Classic newspaper Volume 23 Issue no. 2

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

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November2006

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Left to wander through the hallways: Seniors need a home of their own In the past week alone, numerous seniors have been told to get out of the library, shepherded off the third floor, and threatened with referrals for loitering in the stairwells. Shortly before Thanksgiving, security agents posted a notice warning seniors they would be banished to the outdoors if they didn't shape up. The reasons for these measures are twofold.· the Class of 2007 is messy and noisy. These complaints are indicative of a larger problem than noise and litter, though. Seniors have no place to go between, classes.

1 Sure, they have the libra·ry, ·provided it isn't closed, where they can sit quietly and study, or the third floor, where they are welcome to sit quietly with their books and their backs against their lockers. They are also extended an open invitation to lounge in the lobby, a rather small, inconvenient, and uncomfortable space at the moment. None of these places, as they are set up now, are a practical solution for seniors who have done their work already and just want to catch up with their friends between classes.

Up until now, seniors who wanted to eat and chat with their friends have.left the building and taken advantage of Queens Colleges campus, a fine solution on warm, sunny days. The general absence of inclement weather has not yet made the predicament seniors will soon face apparent: when its freezing outside, no senior will want to leave the building or sit outside. This is why The Classic is asking the administration t~ make a home for its seniors within the building. Seniors need a p~ace in school where they can sit, .eat (especially since many of them do not have lunch bands), and talk with their friends between classes without the threat of being kicked out.

But where in school could seniors find such a place? The library is out of the question since it is, in theory, a place where students shouldsit quietly, reading or working on homework, not chatting with their friends. The balcony and courtyard are also impractical; they are wonderful in warm weather but will quickly become unappealing once sub-zero temperatures set in.

This leaves two places which, though problematic at the moment, could be turned into a feasible solution: the third floor and the lobby. It is nearly inevitable that seniors will continue to cluster on the third floor corridor. Just about everything they need- their lockers, the attendance office, the college office, and the library- are along that halhyay. Unfortunately, the third floor is also home to administrative offices whose personnel call down to security with complaints when subjected to the din of seniors chatting and using their lockers. If the money could be found, though, there is a solution to this problem, which is to soundproof these offices so that they are not subjected to senior chatter. Another, more economical, solution is to transform the lobby into a·niore pleasant place by setting up couches and chairs. This could possibly be an even more appealing place for seniors than the third floor because it would be comfortable.

Though it may not seem like the most pressing problem at the moment, the first week of cold weather will make it apparent that the building as it is set up now is incapable ofadequately accommodating a class of 260 students who need_ a place to go during their free b.ands. On behalf of the Class of2007, The Classic urges administrators to make seniors a home inside the building. Putting this problem off will only frustrate seniors and administrators alike.

The Real ·wo:rld \-'t~+- +he.M

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~~~ Corrections We misquf>ted Ms. Wallace in our artiGle "Seniors venture beyond borders"as saying "it was very fun for me." Ms. Wallace would like to clarify that '"as an English teacher, I would never use the tenn 'ver.y fun."'

The Real Simulation ?s*··· 'Wh\~vJQ.S

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News Staff: Daniela Castillo, Marissa Green, Jacquelyn Lekhmj, Adrianna Mateo, Ramandeep Singh, Benjamin Snyder Jocelyn Wright Editor-in-Chief Rookmiqie Behari

MarisaLupo

Madeleine Wright

News Editor

Feature Editor

Entertainment Editor

Feature Staff: Faith Aronowitz, Heriselda Begaj, Ariel Brodsky, Cindy Chen, Jasmine Daniel, Deborah Duke, Gabriella Duke, Jessica Graf, Cristine Khan, Linda Kung, Alexander Lord, Sydney Lowe, Kate Lu, Sarah Mahmood, Stephanie Pak, Mary-Grace Papatheodorou, Darcy Rendon, Judy Singkissoon, Devon Wright Sports Staff: Jennifer Kalar. Maureen McCluskey, Daniel Schwartz

Robert McCullagh

Darren Deoraj Bonnie Ng

Sumit Patel

Sports Editor

Co-1\rt Editors

Photography Editor

lisa Cowen Advisor

Artists: Mitchell Bader, Rowena Eng, Alice Hung, Liz Kussman, Melissa Lin, Katie Sullivan Photography Staff: Warren Cheng, Deborah Duke, Ashley Guzman, Kenneth Ho, Fatema Janna!, Hannah Kang, Christina Lam, Sunny Liu. Heather Lonks, Alexander Lord, Isabella Ocampo, Sharmin Rashed, Angglelia Sutjipto,

Principal - Mr. Thomas Cunningham Business Staff: Amaira Hasan

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

The Classic is an, open forum for the eKpression ,of student views. The opinions expressed therein should not be taken to represent those of the administration or faculty or student body as a whole.

Readers are invited to submit leiters to the editor.

Leiters should be placed in Ms. Cowen's mailbox in Room 315 ore-mailed to thhsclassic'@yahoo.com. The Clas.<ic reserves the right to edit all leiters. Leiters must include name and official class. Names will be withheld upon request.

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Letters ·t o the Editor: Sounding off on . simulation To the Editor:

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The Classic November 2006

To the Editor:

The Election Simulation. .in theory, is designed to mirror {!VenJs in ac1ual New York State eleclion~.llowever. with the flaws that are already present: in po~iti:cs, iJ sttem$ impossible to have a elean race,. ev.en a mvck one.

The actual elections., tlS· well as the student-~:un ones, were tife w.ith-tras.li. talk, with otte candt~te rryi'ng simply to make an op,pofl"en:t look br.¢. If·the simulation is suppr>sed_ to get a party~ issues ouJ.and encourage p~ople ·to vote, the pcoj'ect is not.iloing irs job. Students who ·only know .candidates' bat! traits will ne·ver recognize the issue.s at stake or take .real ell}etions seriously. We owe it tD ourselves to be better people, and to clean up our campaigns, Complete!~ realistic? No. But we need.to encauragt an imelligent vote - and bailmouthing others is far frr;Jm thls.

The Sp.eciat Interest·rally also~ufjled some feathers, Stertotyplng is. never good polity; doing sq only de.gratles the candidatlt'& Hoff l:lm w.e support a candidate that doesn't appreei'tlte the culturre of tlte people? The fact is:, ll!e simply can't.

With cbtmgeSc, our simulation can.both appeal to students and reflect real~ life candidates' views.

Kate Lu, &opbomon

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The Ele_etion Simulation aims tq mirror the real election~ Those saying tha~ it was partly a popularity contest .are not wrrong, but they shouldn't deem the whole el'ection unfair because of that. Rtral candidates try anything and everything to appeal to t'he mqsses, resorting to tactics that might seem distasteful, but w_ork anyway. Our student candidates had the privilege to do the same., and they did. Gip,ing away free candy as a form of bribery and creating commercials- that were intentionally funny added to the candidates' c/tqrisma. Some alFeady had the advtlntage ofbeing popular in the ji'rst place,· this happens ~n .real life as welt, making it fair game. In cases like that, a candida_te''s opponent has no e;hoice but t.q .work harder to ov.et:ride t/y;U po.pularizy. Nane of these tactics should be labeled as unfair. or a for.m ·of cheating if they are factors- ift a ·real election. · What .should be criticized is the lack of information that was available on the candidates. The £leetion Simulation 's underlying objective is to let 'Students know who th_e._se people are and what they stand for. The candidates themse:Jv.es had a dury to inform everyone oftheir stap(ie on the issues, and not every btie ojihem t/id~ Some did not c.ampa_ign as mu.ch as ·they could have, and others gqt the positions af the candididates they were playing downright wron.g. This is wot.th complaining about because it deprived the students qf their opportunity to le_am about the ., political issues-. · ' But ·complaints about the underhanded tactics used during the Ele.etion Simul.ati'On hold little .grouu4 wheh they ace a reflection of a real election. As an event taking place in schOol, the whole point of thi.s election is to educate the students. That?s why no matter how the stutle~nzs voted, ·the job was.done. if t'he Ele.c.tion Simulation he~ped them become itifal'med individ~l.s, populaFity conte~t or not. · The job,, however. wa.s only partly done. The sflJdents did not be~ come as infa.nned on the issues as the:y could have been, but they did learn an important /ess(ln about the tactics candidates in 4 real elecTo the Editor: tiort u;y,e to win.

