HIGH SCHOOL HABITS NEVER DIE

By: Shahida Arabi, Mehadi Hassan, Deidre Thompson


Students carry their bad high school habits to college when they cheat and plagiarize, studies say. The percentage of students who cheat in high school compared to college differs by a mere 5%,according to U.S. News and World Report, while the percentage of students who plagiarize differs by 2% from high school to college, according to statistics from plagiarism.org. Students can gain access to websites that do their work for them, such as customwritings.com, which charges $10
per page for high school students and $12 a page for college students, for essays.

In high school, cheating and plagiarism are more common than they are in college. "I give about thirteen exams during the whole year, and I'd say we'd have at least one to three cheaters for every exam," said Charles McCanna, a biology teacher at Truman High School.Instances of cheating range from surreptitiously looking over a classmate's exam to copying whole lab assignments. McCanna once discovered one of his best students copying lab assignments. "It doesn't really have to do with the caliber of the students, it's just: 'Oh wait, I didn't prepare, I've got to make up somehow," said McCanna. "I'll pull them aside and say,'What's up with you looking at so-and-so's paper; What's up with the answers on your hands?'" McCanna thinks the best prevention against cheating or plagiarizing is to give students incentives for doing their own school work."You just gotta relate [the lessons] to their life," he said.

As for college students,“ they use resources such as sparknotes.com for their plagiarizing purposes. "College students are more 'sophisticated'," said Akilah Smith, a senior at Lehman College. She said that while high school students plagiarize ineffectually, college students are quite adept at eluding suspicion.

"In college, you're an adult -“ no-one's going to run you down
and spank you," she said.

How to Pay for College

By: Aquib Ali, Tamesh Sukul

Bronx, July 26- While struggling to make ends meet, college students have to find ways to make enough money to pay for college and keep an extra something in their pockets. The search for the perfect part-time job can be rigorous, but it has its benefits.

Typically, a student working on campus can look forward to working 10-12 hours per week. "There's a job in the bookstore, tutoring, and a job in the library," says Kiran Abdur, a freshman at Lehman College."There's always something to do."

A student who is working in the vicinity of those hours can expect to earn 1,500-2,000 in an academic year.

Students working for the University are paid weekly, because students are part-time employees, they do not receive the luxury benefits such as paid holidays, vacations, and sick leave, but they are covered under Workers Compensation.

College costs are steadily rising and students are looking for part-time jobs to help lessen their expenses. Most students find it easier to
work jobs on their campuses.

So, do part-time jobs on campus come with extra benefits? "I sat in my office and got to do my homework," says Samantha Chan, a student in the teaching program at Lehman College.

Students who have part-time jobs outside campus will be more likely to work longer hours and not have enough time for themselves, or for their schoolwork.

Besides the benefits of a campus job, off-campus jobs pay more. "I definitely would take less than what I'm getting paid now at my job," says Matthew Oviedo, a student at Lehman College. He works at Levi's and gets paid $9.50 an hour. "Its good money," he says, "and helps pay for tuition."

RACISM- THE REASON FOR UNSUCCESSFUL URBAN BLACK AND HISPANIC MEN

By: Elira Brucaj & Rosa Mancia

BRONX, July 26 - Due to the alarmingly low number of black and Hispanic males in New York’ city colleges, the Black Male Initiative Program is recruiting black and Hispanic males to increase their presence in city universities in New York. It has been found that racism is the primary cause of the men’s lack of opportunity and academic success in New York City.

The Black Male Initiative is a program that succeeds in helping black and Hispanic men graduate from college, change their mindset and also aid them to succeed in life, in general. Although the program targets young black and Hispanic men, anyone else, male or female, is welcome to apply to the program.

“We [have] serious issues when it comes to racism in America,” says associate director Rasheem Rooke. He strongly believes that the reason why many black and Hispanic men are not succeeding academically is racism. There is a “lack of opportunity for black and Latino men,” he says.

Although many believe that racism was dealt with long ago in America, there are still many cases of unfair treatment against African-Americans and Hispanics. Stereotypes that have long been in society contribute to the problems facing the average urban male, says James Jervis, associate professor of African American Studies at Lehman
College. “There is a low level of expectations for the black male, the Latino male,” he says. “The attraction is to be cool.”

Family structures have also been a part of the problem and continue to influence the African-American and Hispanic communities in urban society. The lack of a father figure in many black and Latino families contributes to the slow academic progress of their children. “You have these youngsters growing up with no males around,” said Jervis.

“If [the] mother is not doing well, nine times out of ten the child won’t be doing well,” says Rooke. “And that creates a cycle.”

The cultural, economic and social gap between white and black lives in America is regarded by many sociologists and scholars as huge. “A white male with a criminal record is more likely to get a job than a black male without a criminal record,” Jervis said. He says that society has a “low expectation of the black male.” In most correctional facilities across the nation, more than 50% of prisoners are black and Hispanic. “A black male commits a crime,” said Jervis. “He has the worst mug shot.”

Although these are all factors against to the urban black or Latino man, progress and hope for a better future still exist for African-American and Hispanic men. The Black Male Initiative Program is doing well to enable black and Hispanic men to graduate from college.

“Today’s pain is tomorrow’s glory,” says Rooke.

Another Watergate?

