• 12/2: Girls wrestling vs. Dubuque Senior @ home
  • 12/3: Boys and girls basketball @ Clear Creek
  • 12/3: Boys swimming @ Coralville Rec Center
  • 12/4: State dance team competition
  • 12/5-7: Boys and girls wrestling tournament @ Xtream Arena
  • 12/5-7: Theatre West's 'Chicago'
  • 12/6: Boys and girls bowling @ Cedar Rapids Washington
  • 12/6: Girls basketball vs. Cedar Rapids Jefferson @ home
  • 12/6: Boys basketball @ Cedar Rapids Jefferson
The student news source of Iowa City West High

West Side Story
The student news source of Iowa City West High

West Side Story
The student news source of Iowa City West High

West Side Story
Defne Bayman '24

Defne Bayman, Communications Coordinator, Artist, Reporter and Photographer

(they/she) Defne Bayman is a senior this year, and has been on Print for two years and joined Web this year. They are the communications manager for all of WSS, along with an artist, designer, photographer, and reporter. When they’re not in school, they’re at work, out shopping, or watching a new niche movie.

All content by Defne Bayman
Class of 2024 senior columns

Class of 2024 senior columns

WSS Staff
May 30, 2024
The 2024 Met Gala took place on May 6 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art with the theme "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion."

The ten best and worst looks from the Met Gala

Defne Bayman, Communications Coordinator, Artist, Reporter and Photographer
May 28, 2024
Credit to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production company. "Challengers" is a tennis-centered movie that stars Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor.

Challengers: the relationship of tennis

Defne Bayman, Communications Coordinator, Artist, Reporter and Photographer
May 1, 2024

The “girl‘s girl” stance

Neema Ash and Defne Bayman
April 3, 2024
Model UN is West High's club that emulates the United Nations to create and research solutions to problems.

Model United Nations at West

Defne Bayman, Communications Coordinator, Artist, Reporter and Photographer
March 26, 2024
The new district budget will change West High in the 2024-2025 year.

Budget cuts: the future of West

Defne Bayman, Communications Coordinator, Artist, Reporter and Photographer
March 7, 2024
Here are ten different Valentine's gift ideas for the loved ones in your life!

Giving love: a gift guide to the heart

Defne Bayman, Communications Coordinator, Artist, Reporter and Photographer
February 14, 2024
The 2024 Oscars will be broadcast through ABC on March 10.

2024 Oscars: movies to look out for

Samuel Rosenthal and Defne Bayman
January 12, 2024
Holiday gifting: The spending, the waste and the little tricks to find a better gift.

Holiday gifting: welcome or wasteful?

Defne Bayman and Airi Thompson
December 22, 2023
1440 member Faizaan Ahmad '27 speaking to residents at Melrose Meadows retirement community.

The Silver Cord and how to get it

Eleanor Weitz and Defne Bayman
November 8, 2023
The title screen of the 2023 movie "Priscilla."

“Priscilla”: the real life of America’s sweetheart

Defne Bayman and Tessa Gibson
November 6, 2023
Fall is the best season! Here are 10 things to ensure the best 2023 Fall.

Ten things to do to fall in love with fall

Tessa Gibson and Defne Bayman
September 29, 2023
A student uses their phone during class, hiding it behind their Chromebook.

Phone Policy: Success or Sham?

Defne Bayman, Communications Coordinator, Artist, Reporter and Photographer
September 19, 2023
Patrons exchange tickets for sushi at Sumo Restaurant.

Taste of Iowa City

Defne Bayman and Jules Keranen
September 6, 2023
As the school year wraps up, here are some of the events that have taken place at West and around the world.

[Photo] News briefs

Jane Lam, Print Assistant Copy Editor
June 2, 2023
Crystals are a common form of manifestation among West High students.

[Photo] Manifestation: Myth or merit?

Jessie Li and Esther Park
April 22, 2023
Iowa parents come together to protest child labor bill SF 167.

Iowa citizens met to protest against the SF 167 bill

Defne Bayman, Communications Coordinator, Artist, Reporter and Photographer
March 27, 2023
IMG_6987

[Photo] Students leave class to protest anti-LGBTQ+ bills

March 2, 2023
IMG_6957

[Photo] Students leave class to protest anti-LGBTQ+ bills

Sachiko Goto and Krisha Kapoor
March 2, 2023
New Standard (Presentation (169))

[Photo] Artists in action

Gianna Liu, Print Co-Editor-in-Chief
March 3, 2023
In this installment of The Radish, WSS discusses Ticketmaster, Elon Musk's Twitter takeover, "Clue!" and the tardy policy.

[Photo] The January Radish

Katherine Shoppa and Jack Furlong
January 21, 2023
You don't have to be a "villain" to be direct.

[Photo] Am I the villain?

Katherine Shoppa, Print Co-Editor-In-Chief
November 19, 2022
Demetrius Harper both teaches and coaches football at West High.

[Photo] Coach Harper

Heidi Du, Print Copy Editor
October 10, 2022
Late summer nights at Dane's Dairy can't be beat

[Photo] Top five ice cream places to try before winter

Eleanor Weitz and Tessa Gibson
September 23, 2022
WSS has a few fun ideas on how to spend your time away from school.

WSS has a few fun ideas on how to spend your time away from school.

news briefs

[Photo] April news briefs

Maya Chu, Print Feature Editor
April 25, 2022
Janet Abejo-Parker is six months into her work as the ICCSD's ombudsperson, a new role within the school district.

[Photo] Budding ombuds

Lilly Graham and Soomin Koh
March 11, 2022
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[Photo] Unbalanced

January 20, 2022
West High athletes weigh in on the underappreciation and oversexualization of girls sports.

[Photo] Equal footing

Heidi Du, Krisha Kapoor, and Lily Prochaska
January 24, 2022
New teachers at West recall how they ended up teaching here.

[Photo] Welcome to West

Katherine Shoppa and Zaira Ahmad
October 6, 2021
After a journey full of trial and error, Spanish teacher Javier Montilla has found a home in Iowa City.

[Photo] Journey to West

Katherine Shoppa and Zaira Ahmad
October 6, 2021
Emily Magnuson discusses her journey from being an artist in New York City to becoming a teacher in Iowa City.

[Photo] Emily Magnuson

Katherine Shoppa and Zaira Ahmad
September 28, 2021
When the opportunity to teach at West arose, Michael Clark was ready to take it.

[Photo] Michael Clark

Katherine Shoppa and Zaira Ahmad
September 28, 2021
Amari Nasafi describes his transition from teaching 7th grade Language Arts to teaching African-American Literature at West.

[Photo] Amari Nasafi

Katherine Shoppa and Zaira Ahmad
September 28, 2021
After coming back to West shortly after graduating, Camille Crossett has already been enjoying her experience this year.

[Photo] Camille Crossett

Katherine Shoppa and Zaira Ahmad
September 28, 2021
Masks: Helpful or Harmful?

Masks: Helpful or Harmful?

Defne Bayman, Communications Coordinator, Artist, Reporter and Photographer
May 6, 2021
Playing alone: A child in a mask plays on the playground in front of the Iowa City Public Library. The park, which was crowded during pre-COVID days, is completely empty, even on a bright and sunny day.

Living With The Virus

Defne Bayman, Communications Coordinator, Artist, Reporter and Photographer
April 9, 2021
A picture inside the Downward Dog Yoga studio

Local Businesses: the cornerstone of our communities

Lillian Graham, Defne Bayman, and Huilin Cui
March 9, 2021
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The student news source of Iowa City West High
Defne Bayman