JESS DO IT! The iconic slogan from last year’s S.O. elections is back! Jessie Wang, currently Co-Vice President is going for the top po-sition on the S.O. board, S.O. PRESIDENT! She is ready for the step up and is going to be vo-cal about it. “Out of my peers, I am the one to take initiative... and make sure that each individual is represented,” she said. Next year Jessie hopes to fundraise and hold more events than this year to ensure the students of Cardozo, a “phenom-enal school”, the best accessible resources. She is still in the process of thinking of ideas, but the juices are flowing. We got a taste of Wang’s personality in last year’s S.O. elec-tions video where she showed her beat boxing talent and fun loving spirit. The video was recorded in Manhattan, a place she likes to explore when she has any free time. Wang is a pretty busy girl and a very dedicated leadership student. “I attend every event the school produces: dances, shows, fundraisers...” Like a loving parent, Jessie Wang’s child is Cardozo. She is supportive of all the events and stays late “...until the job is done!”-- Lauren Poon

Attention all freshmen, sophomores, and ju-niors! It’s that time of year again, time to elect next year’s Student Organization representa-tives. Before you cast your vote for who you want as next year’s President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, let us reflect on some of the highlights the S.O had to offer this year. The S.O, with the help of the Leadership class, works on providing us, the students, a voice in how we want our school experience to be. They work on planning school events and shows such as the Hal-loween Dance, the Freshman/Sopho-more mixer, and the Multicultural Show. Overall, this year’s S.O Board is pleased with the events that have tak-en place. “I think we’ve been really productive this year,” said Co-Vice President Jessie Wang. “It’s definite-ly an improvement from last year and we hope to only get better,” she said. The highlights of this year’s events were many. Thomas Dinegar, current Co-Vice President, said his favorite was, “The Candy Cane Grams defi-

nitely. They were a lot of fun, and it was a nice way to show some holiday spirit.” Aside from events and fundraisers, the S.O also helps choose what kind of candy is sold in those candy boxes that we have all grown to know and love. “We’re limited to what we can choose to put in them, but it’s nice to be a part of something that

What should you know about Cardozo’s S.O?

This year’s S.O. board.

This year’s S.O. Co-Vice President, Thomas Dinegar, has decided to run for the execu-tive seat of S.O. President for the upcom-ing school year. Dinegar is running for President because he really loves Car-dozo and feels that he is an excellent representative of the student body. Holding his current position of Co Vice President and being a part of the Leadership class, Dinegar has experi-ence with leadership. He attends monthly school meetings with the principal, com-mittee staff members, and parents. During these meetings, they talk concerns in Cardozo. In addition, he has monthly meetings with D.O.E’s chancellor, Dennis Walcott, where Dinegar represents the public schools of Queens, and discusses and resolves their issues. “Whenever an issue is brought up to me, I always bring it to the princi-pal or other staff members,” Dinegar said. Dinegar has many goals he wants to accomplish, but does not want to make any promises. If he is elected as President, Dinegar’s main goal is to open the grass area on the side of the school to students, this way, they will have somewhere to go during their free or lunch periods. He has and knows realistic goals, but more importantly, he understands that his power is limited. Dinegar has an excellent relationship with the principal and many staff members which he will use to his advantage when trying to make Cardozo a better place. With these distinct quali-ties, Dinegar is ready and qualified to be S.O President of 2013-2014. “I am a strong leader who means business!” Dinegar said with confi-dence. -- Terrence Ng

The VerdictElection Issue 2013

To inform, enlighten, and entertain.

Cardozo HS 57-00 223rd Street Bayside, NY 11364

Volume 45Issue 8

S.O. President Candidates

the students enjoy,” said V.P. Thomas Dinegar. All of the proceeds from these events and fund-raisers help to fund Cardozo’s clubs and help better the high school experience. With the year coming to an end, and our board up for re-election, Maria Iskaros summed up her experience as this year’s S.O President,

“Thank you. I say it all of the time, but this school has honestly given me so much and I’m so proud to be a Cardozo student. I bleed blue and orange, so even after I graduate I’ll always rep. Dozo.” She also leaves the new board with some words of advice, “Remember why you’re on the board and who put you there. Everything we do through the S.O. is to better student life at Cardozo. Everything we do is for the students, and being that the students are the ones who helped you get where you are, don’t forget you owe it to them to give them an amazing school.”

By Israel Matos

Annie Reeves, a junior, is running for a spot on the S.O. board…again! Last year, she ran, and won the elec-tion for S.O. secretary, and this year she’s running for Vice President. You’ve probably heard Reeves over the P.A. system some mornings, her voice shows that she’s definitely one of the more enthusiastic students at Cardozo. Reeves loves our school and she only wants to make it better. She’s on Cardozo’s swim team, lacrosse team, and also in the leadership class.

