25-26 Issue 2

Photo credits and puzzles can be found in the PDF document version on the Archives page!

As You Like It: A Play Review

By Elinor Woodard

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” This saying, familiar to many, was uttered once again this past November in West’s auditorium. Shakespeare’s As You Like It was performed by West students on November 14 and 15, and then again on November 21 and 22. This joyful play brought a lively energy to all who took to West’s auditorium and gave the theater department a strong start to the year.

The story follows a complex series of love triangles, mishaps, and a merry band of people. The play starts with Orlando; a young man who is treated harshly by his elder brother Oliver. In anger, Orlando challenges the court wrestler to a fight. Celia, the daughter of Duke Frederick, and her cousin, Rosalind, go to watch the wrestling match. Upon meeting, Orlando and Rosalind fall in love.

Soon after, Orlando is warned of his brother's plot against him. Orlando seeks refuge in the Forest of Arden. After being banished from the house of Duke Frederick, Rosalind, too, takes to the forest, disguised as a man named Ganymede, accompanied by Celia (who renames herself Aliena) and Touchstone, the court fool.

The forest hosts a band of exiled courtiers and huntsmen, run by the exiled Duke Senior, who is Rosalind's father. They take in Orlando and his servant. Later, upon meeting Ganymede (Rosalind in disguise), Orlando agrees to take lessons to cure his lovesickness for Rosalind from Rosalind herself, although with her disguise, he doesn’t realize it is her.

Elsewhere in the Forest of Arden, the young shepherdess Phoebe has fallen for Ganymede. At the same time, she is pursued by Silvius, a forest dweller who is madly in love with her. The story concludes with Ganymede (the disguised Rosalind) promising to wed Orlando to Rosalind, Celia to Oliver (whom she has fallen in love with), and Audrey to Touchstone. Ganymede also promises to marry Phoebe under the condition that if they don’t get married, Phoebe will marry Silvuis. After Rosalind reveals her true identity, all the couples are happily wedded, and the play ends with a joyous dance.

Stepping into the Aud on November 22th, I had no idea what I was in for. I had already talked with two cast members and a few friends who had seen the play, however, there is something magical about live theater that words cannot replicate.

I was pleasantly surprised at how easy Shakespeare’s complicated plot was to follow. I will admit that before seeing it, I was puzzled by summaries of the plot I had read online. However, the actors displayed the story wonderfully through their actions and tones. When asked how she works to communicate the storyline despite the complicated Shakespearean language, Lucy Gard, who portrayed Celia, said “It’s important to know what you're saying because the audience won’t understand what's going on if you don’t.” That idea really shone through, with the plot becoming decidedly more clear while I watched.

The play had a very lighthearted humor to it. I indulged in many laughs at the witty remarks and silly visuals. I have to agree with Tou Ikeda, the actress who plays Le Beau and the First Forest Lord, whose favorite scene is the one in which Duke Seniors band celebrates the killing of a deer with a song. “It’s one minute, but it's really funny,” Ikeda remarked. The West actors made bold character choices that brought Shakespeare's story to life and offered a spirited performance. The eye for detail was truly remarkable, and the actors themselves fit like puzzle pieces into the set. The set was dynamic and the costumes were colorful and playful. Every aspect of the play brought something new and enjoyable.

Now, for a look backstage at the process, from the first rehearsal to showday. Auditions for West’s fall play take place in late September, and rehearsal starts soon after the cast is released. During the six weeks of rehearsal, the cast memorizes lines individually, blocking in certain scenes together after school. After weeks of practice comes tech week, in which microphones, costumes, lighting and props are sorted out. Soon after, the play is ready for performance. However, preparations continue up until the last minute. “We do our whole stage makeup, and a lot of people have to get their hair curled, then there’s putting on our mics and doing mic checks, and then getting in costumes and setting up costume changes,” said Gard, describing what show day looks like.

Behind the curtains, West’s theater program harbors an amazing community. Being part of the play gives the opportunity to meet new people or reunite with old friends. “It’s the friendships that it fosters,” Ikeda shared with me. With a small, welcoming cast, it’s not difficult for a tight-knit group to flourish. West’s theater department is open to any who wish to audition, and it welcomes students to work with stage crew, costume crew and sound crew if they prefer being behind the scenes. “It’s a lot of fun, and everyone is always so nice and always very supportive of each other. I think it’s really fun creating that community, and I think that anybody that wants to should [join]," Gard says, describing the community and encouraging students to join. If you're interested in any aspect of theater, keep an eye out for the spring musical Into the Woods!

West Theater did an amazing job with As You Like It, from the humorous essence, to the costuming, to the smallest details. The play was a wonderful break from the outside world, and a joyful trip to the Forest of Arden, with a merry cast and lively plot. I was extremely impressed and will be purchasing my ticket to West's next theater performance as soon a possible. I recommend you do the same, because the theater department does not disappoint. So, I bid you farewell, yet I hope you remember that here at West, “all the world’s a stage!”

Regent Review Advice Column: Reggie Responds

By Reggie Regent

This is the first issue of “Reggie Responds,” an advice column for responses to student-submitted questions about friendships, relationships, school, and life.

“Is it okay to date the brother of my ex?”

Dear Bro’s Beau,

Unless the relationship you had with the ex was in elementary school, or all three of you have clearly stated you are okay with this, it seems unwise. The Summer I Turned Pretty is an entertaining show to binge with your friends, but it doesn’t exactly provide the moral framework for a healthy relationship. I advise you to deeply consider your ex’s perspective on this as well as the brother’s.

Best of luck,

Reggie

“How can I romanticize my winter this year?”

Dear Poeticizing Ponderer,

There are many ways for you to make the most of your winter! If you are looking for daily practice, I recommend listening to music on your way to school. A good soundtrack can really lift your spirits and set the tone for the rest of your day! Personally, as soon as December rolls around, I pump myself up with holiday tunes on my walk to school. Another tip for enjoying the colder months is planning ahead. Ensuring you have at least one thing each week to look forward to will boost your overall mood. Lastly, if you are really feeling the ever-growing lack of sun as our daylight hours rapidly decrease, consider checking out a sunlight lamp from your local public library. Sequoya Library says the technology “mimics natural daylight, which triggers positive responses in your body to enhance well-being.”

Wishing you a whimsical winter,

Reggie

“What are your tips for getting enough sleep while still getting everything done? How do you get sleep and practice self-care when the work stacks up?”

Dear Busy Bees,

I wish I could give you more hours in a day, but unfortunately we’re limited to 24. Finding time to take care of yourself when life is hectic can be hard, but I’m glad you recognize its importance. I suggest scheduling time for yourself and then ensuring you make that time a priority.

