The Hofstra Chronicle, February 14, 2023

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE

KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935

The ‘perfect’ partner doesn’t exist

There are 7.89 billion people in the world, what makes you think you’ve found your soulmate?

By Anna DeGoede MANAGING EDITOR

It’s February, which means that almost everything feels like it’s centered around love. But behind the sweeping, intoxicating romances of Valentine-

Potential new guest policy for dorms in fall 2023

By Megan Naftali NEWS EDITOR

themed advertisements and extravagant rose bouquets hides an ugly truth: most of the people who write something along the lines of “you’re the only one for me” in their cards are lying to you.

CONTINUED ON A14

FEATURES

This Hofstra Life: Luke Farrell

ing attitude.

As a native of Huntington, Long Island, Farrell grew up knowing about Hofstra University, having competed in swim meets here at an early age. Being familiar with the campus made Hofstra stand out to Farrell when he completed the college decision process, and he has made the most of his time here since.

By Julian Rocha

FEATURES EDITOR

If you’ve walked around campus, odds are you’ve crossed paths with Luke Farrell. He’s often found giving a tour of campus or engaging in conversation with peers or faculty members. A senior majoring in psychology and mass media studies, Farrell is known for his outgoing demeanor and uplift-

Early in his college career, Farrell planned on pursuing the psychology and counseling dual-degree program. However, when New York state changed the requirements for the program, Hofstra dropped it from its offerings. Farrell decided to continue with psychology but added the mass media studies major to learn more about the communications field.

If a residential student wants to bring a guest to their dorm, a resident safety representative (RSR) is required to sign the guest in, scan their ID and keep their card until the guest signs out. The policy was changed temporarily for the winter 2023 intersession due to RSRs not working during the break. However, RSRs are back and so is the old way of signing a guest in, but residential students may be seeing a similar policy in the future.

photo ID (non-residential student’s [Hofstra University] ID, driver’s license from a U.S. state, Federal or state ID card, Military ID card [or] Passport),” the email read.

Once a student submitted a guest application form during the intersession, a senior staff member in the RSR program reviewed it and made sure the guest had a proper ID. Once that was verified, they sent the information to card services, which created an access card for the host and their guest to pick up, according to McGuire.

take a photo of the ID and give it back to the guest,” McGuire said. “That is one way in which we could do it, but it’s not the only way in which we could do it. We just don’t know for fall 2023 what the ultimate process for guest management will be.”

During the intersession, Residence Life used a home-grown system for the guest application, but in the future, they plan to use StarRez, a self-proclaimed “platform for thriving residential communities,” according to the StarRez website.

Residence Life hoped to use

An email sent out on Dec. 17, 2022, from Beth McGuire, the executive director of campus living, informed residents that from Dec. 19 to Jan. 29, RSRs would not be on duty in the residential buildings and in turn residents would need to fill out a guest application days in advance.

“Residential students must fill out the guest application form [five] business days before the guest’s anticipated arrival. Residential hosts are required to upload a photo of their guest’s

At the current moment, a new policy is not set in stone, but the Office of Residence Life is looking to move to pre-registration for the fall 2023 semester, but there is a possibility it will look different than the intersession policy.

“Students could pre-register their guests and then when they arrive at the booth they would say ‘I already registered this person, and then we would make sure to collect the ID of the guest. We wouldn’t hold IDs anymore. We would actually

StarRez during the intersession; however, the RSR booths were not equipped with the necessary hardware at the time.

“We need iPads that will have a camera so that we can take photos of IDs instead of collecting IDs,” McGuire said. “We’re putting all of those budget proposals together. They’re in play right now, but we need things like privacy screens and security blocks for the iPads and different things like that.”

Luke Farrell, a senior psychology and mass media studies major, is a familiar face around Hofstra’s campus.

Photo courtesy of Mindy Sabiston

Photo courtesy of Luke Farrell

The Hofstra University Office of Residence Life hopes to implement a pre-registration guest policy using StarRez for the fall 2023 semester.

Photo courtesy of StarRez

By Madeline Armstrong NEWS EDITOR

Free period products are now being offered on Hofstra’s campus. There are dispensers located in six bathrooms in the Student Center: four women’s restrooms and two gender neutral restrooms. Prior to the start of the spring semester, Hofstra’s bathrooms were either devoid of period products, had unstocked dispensers or dispensers that charged money for tampons and pads.

The initiative to stock restrooms on campus with free period products has been in the works since 2019.

“I think that it’s a matter of necessity, not a luxury,” said Alexa Cervo, former Student Services chair with Hofstra’s Student Government Association (SGA). “It’s not like you can just not menstruate ... It’s an involuntary biological function in people.”

At the time, Cervo had been in contact with Aunt Flow, a company that works with schools and businesses to provide free period products. Aunt Flow also prides themselves on being sustainable and better for the body by utilizing organic cotton. Additionally, they also have a program where they donate one menstrual product to a person in need for every ten products sold.

According to a study by BMC Women’s Health, one in ten college students will face barriers in accessing tampons or pads – products as necessary as toilet paper.

Finally, after four years, Hofstra has joined over 900 schools currently utilizing Aunt Flow’s products.

“I’m really excited we were able to launch,” said Severino Randazzo, director of student leadership and engagement.

“They [SGA] did a really thorough proposal before landing on the product that they selected

Aunt Flow comes to Hofstra

and the process to carry it out.”

Currently, SGA is funding the dispensers that were put in the bathrooms in the Student Center, but they hope that Hofstra will take on funding in the future. They also hope that these dispensers could be available in bathrooms on the academic side of campus.

“I really hope that we are able to expand this in the future because even though this is a great win to have these dispens-

So far, students have already expressed positive feedback.

“When we launched the program on the first day of the spring semester, so many students were DMing me and telling me how it’s something that’s really useful to them, and they really appreciate it and they wish we had it sooner,” Stadeker said.

Gabby Brown, a junior biology major, said that she finds this program to be a necessity.

since SGA does not have a say in what happens in the residence halls, and it would be up to Residence Life to put free period products in the bathrooms in the residence halls.

“If they can’t put them in the [residence halls], it would be best if they put them in dining places nearby like Dutch or HofUSA,” Brown said.

While this is a step forward for Hofstra, Stadeker thinks that this is a necessity that should have been in campus restrooms all along.

“We want students to feel comfortable and to have all the resources that they need,” Stadeker said. “I really feel that students shouldn’t have to pay for a resource or an item that’s necessary for their livelihood.”

“It’s a great start for Hofstra to show that they’re actually taking care of their students,” Brown said, “but I definitely think that this is just the start and Hofstra can definitely expand more ideas like this to bring accessibility to students ... [like] reducing the price of the [menstrual] products sold at places like Dutch.”

ers and products in the Student Center,” said Kayla Stadeker, the wellness and campus safety chair on SGA, “We’re far from being done or accomplishing our ultimate goal.”

During this trial period, how often the dispensers need to be replaced will be monitored, according to Randazzo. That will go towards deciding whether to expand to the academic side of campus. Additionally, SGA will be looking for student feedback.

“We’re getting signage to put near the dispenser that would have a QR code for students to scan so you can leave your feedback,” Stadeker said. “I would really appreciate their feedback, their comments, questions or concerns.”

“Periods aren’t predictable, so it’s great to have accessibility for that,” Brown said. “Not everybody has the resources to go off campus to purchase [period products] or to purchase them online. For there to be free access on campus, it’s easier for people without resources.”

However, Brown said that she thinks the program should be extended so that free period products are offered in buildings on the academic side of campus.

“To get all the way to the Student Center from CV Starr during an emergency is really inconvenient,” Brown said.

She also thinks it could be helpful to put them in residence halls. However, Stadeker said that it is unlikely to happen

Randazzo said that he is proud to see this initiative finally make it off the ground after all these years.

“I think it’s a really great initiative that SGA took over to provide free products that should be available on campus to students,” Randazzo said. “We’re really passionate about it, so it’s really great to see the initiative take off and I’m excited to see where it goes from here.”

Stadeker urges students to utilize the Aunt Flow products, scan the QR codes next to the dispensers to leave their feedback or email her at sga_wellness@pride.hofstra.edu.

Free period products are now being offered in six restrooms in the Student Center.

Emma Fabilli / The Hofstra Chronicle

What you may have missed

7 . 4 5 A M

Chinese spy balloon found and shot down by U S military South Carolina, Feb 4, 2023 –

A massive surveillance balloon from China lured across the United States and was shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday Feb. 4. China denied the allegation that the balloon was used for surveillance, saying that the balloon was an “unmanned civilian airship” intended for weather purposes that was released by China s People s Liberation Army (PLA) which has a direct relationship with the Chinese military China has sent at least 40 balloons across five continents. The FBI is currently investigating the debris to uncover further evidence

Death toll rises to 36,000 after 24 million people were affected by earthquake, Feb. 6, 2023 –

A 7 8 magnitude earthquake struck southern and central Turkey and northwestern Syria on Monday, Feb 6, leaving areas in ruins and people in despair At least 1.8 million people are displaced and rescue teams are still searching for survivors

President Biden speaks at the State of the Union address to Congress Washington D C Feb

7, 2023 – President Biden covered political and economic issues, including Medicare and Social Security, the United States’ foreign relations with China and right-wing extremists at the State of the Union on Tuesday, Feb 7 He also addressed the death of Tyre Nichols, who died from police brutality in Memphis, Tennessee, and solidarity with Ukraine

Super Bowl LVII makes history, Arizona, Feb 12, 2023 – The Kansas City Chiefs took home the 2023 Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35. This marked the Chiefs second Super Bowl win in the past four years The Chiefs’ quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, and the Eagles’, Jalen Hurts, made history as the first time both starting quarterbacks were Black Before the game, the flyover was piloted by an all-female team A crew of seven U S Navy pilots flew in honor of 50 years of women flying and shattering the glass ceiling

Prize, but I know it’s not just for towards the betterment of hu

Information compiled by Lily Spinda Graphic by Megan Naftali

Alexandra Webb / The Hofstra Chronicle

Writers need no prior knowledge of writing for news.

We can teach you how to write for news.

You can have an editor shadow you while covering a story.

Budget meetings are every Monday at 2 p.m. in Room 203 of the Student Center.

New campus guest policies on the horizon

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Public Safety Briefs

Compiled by Megan Naftali

Key

PS - Public Safety

CS - Community Standards

NCPD - Nassau County Police Department

HIC: Hofstra Information Center

Netherlands Core, they were struck by an egg that was thrown by an unknown person driving in a small gray car on Oak Street. Police assistance was declined at the time.

and the Uniondale Fire Department responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

Before implementing any changes, Residence Life will be conducting focus groups throughout the spring 2023 semester with RSRs, RAs, the Residence Hall Association and Student Government Association in order to factor in student voices, according to McGuire.

