The Classic newspaper Volume 16 Issue no. 4

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aNSaSiC , Townsend Harris High School at Queens College

149-11 Melbourne Avenue, Flushing, NY 11367

Bush, Bradley win big Three reach Intel semi-finals

by Rebecca Munoz Results tallied en January 19 revealed that Democrat Bill Bradley and Repu91ican George W. Bush had won the presidential primaries in this year's mock election.

The results came as a surprise to some. As of December 22, AI Gore, simulated 13y senior Kenny Rubinov, held nearly 50 pereent of the vote, according to a poll printed in a January 10 issue of Newstfay. Only 12 percent af underclassmen were in favor of his opponent Bill Bradley, simu-lated by senior Josh Deely, ·while the rest pf the underclassmen were either undecided or did not plan to vote. Gore's campaign manager, senior Shawn Kodes, attributed the turnaround to Gore's performance during the debate held on January 7.

"Everyone was amazed by the impact of the debate," he said. "It seems that the under-dassmen really care al:lout the issues."

The results of the Republican primaries were somewhat surprising as well, since Bush, simulated by senior Andrew Goldberg. held 12 percent less ef the vote in the January 10 potl than his opponent John McCain, simulated by se:nior Ja~k Bouha.

Bush's ultimate success was

also attributed to the debates. "Bush really made an imtiression at the debates," said Bush campaigner Alexis Mencbin. The same issue of Newsday reported that 56 percent of underclassmen believet;i Bush had won the debates.

Much of the focus of this year's simulation revolved ar0und fundraising. For the first time, randomly selected underclassmen received at least 50 simbuoks, which they could do:nate to the po-. litical party of their choice.

One student from each of the six history classes that received simbucks was designated a "fat cat;" and receivced 500 s~mbucks. As a result, many of the candidates spent much of the campaign selling baked goods in an attempt to gain those simbucks. ''The distributed ~imbucks changed the focus from the issu,es to f.undraising," said B.radley 's campaign manag-er Drew Zamhrotta.

One of the most centtoversial parts of the election was a television broadcast, made by m-embers the ·Federal Electien Committee (FEC), that admonished seniors for showing disrespect for eaob other and snying Continued on p.13

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by Lauren Paley ment. flict they experienced at home Seniors Stephanie Mandell, Stephanie, the only Social compared with the time they Shivaria Naidoo aild Tina Shih Science winner out · of the- lived in the United States. A became three among 300 na- twelve papers submitted, said survey was used to judge how tional semi-finalists in the Intel her study, "Assimilation and assimilated the students were Science Talent Search's (STS) Intergeneration Conflict: An into American culture. She desincreased award program on Empirical Analysis ofRelation- ignated immigrants from India, January 10. Each won $1,000 ship Strain Between Asian Im- China,. Japan, Korea, Pakistan in individual and most other Eastern prize money, and § countries with the exthe group earned ~ ception of Russia, as a total of $3,000 ~ her subjects. for the Science ~;>.

Her findings and Social Sci,a showed that the longer ence Rt;search . ..;: Asian · immigrant programs within .S families lived in the 0 the school. .. ] United States, the Intel's $1.2 "" more the children asmillion grant alsimilated and the more lows the Science conflict arose between Service, the the different generaprogram's adtions. She also conministrator, to cluded that there was offer cash prizes more conflict between to semi-finalists these same children In good spirits, Intel Semi-finalists seniors Tina Shih, Stephanie - for the first time and their fathers than Mandell, and Shivana Naidoo express joy over winning,cash in the any other family memprizes. competition's ber. But, "to explain 59-year history. Skin cancer, migrant Adolescents and Their that would be something for family relations among Asian Parents, From the Adolescents' future research," she said. immigrants and the production Prospective," "was the most enStephanie was also the of blue laser light were the win- joy able academic experience fourth place winner in The ning topics.

I've ever done." She added, Quality of Life Competition Assistant Principal of Sci- "It's [also] the longest ()fall the last year for her project with ence Brendan Curran plans to Social Science titles."

Senior Elizabeth Patti, "Inuse the $2,000 from Shivana In conversations with_her creasing Rubber Recycling by and Tina's projects to fix bro- friends, she had noticed that her Increasing New York City's ken microscopes and-buy hot Asian friends seemed to have Uses For Recycling Rubber." plates, while Anthony Scarnati, more trouble with their parents She was co-president of Stuteacher of the Social Science than any other culture group. dents for the Preservation of the Research elective, says the She surveyed Asian immigrant Earth for two years, and has ' $1,000 won by Stephanie will junior high school students to go to the Humanities depart- determine the amount of conContinued on p. 7

Extra band exte,nds

by Bosede Adenekan An additional band now extends the school day, requiring some students to leave later in the afternoon . .

This new schedule only af- · fects jun_iors because the Board of Education has mandated, limiting the size of English 6 classes to 25 instead of 34 students. This created two extra English 6 classes. Since there ·is not enough room in the school building to place these

sc~ool

da-y for some

extra classes, another period dents .. Furthermore, while the teams and other activities that was added to the day for some , number of classes increase, the meet after school. Furtherjuniors. They have a free pe- number of available classrooms more, some teams use the gymriod during the day and a class remain set. "There are only 18 nasium during practice after with Robert Bloom, gym regular classrooms . Some - school, making it impossible teacher, from 1:30 until 3: 15 on rooms in the building aren't for this class to meet in the gym.

Mondays and from 2:30 until appropriate for classes. You "There are lots of athletes in 4:05 on Wednesdays. wouldn't put Latin classes in a my class who partiCipate in "It is known that smaller computer lab," said Principal spring sports, so they will miss classes make for better educa- Malcolm Largmann .. class but they'll have sometion," said Arthur Boulanger, This period after school has thing else to do," said Mr. Program Chairman, explaining created some conflicts for both Bloom. Mr. Bloom stated that _ why English Regents- classes teachers and students. The gym he thinks the days when his PE have a reduced number of stu- class interferes with clubs, class meets will rotate, depend-

ing on the schedule of athletic . teams.

Dr. Largmann asserts that thi~extra period is nothing new to members of the Townsend Harris community. In previous years, there have been z~ro band gym classes.

"We've always had an extra period. All I've done is put it in writing so that if we have to expand, students can't say they never knew about it," said Dr. Largmann.

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Mock Election Reactions -pp. 2-3

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'Man-in-the-Can' p. ,6

Clowning Around pp. 8-9

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Sports p.16

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The Classic March 2000

Simulating the primaries: When what goes wrong is still- worth.while One month after the election simulation has come to an end, underclassmen, seniors and teachers alike have begun to reflect on its success or failure · and the value of this "simulated" experience. And, ""· in one way or another, it seems that almost everyone has regarded this year's presidential primaries simulation as.being mucb less successful than the simulations of other years. · ·Some claim they weren't informed of the is- · sues, others feel that certain seniors did not fulfill the obligations that came along with each role, and still others believe that the simulation strayed too far from the real electi~ns. And this, naturally, leads some to question the significance of this experience and its ef- · fectiveness in teaching students the nature of American politics. . The · most obvious difference between this year's simulation and simulations of the past seems also to h;lYe been its biggest problem: it was a simulation of the presidential primaries. It was difficult for seniors 'involved in campaign and media organizations to fully comprehend the differences between the two Democratic opponents or the three .Republican opponents. AI. though, for example, Bill Bradley and AI Gore had different tax plans, both had the same general goal of using taxes and mqney from the surplus to support social programs, since both were candiciites f~r the same political party. And · if campaign members· and members of media · organizations don't understand the different views. on each issue, then they cannot possibly inform the underclassmen about them. ' The seniors' solution to this problem?

C,reate an alleged affair between John McCain and a Howard Stern staff member. Decide that Steve Forbes was allegedly shot and had reconstructive plastic surgery. Make up outrageous stories to account for the fact that they knew very little about the issues at hand, while claiming that they were catering to the needs of the underclassmen. No one votes for the boring candidate anyway, right?

Wrong. When underclassmen in so-

cia! science research teacher. Anthony · in changing the direction of the camScarnati's class were questioned on paign. Rather than just covering press video about their opinions on the elec- conferences or debat~s. the media tion, it was not the glamor of the per- should have asked more follow-up quessonalities or their antics thaf concerned tions and experimented with investigathem. Most responded that the candi- tive reporting. dates had not focused on the issues. And One of the reasons media groups did altho!Jgh this is a valid criticism, seniors not fulfill their responsibilities may have shouldn't be entirely blamed. Some been because they were too busy raiscandidates did make the effort to ac- ing money and selling advertising space. quaint the underclassmen with their Why did the groups have so views, butreceived very little attention a~d enthu• # '* ~ siasm in return.

For example, Bush held·a town/• meeting during • .:J..,··f!i·~.Jlll each of . the lunch bands which very few, if any, underclassmen attended. But

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rests on the. seniors' lack of efficiency in relaying information to the public, or on the underclassmen's lack of voluntary participation in the simulation, the reality is that -some of the t.,mderclassmen were sadly mistaken about many of the facts, even after it had ended.

When questioned on the video, one sophomore explained that Bush had been the better candidate because he had experience as a "former president."

This leads into the problem of an unspecified role of the media organizations in the simulation. One of the ~ig­ gest criticisms aimed at the media groups was their making no more than a feeble attempt to dig deeper and nail the candidates for their unfamiliarity with the issues. But who is really responsi!Jle for actually knowing what each candidate stands for? And what is, specifically, the role of the media groups? Should the media determine what issues should.be coveted or should they simply report what is going on within the simulation, even if it means focusing on fictitious plastic surgery?

As in real life; it is often the job of the media to play an active but subtle role

Wheri smart· kids s·mell

by Eric Trager . _ It's a good thing that visitors often come to Townsend Harris in the morning and leave after lunch. Rigorous physical education classes, an overheated building, and poor personal hygiene each contribute to 'a penetrating odor which plagues the fourth floor by eighth band. In a recent survey, which evaluated the personal hygiene of 106 random Harrisites, it was uncovered that the level of cleanliness among students leaves much to be desired. · The facts are plainly disturbing: 11.3% of students shower or bathe less often than daily; 22.6% of students don't always wash their hair while bathing; 7.5% of students brush their teeth less than twice daily; 8.5% of students don't put on deodorant daily; 57.5% of students don't put on deodorant after gym

classes; 38.7% of students don't ;always use soap after using the bathroom.

Most Harrisites are clean, but consider the following: • If approximately 450 students have physical education classes in the gymnasium each day, 259 of them will go to · their next classes without having put on deodorant, at least some bringing with them extreme body odor.

• In a class with random seating, you have a two-in-nine chance of sitting next t<:> a person who has not showered or bathed in the last 24 hours, and at least two students who don't always wash their hair. · • If you sit toward the center of a classroom, where you are surrounded in eight directions by other people, there is likely to be at least one student who Continued on p. 15

to who was getting their money and what their money would be used for.

So here is the simple solution to some very complicated problems: plan better.

Teachers, get together, figure out exactly how much room seniors have to make the election simulation. their own. Decide, and come to an agreement on, whether or not seniors should be allowed to make up entirely unrelated and fictitious stories about candidates. Also, " • . give the media or~ " t a ganizations more money to begin with. Next year's eniors, make sure that after three months of campaigning, none of your underclassmen supporters con. fuse a candidate with his father.

Read newspapers before the simulation begins a11d get to know the candidates, no matter what your role is in the simulation. Try to much trouble financially? Well, f o r uphold the integrity of the democratic one, none of the media groups started process while still maintaining the huout with any simbucks. Print media · mor that made this simulation unique . groups, for example, had to raise 400 Ninth, tenth and eleventh graders, lissimbucks the first week of the simula- ten up. Instead of shouting "Gore sucks" tion in order to produce the first six-page at an interest rally, listen to what the cannewspaper, along with attending press didates have to say. Only then would conferences, familiarizing themselves you have the right to complain that they with the candidates and trying to ·gain a haven't doneea good enough job in giv· basic understanding of how the simula- ing you information.

So, was this year's simulation a failtion worked: This is a clear example of how the simulation strayed from the real ure? Has the purpose of the election election. In "real-life," Newsday i's a simulation been lost somewhere in bemulti-million dollar company and would tween SuperGore and sexy wife contests? Maybe not. Seniors are so often ne~er have to print an issue without criticized for their apathy towards each money. to start with.

Fundraising changed the focus of the , other and the Townsend Harris commuelection in many other ways. This year n.ity in general. But this time seniors was the first in which underclassmen re- began to explore their creative selves ceived simbucks and had ~he ability to and worked together to raise spirit, if not donate their money to a political party. for the school, at least for their campaign, newspaper or television show.

Thi~ seemed like a great way to get the underclassmen involved. However, the Not only that, but seniors learned for . plan backfired. Underclassmen did not themselves the effect money has on an understand the value of the "simbuck election, the influence of the media, the donation sheet" they held in lheir hands. exte~t to which brownies and posters Instead, many .saw it as a gift certificate can mask real problems and that, all to ."Gore's Sweet Shop" or "Bradley's criticisms aside, what came from hours Basketball Camp/' and, as long as they after school in the broadcast studio or received something in return, many un- computer room is something that they derclassmen did not give much thought were proud to say they were part of.

