Election Class Gives Students Wider Insights
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U-HIGH IDWAY~ Volume 83, Number 2 University High School . 1362 East 59th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637 Election class gives students wider insights By Denise Akuamoah Associate editor With the Presidential election just a week away, students in History Teacher Cindy Jurisson's Fall Presidential election elective feel they have gained rare insight on important political issues. Accessing political experts through connections with U-High parents, and both U-High and University of Chicago faculty, Ms. Jurisson has provided her students with a broad range of perspectives. "WE'VE BEEN given access to a wide variety of experts on such diverse subjects as the economy, journalism, politics and political science. The readings in the course are drawn from classic political science studies, the popular press, and the writings of several journalists and media consultants. "We were lucky to have renowned economists Steve Kaplan and John Cochrane make a case for Republican and Libertarian political options, as well as speak with us about the current economic crisis and the bailout. "We also visited the Chicago Tribune and observed the Editorial Board in deliberations on the morning after the second debate. Last Sunday, for the first time in over 140 years, they endorsed a Democrat for president. •• We'ue been It was fascinating for us to have heard their giuenaccess to earlier deliberations and read on Sunday what a wideuariety they finally decided to do." ofexperts. '' MEETINGwiththeTrib Editorial Board, October -Ms. Cindy Jurisson, 7, raised awareness of History teacher how newspapers choose to endorse a Presidential candidate, Senior Mike Zook said. "At the Tribune, we were able to see first hand how an editorial board was run," Mike explained. "It allowed us to understand its perspective and how and why the Tribune reports the way it does. We talked to Editorial Page Editor Bruce Dold and Deputy Page Editor John McCormick who explained to us why newspapers, like the Tribune, endorse certain candidates. (continues on page 11) Photo by Emily Chiu FRESHMEN JAKE Newell and Victoria BIiis are part of the ensemble cast for "An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe." l.00 m1 U-HDGHEDtS Photo by Jeremy Handrup H~if"UPAOOLD AMONG GUEST speakers appearing in front of His NBGITT tory Teacher Cindy Jurrison's Fall election elective 3 AINID 13 class, Steve Kaplan, Neubauer Family professor of entrepreneurship and finance at the University of Chi ~'WN ~All.ff Art by Eric Cochrane WINNING SECTIONALS for the cago Graduate School of Business, discussed how ESCAPING A cold and windy October second straight year, five U Art by Eric both Presidential candidates' policies will effect the night, U-Highers heated up the I-House High girls qualified for State. Cochrane troubled economy. Mr. Kaplan spoke to the class dur with fast music and stylish clothes. ing 9th period, September 25, in U-High 103. "On Day of the Dead we are going to be selling food and hopefully have some decorations to celebrate." 2 News -Anina Wanzung, senior U-HIGH MIDWAYII TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2008 Union weighs options for bargaining moves By Tom Stanley-Becker time in our country's Editor-in-Chief economy." ossible job actions including In an October 14 letter to not participating in the school's all teachers, the Faculty PRecruitment Open House and Association's negotiating ISACS Evaluation Committee last team and Executive Sunday; not performing noncurricular Board unanimously duties; and limiting particiption in recommended rejecting the ISACS Evaluation this week were the contract proposal, discussed by members of the Faculty stating that the salary Association, the teachers' union, offer "doesn't reflect the at a nearly two-hour meeting last value of our work to the Wednesday. students, their families, Options for speeding up negotiations the Laboratory Schools, with the University or engaging a and the University." federal media tor who would try to Teachers began to make bring the two sides together, but their dissatisfaction whose recommendations would not be public at the September binding, also were discussed. 