Vol. 19, No.6 June 2003
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aSSlC Townsend Harris High School at Queens College
149-11 Melbourne Avenue, Flushing, NY 11367
Honored seniors look back, look forward by Angela Hom lutatorian. Clapping and cheers filled the Sunayna Ramdeo, senior, thought evening as smiling seniors walked The Baccalaureate "was great because onstage to receive it was one of the last a variety of awards chances we had as at this year's BacHarrisites to celebrate calaureate. The our accomplishments two hour and and share them with twenty minuteour parents and long ceremony friends." Rachel held Tuesday, June agreed, and added, "It 3 in the auditoshed light on the varic rium, was fol] ous and diverse tallowed by a catered · .~ ents that are represenreception . ~ tative of the students Each year, the & at Townsend Harris different depart~ High School." ..D 0 ments of the This year's cer0 school honor the 5: emony ran more senior class for smoothly than those Roselle Vittorino their four years of in the past, according academic, service, to Adam Stonehill, and sports-related achievements. history teacher and Coordinator of StuRoselle Vittorino was named Valedic- dent Affairs (COSA). "It was shorter, torian and Rachel Schitlman is the Sa- and I didn't think it was that competi-
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tive. Some of the speakers were kind of funny," he said. "It's important to recognize students who have put in four years of effort." Senior Advisor Franco Scardino helped Assistant Principal of Guidance Janet Solomon coordinate the Baccalaureate. "It was a lot of work, a lot of preparation, but I think overall, it went very well," he said. This year's graduation ceremony will be held at 9 A.M . on Wednesday, June 25 at Colden Center Auditorium, but the idea of graduating soon has some seniors experiencing Rachel mixed emotions. "I'll definitely be happy that these four long years are now over. But at the same time, I can't help but also feel sad we're leaving friends, a secure environ-
Visitors from European Union stress importance of diplomacy, understanding by Jamie Gullen Several members of the European Union (EU) visited Marc Greenberg and Franco Scardino's economics classes, as well as Maureen Lonergan's American History class, and donated 250 books to the library on Monday, June 12. The goal of their visit was to strengthern ties between Europe and America and dissolve any negative stereotypes that each hold about the other. The participants included George Cunningham, Head of Press and Public Affairs of the European Commission from the United Kingdom; Sabine Dinse!, Pedagogical Liaison Officer, the Goethe Institut Inter Nationes; Peter Sarkozy, Deputy Consul General from Hungary; the Honorable Martha Mavrommatis, Consul General of the Republic of Cyprus; the Honorable Dimitris Platis, Consul General of Greece; and Nikos Nikolidakis, Counselor of Education for the Greek Con-
sulate. In Mr. Greenberg's class, the visitors explained what the EU does and what brought them to Harris. They had formerly displayed 750 books at Columbia University, and then these books were divided between Bronx High School of Science, Stuyvesant High School, and Townsend Harris. After the class visits, the guests, accompanied by Principal Thomas Cunningham and Assistant Principal of Humanities Susan Getting, presented the books to librarian Valerie Billy. ''I'm thrilled and grateful for their generous gift. We're very fortunate to be the recipient of their generosity," said Ms. Billy. . Mr. Platis commented on the stereotypes that the U.S. and Europe hold about the other. "Many times in the past we have seen that Europeans have a very different view of what Americans are and vice versa," he said.
Fashion Show p.4
Alumni Marriages p.6
ment, memories," said Lorena Acevedo . Sunayna is "counting down the days until graduation ." However, "I ' m dreading it because it means saying goodbye to many of the best people I've ever known," she said. "I really enjoyed this year and a large part of it was because of the students," said Mr. Stonehill. He described the Class of 2003 as being "close" and observed "people treatin~ each other with respect." "I think it's a Schiffman pretty enthusiastic group," added Mr. Scardino. "They have good spirit among them. For the three years I've been here, they're certainly one of the most fun classes as a group."
Potential budget cuts create uncertainty among community by Daniel Bloch Ever since Mayor Michael Bloomberg unveiled his city budget proposal, many Harristies have been wondering how their daily lives might be affected. Principal Thomas Cunningham is one of those people. "It's difficult to say how the budget cuts might atlect our school," he said. "There is certainly talk that there may be a reduced budget for afterschool activities and other events, but [cuts] will not affect instruction per se." Information from the website of the Mayor's office (www.nyc.gov) details how budget cuts could affect the Department of Education. In addition to the elimination of 864 paraprofessional positions and 767 school aide jobs, the proposed cuts would also scrap "all after-school educational programs and summer
Public Displays of Affection p.8
school for all remaining students who are designated as needing improvement." The best-case scenario, Mr. Cunningham said, would be that "with a minor reduction in funding, the school would continue essentially as it has," and clubs, activities and events such as the school play would remain fixtures of the school. In the worst-case scenario, "All those quality of life issues might suffer greatly. Funding for clubs and after-school activities could be impacted, but it's difficult to say to what extent," he said. Despite the uncertainty, Mr. · Cunningham remains hopeful. "We have a dedicated staff and students, and somehow we will provide [those activities] that we need to help keep us functioning as a school. And I know that the PTA and Alumni Association will support us," he said.
Diving p. 10