Volume 6 Issue 2

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e a np 3 pag re o age 2 re on page o p n M o o s n M or e t o arl den ore Stu ht M rry Pe 9/11 Mge 9 r be pa s fo tlig tes Tip b Spo Black mora re on o e u Cl New omm w M e Th rld C revie P Wo l T V Fal

The Stuyvesant Standard

Volume VI, Issue 2

“Your School, Your World—Your News” 

Free

September 21, 2006

Harvard Ends Early Admission Starting Next Year Corbis

BY SANGHEE CHUNG STAFF WRITER

Harvard University will be ending its early admissions program on January 1, 2008 to improve its admissions process. “The college admissions process has become too pressured,” said interim president Derek Bok. “We hope that doing away with early admission will improve the process and make it simpler and fairer.” For three decades, Harvard has offered a non-binding early admissions program, in which admitted students are free to choose where to attend. Last year, 813 out of 2,124 students, or 38 percent, were granted early admission. The early admission program, traditionally dominated by affluent white students, has often been criticized for adding stress to stu-

A building at Harvard University. Harvard University will be ending its early admissions program on January 1, 2008.

can afford to pay for college consultants and tutors. Furthermore, students at a lower socioeconomic level tend to choose regular decision to compare colleges’ finan-

dents and putting low-income and minority students at a disadvantage. Low-income students are also hurt by increasing tuition prices, and by other students who

Continued on Page 3

9/11 Workers Face Lung Problems BY SANGHEE CHUNG STAFF WRITER

Technology in the World of Tennis

The rate of pulmonary abnormalities in the workers was twice the rate of the general population. Many of these symptoms continued for months and possibly years after exposure. The report also stated that rate of pneumonia was much higher among those exposed to the debris of the World Trade Center than that of the average population. These medical examinations were performed on 9,500 workers

BY RICHARD SHYONG STAFF WRITER Corbis

Rescue workers are suffering new or worsening lung problems years after the September 11 attacks, according to a report by the Mount Sinai Medical Center. Nearly 70 percent of the workers experienced problems immediately after the attacks, and almost 60 percent of them still had these symptoms after two years. Many such problems could last a lifetime, the study said.

cial aid programs. The proposal will open more financial aid opportunities and reduce the pressure of applying because of a higher admission rate. “It is not clear that eliminating early admissions will result in the admission of more students from low-income families,” said president Richard Levin. “What is really needed is what Harvard, Yale, and others have been doing in recent years: that is making efforts to increase the pool of low-income students who apply, and strengthening the financial aid package they receive.” The idea of getting rid of early admission, however, was met with mixed feelings. Several admissions officers believed that early admission was an essential part of securing incoming students. “For second- and third-tier

Continued on Page 5 Corbis

Rackets were made of wood until the 1970’s.

“I contest!” Once these words are spoken by a player, a small clip is played on a large screen television. However, this is no

ordinary clip. There are no ads, no sponsors on the screen. Instead, all we see is a tennis ball bouncing around a computergenerated court. What is so special about this, you ask? In the exciting game of tennis, balls can go up to 140 miles per hour. The human eye, however, can only clock up to around 110 mph., with some difficulty. Like in any other sport, every single point matters. If the ball happens to be out and is called in, or vice versa, the outcome of the match may be jeopardized. This is where technology comes in. The Hawk-Eye is an extremely clever computer system that uses the latest camera technology to track down tennis balls. It is therefore able to track a Continued on Page 13

INSIDE THIS ISSUE News.................................2-6 Opinions...........................6-7 Business............................7-8 Arts & Entertainment.....9,13 Firemen resting at Ground Zero.

Comics.......................11 Puzzles….…………...12 Science………………13-14 Sports.........................15-16

Page 2

September 21, 2006 NEWS

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD  Founded 2001

      “Your School, Your 

World—Your News” 

Executive Leadership Team FACULTY ADVISER EDITOR IN CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR CO-CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CO-CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER LAYOUT EDITOR COPY CHIEF NEWS EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR SCIENCE EDITOR BUSINESS EDITOR LITERARY EDITOR WEBMASTER DIRECTOR OF PHOTOJOURNALISM FOUNDER EDITOR EMERITUS

Yale Ivy Scholars Program: Debate and More BY JENNIFER SCHLESINGER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

When I was planning my summer last spring, one of my priorities was to improve my debating skills, as I am a member of the Stuyvesant Debate Team. I decided to apply to the Yale Ivy Scholars Program at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. The application included recommendations from a teacher and a coach, a statement of interest and

from the head of the program and our instructors. I also met my suite mates that night. Our rooms at the residential college in Yale, Saybrook were situated in suites, with bedrooms coming off a main living room. Most of the bedrooms were singles, although there were a few doubles. The next day, we fell into our regular schedule: breakfast, a two to two-and-a-half-hour lecture, lunch and free time, lab meeting TSS / Jennifer Schlesinger

DR. JOHN NIKOL JENNIFER SCHLESINGER DEREK WENG DIANE CHEN KHOI NGUYEN FANNY TANG DANNY ZHU JIMMY ZHANG PRISCILLA MELO EMMA RABINOVICH ERIC MAYO JOSEPH KRUTOV HANFORD CHIU LADA KUKUY JESSE ZHANG BENNETT HONG DANIEL EGERS (‘03) ERNEST BASKIN (‘04)

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Publication THE STUYVESANT STANDARD is a nonprofit and nonpartisan publication produced by the students of Stuyvesant High School. THE STUYVESANT STANDARD distributes 2,000 free copies on a bi-weekly basis to the students and faculty of Stuyvesant High School and throughout the adjoining neighborhoods of TriBeCa and Battery Park City. THE STUYVESANT STANDARD welcomes letters from its readers. THE STUYVESANT STANDARD reserves the right to edit any published material. The viewpoints of contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the Standard staff. Copyright ©2006 THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

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Ivy Scholars mingle and dine in the Pierson Residential College Dinning Hall.

a school transcript. A few weeks later, I joyfully received notice of my acceptance. Before I knew it, it was the end of July and the program was beginning. After my parents left, I felt nervous because I didn’t know anyone. We met for dinner and received introductory remarks

for four hours, dinner and free time, evening lectures or seminars and then some time for hanging out before doing homework and studying. For lab meetings, we broke off into groups of about 20 students of the same level and practiced drills and case writing. Continued on Page 6

CLUB SPOTLIGHT

Board Game Club BY DAVID YIN STAFF WRITER

On Fridays after school at Stuyvesant, the board game club can be seen getting ready to have some fun. As is evident by the name, this club mainly plays board games. This club was formed recently by sophomore Joseph Gregory Blay and junior Jay Walker. When asked why they formed this club, Walker responded, “Joe and I met each other on the ferry and we came to click well. We both realized how much we missed playing board

games such as Monopoly and Risk. Together we decided to start the club.” However, interestingly enough, the board game club does not play the games that Walker mentioned; Walker and Blay got the idea to focus on playing different board games instead during the transit strike, so this club focuses on playing more unfamiliar games such as Settlers of Catan or No Thanks. “While the idea [to start the club] was in our minds I went to the math research room to kill time before the winter concert. There I played a board game Continued on Page 6

