The 21-credit minor will “streamline” course requirements, said Ames Hawkins, director of the School of Communication and Culture. 

Hawkins said the goal is to make the minor accessible, while exposing students to multiple perspectives.

“I feel as though we are offering students a cluster of courses that provides multiple disciplinary perspectives, topical perspectives,” Hawkins said, “and has access to a variety of faculty, to give them a really good content area overview over Latin American studies.” 

The Black World Studies and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies minors, also 21 credits, are undergoing similar restructuring. Each has fewer than 10 students currently. 

The revised Latino and Latine Studies minor also will not require separate Hispanic and Latin American history courses, although faculty said the content will be folded into other required courses.

Among the courses students will be required to take are: “Introduction to Latin American Studies,” “Gender, Culture and the Arts in Latin America” and “Latine in the U.S.” They also can choose either “Afro-Latin and Caribbean: US Musical Crosscurrents” or “Latine/x Theatre and Performance.”

The old minor was 18 credits and also required “Introduction to Latin American Studies,” as well as six credits of language. Students could then choose three courses from a list of 12, including “History of the Caribbean: To 1800,” “History of Mexico and Central America” and “Hispanics in the U.S. Since 1800,” among others. 

Marcelo Sabatés, a professor in the School of Communication and Culture and coordinator of the minor, said history will still be taught.

“I think, epistemologically speaking, for a creative school, you can have a very good education in Latin American and Latino studies without a dedicated history class, because the history is going to pop up in Latin American studies,” Sabatés said. 

The changes at Columbia mirror decisions unfolding at other colleges and universities. Across the country, colleges are increasingly consolidating language and history-based programs, often folding them into broader interdisciplinary curricula. 

In April, Syracuse University announced it would be eliminating 93 of its more than 400 academic programs, including its Latino-Latin American Studies degree. The University of North Texas is also cutting its Latin American Studies major, one of more than 70 academic programs being eliminated as the school tries to address a $45 million budget shortfall.

Higher education experts say these shifts are being driven by declining enrollment in humanities programs, budget constraints and growing pressure to prioritize career-focused fields. As a result, schools are increasingly consolidating smaller programs, particularly in language, history and area studies, into broader interdisciplinary offerings. 

But the move has sparked concern about the loss of depth in those subjects, including at Columbia, where other course offerings for next semester also have been consolidated under broader topics, the Chronicle previously reported.

“If it’s integrated into other classes, then I don’t think they would spend a lot of time on those subjects,” said Josefina Medrano, a senior marketing major who took a Latin American-based history class.

One of the biggest changes in the Latino and Latine Studies minor is the removal of Spanish language requirements, which were previously required.

Hawkins said the School of Communication and Culture will still offer Spanish language courses outside of the minor.

Sabatés said he supported the removal of the language requirements in the minor.

Students who are already proficient in the language didn’t need the courses, which had to be substituted to complete the old minor requirements, he said.

“People need to learn the culture and the arts, and you can do that without learning the language,” Sabatés said. 

Currently, there are nine students in the minor, which has been renamed from Latino and Latin American Studies.

The college became a Hispanic-serving institution in 2024 when a quarter of the student body identified as Hispanic, the Chronicle previously reported. Currently, 28.2% of the student body is Hispanic, according to the Institutional Effectiveness.

Adilene Vega, a senior art history major, had concerns about the removal of the history classes from the minor, which she said are “a very necessary aspect of it.”

“Art is always born from its historical context,” said Vega, co-president of the Latino Alliance. “Especially the U.S. involvement in the levels of imperialism in space, which is everything you need to learn in a history class; it can be very dangerous to ignore those stories.”

Sabatés said he is confident in the minor’s new requirements.

“Some of these changes sometimes are maybe too much novelty at once,” he said. “But I think, strictly speaking about the structure of the minor, I think it’s a very good minor.”

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Esta especialización secundaria de 21 créditos permitirá “agilizar” los requisitos de los cursos, afirmó Ames Hawkins, director de la Escuela de Comunicación y Cultura.

