Issue 2: December

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Vol. 19, No. 2. December 2002
asstc
Townsend Harris High School at Queens College
149-11 Melbourne Avenue, Flushing, NY 11 367
Art show focuses on portraiture, winter scenes
pressed in the show 's title .
"Carla and I wanted to combine portraits and winter, so
creating thi s title was
very appro priate ,"
explained Bryan .
''I'm very excited
about thi s art show,"
said Carla. "In previous years, we have
had only a large
spring art show, but
thi s year, we' re having two large art
openings ."
Fre s hman
:>,
.0
Christy Tomecek ex0
0
pressed similar enthusiasm. "This
event rocks," she
Still life: This untitled photograph by Kristin Angelopoulos, junior, can be seen in the
said.
" Faces in the Snow" art exhibition , which will be on display until Friday, December 20.
"It is always
by Angela Hom
"Faces in the Sno w," the first of two
art e xhib itions planned
for thi s year, ope ned
after schoo l on M onday, December 16. Stude nts strol led around
the lobby, taki ng in the
art that was mounted on
blac k display boards , as
well as the free refreshments and live piano
mU SIC .
The show, set up by
the Art Club, features
"many exciting and new
ideas," according to senior Bryan Kirschen,
co-director along with
junior Carla Gunther.
The student-created
pieces on display range
from ceramic s and pain tings to computer graphics, and relate to themes ex-
a:
First Amendment award
clinched for third time
by Daniel Bloch
For the third year in a row, this school
has been nationally recognized for its
commitment to ideals of the First
Amendment.
Townsend Harris and six other high
schools were honored last month with
the Let Freedom Rin_g award and
deemed "First Amendment Schools" by
the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) , Journalism Education Association (JEA) , Nation al Scholastic
Press Association (NSPA), the Inteniational Quill & Scroll Society and the
Freedom Forum, a foundation dedicated
to free speech .
"It 's a feather in our cap," said Principal Thomas Cunningham of the award,
"and it reflects well upon the school and
the students. "
Townsend and two other schools,
Johnsburg High School in McHenry, Illinois, and Lakewood High School in
Lakewood , Ohio, are the only schools
to have received the award every year
since its inception in 20!)0.
"I was happy that [we] won for the
third year in a row," said senior Angela
Hom, who has been Editor-in-Chief of
amazing to visually see the various tal ents of the Townsend Harris students .
T hi s is neve r more evide nt than when
we hang the art show," said photography teacher Marg heri ta Wisc herth.
A nthony M orales , a rt teac her,
"commend[s] the students fo r the creative energy that they have e xerci sed in
the design and construction of the many
vi s ual co mpositions they have produced. "
I nvitations to the opening were
mailed to Art Club alumni and various
museums . Lisa Mars , Ass istant Principal of Foreign Languages and Fine Arts,
hopes the show will promote "respect
for creativity."
She believes that this is a great opportunity for the members of the Art
Club who wish to pursue careers in art
to gain experience and eventually internships and college scholarships.
Academic Team to show its Smarts
by Tina Wu
Can you name all the countries in the
United Nations that begin with the letter G? If you were part of the Townsend
of Education, features teams of students
from different schools competing for the
bragging rights to being the "smartest"
The Phoenix, the annual literary magapublic high school in New York and a
zine, and Managing Editor of The Clas$35,000 scholsic, both for two years. "It was a bit
shocking because it was for the third
arship for the
time."
entire
team
Advisors and student editors of The
from St. John's
University by
Classic ; The Phoenix, the literary magaanswering
zine; and Crimson and Gold, the yearquestions about
book; as well as Mr. Cunningham , filled .
New York City.
out comprehensive questionnaires in
Each school
October regarding the role that First
~ was allowed
Amendment principles play in the
tg f 1ve
"
team
school community, mainly as reflected
u members and
in the student publications .
two alternates .
"One of the unique things about this
The Harris
school is that even though you're high
team made it to
school students , you have bes towed
On the set: Seniors Daniel Bloch, Susan Cheng, Sophia Huttner, Senior
t
h
e
upon you adult responsibilities," said Advi sor Franco Scardino, senior Bernadette Cruz, junior Matthew Hallex and
quarterfinals
Margherita Wischerth , advisor of Crim- seniors Sharon Chin, Blazej Kesy and Carlos Gonzales cele brate the Academic
before being
son and Gold. These responsibilities, Team's first victory at the City Smarts competition .
eliminated .
she added, include the student's right to
Townsend's first game will air on
state his or her opinion, "but tactfully. " Harris academic team, you would have
A letter announcing Townsend's se- had to, at least if you wanted to go onto Monday, December 30 at 8 PM, and will
re-air on Tuesday, December 31 at I PM
lection was received November 20 stat- the next round .
ing that a panel of judges from the sponTownsend Harris was one of 32 pub- and Monday, January 6.at the same time.
soring scholastic journalism organiza- lic high schools in New York participat- The team's two other games will air aftions and the Freedom Forum "deter- ing in a game show called City Smarts . ter March 3.
mined [that] Townsend Harris High The show, produced by WNY_E, chanThe team representing Townsend
Harris
included seniors Daniel Bloch,
School unequivocally met the criteria
nel 25, the network of the Department
Continued on p. 14
Continued on p. 6
/!
New Schedule
p.3
Teen Drinking
p.9
Reviews
pp. 10-12
Sports
pp. 15-16
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The Classic
December2002
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Keeping our sacred traditions alive
(
The Founder's Day tradition has spanned 18 years and has been
highly anticipated by students in the past as a chance to relax and
have fun while light-heartedly poking fun at our very quirky school.
This comedic relief used to come in the form of the Founder's Day
Challenge, for which students from all grades submitted a variety of
things ranging from top-ten lists, to song parodies, to skits that highlight the humorous nature of the school's traditions, faculty and students.
This year, however, these submissions were not a part of the
Founder's Day celebration, and it seems unlikely that they will return
in the years to come. Although the administration gave several reasons for the withdrawal of the Challenge and inserted SING! performances to provide entertainment, many students were still left disappointed.
One reason for the change was that some people felt that the same
' jokes were being told every year and that they were no longer funny.
Although the jokes may be familiar to the faculty and upperclassmen,
Founder's Day is a celebration to welcome incoming students to the
Townsend Harris family, and the jokes would have been new and
entertaining to them.
Another reason given for the change in the program this year was
that former Assistant Principal of Humanities Lynne Greenfield, who
was the creator and main organizer of the Challenge, retired last June.
Although last year marked a tremendous turnover of faculty, it is important to keep the Townsend Harris traditions alive. Just because
several of the people who began the traditions that have been treasured for many years have left doesn't mean that the legacy with which
' it is even more important to hold
they left us should die. If anything,
on to our rituals and carry them into this new era to ensure the continuance of our founders' legacy.
Ms. Greenfield was very dedicated to the Challenge and put a great
deal of time and effort into it, so if it is to be revived, it is legitimate to
worry about who will assume the responsibilities. If no other teachers
are willing to put the Challenge together, then the option should be
given to those students who feel strongly enough about preserving it
to organize it.
The addition of SING! dance performances in Founder's Day was
very effective in raising school spirit and displaying talent, but it does
not need to replace the other forrris of entertainment. The Challenge
should remain a part of the Founder's Day celebration, and if a newer
and more original twist is what is desired, then the topics on the assignment sheets could be altered to elicit creative and different responses. Any moderation of the Challenge would be better than dismissing it altogether, because it would be truly unfortunate to let one
of the most beloved and oldest traditions of Townsend Harris die.
Simulation is a lesson in teamwork, realism
and during my other years here to criticize the simulation as unrealistic. The use of
by Jessica Wang .
During my first three years at Townsend Harris, I sa·w the election simulation such a statement to d~scribe the simulation may not be entirely false, but neither
does it fully describe the two-month event, nor can it be said that real political
and the participating seniors as big nuisances. The tables turned this year,
campaigns are innocent of such a charge. American voters do not always vote for
however, as I found myself in the position towards which I had once felt so
a candidate based solely on his or her issues. A person's charisma can play a sigmuch irritation. While I still can see how the simulation can be annoying to
nificant role in how voters choose a candidate. In this respect I do not think real
underclassmen, I now recognize the hard work seniors put into it and feel it is
political races are much different from popularity contests. Perhaps the simuvery worthwhile
lation can be a popularity contest to a larger extent, because the community is
because it gets students
much smaller and people know each other better, but political races outside
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involved in the political
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of our school are not guiltless.
process early and is
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Similarly, student voters have complained that the simulation is not realisextremely realistic.
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because they are not adequately informed -about the issues of the candi, .
Part of what makes the
dates.
The bigger problem at hand is that voters sometimes do not listen when
simulation so true to life
candidates are trying to make their views known. At this year's afternoon
is that the voting public
debates, the simulation candidates had a difficult time expressing their opincan get irritated and the
ions on issues because the audience was rowdy and inattentive. The debates
campaigning seniors do
"><
are one of the most important ways candidates in the simulation get their
get frustrated at times . To
points across to voters. A crucial part of learning is the willingness to listen.
use measures to avoid
Voters, if they wish to make an informed decision, sl)ould listen to what the
these negative feelings
candidates have to say.
would result in making
'•
It took me four years to see the value of the simulation. If it were not for
the simulation less truththe
simulation, I may have not been aware of the candidates running forcerful. Political campaigns
tain
political offices each year and SOJlle of their issues. How much the underboth in the simulation and
Samira Zaman
classmen are involved in the simulation depends a .lot on how much interest
in real life use tactics
such as telephone calls, flier distribution and door-to-door visits. Many people they express, just as an individual eligible to vote in the real world can choose not
who are on the receiving end of such solicitation do get annoyed. The individuals to pay attention to politics or even not to vote . As for the simulation's usefulness
who are trying to promote their candidate can get discouraged as other people to seniors, it also simulates the workplace, where people must worktogether even
ignore them or are rude to them, thinking that no one wants to listen to them. though they may not always agree with each other, experienc~ the consequences
These feelings voters and campaign workers experience are not unusual in either of mistakes, and enjoy the rewards of their labor. The aspects ofthe simulation I
had once criticized turned out to be things that made the two-month hnig event so
the simulation or real American politics.
·
realistic
and valuable.
The phrase "popularity contest" has been uttered by underclassmen this year
~
Daniel Bloch
Jamie Gullen
Co-Editors-in-Chief
Jessica Wang
Feature Editor
DianeTiao
Entertainment Editor
'
.
Angela Hom
Managing Editor
Jennifer Gong
Sarah Schnee
Marlo Dublin
Cn~News Edil«~rs
Rachel Schiffman
Emma Xiao
Hilary Homier
Jennifer Sheth
Karen Hendershot
Photography Editors
Editor-at-l..arge
Fond Editor
Art Editors
Steven Lee
Josh Fox
lisa Cowen
Online Editor
Sports Editor
Advis(;r
Principal ·Mr. Thomas Cunningham
~-
-ft.
News Staff: Jessica Bader, Jessica Berger. Chloe Chao, Nataliya Binshteyn, Lina Lee,
Linda Luu, Jhonathan Pasaoa
Feature Staff: Christopher Amanna, Diana Bell, Jennifer Bhuiyan. Margo
Kakoullis, Sangsoo Kim. Talya Lieberman, Donna Mordente, Francesco 'Pizarro.
Ann Margaret Santa-lnes. Rachel Schiffman, Alexis Serra, Nisha Singh, Stephanie·
Vance, Tina Wu
·
Sports Staff: Stephen Berger. Lauren Korzeniewski, Elyse Lee. Michelle
Montgoris
Doris Ortega, Vivian Shibata,
Artists: Matthew Barbery. Amy Blauner. Stacey
Andrea Shliselberg,, Samira Zaman, Stephanie Zapata
·
Comic Strip Coordinator: Jonathan Perez
Lee,
Online Staff: Diane Lee, Umair Shaikh. Waqas Shaikh
Photography Staff: Penny Chak, Laura D' Amato, Diana Deng, Vera Hendrix, Bryan
Kirschen. Marion Mercado, Deepti Nair, Cristin Strining. Julia Stutz, Leticia Wainer,
Annabel Zaharieff
Layout Staff: David Belsky, Pamela Chan, Matthew Kaufman, Katie Kogan
Townse11d Harris High 'School !II Queens· College
149-11 . Melbourne
Avenue; Flushing,
N.Y. 11367
I
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The ClassiC is an open forum for the eJ<pression 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.
.
Readers are invite<J to submit 'letters to the editor.
Letters should be placed in Ms. Cowen's mailbox in
the general office. The Classic reserves the·ri'ght to
edit all letters. Letters must include name and offici'al
class. Names will be withheld upon request.
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The Classic
December 2002
3
Longer periods cause confusion and conflicts
by Jamie Gullen
The new time schedule
implemented on Tuesday, November 12 lengthened classes
that meet four times a week by
three minutes and lengthened
classes that meet five times a
week by either two or three
minutes, depending on the day.
At the end of each week, every class receives equal instructional time, and teachers
meet the extra I 00 minutes per
week requirement stipulated by
their new contract.
This new plan follows
months of deliberation and negotiation . Originally, the time
was utilized by 50 minute developmental meetings for
teachers on Tuesdays and
Thursdays which would have
eventually turned into periods
of tutoring and conferencing for
students. The UFT voted to
change the schedule to 20 minutes extra per day, and teachers
in Townsend Harris decided
how the time would be distributed throughout the day.
