Albany is expected to approve $25 million dollars for the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (MTA) Student Metrocard Program. But this is not the end of the speculation. That approved budget of $25 million had already been cut down from $45 million leaving the MTA in a deficit hole. The MTA’s budget deficit is at approximately $800 million.

The decision to keep student Metrocards was a relief to many parents, teachers and students who feared, more than six months ago, they would have to start paying half fare the 2010-2011 school year. The decision six months ago was met with protests by students, parents, teachers and transit workers.

One of the major groups that represented New York City students was the New York City Student Union (NYCSU). In early February, NYCSU collected expired student Metrocards with statements on the back from individual students. Those statements were messages to the MTA pleading their situation if the Student Metrocards were cut. In early June, NYCSU planned a March for Student Metrocards over the Brooklyn Bridge. The march concluded in front of City Hall where a rally of students protested the possibility of student Metrocard cuts.

This news can only come as a sigh of relief from students and parents who will not have to pay over $1000 get to and from school.

What do Lil’ Wayne, Blue’s Clues and the University of Zimbabwe have in common? They all appeared on Brooklyn Technical High School’s Moodle website on June 16th.
Earlier this afternoon (June 16th), the Moodle website’s image was swapped. It is believe that this was a prank by the same person who sent the hoax email about school closing back in January.

Moodle is a program purchased by Brooklyn Tech last year to create a more tech-savvy feel to a “Technical school.” As of now, Moodle is used for lab classes to make digital submissions possible. Other uses of Moodle include language classes and graphics classes. Moodle has been criticized by many teachers and students as unnecessary but there are some positives to the program.

So far, Technites have gotten a good laugh from the prank because of the end of the marking period. Moodle is no longer needed to submit any work for classes. As of now (June 16th, 8:57 PM EST), Brooklyn Tech has taken notice of the situation and closed Moodle. But the security breach will leave an impression on Tech students as they end this 2009-2010 school year. Fan pages on Facebook have been created and students are considering applying to the University of Zimbabwe.

Moodle: http://moodle.bths.edu/

Whether you know it, time is running out on the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (MTA) decision on New York City Student Metrocards. Later this month, the MTA will vote on whether or not to continue the Student Metrocard program. The decision is for students getting free public transportation now to have to pay half fare next school year and full fair the following year. A decision heavily criticized by parents, students, teachers, transit workers and MTA employees.

The New York City Student Union, on June 11th, organized a March for Student Metrocards across the Brooklyn Bridge. The March was led by Brooklyn Technical’s own Lucas Johnson and Henry Pines who spoke with BTHSnews.org about the effects of losing student Metrocards. Johnson did the math and predicted a expense of over a $1000 a year for each child to get to school. Pines criticized the MTA’s wasteful spending by stating only three years ago the MTA had a billion dollar budget surplus and today they are in the hole.

To show that students care, back in March, the NYC Student Union collected expired student Metrocards from students all over New York City with messages on the back of them explaining how the cuts would effect them. At a March public hearing, the NYC Student Union presented the student Metrocards to MTA officials pleading the students point of view. On June 11th, they used 3000 expired student Metrocards and strung them up on a line to walk the Brooklyn Bridge.

Both Johnson and Pines stressed the right to an education and taking away student Metrocards would be taking away that right. The march also landed on the same day as an organized student walkout for student Metrocards. Students left school early to protest student Metrocards at City Hall. The MTA is expected to make their decision on student Metrocards in late June before summer vacation.

Each year, people like us all around the country make choices. Choices that could injure themselves, choices that could hurt others. And unfortunately, many of these choices are permanent.

Why aren’t these choices are given the chance to be checked, or reviewed? Sometimes, we never get the chance to go back and fix it once something has been done. That is what saddens me.

What also saddens me was the fact that there was nothing that I could do whenever these choices were made. I, like many of you, probably felt helpless. I don’t want to feel helpless anymore.

This is where SADD comes in. The purpose of this organization is to provide us with another choice. I want to create something that tells us there is a better solution, another way. Join SADD and change that “I” in that last sentence into a “We”.

There is a call to change. Not the major problems that exist in the world. No. The problems that we face everyday as people growing up in New York City. These are the problems that really matter.

I look forward to changing the way we deal with our problems in Tech. You know I can’t possibly do this alone. And that is why I ask that you join.

I look forward to changing Tech with you.

