Bryant Clipper The student newspaper of William Cullen Bryant High School 48-10 31 st Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11103
December 2009
Vol. LXXV, No.1
Brya n t ’s Her o By Marissa Collado
Rachel embracing one of the children she saved on the bus
THE CLIPPER
On a hot day in August one of Bryant’s own saved the lives of many and witnessed the loss of another. Junior Rachel Guzy worked as a camp counselor over the summer and saved the lives of nine children on what started out as an ordinary day at Magic Carpet Day Camp. Returning from a trip to a bowling alley in Flushing, bus driver Salvador Fernandez asked Guzy to get him a water bottle at a convenience store, leaving the bus door open for ventilation. While driving shortly after, Fernandez had an apparent heart attack and slumped over his seat, leaving Guzy to believe he was simply picking something up. She soon realized how wrong she was when Fernandez fell out of his seat and rolled out of the bus. With the bus still moving towards a minivan Guzy had to act fast. “Any one could have done what I did,” said Guzy. “When you’re in a moment like that you don’t think, you just act.” Guzy stopped the bus, saving her life and the lives of nine children. In addition to Guzy’s heroic actions, we must also remember the life of Salvador Fernandez. Fernandez was a loving father and uncle who always put his family first. He took his work seriously and was always in good health, which made his sudden death so shocking. His hobbies included watching baseball and dancing. Fernandez’s niece, Bryant senior Melly Rosa, praised Rachel for her efforts when her uncle fell to the ground. “It was really brave what she did,” said Rosa. “Rachel handled the situation without breaking down and that’s really hard to do.” Guzy has received numerous awards for her heroism, which included meeting Mayor Bloomberg. Her courageous action will continue to inspire many people as her quick-thinking and unselfish attitude saved the lives of many New Yorkers.
A GLIMPSE AT THE PAST By Anna Mei
WHATS INSIDE
Bryant High School has evolved tremendously over the past 100 years. It’s more than just a school; it’s our second home. No matter where you come from, Bryant supports who you are and what you believe in. We have clubs that range from the Photography Club to the Chinese Club to Mock Trial and Moot Court. We have several sports including cricket and golf, and we even have our very own Bryant Theatre Company. Teams, clubs and other extracurricular activities keep us students more involved than ever and it encourages us to get good grades and enjoy what we love doing. It has been a long tradition at Bryant and it doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. In 1987 Bryant attempted to ease the difficult transition from junior high school to high school for incoming freshmen by dividing freshmen into four houses that served as homes. Students could seek advice from teachers and counselors as well as be in an environment where they could learn effectively. (CONTINUTED ON PAGE 3) SCHOOL
EVENTS
ENTERTAINMENT
SPECIAL
REVIEWS
FEATURES
SPORTS
Multicultural Festival
Multicultural Festival
Multicultural Festival
Multicultural Festival
Multicultural Festival
Multicultural Festival
Multicultural Festival
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s c h o o l
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he Cure for Swine
Principal’s message
By Kunsang Chodon Bryant High School isn’t offering swine flu vaccinations but the school nurses are providing information about the nearest location for the shot. The federal government spent billions of dollars on the swine flu vaccine to be given out to public, free of charge. “We give students or parents the address where they could get a free vaccination,” said Mrs. Almodovar. “You can go to the Junction Boulevard Child Health Clinic which is open weekdays and even on Saturday. They started giving it out already and it’s available from 12 pm -3 pm. I guess you have to go a little early as there might be many people.” As children in school are getting vaccinated, parents are raising their concern over the swine flu vaccination as 1 out of 4 parents are opposed because the shot has caused major health concerns. When students get vaccinated there are common side effects they might experience such as headaches, nausea, fever and vomiting. Although students might miss school work because of these side effects, some teachers still support the vaccine because it will help students from getting seriously ill from swine flu. “Better to miss the class than die,” said Bryant guidance counselor Mr. Ortiz. People think that you can get infected with the H1N1 virus from eating pork. H1N1 is called “swine flu” because the laboratory testing showed that the new virus is very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur
Dear Students: ”To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.” ~ Brandi Snyder As we approach the end of the year 2009, we have to take a moment to remember all the things that have shaped our lives during the past twelve months. Some of our friends graduated this June and are now in the next stage of their lives. Some of us are in our senior year and are extremely busy with all those little things we did not think about until this very morning and we now have to complete by a certain day. For others, this is the first year of high school and everything we knew before September has now been redefined by our teachers and the new friends we’ve made. So many things go by with such speed; we often ask ourselves, “Where did the year go?” Remember, everything we do, day in and day out, impacts who we are and who we come in contact with. The world is a very large place and it moves very fast, but we must always take the extra moment to think about the things that happen here at Bryant and all around us. The people we meet and interact with can mean the world to us. Let’s make sure we slow things down just enough to reflect. Sincerely, Aaron M. Perez Principal
E D I T O R I A L: Gay Marriage, What’s the deal? By Marissa Collado
December 2009
big
In spite of our generation being one of the most open minded and accepting times in history, the question still remains: Gay Marriage, what’s the big deal? For decades, the debate over gay marriage has been on the forefront of news, on the agenda of politicians and on the mind of every strong minded New Yorker out there. Therefore, there seems to be no definitive answer. Opposing sides of the issue all seem to agree the legalization of same sex marriage weakens the definition and respect for the institution of marriage, insisting that the gay lifestyle encourages and leads to other social issues. Quesnel Tavares, a senior at Bryant, believes it doesn’t set a good example for younger generations. I surveyed 940 students and staff members here at Bryant and of the 178 that opposed gay marriage, religion was mentioned every time. President Obama has stated he is in support of civil unions and against gay marriage in an interview with the Chicago Daily Tribune. “I’m a Christian and so although I try not to have my religious beliefs determine my political views on the issue, I do believe that tradition and religious beliefs say marriage is something sanctified and between a man and
a woman.” But should our religious views dominate our political standpoint? Is this a religious matter or a civil rights issue? Many believe the rights of gay Americans are being violated. “It’s civil rights,” said Guidance Counselor Ms. Lefton. “Why should people be treated differently? They’re citizens just like everybody else and they deserve the same rights. Love is Love.” Those in favor of same sex marriage all agree that a civil union simply isn’t enough. Civil unions currently exist in only three states and another two which offer similar domestic partnerships. However, civil unions aren’t recognized outside of the state it occurred so the validity of the union isn’t close to that of a marriage, which can be recognized in any state in the U.S., regardless of its origin. With famous advocates like Lady Gaga and mainstream songs like “I Kissed a Girl” by Katy Perry, the acceptance of homosexuality in pop culture is at an all time high. Yet, many are baffled as to why gay marriage hasn’t been legalized yet. The side you agree with is entirely up to you, but to find out more information on gay marriage or what you can do to help the fight visit HRC.ORG
in pigs (swine) in North America. Still, we have to be very cautious as it could dangerous if not treated properly. It mostly infects certain groups of people such as pregnant woman, children, and people with severe medical condition as well people who work in health care. The Central for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) said that 4,000 or more people are more likely to die from swine flu and that many Americans have caught the pandemic flu virus since it first appeared in April. With concerns that holiday travelers may increase the spread of the flu, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a launched a “Travel Health” campaign, listing four steps everyone can take to prevent transmission. These are steps will probably sound very familiar, but the CDC says the holiday season is an important time to be mindful of these rules: Travel only if you’re well. Wash your hands often. Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing Keep your distance from people who are sick
For more information on the vaccine or where to find a clinic near your house please visit www.flu.gov and download the application.