Some residential students believe that even though they are not a part of those groups, they should be involved in the focus groups as well.

“I can see the benefit of talking about it with the RAs and the RSRs because they’re the people who have to deal with the fact that there are guests in the building, but the residents do live here,” said Sydney Albert, a first year law student. “It just feels like if we’re not going to be consulted about a decision that they’re making, it feels like they’re taking away freedom.”

Other residential students are concerned about not knowing a few days in advance whether a guest will need to be checked in.

“I don’t think it’s necessary,” said Amanda Lepurage, a senior sociology and criminology double major. “My family lives close, and my sister comes sometimes. Sometimes she’ll come that night and I wouldn’t know to register in advance.

McGuire couldn’t say for certain how far in advance a

host would need to pre-register their guest and implied that it could be dependent on the situation because nothing has been decided as of yet. She also assured that students would still be able to bring guests into the dorm if they didn’t register days in advance.

Some RSRs, however, are proponents of such a policy because it would make their job easier and cause them less stress.

“It would be beneficial because you wouldn’t have to keep signing them in. If it’s preregistered, then we’d have the heads up ahead of time so we’d just let them in,” said Chrislanka Gabriel, a sophomore health science major and RSR, who described trying to find ID cards in the card box as a stressful experience due to some RSRs placing them under the wrong letter.

On Jan. 30, at 1:30 p.m., a Hofstra University student reported to PS that they parked their vehicle in parking field seven at around 7:30 a.m., and upon returning at 1:30 p.m., the student discovered damage to the driver’s side headlight. The NCPD responded and took a police report.

On Jan. 31, at 12 p.m., a Hofstra University student reported to PS that a book and hard drive were missing from their desk in a residence hall room. The items were last seen on Dec. 10.

On Feb. 2, at 9:50 p.m., a Hofstra University student reported to PS that they left their bicycle unlocked on the bike rack next to the main entrance of the Student Center. The bicycle was missing upon their return. An investigation is being conducted into this matter.

On Feb. 4, at 1:45 a.m., a Hofstra University student reported to PS that an unknown person banged on their suite door, causing the door to break and open. A work order was prepared to repair the lock.

On Feb. 4, at 2:10 a.m., a Hofstra University student reported to PS that while standing in front of the

On Feb. 4, at 4:40 a.m., PS responded to Alliance Hall on a call that a Hofstra University student and a non-student were arguing. The non-student was brought to the HIC and banned from campus.

On Feb. 4, at 8:30 p.m., a senior RA reported to PS that they had responded to a room in Utrecht House regarding a Hofstra University student resident having an open bottle of alcohol in their possession. The student was not present at the time when PS arrived. Another RA was also present at the scene and is preparing a report.

On Feb. 5, at 1:34 a.m., a non-student was banned from campus after they were not properly signed in as a visitor while escorting a Hofstra University student who appeared to be intoxicated into Delft House.

On Feb. 5, at 10:22 a.m., the fire alarm in the Student Center was activated due to smoke from the kitchen. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated. PS personnel, plant personnel

On Feb. 6, at 1:14 p.m., the fire alarm in the Student Center was activated due to the smoke detector. The fire alarm sounded and the building was evacuated. PS personnel, plant personnel and the Uniondale Fire Department responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On Feb. 8, at 4:50 a.m., the fire alarm in Estabrook Hall was activated due to a water flow issue in a custodial closet. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated. PS personnel, plant personnel and the Uniondale Fire Department responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On Feb. 8, at 11:34 a.m., a Hofstra University student reported that before leaving for winter break on Dec. 16, 2022, they placed cleaning supplies on the roommate’s side of the room. The items were missing when the student returned on Jan. 28. An investigation is being conducted into the matter.

Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle

Some residential students find a potential new guest policy “unnecessary.”

Photo courtesy of Antony-22

Vegetable soup for my childhood soul

By Jess Levy SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

My favorite smell that ever came out of my grandmother’s kitchen was that of vegetables and chicken broth. From when I walked into my grandparents’ house at sundown every other Friday night to when I left into the pitch-black night, my grandmother would always loiter in her kitchen.

“Ahh! You’re here!” she would shout down to the open foyer area in her thin but still recognizable Australian accent. Even if there was nothing to cook, bake or clean, it was her happy place. She was able to be creative and spread happiness to the family with her food.

My grandma made sure that the infinite variety of vegetables were thoroughly hand washed before she began to chop them up into minuscule pieces. She would never buy the vegetables pre-cut or pre-washed from the store. While a side effect of the “straight from the ground” vegetables may have been a fresher taste, my belief is that it just made her feel good to know she created her entire work of art from scratch.

My grandma met my grandpa when he was traveling to Australia on a business trip. He loved Aboriginal art, and Australia had a lot of it. At the ages of 23 and 33, my grandma and grandpa married in Australia. Soon after, my grandma adopted the United States as her new, permanent home. My grandparents went back to Australia at least once every two years to visit my grandmother’s side of the family. Sometimes, I was unsure of how my grandma’s love for my grandpa ever outweighed her love for her siblings, her parents and her country.

I would sit at the kitchen table and watch her go vegetable by vegetable, throwing them into the blender like Jackson Pollock threw paint onto a canvas,

miscellaneously but with a clear vision in mind. I would offer to help my grandma, but there were only so many jobs I could do without compromising the integrity of the dish. My favorite job was to peel the potatoes and carrots. She always kept two old-style vegetable peelers

While my grandma was creating her art in the kitchen, my grandfather’s job was to stay out of her way. He would sit in their bedroom upstairs and watch the financial program that aired every day at 5 o’clock. On commercial breaks, he would come down to scout out the pantry. He

the sweet potato and peas, the carrots and greens, and a few other ingredients my grandma would not tell me about because then I “would not eat the soup.” She would add the broth to the combination (for texture purposes) and then blend it all together. By the time the mixture was

them to me to read. When my grandpa would ask if I ever read the news, I would tell him that I often did, on my phone.

“Oh, that little machine...,” he would say. My grandpa was not fond of playing on or receiving information from cell phones; however, I know he secretly enjoyed having access to his emails at his fingertips. It took him less than a flick of the wrist.

As I set the table for dinner, my grandma would put the soup into her large, metal pot with the two black handles and then put that onto the stove. First, I would put out the place mats as my grandma poured the last few spoonfuls of soup from the blender into the bottomless pot. Then, I would place the napkins on the left side of the place mats. My grandma then turned up the gas burner high, which sent a wave of heat through the kitchen. Next was the silverware. A fork on top of the napkin to the left, then a spoon on the right accompanied by a knife with the serrated edge facing towards the inside of the placemat, of course. The soup pot then needed to be covered with the matching metal top. The smell of the plentiful, vegetable soup heating up was parallel with one of my grandma’s love.

that looked like they had come straight from her ‘50s childhood home. I would peel the skins off the vegetables, barely missing my fingers every time. While my grandma had showed me how to peel vegetables countless times, my technique could never parallel her own.

ended up taking the same, plain breadstick every time, but it took him a minute to realize that it was what he wanted.

Once all the vegetables were prepared to my grandma’s liking, she would begin putting them in the blender. In no particular order, she would add the celery,

done, you could not tell it was a mixture at all. It was simply soup.

After my grandpa’s program ended, he would come downstairs to sit at the kitchen table and read his newspaper. He often picked out articles he believed I would appreciate and gave

After the soup was made and the table was set, we would all sit down for dinner and my grandma would divide out the soup into bowls. She always gave me the biggest serving because she knew it was my favorite. Once the soup was served, my grandma would put the leftovers in a tall, plastic Tupperware for me to take home and eat the next day. While the soup that my grandma made will always have a special place in my heart, I could never ask for the recipe. Just like my grandma believed the soup would not taste as good if she did not wash and peel the vegetables herself, the soup would not taste as good if she were not the one making it.

“While the soup that my grandma made will always have a special place in my heart, I could never ask for the recipe. Just like my grandma believed the soup would not taste as good if she did not wash and peel the vegetables herself, the soup would not taste as good if she were not the one making it.”

Photo courtesy of Monika Grabowska / Unsplash

By Alexis Friedman EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Now that you’re less than a semester away from graduating, it’s time to do a little reflection on your time at Hofstra. In just four years you went from being a theater kid to understanding NHL game summaries better than ESPN+’s score graphics. Regardless of your theater knowledge then and sports knowledge now, you undoubtedly made the most of your time here by taking advantage of all the opportunities Hofstra and the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication have to offer.

As your more mature future self, I honestly wouldn’t recommend changing much about your college experience. You

Rewriting your history at Hofstra

made it through C&E without too many scars, tried everything you possibly could – other than WRHU – with the time you had. You definitely made the most of your time at Hofstra by writing for The Chronicle, filming and editing packages for an Emmy-award-winning show, photographing and working with University Relations, photographing and working on sets of all HEAT network shows and trying to photograph each Hofstra athletics team at least once.

One thing that I’d implore you to remember is that it is okay to say “no” and not do everything all the time. In your junior year you learned that particularly, but it’s a very important lesson. It might have relieved quite a bit of stress from trying to manage so

many things if you had developed the ability to say “no.”

It’s interesting to wonder what life would be like without the coronavirus pandemic interrupting your college career. Without the pandemic, your interest in sports photography might have developed even later, if at all. The experience of coming back to Hofstra after staying home and taking classes on Zoom with little to no social interaction with others your age greatly impacted the beginning of photographing sports for you.

The interest you had in researching how COVID-19 impacted men’s soccer began your interest in photographing sports, and I hope that without that pivotal event you would still be where you are today, but who’s

to say? Along that line of thinking, would you have still ended up as the editor-in-chief of The Chronicle? Without your more recent interest in sports, would you have even joined a sports networking club that attended a Yankees vs Red Sox game where you actually considered becoming the editor-in-chief, at the encouragement of the past EIC? Who knows!

Isn’t it crazy how much life can change yet stay the same in four years? When you started at Hofstra, your dream was to be a theater critic or entertainment journalist, but now your passion lies in the field of sports photography. As a person though, you are still the same empathetic young woman you were before even considering attending Hof-

This Hofstra Life: Luke Farrell

CONTINUED FROM A1

Farrell noted Professor Terri Shapiro and Professor Brian McFadden as two instructors who have had an extremely significant impact on his academic journey.

In McFadden’s celebrity and popular culture class, Farrell and his peers analyzed depictions of the apocalypse in various forms of media.

