The Classic newspaper Volume 12 Issue no. 1 by The Classic

Townsend Harris High School at Queens College

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149-11 Melbourne Avenue. Flushing, NY 11367

FIRST FOUNDER•s DAY IN NEW FACILITY!

Dignitaries attend official dedication by Veronica Lee "Here's a message to Mayor Giuliani - come to Townsend Harris and see a New York City public school at its best!" declared Phillip Jones, science teacher and United Federation of Teachers (U.F.T.) Representative at the dedication assembly, held in the . auditorium on November 9. Years of hard work on the part of school officials, local politicians, alumni, parents and the School Construction Authority towards the completion of the long-awaited school building on the Queens College campus culminated in a special dedication ceremony held from 3:30-5:30 P.M. According to Principal Malcolm Largmann, its purpose was to "formally announce our presence to the public." Seniors were invited to the event, but because of a lack of space, not all underclassmen could attend. Instead, each English class sent fou! representatives to the ceremony. The dedication assembly opened with a welcoming speech from Master of

Many of the speakers encour- dent Carol Gresser. Ceremonies and Assistant Prin- the new school. "The telephone "This all reminds me of an old cipal of Mathematics Harry wires were really busy between aged Harrisites to take care of Dr. Largmann' s office and mine the new facilities.""! ask the stu- saying," said Mr. Jones. "A Rattein. The chorus began the evening because he watched every dents to treat the [building] with house is only a house until you with a rendition of "I Believe,'' nail.. .. He knew everything respect, and to help it come put a family in it, and when you written by Townsend Harris [about the school] and be was alive .... I'm so glad you have this put a family in it, it becomes a alumnus Ervin home ... and ., Townsend Harris is Drake, '35, who ~ certainly a borne." also composed -~ Margaret the school's alma. § Harrington, Supermater. c;<.:: intendent of The first guest Jl Queens High speaker was .S Schools, quoted a Allen Lee ~ line from "I BeSessoms, Presi-& lieve," sung earlier dent of Queens by the chorus, and College, who called the new compared building a "geeTownsend Harris students to flowers. whiz place." "'I believe for every "It's a tremendrop of rain that dous privilege to falls, a flower have Townsend Harris on the grows .. .' Every Borough President Claire Shulman reviews the history of the new building at its dedication Queens College student in this room is a flower ... a pecampus ... and to ceremony. Looking on from the stage were John Ferrandino, Division of High Schools; rennial, strong and experience the Margaret Hanington, Queens Superintendent of Schools; Principal Malcolm Largmann; Allen rooted, nourished students here," Lee Sessoms, President of Queens College; Nettie Meyerson, NY State Assemblywoman,; said Dr. Sessoms. every day by and Barry Light, President of the School Construction Authority. teachers," she said. Queens BorThe speeches were interough President Claire Shulman largely responsible for watching wonderful place to live in and I recalled the enormous efforts the construction of the build- wish I could live here with you," spersed with several musical Continued on p. 11 said Board of Education Presiinvolved in the completion of ing," she said.

Keeping up with the mayor:

Varghese shadows Giuliani for day by Rena Vat·ghese It's a whirlwind job that requires one to juggle the roles of ambassador, fellow citizen, nononsense politician and leader of the nation's largest city. Senior Rena Varghese got to see what it is like to be the mayor of New York City when she, along with Yesenia Cuevas from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School and Christian Vasquez from New York City Lab School, shadowed Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani for the day on October 12.. WNET/Channel 13, the sponsor of the event, invited the three schools to send representatives of their newspapers to cover the mayor's activities on that date

and at his live radio show on W ABC Radio the following morning, in order to create a special feature story," A Day In The Life Of Mayor Giuliani," for the World Wide Web. The students' article can be accessed at the web site address http:// www.nylink.org. Channel 13' s New Media Group launched wNetStation on the World Wide Web last month in order to help students learn more about City Hall in advance of the mayor's first student press conference, held October 26 and broadcast live on Channel 13. Classic editors Veronica Lee, Erik Bloch, Amanda Schoenberg and Rena represented Townsend Harris, but never got

cal)ed on to ask their questions. meet with Giuliani's press sec- Giuliani's schedule as "unbeThe student reporters first retary, Colleen Roche, and his lievable." "He is tht: single traveled by car service to the personal assistant, Kim Serafin. most energetic person that I've Ms. Roche described headquarters of the CaribbeanContinued on p. 11 American Chamber of Commerce at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where the mayor was a guest speaker at a ] Oil breakfasthonoring 10 -, ~ years of the chamber's :1! involvement in busi~ ness and industry. '0 >. From there, the stul'J dents separated from ~ the mayor, who went u to the funeral of Peter ]~ c.. McLaughlin, a firefighter who was killed in the line ·Of duty. The Bidding Mayor Giuliani farewell, senior Rena Varghese ends her day of WNET student team shadowing his Honor. went to City Hall to 0)

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Budget Cuts

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Cuts threaten individuality Violence in the hallways, vandalism, and poor facilities are not concerns at Townsend Harris. Neither is the lack of a rigorous, Humanities-oriented academic program. In these aspects, we are still far removed from what some view as the typical New York City public high school experience. However, with the significant changes owing to budget cuts, we have suffered a great blow not only to our funding , but to our individuality. Many of the programs which have always put us in a class by ourselves have either been eliminated or altered greatly. Significant losses include the Enrichment program and most electives. These cuts may change Townsend Harris drastically. It is not simply the quality of the students which makes our school exceptional. The Enrichment program and a range of electives gave a taste- of subjects outside the boundaries of the standard curriculum. As much as students complained about our longer days in the past, there is no doubt that these programs also made the school special. Now that we don't have them, we miss them. It is only because of a great deal of ingenuity and an even greater deal of luck that we managed to fend off the budget cuts as much as we did. Through a summer packed with negotiations, meetings and phone calls, individuals such as Principal Malcolm Largmann and Queens College Liaison Marvin Leiner were in constant contact with politicians and Queens College officials. For their efforts they deserve our gratitude, as does the PTA, which campaigned tirelessly against the budget cuts. Luckily, their efforts were not all in vain. At literally the last minute, Queens College decided to grant waivers to Townsend Harris seniors for one college class, in addition to the six-credit Humanities seminar, which was rescued from the budget ax last June. Seniors now have the opportunity to earn 12 college credits. Not everything has been taken away from undercl~smen either. The Latin or Greek requirement has been retained, as well as the freshman writing process and linguistics courses. Very few faculty members were let go. Tough decisions had to be made about what little money was allocated to us, and the administration has done the best it could have under the circumstances. Obviously, we knew that the budg~t cuts would affect us, but no one knew

Relaxing rules for locker use

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Cut along the dotted lines.. . just how much they would hurt. The damage has been done to much more than just tangible things we have always taken for granted. Social activities are missing. The high level of interaction between grades is gone. ·Many extras and elements of fun are absent. Students are polarized by grade, even by what time they leave school. As a result of these changes, a certain community feeling we have always had is in jeopardy. The student body cannot do much to change our funding, but we can attempt to change these other things. We must stay involved in clubs and try to connect with each other, in spite of losing Enrichment and electives. If we're inactive, we send the message that we don't mind the cuts. Not only do we have to stay involved in school life, but we must stay vigilant about the budget cuts. If we just assume that this is the last loss we will suffer, we may be caught off guard. It is imperative that the second we hear about the possibility of new cuts, we mount a campaign like we did last year. Once something is taken away, it is very difficult to get it back.

Letters to the Editor To the Editor:

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I was so happy to hear that we could go to our lockers at the beginning of our "There's a saying that goes, 'You don't smile until Thanksgiving, and don't say yes to things until Christmas,' " said Assistant Principal Malcolm lunch period. It makes life much easier not having to carry all my books all day. Now I heard that we may not have this privilege because many referrals have Rossman during an interview about the new locker policy. "The point is, been given out. A lot of people are going to their lockers when they are not supdon't let the students think you're soft!" he explained. Well, Christmas came early to Townsend Harris, and instead of looking posed to. I don't think many students know what a large pro~lem this is. If they were made "soft," our school's administration proved to be understanding and willing to compromise when it comes to the needs of the students. In response to aware of the problem by The Classic, maybe it would stop when we realize our the many complaints about the rules restricting us from using our lockers punishment. Sarah Harnett during the day, a new policy was put into effect September 18, allowing the Letters continued on p. 14. use of lockers for the first eight minutes of assigned lunch bands. After the move to the new building on the Queens College campus last April, students were authorized to go to their lockers onJy before and after school hours. Teachers were worried that their classes would be disrupted ===== · by peOple lingering in the hallways and that the large building size would : =·=.::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::'?: uu:::::::: cause lateness problems iflocker privileges were extended to the lunch bands. Townsend ·Harrls lllgh School at Queens College Editor-in-Chief: Veronica Lee 149· 11 Melbourne Avenue, Flushing, N.V. 11367 However, complaints began pouring in as the textbooks, looseleaf binders Michael Munoz & Amanda Schoenberg News Editors and other paraphernalia seemed to grow heavier with every step, and students Erik Bloch & Rena Varghese Readers are invited to submit letwent home in pain after dragging 15-pound school bags on their backs like Feature Editors ters to the editor. Letters should be placed in Ms. Cowen's mailbox in the Tara Balabushka work horses on a never-ending journey. As a result, the administration reHeather Paterson general office. The Classic reserv!!s Editor Sports Editor the right to edit all letters . Letters must evaluated the policy and decided to re-institute the lunch band locker Michael Garber include name and official class. Names Business Manager George Motakis privileges on a trial basis. Any student caught at his/her locker at an will be withheld upon request. Erika Zwetkow Art Editor Photography Editor inappropriate time will receive a referral, and if 40 referrals are issued for locker violations, the privileges will be instantly revoked. News Staff- Dominika Bednarska, Gina D'Andrea, Michael Garber, Helen Haritos, Ronald L=, Chris Libby, It is important to remember that this is a new building, and everyone is Deana Longobucco, Beth Mattucci, Cory McCruden, Fernando Moreno, Natalka Palzynski, Jenn.ifer Pare, Romina Perrone, Lawen Sharen, Caire Schnabel, Ellen Schnabel, Jennifer Silverman, Donna Vasic, Michael Weis..,, Jennifer still adjusting to a different environment. Our school's administration is not Wolf, Bonnie Yee ' Feature Staff - Demetrios Bertzikis, Alexander Blunt, Richard Capone, Jenny Mandell , Birson Memet, Mark Von Ohlen, made up of a group of people who sit around a table wracking their brains Kathryn Rube, Rebecca Silver, Hope Villella trying to think of ways to make us suffer for their own amusement. Their Sports Staff- Justin Fox, Cory Polonctsky, Jo"'ph Regen, Johrmy Wong goal is to ensure the safety of all Harrisites, and they're still "testing the Kathleen Maignan, Sofia Panagiotak.is, Emilia Rak.owickz, Lisa Shapira, Marco Traruzzi, Jason Wu, Young Yoon waters" to see what rules are or are not necessary to maintain order. ThereArtists- Rachel Sperling, Melissa Tinio, Vesna Vasic . Typists- Meghan McDonald, Leslie Offenbach fore, we must respect the new locker policy to assure school officials and Lay -out- Michael Weiss faculty that we are responsible students. We have to resi~t the urge to sneak Business Staff- Ari Gerslunan, Lesley Kamnitzer, Abby Manishor, Rachel Sandwciss off to our lockers to secretly stash away a math book or a bag of gym clothes, Advisor· llsa Cowen Principal • Dr. Malcolm Largmann and proye that we are trustworthy people, because this is the only way to Photography Advisor - Richard Tiffen avoid harsh rules and gain more privileges in the futUre.

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The Classic NcMrnber1~

·o.J.• verdict provokes deb~te Racism emerges From our closet by Schiffon Jones My name is Schiffon Jones and I am discussing race. And let me tell you - I am angry. As a woman, as a person of color, and as a citizen of this country, I am angry. Honestly, the trial of 0 .J. Simpson is trivial in comparison to the significance of the aftermath. This trial has not created a racial divide in this country. Let's face facts. Blacks and whites are integrated in the workplace, but there is minimal interaction on a personal, emotional or social level. This divide has always existed, but is not truly acknowledged by all members of this society. We must first become aware of the situation at hand. You and I have been manipulated by the media and other "powers that be." Racial tensions and divisiveness have proven themselves to be a very profitable situation for some. Assumptions, broad generalizations, and stereotypes are taking control of all of

us. Only through open and honest dialogue can we begin to correct our shattered society. We must all examine our own biases, our own prejudice, our own ignorance, which cause us to succumb to racist behaviors. I want to talk about how the color of my skin has defined me. I want to talk about my bittemess and my hostilities about white America. I want to know why my people feel that they are not part of America's dream. I want to know why I don't have more white friends. I want to know why there's even a need for this forum. OJ. has brought a skeleton out of our closet. Don't try to deny racism because it is staring us all in the face. Until we, not only as a nation, but as individuals, resolve this urgent dilemma that has plagued us for generations, we will never be a United States of America.