S.O.Vice President Candidates

Her hard work and determination shine when it comes to her success in all these areas. Her magnetic and con-tagious attitude is what this school needs. “After spending my junior year as secretary, I know for sure that I’d make a great V.P.,” she said. Reeves is a natural born leader. Her peers, who are also running in the S.O. elections, have nothing but great things to say about her.

-- Charlotte Moran

imAni snipes, a junior in the leadership and gatway classes, is running for vice-president. “I love this school so much and I want to have a say on how to make this school bet-ter, it would mean the world to me if I was elected. I help with leadership, Gateway, and stage crew every day,” said Snipes. She is looking forward to working with the rest of the board and wishes everyone success on their campaigns. She believes her bubbly school spirit and personality will make her perfect for the job. She has a lot of determination and dedication to the school. “I’m hoping to offer a better high school experience , more dances, movie night, ka-raoke night, and other events that will get people moving and involved,” she said.

vAlentinA AcquistA, is a sophomore in the leadership class, with ambitions to unite our school. Acquista has taken the preliminary steps of becoming Vice President by joining clubs, programs, and teams alike. While bal-ancing her social life with school spirit, Ac-quista is an honors student who maintains a 90+ average whilst challenging herself with harder courses like A.P.’s and physics. She only wishes the best for our school and pro-motes fairness to all of the S.O. running can-didates with the quote, “May the odds be ever in your favor.” With that said, she believes she is a strong candidate that her peers should be able to de-pend on. She shares and values the dreams of many people in our school. Acquista wishes to give underclassman opportunities equal to those of seniors, such as holding formal danc-es for students on all grade levels.

With firmness, she insists that she “will not make empty promises.” As Vice President, her voice will be heard on behalf of ours. “You can see that the diversity [of Cardozo] doesn’t come together,” Acquista said. This is one focus that she takes on by proposing “an end of the year show… with the variety of clubs and their specialties. If it shows that we are all together, it’s a really big thing that we don’t have and should implement– the to-getherness of the school.” Though Acquista may still be a sophomore, she exempts sophistication beyond her age, yet allows easiness for others to open up to her. People will find that Valentina Acquista is someone they can rely on. She is earnest in her work and sincerely looks forward to help-ing the student body have a memorable high school experience. -- Josephine Du

Snipes has learned so much from the cur-rent S.O. board, spending time in the S.O. office and taking advice from the current Co-Vice-President, Jessie Wang. The com-petition is tough because the candidates are very qualified and ambitious, but this doesn’t stop Snipes from being positive and pushing on with her campaign. “I learned you have to get along with faculty in order to make the school better. You must always speak respectfully. This year I’ve seen the S.O. board push for more dances, events and fund-raisers. I believe things can get done if you have your mind set to it. I really, really want this, but I’ll be happy for whoever wins,” she said. -- Venus Joseph

shAquill Blue, is an energetic sixteen year old with a loud personality who’s run-ning for S.O Secretary. He runs track and is probably one of the happiest, friendliest stu-dents at Cardozo. Blue wants to be S.O. Sec-retary because he wants to do everything in his power to help and give back to the Car-dozo community. “I plan on trying to organize more school events to allow students to become more comfortable and feel more safe within Cardo-zo. I also plan on spreading Cardozo pride,” said Blue. He believes that he is qualified for this posi-tion because he is willing to put everything on the line to fight for what he believes in and not just put 100%, but 110% of effort into his job.

Although Blue does not have any leadership experience, aside from being the Treasurer of the Culinary Arts Club, he has taken up a teaching assistant position and has been told, by several others, that he has many qualities of a great leader in the making. Why should Cardozo students vote for Blue? He said, “I would be honored to have your votes because I know myself and I love to joke around, but when it comes down to business, I won’t let the people who matter down, and the people who matter aren’t just my friends at Cardozo, it is everyone. I shall never let you down, so vote for me, Shaquill Blue!” -- Anika Rahman

mARiA hARghel, Junior, is running in this year’s S.O. election for the position of Secretary. Harghel wants to make many changes and improve many things in the school. Her main goals as Secretary are to make the school more organized, make the environ-ment much cleaner, and unite the school, students, and teachers. She is in the leadership class and is also a volunteer at a hospital, as well as being involved in the youth organization at her church. Some qualities that a good secretary should possess are being organized, re-sponsible, and willing to listen to people’s ideas. Harghel wants to cooperate with the board members on addressing and plan-ning events in the school. She also wants

to hold such meetings with staff concern-ing crowded hallways, and with teachers to discuss ways to improve student atten-dance and test grades. Harghel wants to make the school a cleaner place by adding air dryers in the bathrooms to replace paper towels and also put a standard amount of hand sanitizers in the halls to help prevent sicknesses from spreading around the school. She wants the students to have a voice in the school, and as Secretary, she would be willing to listen to any ideas and work her hardest to make the events and changes you want a possibili-ty. -- Mihdi Wali

