Midway Vol. 100, Issue 8 Feb. 20, 2025 by U-High Midway

u-high

midway

University of Chicago Laboratory High School

PAGE 7 • OPINION

Technology connects us in new ways, but it also raises pressing questions about privacy, bias and the environment. As we move forward, it’s crucial to consider who’s benefiting and who’s getting left behind.

PAGES 8-9 • IN-DEPTH

While the government says TikTok must be in American hands or banned outright, the debate over data privacy, national security and First Amendment rights heats up. What’s at stake for users?

100TH YEAR

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Volume 100, Number 8

1362 East 59th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 uhighmidway.com

PAGE 13 • CITY LIFE

Immersing visitors into the diverse world of car design, the Chicago Auto Show Feb. 8-17 revved up excitement, providing a look at the future of driving through an interactive experience.

Trump’s return sets in

President’s drastic executive actions spark fresh anxiety and concern as students react to sweeping changes

by DECLAN SMITH & MIA LIPSON

Within one week of returning to the presidency, Donald Trump signed dozens of executive orders — from reducing the recognition of multiple genders to terminating DEI programs in the federal government — outpacing the 220 total orders he signed during his first term. U-High students’ reactions ranged from detachment and acceptance to fear and panic.

Due to the frequent number of news articles on Mr. Trump, ninth grader Paige Mattiello has decided to limit her exposure to the news. When Paige does read the news, she feels anxious.

“Every time I read something or see something, it just genuinely makes my heart [and] stomach drop,” Paige said.

Arjun Sawhney co-founded the Youth Engagement in Politics club to talk about topics like the impact of Mr. Trump’s policies through a nonpartisan lens. He thought it was hard to find in a student body that overwhelmingly supported Democrat Kamala Harris in November’s mock election: just 6.1% said they would vote for Donald Trump, while 91.2% would vote for Kamala Harris.

He said Mr. Trump was going back on his promises.

“He promised nonviolence,” Arjun said, “and said that under him, wars would be minimal and all of that, and then he immediately decided to essentially annex Greenland, change the names of many locations on maps, essentially infuriating other countries for no good reason.”

The swiftness of Mr. Trump’s actions startled sophomore Gio Nicolai. He was particularly anxious about Mr. Trump’s stand on immigration. An executive order

“

I think our community is very lucky to be in a position where most of us have the means and support network to manage whatever harm this may cause us, but I think most of America, not to mention the world, is in real trouble.”

— Ishie Holz, junior ”

titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” signed on Jan. 20 introduces criminal and civil penalties for migrants who do not register as undocumented, an increase in the hiring of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Other actions include an end to temporary protections for migrants from Venezuela.

“The thing that really, kind of, worries me the most is how quickly he’s taken action on immigration,” Gio said.

Gio expressed concern about ICE arrests at schools and retaliatory tariffs Mr. Trump leveraged after Colombian President Gustavo Petro forbade planes carrying deported Colombian immigrants from landing in the country.

Paige feels Mr. Trump’s second term feels more dire.

“I think when I was younger there were more jokes about it,” Paige said. “There was the Lorax song that’s ‘Let It Grow’ and I saw a remix of it that was ‘Build A Wall.’ It just seems a lot more real this time, and there’s a lot more being done.”

Junior Ishie Holz fears the impact these orders will have on not just the United States but also the world. He also fears the Trump ad-

Torok,

WHITE HOUSE WORRIES. A Reuters-Ipsos poll found that most Americans oppose President Trump’s executive orders ruling on issues like birthright citizenship and the environment, exemplifying the significant resistance his dozens of policies have faced, including from students at U-High.

ministration’s actions regarding climate change, and also noted the executive order proclaiming the government will only “recognize two sexes, male and female.”

“I was certainly surprised just by how many executive orders were signed so quickly, and my attention was caught most by the climate-related ones, especially the pulling out of the Paris Agreement,” Ishie said. “I was also shocked by the new ‘two gender’ policy. I had thought that his response to Democrats along that front was gonna be a lot less brash and aggressive than it was.”

Before the election, junior Ty Quiles had heard about Project 2025, a political blueprint pub-

lished by a conservative think tank, but he could not believe the extremist ideas would be implemented. Though Mr. Trump denied knowing about the plan, many of his executive orders have aligned with Project 2025’s goals. Ty fears the next four years given Mr. Trump’s unpredictable nature and decisions that impact countless communities.

“As a Puerto Rican, I am just offended by the thing I hear him doing, and it just makes me sad that people have to experience any cruelty with regards to removal from their home,” Ty said. “The reproductive rights issues were also a big shocker because I am prochoice more in the sense that peo-

Chinese exchange students visit

by NAOMI BENTON

Audience Engagement Editor

On Feb. 2, 19 exchange students arrived from the high school affiliated to Renmin University of China, ready to explore the culture of Chicago through the lens of the U-High students.

During their two-week visit, they will take tours at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, visit the Art Institute of Chicago and Museum of Science and Industry, ice skate at the Midway Plaisance, and shop in the Chinatown neighborhood.

Immediately after arriving at Lab, they were welcomed with a

festival celebrating the Year of the Snake, including a performance from an art troupe from their school.

“They did artistic martial arts performances, a violin performance, an opera performance, a street dance performance and other native dances,” Sebastian Gans said, a senior participant of the exchange program. “They were all high school students, but their level of performance was really impressive.”

Ni YiHan, an exchange student being hosted by U-High junior Malia Maki, said one of the main reasons she came on this trip was to

see the universities in Chicago and U-High. After a day of observing the school, she noticed differences between her school and U-High.

“The classes you guys teach are quite different from the way my school teaches classes,” she said. “You guys do more thinking and expressing yourself than just learning things.”

Malia appreciates the chance to build relationships with new people.

“My favorite part about this experience has been being able to connect with new people and learn about new perspectives,” Malia said.

Xiaoli Zhou, the U-High teacher who organizes the Chinese exchange program, sees many benefits to participating in this exchange program. One of these is the unique opportunity to master the language and explore the culture of another country.

“They learn the language and culture in the classroom,” Ms. Zhou said, “but to really be able to use it and understand it by living with someone and being able to understand it from someone who grew up in that culture and in that environment is something that couldn’t be easily achieved just inside of the classroom.”

ple should be able to decide for themselves what they get to do with their own body, and no one else but them should be in that decision.”

Among the executive orders dealing with these issues, there are also many others: ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs, freezing federal funding and imposing tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China.

Ishie said, “I think our community is very lucky to be in a position where most of us have the means and support network to manage whatever harm this may cause us, but I think most of America, not to mention the world, is in real trouble.”

for more

Lab’s Chinese Families and Friends Affinity Group hosted a Lunar New Year celebration on Feb. 2 featuring a performance by the student art troupe from the high school affiliated to Renmin University of China, where the exchange students attend. Scan the QR code to view a photo gallery and a video story of the event.

Daniel

Trump-Vance Transition Team/Midway illustration by Taariq Ahmed

— Bryce Kenny, Olin Nafziger, Ari Novak & Calder Wong

More math gives depth, edge

by LUCY SHIRRELL Assistant Editor

Students who take the path toward a more advanced math class find complex, stimulating content, but this path is also a productive way to enhance their applications or further pursue their interest in math.

Getting ahead in math can mean adjusting their schedule to take two math classes at once, or “doubling up,” or testing out of a math course over the summer.

When sophomore David Li was in sixth grade, he tested out of sixth grade math.

Last summer, he tested out of Accelerated Pre-Calculus/Calculus A to push even further ahead. David said the reason was that he did not feel challenged by his previous math courses.

“I enjoy doing math and learning about challenging topics in math,” David said, “so that definitely went into my decision to test out and take more advanced math classes.”

Another factor for David was considering how accelerated course work could help enhance his college applications.

“Especially because I want to go into a field in STEM, in some type of math or science, I am hoping that my coursework will make me more competitive,” David said.

MOVING UP MATH. Sophomore Jimmy Yu studies for an upcoming test for one of his two math classes, Discrete Mathematics and Statistics and Accelerated Precalculus/Calculus A. Students are doubling up or testing out of math classes. Motivations vary, such as nurturing a passion, finding a challenge and their applications.

Math department head Joseph Scroll recognizes students’ varying motivations and sees benefits to testing out or doubling up.

“One of the benefits is that it allows people to take calculus before the end of high school, which is something that people believe helps in their college application process,” Mr. Scroll said.

Senior Allison Li tested out of APC as a junior, placing her in AP Calculus BC last year and Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus this year.

This change meant she could complete calculus while in high school, which she hopes places her at an advantage in college admissions.

Journalist unpacks book

by TAARIQ AHMED News Editor

Isaac Stanley-Becker is a reporter for The Washington Post and historian of modern Europe who recently authored “Europe Without Borders: History,” a book exploring the Schengen Agreement and free movement in Europe. He discussed the book in a Feb. 7 event at the The Seminary Co-op on 5751 S. Woodlawn Ave.

Mr. Stanley-Becker attended the Laboratory Schools from nursery school through ninth grade, when he served on the U-High Midway.

Mr. Stanley-Becker shares his thoughts on his passion for journalism, history and “Europe Without Borders.”

These responses have been lightly edited for clarity and simplicity. What first got you interested in journalism?

“I was always interested in reading and writing. First at Lab, I tried journalism, and I just loved it. The chance to ask questions, the chance to figure things out for myself, to investigate and explore, and then to tell readers and the public what’s going on around them, was just a thrilling opportunity.”

news

in brief

Poltical dialogue expands at U-High with new club

To bring together U-High students interested in politics, the Youth Engagement in Politics club has formed and meets every Friday in N302, where students engage in meaningful political conversations.

As a nonpartisan club, Youth Engagement in Politics welcomes students with any political views to join the club and learn more and spread their voices in politics.

Sophomores Arjun Sawhney and Gabi Novak started the club after being inspired by their work on the Model United Nations team.

“We’re both current Model UN members and we both really like politics and are inspired by it,” Gabi said.

Gabi said she and Arjun hope to educate students on politics, inspire them to become more interested in politics and current polit-

How did you first get interested in history? Was that something that grew alongside your interest in journalism, or did one come before the other?

“I see them as joined. I was interested in reading stories and writing stories, and it’s been said that ‘journalism is the first draft of history,’ and I’m drawn to that concept. I studied history in college, and then I went to graduate school and got a Ph.D. in modern European history, but at the same time, I was reporting about contemporary affairs in Europe, and so I was researching Europe’s history and then writing stories about Europe’s recent past and present. The two have really gone hand in hand. ”

In terms of your book, how would you describe to a high schooler some of the arguments that your book makes?

“Put simply, the book is about how Europe came to have a system that allowed internal free movement, unrestricted by controls at national borders. So when you move across the European continent, in large part, you’re not stopped and asked for your papers or passport when you go

ical issues, and add more political representation at U-High.

“We’re really just trying to empower the youth voice in politics and ignite curiosity within students to make their own conclusions rather than accepting what they see in the news,” Gabi said.

The club will be hosting interviews with David Axelrod, a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, and U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, a Democrat whose district includes Chicago’s western suburbs.

— Carmen Nehme Women in Stem club forms new mentorship program

A new mentorship program from the Women in STEM club will launch in February, connecting U-High students with undergraduate mentors from multiple STEM-based clubs at the University of Chicago.

According to senior Sofia Pic-

from France to Germany, or from Netherlands to Germany, or from Italy into Switzerland. I wanted to investigate why that was and it comes from something called the Schengen Agreement, which was signed in 1985, and that’s really what the book is a history of.”

How did your journalistic skills help you research and write this book? Were there any moments when your reporting instincts kicked in?

“Definitely. When I was identifying and accessing new documents that hadn’t been used previously in scholarship, and when conducting interviews, so knowing how to ask the right questions and find the correct people who can be kind of guides for you.

What’s one story you’ve always wanted to write or that you’ve always wanted to explore historically that you haven’t had the chance to yet?

“I’m in the process of exploring and investigating the biggest and most important story in the world right now, which is the second Trump administration and how it’s changing America.”

Read an extended version of the interview at uhighmidway.com

ciola, one of the club’s presidents, the program will begin with a kickoff dinner, introducing the U-High students to their mentors from clubs such as UC Psych, Women+ in Chemistry, Society of Women in Physics, Neuroscience Club and UChicago Math Club.

Sofia explained that the club carefully considered members’ academic interests when organizing the mentorship pairings.

“Through partnering with clubs, we’re pulling mentors and connecting them with our mentees based on those interests,” Sofia said.

Sofia said that the program is flexible and open to the whole school.

