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City Tech Times

November/December • Fall 2013 • Your Source for Information & Awareness

A Historic Day in Brooklyn

From left to right: New York City Council Member Mathieu Eugene, CUNY Interim Chancellor William P. Kelly, NYCCT President Russell K. Hotzler, Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol, CUNY Vice Chancellor Iris Weinshall, Assemblywoman Joan L. Millman, Deputy Secretary of Education De’Shawn Wright, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, City Tech Foundation Treasurer Dr. Gary V. Ellis and New York State Sen. Martin J. Golden ceremonially breaking ground for construction of City Tech’s new Academic Complex, Brooklyn, New York, October 25, 2013 (City Tech Times/Photo:Chimene Montgomery) see page 3

City College of New York students, faculty and other supporters protest the closure of the Morales/Shakur Center outside the entrance to The Howard E. Wille, Administration Building, Manhattan, October 24, 2013. (City Tech Times/Photo: Tash Joyner) see page 6

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Editor’s Page / Credits

City Tech Times Tash Joyner Editor-in-Chief Chimene Montgomery Managing Editor/ Marketing Director Kevin Julien Senior Writer

Ben Adams Copy Editor / Staff Writer Ruchoma Kaganoff Copy Editor / Columnist Shantel Paul Staff Writer Gerard Jitechian Staff Writer Katherine Hernandez Staff Writer Jennifer Gonzalez Business Manager Patricia Cordero Project Manager Santy Zambrano Marketing Assistant Hanif Knight Senior Designer Chris Isla Production Assistant David “Dust” Djitchoev Graphic Designer / Staff Writer John Soto Technology Manager Edsion Calle Web Master Maen Caka Web Designer Stephen Smith Photo Journalist Zakiya Owens Photo Journalist Dr. Monique Ferrell Faculty Advisor

Message from the Editor-in-Chief Are We on the Threshold of a Student Revolution? After reading November’s issue of The CUNY Professional Staff Congress Clarion (psc-cuny.org), I was enraged. In an article entitled “PSC Condemns Use of Force Against Petraeus Protestors: Videos of Police Violence Go Viral,” the paper details reports and videos of NYPD “assaulting demonstrators without apparent provocation” at demonstrations organized to protest CUNY’s hiring of retired Gen. David Petraeus. Events escalated to unconscionable levels. “In one video, a student is held to the ground by three uniformed officers. Though the student is lying still and not resisting, a plainclothes officer, wearing a striped hoodie and a NYPD handgun holstered at his belt, can be seen repeatedly striking the student fast and hard in his exposed midriff,” the article states. “Two officers repeatedly punch a student in the head as he holds up his arms to protect his face.” What is CUNY – board of trustees, administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni, me, all of us – doing about this? Who is keeping the peace at these protests? Where are the sheriffs? Have we learned nothing from oppression and violence? Is this what the retired general’s hiring brings to our university? Are the police justified in using violence to subdue resistance? Are freedom fighters and terrorists born from these violent encounters? What would you do, if you saw your best friend/boyfriend/girlfriend beaten down by armed officers? Would you feel helpless? Enraged? Would you harbor a desire to even the score? I fear that the demonstrators will not back down, and we know the NYPD doesn’t back down. So, here we are, at a crossroads. “The struggle is about one thing: what we fight for,” said David Suker. At City College, once called the “Proletarian Harvard,” faculty, community leaders, alumni, students and others have been protesting the closure of the Guillermo Morales/Assata Shakur Community Center. The Morales/Shakur Center was the meeting place for the organizers of the protests against Petraeus. Others have praised City College for the closure of the troublesome center, as City Tech Times details in these pages. Are we at the beginning stages of the next wave of “freedom fighters” or “terrorists?” We must remember that Morales and Shakur were City College Students before they became fugitives. At the student teach-in at City College held after the MSCC’s unexpected closure, one student talked about an injury he suffered that prevents him from playing basketball. He had to quit the squad. After the injury, he felt defeated and planned on dropping out of school entirely. He then spoke of a “consciousness shift” that granted him a new purpose and a new perspective on life. At the Center, he was challenged and learned lessons during intellectual engagements with peers. The Center is the “epitome of civil engagement,” he said. He became political and responsible. He spoke as he held in his hand “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” by Michelle Alexander, and asked his audience, “Are we safe?” As a citizen, you have responsibilities, among them to stay informed of the issues affecting your community; to participate in the democratic process and in your local community; to defend the country if the need should arise; and to support and defend the Constitution. We derive our rights from these responsibilities. If we avoid one, we won’t receive the other. Tash Joyner

MISSION STATEMENT: City Tech Times is a college newspaper operated by students from New York City College of Technology (CUNY). Our primary objective is to report news in a specialized format to our diverse student population. Our goal is to provide a forum for students to voice their opinions on issues that relate to them. Shoutouts to: President Russell K. Hotzler, Vice President Marcela Armoza, Special Assistant to the President Stephen Soiffer, Ph.D., Executive Director of Student Affairs Joseph Lentol, The Office of Student Life & Development (Daniel, Alice, and Christina), President Lucas Almonte and SGA, Student Recruitment & Welcome Center, The Student Wellness Center, Professor Concetta I. Mennella and Law and Paralegal Studies, Susan Phillip Associate Professor, Aaron Barlow Associate Professor, Public Safety, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Counsel Member Charles Barron, African Travel Association, Dr. Dionne Bennett, Internship Coordinator Professor Josephie Accumanno-Braneky, Communications Coordinator Barclays Center Hannah Stember

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN MAY CONTAIN INACCURACIES AND TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. THE CITY TECH TIMES (FORMERLY NEW TECH TIMES) MAKES NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS OR RELIABILITY OF ANY FACTS, ADVICE, OPINIONS, VIEWS, STATEMENTS, RECOMMENDATIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION DISPLAYED ON OR DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE PAPER. THE CITY TECH TIMES CLAIMS NO CREDIT FOR ANY IMAGES WITHIN OUR PUBLICATION UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. BY READING YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ANY RELIANCE UPON ANY SUCH FACTS, ADVICE, OPINIONS, VIEWS, STATEMENTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, OR OTHER INFORMATION IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK.

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City Tech's Academic Complex Ground Breaking By Chimene Montgomery

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A Historic Day In Brooklyn:

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Stephen Soiffer, Ph.D., Special Assistant to the President (City Tech) are all smiles about the building of the new academic complex, Brooklyn, New York, October 2, 2013. (City Tech Times/Photo:Tash Joyner) BROOKLYN, October 25 —

ursting with pride for his beloved Brooklyn, Borough President Marty Markowitz welcomed many distinguished guests to the groundbreaking of City Tech’s new academic complex. Among those present were representatives from Governor Cuomo’s office, members of the New York State Senate and State Assembly, and representatives of both City University of New York’s and City Tech’s academic leadership. Markowitz saluted college President Russell K. Hotzler, whose 40 years as an educator, progressive leadership and vision for the college’s future has increased enrollment by fifty percent. The new academic complex, the largest CUNYmanaged capital development

project in five years, is slated for completion in early 2017. Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning, Construction and Management Iris Weinshall introduced the building’s design team, led by architecture firm Perkins Eastman. Weinshall shared that the new building will have custom-built labs, a wellness center, a 1,000-seat auditorium and an 800-seat gymnasium. The complex will also be home to technical and professional studies programs such as Chemistry and Biological Sciences, Biomedical Informatics, Nursing, Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging, Dental Hygiene, Restorative Dentistry and Vision Care Technology. City Tech shares a close history with that of Brooklyn. The college opened in 1946

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and was recognized then as New York City State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences. The school was first designed to serve GIs returning from World War II. At the time, only 144 students attended the college, compared to that of today’s astounding enrollment figure of approximately 17,000 students. Brooklyn, once its own city, is the largest of New York City’s five boroughs. “The borough has flourished into a thriving metropolis,” stated Markowitz, who then exclaimed, “Brooklyn is hotter than ever!” Markowitz went on to affirm that Brooklyn is continuously on the cutting edge and referred to the downtown MetroTech area as “College Town, Brooklyn USA”. He added the area now boasts more educational institutions than Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Brooklyn has swagger

“City Tech has arrived,” Markowitz told his receptive audience. On this historic day, President Barack Obama visited neighboring Pathways in Technology Early College High School. President Obama’s visit affirmed the borough president’s sentiment that Brooklyn is undeniably a rapidly budding technology sector. At the heart of this high-tech educational hub sits our beloved institution.

New York City College of Technology is positioned at the helm of education for the future leaders of technology. “I am excited, City Tech will always be a key of higher education and it is preparing the next generation of leaders of science, math and technology. This new building will help

(see Historic on page 4)

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City Tech Times

From left to right: SGA Treasurer MuJun Chen, SGA Chief Justice Fernando Rosales, SGA President Lucas Almonte and Andrei Karneyeu, President of City Tech Helping Hands Club stand on the site of the new academic complex, enthusiastic about the new facilities being built and extra space that will go to student clubs and organizations in the Pearl Building when the complex is completed, October 25, 2013, Brooklyn, New York. (City Tech Times/Photo:Stephen Smith)

accelerate the education process which is long overdue,” said Marty Markowitz. Council Member Charles Barron, who also attended the groundbreaking, said, “This is a colossal moment. I am a proud alum of CUNY.” He went on to say that, “The new building will expand sports facilities and other variety of activities that will enhance academic excellence.” Barron shared that he received his associate’s degree from New York City Community College, one of City Tech’s five previous names he jokingly said. After completing his associate’s degree he continued onward, graduating with a bachelor’s degree from Hunter College. As Barron addressed the crowd, he stressed that the new building should reflect hope. “It’s more about students, it’s about more than infrastructure,” he said. He added that his experience at

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a proud alum.” Senator Adams attended the college during the time it carried the name New York Technical College. A former officer of the NYPD, Senator Adams shared that for many years he patrolled the area. From that perspective he observed the neighborhood’s vast transformation on a “Shakespearean proportion,” as he vividly described. He saw the college grow and evolve to what it is today. He added that today’s students require essential, tangible life skills. He feels that City Tech is a wellpositioned part of the future emergence of the high-tech education hub called Brooklyn Tech Triangle, along with NYU PolyTech and the renovation of 370 Jay Street. Senator Adams hopes that the building will also be used to support community activities and social events. He urged City Tech to make the building part of the community. “It must be inclusive not exclusive,” he said. To this sentiment he added that community members’ tax dollars – their nickels and dimes – are part of the bricks and mortar that help make things happen. “These buildings don’t come up on their own or in a vacuum; the community must participate in the use of these buildings. The future of many Brooklynites depends on

technology, it is the wave of the future, and to fill help wanted ads, our students are going to need technology and many other life skills.” Recognizing his patrolling roots, Senator Adams seized the occasion to highlight and acknowledge New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and 86th Precinct Captain Melendez and his team for continuously providing safety and opportunities. Feeling very strongly about the community, he moreover stressed that new buildings essentially must not be about political structures or taxpayer dollars; they should be about transforming not only professions, but transforming lives. “We must not leave anyone behind – technology must not intimidate,” he concluded. After all the guest speakers finished their remarks, and before going off to actually break ground, Markowitz presented President Hotzler with a replica statue of the Brooklyn Bridge as a symbol of the roads crossed by many of City Tech’s students and the rich history connecting the city and Brooklyn to technology.“Fellow Brooklynites will always know City Tech as City Tech,” Markowitz said. Confessing that he is a big fan of the Hospitality Department’s culinary program, Marty humorously applauded the college – and Brooklyn – for being the leaders in all things artisanal, organic, cruelty-free, gluten-free, hormone-free, etc. He noted that Etsy, the online outlet for vintage and

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Historic

(continued from page 3)

the college coincided with the Black Panther Party movement of the1960s, and noted that organization’s prominent political leader Huey P. Newton once spoke at the Kiltgord Auditorium. Barron said that experience was one of many which fuelled his education and profoundly influenced his career. He added that great college facilities bring out academic excellence in students. “The day’s event is not just a physical ground breaking, it represents a movement of people around education,” Barron said. He added that the groundbreaking is a win for underprivileged students who have been fighting to get more educational facilities; in particular students who come from his district and disadvantaged neighborhoods such as Brownsville, East New York and other parts of Brooklyn. Also in attendance was notable civic leader – and Brooklyn borough president hopeful – New York State Senator Eric Adams. When asked about the day’s significance, he replied, “It means a lot because I am also

it’s about more than infrastructure

handmade goods, started out of Brooklyn and that the Academic Building will be a “world-class facility” because Brooklyn has swagger. That swag is also needed to carry on the great tradition of innovation; City Tech grads will be the ones to bring it in medicine, technology, science and education. Combating climate change, addressing our aging population, providing affordable renewable energy sources: these will all be questions students can confront in the new Academic Building from the cutting edge.“City Tech students will have the edge to meet the needs of the city and America. This signals to the world that critical investment in technology is necessary to train students to compete in global economy with one another and the world. City Tech is a center for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship,” Markowitz told the crowd. “City Tech students will have the edge. The city that innovates is the city that rules the world,” he concluded. Fernando Rosales, Student Government Association chief justice, relayed the SGA enthusiasm for the growth that the new building offers. “I will not be here when the building is up, so I am kind of saddened by that. But it will be great for future students. The growth will be fantastic for the future of the college,” he stated. Though the new complex will not include student housing, State Senator Eric Adams told City Tech Times that if elected borough president, he will use his capital dollars to do what he can to assist with student housing. “It is a wonderful experience for students to be able to live on campus,” Adams asserted. He shared that his son – currently attending American University in Washington D.C. – texts him every day to say how much fun college is. Adams feels strongly that City Tech students should have an opportunity for a comprehensive college experience with athletics, dormstyle living and community involvement. He characterized the sentiment of many students throughout the tri-state area as excited about campus living. Adams added that he is aware that President Hotzler is looking into the issue and it is part of the ongoing conversation. Living on campus can be a vital part of the evolution from childhood to adulthood, and Adams is not alone in thinking this experience should be available at City Tech.