Andrew Goldberg Lauren Paley Editors-in-Chief Rebecca Munoz . _ Bosede Adenekan News Editor

Feature Editor

Brian Griffing

Audley Wilson

SP.,rts Editor

Photocraphy Editor

Alice Lee Steven Seidenfeld Business and Circulation Managers

Lucy Hong Art Editor

Townsend Harris High School at Queens College 149·11 Melbourne Avenue, Flushing, N.¥.11367 ·Readers are inviteilto submit letters to the editor. Letters should be placed in Ms. Cowen's mailbox in the general office. The Classic reserves the right to edit all ietters. Letters must inClude name and official class . Names will be withheld upon request.

News Staff: Afton Baff, Noreen Bukhari, Karen DeVita, Lorraine Kapovich,Aiice Lee, Danie.lle Lord, Michele Potofsky Feature Staff: Tiffany Baldwin, Carolina Chang, Anthony Ciolli, Beth Dubin, Emmy Favilla, Jennifer Gong·, Debbie Gopstein, Karen Hendershot, Angela Hum, Nadia Kahnauth,

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!vfiaw,Valentina Nestemvskaya,

Anna Olsu~. Carolina Pruss, Sarah Schnee, Steven Seidenfeld, AJJisnn Slotnick, Sylvia St.anojnv, Diane Tiau, Sara Tilitz ' Sports Staff: Josh Fox, Arielle Frost,Ashley,Pillsbury, Eric Trager Photography Staff: April. Dimla, Kellie Ebe, Jamie Gullen, Hilary Homier, Alice lofescu, Ilwira Marciszek, Jennifer Sheth, Shar.t Siegel, Lisha Perez. Juliana Piedrahita, Eric Trager, Yvette Wareham, Dawn Wing, Hye-Kyung Yang, William Yang ~Raymond B.aro,Vivian Chang, Annie Lau, Lillian Lin, Doris Ortega, Janine Petrovits, Kelly Purtell,

Emily Rivlin-Nadler, Rachel Schiffman,Emma Xiao

Advisor • lisa Cowen

Principal • Dr. Malcolm Largmann

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The Classic March 2000

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Playing politics: Simulation brings real benefits

by Beth Dubin Throw the history books aside; instead of learning through texts, this is your grand opportunity to discover the con. cepts of political campaigning, elections, and the many facets within. You are the candidates, voters, campaign managers, interest group members, rather than merely reading about them. Fall term of each of the past four years has seen one of the most innovative teaching mechanisms ever developed: the election simulation.

Students in the senior gov-

ernment class have the most active roles in the mock elections. They play the candidates, campaign managers, news broadcasters, and television and radio talk show hosts. The reason for this is simple: first and foremost, this is a project that is part a course designed to educate seniors. However, that doesn't mean that underclassmen are excluded from the experience.

Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, as the student body, are the targeted audience for the campaigning headed by the se-

niors, since they are the voters, pre-divided into political parties. They can choose to involve themselves as much or as little as they want.

If a student doesn't have any interest in the election, he or she only has to sit through the broadcasts and attend debates that the rest of the school_ goes to. But, if this is not the case, and a student wants to play a greater role in the simulation, there are several ways in which he or she can become immersed in it.

One can call in during radio

broadcasts to ask any candidate a question, or make a comment in order to learn more about candidates' views, or voluntarily attend events that the candidates themselves elect to participate in. Additionally, if students are allocated simbucks (simulation money used in the campaigns), they have the power to donate funds to any candidate's campaign, interest group, or cause that they wish.

The election simulation transforms Townsend Harris -into an .environment representative of society, in which all

different types of people, from different walks of life, exercise their power and come together to make the campaign process work. Just as in the real world, scams are uncovered, candidates resort to mudslinging, the media is exploited, and advertising is everywhere you turn here in our very own interpretation of the first presidential primary election of this third millennium. There isn't a single book in the entire world that can capture the unique and educational value of the simulation.

Letters to the Editor Mock Electi.on E路licits Co.ntroversy To the Editor: During my first three years at Townsend Harris, I had always thought that the annual election simulation was a horribly stupid idea. Now, having officially taken part in it, I know for sure.

Don't get me wrong. I totally agree with the idea of a senior class project that helps give back to the school. However, I question the idea of a mock election as the answer. The fact of the matter is this: the number of students in our school (or any high school, for that matter) who have absolutely no interest in politics far surpasses the number who do. Now, I bet every teacher reading this right now is thinking, "But that's the whole point of the simulation!

To gefmore students interested in the real election!" Well, as far as I'm concerned, your proposal has always been a miserable failure.

I will grant you that the simulation does raise student awareness about politics.

Thanks to the simulation the past-four years, I've always known who was running for what political office. However, dear teachers, awareness and interest are two totally different things. Do you honestly think that any significant number of students in our school i~ going to pay any more attention to the real election thanks to our simulation? Or, how many seniors do you think are going to be voting in the 2000 election?

I'll give you 10%, tops. Maybe The Classic should take a poll to find out the exact figures.

But whatever the case, I find it mind-boggling that the faculty feels the need to cater to such a small audience while the rest of the student body just counts the

days until the stupid thing is over.

Not only that, but we as seniors are forced to shove the whole election down the underclassmen's throats when it's obvious that nothing we say or do will jump-start their interest in politics. How many simulation-affiliated bake sales have been run this term? Too many. Do these kids even know what their money is going towards? In most cases, no. They just want to get their grubby little hands on some baked goods. Having taken part in a few of these bake sales, it was made obvious to me how little most of the students care. Upon approaching numerous students and introducing myself and &aying what I stand for, I was greeted with such replies as, "Go away," "Bye," "I don't care about the stupid election," and "I gave my simbucks to somebody else; th~y had better food than you."

Then, as if it wasn't enough, students are forced to "register" to vote, "keep score" during the debates, and "keep a media journal" of the election. Again, teachers, I see what you are trying to do. You're simply trying to get the kiddies more involved. But, in actuality, you are turning off more students than you are turning on. Nobody wants to have to get up during their lunch so they can fill out a card that allows them to vote in a school-wide election simulation. It's hard enough to get them to vote as it is, so why on earth would you want to put an obstacle in their path to the voting booth? So then the debates roll around.

Are the students allowed to just sit back and enjoy them? Nope.

In one of the worst cases of

handing out pointless busywork that I've ever seen, they've got to fill out score cards, rating each candidate's answer to each question. This year, watching the debates wasn't as much of a chore as it has been in the past for me, mainly because I didn't have to hang on the candidates' every word so I could give them an appropriate "score." (Besides, by sophomore year, everyone just fills out the sheets with random numbers anyway.)

Of course, nothing sucks the fun out of something more than having to do a semi-collateral about it. The students then have to collect articles and watch news programs having to do with the election every week and write about them. Wow, good times!

At this point, most teachers reading this, already enraged beyond belief, will probably be thinking, "Well, does this kid have any better ideas? Otherwise, he should just keep his mouth shut." Off the top of my head, how about a similar project, only covering all aspects of the news, with a lighter side to it? All of the seniors can then learn how to use the production equipment to put together various television and radio shows showcasing major issues in society, but with a little edge to it to keep people interested. Attention all students: what would you rather see, a boring debate between two kids pretending to be politicians, or a comedic re-enactment of the Jennifer LopezSean "Puffy" Combs situation?

This will do away with voting, score sheet, and yes, even the beloved simbuck. Sure, the idea isn't perfect, but I'm willing to work on it.

So, in conclusion, I'd just

like to let the teachers know that all of the hard work that they've always put into the simulation has been for naught, as, in some cases, this simulation has had the exact opposite effect on the student body than that they had planned on. I'd like to let the senior class know this too, but I'm sure that most of them already do, as their time has been wasted more than anybody's.

Name witheld at the writer's request.

To the Editor: For the past month, the school has been involved in the presidential elections. As a concerned student, I feel it is necessary to comment on this matter. The campaigning became a popularity contest. The real issues were not thoroughly addressed during this election.

Also, as students were voting, some of the candidates were still campaigning for votes. in comparison to last year's election, this year's election campaign was not as focused. The candidates and their committees should have taken the election much more seriously (a candidate was shot in the head!? ... come on!). The election was very funny, but maybe a little too funny.

SaraAli, 101 To the Editor: Recently in English class, the election simulation was casually brought up. The teacher asked us for our opinions on how we felt it was carried out this year. 路The answer was unanimous. Everyone felt it was poorly executed. Although I am not sure whether comparing it to last year's simulation is the best way to approach the matter, I do know that in doing so, this year's campaigns were

a great letdown.

Of course, every senior class is different and although I am not a senior myself, I can only imagine the amount of work, effort, and time that has to go into putting an election simulation like this together. However, it really didn't seem that enough work was done, effort was put in, or time was spent.

I thought it was especiaiJy important to spend time on the radio broadcasts and the videos because these are the things students rely on the most to keep them informed. The broadcasts and videos tried hard to be entertaining, which there is absolutely nothing wrong with.

When the entertainment becomes all there is to hear or see, then the broadcasts and videos stop being informative and it's a problem for the students who are expected to vote.

The debates are the final thing that impacts upon the opinions of the students. They are supposed to . provide students with the viewpoints of the candidates on certain. issues. I actually had the opportunity to see both the Democratic and Republican debates and I felt that nearly all of the candidates sounded like they didn't know what ~hey were talking about.

In fact, it looked like some of them were making up their views as they went along.

I know that voter turnout greatly influences the grade of the seniors. In protest, some of the kids in my English class refused to vote. Others voted under protest and some sent letters like this to authorities and publications. We all hope that the seniors to follow will definitely use this year's mock election as a model to learn from.

Sabrina Hayat, 103

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The Classic March 2000

From palm readings to break dancing:

·Carnival just the ticket for fun, food and funds

by Carolina Pruss From hot dogs and cotton candy to palm readings and break dancing, many offerings combined to create a carnival atmosphere in the cafeteria on January 26. Sponsored by the Parent Teachers Association (PTA), the Student Union (SU) and Archon, the school service honor society, and organized with the help of Coordinator of Student Activities Odile Garcia, the annual Winter Carnival brought in approximately $2,000 while also bringing the school together.

Starting at five, students arrived to enjoy the activities each club had put together, and, for a five dollar entrance fee, were supplied with 10 tickets to spend at the booths set up oy the different extracurricular activities. All money raised will fund future club activities.

With most clubs confined to the cafeteria for their activities, carnival organizers found creative ways to make use of the limited space. While some people decided to spend their tickets groping around on the floor playing Twister at the Junior Varsity Volleyball team's booth, a cheering crowd waving tickets gathered around junior Andrew Fung, who was also on the floor at the Ultimate club's booth showing everyone his break-dance moves. "This is more chaotic than I imagined," said junior Agatha Zajkowsky, who was among the onlookers. "People are not acting the same way

they would in class."

The palm and tarot card readings, sponsored by the Debate team, did not only predict good fortunes. While some

for 10 minutes each, claiming that the highest bidder was entitled to do anything with the "product" purchased.

Some of the "slaves" sold included jun-

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Making the Phoenix fly: Seniors Veronica Castillo, Diana Lang, Joyce Huang and Monica Arora participate in .the fun and games at the literary magazine's booth at the Winter Carnival. The Phoenix was one of many clubs represented at the carnival held in the cafeteria on January 26.

students were happy to hear that the rest of their year would be sweet and full of success, others left after it was predicted they would get freshman gym with Keith Hanson or Wanda Nix, and would spend the rest of their year running up and down stairs.

Still, other people had it worse. The SU's "auction house" was selling people

iors Angelo Marino, Brian Cooperman, Eric Trager, and the SU President, senior Alison Park. Meanwhile, other students were forced to do prison time at the Crimson and Gold's jail for crimes such as ignoring someone or dressing badly.

Hot dogs, cotton candy and soda were all available, and Archon also put

together some home-baked sweet treats for a ticket each. Many toppings were available for people to use in creating their own cookie designs.

Most people enjoyed the carnival very much. "This is the best carnival I've seen all year," said science teacher Craig Weiss. "I laughed, I cried, it became a part of me. It was even better than ET. I'm going to go again and again." History tea'Cher Susan Getting agreed. "The Winter Carnival is the greatest event Townsend Harris has [all] year. It takes kids out of the classroom and lets them have fun," she said.

Others, however, complained that the turnout was not as good as last year's.

Junior Lex O'Brian was upset that no one sponsored the "throwing the wet sponge at a teacher game." "I wanted to throw wet sponges at Mr. Carbone," he said with a pout.

