The Classic newspaper Volume 13 Issue no. 5 by The Classic

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.. Townsend Harris High School at Queens College

149-11 Melbourne Avenue. Flushing, NY 11367

Senior prank goes sour; dinosaur destroyed · by Amy Kommatas '-'Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill its blood!" This quotation, from William Golding's Lord of the Flies, can be likened to the scene in the lobby on Monday, June 16, as a group of six or seven seniors threw Harold, the school dinosaur constructed from aluminum cans, from the front of the school building toward the atrium. · Princip~l Malcolm Largmann drew this analogy to Lord of the Flies since he envisioned the scene in the lobby as one of group hysteria, with students chanting, "Toss it over! Toss it over!" The prank started off as a preplannedjoke, with hundreds of lemons strewn across the lobby floor, an obvi-

ous play on Dr. Largmann's statement made in January of 1995, when, upon

announcing the cancellation of the Feb- ter the event, the seniors sat in silence ruary 1995 move to the new building, for over 10 minutes before the adminishe said, "Make trators spoke a word. "This event was a · lemonade if disgrace to the Ephebic Oath. In short it you're handed was disgusting," said Sheila Orner, Asa lemon." A sistant Principal of Guidance to the sebag· of lemons niors that afternoon. "We just wanted was attached to ' to leave our mark," explained senior the principal's Jason Mandl. "I guess we just took it a door with a little too far, though." note that allegUntil the perpetrators confessed, Dr. edly read, - Largmann considered cancelling the "Make your senior party and more importantly, reown lemon- voking all 250 Townsend Harris· enade." dorsed honors diplomas. "It is truly a travesty that we [will] During the After plunging one story to his death, a destroyed Harold lay in shambles in all have to suffer for the acts of a few," senior meeting the courtyard on June 17. continue.d on p. 2 just minutes af-

Appel ambivalent about retirement Sweetin to become 'not so busy' by Kate Rube wants," she will return two days a week After a 30 year teaching career, As- next year, which will allow her to stay sistant Principal of Science Susan Appel involved in the many activities she curis retiring. A biology teacher irt rently organizes, supervises, and particiTownsend Harris since 1984, Ms. 'Appel pates in. The research program wi'11 remain a has "mixed feelings" about her decision to retire, a decision which Was only fi- top priority with her; she will continue nalized in the last few weeks. Though she had been contemplating re.;.: tirement for ·c"' ~ months, Ms. Appel was unsure if she really wanted to leave everything she loves about teaching - her biology classes, her research Assistant Principal of Science Susan Appel, works dilligently on grading students and Regents examinations from her department colleagues. Ms. Garcia and Ms. Appel have co- teaching the Westinghouse elective for ordinated many science activities; both seniors, a course which prepares students have organized the Otto Burgdorf Stu- to enter the prestigious Science Talent dent Research Contest for the last two Search. The first year that the school years, and despite her retirement, Ms. opened, Ms. Appel began instructing a Appel will _continue to co-chair the com- . research class, and one of her students petition. went on to become a finalist However, for Ms. Appel, retirement in the Westinghouse · science will not mean permanent absence from competition. continued on p. 2 the school. "Getting what every teacher

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MetroCards replace passes Page3

by Beth Citron as Mr. Sweetin has," Ms. Schwartz said. "I'm leaving while I love it. I love the Although Mr. Sweetin enjoys his roles kids and staff," said Thomas Sweetin, as Senior Council and yearbook adviEnglish teacher and Senior Class Advi- sor, they have kept him constantly busy. sor about his retirement this year. According to Senior Ronit Schwartz, Though he still loves teaching, Mr. yearbook Editor-in-Chief, "This man is Sweetin decided to retire this year so incredible. He comes in at 7:30 every that he could pursue other things in his morning and he's been here with us unretirement, such as reading, travel, and til 10 at night. Anytime I n~ed him, I the renovation of his house- "supervis- call and he's here. He's so willing to ing it," he added; "I don't know a spade help us out on weekends and vacations." from a shovel." Mr. Sweetin has been the yearbook and Senior Advisor since the first senior class was graduated I 0 · years ago. Although he has managed both positions for the past 10 years, they will Senior advisor Thomas Sweetin helps Senior Monica Patel choose a be split into two photo for the yearbook. next year. History teacher Maria Vita will be the new In fact, one weekend, when he was in'' yearbook advisor and health teacher the building to work on the yearbook, Ellen Schwartz will be the Senior Ad- Mr. Sweetin discovered the flood that visor. ''I'm looking forward to the chal- ruined the gym floor (seep. 3). Because lenge that this new position will bri'ng ... he was in the building, the custodial staff continued on p. 8 I'm hoping that I can do the job as well

College Statistics Pages 4-5

Imagination workshop Page6

Seniors' college destinations Page? -

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.. .... The Classic

June26, 1997

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Dinosaur prank was vandalism, not joke On Monday, June 16, a crowd of seniors, intending to start a Harris tradition, decided to throw lemons around the lobby as a final poke at Principal • Malcolm Largmann 's by now cliched expression, "When you're given lemons, make lemonade." The prank escalated into a disgraceful act of destruction when a group of students hoisted up Harold, the tin can dinosaur constructed by members of Students for the Preservation of the Earth (S.P.E.) a few years ago, and threw him over the wall near the front entrance of the school'l"'Harold landed in the courtyard and was demolished. The incident began as a joke, but it ended with the vandalism of our school

and a lack of respect for each other. The lemons were funny; destroying Harold ' was wrong. A senior prank is intended to give the seniors a final laugh and a chance to defy authority, not as a punishment to the rest of the school community. It's not funny any more once it becomes something that can hurt others. The destruction of Harold showed a total lack of concern for other Harrisites - not only for those who worked hard to build him, but also for those who came to view him as a symbol of the creativity and caring of Townsend Harris. · The administration was very angry with the seniors, and Dr. Largmann threatened to cancel the senior party and

deny them all Townsend 'ftarris endorsed diplomas if no one came forward admitting to destroying Harold. While we so often accuse the administration of being overzealous in doling out punishment, in this case they were justified. If the prank had been a harmless knock at the staff, it might have been accepted in good fun, but it took the form of a stab at fellow students, and at the Ephebic Oath, which each of us has recited on Founder's Day. At the very least we should be able to live up to the Ephebic Oath by regarding our "comrades" and all that is important to them with simple human respect. It's not too much to ask. If those who were responsible did not confess,

then there would have been nothing else for the administration to do but punish the entire senior class, though it fortunately never came to that. As students in one of the best schools in the city, we are responsible for living up to high expectations, not just academically, but morally. Just as it's our responsibility to know the difference between a conjugation and a declension, it's also our responsibility to know'iright from wrong. The administration has every right to expect that ·we know these basics as we are all intelligent human beings. If we want to act recklessly and hurtfully, then maybe we need to examine ourselves and decide if Townsend Harris is really where we belop.g.