By: Alberto Aquino and Prabjot Kaur

“Politicians go to college to be gangsters,” said Michael Watkins, a City College graduate. “They learn how to push the papers, shake the hands and kiss the babies.”

Along with Watkins, New Yorkers around the city are exclaiming their frustration over the scandal involving Governor Spitzer that was exposed yesterday. “I think it’s tarnishing what people think about the government,” said Watkins.

It was uncovered that Governor Spitzer’s aides, along with one of his top advisors, were unlawfully using the State Police to collect information about the governor’s principal rival, State Senate majority leader Joseph L. Bruno. They were looking for important information that would damage Bruno’s political reputation and career, according to a report by the attorney general’s office.

“My first perception of him was that he was someone who will bring more change,” said Jose Negroni, a Summer Youth teacher at Lehman College. “But I think what has been going on gives you more doubt again if it’s just all talk.”

“It’s like a second part to modify Watergate,” said Kyria Perez, a graduate student and math teacher at Lehman College.

The state government’s actions yesterday reminded New Yorkers of the infamous Watergate Scandal involving former President Nixon in which he used his top officials to gain information on the Democratic National Committee illegally. However, although the similarities are present,many feel that this latest scandal does not compare much to Watergate.

“I don’t think it’s as serious as Watergate. It seems more like a petty rivalry,” said Lavern Rhynie, a student at Lehman College. Although the similarities between the two scandals are minimal, they both succeed in hurting citizens’ trust in their government. Other scandals have been revealed in recent years; one involving the former NJ governor, James E. McGreevy, and his subsequent resignation from office.“Nothing surprises me about the politicians and their ways,” said Perez. “If you want to be a public servant, you need to have integrity for the people.”

FARE HIKES STRAIN BRONX COMMUTERS

Amanda Yuan

BEDFORD PARK-LEHMAN COLLEGE STATION, July 24 – Strong responses from
the city’s straphangers are expected tomorrow, when the Metropolitan Transit Authority reveals its 2008 financial plan, which includes a fare hike.

“It’s not fair to the kids; it’s not fair to the elderly; it’s not fair to the people that work and pay their taxes here,” said Leslie (last name withheld), a subway commuter. “I try to avoid riding the train as much as possible because I feel like I’m being robbed.”

The Independent Budget Office conducted a review that estimated atleast a 20% increase in fares to meet rising debt due to transit improvements. Loans for transit improvements are estimated to leave the MTA $32 billion in debt by 2010.

“Things are so expensive to keep the tracks running and everything,they should raise it but not so high,” said Alberto Rivera, a straphanger.

The fare hike will be the most straining to working class subway riders. “It is two dollars back and forth that’s four dollars,” said Sohiara Martinez, a Bronxite. “People are not making so much money and it’s hard to survive. That’s why people are moving out [of New York]. Common folks can’t survive in New York.”

The Dog Story

by: Ericka Aguilar, Carol Fernandez, Eric Pagan

Walking down the streets of the Bronx you will always find a pet owner walking their dog. But it is hard to believe the contrast in the treatment these owners give their dogs. While some dogs live in the lap of luxury and enjoy visits to pet boarding centers, others, like Maximus, a pit bull, are in a living hell. On July 12, Maximus was tied to a tree by his owner, Derick Phanord, and set on fire.

Although dog owners continue to spend large amounts of cash on their pets, others are putting lost of energy into mistreating them. Last year, over 150 cases were filed against dog owners poisoning, beating,and neglecting their animals. According to LookSmart.com, the pet industry has continued to increase, doubling in the last 10 years. While 84 percent of owners treat their pets as well as family members, what
happens to the 16 percent that does not?

Animal cruelty is something that should not happen, said T.Catanno, a clerk at the A&K Pet Store. Believing that animal cruelty is inexcusable, he states that if he ever were to witness animal cruelty, he would make himself responsible for calling authorities.

So, do people spend too much money on their dogs? “I don’t think they spend enough!” said, Mary Tirado, a client at the Animal Hospital on Kingsbridge Road. “I’ve seen people punch their dogs, and I go up to them and tell them how would you feel if that was you?” she said.

Rap Influences

By Ashley Dreier and Keisha Ramos

Guns, violence, money, drugs, and sexually explicit content are what most people think of when they hear the word “rapper.”

Famous rap artist Remy Ma was arrested Saturday, July 21, for attempted murder after she shot a friend following a verbal dispute at a Meatpacking District night spot. Other famous faces like Ja Rule and Li’l Wayne were also arrested on Sunday night. When Ja Rule was stopped for speeding, police officers found a .40 caliber pistol in his car. Within an hour, Li’l Wayne’s tour bus was stopped and cops dispatched to the scene smelled marijuana and discovered a .40 caliber pistol. With these and other indiscretions, are today’s rappers good or bad role models for their many fans?

“I respect them as artists, but I don’t always like their material,” says Eileen Kleinman, 54, a Bronxite.“They can be negative [because of] the language they use in some of their songs.” Although unsure about the message that rappers send through their music,she still allows her three children to listen to hip hop, hoping they
don’t act on any possibly negative influences.

Jean Ibara, an 18 year-old teenager from Westchester Square, thinks it boils down to a matter of dollar bills. “They got money,” she says.“If they got money, they gonna do things like that.”