Bryant Clipper Staff
Editor-in-Chief: Elias Bardis, Anna Mei Senior Editors: Thalia Guzman News & Events Ediors: Leronda Pack, Stephanie Torres Feature Editors: Rimsha Azar, Angelina Nidea Sports Editors: Kristen Brosnan, Sha Torres Arts & Entertainment: Bora Rim, Angela Colon, Monir Hassan Photo Editor: Christina Biondo Photographers: Darwin Beato, Stephanie Chino, Tala Mansi Copy Editor: John Ahn Reporters: Anjuman Arshad Rebeka Banu Kenny Carbrera Stephanie Cardenas Kunsang Chodon Marissa Collado Aaron Encinareal Andrew Godoy Menna Ismail Yamil Khan Neelam Kumari Dimitri Konstantinou Costa Lales Mohammad Malik
Tala Mansi Hyo Chun Moon Natalie Muyet Kenny Ortiz Karen Perez Tenzin Pema Matthew Pichardo Sabiha Rahman Fahim Rashid Jimmy Rodriguez Melly Rosa Shadman Sakib Lhencham Sangmo Andrea Velasquez
Layout & Design Editors: Nabeel Alamgir, Harpreet Kaur, Stella Park, Hadi Rashid
Advisor:
Mr. Coloneri
S c h o o l
December 2009
TEACHER PROFILE:
By Tenzin Pema Lhencham Sangmo
Mr. Hagenlocher
Bryant has many teachers who are unique and interesting in their own ways. Mr. Hagenlocher is a physical education teacher and coach of the Boy’s Volleyball team and has worked at Bryant for 21 years. I recently had the chance to sit down with Mr. Hagenlocher and learned more about his life. Hagenlocher chose to be a physical education teacher because he loves sports, but do you know what he did before teaching at Bryant? Hagenlocher was a marine responsible for infantry training for combat and security prison. When asked what he loved doing most in the marines he said, “I enjoyed giving classes and teaching people what I was taught. I felt good to be of such help to the people who needed help.” As a child Hagenlocher always wanted to be a cop or join the marines. However, as life in the marines progressed, his goals changed. Hagenlocher wanted to get out of the marines, go to college and come back as a marine officer. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen as he got married and plans changed once again. “The man usually goes with the wife’s goal,” said Hagenlocher. Before his life in the marines he worked as a bartender, bouncer, mover and security officer.
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Inquiring Photographer How Has Facebook Affected You? Keeps me in touch with
my family and friends. What could be better than that?”
-Kevin Mejia Senior Facebook has not changed my life in any way! -Rajarshi Roy Junior
Mr. Hagenlocher
Besides teaching he loves to read, watch crime movies and travel. Hagenlocher has traveled to all 50 U.S. states, 22 different countries and 47 national parks. When asked what he would change if he could go back in time, Hagenlocher said, “When I was in high school, I always passed my classes but not with a good grade. I would just pass with a 66 if the passing grade was a 65. So I really would like to change that. Study more and get a better grade.” Hagenlocher advises all of us to do what we need to do so we don’t regret what we missed in the future.
Facebook has changed my life because now I’m addicted to it. I’m constantly on my phone checking for notifications. -affan Baka Freshman I am always on it at least 3 hours a day and I never do my homework or other important things.
