December 2nd, 2011 Volume 11, Issue 1
The Benchmark
BTHS National Honor Society In the Lanes Amanda Liu
Bam. The sound of a winning throw shatters the audience’s suspense. All the pins have fallen, and only the proud bowler is left standing, surrounded by celebratory cheers. The winner smiles, knowing that practice has indeed paid off.
in only thirty pins behind with an average of 480. Emily Yeung, ‘13 holds the team high score of 182, while Cora Man, ‘12 secures the spot of best player with her overall average of 143. Cora represented Tech in the Borough Individual Championships on Monday, November 14, along The Brooklyn Tech bowling with her teammates Sharon team features about twenty girls Cai and Lily Huang, each holdand twenty boys, many of whom ing an overall average over 120. are new additions to the bowling family. Since mid-September, The boys concluded their they have been practicing daily season with a score of 9-4, placat Brooklyn’s own Maple Lanes. ing third in their division. Their The bowling season spans only “A” team averaged a 671 this year, Insidre This Issue two short, autumn months – but while the “B” team averaged a toduring this brief period of time, tal of 447. Team captain Hermes In the Lanes - 1 Amanda Liu the Tech team has made stun- Ko ranked 32nd place in the city Fort Greene - 2 ning victories against schools with an overall average of 190, and Lucy Snyder such as Midwood, Fort Ham- currently holds the fifth highest Study Jams - 2,3 ilton, Franklin D. Roosevelt, pinfall of 4180. Along with Derek Sharon Mizrahi and Telecommunications. Chan, 13 and Brandon Leung, ’13, Williams College - 4 Calvin Chu Hermes participated in the BorNYU - 4,5 The girls competed in ough Individual Championships. Li Chen twelve matches, reigning undeHow To Deal With feated division champs with a Both teams proceeded onto the first Stress - 6 score of 12-0, for the first time round of playoffs on Thursday, NoXinjie Qiu Volunteer Events -6,7 since 2008. This “A” team ended vember 10. Let’s go Tech bowling! Maggie Tang the season with an average of Staying on Top - 7,8 508, though the “B” team came Anthony Yan
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Any Tech student knows that Dekalb Avenue, Fulton Street, and Fort Greene Place are always swamped with students after school. While Fort Greene isn’t the safest neighborhood, Te c h n i t e s love to hang out in the i nc re d ibly studentfriendly area. Many food stores accommodate us with student discounts, and some franchises even donate a portion of their earn-
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Fort Greene Lucy Snyder
ings towards funding for our school. We asked around and tried to determine the best hang-outs in Fort Greene. The most popular answer we received was Atlantic Center Mall. “They have Buffalo Wild Wings, Subway, and McDonalds,” says Joseph Alim, ‘12, who gets hungry after a full day of school without a lunch period. Julia Shetyngardt, ‘12 also loves the Atlantic Center Mall, but less for the food and more for the coffee. “Several mornings a week and even some afternoons. I stop in Starbucks for a Mocha Frappuccino to get me through the long school day,” she says. Carly Gerson, ‘13, likes to hang out with her friends at Connecticut Muffin after school because “it’s a relaxing atmosphere and we can feel calm.”
For football aficionado Katie Blitz, ‘12, Tech’s football field on Clermont Avenue and Fulton Street is a favorite spot to mingle. She likes the field “because it is a place where [she] can see current teachers, staff, and students come together and support something. Also, members of the community and media come out and it’s a really great opportunity to connect with everyone.” While Vicky Liu, ‘12 says that she doesn’t usually hang out in Fort Greene, she found herself admitting that she spends quite a bit of time socializing with her friends in front of Applebee’s or Atlantic Mall.
