The Chicago Maroon

Podcasts conducted a series of interviews on the quad as pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters faced off on day five of the encampment. Hosted by: Gregory Caesar, Jake Zucker, and William Kimani Featuring: Pietro Juvara, Arthur Long, Aaron Wineberg, Adam Hammond, and Anonymous ("Don't Hurt my Friends" ). Edited by: Gregory Caesar Recorded on May 3 2024

On Episode 118, Greg and Jake are joined in the studio by Tiffany, a second-year who is joining the section. She tells us about the new contract that Facilities Services workers reached with the University. We also discuss the venture funding won by event-planning app Lynkr and the Microsoft Outlook outage that affected university students. Featuring: Gregory Caesar, Tiffany Li, Jake Zucker. Edited by: Jake Zucker.

On their third episode, Celeste and Erica interview first-year and cadet Sara Garcia about training at Fort Knox, the first time she put on her uniform, and what being part of the ROTC program at UChicago has taught her. Hosted by: Celeste Alcalay and Erica Cai. Guest: Sara Garcia. Music by: Celeste Alcalay. Edited by: Erica Cai.

On Episode 117, Celeste shares her insights into new agreements reached between the administration and nurses and graduate students, averting multiple potential strikes. We also discuss a recent settlement that the University reached and the attempts of the Chicago White Sox brass to use public money to fund a new stadium. Featuring: Celeste Alcalay, Gregory Caesar, Jake Zucker. Edited by: Jake Zucker. Sponsored by: Steppenwolf Theatre!

On their second episode, Celeste and Erica discuss navigating O-week as a transfer — from awkward first impressions over Zoom to extravagantly fancy lunches — with guest Saia Patel, a transfer student from Colby College. Hosted by: Celeste Alcalay and Erica Cai. Featuring: Saia Patel. Edited by: Erica Cai. Music by: Celeste Alcalay.

On Episode 116, Greg and Jake discuss cultural issues facing the cross country team, more perspectives on University finances, and a recent Maroon piece analyzing the political contributions of faculty. Featuring: Gregory Caesar, Jake Zucker. Edited by: Jake Zucker. Sponsored by: Steppenwolf Theatre!

On Episode 115, a couple new voices join us in the studio. Michael Plunkett, Lead Developer for the Maroon's Data section, told us about the work he did to create a map that updates every day with crime data in and around Hyde Park. And Henry gave us a report on the University's plans to address their budget deficit; we also hear reports on a planned grad student strike, how cost-cutting measures have already led to University employees losing their jobs, an update on the Botany Pond, and more. Featuring: Celeste Alcalay, Gregory Caesar, Pravan Chakravarthy, Henry Lako-Baldwin, Jake Zucker. Guest: Michael Plunkett. Edited by: Jake Zucker. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

On Episode 114, we are joined by recent alumnus and former Podcast section member Carter Beckstein! We hear from him about what he's been up to since graduation, and we discuss labor issues with the UCMed, Chicago's Restaurant Week, Study Abroad, and, of course, the financial issues facing the university. Featuring: Celeste Alcalay, Pravan Chakravarthy, William Kimani, and Jake Zucker. Guest: Carter Beckstein. Edited by: Jake Zucker. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

On Episode 113, we discuss the now-infamous Moongate and the impact that Sidechat has on campus. We also chart the discourse around University's finances, as seen in the Maroon's Viewpoints section, and talk about the arrests of students who were protesting on behalf of Palestine by conducting a sit-in at the University's admissions office. Featuring: Celeste Alcalay, William Kimani, Kentaro Mathis, and Jake Zucker. Edited by: Jake Zucker.

On their first episode, Celeste and Erica discuss what it's like to be a transfer student at UChicago with Aron, who transferred here from Brandeis University in Massachusetts. Hosted by: Celeste Alcalay and Erica Cai. Featuring: Aron Frishberg. Edited by: Erica Cai. Music by: Celeste Alcalay.

The following is a series of audios recorded on the main quad of the University of Chicago on Thursday, October 19, 2023. It features interviews with pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli community members demonstrating at around 12 p.m. It also features an interview with Maroon News reporter Emma Janssen recorded on November 9, who attended and reported on the rallies. The rally was organized by a collection of UChicago Jewish organizations, including Law Students for Israel, the Jewish Business Student Association, and UChicago Maroons for Israel, who scheduled the rally with the University from noon to 1 p.m. at the center of the quad to express support for Israel following the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas. This rally came as Students for Justice in Palestine continued its daily occupation of the quad from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., which began on Monday, October 16. The audio is mostly unedited, with some segments omitted for brevity’s sake. Interviews were conducted by reporters from The Maroon’s Podcasts division, who strived to remain impartial and provide an unbiased record of the events of that day. Some listeners may find the recordings offensive due to antisemitic and Islamophobic language. Hosted by: Gregory Caesar Featuring: William Kimani, Nolan Shaffer, Emma Janssen, Jake Zucker, and Celeste Alcalay Edited by: Gregory Caesar and Erica Cai