Looking forward, Sofia aims for WiSTEM to increase their engagement with UChicago’s clubs, following the recent addition of lab tours, which allow mentees to visit research labs.

“We’re doing lab tours this year,

“When considering what colleges are looking at, even though we have this special curriculum, colleges might have a very specific benchmark,” Allison said.

Doubling up for sophomore Sinziana Lazar means being able to grow in an area of passion, along with reaching Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus in two

“

I enjoy doing math and learning about challenging topics in math, so that definitely went into my decision to test out and take more advanced math classes.

— David Li, sophomore ”

years. Sinziana is currently taking both Discrete Mathematics and Statistics as well as APC.

“I was always really interested in math and the sciences, so I really wanted to challenge myself by taking another math class,” Sinziana said, “especially since I wanted to take linear algebra senior year, which I couldn’t do unless I doubled up.”

Mr. Scroll supports students doubling up and testing out but feels that motivation is an important factor in a student’s success.

“If students want to do it, just make sure that the reason you’re doing it is because you want to do it,” Mr. Scroll said. “Don’t feel like you have to do it because of some external pressure or peer pressure or parental pressure.”

photo by Olin Nafziger SENIOR SKIERS. At the Senior Getaway on Jan. 31, seniors Lydia Frost, Katharine Christensen and Ilana Umanskiy ride the ski lift at Chestnut Mountain Resort, where 70 seniors spent their time skiing and snowboarding. From Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, seniors ventured to Galena for the annual Senior Getaway, the final class-wide event before May Project and graduation. Members of the Class of 2025 filled their days with skiing, competing in trivia contests, shopping on Galena’s Main Street.

and hopefully we can pair the mentors with students to offer some visits to some of their labs,” Sofia said, “which would be amazing because UChicago has awesome labs.”

—Gabriel Wang Ethics Bowl team finishes strong at Indiana contest

The Ethics Bowl teams placed high at the Indiana Ethics Bowl Regional Tournament on Feb. 1 to end their current season. U-High’s A team placed second after five undefeated rounds, and the B team made the quarterfinals.

Ethics Bowl is a competitive academic team that debates moral philosophies. It is judged between rounds of two teams based on the nuance of their position on a given issue.

Sygne Stole, team captain, is pleased with Lab’s performance at the competition from both of its two groups.

“I thought they did very well,” she said. “We sent one older, more experienced team, and we got to the final championship.”

Sygne is an artist for the Midway, but she was not involved in the creation of this story.

She also showed appreciation for the less-experienced group of the team, who surpassed expectations at the tournament.

She attributed both teams’ success to their thoroughness in analyzing their arguments.

“We consider as many sides of the moral dilemma as possible, so we’re really well-prepared to talk about other perspectives that we’re not arguing,” she explained.

This tournament marks the end of the scheduled season, the Ethics Bowl will still continue to meet for practices.

Sygne said, “We will focus more on the philosophy side of the team.”

— Nola Baldassare

Midway photo by Viren de Jeu

senior getaway

Midway

health & wellness 3

What’s on your lunch plate?

Dietary, personal preferences affect midday meals

by EDWARD PARK Health & Wellness Editor

The sound of a sparkling water can cracking open. The rustle of a crumpled paper bag being pulled from a backpack. The snap of a lunchbox lid being unfastened. Around the hallway, students settle in with their meals — some with takeout, some with packed lunches, some with plates from the cafeteria, and even some skipping their lunch. Lunch at U-High takes many forms.

Amid diverse dietary needs and personal choices, students at Lab manage their lunch in different ways — some out of necessity, others by preference.

As a vegetarian with limited options at the cafeteria, senior Chani Patterson doesn’t find the food appealing, often skipping lunches as well. Chani’s main concern is cross-contamination.

“The salad bar is prone to cross-contamination. Many people will use the same tongs for different ingredients,” she said. “Sometimes I will see pieces of meat inside of the tofu container. It is much better to safely bring lunch or to eat later at home.”

Junior Aran Malhotra keeps a vegan diet. Unlike Chani, he eats lunch at Lab’s cafeteria. Aran is more concerned about the lack of options provided in the vegetarian station.

They often consist of the same combination of tofu, a carbohydrate like rice or sweet potatoes, and a vegetable.

“I feel like they don’t put too much effort into it, so it’s not that appetizing to eat sometimes,” he said. “They could mix it up in such a way where they’re making popular dishes.”

Other students pack their lunches. Junior Carolyne Payne typically packs a salad prepared the night before. She never enjoyed the food from the cafeteria.

“I feel like sometimes cafeteria food can make me feel kind of sick,” she said. “I like the feeling of eating my own food — it kind of separates me from school.”

Staff from Lab’s primary food provider, HandCut Foods, acknowledges student concerns and continues to develop new options. Ray Griffin, director of dining services, says their priority is maintaining health and safety while offering meals that accommodate various dietary restrictions, in-

OFF-CAMPUS

that open campus policies lead to increased consumption of fast food, but these concerns vary based on individual choices and

CAFETERIA CHANGES. Some students find the cafeteria food meets their needs, while others feel there is room for improvement. In the coming months, HandCut Foods plan to bring more variety and excitement to lunch by adding new options like sushi, omelets and seasonal treats.

cluding deli stations. Mr. Griffin emphasized ongoing efforts to introduce more variety and improve student engagement with food options, such as possible seasonal food pop-ups.

Due to continued efforts, many students don’t necessarily find the cafeteria lacking. Junior Cruise Lickerman believes that the food quality has improved in recent years.

“I think compared to last year, it’s a lot better,” he said. “HandCut Foods has been doing a really good job. They’re definitely really open to student feedback.”

Cruise also thinks students

have the ability to make nutritious choices in the cafeteria if they want to.

“If you know what you’re looking for and you know how to eat nutritiously, you can find a balanced and healthy meal every single day.”

Mr. Griffin agreed with Cruise. He acknowledged that not all students will opt for balanced meals, as taste and preference often take priority.

Despite him wanting students to select a variety of options, not just chicken fingers or curly fries, he believes many will continue to choose what they find most ap-

improves concentration and cognitive function, some students

choose to skip meals due to limited options or personal

HOMEMADE COMFORT. Senior Jeffrey Wang prepares to eat the food his mother packed for lunch. Packing lunch has been linked to healthier eating habits, as homemade meals often contain less processed food and lower sodium levels than cafeteria or restaurant meals.

pealing.

“This is a grab-and-go situation, and everyone is able to choose whatever they like,” he said. “But, you know, we understand that this is a school environment with teenage kids, and kids want what they want.”

The importance of breakfast and lunch choices extends beyond personal preference. It significantly impacts a student’s energy levels and academic performance.

According to the Food Research & Action Center, an anti-hunger advocacy organization, eating lunch helps students stay focused and engaged throughout the school

day, improving concentration and cognitive function.

Many students recognize this, including Aran, regardless of where their lunch comes from.

“I’ve skipped lunch before, but it never really turns out good for my afternoon classes,” he said. “I just get super tired and super hungry, can’t really focus.”

Mr. Griffin also believes eating lunch is important.

“You need energy to be able to learn, and if you’re learning on an empty stomach,” he said, “I feel like you don’t retain knowledge, and you’re frustrated because you’re hungry.”

Hot yoga and pilates provide mindfulness, strength

by CHLOË ALEXANDER Editor-in-Chief

Stepping out of the frigid weather and into a heated studio, Paola Almeda lays out her yoga mat. She’s ready to sweat, stretch and unwind.

As the yoga class starts, meditative music plays as participants get into tempos — sets of repeated movements.

But this isn’t a regular yoga class, it has the added benefit of the heat and sweating.

It’s hot yoga, and the benefits have recently become popular with students.

“I don’t really do the regular class just because I really like to sweat,” Paola, a senior, said. “I feel like for me that’s an important part of it because it’s like the detox that I enjoy.”

Paola started going with her older sister a few weeks ago and has continued on her own, even introducing friends to it.

“It does help me in times of

stress or when I feel kind of disconnected from myself,” Paola said. “Especially at the end they always do a part where you’re just lying down and meditating and centering yourself.”

The extra heat in hot yoga makes the workout more difficult but also increases sweat and calorie burn. Paola originally found discomfort from the body contortion, but grew physical strength. She now finds the benefits go beyond physical.

Paola and her friend senior Emma Heo take classes together at Midtown Athletic Club.

Emma discovered heated workouts about a year ago through her gym membership. She alternates between heated Pilates and yoga. These provide a different routine from her weight training and cardio workouts. They’re harder than the regular classes, but Emma finds she can feel the workouts’ lasting effects.

“I like these heated workouts,”

Emma said. “They always make me feel a lot better after. Even with how hard they are, I feel very tranquil after, especially with the yoga classes when there’s a bit of meditation in them.”

While yoga focuses on calmness and breathwork, Pilates classes can be more energetic. Emma said the contrasting styles complement each other.

“I would say for the Pilates, there was this one class where the instructor played only ‘Wicked’ music, which was really fun,” Emma said. “The Pilates are a lot more hype, a lot more energetic, which I really like. And I like that in addition to the more calm yoga classes, where you’re focusing on your breath, that has calm music in the background.”

After finishing the hot workouts, Emma and Paola roll up their mats, feeling more connected with themselves and refreshed after sweating out their stress. They are ready for their day, energized and renewed.

Midway photo by Leila Rezania SWEATY SERENITY. Besides benefits like increased sweat production, flexibility, and the detoxifying effects, hot yoga brings many other gains including stronger bone density, better skin, and ease of depression.

Midway photo by Henry Benton

Midway photo by Aubrey Felsen

EMPTY STOMACHS. Sitting together in the cafeteria without food, ninth graders Anya Shi and Myra Shetty laugh. While studies show that eating lunch

still

preferences.

Midway photo by Ryan Aubrey Felsen

BITES. Sophomore Laurel Farmer taps on the kiosk to place an order at Everett Kovler Cafe across the street from Lab. Some studies say

eating habits.

Midway photo by Ryan Burke-Stevenson

Art-ificial

Aby DECLAN SMITH

Assistant Editor

s sophomore Sarah Kaldelli begins her free period, she sits with her friends in the hallway and begins to scroll through videos on her Instagram. She pauses as she looks at a brief animation — the video is clunky and the characters’ faces seem to shift as she observes them. She takes in the flashing images, quickly opens the comment section, and moves on without a second glance.

It’s obvious to Sarah that the animation she briefly saw was AI-generated, and she doesn’t want to finish watching it. Sarah, who runs her own art Instagram account, finds the prospect of AI-generated art disturbing. She believes that people are using AI art so often because it’s easier than creating art traditionally.

“I feel like people who use AI might not appreciate the art that actual people make,” Sarah said. “I feel like they’re just doing it because it’s easy, and they don’t value, like, actual work and emotion put behind art, which I find a little disturbing because the whole point of art is to express yourself through your own emotions.”

With the launching of programs such as DALL-E 3, which allows users to generate AI art through ChatGPT, and updates to popular graphic design websites such as Canva and Adobe to include AI generation features, art, and generative artificial intelligence have intersected more than ever. With many asking questions about how AI art may undermine creativity, U-High students and faculty are worried about the implications of AI art.

Due to the rise of this AI-generated artwork, art teacher Brian Wildeman has recently begun focusing on ceramics. Now, he encourages his students to handmake art, to differentiate themselves from AI.

“I have been encouraging students to make art that AI can’t make,” Mr. Wildeman said.

“And that’s one reason I’ve been

DIGITAL DAVINCI. With the launching of multiple programs that include AI generation features, such as Adobe and DALL-E 3, the question of generative intelligence’s role in art has become more prevalent than ever.

more into ceramics lately.”

Computer science teacher Er-

ic Rizzi, who teaches the Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence class, anticipates that while AI may be a positive or negative invention for society, AI art is generally a bad thing.

“Overall, I see AI as kind of like a thing where it’s not quite clear yet whether it’s a positive or negative,”

Mr. Rizzi said, “but AI art, to me, is likely a negative.”

Mr. Wildeman thinks AI art has the potential to cause serious con-

fusion over whether a piece of art is human-made or AI-generated.

“I think it really messes people up with photography and with digital art because it’s just really hard to discern one from the other,” Mr. Wildeman said.

Mr. Wildeman said that artists in those fields had spent years mastering digital artwork, filmmaking, or photography, and AI threatens this hard work. In 2021, the Department of Homeland Security published a report warning people about the risks of “Deepfakes—”

AI-generated media made “to create believable, realistic videos, pictures, audio, and text of events which never happened,” according to the report.

