"How do you identify when you are mixed?" asks Gargoyle reporter Sindha Agha. "This is a problem I have always dealt with. When people first meet me, they normally assume that I'm Caucasian and not mixed — this is because of my pale skin and brown hair." Read on as Sindha wrestles with the question of identity in a society where cultural and ethnic distinctions blur more often than not.

Uni's JV evened its record to 3-3 overall and picked up a conference win for the varsity with a 40-23 victory Tuesday over Buckley Christ Lutheran. The Uni varsity (6-1, 1-0) resumes action on Dec. 27 against Heritage and Georgetown-Ridge Farm as the Illineks play five games in three days as part of the Hayden's Classic.

Playing against competition from some of the biggest and best schools in Illinois, Uni High placed second in the 16-team West Chicago Invitational Chess Tournament on Saturday. Only Niles North, the tourney champion, defeated Uni. The strong performance bodes well for Uni's chances at the IHSA state tournament scheduled for Feb. 8-9 in Peoria.

Eleven Illineks got on the scoreboard Tuesday night as Uni defeated visiting Buckley Christ Lutheran 49-26. The win — Uni's fourth consecutive — raises the team's record to 6-8 overall, 3-1 in the East Central Illinois Conference. The girls won't play another game until Jan. 3, when Decatur Christian will visit Kenney Gym for a varsity-only contest at 5 p.m.