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Articles by Kaci Sziraki
Getting to Know UGo
Categories: The University’s transportation system has spent decades evolving to meet student needs. Today, a new shuttle ambassador program continues a long history of student involvement in University shuttles. September 20, 2026 O-Week is all about settling in. But the growing itch to escape Hyde Park and explore the city of Chicago means that navigating transportation outside of the neighborhood is just as important as navigating within it.
Office of International Affairs Breaks Down International Student Visa Restrictions
Categories: OIA program administrators explained how new Department of Homeland Security regulations would impact UChicago students during an August 5 webinar. August 7, 2026 The Office of International Affairs (OIA) hosted a webinar on Wednesday explaining how the new visa restrictions issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would impact international students at the University.
Office of International Affairs to Evaluate Impact of Trump Administration Visa Restrictions
Categories: Students holding F and J visas will be limited to a four-year stay in the U.S. and required to reapply for extended stay under the new policy, a change that will affect many UChicago international students. July 22, 2026 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final rule on Friday establishing new restrictions on students and exchange visitors entering the United States on F and J visas.
The Programmer’s Dilemma
Categories: Students and professors reflect on the recurrent use of AI in introductory computer science courses. May 1, 2026 Four months ago, a Reddit user in r/uchicago described how professors delayed releasing fall quarter grades for Computer Science 141 due to “widespread plagiarism” on the final.
Divest UChicago Hosts Fourth “Divestival” Rally Protesting UChicago Fossil Fuel Investments
Divest UChicago, a collaboration between the Phoenix Sustainability Initiative (PSI) and the Environmental Justice Task Force (EJTF), held its fourth annual “Divestival” rally on Friday to protest the University’s investments in fossil fuels and its lack of financial transparency.
Alivisatos to Be Replaced by A.I. Chatbot
Categories: During their quarterly meeting, University trustees voted to further integrate A.I. into University administration by replacing President Paul Alivisatos. April 1, 2026 Everyone is worried about artificial intelligence taking their job. At UChicago, not even the president is safe.
Hutch Opens New Beverages Shop
The Sip Lab, which serves handcrafted beverages and teas, opened on Monday. March 27, 2026 The Sip Lab, a new shop serving handcrafted beverages and teas, opened in Hutchinson Commons on Monday. The Sip Lab is a partnership between UChicago Dining and Sip Studio, a handcrafted beverages brand. At UChicago, it is operated by Chartwells Higher Education, the University’s dining vendor, which also operates other stations in Hutchinson Commons.
Max Palevsky East Reaches Third Week With No Water Fountain
Caution tape covers the area where the water fountain was before removal. (Kaci Sziraki) The only water fountain in Max Palevsky East, a building in Max Palevsky Residential Commons, was damaged and removed earlier this month, leaving residents without in-building access to drinking water for more than three weeks. The fountain was removed on February 5 for safety reasons. The cause of the damage is still unknown.
“A Step Backwards”: Students and Faculty on the Arts & Humanities Restructuring
Sophia Rodriguez-Bell (A.B. ’24) had not planned to major in Slavic and Russian studies. But after taking her first Slavic studies class—drawn in by the professor’s evident passion and its small class size—she was sold. The Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, housed in the Division of the Arts & Humanities, is one of several small, highly specialized departments that distinguish the University even among its elite peers.
Explain it in 5 Archives
Who is Gavin Newsom? Born October 10, 1967, as Gavin Christopher Newsom. Newsom currently serves as the 40th Governor of California and has recently...
'Sydney Sweeney has Great Jeans,' An American Eagle Ad Turned Eugenics Controversy
American Eagle Outfitters has come under fire for a recent promotional video starring actress Sydney Sweeney. The advertisement features a play on words that promotes Sweeney’s “great jeans,” which critics have deemed a promotion of eugenics. On July 23, actress Sydney Sweeney, known for her roles in Euphoria and The White Lotus, posted videos of herself featuring in an American Eagle advertisement.
Paige Bueckers Suggests Relationship with Azzi Fudd. It’s What the Internet Suspected All Along.
After years of fan speculation, professional basketball player Paige Bueckers seemingly confirms a relationship with longtime teammate Azzi Fudd. In an interview at a WNBA All-Star event, Bueckers calls Fudd her ‘girlfriend’.
Paige Bueckers Suggests Relationship with Azzi Fudd. It’s What the Internet Suspected All Along.
After years of fan speculation, professional basketball player Paige Bueckers seemingly confirms a relationship with long time teammate Azzi Fudd. In an interview at a WNBA All-Star event, Bueckers calls Fudd her ‘girlfriend’.
Gen-Z is the Last Generation to see Fireflies… or Are We?
Credit: Shutterstock/MustafaKawa The claim that Gen-Z will be the last generation to see fireflies is trending on TikTok. These bugs do face environmental issues and declining numbers, but fireflies are not disappearing just yet. Fireflies, or lightning bugs, are insects known for their illuminating abdomen. Appearing on every continent except for Antarctica, they light up to communicate and attract mates.
The AI Epidemic
As someone who avoids using AI, it’s becoming harder and harder to go a day without encountering it. If I search something up, Google returns an AI overview before showing website links. When I updated my iPhone to iOS 18, it automatically prompted me to create AI emojis with new Apple Intelligence. Even in conversations with peers, I hear about a new ChatGPT model every week.
