The Paw Print

A news publication created by Baruch's College Now high school journalism class

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High School of Health Professions Holds Election

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On May, 6, 2016, High School for Health Professions and Human Services held their annual school election.

The high school, located in downtown Manhattan,  prepared for this huge assembly weeks in advance. The candidates running for the president election practiced their speeches and advertised their campaigns all over school.

“There are posters everywhere! I’ve seen them in the locker rooms, hallways, lunchroom and even the bathrooms!” says a freshman in this high school. By using posters and creating online videos, the candidates spread the news about the election like wildfire.

When the day finally came, all the students gathered into the auditorium to make their decisions. Junior Christiny Celestinwas the first student to take on the stage. She showed the audience her video on the changes  she plans to make at the school and the crowd went wild. “WE WANT CHANGE, WE WANT CHANGE!” chanted the students. Christiny’s video included her ideas on creating more school trips and dances, more  exciting classes and better school lunch.

Her opponent, Mohammad Rahman, took the stage afterward. He recited his speech and talked about creating more school clubs and less homework. Mohammad says, “Who here has always wanted to join a club, but never has because the ones at school are lame? I can help change that, vote for me and there will be better after school activities.”  

After the assembly came to a close, the audience came to a decision. The winner of the annual Health Professions High School election was Christiny Celestin. Her classmate cheered for joy as she claimed her spot as president of class of 2017.

City Council Pushes for More Accessibility of Parks and Recreational Facilities for People with Disabilities

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CITY HALL – On July 23, the New York City Council voted 41-0 on a bill that would demand an annual report on the compliance of park and recreational facilities with Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

 

Mark Levine, New York City Council member and chairman of the Committee of Parks, is not only the prime sponsor of the bill, but also a strong advocate for equality.

 

Policy plays an important role in obtaining equality for all New Yorkers. “How quickly are we making progress toward the critical goal of 100 percent accessibility in our parks facilities? Until now the council and the public have had no way to answer that question. Intro 558A is … designed to change that, by giving us for the first time regular reports on accessibility assessments and retrofitting plans,” says Levine.

 

According to Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York, 889,219 individuals live with disabilities – that is 11 percent of New Yorkers. “If our park system is truly going to be for all New Yorkers then that surely must include those New Yorkers with disabilities” says Levine.

At the Council Meeting, Levine said, “The report would detail whether each assessment was done during the course of regular construction work or as the result of a complaint as well as what work was done and what work will be done to bring such facilities into compliance during the calendar year when the report is issued. It would also include a updated list of Parks Department Facilities that are specifically designed for use by disabled persons.”

Craving for Community

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The city evolves with the times. However there are few places where locals and tourists alike can escape the repetition made by New York’s arrays of concrete, glass and brick edifices. The High Line has become a park where people seek refuge from such order. 

The High Line has become more than just a popular tourist attraction due to the opening of the Whitney museum in the Meatpacking District. The park now captures the essence of New York’s changes and diversity.

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The High Line in the 1900’s

The park has steel framed perspectives of the city streets and river views. These frames capture the old brick warehouses, modern glass hotels and apartments, and the historical cobble stoned streets intersecting with freshly paved asphalt. Yet they also appear to be ombré images of New York’s development.

In 2009, the first section of the High Line opened to the public. What once was a railroad track for transporting goods to and from the Industrial District, has become a public park that attracts thousands of visitors each day.

People from all over the world and right around the block come here – people of different cultural backgrounds and social classes. Yet here society draws no division. Melina Franco, a tourist from California, was brought here by her aunt. Franco says, “Here there is no judgement from people around you. Everyone is doing their own thing.”

The High Line has become a must-see place for not only tourists, but also to those who are or used to be fellow New Yorkers. Joseph Whelan used to live in New York City before the High Line was a public park and now comes here to “play tourist.” John Reverol comes once a month all the way from New Rochelle, “to have some alone time, even though I’m never really alone because there are so many people. It’s very relaxing.”

Love can also be found at the High Line. Couples flock to the park to see the hidden sculptures, variety of foliage and views of the river and city or to just sit and talk. Ninety year old, Marion Needlman, comes every three months from Chapel Hill, NC to spend time with her high school sweetheart Herbert Oppenheimer, a local. Together they look at the interesting public art projects that can be found all over the High Line and architecture of surrounding buildings.