“It would talk about ‘The Walking Dead’ and how that was incorporated into the apocalypse and people’s fear of the unknown and any disaster situation,” Farrell said. “We connected it to [COVID-19] and how TV shows had to adapt to that when the time came to portray that kind of scenario.”

In Shapiro’s industrial-organizational psychology course, Farrell took a deep dive into learning about the workplace while also analyzing media once again. “We had to watch ‘Dirty Jobs’ and pick out a particular job, and

mine was a golf ball collector,” Farrell said. “You go and dig the balls out from the trenches on a golf course and clean them up to resell them to other people.”

As much as Farrell has learned in the classroom, Farrell has also learned a significant amount from his various leadership roles. As a resident assistant, orientation leader and Pride guide, Farrell hopes to parlay the skills and experiences he has gained into a career in higher education

in that transition phase and being able to help them out in any way that I could as a general go-to.”

Farrell has furthered his campus involvement by working as an RA for the past two years. “A lot of that experience is just listening to residents and building trust,” Farrell said, “which is important because you can have all types of situations. Being a resource if anything happens is really the most important aspect of it.”

don’t necessarily have because they’re in different majors. I think that’s a bit different in terms of building relationships.” In his free time, Farrell enjoys playing badminton and will dabble with writing parody songs for his friends.

“I don’t do it very often,” Farrell said, “but in certain circumstance or when people want me to do it, it’s pretty good. I did a parody of Justin Bieber’s ‘Baby’ and made it about being an RA.

stra. Your values and friendships have lasted, and through your on-campus involvement you have been able to meet and make so many new friends. Remember one of the main reasons you chose Hofstra? How every student you saw on your first campus tour seemed to know and greet each other in passing? How ironic is it that that’s still one of your favorite aspects about the campus environment today.

With just 13 more weeks of classes left in your collegiate career, so much can still happen. Time to continue rewriting your history at Hofstra and capture every memory possible on your camera.

Talk to you again real soon, Alexis

to have, because you miss out on connections,” Farrell emphasized. “I try to be somebody who likes to build connections and having that was more of a goal after the pandemic came. I only went to my high school for three years, so this is more of a space that I’m able to grow through for a longer time, which will hopefully help me out later in my experience when the time comes.”

following graduate school.

“The first job I started in the fall of 2019 was as a Pride guide,” Farrell stated, “and that granted [me] a lot of communication skills. You have to make sure to articulate a vision to families and [prospective] students, and you have to work and think on your feet. As an orientation leader starting in the summer of 2021, [I was] helping them out

Farrell’s involvement with the Rabinowitz Honors College has also helped him throughout his college journey in a variety of ways. “Benefits-wise, you get a lot of opportunities to do things and go on extra trips,” Farrell said. “Otherwise, you get to be in a community and take classes in a collective environment. You have that shared experience that a lot of other students at Hofstra

There’s a recording somewhere of me doing ‘Donut and a Treat,” which was [Bieber’s] ‘Beauty and a Beat’ but about Dunkin Donuts. People don’t really know I do that, but I really enjoy it.”

Looking back at his college career up to this point, Farrell noted the importance of building connections across campus. “Putting a pandemic into it is not really the experience you want

By pursuing leadership opportunities on campus and building a large list of connections, Farrell has made the most of his college experience and hopes to inspire others to do the same. “I always say to cherish every moment,” Farrell said. “The hourglass only has so much time in there and you don’t get to flip it over. Just take whatever time you have here and make it worthwhile to where you think you did everything that you could.”

“Just take whatever time you have here and make it worthwhile to where you think you did everything that you could.”

M AN ON THE U NISPAN

How are you practicing self-love for Valentine’s Day?

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

verheard @ h O fstra

“I was taking photos of the neighborhood boys on my 3DS.”

“You look gluten free.”

“We can snort Advil if you like.”

“I run, that’s what I do for myself.”

“I felt that as if I were a pregnant woman myself.”

“You’re supposed to unroll condoms? I just put them on top like a hat.”

“My way is by taking care of myself. For example, when I clean my environment I know I’m sleeping on clean sheets. I also like doing my skincare routine. When I look good I feel good. I love to sing so vocal warmups and practicing my passion is also part of self love.”

- Nathan Monga, senior

“The alcohol is hitting. When I crunched down on the chip, it was an experience.”

“If you want to turn me on, leave me alone.”

“If Rihanna doesn’t come out looking like a Dr. Seuss character I don’t want it.”

“You look fertile.”

“I just got myself a croissant if that counts so, food?”

- Marlena Titus, senior

“I projectile vomited like 7 feet. I competed in the long jump.”

- Danielle Borner, freshman

FEATURES

Black Student Union: Building a sense of home

By Savith Collure SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Black Student Union (formerly known as the African People’s Organization) has been a presence on campus since the 1980s and acts as a welcoming organization and social club to Black-identifying students and allies. The organization has and continues to strive to create a safe communal space by promoting social, cultural and political consciousness amongst the student body of Hofstra. There are no barriers to joining the organization, and all students are

welcome to join Black Student Union.

Kayla Stadeker is a senior at Hofstra majoring in global studies and geography and serves as the president of Black Student Union. She has been involved in BSU since the fall of 2020.

Stadeker highlighted how the organization appreciates significant engagement during Black History Month, yet she encouraged event participation throughout the year as well.

“BSU can be a warm sense of home for Black-identifying students and allies, and the club operates 365 days a year, not just

during February,” she said. Stadeker also expressed excitement about the Valentine’s Bash, which was hosted in tandem with other cultural organizations on campus, such as the Caribbean Student Organization, African Student Organization and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The event was held at HofUSA on Friday, Feb. 10, and acted as a welcoming event for students to interact socially and meet other people.

“I’m always excited to work with other cultural organizations on campus, and this is going

to be a great event,” Stadeker added.

Black Student Union highlights both cultural experiences and events throughout the year to open civic engagement and a sense of community and inclusion for Black-identifying students and allies. Some previous events have included Real Talk –Navigating Your PWI As A Black Student and Discussions On Women of Color in the Health Field, as well as game and trivia nights, themed parties and mixers. The variety of events tackles serious topics on the Black experience, while also providing

Chron Cooks ft. Lea Edelson: Chocolate Strawberry Mousse Cups

By Lea Edelson

For the chocolate mousse:

3 eggs, yolks and whites separated

4.5 ounce bar of cooking chocolate

1/2 tablespoon butter

1/2 cup heavy cream

3 tablespoons sugar

Instructions:

1. Break up the chocolate and add it to a bowl with the butter. Melt it in the microwave in 20 second increments, stirring in between each, until smooth.

Lea Edelson is a personal chef based in the Catskills. She holds public dinner special popups at the Belvedere Inn in Stamford, New York, and occasionally takes catering gigs and private clients. Her Instagram is @leaedelson, where you can see her event postings, as well as many recipes and projects she’s working on.

2. Whip the egg whites and sugar until stiff peaks form.

3. Whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.

4. Gently fold the egg yolks into the cream (max 10 folds).

5. Pour the chocolate into this mixture and gently fold (max 10 folds).

6. Add half the fluffy egg whites and gently fold (max 10 folds).

7. Add the rest of the egg whites and gently fold (max 10 folds).

8. Transfer into small containers or cups and refrigerate for at least four hours.

a place for students to gather and create their own social networks and connections.

The organization has been part of significant Hofstra events throughout the years, including participating in events like the presidential debate in 2016, Relay for Life and community service. Black Student Union offers both information on its events and how to get involved on campus through social media posts via Instagram @hofstra_bsu and welcomes outreach through its email: BSU.hofstra@ gmail.com.

For the strawberry mousse:

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup strawberries

1/4 cup sugar

Splash of vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Blend strawberries and the splash of vanilla extract until completely smooth.

2. Whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.

3. Gently fold the strawberry mixture into the heavy cream to taste. Save some of the strawberry puree for the top!

4. Add this layer on top of the chocolate mousse layer in the cups.

5. Add a thin layer of the strawberry puree on top.

6. Top with brown sugar and a sliced strawberry for garnish.

Lea Edelson / The Hofstra Chronicle

Taco ‘bout a good time

Hofstra University’s Office of Commuting Student Services and Community Outreach hosted a make-your-own taco bar on Wednesday, Feb. 8, in the commuter lounge. The commuter lounge, a space designed for non-resident students to study and eat in between classes, was renovated over the winter intersession. The space was filled with students eager to look at the improvements and dine on the delectable cuisine.

Spread by Jacob Lewis

Photos by Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle

Arts And EntErtAinmEnt

VOL. 88

ISSUE 11

Quick Hits Focusing on the positives of the 2023 Grammy awards

By Sky Hume

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

On Sunday, Feb. 5, the Crypto. com Arena in Los Angeles filled with hopeful performers and music industry professionals for the first time since the pandemic began. The 65th Annual Grammy Awards, hosted by Trevor Noah, were full of celebratory moments for many minority groups that are often underrepresented at award shows.

Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny made history on Sunday by being the first all-Spanish Grammys opening act. His lively dancefilled performance highlighted Caribbean music and culture; Bad Bunny danced alongside Bomba and Plena dancers, as well as cabezudos, traditional big-headed characters that represent those who have made significant contributions to Puerto Rican culture. Other Grammy attendees could be seen dancing along in the audience, including Taylor Swift and Jack Harlow.

Bad Bunny went on to win Best Música Urbana Album for “Un Verano Sin Ti,” which debuted at No. 1 on the weekly Billboard 200 chart in May 2022.

He dedicated the award to his homeland of Puerto Rico.

Shortly after the kickoff performance, actress Viola Davis reached EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards) status by winning the Grammy for Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording. She is one of only eighteen people to achieve this feat.

Davis went on to present the award for Best R&B Song, which went to Beyoncé’s “Cuff It.” However, Beyoncé was stuck in traffic on her way to the ceremony at the time. Musician and composer Nile Rodgers, one of the co-writers on the tune, accepted the award on behalf of the team. Luckily, Beyoncé arrived at the arena in plenty of time to accept the award for Best Dance/Electronic Music Album (her 32nd Grammy) and

break the all-time record for most Grammy wins; the award was for her album “Renaissance,” a celebration of Black and queer dance music. She is the first Black woman to win an award in the dance album category.

One of the more bittersweet moments of the Grammys was their “In Memoriam” segment, which honors the lives in the music community that have been lost over the past year. The tribute began with country singer Kacey Musgraves’ touching acoustic rendition of Loretta Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” which she played on the late songwriter’s personal guitar. Rapper Quavo then took the stage with Maverick City Music to honor Takeoff, his late nephew and fellow member of Migos.

