The Classic newspaper Volume 12 Issue no. 5

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 163 COMMACK, NY

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Townsend Harris High School at Queens College

149-11 Melbourne Avenue. Flushing, NY 11367

Seniors in spotlight at Baccalaureate

by Rena Varghese college. According to figures "Working with this senior released by the college office, class has been a terrific joy,'' of the 100% college-bound sesaid College Advisor Marilyn niors, 39 will be attending a Blier. "Seeing so many of them State University of New York at the Baccalaureate Ceremony (SUNY); 21 others will go to a validates my feeling that they City University of New York are a spectacular group of (CUNY); 94 graduates will young people," she said, attend a private university in referring to the awards New York; while 83 students cerem ony that took place tn will go out of state. College C o I d e n Auditorium on June II .

There , 183 seniors were honored for 'It has come to my attention that excellence in the members of the class s e r v 1c e , of 1996 are growing too big for leadership their britches.' a n d academics.

The 237 students of the senior class that Office Secretary Joan Starr has reaped the most honors in estimated that the total amount the school ' s history will be of scholarship money won by graduatedonTuesday,June25 . theclasstobeover$17million.

The graduation ceremony that That is the highest amount of will mark the end of four years money ever won by a senior of high school will also signify class at Townsend Harris. the beginning of yet another • The achievements of ·the adventure - the challenges of senior class were reflected in

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the Baccalaureate Ceremony.

"Events such as tonight's Baccalaureate ceremony are the culmination of three or four very special years which have been challenging, interesting and very exciting,"said Sheila Orner, Assistant Principal of Pupil Personnel Services. "You havebeenanintegralpartofour community . You have learned to give as well as to receive."

In his speech, Principal Malcolm Largmann asked the seniors to turn to the audience and to applaud thetr parents for · their support. Then he said that thts was espectally important because he had to talk to the parents about a dilemma that was created by the semor class.

"It has come to my attention thatthemembersoftheclassof 1996 are growing too big for their britches," said Dr. Largmann. "You [the senior class] have won too many scholarships, copped too many awards, been accepted into top colleges, propelled teams into top spots and created awardwinning publications," he said.

· Dr. Largmann said that when seniors during their last year a class as small as the senior also expressed their feelings about the class of 1996. Senior class outstripped every other Coordinator Thomas Sweetin school in academic and service said, "I think that this is the best accomplishments, he was class we've had all the way ostracized by other high school principals. "It's tough being the most envied guy at the Board of Education ," he said.

'I think that this is the best Afterwards, class we've had all the way members of the around - in every way.' faculty presented sen10rs wtth plaques, _medals and certtftcates for exemplary achievement. around - in every way."

Queens College Coordinator The. ceremony also featured musical presentations by the John Hynes said, "This year's chorus, accompanied and senior class has made conducted

by Florence themselves noted for their McKinley, and by senior Sylvia politeness, caring and Yue, who played the piano. The discipline that far surpasses ceremony closed with the senior classes in recent years. I presentation of sashes by Dr. feel that these qualities are just Largmann to the Valedictorian, as important as excelling in Rebecca Mandell, and to the academics . This cl ass is Salutatorian, Jessica Gazsy. probably the best class ever in Members of the faculty who that regard. What will I do next have worked closely with the year?"

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Extending a friendly hand:

Relationship with local residents grows stronger

by Veronica Lee signed the tour project as a col"My feeling is ... the more they lateral to his senior Economics get to know us, the better it will class. "We ran this program to be," said Assistant Principal of show them we're not as bad as Pupil Personnel Services Sheila they think we are," said senior Orner. Since the relocation of tour guide Roshni Eapen. "The Townsend Harris to the new people I took around were imbuilding on the Queens College pressed; they were always woncampus last spring, students, dering what our school looked teachers and the administration like on the inside .. .! think the have been working together to project was successful," she better the relationship between added.

The problems which draw the the school and local residents.

Tours of the facility and most complaints from the invitations to special events like community are the traffic and the Spring Concert have been . parking difficulties as well as offered to the neighbors, and the the school's fire alarms."The fire alarm system, which has college gave us enough often plagued the community at congestion, and now, getting night when set off by inclement around is even harder. With the weather, will undergo adjust- teachers and students using ments in the summer. many of our spots, and parents According to Ms. Orner, the picking up their children after purpose of the building tours school, there is less room for the was to "extend a friendly hand people who live there," towards the neighbors." Social explained Susan Winnick, a Studies teacher Paul Stessel as- resident of one of the nearby

apartment houses. '.'1 know that parents sometimes double, triple, and quadruple park," said Assistant Principal Malcolm Rossman.

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'He praised our students for being the most courteous, well-behaved kids he has ever seen.'

"We can try working with the PTA to educate parents about the dangers of double parking, and let them know the police are out there patrolling the area all the time, so if they don't want a $50 ticket, then they'll make other arrangements to pick up their kids," he said.

As for the fire alarms, Mr. Rossman explained that an

opening in the side of the building currently allows wind, pigeons and squirrels to get in, setting off the system at night.

"It's ridiculous. All the noise keeps me awake at night, I can't get any sleep, and sometimes they take forever to turn it off," said one frustrated neighbor.

"Well right now, that opening is covered with something that is the equivalent to cardboard, but it will be worked on in the summer, and sealed with a big _ gate to prevent little things from setting off our alarms,'' Mr. Rossman responded.

In 1987, when the proposal to construct a new building was approved, the local community surrounding the construction site on the corner of Melbourne A venue protested the plans to build a high school on the quiet parking lot of Queens College.

"The .construction of the building itself upset people

more than the actual school and students that are there now, " said Ms. Winnick. "In the summer, it was noisy and dusty, and the people typically thought of high school students with loud radios and all the commotion.

Now I think that most of the residents here are impressed with the kids," she added.

"We're getting lots of nice feedback from the community," said Ms. Orner. "Dr. Largmann received a letter from the driver of a bus that' goes down Melbourne. He praised our students for being the .JllOSt courteous, well-behaved kids he has ever seen," she said.

"We try to accommodate the neighbors; we try not to use the front entrance as a courtesy to them. Sometimes we use the entrance for ceremonial purposes ... but we always let them know when we plan to open it," said Mr. Rossmann .

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A Special Pull-Out Section

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College Choices p.5

Women and Science p.6

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The Classic June 1996

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Candidates face empty Forum As the candidate rose to speak, sweat on her brow, clammy hands, and a stutter resting on her tongue, she stared at the cafetena tables devoid of students. What should she worry about? Why should she fret? No one was there to bombard her with questions. No one was there to increase the tension. No one was there ... The forum would be over soon and no one would be the wiser. Her policies and ideas weren't going to be heard by more than a handful of her peers. "I better buy more lollipops for tomorrow," she thought.

With more candidates than spectators showing up at the Student Union Forum, it is apparent that popularity and random votes replaced those based on character and ability. Many students knew little or nothing of the candidates' positions, causing their votes to be decided by petty and superficial thmgs.

For the Student Union election to be more than a popularity contest, the forum should be held during lunch bands or through a special assembly, not after school when it is more difficult for students to attend who have other obligations. While some students didn't care about the elections, others who wanted to attend were unable to because of other commitments. Had the Forum been held during the day, more students would have based their opinions on whose qualifications and proposals were more desirable, rather than on whose campaign pins glittered. After all, these are important positions that candidates are competing for. Their leadership affects the entire student body.

Students who were absent the day of the voting were not given an opportunity to voice their opinions because there is no absentee vote.

With such close races, it is unfair for any students to be excluded from the voting. Their opinions can change the outcome of the vote and are just as valuable as those of the students in attendance. Without an absentee vote, the opinion of the student body is inaccurate.

We as the student body must be aware that the amount of consideration given to checkmg off a name on the ballot is a reflection of how deeply we feel about the changes that need to be made and the way in which we wish to be represented. This is not to say that the candidates who won are undeserving. Indeed, all were well-qualified.

However, in the future, steps should be taken to insure that every vote reflects a thoughtful decisiOn.

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Cheating: is it worth the risk?

As the loudspeaker sounded throughout the classrooms Wednesday afternoon, a familiar voice boomed across the PA system warning us about the consequences of cheating on the upcoming Regents exams.

Someone sitting in a classroom that day, didn't seem to pay heed to Dr. Largmann' s statements, for on that Friday afternoon, the first day of Regents testing, someone had the intent of cheating ... and got caught.

A student had a crib sheet and the room proctor spotted the offense.

"If you are caught with the materials that indicate the intent of copying, it is egual to actually leaning over and copying someone else's work," explamed Dr. Largmann.

As in all the cases of cheating on Regents exams, the consequences were severe. All of the student's Regents tests will become mvalid, even those taken prior to high school. This infraction also prevents her from ever being allowed to take any state license exams, including the New York State bar, medical and nursing e,xams. Since Dr. Largmann believes that the student has experienced enough pain and embarrassment, the school has opted not to take any further action.

This being the first time in Townsend Harris history that someone got caught cheating on the Regents, Dr. Largmann hopes to make it more difficult for it to occur again. He plans to take more preventative measures during Regents exams such as placing fewer kids in a classroom, seating people further apart and not allowing any food or drinks on the table tops. "I don't want to give students the temptation," Dr. Largmann explamed. While such precautions are clearly a good idea, we should not forget our own responsibilities- to ourselves as well as to others.