Spread the word.
Melinda Momplaisir ,
Kwame Ocran

Descriptions of SADD Positions (If you are applying for the Executive Board, This May Help)

The President must attend all meetings and fulfill these responsibilities:
• Report directly to the advisor, who must confirm/approve plans
• Work with fellow officers to plan meetings, set agendas and notify those who may be required to attend the meetings
• Lead officer meetings
• Delegate responsibilities for projects to officers, subcommittees, and participants
• Maintain responsibility for the committees’ meetings and establish deadlines
• Facilitate general SADD chapter meetings
• Serve as spokesperson and role model for the SADD chapter
• Approve financial expenditures

The Vice President must attend all meetings and fulfill these responsibilities:
• Report to the advisor, as requested by the president
• Assume leadership for the president in any role he/she cannot fulfill or in any role that is requested.
• Attend all meetings and assist in the delegation of responsibilities and implementation of activities/programs
• Serve as spokesperson and role model for the SADD chapter
• Serve as public relations contact
• Act as liaison to SADD state coordinator.

The Parliamentarian must attend all meetings and fulfill these responsibilities:
• Uphold and refer to school constitution
• Regulate other members’ activities
• Assist President and Vice President in facilitating meetings and following agendas
• Serve as Club Team Council Representative

The Secretary must attend all meetings and fulfill these responsibilities:
• Keep accurate records of EACH meeting and provide a copy to all officers and attendees as well as to the advisor
• Keep track of names and attendance
• Maintain committee lists
• Maintain chapter correspondences and other contacts in the community
• Assume the duties of the VP when requested
• Work with other officers to plan meetings
• Post meeting and activity times and places
• Actively participate in planning and implementing chapter activities and programs

The Treasurer must attend all meetings and fulfill these responsibilities:
• Keep an account of all chapter income and expenses
• Maintain bank accounts and pay bills as necessary
• Provide an up-to-date report of chapter finances at each meeting
• Work with other officers to plan meetings
• Actively participate in planning and implementing chapter activities and programs

The Public Relations Coordinator must attend all meetings and fulfill these responsibilities:
• Maintain public profile in media outlets
• Update local news stations and newspapers of events going on in school
• Maintain relationship with school newspaper
• Work with historian and communications coordinator to update website, Facebook group and spread the word about events.

The Class Representative must attend all meetings and fulfill these responsibilities:
• Represent his/her grade level and serve as primary role model for that class
• Recruit classmates to help with projects
• Provide information about SADD to classmates
• Attend various officer meetings and other meetings as requested

The Historian must attend all meetings fulfill these responsibilities:
• Take pictures and video of each meeting
• Work with the Communications Coordinator and Public Relations Coordinator to update website/Facebook group.

The Communications Coordinator must attend all meetings and fulfill these responsibilities:
• Maintain an active and aesthetically pleasing website to keep students updated
• Maintain the SADD Facebook group
• Work with historian and public relations to update and advertise
• Create posters for club activities along with the Public Relations Coordinator

Dear Prospective Members:
I hope you’ve had a successful and prosperous academic year. To schedule your appointments for interviews for the SADD executive board, please follow directions below.
Interviews will be Held in 7C1/ Cafeteria. Please Fill in the Sign Up Sheet with the Date and Time. Certain Times will not be available, as I have Regents Exams and other engagements.
Please Confirm with me the evening before. Failure to confirm and/or show up to your interview will result in jeopardy in reaching a position on the executive board.
Here is the site to sign up for interviews. I don’t think there would be a need to put more slots in, but there is, then I will set them up.

http://www.helpersignup.com/viewsheet.php?type=1&sheet=79c7eaf0659d3651771bdb8eef90d631

I had the honor of attending the SGO Induction Ceremony on June 3rd, 2010 for the induction of student government officers of the 2010-2011 school year. Mr. Williams and Mr. Asher both praised a job well done by all of Student Government during the 2009-2010 school year. In addition, Mr. Williams announced the student government officers for the 2010-2011 school year.
Results are below:

SGO Speaker:

Dania Sandfia

Class of 2011

President – Ikra Ahmad
Vice President – Yevgeniy Berdzenishvili
Parliamentarian – David Shadburn
Treasurer – Alexandr Bukhta
Secretary – Samiha Tashneem

Class of 2012

President – Jacob Azrilyant
Vice President – Marouf Hossain
Parliamentarian – Alissa Borshchenko
Treasurer – Jim Chan
Secretary – Sharnjit Dhaliwal

Class of 2013

President – Carolyne Ricardo
Vice President – Simona Zhukovski
Parliamentarian – Linda Wang
Treasurer – Zaib Javaid
Secretary – Rebecca D’Allorso

Student Government Oath:

Here are some questions presidential and vice presidential candidates answered during the debate section. Below is an interactive video.