Hawkins señaló que el objetivo es hacer que esta especialización sea accesible, al tiempo que expone a los estudiantes a múltiples perspectivas.

“Siento que estamos ofreciendo a los estudiantes un conjunto de cursos que brinda múltiples perspectivas disciplinarias y temáticas”, comentó Hawkins, “y que les da acceso a una variedad de docentes, con el fin de ofrecerles una visión general realmente sólida del área de contenido de los estudios latinoamericanos”.

Las especializaciones secundarias en Estudios del Mundo Negro y en Estudios de la Mujer, Género y Sexualidad, que también constan de 21 créditos, están experimentando una reestructuración similar. Actualmente, cada una de ellas cuenta con menos de 10 estudiantes inscritos.

Asimismo, el plan revisado de la especialización en Estudios Latinos y Latines no exigirá cursos independientes de historia hispánica y latinoamericana, aunque el cuerpo docente aclaró que dichos contenidos se integrarán en otros cursos de carácter obligatorio.

Entre los cursos que los estudiantes deberán cursar se encuentran: “Introducción a los estudios latinoamericanos”, “Género, cultura y artes en América Latina” y “Latines en los EE. UU.”. También podrán elegir entre “Afrolatino y caribeño: Corrientes musicales cruzadas en los EE. UU.” o “Teatro y actuación latine/x”.

El plan anterior de esta especialización secundaria constaba de 18 créditos y también exigió el curso de “Introducción a los estudios latinoamericanos”, además de seis créditos en el área de idiomas. Posteriormente, los estudiantes podían elegir tres cursos de una lista de 12 opciones, entre las que se incluían “Historia del Caribe: Hasta 1800”, “Historia de México y Centroamérica” e “Hispanos en los EE. UU. desde 1800”, entre otros.

Marcelo Sabatés, profesor de la Escuela de Comunicación y Cultura y coordinador de la especialización secundaria, afirmó que la historia se seguirá enseñando.

“Creo que, epistemológicamente hablando, para una escuela de artes creativas, es posible recibir una excelente formación en estudios latinoamericanos y latinos sin necesidad de una clase de historia específica, ya que la historia surgirá de manera natural dentro de los estudios latinoamericanos”, dijo Sabatés.

Los cambios en Columbia reflejan decisiones que se están llevando a cabo en otras facultades y universidades. En todo el país, las instituciones de educación superior están consolidando cada vez más los programas basados ​​en idiomas e historia, integrándose a menudo en planes de estudio interdisciplinarios más amplios.

En abril, la Universidad de Syracuse anunció que eliminaría 93 de sus más de 400 programas académicos, incluida su licenciatura en Estudios Latinos y Latinoamericanos. La Universidad del Norte de Texas también está eliminando su especialización principal en Estudios Latinoamericanos; esta es una de las más de 70 ofertas académicas que se suprimirán mientras la institución intenta hacer frente a un déficit presupuestario de 45 millones de dólares.

Los expertos en educación superior afirman que estos cambios se deben a la disminución de las inscripciones en los programas de humanidades, a las restricciones presupuestarias y a la creciente presión por priorizar los campos orientados a la inserción laboral. Como resultado, las instituciones están consolidando cada vez más los programas de menor envergadura, particularmente en idiomas, historia y estudios de área, en ofertas interdisciplinarias más amplias.

Sin embargo, esta medida ha suscitado inquietudes sobre la posible pérdida de profundidad en dichas materias; preocupación que se extiende incluso a Columbia, donde, según informó anteriormente el Chronicle, otras asignaturas ofrecidas para el próximo semestre también han sido reagrupadas bajo temáticas más generales.

“Si se integran dentro de otras clases, no creo que les dediquen mucho tiempo a esas materias específicas”, comentó Josefina Medrano, estudiante de último año de Marketing que cursó una asignatura de historia centrada en América Latina.

Uno de los cambios más significativos en la especialización secundaria de Estudios Latinos y Latines es la eliminación de los requisitos de dominio del idioma español, los cuales eran obligatorios anteriormente.

Hawkins señaló que la Escuela de Comunicación y Cultura continuará ofreciendo cursos de español de forma independiente a la especialización secundaria.

