The Student News Site of University of Chicago Laboratory High School

U-High Midway
After a busy year, the staff with take a break from publishing over the summer.
Midway will be taking a break during the summer
HATS OFF. After turning his tassel to the right side, Henry Auxenfans throws his mortarboard into the air, surrounded by jubilant classmates. Henry was one of 157 students to receive their diplomas during graduation, which lasted from 2-4 p.m. on June 12.
Class of 2025 recognizes 157 graduates in Rockefeller Chapel
SELFIE FIRST. Seniors Courtney McDonald, Kaavya Peddinti, Marcus Wolfe, Helen Kraemer and Amira Williams take a selfie on the dance floor during prom. Courntey ensured to document the night, so that he could look back on the memories in the future. “Prom was an amazing night for me, and I made sure to capture as many moments as I could with the people I care about the most.”
Gallery: Students Celebrate End of Year
Seniors Simon Lane, Krish Khanna, Paola Almeda and Juliana Walker take a photo with Athletics Director Juliana Zavala. They were the four William "Doc" Monilaw Medalists at the awards assembly on June 4.
Awards assembly honors student excellence, helps conclude school year
Director of Schools Tori Jueds, who has worked for Lab for four years, announced her departure from Lab on July 1. Her departure was announced via email on June 4.
Director of Schools Tori Jueds to leave July 1; search for interim will begin
Four students, including sophomore Suna Choi Hortacsu, junior Cruise Lickerman, junior Kai Gregorski and ninth grader Axel Lintz, won awards at the Midwest Chinese Speech Contest.
4 students win awards at Midwest Chinese Speech Contest
After the senior night soccer game, senior Arhan Ganapathi promposed to fellow senior Isolde Wedemeyer. This year's prom will be held on June 7, at Ovation on 2324 W. Fulton St.
Gatsby-themed prom to be held June 7
During the 2024 Labstock, Josiah Sklarsky, who is now a sophomore, performs before an audience. Labstock this year will take place on June 6.
Signup for Labstock opens; performers to be selected for June 6 celebration
From May 5-9, sophomores Aya El Bissati and Jairy Felix led a children's book drive, which raised over 120 books.
Book drive supports children’s literacy in underserved communities
On April 26 at Illinois State University, the Math Team won a state competition. Additionally, multiple teams and individuals won first place in individual competitions.
Math team wins state contest after scoring mishap
Take me out to the ball game
Take me out to the ball game
The shadows of policy & power
The shadows of policy & power
Driven to serve: Alumni pursue careers in public service
Driven to serve: Alumni pursue careers in public service
Addicted to the Algorithm
Addicted to the Algorithm
10 x 10: Midway 100
10 x 10: Midway 100
New cell phone policy needs revisions
New cell phone policy needs revisions
Sports Editor Caroline Skelly argues that while it is important to prioritize wellbeing, mental health days can cause missed work to pile up, creating more stress.
Mental health days can add stress in unexpected ways
News Editor Declan Smith argues that cursive shouldn't be confined to textbooks, but rather, taught as an artistic skill.
Teach cursive as artistic skill rather than a textbook chore
Audience Engagement Editor Abhay Chandran argues that books should choose a meaningful ending instead of an easy ending.
Write endings that have meaning instead of an easy outcome
The Editorial Board argues that Lab is losing the characteristics and limiting student activities which define student life and make the high school experience fun.
Lab is losing what makes it fun
Sophomore Laurel Farmer fixes her hair in the bathroom mirror. A growing number of students dye their hair to express their identity, present themselves and set themselves apart. 
Through colored hair, students find unique ways to express their identities
CHEMICAL CONCENTRATION. Focusing intently, sophomore Caillum Haffner precisely dribbles droplets of sodium hydroxide into an aspirin-ethanol solution. As Caillum watched, he had to tensely await a color change in the solution. “It was actually really stressful doing the lab,” Caillum said. “It was hard because one drop too much of sodium hydroxide could totally ruin the lab, and I’d have to start over.”
Gallery: Moments of Intensity
Rather than buying new merchandise, U-High students choose vintage college apparel for its authenticity, history and retro style.