An ethical dilemma that AI art presents for Mr. Wildeman is the effect it has on the climate. According to the United Nations Environmental Programme, a single prompt being put into ChatGPT takes up 10 times the electricity of a Google Search.

In another recent study, AI image generation uses the same

“

I know a lot of companies used to rely on artists and they would hire artists, but now they use AI. I feel like it takes away from a lot of the jobs that people could do and just from the creativity in general.

— Sarah Kaldelli,

sophomore ”

amount of energy as charging a phone to a full battery.

In the animation field, AI is used to streamline the animation process. The SAE Institute, a network of colleges that educate students in creative media, says that AI art helps by “automating labor-intensive tasks [which] is a key advantage of AI in the animation process and allows animators to dedicate their attention to creativity and storytelling.”

Sarah has long been ethically opposed to AI-generated artwork. Sarah thinks AI art also takes away from both an artist’s creativity and also from their job opportunities.

“I know a lot of companies used to rely on artists and they would hire artists, but now they use AI,” Sarah said. “I feel like it takes away from a lot of the jobs that people could do and just from the creativity in general.”

Mr. Rizzi thought the AI art, for better or for worse, is here to stay.

“I do imagine there will be a lasting impact,” Mr. Rizzi said. “It feels like one of these situations where you can’t put the genie back in the bottle.”

Sarah thinks that AI has the potential to have a long-lasting effect on the field of art, as it has already affected her online art community.

“I already know that there’s a lot of people using AI to create art,” Sarah said, “and I’ve seen a lot of conflict on digital platforms between people arguing what’s AI and what isn’t. I think it might cause a lot of distress between artists.”

‘Cunk on Life’ provides both meaning and humor

by ABHAY CHANDRAN

Audience Engagement Editor

“Every life form is made of cells, like a prison, which is probably why existence is so depressing,” Philomena Cunk says, looking up from a microscope. “It’s a life sentence. Just like the sentences I say in this program about life.”

Following up her tenure as a historian in “Cunk On Earth” and “Cunk On Britain,” a new movie, “Cunk On Life,” streaming on Netflix, has documentarian Philomena Cunk take a deep dive into philosophy, the meaning of life and the nature of reality. During the documentary special, she stumps Nobel laureates, uncovers the history behind modern philosophy and makes a fool out of all of us. The catch? It’s a mockumentary, and an amazingly funny one at that.

Not only does “Cunk On Life” present an entertaining and well-produced mockumentary, but it also provides viewers with a deeper understanding of life, in concept and in reality.

The mockumentary’s protagonist, Philomena Cunk, played by Diane Morgan, is a complex character to say the least. In one moment she can make a witty joke calling out the horrible reality of the entertainment industry, and in the next she can ask why people “face the electric chair” if they’ve got their backs to it. Ms. Cunk is

Strings of Connection

by CLARE McROBERTS Editor-in-Chief

The harp isn’t your run-of-themill orchestral instrument. Delicate, enormous and rare, the harp brings together a small but united group that see the special value in their special instrument.

“I remember someone asking me, ‘Is it true that all harpists know each other?’,” Sierra Stacy, a harpist and U-High senior, said. “It feels kind of like a big family. That’s kind of cliché, but it’s like, everywhere you go, there’s someone you know.”

Sierra plays the harp in the Hyde Park Youth Symphony Orchestra and does chamber with a cellist from there. Sierra first started wanting to play the harp in eighth grade during online learning, when she heard that a singer she was a fan of played the harp. She spent a year asking her parents.

“They were like, ‘we’ll talk about it when the pandemic is over,’ because they thought I was going to forget about it,” Sierra said. “But I begged pretty much the entire year.”

Sierra began taking harp lessons in ninth grade. She already had experience reading and playing music after being in choir for years and having taken piano lessons when she was younger. Still, this new instrument brought a new set of challenges.

“The harp is more difficult to sight read on than other instruments, because it’s kind of a physically demanding instrument,” Sierra said. “There are also pedals on the base of the harp, which are what change the strings from sharp to flat.

The harp has become a crucial part of Sierra’s life. She plans to major in harp playing in college and to possibly pursue it as a career and combine it with another discipline.

“When you play you lean the harp back so it kind of feels like you’re hugging it,” Sierra said. “It’s been really nice to be able to watch myself grow skills at something like this.”

Opal Martin, a sophomore who is also a harpist, began playing when she was seven. She was in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra before the pandemic and played “Hallelujah” at her eighth grade graduation.

She said the harp is a uniquely difficult instrument to get the hang of, requiring the musician to juggle several parts of the instrument at once.

“It’s actually a very technical instrument, where you organize hand placement and pedal changes and dynamics all at once — but it’s also very beautiful,” Opal said. “And once you start getting into it, I think it’s really hard to get back out.”

Opal got interested in the harp when her first grade teacher introduced her class to different musical instruments to experiment with. Opal was immediately drawn to the harp.

“In that classroom, it definitely wasn’t popular at all,” Opal said. “It’s pretty hard to find harp players. At least in Chicago, there are a lot more harp players, a lot more harp teachers, but I know in other areas there aren’t.”

Harp players are rare. That makes the harpist network small and tightly knit.

“I’ll see, like, my old harp teachers, and everyone’s really close to each other. Everyone’s definitely friends. Everyone knows each other really well,” Opal said. “I think it’s like that because it’s such a small community.”

Still, the uniqueness of an instrument like the harp comes with its disadvantages. Sierra said that at times, conductors or players of

Harpists find connections in niche musical community

TUNED IN. Senior Sierra Stacy strums at her harp, locked in concentration. Harpists at U-High have a unique and close-knit community that comes with playing this rare and technically demanding instrument.

other instruments don’t understand how much it takes to play the harp, which can be frustrating.

“Sometimes a conductor doesn’t really realize how hard it is to read on harp, and they put you on the spot,” Sierra said. “Or like, when they want to go back to a different section of the piece, they just

start playing it, while you have to change your pedals.”

Sierra also described close bonds between harp players. For the past two years, she has gone to a music camp over the summer.

Even though she had a later start to playing, she felt truly accepted and supported by the other harpists.

Kendrick Lamar’s ‘GNX’ responds to industry betrayal, stokes Super Bowl show excitement

by JULIANA DAUGHERTY

Audience Engagement Editor

On Sunday night, Feb. 9, Super Bowl LIX will be played to decide this year’s NFL champion. However, it may not be a football team that is the greatest champion to play on the field that night.

The most anticipated part of the night may in fact be halftime headline performer Kendrick Lamar.

On Nov. 22, Lamar released his sixth studio album, “GNX,” unannounced, following a heavily publicized and vicious public criticism against Drake. Drake and Lamar’s feud lasted about nine months, consisting of back-and-forth releases of songs that were increasingly hostile toward the other and, in some scenarios, each other’s families.

Releasing “GNX” after such a viral confrontation with another artist — along with dropping it abruptly with no announcement and with collaborations with artists such as SZA — definitely added to its intrigue and attraction.

Even with these collaborators, who aren’t known for taking on larger issues in their music, Lamar is not an artist to drop an album without something to say, and “GNX” is no exception. The album covers topics such as self-discovery and society’s values.

The album opens with Mexican singer Deyra Barrera, singing in Spanish on “Wacced Out Murals,” “Siento aquí tu presencia la noche de anoche y nos ponemos a llorar” — which translates to “I felt your presence here last night and we started to cry.” It’s a beautiful introduction and maybe the most beautiful beginning to one of La-

Spotify

REIN-CAR-NATED. On Nov. 22, Kenrick Lamar released his sixth studio album, “GNX,” unnanounced. The album proved to be a bold release that followed his viral feud with Drake and challenged the music industry’s status quo, as well as discussing themes of self-discovery, betrayal and the status of America.

mar’s albums I have ever heard. I was hooked into the album from the beginning.

This song starts Lamar’s theme of intertwining critiques of the music industry and personal betrayal from idols.

As in this opening track, Lamar uses the entire album as a way to emphasize and critique the harmful nature of the music industry, specifically stating that it amplifies harmful figures and dilutes the art form’s essence. Although “GNX” does cover serious topics seemingly seeking to educate us, that does not mean there aren’t songs and lyrics that entertain. Lamar, as he always does, incorporates his serious top-

ics with dense lyrics, making it difficult to discern the underlying meanings but catches the listener’s attention with the upbeat background.

While trying to discern the meanings myself, I found myself wishing there was a class I could enroll in just to take apart Lamar’s lyrics and tunes to find the hidden meanings behind them.

After additional tracks, Ms. Barrera’s voice returns in “Reincarnated” — my favorite song due to Lamar’s hidden rap culture references. He allows his anger out in the song while putting himself in the shoes of other Black music legends in each verse.

Lamar gives a list of all the

“good” he has done, while then using a different voice, which I assume is to represent a higher power, speaking back to him, correcting him and stating all wrong he has done.

Eventually, both characters come to a conclusion that he will evolve into a better artist and human being.

Following the highly publicized dispute with Drake and preceding Lamar’s headlining performance at the Super Bowl, this album was absolutely fantastic.

In fact, it is one I will be replaying over and over again to prepare to watch the once and future undisputed champion himself on the night of the Super Bowl.

“When I went both years at camp, I felt like a newb because I haven’t been playing that long, and everybody else has been playing the harp a lot longer than I have,” Sierra said. “But they were all really supportive. It was really motivating. It made me happy to find that community.”

2 musicians perform at state concert

by KARINA HANS Reporter

From Jan. 29 to Feb. 1, junior Sophia Zheng and sophomore Sinziana Lazar went to the Illinois Music Education Association AllState Orchestra in Peoria for three days of intense practice with a final performance on the last day.

The performance took place at Carver Arena at the Peoria Civic Center. This was Sinizana’s first time auditioning and performing on her violin at the ILMEA AllState Orchestra with an intense practice schedule. Sinizana said rehearsals started at 8 or 9 a.m. and continued for three hours in which performers practiced parts of the musical pieces. Another intensive practice followed lunch.

“One day we had a four-hour and forty-five minute rehearsal, which was long but quite fun,” Sinziana said.

She said the experience was exciting and that the final performance had thousands of people in attendance.

“We got our pieces a long time ago, so I had time to practice them, and I can’t say I was particularly stressed,” Sinziana said. “I’ve been playing in ensembles for quite some time. It wasn’t a new experience by any means.

The orchestra played three songs — “Dusk,” “Shortcut Home” and “Danzon No. 2” — and played “America the Beautiful” with the combined orchestra, choir and band.

“The one I had the most fun with was Danzon,” Sinziana said. “In direct translation it is a dance, and so it’s much more exciting than the other ones.”

Midway photo by Ellis Calleri

DEI initiatives are essential

Since the inauguration, each news cycle has been flooded with executive orders, targeting everything from birthright citizenship to climate change, striking at core American values. One of these orders signed on the very first day of the second Donald Trump administration targeted another subject: DEI.

The order, “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing,” called for ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs and the “termination of all discriminatory programs” in the government, which includes federal employment practices. Simultaneously, the Trump administration has pushed to freeze federal funding, limiting grants and research funding, which many DEI programs rely on.

In this whirlwind of news, it is easy to get lost in the Lab bubble, yet we must be reminded that this impacts everyone, including us. Though Lab itself does not receive federal funding, the University of Chicago does, so Lab is also subject to those rules. Though federal money may come with “strings attached” to dismantle DEI initiatives, those programs are essential no matter the cost. Historically, DEI programs have established protections for marginalized communities. These programs are rooted in the Civil Rights Act of 1964,

This represents the opinion of the U-High Midway

editorial board.

which barred employment discrimination based on race, gender, sex, religion and more. Additional policies preventing discrimination in the workplace and the federal government also promoted diversity through its hiring practices and incentives in its contracts.

DEI is essential within educational institutions. It is one large reason why students, particularly those from marginalized commu

nities, can feel safe and comfortable. DEI is essential to Lab, and without that education, students won’t learn how our backgrounds influence our experiences and perspectives. That would harm the very fabric of our community.

Many of the programs within the Lab community are visible. Affinity groups, such as Black Students’ Association, Latinos Unidos, Young Men of Color and Young Women of Color, have hosted schoolwide assemblies for years, drawing attention to issues such as intersectionality, resistance and joy.