Por su parte, Sabatés expresó su respaldo a la eliminación de los requisitos lingüísticos en dicha especialización.

Argumentó que los estudiantes que ya dominaban el idioma no necesitaban cursar esas asignaturas, las cuales, bajo el plan anterior, debían ser sustituidas por otras para poder cumplir con los requisitos de la especialización.

“La gente necesita aprender sobre la cultura y las artes, y eso se puede lograr sin necesidad de aprender el idioma”, concluyó Sabatés. Actualmente, hay nueve estudiantes en la especialización secundaria, la cual ha sido renombrada, anteriormente se denominaba Estudios Latinos y Latinoamericanos.

La universidad se convirtió en una institución al servicio de los hispanos en 2024, cuando una cuarta parte del alumnado se identificó como hispano, según informó previamente el Chronicle. Actualmente, el 28.2 % del cuerpo estudiantil es hispano, de acuerdo con la Oficina de Efectividad Institucional.

Adilene Vega, estudiante de último año de Historia del Arte, expresó su inquietud ante la eliminación de las clases de historia del programa de especialización secundaria, las cuales constituyen “un aspecto sumamente necesario del mismo”.

“El arte siempre surge de su contexto histórico”, dijo Vega, copresidenta de la Alianza Latina. “Especialmente en lo que respecta a la participación de Estados Unidos en los niveles de imperialismo espacial, un tema que es precisamente lo que se debe aprender en una clase de historia; ignorar esas historias puede resultar muy peligroso”.

Por su parte, Sabatés manifestó su confianza en los nuevos requisitos del programa de especialización secundaria.

“Es posible que algunos de estos cambios representen, en ocasiones, una dosis excesiva de novedad introducida de una sola vez”, comentó. “No obstante, si nos ceñimos estrictamente a la estructura del programa, considero que se trata de una especialización secundaria de excelente nivel”.

Editado por Venus Tapang

Sin embargo, el barrio ha cambiado muchas veces con anterioridad. Tras la Primera Guerra Mundial, la población de Logan Square experimentó un auge, a medida que se establecían los primeros inmigrantes en llegar, polacos de clase trabajadora y judíos rusos.

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Anthony Hernandez

Tienda Dollar Island en West Fullerton Avenue en el vecindario Logan Square, el lunes 30 de marzo de 2026.

Según la Enciclopedia de Chicago, en la población de Logan Square hubo una lenta transición a lo largo de la década de 1960 y, para 1990, los latinos constituían casi dos tercios de la población del barrio, los grupos más numerosos siendo los puertorriqueños, los cubanos y las poblaciones procedentes de América Central y del Sur.

Luego, la crisis inmobiliaria de 2008 provocó una gran cantidad de ejecuciones hipotecarias en viviendas de bajo costo y, a medida que la recesión llegaba a su fin en 2012, el desarrollo de Logan Square despegó, mencionado en un artículo de Rose Werth y Palenque LSNA. 

Ahora, con cambios más recientes como la implementación de carriles para bicicletas, los residentes y propietarios de negocios latinos de Logan Square se enfrentan a una presión creciente, a medida que los alquileres y la reurbanización transforman el vecindario.

El propietario de Supermercado Barrera, Hedilberto Barrera, señaló que un cambio pequeño pero drástico que ocurrió frente a su negocio en Milwaukee Ave fue la implementación de carriles para bicicletas.

“Ya no dejan mi gente para estacionarse ahí”, dice Barrera. “Si tienen mucha suerte, se encuentran allí enfrente”. 

Barrera señaló que, antes de la implementación de carriles para bicicletas, había doble de espacios de estacionamiento, lo que permitía una mayor clientela. 

Desde ese tiempo, hay algunos clientes que buscan una manera para comprar con uno manejando y mientras el otro se baja a comprar.

Barrera también dice que antes, los clientes llevaban carros llenos de productos pero ahora, ni una canasta se llena.

Tras décadas de moldear la identidad de Logan Square, los propietarios de negocios latinos se encuentran ahora navegando por un barrio que está cambiando más rápido de lo que muchos pueden seguir.

