candace Dane Chambers
And are still doing everything they can to help each other and others overcome some of the biggest barriers any students encounter on their path to college graduation.
December 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM
And are still doing everything they can to help each other and others overcome some of the biggest barriers any students encounter on their path to college graduation.
Throughout 2025, so much of my work has been about loss -- the loss of research funding, scholarships, student visas, the right to criticize Israel's occupation of Palestine. But this story was about three people who didn't have much to start with...
December 19, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Throughout 2025, so much of my work has been about loss -- the loss of research funding, scholarships, student visas, the right to criticize Israel's occupation of Palestine. But this story was about three people who didn't have much to start with...
All the while I was struggling but learning with ****so much help from friends and educators who know so much more than me**** about how to better support my son through his autism and ADHD diagnosis. I maybe shouldn't be proud of his answer on this school assignment, but I really am: (3/?)
December 19, 2025 at 3:11 PM
All the while I was struggling but learning with ****so much help from friends and educators who know so much more than me**** about how to better support my son through his autism and ADHD diagnosis. I maybe shouldn't be proud of his answer on this school assignment, but I really am: (3/?)
This week #IL students and faculty delivered stacks of postcards to the state higher education board asking for $25M meant for their public universities to be released. Their colleges have been squeezed by federal cuts, decreases in international students and decades of declining state funding.
November 14, 2025 at 8:52 PM
This week #IL students and faculty delivered stacks of postcards to the state higher education board asking for $25M meant for their public universities to be released. Their colleges have been squeezed by federal cuts, decreases in international students and decades of declining state funding.
Young people in #Chicago age 18-29 can apply to be part of a Civic Matchmaking program run by Chicago Votes and The Civic Success Project. More info here:
November 11, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Young people in #Chicago age 18-29 can apply to be part of a Civic Matchmaking program run by Chicago Votes and The Civic Success Project. More info here:
Going on @wbez.org's Say More with Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber at 10am CT today to talk about his book "Terms of Respect: How Colleges Get Free Speech Right." Please call in with questions and comments!!!
#chicago #highered #campus #freespeech
#chicago #highered #campus #freespeech
October 17, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Going on @wbez.org's Say More with Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber at 10am CT today to talk about his book "Terms of Respect: How Colleges Get Free Speech Right." Please call in with questions and comments!!!
#chicago #highered #campus #freespeech
#chicago #highered #campus #freespeech
Current speaker asks students to link arms, a position he says demonstrates their solidarity in the face of oppression
October 9, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Current speaker asks students to link arms, a position he says demonstrates their solidarity in the face of oppression
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)
October 9, 2025 at 6:34 PM
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)
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
#college #Palestine #activism
September 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
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
#college #Palestine #activism
College educators from around Chicago are gathering in Federal Plaza for a series of teach-ins about Palestine.
Pictured is UChicago professor Alireza Doostdar who talked about Gazans setting up makeshift classrooms in tents and other spaces following the destruction of all universities there.
Pictured is UChicago professor Alireza Doostdar who talked about Gazans setting up makeshift classrooms in tents and other spaces following the destruction of all universities there.
June 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
College educators from around Chicago are gathering in Federal Plaza for a series of teach-ins about Palestine.
Pictured is UChicago professor Alireza Doostdar who talked about Gazans setting up makeshift classrooms in tents and other spaces following the destruction of all universities there.
Pictured is UChicago professor Alireza Doostdar who talked about Gazans setting up makeshift classrooms in tents and other spaces following the destruction of all universities there.
Day of hopping around the city today meeting peeps, from Austin to the Loop to the North Side, capped off with this Speakeasy discussion at the Book Cellar in Lincoln Square on Trump's assault on higher education
#chicago #journalism @wbez.org @opencampus.org
#chicago #journalism @wbez.org @opencampus.org
May 13, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Day of hopping around the city today meeting peeps, from Austin to the Loop to the North Side, capped off with this Speakeasy discussion at the Book Cellar in Lincoln Square on Trump's assault on higher education
#chicago #journalism @wbez.org @opencampus.org
#chicago #journalism @wbez.org @opencampus.org
Dem Congresswoman Summer Lee of Pennsylvania says students have the constitutional right to criticize Israel and to protest, and that both of those rights are under attack
May 7, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Dem Congresswoman Summer Lee of Pennsylvania says students have the constitutional right to criticize Israel and to protest, and that both of those rights are under attack
I got to record anti-death penalty activist Sister Helen Prejean's visit to a book club in Cook County Jail, where @depauluniversity.bsky.social students and incarcerated women were discussing her book Dead Man Walking.