. . . A Blast from the Past (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)
-Dzenita Ekmescic
To celebrate Bryant’s 100th anniversary in 1989, students performed the musical “Gypsy” to honor Ethel Merman, a Bryant alumna and comedic musical star in the 1920s. The audience experienced a taste of Ethel Merman’s talent and this was the unforgettable night when we honored Merman by naming our theatre “The Ethel Merman Theater.” Our theater company has performed numerous musicals with the help and dedication of Mr. Hartmann. Not only have students graced our stage time and time again but faculty has performed as well. Last year, the Bryant Theatre Company presented “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” featuring Mr. Sherwood, Mr. Brandies, Mr. Brosnan, Mrs. Roach, Mr. Schwab and Ms. Mazzella. Although the idea didn’t receive a warm welcome back in the 1970s, this year senior class officers decided to host Spirit Day. The first Friday of every month will feature a new theme in which you are encouraged to dress. Our 1st Spirit Day was Twin Day where you had to pair up with a friend(s) and be each other’s twin for the day. Nerd Day took place on November 18 and many seniors took part in the event by wearing glasses, ties and stockings. Over the years, Bryant has matured and grew diversely as many different cultures are currently represented in our school. Many programs have been introduced to the school, such as Virtual Enterprise and Model UN. Teams and clubs have progressed and have become more involved over the years. We’ve done numerous amounts of walks, volunteer events and enjoyed each others’ company. In the end, Bryant has become an amazing place to learn and grow for everyone
Freshman
Facebook has not changed my life drastically. The only thing it helps me with is to keep in touch with friends who moved away
-Diana Arias Sophmore Facebook has affected my surroundings. Everyone is stuck but I am immune. -John Vousden
Freshman
FRESHMEN HELP LIST Boys Sports
Girls Sports
Baseball Varsity - Rotondi Criket - Montalvo J.V Baseball - White Basketball Varsity - Demas J.V Basketball - Coval Bowling - Hornstein Cross Country Track - Tanalski Football - Bronsan Golf - Coval Handball - Bronsan Indoor track - Tanalski Outdoor track -Tanalski Soccer - Ortiz Tennis - Dreier Volleyball - Hagenlocher Wrestling - Dreier
Basketball Varsity - Exarhos J.V Basketball - Hausdorf Bowling - Exarhos Cross Country Track - Loupakis Handball - Ortiz Indoor Track - Loupakis Outdoor Track - Loupakis Softball Varsity - Hausdorf J.V Softball - Candela (Pelly Papoutsis) Soccer - Maliarakis (Birardi) Tennis - Salazar Volleyball Varsity - Brinken J.v Volleyball-Hausdorf
Clubs
Performance
Asian Youth Club - Tomala Bengali Club - Ramkashin Bryant Volunteers - Kounalis Cheerleaders - Room 131 Chess & Games Club - Room 131 Chinese Club - Zhao Design Club - Balash Filipino Club - Young French Club - Gheta Gay-Straight Alliance - Pinto Global Kids - Room 145 Greek Club - Karantaze Hispanic Club - Blakis/Guzman Indian Club - Ramkashin Italian Club - Gurcio/Desimone Key Club - Diaz Korean Club - Cho Mock Trial & Moot Court - Young Tibetan Club - Goldenberg Writing Club - Roach Youth Power - Devineni
Publications
Bryant Concert Band-Tiechman Dance Company - Christopoulus Intermediate Band - Teichman Jazz Band - Teichman Strings - Sharek Chamber Choir - Frank Theater Company - Hartmann Women’s Chorus - Bernard Bryant Clipper (school paper) - Coloneri Postscript (yearbook) - Mourino Progressions - Roach
Other
Arista(National Honor Society)-Sherwood Bryant Union - Diaz-Toledo Emerging Leaders - Reiss Peer Mediators and Negotiators - Reiss
s c h o o l
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December 2009
College Summit - Reach for your goals!
Mr. Hagenlocher
By Sabiha Rahman College Summit is a non profit organization where high school students can learn how to prepare for life after high school. College Summit helps students with every aspect of applying to college and planning future educational and career goals. Started in 1993, College Summit is offered to high school seniors who are looking forward to continuing their educational career and the approach is aimed at raising college enrollment of all students. This program developed an online database called CSNav. org where students can record their goals, search for scholarships and write their personal statements.
College Summit also enables students to experience the college life by conducting Summer Workshops where students are invited to stay on a college campus for four days over the summer. During this time students attend trips/workshops at different schools to figure out which college setting is best for their academic and extra curricular needs. Students who attend these workshops become peer leaders in the classroom and are responsible for helping other seniors register and work within the program. “It gets students started on the college application process during the summer before senior year,” said guidance counselor Ms.
Smart Saturdays
By Tenzin Pema & Lhencham Sangmo
Are you trying really hard in class but still failing? If the answer is yes, Saturday Class is for you. Saturday Class gives you the opportunity to learn what you could not fully grasp the first time around and also allows you to catch up on lessons you missed if you were absent. Senior Leronda Pack was struggling with math her sophomore year. One Saturday she decided to attend and to her surprise it really helped. Pack passed her class and earned a high grade on the Regents Exam. “It was an improvement for me to be in a much smaller class where I personally was able to get the teacher’s attention and a better understanding,” said Pack. All classes are on Saturday from 8:30 - 11:30 am at Bryant. Snacks are provided and you don’t need to worry about transportation because metro cards are provided for you as well. Do not pass up the chance to attend Saturday Classes if you feel that you are in need of extra help. Giving a little extra time to your studies can help you achieve a better grade and a better understanding of the course you are taking. This is your chance to take advantage of a program that is specifically designed to help you! Here are the classes that are offered on Saturdays: Saturday Classes 2 Earth Science (regular classes/ ESL classes) 2 Living Environment (regular classes/ESL classes) 1 Foundation 1 Chemistry 1 Math (ESL) 1 Math (Algebra) 1 Spanish 2 English (Regents classes/ ESL classes/ regular classes) 1 ISS (U.S. History/ Global History
Lefton. “It gives students the opportunities to experience being away from home on a college campus.” In the past 10 years, over 35,000 students have benefited from College Summit. Seventy nine percent of the high potential, influential students who have participated in Summer Workshops have enrolled in college (www.collegesummit.org). College Summit provides the necessary tools to start planning your life after high school. “It gave me a better opinion of going to college because of the fact that if you reach for it, you will get it,” said Bryant senior Jose Espejo.
Regents Prep
By Anjuman Arshad
As we all know Regents are a mandatory test. They are counted towards our graduating grades and college courses. Regent’s scores decide what kind of diploma you can achieve, whether it’s advanced, Regents, or local. To receive a Regents diploma, students in New York State must pass, with a score of 65 or higher, five Regents Exams: Integrated Algebra (or Math A), Global History and Geography, U.S. History and Government, Comprehensive English, and any one science regents. Students who receive less than a 75 will have to take remedial courses in college. There are many ways students can prepare for the exams. Teachers are available for tutoring, Saturday Classes, and of during class. Students can also study by participating in a study group with peers. You can meet up with your friends at the library and look through old quizzes, tests and notes to stay sharp on the material. Be organized and set a schedule for yourself on how many hours you should study each day. For information on a tutoring schedule visit your subject department. Here are some tips for the day of the test: HOW CAN WE PREPARE ON TEST DAY? 1. Get at least 8 hours of sleep 2. Eat a healthy breakfast 3. Arrive early for the exam so you aren’t rushed 4. Don’t forget to bring in the required materials (Two #2 pencils/ pen/calculator) 5. Motivate yourself and be confident
E v e n t s
December 2009
Dancing With the Stars of Bryant
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By Stephanie Cardenas The Bryant Dance Company has been a big part of Bryant for many of the Dance Company for two consecutive years during her high school years. They represent our school in Pep Rallies, wrestling Homecomings career. and many other exciting school events. With their amazing talent and The Dance Company taught the dancers a piece of choreography dedication, they leave their audiences astonished and wanting more. that was performed at the Pep Rally and they were divided into groups The Bryant Dance Company shows their multiple talents in their and observed while performing. This helped the company observe the performances through a wide range of music. The most fascinating aspect strengths and weaknesses of the dancers. of the group is that the members choreograph the dances and teach it The company also gave the students who auditioned a chance to among themselves. They perform a diversity of dances such as ballet, hip show them a 2 minute piece of choreography to portray their abilities hop, modern, African as dancers and the and cultural. They’re different styles they can open minded to new bring to the company. ideas and styles, and “I really enjoyed most importantly, the it because it was a new company also opens experience for me their arms to new in front of so many members. people,” said Bryant On October 5senior Thalia Guzman 6 the Dance Company who auditioned for a auditions took place spot in the company. as over 40 Bryant This long students auditioned. process pays off Even though the room in the end with was crowded, everyone their successful managed to dance and performances and express themselves dedication to dancing. Bryant Students Auditioning for the Bryant Dance Company while various types of It is not only the music were playing. This method gave them an opportunity to show their students’ intention to join the company but also a way to express their personality and style of dancing. emotions and discover a new side to themselves. The Bryant Dance Company is led by the wonderful and dedicated We are proud to have the Dance Company at Bryant and wish them dance teacher Ms. Christopolous. She is a Bryant alumna and was captain the best for this new school year.