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City Tech Times

City College Sounds Off

By Tash Joyner & David Djitchoev

NEW YORK –

n Sunday, October 20, students at the City College of New York came to the North Academic Center (NAC) and were faced with a building in lockdown. The administration chose to barricade NAC, which includes a 24-hour library and other academic resources, to facilitate the closure of the Guillermo Morales/Assata Shakur Community Center (MSCC). The MSCC has housed a variety of activist and community organizations in its two-decade history. One of the most recent struggles coordinated in the MSCC was against what many groups call the “militarization of CUNY,” the growing influence of military leaders and organizations on campuses throughout the system. In pushing this line, the Revolutionary Student Coordinating Committee (RSCC) used the Morales/ Shakur Center to team up with the Ad-hoc Committee Against the Militarization of CUNY and orchestrated the September protests against CUNY’s hiring of retired Gen. David Petraeus as a visiting professor at Macaulay Honors College. Given the origin of these protests, which received worldwide media attention, members of the RSCC and other activist groups feel that CCNY’s unilateral decision to close the Morales/Shakur Center is retaliatory in nature. Campus security locked down the entire building while CCNY officials seized files, documents, and personal property from the Morales/ Shakur Center. The controversial name was removed from the door above NAC Room 3/201 and replaced with a sign that read “Career and Professional Development Institute.” This organization was previously part of CCNY’s Career Center, housed in the same building in Room 1/116. The Division of Student Affairs Periodic Review report released earlier this year discussed the expansion of the Professional Development Institute’s staff and noted that, “[PDI] is challenged by the lack of an adequate facility. Space discussions are being held.” Organizations housed in the MSCC have claimed that they received no notice from the

Protestors taking up the cause in a sit-in, protesting the closure of the Morales/Shakur Community Center in front of the The Howard E. Wille Administration Building, want their community center back, October 24, 2013, New York. (City Tech Times/Photo: Tash Joyner) administration that their room was to be reassigned to the PDI. City College administration released a “Questions and Answers” article on their website that explained their repurposing of the room. The document stated that the move took place during the weekend to be “less disruptive to the college.” Further, the college claimed it “does not offer reservations on a permanent basis” to organizations housed on its campus. This was not the first time that the sign over the door had been removed. On December 12, 2006, an editorial entitled “Celebrating Killers at City College” appeared in the New York Daily News, accompanied by a news article detailing the biographies of Guillermo Morales and Assata Shakur and the controversy stirred up by students who opposed the center’s name – and the activities it housed. The editorial began “The message to students and to members of the public on the third floor

of a main building on the City College campus is loud, clear and abominable. The message is that, as an institution, CCNY supports, endorses and celebrates the lives and crimes of two fugitive murderers.” Morales and Shakur were once students at City College, and have both been convicted of violent crimes in the United States – crimes committed during the turbulent civil rights struggles of the 1960s and 70s. Morales was a member of the Puerto Rican independence group FALN, and was convicted for a notorious bombing committed by that organization; he was apprehended in 1978 when a bomb he was constructing went off accidentally. He lost all of his fingers and suffered severe facial damage. While being treated at Bellevue Hospital, he used his bandages to craft a rope and climbed out of his window, where he was assisted by comrades and escaped. Shakur belonged to many groups, the Black Liberation

Army among them, and was convicted for the 1973 murder of a New Jersey state trooper – a charge she and her supporters continue to deny. After her trial and incarceration, Shakur had her own dramatic escape from a New Jersey prison. She and other members of the Black Liberation Army took prison guards hostage and hijacked a prison van to escape the facility. Shakur was placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted List in May 2013, and the reward for her capture was raised to $2 million. Both she and Morales are alive today, living in Cuba to avoid being recaptured. The Daily News editorial and article sparked even more opposition, and many media outlets picked up on the controversy. This exposure created much unwanted negative attention for City College and the university as a whole. CCNY President Gregory Williams ordered the original sign bearing the Morales/Shakur name be removed at the urging of then-

Chancellor Matthew Goldstein. Council Member Charles Barron said in an interview with City Tech Times that the MSCC is a “monument of the struggle in the 60s.” Barron is himself part of the history of the center: on February 8, 2007, he and Reverend Luis Barrios called a press conference in the hallway outside of 3/201, where they taped a replica of the sign over the doorway in a show of support. Barron believes this October’s closure of the center had nothing to do with using the facility to expand the PDI. Instead, he believes it is politically motivated, and says the administration’s action was “definitely wrong.” Melody Niere, president of City College Undergraduate Student Government, was a member of the committee to find a new location for the Career and Professional Development Institute. Niere has said she was shocked at the administration’s unexpected action. “Undergraduate Student Government along with the student groups who used the MSCC were not informed about the new plan for student space usage,” Niere said in a press release. She was informed by CCNY Vice President of Communications Deirdre Hill, “all student material within the center will be reviewed by the administration.” Niere told The Nation magazine that at the committee’s last meeting City College administration mentioned nothing about moving the Institute to the MSCC’s location. City Tech SGA President Lucas Almonte met with President Niere and was briefed on the situation. After reviewing the facts, Almonte issued a press released that condemned the actions of CCNY administration and the “decision to deprive students from accessing the 24/7 Cohen Library” during midterms. “The MSCC served as the central hub for political education, community service and an inviolable refuge from institutional oppression,” the release stated. “It is evident from the method of execution and the lack of communication by CCNY administration that (continued on next page)

6 City Tech Times

CUNY News

The Center

Protestors hold a sign: “KEEP SAFE SAPCES SAFE SAVE the MORALES-SHAKUR COMMUNITY CENTER” at a demonstration at City College Campus in opposition to the closure of the Community Center without prior notice, October 24, 2013, New York. (City Tech Times/Photo: Tash Joyner) the administration never sought to engage in healthy discourse with the student representatives, which is the cornerstone of effective shared governance.” When MSCC resident groups turned up for a meeting on the morning of the closure they quickly mobilized. Aggravated City College student activists organized a peaceful protest the following Thursday, October 24, in order to bring attention to what they saw as blatant suppression of First Amendment rights. While attempting to engage with the officials who barred the doors to the NAC, the students were subject to what they classified as an irrational response of campus security. David Suker, a veteran activist and part of the group that originally founded the MSCC in 1989, was present at the protest with his two-year old son. When he attempted to enter the building with his stroller in tow, Suker was tackled, handcuffed and hit with pepper spray. “It’s all on tape. The camera was looking right at us, and sooner or later they [CCNY administration] will have to give us the footage,” said Suker, who was subsequently arrested and charged with “inciting a riot, endangering the welfare of a child, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest,” he told us. Suker’s son was quickly removed from danger unharmed by a friend who was present in the event of an arrest. Khalil Vasquez, 22, and Tafadar Sourov, 19, leading members of the RSCC, received

notice on October 28 that they were suspended with immediate effect. The letters also informed them that their hearing was scheduled for November 8. CUNY officials later rescheduled the hearing for November 22 in order to respond to motions made by the students for disclosure of further evidence. “They’re trying their hardest not to be in contact with us, which is pretty much a slap in the face,” Sourov told City Tech Times. “They’re just providing us with more opportunities to organize people, and we are going to win because of this.” The disciplinary hearing having been rescheduled, Vasquez and Sourov were informed by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office on November 14 that they would face criminal charges in addition to the internal CUNY proceedings. The criminal complaint, based on the report of a City College Police officer present at the October 24 protest, charged the students with a series of misdemeanors, including criminal mischief, obstructing governmental administration, inciting to riot and harassment. Sourov was also charged with attempted assault for allegedly shoving the officer to the ground. Vasquez and Sourov surrendered themselves to authorities on November 18 and were arraigned the next morning after spending the night in the Manhattan Detention Center. A large group of supporters were present to welcome the

students’ release on their own recognizance. Their trial date has not been set. On Friday, November 22, the CUNY disciplinary hearing finally took place. Vasquez and Sourov agreed to a deal that will see them remain suspended until the end of the Spring 2013 semester by pleading no contest and offering no admission of guilt. The students’ attorney, Ron McGuire, made it clear that any other outcome to the disciplinary proceedings would have interfered with the ability to testify on their own behalf in the criminal case, hence their cooperation. The two students will be withdrawn from their classes and have their tuition refunded for this semester. Although there are many voices that support these students, and the continued existence of the Morales/Shakur Center, the administration has its advocates. Much like during the 2007 controversy, many media outlets have backed the closure of the MSCC. For example, an editorial in the October 23 edition of amNewYork entitled “CCNY Purges Radical Ghosts” opined, “Good riddance to a wretchedly misguided idea.” On the same date, a New York Daily News editorial told its readers “City College has evicted its last vestiges of far-left delusion from a campus office that was a stain on the school’s honor.” The debate rages on. (Additional reporting by Ben Adams)

In 1989, CUNY was at a crossroads. Governor Mario Cuomo (father of current Governor Andrew Cuomo) and the state legislature passed a budget that left the city university with a deficit of $18 million, after already having cut $20 million in spending. To make up the deficit, the legislature proposed a 15 percent increase in full-time tuition. Of course, CUNY students had not paid tuition at all from the time of the university’s founding in 1847 until 1976, when increasing financial demands and a shift of the budget from the city to the state government forced tuition to be imposed. But tuition had only been raised once since then, marginally, in 1983. This new proposal was a drastic increase, and for many working-class CUNY students it was a step too far. The reaction came from campuses throughout the CUNY system. In late April, City College and Hunter College students occupied buildings, and large demonstrations were held at BMCC, Lehman, Hostos, Medgar Evers, and John Jay Colleges. By early May, 13 CUNY campuses were experiencing demonstrations and occupations, and on the day of the deadline for the tuition increase’s passage, thousands marched on Governor Cuomo’s downtown office. The Governor was ultimately sympathetic to the protesters’ demands, and the tuition increase was vetoed. On May 5, students at the remaining 10 occupied campuses ended their action, with the administration and authorities offering a blanket amnesty. The story didn’t end there. The following year, students again occupied campus buildings, most notably at John Jay College, where the North Hall was barricaded for nearly a month. On May 21, student activists stormed the CUNY Central Administration offices, removed the staff, and chained the doors. By May 26, the administration had agreed to engage in negotiations over the students’ demands, and the occupation ended peacefully. Unfortunately, by December 1990 the budget crisis still hadn’t been resolved, and the CUNY Board of Trustees voted in special session to increase tuition by the very amount

that had been so forcefully protested. Protests started bubbling up in February 1991, when the University Student Senate barricaded its office in the Administration building and demanded the Chancellor’s resignation. When the Governor’s budget proposal was announced, it included a $92 million cut in funding for CUNY, and authorized a 30 percent tuition increase to make up $40 million of that gap. Student action was swift and decisive. City College students occupied three buildings on campus. BMCC, Bronx Community, Lehman, and Hunter followed a few days later with occupations of their own. By April 19, eight campuses were shut down entirely, seven more were experiencing sit-ins and demonstrations, and CUNY officials were threatening to call an early end to the semester. City Tech was not spared in this controversy. The Namm and Pearl buildings were seized by students – many from other CUNY campuses – and occupied for nearly two weeks. The first night of the occupation, police units prepared to enter the buildings and forcibly remove the protesters. This action was halted by a call from the CUNY central administration requesting that the police withdraw as the university attempted to mediate the situation. City Tech officials followed the lead of the administration, and waited for the situation to play out. Despite initially having the support of faculty and students, the protesters eventually wore out their welcome and, with finals looming, vacated their position without outside force. Most campuses were reopened by the end of April, through a combination of negotiations and police action that ousted the student occupiers. City College, the last holdout, reclaimed their facilities from the students on May 2. The 1991 occupations spanned 25 days, and in the end City College’s Students for Educational Rights were granted a room in the North Academic Center for their organization – a room that was soon christened the Guillermo Morales/Assata Shakur Community Center.