Apology for senior prank· Senior prank goes sour To the Editor: A powerful feeling of seniority comes with being the graduating class. This instinct does not always prove beneficial to the school's community. Let it be understood that we have tisrespected ou£ feUow students afl€1 teachers by contributing to the destruction of the dinosaur sculpture. We would tike to apologize for our actions to our school and especially to all those who helped create this fine work of art. This is an instance of the abuse of pride in seniority. It was completely irrational and stupid. We only hope that this wnl not be taken as an example for other Harrisites. It has not brought any enjoyment nor respect to us or our friends. Please understand that this should never be condoned nor imitated because of the harm that it has done to our school. We have realized that taking the responsibility for this was the best way to show our understanding that what we did was immoral and demonstrate

regret for our actions. Ana ironical:ly, it felt gooo telling the truth by confessing tnat it was us. Tile damage to Harold was not only the vandalism of a piece of art, the de&truetion ef the symbol of our Townsend Harris cemm,u nity. The sculpture demgnstrated the cencem and goo<i heartedness of the students who created it. It showed the best side of What Townsend Harris couild offer. We cannot apologize enough fer destroying this great accotnplislmlent and for damagin~ the _carl~~ ~nvjron ment ofTOwn:sena Harris: It is evident that a dil;ig~nt amount of work and fantastic talent had generously been given towards the creation of a candinosaur sculpture. We hope that the eommunity service which we will prQvide wiU mitigate the elamage that we have done. We do not want our underclassmen to view this 9eha:rior as reflective of the rest of the senier ctass. We are truly sorry for our ootions. - Mike & Tom Palma

aut

Appel ambivalent about retirement continued from p. 1 perhaps eventually going back to school Principal Malcolm Largmann praised to take courses. She has no definite plans Ms. Appel for her "trememndous talent though, just waiting "to see what tomorin research" and Ms. Garcia said the re- row brings." Though she is glad to leave search program is what her long-time behind all the clerical work that her pofriend and colleague will be remembered sition as A.P. required, Ms. Appel will for most. miss being involved with students' Ms. Appel will continue her work projects and lives. · with the New York Biological Teachers The search for a new Assistant PrinAssociation, where she serves on the cipal will begin next year, but for the executive board. In past years, she was first term, the position will be filled by in charge of membership of the organi- an interum A.P., someone who is trained zation. This year she helped to coordi- to handle the responsibilities of the job. nate meetings. However, as Dr. · Largmann said, "Ms Continuing to supervise the Quan- AppeL will be leaving a tremendous void tum Cat, the science fiction publication in the science department that will take which she started, will also be on Ms. years to fill." Appel's agenda for next year. Retire"Ms. Appel has been my mentor, my ment will give her the opportunity to best friend, and she represents what sci"come in just to do the things I enjoy." ence is all about. She will still be around, Outside of her .reduced school life, but it won't be the same ... it is terribly however, Ms. Appel would like to travel, · sad," said biology teacher Odile Garcia.

continued from p. 1 everyone walk by arid not say a word?" said senior Franzo Law. Dr. Largmann Senior yreg Alvarez, the former countered that idea, explaining that "this president of Students For the Preservais a community" and when something tion of the Earth, voiced the sentiments goes wrong, Townsend Harris has to deal of many seniors, saying, "I think it is with it as a community. really sad that the people who did this · As of Friday, June 20, four seniors decided to ruin something a bunch of ' confessed to being invo though the seniors built themselves." --..-· · ... d . ~··· ... .· ~ , ked just as hard as the Dr. Largman · , · eonle who de the SPAA quilt or no one would ever ," agreed senior a crew of seniors to rebuild ~old was originally this time, it only took ecause the same cans were used, mely process of crushing and drillsaur over or just heard about the ' but did nothing to stop or report , A mg holes into them was eliminated. The were responsible for this act. 0 custodial team also helped the process "What bothers me the most about this along by mending the broken wooden is that no one thought to go to security frame after the fall. and report this-," said Ms. Garcia. Dr. "With the resurrection of Harold, Largmann agreed, !>aying, "I didn't ex- perhaps there will be a resurrection of pect anyone to lay their body in front of the Ephebic Oath," said physics teacher the dinosaur, but no one thought to con- Phillip Jones. Transported by U-Haul, Harold was tact Leroy or Marlene." "After all, it was only a tin can dino- first displayed at the Museum of Natusaur," Ms. Garcia said. "But the event ral History for a few months before he makes me wonder what the world is was relocated back to Townsend Harcoming to. What if someone were dy- ris. At last count? Harold was composed ing in the middle of the street; would of I ,000 cans. ay

ott~!i,elping

Natalka Palczynski Editor-in-Chief Hope Villella

Townsend Harris High School at Queens College 149·11 Melbourne Avenue, Flushing, N.Y. 11367

Readers are invited to submit letters to the editor. Letters should be placed in Ms. Cowen's ·mailbox iri the general office. The Cla~sic reserve the right to edit all letters. Letters must include name and official class. Names will be withheld upon request.

News Editor

Beth Citron Feature Editor

Amy Kommatas Sports Editor

Erika Zwetkow

George Motakis

Photography Editor

Art Editor

Romina Perrone Business Manager

Jennifer Pare Copy Editor

News Staff: Oominika Bednarska, Helen Haritos, Jenny Mandell, Mark Von Ohlcn, Kate Rube, Rebecca Silver Bose~Je Adenekan, Andrew Goldberg, Karen Halperin, Jcannemaric Hendershot, Christina Lesica, Ncfertiti Lovelace, Eli7.ahcth Mo, 'Stefan Muehlbauer, Rebecca Munoz. Anette Or.techowski, Yana PecherSkaya, Julia Pcrratorc, Alexa

Feature Staff:

Steinberg, Chi a Jung Tsay, Sara Yun

Sports Staff: ·Justin Fox, Mark Yon Ohlen, Alexa Stein~rg, Johnny Wong, Sarah Yun Photography Staff: Erica Carroll, Frank Cherena, Jason Freedman, Arielle Freeman, Mall Gottlieb, Sara Gross,

Athena Lcdakis, Millie Liu, Nancy Luu, Kimhcrly Lydtin, Kathleen Maignan, Sofia Panagiotakis, Emilia Rackowicz, Lisa Schapira, Man:u

