The Classic newspaper Volume 18 Issue no. 2

ol.17, No.2, December2001

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ass1·c Townsend Harris High School at Queens College

149-11 Melbourne Avenue, Flushing, NY 11367

First Amendment ideals prevail:

School wins award for freedOm of express,ion

by Daniel Bloch Honoring Townsend Harris's upholding of the principles of the First Amendment, a committee composed of four scholastic journalism organizations and the Freedom Forum presented Townsend Harris with the Let Freedom Ring award for the second year in a row.

Representatives from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), Journalism Education Association (JEA), National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), the International Quill and Scroll Society and the Freedom Forum, a foundation dedicated to free speech, recognized Townsend and nine other high schools from across the country at a ceremony on November 8 at the Sheraton Hotel in Boston.

"I felt wonderful when I heard that we won [for the second time],"-said a beaming Principal Thomas Cunningham, who accepted the award

on behalf of the school community. ''I'm a big believer that responsible journalism should be the norm for every school."

High schools nationwide were eligible for a Let Freedom Ring award, instituted in 2000. Applicant schools completed detailed questionnaires concerning their attitudes toward First Amendment values, as illustrated by their school publications and policies.

Lois Polansky, advisor to the school yearbook, Crimson and Gold, said she "felt very proud of us." "As an advisor of a school publication, I know how hard it is to really maintain all the principles involved in the First Amendment," she explai·ned. "I am grateful that the administration gives me and the students that flexibility."

"It is a privilege that we \¥On such an award," added English teacher Farah Khan, who serves as the advisor to the

Founder's .Day ceremon·y

literary magazine, The Phoenix.

Alumnus from the class of 1990 David Herszenhorn, former Editor-inChief of The Classic and currently areporter for the Metropolitan Desk at The New York Times, noted some of the unique qualities that make Harris a First Amendment High School. "The unfortunate reality is that students inAmerica do not have full press freedoms," he said. "There are only a few places where the principal and the staff at a school have publicly embraced the reality that to be the best educators they can be, they have an obligation tQ afford their students press free~oms apd to teach them how to use their freedoms."

Standing in the principal's conference room beside its twin from the year before, the 200 I Let Freedom Ring award is made of clear glass and on the front is etched: "For protecting and respecting First Amendment freedoms."

The award's arrival is timely, noted lisa Cowen, advisorofThe Classic . "In the aftermath of September II, the First Amendment has become a burning issue as the country seeks to Jind a balan.c e betwee.n . fostering security and maintaining our cherished constitutional rights," she said.

"At Townsend Harris, students have the ~pportunity to learn about those rights first-hand. The school is truly a place where, to use the terminology of a 1969 Supreme Court decision, First Amendment rights do not stop at the 'schoolhoijse gate,"' she continued. ·w \hen the award was pla'ied in his hands on November 8, Mr. O ,mn.ingham held it up in front of the approximately I ,000 audience members because he is "proud of what it signifies, and of the hard work and effort put into keeping both our school and our school newspaper bast'ions of freedom ."

S.imulation"'mirrors city ele·ction;

mourns tragedy, offers hope Bloomberg squeaks out victory rumors ... that it's not going to be as good

by Tina Wu Founder's Day featured the theme of as the past because the times have "Heroes All." The annual event held at changed. Well, times have changed, and Colden Auditorium on October 26 took we're here .. .to celebrate that change and to deal with that notice of the many change," she said. changes in everyPrincipal Thoone's lives since mas Cunningham September II while not only observed continuing to emthe changes since brace the Townsend the World Trade Harris traditions .

Center attack and The event opened the losses of the with Assistant PrinTownsend Harris cipal of Humanities community, but Lynne Greenfield also praised the speaking about school's resilFounder's Day and ience.

"These its importance in ..c:: ] events will not de"showing off who r./1 ... ter us from our due we are, where we've <E ·a ties," he said. Mr. been, [and] where " Cunningham ex~ we're going." She ;>, .D pressed his pride also noted the special 0 0 in the "vibrant, ... ..c:: meaning of this c.. eager, creative and year's Founder's Fireman Matt Heffernan addressed the Continued on p. 11 Day. "We heard Townsend Harris student body and faculty.

"We were disappointed by our defeat

by Karen Hendershot Victorious i.n both the real election because we thought we all did a good and tbis year's election simulation, Re- job and put in a l0t Qf effort. We really tried to reach out to publican Mike the und~rclassmen Bloomberg emerged and \\-\ere surprised by as the new mayor of the huge margin with New York City, dethe sophomores," said feating his opponent senior Anna Olson, Mark Green by a who played a Green small margin. The campaign staffer in businessman and methe simulation. dia mogul won 50.4% This year's mock of 1.3 million votes New York City cast citywide in the Mayoral Campaign, actual election, beat..c:: the sixth annual ing Public Advocate ] election simulation in Green by approxir./1 ... ~ Townsend Harris mately 40,000 votes. a history, got off to a In the simulation, Mr. " ~ ;>, rocky start, facing Bloomberg won by a .D B delays brought on by slim 37 votes, thanks 0 ..c:: c.. the World" Trade mainly to the sopho~ Energizing the crowd at a rally, Center attacks and more class which Kristofer.De Paola, senior, portrayed programming gave the mayor-elect a the role of Mayor-J;:Iect Michael Continued' on p. 11 significant majority of Bloomberg during th is year 's election their votes . simulation.

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Newest Clubs Page4

College Stats Pages 8-9

Movie and CD Reviews Page 10

' Sports Pages 14-16

The Classic

2 Bloomberg ·must reflect our new priorities December 2001

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If the events of the past two months have taught us anything, it has been to take our blankets; we have not and will not be trapped within our grief. When a Januout the garbage, even when we know it is our sister's turn to do it. Or maybe it has ary northeaster dumps two feet of snow, what happens? First, we start the process taught us the importance of talking with our parents about our day for a few more of digging ourselves out. Even as the snow continues to fall, we trudge out and minutes than usual, even if we have a test to cram for and a paper to write . One of begin brushing off our cars and salting our sidewalks. It is our instinct to recover.

But we must recuperate with our new priorities in place. Mr. Bloomberg must the most vital bits of emotional fallout that has settled on our lives since September II is the value of putting things into perspective. We can only hope our new take the lead and be the first to get rid of the partisan garbage. Our mayor has to work directly and confidently with the entire city to assure recovery. Only then mayor learns this lesson quickly and well.

Sadly, the worth of this realization completely evaded Mike Bloomberg and his will our skyline shine as majestically as it once did. rival Mark Green in this year's mayoral race. Instead of prioritizing the issues to provide relief for a bruised city, both candidates dumped political trash all over each other, resorting to mudslinging and name-calling in an effort to win the attention (and votes) of New Yorkers . If only Mr. Green and Mr. Bloomberg had realized how untimely their politics-as-usual behavior was.

With the destruction of the World Trade Center, New Yorkers have lost their patience for pettiness. The events of September II have made us realize that time cannot be regained; therefore, the ego trips and vague pledges that pervaded the 200 1 mayoral r:ice were particularly intolerable. One would think that the two men who ~anted to-leaq city through its dimmest hour would have known · better. ' Our cityscape has changed too horribly and · too suddenly. With the election now over, New Yorkers can only hope that their next mayor remembers the neces- sities of humility and clear-headedness. Now, more than ever, is the time to recognize the problems our city faces and, more importantly, to work in unison to mend the cracks and fill in the holes. To mayor-elect Bloomberg we say: Put your partisan creed on the shelf for a while and work with all your neighbors to make our blocks safer and playgrounds and parks cleaner. Roll up your sleeves and combat the' bureaucracy and inefficiency that are causing our schools to ·fail and our students artd •teaohers· to become tlrsillusioned. And, above all, help us to repair our .fra'ctuted economy and further provide for New Yorkers most affected by the September assaults.

New Yorkers now realize their vulnerability; they now know that even their famously resilient skins can be cut and can bleed. But we have not hidden under

'our

letters to

A--ch.a.nce t.o -,l:au.gh

To the Editor: I am a graduate of Townsend Harris and am now attending Tufts University.

Part of Tufts' core curriculum is to take English I, a class that refines your writing skills, and is taught in a seminar format. The ourrent unit we are reading and writing about is schools in the United ·States. For homework, we were told to read the essay "What High School Is,"

by Theodore R. Sizer. The discussion in class the next day was how this essay compared to each of our high school experiences. In a class of 16, about 14 people could say that their high school experience was very similar, if not exactly the same as, the one described in the essay.

Sizer followed a junior boy around a high school in an unnamed place, The essay talked about things like a mari- · juana deal in the hallway, doing math homework in his Englis-h class, cheerleading, and an assembly where no one paid attention ... Sizer gave the reader the impression that the teachers did not care about what the students were doing, and that the students in return were apathetic about school.

With the tragic events of September II and the more recent plane crash of Flight 587 in the Rockaways, there is a.need to escape these trying times and find chances to enjoy ourselves whenever we can. It is this feeling that caused many students to be disappointed with this year's Founders Day. This traditional ceremony is something t~at many look forward to with great anticipation as an opportunity to unwind, escape stress, and most importantly, laugh.

Although it is essential to cope with these events that have impacted our lives and our natiW\, :it js, ~nderstandable that some students felt they needed to escape their worriesl .and _s<J.PJlt<S~ on a.day' that istradrtionally hum0roi.ts. While the per.· .•.

• ., ' ... formances tried to strike a balance between' the serious and the funny, the usual song parodies were nqt performed and there were fewer comedic pieces than there have been in the past. In addition, the majority of the speakers expressed their feelings regarding the tragic events in their speeches. Many students said they kft Colden Auditorium with a depressed feeling, as opposed to the usual happiness that Founders Day brings.

The school did, however, try to add extra elements of fun and humor to this year's Spirit Week. There were two surprise Karaoke Days, and even though Halloween Dress-Up Day was cancelled by order<:ifthe Boatd ofEducation; the school rescheduled it for the following Mmiday. It is very important to take advantage of . all oppor~nities pre's ented to :us so we ·can· achieve a healthy balance between coping with ihe· world 'arourid us and escaping our concerns from time to time by laughing, having run, and spending time with family and friends.

The Classic would like to present all students and faculty with a new opportunity to engage the school community with humor. Please get together, make up, and submit any funny song parodies or other humorous pieces that are on an appropriate topic to The Classic .. The best ones will be selected and fJrinted in the next issue. In this time of sadness, it is essential for us to seek the silly and find · happiness in humor. · .

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Daniel Bloch Allison Slotnick Co-Editors-in-Chief Jamie Gullen Feature Editor

Jennifer Gong ·Sarah Schnee · Co-News Editors

News Staff: Lily Chu, Bi.!th Ouhin, Akshta Kalla, Bry:ul Kirschcl1, Steven ~1.!. Sh:at-:1 Siegel Feature

Arianna C Freyre, Swvic

Binshh:yn, Marh) Duhlin,

Nadia Kahnauth, K;1ti.c Kugim. Syhil Knllappallil, Tcrmm.:l:

Umara Saleem, Ann M~1rgilrct Santa-lncs, Rad1cl Schiffman. K;1thcrinc Shi, Ben Straus!';. Tina Wu Rachel Acusta, Stephen Berger. Carulin:1 Ch;mg, Chloe Ch:l\l, Jnsh f,,x,

Ed'itor

I told my class that my high school experience was not even remotely like the one we had just read about. My class said that this was impossible; high schools are all the same. I decided, in. stead.of arguing with them, to ask them how many of them knew their school song. A few did, but most didn't. I followed this by reciting to them the Ephebic Oath (which I still know by heart).

My class, to say the least, was shocked.

And, while I did get some questions like; "Are you sure you went to high school and did not join a cult?," most people were sufficiently impressed.

I know that this sounds like probably one of the "dorkiest" things someone can do, but wha_t I've really learned quickly here at Tufts is that I have a much better background and work ethic than most of my friends. The fact is that as much as some weeks are incredibly stressful here (I am an Engineering major), it isn't as much work as THHS. THHS is a totally different high school experience, but that does not mean th:;1.t this is a bad thing. I promise.

-Emily Rubinstein, Class of 'OJ Letters continued· on page 3 Townsend Harris High School at Queens College 149-11 Melbourne Avenue, Flushing, N.Y. 11367

The Classic is an open forum for the expression of student views. The opinions expressed therein should not be taken to represent those of the administration or faculty or student body as a whole.

Ely.sc Lcc,Taly:1 Lichcm1an

DianeTiao Entertainment Editor

Steven Lee

Kerry Purtell Emily Rivlin-Nadler.

Ashley Pillsbury

Editor

N;~taliy;~

Sports Staff:

Assistant News Editor

Ph~tography

lsrou~Jian.

Jennifer Bhuiy:m.

Angela Hom

Karen Hender~hot

Art Editors

Bcr~cr,

Managing Editor

Jessica Wang

William Yang

Jessica

L01i, Lina Lee, Linda Luu, Christina Munnz, Amm Ohon,Jimn:athan Pas;111a, Sunayn:a R:1mdco,

Assistant Feature Editor

Copy/Online Editor

Staff:

th~ e

s ·p<>rts Editor

Artists·

Amy Blauncr, Beth Duhin, Annie L:~u, Duris Onc~a. Ra~.:hcl Sc.:hiiTm:m. Emm:~

Xi:ul, Stcph;mh! Zap;1la

Photography Staff: Jtlhn Btmcta, Gltlri:l Chi, K.tvccta Kirschner, Hill:ary Humlcr, Janlic Liu, Linh Ly,

Laur;~ N~.

Layout Staff: Pamela Ch;m, Matthew Kaufman, K:a(ic

lisa Cowen

David Belsky

Advisor

Layout Editor

Online· Staff: . Wa4as Shaikh

Dcs;~i,

Jamie Gullen, Matthew

Shara Siegel. Jennifer Sheth Ko~an

Readers are invited to submit letters to the editor.

Letters should be placed in Ms. Cowen 's mailbox in the general oftice. The Classic reserves the right to edi! all letters. Letters must include name and ofticial class. Names will be withheld upon request.

Principal - Thomas Cunningham

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The Classic

3

December 2001

Anthrax:· Know_the facts

by Angela Hom tion of the problem again and taminated meat, he or she may · A sprinkle of white powder again to the exclusion of any- experience stomach pains, is stuck to the outside of an en- thing else going on in the world vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. velope . .Is it sugar from the creates a heightened sense of Antibiotics can also treat this, and the death rate of untreated mailman 's breakfast donut? Is anxiety," she said. it plaster dust that drifted over To ease fears, it is important cases is 25% to 60%. from a neighbor's construction to know that anthrax is not conThe rarest way of contract- _ project? Or is it anthrax in its tagious. A person can only con- ing anthrax is also the deadlidormant spore form? America's tract anthrax by coming into est. Inhaled spores settle in the latest crisis is not only situated direct coritac't with some IUJ1gs and may' take up to 60 abroad in Afghanistan, but also spores. It is a disease c-aused by days to become -active. Two at home in post offices and · a bacterium that grows in the leading scientific journals remail rooms across the country, · soiL Since sheep, cows, horses, cently released analyses of I0 and the enemy is named Bacil- and goats sometimes eat it, this cases of inhalation anthrax.

