Summer 2015, Vol. 31, No. 9 by The Classic

NEW HALL-OF-FAMERS

TEACHING & EXPECTING

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dr. Heather Nash and New York Times reporter and Russian correspondent David Herszenhorn joined the greats of Townsend Harris history at a ceremony honoring them earlier this month.

With a number of teachers this year adding new members to their families, many shared their experiences with juggling family and the demands of teaching.

The girls varsity wrestling team competed in the 2015 Girls Freestyle Wrestling Championship. Having fought hard, the Lady Hawks finished sixth in a respectable finish to their sophomore season.

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Townsend Harris High School at Queens College

Summer 2015 - Volume 31 No. 9

the

CLASSIC

THE CLASSIC

www.thhsclassic.com

THAT’S A REP: MR. HANSON RETIRES AFTER TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS AT THHS Jason Lalljee EDITOR-IN-CHIEF THE THREE words are almost a Townsend Harris rite of passage at this point: they offer testament to the fact that a Harrisite has endured trials, drawing respect from whoever should be present to hear them—“I had Hanson.” Athletic Director and teacher of Physical Education and Health Keith Hanson will be retiring after twenty-seven years of teaching at Townsend Harris. In his time at the school, he has overseen student participation in the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) as well as teaching both Physical Education and Health. Specifically in regard to his role as a teacher, Mr. Hanson has developed a reputation for himself as a strict educator, to the point where his pedagogy has become famous among the students and faculty. “I’ve mindfully cultivated that reputation as a tough gym teacher,” Mr. Hanson noted. “[Physical health] is important, and the only thing you can do to get [students] addicted to it is to get them to work hardcore… it’s just not something that works in the moderate. It’s the kids I can never get to work out hard that never get addicted.” “He gave us tough exercises to do because he knew we could do them, if we’re not lazy and don’t complain,” said freshman Nina Zhang, who had him for freshman Physical Education. “He’s very different from all my gym teachers in the past.

If a student didn’t want to do an exercise, my teachers would just let them sit out, but Mr. Hanson knows that we can do better than just give up.” Mr. Hanson has made a discernible impact on his colleagues as well. “Mr. Hanson has been teaching here since I was a student at Townsend Harris,” said Physical Education teacher Lauren Caiaccia. “I never had him as a teacher, but we all knew him. Mr. Hanson is hard-working, dedicated, and a great teacher. He’ll be dearly missed.” “Mr. Hanson has forgotten more about health and fitness than most people learn in their lifetimes,” commented Heath teacher Maria Assante, who is the school’s other Health teacher besides Mr. Hanson. “It has been wonderful working with him...we’ve been a team; sharing what we know about health has been a wonderful experience.” Ms. Assante has been teaching at the school for seven years, dwarfed by Mr. Hanson’s 27; she likens their relationship to that of mentor-mentee. “When I first got here, he showed me the Townsend ropes. I learned a lot from him… whoever comes in next sure has big shoes to fill.” In a 1988 observational report, former Assistant Principal Bernice Horowitz wrote to the then new-

ly-appointed Mr. Hanson, “Your stance and good diet [have] made you a role model for many students and you have become an authority on many subjects.” Serving as the school’s Athletic Director for the past three years, Mr. Hanson’s res p on s i bil-

online disputes LEAD TO CLASS PAGE SHUT DOWN Olivia Chan and Kasey Wagner NEWS EDITOR & STAFF WRITER STUDENTS HAVE seen their fair share of arguments on Facebook. Whether the topic is feminism, police brutality, or racial profiling, current controversial issues find their way onto social media in heated debates and confrontations. Recently, the Class of 2017 Facebook page was shut down after a student reported a dispute getting out of hand to the administration. Though the page was reinstated with a posting policy, the incident left people questioning the role of the administration, rights concerning freedom of speech, and the level of respect in online arguments. The page erupted when a student posted a meme depicting a sliced sausage, captioned, “The Caitlyn Jenner Challenge.” Many soon voiced their discomfort with the photo and requested that it be taken down. Students questioned the relevance and propriety of such a joke on a Facebook page meant for academic purposes. Upperclassmen and soph-

omores alike began to argue over the issue of transgender men and women. The transphobic and offensive nature of some of the comments prompted the student administrator of the page to delete the post, which had totaled over 40 comments. Students were left wondering when it is necessary for faculty to intervene. “If the cyberbullying can be connected to members of the same school community and if it creates a negative or hostile environment, the school can/should address it,” DOE Special Assistant, Guidance and Social Counseling Danielle Ehsanipour remarked. “The DOE doesn’t routinely monitor social media. We get involved when a post or situation is brought to our attention by students, parents, and/or law enforcement.” Dean Robin Figelman further explained, “When a student comes forward with the information that’s posted on Facebook that offends

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ity has encompassed the supervision of the school’s involvement in PSAL. He administers all necessary policies and procedures, representing the school in “all matters related to athletics.” Since he started working at the school, Mr. Hanson has also been coach of the boys track and basketball teams, as well as the girls soccer team. “Although I only

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2 Summer 2015

THE CLASSIC

NEWS New Hall of Fame inductees honored Ekta Rana MANAGING EDITOR IN HONOR of the trigentennial anniversary of the school’s re-opening, the Townsend Harris Alumni Association inducted two former Editors-in-Chief of The Classic into the Hall of Fame. The first woman in the Hall, poet and psychologist Dr. Heather Nash, accepted the nomination with honor, along with New York Times reporter David Herszenhorn. Dr. Nash, a member of the Class of 1988, is currently the Site Director of Psychological Services and Training at North Central Bronx Hospital, part of the city’s Health and Hospitals Corporation. She is also an assistant professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. “Being the first woman inducted into the Hall of Fame is an honor which I feel so privileged to be given. I hold such deep, heartfelt respect for the incredibly talented alumni who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame before me, many of whom...I consider to be my personal heros,” said Dr. Nash. She expressed her gratitude and hopes that she also could be a role model for future THHS students. Former principal Dr. Malcolm Largmann was in attendance, as well as former English teacher and founding Classic advisor Sheryl Rubin, who introduced both inductees. Ms. Rubin mentioned Dr. Nash’s success in both of her fields of study was due to her “commitment to the power of language.” She remarked that Dr. Nash’s writing “evoked the sensitivity of expression so maturely for a ninth grader.” In her speech, Dr. Nash thanked Ms. Rubin, saying, “You communicated belief in me, the type of belief that made me reach for far more than I ever would have on my own. I carry in me a part of you, so you now have a place in the Hall with David and me.” Dr. Nash also shed some light on the founding of The Classic. She mentioned

that her father actually came up with the name from bumper stickers that read, “Townsend Harris: A Touch of the Classic.” Mr. Herszenhorn, a member of the Class of 1990, was the Editor-in-Chief of The Dartmouth and is now the New York Times correspondent in Moscow, covering Russia, Ukraine, Crimea, Caucasus, the Baltics, and Central Asia. He was also a Congressional Reporter for the Times based in Washington D.C. Reflecting on his time at THHS, Mr. Herszenhorn recounted how Dr. Nash, as his first Editor-in-Chief, helped shaped him by guiding the development of his journalistic skills. Mr. Herszenhorn reminisced on his time at THHS, noting, “Dr. Largmann will always be the most intimidating community member.” Mr. Herszenhorn recently traveled to Kiev to interview Petro Poroshenko, the Ukrainian president. He said the visit was “essentially the exact same journalistic exercise, but compared to going notebook in hand to the principal’s office, [a] piece of cake.” In addition to these nominations, the gathering gave alumni and faculty an opportunity to reunite and reflect on the years they spent making THHS what it is today. Dr. Largmann expressed his gratitude to the alumni and faculty, who “gathered once more to mark another milestone in the Townsend Harris story.” “It is the alumni, their legacy from every class, who from the beginning, have enriched our traditions,” he added, emphasizing the legacy we all share and must carry on as students and members of the THHS community. Dr. Largmann recalled the “colleagues and friends who also contributed to our legacy but have been gathered among the harvest of the years.” He spoke of the school’s commitment to

PHOTO BY KARI IOCOLANO

(Left to right) Dr. Nash, Mr. Herszenhorn, Mr. Slutzkin, Ms. Rubin, and Dr. Largmann

the few strong, defining morals. Several students, including THAA Co-President Craig Slutzkin, recalled Dr. Largmann’s belief that “We do not demand excellence; we simply expect it.” The ceremony also provided an opportunity for Mr. Slutzkin to announce the founding of the Vivek Shah Scholarship available to THHS students, funded by Class of 1990 graduate, Vivek Shah. Mr. Shah made the generous donation of $100,000 to the fund and mentioned that the school will work with the THAA to choose “a student who has excelled at the school and needs some financial assistance to be able to attend the college of their choosing.” “I gave the graduation keynote last year and was reminded of how influential Townsend Harris was in my life and wanted to give something back to the school community,” he said.

THAA Co-President Tanya Odom mentioned a documentary the THAA has been working on for three years on to display THHS’s history, calling on graduates from both the old and reestablished school to recount their high school years. “We’re very fortunate to be working with [award winning documentary producer] Jesse Ash from the Class of 2002, an alum who’s helping us make sure this is the best documentary it can be. We’ve posted videos on Facebook. They have been getting so much attention, [and] people [are] remembering what it was like to walk into classrooms with desks in the middle [or] to not have desks [at all],” she described. Mr. Slutzkin added, “The reason why we did this is clear - we wanted to preserve the memories of the school. I’ve often said that the Alumni Association is the guardian of the legacy of the school.”