Trauzzi, Audley Wilson, Henry Wong, Jason Wu,Young Yoon

Business Staff: Steven Bcnnan, Pmmilla Borhara, Nicole Conroy, Andrew Goldherg,

Dara Goodman, Jan Katz, Nefertiti Lovelace, Amec Mateo, Alexis Mench in, Stefan Muehlbauer, Lois Sejarto, Chi a Tung Tsai, Sara Yun -

Artists:

Matmna Gikuumi, Lucy Hong, Rachel Sperling, Melissa Tinio, Chia Tung Tsai

Advisor - lisa Cowen

Principal - Dr. Malcolm Largmann

3 MetroCards replace former ·New gym floor to be

:!"~~~~~!?~~~on,.~~~~ili~;A:antilieswdent Ready in September

Transportation passes wilf be replaced by MetroCards in early July, as the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) switches over all New York City schools to the new system beginning with all students in ~ummer school. The

the fourth ride. According to senior Jose Melendez, who has been meeting with the.MTA to discuss the implementation of the MetroCards, "This is inevitable and something we'll have to deal with. The added

transfer eacn !{()f9f~ the subway·. other. A pilot mented at all students uJhn·..w,rt

portation rides on the from one day to the next, and after the third ride if a student attempts to use it, the card will register as invalid. The cards will no longer be distributed every month, but bi-annaully at the start of each semester. Students must be careful to protect their cards from damage that would render them useless, and any student who loses it must report it to Mrs. Teutonico so that it can be invalidated. The card will be reissued, although Mrs. Teutonico said it could take weeks. In certain instances, if students requires more than one extra ride they may ask for a four-ride MetroCard. If the principal views it as a necessity, he may

day." any problems with the new system. "I don't see any difference in using MetroCards instead of passes," she said. "If each ride has a transfer, that's enough for one day. How many buses do kids take?" Assistant Principal of Mathematics Harry Rattien said, "It's a good idea and it should work well, but whenever something of this magnitude is st~ted, I'm leary of glitches in the system.': He added that "The MetroCard should help students who need to get on buses and trains due to other school responsibilities and events to do so hassle-free." "If there is additional information or more changes, students will be advised of them," said Mrs. Teutonico.

!Marina, secretary, retires

by Natalha PaleZ)!DSid B'U~abetlil Marina. the seeHtary ai Principal Malcolm Largmann, has been wGrking behind the scenes for file past 13 y~a.rs. Slle is inelued' on this year•s list of retirees aU of wllom have heeD with.Townsend Harris sinGe its opening in 19$4. Ms. Marina cam:e t<> Townsend Hial!ffs. with Dr. Lar~ann when he transfen-ed from Tilden High School as the Assistant Principal ofBngli~. "I thought it would be a challenge and it certainl'}' was;• she said. Ms. Marina cites her b~ggest centributi'0n te the school as ••assisting Dr. Largmann m·the onerous task of putting the sch0oi to-gether rig4:it from the beginning." Alit:l\u<>ugJl sbe 'Jl miss ~is b:ec~c liifestyle and above alii the ••great staff,'' she looks forward te spending more time with her r.eti:red husban-0, two sons, and grandchild. Marina is ef <Spanish origin and has a house in S,p ai,n that she travels back and foFth t0regu:JarJy. Now slile'U be able to travel "at wi-ll." ''I'm sure 111 stilt keep in teu~h with the staff, thoQ;gh;'K she said. "After ~1. I still keep in touch with the S·taff at Ti:Jden.. I have a lot of friends ben~."

by Jennifer Pare and Jeannemarie Hendershot After the _January 19 flood that caused extensive damage to the library, gymnasiu_m, and much of the second and third floors, plans are finally under way to repair the destruction. Demolition began Wednesday, June 4; it was a four to six day process whereby the gym floor was stripped of

dards," said Mr. DiGiacomo. The whole floor must be replaced now in a job that will be very costly for the School Construction Authority. Plans for a dry sprinkler system in the library have also been drawn up in . the hopes of preventing another flood. In January, the uninsulated pipes of the sprinkler system froze and then expanded. Once the water in the pipes

The planks of the former flood-ruined gym floor lie in disarray.

all the old wood. The floor will now have a two-week drying period when no work will be·done. According to Custodial Engineer Joseph DiGiacomo, "There was a moisture problem with the floor; a lot of water was locked into the floor after the flood. You can't lay a new floor unless it is completely dry underneath." The target date for completion of the floor was initially in six weeks, on August 15, but this date is subject to change depending on labor disputes or other incidents that might possibly arise. Once installation is complete, a paint special. ist will. come in to paint foul lines and courts. The final step in the process will be three coats of polyurethane applied by a special crew. Even though there was only one section that was seriously damaged, the water still warped the floor boards too severely for gym use. "The floor would be good for something like a house or a dance hall, but it didn't match gym stan-

melted, it made its way through ah unfastened sprinkler head. With the dry system, there would be no water flowing through the pipes in the library. In the case of a fire, a reaction sensor would be activated o~ce the temperatu-re reached 165 degrees Farenheit. Water would then flow through the pipes and come out through the sprinklers. "It would have to be a real fire in order for the system to be activated," said Mr. DiGiacomo. When the school was originally being built, DiGiacomo tried to persuade the contractors to install a dry sprinkler system, "It took a lot of aggravation for them to do what was suggested initially, but they will finally be installing one," he said. Wood-floor specialists will b~ completing the job. They have done gymfloors for several other schools. "They seem very competent; Dr. Largmann, Mr. Rattien, and I are all very comfortable with them," said Mr. DiGiacomo.