“Ha afectado al negocio simplemente por el tipo de clientes que vemos en el día a día”, dijo Miriam Juárez, hija de la propietaria de Celeste’s Flower Shop.

“Muchos de los clientes que veíamos a diario eran, obviamente, latinos con la mayoría mexicanos y creo que, con el paso de los años, hemos visto cada vez menos latinos”, ella dijo.

Juárez ha observado que ella y su familia se han adaptado a estos cambios con el fin de atraer a la población emergente de Logan Square.

“Gran parte de nuestro negocio no proviene de las personas que entran en la tienda. Todo nuestro negocio proviene de nuestra tienda en línea”, dijo Juárez, y añadió, “tuvimos que abrir una tienda en línea; de lo contrario, habríamos cerrado hace mucho tiempo”.

Algunos propietarios de negocios cercanos dicen que también han notado una disminución en los clientes hispanohablantes en los últimos años.

“Definitivamente hemos notado un cambio enorme en nuestra población hispanohablante desde las elecciones”, dijo Eric Stuck, uno de los propietarios de Vern and Sonny’s en Logan Square. “Los chicos que andan en bicicletas de piñón fijo por él 606 con sus padres ya no vienen”.

El 606, un parque y sendero, se inauguró inicialmente en agosto de 2013 y se extiende desde Wicker Park/Bucktown hasta la zona de Humboldt Park/Logan Square.

Stuck afirmó que es difícil saber exactamente por qué se ha producido el cambio, pero cree que la aplicación de las leyes de inmigración podría estar desempeñando un papel.

“¿Es difícil saber si simplemente han envejecido un poco? ¿O si esas personas no salen en público por otros motivos?”, dijo. “Ha sido un gran cambio. Podría nombrar a tres o cuatro personas a las que no he visto en un año”.

Ciro Olivares Jr., hijo del propietario de La Canasta Bakery en Logan Square, también ha enfrentado cambios similares.

“Es bueno que embellezca el vecindario; todo el mundo quiere tener un vecindario agradable, ya sabes, uno no quiere vivir ni trabajar en un lugar feo”, dijo Olivares.“Lo malo de eso es que suben los impuestos”.

“En cuanto ves aparecer el 606, empiezas a ver cómo derriban estas casas abandonadas”, dijo Olivares, y añadió que son reemplazadas por condominios.

Los propietarios han manifestado si deberían o no permanecer abiertos debido al aumento del alquiler.

“En esta tienda, yo no sé cuánto tiempo vaya a permanecer. El alto costo de la renta? Lo pagó. Los impuestos que se pagan, y no se vende suficiente, ¿por qué me quedo?” dijo Barrera. 

Editado por Brandon Anaya

El grupo son estudiantes de la Bilingual Improv School, o la escuela de improvisación bilingüe. Formado el 2 de marzo del 2025, la meta de la escuela es ayudar a crear un sentimiento de comunidad para latines en comedia en la ciudad y ofrecer una manera de practicar el español. 

“Mi experiencia haciendo improv, enseñando improv, produciendo improv es que por lo general no tenemos representación”, dijo el fundador Rodolfo Mendoza Gonzalez.

Mendoza Gonzalez originalmente es de Miami y de descendencia cubana y panameña. Él dijo que aunque la población latine en la ciudad de Chicago es 29.7%, cuando vino a la ciudad para hacer improvisación, usualmente él era el único latine. 

“Yo en una clase de quince alumnos, yo era el único latino,” dijo él. “Hay que hacer algo”.

Una típica clase de improvisación bilingüe va así. Empiezan a decir cómo están todos los estudiantes. Luego, hacen juegos de calentamientos de cuerpo y comunicación que incluyen elementos de español o Spanglish. Después, hacen escenas cortas empezando en inglés, luego en Spanglish, y terminando en español. 

Ofrecen clases de diferentes niveles de conocimiento. Tampoco es necesario ser completamente bilingüe en inglés y español. Las clases son en preparación de un programa, donde hacen improvisación en frente de una audiencia. 

