The Paw Print

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

Manhattan

‘Baruchians’ Fight Back Against the System

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“Between the new curriculum, exchange trips, dress code, an entire year of ap calculus gone to waste, allowing discriminatory teachers to teach our classes, completely disregarding the arts programs, and so on, we are pretty upset!” a Baruch junior stated.

With the loss of art programs, international exchange trips and funding for several outstanding teachers, Baruch College Campus High School students finally have enough. The demanding outcry for change within the community has grown in numbers over the past couple of months.

Several juniors have been put through unexpected changes within their assigned classes such as Eunjoo Jung, a rising senior. “I know a lot of people are being upset with being forced into AP’s or not having a chance at an AP they’d like to be in,” he said.

Numerous issues emerge as many complaints by students have been sent to the authorities. However, student representatives have noted that many of these problems have gone unnoticed.

Although student schedules cannot change, programs such as the arts, band, drama and much more have been cut.  One student noted, “It’s true that nothing can be changed anymore with the curriculum next year however it is our responsibility to take back student-elective classes.”

Even though some students feel the need to “protest” so that their voices can be heard, others may disagree. It was agreed that schedules were changed to comply with the AP classes in one’s schedule. A junior of the Baruch community said, “The new curriculum wasn’t changed to satisfy all 410 students. It was built because there were so many complaints about having school period 0 and 9 and how students were getting random freezes in their schedule.” Protesting would lead to the conflict being, “stretched out to more than it really is” creating more problems and fewer solutions.

Students’ Lack Preparedness for Adulthood

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Many high school students learn how to apply the pythagorean theorem to a right triangle, but how many students know how to administer first aide to an injured leg? Schools value core subjects such as English, science, math and history over courses such as educational fitness, art, and health. This misplaced value is evident when comparing the disproportion in credits assigned to each subject. Students are taught that core classes are more essential than extracurriculars which has resulted in detrimental effects.

Art and music classes have made their way to the sidelines. The city education department is partially at fault for this trend. Standardized testing is only required for the core subjects, encouraging students to devote more time to their math assessments and English essays. This unequal distribution of standardized testing reduces the importance of the arts in the eyes of students.

Of the underappreciated classes, health and physical education are needed more than ever. As the obesity rates in the United States rises, the importance of health increases exponentially.  According to CNBC, the world’s leading cause of death is heart disease. How many people in the street would know what to do in case of heart failure? To better prepare students for the real world, schools should incorporate more classes that deal with life skills, such as CPR, first aide, comprehensive sexual education, economics, business etiquette, and home economics.

The Daily Mail reported, “One in 3 university students can’t even boil an egg.” The increase in standardized learning has lead to the prominent lack of preparedness for adulthood. Students do not have the ability to cook, or clean for themselves, rather 45% of college graduates move back in with their parents, according to The Atlantic. The problematic push towards standardized education has disabled graduates, deterring their ability to live independently.

Adding classes that prepare students for basic independent life teach students what they need to thrive.

Summer Time, More Like Work Time

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    Summer time is usually the time for fun and games, but for many students it is time of rigorous hard work. Carlos Lossa, Cynthia Mojica and Adrien Cohen are upcoming seniors at Quest To Learn, who are working for the first time this summer.

    Carlos Lossa who has been working at McDonalds since late May. “I’m only going to work for the remainder of the summer because I have to focus on my senior year” he said. “When I was working, it didn’t have an effect on my school work because I had passed all my finals and regents in June”, he said “I’ve always been an average student, nothing more, nothing less”, he added.

    Cynthia Mojica who has been working at a cafe on Wall Street as a cashier since mid June. “Til summer’s over, so when school starts I’m out,” she said. Cynthia was picked to attend the College Now program but she simply said, “I had no interest in joining”. “Takeaways: Work doesn’t equal school, which is kind of obvious but for me I like taking a day off once in awhile to cool my head or something but nope, work doesn’t let you do that. It’s exhausting but pretty worth it once you get your paycheck”, she said. “Work makes you appreciate the days you have off”, she said, “I guess it just depends on where you work” she concluded.

    Adrien Cohen who has been a bus boy at Sunset Beach. “I’m quitting for the school year because I gotta focus on school, and it shuts down in the fall anyway,” he said. “And it helps in a lot of ways, you get great people skills, you learn how to interact with people”, he said. “You have a respect for the people serving you, you have a respect for life”, he concluded.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!

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ice-cream-966597_960_720“Ice cream is a beautiful thing,” said HuiQi Pan from the journalism class of the Baruch College Now summer program. What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word summer? Ice cream, of course! New York City is seeing a new trend in ice cream this summer: Thailand style rolled ice creams.

"Strawberry Shawty" on 10Below, Mott st.
“Strawberry Shawty” on 10Below, Mott st, NY.