Under the old plan, it was
thought that the extra time
would be utilized most effectively by providing faculty with
additional training and offering
students who were having difficulty, or just wanted extra help
with tutoring and conferencing.
Teacher training was implemented for the first two months
of school , but several problems
arose which caused an amendment to the time plan to be presented.
Parents of elementary
school
students
were having difficulty arranging
for their
children
to
be
picked up
and many felt that only students
who were struggling would
benefit from the extra time
when the original purpose of
extending the school day was
so all students would receive
additional time and attention.
Because of these conditions, the
new proposal in which all students and faculty would remain
in school for an extra 20 minutes per day was suggested and
implemented as of Tuesday,
November 12.
The new time schedule was
not welcomed by some students
who disliked the idea of having to stay in school longer every day. Several small signs
were placed around the school
advertising a walk-out that
some students had planned for
class to class has been shortened from three minutes to two
minutes for all periods except
lunch bands.
"I understand the need to
add additional time to the instructional day; however, it
seems unfortunate that the
begininng of class time is delayed due
to students
coming in
late
because they
..........,__
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time
to
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travel from
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class," said
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phy teacher
Matthew Barbery
Margherita
Wischerth .
ninth period of the first day the
Another way the new schednew schedule went into effect. ule impacts some seniors is by
Principal Thomas Cunningham interfering with their college
addressed the student body over classes and mandated senior
the intercom, saying, "Please meetings . Senior Alexandra Lo
live up to your responsibilities." Re is one of several facing such
The walk-out never material- conflicts. "I think it is unfair
that I have to choose between
ized.
Another reason some stu- taking part in important senior
dents and faculty oppose the discussions and decisions at senew schedule is that the time nior meeting and going to my
allotted for students to get from college class," said Alexandra.
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Mr. Cunningham responded
to these concerns by saying that
the school is not in charge of
the schedule change and that
senior teachers have been notified .
Although slightly inconveniencing some students, this
new schedule is beneficial to
others because teachers who act
as advisers and coaches are now
available to their clubs and
teams after school every day
and students who take part in
these activities do not have to
wait around for 50 minutes before their activities can begin .
Some faculty members,
however, feel that the issue
should not be a question of convenience, but one of increased
student performance and learn- .
ing. Many students and faculty
believe that adding three minutes on to each period does not
increase anyone's ability to
learn more and is just a waste
of time that could have been
spent more beneficially under
the old system. 'The day seems
a lot longer now, and it doesn ' t
seem to make a difference in
how much we learn . ltjust confuses everyone," said junior
Lina Lee.
Election Simulation wraps up with high turnout
By Karen Hendershot
Voters in large numbers took
the time out of their day November 4 to vote in the annual
Election Simulation. Despite a
problem with some ballots, this
year's participation was unusually high, with approximately
80% of the school turning out
to vote.
"We were running a lot more
candidates ~ a lot more people
were involved," said Participatory Democracy teacher Franco
Scardino of the success. "Also,
I think the seniors were very enthusiastic about it and did a
great job getting the underclassmen excited about it."
The results of the simulation
were spread out across party
lines and differed dramatically
from the "real world" voting
outcomes. Democrat Carl
McCall, played by Johnson
Chong, won the gubernatorial
race, while Republicans Dora that were given out in the
Irrizary and John Faso, played morning, students who voted
by Stephanie
Correa
and
Steven Lee, won
the races for Attorney General
and State Comptroller.
Ballots were
cast by 88% of
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freshmen,
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85%of sopho1:'
.::1
mores, and 86%
::2
of seniors but
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only 61 % of jun0
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iors voted. "The
one thing that
caused a lower
voter turnout Senior Doug Manhart, disguised as a tree, says a
among the jun- final adieu before getting the axe by Governor
George Pataki in the Sierra Club's skit at the
ior class was Special-Interest Group Rally.
having to revote," explained junior at the time and did not have a
chance to re-vote during their
Rachelle Solis.
Because of the faulty ballots lunch bands or after school did
~
""
not have their votes counted.
Still, many students agreed
that this year's simulation had
been successful in getting
people to vote. "I think the
THHS candidates did a great
job getting the word out to the
public , which made even the
most disinterested students well
aware of the elections," said senior Meghan Donovan. The
several forums providing information included the three main
events: the Kick- Off Rally, the
debates, and the Special-Interest Group Rally.
Although the Kick-Off
Rally was only for seniors, the
debates and Special-Interest
Group Rally informed the rest
of the school of the election's
main issues, as well as the platforms of the candidates. The
Special-Interest Groups were
able to voice their missions and
inform the public about which
candidate best exemplified
their ideals. In addition, the
television shows, live radio
broadcasts, newspapers, and
personal classroom campaigning visits by the candidates provided students with simulation
updates .
On the day of the election,
seniors were invited to a wrapup party after school. Volunteers counted the votes, and the
results were announced at the
party. With their campaigns officially over, the seniors relaxed and let loose by dancing
to music played by a DJ, eating free sandwiches provided
by the school, and just hanging
out and talking .
"We all had a lot of fun and
it was a really great way to end
the simulation," said Rita
Ratner, who played State Assemblywoman Ann Margaret
Carrozza.
Winners of the 2002 Election Simulation
Governor - Democrat Carl McCall (Johnson Chong)
Lieutenant Governor - Democrat Dennis Mehiel (Chris Gonzalez)
State Senate- Republican Marie Lynch (Sarah Schnee)
Democrat Olga Mendez (Tiffany Luo)
State Assembly - Republican Todd C. Bank (Michael Wassif)
Attorney General- Republican Dora Irizarry (Stephanie·Correa)
Democrat Ann Margaret Carrozza (Rita Ratner) ·
State Comptroller- Republicart John Faso (Steven Lee)
DemocratMarkWeprin (Geoffrey Ng)
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The Classic
December 2002
Annual celebration ushers in new traditions
by Jessica Bader
Old traditions were set aside and new
ones born at this year's Founder's Day
celebration. Noticeably absent from the
assembly was the Founder's Day Challenge, a series of skits based on student
submissions. In its place were performances from last year's SING! competition and a slideshow created by teachers satirizing life at Townsend Harris.
According to Assistant Principal (AP)
of Humanities Susan Getting, co-hostess and a Founder's Day organizer, there
were two major reasons for the changes
to the program. One reason was the recent retirement of Lynne Greenfield, Ms.
Getting's predecessor asAP of Humanities . Ms. Getting explained that "the
Founder's Day Challenge was really Ms.
Greenfield's baby," and that rather than
· attempting to fill her shoes, she and the
other organizers felt that "it was time to
do something different." According to
Ms. Getting, the SING! performances
were added to introduce new Harrisites
to the student-run production.
Ms. Getting and her co-host Adam
Stonehill, Coordinator of Student Affairs (COSA) , introduced the slideshow
by joking that the Founder's Day Challenge had always focused on the same
eight student complaints. Each slide
featured faculty members posing as students to illustrate various complaints
about life at Townsend Harris, from the
low male-female ratio at dances (#8)
to restrictions on locker use (#1) . Junior Stephanie Herschaft thought the presentation was "very funny" and added
that "Mr. Kadamani was sitting behind
me and it was hysterical to see him getting up and screaming when his picture
was up ." Junior Carrie Buchwalter,
however, found the slideshow disappointing. "I've always enjoyed the
Founder's Day Challenge, and I was a
little upset that we didn't have it this
year," she explained.
The SING! performances followed
the slideshow. The seniors performed
a rendition of "Lady Marmalade" with
New York-themed lyrics, while juniors
and sophomores danced to Britney
Spears's "Crazy" and Michael Jackson's
"Come Together." Each choreographed
routine was featured in last year's SING!
competition.
Keynote speaker Kelly Villella, ' 95,
focused on the idea that all Harrisites
have a unique potential and that there is
more to people than their grades. Ms.
Villella stated that the values instilled at
Townsend Harris extend far beyond the
classroom. She added that at some point,
she "stopped viewing community service as a requirement," and looked at it
as something that she actually enjoyed .
The main purpose of Founder's Day
is to make new Harrisites a part of the
school community. This idea extends not
only to students, but to teachers as well.
Latin teacher Andrew Hagerty, who became a faculty member last spring, said,
"I finally realized I was part of something special." He added that, for him,
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Seniors Sharon Chin and Catherine
Anicarna dance to the tune of "Lady
Marmalade" as part of a new traditon of
incorporating past SING! performances into
Founder's Day ceremonies.
the highlight of the day was walking to
Colden Auditorium with the students
and staff as a group.
Spirit Week soars thanks to surge in participation
by Nataliya Binshteyn
Brightly colored streamers and eccen- a course of several weeks with a coltric outfits ushered in this fall's Spirit laborative emphasis on boosting school
Week, part of a biannual tradition that spirit and student body involvement.
ran from October 21 to October 24. Featuring a variety of days dedicated to promoting school spirit and competition between grades, the event coincided with
the ongoing election simulation and witnessed a resurgence of student participation .
Rallying together to prepare for the
upcoming week, students from each
grade decorated their respective floors
with assigned colors on the afternoon of
October 18, turning the typically unadorned halls into a mosaic of posters,
balloons, streamers, and signs. Freshmen
decorated the sixth floor with their color
black, sophomores followed with white
on the fifth floor, juniors with red on the
fourth floor, and finally, seniors led the
way and won the Color War with blue
on the third floor.
Old favorites returned and new additions debuted in the themes for each day With his spider sense tingling, senior
this fall. Led by Color Day on Monday, Carlos Gonzales was ready to protect
in which students from each grade innocent Harrisites on Halloween, which
featured not only costumes, but also karaoke
donned their distinctive colors, the week and mummy-wrapping contests.
went on to include Pajama Day on Tuesday, the newly enacted Twin Day on Learning from lackluster student parWednesday, and Jersey Day on Thurs- ticipation in past Spirit Weeks, this
day. The following day, October 25, was year's efforts were specifically dereserved for the annual Founder's Day signed to appeal to students. The SU
strove "to capture the pulse of the incelebration in Colden Auditorium.
Organized primarily by the Student put of the student body," said senior
Union Executive Board, headed by Stu- Maryann Tan, SU Vice President. Acdent Union (SU) President Jaime cording to her, the Executive Board first
Sackett, senior, with input from Student compiled initial ideas that were then
Senators, Spirit Week was planned over presented at Senate meetings, where
student-appointed senators served as liaisons between the different grades and
members of the decision-making team.
Spirit Week was also greatly influenced
by the efforts of Adam Stonehill, Coordinator of Student Affairs (COSA), who
called the week "very successful."
Student reaction to Spirit Week was
highly positive, with a level of participation and school pride that "has not been
so evident in past years," according to
Maryann. Popular music, whose theme
coincided with the day on which it was
played, featured modern selections such
as "Black Balloon'' and "Red, Red Wine"
in the interval between classes. The idea,
which proved to be a huge success
amongst the student population, was conceived by Jaime, who burned the CDs
used throughout the week, and the SU
Executive Board.
Freshmen, for whom Spirit Week was
uncharted territory, were especially
pleased with the festivities, citing the
music selection and the color war as the
standout features of the experience.
"Staying and decorating were fun activities. It was different because my old
school didn't have it," said freshman
Michael Montal, while fellow freshman
Christina Bordetti added that "it was cool
the way the music matched whatever day
it was." Senior Janice Chan echoed a
similar sentiment, "Color War Day was
the best day because the floors were
decorated really well, but I think the seniors did the best job."
Typically accustomed to strict dress
codes and signature symbols of propri-
Corrections: The Classic staff wishes to correct a few errors that were rnade in o~r October 2002 issue. The article
"Girls' Bowling strives for first place" was incorrectly attributed,to Josh Fox; it was written by Elyse Lee. The photo of two
fencers on Page 16 is ofJessica Cardona ansi Stephen Gross, who was identified as "Jonathan Gross'' instead. Also, in
"Boys on good track despite loss of runner," juniors David Bass, Stephen Berger and Andrew Rivera were identified as
sophomores.
'
·'
ety, some students were simply glad to
unwind, relax, and poke fun at their
teachers, some of whom also displayed
school spirit by adhering to the different freedoms granted during Spirit
Week. "Seeing your teachers in pajamas was amazing .. .and disgusting at
the same time," noted sophomore
Nikita Patel while junior Radha Patel
expressed glee upon realizing that hats
were allowed on Jersey Day, "I got to
show my playful side with my adorable
hat with ears," she said.
Despite increased participation and
"phenomenal decorations" according to
Mr. Stonehill (COSA), some students
expressed dissatisfaction with the
events of Spirit Week, citing a lack of
information and the unwillingness of
certain faculty members to abandon
rigid standards. "Twin Day was the
most ineffective; the senators dido' t
clarify what we were supposed to do,"
said Nikita, while fellow sophomore
Stephanie -Ca~tillo exclaimecl that the
"security guards told us to take off our
hats on Jersey Day and one of the teachers said that Spirit Week takes place in
the hallways, not in the classroom." Mr.
Stonehill added that the event could be
improved with "more lunchtime activities," including games, prizes, and
karaoke.