Mendoza Gonzalez no es el único que se encarga de las clases. Samanta Cubie, una administradora de la escuela, se encarga de ayudar a los estudiantes con accesibilidad y con el equipo técnico del teatro durante los programas.  

Cubie conoció a Mendoza Gonzalez cuando ella tomó una clase que él ofreció. De ahí, ella dijo que podría ayudarle en lo que necesitara. 

“Siento que es un servicio que podemos ofrecer a la gente latina de Chicago”, dijo ella.

Cubie pronto va a enseñar una clase de improvisación.  

Durante la clase, miembros bromeaban de las relaciones entre frutas y complicaciones con el Departamento de Vehículos Motorizados (DMV). Al final, se reunieron en un círculo para felicitarse el uno al otro.

Una de las estudiantes, Daniella Cruz, encontró la escuela en redes sociales y empezó a venir este año. Ella dijo que le gustó que hubiera un espacio para latines, donde pueden ser graciosos. 

“Cada persona en la clase trae algo tan especial”, dijo ella. “Es un espacio donde los latinos pueden venir y ser graciosos sin sentirse limitados”. 

Cruz dijo que la escuela de improvisación bilingüe tenía lo que sintió que faltaba cuando tomó un clase con el grupo de teatro Second City.

“Yo sentí como que me faltaba algo, y cuando llegó el primer día de esta clase dije, ‘Oh, eso es lo que faltaba, los latinos”, dijo ella.

Para otros estudiantes como Dominic Rose, tomar estas clases le da una oportunidad de practicar su español y conectar con sus raíces latines. 

“Yo siento que esta clase me está haciendo recordar cosas de cuando yo era pequeño, de las que me alejé un poco por estar ocupado con la vida y todo eso,” dijo Rose.

Para el fundador, la improvisación era la forma en que él salía de su cáscara, y él quiere ayudar a los demás de la misma manera.

“Yo era un niño introvertido, bien tímido,” dijo Mendoza Gonzalez. “Pero haciendo improvisación me ayudó muchísimo. Yo he visto eso mucho con los alumnos”.

Editado por Brandon Anaya

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Anthony Hernandez

Graduates cheer at the Credit Union 1 Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026.

School of Theatre and Dance assistant professor of instruction Michael Pogue yelled “boom-chicka-boom,” followed by a thunderous echo of “boom-chicka-boom” from the graduating students, as Columbia opened its second and final commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17.

Graduates from the Schools of Theatre and Dance, Audio and Music, Design, and Visual Arts crossed the stage at the Credit Union 1 Arena on the campus of the University of Illinois Chicago.

Ben Levy, a graduate from the School of Theatre and Dance, joked in his commencement address that students were “breaking up” with Columbia. 

“You know, we want to travel, join the workforce, get jobs in our industries, explore our creative passions. And you want to stay here in Chicago and be a school.” 

In his address, Levy said Columbia taught him that growth did not have to be painful. 

“And that if it is painful, it can feel good all the same,” he said. “That being valued, noticed and loved doesn’t hold back growth, but allows you to feel comfortable failing over and over until you emerge not as a butterfly, but as that same old beautiful caterpillar.” 

David Gerding, an associate professor in the School of Design, carried the ceremonial mace in the afternoon ceremony, which honored 20 retiring or laid off faculty members for their distinguished service by granting them emeriti status. Professor of theatre Brian Shaw, professor of instruction David Woolley and associate professor Frances Maggio were among the 11 recipients who were present. 

In her second address of the day, Columbia President and CEO Shantay Bolton echoed this sentiment. She spoke about her experience learning house dance at Manifest on Saturday, May 16, and how it shaped her view of learning. 

“You do not learn the rhythm by standing still. You do not find the beat by waiting for certainty. You step in. You listen. You respond. You make mistakes, you recover, but you keep moving. That is life. That is leadership and that is creative practice.” 

Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Whitaker, a Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist and honorary degree recipient, who joyfully walked on stage shooting finger guns at the audience, spoke to her journey of growth that led her to the stage. She had always wanted to give a graduation speech but was never chosen — “life has a sense of humor,” she said. 