Aside from the fact that cheating is morally wrong, there are other things about cheating on the Regents that leave an acrid taste in the mouth. The main purpose of this and an tests is to determine where you stand in mastering a topic; cheating distorts where you yourself . fall into place.

School is a place that you should start realizing what type of person you are. Mr. Antolini from J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, explains that an "academic education" will "begin to give you an idea what size mind you have. What it'll fit and, maybe, what it won't. It may save you an extraordinary amount of time trying on ideas that might not suit you, or unbecoming to you. You'll begin to know your true measurements and dress your mind accordingly."

Sometimes it is difficult to deal with that lower grade, but at least you'll know that you didn't compromise your integrity and that the grade was made by 100% of you.

This past year has been very hectic for The Classic - learning to use the new technology, dealing with the loss of Enrichment for the fall semester, which had served as staff meetings, and finally settling down, in this new building which we now call home. If it weren't for the help and generosity of faculty and students, this year could have truly been a disaster. I would like to thank Dr. Largmann and all of the AP's, for their time and patience during Classic interviews, and special thanks to Mr. Rattien, who generously served as the supervisor of The Classic when Ms. Cowen was unavailable. I would also like to thank Mr. Tiffen, who always came to the rescue when we had computer problems (which was quite often!), and Ms. Rotter, who did an amazing job, as always, loading her car with 3,500 copies of The Classic to deliver to the alumni.

It has truly been a wonderful experience for me as editor of The Classic, which would not be the award-winning paper it is now without the excellent staff members, and Ms. Cowen, who deserves the highest praise for her hard work, and admiration for enduring all the heart attacks we must have given her during the final deadline stages. I will always remember my years at Townsend Harris.

Veronica Lee Editor of The Classic 1995-96

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Ediibr-in-Chief: Veronica Lee Natalka Palczynski

Townsend Harris High School at Queens Cullcgc 149路 11 Mclhournc Avenue, Flushing, N.Y. I 1367

Managing Editor

Michael Munoz & Amanda_Schoenberg News Editors

Erik Bloch & Rena Varghese Feature Editors

Heather Paterson Sport.o,; Editor

Erika Zwetkow

Tara Balabushka Lay-out Editor

Readers arc invited to suhmitlcttcrs to the edi tor.

Letters should he placed in Ms . Cnwcn's mailhnx in the general oflicc. The Classic reserves the right tn edit alllcucrs. Letters must include name and oiTicial class. Names will he withheld upon rc4uest.

MichaelGarber Business Manager

George Motakis . Beth Matucci

Phtlltlgraphy Ediltlr

An Editor

Assistant News Editor

Lauren Sharett Assistant Feature Editor

Claire Schnabel

Cory McCruden

Ao,;sistant Sports Editor

Ex~.:hangc

News Staff Dominika Bcdnar.ska, Richard Capone, Beth Citron, Gina D'Andrea, Helen Haritos, Jennifer Pare, Yana Pccherskaya, Romina Perrone. Ellen Schnabel, Michael Weiss Feature Staff:

Dcmctrios Benzikis, Alexander Blunt, Amy Kommatas, Jenny Mandell, Birsen Memct, Mark Von Ohlen, Kathryn Ruhc, Limn Shapir, Rehccca Silver, Hope Villella

Photographers路 Erica Carroll, Daniellc Cohen, Lina Fan, Jason Freedman, Matt Gottlieh, Millie Liu, Kimherly Lydtin, Kathleen Maignan, Solir1 Pangiotakis, Emilia Rakuwicb., Lisa Shapim, Marco Trauzzi, Henry Wong, Jason Wu, Yount; Youn Sports Staff: Justin Fox, Joseph Rt.!gcn, Johnny Wnng Artists: Rachel Sperling, Melissa Tinio, Vcsna Vasic Layout: Julia Kuhcn Advisor -llsaCowcn Principal - Dr,MalcolmLargmailn

Photogmphy Advisor - Richard TiiTcn

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Elections tallied:

Presidency goes to Garber Summer camp to _u·se gym

by Romina Perrone student government.

Michael Garber was voted S.U. · The candidates spent apploximately President and Franzo Law, Senior Vice two weeks campaigning. They made President, in the Student Union election posters and pins promoting the election, on May 31. The positions of Junior Vice and some distributed cookies and President and Freshman\Sophomore lollipops to increase their chances of Vice President will be filled by Helen winfling. Michael Garber said that he Kim ' and Michael Pasinkoff, didnotreallystartpushing hiscampaign respectively. Yong Tang won as S.U. until the second week. With the help of Treasure-r, and Nic-ole Stripp6li as his campaign manager, Eddie Perez Secretary. The new Consultative. Cortez, ana other fellow students, he Council Representative is Heather then began making as many posters and Cohen.

- The votes were tallied by student senators during lunch and after school. The results were in by 3:30 P.M . Judy Biener, Coordinator of Student Activities, said that many of ~ the positions were N decided on by a few ~ 't: votes.

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"All candidates .0 B were terrific this 0 year," she said, "I 0: was sorry to lose anyone. I hope the Hitting the campaign trail, Michael Garber solicits a vote people who have from senior Terry Grecsek.. time left can run again." ·, The offiCers will spend the initial weeks of the new pins as possibe, using mottos like, "Your semester getting classmates to purchase vote, your voice, your choice, Michael Student Union cards. Their main job is _ Garber for SU President," and producing an agenda for student union "Experience on your side ... " Michael meetings and school activities . said that he believes that speaking to Michael's plans while he is in office are individuals is more important and to raise money for the school and "most · effective than making posters, so he, importantly make it better by increasing Eddie and other supporters spoke to the school spirit." He wants to do this by students about his goals and plans. bringing back a spring and a winter Michael claims that he knew it would carnival and have ar least three dances be a close race between himself and his per year. He hopes to get everyone opponent, Amy Kommatas . He believes involved, not just student senators. Amy also would have made a great Michael would also like to see the president. "Hopefully I can live up to election rules modified to accommodate what is expected of the job and in that everyone who wants to participate in sense be the better candidate,".he added.

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by Beth Citron its summer program, but. "it wasn't A new agreement with the, Queens ready," according to Dr. Largmann.

College physical education department When they again approached Dr. will allow Townsend Harris increased Largman·n last December, he agreed that use of the college facilities. In exchange, Queens College could use the Townsend Townsend Harris will _allow Queens Harris gym throughout the summer.

College to . use its gym for a summer The ongoing talks between :rownsend camp program. This agreement is Harris and the college should lead to "meant to be one of full cooperation," more use of their facilities. This accord said Harry Rattien, Assistant Principal adds another "link in the chain," as Dr. of physical education. However, he Largmann puts it, of connections added, "We're trying to share very between Townsend Harris and Queens limited facilities."

College, There are already strong links Both the Girls' and the Boys' Varsity between the schools' foreign language, tennis teams use the Queens College science and other academic departments, tennis courts for practices and matches. · ·and several cooperative projects .are With the new cooperation, the tennis being planned for the fall. teams can use more courts than before the agreement was reached - only six courts must be left open. Despite this ne~ accord, "The College has to serve the needs of its own people first, The courts are not always 'ilvailable for practice," said Malcolm Largmann, principal.

The Girls' Varsity Softball team uses the Queens College baseball field only for games, but attempts are being made so that in the future, they can also

by Kate Rube practice on the field. The Girls' Varsity Beginning in the fall 1996, Swim team would like to use the Townsend Harris will be one of Maurice Fitzgerald swimming pool for several New York City high schools practices next year, but "the pool is very . to use VERTEX, a new type of crowded" and there is "never a time security system which features available," according to Dr. Largmann. photograph lD. cards. The system has Larry Ceraulo, physical education a "two-fold purpose - security and teacher, pointed out that the s~niors have attendance," said Assistant Principal been using the Queens College athletrc of Guidance Sheila Orner. facilities for eight years for their physical Townsend Harris was ordered by the education classes, while the college has Board of Education to adopt the received nothing in return."! had program starting next school year. suggested that seniors pay ten dollars for Harris is an "experimental" school, use of the facilities," he-said. chosen because it has the technical Even with the greater services that c-apability for such a program. There Tow"nsend Harris can offer because of are many glitches which may result the new building,_"there are not enough when relying .solely on the Vertex ·facilities, so they continued to use system. For this reason, the school [Queens College]," said Dr. Largmann. will not change any present security Queens College requested the use of methods; for example, attendance will the Townsend Harris gym last year for continue to be taken during classes. · "We're hoping to run a test of the system before the dose of this school year-," Mr. Rossman said, ''to uncover any problems which may arise."

The program was originally planned system has its ups and downs." to run this spring semester; however, For some students, the elevator system problems prompted its .delay. breakdown was a real hassle. Junior Midwood fligh School in Brooklyn Michel Santana said, "It was a real was able to benefit from VERTEX inconv'enience for me since I had torn this term, though it encountered two ligaments in my knee and some days several difficuhies.

I was forced to take the stairs while I . Student reactions to the system are ··still had difficulty walking. Luckily my mixed. Sophomore Stephen Roxland knee healed pretty quickly, but feels that "the money should go unfortunately a few students were still towards more useful resources." on crutches while the elevators W(!re out In the future, VERTEX may also be of service. I feel that there is no excuse used to relay personal messd'ges to for both elevators to be out at the same students from teachers and staff. time; soine students actually need them."