Schiffon delivered the above speech at the teach-in on October 12.

Don•t build blockades by Joseph Gerbasi went beyond race. Racial divisons are visible blockades All this changed the day after the O.J. that are all around us, barriers which Simpson trial. Suddenly I saw many kids seem to encage us wherever we go. I had .taking extremely strong stands on a forsaken all hope of ever seeing these matter about which they knew very little. barriers down until three years ago when What really began to scare me was that I came upon a safe haven, a place where in the discussions that went on in several those dividing lines seemed to disappear. of my classes, kids of similar This safe haven was called Townsend backgrounds seemed readily to support Harris. I thought that nothing could ever one another and before you knew it, cause those lines to divide this small instead of a class of 30 different multi-cultural, open-minded community, opinions, you had maybe four with the but I was wrong! views mostly following raciallir:es. It came as a surprise to me. Other My fellow students, I beseech you. controversial events such as the Rodney Shut off your televisions, tum the next King and Crown Heights incidents had page, do whatever you have to, to get come up in school discusl>ions and away from this mesmerizing media although sometimes a majority of kids monster while you still have a logical, from a similar background would agree, unbiased thought in your head. I've seen there were many crossovers and the foundation being laid dow11 for the everyone usually agreed that there was blockades and once they are up, they a bigger picture to be considered that may never completely come down.

a white student made a stereotypical and assumed "white" remark, the majority of students cheering were white. What does this tell us?-that, granted some r·:-:--:-·.·.·.·.·.. . ............... ·········.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.··.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.··.·.·.··.·.·.·.· ·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·,·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.-.·.·.·.·.·.·.·,',',•,·.,.·.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,., ,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,., ,.,.,.,.,.,.,. ,.,.,, __j students actually believe in the comment, many were clapping to back up their race. Many of us are looking past the issues and the facts and _are basing our opinions on the color of our and every one else's skin. Many students commented that this Racial tensions have always existed in country cannot be united if the racism is by Helen Haritos OJ. Simpson - I know that I am not our small Townsend Harris community; not erased. Who does not agree with this alone when I say I am tired of hearing however, I never thought them strong statement? I know I do. Likewise, we his name. The verdict is "not guilty" and enough to cause racially-motivated re- cannot be a united Harris community if the entire circus should have been put marks, looks or actions. It was evident the racism is not overcome. Many white to me that boundaries had been broken people have to stop thinking that whites to rest a long time ago. The OJ. verdict has had a profound at the teach-in that was held during ninth can do no wrong and that blacks can't be trusted to form their own individual effect on most citizens, including band on Thursday, October 12. When a black student made a comment opinions. Many blacks have to stop Harrisites. It has set free already existing racial feelings in our nation as well that reflected the stereotypical and as- thinking that blacks can do no wrong and as our school. It is the cause· of great sumed "black" comment, the majority all whites are like Mark Furhman. Evof students cheering were black. When eryone has tocstop considering everydebates and openly hateful feelings.

Looking beyond skin color

thing a black/ white racial issue. We have to accept that we are all people, we are Harrisites, and whether we like it or not, we have more in common than we think. We are all tied together by our Humanities education, school activities, etc .. We have to accept each other, we have to respect _each other, we have to love each oilier - or we will never be a Townsend Harris community or a United States of America. We were all taught to think objectively, using facts; however, this trial swayed our judgement and caused many of us to look beyond our education and at skin color. It is a sort of backwards process. We were all taught not to judge a book by its cover, but rather read the inside. But when it came to 'the trial, too many of us read the book and still formed our opinions by the cover.

.. The Classic November 1995

See classm-ates as individuals by Tamika Turner As I sat in the auditorium listening to panalists and students voice their concerns about the supposed "aftermath of the 0 .J. trial," I was stunned. A forum whose goal was to bring the school together revealed that a school like ours, where tolerance seemed a way of life, can be driven apart. The purpose of the O.J. Simpson teach-in was to discuss, as a school, the issues that may have come up as a result of the long-awaited verdict. I think the administrative staff thought that we would go into this forum slightly disunited and come out as happy, harmonius Townsend Harrisites. Instead, I saw a lot of angry, disgruntled people whose grievances were not going to be subdued as a result of any 50-minute discussion. Those people were the lrnowl-

edgeable and perceptive (dare I say it?) African Americans, who realized that OJ. Simpson is not the cause of all racial hatred and division in theworld; he was just the one who brought it to our attention. Whatever harsh realities this forum made us face, they were ones that already existed. Racism was around yesterday, the month before that, and years prior to this day. Unfortunately, it took a multi-million dollar trial, two people dead, and a man named O.J. Simpson for the skeletons to come out of the closet. I only hope that no one walks down the hall thinking, "my friend is a racist" or "that person is prejudiced." Let's work on looking at each other as individuals rath路er than restricting ourselves to the ignorant type of mindset our country has unfortunately established.

Domesticviolerce:

Admitting racism: a first step by Beth Citron A murder trial involving a sports hero and two innocent people has become the most notorious trial of the century. O.J. Simpson, once famous for his football abilities, is now famous for everything but that. That trial turned OJ. Simpson into a symbol of racial division, amongst other things. The verdict has further divided whites and blacks in our society. Originally, I did not think that the outcome of the Simpson fi-

asco affected Townsend Harris. After participating in the teachin as a panelist on October 12, I realized I was wrong. Hearing reactions to the panelists made me think twice about whether or not Townsend Harris was just as racist as the rest of society. One student referred to her race as "my people," and called another race "your people." Another student began her comment with, "I am representing my race," and went on to criticize us for not having an equal

Wife Beaters Are路n't heroe-s

number of black and white friends. The teach-in, meant to promote racial understanding, by Amy Kommatas seemed to do just the opposite. At a school such as ours, not many people wanted to admit It showed me that our school any sort of association with the "garbage" known as the OJ. has many unresolved problems Simpson triaL Peopie seemed more concerned with important about race. things, such as declining "puella" for Latin class or how we did I think that the teach-in was on that last physics test, but I sensed that inside, there was a an eye-opener for many people, little bit of an 0 .J. junkie in all of us. including myself.... Hopefully, My thoughts were proven true that fateful eight11 band class now that we are more aware that when all eyes were fixated on the second hand of the clock, we have a problem. we can go willing it to move faster. We all hoped that it would instantafurther to do something about ..___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _---. neously appear to be 1 o'clock, it t11e scheduled time for the verdict. At that moment I realized we were all inflicted with the disease, O.J. disease. One particularly troubling role within society. Their influ- needed in the media. What will aspect of this disease that ence on their audience is tre- it take for them to realize that thankfully did not surface at mendous. With all this power, these morbid images and horTownsend Harris was the retheir main goal should be to pri- rid tabloids are inappropriate action to the verdict by some oritize tile news because what and not entertaining? Give tile of the women who welcomed they choose to show is what news as it is, unslanted, and let O.J.'s acquittal. One would people watch. Prime time tile public decide what it wants think that women would have should not be filled with tabloid to do with it, is my advice to a greater respect for each other tllem. Airing daily testimony news. than to make a proven wife Isn't the only reason this over a course of a year isn't necbeater into a hero, case was covered was because essary. If you watched the trial From what I saw in my O.J. is a football star, a celeb- every night you may have a classes, even if students had rity? If Joe Johnson, the garbage little more legal sense, but other differing opinions on the vercollector, were accused of mur- tllan that, it was no accomplishdict, they all agreed on one dering his wife and a IJJ.an, ment aild you've wasted your tiling: that O.J. is not a hero. would he be on the news every time. America, prove to tile Heroes do not hurt others night for a year? Of course not, world tllat we're fed up with who are defenceless and prey and tllat is what is so outra- this jaded type of programming. on women. Heroes do not batgeous. There are much more Let the ratings illlustrate how ter their wives. O.J. is not a important issues to be covered we feel: disgusted. When O.J. hero. OJ. is a criminal- if not in news. Did anyone know who comes on, tum the channel, and a convicted killer, then an abuwas fighting who in the war in if all the networks are playing sive husband. Bosnia before it was a current the same thing, tum off the teleNo one can disagree that batevents assignment in social vision set. Haven't you had tery is unacceptable. Hopestudies? The answer is no. But enough? No more O.J. stories! fully, Harris students will overasked whether the verdict was come any differing beliefs on not guilty or guilty in the O.J. racial issues and band together Simpson trial, surely every The above op ed piece was in fighting against the mistreatsingle American can tell you the adapted by Natalka from her ment of women, whether they speech at the October /2 teachanswer. be black or white. Reforms are desperately in.

Turn off jaded programs; send message to media by Natalka Palczynski The day after the verdict in the O.J. Simpson trial, my journalism class had an in-depth discussion on the case. We talked about the resulting racial tensions; how the verdict affected battered women and their cry for help and justice; how the LAPD was sloppy witll tlle evidence; how we've watched tlle trial on tlle news for tlle past year; how we've lost sight of tlle real issue, that two people were brutally murdered; and how this media circus reflects tlle type of warped society that we live in. It is tile media tllat made this trial into a soap opera. Here's a news flash: murders aren't entertaining. Exploitation in the media has occurred from the beginning of the trial. Countless interviews witll family and friends of the victims as well as Simpson were conducted. Everyone from Nicole's parents to 0 .J.' s latest love interest was questioned. Even a barking dog on tlle night of the murders was investigated,

only the dog wasn't on Oprah, or was he? According to tile L.A. Times, the so called "loving and spontaneous" pictures O.J. took with his family were sold to The Star for six' figures. It also reported that a group of jurors demanded $100,000 for an appearance on Inside Edition. Money, money, money. All the result of the loss of two lives. According to a survey conducted by tile commissioned cable news network, 57% of tile nation's adult viewers watched the verdict (an estimated 107.7 million people). Why is this trial so significant to American viewers? Murders, homicides, death: they occur every single day, but because of the media, the public sat mesmerized in front of their television screens for over'a year, hoping that another juicy piece of information would be revealed. It's something called irresponsibility and the media takes a big role in this part. The media bas a very delicate

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November 1995

Cuts slash classes; supplies by Beth Mattucci and Lauren Sharett The usual anticipation felt by students on the first day of school was in sharp contrast with the confirmation of significant budget cuts. Limited numbers of elective classes, no Enrichment, no junior varsity teams, the loss of several faculty

members, cuts in supplies and students with free periods. Not services, and a truncated Bridge . only were classes cut, but staff Year Program are among the members including Craig sacrifices that Townsend Harris Buchalter, Physical Education, Alison McGoran, Art had to make. With the exception of classes Instructor, and the services of including band, chorus, and Howard Wagner, Biology journalism, elective courses are Instructor, as a college advisor now unavailable to sophomores were lost. The school.is already and juniors. This has left many . feeling the affects of these cuts.

Team effort saves bridge year By Erik Bloch

pressure by the local and state them and their parents. When After a summer of uncer- politicians who were involved the decision was made to enable tainty, the minds of over 200 with the school. These included both the Humanities course and Townsend Harris seniors State Senator Frank Padavan, the elective to be offered, I was Nettie delighted, and when I greeted were finally put at ease in late Assemblywoman Councilman the seniors at that first meeting, August when they received in Mayersohn, their mail a notice Morton Povman, and Borough I felt that the right thing had been done." announcing the reinstatement President Claire Schulman. The reaction of the seniors Dr. Largmann also thanked of college electives. The lastminute change was a surprise "all the bus loads of kids who themselves lieemed to coincide for just about everyone went to Albany," as well as the with that of Dr. Leiner. "I'm involved with the effort to save the Queens College classes traditionally made available to seniors. With only about half of the required funding available, the idea of keeping the college courses seemed impossible. "During the summer, it seemed very bleak," said Townsend Harris College Liaison Dr. Marvin Leiner. Yet through intensive negotiations throughout the summer, an agreement was Strolling along the Queens College campus, Shalini Persaud reached. and Jeeji Mathunny enjoy the benefits of the senior Bridge Year. "The restoration of the Bridge Year Program," explained Dr. Leiner, "was the PTA and the parents for send- definitely glad they were able result of a truly creative team ing their letters. "At that mo- to save the Bridge Year," said effort on the part of my offiee, ment last year it dido' t seem like senior Melissa Rosenblatt, "bethe school, and the City Uni- much help, but everything adds cause without the college versity organization. We were up," he said. courses, the whole uniqueness Dr. Leiner added CUNY As- of the senior year here is lost." in complete and careful contact with one another sistant Vice President of Insti- Another senior, Warren Hsiung, while pursuing our goal of tutional Relations and Public agreed, saying, " If we wouldn't bringing back the college Affairs Florence Luckow to the have gotten the college classes, list of those who played key it would feel as if we were being electives." Still, the agreement did not roles. "She was very important cheated out of something." Although the total salvaging entirely restore the Bridge because at the time, there was of the Townsend Harris Bridge no actual president," said Dr. Year of the past. In earlier years, some seniors were Leiner. Up till the very lastfew year may not yet be completeallowed to take two college days, CUNY was under the di- there are still attempts being courses per term in addition rection of Acting President made to restore the four-credit to U1e seminar. That is not the Stephen Curtis. "Curtis was recase this year. The option of ally great," said Dr. Leiner. "I taking four credit courses, was impressed by the fact that which was previously offered in the final days of his presito seniors, is also still dency - what I visualized as ' I felt that the days spent packing up his office unavailable. The process of reaching this -... [he] was so concerned about final agreement consumed the restoration of the courses." right thing Still, no agreement had been countless manhours. The arrangement came through "a reached when the new presihad been done.' lot of negotiating and dent, Allen Lee Sessoms, arrived in mid-August. "Mr. mediating," explained Principal Malcolm Largmann, Curtis was terrific," said Dr. "But a conunitmenthad been Leiner, "but Sessoms picked up made to the students, and cut- the ball." Finally, in the last courses and the additional ting the college classes would ' week of August, as a result of elective previously available to be like breaking a promise last-minute efforts by Dr. th_e program - the agreement that had been made to them," Leiner, Ms. Luckow and Dr. with ·Queens College has Sessoms, the arrangement was brought back to the school one he said. of its most defining features, According to Dr. made. "I felt strongly that the seniors and many are hoping that this Largmann, in addition to the negotiating between Dr. were en'titled to the Bridge basic structure will continue to Leiner and the college, Year," Dr. Leiner stated. "This give seniors the opportunities it was a commitment made to has given them in the oast. CUNY was out under heav

