The Hofstra Chronicle, September 26, 2023

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE

Hofstra hosts local businesses on Food Truck Fridays

By Sophia Guddemi

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

On select Fridays this month, Pride Park hosted three different local businesses in the Office of

Student Leadership and Engagement’s Food Truck Friday event series. These events featured several different cuisines from the community’s food trucks,

free for students to try.

“Culturally, food brings family, friends [and] people together,” said Paul Ferrante, the assistant director of student leadership and engagement for fraternity and sorority life. “We are at the start of the academic semester; this is a great opportunity for students to get engaged, listen to music, connect with other people [and] enjoy some comradery over some good food.”

The first event of the series took place on Friday, Sept. 8, with Pies-on Wheels, featuring wood-fired, brick oven pizza. The next event, on Friday, Sept. 15, featured Trini Bites, an upscale Caribbean takeout truck. And finally, on Friday, Sept. 22, Bistro on the Go provided a

Albert Kang helping the Pride conquer the CAA once again

By Arcangelo Iurato STAFF WRITER

Albert Kang was picked up in the spring transfer portal this year for the Hofstra University men’s soccer team. Given his experience, Kang has surpassed expectations and then some with his impactful technical play and extended amounts of playing time. The midfielder’s presence at every inch across the field has been beneficial. The connection between his style of play and the system in which he’s involved has been second-to-none.

It all began when he was on the pitch for the Long Island Rough Riders, a USL League Two team in the fourth-tier league of American soccer. Kang was a player for the Loyola University Maryland men’s soccer team but was not convinced it was time to call it quits on his collegiate career when his senior year came around. He did, however, feel the need to make a change.

By Alexander Ferreira

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

The Hofstra University Museum of Art is a place you’ve most likely passed at some point on your way to class, whether you’ve seen one of the 75 outdoor sculptures, the Emily

Lowe Gallery near Bits & Bytes or the David Filderman Gallery in Axinn Library. If there’s any point in your Hofstra career to visit the Museum of Art, now is the time.

The museum is currently proudly celebrating its 60th an-

niversary in the current exhibition, titled “New Perspectives: The Museum of Art at 60.” The exhibition looks back on its history and focuses on what has made the museum thrive.

The Emily Lowe Gallery is no larger than the size of a classroom – a tour of the museum can take up to 10 minutes or as long as an hour – but it’s a space where students can decompress after a long day. More importantly, the museum provides meaningful experiences by encouraging other perspectives, inviting movement and enhancing how we handle information compared to the stationary crunch of our temporary buffers.

“After four years I thought it was time for a new challenge,” Kang said. “Switch things up a little bit. That’s why I decided to do my grad year somewhere else.”

A handful of Hofstra men’s soccer players played for the Rough Riders alongside Kang in the past couple summers, including midfielders Ryan Carmichael and Roc Carles, defender Pierce Infuso and goalkeeper Wessel Speel. After playing alongside Hofstra athletes on the very same pitch they call home yearround, there was no question in Kang’s mind where he wanted to go

next.

“When I went into the portal, I talked to them about their time at Hofstra,” Kang said. “I talked to the coaches as well, and I thought it’d be a good fit for my last year.”

Hofstra head coach Richard Nuttall had a front-row seat to watch Kang on the pitch for the Rough Riders. Eventually, Nuttall decided to bring in Kang in his efforts to secure a third consecutive Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) title. Nuttall was certainly impressed by Kang’s abilities on the pitch, and the midfielder had a decent first impression of the experienced head coach.

“He had been in and around the Rough Riders,” Kang said. “I heard a lot about him. A lot of good things, very positive energy. He cares a lot about his players, and that’s obviously something, as a player, you want to hear.”

Today, Kang is one of seven graduate students on the roster for Hofstra men’s soccer and dons the number 11 jersey. It’s still early in the season, but Kang has been proving thus far why Nuttall decided to bring him in and why he’s the man to help the team return to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship.

The museum frequently sees student visitors for class assignments. The Museum of Art at 60: A celebration of Hofstra

Photo Courtesy of Alexander Ferreira

Sophia Guddemi / The Hofstra Chronicle Students wait in line for Trini Bites on Friday, Sept. 15.

Albert Kang has the fourth-most minutes on the team at 732 in nine games.