Study Jams
Sharon Mizrahi
Textbook pages rustle and crackle. A pencil hastily scratches across the page. Nervous tap-tapping echoes throughout the room. When the clock strikes homework time, the ensuing fidgety soundtrack is less than motivating. But a catchy song can turn a night of intense homework into an inspiring study session. Before hitting the books, check out some of these tunes and albums to stimulate the mind and get some adrenaline pumping. (cont. page 3)
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(from page 2) Gabriel Kahane (Gabriel Kahane): Kahane’s self-titled album features an eclectic mix of instrumental and vocal pieces, all laced with his signature folky, quirky flair. His lyrics are often bizarre but always intriguing – to poignant effect in “North Adams” – making this album an intuitive soundtrack for crafting an English essay or tackling a few chapters of The Illiad. The Harmony of the Anomaly (Exegesis): This electronic jazz band’s name literally means “the expression of mathematical symbols as sound.” Delve into a geometry proof or tough calculus problem to the eccentric beat of bouncing electric guitar and rumbling drum rhythms, from the futuristic tune “Aion” to “Maze of Death”, a darkly methodical piece. The effervescent but musically complex “Chroma” is a natural pairing for chemistry, physics, or biology work. Sound of a Dream (Adam Rudolph’s Go Organic Orchestra): Adam Rudolph’s forty-eight member band improvises striking aural landscapes that echo the ethnic styles of music around the world. Bring your world history textbook to life with the tribal-inspired “Dance Drama Part 3 (Blue)”. Ponder different cultures to the evolving sound of “Ambrosia Offering”. Can’t We Be Friends? (Jerry Costanzo): Costanzo tactfully modernizes the Great American Songbook, evoking the smooth crooning of Sinatra with an edgy, raspy bite. Costanzo brings the Roaring Twenties into the present age, notably in “East of the Sun (West of the Moon)”. American classics like “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” and “You’re Driving Me Crazy (What Did I Do?)” will infuse U.S. History and Government assignments with an authentic touch. Turbina Anthem (Sei Miguel, Pedro Gomes): At first listen, this caustic trumpet-guitar duo album can shock the senses with its pungent styling. But paired with a media or DDP project, Miguel and Gomes’ pieces get the creative juices flowing. Sketch out a draft for an intricate painting against the metallic, slightly rusty ambience of “The Pale Star IV”. Blast a bit of the astringent tune “Jura” while developing a 3D Inventor model.
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Williams College Calvin Chu
When it comes to liberal arts, nothing comes close to a Williams education. Williams College, located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, is a small and selective school, ranked #1
in U.S. News’ Top 100 Liberal Arts colleges in the nation. About 2,100 students sprawl across Williams’ 450 acre campus; only about 525 freshmen are admitted to at-
tend this prestigious college every year. Tuition, room and board, books, and other expenses total around $55,000, but every student who applied for financial aid received assistance in the Class of 2015. On average, each eligible student received a financial package of $44,000. From an academic perspective, the choices appear endless. A variety of majors such as anthropology, comparative literature, Jewish studies, and philosophy ensures that students can find their perfect field of study. About 78% of all classes have twenty students or less, meaning professors spend less time preach-
ing and more time teaching. It’s not just the education that gives Williams College a 96% freshman retention rate. The extensive dormitory options ensure that students live comfortably for their four years in college. Approximately 90% of all freshmen live in single dorms, and housing only gets better as the year progresses – upperclassmen get first pick at dorm rooms. Dorm and campus parties are common despite the frigid weather, which can reach a low of 12oF in winter. Make sure to pack a few sweaters and coats if you visit! For more information on Williams College, you can visit www.williams.edu.
New York University Li Chen
New York University, commonly known as NYU, is one of the largest and most diverse univer-
sities in the United States. NYU is based in Manhattan but it also operates around the world in cities like Lon-
don, Paris, Florence, Madrid, Berlin, etc. NYU is known as being one of the most expensive (cont. page 5)
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(from page 4) schools in the US. As taken from the school website, the average cost ofattendance in fall 2011 is $59,365 as compared to a tuition fee of about $20,000 in a SUNY. Despite its high prices, it is one of the most popular and competitive private schools in the US even though it is not part of the Ivy Leagues. The popular undergraduate schools of NYU include College of Arts and Science, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Steinhardt, and Tisch School of the Arts. The College of Arts and Science is located at Washington Square in Manhattan. It offers the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science undergraduate degrees. NYU Stern is ranked top ten in business schools. It is located in Greenwich Village in Manhattan. Stern has study aboard programs in many countries in Europe, Asia, and South America. Steinhardt was the first professional school established for teacher education. It is one of the schools with the most diverse academic programs ranging from De-
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partment of Administration Leadership and Technology to Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health. Tisch School of Arts is best known for its acting program and film program. The Undergraduate Department of Drama in Tisch is the world’s largest drama department with approximately 1,400 students. Tisch also have large departments in film and media. Besides the schools mentioned above, NYU also has many other schools and institutes devoted to other subjects of interest. Student life in NYU is very social because the school is located at one of the world’s largest city. It has over 450 student clubs and organizations. In addition to that, it has sports teams, study clubs, sororities, and fraternities. The world’s first fraternity was created in NYU. The residence
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halls of NYU are located all throughout Manhattan with buildings in Washington Square, Union Square, Chinatown, and the Financial District. NYU’s residence halls are mostly converted from old hotels are apartment complexes, having one of the highest ratings for university dorms. A special transit system operates between campuses and dorms. NYU is a school for people that want diversity. It has students from almost all countries around the world. Located in the middle of NYC, it is great for anyone who enjoys city life. For the people that enjoys parties and fun, NYU is definitely the place to be because there are parties almost all the time somewhere on the campus. The only downside, it does not offer the best financial aid, so for those that are looking for schools with a good financial package, think againto see if NYU is the right school.