On Episode 112, we share an exclusive report on the University's precarious financial position and consider its implications for the future. We also discuss conspiracy theories about recent cuts to the Lyft program and the University's property investments, attempt to remember what USG actually does, and give an update on activism happening around campus. Welcome to the branch, Kentaro! Hosted by: Pravan Chakravarthy Featuring: Jake Zucker, Celeste Alcalay, Kentaro Mathis, and Gregory Caesar Edited by: Gregory Caesar

Cops and robbers, (yet) another political rally, and more updates on the latest happenings on campus on Episode 111. Hosted by: Celeste Alcalay and Gregory Caesar Edited by: Gregory Caesar

It's been an...eventful week on campus, to say the least Hear about our encounters with pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protestors, a new spate of robberies in Hyde Park, and a flyover by the Air Force on Episode 110 of The Weekly. Hosted by: Gregory Caesar, William Kimani, and Celeste Alcalay Edited by: Gregory Caesar

The Maroon's Gregory Caesar interviews Harris School of Public Policy Professor, leading political economist, and Pearson Institute director James Robinson about the 2023 Pearson Global Forum. This forum, entitled “Disparity: A thin line divides human realities,” will gather global policymakers, scholars, and subject-matter experts to explore existing disparity throughout the world. It will address various topics of global significance, including refugees of war and climate, despotic governments, and both new and protracted global conflicts. Highlights of the 2023 Forum include: Ernesto ZedilloShirin Ebadi The event will be held at the University on Friday, October 20, and is free to attend. Register here. Hosted by: Gregory Caesar Featuring: James Alan Robinson

Hear about the University's newest initiatives for freedom of expression, Hyde Park migrant crisis tension, and a new local green space on the latest episode of the Weekly. Welcome Erica, Sofia, Celeste, and Melanie to the branch! Hosted by: Gregory Caesar Featuring: William Kimani, Erica Cai, Sofia Castro, and Celeste Alcalay

We're back! On the first Weekly episode of the 2023–24 academic year, Greg and Jake give their hot takes on UChicago's latest ranking, changes to the University's Lyft program, and a burgeoning racket sport. Hosted by: Gregory Caesar and Jake Zucker Edited by: Gregory Caesar

The Maroon's Jake Zucker and William Kimani interview trumpeter, composer, and UIUC professor Tito Carrillo, who performed live at the 2023 Hyde Park Jazz Festival with the Tito Carrillo Urbanessence Band. Tito's bio: "Tito Carrillo is a trumpeter, composer, and educator whose music blurs the lines between Afro-Caribbean music traditions and modern jazz. Born and raised in Austin, TX, by a Puerto Rican father and Mexican-American mother, Carrillo came to prominence in the mid-nineties of Chicago’s rich jazz and Latin music scenes, becoming a top call soloist, sideman, and bandleader. "He has taught at secondary and collegiate music programs across the U.S. and Latin America. His long list of former students includes many who have established careers as both performers and educators and have won international jazz competitions at the highest level." (titocarrillo.com) This interview was recorded at the Study at University of Chicago on Saturday, September 23, 2023. Photo courtesy of jazzmusicarchives.com

The Maroon's Jake Zucker and William Kimani interview saxophonist and Chicago native Chico Freeman, who performed live at the 2023 Hyde Park Jazz Festival as part of the Chico Freeman Quintet. They are joined by Michael Allemana (Ph.D. '20), a researcher of ethnomusicology and Director of the University's Jazz Ensemble. Chico's bio: "Heralded as one of the most important saxophonists of our time, composer and producer Chico Freeman has perfected an immediately recognizable approach to music and composition, blending what he has experienced from his past and providing fluidity into a future of infinite musical possibilities. "As part of the Freeman family legacy of Chicago (legendary NEA Jazz Master saxophonist Von Freeman is his father and guitarist George Freeman and drummer Bruz Freeman are his uncles), Chico amassed a diverse performance résumé including R&B, blues, hard bop, and avant-garde. His collegiate studies in Advanced Composition and Theory at Northwestern University propelled him to a position teaching composition at the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) Music School, as well as a Master’s degree in Composition and Theory at Governor State University, where he studied composition with NEA Jazz Master Muhal Richard Abrams." (hydeparkjazzfestival.org) This interview was recorded at the Study at University of Chicago on Saturday, September 23, 2023. Portrait courtesy of Gert Chesi

The Maroon's Jake Zucker, William Kimani, and Gregory Caesar interview pianist, composer, and Hyde Park native Bethany Pickens, who performed live at the 2023 Hyde Park Jazz Festival with the Bethany Pickens Trio. Bethany's bio: "Bethany Pickens is an award-winning pianist, composer, and educator. Born in Chicago, she began her musical training under the watchful tutelage of her father, world-class jazz pianist Willie Pickens. "As an educator, Pickens has worked with the Ravinia Jazz Scholars Program and the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Jazz Links Program, and is in her 25th year working for the Chicago Public Schools, currently teaching piano at her alma mater, Kenwood Academy. She also sits on the Board of the Jazz institute of Chicago and the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club." (hydeparkjazzfestival.org) This interview was recorded at the Study at University of Chicago on Saturday, September 23, 2023. Photo courtesy of Jason Marck (WBEZ)