imAn mAmdouh, junior, is a girl who loves to smile and help others. Her dynam-ic personality and characteristics led her to run for S.O Secretary. Mamdouh wants to run for S.O secretary because she wants to represent the school and do whatever needs to be done in a quick and efficient manner. Some of her plans as Secretary are to be the person who will put in her time to make this school a place filled with successful events and vivacious school pride. She also wishes to make announcements clearer with better advertisements. Mamdouh also wants to lend help to any club or group that need to make their voices heard. Why is Iman Mamdouh qualified for this position? “My leadership qualities among col-leagues of my age group, and my respect

for adults or people with a higher position make me qualified,” said Mamdouh. She also has experience in tutoring young children at youth centers. She believes that good relationships with children will ensure a brighter outlook on life and make hardships easier to handle. Something you should definitely know about Mamdouh that seperates her from the rest of the candidates is that she is the “ice breaker of awkward and stilted moments.” She has the perfect combination of the right level of seriousness when there is work to be done and positivity when any-one needs a smile. --Rafina Rahman

S.O. Secretary Candidates

Benice mAch, sophomore, is an ac-tive component of our high school. When she’s not strumming her guitar or receiving exceptional grades, she’s running on the track. She has been involved in track, for all three seasons (cross country, indoor, and outdoor), since freshman year. Heading into her junior year, Mach is running for a different cause; she’s run-ning for S.O Treasurer. Mach is running for S. O. Treasurer because she feels that it would be an interesting experience and a chance for her to give back to the school. If elected, she promises to make this school year a more stimulating one for everyone. She plans to leave behind a whole new variety of events that will raise ques-tions such as, “When’s the next event,” or “Can I be a part of leadership?” When asked what she wanted the vot-ers to know about her, she responded by saying, “I want them to know that I am a fun person and I may act a little silly sometimes, but that’s what’s so fun about me.” Although Mach has never been in-volved the S. O., she is more than quali-fied for this position. She demonstrates her leadership dexterities on and off the track field by constructing banners/posters and by actively participating in events such as the Walk-A-Thon. “It would be nice for some change,” says Mach, “Vote for Benice to make that change.”-- Christina Shanker

S.O. Treasurer Candidates

mitchell cABAn, is a sophomore and a Gateway member. He is also a candidate running for the position of S.O Treasurer. Caban has attended Car-dozo for two years, and he describes it as an excellent and vibrant school. He says that once you get to know the school, you will fall in love. “My motives [for running] were basi-cally my friends and also other mem-bers from the leadership class,” said Caban. He describes himself as a hard worker who decided to run for Treasurer be-cause he felt that it’s a task he knows he can complete. Caban has been a very active member in the Leadership class and helps with planning school events such as the school shows and spirit week. He feels that he is very qualified for this position. As treasurer, Caban plans to come up with different ideas, such as fund-raising, that would be helpful to the school. In addition, he says that he does not think that there should be any necessary changes in that position, but the objective is to raise money, and do the budgeting which is the most impor-tant aspect of that job. Caban believes that he is ready for this position, and the experiences that come along with it. “We should be a community rather than a dictatorship,” he said, “I plan to get feedback on everyone’s ideas.” -- Rochan Hendricks

sARA levine, sophomore, is running for S.O. Treasurer. She believes that with this new position, she will be able to get Cardozo better known throughout the community. Some of her plans for the upcoming school year are to create a monthly newsletter that will provide information on after school ac-tivities, accomplishments, and community events. She also plans to write articles in the monthly newsletter, to provide information to the local newspapers and NY1, such as upcoming events, shows, and sports games. She would like to update the school website and make it more user friendly. Sara would like to get all clubs, teams, and students to come together and plan / run events. She would like to organize more events that all the students would enjoy. She also wants to add locker rooms for the girls sports teams. Being in the leadership class, makes Sara very involved in student events. She is a also a leader for gym class, another leadership role she enjoys. Sara was recently chosen to represent Cardozo at the Borough Student Advisory Council, a focus group for the De-partment of Education which accepts 1-2 stu-dents from each school, for input about NYC schools. She has participated in numerous school ac-tivities and service to the community. “I got to camp all over the country and do service... For example last summer I went to New Orleans and did service work including help build houses and a school.” Sara spends more time at Cardozo than she does at home and feels that all these experi-ences make her the most well rounded can-didate. “Many of you already see me in the hallways with a smile on my face, and you should nev-er hesitate to say WHAT’S UP LEVINE! I’m always there to lend a helping hand.” -- William Lombardi