The Classic newspaper Volume 16 Issue no. 1

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aNsctSgiC Townsend Harris High School at Queens College

149-11 Melbourne Avenue, Flushing, NY 11367

QC construction creates programming problems ~

Poised to explain what the Speech Team is all about, Jackie Rubin, senior, waits for students to arrive at the Service Fair. See article and chart on page 6.

Times profile prompts publicity

by Rachel Nobel Prompted by the class of 2000's recent high scores on the New York State English Regents exam, the New York Times featured a two-page profile of what it calls Townsend Harris' "rigorous [academic] program for intellectually gifted students." Copies of the article, which appeared in the Metro section of the Times on July 2, will be distributed to colleges with every senior's application.

"The article gives weight to our school and our school's profile," said college advisor Marilyn Blier. "[It] graphically shows the excellence of our. school's program." The school has had "excellent results with the article already," said Ms. Blier, presenting a list of"fifty to sixty" colleges, including Ivy

League schools, that have made appointments to speak at the school after receiving copies of the article. "And this is only September," said Ms. Blier.

The article, entitled; "A School Regains its Stellar Reputation: Students Outshine the Elite in Standardized Test Scores," showcases the school's successful reopening in 1984, over 40 years after the "old" Townsend Harris, which produced such alumni as Jonas Salk, who developed the polio vaccine, and Richard C. Rogers, a Broadway composer, shut down due to budget cuts.

While Townsend Harris is not considered one of the city's three "elite" science schools - Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, the Bronx High School of Science and Brooklyn TechContinued on pg. 7.

by :hsede Aden+tn ~uafization can @e a hs~atig,g precess~ in orcterto ensure every class has 34 or fewer studems, schedules get chanpt'lnaany times, and teachers as wetl as the stu<lentsl}ave to adjust to these changes: On September 24, 25% of the freshmen,. s:ophomores and juni0rs as we:tl as at least SO% of the seniors expetienceu f>FGgram changes. In past years. the sta,. tistics were lower: JiPproximately J$ '% for seniors and 10% for the remaining sGhool population.

One factor acc0unting for such extensive changes was the addition of new English and Mathematics classes but they were primarily due to the buflding renovations of Queens College, wbich affected the seniors • programs. Students hoo to be placoo into these additonal classes while conflicts with the seniors' schedules needed to be fixed. Those invo1ved with programming Arthur Boulanger, Programming Direct<Jr; Sheila Orner. Assistant Principal of Pupil and Personnel Sen·iees; Lawrence Ceraulo. Physical 13ducation teacher; and Ha.tryr Rattein, Assis·tant Principal of Mathematics suspended work on the prograrru~ of other grades in order to CQUCentrate 0n correcting the seniors' seheclules. .

For these reusons, equafimtion took a loDger time to accnmr>llisn.

The Que-ens CollRge renovations have drastical.y affected senior classes.

P0wdennaker Hall, one of the bwlt\i1l.gs b"e'in~g reconst<ructed, usually housect many. cotl.ege classes, inelucling the T.ownsenti Harris senior seminar; now classes are being held in such buiwtngs as Kiely Hall anct the New Seience bdding. '"''he 0oflege is trying to use every av:a.tla'ble spaee," said Ms. Orner. · T&wnseqd Harris even agreed to atlew Queens College olasses to be heM in the high sehool building after school al4:00 PM if necessary. So far, the college hasn't had t0 resort to using the buiilding.

Queens College also developed a new matrix that wiFf enable rooms to be used m:o.te efficiently. The matrix differs greatly from the previous one ana conflicts wiib Town5end Barris' 50-minute bands. Instead of meeting 50 minutes on three days, classes at Queens College now meet for 50 minutes one day and 100 minutes a secand day. The e~dended class eliminates three periods, thus reducing the number of classes wobich can fit inte the seni9fs • programs..

The process ofbalaneing the cfasses Contmued on pg. 6

Election simulation to parallel presidential primaries

by Karen DeVita Campaign slogans and special interest group posters will bombard the halls come November. This fall's election simulation, which will begin the second week of November and continue through January, will parallel the Democratic and Republican primaries for the presidential election of 2000.

Candidates this year will include Democrats Bill Bradley and Vice PresidentAl Gore and Republican candidates George W. Bush, Elizabeth Dole, Steve Forbes, and John McCain. In past years, the foci of the simulations have been senatorial, gubernatorial, mayoral, and presidential elections, and the simulations have begun during the first week

of school.

The timing of the primaries will give students and Participatory Democracy (PD) teachers more time to prepare for the simulation. Students will be able to conduct research and learn about the candidates and the issues in a thoughtful and timely way.

"I'm glad we have this extra time," said senior Aimee Mateo. "I think we'll be able to do a better job since we w.on't be starting the election as soon as school starts."

The mock election is run by the senior class under the supervision of PD teachers Anthony Scarnati, Nancy Leib, Myron Moskowitz, and Chris Hackney with funding provided by the third an-

College Statistics pp. 4-5

nual grant from Newsday. Lynne Greenfield, Assisistant Principal of Humanities, and Michael Krasner, political science professor at Queens College, provide administrative support. Laura Benin, broadcast journalism teacher, will help the media classes put together television and radio broadcasts.

Two Townsend Harris graduates from the Class of 1999, Maria Doulis and Zara Ziff, will serve as interns, Maria as the "general'' intern and Zara as the media intern.

Seniors will act as though they are candidates, special interest group members, television news reporters and newspaper journalists in a real election.

At the end of the simulation, all students

Starting a club

Sports Previews

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in the school will vote for the candidate of their choice.

2

The Classic October 1999

The Latest Buzz The annual sting of back-to-school time is always somewhat depressing, But now being forced to stay indoors could almost be seen as a blessing.

For buzzing around all over Queens, helicopters refused to fly on, But hovered to cover the streets below with layers of Malathion.

Hypochondriacs had the requisite aches and tell-tale pains in the head, And children intent on skipping school were hiding beneath the bed.

With lots of nets the US OPEN couldn't escape the racket, And neither could Shea - where many a fan wore bug spray, pants and a jacket.