With the conclusion of the Election Simulation, l'l!e been hearing a lot ofcomSandra VUianyi, junior plaints about the way it was handled. Personally. I think the simulation was handled in a$ unbiased a way as possible. The only reason it app,ared piased is that the Republif;ans made a more consciou-s effort to appear in front of the school, so obviousJy that is what was covered in the medi.a.

All of those people who' think that the !ickoff Rally was biased towards the Republicans ne-ed to quit whining because it's twt their fault tha.t the l/fepublieafi.S had mor.e electrifYing speeches titan the f)emocr(Jts. Also, the senior vote is counted only a fourth as much as that ofthe freshmen, so. any bias at the Rally is·pt:actically nullifiwf. A lot ofth6',Democratic canduidtes were too boring and didn't appear enough to appeal' to younger voters. Although our schaol i$ predominantly Democratie when it comes to rea~ life,, the Simulation re-sults show that To the Edi'tor: the mp:re charismatic canaidates won.

Jam writing in regards to this year :SO election simulation. Since I am I applaud the Republicans for making a better effort to win the votes of the a juni_ar; and will soan be in the seniors' place of eotiduc·ting the.simuunderclassmen by,putt'i'ng ads in the press constant~y, especially. 'whrm the TV lation next yew, it WllS pivotal for me to unde.rstand,the workings of an broadcasts werenlt working. The electinn overall W4S very fair, so in the end, exemplary Townsend H-arris iJnttation of the political races. The ef!offs wkarit came down to was a better strat~gy for the R~p.ubticans, .and too much made by the seniors this year were,astounding in that they {cnew how to non-involvement for the Democrats. strategize ill order to get simbucks or votes. However. I found thaJ on.

A:dmir -Detjanin, senior more than one occasion, the c.andidn.ttts themse·lves were lacking in the it own knowledge of the· person.that. t-hey w~re trying to portray.

The radi8 shows were a gl'eat way for a: eandidpte to, sway V(Jters and to get their message acro:s-s; lwweMer some·blew this oftance_. SQme To tbe Eclitot: candidates, whev asked a question. woul{i not ·know how to respof({l.

Thi's note. i-s in reS.p,o.nse to [tke They either.d'od:ge&amwering it compl~te.ly by switching the. fopie, or editorial,l''Geruler lnequali(J tn Election said nothing and' were silent for pe,r:i(Jds on end. A-/:Sq, ane.c-andidate let Si, m ulation. " This article on page 2 hts wife damill.f.lte the a_nswe:ring portion of the show, seemingly showstateS., "Out of the 1'6 oanJJ.idtJtes only ing that smneone else. knew more abaut nim than he did. three of them are women."

I'd like to The debate was also whe:re some canditktes falt~r:erJ. .in showing off The Classic would love point out that out of the 1· 6 c-andidates, theit._knowled'ge, lnste(U[ of answerins a q)4estian stra~gkt, eandidl:ltes to hear from you! four of them were women, besides ·the would talk a·raund the question, or evefl list random things that didn't women "re-legated to· role s such as Please send U$ your have anything to do with it. At times, the answering portion ofihe deSpitzer's wife ur Clinton. 's daughter."

The questions,comments, bate w.as frustrating for the audience as well as the actual candidates. four women running were Hillary Clinton All in a)l, this simulation was very exciting and informative.. llawcomplaints, and ideas. vs. John .Spem:er for Senate, Je_anine ever, it would have been even mere so if the candidates had ac·tuaUy Pirro for Atto·m ey Gener:a·l, Cgro'lyn spent mor.e time understanding and studying'the person they were sup• Maloney forRep.resentative ofDistrictl4 posed to represent. and Nydia Velasquez for Representative Name withheld upon Nquest (junior) ofDis:trict 12.

Olivia D'Cunha, senior

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The Classic November 2006

Cheers and tradition fill college center

by Adrianna Mateo and, Marisa Lupo Encouraged by an audience - member's cry of"Sing, Jamie!" junior Jamie Rivera started to sing Nichole Nordeman 's song, "Legacy," accompanied by senior Calvin Bowen on the drums and junior 路Deborah Chang on the piano.

"I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me, and I enjoy an accolade like the rest," she began . "And you can take my picture and hang it in a gallery, but in the end . .. I want to leave a legacy," she finished.

Met with thunderous applause and a standing ovation, "Legacy" was a fitting performance for Founder's Day on Friday, October 27. Held at the Kupferberg Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, formerly called Colden Center, the annual celebration of the school's legacy featured musical performances by the chorus and concert band, as well as the yearly recitation of the Ephebic Oath, led by Archon president Markrete Krikorian.

From their arrival to school that morning to the end of the recesssional, Harrisites were caught up in the spirit of service, creativity, camaraderie, and academic excellence encouraged by both the Ephebic Oath and the day's events.

The ceremony commenced with the traditional roll call.

When Assistant Principal of Science and mistress of ceremonies Susan Brustein announced, "It's time to take at-

tendance," each class clamored to have their voices heard, though Principal Thomas Cunningham had banned noisemakers at the event. "Every year, with all of the seniors and students screaming, we wanted to make sure there weren't any disruptions at Founder's Day this year," explained Lisa Mars, Assistant Principal of Languages Other than English. "We wanted it to just be vocal. .. . We wanted decorum - we're celebrating, but it's also supposed to be solemn. There is a lot of gravitas to this occasion. We wanted to remind students of that. We're celebrating the history of Townsend Harris and the accomplishments of its alumni , their impact on the community and the larger world," she said .

"Founder's Day is a time when we reflect on the tradition and history of Townsend Har: ris the man and the school," said Assistant Principal of Humanities Susan Getting. "It is about what has made us the extraordinary institution that we are, not about grade competition or their need to be the loudest. This event is a celebration, a time to be ret1ective and appreciative. It is a time when we introduce the freshmen and make them a part of the Harris community and make them realize that not only is it a priv路 lege to be a Harrisite, but that membership in the community carries responsibilities, too.

That is why they are required to take an oath, the Ephebic

Oath." .

As in previous years, the seniors cheered the loudest and for the longest amount of time, waving blue ribbons and holding up yellow and red pieces of construction paper that spelled out "SENIORS" in the back section of the auditorium.

Seniors also painted their faces with blue '07's and stripes.

In response to the cheers from the audience, P.T.A. co-president Elizabeth Schnee said, "I know you can make noise, but what are you going to do with that?" In her address, ""c: Ms. Schnee urged ] Harrisites to uphold the .,E"' Ephebic Oath. "Stand up tf;.., for your values. Don't .0 0 just talk about this stuff0 ..c: c.. do it. ... Start today, and Junior Michael Best conducts faculty members during a ~rformance you will leave your city by the Double 07's on Founder's Day. better than you found it."

Professor Helen Gaudette, current students to "embrace Lowenstein, now a professor at Director of the College Prepara- the Townsend Harris experi- Columbia University, comtory Program at Queens College, ence," collaterals and all. On mended the academic rigor of exhorted the students to "leave behalf of the Alumni Associa- both the old and new Townsend the Queens College community tion, he added, "We encour- Harris, noting that current greater" as well. Like Ms. age you to enjoy your time Harrisites have more opportuSchnee, Dr. Gaudette emphasized here .. .. The friends you make nities to participate in activities the moral responsibility that the here will last the rest of your such as clubs, teams, and mulife." sical programs.

Ephebic Oath entails.