After seeing many weddings at the Senior Council's marriage booth in the main lobby, taking funny photos at Puffle's Polaroid booth, stuffing themselves with food, getting down on Twister, and, perhaps winning a goldfish, most people were not thinking about leaving as the carnival came to an end. At eight thirty, however, when it was time, history teacher Adam Stonehill couldn't help worrying about his trip home after getting his bald head painted. "I hope I don't get mugged on the way," he said.

Blue Heron production brings slave stories to life

by Allison Slotnick In honor of Black History Month, four actresses from Blue Heron Theatre .Productions came to the auditorium February 9 to entertain and educate Harrisites with their performance of We Are Your Sisters, a play about the lives of African-American women in the 1800s. This event was organized by Lynn Greenfield, Humanities Assistant Principal, and funded by the Parent Teacher's Association and the Student Union.

Celebrating its IQth anniversary, this off-broadway production received an Audelco Award for excellence in African-American theatre in 1996. Kimberly Purnell, Meredith Wright, Patranila Jefferson, and Nicole Maywood each took on various roles as slaves and slave owners to relate the personal tales of women who were enslaved in the 1860s. They were dressed in traditional garb and used a few simple props to help depict the scenes and create images.

All of the stories performed were obtained from Dorothy Sterling's We Are Your Sisters: Black Women in the Nineteenth Century. Ms. Sterling researched an archive of oral history taken down by government officials who had interviewed slaves and their owners and later edited their narratives into her book.

"All the stories that were re-enacted were absolutely word for word what the

women said. The play provides a first person account of living in slavery and eventually being free," said Executive Director Gary Bernstein.

The play offered a female perspective of slavery, which is rarely shown.

Female slaves suffered greatly because they were expected to both work on the plantations and bear children. "We portrayed the idea that the system of slavery existed on the hands of the women.

Women have always been the ones to keep thing's going," said Ms. Wright.

The stories that were recounted showed different stages in one's life that are universal, such as childhood, marriage, and having a baby. "I never realized before today how much they [the slaves] had to endure. I could never imagine someone being forced to sell her baby into slavery. From a textbook, you can't possibly understand this magnitude," said sophomore Steve Madureira.

Over 15,000 students have seen We Are Your Sisters since its debut in schools in 1992. Not only do the actors perform in middle and high schools as well as colleges across the country, but student groups also attend its performances in Manhattan. "It is an amazing and powerful way to teach,' said Mr. Bernstein.

Harrisites seemed to enjoy the performance. Roni Siegel, sophomore, said, "Hopefully, our generation will not be

ignorant of racism and slavery. We can learn about it now so that history won't repeat itself." Some students were intrigued by the dramatic acting, while others enjoyed the musical numbers, such as "Fight," "Hip Hip Hooray" and "Freedom." Craig Kerman, freshman, remarked, "It was very interesting ... ! liked the song at the end, ' 'Freedom,' It was really catchy." Sophomore Jarmar Banks, however, criticized the show's conclusion. "The production was

great despite the joyful ending which almost turned a real life struggle into a stmy book finish. The struggle continues," he said. ' This performance was not the only event planned in celebrating Black History Month and educating students. Educate to Elevate, the club dedicated to appreciation of diversity, made announcements over the P.A. discussing what life would be like in America without the contributions of African-Americans.

Briefl·y Junior Charles Arcella was setected as a petenthd tinaiist in the 2000 NYC Youth Video Festival.. He has been invited to attend a workshop bein'g given by faculty members of NYU's Tisch Scbo.ol of the Arts.

Senior Andrew Franklin achieved a perfect score on the SAT-II in Latin.

As one of the t{:)lp-p,e rfq.rming schools in the 1999 Penny Harvest, Townsend Harris has been selected as a Corrunon Cents Roundtable winner and awarded a $2000 cash grant to put toward the charity of its choice.

Members of Arista will decide how to best use the money to impoove the community.

Many Harr.isites helped aut people

in need during the holiday season.

Twenty-eightstudents went carrt\lmng at the QtJeens Cerebral ,PalsY,. center.

Memoers of Studenl!s Against

De-

structlve D.ecisio11s (SADD) coll~cted gifts for young adults at a rehabilitation center, and seniors de1ivered 160 presents to childro¢n at P.S. 224 and P.S. 186. Save the Children memoors and.Archon, the schoo1 service honor society, col1ected holiday gifts for the Salvation Army in Asteria and the American Red Cross.

Juniors Jonathan Cofsky and W~tiam Chan received honorable men~on and $SO in the New YarkCtty

Department ofTransportatton 's Traffic Safety Calendar Contest.

The Classic .

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Kumar steps in for Biener in English department

by Angela Hom and Nadia Kahnauth Many freshmen and sophomores receiving their program cards on February 1 stared at the empty space next to their class listing for English in room 409. The "mystery teacher" turned out to be the newest addition to the Humanities department, Miriam Kumar. She is replacing English teacher Judith Biener who is currently away on a sabbatical.

Ms. Kumar, though she has worked in a school environment before at Hillcrest High, is experiencing her first time being a teacher. She said that Harris is "a school where academics are stressed," which is part of the reason she chose to teach here. She added that she knows the "Humanities department in Harris is quite remarkable." Ms. Kumar also feels that here, she is "able to focus more on the subject matter."

Ms. Kumar said that she chose to teach English because it is a subject which she is "very fond of as well as very well

versed in." She added that she loved literature and she has wanted to be able to share that

Kumar said she would like to "create an environment where students are able to work to §

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Pausing to get feedback from students, new English teacher Miriam -Kumar finds ways to make her class educational and fun.

love since she was very young.

She always knew she was going to become a teacher.

In the classroom, Ms.

their fullest potential. "Students need to be guided [and] although the students at Harris are motivated and brilliant, it's

important to have a teacher who will develop this environment for them," she explained.

"I think Ms. Kumar inakes English class very lively," said freshman Bharati Kalasapudi.

A male sophomore said, "I like her methods of teaching. She has great ways of making learning fun and interesting."

Outside of school, Ms. Kumar enjoys playing the piano and singing. She also writes songs as well as short stories and poems. It is a well-known assumption that all English teachers like to read. Ms. Kumar likes to read science fiction.

She also loves Shakespeare and hates Stephen King. Her favorite book is the Bible. She said that she reads it quite regularly and is "strengthened by it."

Ms. Kumar's motto is "Be real, be practical, and be accessible." She says that she follows her motto by allowing herself to be approachable to her students so that they can come up to her "without being afraid."

Ms. Kumar said she would like to take part in other school activities such as clubs if given the opportunity. She would like to be a part of anything "where [she] can have an impact and provide nurturing and direction to the students."

If Ms. Kumar could describe herself in one word, it would be "understanding." She said, "Most of us go through the same things in life and the ability to listen to others' point of view and understand where they're coming from is an important part of my job and important part of life."

Ms. Kumar's message to teens about school is,"lf you work hard, it'll definitely pay off." He message to them about life is, "Take one day at a time.

Things that may seem difficult now or impossible may not seem as bad tomorrow or the day after. Always remember people are caring. You don't have to bear things on your own. There's always someone to listen."

Petrovits uses art talent to help young cancer patients .,

by Allison Slotnick "I shall not leave my country any less, but rather greater than I found it," Townsend Harris' Ephebic Oath states. Some Harrisites live up to this promise, while others may disregard it in order to focus on collaterals and tests. Janine Petrovits, junior, has embraced the Ephebic Oath and overcome obstacles to help o·thers in need.

In August of 1998, Janine was diagnosed with leukemia, a type of cancer in which the bone marrow produces an extremely large number of immature white blood cells. "When I was first diagnosed, I was shocked because I thought that I had only something like Lyme Disease or Mono ... something regular and short lived," Janine remembers. "I wasn't really sure what was going to happen to me since I didn't know exactly what leukemia was."

Her daily life had to change in order to adapt to the treatment schedule. She had to leave school for sophomore year: "It was hard trying to keep in to.uch with friends and continue to work, but I tried to keep my spirits up," said Janine. Fortunately, the doctors and nurses were "really friendly and helpful" at North Shore University's Department of Hematology and Oncology.

While Janine was enduring dedicated to improving the gram now to help make it a suctreatments at the hospital, she lives of children with cancer cess," Janine says.

This past December, noticed that many of the chil- and blood related diseases," as dren who were also patients had it says on the back of each card. Townsend Harris' community been drawing pictures and were Although the program had ex- service honor society, Archon, hanging them on the walls. Af- isted on a smaller scale before asked its members to sell the ter seeing them, she became in- Janine's dedication and assis- cards, and although Janine is spired.

Janine's own love of c: 0 drawing and her appre~ ciation of the young patients' artwork led to the Ill start of The Children's ~§ Cancer Center Holiday -g < Card Program. In this £ program, all of the children staying in the Hematology and Oncology wing are welcome to draw pictures for greeting cards for any holiday or occasion."

I've always loved to draw. I can remember as far back to when I was a toddler - all you had to do was give me a crayon and let my imagination go," she says.

The cards created by Janine and the other children are sold over the Internet at http:// Smiling in spite of her struggle with leukemia, Junior Janine Petrovits finds joy in creating cards for The Children's Cancer Center Holiday Card Program, www.creatinghope.com or which raises money to aid children with cancer. can be purchased from a brochure that is distributed throughout the country. The tance, its brochures were then not sure of the exact figure, she Children's Cancer Center at only distributed locally. "Much says, "they raised a huge North Shore University Hospi- more attention, dedication and amount of money." As of now, tal sponsors the program and "is hard work are put into this pro- the total amount of money

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raised by the card selling since the program's initiation is "in the ten thousands, possibly twenty thousand," Janine says with great pride. The proceeds all benefit the Children's Cancer Center at North Shore University Hospital.

Janine spends her free time pursuing some of her favorite things: swimming, drawing, music, and helping others. She especially loves music, but admits with a smile that she "cannot sing or play it at all." She is a member of the Townsend Harris swim team, advertising club, and Archon, and is an artist for The Classic. Janine was also elected Arista treasurer, and helped lead this year's inductees in the candle lighting ceremony. Although she is extremely interested in art aiJ:d math, Janine does not know what career she wishes to pursue in the future. "I'm trying to leave myself open for new op- . portunities," she says.

Nowadays, Janine's life is getting back to normal. She goes to the hospital once a week, and has shorter school schedules, but her leukemia is in remission. Although the past two years have been trying times, Janine keeps smiling, and asks everyone to do community service because "any kind is greatly appreciated."

6

The Classic Marc!) 2000

The man behind the can:

Community sold on candid food vendor byDebbie Gopstein his food can for five years and thinks of As you gaze out the window during it as a family business; he manages it second band, you long for a hot cup of coffee from "the Man-in-theCan." Known for his roll-like bagels and enormous muffins, Alexander Simichayev is the familiar street vendor who dispenses favorite foods and drinks from his mobile unit, which he parks on Melbourne Avenue, less than a block away from Townsend Harris, every morning.

Alex, as he likes to be called, is a Russian native who picks up his "Can I help you?" Food vendor Alex Simichayev, known affectionately as the "Man-in-the-Can" by Harrisites, helps a "can" at a garage at a customer at his stand on Melbourne Avenue. very early 4:30 A.M. and drives it to its location adjacent to the Queens College with his wife, Connie, and receives occampus. Several hours later, with a wide casional help from his son. His wife . smile and a pleasant "good morning," does the cooking while Alex takes the he is ready to prepare many breakfasts orders and socializes with the customfor half-awake Townsend Harris and ers. "Every morning I talk with both of them as I get my cup of coffee. Connie Queens College students.

The "Man-in-the-Can" has owned is very friendly; she always has some-

thing pleasant to say," offered a Queens College sophomore, who identified himself as Joe. "The busiest time is definitely in the morning," said Alex. Although the business gets quieter during the day, Alex and Connie never get bored.

They enjoy each other's company and read magazines. They also listen to the radio frequently throughout the day .

The Simichayev family immigrated to America in search of a better environment for their children. In Russia, Alex spent his time as an engineer. "I worked on buildings," he recalls. Although he enjoyed his occupation very much, Alex felt his hard work would get him farther in America.

Alex has always wanted to provide something for children, teens, and adults. When he came to America 12 years ago, he saw that by vending food, he could provide good nutrition for many people. So Alex went to the New York City Health Department and applied for a permit to begin vending food on Melbourne Avenue.

Alex laughs to hear that in the Townsend Harris community, he is known as "the man-in-the-can," and happily added, "They're good kids." He

feels that the Townsend Harris student body and faculty are filled with polite-, sweet faces.

College advisor Marilyn Blier has developed a pleasant friendship with Alex over the years. "He always makes my day; he refers to me as 'pretty lady.'

Flattery will get him everywhere, including my business," said Ms. Blier.

She purchases her breakfast there every morning because she feels that "La Carte has the world's best coffee and terrific cinnamon buns."

Students are also fond of Alex and his can. "He's always there, day in and day out, whenever we want food. He's very nice as well," said junior Rosemary Ferraro. " I like to help people out and give them breaks sometimes. I would willingly give food to the homeless on any occasion and I enjoy the high school and college business," said Alex before turning to chat with another Harris customer.