Owls Rocked the NYC Marathon
By Jimmy Rodriguez Karen Perez
With low temperatures and high winds, The Bryant “Owls of Jazz” made it through the harsh weather and performed brilliantly at the New York City Marathon on November 1 where more than 40,000 runners raced through all 5 boroughs: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island. Directed by Bryant music teacher Mr. Teichman, the jazz band rocked the marathon from the windy courthouse square in Long Island City and had the crowd roaring and clapping throughout the race. The band treated the runners and supporters to tunes such as “Sunshine of your love” by Cream, “Crazy Train, Coming Home Baby”, and the “Rocky” theme song, “Eye of the Tiger”. “Hopefully they gave the runners a boost of energy around the half way point of the race,” said Teichman. The Owls mixed up their set by performing Latin swing to a mambo piece called “Lady Bird, On Green Dolphin St” and a newly added
piece “Mambo Hot”. Performing solos were Robert, Hyoung and Ashley on saxophones, Pawel and Rafael on guitars and V.J on baritone. The Owls worked hard to prepare for this event. “We rehearsed everyday and the material is similar to what we play at pep rallies,” said Teichman. Even though the Owls weren’t able to rehearse as a full band for almost a week due to their conductor’s absence, the band was still able to pull it together and have an amazing show. “It shows the motivation and dedication of the students in the band that they would work even in my absence,” said Teichman. When the playing was done and the jazz band was packing up to go home, students had a chance to reflect on the afternoon. “Playing with 30 other musicians was the most kick ass experiences of my life,” said Pawel Kochanowski. Congratulations to the Owls of Jazz for their dedication and stellar performance.
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E n t e r t a i n m e n t
R um o r s By Stephanie Torres and Andrea Velasquez The Bryant Theatre Company performed Neil Simon’s “Rumors” on November 21 and had the audience mesmerized in their seats. A comical performance filled with suspense and thrills, the Saturday night cast did an outstanding job as laughter and applauds were heard throughout the evening. “It was a very happy experience full of lots of laughter and creativity,” said Bryant Theatre Director Mr. Hartmann. “Rumors” is a comedy about a group of couples that get together to celebrate their friends’ anniversary. What they don’t know is that they have a long evening ahead of them. Their friend Charley Brock (Milo Tindle) shot himself in the ear and was found unconscious. Myra Brock (Jessica Tate), his wife, is missing and now everyone is asking themselves the same questions: What really occurred between them that night? The dinner guests come up with different conclusions and ridiculous stories as all the commotion and chaos creates a humorous setting, especially when they have some unwanted visitors in the house. This truly is a hilarious story that keeps you wondering, “What will happen next?” “Rumors” was a fun filled experience and it was impossible to go over three minutes without chuckling in your seat. Megan Dovico, who played Cookie Cusack, really gave her character a humorous vibe. She crawled on the floor more than once and her animated performance made the whole story more fun to watch. One of the funniest scenes was when Lenny Ganz (Wilmer Henao) had to pass as Charley to protect his friend and created a far fetched but unforgettable story that was hilarious. He even added a Spanish accent and a lot of funny body movements that had the audience laughing hysterically. “Judging by the audience’s response it went pretty well and I have no regrets,” said senior Hadi Rashid, who acted as Glenn Cooper in the Thursday and Saturday night performance. “I enjoyed it.” The set was incredible. The students spent days building the set with help from Mr. Wade. “It was unbelievable how the students made up the set themselves,” said senior Bora Rim. In addition, the Tech Crew worked extremely hard in providing excellent lighting and microphones for the performers. Many students devoted several hours to make Rumors the best possible play. The cast really enjoyed working on this play and put all the effort possible in making it a fun experience for everyone. Some cast members truly treasured
working on “Rumors” because unfortunately it will be our last time seeing them on Bryant’s stage. “It’s bitter sweet because I enjoyed it a lot, but at the same time it’s going to be my last performance,” said senior Angelina Nidea, who played Chris Gorman. “It was a great experience and since it was my last performance, I made the best of it by having fun and learning at the same time.” Director Mr. Hartmann is proud of all his students’ work. “I thought they were all brilliant,” said Hartmann. “Comedy is very difficult so they rehearsed many long hours.” “I would have loved to have more students and faculty from Bryant High School come to watch the show.” This is one rumor everyone will be talking about…
December 2009
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S p e c i a l
a royale night
By Menna Ismail Neelam Kumari