To conclude the tribute, legacy musicians Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow and Mick Fleetwood

Thoughts for food?

By Mac Sykes ASSISTANT ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

On Jan. 25, the James Beard Foundation announced a list of semifinalists for its award season, highlighting the outstanding talent in the food media and culinary industries. The awards also highlight commitments to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability and a culture where all can progress together. The list of semifinalists was announced earlier than expected, in contrast to past years when the semifinalist list was typically announced in February. The awards have often been compared to the Oscars for chefs, restaurants and other culinary-related businesses.

The James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was established on Nov. 5, 1986, following the death of renowned chef, teacher and cookbook author James Beard. The organization’s goal is to celebrate,

inspire and encourage the culture of American food and promote talent, equity and sustainability. The awards ranged for restaurants across the entire nation. Rounding out the list for best chef in New York state was Geraldo Alcatraz of Aldama, a Mexican American restaurant that opened during the height of the pandemic in the summer of 2021 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; it brings to life an elevated casual dining experience inspired by the dishes of his childhood growing up in the region of León, Mexico. Alcatraz brings a culinary experience that stands out from others with a unique twist to Mexican cuisine.

came together onstage to honor Christine McVie. Raitt and Crow sang a beautiful duet of “Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac, which McVie wrote for the band’s 1977 album “Rumours,” while Fleetwood accompanied on percussion. McVie, who died in November 2022, was the vocalist and keyboardist for Fleetwood Mac.

There were many more landmark moments throughout the night. Lizzo became the first Black woman to win Record of the Year in this century for “About Damn Time.” She gave a special shoutout to Beyoncé in her speech (who was nominated in the same category), mentioning how she skipped school in fifth grade to attend a Beyoncé performance and how it changed her life. Kim Petras became the first transgender woman to win a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/ Group Collaboration (for her song “Unholy” with Sam Smith). Additionally, the ceremony celebrated hip-hop’s 50th anniversary with show-stopping performances from Questlove, Queen Latifah, The Roots, GloRilla, Salt-N-Pepa and more.

Outstanding restaurant semifinalists included Veselka, an Eastern European comfort food restaurant which saw a surge in business of support following the beginning of the RussiaUkraine war in Feb. 2022.

The restaurant informs patrons of how to help Ukraine and its people by presenting them with flyers at all tables before they receive a menu. In an interview for an article from food website Eater titled “Sutton’s Best Restaurants of 2022,” journalist Adam Friedlander spoke to the restaurant’s owner, Jason Birchard, who stated, “It’s not just a war against Ukraine; it’s a war against the free world.”

The restaurant, while not spe-

cifically Ukrainian as it offers a multitude of dishes across many cultures in Eastern Europe, has become a major staple of support in the New York City community against the war.

This year also saw a new category of awards announced, including a best bakery category which recognizes “bakers of breads, pastries or desserts that demonstrate consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality and operations, while contributing positively to [the] broader community.” The only semifinalist in New York happened to be She Wolf Bakery in Brooklyn, known for its classic approach to developing quality bread from scratch.

Following the release of this long list of semifinalists, a shortened list of finalists will be published on March 29, followed by the official awards ceremony in Chicago, Illinois, on June 5.

Courtesy of USA Today

Courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes

Courtesy of The New York Times

“Uncoupled” has been picked up for a second season by Showtime.

Nicole Kidman is set to portray Kay Scarpetta in a television adaptation of the Patricia Cornwell book series.

“La La Land” is set to become a Broadway musical.

Hailie Jade, Eminem’s daughter, is engaged to her longtime boyfriend.

Courtesy of Netflix

Bonnie Raitt won the Song of the Year award for her song “Just Like That.”

Courtesy of Celebrity Insider

Photo courtesy of Pitchfork

Kit Harington and Rose Leslie are expecting their second child.

Photo courtesy of JamesBeard.org Beard is informally known as the “Dean of American Cookery.”

‘God Save The Teen’ shows Mod Sun at his most vulnerable

By Kat Salmon ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Derek Smith, known by his stage name Mod Sun, released his newest album, “God Save The Teen” on Friday, Feb. 3, almost two years after the release of his genre-shifting, pop-punk album “Internet Killed the Rockstar.”

2022 was a big year for the singer after he became engaged to Avril Lavigne and supported Palaye Royale during their “Fever Dream” tour. He also released some standalone singles while teasing this record. 2023 seems to hold even bigger opportunities for the singer, with this album being the tip of the iceberg.

Mod Sun took a huge risk as no singles from the album were released prior to its scheduled debut. That strategy worked in his favor because fans were not able to guess the album’s theme right away. They were not completely left in the dark as Mod Sun revealed a song title once a day in the weeks leading up to

the release. Either way, it was an interesting marketing tactic. The record’s best songs are the ones that pull an emotional punch, something that was missing from “Internet Killed the Rockstar.”

There’s “Avril’s Song,” which is dedicated to his fiancée, where he sings, “She blew me a kiss / And I didn’t wanna blow my brains out anymore / And she is everything I’m not / Without her, I am lost.” She is his saving grace; he may not even be here without her. Mod Sun and Avril Lavigne’s love story is a breath of fresh air

compared to some of the other celebrity romances that have blossomed in the last few years.

emphasizes all the challenges Mod Sun’s mom went through so that he could have a stable parental figure. A unique aspect of the song is the inclusion of a recorded message from his mom. Being a single parent is not easy, but you have to remember that you are trying to do your best for your kids so they can have a childhood to look back on.

Of course, there are some guitar and drum-heavy tracks that fans will sing at the top of their lungs.

It’s a reminder that we may all be able to find that special person one day.

Another emotional song is “Single Mothers,” a track dedicated to his own mother. The last line of the chorus, “There’s no one tougher than a single mother,”

“Eyelids,” “SOS” and “Courtney Fucked Kurt” are great examples of songs that sound like the Mod Sun fans fell in love with from previous releases.

He also sings a beautiful cover of The Goo Goo Dolls’ 1998 hit “Iris.” The cover will have listeners craving the simpler, more

acoustic songs of the 1990s, yet the song has the same elements of past Mod Sun songs fans know and love.

Mod Sun has really grown as a songwriter. The haunting lyrics of these newer songs show that he is not the same person rapping about partying, drugs and girls. Sobriety may have played a hand in that, but people also change as they get older. Life changes, and getting in touch with your emotions, while scary, is completely normal. “God Save The Teen” is going to be an album you play when you are unsure of what lies ahead but know it will work out in the end.

The album is sure to become one of Mod Sun’s most memorable, exceeding its predecessor “Internet Killed the Rockstar.” It can be streamed on all music streaming platforms. Mod Sun is also going on a headlining tour later this month. You can catch him in New York City on March 15.

By Frank DiCalogero ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The anticipated apocalyptic psychological horror film “Knock at the Cabin” was released in theaters across the United States on Friday, Feb. 3. The film stars Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cul, Abby Quinn and Rupert Grint. “Knock at the Cabin” is also directed and written by filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan.

“Knock at the Cabin” follows a family of three, Eric (Groff), Andrew (Aldridge) and Wen (Cul), who are vacationing at a remote cabin in Pennsylvania when they are taken hostage by four intimidating strangers. The strangers, Leonard (Bautista), Sabrina (Amuka-Bird), Adriane (Quinn) and Redmon (Grint), claim to not be threatening, as they are simply there to save humanity from the apocalypse. They then set down an ultimatum, demanding that the

tight-knit family must pick one of their own to sacrifice in order to save the world.

Throughout the film, we are shown various flashbacks from Andrew and Eric’s life, most of which are about their life experiences and struggles of being a gay couple. Eric is much calmer and more relaxed than Andrew. He thinks things through more and isn’t as brash. Andrew, on the other hand, has anger issues and is always on edge. As far as their views on the possible apocalypse go, Andrew believes this is all merely a coincidence and in fact a targeted attack by bigots, while Eric seems to be much more conflicted on whether this unthinkable proposal is real.

Wen is a typical child character. In the beginning, she makes a connection with Leonard because they both enjoy catching grasshoppers, which they do together in the woods. Once things become serious, though, Wen sticks by her

dads and tries to cause distractions so Andrew and Eric can escape, such as running away or throwing a tantrum.

The star of this film is Leonard. Bautista absolutely proved himself to be both a versatile and underrated actor in Hollywood, as this role was more reliant on his ability to express himself and show emotion, rather than being a comedic fighter like his character in the Marvel movie “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Throughout the entire movie, he seems sincere, understanding and regretful that the couple and Wen must make this choice.

Andrew and Eric continuously say no to sacrificing a member of their family in order to save humanity. Every time they say no, however, one of the four strangers is killed, leading to three of their deaths. Despite their deaths and the strangers showing footage of the world going into chaos, such as a huge tsunami taking over

the West Coast, a plague affecting young children and nearly thousands of planes mysteriously crashing down, they still don’t budge.

It isn’t until Leonard’s death that everything becomes clear. Earlier on, Eric had seen a vision, like the four strangers. The vision was about the world’s demise, further proving the point that one of them had to be sacrificed. Right before Leonard dies, he tells the couple that they will only have minutes to save the world after he goes.

Shortly after he goes, Eric tells Andrew to kill him in order to save humanity. Andrew initially refuses, until Eric opens up about the beautiful life Wen will get to live and how her life won’t be the same if everyone

is wiped off the face of the world. After consideration, Andrew pulls the trigger. He goes back to Wen, and the two drive off and see that the world is slowing turning back to normal and humanity is saved.

“Knock at the Cabin” is a mustsee for viewers who love the psychological aspect of films. While it isn’t perfect, as there are many moments where the film tends to drag, the tension throughout the movie is its saving grace.

‘Knock at the Cabin’ is tension-filled in all the right ways

Mod Sun and Machine Gun Kelly co-directed directed the film “Good Mourning” in 2022.

Photo courtesy of Musicaest

The film is based on the book “Cabin at the End of the World” by Paul Tremblay.

Photo courtesy of The New York Times

Taylor Swift: More than a stereotype

By Abby Gibson

Valentine’s Day is here, and what better way to celebrate than with some love songs by Taylor Swift? From “Lover” to “Our Song,” she uses the art of music to show her love and appreciation to significant others. If you are not feeling the lovey-dovey vibes, perhaps you’d like some heartbreak anthems like “I Knew You Were Trouble” or “Picture to Burn.” The association between Swift and romantic songs has become an exhausted stereotype, however.

The media has long crafted their own version of Swift as a person gets caught up in her relationships, and even going as far as to label her a serial dater. Her discography is pushed behind the idea that she only writes about one topic, but this could not be further from the truth.