Oftentimes anxiety can cloud our vision, making it seem like we have to push ourselves more to succeed. However, by exceeding your capacities you may be doing more harm than good. For example, you may occasionally feel as though you need to pull an all-nighter the night before a big test. Though if you do follow this strategy, be mindful that the Sleep Foundation by Sleep Doctor shares that a lack of sleep can cause tiredness, slowed reaction times, trouble focusing, impaired mental or physical performance, and mood changes. You may end up struggling even more the next day than you would have otherwise. Giving precedence to sleep is necessary.

Another poor habit it is easy to fall prey to is saving homework or other stressful tasks for right before bed. Your bedtime routine should be calm, involving an activity like reading or listening to soothing music, and you should avoid screens for at least 30 minutes before bed. To summarize, you must prioritize, plan, and practice a healthy sleep schedule to achieve one.

Self-care may seem similarly inessential or even silly at times, but if you are unhappy or overexerting yourself, every aspect of your life will suffer for it. Clarity Clinic suggests starting out by setting aside 10-15 minutes a day for pursuits like short walks, gentle exercise, yoga, meditating, or journaling. I myself dedicate fifteen minutes before bed each night to journal about my day, and not only does it give me time to reflect, but I also fall asleep much more easily.

Sweet dreams,

Reggie

“I want to do things with my significant other and with my friends, but I can’t drive. What should I do?”

Dear Hoping to Hang Out,

There are lots of forms of alternative transportation, and if none of those work, there are other options as well. If you own a bike, you are in luck, because a decent amount of Madison is pretty easily traversible via bicycle! However, cycling and walking are both becoming less accessible as the air turns colder. Perhaps you have a school-granted bus pass you could use, as the city recently expanded the metro system and there are more routes than ever. Now, if none of the above seem plausible for you, there are still things you can do with your friends without vehicles. You could make use of the open campus lunch policy and find someplace walkable in the area to visit. You could also take a cue from quarantine times and hang out with your friends virtually, by way of video games or having a synced watch party of a show or movie.

Have fun,

Reggie

*Do you have a question to ask Reggie? Submit one using this QR code!*

West Boys Soccer Wins State Tournament

By Isaac Hessman and Jonas Tangen

On November 8, the Madison West High School Boys Soccer Team brought home the gold for the first time since 1988 after winning the WIAA Division 1 Wisconsin State Soccer Tournament. Competing at the Southeast Sales Powersports Stadium in Uihlein Soccer Park, the team clinched victory with a last-minute goal against the Marquette Hilltoppers.

Madison West had played Marquette just three weeks before, sustaining their only loss of the season—a 1-0. Prior to that, they had been ranked the best team in the state. The boys’ team went into the final match confident, but as underdogs.

The Regent Review sat down with one of the captains of the boys’ team, Jonathan Krause, to hear his perspective on the game.

Jonathan recalls that, with the score at 0-0, West tightly controlled the first half of the game and prevented Marquette from settling in: “I don’t think they had a shot on the goal; we were putting a lot of pressure on them.… We have lots of people who can run to get balls behind their defense, which really wears them down and makes them play how we want.”

By halftime, Marquette had gotten on their feet. “The game slowed down and they started to control the game a little more. They’re a very possession-based team, so they’ll just pass the ball around—there were stretches where they had the ball for 3-4 minutes in a row.”

Madison West responded by digging in on defense. “Our mantra throughout the season, especially on defense, was ‘bend, but don’t break,’ so we’ll allow them to keep the ball, but as long as we stay together and don’t give them any opportunities, we’re fine just letting them have it,” explains Krause.

On the occasions when West got control of the ball, they made the most of it. Jonathan recalls, “We took advantage of our opportunities. We put more shots on their goal… it all led up to Louis’ goal with five minutes left in the game.”

The many Regents who took the fan bus to Milwaukee celebrated Madison West’s fourth State Championship. The team appreciated the student body’s large and enthusiastic presence.

“Being on the field with all that support around, it was a great feeling. Every little moment, they were celebrating every tackle, every free pass . . . and anytime something didn’t go as well, they were supporting us.”

The win was hard-earned on and off the field: Before and during playoffs, the team spent countless hours scouting Brookfield East, who they would beat in the semifinals, and Marquette.

As part of their scouting efforts, the team used evenings after practice to study Brookfield East’s game tapes. “We watched them religiously. We all took a page of notes on our position and how we would respond to their players.”

This helped the team play strategically. “In all our playoff games, we knew which players on their back line weren’t good with the ball, and how to press them . . . and who we don’t want to get the ball.”

The victory has been three years in the making—most members of the Varsity team have been playing together since sophomore year. They’ve become a tight-knit group.

It has been a year-round commitment, Jonathan says, for the core members. “We’ve been building chemistry for all these years. In our junior year, we really developed into a team that could compete with anyone, but we didn’t really have a lot of experience playing in those high pressure games. This year, all the pieces came together.”

Debate Team

By Felix Karlson

West’s debate team is the largest it’s been in almost a decade, according to club leaders Liam Benish and Yonatan Bernstein. Benish and Bernstein, both juniors, have first-hand experience with the benefits of debate, and want nothing more than to help others access those benefits. This year, their focus has been on making debate an accessible activity that more people can commit to long-term.

“Last year, recruitment was at an all-time low,” says Bernstein. This year, though, things are different. The team has seen a huge influx of new members. One of the student leaders’ biggest goals for the debate team has been making sure people stick around beyond the first few meetings of the year.

The fun of debate comes from actually debating, not sitting around and listening to people talk about it. Retaining members is a delicate balance between getting new debaters to their first tournament quickly and making sure that they aren’t overloaded with technical jargon and more complex parts of the activity.

This year’s team is the largest one in a decade—a testament to this balance being achieved. Of course, a larger team brings its own unique challenges to the table.

Finding funding for transport, payment for judges, and tournament fees has been a challenge for such a large team. Keeping debate a free activity at West is instrumental, according to the student leaders and the head coach, attorney Tim Scheffler. Benish and Bernstein have many ideas on how to maintain the club’s accessibility, even with such a large membership. “There’s obviously the simple level of just doing some fundraisers and getting our own money, but we’ve even been throwing around the idea of lobbying the state government, which actually has worked in other states. Addressing the school and maybe the government directly to get the money we need is a big goal,” Bernstein explains.