Ius anthracis. disease used to be mainly lim- They explained that it is diffiThis disease is a source of ited to those who worked with . cult to recognize this type of anfear for many, since it was dis- · livestock or livestock products. thrax because many of its _ covered to be travelling by the When the bacteria is not active, symptoms are like those of United States Postal Service, a it forms hard-shelled spores, "common respiratory and gasmajor means of communication and goes into hibernation until trointestinal illnesses," accordfor the country. The American it can once again find ideal liv- ing to a November 18 editorial in the New York Times. government is urging people to ing conditions. . stay calm, however, and has There are three ways anIf left untreated, difficulty in is then high. Chest X-rays were \nclude penicillin, tetracycline, sent out a postcard with ames- _ thrax can be contracted. The breathing follows, caused by a taken of the 10 inhalation an- doxycycline, and Cipro. The sage on "How to Handle Sus- most common is through skin build up of toxins released by thrax patients. According to the most popular is Cipro, but acpicious Mail" to all households. infection. The spores can enter the bacteria, and then death oc- New York Times editorial, one corqing to Time, magazine, it Vijaya Varadarajan, junior, is through cuts, blisters, or other curs. There is a 90% death rate revealing sign fo.und in the X- .sho\lld only t)e used if a person complying with ' the breaks in the skin. A rash ap- from untreated c~ses-. Howev,er, rays is a "widenjng,ofthe. space bas beell' ex,posed-to .a strain of government's request to remain pears wtthin two days.. The the disease is curable ifcaught lie tween the lungs and fluid , .the disease that has been geneti~ calm."We should only be on the bumps progress to form blis- early enough. Antibiotics are around the lungs." It goes on to cally mutated to r:esist the other al~rt for [anthrax], ... not ters, which turn black. This only effective if they are taken comment that "the anafyses of antibiotics. No vaccine is curalarmed [by it]," she said. How- ferm of anthra~ is 20% fatal in a few days after infection. this admittedly small sample rently available to the public. ever, Susan Brustein, Assistant untreated cases. Antibiotks can With the help of laboratory leave one with the encoura-ging However, too much of a Principal of Science, thinks it effectively cure it tests and clinical examinations, impression that anthrax attacks good thing can be bad. As is hard not to fear the disease A second way to contract signs of anthrax can be found can be successfully . G<?Untered . _Shebif:lg Shtm,_biol<?gy teacher, because of the media's cover- anthrax is via ingestion. If a at an early ~tage, when the po~; ; : by.th~ll!~~if-41 prof~~sjo.n." .-. · :: ·p~ntl' <;)u£,J~tt~oye..~umens -·<~ -Antibiotics to treat anthrax. ~ Continued on p. 11 age of it. "Tpeir sheer r~peti- person eats ~nder~ooked, con- sibility of 'sticcessful treatment •

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Arist~

welcomes inductees; says good-bye to advisor

by Rachel Schiffman The annual Arista Induction ceremony on December 6 at Colden Auditorium at Queens College-not only hon" ored the inductees, but also celebrated former Arista advisor, Margaret Landry. After serving · as the Arista Advisor for eight years, she is ·stepping down.

Ms. Landry was presented with tlowers for her years of commitment by the new Arista ad. visor, Mariet D'Souza. Jennifer Sheth, junior, is sad to see Ms. Landry leave as. Arista advisor because she has done so much for the society.

Throughout the ceremony there were speeches from prin- . cipal Thomas Cunningham; the Parent-Teacller Association copresidents, Daphne Manhart and Joseph Dubowski; and Queens College liaison, Dr. Marvin Leiner. Arista President, Laura Kim, along with Maryann Tan, secretary; Susan Cheng, 2nd Year Vice-Presi~ dent; Susan Chang, treasurer; and Marina Polyakova, 3rd Year Vice-President, each lit a candle that represented a quality an Arista member should possess: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. ·

'Eskimo Luau' guestd(3_nce receives hot/cold reactions

Letters to the Following the candle lighting ceremony, Assistant Principal by JenJtifer Bhuiyan .

-·; , :upon first h~aripgttiatonly,one, . ·Editor.,· -Palm trees and new. fa<;es- · d~ejay - was scheduted.tq appefl~ .. . , .. , . , .. -· . . . -. _., . , _, of Pupil Personnel Services, at .the.Kick-OffMixer Joan Walsh, administered the · filled the ·gymnasi\lm at the. . becau~e . ' . . . .. . .. ,., ' . Continued from p: 2 ' · . . .. . , 'induction pledge . She was winter guest dance on Decem- -. there were two·. .· Ashley McFarlane, freshTo the Editor: ' · joined by the Arista Board, 1st be~ 7 from 7:00-9:30 prri. The man,Jelt the dance should have · hvould like to take this Year Vice-President, Eimear . theme was "Eskimo Luau."

Amongst the paper palm had two deejays: "The environopportunity to commend McDermott~ and faculty members Harry RaHien, Assistant trees hanging from basketball ment of having two deejays . Ms . .lisa Cowen, and the editor~. and writers of The Principal of Mathematics; hoops, students and their guests playing in separa~e rooms Classic for the special ediWanda Nix, Dean; Miriam danced to a wide .variety of would give ,everyone more tion d~:voted, tp the World Zambrano, Assistant Principal · inusic. Some expresse~ concero . roo.m .to qan<;e. instead :of.hav: ; ing to ,bump jn.t o someone : .·Trfl<!e' _G;<enter ,tra~eAy . .

Continued on p. 13 els-e,'~ she said. · Dianne. Seo, . , WNJe rel?or~ing; .t,hi~ tr"g- freshman, · disagreed .with _ ~dy, yqu cove~ed the, specAshley: "I don't understand> trumofour reactions, from . why everyone believes having our first h~aring what hapone deejay is so bad. So far, I've _ pen eo to our uniting. You The All-City Qrchestra appointed freshman -yiolinist been having a great time and did it aiL Sharon Lim as Concert Master for the 200l-2002 school The Letters to the· Edi~ __ ypu can tell others are.• too," .. , year. Junior Demie· Komma~s, who plays the oboe, is a Senate.cJasses had been~on~ tor showed a very dlve,rsi- · part ofthe orchestra as well as ~he All-City Concert Band. suited regarding the theme, and fied opinion , on how to Junior Susan Cheng, a tlutist, is also a member of the the senators had then voted for · handle what happened. It Concert Band. Seniors Stephanie Lew and Jennifer . which one they thought would wa.s interesting to read the Bartlett play the clarinet for the All-City Marching Banq. manyopinions offered by be best.The ''Eskimo Luau" Sophomore Amy Ortega is a soprano in the All-City Cho- · decorations, however, didn't the staff and student body. rus.

1-- appeal to everyone; Freshmar.

The United States is one Jennifer Shi, alumna from the class of 200 I, is the recipi~ of the Jew places where Hyon-Jin Chong said, "Tonight ent of the 2001 GE Fund Global -STAR Scholarship. In I arrived expecting an 'Eskimo , such journalism can take additionto winning money for herself, she also earned a Luau.' All. I saw when I walked 'place, .Keep up the good $500 grant for Townsend Harris. work to protect our First into the gym was a couple of Jessica Polish, sophomore, and Claudia Chiu, senior, won paper palm trees. practically Amendment rights. scholarships in the Japanese Language Program's "Study falling off the basketball hoops -Rosemary Von Ohlen, Tour of Japan" contest. They received a ten-day trip to and probably two or three· ·_ School Aide · Japan lastJuly. people w.ith Hawaiian shirts," {

Briefly ... .-

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The Classic ·

December 2001

New club.;p·ro.motes joy=of classical m.u·sic .....

Bibliophiles meet bi-weekly to

share~ zest

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by Tina Wu fotrner is trying to tell . I feel that I would by Talya Lieberman About 15 girls sat comfortably in th~ The Chamber Music Club, a new af- like to make an effort, however small, ter-school activity promoting the appre- to try to give back that same sense of Student Activioffice, ciation of classical music, started its joy I feel when I hear music to the people ties regular meetings on November 21, who will listen to my club perform,"said munching on some·cookies on , 200 I. Advised by English teacher Debra Jessica.

Michelwitz, the club · welcomes Once the club becomes an on-going Monday, OctoHarrisites to enjoy and perform the.clas" · · activity, members hope to use their mu- ber 22, at 7:15 sical pieces of such composers as Bach, sic to help others. They look forward to a.m. Members of !fandel, and Beethoven on Wednesdays · performing in .small concerts, charging the Book Advoat 2:45 in room 236. The club also aims a fee for the· tickets; the proceeds will cation Moveto use music as a medium to donate to be donatedto various charities. In this ment Club, also society. Members "hope people will find way, the club will be able to "assist known as BAM, [the club] a relaxing, rewarding, ,and re- . people in ways that music cannot do had officially · started their first freshing experienc~," said . sopt;Jomore "' .direetly,': m;cording to Jessica.

Jessica Polish, club.' founde~ an~.pre;f_. •·: · lhe clubhm;'alre~dy hel,d ~bake sale. meetirig. They · · ·. .. · ·'The-proceeds will pay for sheet music, will continue to dent.

Designed for the classical music , folders, listening aids and other needed meet bi-weekly on Monday performer, the c.lub is open to all supplies.

Harrisites with previous experience with "Many times we forget that music mornings, alterthe flute, oboe, French horn, clarinet, isn't always about competition and ad- nating with Artrumpet, violin, cello, viola, and piano. vancement, but rather it is a form of chon, the service "When I hear some~ne perform, my expr,ession that allows us to understand honor society.

A small wel~ood can bt; <;hangesl, . and can take that people truly share more similarities coming talk by co~rag~ fr<;>~, the .Wiry, ~h,ich t~e · P. t <~than differences," said Jessica. : · ' d .... . , · , ., • .. .

I, ..-· . · co-presidents Katherine Seid and Sharon . ' ! •t' \ : : . ' . i - ~ ~.I Chin, juniors, emphasized the idea thanhis club is "for your own enjoyment," and not something to be stressed over or seen as a burden. The meetings will consist of disby Allison Slotnick Through the discussions at the meet- cussions of the books selected, and perhaps It is Monday afternoon and a group ings, Jessica hopes to "expand people's writing a few book reviews. · of students sit huddled around a televi'- knCiwledge ·Of the culture of Japan and .Index cards were then passed around, sion in'ro'Oin' 4 ')). \Vnttihl'ng ctirtooninin<t other Asb:n tountries.'' By watching an on which the members stated the genre they disCuss\t\·g ·what' tfreY~ve '.Viewed': , ..,•'' ., · episode 'ofanlme: studehts can learn 'a rr~fe·~ a~d suggested a ·o~o( .coordi~at~r ,... · 1 Tht! : shoWs ~u . . . J(~.: ) ; · r > · .·· .; . .· l i., r, ~~- ., . , ·.>· .) {=- "' ,,_, ·' ./ .. , ':) 1 · ·: :j .. or Student Activities (COSA) Adam are ariime, and '· Storiehill, the club's advisor, .was the first the students suggested Interpreter of to chime in. are part of the Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, a collection of new Anime short stories about South Asian immigrants Club. in the United States.

The club is run by'a' group· ·

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for reading Katherine threw in the idea of reading books that had been adapted into movies.

"You always see good movies, and then everyone tells you how the book is even better," she said. Based on this, everyone agreed to read The Hobbit, the basis for the upcoming movie Lord of the Rings.

Quite impressed by their choice, Mr. Stonehi II said that he "never expected a group . of girls to pick science-fiction for their first book!" After some discussion, however, the group had a change of heart and, following a suggestion by another member, decided to read Tht Cider House Rules, by John Irving.

"But this isn't just aboutbooks," claimed Sharon. Among the activities planned for BAM is a Book-a-Thon fundraiser where each member will be expected to read, as tit~c"h rossibie: Fharging suggested pnce of! 0 cents for every 20 pages read. A. book drive might take place as well.

The members of BAM encourage one who enjoys reading to indulge their bibliophilic spirits and join. They promise fun and a fulfilling year of reading.

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Wu, president;

by Jessica Wang tation, the first half hour of each meetJ e s s i c· a Aspiring actors and others with an . ing is planned to be a session where interest In performing now have· a ha- . members can feel free to talk about their Grodzki and D e v i n .· ven where they can express themselves theater experiences and to share other Sugameli, cocreatively: the Drama Club. The group ideas. "We don't want to be leaders or vice-presimeets on Wednesday afternoons in teachers. The other members will have dents; Aida Ana Branez, secretary, ana great deal aboutAsian culture, much Rooni 413, advised by social studies a' lot of say," said Elizabeth.

Cindy KwaA, treasurer: Charlene t.evi, · _ more than one might"suspect' possible teacher Charlene Levi.

Before founding the Drama Club,' social 'stu<ile:s teacher,' serves as advisor; · from viewin'g a carto'on~ There are marty The Drama Club is open to both ex-. both Emily and Elizabeth were active As Jessic·a puts it, the chib' ''is a juint' layers to each episode, including both perienced actors and to people who have participants in SING!, the annual comeffort among friends. We all had a part ail entertainment and educational value. never acted before . Senior Emily petition between the grades to produce in the creation."

"Ani me is more than just form of en- Fishbaine, co-president of the club, said, the best performance.

At a typical meeting, students watch tertainment; it is also a reflection of the "I really encourage anyone who has an "SING! was the only opportunity for an anime episode for about 20 minutes society and people that it entertains," interest in drama to show up. There's people interested in dramatics to act, and and then have an open discussion of Tina claims. no training and no experience required ... itonly lasts for two months. We thought just interest." what they viewed. Students "are encourit was important to have a c'lub that alM~my may be unaware of exactly aged to discuss different cultural aspects what sets anime apart from other carEmily and her co-president, Eliza" lowed those people to a'ct all year ofJapan and see how those aspects com- toons. The Japanese animation is "of- beth Renieris, also a senior., hope to give round," said Elizabeth. Emily also pare and contrast with customs in ten associated with big eyes and exag- the club a solid start so that' it will con- pointed out that SING was musical theAmerica," Tina said. Despite the fact gerated expressions," according to Tina. tinue after they graduate. Possible ac- . ater, and added, "A lot of people love to that the episodes watched are dubbed Rather than just being characterized as tivities for the year include attending a act, but don't necessarily love to sing and over in English, Tina has seen yers ions a cartoon or a genre, Jessica sees it as a Broadway or off-Broadway play, send- dance. In Drama Club, they can just in their original, Japanese form and de- completely "separate type of entertain- ing members to professional auditions, focus on acting." Still, Emily and Elizascribes them as "being artistically ment." and producing an 9riginal work, writ- beth want to encourage all club memappealing ... filled with well-developed bers to join SING and will make the If anyone wants to learn about ani me ten and performed by club members. characters and cultural themes." The outside of the new club, there is an enMeetings will take place four times . club's schedule flexible enough so that discussion held after the anime view- tire "subculture on the Internet ... an over- a month, with a cycle of activities. The Drama Club members can do so. ing is essentially an open arena for stu- whelming amount of information, ... even first week will be devoted to mono"We want the club to have fun," said dents to explore cultural differences entire websites devoted to th'e analysis logues, the second to scenes, the third Emily: "We want it to be a place where well as express their general opini,ons of just one character," according to Jes- to auditions, and the fourth to theater you'll want to be, a place you'll enjoy of the ani me. and playwriting. In addition to this ro- coming to." sica.

