| Happy Friday, Chicago. Unless you’re on the Chicago Board of Education, in which case you may be feeling railroaded by a fiscal crisis the editorial board and many others have seen coming for quite some time. Earlier this week, Board of Education members called on the state to hold a special session to pass a bailout for Chicago Public Schools. But state leaders, who have repeatedly said Illinois is tapped out, aren’t convening one — which means CPS leaders must finally take responsibility and make hard choices to stabilize the district’s finances. We’ve all been dripping with sweat after trekking to the trains this week, which makes Metra’s talk of reviving its drinks service sound appealing. Still, the editorial board is of the opinion that on-time trains with fully functioning A/C top the list of must-haves on the suburban rail line. Harvard University is pushing back against President Donald Trump’s threats to cut federal funding, arguing those threats violate the First Amendment’s protections of free speech. On our opinion page, University of Pennsylvania professor Jonathan Zimmerman agrees, but he hopes that Harvard will use this moment to expand viewpoint diversity in its classrooms on its own. Christine Ledbetter, a former senior arts editor at The Washington Post, blasts Trump’s push to rename the Kennedy Center Opera House after first lady Melania Trump. The center, she argues, should not be treated like one of the president’s hotels. Columnist Elizabeth Shackelford raises concerns that massive cuts within the U.S. State Department threatens to undermine our diplomatic efforts and, in turn, create more instability at a time when violence and conflict are surging across the globe. After exploring these pieces, grab a coffee and enjoy the many letters from readers. As always, we love hearing your thoughts — keep them coming. — Hilary Gowins, editorial board member Submit an op-ed | Submit a letter to the editor | Meet the Tribune Editorial Board | Subscribe to this newsletter | 