In Swift’s most recent album “Midnights,” she includes songs like “Anti-Hero” that are truly

By Hannah Grynberg

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

different from love songs. On an Instagram reel, she says the song describes her “struggle with the idea of not feeling like a person.”

Her vulnerabilities come from more than epic love or tragic

heartbreak; they also come from Swift’s inner voices.

Another example of a nonromance song is “Never Grow Up” from her 2010 album “Speak Now.” The song is about the

fear of growing up. By using imagery of night-lights and a mother dropping off their child at the movies, the nostalgia and sadness of becoming older is encapsulated into a poignant song.

When the roles are reversed and male artists are in the mix, they do not get the same treatment as Swift. Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran are the two artists most frequently compared to Swift, as they both write intense love and break-up songs, but the stereotype put onto Swift as a “serial dater” is not applied to Mars and Sheeran. Of course, they also have other songs that are not related to romance, but overall they are not defined by or ridiculed for their more popular love songs.

The media has only helped and encouraged this behavior, as some continue on with their perspective of Swift being a serial dater. Some media outlets fail to cover both the fact that she is a woman who has feelings that are sometimes romantic, and that her

boyfriends have not always been the best. It is normal to feel angry or sad after a relationship ends. She also has songs that reflect on her being the problem in the relationship, such as “Getaway Car” from “reputation” and “I Wish You Would” from “1989.” To be able to reflect on a personal wrong in a relationship as deeply as Swift does take incredible accountability.

Overall, Swift is much more than what the misogynistic stereotype she is portrayed as. She has written an array of songs with different themes and backstories. On this Valentine’s Day, if you are in a relationship, play some of Swift’s love songs. If you just got out of a relationship, play some Taylor Swift breakup songs. In whatever relationship status you are in, there is a song by Swift that is perfect for you.

Do not let the baseless thought of Swift being a one-theme artist make you shy away from discovering a song that can fit into your life this Valentine’s Day.

A take on Netflix’s ‘Ginny and Georgia’

As soon as Netflix released “Ginny and Georgia,” it became an international sensation. What originally seemed to be the typical “new student in high school” show turned out to be so much more. Although the show primarily focuses on the characters Ginny and Georgia themselves, it expands to show a wide range of characters who each have their own obstacles. The first and second seasons are currently released with the third season in the works. The show feels like a mix between “Gilmore Girls,” “How to Get Away with Murder” and “Beverly Hills: 90210.”

The show starts out with Georgia Miller and her children Ginny and Austin during their move to Massachusetts. It also has flashbacks to Georgia’s past, showing that she had Ginny at 15 years old, and Austin later on, each with a different father.

This moment comes after Kenny, Georgia’s husband, has passed. With Ginny and Austin used to moving around a lot due to Georgia’s relationships, she has promised that she is not interested in dating in their new town. As the Millers settle in, we are introduced to additional characters throughout the pilot. This includes their neighbors Ellen and Clint, along with their kids Maxine and Marcus, who become a significant part of the show.

We also meet Joe, who runs the Blue Farm Cafe, Mayor Paul Randolph and Ginny’s peers Hunter, Abby and Norah. These are only a handful of characters on the show.

Although someone who has not seen “Ginny and Georgia” may view this as too many characters in the series, this is not the case at all. The characters all flow together well, ensuring the audience does not get bored at any moment. Viewers are constantly on their feet, craving more from

the characters.

One of the major plot lines deals with Georgia’s past and Ginny’s reactions to learning more about it. Not only does this show reveal plot lines that are happening in the present, but it is also unique in the use of flashbacks. These moments demonstrate how Georgia and Ginny’s lives came together and are helpful because they provide the audience with context clues as to which characters are positive or negative figures.

One factor that might need to be improved is Netflix’s promotion of the show. Because of its mediocre cover on Netflix and its title, one may perceive it as a basic show. This could potentially cause Netflix streamers to click away from the show and scroll to something else. Netflix only subtly posted about it on their Instagram, rather than giving the show its own account. Additionally, the cast is mainly comprised of new actors rather than well-known

ones. The only way this show would grow a large viewing, like it has, is through the referral of other people. This means that the plot of the show was so unique and interesting that most of its audience recommended it to other people.

Despite Netflix’s lackluster approach to promoting the show, “Ginny and Georgia” is a true

must-watch! With subjects varying from racial issues to mental health to family relationships, anyone can relate to a character on the show.

Swift will kick off her first tour in five years on March 17 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Photo courtesy of Deadline

Season two of “Ginny and Georgia” scored a 60% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Photo courtesy of Glamour

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.

Get women in the commentary booth

By Ethan Albin

Saturday, Feb. 4, marked a historic day for women in sports. Specifically, it was a huge day for women covering sports, as Laura Sanko became the first woman to commentate an official UFC event.

Sanko had commentated on a plethora of Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) events, but this was a new echelon. Sanko, a former fighter, was able to provide insight that others who’ve graced the desk, such as Jon Anik, Brendan Fitzgerald and Mike Goldberg, can’t. It begs the question: what took so long?

The UFC has had several women on their broadcasts as hosts and presenters; Meghan Olivi and Karyn Bryant have been UFC staples for years. Yet neither of them has been afforded the opportunity to actually commentate on a UFC

card. This is demonstrates the tendency of networks to keep women as hosts and presenters while keeping them out of playby-play or color commentary roles.

A caveat here is that women have graced the commentator booth before, but never regularly or with positive feedback. For some reason, fans harbor a hatred toward female broadcasters.

Gayle Sierens is the only woman to have ever commentated an NFL broadcast, when she was tasked with commentating a game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Kansas City Chiefs in 1987. Sierens opened plenty of doors within sports broadcasting that allowed Erin Andrews, Beth Mowins and many others to rise to prominence.

Sports Illustrated found a number of tweets telling female broadcasters to “Get back in

the kitchen” or “Call me sexist, but women announcing male sporting events is un-listenable and when they try to use male sports vernacular/slang it becomes laughable.” All these women have jobs because they are qualified; they have earned their way to the top and these comments demean all the work they’ve done to reach this point.

Doris Burke was the first woman to commentate a New York Knicks game on both radio and television broadcasts. Burke has been associated with ESPN since 1991, and she’s worked alongside legendary broadcasters like Dick Vitale and Avery Johnson. She was a former collegiate basketball player for Providence College, where she was inducted into the hall of fame. She’s more than a viable choice for the commentator’s booth, but she often opts for the analyst role instead.

Malika Andrews is another

figure who has done immense work within the NBA without having the pleasure of commentating. She was present in the NBA bubble during the pandemic as well as hosting the 2020 NBA draft telecast. Andrews has been a sideline reporter during the NBA Finals, and she won an Emmy in 2022 for Emerging On-Air Talent. Even with all of these accolades and achievements, Andrews has not commentated on a game.

It’s astounding how few women have commentated, especially because of how many are in the sphere of sports broadcasting. Leslie Visser and Gayle Gardener have both done play-by-play and worked on prestigious events. Visser is the only woman to have ever worked both the Super Bowl and the Olympics, and Gardener was the first woman to do play-by-play for the MLB. Both helped pioneer the industry’s

Stop and listen to your body

By Alexis Friedman EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Exactly a week before classes began this semester, I fell down the stairs and fractured my tailbone. Immediately after taking the 20-step tumble, I was so focused on acting normal and not outwardly showing any pain that I didn’t concern myself with any of the pain I was feeling.

The thought of dealing with the pain I was enduring at that moment was daunting because of all the commitments and fun connected with my last semester of college that I didn’t want to miss if I was severely injured.

During my senior year of high school, I sprained both my ankles around the same time

while performing in the musical “42nd Street” where most of the musical numbers were tap dance.

My fear of missing out on performing with my peers, with whom I had worked so hard to perfect the show, prevented me from adequately taking care of my injury and led to more harm than good in the long run. Now, my ankles are still messed up from my dedication to tap dancing my senior year, causing more issues for me today.

I suffer from chronic migraine headaches and, in 2022 alone, had 28 total migraine attacks, lasting on average around two hours per attack. The pain doesn’t end once the two hours of forehead tension dissipates; after getting over a migraine, all muscles and joints

severely ache for hours due to the stress created in the body.

Throughout many of the migraines I have had, I’ve “pushed through the pain” and continued on about my daily life for fear of making a scene or missing out. I often act like I am feeling migraine-free for fear of negatively impacting or “ruining” a moment for me or someone else.

Injuring my tailbone, however, emphasized the importance of listening to your body when it is under pain.

After getting an X-ray due to the acute pain around my tailbone area, I learned it was fractured and there’s not much that can be done for it to heal.

The response from a doctor about the healing process for a fractured tailbone was that it

heals on its own time.

While that sucks to hear, it is freeing, in a way, because of the unknown aspect. It gives me a greater opportunity to rest, reassess and take each day at a time. Societally, we are focused on whatever comes next and we never fully live in the present moment, but for me, with a fractured tailbone, my ability to be in the moment is necessary because of the responsibility for my overall health and safety.

So even if you haven’t fractured your tailbone or gotten migraine headaches and have grown somewhat used to being in pain, stop and take a minute to feel where you are and recognize how your body physically and emotionally feels.

Breathe and notice the sky,

coverage of sports today, yet their credit for these contributions is lost. Sanko is only able to do what she’s doing now because of them.

Ultimately, women need to make their way into more commentary roles. With so many women already in the realm of sports broadcasting, these on-call opportunities should be extended. Much like Sanko’s case, this will only give more opportunities to women across the board and in the future. Why this took so long is a mystery, but if it allows a generation of women to become broadcasters, then it’s well worth it.

even if it looks gray and boring out, and remember that this is the only time the weather will be exactly this way. Notice the world around you, and listen to what your body is trying to tell you when it is in pain – or even when it’s not.

Alexis Friedman is a senior journalism major and Editor-in-Chief of The Chronicle. You can find her photography page @ alexisgracefotos or her personal @alexisgfriedman on Instagram.

Ethan Albin is a sophomore journalism major and the opinion editor of The Chronicle. Find him on Instagram @ethanalb.

2. Around 145 million of these are exchanged in the U.S. each Valentine's Day

3. To get down on one knee

5. What you need for a dinner date on Valentine's Day

6. Flowers one might give their crush

8. A shared romantic beverage

9. Son of Venus, the Roman god of love

10. Valentine's Day month, for short

1. The creator of conversation hearts

2. Assorted box of ____

4. Celebration with girl friends, two words

6. Color associated with love

7. You might be lonely if you're ____ on Valentine's Day

CONTINUED FROM A1

There is a wealth of evidence to point to the fact that there are no perfect partners out there.

