Volume 6 Issue 1

TO THE COMMUNITIES OF STUYVESANT HIGH SCHOOL, TRIBECA, AND BATTERY PARK CITY

The Stuyvesant Standard “Your School, Your World—Your News” 

Volume VI, Issue 1

Free

September 5, 2006

The New McDonald’s Makeover TSS/Tim Chang

BY TIM CHANG STAFF WRITER

After months of construction and noise, the metal and concrete caterpillar known as the local McDonald’s at the corner of Chambers and Greenwich has finally shed its plywood chrysalis and brought old and new customers alike to its spacious, modern interior. As one enters the McDonald’s through the new sliding glass doors, it seems as if a metamorphosis really has taken place. Changes include a new décor of metal and earth tones similar to that of the Starbucks, up the street, free wireless Internet access and a new location for the counter. The unique wall designs, trendy ceiling lights and modern seating plan are all part of what manager Rupi Singh called a “rebuilding” of his McDonald’s, a project that cost over $1.9 million.

Inside the newly renovated McDonalds.

The old McDonald’s to which students flocked during finals week was flawed, according to Singh. The kitchen was in the basement, which caused slower

communication and service. According to Singh, the McDonald’s Corporation is focusing on improving existing McDonald’s locations, instead of building new

ones, in order to optimize the profitability of existing stores. “We want to reflect the neighborhood,” said Singh. The doorman stationed at the old McDonald’s reflected the attitude of the area. People don’t want to get their hands dirty, and it made the McDonald’s seem more inviting, explained Singh. The new automatic glass doors are the next generation in this philosophy, he said, “They invite people to come in.” The new seating arrangement also seems inviting. Unlike the old McDonald’s, the new restaurant has several types of seating areas. According to Singh, this reflects the variety of his customers. The rebuilding, which took over a vacant corner store, added extra space to the restaurant. Now, there is room for more seats, and in turn, more customers. Looking around the store, Continued on Page 4

Top High Schools College Board Adopts Facing Racial Imbalance New Role in Classrooms BY SANGHEE CHUNG STAFF WRITER Corbis

Black and Hispanic students at the Specialized High Schools are on the decline.

The New York City public school system is largely composed of Hispanic and black students, who make up 36.7 percent and 34.7 percent of the student body, respectively. With these numbers, the dwindling percentage of Hispanic and black students in the city’s top three spe-

cialized high schools has come as a shock to many. “The statistics clearly show that black New Yorkers are being shut out,” said Robert Jackson, chairman of the City Council education committee. “If we’re looking to be inclusive in the greatest city in the world, I would think that the chancellor and every educator has to ask themselves why is this, and what do we need to do to reverse that. Is it institutional racism or is it something else?” From 2005 to 2006, black students made up 4.8 percent of students at Bronx High School of Science, compared to 11.8 percent in 1994. At Brooklyn Technical High School, the percentage has dropped from 37.3 to 14.9 percent and at Stuyvesant High School, from 4.4 to 2.2 percent. The Asian population, on the other hand, has soared from 40.8 percent 11 years ago to 60.6 percent now at Bronx Science. City officials were at a loss when explaining the reason for such changes. Andres Alonso, deputy chancellor of teaching and Continued on Page 3

BY SANGHEE CHUNG STAFF WRITER

For decades, the College Board has always been associated with the SAT examination, but recently, it has been pushing its goals deeper into high school and middle school classrooms across the nation. “The organization has been heavily dependent for a long time on a single product, the SAT, a product that has lost favor, or lost market share, if you will,” said Thomas Toch, one of the founders of Education Sector. He also stated that “the A.P. program has saved the College Board.” Despite some doubts raised by scoring errors, the board says it is eager to bring new rigor into classes. It is marketing products

and curriculums for grades 6 through 12 and is working with New York City to open five College Board schools. It will also try to improve current schools and will open an institute for principals in November. Critics and educators felt that the board was becoming too concerned with business and that its introduction in schools would overly standardize the curriculum and lead to a “culture of testing.” “If the College Board did nothing and kept on doing what it was doing, it would have been eaten up,” said Arthur E. Levine, former president of Teachers College. He depicted the new education programs as a part of a mission “to connect students to acContinued on Page 4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE -----——————————-

News.................................2-6 Literary.........................10-11 Opinions...........................6-7 Business............................8-9 Science……………………11 Arts & Entertainment.....9-10 Sports.........................11-12

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September 5, 2006 NEWS

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Dear Stuyvesant Community, On behalf of The Stuyvesant Standard, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the students of Stuyvesant High School, especially the incoming students. Stuy is a wonderful place where you will be challenged and have limitless opportunities to grow. As school resumes, The Standard is dedicated to serving the school and the surrounding communities. We desire to cover your news and be a medium for communication. Please feel free to contact us with comments or concerns. Our e-mail address is [email protected]. We also accept submissions. If you are interested in becoming a member of our staff, please contact [email protected]. As a member of our staff, there are many opportunities open which extend far beyond writing. Currently, we are also accepting advertisements. Advertisements in The Standard reach not only all of Stuyvesant High School's students, but also the faculty and the surrounding community. Contact our advertisement department via e-mail at [email protected]. We are also accepting subscriptions now. Subscriptions are mailed to your home, a great way to insure that you never miss an issue! Here’s to an amazing year! Sincerely, Jennifer Schlesinger Editor in Chief of The Stuyvesant Standard [email protected]

Presidential Classroom: An Eye Opening Summer Program BY JENNIFER SCHLESINGER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Sometimes one goes through an experience that shakes up one’s mind-set. This is what happened to me this summer when I attended the Presidential Classroom Scholars Program. I heard of the program through a brochure I received in the mail. Intrigued, I decided to apply. A few weeks later, I happily received my acceptance letter. Soon, the time came for my parents to drop me off in Washington, D.C. As I picked up a name tag and said my goodbyes, I had only a limited idea of what to expect. Later that evening, I learned what we were going to be doing during the weeklong program and began to meet people. After the introduction speech

Continued on Page 5 TSS/Jennifer Schlesinger

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from the program instructors, we were sent up to our rooms to rest. My roommates were from Texas and Alabama, and that night we began to bond as we planned how we were going to survive in our cramped hotel room. Altogether, there were students from 43 states and five foreign nations. The next day, my group toured Washington, and we started to work on our caucus project. Each caucus had about 40 students and had to divide into Democrats, Republicans, media and lobbyists to draft a bill. My caucus chose to draft a bill to fix the No Child Left Behind Act. The same day, we received our keynote address from Ralph Nader. He talked about how the youth of today have the ability to make a difference and how we

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September 5, 2006 NEWS Corbis

Top High Schools Facing Racial Imbalance For the future of school testing, Chancellor Joel I. Klein has not disputed the exam, but plans to increase opportunities for students to attend the preparatory program, Specialized High School Institute. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has also agreed to create more elite high schools. Stuyvesant High School’s Benjamin W. Dreyfus stated, “Any analysis of the declining minority populations at New York’s specialized public high schools must consider one factor: it is impossible to get a passing score on the admissions test with-

Continued from Page 1

Inside the chapel of Villanova University.