203

Hofstra’s annual Taste of the Community barbeque unites students after the first week of classes

Assistant

By Annie MacKeigan

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Local food vendors from Hempstead and Uniondale came together on Wednesday, Sept. 13, in the HofUSA parking lot for Hofstra’s

annual Taste of the Community barbeque event. Residents and commuter students alike gathered for the free feast. The event was organized and administered by the Office of Commuting Student Services

and Community Outreach and the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement (OSLE).

“I got a text this morning; they told me to save my appetite, and so that is exactly what I did. I saved my appetite,

and now we’re here,” said Grace Armet, a sophomore pre-medical studies major. Armet was most excited to visit Vincent’s Clam Bar once the line thinned out. “It’s unfortunate that the lines are so long, but we’re going to hit them all,” Armet said. Vincent’s Clam Bar was not the only booth with a line.

Mister Softee caught the attention of many students. The dessert line stretched across the entire event space. However, this did not deter students as they waited many minutes for free ice cream. Mister Softee offered a variety of flavors, toppings, cups and cones; they had something to please everyone.

“I got mail from Hofstra about the different cuisine and culture, so I thought I should come, as I am from Bangladesh, so I wanted to explore,” said Fatema Ajmir, a freshman marketing major. Ajmir, who held a large ice cream cone in her left hand, ordered a “vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles.”

CONTINUED ON A5

Students enjoy a food truck extravaganza

CONTINUED FROM A1

taste of Vietnam.

“They [the food truck businesses] were very excited. They want to partner with different institutions, different businesses, different community areas, so any exposure or engagement is worthwhile,” Ferrante said. “They are super-friendly and easy to work with. It’s always fun creating a menu with them.”

The free food brought a crowd of Hofstra students each week, with lines forming even before the events began at noon. The line was consistently long until the event ended two hours later.

“The food was very good, even if the wait time did take a bit; I don’t blame them,” said Alyssa Zimmermann, a junior music business major. Zimmermann was one of the many students attracted to the event. “People love free stuff.”

“Waiting in line brings people together. You have nothing else to do but to talk to people.”

Kristen Enea, a graduate student and creative arts therapy major, along with her friend Jacqueline Kaider, a graduate stu-

dent and public relations major, waited 15 minutes before the Friday, Sept. 15, event started to be the first people in line.

“It gets you out to try different foods from the community,” Enea said. Enea and Kaider had been to the first week’s event and decided to return to try a new food that they had never had before.

“It was not what I was expecting, but I was not disappointed. It was very good,” said Jayda Marshall, a senior psychology major.

“Waiting in line brings people together. You have nothing else to do but to talk to people,” Marshall said. This sentiment was expressed by other Hofstra students who attended the event and believed that bringing different cuisines to students for free brings the community together.

Food Truck Fridays will take a break next Friday for Fall Fest but will return on Friday, Oct. 6, and Friday, Oct. 13.

Local food vendors showcase their unique cuisines and specialties to Hofstra students.

Photo courtesy of Annie MacKeigan

Bistro on the Go provides a taste of Vietnam for Hofstra students on Friday, Sept. 22.

Sophia Guddemi / The Hofstra Chronicle

Amanda Seales ‘edutains’ the Hofstra community

By Moriah Sukhlal NEWS EDITOR

As the lights dimmed in the John Cranford Adams Playhouse, the crowd’s anticipation intensified as they awaited the riveting entrance of Amanda Seales. The evening of Thursday, Sept. 14, was unlike any other on Hofstra’s campus. Faculty, students, guests and community members all gathered to see the comedian, actress, producer and creator host her one-of-a-kind show: “Smart, Funny, & Black.”

Best known for her iconic role in HBO’s “Insecure” as Tiffany DuBois and her stand-up comedy show “I Be Knowin’,” Seales graced Hofstra’s stage with her extraordinary comedic talent. As the creator and host of the variety game show “Smart, Funny, & Black,” Seales combined culture, education and entertainment to “edutain” the audience on racism and culture.

While Seales is a comedian, she is also a visionary who graduated from Columbia University with a master’s degree in African American studies. The event was presented and sponsored by numerous Hofstra departments, organizations and clubs, including the Hofstra Cultural Center, UMOJA Scholars LLC., the Africana Studies Pro-

gram and Student Government Association.

Katrina Sims, a professor of history and faculty-in-residence, assisted in organizing the event. She originally thought of the event in the summer of 2019 when she attended several concerts and events in an attempt to immerse herself in the New York City culture. The show’s call-and-response moments were “reminiscent of southern Black church services, like those I attended as a young person at Mt. Zion Progressive Baptist Church,” Sims said.

