The Student-Run Newspaper of Townsend Harris High School at Queens College

The Classic
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Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos listens to students planning their Symposium presentations during a Humanities Seminar class in the Townsend Harris library.
NYC Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos tours THHS, as funding for the school’s early college program remains uncertain
May 26, 2025
Latin teacher Christopher Amanna at the Greece and Italy trip information session.
International trip to Italy and Greece planned for next winter
May 19, 2025
Unopposed running pair for SU President and Vice President Jenna Abdelhamid, and Evelene Chao during the SU debate
While awaiting the 2025 SU election results, voters discuss how informed they were about the election
May 18, 2025
Custodian Hector Benítez making a heart, and brings decades of smiles and songs to Townsend Harris
The Man Who Opens Doors: Custodian Hector Benítez brings decades of smiles and songs
May 14, 2025
MSA members attending the 2025 MIST competition at Hofstra University
MSA competes and qualifies for national MIST competition following Hofstra competition
May 9, 2025
Sophomore Aki Benjamin
‘Heimler’s History’ at home: sophomore creates ‘Aki’s History Review’ videos
May 25, 2025
Pamela Del Vecchio, Secretary to Assistant Principal of Organization Ellen Fee, is the mastermind behind the system that ensures all classes with an absent teacher are covered by another teacher.
Substitute Procedures: inside the daily puzzle that needs solving in order to cover all classes
April 18, 2025
English Teacher and UFT Chapter Chair Kevin McDonaugh
Exploring our inner “shadow” through the English selective “Wherever you go, There you are”
April 9, 2025
Custodian Mario Vasquez
Custodian Mario Vasquez discusses his time maintaining THHS
March 26, 2025
Digital Shift Challenges No. 2 Pencil.
With digital testing on the rise, is the No. 2 pencil no longer #1 in the classroom?
March 20, 2025
Students and staff share their opinion on the gym uniform policy.
Opinion Roundup : are gym uniforms really necessary?
May 24, 2025
Students studying and preparing for tests
OPINION: Teachers should return graded assignments no longer than two weeks after they are due
May 8, 2025
Students share their study methods.
Opinion Roundup: As AP season arrives, students share their most trusted study methods
May 6, 2025
Students express their thoughts on the state of the bathrooms.
Opinion roundup: students sound off on the state of the bathrooms
April 29, 2025
Students share their opinions on the effects of social media.
Opinion roundup: how growing up on social media affects social lives
April 22, 2025
Screening attendees watching the Breaking the News documentary
A special screening of Breaking the News documents the founding of The 19th
May 21, 2025
Participants discussing the new Hunger Games book: Sunrise on the Reaping in the library.
Pizza, ice cream, and “Hunger”: the reading initiative hosts a book club on “Sunrise on the Reaping,” the new “Hunger Games” novel
May 20, 2025
Symphony Orchestra and Chorus after the closing performance during Spring Concert
Annual Spring Concert features wide variety of music, with everything from Gustav Holst to Bruno Mars
May 11, 2025
Audrey, played by Julia Waters, and Seymour, played by Ethan Ben-David during a scene of Little Shop of Horrors
Cast looks back at the Nightingale Theatre Company’s production of Little Shop of Horrors
May 7, 2025
The panel of authors present during the Writers at Queens roundtable event
Writers at Queens series features roundtable of authors sharing their experiences in the world of publishing
April 23, 2025
Red Cross Club hosts coloring event to support seniors.
Red Cross hosts annual Color a Smile event to share art with senior citizens
May 22, 2025
An illustration provides a 3D graphical representation of a spherical-shaped, measles virus particle studded with glycoprotein tubercles in this handout image obtained by Reuters April 9, 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Handout via REUTERS/ File Photo
STEM department pitches new elective courses in topics like human pathology and animal behavior
May 17, 2025
Chemistry teacher Adel Kadamani shares his running journey.
After running over 25,000 miles, chemistry teacher Adel Kadamani imparts his exercise philosophy
April 28, 2025
Students observing the 2024 solar eclipse, a rare celestial phenomenon, and a topic discussed in Astronomy Club
Club spotlight: Astronomy Club aims to inspire a love for studying the stars
April 16, 2025
Students explore learning styles despite questions over their validity.
How the theory of “learning styles” influences learners, despite arguments that the theory lacks scientific validity
April 12, 2025
The Student-Run Newspaper of Townsend Harris High School at Queens College

The Classic
The Student-Run Newspaper of Townsend Harris High School at Queens College

The Classic
A JOKE? Last night, The Classic reported on the Steel Hawks' decision to name their robot after a viral video that discusses oral sex. Below, the editors-in-chief share their opinion on why the story merits serious attention.

