June 2002 • Asslc Townsend Harris High School at Queens College 149-11 Melbourne Avenu~, Flushing, NY 11367
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Vol. 17, No.5, June 2002 • aSSlC Townsend Harris High School at Queens College 149-11 Melbourne Avenu~, Flushing, NY 11367 . ·Campaign poster vandal.ism unnerves community by Daniel Bloch saw ii and froz.e," she said. "I didn't verbal, betrays the Ephebic Oath that we walking up the stairs from sixth band An election campaign poster ofjun- know how to react." Jaime first went to all take and brings dishonor to our won- lunch with friends, but added that he had ior Jaime Sackett, a religious Jew and Joan Walsh, Assistant Principal ofGuid- not seen the graf- newly-elected Student Union President, ance, who informed Jaime that an in- fiti when he was defaced with a swastika, the infa- vestigation to find the vandal, or van- passed the poster mous Nazi emblem, during sixth band dais, would be opened at once. _ at the beginning of on Thursday, May 16. Drawn neatly in Principal Thomas Cunningham con- the band. When he ~ black ink, the swastika, approximately firmed that an investigation was under , , saw it, he said, three inches in diameter, arouseq anger way, though he declined to comment on i "my . jaw and shock among many members, Jew- the details of the search. "Every com- dropped," and he ish and non-Jewish, of the school com- plaint about discrimination is taken very ..,.... immediately noti- munity. seriously," he said. Mr. Cunningham E fied guidance . 0 . The incident was the most vicious of added that although a culprit has yet to . :;, c o u n s e I o r several incidents of poster vandalism be found, there would be "severe con- ~ AntoinetteTeague, that has marred this year's student elec- sequences" to face when he or she is :who promptly tions. Adam Stonehill, Coordinator of identified. 0 ripped down the Student Activities (COSA), said that he "This here brings shame to all of . ] poster. · " , , . Newly elected Student Union.President Jaime Sackett, junior, talks o.. " was aware of two or three cases of us, said Ms. Walsh In an Interview business with Coordinator of Student Activities (COSA) Adam Stonehill. I was so sur- vandalism, a number, he said, that was con.ducted a week after the defacing of · · · ·. prised," Jaime "two or three more than usual," · · Jaime's poster. "We share collective derful schooL" said, reacting as many Harrisites did to Jaime noticed the swastika while s~e guilt for allowing this to happen. Any Sophomore David Belsky noticed the the event "[The swastika] has so much was returning from sixth band lunch. "I kind of hateful bias, whether written or swastika on Jaime's poster as he was Continued on p. 10 The people have spoken: Carbone. departs, citi·ng Student Union announces officers by Jennifer Gong ately" next year, referring to the van co·nflict with administration The ballots ·are _in and the winners dalism of campaign posters. by Jamie Gullen and Sarah Schnee the different sides of an issue. have been chosen for the Student Union Communication seemed to be the Conflict between English teacher A conference was held to discuss Mr. Michael Carbone and the administration (SU) government of 2003. Leading the theme for this year's SU election. At the Carbone's methods. The administration regarding the method and content of Mr. advocates the developmental style in student body will be Jaime Sack~tt as debates, candidates pinpointed the main Carbone's teaching 'has led to his which the teacher leads class discussions SU President and Maryann Tan as SU deficiency of the SU as being a lack of decision to accept a position at Cobble Vice President. Harrisites placed their effective ways to publicize school by presenting an aim that is concluded votes on Wednesday, May 29, follow · events to the student body, which results Hill High School of American Studies at the end of each lesson. Ms. Greenfield . in Brooklyn beginning in the upcoming · ing a warning from unopposed SU sec- in a low attendance to such social ac stated that it is the preferred method of fall term. He publicly announced to his the New York City Board of Education. retary Angel Yau, given ·at the candi tivities. Thus, its improvement was a English classes in April that he would Mr. Carbone regularly uses the seminar dates' debates, that she would "send main campaign goal for the candidates be applying for a transfer. style of teaching, in which the students killer robots after [them] to eat [their] for SU Presipent (Arianna Freyre and After receiving complaints from control the discussion in a debate brains" if they didn't vote. Jaime Sackett) as well as for those run parents about Mr. Carbone's teaching, focused style that he describes as being According to Coordinator of Student ning for SU Vice President (Rita Ratner the administration reviewed . the similar to a college