HEMPSTEAD, NY VOL. 80
Issue 10
The Hofstra
Chronicle
Tuesday November 11, 2014
KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935
Lackmann ranks poorly when compared to others By Lauren del Valle and Ehlayna Napolitano NEWS EDITORS
Reported health violations on Hofstra’s campus from the past six years are greater than violations on area campuses. Since 2009, 297 health code violations, both critical and blue violations, were issued to Lackmann Culinary Services on campus. Having 13 locations that host eating establishments, Hofstra has more eateries on campus than many local campuses like Adelphi University and Long Island University CW Post. However, Lackmann Culinary Services operates on several other area campuses including
Adelphi University and Molloy College, where violations are also significant. Lackmann services six locations on Adelphi’s campus. Among those six eateries, Lackmann received 72 health code violations since 2009. Their services at Molloy College received 48 violations at the three dining location on their Rockville Centre campus. Aramark Education Group operates the dining facilities at Long Island University CW Post. There are 10 eateries on the Brookville campus. Since 2009, 121 health code violations were recorded. The comparisons are based on data published on the New York State Department of
Health website. Student dissatisfaction with Lackmann has spread in influence over the past week, reaching University Senate and spurring students to vocalize complaints. Last Wednesday, the scheduled University Senate meeting focused primarily on Lackmannstudent relations. Lackmann representatives, including Regional Manager Dennis Lestrange and marketing manager Crystal Samuel were present at the meeting, and discussed with student representatives issues that students have taken with the food service on campus. Much of this discussion revolved around meal plan complaints, although health regulations and violations
were touched upon. “Our first meeting with them served its purpose and we’re moving forward,” said University Senate member Jared Sarcka. “Both bodies, the University Senate and SGA, are coming together and working on this because I think we understand that this is something that is extremely important to students and has been,” said Sarcka. “And I think we’re moving in the right direction.” Students feel that the Hofstra administration has done little to act as a mediary between Lackmann and the community over the years. “I hate to do this but some of the [responsibility] has to be
put on past administration,” said Sarcka. “There was a call out by students saying ‘Look Lackmann is taking advantage of us’ to some extent and those students were not heard. Luckily, I think we have the administration now with the leadership of the three new student affairs officials... they’re interested in what students think and they understand that students come first.” Dean of Students Sofia B. Pertuz was also present at the meeting. For her, she said, effective communication
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Documentary showing focuses on equality By Nico Machlitt staff writer
A viral video created after a the tragic death of a man’s partner, and the subsequent struggles he faced due to marriage inequality, was the subject of a documentary shown last week. On Tuesday, Nov. 4 Hofstra University’s Pride Network, Center for Civic Engagement and the LGBTQ Studies Department hosted speaker Shane Bitney Crone as a part of Diversity Awareness Heritage Month. Crone is currently on a college campus tour showing his documentary “Bridegroom,” and spoke to Hofstra students about his personal journey and marriage equality. After the death of his partner, Tom Bridegroom, Shane made a YouTube video that quickly went viral. The video documented the relationship that the two men shared and the tragedy of Tom’s death.
Crone discussed the legal issues when going to see Bridegroom in the hospital and how he was not allowed to because he wasn’t family, as well as the importance of marriage equality. Due to the video’s viral success, Crone was soon on the frontlines of the fight for marriage equality and worked with organizations GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign. The success of the YouTube video led to a full-length documentary about the love that Bridegroom and Crone shared. Junior Sony Abraham saw the documentary and was inspired to bring Crone to campus to share his story with Hofstra students. “When I see Shane and all that he’s accomplished and all that he continues to do, it just gives me hope that there is so much more that can happen for marriage
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Photo courtesy of bridegroommovie.com The film “Bridegroom” was shown last week. The documentary details the struggles of Shane Bitney Crone, after the death of his partner and the importance of marriage equality.