Though not fluent in English, Alex's smile, bright face, and chipper "Can I help you?" wins Harrisites over and makes his nickname - the "man-in-the can" - a household word in the Townsend Harris family.

Hand g-els make splash but don't burst soaps' bubble

by Sylvia Stanojev Germs and illnesses are synonymous with the winter season. Take, for example, the current flu epidemic that has been hopping around the Tri-State area.

Hospital beds are being occupied faster than nurses can make them, and anxious people are willingly getting poked with needles to avoid the dreaded virus.

Maybe if we just washed our hands before every meal, we wouldn't be sick in bed so often. However, in this motionpacked millennium year, it's harder than ever to find time to follow this suggestion. Harrisites reflect this: in a recent survey, 81% of the 250 students polled admitted to not cleaning their hands before eating lunch in school.

Enter hand-sanitizers. These antibacterial hand gels/lotions/tow lettes claim to kill 99.9% of germs. Not only do they come in scents such as"sun-ripened raspberry" and "country apple," but 37% of the school uses them and thinks they are quicker and easier to use than soap and water. The question is, are they really effective?

That all depends on what ingredients you're smoothing onto your skin and how you're using them. In an article released by Purell, a producer of hand sanitizers, it is claimed that hand sanitizers are effective if "introduced as a compliment to handwashing." According to Susan Miller of the Food and Drug Administration, that means hands must already be clean. But don't the sanitizers claim to be over 99% effective over germs instantly?

This isn't false, but it does not mean that tried-and-true soap and water should be used any less. The National Food Safety Database states that alco-

hoi-based sanitizers (such as Purell) have the ability to increase the amount of bacteria on the skin with prolonged use. The reason for these results," it claims, "is that alcohol removes the protective oils and dries out the skin as it evaporates, causing microscopic cracks and crevices." As the skin becomes drier and more damaged, germs remain trapped and hidden within the cracks and fissures. Alcoholbased gels and towlettes that claim "moisturizing" benefits do not help; the m()isturizers are not fully absorbed through the skin, and may actually attract more germs and dirt.

Soap, believe it or not, does its job better because it does not kill germs. According to the Soap and Detergent Association, soap acts as a surfactant, which "performs functions in cleaning, such as loosening, emulsifying (dispersing in water) and holding soil in suspension until it can be rinseq away." Therefore, it removes the filth from your skin by carrying it away, not by killing it.

It seems that some students are already partially informed about the effectiveness of hand sanitizers. Almost half of the school, 44%, feels that a hand sanitizer is not a good substitute for soap

and water. One female sophomore remarked, "It's more convenient, except they kill 99.9% of bacteria- so it even kills good bacteria." A female freshman wrote, "I think my hands feel cleaner with soap and water." One male freshman picked up on another benefit of soap and water: "[Hand sanitizers路 are] a waste of money... Soap[s] [are better]

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way to use the gels and lotions. However, if you're like the 11% ofTownsend Harris students who believe it's inconvenient or there's no time to use soap and water, it's all right to occasionally use the sanitizers alone.

Chief of medicine at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis, Dr. Kristin Nichols, offers her recommendations for staying ahead of the cold and flu bug this season: "Get a flu shot. Wash your hands a lot. One of the common modes of transmission is to get virus-infected particles on your hands from touching a surface or shaking someone's hand," she explained. Maybe students should listen to this "expert" advice, and go for old-fashioned soap and water.

Sources: Grady, Denise. "Here's Something to Sneeze At." New York 1imes.l2 Dec. 1999: WK3.

Pureii."Instant Hand Sanitizers Shown to Reduce Absenteeism."

Online. 8 Jan. 2000. http:// www.purell. com newss/ 82599.htm.

National Food Safety Database Home Page.

"Health Warning~ Popular Alcohol Ge!Hand Sanitizers Increase Bacteria on Skin." Online. 30 Nov. 1999. http:// www.foodsafety.org/ht/ht449.htm.

University of Wyoming. "To Use or Not to Use Antibacterial Soap? That is the question!"

Online. 30 Nov. 1999. http:/ west.uwyo.edu/food/Newsletters/12-98.htm.

The Soap and Detergent Association Home Page. Online. 30 Nov. 1999. http:// www.sdahq.org/.

because they are cheaper and do a better job." Finally, a junior felt that hand sanitizers weren't effective because "they just smell like fruit 路mixed with &leo hoi."

This doesn't mean that hand sanitizers are pointless. A study conducted by the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) throughout five elementary school districts in four states showed that soap, Water and instant hand sanitizers, when used together, reduced (See also poll results in "When smart absenteeism by 20%. This is the best kids smell," p. 14)

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The Classic

From blahs torahs: M·a scot courts support by Allison Slotnick shorts at Comedy Night. . If you've attended any Townsend HarWhen he's not entertaining, Marc ris sporting events recently, you may pursues many of his other interests. For have noticed a new addition - a large, the last two years, he has been writing dancing hawk. tie's Hari the Hawk, the music and playing drums in a,band, Yelfirst mascot in Townsend Harris history. low Pottery, with two of his friends from Who's behind Hari, performing those outside the Townsend Harris commuenthusiastic cheers and giving Harrisites nity. Marc is also an active member of a new sense of school spirit? It's Marc SPAA (Students Promoting AIDS Florman, a sophomore who lives to be Awareness) and is a certified peer AIDS different and entertain. educator. "I am very, very anti-drug, Marc's first visions of a mascot besmoking, and alcohol," Marc says of one gan when he went to see some basketof his most vital beliefs. When not with ball games and realized that "it was friends or family, he enjoys looking afboring, and everyone in the bleachers · ter his two corn snakes, Zaltys and was doing their homework." He recogSpiro, the former being named after a nized th~t something needed to be degoddess in Baltic mythology and the latveloped in order to bring in more enter being named by one of Marc's close thused fans. "I knew they needed some friends. He is also on the school soccer • cheerleaders, but I'm a boy," Marc reteam, and has been playing soccer since called jokingly. he was four. Perhaps, though, Marc's faFot his first attempt, he approached vorite hobby is cooking. At one time, Dean Wanda Nix with the idea of he dreamt of becoming a chef for the Continued from p. 1 . times more likely to get melanoma since '"Mascot Marc,' but worked as an intern at the Parks Depart- they are less capable of dealing with the she laughed. Marc c ment for a year. Her project has made oxidative stress which induces cancer. did not give up, ~ her consider majoring in sociology in Shivanc:t decided to study melanoma though, and wanted ~ .. . college. . for her STS project after someone close to prove his commit~ Tina tried to develop a way to pro- to her died from cancer a few years ago. ment. He contacted » duce blue laser light in her project, She had a plan for her project even beMs . Nix .a second ~<t: "Doubling the Frequency of Light: Sec- fore meeting her mentor and said she time and "pro_mised ond Harmonic Generation in Periodi- never expected to be a semi-finalist. "If that [he] would raise cally Poled Lithium Niobate." She iden~ you're doing an Intel, even if you think half of the money tified blue laser light as a valuable as- . it's horrible, just give it in. You can't needed for the cosset. Not only are blue lasers easier to give up," she said. Shivana has wanted tume ($500) and find manipulate than large red lasers, they to study medicine since her freshman a replacement for have many potential uses. Blue laser year. She strives for a well-rounded when [he] gradulight is capable of storing more infor- education over a mostly science-based ates." Marc obtained mation on CDs, allowing NASA to de- one and feels that STS projects aren't the $500 from the teet the Earth's ozone levels from outer just for "science people." executive board of space, making current movie projectors The Social Science category is newer Windsor Park housobsolete and when used with a specific to the STS. Science, the initial focus of ing in Bayside, . dye, even allowing scientists to learn the the STS, gets the most attention and the which often donates sex of the baby a single sperm will pro- most winners. The number of science The man behind the hawk: Mascot Marc Florman, junior, out of money to sports produce. winners in New York City, however, has costume but not out of character, solves a math problem while grams for young Thi~ summer, Tina will be employed dropped over the past few years. entertaining classmates. adults. by her mentor, Professor Harold Metcalf Townsend Harris had two science. semiAfter Marc was at Stony Brook University, to help with finalists this year as compared with four able to prove his other students in the fellowship she par~ last year. Other specialized high schools, dedication, Ms. Nix began to warm up White House. Now, though, he hopes to ticipated in last summer. · such as Stuyvesant, are ·also reporting to the notion and told Marc to suggest open a butcher shop one day, as a side Besides being a STS semi-finalist, fewer semi-finalists and finalists. Mr. the idea to Odile Garcia, Coordinator profession.

Tina was the regional finalist in last Curran credits this decline to the sumRather than complain about endless Nov-ember's Siemens Westinghouse mer science programs sponsored by colof · Student Activities, Principal collaterals and tests, Marc reveals that Competition, and presented her project leges around the country. "This is beMalcolm Largmann, and the coaches he "loves Townsend Harris." His favor- at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- coming a bigger and bigger phenomof the sports teams. They all welcomed ite part of the experience is Japanese. nology. Outside of science, she also fo- . · enon," Mr. Curran said, "You're seeing the proposal. Marc then suggested that He had already completed one year -of cuses on her musical passions. She plays summer camps for Intel projects." Mr. the mascot's 1\ilme should be Hari in Spanish in eighth grade, but decided to the piano and has shared her trained Curran believes that students from many honor of senior Hari Kondalabu, the founder of Comedy Night. "Hari is a drop the language when he heard about opera voice at the school's Winter Con- affluent suburbs c:tre taking advantage of great guy, and he warited to leave a the Japanese program from Joan Walsh, certs and talent shows~ · offers like these, attracted by the promAssistant -Principal of Foreign ·Lanlegacy behind, so I decided to help," Shivana's project, "MnSOD: The Ni- ise of a completed STS project at ~he guage, at freshman orientation. "It's tro Blue Tetrazolium Assay and Corre- end of two months.

Marc said.

After all his work, Marc's creation completely interesting, different, and Httions Between Polymorphisms ·in In the future, Mr. Scarnati.hopes evitook life as Hari the Hawk made his cool. Ms. Muchniki is extremely stimu- SODIA 1/2, Melanoma Case Status and dence of ongoing success in the Social official debut in front of the student lating," he says. Marc hopes to apply Mutagen Sensitivity" studied the abil- Science Research elective will allow an body on October29, J999 at Founder's what he is learning in Japanese abroad. ity of the enzyme MnSOD to catalyze expansion in that program, including deDay. He has applied for a foreign exchange superoxides and thus lower the risk of velopment of special research iab faWhile some may think that being the program.this summer in which he would getting melanoma, a form of skin can- cilities. "They're really doing Masters mascot has gone to Marc's head, herestay with a host family for five weeks cer. Working at the Memorial Sloan- thesis work," Mr. ·Scarnati said of the minds them, '~I don't try to make myin Japan.

Kettering Center, Shivana studied the STS participants, Unlike the Science Overall, Marc describes himself as blood of advanced and early cancer pa- Research elective, where class members self known. I still have some inhibitions "interesting, [full of] quality, and Go!" tients as well as those without cancer. often have mentors in outside labs or like everyone else." One may have found this ·hard to believe, though, as He will u_se these qualities to continue She determined that those who have· colleges, Social Science Research stuentertaining Harrisites and leave his polymorphism in SODlA 1/2, which is dents must develop their own theses and Marc ran through the auditorium in nothing but suspenders and boxer legacy for years to come. linked to MnSOD are probably eight collect data themselves.

Three reach semi-finals in Intel

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Laughter abounds at f1rst-ever Comeety N1ght

by Andrew Goldberg . Kramer, the comically clumsy character on Seinfeld, known for walking into walls (both figuratively and literally) on his mad money-making schemes, helped make many grade-conscious Harrisites first find failure funny.

But other admittedly less-talented performers (notably professional politicians), who've angered voters by "bringing down the Hous.e " with their straight-faced support of similarly senseless ideas, have succeeded only in bringing themselves down in public opinion polls by

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trying their hand at humor. So when senior Hari Kondabolu, who a5 Vice President of the Student Union and an amateur comedian is used to nimbly navigating th~ thin line between making students laugh and administrators · angry, first suggested his idea for a student-run Comedy Night to the administration, he hoped it would not be seen as just a joke.

Several months later, standingup before a crowd craving comedy at the first-annual Comedy Night (held, just for kicks, in the afternoon) on January 14, Hari-

the-host jumpstarted the jokes, children and do something for while also proving through the AIDS," said Hari. "When I found event's charitable cause that no one a charity that dealt with both, it takes comedy more seriously. Be- only seemed appropriate."