Louis Sojo, 35, a sergeant and supervisor of the New York Police Department, believes everyone is an individual and doesn’t put all rap artists in one category.“Everyone who is in the spotlight should be conscious of what their doing, because everyone is a role model,” he says.

Will Price Hike Drive Caffeine Cravers Away?

By Stacy-Ann Ellis and Christine Baerga

A recent announcement of an upcoming increase in Starbucks Coffee
prices has sparked mixed reactions from New York’s dedicated coffee
drinkers.

On Tuesday, July 24, Starbucks Coffee announced that the company would raise its prices in the United States and Canada by 10 cents per product, starting next week. This will be Starbuck’s first consumer price hike in North America since August, 2000. The company feels that this price hike is necessary due to the mounting costs of coffee beans and sugar, which have increased by 36% and 39% accordingly.

Though there might be some opposition to the company and their price
hike, Starbucks still has its loyal customers.

“They are very popular, you know?” said Nancy Paris, a customer at Lehman College’s cafeteria. “Everybody goes [to Starbucks] but I think if the prices go up, eventually they will lose business.” Paris feels very strongly about the price increase. “Well I am upset, so I am sure a lot of New Yorkers are upset.”

With Starbucks being such a popular company, the price hike will affect more than just customers; it might have repercussions for the business, as well. “I really believe that Dunkin Donuts is giving them a run for their money,” said Elizabeth Sanchez, a prospective Lehman College student.

“It depends on how much money is in their pocket,” said Steve Sellas, a Bronx resident, sitting at a local Bronx coffee shop. “I don’t give a damn if it goes up $2. If I gotta buy a cup of coffee, I’m gonna buy a cup of coffee.”

Why Hasn’t the United States Intervened in Darfur?

By: Malisa Dutson, Jean Kapkanoff

As the European Union considers sending troops to Chad to protect
refugees fleeing from the ongoing genocide conflict in Darfur, Bronx
residents aware of Darfur’s tragedy think it’s about time for the world to
take action.

“It’s never too late to intervene because there’s suffering going on,” said Ruth, who refused to give her last name. “With the many deaths that have occurred I don’t understand why we haven’t done anything sooner.”

During a meeting with French president Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday,
European Union (E.U.) Policy Chief Javier Solana concluded that the E.U.
may provide military aid to refugees in Chad until the arrival of U.N.
and African Union forces.

So far, little has been done by the international community to curb the
genocide in Darfur. With an estimated 200,000 dead and 2.5 million in
refugee camps, many Americans remain uninformed.

“I’m only aware of this because I am connected to the U.N.” said
Ismael Betancourt, president of the Bronx-based Multicultural Business
Institute and a former candidate for city government.

Some attribute the United States’ lack of involvement in Darfur to
imperialistic interest in other areas, such as Iraq. “They intervened
in Iraq. It would be better to have intervened in Darfur,” said Betancourt.

“It’s a capitalist country and it’s all down to the best way we can make a buck,” says Steve Hayes, a student at Lehman College.Many people feel that the United States believes there’s no need to intervene in Darfur because there would be no returns. However, although the United States would not benefit economically, innocent people in Darfur are dieing.

“Any country that we have something to gain from we are more likely to intervene in,” said high school teacher Sara Miraldi. “I would like to think they’d intervene to save lives, not for our own economic interest.”

Bronxites Don’t Put Much Trust in Food

By ELIRA BRUCAJ & ROSA MANCIA

BRONX, July 24 - Many Bronx locals are becoming concerned about their health due to the increasing outbreaks of food poisoning, which has led to the loss of trust in the products they buy.

Recently, an outbreak of botulism was discovered in hot dog chili sauce in food brands such as Castleberry’s, Kroger’s, and Austex.Botulism usually results from bacteria, developing in canned goods, such as canned vegetables and meats. Earlier, an outbreak of a form of salmonella, which is a bacterium that results from ineffective sanitation and improper food preparation, was found in the popular children’s snack,Veggie Booty.

The Food and Drug Association (FDA) is responsible for protecting the public’s health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, and cosmetics. Andrea P. Boyar, associate professor in the department of health at Lehman College, feels that the FDA is an understaffed, “overburdened agency.”

“This is damaging the trust [in consumer products] because we are finding out all sorts of problems that are cropping up,” she said.Andre Perez, a 15-year-old student in the pre-med program at Lehman College, has no faith in the FDA. “The FDA tries to hide everything and they approve some stuff that’s, like, hazardous and [they] want to give you a heart attack and diabetes,” he said.

Many locals are refusing to eat at fast-food restaurants. Worried about their health, they choose alternatives to the popular fast-food chains. “Basically, I don’t eat at fast-food chains at all,” said a 17-year-old student who chose to remain anonymous.

Consumers do not put much trust in the products that they buy, locals say. They are aware of the labels but are more concerned about quality and taste. “I don’t think they put much trust in it [consumer products] at all, because usually, if it looks good, they’ll eat it,”the student said. “That’s all that matters to them.”

Fay Koufalis, manager and co-owner of the Bedford Café and Restaurant, does not believe the outbreaks are affecting her customers or her business. Serving everything from hamburgers to fish to soups,Koufalis trusts her staff and the way their food is prepared and handled. “I know what I’m doing,” she says.