The SWAT team was summoned to go upstate with Bill and Hillary Clinton, But even they could not assure the First family wouldn't be bitten.

Advice on attire and hotline numbers came with the latest news, And local police distributed free pesticides families could use.

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But incessant precautions are sometimes seen as a cause of greater alarm As when Floyd brought the city more fuss than muss, causing more panic than harm.

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·That's not to suggest some emergency plans or caution isn't prudent, But if only the city could see the world as a Townsend Harris student!

~EIJYET ~G'~Ma DW•••

While doing collaterals, volunteer work and taking tons of tests, There's not enough time to panic over bothersome bites from pests.

The maddening itch'of the GPA bug makes us study until we're dizzy, But at times like this we can be glad that our workload keeps us busy.

At least being in school smitten with stress may save us from Encephalitis, And better catching the back-to-school blues than contracting the WestNile Virus.

Mayor takes on First Amendment in art world Scarlet red might as well be bleeding out of our eyes in pure frustration. -citizen, Giuliani can express his beliefs to whomever he likes. As a politiAs it is, our mayor has limited our scope of vision by invading the sphere cian, however, he has no authority to change the course of an establishment of the public-owned institutions of our city where freedom of expression is paid for by New Yorkers because of these beliefs. The passionate debate most vital. that has recently appeared in the press is the best evidence that the works Last Saturday, the Brooklyn Museum opened "Sensation," an exhibit of in" Sensation" are open to many interpretations. But no matter how offenprovocative art which has created an uproar throughout the city. The title sive some may find them, no matter how sensational the promotion of the itself makes clear the museum's intentions to draw crowds by focusing on exhibit is, no one should trample on freedom of expression. the sensational. Within the logo of the show, right in the middle of black Giuliani feels he has the right to shut down a public museum in order to letters, there's the striking presence of a scarlet letter "A" that speaks for protest one exhibit. One cannot guess what other public institutions he'll the controversial content of "Sensation." Juniors who are reading Nathaniel censor next. Perhaps he'll go to Art Appreciation classes in public schools Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter this term may recognize the sly allusion, and ban nude portraits as pornography or take books off the shelf because which seems to be intentional. he finds them sexually explicit.

Enter Mayor Giuli~mi. He has walked into the sensationalism of "SensaIn Townsend Harris High School, we're lucky that no one has tried to tion" and tried to brand the museum with a permanent mark. For him, that limit our exposure to the arts. The Catcher in the Rye, which is banned in scarlet "A" might well stand for"Abomination." some places, is part of the freshman year curriculum in the Writing Process Giuliani has taken it upon himself to attack the Brooklyn Museum for class. Art teacher Lois Polansky has taught lessons dealing with some of using tax money to display works which he considers offensive to many the most provocative ait of the century, much to the praise of staff and New Yorkers, especially Christians. He has threatened to cut off funding students.

Deny us exposure to varied ideas and we'll never learn to develop judgunless the targeted works are removed. The matter is now before the courts.

Specifically targeted is a piece by Chris Ofili called "The Holy Virgin ment and think for ourselves. Deny us the First Amendment and our HuMary." The painting portrays Jesus Christ's mother surrounded by elephant manities education will be useless. excrement. Although he has only seen the painting in the museum's catalog, the mayor has said the work is inappropriate. By bringing an issue of Andrew Goldberg Lauren Paley art into the arena of politics in this way, Giuliani has proven that he knows Editors-in-Chief Townsend Harris High School at Queens College elephant dung , in a matter of speaking, about the First Amendment. As a 149-11 Melbourne Avenue, Flushing, N.Y.ll367 Bosede Adenekan Rebecca Munoz News Editor

Letter to the Editor Alumnus comments on college To the Editor: Scanning the list of the Class of 1999 ~worked in various parts of the country, graduates to see who was going where, I urge my fellow Harrisites to broaden I was surprised to see how few ventured their experiences and horizons. There outside of New York and the east with is much more to this country than lies hardly any to the mountain or western east of the Mississippi, with great unistates. No doubt finances and family versities and outstanding places to live were paramount considerations, but as and work. What better time to begin someone who went to school and exploring than when going to college.

Professor David Shapiro ' 43

Rachel Nobel Feature Editors

Brian Griffing Sports Editor

Audley Wilson

Alice Lee Steven Seidenfeld

Photography Editor

Lucy Hong

Business and Circulation

Art Editor

Readers are invited to submit letters to the editor. Letters should be placed in Ms. Cowen's mailbox in the general office. The Classic reserves the right to edit all letters. Letters must include name and official class. Names will be withheld upon request.

Managers Rachel Nobel Managing Editor

News Staff: Lauren Amarillo, Afton Baff, Noreen Bukhari, Anthony Ciolli, Karen DeVita, Lorraine Kapovich. Danielle Lord, Carol Pruss

Feature Staff: Jonathan Cofsky, Emmy Favilla, Surabhi Jain, Alice Lee. Irene Lew, Christina Pagan, Michele Potofsky; Emily Rubinstein, Steven Seidenfeld, Allison Slotnick

Sports Staff: Arielle Frost. Eric Trager Photoeraphy Staff: Venu Dhanar.>j, Alice lofescu, Lisha Perez, Shara Siegel, Kendra Thompson. Eric Trager, Tristan Visconde,Yvette Warenam, Dawn Wing, Hye-Kyung Yang, William Yang ~

Raymond Baro, Vivian Chang, Doris Ortega, Kelly Purtell, Emily Rivlin-Nadler Advisor - lisa Cowen

Principal - Dr. Malcolm Largmann

The Classic ~~~---

3

October 1999

In with the new: Teachers arrive with high expectations

by Bosede Adenekan and Danielle Lord Four new faces can be seen among the faculty. These faces belong to Laura Benin, Robert Bloom, Farah Khan, and Kerri Prince. They teach broadcast journalism, physical education, English and mathematics, and they all have high expectations for their first year here.

A graduate of the class of '92, Laura Benin has returned to her alma mater to teach broadcast journalism.

Although headed along a career path in advertising, film and television, she jumped at the opportunity when she heard that a position here was available. "If it wasn't Townsend Harris, I would not be teaching," she said.