Hafsah Khan to improve “Quality of Life”

NANCY YONE WINS AWARD

Poonam Dass NEWS EDITOR

By Jamie Rosen

SOCIAL SCIENCE Research student senior Hafsah Khan won first place in the WISE Quality of Life Competition for her research project, “Reducing Food Waste in NYC Public Schools through the Implementation of Composting Programs.” In affiliation with the Society fot the Preservation of the Earth (SPE) Club, Hafsah will begin a pilot composting program that will ultimately expand to other high schools in the city. Through the program, she hopes to reduce the amount of food waste that makes up landfills. This will help reduce the production of methane that is

Hafsah (Left), Radhika (Right)

harmful to both the environment and humans. In addition to winning first place for THHS, three seniors, Christopher E, Radhika Patel, and Jessy Chen, became semifinalists in the Quality of Life Competition. Radhika Patel and Jessy Chen received Borough

Leaders awards that were signed by the Borough President, Melinda Katz. “It was such a pleasure to be able to compete in a competition that was all about bettering our community which is what our school really stands for,” Hafsah said.

THE CLASSIC

Summer 2015

Meet the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of 2015 Delphine Zheng STAFF WRITER THE VALEDICTORIAN and Salutatorian of the Class of 2015 sat down with The Classic in an interview to reflect upon their past and look toward the future. Valedictorian Rebecca Duras and Salutatorian Saloni Vishwakar ma shared their thoughts below. Question: Who has taught you the most while you’ve been here? Rebecca: I’ve learned the most from my friends, who are so tough and taught me when to take a break. Saloni: Throughout my four years at Townsend Harris High School, many teachers have influenced me and graciously offered me their wisdom. There are many individuals who have pushed me to challenge myself. At times I thought classes were difficult, but those were the ones I learned the most from. Many people at Townsend Harris have believed in me and always offered their guidance. For that, I am truly grateful. Question: What TH HS survival advice would you give underclassmen? R: There’s a pretty big culture of negativity here at Townsend, and sometimes you can feel stupid for liking classes, reading outside of school, or not

PHOTO BY JUSTICE WILLIAMS

PHOTO BY PATRICK MENCHACA

Valedictorian Rebecca Duras (left) and Salutatorian Saloni Vishwakarma (right)

acting like you hate everything. Don’t spend your entire time worrying about looking stupid and miss out on learning interesting things or participating in Townsend activities because you think you’re going to be popular. Spoiler: we’re all nerds here. No one’s cool. No one’s popular. S: Townsend Harris offers so many activities - it’s very easy to get lost and be tempted by many of them. My biggest advice would be to understand your priorities, whether it is your academics, your athletics, or a specific activity. Once this is established, you can manage your time accordingly and successfully complete all that you wish to do. Also, remember that high school is meant to get

hectic, but if you’re not learning something and not having fun, you’re doing it wrong. Question: What is your best late-night-procrastination memory? R: I don’t procrastinate and I’ve never stayed up past 10:30 on a school night. Feel free to hate me.

up the work and decided to combine our parts in the morning... Since we also needed a physical decorated copy of our completed project, I remember stuffing my book bag with print outs, glue

sticks, scissors—anything artistic— [that] I could possibly find before school. We successfully glued everything in place just as the music had stopped playing in Latin class that morning.

FACTS

S: My best late-night procrastination memory would be working on my Latin collateral. The collateral was due the next day, and my group members and I began to search for the assignment requirements in true procrastination fashion at 10:00 pm the night before. After discussing the assignment, we divided

When things start heating up: the Facebook fight fallout > CONTINUED FROM PAGE % has proof of that, then we get involved. [The administrators] discuss as a group what the course of action would be. Most of the time, it’s pulling the kids into a room and notifying the parents about the inappropriate post on Facebook and how it affects other people.” Some students feel that the administration should be notified when arguments are blown out of proportion. “[The administration] should also be notified when someone becomes a scapegoat for the mess and is purposely targeted to redirect the issue,” sophomore Rheo Aguilar stated. “It counts as a form of cyberbullying and it can really hurt a person who merely tried to either stop the fighting or tried to get their point across.” Others believe that it is inappropriate for the administration to interfere with issues that occur off school grounds. “Facebook, I believe, is separate from school and it should be kept that way. School administrations are getting too nosy, trying to impose their discipline even in places

where they shouldn’t have that power,” junior Thomas Wong said. Questions regarding freedom of speech then arise. Some students believe that the faculty should not have the authority to hinder online activity. “I’m opposed to censoring students’ Facebook posts...It encourages students to stay ignorant and sheltered from what they disagree with instead of opening them up to new ideas,” stated sophomore Daniel Khaldarov. On the other hand, the right to freedom of speech may be seen as a defense for offensive comments. “It’s extremely tiring to hear the argument of ‘freedom of speech,’” Rheo expressed. “I understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinions. However, it is also an excuse for students to just attack whoever they please online and receive no consequences. People should be able to express themselves in a respectable way, rather than making jokes or being directly offensive in their Facebook posts.” These arguments over freedom of speech seem to only ex-

ist in front of a computer screen as online disputes fizzle out in school. Many students see the Internet as a mask, and an impassioned online commenter may be silent or seemingly apathetic offline. With the transience of contentions over controversial issues, people question the effectiveness and productiveness of using social media as a public forum for debate. Sophomore Clarisse Tam

added, “If you truly feel like speaking your mind, at least have the courtesy to do your research in the topic first, rather than basing all your argument on just opinion or baseless information.” However, social media enables the presentation of an amalgam of different perspectives that may not typically be heard by the public ear. “I think it’s great that students get a medium to

not only express their opinions, but [also] be exposed to that of their peers as well,” junior Yaseen Mohamed shared. Thomas added, “sometimes meaning can be lost on a computer screen and more misunderstandings could be created... They shouldn’t be punished for immature things they post, but they should learn to watch what they post and how it could affect others.”

Artwork by Anna Cheng

4 Summer 2015

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THE CLASSIC

Educators have due dates of their own Ilyssa Delos Reyes STAFF WRITER For both new parents and those who are expecting a second or third time, the obstacles that come with being a parent and a teacher can become a burden. The Department of Education (UFT) allows up to twelve weeks of paid or unpaid leave under the Federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for mothers. FMLA ensures that employers do not fire mothers who take 12 weeks off following a birth, but it does not require employers to pay those mothers. The DOE allows mothers to use excess sick days during those 12 weeks in order to ensure that they get paid; if they do not have excess sick days then the 12 weeks off are unpaid. Many teachers with newborn babies feel that these days are not enough and ideally, more than 12 weeks are necessary in order to ensure postpartum health and to establish a new routine. Science teacher Shi Bing Shen, who has three children, outlined her plan of action and how it worked under the DOE guidelines. She stated, “I took off 12 weeks for my first child and 6 for the second one. As a public school teacher and a member of the UFT, we are allowed [12] weeks of unpaid leave if it was a natural birth. You will have to apply for [coverage] if you need additional time.” Sometimes these applications consist of

medical forms and contracts that can be lengthy and time consuming. She continued, “It was hard coming back to work since

this year. She agreed with Ms. Shen and commented, “My husband and I are very fortunate that we have supportive parents

and tests that need to be graded are pushed further back in their schedules. Ms. Shen said, “I usually get to work on my school

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHI BING SHEN

Ms. Shen poses with her two daughters and husband.

I breastfed my child. Working and being a new mother don’t always work well.” Ms. Shen stressed the importance of having the support of her family in order to successfully balance her duties as a mother and educator. She said, “I was lucky enough to have family help in the beginning which made things a bit easier for me.” English teacher Katherine Yan is expecting her first baby

who are willing to babysit and assist in any way they can.” Despite the offered help from her family, Ms. Yan still found it difficult to work throughout the school year whilst pregnant. She explained, “I have to use my time efficiently and get as much done when I’m in school so that I take less work home with me.” At home, these mothers need to give their full attention to their child. Thus, papers

stuff when my kids go to bed.” Math teacher Sarah Liu, who has a two year old daughter, faces the challenge of working with a small child. In order to get work done, Ms. Liu explained that she has to evade her daughter’s sight. She said, “I have to hide from her… I either stay at school late or go to my sister’s house and grade papers.” The respon sibi l it ies of

parenthood do not end after the 12 week paid leave. Teachers must make further sacrifices in order to manage both their professional and family lives. English teacher Jessica Stillman and her spouse are both teachers. As teachers, she explained that they both “seem to have events going on at the same time so we have to manage who gets to go to certain things.” Ms. Shen concurred and explained that she missed out on many of her children’s school trips and activities. Despite conflicting schedules, she affirmed “for big events such as graduation, I will make sure [that] I am there for my children.” For Math teacher Timothy Connor who has two young children, scheduling is not a problem. “I wouldn’t say my job has any more [scheduling conflicts] than if I worked in the corporate world.” On the contrary, Ms. Yan admitted, “I worry that I will struggle balancing work with family. Soon there will be a little guy depending on me, and I want to be an involved mother, but I do not want to compromise my professional life.” Ms. Stillman jokingly added, “There are really too many fears to list...I would end up taking up all 24 pages of The Classic.”