These activities took form on October 31 for the school's annual Halloween celebration. Each lunch band was
filled with students singing a variety of
songs, ranging from rock to pop, as
well as mummy-wrapping and costume
competitions. In the mummy-wrapping
contest, which was started last year,
various students stood still while some
of their classmates wrapped them with
toilet paper. The winners were awarded
with pizza for their efforts.
/
-
The Classic
5
December 2002
Young, old Harrisites honor Hall of Famers
by Daniel Bloch
Three years after he graduated from
Townsend Harris, Harvey Sabinson, '40,
found himself surrounded by Nazis in
France. Seven years ago, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and he was
in a train accident earlier this year.
Mr. Sabinson, a former theatrical
publicist and Tony award winner, was
"plenty scared" during all of these
events, "But," he quipped as he was inducted into the Townsend Harris Hall
of Fame on October 25, "I was never
more scared than when I took the entrance exam for Townsend Harris."
Mr. Sabinson was one of the eight
inductees who were honored during an
evening of dining and dancing at the
swanky Fifth Avenue Club in Midtown
Manhattan, and his story was one of the
many enjoyed by the guests, among
them about 30 current Harrisites and
various faculty members.
"Current students and faculty have
always been invited to the Hall of Fame
dinners," said David Herszenhorn, '90,
President of the Townsend Harris
Alumni Association. "This year, we
made a special effort to increase those
numbers and to solicit donations from
our members that would make it possible for a larger contingent of students
and teachers to attend."
Students mingled with each other and
alumni during a cocktail hour and the
three-course dinner, while a live band
Lusskin '42, Murray L. Nathan '31,
and Master of Ceremonies Tom Postilio, '91."
'88, serenaded the crowd with standards
"All of the award recipients were Louis H. Orzack '40, Ted Peck '42, Dr.
from the American songbook, including graduates of the original Townsend Har- Murray Rockowitz '34, Murray
works by THHS graduates Ira ris and are now in their 70s, 80s and Schiffman '42 and Reginald Rose '36.
Mr. Rose, the writer and Emmy
Gershwin, Frank Loesser and Richard 90s," Mr. Herszenhorn added. "And
Rodgers.
alumni of the re-opened school - all of award winner who penned 12 Angry
"I enjoyed the evening very much," them in their 20s or early 30s - felt it Men, died earlier this year. His grandsaid senior Daniella Pagan. "I was very was important to continue the tradition daughter, junior Mollie Laffin-Rose,
happy that I was
accepted the honor on his behalf and
shared memories about her grandfather
able to interact
in her speech.
with alumni
"More than ever, we feel that it's imfrom the old
portant for Townsend Harris students to
school, and it
recognize that they are part of a grand
motivated me
legacy in New York City public high
to be more inschool education," Mr. Herszenhorn
volved in the
said. "Alumni are often very impressed
school, espeby the Townsend Harris students that
cially now that
<; they meet. And meeting students in perI'm a senior."
] son deepens their interest in supporting
"The lady
:;, the high school."
next to me [the
~
Senior Julie Deluty said she was
wife of an
:;,
amazed
"to see after all these years, that
alumnus] was
.<:>
~[alumni] were still involved and very
really funny,"
5: devoted [to THHS]. This inspired me to
remarked sestay active after I graduate."
nior Johnson
Honoree Ted Peck, who created the
Chong.
"I
·h
II Five inductees into the Townsend Harris Hall of Fame toast each other
Hall of Fame and who helped petition
WIS we can a while singing "Gaudeamus lgitur," a Latin song celebrating youth.
the Board of Education to re-open
be
as
Townsend Harris, made a special recarefree ... in our
old age."
of the Hall of Fame and also to continue quest in his acceptance speech.
"Bring back the magic and mystique
Mr. Herszenhorn explained that this to recognize the extraordinary achieveyear's dinner was "extra special" be- ments of the graduates of the original [to Townsend Harris]," he asked the sea
of old and young faces before him. "I
cause "for the very first time it was or- Townsend Harris."
ganized primarily by younger alumni.
Seven other alumni were honored can't tell you how [to do it], but if we
The chief organizer was Alicia Hughes, along with Harry Sabinson: Dr. Ralph 'geniuses' can't do it, who can?''
P.S. 499 offers opportunity
for service closer to home
by Linda Luu
Imagine the possibility of fulfilling
the 40 hours of required community
work right in your backyard. Seniors are
now able to receive service credit for
offering their assistance to P.S. 499, an
elementary school located just minutes
away on the Queens College campus.
Seniors were recently informed about
this opportunity by security agent Alice
Gatling.
According to Agent Gatling, P.S. 499
is in dire need of assistance. Not only
is there a shortage of school aides, but
there is also a lack of security. She
stressed that the school itself is not
housed in a building, but rather in trailers that are located in an area that is open
to the campus. From the perspective of
the 177 students' parents, this poses a
threat to the children's safety." [The parents] are very concerned and upset," she
said.
For those interested, the many tasks
for which volunteers are responsible are
clerical work, monitoring, making
phone calls and acting as a teacher's
assistant.
"I know that Townsend Harris is a
Humanities school and that students
need to receive a certain number of service credits during their four years. I
thought P.S. 499 would be a very convenient location for them," said Agent
Gatling. She believes that Harrisites
who choose to volunteer their time at
the school will be of "great assistance"
and expresses her high hopes that this
program will continue in years to come.
Both Agent Gatling and Principal
Thomas Cunningham credited Participatory Democracy instructor Myron
Moszkowitz with being the "driving
force" behind this program. Mr.
Cunningham feels that P.S. 499 is an
"important venue for community service for students." Like Agent Gatling,
he pointed out the elementary school's
proximity to Townsend Harris and how
this would be well situated for those
students who want to offer their services.
In addition, Mr. Cunningham emphasized the importance of e.stablish~
ing connections with other educational
institutions. "Relationships between
schools provide a steady stream of opportunities for students," he stated, adding that volunteering with P.S. 499
would be an effective experience for
students who plan to do something like
this as a career in the future. "Students
helping students is what society is all
about!" exclaimed Mr. Cunningham.
Briefly .
Seniors Janice Chan, Susan
Chang, Lauren Lazar, Nancy
Lee and Amy Patel were named
NatiQnal-Merit Scholarship semifinalists.
The National Achievement Program
foli Black Americans named seniors Laverne Blackman,
Angelina Farnan, Marisa
Gomes, Galemarie Ola and
Nicole Reid as Commended
Scholars.
Catherine Anicama , Tiffany
Dominguez, Arianna .F reyre,
Amanda Hl)feez, Yanine Hess
anq Dougl~ Manhart, seniors,
have been selected as National
Hispanic Scholars.
This yeaF's featured teachers of
Whq 's Who Among America's
Teachers are biology and science
research instructor Rosemarie
Eaton, chemistry teacher Adel
Kadamani and former Latin
teacher Thaddeus Ferguson.
English teacher Debra Michlewi.tz
was chosen as a New York Lottety Educator of the Week.
The Moot Court team was a semifimdist ·in this year's ·competition _
The Economics Leaders program of
Boston's Babson Coll'ege placed
• •
senior Lea Ozeri at the level of
Proficiency in Economic Understanding.
Sophomore Chantal Bruno concluded her studies at the School
of Orchestral Studies of the New
York State Summer School of the
Arts.
'02 graduates Richard Cupola,
John Emanuele, Uya Kalinik,
Laura Kim, Terrence Lai, Margaret Li, David Park, Christina
Per-dos and .Emily RivlinNadler are schol;;trship winners
in the Bertelsmann's World of
Expression contest.
The Classic won a vari~ty of awards
from ,the Empire State School
Press Association, including the
First Amendment Honor Roll
(Gold), best overall coverage of
September 11 (Bronze) and best
newspaper (Silver).
Seniors Daniel Bloch, Josh Fox,
Jamie GuUen, and Sa.rah
Schnee, junior Lina Lee, and
Allison Slotnick, '02, wrote winning ar.ticles that were awarded
by the Empire State School Press
Assodation, which is based at the
Newh0use Sch0ol of Journalism
at Syracus~ l:{niversity.
6
-
The Classic
December 2002
G reenstreets 'program
rejuvenates the Earth
by Sangsoo Kim and Jessica Wang
Members of Students for the Preservation of the Earth (SPE) and advisor
Susan Getting, Interim Acting Assistant
Principal of Humanities, are weeding,
watering plants and picking up trash as
participants in the Greenstreets program. This citywide New York City
Parks Department project allows interested individuals to take care of a plot
of land, usually situated at a highway
triangle, and turn it into a green garden
with flowering shrubs.
SPE's Greenstreets spot is located between Reeves Avenue and 61 Road, near
Colden Center's parking lot.
For the past two years, SPE attended
the ringing of the Peace Bell to celebrate
the real Earth Day, the first day of
spring, at the United Nations. But this
year, SPE strove to get more directly involved in the beautification of the environment. The club looked at the Parks
Department's
web
site
(www.nycparks.com) and found out
about the Greenstreets program.
Senior Susan Cheng, president of
SPE, remarked that the Greenstreets
program is "the Park Department's way
of making the city more green . Most of
the plots are highway triangles, but SPE
was lucky to get a Greenstreet that was
in a safer place. It's like doing park
cleanups on a regular basis ...just a really small park."
The club faces the problem of watering the plants at the site. When SPE first
took on the project in late October, there
were no usable water sources near the
plot. Water could not be drawn from
nearby fire hydrants because of the city
water shortage. While the drought is
now officially over, the club does not
know if it can draw water from hydrants
yet.
Club members appear enthusiastic
about this project. "I think it's great because I'm taking part in the betterment
of our community," said senior Shrimati
Balram.
SPE is a club with a long history, having been involved in projects such as the
school recycling program and the creation of Harold, the dinosaur made of
crushed cans in the second floor lobby.
It currently has I 0 members.
"Education about the environment
must start at an early age so that environmentally sound behavior becomes
habit," said Ms. Getting.
Susan remains optimistic. "If people
see how nice it is to have these
Greenstreets, it will encourage them to
protect their environment, too," she said.
"All we can hope is try to teach people
about the importance of protecting the
environment- especially since we're living in a world where the environment is
degrading at such a fast rate."
Academic team to show its Smarts on TV
Continued from p. 1
Sharon Chin, Bernadette Cruz and Blazej
Kesy, and junior Matthew Hallex, plus
two alternates, seniors Susan Cheng and
Carlos Gonzales. They were recommended by teachers for their academic
and general knowledge, as well as their
abilities to work as a team. The teachers
also looked for "people with energy on
camera," said Assistant Principal of Pupil Personnel Services Janet Solomon,
who acted as a liaison between WNYE
and the students.
The members did not have regular
preparation sessions, but they did study
from booklets about New York City museums and landmarks.
The team participated in three competitions, all taped in front of an audience at WNYE studios in Brooklyn . In
the first game, on October 23, Townsend
Harris won against Bronx Leadership
Academy 50 to 26 . "[We] trounced
them!" said Ms. Solomon, afterwards.
In the second game·, on October 28,
Townsend Harris won again, this time
against Midwood High School in
Brooklyn. The score was 47 to 28, and
the THHS audience members were
thrilled.
"I think the team did an excellent job
representing the school," said senior
Stacy Christoforidis after the game.
The third and final game took place
on November I, against the ·School of
Environmental Studies. Right after
reaching the quarterfinals, the team lost
this game 41 to 37.
"I was disappointed at first, because
we came so close! But then I was happy
because it was over, and I could go back
to playing volleyball," said Bernadette.
"I wasn't thrilled about [losing], but we
played a good game, and lost to a good
team," said Matthew.
The questions on the show "ran the
gamut of topics- from movies to chemistry," said Daniel. "You really had to
rely on your street smarts and common
sense."
Trivia or not, all the questions related
to New York City, and increased in difficulty as the game progressed. "Clearly,
in the first round [the questions] were
easier," said social studies teacher
Franco Scardino, who accompanied the
group to all their matches .
"I thought it was really great," Susan said, "and [since I am] a senior, it's
probably going to be one of my most
memorable events [in THHS]."
"The team was great. We all got
along really well," said Bernadette, "We
had all known each other before, but I
feel that the experience brought us together."
On November 13, three people from
the WNYE television studio visited
Townsend Harris to film a standard 45second profile on the school. This documentary will feature a voiceover by
Daniel and will highlight aspects of the
school community. It will be aired with
the first game on December 30.
Classic members attend
Journalism seminar
by Jessica Bader
Representatives of school newspapers from all over the city attended the
New York City Scholastic Press
Association's annual Fall Journalism
Conference on November I at Queens
College. Five members of The Classic's
staff (seniors Jennifer Sheth and
Jonathan Perez and juniors Jessica
Bader, Stephen Berger, and Chloe
Chao) were in attendance.
Participants had the opportunity to
take part in workshops conducted by
Queens College professors, reporters
from the New York Times, Newsday, and
the Queens Tribune, and experienced
high school newspaper advisors. Session leaders included New York Times
reporter David Herszenhorn, '90, and
English teacher lisa Cowen, Vice President of the NYCSPA and advisor of The
Classic.
Ms. Cowen, who helped to organize
the conference, was pleased with its
success. 'The participants seemed to be
really stimulated, not only by their encounters with seasoned professionals,
but with each other," she said, adding,
"In the First Amendment workshop I
conducted, I was very pleased to see students from so many schools who cared
about the First Amendment and were
eager to learn about their rights and responsibilities."