"Since I went to the school, I know how hard the work is. I also know that the students are all smart and capable," she added.

She has prepared hands-on activities designed to promote the creativity of students. This term, however, they will do a lot more than use equipment in the studio. "Technology is a not just something to do; it is a means of communicating a message. Students must develop a message first," said Ms. Benin. To develop this message, students will learn to view the news critically and learn to work together on a news team.

Ms. Benin feels at home here. "The teachers are so nice and supportive [and] the stu-

dents really care about what they're doing," she said. M Ms. Benin aspires to pursue filmmaking and make a documentary. She worked for Channel 9 as well as for BBDO, an advertising company. Before

Robert Bloom

coming here, she was a teacher's assistant, teaching the technical aspects of film-making to college undergraduate and graduate students.

Ms. Benin's other interests include flamenco dancing, traveling and taking pictures.

New physical education teacher and fencing coach Robert Bloom has white-water rafted down Colorado's Green River, hiked up a 15,000-foot mountain and camped in the Utah desert. Despite his many adventures as a physical education teacher in Denver, Colorado, Mr. Bloom calls Townsend Harris "the nicest school I've ever been in."

No stranger to Townsend Harris, Mr. Bloom was a stu-

dent teacher here before working in high schools in New York and Colorado. His wife is a graduate of this school.

"The standards here are above and beyond any place I've ever worked before," said , Mr. Bloom.

A fan of mountain biking and backpacking, Mr. Bloom has hiked up Pikes Peak, which is, at . 15,000 feet, the fourth-highest mountain in the United States.

In his free time, Mr. Bloom plays the saxophone and is planning on joining band teacher Peter Lustig in a duet if he has the chance. He also enjoys playing baseball and tennis, when he's not spending time at home with his wife and

Laura Benin

two dogs, a border collie and a German shepherd.

Mr. Bloom offers this advice to students who are striving to become more physically fit: "It doesn't matter whether the focus is on strength, running or flexibility - just stay consis-

tent." And, he adds, "No matter what, never lose your sense

Farah Khan

of humor."

Farah Kahn joined the English department as an E1, E2, and E3 teacher. She was a student teacher at Flushing High School, and is now, for the first time, teaching by herself.

"I'm nervous, since I am a new teacher, but I just try to do my best," said Ms. Khan.

She noted that her colleagues are supportive. "They always ask how I am doing," she said.

"I am trying to be as creative as possible and be interesting," said Ms. Khan. "I want to use literature to open up some minds, and encourage intellectual and social growth." She also wants her students to "come away from class always feeling like they have learned something and it wasn't too painful."

The new addition to the Mathematics Department, Kerri Prince, now teaches freshmen, sophomores, and juniors in MQ3 and MQ5 classes. Ms. Prince once

worked at a private school in Long Island, but later decided that she wanted to join the public school system. "I c jumped at the opportunity 拢 to work here with stu~ a dents of such high cali~ ber," she said.

Ms. Prince has high expectations for her year here. "Not only will the students grow academically and emotionally, but I will grow as well," she said. She admits that she has high standards, yet she tries to

Kerri Prince

maintain an easy-going attitude, which she hopes will enable students to relate to her. She finds her experience in the classroom to be very rewarding. "The studentsts are self-motivated," said Ms. Prince.

Not only does Ms. Prince have a love of numbers, but she also has a love of words. "I am an avid reader. Now, I've begun re-reading all the classics," she said.

Speaking Spanish with a French accent:

Garcia studies science, art.on sabbatical in Spain

by Rebecca Munoz Welcomes back were in order once the school year began for Odile Garcia, science teacher and coordinator of student affairs (COSA), after a spring term sabbatical. From February to July, Ms. Garcia lived in Spain and researched both the history of science and its relationship to art.

At the University of Madrid, Ms. Garcia took classes and studied the history of theory and method in the scientific process. "I learned a lot about the evolution of the theories and methods in biology and the people who shaped it," she said.

Her research also led her into the artistic field. At the Center for Scientific Research, Spain's version of the National Science Foundation, she began to explore the role of science in art. 路 For example, Ms. Garcia

found a picture of a prototype because, "Europeans in general of a hairdryer in one of Da are much more relaxed; there is Vinci's works. It depicted a person wearing a helmet with a glass-covered hole. She also studied the geometry found in architecture and the use of minerals in certain inks.

In addition, she attended seminars on psyAnimatedly chiatry. "I surCOSA Odile Garcia considers returning to Spain. prised myself because I was able to take all not the pressure that you find the notes in Spanish, "she said. in the United States," she said.

Ms. Garcia would begin her "I needed to refresh myself with something different," she research at 9 AM, with an insaid when asked why she de- terruption in the middle of the cided to travel to Spain. She day for lunch and conversation particularly enjoyed her trip with friends. She would return

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to her research later in the afternoon and end the day at 7 PM. Her evenings were filled with good meals and time with her family. "I went to bars a lot and the theater. I actually saw Grease in Spanish," she said with a laugh. Among other shows she attended were Oedipus Rex and a Bruce Springsteen concert.

Ms. Garcia also traveled to France to visit her family for a week. She visited Portugal for a few days with friends and explored many villages in Spain. "At one point, we were dangerously low on gas and we were in the middle of no where. That was a very scary experience. Finally we saw a small village with a gas station," she recalled.

She particularly enjoyed one village, Coimbra, where each of

its houses is suspended over a cliff.

At the end of June, Ms. Garcia's thoughts turned to the seniors who were being graduated, but she admitted that during her sabbatical, she did not really miss Townsend Harris.

"I have so many friends in Spain," she said. "I feel very much at home there. It is very special to me." She lovingly described her apartment: "The view from my terrace was out of this world. I had a view to the east, so I could see the morning sunrise." Ms. Garcia: still owns her apartment in Spain and hopes to continue using it throughout the year. "I may even consider teaching over there for nine months and living here fot three," she said.

However, she will remain at Townsend Harris until she retires.

The Classic

4 Charting the path to college: Where last year's gracl October 1999

may be time you took a closer look at those colleges more accessible to you.

