The Classic newspaper Volume 10 Issue no. 1

" .,.., Vol. 10, No.1, November, 1993 ,

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Townsend Harris High School at Queens College

75·40 Parsons Boulevard. Flushing, NY 11366

Founder's Day celebrates tenth anniversary

by Wendy Kemp Name the five-da y celebration which is marked by the sudde n appearance of hats, color war and multi-cultural activities. Give up?

For all those freshmen and incoming sophomores who do not have the upperclass men 's vast experience of school traditions, here is the answer: Townsend Harr is during the annual Founder's Day week.

Yes, that's right, Founder' s Day is back, and will take place this Friday.

This year's Founder's Day will celebrate the tenth anniversary of the rebirth of Townsend Harris High School. Its theme will be "In Retrospective." Some new features of the tradit ional event include performance by the Tamburi Percussion Trio, an ensemble that uses drums, gongs arid "tone colors" from around the world, and a demonstration of aerobic exercise routines organized by the physical education department.

Even though some changes in

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this year ' s Founder' s Day celebration are imminent, many activ ities will be similar to those of last year.

The annual ceremony, which will take place at John Bowne High School on Friday morning, serves to officially integrate the new students into Townsend Harris society. During the ceremony, the freshmen and incoming sophomores will listen to some of the winners of the Founder 's Day Challenge, a schoolwide contest to produce creative pieces about life at Townsend Harris , and to a speech by a Townsend Harris alumnus. They will also recite the Ephebic Oath, a pledge taken by ancient Greek youths to better their community.

No regularly schedu led classes will take place, but second band classes will participate in a cultural-sharing event.

While the first-year studen ts are at Bowne, the upperclassmen, depend ing upon their homerooms, will attend various workshops during the day. Since the 1993-94

school year is to be the last of Townsend Harris' decade-long stay at the small building down the street from the Wendy's restaurant, a variety ofactivities will emphasize the "retropective" theme, looking back to the good times and trials of these last ten years .

Many of the workshops will again focus on multi-culturalism."A lot ofstudents who did workshops last year are doing them again," said Lynne Greenfield, Assistan t PrincipalofHumanities. "Many [workshops] will be the same, but there will be some new ones, too."

Amo ng the possibilities for this year are a Mexican cook ing workshop, Thanksgiving feast workshop, and a variety of dance and crafts ' workshops, which were popular last year.

Last year, as part of the multicultural theme, students learn ed . how to make wontons and California rolls, which are also known as "Korean sushi." Another homeroom participated in a storytelling

workshop in which students dramatized fairy tales while someone narrated. There were also a few dance workshops run by students who taught their peers how to perform dance styles from all around the world.

A series of activities will lead up to the Founder 's Day celebration.

The Founder's Week Olympics, which became a new tradition in 1992, will involve a series of spirit days. A Hat Day is scheduled for Tuesday, November 16. A color war will take place on Wednesday, for which the freshmen will wear blue, the sophomores white, the jun iors, black, and the seniors, red.

Thursday is designated as Pajama Day, so students need not bother taking off their night wear that morning.

Atthe end of the week, a committee will tally all of the scores, and the grade with the most participation points for the week as a whole will be. the winner. Last year, the jun iors took first prize in

the Olympic s and the freshmen ran a close second.

The Founder's Day Challenge is a contes t that is entered by all English classes. It requires students to submit writings or artwork depicting life in general at Townsend Harris, such as a cartoon or a parody of a song. Originating with Ms. Green field, the idea for a Founder's Day Challenge was further deve loped last year by English teachers Helen Rizzuto and Raque l Chung. Also involved in its creation was Ms. Biener, librarian Valerie Billy, math teacher Harry Ratt ien, and a student committee. "We got a very nice response from many of the students," said Ms. Green field.

Winning entries may be performed at the ceremony, pub lished in a school manual, or be permanently displayed at the new building on the campus of Queens College.

The school- wide dance which had been held for the past two continued on p.l l

Monsters ,murderers, mummies 'make up' Spirit Day mob by ~rik Bloch Sophomore Venessa Pagan came in full The two boys stand there apparently in awe of the oddities that continuously pass military uniform. "It's my father's uniform their lines of vision . They are in the hall, from Vietnam," she said. Another sophomore, Vesna Vasic , transformed herself into surrounded by a sea of murderers, monsters, animals, and cross-dress-g. ers , trying to take in the sights. o Finally, one of them looks to the a other, then back at the lizard man ~ t:l across from him (who's diligently ' ·1 • '5' trying to open his locker) and again ~ back to the boy. "Are we the only 41 el normal ones here?'" he asks at last. ~ "I think so," says his comp anion .

Yes, Halloween came to Town send Harri s a few days early , Cover girls? juniors DaphniFaldi and Elizabeth Gibbons dress up as AlfredE. Newman, the on October 29 , and indeed it did character on "Mad" magazine. seem as if the bizarre predominated over the sane . The reason for this craziness a towering cowardly lion from the "W izard was to show school spirit and have fun. of Oz." Six juniors got together and dressed Teachers as well as students donned cos- assunflowers, "Wethoughti twouldbecute tumes which ranged from the subtle to the to do something together and make a sunoutrageous. Th is year, the freshman class flower patch," said Jennifer Sark ing, one of hadthe highest number of peoplei n costume the six. Evelina Grayvers, an incoming - 130, thus winning this year's event in the sophomore, wore an elaborate witch cosFounders' Day Olympics. Jun iors came in tume. Her inspiration, she said, was "from second with 117 and sophomores were third watch ing that Elvira movie all week ." with 80. (See" Founder 's Day" above.)

Jun iors Celinda Cassanova and Anthony

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Martinez bulked up their bellies with pad- but I thought it would be funny," he said.

Several teachers also turned heads with ding, then eased back in their seats in class by resting on their makeshift stomachs. their costumes. Spanish teacher Michael Junior Jesse Robinson wore a rubber dino- Piane dressed as a surgeon. "Everyone resaur mask over his face, and rubber claws on spects surgeons," he said. New Global Hishis hands."1 look cool, and that's the truth," tory teacher Leyland Frazer painted his face comp letely white, slicked his hair back, he said.

One sophomore simply dyed her hair. "It threw on a cape, and went as a vampire. was a pretty easy cos"The more you take part tume," she said. There in the school, the more 'g. fun it is," he said. were also sightings of Jason masks, pajamas, Eng lish teacher Thoand fak e mu staches ~ mas Sweetin dressed as throughout the day.

S? an Indian Swami.The exo Perhaps the biggest stir S travagantoutfitconsisted was caused by jun iors ...~ of a puffy silver hat with Jinho Mountainbear and ~. a big blue feather stick... ing out, a color ful sequin Ian Katz. Both decided to dress up as the oppovest, drawstring baggy site sex. pants, and a crystal'ball.

"I didn' t think wearing He received so much mysister's clothes would comment on the costume that Principal Malcolm attract so much attcnCross-dressing, juniors Jinho tion,' said Jinho, laughMountainbear and Ian Killz show Largm ann vis ited ing. "He was so beautischool spirit on Halloween.

Mr.Sweetin 's second ful! I was jealous," said junior Gina Tuffaro. band class that morn ing Ian dressed as Saturday Night Live char - and said, "I had to see this myselfl" acter Linda Richmond . "It's kind of crazy, A new aspect to this year's Halloween r-continued on p.12

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New Staff

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Open letter to our new mayor

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Senior Editor: J ennifer Sor ewltz Editor-In-Chief: Seth Cohe n ,

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Beth Mellow

Wendy Kemp,Kelly Villella Feature Editors

News Editor Gina Tufaro Lay -cut Edllor

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, Townsend &rrls IIlgh Schoolal Queens College 75-40 rarsons Blvd. F1uShlng,New,York 11~6

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Dionne F rase r Pho!o&raphy Editor

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.David Iankelevich Arl Editor

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Stacey Gluck , Sally Magdi, KristiniaOlson, Diana ' uite Senior Conlr lbullng Edllo". ,

Readers,are inv~ed to subrnh letters to ' the edhor. Letters should be placed in Ms. Cowen's maibox in the general office . The Clasaic reserves the rightto ed~ a1lleners . ' LettefsmUstincludenameandofficial ciass. ' Names will be w~hheld upon request. " ' , '

News Staff - Erik Bloch. Mic:ru.:;1 Garber, Luiza Girlee , Laura Hummcl:Veroniea Lee, Veness. Morales, Michael MunOz,Violeno , o . tafin , Phyll ia Pei , Sarah Tremml, Stacey Winkler

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Fe a tu re Staff - Jea.iea Gazsy , Robyn Kaplan, Beth Manueci, Cary MeCruden, Femando Moreno, Jemiffer Pare, Rcshni.Ray, Ellen S' Scbonabel, Amanda Schoenberg. L~urcnSharlctt~ Romy Varghese, Marci Wcl~r. Bonnie Yee . .

