Muckraker XII, We‘D Where Best Buddies Comes in and “It Might Be Easy for People Who Like to Seize the Opportunity and Of- Helps

‘ h e T 1997 the students u c k rvoice a since k e r MT h e In d e p e n d e n t Jo h n F. Ke n n e d y Sc h o o l St u d e n ts ‘ Ne w s p a p e r Volume XII, Issue II Monday, September 29, 2008 Circulation: 600 PAGE 1

Th e u c k r a k e r Best Buddies Activity M “Hey retard!” tries and with 350.000 members in “What up cripple?” 2007. Even more, it is a growing Speaks! These are phrases that handi- community. Best Buddies strives capped people have to hear ev- to have half a million people in 50 ery day. They fight a life of misery countries by 2010. And maybe YOU Although this is technically not the and depression. This is the point can be a part of it! first issue of The Muckraker XII, we‘d where Best Buddies comes in and “It might be easy for people who like to seize the opportunity and of- helps. Best Buddies is an activity are listening to understand, why ficially welcome all of you back to that fosters friendships between it’s so vital and important for those school! The start into the new school people with and without intellectu- who are mentally and physically year was smooth to some and rocky al disabilities. It is an international challenged and why it would be a to many, but we survived the first non-profit organization in 37 coun- great thing for them to be inte- and crucial weeks of reality check. grated into society and to make a We don’t look at our alarm clocks friend. But I think what young stu- with as dumbfounded a stare at 6 dents, college kids, and high school am anymore, we have tested the kids don’t know, is that if you get waters with new teachers and class involved, what you’ll get back from mates, and have a more tangible vi- this experience is so valuable to sion of what the year may bring. the course of your life. You’ll have an opportunity to meet someone While many upperclassmen alrea- you might never come in contact dy have their first Klausuren be- with. To learn about compassion hind them, two individual students and understanding. And that will will experience a completely new lead you to be a good citizen and to dimension to the word responsibili- participate. So get out there, find ty: our brand-new Student Council out about Best Buddies. Do it! Go presidents, Frances Copeland and for it! Become a friend for no better Julian Graham. The voting results reason, than to make one!” – Kevin were extremely close this year, so Spacey we‘re all eagerly awaiting the pro- If you are looking for more infor- mised back-to-school extravaganza. Best Buddies, continued on page 2 If they aren’t drowned in work by then, next month’s issue will fea- Power Monopolies Advice Column ture an extensive interview with the Why is it that so much power lies The Muckraker is introducing a new two… in the hands of so few students at column: an advice column. -Except JFKS...and what ramifications come it’s not Dr. Sommer answering your The Muckraker is back with old and with this imbalance? Former JFKS questions, but a “Dear Delilah” you new. You will notice our advice co- can address. In the future, the column lumn Dear Delilah and our “Berlin student Yelden Sarybay speaks is yours to shape. Read it; see what Tipp”. Zeidler is still our news anchor from experience. you think; and send us any and all from down south; Anna’s Nothing questions you’ve had on your mind! discusses the very surprising something some young artists put forth; on page 3 on page 2 our new librarian, Mr. Epps is the featured teacher; and if you’ve ever been curious what goes down on our school psychologists’ couches, read Kinderalkoholismus Julius-Leber-Brücke Dass Jugendliche heutzutage immer öfter in den Überraschung! Die neue Julius-Leber-Brücke the mediators’ activity introduction! Genuss des Alkohols kommen ist nichts Neues. ist wie ein Geschenk der BVG, das unerwartet Enjoy the issue; may it put a smile Gruppenzwang, falsche Vorbilder und Ignoranz führen aber doch mit viel Dankbarkeit empfangen on your faces when deadlines and dazu, dass das Komasaufen zur Kultur wird. Oft vergessen diese Krankenhauskandidaten aber, dass wurde. Nur fragt sich der eine oder andere grey skies leave you squirming! sie selbst auch Vorbilder für noch jüngere sein können. auf dem Weg zur Schule: Woher kommt die Minderjährige Kinder sind auf dem besten Weg, ihren Station? Wohin führt sie? Welche Brücke ist Cheers, großen Geschwistern als Alkoholiker zu folgen. Wer, gemeint? Und wer war Herr Leber? Antwort fragt sich Max Jürgens in seiner Kritik, muss nun auf diese Fragen findet ihr… The editors. die Verantwortung tragen? Was muss konkret getan werden, um Kinder davor zu schützen? on page 4 on page 4 Volume XII, Issue II Monday, September 29, 2008 Circulation: 600 PAGE 2 JFKS Life Dear Delilah... Teacher Feature: Mr. Epps Please introduce yourself. Dear Delilah, Well, hello, I’m Mr. Epps. Nice to meet school has started, it‘s been two weeks, you. and I am already exhausted! I have so much to do, and my teachers aren‘t ta- Please give us a short history of your king my problems into consideration, life. and are just giving me more work, as if (Laughs) There is no short history of their subject were the most important my life. I’m old. (Laughs) one of all. I have piles of homework Well, if I were younger, I could give you and loads of tests a short history of my life. So I guess and quizzes to study for. It seems like I have 2 beautiful daughters, and one the work never stops! I‘m in school 7 of them standing here. I have 4 sons hours a day, and when I come home, who are away at university in Califor- I have to study and do my homework, nia. I travel a lot. I’ve been a librar- and after that, the day is already over!! ian for about 9 years. Before, I was an I can‘t meet up with friends as much as English teacher for 15 years, and I’m I used to, and I‘m in a bad mood all the from Los Angeles. I’ve been an ath- time! What should I do?? letics coach, yearbook advisor, depart- - Stressed-Out ment chairperson … Shouldn’t you ask me what my hobbies are?