At a special session for advisors,
Carol Hacker, the head of Newsday's
Newspapers in Education program, offered teachers at the conference free
newspaper subscriptions for their
classes . Ms . Cowen's journalism class
now receives Newsday twice a week.
Attendees of the conference agreed
that it was a good experience. "It was
very informative," Jonathan said. "I was
actually surprised at how much I had
learned that day."
"It was a fun experience for me,"
commented Jennifer. "It was surprising
to see so many students interacting with
the workshop instructors; they all
showed a keen interest in journalism."
Stephen enjoyed "meeting people from
other schools who were also interested
in sportswriting," as well as the lunch
provided at the conference. "The tuna
sandwich was good," he said. "In fact,
all the sandwiches were good. I ate them
all."
Fricione joins faculty,
plans library renovations
Richard Fricione
by Jamie Gullen
· Richard Fricione has assumed
the position of Custodian Engine-er
this. term afteli the retirement of Joseph DiGiacomo. Mr. Frkione
brought with him notonly experience,
but also new ideas for improving the
Harris community.
Mr. Frici~me last Worked at Pub•
lie School33 in Queens,
but decided to apply for
a transfer, saying, "I
saw
the
school,
[Townsend Harris], was
such a beautiful place
so I decided I had to be
a part of it." He applied
for the transfer by putting in an application,
which then is processed
according to seniority
and ratings based on
performance.
So far, Mr. Fricione
has greatly enjoyed
working in this building. "It reminds me of a
museum. It is so wonderful," he said. Along
with his regular job responsibilities, Mr.
Fricione has been working with Principal Thomas Cunn.ingham to
make some renovatibns
to the library. "We would like to get
the library a new floor. We want to
rip. up the old earpeting and put
down a nice tiled floor," said Mr.
Fricione. These changes will be
made in the near future.
In his spare. titne, Mr. Fricione
enjoys bike riding and spending
time with his two teenage kids.
\
~ .i
IL__~~~~--~--------~--~-------
The Classic
7
December 2002
Captors of calculus chain ru·le dolls come clean
by Jennifer Gong
photographs, taken on a Townsend HarMath teacher John Brown spent two ris staircase, were accompanied by
weeks trying to unfold the mystery of strands ofhairfrom the doll and a rhymhis two missing chain rule dolls that ing verse requesting Mr. Brown to "say
were "doll-napped"
the words 'toy
last month. Now the ·
boat'
five
enigma has been
times fast."
solved, the thieves
Mr. Brown
have revealed themdiscovered
selves and the dolls
who the culare safe and sound
prits
were
in the drawers of
when Katrina
Mr. Brown's desk in
gave him her
room 510.
college recomSeniors
Eun
mendations
Kwak, Sonia Lim,
with a note at
Katherine Seid and
the bottom adKatrina Yee, all in
~ mitting to the
..c:
Mr. Brown's first
~ act.
.• __ ::2
"We gave
band Advanced
Placement Calculus
~ the dolls back
class, swiped the
~ because we
plastic dolls, which
~ didn't want it
hang upside down
~ to drag on,"
from metal chains
said Sonia, beand that Mr. Brown
cause it would
traditionally whips
have become
out of his desk "to
"corny after
Math teacher John Brown is reunited with his
emphasize the diffi- chain rule dolls after they were "doll-napped" by
awhile."
culty of the rule" four prank-pulling seniors.
"The joke
when a student
was
over.
makes a mistake usThey had their
ing it.
fun and that was it," Mr. Brown agreed.
"The chain rule doll is a representa"Kathy was the mastermind [of the
tion of literally getting tripped up on the prank]," said Sonia, whereas "Katrina
chain rule," he said. This rule is one of
a set for finding the derivative, or slope
of the tangent, of a function and is taught
in both Calculus (Math Eight) and AP
Calculus, although Mr. Brown only uses
by Marlo Dublin
the dolls in the AP classes.
Interested in entering a c.ontest?
Eun, Sonia, Katherine and Katrina
Look flO further! Both the humanistole the dolls after Mr. Brown had told
ties and science departments have retheir class about former pranks involvceived word of several opportunities
ing the dolls' disappearances. "He was
for students to show their abilities.
asking for it," said Katherine. "He kept
Below is a list of ·the newest contelling us the stories [of the earlier jokes]
tests available. See Interim Assistant
and how the previous seniors couldn't
Principal of the Humanities Susan
pull it off."
Getting or Assistant Principal of Sci"We wanted to top off the previous
ence Susan Brustein for more inforpranks," Katrina added.
mation.
After the dolls were stolen, the culprits began to leave ransom notes for Mr.
1. "Tq.da!'' (a one act playwriting
Brown requesting sums of gold in excontest): Students interested in enterchange for the dolls. Mr. Brown and his
ing should submit an original one.act
AP Calculus classes read the notes,
play dealing with a contemporary
which were written in the form of mathteenage .issue. Winners will receive
ematical limits, as asking for zero
cash prizes and. a staged reading by
amounts and negative infinity amounts
·actors.
of gold.
DEADLINE: January 21, 20CJ3
"Mr. Brown kept reading the limits
wrong," said Katherine. "It was an in2. Tisch School of the Arts.,, Sum•
finity amount of gold, not zero, not
P"tet B;igh S'~h9ol Ptogr,ams: Slq~
negative infinity. That's why we had to
dents 'interes~· will .partielpate in ·a
issue a correction form," she said, rev.atiecy pi' prpgra,ms of study .in New
ferring to another ransom note.
¥ork and -a bwad
·
Eun put these notes together letter :oEiili,.INE: 'MaFCh a, zoos
by-letter from magazine cutouts. Mr.
Brown noted that the cutouts· were all
'R o'l ocaust Remem·bl"anc-e
from magazines that are usually read by
Pro'j'~ct: Stud.eri'ts interes-ted. sllo~ld
teenage girls and therefore suspected
wFite ;} 1200-word ·e~S"ay ·on the hnthat one of his female students was inp~t;tali!ii#' :of remembering" the~ Hel'ovolved.
caust.
The prank continued to include phoDEADLINE: April '30,t 2003
tographs of the dolls, one with its mouth
taped shut and the other with its eyes
· covered, that were taken by ·Sonia. The
R
did the finer points of
the production,"
added Katherine.
"I also dressed
one of the dolls to
look
like
Mr.
Brown,"
said
Katrina. "I made
glasses and everything [including] cotton in the belly" and
a belt around the
waist. Katrina made a
tiny ruler to resemble
the one that Mr.
Brown uses to get his
students to participate in class, which
she gave to him after
the prank was over.
Mr. Brown noted
that the best part of
the prank was the
photographs of the
"dolls bound and
gagged," as well as
the ransom notes that Photos depicting the chain rulle dolls bound and gagged on a
showed "someone Townsend Harris staircase were given to Mr. Brown by the dollspent a lot of time at- nappers. Mr. Brown later said that these photos were "the best
part" of the prank.
tending to detail."
Now that he has
his dolls back in his arms, Mr. Brown is maintained that there could be no
"relieved." "I love my chain rule dolls," subsitute for the missing dolls. "I was
he admitted. "They just looked so un- just carrying around the chain, but it was
happy Jin the photographs." He also a little empty."
Contest Corner
'
4. Shakespeare Competition:
Study, memorize and perform a monologue from one of Shakespeare's plays.
Round One will take place .in fhe THHS
library the second or third week in January.
.
DEADLINE: See Ms. Blechman. immediately.
5. The· Sanburg Family History Program: A two week summer interdisciplinary seminar for junior and senior
high school students in which eac.h participant learns to disc.n ver his or her
family history and to connect it to Jewish history.
DEADLINE: April 3, 2003
6. St. Lawrence University Prize For
Young Writers·: El.e.venth and twelfth
grade students should submit original
entries in one ef three categories: poetry, creative noii~ficti_on and fiction, of
a maJ{infum of six pages. Award1; of casb
pritzes~and attendance at the·University's
"'¥dung Wi.itef·s C~pference.''
DEADL(ll$t Be~w~--en J~uary Zand
Ma.rch 1, 2003
7. liightb Annual Kor~~o~ H~ii~ge
Essay ·,Gontest: $tqdents. in•.gJCapes 9
12 should submit an essa! two, to fout
pages in ·Ien-g-th on the topi\:l '~he.Con:­
ttib_prions oi''Koreanlmnugrants-"
DEAiiLINE: .faopaey '3},.2003
8. Fresh Mead·ows P.oets Lila
Wheeler-Duckett Poetry Contest:
Write a poem that reflects upon the
theme "Life in Queens in the School
Year 2002-2003."
DEADLINE: December 21, 2002
9. Third Anonal "Iverness is all
Ears" Essay Contest: Students ages
14-19 should write an essay of 150
words or less that reflects upon the
topic "If you had the ear of one special person, famous or not, what
would you tell them and why?''
DEADLINE: March 7, 2003
10. Dupont Cba.llenge: Students
should ~ubmit a scientific essay on a
topjc of their choice. 'Fopi.cs in biology, chemistry, physics, e.arth science
and astronomy are acceptable. Cash
prizes will be awarded) and essays
shoold be limited to 1000 words.
DEADI.~: January 2,, 2003
U. Young Naturalist ;\wards: StuEleJ)ts· !}Ced to s~bmlt a nana~ve es-
say d(;'<se.ri}:1i:ng -~ !IC.ienti:fic expedition
9fan essa:y. witb a focq~ on field jour~
nl!l entries., ~zes· -incwds: east), entry
publi.ca.fion, tdp to N~w Ybrk Cby
to tour, ·behind-.the"'s~en!!s at the
A:metieiJ}l Museum of Natural History
an'\J an oapor;tunity t() m~et' SC·ienfists:
:a
D;E~LRiltt ~altuar~ 2, 2003
8
The Classic
December 2002
I~
J-
Well-attended mixer stirs up .controversy
by Lina Lee
The kick-off mixer, held October 4
in the Queens College Student Union for
the first time in two years, enjoyed "a
lot more attendance" than past ones, according to Eun Kwak, member of the
Senior Council.
More than 500 tickets were sold for
the event, which is traditionally held so
freshmen can mingle with upperclassmen while raising money for the senior
class at the same time.
Along with the widely-acknowledged success of this year's mixer came
a trio of incidents that resulted in a short
disruption of the dance and disciplinary
action for five students.
Two intoxicated seniors attempted to
get into the dance, but were stopped by
teachers who sensed that something was
wrong. Three juniors were caught selling fake tickets to the event, and a
former Harrisite from Benjamin
Cardozo High School snuck into the
dance and was later forced to leave.
"They broke every code of ethics and
trust," said senior class advisor Franco
Scardino. "They have been punished for
what they did."
According to Mr. Scardino, the two
drunk students were suspended immediately. They were barred from attending certain school events, and some senior activities.
The three juniors who duplicated and
sold tickets to underclassmen photocopied the original tickets that cost eight
dollars, used a black pen to change the
numbers printed on them and sold them
for five dollars apiece. "The students
were suspended for breaking the code
of trust," said Mr. Scardino.
The former Townsend Harris student,
who had transferred to Cardozo High
School, tried to sneak into the mixer,
held only for current Harrisites, by using her old program card and a ticket
that a friend had bought for her. The nonHarrisite claimed that there were other
students from Cardozo present at the
dance, and the room was evacuated immediately. Program cards were then
checked more carefully by teachers. played a variety of popular ~_pusic genres
"The security checking process wasted such as reggae, hip-hop, 'trance and
so much time because everyone had to R&B. Glow sticks were thrown out to
line up again and go in one by one," said the crowd as students danced to trance
junior Charity Canuto. No other outsider music. "The DJ was amazing!" exwas found during the security check, and claimed freshmanAnjie Zheng. The DJ,
Cardozo was quickly informed of the who played interactive games, ·keep the
student's actions. "Security was not the crowd excited throughout the event.
issue. It was just one student who was a These included a boys versus girls singformer student here," explained Mr. along. "I think the games were pretty
Scardino.
exciting. Everyone was telling me how
"Besides the problems, I felt this great it was this year," said Coordinator
year's mixer was better than last year's of Student Activities (COSA) Adam ·
because it was held in the SU building. Stonehill.
We had betterDJ's also," said Charity.
Seniors organized the dance for three
Senior Council members, who weeks and began advertising for the
worked together with Mr. Scardino, mixer two weeks prior to the date to prodecorated the dance room with colorful mote sales. "The seniors were followballoons and white tablecloths to create ing people around, trying to persuade
a dance/ cafe-like atmosphere. Free bev- . them to go. I was not able to go, but now
erages and snacks, including chips and I wish I did . I heard it was great," said
cookies, were available throughout the freshman Rosie Walia. Senior Benjamin
event. "We didn't even run out of food. Seo agreed. "I wasn't at the mixer last
There was enough soda and snacks for year, but from the feedback that I heard
everyone," said Mr. Scardino.
about last year, this year was much betDJ's from High Class Entertainment ter," he said. "Go seniors!"
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The Classic
9
December 2002
Teenagers can succumb to alcohol's temptation
by Jessica Berger & Linda Luu
Temptation comes in many shapes,
colors, sizes and flavors. The menu of
the average Applebee's or TGIFridays
restaurant provides a wide variety of
alcoholic beverages: .some shocking
pink, others electric blue or dazzling
orange. They all have one thing in common: for the average high-schooler, they
are illegal.