Addressing affordability is also important for the team so that those interested are equally able to reap the various benefits of debating—benefits that apply even outside the bubble of the debate round. “The research and critical thinking skills that you get, your ability to quickly articulate the ideas you want to express in a concise and meaningful way—these are important skills pretty much regardless of what you do. It also carries over very heavily into schoolwork, where it’s a lot easier with debate experience to, for example, write an essay for an AP class,” says Benish.

In addition, Scheffler, a first-generation college student, says his experience debating prepared him better than anything else for higher education. Debate offers an opportunity for underprivileged students to find their voices and have access to educational opportunities that they are often deprived of.

The success garnered from debate is tangible even in a wider context. Countless public figures were participants in high school debate, including television host Oprah Winfrey, Pope Leo XIV, and New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

One underappreciated and perhaps counterintuitive aspect of debate is actually the community it creates. “By teaching people how to refute and disagree in a healthy and civilised manner, the community in the debate space is one of the healthiest and most supportive I’ve ever been part of,” Bernstein says, citing both the interpersonal dynamics of the West team and the larger learning experience of tournaments, where debaters compete against those from other schools. Bernstein hopes these dynamics can spill over and help create a less hostile world, especially in the context of the extreme political divisions experienced today.

In an inclusive and intellectual environment, West debaters support each other while honing skills sure to apply to their futures. The size and energy of the debate team this year bodes well for the continuation of this activity at West. Debate meets Wednesdays during lunch in 3314 and Mondays after school in 3317, and prospectives wanting to dip their toes into the world of debate are always more than welcome to join.

“Every single person reading this article should join the debate team,” Benish emphasizes. “Even if you think it’s too late in the year, it’s not.”

Madison West Hosts Annual Blood Drive

By Christabel Engel

West hosted its annual fall blood drive in the Cafenasium this Halloween. The drive was a success; with the help of many volunteers, Red Cross workers, and donors, 108 units of blood were collected—the second-highest total of units collected at a West fall drive.

Each year, West hosts five blood drives: two drives at West itself in the fall and spring and three at local churches. Out of the nine blood drive coordinators this year, those who choose to work with the Red Cross correspondent organize one drive in the year. The other coordinators help recruit volunteers and donors through posters, social media, or tables on West’s Ash Street entrance leading up to the blood drive.

West High School has been hosting blood drives since 1990. In that time, the process has changed significantly. In the past several years, the blood drives have changed location from the old Van Hise gym, to offsite during construction, to their current place in the Cafenasium.

While hosting the drive in different-sized rooms affects the possible units collected, policy and technological changes have also had an effect. The Red Cross and the FDA have changed several requirements for eligibility, including regulations on travel, piercings and tattoos, and Power Red donations at high school drives. The Red Cross has also digitalized or simplified many steps of blood donation, making the entire process more efficient and easier for donors.

Donating blood is an important and rewarding activity for those eligible. One donation can save up to three lives, and since hospitals cannot create new blood, direct donation is the only way to supply the four to five million Americans who receive blood transfusions each year. O positive and A positive are the most common blood types, with hospitals requesting O+ blood most frequently. O negative donors, making up about 7% of the U.S. population, can donate to any blood type and are often in high demand. Even blood types with fewer type matches can be helpful to recipients of any blood type, as each unit of blood can be separated into products such as platelets, plasma, or white blood cells.

The process to donate blood is simple. First, to be eligible in Wisconsin, donors must be at least 17 years old, or 16 with parental consent. They must also be in good general health and meet a certain weight requirement. Before donating, donors must fill out a series of questions regarding health history and have their heart rate, blood pressure, and hemoglobin measured. After being situated, once the needle is inserted, drawing the pint of blood only takes about 8-10 minutes on average.

Donating blood is rather painless; the needle barely feels like anything after being inserted. Some may feel lightheaded or cold during the blood draw, which can be managed in various ways such as wearing layers, making sure to drink water and eat beforehand, and contracting leg and core muscles in short bursts during the donation. Afterwards, donation sites provide free drinks, snacks, and occasionally some Red Cross merchandise. The whole process from start to finish only takes about an hour; the time spent is well worth saving a few lives.

In the winter around the holidays, donations to the Red Cross often dip significantly; however, the need for blood remains the same. This creates critical shortages where getting more donors immediately is the only way to increase supply.

Time slots to donate blood are often available at the donation site on the West side of Madison. To find local blood drives at other locations and schedule donations, visit the Red Cross blood donation website (redcrossblood.org) or download the Blood Donor app.

Kigeya Speaks on Delayed National Flag Project

By Jonas Tangen

Last January, West’s administration began an ambitious project to decorate the first and second floor Ash hallways with flags of the world’s nations. The flag-rehanging project was undertaken, in part, by the faculty-run “Beautify West Project” and by Principal Kigeya, who had hoped that the flags would serve as a “celebration of the rich tapestry that is our student body.”

The adornment of West’s hallways with national flags started over two decades ago after international students brought flags from their home countries as part of the long-standing cultural exchange programs at West. To complete the original collection, students raised thousands of dollars to purchase the remaining flags and created informational plaques for each country. The collection of flags also led to the creation of All Nations Day, wherein students celebrate their cultural heritage by performing and parading the flags across the stage.

Due to the building construction in 2021, the flags were taken down. Last year, as the flags were taken out of storage to be re-displayed, it became evident that many of them had become worn and that certain flags had gone missing, either by chance or because students had intentionally removed them from the collection.

Thus, West’s administration ordered a new set of flags from an online retailer, and custodial staff began hanging them in January. This was met with backlash from some students, who took down the Israeli and North Korean flags. The administration responded by suspending the project and moving the new flags into storage.

It’s been nearly a year since Principal Kigeya asserted that “the flags will come back at West High School; it's just too important.” With a planned flagging during last summer break delayed for budgetary reasons, The Regent Review sat down, again, with Principal Kigeya to hear his thoughts on the mixed rollout of the flags and the future of the project.

After last year's fiasco, Kigeya moved to address student concerns via the West HOUSE student reps system, which he sees “as the group that makes all school-wide decisions.” The new HOUSE system is a mix of student leaders in various affinity groups and students from Student Council who meet biweekly to serve as a space for student voice. The HOUSE reps took concerns about the flags back to their respective clubs and then met with Kigeya to approve the project.

Kigeya argued that the student body, in general, was given an opportunity to voice opposition to the flags via a restorative justice circle last year. He explained that during the circle he took into account feedback from students who did not want the flags displayed, but that overall the circle was “just an honest, great discussion” between himself, students, and MMSD Superintendent Joe Gothard. Kigeya acknowledged that the process “was not perfect, but it was my chosen avenue to do that.”

