Pulse - October 2019 - Volume 20 - Issue 1

October 2019 Volume 20 Issue 1

Representatives Obtain Office

By Daniel Patrick Galgano

On Oct. 19, The Harvey School Student Council sat in session for the first time this year. I, serving as both the Student Council President and the Editor-in-Chief of The Pulse, sat down with all of our new representatives to discuss their priorities and vision for the new academic year.

Every year, The Harvey School holds an election to determine student council representatives. At the beginning of September (this year on Sept.

16), candidates give speeches to the student body, announcing their agendas and giving promises to their prospective constituents.

Featured in this issue: l Reports l News from The Harv l Reviews

This year, due to the amount of candidates, no candidate in the sophomore or junior class reached a 50 percent majority in their elections, so the administration chose to hold a runoff election, as determined by Article III, Section 2 of the Student Council Constitution.

After the runoff election, administrators released the final results.

Charles Treseler and Julian van den Tol, running unopposed, are the new ninth grade representatives. Samuel Alexander and Angelyne Cooper are the 10th grade representatives. Joseph DiGrandi and Mia Cornell are the 11th grade representa- The Harvey School Student Council in session. Photo courtesy of tives. Jacob Sklar (the Student Council President (and The Pulse’s Editor-in-Chief) Dancurrent Sports Editor of iel Patrick Galgano and Director of Development Susie Danziger.

The Pulse) and Colin Hogan are the twelfth

The Pulse was able to sit grade representatives. down with Sophomore Representatives Samuel Alexander and Angelyne Cooper

Freshman Representatives to discuss their policy prerogatives for Charles Treseler and Julian van den Tol the year. stated that they “…hope to achieve a clearer and broader dress code.” The

Alexander and Cooper stated representatives also stated that they that they wanted to continue with the would “…work persistently to achieve spirit of their campaign speech by ensurour goals with the council and the ading that Harvey remains “a more fun ministration” environment for people to go to” while retaining “balance” in a school environ The pair also stated that they ment. wish their constituents to know that “We got this. Don’t worry.”

When prodded for specific examples of the types of changes they Representatives Obtain Office: cont. on page 6.

Senator Harckham Visits Harvey

By Daniel Patrick Galgano

On Tuesday, Sept. 8, New York State Senator Peter Harckham agreed to come to The Harvey School and talk with The Pulse about our local community.

The substantial equivalency was written over concerns that some religious schools were not meeting educational standards.

Senator Harckham stated that while he believes that schools should be able to teach within a particular “theme,” they should be required to meet state guidelines.

Senator Harckham represents the 40th New York State Senate District, which covers much of Northern Westchester County and Putnam County.

Senator Harckham won his seat last January, narrowly defeating Republican incumbent Terrence Murphy with 51 percent of the vote, according to The New York Times.

Ever since the State Senate adjourned in June, state senators have been working with their constituents in “community outreach” programs.

The Harvey School 260 Jay Street Katonah, NY 10536

The Pulse brought up the proposed “substantial equivalency” regulation with Senator Harckham, which is a proposed rule by the New York Department of Education that would mandate that local school districts oversee independent schools (such as The Harvey School) to ensure that they are meeting educational standards (see article: “State Rule Stirs Up Controversy”).

Photograph of Editor-in-Chief Daniel Patrick Galgano and New York State Senator Peter Harckham.

Photo courtesy of Tito Davila.

The proposed rule has split state leaders, organizations, and the New York State Board of Regents (the organization that determines New York education policies). The Pulse decided to discuss the issue with Senator Harckham to hear his opinion.

Senator Harckham stated, “I, for one, believe we do need to have substantial equivalency, in that it’s the State’s obligation to guarantee every child a sound education.”

However, Senator Harckham also said, “Where I differ strongly from the Governor is that I don’t believe local school districts should be the ones to have to enforce this and evaluate this.”

The Senator called the project “a massive unfunded mandate that’s just being dumped on them.”

Senator Harckham stated that he would prefer for the State of New York to ensure that educational standards are being met, not local schools districts and municipalities who “do not have the personnel necessary to evaluate the curriculum and program and the scores of other academic institutions.”

Senator Harckham said that the New York Council of School SuperinSenator Harckham...: cont. on back cover.

OP/ ED

Page 2

Are NFL Harassment Punishments Severe Enough?

The Pulse Staff Editor-in-Chief Daniel Patrick Galgano Sports Editor Jacob Reid

Samuel Aidan Steven Chase Grant Doherty Max Edelman Ben Goodman Jacob Ross

Dear Editor,

Athletes are real-life superheroes. They have inhuman abilities and are looked up to by people of all ages.

And for some, they are role models. Recently, athletes have been known to commit horrible acts. However, some leagues handle it better than others.

Sexual and domestic violence have become a significant issue in our society, and athletes are no exception to these crimes. Athletes such as Kareem Hunt, Ray Rice, Tyreek Hill, and Greg Hardy have all been accused of domestic violence as of late. However, I do not believe that the NFL is punishing these athletes harshly enough.

On Nov. 30, 2018, TMZ released a video of former Chiefs Running Back Kareem Hunt pushing, shoving, and kicking a woman. The Chiefs immediately released the star running back, and he did not play the remainder of the 2018 season. However, he was signed by the Browns this past offseason and was only suspended eight games.

This suspension is not nearly severe enough.

On Sept. 29, 2019, Raiders Linebacker Vontaze Burifect committed a very dangerous hit on Colts Tight End Jack Doyle and was suspended for the remainder of 2019, which is 12 games.