Teen drinkers sometimes take on the
personae of public figures such as Barbara and Jenna Bush, the now 21-yearold daughters of our nation's president,
but recently, the issue of teen drinking
hit the Townsend Harris community
when two seniors arrived intoxicated to
the kick-off mixer on October 4. The
parents of these students were contacted, and sources told Senior Advisor
Franco Scardino that other students,
who had not attended the mixer, had
been drinking during the day as well.
"I think that this is pretty shocking.
You would think that people in our
school have more sense than to come
drunk to a school activity. That's also
irresponsible because it could be a threat
to other students [at the mixer]," said a
female junior.
Some students, on the other hand,
were not surprised by the recent incident. "It's not unusual. I'm sure it happens all the time at other high schools,"
pointed out a female sophomore. "Harris students on many levels are just like
other teenagers at less prestigious high
schools. We are susceptible to the same
temptations to experiment and fit in with
all the other people who 'do the cool
thing,"' said a female junior.
When asked if the incident at the
mixer points to an underlying problem
in the Townsend Harris community or
if this is just an isolated occurrence, Mr.
Scardino replied, "Teens experiment,
but I don't think that this is a big problem in our school. Maybe there is more
experimentation than we know about or
we would like to admit, but I think issues like this will have more impact at
home than in school." Dean Wanda Nix
also believes that alcohof consumption
is not a large problem among Harrisites.
"Most of our students are smart enough
to understand the consequences of
drinking," she said. " But there are students who will try it because it is accepted at home or because they view it
as a solution to their problems and will
let them become part of a crowd," she
added.
A similar but far more severe incident occurred in October in Scarsdale,
New York, where high school students
with alcohol poisoning had to be sent to
the hospital. The superintendent of the
Scarsdale school district, Dr. Michael V.
McGill, commented in The New York
Times, "The issue most fundamentally
has to be addressed in individual homes,
by individual kids and individual families. We have a part to play. But we're
really talking about a change of heart
no institution can address."
A male senior agreed. "I think it's
more a family issue. Parents are the
people that are responsible for providing for the child, and they" also contribute to the child's personality and val-
erage, minors come in contact with alcohol at age 11 for boys and 13 for girls.
CNN.com reports that "the younger a
person starts drinking, the more likely
Matthew Barbery
ues," he said. "It's never all the parents'
fault whenever this stuff happens, but
they do have a large role to play in the
life of the child."
"The best way ·for a parent to control their kids [as far as alcoholism is
concerned] is to keep any type of alcohol out of the house or at least a~ay
from a place where it is easily obtainable," said school nurse Maria Barone.
"Also, it is important for parents to try
their best to get to know the kids their
child hangs out with and keep numbers
at hand in case an emergency arises."
Studies have shown that alcohol consumption is escalating among teenagers in America. According to a February 2002 article from TIME magazine,
underage drinkers are responsible for
consuming 25 percent of all the alcohol in the United States. A New York
Times article on February 27, however,
calls this figure inaccurate and says the
percentage is closer to 11.4.
Results of a survey conducted by
TIME over the course of two years sug. gest that over 5 million high school students are involved in binge drinking at
least once a month. The term "binge
drinking" means getting drunk repeatedly within a time period of one or two
days. This figure is 31 percent of all students who attend secondary school. In
addition, 40 percent of ninth graders of
both genders disclosed that they drink
sporadid1lly, while 81 percent of all
high school students have tried alcohol
at some point in their lives.
"Drinking is a problem that is hard
to prevent in high school and I doubt it
will ever be stopped, but there is a limit
that teens should not cross," said a female junior. "Taking a sip once in a
while is no big deal but coming to
school drunk is a whole different issue,"
she added .
Not only have an increasing number of teenagers been experimenting
with alcohol recently, but they have also
been trying it at a younger age. On av-
and about 23% of sexually active youths
surveyed in the same age group have admitted to not using protection as a result of intoxication. An article entitled,
"I Was Raped at a Party," appearing in
the June/July 2002 issue of Cosmo girl!,
featured the story of a teenage girl who
was raped subsequent to Gonsuming an
alcoholic beverage that may have been
spiked with "date-rape drugs."
According to the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, car accidents, homicide, and suicide are the primary causes of fatalities among 15-24-year olds, especially
when alcohol is involved. In 1999, the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
reported that 22% of the casualties of
car accidents between the ages of 16
and 20 had blood alcohol concentrations of at least 0.1 0%, which is the
legal limit in New York State. "Some
teenagers will continue to do what they
do, and not really think about the consequences," remarked a male junior.
Alcohol use as an adolescent can
also impair mental health . Researchers revealed that alcohol problems as a
teen can lead an individual toward depression and antisocial or borderline
personality disorders later on in life.
"The school frowns on teen drinking not only because it is against school
rules, but also because it is illegal," said
Ms. Nix, who declined to comment on
specific punishments. "This places students in a tough position because they
can be arrested, as teen drinking is
against the law, but we will continue to
enforce school rules and the law if we
need to."
this individual will abuse alcohol or become an alcoholic." Results from a
study by the National Institution on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism suggest
that "people who begin drinking before
they tum 15 are four times more likely
to develop alcoholism than those who
start drinking at the legal age of 21."
The reasons for drinking vary, but
one female junior offered her reasons.
She said, "I drink occasionally at parties if I'm stressed out or just so I can
loosen up and have a little fun. I drank
my first sip of beer when I was 13, but I
first started getting drunk freshman year
after I started in this crazy high school
atmosphere." O,ut of the students who Sources:
claimed that they do drink occasionally,
Teen-agers often mix unsafe sex with
many added that they drink mostly at "Study:
drink, drugs ." CNN Website. Online. 7 Feb
family get-togethers or in the company
2002. <http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/02/07/
of their parents or relatives. Another feteen.sex/index.html>
male junior added, "I have never gotten "Alcohol and Teen Drinking." Focus Adolescent
Services Website.Online. 20 Oct 2002. <http:
drunk. I do not drink to get drunk, and I
//www.focusas.com/alcohol.html>
do not drink in any remote version of Gross, Jan e. "Teenagers' Binge Leads Scarsdale
'excessive."'
·
to Painful Self-Reflection:' New York Times 8
Oct. 2002:Bl+.
Students also gave diverse reasons
for 'abstaining from alcohol. A .feihale Lewin , TarnaL "Disturbing Finding on Young
Drinkers Proves to Be Wrong." New York Times
junior said, "I do not drink because I
27 February 2002: AI+.
don't like the taste, because I do not Jnsurance Institute for Highway Safety Website.
"Q&A:Aicohol: Underage Drinking." Online.
want the extra calories, because I know
Dec 2002.<http://wwwjihs.org/safety_facts/
people do very stupid things when they
qandaunderage.htm>
are drunk, because I don'twant to hook Kluger, Jeffrey. "How to Manage Teen Drinking
(The Smart Way)." Time MaRazine June
up with someone and then regret it af2002:42-44.
terwards, because I want to remember
Taber, Kimberly Conniff "I Was Raped at a
what I did the night before, and because
Party."Co.\'fflORirl!: June/July 2002: 149-151.
I know that I can have fun without alco- Web MD Website. "Heavy Teenage Drinkers Can
Become Heavy Adult Drinkers; Teen Drinkers
hol." Most of the interviewed sludents
Also at Risk for Future Depression, Other Subwho responded that they do not drink
stance Abuse." Online. 22 Jan 200 I. <http://
reiterated the sentiments of this student.
mywebmd.com/content/article/1728.70332>
Joseph Califano, former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare,
told TIME that underage drinking can
result in dangerous, and sometimes fatal, activity. Experimentation can lead
to unprotected sex. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey presented
by CNN.com, 43% ofthose questioned,
aged 15 to 24, worry that they "might
do more sexually than [they] had
planned because of alcohol or drugs,"
10
The Classic
December 2002
I· ·.
~!fitiijijJl14JR
J-
Eminem's careei· makes great strid:es in debut of 8 Mile
by Diana Bell
Infamous rapper Emin:em, bern
as Marshal] Bruce Mathers m, has
another tide to add to his resume movie star. The opening weekend
saw packed theaters and sellout
crowds, all highly anticipating his
first movie release entitled 8 Mite.
8 Mile is not autobiographical,
although Mather's role as Jimmy
"Rabbit" Smith Jr. is certainly not
a stretch for the rapper notorious
for his tough childhood growing up
on 8 Mile Road and dysfunctional
relationship with his mother. The
movie takes place seven years in
the past, before the murders of
Tupac and Biggie shocked the nation, when rap was still yeung and
the existence of white rappers, like
Eminem, was unheard of.
8 Mile stars Bminem as an MC
struggling to ma'ke it big at a local
hip-hop club while having to cope
with life in a trailer park with his
train wreck of a mother, played by
Kim B·asinger. His best friend Future (Mekhi Phifer) helps Jimmy
get thraugh his problems, most of
which stem from his relationship with
his girlfriend Alex
(Brittany
Murphy.) The cast
perfermances of
the screenplay are
powerM and they
succeed in making
audience members
refJ.ect on their
own li~s.
Virtually every
other word said is
either slang or a
profanity and this
detractS from the
movie. However.
8 Mile's colorful
characters, realistic situa~ions, and
Emin~m·s
astounding on screen
presence compensate for the extreme profanity and make this movie
a must-se,e .
8 Mile is a pleasure to view. Out
ABCMATH
ACADEMY
• SAT • PSAT • AP • ,
•HUNTER•
• SPECIAL HIGH •
James Liu
Math instructor, Dean
42-78 Main Street 2nd FL.
Flushing, NY 11355
Tel: . (718) 888:7866
Fax: (718)888-7989
Email: abcmathacademy@ hotmail.com
of all the perf'OI:mances, Eminem's
character, Rabbit, seems the most
Stacey Lee
realistic. Anybody watching his
performance can relate to his char-
acter- he plays the r0le of a brother
and son, struggl~ng with the identities of also being a bad boy and
rapper.
Murphy's character, Alex, is
irritating. Sne is trying to make it
in the modelin·g industry and
breaks Rabbit's heart in the process. She constantly complains
about her problems. Phifer's character stands by Rabbit tbrough
thick and thin, proving that life in
the ghetto can be easier if you have
Joyal people beside you. Pity is a
word that comes to mind when
viewers see Basinger's position in
this movie. 8he tries her hardest
to provide for her family, but certain issues keep her fmm h>eing a
very good mother figure.
8 Mile is not appropriate for
younger viewers. It has a graphic
· sex scene, touches on fragile subjects, and its script contains extreme profanity. Only viewers who
can understand and handlethe fact
that life can be harsh at times
should go see this fthn.
Potter proves to be potent
in spellbinding audiences
by Donna Mordente
fense Against the Dark Arts, Gilderoy
Harry Potter and 'company have
Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh).
made a legendary return to the
Notable performances include Richard Harris' profound representation of
Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and
Wizardry in Chris Columbus's Harry
Albus Dumbledore, headmaster, and
Maggie Smith's affecting portrayal of
Potter and the Chamber of Secrets . The
adventurous and imaginative aspects
Professor Minerva McGonagall. Toassociated with the best-selling books,
gether, they display impressive talent on
J.K. Row lings's Harry Potter series, are
screen. The performance of Christian
Coulson as Voldemort, disguised as Tom
vividly captured on screen. An intriguRiddle, is also noteworthy. He does
ing storyline, accompanied by
immeasurable excitement and
an excellent job in portraying a
humor, easily makes Harry
truly sinister and conniving character.
Potter and the Chamber of
Creative visual and
Secrets. a great success.
As
Harry
(Daniel
sound effects are an outRadcliffe) departs for his secstanding feature of Harry
ond year at Hogwart's
Potter and the Chamber of
School, suspicion arises
S e - crets. The unique
when a mysterious voice is
monsters
heard in the
and crea.-,
tures of
corridors of CF"&:
~
the schooL
P•
"=
"" .
the film
This voice be~~ appear lifelongs to an evil creature which is belike in their
0
movements
·
and traits,
lieved to have escaped from the hidden Chamber of Secrets, a winding trail
while realistic sound supplies an additional thrill to many of the already exof tunnels created decades ago. This
creature begins to harm selected stuhilarating events.
Running for approximately two
dents in order to raise fear in the school.
Harry and his courageous, loyal comhours and 40 minutes, this movie is quite
panions Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint)
lengthy. Although some scenes such as
the Quidditch matches and classroom inand Hermoine Granger (Emma
structions may appear insignificant,
Watson), embark on a journey to uneach of them further enhances the qualicover the Chamber and defeat the evil
ties of,the characters and often serves
that it embraces.
Joining the cast of characters are
as comical entertainment.
Despite the movie's PG rating, Harry
Dobby (voice by Toby Jones), an unPotter and the Chamber of Secrets conusual house elf that attempts to protect
tains some rather violent action. HowHarry from the danger lurking at
ever, this film captivates younger viewHogwart's, Lucius Malfoy (Jason
ers as well as an older audience.
Isaacs), and the new Professor of De-
U
-
The Classic
11
Frida blooms ~ith vivid images, e·motion·s of artist
by Angela Hom
Visually stunning Frida, a film based
on the life of Mexican painter Frida
Kahlo, is as colorful and full of vibrant
emotion as the paintings of the artist
herself.