Coinciding with the late-summer release of "America's Best Colleges," a yearly ranking of the country's top universities compiled by US News and World Report, is the annual profile issued by College Advisor Marilyn Blier and staff to assist students in beginning the college process. The general admissions information, provided in tabular form, includes the name of the college/university applied to, the number of students from the Class of 1999 who applied there, as well as the number of students who were accepted. The chart also

by Andrew Goldberg If an abundance of application solicitations and heaps of flashy pamphlets from universities around the country have already begun to pile up in your room, creating on your bedroom floor a veritable collage of college colors from your favorite schools, you may be wondering: "When is the right time to start thinking about college?" If a quick glance at your GPA (grade point average) hints that the answer may have been four years ago, or if your parents' hopes of Harvard have long since been squelched by standardized test scores seen as unSATisfactory for the Ivy League, it

shows the lowest average accepted by each schoql from among all the Townsend Harris applicants, as well as thal individual's math and verbal SAT scores. Similarly, the SAT scores of the students from last year's graduating class who had the highest average rejected by each school are also provided. Since these "ball park" statistics are intended solely to serve as an aid, they can, according to the college office, in no way be used definitively to gauge a student's chances of being accepted to a particular institution.

Among those schools where last year's graduates faired particularly well were the

traditional Harris hubs: Boston University, which accepted 43 of the 46 students who applied; Cornell University, which took 18 of the 48 applicants; Fordham Uni-versity, which accepted 49 of 55 applicants; Hofstra University, which welcomed all 36 applicants; the University of Maryland, which took 21 of the 26 applicants; New York University, which accepted 84 of the 111 students who applied; and St. John's University, which accepted 53 of the 54 applicants. Other "Harris friendly" Institutions last year included Brandeis, where eight of the 12 applicants were accepted, George Washington Uni-

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1

84.85!

83.85 550/440

PITTSBURGH, UNIV. OF

3

3

80.55 E

94.29 710/690

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

4

4

85 .06!

82.51 550/550

PRATT INSTITUTE

3

3

85 .98!

91 .34 710/670

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

1

0

PROVIDENCE COLLEGE

2

2

85.81!

QUINNIPIAC COLLEGE

3

3

85.26 '

11

10

85 .06 I

RHODE ISLAND SCH. OF DESIGN

1

1

87.84!

0

84.95 560/610

FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOG

1

1

90 .98 630/580

RICE UNIVERSITY

3

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

2

2

84 .97 650/610

RI.T. ROCHESTER INST. OF TECH

5

2

FLORIDA, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN

1

1

89 .91 590/560

ROCHESTER , UNIVERSITY OF

14

14

86.13 .

55

49

82 .51 550/550

81 .75 480/660

1ROCHESTER. UNIVERSITY OF (SA)

6

2

95 .19 760/640

93 .83 700/690

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY

11

11

81 .23

ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY

54

53

77. 08 .

'''" " P H'<: cn t t F GF

2

2

78 93 .

FORDHAM UNIVERSITY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY (SA) GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

91 690/610 11

8

86 .85 690/580 -

(Engnr)

88 .49

680/630

c:T

85 .06

I

84 1 I

The Classic October 1999

5

Jates got accepted and how it may affect you versity, where eight of the 11 applicants gained admission, and Penn State, where all 12 Townsend Harris applicants were admitted. The University of Rochester also accepted all14 Townsend Harris applicants and Syracuse University admitted all 12 students who applied there.

Outside of Cornell, a handful of Harrisites did manage to gain acceptance at almost all of the country's other Ivy League schools. One of six applicants was accepted at Harvard & Radcliffe, three were welcomed at Yale University, two were taken by Brown University, Columbia University accepted six of the 34 ap-

plicants, and the University of Pennsylvania took in three students. Princeton University, however, rejected the only Townsend Harris student who applied there.

With more students crowding into college programs than ever before, and with the number of freshmen applicants to universities at an all-time high, according to a report released recently by the National Center for Education Statistics, this year's senior class is expected to find stiffer competition than ever. It is for this reason that, as the most selective schools become even more so, a stellar academic record may no longer be enough to assure acceptance at

that person's acceptance. your college of choice.

While a good GPA and high SAT scores Other considerations characterized by universities as advantageous in an appli- are vital factors in this time of cutthroat cant, including gender, ethnicity, special competition, especially at SUNY and talents (such as musical or athletic ability), CUNY schools where approximate cut-offs and family "legacy," often play a role in are used to weed out candidates from the the admissions process, and fall under the · enormous pool of people applying, they are category of "special admits" (SA). Thus, only part of the total package considered whereas the applicant with the highest av- by most private colleges in choosing from erage rejected last year by Yale University among the accomplished applicants. In adhad a GPA of 96.3, a verbal SAT score of dition to academic excellence, an even 710 and a math SAT score of 770, another greater emphasis than ever is being placed student, with a 91.86 average and a verbal on such factors as extra curricular activiscore of 690 and math score of 580, was ties, community service, teacher recomadmitted. The SA factor played a part in mendations, and college essays.

:sACRED HEART UNIVERSITY

2

2

SARAH lAWRENCE

2

1

90.56 640/640

SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS

2

2

87.84 500/540

SCRANTON, UNIVERSITY OF

1

1

89.73 12on2o

SEATTLE UNIVERSITY

1

1

79.83 600/520

SIENA COLLEGE

5

5

83.92 590/560

10

SKIDMORE

3

2

87.07 540/600

!0

SMITH COLLEGE

2

83.8 610/650

88.63 5301610 lo 10

Kl

96.3 7101770 86.13

1oon40

94.72 710/690

85.84 4901620

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, UN IV. OF

2 1

ro

SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY

1

0 "1

10

SOUTH FLORIDA, UNIVERSITY OF

1

1

89.91 590/560 89.91 590/560

10

SPELLMAN COLLEGE

1

1

85.98 530/570

10

STANFORD UNIVERSITY

3

1

95.19 7601640

85.26 4301530

STEVENS INST. OF TECHNOLOGY

5

5

88.75 550/560

94.89 6701730

'SWARTHMORE COLLEGE

6

3

93.83 700/690 92.26 67()(740

ro

so

87.42 6001710

-

Po

12

12

87.07 5401600

40

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

4

4

84.14 620/550

60

TOWSON UNIVERSITY

2

2

82.97 5901580

20

TUFTS UNIVERSITY

1

94.29 7101690

2o-

TULANE

5

UNION COLLEGE

6 5 4

86.85 690/580 91.42 5901580

82.24 5101550

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY

1

0

82.97 590/580

VASSAR

5

4

91.5 730/540

50 40

~0

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

81 .3 4801490

4

85.811690/580 89.861520/660

SWARTHMORE COLLEGE (SA)