Baccalaureate awards seniors' excellence by Beth Mattucci Seniors, their families, and faculty members crowded the Queens College Colden Center Auditorium on the night 'of June 10, as the class of 1997 received various awards honoring excellence in academics, leadership, and service. Seniors received recognition in areas ranging from 100% attendance to service and leadership awards. Departmental awards were given out as well, recognizing students' achievements in art, foreign languages, humanities, mathematics, music, physical education, science, and research. They were not told ahead of time which accolades they

would receive, leaving an element of surprise. Marilyn Blier, College Counselor said, "It's a night when the stars come out. " Exactly 177 stars were honored at the Baccalaureate ceremony - just about 70% of the senior class. Besides the presentation of awards, the Baccalaureate ceremony also featured a choral performance. Under the direction of Florence McKinley, who also accompanied the chorus on the piano, they sang "God Help the Outcasts" and "No Man Is An Island.'' Senior Franzo Law on the trumpet and senior Nellie Andarawis provided a musical in-

terlude, performing "Concerto in F Minor" by Handel. At the close of the ceremony, Principal Malcolm Largm.ann presented Valedictorian, Cory Polonetsky, and Salutatorian, Jennifer Belo, with their sashes for the graduation cert>;mony, which was held on June 24 in Colden Auditorium at 7:30. Many seniors had positive comments to share about the evening. Senior Dimitrios Papanagnou ,said, "The Baccalaureate ceremony was a nice event. It rewarded students for their merit, service, and dedication. The class won a truckload of awards. Go us!" Jennifer

Belo agreed, saying, "I feel that the awards given out at the Baccalaureate ceremony represent a lot of hard work on behalf of each individual. It served as a time during which many students received recognition for their effort and hard work." Due to organizational problems, certain certificates were given out to students the next day in school. Also, some seniors had their names called for awards they previously received. Senior Jennifer Kroell said, "I thought all the awards should have been given out I only got to stand when my name was called."

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College statistics: a clue PRIVATE

APPUED

ADELPHI

' AGNESSCOTT

ALFRED UNIVERSITY

LOWAVERACC

ALBRIGHT COLLEGE

ACCEPTED

82 80 (SA)

VIM SAT

540/540 530/390

670/640

nomo

BARNARD COLLEGE"

BATES COLLEGE

BARD

BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEG~

90 92 93 79 .

680/670

670noo

C\01610

89(WL)

600/670

740/800' 540/580

BOSTON COLLEGE

600/670

94 (WL)

6501620

BOSTON UNIVERSITY

6501670

89 (WL)

590/570

BOWDOIN

700/690

710/560

590/570

BRANDEIS

BRIGHAM YOUNG

750n10

BROWN UNIVERSITY .,

74onoo

720/670

90 (SA)

6701640

91 (SA)

650/610

BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY

6101630

CALIFORNIA (LA), UNIVERSITY OF

650/650

CALIFORNIA (SAN DIEGO) UNIV. OF

590/600

C.W. POST-LIU

530/320

CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY

720/680

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA

570/500

CHICAGO, UNIVERSITY OF

700/690

CLARK ATLANTA

570/610

CLARK UNIVERSITY

78 92 .

600/620

COLGATE

6sonoo

COLBY COLLEGE

COLUMBIA (ARTS & SCIENCES)

COLUMBIA (ENGINEERING)

550/610

nonoo

96 94

550/800

600/610

630/640

550/610

CONNECTICUT, UNIVERSITY OF

630/500

COOPER UNION

61onoo

COPPIN STATE COLLEGE

540/550

CENTENARY COLLEGE

530/540

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

67onoo

DAEMEN COLLEGE

. 93

660/680

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

93 ·go (SA)

740/800 650/610

640/630

" 4

DUKE UNIVERSITY

EMORY UNIVERSITY

DELAWARE, UNIVERSITY OF

670/620 720/670

CONNECTICUT COLLEGE

610/630

600/610

720/670 670nt0

93 (WL)

nonoo

710/600

EUGENE LANG

680/440

FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY

19onoo

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON

540/670

FORDHAM UNIVERSITY

570/510

FRANKLIN & MARSHALL

610/630

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

82 (SA)

540/550 740/8.00

64on30

650/670

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

6sonoo

87 (SA)

600/560

3 1

ITHACA cARTS. & SCIENCES JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

1 6

JOHNSON & WALES

KENYON COLLEGE

2 •

KINGS COLLEGE

LEHIGH

LONG ISLAND UNIV. -BROOKLYN

LOYOLA OF MARYLAND

6 2

MANHATTAN

MANHATTANVILLE

MARIST

MARYLAND, UNIVERSITY OF - "

1 '

MARYMOUNTMANHATTAN

6 •

MASSACHUSETTS INST. OF TECH.

MIDDLEBURY

MICHIGAN, UNIVERSITY OF

MOLLOY

MOREHOUSE

MOUNT HOLYOKE

MASSACHUSETTS, UNIVERSITY OF

MT. SAINT MARY COLLEGE

COLLEGE OF MT. SAINT VINCENT

MUHLENBERG

NAVY ROTC

NAZARETH

NEW YORK INST. TECH

1 1 4

NYU

NORTHEASTERN

4 1 1

NORTHWESTERN

NOTRE DAME, UNIVERSITY OF

OBERLIN COLLEGE

NEW ENGLAND, UNIVERSITY OF

N. CAROLINA, UNIV. OF CHAPEL HILL N. CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIV.

ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY

PACE UNIVERSITY

1.4

_PENN STATE

PHILADELPHIA COLL. OF PHARM.

PITTSBURGH, UNIVERSITY OF

PENN., UNIVERSITY OF

A&S

PENN., UNIVERSITY OF A&S PENN. (SCHL OF NURSING) 83

570/420

POLYTECHNIC

POMONA

PRINCETON

PROVIDENCE

QUINNJPIAC

5 2

,, 14

11 1 1 44

9 1 1

670/620

550/580

HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE

510/550

HAMPTON COLLEGE

560/590

SACRED HEART

HARTFORD, UNIVERSITY OF

590/500

ST. FRANCIS

HARTWICK COLLEGE

750/540

ST.JOHN'S

82(SA)

540/540

SARAH LAWRENCE

SCRANTON, UNIVERSITY OF

0 1

RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INST. 94

540/660

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

73on4o

720nt0

HAVERFORD COLLEGE

670nt0

7201670

SIENA COLLEGE

570/610

SKIDMORE

530/530

SMITH

HOLYCROSS

84 (SA)

580/630

HOWARD UNIVERSITY

INDIANA, UNIVERSITY OF

90 (SA)

RUTGERS

SEATTLE UNIVERSITY

IONA UNIVERSITY

ROCHESTER, UNIVERSITY OF

SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY

HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY

NYU-STERN

540/430

·1

NYUA&S

HAMILTON COLLEGE

GRINNELL COLLEGE

" . 94

APPUED ACCEP1

ITHACA- P.T. PROGRAM

6601500

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

PRIVATE

SAT -VIM

550/550

AMHERST COLLEGE ARIZONA, UNIVERSITY OF

HIGH AVER REJ

79onoo

. 620/570

A Special Admit refers to an individual possessing one or more of the following characteristics deemed advantageous by the university: gender, ethnicit]

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the admissions process

LOWAVERACC 91

94 82 91 84 94 80

86 '