EDITORIAL: Why we’re not laughing at the robotics’ coaches approval of the “Hawk Tuah” robot name

Bridgette Jeonarine, Toluwanimi Oyeleye, and Isabella Zapata • April 7, 2025

Last night, The Classic reported that the Steel Hawks Robotics team entered into the Hudson Valley Regional robotics competition on March 6 having named their new robot “Hawk Tuah” and having decorated...

The 2025 Steel Hawks robot bumper reads “SCORE ON THAT THANG” at the Hudson Valley Regional competition. The slogan, along with the original 2025 robot name (“Hawk Tuah”), are both references to a 2024 viral video that discusses oral sex. The team eventually removed the bumper slogan and changed the robot’s name.

Robotics coaches face criticism after team names 2025 robot after viral “Hawk Tuah” video that discusses oral sex

Yasmeen Ismail, Managing Editor • April 6, 2025

When the Townsend Harris robotics team entered the Hudson Valley Regional robotics competition at Rockland Community College on March 6, they entered with a robot named Hawk Tuah. The name, as well as...

New schoolwide grading policy addressing the use of AI in student work

Schoolwide grading policy now expressly forbids use of AI without citation, but some look for loopholes

Krish Wadia, Breaking News Manager • January 22, 2025

Earlier this school year, Assistant Principal of Pupil and Personnel Services Jessica Graf emailed students and families a copy of the 2024-2025 Schoolwide Grading Policy. The policy categorizes the use...

The White House behind a police barricade, as seen during a Classic overnight field trip to Washington, DC.

Would you date a MAGA supporter? As Trump takes office, survey shows partisan divisions hardening with regard to high school social life

Bridgette Jeonarine, Editor-in-Chief • January 20, 2025

“I would never feel comfortable [dating] someone who has those views,” said a senior girl, speaking about supporters of Donald Trump, who was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States earlier...

Cell phones should not be banned in school as banning phones hinder students' educational benefits and communication.

EDITORIAL: The DOE Should Not Implement a Systemwide Cell Phone Ban

The Editorial Board • September 26, 2024

Imagine being isolated from the outside world as soon as you step into the school building. With the possibility of a new cell phone ban being implemented, this may become an unfortunate reality for New...

Math teachers Abid Choudhury and Kayla Gill teach in an ICT math class.

“A model for special education in this city”: the ten-year story of how building a special education program transformed this top NYC school

Bridgette Jeonarine, Toluwanimi Oyeleye, and Isabella Zapata • April 4, 2024

In April 2014, the New York Daily News reported that parents at Townsend Harris High School were angry. The New York City Department of Education was pushing THHS to expand access to special education...

College flags line the walls in the guidance office.

How overturning Affirmative Action upended the admissions process, leaving a haze of uncertainty and anxiety for seniors awaiting admissions results

Aiden Clarke, Riya Chaudhry, and Ramon A. Rodriguez • March 26, 2024

Last June, the United States Supreme Court ruled to end the use of Affirmative Action in college admissions. With a vote of 6-3, the court’s decision effectively upended over 50 years of precedent established...

The moment the Hawks won the Queens Championship on February 16.

Girls Varsity Basketball team makes THHS history as Queens champions, defeating Francis Lewis to take the title

Ramon A. Rodriguez • February 19, 2024

On Friday, the Girls Varsity Basketball team won the Queens Borough Championship against Francis Lewis High School. At home in the THHS gym alongside a crowd of cheering Harrisites, the Hawks emerged victorious...

The Semores, the winner of S!NG 2024, cheering at the end of their show.

After Semores emerge victorious, overall directors reflect on S!NG 2024

Joyce Shen and Maimuna Amina • December 1, 2023

A senior hung the Palestinian flag near the school entryway on November 21.

After senior claims to be disciplined for hanging a Palestinian flag in front of school, tensions rise over political speech

Isabel Jagsaran, Carina Fucich, and Sadeea Morshed • November 29, 2023

On Tuesday, November 21, a senior climbed part of the Townsend Harris entryway and hung a Palestinian flag. The next day, the student posted on social media that they “got expelled” for hanging the...

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