The film, directed by Julie Taymor
(The Lion King on Broadway, Titus),
immediately immerses the audience in
color with its beginning scenes of
Kahlo's home. The walls of her courtyard are painted a neon blue, while a
peacock roams amid potted cacti
crowded on the ground. The protagonist,
played by Salma Hayek, soon appears,
wearing a spectacular dress in the style
of the Mexican Indians with red ribbons
braided through her hair. As a result of
a bus accident which had occurred when
she was a teenager, she is being carried
in a bed from her house to a truck waiting to take her to her first exhibit in her
own country.
Frida then flashes back to Kahlo's
teenage years and goes on to vividly portray the almost fatal bus accident and
her struggle to recover. It was during this
period in her life that she first began to
paint seriously. The film continues with
her marriage to fellow Mexican painter
Diego Rivera, played by British actor
Alfred Molina, and their tumultuous life
together. His unfaithfulness and her mis-
December 2002
carriage, her lingering pain from the accident and her deep examination of who
she is all provide fuel for the deeply
Stacey Lee
emotional pain tings that she produces.
At the end of the film, viewers leave
with a sense of awe at having just
watched the powerful story of a woman
who has truly lived life to its fullest.
Salma Hayek is quite convincing in
her role as Frida Kahlo. Kahlo did not
live quietly; she had love affairs, and she
was an active Communist, at one point
sheltering the Russian revolutionary
Leon Trotsky and his wife in her home
(and later taking him as a lover).
Hayek is able to consistently portray
Kahlo 's strong and witty character in
these situations and more. There isn't
any point in the movie in which she is
not able to exude the great passion of
her character, whether it is desire, when
she tangos with another woman, or pain,
when the doctor takes her out of one of
the numerous body casts that she wears
to help her heal. Kahlo is even able to
handle the humorous scenes throughout
the film with grace. Hayek, Molina and
the supporting cast, consisting of
Geoffrey Rush, Ashley Judd , Valeria
Golino, Mia Maestro and others, work
well together and all give good performances, but the star is obviously Hayek.
Throughout Frida, there are several
creative scenes that make it stand out
from other films . In some of them, it
appears as though images from Kahlo's
paintings were cut out from the canvas
and placed onto the film. For example,
after Kahlo finds out that her husband
had an affair with her sister Cristina
(Mia Maestro), she is shown drinking
tequila and cutting her hair off in front
of a mirror. Through a doorway next to
the mirror, we see another Kahlo, this
one a painted version from her work,
portraying herself dressed in man's
clothing sitting in a chair after the haircut. The brushstrokes are visible on this
Kahlo, and the contrast with the human
Kahlo is interesting. The overall effect
is surreal because the painted Kahlo is
placed in a real scene.
Another surreal scene occurs when
Kahlo and Rivera travel to
"gringolandia," where Rivera has some
painting commissions. While they are
in New York City, a humorous black and
white scene shows Rivera climbing up
the Empire State Building like King
Kong. These little escapes from reality
are thrown in throughout the film, much
like spices added to a dish to give it extra flavor.
Not only is the movie a feast of color
for the eyes, but it is a treat for the ears
as well. The soundtrack contains songs
from Mexico and other Latin American
countries, including highly emotional
vocals from such singers as Chavela
Vargas and Caetano Veloso. The music
complements Frida's extraordinary life
story well, adding an extra accent to
many scenes and heightening the already strong emotions portrayed by the
actors.
A combination of creativity, superb
acting and beautiful scenes makes Frida
a film as strong as Kahlo was herself.
9/1 1 art exhibit accommodates all viewers' tastes
by Jessica Wang
"September 11: Artists Respond"
American Craft Museum
40 West 53rd Street
New York, NY 10019
($8 for adults, $5 for senior citizens
and students, free for 12 and under)
Many artistic forms, from documentaries to murals, have captured people's
reactions to September I I. Some pieces
have become trite, as they employ symbols and expressions used far too often.
While several of the works in the American Craft Museum's exhibit "September
11: Artists Respond" fall into that trap,
other pieces in the collection convey
their messages in unique ways and make
a visit to the museum worthwhile.
The exhibit will run until January 5,
2003 . The collection consists of over 60
tiles, uniform in size but decorated in
different ways, that are accompanied by
statements from the American artists
who made them. The pieces that are most
thought-provoking tend to be the more
abstract ones.
Lynn Yarrington's untitled photomontage does not use motifs such as the
American flag and two columns representing the Twin Towers found in many
of the other works in the collection. A
red sunset is painted in the background,
while cut-up photographs of families and
homes occupy the foreground. Some
pieces of the photog,raphs are correctly
linked with each other, but other parts
of the original pictures are missing or
scattered elsewhere in the collage. Ms.
Yarrington's decision to arrange the tree roots . Two small bundles of twigs this case, Ms . Kochansky may have used
piece this way can be interpreted as the and one bundle of rusty nails are on top the concept of compost to suggest that
in spite of such an atrocity and the detearing apart of
struction it has caused, Americans need
families as a result
to let their anger and hatred decay and
of such a tragic
find it in their hearts to forgive. Debris
event. The parts
decays over time, and negative feelings
that are pieced toshould as well.
gether indicate that
Laura Balombini's work, Every Time
families are slowly
j
I Shut My Eyes, does use images of the
recovering, but the
World Trade Center, but it does so difmissing pieces
ferently from the other pieces in the colshow that some
lection. The center of the piece is a picthings will never
ture of a man's face with his eyes shut
quite be the S?.me.
and his mouth partly open. Window
The viewer of the
frames are placed over each of his eyes,
photomontage,
and where his eyelids ought to be, there
however, does not
are photographs of the Twin Towers.
necessarily have to
His mouth bears the words "New York."
interpret the event
People may have difficulty trying to forthat tore apart the
get horrible memories, such as Septemfamil ies in the
ber II, even if they would like to, and
piece as September
this piece shows, instead of merely tell11, but can easily
ing, the viewers that.
link it to some
Museum visitors who prefer pieces
other incident. Ms.
that are less abstract are accommodated
Yarrington leaves
by other pieces in the collection. Many
;f;,,w.• ·., ~fj. ••
interpretation up to
have American flags, peace symbols,
the viewers, inAndrea Shliselberg
and two columns for the Twin Towers.
stead of dictating
of the fabric . At first, the piece may ap- Yet these images are similar to other
what they should think.
Ellen Kochansky has a similar ap- pear to be completely unrelated to Sep- ones that people have seen for over a
proach in her piece, Cultural Compost. tember 11, but rather something related · year. The variety of pieces not only shows
Like Ms. Yarrington's work, Cultural to nature. There is, however, the unde- how different artists reacted to the same
Compost does not use symbols that have niable fact that many times when hu- event, but it also shows, in the inevibecome repetitive when it comes to con- mans hurt each other, they also hurt the table difference of reactions of viewers,
veying September 11 through art. The planet. Environmental damage can be how differently members of the public
mixed media piece could also be inter- easily overlooked. Compost, in garden- opt to move on after the incident. With
preted outside the context of Septem- ing terms, is a mixture of decayed or- the uncoventio.pal pieces in the exhibit,
ber 11. On the tile, a piece of organza is ganic materials that are returned back a visit to American Craft is a great day
draped over a photograph of rocks and · to the earth in the form of fertilizer. In to spend some time in Manhattan.
~~ 4}[J~
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~~ JJ,
-
The Classic
12
Bella ltalia in Queens
December 2002
La Nora Ristorante
158-22A Crossbay Boulevard
Howard Beach, NY 11414
718-843-8651
Call for dining times
mushrooms in a tomato sauce is so tender that chewing is a mere formality. My
favorite dish, however, is the gnocchi
La Nora, a delicious mixture of potato
by Jessie a Bader
pasta and tomato sauce baked with a
For sumptuous Italian cuisine in a layer of fresh mozzarella cheese on top.
refined, comfortable setting, look no
Although you may be full by the time
further than La Nora. Located in you finish your main course, the desHoward Beach, an area known for great serts are not to be missed. When the
Italian food, La Nora stands out with
waiter comes to your table bearing a tray
its signature dishes and attentive serwith all of the varieties, you may have
vice.
trouble deciding on just one. Among the
I dine at La Nora regularly with my desserts served are traditional Italian
family, and the
fare such as cheesestaff is always
cake, cannoli, tiramisu,
quick to greet us
and spumoni, in addiand strike up a
tion to volcano cake,
conversation.
which has layers of
The restaurant is
cheesecake, chocolate
fairly
small,
mousse, and fudge.
seating about 50,
The chocolate mousse
and is tastefully
cake is a treat that will
decorated. A
melt in the mouth of
skylight and a
any chocolate lover.
few tables outA typical meal at La
side add to the
Nora costs around $30,
sophisticated
not including dessert.
ambiance.
The restaurant is open
Rachel Schiffman
La Nora ofTuesday through Sunfers a wide variety of appetizers, includ- day for both lunch and dinner. I recoming baby octopus, bruschetta, fresh
mend La Nora for dining out with fammozzarella with tomatoes, and beef ily and friends or celebrating a special
occasion.
carpaccio. La Nora also offers homemade soups, including minestrone and
pasta e fagiole. The only disappointment in this hearty, creamy mixture of
pasta, beans and tomatoes is that before
you know it, the bowl is empty.
For the main course, La Nora offers many delectable dishes with pasta,
seafood, chicken, veal and beef. The
veal scaloppini pizzaiola with shiitake
Bari
ove~
Broadway
Cafe Bari
529 Broadway
Corner of Spring Street
New York, NY I 0012
212-43 1-4350
Open every day from 6:30AM to 8PM
by Marlo Dublin
If you are ever shopping or just
scoping the scene around the West Village and want a bite to eat, stop by Cafe
Bari for a real treat. Conveniently located on one of Manhattan's busiest
streets, Broadway, Cafe Bari is a nice
place to grab a biscotti and espresso or
relax while enjoying a burger or personal brick oven pizza.
The restaurant itself is a two level
enterprise, featuring a small Italian cafe
on the ground level and a restaurant on
the top level. Offering an assortment of
cookies and pastries, ranging from your
traditional tiramisu and fruit tart to low
fat apple banana bread and key lime
cheesecake, the cafe's selection is sure
to satisfy any hankering.
The dining area on the second floor
is accessible by one black iron spiral
staircase in the rear of the cafe, which
leaves you off right near the hostess's
counter. When first approaching the second floor, it is hard not to admire the
restaurant's beautiful atmosphere; mahogany bookcases line the walls and are
filled with pottery, books and dried
flowers, and the floors are lined with
even slabs of polished wood. The tables
and chairs are located on a platform
above the main floor that overlooks
Broadway through panoramic windows,
and are made out of a burnt sienna-colored wood.
While dining in the restaurant part
.of Cafe Bari, I couldn't help but feel like
I was in the living room of a Hampton
summer home. All that it needed was a
fireplace to be complete. I ordered a
personal pizza margherita that was
scrumptious. Loaded with fresh mozzarella and basil on top of a sweet yet wellseasoned marinara sauce, the pizza was
different than any other I have tried in
the past. It wasn't greasy or messy to
eat, and was large enough for two to
share. In particular, I liked how the basil complemented the sauce which, on
its own, would have been too overbearing. Along with the pizza, I had a glass
of pineapple juice that was fresh and
frothy, as thick as a smoothie yet more
natural tasting.
The service was prompt and my waitress was friendly and eager to please. If
I didn't have a jazz concert at the Blue
Note to catch, I probably would have
stayed for dessert, but I know that the
Cafe will always be there, waiting for
me to return.
Next time you're in the village and
want a quiet and quaint restaurant with
traditional fare, give Cafe Bari a whirl.
Forks by Jonathan Perez
Tastes of Saigon delight pallate, comfort heart
Saigon Grill
1700 2nd Avenue
New York, NY 10128
212-996-4600
Open daily, Monday-Sunday
11:30AM-11:30 PM
by Marlo Dublin
I've always believed that good food
and good friends go hand in hand. Trying new restaurants or cuisine with those
who know you best can be as memorable as taking a trip or working on a
project together, and I am proud to say
that most of the best meals I've enjoyed
have been with my closest friends. This
past summer, my friend Jonathan introduced my friends and me to the Saigon
Grill, a modest Vietnamese restaurant on
the corner of 88th Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan and, since that day,
it has become an oasis for us, one that
provides us with the comfort and flavors we crave.
Before eating at Saigon Grill, I had
never tried Vietnamese food. Knowing
only that oxtail soup and rice were going to be on the menu, I arrived on that
hot June afternoon, hesitant to order
anything not remotely similar to my
usual chicken and broccoli or mango
shrimp. After being seated with my buddies at a long wooden table, surrounded
by fake palm trees in the far left corner
of the restaurant, we were served tea immediately. I was only able to admire the
restaurant's ambiance for a fleeting instant, for before I knew it, menus were
distributed and choices had to be made.
Jonathan recommended a few dishes on
the lunch special section, but I wasn't
in the mood to experiment. L20 sounded
safe: Ga Xao Dau Que, sauteed chicken
with string beans in a spicy garlic sauce.
While waiting for my dish; I continued my surveillance of the premises.