I I I

I I

STEVENSINST.OFTECH SWARTHMORE

5801540 600/690 620/510 620/570

540/670 '

APPUED ACCEPTED 1

1 1 1 1 0

1 1 1

2 ,·

------ f------"--

SYRACUSE (NEWHOUSE) SYRACUSE

TAMPA, UNIVERSITY OF

630/590

9 1

85 82

640/600 540/540

540/490 6201570

0 1

6201570

TOWSON STATE

580/560

TUFTS

84 (SA)

6401600

85 '

590/590 590/520 710n30

92 89 88 85

7001690 600/670 550/550

63Q/630

TULANE

77 94 85

6501690

640/600

5501550

530/410

7501540

640/600 6601680

570/610

83 90(SA)

660/500

59Q/670 580/590 620/360

550/610 560/510 '

5501460 520/540

5901600 6401600 730r760

90 (SA)

530/530

US MILITARY -WEST POINT (PREP)

US MERCHANT MARINE (PREP) VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY VANDERBILT VASSAR

1 1

1 1 1 1 2

1 2

2 4

630n20

540/650

580/560

7201710

1 3

6 ----------- ------· -----·--

. -· -·--··--

--- ~ · ·

'-·

590/620 640/600

SAT Standards

86 94

550/690 670/710

(Good SAT's: Above 1200)

88 80 92 88

5801560 630/500 540/670 610/630

78 85 75

520/540 6201570 530/440

73 86

530/410 6701620

5701560

I I

82 93 90

600/620 590/570

I I

7301790

90 80

4301620 580/540

660/680

(Binghamton: Above 1250)

Grade Standards Approximate cut-offs: Albany: 84 Binghamton: 90+ Buffalo: 83 Stony Brook: 83 Geneseo: 86 CUNY: Queens College 83 average If average is lower, a correspondingly , higher SAT is needed.

570/560 90(WL) 86(WL)_

540/650 ' 670/620

special talents (musical, athletic), family "legacy."

690/650

92 ---~--------·-

90(SA) 75 93 94

·--·---

530/550 4801630

590/740 570/560 650/700

------------- ~

580/660

90 82 92

7 1 5 9

540/670

92 85

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON, UNIVERSITY OF

7701700

6201610

610/640

86 (SA)

1 2

680/620

1 2

91 (SA)

790/700

630/690

WILLIAM AND MARY, COLLEGE OF WILLIAMS

580/590

WELLESLEY WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

6701640

7501540 7201670

WAKE FOREST

94 85

90 96 · 90 (SA)

6201610

SUNY: UNVERSITY CENTER STANDARDS

6501610 540/550

94(WL)

870/680 6701710

650/610

. 96.5

75 (SAl 83

YALE

570/560

670/680

WISCONSIN, UNIVERSITY OF

96 75 (SA)

VIRGINIA TECH

WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE 89 88 .

6401730 95 91 f-650/850f--,-.------------f--· 86 (SA) 620/610 610/630 88

-----'-·

540/550

88 79 (SA)

VIRGINIA, UNIVERSITY OF

90 90 92

·-.--~-·-·----

UNION COLLEGE

VILLANOVA

710/580 520/730

UTICA COLLEGE AT SYRACUSE

. .

660/680 600/620

78 .

92 85{SA)

550/690 550/800

------------- r-·--..-- --- . .

SAT -V/14

----·------ f - - · - - - · 92

1 1 10 3

HIGH AVER REJ ·

5801570 600/650 6001620

TEMPLE . 630/510

VIM SAT 5801460

TEXAS (AUSTIN), UNIVERSITY OF 74

LOWAVERACC 77 (SA) . 87 93 (SA)

~-·---·--

6801650

660/670

620/460 69onso

PRIVATE SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY SPELMAN COLLEGE STANFORD

SAT-VIM 540/590

6201620

89 90

HIGH AVER REJ 92

94 94 93

I I

V/MSAT 5701520 5401650 550/800

82 93

--·-91(sAi_____ · 92 95 91 (SA)

640/600

620/640 93 92 ---··------·· ~.!!~~

670/700 6701640 630/510 740/800 6701710 94 750/760 ·---· - · f---· .. ---.------- ---- .·-------···-690/760 5901600 7701700 96 730/7.f0

-·----

610n4o

. by Hope Villella The class of 1997 is on their way. After four years of high school, they are about to enter a new world of college life. After going through the rigors of the application process, they have decided where to go and are off to 79 different colleges and universities. According to college counselor Marilyn Blier, there were some very definite standards for SAT grades to which colleges, particularly private ones, seemed to adhere: She explained that schools such as Boston University looked for board scores(SATs) of at least 1200, schools like New York University wante'tl at least a 1300 and the Ivies and other very prestigious schools looked for students with scores of 1400 and above. This year, SAT scores around the country were higher than ever, making for a·very competitive admissions process, Mrs Blier added. Even with all the stiff competition, the 1997 senior class was awarded over I 7 .I million dollars in financial aid and scholarships. The schools that that the senior class will be attending are widely diversified, ranging from small liberal arts colleges to tech~ nological schools to large universities. Many students will be attending college with their fellow graduates, with as many as 29 attending NYU, 19 going to Fordham, and 17 to St. John's University. Others will be leaving all their classmates and heading off to schools such as Mount Holyoke, Stanford University, and Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT) where they will be the sole Harris alumni in their freshman class.

'1'

The Classic June·26, 1997

Dreamworks sparks imagination by Annette Orzechowski In an age when we now turn on the television instead of opening a book, when Seinfeld is preferred over Shakespeare when people would rather send E-mail than compose an Epic poem, some critics of America's yquth state that imagination as we know it is dead. Creative-thinking, they say has been slaughtered by cable and other forms of instant amusement. But entering Harris hallways this year and stepping into selected classrooms, one would notice the mini-thought revolution that a program, call!(d Dream works, is slowly spreading through our classrooms, · sparking imaginations that are nowhere near dead . "The [goal ofDreamworks] is to look at the nature of the imagination as it exists in all subject matter and help students see imagination as an intricate part of thinking," said Richard Lewis, noted author and head of the Dreamworks workshops:"Reading Between the Lines: In Search of the Imagination." Mr. Lewis leads the Touchstone Center, an educational organization dedicated to bringing an imaginative approach to all

Harris staff participating in the program. Steve Clorfeine, performing actor, writer, ~nd director, worked on drama projects with Debra Michelwitz, lisa Cowen, and Harriette Blechman's English classes. Mr. Clorfeine

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for you," he said. "Knowledge is not a linear experi- . ence, but a constant process. It . is enhanced by the imaginati~?n ." Sculptor Elizabeth Crawford worked with Assistant Principal of Science · Susan

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A class collaboration created in clay depicts the differentiation of cells. It was inspired by sculptor Elizabeth Crawford's work with the biology classes of Susan Appel and Odile Garcia.