~

86.511700/570

91.611600n2o 94.721710/690

94.69 6701640

90.98 630/580 88.07 640n4o

90.49 6001550

6o

VASSAR (SA)

60

VERMONT, \.JNIVERSITY OF

2

2

83.85 5501440

VILlANOVA UNIVERSITY

8

4

87.29 6201560

84.95 560/610

30

VIRGINIA, UNIVERSITY OF

5

3

95.52 720/690

92.7 620/650

~0

VIRGINIA, UNIVERSITY OF (SA)

93.91 eoonoo

20

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

85.2 5901790 94.32 6401720

92.12 5901660 18

7

1

~0

WENTWORTH INSTITUTE OF TECH.

1

0 1

~

WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

4

2

~

WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY (SA)

WELLESLEY COLLEGE

1

WILLIAMS COLLEGE

2

82.51 5501550

'40

96.11 5901600

WISCONSIN, UNIVERSITY OF (SA)

9224 5601720

YALE UNIVERSITY

r2o ho

1 3

ED

=EARLY DECISION

A Special Admit (SA) refers to an individual possessing one or more of the following characteristics deemed advantageous by the university: gender, ethnicity, special talents (musical, athletic), family "legacy."

965 660/640

Early Decision (ED) are students who applied to one particular college or university during the Early Decision period. If accepte to that school, the student must attend.

190 . ~90

580 570

APPROXIMATE CUT-OFFS

96.5 660/640 580

SUNY:

CUNY:

Albany : 83 Binghamton: 90 Buffalo : 83 Stony Brook : 83 Geneseo : 90

Queens College

530 85.2 590n90

540 94.12 73on6o 85.2 5son9o

i

83 Average

640 1

550 1480 490

1

96.3 710n7o

87.39 7501540

).40

680 740

92 780n4o 91.86 690/580

•• Engineering Applicants Referred to School of Science.

i40 ).40

680

86.54 530/550

i

140

reo

1 10

NOTE: SA • SPECIAL ADMIT

91.51 57on2o 91 .72 6601690

l4o

94.33 540n2o 85.77 570/540 94.72 710/690

0 0

YALE UNIVERSITY (SA)

!70 i-40

88.75 550/560 93.18 7501660

94.29 680/600 87.3 620/560

92.12 5901660

WESTPOINT

i10 . i20

91.94 620/630

74.56 560/500

(Good SAT's Above 1200) (Binghamton: Abov*' 1250)

If average is lower, a correspondingly higher SAT Is needed.

;.

6

The Classic October 1999

r-:r'. ·:!.',· · · . · ·..•.L).W"''!'\":-e:: · ··. ·. • ,_ . .-,. )... ~-

"~:m: >l\h•

Clubs showcased at annual service fair

by Lauren Paley "One ... two," senior Alejandro Fernandez said while extending his fingers to count the first two members he had recruited for his newly-founded club. It began as an idea over the summer, which flourished into a proposal and led to a meeting with Odile Garcia, the Coordinator of Student Activities, who has agreed to serve as the club's advisor.

Within months, Alejandro found himself sitting at the September 24 Service Fair, with a sign next to him reading "Yoga Club." Around him, flyers

blew to the ground as poster boards tipped over in the wind that fought with scrambling students who tried to clean up their club's publicity.

The fair, which took place along the circumference of the court yard during lunch bands, represented many of the school's 57 clubs, teams and publications, all of which were started by students.

In the past four years, the Dance Club, the Boys' Basketball Team and the Internet Publishing Club have been added to the list of extra-curricular activities. Ms. Garcia explained the steps

School Clubs: Advertising Club'- Mr. Carbone, all information TBA Amnesty InternatioMl- Ms. Garcia, Rtn. 139, every other Fri., 7:15 Archon- Ms. Garcia, auditorium, Mon., 7:15 Art Exhibition Squad- Mr. Mora-les, Rm. 543, TBA, 7:00 Artists' Place- Ms. Polansky, Rm. 543, Wed., 2:35 Dance Club· aU information TBA Educate to Elevate- Mr. Stonehi1l, Rm. 404, Fri., 2:40 Harmony- Ms. Garcia/ Ms. Orner, all inforination TBA Jazz Ensemble- Mr. Lustig, all information TBA Junior State of America- Mr. Moskowitz, Rm. 415, TilUr., 7:15 Puffles~ Ms. Eaton, Rm. 63'8, Fri., 2:30 Save the Children- Ms. Garcia!Ms. Landry, Rm. dilling hall, Tues._, 2:35 Shakespeare's s:isters- Ms. Biener, Rm. 4'1(), Fri., 7:15 Straight and Gay Educating Students- Ms. Cohen, Rm. 413, Thur... 7:15 Students Against Animal Cruelty· Mr. Morales, Rm. 545, Mon., '1: 15 Students Against Destructive Decisions- Ms. E{pstein, Rm. TBA, Tues., 7:15 Students for the Preservation of the Earth- Ms. Garcia, Rm. 139, Thur., 2:35 Students Promoting AIDS Awareness- Ms. Marcus, aH information TBA Townsend Talk Live· Ms. Benin, Rm. 515, all informatiun TBA Ultimate Club- Mr. Weiss, all information TBA Yoga Club- Ms. Garcia, Rm. 139, all information TBA

to beginning a new one. Once a student has an idea for a new group, he m; she must write up a proposal describing the purpose or mission statement behind the club. Next, a petition needs to be signed by at least 10 people who say they would join the club if it is established. An advisor must be recruited from the school staff who agrees to supervise meetings.