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December 2001

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Ki.ck-offcmixer moves to new lo.cale

by Rachel Schiffman . school building, that did not put a empty and one room always crowded," leadership team, and student senators Deejays spun tracks and dancers damper on the highly anticipated event. said junior Amy Patel. Junior Kevin helped to make sure that the dance progrooved in both the gymnasium and caf- "At first, I didn't like the idea of having Wallenstein concurred and said lhat it gressed in an organized and efficient eteria at this year's Kick-Off Mixer on · the Mixer in school," said senior Kristin was "crazy because they [faculty mem- manner. All bags and outer garments Friday, October 12. This year's dance Castle, "but having it in two rooms made could not take place in the Student it lots of funbecause if you didn't like Union building on the Queens College the music in one room, you could easily campus, as it traditionally has, because go to another. It was a great Mixer beof scheduling problems. cause of the music."

Although holding the Mixer within People who did not feel .like dancing the school was more economical than were able to .go outside to the open renting a room on campus, many stu- courtyard adjacent to the cafeteria, dents still want to have next.year's Kick- which provided a place for free refresh- .

Off Mixer in the traditional Student ments and an opportunity to play hac key Union Building. "I had fun at this year's sack and chess. "I played hac key sack Mixer, but I always enjoyed having the which made it the best mixer ever," said first dance of the year outside of the senior Dante! Wallenstein. ''The court- , school building," said junior Jennifer yard was cool because you didn't have Sheth."Having the Mixer in the Student to· stay inside the building and dance," Union building sets it apart from other said junior Emma Xiao.

With raving., grinding and using dances and makes it more appealing .to . all grades, especially thefreshrrien,;, she . glowsticks, students were able to relieve Seniors Mary Pipinias, Emily Fishbaine, Eiizabeth Renieris and Amanda BJancke enjoy said. their daily stress and socialize withtheir their last mixer. ."I was worried that having the Mixer peers, · in school would notallow the grades to · Some students found the entire ar~ . mix," said juniorAngelYau, "but once rangement of the Mixer perplexing, ''I· bers] kept inspeCting our shoes to make ' were:checked in and students were ' I was there, I saw everyone just having. · was confused because I could never find · sure that we were wearing sneakersin checked for proper :Townsen.d Harris· . fun and dancing." . .• my friends. There was always a mass the gym.''. identification cards before entering d1e Although many upperch1ssmerrwere migration of people from one room to In spite of the confusion, faculty dance. Tickets for .the Mixer were sold leery abouthaving the Mixer in the theother; leaving one room always members, · security guards, .the school ·· for $5 in school and $6 at the door. '

Delayed·HaUoweenwraps upSplrit Week

by Jennifer Gong This year's Halloween celebration was postponed to November 5, creating an eventful ending to Spirit Week; which was originally supposed to end on October 31.

After the Board qf Education banned costume wearing ill an schools on Hal~ ·· loween,PrincipaiThorrias Cunningham called Chancellor Harold 0. Levy for . approval to move the costume .day to the tollowingMonda:y as a''moraie builder" for the school community. . . Tht< main... .reason Chancellor .Levy . . . · did not allow New York City pub! ic high school students to wear costumes was the possibility o.f strangers entering schools wearing masks and disguises. ·.

The school board had to have a ''heightened sense of . awareness," said Mr.Cunningham. "[It was done] to be on the safe side.''

Many students were disappointed and were left (o Wonder aboutthe rea~ soning behind the sudden cancellation, which · was announced the day before Halloween . .Others brushed it off and dressed up subtly anyway. On October 31, junior Johnson Chong sported an army shirr and camoutlaged pants as a commando soldier, but didn'·t wear face paint as he had previously planned . .

Excitement and the spirit of Halloween Dress-Up Day was displayed during lunch bands on Monday, November 5, It consisted of three major components: surprise karaoke, the annual costume .contest and a new mummy-wrapping contest, in which students were wrapped in toilet paper and judged on who did the nicest job. Winners of the two'competitions received pizza as their prize. All activities were sponsored by the Student Union. · -

. The patriotic Spirit Week kicked ott their elementary scnool days and dress and a winner was chosen for each indi. the same way it ended; with surprise Up in either pajama~ Of TJ1l,S.'Jl~tth,eq vidu~J $~a?e; p~igil')a,ll:(thep~iZC;;· ~~S karaoke ·during :lunch bands ·qn Thurs" clothes. SophomoreSarah.Hochi'ad de- .either. a. one~m·onth elevator pl\ss pr,:a. day,, October 18.Many .students rushed scribed .the day as "a good excuse to · $3(1 gift certificate of tbe .win;ner's . choice. Howev.er, Coordinator of Stu" . · up 'to the front of the cafeteria to sing · come to school inyour PJs.'~ their favorit.e tunes. Some chose songs · Milk and cookies were dis·tributed dentActivities(COSA)AdamStonehill such as "New York, New York'' and during lunch bands whilesomestudents . did not clearthe request of an elevator, "Hero'~to exhibit their patriotism,while went outside to the courtyard tG]U111P pass wifhthe~ guid~nce department, so others sang ''AreYoti That Somebody," .... rope or wr-ite. with washable sidewalk . studentscouldonly get the $30 gift cer~ in ,honor of the late singerAaliy'ah. . chalk ~ But the chaJ·k evidently;Wa$ not · tificate·. Senior Jackie Shao participated 'Tm addicted to karaoke," said se~ ..·. authorized;.arrcl e~Qsed quit~ a stir with · b~ca~s~~h,e·'~h?d so fh:Uch free,tim,e and : nior Paulina Davis. ·. . . . . the adrpinistration.· Securitfguards~ad- .•• notbio~b;e(t.er'~9~d~; h:nd req~.ivt<d a gift . . Streamers and balloons marked the vised sorrie stud-ent~ .t o clean up . th~ .- b~J:tifiCate:to ~~cy,'s: ;Othet ,winnets.of . next Spirit Day on Monday, Octobec22, .. chalk. "The courtyard needed ·a good . gift certificates toMacy's, Sam Goody's which was the traditional color war. This · . cieaning ~uiywa)l,", said .senior ·Jenna or the d<tpincluqed junior Sotia Huttner~ year each grade' was given acolorin ac- Sangastiano. sophoriwre ,S ara Sultan; and freshman . · Onthatday, part of the student body Lori ann Tan~ . . .. .· cordance with the American tlag.

Seniors were given blue and .deco- was away on the Juni'Df trip to.

Red; whiteand. blue tlags and cosrat~d the third tlo~r with footprints on , Tarrytown, New York. "I was very up- tumes were displayed on American icon the t1oor as well as the word "seniors" seuhat I missed Kindergarten Day," said . Day, wl;!ich occun'ed on Thursday, Dehanging from streamers across the ceil~ junior CatherineAnicama. "I wanted to · tober 2$. Freshlllari Chantal Bruno ing. They also wrapped banisters in blue dress up and be. a little kip again.'' , .·· dressec) up as a {,loctor helpingjn. the ribbon and posted signs promoting the . · . "My favorite thingab~ut Spirit Week· World Trade Cen~er relief effort. ~.'Docsenior class, was the scavenger hunt [wtiich was next tors played a very important role on Sep" Juniors adorned the fourth tloor with · in the ·spirit Week lineup],'~ said junior tember .J land they're constantly helpred streamers and' handprints along the · Stephanie Kazane: "It wasfunandeasy ing in the lives of people every day;" walls as well as with orange balloons, to get everyone iiwolved ... arid you could she said . Other notable costumes were because red ones could not l:ie obtained. get a prize." Freshman Jackie Parvels history teacher Chris Hackney's ,''Yan, Sophomores used cotton and toilet pa- agreed, "It was good because you got to. kee barbarian rugby shirt;" which reper to cover the fifth tloor with their find out mote aboutthe school.'' . sembled the American tlag, and junior grade color of white, and freshmen used · Yet some didn't respond very excit- Umara Saleem's Miss America enaluminum foil and streamers to show edly to the idea of a scavenger hunt. "It . semble. English and history teacher their school spirit on the·sixth tloor with was a waste of time because you had to Debra Michelwitz wore an American silver/gray. They also posted signs in the countthe tiles on the tloor,'' said sopho- patriot outfit. "It w,as serendipitous,'' she doorways, which read "Stop: New York more Kaveeta Desai, referring to a said."American Icon~ Day and [th~ day] Freshmen Only.'.' search given to sophomores andjuniors. I was teaching the Declaration oflnde~.

Color War Day aroused a competi- Another question required seniors and pendence were ... the same day, so I had tive spirit among the classes. "People juniors to obtain the "signatures of a pair . to wear it." participatedbecausetheywantedtodis- of twins in school."' Junior Seth Theweekclosedwiththetraditional tinguish themselves from other grades,'' Steinhoff, whose twin, Sarah, also at- Founder 's Day celebration on the last said sophomore Susan Li. tends the school, commented "They all Friday of October (see article on page The first-ever Kindergarten Day was . charged at me."

I). Spirit Week then took a one-week next in. the Spirit Week line-up, offerEach grade had its own list of 20 hiatus and ended on Monday, Noveming students a chance to revert back to things to find and questions to answer, ber5 with Costume Day.

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The Classic December 2001

~!:!!m!~£g~ ItyMaiJ:!n~~nbe· ~"~on!l!ft~t,!,~,~I~ H,U,!£h~'~":,,nn

add their own threads to our school's fabric of learning. The following articles ofler an insight into their backgrounds, interests, and dedication. Physics teacher John Tsai, who replaced Ray Rapaport in October, will be featured in the next issue.

Jolin O'Malley Previously a Park Ranger for the Palisades Interstate Parkway Commission and a soda jerk in an ice cream store, John O'Malley decided to become a "history teacher because he loves the subjeCt. He is very excited about relaying · information to younger generations, and really wants to "awaken-their minds."

Currently teaching four global history classes and one American history course, Mr. O'Malley has had six years of teaching experience at the High School of Economics and Finance in

After her first assignment teaching history at Grover Cleveland High School for two and a half years, Maureen Lonergan has "never thought of doing anything else since then."

Although she wasn ' t sure what she wanted to become while in college, she always loved teaching, and during graduate school, enrolled in an education program . That's when she decided to take the test for her teaching license.

After that first job at Grover Cleveland, she taught mostly American history, as well as government and Advanced Placement classes at Seward Park High

second grade . She wanted her two chil dren to be older before she devoted her time to teaching. When her children did become older, Ms. Wolf took a leave of absence from her job, went to Queens College as a full-time student, and earned a degree in three years .

She began as a student teacher for · lisa Cowen last term. "I had a very rewarding experience observing Ms .

[Judy] Biener, Ms. [Paula] Weyne and student teaching for Ms. Cowen," she said. ""''ve always found English to be an intellectually stimulating subject," Ms. Wolf said. Since it covers such a broad range of topics, and since reading just · one novel can help one learn about philosophy or math or history: she feels · English encompasses everyt,hing.The fact that just one page or one chapter can be open to many interpretations, she finds, inspires stimulating dialogues in class.

and th~ Academy of American Studies for five years has prepared her for this positi on.

As C oordinator of Foreign Languages in the Academy of American Studies, Ms . Zambrano opened aFrench department. She also took on the roles as dean and parent liaison. She started clubs, was in charge of the library, and responsible for training new teachers .

Ms . Zambrano has also taught art history, ESL classes, and conducted listening labs to improve second language skills for three years at York College.

She went to France for one year to receive her Master's degree from the

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' . Maureen Lonergan Miriam Zambrano

School for 23 years.

Ms. Lo~ergan loves history. SheJjkes getting students excited about ideas and

Manhattan. · He decided to come to Townsend Harris because of its excellentreputation. Since his arrival, he has found the teachers and staff friendly and supportive. · He feels the students are great and especially likes that they "share a lot and are willing to participate in class."

Family is a very important aspect in Mr. O'Malley's life. By working at Townsend, he gets to spend more time with his wife and five-year-old son becauseofthe easier commute from home to work.

When Mr. O'Malley is not busy with family, housework or preparing his lessons for class, he likes to visit a farm in upstate New York. While he's there, he stays with his friend of 18 years, a 76year-old man by the name of Bob Fong, and plants peaches, corn and other crops.

"I love the outdoors," he said, and with his 200 I Ford Taurus, has been to the Catskills and the New Jersey shore with his family as well. He also enjoys ·listening to 70's and 80's music in his free time .

For the past six years, Mr. O'Malley has been busy with his son and with work, and wishes he "had more time for reflection and contemplation," because he feels thinking is more important than doing. He also wishes he could dance · more with his wife and "go out on the town with her and friends," but because of his busy schedule, he has yet to find. the time to do so. However, he looks forward to what the s<:hool year will bring and is excited about teaching in a new environment.

-Diane Tiao ·

working with young people. "It's never boring," she said.

Ms. Lonergan chose to come to Townsend Harris because she has always heard wonderful things about the school. Currently teaching three Arneri -~an History Classes and two se)lior Participatory Democracy classes, she likes that .the school offers a wide range of interesting courses and activities, and tinds the kids here wonderful.

In her free time, Ms . Lonergan enjoys cooking, listening to music, going to restaurants and gardening. She likes cooking anything with chicken, and listening to folk, classical and country . music . Ms. Lonergan's favorite flowers are roses and daphnes, but she plants other flowers as well. When gardening, "you're creating something that's beautiful and you don't have to think about anything .else," she said.

-Diane Tiao

Alice Wolf Alice, ,W olfhas always wanted to become an English teacher. Her fa~her was an English teacher and a great storyteller. He would tell her stories when she was little and instilled in her the love of reading. Her brother is a math teacher, and when she would come to visit him, she saw the wonderful impact he had on the students because they would go and visit him years later. He made her see how "intensely gratifying" teaching is. She admires his connection with the students, and no~ she is thrilled to be teaching.