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Harvard Ends Early Admission Starting Next Year Continued from Page 1

institutions, early admissions is a very effective enrollment tool,” said associate executive director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. “They rely on it to solidify their incoming classes.” Others felt that this move

Page 3

September 21, 2006 NEWS

Stuyvesant Alumni Summit With Warren Buffett

would bring change for the better. “It has the capacity to change a lot of things in this business,” said the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s admissions dean Marilee Jones. “It’s bold enough for other schools to really consider what they’re doing. I wish them so much luck in this.” ◙

PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: RUFINO MENDOZA (917) 517-5243

College Board

Corbis

New York, NY – Three Stuyvesant alumni traveled as part of a delegation from Global Platinum Securities LLC (GPS), an international student-run investment club, for a two-hour closed-door question and answer session with renowned investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett. Rufino Mendoza (SHS ’03), Sunny Wong (SHS ’03) and Jimmy Zhu (SHS ’04) traveled from Oxford, England; New York City; and Los Angeles, Calif. to Buffett’s headquarters in Omaha, Neb.. Buffett discussed a wide range of investment-related topics, including market efficiency, executive compensation, investor emotion and ethics in business. Additionally, he spoke with the group on an eclectic mix of other topics including world politics, nuclear proliferation, his undying passion for Gorat’s Steakhouse and McDonald’s hamburgers and pajama party online bridge sessions with Bill Gates. According to Rufino, Mr. Buffett’s methods and guiding principles have been incredibly influential in the group’s education process. Rufino, who is also the admissions chair at the Georgetown University chapter, commented, “I have been asked by people on multiple occasions whether my visit to Warren Buffett had resulted in some type of

bequest from Berkshire Hathaway. However, the true purpose of the visit was educational. Interestingly, I found that the most important topic Mr. Buffett spoke about was society’s problems. Ethics has been a grave problem in the business community and Buffett’s philanthropic record resonates with the students of

Warren Buffett, Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, talks to reporters on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

GPS, who understand the importance of creating a socially responsible business environment and believe that profit at the price of integrity is no profit at all.” Global Platinum Securities consists of students from over ten different countries. They attend some of the world’s most renowned colleges and universities, including Harvard, MIT, StanContinued on Page 5

The World Remembers the Fifth Anniversary of 9/11 AP Photo (Bruce Gilbert, Pool)

BY JENNIFER SCHLESINGER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

September 11, 2006 marked the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on The World Trade Center and The Pentagon. All around the world, people remembered those who were lost. One of the biggest ceremonies took place in New York City at Ground Zero. On Sunday, September 10, President Bush visited Ground Zero and laid wreaths with the First Lady in the footprint of each building. They were accompanied by NYC’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former NYC Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, and New York State Governor George Pataki. The President and First Lady also visited the other two

A woman displays a photo of a loved one during a ceremony to mark the fifth anniversary of 9/11.

cities affected by the attacks. The President addressed the nation on

September 11 and said, “On 9/11, our nation saw the face of evil. Yet on that awful day, we also witnessed something distinctly American: ordinary citizens rising to the occasion, and responding with extraordinary acts of courage,” ( NY Times). The ceremony on September 11 began with Bloomberg marking a moment of silence at 8:46 am when the first plane hit the North Tower. A second moment of silence was observed at 9:03 am when the second plan struck the South Tower. Two more moments of silence were observed 9:59 am and 10:29 am when each tower fell. The names of 2,749 people who were lost were read by family and friends. This took about four hours. All family

members at the ceremony were given a rose. Most chose to leave the flowers in the two reflecting pool that marked where the towers stood. It was a tearful day for all, especially the family of those who passed away as well as survivors. For the ceremony, Bloomberg was joined by fellow politicians Pataki, Giuliani, and New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton. Giuliani said, "To know that even one life has breathed easier because you lived, this is to have succeeded. God bless all of those that we lost. God bless all of you who mourn for them, remember them and live on in their spirit” (NY 1). A trumpet solo was performed by Continued on Page 6

Page 4

September 21, 2006 NEWS

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Standard’s Guide to the Freshmen and Incoming Sophomores These tips were compiled by the staff of The Stuyvesant Standard for the benefit of new students. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

Grades “Your grades not only become part of your transcript and cumulative average, they also affect what classes you can get into, such as AP and honors courses.” -Jennifer Schlesinger, Editor in Chief “The fall grade for Global History and Freshman Composition during freshman year is what is looked at for Advanced Placement (AP) European History during sophomore year. Those with averages of 94 and above in Global History will be accepted depending upon the number of people who request it and meet this criteria. All of those who apply for the course with less than a 94 average will be put on a wait list in case anyone decides to drop the course.” -Neeta Malviya, Staff Writer

Places Near Stuyvesant “If you are up for a quick lunch or a grab-and-go snack, Terry's is the place to go. Located next to the park, it is by far one of the most frequented deli among Stuy students. The prices are decent for their sandwiches and they have delicious salads. Best of all are their pizza bagels and smoothies.” -Stephanie Shen, Staff Writer “One of the best places to escape the pressure of Stuy and hang out with your friends is the park. There are almost always people there — during lunch, after school, or whenever. It is a great place to relax with a nice view of New Jersey. You can join in on a game of frisbee or catch up on desperately needed sleep.” -Stephanie Shen, Staff Writer “At least once in your Stuy career, you’re going to find yourself lacking a classroom essential. While there are quite a few places you can go, Staples is always guaranteed to carry whatever supply you’re looking for. The drawback is that Staples is pretty far from Stuy, but if you're willing to sacrifice a lunch period you can make it there and back with a little time to spare. Staples is located on Broadway and Vesey Streets and is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.” -Stephanie Shen, Staff Writer “Just remembered that you'll need a #2 pencil for a music appreciation test first period? Not to worry. Just stop by Ralph’s Discount Store at 95 Chambers Street, between Broadway and Church Streets on your way to school, where you can find all kinds of school supplies at reasonable prices. The school supplies are in the basement so walk down the small staircase in the left corner as soon as you enter. Ralph’s also has a variety of snacks and drinks, anything from carrot cake to Vitamin water. The store opens up at precisely 7:30 so if you're there a few minutes early, you might have to wait outside.”