After all this information is gathered, it is sent first to Ms. Garcia and then Principal Malcolm Largmann for review and final approval. With approval, the Student Union agrees to lend the activity leader money for supplies, which must be reimbursed later on through

School Pubikations~ 'fhe ClassicM Ms. Cowen, Jbn. 5Hl, Tues.., 2:35 The Phoenix~ Ms. Rizzuto, Rm. 115, publieati(;)n office, Wed., 3:30 The Quantum Cat- Mr. Curran, Rm. 642, Wed., 2:35 Crrmson ami Gold- Ms. Polansky, all information TBA Internet Publishing/Computer Tech Squad- Mr. Ti,ffen, Rm. 634, Tues., 2:35

Athletk Teams:

School Teams: Chase Manhattan Debate Team- Ms. Getting, Rrn. 410, aU information TBA Debate Team- Ms. Getting,. Rm. 410, Mon., 1:J5 Math Team- Mr. Rattien, Rm. 504, Tues./WeEI., 7:20 Mock Trial/Moot Court Team- Ms. Leib, all information TBA Speech Team- Mr. Carbone, Rm. 410, all information TBA

Interns' research receives recognition

by Noreen Bukhari Junior Emy Kariakose was selected to represent the New York Academy of Science at the annual conference of the American Association of Science in Washington, DC. The conference is scheduled for the week of February 16, 2000.

Emy studied the effect of genetic background on the types of calls produced by three different species of canaries. She tried to determine whether nature or nurture controls their behavior. Emy was among the 85 students presenting their research projects at a symposium held at Fordham University on August 19 for the Science Research Training Program, a summer internship opportunity directed by the New York Academy of Science, a non-profit organization based in Manhattan.

Other Harris participants included seniors Noreen Bukhari, who studied the management of illegal drug smugglers,

and Rehan Taqi who studied the repair of DNA. Junior Alice Iosifescu focused on Wilm's tumor of the kidney, and junior Vivian Ng studied the auto-immune disease called lupus.

The abstracts of all the participants in the program will be published by the Academy in The Journal of Science Research.

"The symposium ... gives students an opportunity to talk about their work and prove they've learned something," said Jeanette Kim," director of the Science Research Training Program. A panel of scientists from a range of fields evaluated the students' research projects.

Students interested in the program can obtain an application from the science department and apply by early January. Between June 18 to August 18, accepted students work at their internship site four days a week and meet at the academy on Fridays for a workshop.

fundraisers.

Ms. Garcia stresses the importance of creating an activity where the school community remains intact. This means that no one race, religion or culture is exclusively represented and all students are welcome to participate.

Before thinking up ideas for new ways to spend classroom off-hours, be aware that there are many old activities already in existence. Although most team seasons have already begun, many meetings for clubs and publications start this week. See the charts below for details on contact people, location and times.

B·oys' Basketball- Mr. Ceraulo, winter season Girls' Junior Varsity Basketball- M'r. Scarnati, winter season Girls' Varsity Basketball- Mr. Ceraulo·, winter season Boys' Bowling- Mr. Ceran,lo, fall season Girls' Bowling- Ms. Schwartz, fall season Boys' Cl;_oss Country Track- Mr. Rios, fall season Girls' Cross Country track- Mr. Floro, fall season Co-ed Fencing- Mr. Bloom, faH season Boys' Handball- Mr. $.carnati, spring season Girls' HandbaU- Mr. Jordan, spring season Boys' Indoor Track- Mr. Rios, winter se.ason Girls' Indoor Track- Mr. Hom, winter season Boys' Outdoor Traek- Mr. Rios, spring season Girls' Outdoor Track- Mr. Hom, spring· season B·oys' Soccer- Mr. Hackney, faH season Girls' Soccer• Mr. Hackney, spring season Girls' Junior Varisty Softball- Ms. Figelman, spring season Gids' VaFsity Softball- Mr. Cerau1o, spring season Girls' Swimming· Mr. Jordan, fali season Boys' Tennis- Mr. Muttay, spring seasen Girls' Tennis- Ms. Schwartz, spring season Boys' Volleyball- Ms. Dempster, spring season Girls' Junior Varsity Volleyball- Ms. Pigelman, fall season Girls' Varisty Vofleyball- Ms. Nix, fall season

Construction creates conflicts continued from p. 1 has been a very tedious one. Computers could not be used to aid in creating the seniors' programs because they could not incorporate the college schedule into the high school schedule. Programs had to be individually created by hand.

"Everything had to be programmed twice, first the academic portion and then we tried to fit in gym in the remaining time students had," explained Mr. Boulanger. Although a gym schedule had been developed in June, it could not be followed because the schedule didn't coincide with the college schedule.

Mr. Ceraulo worked diligently on all the seniors' schedules. "When you get someone who knows what they're doing, you leave them alone and let them do their job. He's terrific," Mr. Rattein said, complimenting Mr. Ceraulo's work. "I tried to give the seniors the electives they wanted, but sometimes it ended up being the electives that fit,"

said the gym teacher. Mr. Ceraulo has volunteered to teach an extra gym band, 7'h band senior gy111, since many seniors have that period free.

Overall, the equalization process has been difficult for the students as well as the faculty. Students, particularly seniors, have been switched into and out of classes.

"This is my fourth progr'am change," said Karolyn Gavilanez, senior. Even after equalization, some seniors still faced scheduling conflicts. ' The programming teachers have been and still are trying to fix the schedules so that "students get what they need and want," said Ms. Orner.

The reconstruction of Queens College's Powdermaker Hall will last for at least two years. Therefore, the contrasting college and high school schedules will remain for a while.

Describing this year's equalization process for senior programs, Mr. Ceraulo said, "It was a big-time mess."

The Classic October 1999

7

Long faces by small spaces: Journalism workshop 'Weenie' lockers big problem offers o·p portunities

by Eric Trager When junior Steven Seidenfeld approached his assigned locker on the first day of school, he immediately felt cheated. "Bad news," he told his friends at lunch. "I've been stuck with a weenie locker."