National Youth Leadership Forum: My 10 Days on Medicine BY JIMMY ZHANG STAFF WRITER

Since it is not part of the Ivy League schools, I had never even heard of Villanova University until this summer, yet I will probably never forget my time there. That was where I spent 10 days at the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine (NYLF). The NYLF is held at nine cities across the country, and is open to scholars from all over the country. I attended the one held near Philadelphia. The forum I attended was the last one being held in Philadelphia. It started on July 23 and lasted for 10 days until August 1. At registration, the attendees were

divided into 18 groups. Each group was named after a famous contributor to medicine. I was in the Spock group, named after Doctor Benjamin Spock. Even on the first day, I met people from all over the country. I was surprised to find out that there was even a person from Hawaii. Over the next 10 days, I was able to get to know people from all over the United States, as well as their ideas. Throughout these ten days, we often had MED sessions, which were basically class discussions on topics relating to medicine. In one of our first sessions, we had a Problem Based Learning activity. We had to diagnose Ms.

learning, found the statistics “extraordinarily surprising.” Many felt that the cause of such a decline was a result of using an examination as a means of admittance rather than an interview or grades. Supporters of the exam believed that the test would base students on merit alone, while others argued that elite colleges would not judge applicants solely on test scores. “I don’t think someone would want to hire somebody just on the basis of a test score, and we don’t admit them to a great college on

Many felt that the cause of such a decline was a result of using an examination as a means of admittance rather than an interview or grades. out taking the test, and the city’s middle schools vary widely in the percentage of their students who take this test. I offer a proposal: Administer the specialized high school exam during the school day, and make it standard for all New York City eighth graders, rather than only for those who come in on a weekend to take it. This would not solve all the inequalities in the school system, but it would move the specialized high schools a step closer to reflecting New York City’s diversity.” ◙

the basis of a test score, and we shouldn’t admit them to a great high school on that basis,” said Gary Orfield, director of the Civil Rights Project at Harvard University. Parents and educators traced the source of ethnic decline to factors such as competition from immigrants and the hiring of private tutors. “Let’s face it — the playing field isn’t level,” said Stuyvesant graduate Angela M. Howard. “People are paying tons of money to get their kids tutored to go to Stuyvesant.”

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My Foreign Exchange Adventure in Australia Corbis

BY ANNA GINZBURG STAFF WRITER

On the last day of school, most kids were only starting to think about summer plans but for me, it had been four days since I left home. First there was an orientation in Los Angeles on June 24 where I met the 30 other exchange students going to Australia. On June 25, we flew to Sydney. In Sydney we our group separated. I was the only one staying near Sydney; the others were living with host families in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. My host family lived in a suburb about an hour from Sydney by bus and train. The neighborhood itself was very suburban, and a two-minute walk from a national park. My first week there I visited Sydney Olympic Park, went on a

A view of Sydney Harbor and the Harbor Bridge at dusk.

tour of the Opera House, went up CenterPoint Tower and visited other tourist attractions. I became good friends with Claudia, an Austrian exchange student, and we visited tons of sites together. Claudia and I took a tour bus ride to Canberra, which is Australia’s capital. That week I also visited Tarango Zoo, Manly Aquarium, and had fun at the lo-

cal mall. After that it was straight to work. I volunteered for 40 hours at Kapow Pictures, an animation studio that was creating the sequel to Casper the Friendly Ghost. At Kapow I helped with a new series called CJ the DJ; I had to browse through magazines to find urban settings, scan them into Photoshop and edit them.

Besides Kapow Pictures, I volunteered at Killarney Heights Public School for 80 hours. At Killarney, I taught the kids chess and helped them with their journals and math exercises. I also organized a chess tournament and a simultaneous exhibition, where I played against 20 opponents at once. During the weekend I was able to attend all of the nine major museums, go to Luna Park, the amusement park of the city and walk over the infamous Harbor Bridge twice. I saw the 350million-year-old Jenolan caves and visited the Blue Mountains twice. I also got to see Sydney Aquarium and the Chinese Gardens. By chance I also happened to walk by a protest against Israel and the United States. After spending six weeks Continued on Page 4

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September 5, 2006 NEWS

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

The New McDonald’s Makeover Continued from Page 1

didn’t seem to. Cindy, an 18year-old customer, says she eats at McDonald’s around once a month. When asked about healthy option on the menu, she said she had never tried them. She says that she eats at Subway more often than McDonald’s be-

elementary school children, was treating her two sons, Freddy and James, to Happy Meals. She said she never eats there herself, but “it’s a special treat to bring them [her sons] here.” Her concern for her kids’ health has prompted her to choose chocolate milk for her TSS/Tim Chang

Singh points to areas such as stools and countertops for business people in a hurry, booths for families, tables and chairs for small parties, and larger seating areas such as booths and long rows of stools for students. Cushioned areas are provided for people who want to sit down and have a meal. According to Singh, another philosophy of McDonald’s is to “Give [the consumer] the choice.” This McDonald’s has a soda fountain in front of the counter, meaning free refills. This, according to Singh, gives customers a choice and allows them to get the drinks they want. Also, the new layout allows for better communication, so orders can be customized “without mayonnaise, without cheese, with extra cheese, any way you want it,” says Singh. Along with a physical makeover of the premises, there has been another change in the McDonald’s – a change in the menu items. Market research led by the McDonald’s Corporation has resulted in new menu items such as premium coffee and a whole line of “healthy” options, including Apple Dippers for kids, three new types of salads, and a “snack wrap.” However, are customers really embracing the new healthy choices? Consumers we talked to

Tim Chang, shown here, at the entrance of the newly renovated McDoonald’s.