If the cause was appropriate, . lieving tliat "laughter is the best then it was the job of advisor medicine,"and that"money comes Arthur Boulanger to make s_ure the in a close second· for those in same could be said of the jokes. need," Hari made a case for his "Mr. Boulanger has a sense of hu.name as the mascot by hawking mor and he knows what kids will two dollar tickets to the charity laugh at," said Hari, who started event, and raising, along with the the show by assuring the audience. rest of the cast of comedians, apthat the jokes would be "decent," proximately $700 for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. even as cue cards containing "I wanted to do something with the . "curses" commonly found in money from the show to benefit literary works passed behind( him in proper English_sen- . ~ tences. · "He gave us a lot of I. room to work," he said.

While Hari worked to calty Incorrect at To~nsend Harkeep the laughs on track, a Fis," a forum wh:ieh will be held host of other comedians apmon«tly on Monday afternoons . peared in the show's series of in the auditorium for one hour skits. Senior Alice Ahn ar.. to anow administrators, teachgued against the sale of bags ers, and students fo come toof glass for use when there's gether and·· talk about topics no snow to throw, as well as which concern everyone. a home liposuction kit to "get ..When people don't talk, there's rid of baby fat," in a bit about hostility that needs to be let out, t• unsafe toys for children. In said Hart "The goal is to give "Who Wants to be a Billionpeople a chance to have a aire," a parody of the popular healthy, open dialogue, while television game s~ow, Who laughing at the s<ame time." As Wants to be a Millionaire, s·ewith alm0st everything else the nior Stefan Muehlbauer comedian attempts, Hari jokes, proudly proclaimed, "I !lave _ . ""it can't not'be funny." now made more than a·New York Although Hari wishes he had City· school teacher," after cortime to attend comedy clubs . rectly answering the two dollar more "routinely," be lmows his question from · ~ost Evan classmates count on him to liven Muehlbauer; freshman. Still, it up lessons with jokes and bring was seniors Andrew Falzon, Jackie his own comedy to Townsend Rubin, and Alison Park who, along Harris' clubs. "In every moment with Hari, analyzed the thinly 0f every class, I'm constantly veiled euphemisms often used in trying to make people laugh," teenage relationships, and offered said Hari, who gets a thrill out a final answer to the question: of "co.ntroUing people's emo"What are guys and girls really tions, if only for ~brief second." thinking?" If a guy says, "I have "You can always tell when I'm something to tell you," they adhaving a bad day,'' he said. vised, he really means "you might "When I'm not cracking a joke, want to get tested." you lmow rm depressed.'1 "Many teachers don't like me, Still,, it wasn't always that and I don't like many teachers," way. Before he became known said junior John Vouderis, whose for his punch lines, Hari used to impersonations of Townsend Harli..ne up at recess and take ris teachers during the stand-up ptl'nC'IJ.es duri.n.g elementary segment of ~he _show also seemed schoel, an experience wh:ich he to leave a lasting impression on the has since weaved into his act, audience. · "John was funny beand whien he credits, llt least cause his humor relate[d] to us partially, for" giving rise to. hls most," said sophomore Andrew self..,depiTecating sense of humor.

Gross. Sophomore Jamie Fried"On the school food c;hain, the man also acknowledged ·laughing fat kid's always at the bottom," most at John's jokes. "The [Sasaid Kari, who told the audience rah] Laderoute impression was at Comedy Night, ..the only time dead on," she said. LatetT, senior I ev:er look good at a party is . Jon Blum continued the stand-up when I'm next to the drunk guy." by hitting home with jokes about By incorporating these memobeing run. over by a car. ries into his monologue, Har:i has Sophomore Marc Florman, shown, if only through his hu~ however, who streaked across the .

Continued on p. 15 stage in his boxer shorts and suspenders to · spit apple skins at the

audience, showed that comedy, t be funny, should be anything bt "routine." Earlier, Marc appeare with senior Drew Zambl:citq Alison, and Hari to act out diffe1 ent Sitm tions i . the irr

creates comic relief

by Andrew Goldberg wonderful. :Bverydtin:g was pitch In reviews still circu:lating blaok," he said. about David Lettennan's recent As part of his bid to make life a triumphant return' to late-night little li~hter for everyone, however, television after open-h:eatt Hari bas also brought liimself mto surge-ry, · alhts·io-ns to the spotlight ·off stage. "I decided angioplasty abeund. Allihougb to run for SU Vice President to put the comedian's comparjsons be.. on more shows and great eventll to tween cardiology and comedy, get [students] to see the bright side made in a monologue riddled of sehool," said Hari, whose name with rips at a process most speak of onl-y in a serious vein, were bypassed 'by man.y viewers anGI laughed off by fellow comics, the new blood in the bu<Siness is quick to acknowledge that comedy really is a ''complex operation." Among fhemis SU Senior Vice President Hari Kondabolu, an avid amateur comedian who bas not ~nlyexperienced high · pressure as the host and creatot: of the first-ever Come.dy Night, but who has made a habit of using humor to combat stress in school, all as perfonns at the firSt Comedy Night on January t4. part of his philosophy to do everything he does with has been bestowed on the mascot, "all his heart.''

••Hari-the-Hawk," by s0phomore While telling jokes has never Marc Florman as a testament to his felt strange ·tt> Hari, a fledgling etforts to raise schOQl spirit. "If funnyman wqg ~lieves "ther~~s ·there are things t6 do after school, no~h:ing better than making a I don't think people should just go person smHe," it wasn't until right home," he said.

Comedy N:igbt that be was first Hari rarely does. As the head put under the· knit'e. "I hadn't sports reporter anti Assistant Direca-GtualJy performed my stand..u.p tor o:f Townsend Talk Live. the in front of [an audience} before," school's student..run ratJ;i:o show, said Hari, who routinely proo- host of the upcoming ..$ay What tiees his material only on "very Karaoke" show in April, and one kind" friends and takes pointers of the lead writeFs and actors in . via the Comedy Chann~l ft6m skits performed at Founder's Day, professionals who've atready Hari hopes to signal t6 others the made the cut. ''The faet that I importaace of becoming involved. could only hear v:oices and not Starting in March. he will begin see faces from the stage was hawking ,,his latest idea; "Politi-

provisation segment of the show, which was based on the televisior program Whose Line Is It Anyway Although most of the situations re ceived lots of laughs, sophomon Jay Dileo saw some room for im provement. "If you're going to d< Whose Line," he said," you've go to use props."

Continuing the trend of th( more mysterious, in. a ".secre sketch" not even seen by Hari dur ing rehearsels, seniors Stev1 Berman, Jack Bouba, .Chri: Munde and junior Mike Delane~ danced in drag, as senior Saral Buchalski listened to soft musi( coming from a jewelry box. Then thing~ turned mor~ lively as chem istry teacher Adel Kadamani mad( an appearance and l:>~rned up th1 stage with his break-dance moves Even though Hari acknowl edged "the whole drag thin1 wasn't my_idea," he was the firs tp take responsibility for allowinJ his own act to drag on for "a littl1 too long." Although Corned: Night was supposed to end by fiv1 o'clock, at five thirty the show wa still going strong. "The only prob lem in the show, I think, was tha the intermission was too long, an( · so was my stand-up," said Hari Still, most people didn't seem t( notice. "I completely lost track o time," said senior Jatin Chopra "Hari made everything loo_k eas:

The Classic March 2000

9

Townsend Harris Stepping· i.n to big shoes: Al.u nina tours as clown with his smooth delivery.

According to the hos~. however, it certainly wasn't. Scheduled for a scholars.hip interview at . the

by Bosede Adenekan In college, Marni learned acro- being a straight A student," said Imagine standing before an au- batics, stilt and globe walking, gag Marni. dience of over a 1000 people~ while writing, and character developMarni admitted that sometimes wearing big floppy red shoes, a ment. It was here where she de- the most hilarious things occur; accurly wig, •and a bow tie. It is your cided to be an Auguste clown, the cidentally. She recalled an injob make the audience members flirty kind with ~ flush colored stance when all the clowns were . laugh. This is exactly what Marni face, white mouth; white eyes, blue waiting to pack into a ,clown car Sussman, graduate of the class of eye shadow and rosy cheeks. "I and one clown fell down. "He '92, does every week. She is a clown for . the Ringling Brother's Barnum and Bailey Circus. · Marni has had this job for two years, with one goal in lll;ind. "I would like to make everyone as happy as I am. I love what I do. I love life," she said. Marni knew she wanted to be a clown after seeing the circus during her senior year of high school. .· She approached h~r parents about her career plans only to find that her mother had a surprise of her own. "My ~J · SNICkEEZY mother had saved an. appli- ~"r"'~ cation for the Barnum and · ·-··· Bailey Circus since I was eight learned which character looke.d tripped on a banana peel - a real after my first trip to the circus," best, felt best, and worked best banana peel. No one was afraid if said Marni with a laugh. with my face," said Marrii. Now he was hurt or not; they were just After graduating from she has become so skillful that it amazed that it was a banana peel.

Townsend Harris, Marni audi- takes her only .15 minutes to put It was totally unplanned and wontioned for clown college and was on all of her clownmakeup, which derful," she said. The clowns, howrejected . She then attended is less time than it usually takes to ever, have only a minimal degree SUNY Purchase, auditioned put on regular makeup. of artistic freedom. Their acts ori again for clown college and was Marni asserted that she loves stage are barely improvised. "You admitted. "C:::lown college is basi- being a clown. "My job is to have .have tG be in the same place at the cally boot camp for clowns. It's fun. A lot of people don't get to same time but how you •get there six days a week, 12 hours a day do that. . It's necessary to know that is up to you," said Marni. Furtherand lasts for eight weeks," she said. having fun is just as important as more, practicing Is entirely up to

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first asked to address the Consultative Council concerning Comedy Night, and fearing that his idea would be laughed off the agenda without a convincing comedian there to stand-up for i t, Hari hatched a plan. "I decided to record myself on tape pitching Comedy Night," he said, "and then put a picture of myself on the radio which played the tape of my speech."

Those he thought would be his · harshest critics evidently enjoyed his material, and an encore was eventually scheduled for January 14 (Comedy Night). Still, the early ·search for good jokesters was also riddled with problems. '.:Nobody showed up for the first four or five auditions:" said Hari, who confided that he "was almost in tears" as a result of the early lack of interest in the show. "People get sick of me. I don't thinkl could have done two and a half hours of my- self," he said.

Although he ... he was ·~lightly nervous before the show ("No joking," said the show's creator with a laugh), Hari admitted that things . got easier as time went on. "This was my first time, and it was a learning experience," said Hari, who hopes Townsend Harris will see many more Comedy Nights to come. "I'm definitely going to try this again some day, though I'm not sure when or where."

Evolving circus entertains, serves

by Rebecca Munoz Bodies· contowd into unimaginable positions, horses that trot on half-inch-thick ropes 200 ftin the air, and men that shoot out of cannons, can be found within 10 feet '. of each other at one of America's most well-known and beloved forms of entertainment: the circus, which has developed into a timeless and mesmerizing event.

One of the most well-known American circuses is the Ringling Brothers . and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Through his experiences as a cir:cus clown in the mid-nineteenth century, Phineas Taylor Barnum developed the gift of showmanship. He began to promote his own acts, .although many were gimmicks used to reap profit.

He went so far as to guarantee a "Man Eating Chicken," which was, in fact, a man who noshed on a drumstick for 15 minutes. In 1870, Barnum founded his Grand and , Traveling Circus which grossed $400,000 its first year and after befriending James M. Bailey in the mid 1880s, the two set out to pro-

duce their own traveling circus.

Competition arose in the late 1880s from the residents of a barn in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The seven Rungeling brothers, who eventually changed their name to Ringling, began to produce and perform in their own moving circus. "The greatest show," as they called it, traveled through Wisconsin, thus adding to the state's reputation as the "Mother o'f Circuses."

By 1890, more than 100 traveling tent shows could be found in Wisconsin, including a Barnum & ·Bailey circus.

When Barnum and then Bailey passed away near the turn of the century, the Ringl ing Brothers bought and eventually combined the Barnum & Bailey circus and their own. It became one of the ·largoot circus acts of its time with 1,200 employees and 100 railroad cars to transport the show. Today, the "Greatest Show" performers and crew fill four full trains, attract 10,000 customers daily, and travel 18,000 miles in one tour.

Senior Shawn Kodes recalled

each individual. Marni admitted that she still couldn't juggle and needed to practice that.

One thing that Marni loves about her job is traveling. "Every week my house moves to a new place. There is new stuff to ex~ plore. It's really cool," she said.

Marni has performed in 38 cities this year, including Toror\to; Florida, St. Louis, and Colorado Springs. She often performs for . terminally-ill children at hospitals. , "It's so important since the days are monotonous for these kids. This is something different and most of them love it. We bring stickers and coloring books and a _little bit of joy," said Marni.

She also claimed that she gets along well with her co-worker-s, includi_ng the animals. "The animals are performers and they know that when they perform, they're fed. They're treated better than I am," said Marni.

Despite the fact that Marni sometimes misses her family, she can't find anything she truly dislikes about her job. "The salary is enough for me; I am fed and have a place to sleep- that's about all I need," she said. "It's impossible to have a bad day because you make others happy."

