With no school on Friday, it's a good opportunity to take advantage of the highlight of this week's entertainment offerings: the 2008 Latin American Film Festival at Boardman's Art Theatre. Kumars Salehi has the details inside. Plus Laura has the latest on CDs, Gordon checks out the new video games, Sindha has the lowdown on local concerts, and Kumars fills us in on other movie openings and DVD releases.

Throughout this week the Gargoyle will present a series of diary entries by five members of this year's spring play, Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing." The opening performance will be 7 p.m. Thursday at the North Attic Playhouse, followed by 7:30 p.m. shows Friday and Saturday. Senior Michelle Gao kicks off our series with reflections on the start of tech week.

Any high school student will tell you that reading a Shakespeare play can be difficult. But what about performing one? Almost 40 Uni students have spent the last two months finding out firsthand what that's like. They will perform one of Shakespeare’s great comedies, “Much Ado About Nothing,” as this year’s spring play. Check inside for more about the 2008 production.

Many people would agree that sleep is a crucial part of student achievement. Why, then, do students at Uni seem to make it a low priority? Students, parents, teachers, and experts agree that poor sleeping habits affect students' lives in many ways. Maritza Mestre crunches the numbers and examines why students at Uni never seem to get enough sleep, what the cost is, and how student sleeping habits can be improved.

For the 40 or so students involved in Uni High's spring play, Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," next week promises to be — in the words of Lauren Piester — "some of the most strenuous, exhausting, miserable, emotional, and just downright awesome seven days of the school year: tech week for the spring play." Should members of the cast be excused from PE because of the five-hour rehearsals they will be putting in each day? Lauren thinks so, and she makes her case inside.

[UPDATED with audio] After spotting St. Thomas More a two-goal lead, the Uni girls varsity soccer team came back to defeat the visiting Sabers 3-2 Thursday at the DCR Soccer Complex. All of Uni's scoring came in the second half. Senior forward Aran Yoo scored the Illineks' first two goals, with an assist on each by her twin sister, Suran. Michelle Wong scored the winning goal, with an assist by fellow sophomore Elizabeth Russell. Uni's next game will be Tuesday at Class AA Urbana. The Illineks are 2-0.

From Tuesday through Friday next week, Uni senior Michelle Mehnert and sophomore Lisa Boyce will compete in the prestigious YMCA National Short Course Swimming and Diving Championships in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Both Mehnert and Boyce are looking forward to swimming fast and having fun in the sun. Read on to find out about their goals and hopes for this important swim meet.

Photographer Jason He was on hand Thursday afternoon in the rain and mud of DCR Soccer Complex to document Uni's 3-2 comeback victory over St. Thomas More. Check out some of the action as the Illineks improved their record to 2-0.

If some Uni students seem to be riding an emotional rollercoaster these days, there's a simple explanation: College admissions decisions have begun arriving in the mail. Senior Anna Cangellaris talks about dealing with the highs and lows of acceptance and rejection.

Headlights, a C-U band with an ardent local following, recently released their third album, and Erin Hayes gave it a close listen. "While it's true that the record is consistent, cohesive, and relatively simple," she writes, "the idea that this should satisfy Headlights and their listeners (who are already hailing 'Some Racing' as a potential breakout for the group) is of concern to me. Yes, the album is pleasant, tender, and well-arranged … but is that enough?"

[AUDIO included] Led by the scoring of sophomore Erika Belmont and senior Aran Yoo, the Illineks made their 2008 debut Tuesday with a stunning 2-1 defeat of the Class AA Centennial varsity. Senior Sarah Pfander was outstanding in her first game as varsity goalkeeper, making 13 saves. Next up: The Illineks will play another Champaign rival, St. Thomas More, on Thursday.

No, this isn't another article about the approach of summer freedom. Junior Lizzy Warner is looking forward to that, of course, but even more she's looking forward to finally attaining the most privileged position of all among Uni students: being a senior.

Frank Lucas is a man doing everything he can to get by in a competitive world — which just happens to be the world of heroin dealing. Richie Roberts wants to bring him down. "American Gangster," now available on DVD, is the story of this conflict between two men determined to get what they want. Jack Snyder thinks the crime epic is a classic for years to come, worthy of a watch by anyone.

After a week off due to spring break, the Gargoyle entertainment guide is back. Topping the list of new movies in C-U is "The Band's Visit," the story of Egyptian musicians stranded in a remote Israeli town. The film opens Friday at Boardman's Art Theatre. Check inside for more from Kumars Salehi on film and DVD releases, while Laura Dripps has the latest on CD releases, Gordon Ruan on video games, and Sindha Agha on local music.

Chess is a game full of unexpected surprises that can be both rewarding and disappointing. In chess, being perfect and winning all the time is impossible. Gordon Ruan was reminded of those truths yet again at this year's IHSA state chess tournament, as he relates in this first-person feature.