As all people say Friday the 13th is nothing but bad luck. At Bryant High school this date was a night to remember. As each elegant lady walked in on the red carpet, stars were shining along with them. The guys were charmingly handsome and as crowded as it was, everyone was still enjoying their time in the spotlight. This year Homecoming took place in a different location called La Boom. Students felt it was major improvement from last year. “There was more room and the decorations to the theme were really nice,” said senior Mirza Hamza. “The dancing, talking and food were all a great experience.” Homecoming wasn’t just about dancing…. it’s also the official welcoming of the 2009-2010 school year. For seniors it was a realization that this was the last year that they would all be together. “We are going to treasure these memories and so far it has been the best moment of my senior year!” said senior Christina Biondo. In her first year working with the Bryant Union, Spanish teacher Ms. Diaz-Toledo thought the evening was spectacular and can’t wait for next year. “I loved it!” said Diaz-Toledo. It was one of the best events this year. We wanted to revive a longtime tradition for a new generation of Bryant students.” The night was a huge success for Bryant and it was an unforgettable way to start a new school year. Homecoming King and Queen Winners: Seniors: Christos Groutas & Christine SorianoJuniors: Kelly Montoya & Iago Oliveira Sophomores: Stephanos Groutas & Sotiria Zouroudes Freshmen: Jasmina Hamza & Liedell Dixon
December 2009
R e v i e w s
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December 2009
By Fahim Rashid The new Sony PSP Go that everyone has been anticipating has finally arrived. Released on October 1, owners of the previous PSP models will find the PSP Go to be an upgrade they have been waiting for. One of the greatest improvements made on the “Go” is instead of having a UMD drive the Go comes with 16GB of internal flash memory (expandable with a Memory Stick slot) to store games, video, and other digital media. This means that games have to be downloaded directly from the Playstation network store. The Go is 43 percent lighter and 56 percent smaller than the original PSP. Its 3.8 inch LCD screen slides up to reveal the main controls. The PSP Go also features a built in wi-fi for internet users and gamers to download games and other media directly from the Playstation store. Buyers of the new technology have mixed feelings about the purchase. “I really like what they did with the screen and the model and all but I don’t like the idea of going to the Playstation store every time I want a game,” said Bryant senior Asad Riaz. “I prefer the UMD drive because I want to be able to borrow games from friends or buy used games for cheap.” This brings up a very good point. The Playstation network store lets players buy games directly from the store, which means that Sony sets the price for every item in the Playstation network store. Games and videos can’t be bought or borrowed from friends because everything is digital media instead of physical media. Is the Go really worth it? That’s up to you to decide. While some people are waiting for the price to drop from $249.00, others can’t wait to get their hands on it.
Book Review Movie Review Lovely Bones
Paranormal Activity
By Rebeka Banu
By Andrea Velasquez
Do you like suspense? Crime scenes? Stories that make you wonder if it can happen to you? If this is the case, then you should read Lovely Bones. I’m sure many of you have read the book in your English class, unless you pretended to read it and just used the famous website www.sparknotes.com. Lovely Bones, a novel by Alice Sebold, is a spine chilling story about the rape and murder of a fourteen-year-old girl named Susie Salmon. Telling her story from heaven, Susie talks about how her family deals with life after her death. They will stop at nothing to find her killer. Her father, who suspects the killer’s identity, goes crazy with grief over the loss of his first-born and his inability to do anything about it. As a result, his relationship with his wife becomes strained and eventually non existent. Several years pass and there is still no sign of who Susie’s killer is until one day.... well, I don’t want to reveal too much so make sure you read the book. Senior Tala Mansi thought the book was an original. “I was touched by the book and the fact that Susie was in heaven and trying to reach out to the people she loved,” said Mansi. Once she heard that the movie was coming out, she was anxious to read the book again and compare it to the big screen. The movie will be released on December 11 and it’s a great chance to see Susie’s horror story come to life. Previews of the movie are available at www.apple.com or www.lovelybones. com.
“Paranormal Activity” is one of the best horror films released in 2009. Premiered on October 16 and directed by Oren Peli, the story is about a young middle-class San Diego couple, Micah (Micah Sloat) and Katie (Katie Featherston), who are hearing strange noises in their new home. These noises seem to be more active in the middle of the night, especially when they are asleep. Micah decides to find out the reason for these noises, but what he discovers is something that terrifies his girlfriend Katie. Micah decides to set up night-vision camera equipment in their bedroom to find out what happens while they sleep. Katie confesses that she has a history of otherworldly encounters, which relate to a tragic incident from her childhood. The tapes reveal the bedroom door swinging ominously as open and closed footsteps can be heard on the stairway outside. It also shows the yawning shadows enshrouding the bedroom. It all appears to be the presence of a demonic spirit that is in charge of frightening them, especially Katie. Peli was able to deliver a terrifying film by hitting the right panic button in the audience; the familiar fear of the creaky, empty house at night. The film reportedly cost only $11,000 to make over the course of 7 days of shooting and it didn’t rely on gore or flashy effects to engage its viewers. Every night for the frightened couple is a new experience but the scariest night of them all occurs towards the end of the movie. The ending is very traumatizing and surprising; I strongly recommend not watching it alone. “Paranormal Activity” will please all horror fans and will get under your skin long after the movie is over.
F e a t u r e s
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Prom Dress or Pampers?
