It was good to see some of you at the cat cafe yesterday! It was my first time there, and I appreciated the relaxed environment and incredible selection of board games. We plan to host more events there in the future. (They have a great air filtration system, so even one of our stewards who is allergic to cats was able to come and hang out in the main area with no issues.) 

With SNAP benefits on pause and awaiting partial distribution, many of our students and fellow campus workers are experiencing food insecurity. Please share these resources widely:

• Food Resources | Office of the Dean of Students | Illinois
• NTFC Unit Rep and Food Science Faculty Toni Gist’s Nutrition Security Resources page

In solidarity,

Theresa Dobbs (she/her)

NTFC President

Dear Colleagues,

Since early September, we have followed the local reporting out of Chicago about the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Midway Blitz. 

When this operation launched, DHS used the tragic hit-and-run deaths of two young women here in Urbana as part of its narrative that their mass deportation agenda is a fight for safer communities.

Their own actions have belied this narrative over and over again. DHS officers in the Chicago area are making communities less safe. They have used undue force, tear gassed children, assaulted elders, used racial slurs, racially profiled and detained US citizens, pointed loaded guns at peaceful protestors, intentionally caused car crashes, and are responsible for shockingly inhumane conditions in detention facilities. In the first days of the operation in Chicago, they shot and killed Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, who was unarmed, had no criminal record, and whose only offense was trying to drive away. They no longer target specific folks with a criminal record or order of removal; they just show up at Home Depot and Walmart parking lots to pick up anyone they can find. 

Specialized faculty at the University of Illinois teach a great share of undergraduate courses, and many of our students have undocumented family members in Chicagoland. The fear in the Chicago area is real; many immigrants hardly step outside except to go to work and school. Our students fear for their family members. Some of our students have family members who have already been detained. As instructors, we see our students struggle with this trauma. 

We call on our fellow faculty members and instructional staff: if one of your students confides in you that they are affected by the immigration raids in Chicago, show them grace. It is a terrifying time. Depending on the nature of your course, it may be appropriate to offer extensions, excuse absences, and/or provide extra academic support.

A resource to share: Affected students may contact Undocumented Student Support Services. The folks at this office are highly capable and compassionate. They assist students from mixed-status families, whether the students themselves are undocumented or not.

To stay informed, we recommend the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, and Block Club Chicago. (If you read press releases from the Department of Homeland Security, we would caution you to read with a critical eye, as DHS’s statements have frequently contradicted video evidence and can no longer be considered reliable.)

The story of Chicago’s immigration raids is also a story of community organizing and mutual aid. Many organizations and individuals work in various ways to keep immigrants safe and hold federal agents accountable for misconduct. 

NTFC is raising money for one such group, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). From now through November 15, all donations made at our website will go to ICIRR. NTFC will match up to $1000 of donations.

In solidarity,

Theresa Dobbs (she/her)

NTFC President

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our fall membership meeting to learn about important updates from our President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and engaged in discussions on key issues affecting our membership.

Fall 2025 All Members Meeting

Videos from the President, Secretary, and Treasurer give the current state of our Union as of Fall 2025.

Thank you for taking the time to watch!

All NTFC members and their families are welcome to march with us in the Labor Day parade, or just join us at the block party afterwards! The parade starts at 11:00am on Monday September 1.

• If you’re driving and want to park in the participant lot, you should arrive by 10am and may park at the city-owned lot at Washington and Fremont.

• You can also park in the Hill Street garage or anywhere else available- then you don’t need to arrive so early. 

• MTD buses do not run on Labor Day. 

• Staging will be behind Jupiter’s Pizza and down Walnut St. Just look for the people wearing NTFC gear!

• You don’t have to march in the parade to go to the block party afterwards.

• The block party is at the corner of Taylor St and Market St. Food is provided.

Join us for a presentation about the new FLEX teaching evaluation system by Provost Fellow for Teaching Evaluation and NTFC member Dr. Geoffrey Herman.

• Thursday, September 4, 2025

• 3:30-4:30pm

• English Building, room 149