Participatory Democracy students win at C-SPAN Vickie Savvides STAFF WRITER T WO TEAMS in M r. Wood’s Par t icipator y Democracy class received honorable mention awards and $250 for their success in C-SPAN’s 2015 Student Documentary Competition. On June 12, representatives from the Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network (C-SPAN) came to Townsend to present the awards to these teams and showcase their interactive displays. This is the second year that THHS students have participated in the competition and the second time that two teams have placed. Student Cam, an annual and national competition created by C-SPAN, “encourages students to think critically about issues that affect our communities and our nation” through the creation of documentaries. The 2015 documentary required students to tell a story “that demonstrates how a policy, law, or action by either the executive, legislative, or judicial

branch has affected [them] or [their] community.” Overall, C-SPAN received 2,280 documentaries, with submissions from 45 states as well as Taiwan. Prizes were awarded only to 150 videos, two of which were created by Harrisites. Seniors A lan L ee, Kari Iocolano, and Nadia Ali won the award for their documentary entitled “Nation of Immigrants.” The idea for the project came from the fact that the group members and many of the students in the THHS community are the children of immigrants. “[We] ended up making a documentary on the struggle to come to this country legally because of long waiting times and possible solutions to that problem,” Alan said. The other team consisted of seniors Elijah Betts and Elizabeth Tum, who received an award for their documentary entitled “TransValue Obamacare.” “Since the prompt was about how a law or ruling has affecting us or our community, I really wanted to focus on a community that I was a part of,” Elijah said.

PHOTO BY REBEKAH JONES

(From the left) Seniors Nadia Ali, Kari Iocolano, Alan Lee, Elizabeth Tum, and Elijah Betts

“Once [we figured that out, we] decided to explore how Obamacare affects transgender people,” he said. Elizabeth explained that she and Eli chose the topic because “LGBT rights have really progressed over the years, but not a lot of people focus on

transgender rights.” She further elaborated, saying, “When a law is passed, we don’t always get to see the positive and negative effects firsthand,” emphasizing the necessity of awareness. According to Alan, the ceremony was an “honor” for the

participants and for Mr. Wood, who was pleased with this year’s outcome. Mr. Wood commented, “To be able to address an important topic in an engaging way is in no way easy. However, it wasn’t a challenge for Townsend Harris students.”

THE CLASSIC

Summer 2015

Mr. Zahn begins a new chapter Raya Kazdan STAFF WRITER JEFFREY ZAHN, Townsend Harris High School’s librarian, is retiring this year after 10 years of serving the school. Alongside Maxine Kupersmith, Mr. Zahn has worked every day to help students navigate through the collections of literature and information at the THHS library on the third floor. His job entails purchasing books, taking inventory, teaching lessons for collaterals, conducting a variety of research, and planning summer reading lists for students. Mr. Zahn is retiring because he has reached the age where he feels retirement is the right choice. He said, “I’m old. I’ve been working 37 years.” After his retirement, he plans to move upstate, possibly continuing work as a librarian. During his time as librarian, a few significant changes have occurred in the library. Among them is a catalogue, which students can view in school and at home. One of Mr. Zahn’s main responsibilities as librarian is to keep order in the library.

PHOTO BY RENAENIA PANGAN

Mr. Zahn retires after 37 years of working.

Sophomore Carolina Lara comments, “I think what sticks out the most [about Mr. Zahn] is how much effort and time he puts in to make sure the library is up to his standards.” She continued, “Without someone there in the library, I feel like it wouldn’t be the same place we rely on.” Junior Nadia Khan agrees, adding, “ It’s hard to imagine [Mr. Zahn] not there.” Mr. Zahn mentioned that he will miss intellectual conversations with many students and staff. He loves that “the few students that [he] met that were so intellectually curious they would have discussions with [him],” as

well as “meeting some faculty [he] thought were very intellectually engaged with new and innovative ways of thinking.” The st udent s wi l l a l so greatly miss Mr. Zahn. Carolina explained, “No one realizes it’s the librarians like Mr. Zahn who keep it all running.” Looking towards the future for the library, Mr. Zahn commented, “I hope they don’t deemphasize the importance of the book; I hope they will re-emphasize the importance of going to the actual texts.” As of now, staff are not yet sure who will replace Mr. Zahn next year.

Ms. Pizzichillo retires after a decade in the principal’s office Poonam Dass NEWS EDITOR

Ms. Pizzichillo retires after a 25-year career.

AFTER TEN years of working alongside eight different principals in her 25 year career span, secretary Teresa Pizzichillo is retiring. She began working at THHS in September 2005 and considers herself very lucky, stating, “I accidently put myself in excess by filling out a job preference sheet, and I was placed here at Townsend Harris High School.” Pizzichillo has presided over a position that has evolved to one where the secretary has become more of a liaison between the school and the communit y rather than performing strictly secretarial duties. Her position focuses on creating a welcoming

environment for parents and school community by working with the principal, school leadership team, parent associations and community groups. Principal Barbetta claimed, “She was always dedicated to the students and staff. She helps the school run smoothly from helping to coordinate AP exams to the music program in the school.” He added that she she made his transition to THHS “seamless.” Ms. Pizzichillo considers herself to be blessed in her present life. “I can honestly say that although totally different in personality, each [principal] taught me something valuable,” she said,

PHOTO BY YASH SHARMA

describing a host of different personalities from the principals she worked with over the years. She considers Mr. Barbetta to be fair, friendly and family-oriented and mentioned, “thanks to him, my last three years of employment have been wonderful.” As for the future, she mentioned that she doesn’t like having plans and is going to “take each day as it comes.” “I know that I love to cook, garden, and treasure hunt, but I’ll now have time to uncover some hidden talents. I am most looking forward to devoting more time to my family, especially my new granddaughter,” she said.

Mr. Hanson reflects on his long career > CONTINUED FROM PAGE % knew him for the two years I was here, he was very welcoming,” commented boys track captain junior Abdoulaye Diallo. “I remember being ineligible to run because I was a transfer student and he got me matriculated back into PSAL in the very first two weeks of school. He genuinely cares for his students and his athletes.” A multitude of student anecdotes illustrate this concept. “[Mr. Hanson] was talking about this idea that if we try our hardest when we work out, we could learn to try our hardest when we do anything,” said freshman Zorana Dragasevic. “He told us, ‘if you tried your best at being a person, imagine how good you could be?’ I think that’s the day when I realized that the gruesome two mile runs were much more than sweat-pouring struggles and that Mr. Hanson is more than just a gym teacher.” “At the Sports Award dinner, there was such a positive vibe there of students who

truly loved fitness and athletic activity,” Assistant Principal of Organization, Health, and Physical Education Helen Fee commented. “When Mr. Barbetta announced Mr. Hanson’s retirement, the students all gave him a huge round of applause and there were many tearful hugs and [words of] thanks. Mr. Hanson’s passion for working hard and working to [one’s] potential will never be forgotten.” Mr. Hanson plans to revive his other business as a public speaker of physical fitness and nutrition in his retirement. He also plans to spend more time with his recently-born grandson. “I’ve spent almost half my life here, so I will miss it,” Mr. Hanson concluded. “I will miss it, I will miss the kids more than anything…there’s nothing more fulfilling than getting kids to like working hard. To have that sense of accomplishment. That’s something they’ll continue for the rest of their lives.”