Take the iconic Disney couples, for example: though they are based on the idea of an ideal fairy tale couple, most of them had to make some compromises in their relationship. Ariel literally gave up her identity as a mermaid to be with Eric. Kristoff went through what could be called ‘royal-fication’ to be with Anna. When did we ever see him mine ice again after “Frozen?”

Mulan and Li Shang had to navigate the societal structures of the Chinese military and then deal with the fallout in their relationship in “Mulan II.” Cinderella had to pretend to be rich to even be an option for Prince Charming, because she was a commoner and he was royalty.

Not to mention the fact that

The ‘perfect partner’ doesn’t exist

the Beast kidnapped Belle’s father and was a beast in the first place because of his selfishness.

If that’s not a red flag, what is? And Tiana and Naveen?

Naveen was literally a frog.

Even in “Pride and Prejudice,” one of the most popular literary romances of all time, Mr. Darcy had to be willing to change his judgmental, arrogant ways to earn Elizabeth’s affections, and that wasn’t easy.

One would think that if any couple could have found the one, it would be Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Even with the ‘star-crossed lovers’ title working for them, they couldn’t make it work and, despite all their attempts to figure something out, failed tragically.

However, there is still hope for people looking to find someone they want to spend the rest of their lives with. Regardless of whether the relationships succeeded or not, each of these

examples had one thing in common: they acknowledged what needed attention in the relationship and worked to improve themselves.

Prince Charming put the glass slipper on every girl in the kingdom, even girls he prob-

sacrifice her dreams to help Naveen.

It’s time to stop propping up the celebrity and fantasy couples that society puts before us, brush aside the notion of the ‘perfect partner’ and acknowledge the real magic at work is seeing someone who isn’t perfect and deciding they’re worth the effort anyway.

Why spend years searching for the person that fits the image you’ve built up in your head? There are 7.89 billion people in the world. The chances that you cross your ideal romantic partner are also one in 7.89 billion, as the numbers work out.

These characters probably thought they knew what they wanted in a relationship when they began their stories, but in the twists and turns of life, they found someone who challenged them and made them grow into a person they wouldn’t have been otherwise.

In the end, though someone might not technically be the perfect person, it’s possible to find someone who you want to be the perfect person in spite of their flaws, and that is a love more beautiful than someone with the hair color, background or body type you think is ideal.

ably wouldn’t have even given a second look before meeting Cinderella. Romeo and Juliet challenged their intense family rivalry to be together. Li Shang broke the law to spare Mulan’s life, and Tiana was willing to

Do you think Romeo’s vision of his ideal wife was a Capulet when he was growing up? Did the Beast dream of becoming a monster so he could fall in love with the town outcast, and would Anna really have said her type was an ice miner with a reindeer?

Anna DeGoede is a junior journalism major and the managing editor of The Chronicle. You can find her on Twitter @annadegoede.

Is Biden’s student loan plan really an answer?

By Matthew Adarichev

I want to be upfront and state that I will likely graduate college with little to no debt. Make of this fact what you want.

The real problem in America is that education is, like oil, stocks and water, a commodity that is not valued in itself. Education is valued for its ability to open doors and grant wealth via a degree; it is thus the degree, not the education, that is valued.

But until we arrive at utopia, there exists a very prevalent issue in the cost of higher education. The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities found that the median college student goes roughly $26,000 in debt to graduate, and that debt brings a lot of baggage that can cause people to forgo getting married, having children or buying a home.

At first, I was excited when it was announced some months ago that a portion of student debt (up to $10,000 for those making under $125,000 per year and an additional $10,000 for those who received Pell grants) would be waived. But as time wears on, I’m realizing the student debt relief plan wasn’t anywhere close to a solution.

At a personal level, student debt relief is immensely beneficial. A huge weight has now been taken off of tens of millions of students, and many are now able to pursue their dreams unrestricted by financial burdens.

But on a structural level, what did the relief achieve?

Perhaps if some major reform came first, then going forth with the plan would make sense. But as it is, the promised decreases in debt, inequality and boosts to the economy

will vanish within a short time period. And while there’s going to be a boost in the economy, one must ask: what about the future students who won’t benefit from cancellation? Within a few years, the student debt that was eliminated will come back with a new generation of bogged-down students.

The student debt relief plan helped minority students who hold more student debt on average. But without addressing why minority students held more debt in the first place, the racial gap is just going to widen again in a few years. Furthermore, a new gap will open between degree-holders who benefited from relief and those who didn’t. And what does the relief plan do for Americans who didn’t go to college?

Student debt relief put the cart before the horse. So what could be some better solutions? Free public college is an easy

first answer. General education requirements to achieve a degree is another good step. Stop punishing people trying to enter the middle class! Shorten their graduation time and save students tens of thousands of dollars.

Finally, we ought to replace many degree requirements with a faster and cheaper process: certification. Jobs that need you to show competency in a certain set of skills should require you to show competency in those skills, not complete a degree.

Take forest rangers. To become one in New York, you need at least an associate’s degree. While the degree is no doubt useful, it’s redundant considering the 26-week certification course that’s required to become a ranger, anyway. The outlined steps would help those without a degree make a decent living and those

in college achieve a degree with less money and time. Shifting careers would become less painful. In comparison, Biden’s student debt relief plan doesn’t necessarily solve all the problems associated with getting a college degree.

It creates new divides and is ultimately just a temporary stopgap that does not address systemic issues that result in overwhelming student debt. Dump out all the water you want – it doesn’t change the fact that the Titanic is sinking.

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.

“Why spend years searching for the person that fits the image you’ve built up in your head?”

By Cole McDonnell STAFF WRITER

Thomas’ buzzer beater sinks Towson

wide open beyond the arc to shoot the game-winning shot.

“[When] I turned around I saw her; she makes those shots every day,” Ineza said.

“I went to go set a screen for [Ineza]; I see all three people go to her, [so] somebody is open,” Thomas said. “I [was] screaming [Ineza’s] name, she passes to me [and] I hit the shot.”

gave Towson a 10-8 lead going into the second quarter.

Brandy Thomas’ buzzer-beater

3-point shot helped the Hofstra Pride women’s basketball team beat the Towson University Tigers 58-57, snapping their five-game losing streak on Thursday, Feb. 9.

“I am just so proud of this team and these ladies in their preparation and how hard they’ve worked,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “It has not been easy, and a lot of teams could have folded a long time ago and a lot of teams could have given in.”

The last second 3-pointer came on a possession where Sorelle Ineza was met with three Tiger defenders, leaving Thomas

Ineza put up a career-tying 21 points to go along with the game-winning assist. She shot 45% and kept the Pride in the game. She scored 12 of those points in the second half when it mattered most.

“My teammates, my coaches believe in me every single day at practice,” Ineza said. “We’ve been working so hard, and it’s time for us to get rewarded.”

In the first quarter, both teams struggled to find a rhythm. Each team made just four field goals and shot below 30% throughout the quarter. Towson established a full-court press that challenged the Pride’s guards to make quick and accurate passes to avoid turnovers.

Hofstra freshman

Emma Von Essen scored four of the team’s eight points early, but a jumper from Skye Williams

The second quarter saw much more scoring. First, Von Essen and Ineza hit back-to-back 3-pointers that sparked a 10-0 run and gave Hofstra a 22-18 lead. Alexia Nelson drove to the basket for two strong finishes in a row to keep the score close going into halftime, 28-26. The Pride accumulated nine turnovers but outrebounded the Tigers 27 to 17.

“I thought we did a much better job at keeping them off the boards,” Atkinson said.

Von Essen made her fifth consecutive shot with a 3-pointer to start the third quarter. Shortly after the third period started, Thomas went down with an apparent leg injury that kept her out until the end of the period. Despite that, Ineza drove to the basket two plays in a row, giving Hofstra a 35-28 lead.

“I saw her and I was like I [got to] be aggressive and keep going,” Ineza said. “I heard her all game she was talking to me, and we were talking to each other, so we have each other’s back and we know we have to.”

After a free throw by the Tigers, Ally Knights hit a 3-pointer giving the Pride its largest lead of the game, 3729. Towson fought right back with seven unanswered points. Thomas checked back in with four minutes left in the period and drew a foul resulting in the Pride’s first free throw attempts of the game. The quarter ended with a 40-40 tie.

“We had 17 turnovers, but a lot of those were in the first half,” Atkinson said. “We did a much better job with the press.”

Towson started the fourth quarter with four free throws and a basket from Anissa Rivera. They carried that lead all the way up until the final shot. The turnovers came back to hurt

Hofstra as they recorded seven in the fourth quarter.

Ineza scored six points for the Pride to keep them in the game, including two technical free throws that came after Kylie Lucas-Kornegay celebrated an and-one that made the score 53-49. After a Rosi Nicholson layup, Thomas proceeded to score the last seven points for the Pride including the buzzerbeating 3-pointer.

“We’re going to keep working; we’re not going to take any steps backwards,” Atkinson said.

The Pride faces their Long Island rival, the Stony Brook University Seawolves, on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 1 p.m. for their next game.

Thomas’ buzzer beater was Hofstra’s second in two years.

Photo courtesy of Neil Miller / Hofstra Athletics

Graphics by Dylan Brett / The Hofstra Chronicle

By Kenny Forman STAFF WRITER

Pride opens season with win over LIU

It’s a team win.”

LIU began the scoring with a goal just 1:26 into the game. This, however, would be the only time that the Pride would find themselves behind in the game. Jackie Gatti tied it up a little over four minutes later on a free-position shot, before Hofstra was off and running beginning in the second quarter.

Hofstra scored an additional five unanswered goals in the second quarter and took a 7-3 lead into the locker room.

The Hofstra Pride women’s lacrosse team began their 2023 campaign with a 14-6 victory over the Long Island University (LIU) Sharks at James M. Shuart Stadium from Hofstra University, on Saturday, Feb. 11.

“Just awesome,” said Hofstra head coach Shannon Smith. “Our team worked really hard all preseason. It’s really great to start off our season with a win. Just really proud of our team.

Rachel Graff scored twice in the quarter. Taylor Mennella, Lauren Coletti and Kerry Walser also found the back of the net. Yet it was Katie Kelly who stole the show, scoring once and providing three assists in the second, before finishing the day with three goals and four assists.

“She did unbelievable,” Smith said. “She did exactly what we asked her to do. She’s been having a really great preseason.

She helps quarterback our team from behind the cage with Taylor Mennella.”

Hofstra was once again in control throughout the third quarter. The Pride saw goals from Walser, Kate Fiola and Nikki Mennella, as well as another two goals and an assist from Kelly.