However, Ms. Wolf didn't start out as an English teacher. For eight years, she was a paraprofessional for special

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Nanterre and the Censier. She decided to go to France to get her degree because ~ French was the fourth language she ~ » learned, and she wanted to master it .0 completely before she got to teach it. ~ A native Italian, her father believed 4JL·-·- · - - ,....:J._,La..Jif that communication was the most imAlice Wolf portant thing in life, and the more lan"It doesn't take long to recognize guages a person knew, the easier he/she how unique this school is," Ms. Wolf could communicilte. He would teach said . She feels the students here are Ms. Zambrano and her sisters Italian highly motivated, and the staff is sup- grammar every day after school and beportive and extremely accommodating. cause of "that quality of being a teacher, Currently teaching three Writing Pro- that love and passion for languages," cess classes and two sophomore English Ms. Zambrano decided to .become a classes, Ms. Wolf is "constantly wired," teacher. "I wanted to continue and pass but in a·good way. She is excitedabout on that passion for languages that he coming to work every day and teaching instilled in me," she said. because this is a dream come true for · Ms. Zambrano decided to come here her. She feels she has realized her dream because Townsend Harris offers many in "such an ideal setting." Teaching modern and classical languages . As As"gets the .adrenaline rushing, and the sistant Principal, she gets "the best of excitement's at a peak. It's such ail in- both worlds." She gets to work with both tense gratification that' you forget to eat students and adults. She is curre_ntly or sleep," she said. teaching one Spanish Literature class . When Ms. Wolf is not busy with while she heads her three departments. ' planning lessons or finding ways to When Ms. Zambrano is not busy with make class more interesting, she enjoys schoolwork, she enjoys spending time watching movies, spending time with with her husband. "Family comes first," her husband and two children, listening .she said, and she calls her sisters whento music, and going to restaurants . She ever she-can. She also enjoys shopping, loves the Beatles, and eating out with playing tennis, swimming and gardenfriends. It's great to "sit down and be ing. To keep her family happy, she preserved instead ofcboking," she said. serves the Italian tradition of planting -Diane Tia.o tomatoes, basil and parsley.

Ms. Zambrano loves the school's Miriam Zambrano multicultural environment that offers Fluent in Spanish, French, Latin, Italseven languages. "The more you're exian and English, new Assistant Principosed to languages and cultures," she pal of Foreign languages, Music and Art, said, "the better off you'll be."

Miriam Zambrano is adjusting quickly -Diane Tiao to her new schedule. Having taught ai ;;:=

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7 Show eagerness to share knowledge, experience Irwin Steinberg IFa.m·.l1I•ar. f.'ace· , s f0 un.d ti~us,.~OtJvated_and ~0 s~.e i:n brand new positions December 2001

~er arriva~. "Everybody's so consciencares much,", : . . sard. Students JUSt come m to say hr .

It was a warmer feeling than I had anticipate9."

Ms. Kramer, who will be advising Judy Biener students whose official classes end with by Daniel Bloch the numbers five through eight, is en"I felt a Uttle overwhelmed:," i>a¥s thusiastic about many of the different English te.aeher Judy J3iene.r as s·h e aspects and traditions she is encounterre:til~cts on bejng a,ppointed the new ing here. One such Harris custom is Senior Adviso.r. "I kneyw it was a lot Founder's Day. "It's a wonderful tradiof work. But I knew that the senior . tion. It makes one feel as if they're part class was a great group..'' of the family," she said.

Replacing health teacher Ellen In previ_ous years, Ms. Kramer Sch'wartz, wh0 served as S:enror Adworked as a counselor at Mineola High visor for four years, Ms. Biener:'s School in Nassau County. She has also newp<Ysition entails coord'inati:ng all advised students as an educational conthe activities f"C>r ·the senie>r class: sultant, doing private counseling on colcoHecling seni0r clues, organizing lege and graduate school admissions. the pFom, and the senior trip to a ski Ms. Kramer wanted to become a high resort in the Catskills .. school guidance counselor because she But Ms. B,iener's biggest chalbelieves "a counselor can make a diflenge wiU also be one of her last for ference in someone's life," especially at the year: graduation. One of her the high school level when students are Irwin Steinberg gcrals is· t0 see that "graduation goes mature enough to know of the opportusuccessfully:" Ms. Schwartz handled nities that are available to them.

Prior to his career as a teacher, Mr. · it in a very organized way;" she said_, In addition to counseling, Ms. Steinberg co-designed the dispatching "and I'd like to fol:low in her foolKramer also enjoys the outdoors. She system for the New York City Fire Desteps:" She adds half-jokingly, "I participates in sports, such as tennis, partment, and appeared on the front page don'l t want to mess anything up." of the second section of The New York One of Ms. Biener's first duties Times for it. He has also worked in the as Senior Advisor was 0rganizing the Brookhaven National Laboratories - a Mixer, held on Friday, October 12. center whose main focus is finding (See article on page 3.) "I was told peaceful uses of atomic energy~ designpeople had a good time," she reports ing the major network accelerator that cheerfull)'. "Over $1.,000 was r~lsed transmitted data around the laboratory. and I was really hap-py that the He was co-founder of two companies weather was great so that people that are publicly traded in stocks, and a could also be outside [in the courtCEO of a software company. yard). I was happy people had a good in Although teaching is not his first caVi time.'' reer, he "really loves the subject and the ~ Ms. Biener says that she is still ..c interaction with the students ." His <Zl "learning the ropes," so she doesn't >, .n proudest moment was when three of his plan right now to do anything dif0 0 students, who happened to be learning ferently. "Ms. Schwartz had it down, 5:: disabled, passed the Regents. so my first strategy is to do everyCheryl Kramer Mr. Steinberg started teaching four thing like she did," said Ms. Biener. years ago and has had two years of ex"After the Mixer, l went to Ms. skiing, hiking and boating, and also likes perience teaching in a high school. He Schwartz and said, 'What's next?'" to read. graduated from Bronx High School of Ms .. Kramer says she is very happy Science, received a bachelor's degree in to be working at Townsend Harris, electrical engineering from Cooper which she describes as "the best place I their lives."

Union and a Master's degree in engiMs. Teague first worked as a mathcould be. I hope we have a very proneering from Columbia University. ematics teacher at Phillipa Schuyler ductive· future together," she added.

Teaching four physics classes now, -Jennifer Gong Middle School for the Gifted and TalMr. Steinberg chose to come to . ented. After spending eight years there, Townsend Harris because he thought it she decided to become a guidance counwould be "a lovely experience," and selor and advised students at East New now that he's here, he feels that the "atAntoinette Teague York High School of Transit Technoltitude of the students is superb." ogy for nine years. "I majored in psyAntoin~tte Teague, new guidance When Mr. Steinberg is not busy with counselor, describes herself as a very chology, and I was more interested in work, he enjoys playing chess. He used "artistic and creative person." She en- guidance [as opposed to math)," she said to play tournament chess at the Marshall joys attending crafts fairs and working ·of the change.

Chess Club and once won four tournaMs. Teague will be counseling those with all types of artistic mediums. Ms. ments in a row. Mr. Steinberg also enTeague has done home improvement whose official classes end in the numjoys listening to classical music- Haydn projects as well as some sewing and bers one through four. Upon her arrival, is his favorite composer - and reading knitting. "I enjoy trying to coordinate she had already known some of what to about art history, especially writings on things and arrange them in an artistic expect from Harrisites; Ms. Teague reAsian paintings. ceived some advice from just-retired fashion," she said.

-Diane Tiao Although she has a great passion for guidance counselor James Murray, who Cher~l Kramer artistic expression, Ms. Teague is even "went over some of the case load" with Guidance counselor Cheryl Kramer more passionate about her profession. her last June.

"Students and staff members alike has only been a part of the Townsend "I like to work with and help people," Harris community for a short time, but she said. "I enjoy being a guidance coun- reached out to welcome me and support already feels as though she's "been here selor because it puts me in touch with me in my transition," said Ms. Teague. for years." Stie has encountered many the students and allows me the oppor- 'They are friendly, polite and helpful. warm welcomes and good vibes upon tunity to help make a positive change in Townsend Harris is an unusual school

In addition to being a physics teacher, Irwin Steinberg is an entrepreneur. He has had over 40 years of .experience in the field oftechn0logy, and held two patents by the age of 2 3 .

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Joan Walsh

by Jennifer GoQg and Bryan Kirschen For about 10 y.ears_, Townsend Harris· students .n ave known Joan Walsh te be the Assistant Principal (AP) of Foreign 'Languag~s and Fine Arts. But n:ow, she has assumed a differ~nt role as the acting AP of PUFJiJ Personnel Serv1ces in tche guidance department.. Shieta Ornet, whb headed the department since the sJ::hool 0pened in 1984, retired last June.

Originally, Ms. Walsh planned to retire and went to the Board ofEdu<:;ation on Brooklyn/Queens Day in June of 2001 to hand in her retirement papers. "I felt that it would be symb(i)lic since r was· ap>pointed I 0 years ago on that day," she said. · Then, later in the month, Principal Thomas Cunningham asked Ms. Walsh to rescind her ·r etirement and take on the position of AP of Guidance since most of the guidance department would be retiring In addition to Ms. Ouner, guidance counselors James Murray and Susan Rotter r;etired in. June, as did science teach.e,r; Howard Wagner, who served as College Advisor Marilyn Blier's assistant.

After encouragement from her family, Ms. Walsh decided to take on the new role. "My husband, knowing how special Townsend Harris was to me, and me being a founding mother pf the sct.wol, told me that I should aocept it," she said.

Ms . Walsh has been working hard to meet student needs, especially in response to the September 11 World Trade Center crisis. She Continued on p. 13

with a high caliber student population that offers a rigorous program of study."

-Jennifer Gong

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Ballpark figures: what it takes to get

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December 2001

by Allison Slotnick Applying to college is a daunting process, and whether you're a senior who is,_in the midst of the process now, or a freshman -'¥ho is just beginning to embark on your journey toward college, taking a look at the college admis-sions statistics from last year's graduating class can be very helpful. The follow-

ing chart was compiled by college counselor, Marilyn Blier.

Ms. Blier reminds students to note that the SAT scores provided "are not the lowest SAf scores accepted, nor the highest SAT scores rejected, by the school. They are the SAT scores of the person who had the lowest average accepted, or the SAT scores of the person

who had the highest average rejected."

Other notes for the abbreviations used ·on the chart aFe provided at the end of the table.

Townsend Harris graduates from the class of 200 I fared especially well in admission to Boston University, which took 32 out of 42 applicants; George Washington University, which accepted

all 13 of its applicants; Hofstra University, which accepted all of its applicants, 38 in total; the University of Maryland, which took II out of 15 Harris seniors; St. John's University, which provided admittance to all 59 of its applicants; and Syracuse University, which took 10 of its II applicants.

As far as the Ivy League schools go,

Class of 2001 APPLIED

PRIVATE

ACCEPTED LOW AVER ,\CC

ADELPHI UNIVERSITY

9

9

80 17 560/480

ALBANY COLLEGE Of PHARMACY

1

1

88 7 610/570

ALBERT A. LIST COLLEGE

1

1

91.4 5001650

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

2

2

91 .6 6501600

AMHERST COLLEGE

3

0

BABSON COLLEGE

1

0

BARD

3

2

30

9

955 8001690 86 6501590 92.4 7001660 (SA)

BARD BARHAAO COLLEGE BENTLEY 80STON COLLEGE

1

1

86 6501590

8

88.9 15101640

32

89.5 590/710

1

1

93.3 7701710

18

5 (EO) 7 (SA)

BROWN UNIVERSITY

91

96 5901e10

91 600/620

ee0/86()

92.6 61QI670

95 6901680 93.3 5ot01700 88.1 8501820

96.4 7001750

BRYN MAWR

1

1 (SA)

CALIFORNIA. UNIV. OF (Berilelly)

1

1

93 690/690

CANISIUS COLLEGE

1

1

CARNEGIE MELLON

17

10

91 6001580 !11 89()(760

CATliOLIC UNIVERSITY Of' AMERICA

1

1

88.5 81016.c0

CHICAGO. UNIVERSITY OF

2

0

COLLEGE OF MT. ST. VINCENT

2

2

1115 520/<CISO

COLLEGE Of NEW ROCHELLE

1

1

82.7 580(520

4

3

au 790/760

85 5901630

33

13

93.3 71501730

!16.7 7701720

91

1

1

8<C.6 600/470

CONNECTICUT, UNIVERSITY Of

3

3

90.5 5701660

COOPER UNION

7

2

92.2 6201610

24

3

92.6 610/670

96.4 700f750

CORNELL UNIVERSITY (AGR. & LIFE)

10

7

9<C.1 15001100

!13 7701720

CORNELL UNIVERSITY (ENGINEERING)

5

5

CORNELL UNIVERSITY (HUMAN ECOL)

13

7 (EO)

92.7

CORNEILL UNIVERSITY (ILR)

5

3 (EO)

9015

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

7

6

916 65011500

1

95.7 7501760

96.4 8501770

DELAWARE. UNIVERSITY OF

7

,

86.3 5201550

85 5701580

2

85.2 5601550

83 53015-40

DOWliNG COLLEGE

1

1

86.2 5001570

DREW UNIVERSITY

1

1

DUKE UNIVERSITY

1

0

EMERSON COLLEGE

1

0

EMORY UNIVERSITY

12

3

898 790/780

FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY

1

1

9<C.5 540/&30

FIVE TOWNS UNIVERSITY

3

3

82 5801580

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL

1

1

8<C.6 8001470

FRANKLIN & MARSHALL

2

91.2 5901630

1

1

83.1 5201570

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

9

2

954 n01800 (SA)

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

13

13

2

2

92 6701620

3

3

827 580.'860

10

4

95.7 7501780 (SA)

38

38

80.17 540/490

HOWARD UNIVERSITY

7

7

82.5 5301490

ILLINOIS, UNIV. Of (Urbana)

2

1

93.3 6001680

INDIANA UNIVERSITY

1

0

IONA COLLEGE

4

4

2

2

-·

- --- ---

96.6 710/690

82 5801580

83 630/620

2

COLLEGE

MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY

1

MARIST COLLEGE

1 15

MARYMOUNT MANHATIAN

1

MASSACHUSETTS, UNIV. Of

9

MASS. INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

3

MIAMI, UNIVERSITY OF

4

97.2 700fl40

1

MONMOUTH COLLEGE

1

MORAVIAN COLLEGE

1

MT. HOLYOKE COLLEGE

6

McGILL UNIVERSITY

3

NEW HAVEN, UNIVERSITY OF

1

NEW YORK INST. OF TECHNOLOGY

2

2 113

NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

5 6

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

5

NOTRE DAME

1

OBERLIN COLLEGE

3

PACE UNIVERSITY

4

28

PENNSYLVANIA, UNIV. OF PITISBURGH, UNIVERSITY OF

1

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

6

:PRINCETON UNIVERSITY I

6

jQUINNIPIAC COLLEGE

2

iRENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC

7

!RIDER COLLEGE

1

!ROCHESTER, UNIVERSITY OF !ROCHESTER, UNIVERSITY OF (REMS) . ROWAN UNIVERSITY

11 1

1

I RUTGERS UNIVERSITY

11

iST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY

59

!sACRED HEART UNIVERSITY

3 1

SARAH LAWRENCE I SCRANTON, UNIVERSITY OF

1

\SETON HALL

1

!SIENA COLLEGE

1

-

1

-

1

;SMITH COLLEGE

3

;SPELMAN COLLEGE

2

!STANFORD UNIVERSITY

2

~ STEVENS

INST. OF TECHNOLOGY

iSYRACUSE UNIVERSITY 8<C.3 580/750

1

13

MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE

:sKIDMORE COLLEGE

82.2 5901610

-·

2

MAN~.ATIANVILLE

'SIMMONS COLLEGE

92.3 6501790

HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY

ITHACA COLLEGE

86 520/<CISO

89.8 6001&40

HARTFORD, UNIVERSITY OF HARVARD & RADCLIFFE

96.4 7001800

92.3 6501790

GEORGIA INST. OF TECHNOLOGY HARVARD & RADCLIFFE

915 690/630 85.5 6301570

GENEVA COLLEGE

MANHATIAN COLLEGE

PENNSYLVANIA, UNIV. OF

i

92-.c 5901590

832 630r'820

2 2

PENN STATE- UNIVERSITY PARK

9<C.4 680(760

6201750 71.01710

«

LONG ISLAND UNIV. (C.W. Post) LOYOlA OF MARYLAND

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

91 1590/760

DePAUW UNIVERSITY

54 2

1

NORTH CAROLINA, UN IV. OF(Chapel Hill)