Take a listen:
www.wbez.org/wbez-news/20... @wbez.org @opencampus.org
Take a listen:
www.wbez.org/wbez-news/20... @wbez.org @opencampus.org
May 2, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I got to record anti-death penalty activist Sister Helen Prejean's visit to a book club in Cook County Jail, where @depauluniversity.bsky.social students and incarcerated women were discussing her book Dead Man Walking.
Take a listen:
www.wbez.org/wbez-news/20... @wbez.org @opencampus.org
Take a listen:
www.wbez.org/wbez-news/20... @wbez.org @opencampus.org
IL Gov. JB Pritzker is speaking at the University of Illinois Chicago in support of student loan borrowers as they face chaos and scarce avenues for relief under the Trump Administration.
@govpritzker.illinois.gov #studentdebt #college
@govpritzker.illinois.gov #studentdebt #college
April 28, 2025 at 8:17 PM
IL Gov. JB Pritzker is speaking at the University of Illinois Chicago in support of student loan borrowers as they face chaos and scarce avenues for relief under the Trump Administration.
@govpritzker.illinois.gov #studentdebt #college
@govpritzker.illinois.gov #studentdebt #college
I'm at Northeastern Illinois University at a student-organized rally calling on state legislators to #fundourfuture. Lawmakers are considering a higher ed funding formula based on adequacy and equity
@wbez.org @opencampus.org
@wbez.org @opencampus.org
April 22, 2025 at 8:29 PM
I'm at Northeastern Illinois University at a student-organized rally calling on state legislators to #fundourfuture. Lawmakers are considering a higher ed funding formula based on adequacy and equity
@wbez.org @opencampus.org
@wbez.org @opencampus.org
IL State Rep LaShawn says 'we can't do anything about the executive and judicial branches, but we can do something about the legislative branch'
March 31, 2025 at 5:06 PM
IL State Rep LaShawn says 'we can't do anything about the executive and judicial branches, but we can do something about the legislative branch'
This UIC grad student says she was a first-generation college student and she was able to graduate debt-free because of federal Pell funding
March 31, 2025 at 4:52 PM
This UIC grad student says she was a first-generation college student and she was able to graduate debt-free because of federal Pell funding
Danielle Stanley from Partnership for College Completion says it's more important than ever, given the uncertainty of federal funding, for IL State legislators to pass an equitable funding formula for its public universities.
March 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Danielle Stanley from Partnership for College Completion says it's more important than ever, given the uncertainty of federal funding, for IL State legislators to pass an equitable funding formula for its public universities.
Leaders, students and faculty from Illinois public regional universities like NEIU, NIU and Chicago State came together to hammer home the importance of federal education funding and infrastructure, especially for marginalized students
On scene for @wbez.org and @opencampus.org
On scene for @wbez.org and @opencampus.org
March 31, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Leaders, students and faculty from Illinois public regional universities like NEIU, NIU and Chicago State came together to hammer home the importance of federal education funding and infrastructure, especially for marginalized students
On scene for @wbez.org and @opencampus.org
On scene for @wbez.org and @opencampus.org
Student from UChicago's Organization of Black Students says the university administration has an obligation to protect students from Trump's crackdown on the student movement
March 11, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Student from UChicago's Organization of Black Students says the university administration has an obligation to protect students from Trump's crackdown on the student movement
At @uchicago where students & faculty are gathering to protest Trump's detention of #mahmoudkhalil
March 11, 2025 at 5:07 PM
At @uchicago where students & faculty are gathering to protest Trump's detention of #mahmoudkhalil