Marni doesn't plan to be a clown forever. "I'll do it for as long as it's fun and then I'll stop.

There are clowns on the road that Continued on p. 15

commu~ity

visfting the Ringling Brothers and gram, a unique performance that Barnum & Bailey circus each year caters to a physically challenged with his cousin. "I always looked audience, entertai ned 17,000 forward to the circus," he said. "I physically disabled children at Linwas amazed by the tightrope walk- coln Center. · ers." .

Now, imagine a circus without Some circuses do more than en- elephants, cotton candy, and redtertain their audiences, like the mouthed clowns, a circus that comwell-known one-ringed Big Apple . bines an element of the supernatuCircus, which .has extended into . ral with the unimagined capabilithe community in New York and ties of the hl\ffian body. The Cirother major cities. In 1979, four que Du Soleilbegan in the streets years after the Big Apple circus of Quebec, Canada: as young street was first established, the Circus performers dazzled onlookers with Arts in Education program was their ability to walk on stilts and intrGduced. The program provides eat fire. In 1984, to .celebrate the inner-city kids with a circus arts 450 1h ann i versary of Jacques training curriculum. Seven years . Cartier's arrival in Canada, with later, in 1986, the .Big Apple Cir- the assistance of the Quebec govcus. Clown Care Unit began send- ernment, these street performers ing medically trained clowns into · began to travel through parts of hospitals, particularly in the pedi- Canada and then in the Un ited Continued on p. 12 atric wards~ Just last year, Big Apple clowns Catch the Ringling Brothers made 180,000 visits to paand Barnum & Bailey Circus at tients. And in Madison Square · Garden. from 1998, the Circus of the March 17 toApril2.

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The Classic

10 Passion for chocolate, .chocolate for passion March2000 - - - - - - . . . . . . - - - - - -

by Noreen Bukhari Chocolate, a traditional symbol of,Jove, ranks rightup there with roses as one of the most popular presents given to spark passion on Valentine's Day. But what really is the. elusive link between love and chewy chocolate? Chocoholics may relish digesting the details ofscientists' latest findings.

Chocolate contains three . stimulants: caffeine, theobromine, and phenyethylamine, which, according to researchers, may serve to substantiate . the myth of its mouth-watering appeal as an aphrodisiac. Caffeine increases alertness and · decreases fatigue. Theobromine stimulates the heart muscle and nervous system and phenyethylamine is reputed to be a mood elevator and an antidepressant. The combination of these three substances provides extra energy, a fast heart beat arid a jumpy and giddy sensa- . tion. This, in effect, creates a feeling verymuch like the excitement offalling in love. But research is still underway to . find the link between these sub!>tances and chemicals released in our brain when we fall in love.

In addition to its appeal as a

possible aphrodisiac, chocolate is also often used as a remedy for anxiety, depression, or anger. This may be .attributed to the fact that eating chocolate stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals released by__ the brain to give a strong sense of pleasure. Scientists say that eating chocolate may increase

and used as a beverage by the tempted to sell secret chocolate Olmec Indians from South and recipes to Russia, China, Saudi Central America . . Then, in Arabia and other.countries, Today chocolate is a multi1519, the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez brought the . billion dollar industry, and, acdrink to Europe, where sugar . cording to Levine Rozin, author was added and it acquired a of "Chocolate Craving and Liksweet taste, Chocolate passed ing," the single most craved as currency among all nations food in this country.

"Eating chocolate is like beat the time. The Industrial ing in love: when you fall intothe temptation, you realize that it may have a bad effect, but it was definitely worth the fall," said senior Joy Mendoza.

While scientists continue

searching for complex technica1 reasons to explain chocolate cravings, others account for people's attraction to chocolate in a much simpler way. As junior Rebecca Zee explains, the answer may be that "it just tastes good."

Sources: Comptons Interactive • Encylcopedia, /995 .

Rozin P, Levine E, Stoess C. "Chocolate Craving and Liking." Appetite. 1991; 17: 199- 212 Thrive@ online.com

Did You Know...

endorphins and lift a person's mood. . Chocolate comes from the seed of the tropical cacao tree. and was named "food of the gods" by Carolus Linneaus, an eighteenth century Swedish botanist. It was first discovered

-More than a billion people in the world snack on some form of chocolate treat every day.

-Cacao beans are really purple. It's only after the fermenting and drying process that they turn brown.

-White chocolate technically isn't even chocolate at all. It's made from cocoa butter, milk, sugar and flavoring. · -Ever since the Civil War, the US government has included chocolate in the rations for their troops.

When our soldiers go into battle, chocolate goes with them. · -Montezuma, the great Aztec ruler, drank 50 pitchers of a frothy chocolate beverage daily.

Revolution brought about the mass production of chocolate and spread its popularity: Then, in the 1980s, a story-of chocolate espionage hit the world press when an apprentice of the Swiss Company of SuchardTobler unsuccessfully at-

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The Classic March2000

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11

The Classic

12 Hurrica-ne, Watch! New movie far from ill wind March 2000

High profile celebrities such as

by Alice losifescu Even if you're not a fan of Bob Dylan and Muhammed Ali boxing movies, The Hurricane rallied for his cause. But the is worth seeing. Although it is most effective support would based on the life of boxer Rubin come in the form of an under"Hurricane" Carter, the story privileged teen named Lesra isn't really about boxing at all. 路 Martin.

In fact, it was Carter's words When Lesra was trapped in rather than his fists that ended a situation without much of a up being his greater weapons. future, three Canadian teachers The movie, based on a true recognized Lesra's talent and story, recounts the opposition offered their help, arranging for Carter encountered both in and him to live in their house while out of the ring. Denzel Wash- they helped him develop his ington is Rubin "Hurricane" skills and gave him a proper Carter, a man who is faced with education. Lesra becomes inthe fight of his life after he is spired after reading Carter's auwrongfully accused of a bar- tobiography, and is convinced room killing spree in New Jer- of his innocence. Lesra can sey. In the wrong place at the identify with Carter because of wrong time, Carter and his their similar childhood driver, John Artis, were con- struggles, and is deeply moved victed and sentenced to three by his story. Lesra feels comlife terms in prison. While in pelled to do something about it, prison, Carter decided to chan- and begins to correspond with nel his frustration by writing his Carter by mail. The two start to develop a close friendship. This side of the story.

Despite the publication of close bond ignites the interest his autobiography, The Six- of Lesni's Canadian mentors, teenth Round, Carter remained who begin their crusade to free behind bars. His situation, how- the Hurricane.

Meanwhile, Rubin Carter ever, did not go unnoticed.

has found inner peace by withdrawing from the outer world.

He has become hardened by his years spent in prison fighting the system and failing.

The story is remarkable, and the way it is conveyed does justice to the profound message that this movie delivers: through dedication and perseverance, anything is possible. If Carter had given up on himself when just about everyone else had, he wouldn't have been able to reach Lesra, who not only helped set him free, but more importantly, restored Carter's sense of hope and faith in humanity.

The success of the movie stems from a number of things.

First of all, Denzel Washington delivers an amazing performance. The role is obviously demanding since he has to deal with playing a character who has been pushed to the limits from languishing in prison for almost two decades. Furthermore, he has nothing to wrap his arms around since most of the movie takes place in a small

NEW YORK'S UNKNOWN Outlaw! offers different take on violence, movies reason the newspapers once

by Lauren Paley Bullets are something rob- called him the"Gentleman Banber Horst Fantazzini learns dit." Fantazzini makes group about the hard way in the comi- trips to the bathroom, amuscally tragic Italian movie Out- ingly hounding Iacono and law! Based on real events of Gennaro like an annoyed par1973, Fantazzini, played by ent who needs to make a "pit" Stefano Accorsi, attempts to stop during a long car trip. In escape from prison. Experi- the next hours he mediates an enced only with the toy guns argument over the singing skills he used to steal money from of Elton John and Patti Pravo, banks, Fantazzini switches to and with the exception of the a real gun for the first time and . gun he holds, the small talk the inadvertently shoots two three make about family, muguards while taking two more sic and jobs is almost an everyhostage. Trapped in the empty day friendly encounter.

The next words Fantazzini prison director's office, he takes phone calls from a pros- hears are from his actual father. ecutor and the director himself An anarchist with a reputation as snipers tip-toe on the roof and police record of his own, Fantazzini's father says he alabove him.

"What am I going to do with ways supported his son's robyou?" the jail director yells beries of banks, but wishes that through the receiver in his most Fantazzini had taken the Robin father-like tone. "How could Hood approach of giving the you do this to meT' the direc- money to the poor rather than tor continues. "I've improved using it to furnish his house. No the food! I've done everything matter what the reason, "it is you've asked for!" The conver- more criminal to found a bank sation ends as the director re- than to rob one," Fantazzini quests that Fantazzini feed his says; quoting the words of Gergoldfish, and the prisoner is left man playwright Bertolot to the company of his two hos- Brecht.

While the story line takes its tages, Iacono and Gennaro (Emilio Solfrizzi and Giovanni course, Fantazzini's wife, porEposito ), as well as three boxes trayed with a full face of quiet of cigarettes and a transistor expression by Fabriza Sacchi, fills in the holes of the past with radio.

Fantazzini accommodates her comments to a reporter. The his hostages, never resorting to 路 story is smoothly adapted into violence, which explains the a screenplay by Enzo

Monteleone and Angelo Orlando from Fantazzini's autobiography. Monteleone, who also directs Outlaw!, grabs onto the subtleties of the time period, without getting caught up in the bellbottoms and side burns of the 1970s. This is done so well that the movie looks as if it were actually made during 1973.

Although one can claim the movie comments on everything from excessive violence in society to rebellion against a controlling government, Monteleone merely intends to retell a story about the rare humanity of a criminal. Outlaw! manages to keep the tone of a comedy while taking the issues of crime seriously. The director of the film has the unique ability to poke fun at this outrageous jail break while keeping the consequences of violence real. Unlike most films which would collapse during the interaction scenes between Fantazzini and the hostages, Monteleone inc.orporates enough physical humor and action to keep the audience interested. Outlaw! deserves the Audience Award it won at the Naples International Film Festival last June. It also deserves the chance to reach many other audiences who may have 路 missed its brief release this February.

prison cell with no dramatic action sequenc~s. The performance speaks for Washington's superb acting since he was only able to draw from his talent and couldn't rely on special effects.

Structurally, the movie was excellent. Through several well-edited flashbacks, we are shown Carter's numerous runins with the law, and how they spurred him on to become a top-ranked boxer who wanted, for once in his life, to control his own destiny. Although the flashbacks aren't essential to telling the story, they add a lot of depth to the movie because you get a better feel for his personality.

Norman Jewison does a superb job with the cinematography in recreating the boxing scenes. The boxing scenes are in black and white and this conveys the history of the story.

But, unexpectedly the scenes change to color, so it's as if you are catapulted into the movie.

Translating the rest of the movie into color gives the feeling that this isn't an isolated historical event, but reality for one man.

The movie also benefited from the fact that it didn't revolve around the issue of race.

Although it was a corrupt white

police officer who was responsible for Carter's imprisonment, a focus only on race would have diminished the universality of the film's message. Carter's story shows that all people, regardless of race and adversity, can accomplish anything as long as they don't give up.

Despite the accolades The Hurricane has received, it has had its share of controversy.

Many criticize the quality of the movie since it doesn't strictly adhere to the facts.

They argue that the Canadians played only a small role in the case, and that the racist cop who frames Carter did not exist. However, I think these critics are nitpicking. This isn't a documentary but a movie. A man spent the better years of his life in jail for a crime that he did not commit. This movie got that point across. The makers of The Hurricane have exercised a legitimate creative license.

Whether or not you are swayed by the criticisms of the movie, see it for yourself. Most movies these days lack substance and aren't worth your nine dollars. But The Hurricane surely surpasses its rivals in content and talent.

Circus expands Continued from p. 9 States with their trademark blue and yellow striped tents.

Now, as the Cirque Du Solei! has gained recognition all over the world, new performances have begun to branch from this main attraction.

Found at Walt Disney World Resorts is "La Nouba," an interactive play which tells the story of the "cirques" or circus people whose lives clash with the "urbains" or urbanites of the cities they visit. Another type of original performance art under the blue and yellow big top was first performed in 1998 at the Bellagio resort in Las Vegas. "0" tells the history of theater and is performed in the water. "Alegria," another Cirque Du Solei! show, now available on film, is a love story between a street performer and a singer, with an emphasis on acrobatics. Senior Petra VallilaBuchman particularly enjoys the Cirque Du Solei!. "I like the music the best," she said, "It is fanciful, so it can be enjoyed by children, but it is written by composers and so it is entertaining for adults."

Whether or not his circus includes animals, the life of a traveling circus entertainer is

not as endlessly joyful as it may appear to be. Circus performers travel day and night to reach their next destination and must set up the moment they arrive.

Set-up may be the most strenuous part of circus life since the tent, seating, electrical generators, concession stands and facilities for the animals need to be erected. Once set-up is complete, the show must begin regardless of fatigue or weather conditions.

