The Hofstra Chronicle, December 13, 2022

Argue

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE

NEWS OPINION

with your peers

By Makenzie Hurt ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR

College classrooms seem to be quieter than they used to be. The same few students participate in discussions, and there’s an obvious lack of open discourse. The cause of this phenomenon is a looming specter: the fear of judgment. The classroom environment should be treated differently than a social environment; debating different opinions, whether widely accepted or not, is a key feature of education that has been lost in the sea of prudence.

Many students claim they are fearful of voicing their honest opinions for fear of being

targeted or labeled, which they believe may lead to ostracization outside of an educational environment. Professors encourage students to participate and engage in debates, but they seem to forget that the classroom is linked to our social lives.

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FEATURES

Campus needs a little TLC

ID over at the [David S.] Mack Center, where they have the sports arena. This adorable little black-and-white cat came running up to me,” Cannam said. “I wasn’t really educated in Trap, Neuter or Spay and Return (TNR). At the time, I really just wanted to be a foster parent.”

Delta Chi illegally returns to campus during four-year suspension

By Ahjané Forbes NEWS EDITOR

Hofstra University suspended the Delta Chi chapter after hazing allegations. The chapter was suspended over the summer after the university removed the fraternity, placing the organization on an unrecognized list, citing disciplinary reasons.

Reasons for an organization’s removal for disciplinary reasons can “include but are not limited to hazing, alcohol and drug abuse, risk management violations and failure to comply with university policies and expectations,” according to the Fraternity and Sorority Life webpage.

Investigations into an organization are conducted by Community Standards, the dean of students and Public Safety. Regarding Delta Chi, the university cannot comment on the status of the investigation or the details regarding it.

Paul Ferrante, assistant director of Student Leadership and Engagement for Fraternity and Sorority Life, explained that hazing is prohibited on and off campus.

“We have a zero-tolerance policy for hazing,” Ferrante said. “We do a lot of education related to hazing prevention. For example, we just implemented National Hazing Prevention Week in September. We also provide education throughout new member education about hazing.”

The university has placed other fraternities on the unrecognized list for the same amount of time. For example, Sigma Alpha Mu was placed on the list in December 2019 after a student reported multiple occurrences of hazing, which led to their departure from the fraternity, according to a previous article written by The Hofstra Chronicle.

NEWS

Delta Chi’s suspension will last until August 2026, or when all former members have graduated, according to the university.

Ferrante noted that not all suspensions are for four years; rather, the university determines the proper course of action based on what occurred.

“Typically, it varies based on the outcome and what happened through the investigation that was conducted by Public Safety, Community Standards and the dean of students,” Ferrante said. “It really depends on the investigation and what is deemed appropriate by Community Standards and the dean of students. So there’s no set timeline.”

The Chronicle reached out to many former members and alumni associated with Delta Chi for interview requests.

Bye Bye Blackboard, Hello Canvas

By Ahjané Forbes NEWS EDITOR

Imagine that, on your first day of school, a little black-andwhite cat welcomes you, extending his paws out for a handshake and making you an unexpected mom to many more felines to come.

Claudia Cannam, a thirdyear law student and creator of Tender Loving Cats Campus Cat Initiative (TLC), came to Hofstra University for her studies but found herself saving the cats after meeting the black and white cat named Harvey.

“I went to get my student

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cannam said the cats were taking over campus. Cannam estimated that there were approximately 200 on campus at the time. If Cannam had not gotten involved, she said about 2,000 cats would be calling Hofstra their home.

Working alongside former Hofstra president Stuart Rabinowitz and the Town of Hempstead, Cannam and members of TLC were able to TNR many of the kittens. TNR is a process in which feral and stray cats are taken to the vet to be treated and then ear-tipped once the process is completed.

By Moriah Sukhlal NEWS EDITOR

Hofstra University will say goodbye to Blackboard Learn as

it welcomes Canvas as the new learning management system (LMS). Following a successful two-year pilot program during

the spring 2021 and spring 2022 semesters, Hofstra will fully adopt the cloud-hosted Canvas LMS created by Infrastructure, Inc. in the fall 2023 semester.

“Back in the fall of 2019, Hofstra learned that the current version of Blackboard would no longer be supported within the next few years, and that triggered a few faculty, [the] provost and [the] vice president of technology at that time to start exploring other LMS,” said Mitch Kase, the interim director of educational and research technology services (EdTech).

Hofstra’s current LMS, Blackboard Learn, has been in use

Photo courtesy of Laura TrujilloJenks/ FacultyFocus

The classroom environment should be different from the social environment.

Photo courtesy of Laura TrujilloJenks/ FacultyFocus

“HofCats” inspired Hofstra student, Claudia Cannam, to create the Tender Loving Cats Campus Initiative.

Photo courtesy of Moriah Sukhlal Hofstra plans to switch its learning management system from Blackboard Learn to Canvas starting in spring 2023.

Happy Holidays

ment.

rooms, test mannequins and other new labs.

By Matthew Page & Michael Palumbo SPECIALS TO THE CHRONICLE

After breaking ground in 2021, Hofstra’s Science and Innovation Center is taking shape prior to its fall 2023 opening.

The center is the future home of the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and parts of the Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Once opened, the building will provide new state-of-the-art facilities and equipment for students in both schools.

For nursing students, amenities include mock operating

For engineering students, features include an expansion to Hofstra’s Big Data Lab, as well as new teaching and research labs for bioengineering students.

One of the more anticipated features of the building is a makerspace that will feature several new pieces of equipment, including a large-scale 3D printer and a ShopBot machine for designing new experiments, enabling students to develop large-scale projects.

“One of the things we are going to be able to do is do things bigger than we have ever been able to do before,” said Richard Puerzer, associate professor and chair of the engineering depart-

With the Northwell and DeMatteis Schools sharing the space, department leaders are confident this could lead to collaboration between students in either field.

“Usually when you put people with different interests in the same area, it’s natural for them, spontaneously, to start doing things together,” said Sina Rabbany, dean of the DeMatteis School. “Nurses continuously see what kind of thing is lacking in their care of the patient. Nursing students and robotic engineering students can potentially work on an idea that has a utility in the clinic, and nurses, physicians and patients can benefit from it and students can use our makerspace to potentially build such a product.”

However, students say that school faculty have been fairly quiet on the building’s progress despite the possibilities available.

“My professors haven’t actually said anything about it,” said Matt Ryan, a freshman engineering student, “but I do know that it’s coming soon.”

Despite the subdued leadup to the building’s opening, nursing students are excited for the opportunities it will provide compared to other universities.

“I think that Hofstra’s trying to be very innovative,” said Elianna Andrews, a freshman nursing student. “It will definitely set us apart because we will have more experience using this equipment that no one else has.”

That excitement also applies to engineering students.

“I’d love to make use of the new equipment they might have,” said Divsh Chellani, a junior industrial engineering major.

With the future of engineering and nursing studies at Hofstra right around the corner, the Hofstra community is looking forward to the building’s opening next fall.

“What this new 70,000 square foot facility will enable us to do is increase our landscape and create a lot more facilities available for students to follow their passions outside the classroom,” Rabbany said.

Hofstra’s

students.

Photo courtesy of Matthew Page

Students express concerns over Boost

the order doesn’t go through,” Zgaljardic said.

Currently, the app has a twostar rating in the Google Play Store and a 2.8-star rating in the Apple Store. Some students say customer service could be the leading factor for this.

“The customer service aspect isn’t as great as one would hope,” said Nick Lupinacci, a senior electrical engineering major. “There should definitely be some sort of way to add a note to Boost orders, especially for those with dietary restrictions.”

ability of pick-up times. Currently, the app offers ten minute intervals for pick-ups.

Miles Klass, a junior and information systems major, was one student who expressed a frustration with the currently available times. “They should implement intervals of five minutes for order times, not ten,” he said.

Group,” Meehan said. “Our managers work with the Boost team to decide what brands and menu items will become available in the app and submit requests for when menu and promotional updates need to be made.”

By Antonio Schoenhardt & Gabrielle Zoda

SPECIALS TO THE CHRONICLE

Boost: Mobile Food Ordering is an app used across many college campuses across the country, including Hofstra University, which allows students to order meals or drinks ahead of time, essentially removing the need for waiting in a line.

“It’s just easier, as a college

student, I don’t have a lot of time,” said Thomas Zgaljardic, a freshman business analytics major. “I can order something in the library then just go pick it up.”

While students find the idea of Boost convenient, the app has its flaws. Like all other apps, Boost is susceptible to some minor inconveniences.

“Sometimes it glitches and

Customer service issues seem to be at the forefront of frustration against Boost. Lupinacci added that the inability to provide a note for an order can result in incorrect orders.

A problem that students have raised across the country with this app have been the app not showing every menu option that is offered at certain spots.

Another issue surrounding the Boost app concerns the avail-

“Our goal as a dining team is to have all orders fresh and ready on time,” said Lexis Meehan, a marketing manager for Hofstra University campus dining. “There is always a learning curve, for our employees, our campus and our students.”

Boost is not owned by nor affiliated with Hofstra University. The app is utilized by a plethora of colleges throughout the country, with each college being responsible for creating the menus for the eateries which students may order from.

“Boost is a proprietary program owned by [the] Compass

Meehan urges students to voice their concerns with the app whenever they encounter a problem.

“If there are any menu items you feel should be included in the app, please reach out to our dining team, or submit a request through the Boost app in the account lab,” Meehan said.

Student voting increases thanks to campus awareness and social media

By Arcangelo Lurato & Harrison Leone SPECIALS TO THE CHRONICLE

The 2022 midterm elections saw an increase in young voters; college students attribute this to more awareness spread throughout social media and on campuses. Choosing to vote or not can be the result of the political climate, which is often influenced by politicians in office. However, college students don’t always have easy access to voting.

According to the Center For Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, a student organization at Tufts University, 27% of youth aged 18-29 voted in the 2022 midterm elections nationwide. This year was the second highest in young voter turnout in midterm elections in the past three decades.

“There are all kinds of problems in American government and politics right now,” said David Green, a political science

professor at Hofstra University. “Young voters are becoming aware that their future is at stake. They’re tuning in [in] ways they haven’t in the past.”

With voter turnout increasing altogether, younger voter turnout can be seen as following a more general pattern.

“Voter turnout has been increasing across all groups,” said Rosanna Perotti, a political science professor. “Young people are simply behaving in a way that’s parallel to all age groups.”

“Exposure is more prevalent,” said Alisha Augustine, a senior political science major who voted in the 2022 midterms. “In social media, there are posts telling people to go out and vote. I think there is more exposure in terms of where students can see that and could possibly get more information about it.”

Augustine saw first-hand how Hofstra has also tried to urge

their students to go out and vote on Election Day.

“There was a lot more opportunity and help that was offered for college students, at least on campus,” Augustine said. “The clubs that I’m a part of

were sending out information packets and texts about the midterm elections.”