HANSON STORIES

8 Summer 2015 Name

College

ABBARIAO, CARLOS ABEDIN, SAMIA

Class of 2015

THE CLASSIC

State

GEIER, STEPHANIE

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

GIBBS, NIAMANI

The Institute of Culinary Education

Columbia University

GILHEANY, MICHAEL

State University of New York at Albany

ABOUELSAAD, CLARA

St. John's University - Queens Campus

GILL, DURELL

Northwestern University

ACOSTA, CARINA

St. John's University - Queens Campus

GLEIZER, NICOLE

Binghamton University

New York University

AFROOZ, MONISHA

Cornell University

GOMEZ, NATALIE

AHMED, MIRZA

State University of New York at New Paltz

GOZDYRA, GABRIELLE

University of Connecticut

AHMED, NUSHRAT

Adelphi University

GRAY-COWANS, CIENAH

Kingsborough Community College of the CUNY

AHMED, OTHRIA

Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education of the CUNY

HA, ELIZABETH

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

AHMED, SAAD

City College of New York CUNY

HABIBA, UMMAY

Fordham University - Lincoln Center Campus

AHMED, SYEDA

Lafayette College

HAN, JOANNE

New York University

ALI, AISHA

City College of the CUNY

HANIF, SARRIYAH

Binghamton University

Brooklyn College of the CUNY

ALI, NADIA

Baruch College of the CUNY

HAQUE, TASNIMA

ALLEN, ASHANAY

Hunter College of the CUNY

HARCHARAN, STANLEY

New York University

ALLRED, JADA

Hunter College of the CUNY

HO, IAN

Drexel University

ANANT, PARBATTIE

New York University

HONG, CALEB

Stony Brook University

State University of New York at New Paltz

ARMATAS, EVAGELOS

State University of New York at Buffalo

HOSSAIN, FAISAL

AVUTHU, SINDHU PAVANI

New York University

HUA, ANDY

Binghamton University

Stony Brook University

AZIM, SHAHRIN

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

HUI, ANGELA

BANIK, PRITCHI

Baruch College of the CUNY

IM, JOICE

Binghamton University

IOCOLANO, KARI

Stony Brook University

IPEK, ARTHUR

Binghamton University

IQBAL, IBNAT

Baruch College of the CUNY

IQBAL, SARAH

Sarah Lawrence College

JACOB, JENNIFER

Drexel University

JANG, HANNAH

New York University

JANG, YEJU

Baruch College of the CUNY

JAROSS, AUSTIN

Goucher College

JASWAL, INDERDEEP

Stony Brook University

JEN, SOPHIA

St. John's University - Queens Campus

JEON, HYE MI

New York University

JI, MARY

Cornell University

JIANG, EVA

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

JIANG, KEVIN

Carnegie Mellon University

BANKS, JANAIYA

Dickinson College

BARROS, NICOLE

John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the CUNY

BEGAJ, XHESIKA

Brown University

BENHAIM, HILA

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

BENNETT, CHARLIE

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

BERCHANSKY, MICHAEL

Brandeis University

BERI, AAYUSH

Cornell University

BETTS, ELIJAH

Towson University

BHARAT, RICHARD

St. John's University - Queens Campus

BILLAH, MAHIRAH

St. John's University - Queens Campus

BISCARDI, DYLAN

State University of New York at Albany

BODETA, JAMES

Baruch College of the CUNY

BRANNON, ANAYA

State University of New York -Purchase College

BUCWINSKA, WERONIKA

Boston University

CHABIN, RACHEL

Stony Brook University

JIN, JEANNE

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

CHAN, CAMILLE

Cornell University

JOHNSON, TAYLOR

State University of New York - Purchase College

Stony Brook University

CHAN, DEBRA

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

JUN, JULIA

CHANDRA, RAHUL

Stony Brook University

KABLAR, JENNIE

State University of New York at Albany

New York University

CHANG, CLAUDIA

Stony Brook University

KAEWKRAJANG, PARINA

CHEBLI, ALI

New York University

KAMAL, LAMIYAH

Hofstra University

Fordham University - Lincoln Center Campus

CHEN, DAVID

St. John's University - Queens Campus

KAPSE, SHAUNAK

CHEN, EMILY

Georgia Institute of Technology

KATZ, JACKLYNN

Queens College of the CUNY

McGill University

Canada

CHEN, JENNER

The New School - Eugene Lang College

KATZ, RUSSELL

CHEN, JESSY

Baruch College of the CUNY

KAUR, ABINASH

Adelphi University

CHEN. NEIL

Columbia University

KAUR, KIRANDEEP

CHEN, YVONNE

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

KAUR, PAWANPREET

Hunter College of the CUNY

CHENG, BRIAN

Rochester Institute of Technology

KESTELMAN, EIAL

State University of New York - Purchase College

CHENG, NICHOLAS

State University of New York - Maritime College

KHAN, HAFSAH

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

New York University

CHIN, SHARON

Babson College

KHAN, MUSFERA

CHO, ASHLEY

Hunter College of the CUNY

KHAN, RAYMOND

John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the CUNY

Williams College

CHOI, GENE

Fordham University - Lincoln Center Campus

KIM, ANNA

CHOI, STAN

New York University

KIM, PHILLIP

Fordham University - Lincoln Center Campus

State University of New York - Old Westbury

CHOUDHURY, LABIBA

Hunter College of the CUNY

KING, BRIAN

CHOWDHURY, ASMAAUL

Georgetown University

KLUZINSKI, GABRIELA

University of Notre Dame

CHU, VINCENT

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

KOBILIC, ANELA

Baruch College of the CUNY

CHUA, FERWINA

Baruch College of the CUNY

KOCHUPURACKAL, ANN

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

CHUNASAMY, RAVEENA

Marist College

KOLI, ZAINAB

Fashion Institute of Technology

Adelphi University

CIMAGALA, ROSS

Wheaton College

KONDRACKA, URSZULA

CINTRON, GABRIELLE

Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education of the CUNY

KONG, MANDY

New York University

Fordham University - Lincoln Center Campus

CIRULNICK, EMILY

Binghamton University

KOZAKA, MAREK

COUR, KRISTIN

Mount Holyoke College

KRAWCZYK, ROXANNE

University of Rhode Island

Binghamton University

DAVYDOV, ROBERT

University of California, Los Angeles

LANGE, KRISTEN

DEL CID CARRANZA, TANIA

Hunter College of the CUNY

LAROUI, AYOUB

State University of New York at Albany

Stony Brook University

DONG, NANA

New York University

LAU, ANDY

DURAS, REBECCA

Middlebury College

LEE, ALAN

New York University

DZHANOVA, YELENA

Baruch College of the CUNY

LEE, AMANDA

Babson College

E, CHRISTOPHER

Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art

LEE, GAVIN

Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art

EBBRECHT, SARAH

St. John's University - Queens Campus

LEE, HILARY

New York University

ELHACHIMI, SARAH

Cornell University

LEE, JENNY

Baruch College of the CUNY

ESCORZA, YESSICA

Hunter College of the CUNY

LEE, TIFFANY

New York University

FARIA, SHAMILAH

Stony Brook University

LEE, YARIM

Columbia University

LEEDS, NINA

Syracuse University

Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education of the CUNY

FILOPOULOS, ZOE

City College of New York CUNY

FINLATER, KADEEM

Binghamton University

LEREBOURS, ALONDRA

FRACZEK, PAULA

Cornell University

LEWIS, ROXANNE

New York University

FRANCIS, RYTHIKA

Cornell University

LI, ELAINE

FUNG, JAMIE

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

LI, JENNY

Baruch College of the CUNY

LI, REBECCA

Cornell University

LI, SHI

Baruch College of the CUNY

FUTERMAN, BRIANNE

Georgetown University

College Decisions

THE CLASSIC

Summer 2015

LI, STANLEY

Villanova University

SHAMALOVA, DANIELLA

St. John's University - Queens Campus

LIM, LUCY

New York University

SHARAK, SHABEENA

Hofstra University

LIM, JANINE

Marist College

SHARMA, YASH

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

LIN, SAMANTHA

Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education of the CUNY

SHEK, KAREN

Cornell University

LIN, SHIRLEY

Harvard University

SHI, REBECCA

New York University

LOZADA, LILIA-CELINE

University of Pennsylvania

SHIN, JUN WOO

New York University

LUCIANO, ALEXA

Ithaca College

SHIN, MICHELLE

Cornell University

LY, KATHERINE

Ithaca College

SHIN, SONIA

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

MAHARJAN, MONICA

Hunter College of the CUNY

SHKEMBI, STIVEN

Hunter College of the CUNY

MAHMOOD, MAHAM

Adelphi University

SINGH, ATINDERPAL

Adelphi University

MAJSTOROVIC, MILAN

Binghamton University

SINGH, SHAVANA

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

MANCINI, EVAN

McGill University

Canada

SINGH, YOUGEETA

Hofstra University

MANSELL, AERIELL

City College of New York CUNY

SOMMA, JULIANNA

University of Delaware

MANTILLA DIAZ, GRETA

City College of New York CUNY

SONG, SARAH

Villanova University

MARISCAL, GERALD

Adelphi University

SOOKAI, VIJAY

New York University

MARSHALL, CHRISTINA

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

STERGIOU, ARIANA

Stony Brook University

MASHRIQI, KARIMA

St. John's University - Queens Campus

SU, KAREN

Wellesley College

MASTELLOS, ANGELICA

Hofstra University

SUE, CHRISTINA

Princeton University

MAYER, JOSEPH

Hunter College of the CUNY

SULTANA, LINA

State University of New York at Buffalo

MEJIA, STEPHANIE

Binghamton University

SUN, IAN

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

MERO, MARITZA

University of Scranton

SZEWCZYK, DANIEL

New York Institute of Technology

METTELA, SWATHI

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

TAASEEN, SADIQA

Brooklyn College of the CUNY

MGBEOJIRIKWE, JESSICA

Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education of the CUNY

TAMIM, TASNUVA

New York University

MISRA, PARVI

Fordham University - Lincoln Center Campus

TANWAR, KUNAL

New York University

MOK, CHLOE

St. John's University - Queens Campus

TASNIM, FARIA

City College of the CUNY

MOODY, DIAMOND

Carnegie Mellon University

TAVAREZ, DAYANA

Brown University

MORA, DIANA

New York University

TEKIN, JANE

Williams College

MOULTRIE, TAMARA

Baruch College of the CUNY

TEOH, JACKY

New York University

State University of New York - Old Westbury

NASIB, DAJA

Stevenson University

THORNHILL, MICHAEL

NEWMAN, KIMBERLY

Ithaca College

TRAN, AMANDA

Stony Brook University

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

NG, CATHERINE

Hunter College of the CUNY

TRUNCALI, MARCELLA

NICOLAZZI, FRANK

Binghamton University

TUNG, ALEX

Baruch College of the CUNY

NIEH, JASON

Baruch College of the CUNY

ULLAH, ASHIF

New York University

NIKAJ, JOZEF

St. John's University - Queens Campus

URGILEZ, JENNIFER

New York University

NITTOLO, ETHAN

State University of New York at Buffalo

VALKAI, SUSAN

University of Vermont

NIZAM, FARIHA

Hunter College of the CUNY

VENKATA, HEMA

Wellesley College

NOBLESALA, EMMA

Ithaca College

VISHWAKARMA, SALONI

Harvard University

OOI, ZACHARIAH

University of Chicago

WADOLOWSKI, PATRYK

Fordham University - Lincoln Center Campus

PALMA, ANDREW

St. John's University - Queens Campus

WAGNER, KASEY

St. John's University - Queens Campus

PARIKH, ROMIL

Boston College