Absence “When you are absent you need to bring in an absence note and have all of your teachers sign it. It is important that you don't forget to give the note to the attendance office after it has been signed; otherwise it is considered an unexcused absence.” -Neeta Malviya, Staff Writer “If you are absent and miss gym, you must make sure your gym teacher signs your absence note.” -Jennifer Schlesinger, Editor in Chief

Activities “Go out and join a club you actually want to join. Don't just join something because your parents told you to or because it's good for the college application.” -Angel Wong, Staff Writer

Free Periods “In an effort to give everyone the classes they want, but still fit them all into a 10-period day, the programmers have been forced to give some people frees that are neither at the beginning nor the end of a student’s day. In other words, there will be roughly 40 minutes of idling for that student. And since policy states that students can not go out during free periods, what can students do during those 40 minutes? Here five ways to spend that free time. Some people spend the time reading. And that is a great choice. It might not be the most interesting for most people, but for those who can concentrate on reading for such a long time period, reading might be the best choice. However, there are few quiet areas in the library to read. There are some people who procrastinate during that time. Some people just forget to do an assignment and use this time to catch up on their work. However, there are others who actually plan these 40 minutes wisely and do their homework during their free. On a day of a big test, everyone is hoping to do well. People with a free period before a test feel lucky and happily use this time to do some last-minute studying. Even reading a “cheat sheet” several times can help raise one’s score on a test. There are some others who are the exact opposite. Instead of working, these sleep addicts spend their time napping on some quiet floor. However, this is only recommended to those who are able to sleep through loud noises, and more importantly, quickly. Those who take a long time nodding off will just end up lying on the floor feeling really bored. Every now and then classrooms around sleepers might make loud noises, so stairs are a good option. Of course, there are those who just want to hang out with their friends. Some people just sit with their friends in the hall and chat for the entire period. However, the library is a popular place. As mentioned before, unlike other libraries, our school library is not always quiet. That is because the people there are hanging out. Of course there is a small minority who are doing homework and reading, but most people are there to kill time. A group of friends could spend 40 minutes in the library doing nothing but talking. Besides the library, some people hang out in the lunch room. They might eat, but mostly they just sit around with friends and try to have fun. Then there are few who go to the first floor to play ping pong or foosball.” -Jimmy Zhang, News Editor

-Anonymous Continued on Page 5

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Page 5

September 21, 2006 NEWS

Continued from Page 4

Lockers Time Management “Try to get a lot of sleep and spend a lot of time with friends. As you get older you'll get less sleep and less time for friends. Take advantage of the time you have now. Also, don't procrastinate. You don't get anything out of it so, honestly, why do it?” -Anna Ginzburg, Senior Staff Writer “In the same manner, don't just study all the time. Go out and have fun. Make friends. This is high school; it shouldn't be hell. Try to find a reason to look forward to coming to school.”

9/11 Workers Face Lung Problems Continued from Page 1

between July 2002 and April 2004. “We encourage anyone who worked at ground zero, especially in the early days after September 11, who has not yet been screened, to come for an evaluation,” said Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, chairman of the community Corbis

and preventive medicine department. “It is important that those who gave so heroically in the aftermath of the disaster be assured that they will be able to get all the medical care they need.” According to the report, there is a connection between the severities of the symptoms and the time at which the workers arrived

-Angel Wong, Staff Writer “Lockers are a wonderful part of high school, if you follow the rules. Use your assigned locker. It's as simple as that. If you're a freshman, you might have to share a locker but there's actually a lot of fun that comes along with that. By the end of the school year, you'll have formed a great friendship with that person. Sharing a locker might be a problem in the winter, when you'll be wearing bulky jackets, but it is nonetheless a wonderful experience that defines freshman year for many.” -Anonymous

-Angel Wong, Staff Writer

Workers on the site of the World Trade Center in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.

“Your locker is not a fortress that is impenetrable to all resistance. Don't stash all your Gucci, Verdana, and Louis Vuitton in there.”

to respond to the devastating tragedy — those who arrived earlier suffered the most problems. “Many who worked at ground zero in the early days after the attacks have sustained serious and lasting health problems as a direct result of their exposure to the environment there,” said Dennis Charney, dean of academic and scientific affairs at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. “This study scientifically confirms high rates of respiratory problems in a large number of responders — including construction workers, law enforcement officers, utilities workers and public sector workers.” In total, approxi matel y 40,000 workers were exposed to dust consisting of metal particles, including nickel, titanium, and cadmium. “The effects of 9/11 are still largely unknown, but we now know much more than we did even one year ago,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. When the study was revealed, 250, people including workers and local residents, gathered at the World Trade Center site to demand medical benefits and financial aid. “I need medication and I am not working because I’m sick,” said Enrique Farfa, a construction worker who worked at the site for six months. Currently, there is no treatment program funded by the government for those who inhaled the dangerous fumes. ◙

Stuyvesant Alumni Summit With Warren Buffett Continued from Page 3

ford, Georgetown, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Colorado, New York University, and the London School of Economics. In an effort to promote financial literacy in future generations, GPS immerses students in a highly interactive learning experience that solidifies the principles of investing while fostering social responsibility. GPS leaders refer to their generation as “generation debt” and are working to combat the financial limitations that young students may face in the future. Founding president and CEO

process to GPS once he started studying at MIT. Rufino had kept in contact with Sunny since graduation, often discussing economics and politics with her, and encouraged her to apply to GPS as well. Jimmy and Sunny have risen quickly in the organization to become chief marketing officer and chief technology officer, respectively, in an organization that usually takes a fifth of applicants for its trial analyst program. Only analysts who have successfully completed the rigorous requirements of the trial program are ever offered full membership status.

Only analysts who have successfully completed the rigorous requirements of the trial program are ever offered full membership status. Timothy Shannon said, “GPS is committed in working to fight financial illiteracy and to provide students with options for investing their money and making their money work for them, so when they graduate, they are better prepared for their adult lives.” Rufino, currently a student at Georgetown University, was recruited by Timothy, a fellow Georgetown student, to start the investment club during his freshman year. Rufino decided to tap students in Mr. George Kennedy’s Wall Street class at Stuyvesant and eventually found Jimmy, who began the application

GPS encourages all intellectually curious Stuyvesant students to apply to the organization in their first year of college if they wish to gain a broad experience in areas including investment management, global finance and leadership skills. As all three Stuyvesant alums can attest, no other college organization offers such in-depth experience to college students. Its rigorous admission process, stellar membership network, and opportunities to interact with leaders such as Warren Buffett provide an unparalleled experience. ◙

Page 6

September 21, 2006 NEWS/ OPINIONS

Yale Ivy Scholars Program: Debate and More Continued from Page 2

The Yale Ivy Scholars program was a hectic and, for the most part, sleepless two weeks. However, it was well worth the work. I learned much more about debate than I had in my entire year at school. The lectures in the morning were led in the style of college lectures. Most lectures were led by Yale professors, all having their own style; some did PowerPoint presentations, while others wrote on the blackboard. A high-

time we could go shopping or out to eat. I learned much about time management from our workload. Unlike Stuyvesant, where students have a few hours of homework and get out at 3:30 pm, students in the Yale Ivy Scholars program got out of classes around 9:00 pm and still had several hours of homework. We also had classes on Saturday and Sunday. One of the most important parts of the experience was bonding with friends from across the country. We helped each other as