Hofstra Votes is a civic engagement campaign organized by University Relations designed to encourage and assist students on campus with voting. The campaign tabled in the Student Center every week prior to Election Day, and its website includes information on voting guides, absentee ballots, deadlines by state and many more features. It even allows you to access voter registration, showing how easy it is to register to vote.

Additionally, students have access to news like never before thanks to modern technology.

“What’s happening now is because of social media, people are a lot more knowledgeable,” said Muhammad Abdullah Khan, a graduate student at the Frank G. Zarb School of Business. “They know their rights; they know they can have

a say in government. It gives you a sense of control and a sense of capability to determine what’s best for you.”

At times, voting turnout is attributed to past administrations and decisions that were made within the presidential term.

“[Former president] Donald Trump probably vocalized many people who had been told that our democracy is in peril and his agenda threatens the climate.” said Richard Himelfarb, a political science professor at Hofstra.

Politicians can mistakenly make people believe that they are the cause of potential irreversible damage to their country.

“I think the Trump presidency probably scared a lot of Americans, which got youth out to vote,” said Stefanie Nanes, a political science professor at Hofstra. “You’ve got a lot of youth who are saying, ‘This is our planet we’re inheriting.’ They’re becoming engaged because the crisis is so big.”

Boost is an app used to order meals or drinks ahead of time so students do not have to wait in line.

An increase in social media posts urging young people to become active voters is correlated with 27% of youth voting in the 2022 midterm election.

Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle

Photo courtesy of Parker Johnson

Many members chose not to respond or declined to comment.

Following the suspension of the fraternity over the summer, a source affiliated with Greek life contacted the Chronicle with additional information. For the protection and safety of the source, the pseudonym Adrian will be used for storytelling purposes.

Delta Gamma’s annual Anchor Cup tournament raises money for the sorority’s philanthropy partner, Services for Sight, an organization that provides resources for people who are blind or visually impaired.

The event was held on Oct. 9, and was hosted at Hofstra’s Soccer Stadium, bringing many members of fraternities, sororities and club sports together.

During the event, Adrian noticed a fraternity participating under the name “Oozma Kappa,” wearing neon green shirts.

Oozma Kappa is a fictional fraternity that Mike Wazowski and Sulley joined in the movie “Monsters University.”

Adrian and other members of Greek life found the “Monsters University” reference funny. However, they were concerned after seeing a slight detail in their pledge names similar to

Fraternity suspended after hazing allegations

the ones associated with Delta Chi. Once several members noticed this, they felt these former members of Delta Chi should not have been at the event.

“This fraternity was not only removed from Hofstra’s website but was labeled as a danger to girls within the Panhellenic Council,” Adrian said.

Although this situation made many Greek life members feel uneasy, the university provided more details regarding a situation like this.

“Unrecognized organizations cannot operate on campus in any capacity,” said Collin Sullivan, director of communications of Student Affairs. “No recognized club or organization can invite an unrecognized organization to an event. However, students who were members of unrecognized organizations can still be invited as individuals to social events and gatherings.”

Once the higher-ups in Delta Gamma noticed that former members of Delta Chi were participating in the event, they were escorted off the field. According to Adrian, the former brothers were upset about being kicked out.

“The allowance of fraternities as dangerous as Delta Chi should be acknowledged as well discussed with all Hofstra Pride members when talking about Greek life and the affiliation towards Hofstra University and

their name,” Adrian said.

Other sources in a Greek organization have confirmed Delta Chi’s suspension and added that the hazing is related to alcohol poisoning. However, these individuals declined to participate in an interview. The sources state that the Panhellenic Council, the governing body of all sororities on campus, has asked them to remain silent until a statement is released.

The Chronicle has reached out to the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council, the governing body for all fraternities, for an interview. Both councils did not respond to our requests.

The university advises that students should be careful if they interact with students on the unrecognized list.

“For your own well-being, you should not affiliate with any unrecognized Greek or other student organizations,” the website reads. “Hofstra University does not advise or control the actions of any unrecognized groups. Inactive and unrecognized Greek chapters are not permitted to recruit, hold events or induct new members.”

In November, the Chronicle contacted Delta Chi’s international headquarters for a comment on the Hofstra chapter investigation. Emails were sent to Davis Millard, director of member safety and Ben Ely, director of communications and publications. After no response, a call was made to the headquarter’s direct line. Following the prompts, the phone was picked up by Ely, and he declined to

comment.

Although the headquarters did not provide a statement regarding the investigation, Delta Chi is opposed to hazing and became the first fraternity to do so in 1929.

Chapter seven of Delta Chi’s Cornerstone’s “Member Education” section describes their no-tolerance policy.

“The general fraternity continues to uphold this historic position and opposes hazing in any form,” it reads. “Through your associate member oath and ultimate membership in Delta Chi, you are obliged to support and comply with Delta Chi Law.”

Hofstra’s recent suspension of the frat is not the only chapter that has made headlines. In February 2021, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) freshman Adam Oakes died the morning after a rush event, a practice in which members of Greek life get to interact with incoming first-year students. During the event, Oakes drank a bottle of Jack Daniels, ran outside the Delta Chi frat house blindfolded and hit his head on a tree. Oakes was found dead in the house the next morning. The autopsy report listed the cause of death as alcohol poisoning, according to FOX News.

Three months after Oakes’ death, VCU expelled the chapter. In September, VCU planned to pay nearly $1 million to Oakes’ family as part of a settlement for his death. VCU will also revamp its approach to Greek life on its campus, according to The New York Times.

New York legislation has charges for anyone who is found guilty of committing or participating in hazing.

“A person can be found guilty of hazing in the first-degree if during the initiation process of a potential member, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct, including, but not limited to, making physical contact with or requiring physical activity of such other person, which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person and thereby causes such injury,” according to NY Penal Law Article 120.16.

Hazing in the first-degree is a class A misdemeanor, which can result in one year of jail time or three years probation. In addition, depending on the details of the case, the person charged will have to pay a $1,000 fine or twice the amount of their financial gain.

“Please make the Hofstra community aware of this immediately,” Adrian said. “Members of the Pride should be aware of the danger they could potentially be in when affiliating with these kinds of people.”

If a student wants to report a possible violation of the Code of Community Standards or other university policies, the University urges them to contact the Department of Public Safety at 516-463-6789.

Young voters surge in 2022 midterms

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While voter turnout among young people grows, there are still obstacles college students face at election time, such as which state to register in.

“When you’re dorming or not necessarily in a place where you’re supposed to be voting in, it could be more difficult,” Augustine said.

However, students who live near campus can also experi-

ence issues with their commute to a polling place.

“The only way I can get home is if I get a ride or take the Long Island Rail Road, which I sometimes can’t do because I have to pay money to do so,” said freshman Didi Paunetto, who studies vocal performance.

Adults of all ages can experience these challenges when it’s time to head to the ballot box. Ideas have surfaced regarding a potential shift in how voting

is handled when election time comes.

“Either Election Day should be a holiday or there should be an extended voting period,” said Daniel J. Greenwood, a professor at Hofstra’s Maurice A. Deane School of Law.

Even students who do not live far from their college believe access to voting is essential and there should be more flexibility.

“It should be a national holiday,” said Ché Johnson-

McGregor, a sophomore computer science major. “It makes it easier for people to clear their schedules.”

Until these changes can be made, there are alternatives to voting for individuals that aren’t near a local polling place on Election Day. These people can apply for an absentee ballot online by going on their home state’s official website.

According to a Gallup poll, 25% of those surveyed said

they planned on voting via an absentee ballot for the 2022 midterms.

“The problem for college students is, ‘Do you change your registration to where your university is, or do you try to vote where your parents live even though you’re not likely to be there on Election Day?’” Greenwood said. “Many students end up not voting, and that is a real problem for a democracy.”

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Hofstra’s chapter of the Delta Chi was suspended due to hazing.

Photo courtesy of Delta Chi Fraternity

Hofstra transitions to new LMS in Fall 2023

since 2002 and has not seen an update since October 2014.

“We expect that it will be outdated and unusable in about the next year,” said Joseph Bartolotta, associate professor of writing studies and rhetoric.

Anthology, a new higher education software and services company that recently acquired Blackboard Learn, “wants people to move from Blackboard Learn to the new platform, which is Blackboard Ultra,” Bartolotta said.

As a result, the university created the Special Committee of EdTech, which Bartolotta chairs. The committee had considered other LMS such as Moodle and Desire 2 Learn (D2L); however, they were incompatible with the institution’s size. Thus, leaving Canvas and Blackboard Ultra as the two possible options, according to a report the committee submitted to Hofstra’s Faculty Senate Executive Committee in November.

The committee created a plan in fall 2020 requiring Hofstra to perform a pilot of Canvas and Blackboard Ultra. While a small pilot program took place in the spring 2021 semester, a largescale pilot program occurred in spring 2022. Faculty members were recruited through faculty Senate and Caucus meetings and were given the choice of which LMS they would like to test for their courses.

“The spring 2022 pilot [program] featured courses representing every college in the university; Forty-two faculty [members] participated,” Kase said. “There were 41 sections taught using Canvas and 17 sections taught using Blackboard Ultra and in total 1,365 students participated in either LMS.”

The data collected from the pilot programs revealed that the Hofstra community would be compatible with either LMS. Regardless, both faculty and students saw Canvas as having a higher functionality rating than Blackboard Ultra.

While Blackboard Ultra and Canvas provide distinct interfaces, they contain similar features. The committee report

shows that students were able to work well on either platform; however, more faculty members preferred Canvas over Blackboard Ultra due to its functionality and easy accessibility.

“[With Canvas, it is] much ... easier to pull up my whole class and my whole schedule with a bunch of modules and figure out how to shift things around and how to do it all in one window,” said Martha Hollander, professor of fine arts, design and art history.

Hollander was a part of the spring 2022 pilot program and used Canvas in two of her classes.

One of Canvas’ key features that professors found resourceful is the 24/7 support for faculty and students.

“So, if you’re trying to upload your assignment late at night on a Sunday and it’s not working, you’re getting an error message,” Kase said. “You can actually pick up the phone and call someone at Canvas for tech help.”

Another feature allows professors to communicate directly with students through Canvas instead of toggling between a regular email and the LMS.

“Canvas keeps a complete record of correspondence to each student,” Hollander said.

Hollander found drawbacks with Canvas, as it interfered with the flow for her class.

For instance, conditional release, a feature in Blackboard Learn which allowed professors to control a student’s progress through a module by hiding certain tasks until students complete a specific assignment, is not available in Canvas.

The other drawback was the way the courses were displayed for educators.

“The one thing that I had to create, because it did not exist, is a home page,” Hollander said.

Nevertheless, she stated that it was easy enough to create one.

Despite the positivity of using Canvas, students are skeptical about the LMS’ performance when it comes to submitting assignments.

Joshua Rosenfeldt, a sophomore psychology major shared that the Canvas grading systems

are not always correct.