WAHAN, SIMRANKAUR

Columbia University

PARK, VIOLET

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

WALSH, JENNIFER

Ithaca College

PATEL, RADHIKA

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

WANG, AUSTIN

Columbia University

PATEL, SAGAR

Stony Brook University

WANG, CHRISTINA

New York University

PATEL, SNEHA

Hunter College of the CUNY

WANG, EVAN

Drexel University

PAZHAYAMPALLIL, JAN

City College of New York CUNY

WANG, JASMINE

Hunter College of the CUNY

PERDIK, DIMITRI

New York University

WANG, ALICE

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

PEREZ, RACHEL

Skidmore College

WARCHOL, ANDZELIKA

School of Visual Arts

PERSAUD, MOMENA

St. John's University - Queens Campus

WARCHOL, BEATA

School of Visual Arts

PETSIOS, HARRY

New York University

WATSON, ALYSSA

Cornell University

PHILLS, NIJAH

Drexel University

WESTON, EMILY

Lehigh University

PINKETT, SAMANTHA

University of Maryland, College Park

PORTNOY, IGOR

Syracuse University

WILLIAMS, RENEA

George Washington University

PRASAD, ABIEDA

St. John's University - Queens Campus

WILSON, KACIA

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

WOLFF, HALLIE

Brown University

QURESHI, ZOYA

Stony Brook University

RAHMAN, MINHAJ

Middlebury College

WONG, JUSTIN

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

RAMIREZ, NATALIA

New York University

WONG, MELANIE

Fashion Institute of Technology

RAMPERSAD, ABYGAIL

Baruch College of the CUNY

WONG, MICHELLE

Binghamton University

RAMSAYWACK, RHEA

Hunter College of the CUNY

WU, KATIE

Brown University

RASIC, ENA

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

WU, MENDY

Stony Brook University

REDDY, ABRIANNA

Webb Institute

XIE, KRISTI

Stony Brook University

ROBINSON, ERIN

American University

YAN, AMANDA

Brown University

ROCHYADI, EMYLIA

Baruch College of the CUNY

RODNEY, KIMBERLY

Columbia University

YANG, EILEEN

Boston University

SADH, MANSHA

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

YEH, STEPHANIE

Binghamton University

YEUNG, WILSON

University of Pennsylvania

YI, WOO JUNG

University of Michigan

SAJDERA, ALEKSANDRA

Fordham University - Lincoln Center Campus

SALVATORE, RAINA

State University of New York at Geneseo

SANJIV, AHALYA

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

YI, YE NI

New York University

SANTO, ASHTON

Hunter College of the CUNY

YU, SABRINA

Baruch College of the CUNY

SARABIA, DANIEL

Adelphi University

ZHANG, BRENDA

New York University

SARDINA, ELENI

Yonsei University-Underwood

South

ZHENG, JANET

Baruch College of the CUNY

ZHENG, KELLY

St. John's University - Queens Campus

ZHU, SANDY

Stony Brook University

ZILJKIC, MERALDINA

Hunter College of the CUNY

ZYGADLO, GABRIELA

Baruch College of the CUNY

Korea SAVVIDES, VICKIE

CUNY-Macaulay Honors College

SAYROO, DRUSHANIE

York College of the CUNY

SCHNEIDER, KEVIN T

St. John's University - Queens Campus

SCHWEIGER, MICHELLE

Baruch College of the CUNY

SEKHERY, BISMA

St. John's University - Queens Campus

SHAHAB, MARYAM

Brooklyn College of the CUNY

SHAKUR, SARAH

York College of the CUNY

10 Summer 2015

THE CLASSIC

THE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF/MANAGING EDITORS/ART

Parting words from departing editors: Keep it Classic Harry Petsios, Christina Wang, Amanda Yan, Stephanie Geier, and Nina Leeds EDITORS-IN-CHIEF, MANAGING EDITORS, & LAYOUT EDITOR

PHOTO BY ADAM SOSNICKI

N THE past year, more so than ever before, The Classic has evolved into what many consider to be the finest and most respected student newspaper in New York City. It’s been an honor to serve at its helm and to watch such a vibrant, involved, and ground-breaking publication grow. This year, The Classic became the first publication to win the Dow Jones awards for both “Best Overall Print Newspaper” and “Best Overall News Site” at the citywide Newsies! awards. This level of achievement is constantly reflected in The Classic in May, Editorin-Chief Jason Lalljee broke news, reporting first on crucial changes to DOE sex education policies. Our layout has also been stronger than ever. With an expanded Journalism curriculum, we have published more than ever both in-print through the creation of The Classic Magazine, and online through our many new social

NEWS, FEATURES, & SPORTS Rachel Chabin, Eleni Sardini, Sarah Iqbal, Hallie Wolff, Ann Kochupurackal

media outlets. In retrospect, late hours spent in the Clave editing articles, doing layout and debating editorial ideas have been worth it. None of this could have been possible without our hardworking staff, without whose constant effort there would be no newspaper. Each member has dedicated an immense amount of time to conducting interviews, perfecting articles, coming up with interesting topics to write about, and coming to meetings. We would also like to thank the entire Townsend Harris High School faculty, who are all so willing to be interviewed and help us when we need it, especially Mr. Olechowski, Ms. Fee and Mr. Barbetta. And of course, we thank the students of THHS for forming the reading base of the newspaper and for being such an involved, opinionated community. Finally we have to thank our fantastic advisor, Mr.

Sweeney, without whom there is no way we would be here today. Whether it is making sure that everything is in order, entertaining us with anecdotes, analyzing our favorite movies or books to make us reconsider them entirely, helping us fundraise so that we can continue to expand, travelling with us all over the country, or making us jealous with his soup, Mr. Sweeney was always there with us and has gone far beyond his job description. Thank you, Mr. Sweeney, for always treating us as equals and inspiring us to do more than we ever thought possible. We are confident that the newspaper is going to be in good hands; next year’s staffmembers have already been doing great work and possess the curiosity and determination to report the facts, gather opinions, and of course, always push boundaries.

PHOTOGRAPHY & COPYEDITING Kari Iocolano, Yash Sharma, Simrankaur Wahan, & Evan Mancini

A&E, ONLINE, & OPINION Jennifer Walsh, Frankie Nicolazzi, & Zac Ooi

PHOTO BY ADAM SOSNICKI

PHOTO COURTESY OF KARI IOCOLANO

PHOTO BY ADAM SOSNICKI

UST A year ago, none of us had any experience with editing a school newspaper. In this past year, we’ve had the opportunity to become more involved and have shaped The Classic into what it is now. We thank our previous editors and our editors-in-chief, Stephanie Geier and Amanda Yan, for setting such a strong precedent. Our last-minute scrambles up and down six flights of stairs, coupled with late-night editing sessions, have made for some memorable moments. Thank you to the entire Classic editorial team for bringing out the best in us and becoming a second family to us this year. Our sections couldn’t exist without the tireless efforts of our writers, so we want to thank them for giving the paper their best work. Working with them has taught us how to collaborate with a staff and create a strong finished product every month. Particularly since our sophomore year here at Townsend Harris, The Classic has continued to expand and grow exponentially, and we’ve appreciated the chance to help it improve even more. Much of that growth is thanks to the invaluable leadership of Mr. Sweeney, who always pushes us to make the paper better than we thought possible. Finally, we want to wish our successors the best of luck in the coming year. We’ve already seen how talented you are, and we know the paper will only get better from here.

PHOTO COURTESTY OF JENNIFER WALSH

e are thankful to The Classic for giving us an opportunity to showcase our talents, whether it is photography, art, or polishing writing pieces. As the editors of photography, we’ve honed our own craft, as well as having been given the privilege of showcasing students and teachers at their best; starting the Humans of Townsend Harris page, for instance, has been a rewarding enterprise. Between that, the newspaper, the magazine, the website, and student Facebook pages, it’s been our pleasure to help record and capture the THHS experience as a whole. As Copyeditors, it has been our additional privilege to make the articles of this award-winning, widely-read publication the best they could be and to bring out the professionalism and hard work that the writers put in. We have managed to improve upon the writing of others as well as our own; the skills we learned from fact-checking and doing research will undoubtedly accompany us into whatever career path we pursue in the future. We advise the future Photography Editors of The Classic to be passionate about capturing the true of spirit of THHS in everything they do. We likewise advise the future Copyeditors to remember that having an eye for detail is a valuable trait.

hough our three departments may seem very different, we all have one thing in common: we like to argue. The three of us have published quite a few opinion pieces, reviews and editorials over the past three years, and are grateful to The Classic for giving us the opportunity to express ourselves and communicate openly with the Townsend Harris community. Working on this paper has made us better writers and editors, but also smarter, funnier, better people thanks to our fantastic co-editors and advisor. We could write novels about how much we love them all, but we are journalists and will be concise. Jason and Zion deserve special shoutouts for being awesome department co-editors for A&E and Opinion, respectively, and both are going to continue to publish phenomenal (and hopefully punny) work next year along with the next generation of editors. This newspaper has earned us awards and given us a place to spend our free bands, but more importantly, it’s given us a family, and we wish the same for next year’s editorial team. We’d also like to thank Mr. Sweeney for his constant support and excellent television recommendations. We borrow our parting advice from the words of our favorite anchorman: Stay classy, THHS.

THE CLASSIC

Summer 2015

The Classic

EST. 1984

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 of the student body as a whole.

EDITORIAL STAFF

EDITORIAL

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Sumaita Hasan Jason Lalljee NEWS EDITORS Olivia Chan Poonam Dass

SPORTS EDITORS Evan Noblesala Noah Silversmith

FEATURES EDITORS Jillissa Drayton Rebecca Kwon

SCIENCE & TECH Eunice Baik Emily Lei

OPINION EDITORS Angelina Liu Zion Kim

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS Adam Sosnicki Melissa Wong

A&E EDITORS Hailey Lam Julliette Paul COPY EDITOR Jesal Parmar MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Rebekah Jones PHOTO BY ADAM SOSNICKI

Mr. Hanson poses with one of his classes.