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City Tech: A Storied Institution T

he New York City College of Technology is approaching its sixtyseventh anniversary. The school was originally founded as the New York State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences, a trade school. It has since gone through many more changes, and not just in name. As the culture of the city has changed the institution has changed just as drastically, setting some firsts along the way. When classes began on February 5, 1947, there were 234 students in attendance, a far cry from current enrollment of nearly 17,000. The school originated from a 1943 meeting discussing postwar education; a resolution was passed urging the New York State Board of Regents to establish experimental institutes dedicated to teaching necessary trades. Under legislation proposed by Gov. Thomas E. Dewey in 1946, the New York State Legislature provided funding for five such institutions, one of them being City Tech. Dr. Otto Klitgord, a former War Training Program administrator and high school teacher, became the first director and Major Benjamin

Namm was elected chairman of the board of trustees. Beginning with a modest budget, courses were taught at Public School 15 – now known as Brooklyn Technical High School – for two months until 300 Pearl Street was ready. All classes met on the fourth floor, as the rest of the building wasn’t completed. The first graduation ceremony was held in February of 1949, but graduates would not receive associate’s degrees until May of 1951. In 1953, City Tech was renamed New York City Community College, becoming the city’s first public community college. The school expanded its course selection, but acting President Murray Block would be the one to introduce the Liberal Arts program. He also suggested that the school join CUNY, an idea that was met with disapproval and heavy resistance from trustee Betty Hawley Donnelly. She often opposed Block because of her desire to head the school after Klitgord’s passing. Additionally, there would be no board of trustees after the transition. The vote was delayed for nearly two years, but eventually the board

of trustees surrendered control of the school to the Board of Education on April 4, 1964. City Tech would later expand through its acquisition of Voorhees Technical Institute, which was originally called the Technical Schools of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and later the New York Trade School. The school acquired the Voorhees name after its charter was amended in 1961 to make it a technical institute, allowing it to bestow applied science degrees. Eventually Voorhees encountered financial troubles and issues regarding declining enrollment, so its board of trustees allowed it to be absorbed by City Tech in 1971, the first time CUNY had taken over a private school. City Tech would later give up the building but retain the faculty. Before the groundbreaking of Namm Hall in 1965 the classrooms were more spread out. Concord Hall, located on the east side of Flatbush Avenue, was another part of the extended campus; it now houses three high schools. The physics department held classes in rented space on Montague and Livingston streets and even in a former coffin factory

Namm Hall Under Construction in the 1960s (Photo courtesy City Tech Alumni Relations)

on Franklin Avenue. The completion of Namm was a huge relief to many. However, it wasn’t all sunshine and flowers for our growing institution. The fiscal crises of the 1970s challenged City Tech’s growing legacy. First, there was the CUNY budget crisis that saw most of the staff and faculty laid off. That was resolved by Ursula C. Schwerin, who assumed the school’s presidency in 1978. She was the only president to have graduated from City Tech, the first woman in America to become a president of a technical college and the first woman to be named president of a CUNY community college. After many negotiations, control of the college shifted from the city back to the state. Second, when New York City went bankrupt in 1976 the school was closed; students couldn’t take their finals. At the time, the Brooklyner skyscraper that lies at 111 Lawerence Street housed the New York State Unemployment office. Many faculty members were seen in the line that circled the building. While City Tech was able to reopen after two weeks, it took fourteen years for faculty

By Kevin Julien

to be fully paid for the time lost. Student life was different in the beginning, and not just because of the changes in technology. One major example is that extracurricular activities were woven into instruction early on. Articles for the school paper were written in communications courses while the layout was created in the art courses. Issues confronting the first few Student Government Associations were discussed in American Government courses. Another innovation was the creation of House Plans, a less exclusive version of fraternities and sororities. No one could have predicted what this institution has become. City Tech is one of the most multicultural schools in CUNY. Professor Jim Wise is known to say, “You name the country, we’ve got the student.” Despite the problems the campus faces, it continues to grow in prestige – a clear parallel for some of the minority races enrolled. The New York City College of Technology has existed for generations, and will continue to grow and adapt for generations to come.

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Public Safety / World News

The Security of City Tech By Kevin Julien

By Zakiya Owens NEW YORK, October 8 —

ormer Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan was in New York to deliver his insight on the recent nuclear meltdown in Japan, which occurred during his time in office. A panel held at Manhattan’s Theresa L. Kaufmann Concert Hall entitled “The Fukushima Nuclear Accident: Ongoing Lessons for New York,” made up of Kan and other distinguished individuals such as former Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jaczko and environmental activist Ralph Nader, discussed their experience with --and their opposition to-- nuclear power. Kan walked the audience through the terrifying moments of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant’s slow progression toward

Given the large number of students and the bustling location, we should all have a sense of our safety and our rights on campus to be sure said rights and safety are sufficient. Our Public Safety officers have been running, as the saying goes, a very tight ship. According to the U.S. Department of Education, reported criminal acts at the school from 2009-2011 were almost nonexistent. There are 44 officers who fill the three shifts on any given day. It’s important to

remember that the CUNY Public Safety officers are Peace Officers and not New York City police officers. They may monitor the school, inform students and keep the peace, but key differences between their position and that of police officers limit the scope of their authority. For example, public safety officers at CUNY do not carry guns. They are all certified in the use of the ASP baton, a collapsible alternative to the nightstick. They all have handcuffs and pepper

spray and are allowed to use deadly force when deemed necessary. The lack of firearms has nothing to do with the individual officers. According to the Annual Security Report and the Weapons Policy stated therein, the college president decides whether or not to authorize them. On the other hand, communication skills are said to be the “most important part of their training,” and that training seems to be effective considering that a recent bomb threat against the

Meltdown nuclear meltdown. On March 11, 2011, following a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami, at 2:46 p.m. Kan received his first report on the status of the nuclear reactors: they were safely shut down. This good news was short lived; a second report informed the former Prime Minister that the reactors had lost power. This was troubling news. With no power to the reactors there was no way for them to keep cool and prevent a meltdown. This was when Kan knew events were turning progressively worse. By 8 p.m. that evening Kan received false news of water continuing to cool the reactors, but the truth was the water had evaporated. New York has a nuclear power plant, Indian Point Energy Center (IPEC), located east of the Hudson

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school was successfully diverted and the suspect taken into custody. The Annual Security Report is available to all students, faculty and staff. While many complain that they have not seen it, this is seen as an example of not taking advantage of school opportunities. Security is in the process of being upgraded, but the human element is always the most important. One hopes they can keep up the admirable job they’ve been doing so far.

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he New York City College of Technology covers a lot of ground. The primary complex is formed by four of the school’s academic buildings: Namm, General, Voorhees, and Atrium. This complex is a short walk from the Brooklyn Bridge, and is also close to many other educational institutions and numerous court buildings. Over 16,000 students were enrolled during the fall of 2012 semester, and the number is expected to rise in the coming years.

After experiencing the disaster… I changed my thinking.

River about 38 miles north of New York City. Kan made it clear that the events which unfolded after the water evaporated in the reactors has the potential to happen here in New York because of its proximity to IPEC. Once it was confirmed that a nuclear meltdown was in progress, Kan had to think of ways to keep the people of Japan safe. His decision was to evacuate cities within a radius of roughly 150 miles – nearly 50 million people. This evacuation included Japan’s, and the world’s, most populated metropolitan area: Tokyo. Relating this to New York, Kan cautioned that if IPEC were to have a meltdown and an evacuation was implemented, the entire

population of New York City would have to seek refuge miles away from the power plant. Fukushima’s meltdown has left lasting effects on the environment. The ocean is now contaminated with nuclear waste; the aquatic life will be affected in ways currently unknown that may further negatively impact the economy. The underground fresh water reserves may also be contaminated with nuclear waste. There is no way to remove radioactive nuclear waste from the water, or from the life forms it may infect. Before Fukushima Daiichi’s meltdown, Naoto Kan held the opinion that nuclear power plants could

be operated safely, and therefore should be a part of his country’s energy strategy. Reflecting back on that sentiment, Kan only had these words to say, “After experiencing the disaster… I changed my thinking.” Kan currently advocates for renewable sources of energy. This event raised many questions about the safety of the lives of New York’s population with a nuclear power plant a few miles from the heart of the city. In the event of a meltdown, New York City residents will be in for an experience similar to those of Tokyo – away from home with no way of knowing when they can return.

Internship

City Tech Times

School Life to Real Life:

How an Internship Can Open Doors

f you have the chance to do an internship before you graduate, you may be able to rack up some real-life experience. At the New York City College of Technology, that opportunity exists for all students pursuing an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in Computer Systems Technology, a broad field of study that provides graduates with a flexible degree. The internship program at City Tech can expose you to opportunities of which you weren’t previously aware. The professional world can be shocking if you aren’t prepared, and an internship is the best way to investigate potential careers in a hands-on environment. Organizations tend to favor prospective employees whose resumes include internship experience. While a college degree demonstrates academic proficiency in various theoretical and practical models, an internship brings the classroom’s abstract theories and learned examples to life. By placing the student in real-life work situations with real-life co-workers performing real-life professional tasks, the student becomes better prepared to enter the workforce. The payoff of an internship for the student is gaining valuable professional experience. The payoff for the employer is an increase in efficiency and profitability. The employer can effect a positive change by ensuring that new employees are knowledgeable and efficient in what they bring to the work place. An employer will also want to refresh their workplace with new ideas and new faces, allowing present employees to mentor and encourage young people entering their profession. Of course, the process of acquiring an internship can be difficult. Here at City Tech, Professor Josephine Braneky, the intern coordinator of the Computer Systems Department, spends her days helping students overcome that difficulty. Many prospective employers know her and recognize the inherent complexities of the experience. She carefully selects companies to make sure that each student’s skills and interests are good matches with the

company’s requirements. Her guidance is exactly what makes students who have completed an internship such attractive and desirable potential employees upon graduation. According to Professor Braneky, a student should begin looking for an

available position the semester before the student wants to do the internship. The student will then register for the three-credit course on CUNYFirst. The credit-bearing internship class for Computer Systems Technology majors

is CST 4900: Internship for Computer Systems. This class is required for Bachelor’s Degree candidates and open to those pursuing an Associate’s Degree. Unlike most courses, CST 4900 is an out-of-the-classroom experience for which the Faculty

By John Soto Coordinator of the co-op class must register the student. The course is blocked or closed until the faculty member approves a student’s participation and gives the student a registration code. The Faculty Coordinator, presently Professor Braneky, monitors the intern’s progress to ensure the student is getting the required professional experience. Professor Braneky provided City Tech Times with a brief overview of some of the facts that students must consider to successfully execute a credited internship experience. The students must become invested in the process before they show up for an interview, let alone start their internship. Professor Braneky provides resume-building advice and interview preparation to each of her interns. The employers are aware of this investment and this is part of the reason Professor Braneky’s program is so successful. The employer will then guide and observe the intern on a day-to-day basis. Did the intern arrive for work on time? Did the intern become interested in daily operations? Did the intern demonstrate proficiency in their field of study? Did the intern learn new tasks easily? Did the intern show initiative? Did the intern exert a positive force in the workplace? These and many other questions are readily answered by a supervised internship;questions an employer would love to have answered about every prospective employee. Seeing these various qualities demonstrated in action is better than trying to ascertain them in an interview. If a job opens up at the workplace and an intern demonstrates skill in all of the job’s necessary duties and responsibilities, guess who’s going to get offered the job? In most cases, the offer goes to the hardworking intern.

(continued on next page)

Internship

City Tech Times

Turning an internship in to a full-time job is one of the most rewarding outcomes of the experience. This becomes more likely the closer a student is to graduation when engaging in their internship. Jason Rosado, who is currently interning at a major investment bank, has already been offered a permanent position upon graduation at the end of the 2014 Spring Semester. The Java programming language that he learned at City Tech has proved invaluable in securing his future position. Tawhida Rahman is presently an intern at Sumisho Computer Systems, working as a junior systems administrator. She said that the internship built her character, and “helped her step into the real world,” where she was “really doing something.” Christopher Roberts is interning with the Brooklyn Tech Triangle – which encompasses DUMBO, Downtown Brooklyn, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Christopher mentioned that he received extensive training before his first day of work. He also mentioned that Brooklyn Tech Triangle hires about 25 to 30 interns per year to participate in this intensive

career-building program. The degree you earn at City Tech is a great beginning, but being able to earn practical experience and credit towards your degree is an exciting prospect that adds a dimension to your educational process. Employers want to see the lateral thinking necessary to succeed in this very dynamic and ever-changing workplace – a classroom education and a high GPA are no longer sufficient. The process of successfully applying, interviewing, obtaining and fulfilling the responsibilities of an internship demonstrates an understanding and ability to carry out a complicated plan. Planning for your internship is perfect practice for finding your dream job. The key to success in an internship is to remember that companies don’t want generalists to help them think big – we all think big – companies want people who can help them execute projects and add quality. There are two big mistakes that many interns make. First, avoid writing a cover letter that lists all sorts of accomplishments but fails to explain how being hired would add value for that company. It’s important to

construct a narrative that speaks to your strengths. Second, do not try to be everything at once. Employers want to know how you are going to help them in one specific capacity. The evidence presented here may be overwhelming. Not participating in an internship before graduation can be to your detriment – far outweighing the benefits of devoting your time to grades alone. In today’s fast-paced world only the most agile minds will succeed in the workplace. Gaining the necessary experience that only comes from actually working on-site is invaluable in today’s labor market. If you aren’t convinced yet, it may be too late once you graduate.