The High Line has become a place where visitors seek refuge from the extreme summer heat and the smelly streets. Visitors can enjoy the cool breezes and pleasant olfactory experiences of the park while resting on the many benches scattered along the park.

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Where the past meets the present

Noelle Franco, a local, says, “New Yorkers crave greenery!” This can be confirmed by many of the locals who come to to the High Line. However this isn’t just true for them. Tourists such as Deepa Manjanatha like “the integrations of plants and the juxtaposition of nature and industrial Meatpacking District.”

Many people find the mélange “funny because you see these plants and then there is like scaffolding and art.” Although some may consider it a mess or confusing, most see the beautiful flowers and other perennials hidden in the grasses and the seemingly random placement of trees as beautiful and interesting. Rosemary Klassen is from a part of Florida where nature thrives. She finds that the park is a nice “combination of the familiar (nature) in an unfamiliar place. A place where urban meshes with nature.”

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Views from the “Urban Cloud”

Despite the attraction, the High Line is also used as a form of transportation. Visitors can walk over traffic in an “urban cloud” all the way from Gansevoort and Washington Street to 34th Street and 12th Avenue. Natasha Pereira works at the Whitney Museum and due to the convenience and proximity, travels uptown through the park.

Yet despite the endless reasons why people enjoy and come to the High Line, what people really love is the sense of community that it provides. The way people come together at the High Line reflects how New York has come to be the city where diversity is commonality.

The Fort Still Stands

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“It’s amazing how3941175557_5049417d99_o this fort still stands,” said a park ranger.

A Long Island park called Fort Totten just reopened after a year and a half of renovations. “Fort Totten looks better than before. The parking lot is cleaner, the benches look newer, and it definitely looks less gloomy,” said a nearby pedestrian.

The Dutch originally owned Fort Totten in 1639. Back in 1639, Fort Totten was just a peninsula. A year before Civil War began; Congress gave $15,000 for the building of the “Fort at Willet’s Point.”

In 2005, Fort Totten Park was opened to the public, but what was it before? In 1941, Fort Totten was made headquarters of the Anti- Aircraft Command of the Eastern Defense Command and in 1944; it became headquarters of the North Atlantic region of the Air Transport Command. Fort Totten is located at 422 Weaver Ave, Bayside, NY 11359.

Today, it is a park open to all viewing eyes. It is no longer used by the military. There’s a beautiful bridge made of rocks that goes out to the ocean. When walking out you can smell the seawater and see the clear ocean water. One of the park ranger said, “When I come here to work, I feel refreshed. The fresh scent of saltwater hits your nose and you just feel refreshed.”

There are two part at Fort Totten; the old headquarters and an open field area where you can relax and take in the fresh air. Both sides are open to the public. The old headquarters are the old buildings where soldiers planned their attacks and bunkered down during World War II.

The fort is magnificent, there were about four tunnels that led to different areas, but now only one tunnel is open, due to a shortage of workers. The tunnel is long and dreary made of stone and at the end of it is a bright path of sunlight.

Walking outside of the tunnel, you see an enormous fort. However, the fort is only two stories high. There is a long staircase that leads upstairs, it’s the only one you get use because the others are closed off. The staircase is dark and spooky like, but upstairs, there’s a wide-open space filled with non- working cannons and stone.

Fort Totten is a very beautiful park. It is clean, it smells nice, and it is very historic. If you ever want to go somewhere historical, go to Fort Totten.

People go to Fort Totten to see the fort, the bridge made of rocks, the park, and to see their child play soccer games. Recently Fort Totten added a pool area and a soccer area for everyone. The soccer area is mainly used by kids who play in soccer teams and the pool is opened for everyone.

 

Far Rockaway: On its Way Up

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Hurricane Sandy was a storm so strong it washed away houses, scared off natives, and destroyed most of the boardwalk and beaches. Yet, nearly three years later the city is on its way up.  With much effort from those who live in the rockaway area and $140 million given by the state, many if not all the beaches have been restored.

The new changes that have come along in such a short period of time have surely made an impact on what visitors and locals think. Some of those changes include, according to the NYC Parks website, “Damaged beach buildings were renovated with new boardwalk islands constructed around them, public restrooms and lifeguard stations were installed to replace destroyed facilities.. “.