This is unacceptable. Although Burfict is known for his dirty play and frequent bending of the rules, sexual harassment should be punished much harsher than an illegal hit. The NFL is doing nothing to fix this now. Investigations are not severe enough, and there are no serious repercussions.

Another example of a situation not being handled harshly enough is with former Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy. Hardy was a young defensive end with plenty of potential. However, in May 2014, he was accused of throwing his girlfriend down, strangling her, and threatening to kill her. He was suspended for only 10 out of the 16 games of the season. It was then lowered to four. Not only was a suspension of 10 games not enough, but four is entirely absurd.

Another example of the NFL handling a domestic violence incident poorly was with former Ravens Running Back Ray Rice. In 2014, Rice was accused of assaulting his then-fiancé. Despite being subject to a possible sentence of three to five years in jail, the NFL only suspended Ray Rice for two games.

His suspension did not increase until TMZ released a video of him knocking out his fiancé and dragging her out of an elevator. He was then released by the Ravens and never played in the NFL again.

Faculty Advisor Virgina Holmes

Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill was another recent incident of a player being accused of domestic violence. He was charged with assaulting his girlfriend. According to the Undefeated, he was said to have been “throwing her around like a ragdoll, punching her in the face, and choking her.” Despite pleading guilty to these charges, he was not suspended at all. The NFL suspends people longer for using illegal substances than when they plead guilty to sexual assault.

While the NFL is the perfect example of assault being handled poorly, the MLB is a league that does an excellent job of punishing players that have been accused of sexual harassment. Yankees Pitcher Domingo German is a very recent example. He was suspended for the season immediately following an accusation.

The NFL needs to take a stronger stance now. Not suspending athletes when they have pleaded guilty is unacceptable. The NFL needs to take domestic violence charges as seriously as they take any other suspension. If they do not, these incidents will continue to occur. Since these football players are role models to people of all ages, they should be held to a high standard, and harsh punishments would deter them from committing horrible crimes.

Sincerely, Max Edelman

Fall 2019 Pulse Staff

News from the Harv

Page 3

Straight from the 305

By Samuel Aidan

New to New York and new to Harvey, History Department Chair Jessica Falcon has been hurled into the Harvey culture with welcoming arms after moving up to New York from Miami, Florida, otherwise known as the 305, last year.

Growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the suburbs, Ms. Falcon attended Riverdale School for Middle and High School. Interestingly, the movie “21 Jump Street” was filmed in this high school. Ms. Falcon reminisced while watching the movie on an airplane while screaming, “That’s my high school! That’s my high school!” She described the experience as very nostalgic.

From Riverdale High, Ms. Falcon then attended the University of New Orleans. After college, she immediately began teaching in Miami, Florida.

Ms. Falcon found out about The Harvey School during a substitution day at Greenwich High, when a fellow teacher with Bedford origins told her about Harvey. This influenced her to research more about Harvey, consequently finding out that there was an open teaching spot in her subject area. Before this encounter, she had never heard of Harvey, being new to New York.

Ms. Falcon takes on the role previously held by Mr. Morse, in which she oversees the teachers in the department as well as the curriculum that the students take on. She previously taught Government, U.S. Government, American History, and Economics in Miami, Florida, at a charter school. Ms. Falcon also held the chair position at her previous school for five years.

She described her new experience in the New York area, stating, “It’s different from when you come as a tourist. You are visiting it for a couple of days rather than when you live here, and you can just come and feel like a local and begin to learn it [the area].”

Ms. Falcon complimented the small class size at Harvey, saying, “I also love the small class sizes.

I feel like I get to learn who the students are much easier and faster than before, when I had such large classes.”

Ms. Falcon also let The Pulse in on a few secrets to success in her classroom. She said that she looks for a student to be engaged and present, citing that participation is very important to making a class fun and interesting.

Ms. Falcon then commended the atmosphere at Harvey, saying it is a “tight knit” community, like a family, that is concerned about everyone. All of these characteristics are what influenced Ms. Falcon to come to The Harvey School and make the switch from a big school to a small school.

Ms. Falcon also takes care of her 5-year old daughter outside of school and loves to cook when she is not taking her daughter on playdates or to activities. On the weekends, she loves to travel to New York and take in the great city.

Finally, Ms. Falcon wanted to inform the readers of The Pulse that, “I love to have a good laugh. So I find humor as an important quality in my friends or things I look for in students. I think humor just makes life better.”

History Department Chair Jessica Falcon and Newspaper Journalist Sammy Ross.

Photo courtesy of Jacob Ross.

and keeps us focused.”

Students from around the school supported her philosophy saying, “Ms. Falcon is a great teacher.

She interacts with us. She is very nice and she teaches extremely well

The Pulse welcomes History Department Chair Jessica Falcon to our community, and we wish her a successful year in Katonah, New York!

Welcoming the New AD!

By Max Edelman

Each September, the Harvey community welcomes new students and teachers with open arms into the Harvey family. This year, we welcomed a new athletic director, Mr. Ray Lacen.

Mr. Lacen, the former athletic director of the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, believed that Harvey was the best fit for him.

The Pulse was able to sit down with Mr. Lacen and get his thoughts on his new job opportunity.

Mr. Lacen stated, “ I was offered other jobs and turned them down because I believed that Harvey was the right place for me. I am extremely fortunate to be at Harvey.”

While at the Masters School, Mr. Lacen formed a strong relationship with The Harvey School, scheduling a number of games between the schools during his tenure there. He always had his eyes on Harvey as a possible job in the future, and Harvey was available at the right time.