Many students, like sophomore Vicki Junior Dimitrios Papanagnou, another Realmuto, thought that this Would be injured Harrisite, said, "Despite the long helpful. "Receiving messages via the wait, and, at times, its excessive system would make it more useful," crowding, the elevator is a decent way she said. to get from floor to floor. Sure, you are Eventually, the VERTEX security five minutes late to class, but it beats system will be implemented in all straining a broken leg going up six New York City public high schools. flights of stairs."

Although woories about initial In order to prevent further problems, problems have been expressed, most Custodian Engineer Joseph J. are optimistic about its long-term DiGiacomo urges everyone authorized effects. "I think that as time goes on, to ride the elevators to "operate them like everything will run more smoothly, as a good citizen." He says that people the students and teachers become should opt to use the stairs wh@never used to the system," said Ms. Orner. possible. "I don't use the elevators," Mr. Rossman said; "it's better to walk."

Elevator service on its way up

by Beth Mattucci bags behind. Because the warranty had A building with elevators seemed like expired and there was no way to prove a dream come true. Students with injuries who was responsible for leaving the or disabilities wouldn't have to make the plastic bags! the School Construction long and difficult climb to the sixth floor. Authority (SCA) atlocated $2000 for the Teachers wouldn't have to brave the necessary repairs. ·overcrowded staircases and get Another problem that remains to-be stampeded by students. Elevators ~ere solved is the overuse of the elevators. the answer to many people's prayers. As Malcolm Rossman, Assistant What could possibly go wrong? The Principal, pointsout, "The elevators answer is a lot. Since the opening of the were not desigpe_d: for the use of the new Townsend Harris building in April whole schooL" Next term, a visible 1995, the elevators have been a constant -elevator pass -will be issued to only those source of many problems. students who need to use the elevators The most recent problem was the burn- for medical reasons. It will be much out of the engine of the south elevator. larger than the current pass, With an This happened in April and was repaired..:---expiration-date --· this month. Industrial-sized plastic bags TWo problems from as early a:s April were found in the elevator's generator, _ 1995 have been solved. Students can no and this was said to be the cause of the longer take the elevators to the penthouse burnout, but a dispute over who would floor where the powerhouse is located. pay delayed the repairs.Certain parts and A key is the only way to gain access now. services were covered under a one-year Also, some students faun~ that warranty, but it expired on April24 of continuous holding of the elevator this year. Although the burn-out buttons made the elevator run express, occurred prior to April 24, it was not causing it to ignore other floors, and to serviced in time. Gallery Elevators, the eventually burn out. This misuse of the . installer, claims that sub-contractors elevator is no longer possible. who serviced the elevator· after In reaction to all these problems, Mr. installation were negligent in leavingthe Rossman said, "Having an elevator

:Vertex system to be adopted in September

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The Classic ~

Bll9r pave·s path to college

by Lauren Sharett earned ·a Bachelor of Arts in For freshmen and History . She then went to sophomores, college seems to Teacher's College at Columbia be a million years way. University for a Masters in However, when junior year rolls Guidance, and received a around, students begin to Professional Diploma in School serious) y consider their futures. Counseling at St. John's There to help them every step University. Ms. Blier was a of the way is Marilyn Blier, history teacher and then College Advisor. guidance counselor at Edward Ms. Blier recently received R. Murrow High School in recognition as Guidance Brooklyn. She came to Counselor of the Year for the Townsend Harris as a guidance b_orough of Queens. She was counselor in 1987. For the past honored at Fqmcis ' J Lewis High School in May, and attended a ceremony at the 1 Board of Education Hall of Honor on June 'I absolutely love the

.programs is partially due to the small school size. We can easily identify students for specific scholarships and the students are not only bright enough, but are responsible in following through," Ms. Blier explained.

Much of the money awarded

capture their unique qualities on 'paper, said Ms. Blier.

This year, 32 out of 56 students, or I 3% of all seniors, were admitted under early decision or early action. This is more than four times the number of students that have ever applied for early admission in the past. The increase is in line with the national rise.

'I try to handle every Though Townsend student as I hope my Harris is very wellown child would be · known among the. colleges nationwide, treated, and I Ms. Blier hopes to personalize everl' give the school an student and help give . even higher profile them the best chance by speaking with possible.' college admission · officers. She often finds it difficult to balance this aspect of her job with writing came from the colleges them- recommendations for every selves rather than from private senior. Nf<xt year's senior class sources. Ms. Blier says it is ad- is the largest ever, and Ms. Blier visable to begin researching ·fears that budget cuts will inscholarship opportunities dur- crease the "daunting responsiing the summer before senior bility.'' Presently she has the asyear. She also emphasized the sistance of Joan Starr, full-time importance of the essay portion secretary, and the part-time asof the college application. "Col- sistance of College Advisor and leges are impressed with stu- biology teacher Howard dents who write well and can Wagner.

good memory." She said she has become knowledgeable about her job and added, "I try to handle every student as I hope my own child would be treated, and I personalize every student and help give them the best chance possible.''

The career is demanding and · Ms. Blier does an enormous amount of work at home and throughout the holidays.

However, she manages to fit in time with her family, especially her son, "who probably knows more about the college pr~cess than any other lJ -year-old," said Ms. Blier: She also enjoys working with jigsaw and crossword puzzles, playing the 10: piano, and watching sports. If job....It gives me the "I absolutely iove she weren't in her present posiopportunity to live . · the job," said Ms. tion, she would want to be a tlirough the college Blier, "It gives me the sportscaster on WFAN radio. process hundreds of opportunity to live Although Ms. Blier isn't a · times.' through the college sportscaster, she oft<?n has exprocess hundreds of citing news to announce . .Last times and to feel the year, Townsend Harris placed · anxiety and then feel third among New York City the super-charge high schools in receiving colwhen a student makes the two years she has been a college lege scholarship awards, with · school - especially when I advisor. students offered approximately worked' closely with · the .

This job requires an· $11 million. This "amazing" tostudent." individual who is always on her tal was topped by this year's Ms. Blier grew up in toes. Ms. Blier fits the profile class, which won over $17 milBrooklyn, and attended and describes herself as "very lion in scholarships. "I think the Brooklyn College where she energetic and blessed with a success within the scholarship

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The C!assjs

Who's going where? The claS-s-ofi99'6 Amelia Adames Raquel Agramonte Eric Alarcon Maria: Alvarez Sigalit Ambalu Asher Anolic StellaApostolidis Jonathan Arad Evan Avdoulos Tamar Aydin Christina Babian Tara Balabushka Chiara Bartlett · Jennifer Bennett Elaine Bernabe Ofra Biener Erik Block Stavroula Boumakis James Caravan Adam Carroll Annamaria Cavalli Amelia Chamberlain · Cindy Chan Colleen Chan ' Jenny Chan Ruby Chan . Karen I. Chang Karen Chang Emlyn Chen Wendy Chen Pauline Cheng Albert Cheung Puiman Chiu Woojung Choi Mouni Chouhan Marlin Chu ' Desiree Clemente Andrea Constantinescu Elizabeth Cotrea Sarah Courtney Marlon Daniels Marianne DeMarco Achmed DeFreitas Dorothy DeLaura Frank Delia Jeffrey Deneke Taslim Dhanji Laura Dinca Jennifer DiPaola Sabrina Dixon Lori Dolinger Alan Dorfman Jennifer Dull Roshni Eapen Loretta Edwards Oren Eisenberg Becky Falto Maria Fox · · Sarah Franco Valerie Fristachi Robert Fuchs Benedict Fung Helen Fung Anthony Galati Heather Garber Jessica Gazsy Alex Georgiades Jeanine Gill Michael Glavina Ilana Golin Zoe Gordon Uday Gosalia Christine Grant Natasha Grayson Evelina Grayver Teresa Grecsek Emily Haisley SooJung Han '

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Females. favor foreign language; history a hit with males 6

The Classic Junef996

by Hope Villella suggestion that women who did better Debate has surged in recent years over [in math] might be using their brain more · the question of whether girls lag behind efficiently than women who did in science and math, and if so, why? Data average," Haier said in: the Newsweek compiled by Newsweek Magazine -article. He concluded that while the suggests that men seem to excel in these . women and men did equally as well, their fields while women are better in other brains went about things differently. subjects (3/27/95). While some scientists In 1994 a Gend,er Equity in Education hypothesize that the brains of men and bill was presented to a House . subwomen function differently, others say committee. It proposed to eliminate · that this simply isn't true, and blame environmental factors for the scarcity of women in these fields. "Girls are not expected to be good in science. As a · Male Harrisite's Favorite Subjects result, even their teachers turned them off from science," said Odile Garcia, chemistry/biology teacher.

Last year, the New York Times reported that male high school students l£i1 ~ Scienc. scored an average of 25 points higher ~ For.ignllnglllge 0 than female students on the SAT II tests ~ Music/Ar1 !:1! """"' administered by the College Board in 1993 (2/13/94). Males surpassed the females in physics by an average of 55 points, in chemistry by 40, in advanced Female Harrisite's Favorite Subjects. mathematics by 37, in general mathematics by 34, and in biology by 32. Women's scores exceeded those of the men in three out of the 14 tests. The females led by two points in German, four points in English composition, and ~ Scitnc•: !!!J Ma"': four in literature.