Worn-in and well-loved: Students embrace vintage college apparel
La Tiendita is a free store in the Washington Park neighborhood that provides clothes, household items and other goods to its shoppers. It is managed by admissions office associate Arcelia Guerrero.
Charity La Tiendita provides aid, support to those in need
Private Stories are a a feature on Snapchat often used by teenagers to document funny moments in their lives and share updates with friends — all with the ability to control how public or private they want these stories to be.
Students turn to Snapchat private stories for real talk, connection
With a new phone policy coming next year, students and faculty were conflicted about its effectiveness.
Vox pop: What makes Farmers markets worth the effort?
Eden Place Farms was founded as an answer to the longstanding food desert in Fuller Park. Farmers markets like the 61st Street Farmers Market help urban farms maintain constant flows of income.
From farm to market
Say “Ah.” Dr. Kat Asbury prepares to take a cat's temperature at one of the bimonthly pop-up clinics run by Hyde Park Cats. These pop-up clinics are held in the houses of Hyde Park volunteers, and allow for fosterers to bring their fosters in for necessary vaccinations, blood tests and wellness checks without incurring the costs of a regular vet visit. “Not everybody knows what to do when they see an animal in distress, and it’s good to get the word out so people know we’re a good resource,” Fran Spaltro, a frequent volunteer for this organization, said.
Comforting Cats: Nonprofit shelters, rescues local felines
Typing carefully as she works on her homework, ninth grader Maeve Krewatch gazes at her screen while sitting in a booth at Te’amo, a popular bubble tea shop that many U-High students enjoy visiting. Maeve is one of many students who enjoys this bubble tea shop as a fun place to study and hang out. “It’s close by, so it’s easy to hang out with friends there after school,” she said. “Overall the atmosphere is really nice.”
Te’amo offers welcoming space for students
Food al Fresco
Food al Fresco
“Shatter Me” is a young adult dystopian-romance series well-known for its compelling writing style, originally published in 2011 — although new books continue to be written.
‘Shatter me’ offers engaging style but leaves dystopian world underdeveloped
Award-winning musical, "Next to Normal," is an expertly executed exploration of mental health issues, specifically bipolar disorder. The musical is available to stream on PBS until June 30 as part of their "Great Performances" series.
Musical ‘Next to Normal’ effectively explores the realities of mental health
“Drop,” a new movie released on April 11, presents its audience with a frightening new reality of AirDrop technology.
‘Drop’ presents generic characters, introspective themes
Tate McRae’s album “So Close to What” was released on Feb. 21. Along with her electronic club beats, the album showcases her impressive range and lyricism with her songs going from topics of betrayal and heartache to love, showing the full variety of what growing up as a young woman is like.
Using pop beats, Tate McRae shows bittersweet realities of growing up in ‘So Close to What’
2002 musical “Kimberly Akimbo” examines themes of adolescence and mortality through the life of Kimberly Levaco, a teenage girl with a degenerative disease. The musical is coming to Chicago’s CIBC Theater June 10-22.
Death, disease & teens: Award-winning musical ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ tells about living urgently
Lunging for the ball, sophomore Arjun Sawhney rallies during a boys tennis match against Brooks College Prep High School on May 2. Arjun and his doubles partner Krish Khanna got second place at state in doubles
Boys tennis wrap up: team wins state
Junior Ty Quiles competes in the high jump event at the ISL championship at Lake Forest Academy.
Track and field wrap up: both teams win sectionals, individual wins at state
Preparing to release the ball, senior Ben Troutman pitches during the team's senior night game against North Shore Country Day School on May 16.
Baseball wrap up: team loss at postseason tournament
Junior co-captain Devyn Moubayed prepares to shoot the ball during a varsity soccer match against St. Laurence on April 3. The Maroons tied 2-2.
Girls soccer season wrap up: Loss at super-sectional final
Sophomore Rachel Hu plays water polo.