Sports have always been a part of Mr. Lacen’s life. Mr. Lacen spent a significant part of his life playing baseball and even attended Stony Brook University as a catcher.

He also played semi-pro ball follow-

ing college, and Mr. Lacen always looked to keep baseball as a crucial part of his life. “I always used baseball to get involved in things I liked.

I coached and provided lessons. It was always something I enjoyed,” stated Mr. Lacen

In the last few years, Mr. Lacen actually took a break from working as an athletic director to take over a deli in upstate New York.

It was something Mr. Lacen had never thought of doing, but he really enjoyed it. However, Mr. Lacen believed that Harvey was an impossible job to pass up.

Going into the 2019-2020 school year, Mr. Lacen plans to use this year as an observation year.

He stated, “I’ve been spending a large amount of time speaking with coaches, going down to practices and games, and taking in information.”

Before making any major changes, he wants to evaluate how the Harvey Athletic Department operates. Therefore, he will likely not make any major changes during this academic year.

Often, teachers’ first weeks in a new school or a new environment can be difficult and overwhelming. But that was not the case for Mr.

Lacen. Mr. Lacen said that he is enjoying his new job opportunity and is very excited to move forward at Harvey. He can often be seen at practices and games, supporting Harvey teams.

Outside of Harvey, Mr. Lacen has a wife and two children, one of whom is a senior in high school, and the other is a senior at Ithaca College.

The Harvey School’s athletic program is one of the larger departments at Harvey. As Harvey looks to take major steps forward with all of its teams, Mr. Lacen comes into Harvey with a major opportunity to help Harvey take the next step and make Harvey a stronger athletic program than ever.

The Pulse would like to welcome Mr. Lacen to the Harvey community and wish him the best of luck in this amazing job opportunity this school year!

Athletic Director Ray Lacen at his desk.

Photo courtesy of Max Edelman.

Sports News

Page 4

Cavs Gears Up for Eight-Man Football

By Grant Doherty

The fall of 2019 will not just mark the beginning of a new football season, it will also mark a new chapter for the Harvey football team, a chapter that will be all about eight men. Harvey will be going from playing 11 on 11 to playing eight on eight.

The switch does not come as that big of a surprise to many of the players. When The Pules interviewed newly named captain Jacob Ross, he stated, “After struggling with the number of players the year before, I saw it coming.” The Pulse also asked Coach Eccher, who is in his third working with the offense, the same question. He answered, “I was expecting the change. Last year we had a hard time with the numbers of players. I was happy about it, as from what I heard, eight men mean a lot of scoring.”

For the Cavaliers, the number of players on the field is not the only thing that is changing. The new league that the team will be joining has 11 already established teams. The New England Prep School eightplayer football league consists of mostly teams from New England and a few from just outside its borders.

When asked about the new league,

just the number of players. The field where the game is played also has many changes. The playing surface shrunk 20 yards from goal line to goal line and is 13 ¾ yards narrower.

2019 Harvey Football team lining up against the Hopkins School.

Photo courtesy of Mrs.Wagnblas.

Ross stated, “There will be a lot more games, which means times to prove ourselves. Along with that, there is a more diverse competition.”

The New England Prep School eight-player football league was created in the fall of 2016 by Forman School, The Gunnery, Millbrook School, and Pomfret School.

To date, the league consists of 11 teams including Harvey. Some of the schools in eight-man football are Hyde School, Holderness School, Perkiomen School, and Kents Hill

School, just to name a few.

According to the league’s website, in its inaugural season, The Gunnery School won the championship going undefeated. The same website states that last year, Pomfret was the last team left standing, taking home the 2018 championship.

Coincidentally, Harvey plays both of these schools on the road in the first three weeks of the season.

Eight-man football comes with many changes that go beyond

The Pulse asked Coach Eccher some more in-depth questions about what he was thinking and how he was feeling about the season. Mr. Eccher stated, “Planning the offense was somewhat hard, because there is not a lot of film of eight-man football, and it is almost a different sport.

We had to just find one that fits with the athletes on our team.”

It is easy to see that many of the players and coaches alike are very excited about the new chapter of Harvey football ahead. On the other hand, there is a bit of nervousness around practices, because there is still a lot that is unknown about this change.

The regular season comes to a close with the fourth road game of the season on Nov. 2, at Millbrook School. The Cavs will hopefully play a playoff game on Nov. 9, and then if everything goes according to plan, the finals are the following weekend Nov. 16.

Hudson Chris Is on the Right Track!

By Steven Chase

The Harvey School’s cross-country team has been taken by storm by a new runner named Hudson Chris. The Pulse sat down with both the cross-country coaches and Chris to discuss the team’s recent success.

tions when entering Harvey, and Chris responded, “I loved the experience during my shadow day, and I felt like I would fit in. I hoped to be a better student and become more social. I also want to branch out and try new things I have never tried.”

It is Hudson Chris’s first year at The Harvey School. The Pulse asked him about his expecta-

Surprisingly, Chris has never run cross-country before, but he is using cross-country to help train for tennis! When The Pulse asked Chris about his motivations for playing cross-country, he responded, “I am working on building my stamina for other sports (tennis) and being an overall athlete and great person. My teammates and coaches, Mr. Coscio and Ms. Taylor, have been very motivating and helpful. I love the team spirit.”

Hudson Chris running in the Katonah 5K. Photo courtesy of Ms.Taylor.