9 Fottign language 0 ~ H;atory· ~ MulicJArt The case presented by Newsweek *. included a study conducted with 22 males and 22 females whose brains were scanned by Positron Emission To.mography(PET) as they solved Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) math gender assumptions and to teach parents problems (3/27 /95), PET pinpoints the and teachers to be more encouraging to areas that have the most blood-flow young girls. Supporters insisted that the going to . them at any given time. act was necessary because teachers Dr.Richard Haier, Professor of Pediatrics tended to channel girls away from fields of Neurology at the University of of science and math.

A survey of 220 Harrisites conducted California, Irvine, conducted the study and found that those men who received this past January showed that this was high scores had more activity in the not a problem in Townsend Harris. The temporal lobes (located in the front and poll showed that 76% of females felt that on the sides of the brain) than men with their science and math teachers average scores. He discovered that the encourage them, with 68% of the males women with scores comparable to those agreeing that they also felt encouraged of the high scores of the men used no by their teachers.

In a Townsend Harris survey in June, more brain activity than those women who had average scores. "There was a students did not seem to follow the Math

Engllst!

Engliah 1

Daughters shadow parents for a d·a y

by Beth Citron "~ecause there's discrimination," said Amanda Scarnati, 11, explaining ·.,.the reason f~r havin,g Take Our Daughters to Work Day. She and her six-year-old sister Stephanie came to 'townsend Harris with their father; 'Anthony Scarnati, history teacher, oil April 25 to take part in it. Take Our Daughters toW ork Day was started by the Ms. Foundation in 1993 to lessen prejudice against girls in the workplacj! and boost girls' self-confidence.

However, Take Our Daughters to Work Day has generated what some perceive as a new inequity- this time .. against boys. About 30 percent of employers have changed the event the event to Take Our Children to Work Day, inviting both sexes. At the Ford Motor Company in Detroit, sons and daughters were welcome to visit together. Other companies, such as the Chevron C01;poration in San Francisco, are alternating having a boys' program one year with a girls' program the next.

(New York Tim£s, 4125/96 ).

Other children who came. to school with their parents this year included Casey Starr, 10, daughter of College Office Secretay Joan Starr; Heather Quinn, 11, who came to school with the Scarnati' s; and Nikki a,, to, and Danielle, 8, whose father, Keith Hanson, teaches physical education.

Throughout the day, the girls played in the gym, visited a computer lab and graded quizzes and homewoxk. They ¥Xperienced school through the teachers' eyes, sitting in front of cl~sses for most of the day. After school, they headed to a handball game, coached by Mr. Scarnati.

After spending a day in Townsend Harris, Amanda . and Stephanie concluded that they did not want to become high school teachers, but said they did like· the school. Stephanie aspires to become a ballet teacher while Amanda is still undecided about her future. Heather, on the other hand, says that she wants to be a teacher.

national pattern. The overall favorite subject of. the girls with 24% of the vote was foreign languages, followed by math with 21 %, though 39% of the girls listed their best subject as foreign languages. The boys, on the other hand, said history was their favorite receiving .26% of their votes, followed closely by music and art with 24%. Twenty- seven percent of them said that history was

languages combined was much lower at 14%. Within the malepopulation, 26% said they had trouble in math and 14% said they had troul;>le in history, English, and languages, suggesting that even at Townsend males may find math easier.

For science, results were slightly closer, with 53% of females arid 39% of males claiming they have difficulty in science.

Townsend Harris teachers don't feel that there's any difference in ability between the sexes. "That's actually nonsense," said Ms. Garcia. She explains that the reason girls sometimes shy away from science is that they were taught to be afraid, because even the teachers that they had when they were young were afraid of science . . Susan Appel, Assisstant Principal of Science, simply refuted the idea that boys were better than girls in science by saying, "You should see my Westinghouse class which has 20 girls and one boy." Harry Rattien, Assisstant Princi'pal of Mathematics, said, "I would imagine that boys are treated differently in math and science in other schools, but not here. I'd be afraid to alienate 70% of the school."

Students had varying views on gender equality within Townsend Harris.

"Teachers tend to like guys better. They think they're smarter," said one tenth grade girl. ''Sometimes people assume men are born mathematicians and scientists," said a twelfth grade girl. An eleventh grade boy had another view, saying, '.'II]_Townsend Harris High School, there are far more girls than boys, so majority usually rules and gets everything." "More girls equals more rights," a ninth grade boy simply said.

Yet, ih this school where the genders are so unbalanced, relatively few people find inequality in their science and math classes. Eighty-one percent of boys and 82% of girls feel that the genders are· treated equally. Perhaps Townsend Harris hasn't reached perfection, but the numbers speak for themselves .

Polls for this article were conducted in Mathematics, Participatory Democracy,Humanities Seminar and Official classes.

Male Harrisite's Best Subjects

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The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) nationally used by colleges to compare potential students also found ·that boys did better in math than girls.

A report published by U.S. News and World Report showed that boys had scored a mere four points above the girls iri the verbal sections of the test, as opposed to the 41-point span that they led by in math (1117/94). These numbers are reflected in Townsend Harris. In the January survey forty-five p~rcent of the females surveyed said they found math difficult, but the number of girls that had trouble in English, history, .and

Stony Brook supports women in science '

by Natalka Palczynski Addressing the under-representation of women in the science field, Ston.y Brook University (State University of New York) invited selected New York City schools to a ·presentation which featured space shuttle astronaut Ellen Baker on April 24. In addition, female students from Odile Garcia's science research class took a special tour of Stony Brook that introduced them to Project WISE which stands for Women In Science and Engineering. Project WISE has enabled S.tony.. Brook to support their female students majoring in the science field .

Universities throughout the country have been recognizing an "unsettling trend: many high ability women who started out in the science field dropped . out," said Wendy Katkin, Director of Arts and Sciences at Stony Brook. Ms. Katkin arranged for Ms. Garcia's class to arrive earlier than the other invited groups.

She set up ·a science demonstration for the male students while the female students were

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introduced to the program.

Project WISE is focused on insuring that female undergraduates who choose the science qr e!lgineering field continue with their science courses throughout their college education. The program provideS. s-mall study groups, close aqc,iemic advising by faculty, a strong mentoriilg system, and social .~upport between WISE participants. Students receive $1000 National Science Foundation scholarships for their first year at Stony Brook.

Ms. Katkin . wrote to the National Science Foundation (NSF) to tell them of her ideas for such a program and to ask them to help fund the project. The project was approved and the university received a million-dollar grant from · NSF. Ms. Katkin explained that the women in the program take coed classes. The program reviews the students' academic records and tries to place them at the

(Continued on page 7)

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The Classic

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June 1996

A Special Pull-out Section

Music beats out anthropology for Lustig

by Yana Pecherskaya As the final chords of "Theme from E.T.- The Extraterrestrial" died down, the entire auditorium burst into thunderous applause. On the evening of May 21, Harrisites had the opportunity to enjoy a performance of the annual Spring Concert held in the auditorium. The clapping and cheering was not only for the talented members of the Concert Band, bur also for the man who helped make the concert possible. He is Peter Lustig, music teacher and conductor of the Jazz Ensemble, Intermediate Band, and Concert Band.

Mr. Lustig grew up in New York City and graduated from Martin Van Buren High School in 1974, a proud member of the All-City Orchestra. During his stay at Queens College, where in 1979 he earned his B.A., Mr. Lustig minored in music and majored in - you'll never guess what- anthropology.

"To me anthropology was an interesting subject," explained Mr. Lustig, " and I thought at that time that I'd get an advanced degree and become a professional anthropologist. I was inspired by Channel 13 nature shows and wanted to study apes and monkeys."

Mr. Lustig then decided to . follow in Jane Goodall's foot-

mine," he explained. "It just took me awhile to realize that I wanted to pursue it as a career."

Mr. Lustig began playing the trombone in the 8th grade, and by the time he turned 16 he was performing on a professional

depressing clubs. Teaching gave me the option of choosing my performances." Now he is a member of a professional 12piece salsa band called OrquestraLa Sociedad.

Three years ago, Mr. Lustig was teaching at Forest Hills H i g h School.

He came home one day and found a message a zookeeper," on his anhe said, 2 swering remin iscing .machine about the ro"' which inmantic en~ vited him ;;.-. for an incounter. ..o .

"The first o terv1ew at ] Townsend time I saw 0...

Harris. her, she was After he inside a Maestro Peter Lustig leads the Concert Band in performance at the Spring had spent monkey's Concert a day at cage, cleanlevel. Throughout college and the school, Mr. Lustig was very ing it out."

By 1991, however, Mr. Lustig his anthropological career, Mr. impressed and knew that he decided to exchange his ape and Lustig was giving private mu- wanted to be part of the Harris monkey research for a profes- sic lessons and performing in faculty. "I am lucky Dr. sion in the tield of pedagogy and various clubs. He enjoyed Largmann and Ms . Appel liked earned his M.A. in Music Edu- teaching but wanted to work me," he said Mr. Lustig's students say that cation. He attributed his change with more than one stuC!ent at a of heart regarding anthropology time. "Besides," Mr. Lustig they are the lucky ones. "His to his love for music. "Music commented, "at that time, most help and patience really made a has always been an interest of of my playing was done at many difference and we are all thanksteps. He spent a few weeks in India and a summer in Sierr11 Leone, a small country located in the north-western part of Africa, where he conducted a study on primates. But it was here, in the New York City Bronx Zoo, that Peter Lustig met the woman who became his wife. "She was working there as

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ful for that," commented junior NainaAlves, member of the Intermediate Band. Caroline Cross, junior and member of the Concert Band, said, "Mr. Lustig is simply a great teacher. His class is really laid back, but he inspires enthusiasm in the band members."

