The Campaign for Stuyvesant

2000/2001

Nov. 2000, The presidential election is too close to call. A electoral and legal battle for the presidency unfolds.
Dec. 12, 2000, a U.S. Supreme Court 5-4 decision halted the presidential recount in Florida, effectively making Republican George W. Bush the winner.

Within hours of the World Trade Center attack, the Stuyvesant building is evacuated and designated as a Temporary Operations Center for Rescue and Recovery. Classes are held in afternoon sessions at Brooklyn Technical High School until October 9th.
The New York Times inserts The Spectator’s special 9/11 issue in its pages.
There is a senior grade trip to Cancun.
Freshmen have the option of taking physics.
Girls’ Gymnastics wins Division Champs.
Working with SHS Parents' Association, Richard Ben-Veniste, Esq. '60 helps the school gain a full-school $1 million "clean-up" by Board of Education after the 9/11 disaster, during the summer of '02; Ben-Veniste is later appointed by Congress to the US Commission on Terrorism.
In 2002, Karen Van Damm '73 and Joe Hollweg '60 are both elected Fellows of the American Geophysical Union - a rare occurrence for two people from the same institution.
Paul Weichsel
April 2002: Paul M. Weichsel, PhD '49, Associate Chairman of the Dept of Mathematics at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, elected as first Chairman of The Campaign for Stuyvesant/Alumni(ae) & Friends Endowment Fund, Inc.
Former Pres. Clinton (invited by the Senior Class) and NY Sen. Charles E. Schumer, parent of Jessica '02, speak at the graduation ceremony at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center.

Sep. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacked by Al Qaeda terrorists. Over 2600 die.
Oct. 7, 2001, U.S. and Britain launch air attacks against targets in Afghanistan after the Taliban government fails to hand over Saudi terrorist Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind behind the Sep.11 attacks.
The Twin Towers before the bombing
Dec. 9, 2001, Following air campaign and ground assault by Afghani opposition troops, the Taliban regime topples However, the hunt for bin Laden and other members of al-Qaeda terrorist organization continues.
Jan. 29, 2002 ,President Bush labels Iran, Iraq, and North Korea an “axis of evil” and declares that U.S. will wage war against states that develop weapons of mass destruction.

The Chorus sings at Yankee Stadium and for the Congress’ special NY session.
A new bell schedule is implemented.
It is decided that students may opt out of CAD to take introduction to computer science or computer programming.
Elle Girl, a teen magazine, sponsors a fashion show at SHS, with MTV coverage.
The Soph-Frosh team beats the Juniors in SING!
NYS Forensic League: Sheridan Johnson is Varsity Oral Interpretation Champion (first time ever for SHS in this category).
Sari Halper-Dickson '86 elected President of the Stuyvesant HS Alumni Association; Tara Regist is Executive Director.
September 2002, Dr. Weichsel is named Co-Chairman of The Stuyvesant HS Centennial Committee by Principal Stanley Teitel.
Feb. 12, 2003, Darwin Day is celebrated at Stuyvesant - John Galbraith Simmons P'03 and noted Darwin authority is guest speaker.

Jan. 2003 - The New York City Department of Education is formed, replacing the independent Board of Education.
Feb. 1, 2003,Space shuttle Columbia explodes on re-entry.
Mar. 29, 2003, Second Iraq war begins with Saddam Husssein assassination attempts and "Shock and Awe" air strikes.
May 1, 2003, President declares victory in Iraq.
Aug. 14, 2003, Blackout in 8 states and Canada.

The "Stuyvesant Strut"--from the 'old school' at 345 East 15th Street, to the 'new school' at 345 Chambers Street--launches celebration of SHS Centennial, 1904-2004.
Yin Li '04 wins the Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science and Technology.
Nineteen students are Intel (formerly Westinghouse) Science Talent Search Semi-Finalists, the most in the country.
The Campaign for Stuyvesant/Endowment Fund, Inc. publishes Stuyvesant High School: The First 100 Years, 225-page history of the school, and new website: ourstrongband.org
Tim Robbins, '76, wins Academy Award for 'Best Supporting Actor' in Mystic River.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony.

Arnold Schwarzenegger elected Governor of California.
Oct. 24, 2003, Last flight of the Concorde.
Dec. 13, 2003, Saddam Hussein captured alive in raid by US troops near Tikrit, Iraq.
Jan. 4, 2004, Robotic rover Spirit lands in Gusev Crater on Mars.
Jan. 24, 2004, Robotic rover Opportunity lands in the Meridiana Planum on Mars.