The Classic newspaper Volume 15 Issue no. 5

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aoSneSlC Townsend Harris High School at Queens College

149-11 Melbourne Avenue, Flushing, NY 11367

New leaders take¡ SU helm by Andrew Goldberg Culminating three weeks of campaigning, in which pens, fortune cookies, lollipops, and a slew of sugary treats touting campaign slogans were offered by candidates to solicit votes, the first Student Union elections held since the January ratification of the revised SU constitution took place on May 27. The winners included junior Alison Park, who was elected SU President, junior Hari Kondabolu, who will serve as Senior Vice President, sophomore Eric Trager, who will be the new Junior Vice President, and sophomore Rio May R. del Rosario, next year's Freshman/ Sophomore Vice President. Sophomore Angelo Marino won as SU Treasurer; and junior Angelika Ioannou was elected Public Relations Officer. Sophomore Patricia Cabrera will serve as secretary, and sophomore Karolina Borawska will be the new Consultative Council Representative. In the junior-class race for Senior Council President, Andrew Falzon fought off Tashia Raymond, and will head next year's Senior Council composed of Vice President Karolyn Gavilanez, Treasurer Joelle Webb, Secretary Pamela Baird, Consultative Council Liason Brenda Sickles, and Senior Council Liason Nefertiti Lovelace. Juniors Ian Katz, Christina Psarakis, Michael Evelson, and Clare Marks, all of whom ran opposed in the May elections, will serve as representatives at large. After the votes were tallied by SU

members, the results of the election were broadcast on a special June 1 edition of Townsend Talk Live, the school's radio program. Although outgoing SU President Anthony Prince called the elections "quite successful," he agreed with Coordinator of Student Activities Suzanne Iordanou that the relatively low freshman turnout was a bit disappointing. Of the 486 students who cast ballots in the election, 195 were juniors, 173 sophomore, and 118 were freshmen. "It would have been nicer if more freshmen had come to vote," said Ms. Iordanou. Whereas 498 students participated in the first ever primaries in January, the number of voters in the May elections declined to 486. "The junior class turnout was very big, perhaps even the biggest ever," said Anthony. In an effort to draw people to the polls, candidates addressed students at a special auditorium program held on May 26, in which many tried their hand at humor and sarcasm to pitch themselves and their platforms. "My stomach's doing flips right now, so I'm either nervous or pregnant," confessed Hari, who confided to the audience that he dreams of one day being a stand-up comedian. Eric, who spoke of the need for reform, said, "We are governed by a code of behavior that punishes us for leaving through the wrong door in the cafeteria." He called on students to press for a collateral calendar and a three-test per day limit.

Defective neutralizing tank to be replaced th.is summer by Lauren Paley A chemical neutralizing tank will be replaced over the summer after it sprang a foul-smelling leak on May 13. Water was shut off in the photography and chemistry labs for two weeks, forcing science classes to neutralize their chemicals with baking soda, and photography classes to abandon developing altogether. The tank had been re-sealed a number of times by custodians before the damage worsened. Temporary repairs were made until a contractor can replace the entire tank. A new hydrochloric acid neutralizing

tank will be in.stalled this August. Excess spillage ran into the student cafeteria, closing it for a day until private contractor approved by the Environmental Protection Agency oonfirmed that all liquid was non-hazardous and air quality was safe. For the day, students were asked to eat lunch in the gymnasium. Custodial engineer Joseph DiGiacomo described the root of the problem as numerous "pin-hole" punctures in the base of the tank. "We got a defective product," he explained. "The tank should have lasted at least 25 years."

Reactions to Littleton pp. 2-3

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Visual Arts at THHS pp. 4-5

Adjusting artwork on a display panel, art exhibition coordinator Annie Yan, senior, prepares for the opening of her creation, 'Our Birth.'

'Our Birth' delivers showcase for artists by Bosede Adenekan and Enaily

show. The work was of the highest qual-

Rubinstein Pioneering the first annual art show in the school's history, Project ARTS Coordinator Lois Polansky and senior Annie Yan mounted a collection of students' artwork which depicted the theme, "Our Birth." The exhibition opened in the lobby after school on June 11 and will remain on display until the end of June. "The goal," said Ms. Polansky, "was to make the opening for the exhibit as close as possible to a real New York City gallery opening." Publicized in The Queens Examiner, the art show opening was a professional event. It was modeled after a museum exhibition, and featured various types of art, ranging from paintings to performances. The artwork was not only created by independent artists throughout the school, as originally intended, but also by members of art classes and the Art Club. "A lot of emotion and images were expressed through the art. It was very interesting," said biology teacher Rosemarie Eaton. Artwork was displayed on black panels and boards, as well as on walls. Art teacher Anthony Morales was in charge of display design. "It was an incredible

ity," said Stanley Nussbaum, Director of Arts Education for Queens High Schools, who attended the opening. At the opening, there were refreshments of pasteries and non-alcoholic champagne punch, break dance performances, and a film component, produced by seniors Amy Hraniotis and Christy Monier, with the help of Broadcast Journalism teacher Jeff Spurgeon. There were also piano performances by students, organized by Assistant Principal of Fine Arts Joan Walsh. "It was a dream come true, ... [an event] for students who are seriously commited to art," said Ms. Polansky. Annie, who developed the idea of an art show, is passionate about art and plans to pursue it as a career. "Displaying one's artwork is the last step for an artist in progressing from one piece of art to the next. The artist is critiqued and learns from the reaction. Then [he or she] can move on," said Annie. Because Annie believes that the wprk of independent artists are somewhat ignored in Townsend Harris, she feels that this art show was important. "I loved the art show; it was a merging of intelligence with talent,"said senior Wendy Sanchez.

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