Vol. 23, No.2 November 2006 •
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Townsend Harris High School at Queens College
Polish increases Darfur awareness by Sarah Mahmood The genocide in Darfur is a topic that is rarely talked about, but on Monday, November 6, senior Jennifer Polish led a program in the school cafeteria to educate Harrisities on the issue. A movie, made by Jenn Polish herself, which showed extremely upsetting pictures of the traumatized victims of Darfur, kicked otf the program. Due to a lack of media coverage of Darfur, students knew little about the region. Jennifer discussed the atrocities occurring in Darfur and educated the attendees on the history of tension. Jennifer also pointed out the long-term effects of the genocide . The victims have a bleak future ahead of them, and they will be willing to do anything for safety and the promise of a good future. Jennifer is very active in supporting the Darfur cause . "Two years ago, I read 'A Problem From Hell': America and the Age of Genocide by Samantha Power and then I saw a headline saying 'genocide' antl 'Suda:n-: and bam, I was on it," she said. Jennifer estimates that 50-60 students attended her program, filling one large section of the cafeteria. Cookies and cupcakes were served at the program. "The turnout was good - certainly not the best - but I was especially pleased with the mixing of grade levels that showed up . It was really representative of each class, you know, and I think it's really important that this doesn't become an issue that only my fellow seniors and I focus on: it needs to be a unified effort, and in that way, the turnout was rather encouraging," she said. Jennifer has many plans to raise further awareness. "We're going to make t-shirts about Darfur, my friends and I, and get them going around the school. I'm in the process of setting up a forum at Queens College about Darfur, and from there I want to set up a rally at QC. I' m trying to see if we could go to Washington at the end of the school year to stage a little something outside the Sudanese Embassy. I'm planning on trying to get meetings with certain Congress folk, and getting media coverage is essential," she said.
149-11 Melbourne Avenue, Flushing, NY 11367
Unprecedented Republican sweep contrasts sharply with 'real' elections
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losophy of education follows the constructivist model, which encourages students to take charge of their own learning, In that model, the teacher serves as a facilitator of that learning. As a facilitator in the election simulation, my role was to encourage, monitor, and a_ssess students' progress ." Assistant Principal of Humanities Susan Getting said, "I feel the role of teachers in the election simulation is to guide the kids through the process and to help them discover what is good politics and what is not. It's not different from what they do in the classroom because ~ they're teachers ." ~ Reflecting on the simula:;_ tion, Mr. cardino said, "The ~ ~imulation has now com ~ s_
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pleted its I 0"' year. It could
o.. use a fresh coat of paint. CerSenior Anisha Thomas contemplates which candidates tain things need to be revisare most deserving of her vote at the culmination of this ited and updated." He feels year's election simulation. that the role of the teacher in by Sarah Mahmood the simulation is not clear and says that The Democratic Party may have "the teacher role [and] assessment roles swept the real New York state elections, need to be revisited and clarified so that but the Republican Party swept this most students are on a level playing year's election simulation . It was the field." Dr. Steinmann disagreed slightly, first Republican victory in simulation saying, "I wouldn't use the word history and with its coverage by ABC 'change' but I would say that [certain News, the first time that Townsend Har- aspects of the election simulation] need ris was recognized for its election simu- to be revisited and updated. We're curlation by a television network. rently looking at that and we're speakThe election simulation highlighted ing with Mr. Cunningham about it." a sharp contrast between the philosoDespite the history of Democratic phies of the Participatory Democracy wins, the Republican victory did not teachers. Franco Scardino, who taught come as a big surprise . Freshman the two Republican classes, described Jaspreet Sandhu felt that the Republihis role in the simulation as "a coach cans did a good job of revealing and motivating a team to winning." Students exploiting a Democratic scandal. This were req':'ired to submit weekly status was in reference to the "Impeach reports to let Mr. Scardino know what Hevesi'' rallies that took place twice on they were doing and what they planned the fourth tloor. Senior Sumit Patel, who played to do each week. He wanted his students to "generally practice how to simulate Miguel Gonzalez, said, ''I'm not surprised that the Republican party had victheir characters throughout the day." Dr. Linda Steinmann, who taught the tories, because in some cases, it was altwo Democratic classes, said, "My phi- most certainly going to happen. How-
ever, the fact that the Republican party 9ominated the elections the way it did is a testament to hard work and determination ." Senior Andrea Burciu, who played Jeani~e Pirro, said, "Being a Republican in a 'Republican sweep ' in a Democratic school was really amazing. As Republican candidates in the school, my campaign had to work twice as hard at convincing people to look at the candidates and their issues, not just th~ir party. The outcome was just thrilling for me, since it is the exact opposite of what happened in the real life elections." Senior Daniel Scll.wartz, who played Andrew Cuomo, enjoyed his role in the simulation . He described it as "a little bit hectic, especially since my strategy was to wait to campaign to the last week, so that was really the busiest part. It was nerve-wracking being that I'm a bit shy, so speaking in front of the underclassmen and my peers on the radio show and the pej:fhi11Y-a'TK1 ~tla'Jmes~
lenge."
ABC visited on mock election day, November 6, and the segment was aired that evening at 5:30. Daniel Schwarz was chosen to be interviewed. "It was a very special opportunity," he said, "and I was honored to be selected for the interview." Ms. Getting was pleased with the way students presented themselves on television. "The two candidates who were interviewed, Jeanine Pirro and Andrew Cuomo, played by Andrea Burciu and Daniel Schwartz, respectively, were poised and convincing as the candidates. The students who were interviewed at the polling booths showed themselves to be responsible and knowledgeable voters," she said. Daniel said that the interview was his favorite part. "It summed up all of my hard work and exhibited the skills that I gained in quick-thinking and being a better speaker," he said. A freshman found her first election · simulation valuable ."My friend and I were discussing the results at length the day after the real election, something we would have never done earlier," she said .
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Celebrating Traditions page4
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Halloween & Spirit Week pages 6-7
Campaigning with Clinton pageB
Cha's Orchestral Debut page9