Each year, dozens of students attend conferences and workshops or are designated as IMPACT leaders, all of whom bring DEI resources to the community and help their peers access them. These are only a handful of the ways in which DEI efforts operate within the school community on a student level. The efforts at the faculty and administration level certainly cannot be

overlooked as well. These efforts at Lab are indispensable to our community. In the 2024 Voice of Chicago Youth Student Poll, where more than 220 U-High students were surveyed, about 40% reported feeling somewhat to very concerned about DEI issues at school. The point is, these efforts are not futile. They are not wast-

ing time or money. In the coming months or even weeks, there could be countless more efforts to target DEI programs across the country. In our own Lab community, we must continue to value, protect or even expand the programs in place, no matter what challenges they face. These programs are valued, they are impactful and they are essential.

Birthright citizenship cannot cease under Trump

by SOHANA SCHNEIDER

Assistant Editor

In 1965 my grandparents left India and moved to England. My mom was born there and the family lived there before moving to the United States in 1973. My grandparents both had visas to work at a hospital in New York.

One year later, my aunt was born. She instantly became a citizen because of birthright citizenship — the constitutional right outlined in the 14th Amendment guaranteeing that anyone born on U.S. soil is granted American cit-

Exaggerating cancel culture hampers free expression, debate as the midway sees it.

by CAROLINE SKELLY

Audience Engagement Editor

izenship. This is now being challenged. President Trump’s recent executive order to eliminate birthright citizenship for children of migrants sobered me. I started to think about what it would mean if my family’s citizenship came into question, and how the many birthright citizens across America would face uncertainty.

While President Trump’s executive order has been disputed, it is a grave danger to our communities and mocks American ideals.

Birthright citizenship in the United States dates back to the 1800s. In 1857, the Supreme Court ruled in Dred Scott v. Sandford that enslaved individuals and their descendants were not considered citizens of the United States.

When slavery was abolished, enslaved Black people were still not considered citizens in the United States. However, ratification of the 14th Amendment in 1868 clarified that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” This protected formerly enslaved and free Black individuals, as well as their descendants, granting them equal rights through citizenship as white Americans. In 1898, the Supreme Court affirmed in United States v. Wong Kim Ark that the 14th Amendment applied not only to former enslaved individuals but everyone born in the United States. A 2015 report by the

National Academy of Sciences revealed that if birthright citizenship was removed, the citizenship status of 37.1 million second-generation Americans — roughly 12% of the country’s population — would be left uncertain. What would it mean if our family members, friends and people in our school community were no longer protected?

Birthright citizenship is a promise, and if this order is enacted, we would face an uncertain and highly unsettling future. Birthright citizenship is the core of American values, denying a caste and legacy system, and providing equal rights and civic/political inclusion to all Americans. Revoking this part of our constitution would create dif-

ferent classes of citizens. A system based almost entirely on family history and race would not leave room for the people in our lives. People may think that a judge will save birthright citizenship, but this is by no means guaranteed. Through spreading negativity about birthright citizenship, President Trump is pushing the envelope by changing the public’s opinion. If this is taken to the Supreme Court, his wishes may very easily become our reality.

When the states ratified the 14th Amendment, they upheld our values as a country and determined that people born here are equal to others, regardless of their race or country of origin. We must keep it that way.

When I walked into school the Monday after the Grammy Awards, I had a conversation with my friends about the outcome of the show. I expressed my frustration that neither Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” or Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft” won Album of the Year. Yet I was hesitant to share this opinion with others for fear of backlash because of the amount of debate surrounding the category.

This feeling, known as cancel

culture, is defined as the removal of support for an individual or organization due to an action or an opinion that the party that is “canceling” them deems wrong or offensive, or simply choosing not to express an idea out of fear of being canceled.

Cancel culture has become a toxic force fueled by social media and anonymity that prioritizes public shaming over valuable dialogue, as well as promoting a mob mentality. It began as a way to hold figures accountable and educate people about their actions but has shifted into a way to find any incriminating detail (opinion or action) and aggressively exploit it without the willingness to forgive, as well as suppressing honest debate.

Cancel culture is nothing new. It

has been rooted in society for hundreds of years. Today, cancel culture can be seen in pretty much every fabric of culture. From politics and social media to educational institutions, journalism and daily conversations, it influences how people navigate their public and private lives, often shaping the way ideas are expressed and criticized.

A survey by the Cato Institute in 2020 found that 62% of Americans choose to “self-censor” their political views for fear of offending others or being canceled, and only those who identify as strongly liberal believe they can speak their mind. This number has risen 4 percentage points since 2017.

Around November’s election, I found myself, and the people

We will report on the people, activities and thoughts that make our school unique, striving to include the voices we haven’t heard yet.

around me, often tiptoeing around the topic of the election. I chose to only vaguely talk about it, rather than openly discussing the prominent issues surrounding the election to avoid possible tense and uncomfortable conversations. It became clear that many of us were more focused on avoiding discomfort and even the topic of the election entirely than engaging in meaningful discussion out of fear of being canceled or upsetting others.

Pew Research Center found that 58% of American adults say that calling out others on social media is more likely to hold them accountable, but 38% say it’s more likely to punish people who don’t deserve it. Republicans are more partial to the latter: 56% of conser-

vatives see it as a punishment versus the 75% of Democrats who see it as accountability.

Cancel culture in the media has become a form of nitpicking and exaggeration. It’s no longer a form of education and a way to hold people accountable for their actions, but a way to shame people and potentially ruin careers.

More specifically in a school environment, it has restricted the ability for differing opinions to be expressed, and it creates an environment where people are afraid to speak out. This consequently limits speech and meaningful conversation. Without differing opinions or ideas, how are we supposed to have honest conversations that challenge our perspective?

Midway illustration by Ilana Umanskiy

Troubling Tech

From TikTok to artificial intelligence, technology continues to transform daily life. Social media platforms collect vast user data, companies become more lenient to harmful content and AI advancements cause environmental harm. As we navigate the expanding digital landscape, it’s crucial to question who truly benefits from these advancements before embracing the future they shape for us.

Social media’s deceptive and invasive privacy practices threaten public saftey

Sby KABIR JOSHI Opinion Editor

“

ocial media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook have become vital parts of a teenager’s daily life. As you scroll through Instagram or TikTok liking posts and videos, you might not know that every movement you make is being tracked. While social media offers connection and entertainment, the extensive tracking of users poses a serious threat to users, enabling data breaches, manipulating consumer behavior, and turning them from person to product.

TikTok has faced persistent scrutiny for its data-selling practices. TikTok states that the app collects much more data than needed

Moreover, this disintegration of privacy has users feeling helpless, knowing that their every click, like, comment and movement is tracked. ”

to curate your feed. Its privacy policy states that the app collects your IP address, user agent, identifiers for advertising purposes, model of your device, network type, device IDs, screen resolution and operating system, app and file names and types, keystroke patterns or rhythms, battery state and much more. Critics argue that such invasive practices are not required to provide the personalized content that users consume.

Compounding that, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is a Chinese-based compa-

ny, meaning that the Chinese government can request any information they want, leaving TikTok in a vulnerable state toward criticism.

TikTok isn’t the only offender of lucrative privacy policies. Meta has similar privacy policies for data. Through its multiple platforms — Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook and more — Meta collects location data, camera use, the time, frequency and duration of app activities, and much more to curate content for its users. In the past, Facebook was exposed for using data to politically manipulate users.

These practices are disguised behind a veil of tailored advertisements and personalized feeds. Creating and collecting detailed profiles on users and their whereabouts provides the opportunity for data leaks, identity thieves and other malicious actors.

This can lead to many future issues for users as they

can struggle to regain a standing in society after having their identity stolen and image ruined.

Moreover, this disintegration of privacy has users feeling helpless, knowing that their every click, like, comment and movement is tracked. This can destroy a user’s mental health and foster a negative environment that slowly erodes their person.

While critics and companies might argue that these practices and policies are just to improve user experience, it is imperative that users demand for greater accountability and transparency from companies.

Legislation must be passed in order to protect user data instead of valuing profit-driven algorithms of companies. In the future, social media platforms would be held accountable, ensuring that users can engage online without fear of exploitation.

AI’s many benefits outweigh its shortcomings

by EDWARD PARK Health & Wellness Editor

AMeta’s exit from fact checking services illustrates growing conservative shift

by CHLÖE ALEXANDER Editor-in-Chief

IMeta’s changes are securing a place in the “broligarchy,” but Mr. Zuckerberg is also attempting to make sure Meta won’t come under fire during this new administration. Mr. Trump and other Republicans have made claims that Meta’s fact-checking program is biased toward conservatives.

Joel Kaplan, Meta’s new head of global policy, said on “Fox & Friends” that there is too much political bias in the fact-checking program. These claims are false. Meta, playing into this false claim, shows where its political alliances lay.

few weeks ago, a friend and I had a latenight conversation about something that now seems impossible to be fixed in 2025, use of ChatGPT. While we started by discussing how artificial intelligence is affecting academic integrity standards and how students approach assignments, our conversation shifted to something even bigger: AI’s environmental effects. AI has become deeply embedded in people’s daily lives as they just turn to ChatGPT for anything they find tedious. Few people consider the resources it consumes. According to MIT Technological Review, training a single AI model can emit as much carbon as five cars, while the United Nations Environment Programme states that AI’s ener-

gy consumption is a growing concern, as it relies on massive computational resources which contributes to growing global carbon emissions. Despite such negative environmental effects, AI’s benefits — in medicine, the economy and other ways — are too important for us to ignore. Consider how AI can assist in many aspects of health care. AI enhances diagnostic accuracy and efficiency by detecting medical issues that might be overlooked by the human eye. According to Harvard Medical School, AI improves colonoscopy procedures by identifying polyps, and it aids in interpreting electrocardiograms and CT scans for early disease detection..AI boosts economic productivity and creates job opportunities. The University of Cincinnati reports that AI-driven automation is increasing efficiency in industries like finance, retail and manufacturing, allowing it to operate with greater precision. However, the Brookings Institution warns

that automation could displace workers, particularly in routine-based jobs. Still, throughout history, technol-

“ AI enhances diagnostic accuracy and efficiency by detecting medical issues that might be overlooked by the human eye. ”

ogy was what advanced job markets. During the Industrial Revolution, while many manual labor jobs were lost to machines, new roles emerged in engineering, mechanics and logistics. According to EMPEQ, AI’s automation of routine tasks is increasing demand for skilled professionals in engineering. Advances in AI will open up room for jobs in AI development and system management.AI is even helping to fight climate change — the very issue it exacerbates. UN-

EP, which published papers on AI’s negative impacts, also states that AI can optimize renewable energy deployment by predicting energy demand and managing energy supply more efficiently. According to Yale School of Environment, by tracking air emissions and supporting process and supply chain optimization, AI can assist in environmental monitoring and management. At the end of that late-night conversation, my friend and I never really reached a conclusion. What we did realize was that, just like in academics, AI’s role in society is not black and white. It definitely has flaws, and while its environmental impact is one of its biggest flaws, the benefits it brings to health care, the economy and the environment are undeniably important. Its ability to save lives, drive economic growth and, ironically, fight climate change ultimately outweighs its drawbacks and makes AI development a more viable solution than just abandoning it altogether.

n the midst of misinformation, the rise of artificial intelligence and political divides becoming more and more extreme, Meta announced that all Meta apps would no longer fact-check any posts.On Jan. 7, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement, adding that he would not renew the fact-checking program. While this tool was intended to limit misinformation like what Russians spread on Facebook during the 2016 election to benefit Donald Trump, he said it actually caused more harm than good. Mr. Zuckerberg claimed that without fact checking, people who use Meta’s platforms would be able to express themselves more and use their free speech without censorship.

Despite Mr. Zuckerberg’s claims about the motivation for ending fact-checking, it’s just a blatant attempt to gain and maintain conservative allyship at the expense of truth and democracy.

This change will help Meta and Mr. Zuckerberg to get on President Trump’s good side after being the target of Mr. Trump’s anger and aggression. Mr. Trump had threatened Mr. Zuckerberg with life in jail, claiming he helped rig the 2020 election against Mr. Trump.

In other policy changes suggesting Mr. Zuckerberg’s attempt to get on Mr. Trump’s good side, Meta has also made leadership changes and brought Trump friend and supporter Dana White onto Meta’s board. Not only does this show

Meta’s removal of its fact-checking features will only turn its platforms more conservative. This isn’t the first time a social media company has done this — Elon Musk removed the same policies when he took over Twitter and rebranded it as X.

As seen with that platform, it quickly became a right wing heaven. According to a 2023 Pew Research Center poll, after Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now X) more Republicans felt the platform was good for American democracy while more Democrats felt it was worse. Additionally, there was a skyrocketing of Tweets with racial slurs after the acquisition. These changes to X can be expected to be seen on Meta platforms, shifting the social media app’s priorities with the change of administrations. Meta’s changes and attempts to sway the current administration display a lack of true care for democracy and freedom of speech — principles Mr. Zuckerberg claims to stand for.