“It taught me a lot about rejections, that rejection isn’t denial,” Whitaker said. “It’s a rehearsal. I was building my voice for moments like this and microphones aren’t just handed to you. They are earned.” 

Graduates from the Schools of Theatre and Dance, Audio and Music, Design, and Visual Arts proceeded to cross the stage, about 1,200 students in total, along with that day’s first set of graduates. 

“Change” was a word that was thrown out a lot to graduating seniors, with President Bolton in her opening address asking students who changed schools or majors to raise their hands and give each other a high five.

“Now that is power,” she said. 

One of these students was School of Theatre and Dance graduate Calme Brown. Brown transferred from community college, switching from their major in food management to dance at Columbia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they realized that “life is too short to not do what you want.” 

Walking the stage on Sunday marked the end of eight years of school for Brown, who also studied technical directing. They found their passion at Columbia, Brown said.

“You might have plans, something you want to do, but your plans might change for the better,” they said. 

School of Design graduate Yaretzi Morales also came to Columbia for another career field, cartooning and comics, but after taking associate professor Ivan Brunetti’s class on creating children’s books, she decided on a different path. 

“I just love bringing a smile when I do art. And I feel like a lot of that is children’s books: Making children laugh, have fun and also learn at the same time. I just really love that.” 

Morales has an internship at a book publisher set after college, where she will be making concepts and key art for books. 

“I just think it’s super important to teach our generations different things, like not just reading, but also how to get in touch with your feelings, how to express things, how to help them get a grasp on the world around them.” 

Some students feel uncertain about their future, like graduate from the School of Visual Arts Carson Graves, who jokingly said, “don’t do animation,” when prompted about his future. 

“The job market isn’t the best, but it’ll work out. I’m stressed about it.” 

However, Graves is thankful for the crew of animators he worked with over the last year, finding community in collaboration. 

That was a sentiment shared by Warren Voss, a graduate from the School of Visual Arts, who transferred to Columbia in 2024. They said they quickly found a community of fellow animators whom they now consider friends.

“I was kind of a shut-in, especially throughout high school. I came from a graduating class of 100 kids, and being the art kid, I always kind of felt like an outcast. But here, amongst other artists, it’s just been a huge eye opener.” 

Additional Reporting from Julia Martinez Arroyo

Copy edited by Venus Tapang

This story has been updated to correct Michael Pogue’s faculty title.

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Zachary Cramer

Graduates celebrate as Columbia’s morning commencement ceremony comes to a close on Sunday, May 17, 2026.

As Columbia President and CEO Shantay Bolton danced into the Credit Union 1 Arena to cheers of “Shantay! Shantay!” from a VIP section of supporters, Columbia opened its first commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17 for graduates from four schools.

In her first graduation ceremony leading the college, Bolton said this was a year of firsts for both herself and the college. 

“We gather not simply to celebrate degrees earned or requirements filled,” she said. “We gather to celebrate transformation.”

Graduates from the Schools of Business and Entrepreneurship, Communication and Culture, Fashion, and Film and Television crossed the stage in the morning. The afternoon ceremony celebrated graduates from the Schools of Theatre and Dance, Design, Audio and Music, and Visual Arts. About 1,200 students graduated on Sunday, said Kristi Beltran, director of student engagement and leadership.

“Columbia is not just a college, it is a creative ecosystem that stretches far beyond graduation day,” said Beth Ryan, a professor in the School of Business and Entrepreneurship who presided over the 11 a.m. ceremony held for the second year in a row on the campus of the University of Illinois Chicago.

Dawn Larsen, a professor in the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, carried the ceremonial mace for the morning graduation ceremony, which also honored 12 retiring or laid off faculty members for distinguished service by conferring emeriti status. Three of the recipients were present at the ceremony: Journalism professor Sharon Bloyd-Peshkin, film and television professor Susan Kerns and film and television professor of instruction Bonnie Winer.

