Faculty Endorse Equal-Length Semester System Dec
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PAGE 5 • FEATURES PAGE 6 • IN-DEPTH PAGE 11 • SPORTS Cake, gluten-free pie, Four out of 10 students At an altitude of 594 feet, and a Norwegian waffle, report they don’t have a Chicago isn’t known for U-High faculty members trusted adult at Lab. For its hills, but if you look put their favorite recipies some, friendships with hard enough, you’ll find to the test in this year’s teachers provide banter, plenty of steep slopes holiday bake-off. Only comfort, and clarity, to and thrilling drops for one treat will triumph. their high school lives. winter sledding fun. University of Chicago Laboratory High School 1362 East 59th Street, Chicago,U-HIGH Illinois 60637 MIDWAY uhighmidway.com • Volume 95, Number 4 DECEMBER 13, 2018 Faculty endorse equal-length semester system Dec. 5. Ms. Weber was present at the “There is already a policy that we terms of equal lengths, almost all Weber decides The faculty had recommended faculty meeting where the vote don’t assign homework over break. faculty members seemed open switching from quarters to semes- took place. During the meeting, I would not be surprised if the pol- to both models, according to Dr. to move forward ters during its Nov. 7 meeting but she conveyed student concerns icy is more actively enforced given Hubin. had postponed a decision about about the semester switch. student concern.” “It was interesting how quick- with semesters the two calendar models. According to science teacher A common argument for the ly we came to a consensus,” Dr. by BERK OTO In a Midway interview, Ms. We- Elizabeth Hubin, the primary con- calendar model was that equal Hubin said. “There were people MIDWAY REPORTER ber said she will be moving for- cern addressed at the meeting was terms would contribute to bet- with strong opinions, but almost By a substantial majority, the ward with a semester system and about the possibility of teachers ter pacing throughout the school everyone said that they are willing high school faculty recommended will use the faculty vote and stu- giving homework over breaks. year for teachers and students. to work with either calendar.” to Principal Stephanie Weber that dent input to decide which semes- “The teachers have discussed The constant breaks in the fall Ms. Weber is also unsure of the school adopt a semester sys- ter calendar model would work the policies that would be enact- make it hard for teachers to find whether or not the calendar tem with terms of equal lengths best. ed in order to ensure that there their stride in the year, Dr. Hubin change will take place next year. beginning in the 2019-20 school The alternative calendar model, would be no work over breaks. said. She expected that some of “The priority is making a well in- year. The endorsement vote took which the faculty did not endorse, That includes truly having a con- the pacing issues would be reme- formed decision rather than rush- place after a presentation about would have semesters of different clusion for assignments, and not died by switching the calendar. ing the decision or forcing the de- the pros and cons of two semes- lengths with the first term ending even presenting or hinting at Despite some members of facul- cision to be next year,” Ms. Weber ter options at a faculty meeting before winter break in December. what’s to come,” Dr. Hubin said. ty being against the calendar with said. LGBT students weigh differing support needs Principal Spectrum club still serves those search seeking network begins and support by PRIYANKA SHRIJAY by EMMA TRONE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lab has taken the first steps in Results of the health and well- the search for a new high school ness survey confirmed what many principal, aided by a consultants have anecdotally suspected: a lot from a recruitment firm and a Lab of U-High students are not just at- Schools selection committee as tracted to the opposite gender. well as separate student and par- But only a few more than a doz- ent advisory boards. en students, mostly underclass- Representatives from Car- men, gather in C211 every Fri- ney Sandoe & Associates were day lunch for Spectrum, U-High’s on campus meeting with faculty, LGBTQ+ alliance. staff and students on Dec. 10 to Despite the club’s relatively low help learn about attendance, Spectrum President Lab and the po- Bassem Noghnogh said Spectrum sition. Principal fills a valuable role. From his four Stephanie We- years of observation as a member, ber announced Bassem said students who join of- on Nov. 27 ten are younger and looking for af- that she will firmation in their identity. be leaving the “They’re at a formative place in Lab Schools in their lives, and it’s important to June 2019 after help them,” he said. “It’s import- spending three Stephanie ant to help a lot of these younger years at U-High. Weber kids through these formative ex- Lab Schools periences. We owe them, because MIDWAY PHOTO BY LILY VAG-URMINSKI Director Charlie Abelmann said we were given that, or we weren’t SOCIAL SUPPORT. Junior Destiny Strange holds hands with senior Ryan Lee, supporting him at a the position will be advertised given that when we wish we had.” Spectrum meeting after a stressful day. At the meeting, students discussed the role of an ally. through the University of Chicago Senior Ryan Lee joined Spectrum as well as Carney Sandoe. Working last year and said he was drawn to ley said. “Like, if four of my five For Ryan, Spectrum served that with Carney Sandoe, the school having conversations with people “ Being bisexual ... defines closest friends are LGBT, why exact purpose. will narrow the applicant pool, who had similar struggles with sex- who I’m romantically would I have to go to Spectrum “With help from my friends, I invite candidates to the school, hold an open forum with candi- uality and coming out. interested in, but other to have those meaningful discus- came out to both of my sisters, “I really needed Spectrum for sions, when I could have them and very recently, I came out to my dates, and receive input from par- my own self-confidence,” Ryan than that, it doesn’t define with my friends in a more com- mother, with great results,” Ryan ents, faculty, staff, administration said. “Spectrum needs to be there anything about me. I didn’t fortable space?” said. “It stressed me out so much I and students. Some members of for people like me — people who feel the need to join a club Daniel Jones, Spectrum’s faculty actually ended up sobbing into my the Lab community will be given opportunities to interview candi- only just realized that they are about it.” adviser, said that as more U-High mom’s shoulder after she told me LGBT and now don’t know how to students have identified as LGBT, everything was fine and she loved dates. — GRACE WATSON, SENIOR come out to others, how to recon- Spectrum has become a space for me all the same. I spent nearly half That input will lead to a recom- cile their new realizations — be- students who feel marginalized a year terrified that I would never mendation to Dr. Abelmann, who cause it’s a jarring experience, and feel the need to join a club about within the LGBT community. be able to come out, and that, par- will make the decision to hire the when you don’t know who to talk it,” Grace said. “For me, and a lot “For people who don’t feel mar- alyzed with fear, I would just en- new principal. to it can become a painful and the people I’m friends with who ginalized, they feel that they don’t ter a heterosexual relationship and In a Midway interview, Ms. We- stressful environment if not miti- are also in the community, it’s not need the group or the affinity live out my life like that.” ber communicated that she leaves gated with conversations.” a big part of our identities and it’s space. But people who certainly do He said the network he built the high school in a better and Other LGBT students are less in- not something we’re constantly feel marginalized, do still rely on through Spectrum helped. more stable place. terested in a formal support net- talking about. We joke about it, but that social outlet,” Mr. Jones said, “That’s why it’s so important “I am really impressed with how work around sexuality and gender. that’s about it.” adding that Lab still has work to that I had so many people to back hard the curriculum committee Senior Grace Watson said being Haley Wanner, who said she do around education, health and me up in any situation,” he said. has been working and with de- surrounded by a lot of other LGBT identifies as queer, said she has wellness, and mental health. “People to make random gay jokes partments to think about what’s students can make an LGBT iden- other chances to talk about gender Mr. Jones said it’s not common with to lighten the mood. People to next for the high school and to tity less personally important. and sexuality, in informal settings. that people come out as straight. whisper to about crushes and gig- take steps in developing the next “Being bisexual is in no way a “There are clumps of LGBT peo- “For LGBT people, they do have gle about hot guys with.