27 kickoff in Upper Kovler Photo by Emily Chiu No decision was made but union Gym of the Lab Schools fundraising ABOUT HALF THE FACULTY convened on the steps of the High School to show members were told to expect a campaign for renovations and additions the school must not forget about their financial needs while launching its building statement on planned actions by the of buildings . campaign September 27. end of last week. The University pledged $40 billion ASSOCIATION MEMBERS had to support new building construction. administrators declined to comment to been settled," French Teacher Steven rejected a final contract proposal on Wearing white shirts and union the Midway on negotiations because of Farver said. October 20-21 by a secret ballot vote of buttons, holding signs and a large a confidentiality agreement. "Some students spoke to me and said, 128 to 16, with one blank ballot. maroon banner reading, "Investing in Foreseeing deepening division, Physics 'My parents support this.' Mr. Magill The vote came after meetings between the Power of Teachers," about half the Teacher David Derbes, a past president said that we should not embarrass the Association's negotiating team and faculty staged a silent outdoor protest of the Faculty Association, said that ourselves. We were not going to break the University, centering on salary, at the High School entrance as the teachers are concerned about the value all the balloons or eat all the hors with the University offering a 3.3 event began. of both their retirement accounts and d'oeuvres." salaries, with the national economic percent annual raise over the next ENTERING THE GYM together, Several teachers were especially three years and teachers asking for they stood quietly off to the side, crisis complicating the negotiations. disturbed by a September 26 letter 3.85 percent. answering questions and refusing hors "The vote reflects widespread addressed to the faculty from Mr. In an October 10 letter to teachers, d'oeuvres. dissatisfaction with the university's Magill that urged teachers not to Lab Schools Director David Magill Association President Spike Wilson, salary proposal," Mr. Derbes said. protest at the campaign event. urged them to accept the "generous Lower School teacher, and Middle School "I honestly do not recall the union "I respect - more than that, I cherish off er, particularly in this very uncertain Teacher Bob Kass, head negotiator, and executives coming back with a - the right of Lab teachers to express unanimous recommendation that we their views," Mr. Magill stated in his vote the contract down, as happened letter. this time. "But Saturday's event is simply not ''What makes this not a good situation in the best interest of the teachers or So Good, for the administration is that the the students and, in my opinion, serves (_ ISACS evaluation is next week. It is only to embarrass those who engage in very unlikely that this important event such actions." will go smoothly, unless the university THE FACULTY negotiating team, It's Scary offers us a much sweeter proposal. headed by Middle School Teacher "WE HAVEN'T really been here Robert Kass, responded in a letter to before. The issue is not just the dollar all teachers the same day. Boo! amount but what the dollar will mean "We have no intention of detracting Whether it's in a year. The difficulty is that these from the event," stated the teachers' are very strange times." letter. piping-hot pizza or Other teachers expressed their "We simply want to communicate a leafy salad, you'll objections, describing the heightened how uncomfortable it is to be working tension beginning with the without a new contract, and state that find something you demonstration. priority should be given to finding just gotta have "The protest was just done to bring a resolution to the differences that at the Medici. to people's attention that this has not remain." It's scary how Organizations honor holidays our menu can satisfy every taste. with giving, celebration J And be sure to By Ronnie Fox dren for their holiday gifts." check out our Associate editor Celebrating a different holiday, the daily specials. Handing out prizes to the grade do Mexican Day of the Dead, Latinos nating the most items, Black Students' Unidos hopes to incorporate all U You'll find some Association is conducting its annual Highers. surprising gourmet food and clothing drive through Tues Brightly decorated with streamers, day, November 25. Beginning Mon balloons, banners and sugar skulls, Photo by Lucille Benoit Choices Which day, December 1, and ending Friday, hallways and cafeteria will undergo WAITING for her wickedly savory Grilled surely will December 19, BSA will also carry out transformation by Latinos U nidos its annual toy drive. November 1-2 to celebrate losDia de Veggie Chili, Madeline Horn leaves her bewitch your Other clubs are planning holiday Muertos, Day of the Dead, said Vice mark on Medici's graffiti-covered tables. taste buds! events as well, though not all are President Annina Wanzung, senior. ready to announce them. "Day of the Dead is a Mexican heri BSA plans to donate contributions to tage holiday which remembers dead the Midwest Workers Association, a family members," Annina said. volunteer run organization that gives "Since we are a community at U members emergency food, clothing, High, Latinos Unidos wants to include EDICI legal resources, medical, dental and everyone. child care. "The decorating of the U-High hall On 57th "This is a very good cause and the ways and cafeteria is a tradition we prizes are to encourage people to do are hoping to start, which will contrib nate, but should not be the only rea ute to the festive nature of Day of the son that they do," BSA President De Dead.