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

The World Remembers the Fifth Anniversary of 9/11 Continued from Page 3

W ynton Marsa lis. Just as Bloomberg opened the ceremony, he also closed it. Starting the night of September 11, two beams of light were lit to add the shape of the Twin Towers to the New York City skyline. The lights have become an annual tradition. Other ceremonies also took place in New York City. At a ceremony attended by Bloomberg, Pataki, and New Jer-

Washington DC to commemorate the people who lost their lives there. It was attended by Vice Presidnet Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfield. Around the world, there were memorials for those lost. In Puri, India, a sand replica of the World Trade Center was created. A moment of silence was held. In Pakistan, students lit candles to commemorate. At a US army base is Kabul, Afganistan, soldier saluted AP Photo (Peter Morgan)

We helped each other along as we struggled to learn our way around and learned to manage our time. The program was an experience I will never forget. light was Dean Harold Koh of the Yale Law School, who talked about the policies of the Bush and Clinton administrations. Overall, the lectures gave us an overview of some important issues and topics. All in all, I learned much more than debate at the Yale Ivy Scholar’s program. I got a fairly true-to-life feel for what college life is like. I lived in the dorms, ate in the cafeterias, studied in the libraries and sat in the classes. We were allowed on most areas of the campus and the surrounding city, New Haven. In our free

we struggled to learn our way around and manage our time. The program was an experience I will never forget. Although the program was very educational by nature, it provided countless opportunities for fun. Although I know these fun times were a part of the program, I will never forget that what I learned will help me towards my future goals. The Yale Ivy Scholars Program also offers programs besides those focused on debate. For information, visit their website, www.yale.edu/ivyscholars/. ◙

CLUB SPOTLIGHT

Board Game Club Continued from Page 2

I had never played before: Settlers of Catan. I also discovered a group of people who enjoyed playing the game, and others, regularly. After playing again during the transit strike I was hungry to play some more and I decided to focus less on the regular board games and play lessknown games such as the ones played in the math research room.” Many students enjoy playing the uncommon board games that this club provides. Kenneth Lam, junior and one-time visitor to the club said, “The board game club introduced me to some really different board games like Settlers of Catan that I never knew existed. It was pretty fun.” However, the club members recently found out that the club’s

faculty advisor, Jan Siwanowicz, considered by many to be the life of the club, has left Stuyvesant High School. Because of this, the club no longer has access to the math research room, a conveniently large room suitable for playing board games, and its members can no longer play the many games that Jan possessed. But the club is trying hard to bring in more of its own board games through fundraising and donations from the club members. Walker commented that the club meeting on Friday, September 8 was “one of the biggest meetings the club ever had because a lot of students were there.” The board game club members hope to attract many more people who enjoy playing board games as much as they do. ◙

The 'Tribute in Light' rises over lower Manhattan as seen from the Brooklyn borough of New York on the fifth anniversary of 9/11.

sey Governor Jon Corzine, the 84 lost Port Authority workers were remembered. A ceremony was also held at the State Supreme Court to remember the lost New York state Court Officers. Across America, people got together to remember. Many went to see the memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania to the 40 who died aboard United Airlines Flight 93. A memorial service was also held at the Pentagon in

those who died. Similarly, US and Filipino troops in Southeast Asia prayed for peace. US Embassies around the world, such as in Japan and Australia joined in the remembrance. Overall, the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacksof September 11, 2001, was an occasion for people to get together and remember those lost. ◙

Delaney Mania BY AMNA AHMAD STAFF WRITER

I believe most Stuyvesant students would agree that they are under an immense privilege to attend our high school, as it is arguably the most diverse, successful and thriving of high schools in New York City with an abundance of opportunities for students of any interest. Stuyvesant High School offers courses as varied as architecture, songwriting and psychology. Despite the variation in classes, there remains a definite uniformity and that is the use of Delaney cards. I never would have imagined that sucha simple invention would make such an impact on New York City high schools. There are a lot of things in

this world that make me nervous, such as being late, crowds of people and pop quizzes. These things all have different reasons for causing distaste on my part. However, nothing could possibly be as nerve-racking as filling out a Delaney card. Some of us have filling those things out down to a science, while others panic at the differing instructions given by different teachers to fill them out. I like to think of Delaney cards as my first impression on a teacher. I wonder what a teacher would think if one of a new students wrote his or her phone number in the address space when asked to write it in the “parent’s first name” area. Sophomore Fifi seems to agree, giving the following statement when asked how Continued on Page 7

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Delaney Mania Continued from Page 6 Corbis

This small card was used extensively in the New York metropolitan area in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

she felt about the cards in general and how our school has “Delaney Mania”: “I don’t like them. You never know if what you’re writing is wrong.” Although students seem to choose teachers as scapegoats for our aversion toward Delaney cards, it is quite evident that some teachers dislike using them as well, but have an obligation to do so. For instance, one teacher mentioned a teacher getting in trouble for not using Delaney cards, so she just had us write our first and last names on the cards

rather than fill out everything. I know that accidents and emergencies happen, but I’m not quite sure why we rely so much on phones anyway. I had the pleasure of experiencing how unreliable telephones could be while doing some community service, in which one of the tasks was dialing the numbers of parents of about 350 students. Each student had listed two to three contact numbers. However not once did anyone pick up and only three numbers had answering machines. Given this, the next time I decide to faint at the sight of a pop quiz or to accidentally burn my skin with lab chemicals, my parents won’t find out until a while afterwards. It’s comforting to know that when teachers look back on their lives and their careers, they can honestly say that they taught and guided generations of high school students, accepting only a modest salary in return. However, poor Mr. Delaney had to live with the guilt for the torture he put thousands of poor defenseless high school students through. ◙

The Worst School Demon BY MOR ROSENBERG STAFF WRITER Corbis

The after effects of procrastination is not an uncommon sight at Stuyvesant.

day all-nighters is procrastination. Procrastination is something we have all come in contact with, whether you are a teacher, a top A+ student, a journalist writing an article about procrastination, a theater member, etc. Whether putting off studying for a biology test to go to bed a littler earlier or avoiding the paper to hang out with friends, Stuyvesant students, who are really smart, are also terrific at procrastinating. However, procrastination is never a good thing. In fact, procrastination is what usually leads to the huge amount of work that we have to do. At Stuyvesant, teachers announce their tests at least a week in advance as the rules thankfully require. There are also very specific test days for each subject. Projects, especially term papers, are assigned way in advance. The only things assigned from day to day are daily homework and quizzes. So what can one do to avoid procrastination? It’s quite simple: just don’t procrastinate. Study for tests and do projects on time. Set mini-deadlines, and meet those deadlines. Procrastination can be defeated; it’s just a matter of dedication and will-power. Can you defeat that monster? I know I'm still trying. ◙

Yes and No BY ALVIS YUEN STAFF WRITER

“Oh, you go to Stuyvesant? You must be very smart,” says a typical adult to me. Should I respond with a yes or a no? If I say yes, then I might appear arrogant. If I say no, then Mr. Key, the adult, might think I lack selfconfidence. I decided to respond with a generic “Yes, but no.” He chuckled out of amusement from my answer. That was a real conversation I had last year.