Planning for the future, Mr. Lustig says that he might take the band on a weekend class trip next year. The exact time and place are yet to be decided, but the nature of the trip will probably have something to do with a music festival or maybe even a competition. Mr. Lustig also hopes that the school will eventually regain some of the things it lost to budget cuts. ''I'd like to see the return of Enrichments," he says, "a full senior year of college courses, a musical production such as SING, and maybe a talent show or a Battle of the Bands. We've got a radio station, a video production studio, and a recording studio on the fifth tloor. I'd like to see these programs running."

As for his ponytail, Mr. Lustig admits that he has finally given in to his wife's wishes and agreed to trim his tresses. The ponytail will be gone by September '96, so come the beginning of next year, Harris ties will see it no more.

·T-bone• tackles trombone; shines in volleyball and soccer · by Liron Shapir When senior Aris "T-bone" Tsoupros picks up his trombone and .begins to play, it is easy to see why he received the Most Valuable Instrumentalist in Concert Band award at the Baccaleureate Ceremony on June I I. It is hard to believe, though, that Aris, who plays for the Townsend Harris Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band, the All-City Band for high school students, the All-City Orches~ tra, and the Queens College big band, only started playing trom~ bone as a tluke .

"I started playing the trombone in junior high, when I had to pick an instrument for band. Then, after a while I began to like it," said Aris. In the Spring Concert, Aris had several solos in both the Jazz Ensemble and the Concert Band. He also played in the Fat Man SeJS,tet, which performed "Fat Man in the Rain" by senior Frank D'Elia.

Aris spends a great amount of his time playing the trombone.

"It takes a lot of responsibility to be able to participate in three bands while I still have to devote time to team practice and homework," said Aris. "Every Saturday, I have to wake up re-

ally early and practice for three hours with the All-City band at the High School for Graphic Art and Design in Manhattan."

One of Aris' most memorable musical experiences was in last year's winter concert. "I had a solo in 'Night in Tunisia,"' he recalls, "and I figured out the last two measures right before the concert. I had practiced it for two months, but I was still a little nervous. It turned outweH,. and I was relieved ."

Aris,, )Yas i!?duc.tedinto the Queens College band when its conductor came to one of ti:).e. jazz ensemble's rehearsals and asked Aris if he was interested in joining. "We puton concerts at Queens Coll!!ge and sometimes we do gigs for free," explained Aris.

Aris became involved in the All-City Orchestra and the AllCity Concert Band two years ago, after music teacher Peter Lustig suggested that he audition. On May 29, Aris performed with both groups at Bryant Park. He also played with the All City Concert Band on May 13 at Lincoln Center, and the All-City Orchestra on May 14, also at Lincoln Center.

Even though Aris is very ac-

tive in his music, he thinks it really good - like I could very lazy. "If I weren't so lazy , I would get a lot more done. For will be his minor in college. scream, " he said .. instance, if I had something to Next year Aris will be attendDespite the fact that Aris is do after school, I ing Cornell University. would just go to sleep As for his major, he's instead." thinking of pursuing Aris doesn't have a computer science. "I specific idol, but he took a college course does admire his older that had to do with probrother and Mr. gramming. It was very - Lustig . "I hope that interesting and I would some day I will be able like to become more to play as well as Mr. involV.ed in it. It's be· Lustig does," he says, coming more of a rec"and, also, my older ognized field in our sobrother. He plays the ciety,'' he said. piano really well. He Aside from Aris' and I share most of the .affinity for the trom' same interests~· " bone and computer sciWhen Mr. Lustig ence, he also enjoys heard of Aris' admiraplaying volleyball and tion, he smiled and soccer. He is the cosaid, "Aris is a better captain of the volleytrombonist than I was ball team and captain in high school." of the soccer team.

Mostly, however, Aris won the plaque for Aris wants to follow Outstanding Male Athhis own direction and lete at the be himself. "I don't Baccaleureate Cerwant to be remememony as a result of his . bered as simply being committment to sports. a trombonist," he said.

"I like volleyball a lot Trombonist Aris Tsoupros, senior, pia~ a solo with "I don't want to be asmore than soccer. You the Jazz Ensemble. sociated with just one relieve frustrations betthing. I don't know, I ter at volleyball and I have more finesse at it. When I very involved in his various guess I'm still searching for my identity." hit the ball, it makes me feel hobbies, he admits that he is

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TheCiassicj June 1996'

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McKinley strikes a chord with chorus

Han sings her way to success

by Dominika Bednarska mediately and play well. When it was "Sing in Praise of Happy Days at time to do the dishes or other chores, Townsend Harris High" has been har- though, then I didn't mind it." she remonized by the chorus many a time as it called. leads the school in the alma mater.. The At her parents insistence, she continperson responsible for all the school's vo- ued working with piano, and took part cal performances is choral teacher Flo- in a music program at her alma mater, rence McKinley.

New Town High School. This later led Although she has led the chorus for to her acceptance into a Saturday prothree and a half years, she still gets ner- gram at the Julliard School of Music, vous before a performance. "Many times where she majored in piano and minored I'm on edge until I sit at the piano. In in organ. "That placed my experience on order to know how a performance is go- a whole other level, [because I was ]with ing, you need someone to hear it. Some- people who took music so seriously;" she times you are so in the mist of it that it's said. Her musical edllcation continued hard to judge. What I hear as good strong at Hunter College, where she majored sound may not be coming across that in piano and also took classes in music way to the audience. This is why I keep education. pushing for monitors and microphones Despite her many years of studies, Ms. and other technological aids," she ex- Me Kinley still continues to take lessons. plained.

"You never stop learning. Even as I am Despite the usual pressures ofperform- [giving this interview], I am looking at ing, Ms . McKinley enjoys teaching at workshops to take over the summer.

Townsend Harris. "It's nice to work with When I go on vacation.! find myself in a super achievers. [Students here] are more , music store and I constantly "talk mueager to accomplish things," she said. sic" with my sister-in-law and husband, Her career has given Ms . McKinley both of whom are musicians," she said. many opportunities for comparison. She While music is a major part of her life, has taught vocal music at Richmond Hill Ms. Me Kinley feels it is not stressed and John Bowne High Schools. She has enough in the school curriculum. "The also worked as a substitute teacher at classes in theory and harmony are just Long Island City High School. Besides not around any more," she said. She feels working in schools, she is also the or- classes in basic musicianship should be ganist for two church choirs. Before that, a prerequisite to taking any kind of a she gave private piano lessons, as early performance class. as the age of 12 or 13.

Yet she feels formal education is "so "I guess that is when I started teach- important. It's a must. Even if you are ing. And in a sense it's what I wanted to interested in a career in music, get a good do." she said. formal education. Don't restrict yourself.

One thing Ms. Me Kinley didn't en- If you have talent, pursue it and take joy about piano was the practicing. "I every opportunity you can. But be preremember that I didn't like to practice; I pared to work hard." said Ms. Me thought I would be able to sit down im- Kinley.

by Amanda Schoenberg in Vocal Music. Christine is also very Whether playing the piano for the choinvolved in her church youth group's rus, or singing a medley of Richard band, in which she sings and plays the Rogers songs, senior Christine Han is keyboard. thoroughly at ease. Christine has been For the future, though, music will not playing piano be her first priorsince she was ity. Christine will four years old, be attending the and singing for school of Arts and over six years.

Sciences at New Why does she York University. do it? "I love She says that alit - I love to though she will perform," she "definitely be persays.

1ii forming in college Christine's ::r:: and working with love of the .S my church band," spotlight has t; she has decided led to her inagainst being a volvement in professional piaseveral musifj' nist. Although she cal endeavors. ~ is unsure of her She joined the 8 future plans, she Townsend does not think she Harris chorus, could survive the and performed long hours of in it during her Christine Han, senior, arrives at the Spring practice involved freshman and Concert with her own cheering section: Tony in going professenior years. Tsai, Eddie Lee, Jack Ng, and Ngoc-Deip To. sional. Christine She also plays chose to attend the piano for the chorus, and is a memN.Y.U. because she says, "they gave me ber of the selective choral ensemble. money and I want to live in the city and This year she has worked with smaller play." groups in the chorus on their parts, inChristine, who describes herself as cluding the group of boys who persomeone who "works hard for what she formed "Kiss the Girl" in this year's wants," is also interested in other activiSpring Concert. For her work in the choties besides music. She has been on the rus, she was awarded the Townsend · Townsend Harris volleyball team, and Harris High School Music Department is involved in her church's youth group.

Plaque for Outstanding Service and She is interested in pursuing "internaVocal Performance. In addition, she retional something," possibly in the law ceived the Superintendent of Queens or business fields.

Schools Certificate for Excellence Christine looks forward to the end of school, claiming that she "Can't wait!

I think I'll rriiss a lot of people, but I'm definitely looking forward to the summer." Christine will be spending the summer in Korea at the Yonsei University summer program, where she plans to learn more about the Korean language and culture as well as "have some fun iot tr:uJllpet player Franzo Law and Junior alto saxophone players Lauren in the city."