cause it is healthier there, but McDonald’s “is always there, and it’s a lot cheaper [than other places].” Others are making some transitions to a healthier meal at McDonald’s, but view McDonald’s as being far from healthy. Beth Purpora, a mother of two

kids instead of soda. Other customers who have actually tried the healthy options didn’t really take the foods as seriously healthy. Carolina, 21, and Carina, 22, were eating the McDonald’s salads. Carina commented that the dressing was probably unhealthy. When asked

about the nutrition facts of the salad, neither of them knew, nor seemed to care that much. “When you feel fat, you get a salad,” laughed Carolina. According to Singh, students from the four schools in this area make up about 60 percent of all traffic that comes into the McDonald’s. When asked about the surge of students that would come during the school year, Singh replied that the establishment would “take care of them,” allowing students to come there and study, even encouraging them to come, with free wireless Internet access. He did say, however, that he will increase an effort to kick students who are cutting school out of his restaurant. When asked about McDonald’s reluctance to join the Stuy Advantage Card, even with the number of students who visit the restaurant, Singh replied that the items on the menu were relatively cheap, and that he couldn’t possibly give further discounts. For the time being, Singh said that, since the restaurant is new, participation in the Stuy Advantage Card is out of the question. However, he is considering the option for several months later. “I could raise my prices and then give you guys a discount,” he joked. In the meantime, however, students will just have to pay $7 for the Double Quarter Pounder meal. ◙ Corbis

College Board Adopts New Role in Classrooms For decades, the College Board has been associated with the SAT. Continued from Page 1

cess and opportunity, to prepare more and more students to be ready to go to college and succeed.” The new changes by the board are led by Gaston Caperton, who doubled the College Board’s revenue to $530 million. These new products are expected to bring millions more. Caperton said his goal was “to make the College Board play a bigger role in American education, to be a force to make American education better.” Despite complaints from guidance officers and college admissions officers, the College Board has a number of strong supporters, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to help school investment projects

and conduct research and develop new products. “There is a big need for people who can develop high-quality schools for low-income kids,” stated Thomas Vander Ark of the foundation’s education program. “We were happy to convince the College Board to get into the business.” President Bush also lauded the Advanced Placement programs, which he believed would help increase competition in America. Some schools have, in fact, adopted an AP program which was overseen by the College Board. In one Washington school county, head chief John E. Deasy proposed for each school to have at least eight AP classes in every school. The College Board will help to train 200 AP teachers next year. “It’s a monumental culture shift,” Deasy said. “AP will be on the tongue of every kid around here before too long.” ◙

The Blue Mountains in Sydney, Austrailia.

My Foreign Exchange Adventure in Australia Continued from Page 3

with my amazing host family I had to say goodbye. I met all the other exchange students in Sydney and we traveled to Canberra where we attended an Outward Bound Course for eight days. Outward Bound was the most amazing and the most difficult week of my life. The course consisted of waking up very early, sleeping in a sleeping bag, learning to bush cook, rock climb and abseil. In addition, there was a three-day hike, in which we walked 30 miles through mountains with 30-pound bag on our

backs. It was really intense and surreal because the kangaroos actually tried to steal our food when we set up camp. Fifty-four days later, I was back home in New York. The exchange program was amazing. It was actually my second time being an exchange student. Previously I did a 6-week exchange to Finland and I recommend exchange to anybody who is looking for excitement and a great learning experience. ◙

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September 5, 2006 NEWS

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National Youth Leadership Forum: My 10 Days on Medicine Continued from Page 3

The Arlington National Cemetery at Washington D.C.

Presidential Classroom: An Eye Opening Summer Program Continued from Page 2

to by Susan Page of “USA Today.” We visited Arlington National Cemetery and saw the Changing of the Guard. That night, we had a closing banquet and received graduation certificates. Finally, we had an ending dance. The next morning we said tearful goodbyes to our new friends, as many boarded the bus to the airport and others were picked up by family. All in all, I saw the highlights of Washington and heard from many thoughtprovoking speakers. However, the most eyeopening and inspiring part of Presidential Classroom was meeting my fellow students. Before attending, I believed I had knowledge of different American mindsets. However, after many conversations, I realized that America is a widely varied country. At first, I was shocked that many of my peers had never heard of Ikea or an Entenmann’s cake. When it came to the political ideas we believed in many different schools of thought. There were the extreme, for example that The New York Times is anarchist trash and is only published to satisfy the wealthy owners’ egos. For the most part, the different ideas reflected the cultures of the areas people were from. I learned that Americans have different ideas, but are ultimately united by some common beliefs, and by our common political system. ◙

Summer Story BY YINLERTHAI CHAN STAFF WRITER

My summer vacation started before school had even ended. I applied for a scholarship though a foreign exchange program called Youth For Understanding (YFU) , for which I would stay in Japan for six weeks. I would attend a Japanese high school and live with a Japanese host family, all the while learning the culture and the language.

I was granted a scholarship, to my surprise. By the beginning of June, I was already packing my bags and saying my farewells. I left New York on June 10 with several other YFU students, many of whom were friends from Stuyvesant. At first, the idea of traveling away from home without my dad was a bit intimidating, but I didn’t really feel much excitement otherwise. To say the least, it was more like some kind of Continued on Page 6

There was a Public Health Symposium. Each group had to come up with two proposals for improving public health. Professionals on public health were invited to judge the proposals of each group. My group had a proposal on child care, and we made it to the semifinal round, but we lost to a group that had a proposal on STD’s. Every day, after classes, we had a social. During each social, some kind of fun activity was planned. There was everything from a Karaoke Night Social to a Talent Night. There was even a NYLF Feud. My group won the Feud and we were given a pizza party. There were two days devoted entirely to having fun. On one of those days, we were given the Jefferson.edu

should work not for ourselves, but to better this world. He said, “It’s up to your generation to develop a more level playing field,” and “That’s what I want you to leave Washington with, a higher estimate of your self-worth.” In the next days, we worked on our bill. It required much compromise and in the end, everyone in our committee had a little doubt in the final result. No one could have the bill exactly how he or she wanted it. On the last day of the program, we did a model House of Representatives to vote on each caucus’s bill. Besides working on our bill, I had many other memorable experiences. We visited Mount Vernon, home of George Washington, when the temperature was over 100 degrees. For the Fourth of July, we experienced the festivities on the Smithsonian Mall, and later saw the fireworks over the Potomac River. We also visited Capitol Hill and were addressed in the House of Representatives by Representative Tim Roemer. Appointments were set up for the students to visit with staff from the offices of their senators and representatives. We were also addressed in the State Department by Claudia A. McMurray, assistant secretary of the Bureau of Oceans & International Environmental & Scientific Affairs. The last day, we were spoken

Anderson, a role played by our Faculty Adviser. The entire class had to question Ms. Anderson for a total of 8 disclosures to find clues as to what disease she had. In one of the final MED sessions, everyone in the class was given half of a banana, with a cut. We were given the necessary equipment and we had to simulate stitching a wound. In the same session, we also practiced taking a patient’s history and learned to take blood pressure. Aside from MED sessions, we had field trips to nearby hospitals, clinics, medical schools, and other institutions. I was able to go to Thomas Jefferson University, the American Red Cross, and South Jersey Healthcare Regional Medical Center.

An aerial view of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia's premier medical and health sciences university.