“Yes and no” is the best response to any question. Why did he chuckle at me? Mr. Key told me that I sounded just like all the other Stuyvesant students he met. Asking questions would get him nowhere because they would never give straight answers. Afterwards, I thought about what Mr. Key had told me and I realized that he was right. In history discussions, I always hear people responding with, “Yes, but …” In English class I hear the same style of speech. It is everywhere. Stuyvesant students are bright people. They must have a

reason for doing things. There must be a reason why so many students speak in such a manner. The reason is that “yes and no” is the best response to any question. It shows that the person has considered both sides of the argument. There is only one caveat: the question has not been answered. When somebody asks a question, he or she wants to know your opinion, not meaningless gibberish. An uncertain response can often rub someone the wrong way. To some people, it shows that you do not care about their question. When somebody asks you a question, it does not matter whether you say yes or no. The trick is in how you say it. As long as you have the confidence to justify your answer, you have won the battle of wits. Say yes; say no. Just say it loud and strong! You do not have to explain your answer. Believe in what you say. How are you going to convince someone else that what you say is right if you cannot even convince yourself? Now when somebody asks me a question, I smile and chuckle. Just because somebody questions me does not mean I have to answer. ◙

Major Oil Pool Discovered in the Gulf BY KENNETH YU STAFF WRITER

A group of oil companies lead by Chevron Corporation has tapped a petroleum pool under the Gulf of Mexico. In what could be the biggest domestic oil find in 38 years, it could boost the nation’s reserves by more than 50 percent. Test wells indicate that this discovery could be the biggest since Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay. Although promising, the oil deposit

four miles beneath the ocean floor will not significantly reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil or help lower prices at the pump anytime soon. “It's a nice positive, but the U.S. still has a big difference between its consumption and indigenous production,” said Art Smith, chief executive of energy consultant John S. Herold. “We'll still be importing more than 50 percent of our oil needs.” Continued on Page 8 Corbis

Picture the following situation: It is Saturday morning as you sit down to do your homework after a good night’s rest. You look at your planner and exclaim, “Holy (insert-word-here)! I have a lot of homework to do!” You realize that you have an AP Biology test to study for, a physics paper to write, a history term paper to finish, and tons of math homework to do in less then 48 hours. So you plan to stay up, cram and hopefully get about two hours of sleep that weekend. Who hasn’t experienced that situation before at Stuyvesant? Typically the reason for all this weekend cramming or even week-

Page 7

September 21, 2006 OPINIONS/ BUSINESS

An Alaskan pipeline crossing colorful autumn tundra carrying crude oil from Prudhoe Bay oil fields to the port of Valdez.

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September 21, 2006 BUSINESS

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Major Oil Pool Discovered in the Gulf Corbis

Continued from Page 7

At its height in 1988, Prudhoe Bay pumped an average of 1.6 million barrels per day. In 2005, it yielded less than 400,000 barrels per day. Chevron estimated that the 300-square-mile region where its test well is located could contain roughly 3 billion to 15 billion barrels of oil and natural gas liquids. It will take several years and tens of billions of dollars to bring the tapped oil to market, but the discovery carries importance for the industry at a time when Western oil and gas companies are finding less opportunity in the politically unstable parts of the world such as Russia and the Middle East. The proximity of the Gulf of Mexico to the United States makes it especially attractive to the industry. However, it would bring pressure on Florida and other states to relax limits they have in place on drilling in their

A worker walks past a crane on a drilling ship in the Gulf of Mexico.

offshore waters for environmental and tourism reasons. The U.S. consumes roughly 5.7 billion barrels of crude oil in a year and reserves are currently at more than 29 billion barrels. Compared to countries such as Saudi Arabia, whose reserve exceeds 250 billion barrels, it is just a tiny amount. Chevron has a 50 percent

stake in the field, while partners Statoil ASA and Devon Energy Corporation own 25 percent each. Chevron announced a test well, named Jack 2, that sustained a flow rate of more than 6,000 barrels per day, but analysts and executives believe the payoff could be much larger than that. The well was drilled in the Walker Ridge area of the Gulf,

175 miles off the coast of Louisiana. It is an area the industry has been exploring for about five years. While the industry was mostly upbeat about the potential of this new discovery, it also acknowledged some challenges, including a lack of rigs capable of drilling in such deep water and the long lead times required to drill and complete deep-water wells. More than half a dozen world records for test equipment pressure, depth, and duration in deep water were set during the Jack well test. Fadel Gheit, an analyst for Oppenheimer & Company,estimated that the first production for the Chevron-led partnership might not come online until after 2010, depending on how many more test wells the companies drill. At best it will only slightly slow the decline in annual United States production. ◙

Intel Corp. Investigated for Anti-Trust Issues The European Commission has widened an ongoing probe into the business practices of chip maker Intel Corp., taking over an investigation that had previously been handled by Germany's antitrust agency Bundeskartellamt. Intel has been investigated for its Corbis

Intel’s chairman and former CEO Craig Barrett said the European Union would find no evidence of wrongdoing.

strong-arm tactics in excluding competitors in Europe for nearly five years. Recently, the investigation was stepped up significantly when officials raided Intel offices in several countries after Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

(AMD), Intel's main rival, made allegations to anti-trust authorities around the world that Intel had maintained its nearly 80 percent of the world’s market share of microprocessors through unfair measures. In particular, the Bundeskartellamt has been investigating whether Metro AG’s Media Market chain, which operates more than 350 stores in 14 European countries, was pressured by Intel to exclude equipment containing integrated circuits made by AMD. AMD also alleged that Intel has used their aggressive business tactics in other places around the world, including the United States and Japan, and coerced over 30 business chains to use Intel technology in their products. AMD has made other accusations against Intel before. In 2004, AMD filed a complaint claiming that Intel was offering loyalty rebates and signing exclusive selling contracts with retailers in Europe. However, the European Commission stated they lacked evidence to pursue the complaint, though the investigation was never formally closed. Intel is responding to the allegations with the fact that they is actually on the decline. In March, Craig Barrett, Intel’s chairman and former CEO, said the European Union would find no evidence of wrongdoing. He asserts that his company is “susceptible

Corbis

BY HANFORD CHIU BUSINESS EDITOR

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD), Intel's main rival, made allegations to anti-trust authorities around the world that Intel had maintained its nearly 80 percent of the world’s market share of microprocessors through unfair measures.

to competitive threats,” as the past few quarters would show. AMD has been getting a bigger share of the market in recent quarters, with more retailers using both AMD and Intel processors in their computers as well as selling AMD’s Opteron-based servers. The fact that Intel is affected by its competition shows through Intel’s plan to fire over 10,000 employees to cut costs and make the company more profitable. ◙