Addicted

After TikTok was unavailable for 12 hours on Jan. 19, the app received a 75-day reprieve from President Donald Trump as he tries to find an American buyer. The reaction from students has been mixed: a combination of upset, indifference and concern for their own TikTok addiction

TikTok remains a staple amid security scare

by TAARIQ AHMED News Editor

As TikTok suddenly became inaccessible on the evening of Jan. 18 — shocking the country — ninth grader Lara Mohindra found herself repeatedly clicking on the app out of habit. Wanting to scroll, she received the same message every time she opened it: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”

“I was just so used to being on it,” Lara said, “so not having that anymore was difficult, and I found myself on other apps like Instagram because I just had to find other ways to compensate for what happened to TikTok.”

TikTok is essential to students who have spent years curating a personalized For You Page reflective of their interests and hobbies, and thus have developed a special connection to the app. So, many users continue to engage with it, despite security concerns expressed by some government officials and the law forcing TikTok to migrate to an American parent company which caused January’s temporary ban.

Like most social media apps, TikTok collects a large volume of user data such as location, browsing habits and device information, raising concerns about how this data might

I was just so used to being on it, so not having that anymore was difficult, and I found myself on other apps like Instagram because I just had to find other ways to compensate for what happened to TikTok.

— Lara Mohindra, ninth grader

be accessed or misused, according to William Akoto, an assistant professor of foreign policy and global security at American University.

“The main worry is that, under Chinese law, ByteDance could be compelled to share data with the Chinese government,” Dr. Akoto said in an interview with the Midway. “Compared to other social media apps, TikTok’s Chinese ownership creates unique geopolitical and legal concerns that are not as prominent with U.S.-based companies.”

Beyond concerns of data access, some lawmakers have supported forcing the app into American hands because they claim that user data is affecting what is shown to users, specifically related to political issues.

Junior Adnan Werdyani said he loves Tik-

Tok because of the perfect For You Page he has built since downloading the app in early 2020, encompassing what he and his friends find entertaining.

“I know about the Chinese influence, but I couldn’t care less,” Adnan said. “As long as I keep getting funny videos, I’m fine with it. I don’t care if my data is tracked. There’s noth ing that interesting about me anyway.”

Savannah Woodson, a sophomore, said she uses TikTok because it keeps her informed about what is trending. She said although she is not concerned about its Chinese origins or her data being accessed, she would feel bet ter if an American company took ownership.

“I mean, honestly, what is China gonna do with my data?” Savannah said. “At the end of the day, it would be a little comforting to know that the Americans have my data.”

Dr. Akoto said there is no public proof that TikTok has shared user data, but the risk looms.

“While public officials in the U.S. highlight this risk, there is as yet no public, definitive evidence that TikTok has handed over user data to the Chinese government,” Mr. Akoto said. “However, this does not mean that in fu ture, the Chinese government could not com pel TikTok to hand over user data.”

He said selling TikTok to a company in the United States could potentially mitigate some of the risks by placing the app under U.S. juris

TikTok ban threatens free speech, sets dangerous precedent

by MILO PLATZ-WALKER Sports Editor

In crowded school hallways across the country, students huddle around phones, laughing over TikTok trends and memorizing the latest dances. For people of all ages, TikTok has become more than just entertainment — it’s a way to connect, express creativity and engage with perspectives across the world. As the U.S. government moves closer to forcing Chinese company ByteDance to sell the app, users and creators have come to see it as an unconstitutional overreach driven by unfounded fears of China’s data collection.

This proposed ban goes against free speech and sets a danger-

Milo Platz-Walker

ous precedent for the U.S. government’s control over digital platforms. In a time where digital connection and freedom of expression are more important than ever, silencing a platform like TikTok sends a dangerous message that fear can outweigh freedom.

First proposed in August 2020, then-President Donald Trump issued an executive order to ban the company unless sold to the U.S.-based organization. The jus-

tification centered around national security, as President Trump claimed that TikToks’s data collection would be used by the Chinese government to harm the United States. While little hard evidence has been shared publicly, U.S. lawmakers seem to be convinced that the app is a threat to our national security. The Supreme Court upheld the law forcing the sale. After its short-lived shut down on Jan. 19, the app was quickly restored to users, displaying a message which thanked Mr. Trump for his role in delaying the ban the day before his second inauguration. It was unavailable in app stores until being restored on Feb. 13. While forcing the sale of the app

seems like nothing more than dig ital censorship dressed up as a na tional security concern, it’s cru cial to recognize the absurdity of the praise Mr. Trump has received for his role in the ban. Applauding someone for “giving back” what they wanted to take away normal izes the manipulation of public opinion by government officials.

ming from the forced sale, it also raises questions about the glaring double standard with U.S.-based companies like Google and Meta. These tech giants have far worse track records when it comes to da ta misuse, begging the question of why lawmakers have chosen not to target them.

Poll reveals students favor Instagram if TikTok is banned

In this unscientific Midway survey conducted Feb. 4-13, students shared what social media they would switch to if TikTok were banned. Of the 107 students who took the survey, 22 were ninth graders, 28 were sophomores, 30 were juniors and 27 were seniors.

— Skye Freeman and Clare McRoberts

69.2% Said they would switch to Instagram Reels

7.5% Said they would switch to RedNote 5% Said they would switch to YouTube Shorts

13% Said theywouldn’t choose to make the switch to any app that is not TikTok

collec enter news and long as plans to ignorance is app un said. information change my evidence TikTok ban. safe appli “So if app, taken.” younger infor settings, staying steps,”

FEB. 20, 2025

Midway illustrations by Sygne Stole

One tough

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Founder of local StruggleBeard Bakery overcomes struggles to share sweets

by NAOMI BENTON Audience Engagement Editor

Walking into the StruggleBeard Bakery at 5221 S. Harper Ct., a group of customers is greeted by the sugary aroma of oatmeal cookies, strawberry lemonade cupcakes and cranberry muffins.

Quinton McNair stands behind the counter, his cheery and warm presence lighting up the shop. Before taking the customers’ orders, Mr. McNair asks a simple yet considerate inquiry: “How can I help you smile today?”

After a conflict-filled childhood where he experienced homelessness, Mr. McNair chose to serve in the Army. When he came back from deployment, he opened StruggleBeard Bakery: a name that reflects his struggles in life along with his determination to grow a beard.

One struggle Mr. McNair faced was his transition into civilian life during the coronavirus pandemic, after serving in the Army for 24 years as a helicopter mechanic, drill sergeant and sexual assault response coordinator.

When he returned from deployment, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and worked as a human resources manager for a nonprofit organization. After an acquaintance posted a cookie recipe online, he made his first attempt at baking.

“The cookie was trash, it was horrible,” Mr. McNair said. “I had never baked before and went about it the whole wrong way.”

His success was not without trials, but he kept persevering. He found that baking helped him handle his mental health.

“I realized, like while I was baking, I had purpose. Had something to do. Those intrusive thoughts were not intruding anymore,” Mr. McNair said.

After mastering the skill of baking, he opened his bakery in 2023. Not only did this new profession help him cope with his PTSD, but baking also made him happier: through baked goods, he could produce smiles for customers.

“

In every small way I can give back, I do it.

—

Quinton McNair founder of StruggleBeard Bakery ”

“It also gave me a double dopamine rush, because it felt good to be creating something,” Mr. McNair said. “And then when people enjoyed it, it felt good again to share that and for other people to enjoy it.”

These cookies aren’t just any run-of-the-mill cookies made by big corporations; they are baked with compassion, claims a review on the StruggleBeard website.

“You can tell these cookies are made with care, by someone who knows their product is an extension of them,” an online reviewer named Tiffany wrote.

Mr. McNair values the sense of purpose he gains from baking and found it to parallel his experience in the military.

“The military gave me purpose. Once I decided to make a military career, I decided to make an impactful career, especially when it came to helping people,” Mr. McNair said.

Mr. McNair considers helping people and making an impact on his community a fundamental priority in his life, and through his bakery, he can give back.

“It allows me to share that journey of mental health healing with young men that look like me, that might be going through things that I went through that caused me to join the Army,” Mr. McNair said.

He gives back by sharing his talents and his advice: public speaking and donating baked goods. He emphasizes partnering with and supporting other Black-owned businesses and organizations, even for his coffee and tea.

The friendly environment of Hyde Park drew him to it, specifically the Black-owned businesses.

FEARLESS FOUNDER. Dressed head to toe in his own merchandise, Quinton McNair, founder and owner of StruggleBeard Bakery, prepares a batch of his lemon cookies. With his background of battling struggles and determination to grow a beard, Mr. McNair started this buisness to give back to his community through sweet treats.

“All the festivals and all the dope things and all the art that’s here in Hyde Park, I felt like this would be more of a home for me,” Mr. McNair said.

Mr. McNair also aids the community by giving a discount to students and veterans every Tuesday and encouraging everyone to come to Wednesday karaoke nights.

“In every small way I can give back, I do it,” Mr. McNair said.

His positive contributions not only impact the community as a whole but the days of each individual customer who visits his bakery.

The customers temporarily get to leave their struggles and worries behind, focused on the sugary delicacy in front of them. They leave the bakery with a full stomach and a smile.

storytelling cookies

Firedoodle: According to the StruggleBeard Bakery website, this is the newest addition to his cookie list: “This chewy cookie with crispy edges is the perfect blend of cocoa and cinnamon. We added a little punch to it with the cinnamon whiskey that has ruined many a college night.”

Chief Bartley: “That's my rmy brother. It's a salted caramel whiskey cookie with oatmeal, chocolate chips and salt”

recently, and his favorite cookie was a lemon cookie. I specifically developed that recipe to name the cookie after him.”

Digital camera revival inspires creativity, photography

Influence of digital cameras enhances aesthetics, media

by LAILA VALENTI Reporter

The bright flash of a camera, the satisfying click of the shutter and the instant a picture appears on the screen of the camera are all features not of the newest smartphone camera, but a throwback to the early 21st century technology of a point-and-shoot camera. In the past couple years, digital cameras have surged in popularity as people seek to elevate their photography beyond smartphones, driven by social media’s emphasis on visual content. This shift from smartphones to digital cameras not only allows individuals to express themselves in new ways but also enhances their overall aesthetic of their social media presence.

Sophomore Rania Khan uses a Canon Elph 110 due to its small size, bright flash and aesthetic appearance. She uses the photos taken by her camera to post on her social media account, which is dedicated to her photos from her

elevate their photography beyond

digital camera. Rania said, “I wanted something that was small, something that could fit in a purse, so I did not feel the need to buy a huge expensive camera.”

Rania has also noticed that own-

ing her digital camera has become a conversation starter. Having a digital camera sparks questions and conversations during social events. For her, the camera has even become a bonding point, allowing her to connect with others.

“If I am at a party or some event, and I pull out a camera, I think people are more excited to see that camera than a phone. I think a phone can seem random and daunting, but having the camera is a fun thing to pull out,” Rania said.

“I have gotten a lot of good pictures on my digital camera with people who I usually never take pictures with.”

Rania has noticed that she is not alone in her interest in digital cameras, but part of a larger trend as she has noticed an increase in the number of people purchasing digital cameras over the past couple years.

Rania says, “I think definitely recently people want digital cameras and make different accounts for the camera’s photos.”

Rania’s observation highlights the growing trend of using digital cameras, a shift that is reflected in the market data.

According to the Camera and Imaging Products Association, mirrorless point and shoot cameras in 2024 represent more than 81% of the digital interchangeable lens camera market, which is a large increase from 2022 where mirrorless point-and-shoot cameras only represented 69% of the market.

camera options

With different qualities and prices, here are a few cameras:

The resurgence of digital cameras highlights a shift in how users like Rania use these cameras not just as tools for capturing moments in an aesthetic way, but as tools for social interaction and self-expression. The many appealing features of digital cameras provide an experience that allow users to connect with the places and people around them.

Midway photo by Estelle Levinson

Quinton McNair honors the people who impacted his life by naming cookies after them. He also names cookies after beard styles.

James Todd Miles Jr.: “My father wasn’t in my life, so my friend’s dad adopted me. He passed away

Midway photo by Devyn Moubayed DYNAMIC DIGITALS. Digital cameras have surged in popularity at Lab as students seek to

smartphones.