“We talked about in the huddles that we just need to move the ball quicker,” Kelly said. “The more we move the ball and cut for each other, the more open the looks were going to be. So I think that really helped us start rallying goals and getting the score up.”

Coletti and Nikki Mennella each added their second goal of the day in the fourth period, as the Pride was able to seal the deal.

Kelly led the team with seven points, while Taylor Mennella and Walser each had four. Jess Smith made four saves in the net

while limiting the Sharks to just six goals. As a team, Hofstra had 19 shots on goal, compared to 10 from LIU. They also won 16 draws, compared to eight from LIU, and had 17 ground balls, compared to 10 from LIU. They also took advantage of 19 fouls committed by LIU, twelve more than they committed.

“Strong quarter two and three,” Smith said. “Obviously moving forward next week we’re going to look for a quarter one, two, three and four strong

Hofstra splits wrestling double header

By Olivia Hillstead STAFF WRITER

seconds with a near-side cradle.

Moving up to 184 pounds, Ferreira had a close match with Leo Tarantino, winning 4-3 with a riding time point. This is Ferreira’s third win over Tarantino, beating him earlier in the season at the Journeymen Classic and at the Las Vegas Invitational. Later he faced Owen Ayotte and earned the Pride another quick win, pinning Ayotte at 1:49 after a takedown.

The Hofstra wrestling team earned split results between their two Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) duals on Saturday, Feb. 11. The Pride lost to Harvard University 11-25 before defeating Sacred Heart University 43-6.

Just three members of the Pride won their matches against Harvard: Chase Liardi, No. 26 Jacob Ferreira and No. 29 Trey Rogers, all of whom also won matches later against Sacred Heart.

At 133 pounds, Liardi took on Dante Frinzi first, narrowly winning the match 3-1. Next, he made quick work of Ben Davoli, pinning the Pioneer in just 37

At 197 pounds Rogers extended his winning streak to 9 consecutive matches and remained undefeated in dual meets. Rogers made easy work of both his opponents, beating Michael Doggett first with a 19-3 technical fall. He later won by pin over Logan Michael at 2:58 toward the end of the first period, using a barbed wire to get Michael to his back before adjusting to secure the fall.

Other members of the Pride also had big wins over Sacred Heart. At 141 pounds Justin Hoyle took on Dakota Asuncion. The Pioneer pushed the action early on, earning a takedown from an inside trip with Hoyle escaping quickly. Following that, Hoyle went for a lateral

drop but ended up on his back briefly before working to get back on top where he pinned Asuncion at 1:34.

At 157 pounds, Michael Leandrou earned his first EIWA win and first win by technical fall this season, against Chris Naegele. Winning 17-0, Leandrou earned 12 near-fall points in total. Also getting his first win by technical fall this season, Ross McFarland beat Ryan Bolletino 20-3 at 174 pounds. McFarland had a close match earlier in the day against Harvard’s No. 21 Philip Conigliaro, losing just 4-6. McFarland was in on a shot and working but came up just short as the buzzer sounded at the end of the match.

Zachary Knighton-Ward ended the day at 285 pounds with a win by injury default over Marc Berisha. KnightonWard took on Harvard’s No. 8 Yaraslau Slavikouski earlier in the day, losing 6-1.

And at 125 pounds, Jacob Moon started the day with a tough loss by technical fall 17-0 against No. 20 Diego Sotelo but later won his match against Mike Manta 10-3, with the

Pride’s only regular decision win against Sacred Heart.

The Pride is now 4-6 overall in duals this season and 2-6 in EIWA competition. Hofstra remained undefeated against Sacred Heart and is now 14-0 all-time and 10-101 all-time against Harvard.

The 43 points scored against Sacred Heart is the most the team has earned since scoring 45 against Franklin and Marshall College in 2020.

The Pride’s final dual meet of the season will be at home at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, against California Baptist University.

going into Vanderbilt. Our team has a really great mindset and will handle adversity and challenges and different pieces of the game that’s thrown at them.”

Hofstra’s next game will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, as they take on Vanderbilt University on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 1 p.m. This game can be streamed on ESPN+, and live stats will be available on gohofstra.com.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics

This is Hofstra’s third straight home opening victory in a row.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics

Hofstra’s 43 points are the most they’ve scored in a match this season.

Hofstra rolls over Monmouth, brings win streak to 7

By Josh Sager STAFF WRITER

them,” said Hofstra men’s basketball head coach Speedy Claxton. “They were on a four-game win streak, and we didn’t want to come into the game underestimating them or overlooking them. And to my guys’ credit, they didn’t, and we put them away from the start.”

The Pride defeated the Monmouth University Hawks at Ocean First Bank Center, blowing them out by a score of 86-57 on Saturday, Feb. 11.

This win extends the Pride’s winning streak to seven, the longest the team has seen since Jan. 25 to Feb. 20, 2020, when Hofstra won eight straight games.

“Monmouth is a very tough team, you know, hats off to

Hofstra is now 19-8 overall on the season with a record of 12-2 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play. The Pride remains tied with the College of Charleston Cougars for first place in the conference. After seeing its four-game winning streak come to an end at home, Monmouth is now 5-21 overall with a record of 4-9 in their first season in the CAA. Hofstra now leads the all-time series between the schools 8-6, sweeping the season series for 2022-23, as well winning the last seven games between the two sides.

Hofstra never trailed Monmouth in this game, scoring

the first 10 points in the contest. Darlinstone Dubar led the way with six of those first 10 points. Monmouth got within six points, but this was the closest that they were to making the game competitive. With 12:12 left in the first half, the Pride surged onto the Hawks, going on a four-minute-and-31-second run where the team scored 16 straight points, opening the game to a 28-6 Hofstra lead.

Tyler Thomas had another 20plus point game, his eighth such game of the season.

“[Thomas] is a first-team allleague guy,” Claxton said. “He is playing at a high, high, high level for us. He’s an extremely hard worker, and his hard work is paying off and it’s showing. He’s in the gym every day, and there’s no secret to his success.”

Dubar finished the game with 14 points, which was good for second on the team. Aaron Estrada added 13 points, seven

rebounds and six assists. Jaquan Carlos also played a solid game with six points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

“[Carlos] is our team leader,” Claxton said. “He’s very dependable and liable at this point in the season. We know what we’re going to get from him, and that’s a credit to his hard work.”

For Monmouth, Andrew Ball led the Hawks with 11 points,

while Klemen Vuga had 10 points.

Hofstra doesn’t get that long of a break, as the Pride returns home on Monday, Feb. 13, to host the Dragons of Drexel University. Drexel currently boasts a 15-11 overall record, with a 9-5 record in conference action. Tipoff from the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex is at 7 p.m. and will be streamed live on FloSports.

Hofstra comeback attempt falls short vs Navy

By Kenny Forman STAFF WRITER

12 points.

“Not that there were issues defensively, but we allowed them to do some things that we didn’t want them to do,” said head coach Seth Tierney. “We didn’t want them to score an unassisted goal, and they came around and got two of those.”

“He is difficult to cover at times and when he stays disciplined, he’s going to be helpful.”

The Hofstra Pride men’s lacrosse team came up just short in their effort against the United States Naval Academy (Navy) Midshipmen, as they were defeated 13-12 on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the James M. Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University. The Pride is now 0-2 to begin the season, while Navy improves to 3-0.

Right out of the gate, Navy stole the show as they found themselves up 5-1 at the end of the first quarter. Henry Tolker scored three goals for the Midshipmen in that period alone, and Xavier Arline added another two. Those two would combine to finish the day with

Despite a rocky beginning to the game, Hofstra was able to settle down and score three unanswered goals to cut the deficit to 5-4. Two of them came from Griffin Turner, and the other was courtesy of Rory Jones.

The Pride was down 7-4 at the break, despite getting off eight more shots than Navy. However, Navy goalkeeper Pat Ryan came up with eight saves. Despite this, he would be replaced by Dan Daly who played the entire second half in the net.

After the Midshipmen scored twice to open the second half, Gerard Kane took over. He scored three times in the third quarter. That, combined with a goal from John Madsen, helped the Pride cut the lead to 9-8 heading into the fourth quarter.

“He’s a competitor, and he’s a lacrosse player,” Tierney said.

Rory Jones knotted up the game at nine with his second goal of the game just 34 seconds into the quarter. However, Navy then started to break away, as they responded with four unanswered goals to lead 13-10. That’s when Madsen stepped up with another two goals to cut it to 13-12 with just over a minute left to play.

Hofstra called a timeout with 1:01 to play and hoped to draw up a possession that would end with the ball in the net. However, Jones turned the ball over, and Navy was able to hang on for the win.

Kane and Madsen combined for 10 points for the Pride, with each scoring a hat-trick. Kane racked up three assists, and Madsen had one of his own. Ryan Woodland and John Veit also had a goal each. Mac Gates had 10 saves in the net.

“I would like to just get back to work,” Tierney said. “I need Monday to come in an hour so we can get back with these guys.”

Hofstra’s next game will take

place in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as they take on the University of Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 12 p.m. That game can be listened to on the HAWC, and

live stats will be available at GoHofstra.com.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics Hofstra’s 29 point victory was their largest conference win this year.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics

This is the second straight season Navy has defeated Hofstra.

Pride no match for Seawolves, fall in battle of Long Island

By Cole McDonnell STAFF WRITER

result – digs a bigger hole for the Pride with games down the stretch.

“It was a tough one, especially down the stretch,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “We had some costly mistakes, but I thought there were some things that we did do well. But, again, we had too many turnovers, and we can’t allow them too many points off those turnovers.”

perimeter shooting to keep the Pride within reach of the Seawolves. Von Essen and Ineza shot a combined 10-18 from the field and 4-8 from behind the arc.

The Hofstra women’s basketball team continues to plummet with another loss at the hands of their Long Island rival, the Stony Brook University Seawolves, 70-60 on Sunday, Feb. 12.

After a stunning buzzerbeater win in the previous game against Towson University on Thursday, Feb. 9, the Pride sought to salvage the rest of the season with seven games remaining. However, the loss to Stony Brook – along with many previous games of the same

With Brandy Thomas out of the lineup, multiple players stepped up in the effort for the Pride. Zyheima Swint dominated inside the paint with 18 points and six rebounds.

“I thought she stepped up tonight,” Atkinson said. “She made her presence known even with some foul trouble in the first half, which I think hurt us a bit. She had a great inside presence in the paint. But I thought her production was one that we needed, that we haven’t had in the past few games.”