Kigeya clarified, “I'm open to more discussion. I think it's healthy. Students need to be able to challenge authority. I represent an institution that is public. When people leave here, they might challenge the authority of whoever might be in this or that government position.” He continued, “It's a great way to develop critical thinking. It's a great way for students to develop their voice in terms of how to make constructive arguments; I welcome it.”

For now though, Kigeya says, “The discussion is done.” The administration has ordered frames and is working with student groups to create a descriptor plaque for each flag. “I still need to be able to honor the fact that I've made a commitment to students to put the flags up.” Principal Kigeya vowed, “My goal is to have the flags up as soon as I possibly can.”

Does West Actually Recycle?

By Sequoia Loheide

Some students believe that Madison West High School doesn’t recycle, saying, “Everything just goes to the trash.” There is a common impression among these students that custodians throw the recycling and trash into the same bin. In a survey on whether West recycles or not, 11 in 16 students say that they believe the school does not recycle. This belief is rooted in people seeing custodians throw bags from blue bins into the trash. The truth is that the school tries to recycle, but many of the recyclable items end up in landfills. Recycling is essential to reduce waste in landfills, conserve natural resources, and cut down on pollution. Schools produce a lot of waste from lunch items, papers, and school materials, which is why it is crucial for students to recycle.

According to the National Library of Medicine, public high schools in the United States generate about 14,500 tons of municipal solid waste daily. A proper recycling program could limit the amount of solid waste the school generates and protect our world from the pollution and damages this waste causes. West High School’s Green Club runs an annual electronic waste drive, among other efforts to reduce waste at West.

Tim Miller, the head custodian at West High School, confirmed that the school does recycle, but the recycling system doesn't always work the way that it is intended. The biggest issue with recycling at West is that many students don’t properly recycle. The custodial staff does not have enough time to sort through the recycling and dig out the nonrecyclable items. As a result, bags full of recyclables can end up in the trash because of a few non recyclable items. Miller suggests “improving the education of the recycling system and letting people know how the process works” as one way to begin improving the recycling system.

“We actually do recycle; there's too big of a rumor going around that we don’t recycle in this building, and that is absolutely false,” said Mr. Swain, an AP Environmental Science teacher at West High School. "What's really tragic in my eyes is that, in this classroom, where we teach environmental science, I'll find aluminum cans in the trash can in the corner instead of the recycling at the front.” The more that this false rumor gets spread, the worse the recycling problem gets as people care less and less about recycling. Swain emphasized how essential it is that this misinformation is cleared up, saying, “I think recycling should be important for everybody, and it’s important for our planet.”

A common misconception from students and staff at West High is that if the trash can is blue, waste inside will be recycled. It is important to know that only the clear bags get recycled; if a black bag is in a blue can, it will get put into the trash. When people see custodians putting these trash bags in the trash, they think that the school isn’t recycling properly. The same goes for when custodians put recycling bags with unrecyclable items in the trash. Swain and Miller both agree that these events often start the rumors about lack of recycling at West High.

West does recycle. The most important thing, according to Swain, is that everyone contributes and recycles properly to help improve the recycling system. Swain wishes we could ”go back in time and get rid of that rumor that we don’t recycle.” Miller believes that the intention of the school’s recycling system is good, but its education and guidance need to come a long way.

A College Applicant's Lament

By Mira Roffers

“I’ve never experienced something like that before,” says Jack Kuhn, “where you’re writing about yourself in a way that’s summing up your whole life.”

If you were to ask any high school senior how their college application process is going, you could receive a varying degree of answers. We are all very accustomed to this question, mostly hearing it from probing relatives or curious teachers.

Some seniors finished their applications the moment they physically could, and would confidently tell you that they submitted everything before the early November 1 deadline.

However, many applicants are still deep in the trenches. To some, it seems as though finishing a stream of applications only leads to more action items to complete.

“I thought that the bulk of my stress would be just applying to colleges,” says Claire Bunders, “but I’ve applied to everything, and I’m still stressing about scholarships and stuff.”

Senior year places an immense pressure on students to make the most out of their applications, which means taking advantage of a plethora of scholarships, honors college applications, and the like.

However, these extra opportunities add an enormous amount of additional work and effort to an already challenging process, leading some seniors to feel in over their heads and overwhelmed by all that there is to do.

The process often feels never ending. “[The stress] doesn’t really go away,” concludes Bunders.

However bleak it seems, the overall anxiety that college applications cause eventually does pay off. Getting accepted into a college they are excited about is something most seniors look forward to throughout the entire process.

“Getting into your supposed ‘dream school’ takes off all the stress,” says Kuhn.

When college applications fade into a chore or another piece of homework, it is easy for an applicant to forget that applications are more than just a box to be ticked, but a door into a new and exciting phase in their future.

It is understandable to feel overwhelmed by college applications. After all, it often does feel like you are planning out your entire life. By applying to a certain college, it can often feel like you are tying your whole future to one place or profession. That is a reality that strikes seniors at different times throughout the process.

Every applicant has a vast story within them filled with many hopes, fears, dreams, failures, talents, and potential. Summarizing their entire life, personality, and accomplishments into a single personal statement, supplemental essays, an activities list, and grade reports only scratches the surface.

The application process also leads to heavy comparison between applicants, as scores, extracurriculars, and college acceptances become common knowledge. It’s easy to wonder how you stack up next to someone, or what made them deserving of getting into a school over you.

It is important to note that pretty much everyone has struggled throughout the process in one way or another. No one is alone in their college-related suffering. From an outward perspective, the college application process is only a highlight reel.

For many, college applications are only the start of the longest goodbye. Deciding where your future will take you means standing at the edge of something completely new.

Having deadlines for decisions and planning the future makes the “lasts” more noticeable. The last year of seeing the same people every day, of knowing teachers and classes you like and don’t like, of playing the same sport with the teammates you love. The future feels more tangible, and that is a scary and completely new sensation.

All of these facts make the application process intimidating and difficult, but also exciting and thrilling. Knowing that all of the hard work leads to something so life-changing is a very unique feeling.

The pressure from parents, teachers, the internet, and the never-ending slew of college spam emails seems all-encompassing sometimes. It is important to remember that no matter how important it feels, college applications do not completely define you or your future. They just play a part in establishing the beginning of your adult life.

Opinion: In Defense of Wikipedia

By August Peters

“You may not use Wikipedia as one of your

sources.” You have probably heard this phrase in

any number of your English classes. And I agree

with English teachers—Wikipedia is a lazy source

of information for formal writing. Still, Wikipedia

lacks the reputation it is due.