The Pulse also sat down with Coach Christian Coscio and discussed how it feels coming to Harvey, since it is also his first year with us. The Pulse asked what his past experiences coaching have been like. Coach Coscio responded, saying, “I started off coaching at John Jay at East Fishkill in 2011 and coached when I was 19 for six years as an assistant coach. I eventually became head track coach and coached

the middle school cross-country team and associate track and cross-country coach at FDR at Hyde Park, New York. “

When The Pulse asked Mr. Coscio about his time with the Harvey team so far, he responded, “It has been good. It’s interesting coming into a program that is evolving, partially because of changes, such as summer training. A lot of the athletes aren’t familiar with summer training.” Mr. Coscio added, “The team took to everything from day one, which was awesome.”

Mr. Coscio continued, “They knew that I would make them work hard. The students accepted that and are excited, which is important”

When The Pulse asked what track meets stood out to Mr. Coscio the most, he had a quick response, answering, “The Katonah 5K, which was a road race that some athletes did at the beginning of the year. Ten athletes participated; I later realized that the connection to the community was the main reason why they ran.

Hudson won the meet, Sam Alexander ran very well, and the other athletes who didn’t medal still placed extremely well. So from then on, it gave the athletes a nice base to work off.”

Mr. Coscio also stated, “The other meet that stands out was the championship meet, because it’s been what we have been working for the entire season. They have a lot of great teams competing in the league, but the players are willing to try their hardest and place as well as they can.”

When the Pulse asked Mr. Coscio to elaborate on Hudson Chris winning and on his recent success, Mr. Coscio gladly responded, saying, “Hudson has been phenomenal and is another one of the athletes who didn’t have the best base coming in; he didn’t have a dedicated workout plan, so for him to come in Day One and be able to do what he did was impressive.”

Mr. Coscio continued, “Since the Katonah 5K, Hudson has improved 31 seconds for his 5K time. Hudson is a great example to the other athletes on the team, and they use him as a goal to help push themselves.”

The Pulse wishes the entire cross-country team and Hudson Chris a successful season!

Sports News

Page 5

Antonio Brown: Bye Bye, NFL?

By Jacob Reid

Antonio Brown is a Hall Of Fame Receiver, and he is statistically one of the most productive players in the history of the NFL. Brown is also the center of controversy, from his exit from Pittsburg and Oakland, to his signing with the New England Patriots, and now the biggest story of them all, as Brown has been accused of rape.

conduct to the team as the reason for Brown’s release.

The saga began in December, when Brown was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers were one game away from the postseason when Brown quit on the team and did not play in the final game. The Steelers lost that game and missed the playoffs. Brown was then traded to the Oakland Raiders for a third and fifth round draft pick.

However, on the Wednesday before the Miami game, Brown was accused of rape by an LSU gymnast after she filed a civil suit against Brown in Florida, and then a second woman accused Brown of sexual misconduct, and her evidence includes “intimidating” texts sent from Brown to her.

In Oakland, Brown hit rock bottom in public perception, and Brown feuded with management and coaching. At one point it was reported that he nearly got into a physical altercation. Brown was fined over $200,000 by the Raiders and was eventually released by them.

Oakland cited conduct detrimental

Less than 12 hours after Brown’s release from Oakland, he was signed by the New England Patriots. He played in New England’s second game against the Miami Dolphins, registering four receptions including a touchdown catch.

According to Sports Illustrated, “A woman who says Antonio Brown made an unwanted sexual advance toward her in 2017 and was fired after not reciprocating received what she characterized as intimidating texts from the Patriots Wide Receiver on Wednesday night in the wake of a Sports Illustrated story detailing her allegations, according to

her lawyer in a letter sent to the NFL on Thursday evening, which included screen shots of the messages.”

The New England Patriots have not yet commented on the second accusation, and as of Sept. 20, Brown was once again eligible to play the Antonio Brown before his first ever game as a New England Patriot. entire season, despite the Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated.

Miami Police Department officially making this a endorsement deal with them, costing criminal investigation, on Thursday, Brown millions. This was a shock Sept. 19. to many, as Nike has always had a reputation for not pulling controver However, Brown was sial athletes in the past, famously released by the Patriots on Sept. 20, with Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant the Friday before their 30-14 victory in 2005 and 2008 respectively, and over the Jets. According to ESPN, more recently with Colin Kaepernick Brown then posted a rant on Twitter in 2018. where he pointed out former teammate Ben Rothlisberger’s and Patri With Brown’s release from ots owner Robert Kraft’s previous New England, many expect his NFL history with sexual misconduct. career to be over. However, in an

According to Fox Sports, on interview with ESPN Brown’s agent Drew Rosenhouse, Brown has interSept. 19, after the investigation beest from multiple clubs, but that has came criminal, Nike pulled Brown’s not materialized yet.

Reports

“Rick and Morty” and “The Simpsons” Producer Dead At 54

By Ben Goodman

Sept. 22, 2019, was a gloomy day for animated television, specifically admirers of popular shows “The Simpsons” and “Rick and Morty.” J. (Joel) Michael Mendel, a producer for both of these enjoyable shows, sadly died at the age of 54. Adult Swim, the network that broadcasts “Rick and Morty,” confirmed the news in a statement shared on Twitter later that same evening.

His wife, Juel Bestrop, confirmed that he died of natural causes at their home. A statement was released by Adult Swim addressing his death. “All of us at Adult Swim are devastated by the untimely passing of Rick and Morty producer J. Michael Mendel,” the tribute read.

“He guided and supported a generation of artists, writers and creators and his absence will be felt by the entire community. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues.”

Mendel was born on Sept.