After School Staff Needed Downtown Elementary Schools 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

September 21, 2006 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Page 9

There are some who believe that every action one makes impacts at least one other person in some way. This is the case with six very different people, who unknowingly affect each other as they go about their own daily lives. As the events in their individual lives unfold, they are drawn even closer together. Maybe it’s merely coincidence, or perhaps it is fate. Premieres September 21 on ABC 7

One Tree Hill Season 4 The highly dramatic season finale left One Tree Hill watchers in suspense. Is Rachel really pregnant? What’s the deal with Peyton, Lucas, and Brooke? Meanwhile, Dan came home to find the word “MURDERER” painted on the wall. This can only mean one thing: someone knows his secret. It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen next, but things are definitely going to heat up in the fourth season. Premieres September 27 on CW 11

In this new comedy, a group of third grade ex-classmates are reunited after 20 years. Now grown adults, some of them are looking to rekindle old bonds and make new friendships, while others are reminiscing about childhood crushes. Premieres September 18 on CBS 2

Dancing With the Stars Season 3 Celebrities are paired with professional dancers in the third season of this dance competition. Competitors this year include actress Vivica A. Fox, singer Willa Ford, NFL legend Emmitt Smith and talk show host Jerry Springer. They are all known for their special talents, but how do they measure up when it comes to dancing? Premieres September 12 on ABC 7

(top) “The Class” is a comedy about a group of 20-somethings inextricably bound together by having been in the same third grade class. (center) The cast of “Ugly Betty.” (bottom) From the producers of “Lost” and “Alias” comes “Six Degrees”.

Runaway After a man is falsely accused of murder, he and his family move to a small town in Iowa where they assume new identities. He works to uncover evidence to clear his name, while his three kids deal with the pressure of having to pretend to be people who they are not. Premieres September 25 on CW 11◙

CW11

Ugly Betty

Missed the first season of “American Idol”? Now there’s a chance to see Kelly Clarkson in the days before she became a chart-topping singer. “American Idol Rewind” will also include never-before-seen footage of the original show. Premieres September 20 on CW 11

Corbis

The Class

American Idol Rewind

abc.com

Six Degrees

abc.com

One of the best things about fall is the plethora of new shows and returning favorites on television, so get ready to ditch those heavy school textbooks and run for that remote.

While the world of fashion is conjuring up images of glamorous models, Betty appears to be the ugly duckling. However, everything changes the owner of the top magazine “Mode” hands everything over to his son Daniel and hires Betty to be Daniel’s assistant. Though both inexperienced, together they learn about the fashion world and work to steer clear of the smiling sharks there ready to sabotage them. Premieres September 28 on ABC 7

Corbis

BY AMY QIU STAFF WRITER

cbs.com

Fall TV : What’s In Store This Season

Nathan (James Lafferty) and Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti) in a Season Three episode of “One Tree Hill.”

Corbis

(above) Kelly Clarkson, the winner in the first season of American Idol. (below) The contestants of Season Three of “Dancing With the Stars.” (right) A model during Fashion Week for the reality show “Project Runway”

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September 21, 2006 ADVERTISEMENT

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD In-School News Out-of-School News Arts & Entertainment Opinions Business Sports Science Literary Copy Puzzles Layout Fundraising Photography Web

Reason #18 Because saying that nothing here interests you in joining is just a plain bad excuse.

So come to our fall recruitment!!! At Room 327 September 26, 2006

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

September 21, 2006 COMICS

Glass Lab by Serena Hong

No Harvard for You! by Benjamin Breeg

Senior Graduation Pictures by Kenny Kwan

Why People Drink Starbucks by Anonymous

Point Blank by Gillian Chung

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September 21, 2006 PUZZLES

Autumn Thoughts: A Word Search

Sudoku BY JEFFREY LIAW PUZZLES COLUMNIST

BY AMY QIU STAFF WRITER

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BY JEFFREY LIAW PUZZLE COLUMNIST

WORD BANK

3 SORROW FALL NEW START FRESHMAN SENIOR CYCLE

REMEMBER SEPTEMBER ELEVENTH FEAR WRATH PAIN

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Cryptogram BY JEFFREY LIAW PUZZLE COLUMNIST

Cryptogram 1

Do you like playing with words? Then join The Stuyvesant Standard puzzle team! Contact [email protected]

BSVRSJKQKIMTJ XSSJT, UHMPWQF OSLT XKVJMPMGZ. JBSMV EGJBVKKX JKOSQT GVS SXEVKMLSVSL OMJB “BMTT” GZL “BSGVTS.” Cryptogram 2 XYZ? PYXWDTDZXPZOW KANSNTH YWLGSWOOWD USZARG AO RATIO KW GINDO END YZOANYZS XHGSWMAUG ZGGNUAZOANY.

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

The Covenant BY EMMA RABINOVICH ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

“The Covenant” stars four relatively unknown actors as the members of a secret circle of witches with “untold powers.” Their descendants can be traced back hundreds of years, to when witches were hunted down and burned at the stake. Caleb Danvers (Steven Strait from “Sky High”), the leader of the allpowerful witch pack, falls for the new girl at Spencer High School, Sarah Wenham (Laura Ramsey from “She’s the Man”). Unfortunately, just when everything seems to be going Caleb’s way, a descendant of the fifth bloodline of the Covenant, which was banished at the end of the 17thcentury for wanting too much power, returns. He wants to take away Caleb’s power after he “ascends” on his 18th birthday, when he will gain his full strength, and he is eager and willing to use Sarah and the rest of the Covenant as hostages. Confident in its delivery, “The Covenant” rarely falls short in terms of special effects or suspense. Director Renny Harlin ingeniously casts a pack of eyecandy actors that give the film a little extra life. By selecting a boarding school, where parents are rarely present, as the setting, Harlin helps further the illusion that these kids really can do whatever they please. Unfortunately, it also makes them unlikely candidates

Page 13

September 21, 2006 A&E/ SCIENCE/ PHOTO

for our undying sympathy. There is a lot of inconsistency in the relationship between the Covenant members. They fight, use their powers against each other, and become extremely jealous

“The Covenant” was released in theatres on Sept 8.

only to sit by each other’s bedsides half an hour later. Harlin leaves clues and then abandons them to go in a different direction. “The Covenant” starts out strong, sucking you in only to disappoint you in the end with a neither-here-nor-there ending. However, the thrill ride as well as the two hours of eye candy (with some pretty girls for the guys) is worth the admission price. ◙