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"We are very understaffed in this office. In losing Howard Wagner, we have lost an esteemed and experienced counselor," said Marilyn Blier, College Advisor. At the closing of the past school year, a committee of staff members including Malcolm Largmann, Principal, Malcolm Rossman, Assistant Principal, and Sheila Orner, Assistant Principal, Pupil Personnel Services, met to prioritize the distribution of money in the school. They managed to retain a high caliber of classroom instruction and, therefore, other programs lost funding . These losses include services such as extended library and security hours. The High School Division allocates money to each public school. On August 16, Dr. Largmann received news of the money given to Townsend Harris. Using the guidelines previously drawn up, the cuts were finalized. Unlike other city high schools, Townsend Harris does not get federally reimbursed. The only source of money for special programs is the Board of Education. "I tried to be optimistic, but these changes were very serious. In a small school, you feel the cuts much more because you have a tight structure ....We have to depend on the kids to find ways to make school life fun due to the lack of extracurricular activities," said Dr. Largmann. In anticipation of the approaching budget cuts, the school prepared itself to take on Advanced Placement classes. However these courses were not necessary because the Bridge Year was salvaged at the last minute by Queens College. Although seniors can no longer take three college courses, they have the opportunity to take two classes in the restored program. These include a mandatory Humanities Seminar and three - credit only courses. "It is a

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great disappointment to find out that one of my major reasons for coming to this school was almost taken away. It could be taken away from other seniors in the future," said senior Assimina Kiouressis. Junior Jennifer Belo commented, "I think that the budget cuts put a limit on our education. It doesn't give us the complete school atmosphere, especially with the electives missing now." Harry Rattien, Assistant Pdncipal of Mathematics, stated, "The cuts are rather awful. The mayor doesn't really understand what goes on inside a school.... The budget cuts have limited student options." Although student options are restricted, Dr. Largmann feels that college acceptances will not be jeopardized if students perform well academically and the proper cover letter is attached to the college applications. Wanda Nix, Dean and Physical Education teacher, said, "I don't think everybody understands the impact of the cuts in the schools. The administration of U1is school has tried to protect the students. The people who have made the cuts don't really understand how schools run and what they are about. It is really a tragedy." Agreeing with Ms. Nix, Valerie Billy, Library Coordinator, said,"l don't think there is anything more important than education. To cut something so vital is disastrous; not only for the present but for the future." "There is really no reason for many of t11ese budget cuts. I don't feel that by jeopardizing our education the city will be able to improve its budget," said sophomore Enyinna Nwachuku. "We are going through a very stressful time in education, and in the future it will hopefully improve. Once you lose things, it's not so easy to get them back," said Dr. Largmann.

The Classic receicved a Gold Medalist rating in the Columbia 'scholastic Press Ass.ociati:on nati:onal contest for high scbool ewspapers.ln addition; the publication received All•ColUirtbian ·•onors in writing and editing, bands-on production, and bus,iness. Sam Kim, R-ebecca Mandell, and Miti~l Munoz, all eniors, nave advanced to th-e semi.~fina:l rend of the Niational terit Schoi'arsbip competition. · Russell Jones, Brian Punillet.Nia Rhode,, and .&kibaSmith, eniors, are all semi.flatrlrsts in the 1.\r.ational Achievement ~cho:larshi;p Program for Bllaek .Americans. Bt:ic Alareon, Marlene .ll:iggins and Michael Munoz were med Scholars in the Nation~l Hispanic Sehol}lf Progl\am. Domimka Bednars.ka, sophomore, ~ave " r~adirrg of her oetry at the Bay !erraee Barnes and bl:obles on November 2. Gina Bayes, sophomore, is a semi-fina'liist in tlte BlM}5 North merican Open Poetry Contest-. Mer poem will be published in 'hadow:s oo:d Lig1u·, the National Library ofFoetry' s anthology.

. ..,

6 Staff remains mostly intact after cuts The Classic

November 1995.

by Romina Perrone Although the Board of Education's offer of an early retirement incentive resulted in large faculty turnovers in other schools, staff changes at Townsend Harris this semester were minimal. Angela Grima, math teacher, is replacing Shelly Goldfarb, who is on sabbatical, and David Chang is the new Lab Specialist. Conspicuously absent were physical education teacher, Craig Buchalter and art teacher Alison McGoran, both casualities to the budget cuts. In addition, Townsend Harris welcomed special education teacher Donald Rubino and para-professionals Judy Broderick and Scott Idson, who are running a self-contained special education program in 412. Some faculty also assumed new responsibilities . John Brown, mathematics teacher and advisor of the Math Team in the past, is now in charge of programming, replacing Arthur Boulanger, who is on sabbatical, to study in England . "Mr. Boulanger has promised to return after one year," said Mr. Brown, who is anxious to return to full-time teaching. Currently he teaches two math classes and does programming the rest of the day. He is assisted by Rachel Chung. Mr. Brown used to be a program chairman at Automotive High School before he joined the Townsend Harris faculty . This year was an especially stressful one for Mr. Brown to be the programmer because of the last-minute

changes necessitated by budget cuts. "The change in schedule meant I had to do everything from scratch and the cuts

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John Brown meant we had to re--do everything again at the last minute," said Mr. Brown. Dr. Grima received her B.A. and M .A. from Hunter College and her doctorate in Educational Statistics at New York University . She has worked as a statistician on various testing projects and has taught mathematics in several parochial and public schools . Dr. Grima's most recent position was at New York University where she taught statistics and helped students with the methodology chapter of their dissertations. At Harris, she teaches MQ3 and Precalculus Statistics. Dr. Grima described the students and faculty as "really wonderful," and added that Townsend Harris "is a great place to be." New Lab Specialist David Chang replaced David Liu, who took a job in

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private industry. "It is part of the school budget to have a Lab Specialist," explained Susan Appel, Assistant Principal of Science. Mr. Chang's job consists of preparing demonstrations, laboratories and an inventory for the science ~ N classes. ~ ·c Mr. Chang received ~ his Master' s Degree at li' 0 St. John's University, 0 ..c: after which he worked in Q.. the airline industry as a Mechanical Supervisor and analyst. He then began teaching physics at the Hebrew Academy of Nassau

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David Chang County and later taught chemistry at Grover Cleveland High School. Most recently, he taught chemistry and general science at Jamaica High School. "I have a very pleasant feeling in my heart when I work m this building," he said. "The students are very intelligent and r.esponsible and the principal and A.P.'s and the faculty are very friendly .

Angela Grima

Curtains raised on auditorium by Jennifer Pare It's official: after months of tireless labor that lasted through this summer, Townsend Harris has a state-of-the-art auditorium with enough features, .according to Senior Project Manager Sam Gordon, to rival virtually any Broadway theater Even though students and faculty moved into the new building on the Queens College campus at the end of April1995, the long-awaited auditorium was missing from the students' grand tour. "I was disappointed about the auditorium not being completed in time for the production of SING!," said junior Cindy Wong, referring to the annual student-run show which didn't take place · last year. With the first day of school came the site of freshman orientation in the brand new auditorium. It was a chance for new students to meet staff and student government members as well as go on a tour of their new building. Student Union Treasurer Franzo Law, who spoke at orientation, said afterward, "I can see the future freshmen classes of Townsend Harris sitting here [in the auditorium]." The auditorium brings with it many opportunities. One possibility is fl spring musical to be run by English teacher Harriette Blechman, who is discussing plans with music teacher Peter Lustig. The biggest barrier right now is the school budget, but if the money is available, Ms. Blechman said, "I would love to do a play. The auditorium is gorgeous." Judy Biener, Coordinator of Student Activities, says "anything that you can think of' will take place in the new auditorium. Mr. Lustig currently uses the stage in the auditorium as rehearsal space for his band classes during the day, and is

looking forward to both the winter and spring concerts. He is enthusiastic about the light and sound systems as well as the large stage and two beautiful grand pianos. The auditorium's convenient location also delights Mr. Lustig. "I like the fact that it's right across from the band room," he said. Spanish teacher Ilene Marcus was present for the first SING! meeting in the auditorium on October 2, and said the turn-out was big. "The students are very enthused and the juniors are very much in charge," she said. SING! will be financed through student fund raising because of school budget cuts. There is also a suggested $5.00 fee to join, but Ms. Marcus said everyone is welcome, and the auditorium "will make it an enjoyable production ." SING! is scheduled to take place at the end of May. Student reactions to the new auditorium are mixed. Junior Georgia Zervos said, "I love the balcony because it's something I didn't expect." "It's really gloomy because the walls are dark colored . But it's a re•al improvement from the cafetorium," Kathy Stavropoulos, junior, said. Mr. Gordon said that virtually all the work on the auditorium was done during the summer, using from 2-12 men . Its features include a very elaborate audio/ sound system, .a state-of-the-art stage rigging system, a lighting system the equivalent of any Broadway theater, a music room, makeup, costume, and dressing rooms, bathrooms, an elaborate system of catwalks, a balcony that is handicapped accessible, and a control and projection booth. Mr. Gordon is very proud of the finished product. "It's quite a fancy thing," he said.

The

Classic

J November 1995

New computers to be up and running soon by Natalka Palczynski They ' re here! The 227 NEC computers (IBM compatibiles) have arrived, and approximately half of them have been installed. Technology Coordinator Richard Tiffen and Assistant Principal of Mathematics Harry Rattien are working hard to get the system running and they predict that within a few weeks, all of the computers will be in working condition, with students having access to all the available software. Townsend Harris was able to pay for all this hardware with the money allotted to it as a new school building by the Board of Education. "Personal ideas led to some discussion over which types of computers would be best to order," said Mr. Rattien. "It was hard to reach a consensus, but we tried to accommodate eveyone' s desires ." Washington Computers was contracted to supply and install all the incoming NEC's. They were one of the four vendors Townsend Harris had to choose from. Their good reputation led the committee to their decision . ' ·~ 'l

,--

] 'The convenience we're offered now sounds almost miraculous.'

