• 12/16: Pajama + stuffed animal day
  • 12/17: Jersey day
  • 12/17: Girls basketball vs. Wahlert Catholic
  • 12/17: Boys basketball @ Wahlert Catholic
  • 12/17: Boys swimming @ Linn-Mar
  • 12/17: Band concert in Arganbright Auditorium
  • 12/18: Pink out day
  • 12/19: Throwback Thursday
  • 12/19: Boys wrestling @ Linn-Mar
  • 12/19: Girls wrestling @ Solon
  • 12/20: 2 HOUR EARLY RELEASE
  • 12/20: Ugly sweater day
  • 12/20: Boys and girls double-header vs City
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
Mrudani

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print Managing Editor

Outside the newsroom, you’ll find her playing the violin or volunteering at Mercy Clinics. In her free time, she likes to read and spend time with her friends.

All content by Mrudani Ramkumar
Behind the number

Behind the number

Gianna Liu and Mrudani Ramkumar
November 19, 2024
West orchestra director Jon Welch turns to the audience after the performance.

West Orchestras host annual fall concert

Jessie Li and Mrudani Ramkumar
November 1, 2024
Nora Orhon '26 and Ines Rahmouni '26 twin with their matching pajamas.

Taelim Yoon '26 and Lydia Evans '26 dressed as Remy and Alfredo Linguini from Ratatouille.

Tina Hong '25 and Sabrina Du '25 dressed up as a hunter and a deer.

Anjali Lodh '25 and Anna Song '25 dressed up as Dr. Doofenshmirtz and Perry the Platypus from Phineas and Ferb.

Lauren Spence '25 and Claire Zubcic '25 dressed as Glinda the Good and Dorothy from Wicked.

Solomon Schaffer '26 dresses as a Hot Cheeto bag.

Abby Lee '27, Shannon Chen '27, Erin Chen '27 and Gracie Liu '27 dress up as musical composers.

With election season underway, WSS explores facets of presidential campaigns, the importance of political involvement and impacts on teens.

Campaign countdown

Jake Beneke, Mrudani Ramkumar, Shanza Sami, and Kaleshna Udas
October 4, 2024
Symphony Strings stand up after playing “Adventure on Bainbridge Island” by Alan Lee Silva.

West High hosts annual Senior Orchestra Festival

Jessie Li and Mrudani Ramkumar
June 4, 2024
Students share opposing views on the recent Tiktok ban passed in the United States.

The TikTok trial

Reem Kirja and Mrudani Ramkumar
June 2, 2024
WSS explores the harmful effects of energy drinks on teens.

Powered up

Mrudani Ramkumar and Grace Bartlett
April 23, 2024
Sabrina Du '25 poses at Carnegie Hall, where she will played with other students across the United States.

Q&A with Violinist Sabrina Du ’25

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print Managing Editor
April 2, 2024
For Women’s History Month, WSS highlights influential women from the Iowa City community.

Women of West

Zaira Ahmad, Anna Song, Mrudani Ramkumar, and Gianna Liu
March 1, 2024
The West High Chamber Orchestra in their rehearsal with Director Jonathon Welch.

University of Northern Iowa orchestra concert

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print Managing Editor
February 8, 2024
The Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra during their final rehearsal at the Paramount Theatre.

West students play at Metropolitan Orchestra Festival

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print Managing Editor
February 6, 2024
Director Jonathan Welch walks onto the stage to lead Symphony Strings.

West High Orchestra and Choral Concert

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print Managing Editor
December 18, 2023
Ahmed Mohammed '24 talks about having a diverse set of interests and how it impacts his life.

Hobby duality

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print Managing Editor
November 17, 2023
Director Jonathon Welch leads Concert Strings during the Halloween Concert.

West High Orchestra Halloween concert

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print Managing Editor
October 30, 2023
In this issue of the Radish, WSS discusses Trump's indictments, new school policies, the first Republican Primary and Spirit Week at West.

The Radish

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print Managing Editor
October 10, 2023
Charlotte Delowery '24 with her table at the Iowa City Farmer's Market.

Threads of happiness

Carter Birch Houchins-Witt and Mrudani Ramkumar
October 9, 2023
Process for All-State

Process for All-State

Mrudani Ramkumar and Anna Song
September 26, 2023
David Rosenthal, Rob Medd and Tom Lindsey are retiring this year. They have been teaching for a combined 84 years at West High.

Faculty Farewell

Mrudani Ramkumar and Lilly Graham
May 31, 2023
Anna Vasi '24 and Grace Cheng '24 work on their chemistry lab for AP Chemistry. .

AP Classes after testing

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print Managing Editor
May 25, 2023
ChatGPT is impacting the nature of the workforce as well as parts of the education system.

Let’s Chat: GPT

Heidi Du, Maya Chu, and Mrudani Ramkumar
April 20, 2023
March news briefs

March news briefs

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print Managing Editor
March 3, 2023
Deeksha Ragavan '25 and Emily Hagiwara '25 are at the cash register to help Minna Abdalla '26, Shanza Sami '25, and Aanya Reddy '26 with their purchases.

Q&A UNICEF winter bake sale

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print Managing Editor
February 23, 2023
UNICEF Winter Bake Sale. It's through January 23-27.

UNICEF Winter Bake Sale

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print Managing Editor
January 24, 2023
Images of Asian food are shown and there is a yellow moon in the left upper corner.

Lunar New Year

Mrudani Ramkumar and Jessie Li
January 22, 2023
The different movies are shown over a pink background.

2022 Movies in Review

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print Managing Editor
January 21, 2023
Ashley Seo '23 discusses past ideas that they can reuse for winter fundraising.

Meet UNICEF

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print Managing Editor
November 21, 2022
Some West High students have the unique experience of having politician parents.

Politician parents

Krisha Kapoor and Mrudani Ramkumar
November 18, 2022
OCD is a mental disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsions, both of which induce stress.

Living with OCD

Lilly Graham and Mrudani Ramkumar
October 7, 2022
The Problem with Toxic Hustle Culture

The Problem with Toxic Hustle Culture

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print Managing Editor
April 19, 2022
Change... for the better?

Change… for the better?

Mrudani Ramkumar, Jessie Li, Esther Park, and Abby Guo
February 21, 2022
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The student news source of Iowa City West High
Mrudani Ramkumar