“Canvas is very clunky with quizzes,” Rosenfeldt said. “If I answer a five-question matchmaking on Canvas and get one or two terms wrong, instead of getting a 3/5 on the question, I get a 0.”

Concerning assignment submission, Hollander explained that the amount of users does not affect your ability to submit assignments based on the basic architecture of the site. Moreover, if students try to submit a large or incompatible file, professors are notified. Hollander urges everyone to be open to adapting to new changes.

Faculty will be teaching on Blackboard Learn and Canvas in both the spring 2023 and summer 2023, but in fall 2023, everyone will be using Canvas.

“Officially, we will be on Canvas starting Sep. 1, 2023,” Kase said. “In the spring, faculty will be getting access to Canvas and all the training material so that they can start learning how to use Canvas.”

To assist in a smooth transition, Kase says that professors will be preparing for the switch with a required crash course.

“Faculty will have access to live webinars, on-demand recordings, an asynchronous learning course called Growing with Canvas, department sessions and of course, they can call the 24/7 support,” Kase said.

Higher education institutions across New York state have been switching to new LMS systems, and only a few have gauged faculty and student sentiment before making the switch.

“A good amount of credit [should be given] to people in EdTech and the university faculty,” Bartolotta said. “When we made this decision, we made the recommendation with full confidence that the faculty and students are behind this, and we didn’t make a unilateral decision without consulting them.”

Public Safety Briefs

Compiled by Megan Naftali

Key

PS - Public Safety

CS - Community Standards

NCPD - Nassau County Police Department

On Dec. 2, at 10:10 p.m., a Hofstra University student was issued a referral to CS for throwing their identification card out of their dorm window to an unknown male. The male handed the ID to PS and then left the scene.

On Dec. 2, at 6:14 p.m., the fire alarm in Utrecht House was activated due to burnt food in the common area. The building was evacuated, the situation was corrected and the fire alarm was reset.

On Dec. 5, at 4:40 p.m., PS responded to the law school parking lot on a call that there was a vehicle parked illegally. The NCPD responded, and the registered owner of the vehicle was notified to move the car.

Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle

FEATURES

FEATURES

Staff Spotlight: Karla Schuster

By Alexis Friedman EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Tucked away past the beeping door to Special Collections in the basement of the Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library is the office of assistant vice president of University Relations, Karla Schuster. The room is filled with souvenirs from her time working at Hofstra, memories from her 20 years in the newspaper industry and assorted New York Mets memorabilia.

Schuster first joined the Hofstra community in 2009 and has especially appreciated the opportunity it has given her to more deeply connect with students attending the university.

“I will be honest, getting to know students is probably one of my favorite parts of my job – one that I didn’t expect coming to work here,” Schuster said. “Obviously I knew I was going to be dealing with students, but the idea that meeting students, getting to know students and telling students’ stories would become one of my favorite parts of the work has been a really lovely and

unexpected surprise.”

Schuster also loves the irregularity of a job where there’s never a typical day. Currently, she has been focusing her work on a press release about the most recent survey conducted by the Zarb School of Business and Marcum LLP about mid-market CEOs. Schuster frequently deals with student reporters and journalists who are researching the university’s stance on a particular issue or are curious about Hofstra faculty’s research on a particular topic that may be useful to cite in a news article.

One of her favorite projects to work on is the Hofstra Votes voter registration campaign which the university launched in 2018.

Because of her work on Hofstra Votes, Schuster has learned so much more about voter registration laws around the country and has had the opportunity to educate the campus community about them, while confirming that students are registered to vote in upcoming elections.

She views her role within the University Relations department as “protecting and promoting the

university and the campus community,” giving her the “opportunity to talk to really smart and interesting people and tell their stories.”

Prior to coming to Hofstra in 2009, Schuster worked in the journalism industry for over 20 years at newspapers in Connecticut, South Florida and New York. Coming from a journalistic background really helped Schuster in her role at Hofstra, especially with understanding what makes a good story and helping her pitch stories about Hofstra in a more interesting and captivating way.

During her time as a reporter, Schuster covered many different beats, but her favorite was education. She recounted her surprise in discovering her passion for the education beat because it wasn’t one she had directly sought out.

“It’s really interesting and compelling [writing] feature stories, human interest stories – whether it’s about students, teachers or faculty, really interesting political and financial stories about school districts and institutions and how they’re spending their money, if they’re spending their

money,” Schuster said about the complexities of education reporting and why it became so interesting to her. “Education is also something that people feel really strongly about. You know, school districts are often the biggest chunk of any municipal budget, so they’re incredibly important to people. They’re important to the people who have kids in school and to the people who are paying taxes to support school districts, even if they don’t have children in school.”

As a Queens native, Schuster grew up a mile or so from Shea Stadium, the former home of the Mets, so the franchise consumed her childhood. After school, she would watch their afternoon games on television and learned to love the team and the sport.

“I can’t fix on an exact date or an exact moment, but it really feels like being a Mets fan was inevitable,” Schuster said.

She describes her first memory of the Mets to be when they made it to the World Series in ‘73. To this day, Schuster loves the Mets, as anyone who follows her on social media would know,

Cool cats on campus

CONTINUED FROM A1

To provide more care for the kittens, Cannam pitched an idea to Rabinowitz.

“I wanted to build a structure almost like a cat sanctuary-type structure, where we could monitor the colony that’s inside, everyone in there would be TNR’d, flea treated, dewormed regularly,” Cannam said. “It would make it so much easier for me to do my job.”

Having an enclosure for the cats would help prevent people from dumping unwanted cats on campus. Harvey has since been adopted by an elderly woman, but before then, he was left here.

“He was dumped on campus; his owner died of COVID-19, and the family didn’t want him anymore,” Cannam said. “They left him here on campus and told Public Safety the story as they dumped the cat on campus. That was one thing that really rubbed

me the wrong way, because it’s illegal to dump.”

New York State Agriculture and Markets Law states that anyone who abandons an animal will be charged with a misdemeanor.

While caring for the cats, Cannam became attached and started naming all of them. From Big Papa, Sativa, Indica, Spatula and Keurig, Cannam can identify the Hofstra cats (often called HofCats by students) from a photo.

“Mowgli, the cat on the left, I’ve never been able to touch him. The one on the right here is either Bella or Anastasia,” Cannam said.

Bella and Anastasia look very similar, but there’s one distinct difference: Anastasia is eartipped.

After the first three weeks of the fall semester, there were signs that read “Please do not feed cats here” around the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex to fend off students and

other guests.

One student created an Instagram account @hofcathelper and a petition to shed light on the issue. From a feline feeder’s point of view, Cannam agrees with the university because some students can create a detrimental situation.

“You can’t really feed the cats French fries or pretzels,” Cannam said. Last year, I had three that we had to euthanize due to stomach cancer from that.”

Seeing this happen first-hand was hard for Cannam to continue to feed the cats freely.

“All of that made me decide to step away, so that there wasn’t a reason for students to think, ‘We could try and pick up this cat or we can feed this cat whatever we want,’” Cannam said.

The cat that the petition was advocating for, Eddie, was very familiar to Cannam. She calls the cat ”Skunk” because he looks like one. Despite the different

names, Cannam confirms that he does have an upper respiratory infection and was adopted by one of the feeders in early October. However, one portion of the petition bothered Cannam and she wants to set the record straight.

“The fact that they’re saying Tender Loving Cats people seriously don’t give a shit about him,” she stated. “He’s literally with us. That is what I find so funny. I can 100% guarantee you I’ve even paid out of my own pocket hundreds of dollars for medicine for these guys. The people who don’t care are not us.”

Even though Cannam is no longer primarily helping out with TLC, she says she’s always available for anyone that wants to help.

“If somebody wanted to adopt one of the Hofstra cats, I would be happy to make that happen. We would put it through the pro-

because that’s almost all she posts about.

Reflecting on her four years at Le Moyne College, where she earned a degree in English and communications, Schuster shares what she wished she did differently, something that many Hofstra and other university students alike can learn from.

“In school, I think particularly towards the end of my time in college, I got impatient,” Schuster said. “I just wanted to get out, and I wanted to work. I was done with school before it was done with me.”

Her college experience was lots of fun, working at her school paper and meeting new people, but Schuster wishes she did more.

“I would tell my college age self to study abroad, do internships and take full advantage of all these opportunities to broaden my horizons,” Schuster said. “I wish I had worked a little harder by taking advantage of all the opportunities offered.”

gram,” Cannam said. “It’s a $100 adoption fee, which covers spay, neuter, vaccinations, everything under the sun.”

Cannam hopes that more people will appreciate what she and many others do behind the scenes, but she’s not doing it for recognition.

“I don’t believe in publicizing what I do, because I don’t do it for any other reason than the goodness of my own heart and for the animals,” Cannam said.

If you would like to donate, help, feed or learn more about the HofCats, you can email Cannam at claudia@tenderlovingcats.org, join the Facebook group TLC Campus Cats - Hofstra and follow TLC on Instagram @ tlc_campuscatinitiative.

FEATURES

M AN ON THE U NISPAN

O verheard @ h O fstra

By Zoe Casselman and Julian Rocha ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR AND FEATURES EDITOR

“I keep looking ... hoping that one will become attractive.”

“Walmart’s slogan should be, ‘Spend more, eat less.’”

“I brought the vagina, the guy can speak first. These are the rules.”

“It’s a drinking wine out of the bottle kind of night.”

“Is she an NPC or a POC?”

“I have your medicine ... it’s my vagina.”

“I plan on dying before finals, not after. Not after I did all that work.”

“It’s not alcoholism until we graduate.”

“It should’ve said, ‘push start’ not ‘push on,’ bitch.” “Liquor? I hardly know her.”

What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Spread by Audra Nemirow

“Eating food.”

- Martin Lopez, senior

“My family doesn’t really celebrate, we just spend time together on Christmas morning.”

- Grace Arnet, freshman

“Me and my parents have a Christmas pajama competition to see who can have the most festive pajamas, and we all make hot cocoa.”

- Michael Koellner, senior

Julian Rocha /

FEATURES

This Hofstra Life: Hayley Kastner

By Zoe Casselman ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

Sophomore video/television and business major Hayley Kastner loves all things TV. From writing scripts to audio engineering, she wants to do it all. Now, Kastner is involved in two campus organizations relating to her passion, Thursday Nite Live (TNL) and the WRHU radio station. However, her journey at Hofstra didn’t start that way. Originally an aspiring film major, all Kastner knew was that the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication (LHSC) caught her eye.

“I took the virtual tour and saw [Hofstra] had Thursday Nite Live, which interested me,” she said. “When I got accepted, I knew I wanted to do something in the comm school. It was so big and impressive that it felt like where I wanted to be.”

During her first semester at Hofstra, Kastner auditioned for the Hofstra Entertainment Access Television (HEAT) Network’s sketch comedy show Thursday Nite Live and was cast as an actor. TNL helped her realize that

while she enjoyed film, television was more suited to her liking.