In addition to the IBM compatibles, four Macintoshes were ordered and the Board of Education provided nine others which have been installed in room 511 : the graphic arts studio. They will be used mainly by school publications. Computers have already been installed in rooms 414 and 434 (Writing Process classes) as well as the administrative offices. Rooms 514,634, and the library don't contain computers yet. Students who wish to use the computers during their lunch periods, free periods and after school will eventually be able to use one of the 12 slated for the library. A Networked System Mr. Tiffen explained how the system works: "Network cabling used at THHS incorporates fiber optics and copper wiring technology. If the current network speeds prove to be too slow to operate properly in the future, our cable system will allow upgrading to higher data transmission speeds. Data outlets for the system are located in almost every

be presented with an e-mail address. Email is more or less a postal service through the computer. The user can send a letter to a friend's e-mail address (local or foreign) and the receiver will obtain it whenever he c h e c k s "'0 -"" his"mailbox." Ifthe receiver is at his ~ computer when the -"" "' •t: mail is being sent, ~ >. he can interact with B the sender in a 0 ..<:: 0. c y b e r conversation. Queens College could act as Townsend Harris' link to Internet mail service. Their job would be to store any incoming mail overnight and then tr<:nsfer it to '.::'ownsend Harris in the morning. The domain sorts the mail it receives and sends it to all the Classic photographers Danielle Hammett-Cohen. and Jason Freedman, sophomores, addresses within its try out the new computers in the graphic arts studio while waiting for their prints to dry system (in this case, in the nearby darkroom. in the building). Through e-mail, commented. "But that does not eliminate sounds almost miraculous. As freshmen students can contact discussion groups, the possibility of encountering problems. in the Parsons building, we were warned fan clubs, etc. It is the trend of the 90's Stuyvesant High School has an to stay away from the computers. Now that has already taken shape throughout incredible system, but when they first got they're a welcome sight." Kimberly the nation. it, they had nothing but faults. After they Parret, sophomore, said. took care of one, another came up. No Internet Access Yet Who's to say that can't happen to us?" Mr. Tiffen is in charge of the whole The Internet is a wealth of information system: its installation, networking, and available at the fingertips of PC owners daily operation. In addition to his prior through a modem. It's also a luxury that expertise, he received network adminisTownsend Harris students won't be able tration training during the summer. His to experience for quite a while. "It's 'Communication is what task is a large one, but because of the expensive and we just don't have the the humanities school's limited budget, Mr. Tiffen is money," said Mr. Tiffen. "We'll have is all about.' relieved from only one class. to actively pursue grants and try fund For all those who do not have comraisers through the PTA and the Alumni Association. Eventually I'd love to puters at home and have rio idea how any provide Internet communication via of the software works, not to worry . World Wide Web into the classroom. Freshmen will be taught how to use the programs in their Writing Process World Wide Web on Netscape ties in and · Once the network is running smoothly, coordinates information on the Internet. classes. Sophomores and juniors will each student will be presented with an But that's in the future .. .. You know the have a three to four-day sequence in account number/password which will expression 'You have to crawl before which their Engk!sh classes will be make · some programs available . you can walk'? Well we' re not even brought to the computer rooms and SchoolVista is a Windows-based crawling yet." instructed on how to use the equipment. program and the one Townsend Harris As for all the students who want to use will be using. "For a school network, disks from their home computers in Access to Programs the Windows software would lead to school, that won't be allowed until the nothing but problems," Mr. Tiffen "Unfortunately, many people think of computers have been equipped with an explained. "With Windows,"it's very computers as glorified typewriters," Mr. anti-virus program. easy for a student to accidentally delete Tiffen remarked. "Changes in h~.w or modi fy something essential. people use computers in the last 5 years SchoolVista won't allow that to happen." have been revolutionary, particularly in The account number will give students the fields of multimedia and telecoiiijlluaccess to various kinds of software nications. The advent of the World Wide 'You have to including data bases, Microsoft works, Web has changed the world and contincrawl before you Print Shop, and references such as ues to do so, much in the way can walk. Encarta, a multi-media encyclopedia on Guttenberg's moveable type did centuCD-Rom. Well we're not ries ago. New York City's Soho district E -Mail is now called Silicon Alley because of even crawling yet.' the concentration of creative energy deE-mail (electronic mail) is something voted · to businesses focused upon the students may expect as well, although World Wide Web and multimedia. Comnot immediately. Since no funding has munication is what the humanities is all been provided for an e-mail system, it is about and Townsend Harris High School likely that those who wish to have access has to incorporate this technology into Presently, there are no plans for a to the service will pay a small fee of its curriculum if its graduates are to be computer class because of the impact about $5.00. Students will eventually prepared." that the budget cuts had on the teaching room and will link all the computrers in the building." "We have all the capability to have a successful, intricate system," Mr. Ratti en

staff. Mr. Tiffen says that he hopes one day Townsend Harris can have a class in multimedia authoring and publishing. "The convenience we're offered now

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The

Classic

November 1!195:

Up, up, and away:

Contest sends Palcynski to Ja

Mandell seeks adventure in Spain by Rena Varghese "Like the balloon explorers of long ago ... [who had] a spirit for adventure and an eagerness to learn" (Nacel Brochure, 1995), senior Rebecca Mandell went on a journey to explore another country this past summer when she participated in an exchange program to Spain. The program was sponsored by Nacel CulturalExchanges,anon-profitorganization whose name happens to be derived from the French word, nacelle, which is the basket of a hot-air balloon. The goal of the organization is to promote international understanding and language education. It gave Rebecca the opportunity to live with a host family in Gernika for a month, and to take language classes at the same time so that she could improve her Spanish. The day after the last day of school, Rebecca took off from Kennedy Airport on a thirteen-hour charter flight which landed in Madrid. From there she went on a fivehour bus ride that took her to Gernika, in the Basque region of Spain.

~amplona. Rebecca had to wake up at three in the morning to catch a bus that would get to Pamplona in time to see the fainous running of the bulls at eight o'clock. The running of the bulls is an event in which bulls are released on to a designated street in the city where they run until they finally reach an arena. However, there are hundreds of people who choose to run with the bulls along the streets. After buying a red panuelo, or handkerchief, Rebecca was seated in the stadium where the bulls and the people running with them would eventually enter. "There were hundreds of people packed into an arena with these bulls running around and darting at them. They were crazy!" exclaimed Rebecca. Running with the bulls can be a dangerous thing to do. In fact, Rebecca was there the day of the festival when an American tourist was killed while participating in the event. "A news reporter interviewed a girl in our group about10 minutes after the man was killed," she said. "The reporter wanted to get opinions about what happened from an American

by Fernando Moreno and Yeronica Lee This past August marked the 50th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, .and for many people throughout the world, it was a day for joyful celebration, symbolizing the end of World War II. However, what happened to the lives of the innocent people impacted by the 1945 historic bombings? This question was the basis ofthe contest entered by sophomore Natalka Palcynski that won her a three-week trip to Japan this summer. Natalka spent three weeks living with host families in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Tokyo, learning about Japanese culture, and meeting many of the country's prominent figures, including the Prime Minister. She also received a $1,000 scholarship for finishing second in the contest, sponsored by the Hiroshima Foundation. In a press conference held by the journalism class on September 18, Natalka discussed her prize-winning essay andher trip to Japan. The competition, open to high school

students nationally, aimed at making Americans more aware of "the other side" of the bombings which killed thousands of people and scarred the lives of those who survived, physically and emotionally. Entrants w e r e asked to read the b 0 0 k Children of the ABomb, a compilalion of essays written by young survivors of the Ambassador for peace. Natalka airplane ticket to Japan and a sch attack Hiroshima Memorial Foundation published in 1947 and then to write an essay answering several questions relating to the ethical and moral issues raised by the historic event.

Globe Tro~ing • • • "The town was beautiful," said Rebecca. perspective. We all felt terrible when we heard "It was surrounded by mountains. Many of that someone had actually died." the towns in Spain are very old. However, However, Rebecca's trip had lighter Gernika had been bombed in 1937, during moments. One of her favorite pastimes was the Spanish Civil War, so the town was going to the center of town, called the. largely rebuilt." Pasaleku, where hundreds of people would In Gernika, Rebecca stayed with a host come to watch soccer and basketball family which consisted of a mother, Carmen tournaments that took place all summer long. Matilla Manteca, and her fifteen- year-old "I met so many people," said Rebecca. "Kids daughter, Priscila Lopez Matilla. Living in from different parts of the Basque region this arrangement was something that she would compete with each other. The rest of needed to adapt to. Rebecca, who comes from us would sit around, watch the games, talk a relatively large family of five, found that and eat sunflower seeds. It was great." living in a twoperson household took some getting used to. "The host family was :g very nice," she a said, "but at first ~ I felt...I had to '"u be extra-polite." ~ Rebecca '0 attended » Spanish classes ~ = 0 on weekdays, u 8 from 9:300 12:00 A.M . . -a She was part of a class with three other Exploring Gernika, Spain with her host, Priscila Lopez Matilla, Rebecca Americans who Mandell, senior, found the people "were fun-loving and knew how to have the were also in the best time." Nacel program. Their class focused on conversation and tliey spent their time doing - Another one of her favorite activities was work-sheets, talking to each other or playing club-hopping on weekends with Priscila. Spanish language games. Every day the class Although Carmen had given both Rebecca and went on tours of Spain as well. These Priscila a curfew of 1:00 A.M., the parties in included a trip to Bermeo, a fishing village the clubs would last past the early morning. where the group walked along the seaport, "It was safe to stay out at night in Gernika. and to Bilbao, an industrial city with various The people in Spain were fun-loving and knew sights, including a university and many shops. how to have the best time," said Rebecca. During Rebecca's stay, there were also Rebecca's trip to Spain was something she opportunities for all the kids in the Nacel will never forget. "It was a rewarding experiprogram who were in the area to get to- ence that has helped to prepare me in case I gether. One such event was on July 13, when study abroad in college. I would absolutely they all went to the Festival of San Sermin in do it again," she said:

L.ebwohl journeys to Japan by Liron Shapir " Kumamoto was beautiful. It looked just American turned Japanese. They were probthe way I had imagined it to be .... It was a ably saying this because I picked up a lot of very small city. When you left the city, you Japanese habits when I was there. I rememwould see the true ·Japanese countryside." ber this time in particular because they made This was senior Beth Lebwohl's first impres:g sion of Japan. It was just ~ .0 the beginning of her ven~ ..c ture to another continent. -.; Cll This summer, Beth '0 went on an all-expenses» paid trip to Japan for five ~ and a half weeks after 0= u 0 winning an essay 0 ..c competition spons01;:ed c.. by Youth for Understanding (YFU). Participants in the contest had to write Stepping out of the past, senior Beth Lebwohl and members of her several essays describing host family emerge from a restoration of an ancient Japanese home. their school, family and friends. " I didn't really have a sense of me feel included. I felt like I was one of them. competition," said Beth, "I just did it. It didn't That felt good." Beth also remembered her most embarrasshit me that I was competing until I won. I know everyone worked really hard, so I was ing moment. In Japan, it is customary toremove one's shoes before entering a house and honored." In Japan, Beth stayed with a six-member to put on special slippers t() use the bathroom. family. She got along with all of the family "Well, we [Beth and her host family ] were members and eventually developed close eating dinner at a fancy restaurant. Of course, relationships with each one. " They became we took off our shoes before entering. I had like my second family," she said. to go to the bathroom. When I got there, I Beth didn't have that much of a hard time put on the slippers. Forgetting to take them communicating with her host family. She just off when I finished, I marched out of the bathused a dictionary, hand gestures, and what she room with the slippers still on my feet! I was knew of the language. "I took Japanese for a really embarrassed. I don't know if anyone year in school," she explained, "It wasn't too noticed." For about two weeks, Beth went to school hard. When you are surrounded by a with one of her host sisters. , "It was odd," language, you are forced to speak it." Beth described one of the close moments she said ·It was an all-girls Christian private she had with her host family. " It was when I school. All of a sudden, in the middle of gym was just sitting around with my host sister class, I heard Green Day, an American band, and her friends, who were now my friends playing. I was so surprised. Their gym class also. We were all talking in Japanese. They is more of a dance class. The students bring (Continued on page 14) were trying to convince me that I was

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!T he Classic November 199

pan for A-Bomb anniversary "I really enjoyed reading the book," said Natalka, "I learned a lot from it, so I figured that win or lose, I'd still come out of the contest with something." In her essay, Natalka stressed the fact that America and Japan __ "can ' t ~ focus on whose ';; fault the ~ bombing ~ and the '0 w a r ~ was . " ~ Instead,

winner and two teachers, boarded a Japan Airlines flight on July 30 . "We were treated with the greatest kindness that anyone would ever show, and we were really surprised by this since we had demolished their city," she said of her visit to Hiroshima. According to Natalka, there weren't many visible traces ofthe 1945 bombings in Japan, but the memorials erected in the cities were constant reminders of the devastating effects of nuclear warfare. As she toured the citieS' of Hiroshima, , _ Nagasaki, andJ<>~, N'a~al~ noticed th¥.,'~ Lovi~g N.Y.: seni_o~ co~~ ·wi_uners ~lex Villafane and_M1chael Munoz circle the city with Japane~ very Amencamzed. "The.fe Alex s earents, Ahc1a ar4! Sanuagb V:1Qafane, and Enghsh teacher lisa Cowen.