In this photo released by Perkins Eastman, interns work alongside staff architectures. (Photo courtesy Perkins Eastman)

Not all internships are paid; many offer only college credit as compensation. Below are some legal guidelines that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division allows when an employer pays a trainee: • The training, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to what would be given in a vocational school or academic educational instruction; • The training is for the benefit of the trainees; • The trainees do not displace regular employees, but work under their close observation; • The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the trainees, and on occasion the employer’s operations may actually be impeded; • The trainees are not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the training period; and • The employer and the trainees understand that the trainees are not entitled to wages for the time spent in training. Advisory: Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 12-09” (PDF). United States Department of Labor. January 29, 2010.

Internship

City Tech Times

The Internship: An Educational Journey By Chimene Montgomery

Left to right front row: two Kings of the Fong King Council, Chimene Montgomery, H.E. Bello Bouba Maigari Minister of Tourism of Republic of Cameroon, H.E. Joseph B. C. FOE ATANGANA, back row: two members of the Fong King Council at ATA Roadshow reception at King & Spalding Law Firm, Washington, DC. (Photo: Rebecca Arnold for ATA) hroughout the years, I’ve teachers, revolutionaries, mix of governmental and nonremarkable individuals within refining the existing tourism come to understand the dreamers, believers and world governmental tourism leaders the organization, including policies in place throughout nature of learning. Today, changers who have come before – travel-related education and Executive Director Eddie the continent. This year, ATA’s I recognize that education me. networking services. Bergman and his Executive annual World Congress was is obtained in many ways, My life has been an These are all resources that Assistant Angela Gerrow. hosted in the Republic of both inside and outside of the amazing journey; there is no help these leaders promote their My duties included various Cameroon. It was the 38th classroom. As an African-born time to be insecure, no time countries within the African administrative support tasks and edition of the signature event, American citizen, it would be to worry about whether or not tourism sector. I chose ATA the coordination of events and promoting eco- and adventure extremely problematic to take people believe me or in my primarily because I wanted promotions for roadshows in tourism while highlighting the my education for granted. My dreams. There is no time to to have a comprehensive New York, Atlanta, Washington town of Buea in the southwest spirit is retold of the adversities stress, no time to trip. If you internship experience with a D.C. and Canada. In more region as a tourism destination. of oppression, the struggles of want to talk about keeping truly enterprising company. detail, I coordinated event The annual world congress the civil rights movement, the it real, then let’s talk about Their mission and philosophy logistics, emailed registrations is crucial to ATA’s overall unjust inequalities and lack of education. You cannot put your falls deeply in-line with what and confirming invitations for mission; the congress works educational opportunities that education on the back burner I envision for my own future upcoming roadshows. to market the country as a still exist today. any more. Everyone must company. Part of my mission This internship connected whole, by visually promoting Education is an recognize and grasp the value of is to transform the way me with many travel its various destinations in order opportunity of which we must education. people view Africa, helping to professionals in the U.S. and to attract tourism and industry take advantage; to not do so In the words of Nelson eradicate the stereotypes and in Cameroon. I hope to build developers. It attracts industry would mean spitting on the Mandela, “Education is the lack of investment through on these relationships in the leaders and travel professionals legacy and triumphs gained by most powerful weapon which cultural education and positive future to promote Cameroon from around the continent – the likes of Sojourner Truth, you can use to change the marketing. My plan is to as a destination to sellers and and the globe – by providing Mary McLeod Bethune, Dr. world.” I plan to do just that influence social and business buyers from all over Africa and them with a rich networking Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson with mine. This past year, I development through the the United States. The contacts platform and resource exchange Mandela through the Oprahs of was afforded an exceptional vehicle of tourism. I’ve made will be invaluable opportunities for future tourism today’s world. opportunity to intern with As part of my Hospitality as I forge ahead in developing development. For me, education is not the African Travel Association Management internship my own tourism business. I The best part about my a choice; it is a necessity, a (ATA). The nonprofit within the Professional Studies have already begun planning internship was having the matter of survival! I am a proud organization is a travel industry Department at New York development projects with a opportunity to meet a variety student attending City Tech. trade association that works City College of Technology, few contacts for the upcoming of professionals in my field and Because many have wailed, with a range of governments, I supported ATA with their year. Cameroon is a promising also becoming a noteworthy bled and perished, I am able to agencies, travel planners and tourism development initiatives place, ripe with potential for part of the marketing and sit in a classroom today, read suppliers to help promote travel by providing services in areas becoming a tourism hub. I am promotions for this year’s a book, write this article and to Africa. The organization is such as marketing, promotion definitely going to contribute to congress in the Republic of if I dare, dream the biggest membership-based; it serves and member service assistance. its growth. Cameroon. The experience was dream possible. My education many roles advocating travel As an intern, I was given ATA’s core mission is to very enriching. is afforded by the selfless acts and development for Africa. the exclusive opportunity promote tourism in Africa. and sacrifices of poor righteous ATA offers its members – a to work alongside some Additional incentives include (continued on next page)

Internship

City Tech Times

My trip began when I flew Arik Air, a leading African airline providing direct flights from New York to Nigeria, first from JFK to Lagos and then on to Cameroon. On my return trip I flew Brussels Airlines, whose website encourages passengers to “Share our passion for Africa.” Both airlines proudly focus on crafting flight travel experiences to coincide with African themes and destinations. On their flights, it was a pleasure to order traditional African dishes and enjoy popular and independent African cinema. Cameroon is significantly the homeland of musician Manu Dbango, who popularized the native makossa music, a blend of pop, jazz, and afrobeat influences. Additionally, the lovely Parisian soul sister signing sensation Les Nubians has their roots in Cameroon. Superstar singer Shakira recently help to illustrate Cameroon through pop culture with her Cameroonian inspired theme song, “Waka Waka.” The country has a rich soccer history; their national team, nicknamed the Indomitable Lions, will represent Cameroon at next summer’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Many famous stars of other sports trace their roots to Cameroon, including former French US Open tennis champion Yanik Noir, who is also the father of Joakim Noah, star player for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls. I recently discovered that many notable African-Americans traced their roots back to Cameroon, through the African American DNA Roots Project and African Ancestry, Inc. Some include former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, connected to the Tikar Tribe, admired actor Blair Underwood of the Babungo and Bamum people,

and Isaiah Washington from “Grey’s Anatomy,” who shares his DNA with that of the Tikar, Hausa and Fulani peoples. Eddie Murphy and comedian Chris Rock are descended from the Udeme people of northern Cameroon. This knowledge of popular culture helps to tie African-Americans to Africa and countries like Cameroon. Arriving in Cameroon was visually stimulating from an aerial view of the plane. Cameroon is one of the most beautiful and culturally diverse countries in Central Africa. With over 250 ethnic groups, the country is rich in culture and packed with historic sites. Upon arriving to Buea, you are treated to the majestically picturesque backdrop of Mount Cameroon, an active volcano that is one of the highest peaks on the continent; its most recent eruption was in February 2012. Buea is also located near the seacoast town of Limbe, a town offering remarkably cool breezes, beautiful beaches and the most recommended part of the country to indulge in the celebrated grill fish, a local delicacy. On this trip I visited the country’s French-speaking capital, Yaoundé, and its largest city, English-speaking Douala. This was the part of the internship where being bilingual paid off. I met various dignitaries, local chiefs and kings, ambassadors, ministers and media personalities. We visited several popular sites; one of my favorites, the Tole Tea Estate, a producer in the Cameroon Tea Estate (CTE) system, is located in the town of Limbe. The plantation is the oldest tea plantation in Cameroon and and a major tea producer in the West African highlands. Situated at the foot of Mount Cameroon, the plantation employs people from the local village’s farm and processes premium tea.

Another site we visited was the Limbe Botanic Garden, one of Cameroon’s greatest tourist attractions. It serves as a training center for Cameroonians in the fields of agriculture, horticulture and forestry. The tour guide shared that the garden has the greatest diversity of flora and fauna species within Africa. This is why it tends to be used for research and education. Locals use the park for many social gatherings, especially within the area called the “jungle village.” This part of the garden is popular for ceremonies and weddings. It reminded me of Brooklyn’s Prospect Park drum circle and how everyone gathers to dance and sing. The Limbe garden also offers a place for meditation and healing. The most heartfelt site visit was to Bimbia, a slave port that was active during the shameful Atlantic slave trade period from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Many African-Americans have visited the West African countries of Ghana, Nigeria and Gambia to trace their roots. I have visited Gambia’s Goree Island before, but on this trip I discovered that Cameroon also played a part in the slave trade. I felt a different connection and had a more raw experience visiting Bimbia. I walked barefoot in mud for what felt like over two miles into surprisingly beautiful forest full of bamboo and various fauna. Once we entered the main site, we were greeted by traditional song and dance from women of a local village. The site guide and local chiefs joined us to memorialize the former slaves. A group of actors were also staged to act as former slaves; their chains were relics of that dreadful era. In their roles, they reenacted the process of going into bondage and gathered to be placed in slave ships. The view from the Atlantic Ocean was quite unsettling.

From left to right, front row: ATA member, Cameroonian singer duo Les Nubians; back row: Chimene Montgomery, ATA Executive Director Eddie Bergman, Cameroon delegation representative, ATA media representative at the Cameroon Congress press conference at ATA Headquarters, New York. (ATA/Photo: Sharon Rollings)

According to our historian at the Bimbia slave site, Cameroon was a large supplier of slaves during the Atlantic slave trade and that 30 percent of all the slaves who were shipped from Africa to the new world passed through the ports of Cameroon. Most of these slaves came from the western highlands of Cameroon. In Yaoundé we visited Mefou National Park, which is operated by the Cameroon Wildlife Aid Fund. The park is a 2,500-acre tropical forest which functions as a refuge for orphaned chimpanzees, huge regal gorillas and playful monkeys. Several diseases threaten these animals’ lives, not to mention deforestation and poachers, while the majority of the infants are caught to serve as pets. Some Villagers also hunt the animals for food, a term known as bush meat. One of my favorite sights of the trip was the visit to Ebogo Tourist Village in Mbalmayo. This site was by far the most beautiful, relaxing place I’ve ever visited on my travels. In my opinion, it is one of the country’s best keep secrets. We were treated to lazy river-style canoe rides that took us inside a forest canopy draped with a multitude of greenery and the most beautiful bird soundtrack nature could create. The inside of the lake’s forest resembled scenes straight out of the movie “Avatar.” The park’s natural essence felt soothing and healing, and definitely had a calming affect on me. One day I eventually return to Yaoundé, I plan to submerge myself at this hidden retreat and sleep there for days. To this end, my future business plans include a package with specialized travel itineraries spanning Cameroon. In conjunction with Cameroon’s minister of tourism, I want to promote local travel providers in hopes of regularly attracting more visitors. My focus is the African-American travel market from the United States. My vision includes a connection through City Tech, such as a combined travel/internship exchange program with the government of Cameroon. Learning outside of the classroom was an amazing opportunity. In my opinion, internships are an essential part of a student’s education. I recommend that students make it their priority to seek out and explore companies offering internships. Also, I encourage planning ahead and doing research to make sure the program is a good fit. Do not wait until your senior year to do

your internship. You have to be competitive and have experience under your belt if you plan to get hired straight out of college. Try not to be too finicky about compensation. Most internships do not pay but they also do not abuse; you may be stuck at time performing menial tasks but the hard work pays off eventually. Think of your internship as an investment into your future. Time and skills have value; don’t sell your self-short but also do not close the door on opportunity. When it knocks you better hear it loud and clear! With this experience I’ve learned so many valuable work-related skills. They include aspects of African geography, specifics regarding the African Union Countries, concepts for communication and writing styles and protocols for contacting country leaders such as ministers, ambassadors and their liaisons. Additionally, I gained inside knowledge regarding sectors of the tourism industry as it relates to nongovernmental organization (NGO) and private sector development policies and the shared interest and agendas of these sectors. A few more words of advice: once you obtain your internship, make sure to watch your behavior. You are representing yourself and the college. Always, always be on time! So much can be learned from your internship such as your strengths and weakness. Internships for students who have no prior employment can serve as training grounds in preparation for entering the workforce. Furthermore, being culturally sensitive and respecting others will take you very far. Be careful about voicing your personal opinions and imposing your views and values on others. Offer to assist and work on projects that may not be your strength, this is how you learn from doing. Be accountable to yourself; at an internship, you may discover that you are not good at time management or may not be organized. Believe in yourself and use your internship and every aspect of your education to get closer to your dreams. Writing is essential; when you are a good writer more work comes your way. Network, network, network: the contacts you make will be the most rewarding part of your internship if you use them right! And finally, become significant; leave a positive lasting impression because your reputation follows you no matter which corner of the globe contains your destination.

