The Urban Legend

Ranked-Choice Voting: What It Is and How It Works

November 5, 2024

On Nov. 5, Americans nationwide will vote in national, state and local elections. San Francisco voters have a unique form of voting: casting ballots using ranked-choice voting. This system allows voters to rank candidates rather than choosing just one. San Francisco implemented ranked-choice voting...

Connecting Urban’s campuses

October 29, 2024

The passageway between the Page Street and Oak Street campuses reopened on Sept. 17. It marked the first direct connection of the two main buildings since...

AI-generated images hit the media

October 29, 2024

Generative AI models like ChatGPT and DALL-E transformed the presence of AI on social media. These changes include the spread of AI-generated images, AI-doctored...

Is TikTok’s time up?

October 29, 2024

TikTok — a social media platform used by over 170 million Americans and 7 million small businesses based in the United States — will go dark in January...

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Features

Students’ changing perspectives

Sara Xa-Chin, Staff Writer

October 29, 2024 • Comments closed

Over their four years at Urban, students’ perspectives, experiences and behaviors shift from ninth to 12th grade and from the beginning to the end of their time at Urban. Here, ninth and 12th graders reflected on their first impressions of social dynamics in the class of ‘25 and the class of ‘28. What surprised you about the class of ‘28? Devon Zeches...

Inside the Board of Directors

October 29, 2024

Urban’s Board of Trustees plays a crucial role in overseeing the school. Yet, in a recent survey conducted by The Urban Legend, 89.6% of students are...

Why become an affinity space leader?

October 29, 2024

Nearly one in every 12 Urban students co-leads an affinity space. These leadership roles can offer a space to explore one’s identity and positively impact...

Students ride the Waymo wave

October 29, 2024

Walking the streets of San Francisco, it is common to spot a Waymo vehicle driving on city roads. These self-driving cars exploded in popularity since...

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Arts and Culture

Urban loves New York Times Games!

Mari Flores, Managing Editor, Print

November 13, 2024 • Comments closed

In a recent survey conducted by The Urban Legend, 37.7% of respondents agreed that Connections is the superior New York Times (NYT) game. But even if you do not agree, it’s time to find out which NYT game you should play based on your random preferences!

The reality of rushing

October 22, 2024

The sorority recruitment process at the University of Alabama, informally known as Bama, rose to fame on TikTok with the hashtag #BamaRush after launching in 2021. Viral videos under #BamaRush include Get Ready With Mes, outfit checks and dance videos. The sorority members appear predominantly white and wealthy: Eighty-nine...

Is Urban mean?

August 18, 2024

In a survey conducted by The Urban Legend, when asked to rate how judgmental they find Urban’s social scene on a scale from one to five — one being not judgemental at all, and five being very judgmental — 49 out of 78 students (63%) responded with a four or five. For some, Urban’s social landscape is welcoming and...

Are records recyclable?

August 18, 2024

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), an American nonprofit specializing in environmental activism, vinyl record sales surpassed CD sales in 2020 for the first time since 1986. Industry experts cite various reasons for the revival of vinyl use, including their tactile appeal. Jesse Kaplan-Maier ‘27...

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Sports

Tattoos and milk miles

Aida Cooney

April 21, 2024 • Comments closed

While professional athletes play on courts and fields, some fans compete on screens. Fantasy sports leagues allow fans to assemble dream teams made up of professional players from leagues like the NFL and the NBA. But punishments for losing such as beer miles, 24 hours in an IHOP and tattoos have raised...

WTF is a Kilometer? Understanding Formula One’s relationship with the United States

February 28, 2024

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Well, maybe not for the November 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. The race shut down the Strip, having drivers race past some of the most iconic landmarks in Vegas, such as the newly built Sphere and The Venetian. Despite...

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Opinions

Opinion: Urban students should read for fun

Riley Young, Editor in Chief, Creative

August 19, 2024 • Comments closed

When was the last time you picked up a book for pleasure? Was seventh grade the last time you read a romance or mystery novel? Instead of scrolling on Instagram Reels, consider opening up a book to decrease your stress levels and increase your retention...

Opinion: You should take Voices of Incarceration

August 19, 2024

Voices of Incarceration (Voices) offers unique opportunities for students to make a difference in the Bay Area and beyond through a hands-on approach to learning about the carceral system. Voices...

Opinion: Urban needs to take Young Men’s Group seriously

August 19, 2024

You may have heard the jokes — Urban’s Young Men’s Group (YMG) is just a space for male-identifying students to talk about sports, filled with sexist discourse and toxic masculinity. In...

Opinion: high school students should serve as poll workers

April 21, 2024

With countless news stories headlining in and outside of the United States, global political affairs can overshadow local elections. High school students must focus on local elections by serving...

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Caboose

POTUS peaceful transfer of power

Luke McKane, Arts and Culture Editor

May 3, 2023

With the election of your new Urban School Co-Presidents, The Urban Legend is taking a look...

Blues Bucket List Bingo

May 3, 2023

Grade Dean’s fall playlist

November 17, 2022

Have you ever wondered what your grade dean is listening to when their office door is closed and their blinds are drawn? Well, the grade deans’ fall playlist, featuring five to six tracks selected by each dean,...

Urban’s Dictionary

October 23, 2022

As a small private school nested in the Haight-Ashbury area, Urban students have developed idiosyncratic mannerisms reflective of such an environment. One such manifestation is in the vernacular used in the community,...

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