S ports Staff - Sbaoell Alston, Ion Katz, Phyllis Pel , Je. .. Robinson,Monique Wheeler,

Photographers - Jcnni~cr Ben amin , Joanna Drescher, Stefani. Hcim,

L~ Kim, Vicki Levine , Andrea Pasternak.

Anna Zwicr

Art ists - Erik Bloch, Je shurun Breach, Daniel Gingerich, Alvarc Ibarguen, Ono Petersen, Jennifer Tam, Rena Varghese

._fuin&.- Tara Balabushka Prln.. l n "l.

Dr, Malcolm Largrnann

Advisor • lisa Cowen

Judy Biener, Coordinator of Student Affairs (Letters cont inued on page 10.)

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Cortines .encouraqes participation in education policy

by Violetta Osta fln

Chancellor Ramon Cortines met with over 120 public high school students on October 28 at the Sheraton New York Hotel, in order to discuss problems in New York City public schools as well as to increase

youth participation in the development of the educational system . The event, sponsored by AT&T, was organized and planned

by Mctalxetworks, a youth organization.

Students had two hours to present their problems and opinions to the chancellor in a "town meeting" style discussion whose only rules were to "agree to disagree," and to speak only when handed a microphone by one of the moderators ; MetaNetworks youth advisory members Monica Rivera and Samir Vural.

Chancellor Cortincs began the discussion by saying ,"I want to listen to what you have to say. Students are probably the most overlooked group of people when it comes to discussing problems in education . I'm honored that you invited me to hear, and now I intend to listen and learn."

Many issues were addressed , including the asbestos crisis, prejudice, a multi-cui-

tural curriculum, teacher encouragement for students, and condom distribution inschools.

When Mr.Cortines stated that he was against condom distribution inschools without parents having the option to exclude their children, some students were upset that his views differed from theirs.

In response, the Chancellor said, "We can share the same goals, but we may look at them a little differently."

Overcrowding in schools was another issue of concern to the students . According to Chancellor Cortines, there is a lack of planning on the Board of Education's part when it comes to preparing for the large increase of students in schools. "Two hundred thousand more students are expected come into the education system in the next two years," he said.

"You have a right to have certain expectations, but you can't give up when discour-

aged," said Cortines .

One issue the Chancellor was very firm about throughout the meeting was shielding the schools as much as possi blc from budget cuts.

"I'm sure that there will be cuts after the mayoral election, but we'll try to keep it away from schools. They already do. not have the resources they need to provide comprehens ive education," he said.

Toward the end of the meeting, Chancellor Cortines stated, "There needs to be more meetings like this one," All the participants wore tee shirts provided and designed by Mctanciworks with "Work With Me," the day"s theme, printed on the front.

Eli Posnit, a Metanetworks leader, led everyone in singing, "If we can work together, ... we'd accomplish so much....What we need is communication ...."

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Schools Chancellor confronts challenges In new office

by Beth Mellow

Despite a $119 million debt resulting from the asbestos crisis, New York City Schools Chancellor Ramon Cortincs is outlining plans for improvement of the city's school system (New York Times, 11/ 10/93).

Mr. Cortincs selected a panel of educators to re-work the school's curriculum.

He has suggested an emphasis on phonics for elementary school reading instruction and a requirement of algebra and a second language for all middle school students.

His plans to combat school violence include introducing conflict resolution courses, increasing extra-curricular activitics, and starting photograph idcntification programs. He appeared to be hesitant about Mayor-elect Giuliani's proposal to install

policemen in violent schools (New York Times, 11 /10/93).

Mr. Cortines walked into a whirlwind

of friable asbestos , sex education debate, and controversy over school repairs after a divided Board of Education hired him as School's Chancellor with a 4-3 vote early in September.

The vote by the "gang of 4" (composed of Board members Irene Impellizer, Michael Petrides, Carol Gresser, and Segarra Ninfa) that placed 61-year-old Cortines in the Chancellor's seat was allegedly the result of a Board of Education divided on political lines (N.Y. Times, (9/2/93).

Mayor David Dinkins had favored the selection ofG. N. Tirozzi, the former State Education Commissioner in Connecticut, and the choice of Chancellor Cortines was widely interpreted in the press to indicate some board members' political opposition to the mayor (N.Y. Times . 9/2/93).

Previously, Cortines presided over the San Francisco school system,which is 10% the size of the New York City school system. He balanced ,~ budget about 15 times smaller than the New York Board ofEducation's budget (N.Y. Times, 9/5/93).

Freshman Wcijian Zeng said, "Cortincs has lots of innovative ideas that he's brought from San Francisco. I think he'll be a better chancellor than Fernandez."

As Superintendent of Schools in San Francisco from 1986-1992, Conines initiated several programs. He increased language offerings beyond the mandatory English as a second language to involve English-speaking children in foreign language classes. He improved science programs and encouraged in-school preparation for the SAT (N.Y. Times 9/5/93).

America, Israel strengthen ties at dedication ceremony; Gore, Dinkins among speakers

by Seth Cohen

Avital, Israel and the United States displayed their The America-Israel Friendship Grove goodwill toward one another at the Friend- contains trees native to both North America ship Grove Dedication Ceremony in the and Israel. In the Bible, the cedar [ a variety Queens theater at Flushing Mcadow Park, of evergreens] represents indestructability October 20. Vice President Al Gore, Mayor and strength. According to Ms. Shulman, David N. Dinkins, Consul General of the these characteristics are a fitting symbol of State of Israel H.E. Colcuc Avital, and the enduring friendship between the AmcriBorough President Claire Shulman were can and Israeli people. among the speakers, and Townsend Harris "The Grove symbolizes our shared valstudents sat in the audience as invited guests. ucs and mutual strides, and constantly reAssistant Principal of the Humanities minds us of the affinity we share today," Department Lynne Greenfield accompanied said Ms. Shulman. Ms. Shulman referred to seniors'I'ina Morgan and juniors Oscar Dinkins as "A friend of the Jews, a friend of Castillo, Jennifer Chau, Dionne Fraser and New York, and a dear friend of mine."

Seth Cohen to the event.

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin also The commemoration marked the fourth- had kind words for Mayor Dinkins. In a year anniversary of "Celebration 40," a lcucr read aloud by Consul Avital, Rabin ceremony held at Flushing Mcadow Park in said, "Today. with this dedication to us, you 1988 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the have symbolized the friendship of these two birth of the state of Israel. Ground was also nations. This is a new era, and we are at the broken for the America-Israel Friendship dawn ofa new beginning...thedawn ofpcace.

Grove, dedicated to the friendship between Mayor Dinkins and Vice President Gore the people of Israel and America. have represented the fine government of "The grove [ of trees] provides strength America." A vital then presented Ms. and solidarity between these two great Schulman with a stone to be placed in the democracie s. Watching the trees grow, and Jerusalem Park to be opened at Flushing the sap /low, gives us an incredible sense of Meadows in the ncar future. excitement," said Israeli Consul General Vice President Al Gore received a stand-

ing ovation as he approached the podium to speak. "I love coming to New York," he said. "It gives me the opportunity to appear on the David Letterman Show."

He received laughs from the audience when he offered his number one reason to re-elect Dinkins: "Politics is no sweat if all you have to debate is a rubber chicken." He

Dlgnltarles display cornerstone at Friendship Grove ceremony.

was alluding to a televised debate between Dinkins and Conservative candidate George Marlin in which a rubber chicken was made to represent the missing Republican/l.ibcral candidate Rudolph Giuliani . Giuliani had refused to participate if Marlin were present.

Vice President Gore was protected by a plethora of secret service men and bombsniffing dogs. The location of the ceremony wasn't divulged until the afternoon before

the ceremony. "It was hard to tell who was a regular person and who was a security man," said Dionne Fraser.

Jennifer Chau felt a good part of the function was a campaign boost for Dinkins.

"With the upcoming election and all, he [Dinkins] praised Alan Hcvcsi and Mark Green too much. Also, Al Gore and Claire Shulman barely stopped short of blind adulation for the mayor," she said.

Comptroller candidate Alan Hevesi and Public Advocate nominee Mark Green also attended the ceremony, and on several occasions Dinkins flashed the "thumbs-up" victory sign towards them. While Mayor Dinkins was not successful in his bid for a second term, Hcvcsi and Green did win on Election Day. Among the VIP's present was popular psychologist, Dr.RuthWcsthcimer.who ran up to AIGore, grabbed him, and kissed him, and Richard Green, Crown Heights representative. . The Solomon Schechter Chorus sang the recessional. "Tell me the cloudy days are over...oh, to have the country glowing in my eyes...That the desert is still yellow. the forest is still green, the leaves still mellow...

That the sky is as bright as we've ever seen."¡

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The Classic November 1993 ..