The alumnus who gave the In addition to the importance In his address, Mr. of the Ephebic Oath, other speak- keynote address, Louis Cunningham recognized ers at Founder's Day chose to Lowenstein, got many laughs Townsend Harris's standing as highlight the achievements of for his anecdotes about the a school of excellence. Despite Townsend Harris graduates. "good old days." Even the common complaints of Craig Slutzkin, co-president of though he commiserated with collaterals, freshman gym, and the Alumni Association, men- audience members' required six flights of stairs, he said that tioned notable alumni and invited years of studying Latin, Mr. continued on page 10

Largmann first non-alumnus inducted into Hall of Fame

by Benjamin Snyder

first non-alumnus to be inducted into the Townsend Harris Hall of Fame when he and

II other inductees were honored and the "new" Townsend Har- the ceremony. They also reat a ceremony on Friday, Octo- ris opened its doors in 1984. ceived the Hall of Fame medal ber 27. Many current and former Many of the other induct- engraved with the picture of faculty members, as ees played key roles in there- Yggdasil, the world-bearing well as graduates of . establishment of their alma tree in Norse mythology. both the "new" and mater. "We all strove so hard "Now it's time to make his"old" school, at- in those early years to build tory," announced Ted Peck, tended the festivities the school," said Dr. Class of '42, the host and planat the Mason Hall Largmann. "We spent late ner for the event, as he called Auditorium at hours together and faced Dr. Largmann to the podium.

Baruch College, the many obstacles, just as a fam- 路 Dr. Largmann spoke about the site of the "old" ily works hard to accomplish ideals attached to Townsend, its goals." The new inductees especially the school's commitschool.

Closed by Mayor were: Alan Ades, '42; ment to "rational discourse."

Fiorello LaGuardia Abraham Bein, '28; Andrew When later asked to expand on in 1942 because of Arkin, '40; Melvin Dubin, .this, Dr. Largmann said that this budget cuts, the '40; frving Gerber, '43; Dr. means "to listen to one another "old" Townsend Saul Gross-man, '39; Gerald activel y and critically, to Harris High School Halpern, '44; Herbert present opinions and views ] provided a Humani- Kadison; '35; Morton S. based upon facts .... and to ~ ties-oriented educa- Lisser, '38; Louis judge objectively the ideas and ] tion for gifted boys Lowenstein, '41; and Norman arguments presented during a ] in conjunction with Merino, '38. discussion so that a reasonable <( All the inductees "have conclusion may be drawn . At _s City College.

80 Alumni who loved gained recognition and re- Townsend Harris High -E. their school worked spect in their chosen fields," School," he added,_"the goal Alumni Julie Chan, '88 and Seth Cohen, '_95 share memories with Dr. Largmann. Julie was editor of the Crimson and Gold, and Seth was editor of The Classic. hard for its rebirth , according to the program for has always been to educate continued on page I 0

Founding principal Malcolm Largmann became the

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The Classic

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November 2006

Face-off: Students and staff settle differences

A feast of poetry read·ings: Audiences meet poets of all ag:es

by Add anna Mateo & J u dy S irykissoon

by Gabriella Duke and Sydney Lowe Sophomore Michael Terdman was the last of the underclassmen left standing <is differences were settled at the Student vs. Faculty dodgeball game on Monday, October 30, in the gym. Despite his valiant efforts , in keeping with tradition , the faculty beat him out and won all four games with the help of the seniors. Raymond Adam k'iewicz. George Rio , Adam S to neh iII, AI eeza Widman, Sara Liu, Robert Babstock, and Charlene Levi were among the teachers who participated in the four games.

Since underclassmen greatly outnumbered the seniors and staff members, the students were divided into four groups that played one game each.

Spectators greeted the games with booming cheers and hurrahs . After seniors and staff

members eliminated nearly all · but with the way it was carried of the underclassmen players, out. Sophomore player Michael Terdman single- Vincente Martinez said, "It handedly revived some of his Was a bit disorganized and teammates . The game was over there wasn't much room to after Michael was eliminated . play. It was really crowded.

Although his underclassman Some teachers weren't fair. I team did not win, Michael ad- think next time there should be mits that he "had a lot of fun a stricter set of rules." playing in the game" and that Still, many felt the game "we should definitely hold an- was a success. "It was really other one in the near future ." great. The hi.ghlight of the "I always enjoy these game for me was to see Mr. A. games," said Mr. Babstock. "At get pegged w1tl1 the ball," said least four or five students say sophomore Michelle Cafarelli, they saw a side of me they've laughing. Fellow sophomore never seen before."

Essie Assibu added, "The At the end of four rounds, - dodgeball game was intense. It there was a fifth game which was exciting watching stuadmitted all the underclassmen dents and teachers getting that had come to play. This pummeled with dodgeballs." game ended shortly as the large Even those who did not atnumber of players made the tend were excited about the game very chaotic. game. "I couldn't come this A few st.udents were not year, but I heard it was great only displeased with the out- from all my friends!" said come of the dodgeball game, freshman Liz Kussman. \

New renovations wi ll spruce up auditorium and building exterior

by Heriselda Begaj Renovations are underway both inside the auditorium and on the building's exterior. The renovations, which are being run by the School Construction Authority, will not interfere with any upcoming school events and will be completed by the beginning of December.

Funding for the project is coming from a capital fund of the Department of Education.

Although the auditorium renovations have forced clubs toreschedule their fall events for the spring semester, Principal T homas Cunningham feels that "we are fortunate that we have been able to accommodate student and school events so far with

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onie exception: HarrisFest has been rescheduled to June I from 6-9 p.m."

One project underway is the upgrading ofrhe sound system.

Once the renovations are complete, there will be microphones hanging from the ceiling of the auditorium so that sound can be better projected.

New mixers and recorders are also being put in place. Assistant Principal of Languages Other than English Lisa Mars, who has been involved in overseeing the renovations, feels that the improvements to the sound system will enable students attending lectures and other events to ask questions without having to walk too far

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to reach a microphone . Improved lighting will illuminate the stage and allow the audience to get a clearer view of the action . These renovations, although not yet complete, are catching the attention of some students like sophomore Johanna Sanders who thinks that "with improved sound equipment, events such as SING!, will run more smoothly."

Outside of the school, new lighting has been installed on the side of the school building on 149' 11 street and on the side facing the Queens College parking lot. Administrators feel that the lighting will make the school safer.

More tl\an 80 Harrisi:tes attendea the fall Phoenix poetry reading in the library on Friday, November 10, aod 15 set out to the 9211<l Street Y the .fb1Jowi•u:,g M.<Onday eveni ng .. At the Townsend poetry read:ing. the th-eme Afroc-entricity inspired students ani!! teachers to share the work .G'f some of their favorite poets, as w6'lll as their own poems. Students attenlliing the Y met c0lebrated poets Jane.Hirshfield and Kay Ryan in an intimate question aod answer. session he:liore that poetry !leading. Both events Wtl\fe or~ ganjzed by Bnglish teacher Robert Dabst<>ck.

Set in the library against a backlitro.p of black paper and lights with pictures of J'}oets on the wind0ws, .Frid1ily's poetry readl:og displayed a wide array of talent, from singing tQ dramatic readings. The Jazz Band opened the progr~ wid:t a coup1e of songs as attendees or0wded onto the I:i:brary floor. Mr. llabst0c•k fGJlowed this with an f!lpening speech in whi~h he acknowledged those wno insflired the eveot, seniors Crystal Hartley and Marissa Kinsey. ''This poetry reatlting is dedicated to them, whe realize the greatness of bis.tory,'' he said. Jul'l!iors Michael Best, on the tr10mbone, and Melanie S'Ovem, doing vocals, along with seniors Kashif Coppin anEl Louis Mergler, both oo !!be alto saxop.hQne, and C~via .Bowen, oo the dmms, kickeEJ.· off tltte .PO"try reading with '1n a Sentimental Muoat' by Duke Btliugwn.

Imgliah ,teacher Joseph Canzoneri begaa his reading by sa<yiag. •tt. <r:(lme and read for this every time no matter. what the theme is"" Mr. Canzon&ri read ..K.itehine:t te B-uilding" by Gwendolyn ~l'oeks anti ..Theme f>Qr mn:giis:b , ,., '•by Langston Hupes. He als9 recited ••pJayillig in The Dark By Ray Charles" I:Jy Julia Canzoneri, his daugluer~ which honors Ray Charles and was weJJ ..reooived by tbe aucllence. Sopb,9m,ore Amanda Kaja Elescri&ed JuJ:ia's poem as "so adQrable. Parts efit you wo~dn't ex.peot a ittle kid t0 write. It was pretty amazitlg .., JunicOr SUbia Han, who pedbrcmeEl st>me of her s0ngs on the gui1!ar, anaeunced that for tl1e first flime, a .Phoenix CD will come

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played vi:o11n, and senior Krystal Hartley, wbo delivered a comical reading during which she moved througl\ the audience 'I'lm £&a(\ling was followed by chips anEl sod-a in the guidance suite, where attendees miog~ed and chatted about the poems they had heard. Amanda especialily ~yes the poetry reaain:g, which. was her first. "I think it was great because some 0f the poe.rns really touched yow; ~ouL. I wtaud everyone wlo ha:d the courage ttl> go up and de that,'' she said.

