Members of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) said that State Rep. Jeanne Ives’ disparaging comments about graduate workers last week are a distraction from a bigger issue. Ives, a Republican from Wheaton, is opposed to legislation that would expand union rights to graduate research assistants.

Moody’s Investors Service has once again downgraded its financial ratings for several of Illinois’ public universities. The downgrades announced on Friday includes the University of Illinois, Illinois State University, and Eastern, Southern and Northern Illinois Universities.

A court filing by Illinois’ Attorney General seeks to halt state worker paychecks by the end of February, and not let them resume until there’s agreement on a state budget. But it’s not yet clear if Thursday’s action would extend to University of Illinois employees. 

U of I spokesperson Tom Hardy says the system’s legal office is reviewing Lisa Madigan’s motion.

The presidents of Illinois' nine public universities have written a letter to Gov. Bruce Rauner and legislative leaders, urging an end to the impasse.  In a mass e-mail, U of I President Timothy Killeen called operating without a critical source of funding 'unsustainable.'

In a statement, Wise said 'external issues have arisen over the past year that have distracted us from the important tasks at hand.'  She will return to faculty.  U of I President Timothy Killeen said he's in the process of selecting an interm chancellor.