24, 1964, and attended Monroe Woodbury High School in Woodbury, New York, and Syracuse University. He served many stints as a production assistant, but some of the most notable times included when he worked for the James Brooksdirected “Broadcast News” in 1987, and “Big” in 1988, which was also produced by Brooks. In 1996, he became an associate producer for

the film “Jerry Maguire,” which was once again produced by Brooks.

During this time, Mendel also worked on “The Tracy Ullman Show,” where he first began to produce television shows that would air there, including one of the most popular animations in television history, “The Simpsons.” When the Simpsons moved to Channel 4, he also decided to continue his career with them, and from there, he helped produce 207 episodes. During this span, he collected three Emmy awards for his work on the animation, his first being collected in 1995, then in 1997, and lastly in 1998.

For those who do not know, “The Simpsons” is an animated comedy show that focuses on the life of father Bart Simpson and his family.

It is rated TV-14, due to the edgy humor present in many episodes, along with adult humor. The frequency of new episodes began to help this show skyrocket, entertaining families at home for many years.

From there, he worked with “The Simpsons” for another 15 years.

In November 2019, the Simpsons will move to Disney+ to be streamed starting at $6.99 per month.

In 2013, Mendel switched gears and began to produce 22 epi-

J. Michael Mendel in 2018 after winning his 4th Emmy for an episode of “Rick and Morty.” Photo courtesy of Juel Bestrop.

sodes of “Rick and Morty,” winning a fourth Emmy for his work on the 2018 episode “Pickle Rick.”

“Rick and Morty” clicked with adults once again, as the animated science fiction sitcom is aired late at night on Adult Swim, although many children are also familiar with the show. The show focuses on mad scientist Rick and his grandson Morty as they take on many hilarious and entertaining daily tasks.

According to CNN, Justin Roiland, the co-creator of “Rick and Morty,” paid tribute to Mendel by tweeting: “My friend, partner, and line producer Mike Mendel passed away. I am devastated. My heart breaks for his family. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you by my side Mike. I’m destroyed.”

With “The Simpsons” still creating new episodes, the future for this show after this current season is questionable. According to a statement from Adult Swim on May 15, 2019, “Rick and Morty Will Return November 2019.” Now, without an Emmy winning producer, the future of these shows is a blur to many, but it is always good to look back and see how J. Michael Mendel impacted the world by producing two multiseasoned series that will be remembered for a long time.

Reports

Page 6

State Rule Stirs Up Controversy

By Daniel Patrick Galgano

On March 31, 2019, New York State Department of Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia proposed a new “substantial equivalency” regulation. If enacted, the regulation would limit the autonomy of New York Independent Schools, including The Harvey School.

A similar regulation was struck down by the New York State Supreme Court on March 15, only 16 days before Commissioner Elia made her announcement. However, the court’s decision was primarily based on the way in which the regulation was proposed and not necessarily the oversight prerogatives, as reported by The Journal News. This detail of the ruling was the reason why the New York Department of Education was allowed to “retool” the regulation and rerelease it.

The “substantial equivalency” rules first came to pass out of concerns that many independent schools, some of the most prominent examples being run by Catholic and Jewish organizations, were not teaching subjects such as English, history, science, mathematics, and civics to standard levels.

In 2015, 52 Yeshiva students and families sent in a mass-complaint to the Department of Education, “explaining their secular education was minimal at best,” according to News 12.

Fears over lacking regulations over independent schools also spiked after Rockland County, New

York declared a state of emergency over a measles outbreak. A significant amount of these students attended ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools, as reported by The Economist.

According to The Wall Street Journal, over 24,000 people have sent comments to the Department of Education concerning the proposed regulation. Most of these were sparked by the outcry of religious leaders, saying that it would infringe on their religious autonomy.

Many religious leaders say that students can achieve a thorough education by studying religious scripture.

The “substantial equivalency rule” itself would require that New York Independent Schools adhere to certain academic standards laid out by the New York Department of Education and would give the agency some jurisdiction to legally enforce those standards.

The New York Department of Education has been flooded with complaints and threats of legal action since the “substantial equivalency” policy was proposed. According to Supreme Court of the State of New York of Albany, the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) (of which The Harvey School is member) and of those 11 member schools (The Harvey School is not being one of them) have filed a legal suit against the New York Department of Education and Commissioner Elia, calling the proposed regulation “unconstitutional.”

During this summer, Head of School William Knauer came out in favor of NYSAIS and invited all Harvey students and family members to write letters to the New York Board of Regents, the state body which decides educational regulation, asking for them not to approve the rule.

Former New York State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press and The New York Post.

Many members of the Harvey community did end up writing to the New York Department of Education in protest. Many students and parents are concerned about state intervention in independent schools.

Head of School Knauer also stated that he supported the New York Council of School Superintendents (NYCOSS) and understood their concerns that the new Department of Education regulation would burden local school districts.

If enacted, the “substantial equivalency” regulations would be an unfunded mandate, meaning that the New York State government would not grant funds to assist in enforcing the new regulation, but local school districts and townships would be tasked with the financial responsibility.

In June 2019, Commissioner Elia announced that she would resign as Education Commissioner, citing that she wished to work in the private sector. However, many believe that she was pressured into leaving office due to mounting pressure from the Board of Regents, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, and the legal action taken against her office.

According to the New York State Department of Education, Commissioner Beth Berlin will serve as interim commissioner of education until a permanent replacement can be found.

The New York Board of Regents will make the final determination of whether or not to enact the “substantial equivalency” regulation later this autumn, and The Harvey School administration will be awaiting their decision with bated breath.