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tion is a place bet~een the conciousness of reality and the state of dreaming. In your imagination you are allowed to decide the outcome of events. In your imagination you can be whoever you want, making it slightly more dreamy than realism, " wrote one student on the survey. Last semester English teacher Debra Michlewitz's English 1 classes constructed a "fertile" rain forest bulletin board in connection with their study of magic realism. Other teachers got in on the act in-

eluding Ms. Schwartz whose classes worked with health-related pieces ofliterature, creating original-poems and interpreting them in a variety of personal and artistic ways. "Working with the staff of the school has been stimulating to me because of their commitment to teaching," said Mr. Lewis. As one Word Processing student stated in the survey, "Without the imagination we would not know the things we know today. Imagination separates man from animal. It defines us. It's who we are."

Sophomores Karen Gluck and Amalia Katehis perform a scene from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night'.f Dream in the cafeteria courtyard. Their-English 4 class learned how to stage scenes in sessions with actor/direct(\!" Steve Clorfeine.

areas of the curriculum. Marvin Leiner, Appel and Odile Garcia's invited Mr. Lewis to conduct the work- biology classes in deshops which faculty members from the signing art labs. Accordmany departments have been attending ing to freshman Patricia once a month for the past two years. "I Maloney, " We designed felt that in a school like Harris with fo- the different stages of micus on achievement, we must be alert to tosis through clay. Havwhat we can do to encourage the use of ing a visual aid was helpthe imagination," said br. Leiner. ful." Another freshman, Looking for creative curriculum · Elizabeth Yoon, said," I projects for staff development and di- understand the stages of rect activities, Dr. Leiner approach~d embryonic development Mr. Lewis because he was familiar with clearer than before. It his work at I.S. 227. "[Dr. Leiner] asked was a mixture of fun and me if I would be interested in working education." on a high school level," said Lewis. "The Writing in response to ·marriage," as Dr. Leiner put it, was then a survey about the imagibrought together with the hope that other nation, lisa Cowen's schools would adopt the program. Word Processing class Two artist teachers were provided by elaborated on its atthe Touchstone center as consultants for tributes . "The imagina-

L.._ ____

--- -

Representation of a fetus: this clay sculpture, designed by freshman Patricia Maloney, is one of the many projects developed in conjunction with the Dreamworks workshops.

.... 26, 1997

w ·h·o's going where? Class of 1997 . Julie Abraham Amy Abramowitz Natalia Agudelo Sabrina Ahmed SowmyaAlex Eduardo Alvarado Gregory Alvarez NainaAlves Nelly Andarawis Nicole Anello Frank Angelini Vito Antuofermo Renallie Arcinas Cosmin Ardeljan Jennifer Arnold Ani Aydin Ravi Balani Jason Bandel Glenn Barretto Justin Basile Jennifer Belo Demetrios Bertzikis Richard Berzansky Irene Biniaris David Bleichfeld Nicole Bruno Rachel Burek Dawn Byrne Franklin Campos Erica Carroll Michael Castro Samantha Chan David Chau Pamela Chhabra Diane Chin Benjamin Chiu Meansik Choi Sunny Chow Gilson Clarke Nicole Cohen Shahna Cohen Tarsha Cowan Gae Cristobal Caroline Cross Imani Cummings Despina Dallas Derrick Davis Eugene DePasquale Mirella deRose Stephen Dobies Allison Duggan Lisa Ebe Michael Elahi Tara Eliason .Coral Eng Liza Engesser Lauren Fabricant Kelly Falco Roseann Fana Jennifer Feder Adrien Fincke! Ricardo Flores Joshua Fogel Yuet Ling Foong Nilaja Forde Efrosini Fotopoulos Laurie Fougere Erin Fox Cynthia Freeman Dean Galitis Michael Garber Joseph Gerbasi Julie Gilgoff Doni! Gilkarov Charles Giudice Regina Greenberg Evelyn Gross Suzanne Guarnieri Guiovanny Gutierrez David Haghighi Saeedah Hickman Paola Higuera Joanne Hogan

CUNY: Sophie Davis Clark University SUNY: Binghamton CUNY: Queens CUNY: Sophie Davis CUNY: Queens NYU CUNY: Hunter Columbia University SUNY: Albany SUNY: Albany NYU SUNY: Stony Brook CUNY: Hunter SUNY: Binghamton Barnard College NYU Univ: of Rochester · CUNY: Hunter Boston College Fordham University NYU SUNY: Albany Fordham University SUNY: Binghamton Utica College @ Syracuse NYU Fordham Universi~y CUNY: Queens Kenyon College SUNY: Albany Connecticut College MIT Barnard College CUNY: Queens CUNY: Hunter Middlebury College St. John's University Hofstra University Cornell University Union College Oral Roberts University CUNY: Hunter Hartwick College University of Tampa NYU Morehouse College Haverford College Harvard & Radcliffe Nassau Comm. College St. Francis College NYU Brandeis University Manhattanville College Fordham University LaGuardia Comm. College SUNY: Binghamton Alfred University NYU SUNY: Binghamton Ithaca College Bergen Comm. College Brandeis University Barnard College Hamton College Fordham University CUNY: City College St. John's University SUNY: Buffalo Univ. of Pittsburgh Clark University NYU Barnard College CUNY: Queens SUNY: Geneseo Hofstra University Fordham University St. John's University Fordham University Fordham University CUNY: Baruch NYU St. John's University