This is for the newspaper? Oh, dear, I photo: Julia Epps Dear Stressed-Out, thought I left my celebrity life behind United States? First of all, you‘re not the only one who in L.A. (Thinks) Someone who is not running. feels like this! All of us suffer the strain I’d say none of the above. of the new school year, but there are So what are your hobbies? some ways for you to keep the wor- I don’t have any hobbies…Oh may- Do you have something that no one kload from overflowing. If you have be working out, weightlifting, tennis, knows about you? loads of homework, try doing some of it reading, and hiking…travelling. Oh, boy! No one? Well, I am not good in lunch in the library! It may sound bo- in sports, and I met John River. ring, and you might think, „Why should Do you find anything extraordinary I waste my lunch on homework?“, but about our school? Do you have a pet peeve? it really helps! You finish half of your I don’t think it’s extraordinary at all. I have a pet peeve. It’s cleaning up workload, so you don‘t have to do it all (Laughs) First of all, it has a great people’s candy wrappers in the library. at home, and you don‘t have to lug so newspaper. Oh and I have never met many books along! Secondly, so that so many smart and polite students. Do you have a guilty pleasure? it doesn‘t seem like you are working Definitely chocolate. And.. let’s see, non-stop, when you come home, take Where do you see yourself in 10 shopping. half an hour to sit, maybe chat with years? your mum, eat and drink something, or Gulp. 10 years. That’s a lot of time. In Do you have a profound advice for the maybe go to the computer and check 10 years, I’ll be the librarian at the best students of JFKS? your emails...Anything for you to wind high school library in Europe (British People who have never cried, have down! After that, start working on the accent), which of course will be John F. never loved. homework that you have left! As for the Kennedy School. studying, once you have learned new Thank you very much for the inter- material, sit down with it after school What is your favorite book? view. and learn it…That way, when you have You can’t ask a librarian that! I can’t No problem. a quiz/test coming up, you don‘t find have a “favorite”. yourself cramming the night before!! It Jung-Hyun An may seem like a bad idea, but if you Who should be the next president of Joanna He learn a little everyday, it‘s much better than not doing anything and trying Best Buddies, continued from page 1 to learn 4 months of material in one mation on how the program works, meeting on Thursday, 09.10., from night! I know you must be frustrated or what your obligations are, you 13:00 – 13:20 in B214. If you have because of your workload, but just can check out our homepage www. further ideas or questions, just remember that you are one grade le- bestbuddies.de, or our Youtube send us an e-mail to: best.buddies. vel higher now, and more is expected channel (www.youtube.com/best- [email protected] of you. Throughout your school years, buddies), or our SchülerVZ Group The Best Buddies team would be the work will increase immensely, so (Best Buddies Deutschland e. V.), very delighted to meet a lot of you. be prepared!! as well as our Facebook group (Best Thank you! Yours truly, Buddies Deutschland e. V.), or just Delilah come to the second organizational Bernhard Reifeld

Comments, Replies? send your opinions and articles to: [email protected] Volume XII, Issue II Monday, September 29, 2008 Circulation: 600 PAGE 3 JFKS Life / Opinion

Mediators Power Monopoly Why and how the administration must change student “politics“ Welcome (back) to JFKS, where student pected work shows up after you take on Revealed involvement reigns (almost) supreme. It a position. drives the spirit of the school and gives Every Friday, a group of students students some control over the school Exclusion come together in the 20-minute break experience. The multitude of activities On the flip side of the pressure-problem to discuss what happened during the and groups at JFKS is enough proof that is exclusion of the whole rest of the week: A fight between two eighth the students actually do care about what school. There are many students who’ve graders, a student-teacher conflict, or goes on in their environment. Yet despite been at the school for a while and think even a whole class that seems to be the variety of interests represented at that they have no chance at “competing” off to a problematic start. JFKS, not all too many people get to the with the people who’ve been “active” for But what can they do to help? For one leadership positions of these groups. So years or who have been student repre- thing, they won’t come stomping into what’s wrong? The problem is pressure sentatives since 7th grade. So not true. a classroom, take out a bullwhip, and on a few and exclusion of the many. I would actually prefer to have new fac- aimlessly start punishing little kids. es as heads of old organizations because Instead, they want you to come to The problem their fresh minds are not yet bogged them. So if you know that you have a The fundamental problem in our stu- down with administrative limits and they problem reconciling with your friend, dent organizations is that there is a very can attempt to do anything. And since who suddenly starts dating the guy small number of students who actually the “heads of” usually do start their po- you’ve been drooling over for the past lead them. It isn’t uncommon for a head litical “domination” early on, they tend 3 months, or if your buddies unexpect- of group x to be also head of group y. to stay on top for a while, leaving the edly decide to exclude you and you This loophole in the school policy means rest to feel like underdogs. In a school have no clue as to why, ask them to that the few students who do hold lead- which offers so much and produces such have a mediation. It may sound silly, ership positions are stressed throughout great people, how can we have kids who but it really does help. Firstly, because the year about the different organiza- feel like they’re useless? everybody gets to say their opinion, tions in addition to keeping their grades and secondly, because there will be a up. It also undermines the scores of bril- Suggestions? compromise that everybody can live liant students who also have ambitions To the administration: 1) Fill in the loop- with. All the mediators are there for, to be real leaders. hole in the student handbook and school is to keep a conversation going, and policy that allows one student to head to keep it objective. And don’t worry, Pressure multiple organizations. 