At Thomas Jefferson University, we had pathology and neuroanatomy presentations. After the neuroanatomy presentation, Hector Lopez, M.D. brought us all to one of the labs where students dissect cadavers. He gave us each a full human brain and a halved human brain, and we were to identify the lobes, fissures and various other parts of the brain. Afterwards, we went to a tour of the radiology department of the university hospital. There, we saw people taking MRI’s and CT scans and technicians identifying the problems inside a person. There were also Medical Ethics Caucuses, in which we debated controversial issues in medicine. Some students judged the debate while others fiercely defended their cause. In my debate, I had to fight for a patient’s right to privacy.

opportunity to freely tour Philadelphia. Most of our group ended up hanging out at a nearby mall. On the other day, we went to Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom. It was probably the highlight of the trip, in terms of having fun. On the day before departures, we went to a nearby Hilton and had a closing gala. All the attendees agreed that they had a blast at NYLF. Those 10 days were probably some of the best that I have ever had. The freedom of college life and the atmosphere to both learn and have fun made a great combination for a summer vacation. William W. Fox, M.D., one of the plenary speakers. said, “This is the most professionally run seminar of this type in the country. And I absolutely mean that.” ◙

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September 5, 2006 NEWS/OPINIONS lutely unforgettable. Although there were a few things that made me pause in uncertainty or pain, like sleeping on a mattressless bed, which was more like a big wooden crib, eating natto (fermented soybeans) for the first time, and having garden frogs jumping around in the house, the entire exchange experience was

Summer Story Continued from Page 5

Japanese. Things at home in Japan were a bit different from my home in New York, but I was able to adapt pretty well. The school was small compared to Stuyvesant. The students in Fukuoka High School seemed to be overly nice. At first I didn’t trust them and thought they were faking it or making fun of me. Eventually I warmed up a bit, and learned a lot from my new friends. I was especially grateful to the English teacher, who was also my homeroom teacher, Junko Tokumae. She helped me understand what was happening in school, and arrange for me to attend school trips and such. She also gave me the school’s uniform, free of charge, though she said it was the school’s gift to me. During my stay in Japan, I learned about the culture there, and the customs of the people. I learned eating habits, table manners, and many things that are different from New York, like the way classes are run, the way the students live, and the family customs. I also got to eat lots of Japanese food, mostly fish, rice, and red beans. Overall, my experience in Japan was enlightening and abso-

Corbis

fuzzy dream. I didn’t actually meet my host family until June 15 because YFU had prepared long orientations for us. So, I ended up spending three days in California, then another couple of days in Tokyo. I spent those days attending the orientations and making new friends with the other YFU students from all over the United States. When I arrived at the Toyama prefecture in Japan, wherenI stayed for six weeks, I met my host family, and was introduced to my new home and school. My host family, the Koarashi family, consisted of a mother, a father, a grandmother, two sisters, and a little brother. The older host sister was away in Australia, so I didn’t meet her. The younger sister, Ayumi, was about my age and went to the same school I was to go to. The family was very nice to me, so much that I was quite unsure how to react. Perhaps it was because I wasn’t used to having so many family members under the same roof. Surprisingly enough, I was actually able to communicate with the family pretty well, despite the fact that nobody spoke fluent English, and I only spoke broken first-year

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

An aerial view of Bangkok, Thailand.

wonderful. I’ll never forget the experience I had, or the people I met. My summer didn’t end there, however, for right after I hopped off the plane from Japan to New York, I hopped onto another one from New York to Malaysia. My dad and I were taking our annual trip to Malaysia to visit family and friends. I go to Malaysia every summer, and often Thailand as well, since there’s a train that goes from the town in Malaysia where we live, Bukit Mertajam, to Hatyai in Thailand. This summer, I went to Bangkok to do some extra shopping and traveling. I

went to the wet market, prayed to the Four-Faced Buddha in Bangkok, and shopped in several shopping malls all over the place. I enjoyed my trip to Malaysia not only because of the food, but also because of the people, the history and the language. Perhaps this is more of a description of my father than the country itself. Since my dad was born and raised in that same town in Malaysia, he knows every nook and cranny of the neighborhood. The many stories I hear from my dad about Malaysia make me feel more as if I were born and raised in Malaysia myself. Every time I come back to the same neighborhood in Bukit Mertajam, I feel that everything feels more familiar. In fact, I feel more at home in Malaysia sometimes than in New York. Although the actual living conditions could be improved, I don’t mind it too much. I suppose the food and cheap merchandise make up for it all. My summer this year was twice as eventful as usual for me. I think that in the end, no matter how wonderful my experiences were, there’s still no place like home, and I would much rather spend some more time at home in New York than flying all over the place. But, I think perhaps this year might be an exception. ◙ TSS/Amna Ahmad

The Bomb Shelter BY MOR ROSENBERG STAFF WRITER

It was hot, it was muggy and it was humid. The bomb shelter that my aunt, grandparents, sisters and my parents sat in was not a fun place to be in. Yet, because of the sirens we had heard earlier, we were forced to sit in the shelter. I looked around the room. My sister was crying hysterically. She was frightened and she didn’t know what to do. My aunt was listening on the phone to the news, and my grandfather was

trying to find the news on the radio. The rest of us were quiet. wondering. We were wondering why we were in the bomb shelter. The reason, of course, was the recent war in Israel against the terrorist group Hezbollah, situated in Lebanon. Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and fired rockets at the Israeli army to confuse them while retreating back into Lebanon. This incident happened a few years ago, and the Israeli government did not give pursuit then. This time they did, and the war began.

Canadians of different backgrounds congregate to enjoy the different attractions of Montreal.

Continued on Page 7 Corbis

The Canadian Oblivion BY AMNA AHMAD STAFF WRITER

Friends and relatives gather to bury the body of one of Sayeed Adel Akkash's 10 children in the village of Dweir near Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon.

Although Canada borders the United States, it is one sizable nation that I don’t often hear much about. On a recent trip to Montreal, a well-visited city in the French province of Quebec, I came to the realization that Canadians are a generally wellmannered people without much concern for constant war or international affairs that don’t concern them. I’m sure Americans could

benefit very much from following the example set by Canadians regarding issues like internal discrimination and segregation. While these issues were present at the birth of America, we have yet to eliminate them completely. It is true that we live in extraordinary times, but in no other country are basic principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as compromised as in America. It seems our nation is having difficulty practicing what Continued on Page 7

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September 5, 2006 OPINIONS Corbis

The Canadian Oblivion Continued from Page 6

An Israeli police officer desperses civilians, at the site were a Hezbollah rocket landed, in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, 13 August 2006.