December 2009
Dangers of
By Kunsang Chodon Teen pregnancy is a significant problem in today’s society. The rate at which teenage girls in the United States are having babies has risen for a second year in a row, government statistics show, putting one of the nation’s most successful social and public health campaigns in jeopardy. The national birthrate among 15 to 19-year-olds rose 1.4 percent from 2006 to 2007, continuing a climb that began a year earlier. The rate jumped 3.4 percent from 2005 to 2006, reversing what had been a 14-year decline. Not only can teenage pregnancies interfere with the goals and success teenagers might ultimately achieve, but children born to teens tend to be both socially and economically disadvantaged. In 1992 the Federal government spent more than $34 billion on welfare for families begun by teenagers, up from $16.6 billion in 1985. In 1995, Indiana spent $7.4 million in aid to Dependent Children for approximately 2,700 teen parents. For every federal dollar spent on giving contraceptives to low-income women the government saves more than $4 in welfare payments, medical costs, etc. A teenage mother is at greater risk than women over age 20 for pregnancy complications, such as premature labor, anemia and high blood pressure. These risks are even greater for teens who are under 15 years old. Try being a pregnant teenager in foster care. Miranda Sheffield had pin balled in and out of more than 10 foster homes in Southern California by the time she became pregnant with her daughter at the age of 17. “I was close to aging out [of the system],” she says of the program that in most states finds temporary homes for children until they are 18. “And when I got pregnant, I found there was no support for me. It was like, ‘We need to get you out of foster care because we won’t be able to handle you and a baby.’” It may surprise some to learn that the teen birth rate was 50 percent higher in 1957 than it is now. Today’s widespread concern over teenage pregnancy may have less to do with actual numbers and more to do with the growing percentage of teen mothers who are unmarried or financially unable to support a child. Please visit www.marchofdimes.com for more important facts on teenage pregnancy. Of all the women aged 15-44 who received welfare or AFDC in 1993, over half (55%) became mothers when they were teenagers. Only 5% were currently teenage mothers; of these, 83% were aged 18-19. A high percentage of girls who have sex before age 15 have been victims of incest or other sexual abuse. Further, half of the fathers of babies born to women aged 15-17 are 20 years of age or older; in one fifth of the cases, they are at least six years older. In the past this behavior would have carried severe social sanctions. Today, few men are prosecuted for having sexual relations with a minor, even though it is still against the law. In 1992 report of a Washington state study of 535 teen mothers revealed that the first pregnancies of 62 percent of the participants were preceded by experiences of molestation, rape, or attempted rape. The mean age of their offenders was 27.4 years. Now the mother of a 4-year-old girl, Sheffield has found an identity for her life after foster care. She is spending the summer interning on Capitol Hill and advocating for other foster kids. It turns out there is life after foster care. Teen pregnancy is an issue that many of us care about. Many of us want to do something about the problem. For those who worked with this problem, the traditional approaches have included prevention programs for girls at risk, and programs for pregnant teens and teen mothers. Perhaps the information presented here provides another avenue for preventing teen pregnancy: hold the adult men who have sex with young girls legally accountable for their actions.
Living Large By Yamil Khan Child obesity rates have increased over the years and are now at its highest in the U.S. According to recently conducted polls 14 percent of preschoolers are overweight and 19 percent of children between the ages of 6-11 are also overweight. The overall percentage of obese children in the U.S. is 32.9 percent. Child obesity is the #1 problem that the U.S faces and is a problem that will keep increasing if nothing is done. The major factor that contributes to child obesity is the lack of physical activity during the day. Data from the 1988–1994 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicates that 26 percent of American children watched at least 4 hours of television per day, and these children were less likely to participate in vigorous physical activity. They also had greater BMIs (body mass index) and skin fold measurements than those who watched 2 hours of television per day. Another factor that contributes to child obesity is that many children consume more calories than needed in their diet. According to registered dietitian Joan Carter, an average 53-inch-tall, 63-pound, 9-year-old boy who is a “couch potato” needs only about 1500 calories per day. But if he becomes physically active for an hour a day, his needs jump by a third -- to about 2000 calories per day. Studies show that a child can avoid the risks of becoming obese through exercise, a healthy diet and a comfortable living environment. In addition, parents need to play an important role in addressing these factors to ensure that their child is given the chance to live a healthy lifestyle. With so many unhealthy options available for children, it’s important that parents teach their children how to manage their diet and live an active life.
The Horrors of Animal Cruelty
By Melly Rosa
Have you ever thought for a second how many innocent animals are being tortured? Animal cruelty is still an ongoing issue around the world. In countries like China and the U.S. animals are being tortured every single minute. Animals suffer from experimentations, farming, fur trade and hunting and harvesting. According to a website based on animal cruelty over 70 million animals a year are killed in U.S. laboratories and at least $5 billion of U.S. tax dollars are given to animal experiments every year. Some of the torture methods are very shocking. Rabbits are blinded by having various products forced into their eyes by companies today. In China cats and dogs are stuffed into tiny cages. They travel long hours and end up depressed and sick. Once they arrive to the fur factory, still alive, these cats and dogs are cut open and have their skins ripped off. It’s estimated that more than half of all fur garments come from trapped animals as approximately 3.5 million animals with fur are killed by trappers each year. Victims of this method suffer excruciating pain and fear as they tear ligaments and break teeth in their struggle to free themselves from the bone crushing trap. (http://www.freewebs.com/stampoutanimalcruelty) There is an organization called ASPCA that is committed to helping abused animals in the U.S. The ASPCA was the first humane organization established in the Western Hemisphere and its mission is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”(www.aspca.com) ASPCA offers people the chance to volunteer their time or adopt an animal that was previously abused and doesn’t have a home. Animal cruelty is a sad issue and something should be done about it. Please visit www.animalcruelty.com or www.aspca. com to learn more about this issue and find out how you can help stop the abuse. For more information on animal cruelty visit www.animalcruelty.com
Hookah
By Tala Mansi You log onto your Facebook account and notice your friend’s picture is filled with smoke.You laugh to yourself and think, “Looks like some good hookah”. Hookah, commonly referred to as “sheesha” or “argeela”, is tobacco mixed in with molasses and fruit pulp. The common myth around hookah smoking is that it isn’t as harmful for you as cigarettes, which is not true. An hour of hookah smoking is equivalent to approximately 200 cigarettes, and nicotine content is equivalent to 70 cigarettes. In addition, the same dangerous chemicals that are found in cigarettes that are linked to heart disease, cancer, emphysema, bronchitis, and addiction are also found in hookah. Hookah smoking has become widely popular in the past five years, especially among teens and young adults. Gathering with your friends to smoke on a Friday night has become a popular, trendy social gathering that college and high school students are doing all over the nation. “My friends mostly do it on weekends,” said Bryant senior Lauren Betancourt. “Some are cigarette smokers, some aren’t. Even though I don’t smoke I don’t mind being around it.” Young people assume that because you’re smoking tobacco through a water pipe the “bad stuff” gets filtered out, such as nicotine. However, the smoke is inhaled at a greater volume because it is pulled through the water and into the smoke chamber, which makes it much worse than cigarettes. What is interesting about hookah smoking is that most people who do indeed smoke are non–smokers. “All smoking in general is bad, but I don’t think hookah is as bad because it’s flavored,” said Betancourt. Another factor that makes hookah dangerous is the charcoal that burns to create the smoke. The charcoal produces carbon monoxide that fills the air as you smoke. The American Lung Association and the World Health Organization have identified this as a major health risk. Although hookah has become a popular social activity, not everyone chooses topartake. Bryant senior Asad Riaz has a completely different outlook. “It’s useless,” said Riaz. “Hookah is exactly the same as cigarettes.” Not only is he against the idea, but Riaz also thinks it’s a waste of money and a waste of time. The trend dates back to centuries ago when it was used in the Middle East and South Asia. Since 2000, at least 200 to 300 new hookah cafes have opened for business (Smokeshop, 2004). Flavors can range from apple, mint, coffee, or rose, as well other popular cocktail mixes. Now that you know the facts and dangers of hookah, you might think twice when your friend offers you a pipe. Knowing the risks and harm it can cause to your body can help you make better decisions. Is that sweet flavor and five minute dizzy feeling really worth damage to your heart and lungs? Most definitely not.