There was nothing special about the
dining area; plain wooden chairs accompanied small formica tables, one next to
the other, while wooden dividers separated the room .into sections to create a
sense of intimacy throughout. Pictures
and paintings of scenic beaches, as well
as flowers and abstract images adorned
the ivory walls and, aside from the palms
scattered throughout, nothing caught my
eye. And then the food arrived.
Plates piled high with colorful
chicken, ·beef, noodles and vegetables
floated in front of us and I was in awe.
Never before did I see such beauty be-
ing presented to us at a meal. My dish
was wonderful. The chicken was soft
and not drenched in the tangy garlic
sauce it was served in. The vegetables,
although excessive, were crunchy and
fresh, a nice change from my standard
Szechuan favorites. I had never tried
okra, an Asian vegetable, before, but it
was in my dish, and I really enjoyed it;
tasting somewhat like eggplant but not
nearly as soft, it added an unusual kick.
My friends seemed to really enjoy what
they were eating as well, and I made sure
to sample a little bit of everything.
I went ape over the Curry Tom, a
·delectable combination of shrimp, stir
fried with eggplant, string beans, bell
peppers, okra and onion in a lemon grass
coconut milk sauce, as well as the Goi
Banh Cuon. Featuring three chicken
breasts on skewers served over a pillow
of rice crepe noodles, cucumber, crushed
peanut, fresh basil and drizzled with
Nuoc Cham sauce (a fish paste-based
vinegar dressing), this dish drove me
wild.
Ail of the new flavors I encountered
that day overwhelmed me, and lingered
in my mouth and mind for days. I knew
that we would be going back there to
eat and now, five months later, Jonathan
and I and a few others go on a monthly
basis.
On various occasions, I've tried new
dishes, such as the Ga Sate, sauteed
sliced chicken in a peanut sauce and Bun
Xao, shredded chicken mixed within a
tangled mess ~f rice noodles and sliced
vegetables, but I always seem to return
to my favorites. I guess there is something about an amazing first experience,
something magical that makes you want
to revisit it over and over again. Perhaps
it was the food, so colorful and delicious, or maybe it was the company, that
was so comforting. I think it was a combination of the two. Whatever it.was, I
do know one thing: the Saigon Grill is a
place where memories are made both in
the heart and the stomach..
-
The Classic
December 2002
:13
1
Siblings sail on scientific voyage of discovery
by Samira Annabi and Francesca
Pizarro
we were able to get in touch with them
easily and set up the trip."
On September 23, the Kamler family boarded a plane that took them from
story," said Jennifer. Her article based
on this interview with Cosquer,will be
published in the Explorers Club Journal.
never been done before and will yield a
great deal of information about the ocean
as well as the physiology of diving," she
said. "Learning about the Sea Orbiter
project showed me how much is still to
be learned about the ocean and its wildlife," added Jonathan . .
While their classmates were in class,
taking tests, discussing homework, and
conducting lab experiAncient Cave Paintings
ments, Jonathan and
The entrance to the cave is 37 meters
Jennifer Kamler were
below sea level, which is followed by a
across the Atlantic
Explorer Profiles
175 meter tunnel that Cosquer had to
Ocean on what they
The experience of this trip may help
swim to reach the chambers where the
found to be an enthralpaintings have remained all these years. influence the path Jennifer wishes to
ling adventure.
The paintings found in the cave include take in terms of choosing a career. "SeeTheir two-week trip
stencils of hands and drawings of pen- ing first-hand the application of science
included meeting a
guins, resulting in the theory that the to study primitive civilizations and also
man who came upon
paintings were made arou·nd the time of to provide fresh water for modern civiancient cave paintings
., -~ ·~ :2 an Ice Age during which penguins lizations has made me realize the unlimon one of his scuba div"- ~ .
] would have been a common sight in the ited potential of careers in science," she
ing expeditions, visitJ;l area. There are 55 handprints on the said. Jonathan said that learning about
ing the site of a newly~ walls of the cave, in which some the fin- the research for the freshwater capturdiscovered freshwater
ll gers are not completed.lt is being ques- ing project "showed me how it is applied
source in the middle of
.;a tioned whether this was frostbite or due to solve problems. I would like to do the
the ocean, and viewing
[G to a possible ritual that might have ex- same - learn a great deal about physics,
t::.
the plans for the crewhich underlies all natural systems, and
§ ISte d .
ation of a special subapply it in meaningful ways ." The trip
~
Fresh Water in the Ocean
marine to be used for
]
From France, the Kamlers took a had also sparked the siblings' interest in
....
the study of marine life.
boat to the ocean waters off the coast of marine research.
It was an expedition
Jennifer's electives include the SciMonaco to see a newly found freshwathat most people would
ter source and to meet Pierre Becker, the ence Research class and Journalism. She
only see on television Jonathan Kamler, senior, prepares scuba gear before boarding the
man who discovered
or read about in a maga- dive boat headed to the undersea spring off the coast of Monaco.
the site. The source,
zine, but Jonathan and
Jennifer said, looks like
Jennifer were actually there to experi- New York to Marseilles, France. (It was a circle of dark blue on
a familiar place for the family since they the ocean, easily disence it all first-hand.
How were they able to participate in often visit their relatives there.) It was tinct from the blue of
such a remarkable experience? Their fa- there that they met Henri Cosquer, a fa- the salt water. The
ther, Kenneth Kamler, is the Vice Presi- mous explorer and the man who discov- chance for Jennifer to
dent of Research and Education of the ered 27, 000-year-old cave paintings on see this made her more
Explorers Club, an organization of pio- one of his scuba diving expeditions, and aware of the issues that
neers and explorers who research and Jennifer, a sophomore, was able to in- surround finding more
visit sites around the world. "My sister terview him. "Cosquer was helping to of these sources for huand I first heard about the researchers film the cave in a project headed by a man use. "I know a lot
by attending one of their lectures," ex- member of the Explorers Club. He was of water is wasted and
plained Jonathan, a senior. "We got in- very enthusiastic and friendly about be- the freshwater can be
terested, and it was through my dad that ing interviewed and eager to tell his given to countries that
Jennifer Kamler, sophomore, visits the Comex Research Center in
Marseilles. Comex, the largest underwater construction company,
have droughts," she
supervised explorations of the Grotte Cosquer, in which the world's
said. "The underwater
oldest cave paintings were found.
construction company
[that] I visited is developing techniques has also completed French 8. Being biporter who interviewed Michael at
by Daniel Bloch
to preserve springs in their natural lingual allowed Jennifer to interview
November was a good month for school on November 6.
state." She feels that these efforts will Henri Cosquer and translate her interMichael, who was also a member
senior Michael Borress.
view with him.
be really helpful.
He had the highest average and of the Boys' Bowling team, tried out
Jonathan is currently Co-Editor-in"It was interesting for me because a
bowled the highest game in his bowl- for the scholarship after Dean Wanda
primary concern for the researchers is Chief of The Quantum Cat, the school's
Nix informed students of the opporing gym class, and he and his teamkeeping freshwater from mixing with science magazine, and is a member of
mates - seniors Matthew Barbery,
the surrounding saltwater," said the tennis team. He enjoys learning
Jonathan Perez and Adam Wiener Jonathan, whose Intel science research about a wide variety of scientific fields
clinched the first place spot in their
project relates to the mixing of denser and is taking physics classes at Queens
class.
fluids (such as saltwater) with less-dense College. Jonathan wants to major in
In total, Michael walked away
physics in college.
fluids (like freshwater) .
from bowling gym with three trophies
To apply for regular membership into
Submarine Prototype Designs
for these feats, but this was only the
the
Explorers Club, one must be 18 years
~
The third part of Jennifer and
coda to an even bigger triumph.
Jonathan's journey included meeting the old and have first-hand experience in an
~
At the beginning of the month,
architect and designer of the Sea Orbiter, expedition. Jonathan and Jtmnifer, howMichael won the NYl Scholar-Athlete
a specialized submarine designed to ever, were accepted as student members
:E
of the Week award and was later profloat with the ocean currents while partly because of their recent experience. "I do
£
filed on NY I. Michael is the first
0
submerged in order to view marine life. not have any adventures planned yet, but
0
Harrisite so far this year to win the
"I saw a model of the Sea Orbiter and becoming a student member of the Ex$2000 scholarship.
watched a video testing [the prototype] plorers Club will allow me to have ac"I [was] happy and honored to reScholarship winner Michael Borress,
for stability, in which a small scale cess to many other opportunities," said
senior, being profiled by NY I for his success.
ceive this award," Michael said. "It'll
model was placed in a pool and large Jennifer, expressing her excitement.
pay for college, and that's where it's tunity at an October senior meeting.
Reflecting on the events of the trip,
waves were produced to simulate ocean
needed most."
Michael suggests that students
Jonathan
said, "I enjoyed it a lot. Speak~
currents," Jennifer said.
The scholarship was created to check out the scholarship if they "are
If the project is successful, the Sea ing to the researchers, giving them my
'~highlight young people in the City
on a team and are a good student. You
Orbiter will be making a trans-global advice, and listening to their comments
who are doing a really good job baldon't have to be exceptional in eitrip with approximately 30 marine bi- really showed me how their work is
ancing academics and athletics," ex- ther one, but as long as you try your
ologists, professional divers and explor- done."
plained Budd Mishkin, the NYI rehardest, it'll show through."
ers living inside its structure. "This has
Senior honored for bowling, academic skills
e
E:
r~ftl&lf!j s:
14
-
The Classic
December 2002
'Let Freedom Ring' award honors
'First Amendment school'
Continued from p. 1
for recognition as a place where the First
Amendment is appreciated and considered an important part of student life and
the educational experience."
"I believe our school has been repeatedly recognized for its commitment to
the First Amendment partly because we
have concrete evidence of that commitment, as shown in The Classic's charter
that was signed by founding principal
Malcolm Largmann," explained lisa
Cowen, advisor of The Classic. "This
puts into tangible form the First Amendment rights that members of the school
newspaper always enjoyed and demonstrates the students' commitment to the
responsibilities that go along with the
freedoms granted."
"When he arrived," Ms. Cowen
added, "Principal Thomas Cunningham
enthusiastically endorsed our charter
and its implied commitment to F irst
Amendment rights for the entire
school."
Earlier this month, The Classic was
recognized for its charter by the Empire
State School Press Association as it
named the school, along with two other
schools in the state, to its First Amendment Honor Roll.
"We believe students should be responsible for the content of their articles," Mr. Cunningham said. "And as
part of this belief, we expect their re-
search to be open, honest inquiry."
"I think it is so important for students
to be able to express their First Amendment rights," said senior and Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Classic Jamie
Gullen . "I feel privileged to attend a
school where this ideal is not only upheld, but where it is a priority."
Dedication to the tenets of free
speech and freedom of expression is
evident in the other student publications, as well.
"The Phoenix upholds the First
Amendment because the literary staff
has full control over the content of the
magazine," Angela explained. "We
quite democratically choose the literature from the submissions given to us
by voting based on a list of criteria."
"The Phoenix is written by and edited by our students," said Robert
Babstock, English teacher and advisor
of The Phoenix. "I think the student editors try their best to put out a publication that meets their own high standards
and which represents some of the best
aspirations of our school."
" As a faculty advisor, I'm pretty
darn impressed," he added.
"The editors and staff have the sole
responsibility of writing and editing the
content," said senior Joanna Dmowska,
Editor-in-Chief of Crimson and Gold.
"It's all in our hands."
Making a Difference
At THHS, students not only fulfill their community service
requirements, but many go above and beyond the call of duty.
.,/'
.
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The Classic
December2002
. ....,
15
Girls unable to bounce back
into Volleyball championships
Cunning_ham finishes marathon;
raises funds for scholarship
Newtown in two games, the first 25-9,
by Elyse Lee
The Hawks' volleyball season came and the second 27-25.
Wauters ranked number one in the
to a disappointing close after a loss in
regular
season for service points in the
the semi-finals to Stuyvesant High
Queens
A I Division with 96 service
School. The loss came in a three-game
11
points
(10'
in the entire City) and is seccontest, but after earning a birth in the
championship match
last year, not returning this year came as
a shock to the team.
The Hawks won
the first game 25-17;
Stuyvesant won the
second game 25-20
forcing a third game,
in which Stuyvesant
pulled out a 26-24
win to get them into
the Championships
where they lost to
John F. Kennedy
High School.
In the pivotal Plotting strategies, the varsity volleyball squad gets advice from
match
against Coach Wanda Nix.
Stuyvesant, senior
co-captain Kristin Newman had 9 kills ond in Queens in assists with 126 ( 11 '"
and 2 blocks, senior Nicole Wa1,1ters, in the City). Newman had 92 kill s for
also co-captain, had 18 assists and 3 the season, sixth in the City. LoRe led
kills, and senior Alexandra LoRe had 9 Queens A I division with 10 blocks and
is fifth in kills with 40, while overcomkills and 4 blocks.
The Hawks' road to the semifinals ing a fractured wrist in the middle of
began with a bye into the playoffs after the season.
The injury discouraged the team;
they defeated Francis Lewis High
School in Townsend's last regular sea- however, for the duration of LoRe's abson game 25-12, 25-11. This claimed sence, the girls did not lose any games
first place in the Queens "A l" Division and managed to stay strong while she
with a 9-1 record. LoRe had II kills, 9 recuperated.