Also known as stir-fried ice cream, they are commonly made in Thailand.

This trend started the summer of 2015 when 10Below stepped onto the streets of Chinatown. Now many stores like this have started to grow with this new trend such as: Juicy Spot, I CE NY, and many more.

Thailand style rolled ice cream is getting popular, but how? Many people say it taste like regular ice cream; it all tastes the same. But what makes rolled ice cream so unique and popular is how creative it is making it and the fascinating outcome.

The ice cream is made on a cold metal plate. The staff puts the base along with any ingredients that you choose for your ice cream on the plate. They start to beat it with metal paddles and make it flat so they can roll it up and place it on a cup ready for you.

Many people record this mesmerizing process and share this exciting experience with their friends and family. Another student from the journalism class, Jailene Rodriguez, said “It’s a cool process.”

"Create your own ice cream" on Penguin Ice Cream, Hester st, NY.
“Create your own ice cream” on Penguin Ice Cream, Hester st, NY.

You can create your own rolled ice cream, most stores have the same ways:

1. Choose a base. (Original, green tea, chocolate, etc.)

2.Choose a flavor. (Banana, strawberry, dragon fruit, oreo, coffee, etc.)

3. Choose toppings. (Crackers, sprinklers, banana, strawberry, etc.)

4.Choose a drizzle. (Caramel, chocolate, whipped cream, nutella, etc.)

Or you can just get the ice creams they have for you. The rolled ice cream costs around $6 to $7 depending on what place you go.

Plenty of other students in the journalism class of the Baruch College Now summer program said that they have tasted the ice cream and it was a fun experience but not many of them had the chance to have it yet they would like to try it one day.

“I think rolled ice cream is overrated. It’s just like normal ice cream,” said Cody Liew, a student. He and many other students think rolled ice cream is just like regular ice cream but the reason that it’s so popular is it’s something that many New Yorkers and tourists from around the world haven’t witnessed.

Have a sweet bite of this ice cream and stay cool for the rest of the summer!

The Looming Danger of Climate Change

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New York City’s Greenmarket celebrates its 40th anniversary this season.

Stands of fruits, vegetables, produce, jams, and breads circle Union Square all year to offer its lively consumers fresh ingredients.

But the yield for fresh ingredients has become unpredictable due to climate change.

Demand for sustenance is high and many farmers are anxious about the looming danger of climate change.

“I can definitely see it affecting us in the future.” Steven, a vendor for Stokes Farm, one of the many providers for the Greenmarket system explained the complications that come with hotter summers.

“Every vegetable is on a different seasonal cycle. Broccoli and spinach don’t do so well in the heat, while tomatoes love hot weather,” he said.

Ahmad, a vendor for John D. Madura Farm, has worked in the field for 11 years.

He talked about unpredictable weather and yields on the farm, saying, “Every month, every week, there’s something different,”

Ahmad expressed concern about climate change and is unsure about the effect it would have on his farm.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency website, many weeds, pests and fungi thrive in warm, humid climates, and farmers currently spend more than $11 billion per year fighting weeds in the United States.

“You get something, you lose something– until you figure out what you need to change,” Ahmad said. To many farmers and vendors at the Greenmarket, climate change is a mysterious dark cloud that hovers over the fields and gives rise to anxiety.

Gentrification in Chinatown: What Do Teens Think?

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Chinatown,_NYC_(2014)_-_12“With every new blue-eyed blonde-haired person moving into Chinatown or starting a business in Chinatown, my fear of being left without a place to live grows and continues to affect the daily lives of my family,” said Andy Wang.

Wang, a 17-year-old student living in Chinatown, witnesses what he sees as the detrimental effects of gentrification everyday. He noted, “Many of the old businesses and markets in Chinatown have closed and been reopened as stupid things, like art galleries.”

As higher-income New Yorkers make plans to renovate and change Chinatown, the prices in the neighborhood rise. Rent, food, and general services rise and force long-time residents out of the neighborhood, as they can no longer afford to live there.

According to the NYU Furman Center, the percentage of Asian people living in the Lower East Side/Chinatown decreased from 35% to 32% from 2000 to 2014. The report also revealed that the median rent in this neighborhood rose a sharp 12% from $881 to $987 between 2005 and 2014.

Vanessa’s Dumplings is a popular store that has increased its prices over the years. The little store on Eldridge Street recently raised the prices of its dumplings to 4 for $1.25. “I grew up eating dumplings that were 5 for $1,” recounted Amy Lin. Although Lin moved to Astoria 3 years ago and no longer lives in Chinatown, she still feels deep ties to the neighborhood where she grew up. “Shops on Grand Street are empty and face bankruptcy,” said Lin of the various fish and vegetable markets that line Grand Street.