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ar.. hsten to;A:6lerlcan muSic, and t / o tb,ey like American cl~''slle sJI. .~ · :_/' , . " -J 'alcynski, sophomore, receives an got t~-e,e what goes on in an office. It may o ve Quring her stay in Japan, NafatlCa attended Y MICha£1J\ftll(oi an En~ Bl\:1~ 'arship check for $1000 from the on and a dlhner with several peoqle who had written Why go on a tour of y1r ¢jY over not ~a~~ been pretty, but it taught me a or her prize-winning essay. . . 1 o o k ess~ys f:or The Childrep of the A-Bomb. ~ummer weekend? BeCfluse Its ~ee, th~ti' s lot.:* ~e~~d in the NewYorkC?nventi?n and'V ts1dsBureau on Columbus Ctrcle, wrth Into the, dtsarmament z f JL..!llts.l~~Ji~_u;ope was v.s:_rx..cls!.ti,ye _apout [ t H ' hy. At least that _was t~~ reasotf~g b_;lfnd . ~L · . ' ~lrd<'p~&>Wlmte( Jesse Kraus of New Dorp ess~y]. One of the sut vivor especially n&Stte~..weekendtHt~tt~lflft-tak~m~~ weapons. Natalka found out that sh had won around enjoy&d it and hoped most Americans felt Y semors Alex Vtll<tfane an~ Mtcfiael"' Hif1 School in Sta~n Island. the se~ond week of July' apd received her tlie,way1 did about peace," she said. _ unoz, who won the "dream tours~' in ~n -For the final leg of fbe prize, Alex, Michael, and Jesse were treatedJo what many tourists plane ttcket at an awards'ass~mbly held ~lew_ ~ -•,, thit'lk I;. represented a lot of American l)ssay contest last s~mester. days later. _ v~~s Q,art'iaularly to 'the high school !he contest, w.htch atked rfspo~dents to dream of- an almosHd\ expense paid trip in Big Apple. On Ft$d'ay, August II, each . ,ee-'.·. -~tdnJt si\ k. . JY~ . latien.asb. I think a lpt more people ar.e J::nt~ ab?ut makmg ,~.fl.·w .YOrk Ctty more the . "I_t was such short llbtiJ' winner was:slJ!ttled with t\\{o family members m _ttll the day I was Ju~.ed .to le·a·ve,'.' .~.lte" ~are. of·w·h· at happened !jecause of my trip,, _ tpunst.-fn·e· n.dly, ~as ?;pAnsored Gateway via limousine the u;N. Hotel, where ,. to _... ...... ....-. Plaza . . satd. Natalka, alqhg wtttl<'th•first ,~ :Natalkll''8aid:-1, Affi:enca, ~~. ~lhanc~oftounsm-rel~ted · , ·· ljusmesses JOmed tq:getber for The promotio,n ibey \Vouia be staY,in$. Al'\x and Michael's

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by Bonnie Yee ... ~·. "Nkosi Sikelel' iAf.rik-a·" While accompanytpg heq mothet on a research trip to South ~t~. senior 'fQ't:r Rhodes picked up this p;;J·' ~,'me~n;tg "God bless Africa," in the Xh ·.· . a iriJUage. Nia's mother, Joanne ·.. Ed.ey-Rhodes, teaches Diasporic African St,vdi.\,s at CUNY Hunter College. As a docto~~ .date Columbia University, Pr~f~r EdeyRhodes ·went to South Africa to~-o.uduct research for her dissertation (a requii'eQ. t sis for a doctoral degree). Since she was ~n, there from July 10 to July 26, she neede Nia's help. The trip also intended as a learning experience for Nia. Although she had to help conduct research, Nia was thrilled to go. "I have always wanted to go to Africa because I've always thought of it as the Motherland. When we hit Namibia, I woke up and I started crying, because it was monumental for me to be on the continent. It's something that I've always dreamed of doing," Nia said. Much of Nia's time was spent in the libraries of Soweto, the University of Witwatersand, the University of the Western Cape, the University of Cape Town, and the National Archives in Pretoria and Cape Town. She did manage, however, to squeeze in some time in Johannesburg, Soweto, Pretoria, Cape Town, and the Cape Peninsula. While in South Africa, Nia couldn't help but make some unpleasant discoveries. In Khayelitsha, Cape Town, the people live in shacks. It's not sumrisinl! to find uo to 20

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English teacher,nsa J as also invited, as was Jesse's teacher. That nighlf they boarded the Circle Line Harbor Light duise around Manhattan's . I southern ttp. 'Jlle' nextl dayjthey took a "hop on, hop off'' doUble decker 6us tour with Alex heading tiptown:~a M/chael downtown . They had dinner at the Carnagie Deli and then attended the Broadway'}Jlay How to Succeed ~orked~e W:r,ren/~emer A~ver~i~ing in Business WithouP.E;ven Trying . On the last 4ar; th~· winners were treated to ~Agency on Park: ~.llJ.Le~~ "I d1d fthng, Iworked on the computtr. a(ld made phone a brunch at th~ M~ttopolitan Museum of Art, calls," said Alex. "It wasn'tltlways fun, but wrapping ugthtyweekend fling . "The wh9le1 thing was very elegant," said ._'it gave m"e m.?re ekp~ience in the ·workpt'ace.' Nttcbael eon'}U!Ted. ~rreany . ' ' r Mtfhael won second, w<Jth fellow classmen 1 1 Kelly Olino and Annie OCuo also placing in the t-op ten. Alex and Mkhael were awarded '$IP?Oand $500 respec.vely, and Kelly and • JArtme eac!3.s<?_t ~ ·, Ttl additton to ilie_ mtne~, "Ua~eway afso 1pJac~p Alex and Mtchael m patd summer jobs within the touri&m industry. Alex

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enoa~~ the people liv~ with livestock. is no heat and no Place to emfty out _ wastes. There is a1so no rea water suQpty ~ the gaople ~ri+ from the same wa~er that they wash m. 1he image of how me~ p-eople live will stay with Nia forever. . "~eogl~~o~have_~_go~d s~~ofS?~th Aftica. Wtth Save The Childjen, JQlHhnik thaf those ~hildren are Pfthetic; ~ell,)Qr haye to go mto Soweto antl Khayehtsha. Tt f ~~e{ [people living in sh$b] i~ depress~ fik• you've never seen <fepressmg befQ{ce," ,· ;l said. _L I~ · · n't.take long for l'Jia to discovel that .g"' ractal ba . .· . ~~nly-1 _g Q:; in the United"Sta,~ In Sl>utli Afrlc( if one can identify himself..al a m~ber of a z''"dominant ethnic group, s~cli"iis-ittl~'Xhosa 0 » or Ndebele, and isn't of mixed ethnicity, he "' t:: is considered black. On the other hand, if one "'u0 is Malay or of mixed ethnicity, he is 0 0 considered a so-called colored. .c: Q. As in the United States, the people are working on breaking down the racial barriers. For example, South Africa's President Nelson Mandela makes no distinction between the blacks and the "colored." President Mandela refers to all as black. With the Atlantic Ocean sprawling behind her, senior Nia Rhodes enjoys the views Although Nia had to witness some unpleasant realities in South Africa, she also of South Africa learned a lot about the people and their language. time for either of us on the African continent,' "thank you." Nia explains, "In the Xhosa language, some Now that they are back in the U .S., Professor Edey-Rhodes said. "The blac words are formed by using clicks." Two Professor Edey-Rhodes explained why she experience there parallels the African examples are the words "oyingcwele," was happy to have had Nia accompany her. American experience here. I wanted her to meaning "holy," and "sibongile," meaning "It was a trio home for us. It was the first exoerience those oarallels."

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The Classic November 1995

Ghouls, ghosts, and goons:

Costumed creatures permeate halls on Halloween by Andrew Chan & Claire Schnabel Soldiers marched down the halls, ghosts floated up the stairs and monsters lurked throughout the halls. It was Halloween time once again at Townsend Harris, and students, adorned in a variety of costumes, arrived to take part in the day's events. Halloween festivities included a contest held in the cafeteria for the best costumes in each lunch band. The winners were given a pizza party thrown by the S.U. on November 17. Also during lunch bands, S.P.A.A. (Students Promoting AIDS Awareness) held a bake sale with a Halloween theme. The club earned approximately $160, according to treasurer Orli Sharaby, sophomore. On this dress-up spirit day, many students wore homemade costumes. Gina D'Andrea, sophomore, was a housewife with flour in her hair and a sign around her neck that read,"Calgon take me away!" Some students also came as hippies. Junior Arturo Silva was a low fat milk carton complete with a straw sticking out the top. He said that his mother gave him the idea and also helped him make the costume. Delima Hernandez, sophomore, came as a twoheaded monster. She made the paper mache head that was stuck on her Arturo and Delima were among the costume contest winners.

Sophomore Alex Arrija, who dressed as a gorilla, said, "I wore this particular costume because I have a tradition. Every year I have a monkey costume. Last year I was a monkey from a Greek myth

Schnabel, Amy Stockman, Nicole Porti, Beth Matucci, Jennifer Kroell, Emily Rakowicz, Deana Longobucco, Katie Librie and Lori Ruggiero. Some of the more frequently seen costumes were French maids and doctors. "I thought I was being so original with my rubber gloves, tongue depressors, and scrubs, but when I got to school, I saw many other students with the same idea," said junior Ellen Schnabel. Many girls also dressed up as Minnie Mouse. Teachers also got into the spirit of the day. Thomas Sweetin, Latin and English teacher, was dressed as a pilgrim complete with silver buckles on his shoes. u Odile Garcia of the science department u Ji was ~ recycled lady. She was decked £ out in plastic supermarket bags, old ~ newspapers, an old white t-shirt, and a -§.. bucket atop her head. Margaret Landry, Greek and Latin teacher, took time from her class to discuss the origin of Halloween. She told Signing up with Student Union President Ernestine Ward for the Halloween contest, students that since they celebrated HalDerrick Davis, Annie Yan, Stephanie Tuzio, Kathryn Blake and Aleifa Ally get ready to loween, they should know how and why show off their costumes. it started. Global history teacher Mark Soffer praised students for their participation and this year I'm from the Planet of the Kimberly Parrett, blue; Vicky Realmuto, and said that other schools don't have purple; Kate Rube, red; and Erika this much spirit. Apes." Julie Block, sophomore, dressed up as Zwetkow, black. Erika said,"Last year "I always love Halloween at Townsend Miss Saigon. She said, "I had the dress there was a herd of cows, and this year Harris because everyone is so creative there's a box of crayons. We really liked and the school really makes an effort to else once a year." -the group idea." The herd of cows last create a fun atmosphere," commented There were also groups of students year included then sophomore girls Ellen Nicole Porti, junior.

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who dressed up with one theme or idea. Six sophomore girls who came as different colored Crayola crayons won a group prize in the contest. Sandi Intraub was green; Natalka Palczynski, yellow;

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Spirit _Day defies Nix rule by Amy Kommatas Bright red baby bonnets, an um- spmt. "We expected a bigger turnbrella hat, and a sombrero all helped out, but thyre still were more particicap off this year's first Spirit Day on pants than last year," commented Judy September 22. Sponsored by the Stu- Biener, Coordinator of Student Afdent Union, fairs. Newly apHat Day gave pointed Student students the Union Treasurer Franzo Law esti-opportunity to defy Dean mated about 50% of Wanda Nix and the students sported the no-hat rule hats, making for a she enforces by ~ relatively tame wearing the ~ Spirit Day. When headgear of ~ students were asked their choice, ~ why they weren't ·c without the U.l wearing hats, most chance of obE pleaded "temporary taining one of ~ amnesia" or, in ..c: . those pesky reo. layman's termS, JUSt ferrals. plain forgetting. "Hat day is Others claimed that great," said Hats off to sophomore Vicki Realmuto, this Spirit Day was junior Danny who donned a cap to celebrate Hat Day. "tired," "played Choi. "I out"and "boring." look for people Sophomore Alex who look stupider than 1 do and boy, Blunt summed up many people's feeldo I look stupid with this hat I cro- ings by saying, "I don't see the point cheted myself!" Junior Sesame of wearing hats. I don't see what will Leonard was equally enthusiastic. be accomplished if you decide to wear "Every day Marlene [a security guard] one." harasses me to remove my hat, but not "We're not asking you to donate a this time. On Hat Day I could wear vital organ," junior Hae Young Kim my hat with pride!" countered. "Just wear headgear and Not everyone possessed the same have some fun with it."

Founder•s Day takes on added meaning by Rena Varghese Spirit days, speeches, special classes and cake in the cafeteria - all these things are venerable traditions of Founder's Day. This year however, the twelfth annual celebration, which took place on November 9, held something new and long-awaited. This was the first Founder's Day in the school's new fa-

Dr. Marvin Leiner, Queens College liaison and alumnus of the old Townsend Harris, expressed his pride in the "comeback school." Following tradition, freshmen and incoming sophomores took the Ephebic Oath, proclaiming their dedication to the school and their promise to make their city a greater place than they found it.