Fast food or not, people are still aware of the fact that eating out is still risky. A police officer at Walton High School trusts in what he buys, but is still skeptical about eating out. “I ate boneless ribs,” he said, “the next day I was sick as a dog.”

The FDA is taking steps to protect public health by notifying the public about what they should and shouldn’t eat. “All you can do is hope that they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” the police officer said. “You just have to trust it, you know?”

SEX: A Personal Choice

By: Alberto Aquino, Elira Brucaj, Carol Fernandez, Prabjot Kaur

Abstinence programs in public schools encourage teenagers to abstain
from sex as the only effective method to prevent sexually transmitted
diseases (STD), sexually transmitted infections (STI), and teenage
pregnancy. “They [students] should know that it’s okay not to have sex,” said Ann Utke, a pre-med teacher at Lehman College.
New laws passed by state legislatures in Iowa and Colorado are presenting obstacles for abstinence programs in public schools. It requires that such programs should be based on science or research, which is just another method to lecture on safer sex rather than abstinence. Some students and experts believe that these programs are futile because they have little effect in stopping students from having sex. “Just saying don’t do it, won’t stop them,” said Utke.
Abstinence programs are ways to provide choices to public high school
students, not to gear them in one direction, says Utke.
These programs, however, are threatened by state legislatures
plans to stop them from being carried out public schools. Trends suggest that children who take part in such programs are just as likely to engage in sex at the same age as children who don’t, according to a study published in Medical News Today. State governments in places like Texas have decided to no longer finance abstinence programs because they do not appear to be effective.
“That’s a shame,” says Cindy Kreisberg, health director at
Lehman College. She believes that these programs offer students knowledge and choices about sex.
School administrations use sex education and condom distribution to promote safe sex among high school students. The message schools send to their students by handing out free condoms is a controversial one. While some believe that it encourages safe sex, others believe that it is promoting casual sex.
“It’s natural to have sex, but if they’re going to have sex,
they should be protected from getting infected by STIs and STDs,” said
Christine Chan, a 17 year old high school student who is currently in
the Pre-Med Health Program at Lehman College.

The Bronx “Bombers”

After a rough start, the New York Yankees have made their way
to an unexpected winning streak, following their victory at Yankee
Stadium on July 17, 2007 against the Toronto Blue Jays. But how long can this streak last?

“They suck!” said Melissa Tiep, a student at Lehman College.“They only won by luck.” Most still have faith. “They are getting hot,” says Luis Espada, a true Yankee fan. He thinks that the Yankees are going to make it all the way even though they’ve had a bumpy first half of this season. Just when it looks like they’re going to break out of a slump like they did on June 14th, 2007 by wining 9 straight games, they start losing. Even though Alex Rodriguez, the current home run and RBI leader in Major League Baseball, is having a phenomenal season, what happened to the rest of the team?

They lack “team chemistry” said Fabio Sanchez, a student at Lehman
College. This is crucial for the Yankees, since A-Rod has almost double
the number of home runs and RBI’s as the rest of his team members.

These facts show that the Bronx Bombers aren’t what they used to be,
or are or who knows? “The team is playing well now but it’s up to
them to decide their future,” said Lehman student, Jaelen Wilder.

Got Pride?

Reported By: Ashley Dreier, Mehadi Hassan, Eric Pagan

For most Bronx residents the New York Yankees are a symbol of Bronx
pride. Although most New Yorkers wouldn’t be able to name players
other than Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, they still consider themselves true Yankee fans.
“New Yorkers want the Yankees to do well,” said Ivan
Obregon, a Bronxite. But others feel that the Yankees are not keeping their good name. Ali Jorge thinks the Yankees have too many good players not to have won a World Series in seven years.
In the past seven years the Yankees have acquired players such as A-Rod and Roger Clemens and have paid them over $10 million a year. The Yankees have the most sizable payroll in Major League Baseball, totaling over $195 million dollars a year, not because they’re hitting homeruns, but because they represent the Bronx. This may be why most Bronx residents support the Yankees even though the team isn’t at the top of its game, literally.
But ironically, Bronx residents might begin to lose their pride once the new Yankee stadium is built. Steve Trimboli, for example, feels that the new stadium will have a negative effect on the borough: fewer Bronxites will attend due to higher prices for tickets.

BRAZILIAN PLANE CRASH IN A POST-9/11 WORLD

By: Shahida Arabi, Stacy-Ann Ellis, Keisha Ramos, Deidre Thompson

A recent plane crash in Brazil has ignited controversy over
whether other aviation disasters will spark fear in New Yorkers in
their post-9/11 world. Last night an Airbus 320 crashed into an office
building and gas station in Sao Paulo, Brazil, resulting in a
conflagration reminiscent of the September 11 terrorist attacks. There is a definite similarity between September 11 and the Brazilian plane crash: both involved plane collisions and subsequent conflagration. Yet, would the scene of rubble and civilian casualties renew tensions for New Yorkers?
This event could trigger memories for those struggling with
post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the attacks of September
11, 2001, said Tanjida Afroz, a psychology major and recent graduate of
Hunter College. Post-traumatic stress disorder can involve flashbacks,
emotional repression, and social isolation. It often occurs after a
traumatic event such as 9/11, according to Medline Plus Medical
Encyclopedia.
However, psychologists from Lehman College feel that the
recent incident in Brazil would not have such a strong impact on New
Yorkers. “September 11 was a planned and deliberate attack,” said
psychology professor Martha Lequerica, and this was just an accident.”
John McDonald, an associate professor, refused to comment on the
controversial issue, asserting that his outlook may be considered too
"radical."
Lequerica said that New Yorkers would more likely be upset
by mishaps at local airports than by an "accident" occurring
approximately 4,000 miles away.
Still, New Yorkers have become what assistant professor of
psychology Anne Reid calls, “resilient when it comes to flying.”
Events like the September 11 terrorist attack have caused some Americans to be alarmed but have not shaken the majority of the country, she said. She said that events like these affect people differently, and those that do not fly frequently are not as susceptible to fear.
“The further away, the less direct [the] impact,” as
Reid said.