Representatives Obtain Office: cont. from cover.

would make, the representatives said they were interesting in having an athletic calendar posted in the Commons area near the Dining Hall to promote game attendance and help coaches coordinate with their players.

Additionally, Representative Alexander stated that one of their goals would be to obtain “various” laptop charging stations throughout campus. In particular, charger stations in the Walker Center for the Arts are a possibility.

Junior Representatives Joseph DiGrandi and Mia Cornell also agreed to sit down with The Pulse to discuss their goals for this year. In addition to his role as Junior Representative, Representative DiGrandi also serves as Secretary of the Student Council. The Secretary is entrusted with keeping records and distributing information to the rest of the Student Council.

When asked about their top priority for the year, Representative Cornell immediately responded that it was to purchase new furniture in the Walker Center for the Arts. Rep-

resentative DiGrandi stated that they wanted to “move into a new venture” with the furniture project.

This month, the two representatives will be holding meeting with administration officials to determine the feasibility and cost estimates for their project.

The pair also plans to set up an administrative and logistical structure that students can work with when they want to hang up promotion posters on campus. Representative DiGrandi stated that this was in response to comments made by Junior Eli Lichten, a candidate who ran against DiGrandi during Student Council elections. They said that they hope to have that fix “by the end of the Fall Term.”

The Pulse also inquired as to Representative Cornell and DiGrandi’s thoughts on the runoff election that the pair won. They said that the process was “fair,” and that elections should be determined by a majority of voters.

The pair also said they were excited to have received a demo-

cratic mandate this year and were encouraged by their electoral victory.

While the Representatives DiGrandi and Cornell had served on Student Council during their freshman year, that year’s election was uncontested.

This year, however, the student body gave them a majority.

Lastly, The Pulse met with Senior Representatives Jacob Sklar and Colin Hogan. In addition to his position as Senior Representative, the Student Council has appointed Hogan as Treasurer, leaving him with authority over budgetary oversight.

According to Representatives Sklar and Hogan, their first priority is to boost school spirit and attendance at school athletic events.

Representative Hogan stated that they “want to create a culture that follows even after we leave, where there is spirit around the school.”

Representative Sklar said that “the culture of the school, in recent years, has not incorporated the level of school spirit that we think it should.”

Additionally, the pair stated that one of their immediate priorities would be to clarify senior privileges.

Representative Sklar gave the example of posting signs in the parking lot marking the senior parking space, saying, “I think the issue is that a lot of students don’t actually know where the senior parking lot begins and ends.”

Representative Hogan stated that senior privileges clarification would require little monetary cost, making it more immediately feasible than other long-term tasks.

In addition to all the elected grade representatives, the Student Council ratified the appointment of Seniors Christian Perez and Marina Man as Dormitory Representatives.

This year’s grade representatives have big ideas and brand-new electoral mandates. Student Council is packed with new faces and reformers. Now elected, the student body will be looking to them to govern the school.

Reports

Page 7

The Magical Memory Cap

By Samuel Aidan

The almost magical cap named MemorEM has taken a gargantuan step in Alzheimer’s disease research. Before the NeuroEM Therapeutics breakthrough, no scientist managed to cure Alzheimers or even combat it effectively, for that matter. NeuroEM, based out of Phoenix, Arizona, has created a medical device that reduces memory loss in seven out of eight patients in just two months.

caused any bleeds or tumors in the brain. Dr. Amanda Smith is confident with her invention, saying, “These results provide preliminary evidence that [transcranial electromagnetic treatment] administration we assessed in this small [Alzheimer’s disease] study may have the capacity to enhance cognitive performance in patients with mild to moderate disease.”

Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures reported that there are 5.8 million American cases and 400,000 in New York alone. This data shows that Alzheimer’s should be taken seriously. 18.5 billion hours were given to caring for Dementia patients with an estimated $234 billion contribution, demonstrating the effects of dementia on society.

The Alzheimer’s patients’ caretakers followed specific instructions, using the device twice a day over the course of two months. These sessions lasted an hour each, making it not invasive in the patient’s schedule. At the end of these two months, the doctors at NeuroEM conducted brain scans on the patients, and they came back negative for any side effects.

The “bathing cap” strives to reverse the effects of Alzheimer’s, most specifically the memory loss component. According to Medical News Today, Alzheimer’s dementia is caused by amyloid beta and tau, which result in plaque and tangles throughout the brain. The MemorEM combats this by using electromagnetic waves to dissolve the high amounts of protein-plaque build up.

The MemorEM is safe and has not

The doctors also conducted tests, suggesting that the patient’s cognitive function had rejuvenated a full year on the “Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale.” The doctors at NeuroEM additionally collected blood and cerebrospinal samples in addition to these other tests and found that the amyloid beta and tau concentrations were separated, as they strived to do.

What does this breakthrough prove to the rest of the world?

Before NeuroEm, no research has reversed the effects of Alzheimer’s.

This huge step gives the rest of the world hope for an eventual cure to Alzheimer’s. Next year, NeuroEm plans Alzheimer’s Cap on a patient’s head. to bring in 150 more Photo courtesy of Science Alert. subjects to test the treatment. If these tests run

Dr. Ross has experienced smoothly, the device will begin to be people with Alzheimer’s throughout regularly approved. his life saying, “I have seen many cases of fully functioning individu After discovering ways als become completely incapacitated to cancel out the already produced in a few years with little to slow the protein buildups, the next step is to disease down.” As a doctor that has prevent the protein buildup. To do studied the human brain, he believes this, researchers must find a way to that, “The cure is very close, and this attack the main source, which makes study represents a very cost efficient the proteins tangle and chemically and a usable treatment.” signal the organism to stop.