“I realized I really liked the way things were running in the HEAT network, and I realized I was more interested in episodic writing,” Kastner said. “It made me think, ‘Maybe I’m more interested in not only writing but producing my own show.’”

Kastner is now a prominent figure in TNL, serving as both an actor and writer. This is no surprise, as her infectious personality and quick wit make her perfect for the role.

“I definitely feel more involved with the TNL process now that I’m a writer,” Kastner said. “I’m not only acting out the content but I’m creating it. I enjoy that.”

For now, Kastner loves being in front of the camera, but ultimately, she prefers to be behind the scenes.

“I have always done theater and I like to perform, but I think that especially with TNL, being behind the scenes and coming up with the sketches – I enjoy that more,” she said. “As both a cast member and writer, I get to write the roles I want to see myself or

others in.”

She aims to be even more involved with the technical aspects of media production, having just recently completed training for WRHU. Although Kastner doesn’t necessarily want a radio-related career, there are features of the station that make her eager to begin.

“I haven’t really gotten into it yet, but I’ve been tracking and watching. I thought WRHU would be a good way to get more involved in the [LHSC],” she said. “I have some friends in the television department who are also involved in WRHU, and even though I don’t plan on going into radio, it’ll give me more experience.”

The idea of being a showrunner or producer makes Kastner excited for her future, even though it was unexpected.

“I watched a lot of TV as a kid, but I don’t think I ever thought I would be where I am now,” Kastner said. “I don’t think if you asked me even five years ago, I’d think this is where I would end up, but I’m happy this is what I decided I want to do.”

Kastner expressed that she

specifically wants to write for or produce a comedy or sitcom mockumentary. When asked why, she replied, “I’ve always gravitated more towards comedic shows or comedy writing. Honestly, a lot of it is that both my parents are funny people and everything in my house was made fun of. I love how [a] mockumentary is taking real people and making a show about the comedy relating to the absurdity of real life.”

Unsurprisingly, as a video/ television and business major, Kastner is very particular about

her favorite shows. She especially loves “Derry Girls,” “Fleabag” and the teen drama “Degrassi,” which she calls her guilty pleasure.

Kastner’s passion for the world of television is beyond inspiring. From her desire to be involved on campus to the amount of time she spends writing and reviewing scripts, she’s exactly the kind of creative mind television needs today.

“I love TV,” Kastner said. “I feel like I’m finally turning my dreams into my reality.”

By Zoe Casselman ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

In Cincinnati, Ohio, where I’m from, Skyline Chili is one of the most popular, well-loved restaurants to visit. While spaghetti, chili and cheese may be an odd combination for a meal, in Cincinnati, this dish is a classic. Don’t be afraid of the word chili, either – in this recipe it’s more of a sauce.

While Skyline restaurants are only located in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Florida, you can still buy a can of Skyline Chili online and make it yourself. Whether you’re from the Midwest like me or not, this meal is the perfect comfort food.

Zoe Casselman / The Hofstra Chronicle

Photo courtesy of Hayley Kastner

Putting the “fine” in finals

In the days leading up to finals, Hofstra University held events to help students relax and prepare for their exams. On Wednesday, Dec. 7, the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement held a “pet therapy” event where students were encouraged to play with therapy dogs to alleviate stress. The following Monday, Dec. 12, Campus Dining and the Division of Student Affairs hosted a late night breakfast bufffet from 8 to 11 p.m.

Spread by Jacob Lewis

Emma Fabilli / The Hofstra Chronicle

Emma Fabilli / The Hofstra Chronicle

Emma Fabilli / The Hofstra Chronicle

Emma Fabilli / The Hofstra Chronicle

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle

Courtesy

Quick Hits SZA’s return to music is an S.O-Yes

By Aidan Judge ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Few artists are able to take a nearly six-year break between albums and still come back with immense success. R&B sensation SZA is one of them. After releasing her debut album “Ctrl” in 2017, SZA rode the success of that project all the way until this past Friday, when she finally released her long-awaited followup to her critically acclaimed first album.

“SOS,” SZA’s sophomore LP, is an exciting venture into a new world of music genres, lyricism and themes for the artist. Standing with a whopping 23 tracks, SZA crafts an emotional realm of musical excellence with songs that will please anybody who gives a listen.

It was Christmas Day 2020 when the world got their first taste of SZA’s second full-length project, with the release of “Good Days.”

The single skyrocketed to the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, becoming SZA’s first top 10 solo hit. Nearly a full year later in December 2021, she released the second single, “I Hate U,” outdoing “Good Days” as an even more successful hit, peaking at No. 7 on the Hot 100.

Ten months of waiting later, the highly anticipated “Shirt” was released (which was originally briefly featured at the end of the “Good Days” music video in March 2021). Once again, SZA had a hit on her hands, with the song reaching Billboard’s top 10.

Three top 10 singles later, “SOS” has finally arrived. It’s a bit of an unconventional strategy for an artist to release singles with such a large gap in between each one, but evidently the strategy was successful, as “SOS” had already racked up over one billion streams before releasing –thanks to those three hits.

The album opens with a simple, yet heart wrenching line: “Last night, I cried.” The title track is a grandiose return to music for SZA, setting the tone for the highly cathartic and emotional themes in the coming tracks. The title track even samples from a fellow R&B and pop legend, Beyoncé, taking lyrics from her song “Listen.”

After opening the album on a harrowing note, sadness turns to spite and anger in “Kill Bill,” a high-energy revenge anthem where the “Kiss Me More” singer describes being more than ready to move on from a rocky relationship. The message is clear from SZA just based on the first two tracks: get ready for an emotional journey that flies across all genres.

The animosity continues with “Seek and Destroy,” opening the track with the lyric, “You push past my own capacity, boy.”

The song is one of the biggest bright spots on the record, being a return to form but also bringing a new element of electricity and emotion to the lyrics that SZA has never fully tapped into before. She keeps the flow going with “Low” and “Love Language,” reminding viewers of the troubles of romance that SZA has been through.

The genre versatility really begins with track number six, titled “Blind.” Performed for the first time on “Saturday Night Live” on Saturday, Dec. 3, the song is a stripped-down, acoustic-influenced track, a genre SZA dabbles in for the first time on this record. The switch-up works surprisingly well, with SZA’s stunning vocals allowed to shine through with minimal instrumentation. The acoustic sound continues through the rest of the record, on songs like “Nobody Gets Me” and “Ghost in the Machine,”

which features alternative music sensation Phoebe Bridgers.

“Nobody Gets Me,” a countryinfused ballad about finding somebody who finally understands you, stands out sonically from the rest of SZA’s discography, showing the new age of versatility that the “All the Stars” singer is implementing throughout this new era. “Ghost in the Machine” is another album highlight, a track that seamlessly blends the two very different genres of SZA and Bridgers, which in turn creates a mash-up of musical talent that was unexpected, yet completely successful.

The biggest standout on the entire 23-track run, however, is track number 13, titled “F2F.” Upon the first listen, the song is a massive change in direction from SZA’s usual artistry. SZA trades in her R&B expertise for experimentation in other areas; poppunk and rock. The heavy guitar strings on the chorus and drum beating throughout the track create an ensemble of music that doesn’t sound anything like typical SZA, but is also a SZA song to its core. The irresistibly catchy musical production and unique sound of the track make it a standout for SZA’s entire career in music thus far.

Other exceptional tracks include “Smoking on my Ex Pack,” a fast-paced song with an unusual flow that makes for an entertaining first listen, and

“Special,” a thematically unique track about the struggles of dealing with internalized insecurities and how those can reflect on others surrounding you. The album benefits greatly from such a wide variety of elements and creates an experience for the listener that is unique to other projects they may have listened to featuring SZA in the past.

Twenty-three tracks is a hefty amount of music to put into one record, and in some regards, it doesn’t really work in SZA’s favor. At times, tracks can fade into the background and from the memory of the listener, making the LP feel just a tad bit bloated. A more concise 13 to 16 tracks would’ve worked in SZA’s favor, just as was done with “Ctrl.”

“SOS” is a worthy addition to SZA’s bombastic discography and a huge contender for one of 2022’s finest records.

The seamless mixing of genres and honest lyricism makes for a memorable record that makes the five-and-a-half-year wait all the more satisfying in the end.

Although the record is rather lengthy, it’s worth sifting through to find the gems that have already cemented themselves as iconic parts of SZA’s musical career. It’s comforting to know that patience leads to satisfaction regarding SZA’s work, and it will also be incredibly exciting to see what she does next.

Courtesy of Popsugar

Courtesy of Hidden Remote

Courtesy of Variety

Taylor Swift is set to direct her first film in collaboration with Searchlight Pictures.

Amazon Prime Video’s “Daisy Jones & The Six” will premiere on March 3, 2023.

Reneé Rapp will reprise her role as Regina George in Paramount+’s “Mean Girls: The Musical” movie.

Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter has been accused of sexaul assault.

Courtesy of People

Courtesy of Popsugar

Musicians Dylan Minnette and Lydia Night have broken up.

Photo courtesy of Billboard

SZA has collaborated with various artists over the years leading up to the release of the new album, including Doja Cat and Rihanna.

‘Home Alone 2’ remains a classic 30 years later

By Kat Salmon ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

It is hard to believe that it has been 30 years since Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) was left behind by his family, again, during another one of their Christmas trips. Instead of being home in Chicago, Kevin is left in New York after accidentally following someone he thought was his dad on to the wrong flight. The rest of the McCallister clan is spending Christmas in Miami, losing Kevin once again. As Kate says to the Miami police officer, “It’s becoming sort of McCallister family travel tradition.”

Of course, it would not be “Home Alone” if the Sticky Bandits, formally known as the Wet Bandits, didn’t make an appearance. Harry and Marv have escaped prison and are desperate to get back to stealing things. Instead of hitting up houses, they want to go big or go home.

Even though the sequel does not get as much praise as the original,

it still deserves some credit. Kevin proves he still has what it takes to bring down Harry and Marv once and for all. Plus, the holiday season would not be the same without Kevin’s shenanigans.

There were not many funny, family-friendly, live-action Christmas movies before the first “Home Alone” was released. There was “A Christmas Story” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” but the latter was geared more towards adults and not exactly kid appropriate. It seems that the “Home Alone” franchise started a trend toward more family-friendly Christmas comedies, because not long after “The Santa Clause” and “Jingle All The Way” were released. Another 2000s classic, “Elf,” may not even be around if it were not for “Home Alone.”