The Class of 2026 is graduating into an uncertain economy for many creative professions. Media, entertainment and technology companies have spent the past two years cutting jobs and restructuring amid broader economic uncertainty and rapid changes tied to artificial intelligence. 

When Toi Salter, a Chicago-based entrepreneur and philanthropist, and honorary degree recipient encouraged the graduates class to “embrace AI as a tool,” there were audible murmurs and boos from the crowd.

What AI cannot do, she later added, “is live a life and tell the true truth – only you can do that.”

Salter was brought onstage by Ryan to receive her honorary degree. She was overcome with emotion — dancing, cheering and wiping tears from her face. 

“Now it’s up to you to shape your next,” Salter said. “You are graduating into a world that is changing faster than any class.”

Fashion studies graduate Lacresha White, the student speaker for the morning ceremony, addressed what she called “the f word”  — fear.

“If we look back on our journey, fear didn’t stop us from getting here. In fact, it brought us here,” White said. 

Cameron Dean Blackwood, a film and television graduate, was ready to embrace that fear. “I get to go out into the world and do my thing for real instead of being in a classroom,” he said.

Blackwood said he was thankful that during his time at Columbia he was able to do exactly what he wanted.

“The projects I made here, I was given complete freedom,” Blackwood said. “At other film schools, they don’t really do that for you.”

Fashion studies graduate Alex Garcia said she appreciated the freedom to explore and express herself.

“At this school, I was able to discover more about my identity and my style without feeling like I was judged,” Garcia said, “ It was an art school. It was beautiful.”

Tiny hands clung to graduate Milena Nobili, a film and television graduate, as she crossed the stage. As a student and a mother, graduating from Columbia reminded her of her own capabilities.

“It’s not just learning the techniques. It’s also putting your own mind, your own creativity and skill in order for you to succeed,” she said.

When she first arrived at Columbia, Nobili said she wasn’t great at communicating or taking advantage of the resources offered to her. The college helped her make those connections.

“All the creative minds coming together is just amazing,” Nobili said.

Keachawn Randall, a film and television graduate, said the opportunity to connect with students from a variety of majors was unique to his Columbia experience.

“Getting connected with so many people that can help each other in the future is something I look forward to,” he said.

Another film and television graduate, Monica Healy, had a similar sentiment.

“Screenwriting is not a single effort. It’s a collaborative medium, and the people that I’ve had within class or through my professors have taught me so much,” Healy said.

As a first-generation transfer student, Healy felt Columbia gave her an “insanely impressive” experience in being able to complete her bachelor’s degree in two years. 

“It’s been amazing, so rewarding. Although I’m happy to be done, I’m glad that I’ve chosen this experience, and I’m never going to forget it,” she said.

Garcia said that she was excited about taking this next big step in her life. The memories and connections she received while at Columbia aren’t something she could’ve gotten anywhere else.

“I feel like I’ve gathered a lot of valuable knowledge,” she said.

At the end of Bolton’s address, the graduating class stood and placed their hands over their hearts at her request as they repeated after her: “I am creative. I am courageous. I am called. I am ready. I will rise.”

Additional Reporting from Julia Martinez Arroyo and Anthony Hernandez

Copy edited by Katie Peters

The 25th anniversary of the college’s annual arts festival featured over 80 student-led events, including performances, exhibitions, club activations and an outdoor festival featuring various student groups.

The public all-day event happens at the end of every spring semester and showcases graduating senior and graduate student work, bringing together a community that celebrates Columbia’s creativity.

This year’s festival, themed “Kaleidoscope,” will also double as a homecoming celebration, with alumni programming continuing through the weekend. Events will be held in nine campus buildings and at three outdoor spaces, including the parking lot next to the Student Center.

Sophomore ASL-English interpretation major Taryn Yahn is looking forward to seeing her friends who are performing at different shows throughout the day. Yahn is also a student worker in the SEAL office and has seen Manifest slowly come together. 

“I’ve been seeing everybody plan it and put it all together,” Yahn said. “It’s really cool to see it all come to fruition.”

Senior illustration major Daniela Galvez is attending her first Manifest today, and her work is featured in “LatiFest,” a showcase of work from the Latino community of Columbia.