However, despite the exhausting efforts of the circus performer, there are benefits to circus life. Performers must form a close-knit community since they have little cpntact with people outside the circus.

Holidays are spent together, children are often schooled at home and weddings between performers are not uncommon.

Days are usually filled with excitement and the colorful personalities of those attracted to this type of career makes the circus environment a cheerful and unique one.

Sources: www.bigapplecircus.org www.cirquedusoleil.com www.circusweb.com

The Classic March 2000

The Beach no S'hore thing

by Sara Tilitz Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio) is bored by his technologically driven and seemingly meaningless life. This boredom drives him to Thailand where he seeks something "different." So opens this visually astounding and rather entertaining, if not totally successful, work of director Danny Boyle. The Beach aspires to be a modern day Lord of the Flies that delves into the savage nature of people removed from society.

We see these effects on Richard as he and his fellow travelers, Francoise (Virginie Ledoyen) and Etienne (Guillaume Canet) stumble onto a secret island that holds the world's most perfect beach.

The film opens with Richard wandering the streets of Bangkok hoping to find the perfect adventure. The adventure he seeks finds him when he least expects it. He learns of an island that is so close to "paradise," it drives Daffy (Robert Carlyle), his neighbor, mad when he leaves it. When Daffy slits his wrist, he leaves Richard a copy of the map of the island. Richard is thrilled to get involved in a real quest and recruits his other hotel neighbors, Francoise and Etienne, to join him.

Once on the island, they find half of it inhabited by hostile marijuana farmers, while the other half holds a culture of diverse villagers who are completely separated from modem day civilization.

The people who make up this population come from all over the world and none of them wish to leave once they

arrive. As they become integrated into the community, Richard and his companions initially have the same reaction: everything seems perfect- at first. But the problems eventually become obvious. The group is so isolated from the real world, they can no longer deal with real problems, especially the concept of death. The film leaves the viewer weary of the killing the villagers are willing to tolerate to keep their beach a secret, as the director tries to convey that nothing is more precious than a human life, not even paradise.

Although the premise of this film is promising, weak acting and an over-involved plot make it rather trite.

DiCaprio is truly pathetic as the overconfident, foolhardy and arrogant Richard and never fully comfortable as the character. The rest of the cast put up a better front and are at least believable in their roles. The fast pace and scenery are what make this movie float. We travel from a crowded Asian city to an expansive mountain island surrounded by clear seas. The camera sweeps across its surroundings, making us feel as though the world could go on forever.

All in all, this film is an example of trying to do too much in a short space of time. The meaning is not lost through the poverty of the acting skills, but it does not strike home as it should. This movie is worth seeing for the mere spectacle of it, but despite the director's best efforts, do not expect to leave the theater with a higher understanding of the world we live in.

13

THE CLUB SCENE: TFL tackles new idea

by Eric Trager Football at Townsend Harris may never be mistakett for TeKas high school football, where the sport takes on an almost religious fervor. Yet, on any given Friday~ dozens of students rush to the Queens College track to test their football prowess.

Junior Keith Ng catls it ''a fun way to informally wind-down from a week of classes, as well as get some much needed exercise."

While tacklin,g an opponent is strictly forbidden at these after-school games, many of the ''flag footbaU" players end up on the ground without even being touched wbile diving to make "spectacular" catches.

Under the leadership of 11 fh grade Townsend Harris Football League (TFL) Co,m missic:mers Ronald Alleyne, Angelo Marina, and Eric Trager, these pick-up games might become more formal. 10wnsend Harris is on the verge of establishing a coed intramural football league. The league woidtt consist of teams with approximately 10 t0 12 players. Tryouts would be held to seleet team,captains, who would then eondtict ·a draft to

complete each team's roster.

While the commi<&sioners were aiming fur a February starting date, their plans for an eight-game season have hit an early snag. Despite the program's approvail by the administration, to,date there has been no success in finding an advisor. As a last resort, the commissioner>& have postoo flyers on the Queens College campus looking for the services of a student teacher. Since the league wHl not bold any formail practices, the adviser will have a limited role to play. According to eommissioner Eric Trager, the role of the advisor wil'l be to ''supervise the games and make sure no one gets hurt."

AdditionaUy, Eric believes that the TFL could ''give an opportunity to stu~ dents Who do not normally participate in school sports to have the chance to participate in one." As a sanctioned schOdl club, participating students will receive cr~t in the same manner as they do for other clubs.

Howeve£, if an advisor is not found promptly, this year's eight-game schedule will ba;v,e to be shortened or cancelled.

Election Simulation en·ds

Continued from p.l too far from the issues. "We should have been told about the broadcast before it aired so we could have had a chance to . defend ourselves," said senior Petra Valilla-Buchman. FEC member Seth Oliveras said, "Most of the criticisms came from the teachers and we were encouraged to deliver them to the rest of the school."

Some of the blame for not keeping with the "real" election was put on the shoulders of the hard media. For example, Participatory Democracy teacher Anthony Scarnatti criticized NBC for auctioning off a tape that included footage of Bill Bradley accidentally saying

"Vote for Gore." NBC claimed it simply needed the WOO simbucks the Gore campaign was willing to pay.

Some seniors felt that certain aspects of the election simulation needed to be changed . "There needs to be more communication between seniors, teachers and underclassmen," said Seth.

Despite the criticisms, some seniors regarded the simulation as an invaluable learning experience. Shawn felt the simulation was a significant event.

"Even though it was a simulation, we still had real life conflicts like trying to make the candidate look good to the public and making yourself and others aware of the issues," he said.

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The Classic

14 Dove display inaugurated Taqi takes activist stand March 2000

by Alice Lee A candlelight vigil inaugurated the display of a collage in the lobby on Human Rights Day, Friday, December 10.

Members of Amnesty International and their advisor Odile Garcia organized the event and students from all grades filled the lobby. The collage, made of pledges signed by students who promised to promote tolerance, hangs on the wall in the shape of a dove.

The ceremony began with a brief speech from Amnesty~s treasurer, senior Liliya Simkahayeva. She re-read the "Townsend Harris Promise," a pledge first presented during a school-wide assembly on October 21. The pledge, written by members of the Anti-Violence Committee, called for students to be "more tolerant of others' differences," and to "use a positive form of communication." After reading the pledge, students lit candles as the songs "Imagine," "Blowin' in the Wind," and "Let There be Peace on Earth," were played on the piano by senior Luda Khaytman.

The idea for the peace dove first surfaced in Ms. Garcia's Student Leadership class. The pledges were signed by

fellow Harrisites, cut out by the students of the COSA (Coordinator of Student Activities) squad, and put together into one giant dove in the lobby by the members of Amnesty International.

"I think it is very important to bring the student body together in a cause to end violence;'' said junior Helen Zubieta. And although many students think teenage violence is not a threat in a school like Townsend Harris, Student Union President Alison Park said, "Our school is geographically distant from all the recent school violence sites, but this violence issue is universal, and it is important for us to take an issue like this to heart."

Refreshments were served at the vigil and a "Holiday Card Action-1999 Drive" encouraged students to fill out holiday greeting cards for prisoners who Amnesty members felt were unjustly arrested by their governments.

Ms. Garcia praised the school-wide cooperation reflected in the making of the peace dove. "This peace dove is actually from Picasso," she said, "and I think Picasso would be very happy I did it."_

Stonehill's trip to Israel creates cultural awareness speak about the United States. Mr.

by Danielle Lord Happy to be home, Adam Stonehill, Stonehill clarified many misconcephistory teacher, returned from his three tions about life in New York, such as and a half week trip to Israel on Dec. 3. the prevalence of gangs. "I explained The trip was part of his involvement in that the majority of students are not inthe American-Israeli Friendship volved in gangs," he said. "They also League, an organization that focuses on believed that life here was a lot like on "creating positive relations between the T.V. shows like Beverly Hills: 90210.

US and Israel." Mr. Stonehill was We had to explain that people in the nominated by Principal Malcolm U.S. live on a variety of socio-ecoLargmann and Assistant Principal of nomic levels."

As for his role as a chaperone, Mr. Humanities Lynne Greenfield to be a Stonehill said, "I enjoyed seeing the chaperone for a group of 110 high changes in our students. Some were school students who would travel to having the most influential experiences Israel. of their lives."

Many students got over Each chaperone chosen for the protheir fears; for example, one student on gram had "certain areas of expertise." the trip was afraid of flying because it Mr. Stonehill's expertise was his abilan airplane.

"You was her first time on ity to speak Hebrew fluently and his need to become independent really knowledge of Israeli culture. He resided in Israel intermittently for three quickly, learning to pack and unpack, years, first during high school when his exchange moneyb- you're thousands parents, both teachers on sabbatical for of miles from home," he said.

While Mr. Stonehill feels the par_a year, decided to move to Israel. "It ticipants matured through their travels, was a dream of my father's to see what he found that Israeli students tended it was like to live there," said Mr. to be more mature. "In Israel, students Stonehill. Later, he spent his junior year are more independent; they travel all of college studying in Israel and a year over the country ,"he said. He attribas a counselor at an Israeli high school.

The trip included visits to Tel Aviv, uted the independence of the Israeli Haifa, Jerusalem and Petah Tikvah. In teenager to the requirement that all IsTel Aviv, the group toured sites such as raelis must enter the army at the age of the financial center, which Mr. Stonehill 18. "They need to grow up faster and described as "an Israeli Wall Street," try to live for today," said Mr. Stonehill.

Now that the group has returned, and the Peace Square. For entertainment, they went bowling, to basketball "the students will act as ambassadors games and on field trips, and in the city between the two countries and will of Petah Tikvah, went on a six kilome- teach others everything they've ter hike. Mr. Stonehill said, "We were learned," said Mr. Stonehill. He added, immersed in the culture, watching how "I try to promote the idea of variety in our host families lived on a day to day life and to try to take advantage of life basis. It is a very Westernized culture; by travelling, seeing the world. It's they go out to dinner and have barbe- interesting to·see what people who've never been to Israel don't know about cues- the same things we do."

The group also visited schools to the country."

By BosedeAdenekan, Rachel Schiffman and Diane Tiao Senior Rehan Taqi aims to spread his message of humanitarianism by volunteering in various activities, ranging from the Townsend Harris Chapter of Amnesty International to an activist Muslim group.

Rehan has been a volunteer at the American Muslims for Global Peace and Justice (AMGPJ) for two years. He joined tbe organization after attending a three-day Islamic convention in Chicago, sponsored by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). There, Rehan watched videos depicting horrific tragedies of innocent families and other bystanders greatly affected by the Guff

aren't effective; Saddaam is still in power because he has the ability to crush his opponents and exploit their weaknesses. Instead, sanctions are causing a humanitarian calamity," said Rehan.

He explained that the sanctions hinder the nation's ability to provide for publie health, including medication and proper sanitation. They have contributed to more than one million fatalities of children under the age of five, and this number will only increase, he said.

Rehan has also written letters to his local congressmen and senators urging them to support the lifting of economic sanctions on Iraq. Despite the fact that the United States and other nations have tried to establish programs to help the

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Making a peace sign with his fingers, Senior Rehan volunteering in such organizations as the American Muslims for Global Peace and Justice and Amnesty International.

War. He saw slides of young children starving while bombings and shootings occurred. "What could I do but grieve over it? The videos inspired me to independently join the American Muslims for Global Peace and Justice as well as other humanitarian causes like SAAC [Students Against Animal Cruelty] and Amnesty International," Rehan said. He added that it was his goal to change the perception of Muslims as terrorists and people who suppress women's rights. "I want to project Islam in its true perspective, as it is a religion of peace," said Rehan.

As a member of AMGPJ, Rehan currently participates in the One Million Signature Campaign. This petition commenced last year, the eighth anniversary of the end of the Gulf War, to urge Congress and the president to immediately end the ongoing economic sanctions against Iraq. After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, the US government withdrew from customary trade and financial relations as a way of punishing the country for the invasion.

"Sanctions were placed to bring down the government of Iraq. The goal is to hurt the economy of Iraq and force a political uprising and the dethronement of President Hussein. But the sanctions

- ____ _,__

suffering civilians of Iraq, Rehan still believes that these programs do little to counteract the devastating effects of sanctions.

Rehan hopes that his involvement wi11 make some difference in the future of the Islamic community. Although he receives no service credit for his work with AMGPJ, Rehan feels that as a Muslim, it is his obligation to aid others. "When I first think of my identity I am a Muslim. I, myself, strive to be the Muslim I should be and follow the way Allah has commanded me to be," said Rehan, "It's time we leave our fant~sy worlds and lavish lives. We sit in those lunchrooms talking and eating away more food than we can take. We don't think of the fact that there's someone else out there crying for just one bite.

We should be grateful for every bite, but also for all of Allah's blessings around us: clothing, shelter, and education, just to name a few."