“Home Alone 2: Lost In New York” brings even more laughs than the original film. Harry and Marv fail to understand that they cannot outsmart Kevin McCallister. In this movie, Kevin manages to outdo himself when trying to

catch the Sticky Bandits. From throwing bricks from the roof to electrocuting Marv, the kid proves he has what it takes when it comes to catching some idiot criminals. The employees at the Plaza Hotel also have some of the funniest scenes. First, there is the concierge (Tim Curry), who is suspicious of Kevin as soon as he sets foot in the hotel. Then there is the bellhop (Rob Schneider), who is lovably stupid, especially when trying to get a tip. You did read that correctly; these two amazing actors were in the film. The scene where they are trying to catch Harry and Marv is probably the most well-acted scene in the whole movie. Kevin really tricked them into believing a movie scene was reality.

It would not be a “Home Alone” film if there were not touching scenes that pull at your heartstrings. The best example is when Kevin meets the Pidgeon Lady in Central Park. Although she scares him at first, Kevin eventually goes up to introduce himself. This scene shows that while even

though Kevin may just be a kid, he cares about others. That’s something adults tend to overlook when kids are involved. It can be hard to remember that children can be some of the most intuitive people.

Just remember that the holiday season would not be the same without the adventures of Kevin

McCallister. Whether you watch the original or both, you are bound to have a good time. “Home Alone 2: Lost In New York” can be streamed on Disney+, along with the first film. If you want to be bold and buy the film digitally, it is $10 on the iTunes store.

Måneskin returns and raves in New York shows

By Sophia Musialkiewicz SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

On Friday, Dec. 2, and Saturday, Dec. 3, the Italian rock band Måneskin held two concerts for their “Loud Kids Tour.” The shows took place at the small-butenergetic venue of the Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center.

Måneskin was formed in 2016 in Rome, Italy, and consists of four members: the lead singer, Damiano David, the bassist, Victoria De Angelis, the guitarist, Thomas Raggi and the drummer, Ethan Torchio.

They have two studio albums, “Il ballo della vita” and “Teatro d’ira Vol. 1,” as well as 11 singles and one EP. In 2021, they won the Eurovision competition with their song “Zitti e buoni.” This was the start of their rise in global popularity. The same year, they released the song “I Wanna Be Your Slave” which blew up on many different platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Spotify.

This song, and their cover of the song “Beggin’,” originally by the band Four Seasons, are what Måneskin is best known for. The “Loud Kids Tour” is the first time Måneskin has toured outside Europe. Given their new American audience, it was no surprise that their two New York City dates were sold out.

Måneskin brought an incredible amount of energy to New York during these two shows. There was no opener for the show, and it did not start at its intended time of 8 p.m., but fans did not grow tired. In fact, fans had started lining up for the event hours in advance

just to get front row spots. Many people brought gifts or signs to the concert to show their love for the band, which made for a fun

venue full of people all passionate about the same thing.

The setlist consisted of 14 songs and an encore of two songs. They performed a good mix of both

their hit songs and fan favorites. They even performed covers of “I Wanna Be Your Dog” by The Stooges and “My Generation” by The Who. The atmosphere of the concert was electric. Everyone was singing along with David, whose live vocals were incredibly clear. Something that was interesting to see was how much crowd interaction Måneskin incorporated into their show. Each member of the band (excluding the drummer) came into the crowd: De Angelis walked through the crowd playing her bass, and two songs later, Raggi did the same while on the shoulders of the security guards.

David also came into the crowd with security guards where he held hands and recorded videos with fans. At the end of the show, around 20 fans were picked to go on stage with Måneskin. These once in a lifetime kind of interactions were made possible by Hammerstein Ballroom being a more intimate venue, and not many performers take advantage of it. It was impressive to see Måneskin go to so much effort to include their fans in their show.

Needless to say, Måneskin put on an incredible show that anyone, even a non-fan, could enjoy. It is obvious how much the band members love performing and how much the dedicated fans love them right back. The tour continues through 2023 in the U.S. and Europe. Måneskin is also coming out with a new album titled “RUSH!” on Jan. 20, 2023, so check it out!

Culkin proposed removing a scene involving former U.S. president Donald Trump following his controversial tenure.

Måneskin originated in Europe but has grown a substantial American audience in recent years.

Photo courtesy of IMDb

Photo courtesy of Ticketmaster

Beautifully brutal – ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ delivers

By Mac Sykes ASSISTANT ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

From the opening shot to the closing credits, Edward Berger’s adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s 1929 novel, “All Quiet on the Western Front,” is a spectacle unlike any other. Released earlier this year at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, the film is a beautifully, yet horrifically, captured portrayal of the life of a soldier in World War I.

The story follows 17-year-old Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer), who enlists in the Imperial German Army with his school friends in the spring of 1917. The boys are enthusiastic to go off to battle, but their excitement quickly ceases once they come to experience first-hand the true gruesome horror that awaits them on the front. As the months go on, the war begins to reach the end as the German government begins to lay down their arms; however, some members of their command are more reluctant to surrender, causing the fight to continue. Paul’s dream of becoming a hero is shat-

tered as he does his best, by any means, to survive and leave these days behind.

While this is not the first adaption of “All Quiet on the Western Front,” Berger’s astonishing direction – combined with the rich cinematography by James Friend – craft an excellent piece of cinema that truly captures the barbaric and chaotic nature that was the Great War, unlike any production of the source material prior to this.

The work stays faithful to the author’s vision in the novel, while bringing it to life in a cinematic scope unlike any other. While there has been a plethora of films related to the brutality

of World War II, there are fewer films that come to mind regarding the First World War. It is no doubt that this will be considered among

you on the edge of your seat as we follow Paul’s journey, hopeful that he will make it home and away from the grotesque danger of the battle.

themes of anti-war. It’s interesting to note that European filmmakers have consistently continued to accurately portray the harsh realities of the conflict in their work.

the greats in the years to come.

The film is a triumph in every aspect, from cinematography to direction and editing. For a nearly three-hour picture, the film leaves

The film’s editing is something truly special in portraying the juxtaposition of the conflict. As the young men – who are just beginning their lives – are to go off to die, mindlessly fighting in the dark trenches of death, the older men – fat in wealth and power – are the ones deciding who gets to come home and delaying the resolution to this conflict more through their careless actions. Despite events in the film taking place over a century ago, the film’s message remains just as central in the times of now as it plays into the

As cliché as it may sound when it comes to the art of filmmaking, Central Europe has always cinematically pushed the boundaries of storytelling and evoking truth of war as opposed to other countries such as America. Our country has glorified these times, and American filmmakers have lost their touch when it comes to bringing to life these stories, turning them into one big mindless work akin to a video game rather than the actuality of war.

Perhaps it’s time to detach ourselves from the nature of American war filmography to understand the truth as it happened so often, brutally and realistically in Europe’s eyes, instead of glorifying years where boys are sent off to die before they could even begin to understand what life is. The work produced in Edward Berger’s “All Quiet on the Western Front,” is testimony to this difference in styles.

A ‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’ retrospective

and Pokémon Trainer, solidifying the game’s tagline, “Everyone is here.” The game also included various newcomers that fans have wanted for years, such as Ridley, Chrom, Daisy, Ken, Isabelle and many more. Even classic stages would return and look stunning.

rate. The storyline is lacking and could have been a lot better. It also feels lazy to use spirits as a collectible instead of trophies, like in games prior, since it is just a render of a character with nothing more to it.

from “Tekken,” Sephiroth from “Final Fantasy VII” and Sora from “Kingdom Hearts” were received with an explosion of hype and excitement when they were announced.

By Peter Pistone STAFF WRITER

“Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” was possibly the most anticipated fighting game for the Nintendo Switch in recent memory.

Announced in June 2018 and released in early December of the same year, the game was received with loads of excitement and anticipation of what characters would end up in the newest title. For years, Smash has been a massive crossover event that has given fans the chance to play as their

favorite video game characters in an all-out brawl against their friends, family or people online. However, when “Smash Bros. Ultimate” came out, the series changed forever.

The first trailer highlighted the characters joining the new installment, which showed how much this game would change the series. Since every character was returning to the game, this included characters who were originally DLC in the previous title, to veterans from previous games, like Solid Snake, the Ice Climbers

All the returning characters still play as they did in their original games, with new tweaks and changes that make them more enjoyable than their original counterparts. The newcomers can all be controlled well, and some are better than others.

One critique to give this game is its new story mode. Unlike the Subspace Emissary from “Super Smash Bros. Brawl,” the game focuses on the rescuing the spirits of the game’s representatives and rescuing their fallen allies from Galeem, one of the antagonists of the game. While enjoyable on a surface level, it’s just fighting one opponent after another and switching out a team to make you stronger than them at a constant

Right before the game’s release, Nintendo announced new DLC characters joining the franchise. Every character within the first wave was someone from a past series. Joker from “Persona 5,” Hero from “Dragon Quest,” Banjo and Kazooie from games of the same name, Terry from “King of Fighters” and Byleth from “Fire Emblem: Three Houses” all would join the fight – with mixed reactions from fans. DLC Wave #1 ended in January 2020, with a new wave of DLC characters coming over the next year.

DLC Wave #2 was met with a lot more positive feedback and hype, as many characters that fans wanted in Smash were added after years of waiting. Steve from “Minecraft,” Kazuya

The journey of “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” can best be described as “getting everything you wanted for Christmas.” It’s a game that has created friendships and brought fans together with new games and franchises.

It lives on as one of the greatest crossovers in gaming history. If you were to talk about this game in 2008 when Sonic the Hedgehog had just joined, nobody would have believed you.

Having characters like Steve, Sora, Ridley and Mario all on screen together feels like a fever dream. This game has even created a team for our very own Hofstra eSports club. “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” will live with Nintendo fans for generations to come as the greatest crossover in video game history.

“Ultimate” is the newest game to be released in the beloved series.

Photo courtesy of GameStop

The 2022 release marks the fourth time “All Quiet on the Western Front” has been adapated from the original novel.

Photo courtesy of The New York Times

By Julian Rocha

Modern society has touted electric cars as a sustainable innovation and the future of transportation. However, this is too good to be true, as the push for electric cars only prolongs the issue of car dependency and does not move the needle in terms of mitigating climate change. Millions of Americans own gasoline cars, so expecting them to stop driving the cars they already own to buy another one is costly and unsustainable.

Additionally, the batteries found in electric cars pose serious safety risks of their own, casting doubt on their practicality.

Before I continue any further, I want to emphasize that in no way am I praising gasoline cars. Many are aware of the harm they have caused to the environment, and the sale of gasoline in

Electric cars are not the future

the United States funds the very highways that have dismembered many of our great cities.

Strictly looking at the electric cars themselves, they will produce extreme amounts of waste to our landfills. According to a 2020 publication by Greenpeace, over 12 million tons of lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles are expected to be discarded, and over 10 million tons of metals will be mined to replace them. The metals which go into electric cars are finite, so stripping mines bare just to place them in cars will not be wise.

Sure, it is possible to recycle batteries, but out of all the batteries discarded, I would put my money on the majority of them simply being tossed.

Also, before these lithium-ion car batteries even make it into the landfill, they pose a safety

risk, as they are prone to catching fire.