PICTURE OF THE ISSUE

Technology in the World of Tennis Continued from Page 1

ball’s path, wherever the ball may land. It takes into account a ball’s compression and skid on bouncing before producing a 360degree replay of the shot. With this piece of technology, any player doubting the call of a shot may request a replay of the shot, using the one and only HawkEye. Finally, the integrity of a call can be resolved without tantrums and harsh language! Players are given two challenges per set and an additional challenge if the set goes to a tiebreaker. After that, they may have to resort to the oldfashioned method of cursing out the umpire. However, there is still

the umpire does not call out your hits is to make them unmistakably inside the line. To do so, you need talent and a good racket. Rackets were made of wood until the 1970’s. However, afterwards, people started switching to rackets made of fiberglass, graphite, and other artificial materials. This meant rackets that were just as sturdy as wooden rackets, but a lot lighter. When comparing the performances between the two, the artificial racket won first prize; it hit as hard as the wooden racket did, but had a lot more accuracy. As we slowly advance into the modern era, old-time sports also advance with us. From more

Finally, the integrity of a call can be resolved without tantrums and harsh language. some hope for serves, which are probably the fastest balls ever hit in tennis. Serves can go up to speeds of 140 mph., making the human eye extremely fallible to mistakes. The Cyclops, however, can provide extra help. A small box measuring around 6cm by 45cm by 20cm, it projects five or six infrared sensors across the court, 10 millimeters above the ground. When the ball breaks the beams, which are situated outside the out line, the box makes a small beeping sound. Therefore, umpires need not worry about making mistakes while calling serves; instead, their biggest problem now are insects that might just set off the box! The easiest way to make sure

advanced rackets to the HawkEye, tennis has truly become a modern sport. Sharper and smarter cameras allows us to make the correct call, making the game all the worthwhile to play. Stronger but lighter rackets enable more accurate hits, from the baseline to the net. Modern players now have many advantages that those of the 70’s could only dream of, making tennis an increasingly more competitive and exciting sport to play. So the next time you find yourself playing tennis, be thankful for the scientific contributions of the last few decades. ◙

The picture of the issue, submitted by Hector Wei, is titled “Fatal Lights.”

Want to be a photographer for The Stuyvesant Standard? Want to submit your photographs to The Standard’s Picture of the Issue? Contact [email protected]

Hawk Eye is a revolutionary sports tracking device designed to follow the tracking of balls and competitors. Above is an analysis of a match between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick using the technology of Hawk Eye.

Page 14

September 21, 2006 SCIENCE

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

The Pearl: A Real Gem from Blackberry BY MOTTAQUI AL-KARIM STAFF WRITER

no full screen mode and the viewscreen is made smaller by the play, stop and other control buttons. Many music formats, such as MP3, WAV, MIDI, and AAC, are supported as well. One can play music while using through the many other applications of the phone. However, skipping or going back to a previous track BlackBerry.com

It may be not be a real Pearl, but it certainly will be worth its weight in gold to both those on Wall Street and us mortal consumers. Though not revolutionary, Research in Motion’s (RIM’s) newest BlackBerry, called the Pearl, definitely makes heads turn. In an oyster, the Pearl is basically the the previous BlackBerry with a 1.3 megapixel camera, with music and video playback capabilities, and oh, yeah, it also makes phone calls. The smallest BlackBerry to date, the Pearl is approximately the size of a RAZR. The phone is said to work just about anywhere in the planet thanks to an international roaming software. The Pearl also sports a stylish, ultrabright 240 by 260 pixel, 2.25 inch TFT color screen that makes video and photo viewing a blast. The main advantage of having a Blackberry, and the reason so many do, is that unlike other phones or e-mail-capable mobile devices, the Blackberry constantly queries your inbox to download the new messages immediately. Other phones search only periodically, giving the Blackberry a huge advantage and making it a necessity in this busy world. The best part is the Pearl actually sports a “pearl” – a little white trackball just below the screen which acts similar to a mouse and allows the user to point in any direction, not just up, down, left or right as in the previ-

ous models. After getting the pointer over a desired icon, the “pearl” is merely pushed to click. Like all true BlackBerries, the Pearl has Internet services, email capabilities, computer-phone integration (e.g. delete an e-mail message on the phone and it is deleted on the computer as well) and Bluetooth technology, as well as a 1.3 megapixel camera which

The Pearl, a new smartphone recently released by Blackberry, is the first phone from the company available to consumers.

supports flash and 5x zoom capabilities. Sadly, the camera cannot record videos and the colors are not very vibrant. But then again, the Pearl is not meant be a digital camera. The user is allowed to choose between three picture sizes and three quality modes. The Pearl can play many video formats. However, there is

Do you want to earn some money? Are you desperate to get rid of those review books that you will never open again?

There is a solution to your problem! The Stuyvesant Standard is now introducing new section – Sell Your Review Books, at the affordable and cheap introductory rate of 3 percent of the selling price. You can advertise your review books to not only the student community at Stuyvesant High School, but also to parents, teachers, the surrounding Tribeca area. An email with your books listed will also be sent to The Standard’s web group. Interested? Email Khoi Nguyen, The Chief Finacial Officer, at [email protected] with your Name, ID, contact info, and list of books with prices and conditions the books are in that you want to sell. This is an opportunity that cannot be missed.

can be annoying because the “Menu” button has to be pressed before a menu option can be chosen. Besides multimedia, the Pearl is also the first BlackBerry that has map software. The map software offers local maps and driving directions from addresses directly from the contact list or

by manual input. There are no GPS capabilities but this feature can be added with a Bluetooth GPS receiver. A couple of features of the Pearl can be called “annoying.” The biggest of these is the keyboard with SureType technology. It is a traditional QWERTY keyboard put onto a phone keypad, with two letters on each key. The system guesses which word is being typed and presents the user with a list of other possible choices if the one chosen by the phone is not desired. So the buttons “GH”, “ER”, and “TY” would be pressed to produce “get.” This system does work but it poses a problem when typing a foreign word or a long last name. Also, the Pearl comes with a microSD slot, where a memory card can be inserted to expand the capacity of the phone. The problem is, however, that the slot is located behind the battery, making it a pain to access the slot itself as the battery must be removed in order to put a card in or take it out. The few quirks aside, the Pearl seems to offer a lot of bang for the buck. Although it isn’t entirely perfect, it comes very close to being flawless, a state of smart-phone nirvana, so to speak. The Pearl, with its new multimedia features and trackball, is a huge step forward for RIM. ◙

Your School, Your World, Your News Are all just a short click away.

Come visit our newly designed website.