It also brought on waves of nostalgia, as Sims recalled, “Saturday mornings waking to my momma grooving to Guy’s ‘Yearning for Your Love’ and Anita Baker’s ‘Sweet Love’ as she cleaned and shed the worries of the week before we all gathered at my auntie’s house where adults played spades and the kiddos played until we collapsed from the sheer excite of being together.”

“When I created ‘Smart, Funny, & Black,’ I had in mind that we are in an education space because I believe that education can lead to our liberation,” Seales said. She introduced the show by explaining that it was a space for cultural elevation and celebration where the audience

is both entertained and educated, hence her coining the phrase “edutainment.”

According to Sims, she immediately knew that “the Hofstra community would benefit from experiencing the show. While we are an academic institution that appropriately centers lecture-style programs and events, I think it is necessary to prioritize moments of levity, leisure and upliftment. And that is what the ‘Smart, Funny, & Black’ show offered us, if only for an evening.”

Throughout the show, Seales explored Black history, culture and experience through a variety of hilarious jokes, edutaining games, and lively dances and songs. She began by introducing the “fams” that create the logo of ‘Smart, Funny & Black.’ “Just like Hogwarts have their houses, we have our fams,” Seales said.

She identified four fams: Rebel Fam, Woke Fam, Fly Fam and Cultcha Fam. The audience was ecstatic and participated in a call and response, where they repeated the motto of each fam after they were introduced. The mottos: “We fight!” “We read!” “We rep!” and “We vibe!” represented each individual of

Amanda Seales explains West Coast gangsta rap and provides historical context for the contributions of African Americans throughout the music industry as well as their accomplishments in the hip hop genre.

Information compiled by Sophia Guddemi Graphic by Moriah Sukhlal

Photo courtesy of Matteo Bracco / Hofstra University

CONTINUED FROM A3

Smart, Funny, & Black takes center stage

the Black community (listed respectively of each fam), from those who engage in activism to those who inspire innovation. “I also created this show because the reality is that we, as a Black community, need to remember that we are a community,” Seales said.

A highlight of the event was the participation of two Hofstra students – Renelle Wilson, a sophomore television production studies major, and Lawson Kidd, a junior political science major – who competed to be admitted into “The Illustrious League of Master Blacksperts.” Wilson and Kidd competed in three rounds of games.

topics on Black culture to the audience. Topics included oldschool rap, crunk, hip-hop soul, West Coast gangsta rap and funk. Kidd ‘splained old school rap, saying, “Old school rap set the foundation for literally

ter Flash and The Furious Five’s song “The Message.”

To ‘splain hip hop soul, Wilson recalled a memory that much of the audience related to. She asked them to remember when it was the weekend, and

Michael Jackson and everything we put into cleaning time to make it a good time.” By popular vote of the crowd, Wilson won “‘Splain It.”

Next was “Blebates,” or, as Seales clarified, “Black debates. These are the conversations that happen in your group chat, the conversations that really are not that important but [that] we are very serious about.”

The question for the “Blebate” round was, “Who would you vote for president, J. Cole or Kendrick Lamar?” Despite the air of humor, Seales utilized the topic to discuss the upcoming election year.

“Even though it [election candidates] may not be exactly who we want to vote for, we have to remember that we are not voting for an individual. We’re voting for a path. This is not going to be the election where we solve America. We’re not even close to that,” Seales said. “But what we are in the process of doing is creating opportunities for people like y’all [college students] to radicalize, to get educated and to get informed and to get

“I gotta tell you, Kendrick Lamar should already be president. I mean, who could really bring people together in such a way like he did?”

In part three, “Black Facts,” each contestant was graced with a partner to help them answer questions about Black history and music. Kidd was joined by Jasmine Sellars, a senior journalism major, while Wilson was accompanied by Kathleen “Kat” Mars, a sophomore political science and criminology major. At the conclusion of “Black Facts,” Kidd and Sellars had the greatest number of correct answers; thus, Kidd was crowned the Master Blackspert.

Seales’ ability to create a welcoming community and provide a memorable evening of edu-tainment was appreciated by the audience.

“Even though it [election candidates] may not be exactly who we want to vote for, we have to remember that we are not voting for an individual. We’re voting for a path . . . But what we are in the process of doing is creating opportunities for people like y’all [college students] to radicalize, to get educated and to get informed and to get together because it’s going to be you all that continue to take this country in the direction that you want it to go to.”