As mentioned before, focusing on switching to electric cars will not make a significant difference in improving the quality of life in the United States. Our zoning laws are not designed around people, they are de-

“Strictly looking at electric cars themselves, they will produce extreme amounts of waste to our landfills.”

signed around cars, so in many places in the United States, there is no real way to get around without a car. Of course, tearing up all the freeways and installing streetcars is not likely

to happen, so a simple solution might be for localities to invest in more bus routes. Those with an immense love for electric vehicles can even receive a bit of a compromise, as cities such as Minneapolis have already begun implementing electric buses. Although existing automotive infrastructure is not conducive to human-scale development, buses are a great way to use what already exists while making it less necessary to own a car.

As with nearly any other environmental cause, the burden does not fall squarely on the consumer to take direct action, but there is still plenty we can do. Local officials have the power to shape transportation infrastructure, so let them know what you would like to see from them. If quality public transportation is inaccessible to

you, consider carpooling with neighbors, coworkers or friends.

By no means is this a call to shame those who own electric cars. Sustainable transportation is an incredibly nuanced concept and there are multiple ways to approach it. In some cases, choosing an electric car over a gasoline-powered one might actually be the right choice.

Electric cars just aren’t an umbrella solution for the pollution caused by gasoline cars.

Julian Rocha is a junior double major in global studies and geography with a GIS concentration. He is also the features editor. You can find him on Instagram @julianrrocha.

Argue with your peers

CONTINUED FROM A1

In a poll conducted by the New York Times, participants were asked, “Over the past year, have you held your tongue because you were concerned about retaliation or harsh criticism?” Of participants, 55% answered yes. Out of the hundred 18 to 34-yearolds asked, 61 answered yes. So, individuals of college age are more likely to hold back out of concern for themselves.

This is not a problem that is specific to a select demographic. Fifty-two of the 100 Democrats polled by the NYT answered yes to the question, as well as 58 out of 100 Republicans. Since more than half of the people answered yes, it is evident that there is a serious problem at hand.

Hofstra’s Faculty Policy Series #12 states, “The university,

which wishes to set an example of open-minded inquiry in its classrooms will defeat its purpose if it denies the same right of inquiry to its students outside the classroom. The university should protect the student from, and resist itself, any pressures from within or without that would prevent or thwart freedom of inquiry.”

Professors are encouraged to promote free thinking and “are obliged to protect [the] rights to free expression.” Yet students don’t have the same level of responsibility placed on them. It is a given that any form of hate speech or that which incites violence should be prohibited on campus, and the community ought to actively work to prevent such an occurrence. However, professors and students should be working much harder to encourage open debate, even on subjects that

are not widely accepted.

If a controversial topic like the abolition of the police arises, there is usually one commonly held belief that is stated, discussed for a while and then neatly wrapped up. But Hofstra students aren’t in college to be praised for echoing what they’ve been told.

Students are here to become individuals who will effectively work in the real world, and to do so they have to be able to hear ideas that they don’t agree with. Hearing an opinion that contradicts one’s commonly held beliefs is extremely beneficial to problem-solving and allows one to develop the skills required for productive workplace conversations.

The term “devil’s advocate” gets tossed around when discussing open debate in classrooms. It seems to be a cop-out used to freely speak one’s

mind without the fear of being judged for an opinion. If Hofstra’s faculty prides themselves on freedom of expression, they should be encouraging us to confidently state our opinions without saying, “I’m just playing devil’s advocate.”

A professor of mine, who strongly encourages debates, was reminiscing about his time spent in Europe, where he observed college students having heated debates in class and the same students who were yelling at each other walking out together, smiling and discussing weekend plans. There’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed, like making personal attacks or using hateful language that makes other students uncomfortable.

Everyone deserves to feel at ease in their classrooms, and this can still happen without censoring opinions that one

might not agree with. Debating and troubleshooting arguments are what strengthens them. Hearing counterpoints that teach one to strengthen their argument, or potentially change their mind, is a vital life skill that can be easily obtained if Hofstra allows it. Then, once a student leaves the classroom, there shouldn’t be any animosity between themselves and their peers based on what was discussed in the allotted class time.

Makenzie Hurt is a sophomore English major with a concentration in literature and a journalism minor. She is also the assistant opinion editor. You can find her on Instagram @makenziehurt.

Happy Holidays!

Graphic by Ethan Albin / The Hofstra Chronicle

By Xavier Suggs

The battle between some national teams and FIFA over the wearing of the ‘OneLove’ captain’s armband has been well-publicized. The armband is intended to represent inclusion and diversity in soccer, and it uses an image of a heart filled with rainbow colors to depict that message. Before being banned by FIFA, the armbands were developed by the Royal Dutch Football Association and were meant to be worn by the captains of England, Wales, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Switzerland and Germany during the World Cup.

FIFA and Qatar officials have continued to reiterate that everyone would be welcome in the small Gulf country. “I have been speaking about this subject with the country’s highest leadership,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in an official statement. “They have confirmed, and I can confirm that everyone is welcome.” But

Allow athletes to speak their minds

other quotes and actions have contradicted that sentiment.

Qatar’s World Cup Ambassador Khalid Salman referred to homosexuality as “damage in the mind” in an interview with a German reporter, calling it “haram,” which means forbidden in Arabic. In a letter sent out to each team participating in the World Cup, FIFA pleaded for teams to “not allow football to be dragged into every ideology or political battle that exists,” continuing on to say, “At FIFA, we try to respect all opinions and beliefs, without handing out moral lessons to the rest of the world.”

The safety of LGBTQ+ fans has been a major concern during the World Cup as homosexuality is outlawed in Qatar, and violating these laws can result in a sentence of up to three years in prison and/or fines. Under sharia law, if a Muslim is found to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community, the death penalty could be applied, although there are no

known cases of capital punishment being used in this manner.

These penalties do not include the alleged abuses faced by LGBTQ+ individuals while in police custody, which can include beatings and sexual harassment, according to accounts given to Human Rights Watch. Nor does that factor in the discrimination they face in everyday life due to Qatar’s conservative culture.

This culminated in German players protesting before their first match against Japan by covering their mouths in their team photo to show support for LGBTQ+ rights. There have also been confrontations with fans and security officers over rainbow-colored clothing and accessories.

FIFA have documented their desire to remain “politically neutral” on social issues and have deemed the ‘OneLove’ armbands, which are meant to symbolize inclusivity in soccer, too “overtly political.” FIFA has replaced the ‘OneLove’ arm-

bands with four other armbands bearing generic messages like, #NoDiscrimination, #SaveThePlanet, #EducationForAll, #ProtectTheChildren and #BeActive. Even though the intent of these messages is so broad and nonspecific that they can’t be criticized, they are in fact overtly political in nature.

#SaveThePlanet seems offensive to every politician, government official and large corporation who doesn’t believe in human-caused climate change. #EducationForAll references the restrictions placed on education for girls across the world compared to their male counterparts. It doesn’t mention how wealth intersects with class to create an unequal learning atmosphere globally. #ProtectTheChildren and #NoDiscrimination are extremely contradictory when considering that these statements apparently don’t include LGBTQ+ youth who are routinely discriminated against around the world and especially in Qatar,

where their very existence is a crime. The messages also do not include migrant workers who face significant racism and classism when searching for promotions compared to their Qatari counterparts. The messages also neglect to mention the children of migrant workers who passed away because a few powerful people deemed a couple of soccer games and millions in revenue more valuable than human life. But #BeActive is a positive all-inclusive message, way to go FIFA!

Sports can act as a magnifier of social problems in the world. For those who say we should keep politics out of sports, they really mean to silence the players’ and fans’ voices and keep power in the hands of the most influential people who can use “sportswashing” campaigns to legitimize their wealth and rule.

Xavier Suggs is a freshman sociology major.

No more toddling in tiaras

By Matthew Adarichev

Nothing seems more antiquated to me than allowing young girls to be paraded around against their will and be judged as “most beautiful.” It’s time to end the practice of child beauty pageantry once and for all.

Because they are children, none of the contestants in a child beauty pageant can legally consent to participating. It is an activity wholly foisted on the child by their parents.

While pageant contestants over the age of 18 grasp concepts such as autonomy and identity, child beauty pageant contestants have harmful ideas imprinted on them from a young age. Little girls learn that one will be rewarded for dressing up, pleasing an audience and being beautiful, when the simple truth remains that beauty is subjective.

This “dress-up” often extends far beyond pretty clothes and tiaras. It routinely steps over the line into the overt sexualization of children, particularly the sexualization of young girls, considering pageant “participants” are nearly all females.

Child beauty pageants encourage children to wear heavy makeup, fake hair and make suggestive motions like blowing kisses towards judges to win competitions. “Participants” routinely wear clothing that is considered suggestive, such as crop tops and short skirts. As such, pageant “participants” intertwine success and sexualization from a young age.

Parents should be doing the opposite of contributing to the early sexualization of their daughters, considering that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that an

appalling 50% of women will experience sexual violence during their lifetime and 80% of sexual violence goes unreported.

Further, these pageants provide an opportunity for adults to sexually exploit children.

One convicted pedophile in Canada, speaking of a popular child beauty pageant show, was quoted as saying “It’s legal eye candy that nobody will admit.”

It begs the question, is the man recording at the back of a pageant a family member or a predator? At least one winner of the adult Miss America pageant was sexually molested as a child, meaning that this may be happening to many other girls.

And what of the effect on the girls themselves? Wonderlich et al. reports that “Childhood pageant participants scored higher on body dissatisfaction, interpersonal distrust and impulse dysregulation than non-

participants and showed a trend toward greater ineffectiveness.” S. H. Thompson and K. Hammond report that, among 131 child beauty pageant contestants surveyed, “Over onefourth (26%) of the women had been told or perceived they had an eating disorder … Almost half (48.5%) reported wanting to be thinner and 57% were trying to lose weight.”

These statistics prove that disordered eating can be a direct result of child beauty pageants.

The American Psychological Association also found that the “Sexualization of Girls is Linked to Common Mental Health Problems in Girls and Women – Eating Disorders, Low Self-Esteem and Depression.” Not to mention, chemicals commonly found in hairspray – often used at these pageants – can damage hormonal cycles, and the wearing

of high heels by young contestants can lead to permanent damage in leg muscles and bones. These young girls are being led down a path of future, irreversible health problems that should not be permitted.

It is clear that child beauty pageants are destructive. In order to solve the issue of child sexualization through beauty pageants, citizens can urge their senators to ban beauty pageants under the age of 18. This harmful and repressive industry is doing more harm than good and should never have existed in the first place.

Matthew Adarichev is a public policy major, a political activist and an aspiring journalist whose work has appeared in the Long Island Herald and the Anton Media Group.

The views and opinions expressed in the Opinion section are those of the authors. They are not an endorsement of the views of The Chronicle or its staff. The Chronicle does not discriminate based on the opinions of the authors.