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Kick-off mixer marks farewell to Student Union site

by Violetta Ostafin and Fernando music is something we all have in played at least one of the songs that "It was great. I danced the whole "I don't condone a student throwcommon; it provides a chance to I requested," said junior Jennifer time," commented freshman Ron it ing a punch even if the student Moreno Mus ic, balloons, and Harrisites filled the fourth floor of the Queens College StudentUnion building on Friday, October 15, at what was probably the last Kick-off Mixerto be held outside of Townsend Harris. The gymnasium in Townsend Harris' new building schedu led to open on the Queens College campus next fall will be large enough to accommodate the annual event.

About 500 students attended the sixth annual Kick-off dance, according to Sen ior Advisor Thomas Sweetin. The sen ior-sponsored event gives the upper classmen, who are on the Queens College campus most of the time, a chance to mee t the freshmen and incoming sophomores, and is also held to raise money for senior dues .

Many felt that the event was a perfect opportunity to meet new people. Freshman Annie Socci said, "The friendly atmosphere created by the music was a good ice breaker and provi ded a chance to talk to people that you didn 't know ."

"This was a good way to socialize and meet new people because

bond," commented sophomore Chau.

Schwartz.

I On the other hand , many were "I enjoyed watching the people Charles Drayton.

However, not everyone felt that happy with the DJ.'s selection of dance. You could learn a lot," said the dance was fun. "This was a songs. Among the favorites were junior Anil Taneja.

Although the dance ended on a typical Townsend Harris dance. I . "Come Baby, Come," by K-7 and would have to say it was the most "Alright" by Kriss Kross. Fresh- positive note.this year's event did . not pass without a problem . boring in all four years that I Students have brought it to have been here," said senior Yadiera Brown. the at~ntion of Judy B iene~, ,0 Coordinator of Student At . Townsend Harris graduate , 0'::. fairs, that the security hired Rae Perei ra was the DJ. at this year's mixer and has been for I' § by the Student Union was rude several years . As usual, the . ~ and unprofessional in dealmusic he played received mixed ~ ing with Harr isites. A conreviews. , ~ flictoccurred when a security if... guard was said to have threatSome students felt that all ened and pushed students untypes of music were not represented."They played too . .

C " C '11 necessarily to get them to Booglng down, juruors hristine asti 0 . li 0 much rap and raggae. It's the and Neelma Ali strut their stuff at mixer. move over mto me. ne sophomore was angered by same situation as last year," man John Macropoulus especially this and told the guard to stop being stated sophomore Tony Tsai. " I don't understand why he enjoyed "Jump Around" by House rude. A dispute ensued and a fight played the same songs more than of Pain when his friends carried between the student and the guard and tossed him around from one took place. once, " said Frank Angelin i.

Another complaint was that the end of the dance floor to the other. Despite rumors saying otherwise, When Mr. Sweetin was asked there were no weapons involved D.J. didn't play the songs that the students requested.t'Thernusic was why he had hired Rae, he replied, and no one is sure who took the better this year, but I still feel there " He is an alumnus of our school. I first punch; however, Ms. Biener should be more of a varie ty and feel that it is always good to sup- feels that both the student and the guard were wrong in their actions. wish that the DJ. would have port and help our alumni."

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feels provoked, but I hold the security guard just as responsible as any student who was involved," she said .

The student was then escorted out of the building by principal Dr. Malcolm Largmann and English teacher Harriette Blechman. He went to the hospital later that night to check out whether or not his shoulder had been dislocated. No major injures were found.

Townsend Harris wrote a strong letter to the person in charge of Queens College security toexpress the school's discontent with the methods used towards Harrisi tes at the dance.

"They need to realize that we are not a tough group that needs to be dealt with harshly," stated Ms. Biener.

Students agreed that the behavoir of the guards was unnecessarily harsh .

"They should have acted with some more restraint. We're not violent delinquents, but they don't realize that," said j unior Daniel Gingerich.

Mentors on hand to make newcomers feel welcome

by Sarah Tremml Bunches of chattering freshmen were shepherded to Queens College by their upperclass mentors as students trave led en masse by bus and foot to the senior sponsored kickoff mixer on October 15. This was the latest even t in the on-going student mentor program instituted by the faculty to make the new students feel comfortable at Townsend Harris.

The mentoring program has been in effect for a few years; however, Odile Garcia, mentor coordinator, says no year has been more effective than the present one . She states, "In the past, the students didn't volunteer their time to do more than what was required. This year, they seem to be more motivated. However, we have not come to a valid conclusion yet as the program isn't over."

The mentors' motivation was demonstrated when all of the people scheduled for partic ipation showed their faces in the early hours of september for Orientation Day. With the confusion caused by the asbestos crisis, faculty members and mentors scrambled to help wandering incomers find their homerooms.

Mentors answered questions to allev iate existing anxi ties and fears. Freshman Tara Eliason said, "I feel the mentoring program is important because it helps kids find their place here."

"Finding places" was not the only thing the mentors accomplished that day. In each homeroom, small groups consisting of one mentor and two to four new students clustered for half an hour to discuss the nuances of the school, such as program changes, homework load, tests , dances, and the girl-

boy ratio.

English teacher Georgette Wallace commented that the freshmen seemed reassu red and glad their mentors were there to help. "We [the teachers) got lots of positive responses in the ninth and tenth grade journals concerning the relief at having the mentors there to aid them," she said.

According to Coordinator of Student Activities Judy Biener, the faculty was . impressed by the mentors. "At the first faculty conference of the year,' on September 14, teachers started to congratulate Ms. Garcia for thc finejob shc did. We all agreed that everything went smooth ly and the mentor program really helped ," she said.

"They were trained wel1, but it's not me, it's the kids ." responded Ms. Garci a.

Training for the program began back in June, when students were asked to volunteer for Orientation Day. Students fil1ed out index cards with the teams and organizations they are involved in. From this, Ms. Garcia selected the mentors. Requirements for the job included writing journals, attendance at all mentor meetings, and participation in school events. Service credit will be distr ibuted to those who fulfill all requirements.

In addition to being helpful, the mentoring program spawned new friendships between older and younger students; Junior Farrah Suincr says, "I met lots of nice people on Orientation Day, and I still talk to them . It's nice to know the people in our school."

Freshman Kate Margit states, "I'm really glad we had the mentors there . I met lots of great people and it made me more comfortable to know I would have friends to talk to on the first day of school . The program was very successful."

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Asbestos crisis attectsall is visible damage to ceilings and walls of schools. If so, it might flake , become airborne and pose a health risk (Newsday , 9/10/93). _ When principal Malcolm Largmann was asked about his initial reaction to school's being closed until September 20, he re-

New building reach es new height

by Stacey Winkler What was once a series of sinall sample drilling holes in a vacant parking lot in 1990 has grown into an almost completely enclosed school building.The new Townsend Harris High School on the Queens College campus has 97% of its outside brickwork in place. The growth of the l73,000-square-foot learning facility is rapidly becoming apparent.

"Sixty-eight percent of the building is now complete. The five-hundredseat auditorium is now fully enclosed, the floor is poured, and the interior walls are going up. The 400 windows are to be installed this fall, and the outside ofthe building should be finished by the scheduled date.

Work has progressed fairly smoothly, according to project construction manager Sam Gordon. "We have delays here and there but nothing

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\ Standing tall on Quee ns College campus, the exterior of the new building nears completion.

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major," he said. Board of Education representative s anticipa te that the school,which will comfortably house 1050 students , will be ready for its proposed September 1994 openi ng.

The new f acilities will includ e full student 'and faculty cafeterias, a courtyard, one and a half gyms, incl uding one with bleachers, and a Student Union suite with separate cubicles for stude nt-run organizations.

Construction on the inside of the building will con tinue dur ing the winter. Many con trac tors will work on developing the engineering details of various systems, while the more aesthetic qualities of the interior will also continue to evolve . Orders will soon be placed for furniture, computers and other essent ials.

Principal Malcolm Largmann, Assista nt Prin cipal of Organization Ma lcolm Rossman, Ass istan t Principal of Ma thematics Harry Rat tien and several faculty members put on hard hats and received a tour of the building earl ier this month. Dr. Largmann saw the site of his office-tobe, which will come with an adjacent conference roo m.

"Walking through that bu ilding gave me the mos t exhi larati ng feeling I've had since I started in this school," said Mr. Rattien. "We will be in the newest, most modem and most beautiful facility I have ever seen.

This place is going to be amazing."

"I once stoo d in the middle of [Queens College ] parki ng field six," said Mr. Rossman, "an d looked at a tiny little drilling sample hole and wondered what our high school would really look like. Last July I actually walked across each floor of what had been only a dream. Now I can almost feel, touch , and smell the finished product."

plied,"This wasa very unfortuna te occurrence . This is the first time in the many years that I' ve been in this system that school did not start School Con- on time. " However, sophomore Zoe Gor do n admitted , "I was relieved because I had more time to spend hanging out and going to the '.0 take (New- beac h."

For awhile, many doub ted school would open on September 20. The week before,Townsend Harris had not even been scheduled for asbestos testing. According to Dr. La rgmann, the Board of Educ ation had or iginall y planned not to sup~ ply inspectors since we have a rented facility . They thought the landlord should take care of it. The " inspectors, however, arrived on September 15.