Outside the paint, Emma Von Essen and Sorelle Ineza also shined, providing their

“Emma played well,” Atkinson said. “She’s shooting the ball well and continuing to be aggressive, which is what we need from her. I thought she definitely stepped up today and was really looking for a shot to try to create possessions for us so we can have a better opportunity to score.”

The Pride and Seawolves balanced the pace in the first half, with Stony Brook leading 35-29 at the break. Nevertheless, the Pride continued to struggle in the second half, as they have in many recent games.

“I thought we played with great tempo, and we were able to get stops and able to push it and run it out the net, which is what we didn’t do in the second half,” Atkinson said. “We were allowing them too many baskets and finishes at the rim, especially off the turnovers.”

The Seawolves had five players who scored in double figures, with Anatasia Warren and Gigi Gonzalez paving the way for the Seawolves with 19 and 14 points respectively. Sherese Pittman also played big in the paint with 10 rebounds for the Seawolves along with a 13-point performance. The Pride had a better overall field goal percentage, shooting 43.1% compared to Stony Brook’s 40.7%, but the Seawolves drained the 3-point shooting 31.8% against Hofstra’s 29.4%.

Hofstra offense firing on all cylinders

By Michelle Rabinovich SPORTS EDITOR

Dragons, bringing their overall record to 20-8 and 13-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). With this, the Dragons drop to a 15-12 record and 9-6 in league play.

“Really good job all the way around,” said Hofstra men’s basketball head coach Speedy Claxton. “Overall, [I] thought my guys were really locked into the game plan.”

Does this sound familiar? The Hofstra men’s basketball team won another game. Monday, Feb. 13, marked their eighth consecutive win, this time 6652 over the Drexel University

That proved to be true as the team shot 50% from the field and 33% from beyond the arc. The player who stood out the most was none other than Darlinstone Dubar. It wasn’t only because he was the first to get on the scoreboard but also because he went 7-7 from the field

including 2-2 from three.

“[Dubar] is the key to our team, he got off to a great start,” Claxton said. “We’re trying to protect our house and trying to win a championship.”

Dubar confirmed this, stressing the opening minutes where he was the first to score.

“Once the first shot goes in, throughout the rest of the game I just have confidence,” Dubar said. “I just got [to] be consistent, that’s my goal.”

Beyond Dubar’s perfect shooting, the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex saw another night of Aaron Estrada shooting over 20 points – 22 to be specific.

On top of that, this was the fourth consecutive double-digit win for Claxton’s squad.

“We know what’s at stake,” Claxton said. “We’re coming in first place [in the CAA] and we’re trying to protect that.”

Claxton admitted that there’s more to this team than offense. In fact, the Pride is first in the CAA in field goal percentage

With the loss, the Pride continues to stumble to a 9-14 overall record and a 3-9 conference record. This game marked Hofstra’s eighth loss since the start of the new year. The Pride now has six games left in the season.

In their next matchup, the Hofstra women’s basketball team will face off against the University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens on Friday, Feb. 17, at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex with tipoff set for 7 p.m.

allowed, namely 41.1%.

“Offense wins games, defense wins championships,” Claxton said. “We’re trying to win championships so we’re [going to] guard.”

When asked about whether Claxton liked the way his team is playing, he had this to say:

“Nah, I don’t really like it… I love it,” Claxton said. “I love the way we’re playing. We’re playing at the championship level.”

Hofstra’s next appearance on

the hardwood will be on Thursday, Feb. 16, in the Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex against the Hampton University Pirates. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.

This will be the second time the two teams meet this season, the first ending in a 67-51 win over the Pirates in their own court. That game can be listened to on 88.7 FM WRHU and streamed on FloSports, with live stats on gohofstra.com.

Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein Dubar put up 16 out of Hofstra’s 66 points Monday night.

Hofstra has now lost its last six games against Stony Brook.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics

Softball is ready to take the CAAs back to Hempstead

By Frank DiCalogero ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The Hofstra Pride softball team enters the 2023 campaign with high expectations after a disappointing 2022 season. With many returning players, including five graduate students, the Pride will look to once again regain their crown at the top of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).

Second-year head coach

Adrienne Clark is back at the helm of the Pride, looking to lead the team to higher success after a 21-27 record last season. Clark, an alumna of Hofstra, as well as an assistant coach from 2012 to 2014 for the Pride, is ready to get back out there and coach this group once again.

“It’s incredibly fun; they are really incredible humans,” Clark said. “Just being able to surround myself with them every day makes it really exciting to want to come and do my job.”

Heading into the season, Clark is open to making coaching adjustments as compared to last season. Whether it’s her mindset changing from year-to-year or her philosophy switching up depending on the roster, Clark is eager to set her squad up for a great deal of success.

“Philosophically, it stays pretty consistent, getting the team to play hard, go full speed, to be able to make mistakes and embracing what the game gives us,” Clark explained. “I would say that the mindset does and can shift some with personnel and personalities. I think when you have players on the same team that are inherently leaders and have a lot of experience, it makes it a little easier in some ways because they take the ownership of wanting to be in control and be a leader.”

Clark is also grateful to have such an experienced roster. “We’re lucky this year to have five fifth-year players who chose to come back and stay which I think is pretty incredible,” Clark said. “And I think it kind of speaks volumes to what it means to play here.”

One of those fifth-year players is star third baseman and

shortstop Meghan Giordano. Giordano had another successful season for Hofstra last year as she was named to the AllCAA first team. She accounted for 43 hits with 30 runs, along with 32 RBIs and seven home runs. Giordano will look to build off a great year while also establishing new goals for herself as her career with the Pride winds down.

“Year to year, I try to elevate the standards from last year and where we finished,” Giordano said. “We get a couple new kids each year, and we just try to work to get everyone on the same page, which is a goal of mine each year. Becoming a unit, staying the course and trusting the process like coach says.”

With this being Giordano’s last year, she is determined to add on to her legacy.

“Of course, I want to go out with a bang and take the CAAs back to Hempstead,” she said. “But my biggest goal each year is just to get everyone to buy in to what we’re doing, getting to a place where if we do it together, there isn’t anything that can stop us.”

Another major piece to the Pride’s returning nucleus is the highly versatile Chelsea Manto. Manto had a career year last season with 63 hits, which not only a team-high but also a high for the CAA in that category. She was also named to the AllCAA first team.

“My speed is a big part of that, so as long as I keep the ball off the ground, I usually have a good chance of getting on first base, which is a major part of my game,” Manto said. “Also, trusting the process and believing in yourself, going into the box with confidence, has helped me along the way.”

It’s no question that both Manto and Giordano will be looked at as the core leaders of this team. And Clark has been nothing short of impressed with her leaders for stepping up.

“I think the biggest thing we have seen so far this year is their ability to communicate,” Clark said. “I know we are constantly working on that in practice, but what’s really cool

is that they are willing to speak up for themselves and stand up for each other, and they’re also willing to take some ownership of surrounding what their experience looks like.”

Speaking of practice, Clark has enjoyed what she’s seen from her entire team during these past weeks, stating that she believes everyone has improved over the offseason.

“I know that may be a little cheesy, but every single player has shown up this year in a different way,” Clark said. “Some have really worked to be better about the presence that they bring. Some have worked to gain more speed; some have worked to understand that they can swing away and don’t always have to rely on the small ball. They believe in themselves to do it, so each one of them has put themselves into a position, whether it’s working to earn a sport or whether it’s working to keep their spot in the starting lineup, understanding that every role matters.”

Despite the experience on their side, Hofstra players have expressed frustration in their preseason ranking, feeling they were snubbed in the CAA preseason pool after being picked third behind UNCWilmington and the University of Delaware.

“It’s hard not to see all that stuff when it’s slapping us in the face all day, but I think that what’s so great about our team is that we look at those, and we take whatever the ranking is, and we use that as a chip on our shoulder,” Giordano explained. “There’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll show you up when the time comes.”

“It pushes us even harder, and we see that, and it gets us angry,” Manto added. “Like, of course we want to be number one, but we see that and we’re going to prove them wrong.”

Hofstra’s roster is filled with breakout candidates, a strong bullpen and newcomers who are looking to make an immediate impact. It can truly be a special season for the Pride. All the pieces are there for a great season.

“Offensively, Kasey [Collins]

is going to make an impact,” Clark said. “She’s added another tool to her toolbox that is going to make her even better offensively. Aliya [Catanzarita], she’s going to make some waves offensively and is primed for a breakout season. We returned all our starters last year, and Julia [Apsel], Nikki [Mullin], Bella [Pisapia] and Haley [Venturini] all provide something so unique and different as our bullpen, as it’ll make it really challenging to beat. And Becca [Vaillancourt], she’s new to our program, she transferred in, and she has kind of made a very significant impact behind the plate due to her arm strength.”

“Defensively, Kayla Wilson is lights out and is going to surprise a lot of people,” Clark continued.

With the season opener less than one week away, both Giordano and Manto have looked back at their career and what their legacy may be here at Hofstra when it’s all said and done. For Giordano specifically, all the emotions are there. She is determined to end her career with a bang.

“I want to leave here knowing that my teammates and coaches know that I love it here and that I am extremely passionate about this program,” Giordano said. “Everything else, I’ll forget about games and all that other stuff, but I’m not going to forget those moments with my teammates. I want to win, but just that passion I have for this program is unmatched. Quite honestly, I would do anything for my teammates.”

For Manto, the senior may still come back for another

go-around due to the situations the pandemic caused for college athletics. But regardless of what her future may be, she is ready to leave it all on the line.

“I want to represent hard work,” Manto said. “With the accolades and teammate-wise, I want my teammates to know that they can trust me on and off field, always being able to rely on me.”

Hofstra kicks off their 2023 season in Houston, Texas, where they take on the University of Washington Huskies on Friday, Feb. 17. Clark is eager to see how her team performs and knows that the strengths that this team has built over the break can lead to a successful season.

“The team really enjoys each other, they want to hang out with each other on and off the field, and I think there is something really special about that because it’s rare to see everyone be able to have an understanding of each other,” Clark said. “At the end of the day, it’s not lost on me that we have people with different beliefs in different things, but we have found common ground and know that while everyone’s background might be different, we are all humans, and that piece is our greatest strength, but can also be our biggest improvement, as we don’t want to see each other fail, disappoint each other. At times we as individuals are going to fail, even though the reality is we are all going to fail at some point. We need to be okay knowing that we have that connection.”

Meghan Giordano is prepared to go all out in her senior season.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE

SPORTS

February 14, 2023

E ight is g r E at

Hofstra has won eight games in a row and 12 of their last 13. They currently sit tied atop CAA standings.