By Airis Cervantes

Machines rattle, cement cracks, and white dust blows into the air. The Lane Stadium has been under construction for four years, but construction has finally ceased.

Initially, the stadium was scheduled to be finished by the end of the summer. However, the completion date changed, as it has twice before. According to Dr. LoBosco, she has been given three different completion dates over the past few years.

Though only the east side of the stadium was open for this year’s Pep Rally, both sides were open to spectators in that night’s Homecoming football game.

“Whitney Young sold tickets in advance for the game and the Stadium Director realized there would not be enough room for both Lane and Whitney Young to sit in the East Stands,” said LoBosco, explaining why the full stadium was used for the game.

LoBosco was aware that both sides of the stadium were being opened only a few days in advance of the Pep Rally, after the seating and security arrangements had already been made for the event.

“The west stands are closed again. The Stadium Director told me they are not finished and only opened it for the game,” said LoBosco.

The west side of the stadium was closed after the game because minor details such as painting still needed to be finished. As far as LoBosco was informed, the stadium needs to be inspected for use after it’s completion, but she is unaware of an inspection before the Homecoming Game.

Underclassmen had mixed feelings about once again not being able to attend the Pep Rally.

“It would’ve been fun to support [our] school” at Pep Rally,” said Daisy Moreno, Div. 581.

“It’s taking [underclassmen] away from the tradition,” said Jessica Rodriguez, Div. 350, who wishes she could have gone to Pep Rally her freshmen and sophomore years.

Other students did not seem to mind missing out.

“I get enough of the excitement in the hallways, so I can wait another year,” said Anamar Serrano, Div. 480. “Next thing you know [they’ll be] inviting the 7th graders.”

Now that the stadium has been fully renovated, some seniors hoped they would be able to graduate in the stadium this year. However, the CPS athletic administration does not allow chairs on the new turf field that was installed two years ago because the legs of chairs punch holes in the turf.

“Students should be proud. They have a nice facility out there,” said Rio, providing more explanation for why it is not worth risking damage to the field by having graduation there.

Graduation will not be held in the stadium this year as Lane has already reserved the UIC Pavillion again. LoBosco pointed out that holding Graduation at UIC provides students with double the number of tickets, shelter from the unpredictable weather, and better parking.

Still, some students continue to voice their desire to graduate at Lane.

“We are celebrating leaving from Lane Tech, so why would we graduate [at] a different school?” said Graciela Asencil, Div. 252. “[Graduating at Lane] would be more significant than graduating somewhere we’ve never been before.”

Ricardo Antonio, Div. 251, agrees.

“We spend a lot of time [at Lane]. We might as well graduate there,” he said.

“It would be more emotional, saying goodbye to Lane for the last time. Plus it’s beautiful,” said Sarah Hanses, Div. 266. “UIC is by Whitney Young. I don’t [want to] be anywhere near Whitney.”

Other students are glad that Lane has stepped away from graduation in the stadium.

“I would expect to walk on a stage not in a stadium. It would be more of a concert than a graduation,” said Krunel Chocshi, Div. 279.

Several seniors worry that graduating outside in the stadium will make the occasion less significant.

“The stadium would be nice, but it’s all about swag. We’ve been at Lane for four years we [want to] get away from it,” said Adan Ramirez, Div. 267.

“The tradition changed and we graduate from UIC now,” said LoBosco. “Traditions are part of what makes Lane a great school, but we shouldn’t hold on to tradition for the sake of tradition.”

The stadium completed, LoBosco noted that CPS has already scheduled many more football and soccer games to be played there.