Internship

City Tech Times

The Internship: An Educational Journey cont’d Here are photos from Washington Convention Center at ATA’s US/Africa Seminar 7th Annual US-Africa Seminar on Tourism, promotion of ATA 38th Congress in Cameroon at the Adventure Travel Show, NYU’s Africa House Economic Summit with Applause Magazine, Arik Air, Members of Africa House Miracle Corners of The World (MCM), 9th Annual Gala Celebration, 2013 Africa Tourism Day - 8th Presidential Forum on Tourism New York University’s Kimmel Center, 38th Annual World Congress in Cameroon, Cameroon, Central Africa, Buea, Limbe, Douala, and Yaounde. (Chimene Montgomery personal photos)

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Student Voice

City Tech Times

Student Voice Strange Eyes Over Me Sheily Feliz

Walking through that dark passage down the street Every time it feels like strange eyes are over me And all of a sudden a shiver run down my spine, just like a soft touch of a lover would have, But there is nothing, nothing back. I look around while feeling an intense sight staring from far, With anger, or maybe just desire, following my way. As I proceed into the darkness I can hear footsteps Don’t know whether it’s real or a distortion of my brain. Terror fill my eyes as I feel his strange presence, so I look back and There is nothing, nothing but a little cat. I keep walking down the hall as the lights start to dull and the scene become intense. Shadows surround me, yet nothing ahead. My head full of confusion; will I be able to escape? His scent feels closer, he wants romance or death? Once again I look back, and there is nothing. A mighty breeze carrying down a slight whisper of my name There is mystery that invades my spirit again Finally I hear someone clears up their throat, My dear I been waiting, is it really you? I could actually hear Perplexed yet sober I turn back and discover, There is nothing, I’m just afraid of the dark.

POWER OF LOVE Erica M. Williams

You ever get all these feelings balled up inside of you and suddenly wonder what exactly is it? Or how about feeling a pain so severe you begin to laugh to keep from crying? Its sad, hurtful, and maybe even something that turns you completely numb. It’s not fair to love someone and think that the things that are so simple for them to do are something turned into the hardest things ever. You love til you feel like you can’t love anymore, only to get a reality check in knowing the love just may be there to stay forever. What is something that can remove that love? Is it a something that you would actually like to have though, as much as you try to convince yourself it will make things easier? Why can’t people just be genuine and speak their truth? If you know you’re incapable of giving the other what they need, then why waste their time? Why not let them go? Why string them along for your guilty pleasures? Why waste their precious time that they will never be able to get back? Why hurt them so much? What gives you the right to take someones heart and awaken a love without having the initial intention of doing everything it takes to keep it? We as human beings fail to realize that when someone loves you, you really don’t have to do much but be consistent. Consistently faithful, consistently loyal, consistently reminding them by not just your foolish words but your pure actions of how much you never want to let them go. Love can be so easy yet people make it so hard. Why? Why is that fair? Give me your pure self and I will be sure to honor that with my whole mind, body and soul. The woman will love a man like no other. She has that motherly instinct that allows her to be patient with a man and console him each and every chance she gets. It comes natural to her until she starts to get that impression that you’re not worthy of all she’s willing to give. This is when all kinds of problems arise, but if you still want that woman why not trust her to let her know that you need her help to show you how to continue to love her the way she desires? Why must you let her mind lead to negative thoughts when they may not be the truth? But, if her negative thoughts are the truth, and you realize you no longer want her, why not tell her that? Hurt her that one time genuinely to let her go and fly like the butterfly God created her to be. It’s simple. Women are one of the strongest creatures and they know how to bounce back especially from truth, and I am pretty sure if you continue to stay true to her whether you want her or not, she will forgive you and continue to believe in herself to know that it’s not her that’s the problem. The problem can simply be that she is just not for you, not your soul mate and her’s is still our there waiting for her. So why hold her back!?

I Am a Farmer Chiamaka Odunze

Ku-kuru-kruu! The cock crows. Ku-kuru-kruu! The cock repeats himself. This is the 4:30am alarm for the whole neighborhood. Everybody is waking up: children, mothers and fathers, grandfathers and grandmothers. These people include students, schoolteachers, headmasters and headmistresses, farmers, hunters and market sellers. Everybody is waking up to do their individual chores before they start their day. Girls are sweeping their compounds with two dried palm tree branches tied up at the stems. Boys go to fetch firewood for their mothers. Mothers make breakfast for their husbands and children. Fathers get ready to go to work as hunters, farmers or civil servants. After the children finish their chores, they get ready for school or the farm. In my own case, I go to the farm after doing all my chores. I live with my grandparents. My grandfather is a well-known hunter in my village, and my grandmother is a farmer. Every morning after the cock has crowed, my grandmother comes to my room and wakes me up. It’s hard for me to wake up because I am so tired. The only way I will get up from my mat is if my grandmother pours a cup of cold water on me; sometimes she will shower me with a whole bucket of cold water. That always gets me angry. I would get up to brush my teeth. My toothbrush is always on the table next to the door. I grab my toothbrush and apply toothpaste to it. Sometimes if we have run out of toothpaste, we use the alternative way to brush our teeth: a chewing stick. It is called chewing stick because you chew on the top edge of the stick, making it soft, then start cleaning your teeth with it. I pick up a stainless steel cup to go get water from the clay pot outside the house. As I am walking down the hallway to go outside, I see my grandfather getting his hunting gear ready. He is cleaning his hunting gun. Next to him is a big sack he uses for the bush meat he has killed. The previous night, he went to set his hunting traps around the forests. He came home around midnight. I arrive outside the house, and get my water. After brushing my teeth, I go inside to eat breakfast. My breakfast is boiled yam with palm oil. It is a heavy breakfast, because my grandmother and I are going to the farm. After breakfast, I get ready for the farm. I gather our farming tools and pack them up in the wheelbarrow, including two hoes — farming tools that are shaped like an upside down seven. They are used to dig into the soil to make ridges. There are also machetes that we use to clear the grasses, before make the ridges. I also carry a big sack of chicken poop that is used as a fertilizer to help the crops grow faster. There are also small bags of cut corn, pumpkin seeds, pepper seeds, tomatoes seeds, yam seeds and cassava seeds. As I am wheeling my wheelbarrow, I see students going to school. I am so sad because I am going to the farm instead of going to school. I have to be going to the farm with my grandmother because they can’t afford to pay my school fees. I was schooled from nursery school to elementary school because the tuition is cheaper than high school. Now high school-aged, I am ashamed to see my friends. They all look good in their uniforms, but I am wearing torn-up clothes that look like rags. I have no choice because my grandparents are the only ones I have. I am carrying the burden that poverty has placed on my family. Modeled on “The Things That They Carried” by Tim O’Brien

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Student Voice

City Tech Times

Charlie Tajay Douglas

Charlie Brooks never understood his purpose in life. Being the oldest of six children, Charlie always felt responsible for taking care of his younger siblings – a lot of pressure for a 19-year old. Second to Charlie was Clementine, 17 – Em for short. She was extremely smart, but like Charlie she felt the need to care for the family. Following Em was Charlotte, 14, the sweet, care-giving sibling. Twins Phil and Paul were eight and the youngest, Leo, was two. Their father, Phillip, constantly drank and did drugs and showed no signs of recovering from his addiction. Since Phillip had a habit, he regularly stole and conned his family into giving him money in order to get drunk or high. Because Phillip showed no effort to recover, Charlie threw his father out of the house. As for Charlie’s mother, Charlene, she suffered from chronic depression and alcoholism, and abandoned the family shortly after the birth of Leo. The pressure of six children and a junkie husband was too much for her to handle. This made Charlie drop out of high school during his senior year. Charlie was a hard worker, taking whatever odd jobs were available just to make ends meet and ensure everyone was happy, even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness. Not only did Charlie work hard, he was an extraordinary artist. Charlie’s goal was to become a successful artist, but he felt it was just a dream and his true purpose in life was to care for his family. Although life was difficult for Charlie, he was still able to find time to have fun and live like a 19-year old should. Charlie’s best friend, Samantha, or Sam, helped Charlie as much as she could. Sam was from a rich family and she mostly used her wealth to help out the Brooks kids. Even though Sam was rich, Charlie resisted her handouts. He felt he could provide for his family without charity from others. This was often a disagreement between Sam and Charlie. Though they were from two different backgrounds, Sam admired Charlie’s love of his family and his desire to work hard for them. For that reason, Sam fell in love with Charlie – the reason why she stuck around even though she was not accustomed to Charlie’s lifestyle. Charlie was also in love with Sam, because of her genuine personality and for always being his rock. Each was clueless about the other’s feelings and thought they were only friends. This tension was a constant issue for the two. On a chilly Sunday afternoon, Charlie and Sam took everyone to a local carnival. As they got ready to leave, a sudden knock came from the front door. “Bang, bang!” the knock got louder and louder. It was obvious the person at the door was growing impatient. After about ten minutes of knocking, Charlotte opened the door. To her surprise a social worker – who regularly checked on the family – and a police officer were standing on the porch. Immediately, Charlotte slammed the door in their faces before either one of them could let out a word. She ran upstairs to Charlie, in shock, “Charlie, she’s here again!” “Who’s she?!” Charlie responded in worry. “It’s the social worker from before and she’s with a cop this time,” Charlotte said, panicking, as she was trying to catch her breath. “Charlie, are they going take us away?” “No way,” answered Charlie, smiling to ease her worries. Charlie had always been able to make a bad situation seem like nothing, with his glowing smile that warmed hearts. By the time Charlie arrived at the door, he noticed Phillip was on the porch arguing with the social worker and cop. Charlie dashed outside and tried to calm his drunken father down before he made the situation worse. After calming Phillip down, Charlie asked the social worker, “How can I help you?” The social worker responded, “Charlie, I got an anonymous tip about five minors living in bad conditions and without a guardian. This was the third time this household has been reported. No more chances, Charlie. I will place the children in temporary housing until a permanent home can be found.” Charlie was baffled by this information. “Who reported us?! I’ve been these kids’ guardian since the day our mother left us! I’m not giving them up without a fight,” Charlie said angrily. “Sir, please calm down,” said the cop. “No, I will not calm down, I try my best to give these kids everything, who do you think you are, thinking you can come in and take my brothers and sisters away from me. Screw you and whoever reported us!” Charlie screamed. “Sir, please calm down or else I’ll be forced to arrest you!” the cop said with his hand on Charlie’s chest, holding him back. By this time, Phillip slumped over on the gate with a beer bottle in hand and shouted out “See Charlie, all of this could have been avoided if you didn’t kick your loving father out of his own house. I would have kept my mouth shut and never reported you damn kids all the time. What you need to do was get your head out that rich bitch’s skirt and treat your father better!” Charlie looked to his father in rage and disappointment. “It was you, Phillip?! How could you sell out your children?!” Charlie screamed with a tear rolling down his cheek. In a blink of an eye, Charlie ran towards his drunken father and punched him, beating down Phillip. By this time the social worker had enough. It was clear to him that this was an unstable home for the children. Without delay, the social worker entered the Brooks’ home. Everyone was sitting in an awkward silence; saddened by what just occurred, Sam and Em comforted the children as they packed to leave with the social worker. As everyone left the house, they saw Charlie in back of the police car, face to the window crying out “I promise, I’ll come for you guys! I promise!” After seeing their big brother crying in back of the police car, everyone began to feel discouraged and Sam, full of empathy, led to them crying. As the kids drove off in the social worker’s van, the police officer released Charlie. Confused by what just took place, Charlie, overwhelmed and empty, sat on the sidewalk with a blank stare. Sam took his hand and walked him inside. With pain in heart, he cried in Sam’s arms and said, ”I gotta get them back, Sam. I have to.” Sam replied, “You will and I’m going to help you all the way. Whatever it takes.” Charlie looked into Sam’s eyes and with a husky voice he said, “Thank you; I don’t know what I’d do without you. I love you so much, Samantha.” As he leaned in for a kiss, Sam was swept away by his sudden confession. Sam kissed him back and the two passionately kissed, ending all sexual tension that was held back in the past. Months after the children were taken away, Charlie, with Sam at his side, began filing for full custody of his siblings. Em was now 18 and was the first to return home, happy to see her brother and Sam together after years of denial – but all was not butterflies and rainbows just yet. In order for Charlie to receive full custody and return the children home he had to have a solid income and convince Phillip to sign over his parental rights. This was difficult because Charlie never finished high school and the last time Charlie saw or heard from Phillip was the day the children were taken away. With help from Em and Sam, Charlie got his GED and a job as an assistant graphic designer. Not quite his dream job, but he was able to maintain an income and repair the house for the return of his family. The only thing left was to locate Phillip and have him sign over his parental rights to Charlie. After searching high and low, Charlie, Em and Sam ironically found Phillip in rehab. Impressed by Phillip’s drastic change, Charlie forgives his father and tells him without this incident he would’ve lived life in doubt. Charlie thanked Philip for being a screw up because it made him a better man. Drowning in years of regrets, Phillip willingly signed away his parental rights, giving Charlie full guardianship of his siblings.