Nearly three full summers of watching the beaches transform post sandy many of the locals have a lot to say. Jessica, who has lived in Rockaway her whole life says, “I don’t really notice any changes. I think the boardwalk has been the only thing.” She continues by saying that she saw a lot of small businesses  shut down and she’s waiting for them to make a comeback. Darius, a young beach goer added onto this stating, “The place I  go to do laundry went away after the hurricane so now we have to drive to another place instead of just walking there like we used to”. Darius’s mother chimed in saying that she believed the beach would always be a big source of attraction regardless of the more aesthetically pleasing boardwalk. “Its one of the only decent beaches accessible to all the five boroughs so people are always going to come here especially during a dry summer day”


When beach goers were asked what they thought of the beach this summer  compared to others many said it’s gotten increasingly crowded with each passing summer since the storm. Sandra, a native to Rockaway states, “I went to the beach the summer (following) the storm and it was very empty, people were still there but I could tell it was mostly just people who lived here… I think as time passed people realized it really wasn’t so bad and by summer of 2014 it was extremely crowded again.”

That statement seemed to be true. Beach goers stated that they don’t frequent any other beaches but Rockaway simply because it’s cleaner compared to coney island and more convenient than others in New York. So, the consensus seemed to be that although the beach has improved, people care about the mom and pop stores that haven’t returned years after the storm. As for the visitors of the beach, as long as they can enjoy the sun and take a dip in the ocean the small renovations to the boardwalk seem to not really interest them.

Celebrate Brooklyn Takes Stage Again

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What do Childish Gambino, Willie Nelson, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo have in common? All of these performers have performed on the same stage in the most unlikely of places, Prospect Park.

Celebrate Brooklyn is an annual music festival located in Prospect Park, it has become a staple for the communities surrounding Prospect Park. The festival started in Prospect Park in 1979- in order to make the park an epicenter for the the community once again. Prospect Park, like many urban communities, had fallen into disorder during the 1960’s and ‘70’s.

In its early years, Celebrate Brooklyn couldn’t use the Prospect Park bandshell (at 9th street). Which had been deemed unsafe in 1978. After 1983, when the bandshell re-opened, Celebrate Brooklyn grew in its programing. Celebrate Brooklyn has called the bandshell home since.

The 2015 season started June 3rd to a thunderous opening night. Chaka Khan, winner of 10 Grammy awards (two as a member of the band Rufus), was the opening act. Last year the opening act was Janelle Monae, a Grammy nominated artist.

The season isn’t over yet. Upcoming shows include the Willie Nelson benefit concert and numerous free shows. The free shows include acts like tUnE-yArDs, Awa Sangho, and an assortment of other performers.

Celebrate Brooklyn doesn’t just have concerts. Earlier in the season there was dance performances and activities for children.

Celebrate Brooklyn offers amazing opportunities for Park Slope, and its surrounding communities. Celebrate Brooklyn is a showcase of amazing artist and activities, and it offers it all for free. Except for the benefit shows- which are 48 dollars for general admission. However, benefit shows are few in number. Celebrate Brooklyn creates opportunities to see world class performances for free.

Ava, 16, from Carroll Gardens says that she likes going to the shows because they’re “free”, and there are food and beverages that make it a “nice place to escape the heat of summer”. She also likes that “the show goes on, it doesn’t matter if it’s raining!”

Layla, 18, says that all the events she has gone to for Celebrate Brooklyn have been amazingly “organized”, and everything “runs effortlessly. Everyone there seems trained, intelligent, and efficient.” She commends the operation’s dedication, and the large scale productions seem to happen with such apparent ease.

Opportunities to get involved in Celebrate Brooklyn are anything but limited.

If one is eager for a new experience, then they should volunteer. Celebrate Brooklyn makes volunteering easy. Volunteers have flexible hours and a simple orientation, it is a way to pad any sort of resume, and to help the community! Duties for volunteers include; set up, clean up, and attendee assistance. Wearing colorful shirts, volunteers can be seen running around the venue, playing “gatekeeper” to the Brooklyn Friends (Prospect Park members) section of the shows, or doing surveys.

Volunteers also receive benefits. The number of shifts (a typical show is usually 1 – 4 shifts) equates to perks, such as reserved seats to free shows or benefit shows.

Besides being a volunteer, one can also donate to BRIC. BRIC is a nonprofit organization that organizes the shows- a media and arts programmer, they pride themselves on being able to make music and art accessible to everyone.