2) Launch a the mediators won’t gossip about your Obviously we are here because, well, we campaign to encourage more students problems because what was said in a have to be. We are expected to study to become active in student organiza- mediation is secret. No one who took and excel in all our courses and get into tions. 3) If you are reluctant to do this, part should talk about it. a university or what not. But to up the call a school conference. Haven’t seen So, if you decide to try it out, don’t chances of getting into a top university, those in a while, but apparently you still hesitate. Speak to the person you many students will shower their report officially call them. had a fight with and then come to the cards with many, many activities. It’s To the “heads of”: DELEGATE. I know mediators’ room. We’re there for you not anything unusual or selfish. Last how much work everything can be, trust every lunch period in B 219 and glad year has been the hardest year to get me. I was once part of that “elite” crew to help. Just remember: one conflict into universities and the prospect of the of kids with multiple titles. On the one that’s solved affects a multitude of upcoming one doesn’t look all that easy, hand, it may seem like nobody is going people in a positive way. Spread the either. But when a single student starts to take the work seriously enough, but word! becoming head of so many organiza- if you trust them, they will, and if they tions, the pressure doesn’t add up, it don’t, they lose your trust. It’s as sim- multiplies. Often, these young men and ple as that. And be realistic. Putting so Tatiana Bühler women will resort to unhealthy habits many activities on your plate makes you Kirstin Lazarus such as cutting time off sleep, drink- lead a painful lifestyle that often doesn’t ing more coffee, and sometimes skip- allow you to enjoy life. So if you can, ping lunch to catch up on homework drop some things. or just work for the group. Ambitions To the rest: Be proactive. Challenge and expectations are heavy on teenag- yourself with leadership positions and ers and allowing them to take up more don’t think of this is as a competition be- and more head positions is tantamount tween you and the rest of them. It’s you to saying: “Go kill yourself.” And it’s not you have to compete with. And bug the like you can say, “Well, you signed up administration about the loophole! for them, so deal with it” because youth- Have a nice school year. And good luck ful “maximalism” tells us that we can do with all your responsibilities and cours- it. Of course, everything seems to add es. up neatly on the weekly schedule, but often, we don’t realize how much unex- Yelden Sarybay visit ourwww.freewebs.com/muckraker website at: Volume XII, Issue II Monday, September 29, 2008 Circulation: 600 PAGE 4 Culture „Hacke zu“ „Hacke zu“- ein Ausdruck, der nicht jedem da dies meist hinter verschlossener Tür unbedingt geläufig ist, vor allem nicht je- stattfindet und zum Teil von den Eltern ge- mandem, der das Koma-saufen und die duldet wird. Fakt ist, dass bundesweit die -Staff- Vorglüh-Kultur der heutigen Jugend nicht Hemmschwelle für Alkohol sinkt, und dass kennt oder selbst noch nie erlebt hat. Es viele Kinder ihr erstes Bier schon mit 12 Box ist ein Generationsbegriff, der den Voll- unschuldigen Jahren „genießen“. Deutsch- trunk-Zustand beschreibt; den absoluten land ist allerdings nicht das einzige Land Founding Fathers: Rausch, kurz vorm fatalen Gang zur Toi- mit dieser Problematik. Noch schlimmer Mikolaj Bekasiak lette. Spätestens seit den berühmten 52 ist es beispielsweise in Spanien. Während Seth Hepner Tequila-Shots eines Berliner Schülers ist großer öffentlicher Feste laufen dort kleine Adam Nagorski wohl jedem klar, dass Alkohol in der heu- betrunkene Kinder massenhaft durch die tigen Jugendkultur eine große Rolle spielt. Straßen. Die Eltern haben da schon lange Editors: Die Meinungen gehen schon da weit aus- nichts mehr zu melden. Ina Fischer einander: Während Eltern, Politiker und Natürlich wirft sich die Frage auf, wie es Eileen Wagner Lehrer Jugendalkoholismus als schweres soweit kommen konnte. Wo liegen die Lena Walther Problem bezeichnen, halten andere dage- Ursachen für eine solch gravierende Ent- gen, Alkohol sei nun mal ein Teil des Er- wicklung? Schließlich wird schon seit län- Layout Editor: wachsenwerdens. gerem versucht, den Verkauf von Alkohol Farsane Tabataba-Vakili Übers Betrunken-Sein mit 15 oder 16 lässt an Minderjährige mit schärferen Gesetzen Journalists: sich streiten, und eine solche Diskussion und höheren Strafen zu unterbinden und Jung-Hyun An in dieser Zeitung anzustoßen würde so dem Problem somit entgegenzuwirken. manchen an dieser Schule mächtig erzür- Doch offensichtlich haben solche Maß- Tatiana Bühler nen. Deswegen will ich mich lieber einem nahmen die Lage eher verschärft als ver- Randolf Carr anderen Thema widmen, einem Problem, bessert. Das Problem liegt schon lange Lisa Feklistova das eigentlich viel schwerwiegender und nicht mehr bei der Politik, die sich ständig Marissa Fuchs ernster ist als Jugendalkoholismus - näm- die Schuld für Alkoholismus selber in