The Bomb Shelter days after their kidnapping. There would be no reason to wage an entire war, having great numbers of Israeli and Lebanese civilians die, for two soldiers whom everyone believed to be dead. The reason for the war feels more like retaliation then anything else. The Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, seems to like to retaliate against those who attack Israel. A few weeks earlier, when a Palestinian terrorist kidnapped a soldier near Gaza, Israel went back into Gaza for retaliation. While we sat there in the bomb shelter, listening to my sisters’ sobs, and the radio my grandfather was holding, I wondered, “Is this war worth it?” ◙

Continued from Page 6

My uncle had been reinstated in the army for a period of 21 days during the war. He went up north, and was on the border between Lebanon and Israel. Why was he there putting his life at risk? What was the war really about? Was it to completely destroy Hezbollah? If so, then Hezbollah really did win. They managed to get into a cease-fire without disarming. Their leader survived; he is safe. He proved to the Western world that you can fight against Israel and survive. Could the war have been about the kidnapped soldiers — to try and get them back? In that case, Israel once again failed. The soldiers that Hezbollah kidnapped were assumed dead a few

it preaches, while other nations, such as Canada, demonstrate the meaning of cultural appreciation oblivious to foreign conflicts and terrorism. This deep-seated internal struggle for the American people to treat each other with equality may be a result of our fear to do so. Our news is constantly brainwashing us to fear the people of a particular race or religion just to cover up unjustified warfare and the government’s hidden agenda. For instance, the show “HDnet World Report” used headlines such as “Loyal Citizens or the Enemy Within?” to suggest that certain Americans are not trustworthy. Canadians, however have no reason to label their citizens in any such way. It seems apparent that the Canadian media may be somewhat responsible for such a positive congregation of cultures, virtually free of prejudices. While flipping through the news stations on the television in my hotel room, I learned little of Canada politically because the primary focus of their news is what I, as an American, would consider informative, yet not entirely significant. (Don’t get me wrong; I like newly paved roads and building projects as much as the next person, but I’m not sure I want to hear of them on the news.) Hence,

the news of Canada does not encourage citizens to feel anguish toward a specific people, as American news often does. And despite the acts of the nation politically, the people of Canada will always have their own seemingly untainted opinions. All of this makes me think that maybe I’ve been slightly too critical of Americans, but if the K.K.K. is still powerful, and we’ve yet to see a president who isn’t Caucasian, we clearly have something to work on. But we aren’t alone; many other nations around the world could learn from Canada’s example and put a halt to obsessing over the mistakes made by other nations, so that we could get some constructive reform done. That is not to say that Canadians are extremely different from Americans. After all, when walking through the old city, my siblings and I took the time to stand beside some Canadian teenagers and laugh hysterically at a comical T-shirt. I guess the one thing that all the people of earth have in common is a desire to have fun. ◙

How Free-Willed Are You? BY GUERGANA BORISSOVA STAFF WRITER MySpace.com

Personal quizzes, like the one shown on this MySpace page, are not uncommon among teenage blogs.

As I browsed through the rack of glossy magazines, each promising the “Perfect Summer Hair Styles” or the “Best Fashion Tips,” I noticed a trend, though not necessarily a new one. Each publication boasted a quiz that would reveal something new about our personalities, or tell us what celebrity we would be most likely to get along with. Do you really think that these articles, written by a stranger, could possibly help you determine anything about yourself?

This phenomenon has certainly grown in the last couple of months with Sconex adding a quiz section to its popular high school student website, allowing users to create their own personality quizzes as well as take ones made by other people. I will not deny that many of these catchy titles are more irresistible than a cone of vanilla ice cream on a hot summer day. But what makes these quizzes so tempting? Is it the promise of fitting into some established social category? Or is it the idea of knowing that there is a famous movie star who shares similar interests? Teens are viewed as one of the most insecure age groups, and that seems to be true as so many of us frantically flip through the pages looking for that one quiz. Such quizzes have become more of a problem than anyone could have predicted, though their popularity has not come as a sudden outbreak. These quizzes have been around for a while but they

have certainly reached an all-time high the last few months. I’m sure many have visited a friend’s MySpace page, only to find that half of it is filled with the results of personality quizzes that are so repetitive that they just scroll down looking for the end. Is this what our society has come to, relying on quizzes to show our “friends” who we really are? Many future employers and even college admissions officers are likely to Google your name.

What will they think when they see your MySpace page with something as ridiculous as the results of a “What Sandwich Are You?” quiz? Besides, nobody will care about that when there are plenty of more important issues up for discussion that you can make a much bigger statement by voicing your opinion on. Next time you have the urge to take a quiz, think if you would be that eager to take a pop quiz. ◙

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September 5, 2006 BUSINESS

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

US Body Armor Firm Executives Arrested for Insider Trading and Securities Fraud BY KENNETH YU STAFF WRITER

On August 17, two former top executives of a body armor supplier to the United States were arrested and charged with criminal securities fraud and insider trading. Chief Financial Officer Dawn Schlegel and Chief Operating Officer Sandra Hatfield allegedly manipulated DHB Industries’s records to reap millions of dollars through insider trading. The lawsuit was another blow to DHB’s low reputation. Last year, the United States military recalled thousands of protective vests sold by DHB based on quality concerns. The company was also recently delisted from the American Stock Exchange. Prosecutors accused Schlegel and Hatfield of inflating DHB’s earnings between 2003 and 2005 in order to meet Wall Street expectations. The pair netted over $8 million in profits using inside information. The former executives were charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission with civil securities fraud. In November 2005, CEO

tive leave due to pending investigations. The Justice and Defense Departments are jointly investigating him for criminal fraud and

David H. Brooks made national headlines when he threw a $10 million bat mitzvah for his daughter. While Brooks was out party-

NYPD officers wearing body armor at Penn Station, August 25, 2004. The SEC filed security frauds against two former executives of a major supplier of body armor to the military and law enforcement agencies.

insider trading. To add to the trouble, DHB executives are currently facing lawsuits from stockholders for a “pump and dump” scheme to artificially inflate profits before sell-

ing, his company was in a slump. The SEC was investigating for fraud and its stocks plummeted to all-time lows. On July 10, 2006, Brooks was put on indefinite administra-

ing off their stocks in 2004. In the early 1990’s, David H. Brooks bought a small body armor company on the verge of bankruptcy. In 2004, he successfully lobbied for an exclusive contract to make vests for every American soldier in Iraq. This caused his pay to skyrocket from $525,000 to $70 million. By buying only from DHB, rather than spreading the work around to the 20 or so qualified companies, the military created a bottleneck that kept troops in Iraq from having state-of-the-art body armor until nine months after the war began. The Pentagon eventually broke DHB’s monopoly to speed up production, but problems with the vests were not over. In 2005, 23,000 DHB vests were recalled because they failed ballistics tests. The story of DHB is not an unfamiliar one. Being the sole supplier of vests to the United States military, the company had no competition to create quality armor for soldiers. The costs were lives and money, but led to the success of war profiteers. ◙