Bridging Cultures

City Tech Times

Bridging Cultures

By Shantel Paul

person who converts the hurt and disappointment of life into a driving force for good in the lives of others is called â&#x20AC;&#x153;extraordinary.â&#x20AC;? Andrei Karneyeu is one such person. Known by those around him as giving of himself unconditionally, Andrei is not one to speak of his past hurts and pains. Instead he offers smiles, friendly words and hugs. This cheerful and pleasant young man values those around him and makes each person feel like a lifelong friend.

City Tech Law and Paralegal Studies sttudent Andrei Karneyeu (Photo: Zakiya Owens)

20 City Tech Times

BROOKLYN, New York—

ndrei Karneyeu is one of the most remarkable students that I have ever met at New York City College of Technology; our conversation resulted in him winning my admiration. A Law and Paralegal Studies major in his senior year, Karneyeu immigrated to the United States with his father at the tender age of 11. Born in the Republic of Belarus, he speaks Russian, English, conversational Spanish and is a beginner in American Sign Language. After graduating from Sheepshead Bay High School, Karneyeu wasted no time beginning his legal studies at City Tech. By that point, he knew he wanted to study and eventually practice law, though he said “It started as a joke, then it was a goal and it will soon be a reality.” At the age of 22, Karneyeu sets a fine example of service and leadership not only at City Tech, but also for students everywhere. Despite being a dedicated student – maintaining a 3.6 GPA in the classroom – he devotes the majority of his spare time helping others. For example, he is the founder and current president of the City Tech Helping Hands Club. “This is a club that will build a community within City Tech,” said Andrei. He lamented the fact that on this campus “most students just pop in and out for classes and move in circles affiliated with their major,” so the City Tech Helping Hands Club collaborates with other clubs and a broad range of majors in order to expand the benefits of participation by students. Their first drive was an eyeglass drive and then they had a breast cancer walk. The club also helps in bone marrow drives. He stated that he collected 70 samples last year and 15 this year. Karneyeu raises funds by selling candies he bought from Costco. Recycling bottles and cans which he acquires from digging deep into the garbage bins around school also help with funding. Andrei shared that the donations do not only help New Yorkers, they reach the entire USA and Third World and Developing Countries. “I’m trying to help out globally, by bring out the leaders locally,”

Bridging Cultures

he summed up about the club. Andrei was motivated to start this club after attending the Malave Leadership Academy in 2012, where he learned leadership through service and participation in charitable drives to collect eyeglasses and recruit bone marrow donors. He took the initiative to continue his work at City Tech by creating the Helping Hands Club. He stated: “This club stands out because unlike other clubs that may only work once a week, City Tech Helping Hands works every day all day. The club is based on leadership and service.” Karneyeu, true to his generous self, would not accept all the praise for this venture. Instead he insisted that his team receive the public appreciation it is due. He specifically mentioned Vice President Jennifer Andon, Secretary Susana Ortiz and Treasurer Jose Camacho, whom he says does way more than a Treasurer. Andrei continues to attend the Malave Leadership Academy, where he currently serves in the Student Investment Advocacy Division. Karneyeu also interns with Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Patricia DiMango for the past year. DiMango is a pre-trial judge and Karneyeu’s former professor at City Tech. He serves right by her side in the witness box and is allowed to observe, engage in the conversation, research and much more. Andrei Karneyeu is also a member of CUNY Service Corps. The CUNY Service Corps mobilizes CUNY students, faculty and staff to work on projects that improve the short and long-term civic, economic and environmental sustainability of New York City and of its residents and communities. He was placed at the Urban Justice Center where he works with the Safety Net Project. He is the Benefit Advocacy Intern. He works with people who have had their food stamps and housing checks terminated. He sets up legal clinics in pantries and churches, where he conducts interviews. He presents his reports to the Center for consideration of reinstatement benefits. When I thought we were

finished with his endless service involvement, he surprised me with a question. “Have you ever heard of the CUNY DREAMers?” Of course, I said “no.” He went on to explain that many CUNY Schools have formed a coalition called the CUNY DREAMers that advocate for undocumented students. Karneyeu told me that he had recently become a member, and had he not already been serving as president of City Tech Helping Hands he would have pursued the presidency of the City Tech Dreamer’s Club. Pulling from his paralegal studies he further explained to me that it is politically impossible for him to hold two presidencies. Despite all that he does in service for others, Karneyeu never neglects his responsibility to pick up his 10-year-old brother from school. After accompanying him home, Andrei returns to the office, where he still devotes some time to helping his brother with his homework via Skype™. I asked Andrei where he gets such a deep conviction to serve others. His response was both humbling and surprising. He said, “I really don’t know. It’s inside of me, I never thought of it.” With some gentle prodding, he offered the name of someone who is an inspiration to him. He identified Alice Tucker, Program Coordinator of Campus Discovery and Awareness, as his mentor and inspiration. “I don’t think we will have enough time in this interview to talk about Alice,” Andrei said. He went on to say Ms. Tucker is an amazing person and his “City Tech mama.” “I joke with Alice, I open up myself with Alice,” said

Andrei. He cited her smile as the secret to lifting his spirit, getting him out of a bad mood, and making him do what he needs to do. “I can talk to Alice fully and she will understand me,” Andrei revealed. He met her the first time he worked as an orientation leader, during his second semester at City Tech, and she has been a very important person in his life ever since. Andrei lost his mother at a very young age; Alice has been able to fill that maternal void in his life. “I hear her voice and I know the day is good!” he said. Tapping into his Belarusian Culture, Karneyeu shared his favorite food with me. An amazing dish called “the volcano.” Mashed potatoes are shaped into a cone, then filled with stripped meat. The cone is sprinkled with paprika; mayonnaise and ketchup are mixed together and used to depict the lava, with little valleys dug into the mash potato mountain and filled with the mixture. For the finishing touch, an eggshell is placed on top with a small amount of alcohol inside. The alcohol is then lit. When the dish is complete it literally looks like a volcano erupting. There isn’t much else that he remembers about Belarus, having left at such a young age. However, Karneyeu said, “One thing my country has contributed to, is who I am and my strive to do better mentally.” He may have never had the opportunities there that he now has in the United States. He doesn’t believe that he would have been able to prosper and grow in Belarus, and considers himself very lucky to be getting an education here. When asked if he could take one

thing to give back to his home country, Karneyeu said, with a great laugh, “Democracy.” He explained that even though the country is a democracy, the president has been in power for 15 years already. He believes the justice system and the people’s attitude towards it is corrupt. As much as it was surprising to get such an answer, it was not, since Karneyeu aspires to be a judge one day. When asked how City Tech had opened doors for him, and what he has gotten from the experience that he may not have received elsewhere, Andrei’s reply came simply and without the slightest hesitation. “Home,” Karneyeu said, “I have a family here in student life and so, that’s home.” He once again showed how important Alice Tucker is to him when he said, “it is home because of her.” Once again being true to himself, Karneyeu closed our interview by sharing more about his club, City Tech Helping Hands. If after reading this article you decide you want to be a part of this great venture, feel free to contact the club at citytechhelpinghands@gmail. com or use the link tinyurl.com/cthelpinghands to sign up. Andrei Karneyeu is a spectacular young man, a role model and one of City Tech’s precious jewels. This young man while ambitious is very humble. Although he aspires to be a judge, he said he would never consider joining the political arena of New York. He prefers working in a soup kitchen versus being the mayor. “Service has no strings attached,” Karneyeu said to justify his position.

We are looking for some extraordinary people to be featured in Bridging Cultures, if you are one or know of one, drop us a line at submissions@citytechtimes.com

College Life

City Tech Times

Freshmen: Ready For College?

By Ben Adams

Students from Dr. Ferrell’s English 1101 class share their experiences transitioning from High School to City Tech, Brooklyn, New York, October 16, 2013. (City Tech Times/Photo: Tash Joyner) BROOKLYN, Oct 16 —

his past February, CUNY and SUNY presented a joint report to the New York State Board of Regents. The report stated that while the graduation rate in New York high schools stands at 74 percent statewide, less than 35 percent of students graduate meeting the basic requirements for college readiness. In addition, over 50 percent of first-time undergraduates at two-year colleges require a remedial class. City Tech Times found the voice of those statistics during an interview with a freshman English Composition class. Dr. Monique Ferrell, an Associate Professor in the English department and faculty advisor to City Tech Times, opened her class to us for a discussion about the adjustment to college life – and college work. “My primary goal is to take students and turn them in to scholars,” Dr. Ferrell told us. She said that her emphasis is on developing critical thinking and research skills, teaching proper structure of

composition and encouraging students to develop opinions and arguments. This semester Dr. Ferrell is instructing three sections of English 1101. The class we spoke to comprises 23 freshmen and one sophomore. The majority are recent high school graduates from New York, like those from the report to the Board of Regents. We observed the class for 45 minutes as they worked in groups of four to six students on a collaborative paper, analyzing a single piece of source material and providing their personal responses. Dr. Ferrell employs a technique called scaffolding theory, where a support structure of peers is put in place to work on a project together in order to help each other understand core concepts, with the professor providing additional support. Once group work has been completed, the support structure – the scaffolding – is removed and students are required to apply those concepts on their own. This class was using the small group structure to learn how a personal response essay

should be composed and what information it should contain. Once the group paper has been completed, the students will be assigned a similar paper to be written individually. After the observation period, we began our discussion by asking why the students had chosen to attend City Tech. Their reasons varied, with a few citing convenience and location, some enticed by the diversity of the student body, and a handful of students saying other schools had rejected their applications. The majority of students, however, said that they came to City Tech either because of the open admission policy or because the school offered a course of study that piqued their interest. There were many majors represented, including Nursing, Radiology, Mathematics Education, Computer Science and Liberal Arts. Most of the students told us they were pursuing twoyear degrees or studying core curriculum with an eye towards a transfer in the future. This desire to finish their degrees elsewhere is reflected

in data from City Tech’s own internal analysis. According to the NYCCT Office of Assessment and Institutional Research, 20.5 percent of students in bachelor’s degree programs, and only 6.3 percent of students in associate’s degree programs, who entered the college as full-time, first-time freshmen in 2006 had received a degree in those programs from City Tech after six years. Of those same students, 73 percent of bachelor’s and 70 percent of associate’s candidates had received no degree from any CUNY school after six years. Compare that to Brooklyn College, where nearly 50 percent of the class entering in 2006 had graduated within six years. When questioned about the adjustments they’ve had to make between high school and college, many students commented on the demands of time management and scheduling. The flexibility of the schedule at the college level has proven to be a challenge, but a welcome one for many students. Their schedules were rigidly set

in high school, but freshman Andrea Garcia said “Here I chose what classes I want to come in to, and when I want to come in to them. It’s way easier now.” The flip side of that flexibility is commitment. Most students felt that the work in college is more rigorous and demanded a higher level of attention. “My main focus has to be on school,” Tyniqua Hinton told us. Another student, Babajide Alao, said, “In high school if you don’t do some of your homework, you just get away with it.” By far the most common response was that the major adjustment concerns expenses. Austin Cruz, who has recently graduated from a New York City high school, told us that not having a subsidized MetroCard, as he had only last year, made a big difference to his wallet. Many students noted their struggles with tuition and textbook costs, with Josue Reyes exclaiming, “College is not free at all!” (continued on page 23)

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College Life

City Tech Times

‘‘

I enjoy professors, because you’re actually in contact with them all the time Jeeniya Dewan. They generally felt that their high schools had not properly instructed them on how to write college-level essays. “When I was in high school, they never corrected me on the way I wrote my essays. I wrote my essays like a book report all the time,” Tyniqua Hinton told us.

‘‘

The conversation then shifted to the question of college readiness. The students told us that in high school, their instruction in grammar and composition had been singularly focused on the Regents exam. “We didn’t really have college prep – it was more like just getting out of high school,” said

This sentiment is a reflection of the story told by the statistics about college readiness. Every year, approximately 80 percent of graduates from New York high schools attend an institute of higher education. But, if only 35 percent of those students meet college readiness

standards, as mentioned above, the value of a high school diploma is lowered. Furthermore, the burden of remediation on colleges is heavier. In their February report, CUNY recommended to the Board of Regents that high schools should institute college readiness assessments before the 11th grade, and that high schools should “Provide remediation for high school students not prepared for college in the summer between 11th and 12th grades or during the 12th grade.” The report also encourages the state to fund collaborative efforts between high school and college faculties. The adjustment between dealing with high school and college faculty provoked the most positive response from the students in Dr. Ferrell’s

class. “When I was in high school, the only time I talked to my teachers was with my parents, in a parent-teacher conference,” Tyniqua said. The overwhelming feeling that their high school teachers had given them only enough attention to pass a Regents exam contrasted sharply with the positive interaction they had with their professors at City Tech. “I enjoy professors, because you’re actually in contact with them all the time, rather than in high school where you have to do your own thing,” Nazimool Pooran gushed. For students who show up to college feeling unprepared, this kind of positive relationship forms the scaffolding that helps them build their own success.