die Joanna He lich Kinderalkoholismus. Schuhe schiebt. Wenn Kinder anfangen zu Nikolas Jaeger Ein „Jugendlicher“ ist eine Person zwischen trinken, dann ist es ein gesellschaftliches Rebecca Jetter 15 und 24 Jahren, alles darunter zählt als Versagen, den Verwundbarsten ihre Gren- Max Jürgens „Kind“. So beschreiben es zumindest die zen aufzuweisen. In diesen jungen Jahren Kirstin Lazarus Vereinten Nationen und fast weltweit wird können nur zwei verschiedene Elemente diese Einschätzung als gesetzliche Norm der Gesellschaft Einfluss auf das, drastisch Stefanie Lehmann umgesetzt. Da ist es umso überraschender, gesagt, „Trinkverhalten“ eines Kindes neh- Yelden Sarybay dass sich die Politik nicht mit der Problema- men: Freunde und Eltern. Weil der Freun- Leonie Schulte tik eines betrunkenen Kindes auseinander deskreis ein nicht-kontrollierbares Element Anna Zychlinsky setzt. Denn Alkohol gilt auch bei Kindern ist (und das ist ja auch gut so) liegt die längst nicht mehr als Einzelfall einzustu- Verantwortung einzig und allein bei den Foreign Correspondents: fen. Sogar in der Zeitung liest man hin und Eltern. Dass dieses Grenzen-Aufmalen in Alexander Cohen wieder, dass 13-Jährige „hacke zu“ auf der einer Bierkultur sehr schwierig ist, bedeu- Moritz Zeidler Straße aufgegriffen werden - und das sind tet lange nicht, dass es unmöglich ist. Eins Guest Journalists: nur die Fälle, die es in die Zeitung schaffen. steht nämlich fest: Es ist notwendig. Bernhard Reifeld Von den „House Partys“ oder Clubgängen mancher 14-Jähriger wird nicht berichtet, Max Jürgens „Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof“ Wie ein Bahnhof Geschichte erzählt „Friedenau… Schöneberg… Julius-Leber- ben und wurde auf „Kolonnenstraße“ um- Th e Mu c k r a k e r is an indepenent news- Brücke.“ Wie? Welche Leber war das? getauft. Was man auf dem ersten Blick paper. The opinions expressed here in no Verwundert gucken die Schüler, die zum nicht vermuten würde ist, dass er auch way reflect those of the administration of ersten Mal die neue Station zu Gesicht be- in die Planung von Germania miteinbezo- the John F. Kennedy School. kommen: große, silberne Säulen, Glas und gen war. Hitler und sein Lieblingsarchitekt nicht wenig Beton. Plötzlich und ohne Vor- Albert Speer planten gemeinsam, nach warnung drängelte sich diese winzige Sta- dem „Endsieg“ Berlin zu einer monströ- How to join tion, 300 Meter entfernt von der Yorkstra- sen Hauptstadt eines großgermanischen the Muckraker Staff ße, in die Fahrbahn der S1 hinein. Reiches auszubauen. Glücklicherweise 1. Come to our weekly Diejenigen Zeitgenossen unter uns, die ist diese größenwahnsinnige Idee nicht meetings in the 20 minute das Glück oder auch Unglück haben, schon umgesetzt worden. Ein Beispiel: Neben break on Tuesdays in B214 ein paar Jahre mehr auf dieser Erde zu le- der „großen Halle des Volkes“ mit einem ben, haben sich vermutlich gefreut, dass Kuppeldurchmesser von 250 m hätte das 2. Send in your articles to der Bahnhof „wiedereröffnet“ ist. Denn die Brandenburger Tor wie eine Gartenpforte [email protected] Station ist keineswegs neu. Der Bahnhof ausgesehen. Die Halle wäre so groß, dass 3. Join the Muckraker „Schöneberg“ wurde schon im Jahre 1881 dort ein hauseigenes Wetter durch die nach Yahoo! Group erbaut und war der erste Bahnhof in dem oben steigende Feuchtigkeit entstehen 4. Drop a note in our Viertel. 1932 musste er seinen Namen an würde. Nach dem zweiten Weltkrieg war mailbox or approach us den heutigen Bahnhof Schöneberg abge- der Bahnhof Kolonnenstraße jedoch schon randomly in the hallways Julius Leber, continued on page 5 Volume XII, Issue II Monday, September 29, 2008 Circulation: 600 PAGE 5 Culture Dinner with Meg Ryan At this summer’s annual Giffoni children’s - It turns out that Meg Ryan never planned her to a mini bus standing right outside film festival, participating student jurors to become an actress in the first place and the cinema. We got in and sat down, hard- had the opportunity to meet many inter- only realized how much she loved it when ly believing that this was really happening. national stars. I was lucky enough to meet she already was one. She began studying After a short drive, we got out beside a and have dinner with Meg Ryan. It hap- journalism at the New York University when cosy looking restaurant, high in the Italian pened on a warm evening in Italy... she found herself in need of money to pay mountains. Meg Ryan hadn’t arrived yet, Tall, blonde and blue-eyed, Hollywood ac- for her housing and tuition. So she started so we all sat down to wait for her, all the tress Meg Ryan entered the movie theatre. acting in commercials. Later, she moved while feeling extremely nervous. Cameras flashed, people stared, and- ev on to soap shows and then to playing in After a few minutes, she came, and we eryone burst into applause as she sat down movies. Soon, she was rich and famous. all stood up to introduce ourselves. The in a black leather armchair on the stage. “Though I just try to live as normally as conversation was highly interesting. Meg Fame certainly does have its benefits. For possible,” she added. Ryan turned out to be a very friendly per- a 47-year-old, Meg Ryan looks extremely Meg Ryan has acted in countless films. son. She kept asking us about ourselves young. -No doubt due to a whole crew of She had the main role in ‘When Harry met and how we got to the festival in the first skilled make-up artists, hairdressers, and Sally’, ‘City of Angles’, ‘The Women’, and place. We in turn asked her how she deals outfitters doing their best to make her ap- countless others. She has the extraordi- with paparazzi badgering her all the time. pear glamorous. The desired effect was nary ability of playing many diverse roles… “I just try to ignore it,” she said. Meg also definitely achieved. She looked stunning. and each one of them down to perfection. brought her 16-year-old son