Following much research, The Pulse welcomed Psychologist Kevin Ross Ph.D. for comments.

He described the “simple” cap as “incredible,” also saying, “I think this is ground breaking that magnetic waves can reverse Alzheimer’s without medication and the terrible side effects that come with it.”

If this research continues sailing smoothly, we could begin taking steps toward ending Alzheimer’s disease around the world. The end of Alzheimer’s is closer than we think, as Dr. Ross said. Hopefully, Alzheimer’s will be terminated in our lifetime, so that this generation can be safe from the disease.

Reviews

Grant’s Top Five: Off-Campus Dining Edition

By Grant Doherty

There comes a question every day for the average Harvey senior, and the answer to this question could change your whole day. This question is, “Where should I go for lunch?”

Well, if you, like many others, spend half of the precious 40-minute lunch slot deciding where to go or just going to the same spot every time and are tired of it, this article will hopefully make your decision a bit easier or help change up the constant routine.

At the No. 5 position is the Village Market in Katonah. The market is exactly what you would expect. There is a buffet with hot food, including options such as mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and different kinds of chicken. Along with those selections, the Village Market has a typical market set up of convenient store sundries.

While there is a wide selection of food at the Village Market, none of it is particularly great. The thing that keeps the Village Market in the top five is its proximity to The

Harvey School, being right on the other side of the train tracks in Katonah at most a five-minute drive. Also, the prices aren’t that high. Overall, the Village Market is a right spot for people with a limited amount of time or who are looking for a wide selection of food.

The “two cheese slices” order is a Harvey classic. Some of the significant upsides to the restaurant is the speed and the proximity to Harvey, as it is only five minutes from the school and only takes a few minutes to receive your food. La Familia is a perfect “in a rush” place.

Coming in at the No. 4 spot is Salsa Fresca. The burrito chain has a good reputation among Harvey students, especially anyone with a double lunch. The restaurant’s headliner is their fresh burrito, but there are also other items like tacos and many different kinds of bowls.

Saving time is not the only upside to this restaurant, though.

Prices are mostly unbelievable, as well. On weekdays, there is a deal for two cheese slices and a small fountain drink for $5.99. La Familia is an excellent place for anyone in any situation with its low prices and an extensive section of food. There is always something for everyone!

While the chain might be a bit expensive, many consider it worth the price. The only reason that this chain is not higher on the list is that it clocks in at an 11-minute drive from Harvey. This drive is the longest by far of any place on the list. Salsa Fresca is a great place for anyone looking filling food who has some time and money.

In the third position is La Familia. This Italian restaurant has a wide selection of pizza and pasta.

Coming in as the secondbest place for lunch is Cameron’s Deli. Cameron’s is definitely the No. 1 spot among most Harvey seniors, but in my opinion, it takes the second place position. This deli hosts a full section of food. However, the undebatable favorite among all of their customers is the Cluk’en Russian.

Like many other places on this list, Cam’s Deli, as many call it, has a selection of sandwiches and snacks

to go along with them.

While the deli is only a 10-minute drive from Harvey, the service is very slow, so it takes most of the lunch slot to get there and back with your order. While the food is great and worth the trip, sometimes it can become a bit pricy. A classic Cluck’en Russian costs around $9.

Camron’s deli is a nice spot for any looking for great food and is not concerned about time or price.

Taking the top spot in the off-campus lunch spots is Goldberg’s. Being part deli and part bagel stop, Goldberg’s is a convenient spot for lunch. It seems to have everything going for its wide selection of food, fan-friendly prices, and convenient location from Harvey. Some of the fan favorites are the bagels along with their chicken cutlet sandwiches.

Having prices that are below $10 will always attract high school students.

It is not just that the prices are low, but the food is also high. Goldberg is an excellent place for anyone looking for an off-campus meal, and it is my top suggestion.

Reviews

Page 8

Apple’s Best Release?

Shiki Shows Off Sushi in Stamford

A Technology Review by Jacob Ross

A Restaurant Review Steven Chase

Apple released its new iPhone collection on Sept. 20, 2019, with a price ranging from $300-$1,200. There are three different options: The iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and the 11 Pro Max.

The iPhone 11 unlocked and sim free starts at $399 and has six different color options: black, white, green, yellow, purple, and red. It has a 6.1- inch screen at 1792 x 828 resolution with 625 nits max brightness. One way the 11 improved from last year’s XR is the dual 12MP ultra-wide camera. There is also a 2x optical zoom out.

Not only was the iPhone 11 released, but also the 11 Pro and the Pro Max, which start at $599 with a trade-in. They are available in the colors space gray, midnight green, silver, and gold. The 11 pro features 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps, a 12MP camera, and Face ID, according to Apple.

As reported by TechRadar, there are a few cons but mostly pros to the new phones. The iPhone 11 has an amazing camera and a new night mode feature, which people already love. Other hit features of the phone are its long battery life and Superfast A13 Bionic Processor.

The iPhone 11 Pro and the Pro Max are the next ones that TechRadar reviewed. They stated that the camera was a real step forward, and they also praised the battery upgrade and the black matte finish.

As an Apple buyer, I decided to get the iPhone 11 Pro Max with 256GB. I bought the extra gigabytes because I had an upgrade, and I traded in my iPhone 8 Plus, which lowered the price a substantial amount. My first impression of

If you are looking for an outstanding restaurant to visit with friends or family, or if you want to host an event such as a birthday, then a phenomenal sushi and hibachi restaurant would be Shiki in Stamford.