While gentrification has the most significant effects on the elderly in Chinatown who have nowhere to go, teens also see why the changes to the neighborhood are detrimental to its future. “Gallery openings with cheese and wine on Mulberry is not what Chinatown is known for,” says Maggie Loh, who lives on Mott Street. The transition from local businesses that sell herbs and tea to hipsters showing off their art is occurring at a somewhat alarming rate. “One benefit I can think of is the sharing of culture, says Loh. “But the line is drawn when people start to take over and try to profit or take advantage of a cheap living situation,” she warns.

While many teenagers enjoy the benefits of gentrification, such as modernization and cleanliness, many have problems with the erasure of Chinese culture that consequently follows. “Chinatown isn’t really Chinatown if the majority of the people are no longer Chinese,” says Sophia Wang, a former resident of Chinatown who now lives in the East Village.

“The drawbacks are that culture is going to be destroyed and Chinese families, who already make not a lot of cash, are going to have to relocate to cheaper neighborhoods,” says Nick Feng. This is already happening in New York. According to a New York Times article, Sunset Park in Brooklyn recently had an influx of Chinese immigrants from Chinatown. Many Chinese people have spread out from Chinatown in Manhattan and moved to other neighborhoods such as Bensonhurst, Brooklyn and Flushing, Queens.

Gentrification has threatened many New York City neighborhoods in the past and continues to creep up on many more. Chinatown is next. It is clearly an important issue to those directly affected by it and even those indirectly affected by it.

“Most teens are subconsciously aware because they experience it everyday but don’t fully try to grasp the detrimental effects,” said Loh.

Changing New York

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New York City, also known as the Big Apple ,is known for many things such as skyscrapers, monumental places, and good schools. But there is also many negative things in New York such as homeless people lying on the sidewalk, subways and park benches.

When hearing New York, there are things we can do to change it to make it better, such as reducing the amount of homeless people. We can do this by making the shelters safer. The reason some people do not go into shelters is because they are overcrowded. Sometimes in shelters some of the homeless people sell and do drugs, can rob you and sometimes they rape you. In an interview with David Pirtle (a man who was once a homeless person) he states, “You know, I had my shoes stolen, just like people said you get your shoes stolen. I think this is more generally the case with people, is that you hear a lot of terrible things about shelters, that shelters are dangerous places, that they’re full of drugs and drug dealers, that people will steal your shoes, and there are bedbugs and body lice”. Most homeless people prefer the streets over the homeless shelter because shelters are so dangerous and also because they know that their belongings won’t get stolen by people.

They also live on the street because in the shelters there are different things such as bed bugs, lice and a whole bunch of diseases. An article called “10 Reasons Homeless People Sleep Out in the Cold – and Die” by Piper Hoffman, it states,“as if homelessness didn’t cause enough physical discomfort (hunger, untreated pain from medical conditions, often being dirty, carrying all of one’s belongings), shelters often add a couple, like bed bugs and body-lice, which are inevitable when a different homeless person sleeps in a bed each night”.

 

“Cone get the Scoop”

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(Credit: Museum Of Ice Cream/Instagram)
From: Museum Of Ice Cream/Instagram           Ice cream decorations and pool of sprinkles!

 

There is a new event these days for any ice cream and art lovers.

The Museum of Ice Cream is “a month long interactive museum”, stated by the Museum of Ice Cream page. that started on July 29th and will be ending on August 31st. This new fad is right down the block from the Whitney museum, on 100 Ganservoot street. It was “curated by a collective of ice cream obsessed designers, artists, and friends”, also stated by the Museum of Ice Cream home page.

There are so many things you can do in this museum. According to museumoficecream, “Museum of Ice Cream interactive highlights include a swimmable rainbow ‘sprinkle’ pool, edible balloons, an inversion chocolate room and a collaborative massive ice cream sundae.”

People from all ages can enjoy this museum. “ It was a fascinating experience and I absolutely recommend for everybody to go. No matter how old you are you will definitely have an amazing time”, Stanley Rodriguez stated, a 13 year old who visited with his family.

“ It was amazing!” stated 5 year old Hailey, my sister.

ice cream museum
Credit: Msfabulous.com        Edible helium balloons, ice cream sandwich swing, and a ice cream scoop seesaw

 People also loved the ice cream experience. “I love how when you first walk inside they give you a smile and a bowl of ice cream,” said Carolyn Ortega, a teen who went with friends.

Others also liked the taste test, made by Dr. Irwin Adam, founder of Future Food studio. “I loved playing with the flavors, tasting the ‘miracle berry’ and the lemon actually going from sour to sweet”, stated Natalie Rodriguez, an 18 year old, who decided to check it out with her significant other.

 The Museum of Ice Cream has  had great timing, with all of these summer heat waves, and everyone’s love for ice cream in the summer.

Unfortunately, the Museum of Ice Cream is currently sold out and can only be viewed by people who previously bought tickets.