along, and Meg Ryan surveyed the approximately After approximately 1-2 hours, the ses- we asked him what it was like to be the 150 teenagers sitting in front of her with sion came to an end, and Meg Ryan had child of celebrities. He said that it got ex- wide smiles. “Hi!” she greeted the audi- to leave. Everyone was leaving the movie tremely annoying sometimes. Everywhere ence, and we all smiled back. Then the theatre when an organizer of the festival he goes, people keep asking him about questions-session began. “How do you walked up to me and told me to go to the his mother. And at partys, nobody pays deal with the fact that some newspapers Jurors Office at 7 pm. “Why?” I asked. But any attention to him and always turns to write a lot of nasty stuff and a fair amount he didn’t answer. look at his mother at once. It’s like living of gossip about you?” somebody asked. I did as he had said. At the office, I wasn’t in somebody’s shadow all the time, he ex- “Does it upset you at all?” She laughed. alone. Five other teenagers were standing plained. “Well it used to. But I’ve stopped reading there as well. All, I noticed, spoke perfect I noticed that Meg Ryan kept playing with stuff they write about me by now. It wasn’t English. Nobody, however, knew what we her hair and tilting her head to her right worth reading anyway. Because, honestly, were supposed to do. At long last, a wom- side. Oh well, even celebrities have habits. who cares what they think about you.” an came out and smiled. “You’re all going After about 45 minutes, we made a few The Hollywood star then answered a lot of to go to a restaurant and have dinner with quick photos with her. Then she had to questions about famous directors and ac- Meg Ryan,” she said. Everyone stared at leave again. “She’s so nice isn’t she?” the tors she’s met and acted with. “One thing her. “You’re joking,” I said. She shook her girl sitting next to me said. I nodded. What I can say, though, is that I’ve learned head, still smiling. There were a few sec- I liked about Meg was that she didn’t try to something from every single person I’ve onds of complete silence. Then everyone keep herself in the spotlight. She was ac- ever worked with. The cameramen, fellow spoke at once. “Oh my God!! I need to call tually curious about us, six teenagers with actors, the set and prop designers, direc- my mom!” somebody shouted. “Why us?” perfectly ordinary lives. Of course, maybe tors, the lighting and sound technicians. somebody else exclaimed. “I don’t believe she was just doing it to improve her image. Every one of these people had something it! My camera is out of batteries,” a third But somehow I didn’t think so. She really to teach me,” she concluded. person complained. “We’re going to dine seemed genuinely interested. As if she re- “How did you actually become an actress?” with Meg Ryan! MEG RYAN!!!” ally wanted to know. Either that, or she I asked. “What did you have to go through “Calm down everybody,” the woman told really must be an outstanding actress! from the moment you knew what you us. “It’s almost time to go. If you’d just fol- wanted to become till where you are now?” low me!” Talking excitedly, we all followed Lisa Feklistova Julius Leber, continued from page 4 so zerstört, dass man nur noch die Gleise als Rohmaterial weg- und durch Messerstiche schwer verletzt. Später verbrachte er als transportiert hat. „gefährlicher Gegner des Regimes“ 20 Monate im KZ Sachsenhau- Der Entschluss, diesen Bahnhof wieder in Betrieb zu nehmen, sen. Er hat sich danach im Freundeskreis von Claus Graf Schenk dient hauptsächlich der Anbindung zur zukünftigen S21. Der Auf- von Stauffenberg bewegt, wurde aber schon vor dessen Attentat bau begann Januar 2008 und ist mit der Eröffnung im Mai noch am 20. Juli 1944 auf Hitler verhaftet. Er hatte an einer hochrangi- keinesfalls beendet. Doch wie kommen die Damen und Herren von gen Besprechung der KPD teilgenommen, wobei auch ein Spitzel der BVG nun auf den Namen „Julius-Leber-Brücke“? saß, und wurde kurz darauf von der Gestapo verhaftet. Auch nach Nun, es ist nahe liegend, dass er nach der Brücke, die 50 Me- einem halben Jahr Folter und Misshandlungen lieferte er kein Ge- ter nördlich vom Bahnhof liegt, benannt wurde. Die nächste, aber ständnis und wurde am 5. Januar 1945 in Plötzensee hingerichtet. auch letzte logisch Frage lautet: WER war Julius Leber? Sein Grab ist im Waldfriedhof Dahlem. Julius Leber zählt zu den Aufgewachsen in einer liberalen Familie in Lübeck hatte Leber Berühmtheiten, die auf der „Roten Insel“ rund um den Schöneber- schon früh mit Politik zu tun. Als Schüler trat er bereits der SPD ger Gasometer gelebt haben (Ja, dieser große, senkrechte Zylin- bei. Später studierte er in Straßburg Nationalökonomie und Ge- der aus Stahl war einmal ein Gasometer!). schichte und meldete sich freiwillig für den Kriegsdienst. Er wurde Falls man also nächstes Mal die Gelegenheit hat, in die Stadt zu fah- Chefredakteur des Lübecker Volksboten und Mitglied des Reichs- ren, darf man sich einige Gedanken über einen Bahnhof machen, banners Schwarz-Rot-Gold, eine sozialdemokratische Vereinigung, der so viel Geschichte erzählt. Wer weiß, vielleicht entschließt man deren Ziel es war, die Demokratie in der Weimarer Republik zu be- sich sogar, nach Plötzensee in die dortige Gedenkstätte zu fahren, wahren. Schwarz-Rot-Gold galt damals demokratisch liberal, die um noch mehr über Julius Leber und den Widerstand gegen Hitler national-reaktionären Kräfte blieben bei Schwarz-Rot-Weiß, der zu erfahren. Solch ein kleiner Wochenendausflug gehört schließ- Flagge des Kaiserreiches. lich auch zum Berliner-Sein. Wegen seiner politischen Ansichten wurde Julius Leber von den Nationalsozialisten verfolgt. Unter anderem wurde er überfallen Eileen Wagner Volume XII, Issue II Monday, September 29, 2008 Circulation: 600 PAGE 6 Columns Thoughts Aside: Cohen of Canada: Olympia Are you Uniform?