Continuing his effort to help others, Rehan volunteers at Kings County Hospital Center's Hyperalimentation unit in Brooklyn, helping pharmacists prepare intravenous solutions and medicine labels.. He also teaches youths about Islam at the Muslim Center of New York's Sunday school.

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15

March2000

'Super Athletic Males' take 3rd place in relay

By Josh Fox . This year's team is mostly The teani i's led by first year Tbe Boys' Indoor Track coach George Rio; who brings made up of newcomers. Jon team competed in four very 21 years of experience with him Schwartz is a 600-meter runner good races in the .Queens from SarahJ. Hill High School. · and sopl).omore Danny Championsh,ips. January 29. Rio said his goal is for the team ·Wallenstein is a shot putter.

Seniors Jon Blum, Alej andro to qualify for the City Champi- Sprinters include Armando Fernandez, Ramon Gonzalez, onships which will take place Orozco and Carlos Gonzalez. and freshman Carlos Gonzalez February 20. You must qualify Justin Joseph also sprints a:nd came in third place in the for this event individually and competes in the triple jump.

These Super Ath4X800 meter relay. letic Males (S.A.M.), as In addition, juniors Armando Orozco and . they like to call themselves, are a unique Paul Mendez and sopho. 'We're more than just team. "We are very mores Justin Joseph and track stars; we're family!' dedicated, determined _ Jon Schwartz came in and hard working," said fourth place in the former runner Steven 4X400 meter relay.

Lee. "We're more than Freshman Carlos Chincha competed in the one Rio thinks that the Hawks' three just track stars; we're family!" mile race and sophomore senior captains Alejandro exclaims Schwartz.

This team with its special Alejandro Gonzalez placed Fernandez, Jon Blum and · nickname, sense of family and Ramon Gallegos and their third in Queens in the two mile handshake, is looking particular sophomore sensation Alejandro run. for new members.

No experiGonzalez have real shots at Although most of the memence is necessary.

Members making the City Champion~ bers on the team are pleased with the results at the Queens ships. The rest of the team is practice outsides when it isn't Championships, they expect a more practically striving for the too cold, and otherwise, you'll significant improvement in Freshman-Sophomore Cham- find them running up and down the stairs getting in shape. pionships to be held March 4. their later meets.

When Smart Kids Smell Continued from p;2 ·Personal hygiene is strongly · has not showered or bathed in emphasized in American cuithe last 24 hours, and at least ture. It is nearly impossible to two students who don't always sit through a series of commerwash their hair while bathing. cials without watching at least • If you are working with ran- one advertisement for soap or dom people in a gym class, . shampoo. When people do not there is a 23-in-40 chance that practice good personal hygiene; your partner has not put on they leave the burden of their deodorant, and will release own carelessness on the people unsuppressed body-odor around them. Associating with throughout the class. til person who has not put on de• . If you shake hands or odorant, and speaking to a perslap-five· with 30 Harrisites sonwhohasnotbrushedhis/her daily; it is likely that 11-12 teeth are extremely unpleasant have not washed their hands experiences. _Be considerate of with soap after using the bath- those you work with on a daily room. This gets downright un-- basis by bathing daily, brushhealthy for the derelicts who ing your teeth twice a day, and don't wash their hands before using deodorant mo!e than once lunch. daily - especially after gym.

Hygiene Fact Box (based on a survey of 106 random Harrisites)

THE GOOD 88.7% 94.3% 77.4% 92.5% 61.3%

shower or bathe at lea,st once daily. always use soap when bathing. always use shampoo when bathing. brush their teeth at least twice daily. always use soap after using the bathroom.

11.3% 22.6% 7.5% 8.5%

shower or bathe less than daily. don't always use shampoo when bathing. brush their teeth less than twice daily. put on deodorant less than once daily.

57.5% 38.7% 12.3% 45.3%

do not always put on deodorant after physical education do not always wash after using the bathroom never put on deodorant after gym classes put on deodorant only once daily.

Amat~ur

comed.ian lives to la.u:gh /,

ingtheonlyindiankidinclass, Continued from p. 8 mor, that he has since learned and being forced "to play cowto "stand-up" for himself. "The boys and Indian at recess," Hari best therapy is being able to confides that he has learned to laugh about the stereotypes. laugh at yourself," he said. ' For Hari, whose parents "As a minority, I've just learned emigrated from India just prior to adapt," he said. "I think it to his birth, part of laughing at gives me•a unique perspective himself means both tackling on things."

Even though his parents the Townsend Harris culture, as . didn't meet in a comedy .club, well as his own heritage. "Just Hari believes his funny bone being a guy in Townsend Harwas inherited, and credits his to laugh at right ris, there's a lot there. We're a dying breed," family, as well as his favorite he said. When it come's to kid- comedians, for putting him on ding about being Indian, how- the laugh track early in life. ever, Hari says the jokes are "My mom has a great sense of rarely in short supply. "Girls humor and tells me that my here say that Ricky Martin's ro- grandfather had a great sense of mantic and exotic. Well, I'm In- humor," said Hari, who also acdian! There's over a billion knowledges being influenced people in India. Do you think by Margaret Cho, Eddie it's easy to make over a billion :ta:urphy, Jeffrey Ross, Chris people? That's a whole lot of Ro9k, Dana Carvey, and Andy love," he said. While he often Kaufman. "A lot of my mategripes to his audience about be- rial also comes from my rela-

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tionship with my brother, Ashok. My favorite times are when the two of us are alone making fun of each other," said Hari. "It carries into the rest of my life."

Outside of school, Hari enjoys playing with his dog Rupee (nained after the Indian currency), and loves to watch and play sports. "I can:t hit, can't throw, can't really do anything, but I don't mind sweating," he said. .

While nothing makes Hari happier than making other people laugh; he sees comedy more a,s a hobby and law as a pot~ntial career. As for lawyer jokes, Hari 's already thinking ahead. "I love stand-up comedy, but as a career I'll probably choose corporate law because the girls like money, and prostitutes are very expensive pow," he joked.

Alumna make_ s career as clown

THE BAD

THE UGLY

Continued froin p. 9 are so burned out that it's sad," she said . . Mami plans to pursue theatrical acting after her career as a clown ends. She has been involved in plays since the age of six. She also attained a degree in theater performance from SUNY Pur-

chase.

Mami believes that going Jo Townsend ·Harris taught her many valuable lessons which ultimately helped her career. "I learned how to balance work and play," said Marni, as she recalled times when she'd ride the subway memorizing lines .

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for a play or doing homework.

She stated that the teachers were also supportive in letting her choose her own path.

Marni is definitely passionate about performing. "It's something live. You can hear the audience. Anything_ can happen," she Sflid.

16

-

The Classic March 2000

Girls finish B·oys ·top L.I.C.· in overti·me -th·riller runner-up in Queens

By Ashley Pillsbury The Girls' Indoor Track team flouris,bed in the fe,hruary 13 Quee:ns Championships. placing second in Queens for the fmt time jn school history, much to the deUg.bt of tlhe mem'bers.

Sophomore Vicki Lopez and fresbman Patty Babio did we~l in the 3200-meter, and 8fe going to City Champions for that. Lopez also bn>ke her personal best in the

600-meter, running 5 seconds f<aSter and securing a personal event in the City Championships.

Bab:i:a has defin4tely ma,de a geod first impression this year. She broke the best time in the 1200meter relay with a time of 4 minutes and 13 seconds. In the 1600meter relay, the new best time is 5 minutes and 56 seconds. In the 3000-meter individual race, lle,r time was a phenomenall2 minutes and 1.2 seconds. Babio qualjfied for the City Cllampionships for her time in the 800-meter relay, which was 2 minutes and 31.1 seconds.

This is the second all-time high in Townsend Harris history. Therelay that she will be a part of in the City Championships is called a four-bye , meaning four girls run 800 meters eaah in a 3200-meter relay.

Babio isn't tile only up-andcoming star. Vicki Lopez ht!s done ''remarkably wel1,'' says Hom. She has"also set some new records this year. She ran the 400-meter rday in 1 mimite and 3.7 seconds. In tile 800-meter: relay, her time was 2 minutes and 32.1 seconds, which was the third all-time in the school.

Lopez also broke the ~-meter indi vid:llal race wi,th a time of 1 minute and 45.4 seconds, which is a'lsa the third best .lime·in school history. She qualified fonlle 600meter individual race for this record breaking time. Lopez will also be running itt the 3200-metw. relay with Babili>.

An.otker ru.nner. s·o,ph.omore Nicole Kresse,llas qualified for the Ci,t y Cham.pionsllips in the high jump. One of her jumps was four feet and six inches. She also s:et a new Townsend Harris record in"the 55-meter lligh hurdles. Terrecia Davis has done very well in the long jumps, especially since it's ller first year. One of her jumps measured 14 feet and 4.5 inches, wllicb is quite impressive.

"I lov~ building up new atldetes aDd watching them grow, especially sophomores and Ereshmen,., said coach Joseph Hom. "Also, I'm recruiting for the spring .season, so anyone wh<>'s interested can talk to me!" exelaimed Horn.

By Arielle Frost nately, Oliveras had to leave the game won.

In a year that began with a new coach _ after the third quarter because of knee Anthony Scarnati is the team's third and many new players, the Boys' Var- problems and he may need surgery. coach in the past two years .' -Both sity Basketball team Scarnati and the team agree ended the 1999-2000 seathat the constant change in son in high spirits followOil coaches has had a negative . ing its thrjlling come[ effect. . "'With each new ~ from-behind 71-68 overcoach, there is a whole new "'>. set of plays to learn," said tim-e win over L.I.C. on :I: February 4. junior Isaac Acosta. "It's 0 Trailing by two in the ] hard and it takes time to get ~ ~ final seconds of regul~­ used to everything," he tion time, junior Philip added. Scarnati described Marmon-Halm drained a it as a "long adjustment 15-foot jumper with two period," but also said, "I'm seconds remaining to having lot of fun. The send the game into over- . boys are really great to time. The Hawks domiwork with." nated ·the extra session en Besides Oliveras, the route to their eighth win team's key players include of the season. juniors Isaac Acosta and Despite having to Philip Marmon-Halm. make many adjustments These three lead the team this season with a new in scoring, but other playcoach and many -n ew ers also contribute on a "players, the boys finished regular basis. Freshman off rather impressively Simon Shaw and Junior with a record of 8-7 and a Billy Loheid are a dynamic fourth place finish in their pair in the back court. . division.

Also, sophomores Jamar Another memorable Banks and Ryan Denrtie g~me for the Hawks was have shown vast improvean exciting win over 'ment since the season com- Queens Vocational High menced and show a lot of School on January 18, promise.

Slashing through the lane, senior Seth Oliveras makes a layup to pull · This victory was excitDespite finishing with a the Hawks closer, but all efforts fell short in a tight 102-96 home loss to ing for many reasons.

Aviation High School. record above .500, the The team's captain, seHawks were hurt by injunior Seth Oliveras, made ries to Oliveras and Simon his first appearance since a knee injury After Oliveras left the game, Queens Vo- Shaw and missed out on the playoffs. on December22. He missed four games cational battled-back and took the game However, Scarnati is not disappointed be<:ause of his injury, but came back into overtime. Nevertheless, all of in the boys and said, "The team has strong and scored 21 points. Unfortu- Oliveras' efforts paid off and the Hawks never shown a lack of effort."

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Girls shoot.to improve for next year -

. By Eric Trager the return of junior Chanelle Pearson, Despina Teodurescu, and Rosann Third place will always remain just who Ceraulo has touted as the best ath- Antonelli, the 6' 1" center who played a that. No championship, no playoff fe- Jete on the team. __ "If Chanelle returns, key role this season. However, if the core of young players meets their chalver, no glory. However, for the 1999- we'll be okay," said Ceraulo.

2000 Girls' Varsity Basketball team, a Meanwhile, the team will lose se- lenge, the Hawks may be contenders in third place finisllalong with a 7-5 league niors Kristy Von Ohlen, Julia Meier, next year's drive for the championship. record, 14-8 overall, has put them on the · path toward a bright future. "It was a very successful season," remarked coach Larry Ceraulo. "I'm very proud of them."

As a team deplete9 by lost seniors, the Hawks' prospects did not appear promising. However, in finishing only one game out of the playoffs, the team proved that it had the fire, though perhaps not the experience, to <;ompete on · a contending level. Led by Senior Kristy Von Ohlen, who ·set a Townsend Harris record by scoring her one-thousandth point this season, the team witnessed the development of a number of young players who are certain to have a greater impact in the future. Freshman Andi Strauss has solidified herself as a candidate for.starting point guard next sea~ ~ ~ son, and sophomores Jessica Sharoff Rising above two defenders, senior Despina Teodorescu attempts a fifteen-foot jump shot in and Kristina Casper will continue to a blowout 49-27 victory over Sprinfield·Garderis earlier this season. Teodurescu is one of four play key roles on the team. A good deal - graduating seniors on a Hawk; team that will look to the younger players to lead them in the future. of the team's future success weighs on -

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