Club sports overcome challenges to find success
Although marketed as healthy, experts claim that Vitamin Water contains just as much sugar as a regular soda and includes unnecessary nutrients. “Teens don't need that, adults don't need that. Plain old filtered water is fine. No one is dying of vitamin malnutrition around here,” Dr. Lisa Oldson said.
Help or Hurt: Vitamin Water boosts sugar intake despite healthy claims
The results of 2024 Wellness Survey show that Lab has an overall wellness score of 87, in comparison to the national average of 85. Scores overall have increased in some areas such as enjoyment, while remaining stagnant or worsening in other areas.
Wellness survey shows progress, overall mixed results
HIDDEN HARM. Food dyes like tartrazine may deplete zinc, potentially affecting brain function. The European Union bans several dyes still allowed in the U.S., including Red 40 and Yellow 5.
Candy-colored concerns
A student selects various vegetables from the salad bar. Recent changes to the salad bar offerings in Cafe Lab have inspired students to consider healthier lunch options.
Audio: Improvements in healthier lunch options encourage mindful eating
FY FUTURE. Nature’s Fynd yogurts and patties are sold at local grocery stores like Whole Foods and Mariano’s. The company’s dairy-free Fy Yogurt recently won the 2025 NEXTY Award for best new dairy alternative.
From Yellowstone to yogurt, company makes new protein
New cell phone policy needs revisions
New cell phone policy needs revisions
Mia Lane paints on a prop for the upcoming theater production, "Urinetown." U-High theater's set crew has make significant advancements in the complexity of their stage design.
Video: With ‘Urinetown,’ set crew takes new leaps in complexity
On a Science Saturday on April 26, Women in Stem co-president Sofia Picciola works with kids on a pepper-and-soap experiment that explains surface tension concepts.
Video: Women in STEM members share passion on Science Saturdays
Varsity soccer co-captain Orly Eggener raises her hands for a high five with her teammates. Sports captainship has allowed multiple students to grow both on and off the field.
Audio: Sports captainship allows student athletes to grow leadership skills
Students have been taking initiative outside of class to improve their foreign language skills through conversation clubs and language learning apps like Duolingo.
Audio: Improving language skills helps students learn, improve academically
SELFIE FIRST. Seniors Courtney McDonald, Kaavya Peddinti, Marcus Wolfe, Helen Kraemer and Amira Williams take a selfie on the dance floor during prom. Courntey ensured to document the night, so that he could look back on the memories in the future. “Prom was an amazing night for me, and I made sure to capture as many moments as I could with the people I care about the most.”
Gallery: Students Celebrate End of Year
CHEMICAL CONCENTRATION. Focusing intently, sophomore Caillum Haffner precisely dribbles droplets of sodium hydroxide into an aspirin-ethanol solution. As Caillum watched, he had to tensely await a color change in the solution. “It was actually really stressful doing the lab,” Caillum said. “It was hard because one drop too much of sodium hydroxide could totally ruin the lab, and I’d have to start over.”
Gallery: Moments of Intensity
Jumping into the air, ninth grader Chris Williams delivers a powerful serve during the boys tennis team’s home game against Fenwick on April 24. As of May 5, the varsity had an undefeated record of 11-0 for the season.
Gallery: Pushing Past the Pain
Surrounded by fellow students, junior Sara Park dances at Spring Fling on April 5 in the Sherry Lansing Theater.
Spring Fling enchants, charms with themed decor
In a March 26 tennis practice, ninth grader Alexander Yamini returns a ball in a serving and returning drill. “Practice helps me to improve my skills on the court,” Alexander said. “Every day that I go to practice I feel that I have added to my tennis skill set. People tend to see the final product or the polished skill, but they don’t always recognize the countless hours of struggling with things that didn’t work out during training.”
Gallery: Practice Makes Perfect
Connections: April 30, 2025
Connections: April 30, 2025
Connections: March 31, 2025
Connections: March 31, 2025
Connections: Feb. 25, 2025
Connections: Feb. 25, 2025
Connections Feb. 18, 2025
Connections Feb. 18, 2025
The Student News Site of University of Chicago Laboratory High School