Popularity Can’t Buy Ethics, Traveling Influencers are Proof
In recent years, many influencers have threaded travel content into their regular routine. As they seek to commodify their adventures, however, many have disrespected cultural norms, disrupted local communities, and contributed to the growing problem of overtourism. Today, social media overtourism has become a significant issue, affecting popular destinations worldwide. In December 2017, YouTuber Logan Paul uploaded a now-deleted video of what appeared to be a suicide victim in Japan.
Gen-Z is the Last Generation to see Fireflies... or Are We?
The claim that Gen-Z will be the last generation to see fireflies is trending on TikTok. These bugs do face environmental issues and declining numbers, but fireflies are not disappearing just yet. Fireflies, or lightning bugs, are insects known for their illuminating abdomen. Appearing on every continent except for Antarctica, they light up to communicate and attract mates.
Popularity Can’t Buy Ethics, and Traveling Influencers are Proof
In recent years, many influencers have threaded travel content into their regular routine. As they seek to commodify their adventures, however, many have disrespected cultural norms, disrupted local communities, and contributed to the growing problem of overtourism. Today, social media overtourism has become a significant issue, affecting popular destinations worldwide. In December 2017, YouTuber Logan Paul uploaded a now-deleted video of what appeared to be a suicide victim in Japan.
For LGBTQ+ Representation to Matter, Queer Media Censorship Must End.
Around the world, LGBTQ+ characters in movies, shows, and books are routinely censored and removed. This kind of erasure forces queer communities to stay in the dark, fueling prejudice and violence that affects people even beyond the screen. As long as queer media censorship continues to persist, LGBTQ+ communities will stay ostracized and invisible. In November 2024, Netflix released season two of Arcane.
For LGBTQ+ Representation to Matter, Queer Media Censorship Must End.
Around the world, LGBTQ+ characters in movies, shows, and books are routinely censored and removed. This kind of erasure forces queer communities to stay in the dark, fueling prejudice and violence that affects people even beyond the screen. As long as queer media censorship continues to persist, LGBTQ+ communities will stay ostracized and invisible. In November 2024, Netflix released season two of Arcane.
Bait and Hook
Categories: Columnist Kaci Sziraki returns with a new board game—Fishing for Compliments— designed to reel in compliments and social connections. May 6, 2025 I still remember the first time I set foot on this campus as a UChicago student. O-Week was full of smiles and fresh faces; everyone was excited to be part of a new community. As the quarters passed, however, and friend groups solidified, the initial enthusiasm faded alongside the passion to meet new peers.
U.S. Policy Still Reflects Anti-Chinese Sentiment, But What Do The People Think?
Relations between the U.S. and China have a history of conflict. Today, anti-Chinese sentiment is perpetuated by the U.S. through policies such as the rising tariffs against China and the prohibition of government personnel from having sexual relations with Chinese citizens. Public perception of China is also at record lows, but the rise of online culture combined with efforts from social media influencers may have started to shift the narrative.
U.S. Policy Still Reflects Anti-Chinese Sentiment, But What Do The People Think?
Relations between the U.S. and China have a history of conflict. Today, anti-Chinese sentiment is perpetuated by the U.S. through policies such as the rising tariffs against China and the prohibition of government personnel from having sexual relations with Chinese citizens. Public perception of China is also at record lows, but the rise of online culture combined with efforts from social media influencers may have started to shift the narrative.
Politics or Propaganda? The White House Instagram’s Far Right Imagery
The official White House Instagram account has posted many controversial topics related to or endorsed by President Donald Trump. The content presented, such as the promotion of Tesla vehicles, the politicization of plastic vs. paper straws, and the presentation of Trump as a king, all cater to far-right viewership. These posts call into question the potential biases and effects of such polarizing iconography.
Politics or Propaganda? The White House Instagram's Far Right Imagery.
The official White House Instagram account has posted many controversial topics related to or endorsed by President Donald Trump. The content presented, such as the promotion of Tesla vehicles, the politicization of plastic vs. paper straws, and the presentation of Trump as a king, all cater to far-right viewership. These posts call into question the potential biases and effects of such polarizing iconography.
Catan and the Winter Quarter
As midterms creep up and the winter grows colder, it’s easy to hole up indoors and make everything about studying. Just last week, I had confined myself to a small cubicle on the 4th floor of the Reg; all I thought about was my next assignments, my upcoming exams, and the essays I had yet to write. The mounting academic pressure (mixed with the single-digit temperatures) had started to take their toll.
Secret Places, Secret Faces
The first thing we noticed when we crept into the Ryerson basement was the scent of dry concrete and industrial musk. The old metallic scents are fitting for the basement’s low ceiling crisscrossed with pipes, its dusty floors littered with long-forgotten debris, and the hum of machinery ever-present within its aged walls.
Where’s the Smart in RideSmart?
It’s 2 a.m. on a Friday evening, and I stand outside Campus North Residential Commons with two friends. We need to get back to Woodlawn. It’s a 20-minute walk, it’s cold, it’s dark. It’s a trek none of us want to make. As I pull up the RideSmart by Via app, UChicago’s new free rideshare system, I type in our destination and wait for a car, only to see that the closest Via is more than 15 minutes away.
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