Some English students and members of the ed:itor~al stafif of The Pheenix were ootdoue with poetry f-or the weekentt though, as the .reaaing at tne.Y t&ok plaee the f0liowtug .M~nday. Upen arrival at the Y, they mi:oglea with seniors from Brandeis and Dewitt Clinton High S.0hools. nveryoue a:te pizza :pl!OVided by the program befere Wendy Salin:ger, the director of tbe ·Poetry Center Schools 'Pnlject at tlae Y, presided over the 0f>en question fo:rurn_ betwe&n !!be program participants ao.d 'the two poets.

Nadia Ahmad., a j.uqior on the editorial staff of The Phoenix and a student in Mr. Canzoneri's drama class, dbserved the striking tilifferences lr>etween the two poe.ts. "What was really nice was that they wer.e so different but they balanced each other almost as if they we:re character tbiils fOr each other,.. she said.

The peetry readln:,g ended with rounds of apJ!!'lause f'OI both p:oets. As she exited the auditorium, sophomore Kathmne Balram grinned and said, ··~ Ryan is one of my n&w faverite poople.

• Wf:JS sa entertaining!'' Shanioe Bed•i~ a s.oph&m8re in Mr. Babstook's Bn~sb class, attded, ..1 thmk I'd have the g¥eatest tmte jMt tatk.iag Wtth mer and g~Ung t0 know her.•, Although participaats cllsap,eed on which poet was m.0r~ entertaining and in~resting, al agreed that die experience was enjoyable, even tihougb itended at 10 o'clock on a schoolni~t.

This is part of the Poetry Center Schools P~ject, a Jil.re>· gram that e.nable.s pu:lllic high school students iii New York City to atteml the Menday night Read!i;ng Series at the Unterberg Poetry Center. S1'1udents interested in attending the next poetry reading at the Y should. see Mr. Babs:twJ<or visit their website and contact Ms. Saling&r by phone or by emai:l. .Mr. Babstock annouoce.d that the nex't poetry reading might be in .February. but there wiH definitely be one in June.

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The Classic November 2006

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HA路RRISTIES CELBRATE HALLOWEEN Halloween has always been a widely-celebrated day marked by extravagant costumes . This was especially evident in the halls of Townsend Harris, where a ghoul met a priest, a medieval lady mingled with a French maid, and a pirate stabbed Charlie Chaplin. ~ Some seniors chose to be ~ recreational and spent the early

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Possibly the biggest hits of the day were the characters from The Wizard of Oz, the scarecrow (science teacher Phil Porzio) along with his counterparts Dorothy (social studies teacher Jamie Byrne) and the lion (art teacher Stu Yellin).

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The Classic November 2006

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ColOrful streamers, pajama pants, crazy hats, retro costumes make Spirit Week memorable

Seniors Amanda Baker and Caswanna Spruill show off their head wear on Jersey/Hat Day.

by Stephanie Pak and Jacquelyn Lekhraj Spirit Week began as seniors made the third tloor the new home of Blue, the puppy from the children's show Blue's Clues, and juniors rolled out the red carpet in "Hollywood" on the fourth floor. The sophomores turned the fifth floor into a green jungle and the freshmen brought the Pink Panther to the halls of the sixth lloor.

Unlike previous years, seniors did

said freshman Ayman Baig.

Friday, October 20 marked the beginning of Spirit Week with decorating the halls and ended on the following Friday, Founder's Day.路 Monday was Color Day and each grade represented itself with its respecLive color.

"It isn't one of my favorite Spirit Week days, but I think it's a great and easy way to show pride for your grade," said junior Stephanie Quon.

This year's Spirit Week was more successful than those of previous years, as more students wore pajamas, dressed in retro styles, and wore their grade 's colors. "Before, a lot of people didn't think much of Spirit Week, but for the seniors, since it's our last year, we really dressed ' up. It's our last chance," said senior Marni Dangellia.

Ditching their pajamas for hats and jerseys on Wednesday, students embraced the only opportunity they have each year to wear hats in school. Students from all grades were dressed in their favorite teams' garments. Senior Anthony Scaria sported a Jeremy Shockey football Jersey because "he is the best tight end in the league.~路 He also wore a San Diego Padres baseball cap and explained it by saying, "The Yankees broke my heart again." Junior Navjot Kaur, however, showed her unwavering support for the Yankees, despite their early defeat in the playoffs, as she wore an A-Rod Jersey. The optimistic fan said, "Don't worry. we'll win next year." Junior Tarik Lamhauor also wore Yankee attire, but for a very different reason. He wore his Yankee cap in memory of the late Cory Lidle who recently lost his life in a plane crash on October II. Although the majority of s~udents didn't participate in R$Lro Day, a large minority paid tribute to the past decades

not win the contest for decorating the halls; the sophomores did. Sophomore Lily Hsu said, "I just wanted to help our grade win. Last year, when we were freshmen, we came in last place. We weren't letting that happen again."

"We spent a lot of time decorating the halls and lost, but it was still fun. It was my first time, and I really enjoyed it,"

Sophomores Simone Webster, Christina Chan, and Merdiana Rochadi are working hard to get their ultimately victorious tloor ready for the judges.

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Freshman Andy Goodman asks for peace with his mellow '60's look on Retro Day.

Pajama Day followed on Tuesday as students and some teachers wore nightwear adorned with cows, monkeys, plaid patterns, and other colorful designs. "It was cold out, but we need some life in this school. Any other day, I'd get a demerit for wearing pajamas, so I took advantage of today," explained senior Luis Vega. Freshman Kyla Seereeram added, "I never had Pajama Day in my junior high school. I liked the craziness of seeing everyone as if they just rolled out of bed."

Sophomore Sasha Collins, who didn't wear pajamas, had a different view on Pajama Day. "Some people in my junior high school didn't care about the attitudes that their appearances portrayed and wore pajamas any day they wanted. High school students should be more mature, and I especially expected better from Townsend Harris students," she stated adamantly.

with side ponytails, leggings, rollerskates, and mod dresses. Junior Vivian Lee chose an '80s-inspired ensemble.

When asked why she chose that particular decade, she responded, "because leggings and funky headbands have come back into style." Senior Amanda Baker sported the '90s grunge look, with a flannel t-shirt and baggy blue jean~. She stated, "With the '90s look, I get to relax and be comfortable. The only problem is that most people don't understand that it's actually a costume." One of the most creative costumes was created by junior Thierry Thompson. Thierry wore a Blank Panther-inspired outfit, that was all black, shades and hat included. He did so as an ode to the "hip hop revolu-. tion ... an era that inspired [his] favorite musical genre." Senior Meriam Sassi went all-out in a '50s-inspired rollerskating-rink ensemble, complete with a tray and roller skates.

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The Classic November 2006

Seniors join Clinton campaign Rally draws laugh·s

by Jessie a G raf As part of their Advanced Placement Government and Politics and Participatory Democracy (PO) classes, all seniors must complete I 0 hours of volunteer work in an actual political campaign, local or statewide. Though seniors worked with various campaigns, a large block of the class volunteered for Senator Hillary Clinton.

One senior, Marie! Herrera, became the head of the Clinton campaign office in the city. As a result, senior class advisor Charlene Levi wants Hillary Clinton to give a commencement address at the graduation of the 2007 class.

Volunteering· for Hillary Clinton gives students an insider's look at a 'big time' race. Senator Clinton is a very famous candidate, ~md she was asked to march in the Columbus Day parade in Manhattan.

She extended the invitation to her volunteers, including seniors Jennifer Shim and Sabrina Fong. Jennifer said , "The parade was a lot of fun. We chanted for Hillary, and passed out flyers in the crowd. I got to meet Senator Clinton; she was very nice <~nd even signed my poster." Sabrina, however, felt that '' it was sort of embarrassing. We weren't even allowed in the parade because we were carrying signs," she said. ··we

had to walk on the s idewalk , screaming like Hillary ' s personal fan club, while people in the crowd were telling us to 'shut up.