U-High Midway
The Student News Site of University of Chicago Laboratory High School

U-High Midway
Peter Cox

Peter Cox, City Life Editor

Peter Cox is a senior in Advanced Journalism and is the City Life section editor. He started journalism in the 2020-2021 school year as a sophomore. He is also currently the co-captain of a high school robotics team. He enjoys being on the Midway because of the opportunity to be exposed to the different stories and opinions of the people in the school and city. His favorite story he has written for the paper was a review of First Aid comics.

Awards:

2024 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award: First place, single-subject news or feature package, single-page design (Page 4)

2023 Illinois Journalism Education Association: First place, single-page story package, City Life Page 4, Feb. 23, 2023

All content by Peter Cox
Lives in 300 words: Stories from the Lab community

Lives in 300 words: Stories from the Lab community

Sahana Unni, Chloe Alexander, Mia Lipson, Ainsley Williams, Taariq Ahmed, Peter Cox, Victoria Washington, Ethan Swinger, and Audrey Matei
May 19, 2023
Team Goals: Elsa Nielsen

Team Goals: Elsa Nielsen

Peter Cox, City Life Editor
May 19, 2023
Stereotypes of the South Side

Stereotypes of the South Side

Peter Cox, Krishita Dutta, Erich Raumann, Amy Ren, Ethan Swinger, Téa Tamburo, and Ainsley Williams
May 4, 2023

Cultural offerings overlooked

Peter Cox, City Life Editor
May 4, 2023
Smith Bumpers and other crewmembers practice their rowing.

U-High students find community, commitment through extracurricular rowing

Peter Cox, City Life Editor
April 25, 2023
STRIKING SCULPTURE. On exhibit at the Hyde Park Art Center, "Surviving The Long Wars: Unlikely Entanglements," uses art to dive into the complex experiences of Black and Indigenous veterans in America.

Hyde Park exhibit explores American veteran experience

Peter Cox, City Life Editor
April 3, 2023
The frequent, green-lighted patrol cars found in and around campus are intended to make the community feel safer, but some don't feel that they have the intended effect.

Audio: UChicago security contractors serve as bandage to solution in community

Peter Cox and Audrey Park
March 29, 2023
Black Country, New Road’s second album, “Ants From Up There,” comprises diverse tracks and meaningful lyrics and is consistent with their origin.

‘Ants From Up There’ includes diverse and beautiful tracks, lyrics

Peter Cox, City Life Editor
March 20, 2023
Despite the robotics being a male-dominated field, many girls — like sophmore Ava Kim Cohen— have had a positive experience and found their place in U-High's robotics team.

Robotics club looks to construct higher population of girl participants

Peter Cox, City Life Editor
February 24, 2023
Falling into the manosphere pipeline

Falling into the manosphere pipeline

William Tan, Clare O’Connor, Peter Cox, and Clare McRoberts
February 22, 2023

Gen Z must reconcile internalized bias

Peter Cox, City Life Editor
February 22, 2023
In addition to a call for student submissions, the Ouroboros Review is also running a poetry contest where submissions are due Feb. 28.

Ouroboros Review accepting student submissions for fourth edition

Peter Cox, City Life Editor
February 3, 2023
Students walk on the campus of Kenwood Academy, one of the schools that participated in the Chicago mayoral survey organized by the Scholastic Press Association of Chicago and Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Survey results prompt other schools to highlight mental health, school security issues

Peter Cox, City Life Editor
February 3, 2023
While protein is an essential component of a diet, supplements, such as protein powder, are unnecessary.