On September 18, Dr. Largmann reccived word that the school tested asbestos -free and normal classes

...Tutoring " At Home"

ASBESTOS - WHAT'S THE hy Erik Bloch Asbestos is a term-referring to a group of fibers withlong, flexible threadlike material/It is both fireproof and chemically active. For years it was considered the most useful building material because of its virtual indcsuuctablility. In fact, almost every bu ilding was constructed with asbestos before its use was banned in the 1970 ' s.

Everything from roof insulation to pipesand pillars contained the material. Some 3,000 productsmanu factured in the U.S. contained asbestos, varying from automobile

brake linings to barbequemittens, Then camethenews of its hazards . It was found that prolonged exposure to "friable," or airborne asbestos could cause a variety of respiratory diseases , including lung cancer and asbestosis (scarring of the lungs). Abdominal cancer is another asbestos-related disease.

At the time when asbestos was discovered to be dangerous, an estimated 3.5 million tons of the material was already installed in New York. The trouble with the substance is that it has a tendency to crumble, thus releasing airborne

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AIDS awareness group presents 'Love Heals'

by Bonnie Yee On the invitation of Students Promo ting AIDS Aware nes s (S.P.A.A.) and their advisor Ilene Marcus, Love Heals, a non-profit organization that informs students around the country about AIDS, spoke here at Townsend Harris during Enrichment on October 19 about this non-discriminating disease. Also present were cameramen who filmed the discussion for future airing on HBO. Love Heals was founded by Allison Gertz after she was diagnosed with HIV. She wanted to help prevent this from happening to other people.

When Allison died, her three best . . . .. friends, Dini von Mueffling, VtCtoria Leacock, and Stefani Greenfield, pledged to keep her legacy alive by assuming responsibility for Love Heals.

Allison was 16 years old when she met a 27-year-old bartender at Studio 54. Allison had unprotected sex with him. She discovered later that he was bisexual and at 22, she realized when she was diagnosed with the HIV virus that she had contracted it from him.

While they were here, Dini and Victoria told Alison's story and tried to answer everyone's qucstions.Some facts that surprised the students were: ' • the HIV virus can be transmit ted through oral sex • over 70% of the gay community has the H1V virus • the World Health Organizationestimates thatbytheyear 2020, . . one billion people will be infected -thc fastest growinggroups being infected with AIDSareheterosexuals and teenagers • when you are sleeping with

someonewho has the disease, your chances of contracting it are increased if you drink alcohol,.r~r dodrugs,becausetheyweakenyour immune system. . Dini warns teenagers that abstinence is the only true safe sex. She says, "When you are a teenager, a long-term relationship is two weeks, but long-term relationships are different when you are older. You may think that you are in a monogomous relationship when you really are not."

When you contract HIV, your condition gradually deteriorates until you have fullblown AIDS."We went from . .. going out dancing WIth Ali to staying home with Ali to watch a movie, and then to having her call and say she couldn't take a shower by herself," recalled Dini.

Sophomore Carmen Rodriguez, a member of S.P.A.A. who was present at the Enrichment, said, "I cried when they described how her illness progressed to the point of where she couldn' t take care of herself. People today shouldn' t be

with our school. "This school only does the minimum when it comes to condom distribution. Ten periods a week isn' t enough," she said.

"The number of periods in a week doesn' t matter. The students in our school don ' t takc advantage of the condom distributionprogram anyway," responded j unior Oscar . 0 Castillo. ~ "We do more than the ~ minimum 10 periods ~ mandated by the Board :;J ofEducation," saidEllen ~ Schwartz,coordinatorof theschool' s condomdis. . . tribution program. "It's Instr~ctiJ.1l!Le°n AIDkS, 101mflthvo~ Mueffr0mgd not that we're overand Victona acoc te 0 err 1ost len . . whelmed WIth requests; so ignorant. Take proper prccau- the time is adequate for our needs. tions and protect yourself."

Most of the time, we sit in empty After the discussion, Dini said rooms with no one coming in to that they only had one problem avail themselves of our services."

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Senior devotes summer to AIDS education at the end of the -surnrncr . One $800 last year and plans to apply

by Branwen J ones I applied at the bakery, the li-. major reason I was selected was again this year. brary, the Gap, the bookstore and my involvement with a B.A.S.E. Myjob was to revise the 1993/94 ""'- "'C at theHIV/Education branchof the ::r o application booklet and to interBoard of Education for my sums view different organizations to mer job. The bakery never called ~ decide which should be put in the me, the library and the Gap were ~ resource guide which comes along I" not hiring for the summer, and the N with the booklet. I and the other bookstore seemed dull. I knewvery ~ students would visit such organi~. little about the Board of Education N zations as Gay Men's Health Crijob inBrooklynexcept that ifhired, sis, AIDS Adolescent Network of I would receive a stipend at theend NewYork,andTeensHelpingEach of the summer, and I would be Other. At these "site visits," we working with other high school would meet many new people and students to talk about sex, drugs participate in amusing activities and violence. What I did know Based at Board of Education, senior such as condom races. Those who was that I needed a summer job, so Brannie Jones interns at Grant Program. could effectively put a condom on after I was interviewed and offered Grants project for Students Pro- a woodenmodel first won the comthe position, I accepted it, not moting AIDS Awareness (SPAA) . petition. Not only did we meet and knowing that it would beoneofthe at Townsend Harris. learn about different aspects of the best experiences of my life.

B.A.S.E. Grants is a branch of advocacy organizations, but we I was to be part of the Student the HIV/AIDSsectionof the Board also learned about the grant-rnakAdvisory Committee (SAC) for ofEducation which provides fund- ing process.

B.A.S.E. Grants, which stands for ing of up to $2500 to high school There were many personal atBe Active in Self Education. I and student-run group projects dealing tributes to this job, but one really five others fromall over New York with HIV/AIDS education and stands out in my mind - the friends City were chosen out of 100 high otherrelated teen healthissues such I made this summer.The five other school students to revise and re- as pregnancy, drug and alcohol members of the Student Advisory designthe 1993/94 BAS.E. Grants abuse and self-esteem. SPAA rc- Committee(fourgirls and one guy) proposal and received $1000 each ceived a B.A.S.E. grant of about from five different high schools illIi:

are people with whom I became very close and continue to keep in touch. Ray, the college student who interviewed me for the job, became our mentor and worked with us constantly this summer. By name, Barbara, Rachel, Dominique, La-Tasha, Ray, Ray Glikes, and our advisor and friend, Debra, were people I came to know very well and spent most of my time with, bothprofessionallyandsocially.

I had never expected to be so close to people that were all so diverse in race, religion and personal beliefs. Small, yet unforgettable memories such as Rachel, Barbara and I gcuing lost on our way to the Departmentof Health on one of our visits, or how Ray Gilkes always got the best lunches but never told us where he got them, arcthings I' ll never forget. I realize now that because of my job at the HIV/ AIDS education center, I have made friends which I will remember and hopefully keep for the rest of my life.

Out of the six students on the Student Advisory Committee pard, I was chosen to work continuously throughout this school year as an assistant to Debra at the Board ofEducationbuilding. Soon, the six of us will unite again to review the applications sent in to B.A.S.E. Grants by different city high schools applying for money to fund their projects. Anyone can apply for a B.A.S.E. Grant, even more than one student-run group ina highschool. It pays off toapply becausenotonly does the group reccive money,but it is also provided with the incentive to inform and educate other teens about HIV/ AIDSand the related health issues.

Now, more than ever, students and teens in general need the proper educational services available in order to continue to serve the role as the "future leaders of the world."

That is why I am proudof the work I did this summer at B.A.S.E. Grants and hope that my expericncescrvcs as an example forother teenagers who want to be involved in their own education.

Embraces abound on first of year's Spirit Days

by Vero nica Lee and Beth Mellow For ty-two thousand , live hund red and three may sound like a monstorous tax return or the correct answer on a math exam.

Actually, it is the number of embraces exchanged on Friday October 1, Hug Day. According to Judy Bicncr, Coordinator of Student Affairs, Hug Day is a national holiday that was celebrated inTownsend Harristwo yearsago. Itsrevivalwassuggested

by Junior Vice President Hollie Pena.

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"It's good because you get to know people," said freshmanCosmin Ardeljan. "Hug Day brings out the best in evcryone.t'said sophomore Karen Chang.

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Showing Hug Day spirit, juniors TaliOitrnan andSalGioe embrace.

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. wards Hug Day. "I feel It'S a very nice gesture because it makes people feel better towards one another," said Elaine Schreiber,

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day as well. Junior Peter Silverman said, "I think it was a bad idea considering that 50% of the school was sick, and by Monday, 100%of the school was."

Ms. Biener said, "It was mostly successful, except for the fact that the Townsend Harris cold was spread around and some kids were blaming me."

