Student essay on 9/11 photography, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Commemorath'e edition bv the students of Stu^-vesant High Schtxil

Teams Bond as Schedules Fall Apart Josh Ross and Arthur Tebbel Nov. 13—Stuyvesant’s proximity to the don’t know if I’ve done that.” Kunjappu. “But now we’re seeing each other World Trade Center has had a devastating The girls’ volleyball team also had every day. The tragedy has definitely impact on the psyche of the student body. scheduling problems. Because of time con­ brought us closer together.” As of now, the Nonetheless, Stuyvesant’s athletic commu­ straints, they were forced to play a double­ boys’ soccer team is 5-2. nity has turned this terrible tragedy into a header on October 22, that included a 4:00 In a gesture of good sportsmanship. source of motivation. Mirroring the nation’s game against High School of Humanities Hunter College High School’s girls’ cross­ newfound unity, Stuyvesant’s teams have and a 5:00 game against Washington Irving. country team presented the Stuyvesant bonded as never before. According to PSAL regulations, teams must team with cupcakes before a meet on This struggle for unity has not been have at least a 24 hour rest between events. October 10. According to co-captain without its obstacles. Since September 11, Further, the volleyball team did not have Michele Hirsch, Hunter, a chief rival of most teams were not able to practice at access to Brooklyn Tech’s gym, forcing them Stuyvesant, is usually the one “glaring at us normal times, nor at familiar locations. to practice before school at the St. Francis before meets. It’s amazing, because what Furthermore, the New York Public School College gym from 9-11 a.m. just to stay has happened has allowed us to put our dif­ Athletic League (PSAL) shuffled game sharp. ferences aside and come together.” schedules to accommodate Stuyvesant’s ^‘We lost about 15 practices,” said Not all teams have been that support­ awkward situation. coach Phil Fisher. “I’m not able to spend the ive. During the Stuyvesant football home­ The boys’ soccer schedule has been time I want to with the veterans or the coming game on October 7, Boys and Girls among the most affected by the tragedy. rookies. This will probably prevent us from taunted them from the other sideline. After Over a period of 11 days, October 22 to reaching our full potential. a sack, a Boys and Girls defensive lineman November 2, they had nine games, includ­ While having to practice early may shouted, “A quarterback is gonna get hurt ing one on a Saturday. BrooUyn Tech gra­ have seemed like an inconvenience, the vol­ today, boy!” ciously let the soccer team practice on its leyball team made the best of the situation. The football team, however, was able to field during Stuy’s time there, giving them a According to co-captain Amanda Zifchak, receive professional help—literally. On chance to prepare for the onslaught of the volleyball team went out for lunch October 23, New York Giants wide receiver games to come. together after practices, using the time to Amani Toomer came to a Peglegs practice The varsity baseball team, which does­ bond. “We talked things over/’ said Zifchak. to speak to and instruct the wide receivers. n’t play its first game until April, was also “I feel like we definitely became a closer­ Further, on November 7, the Peglegs will affected by the disaster. Tryouts, which are knit team, and it helps to talk things over, head to Hofstra University to attend a New usually held from September 15 to October especially now.” The volleyball team is York Jets practice. These gestures were in 15, had to be rescheduled and condensed, undefeated so far this season. response to the amount of public sympathy as well as moved from the East River fields Senior Thomas Kunjappu, a boys’ soc­ Stuyvesant has received in recent weeks. in Manhattan to Bay 8th Street in Brooklyn. cer co-captain, said his team is bonding in Martha Singer, Assistant Principal of “Every year 1 feel as if I’m able to reach out the same way. “There’s always a bond Physical Education, said, “Just as we’ve unit- to every kid that wants to play baseball,” between team members, just because ed as a count!:ry, Stuyvesant’s athletes are said baseball coach Matt Hahn. “This year I teams spend so much time together,” said bonding togelitfier as teams.”

Stuy Students Support Stunned City Adina David Among the hordes of volunteers donat­ close to the wreckage by going to the 66th away. However, Fisher and other students ing time, goods, and their very blood after Street Red Cross four days in a row. On the were not discouraged and went back with the September 11 tragedy were dozens of third day, Saturday, September 15, an ERV signs to cheer on the rescue workers. “My Stuyvesant students. driver allowed him to come along and help sign said ‘Help make the world a better Despite having been so close to the hand out supplies to the “very tired, dust- place’ and had pictures of fire trucks and horror, many Stuy students were eager to covered, rescue workers,” according to American flags on it,” she said. return to the area to help. Others served Okochi. At the end of the day, “I was tired, With significant time away from food, organized supplies, or just cheered on but content at being able to have helped school, many students needed a distraction rescue workers. out,” said Okochi. from the tragedy. Those who couldn’t get to SU President and Chairman of the Stuyvesant football players, many in Manhattan helped out local organizations. American Red Cross Queens Chapter Youth jerseys, donated their time at the Salvation Senior Lawrence Bianco assisted with Group, Jukay Hsu, began working at his Army and helped out on a boat called food donations at Zion Lutheran Church on branch that very afternoon. He fielded “Chefs with Spirit,” which was stationed at Staten Island on Saturday, September 15. phone calls about donations, helped estab­ Chelsea Piers. Seven members, including “The sandwiches we made got sent to the lish a shelter at Shea Stadium with supplies seniors Nick Oxenhorn and Sergey work site along with bottled water, socks, and a rest area for workers, and took part in Weinstein, were on the boat from midnight and other goods.” He continued, “It wasn’t fundraisers at Queens Center. to 8 A.M. on the morning of Sunday, much, but if everyone does a little, it adds On Thursday, September 13, Hsu visit­ September 16. According to Oxenhorn, ed Ground Zero with other Red Cross vol­ “Three of us served food, and four of us did unteers. “Our main purpose there was to blue collar-like chores to help on the boat.” get the rescue workers to come to Shea According to Oxenhorn, the dinner guests Stadium and rest, since many of them included emergency workers and officers, Stuyvesant lost over $1 million worth of equip­ worked 20 hours a day and got very little many “traumatized by the way in which ment and other materials during the recovery sleep,” he said. they found people in the wreckage.” effort. To donate to the Stuyvesant Recovery On Friday, junior Max Mecklenburg, Many students wanted to assist in Fund, please contact: energized by five cans of Red Bull energy some way, but organizations were over­ drinC worked from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lower whelmed with volunteers. Stuyvesant High School Manhattan’s P.S. 234. He was able to catch Sophomore Rebecca Fisher went with PA Recovery Fund an emergency rescue vehicle (ERV) to Collegiate School, a private school on the P.O. Box 3531 Ground Zero. Mecklenburg went back for Upper West Side, to a Clarkson Street supply Church Street Station two consecutive days, eventually being center near the West Side Highway to dis­ New York, NY 10008-3531 turned away by the Red Cross because of tribute food, clothes, buckets and other his age. supplies. The center had so many volun­ Sunpei Okochi, a sophomore, also got teers that the Collegiate School was turned 22 The Spectator • Fall 2001

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