Se.nator Clinton only walked for half of the parade , surrounded by a bunch of bodyguards in dark clothes and sunglasses ."

The work was completed during the months of the Townsend Harris election simulation. Though not all students accompanied candidates to parades, completing the volunteer requirement gave them a firsthand look at what a real campaign is like. ·"After volunteering, students can bring their knowledge ~md experience to the election simulation," PO teacher Franco Scardino explained. "In the past, students had to do I 0 hours of any community service. The campaign volunteering has been a requiren)ent for five or six years, .and it definitely improves the simulation.

Students learn how to solicit votes and experience having people reject them, which prepares them for the school races."

Famous writers come to campus

by Alex Lord The Queens College Evening Readings is celebrating their 31" anniversary season with readings by I 0 famous authors. The program, held in the Music Building, kicked ofT on November 7 with a · "Roundtable on the Art ofWriting," featuring Salman · Rushdie , Orhan Pamuk , and Norman Manea.

The second program featured playwright Tom Stoppard on November 20.

A "Roundtable on the Life and D~:ath of the Novel," to be held on March 13, will include Cynthia Ozink, Norman Rush, and James Wood. Additional individual presentations will feature E.L. Doctorow (February 27), Mary Gordon (March 27), and Jamaica Kincaid (April 24).

The Evening Readings series is a "great opportunity for students," said English teacher Richard Cappuccio. Students in some English classes will become familiar with E.L. Doctorow 's Ragtime as part of

their junior year curriculum.

Mr. Cappuccio described Doctorow as possessing "quiet intelligence" and as "probably one of the greatest wits on the planet today."

Tom Stoppard is ·'able to charm the audience ," Mr. Cappuccio said of the writer 's onstage presence . Stoppard, famous for his screenplay Shakespeare in Love, is also the author of Rosencrantz and Gui/denstern Are Dead, the story of Hamlet told from the title characters' point of view.

"These are some of the greatest literary figures of our time," said history teacher Linda Steinmann. Orban Pamuk, author of Snow and My Name is Red, is the recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature, one of the most prestigious literary awards.

In addition to listening to the authors read their newest works, the audience will have the opportunity to get a signed copy of the work being publicized.

English teacher Robert

Babstock described the atmosphere as "intellectual and informal." All of the readings will be moderated by Leonard Lopate, a radio talk show host.

The audience will also be able to participate in a question-andanswer session with the authors.

Tickets cost $15 , but are free with a Queens College ID . With the exception of season pass holders, there are no advance tickets available, and they can only be purchased at 6:45 on the evening of the reading. Although seating is not guaranteed, Dr. Steinmann said, "It's not a rock concert. There's always a seat."

"Once you've heard a writer speak," said Mr. Cappuccio, "you'll always hear that voice when you're reading that person's novels or poetry." It is a rare chance for high school students to be able to attend an event with such high-profile literary figures. "We are very fortunate that we have such an opportunity right here," Dr. Steinmann said.

by Linda Kung

.constant eruptions of " no The stress of PSAT day was syrup." e mphasizing that the offset by the cheers and boos high taxed family couldn't even resonating from the auditorium afford syrup for their pancakes. during the two performances of The Green Party began with the Special Interest Group Rally their candidat e for gove rnor, on October 18. Freshmen and Malachy McCourt, played by seniors atterided the event in the senior .M ichael Morrissey. He morning while the juniors and represented Irish pride with a sophomores took the PSATs. performance o n the bagpipes Eighth band, the sophomores followed by a traditional Irish and juniors got to experience tap dance by Sarah Martin . the rally.

Great cheers erupted when an Seniors in the AP Govern- unexpected green Teletubbie, ment classes spent weeks work- played by Morgane Giordano, ing on the skits to inform the danced onto the stage. underclassmen about their inSome students felt that the terest groups. In the end, they rally did not live up to the perwere proud of their work. ··we formances from last year. " It had technical difficulties but wasn ' t as funny as last year," overall it was a great show! " said one sophomore, while othsaid Ellen Abramowitz, who ers dubbed the rally "boring." hosted the event. Fan Zhang Nevertheless, many liked the agreed, adding, "I thought some break from classes and getting of the jokes went over people's to know the candidates of the heads, like my Madison Avenue election . "I thought the rally joke; they just didn't get it, or was good and a lot of the skits were funn y, but some of them maybe they didn't hear it."

Assistant Principal of Hu- just didn ' t make sense," said manities Susan Getting deliv- freshman Rachel Mayo. ered the first laugh of the day, Sophomore Maryam Azam praising the seniors' hard work also enjoyed the rally, saying "I and warning the audience to thought the Rep ubi ican skits were really funny and creative ".laugh but make it short ."

Some standout perfor- but the Democratic skits were mances from the rally were the really cheesy and not funny." opening skits introducing the Junior John na Pedi was a Democrats and Republicans. little more ambivalent about the More memorable skits came rally. "I enjoyed the skits ; they from the Conservative Party, were funny," she said. Acting which spoke against gay mar- as a senator, she 's found that riages and illegal immigration . "there's a few people in each Other interest groups included class that found some of the the Empire State Pride Coali- racial jokes a little too offention which "promoted equality sive." Personally, she feels that for all people," including lesbi- "It's not going to be a win-win ans, gays, bisexuals, and either way because there are transgenders, the American always some people that are Homeowner's Association, and going to be offended." She the New York State Business added that making fun of races Council, which helps disadvan- was what made certain skits taged children across more memorable than others.

New York by training them for the future.

The National Taxpayers Union ' s skit generated many laughs. It told the story of two different families, one living with low taxes and the other living with high taxes.

The family with low taxes lived a luxurious life with a well-broughtup child. When tax rates increased, however, the child attended John Bowne H.S. and learned the ways of agriculture 'E .3... instead of receiving a .,...c "real'' education. Jacob Schnee and Michael ..."'>< ;;:: Mal hame, who e'ach ;>, .D played the child's .father 0 0 ..c at different perfor0. mances , made the audi- Senior Fan Zheng narrates -a Conservative ence laugh with their Party skit at the :;pecial Interest Rally.

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The Classic November 2006

9

.C ha celebrates Mozart Masque Mixer breaks atten-d ance records at orchestral debut Liu, who served as a chaperone , felt Breaking the school record with ap- there should have been more superviproximately 900 tickets sold, thi~ year's sion , "all in all I think everyone had a Masquerade Mardi Gras mixer, orga- great time," she said .

The disorganized bag-checking annized by the Senior Council , offered noyed many mixer attendees . "The hagfood . drinks, and dancing complete with checking was extremely unorganized," sparkly masks and matching Mardi Gras complained sophomore Ariel Brodsky. heads. The dance took place, as it does "I waited over an hour to get in - some every year, after school at the Queens College Student Union Building on Sep- people waited even longer - and in the tember 29. Despite the severe delay at end I had to bring all of my be longings the beginning of the dance due to bag upstairs because they ran out of [hag checking , most students deemed this checking] tickets ." Fellow sophomore Monica Ng suggested that in the future, year 's mixer a success . " we should just leave all of our stuff in " I think that the Mardi Gras theme o ur lockers and come back aft er the was a fun idea - the mixer is always a mixer to get it. No hassle ." great chance for underclassmen to get Other students were upset by the DJ's to know each other," said senior Sam ira selection of songs. "The music being Dcwidar. played wasn't something everyone Freshman Melanic Ngo agreed , say could dance to," said sophomore Fior ing, "It was better than I thought it Fabian , adding, "It wasn ' t varied enough would be .. . I think everyone had a lot for everyone to exactly dance to what of fun." liked. " they Although mathematics teacher Sara Nevertheless , the Senior Council felt the 11'iixer was a success. "I thought our Masquerade Mardi Gras Mixer theme was a great idea hecause it gave everyone a chance to dress up and have fun with their masks and beads in addition to dancing with their friends," said Senior · Council treasurer Alexandra Stark.

Senior Amanda Baker agreed. "It was just a good way to blow off some steam at the end of the week ," she said .