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How To Deal With Stress Xinjie Qiu
stress is to set realistic goals and priorities. Do not set your standard to a point that you know cannot be reached. When you feel you have excess activities, drop a few of the unessential ones, and focus your time on the things that have to get done. It is unnecessary to fret about the unessential tasks of daily life, so decide what is important. Another way to decrease stress is modifying the way you perceive a situation; you may be locked into viewing a problem your own way, but a suggestion from a peer may provide new perspective.
Has the new school year already stressed you out? Are you overwhelmed by the amount of homework assignments and projects? It may seem as if there is nothing you can do to conquer your stress, but think again. ManWorking out and exaging pressure is all about taking charge of your life, ercising can aid in releasing and finding a way to balance the tension in your body. your schedule and emotions. Studies show that people who exercise on a regular baTo know whether you sis do not react as nervously feel stressed or not, iden- under stress as those who do tify if the following symp- not work out. Execising does toms apply to you: exhaus- not only put you in tremention, changes in appetite, dous physical shape, but also headaches, crying, sleep- great mental shape. Aerolessness, and/or oversleep- bic exercise is best relieving ing. Frustration and anxi- stress, although it is shown ety may accompany stress. that strength training and One way to deal with weight lifting are also help-
ful. Also, get enough sleep to provide enough energy to carry out the day’s workload, as a lack of sleep can trigger unwanted stress disorders. During times of pressure, follow the above tips to avoid extreme stress. Remember that health always comes as a priority to anything else.
Volunteer Events Maggie Tang
National Society Honor is all about helping others, especially if it’s for a good cause. NHS members help out around Brooklyn Tech, promoting school spirit and benefitting the school environment. But we should also extend past the boundaries of our school and onto the next stage: our community. Volunteering is a way of life; it shows that we care about the world around us. Luckily, there are dozens of volunteer events right in New York City. Here are a couple of events coming up soon: Teensgiving(cont. page 7)
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(from page 4) is a great event coming up on November 13, calling for over 600 teenage volunteers. Teensgiving gives young adults the opportunity to work with organizations like Partnership for Parks, the Children’s Aid Society, the Food Bank for New York City, and Project Sunshine, among dozens others. Teens help out the community by serving food, planting trees, and much more. As the weather gets colder, more people need coats to be warm. The New York Coat Drive generously donates coats and jackets to the 18.7 percent of New York families that live in poverty. From November 15th to December 31st, coats are being collected daily to suffice the growing demand for coats in the winter. Whether by donating a jacket to the poor or even hosting a donation event, we can volunteer and help out those in need. To help the effort, you create a coat drive right in your neighborhood. Use available resources to host a promotion at a local church or at a local school.
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Staying on Top Anthony Yan
Hopefully, none of us have pulled any all-nighters yet. For those of you who have, it’s still early in the year, and there’s plenty of time to get on top of your work! Juniors! Many of you may be taking three or more AP courses, despite the many disclaimers from counselors (and fellow seniors). It will be a long year with many long nights. Learn to prioritize and balance your entire schedule – social life included. Get review books now. They are very useful not only when you’re cramming for AP exams in April, but also to prepare for regular class exams and supplement your class notes, which you should keep organized for the AP exam. For seniors, the college application process can get stressful. Farfetched as it may seem, many of us still haven’t even started filling out our information on the Common Application. Get it done. This is the most painless part of the process, but it’s also the longest. Pick a day each week to sit down and get one supplement down. One college a week is ideal. The regular decision deadline for most colleges (January 1st) seems pretty far down the road, but look how quickly our time at Tech flew by. Two months isn’t much time. The SAT will be another familiar topic of (cont. page 8)
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(from page 4) topic of dis- though the report covers all cussion for many juniors, exams. This sums up to a and perhaps even seniors. hefty amount after adding in application fees (ranging For juniors, it is sug- from $50 to $90 per school) gested that you take your and other payments. For first SAT exam in March. many of us, This gives you time to as- fee waivsess your score and decide ers will not whether you should retake it be enough cover in May, June, or the fall term to cost. of senior year. Many of you the may also be taking SAT IIs; note that you cannot take Also, keep mind the SAT and SAT IIs on the in same day. Keep that in mind that even when you sign up for exams. though you have the Seniors should already have ability to all of their SATs and SAT IIs pick which ready for submission to col- scores to leges. It is $10.50 to send send, some score reports to one school, colleges re-
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quire you to send in all scores. Junior and senior year seem like a lot of work, but you can make it easier on yourself by prioritizing your work and
President: Vivian Hoang Vice President of Committees: Jaime Lau Vice President of Public Relations: Kelly Ieong Vice President of College Services: Evelyn Yeung Secretary: Lucy Hovanisyan Treasurer: Anxhelo DhimitriParliamentarian: Neil Alacha Historian: Sheryan Resutov Communications Chair Person: Alexandru Malcoci Layout Designer: Jonathan Cheng