Among the teachers who participated was Harry Rauicn, Assistant Principal of Mathematics, who declared, "Everyone should hug their teachers!"

English teacher Paula Weyne said, "We have all embraced Hug

.'

Day with spirit and excitement."

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:·::·· ·::··· ···!:··.· · : :· I 'We have all embraced Hug Day with 'spirit and exc itement.'

The Student Union kept tabs on the number of hugs exchanged by using the tallies of several students and multiplying it by the number of students in the school.

"

New generation experiences highs and lows , of LSD .

by Elisabeth Kirsch An eyedropper of it will make 10,000 people trip. Many users of it recommend it enthusiastically, while others regard it with fear, thinking it d rives people insane. What is the story behi nd LSD? Also called lysergic acid diethylamine, or acid, the ha ll uci no gen LSD made its deb ut in 1943 when Swiss scientist Albert H of m a nn ingested it. He was the first to synthesize the drug, which he discovered whilestudying the derivatives of the ergot fungus, a parasite which grows in rye and wheat.

Throughout the 1950' s, LSD remained with researchers. They began to test it for medicinal purposes, such as curing alcoholism.

Unfortunately, it was hard to keep the drug under wraps. Others were able to get hold of this pure drug and found it had powerful effects.

Before long, black market LSD began to appear throughout Europe and America.

The LSD available to people now is not the same drug that Hofmann created. Strccct LSD can be laced with speed and other hallucinogens suchas angel dust. Itcomes in many forms, ranging from tiny gelatin chips, to pieces of paper soaked in solutions of the drug, or stamped into designs on pieces of paper. Since there are no legal sources of pure psychedelics, users usually do not know what they are buying.

A bad trip occurs when a person becomes frightened and finds his or her experiences unbearable.

Some bad trips last longer than the usual 12-18 hours of a normal trip.

Many who have had a bad trip continue to be paranoid,extremely suspicious of those around them, or have feelings of being persecuted. An example of this type of bad trip is theexperience of a teenage boy who thought he was an orange for four months and if someone touched him, he would turn intoorangejuice (Weil, Chocolate to Morphine, 1983).Bad trips usually have to be treated with medical help. Many patients have such a hard time returning to reality that

Good and bad tr ips LSD is known for its effect on the mind. These effects are called trips, and can be "good" or "bad."

There is no standard for good trips and bad trips.

A good trip is when the LSD user has primarily pleasurable sensations. People "hear" colors and "see" sounds. A trip is a highly personal experience and no two people perceive exactly the same thing. Some people experience more visual trips- seeing flowers breathe, or walls bubblc-i- whilc others .feel more psychological changes within them. Some people believe that theirtripsare mystical, even semi-religious (Margaret O. Hyde, Mind Drugs, 1988). People having-good trips can feel a oneness with nature or God.

they have to be hospitalized; some even have to be "shocked" to reality. Electrodes arc attached to the scalp and the patient is given electricallyinducedseizures. The scary part of LSD is that there is no way to know when a person may have a bad trip. . Despite much debate, there is no evidence that LSD damages chromosomes, injures the brain or causes any physical harm (Mind Drugs, 1988).Thecontroversyover its use lies notonly in theaftermath

isalsoa frigtheningpartaboutLSD. A flashback is a vivid memory of LSD - A '90'S COMEB ACK an LSD trip, and may last any- by Veronic a Lee Annual surveys cond ucted by where from a couple of seconds to the University of Michegan and many hours. They can occur at any the Nat ional Institu te on Dru g time, especially when a person Abuse re vealed that for the first gets angered or frustrated by time since the 1970' s, more high something. Certain music, lightschool seniors had used LSD in ing, or sounds can trigger a flash1990 an d 1991 than coca ine. back as well.

The increase in LSD use is most Why are so many young people pr evalent among su bur ban teenattracted to LSD? Margaret O. agers.

Ninety per cent of the Hyde, author of Mind Drugs , seniors attending "a lternative" whoworked withLSDcases,said, Seattle high schools tried hallu"Most are quite curious and concinogens in 1991. cerned with who they are, what LSD can have serious psychotic they are, and what is important in effects as well as cause severe life. Many young people can be short-term memory loss. convinced the answer is in a LSD is inexpensive compared to capsule....Some young people other dr ugs.

On e hit lasts ab out with personality problems at12 hours an d costs $5.00, while a tempt to avoid their sexual and qua rter ounce ofma rij uan a costs aggressive feelings by using $70 and a half gram of cocaine LSD....Ina sense,LSD robs them of a chance to fi nd solutions by costs $50.

Th e Dr ug Enfo rement Admini son who has taken LSD may be- creating the illusion that there stration of Washin gton, D.C. come super-elated, or super-de- are no struggles." confisca ted 14 doses of LSD in pressed, for that matter.

1990 an d 5,600 in 1991.

It is difficult for police to crack Case Study: LSD users may experie nce a down onLSDpossession.Thedrug Steven*, a 23-year-old college severe biological reaction on the is colorless, odorless and tasteless, graduate, began to experiment first trip or on the WIst. and can be applied almost any- with LSD in college. He took it where - on the back of postage eight times, one less than the Source: Newsweek, February 3, stamps, candy, tiny pieces of pa- quota for legal insanity. He /992. per, or even clothing. The average agreed to an interview with The , , dose of LSD is sold for five to ten Classic on the condition of ano- in my mind.That's the reason I had .. . nymity. tostop tripping.l realizedthatthese dollars.

Since first using LSD, his think- questions just shouldn't be anLong -term effects LSD is ironically called a mind- ing patterns have changed drasti- swered. I felt very alone while I was usingLSD. I Icltas if nobody understood me, nobody knew the . things I knew. I can't say that I regret LSD use, because it has enhanced my artwork, but it is a very serious drug." Steven is currently working fora popular New York t-shirt company, and is a freelance artist as well. His LSD worksarenotcurrentlypublished.

Is LSD a mind-expander or a mind-bogglcr? Does it uncover a fourth dimensionor unlocka door that is meant to remain closed?

Why not turn on, tune in, and drop out? "In a vacuum, drugs are attractive. For three dollars, you can have all the pleasure that is possible for the human brain to produce," says Alex Stalcop, a psychiatrist interviewed on a recent episode of the news show 48l1ours. "...and for some users expanding drug. The long term ef- cally. He now sees no significant LSD can leave a more permanent fects of LSD use are much the op- differences between humans and reminder - hallucinations that posite.The attention one may pay animals. Currently a working art- never go away," says news reporter to ordinary details of life may di- ist, many of his works reflect his Edic Magnus. Perhaps Dr. Henry minish, or may seem ovebearing fcclingsonLSD use.Includingpat- Abraham, a Boston psychologist, to a person. The drug knoeks out terns of incredibly intricate nature best sums up the whole situation the parto fthe brain responsible for in his art, Steven shows the strong by saying, "LSD is the chemical incoming questions. A person who mental aspects of LSD. "I' ve had equivalent of Russian roulette." has taken LSD is constantly aware good trips and bad trips, and ones And with the recent resurgence of of such small thingsas breathingor that I really wasn't sure of," he LSD among America's youth, it whispering,but not awareof things said, "and I enjoyed the good trips looks as if the long, strange and that they should consciously be a lot. It's the bad ones that Ileamed often dangerous trip isn't over yet. payingattention to,especiallycon- the most from, though. The bad versaiions,The threatof flashbacks trips brought up a lot of questions * Not his real name.

of bad trips, but also in the dangers "" of what a person may do to himself or herself while tripping on the drug. Psychedelic drugs act as intensifiers of experience. The per-

8

The Classic November 1993

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Muslclan. ex-fireman among incoming staff;

by Wendy Kemp, Michael Munoz, Laura Hummel, Jennifer Pare and Amanda Schoenberg Freshmen and incoming sophomores are not the only newcomers . wandering around the halls this fall. If you look closely, you can spot a few new faces among the faculty and staff as well. With Chemistry teacher Michael Anzel on sabbatical, and Latin teacher Richard Russo out as well, there were quite a few gaps which needed to be filled.

Peter Lustig At the moment when Principal Malcom Largmann called hishouse to say that he had gotten the job as a music teacher, Peter Lustig was literally standing on the unemployment line. "I was standing on the line, and I realized I had to call my wife. When I called my house, she said that Dr. Largmann had called, so I left the unemp loyment line and went home," recalled Mr. Lutsig.

Once home, he called Dr .

Largmann and rece ived the good news.

A graduate of Queens College

strument,' Mr. Lutsig explained.

"He loved his job and enjoyed teaching, and [that] inspired me."

Mr. Lustig is in a band called "Orquestra La Sociedad." They play Spanish music and have recorded one album. In fact, if this job at Townsend Harris had not panned out for him, he would have gone to Cancun, Mexico with his band in November. He is also a member of the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, which is a band just beginning to get their feet wet. Now that he is a Townsend Harris teacher, the only time he plays with the bands is on weekends.

