Pei Yi Mei

The Microscopic Pool Predator

August 12, 2015 by Pei Yi Mei Leave a Comment

When it comes to the scorching heat of the summer, the free recreational pools in New York City are paradise. However, these pools can also become people’s worst nightmares. When some toddlers accidently release diarrhea, microscopic parasites can effortlessly slither across the pool until they meet their new host: you.
This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an increase in outbreaks of a parasite called Cryptosporidium—a chlorine-resistant parasite that lives in animals’ and people’s intestine and is transmitted by feces. “Crypto has become the leading cause of swimming pool-related outbreaks of diarrheal illness,” the CDC website stated. Between 2011 to 2012, there were over 90 , resulting in 1,788 illnesses, 95 hospitalizations and one death, according to the website.

People who have weak immune systems are affected the most because it will take them a longer time to recover from the side effects such as cramping, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fever.

After coming out of the Sunset Park pool, twenty-year-old Robin was the only one who did not want to go into swimming pools after hearing about the parasite. Because he has a weak immune system, he said, “I don’t want to put my health at stake for just a good swim in the summer. I feel really painful when I am sick.”

Other than that, most people who were interviewed at the Sunset Park pool found the parasite disgusting but would still go to the pool.

Michelle Chen, a camp volunteer, stated that her students visit the Sunset Park pool every week and she often has to get in the water to supervise them. “Honestly, I did not notice anyone getting sick so I would still go into the pools. I don’t think this will stop people because the pools are the main attractions in the summer,” she said.

Two siblings were shocked when told about the parasite. However, after thinking for a moment, they concluded, “this won’t stop us because the pool is free and is near our house.”

Pei Xia, a mother of two kids, said she heard about the parasite on the news and learned that “the parasite will be gone from the body in about two to three weeks.” So without any hesitation, she signed her son up for free swimming lessons at the Sunset Park pool, knowing that the parasite was not extremely dangerous.

For those who insist on swimming in public pools, the danger of the parasite can be reduced by following the hygiene rules. Everyone has little amounts of fecal matter on their bottoms so doctors on MedicineNet.com recommend people take showers before and after swimming, wash hands and avoid swallowing pool water.

People should refrain from swimming if they have diarrhea. This is extremely important for children or babies in diapers. Michelle added, “Even if little kids are sick, they would still go in the water.” She said that parents have the responsibility to make sure their children are not sick before entering pools in consideration of the public’s health.

For many New York City residents who rely on the free pools to stay cool in the summer, a tiny parasite will not stop them from dipping into the water but everyone should take care of their own hygiene before swimming. New York City citizens are suggested to check for more information on Cryptosporidium and ways to swim safely this summer.

Baruch in the Spotlight

August 6, 2015 by Pei Yi Mei

With September rapidly approaching and the summer beaches turning chilly, high school seniors are starting to look at colleges.

“Right now, I am thinking about applying to Baruch College, but I am not sure yet. It really sucks to be stressed about colleges.” said Cindy, a rising senior attending Millennium High School.

NYC students apply to Baruch College because, according to U.S News, it is a top business school and the college ties for fourth place among the best public schools in the regional north.

“The majority of students come to Baruch College because they want to major in business. I want to say I believe 95% of students come to Baruch because of that,” Clemente Diaz, the Associate Director of College Now, said, “But Baruch College is not only a business school. We also have the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Public Affairs.”

Not only does Baruch support students in other majors, the institution also provides internships and networking opportunities for all undergraduates.

“Baruch has really helped me with getting access to internships and jobs. I recently worked at Albany for a stipend and others got the opportunity to work for the Congress,” stated Michael, a junior Public Affairs major.

When asked if they would recommend Baruch College to high school students, four out of seven students interviewed said yes.

A graduate student who majored in Taxation said that Baruch is a good investment compared to private colleges because it is much cheaper and its students are as likely to get good jobs. Unlike universities such as Fordham that cost around $40,000 a year, Baruch costs only $6,330 a year.