classroom. Activities (COSA) Adam Stonehill, 459 and Maryann Tan). Jaime would also allegations and conducted an Ms. Greenfield never told Mr. Carbone students, or about 53% of eligible vot like to see an increase in school spirit. investigation. Assistant Principal of that he had to change the way in which ers, visited the polls on election day. Humanities Lynne Greenfield declined he teaches, but rather discussed what she This was a little better than last year's ·who won? to comment on the nature of the thought was most effective and why. "disappointing"Jigure of roughly so%. SU President: Jaime Sackett complaints, saying "What happens Regarding this meeting, Mr. Carbone Mr. Stonehiii hopes that the debates held SU Vice President: Maryann Tan SU Secretary: Angel Yau between parents and supervisors and said, "The development~\ lesson has _ the previous week helped students SU Treasurer: Susan Chang teachers is really a private matter." been an issue with Dr. Largmann, Mr. "make educated decisions." Senior Vice President: Rachel To further investigate the situation, Cunningham, and Ms. Greenfield. [The "The elections are not about popu Nept>muceno Ms. Greenfield questioned a sample of idea of sitting in] the rows was suggested. larity, but about who is the best candi Junior Vic-e President: Mol'lie Laffin students from Mr. Carbone's classes. by Ms. Greenfield and confirmed by Mr. date and will best meet the needs of the Rose "Ms. Greenfield asked rrie how English Cunningham. The hand-raising policy students," he added. Freshman/Sophomore Vice President: was going. She said ·she was taking out was strongly encouraged by both. I have Though there was a better voter tum Windell Cadeiina students randomly to ask about E-6 been criticized many times about this out than in previous years, the issues Consultative Counciltepresentative: [English Level 6)," said junior [the seminar sty!e], so I knew what was involved with campaigning were tough Rachel Schiffman PUblic Relations~ Shanay Freeman Alexandra' LoRe. implied by the meeting." After the this year; said Mr. StonehiiL The candi Junior QSAC: Linda Luu and Jennifer "Everyone is given a fair shake," said meeting, Mr. Carbone changed his dates "needed more time" to present 'I'eckneci Principal thomas Cunningham, method · and began to use the themselves to voters. He also said that Junior Sehool Leadership Team: Venus commenting on the way in which the__ developmental style . "students need to act more appropri- Cheung administration goes about listening to Codtinued on p. 7 Score Choice ~e.w York Times Food Allergies Sports t Eliminated Scholars· . k p~ 11 pgs. 14-16 p.3 p.4 2 The Classic ., June2002 ._--------~----~~------------------------------------------------------------------~----------~- 'T Heat brin.gs out hypocrisy 'HE .,.• June has arrived and extremely warm weather has come with it. Harrisites now must carefully consider their wardrobes. Halter tops, tank tops, tube tops, backless shoes, and shorts that do not pass one's finger tips are among the items r.ra•t· of clothing that must be 'NIXed' from one's school attire, literally. While the u.e Board of Education's only specifications in its dress code are that "students may not wear hats or head gear in the, building," Townsend Harris' code goes above and beyond this, taking the Board bf Ed's instructions to allow students to 'dress appropriately' far too far. We are constantly r~minded that showing our shoulders is extremely inap- . propriate and unprofessional. Dean. of Students Wanda Nix repeatedly asserts that "school for kids is lik<'? work for adults. You 'must learn how to ... conduct yourself." It is for this reason that the Townsend Harris code is so specific, she claims. This argument, though, seems quite hypocritical in light of the fact that while many students are forced to hide their shoulders, they must sit in a 50- minute class watching their teacher sport a tank top. It seems odd that teachers do not adhere to the dress code, especially. since Townsend Harris is their place of work. If Townsend Harris truly is the 'community' that the administration al ways says we are, then why don't the same rules apply? "There Is a difference between students and teachers," Ms. Nix said, ''They [teachers] aren't here to be taught" No one is saying that teachers and students should be treated in an identical fashion, but what reason can possibly be offered to explain why bare shoulders are appropriate for our role models, teachers, and not for us? Conquering hate throug~ cultural awareness The fact is that the student dress code is far too restrictive and the reasons given by Jamie Gullen . estinian conflict, and most recently, Sep- _ for its provisions simply do not hold up when we walk into class and see our Trudging through the weekdays, tember 11, people would see that racial, teachers wearing things that are prohibited to us.