Protein powder provides unnecessary diet supplement

Peter Cox, City Life Editor
January 17, 2023
STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART. Ariel Williams laughs as she converses with a customer. Ms. Williams keeps conversation flowing as she prepares drinks and hands out baked goods. Talking to her in the coffee shop has become a highlight of many people’s days.

Made with care: Barista, cashier provides cheer, daily comfort through genuine conversation

Peter Cox, City Life Editor
December 10, 2022
Help Ye get the help he needs

Help Ye get the help he needs

Peter Cox, City Life Editor
November 17, 2022
Members of the U-High Midway and U-Highlights pose for a group photo with a Best of Show second place award at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in St. Louis.

Journalists attends national convention; Midway wins highest accolade

Peter Cox and Taariq Ahmed
November 16, 2022

These national election issues should be critical to students, too

Amy Ren, Zara Siddique, Taariq Ahmed, Victoria Washington, and Peter Cox
October 26, 2022
So much at risk…

So much at risk…

Téa Tamburo, Taariq Ahmed, Mia Lipson, Amy Ren, Zara Siddique, Victoria Washington, and Peter Cox
October 26, 2022
Learn about five frightful fall festivities to do during this Halloween season!

Explore 5 Halloween activities during this year’s spooky season

Peter Cox, City Life Editor
October 25, 2022
Senior Sid Shah advanced to the quarterfinals during this year's state competition.

Boys tennis team places fifth in state championship

Peter Cox, City Life Editor
June 2, 2022
Spanish teacher Angelica Guerrero worked with middle and lower school students during her 20 years at Lab.

Five lower, middle school teachers retire with 122 combined years at Lab

Peter Cox, Amy Ren, and Téa Tamburo
June 2, 2022
While Kendrick's new album is technically and thematically rich, it doesn't go past his previous albums.

Kendrick Lamar introspects in new record

Peter Cox, City Life Editor
May 25, 2022
The First Aid Comics storefront is located at 1617 E. 55th St.

Local comic book store thrives despite pandemic

Peter Cox, City Life Editor
May 18, 2022
The Model United Nations team participated in their first four-day, in-person conference since the start of the pandemic.

Model UN wins distinguished large delegation award

Peter Cox, Assistant Editor
April 12, 2022
Maroon Key Society applications for 2022-23 are due April 15.

Maroon Key Society accepting applications for 2022-23 school year

Peter Cox, Assistant Editor
March 28, 2022
Progress: Jungwoo Park

Progress: Jungwoo Park

Peter Cox, Assistant Editor
March 16, 2022

Metaverse investments lead to big gains, bigger losses

Peter Cox, Assistant Editor
March 9, 2022
Into the metaverse: How it will impact your life

Into the metaverse: How it will impact your life

Berk Oto, Peter Cox, Caroline Hohner, Erich Raumann, and Amon Gray
March 9, 2022
The mascot of the 2022 Winter Olympics is an animated panda named Bing Dwen Dwen. Read about more Winter Olympics facts below.

Tournament trivia: 44 facts about the Winter Olympics

Téa Tamburo and Peter Cox
February 4, 2022
Dancers perform at the 2019 Chinese New Year Celebration.

Chinese New Year celebration returns to Navy Pier after one year break

Peter Cox, Assistant Editor
February 3, 2022
NEW NAME, SAME ROAD. The Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive now bears the name of Chicago’s first non-Indigenous settler. Along with a museum, bridge and statue, the roadway memorializing DuSable represents the growing influence of the African American community in Chicago.

Lake Shore Drive renamed to honor DuSable, Chicago’s first settler

Peter Cox, Assistant Editor
January 20, 2022
"The Magicians" explores themes of inadequacy and depression through classic tropes of fantasy fiction

Novel ‘The Magicians’ successfully explores toxic culture of educational institutions

Peter Cox, Assistant Editor
January 13, 2022
2015: Gordon Parks Arts Hall construction completed.