"And we got heads and good cookies, so Humimities teachers Peter Wamsteker and Charlene Levi it was pretty awegetting their groove on at the Masquerade Mixer. some," she said .

by Sydney Lowe & Jasmine Daniel

An a r mful of flower s a nd violin in ha nd, Heier Cha takes a bow with the New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra at the end of her performance.

by J ocelyn Wright The me lodic notes of Mozart's Violin Concert No . 3 in G filled the LeFrak Concert Hall on the evening of October 22 at the Young Artists concert where senior Helen Cha made her orchestral debut with the New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra. The event, organized by conductor Nam Yun Kim, celebrated Mozart's 250th birthday.

A total of four pieces, Adagio arid Fuge K.546, Violin Concerto No.3 in G, Symphony 29 in A, all by Mozart, and Cello Concerto No. I in C , by Haydn, were played at the concert. It was followed by a reception which senior Victoria Munoz deemed "well worth the dollars I didn ' t spend." She added that it was all "very professional."

Of her debut, Helen said, "I had a great time! It was a lot of fun. I wasn't nervous at all and it was a great experience." She added, "The best part of my debut was hearing all the applause at the end and seeing all the smiles in the audience . It's the most rewarding feeling to know that you ' ve made people happy." Helen was particularly touched when, at the reception, senior Marcus

Ng 's younger sister Catherine asked for her autograph . "She is absolutely adorable," Helen said.

The many Harrisites and teachers who attended were impressed by Helen's performance. "She was really good. I don't think I've ever seen her move with such purpose . Her music was amazing," said Victoria. Fellow senior Hannah Kim voiced the near-universal sentiment that "Helen's dress was gorgeous."

Helen has studied the violin for 12 years and has played at other venues, including Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at the Juilliard School, and Steinway Hall.

She became interested in the violin hecause "my mom played the piano at home and took me tQ. classical music concerts, and I thought the violin had a pretty sound, so I really wanted to play." gp Helen's devotion has paid otf; she has won the Luba Galpern Mid-season Mu- ~ sicales of the Associated Music Teach- ~ ers League as well as placing first in their £ scholarship award competition in 200 I. § Currently; she is working with world- "E. renowned child prodigy and violinist Stefan Milenkovich.

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Relocate_ d blood drive manages to collect 28 pints

by Chandra Persaud

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Senior Dan Schwartz is pre pares to donate blood at th e blood drive.

Concerned about saving lives, Harrisites willingly donated blood in the hallway near the bandroom on October 24. Although the Blood Drive did not take place in the auditorium this year due to construction, this did not prevent students from participating in the annual event. Approximately 45 people donated blood and a total of 28 pints was collected .

Seniors Caswanna Spruill and Olivia D ' Cunha organized the event this year. "It was a lot of work, but it was for a good cause," Caswanna said. Despite ,£ the success of the event, she feels ......~ ..c§ that it "could have been better." " c. "More people should have donated blood , especially since ev-

ery person who donates saves three Michelle Yeow, senior, was proud of lives," she added. the fact that she donated blood. "A lot The blood drive was not publicized of sick people need it and I wanted to enough because Caswanna and Olivia help out," she said. Although the blood encountered difficulty getting in contact she donated was taken in a cramped van with the New York Blood Center, who filled with a lot of people, she enjoyed sponsored the event. This led to a lack the good music and the cookies and juice of posters and advertisements in school. she was given after donating . "I even However, Caswanna urges students to got a free Subway coupon for a 6" sub donate to the annual blood drive event just for helping out those in need ,'·' she in the spring. "It's doesn't cost a penny said . and it 's for a good cause," she said .

Junior Elena Gulotta was excited that Adam Stonehi II , advisor of the blood she was finally able to donate blood . She drive , hopes to double the amount of wanted to donate last year, but her age blood collected through the two upcom- prohibited her from doing s'o. She says ing blood drives that are planned for this donating blood is " an easy way to help school year. Although Mr. Stonehill says out." With a smile, she says that she was that the Blood Drive is :'always a suc- very comfortable and the aides helped cess," he wants more people to vol un- her relax before donating blood . She teer. He was disappointed to see that the ' describes her experience as quick, easy, pints of blood collected decreased from and pain-free. She definitely plans on 56 pints last year to 28 pints this year. participating in future blood drives and strongly urges others to do the same .

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The Classic

10 Amos Lee touches listeners with poetic vocals November 2006

by Jacquelyn Lekhraj School teacher turned folk artist Amos Lee just released his sophomore album Supply and Demand on October 3. With an eclectic mix of soul, folk, and R&B, Lee creates a unique sound, earning himself comparisons to the legendary Bob Dylan.

Initially, Lee did not begin paving his way toward a music career. Instead, in 1995, he began his freshman year at the University of South Carolina as an English major studying to become a teacher. Lee quickly realized that he couldn't silence his passion for music .

He decided to quit teaching and pursue the career he was born for.

In 2004, Lee began recording and a

year later he released his 11-track selftitled album. After his album debut, he was given the opportunity to open for some big names in folk music. These artists included Norah Jones, Bob Dylan and B.B. King.

Lee's latest album, Supply and Demand, offers listeners a broad spectrum of music ranging from the light-hearted pop song "Sweet Pea" to the more serious ballad "Sympathize ." With his haunting voice, poetic lyrics, and acoustic sound, it is undeniable that Amos Lee has created an effective and provocative album that all can relate to .

Supply and Demand takes listeners on an emotional journey. Each song tells a personal story. "Long Line of Pain"

makes listeners aware of Lee's continuous struggle with the death of his father when he says,"My daddy died ... and his heart lives in my song." The slow rhythm and Lee's deep voice convey the solemn tone of this song.

Lee also tackles political issues such as the war in Iraq in his song "Freedom."

He is fearless in his lyrics, refusing to restrain his opinion of the war. Lee demands that we look at the war through the perspective of Iraqi civilians, saying, "Now if the tables were turned, tell me how you would feel/ somebody busted up into your house telling you to stay still while/ the leaders will deny defeat, innocents they testify by dying in the street."

. Perhaps, the best track featured on Lee's album is "Night Train." Lee keeps the track raw with unapologetic yet simple lyrics, as well as a basic acoustic sound. Lee describes his disappointment with society, saying, " Nobody looks you in the eyes here/ walkin' round with clenched fists." Nevertheless, "There's a sunrise out there/ I can see her moving, I can see her moving," which shows that he still has hope because he is looking for a woman with whom to share his love.

With a stead ily increasing 45,243 friends on MySpace, this singer/ songwriter is inching his way closer to getting the main stream recognition he deserves .

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints proves poignant

by Ariel Brodsky A compelling and powerful film, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints is a memoir of love, hate, and the relationships that either make you or break you on the harsh road of life . Along with a stellar cast that includes Robert Downey, Jr., Shia LaBeouf, Chazz Palminteri, Dianne Wiest, Channing Tatum, and Rosario Dawson, first-time director and author Dito Montiel successfully converted his critically acclaimed book into a heartfelt movie .

Among the tiresome pop culture · films that plague movie screens today, A Guide to Recugniz.ing Your Saints is a welcome breath of fresh air. Perhaps the most engrossing aspect of the movie is the deep connection between the characters and the audience.

The script is exceptional because everything is characteristic of the real

world. The acting is excellent because the actors behave as anything but, and Montiel never allows viewers to forget that they are watching a story about real people. Among Montiel's interesting filming techniques are a series of shots in which characters introduce them-selves to the camera (e.g . "My name is Dito, and I'm going to leave everyone in this film"), which created the feeling that the audience. knew the characters and would almost be living their lives with them . When they were in pain, the audience was in pain; when they were content, the audience was content. The movie went .beyond the typical onesided plot and brought viewers straight into the screen- to brave the dangerous streets of Astoria, to cry over the deaths of friends, to endure the all-too-familiar adversities of struggling relationships.

Despite being a first-time director, Montiel brought with him such remarkable camerawork that no one would ever realize his inexperience. The more intense scenes took on the appearance of a strobe light. The screen would follow a pattern of complete darkness ·and silence followed by a two-second shot of what was actually being filmed, creating a pulsating effect that transferred the enhanced suspense and anxiety of the plot to the viewers themselves. Characters spoke directly to the camera during several shots, addressing their dialogue to Dito. This shifted Dito's role in the film to t.he audience, making it an even more personal experience. These fresh , impressive techniques undoubtedly contributed to Montiel's winning the Director's Award at the Sundan~:e Film Festival.