YELLOW JOURNALISM IN A POST- 9/11 WORLD

By: Shahida Arabi, Stacy-Ann Ellis, Keisha Ramos, Deidre Thompson

After the Brazilian plane crash last Tuesday and
Thursday’s steam pipe explosion, memories of 9/11 are bound to resurface. The news plays an integral role in the fear that most New Yorkers may feel when they hear about such incidents.
“The news wants you to have that fear,” said Mavi Penzo, a 22 year-old New Yorker who has lived here all her life. When asked about the impact that 9/11 had on her, she responded that she would not let the paranoia overwhelm her. “Paranoia is ignorance,” she said.
“Things are going to happen regardless,” said Christine
Herrera, a Lehman College student, referring to news reports about 9/11 stirring fear and concern over future terrorist attacks.
The news sensationalizes the threat of terrorism in order to gain a wider readership, says Abdul Malik, a Puerto Rican Muslim convert. “It
has nothing to do with what is right or who is wrong,” he said.
“It’s about money, oil, and Israel.”
When asked whether he fears the threat of another terrorist
attack, Malik stated that the news was mere “yellow journalism.”
“I don’t fear any terrorist attack, nor should anyone
else. Live your life the way you want to live it.”

David Beckham: The Savior of Major League Soccer?

By: Aquib Ali, Ericka Aguilar, Tamesh Sukul, Jean Kapkanoff

Bronx, July 19 - Despite recent media focus on American soccer -which David Beckham’s summer 2007 debut as a player for the L.A. Galaxy helped to generate - the game itself still seems to be lost on most
American sports fans.
In this country, soccer has is as popular as tube socks.
Soccer ratings are abysmal. Even the game of poker enjoys more exposure; ESPN has been airing the world series of poker over soccer. The highest rating for a soccer game was recorded at an astonishing 0.25 percent and 215,242 households: a Metrostars-Fire game on June 22, 2007. To put this in perspective, one-tenth of the Bronx were viewers of this game. Unless it’s the World Cup, nobody is really interested, said Omar Morton, who grew up with the sport in Ghana. However, statistics show that even after last year’s World Cup, held in Germany, people in America are not big fans of the world’s most popular sport.
Everyone has his own perception of the game, but few have
even basic knowledge of it. When asked how many players are on each
team, “20?” and “8?” were answers students Justin Rosario and Carol
Fernandez gave.
Jay Gurka, a soccer referee, believes that David
Beckham’s arrival in the U.S. is “a positive step for American soccer.” Gurka stated that there aren’t many personalities in soccer and that’s probably why soccer isn’t popular. It’s hard to focus on
soccer when you have baseball, basketball, and hockey,” Gurka said.
Fernandez said she would rather watch and play baseball. “I remember
something about a red card,” Fernandez said, making it clear that she
had no further knowledge of the sport.
Whether or not Americans will become more interested
in soccer as a major sport depends on several factors, as John Cicero, a security guard for the Lehman College campus, points out. Cicero asserts that older
people who grew up fans of more traditional American sports like baseball and football, will probably not develop much interest in soccer. Younger sports fans,
however, may be more open to watching, and even playing, soccer. When asked if he would be interested in attending a soccer game, Cicero said, “No, I’m not
a soccer fan. I’d rather have Yankee tickets.”

Con Edison: In Over Its Head?

By: Malisa Dutson, Rosa Mancia, Amanda Yuan


During last Wednesday’s inclement weather, a steam explosion in midtown Manhattan left one New Yorker dead, more than 30 injured and many, many more questioning Con Edison’s ability to protect the city from severe environmental conditions.

Severe weather conditions have caused many problems with New York City’s ancient infrastructure, problems which Con Edison is having a hard time dealing with.

Antagonism has been building against Con Edison ever since last year’s 10-day outage in Queens. Just the day before the steam pipe explosion, communities in Queens held a flashlight march demanding that Con Edison stop its impending rate hike- the most substantial in history- demanding a 17% rate hike for residents and 10.5% for business owners. “If Con Edison is doing a poor job, why should they get paid more?” said Rmil Amin.

Coincidently, the explosion in midtown the following day accentuated the protesters’ concerns. The explosion also revealed the flaws in New York City’s infrastructure as Mayor Bloomberg had stressed in a speech the previous evening.

“I don’t think we can prevent something even though we plan things. I hope they learn from this unfortunate incident and make the area around the pipes more secure,” said Angela Knight.