Democrats Eradicate Wal-Mart But Misses the Big Picture AFP-Sun

BY HANFORD CHIU BUSINESS EDITOR

Wal-Mart has long been a prime target for economic liberals as the symbol for everything wrong with a laissez-faire economy. It purchases its products cheaply from overseas, undercuts any local competition with wholesale prices, and it offers a barely sufficient salary and benefit package to the lower-middle class that works for it. Therefore, every Democratic presidential hopeful who wants even the slightest support from the working class will ensure that Wal-Mart is tarred, feathered, and then let free to continue its monopoly over local businesses. Every Democrat on the campaign trail will attack Wal-Mart in order to woo the working class, from Senator Joe Biden (D-DE), who visited an anti-Wal-Mart rally in Des Moines, Iowa, where the first presidential caucuses will

The Unofficial Pizza Place of Stuyvesant

After School Staff Needed Downtown Elementary Schools

Hillary Clinton had served on the board of corporate directors of WalMart for six years.

be held (not so coincidentally), to last election’s running mates Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and Senator John Edwards (D-NC) and even New York’s own Senator Hillary Clinton (D), who Continued on Page 9

We are looking for high School students to work in after school programs at two to five days a week, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm daily. Must be reliable, and enjoy working with children. Learn, get experience and make $8 per hour. Contact for application: Theseus Roche, After School Director, Manhattan Youth. [email protected]

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Democrats Eradicate Wal-Mart But Misses the Big Picture Continued from Page 8

Marie Antoinette, an Austrian princess who weds the future king of France (Jason Schwartzman) at the tender age of 14. Giving her a new killer hairdo in almost every scene, Coppola strives to bring the princess to life with style

BY EMMA RABINOVICH ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

The upcoming fall season is full of great movies and there’s something for everyone. Here’s what to look forward to: Hollywoodland Release Date: September 8

Saw III Release Date: October 27

Full of big names, including Ben Affleck, Diane Lane and Adrien Brody, this “based on a true story” film explores the mystery surrounding the death of George Reeves (Affleck), the actor who played Superman on the original 1950s television show. Brody gives a much-hyped performance playing the detective who tries to sort out the mysteries surrounding the apparent suicide. Allen Coulter, who directs the film, is best known for working on episodes of “Sex and the City” and “The Sopranos.”

movieweb.com

The third installment in this horror series examines the relationship between Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) and his apprentice Amanda ( S h a wn e e Smith) as they demonstrate the value of life with horrifying death traps. The past three films have definitely not disappointed in terms of terrifying thrills, so this sequel is a must-see.

Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette.

Marie Antoinette Release Date: October 20 Director Sofia Coppola (“Virgin Suicides,” “Lost in Translation”) puts a new spin on period pieces, introducing blue Converse sneakers and music by the Banshees into 18th century France. Kirsten Dunst plays

Grudge 2 Release Date: October 13 Another horror sequel, the “Grudge” returns without its star Sarah Michelle Gellar, who is replaced by Amber Tamb l y n (“Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”). Tamblyn plays Gellar’s younger sister, who is sent to find her sibling. This one promises to go deeper in terms of subtext concerning the ghost. Continued on Page 10

Five Reasons This Summer Rocked BY EMMA RABINOVICH ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

This summer was full of great music, a variety of films, and terrific DVD releases. Here are some of the highlights. comingsoon.net

worldwide (“Curse of the Black Pearl” earned about $653 million). More fun and exciting than the original, it started the summer off with a high note. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightly) return for round two in this pirate adventure, where it’s Sparrow versus Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) in a battle for Jack’s soul. The Devil Wears Prada

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Dead Man’s Chest This summer’s hottest blockbuster outgrossed its predecessor, earning close to a billion dollars

Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway team up to deliver this irresistible comedy, fun for teens as well as adults. This movie lets you into a world most of us only see walking down Fifth Avenue, peeking into designer stores, and director David Frankel does it at a pace that keeps you interested,

something sorely lacking in Lauren Weisberger’s bestseller book, on which the film is based.

it’s just a fun way to spend a night. ER Season 5 on DVD

John Tucker Must Die A funny and entertaining comedy despite some major setbacks, “John Tucker” looks inspired next to the dozen or so other comedies out this summer. Although some of the casting seems absurd because the actors playing the teenagers look old enough to be heading for a midlife crisis (Jesse Metcalfe is 26), it stays fun, delivering easy laughs from beginning to end. The best thing about “John Tucker” is that it is completely unpretentious in its delivery and doesn’t strive to be anything more than it is: a teen chick flick. It doesn’t push for feminism or scorn philandering;

There’s nothing better than being able to watch your favorite shows with the ability to pick and choose your own bathroom breaks. “ER” really hits its peak in season 5, with the shocking, dramatic departures of pediatric doctor Doug Ross (George Clooney) and the unexpected romance between Mark Greene (Anthony Daniels) and Elizabeth Corday (Alex Kingston). Continued on Page 10

comingsoon.net

while working class wages stagnated. Members of the middle class had to start sending their wives to work for a second income source in order to maintain the same standard of living they had enjoyed with a single breadwinner and a homemaker. Meanwhile, whenever workers’ wages seemed to rise with worker productivity, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates amid concerns of rising labor costs. The exceedingly high profits of companies were overlooked. Health care companies started to increase their prices for medical coverage, resulting in companies passing that burden onto their employees by asking them to pitch in a higher share of the premium. Wal-Mart is but a tree in the forest of an unregulated economic system. Imposing special laws that specifically target it is not going to fix the underlying problems. Companies continue seeking to lower their costs, whether by buying cheap overseas goods, lowering workers’ wages and benefits or simply outsourcing altogether. Berating Wal-Mart will simply ruin its business and put about 2,000 employees out of work, while the rest of corporate America continues to widen the gap between the working class and the company owners. The Democrats should stop taking the side road in order to gain the popular vote; instead, they should come up with a plan for economic regulation in order to make the middle class dream once again a reality. ◙

Fall Movie Preview

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served on the board of corporate directors of Wal-Mart for six years. However, this crusade against Wal-Mart goes beyond political quotes and cries of protest. State and city governments, including those of Maryland and New York City, have been pushing for “Big Box” laws that demand that large chain stores (such as Wal-Mart) provide higher wages and health benefits to their workers. However, the brunt of these attacks on Wal-Mart tends to be merely political, as politicians of either side have yet to address the underlying issues of the dissolution of the middle-class by companies such as Wal-Mart. Before the 1970’s, American incomes were meant to rise directly with worker productivity. About half of the American workers were covered by federally guaranteed pensions, instead of private pension plans that could disappear in an instant. The stock market and corporate leaders were also regulated, and companies did not profit excessively while workers’ wages stayed low. Taxation was progressive, and ordinary workers paid much lower rates. America also did not trade with countries that used cheap labor that was akin to slavery, such as China. However, since the 1970’s, during the reign of Republican and limousine Democratic presidents, this social system was out of sync. Those in the top one percent of society suddenly had their incomes nearly doubled,

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September 5, 2006 BUSINESS/A&E

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September 5, 2006 A&E/LITERARY

Continued from Page 9

MUSIC! Corbis

Christina Aguilera performs at the 2006 MTV Movie Awards taping at Sony Pictures Studio in California.

Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Jessica Simpson and Justin Timberlake all released new singles this summer, proving once again that the music industry is just not the same without them. Aguilera’s new single “Ain’t No Other Man” as well as her whole album “Back to the Basics” is more jazz than pop and a far cry from the Christina of 2002. ◙

A Man Like Huck BY ANDREW CHAN GUEST WRITER He was a man like Huckleberry Finn. He was a man by himself. He stood by himself, on the streets of New York, for a year, or more. For two weeks, this was literal, for 11 months, it was reality, and for a year, it was chaotic. He stood alone, like Huckleberry Finn. His 'lone stance did not keep others away, however, for it brought him closer to his friends – showed him who he truly could trust and who he truly could rely on. It showed him the base of those around him. It opened his eyes, it showed him reality. It left him independent, bettered by pain. He was stronger after, he was sturdier after. He weathered the storm. Those 2 years – he was himself. He had no bounds attached; he was a free man. He controlled his destiny. He did what he had to, he slept on his own. He worked for his lunch, he worked for his life. It was not easy, I

must admit. It was quite hard. He fell into the arms, of the ladies he loved. He hid in his refuge. He even once slept in his refuge. He lived in his refuge. He survived in his refuge. He believed in his refuge. He loved his refuge. She came back. She fought back. She took back. She held back. She was there, but not for me. In that time, he learned all too much. He learned of life. He learned of love. He learned of fear. He learned of hate. He learned of sin. He learned of truth. He learned of himself. He learned of her. He learned of another her. He learned of this. And He learned of life. But all the learning in the world, all the sin in the world. 'Tis truth that twine they may. He was a man like Huckleberry Finn. He was a man by himself. ◙

No Title BY MATTHEW STRAX-HABER GUEST WRITER I was crying, alone in a sea

She saw my soul, my naked self.

Nothing to do, nowhere to turn.

Me for what me is, a fear of escape.

Then she, a true friend, lent a gentle hand.

She held me close, I held her back, entwined at heart, in once lonely dark.

She braced me, she held me. She saved me, and she heard me. She brought me in, and, in doing so, she came in.

A friend of the heart, a love to the mind, she held me, saved me. By hearing me, she filled the sea.

Fall Movie Preview Continued from Page 9

Fast Food Nation Release Date: November 17 Just when you thought it was safe to start eating McDonald’s again, director Richard Linklater tries to recreate the success of “Super Size Me” with a fictional interpretation starring Ethan Hawke. Employee of the Month Release Date: October 6 The film stars Dane Cook, a popular standup comic, Dax Shepard (“Punk’d”) and Jessica

Simpson in her sophomore film. Cook a n d Shepard fight over the Employee of the Month title in order to win the affections of Simpson’s character. Although it’s obvious the good guy will probably win the girl, it won’t stop this Greg Coolidge film from being exceedingly funny. ◙

The Case of the Murdered Multi-billionare BY LADA KUKUY LITERARY EDITOR Dr. Andér stood in the office of Sebastian D’Olivio, taking notes on the multibillionaire’s death. Mr. D’Olivio’s body was lying on the floor, with tree bloody bullets that wounded him mortally scattered around, after passing through his chest. “What happened here?” wondered Dr. Andér aloud. A young, good-looking woman named Clarnette Leflanté came up to him. “I worked for Mr. D’Olivio as a housekeeper. After breakfast, he headed for his study, but then while cleaning up the table I realized that he left his pocket planner on a nearby chair. After cleaning up, I decided to bring the planner to his office. When I knocked, there was no answer, so I tried the door. It was unlocked, and so I came in. As I did, a horrible scene came to my eyes. Mr. D’Olivio was lying on the floor, with three holes in his chest, and a revolver nearby. I was terrified, and started screaming. Then, Mr. Morlené came running to help me.” “I was in my bedroom changing into a horseback riding outfit when I heard Ms. Leflanté’s screams, ” Began Mr. Morlené, a

young man who looked depressed. “I followed the sound and soon found my best friend’s body in his office. I then told Clarnette to go find Herman D’Olivio, my best friend’s younger brother, and myself went to call the police.” “I felt really sick this morning, and did not attend breakfast.” Stated an ill-looking young man, Mr. D’Olivio. “ When I finally woke up with a splitting headache and went to the kitchen to take a pill, I saw Clarnette running up to me. She told me of my brother’s death and led me to his office. As I saw the body, I felt even sicker and went to the bathroom, where I threw up. I felt depressed about Sebastian’s death and asked Clarnette to get my bed ready. I wanted to lie down and sleep. When you gentlemen came, she awakened me and here I am.” The police examined the scene and the body. After they did, the chief policeman asked Dr. Andér, “who do you think did it, sir?” “It’s quite simple,” came the detective’s response, “ the murderer is ______________.” ◙

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Five Reasons This Summer Rocked

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Sundown Memories

On the Rocks

BY JUDITH A. LINDBERG GUEST WRITER

The languid, lazy summer sun Brings a reverie of relaxation. The beach days of yellow glint and ocean spray, Tickling our toes and our imaginations. I think of small daughters and days gone by: Ice cream cones and wet bathing suits, Blazing campfires and golden marshmallows, Squirt gun laughter and library lounging. I remember sharing daylight and fun With two small giggling girls. They are much older now,

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September 5, 2006 LITERARY/SCIENCE/SPORTS

BY KENNETH LAM STAFF WRITER

But my sundown memories keep them forever tiny. Becoming To understand like the rabbit of velveteen, To remember like a warm thought that lingers, To share with a child, whispering night secrets, To suffer from a tear that is real, To believe in the magic of a flower, To know that love never really goes away, To hope that God does have a plan And at last...to become the best of whatever we are. Corbis