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At the ceremony, winners of the "Founder's Day Challenge" read poems, danced, sang and parodied life at Townsend Harris. Incoming sophomore Debra Paella said, "There were a lot of funny skits. It was hysterical but some parts were serious." "The presentations for the Founder's Day Challenge were really fum;1y, especially the one where they talked about not getting enough sleep and running t1lrough t1le hallways," said incoming sophomore Olga Faldamis in reference to a performance where junior Hugh Reid and sophomore Alt1lea Holford impersonated Ike and Tina Turner. Most of t1le studentS'in grades 10-12 did not attend the ceremony but had a special lesson on commitment during their fourt1l band class. "We were shown

different pictures t1lat all featured the idea of commitment and how even one person's commitment to something could make a difference," said sophomore Annmarie Dull. Some students who could not attend the ceremony said they felt left out. "Last year's Founder's Day was better because it felt more like the whole school was involved," said sophomore Susan Carroll. The new auditorium, however, cannot hold all grades at one time. Founder's Day was also "Decorate Your Locker Day." "I was surprised by how many people took their time to decorate t1leir lockers so nicely," said sophomore Sandi Intraub. "I found t1le tributes to Yitzak Rabin on some of t1le lockers especially moving," she said.

Dedication ceremony"Running through the hallway,"' sophomore Omalara Thomas backs up singer Althea Holford, junior, and "guitarist" Hugh Reid, senior, in a parody oflke and Tina Turner's "Rolling down the river." Their performance was repeated at the dedication ceremony.

cility. "Finally after twelve years, we are gathered into our own auditorium," said Dr. Malcolm Largmann at the morning ceremony. "Founder's Day belongs to the students. This is the occasion that the whole school community has set aside to recognize your acceptance into the Townsend Harris family," he said addressing the new students.

David Herszenhorn, reporter for the

N.Y. Times and former Editor-in-Chief of The Classic, spoke about how he missed Founder's Day as a freshman in 1986 because of illness, and therefore questioned his legitimacy as a member of the Townsend Harris community. Later he said, he realized that being a true "Harrisite" meant more than taking an oath, but fulfilling it.

Varghese shadows mayor (Continued from pg. 1) met in my life," she said. "He usually starts at 7:30 in the morning, when he may be doing radio interviews from his house. After that there is a staff meeting every morning from eight to nine. Then, with all his private meetings, parades, ... and other activities, his day usually doesn't end until 10 P.M." Ms. Serafin also described the mayor's lighter side to the student reporters. "He loves pizza. If you're invited to his office for lunch, nine out often times, you'd get pizza. He's also hooked on Diet Coke. His favorite t11ings to do include listening to opera music and roller-blading through the city." To illustrate the mayor's sense of humor, Ms. Serafin talked about the time she was handing out press releases to reporters during one of Giuliani's press conferences. "Right in the middle of his speech, I knocked down one of the huge lamps. I was so embarrassed but the mayor just said,'Kim,you're not supposed to do that now. You're supposed to wait until l'mtrying to get out of answering a question."' City Hall reporters spoke with the students about t1le relation&hip between t1le mayor and the media. Many of the reporters felt t1lat t1le mayor was more at ease wit11 t1le media t1lan he had been a couple of years ago.

Reginald Patrick, a reporter from the Staten Island Advocate, said, "The mayor enjoys public exposure very much. At first be was a little gun-shy but he's really mellowed out. I think he handles t1le pressure very well." RobertPalner, from Newsday, said, "Any government-press relationship is adversarial. We have to work extra bard to ge inforfuation and t1le mayor's office is selective of what t1ley want to inform. After all, t1ley do want to look good." Giuliani returned to City Hall before two o'clock to promote the parade honoring the 50th anniversary of t1le United Nations and t1le UNICEF U.S. Committee. Next, be attended a press conference in t1le Blue Room of City Hall, where he explained the "Broken Windows Theory" t1lat he follows when dealing wit1l t1le problems of the city, saying that if t1lere were a glass house..and someone broke a window, t1lere was less of a chance t1lat someone would break another window if repairs were made immediately. After t1le press conference, the student reporters were given an opportunity to have a personal discussion wit1l t1le mayor in his office, but were asked by Channel 13 to refrain from questions about controversial issues. These, they were told, would be ad-

(Continued. from pg. 1) pieces. Senior Sylvia Yue played "Fountain of the Acqua Paola" by Charles Griffes on t1le piano, while the Jazz Quintet under t1le direction of music teacher Peter Lustig and made up of seniors Frank D'Elia, Jennifer Heggers, Angela Minielli, Aris Tsoupros, and junior Vito Antuofermo, performed several songs composed by Townsend Harris alumni. The speakers expressed kind t1loughts and fond memories of Townsend Harris. Eddie McMahon, a member of t1le first graduating class of the new Townsend Harris in 1988, recollected his experiences in the old building on Parsons Boulevard. "We had to fill tlie shoes and t1le legacy of t1le men of t1le original Townsend Harris. We had no chairs, desks, textbooks ...and we had a word processing class with no computers. But through all these difficulties, t1le first class became a family. It's now up to you ... to carry t1le torch," he said. John Bowne High School's Student Union President Mohammed Khan presented a plaque to Townsend Harris S.U. President Ernestine Ward, explaining, "We don't want to be competitors, but friends. Welcome and best wishes in t1le years to come." The final speech of the ceremony was delivered by Dr. Largmann, who declared, "I'm really, truly overwhelmed by all the friends who are wit1l us today. This building assures us that we are indeed here to stay .... As we dedicate this building to the generations of students to come, we promise not to demand excellence, but simply to expect it." The speeches were followed by a humorous presentation called "The THHS Story," narrated by Lynne

Greenfield, Assistant Principal of t1le Humanities department. The audience learned through slides and skits about the life of Townsend Harris, the first American ambassador to Japan, as well as about the struggle to establish a humanities school for academically motivated students. "The THHS Story was good .... The performances were a microcosm of the spirit at Townsend Harris," said senior Uday Gosalia. As t1le dedication ceremony drew to an end, everyone joined together in the recitation of the Ephebic Oath - an ancient Greek promise to leave one's city better than one found it - and the singing of the alma mater, accompanied by the Concert Band under the direction of Mr. Lustig. ·After t1le assembly, everyone gathered in the main lobby for refreshments. Many guests were impressed with the new facilities, and glad that the longstanding dream has become a reality. "Now we have a [school] to match the abilities of t1le students," said Bob Haberski, Director of Instruction at the Superintendent's Office. "You guys were always way ahead of your building and now, we're waiting for the building to catch up to you," he added. Sam Hess, former co-president of t1le P.T.A., stressed the fact that students must work harder to maintain closeness in a larger school. "This building is a definite improvement, and I think you guys are very lucky ...butjustbecauseit's big, you shouldn't lose the personal contact or the toget1lerness of tha. old building," he warned. "There were a lot of dignitaries at the dedication. It was nice to see that we are so important to so many people," commented sophomore Nathalia Katz.

L-------------------------------, dressed at t1le mayor's October 26 press conference wit1l student journalists. When asked about t1le relationship between the mayor's administration and the media, Giuliani . said that the print media had the tendency to distort some things. "At first you feel bad about it and you react," said the mayor. "Then you get used to it and realize that it comes with the job. To combat this I try not

to rely on t1le print media so much but I try to talk to the public directly and not have my views filtered through to them. This is why I do radio and television interviews.'' "From talking with the mayor, I got the feeling he had a genuine concern for the welfare of New York City. He really loves the city. Either that, or he's a really good actor," said Yesenia.

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Mixing it up: senior Yvette Lopez and freshman Jerry Graciano get down at Mixer '95.

Mixer gets good reviews by Cory McCruden Kick-off Mixer '95 set off the school year with a bang when senior advisor Thomas Sweetin, with the cooperation of Coordinator of Student Affairs Judy Beiner, senators, seniors and Student Union officers staged the annual dance. Students enjoyed a variety of music, food, and dancing on October 29 from 2:45-5:45 in the Student Union building on the Queens College campus. The annual mixer has been a Townsend Harris tradition for years. The last two, however, received some negative reviews from students who criticized the D.J. who last year arrived an hour late., the music itself, and the food. The reaction to this year's mixer, however, seemed to be positive. In fact, many stated that this dance was the best one yet. Alison Lewis, a senior, commented,

"I had a really good time. Since I'm a senior, I think this was the best mixer out of all the ones I've been to." Junior Lori Ruggiero said, "The last two mixers I attended weren't that great. The food was pretty bad and the music was so-so. This D.J., however, played a variety of songs that seemed to appeal to everyone." Franw Law, junior ~d S.U. treasurer stated, "After last year when the D.J. arrived an hour late, we decided that was unacceptable and hired a brand new disc jockey. The new D.J.' s, "Twice As Good INC., took requests and played nonstop music for three hours. Jennifer Pare, junior, stated '"'This music is the best!" Students danced to a variety of music such as rap, alternative, and hip-hop. The mixer raises money for seniors who need help paying their senior dues.

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I'm sure we did very well," said Mr. Sweetin, noting that past mixers have usually raised about $900. "It was very good. I had a lot of fun!" stated freshman Priscilla De La Cuesta.

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Junior Monica Patel said, "I tl1ink tl1at tl1is was tl1e best mixer ever. It's definitely something positive that will hopefully bring more dances our way."

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Veteran offers words of encouragement by Claire Schnabel We all know who you are. You stood outside on tl1e first day witl1looks of sheer terror on your faces. You walked down the hall gripping your program cards with white knuckles and read room numbers with wide, scared eyes. You've been called "the little ones," and are constantly told how "cute" you are. You're the Freshmen. We all know what it's like to get lost going to the batluoom. You wander around trying to find the floor with the bathroom we're allowed to use and hope tlle teacher doesn't get worried and come looking for you. Suddenly you find yourself in a closet which you thought was tl1e bathroom. Then tlle door shuts and you· retrapped with the ammonia, mops, and extra toilet paper. The fumes get to you and you pass out. Luckily, some construction worker from the auditorium named Ernie opens tlle door at just the right moment and catches you. You wake up in tl1e nurse's office and Ms. Barone directs you to tl1e nearest bathroom. When you finally get back to class. you find tl1atno one even noticed you were gone. You've also tl1e ones still grumbling about tl1e odd band schedule. It took many of us about a month to remember which classes to go to on which days. Until then we had to check our little schedule diagram to avoid going to tlle wrong class. One day, you're feeling kind of cocky, and decide that you know where to go. You walk into a class, sit down, look around and wonder like an idiot why you don't recognize anyone .. You also start to notice tl1e strange looks everyone is giving you. Finally, the teacher walks in and starts teaching matll. Since you tllought you went to English, your suspicions are confirmed. You went to the wrong class. Now that it has begun you can'tjust remove yourself quietly. You have to raise your hand and announce what a fool you have been to tl1e entire class. Everyone begins to laugh at you, including tl1e teacher. You quickly pack and race out. While tearing down the hall to your real class, you crash into Ms. Nix. She stops you, and tells you tl1at you are very late. When you start to explain, she notices the gum in your moutl1 and confiscates your program card to give you a referral. So, now you're really late. " The last, and probably most embarrassing, of freshman blunders is known as tlle "binder splatter." You want that extra 30 seconds to find your next class so you neglect to put your binder in your bookbag. While running like a crazed lunatic to tl1e place you think your next class is, you slam into someone and your binder spews its contents across the hall. Of course, you're late again and you have to explain tl1at little mishap to tl1e entire clas~. You're the freshman imbecile once more. You begin rearranging your messy binder, but you hear the teacher request last night's homework. You look and look through all oftl1e papers, but just cam't seem to find tl1e tluee-page homework tllat took you tllree hours to complete. You beg tl1e teacher to let you make it up, but you're still losing a point on your final grade. Then you continue putting your looseleaf back together. You're not really paying attention, and, of course, you get called on. Even after the teacher repeats tlle question, you still don'tknow the answer. You manage to sputter an, "1-I dunno." By tl1e time you get home, you're ready to quit school and go work at McDonald's full time. · Never fear, tllough. Since tl1e re-establishment of Townsend Harris High School in 1984, the new student survival rate remains pretty high. Everyone who's been here for at least a year is a veteran. We've made it...and so will you, Freshmen.