F e a t u r e s
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December 2009
Cell Phones-
By Tala Mansi
Bringing us Together or Tearing us Apart?
Can you imagine yourself without a cell phone? The idea sounds almost humorous to most people. Since the late 1990s cell phones have become a necessary and normal part of our every day life. Abandoning our land line phones, cell phones are our primary source of communication. We can stay in touch with our friends and family 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Cell phones have completely changed the meaning of multitasking. You can be at Starbucks talking to your aunt in Canada, drinking coffee, and writing your paper all at the same time. When you go to the supermarket and forget your grocery list, no worries, you can call home and have a family member read the list out to you, or even better, save your grocery list onto your phone. The concept of a “little black book” is history now because your contact list is on your mobile phone. But the staggering question is; have they really brought the world together? Some beg to differ. Family life is not the same as it used to be. When a family gathers
together to enjoy some quality time and watch television, most members will be distracted on their cell phone. This doesn’t necessarily mean they will be talking, but because of the many features most phones have, they could be text messaging, surfing the web, listening to music, playing games, and so much more. Although parents and children have the ability to contact each other at all times, the disadvantages may be greater than the advantages. “You would think that parents would have more piece of mind and that students would have access to their parents at all times, but trust is the main issue,” said Bryant Dean and English teacher Mr. Brandeis. “A student can choose whether or not to answer his/her phone, so what’s the good in having a cell phone? Cell phones need to be utilized appropriately.” On the other hand, Bryant senior Marissa Collado thinks cell phones are actually bringing families closer together. “Family dynamic has improved because now you feel safe,” said Collado. “Before cell phones parents would have no way to contact you. You could be lost and no
No Experience, No Job
By Karen Perez & Jimmy Rodriguez
As you walk into a department store with your head held high, you feel confident and good about yourself. You ask to speak to the manager about any job openings and quickly find yourself filling out an application. As the manager reads over your information you hear the inevitable question, “Do you have work experience?” You were scared of this from the start. You have no experience and you walk out feeling down, wondering in the back of your mind if they will call back. The week passes, the call never comes, and you end up where you began: jobless. For teenagers these days finding a job has become more challenging as the unemployment rate has increased to 25.5 percent, its highest level since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began keeping track in 1948. The recession didn’t just hit our parents but us as well, and even harder. High school students are having a hard time finding employment because half of college graduates under the age of 25 are in jobs that don’t require a college degree (www.nytimes.com). They are working at places like Starbucks and the Gap, which were jobs once held mostly by high school students. In addition, older workers are being forced to keep working because of weak retirement funds, thus tying up jobs for longer periods of time instead of freeing up employment for the younger generations. This trickle down effect of employment has hurt high school students the most as their unemployment rate is nearly three times that of the non teenage population (9 percent) and nearly four times that of workers over 55 (6.8 percent). Historically, recessions hurt America’s youngest and most inexperienced workers, who are often the first to be laid off and the last to be rehired. Furthermore, teenage employment never fully recovered after the last recession in 2001. Teenagers who are employed are usually finding jobs serving people in the food industry rather than working at a department store.
one would know.” Cell phones have completely transformed our social behavior. Rather than pay attention to our surroundings and absorb our fast-paced environment, we have a tendency to only focus on the cell phone screen and block out the world around us. “People live in a vacuum,” said Brandeis. “There is lack of awareness of one’s surroundings and I think that the social skills of human beings have been negatively impacted. Instead of meeting face to face, we call. Instead of calling, we text. There is a whole new convenience for communication.” Technology is continuing to advance every single day. New ideas and new inventions are always trying to make life simpler and bring people closer together. Self esteem, dependency and responsibility all play crucial roles in utilizing cell phones in the most efficient way. There is still so much research left to properly determine the long term affects of mobile phones on society, and social behavior. Nevertheless, mobile phones have already significantly impacted us in such a short period of time.
A Day in the Life: Living in Agfanistan
By Tala Mansi
The current standard of living for the citizens of Afghanistan is extremely harsh, disturbing, and quite heartbreaking. The Afghan living standards are among the worlds’ lowest. Basic human needs are hardly met. Afghanistan is one of the hungriest, most desperate countries in the world and as many as 10,000 Afghanis are moving to Pakistan every week. Two thirds of Afghan children suffer from stunted growth. Chronic malnutrition covers the country, putting children at heightened risk of diseases such as measles. Over 40 percent of these children are underweight and more than one in four children die before the age of five. The most disturbing issue is that 80 percent of children fatalities are from preventable diseases, which is one of the worst rates in the world. One of the biggest challenges Afghanistan must face to overcome poverty is illegal drugs, specifically opium which is used for heroin. Illegal drugs account for over sixty percent of Afghanistan’s income (over three billion dollars a year). Corruption and illegal drugs are definitely two of the major roadblocks to improve Afghani’s standard of living. The life expectancy for Afghani people is 43, according to the Human Development Report in 2009, which is 20 years lower than neighboring countries. One woman dies from pregnancy related causes every 30 minutes and maternal mortality rates are 60 times higher than industrialized countries. Afghanistan ranks near the bottom of the 178 countries surveyed by the United Nations. According to the National Human Development Report, Afghanistan is just ahead of the poorest subSaharan African countries and the United Nations warns at least one million people are facing famine. Afghanistan is facing a time of war and instability (over 27,000 innocent civilians have died because of bombings in Afghanistan since the war began) which is only making the standard of living worse. There are countless challenges that the Afghani government needs to face to improve these standards to create a better environment for the citizens.