A giant asteroid hurtles through space on its crash course with the planet Earth. At its size, it could easily wipe out the entire human population, just as the dinosaurs’ were said to have been killed. Scientists frantically scramble to figure out a method to ease or end the threat altogether. A plan is put into action, and crews gather to begin the diversion of the asteroid. Shuttles are launched and nuclear bombs are prepared to blast the rock off its course. Will it be enough? This sort of scenario sounds like something out of Hollywood. The threat of a killer asteroid on a course that brings it into contact with the Earth is real. In the event that a large asteroid does hit the planet, the immediate area would be blasted into dust. The aftereffects are the factor that leads to the extinction of a spe-

said to be on a course that will cause an impact with Earth. One asteroid, 99942 Apophis, is particularly dangerous, as it has a one in 30,000 chance of colliding with Earth in 2036. However, this threat was lowered from a one in 5,500 chance. This asteroid has the power to destroy the entire New York City area. Another asteroid, 1950DA, has a one in 300 chance for collision. It too has the power to wipe out a city. However, its charted path takes its possible collision to be in 877 years. Thankfully, scientists are working to stop these asteroids from actually crash landing onto Earth’s surface. These plans all revolve around diverting the asteroid rather than destroying it. The first step in the plan to divert an asteroid is to study it. This will give the scientists an idea of what the asteroid is like. Then, the scientists will begin to employ plans that will move the asteroid off course. One such plan Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2006

Loyal A-Rod fans hold up a "We still love you A-Rod" sign

THE SPORTS BEAT An asteroid collision with Earth.

A Handy Guide to Booing A-Rod Continued from Page 12

could, they’d be superhuman. You have to take everything into consideration, the good with the bad. Would you rather have ARod not hit at all? Through all of this, if you are a Yankee fan and embarrassed to boo him at home, take a road trip. There are plenty of cities that hate A-Rod more than New York does.

The Seattle Mariners fans are still mad that A-Rod left after the 2000 season to join the Rangers. The Texas Rangers fans think that A-Rod left them when he got traded to the Yankees. And of course, Boston hates A-Rod twice as much because he was nearly traded there before going to the Yankees, and he’s a Yankee. ◙

While You Were Gone

After winning the Tour de France, American cyclist Floyd Landis tested positive for extremely high levels of testosterone after his incredible Stage 17 comeback. He blames his positive test on everything from too much whiskey to faulty lab work.

Reuters

Continued from Page 12

cies. The blast will launch dust into the air that will spread across the planet, blocking out the sun and effectively preventing light from entering the Earth’s atmosphere, thus cooling the air. This will kill off plants, and without plants, organisms will begin to die off due to lack of food. As more organisms die off, more possible food sources are lost, and eventually, entire populations will disappear from the earth. It is this disaster that possibly killed off the dinosaurs. However, the debris may also have an opposite effect. It may have fallen back to Earth and turned it into an oven. Thus, organisms would have burned to death. The question remains: Could the same thing happen to us? Scientists are currently working to find large extraterrestrial bodies that could have such a catastrophic effect on our planet. Technology, such as extremely powerful telescopes, is being used to determine whether an asteroid in space is safe. Over 100 extraterrestrial bodies are

is a solar sail, which will be attached to the asteroid, and by using the Sun’s rays, nudge it off course. This plan is very risky, as the sail has a high chance of not attaching, and even if it did, would be a very long term plan. Another plan uses a spaceship to physically push the asteroid out of the way. However, the ship will only move it slightly, and once again, requires time. The final plan, in the case that all else fails, is to send in an enormous nuclear weapon into space and up to reasonable range with the asteroid. Then, the weapon would detonate, sending a large blast of energy in all directions. Hopefully, the asteroid would be caught up in the blast and sent hurtling off in another direction. However, if the weapon gets too close, the asteroid may split up and become even more dangerous. In such a case, smaller rocks would rain down onto the earth and ultimately destroy all in its path. ◙

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September 5, 2006 SPORTS

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

THE SPORTS BEAT

A Handy Guide to Booing A-Rod BY ERIC MAYO SPORTS EDITOR

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One of the interesting subplots of the Yankees season thus far is the constant booing of Alex Rodriguez. While hitting a respectable .287 with 26 home runs and 93 RBI’s, his inability to hit in the clutch has disappointed Yankee fans. It has also come to my attention that people don’t know when to boo A-Rod. Therefore, I have developed these simple tips on what to do and what not to do when booing A-Rod. You should not boo A-Rod when he comes to bat. Give the guy a chance. Last year, he was the MVP of the American League, which was his second time winning the award in three years. He is still the best hitting third baseman in the American League, and he’s still one of the best all-around players in baseball. You have to give him the benefit of the doubt that he will do something. You do have a reason to boo when A-Rod commits an error. In the past two years of his playing third base, he has committed 25 errors. This year alone he has

poor performance. In early August after a game, Rodriguez told reporters that he was feeling a hundred percent because he had a

committed 22 errors. Most of his errors have been poor throws on routine plays. It shows a lack of mental concentration. For some-

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez makes a bare handed catch during a game against the Red Sox.

nagging injury earlier in the season. When he was asked the next day about the mysterious ailment, Rodriguez refused to comment. It’s one thing to play through an

one who could have won a Gold Glove last year, it’s disturbing to see him field so poorly. You can also boo A-Rod when he makes up excuses for his

injury and show some stats you wouldn’t normally put up. It’s another thing to say you have an injury and refuse to tell anyone what it is, fueling suspicion that you just lied for sympathy. The biggest critique that most fans have of A-Rod is his inability to hit in the clutch. Ever since he hit into a double play to essentially end Game 5 of the Divisional Series last year against the Angels, people have become more and more frustrated with him. Rodriguez is second worst in the league in getting runners in from third with less than two outs. In situations deemed “close/late,” he is hitting an abysmal .193. Compare that to Red Sox superstar David Ortiz (.324) and consider that Ortiz is making half the money A-Rod is, and you can understand the anger. It brings me to next point on when not to boo A-Rod. If he hits a home run when the Yankees are up 10-2 or down 8-1, he can’t help it. Just because it has no outcome on the game does not take away from the fact he hit it. Baseball players can not turn on and off their hitting power. If they Continued on Page 11

While You Were Gone COMPILED BY ERIC MAYO SPORTS EDITOR AP Photo / Jasper Juinen

(top) Nothing makes soccer more exciting than a good head butt. Zinedine Zidane, star French midfielder, took out Italian defensemen Marco Materazzi in extra time. The French, without Zidane and their two other best players, Thierry Henry and Patrick Viera, lost to Italy in penalty kicks. (left) It was a crazy summer for Tiger Woods. Just weeks after missing the cut at the US Open, Tiger roared back to take the British Open. He is currently on a four tournament winning streak as he continues his dominance over the PGA Tour. Continued on Page 11 us.news2.yimg.com