CITYterm presents Sunset Park and Gowanus

The+Gowanus+group+gathered+outside+of+the+subway+station+to+inform+parents+and+CITYterm+alumni+on+the+tour+about+the+important+Gowanus+Canal+of+the+neighborhood.+

The Gowanus group gathered outside of the subway station to inform parents and CITYterm alumni on the tour about the important Gowanus Canal of the neighborhood.

Wen-Xuan Ni, Editor-in-Chief
May 7, 2015

Both Gowanus and Sunset Park are located in Brooklyn, New York. CITYterm students are responsible for bringing the touring group to their neighborhood by taking subway or walking.
Both Gowanus and Sunset Park are located in Brooklyn, New York. CITYterm students are responsible for bringing the touring group to their neighborhood by taking subway or walking.

“Gowanus, Gowanus, go, you know you wanna.” With a catchy beat, the Gowanus group started off the Neighborhood Study presentation.

Neighborhood Study is a one-week project in CITYterm, a semester program at Masters, during which students are responsible for thoroughly investigating two assigned neighborhoods. The neighborhoods for this semester are Sunset Park and Gowanus, both located in Brooklyn.

In this mock interview, one of the "Canal 7 Gowanus News" reporter interviews an environment activist about her swimming experience in the highly polluted Gowanus Canal. This interview is based on the experience of Christopher Swain who swam part of the Canal for Earth Day.
In this mock interview, one of the “Canal 7 Gowanus News” reporter interviews an environment activist about her swimming experience in the highly polluted Gowanus Canal. This interview is based on the experience of Christopher Swain who swam part of the Canal for Earth Day.

The two groups of 15 CITYterm students presented their findings to parents and alumni on April 24. A member of the Sunset Park group, Meredith Hessel said, “I’m proud that we were able to combine facts and humor and present them in a creative way.” The Sunset Park group modeled themselves after the famous show “Saturday Night Live” and named their presentation “SNL.” (Click here to check out the rap created by Sunset Park group.)

Imagine yourself working with 15 people and having to put together a huge puzzle in a very limited time. Besides having more ideas to bounce around, there will be tense moments when disagreements occur. Gowanus group member Rachel Cantor said, “It is interesting to see how our direction changes based on how people think. We never all agreed on the same thing but it always works out.” Another member, Isabel Floyd, added, “Being self-aware and learning about how other people work in a group were very important during this project.”

The Gowanus group led the tour to the Morbid Anatomy Museum in Gowanus, a famous site in the neighborhood.
The Gowanus group led the tour to the Morbid Anatomy Museum in Gowanus, a famous site in the neighborhood.

Some semester S’14 Alumni of CITYterm also recall the Neighborhood Study project as one of the projects that taught them the most. Graham Cuddy says, “I learned that even if you are really good friends with people, you are going to argue if you are put in a room together for a week. It’s important not to let arguments about work affect friendships.”

Elisabeth Zak said, “I learned that leadership isn’t always taking charge and being the obvious type of leader and that, instead, sometimes leadership can be more passive. Depending on the type of work, both can be extremely effective and necessary.”