The 6 and 3/4"-wide "weenie lockers," located in the center of the school's locker blocks, measure 3 and 1/4" smaller than regular-size lockers and comprise 82 of the school's 1,188 lockers. According to assistant principal Malcolm Rossman, weenie lockers exist because of an error that occurred when lockers were ordered for the school's new building. "My perception is that they had a finite amount of space, and that this would be the right amount of lockers," he said. "However, when they realized they'd ordered too many, they were forced to make some lockers smaller to fit all of them."

The current "weenie locker crisis," which has seen an increasing number of students assigned to weenie lockers, is the result of an uneven number of students in each official class. In previous years, official class rosters were shifted to accommodate incoming tenth-graders, which allowed each official class to retain an equal number of students.

Equal numbers of locker assignments were given to each class, usually allowing for a few more lockers than were actually necessary. The extra lockers were occupied by students who would have normally been assigned to a weenie locker.

This year, however, official classes in the tenth grade were not equalized, and locker assignments were given based on the exact number of students in each homeroom. Since no extra lockers were assigned, those stuck with weenie lockers have had no alternative

by Surabhi Jain While our workshop simulated a Armed with a notepad, a pen and newsroom, we had the opportunity to an inquiring mind, I found myselfliv- visit real media companies such as ing the life of a newspaper reporter Newsday's headquarters and CBS' this July at a three-week journalism studios. Seeing where Dan Rather reworkshop for minority students at ports breaking news was an amazing Queens College. Sponsored by Dow experience. Our trip to CBS came a Jones, the workshop incorporated few days after John F. Kennedy Jr.'s journalism lessons with the creation fatal plane crash off Martha's Vineof a newspaper called The Spectrum, . yard, and we were able to see camthe summer edition of Queens eramen and reporters stationed at the Kennedy Compound and Tribeca.

College's student newspaper.

As a reporter, I, along with 10 Realizing that many individual reother girls from high schools through- ports would be assembled into one out the city, covered real news sto~ news broadcast helped me understand ries ranging from the struggle of the speed and cooperation that is necworking teens to balance schoolwork essary in television broadcasting.

We often had to work late hours with their jobs to the declaration of the #7 train in Flushing as a "historic before the paper could be finished. but to use those lockers. Mr. Rossman has stated that homerooms will be equalized next year as a precaution against another weenie locker crisis.

"It was a bad welcoming to the school," said freshman Richard Amanna of the weenie locker assignment he was given on the first day of school. "It's hard to fit stuff in there."

"I don't know why I should be different from others," remarked freshman Natalie Spielberg, who has jammed her books into weenie locker 4-99 for three weeks. Richard agreed. "When I noticed I had a smaller locker, I felt I was being treated unequally," he said.

For others, weenie locker issues are superstitious. "I think it's bad luck," said sophomore Jessie Zhou, who currently occupies weenie locker 4-143 but plans to move to vacant non-weenie locker 4-142. "It's incredibly stupid that they don't have same-sized lockers."

While no "Million Weenie-LockerTenant March" has been organized to date, current weenie locker residents may request a locker change by submitting their names, official classes and current locker numbers to Mr. Rossman's office by October 8.

Article provokes publicity continued from pg. 1 nical High School - because it does not have an admissions exam, "it can compete with them," according to the article, whose statistics point out that the school's seniors "even outshone the venerable Stuyvesant High School" on January's English Regents and fell one point behind top-rated Bronx Science in overall performance on all Regents exams.

Student and faculty reaction to the article was mixed. "I think [the author] missed the spirit of the school," said English teacher Debra Michlewitz, who added that she was "misquoted" when commenting on the school's teaching methods.

"I think there's a unique family atmosphere here, and the article didn't capture that," she said. Guidance counselor Susan Rotter noted that "it's hard

to capture the essence of a building without spending a lot of time there."

Despite some concerns about the article's accuracy- sophomore Christina Polizoto was "insulted" at what she felt was an implication that "because we are a difficult school, we as students will begin to lose our individual qualities and personalities" - many students were pleased at the recognition Townsend Harris was given. "It is great knowing that [the school] ... receives all forms of recognition for its academic excellence," said sophomore Beth Dubin.

The article "painted our school in a good vein," concluded Assistant Principal of Mathematics Harry Rattien, "but it makes us look more conservative than Pat Buchanan and Ronald Reagan put together."

A copy of the article can be found at the COSA office in room 139.

Speaking on behalf of participants of the Queens College/ Dow Jones Summer Journalism Workshop, senior Surabhi Jain presents flowers to the faculty.

trail."

I covered a four-day Philadelphia convention at which 15,000 Jains, followers of an Eastern religion called Jainism, gathered to educate others about their beliefs, which include strict vegetarianism. I was blown away by Pramodha Chitrabhanu, the wife of the renowned Jain priest, who said, "In the 18th century, man was liberated; in the 19th century, AfricanAmericans were liberated; in the 20th century, women were liberated. Now, as we enter the 21st century, we must liberate animals as well."

For an article on the Latino music craze that swept the nation this summer, I went to a record store where fans were going "loca" as they tried to purchase tickets for Ricky Martin's "All-American" tour.

Approved by NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles & State Education Dept.

Toward the end of the workshop, I found myself playing the role of editor and helping with the layout.

The work behind every word is tremendous, and getting the newspaper out on time was stress · ful. The number of cans of soda we drank for the caffeine was absurd!

Although reporting may seem like an easy task, it required much time and patience. As Michelle Marriott, one of the workshop's most memorable guest speakers and a writer for the New York Times'Circuits section, said to us in his native Shona: "Kuzitsu aku pere. Learning never ends."

Students interested in attending the journalism workshop next year should contact the college journalism program at 997 - 2995.

Kew Forest High School Fall1999 Term

Driver Education

119-17 Union Thrnpike Forest Hills, Queens 11375 Call: 718-268-4667 or write for an application Registration every Wednesday and Thursday at 3:30. ~v:,~cats

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• \)\}a~ co\\tto

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•"

-'·· "co\}\\\S ce ~\"

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• Student completion

Tuition: $395

Certificate (Blue Card-My ) 285 • Eligible for senior license at 17

You must be 16 on or before 9/15/99 to apply.