On the weekdays, he incorporates jazz, classical and popular music into the curriculum .

From what he has seen of Townsend Harris so far, Mr. Lustig said, "It's a great school, especially the students. Everyone is very friendly. However, it is a little overcrowded. When asked what advice he would give to anyone who wanted to persue a profession in music, Mr. Lustig said, "You have to be very patient, and be prepared to get some headaches, but it can be very rewardi ng," On the other hand, he said.t'It is very different nowadays [and] is hard to find work .

You have to be ready to play any kind ortype of music. It is important to be flexible, and it is a good idea to have another job just in case. Just keep practicing and never give up,"

Peter Dodington where he received his bachelor's degree, Mr. Lustig went on to obtain a Master's at Lehman College in the Bronx . Originally, he planned to be a performing musician but since he was not making enough money, he began to teach weekdays and pertann on weekends. He has been teaching for six years now. Forest Hills High School became thesiteofhis first teaching job when one of the regular staff went on sabbatical. Mr. Lustig had also taught in Rye Country High School, a private school in Weschester. "Once [in Rye Country] I had a class who was listening to classical music," he said. "During the middle of the piece, three boys fr~m another class walked in, did a ballet while the whole class watched and then walked out."

Not only does Mr. Lustig play the trombone, but also the tuba, flute and some basic guitar. He says he owes it all to his band teacher in Junior High 109. "[He is1why I learned how to play an in-

When Mr. Russo, whose name on students' program cards last year was right next to the word "Latin" or "Greek," wrote a Letter- to- the Editor for the American Classical League Newsletter, he had no idea that this would set in motion a chain of reactions which would result in the hiring of Peter Dodington as his replacement.

"I read the letter, which said that he [Mr. Russo] would be on sabbatical this year," said Mr.Dodington, "and I wrote to Townsend Harris to ' see if they needed a teacher to replace him," As a result, he is now teaching five declensions to Harrisites schoolwide.

Mr. Dodington grew up in New Jersey, but many of his teaching jobs have been in New York. A teacher of the humanities .for 25 years, he got his first teaching experience .in college, where he tutored high school students "in English.

Once out of college, Mr, Dod-

ington obtained his first job teach- ington recommends experience. hectic[than teaching], but once the ing English in a high school lo- "Try it out. Get involved somehow " fires are out, things calm down," cated on an Indian reservation in ahead of time by tutoring, or any he said. "Teaching is movement, Montana, which is where he be- other kind of practice," he advises; movement, movement - preparing came interested in Latin. "When I the tests, handing out books and collecting money," He didn't become a teacher until Leland Frazer after his career as a fireman. When asked why he switched to a totally Among the new people arriving different kind of job, Mr. Connelly this semester. is Global History said, "It was a great experience, teacher Leland Frazer. Mr. Frazer but I wanted the flexibility to [be grew up on Long Island,and at- able to] do something else." tended Siena College upstate. He A graduate of Queens College, also attended Brunel University heis notentirelynew to this school. in London and Queens College Mr. Connelly's career asascience for graduate courses. teacher began when he worked at Originally working as a sales- Townsend Harris as a student man, Mr. Frazer turned to teach- teacher three years ago. ing because he felt it would be Mr. Connelly likes what he has saw how much they [the people on more fulfilling. He hopes to "help seen of the school so far. " "it's the Indian reservation] knew about fantastic," he said. "The kids are their country, I started getting ingreat. I think it's a great place to terested in the roots of my own teach, and I am happy to be here."

His history as a firefighter goes country, which were Latin and back to 1973. He both worked and Greek," he said. taught for the New York City Fire As well as staying in France for Department for approximately 20 six months during college, Mr. years. He rose to the pos ition of Dodington, true to his words, has lieutenant and was in charge of his spent a summer in Rome . His facompany. vorite site in Rome was the EtrusOnce he started to teach a course can tombs. The Etruscan civilizaon how to be a fireman, his job tion, a culture developed in the changed from putting out fires to first millenium B.C., left behind rescuing students from their own only a few works of art, most of nervousness. "Once, I had a group which are plastered on the walls and ceilings of the tombs. prepare students for what's out of students (who were training) on Although Townsend Harris High there in the real world," and as a the roof of a six- story building," Schoo l is not exactly the Etruscan social studies teacher to "get stu- he remembered. "One student was tombs, Mr. Dodington has taken a dents to think about their surround- so nervous that he forgot to tie his liking to it already. "It [the school] ings and ask why things happen ." rope to his belt." When the student is terrific," he said. "The students He believes it is more important to seem to get along with each other learn to think than memorize facts.

'1;j ;:T " really well. Everyone is polite and Mr. Frazer's tenth grade history 01 01 wonderful - but it is a little teacher, Mr. Bartul, had a huge ~ crowded." impact on his life, and Mr. Fraser en to His first day on the job coincided would like to have the same influ5with the asbestos crisis and was ence on other students . anything but orderly. "We [the Although only hired for the ::l faculty] had to stand outside the semester, Mr. Frazer would defischool for two hours, and then we nitely not mind staying on . went to Bowne [High School] "Townsend Harris isgreat," he said. because the building was closed, "I'm delighted by the students' so we couldn't even get in," he interest, knowledge, and inquisirecalled. However, once the stu- tive nature," dents filed in a week later, Mr. Mr. Frazer is an avid Knicks and Dodington was pleased by the Giants fan, and also loves snow reactions of the students. skiing.

Mr. Dodington has taught English, Greek and Latin at all levels, started to 'go over the edge of the from beginners to advanced placebuildingin order to slide down the ment. The funniest thing that ever Jim Connelly "rope to the ground, Mr. Connelly happened to him as a teacher ocand a few of the other students had curred just before a Thanksgiving Imagine Mr. Connelly, to grab him and pull him back weekend. "A few of my students Townsend Harris' newest chemis- before he went over. ". ' ; Although he does not teach on gave me a roasted turkey so that I try and physics teacher, riding on would feel good about them when the back of a bright red rue truck, the roof of six story buildings any I graded their tests," Mr. Doding- sirens wailing, with one of those more,Mr. Connelly might have a ton said. "They actually brought heavy fire hats perched on his head. few surprises up his sleeve . When the turkey into class, handed it to It is quite a different career from asked if he had any unusual teachme, and told me to enjoy my standing in the front of a class- ing methods, he replied, "If I do, ] Thanksgiving! " room, without the hat, giving a don't want them to get out. I don't For those students who are think- speech about the Periodic Table of want to scare the students away ing of pursuing a career as an Elements. before they take chemistry and English or Latin teacher, Mr. Dod- " "Putting out the fires is more physics," he said.

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bring varied talents, interests to classroom Rose Marie Russell ever, the delayed opening due to and because she had heard that it her 20-y ear-old daughter. asbestos has made the early months was an excellent school. The When asked if she had any comIn addition to new teachers, โ ข ment about Townsend Harris, of the term unusually chaotic, " I mother of four children, Ms. While most Townsend Harris Townsend Harris also welMs.Muchnicki replied, "It's very Russell had decided to become students choose to take Spanish or Marie Russell, comes Rose nice.

Students should know that this a secretary for schools because French as a second language, Jupanew secretary in charge of is a very special school" it gave her the opportunity to nese is another option that is ofpupil accounting, work and care for her chiIdren, fered by the school. Hiroko MuchNancy Lowent hal Fresh out of P.S. 81, an who are now all grown. "I was nicki, who started teaching partelementary school in Ridgeable to be with them when theytime at Townsend Harris three years Nancy Lowenthal, the newsct wood, where she was the came home from school, someago when former Japanese teacher add ition to the English department, payroll secretary, Ms . thing not many working mothMichael Rubin took a sabbatical, faced her first day later than the rest Russell has many cha lers can do," she said. has now joined the staff of of the Townsend Harris commu- lenges awaiting her. As the Having worked in an elemenTownsend Harris permanently. nity. Ms Lowental, who began on secretary in charge of pupil tary school, Ms. Russell said Ms. Muc hnicki still holds only a November 1 as a replacement for accounting, she is responshe was used to funny and cute part-time position at Townsend Mr. Katz, who for health reasons sible for studen t records and occurrences on a daily basis .

Harris. She has only two classes, will be out until the next term, is knowing how many pup ils are in have to do the same work I would Now adjusting to a high scoool, with only about 12 students each. starting to feel the added pressure each grade and class. normal ly do, but the delay has made she knows that these unusual expeShe is very impressed with both that a job here cntsails, especially Ms Russell said that the first the time element much shorter," said riences will happen less frequent ly. the school and the students. "They taking over classes in the middle of few weeks befo re and after the Ms. Russell.