S P O R T S
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December 2009
Bump Set Spike
Bryant Students Auditioning for the Bryant Dance Company
By Natalie Muyet Marta Armatys As sweat was trickling down their cheeks and their heart was pumping from across the net, the Lady Owls worked together and stayed focus to deliver a very successful season for girls’ volleyball. The Bryant Girls’ Volleyball team ended the season with an impressive 11-1 record, earning them first place in the Queens A8 Division. Seeded 13th in the city, Bryant made it to the playoffs at York College for the 2nd consecutive year and won their first match against the Academy of American Studies by a score of 2-0. “I absolutely had no expectations,”
Coach Brinken admitted. “I was hoping to finish .500. This was beyond.” Their 2nd round match against 4th seeded Stuyvesant High School was intense as the two teams went back and forth in scoring. Unfortunately, Stuyvesant was up to the challenge and overcame Bryant’s effort with a 25:23 and 25:16 win. Even though the Lady Owls lost they still acted as champions. “I think we did really well,” said senior Kristen Brosnan. “I don’t think players from the other team were expecting our game.” Captain Marta Armatys had an incredible season with 44 digs, 108 assists and 34 service
aces in 12 games. Senior Kristina Kozlitina contributed 86 kills during the regular season while Brosnan raked up 34 digs and 80 assists. Sadly, a majority of the starting players are graduating and played their last volleyball game for Bryant. Seniors Denisa Music, Jane Yim, Kristen Brosnan, Kristina Kozlitina and Captain Marta Armatys will be missed next season as the Lady Owls try to fill in their shoes and continue their impressive play. “It’s been long time since the Owls won their deserved division title and it feels awesome to make Bryant history,” said. Armatys. “Hard work, hard work, hard work,” Brinken said. “I think it all paid off.”
RUN BRYANT run By Costa Lales The Boys’ Varsity Cross Country team ran in the City Championship Race on November 14 at Van Courtland Park in the Bronx. Bryant qualified for the City Championship by earning 4th place in the Queens Division behind Newtown, Francis Lewis and Towsend Harris respectively. Each spot in the Queens Division is determined by adding up the first 5 runners who crossed the finish line and whoever has the least points wins. The Bryant varsity team consists of Younes Benzaid, Hassan Ougri, Eddie Garcia, Steven Lai, Luis Quispe, Costa Lales and John Vasios. Younes was the best runner on the team this season with a time of 17:24 in 3.1 miles and he was also runner-up in the Queens Borough Championship behind Wayne Laroche of Van Buren High School. In the City Championship Younes earned 10th place with a time of 17:24, which qualified him for the State Championships. “Younes is a bright runner with very good stamina,” said Coach Tanalski. “He worked really hard during the summer, even as he was fasting for Ramadan. All the people in the school like calling him OBAMA.” Younes placed 7th in New York City as he ran a 5K race in 17:36 at Cunningham Park. “Younes always practices hard every day to be the best he can be and a professional runner,” said Tanalski.
Bryant Students Auditioning for the Bryant Dance Company
Bryant Sports
Vol. LXXV, No.1
December 2009
4th and Inches
By Kristen Brosnan The Bryant Football team finished their season with a 6-4 record and 183 power points. The Owls started off the season a little rough, losing their first game to South Bronx High School 36-8, but the team picked up momentum by winning the last three games of the season which included a dominating 39-0 win against Franklin K. Lane Campus. Several players truly shined during the season and contributed to the teams work ethic and determination until the end: • Justin Polizzi (1362 rushing yards, 15 TDs) • Dennis Strawsacker (56 tackles, 5 TDs) • Paribesh Maharjan (98 tackles) • Adel Neljkovic (111 tackles) • Mohammed Azam (410 yards rushing, 6.83 avg. per carry) Coach Brosnan has mixed feelings about the 2009 season. “I’m disappointed that we didn’t make the playoffs,” said Brosnan, “but the good thing is that we were 1-3 at one point and we could have just died and played out the season but the boys didn’t, with 6 games left they went 5-1.” Even though the Owls weren’t the fastest, strongest or biggest team in their division, they played as a team and that was one of their biggest strengths. 4 year veteran Christos Groutas (senior) said that playing Bryant football was the greatest experience of his life. “Now that I’m graduating, I feel like I’m losing my family,” said Groutas. Senior Frankie Alvarez is going to miss going to practice every day, joking around and working together with the teammates he also considers family. With the team losing 14 seniors next year, the younger players on the team need to step up and fill in the gaps, according to Coach Brosnan. It should be a challenging year for the Owls next year, but if the last 3 games are any indication of the heart and will of this team, they should be ready to meet the challenge.
By Dimitri Konstantinou Justin Pollizi is a senior at Bryant High School and he is on the Bryant Owls Football team. This season Pollizi led the team in rushing with 1362 yards and 15 touchdowns while gaining 5 receptions for 107 yards. In addition to stellar play on the field, he has also excelled in the classroom and is committed to being a well-rounded and educated individual. “Justin has the whole entire offense revolve on Justin and everything is passed on getting the ball in Justin hands as much as possible,” said Coach Brosnan. “He has a God given talent to be able to see everything, not just in front of him, but also on the side with peripheral vision that allows him to anticipate plays or make cuts on plays that other people can’t.” Pollizi maintains a solid 85 average by studying and reading during his free time away from the field. He excels at math with a 90 average because he likes to use numbers. “My grades are crucial because it’s something I can have pride in off the field,” said Pollizi. “I like being educated to the fullest so therefore grades are very important to me.” His coaching staff has always been there to help Justin with his school work if he ever had problems. Coach Brosnan credits Pollizi’s parents for raising such a respectful and motivated teenager. “His parents should be proud,” said Brosnan. “They’ve done a great job with him and they gave me a fine young man.” Pollizi’s most memorable moment on the field was in his sophomore year when the Bryant Owls clinched a playoff birth by defeating Flushing 14-0. “I was excited to be a part of the first playoff team in Bryant football history, said Pollizi.” He rushed for 2 touchdowns that game and gives credit to his offensive line because they gave him good holes to run through. Justin is being recruited by Rutgers University for the fall semester in 2010. “Rutgers is important to me because it provides hope and inspiration for me to reach my ultimate goal playing professional football,” stated Pollizi. He did good job here at Bryant and hopefully does a good job in college, whether he plays ball or not,” said Brosnan.