Wikipedia is a popular free online

encyclopedia that launched in 2001. Each of its

over 7 million articles has been written and edited by its over 300,000 active volunteers, and may

be refined by anyone who wishes to contribute

their knowledge. Whether you are curious about

a subject as popular as “Orange” or as local as

“Madison West High School,” you will find

articles of similar quality and reliability.

A common perspective regarding

Wikipedia is that, given that it is editable by

anyone, none of its articles are trustworthy. After

all, what if the current article version has been

vandalized to the point of inaccuracy?

To begin to dispel concerns over

Wikipedia’s viability as a source, here are a few

points to consider:

First, every case of vandalism on Wikipedia

that has been publicly reported represents a change

that has already been identified. Wikipedia edits

occur quickly given light of new information.

Furthermore, vandalism is most common on

biographies—especially political—which are

under constant surveillance by anti-vandalism

algorithms and article contributors.

Even if vandalism is a minor issue at

worst, some doubt that an article edited largely

by anonymous contributors can be trusted as

an accurate source of information. While these

concerns reflect reasonable skepticism, Wikipedia

has a robust set of policies related to editing

that have set the site ahead of even published

encyclopedias in terms of factual accuracy.

Policies related to source citation and other editing policies ensure that Wikipedia articles are

consistently as accurate as their sources, and that

articles that lack sufficient evidence are flagged to

the reader as such.

Importantly, the accuracy of Wikipedia

articles is somewhat proportional to their

relevance and size. More popular articles are also

more popular sites for scrutiny and edits, and

hence contain content that is more refined and, by

and large, more accurate.

Conversely, smaller articles often lack the

depth and accuracy of larger articles, but the

difference in quality tends to be much lower than

expected. Even Madison West’s own Wikipedia

page contains up-to-date information and was last

edited earlier this December.

An important criticism to consider is

that, although articles may be factually accurate,

many—especially related to physics and

mathematics—are opaquely written and difficult

to understand for both average readers and even

ones who are more advanced in those subjects.

To me, these issues reflect a broader

communication issue in the scientific

community, as many writers tend to overlook

the comprehensibility of their writing, instead

prioritizing quantity of information.

The Simple English Wikipedia offers a

solution to part of the issue, although lacking the

quantity of articles that standard Wikipedia offers.

Luckily, this communication issue is solvable

through further user contribution, and in the

future, may gradually improve.

On another note, Wikipedia has fallen

under criticism during the past several years over

its alleged “left-wing bias” from news sites like

the New York Post and entertainment channels

like Fox News.

These sources have often falsely claimed that

the sources Wikipedia uses are broadly unreliable

and that Wikipedia’s list of deprecated (i.e., highly

discouraged from use) sources unfairly target

right-wing media.

However, sources do not always reflect

a text’s argument, and may instead be used as

examples of counterarguments. Additionally,

deprecated sources on Wikipedia are few and

deprecating a source requires a lengthy process

and community consensus.

The idea that Wikipedia “censors” right-

wing talking points is plainly an uninformed

perspective. As Wikipedia asserts in its sourcing

guidelines, “No source is ‘always reliable’ or ‘always unreliable’ for everything,” and Wikipedia

merely “discourages”—it doesn’t prohibit—

editors from including deprecated sources in

articles.

Wikipedia only contains ten total blacklisted

sources, most of which have been responsible for

either spam or pervasive misinformation.These

are automatically removed as citations, but may

be whitelisted for temporary use given community

consensus.

Still, because many of the deprecated

sources use right-wing talking points, some may

be inclined to accuse Wikipedia’s community of

partiality toward “left-wing” sources. However,

deprecation simply has to do with the factual

accuracy of a source, not the “political correctness”

or ideology. Sometimes, factual accuracy happens

to correlate with a text’s ideological origin, and

that isn’t Wikipedia’s fault.

Still, even if Wikipedia is generally accurate,

why does it matter how the public perceives the

site?

Simply put, Wikipedia is, perhaps, the most

comprehensive encyclopedia available. There

are few places with so much reliable information

from such a broad spectrum of backgrounds, and

barely any that rely so heavily on the community.

Although Wikipedia is widely regarded

as unsuitable for academic citation, it has clear

academic purposes. Even though you likely

wouldn’t cite an encyclopedia in your research

paper, you may consult one for a preliminary

explanation of a topic. Scholars may also take

advantage of the sources on certain articles to

expand their bibliography.

Wikipedia is an accessible library of

knowledge that continuously grows, and one

that has helped millions of people expand their

knowledge, to date. As long as we continue to

embrace the wisdom found throughout the bowels

of Wikipedia, we will be able to keep growing

the encyclopedia into one with perpetually more

knowledge.

Singing is a Part of our Humanity

By Felix Karlson

When I was in sixth grade, I started singing in choir. I’d always been a kid who loved to sing, so it wasn’t exactly a shock—I’m the exact sort of person you’d expect to be in a choir. I’m exciteable, I’m dramatic, and I’m musical. A lot of the time, I tend to be the loudest person in the room. When I joined choir, though, what I found was a little different than I expected. Instead of standing out as an individual, I began to learn how to blend into a group and collaborate with others in a way that made us stand out together. This was the first lesson of many that I would learn by participating in choir.

“Choir is the ultimate collaboration experience,” says Margaret Jenks, long-time choir director for Madison Youth Choirs and Hamilton Middle School. She describes herself as a person who loved everything she participated in, from Model UN to debate, history class to algebra. The reason she chose to focus on music out of these many passions is because she didn’t have to give anything up to do it. “Music includes everything in science, everything in math, everything in history and culture and all of these things I loved. It never gets boring, and I will never exhaust the things I learn from music.”

This is something I find myself resonating with. I participate in a wide array of extracurriculars, attend a club almost every day of the week during lunch, and have fun in all of them. Out of everything I do, however, I always find myself looking forward to fifth period every day when I have Chorale, Thursdays at lunch for the Renaissance madrigal group, and most of all, Sunday evenings, where I am in my seventh semester participating in Madison Youth Choirs. Sometimes I question why, out of all these things I love, it is choir that I do the most of and choir that I look forward to the most. But I think Margaret answers that for me.

“Singing is a part of our humanity,” she explains. “If you go back in history to the beginning of human civilization, all humans sang. Our brains are hardwired to understand musical communication. To not use your voice in a musical way is to cut off your human ability to communicate through sound. Choir specifically is really unique because it’s a wonderful metaphor for what we should be doing in the real world—using our voices together, with no one voice being the dominant one in control.”