Christine says that senior year has F«bricant and Amy Kommatas. The grand finll'le, the overture to "Pie been an "interesting" one, in part beMeistersinger" by Richard Wagner:, feacause of her work with chorus teacher tuJ:ed junior trumpet player David Tse. Ms. McKinley. According to Christine, Ms. McKinley is "definitely energetic." as soloist.

As the audience scr>ambled away from She also appreciates Ms. McKinley's the heated-auditorium, Sheila Orner As· ability to "carry all of us with her ensistant Principal of Guidance said, ''They, ergy." sounded so professional. I thought that I After attending Townsend Harris, was at Carnegie Hall." Junior David Christine feels prepared for the future.

Bleidield agreed "Ben Chu and I She says the school has "nurtured me thought the perfOimance was and sheltered me," but she is now ready fantabulous," he-said. for something completely different. He~.

There seemed to be an air of sadness decision to attend N.Y.U., after enveloping the ni'gbt. With 30 seniors in Townsend Harris' relative smallness, Concert Band, nearly half of the players reveals this desire. Christine says, "I will not be returning next fall. This is feel ready after Townsend Harris, but I want to try a big school in the city ... a also the case with the Jazz Ensemble.

"It was so emotional," recounted se- total change of environment." nior Concert and Jazz Band membex Marlon Daniels. Senior chorus member!

Michelle Stagnitta agreed, "It feels-weird knowing this was my last performance [in th~ school]," she said.

As senior Aris Tsoupros packed his trombone and got ready to retum home from a Harris concert night for the last time, he commented on th~ passing o time and concluded, "I'm happy with the performance and how it went. It ended how I always wanted it to.''

M·usicia.n.s spring into. acti.on at concert •y Amy Kommatas What qould possibly bring English eacher Georgette: Wallace ''to tears" on ay 22? Was it s()me awful beast lurk: ·ng in the lunchroom, markirrg.72 finals, r the thought of bmken air conditionrs school-wide? Actually, it was due to the "wonderful sounds" pouring out of the auditoFium during this year's Spring oncert.

The chorus, leo by Florence cKinley, set the stage for the rest of ithe evening. Performing several selecltions by Townsend Harris alumnus Ri:hard Rogers, the Chorus elicited many ositive reactions from members of the audience. "I loved the quality of the voices of the Chorus," commen,t ed parlent Cyndee Socci. ''Their dynamics were very colorful."

Led by Peter Lustig, the Intermediate IBand carried over their enthusiasm into their performance. Intermediate Band ember Dean Galitis was even seen lh~ad banging t~ their renditi~n of Disney's "The Lton Sleeps Tomght." 'eatured during "Concord Sketches" by lliot Del Borgo was junior alto saxohone player Kazia Musial-Aderer.

The Jazz Ensemble had a number of surprises in store for the night. Playing a wide range of music from Sonny Henry's "Evil Ways," with a solo by !freshman trumpet player Richard Lopez,

and Ellington's "Caravan'' with a so1o by senior trombonisthis TSoupros, they also featured works by seniors Cr-aig Spitzcoft' and Frank D"Elia, Townsend Harri_s ' own st.udent composers.

The Spring Concert was also the oocasion for the "World Premiere performance" of the Townsend Harris Jazz Sextet. The graup played a selection called "Fat Man in the Rain," composed

by Frank D'Elia.

The Chorus' mal~ ensemble performed ''Kiss the Girl" from Disney's "The Little Mermaid." Principal Dr. Largmann commented, ''We are very lucky to have on our staff two people like Ms. McKinley and Mr. Lustig."

Despite the sweltering heat due to the air conditioner failure and the lights going off, the show did go on. "Even with the heat it was wor~h the wait;'' said par~ ent Oomenica Porzio. As parents fanned themselves with programs, Dr. Largmann nostalgically compared this concert with those held at the "old building" where members of the audience were forced to stand within the cafetorium.

As always, the Concert Band was the closing act. While band members snapped their fingers to the beat of "West Side Story," the audience heard solos by senior flutist Marianne DeMarco, jun-

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June 1996

•Killer• Kommatas carries a tune

by Jose Melendez fifth best runner on the Varsity squad of by Alex Blunt marching band every Saturday morning.

As the newly elected senior vice-presi- the Cross-Country team. He admits to For most people, participating in one, She said that one of the joys she gets dent, Franzo Law will have to share his the feeling of "Pride!" He enjoys telling two, or even three school activities is out of playing music is a sense of actime with three varsity sports teams and people that he was "on a team that went enough. For junior Amy Kommatas, complishment. "I feel very in control concert band. But with all this juggling, from the BII division to the AI division however, eight or nine is a more reasonwhen I'm performing. I get very nervous music comes first. As Franzo himself put in the city. Appearing in the 'New York able figure. Amy strives for continued at first, but when I finish, I feel very reit, "Music is the most important thing to Newsday' was the best!" warded," she explained. success in all of her undertakings from me. I can't imagine life without it."

One of her most notable accomplishUsed to making decisions that affect his sports to student government while At age four, Franzo began "fooling life, Franzo felt that he didn't have maintaining her academic average. Ac- ments at Townsend Harris was her solo around" with his grandmother's piano. enough of a say as a student. Therefore, cording to her, Townsend Harris is per- performance during the Winter Concert He progressed to teaching himself this when the opportunity came to represent fect for fostering her multi-faceted per- in December which was held in the new instrument, which was later given to him auditorium. as a gift by his grandmother.

"I was so nervous," she recalled. "I realized my sax wasn't working on stage In junior high school, he picked up the right before I was supposed to go on . trumpet in his school band. Why the.

Luckily the person next to me calmed trumpet and not the piano? The school me down and switched saxes with me band did not include a piano, and too so I could go on and do my solo. The many other kids were already interested piece was called 'Stormy Weather.' It in playing the more popular intruments worked out pretty well . The only people such as the sax, drums, and flute. who noticed how nervous I was were the In his first year at Townsend Harris as people watching mespecifically." a sophomore, Franzo earned a trumpet In addition to her music activities, solo in the winter concert, a solo that he ~ Amy was also Junior Vice President for calls a pivotal moment in his life. Franzo § the Student Union this year, and last year recollects being "thrilled with nervous~ she was the Student Secretary; she's on ness right before my solo and exhilarated ;>.,the Consultative Council, the Varsity with relief afterwards." ~ Soccer team, and the Varsity Swim Unfortunately for Franzo, in the spring '0 team; she writes for The Classic and semester the school scheduled both Con~ serves as a mentor to incoming students. cert Band and post-Regents French for '§ In Amy's opinion, the Student Governband one. Since Franzo studies French 8 ment, and the Consultative Council esand plans to continue it in college, he ~ pecially, are very effective. Amy exchose French over Concert Band and had S: plained, "I think [the Consultative Counto settle for Intermediate Band. In order cil] is a great way for the students to get to put his misfortune to proper use, he their opinions to Dr. Largmann through chose to learn how to play the French Trumpet player Franzo Law and saxophone player Amy Kommatas arrive at the new student representatives. The administrahorn, which kept him entertained for the building on moving day last spring. Now they could perform in an auditorium instead of a tion really does take our ideas and opinsemester. In the spring semester, French ca:fetorium. ions into account. It's also really close; was reassigned to second band, so Franzo was able to rejoin the Concert his history class as a student senator, he sonality and especially her love of mu- everybody on the Executive Board Band. While in Concert Band, his per- did so. He says he "likes to have a good sic. She says one of the best things about works as a group."

One of the hardest things she feels formances have included the Arista In- deal of input on things that affect my the school is that "it gives you a lot of duction, the Spring Concert, the New life." For this reason Franzo chose to run room to grow. I like variety so much; there is to accomplish on the council is York State Student Music Association, for Treasurer last year and for Senior it's very hard for me to focus on one creating a balance between the students' requests and the boundaries of the adand graduation.

Vice-President this year. As Treasurer, topic."

Although she has such a wide variety ministration "For example," she said, Choosing between French and bl:lnd he co-signed the budget along with math was a tough decision. Ano.t her one that teacher Linda Mandell and discussed it of activities in her harried life, music is "the students want so many events like wasn't as tough, but was equally influ- with different clubs and teams. Run- one of her most accomplished areas. dances and different spirit days, but we entia! on his life, was deciding to join ning unopposed for Senior Vice-Presi- Amy s.tarted taking piano lessons in first can't get as many as we want because it the track team in the fall of his soptlO· dent in the recent election, f.ranzo won grade .and since eighth grade she was doesn't work into the school schedule."

One person who . helped Amy get more year. If asked to pinpoint his rea- the responsibility to teptest::nt the '97 ·. playing the alto saxophone. Although she would have liked to play the flute in where she is today is her music teacher, son for joining, Franzo admits, "I have senior class on the Student Gov~rnment · no idea. I still ask myself that same ques~ Sollle students wonder if the student t}lird grade, she encountered a setback. Peter Lustig. "He really gave me a chance as a freshman and he helped me tion every time I'm getting set for an government actually works. Hesitantly, prepare for auditions. He's not rigid at event." v: Franzoconfesses that the government is all; he gave me a lot of room to grow as Franzo entertains his fans by allowing · only influential after ' 1hard work and a musician," she remarked. She added himself to choose anywhere from 200 :be\ng· very persi~tent in order for Dr. that Mr. Lustig devotes much of his time meters (in 25.4 seconds) to 800 meters ,: Largp1ann to OCC<:ts!onaHy and reluc'I feel very in control when to his students, coming in at 7:15A.M. (in 2 minutes, 20 seconds) for his race .'. •t:antly compromise:: .. ..