English 1101 students making use of the scaffolding theory by analyzing concepts, working together and sharing their personal ideas freely, Brooklyn, New York, October 16, 2013. (City Tech Times/Photo: Tash Joyner)

College Life

City Tech Times

By Tash Joyner

Ninth Annual President’s Leadership Summit for Student Leaders: The State of City Tech

A City Tech Student Leader (File/Chimene Montgomery)

BROOKLYN, October 18 —

r. Russell K. Hotzler, president of New York City College of Technology, delivered his State of City Tech address to invited guests at the Ninth Annual President’s Leadership Summit for Student Leaders, held at the Sheraton Brooklyn New York Hotel. Dr. Hotzler’s remarks covered a wide range of topics meant to educate and inspire the attendees. Beyond the college’s current state, other areas of discussion were the school’s budget and future growth. The college budget is strong and growing. Some of that growth comes from the increase in tuition, but President Hotzler is not an advocate of raising student fees – City Tech students pay the lowest student fees in the CUNY system. The President explained that an alternative option could be to impose a summer activity fee, as the majority of summer students do not attend City Tech full-time. A summer activity fee could generate as much as $100,000 to be used towards student activities during the spring and fall semesters.

Three years ago a proposal to impose a summer activity fee went to referendum and failed, but SGA is currently working on submitting a revised summer activity fee referendum in the spring. Alumni do provide some funding, although City Tech has a unique problem in that the college has changed its name five times over its history. When money is given in one of the former college names there may be problems with delivery of funds to City Tech’s current name. To encourage alumni donations, the college foundation hosts a Best of New York Dinner, which has raised about a million dollars. Money has been spent for updating equipment around the college. Three million dollars of the funds raised through the Tech Fee has been spent to update equipment around the college. President Hotzler stressed that if students encounter outdated lab equipment or software, they should notify the President’s office. Funds have been generously allocated for upgrades in these areas. The budget for staff has

increased, and the number of faculty has increased from 290 to 445, with most new instructors coming to City Tech from other professions. Another series of upgrades that any City Tech student will encounter on a daily basis is in the Namm building, where the bathrooms are in the process of being renovated, elevators are being repaired and the express elevators are being equipped to stop at the ground floor. The most visible sign of growth is the replacement of the Kiltgord Center with the New Academic Complex, directly across from the entrance to the Namm Building. Although the mosaic that decorated the Klitgord Center’s facade has been preserved, not much else remains – as students sitting in the classrooms on the east side of Namm can attest. The New Academic Complex is scheduled for completion in 2016, and its price tag is estimated at $406 million. It has taken almost ten years to acquire the funding, with most of the money coming from the state’s capital construction fund. Despite these upgraded facilities, the Pearl Building

is 108 years old and doesn’t meet City Tech’s current needs or standards. When the New Academic Complex is complete, the Pearl Building will undergo a $2 million renovation. In recent years, space for student activities has been sacrificed for computer labs and other academic necessities, a trend that President Hotzler hopes to correct. To that end, students will get about half of the space in the refurbished Pearl Building to use for SGA, student clubs and other student activities. President Hotzler also used the occasion to discuss the makeup of City Tech’s student body. Upon its founding in 1946, the college was intended to assist in the vocational training of former soldiers promised by the GI Bill of Rights, which guaranteed access to a college education for those who served in World War II. In keeping with that original mission, the number of veterans on campus has been consistently growing and currently stands at 500. After being granted senior college status by the CUNY system in 1980, Hospitality Management

became City Tech’s first bachelor’s degree program, and it still thrives today as the centerpiece of the School of Professional Studies. There are nearly 17,000 students enrolled for the fall 2013 semester, after 2100 students graduated last June. At one time, close to 90 percent of City Tech’s student body lived in Brooklyn, but things have changed over the years. The college has unique programs that attract students from all boroughs and today 46 percent of students at City Tech commute from another borough. Two-thirds of all students receive some type of financial aid, and there is an increasing trend among students to not be identified by race. “Sometimes it is wonderful being a student, because you don’t know what is not possible,” President Hotzler said in conclusion. “Stick to your education, focus on your future, and there are a lot of possibilities for all of you. The administration is here for one reason – and that’s you.”

Seen by Tech

City Tech Times

Seen by Tech

26 City Tech Times

Seen by Tech

City Tech Times

Seen on Halloween

Your Body Your Health

By Ruchoma Kaganoff

Health & Fitness

City Tech Times

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t seems that now is the healthiest time to be young. Because of health care reforms over the past few months, more young adults and college students will be eligible for insurance coverage, preventive services, and education that can lead to health and longevity. Recent legislation allows adult children to remain on their parents’ insurance plans until age 26, enables those with preexisting medical conditions to participate in a wide range of insurance plans, and offers reduced rates on select plans. These changes allow consumers who might not have been able to afford health insurance to benefit from the protection it provides. More employers are now required to provide group insurance plans to their employees, and more emphasis is being placed on preventive care. While it seems obvious that these are definitely positive steps towards a healthier future for our country, many feel that these pieces of legislation will not benefit the average consumer or adequately satisfy the goals of the Affordable Care Act. or pay a penalty. While many argue that this is a violation of our rights as a democratic union, any health care provider can attest to the financial burden that uninsured

Part of the ACA requires all adults to hold some sort of health insurance plan

patients place on health care institutions. A visit to an emergency room triage often finds that a majority of the nonurgent visits are by uninsured patients. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), passed in 1986, requires all patients to be treated and or stabilized regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Kevin Grumbach, a Family and Community Medicine practitioner in San Francisco, noted in a study on emergency room use in non-urgent cases, “Nearly half (45 percent) of the patients cited access barriers to primary care as their reason for using the emergency department.” The main barrier to primary care was inability to pay. It’s not only those with limited income who tax the healthcare system because of their lack of insurance. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service found that the age group that has the highest rate (30 percent) of uninsured people is the young adult population (ages 18-30).

This is caused by many factors, including: unemployment or under-employment, perceived invincibility, and the number of young adults who work for small businesses or participate in entrepreneurial endeavors where group health coverage is less accessible. Unfortunately, this age group is at the highest risk of traumatic injuries from motor vehicle, sporting and recreational incidents. Young adults also often require care for substance abuse or dependence, mental health, and reproductive health. Ideally, at this point in their lives, young adults should also be participating in a wide range of preventive care activities, such as health screenings, nutrition consults, prenatal or preconception care, and counseling for drug, alcohol or mental health issues. The low rate of insurance among this population can tax the health system by requiring the hospitals, public health agencies, and Emergency Medical Services to pick up the cost of emergencies and other services that would be covered or possibly prevented by

insurance. Although the government cannot force people to buy insurance, they have attempted to persuade us by levying a penalty fee to those who don’t purchase insurance. But is $100 enough of a penalty? At a time when a “cheap” phone is $200, when even students on full financial aid and welfare buy a $500 laptop, isn’t there a risk that the penalty will be considered preferable to paying for insurance that is perceived as superfluous? Why would someone who doesn’t believe in the benefits of health insurance bother to purchase a plan for $800 a year if they could just pay a fee of $100? It’s important for those considering this question to remember that the potential costs of not carrying insurance are far greater than a penalty fee. Contrary to popular belief, being uninsured does not mean that a patient will not have to pay. Also, one day you may wish that you had been insured as a young adult because of the many wellness benefits associated with these plans. It

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is much easier and more cost effective to prevent a disease than to go through treatment. It is much easier to treat a disease if it is caught early than if it is caught in late stages. Many of the healthcare benefits associated with plans directed towards young adults are preventive. For example, routine pap smears, obesity screening, vaccinations, annual health assessments, and other focused screenings enable you, your providers, and your loved ones to catch diseases in their early stages or even prevent them. All of these services that may be covered by your insurance have a price, and would probably not be affordable on their own. So if you think that you’re saving money by not paying for health insurance, remember that you may end up paying a lot more in the long run. By making sure that you have health insurance now, you can save thousands down the road. Remember, an ounce of prevention is a pound of cure! Be Well and Stay Well!

Health & Fitness

City Tech Times

Nutrition Now A

s winter holidays approach, stores fill up with sweet candy, gooey chocolates, and savory offerings. It is definitely tempting to fill up on all these treats with the excuse that it’s only during the holidays. That would be great if

the holiday season did not start at least a month in advance. When we identify the whole of November and December as “the holidays,” it becomes dangerous to allow ourselves to partake of all these treats. So how can we enjoy the season

while not suffering in the long run? The first thing to remember is that there are very few foods that need to be totally eliminated from our diets; moderation is the key. If you’re attending an event where many

delicacies will be offered up, remember that a small portion of each treat can be just as satisfying as loading your plate over and over. If you know that you’re likely to overeat at an event, try to eat something filling and healthful before attending. Also, chewing a strong mint gum or using mouthwash as you enter a party can help to delay your eating. Another thing to remember is that most of us are less active in the winter. Be proactive. Make the extra effort to increase your activity, especially if you are going to be increasing your caloric intake. Take the stairs instead of the elevator when entering the party. If you’re taking public transportation, try getting off one or two stops early. If there will be dancing at an event, don’t be too shy to join. If there is music and no one else is dancing, think about being the first one to start. When faced with a full table of treats, ask yourself which of your choices the most nutrient rich? For example, if there is a choice of oatmeal cookies or brownies, choose the oatmeal cookies for the increased fiber content. If you are offered chips with dip, whole grain tortilla with fresh guacamole or salsa would be a better choice than a mayonnaise or cheese-based dip.

By Ruchoma Kaganoff Also, beware of the additives that many store bought products contain. You know that there is something wrong with that fruitcake that has been passed around for years. Why isn’t it moldy? Any product that can survive more than a month on a grocery store shelf obviously contains powerful preservatives. Do you want those in your body? Lastly, just because something is “diet,” “fat free” or “natural” doesn’t mean it is any better for your body. Products labeled “diet” may only be beneficial for those who suffer from diabetes. Many of the sweeteners that are used are too new to have been adequately evaluated for safety. “Fat free” foods often contain other binders and additives to give the food a palatable consistency. These are usually very high in carbohydrates and may not even decrease the calorie count. Foods that are “natural” may or may not contain additives that can be harmful as well and may not be regulated by the FDA. When you attend that family holiday party next week, think before you eat. Come prepared to make healthful choices that you’ll be proud of. Remember: you are what you eat!

Let’s Get Moving!

Illustration by Patricia Cordero, City Tech Times Project Manager

his is the time of year when many of us try to stay indoors and keep warm. We tend to relax by cuddling up on the couch with some popcorn or hot cocoa. We hibernate, become sedentary and leave our houses only when we have a destination. This may be the reason why New Year’s resolutions are often related to gym memberships, diet and health. But why wait for January? To become more active we should make our resolution today. If you live or work in a building with an elevator, why not take the stairs? Going down is not as difficult as going up but both burn calories; at least get off the elevator one or two flights early. If you miss the bus, why not walk to the next stop? You’re outside anyway, and the walking can actually help warm you up on a cold winter day. If you have

to walk somewhere, add some arm movement, maybe even brisk walk, jog, or run. Any activity that can elevate your heart rate is beneficial to your health. If you do decide to watch TV, exercise your abs during commercials. You can even fit some strength training exercises in while you’re watching. If you watch a musical program, get up and dance to the beat. Housework is a great way to add some exercise into your daily routine. You can power vacuum by using your full body to move the vacuum cleaner. Do squats while dusting lower shelves or putting things away. While you wash the dishes you can tap dance or do heel lifts. Remember, if you are active at all times, you won’t have to set aside time in your schedule. You can keep any resolution by making it part of your daily life.

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Health & Fitness

City Tech Times

Brooklyn Nets Assist:

Heroes for Students at the League School By Gerard Jitechian

Students at the League School in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens learning NBA drills from Brooklyn Nets Assist members, October 7, 2013. (City Tech Times/Photo: Zakiya Owens)

tudents at the League School in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens had a fun day of dancing and basketball courtesy of the Brooklyn Nets Assist coalition. Brooklyn Nets Assist is an employee volunteer program that comprises Brooklyn Nets employees from all departments within the organization. The contributors range from coaching staff and administration all the way to members of the Brooklynettes dance team. According to Nets Communications Coordinator Hannah Stember, the outfit’s members volunteer their time for at least one event a week. The Nets, having recently moved to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, created the Assist initiative to connect with their new community. The gymnasium was full of smiles and laughter; the excitement was in the air.

Children ages five and up could hardly wait for the costumed BrooklyKnight, the Nets’ comic book mascot, to lead them in a fun day of activities. With the atmosphere charged, the eager students split off in to two groups: one to practice a dance routine with the skilled Brooklynettes dancers, the other to practice basketball drills with the coaching staff. The League School was founded over 60 years ago to host students with psychiatric and developmental disabilities from all five boroughs of New York City; many of the children come from families that live below the poverty line. The school functions as a center for treatment as well as learning, with a staff of psychiatrists and psychologists working with Medicaid to support the children. The school receives only partial funding from the state and relies on donations as well. With the Brooklyn Nets

in the picture, the school hopes to bolster its image and raise awareness for the facility. Hannah H. Kinn, the League School’s chief executive, was delighted with the Nets’ generosity. She stated that the day’s events “gave the children a sense of a accomplishment,” which they wouldn’t get otherwise. She was overjoyed with the new partnership between the school and the Nets, and hopes for more cooperation in the future. Kinn believes that events such as this, which she calls “normalizing

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experiences,” are paramount for the children’s development. According to Nets’ official website, the team is “committed to giving back and bettering the lives of those in the surrounding communities” while “focusing on the following four pillars: Education, Athletics, Health & Wellness and Community Development.” They accomplish these goals through various programs, such as charity walks, school events, and other volunteering opportunities directed at making Brooklyn a better place to live.