[2007] Journalist Profiles

Aquib Ali
Age: 16
School: DeWitt Clinton
A passionate Mets fan, Aquib Ali is a humorous 16-year-old with ambitious goals for the future. Aquib is currently attending DeWitt Clinton High School and will graduate in June, 2008, after which he plans to continue his education at the University of Buffalo, where he hopes to delve deeper into the world of journalism. This sports fanatic loves to play a variety of games, especially baseball. Aquib aspires to be a sports journalist and create his own sports show. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of accomplished sportscasters such as Gary Cohen, Al Michaels, and Chris Berman, because he admires how dedicated they are to their profession and how well they report sports news, events and issues. Aquib knows the road ahead for him will be long and arduous, but he is determined to accomplish his goal no matter what obstacles come his way. And regardless of the level of success and fame he achieves, Aquib promises never to forsake his home country of Pakistan. “Even though I have been living in America all my life,” Aquib says, “I will never forget my Pakistani roots.”
-
Tamesh Sukul



Name: Ericka Aguilar
Age: 17
School: DeWitt Clinton High School

If you look at 17-year-old Ericka Aguilar, you would see a future journalist for a well-known magazine. Aguilar hopes to work for publications like the famous CosmoGirl! magazine. After graduating from DeWitt Clinton High School as a proud part of the class of 2008, she looks forward to a promising four years at the College of Manhattan, where she hopes to take part in a specialized course focusing on magazine publishing. Aguilar enjoys spending her spare time reading, writing, and swimming. Her favorite book happens to be Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, by Judy Blume. “I felt like the main character related to me because of all the troubles she was going through at the time. She reminded me of myself,” says Aguilar about the book. She also enjoys watching movies with her friends. Comedies are her preferred type of movie, especially the popular film starring the Wayans brothers, White Chicks. With an open mind towards important issues and a true passion for journalism, we can see that Ericka Aguilar is a girl who will pursue and achieve her dreams.
--- Stacy-Ann Ellis


Name: Alberto Aquino
Age: 17
School: Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy
Captain of his school’s soccer and wrestling teams, as well as right fielder for its baseball team, Alberto Aquino, 17, is very involved in extra curricular activities. A senior at the Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy High School, Alberto also covers current events and politics for the academy’s newspaper, “The Gazette.” Alberto is a lover of politics and journalism and wants to continue these studies throughout college by majoring in either political science or international affairs. Since New York is very appealing to Alberto, he plans to attend a nearby college such as SUNY-Albany or SUNY-Binghamton. Alberto idolizes Barack Obama for his success as an African American and how he made it to the U.S. Senate, and maybe beyond, even though the odds were stacked against him as a man of color. Like Obama, Alberto aspires to help people, by either becoming involved in politics himself or becoming a journalist and notifying people of political developments. “I want to be able to help as many people as I can and change the world,” says Alberto.
-- Mehadi Hassan



Name: Shahida Arabi
Age: 16
School: DeWitt Clinton

Upon meeting Shahida Arabi, one might think her an overachieving perfectionist. The truth is, she is an overachieving perfectionist. But that’s just a part of her and it does not entirely define her. This native of Bangladesh describes herself as “versatile and philosophical” and given some time spent with her, it is easy to see why. Her favorite books are the ever popular “Harry Potter” series and when asked if she had the opportunity to live during any time period other than the present she says it would be during the United States Suffrage Movement. She lives her life by the famous Eleanor Roosevelt saying, “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Arabi also loves the book The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde. She relates her own life to this book, in that she approaches the world with wonder, acknowledging that as she gets older, she will begin to lose her innocence and see the world for what it really is.
-- Deidre Thompson



Name: Christine Baerga
Age: 17
School: DeWitt Clinton High School
Christine Baerga is 17-years-old and currently attending DeWitt Clinton High School. She likes to take risks and is a very outgoing person. Christine hopes to become a fashion or sports journalist one day. Two things she fears most are death and failure. Her favorite quote is “Pain is weakness leaving the body.” Her interests are playing softball and hanging out with friends. She loves to travel and has visited Puerto Rico, Aruba, Spain, Africa, Venezuela, California, and Florida. Christine Baerga: World Traveler!
-- Eric Pagan, Jr.

Name: Elira Brucaj
Age: 16
High School: Lehman High School

Confidence is the first thing you notice about 16-year-old Elira Brucaj. It’s evident the minute she opens her mouth. She gives off the impression that she knows exactly what she wants out of life. But she says that it has taken her a little while to reach this level of self-assurance. She had to overcome her self-esteem issues. “I just stopped caring what people think about me,” said Elira. “It enabled me to push forward and it didn’t hold me back from doing things in front of people.” Now she feels really proud of herself. Elira’s display of confidence shows that she has the potential to do whatever it is she sets her mind to, which, by the way, are two choices that could not be more different from one another: becoming a magazine writer or a dentist.
-- Rosa Mancia