Reflections on the Age of Hanson at THHS Upon entering Townsend Harris, students are bombarded with horrifying tales about physical education, especially tales about the intimidating Mr. Hanson. Students who have had Mr. Hanson recount running endless miles, and doing countless pushups, sit-ups, and squats; alumni still have nightmares about the dreaded “Plyometric Fridays.” Rumors circulate on THHS forums about how “Hanson can’t touch his shoulders because his muscles are too large.” The classic “my grandmother walks faster than you can run” is ingrained into the minds of many; softspoken criticisms are not in his vocabulary. Despite all this, students can agree that, in addition to fear, Mr. Hanson has inspired confidence and motivation within the student body—a motivation that applies not only to health and fitness, but also to obstacles students must be prepared to deal with in life. With his retirement, Mr. Hanson leaves behind one of the most colorful, prominent legacies in THHS history; his portrayal has become a staple of the Founders’ Day skits and having him as a teacher has become an integral part of the THHS experience. A prime example for physical health educators, he preached and practiced the importance of staying fit in

a world that has become increasingly apathetic to physical health. Many have the capability to reach their physical peaks during their teenage years—Mr. Hanson has not only helped us realize that we can and should push ourselves to this level, but he has also instilled healthy habits that many of us will continue to practice for the rest of our lives.

jority of students in other high schools fall prey to unhealthy habits, adding to the rise in childhood obesity. THHS is indebted to Mr. Hanson for keeping our school from being like the others. A class with Mr. Hanson can change lives. Mr. Hanson not only taught students how to be healthy within their tenure at THHS, but how to be healthy for life. His intensive health class made students more knowledgeable about nutrition and more aware of how the decisions they make affect their bodies. Students should be grateful to have had the rare opportunity of being exposed to these healthy ideals from someone so passionate about them— something students from other schools may not have experienced. We have grown to admire Mr. Hanson, even to revere him, as he seems to transcend the capabilities of most ordinary people (you’d be surprised at how many pushups he can do on a basketball). He has left a mark on all who had him as a teacher and left an even larger shirt to fill (stretched out by his bulging muscles). He may be leaving THHS, but he will never really leave us. Thank you, Mr. Hanson, for everything that you have done.

“He preached and practiced the importance of staying fit in a world that has become increasingly apathetic to physical health.” In this day and age, teaching these habits is not an easy feat. Mr. Hanson takes a physed class full of teenage couch potatoes glued to phones all day and whips them into shape. For most, the Queens College track is the place where they ran their first mile for Freshman Gym; then eventually two and even three miles. Proper exercise is often neglected as part of a rigorous physical education in many schools, and as a result the ma-

COPY TEAM: Ilyssa Delos Reyes, Teresa Mettela, Mohima Sattar, Sandhya Sewnauth LAYOUT TEAM: Kathy Chang, Tara Jackson, Marie Kessel

MANAGING EDITORS Mehrose Ahmed Ekta Rana ADVISOR Brian Sweeney We welcome letters to the editor. Townsend Harris High School 149-11 Melbourne Avenue Flushing, NY 11367 thhsclassic@gmail.com

The Classic reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and concision.

COMING SOON

Volume 32 of The Classic will launch in September 2015. Send ideas for next year’s coverage over the summer. FEEDBACK

Have an opinion on an article published in The Classic? Want to have your thoughts on a topic published? Write a “Letter to the Editor” and email it to thhsclassic@gmail.com.

12 Summer 2015

THE CLASSIC

OPINION

PAGE TWO

Lacking in Facebook debates: empathy Stephanie Geier and Jennifer Walsh EDITORS, 2013-2015 RECENTLY, THE Townsend Harris administration shut down the Class of 2017 Facebook page due to heated online disputes between Harrisites over transgender issues. Though our students are known for being educated about differences amongst our school population and for fostering a safe environment for everyone, many posted comments that were highly offensive and surprisingly dismissive considering the sensitive nature of the topic. This isn’t the first time arguments have broken out between students on Facebook—there have also been heated ones about feminism and police brutality, both of which had their share of controversial posts. However, what set this instance apart was that the posts were more likely to emotionally harm a smaller community, including people some of usknow. These posts dehumanized transgender individuals, and the students behind them didn’t stop to consider the harmful effects of such crass comments on some. Although the issues transgender people face are being acknowledged more thanks to celebrities like Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner, and television shows like Transparent and Orange is the New Black, transphobia still seems to be a rampant problem. Many people seek to delegitimize the identities

of transgender individuals and do not educate themselves about what being transgender really means. Even if the person making the posts sees belittling transgender people on social media as a trivial act, he is contributing to a massive social probl e m .

SHOW SPORTS TV IN CAFETERIA

lied online. The Center for American Progress also estimates that 320,000 to 400,000 LGBT teens face homelessness each year and are more likely to abuse alcohol or be sexually assaulted. Being transgender is not a joke and treating it as if it is shifts the dialogue surrounding transgender issues away from actual problems. We Harrisites are known for embracing our diverse school community, but debates like these reveal that homophobia and transphobia still exist in our school and that LGBT students are not as protected and accepted as they should be. We must work together as a community to make sure every single person feels safe to be who he or she is both in school and online; no student should have to live with constant fear of harassment or rejection. Before posting something online, take into consideration who might be hurt by it. Whether it’s part of an appropriate debate that contributes to the discussion or just a factually unsupported claim, hateful comments can damage someone’s self-worth. There is a difference between debating important social topics and spending hours locked in meaningless online battles, which is not only childish and unnecessary, but potentially injurious.

“Being transgender is not a joke and treating it as if it is shi's the dialogue surrounding transgender issues away from actual problems.” According to the Youth Suicide Prevention Program, over 50 percent of transgender youth will attempt suicide before their 20th birthday. The National Center of Transgender Equality reports that 82% of transgender or gender-nonconforming youth say they feel unsafe at school, and that 67% had been bul-

Bring Mandarin into the classroom Tiffany Huang STAFF WRITER

AMONG THE first things that prospective students hear about Townsend Harris High School is its emphasis on the art of language. Whether it is a classical or modern language, THHS wants students to indulge in the speech and culture connotative of our international community. As a result, Harrisites are required to take two language classes: one modern language for three years, and one classical language for two years. Considering that the language selection here appears to be relatively diverse, it is shocking that a major language like Mandarin Chinese is missing from the possible choices. China’s rising economy and its extensive trade with the U.S. have contributed to a deep partnership between the two countries. The U.S. trade deficit with China has been increasing annually, and as a result, the U.S. relies on goods imported from China. Given this growing and dependent relationship, it makes sense to give our students the opportunity to learn the language of a major player in the global economy. Students who intend to pursue international or corporate business would benefit greatly from such a class, even if it only teaches the rudiments of Mandarin. More schools, from elementary to high schools, are adding Mandarin to their curricula. Nationwide, there are

ARTWORK BY WILLIAM MUN

over 550 schools that offer Mandarin Chinese as a language class, including schools within NYC, such as Bayside High School, Brooklyn Tech, and Francis Lewis. If the schools around us are able to teach Mandarin to their students, we should be able to as well. In the race to provide students with a more worldly and well-rounded education, THHS is falling behind.

Lastly, we have to remember that THHS is located in Flushing, New York. Chinese culture bears a huge influence in New York City, particularly here in Flushing. Furthermore, Mandarin Chinese is the third most commonly spoken language in the United States. So why do we continue to ignore a significant part of our immediate community?

In addition to offering the traditional modern and ancient languages, our school should embrace the benefits that teaching Mandarin could offer. Not only will it bring Chinese-American students closer to their roots and culture, but it will also grant students the chance to connect with a growing and prominent international culture.

THE CLASSIC

Summer 2015

SCIENCE & TECH Invention of the Month

Bionic Contacts Sarah Gafur STAFF WRITER

GAMPEPLAY MAP OF AGAR.IO

ARTWORK BY EMILY LEI

Agar.io takes over as semester ends Sarah Yu and Emily Lei STAFF WRITERS

THIS PAST month, the multiplayer browser game Agar.io has gained popularity among students. Every player is essentially a cell that can only grow by engulfing smaller cells. At the same time, every player must try to escape from the bigger cells. The ultimate objective is to make one’s way up the leaderboard by growing bigger. Rather than swallowing other cells, players can press the spacebar and divide their cells to either defend themselves from incoming threats or to capture a fleeing cell. Players also have the option of customizing their cell’s appearance by inputting certain names before starting gameplay. Junior John Mullane, who introduced Agar.io to many students at Townsend Harris, stated, “It’s genius really, the fact that someone can make such a game so enjoyable. The first time my friend showed it to me, there were only a few hundred people playing.” Science teacher Philip Porzio commented, “It doesn’t take much to learn how to play, and one can get lost in the unending game of cat and mouse, where sometimes you are the cat but most of the times you are the mouse.” With its rising popularity, developers of Agar.io have expanded the multiplayer region across the globe. Many, such as

sophomore Mitchell Mu, appreciate this aspect of Agar.io, as it is an opportunity for players to “interact with other people around the world.” Despite the game’s seemingly simple controls, there are a number of tricks and mechanics that players can employ to outsmart opponents. For example, players can expel masses of cells by pressing the “w” key

applications. Its influence on other modern programming languages is apparent in the syntaxes of Java and JavaScript. In game development, people tend to use lower level languages like C++ because it enables games to run efficiently. On the other hand, C++ is restrictive in that it only allows games to run on the platform in which it is coded. However, Java permits games to run on multiple platforms like Windows and UNIX, but it is unfavored because the games would run much slower due to the fact that Java is an interpreted language. The front end of the game, which is a system that controls the communication between the user and the back end, is arranged with HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and JavaScript. Programmers use HTML as the common markup language for web pages. Both HTML and web pages rely on JavaScript as the universal programming language. With all the popularity surrounding Agar.io, players have asked developers to create a mobile app version. Currently, there are numerous unofficial versions including “Agar io Pro” and “Agar-agar.” The reviews for these apps state that

“It’s genius really,

the fact that someone

can make such a game so enjoyable.” towards their opponents, releasing virus cells. When done successfully, this causes opponents to split into smaller masses and allows others to prey upon them. Agar.io’s back end, the system that interacts indirectly with the front end in the server, is programmed with C++. C++ is an object oriented programming language that deals with computer data; it is also one of the most widely used computer languages used to develop

the mobile versions are lacking and have many bugs, errors, and control issues. When played on a mobile browser, the player taps his or her screen in the direction that he or she wishes to go. The disadvantage to this method is that it increases lag and reduces control. It is also difficult to convert the actual game to mobile mode because the computer version is composed of C++ back end coding, which directly determines the speed at which the game runs. “[The mobile browser versions] are difficult to control and are not globally connected,” commented Mitchell. Sophomore Arvinder Singh added, “It is not as smooth as the desktop version, which makes it very difficult to play. The app works and and looks different from the original. The concept is the same, but it’s a bad version of the game.” Steam, a popular videogame storing software, recently approved plans to include Agar. io in its array of selections. The software stores any game that one purchases and also allows users to access their games in cloud storage while offline. With this upgrade, Agar.io fans will be able to play offline. John remarked, “I think the simplicity of the game is really appealing. I stopped liking video games a while ago since a lot of games are so complicated, and there are so many aspects of them, but Agar.io is different.”