I'm performing .. .! get on Tuesdays and Thursdays. events in indoor and outdoor track. At ·•., .This modest musician, runher, and Like many who go to this school, the conclusion of his rookie year as a Fr~nch..:speakiltg politician adtpits lo nervous at first, but when I Amy's daily commute is lengthy. "It runner, Franzo was awarded .t wo Rookie , being very negative about himself. "For finish, I feel very rewarded.' takes about an hour getting here if I make of the Year trophies. This year, he re- the most part, others are not honest about the right connections, but on the way ceived an Indoor Track Coaches Trophy · my mistakes.Ifi'TJ1 able to point out my home it's usually longer," she said. Amy at the Sports Awards Dinner. · mistakes, I'm abie tocnange what I conHesitant to participate in cross country sider wrong," he explained. Franzo re- "I was going to start taking flute lessons lives on Roosevelt Island with•'her fain the fall of his junior year, Franzo ad- luctantly adrnits he considers himself ... but my teacher thought my arms were ther, mother, and sister Demie. "Every mits he was talked into joining by Jose successfulat this early stage in life, but too weak to carry it," she explained. time I tell people where I live, they ask Melendez, the captain of the team . He quickly adds, "it :c ould always be bet- When she was a freshman at Townsend me if I take that 'red thing,"' ·she said.

Harris, she joined the Concert Band and "I don't. i take the train wherever I have found cross-country to be more challeng- ter:" ing for reasons ranging from the coach He feels however, that he reaches his became one of the first members of the to go. My daily commute is a hassle, but to the workouts to the races. He acknowl- "peak Of greatness" when he plays newly created Jazz Ensemble. Just this it's worth it; though, it's especially hard to get here early for Jazz Ensemble." edges his completion of 3.1 miles in 19 Beythoven's Moonlight Sonata. "I feel I year, Am)' auditioned for and was acAmy says she loves Roosevelt Island . cepted into the All-City Marching Band, miiJUtes, 16 seconds, "I hated the feel- can· communicate my feelings when I ing during the races, but loved the feel- play it. It relaxes me, and relieves me of which puts her among some of the fin- and enjoys living there because of, ing of winning afterwards,". he said. my frustrations as it soothes my soul," est players in the city. The band plays among other things, the nice soccer Winning is an especially important feel- he said. In college, he hopes to continue in the St. Patrick's Day and Columbus fields and its location right in between ing to Franzo, because he considers him- many of his interests, including, of Day Parade every year, it has performed Manhattan and Queens.

"I think my most interesting facet is at Lincoln Center for a Spring Concert, self only a decent runner. He says, ''I course, music.

"So many people, instruments able to it has opened for an auto show at Javits that I have.so many interesting facets!" only improve on personal times, but I am not competitive against other schools come together to form such a beautiful Convention Center and has played at said Amy Kommatas, the student poliin championships." An exhilarating thing. It's like poetry and I like to be a City Hall for a celebration of the Day of tician, writer, artist, musician and aththe Child. A.my attends meetings for the lete. moment for Franzo was becoming the part of it," he said. <J)

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The Classic June 1996

'I!Jit£ MilSIC ~!HS__

•play it again, Sylvia!'

by Gina D'Andrea she said. She designed the ing," said Sylvia. She sings in She's been taking piano les- the chorus and is in the most fencing team's windbreakers, sons at Juilliard, the world-fa- advahced Slofege class Juilliard and the school pennant distribmous music school, since the offers; this is essentially an earuted to Harrisites during the fourth grade and performed at training class dealing with parade to the new school buildthe Archon induction ceremony rhythm, sight-reading, and reading last April. Sylvia regularly last month. She entered this ing orchestral scores in several tutors her friends in math, exyear's plaining, Westinghouse "When they unScience Talent derstimd the Search. She is a material it manager for makes me feel the fencing really good." team. She won Sylvia was the Darcyawarded a plaque for Four Curwin Essay Contest of the Years ExcelEnglish Speak- ' lence in Mathing Union last ematics at the year. She is Baccaleureate Sylvia Yue, seCeremony, as mor. well as .Sylvia ' s numeroous other awards mother is a piano teacher , for science , a nd wh e n Tickling the ivories, senior Sylvia Yue practices on the piano where mathematics, Sylvia showed she has played for several Harris events. and English some interest achievement.

Sylvia's interest in science in the piano when she was four, clefs. has has led to her participation her mother started giving her "Everyone's familiar with the lessons . "I used to hate it...lt was treble and bass clefs, but there in the Science Research elective in her junior year, and in like a lesson every day," said are a whole bunch of others," Sylvia. the Westinghouse competition Sylvia explained . Finally, Sylvia auditioned for Juilliard Sylvia takes a theory class, this year. Sylvia did not make the semi-finalist cut in the conin the fourth grade and made which deals mainly with comtheir pre-college division , but "I posing. test. However, she felt "It's not that important, winning. What didn ' t really appreciate it beSylvia has been a featured cause I was so young," said soloist at several Townsend I got out of my project was more important."

Sylvia. She adds that she saw Harris events. In addition to the the lessons as cutting into her recent Baccaleureate ceremony, Sylvia is thinking about studying environmental engiSaturdays, her time for fun and Sylvia has performed at the Arneering or becoming a doctor. friends . . chon induction, Founder's Day But Sylvia ' s view has in 1994, and also in this year's She will be attending Columbia University in the fall and changed . She is now glad to dedication ceremony. "I wanted she also will be part of the Rabi · have the opportunity to attend to do it. It's part of Townsend Scholar Program, which proJulliard and takes several Harris and the spirit of it," she vides her with guaranteed incourses the re, including a commented. double piano ensemble with a ternships in science. She. also Playing the piano isn't the plans to continue playing friend, a chamber music trio only activity Sylvia enjoys. She chamber music in college. with a clarinetist and a cellist, has been on the fencing team for "When I go to Columbia, I'll and a piano performance class. three years and one of the manfind out what career appeals to "Sometimes I listen to a person agers for"two years. Sylvia also me most," she said. and I get inspired to keep play- likes to draw. "I love to design,"

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o·Eiia scales the music world

by Amy Kommatas As his fingers glide across the ivory piano keys, he makes playing look so simple, so natural. Smiling at the crowd of onlookers, he combines intricate melodies without even looking down to see where his fingers strike the keys . Somehow his solos always seem to tie together, producing one polished product. As is the case with Frank D'Elia himself, he always finds ways to combine his talents to produce a complete result.

Frank starts his musical day early, arriving at school on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7: 15 A.M. to play the synthesizer in

band director Peter Lustig, "I'd like to see his first score and golden record put in the trophy case."

Frank attributes much of his musical success to M r. Lustig.

He's a great musician and he's given me a lot of opportunites he didn't necessarily have to,said Frank.

Inspiration was also found in performer Billy Joel. Frank is often heard experimenting with familiar Joel tunes, adopting them into his own . Spotting Billy Joel on the street, Frank claims "My jaw just dropped . I couldn't say anything at first."

Music isn't Frank's only pas- · sion, though. "I really like com-

All jazzed up before the Senior Prom, Frank D'Elia heads to his piano. the Townsend Harris Jazz Ensemble.

"Frank never fails to surprise me," commented junior Hilary Penney .

Senior Valerie Fristachi agrees . "Everyone drags themselves to jazz, but Frank is always there with solos ready to go," she said.

On days that there isn't jazz rehearsal, Frank is there early to put in extra practice time. "At home I practice anywhere from two hours to five hours- if I'm really inspired, that is."

Frank also plays with the Concert Band, which he has been a member of for two years.

There he plays the synthesizer as well as a variety of other percussion instruments where necessary.

On May 22, 1996, members of the audience of the Spring Concert were treated to the "World Premiere Performance" of a piece composed by Frank. Entitled "Fat Man In The Rain," it was among the highlights of the evening.

Frank's piece was also performed several times on June 13during the Jazz Ensemble lunch band gigs : Commented

puters and technology," he explained . Along with senior Adam Carroll, Frank heads theschool' s technical crew, which regulates the lighting and sound in the auditorium.

Taking a music technology course at Queens College, Frank has already begun his study in his desired field.

Combing both of his talents in music and technology, Frank plans to attend New York University in the fall, majoring inwouldn't you know it?- music technology . ..

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1996

7

News you can use summer movie ·previews

by Demetrios Bertzikis Steven Spielberg, Jan de Bont Okay, so the school year is (Speed), and Michael Crichton over. Now what? Let's see. For behind it, this movie was bound starters there is time for to be a blockbuster. vacation, work, play, and then MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE again more vacation. Whatever (opened May 22): If Harrison you do, wherever you go, that Ford could do it for "The is up to you. But make sure you catch at least one of those highcost, star-studded, many times overrated, mega summer movies .

Every year movie studios augment each movie's working budget, alloting more money for special effects, star's salaries and promotional ventures.

Often, the movie costs more to produce than it yields in box office receipts and other profits.

Each year, the studios count on a blockbuster movie to offset losses created by sub-par movi.es. The perfect time to release this blockbuster movie is during the summer- the time where school and work are in recess and people flock to airconditioned movie houses to escape from scorching heat of the city .

Let's see if this is right: Demi Moore is paid $12.5 million to take her clothes off, Jim Carrey gets $20 million to play a wacky cable installer, and is that the basketball player turned rapper turned movie star, Shaquille Fugitive" why not Tom Cruise O'Neal playing a genie? for another television series?