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints

also won the Special Jury Prize for the best ensemble performance, and it is not hard to see why. Two-time Academy Award winner Dianne Wiest and Academy Award-nominated Chazz Palminteri were outstanding as Dito's parents, and other cast members such as Channing Tatum aad Robert Downey, Jr. were also commendable. The most surprising performance was by Shia LaBeouf, who played the young Dito.

It has been a long time since his years on the Disney channel ser ies Even Stevens, and his ability to conquer such a mature role truly demonstrates how far he has come as an actor, and how much further he is destined to go .

A Guide to Recognizinx Your Saints is a must-see film . It truly is an extraordinary movie, and a much better use of the money that was going to be spent on a ticket to Saw Ill.

Hall of Fame (contin·ue·d) Founder's Day (contin·ued) continued from page 4 students to become astute citizens, able to reason ... and to engage in rational discourse."

Many former students and faculty agreed that it was wonderful that the Townsend Harris Alumni Association recognized Dr. Largmann for his contributions to the school. 'Tm so excited and happy for him" remarked Susan Stewart, Class of '94, about his induction . "As the first non-alumnus to be ele~:ted to the Townsend Harris Hall of Fame," said Dr. Largmann , ''I was at first truly surprised and then, of course flattered and ultimately humbled. For me to be surrounded by so many former students and faculty is to feel the warmth of a special affection which comes wi th that bond of unity of purpose."

"Seeing what he did with the school was very inspiring," said Eileen Gunn, '89 . "Even though he didn't attend Townsend Harris," said former Classic editor Seth Cohen, '90. "Dr. Largmann is Townsend Harris in every sense of the word ."

As principal, Dr. Largmann interacted with the student body daily. For example, he would stand by the front door as students were leaving and ask them what they had learned that day. He also performed various "spot-checks," asking students if they were carrying their dictionaries or popping into classes simply to watch . "He ran that school like a well-oiled machine,'; said Johanna Fausto, '94.

"He basically taught me a lot about integrity and values," said Mr. Cohen .

Of all the alumni inductees, the one most faMercedes Driving School miliar to members of The .~8-15 U~ll Blvd., Suite 202 Classic staff is probably Bayside, NY I IJbl Tel. 718.28UJl62 Andrew Arkin, the former editor-in-chief of The Stadium , the "old" school 's newspaper, who For the 5 Uuur pre-licensing course, visits The Classic staff Point ud ln$urancco Reduction count 11nd Road leuon pack11g.u . schedules/pricing \"is it U5 at: every year and has endowed a scholarship for WWW.NYAUTOSHOOL.COM Classic editors.

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continued from page 4 the Rainbow."

Townsend Harris provides a "caring and Assistant Princ ipal of Languages nurturing environment."

Other than English Lisa Mars remarked, The concert band, led by Peter Lust- "I think that the musicians were profesing, received spirited applause after its sional in every sense of the word. They performance of Queen ' s "Bohemian had only 30 minutes to warm up and adRhapsody." The band also performed just to the stage, and they showcased a "Stars and Stripes Forever," "New York, wide range of talent."

New York ," 'The Star Spangled BanArthur:... Boulanger, who joined the ncr," and the Alma Mater. faculty when the "new" s~:hool opened Mariko Sato, who teaches both Japa- in 1984, explained the history of nese and music, led the chamber music Founder's Day. "Founder's Day was inensemble in its rendition of "Over the tended to foster school spirit and remind Rainbow," the lyrics of which were writ- · students that we were continuing a traten by former Harrisite E . Y. (Yip) dition that directly connects them to the Harburg, '14. Dr. Sato also directed this alums of the academy and the old year's Founder's Day Parody, which school," he said. was conducted by junior Michael Best.

Founder's Day also includes the Michael, who wore a ~:urly white wig preparation of food packages f0r famifor the occasion, led The Double 07's lies in need. This aspect of the day is and the audience i~ a modified rendi - organized by the COSA director, Adam tion of "Over the Rainbow" that poked Stonehill . The packages students prefun at all aspects of Townsend Harris pared this year will be donated to Mercy life . The Double 07's alternately sang Center in the South Bronx . some verses of the parody reservedly During the walk across campus to and rapped the others, dancing and Colden Center, seniors traditionally line whipping on shades in tempo . the path, urging their peers to vote for Students and fa~:ulty alike praised the their candidates in the ele~:tion simulapresentations . Senior Krystal Lum said, tion . Junior Diana Kokozska said , "It "I liked the entertainment better than last was a little overwhelming, but I did apyear," and sophomore Nya Reichley preciate the brownie" whi~:h she readded, "I loved the rapping part in "Over ceived from one of the ~:andidates.

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The Classic

11

November 2006

Turtles tri.umph at C'ity championships

bY Maureen Mc:Ouskey Matching last season's perfect reoord and city championslilp, the Girls' Swimmini team dove into the eity championsllips with Btofl« Science oil November 21 ·~ snatehed the

championship with a etose win, 52-50. This victoty ended a perfect 8-0 season for the 1'\n!des. The team anticipated tho matdlup with B~ Science atl se.ason aM were tlniR¢ril with their success. They oome to scho01 'lae ft>'lft>w:iltig Moaday d"k<ed in·8feeR from head t1> toe, celebrating their win.

The Ttmles won each of: their first six mate~ without f3Cing any steep competmmt, but they were wary of their main rhrats.• Bronx Scienee and Stuywssattt, whom they dWn't face until the playoff meets. Widl two outstanding fteshm~ .Attn lhMja aad K.etlyn ~earthy. joining aa already ;owel:'bouse team, the Turtles pmved unstoppable. However, Bronx Sclenoe also gained signilicaAt freshman sw.im.$ers wtm, the 'I\iJrtles worried, could have posed a threat in the championships.

Maureen McCluskey catted the Science sq:uatl ''stroog.. anti had been W<>rrie'd that they would "stand in the Turt1es' way of a 11epeat."' However, Coach James Jordan 'was right in tbinldng that the TurtJes eotd.d prevail when be said, "The team looks good, re:al g~otl...

Many swimmers have ctoue lfheir part to prove their coach's point. Five of the girls, representing :atl grade ltwels, nave already posted p>ersonat best tii:mes, ind:udi'll:g fres~man Jennifer Chern, sophomore Kirsten Guelly, j;un.ior Patd.a Guzman, and seniors Maureen McCluskey and Li~ban Fosteris.

The Turtles entered the championships witn a coach who was confident about their victory. "Mow that they kuow bow it feels to ~ Cioty Cbamf)s, they afle not atyout to let another team take their title away,'; Jordan said. The girls trained very hard this y'0ar, attending practic.e five days a week, including an additional practic€ on Satur<iays. Coach Jordan aad assistant coach $tdil:y 0' Keefe have mixed up the ll:.neup in meets anefl.,had the girls swiomming in al~ the events, ao't just their speeialtles, in otder to plan a Lineup for the Open Championships.

Coach O'Keefe saii€1, «I'm proud of the girls."

JV Volleyball has strong season

by Robert McCullagh Though their season ended disappointingly with a 2-0 loss to Francis Lewis High, the Girls' Junior Varsity Volleyball team showed a lot of hope for the future in a season that ended with a second place finish and a 5-3 record, The loss was the team's first in five games.

There are no playoffs in junior varsity, but the team's strong record would have easily qualified them. The mark was made possible by breakout perforniances from many team members.

Freshman Audrey Agas was third in the division with 21 aces, averaging over three a game. She also placed third in -the division with 42 service points, and was joined in the top I 0 by fellow freshman Kaila Pfister, who finished the year with 31 service points, Agas also placed in the division 's top I 0 for assists, with 13, and blocks, tied with freshman

Melanie Ngo and Stephanie Bonet with L "It was an experience and I had a lot of fun," said Melanie. "This season helped me improve my skills," she added.