WE ARE one step closer to fulfilling our ever present need of entering that future, the one riddled with hover boards and all-chrome everything. British optometrist Garth Webb has invented a lens-like device that can increase one’s vision to 60/20, which is three times what is considered perfect vision. Webb claims that this surgical procedure, which would last eight minutes, will enable the patient to see objects that are 30 feet away as if they were ten feet away. While the possibility of improved eyesight may sound appealing, many are skeptical about the accessibility of bionic contacts. Taking the three million dollar cost of research into consideration, sophomore Paul Valdivia had qualms regarding commercialization. “I don’t think people in third world countries who have vision complications might have the resources to pay for such a treatment,” he said. Junior Florebencia Fils-Aime agreed, adding, “It’s a practical product, but you probably have to [be] rich to get it.” Human subjects have not yet undergone clinical trials. Regardless, Webb claims that this may be the answer to cataracts, the buildup of protein on the layers of one’s lens that causes the deterioration of eyesight. To prevent cataract formation, optometrists will surgically remove the natural lens of a patient’s eye and replace them with a bionic contact. If Webb succeeds in this three million dollar endeavor, this will only be the beginning of the future of optometry.

FACTS

14 Summer 2015

THE CLASSIC

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Bhangra Night: A trip to Punjab Sasha Balkaran STAFF WRITER

THE STUDENT cafeteria was a kaleidoscope of traditional dresses all moving to the lively beat of Bhangra. The Sikh Student Association, in collaboration with the Student Union, held its annual Bhangra Night. Bhangra is a popular dance and music genre that originated in Punjab. Sophomore Alex Chen described Bhangra music as “energetic” and “very rhythmic.” On May 29, multiple live performances took place including those by Virsa, Habibi Express, and the Townsend Harris alumni. Dance competitions followed the choreographed performances in which the girls faced off against the boys. The dance floor was open to all. Senior Sadiqa Taaseen said that “everyone was dancing at one point on the open dance floor.” Having organized Bhangra Night for the second year in a row, Kirandeep Kaur described the planning saying, “I spent

Seniors Sadiqa Taaseen and Pawanpreet Kaur Nahal with Mrs. Fee most of my free bands trying to advertise and organize Bhangra Night. The biggest struggle was to predict the number of guests so that we would order

enough food.” The food included mango shakes, bread pakoras, aloo tikkis, and snow cones. Kirandeep voiced her concern “about students actually attending

Photo by Rebekah Jones the event.” Sadiqa validated this concern by saying she knows “that a lot of people who bought tickets but didn’t show up.” Many people may have

bought tickets to help the cause of Bhangra Night, since all the proceeds went towards helping Nepal recuperate from its calamitous April 2015 earthquake. To promote the event, “flashmobs,” or 20 second mini dances, were held during lunch bands. The participants in the “flashmobs” were of different ethnicities to ensure everyone attending Bhangra Night would feel comfortable upon arrival. Sophomore Jin Li attended Bhangra Night and said that she didn’t feel excluded and was invited by some of her friends who were part of the Sikh Student Association. When questioned about this year’s Bhangra Night, Jagjot Singh, one of next year’s Sikh Student Association’s leaders, pronounced that it was “successful” and “fun.” He said that both he and Amrinderjit, his co-leader, plan to include “more performances from outside groups next year to improve the event.”

An Inside look at Pixar’s latest: an interview with director Pete Docter and producer Jonas Rivera Jennifer Walsh A&E EDITOR

PIXAR’S LATEST film, Inside Out, dares to explore uncharted territory inside the human mind. The film features five main emotions of a young girl in a new city. It stars Amy Poehler as Joy, Bill Hader as Fear, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, Lewis Black as Anger, and Mindy Kaling as Disgust. This is Pixar’s return to box offices everywhere following the release of Monsters University. The film’s premise was inspired by Director Peter Docter’s observations of his young daughter. “The concept kind of came from watching my kid grow up...my daughter, she was very energetic and rambunctious and jumping around and happy all the time, and then when she turned 11 she got a little more quiet and reclusive,” he said. “And I was telling [Producer Jonas Rivera and the production team] about it and we were like what’s going inside her head, you know?” In order to properly develop the story and personify emotions, Docter and Rivera worked with the art team for several years to develop the proper character designs. Director Pete Docter and producer Jonas Rivera discussed the challenges of bringing such an abstract concept to life on

screen. Docter found that making Joy, the main emotion in the film, balanced and likeable was the most challenging part of bringing the story to life. “It was like three years in and people were still saying ‘Wow, what a great concept.’ They weren’t saying it’s a movie yet... And then once they were admitting that it was a movie...a lot of people said, ‘I really don’t like Joy as a character,’ which is a problem because she’s our main character,” he recalled. “But I think it kind of makes sense, ‘cause I don’t know if you have friends that are just kind of always happy, and you kind of want to strangle them....’cause you just sense insincerity. So we needed to find somewhere for Joy as a character that you believed her, that she was genuine and that she really cared.” Rivera saw value in the decision to set the story in the mind rather than a more literal and scientifically accurate brain. “It was going to be metaphoric, so it was going to be the mind, which gave us this artistic license to kind of create this geography and pro-

duction sign

de-

t h a t felt like t h e mind of a little girl s pe ARTWORK BY MARIE KESSEL cifically, so there was this opportunity for whimsy and

just a lot of fun, but that’s very easy to say and hard to do. Our art department did an amazing job of exploring and presenting idea after idea until it started to blend with the writing,” he said. “Organically, the movie wou ld lean a little bit towards science fiction in its design, and we pull it back to again kind of be more whimsical and fun.” Before they could begin to animate the film, however, they needed the actors to record their dialogue. The cast’s strong comedic backgrounds influenced much of the final product on screen. “In our case, we had such amazing ad-libbed and improv actors that a lot of the stuff was maybe just on-the-fly and we’d end up using that. But also just attitude-wise and timing and all these things, they can really make it sing, try

a couple different things, and then we craft that and and cut it together and then the animators listen to it over and over and craft the performance to the dialogue,” Docter stated. The cast itself also helped shape the way the characters were drawn. For example, the creative team was split on how to draw Kaling’s character, Disgust. “Early on we couldn’t really decide is she disgusting or disgusted as a character and that would lend itself to very different [character designs],” Docter said. Kaling’s casting shifted the team to a final character design that was disgusted, “like Ferris Bueller’s little sister,” as Rivera puts it. Docter hopes the film’s unique premise will resonate with a broad audience. “The one thing I think that will be interesting is that the film has a chance to bring people to a place that everyone is familiar with, but no one’s seen before. And that is the world inside your own mind,” he said. “So we’re using elements and ideas that people totally use in everyday conversation and think of...So we hope that it will really appeal to everybody and so far we’ve had good results with that from little kids all the way to adults feeling really like, ‘Wow, it makes me think differently about the way I am in the world,’ which is pretty cool.”

THE CLASSIC

Summer 2015

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Leo Rodriguez STAFF WRITER

Making a fashion statement: DIYs to die for

TOWNSEND HARRIS’s student body is a prime example of diversity in New York. Nearly every culture has an aspect that has been borrowed and expanded by others. Some Harrisites consider this an appreciation of cultures; others consider it appropriation. In Native American culture, each feather on the headress is awarded to the bravest members. Similarly, the bindi, a red dot in the middle of the forehead, symbolizes many religious and traditional notions in the Hindu culture. However, popular culture has transformed them into personal accessories. Sophomore Daniel Khaldarov considers the adoption of another culture a form of appreciation, stating, “no one should feel like their culture is being stolen. You will always be able to practice your culture the way you see is right.” Similarly, Freshman Naasiha Ahmed stated, “I don’t mind when people wear salwars or a saris because they’re embracing it….I appreciate the way people take part because they don’t do it mockingly.” Junior Yaseen Mohamed stressed that celebrities should be wary of the influence they hold on society, stating, “[Celebrities]

TRYING TO stay on top of the constantly changing clothing trends is not easy on the wallet, but some Townsend Harris students have found the perfect solution: DIY (Do It Yourself) Clothing. These savvy teenagers take creativity to a whole new level by making or DIY-ing their own clothes, allowing for a fresh unique look to stand amidst the endless brand names. Senior Melanie Wong has been DIY-ing since freshman year. Melanie has made her own jewelry, bags, skirts, jackets, and pants. She loves DIYs because, “[it’s like] being able to just wear your own art. Art is generally so restricted to walls.” She loves making clothes that resemble those that would otherwise be overpriced in stores. Melanie also looks to pop culture when in need of inspiration. Her biggest creation so far was the making of her own prom dress. If DIYing your current clothes is too intimidating and you’re scared you might

Multicultural fashion: Appropriation or appreciation?

