The Classic May 1998
3
Letters to the Editor
Fool's issue provokes strong responses . To the Editor: I believe the April Fool's edition of The Classic could have been done better. It lacked in both humor and quality. ... This 'humorous' edition of The Classic had everything but humor. The only funny article in the whole thing was "Big Backpacks Counter Effects of El Nino," by Rachel Nobel, which made me laugh, something the other articles didn't do. In fact, I found two of them offensive. As a man, I found the article by Joy M. Mendoza about lowering standards to bring in attractive guys extremely offensive ... .I took great offense, since the authornot only says that all THHS guys are unattractiv.e but that guys in general are dumb as well. Although the article is meant to be humorous (which it is not), hidden beneath the surface seems to be a bias against men. Perhaps it hasn't occurred to Mendoza that the problem just may be the girls and their ridiculously high standards. Offensive articles disguised as jokes do not belong in The Classic. I found the ad for Shakespeare's Brothers extremely offensive for the same reasons. The ad stereotypes guys as being egotistical, perverted, and stupid. If someone had done something like that, but ridiculed Shakespeare's Sisters instead, it probably wouldn't have been welcomed with open arms and instead would have either been edited or not printed at all. I don't see how The Classic can support the discrimination of men. The Classic also lacked quality in this issue. Instead of making the whole paper devoted to humorous articles, a large part of it should have been devoted to actual news, like the recent guest dance. Devoting a whole issue to April Fool's delayed the printing of news that is real. Next time, the editors of The Classic should do a better job in choosing what
should and shouldn't be published. Anthony Ciolli, 902
of psychotic females. Salma Ragoonath, 906
Editors' response: Since the beginning of Harris history, the uneven male to female ratio has been repeatedly satirized. It is acceptable (and quite funny) to do this because very few, if any, Harrisites actually believe that girls are more intelligent than boys. Because Anthony Ciolli is a freshman, he may not be aware of the good-natured tradition of this gender-based bantering which is prevalent not only in April Fool's publications, but also in school productions and daily life. Additionally, "Tallman proposes policy to recruit attractive males" did not poke fun at the intelligence of any current Harrisites; it merely states that under. the 'proposed plan,' admissions criteria would be lowered for incoming males. To answer Anthony Ciolli's concern, an article ridiculing females would have been just as easily published in The Classic.
To the Editor: In the most recent issue of The Classic, there was an effort made to make it a funny issue of April Fool's Day. However, the effort was in vain. Aside from being generally not funny, it was fairly childish in some cases, and showed a great disrespect to the faculty in others. The article entitled "We're moving again- This Time 17 feet!" was perhaps the worst "joke" ever printed on paper. The article, which stated that Townsend Harris would move seventeen teet in order to prevent people from hearing music played in between bands, stressed a very tired jest of many months past. The classical and opera music played in between bands caused an uproar in November, and ey now it has been accepted, making the article a weak attempt to be furiny with an old joke. The in between band music was also·targeted in an ad, in which a CD was being sold with the music of the Polka People, Awful Opera Stars, and hits of 1700s. Now that's overkill. The newspaper showed little to no respect for faculty members. For example, Dr. Largmann's name became )'Dr. Tallman" and Mr. Rattien became "Hairy Rat." These attempts to be funny were also weak, and in general were a burrch of chea:p shots. ·· . In 'a sectioii entitled ''Lt!ngtfiily;'' news briefs were posted. One brief stated that the bathrooms would be closed until September and that in order to prevent people from needing the bathroom, students wouldn't be able to eat or drink. Perhaps the greatest disrespect was shown to Dr. Tallman, the unfunny alias for Dr. Largmann, who was quoted as saying, "If you don't eat, you
To the Editor: The April 1st issue of The Classic was hilarious. The articles expressed some problems of the school in a different light.... Even though the stories seem ridiculous, there is a lot of truth in them and that is what makes it so funny. In what other school can you hear wonderful tqnes from the 1700's; Pcifka :People, and Awful Opera stars every day bt:tween bands? Where [else are] the bathrooms never open? [Where else do pet] cockroaches reside in the school? ... The Shakespeare's Brother's Masculinist Club was a clever joke, but Shakespeare''s Sisters is a serious club which discusses serious issues. I am a "sister," ·so I hope that people get the joke and do not think the club is a bunch
won't excrete." There is a level of decency which must be shown in a school environment, regardless of whether joking is being welcomed or not. Involving the principal in such a tasteless quote truly showed no respect for authority. The Classic, which I have been informed is an award-winning newspaper, definitely didn't appear to be awardwinning in the last issue. It was not funny, rude, disrespectful, and in some cases inappropiate. It becomes clear how poor any ·comedian is when he or she cannot get a laugh out of inside jokes, and therefore, perhaps · The Classic should abandon their desire to beceme comedians. Eric Trager, 908 Editors' Response: Addressing the fact that Eric thought the issue "showed a great disrespect to the faculty," all of the spoofs on the faculty were perennial jokes, which actually reflect affection for these educators whom we know to be good sports. Dr. Largmann has been referred toby many similar fictional names in The' 'Classic and in "Sing" productions since the opening of Townsend Harris. The only name that could have been perceived as offensive, Hairy Rat, was used with the con~entofMr. Ratti en. In fact, both Dr. Largmann and Mr. Ratti en wrote letters to us and our advisor praising the issue. · ·"fhe 'afticltf'''We"rb movil'l'g ' agciin This· tirtie 17 reef!" did nbt' ·o nly' jbRe about the music that is played between bands but also the long history of problems Townsend Harris has had with moving and being welcomed by the surrounding community, as well as the new community service policy. Both of .these issues are still relevant in Harris, so the article was not "a very tired jest of months past," as Eric Trager wrote.