Ms. Russell has already decided the term as she has. open ing of school are usually Ms. Russell, who lives in Bay- that she likes it here . "The people I '0 Ms. Lowenthal says, "I feel a lot hectic, especially when adjust- side, wanted to work at Townsend have met are all very nice," she [ of pressure. Things have to be done ing to a new job . This year how- Harr is because it was close r to home comments. ~ atonce; It is also difficult when you ~ start in the middle of the term to know what students have learned ",' and what they need to be taught" if Even with the difficulties of ad- by Marci We lb er and Bonnie she's a highly professional, trernen- Harris sports program and faciliยง. justing, Ms. Lowenthal is enjoying Vee dously talented physical educator ties, he states, "I think everything her new school.S he claims that she Fitness is on the minds of the whose value to Townsend Harris is well-run and organized. The only has rcceived a warm welcome from three student teachers working students is immeas urable," ex- drawbacks are the smallness of the faculty and students alike and says, under the superv ision of the plained Ms. Nix. "I think that she gym and the outdated equ ipment."

"I expected much more difficulty. physical education department has excellent teaching skills already In the near future, Mr. Hanellin The students arc as interested as I until February. Denise Agin, and can only get , better. She's a hopes to be employed as a fullare very motivated. They want to am in getting down to work."

Jeffrey Hanel lin and Anna Scar- pleasure to work with," she added. time physical education teacher. "I learn," she said .

While Ms. Lowenthal has nothtados all picked Townsend Harwould really love to work at Ms. Muchni cki is far from inexing but praise for Townsend Harris ris as their first choice place to "My best friend told me I had to be Townsend Harris; it would be a perienced. After earning an undera physical education teacher," said dream come true," he said . graduate degree in specialized students, calling them, "Great kids!" receive their train ing. she dislikes th physical limitations Ms. Agin, a physical educaMr. HaneIlin, a soon-to-be Queens "Jeff has much potential and by accounting and a B.S in Business of the school, including the room tion major at Queens College, is College graduate. maintaining his motivation, will Adm inistration, she was offered a Mr. HaneIlin received his first do just fine," reports Mr. Hanson. scholarship in bilingual teaching with unusable computers, one with a graduate of Madison High no desks, and the narrow halls.

Schoo l and a black belt in and special education. After reshotokan .

"I want to be a physical ceiving her degree in bilingual "I love fitness and workeducator because it's good to teaching and special education, Ms. ing out," she said. "I think interact with students and I Muchnicki taught Japanese on physical education is just like being able to share weekends for five or six years to as importan t as academic knowledge," said Ms. Scarstudents who were returning to subjec ts, because I believe tados , a Queen s College senJapan .

Two years ago, if your heart muscles funcior.

Mrs.Muchnic ki taught at an eletion efficiently, you 'llhave mentary school , in Westchester.

Ms. Scartodos, a graduate an overall fee ling of Ms. Muchnicki still leads a very of Cardozo High School, destrength and vitality, which cided that being a physical busy life. Presently she is juggling affects how your mind education teacher was what several jobs: her position here at works." she wanted to do in life after Town send Harris, a teaching posi Ms. Agin just loves it being inspired by her own tion at a Japanese high school in here. She says, "I love physical educators in junior Manhattan, another teaching posiTownsend Harris because high school. tion at Scarsdale High School in the physical education The liking of sports also Westchester, and a job as an assisteachers here believe in the has a lot to do with her decitant at a Japanese nursery school Before coming to Townsend same ideas and concepts Hanellindemonstrates proper ball handling.T" sion. In high school, Ms. for mentally disabled children.

Harris, Ms. Lowenthal , worked at about phys ical education Scartados was on the volleyball How do the students at Townsend Harris compare to the students at New Utrecht High School in arid fitness as I do - a strong em- choice of Townsend Harris to work team and now enjoys basketball, Scarsdale? "At Scaresdale, they're Brooklyn for 12 years, teaching phasis on fitness which prepares in, and was paired up with physical soccer and swimming recreationhard to moti vatc.It has been hard to English related courses to both individuals for recreational education teacher Keith Hanson, ally. attract people to my class. But here, average and gifted students. Ms. sport."

--' who will show him the "tools of the Ms. Scartados chose to come to Lowenthal feels that her teach ing they wanted to learn," she said .

When Ms. Agin was in high trade" over the next three months. Townsend Harris because of its , For Ms.Muchnicki, this past sum - experience makes adjusting "a ' school, there were no spor ts "Mr. Hanson is knowledgeable and reputation. mer was educational as well as'fun. whole lot easier than it would be teams for women, but she used makes me feel com fortable,' said "This school is excellent. It sets a She took courses in order to obtain without it" to play baske tball for ' church Hand lin, a Bronx High School of good example for other schools," Read ing a lot and taking care of teams and intramurals. She also Science alumnus. six extra credits. She also visited she explained. her children is how Ms. Lowenthal enjoys volleyball. her family in Japan . She says her Handball, ultimate frisbee and nag "I think she's a very promising, favorit e things to do in Japan are spends her time when outsid e of Physical education teacher football are just some of the spans young and enthusiastic physical eat Japanese food and go to spas to school. She says , "You don't have Wanda Nix, Ms . Agin's super- in which Mr. HaneIlin has partie i- education teacher," said physical soak in hot tubs. Her immediate time for too many outside interests visor, feels Townsend Harris is pared. education teacher Craig Buchalfamily consists of her husband and when you're a working mother ." lucky to have her. "I think that Commenting on the Townsend ter, Ms. Scartados' supervi sor.

Hiroko Muchniki

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Gym trio trains to train

Fun at the farm:

R-eborn Harris has rich tradition

(Letters continued from page 2)

Volunteers assist at Queens County Farm Museum Harvest Fest

To the Editor: 1 just received the June edition of The Classic and was upset by the remarks made by a junior at the alumni Hall of Fame dinner. He said the alumni "really sought to conquer their dreams ...and they certainly succeeded ...1 never knew this school had such tradition ." . A very valuable part of my Townsend Harris education was the alumni who were always at the school on Career Day, Found- . ers Day and at graduation to tell amusing anecdotes abou t their Harris days and to offe! some parcel of路 wisdom that let us know we were the new bearers of a valuable tradition.

-That sense of tradition was enhanced by our learning Ervin Drake's "Alma Mater," reading Arthur Morgan's poem about the

school in English class (I hope the students still do), and yes, by learning the Epheb ic Oath.

On graduation day, we knew we were becoming THHS alumna and thus were joining the tail-end of a rich lineage. We knew we had a duty to educate ourselves as best we could so we would be able to gain the successes we sought while serving others as doctors, writers, public servants, parents, etc.

Most of all, many of us looked (and still look) forward to the day we will be able to act as role models to new Harrisites, passing along some wisdom and a still-valuable tradition.

1 hope we are not too late.

Eileen P. Gunn Class of 1989

Creating Crafts. Freshman Sabrina Ahmed and farm worker cut strings.

Rollin' in the Hay: Children playas supervising freshmen Cory McCzucten and Jennifer Feder look on.

Freshmen Jennifer Lopez and J ennifer Fed er enioy the grounds near the Queens County Farm Museum

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Classic novel comes alive in movie

by Robyn Kaplan One of the best movies to come out this fall is Columbia Pictures, The Age of Innocence, directed by Martin Scorsese, This movie is an adaptiori of the 1921 Pulitzer winner. The Age ofInnocence, by Edith Wharton. With excellent casting and set design, and a marvelous script, this movie brings to life the old New York City society of the ·1870's.

New land Archer (Danie l Day-Lewis) is a young lawyer; who despises the cold and proper attitudes of his society. The sociaa l circle Newland lives in respects him, so he doesn't let his friends and acquaintances know how he truly feels about the way they act and live. You really begin to feel for Newland as you watch the way he acts on the outside and feels on the inside toward the other characters. . Newland is engaged to the very respected May WeIland (Winona Ryder). The jo ining of the two very respected families is exactly what society wants to see. It is also exactly what May Wellan wants to see; she is determined to make it happen. Winona Ryder does an excellent job portraying her character. May comes across as the swee t, naive type. She always knows how to act and what to say, which is why the society respects her.However, she knowsexactly what she wants - Newland - and she plans to get him.

After meeting May's cousin, the countess Ellen Olenska(Michelle Pfeiffer), Newland begins to think that he should stopacting the way society wants him to act and start behaving the way he thinks he should. From the momen t Madame Olenska had arrived from Europe,shehad become an outcast in New York society. This was becauseshe had married a European and now wishesto divorce him.

Newland quickly befriends Madame Olenska and tries to help her enter society. Newland conv inces her that a divorce from her husband would only make her more of an outcas t The more time Newland spends with the Countess Olenska the more he wants to getaway from socie ty.

Newland falls in love with the Countess Olenska while he's still engaged to May WeIland. This plot line may sound like your typical historical romance, but that isn't true, This movie never romanticizes the old society . It shows socie ty for what it was. .

This movie makes you truly r espect the Countess Eilen Olenska. Michelle Pfeiffer does an excellent job of blending into her character, and you feel that she really is the Countess Olenska. Daniel Day-Lewis is superb as Newland Archer. Throughout this movie, you start to care for Martin Scorses' characters.