Pride couldn’t overcome odds at No. 4 Purdue

By Cole McDonnell STAFF WRITER

freshman Amar’e Marshall stepped up by scoring a career and game-high of 24 points.

“The kid is a scorer, you know he’s not afraid of the bright lights,” said Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. “He came out and accepted the challenge; he was the next man up.”

Marshall shot 10-17 from the field and attacked the paint without any regard for Purdue’s 7’4” Zach Edey. Marshall also knocked down three shots from long range and tallied four assists.

down low, which exposed them out on the wings, where they allowed Purdue to knock down 10 3-pointers.

Edey led the way for the Boilermakers with his second straight first half double-double, scoring 15 points and collecting 11 rebounds, nine of which were in the first 10 minutes.

basketball.”

Despite the improved defense from the Pride, the game was still never in question as the Boilermakers reached their highest lead of the game when they went on an 8-0 run to stretch their lead to 70-46.

against the University of Massachusetts Minutemen on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. If Estrada can’t go, Claxton isn’t worried about his guys stepping up once again.

The Hofstra Pride men’s basketball team traveled to West Lafayette, Indiana, on Wednesday, Dec. 7, to play the No. 4 Purdue University Boilermakers. They left the Hoosier state with an 85-66 loss as the Boilermakers extended their unbeaten record to 9-0, beating the Pride.

Hofstra came into the game shorthanded without its leading scorer Aaron Estrada, who missed a game for the first time in his career with the Pride.

In Estrada’s absence, redshirt

Despite the outstanding performance from Marshall, the Boilermakers maintained a double-digit lead for the whole game and made their presence known from the opening tip, jumping out to a 20-2 lead in the first six minutes of the game. The Purdue defense made it hard for the Pride to score. The game entered halftime with Pride down 54-34 following a 7-0 run by the Boilermakers.

Defensively, Hofstra paid much of its attention to Edey

“He forces the defense to collapse,” Claxton said. “We had to provide so much attention to him and that freed up their shooters, and they were making shots in the first half. He’s the best big man in the country, and he’s hard to prepare for.”

The second half was a much more even contest as the Pride led in scoring 32-31 after the Boilermakers put their reserves into the game.

The Pride’s defense improved in the second half, holding the Boilermakers to shooting 40% from the field compared to 54% in the first half.

“I’m proud of my guys,” Claxton said. “We played team basketball.We played Hofstra

Edey added eight more points to bring his total to 23. The junior also collected seven more rebounds in the half as he almost singlehandedly outrebounded the undersized Pride.

Hofstra was only able to grab 20 rebounds while their opposition nabbed 43.

Even though the Pride was outmatched, Claxton was delighted with the way his team fought.

“That’s the No. 4 team in the country. If we can play like that against them, we can play against anybody,” Claxton said.

The Pride hopes to get Estrada healthy after his recent ankle injury in time for a matchup in the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational

“We’re more than a one man team,” Claxton said. “We don’t rely on [Estrada]. He’s a great player, but we know other guys can step up and score the ball as well.”

Photo courtesy of Charles Jischke

Amar’e Marshall earned his fourth CAA Rookie of the Week award this week.

By Dylan Brett STAFF WRITER

Hofstra stays undefeated at home

Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “They put in so much work every single day. I’m so happy for this program, and this was just a glimpse of where we’re headed.”

The Pride had to scratch and claw their way to victory, trailing by nine points with 5:45 to play before going on a 14-2 run led by senior guard Brandy Thomas to end the game.

The Hofstra Pride women’s basketball team continued their red hot run at home on Wednesday, Dec. 7, improving their home record to 4-0 with a 56-53 win over the Army West Point Black Knights at the Mack Sports Complex.

The Pride is now off to their best home start since the 201617 season and has evened their 2022 season record at 4-4. “I’m so happy for this team,” said

Thomas scored 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including a clutch go-ahead three-pointer with 1:04 left in the game. She also contributed five rebounds and two assists despite being limited to 21 minutes due to foul trouble. “I’m really proud of this crew for the way they dug it out,” Santos Atkinson said. “It wasn’t pretty, but they found a way and that’s what this game is all about.”

Freshman Emma Von Essen cracked the starting lineup for the second straight game and

posted a pair of clutch threepointers, the latter of which pulled the Pride within three points of the lead with 2:17 to play. Von Essen’s defensive efforts proved crucial for the Pride as well, as she managed a trio of steals in the win. “Emma has done a great job of stepping in,” Santos Atkinson said. “Everybody has done a great job coming off the bench and giving that same effort.”

The Pride has found themselves quite the uncanny backcourt duo, as the graduate transfer Thomas and freshman Von Essen combined to spearhead the comeback on Wednesday night.

“There were also some lineups that we don’t usually play with and you don’t expect to have that rhythm,” Santos Atkinson said. “We had to have some people come in and make some really great plays, and they did a phenomenal job holding it

down.”

For Army, senior forward Sabria Hunter posted her fifth double-double of the season with 10 points coupled with a game-high 16 rebounds. Guards Kamryn Hall and Reese Ericson both chipped in out of the backcourt with 16 and 15 points, respectively. The Black Knights shot just 35.4% from the field and committed 21 turnovers in the loss, while Hofstra posted a new season low with 11.

Toughness doesn’t travel well

By Andrew Fantucchio SPORTS EDITOR

way to win without him after losing their third straight contest on Sunday evening to the University of Massachusetts at Barclays Center, 71-56.

There appeared to be some promise following a 24-point performance from Amar’e Marshall in the Pride’s loss at No. 4 Purdue University on Wednesday, but that promise looked broken against UMass, with Marshall only scoring four points while shooting a disappointing 1-10 from the field.

11 days have passed since Aaron Estrada of the Hofstra men’s basketball team went down with an injury, and the Pride is still searching for a

“He’s a redshirt freshman, so he’s going to have some up and down games,” said Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. “Last game, against Purdue, was up.

Today, it was down. You try to have young guys be consistent with their play, but they’re just not at that young of an age. There are going to be highs and lows, ups and downs. You just got to hope there are more ups than downs.”

Not to place all the blame on Marshall – who has done his fair share of contributing this year by taking home three Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week awards to show for it. As for the main culprit behind the Pride’s third straight loss, Claxton faulted his team’s toughness.

“There was a lack of toughness in aspects of the gameplan,” Claxton said. “We knew we had to limit our turnovers to keep them out of transition. We knew we had to box out. We didn’t box out. So it was a combination of all those things. We knew that [UMass was going to be physical] going into the game. Tonight, they were the tougher team, and that’s why they won.”

Along with their toughness, Hofstra’s performance on offense was also lackluster, shooting just 34% from the field

against UMass after averaging 45% this season.

Save for Darlinstone Dubar with 13, no other member of the Pride’s starting lineup had a double-digit scoring performance. Warren Williams, with 12, and Griffin Barrouk, with 11, each had double figures off the bench.

It was evident from the opening tip that Hofstra’s offense wasn’t as strong as it has been at earlier points this season. Although UMass wasn’t particularly sharp either in the opening 20 minutes, as the two sides entered the half tied at 30, they came out of the locker rooms with a burst of energy that eluded Hofstra.

The loss to UMass comes in what is the Pride’s eighth straight road game. In that stretch, they’re 3-5 and are now 6-5 so far this year.

“We kind of had an NBA schedule to start the year with a lot of travel and a lot of road games which is tough for these kids,” said Claxton. “I probably have to take the blame for that. But we talk about scheduling, and teams don’t want to play us, much less at home. So we

The Pride return to action on Saturday, Dec. 10, as they travel to Baltimore, Maryland, seeking their first road win of the season against the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds. Last season’s matchup with the Greyhounds was certainly a memorable one for the Pride, as Sorelle Ineza drilled a game-winning jump shot at the buzzer to lift Hofstra to a 55-53 victory.

got a lot of road games, and we just got to make the best of it.”

Hofstra will play one last road game against the University of South Florida on Monday, Dec.19, in Tampa, before finally returning home to the Mack. Until then, Claxton says there’s only one thing his team can do.

“We got some time to refine some things and get some guys healthy,” Claxton said. “So, hopefully, we can relax, take a deep breath and get our minds and our bodies right.”

Thomas averages 13.3 points per game.

Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein / Hofstra Athletics

Barrouk went 4-ll from the field and 3-9 from beyond the arc.

Photo courtesy of Neil Miller / Hofstra Athletics

By Aaron Diaz STAFF WRITER

Pride falls to Loyola Maryland in OT

of rhythm,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “This team fought and got after it. We were right in the game, but there’s a lot to learn from and next time we’ll be ready.”

The Hofstra Pride women’s basketball team suffered a tough 62-61 defeat in the last three seconds of overtime against the Loyola University Maryland Greyhounds on Saturday, Dec. 10.

Taleah Dixon scored 21 points for Loyola in the contest, going 3-6 from beyond the arc and landing 28% of her field shots.

Even though the Pride’s Rosi Nicholson scored 17 points, shooting 6-6 from the field, and Zyheima Swint collected a career-high nine rebounds and three blocks, the Pride was unable to secure the victory.

“We came out and had a bit of a slow start and were out

Nicholson opened the first quarter with a mid-range jumper, giving Hofstra a 2-0 lead. The Greyhounds answered with a two-pointer from Lex Therien, making the score even at 2-2. The rest of the quarter remained close. Tied at 10-10, Loyola’s Meliah Van-Otoo made three free throws, giving her team a 13-10 lead. Hofstra’s Brandy Thomas then responded with a two-point jumper, making it 13-12.

With help from Van-Otoo, Dixon hit a jumper to extend Loyola’s lead to 15-12 over Hofstra. Ross-Barnes responded with a jumper from the paint to close the gap to 15-14. Dixon then nailed a 3-pointer from downtown to give Loyola an 18-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.

After a jumper by Greyhounds’ Koi Sims, Swint blocked a fierce shot from her in the paint to start the second

quarter. Brandy laid one up and in to come within two of Loyola, 18-16. With a threepointer by Dixon and a midrange in the paint by Therien, the Greyhounds extended their lead to 27-20.

The Pride cut the sevenpoint lead with back-to-back 3-pointers to come within one point of Loyola. Hofstra then took the lead 28-27 on a fastbreak by Sorelle Ineza. Despite this, a Loyola 3-pointer from Kelly Ratigan and a layup by Carmina Tanedo ended the first half 32-28 for the Greyhounds.

In the third, Loyola held the upper hand, never surrendering their lead the entire quarter. The Pride tied the game three times but never gained the lead. With 40 seconds left, Ineza made both free throws to pull within one, 44-43.

With both teams committing fouls, Greyhounds’ Marta Espinal went 1-2 from the line to extend their lead to 45-43. Yet, Nicholson secured the equalizer and made two free throws to end the third 45-45. With a back-and-forth game

ensuing, both teams were yet again knotted at 50-50 with seven minutes to play. The Greyhounds’ Laura Salmeron made two free throws to win 52-50.