Ngo, as well as sophomore Ayana Thomas, made the top five in blocks for the division, with I each. Harrisites were most prevalently seen, though, in the kills category, in which nearly every member of the team placed in the division's top I 0, led by Pfister's 6, Freshman Isabella Oledzka was next with 5 and Ngo also chipped in 4 kills.

Seven other Hawks had one kill each over the course of the season.

The team was coached by Mara Cohen, who comes from outsiqe of Townsend Harris, She was at the helm for the team's second straight winning season and also coaches the Girls' Varsity Basketball team.

Boys' Fencing team fights far into playoffs in only their first year

by Robert McCullagh The Boys' Fencing Team lost their final match of the season to Stuyvesant High on November 6 by a score of 5.75 to 3.25. Though losses are rarely seen in any sort of good light, this one might be considered an exception, This is because the loss came in the city playoffs, Though it ended their season, the team had to be proud of even making the playoffs in their first year, Debra Michlewitz, the team's coach, said, "We actually started without a team; we only had three interested seniors and one freshman who came in the summer," In spite of that, the team "made the playoffs." Before the team lost on November 6, they defeated Brooklyn Tech handily, by a score of 8.5-0.5, an impressive victory in any setting, but much more in a playoff scenario.

Additionally, the team finished its year in a three-way tie tor first place atop

the Queens IV division , A spot in the playoffs to go with a first-place finish is a proud accomplishment for any sports team, but more so for a team that didn't even exist until the start of the season. Due to that, Michlewitz is especially proud that the team accomplished so much, The successes were made possible by the members of the team , who were among the leaders not only in their division but in the entire city, Senior Marcus Ng was second among all fencers in the city with 18 wins and senior Evan Vekios, as well as freshman Chris Quach, each had 14 wins to earn a spot in the top 10 for the city. Ng and Vekios were also in the top I 0 of touches, with Ng again placing second with 96 touches.

After all, as Ng said, "in the end it's all about touching them before they touch you."

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Off Guard! The Boys' Fencing team takes a break before a match.

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The Classic

12 Boys bowl over opponents on way to city playoffs November 2006

by Jennifer Kalar The Boys' Bowling team kept the ball rolling as the city playoffs began, striking down Bronx Science two games to one at Jib Lanes on November 13. All 12 bowlers achieved scores of over I 00 pins in the tough battle with Science. The team finished the season with an 8-2 record, second in the Queens division to only Cardozo, whom they beat.

The Hawks are led by senior co-captains Jeremy Teperman and Albert Vetere III. Tepennan has been especially impressive this year, posting a 181 average to earn a spot in the top I 0 for

the Queens III division. Vetere III and fellow seniors Cletus Schuyler and Alex Lord, as well as sophomore Peter Michelli, are also among the top 20 in average for the Queens di vi-

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year as their coach and has led them to much success, with the team posting double-digit wins each year she has been at the helm . She helped last year's team succeed with an 11-3 record to make the playoffs and then w1n twice to reach the Round of Eight.

The Hawks will face the Leon M. Goldstein High School of Science in a quarterfinal match up for a chance to move further along into the playoffs .

Sion.

Teperman remarked earlier in the season, "Although other teams had a harder transition to make into the 2006 season than we have, we realized that we had more competition than expected, and thatwe would have to work hard to win ."

The team attributes much of their success to their supportive and hardworking coach, Shari Basis . She is in her third

The Boys' Bowling Team strikes a pose at Jib Lanes.

Hawks get new.teammates but cannot kick into gear Jerrin Varghese, who assisted on the game-winner, said "We had to play to redeem ourselves and we came through with a clutch goal in the last five minutes."

Still, Varghese said, "at least this year we went out with a wm ."

Last year, after an impres"' sive undefeated regular season, ..,., ~ the Hawks were upset in the "' . ~ first round of the playoffs. Nine 0 players graduated off that team, 禄 . ~ including the starting goalie and top scorer, leaving this "'"year's squad with little hope.

Freshman Nicholas Fedus dribbles past a Wagner defender.

The team, however, did better than expected. Coming into Fedus . The win pushed the the season with only five memby Robert McCullagh team into a fourth place finish bers who played with any reguThe Boys' Soccer team larity, the team pieced together for the season. ended a hitter year on a sweet note when they defeated Frank Although disheartened four wins and two ties with a Sinatra High School 2-1 on a about the lack of success the young, inexperienced roster.

Senior goaltender David late goal by freshman Nicholas team had this season, senior

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Bournas-Ney was a bright spot for the team, with an impressive goals against average of 1.50 while he stopped 80 percent of shots . Varghese was also an important influence on the team, showing his versatility by switching to forward from defense to fill a void, and chipping in four assists and a goal at a new position. This was an easy decision for coach Ray Adamkiewicz to make since 路Varghese's younger brother, sophomore Tobin, joined the team after transferring to Townsend Harris and stepped into Jerrin 's spot on defense.

Senior defenseman Michael Bye, who was in his first season as a Hawk, served as an intimidating force to opponents all season.

The most promising aspect of the season, though, was the

contributions of underclassmen who will look to lead the team to more success next season.

Fedus's goal in the season fi: nale was his third of the year, and he is liKely to be a big contributor to the Hawks for years to come.

For the Hawks to succeed next season, Fed us, among others, will need to step into the scoring void left by Varghese and fellow senior Sikiru Adesina, who scored a teamhigh five goals, and their fellow seniors and a goaltender must emerge, as both Bournas -Ney and his backup, senior Sebastian Lagos, are set to graduate. If these two holes can be filled, the team will look to reestablish itself in the Queens B III division with a muchneeded year's worth of experience.

Girls strike out in playoffs

by Daniel Schwartz The Girls' Bowling team lost 2-1 to Sheepshead Bay High School in a playoff match on November 13, ending a strong season for the team.

Though seniors Danabelle Ignes and Jennifer Kalar, as well as sophomore Stephanie Yim, bowled two I 00+ pin games each, the team saw its year end.

The Bowling Team went undefeated last year, but, finished \\;'ith two losses this year. They might have lost a step from last year, partially because many of their best players graduated in June. In spite of that, the team had a good I 0-2 season in which they won a playoff game and finished the year in first place in their Queens I division.

Kalar, who had her best sea-

son, leading the division with a 140 pin average, said before the Sheepshead Bay game, "Though we had key players graduate from last year, the underclassmen have stepped up their game to ensure a successful season."

These underclassmen include junior Tague Mosoian, who also placed in the top I 0 in average for the Queens division with a 130 pin average, and fellow junior Johnna Pedi, who was the last Hawk in the top 20 for average with 113 pins per game. The seniors also did well, especially Kalar and Danabelle Ignes, who was fourth in the division with a 137 average.

Kalar was sad lo see her final season end, but was pleased that "we will still be a good team next year."

Loss en,ds Glrl,s' Volleyball seas,on

by Robert McCullagh

The Girl's' Volleyball tl;am fell in tbeir fi.nal game of the season, losing 2-1 to the Queens High Sc.llO'o1 of Teaching. With this loss, the Hawks' record dropped to 4-6 and eliminated them from playoff competition. A win woutd have tied them with the Queens High School efTeaching and earned them the third place spot in Division路17. Instead, they finished in the bott0m half of ~he divisiofl.

Some players stiU.Ilad strong seas0ns, however, even mthe Hawks' down year. Vivian Lee, a junior, was \he only team member to place among Divisi0n 17's top 20 in aces, with 13. Lee rose to the t0p 10 in service points. which saw many more Hawks make a inark.

Junior Maria :Buenafe led the StJ1lfld with 50, and senior Shar-on Pak had 43 to com,plement Lee's 46. All three placed i,n the top H), closely followed by Yee She Yeow, a senior, who was 12th in the division with 45. Buenafe also had a team-high 43 assists, to finish third in Division 17, and five blocks, good for fourth in the division.

Though the loss was a disappointllnent, the team was in a reoo.ild'ing year and exceeded expectations. The Hawks played the season wi1lh onJy f0ur seniors. However, the plethora of juniors that competed this year wiH have an extra year of experience under their belts nex>t year, which could incr<tase expectatio.as for the squad. Also, the Junior Varis.ty team saw many players have breakout years, and some of tbose players could contribute to the top team next year. (See JV Votleybafl aFticJe on page 11 .)

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