Kristina Deur and Sarah Mafroud STAFF WRITERS

just have to know that [they] can have a major effect on the public outlook of the aspect and group.” Yaseen identified the problem that exists in appropriation. He said, “the value that the symbols held could be lowered significantly. This doesn’t have to happen if the aspects celebrities do use are used in a way that respect the origin.” English teacher Joseph Canzoneri once saw his daughter adorning henna on her arm. She loved it and he thought it was “really cool.” However, he feels that it is important that she “recognizes that she is appreciating

ARTWORK BY WILLIAM MUN

something that belongs to someone else.” In concurrence, Social Studies teacher Charlene Levi said, “I am all for high fashion taking something that is cultural and making it mainstream, but I am not for the dismissal of ownership. Just like when students are conducting research for a paper, they must cite where they are getting the information from. I don’t like when fashion tells one group that when they do it it’s ugly or too ethnic but when others do it it is high fashion. It fosters racial divide that we need to dispel of.”

ruin them, Melanie suggests to start with something you wouldn’t mind potentially ruining. Try upcycling an old shirt or something you thrifted for a couple of bucks. Junior Andrea Li has been DIY-ing her own clothing for two years, and she isn’t slowing down. She has created complicated pieces such as velvet shorts and an asymmetrical skort, with the help of various online sources like YouTube, Pinterest, and blogs. “There’s something strangely satisfying about knowing which piece goes where and what makes up an everyday piece of clothing like a t-shirt,” she said. Creating her own outfits gives Andrea a wider understanding of how the fashion and textile industries work, and she encourages others to take part in this rewarding experience. Andrea’s best advice is, “Don’t ever be afraid to start DIYing. Honestly I just jumped right in and the first day, I got my sewing machine.” Have a little patience, it takes time to become an expert. When it comes to DIYs, these girls have it down to a tee.

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16 Summer 2015

THE CLASSIC

SPORTS Ceremony celebrates the year’s accomplishments

ARTWORK BY BAILEY CHAN

Benjamin Chang STAFF WRITER THIRTY ONE teams were represented at Townsend Harris’ annual Athletic Awards Dinner. The event, held on June 3 at Bruno’s on

the Boulevard catering hall, included the usual awards ceremony, in which each team’s coach honored their athletes with four awards: Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Athlete, Coach’s Award, and Most Valu-

Wrestling to the top Catherine Ng STAFF WRITER The Townsend Harris girls varsity wrestling team competed in the 2015 Girls Freestyle Wrestling Championship. Having fought hard, the Lady Hawks finished sixth overall in a respectable finish to their sophomore season. After qualifying at a tournament at Canarsie High School on May 30, five wrestlers moved on to the individual city championship finals on June 2 at Hunter High School. The top three individual scorers were all from THHS. Sophomore captain Alexis Sarabia grabbed first place, and was followed by junior captain Rebecca West and sophomore Sabrina Cheng, who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. Junior Ivy Lam placed fifth, and freshman Daniella Babayev placed sixth. Given that most members of the team were rookies or underclassmen, the team believed that they had a successful season. Freshman Leah Musheyev explained, “It really takes a lot of work. When we started, we didn’t even know what wrestling would be like and never wrestled ourselves.” Rebecca, who was seeded third in her weight class, recounted her most memorable match: “[I had] no losses during the season except during the Gotham City Wrestling Tournament, where I lost to a girl who was second in the nation

from Texas. That match was my favorite match of the whole season solely because it showed that I could hold my own against a great wrestler.” The match encouraged Rebecca in the city championships. She said, “It gave me confidence. I get extremely nervous at big tournaments, and having that under my belt let me know that I can wrestle well and medal at cities.” Alexis recalled the motivation her coaches gave her during her match. She said, “During my championship match, I remember hearing my coaches saying, ‘It’s just another match. Wrestle the way you always do’ and ‘You’re doing great, Alexis. Stay focused and be patient.’” This motivation proved to be worthy as Alexis placed first in the 107 lbs weight class. Preparing for next year’s wrestling season, Leah revealed that all the girls are going to a wrestling camp for a week to improve their skills, including the champion winners. Adding on, Sabrina, who won bronze in the championship, claimed, “To improve my skills, I’m going to a summer camp and also joining the coed wrestling season. I’ll probably also be going to practices at Beat the Streets [a wrestling organization where student athletes can participate in amateur wrestling].” She concluded, “This year, I believe we gave it all we could.”

able Player. The night also featured a promposal, a tribute to longtime Athletic Director Keith Hanson, and of course, dancing. Mr. Hanson, who has worked at THHS for 27 years, was honored for his dedication and success in molding the athletics program of THHS. In a quasi-farewell speech, he stressed the importance of fitness and working hard in both athletics and life. Quoting Derek Jeter, he said, “There may be people who have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” Seniors Debra Chan and Minhaj Rahman won the coveted awards of Girls and Boys Athlete of the Year. Both four-year, twelve-season athletes, Debra and Minhaj have earned a multitude of sports accolades throughout their high school careers. Debra, who previously made headlines as NY1’s Scholar Athlete of the Week, walked away with MVP awards in softball and basketball. She said, “It felt rewarding being

recognized for the hard work and dedication that I put into the sports that I played throughout my high school career.” Minhaj, a member of the boys soccer and track team, won an MVP award in outdoor track. His qualification for the national championships in the hammer throw topped his long list of athletic achievements. In addition to the awards, both athletes received an Adidas backpack and a Garmin Vivofit watch to commemorate their accomplishments. Many of THHS’ more versatile athletes won multiple awards. Sophomore Alexis Sarabia collected MVP awards in girls wrestling and swimming; senior Caleb Hong, for the boys volleyball and badminton teams; and senior Jason Nieh, for boys basketball and badminton as well as the Coach’s Award for boys volleyball. Junior Tiarnan Mathers won Coach’s Awards for boys soccer and basketball. On winning an award,

he professed, “It’s great to know that you are acknowledged for the hard work you put into your athletics rather than your academics for once.” Food and dancing followed the conclusion of the awards ceremony. However, before everyone took to the dance floor, senior Yash Sharma, captain of the boys track team and cross country MVP, interrupted the event with a promposal to senior Kari Iocalano. After a brief, heartfelt speech, an immediate “yes” from Kari drew applause from the crowd of faculty and students. Shortly thereafter, the athletes began dancing to a mix of songs ranging from Walk the Moon’s “Shut Up and Dance With Me” to classics like Soulja Boy’s “Crank Dat.” The dancing became so fervent that a few bulbs on the dance floor’s chandelier broke. Nevertheless, the athletes enjoyed a night filled with fun and friends as the school year winded down to an end.

Trackies crush at championships

PHOTO COURTESY OF ED YAKER

Senior Minhaj Rahman throws the javelin.

Brandon Na STAFF WRITER THE TITLE for “Best in the City” was up for grabs at the PSAL Outdoor Track City Championships. Seventeen Townsend Harris athletes represented THHS at Icahn Stadium, each with victory on their minds. Since this was the last meet of the year for most members of the boys and girls teams, the runners were ready to grind it out. In the girls 3000 meter run, sophomore Noreen Mohsin ran in third place, setting a personal best with a time of 11:23. Noreen reflected on her performance, saying, “Since it was City Champs, I definitely tried to race smarter [there] than [in] my other races because I couldn’t be too fast or too slow. Everyone there deserved to be there and had been training to win. I definitely strategized for this race to win.” Junior Kellie Zestanakis ranked first in both the pole vault and the javelin throw. She cleared a height of

nine feet in the pole vault and threw a distance of 85 feet 9 inches in the javelin. Both finishes qualified her for the New York State Federation Championships. In the 1500 meter race walk, sophomore Dulce Cervantes finished in first place with a time of 7:44. Junior Hannah Yoo came in sixth with a time of 8:00. Juniors Wendy Liu and Nancy Yone rounded out the walkers, walking 8:03 and 8:35, respectively. “I think we all pulled through, and even though not all of us PRed [set a personal record], each one of us gave it our all and that’s all we can ask for,” said Dulce. The girls finished seventh in the city with a total of 37 points and the full effort made by the team did not go to waste. At the same time, the boys were fighting for a high placing. The 4 x 800 meter relay team of sophomores Justice Williams and Muhamed Bicic, and juniors Dys-

ron Marshall and Abdoulaye Diallo, dashed into fourth place with a total time of 8:28. In the individual 800 meter run, Abdoulaye finished fourth with a final time of 1:58. However, it was in the field events where the boys garnered many of their points. In the high jump, sophomore Adam Sosnicki reached a height of 5 feet 10 inches, ending up with a sixth place finish. Senior Minhaj Rahman earned the top spot in the discus with a distance of 134 feet 10 inches and also placed sixth in the javelin throw with a distance of 131 feet 7 inches. The hard work of the boys earned them a total of 22 points, ranking them eighth in the city. “We performed really well as a whole. There were a lot of sensational performances, and I was impressed with my teammates,” said Justice. Many seniors were motivated to perform exceptionally, as this meet marked the end of their track careers. Senior Romil Parikh stated, “I wanted to give this meet my everything. I ran the hardest and put a lot of pressure on myself because I wanted to end on a good note.” Minhaj added, “This was my last PSAL meet ever and knowing that I will never have another chance to win a city championship, I knew it had to be now. . . That’s when the adrenaline kicked in.” Junior Matthew Sullivan concluded, “This team keeps going above and beyond the expectations, especially the young guys, which really inspires confidence for the future, whether it be next year or years from now.”