However, when asked about the flaws of Baruch, the graduate student said the grading system in Baruch is harsh. There are strict rules on the number of students who can get the highest grades. For instance, only the top 20% get A’s. This makes it difficult to obtain high grades and students become very competitive.

Because Baruch is in the middle of New York City and is a commuter school, some students do not get the same campus feel as those who go to rural or suburban colleges. “The campus is not active. Everyone is involved in themselves so it lacks a sense of community. I just go to school and then go home,” said Mona, a junior majoring in Accounting. As a result, she does not recommend Baruch for those who want a lively campus.

Even the staffs at Baruch recognize this problem. Maziely Crisostomo, the Director of College Now and Collaborative Programs and Clemente Diaz both agreed that Baruch would be better with more school spirit and a bigger campus.

Clemente commented, “I [would] prefer to have more buildings in a campus. It does not have to be something huge but something where students can go around into the neighborhood a bit more instead of only having buildings on 27th street, Lexington, Third Avenue.”

Maziely added, “Space, we could definitely use more classrooms. Baruch is like jammed pack, really crowded.”

Whether it is the tuition or the campus life, high school students should research every aspect of colleges to see which one is the best learning environment for them.

“I strongly recommend high school students to choose colleges wisely, to have a major in mind, and to take AP classes to get ready for the workload in college,” said Shi Li, a freshman in Business Management who recently graduated from Townsend Harris High School.

2 Days 1 Night, a Must Watch

July 30, 2015 by Pei Yi Mei

Struggling with his position, he turned around restlessly in the orange ragged bag. “I can’t hold it anymore…” Kim Joon Ho, a comedian filming 2 Days 1 Night, muttered to the camera. The cameraman couldn’t hold his laughter.

Joon Ho tried to waddle to the bathroom when a farmer asked for a photo, recognizing that Joon Ho was a famous comedian. As the farmer took out his phone, the comedian released it. “Ffffrrrrrppp” and the intense miasma of rotten cabbages and sewage water erupted into the atmosphere. The comedian smiled embarrassedly as the other cast members and staffs ran away from the stench. The old farmer clenched his teeth and endured the smell as he posed for the photo.

2 Days 1 Night is a South Korean T.V. show that presents an unscripted and funny impression of comedians. According to soulsbeat.com, a website that reports news about South Korean shows, 2 Days 1 Night is one of South Korea’s most popular reality shows, attracting as many as 15,660,000 national viewers per episode.

Every week, the PD’s or producers of the show plan a location and several missions for the cast members to do on the two days and one night road trip. The show’s motto is “real wild road variety” where it is all about survival of the fittest, a distinct trait that sets 2 Days 1 Night from other entertainments. The members battle amongst themselves to earn the superior food and lodging by facing various challenges at some of South Korea’s most beautiful locations. Whether it is harvesting in a village in Gimje or climbing up an ice mountain to eat the local specialty, the PD’s never disappoint.

Unlike other reality shows that do not acknowledge the existence of the staffs behind the camera, 2 Days 1 Night boldly displays the interaction between the cast members and the staffs on screen. In the first episode, viewers saw one producer play a prank on the cast members by replacing their coffee with odious fish sauce. The cast members drank it without any suspicion but only to spit it out with disgust.

Viewers are able to trust the show because of the genuine and playful relationship between the members and the staffs.

In the “End of the Year Special” episode, the six cast members voyaged to Jeju, an island in Korea known for its seafood, scenic beauty and warm climate in the winter. However, an unexpected snowstorm materialized which only made the episode more comedic. Playing with the concept of nature versus mankind, the members wore black scuba diving suits on the beach as they spun fifteen times in the freezing cold and ran to capture the flag for a lavish sushi dinner.

From the rough challenges, to the amusing and almost petty interactions between the crew members, and the sense of brotherhood that defines the show, 2 Days 1 Night is a must watch.