8

The Classic

Fencing team looking to ,relive magic of '97

Bo D -;,.... Brian. Grlftin . g

. Boys Coming off of ·whalcciach Larry Ceraulo has described as the •'best season ever," the 'Boys' Varsity Bewling team is now in a rebuildiag phase.

Last year's <livision wianJng t~. which had an A, B, and C squad, has· been d;windted down to just tom returning bowlers.

The team will miss last year~s seniors. including Mark V<>n OWen; who led the team in average, and key contributors Greg Lew and David Wong.

In addition, ~veral bOwlers deeided not to return for this season.

Senior Andrew F:tanklin, and junior Chris Chu. who had a 170 average lfl&t.season, will be key •ta tti.e team's succ·ess.

S.op:homore Anto.n DePasquate and junior Richard Wong w.ill also step into big ro-les. Cerauk> f~ls his team's chances for this season WOil}d have @een better had aJJ. the bowlers from last sefi&On, excluding the graditating seniors, r~tumed.

So far, the list of candidates for new bowlers is snort but not totally empty. ·•.eric Trager looks f:>FGmismg," s~d Ceraulo. Without the depth of last season's team. this year's team will have to rely on the few bowlers that

Girls The Girls' Varsity Bowling team is still in the middle of tryo11ts, but. already coach Schwartz is confilb~llt tmr "team's Chance$. "We had a big turnout this year," she said.

Although the ' tean:i 'hasn't been fonne<fyet, Sehwaitz.wa& knp£CSSed

dent

mien

by wbat 'Sl:le StWI in the'tryouts.

"The

new bowlers loOk Iik.e .they•re going to have nice high averages,, she said.

Along wit» yolitlt, the ieam has a strong ·semor core Wilioh includes Christina Gawia:k:, Brook Bergman, Sbann Aboujande..

Last year''s playoff team centered around a strong A Team .i·n which Schwartz rotated her bowlets.

Schwanz is llftcenatn if she wilt be using the same metihOO., this year, as that will depend on bow consistently the girls bowl.

A year separated tram. the hip of last Season's 9-2 division record and second roand ..ptayoff appearance, Sd.twartz r«nains more than opti:Qlistic a~ ber team's chances for this season. "I think we're looki'Q,g even better [than last year)," sbe said.

and

By Eric Trager A much anticipated season for the Coed Varsity Fencing team, under new coach and rookie physical education teacher Robert Bloom, began on Tuesday, October 5 at 4:00 when the team travelled to Jamaica High School to play its first match. The reason this season has been greatly anticipated is mostly because of what happened last year when the team went all the way to the championship match before losing the title they had won just a year before.

Now a year later, the team, under a new coach but with many of the same faces, hopes to reclaim its city title. "I feel positive about our upcoming season," remarked Bloom. "We know the

competition and have only improved as a team."

Bloom has assumed the coaching duties of history/social science teacher Anthony Scarnati, who retired from coaching the fencing team after last season. Bloom, who took fencing at Queens College and was a studentteacher at Harris 10 years ago, is taking over an experienced team with most of the same starters and some new fencers.

Juniors Larry Manis and Jon Landesman will return to their starting roles, and junior Brian Cooperman, junior Jarvis Lagman, and sophomore Amanda Blancke will be key fencers this season.

Girls set for showdown with volleyball rival

By Arielle Frost Bump, set, spike is the sequence that Wanda Nix, coach of the Girls' Varsity Volleyball team, has drilled into her girls' heads since before this school year even started. Nix's dedicated players

trouble against any team with size."

Junior Mary Giouroukakis responded to this by saying, "We may be short, but we're tough."

Nix began practices so early because she has high goals set for her team. She

Mary Giouroukakis returns a volley in an exhibition game on September 24 in a winning match against Robert F. Kenney High SchooL

sacrificed the end of their summer vacations to begin practices before the first day of school had even rolled around, all in preparation for a season that begins with a match against an always competitive Cardozo High School team on October 8.

Nix feels that it is definitely possible for her team to beat Cardozo. She said, "We have a good team but we will have

wants to improve upon last season's overall record of 11-8, make the playoffs, and most importantly, see that all of her players improve their individual games.

Last season was a rebuilding year for the young team and the team did not lose any players this year. Returning players include team captains, seniors Chin Chin Chang and Nancy Kim.

Junior Jon Landesman (far left) referees a practice bout between unden;Jassmen fencers in the Townsend Harris gym. The team is working hard in preparation for the '99 season, hoping to get back the City Championship once again.

Lack of depth causes concern for soccer team

By Brian Griffing Last spring. history teacher Chris Hat:kney took a young inexperien<.:ed Girls· Varsity So<.:<.:er team off the hands of its former <.:oa<.:h . Keith Hanson. and mu<.:h to the surprise of the team's nit i<.:s. led them straight into the playnlls .

This fall. the situation is the same. hut this time it is the Boys· Varsity So<.:<.:er team that's in the rebuilding phase . It's the boys who have to <:ope with the loss of a strong senior team. and it's the boys who have experienced a coaching change .

Hackney has replaced the longtime soccer coach James Murray, and now has to look to rebuild a team which last year was composed predominantly of seniors. .. It\ going to have a big impact on · us," said Hackney. who has two returning seniors against last year·s seven . .. We don't have enough depth:'

he added.

A soccer team composed of only 13 players definitely qualifies as a team lat:king depth, sin<.:e that number only leaves the team with two resern:s. Be<.:ause of the short roster.

Had.ney feels that injuries would he devastating to the team.

Last year's team. despite its injury problems. made a run at its first playoil berth . but kll short in the final games of the season . Last year ·s team ·s su<.:ecss was the result of a dc knsi\·e-minded style of play.

This year. Hackney would like to sec improvement in the goal s<.:oring department. ·Tm trying to open up the offense this year:· he said.

Although Ha<.:kney would like to make the playoffs. the main fo<.:us at the moment is to rebuild . But then again, the main fo<.:us of last year's Girls' team was to rebuild . and look where they ended up.