Briefly Junior Michael Bonilla was a winner in the NYS Attumey General AntiSmo!Gng Clllendar cantest. His i~ustration was published iln the 1"8 CalJ;)ndar ~ntitled '"A Smub-P'r-ee Year." The Phoenix, Townsend Hams Hi~h S0hool's literary magazine, was once again named GfYld M~daRst ·t;,y the Columbia S.ch01astic Pr~s Association f{)r concept, design. ag:d creativity. Senior .ArieHe Freeman was awarded twq Gold Keys by the Alliance f~r Ytnn\g Artists and Writers. ·A rlelle''s photo portfolio and jewelry Wet!e chosen from amo.ng mote than 1,.000 sucbm,ssions. The D~bate team W.@ll a tbird place tl'oph~r at 1M Br~klyn-Queens Catholic J:loJ7ensk League tou~ The Speech ~- placed ifth. Sophomore Adam M:mgione has been pr;esented ·the Boy Scouts' highe'St honor, the .litag;le Rank, f!i)r his aetive partici'pation in cammunity affairs and exemplary behavier in his (fully life. Senior Itaellel Sperling was one of two students who placed first .in the b0Epugh oi, Queens in the Sh-akespeare &ecita.tion C0ntest sponso~red by 1he English Speaking Union. She will compete at the city level next. Michele Potofsky is-~ recJ.)ienl of a Ool:d Key for her essay, "The Simple Gift" presented by the Alltiance for Yotu-'g Mists & Writers. Christina Giannikas, .Julie Heimratb, and Laura Rerzenhornt juniors., have re-ceived Certificates .of Meri'l for their entries in the 1'99'8 Barnard Cotlege Essay Contest. Sophomore Bosede AdenekQ has been named a Kodak Young Leader under a national pl!ogram sponsored 9y the Eastman Ked'ak Company. Senior Tara Paterson was the Orand prize .winner at the .Polyteebnic Uni. versity Science Fair. She wUl _go on to compete at the fnternatiomtl Science and Engineeri~g Fair {18:1'1} in May.
Megan D'wyer, Eleanor Hynes, Tara Pat'ITSon, and Jamie Tong, seniors, were finalists in the Ju.n ior Science and Humanities Symposium. Seniors Aloander Arriaga, Kate Rube, and Michelle Wolman were fiJlaliSt<S in. the Otto Butgdtrl Reseattb Competition foJ' their science and social science projects. Honorable Mentionswet!e awarded :to s.e niors Eleanor Bynes, Robert M'Ohamedeen, and Hope Villella~ At the Biological and Bi:omedical Sciences Fair (Regional ISEF), senior Pratik Patet won the NABT and Anny awards. Senior Alexander Arri.aga_ won the Navy award. Seniors Alexander Arriaga, Kate Rube-1 and Matthew Chang were recipients of th.e DioGENBius Awards. Tiley wi:l compete far cash awards in ~ June. .Jm Ree Chu, Eden Cruz, ·Michael lnwalil, ChdsJina Lesica, A>nnette OrzeChowski, Eva &aj, and Kevi" Woo were selected as finalists in the Sh0wtime and PEN.CIL 1~$ New York City Youth Video f?estiva1 .competition. They wii:l attend workshops and, with the help of industry professionals, make their winning stories into videos for c'Ompetition June. At the New York City History Fair, Best Paper in the City went to Maria Doulis. First Piaee in Individual Media went to Linda Kbn, and Second Place w.as awarded te Nancy Luo. Linda Kim went on to win first place at the State .History Fair 0n May 2. Seniors Nata:lka: Palczynski and Jamie Tong were each awarded a Chase Smart Scholarship which includes a full scholarship to New YorkUniversity and a paid internship with Cbase. Correction: The Classic apologizes to sophomore Peak-Wei Choong for identifying her as a male lit the article ..B rlinguru oratorla celebrates diversity'' in the Februrary issue.
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