Althea Holford SUNY: Albany SUNY: Albany Jesse Honigberg Simone Hoyte George Washington Univ. CUNY: Sophie Davis Nicole Hraniotis Karen Hsueh SUNY: Binghamton CUNY: Baruch Le Xing Hu Paul Im Polytechnic University David Iudica St. John's University St. John's University Fongyu Jan NYU Martin Jankowski U.S. Milit. Acad. West Point Benjamin Johnson Porsche Johnson CUNY: Sophie Davis Schiffon Jones University of Mass. St. John's University Stephanie Josephson Fordham University Christina Juva Fordham University Erica Kapetanakos SUNY: Binghamton Robyn Kaplan Fordham University Maria Karagiannis Harvard &Radcliffe Alexis Karteron Cornell University Brett Katz Syracuse (Newhouse) Melissa Kessler Southern Methodist Univ. Deanna Ketcham-Walters Eusang kim NYU Jungsuk Kim SUNY: Buffalo Amy Kommatas Mount Holyoke College Peggy Kong Cornell University Jennifer Kroell American University Smitha Kunjumone CUNY: Queensboro ·- Syracuse University Hyong Chol Kwon Shiva Lall Polytechnic Univ. Lauren Lang SUNY: Binghamton · Stanford University Franzo Law Columbia University Grace Lee NYU Judy Lee Boston University Ronald Lee Sesame Leonard SUNY: Albany NYU Ruby Leung Pace University Denise Li SUNY: Stony Brook Candice Li Christopher Libby Cornell University Syracuse University Katherine Librie Towson State University Deana Longobucco NYU Jennifer Luk Yale University WinnieMa Alvin Maala NYU Suffolk Coinm. College Angel Maceira CUNY: Baruch John Macropoulos Brown Universfty Kathleen Maignan University of Washington Tracy Maldonado Centenary College Jessica Mallia Emory University Jason Mandl Cornell University Kate Margalit CUNY: NYC Tech Maureen Martinez University of Penn. Beth Mattucci Nassau Com111. College Nery Mazariegos SUNY: Binghamton Cory McCruden Hofstra University Erin McDonnell CUNY: Queens Vanessa Melchiori Oberlin College · Jose Melendez St. John's University Majida Merchant CUNY: Queens Lisa Miller CUNY: Hunter Lauren Mione SUNY: Oneonta Wendy Monterosso NYU Fernando Moreno NYU George Motakis CUNY: Hunter Carol Mui Boston University Ross Muken SUNY: Albany Kazia Musial-Aderer Fordham University Teena Nair Pace University Randy Napiza Wake Forest University Aleia Naylor N. Carolina Central Univ. Deshawn Nelson NYU Christine Nenadovich SUNY: Albany Gary Ngai SUNY: Albany Ryan Omi NYU Adi Ortner CUNY: Hunter Danielle OToole Fordham University Michael Palma Fordham University Thomas Palma' CUNY: Sophie Davis Dimitrios Papanagnou CUNY: Baruch Christina Pappas Syracuse (Newhouse) Jennifer Pare ·SUNY: Binghamton Olga Pashovetsky

Mona! Patel Monica Patel Vijay Patel Yana Pecherskaya Beatriz Peguero Hilary Penney Alejandro Perez Edward Perez-Cortez Siriporn Pethkongkathon Maryann Poblete Cory Polonetsky Nicole Porti · Adriana Puleo Kien Quach Coileen Rainford Emilia Rackowicz Jessica Ramjit Marc Reichelsheimer Hugh Reid Debra Reuter Michael Rios Marc Rosefort Lori Ruggiero Shihadah Saleem Henry Salinas . Michel Santana Jeffrey Santos Jennifer Schain Lauren Schatz · Ellen Schnabel Rpnit Schwartz Nisha Shah Lauren Sharett Jerome Sherman Lillawatte Shiwram Juan Silva Jennifer Sobrino Adrienne Socci Anne Socci JuYon Song Pratima Sood Rasahn ·Staley Katerina Stavropoulos ·Kara Stevens Amy Stockman Despina Strombous Stephanie Strzeszewski Sperry Sukhu Megan Thomas Omolara Thomas Melissa Tinio Ariana Torchin , Bryan Torres_ Erin Troy Mark Tsai Alexandros Tsakidis David Tse Nicole Tuzio Anastasia Tzortzatos Veronica Valasek Romy Varghese Ruby Varghese Claudia Viggiano Monique Wheeler Jennifer Wolf Cindy Wong Sam Wong Stephanie Wong Maria Wormack Stacie Wortman Lakiea Wright Jinyi Wu Ling Ilana Yagudaev Oren Yavin Kimberlee Yee RyuYokoi TinaYuen George Zapantis Weijian Zeng Georgia Zervas XueYu Zhou

CUNY: Sophie Davis S.UNY: Binghamton SUNY: Buffalo University of Pennsylvania SUNY: Stony Brook SUNY: Cortland CUNY: Queens Cornell University NYU St. John's University Cornell University Fordham .U ni versi ty University of Rochester St. John's University CUNY: Baruch University of Rochester St. John's University CUNY: Queens Northeastern University SUNY: Stony Brook Pace University Brown University Boston University Alfred University NYU St. John's University SUNY: Albany Barnard College SUNY: Albany Ithaca College University of Penn. Phil. College of Pharmacy Brown University Vassar College St. John's University Cornell University Holy Cross Amherst College Cornell University CUNY: Hunter NY Institute of Technology CUNY: Baruch Fordham University Oberlin College SUNY: Geneseo Fordham University CUNY: Queens St. John's University Barnard College CUNY: Sophie Davis CUNY: Baruch University of Virginia St.John's University Williams College SUNY: Stony Brook CUNY: Baruch Cooper Union St. John's University Hofstra University Fordham University NYU NY In st. of Technology NYU Brown University SUNY: Binghamton •· SUNY: Albany St. John's University SUNY: Binghamton. University of Pennsylvania SUNY: Binghamton NYU NYU Long ISland Univ. @ Bklyn Washington University SUNY: Binghamton Williams College CUNY: Hunter College CUNY: Quuens Cooper Union Fordham University NYU

8 Biener passes COSA torch to Garcia Sweetin set by Jeannemarie Hendershot Ms. Garcia to be the new COSA. "I had As COSA (Coordinator of Student been offered the job six years ago, but I Activities) Judy Biener passes her torch couldn't do it then, so this time I said on to biology teacher Odile Garcia at · yes," she said. the end of this school year, both are exMany people are wondering how Ms. periencing mixed emotions. For Ms. Garcia will be able to juggle all of her Biener, the task of cleaning out her of- activities; she is presently the advisor

Science teacher and Archon advisorOdile Garcia adivises Archon members on plans for next year.

fice has been very therapeutic and has forced her to organize for Ms. Garcia. As for taking on another responsibility; Ms. Garcia claims to be "nervous, but certainly glad!" These past few weeks have proven to be very eventful for Ms. Garcia. She was recently named "Biology Teacher of the Y~ar" by the Association of Biology Teachers, an award her colleague, Susan Appel, received last year. Along with this, Dr. Malcolm Largmann asked

of Archon, Students for the Preservation of the Earth, Save the Children, Amnesty International, and takes on a variety of other tasks, not to mention teaching biology and chemistry classes. "I will have to maintain Archon," she said, "but I hope to find people to take over some of the other activities." "Learn to say 'no' to some activities," was one of Ms. Biener'stips for Ms. Garcia. Ms. Biener also advises Ms. GarCia to "write everything down." Ms.