In choir, I’ve learned how to enjoy the feeling of truly being a part of something, an integral piece of the puzzle of harmony and melody and rhythm. It sometimes feels as if I’m not singing one part at all, but instead as if my voice is an outpouring of everyone else’s, and everyone else’s an outpouring of mine. Our sounds entwine together, weaving patterns both musical and relational. I’ve made my best friends singing in choirs, and there’s nowhere else where I feel like I can walk up to anyone and strike up a conversation as if we were old friends.

It’s as Margaret says—when you sing in choir, you are channeling something ancient, something as old as humanity itself. Across all cultures, as long as humans have been around, so has song. Everywhere in the world has vocal music, no matter how remote, and that is truly a testament to the wonder of singing in choir. Because when you sing in a choir, you aren’t just singing with the people around you. You’re singing with your ancestors. You’re singing with your descendants. You’re singing with everyone who came before you and everyone who will come after.

“Try out choir before you get to be old like me,” Margaret says. “I think people get a lot more set in their ways when they get older. I always feel sad when someone says ‘I wish I could use my voice, but it’s too late now.’ It’s not too late, ever, but it’s easier when you’re young.”

Joining a choir was, hands-down, the best decision I ever made. Even if it’s not as impactful for you as it is for me, you’ll certainly learn something from it. You will grow musically, and as a person as well. You will connect with those who came before. You will know how it sounds to hear the perfect harmony when a chord locks in. Even if you’re almost certain choir’s not for you, give it a shot. You’re unlikely to regret it.

Sourdough Club

By Anna Kinnunen and Olympia Todd

“Haul your buns to the Sourdough Club!” says Maya Frydman and Otis Warrick, leaders of the Sourdough Club.

Sourdough Club meets in room 1212 during lunch on Tuesdays. At Sourdough Club, members bring and eat sourdough bread, learn about sourdough and the process of making it, and chat about sourdough and bread in general. The Google Classroom code is 4dizvihv. Ms. Murphy, who teaches Calculus AB and Computer Science Principles, is the club advisor.

Otis affirms that “We want to create a safe and sourdough-loving community at West.”

Maya told us that Otis is the breadmaster and has made many loaves. Maya said, “I'm just really so happy to have created this community . . . Bring your friends. We have bread every week.” Whether you’re a sourdough connoisseur or a first-time loafer, everyone is welcome and encouraged to come to Sourdough Club.

Whiteboarding: Cryptic Writing

By The Whiteboarding Team

Top Books of 2025

By Claire Bunders

The majority of Americans go into the holiday season making New Year’s resolutions lists or at least thinking about their past year and how to better themselves for the next. Why don’t we reflect on the year of books too? Surveying book popularity from sites like the New York Times, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and National Book Awards, plus some plugs from West staff and students, here is a list of the top books of 2025.

I am a huge Taylor Jenkins Reid fan, so I’m ecstatic to write about her new book, Atmosphere. The novel takes place in the 1980s, when Joan Goodwin, a physics and astronomy professor, does everything in her power to be one of the first female scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. Goodwin was selected to train at the Space Center, where she acquired lots of questions and friends. The novel features an emotional story that mixes historical and LGBTQ+ fiction.

My Friends by Fredrick Backman is my current read. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to finish before the article was due, but I quickly connected with the characters. As a first time Backman reader, I can attest to the beauty of his writing style. The story begins with Louisa breaking into an art auction because she claims to see a story beneath this priceless piece of art. Louisa was right! The hidden message revolves around three teenagers with degrading home lives, but somehow they all learn to love and to find significance to life. Louisa ends up with this priceless piece of artwork and finds herself on a journey to keep learning about the art. I guess you’ll just have to read the book yourself to find out what happens on her journey.

If you’re one for mystery novels, The Tenant, written by #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden, is sure to seize your interest. Blake Porter is having a rough go of it. He has lost his job and is struggling to pay mortgage. Thank goodness Whitney is looking for a room to rent. Then, weird things start happening. The neighbors are acting weird. The house smells and makes weird noises at night. Is the danger right at home with him?

The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins is a nonfiction Barnes & Noble Book of the Year Finalist. The Goodreads summary says, “The problem is the power you give to other people.” So, Mel Robbins says the key is to simply Let Them. Overall, the message is stop worrying about things you cannot control. Robbins provides a straightforward guide to do just that.

Barnes & Noble selected Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser as Book of the Year. The endearing story follows Mona, who will lose her sense of sight in 52 weeks. To give Mona an opportunity to take in as much beauty as she can before she loses her eyesight, her grandfather takes her every Wednesday for 52 weeks to see pieces of art. As the story progresses, Mona and her grandfather grow closer, learning about loss and the power of art.

Emily Henry is back at it again with another romance novel titled Great Big Beautiful Life. The novel was a Reese Witherspoon book club pick in May 2025. Alice and Hayden, two writers with different experience levels, have the same mission—to write Margaret Ives’ biography. Margaret gives the two writers different snippets of her story. After a month, Margaret has to choose who will end up writing the biography. We start to realize that the narrative changes depending on the author. Who will be chosen? Is there something there between Alice and Hayden? Read to find out.

The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley follows a group of strong teenage mothers who find themselves in Florida. At 16 years old, Adela is newly pregnant and newly banished by her parents. Emory, motivated to graduate, brings her newborn to school. Simone has twins but is pregnant again. All these young women raise their kids together in the back of Simone’s truck. The New York Times calls this novel, “blistering, wise, empathetic.” Mottley has a beautiful way of telling a coming-of-age story for all young people.

The National Book Award winner in the nonfiction category is a journalistic novel titled One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad. It all started with a tweet following the bombardment of Gaza. Throughout this piece, El Akkad describes the connection Americans of color have to the western world. Goodreads shares, “This book is [El Akkad’s] heartsick breakup letter with the west.” It’s a little bit memoir, a little bit journalism, a little bit history and politics. If you’re looking for something extraordinarily different from the others on this list, this piece is for you.

If historical fiction is your beat, Buckeye by Patrick Ryan is Barnes & Noble’s Book of the Year Finalist. The novel takes place in the small town of Bonhomie, Ohio around WW2. We follow two married couples, Cal & Becky and Margaret & Felix. A landslide of complications followed after Margaret kissed Cal. As the world recovers from the war, NPR summarizes, “From that impulsive moment all sorts of complications and secrets sprout.” Read Buckeye to immerse yourself in an intimate story “rich with piercing observation,” according to Goodreads.

When life gets hard, do you journal or write letters? Sybil Van Antwerp, the main character of The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, does. She has a routine where she sits down every morning to write letters to a variety of different people who have touched her life. Suddenly, she receives letters that force her to relive some uncomfortable memories. And worst of all, she has to offer forgiveness. The Correspondent is written using letters, emails, and postcards between the main character and others. If you find that unusual format intriguing, this book might be for you.