93.2 630r'810

CORNELL UNIVERSITY (ART/SCI)

FORDHAM UNIVERSITY

1

LONG ISLAND UNIV. (Brooklyn)

NYU -STERN

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

•,

3

LEHIGH UNIVERSITY

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

600/590

CONCORDIA COUEGE

LASALLE UNIVERSITY

NY INST. OF TECHNOLOGY (BAlDO)

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

ACC 4

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

. 93.6 680/680

COlGATE UNIVERSITY

(SA)

APPliED

MICHIGAN, UNIVERSITY OF

96 5901e10

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

PRNATE

JOHt'IS HOPKINS

MARYLAND, UNIVERSITY OF

93 620/580

590/570

42 7

BRANDEIS BROWN UNIVERSITY

87 7

902 6201510

600/510

17

(SA)

BOWDOIN

89.0

92.4 8801680

BOSTON COLLEGE BOSTON UNIVERSITY

I

VIM SAT HIGH AVER REJ VIM SAT

1 11

:TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

2

;TRINITY COLLEGE

3

:TRINITY COLLEGE 'TUFTS UNIVERSITY

9

iTULANE

2

r

-

I

The Classic

f

December 2001

9

into the college of your cho.ice Brown University accepted 7 out of applicants; Columbia University too~ of 33; Dartmouth College selecte' from its 7 applicants; Harvard < Radclitle chose 4 out of its I 0 ap cants; the University of Pennsylva accepted 3 from its 28 applicants;) University picked 2 from its pool of applicants, and Cornell Universit~

EO LOWAV£A ACC r----- ·-

~

VIM SAT HIGH AV£R R£1 VIM SAT '

85.5 630/570

I

1

93.5 640/680

~

1

92 .2 550/550

I

2

83.5 500/650 85 570/580

86 .3 620/650 89.4 600/550 82 580/660

~- 1

83 520/570

1

94 5401630

~ 11

87 .9 600/630

1

89.4 600/550

8

82.2 590/610

90.1 570/570

85.5 630/570

~

82.2 590/610

I

I 8

~ 1

91 5 650/590

' 4 1

94 .7 7001660

90.5 570/660

1

82 580/660

I

1

1 (SA)

6

1

95.3 8001690

VERMONT, UNIVERSITY OF

1

1

89.8 6001640

91 2 590/630

87 8 590l57:l

!VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

,

1

88.5

610~0

VIRGINIA, UNIVERSITY OF

1

1 (SA)

88

6101740

945 700/710 85!: 70/580

WAGNER COLLEGE

1

1

91 6001530

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

9

4

92.5 6301690

94 6601670

WELLESLEY COLLEGE

8

5

93.8 7001640

90 2 630/700

WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

9

4

91.7 6801640

95 .3 800/690 .

1

-

-

(SA)

88

610/740

(SA)

86

520/460

86.1

6501620

94 650/640

91.8 7401700

'WILLIAM & MARY COLLEGE

1

0

WILLIAMS COLLEGE

3

1 (SA)

WISCONSIN . UNIVERSITY OF

5

4

88 .8 6601670

87 9 600/630

13

2

96.4 720/800

96.5 700/800

(ED)

~ 1

' 4 2

ED • EARLY DECISION

iA

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 !"le_gacy."

---------------- --·- ---

1!8 550/650

~ 56

91.5 690/630

93 .5 640/680

91 .2 700/700

91 .7 720/610

94.4 670/760

94 710/690

82.2 5901610

79 6 560/4.30

96.6 710/690

94.7 7001660

. Early Decision (ED) are students who applied to one particular college or university during the Ea~ly Decision period. If accepted to that school, the sturlent must attend .

87.9 610/740

(SA)

Io

92 .7 6501730

~ 1

95.3 800/690

4

80 550/550 (ED)

95.6 6901700

3 (SA)

93 .3 5401700

1

86.3 620/650

6 0

87.4 570/530

2

93 610/610

6

91 6901760

1

81.3 510/500

7

92.5 630/690

90 2 620/510

96.5 7601750

APPROXIMATE CUT-OFFS: 96 .7 770t720

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

91.5 630/580 94.2 600/610

I o

95 .2 7401680

1

85 .5 6301570

11

89 580/610

59

79.6 5601460

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1 rSA)

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92 .7 7301660

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90.2 620/510

1

91.2 5901630

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84.3 580/750

2

84 .7 620/620 94.8 7301680

0 1

94 6901670

10

88.5 610/640

2

82.2 560/470

82 2 560/470

88 .8 6601670

91.7 700/640

2

88.5 600/510

iSA)

3 (ED) 2

VANOERBIL T UNIVERSITY 1VASSAR

i

862 500/570

' 2 2

I

SAT HIGH AV£R R£1 VIM SAT j

91.9

__

·-·· ..,._.

,

·----

620/660

88.8 6601670

'

,NOTE: SA" SPECIAL ADMIT

88.5 6101640 93 .8 700/640

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92.7 73C!660

90 7901760

' 1 1

~

ACC£,TEO LOWAV£11 ACC 1

iYALE UNIVERSITY

93.3 550/690

83 520/570

'

·· - .

2

,WHEATON COLLEGE

84 .6 600/470

91.9 620/650

·~o

jUNION COLLEGE

WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

97.2 700/740 ' 0 4

nificant weight on the college application, other factors are taken into account, such as extracurricular activities, teacher recommendations, and essays. It is the whole application package that helps college representatives decide who will be given admittance.

'IWATI

l

94:3 [6001700

~ 3

' 1 ~ 2 . 21

Harris favorite, accepted 25 from its 57 applicants. For the second consecutive year, Princeton University did not accept any Harrisites.

Although admission to eollege is extremely competitive nowadays, one should not be completely distressed over GPA's and SAT scores, acconJing to Ms. Blier. While it is true that they hold sig-

96 6 710/690 --· - -··

--,.- -

CUNY: Queens College: 83 (Good SAT's : Above 1200) (Binghamton : Above 1250) If average is lower, a correspondingly higher SAT is needed.

!

0

1 .f

1

The Classic December 2001

1~.,."

3ft0Dllffi00'

I 1

Bjork's Vespertine invokes dreamworld

by Jessica Wang Bjork has reinvented herself with the release of her latest album, Vespertine.

Although the Icelandic singer's popularity in the United States is not as widespread as that of other musicians, she has a knack · for garnering attention, as she did with her appearance at this year'sOscars In a swan dress. Vespertine is guaranteed .to turn more heads, not because of Bjork's fashion style, but because of her immense musical talent.

Vespertine differs from Bjork's previous albums with its greater use of orchestral arrangements, choirs, and harps and a lesser emphasis on electronic elements. In some songs, such as "Hidden Place," the choir contributes. t~ the ~ihereal fee ling of t~e song; suggesting that"love is something sacred, fragile, and beautiful. In others, as in the case of "Pagan Poetry," in which Bjork repeatedly sings, "I love him," the choir taunts her, echoing, "She loves him, she loves him." The lack of electronic elements may initially disappoint f~ns of Bjork's pa~t songs, but her haunting voic.e still has the power of drawing listeners in.

Bjork's vocals cover a range of emotions throughout the album. In "Undo," she sounds as if she is on the verge of teats, while in "Cocoon," she is in a state of complete bliss. In contrast to 1995's Post and 1997's Homogenic, her voice is much calmer and much less aggressive, as if the

singer has matuf€d and come to a spiritual peace with herself.

Though released in late August, Vespertine gives the impression of winter's arrival. ·"Frosti," h e album's one instrumental track

p e r formed on music boxes, thrusts the listener into a magi cal world with visions offalling snowflakes and icicles glistening in the light. The transition from "Frosti" to the next song, "Aurora," is smooth, with faint strains from the music box and the sound of footsteps trudging through the snow.

These evocations of winter bring memories of childhood, with its awe for the enchanting season.

The CD case also adds to the suggestion that the album is out of the ordinary. The spine and back of the album are pristine white, again suggesting something celestial or related to winter.

The front cover of the sleeve shows Bjork in her now famous swan dress, while the rest of the booklet is filled with black and white drawings. While assessing an album by its exterior may notalways b€ accurate, in the case of Vespertine, its cover prepares the listener for something wonderful.

Intimate and personal, Vespertine appears to be an invitation from Bjork to join her in her heavenly paradise. Simultaneously beautiful and simple, it is an opportunity that few people would not jump at.

From Hell vividly rips into infamous legend

by Diane Tiao "One day men will look back and say I gave birth to the twentieth century." These infamous words are attributed to Jack the Ripper, the most notorious serial killer in history.

From Hell offers a vivid interpretation ofthe horrific legend of Jack the Ripper. Directed by Allen and Albert Hughes (Dead Presidents, Menace II Society) and based on th€ screenplay by Terry Hayes and Rafael Yglesias (adapted from Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell's graphic novel), this movie unravels a chilling conspiracy.

Although the Ripper was never caught for his heinous crimes, this movie offers the most popular theory of who Jack the Ripper was and why he did whathe did. Dark, graphic and gruesome, this thriller contains scenes that may shock and disturb you.

Set in the fall of 1888 in the Whitechapel district of London, the movie tells th€ story of six prostitutes, all friends, as they work the streets. Each is oblivious to the dangers that lie just around the comer, until one by one, each encounters a man in a black top hat and cloak.

Tempting his victims with grapes and liquor, the Ripper lures them into his trap, gains their trust, and murders them.

Wearing his spotless white gloves, Jack takes out one of several polished knives from his slim, rectangular surgeon's box and slices and dices his way through the female anatomy. Removing body parts here and there, he creates a new form of murder that is every bit as ritualistic as it is sadistic.

Inspector Frederick Abberline (Johnny Depp) is in charge of the case. Abberline, an opium addict who gets high on absinthe mixed with laudanum (a poison), sees hallucinations of murders that have yet to take place. Depp gives a wonderful, multi-faceted performance. He pulls off being an opium addict, aguy with troubled past, a loner, an inspector trying to solve the case and save the day (as well as the girl), very

well. His accent and Sherlock-Holmesian approach to the case enhance the movie experience.

Mary Kelly (Heather Graham), a fair, peach-skinned prostitute and obvious target of the Ripper, befriends Inspector Abberline.

Graham gives an enchanting performance in this movie. She even makes viewers feel sorry for the treatment of prostitutes and shows the victimization of women during that ~ime period. With her help, and with the guidance of Sir William Gull (Ian Holm), physician to the royal family, Abberline gets closer and closer to finding out who the Ripper is.

The plot is filled with twists and turns and suspects range from learned and scholarly men to crime bosses looking for their money. Abberline pieces together information involving the police, the or-~ der of the Freemasons (a se'<> cret English society made up of the rich and powerful that ran England), and a secret baby.

Visual effects and camera angles add to the suspense of the movie. The identity of Jack the Ripper is not revealed until the very end. He speaks in a low, husky, ominous tone. He appears throughout the movie in shadows or in angles where bis face is hidden, but his hands are not. His hands are focused on throughout the movie: as they shake when he's pouring a glass of red wine, when he's slipping on his white gloves as he grabs his victims and slashes their throats.

Shots of bodies as they lie on the cold, cobblestoned streets mutilated and violated flash on the screen. This movie is not for the squeamish.

Although it is a bit confusing in the beginning, everything clears up eventually.

The cast gives excellent and believable performances. This version ofthe Jack the Ripper legend is a little "hollywoodized," but all in all, this two hour, 17-minute movie is entertaining and worth your $10.

Ghosts Offers u·p empty-head·ed t.hrills

by Diane Tiao Thirteen Ghosts is a bi·g:h tep.h version ofWi'lliam Castle's original I 960 horror flick of the same tl'$le.

Produced by Gilbert Adler (IJ'o«Se Oft Haunted Hi'll, Tale'S from);he Crypt) and Joel Silver (The Matrirx, Swe.rd!fish) from a screenplay by Neal Marshall Stevens and Riehard o·;Ovidio, this moVi$! attempts to scare. you with grues·ome an-d wretched looking ghosts· at eNeryc eorner.

Arthur Kriticos (Tony S,halhetib)

and his two children, Kathy {Sfiannon Elizabeth) and Bobby (Alec Roberts), inbefi.t a spectacular glass and ste€1 house -i n the middle of nowhere from Arthur's mysterio.us ancl eccentric Uncle Cyrus· (F. Murray Abraham).

The house seems to he.a ,dream come f:tlue. With spacious rooms,· sumptuou.s beds, personal bathtooms and glass walls elegantly etched with Latin writing, the Jamily members, along witb the house:keep.er (.ltah Di<gga). ,can hardly believe their good fortQ.ne. Soon enough, however, they discover the datk secret

hiding within the glass walls..

Loek.ed in their new home, they encounter powerful, vengeful, and savage ghosts that attack and kill an;'one with ease. It appears that the hoO·s e is a machine designed by the Devil and powered by the euergy of tbe· trapped spirits. Aided by a psychic (Matthew Lillara), who feels the paip of every per~ son and ghost he encounters, and a detennined "spirit-saver" (Embeth Davidt.z), the occupants are <'>.n a .race against time to save themse!>v.es before it's too tate.

Although Thirteen Ghosts cohexcellent visual e.ffects that are guaranteed to make yo.ur stomach churn, this movie is not for those who want to be intelle<>tually stimulated . Events happen so quickly that tbere is no time for chara~ter d:evelopm€nt. The movie is predictable from beginning to end, except for one or two curve balls that are interesting but hardly enough to carry the movie. Performances from th€ cast an~ not ex_eeptional, but good enough to keep you .interested. ~ains

-

The Classic December 2001

·Virus disables/new computer system

by Shara Siegel Process Workshop. Teachers can bring " Th ey 're qu ick er a nd they ' re their classes to the other two rooms, 51 4 slicker," said senior Roni Siegel about and 535, as long as the rooms are availthe new computers that have been re- able: A number of teachers volunteered cently installed around the school. That to supervise these rooms so that any stuwas before a devastating vi rus ate into dent can use the computers during his/ vital system files, disabl ing the entire her free bands .

Brand new computers have replaced · network. As of press time, experts had bee n called in· to solve the problem and the slower, older ones in the library, and were close to fix in g it, accord ing to all students have been able to use them Computer Coordinator Joseph Horn. since October 25.

IBM Pentium 3 high-speed computStudents can have access to the liers were hooked up in· August, and the brary from home. A firewall, which prechange-over to the new Microsoft Win- vents outsiders from having access to dows 2000 Network System that re- computer files and databases, secures placed the Novell oper.ating system was Mi'crosoft Windows , which also allows web-based e-mail. Students additionally completed last week.