Combining culture and comfort

Trushar Patel gives Indian food a Southern twist

Sby ABHAY CHANDRAN

Audience

Engagement Editor

tepping into a restaurant with a name like Rajun Cajun, you would probably expect nothing but authentic Southern cuisine. But from the moment you enter this 53rd Street restaurant, your senses are enticed by a wholly Indian experience. The sweet, rich aroma of butter paneer and the smoky smell of tandoori chicken fill the air, and Indian music fights for control with sizzling samosas. And behind the counter: a family who has been bringing Indian food to the South Side for the past 30 years. After over a decade being a long-term supervisor of three McDonald’s franchises in the North Side of Chicago, Trushar Patel planned to purchase a McDonald’s franchise and rise through the ranks of the corporation. But his goals changed when a fire shut down the main store he managed for three months.

“That’s when I went to India... and I learned how to cook over those three months,” Mr. Patel said. “I went for one of those Punjabi cookbooks, it was Balbir Singh or something. It was really interesting, and that’s when I learned how to cook proper Indian food.”

When Mr. Patel’s store had been rebuilt, his plans had changed.

“If it’s a chain then there’s a lot of legal issues involved. They take a percentage and basically they own you,” he said. “And I didn’t want that.”

In 1993, Mr. Patel and his family purchased a fast food cajun cafeteria in disrepair, and transformed it into Rajun Cajun, serving freshly prepared Indian specialties alongside the previous owner’s Southern comfort foods. The restaurant, run by Mr. Patel, his wife Anila Patel and their son Nishil Patel, has stood strong for 30 years, even as their motivations, community and the restaurant itself have transformed. As early as his love for his restaurant took form, his dedication to giving manifested through an orphanage in Chanod, India. Soon after learning about the orphanage, the family gave their cow Nandani to them and committed to donating $2 to them every day.

nation, but also to renovate their restaurant and create community.

That’s when I went to India... and I learned how to cook over those three months. I went for one of those Punjabi cookbooks, it was Balbir Singh or something. — Trushar Patel ”

“It’s not only us donating — there are of course other people donating as well… They even have a nice building, facilities for the kids to study and all that so that’s good,” Mr. Patel said. “I’ve actually been there once. I was pretty impressed.”

When the University of Chicago became their building’s landlords, the family was able to not only add customer tips to their daily do-

Along with turning a once-plain window into a colorful collage of Indian culture, this renovation provided the opportunity to turn a small board of letters sitting by the register into a wall of memories.

“The letters just started coming. Students were sending postcards, and we never used to think of posting them properly. Then my nephew came here from London, and said, ‘Uncle, you should put these on the wall,’ so we decided to put the letters on the wall,” Mr. Patel said. “We used to hang real post cards in a small area by the cash register. When we remodeled the store we scanned the postcards and we made a wallpaper out of it.”

But the university provided more than just the opportunity to renovate, it provided the opportunity to create community.

“We had a group of students

from the University of Chicago. We used to love the four years they were here,” Mr. Patel said. “They came every single Saturday no matter what happens or what kind of weather it is and we used to call them the JJ group. Everybody’s name was with a J: boys, girls, everybody’s names was with a J, so we called them the JJ group. That was really fun.”

Those students are long gone, but change and consistency are both fundamental to Rajun Cajun’s community. One that can eat the same food, made with the same dedication, even generations apart.

“Right now one student came from London. His father actually went to the University of Chicago. He did his Ph.D. in economics, and we became very good friends with four of them,” Mr. Patel said. “Now his son is here, and he is coming here three times a week, and we can also talk about things.”

Because of his unbending dedication to offering a consistent experience, Mr. Patel and his family have felt trapped in Chicago. Having spent 30 years sacrificing his life for his restaurant, Mr. Patel now hopes to retire, revisit his birthplace in Africa, and go to India for the first time with his son.

“We haven’t had a vacation as a family all together in, god knows, 20 years. Since it’s a specialty restaurant, it’s very hard to get out of here,” Mr. Patel said. “I’ve even told my son I don’t want him to go forward with this, and he doesn’t want to anyway, he wants to go to his own field.”

Change has always been a part of Mr. Patel’s life, and as Rajun Cajun comes to a close, he welcomes its return.

“Change is always present and change is an absolute good,” he said. “Without it we would never get anywhere.”

Students spend lunch socializing outside of cafeteria

Ninth grader Dorothy Jennett is one of the many students who chooses to sit in Gordon Parks Arts Hall with her friends during lunch.

Gordon Parks Arts Hall, lounges serve as ideal lunch spots “

by MAYA GAUHAR Reporter

At 12:05 p.m., U-High’s lunch period has just begun, and students are scattered throughout the school, slumped against lockers and clustered together across stairways. Lively, echoing chatter drifts through the hallways, as students giggle noisily through bites of curly fries and sips of iced lattes. Occasionally, the faint sound of hurried typing rings out as people frantically try to finish their homework before their next class begins.

These ninth graders can be found just about anywhere in the school — except for the cafeteria. Instead of sitting in the cafeteria, the majority of students prefer to eat their lunch along stairways, against their lockers or in the student lounge outside the library.

After several minutes of students rushing in and out to purchase food, the cafeteria is virtually void of ninth graders, despite the many seats available.

“In GPAH, the lighting is very nice, and there’s more space, whereas the cafeteria is more chaotic,” she said.

Students who prefer a calmer and emptier environment often spend lunch in quieter spaces like Gordon Park Arts Hall or in the ninth grade locker area, instead of the energetic cafeteria, especially if they want to catch up on homework as they eat.

Unlike the cafeteria, spaces like the student lounges and Gordon Parks Arts Hall are relatively calm during lunch.

“It’s different from middle school, and it feels like you have more freedom to go where you like,” Dorothy said.

Last year, in middle school, ninth grade students had to eat in the cafeteria during lunch, and needed to stay there for most of the period.

Most ninth graders seem to like the new freedom of being able to choose to eat anywhere in the school, or even leave to have lunch elsewhere, especially because the cafeteria is often chaotic and noisy.

It’s different from middle school, and it feels like you have more freedom to go where you like.

— Dorothy Jennett, ninth grader

“It’s nice to have your friend group find your own spot, and I think GPAH is a really pleasant space,” Dorothy said.

Owen Hannan is another ninth grader who spends lunch in other places besides the cafeteria during lunch, mostly because of where his friends choose to sit.

“I just eat where all my friends eat,” Owen said. “The lounge is a little less crowded than the cafeteria, and the seats are more comfy.”

As the time clicks to 12:40, the students carefully tuck away their lunches into their backpacks, shutting their computers and slowly heading towards their classrooms.

Soon the animated chatter echoing through the school has dulled, as the last ninth graders hurriedly rush to get to their next class. By 12:50, quiet has returned to the hallways.

Midway photo by Layla Flowers

LOUNGING DURING LUNCH. The majority of U-High students prefer to eat their lunch in school hallways, stairways and other corners throughout the high school. Students enjoy the freedom of being able to sit wherever they like and to have their own spot.

Midway photo by Aubrey Felsen

CAJUN COOKING. Trushar Patel has been running Rajun Cajun, his family-owned resturaunt in Hyde Park on 53rd street, for the past 30 years. Inspired by the previous owner’s Southern cooking, Rajun Cajun serves customers a unique blend of both Indian and southern cuisine.

FASHION Frosty

At U-High, students are faced with the decision to dress for comfort or style during the harsh Chicago winter weather.

Felix prioritizes comfort in the winter. He’s never been very invested in his clothing and prefers to feel at ease throughout the day. For the most part, Felix’s mother buys clothes for him and fashion is, voluntarily, off his radar.

“I don’t really think about the clothes that I put on,” he said, “but if it’s cold out, I’ll focus on putting things on that are warm.”

Zoe prioritizes style in the winter. She is meticulous about her clothing, looking to balance the baggy and tight elements of her outfits. Zoe always strives to convey her bubbly personality through bold colors and interesting patterns.

She said, “I treat school as my own fashion show.”

by LILA COYNE Assistant Editor

Students stream through the high school’s front doors bundled in heavy winter coats, their noses peeking out from thick scarves in the mostly indistinguishable sea of black puffers.

Many shed their outer layers before tapping their IDs, while some slowly unzip their coats and discard their hats on the way to their lockers and others burst through their classroom doors, fully clad in winter ensembles.

Once these layers are removed, the outfits underneath are increasingly varied.

The brutal Chicago winter is enough reason for many students to choose comfort over style.

Sweatpants and a hoodie become a respectable uniform as the season

Lydia prioritizes style in the winter. She is purposeful about her clothing, often thrifting and reviving pieces. Much of her clothing belonged to her mother, giving Lydia the opportunity to merge 1980s fashion with 2020s trends.

“I’m trying to communicate that there’s a timeless aspect to self-expression,” she said. “A lot of my clothes are either thrifted or vintage. Half of my wardrobe is my mom’s, which is really important to me.”

Scan the QR code to read the online article, featuring three more student’s winter outfits.

drags on. Others capitalize on every opportunity to express themselves through their outfits. Depending on the student, they may disregard the cold weather entirely or explore ways to style warmer clothes. Some refuse to think about their fashion at all, preferring comfort and warmth. Six students across the high school share their perspective on what fashion they value most in the winter: comfort or style.

Maceo prioritizes style in the winter. For his outfits, Maceo draws inspiration from the music artists he listens to, such as Xaviersobased, who usually wear baggy Y2K-inspired clothing. Maceo tries to balance style and comfort but always picks style in the end.

“If it isn’t tough, you just can’t wear it,” he said. “If it makes you cold, sometimes you just have to make the sacrifice.”

Figure skating club created for competition, leisure skating alike

by JULIANA DAUGHERTY Audience Engagement Editor

It’s a chilly evening in January. The breeze is picking up a bit as individuals skate happily around the Midway Plaisance ice rink.

Among the group of skaters are three U-High students: Hannah Gao, Lily Davidson and Tal Neiman, all members of the U-High figure skating club. Each week they meet on the Midway rink whenever they are able to, to improve and perfect their skating skills for upcoming competitions.

Despite each having prior experience in the sport, they enjoy spending time together and doing the thing they love most: figure skating.

Outside of school, Lily has skated competitively for around six years, originally starting when she was 3 years old.

“I went to some camps when I was younger, to improve my skating skills, and I think that’s where I just fell in love with competing and everything skating had to offer,” Lily said.

Meanwhile, Hannah has enjoyed skating for leisure since 2015. She, along with Lily, wanted to bring this joy of skating to Lab, so they decided to start a club to connect with other students who also enjoyed the sport. After developing the idea for the club two years ago, they finally put it into action this winter, and are now the co-presidents and co-founders.

Since the figure skating club has only been operating for three months, it has one other member at the moment: ninth grader Tal, who has been skating for about six years and

joined the club to get closer to other skaters.

“Having a place to do what I love with my community is so much fun,” Tal said, “and it’s really nice to share a passion with others in my more immediate community.”

Their goal is to meet twice a week, although they have only met a few times in and outside of school during the winter season.

When they do meet, they skate for leisure or to prepare for upcoming competitions

against other high school skating clubs.

“We have our very first competition this Saturday, so we had to register our team through US Figure Skating, to get a membership. Once we got that membership we’re able to compete at pretty much any competition,” Lily said.

To advertise their club they made an Instagram account, @uhigh_figure_skating, where they post information on the training they do each meeting and videos showcas-

“

I went to some camps when I was younger, to improve my skating skills, and I think that’s where I just fell in love with competing and everything skating had to offer.

— Lily Davidson, sophomore ”

ing their skills.

“We thought having an Instagram would be a pretty fun way to promote the club,” Hannah said. “It’s also a really nice way to connect with people and show them what we’re doing and learning.”

Although their content has brought them a bit of popularity, Hannah says that students are still shocked that the club exists, having not heard of it before, due to its recent addition to Lab’s club repertoire or the small member population.

Despite the recent publicity, though, Lily and Hannah say that what they need most for the club to exist — and thrive — is ice.

“When it starts to get warmer outside we’re going to move to McFetridge, an indoor ice rink,” Lily said. “Indoor ice is also better for skating, so it’s kind of a benefit.”

Until the weather becomes too warm to skate outdoors, students can find the club at the Midway ice rink, practicing their skills and enjoying each other’s company.