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD WWW.STUYSTANDARD.ORG

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Page 15

September 21, 2006 SPORTS

Sports Calendar Thursday September 21

Friday September 22

Saturday September 23

Sunday September 24

Monday September 25 Boys Soccer

Vs. Lab Museum United @TBD

Tuesday September 26

Wednesday September 27

Boys Bowling

vs. Beacon School @TBD

Vs. Franklin K Lane @Brooklyn Tech

vs. Bard High School @Murry Bergtraum

September 28

September 29

September 30

October 1

Boys Soccer

JV

vs. Beacon School @ Riverside Park East (107th/108th) vs. HS of Health Professionals/Human Services @ Stuy

vs. Evander Childs @Evander Childs HS

Reuters

New York Yankees starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang looks to first base.

formance of Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes and David Wright, who help share the burden with him. The Phillies, after trading Abreu to New York, seem to be benefiting from the trade, and the help of veteran lefty Jamie Moyer from

Seattle. He has helped improve the team’s pitching tremendously. Though 16 games behind the redhot Mets in their division, the Phillies are still playing well enough to be considered for the wild card. In the quiet NL Central, the Cardinals are not the same team as they were when they lost the World Series several years ago. They have been plagued by injuries to key players this season, like Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds, and Mark Mulder. The Houston Astros, even with the addition of Roger Clemens and a healthy Andy Pettitte, are not performing as well as they should be. Entering the playoffs this year, the Yankees and Mets hold the leads in their divisions and are on track to exciting playoffs. New Yorkers may ask, “Is a Subway Series possible this year?” From the looks of it, it seems likely. ◙

THE UNOFFICIAL PIZZA PLACE OF STUYVESANT

October 3 Fencing Boys

vs. Beacon School @ Beacon

vs. South Bronx @ Alfred E Smith HS

The Playoffs Are Coming! Continued from Page 16

October 2

vs. HS for Math, Science, and Engineering @Stuy

October 4 Boys Soccer

Vs. Martin Luther King Jr. HS @107th and Riverside Park

vs. HS of Fashion Industries @TBD

Three Burning Questions Continued from Page 16

three straight U.S. Opens. There is no one on the professional tour who can compete with Federer on grass or the hard courts. His opponent’s best chance will be playing his best game with Federer playing below his level. What’s left for Federer? The clay courts, currently dominated by Spanish sensation Rafael Nadal. Nadal has beaten Federer four times this year, including one victory on hard courts in March. Nadal is the only thing that stands between Federer and a career grand slam, and more than likely an actual Grand Slam. 2. Who will finish with a better record: Mets or Yankees? It will be the Mets, but it will be close. This question was nearly unthinkable about two and a half months ago when the Yankees were nine games behind the Tigers for the best record in the American League. With the addition of Bobby Abreu to an already potent lineup, the Yankees have emerged as the team to beat in October in the American League, as long as their injuries clear up. Mariano Rivera has tightness in his pitching elbow, and Mike Mussina has a sore arm. Both pitchers are crucial to any postseason success, especially Rivera. However, the Mets have two things going for them. One is that they play in the horrible National League East, where their closest

c o m pe t i t io n i s on e ga m e over .500. The second thing is that they play in the horrible National League, where they are the only team that has separated itself from the mediocre pack. If they use these next two weeks wisely and rest key pitchers such as Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine, there’s a good chance we could see a Subway Series. 3. If Ryan Howard hits 62 home runs, does he own the home run record? No. Howard, the Philadelphia Phillies first baseman, is on pace to hit over 62 home runs, which would put him in front of Roger Maris but behind Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds. However, there is a cloud of suspicion over all three of the former record holders, all accused of using steroids to aid their quest. I don’t think you can give a record to someone when there is no hard proof of any of the trio using steroids. That doesn’t mean I suspect they’re innocent. When McGwire and Sosa appeared on Capitol Hill in steroid hearings, McGwire forgot the past and Sosa forgot how to speak English. Bonds will be forever linked to the BALCO scandal that has plagued many athletes. However, none of them have ever failed a drug test. Until they do, Bonds’s record of 70 home runs should stand. ◙

Page 16

September 21, 2006 SPORTS

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Three Burning Questions BY ERIC MAYO SPORTS EDITOR

1. Is Roger Federer the greatest tennis player ever? He will be by the time he retires. Federer, the four-time defending Wimbledon champion and two-time defending Austra-

lian Open champion, beat American Andy Roddick in four sets in the U.S. Open. With the win, he moved past such greats as Andre Agassi and Jimmy Connors and ever closer to Pete Sampras’s 14 titles. He also became the first person since Ivan Lendl to win Continued on Page 15 AP Photo (Sean Wenig)

US Open men's singles champion Roger Federer poses for a picture with his trophy at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Can anyone stop Roger Federer?

The Playoffs Are Coming! BY RICHARD MAI STAFF WRITER

the Red Sox seem to be the only worthy contenders so far, but even they are far from the Yankees’ record. Their pitching has to get better, and even getting back much-missed catcher Jason Varitek won’t help them. More than ever, superstars David Ortiz AP Photo (Gail Burton)

September is here and October is right around the corner. The baseball world is heating up, as the race for the playoffs begins soon. With recent talk of MVP candidates like David Ortiz, Derek Jeter and Joe Mauer, this will be the best time for those players to show what they got. These players will be vital to their teams’ chances in the playoffs and will have to show whether or not they are really worthy of MVP status. Looking at the AL East, the Yankees lead the standings and are a comfortable 10 and a half games ahead of their archrival, the Boston Red Sox. Though they had some rough times earlier this year, the Yankees have really started pulling it together recently, with a win ratio of about .600. The addition of Bobby Abreu from the Philadelphia Phillies was a great boost to the team's offense, with a .355 batting average and a .500 slugging percentage. His presence in the outfield was also a great support for a depleted Yankee roster that’s lacking all-stars Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui. Another player who is contributing is Tai-

wan sensation Chien-Ming Wang, who leads the Yankees with 17 wins so far and a dropping sinker that gets easy groundouts. Jeter, an MVP candidate, is playing his usual exceptional baseball with a .344 batting average, .420 onbase percentage, and 85 RBI’s.

Young players like Robinson Cano, left, and Melky Cabrera, right are the reason why the Yankees are cruising to their 9th straight division title.

Given this level of play, and with the addition of Sheffield and Matsui soon, they seem to have a good chance at making it deep into the playoffs and, hopefully, a World Series title. Further down the AL East,

and Manny Ramirez will have to step up if they want to have a shot at chasing the Yankees in the playoffs. In the competitive AL Central, the Tigers seemed to have been explosive early in the season

and the favorites to win the division, but have been on a downward slide as of late. They will try to rely on flamethrowers Justin Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman to shut down other teams. Minnesota, led by MVP candidate Joe Mauer, will try to battle it out with Chicago’s own MVP candidates Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko to gain control in the Central in the most competitive race in baseball. Moving over now to the NL East, the crosstown rival of the Yankees, the Mets, have their own streak going and their situation never seemed more Amazin’. They have the best record in the MLB right now with 87 wins and a .620 winning ratio. The Mets lead the East by 15½ games and they seem to be just getting in their stride. This is due to unbelievable team effort. The Mets have several all-stars, but a lot of them are playing like superstars. Carlos Beltran, an MVP candidate, is getting it done with a .623 slugging average, 39 homeruns and 113 RBI’s. He seems more comfortable playing this year than during his season-long slump last year, probably because of the lessened pressure on him to perform well with the playing perContinued on Page 15