Mr. McLaughlin’s favorite book he read this year was Pulitzer-Prize winning Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. He read this one for a book club even though he wasn’t excited about reading a western, but was pleasantly surprised. However, the only downside is that McLaughlin didn’t like the depiction of Native Americans.

Angelina, a senior at West, says her favorite book is The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen. She has read this book five times because of how much it means to her. Angelina says, “It is really inspiring. The main character loses her leg and her identity but through her struggle she grows and finds a new purpose.” If you are looking for a wholesome and easy read, this one is for you.

If you got this far, thank you so much! As a senior writing this annual article for the fourth and final time, I’m feeling bittersweet. Hopefully, this list will inspire readers to reflect on their reading and find some great books to start off the new year. Happy Holidays!

Opinion: The American Israel Public Affairs Commitee

By Sammy McCoy-Young

In September of 2024, six right-wing podcasters were issued an indictment for receiving money from a company that was funded by the Russian government. The podcasters were being paid to spread propaganda to make the American public doubt the idea of funding Ukraine as well as if Ukraine even deserves support during the current invasion. The publicity of this scandal has made Americans more wary of foreign propaganda infiltrating our media cycle.

In recent years, Israel has been prominent in the news as part of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the associated genocide in Palestine carried out by Israel.

Throughout the history of the state of Israel, there has been nearly constant conflict, both territorial and religious.

Despite the war-ridden history of the country and its current role in the Gaza Genocide, the United States has provided approximately 174 billion dollars to Israel since its inception in 1949; of that 174 billion, 124 billion was military funding. The US has consistently passed bipartisan bills to continue to fund Israel.

Most lobbying done for Israel is done by Political Action Committees (PACs). PACs are large groups, mostly consisting of corporations, that fund politicians in return for loyalty to their ideas.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a highly influential pro-Israel lobbying group, was founded in 1954 and has lobbied for pro-Israel politicians ever since. This lobbying has resulted in large sums of money going to Israel and the IDF. In the heat of the Gaza Genocide, the highly debated topic of funding Israel had reached a boiling point.

The existence of a PAC funding politicians to further the interests of a foreign nation is inherently dubious, raising concerns over corruption and questions of why this money isn't going toward internal affairs or domestic issues. When the Department of Government Efficiency is cutting state government funding because it was deemed “unnecessary” and “wasteful,” it raises a question of whether we should be pouring billions into a foreign country regardless of its military excursions.

Many politicians from both sides of our political system receive money from AIPAC, including Wisconsin’s US senator Tammy Baldwin. In fact, Tammy Baldwin is the leading recipient of AIPAC money out of all of Wisconsin’s elected officials and one of only two Democrats receiving such funding. Over her career, Baldwin has accepted over $750,000 from AIPAC. Conversely, Mark Pocan, the national representative for the Wisconsin Democratic Party, has taken no money from AIPAC.

Where politicians receive money is not commonly known. However, there are multiple ways to check. For instance, Track AIPAC is a website focusing on AIPAC recipients. Opensecrets.org is another that tracks not only state representatives and congressmembers but also other politicians and their funding from other PACs.

Whatever your political opinions, it is important to know where your politicians get money. Hold them accountable. Write to them!

Horror Movie Spotlight

By Sienna Peters

“My name is Li Ronan. Six years ago, I violated a terrible taboo. Anyone who came too close was befallen with misfortunes I cannot explain.”

Incantation (2022) is a found-footage film set in Taiwan surrounding a mother attempting to save her daughter from a curse she unleashed six years ago. The movie runs for about 2 hours, and it is truly one-of-a-kind. I am sure a lot of you are familiar with found-footage movies, cult movies, and curse movies, but this one is unique. Unlike many other movies of a similar formula, I believe Incantation utilizes its found footage format astonishingly well, with the actual footage playing a central role in the movie- the cinematography not only enhances the movie and horror, but it also makes sense from a narrative perspective; the mother is documenting her life as a keepsake for later.

The movie’s interactive parts are also a highlight. The main character often talks directly to the viewer, forcing you to “interact” more with the film and making it feel more realistic. One major element that sets it apart from other movies is the use of gore and horror elements. The gore is used to unsettle the audience and to advance the plot, which is a rare technique in recent movies. Many newer movies use gore as a substitute for horror, while Incantation uses it along with the horror. For example, there are multiple instances where a character is bleeding or severely injured. These moments are used to enhance the already-present horror, and add to the film.

Incantation keeps you on the edge of your seat and engaged throughout the whole runtime, which is very impressive for a two-hour movie. After watching Incantation, I could not stop thinking about it, and it currently holds my spot for second-favorite movie. If you love good movies and good horror, I would recommend Incantation.

Top Ten Albums of 2025

By Aoife Fritz

2025 is coming to a close, and while there were numerous heavyweight albums that came out, more music than anyone could reasonably keep up with, here are a few highlights. The following albums stood out in some major ways with their innovation, emotional content, and potential modern classics. From EDM-adjacent projects, narrative-driven rap, and introspective folk, this list calls attention to some boundary-pushing projects that hopefully can remind us why music still matters.

Frost Children - “Sister”

“Sister” by Frost Children is not only one of the best albums of the year, but it’s also single-handedly one of the most exciting electronic pop releases within recent memory. This project features a chaotic and bright sound with many bursting elements within. Vibrant synths, heavy bass, and playful vocals are just some of the elements featured in this album. Frost Children expertly make their signature sound full of cartoonish energy and a ludicrous amount of bass, but it is not a repetitive listen. A few songs offer introspection, like the track “4ME” and the title track. Everything else is pure auditory adrenaline. Standout tracks include “Bound2U”, “RADIO”, and “Ralph Lauren”.

McKinley Dixon - “Magic, Alive!”

“Magic Alive!” by McKinley Dixon is a Jazz-rap masterpiece and is a meaningful step up from Dixon’s last album, Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!. This project follows three children coping with a friend’s death, embarking on a journey to reconnect with him primarily through magic. The motif of magic becomes a lens for exploring grief and the fragility of life. This is a narrative-based album, so listen to it in its entirety, and you will be rewarded.

Jane Remover- “Revengeseekerz”

“Revengeseekerz” is a wild ride, featuring a fusion of hyperpop, glitch-pop, dariacore, rage, and experimental electronic music. In 2025, there's been a huge rush to make music purely to chase algorithms, and AI slop taking over many streaming services. Jane Remover’s work on this album is a refreshing reminder that people still care. This is a dense, carefully arranged, and emotionally vulnerable album. Each track features chopped melodies, bass comparable to Thor's Might, and unpredictable synth work. It’s loud, unruly, and most importantly, impossible to ignore. Essential tracks are “Psychoboost,” “Angels in Camo,” and “JRJRJR.”