Name: Ashley K. Dreier
Age: 17
School: Herbert H. Lehman High School

Throughout people’s lifetime they experience tragic events. Ashley K. Dreier’s uncle died in 2002. This was something very difficult for her to handle as an 11-year-old. At the time, she had not seen him since her previous birthday, but still felt very close to him. Ashley does not know why her father did not attend his brother’s (her uncle’s) funeral, but she was very hurt by it. She felt like her family never really said goodbye to him.
Many people have different opinions as to who would be the hardest person to lose in one’s life, but to Ashley, it would be her boyfriend. They have been together for only seven months but this has been enough time for her to fall in love with him. The reason that Dreier believes he would be the hardest person for her to lose is not just because he is her boyfriend, but also because of the fact that she believes that a spouse dying is the most tragic thing for someone to endure. When someone close to you dies, you have your partner or spouse there to turn to for support and comfort, but if that is the person to go, your strongest, closest source of support goes too. You may have other people to turn to, but as Ashley says, “it’s not the same.”
Despite her early exposure to loss, Ashley’s life is filled with many joys and fond memories. The fact that she can’t pick a specific one shows that she has a lot of happiness in and around her. It is a combination of her joyous memories and upsetting times that have made her the person she is today: a young lady on the verge and in search of her career.
Keisha Ramos



Name: Malisa Dutson
Age: 16
School: Herbert H. Lehman High School

During this past semester at Herbert H. Lehman High School, Malisa Dutson wrote for the school newspaper, Voice of Lehman. She has always been aware of her passion for writing and her involvement with the Voice helped her to realize it fully. Aside from writing, Malisa also enjoys drawing and listening to a diverse variety of music. “I listen to everything,” she says. “From Arabic to heavy metal. Everything.”
After attending college, Dutson hopes to write for a living and publish a book of poetry. She values substance and emotion in her poetry far more than rhyme and structure. Her ultimate goal is to be respected as an author whose work deeply touches her readers.
-- Jean Kapkanoff



Name: Stacy -Ann Ellis
Age: 17
School: Bronx High School of Science

Born and raised in Flushing, Queens, Stacy-Ann Ellis currently attends Bronx High School of Science. With her easy-going personality and love of writing, Stacy-Ann hopes to work at a magazine after graduating from college. She is surely a driven person. During the school year, Stacy-Ann wakes up in the morning and begins getting prepared for a day of classes at 5:30 a.m. in order to be on her bus to school by 6:15. “My school is very competitive,” she says, explaining her early start and long daily commute. Even with all the stress of classes Stacy-Ann does find time extracurricular activities; she is active in the Black Organization for Student Strength/ West Indian Society(BOSS/WIS), and also practices cheerleading and step. “I love to dance, and have been dancing for the past 11 years,” says Stacy-Ann. With her outgoing personality she also doesn’t feel shy about public speaking – in fact, she is a natural at it!
-- Carol Fernandez



Name: Carol Fernandez
Age: 17
School: Dewitt Clinton High School


Carol Fernandez is a 17 year-old student at Dewitt Clinton High School. In the start of fall ’07, Fernandez will enter her senior year and she will also be the editor in chief of the school’s newspaper. Fernandez has her sights on a career in journalism. Another goal in her life is to make a huge impact on the world! She believes that by making differences in the lives of others, she will feel better about herself. Fernandez says her inspiration for becoming a journalist was her idol the book “El Alquimista” by Paulo Coelho. Fernandez had to read the book for class; now, it’s her favorite piece of literature. “After reading the book, I knew that I wanted to become a journalist,” Fernandez stated.
-- Ericka Aguilar


Name: Mehadi Hassan
Age: 17
School: Bronx High School of Science

Mehadi Hassan is an incoming senior at Bronx Science with a promising future. He plans to attend CUNY Honors College and major in computer science or physics. He already has enough credits to enter his first day in college with at least a semester already completed. But he will not be resting during his last year in high school. Mehadi is planning to take three more AP classes next year and will be continuing his participation in the high school track and fencing teams. Even with his heavy workload and many extracurricular activities he was able to get through his junior year with a high average. By 2008 he will graduate high school with credit for four AP courses and with two “College Now” courses. Mehadi has dreams of someday working for NASA and is interested in someday becoming a surgeon. Although Mehadi works very hard in school he takes advantage of his free time. On the weekends he enjoys sleeping for long hours, playing video games and hanging out with his friends.
Mehadi was born October 29, 1990 in Bangladesh. When he was eight years old his family moved to New York in pursuit of better economic and educational opportunities. He came to the United States not knowing anyone or any English. “Nothing is impossible in life if you work at it” says Mehadi. With hard work and dedication he was able to learn the language. If Mehadi continues to have the same motivation and drive that he has had so far, he will surely go very far in life.
-- Alberto Aquino



Name: Jean Kapkanoff
Age: 16
High school: Herbert H. Lehman High school


Jean Kapkanoff is proud to say that some of her role models are authors of books she enjoys reading. Her genres of choice is fiction. Stephen King, Christopher Rice, and Anne Rice are amongst her favorite authors. Their books have had a very strong effect on her; after reading them, all she can think is “How did they do that?”, because the writers have found ever new ways to amaze her. The books inspire Jean in her own writings. Besides writing, in her spare time Jean enjoys drawing. What she likes to draw most are eyes. The human eyes shape and expressions are what fascinate her most, says Jean.
-- Malisa Dutson



Prabjot Kaur
Age: 16
Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy

This wondrous child, blessed by her parents, opened her eyes to the world on December 16, 1990. Prabjot Kaur, “Jodie” for short, is a wishful soul who has big dreams of becoming independent and one day occupying a seat at the United Nations as a diplomat. She lives in the borough of the Bronx with her “Crazy Indian Family.” She says her mom is the craziest, which is why she looks to her mom when in need of wisdom and help. She also admires the words of Elie Wiesel, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and author of the Holocaust memoir “Night.”