Midway photo by Delaney Connell FANCY FORM. Ninth grader Tal Neiman skates alongside co-presidents of the U-High figure skating club, sophomores Lily Davidson and Hannah Gao, on the Midway Plaisance ice rink.

ninth grader sophomore junior senior

Jacket: purchased from Uniqlo

Pants: Uniqlo

Jeans: purchased from Gap

Sweater: purchased at a flea market

Shoes: purchased from Adidas

Top: purchased at a thrift store in Edgewater

Jean shorts: purchased at Village Discount Outlet

Leg warmers: belonged to her mother

Coat: belonged to her mother

FELIX CALLEGARI

ZOE COBB

LYDIA GILBERT

MACEO BRISCOE

Pants: purchased from Ed Hardy

Shirt: purchased at a thrift store

Shoes: purchased on Pandabuy

Midway photo by Henry Benton

Midway photo by Alex Diamond

Auto Show immerses, enthralls

by JAYA ALENGHAT Editor-in-Chief

From hybrids to pickups to crossovers to sports cars, a diverse array of vehicles fill the brightly lit floor of the McCormick Place Convention Center. Visitors weave through immersive displays showcasing the latest models, sliding into driver’s seats, chatting with manufacturers and perhaps even eyeing their next purchase. In the background, the sharp screech of tires echoes as cars carrying excited passengers zip around the test tracks.

The center is bustling with energy, excitement and innovation.

Since its debut in 1901, the Chicago Auto Show made its annual return to McCormick Place from Feb. 8-17, featuring over 30 manufacturers, the first appearance of all-electric manufacturer Rivian and two electrical vehicle tracks. With general admission of $17 per adult, the show offered more than just vehicle displays, providing attendees with various interactive experiences, activities and daily events.

On Feb. 7, the night before opening day, the “First Look for Charity” gala fundraiser for nonprofits, took place at the auto show, where Mayor Brandon Johnson made a special appearance. In an interview with the U-High Midway, Mayor Johnson spoke on the significance of the auto show for the city of Chicago.

“It’s an exciting moment, you know, the auto show as an institution in Chicago,” Mayor Johnson said.

He said the auto show not only exhibited industry innovation but also reflected the core values of Chicago.

“As a pro-worker city, as a pro-industry city, the auto show in Chicago really brings together the best parts about who we are: pro-business and pro-worker,” Mayor Johnson said.

Some of Mayor Johnson’s favorite cars at the show were the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco.

Sean Downey, the Ford floor manager, hoped the Ford display area, the largest at the show, exposed attendees to Ford’s extensive lineup.

“I hope that they buy a Ford,” Mr. Downey said, “but also just learn about all the new stuff that Ford is offering, if they haven’t been to a dealership recently or haven’t seen or followed Ford online or anything like that — just learn about the variety and the power of choice that Ford offers throughout our whole entire lineup.”

Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant on the South Side employs more

than 4,000 workers assembling Ford Explorers and other vehicles.

Rivian made its first appearance at the auto show, as the brand is working to similarly market their all-electric vehicles to a broader audience. Scott Ragan, a team member of Rivian’s New Market Launch, believed that the auto show was a great way to increase exposure.

“I think it was a great decision because we wanted to get out into the market and especially show off the R2, which is our vehicle that’s coming in the first half of 2026 — and also just get people behind the wheel,” Mr. Ragan said. “These are ride-alongs as opposed to drives, but just getting people into our R1S and out R1T truck, just so they can experience it.”

The R2 is manufactured in downstate Normal at a factory with significant support from the

State of Illinois.

In addition to the two interactive ride-along EV tracks, Jeep and Ford were the only manufacturers with an interactive display on their floor.

Attendees waited in a long line to go on Jeep’s “Camp Jeep,” an almost roller-coaster-like experience similar to that of Ford’s “Bronco Built Wild” experience.

Sophomore Kai Long attended the auto show on Feb. 9, and in addition to taking photos of the vehicle, his favorite aspects were these interactive elements.

“I thought it was pretty cool to see the cars show off. It was weird seeing them drive up these massive ramps indoors,” Kai said. “The cars driving around super fast in a loop and destroying their tires was also pretty interesting.”

While most people purchase vehicles from dealerships, Mr.

Program redefines food delivery

Coco robots can now deliver food in select locations “ If the service is cheaper than DoorDash and other alternatives, and was a consistent method that proved to be reliable, I would be open to using it.

by KABIR JOSHI

Opinion Editor

Rolling through city sidewalks effortlessly, Coco the pint-sized robot, is revolutionizing food delivery. Powered by rechargeable batteries and guided by a combination of artificial intelligence and human operators, Coco is proving that the future of food delivery is not only fast but also efficient.

Launched in some Chicago neighborhoods in early December, Coco Robotics is making its mark in areas with high car congestion. Currently, it collaborates with popular delivery services such as DoorDash to serve parts of the Near West Side. Coco offers a new alternative to traditional car delivery. The process is simple for users:

— Marko Nagel, South Loop resident ”

order food from restaurants that support Coco such as Veggietopia or Mrs. Quesadilla, and watch in real time as the robot navigates through the streets of Chicago to make the delivery. Once it arrives, users punch in the unique code and retrieve the food from the insulated box.

For many, using Coco is a risk with a reward. Coco offers noncontact food delivery, eliminating the aspect of tampering or heat loss.

On the other hand, Coco has faced outages in the past where the robot’s app was down.

Senior Marko Nagel, who lives in the South Loop, is open to exploring Coco as an option for food delivery. He wants to feel his food is safe and doesn’t have a chance to be hit by a car or get lost on the way to his building.

“If the service is cheaper than DoorDash and other alternatives, and was a consistent method that proved to be reliable, I would be open to using it,” Marko said.

As Coco navigates the streets of Chicago, it represents both the promise and the challenge of autonomous food delivery. While some might hesitate with concerns, opting for human-based delivery services, others see it as a new invention with lots of potential.

Whether Coco is just a passing trend or a solution to problems with human food delivery, only time will tell.

Downey noted that an auto show allows customers to have a less-stressful experience when determining their future car.

“We have a great team of people that we staff throughout the floor that will happily answer questions,” Mr. Downey said, “and you can get in and out of the vehicles without any pressure from a dealership here at the auto show.”

Beyond promoting manufacturers’ latest models, the Chicago Auto Show showed visitors the innovation and diversity of modern and future vehicles.

Like others, Mayor Johnson enjoyed the personalized experience of viewing the types of vehicles he prefers the most.

“I’m more of an off-road kind of person, so big tires, the doors come open, they come off,” Mayor Johnson said. “That’s where you have fun.”

Midway photo by Olin Nafziger

SIMULATED STEERING. An attendee drives a car simulation at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show, on Feb. 8-17. The yearly auto show, which began in 1901, included interactive elements, such as electric test tracks and ride-alongs.

Corvette’s first car with fourwheel drive, the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette was one of Chevrolet’s production vehicles displayed in the 2025 Chicago Auto Show.

2025 Ferrari 296 GTB is a sports car that has been built by Ferrari since 2022. In collaboration with Epic Games, this car was added to the game Fortnite in July 2021.

The 1965 Shelby Cobra was developed by Shelby American. The manufacturer was founded by driver Caroll Shelby, famous for developing competitive racing cars.

This Toyota Camry XSE Next Gen was driven by Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Car Racing in the 2024 NASCAR Cup.

The Toyota GR86 Rally Legacy Concept is a concept car made to resemble a rally car. The car’s paint job is based on the Toyota Gazoo Racing team.

— Compiled by Olin Nafziger

Midway photo by Devyn Moubayed

ROBOTIC RESTAURANT RUNNERS. The Coco Robot Food Delivery app allows users to order robot delivery some restaurants. These robots are available on the Near West Side of Chicago and are also in use in Los Angeles.

deep dive

Dedicated Dancing Duo

Sonali Shaw and Ceci Siegel lead with enthusiasm

by SKYE FREEMAN

Features Editor

At 6 p.m. on a January weekday, it’s dark and cold outside, and most students have gone home, but the lights in the dance studio in Kovler Gymnasium remain lit. The rhythmic sound of stomping feet can be heard echoing from inside as members of U-High’s dance team practice for their upcoming regional competition.

Morale is high as senior Sonali Shaw and junior Cecilia “Ceci” Siegel lead the practice. At the end of the session the team forms a circle. The members put their left hands in the center and shout, “Three, two, one, go team!” before heading out into the night.

As dance team co-captains, Sonali and Ceci guide the group through strenuous practices, performances at U-High basketball games and competitions. Their precise movements and stylish flow, though, is derived from years of dance experience.

Sonali began in ballet at age 5 and has trained in numerous styles, including Bollywood, hip-hop, jazz and a classical Indian dance form Bharatanatyam. Despite growing up with dance, she had to take a break from it during her sophomore year to focus on her studies.

“I missed dance. Joining the dance team was a really accessible and effective way for me to have dance in my life again,” Sonali said. “I was reminded why I did this for so many years. I actually do really like dancing.”

Similarly, Ceci began dancing at a young age and had been on a break before joining the dance team. She took ballet from age 3 to 12, and tango with her brother until she was 7. When she joined the team in ninth grade after a twoyear break, she found that ballet taught her fundamental skills, but she began jazz and hip-hop classes to improve for competitions.

The dance team is split into a basketball performance team of

a basketball

on Feb. 7,

around 25 students who dance and cheer during varsity boys and girls basketball games, and the competition team of around 10 students who compete in regional tournaments in hip-hop and pom, a dance style that incorporates elements from jazz and hip-hop.

Sonali and Ceci lead both teams’ practices under the supervision of coach Nichole Magliocco.

In January, the competition team meets Monday through Friday for two to three hours after school to prepare for competitions, using choreography they purchased from the Universal Dance Association, which they are able to alter.

“Ceci and I will be expected to really know the dance, so that if anyone has any questions or needs

a well-executed

help they can come to either of us,” Sonali said, adding that the two sometimes customize the choreography based on team ability and competition feedback.

Ms. Magliocco has coached the basketball performance team for 10 seasons and launched the competition dance team in 2021. She supervises every practice, helps with training and chooses the co-captains.

“Sonali has shown a lot of growth. Last year, especially as a junior, I saw her working really hard to not only catch on to routines and perfect them herself, but she also worked with others to help them,” Ms. Magliocco said.

“Ceci has a really great dynamic with the team. She can be silly, but

she can also be like, ‘OK, we need to get this done.’”

According to Ms. Magliocco, Sonali and Ceci are especially good at communicating with each other. The two met on the dance team last year and have grown close ever since.

“I think we have a really good relationship as captains because we’re friends and also because we just agree on a lot of things,” Sonali said. “We have similar ideas for choreography, like how things should look or what we should change or how we should structure a practice, so that’s made things really easy.”

The competition team placed first in both pom and hip-hop at the season’s first regional meet.

The team is now preparing for future competitions, in hopes of making it to state.

Although their practice sessions may be long and tiring, being together as a team and dancing to energizing music keeps their spirits high.

According to Ceci, dance is so much more than their performances during halftime shows and competitions.

“If somebody puts on music, there’s always gonna be somebody in the room that’s dancing, and that’s what makes dance so special to me,” Ceci said. “It’s not just my winter sport. It’s every single day for me. I absolutely love dance, and I’ve never done something that brings me more joy.”

Ella Nguyen finds fencing success through determination, skill

by EDWARD PARK Health & Wellness Editor

Ninth grader Ella Nguyen remembers the days she wanted to quit fencing. Exhausted and overwhelmed, she sat in her fencing club as she watched her teammates practice. Years of rigorous training and high expectations from her parents started to make her doubt her passions for the sport.

As she looked up at the faces of her closest friends who she grew up with, Ella stood back up and picked up her épée. She wasn’t ready to give up.

Winning a gold medal for U-High at her recent fencing tournament is just one of many achievements in her brightly waiting career. By successfully balancing academics and fencing, Ella stands out not only for her skill but for her persistence and openness to advice from her coach, peers and even her brother.

Ella began fencing when she was 6, inspired by her older brother, Tate Nguyen, a senior.

“I started fencing because my brother did it one summer,” Ella said. “I’d be left at practices with him, so when I got old enough, I joined, too.”

FOCUSED FENCING. By successfully balancing academics and fencing, ninth grader Ella Nguyen stands out not only for her skill but for her persistence and openness to advice from her coach, peers and even her brother.

Soon, fencing evolved into a deeper passion. She created lasting friendships with teammates she calls her “second family” through many practices, camps and tournaments.

Coach Serguy Kravenchenko at Windy City Fencing, who Ella calls “father like,” has coached Ella since she was 8. He has played an important role in her fencing career.

“Ella respects her opponents, her coaches, and her teammates,”

Mr. Kravenchenko said. “She has grown from a little cute cat into a

cute tiger. She is completely different.”