Biener says that she will be available to guide Ms. Garcia through the first few months of the job. As Ms. Biener reflects on her six years as COSA, she says the two things she will miss the most are her office and the students. "My favorite part about being COSA is the kind of contact I've had with the kids; I might never have that again," she said. "They can be so amusing and. funny at times; I really liked hearing their points of view." But she says she won't miss the madness of October with Halloween, the Mixer, and Founders' Day. The job of COSA, according to Ms . Biener, gets easier through experience. "Now that I finally know what I'm doing, it's time to leave!," she says. Being a full-time teacher again is one thing to which Ms. Biener looks forward. She jokes, "Ms. Michlewitz says I'll be more tired marking papers and standing on my feet all day." Plans for next year's activities are already under way, according to Ms. Garcia. "The executive board of the SU 'd f b an d a11. of th e pres1 ents o c1u s met one Friday afternoon and brainstormed for two and a half hours," she said, "and we are all meeting again in August to decide what to do next year." Although dances and having fun are important concerns, Ms. Garcia wants to reinforce that the COSA is about a lot more than dances. " We have to remember that it is about service too," she said.

Socci twins double their success by Kate R.ube There are always t\yo or tin:~ in every sch00l. With perfect grades, var~ sity sports, and a daily schedule of events that would take you twe weeks alone to m~morize, they do it all. Yet when they are as warm and friendl¥ as twin sisters Annie and Adrienne Socci, it's hard net to li"ke them. Adrienne's latest accomp:Hshment, winning the coveted Pegaus award, came after she and Annie led the gir1s' soccer team t'O the semifinals for the third year in a row. Given to the best female senior from each Putlic School Athletic League te·am, Adrienne was the fwst Townsend Harris student e.v(}r to receive the Pegasus award. Srica Carroll was also awarded the honor this year for her efforts on the swim team. The twins most noted spol'ts accomplishment, though, came during the volleyball season, when the two co-captains swept the team into the ·finals and then seized the championship from Bronx Science. "We've always been very athletic." said Adrienne, wbo played bask.etbal'l and baseba)l in all-bey leagues whi1e in junior high and was co-captain of the Varsity l>asketball team this year. During the winter season, Annie concentrates on volleyba11, which she feels

is '-'the most important thing" in her lite, by playing for the Long Island Big Apple Volleyball Club. However, these two seniors shine in a dazzling array of activities beyond just athletics. ft doesn't seem as though there are enough hours in the day to do it all, but somehow the Socci's manage- and manage welt Excelling in just one 0f their many activities would be a ootable accomplishment, .but Annie and Adrienne l>rush 0tfthe.ir talents modestly. ''I wal\k around llke a zombie semetimes, puH one or twa atl-oighters to get through," said Annie. Bcth admitted that they have always "done everything.; ' but that their busy schedules have been worth it. A lot has changed since elementary scllool. when Annie was considered the artistic one and Adrienne the athlete. ·~It's evened out," explained Annie. New they're the ..dynamic duo,'' as volleyball teammate Kristin Candan called them. Different as they were several years ago, though, even then people managed to get them mixed up. "It was like a syndrome," said Adrienne, "Once people found out that we were twins, they would start getting our names wrong." Six years later, there is no confusing the twins:, although lt may be hard to rememtler which one is Arista•a treasurer and which is the Vice President. It actually took a new member of the volley-

l>al'l team almost two weeks to realize that Annie and Adrienne were sisters. let alone twins. After 13 years of school together, they will be heading to different colleges come September, Annie going to Cornell and Adrienne to Amherst . Although they are both interested in geology and conservatien, Adrienne is leaning towards. majoring in p<:>litical science. Annie spent last summer at ComeJI participating in the Environmental Science Intern Program. During the sixweek internship, Annie worked on a project which explored the use of safer chemical repetlents for birds. Besides getting a Westinghouse paper out of the experience, her interest in the environmental sciences was strengthened and Comell became one of her tGp col· lege choices. Adrienne was at a Unitarian camp in the Adirondacks last summer; being separated must bave given them a taste of what college will be like next year. However, even though they've shared a room, -a school, and a desk that was the source of many petty fights over the years. Adrienne joked that the "biggest trauma about going t0 different cotleges is having to separate our CD collection." Not surprisiogly, Annie agreed.

for retirement

continued from p. 1 abate the extent of the damage. When asked how he has handled these two time-consuming jobs, he replied, "I am not smarter. I am not faster. I am not more efficient. I am just duller," a quote which is an allusion to the saying, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Despite his retirement, Mr. Sweetin will · still be working on the 1997 yearbook _throughout the summer to edit it and make sure that his corrections are made. Mr. Sweetin said that he will miss teaching at Townsend Harris. "Teaching is the part I like," he explained. "You get to reach out and touch young people and open .their minds to new ways of thinking." He likes the fact that "you can teach here .. You can do a lesson" because students are so receptive. While Mr. Sweetin has been at Townsend Harris, he has made it a tradition to dress in costume for Halloween every year. ·He said, "Last year I · made it myself." He explained that he went to various thrift shops to create his costume of a tacky old lady. Mr. Sweetin came to Townsend Harris from Tilden High School in Brooklyn, where Dr. Malcolm Largmann, prin- · cipal, was his supervisor as the Assistant Principal of English. In addition to teaching English, he was also the newspaper advisor. He didn't start out with the intention of teaching English, however. After being graduated from a high school upstate, Mr. Sweetin got his college education from St. Bonaventure's, also in upstate New York. He said that when he was in high school, "it was 'happy days' time," referring to the 1950's sitcom "Happy Days." He added, "it was a simpler time to grow up. Students now have more challenges." After college; Mr. Sweetin became a Jesuit. "I entered the Society of Jesus," he said. "It is known for educational work ." Georgetown University, Fordham University, and Boston College are three well-known schools with Jesuit affiliation. Mr. Sweetin was sent by the Jesuits to study theology in Gt:rmany. After being a Jesuit for 14 years, he left the order. Mr. Sweetin explains that he is Just a thesis short of a doctorate in philosophy. He has taught philosophy at St. Peter's College in New Jersey. He decided to teach English when friends suggested that he take the Board of Education exam to be an English teacher. "Teaching is more art than science," he said. He thinks that being able to get across to students reflects personality more than a background in education. As Mr. Sweetin reflected on his decision to retire, he said, "I'm going from being busier than I want to be to -not so busy." He added, "You have to know when to leave."