The Queens High School have password-protected access to their Superintendent'sOffice, theAiumniAs- accounts. Ms. Brustein and Mr. Horn sociation, the Principal's Discretionary · warn that, with these given freedoms, Fund and support from the Parents As- maintaining the secrecy of one's passsociation made all of this possible. word is essential. Another benefit of · "It's necessary to keep up with these computers is that students can use changes in order for us to remain in the the Queens College resources via the forefront of education," said Assistant computers with the bar code on their Principal of Science Susan Brustein, identification card. who is also in charge of the school's The state-of-the-art Intel research website. Three computer rooms have center is another addition that has just been upgraded: 414, 514, and 434. beencompleted. All six science and soFreshmen and incoming sophomores are cial science research classes have access assigned to room 414 for the Writing to new computers in room 634. Students

Founder's Day celebrates unity .

Continued from p. l . decent" Harrisites he has encountered and stressed the importance ofservice as well as the "ability to wonder."

Dr. Marvin Leiner, Queens College liaison, delivered the welcoming. speech . David Herszenhorn, · President of the Alumni Association and graduate from the class of 1990, told students that with the Alumni Association,"You ha:ve thousands of friends . .. you have not met yet who are willing to help you succeed."

Matt Heffernan from the New York ' City Fire Department and husband of English teacher Raquel Chung spoke of the Fire Department and Police Department's experiences on the day of the World Trade Center attacks. He also thanked Harrisites for the $2,000 raised for the September I I funds. "[It] realiy reaffirms my belief in [New York's] being the greatest city in the world," he said. E rik Scott, sophomore, believed that Mr. Heffernan's speech "helped us · all cope ... [with] the hard time we are now going through."

Other speakers included Daphne Manhart, Co-President of the ParentTeacher Association (PTA), Ilana Golin, class of '96, and Henry Wong, class of '98.

Between the speeches were musical interludes. Among these were Sharon Lim's violin performance of "Praeludium and Allegro" by Fritz . Kreisler. She was accompanied by Paula Zarmon, music teacher, on the piano.

The Concert B~nd, conducted by Peter Lustig, music teacher, played "We Are Family" and "New York, New York," and invited those in the audience to sing along; using the lyrics provided in the program as a guide.

.

.

According to Kathy Mu, sophomore, "the highlight would have to be the sing-along .... It was fun and .. ,made people more involved in the whole ceremony." In addition, . sophomores Jessica Poli,sh, Alyssa Ng, and Amy Ortega performed "Empty Chairs," a musical selection from Les Mise rabies. · Founder's Day challenges contributed by students coincided with the patriotic theme of Spirit Week and Founder's Day. Presentations included jokes on what it means to be a 'real New Yorker' and a "Mission Impossible" skit to show how to spot a Harrisite. On a more serious note, the ceremony included the recitation of poetry and let. ters by Harrisites concerning the events. of September II ,and its aftermath ..

Among these were "Lady Liberty" by _sophomore Carrie Buchwalter and "Still We Rise" by senior Jennifer Fernandez.

(See page 12.) .

Student Union President Marc · Florman and Vice-President Jenna Sangastiano otlered a special tribute to Jennifer Wong, a 1993 alumna lost in the World Trade Center attack. They asked Harrisites to each contribute one dollar to the Jennifer Wong Memorial Scholarship fund . Beginning in June 2002, this annual award will be presented to the student who best exemplifies Jennifer's spirit of devotion to community service.

Founders Day 2001 concluded with the affirmation of the Ephebic Oath by freshmen and incoming sophomores. By taking this ancient Greek pledge, they promised to leave their city better than they found it. Archon Co-Presidents, Chi Wan Ma and Shara Siygel, led the recitation, which is part of the school tradition of service.

working on research proj'ects such as the Siemen s-Westinghou se Competition, St. John 's Symposi um, Solomon, Smith Barney Quality of Life Competition, or any other special projects can use this equipment. Scanners and printers will be readily available to these classes , Ms. Brustein says that the new systern has made information about school events, clu bs and teams more accessible.

The Web Team plans to have a link for every club president and team captain so they can bee-mail ed.

Acquiring the new computer system was a goal Principal Thomas Cunningham pursued when he came to Townsend Harris last February. This whole process was completed within six months . Lynne Greenfield, Assistant · Principal of Humanities, worked to make the research lab a real ity by proposing it to the Alumni Association. Ms. Brustein said, "She did all the groundwork to make i.t possible."

This is the beginning stage for the school's modernization in the changing world of computer technology. "This will be an ongoing . process that will eventually keep up with technology on a day-to-day basis," Mr. Horn said. "It's a constant process of upgrading."

11

Anthrax Continued from p. 3 needs ''to make sure the public is aware of the lthe effects of an] overdose of antibiotics." Taking too many antibiotics can cause the 'bacteria to become resistant.

Sophia Huttner, j uni or, presents a calm perspective on the prob lem: " I thi nk people are over blowil)g an thr.ax . Not that many people have died of it, and it doesn't seem li ke it's affecting the g~neral public. Also, mon~ people are dying per second of other [things], like cardiovascular disease. I don't think we have to be worr.ie<ilabout anthrax."

- "Source§; Begley, Shnrqn u.nJ,l ISikoff, .Mic;-haeL "Anxious Ahout Anthrax." fll•w.•week 22·0ctobcr 2m I: 28-35, "H(}w to.Survive Anlhr.ax." Editorial. New, YtJrk Time.\'~ IR Nt>vem~r2tMU : AI2.

Janof.•ky. Michael. "At Post Offices, Whispered Complah'!J..Ii About Latest EfiTlrtS tn Protect Health." Ne.}1! }hrk Ternes 24 (i)Ctnher 2001 : 87 , Lemonicl, Michael D. "D"tadl}t E>elivery." 1iftU' 22 October 2tXll : 32-38.

Park, Al-i ce. "Bur-ning Ques~ions . •· Tfm,t' 22 Octoher 2tKH : 34-35.

For the latest. news, visit The Classic online at: http://www.thhs.qc.edu/elassic/

Bloomberg defeats .Green Continued from p. l Franco Scardino, Christobal Hackney tr~ubles. The pressure was on for both ' and Maureen Lonergan distributed the seniors and faculty to work very quickly, fundamental guides to all seniors. Harand within a short time, the ·Sefli.ors ris alumnae Maria Doulis and Zara Ziff staged the first of three major campaign (both '99) offer.ed .additional help to the events: the kick-off rally. .

PD teachers.

"With such short notice, they manMs. Greenfield has played a key role aged · to pull It off," praised Lynne since the launchingofthe simulation six Greenfield, Assistant Principal of Hu- · years ago. She takes care of much of the manities. "{thought the rally was done "administrative red tape" that goes along with a great level of enthusiasm and with this major school-wide event every year. "Basically, I make it run," she good humor."

The kick-off rally gave each candi- explained. Every year, in addition to her date a chance to present his stance on many other tasks, she prepares a thick, certain issues and announce his cam- approximately 80-page long Teacher's paign plans. Along with speeches by Mr. Manual on running the simulation. She Bloomberg (Kristofer De Paola), Mr.· . coordinates with Queens College proGreen (Peter Koklanos), Bronx Bor- fessors Michael Krasner and Jack Zevin, ough President Fernando Ferrer (Jamar ·. directors of the Taft Institute, and Banks), who was still in the running at Queens College liaison Marvin Leiner, the time of the rally, and Mayor as well as helping run surveys. "Decic Rudolph Giul iani (Erkhan Murad), sions on structure have to h: made each · mock interest groups such as the New year concerning things like the treasurYork City Tenants Association, the Gay ies of the candidates, what races to .

Men's Health Crisis, and the National cover, and how to go about it," she saia.

Association for the Advancement of The tradition of the election simulaColored People (NAACP), shared with tion is one that is uniq.ue toTownsend the crowd their endorsements and views Harris. "It couldn't happen anywhere on topics such as education and city but here on the scale that we do it," exhousing. plained Ms. Greenfield. She added that "The main purpose of the rally was the first election simulation covered the to Jet people know what the different 1996 Presidential race and that "we candidates and interest groups stood came up with the idea because we didn't for," explained se r.lior Angela want to do the same old thing . We Muscolino. wanted something different."

The kick-off rally and the other rna"We do the election simulation evjor events in the simulation, the debates ery year in hopes that you guys are goand the Interest Group rally, received ing to be the leaders of the city and the much of their inspiration and informa- nation in the future," said Mr. tion from the Source Book, a manual full Moskowitz. of articles and press releases pertaining Next year 's seniors will cover the to the real candidates. Participatory De- New York State gubernatorial election mocracy teachers Myron Moskowitz, in their simulation.

12

The

Classic

D!lcember 2001

Founder's ·. Day submissions: A sampling New York City- Some Things Never Change

Thefollowing poems, letters, cmd artwork are samples from the wide selection of Founder's Day Challenges completed by students this year for their English classes. The poems "Still We Rise" and "New York City - Some Things Never Change," were recited at the Founders Day assembly. The artwork

by Eugene To, found on the top of this page, was the cover design for this year's program.

The people still walk, hurrying along to work or to their homes.

They crowd into the subway, maybe pushing and shoving a little less than before.

The buildings are still there; casting their shadows, slender or . stocky, · over their cracked sidewalks.

There are fewer shadows than before, but the ones still there -are honored.

The skyline still shines, jewels scattered across the night.

People, watching the colors and lights . run together, · sitting in their cars on bridges, standing by the Hudson River, · or the East, . _ they notice the glitter aild glimmer andglow. ·.

The heart of New York is still there, tucked into every pretzel anQ hot dog . stand; . heard ineveryrushed cell phone call; ·· swimming in every tall cup of decaf . cappuccino with skim milk, beating under the skin of every New · ·Yorker; - Hilary Homier; junior

Still We Rise Based on "Still We Rise," by Maya Angelou ·

lt will be written down in history Terrorism so drastic and big in size· Knocked down our great, twin . buildings to · None but dirt .

But:still, like the dust, we~ II rise. ~ boes our.successfulness upset you? · I Was the World Trade .Center Why do you cominue to act with such .· . . .. .· gloom?

I was the World Trade Center. I canvanish. Look at the rock and ash that I 'Cause of the fact that we're still not grasp. what has happened to me .... l . . have become. Look closely ... My soul movmg was breathing fire, yet my insides were dispersed into the hearts of millions of arid not giving in to our so-called · frozen. People came out of their rooms people all over the world.... . · doom. my rooms- helping the disabled descend · My dissolution was intended to blow Just like moons and Jike SI:InS, the staircase, holding . one 1another's theseeds ofhatred in ourdtrection, ,mak~ •.

With the certainty of tides, hands and guiding each other through ing cruelty take root and bear new kirids Just like hopes springing high, · New York City's darkest hour. 1 started . of fruit, which should never be tasted. · Stillwe;ll rise. . to crumble; and I felt myself start to give .Please, my family, don't resolve to vio. . . · ..

Did you want to see us broken? ··.· . way. I couldn't. hold on· much longer. hince. Don't cause any other people to .

Bowing our neads ;and lowering oitr :·~·. Ru~f ~uri,you are my on'Jy farriily!Aban- · feel the unbearable pain that I have felt . B . .d· . ·•s· ' k~~ub_ckS·h. l s·l ,. ? · · · · · · · t' ··.

If. d . ·h h .. _ase on tc . , y e . 1 verstem eyes. don-me,: leave before all is lost.... or you, my own. you_ o, l s a11 ave · · · · Shoulders falling down like tear~rops . The air became increasingly foul as I . b_een dest_royed in vain. Keep the sun in "1 don't want.to go to school today;". ln acceptance of our slow demtse. realized that this was an attack not only stght dunng the day; but when the· sun Yelled a Harris student whose name . . Does our unity offend you? on my spirit, but my city's spirit; and my . sets and paves the way: for the velvety . . . is May; . .

Are you upset there arefew tears? country's. In fact; this was ari attack on background ofthe silvery moon, be pre- ·· . _l cari'tget up ou~ of bed.

'Cause you have only brought us ·.. the people of the world ... : ·. . pared to know how to find your WilY US" ' My knowledge is draining from my . closer Prior to my downfall, 1 became witing the less apparent starlight... .. . . . . . . head.. . .

With your bombthteats and your ,,. ness.ofttie city. The people whowalked . Don't choose to.have your love bur-· I have 10 tests. a~~ a paper due. scares. . · · down rriy sidewalks became mY family, ied by the rubble that I now seem to be . I lost my dictionarY,, too; . · 'th · · · · · ·· · · · · · · . h h h .. d · · · k code You· m~y have h't 1 uswt your . even tf they dtdn't reahze tt.I looked at -sort t roug t ~ . estructwn; pte out _ ·The· ··dress · . hdoesn . t fit my 1 . . warfare, . . them - the Italian. the Russian, the Chi- · · the fragmented pteces ofyour soul and ·.·1·th. ·k h c lodt .~s,b . · · d' ·· ·· h d' ti h k. · . . . . · · · · . . . . . .· . m my s ou er s. een expose .

You may ave rna. e us ea~ t e s . tes, nese, th~ Vtetnamese, the homeless, the . _mo~e ~n! Perhaps you can · retneve And one thing more 1 forgot io say: . · You may have k1lled our mnocent rich; the indifferent, the ambitious, the somethmg out of my wreckage that you 1 feel iliiterate today. . citizens, Muslim, the Christian, the Jew - all never had b7fore. Take that away with ·. I cari.' t talk good, I hurt rriy knee.

But still, like the air; we'll rise.

Americans, and .I adopted them and desyou and start again. Let thelights of your Can't you see what's happened to Does our patriotism upset you? ignated a plac~- for them in my heart. I individual souls illuminate your lives . . . me?

Does it come as a suq)rise housed the best 'qualities of humankind and guide you through thistime of mis- · I ·have a collateral due next week. · That we wear our flags iJ1 allegiance ... because the people ·lent me portions of understanding. Doallofthisfor me,.the· Those on my bus t.hink l'm a!reak, In the face of terror and above the their souls. So many.things ceased to .. World Trade Center, the soul of ~oUI: · My art teacher wlll hate my tdea,. · ? · · · · .. ,.tza t.ton. cnes. extslphystcally on· t he· ·day· ·.<m w· h.tch the ctvt . . .._ .

-My ·flute ·makes sounds . . ·. · ·. you . · don · t Keeping our place in. hist.ory's name. world cried -but everyone's spirits did not .

-Jessica Polish, sophorri9te M . . want to hear. .. · ·· we R'tse . ·. · ' · · · y 1egs are sore, 1 .r an stxty 1aps.

1. . d . d . b . ~ tne to stu ym etween-naps. ~ /-~~·· J~; 1 was put in c.horus, but I can . 't si.ng .

Up from the past tha.t s rootedm pam · . We Rt~e . . · ..

• . ~.;Y Y 1 should just send my resume ~o • Our vast sot!, seethmg wtth pnde, · . .., . "\ ftl~ .AI" Burger King.

11 Welling and swelling in_honor of . ~,... 'IJ' "'~'· I don't get math, my brain gets those who have d1ed •., .>cA!' · numb, _-1</,, ./ . I gotthree referrals for chewing Leaving behind nights of terror and· · fear · gum.· We Rise I forgot my lunch for lunch recita-

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·,

. .