£,t&"i!\!~November 199J

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.. X .. marks the spot for science fiction on TV II There Is s 0 met hi n g Up There Mulder.. ' Yeah, Our Series 11

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by Michael Weiss Is the truth really out there? Is our government keeping secrets from us about questionable, unexplained phenomena (besides Newt)? Well, who knows? But one truth that is certainly out there, is the growing success and popularity of FOX's Emmy nominated cult hit, The X-Files. Created by Chris Carter, The X-Files is your typical alien-abducting, DNA cloning sci-fi drama which features two FBI agents, Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) who investigate mysterious unsolved cases known as -- get ready for this --"X-Files." Mulder, a dry-humored,. clean cut Federal agent, has devoted his life and carrier to believing that "we are not alone," and more importantly, aren't allowed to prove it. His dedication to revealing "the truth," (however strange it may be) is driven by the need to find his younger sister, Samantha, who was abducted (by what were arguably aliens) when they were both children. Mulder's character is summarized in his nickname - "Spooky" - given to him by unconvinced colleagues at the FBI Academy. Dana Scully on the other hand, is a by-the-book, everything-has-a-logicaland- scientific-explanation-type rookie agent (who happens to be a medical doctor-- so it's really Dr. Scully). She, unlike her eccentric partner, is doubtful of the "unknown" and always feel the factual urge to question Mulder's subtle explanations of abnormality, which he has yet to stop proposing. T he relationship between this perfectly matched duo, is perhaps one of the key aspects for the show's rising success. Audiences love to witness the critical moments of debate shared between the skeptic (Scully) and the "true believer," (Mulder). Also, the sexual, on-screen tension that exists between th~e two (single) FBI agents, doesn't hurt either. (We knew things were bound to get interesting when Scully walked into Mulder's sub-basement office for the very first time artd saw the poster hanging on his wall entitled, "I Want to Belie¥e.") So we have these two crime-solving government employees who apparently are complete opposites in their professional (and personal) opinions about the cases they encounter-- now what? Well , as far as each episode is concerned, subject matter varies each week. For example, last season an episode aired about an abnormal serial killer (as opposed to a "normal" serial killer,) who came out of hibernation in the Arctic once every 50 years to feed on human livers -- eat your heart out, Hannibal Lechter! (Literally). Mulder and Scully are then forced to track down the unusually hungry murderer before he strikes again (at someone's abdomen). However, justtwo episodes later, these hard working field agents are led to uncover a secret government experimentation program, involving the genetic recombination of human and alien DNA -- designed to form a new species of "physically superior organisms ." (Sort of like Schwartzenegger meets ET). Oddly enough, these part alien, part human c~atures have been brought up in fish tanks, making them water friendly and all the more difficult to catch. (If you're lost at this point...don't worry _: it's to be expected with this show).

"W! Are Not Alone ... "

Fortunately (and unfortunately) for Mulder andScully, they ~en't always alone on theu crusades agamst the government and deep-rooted conspiracies that lie therein. The X-Files does have other recurring characters who seem to either aid or hinder the agents' efforts - but then again, with a series like this, you never really know who's who. Such " X-y" individuals include Mulder and Scully's bos~. Assistant Director Walter Skinner, who as most diehard fans of the show have decided, is a good guy. Then there's Mulder's entourage of secret informants who help guide this young pawn on his quests to see the truth (simply put). The first was "Deep Throat," Mulder's Obi-Wan-Kenobitype informant friend, (played by Jerry Hardin -- the guy who shot

ards including "Best Outstanding Drama Series" (which as any NYPD Blue fan will tell you, it did not win!) Because of the unprecedented Jpopularity of the show, several spin-off series have been created, most of which .have failed (miserably). What can I say? I guess Friday night audiences don't care mueh for cheesy super" heroes who dress up like bugs (sorry, MANTIS). [But that's not to say there isn't hope for another X-Files. Former co-executive producers, Glen Morgan and James Wong have teamed up and created a new sci-fi, futuristic drama entitled, Space: Above and Beyond (which can be seen on Sundays at 7pm on FOX).

Trust No One, Except the On l ine

Jones (screen name: FoxxMulder,) America Online's X-Files fan club has grown to include about 6,500 subscribers. Another popular feature on the internet besides chats and newsgroup postings, is the enormous focus on the actors of 'The 'Files', particularly David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. (Hey -- when you've got a hit series like this, you're bound to encounter excitement over the cast). In fact, Duchovny has been one of _only two celebrities to be instated into "The Estrogen Brigade" -- an online group whose name says it all. (The other lucky actor happens to be the ery talented, very bald Patrick Stewart who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard on the former hit, Star Trek: The Next GenerationJ.

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(Ag~n.t: 'EfJ~NJU'Ibr) Jo on Melrose Place). But alas, this fanpopular security leak was gunned down in the season finale of the show,;s first year. And contrary to open-minded possibilities (which are all too familiar around The X-Files), it's probably safe to say that old Deep Throat is dead. His predecessor, "Mr. X" (a less creatively named informant) made some effort to help poor Mulder through season two; but as one true fan will tell you, "He's no Deep Throat!" With yet another group of shady enemy characters including a cigarette-addicted bad guy known as "Cancerman," Mulder and Scully have had their hands full for two long seasons of case investigations . However, despite hard attempts at uncovering the secrets they so easily get involved in, Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are always getting beaten by the m0re powerlul, omnipresent force of the United States government -- (makes you proud to be an American, doesn't it?) What The X-Files comes away with every week is a terrific science fiction drama that combines exciting plots and storylines with fantastic writing. The proof of the show's success was in its returning for yet another, third season in Prime Time television, not to mention being nominated for 6 Emmy Aw-

Ever since its induction into television's "realm of extreme possibility') n 1993, The X-Files .has generated thousands of viewers who each week, watch this 9:00 drama, get freaked out, and then of course, talk about that night's episode with other fans. In fact, this routine has become so familiar to audiences of the Golden Globe award-winning series, that it's leaked its way onto the internet and now circulates in d0zens of cyberspace clubs -- the most popular being on Delphi and America Online. Here, these self-proclaimed "XPhiles," talk about everything from last night'.s green- blooded-colonizing- alien clones, to David Duchovny's Armani sunglasses. Ironically, it seems X-Files fanatics (which is an appropriate term in this case,) aren't the only computer geeks to roam the information superhighway in search of X-Filia. Even the cast and crew of the show take part in online discussions and read various newsgroups regularly. On Delphi for example (anonline network that is actually owned by FOX,) David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson and Chris Carter (the creator of the show in case you forgot,) have all participated in "cyberchats" to answer some of their fans "FAQs" - Frequently Asked Questions. On America Online the X-Files attention is perhaps even greater. Headed by AOL staff member Jerry

And thanks to the power of cyberspace and e-mail, The Classic was able to get an interview with former writer for The X-Files, Sara Chamo (who's now hard at work on CBS' medical drama, Chicago Hope). Reached via e-mail last June (don't you just love technology?), here is the complete interview with Sara: Classic: What are your overall reactions to The show's vast growing popularity? Sara: "The show's popularity has blown me away. Of course I think it deserves to be this popular. I'm just glad so manypeople agree with me." (She then gives the interne<! character for a smile). Classic: What is it like working with the cast and crew of The X-Files --on and off the set?

'The show's popularity has blown me away... of course I think it deserves to be this popular.'

Sara: "Whenever I talk with a guest star after they've worked on an episode, they all say the same thing - we have one of friendliest crews they've ever worked .with. Everyone up in Vancouver (where the show is filmed) is wonderful; the cast, the crew. You have to understand, we have done 25 episode this season (which is last season now) ; that's three more episodes than most other shows! That puts a lot of strain on the cast and crew. They often work over 12 hours a day! And although this is a hardship, it seems to have bonded the cast and crew together - compatriots with mutual battle to fight, as it were ... Classic: What other television shows ormotion pictures have you worked on,before or during The X-Files? Sara: "My . husband and I wrote threestories that were brought and produced by Star Trek: The Next Generation. The names of the epi sodes were: 'The Wounded,' 'The New Grounds,' and 'Ethics.' Classic: The X-Files seems to cover many grounds on many strange and un usual topics. Where do you and the other writers come up with some ofthe ideas for episodes and storylines? Sara: "Wow.. .let's see ... draw from all sorts of area. Things we've read or heard, s!_uff after reading the newspaper." Classic: Do you personally believe in some of the "inexplicable" things you write about in The X-Files? Sara: "'Believe' is a difficult word .. .it implies taking a leap of faith, making assumptions about something that one hasn't directly experienced or trying to draw hard and fast conclusions about contradictory or inexplicable experiences. After that can't be explained by science or logic. I like to file those experiences in the 'open ended' file in my brain." Classic: Finally Sara, all fans of The XFiles are eagerly awaiting the unlocked secrets of the upcoming season finale and episode ahead . Is there anything you can and will disclose to us about this show that shouldn't really know yet? Sara:"Concerning disclosure ...to be honest, we haven't yet met to discuss what the plans are for next year's shows .. . ! expect more of the same ...trying to scare the pants off our audiences!" So what will the future of The X-Files hold for us? Will Mulder ever find his sister? Will Mulder and Scully ever find each other? And will they both eventually outsmart the government that employs them? Only the creative minds of Chris Carter and the other writers can answer that. For now, all we can do is wait, "trust no one" and "deny everything ... "

To check out The X-Files on the internet, you can connect to the AOLforum's world wide web site at: http://www.scifiweb.com/

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The Classic

NcMrnber1935

Zwetkow strives to be driving force in golf by Ellen Schnabel Golf: a game in which clubs are used to hit a small white ball into a series of holes. To many, this is the extent of what we know and care to know about the sport. To sophomore Erika Zwetkow, golf means a favorite pastime and possible career. Erika began playing golf at the age of nine, when her parents took her to a small course in Flushing Meadow Park. Neither she nor her parents had ever played golf before. She took a few lessons but hasn't since then. Erika has competed "too many times to count." She commented, "I can't remember a day in the summer when I wasn't competing or practicing." _ This past July, Erika went to Cornell University to attend a golf camp. She got to sleep in the dorms, meet the college coach and play a lot of golf. "I played golf almost 24 hours a day. I was playing golf in my sleep," she said.

two tours, she played in twelve and I won!" she said. Golf brings Erika to interesting tournaments. In the NYNEX Junior Championship 1995, she places where she meets famous won first place for her age divi- people. Two golfers she has met sion. Erika also ·competed in the are Nancy Lopez and Michelle Junior Classic at Smithton . MgGann. "I look up to Michelle Landing, L.I. and received sec- MgGann because she is a good young player. I hope to follow ond place for her division. The first golf challenge Erika in her footsteps," Erika stated. met was in the 1992 Clearview Erika hopes to attend college on a golf scholarship and become a professional golfer. "There are many good players I have to compete with but I think it's exciting. There is a ~oj fear of losing but it happens and ..:.: when it does, I hope to do better. ~ If I can go far with it [golfl, it's "0 >. a good, fun living," Erika said. ~ In order to accomplish her § goals, Erika must practice a lot. 0 She always tries to improve her 0 -a game. "I started playing better toward the end of this surruner," she said, "I began to hit the ball more consistently. My scores Swinging into action, sophomore Erika Zwetkow practices at a dropped from hitting in the 90s beach front golf course in Stratford, Connecticut. down to the 80s. For golf, that's Junior Golf Tournament. "A much better!" place at the MET PGA Tour in Golf is just one activity Erika first in anything can make me New York City and third in the nervous but this time I wasn't enjoys. She likes to figure Long Island Tour. Between the

For the past three years, she has competed in the NYNEX Junior Championship, the Clearview Junior Golf Tournament, and the MET PGA Tour (New York and Long Island divisions). She placed first or second in her '93 and '94 competitions. Most recently (summer '95), Erika came in first

Letters to the Editor

skate, play the piano, take dance classes and swim; she joined the swim team last year. She also tried to start a golf team. lt never got off the ground. "I didn't get any response from my fliers and was quite disappointed. I will probably try again this spring torecruit boys and girls," Erika said. With all the work at Townsend Harris, finding time to participate in after-school activities isn't always easy. "My grades dropped some in the beginning of freshman year, but then they started climbing back up to almost what they were in eighth grade. There's a lot of work here and my extracurricular activities have suffered from the amount of time I put into my schoolwork, but I still manage to fit them in," she commented. This year, Erika is Photography Editor of

The Classic. All in all, Erika says she is satisfied with who she is, her life and golf. She wouldn't change a tl1ing.

• • • (Continued from p. 2)

Bus discrimination?