The team will be losing four starters
service points and 5 digs in the win. The
next
year, putting even more pressure
Hawks then continued on to beat
on
the
younger players on the team, such
Evander Childs High School in the secas
juniors
Rachel Acosta and Karina Fin,
ond round ofthe playoffs in two games,
with a score of 25-14, 26-24. Newman, to contribute. The devastating loss to
and sophomore Grace Lee had six kills conclude the season was difficult for the
each and Wauters had 13 assists and II outgoing seniors to take. Lo Re commented, "I'm disappointed the season
service points.
is
over not just because we lost, but beThe win brought them to the
cause
it is the end of my Townsend Harquarterfinals against Newtown High
ris
volleyball
career."
School. Townsend Harris defeated
by Josh Fox
"I was so glad that I finished; that
was the success for me," proclaimed
Principal Thomas Cunningham, after
he completed the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 3. With the
money raised by sponsors of his race,
Mr. Cunningham has established a
scholarship fund for scholar-athletes.
The scholarship has raised about
$800 in the past month and a half, and
Mr. Cunningham intends to establish a
committee to decide on the recipient.
"This will be given not to the greatest scholar nor to the greatest athlete,
but rather one who has managed both
tasks and done well, who wouldn't normally get a scholarship in either field,"
Mr. Cunningham said. It is also not yet
determined how much the recipient will
receive; the money could possibly be
spread out over the next two years.
Mr. Cunningham described the
marathon as "the best: warm, welcoming and wonderful." A great highlight
for him was being greeted by the Boys'
Track coach and physical education
teacher George Rio, who was standing
with sevetalmembers of the track team
on a water stop at Mile 14 in the race.
Mr. Cunningham and his wife stopped
to take a picture with the group and they
were inspired by the team's support.
Going into the race, Mr.
Cunningham did not have any expecta-
Girls' Cross Country continues
Queens dominance as champs
by. Michelle Montgoris
has enjoyed," said Horn.
Such success has come at the price
"I am really ecstatic about our results
in both the City and Queens Champion- of constant hard work by all of the
ships this ye~r," said Girls' Cross Coun- team's members.
Most freshmen are required to run
try Track coach Joseph Horn. This was
the third straight Queens Championship 1.5 miles in approximately twelve mintitle this team has won, and the fifth one utes, while sophomores should be able
that they have won in the last seven to clock 2.5 miles in about twenty minutes.
years.
"Track requires a lot of dedication,"
The Hawks almost swept the Queens
Championships completely, coming in said senior captain Jessica Krivac.
Most of the girls claim that running
first in the Varsity, Sophomore, and Junior Varsity races, while finishing second track was grueling at the beginning, but
in the Freshman races. "This was cer- according to freshman Sarah Fadika,
"We've really improved since August."
tainly remarkable," commented Horn.
This team has great hopes for the fuOn the city level, the team's success
was very good, as well. The Varsity team ture, credited to the fact that "freshmen
came in fifth place in the city competi- feel like they belong the second they
tion, and the Junior Varsity and Sopho- join," said freshman Anjie Zheng. "We
more teams finished in third place. certainly expect many years of future
"Most schools in this city would love to successes in the foreseeable future," said
have the continuing success our program Horn.
tions on how he might finish. Rather,
he participated "just for the challenge
of it."
As for the preparation, Mr.
Cunningham and his wife ate pasta every day leading up to the day of the race,
including the night before, when they
dined at a local Italian restaurant, and
before the run, when they again had
pasta to provide their bodies with the
carbohydrates necessary to remain energetic throughout such a grueling race.
Even though the race is over, Mr.
Cunningham has continued running as
both a hobby and a way to keep in good
physical shape. He tries to run occasionally during weekdays; however, his busy
schedule sometimes prevents that. But
on weekends, when he has more free
time, he tries to make it a point to run at
least five miles.
In addition to participating in the
New York City Marathon, Mr.
Cunningham ran in the Cross Country
Championships on November 16, demonstrating that his passion to run competitively still burns. These championships -were his 9'11 recorded race, and as
a member of the New York Roadrunners Club, he has received an automatic
bid for next year's marathon. Look for
him among the thousands of runners
next year, as he hopes to participate and
continue his efforts to run well and fur-·
ther the success of the scholarship.
Boy bowlers finish season well
,despite unsuccessful playoff bid
' by Lauren Korzeniewski ·
In the last match of the season, the
Boys' Varsity Bowling team defeated the
second ranked team in the division, Martin Van Buren, on October 28 by a score
of two games to one. During the match,
junior Benjamin Harson bowled a 248,
and sophomore David Joseph bowled a:
233. Both bowlers shattered theirrespective old high scores of 193 and 160.
"I was hoping to improve this season,
but we'll finish in the same standing as
last year, unfortunately," said head coach
Lawrence Ceraulo.
The crucial loss this team suffered was
against Thomas Edison High School on
October 21. The games took place atJib
- Lanes, with the "B" team taking the only
win of the day. The high score in the "B"
team's match was sophomore Jonathan
Criscione's~l74 pins. The "B" team also
includes seniors Michael Borress, Adam
Wiener and Joseph.
The "A" team has lost both of their
matches, the second by 190 pins. Thomas Edison had a total score of 728,
while Townsend Harris bowled only 537
collectively. The "A" team includes seniors, Alvin Gattoc, Simon Shaw, and
Joseph Miller, as well as Harson. There
is alSo a "C" team, with senior Tarun
Suri, junior Eric Park, and sophomores
Jorge Cubas, Matthew Aglialoro and
Michael Finkelstein. ''We can bowl
much better; today we just weren't doing as well as we should have," said Joseph. ·
The sentiment is also shared by
Ceraulo. "I am disappointed with the
team's progress this year. We have six
seniors on the team and I expected a little
more froin everyone," he said.
Queens Teache-rs of
Mathematics
Private TUTORING in Your Home
(718) 843-1302
16,
Jl
The Classic
December 2002
L
~~
I-
Undefeated Queens Champs swim to third place finish
by Talya Lieberman
The Turtles swam to a third place finish in the City Finals on Tuesday, November 26, defeating Totten vi lle for the
last spot on the podium. The Bronx High
0
School of Science won the championE
<t:
ship, defeating second place Stuyvesant
0
High School.
e::l
"The competition was really tough
..l
"'
;.,
.D
this year," commented Coach Jim Jor.90
dan , "but the girls put in a great effort
":.~~J ~
and I'm really proud of them."
As the 2002 Girls Varsity Swimming Senior Katarina Kristic makes some
regular season came to a close, the waves as she works on her breast stroke.
Turtles achieved the position of unde- City High School, swimming against
feated Queens Champions, for the thir- Mid wood High School, the number one
teenth consecutive year. With an imteam in the Brooklyn division . The
macul ate I 0-0 record in Queens, the Turtles did not disappoint, winning by a
Turtles looked forward to extending 56-46 margin.
their success well into the playoff seaIn the past, the Turtles found themson.
selves in an unfavorable position when
"I know we had the potential to be it came to the diving portion of the comCity Champs, but everything was very
petition; essentially, all the competitive
subjective and it depended upon every- high schools would have divers and
one doing their absolute best times," Townsend Harris would not, which
said Co-captain Karen Hendershot.
would leave the team at a seven-point
Indeed, the Turtles encountered stiff disadvantage.
competition in the quarterfinals that _
This, however, was not the case this
took place November 12 at Long Island year, as sophomore Andrea Amarillo and
"'
Fencers foiled
in playoff run
'
by Stephen Berger
The "fencing team's successful
season ended on November 8,
when the Hawks lost to Brooklyn
Tech in the third round of the city
playoffs.
This 2002 squad entered the
season with only one fencer who
had experience, senior Waqas
Shaikh, .as opposed to Last year's
team, which had five veterans on
the roster.
As the season progressed,
coach Debra Michlewitz was very
pleased as she watched last year's
novice fencers make a smooth
transition into playing their starting positions.
One of these fencers is sophomore Kim Manis who looked
shaky in her first match, but then
went on throughout the season
without losing another one. She
eventually came to he known as
the "terror of PSAL."
The main contributors of this
team were seniors Waqas Shaikh
and lesska Cardona, Juniors
James Lavin, Eugene Huang, and
Stephen Gross, as well as the
aforementioned sophomore sen•
sation, Manis.
"This team deserved to make
it deep into the playoffs because
we have fun fenci'ng and we are
willing to work hard to get better
for a run next season," stated
Gross.
junior Nicole Schnell represented the
Turtles on the diving board. Amarillo
finished first against Midwood High
School in the playoff meet, and both
Schnell and Amarillo put a great amount
of effort into their diving to help give
the Turtles the edge they needed.
In the Semifinals on Tuesday, November 19 at Fort Hamilton High
School in Brooklyn, the Turtles faced
Bronx Science and lost by six points.
"This meet was the most challenging one of the season; even though our
best girls could beat theirs, we didn't
have as much depth," said Hendershot.
"But considering we come from a
school of I ,000 students as opposed to
a school of 3,000, we did phenomenally
well, and had a whole lot of fun."
Some of the key contenders for the
Turtles this season included seniors and
co-captains Katarina Kristic and Karen
Hendershot, breaststroke/backstroke/individual medley and freestyle/backstroke respectively; and juniors Kristin
Angelopoulos, freestyle/butterfly,
Dorota Sawicz, freestyle/butterfly/individual medley. Freshman Bridget
Travers has brought fresh fins to the
Dominant regular season ends in
playoff shocker for girl oowlers
by Michelle Montgoris
A I 0-0 record in the regular season,
a bye in the first round, and two shutout
wins in the second and third rounds of
the playoffs made the Girls' Varsity
Bowling team's semi-final loss to Curtis
High School on November 20 all the
more disappointing. Curtis prevailed two
games to one but the loss did not overshadow a wonderful season for the team.
"They're fabulous," said Coach Ellen
Schwartz. "They're one of the best teams
I've ever had, not only because they
bowl so well, but because they're very
nice girls. They are very supportive of
each other."
The team had strong contributions
from both new and returning bowlers.
The A squad consisted of senior Megan
Davidow, who bowled third and finished
with a strong 151 average. Meryl
Soriano, a returning junior, bowled second and ended with a 130 average.
Freshmen Sandi Von Ohlen and
Michelle Montgoris bowled first and
fourth, respectively. Von Ohlen closed
with a 154 average and Montgoris finished with a 160.
The B team consisted of junior Sara
Hochrad ( 119), senior Susan Chang
(131), seniorTashia Chin (117), and junior Ana Branez (130), with sophomore
Jackie Barvels (116) and freshman Shannon Conlisk ( 113) ready to sub whenever someone needed a break. Rounding out the squad were junior Kelly Chin
(II 0), sophomore Christine Schmittgall
(87), and Nicole Reid ( 11 0).
~'When the girls first started practic-
ing, I knew we would be undefeated,"
said Ms . Schwartz.
Ms. Schwartz, who taught physical
education and health education, retired
last June. "Coaching is a great way to
stay involved. Most importantly
though, I love the girls," she said.
"The best thing about the team is the
friends · that I've made," said Von
Ohlen . "I also love being on a wirining
team!"
Senior Megan Davidow rolls toward a 151
average and an undefeated season.
/
pool with excellent frees tyle ti mes .
Sophomores Maria Wojakowski and
Stephanie Arredondo have stepped up
to the high demands, as well, swimming
their personal best races.
Much of what makes the Turtles what
they are is their spirit and enthusiasm
for the sport and team. "Our constant
cheering really keeps morale high and
helps us to perform to our full potential. I think we're really the most spirited team out there and it definitely inti midate s the other team s," said
Hendershot.
"Unity is one reason the Turtles do
so well. Working out as a team, cheering for our fellow swimmers, and going
through the perils of traveling to F.K.
Lane together make us a team with a
unique bond," said Kristic. "We also
have the best food."
For the freshmen, this season has
been a learning experience. "One of the
best things about the Swim team was
meeting the upperclassmen who have
helped me adjust to the school," commented Brittany Stark. "I also enjoyed
learning the cheers and supporting my
teammates."
Boys' cross country
races to strong finis~
by Stephen Berger
The Boys' Cross Country Track
season ended on November 9 with
an impressi ve display at the City
Ch,ampionship meet:. The varsity
team, cQmposed of senior Mikhail
Kha_imov, junior St ephen Berger,
sophomo.r es Matthew Duelka,
J>rabhjyot Saini, Anthony Diehm,
and Paolo Roy, as well as freshman
Jonathan Pantano, a}) ran personal
reeord times.
Duelka and Khaimov finis hed
first and second respectively, with
the other five ,runners finishing one
after the other. In addition, freshman
Nestor Serrano had a. successful run
in the Juni.o'r Vars ity race.
The Hawks qualified for the meet
by running we11 at the. Queens
Championships at Cqnningham Park
on October 25. Many of the varsity
runners had solid times, and the.Juni(')r Varsity team took first pla,c;e in
Queens, helped by ~oy; who won
the Juni0r Varisty race.
"We 'h ave, s:O many great' runners
on this team that we ·are able to put
some very taJented runners· in the
Junior Var~ity race,'which definitely
works to our .advantage,'' stated
George Rio, the team's coach. ''I
thougn( that our first year runners really. came throqghfor us," said juniQr 'D avid Bass.
Iii:
The te.am~is looking forward to
siartin,g the 'intiOQr tra€k seaso.n with
es-sentially the ·same roster of return-