- . J .-. ,., ,,, '_, . -- no 011 AIL_..

Into a daybreak tl}at's wondrously · 1 · · · Wc ear R' e ISe In honor of the land that our ancestors secured, We have a dream and we know we will soar We Rise We Rise We Rise.

-Jennifer Fernandez, senior

•

- ' ·,-::··;;;; ......., •. . · = "(_. -

. k tion. .

I thm I need a long vacation. · M y wntmg · · sk'll · "l 1 s h ave Iost t h e1r touch.

I've never disliked school this much. ~·m stupid and my grammar is~what?

What's that? What's that you say? ~ You think my grammar is perfect, · you say?

Great, but I'm still not going to school today. " -Jessica Berger, sophomore

d

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The Classic December 2001

13

Lights, Camera, Action.:

PBS fillns documentary on lnteJ parti·cipants ;

by Marlo Dublin Ten Science Research students will soon appear iri a Public Broadcasting System mini-series on Channel 13. Ex-· ecutive Producer John Merrow's documentary follows participants from both Townsend Harris and Plainview High School on Long Island as they prepare projects for the Intel Science Talent Research competition.

PBS has yet to announce the pre: miere of the series~ which was originally scheduled to air during November in 13minute segments on the NewsHour, because recen( events have been given airtime priority.

Accompanied by Assistant Producer · Donald Devet and a crew of camera. men, Merrow turned room 634 into a makeshift TV studio where he interrogated the individual contestants and probed the nature of their research, their intentions and their hunger for scientific knowledge. Many of the students are also entering the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, St. John'~ Science Fair, and the Siemens Westinghouse Competition.

By gaining a "three-dimensional view" of his subject~ 1 Merrow wants his program to show hc>w devoted some students are to the advancement of their scientific world.

"I w<\s amaz:ed ' with the students," Mr. Devet said at the end of a taping scss~<.>\1.- 'They were extremely articulate, co~fiderft and poist;d, and it is obvious that they hav.e .a .real passion for ..science." IAterviewed were Linda To, Akshta Kalla, Yulee Juh, Amir Tusher, Marisa Cohen, Gloria Lee, Vito Diienna, Rio May Del Rosario, Sofia Bajwa and Jin Hwan Choi, all seniors.

"It wasn't until I joined Mr. We.iss' science club in ninth grade that I realized that science was my thing," Amir admitted to Merrow. In his interview, Amir elaborated on his devotion to sci-ence and his project, which has focused on weight training and its potential benefits for patient~ suffering from hyper-

'"

I

''I've learned that it's okay to ask questhe participants, offering_, to read their tions. By doing this project, we put eur- proposals and question any aspects that might have seemed unclear. She has also selves in a position to learn and we want to get something out of it. Once you served as a general source of support and show your ignorance, you adn1i.t that guidance throughout the grueling process. you want to learn."

"I don't consider myself a nerd, but "The l\tudents I work with arc amaznither-.an ining," Mrs. Brustcin said." The selfless - rei rectual '" amount of work they do is extraordinary, Amir tol(l and the nicest part of the whole thing is Merrow. " I that there's no competiti_on. Everyone is have a life : there to help and support one another. study when I've learned throughout this whole reI h a v c to, search process that you ' rc not part of a TAfENT . SEARCH and · go out problem, but rather part of a solution." with my Merrow returned to Harris on Octofrie nd s . bcr l to speak with Amir, Marisa, and · There is no Gloria who arc submitting projects for way you arc the Siemens Westinghouse Competition . going lo He returned once again on November 26 survive the to interview all of the 10 research stu-process if dents before they prepared to meet the you can't other three contests' deadline~ . have fun. " " I really thought rhaUt was great that I . - c. we wc·r~ gi,v.c n the .ciJ.q.r~c ,tq_h,c )nt9rBeaming next to the banner that declares Townsend Harris as an Intel Semifinalist school. Assistant Principal of Science Susan Rrustcin looks though fi- , viewed. In the beginni~g, I t"clt really forward to hearing the results of this year's competition. ' Jial propos- · nervous, hut as time went on; I was anlc als and rcto ·ignore the lights and equipment sursearch reports had to be submitted no rounding me and just m·c us on talking ordinator of Stress Lab, Cardiology. laicr than November 2H for three of the with Mr. Merrow," said-Rio May ... NorAlthough Amir has devoted .a great deal four major compcliti<ins, Amir tlild mally, the only people that a_rc rctog: oLtime and effort to his project's sucMerrow t)lat the submission of.~is finizcd for participating in various science cess, he believes that the whole process has been a "persom11 challenge, which nal projpct \ViJI ,not stop hi~. ,qesir? ll>,_ , compat,itjqn~,;ar~ ~-~S ~inn~,t;s : ,t ,~e~y, inwitl · bri'n'g' gcrerit ·sal-isfaetio.n upon co.ndt~et{urthFr ~e,s(!<lr<.;h. , :'I ,wnul,4 )) ~~ , s; terv1 '1't'~· 8H~ ~J J4~ 6Wil1fbli9l!l-fi>kt'§~Pl:R h to he a medica'! researcher when I .get , tion by f(>cOsing in on our individual stocompletion ." ries, and neglecting the idea that win, During his interview with Amir, older," Amir said . "If not a researcher, ning the competition is the most imporMerrow raised. many questions, -some then something in the medical field ."

Whilc the student inLerviews were . tant thing." focusing on the.project's process i·n genMerrow encourages those who arc eral (the pre,Jiminary research stages, being conducted, Susan B-rustein, Asinterested in the series to frequently visit deadlines and regulations}, and others sistant Principal oi'Scicncc, sal (>n the narrowing in on more personal issues, . sidelines , li\tcning .intently. As ,O!]C .of the PBS hnmcpage,,,,www.PBS.org/ t!;w· qmtcst, . M~. ,. Merrp:w, li~wad<liJ\\l~H~~ lilt~;f!>l~l]HIJiHJl :t, such as his aspir~1tions . "I consider my- the Sl,lpcryisors ,,, ;;J• self a dedicated, motivated and passion- . Bruslcin hHS worked alongside mpsi or .. . ate person," Amir told Merrow. 'Tve put my whole self into this project, and I believe that even if I don't win the comthe ceremony because i.l wasn't too forpetition, I will he contributing some- Continued from p, 3 thing to the scientific world or to some Languages; Antoinette Teague and mal 'but welcomed all<.>f the incoming Cheryl Kramer, guidance counselors;_. members. It was a place where every·other research stu.d ent."

When asked what he learned from Susan B_rustein, Assistant Principi\1 of one could he proud oUhcir accomplishments." _,, conducting research, Amir responded, Science; and Maria Laderoutc, Latin Teacher; in presenting indiJ~tccs with .

Stephanie L,ew, :-;_onior, conduct,e d tl1c pins and certificates. In order to b~ in- Concert Band in the pro~cssi(>nal ~ while ducted into Arista, one must have a Peter Lustig, music teacher, conducted minimum average of 90, have per- . them in "Suite from The Magic Flute" late "every nig-ht for over a week and formed at least 50 hours of community hy W.A. Mozart. The ceremony cona half" because of pl'ogramniing iss·ervicc, and participated in at least one cluded With the Townsend Harris alma sues. school club. mater and a performance of "We Arc One thiJJg. Ms. Walsh said, she Susan Cheng said that, "I cnj6yed Famil~" from the Concert Band . would mi·s!-iahout. h.er 6Id posi~ion is organi'zing the annmtl Intcnul:riona:l Festival of Nations. "Every year I collapsed a happy woman cifter the . perfori11ance," she said . "The production was so beautiful."

Although she misses being AP of Foreign Language and Fine Arts, Ms. Walsh is enjoying her new position asAP of Guidance. "I love the people I work with," she said . "I have great I respect for this office and can really sec that all people involved in guidance issues, from the coui1selors to the school aides , are at! truly professional and delightful to work with." tension (high blood pressure).

Sacrificing summer vacations and countless hours after school, Amir has -spent two years conducting extensive research in one of Manhattan Veteran Medical Center's cardiology labs. His mentor is Muriel May, the Clinical Co-

__ i·nteJ. ___

SCIENCE

A

or

Arista welcomes inductees

New Positions Continued from p. 7 Judy Biener Senior Monique Edis.o n says that she thinks "ifs great that Ms. 13iener is Senior Advisor since she is so humble and down-to-earth . She can relate to how we feel and she 's very kind and understanding."

Placing her anxiety aside, Ms. Biener says that above all, "I want the seniors to have fun ; it's an important year for them . I hope we have a great year."

Joan Walsh and the rest of the. guidance departn1ent set up support centers and have always been available for any students to talk. Ms . Walsh also stayed

Queens Teachers of

Mathematics &

Spanish

Private TUTORING in Your Home

(7l8) 843-1 302

14

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The Classic . December 2001

Turtles splash into second place

Fencers finish third in city

by Carolina Chang swimmers. However, this small group of of 14-2, with a total of 74 touches .

After two grueling hours of competia little over 20 girls worked hard through- by Josh F ox tioti, the Turtles earned second place in out the session, swimming consistently The Fencing team placed third in M ichlewitz said, "Richard sets the high the PSAL City Finals Championships, and with constant improvement. "The City Championships on November 14, mark for the te a m' s performance ." behind Bronx Science . Swimming Turtles [came] through when we reaiiy behind Brookyln Tech, who came in sec- Through eight games ,Clark 's record is I 0-6, with a fin al record of 60 touches . against the top three teams, Bronx Scineeded it," said Lieberman. ond after Bronx Science.

Katherine Yan and Waqas Shaikh ence, Curtis, and Brooklyn Tech, was inA big difference berween this year and They placed first in Queens Chamtense and every point contributed to the last year was the addition of two divers, pionships on November 7 , defeating fence at the B level. Shaikh is a novice sophomores Kristina Kalpakis and Frederick Douglas Academy and who makes the most of his height and success of the team . Because Curtis and strength. Steven Torem and Jessie Chow Harris tied in the Semi-finals, this meet Nicole Schnell. The two worked very Francis Lewis for the title. · was a quad meet, meaning the point syshard, practicing ail summer to learn six The Hawks were the top seed in this make up the C string of fencers . Torem tern was very different. allowing the basic dives so that they could give the ' year's competition and, along with was undeafeated as a c fencer and Turtles "to sneak up to second place," said Turtles a fighting chance in the playoffs. Francjs Lewis, were the only represen- placed seventh in the invitational on coach Jim Jordan .

During past seasons, the Turtles watched tatives from Queens in the City October 21 . When asked why Torem The voices of Turtle supporters were the diving competition from the side, as Championhips. They were joined by was placed as a C fe!Jcer, Michlewitz drowned out by the screaming fans of the other teams gained points without a Hunter College, Stuyvesant, Bronx Sci- replied, "He is truly great in competiBronx Science, as they had .the home pool real fight. With the gain of two divers, · ence, Frederick Douglas Academy, tion; however, many of the members on the team know his tricks and control him advanJage. Nevertheless, the spirit of the the Turtles were able to pick up nine ex- Brooklyn Tech and Tottenville.

Turtles never died down as each girl tra points that would give them an edge Coach Debra .Michelwitz said that throughout practices." .

According to Michlewitz, the novover the other teams . "With diving, I'm the fencers "fought hard to the end" and swam her fastest time. "We have a won~ derful team with a lot of spirit and heart," reaiiy helping the team," said Schnell. that everyone "fenced very well while . ices are very motivated, and put effort into learning the skills. She predicts that saidjur\iorTalya Lieberman. The Turtles With the completion of another season, thinking on their feet." never stopped che~ring as they recited the girls are thinking about next year.

This team has been ignited not only next year the team will be in a rebuliding their many energy-fiiied jingles. "Swim- They now· know what they are capable by its coach, but by the leadership of its phase, because they are losing both of ming doesn't only involve the swimmers of and have the clear picture of gold in seniors, namely the A fencers Richard their A fencers after graduation . "We and the divers. The fans and the support their minds. "[Winning second place] Cupolo and Patrick Clark. In eight · have a lot of spirit, so we should do well of the other teammates are very . imporwas great closure for the season. It was a games, Cupolo holds a personal record next year." she said. i tant," said sophomore Amanda Chen. very successful season and it's going to The competition was tight and every bit encourage us to try even harder next year of cheering gave the swimmers enough so we_can come in first!" said sophomore energy and wil!,power to swim their best.

Dorota Sawicz. Many are determined to "It was really close; we only beat Brookpractice year-long, including over the Iyn Tech by one point. Everyone put in a summer, to perfect their dives, tlipturns, by Elyse Lee Casale with a 146, .t~ough none of them After an 8-4 record this season, the advanced to the city playoffs. lot of effort," commented junior Diane and to shave a few seconds off their Park. times. "I'm going to swim over the sum- Boys' Varsity Bowling team finished Ceraulo commented that they had a Some sw.immersJ:wough~ marker,s and mer and: maybe 11)y breaststroke. will be third in the Queens Division. With a loss good season, though most of the teams body ,paint;ti:i>- deoorflte ~ach1 @ther w,ith , fasterthanwy freestyle," saidCpenjok- to Campus Magnet on November. 1, thatthey played were weak, except for positive _and encouraging words that ingly. Maria Wojakowski, freshman, said, they relinquished their place in the playthe division champions, who are in the would hopefully intimidate the other . "Being able to contribute something to offs to Martin Van Buren and Thomas playoffs, · teams, while pumping up themselves. The the team as we took second place was Edison, who shared the division tit.fe . Ceraulo has faith in his young team turtles had turtle stamps all over their exciting and_it makes me determined to with a record of 11-1. for the upcoming season. Ben Harson, But coach Lawrence Cera{Jio did not sophomore, whohas an average of 147, bodies or, as senior Angela Musco fino put work harder for first. place nextseason." it "I have 'Turtleitis' !" .''I was very surprised that after los- feel defeated. J.uniors Alvin Lee Gattoc and Gattoc, with an average of 145, were arid Ben Seo and senior Anthony Casale the toptwo scorers on the team this year.

The swimmers also found encourageingtw~lv.e seniors, we stiff ·came back · m~ilt In 'the turtlt!'. beanie" traby provided-"··strbrig, taking second;'' said Jordan. "It ·made it to the individual playoffs Returning players also include juniors by freshman Amanda Arn8'riUo. , • . was due to !he hard · work and dedica- against the top bowlers from the other Joe Miller and Adam Wiener. Casale, tionofthegirlsorelsewewouldh'thave high schools in the Queens league, held At first mention of the Swim team, who averaged 144, will be graduating. many ask, "Turtles? Aren't. they slow'?" : come this far! We know What we cando, on November 7. Gattoc finished with However, freshmen Jorge Cubas and Sophomore Kristin Angelopoulo.s would . first place and no less!" As Lieberman ·. an average of 190, Seo with 150 and David Joseph will help next year. answer, "Only on land!" Like the animals, put it, "We're smart, we..' re talented and our Turtles may not be the fastest, but are dang it, we can swim. Last yeai·we were very determined and focused swimmers. third in the city, thiS year wi'·~e second.