They have a huge variety of different Japanese dishes, including many types of noodles and different kinds of sushi.

Apple’s new iPhone launch photo.

Photo courtesy of Flava.

the phone was that the colors pop out in pictures.

The next feature I noticed was how long the battery lasts. I can use my phone all day, and when I go to the gym at night, I still have enough battery. The last initial feature I noticed was the night mode.

Right when I got the phone, I took a picture of my brother in the dark, and it looked like the lights were on!

Although I really like the iPhone 11 Pro Max, I do not think it’s worth buying unless you have an upgrade. The iPhone itself is excellent, and the features, like the new camera, battery, and speed are a major plus. However, the price is a little high. If it was $600, maybe $700, it would be worth it, but the $1000 plus price tag is more than the cost of a computer.

If you don’t have an upgrade but still want a new iPhone, I would say buy the iPhone 11. It’s way more affordable, and from what I’ve heard, it is still an improvement from the X and has many of the same features, like the new high quality camera with night mode, too.

With that being said, the 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max are the overall better product, but you have to be willing to take on that steep price.

Senator Harckham...: cont. from cover.

tendents was “absolutely correct” when they complained to the New York State government about the prospect of the unfunded mandate.

The Senator has met with the Westchester County and Putnam County School Board Associations, who are also concerned about the mounting costs of the project.

Before serving in the New York State Senate, Senator Harckham served on the Westchester County Board of Legislatures. So, Senator Harckham said that he understands the effects of state projects without increased funding on local communities.

When asked about his feelings on the New York Association of Independent School’s lawsuit against the New York Department of Education, Senator Harckham said that he did not wish to “opine” on something going on in the courts. However, he

did believe “that the State has the obligation to ensure that every child is getting a sound education.”

In June, New York Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia (the official who proposed the substantial equivalency regulation) resigned her post in the government.

While she did not address it in her letter of resignation, it is widely believed that Commissioner Elia left due to growing pressure on Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Board of Regents.

While Senator Harckham did acknowledge there was a lot of pressure on Commissioner Elia during her last months in office, he did not wish to speculate as to why she chose to resign. Senator Harckham stated that “there was dissatisfaction” and “there was pressure” on the Department of Education during the process.

Shiki has a variety of food on its menu, which includes appetizers, soup, salads, noodles, sushi, sashimi, and hibachi. They even have an alcoholic drink menu for your parents (and there is a designated driver, of course). Shiki is the perfect place to go and try new foods from a different culture, and you can have your taste buds blown away.

I have tried just about every item on their menu and have a set order that I recommend for you to try if you like sushi. Some recommendations would be the Shrimp Tempura Roll, Eel Sushi, Onion Soup, Yummy Roll, and Tuna Roll.

All of these options have a variety of different textures and flavors. The tuna roll does not, however, have a variety of taste, but it goes well with some wasabi

The prices are reasonable, with the Shrimp Tempura Roll costing $9.50, which is fair for six pieces of sushi that use many different ingredients. It is definitely worth it for the taste. The Tuna Roll is on the less expensive side, only being $5.50, which is more than a fair price for a six-piece roll that can fill you up. The Yummy Roll is on the expensive side, costing $13.00.

However, it is a good roll if you have the money and you like spice. The roll includes spicy tuna, spicy yellowtail, and it is topped with spicy crunch crabmeat.

Hibachi is an extraordinary family, business, or date idea, but there are many pros and cons to ordering hibachi. Some pros of hibachi is the show that they perform for you, the chefs cook the food in front of you, and they prepare your food using many different tricks, such as making a volcano out of onions or making flame happy faces.

Some cons of hibachi would be the

At the end of the interview, Senator Harckham stated that “the substance (of the substantial equivalency regulation) was right, but the process was deeply flawed.”

The New York Board of Regents will make its final decision on the substantial equivalency rule later this autumn.

The New York State Senate will come back into session Jan. 9, 2020. Senator Harckham intends to return to Albany during January to resume state governance.

Yummy Roll, Rainbow Roll, and Eel Sushi.

Photo courtesy of Steven Chase.

price. Hibachi is normally on the more expensive side, with the cheapest hibachi dish being the hibachi Chicken, which costs $20.50. The most expensive item on their menu is the hibachi Lobster, which costs $34.50.

If you want more to your hibachi meal, then there are the hibachi combination specials, which include onion soup, green salad, vegetables, two pieces of shrimp, fried noodles, and steamed rice.

The combinations are more on the expensive side because you are getting more food, but compared to the other prices, it is definitely worth it.

I recommend the Steak and Chicken hibachi combination.

If you don’t want to pay the large prices or don’t want to watch the noisy shows, you can go to their lounge near the entrance where there are very comfortable booths and chairs that can fit many people. The service there is sensational, with the waiters being very cooperative during any situation. If there are any problems with your food or seating, they will gladly assist you so you get the best service you can.

On their website, they have many different tabs that include their full menu, any specials that they are doing, including discounts, and pictures of their food, so you can get a preview of what might be appetizing. They have opening and closing times as well as their phone number and address in case you have any problems. They even deliver if you don’t want to leave your house!

Senator Harckham will also seek re-election in November 2020.

There are several possible Republican challengers including former State Senator Terrence Murphy and former Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino.

However, before Senator Harckham starts posturing for reelection, he intends to work with his constituents and address local issues.

Let’s all keep an eye out for Senator Harckham and other local leaders in our communities.