Danny Brown - “Stardust”

Danny Brown’s new project, “Stardust,” captures him at a point of rediscovering himself. After entering rehab in 2023 and maintaining sobriety since, Danny channels some real clarity, vulnerability, and reinvention into this album. During rehab, he found artists such as SOPHIE and 100 gecs. This album sees him mix those hyperpop influences with experimental rap, creating an awe-inspiring sound of chaos. The features also play into the concept of this album, such as ISSBROKIE, Frost Children, Quadeca, underscores, Jane Remover, 8485, and Femtanyl. The chemistry and sound are unreal. Hyperpop as a music genre was born and shaped heavily by transgender artists; hearing their voices and production on this is something to be celebrated and hugely powerful, especially on a more mainstream rap album. Some must-hear tracks are “Copycats,” “Lift You Up,” and “Whatever The Case.”

Ninajirachi- “I Love My Computer”

“I Love My Computer” by Australian producer Ninajirachi has the final EDM-adjacent album on the top 10. Nina delivers a bright, glitch-filled, rave-ready album, heavily influenced by 2010’s Australian EDM and house. This album has some emotional charge to it, but it’s pretty subdued by the production of the album. It switches from house to hyperpop, and overall, it’s a treasure trove full of great club tracks. The project explores our relationships with tech in a mostly comical way. See track 3 “Fuck my Computer;” it’s endlessly replayable and a modern EDM classic. Key tracks are “Fuck my Computer,” “CSIRAC,” and “All I Am”.

Big Thief - “Double Infinity”

As a long-time Big Thief fan, this album is a welcome addition to their discography and a pretty meaningful evolution. Their last album, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You, I still love, but this new album has a more concise and clean quality, running at around 42 minutes. The core narrative elements of this album include themes of aging, curiosity, and accepting the passage of time. Their sound remains a warm, intimate folk-pop band, just as it is most thoughtful. Highlights include “Incomprehensible” and “ All Night All Day.”

Deafheaven- ¨Lonely People With Power.”

“Lonely People With Power” marks a welcome return to Deafheaven’s original sound, blackgaze, which is the mix of shoegaze and black metal. This time shows them pushing more into the atmospheric shoegaze territory. The album is packed with distorted screaming and normal singing, as well as massive walls of distorted instruments and emotionally heavy lyrics. Deafheaven explores themes of isolation, the cost of power, and the desire for real-world connection. It’s an intense, immersive, and expertly crafted ride that deserves a listen. Standouts: ‘Heathen,” “Magnolia,” and “Winona.”

Deftones- “Private music.”

“Private Music” is peak Deftones, and I do not mean that lightly. Deftones manages to blend their early shoegaze sound with their signature alt-metal sound. The result creates the best Deftones album in their discography. It's a cohesive and polished record exploring the idea of transformation and rebirth. I'm not the biggest fan of Deftones. They’re good, but never been a huge fan. This album impressed me deeply. Essential tracks: “Infinite source,” “cXz,” and “Ecydsis.”

Joey Valence and Brae- “Hyperyouth”

If you’re not having fun with this album, you’re listening to it wrong. The rap duo Joey Valence and Brae made a super fun dance-rap record full of nostalgia, humor, and most importantly, self-acceptance. It’s packed with party anthems, and with only a few features, the features all hit, including Rebecca Black on “SEE U DANCE” and JPEGmafia on “WASSUP.” In a very heavy year for most Hyperyouth brings much-needed joy. Highlights: “SEE U DANCE,” “WASSUP,” and “ THE PARTY SONG”

Tyler, The Creator- “DON’T TAP THE GLASS”

Tyler once again makes a genre-blending masterpiece, but this time without a huge narrative arc; it’s just a very fun dance-rap record, full of crisp production and punchy beats. His detail in sound design shines in “Sugar on My Tongue,” with rich drum textures that aren’t too sharp but not too soft and layered synths. While this may be lighter than most of his previous works, it's incredibly fun and well-crafted. Some favorite tracks are: “Sugar on My Tongue” and “ Ring Ring Ring.”

Honorable Mentions:

The Last Dinner Party- “From the Pyre”

A strong follow-up to Prelude to Ecstasy, their previous album, this album leaned more towards rock; it’s a little less cohesive, but this album does show some exciting growth.

Torture- “War Crime 2: Genocide Protocol”

If you like brutal death metal (BDM), you will like this; it’s torture at its best, with sharper instrumentation, better vocals, and less repetitive. It’s not quite a top 10, but it’s up there.

Model/Actriz- “Piroutte”

Industrial dance-punk at its most refined, Model/Actriz reformed their sound from dogsbody, delivering a chaotic and introspective album with a production style that can only intrigue someone.

Corpse Pile - “In the Beginning…”

This is an EP, which is why it’s so low, but it’s an awesome hardcore death metal project filled with wild drum fills and unfiltered energy. A metal-fan essential for sure.

Aya- “Hexed”

This album is a grotesque piece of electronic music art. It touches on themes of religion, and the album in general stands in this uncanny soundscape. It’s nails on a chalkboard, but in a good way, and overall a solid album.

Top Holiday Activities in Dane County 2025

By Riley O'Donahue

The holiday season is upon us, and some of the best activities in Dane County have now started. Numerous art studios have begun opening their holiday workshops. For starters, the Glitter Workshop at Garver Feed Mill offers some holiday ornament workshops that are great for all skill levels. This is a good option for crafty holiday decorations to add to your house.

There are also various outdoor activities around Madison, from light shows to ice skating. The Zoo Lights at Henry Vilas Zoo are a classic brilliant light display that will be up until December 23rd. You can also see holiday lights at Olin Park for their annual Fantasy in Lights show until January 5th, 2026. This event is primarily a drive-through and they offer candy canes at the end. The Ice Rink, with views of the Capitol and Lake Mendota, is also now open at The Icehouse.

Finally, there are some other classic events going on in Madison for the holiday season. The Holiday Farmers Market is indoors at the Monona Terrace, with many fun holiday items to purchase. Also, the Wisconsin Capitol annual tree lighting has been marked for December 4th, but the tree will remain up through the holidays, so don’t miss out on the chance to see it. Finally, if you are looking for the classic performance, the Madison Ballet is performing the Nutcracker at the Overture from December 12th to December 21st. All of these events are annual traditions that you don’t want to miss, whether you’ve seen them before or will be experiencing them for the first time.

Page updated

Report abuse