Time out to breathe

To the Editor: I am very concerned about the buses that we students depend on as a means of transportation to get home. Specifically, I'm talking about the Q44 towards the To the Editor: Although the students of Townsend Harris know they must work hard in order to Bronx Zoo, and the problem is that there are too many of us and too few of them. succeed in this school, I don't think we're prepared for the physical demands. I This fact hit me in the head when just last week I had to wait until past three o'clock understand that all the physical activities we are required to participate in do conto get a bus. That's when I, and many other students, knew that bus transportation tribute to the state of fitness we should 'have. Yet I must complain about what is a big problem. happens after we come from gym. • I can't really think of a solution to this problem because it's the city's duty to Most of the students have to change very quickly in order to get to their next provide more buses, but I did notice something that doesn't seem fair. As I was in class on time. However, that's not the big problem. Because of the strenuous my crowded bus, anxious to get home, we passed John Bowne High School and exercises we must do, we end our gym period in pure exhaustion. Then most of us outside, parked in front of the school, were many city buses that looked exactly have to go to the 4th, 5th or 6th floor. Of course, we must hurry or we will have to like the Q44 except on the bus it said, "Out of Service" instead of " Bronx Zoo." · face the consequences of being late to our next class. Once we get there, in my These buses were specially reserved for Bowne students. To this observation, I case soaking wet, we have to sit in a classroom which is usually very hot. raise the question, "Why can't we get that kind of bus service for the Townsend I know there's nobody to blame. I do think that we can do a few things to imHarris students?" prove the situation, though. Maybe the_ school should give the students coming Birsen Me.IJlet out of gym a few extra minutes to catch their breath. Also, they should make the windows open a little higher. This will prevent some poor soul from fainting in the middle of class. To the Editor: Linda Aponte Thank you for sending me a copy of your paper. As a graduate (class of 1939) of Editor's note: The Health Department and the Board of Education mandaJe that as a safety the old Townsend Harris, and once photography editor of our paper, The Stadium, precaution, windows never be opened more than six inches, an amount they say is adequate I was sure that the new Harris could not possibly have our high standards. Your for ventilation. To enforce this regulation, tamper-proof window stops are placed on all paper convinced me otherwise. You people can write English! My friend and windows. former editor Don Freeberg will no doubt read this and may feel hurt, but 1 think you are putting out a much better paper than we ever did. Keep up the good work. Morton Klotz '39

Classic meets old stan~dards

Lebwohl journeys to Japan

Kudos to mentors

To the Editor: Let me say how pleased I am with the idea of the mentor program. I myself, being a freshman, thought it was very well organized. What I mean is that the mentors, who have already dealt with what we're feeling, helped ease our nerves and made us feel a little more comfortable in a new school. They also told us what to expect from this school, so that we don't get crammed with homework and reports unexpectedly. Thank God they did, because without their advice, I'd be overwhelmed with homework right now. Thanks again to all the mentors. You made us feel right at home. Vanessa Wilkat

(Continued from p. 8) is more of a dance class. The students bring in their own radios and then they dance to their music." This made Beth notice that the Japanese culture was much like our own. The children listened to a lot of American music and were interested in Westem/American pop culture. According to Beth, the striking difference was that" in New York City, you are used to the diversity amongst

the peoples, whereas in Japan, everyone is Japanese, so they become excited about anything foreign. They love Coca-Cola and American brand names for jeans." Beth still maintains communication with her host family in Japan and would like to return some day. "I was excited to come back home, but now I miss everything about it - the family, my friends, the country," she said.

The Classic November 1995

AT LAST·

Boys• B-ball makes debut make up for that." Another difficulty stems from a PSAL rule which states that kids cannot play two sports at once. Some athletes who tried out for the basketball team were on the Boys' Cross-Country Track team, also coached by Mr. Hanson. However, the track season has j ust ended and they can now concentrate fully on basketball.

by Justin Fox and Heather Paterson The dream has become a reality. For the first time in school history, there is a Boys' Varsity Basketball team. Coached by physical education teacher Keith T. Hanson, it will play a 23-game season, from November 8 to February5 . In their fi rst game "the boys were re ally nervous," said junior Alej a

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Pausing from his running drills, physical education teacher Keith Hanson does some paperwork. Naylor, "but the fans gave a lot of support." Students filled much of the gym stands and chanted "defense" when the team needed it. Principal Malcolm Largmann, coaches Wanda Nix, Joseph Horn, and James Murray, and Assistant Principal Harry Rattien also came out to see the team's debut against Grover Cleveland. Since it was a scrimage, they played six quarters and the team won two. Senior Jimmy Pardalis scored the high of 21 points, followed by junior David Blechfeld with 11 points. The team lost its first non-league game 55-33, but Mr. Hanson said, "It's going to take time. The guys still need to work on the basics." For three years, the -school had been petitioning the PSAL, (Public Schools Athletic League) for a boys' basketball team, but was denied due to a lack of funds. Yet, over the summer, despite city-wide budget cuts in education, the league granted the school a basketball team because Townsend Harris did not have any major sports for boys during the winter season. The school has to pay for uniforms, basketballs, other supplies, and traveling expenses. The PSAL, which is funded by the Board of Education, takes care of all remaining expenses, such as paying the coach. According to Mr. Hanson , however, Townsend Harris most likely will not be able to cover all the anticipated costs. "We really do not have enough money," said Mr. Hanson. "We might have to charge for tickets to our home games to

In addition, the boys had to share the gym with the volleyball team up until last week; they still must share it with the girls' basketball team and have to face late pactices. Yet Mr. Hanson used this as a measuring stick. "In a basketball player, there is no such thing as all talent and no effort," he stated. His players were chosen based on effort along with talent. "I wanted to select the kids who had dedication and were willing to make sacrifices. If the kids have a work ethic, I am willing to put in the time," he said. The PSAL rule book also states that newly formed teams are ineligible for postseason play in their first year. While there might be no championship to fight for this year, Mr. Hanson feels that the players will still put in a lot of effort. "I feel that the Varsity Basketball team is a great chance for us [the boys] to compete at a higher level," said sophomore Danny Gold. "It's good for the school, and it gives good basketball players a chance to show their skills," said sophomore Nick Kavallieratos. The .students, however, know that wins will not be easy to come by, as is the case for most first-year teams in sports. "It will be a tough season for the guys, but they have to start somewhere," said Ms. Nix. Nevertheless, Mr. Hanson believes that the team will not go without .a win this season. "I expect to get a few wins out of the season, with all of the bad teams out there," he said.

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Soccer team tie ends losing streak by Heather Paterson It had been 14 games since the last tie, and five years since the last win, but the Boys' Varsity Soccer team finally broke their losing streak. In the third game of the season it tied Aviation, the defending Queens Champions (0-0). It also came within a minute of winning it's first game against Bayside, but ended up tying them (2-2 ). "Bayside robbed us of a dramatic win," said coach James Murray. The boys had come from behind in the last six minutes to go ahead (2-1), but Bayside was able to score on the last play ofthe game. Mr. Murray said the tie showed the team's spirit and improvement after losing their first two games of the season to Bayside (4-1) and Van Buren (3-0 ). In their first tie versus Aviation, "Mike Elahi [junior] had 12 great saves," said Mr. Murray. Senior teammate Mannie Zavaleta said, "Mike deserves a lot of credit for that tie; none of his saves were easy." The team seemed to be on a roll, but slipped to {0-7-2 ), losing the next

fi ve games. The team has proved, however, that it was better than those of previous seasons. For the first time in four years, every starter, as well as five or so substitutes, had soccer experience. "We were a stronger team because we finally had a starting line-up with experience," said Mr. Murray. "The team was better in basic skills, player for player." This year's team was also the biggest ever, with 23 players, six of whom are freshmen. Mr. Murray pointed to three starting freshmen, Ian Kilpatrick, Richard Lopez, and Jeremy Charles, who had all played before and helped the team. "It was too bad we couldn't get into that win column," said Mr. Murray . He will miss seniors Aris Tsoupros, Achmed DeFreitas, James Hayes, Mannie Zavaleta, Eric Alarcon next year and their strong play. However the team gained new skilled freshman this season and hopes it will continue to do so through the years.

Young sports writers at MSG For journalism conference journalism, their own work, and gave by Heather Paterson Sports editors of New York City high journalistic advice. Pannelists were later asked questions school newspapers were invited by Madison Square Garden Network to about how they had reached their current attend the first-ever sports luncheon as positions and what the most memorable part of their "Yes Make It Count!" moments in their careers have been. community service program. The Marv Albert told of the passion he had luncheon was held at the Club from a very young age to do play by play Restaurant at Madison Square Garden and how he began his famous Yes! in a on November 7 and its organizers hope Knicks - 76ers game after a bank shot to make it an annual event. from center court. He had heard a referee Students read the sports pages of the and his childhood friend use it, and said, New York Post and talked sports, while "It just caught on." Mike Quick spoke a taped Knicks game played on of his love of covering high school sports televisions around the room. The event because of its innocence. "Kids play•for officially began with a welcome and the the love of the game," he said. He tries introduction of the guest speakers-Marv to report more of the outstanding aspects Albert, the broadcaster for the New of a story, like win streaks, and athletes York Knicks on MSG and NFL on who rush over 200 yards in a game, NBC; Mike Quick, the MSG Network rather than just scores. Barry Baum high school reporter; and Barry Baum, likewise spoke of covering the unusual, the high school sports writer for the New such as a football player with no legs or York Post. A video of them, and the a coach who's a stand-up comedian, not ups and downs of covering sports, necessarily the best player, and about his followed, receiving many laughs from experiences as a Knicks ball boy from viewers. . •. . '83- '87. Over lunch the panel of guest speakers Student journalists left the luncheon and other MSG network directors, having learned more about reporting the producers, and vice presidents of sports world, and possibly were more marketing, programing and interested in making sports journalism communications, discussed sports their career.

116

The Classic

Novemb~r 199.1

Fencing t~am out-dueled. In quarter final loss

by Heather Paterson The Fencing team made it to the quarter-final round of the playoffs this year, but met their match against Bronx Science competition which, coach Anthony Scarnati said, "we couldn't beat." The team had finished the regular season second in the Queens Division with a 7-1 record. They defeated Cardozo, Long Island City, Van Buren, and Jamaica, losing only to Forest Hills, the Queens Division champions. Forest Hills had given them trouble last year.

A vdulous and junior George Motakis . also went to the individuals. Derrick made it to the semi-final round. The PSAL also ran a first ever midseason invitational tournament with 36 fencers from all of New York City . Derrick finished fifth, Evan sixth, and George tenth; junior Vito Antuonfermo was also invited. Last year the team had the same seasonal record and were Queens champions. They hadn't expected to win, since the year before last, they were

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Hiding behind their masks, two mysterious fencers face off. However, Mr. Scarnati said, "We could have beat them; there were many 5-4 bouts." Mr. Scarnati had high praise for the team, saying, "There's no doubt this team had more talent than last year's. It was a lot better from top to bottom. The returning starters had improved and there were two good rookies in the startingline up,"-sophomore Kevin Woo and senior Sam Kim. Kevin went to the citywide novice individual tournament along with sophomore Jason Ing. Jason placed fourth and Kevin was leading the tournament after the first round. He was undefeated until he injured his foot. "I think he would have won the tournament if he hadn't hurt his foot," .said Mr. Scarnati. Seniors Derrick Ko and Evan

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a 1-6 team. However, they expected to repeat as champions with an even better team, and "it was disappointing," said Mr. Scarnati, not to have done so. He pointed out that they have gone from being a poor team to a pretty good team and are now trying to do something much harder, move up as one of the top three teams in the city. For a team that has struggled for members up until last year, it has come a long way. This year was the first time Mr. Scarnati had to cut people who could fence. However, he's running a fencing club, from which he can recruit starters next year because six of the 12 people on the roster are seniors. "The members of the club can learn skills and hopefully move up onto the team," he said. wins against all the schools in the

by Heather Paterson A few yards was the difference this year between the Queens Girls' Varsity Cross-Country champions and the runners- up. Unfortunately for the Harris girls, it was their rival, Jamaica, that squeaked by them with a one-point championship victory, fin ishing four runners in the top ten. However, the girls still had the most successful season ever. The Boys' Varsity Cross-Country team also had the best season in school history. Coach Keith Hanson said, "The greatest thing about that is that no one is graduating." The girls' second place finish in Queens came with junior Cristina Juva winning the 3.1 mile race, running her best time of the season, 20:47, and sophomore Sarah Sidar placing third. Both of these girls also led the Varsity team in the City Championships and qualified for the State Championships held November 18 in Poughkeepsie, New York. Coach Joseph Horn said, "It was quite an honor." The Varsity team finished as the ninth best team in the city. The sophomore team placed second in the Queens Sophomore Championship 'with Sarah finishing first, breaking the school record for the 2.5 mile race with

a time of 17:04. Carlene Duncan, the defending Junior Varsity Champion, also broke the former school record, placing third at 18:00. The sophomores also finished fifth in all of New York City, led by Sarah and Carlene who placed 16 and 18 in that race .

'Our indoor and outdoor teams should be extremely strong this year.'

All but one Varsity runner from last year's successful team returned this year with new additions. "There was definitely improvement in all the starters," said Mr. Horn. "They destroyed their best times from last year." Freshman Heather Ibert led the Junior Varsity and freshman team this season as the Queens Junior Varsity Champion, and placed 12th in the City Freshman Championships. Four other Junior Varsity runners finished in the top 10 in the Queens Championship race. For the first time ever, the boys raced in the "A" division in the city and borough championships. They finished in 12th place in the Varsity A City Championships and fourth in the Queens Championships. In the cities, junior Jose Melendez placed 14 and qualified for the State Championship.'' Jose also broke the school record for the 3.1 mile race in the borough championships with a time of 17: 17. · In the Junior Varsity Championships, junior Marc Rosefort was the top Harris runner in seventh, followed by junior Michael Rios. Stephen Schuh had the top finish in the Sophomore Champs, coming in eleventh. Mr. Horn said, "It certainly looks good for the future," and added, "Our indoor and outdoor teams should be extremely strong this year. They may close the gap even more next year." The girls' team is still looking for members to join these upcoming seasons, especially freshmen and sophomores.