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
DAVID SHADBURN
IKRA AHMAD

The Class of 2011 Elections have begun!

Look below for Candidate Speeches and choose wisely!
Vote on BTHS.edu starting May 17th!
DON’T FORGET TO VOTE BELOW IN OUR PRE-ELECTION POLLS!

David Shadburn

Ikra Ahmad

Shari Ilyas

Eugene Berd

The Class of 2012 Elections have begun!

Look below for Candidate Speeches and choose wisely!
Vote on BTHS.edu starting May 17th!
DON’T FORGET TO VOTE BELOW IN OUR PRE-ELECTION POLLS!

MICHELLE GORBONOSOV

JACOB AZRILYANT

For freshmen, sophomores and juniors, we have come to a point in the school year where we will have to select our classes for the following year. To aid us with our selection, Brooklyn Tech has created an online database system called Daedalus for students to use. Although not luxurious in design, Daedalus keep tracks of one’s transcript, one’s report card grades, one’s attendance and allows oneself to sign up for classes. However it is not important to know how you sign up for these classes, it is important to know what situation you are getting yourself into when you get into these classes. In an academically rigorous school like Brooklyn Tech, everyone wants to boast about what advanced classes they’re in, but how many of these people know what they are getting themselves into?

Advanced Placement classes are considered the most difficult courses offered in high school. These classes allow for high school students to experience what a college class is like before they take it in college. Aside from this what is another reason that so many students apply for such classes? Well colleges like to see it on one’s transcript- well at least that is what most students think! Students tend to think that taking a AP course will prepare them for a college course. No. In fact, it will make you look like you’re ready for a college course. When in reality the AP course is nothing like the college course. But don’t get me wrong, I believe AP courses are a good thing, but just keep in mind the situation you are getting yourself into when you apply and assess how many of these courses you can actually juggle. Hopefully this article will make you ask yourself “How many is too many?”

Taking a AP class will not be as simple as signing up for it. With a click of a mouse, you can sign up for an AP class but only with studying and hard work will one do well in such a class. These classes are designed for people who are ready and interested in the next level of education. Expect stacks of homework each night and constant quizzing and testing. So with this in mind, imagine a person who applies for 3 or even 4 of these Advanced Placement classes. Then top off those courses with possible extracurricular activities, social time with friends and SAT preparation- you will have a vision of a dreadful school year.

One mistake I see frequently among sophomores applying for junior year classes is that sophomores forget about other junior year responsibilities and overload themselves with classes. Junior year is the introductory year of your Brooklyn Tech major which may already offer Advanced Placement classes. In addition to these major classes, the AP English course is available as well, along with a AP Math class such as Calculus AB and AP American History. Some incoming juniors will apply for ALL of these classes on top of their major. BUT WAIT! Don’t must juniors also take the SATs? They do! So add the SATs to the mountain of work that one will receive from their AP courses.

I personally have friends that have 3 and even 4 AP class, and they are deprived of sleep. I either see them sleep in the late night or in the early mornings. They give up on extracurricular activities and as well as their social time. Now think, Is it really worth sacrificing your health for these colleges that don’t even know your name yet? No it is not. Personally I do not believe anything over 2 Advanced Placement classes a year is safe for any person’s health. Advanced Placement classes should be courses that interest you; not classes that you think will make colleges like you. In reality, if you are not interested in the course, you will burn out before the finish line. So think your decisions though. Do not be afraid to revise your Daedalus selections. My only hope is that I have made you more aware.

On April 10th, 2010, the Young Entrepreneur Association (YEA) hosted it’s 3rd Annual Career Day, in partnership with the Brookyn Tech Alumni Foundation and National Honor Society, at Brooklyn Technical High School. Various successful alumni from fields ranging from architecture to technology were present to explain their careers. During this special occasion, students are able to have one on one conversations with professionals themselves to receive helpful information on how to purse similar careers. For two sessions, alumni will usually prepare a presentation and then allow students to ask questions. Questions ranging from their major at Brooklyn Technical to how much they make are posed. BTHSnews.org was able to speak to President of YEA, Gary Jiang, about what he thought of the overall event, various alumni on their reactions and students for feedback.

Special Thanks to:
Young Entrepreneur Association – Gary Jiang, Shah Ahmed, Steven Gordon, Jasmine Gao, Bailey Hu, Daria Kim, Denzel John, Nancy Ngok
Brooklyn Tech Alumni Foundation
National Honor Society
Mr. Asher, Mr. Fanning, Jumaane D. Williams, Stanley Ng, Dupe Ajayi, Stephanie Louie