“I’m looking forward to my life after college,” Galvez said. “I’m really excited to just keep being creative and building a community around me.”

Elizabeth Davis-Berg, interim co-director in the School of Design, said the best part about Manifest is “seeing student work.”

“Everyone is excited and happy and enjoying the work,” she said.

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United Staff of Columbia College leadership said that staff members learned that three colleagues had lost their jobs after they were let go. The union does not keep track of non-union staff cuts.

The college is “presently discussing this matter” with the union, Senior Director of Campus Communications Jourdan Thompson told the Chronicle in an email.

The latest reductions come nearly two years after Columbia’s Board of Trustees declared the college to be under “adverse circumstances,” a designation within the institution’s Statement of Policy that allows the administration to restructure programs and lay off tenured faculty during periods of severe financial strain. 

Columbia laid off 70 staff across the college in May 2024 as the college attempted to address an estimated $38 million deficit.

US of CC president Allison Geller said the college communicated its financial situation and the potential for job loss ahead of those position eliminations, which gave staff the chance to prepare.

“What we’re seeing right now is almost the complete opposite of that,” said Geller, an enrollment operations coordinator at Columbia.

Geller said that the latest cuts come at a time when the college is expecting remaining staff to support celebrations that mark the end of the academic year.

Columbia will host its annual Manifest Arts Festival Saturday, May 16, followed by commencement on Sunday, May 17, two of the busiest days of the academic year for student services and campus operations staff.

“Gear up for Manifest, gear up for graduation, be there as the support system, but do it with a smile on your face and don’t acknowledge that your colleagues have just been laid off right next to you,” Geller said.

The recent staff cuts are the latest in a series of layoffs and administrative restructuring efforts carried out as Columbia attempts to reduce spending amid declining enrollment and a deficit that has grown to $40 million.

Since January 2025, the college has laid off 48 full-time faculty members, including 32 tenured faculty.

In March, the college laid off multiple senior administrators, including former Interim President and CEO Jerry Tarrer, former Chief of Staff Laurent Pernot and Jeffrey Reuter, associate vice president of budget, planning and analysis.

Former Associate Vice President of Strategic Communications and External Relations Lambrini Lukidis, who worked for the college for eight years as its top spokesperson, was laid off in April.

The college also laid off Interim Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Dirk Matthews as part of a “team restructure to streamline operations at the college,” Thompson said. The team is currently led by Aubrie Willaert, vice president for development and alumni engagement, who was one of three new administrators to join the college in January.

One of the factors driving Columbia’s financial crisis is its declining student enrollment, which hit a 20-year low this spring, as the Chronicle previously reported.

“It wasn’t a secret that our office had a lot of struggles in terms of being able to meet enrollment goals,” said US of CC Communications Chair Jesus Monroy, a transfer specialist in the office of undergraduate admissions. 

“We echoed and yelled very loudly, ‘It is because you cut us and you asked us to do everything,’” Monroy said. “It was impossible. We didn’t have time to train properly.”

In spite of the declining enrollment, Columbia is expecting more new students in the fall.

“In terms of overall trends, we are seeing positive momentum compared to this time last year,” Emmanuel Lalande, senior vice president of enrollment strategy and student success, told the Chronicle in April. 

Columbia’s enrollment challenges come as colleges nationwide are facing an ongoing “demographic cliff,” as falling birth rates following the Great Recession in 2008 caused a decline in the number of 18-year-olds and smaller first-year classes.

Geller said that while the challenges facing higher education as a whole are unavoidable, the college must focus on improving the experience of its students and employees.

“We can directly impact every single student who is currently here. We can directly impact the lives of every single staff member, faculty member, administrator who is here,” Geller said. “Those are the small changes that add up together to create an institution that can continue to exist even when enormous industry-wide challenges are coming.” 

Geller and Monroy said that staff want the college to see the value that the eliminated positions have on Columbia’s future. 

“We cannot survive on a skeleton crew,” Monroy said. “There has to be an investment in the people who are providing these services to our students, because otherwise, it’s going to fall apart.”

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