Star-Spangled Hallway
Seven juniors affixed a large American flag to their row of lockers in the west wing of the third floor. Originally bought to show Stuy pride at the girls’ swimming championships at New York University, the flag went up Wednesday, November 21, and was displayed for a week. Principal Stanley Teitel asked the students to take the flag down since it was unprotected and could be easily vandalized. The students decided to make sure every classroom at Stuyvesant had a U.S. flag and found 15 flagless rooms. Teitel promised to buy a flag for those rooms and considered placing the students’ large flag in the library.
Naturalization Ceremony
Stuyvesant will host a naturalization ceremony in the Murray Kahn Theater on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 in which immigrants will be able to take their oaths of citizenship. A representative of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services contacted Assistant Principal Social Studies Jennifer Suri for permission to hold the ceremony there. The event is intended for immigrants residing in the surroudning neighborhood, but members of the school community can participate. It will take place in the morning, without changes to the school day. Suri invites all classes, especially U.S. Government classes, to go to the ceremony.
ARISTA Members Meet Kucinich
ARISTA members were invited to attend a function featuring House of Representatives member and Democratic presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich on the evening of Thursday, November 29 at the Church of New York on 35th Street. The event featured various speakers addressing America’s relations with Iran. Senior and Executive Vice President ARISTA Mottaqui Karim extended his invitation to fellow ARISTA members in hopes of “raising political awareness,” he said. Only six students attended. They met Kucinich and posed for pictures. According to junior Rena Mei, “When someone asked if he was for or against immigration, his response was: ‘The name is Kucinich!’” He also quoted from his pocket-sized Constitution.
Big Sib Fundraiser
Starting the weekend of December 8, Big Sibs volunteered to gift-wrap books and purchases at the Barnes and Noble store on Warren Street and the Scholastic Store in SoHo for two weekends and three days afterschool to raise money for the organization. The profits will be split between Big Sibs and Learning Leaders, a nonprofit education organization, which holds this fundraiser annually during the holiday season. Volunteers collected donations from customers after they gift-wrapped purchases. The Parents’ Association discovered this opportunity to fundraise and informed Parent Coordinator Harvey Blumm, who approached the Big Sibs. “We need money to keep up with events like Big Sib-Little Sib Bowling Day, Little Sib Handbooks and pizza parties,” senior and Big Sib Chair Allison Weiner said.