Unlike many big schools, Harris' student It's only Io_gicai that next yeatWE;'R~ body of I ,000 does not produce m'lny 'GONNA BE #·I !!!·l' -. · ' · ' . .:

Boy bowlers third in Queens

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·..:,

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Girls bowl in playoffs; lose 2nd .round .to . Lewis

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Tllltllr Spanish ·French

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I•

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·Retired Teacher

(212) .· 721-3654

· . byAshley Pillsbury .

TheGids'Bowling te~m defeated Acorn on N overn. ber 13 during the first rou_nd . ' of the . pl(lyoffs, allowing thern . to move forward.

However, they were de- · feated by Fran~is Lewis in the second round on Monday, November 19._ "We were really disappointed because we beat them twice in the regular · season, and we just figured that we could beat the~ in the playoffs;'' explained Megan Davidow, junior: Davidow placed sixth in the Individual Championships and averaged 150 in three games, qualifying her for the City Wide Inidividual · Championships.

. . Bloom, taking over the coaching p-osition from health · teacher Ellen Schwartz, does; not feel that teaching at another school while coaching a Townsend Harris team has affected his relationship with the girls.

"I had~ most of t~em.for P.E. or health, and -I only left at the e.nd of last year, so it's like lnever left," he explained.

The team has no captain, ·at the request of the players. "It was nice. The girls all wanted to be on the same plane as a team. They didn't want, or need, a captain," he said. · Bloom said that Megan Davidow, junior, and Kristina Casper, seriior, are · the two top bowlers . Davidow, who · holds an average of about 150, is de~ scribed by Blo<;>m as the "steadiest" on the team. Casper, whose average is around 135, is graduating this year, along with Stephanie Lew, Cassie Chan and Shekhinah Jay~

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The Classic December 2001

Girls' Varsity Volleyball bumped out of the finals

by Josh Fox Despite a good season, the Girls' Varisty Volleyball team fell to Francis · Lewis in the finals of the Queens Championships on November 20, end~ ing their season with a record of7- 2.

When the first whistle sounded on September I, signaling the beginning of the Girls Varsity Volleyball season, no one could possibly expect what it would bring. Coach Wanda Nix said, "Considering the short time this team had to come together as a team, they did a fabulous job." She added, "Everyone worked hard and grew not only as players, but as people."

With the tragic events of September II, the team has lost valuuable

Boys' Track season · end·s weU

practice time, but as a result, the team has learned a great deal about the signlfigance of sports and teh importnace of bieng a team. · Junior Alexandra LoRe commented on the importance of everyone on this team including the players on the bench.

"We could not have done it without the cheering from all the 'benchees. "' Along with the teams' leading blocker, LoRe, some of the inspiring stars have been Junior Nicole Watters, the team's leader in kills, Junior Kristin Newman and Senior Mary Pipinas, the assist king of the Hawks. However, this team would not have been as good without the leadership of Seniors Chi Wan Ma, Christina Perdos and Jane Yoo.

Threats on soccer field dampen successful season

by Ashley Pillsbury Drama filled the Boys' Soccer season , closing with~ record of 5 - 6, their best in four years. The excitement, however, was not in their score, but in the conflicts that arose between Townsend Harris and Hillcrest High Schools.

In the first game between the two teams, on September 28 , Hillcrest took the win, and expected the same outcome in the second match on October 23. The

score for the second match was 1 - I, angering fans and players of the Hillcrest team.

According to the three co-captains of the Harris team, seniors Arthur Goulian, Marc Florman and Andrew Galmer, Hillcrest fans verbally insulted Harris players while team members threatened them with metal poles. One of the Hillcrest fans threatened to kill the referee, but the referee allowed the person

by Stephen Berger The Boys' Cross-Country TFack team finished their season at the City Championships at Van Courtland PaFk on November 10. The varsity team finished sixteenth in ·the city, the sophomore team finished seventh, and the freshman team placed fifth. Senior Alejandro Gonzalez completed the 3.1 mile race first in Queens, becoming, the first Townsend Harris runner to do so.

He placed ninth at the City Championships, qualifying for ·the State Championships, where he placed twelftn.

Prev.iously, at tbe Queens Champi-nnshipme_e t at Cunningham. Park, he-fd 0n October 26, both ibe v.atsity ana jun~ ior var&ity division fin-i shed s.eeond in Queens.

At the Fresbman/Soph0m-or.e Queens Ch:am.pi()nsnips, on OctJ;Iber 23 at Cunningham Park, fhe freshmen finished first in Queens, wbile the sGphotJl.OF<!.S ,p'laced s~cond, behind Edison H:igh Sehop-1.

"This y,e.;ar'·s team .is stronger beeause w~ have mqre in depth and ex-

perienc!i than last year;' commented cQa~h George Rio. The team has a!Doat twa :times the number of runners it had last year, and many are returning runners. '"I was ve.ry surprised. at how much this team has improved. The new members of, the team have made us even,.lilore com13etitive,'' said sophomore David Bas·s. lti·o feelS that anyone who has determination can be a good. runner. No pniorexp~ri.ence is required to join the te~ as long as he is wining to give tract< a tr.y,. The team started practice -for the season on Au:g ust 27, and the season ctmclude.d in mid-Nov.ernb~r..

P~t1ces ~e held a'fter soho0l on the Qqeen-s Clt>il1ege track, Kissena Ji>ark or Cunnin:gham Park. Runners compete in Orand P11ix meets on Tuesdays, and parttcip:ate in invitational. meets on Saturdays at Van Courtland R:a.tk. Rio ailtic0t~ated that the most vigorous com~tit'i;~m wotild c~.me from. eith~r Barside, Cttrdoza, or Campus Mag.net, tb:!ilugh.E(lis.on f{:igh 8ch.ool tnrned out to &e their taughesf contender.

tween the two teams, . stricter officials to go unpunished.

The Harris boys, to avoid a physical would be placed on the games, and that conflict, let down the goalie nets as a the rules would be better followed.

"The Hillcrest team is just mean. It's blockade. There was no physical contact, but the police were called to break one thing to play hard, talk trash and up the fight, and the game was put un- even to plll.y dirty, but it's another to be der review by the Public Schools Ath- just mean," said Florman. "We. are not entirely innocent, but none of our playletic League.

It was agreed by Dean Wanda Nix ers were waitingi:a}ioUnd after. the game and the dean of Hillcrest, that stricter · to start trb'uble; ·and none> -of our .fans ··' referees would be placed on games be- were threatening to kill the referee."

Driver -Education

Spring 2002

Kew-Forest High School 119..;_17 Union Tpke. Forest Hills, Queens 11375 (ONE BLOCK OFF QUEENS BLVD. ANI) UNION TPKE. INTERSECTION CLOSE TO ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION)

For more information· call: 718-268-4667 (Day) Student Completion Certificate 631-864-6753 (Evening) -·

(Blue Card-MV285) Eligible for Senior License at 17 ·

Dual Controlled Cars Experienced NYS licensed teachers Student qualifies for insurance discounts ~ -A driver's permit ,i.s. not where gra'nted by insurance company necessary, to- take ,the course You may1register in person or by mail. Tuition for entire course is $440. A deposit of $200, made out to l(ew- · Forest School, is due at or before Registration. r-----------------------------~-------------------Kew-Forest School Driver Education Application Spring 2002 PRINT YOUR LEGAL FIRST AND LAST NAME Date of birth

Home telephone

Home Address

I,

give iny son I daughter (parent's name)

permission to enroll in the Kew-Forest School Driver Education course. (student's name)

Name of student's s c h o o l - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

15 '

Parent's signature

Date

16

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The Classic December2001

Girls show there'·s more to track than running

by Elyse Lee The Girls' Varisty Track team returned triumphantly from their twoday trip to State Championships November 17. They had made history the previous Saturday at City Championships by taking the first place title and were the first team from Queens ever to do so. At States on November 17 they placed 18 out of the 27 best track teams in New Ybrk state. Math teacher Joseph Horn praised his elite team of seven on the following Monday. Seniors Arica Wade, Nicole Kresse, junior Jessic-a Krivac, sophomores Kathryn Dubowski, Rosalind Adams, Erika Russi and Faith Cummings repres-ented 'Townsend Harris at State Championships, while at Cities Shanay Fre,eman ran in Cummings spot.

Against about 250 other competitors, Wade pla~ed 81, Krivac finished 133, Dubowski placed 135, Adams finished 172, Russi fini-shed 189, Kresse placed 230, and Cummings came in 233. In City Championships Wade placed $, Krivac : placed 9 and Dubowski 11. Horn decribed the ~ar­ sity team as the toughest compeitors he has ever coached. The emot.ion, drive, determination, discp1ine, and unity are dear in their actions and attitude towards each other. Senior Vicki Lopez commented, "I am really proud of our girls, we have eome a long way in a short period of time." Freeman added, "I am very proud of this year's. cross country team and happy to be a

part of the best team in the city."

Townsend Harris wowed the schools, coaches, crowds, and even themselves earlier in the season at Borough Championships. The t~am had no idea that they would make it this far at the start of the season. Their expectations were to hopefully make top four at City Championships, and to make it to States, but now they are ahead of the'ir expectations-. Wade said, ''We came into the season with everybody doubting us, including ourselves, but 1 think that we really proved to everyone that we can do it and do it well."

Adams sajd, "We dug dowfi de.e p and btought out the best runners in ourselves; the best in the city.''

Horn admits that this is one of the most unique, special and in'teresting teams he has ever coached, consisting of girls who are full of talent yet down to earth and level headed. With States behind them and indoor season beginning, tbey are all excited to be running and their enthusiasm has sky rocketed.

Th-e freshmen express joy in the teams' suecess, but are mod_e st about their accomplishments. The sophomores ·are in awe of the support and encouragement from their teammates. The older girls take care of the team when the coach is busy. They stretch in one big circle in the middle of the track, linked together by a passion for running and a great respect for one another, laughing and talking . Surely this is more than a team, it is a family.

C ..·' · . ..t • Qtnrnefi ary •

Achilles prevents Cunningham from running City Marathon

by Ashley Pillsbury from his days on his high school track Principal Thomas Cunningham team, and he was the one who introplanned to run in the 200 I New York duced his wife to the sport. "It's funny, City Marathon, held on November4, but I got her into running, but she got me was unable to because he sprained his into running marathons," he explained.

Achilles tendon . Although formally He and his wife ran together in last withdrawing year's marafrom the race, thon, and his he is guaranfinishing time, teed a spot in for 26.2 miles, next year's run . was four hours With the funds and 37 minthat he raises in utes. About 2002, Mr. where to find Cunningham him in the plans to instimass of people tute the "Extra he joked, Mile Scholar"Look for me ship." It will be in the back!" awarded to the To train for student· who the event, Mr. not only excels Cunningham academically, ran in the but who also mornings beexemplifies fore going to community work, mainly service and exin the summer. tra-curric ular He enjoys runinvolvement., ~'fY''(P~ . ning . in the Last year s ·. · .,.... mornmg berace was the / cause it's first NYC cooler and, in Marathon that Mr. Cunningham took the summer, it's light enough outside to part in. "I had always thought about run- feel as if it's not really 5:30 am. His ning it, but my wife is the one who advice to aspiring THHS runners is to pushed me to do it," he said. He has long "Practice, practice and then practice held a soft spot for running, starting some more."

Inspiration Behind the Cartoon Achilles, son of the goddess Thetis, was dipped by her in the river Styx when he was born. By doing so , his mother believed she was making him invincible.

However, she was careless and forgot to put water over the heel by which she was holding him. Achilles became a

strong and fearless warrior. During the Trojan War, he fought well, and the Trojans retreated. Paris, however, shot an arrow meant for Achilles. It hit him in . the heel, causing him to die. People now use "Achilles Heel" to imply a vunerability.

To root or not to root, that is the question

by Josh Fox I have come to watch every game of the 200 I World Series wearing two hats.

The first hat I wear is that of a pure baseball fan hoping to be captivated by the magic of the series. My second hat is that of a New York Mets fan. It has been instilled into my mind, since I was a child, that it is only natural to despise the sight of the pinstripes and root against the team from the Bronx, the New York Yankees. Since the events of September II, many New Yorkers have equated rooting for the Yankees with being patriotic, implying that those who root against the Yankees are not patriotic . I protest that association because half of this city, let alone most of this country, root against the Yankees.

I certainly consider myself a patriot, especially in the past two months. Do I get chills when a great singer comes to Yankee stadium and sings the Star Spangled Banner? I certainly do. Am I proud to see the President of the United States, the leader of the free world, throw out the first pitch of a World Series game in New York? I surely am.

Was I filled with jubilee when Derek

Jeter hit the game winning home run in the bottom of the tenth inning in Game 4? No way. Actually, I was cringing and felt rather nauseous when watching such Yankee exploits. I have come to a realization, however, that I wish to share: It is all right to root against the Yankees during these times.

The essential impact that baseball, America's pastime, has on everyone is the capability of building up to a certain climatic moment in either a game, a series or a season, in which you forget about everything else for those few moments. That pitch, hit or fielding play is one that will define our own baseball memories forever. Both the diehards and the casual fans can usually associate a year with a memorable baseball moment. Ask any Mets fan about the year 1969, and he or she will not mention the horrifying events going on in Vietnam; rather he or she will describe, in precise detail, Tom Seaver's near perfect game against the Chicago Cubs on July 9 in that year.

As we live during trying times today, baseball serves the same purpose, no matter which team we cheer. With the

background of the attacks on our country and the subsequent fighting overseas, one of the greatest World Series in rec ent history took center stage in a recovering city that surely needed it. Twenty years from now, when Yankee fans are asked about that October/November in 200 I, they will recall in vivid detail the miraculous home run comebacks of their team to win games 4 and 5. Those two games will go down not only in World Series history, but also in New York folklore. When Diamondbacks fans- yes there are Diamondbacks fans in America- remember 200 I, they will recollect with a gleeful grin the shoe king "Mariano Meltdown" in the ninth inning of game 7.

In spite of the immediate and ephemera! euphoria that a dramatic win or a championship brings to a city, there is another side of baseball, which is losing. It is ill advised to vicariously live through the ups and downs of a team, as though it were real life. Baseball is just a game.

The outcome of baseball game will certainly not comfort a mother whose son is fighting in Afghanistan for the

a

blanket of freedom that we take for granted every day. That is not what baseball is for and that is not what life is about. Baseball is supposed to give people, just for a few hours, a chance to step away from their troubles and uplift their spirits. It is only a short-lived emotion since we all have to face our prob!ems after the game is over.

Despite the Yankee's crushing and shocking defeat in game 7 to the World Champion Arizona Diamondback_s, this team brightened many of its fans' seemingly gloomy days throughout the past two months, and that is definitely a good thing . I would like to convey to all people, like myself, who root against this former championship team that, even though there have been many ·sleepless nights after heart-wrenching Yankee victories, we can certainly take solace in the results of tl)is past World Series.

A note for the future, however, is that we should not be brought down when ·"our team" does not win, since we are all Americans and patriots. Baseball is only flO escape and we are all on the same team when the games are over.