The first couple of days of the 2008 At the beginning of every school Koreans as romantic. This contributes Olympic Games absolutely fascinated year, all new students share a com- to their general popularity through- me and hopefully some of you as well. mon goal: to fit in. To be like the rest, out Korea and other Asian countries. I’m not talking about the political as- they strive to say “the right things”, Despite the desire to eliminate class pects. Let’s give that a rest, shall we? act “the right way”, and, most of all, distinctions in school, school uni- Let’s focus on sports for once, after wear “the right clothes”. forms—especially in North America— all, the Olympics were meant to be a Some schools have always required can sometimes have the reverse ef- sports event. students to wear a uniform to help fect, especially now that uniforms are Those rhythmic movements and mo- solve this problem. The idea behind almost exclusively a private school notonous announcements, the Ger- the school uniform was that differ- thing. Students who live in poorer man patriotism on ARD and ZDF and ences between social classes would neighbourhoods and attend under- the British patriotism on Euro Sport if be eliminated if everyone wore the privileged schools often see the stu- you tune it in English… Naturally, we same clothes. This message is still dents who wear school uniforms as didn’t want to miss a second of it… Ad- important today for schools in many rich, snooty types. The uniform has mittedly, when you spend your vaca- areas where there is a split in the eco- thus become not a symbol of one’s tion in a tranquil and idyllic small-town nomic standing of students’ families. school, but of one’s social standing. landscape (or something similar), as Uniform comes from the word unite Those who don’t wear them assume I’m sure some of you have, there sim- and this is exactly what schools use that all rich people, and only rich ply isn’t anything better to do. How- uniforms to do: create unity among people, wear a fancy uniform as a ever, what is more fun than watching students. sort of “badge of honour” for those men with leggings doing gymnastics In the United States, uniforms have in the “rich club”. This is not at all (äh-hem), especially when one man been making a comeback since the true. The majority of students at pri- on the German team has the surname Bill Clinton presidency. President Clin- vate schools who wear uniforms are “Boy” and hearing how the Brits pro- ton encouraged the use of uniforms from good, middle-class families, not nounce Hambüchen’s name, while he at impoverished schools in large cit- overwhelmingly wealthy ones. There makes his third mistake and falls from ies, many large high schools in Los are also kids on scholarships. The the high bar face first? Angeles being prime examples. Since complexion of private schools is very Did you watch “Degen” and “Flo- then, uniforms have made a return in diverse in terms of class. rettfechten”? Two Germans won…Yay… many American public schools. Another common misconception is (Please ignore the sarcasm). Well, Given that there isn’t much history that a school uniform consists of a considering that China won more than of uniforms at schools in Germany, it blazer, a dress shirt and dress pants, twice as many medals than Germany isn’t surprising that they have prac- and a tie for boys and blouse, skirt, and more than three times as many tically disappeared today. The last and tie for girls. Although this is a Gold Medals, it seems nearly natural uniform-like item of clothing was the typical school uniform, the image that any German success, small as it Schülermütze or “school hat”, which doesn’t hold true for all schools. Uni- might be, needs to be praised above up until the 1930s (when it was forms can be as casual as a hood- all else. banned by the Nazis) was a staple of ie with the school logo on it. Some The next big thing on TV was athletics. every German student’s clothing. It schools (such as my own) allow for a Yay! I suppose sprinting was fun. The approached uniform status, although more relaxed version of the uniform, American top class runner named Gay it never attained widespread, official such as a school polo shirt during the couldn’t even qualify for the final... significance. Now, only a handful of warmer months of September, May, Too bad. Maybe he could have a chat German public schools require uni- and June. with Mr. Boy… (Talk it over with some forms, although in Germany—as in But the debate continues. Do uni- friends, and you might catch the in- the rest of Europe—there is a con- forms really stop class distinctions nuendo). stant debate over their re-introduc- and cliques? Do they prevent inap- At the end of the Olympics, Taekwondo tion. propriate dress, such as what one Los was on; however, it was hardly aired In the United States and Canada, Angeles public school described as on German television. But since the some sort of common clothing was “gangster clothing”? Are they worth summer vacation was nearly over by worn by all students in almost every all the cost to parents? And, most of then anyways, most of us had prob- public school before the social revo- all, is their re-introduction to public ably stopped watching Olympia to lution of the 1960s. At least before schools a smart move, which will curb resume pondering about school and the wave of support that Bill Clinton bullying and competitiveness, or just the life many of us wouldn’t have any- brought in the 1990s, uniforms had a desperate attempt to quickly solve more. But since athletes hardly have become something that only private a problem with old-fashioned means? a life, why should students be any schools, catering to upper-crust chil- Won’t this policy be dictated by the better off? (This