The final, and probably easiest, way to get involved is to simply attend the shows.  These events are meant to bring everyone from all over Brooklyn, and the city, to a common realm. People from all walks of life are welcome, and it’s ultimately a way to meet new people and to have fun.

Coney Island Beach Unsanitary Conditions Not Noticed by the Public

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coney-island-new-yorkThe light brown sand is covered with women laid on multicolor towels tanning in the bright sun. Men in groups toss volleyballs back and forth across the beach. Families share laughs and in between probably take selfies with the hashtag “Coney Island.” In the distance, the water is dark blue and cold as ice. Pathways are uneasy to walk on and  trash cans are overfilled causing litter to be buried in the sand or thrown in the water.

Coney Island Beach has been reported in several sources to be in unsatisfactory condition. It has excessive amounts of litter, pathways that can cause potential trip hazards and an abundance amount of maintenance issues. However, Coney Island visitors enjoy the sunbathing weather on the sand claiming that the beach is actually better than others in the NYC area.

The area’s history as a seaside resort and amusement park is legendary and whether the beach is unsanitary or not, hasn’t stopped the public from enjoying the location.

The NYC Report Card was designed to be an easy-to-use tool for communities and public officials to assess their local beaches.

The 2015 report does not show any improvement as the status is still considered “unsatisfactory.” Almost a third of fountains failed inspection as the reasons for failure were insufficient pressure to take a drink, algae, weeds, or other unsanitary substance at the fountain’s foot.  Pathway maintenance at the beach also remains a challenge as they fell from a score of 99 in 2011 to a score of 78 in 2015. A third of surveyed areas on the boardwalk suffered from trip hazards in the form of missing, raised or sunken sections.

Little has changed since  the 2007 report, where “excessive broken glass was found at 40 percent of transects and excessive litter also impacted 40 percent of surveyed areas.” One quarter of the pathways suffered from wooden boards that were raised or missing, causing potential trip hazards and maintenance issues include spilled paint and loose nails. These unsafe conditions can end in injuries for Coney Island visitors, especially with 15 million visitors in 2006.

However, Coney Island visitors are not alarmed by these unsanitary conditions. The legendary experience the resort is known for still attracts then.

Coney Island is well known as the site of amusement parks and a seaside resort. The attractions reached a historical peak during the first half of the 20th century.

According to Brooklyn history, “as soon as the summer sun starts to scorch the Brooklyn pavement, Coney Island resurrects itself for another season of screeching rides and mischievous amusements as thousands migrate to its beach and boardwalk.”

A woman sunbathing on the sand said that the rides attract her to come to the beach. A man tanning under his umbrella said that the rides also did attract him, but also the convenience of the beach. It is local, easy to get there, more anemities and the bathroom is close to the sand area. A woman added that the relaxation and convenience attracts her to come to the beach. Although the beach is not to its upscale point of cleanliness, people are still attracted to its desirable assets.

People claim to be aware of the excessive amount of litter, but it is not “noticeable.” A lady said “The beach is actually the cleanest, it is cleaner than Orchard beach where in the water you step in diapers and tampons.” Another man said “It is not terrible, not bad and not really noticeable.”

Although people claimed that the litter was unnoticeable, they made suggestions for the future of the beach. Women said that there should be more garbage cans on the beach because people may feel it is too far and instead bury trash into the sand. A man added that people should be responsible for picking up their trash.

Baruch’s Business Students get Advice From J.P Morgan’s Finest

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Imagine being a Baruch College student, majoring in business, would career advice from successful JPMorgan managing be helpful?

 

Baruch College located at 55 Lexington Ave in Manhattan, New York is known for having one of the best business programs in the country.

With accounting, economics, finance and plenty more sectors of the business core, Baruch is cultivating thousands of future business men and women. What better way to motivate and ready their students by giving them advice from the biggest banking company in the world.

 

Two managing directors who have worked at J.P Morgan for more than 10 years  offered their expertise advice to the the future business leaders at Baruch. Marilyn Neese, senior Investment Banker says, Neese asserts as she drank her Starbucks Latte, “ I would like to say to my future business women out there, this is a male dominated field, but it’s important to only let this spur you on and not hinder you.” Nesse said. She quickly added “ In Addition, I’d say that students should take advantage of summer programs at J.P Morgan, which are located all throughout Manhattan.” Neese  emphasized the importance of going after something you’re passionate about and building a resume that reflects that.