The League school is located at 567 Kingston Avenue, and can be contacted by phone at (718) 498-2500 or by visiting their website at www. leaguecenter.org. Possibilities for volunteering may be offered. The Nets’ cooperate office is located at 15 MetroTech Center in downtown Brooklyn. Supporting the team from the front office is a big job, and Brooklyn students are encouraged to apply for available internships.

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BROOKLYN, October 7 —

committed to giving back

32 City Tech Times By Katherine Hernandez

Food

Brooklyn Night Bazaar Is Not So Bizarre Eats On The Cheap Dough

Visionary Aaron Broudo, transforms an abandoned Greenpoint bakery into a local market for artists, musicians and food vendors, Brooklyn, New York. (City Tech Times/Photo: Katherine Hernandez)

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does it offer amazing deals from local businesses, there are also many activities: mini golf, rock climbing and table tennis, just to name a few. There is a performance stage that hosts local indie bands and national acts. As I walked among the rows of booths, I stopped by Renegade Chicken. The cook looked at me and said, “I know you’re hungry.” I laughed and asked about the menu. After examining the choices, I indulged in a steamed Asian bun stuffed with crispy duck, cilantro, onions and other sweet spices. It was an explosion of fantastic flavors all at once – and for only $4! As I licked my fingers clean I headed right back to buy another one. Sunflower Pipes

also grabbed my attention. They offer unique pipes, bubblers, and vintage lighters – items the like of which I had never seen before – in all different shapes and sizes. I couldn’t help but laugh at some of their random items – they even had animalshaped pieces! The Bazaar’s environment is very friendly and laid back, with a hipster kind of ambiance. It is a great place to take a date or grab a beer with a friend. There is a little bit of everything at this eclectic market. Gather your friends and head to Greenpoint, Brooklyn for an affordable fun night out. Brooklyn Night Bazaar, 165 Banker St, Brooklyn, 11222; for more info www.bkbazaar.com

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an’t we all agree that having a flea market at night is a brilliant idea? Founder Aaron Broudo, a former lawyer with Sontag Advisory, was savvy enough to take an abandoned Greenpoint bakery and transform it into a space where local artisans, musicians, and food vendors can gain exposure. “[It’s] a great way to bring out the amazingly creative people that live here in New York” says Broudo. The Bazaar takes place every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. until midnight. It boasts more than 50 unique vendors such as Sunflower Pipes, The Lobster Joint, Spinelli Galleries, La NewYorkina Mexican Ice, Tattoo Elite International and much more. Not only

...a great way to bring out the amazingly creative people...

Gaining a pound has never tasted this good! Pastry Chef Fany Gerson decided to open up Dough in 2010 on the corner of Franklin and Lafayette Ave in BedStuy. It’s a small shop with a glass encased kitchen where doughnuts are fried 24 hours a day, with exotic Latin flavors such as the passion fruit with cacao nibs doughnut, one of their top sellers. Each doughnut costs only $2.25 – just right for a student on a budget – and does not contain artificial flavors. “I’m a passion fruit with cacao nibs fan, I was in complete amazement of how scrumptious it was,” says Cathia L. on Yelp. This petite shop in Brooklyn is not to be missed. Stop by and indulge in what Chef Gerson would simply call “Dough”. Dough, 305 Franklin Ave Brooklyn, NY 11205 Champs Family Bakery This rock ’n’ roll-style diner has found a way to incorporate traditional American flavors with interesting vegan food. The atmosphere is a typical small, cozy, old school diner scene, but the waitresses are hip, friendly, and all tatted up. Their Williamsburg location is well suited to their “breakfast all day”

approach, with hipsters and students coming in and out at all hours. Champs takes pride in the fun and quirky names on their menu, such as the “Drunken Cowgirl,” a combination of tofu scramble, rosemary-garlic potatoes, vegan cheese, avocado, and Champs’ award-winning chili, piled high on Texas toast. With a name like that, how can you go wrong? Champs, 176 Ainslie St, Brooklyn, NY 11211, www. champsdiner.com Pommes Frites There is only one item on the menu at Pommes Frites: fresh cut Belgian-style fries cooked in vegetable oil and packaged in paper cones. But what has kept them open for more than five years if fries make up their whole menu? The answer is their extensive range of over 30 thought-provoking dipping sauces, all made on the premises. Pommes Frites is literally a small hole in the wall shop, so don’t expect to pop in and not wait in line; Friday night at last call you will still see a line out the door for these fries. Pommes Frites, 123 2nd Ave, New York, New York, 10003, www.pommesfrites.ws

Pommes Frites’ Belgian-style fries with your choice of over 30 thought-provoking dipping sauces, New York, New York. (City Tech Times/Photo: Katherine Hernandez)

Arts & Culture

City Tech Times

The Village Halloween Parade: Resurrected NEW YORK, October 31 — reenwich Village took a year off from the annual Village Halloween Parade, but not by choice. Last year’s event was canceled when Hurricane Sandy devastated New York City two days before Halloween. Fundraising efforts were hampered by the cancellation, leaving the event’s organizers concerned that this year’s parade might also be lost because of the shortfall. Through a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter.com, an online resource for crowd-funded projects, organizers exceeded their original goal of $50,000 and the parade returned after its one-year hiatus to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The tradition began in

1974 with Greenwich Village mask maker and puppeteer Ralph Lee taking a walk around the neighborhood with his friends and family. Lee created elaborate costumes and puppets for his march – winning an Obie award from the Village Voice for the 1975 production – and served as the parade’s director until 1985. The Theater for the New City became interested in the project early on, and eventually helped the parade become the extravaganza it is today as part of its Community Festival Program. Over time the parade has successfully grown in size and recognition worldwide, and was featured in the best-selling book “100 Things to Do Before You Die.” The parade draws in tens

of thousands of participants, as well as over two million spectators. Local residents and tourists from around the world join in on the celebration. The parade adopts a unifying theme each year, such as the “Phoenix Rising” given to the 2001 parade after the events of September 11. This year’s theme was “Revival” – the rebirth of the Halloween spirit after last year’s dampening of the holiday. Jeanne Fleming, who has served as Artistic and Producing Director of the parade since taking over from Ralph Lee in 1986, describes it as “Resurrecting our imaginations, re-awakening our creative spirits…Re-imagining our identity and re-making ourselves in costume.”

1. Joker and Harley Quinn are the perfect picture of happiness - and madness. 2. Lara Croft emerges from her latest video game to join the festivities on Halloween night. 3. It’s always good to have a doctor nearby, but not a Bobble Head Nurse from Silent Hill 2. 4. Jack Sparrow disembarks the Black Pearl to make a quick appearance. (Photos: Kat Hernandez)

The parade began at the corner of Sullivan and Canal Streets at 6:30 p.m. and headed towards Sixth Avenue, where it proceeded to 21st Street. At one point a flash mob erupted, dancing to Michael Jackson’s classic hit “Thriller.” After the unexpected choreography, the parade continued with breathtaking floats, giant puppets and other large-format artwork filling the streets. Live bands charged the air with music and excitement. The streets were packed with people in creative costumes, both homemade and professionally crafted. These costumes ranged from masterfully innovative robots, flowing hula dancers and even a group of men honoring the U.S. Olympic

By Katherine Hernandez

swimming team by wearing only Speedos. The night was rife with imagination; creativity was all around. Through a collective artistic spirit, the Village Halloween Parade brings together diverse social groups, cultures, and races. The spectacle has brought the economy millions of dollars in tourism over the last four decades. Halloween is the one night to live out an ultimate fantasy, without judgment. It is a night to release the Superman in you, or wear that sultry nurse outfit collecting dust in your closet. Be sure to mark your calendars for next year’s installment. For more information and outrageous photos, visit www. halloween-nyc.com

34 City Tech Times

Arts & Culture / Technology

My Weekend at the Dumbo Arts Festival

ith over 400 international artists flocking to the 17th annual Dumbo Arts Festival, I was pleased join them for the first time. Street performers, fashion designers, non-profit organizations, and artists of all kinds lined Dumbo streets and parks over the weekend of September 27th to 29th. As a first-time attendee, I was bowled over by the gaudy performances. Opening day, I witnessed the live performance of Clifford Ross’s multimedia work entitled “Immersive Harmonium Video,” with music provided by Taikoza, the renowned Japanese drummers. Hearing the bamboo flutes was magical, while the powerful Taiko drums brought all the boys and girls to the gathering underneath the iconic Manhattan Bridge Archway. I spent most of Friday exploring

By John Soto

Brooklyn Bridge Park, swinging by open galleries, viewing Russian artist Ilya Kabakov’s “Ship of Tolerance,” and strolling through Socrates Sculpture Park. To end the evening, I popped by reBar for some refreshment. When I returned a little after 6pm the following day , the Festival was filled with excitement. Another elaborate installment was taking place underneath the Manhattan Bridge Archway: the BattleFest League, a dance-battle competition for street dancers based in NYC. I stopped by Dewey’s Candy shop for a quick sweet-tooth fix and was stunned to discover chocolate covered gummy bears! GET OUT OF TOWN! Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, I came across Boxed Water is Better, a company whose goal is to lower our

carbon footprint by packaging their water in cartons rather than bottles. Their responsible approach even extends to donating 10% of their profit to water relief foundations. As I sat on the benches overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge Carousel and the skyline, I thought about the nature of art. Art is beauty and it is in everything we see. It is the one outlet that allows us to completely use our imagination to create what was previously unimaginable. It spans cultures, values, religions, genders, races, and social classes. It encompasses all the elements of humanity. Art becomes a part of us, surrounds us, and yearns for us to understand it and the desire to create it. Art is in all forms, all things: trains, telephones, movies, computers, music, statues, magazines, paintings,

By Jodieann Stephenson

A vibrant artistic expression at an Open Studios viewing, Dumbo Arts festival, Brooklyn. (Photo: Jodieanne Stephenson) and handbags are all art. Art life itself. Art is seeing the is all around us and after mind at play. Art is creating this weekend I promised not what has not been by bringing to deny myself its simple it to reality, to the universe. pleasures, nurturing my As I quenched my thirst with appreciation for the artistic water from a carton, I realized approach to fashion, beauty, that I, too, am a creation of music, literature, dance, and Art.

High Tech Holiday Shopping

s members of the City Tech community start to look for that new gadget for someone special (or themselves) this holiday season, there are many outstanding choices on the market. Not only that, there have also been some major new releases. It would be tough to rank them, and we all have some slight differences in our preferences, but any of these options should bring satisfaction. Smartphones: The Apple iPhone 5s, available from AT&T for $199 with a 2-year contract, is a compact smartphone with an excellent

camera and flash, a really fast A7 processor, a new fingerprint sensor and a solid, elegant design in new colors. The Samsung Galaxy S4, available on Verizon and Sprint for $249 with a 2-year contract, is a 5-inch smartphone with a full HD display and a removable battery. It also supports a microSD card of up to 64GBand operates on the Android 4.3, Jelly Bean operating system, the most recent one available. If you like big smartphones, the most popular so-called “phablet” is the 5.7-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 2, now

available from T-Mobile for $49.99 up front and $20 per month for 24 months. Tablets: The iPad Air, newly released on November 1, 2013, is available now for $499. It delivers the great retina display of the previous-generation iPad in a thinner, lighter and more powerful package. Weighing just one pound, the 9.7-inch iPad Air is the lightest tablet in its size class, and it’s compact enough to fit comfortably in one hand. On the inside, this powerful tablet packs the new 64-bit A7 processor, which promises enough power to run the more

than 475,000 apps optimized for the iPad. Factor in nearly 12 hours of battery life and this just may be the best tablet on the market. Apple also manufactures a small tablet, known as the iPad Mini with Retina Display. For $399, you get a sharp 2048 x 1536 display in a 7.9-inch design that is really easy to hold in one hand, plus that powerful 64-bit A7 processor. If you are looking for an e-reader, no one tops Amazon. The 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX provides a host of compelling books, movies and TV shows to Amazon Prime members. However, the HDX offers more than just a

comprehensive content library as it provides impressive audio, fast quad-core speeds and a 1920 x 1200 display with over eight hours of endurance. Finally, if you want to buy an Android tablet, the Google Nexus 7 delivers Android 4.3 Jelly Bean along with a fast quad-core processor, long battery life and a 1920 x 1200, 7-inch display. The front and rear cameras provide solid camera images on a device that weighs just 10.2 ounces and lasts over eight hours on a battery charge.

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Perkins Eastman’s design of City Tech’s new academic complex, Brooklyn, New York. (Photo courtesy Perkins Eastman)