As all Whitney Young students know, there has been construction going on for the new athletic facility across the street on Adams. The Jide Olukoya Sports Complex. Yes, you definitely read that right. The facility will no longer be called the Michelle Obama Sports Complex. Rather than honor an old alumni, our school administration has decided to honor our beloved senior Jide Olukoya ‘19,  so that the naming is more a part of the zeitgeist than of the past. Right now you’re probably thinking, “Why does it get to be named after him, but not me?” or “What’s so special about him?”

Is it not obvious? Since he transferred in his sophomore year, Jide has been a fantastic addition to the Whitney Young community. The man does remarkable things that if everybody emulated,Whitney Young, and the world in general, would be a better place. He gets to his classes on time. He does his homework. He wears his ID when he walks into the building, (of course, he takes it off when he gets out of security’s eyesight like everybody does).

Most people believe the naming is well deserved; we asked our fellow Dolphins what they thought about it, and some were surprised. “I thought it would be named after someone a little more famous,” said Caleb Young ‘20. “That’s funny especially because I know him personally,” said Isaiah Young ‘21. Others were suspicious.  “That’s insane. I wonder what strings he pulled to make that happen,” said Casey Coates ‘20.

Unfortunately, the Jide Olukoya Sports Complex is still under construction so you all will have to wait to use it.  While everyone’s patience is wearing thin, but just bear with the construction workers. A masterpiece in the making is among us.