basically means that dren, employed. very social cliques that uniforms we should identify with athletes. No, Meanwhile, in Asian countries such were brought in to eliminate? This is this is not an awkward notion). Then as Japan and Malaysia, every school a worldwide debate that everyone— again, athletes at least get paid well. from Kindergarten to Prep School has teachers to politicians to business- But how does the saying go? “Wer’s uniforms. In South Korea, celebrities men—have weighed in on. And you nicht im Kopf hat, hat’s in den Beinen.” targeting a young audience often can, too. You can easily make your Where do you want to have “it“? sport a type of school uniform. School statement with what you wear. uniforms (as well as the schools Farsane Tabataba-Vakili themselves) are seen by many young Alexander Cohen Volume XII, Issue II Monday, September 29, 2008 Circulation: 600 PAGE 7 Columns Zeidler Zappt: Politics the SA-way South Africa’s political stage eligible for parliament and is terribly fascinating. If can thus not become presi- something like this hap- dent. So once again, Jacob pening to such a beautiful Zuma’s road to presidency country weren’t so terribly is open. But another part sad, I’d love to describe it as of the judge’s statement rather funny. is even more interesting. There are two leading roles Judge Nicholson wrote that on this stage: Thabo Mbeki, there was a possibility that South African president, and the president and his cabi- Jacob Zuma, president of the net had tried to influence ruling party ANC, the African the judicial system in their National Congress. decision to press charges The first of the two describes against Jacob Zuma. The himself as a “child of the rev- media and Mbeki’s oppo- olution”. His parents where nents misreported this, anti-apartheid activists, and stating that Judge Nichol- aged 14, he joined the ANC. son had said that this was

After the arrest of Walter photo courtesy of www.tagesschau.de a fact. Sisulu, Nelson Mandela and Zuma And from there on, every- other leading figures of the thing went rather fast: The ANC, he went into exile, returning to had to be dropped after the prosecu- ANC’s National Executive Committee South Africa only after the release of tion’s application for a postponement met on Friday; on Saturday it an- Nelson Mandela. When “Madiba”, as of the trial was denied. No verdict nounced that it would “recall” Mbe- Mandela is also known, became South was ever returned, although Zuma ki as president. Shortly afterwards, Africa’s first post-apartheid president was widely believed to be guilty. President Mbeki’s spokesperson an- in 1994, Thabo Mbeki became deputy The second trial was the only one that nounced that, as soon as all constitu- president, and in 1999 he became actually came to a conclusion, when tional requirements would have been President himself. He has often been he was accused of raping the daugh- met, the president would resign. It publicly criticized: For not managing ter of a friend. He was declared in- didn’t take long before most of the to lower the level of criminality, for nocent. An interesting fact: He knew cabinet members announced that not sufficiently criticizing Zimbabwe- that the woman was HIV-positive, they would step down together with an president Robert Mugabe, as well and when questioned as to why he Mbeki. for his government’s AIDS-policy (the had unprotected sexual intercourse On the 21st of September at 19:30, South African booth at an interna- with her anyway, he stated that he Thabo Mbeki announced that he tional AIDS-Exhibition displayed gar- took a shower afterwards to reduce had handed in his resignation to lic and beetroot as effective weapons the danger of becoming infected. the spokesperson of parliament and against HIV/ AIDS, and his minister Since then, he is often depicted with would step down as president of the of health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang a showerhead on his head. Republic of South Africa on a date to repeatedly discouraged the use of an- But the third trial is the really inter- be decided by the National Assembly. tiretroviral drugs). esting one. On the 18th of Decem- He “categorically” denied having tried The person who makes this all in- ber, Jacob Zuma became new ANC- to influence the NPA in its decision “to teresting is the second man, Ja- president, replacing Thabo Mbeki. 10 prosecute … [Jacob Zuma] or not to cob Zuma. Just as Thabo Mbeki, he days later, Zuma was recharged. On prosecute… [Jacob Zuma]”. dedicated his entire life to the ANC the 12th of September, Judge Chris Many South Africans believe that re- and the struggle against apartheid. Nicholson declared that the charges calling the president was a bad idea. But unlike Nelson Mandela, Thabo against Jacob Zuma were unlawful, as “Things could get out of hand. This Mbeki and most leading government Zuma hadn’t been given the chance will not be good for foreign investors figures, who are all Xhosa men and to make representations before being as well as for us in South Africa. I women, Zuma is a Zulu; and unlike charged. am worried”, a South African said, as Thabo Mbeki, a highly educated man, For the fact that two out of three cas- reported by tagesschau.de in an arti- Jacob Zuma has no education beyond es have failed before actually reach- cle captured “Südafrika könnte in die fifth grade ing court, Zuma’s critics accuse him Krise stürzen”. Not all people believe There is a joke in South Africa that of misusing the judicial system (see that Mbeki leaving will have such a goes as follows: popular South African cartoonist Za- negative impact. Many of Zuma’s “What do Jacob Zuma and a cell piro’s cartoon picturing Jacob Zuma supporters, such as the ANC youth phone have in common?” raping Lady Justice, who is