Her coach’s philosophy affected Ella.

“I try to make my students not just good fencers, but good people,” Mr. Kravenchenko said.

Tate has also been an important part of his sister’s fencing career.

A skilled fencer himself, Tate often supports Ella during tournaments

with technical feedback and emotional support.

“I make sure to be there while she’s fencing because I know her style,” he said. “Psychology is such a big part of the sport, so I help her stay calm and focused.”

Ella admits that fencing was not an easy journey.

“I really disliked the sport for a while,” she said, “but I realized

how far I’d come and started focusing on myself rather than comparing myself to others.”

This shift in mindset along with the encouragement of her coach and teammates has helped her regain a motivation for the sport.

Ella’s adoption of a French grip — a style less common in épée — has helped refine her technique, particularly against taller opponents, being able to overcome her limits coming from her comparably shorter height.

Mr. Kravchenko believes this technical change was important but also thinks Ella’s true strength lies in her resilience.

“The grip might change her technique, but her strong heart stays the same,” he said. “If she wants something, she will get it 100%.”

Tate agreed with his coach, further emphasizing Ella’s strong mentality and willingness to improve.

“When she has her mind set to something, she doesn’t give up,” he said.

Looking ahead, Ella aspires to compete on the international stage, following her brother’s footsteps.

“My short-term goal is to stay consistent in practice and improve my strategy,” she said. “Long-term, I want to earn a national medal and fence internationally someday.”

She’s still not ready to give up.

Midway photo by Aubrey Felsen

PERFECT POSE. Senior Sonali Shaw and junior Ceci Siegel pose in the front row at the end of the team’s energetic dance performance during halftime of

game

celebrating

routine in front of the crowd in Upper Kovler.

Midway photo by Peyton Palmer

Coaching with care

Throughout the year, U-High coaches have demonstrated dedication and care. Here are some moments where coaches have showcased continued support for their teams.

DEMONSTRATING DANCE. Dance team coach Nicole Magliocco gives dance team members adjustments to their hip-hop dance in their final moments before a competition on Jan. 19 at Phoenix Military Academy.

SHAPING SUCCESS. Head volleyball coach Lisa Kirchhoff encourages the varsity players during a break in their game against the British International School of Chicago in Upper Kovler Gymnasium on Oct. 10. “She’s such a nice presence to have, especially in a sport that’s so stressful,” varsity player Zora Peek-Taylor said.

GUIDING WITH GRIT. Girls swimming and diving coaches Jonathan Hutton and Mirko Mirkov cheer on swimmers at the IHSA sectional championship at University of Illinois at Chicago on Nov. 9, 2024. The team scored 200 points and placed fourth of out 13 competing schools.

TRIUMPHANT TACTICS. Surrounded by players, varsity boys basketball coach Andre Battle discusses mid-game adjustments during a game against the Latin School of Chicago in Upper Kovler Gymnasium on Jan. 17. The game ended in a decisive 58-44 victory.

Midway photo by Bryce Kenny

MEANINGFUL MENTOR. Girls

basketball head coach Alexis

kins watches assistant coach Ahmed Starks instruct the varsity team on their plans for a play in the final seconds of a game against North Shore Country Day in Upper Kovler Gymnasium on Jan. 21.

LEADING WITH LOVE. Boys soccer coach David Vadeboncoeur speaks to the team before their game against Northridge Preparatory School on Sept. 27, 2024, at Jackman Field. The game ended in a 1-2 loss. After serving as an assistant coach under former coach Josh Potter, Mr. Vadeboncoeur was named head coach for Fall 2024.

DETERMINED TO DELIVER. At the Sept. 25, 2024, Lincoln Park Latin Prep Invitational, cross country assistant coach Alexys Napper checks her watch while accompanying the resting runners. The team secured two firstplace finishes during the meet: Simon Lane in varsity boys three-mile and Morgan Purcell in the JV girls two-mile.

Midway photo by N.C. Gunning

Midway photo by Devyn Moubayed

Midway photo by Clara Butcher

Jen-

Midway photo by N.C. Gunning

Midway photo by Suleiman Sufi

Midway photo by Bryce Kenny

SLICE

of the

Chicago boasts a wide variety of pizza styles at restaurants across the city. From our classic deep dish at Giordano’s to our lesser-known pies like tavern-style at Vito and Nick’s, we’ve got it all.

Zaza’s: New York

Order: Vodka Pie

Price: $29

Rating: 5/5

The New York-style vodka pie was an herby and deliciously flavorful and cheesy pizza. New York-style pizza grew out of the Neapolitan-style pizza brought from Italian immigrants in the 1900s. America’s first pizzeria, Lombardi’s, opened in Little Italy, Manhattan, in 1905 and sold what became New York-style pizza. A New York-style pizza typically is a wide and thin slice that has a crispy bottom and crust.

Paulie Gee’s: Detroit

Order: Cheesavore: Easy Cheesy

Price: $19

Rating: 4.5/5

Detroit-style pizza was created in 1946 by Gus Guerra, the owner of a popular bar on the eastside of Detroit. Since then it has been adapted by restaurants around the country, including Paulie Gee’s, a small pizza chain with four locations, including one in Logan Square. The main feature that characterizes a Detroit-style pizza is its square-shaped crust (nicknamed ‘Logan Squares’ at Paulie Gee’s) and its base made of focaccia instead of traditional pizza dough.

I had never tried Detroit-style before, and it exceeded my expectations. The focaccia wasn’t overly oily. Its soft, pillowy inside with subtle notes of rosemary balanced the crunchy outer crust. The edges had charred pieces that added a smoky flavor, which, when combined with the velvety, caramelized cheese was surprisingly tasty. While the cheese and crust felt proportional, the tomato sauce did seem something of an af-

Vito and Nick’s: Tavern

Order: Pepperoni and Basil

Price: $27.25

Rating: 5/5

When people think of Chicago-style Pizza, they think of deep-dish pizza. However, tavern style is the city’s true treasure. Tavern style, with a cracker-thin crust cut into small squares, dates back to 1923 when Vito Barraco opened his first tavern in Chicago. A few years later, his son Nick joined him, and they named their restaurant Vito and Nick’s. With over 100 years of business, Vito and Nick’s has perfected their pizza.

terthought; customers may be surprised that it is simply dolloped on top, leaving only cheese and bread after just a few bites.

Individual slices aren’t sold, but at $19 for a six-piece pizza, it’s quite reasonable. The pizzas are served in a medium-sized pan, perfect to share with friends and family.

kee Ave.

Gee’s is located at 2451

— Orlie Weitzman

It is a very small restaurant with about only eight tables, but has a lively atmosphere.

Zazas Pizzeria is located at 3037 N. Clark St.

— Caroline Skelly

The crust of the vodka pie at Zazas Pizzeria in Lakeview is perfectly crispy and has a nice chewy and airy texture. The garlic rosemary olive oil and flaky salt drizzled onto the outer crust is the perfect complement to the other flavors of the pizza. The herbs create a tanginess in the sauce, and the fennel sausage adds a slightly spicy bite. The combination of the mozzarella and the Parmesan elevate the flavors and pair perfectly with the sauce. Despite being a bit pricey, the 16-inch vodka pie from Zazas is a flavorful and delicious pizza that is perfect for sharing.

Giordano’s: Deep Dish

Order: Cheese

Price: $20.75

Rating: 4.5/5

If you’re in Chicago and craving a true deep dish experience, Giordano’s is a must visit. With more than 40 Chicagoland locations, the iconic chain has been serving its famous deep dish pizza for 50 years.

The regular deep dish pizza with extra sauce was everything a good Chicago-style pizza should be. With a flaky crust and thick, gooey layer of mozzarella paired with a tangy-and-sweet tomato sauce, it was a delight to eat.

Deep dish pizza originated from Pizzeria Uno in the 1940s. The recipe differed as the pizzeria used cast iron pans compared to normal baking sheets. It gave more space for cheese and sauce to be added, making it a go-to pizza for many. Giordano’s has expanded on this process, perfecting its crust recipe, and even making special variations such as the stuffed crust.

Spacca Napoli: Neapolitan

Order: Margherita

Price: $19

Rating: 5/5

The Margherita pizza at Spacca Napoli is almost flawless. For over 20 years Spacca Napoli has been dedicated to making pizza in the authentic Neapolitan style.

Neapolitan pizza originated in Naples, Italy. It was brought to the United States by Italian immigrants in the early 1900s. Neapolitan Pizza is characterized by a thin, chewy dough, and a generous amount of tomato sauce. Traditionally, fewer toppings are used on Neapolitan pizza because of its weak crust.

At Spacca Napoli, the star of their classic Margherita is the bright, tangy tomato sauce. It cuts through rich mozzarella to provide a sharp contrast and a lovely opposition of flavors. The crust on the edges is thick, toothy and surprisingly flavorful. The outer edge is enjoyable even on its own.

Of course, the pizza is not terribly sturdy. The bottom layer of crust was inconvenient-

Complemented by its brick walls and checkered table clothes, Giordano’s is a perfect place for a night out with the family or a sports game with friends. It offers everything from the world famous deep dish pizza to thin crust.

Giordanos is located in Hyde Park, South Loop and throughout the city.

— Kabir

Joshi

ly weak, a hazard of the Neapolitan style. However, Spacca Napoli’s pizza resists common pitfalls, neither soggy nor soupy toward the middle but consistently delicious throughout.

Pro tip: make sure to order the tiramisu for dessert.

Spacca Napoli is located at 1769 W. Sunnyside Ave. — Lila Coyne

The restaurant captures an old-timey feel with booths, a jukebox, black-and-white photos and multi-colored lights. The staff are friendly and personable, and it is easy to tell that they care about the restaurant.

The pizza is so thin and tasty that it was addictive. Depending on how hungry you are, you can have one small square or 10. The tomato sauce, basil and cheese are all so fresh, but the real star of the pizza is the crust: crunchy and crispy but not too hard. The pizza is not too oily or salty, making it light and even refreshing. Now a fan of tavern-style pizza, I am looking forward to celebrating Vito and Nick’s 105th anniversary on June 25. Vito and Nick’s is located at 8433 S. Pulaski Rd. — Sohana Schneider

Roots: Quad Cities

Order: Margherita

Price: $22

Rating: 5/5

Walking into Roots, I was taken aback by the colorful atmosphere as flashing string lights danced from the ceiling onto the tables below, and warm glowing lights lit each table. As the Feb. 2 Grammys played on numerous televisions hanging across the room, the family-friendly vibe felt welcoming. Roots has two locations — the South Loop and West Town — and is well known for how it commemorates the Quad Cities-style pizza.

This style of pizza is characterized by a hand-tossed malt dough, pieces cut into strips and rich tomato sauce. It was named after the Quad Cities region about 140 miles west of Chicago on the Iowa border, when a man named Tony Maniscalco Sr. and his family introduced the variation inspired by Italian family recipes. What I tasted matched this description

Bob’s: Pilsen

Order: Cheese

Price: $24

Rating: 4.5/5

Bob’s Pizza, owned by chef Matt Wilde, is renowned for its “Pilsen-style” pizzas: triangularly sliced thin pizzas with a fluffy crust.

The Pilsen-style originates from this business, when Bob’s Pizza first opened in March 2019 in Chicago’s Lower West Side neighborhood of Pilsen. Since then, the business has opened locations in the Hyde Park and Old Town neighborhoods and in Evanston.

The pizza is addicting, with rich tomato sauce and a thin layer of a three-cheese blend. The dough is made with Old Style Beer instead of water, giving each bite a perfect balance of chewy and crunchy. The pizza fulfills a golden ratio of cheese, sauce and bread, a hard feat for some other pizza restaurants.

close to perfectly. The roasted tomato sauce drowned the patches of fresh mozzarella on top, and the cherry tomatoes created an explosion of flavor with every bite. The crunch of the crust served as a contrast to the toppings.

Roots South Loop is located at 744 S. Dearborn St.

Bob’s offers all the traditional pizza toppings, a range of meats and vegetables, but also sells more standout options, such as their pickles pizza, and their spinach pesto and stracciatella pizza. While it is easy to get the

delivered straight to your house, the

is also exceptional, with a dark atmosphere brightened by stark accents of red. If you are craving pizza, a Pilsen-style pizza from

your

Paulie

N. Milwau-

— Taariq Ahmed

pizza

restaurant

Bob’s is sure to satisfy

tastebuds.

The Bob’s Pizza in Hyde Park is located at 1518 E. Harper Ct.

— Naomi Benton

Midway illustrations by Ilana Umanskiy