All together, over I 00 movies The star is sent into a web of will be released this summer. international intrigue in the Many will go as quickly as they high-tech and massively come, but some will stay. And marketed retake of the 60's here, for your enjoyment, are series. the movies expected to outpace DRAGONHEART (opened the rest and storm to the head May 31 ): Dennis Quaid and his of the box office for the summer dragon sidekick (voice by Sean of 1996: Connery) battle a tyrranical TWISTER (opened May 10): ruler in this lOth Century epic Naughty tornadoes send cows fantasy. The movie is flying through the screen . With evidentally similar to 0

Braveheart.

THE ROCK (opened June 7): Commando Ed Harris and Co. capture Alcatraz and hold San Francisco hostage with chemical weapons. Can the FBI's Nicolas Cage and crafty

because of Williams.

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (opened June 21): Victor Hugo's much filmed novel gets the Disney animation treat.

STRIPTEASE (June 28):

DAY

Sean Connery save the day?

THE CABLE GUY (opened June 14): Matthew Broderick is the victim of renegade, overeager cable installer,Jim Carrey. At least it should be funny.

ERASER (opened June 21): Arnold Schwarzenegger is an elite federal marshall who protects Vanessa Williams so she can testify against some powerful foes. If this movie makes money, it will be

Demi Moore needs to appeal the court the decision that has taken away her daughter. She decides to bankroll the proceedings personally by working at a Miami strip club.

INDEPENDENCE DAY (July 3): Aliens invade Congress, blow up the White House. Satire or prophecy?

PHENOMENON (July 3): John Travolta is transformed into an Einst_ein with psychic powers on his 37th birthday.

Freaky.

KAZAAM (July 17): Shaquille O'Neal plays a genie released from a boom box and is eager to help young Francis Capra, who has problems with family and bullies.

JACK (August 9): Robin Williams. Enough said.

Such, at least is the accumulated ,wisdom to be gleamed from watching not the actual movies, but the films' previews. The Hollywood moguls want you to see what they have made. So they flood theaters and television with previews of coming attractions.

Clips from the films are seductively arranged to make something gold plated se,em like real gold.

A memorable catch phrase must also accompany the preview. "Relax you've been erased" (Eraser), or ''I' II juice you" (The Cable Guy) might raise the movies' popularity to a greater level.

The date of release can also make or break a movie. The right timing combined with the right competition plays a significant role on whether a movie succeeds. Movie studios must make sure that they are not movies of the same genre on the same day . Nevertheless, there will be a head-to-head showdown on July 3 as the heavily hyped science-fiction drama Independence Day and John Travolta's Phenomenom are both released.

With positive openings for Mission: Impossible and Twister, this summer movie season shows signs of eclipsing all others.

This newspaper will selfdestruct in ten seconds .. .

Stony Brook encourages women to pursue science career~ (Continued from page 6) right level in their courses.

When it came time for last year's WISE participants to select their math courses, every· single one of the 15 who had had four years of math and science and a 90+ GPA in high school placed themselves in math classes that were one or two levels lower than she could handle.

The 13 students that Ms .

Katkin convinced to take higher level math courses earned A's and B 's. The two students who decided to stay the two levels behind made a C and a D. Ms. Katkin said that it was most likely a result of boredom and laziness, not lack of ability.

"Women sell themselves short. The program recognizes the potential and tries to develop it," said Ms. Katkin.

Dr. Eugene Katz explained to

the students the types of courses science majors are required to take. "I feel that Project WISE should be for all undergraduates. When students attend a large school, it's very easy for them to fall through the cracks. The nice thing about small colleges is that they offer - a support structure.

Project WISE gives you all the great resources of a large university and offers a support system as well: it's the best of both worlds."

"I considered coming to Stony Brook before I heard about Project WISE," commented Gina Hayes, sophomore, Townsend Harris science research student. "Now I'm seriously considering it.

This experience has increased my interest."

After the morning's agenda had been fulfilled all the science research students headed toward Staller Center

where Ellen Baker was to make her presentation.

Dr. Baker, the daughter of Queens Borough President Claire Schuhnan, has been on three space flights and has logged over 686 hours in space.

Last June she was on the first space shuttle mission that docked and exchanged crew members with the Russian space station, Mir. In October of 1989 she went up in the shuttle orbiter Atlantis and in June of 1992 was on board the space shuttle Columbia.

One of her favorite pastimes on board the shuttle flights was to take photos with the special cameras on board. Those on board are usually requested by meteorologists, earth scientists, and scientists of other fields to take pictures of certain global regions.

Dr. Baker took several photos on her last flight of New York City lit up at night. When she

came to one of these slides one that Dr. Baker addressed during her presentation the after answering the question of audience "oohed" and an elementary school student "ahhed.""New York audiences from the audience . are the only ones that can "You can always tell the age appreciate this photo as much of the audience by how lorig it as I do," said...Dr. Baker. takes for thetn to ask that Some of the novelties of question," she said. "It's the fir~t space voyaging are the thing that first graders will ·ask sleeping, eating, and about and the last thin.g that bathroom arrangements. · adults will pull you aside and People on board the shuttle ask you about privately. In any crawl into knapsacks and use case, it's easier in space than Velcro to attach themselves to taking a camping trip on earth." the walls of the shuttle so that "When I was a little girl there they don't float. Dr. Baker weren't any women astronauts; said that it is essential to wear now there are many women in blindfolds when you sleep the field," Dr. Baker because in space it is commented. constantly changing from If you are a woman graduating night to day. from high school and going Dr. Baker said that playing directly to college and are with your food can be fun , but interested in the WISE program, you must be cautious. Food you can contact: Project WISE that escapes your hands might University at Stony Brook wind up harming some piece Physics Building, P 120 Stony of equipment.

Brook, NY 11794-3800 or call The potty issue was the last 516 632-6947.

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teatn deserves Illore Boys seek baseball team Support and recognit~on

~Track

by Justin Fox

by Hugh Reid What team has endured no recognition, complete disrespect, a lack of appreciation, has been totally overlooked, and yet they still put fear into the hearts of their competitors?

To the surprise of many, it is the Boys' Varsity track team. I bet a lot of people did not even know that we had one of those. Despite the fact that there is a low student turnout, the boys' varsity track team has done very well, and hopes to continue to do so. The 1995-96 season both indoor and outdoor has been one of the best ever. Individually, the team finished in the top spots in the Queens division both borough and-city level.

Two of our relay teams finished well in medal contensions during the indoor season and was continuing in its winning ways breaking all time school records in numerous events.

With all the success that the track team has gained over the years, why hasn't anyone taken an active role in supporting the team? Why don't more boys think of joining the Boys' Varsity track team? Is it because they get it confused with cross country, is it because they feel they can't run, is it because they just don't know it exists or is it because students in Townsend

Harris just don't feel that a boys' track team could ever be as successful as a female team?

A common response to why boys won't join the track team is probably one of the ridiculous reasons listed above. Well first of all, the boys' track team has numerous events. If you're not a runner you can try a field event like long jump or any one of the throwing events. It is impossible to assume no talent lies within the male student body because of the various activities performed in the physical education classes in school. Everyone has the ability to participate in track and field.

You just need the motivation and dedication to try something new. Don't be mislead, we're not begging for membership, we just want to be respected as much in our own school as we are outside of school.

Many people reading this article may ask themselves, what can I gain from joing theboys' track team? The track team can offer an athlete learning skills, personal development and preparation for life. Don't let the rumors fool you.

The boys' varsity track team in the school, even with little recognition, the team forges ahead. So join and support it in any of its future endeavors.

The sound of the crack of a bat. The feel of running the bases. The hopes and dreams of the major leagues. All of these feelings could possibly be in the future of the boys' population at Townsend Harris if a group of sophomores get their way. Four sophomore boys, Nick Diunte, Frank Giglia, Andre Williams, and Stephen Schuh, have sent around petitions in hopes of getting a boys' baseball team at the school.

Dean and athletic director Wanda Nix is in the process of trying to fufill the students' wishes, yet feels that the chance of getting a team is slim.

"A baseball team is very expensive.

It costs $8,000 - $10,000 to start a PSAL team, an amount which is hard for us to handle," Nix stated.

She added that many of the students signing the petition might not be committed to playing for the team, and that signatures do not always mean anything. Yet, Nix also said that she likes the idea of having a boys' baseball team.

Diunte, who started the petitioning, disagreed with Nix's remarks. "We have a lot of guys in the school who want to, and have the abilities to play . I am sure that we would give 100 percent, and play hard,"he said. "We simply want to play baseball. We deserve a chance," said Giglia.

Soccer team succumbs in sight of championships

by Amy Kommatas They were ranked number two in the city. Their rivals from Totten ville High School, who were ranked number one had j\Jst been eliminated from the playoffs by New Dorp High School. For a brief moment in time, the Girls' Varsity Soccer team were the ones to beat and highly favored to win it all. Their dreams of victory were cut short on June 5, with

a loss to Sheepshead Bay with a score of2-l. The girls haven't lost hope. With only two seniors graduating, Terry Grecsek and Stephanie "Boomer" Boumakis, the girls will be returning in the Spring with seasoned players. As Mr. Hanson often says,"If we all improve our playing skills by just a notch, we can win the Championships next year."

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