 

On the 18th floor, is Jonathan Kuziak, an 11 year managing director, who offered his own advice in saying, “ It’s all about networking, learn all the software like Excel, SQL, Powerpoint, and lastly, prepare to balance your life- start that now!”

 

Overall, Neeze and Kuziak offer vital advice for those who seem themselves working for a big company, you must think about where you are now to be successful.

 

 Around the  JP Morgan Headquarters on Park Avenue,there are many opportunities for high school and college students to come and scope out the building and community of JP Morgan. Both Neese and Kuziak say get as comfortable with the company as you can before going on an interview. They both agreed on setting goals for yourself, no matter what field you plan on going into.

 

When asked, “Do you wake up everyday happy to come to J.P Morgan and do your job?” Both Neese and Kuziack said they don’t look at their positions at J.P Morgan as a job but a career that they are more than proud to arrive at and complete.
  Following your passion and getting yourself out there are sufficient ways of succeeding in Business, as Neese and Kuziak have illustrated. “Work hard and get your name out there.” Kuziack insists.

But First — Coffee!

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“But first, coffee.” This quote is one many New Yorkers have heard and live by. It’s what we need to jump start our day. Before work or school we drop by our nearest cafe, Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts and grab a cup. There’s also the occasional time where we stop by one of New York’s well known coffee carts.  I spoke to a man who runs a cart on 24th and Lexington Avenue right outside of the Baruch College campus.  His cart is in competition, with Starbucks and a Dunkin Donuts but his business still thrives.

According an article published by New York Magazine, there are over 3,000 food carts in the city. Each cart makes an average of around $200 to $300 a day, bringing in an annual income of between $7,5000 to $14,000, for those who work seasonally.

The cart owner outside Baruch says he’s been coming to the same spot everyday for over twenty years. His everyday presence showed. Each day as I waited on the line I noticed as he knew everyone’s order down to a tee. He chatted with some customers and even knew some by name. After about a week of daily trips to the cart he knew my order by heart as well. Before I could get the chance to say “Ice coffee with milk and two sugars” he was reaching for the cup and the ice.

He said that it first starts by getting a permit which is one of the hardest parts. As he discussed it his body posture changed and became visibly bothered just reiterating the process. He continued to say that coming to Baruch wasn’t really his decision. He works for a company.  “Yes I work for a very large company (with) coffee carts all over the city!”

He finished by saying that one of the other stressful tasks besides keeping the cart clean and other small chores is making sure to renew his license every two years, which doesn’t seem like an issue but apparently, the years sneak up on you.

Though many might not carry on conversations with him, the cart owner presence and kindness comes with every cup of coffee and surely that’s been a contribution to his lengthy time here at Baruch.

Summer Courses and Their Benefits

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Summer is the season for lounging around and doing nothing until all of a sudden it’s fall all over again. Some people, however, use the summer as an opportunity to advance and stay productive.

There is a significant difference between the Baruch campus in the fall and the campus in the summer. For example, during the summer, you don’t have to wait 20 minutes for the elevators. Although there are significantly fewer students during the summer, they are just as active as those during the school year.

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Baruch College offers a wide range of classes during the summer, from English courses to math courses. Todd, a freshman majoring in finance, said he is taking a college Algebra course. Laura, a sophomore majoring in English literature, is taking an English course. Ben, a freshman majoring in psychology, is taking a psychology course. Why do people take courses during the summer?

Todd said he is taking this course during the summer because he wants to take more advanced math courses during the fall. He said the benefit of taking a class during the summer is that the school building is a lot emptier and calmer than during the school year. Laura said that she is majoring in English Literature and wants to have the least possible classes during the fall. “Having classes helps keep me productive during the summer so I don’t sleep until 3 p.m,” Laura said.

Ben says he wants to finish all the prerequisite courses so that he can focus on taking courses for his major in the fall semester. “It’s annoying not to be able to take classes focused on your major,” Ben said.

According to USA Today, there are three major benefits of taking courses during the summer. The class size is smaller meaning the professor can give individual attention to the student. There are fewer distractions since there is a limit to how many courses a person can take in the summer. This enables the student to focus more on one or two classes. Lastly, it gives the student the ability to catch up or to advance like Todd and Laura.

Summer classes may not seem like the most enjoyable experience in the world, but they have benefits that can help ensure a better school year.