U of I students will be celebrating "Unofficial" St. Patrick's Day on Friday, and Uni students are being urged to stay close to school for their own safety. Elaine Gu appreciates the warning, but she thinks the real danger lies not on foot but behind the wheel.

More than 60 students eagerly made their way up to the North Attic on Wednesday for Uni High's annual Black History Luncheon. Students were treated to a dazzling dance performance by freshman Kahlilah Cooke and inspiring poetry readings by special guests Cynthia Biggers and Aaron Ammons. Check inside for photos and to hear Ammons recite two of his poems.

"Unfortunately, when we think about the impact of war and child soldiers we think about African boys for a variety of reasons, whether it be movies like 'Blood Diamonds' or movies like 'Lord of War,' that’s what we tend to think,” says Jimmie Briggs, author of an acclaimed book on child soldiers. The reality is even more disturbing than that preconception, as Briggs pointed out when he spoke at Uni and the U of I recently.

[UPDATED and audio included] On Monday, history teacher and lounge sponsor Chris Butler made the decision to close the student lounge. On Tuesday, Assistant Principal Sue Kovacs closed down the Counseling Resource Center, better known as the CRC. Although the rooms have since been reopened, what exactly was the problem, and why were typical student hangouts closed? Should we expect even more rooms to be closing?

As one of Uni High's top long-distance runners, junior Elaine Gu knows something about working out. But even she was exposed to something different in Ethan Stone and Jamie Weiser's Yoga & Pilates class. Who knew that paying attention to inhaling and exhaling could be a workout in itself?

[AUDIO included] As anyone who watched the Uni girls varsity team play this season, 6-foot junior Rachel Skoza loves basketball. So when she had the opportunity to play hoops first thing in the morning as part of Agora Days, you know she was there. Follow inside as she recounts some of the highlights of the class — and the bittersweet ending.