Another thing that adds to this movie isthe set design. The costumes, the Victorian-styled homes, and the scenery of Old New York City give this movie the needed visual effects. You don't have to like historical roma nces to enjoy this movie. If you are interested in pre-twentieth- century society or you just want to see some thing different that's really good, The Age of Innocence is for you.

Joy Luck Club provides joyful viewing

by Bet h Mellow Superior films are as rare as precious gems these days. Still, dec spite all the odds, "The Joy Luck Club," has its place at the pinnacle of artisic achievement.

The movie begins when the protagon ist, June, played by Ming NaWen, is asked to replace her deceased mother at the mah-jongg table.Originally,June'smotherhad initiated the "Joy Luck Club," a weekly gathering of Chinese women immigrants to play mahjongg and gossip in 1949. .

June's three "aunties,' her mother's fellow "Joy Luck Club" members, inform June they had located her older sisters whom her mother had abandoned on a road. side during wartime in China. June decides to visit these long-lost sisters.

Most of the film takes place at a

Bon Voyage party for June . Within this time, four mother-daughter pairs are wisked off into a realm of tasteful flashbacksand reflections .

Suyan (Kieu Chinh), . J une' s .mother, abandons her infant daughters by the roadside in front of our teary eyes . Auntie Lindo (Tsai Chin) escapes a sexless childhood marriage to a chubby rich boy.

Auntie An MeL watches as her concubine mother kills herself. · Auntie Rose drowns her baby to spite her abusive husband.

The daughters of these women make futile attemps to please their mothers and at the same time, struggle to find their own identities. They face the Americanizationvs. Traditionalism battle.

The actors and actressesportrayed believable, three- dimentionel characters. They communicate a universal message of love

Founder's · Day

and trust. Ming Na-Wen (June) is believable in her post- mortum search for who her mother really was.

Direction of the film is outstanding. For example, at one point during the movie, a mother said, "I will jump out like a tiger...." The scene 'was shot in such a way that the shadow of the venitian blinds played apon the woman's face, placing the stripes of a tiger on her .

The translation of the book to the screen was highly successful. Original author Amy Tan and Ron Bass were able to write the script leaving few loose ends.

Although the transition from nash back to flashback left some confusion about who did what, the "Joy Luck Club" is on the whole is a fine film. Just ask the mothers and daughters embracing each other outside the theatre.

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(continued from page 1)

Founder's Days will not takeplace this year, due to a large demand for its cancellation. "A lot of the students felt that they had to go, and they didn't think it was fun to be forced," explained Judy Biener, Coordinator of Student Affair and one of the teachers involved in planning the Founder's Day week.

"I hope that everybody participates because that makes the whole thing more fun," said Ms. Biener. "I'm hoping that the enthusiasm from Halloween will carry over. It' s our last year in this building and I want people to enjoy themselves." .

"Founder's Day is aday to focus on who weare in this school. It is a day to think about Townsend Harris and its traditions . Most importantly, it is the formal welcome of the new students into the community that is our school," said Ms. Greenfield. .

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N:::~::~:93 12 Track team looks ahead to successful season Phyllis Pei All 36 members of the Ladies' Cross Country Track Team are part of the largest track team in the history " of Townsend Harris and the largest cross country team in Queens. Coach Joseph B. Hom believes the prospects for the girls are very exciting this year, due to their dedication and talent.

Senior Iris Williams, who is designated captain of the team along with junior Andrea Levin e, are the top two varsity runners. Coach Hom expects them to finish in the top three placings in the Queens (Varsity) Championships. Lizabeth Nolan and Tracy Sanford, the top two sophomore runners, are expec ted to finish in the top three in the (sophomore) championships. So far, out of all the 18 students who joined the team this year, Christina Juva and Angela Kim , freshmen, are the fastest runners.

Coach Hom also believes the freshmen and sophomore runners, will finish in the top 10 of the City Championships, which is the final meet of the season, to be held on Sunday, November 14. Varsity runners will compete in the A .

Championships, the race city. for the elite runners of the • The team's opponents are 5 once again Jamaica and August Martin high L ~ I' ~ schools, who finished first and second in Queens L last year . However, var" ¥, ',' ~. believes, "We have a sity runner Andrea Levine good .chan~e of closing i.n • ' ~< >'4 .~ ."'. ~ on August Martin .and '.• t e .,,! ~ ~ year."

Jamaica HIgh School this The usual practice for the '. ' " - - - ~ team members includes a warm- up ru n fro m Practicing for meet, m~mbers of Mr. Hanson's.

Townsend Harris to Queens College; calisthentrack team do push-ups in the hall. ics and stretching; long distance run s ranging from 20 to 60 minutes around the entire Queens College campus (or on weekends, aroun d Cunningham Park); followed by sprint or speed workouts on the Queens College track.

Compared with last year, the number of injuries has decreased. The girls have lost practice days due to sprained ankles, irritation of hip joints and shin splints, all common injuries to the sport. However, Coach Horn says ,"Many of the girls are so good and dedicatedthat they will run even with the injuries ."

Two prac tice meets at Cunningham Park have already taken place this season . These developmental meets allow the girls to enhance their running and competing skills and time without worrying about placing status . Junior Varsity runners ran a one and a half miles race while the Varsity runners raced 3.1 , miles.

"Our cross country team is very strong. Everyone works very hard and gives it their all. I think that this is going to turn out to be a very successful year." says sophomore runner, Heather Garber. Lizabeth Nolan, sophomore runner, shares the same view and adds, "We have a lot of experienced runners and the new freshmen have talent." Coach Horn believes, "Cross Country is the most difficult sport for any girl to train for and I am extremely proud of many of our girls who have accomplished something which is difficult to - do. Many girls have never run before, now they're proving to themselves that they can do something they could never do before.

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Turtles freestyle into first place

by Valer ie Fristachi and Seth Cohen Turtles are slow-moving reptiles who don't get far in any amount of time. Therefore, the title Turtles isn't a very complementary appelation for a Varsity Swimming Team . However, the Townsend Harris Tur tles have proven that there is no similarity between themselves and the lizard- like creatures. They have won their first three meets against Grover Cleveland, Jamaica, and Martin Van Buren High Schools. These girls are fast, agile and very willing to give what it takes to become number one.

Last year , the Turtles experienced what some might consider their ecstacy and agony. Their near flawless record, their reign as Queens Champions and their entry into the quarter finals was overshadowed by the loss of their two captains, Nicole Kissag and Jennifer Cheswick . : Now the team is faced with an uncertain future, and the ques tion circulating arou nd the team is, "Will we swim to victory again?" . - Coach Jim Jordan commented, "I am unsure how we will do this year.

If everyone shows up, we will have a chance. Our biggest rival is Bayside High, but I think we will defeat them."

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Monsters, murderers, mumm ies (continued from page 1) Spirit Day was its falling on the sarneday as parent-teacher conferences, promp ting the question of whether teachers would meet parents in costume. The majority seemed against the idea. Science teacher Odile Garcia said that she wanted "to be taken serious ly," and changed out of her sunflower costume. Mr. Frazer said, "I don't want the parents to think I'm a lunatic."

Two teachers, though; did conduc t their conferences in costume. Globa l History teacher Stephen Eckerd remained in the traditional uniform which he wore as a member ofthe National Academy in Nepal .

Chemistry teacher Adel Kadamani. who stayed in full mummy garb for his conferences, caught some parents off guard. "I saw ' ::: this fellow wrapped in all ] vas a student. When somethese bandages. I thought he o . one told me he's a chem U teacher, I couldn' t believe it," said Marganne Munoz , ~ mother of sophomore Mi~ chael Munoz. , ;>, "It was shocking enoug h . ~ when I first saw him," said visiting parent Donna Co... hen, mother of Classic editor, and Student Union Pr esident Seth Cohen.

"Then he put on those sun Mummy ta lking to mom my: Chemistry teacher glasses. He looked hysteric al" .

Adel Kadamani conducts parent conferences in Besides the variety in cos- costume . tumes, there were quite a few excuses for not dressing up. "I don' t feel I need to dress up to show spirit," said sophomore q~niel Schiffer. An anonymous senior said, "If! dressed up, people in my neighborhood would beat me up." Some excuses were more imag inative. Global history teacher Mark Soffer simply held a r ed umbre lla over his head and said he was a "space invader" disg uised as an eart hling.

Another new twist on the Halloween Spirit Day this year was the trick-o r-treating opportunity pro vided for costumed students by Student Union officers. "They seeme d to enjoy it," said Seth Cohen. "We were completely cleaned out by the end ofthe day." Also for the first time this year, the Student Union offered free masks and face painting.

"It's really interesting to see that so many more people are in spirit [than last year]," said sophomore Crystal King. "It puts a smile on your face."

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Wanted: Spo rts Writers Interested writers seeking to liven up the sports section of The Classic should see Ms. Cowen as soon as possible. Team members are especially encouraged to join the sports staff.