  From edible candy balloons with breathable helium to an ice cream sandwich swing, or even a ice cream scoop see-saw and a whole pool of sprinkles. There are so many things to choose from in this museum.

 But it’s not just about the tasting,visitors also get to learn more about everyone’s favorite treat. A whole museum worth of knowledge just about ice cream. But of course there is still a whole lot of fun in the Museum of Ice Cream.

 

Pokémon Go Becoming A Local Marketing Tool

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Pokémon Go is a whole new playing field for Pokémon Trainers and Personal Trainers alike.

With such a big craze putting players on their feet and across the city, local businesses have been quick to make the best of this traffic. New York Sports Club, Big Daddy’s Diner in Gramercy, and even Baruch College are just some of the locations using Pokémon as a means of marketing.

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Big Daddy’s Diner in Gramercy advertising the Pokéball Shake in their front window.

“Parents tell their kids to catch a pokémon to get 15% off the bill,” says Eric, the manager at Big Daddy’s Diner. It offers discounts and specially prepared shakes in light of the Pokémon Go hype. Though the diner’s business hasn’t noticeably changed, he’s seen the Pokéball Shake bring in around 100 people since it was added.

But the shake has also gotten in the way of business, at times. The idea came from the diner’s director of marketing and was intricately designed by the chef, which can be a problem when it comes to preparing the shake during busy hours.

“It can create a lot of work,” Eric says, but explains that the hassle is worth the publicity. “It’s a two-way street,”

The same applies at Baruch when it comes to Pokémon Go. “I’m always thinking of way to get students’ attention,” says Mazi, the College Now Director. Baruch uses social media and its own Pokémon sightings to drive traffic online and get more students to follow their college activity. It’s a way of drawing attention to sites where students might not otherwise care to look.

But of course, it means more than just getting the word out for the staff at Baruch. As Evelis, Baruch’s college assistant, will tell you a majority of the office is playing Pokémon Go on their own time. (And hey, it’s hard not to!)

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New York Sports Club’s Pokémon sign at 23rd and Lexington, shortly before it was taken down.

However,  limitations prevent big name corporations from marketing with Pokémon Go. A consultant at New York Sports Club on 23rd Street created a Pokéstop in the gym, as many businesses do to attract attention. A sign was put outside, though the manager explains how she was forced to take it down just 20 minutes later.

Corporations like New York Sports Club actually require permission from higher authorities before putting out complimentary offers, and apparently pokémon falls into that category. But even during this brief time, pokémon brought in customers who wouldn’t have otherwise come. I was one of the few who wandered in during this short time frame.

The manager explains the attention this brings to the gym. “Maybe it’s just curiosity” she suggests. They’ll wander in for pokémon, but leave knowing a new place they can visit in the future.

Kids Take Over The New Era of Wonderama!

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Parents say good luck as kids prepare for the taping of Wonderama (Photo by Brandy Sarabia)
Parents say good luck and the stage director explains what is going to happen for the live taping of Wonderama (Photo by Brandy Sarabia)

An upcoming hit sensation that is bound to sweep the nation. Chuck Armstrong and his studio crew are in New York City bringing back an old sensation, Wonderama.

What is Wonderama?

“A TV show made for kids, by kids,” says Chuck Armstrong, the executive chief producer for Wonderama. First introduced to American families in 1955, this show brings joy to kids and adults. “We’re trying to show things that everyday kids can do to really attain their goals in life,” says Armstrong. Not only is this show encouraging kids to reach their goals, but it also teaches kids how to overcome challenges. Everyone who collaborated on Wonderama has a story about overcoming challenges. Coco and Breezy are 27-year-old twins who were bullied during their childhood. They overcame their bullying by designing glasses to help avoid making eye contact with people. After high school, they moved to New York City. They now own a well-known eyewear company and are DJ’s for Wonderama.

David Osmond, is a 36 year old singer who is also fighting multiple sclerosis. Although he is overcoming MS, Osmond is funny and outgoing. It’s no wonder he is the host of the show why kids love him!

“I’ve hosted a lot of shows, but nothing like this. I’m having the time of my life” chuckles David. He isn’t the only one who is having the time of his life. The look on the kids faces as they watch live animals and people dancing makes it almost seem like a miniature Disney World.

What makes Wonderama even more special?

Wonderama gives kids the opportunity to feel special. Take for example, Nate, the eight year old kid who raised money for charity. Or the seven-year-old girl who was a boxer. To make it even better, the kids in the audience demonstrate their talents. Wonderama gives kids an opportunity to become a something more than just an average kid.

While Wonderama is a children’s tv show, people of all ages can enjoy watching David Osmond, Mr. Blue, and a special guest appear when the show airs on tv, October 2016. They are still filming the first season at Baruch Performing Arts Center.