being held league, led by Julius Malema (the man “They both need to be recharged reg- down by prominent representatives on the cartoon with “ANC YL” written ularly!” of leading pro-Zuma organizations). on his sleeve, who is well known for Hard to understand for an outsider, it The NPA has announced that it will ap- having publicly threatened all people gets rather funny when one knows the peal the decision, but it is highly un- who would hinder Jacob Zuma from details. Jacob Zuma has three times likely that they will succeed in reach- becoming president and for having been charged by the national prose- ing a conviction before next April, the said “We will kill for Jacob Zuma!”), cuting authority (NPA), but has never next scheduled date for an election in celebrated Zuma winning his court been successfully convicted yet. South Africa. case and Mbeki’s resignation. In 2005 the NPA’s first attempt to put If a man is sentenced to at least one Zuma in prison failed, as the charges year of imprisonment, he is no longer Moritz Zeidler Volume XII, Issue II Monday, September 29, 2008 Circulation: 600 PAGE 8 Columns / JFKS Life The Eighth Berlin Tipp: of the Nothings Wie wählt Amerika? Sometimes it feels as though every- Veranstaltungsreihe zu den USA-Wahlen im Amerika Haus one is an artist. Some days, it seems all of my friends consider themselves Das Ringen der beiden Kandidaten letzten Stunden des Kopf-an-Kopf- either a photographer or a poet, and ums Weiße Haus wird immer span- Rennens einstimmen. I often have the impression I am sur- nender. Die Medien überfluten uns rounded day in and day out by a flurry mit Neuigkeiten und Informationen. Alle Veranstaltungen sind kosten- of sketches and doodles and sheets Dabei bleiben einige Fragen unbe- los. Unter Anderem gibt es: of writing all scratched out and cor- antwortet oder unberührt. Welche rected. Probably it’s a combination Eigenschaften und Werte verkör- -Montag, 29. September 2008, 19 of hormones, too much time, and pern die Kandidaten? Welche Rolle Uhr too much emotion. But the thing is, spielen diese für die Wahlentschei- -Wie Amerikaner in Deutschland though the millionth facebook album dungen der Bürger? Die Medien und Deutsche in Amerika den of black and white city shots does - mobilisieren oder manipulieren Wahlkampf erleben tempt a condescending smile, most sie die Menschen in ihrem Wahl- of these efforts are actually, well, verhalten? Sheriffs, Gouverneure, Montag, 13. Oktober 2008, 19 Uhr quite good. Somewhere between the … – wer wird am 4.11. auch noch -US-Wahlkampf in Berlin: Streitge- clichéd rain-covered window shot and gewählt? spräch zwischen Demokraten und the age old no–one understands me Republikanern line, there is a class of art produced Heute, am 29. September, beginnt by the young people in our commu- im Amerika Haus eine Veranstal- Montag, 27. Oktober 2008, 19 nity that rings fresh, original and tungsreihe, die sich diesen The- Uhr true. Amateurs they might be, but men annimmt. Anliegen ist es, das -Alles nur Show? Moderner Wahl- untalented they certainly aren’t. It is Wahlgeschehen etwas genauer zu kampf mit Musik und Medien with embarrassment that I admit that betrachten und auch mit einigen often, when seeing a student’s work „deutschen“ Vorurteilen und Irr- Dienstag, 04. November 2008, 18 on the green building wall, or hearing tümern aufzuräumen. An einem Uhr – 2 Uhr a song a friend of a friend wrote, or anderen Abend gibt es außerdem -“Wahlnacht in Berlin” (Anmeldung reading a Muckraker article, I am at „Wahlkampf live in Berlin“: Demo- erbeten)18.30 least as surprised as pleased to find crats und Republicans „abroad“ - 20.30 Uhr Lesung von Holly Jane myself admiring the work. To expect stellen sich einem Streitgespräch Rahlens aus ihrem neuen Buch to distain and then finding yourself und antworten auf die Fragen des „Mein kleines großes Leben“ (Bitte impressed is indeed one of the most Publikums. Die „Wahlnacht in Ber- separat anmelden.) humbling experiences life offers. Who lin“ am 4.11. wird mit einem sehr Ort: Amerika Haus Berlin (Harden- knows, perhaps you, like I, will find abwechslungsreichen Programm bergstraße 22-24, you are annoyed at the self seri- aus Live-Interviews, Gesprächen, direkt am Bahnhof Zoo) ous “art” of your peers, only to turn Live-TV-Übertragungen sowie mit Info: www.wie-waehlt-amerika.de around and find a piece that is both viel Musik und guten Wahlnachts- insightful and full of self-depreciating Cocktails die Besucher auf die Lena Walther humor…. Anna Zychlinsky Teacher Quotes for the Yearbook 2008-2009 The Cynic’s The Yearbook 2008-2009 will be different. It will be longer. It will have more of you in it. It will be a challenge, and we need your help. We ask you to please submit funny or intriguing teacher quotes. Listen closely to what your teachers Dictionary say and write down the odd moments to share the wealth with the entire JFKS ELOQUENCE community. This year‘s Yearbook will be eighty pages longer and 100 times better “A method of convincing fools. The art than last year‘s. For sure. We will have four pages of Teacher Quotes, instead of is commonly presented under the vis- one. How about that? And no more John and Jackie Kennedy in your place when ible aspect of a bald-headed little man you were absent at picutre day. Help us move into a new era of “yearbookieness” gesticulating above a glass of water. and submit quotes to: Alternatively: something that “Prof.” [email protected] Ernst Fraenkel and certain others do not possess.” Thank you!

Feeling cynical, too? PS: You can pre-order your Yearbook every Thursday and Friday during the 20 min Then submit your own definitions to break for currently 25€. [email protected] by October 6th. Stefanie Lehmann Farsane Tabataba-Vakili Eileen Wagner Yearbook Editors 2008-2009