Alumni of the Laboratory Schools reflect on prominent memories

Peter Cox and William Tan
December 17, 2021
Legacy of Lab: 125 Years

Legacy of Lab: 125 Years

Peter Cox, Amy Ren, Sahana Unni, and William Tan
December 16, 2021
Reporter Peter Cox argues that the insistence on mandating masks obfuscates the importance of aligning cultural norms with what is best for public health.

Social change, not mask mandates, should be the goal

Peter Cox, Reporter
December 15, 2021
From left to right: Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Tortilla Chips, Pumpkin Brioche Twist, Pumpkin Spice Hummus, Non-Dairy Pumpkin Oat Beverage and Pumpkin Bagels. The Midway staff enjoyed the pumpkin bagels, but didn’t think the rest were worth buying.

Pumped up for pumpkin spice

Peter Cox, Audrey Park, Amy Ren, Téa Tamburo, and Sahana Unni
November 10, 2021
Visitors cluster around the center of the plaza to watch the Chicago State University marching band on Oct. 17 during Boxville's final event of the year.

Minority entrepreneurs create innovative Bronzeville marketplace

Peter Cox, Assistant Editor
November 3, 2021
A squirrel enters a science classroom on Sept. 21.

Squirrels found around U-High

Peter Cox, Reporter
September 23, 2021
Alexis Chia presents with Eliza Doss about their May project called "Back to the Future of Fashion." Seniors who participated in May project gave classroom presentations June 1-4.

Seniors present creative, innovative May Projects

Louis Auxenfans, William Tan, Margot Konetzka, Audrey Matei, Audrey Park, Amy Ren, and Peter Cox
June 4, 2021
The Senior Showcase has featured Isabella de la Cerna's "Abstract 1." This piece, along with those made by the other seniors, is featured in the online gallery.

Art show displays work of six seniors online

Peter Cox, Reporter
May 25, 2021
The varsity esports team practices “League of Legends”.

Esports team allows students who play video games to participate in school sports

Peter Cox, Reporter
May 21, 2021
TAKEOUT. A customer exits the Valois storefront on May 19. Many longtime customers of Valois have gotten takeout there during the pandemic. “They actually already had a set-up where before the pandemic you could get take-out,” said Seth Richardson, a customer for 20 years.

Valois, valuable part of Hyde Park history, has struggled in the pandemic

Peter Cox, Reporter
May 19, 2021
Characters Dean Venture and the Monarch stare at one another intently in Season 7, Episode 4 of “The Venture Bros.”

Cartoon Network’s ‘The Venture Bros.’ changed the face of cartoons in the film industry

Peter Cox, Reporter
May 12, 2021
The serious issue of misinformation on social media is only getting worse as time goes on, so action must be taken to stop the continuing spread across every facet of the internet, writes reporter Peter Cox.

Corporations should work to combat the spread of false information on their platforms

Peter Cox, Reporter
April 8, 2021
"This Teenage Life," a podcast that started in 2019, is run by teacher Molly Josephs and a group of teenagers in San Diego.

Intersectional Feminism Club records segment for podcast

Peter Cox, Reporter
April 7, 2021
Before leaving Lab at the end of the school year, Priyanka Rupani will be the commencement speaker for the Class of 2021 graduation due to her involvement in the Lab community.

Priyanka Rupani announced Class of 2021 graduation speaker

Peter Cox, Reporter
March 15, 2021
Students and faculty may submit workshops for Social Justice Week until Feb. 7.

Social Justice Week committee accepts workshops under theme of lifting others

Peter Cox, Reporter
January 27, 2021
The goal of the comments is to provide a snapshot of a student’s progression in their class, Assistant Principal Asra Ahmed said.

Midterm comments to be released Nov. 9

Peter Cox, Reporter
October 30, 2020
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