With the ball in Hofstra’s possession, Sims stole the ball and relayed it to Ratigan in the paint to boost their lead to 54-50. However, another spot-up 3-pointer from Ineza trimmed the lead to one. With a minute remaining, the Pride continued to foul, giving the Greyhounds another shot on the line.

Loyola’s Bri Rozzi made one of her two attempts, giving the Pride another chance at the game. A defensive rebound by Janaia Fargo and an assist from Thomas set up a crafty layup in the paint for Swint to tie the game at 55-55. The game concluded in a tie and headed to overtime.

The Greyhounds pounced in the second half and took a quick 3-point lead courtesy of Rozzi. However, the Pride gained the lead off of two free throws from Nicholson in a 59-58 game. With under a minute left, Ally

Knights secured two more free throws for the Pride 61-58. With 18 seconds left, another pair of Rozzi free throws tightened the gap to 61-60. Down to 3.8 seconds, Knights committed yet another foul, giving the Greyhounds a chance to win. Dixon got the two buckets in and claimed the lastsecond victory over the Pride.

“It was a tough minute stretch late in overtime,” Santos Atkinson said. Follow our Twitter:

@huchronsports

Nicholson shot 0.471 from the field.

Photo courtesy of Neil Miller / Hofstra Athletics

Graphic courtesy of Dylan Brett

Brandy Thomas is leading the Pride to new heights

maturity, it was easy to play.”

Besides her high school play, Thomas was on a few Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) teams as well. She bounced around between teams every year, each presenting a new challenge for her.

“Some teams I would just go there and shoot the ball, so I could accumulate all the skills into one; so I’d be comfortable doing them all,” Thomas said.

many accomplishments as a rookie. She was awarded the Northeast Conference (NEC) Rookie of the Year, All-NEC Third Team and the All-Rookie award. Thomas was even ranked 27th nationally in doubledoubles and led the league in scoring and rebounding.

coaching-wise, teammate-wise,” she said. “Everybody was so open-armed.”

Thomas says that her first semester at Hofstra was a success, taking joy in her classes and professors. She feels like she’s learning a lot.

By Marisa Dambach STAFF WRITER

Brandy Thomas is a graduate student in her first year at Hofstra University and has already made a name for herself on and off the court.

The guard started at Long Island University (LIU) before making her way to Hempstead to continue her athletic and educational career.

Thomas’ father tried to get her into the sport at a very young age, but she wasn’t into it, despite her older sister being a basketball player herself.

“I wasn’t really into it or interested,” Thomas said. “I was like this type of kid that was sitting on the bench and just chilling.”

She didn’t start taking the game seriously until she was in ninth grade. Looking back, Thomas thinks she might have been a little more advanced if she had started earlier, but she’s happy with the decision she made.

“I’m happy with the way I

started – ninth grade,” Thomas said. “I don’t think I’ll be as burned out as some people might be.”

During her high school career, Thomas was a huge presence for her team on the court as a four-year letter winner, and she

Thomas played with four of her best friends during high school, but she ended up separating from them around sophomore year. In her last season with the AAU team New Heights, she reconnected with them and once again found their chemistry which was seen on the court.

“It meant a lot. It felt good to just work hard and do what I knew I could do and just advance each year at that,” she said. “I think I just do what role needs to be taken under – if it’s scoring, then so be it, rebounding, or whatever I can accommodate to help the team.”

In her junior season at LIU, Thomas was one of 20 players to reach 1,000 career points in the school’s history. She didn’t realize she was so close

“School-wise ... I feel like I’m learning, so it’s beneficial,” she said. “On the court, definitely just having that family atmosphere around me [is great], and I’m only 10 minutes away from home.”

On balancing school and basketball, Thomas says it’s a little challenging. Since her undergraduate years, she understands she’s used to knowing her priorities and knowing how to plan things out.

“School is a little more challenging, but it’s fun,” Thomas said. “You make time for what you need to make time for.”

In her very first semester here at Hofstra, Thomas was named a team captain. It wasn’t up to the coaches, but the players were the ones who voted on who would lead the team this season.

“It meant a lot for [my teammates] to look at me in that way, it felt very nice and warm that they choose me to to lead the squad on and off the court,” Thomas said.

helped lead the team to a state championship.

“I had a lot of great players around me,” she said. “I was a captain, so just leading with my

“I love playing with them, and I have the best chemistry with them,” she said. “I think you never lose that chemistry with any teammates you play with, so playing with them [again], I just loved it.”

Despite her success on the court, Thomas only had one scholarship lined up when coming out of high school. She took it and ran with it, calling LIU home for the next four years.

“They believed in me, and I just wanted to show them that I can play at this college level and be productive here,” Thomas said.

At the end of her first season with LIU, she came away with

to the historical mark until she watched one game back.

“I was listening to the game that we played before and [the commentator] was like, ‘She’s 10 points away from her 1,000th point’ and I [was like] ‘Wow,’” Thomas said. “I had no clue. It was definitely surprising for me, but it was a great memory.”

After completing her undergraduate years at LIU, Thomas is now working on her graduate degree at Hofstra. She only went on one college visit out of high school, so she wanted to explore any other options she had to continue her athletic and educational career.

“Here I feel like was the best choice for me family-wise,

Thomas currently leads the team in points, free throws and rebounds, with the Pride only playing eight games so far. She doesn’t take full credit for her success, but rather says it’s a team effort.

“If I’m off my game, somebody else is going to pick it up and get going, or even if I’m on, they want to give me the ball to be able to create for others or even score,” Thomas said.

One goal that Thomas has this season is she wants to hit her 1,000th rebound of her career.

“Well, I looked myself up for the first time in a long time, and I’m close to my 1,000th rebound,” she said. “It would be cool if I had 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, so I’m trying to do that.”

Thomas averages 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game so far.

“It meant a lot for my teammates to look at me in that way. It felt very nice and warm that they chose me to lead the squad on and off the court.”

Thomas scored a season-high 22 points against Wagner College this year.

Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein / Hofstra Athletics

Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein / Hofstra Athletics

SPORTS

Ferreira finds a home at Hofstra

By Samantha Rose Walker STAFF WRITER

The NCAA transfer portal has always been a part of the collegiate offseason. With it, student-athletes from all sports can find new homes to continue their academic and athletic careers more quickly and efficiently. This was exactly the case with graduate student wrestler Jacob Ferreira.

Ferreira has consistently competed at a high level, from the time he was seven up to high school. He wrestled at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York, earning 126 career victories and finishing second in the 2018 NYSPHSAA State Championships. In addition, he was a two-time state qualifier, three-time All-Section selection and two-time section finalist, among many other accolades.

Originally from Mt. Kisco, New York, the Long Island native began his collegiate career at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. During his time with the Bison, Ferreira achieved much success; in the 2018-19 season, he finished 15-11 at 184 pounds and recorded his fastest pin at just over a hundred seconds against Kutztown University’s Matt Lewandowski, claiming his first collegiate victory in one fell sweep. He also strung together a six-match winning streak. Ultimately, Ferreira knew he wanted and needed more.

“I wanted a different situation than I was in,” Ferreira said. “I just thought there was a better situation for me in North Carolina and I decided to take it.”

The level of competition is something Ferreira noted as being the most significant difference in wrestling at Bucknell, North Carolina State University and now, Hofstra.

“As I progressed, getting older and wrestling better people, I

needed more of a challenge,” Ferreira said.

Although he wrestled at 184 pounds with the Bison, when he got to NC State, Ferreira switched between weight classes 174, 184 and 197 in his first season.

During his time at NC State, he went 9-10 overall, 2-3 at 174, 4-5 at 184 and 3-2 at 197 pounds. Ferreira opened up about switching between several weight classes in a single season.

“I am a true 184-pounder but struggled with finding clarity in my weight class because certain people thought I worked better at other places,” Ferreira explained. “I think I feel good at 184 this year.”

What ultimately landed

Papadatos is the man; he’s great. He’s very personable and funny. He pushes me to be a leader in the room. He wants to win, and so do I. That’s why we get along so well.”

Papadatos expressed that Ferreira has a quieter leadership style that makes people want to follow his lead.

“There are guys like Trey [Rogers] and Zack [KnightonWard] who have been long-time leaders on the team. I’m not that vocal of a leader; I try to do all the right things and try to work hard,” Ferreira said. “But as I said, at the same time, I’m not that vocal; but if you want to follow me, you can, that’s okay too.”

Ferreira’s journey has been nothing short of extensive and

very familiar with. We’ve been very fortunate to have recruited guys both in the past and have members of our current team from Empire.”

“He will be a valuable option

rankings for the Pride, Coach Papadatos knew there would be big shoes to fill now that the former 184-pounder, Charles Small, had graduated. Ferreira once again exhibited his worth being the No. 26 ranked wrestler in his weight class.

After grad school and wrestling, Ferreira plans to teach social studies, preferably to middle school kids, and maybe even coach wrestling.

“I want to be a teacher here in New York; that’s why I’m getting my master’s, and it’s just easier being here in New York,” he said.

Ferreira back in New York, and at Hofstra, wasn’t just wrestling but a desire to be home.

“I spent my whole [youth] wrestling career here and wanted to come back home,” Ferreira explained.

Although Hofstra isn’t a Big Ten or Pac-12 school, Ferreira wholeheartedly believes that choosing the Pride was one of the best decisions for his career. He even hopes to achieve some national titles at Hofstra.

Another contributing factor was his relationship with head coach Dennis Papadatos, assistant coach Jamie Franco and his high school wrestling coach who also wrestled at Hofstra.

“I’ve known Coach Papadatos and Coach Franco for a long time,” he said. “I liked all [of] my college coaches, but Coach

cutthroat.

Transferring schools can be a significant decision. The NCAA transfer portal utilizes college sports in the same way that professional athletes work with free agency, and college-level wrestling is no exception to that.

However, some of the team additions stand out above the rest. Notably, some Big Ten teams added and lost high-level wrestlers. Why does this matter, though? Because wrestlers like Ferreira had value. Ferreira’s transfer from Bucknell to NC State and then to Hofstra is a perfect example.

Head coach Pat Popolizio of NC State issued a press release in Aug. 2019 stating that, “[Ferreira] is a great late addition to our squad. He comes from a notable club in Empire Wrestling Academy that we are

on this year’s squad to our upper weights,” Popolizio continued. “Having one year of college wrestling under his belt is a huge advantage for us.”

With the heavier weight classes being more favorable to win or receive pre-seeded

Although the end of his career is slowly approaching, wrestling will always be a significant part of his life. Even if he decides not to pursue it further, Ferreira has made a name for himself in the wrestling and Long Island community.

Ferreira has experience in the 174, 184 and 197-pound weight classes.

“I spent my whole [youth] wrestling career here and wanted to come back home.”

Photo courtesy @wolfpackwrestling

Ferreira’s career record at NC State was 42-27.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics

Alexis Friedman