Jodie attends Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy, taking several A.P. classes, and is well on her way to realizing her dreams. She enjoys doing things like graffiti art (“Not on private property,” she says, “that I consider vandalism.”), playing basketball, studying history, and tutoring kids in math and English for community service. With her straight forward personality, outspokenness and determined attitude, she is Jodie, the future United Nations diplomat.
Adam Mohan



Name: Rosa Mancia
Age: 17
High School: High School of Fashion Industries

Rosa Mancia is a charismatic 17-year-old girl who likes reading, shopping, and hanging out with her friends. Her mother is from Guatemala and her father from El Salvador. She is not afraid to try new things and is always finding original ways in which to express herself. Rosa’s favorite subject in school is English. Her interest has led her to participate in Lehman College’s College Now program for journalism. She considers herself reliable, independent, and a good listener, all qualities perfect for a career as a journalist. Rosa also depends on her unique personality and open-mindedness to set herself apart from the rest of the world.
-- Elira Brucaj




Name: Eric Pagan, Jr.
Age: 17
School: Aldai Stevenson High School

Eric Pagan, Jr., a Bronx native, took his first breath on July 31st, 1990 at Mt. Sinai Hospital. He was raised by both his parents, Carmen and Eric, Sr., to whom he remains very close. He expects to graduate from Stevenson High in the summer of 2008 and move on to become an accounting major at Hunter College. Eric aspires to own his own company one day. A fan of boxing, he goes to a gym every day and trains at building stamina to excel at this grueling, but thrilling sport. Boxing accounts for one source of Eric’s enthusiastic spirit – his friends and family another: “I can’t be around boring people,” Eric says. “I like to surround myself with people who are hype.”
-- Christine Baerga


Name: Keisha Ramos
Age: 17
School: Herbert H. Lehman High School

Keisha Ramos, a 17-year-old student at Herbert H. Lehman High School, was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on January 9, 1990. After living in Puerto Rico for the first eight years of her life, Keisha’s family decided to move to New York in May of 1998. Although sad about leaving her hometown, Keisha was excited about the move and thought of it as a new adventure. Currently she lives in the Bronx with her mother and two brothers.
Being a person who likes to have fun, Ramos is rarely found at home. If she could, she would be outside all day and night. A passion of hers is dancing. She has taken mambo lessons for the past three years and recently finished up her last year at Starlight dance studio. She still loves to dance, but discontinued her classes solely because of the useless drama with the people there. “The drama was unnecessary and just took all the fun out of dancing,” she says. “I’ll still dance with my friends and have fun with it, but no more mambo classes for me.” Besides dancing, Ramos’ hobbies include reading, writing, listening to music, talking on the phone, hanging out with friends, “the basic girl stuff,” as she puts it.

There are a lot of things that make up Keisha Ramos. All and all, she is a kind person, someone who grows from her bad experiences, and a smart girl who is now focusing on her studies in order to pursue a writing career.
-- Ashley Dreier


Tamesh Sukul
Age:16
School: Dewitt Clinton high school

Tamesh Sukul is a shy, yet outgoing 16-year-old from the Bronx. Tamesh is entering his senior year at Dewitt Clinton High School, after which he hopes to attend college and pursue his dream of becoming a journalist. Some of the activities he enjoys are playing basketball, and hanging out with his friends and family. Tamesh is a car enthusiast and collects Slam and Dub magazines. He has fond memories of visiting his uncle in Guyana a few years ago. His uncle took him all around Guyana and helped enhance

Tamesh’s knowledge of his country of origin. He cherishes this moment because it was his last memory of his uncle, who passed away shortly after. “Anytime life is getting me down, I just think about the time I spent that hot summer in Guyana with my uncle,” said Tamesh.
-- Aquib Ali


Deidre Thompson
Age: 16
School: DeWitt Clinton High School

At first sight, it is easy to stereotype Deidre as the typical honors student. And often this is what people tend to do. Yet Thompson is more than just her "Honor Student" façade. "They see the glasses and the big book-bag and they think I am a goody-two-shoes," Thompson says, refuting the commonly held misconceptions. "They think I go to church every Sunday, but I curse a lot, and I only go to church once a year...on Easter!" Thompson does genuinely enjoy pursuing intellectual endeavors such as mathematics and history, the latter of which will soon be her major at college. Yet whether it be her admiration for the counterculture and activism of the 1960's or her facility with the quadratic formula, it is evident that Thompson's analytical, honest and practical outlook on life is what will make her a viable intellectual asset to today's society.
Shahida Arabi



Amanda Yuan
Age: 16
High School: The Bronx High School of Science
Amanda Yuan lives with her mom, dad, and older sister in Middle Village, Queens. She will be a junior next year and plays on the junior varsity volleyball and junior varsity softball teams at Bronx Science. Amanda is very excited about participating in the College Now Journalism class because it will help her prepare for the honors journalism class that she’ll be taking next year. After high school, Amanda would like to attend either M.I.T. or Cooper Union. She is considering becoming an architect because she excels in both math and art. Even with all this planned out, she says, "I'm still open about my choices."