The first round, “‘Splain It,” required contestants to explain

everything. Everyone [has seen] and [used] it for the last 50 years … It’s the origins. It’s the beginning. It’s the end.” After his explanation, the crowd sang along with Seales to Grandmas-

“It’s nine o’clock in the morning, and your mom will knock on your door and turn your lights on, and you start hearing ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ on the radio … We have

together because it’s going to be you all that continue to take this country in the direction that you want it to go to.”

In his winning argument, Kidd defended Lamar, stating,

Tameka Kendrick, a Hempstead resident, heard of the event from a coworker at the Roosevelt Public Library. “Being able to connect with a wide audience and deliver factual information while keeping it interesting makes learning fun!” Kendrick said. “It’s important to remember [and] share Black history through multiple lenses so that it’s not forgotten and to inspire our youth to continue to strive like those who came before them.” To join the conversation, participate in upcoming events, or start edutaining, Seales advised the public to visit her website, amandaseales. com.

Lawson Kidd (right) and Renelle Wilson (left) battle in “Blebates” to determine who will be crowned the “Master Blackspert.”

Photo courtesy of Matteo Bracco / Hofstra University

Hofstra students explore culture through food

CONTINUED FROM A2

Although ice cream was the highlight of the night for many students, others raised concerns about the length of the line.

Sophomore sociology major Stephen Odom said he waited in line for ice cream for over seven minutes. Although two Mister Softee trucks were present, both had long lines the entire night. Yet students were still persistent as many were drawn by the promise of free food.

“For anyone who knows me personally, free and food: two of my favorite words right there,” said Alex Suozzi, a senior TV and film production major. Suozzi buzzed with excitement about his choices. “Oh, what didn’t I get? Let’s see, [I got] cheesesteak, empanada, enchilada, whatever this is, I’m excited to try. [I’m] just wrapping up on a quesadilla and hoping there’s some ice cream left, but that line is going on for miles.”

Suozzi was impressed with the event turnout. “If there’s anything that can bring a group of people together, it’s food. Especially when it’s free,” he said. In addition to the food, some students came hoping to meet new people.

“We ran into a couple of our friends,” said Timothy Tu, a graduate international business student. Tu attended the event with another friend to enjoy quesadillas and fried rice. “These events definitely bring out more people.”

Zen Iwata, a senior finance major, said, “I’m an internation-

Key:

PS - Public Safety

CS - Community Standards

NCPD - Nassau County Police Department

UFD - Uniondale Fire Department

HFD - Hempstead Fire Department

HIC - Hofstra Information Center

alarm was reset.

Public Safety Briefs

Compiled by Moriah Sukhlal

On April 8, at 4 a.m., the RSR working in Bill of Rights Hall reported to PS that two HU students and a non-student failed to comply with Hofstra guest policy and verbally harassed the RSR. The nonstudent was banned from campus, and the two students were issued referrals to CS for their actions.

HU student, in the rear. Hempstead Police responded and took a report.

On Sept. 11, at 3:40 p.m., an HU student reported to PS that their laundry was removed from the dryer in Enterprise Hall and could not be located. A search of the area was met with negative results.

was damage to the front of the vehicle. Police assistance was declined at the time.

On April 14, at 5:25 p.m., the fire alarm in Hampton House was activated due to burnt food in the kitchen. The alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated. PS, the plant department and the Uniondale Fire Department responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

al student, and it’s nice bringing outside food like Smok-Haus, letting me try some other food that’s not from campus.” Iwata believed he enjoyed his cheesesteak more than anything else.

OSLE estimated that 1,200 students attended the barbeque. “We were really pleased with the turnout; the event was in its third year, and each year, the program itself has grown quite a bit,” said Severino Randazzo, the director of student leadership and engagement.

According to Randazzo, Taste of the Community started as part of Hofstra University President Susan Poser’s inauguration in 2021. The event had been passed around various departments each year before reaching OSLE. Each year, Taste of the Community has been supported by Anita Ellis, the director of commuting student services and community outreach.

“In our office, we’re all about building traditions and maintaining traditions, and I think this is one of those programs that my team was really excited about bringing back to campus,” Randazzo said.

The community barbeque was part of the September Welcome, a bundle of events throughout September meant to familiarize new and returning students with the campus and community. The university has planned other food events throughout the month, as well as the annual Presidential Symposium.

On Sept. 8, at 12 p.m., while backing out of the Fitness Center parking lot, vehicle one, driven by an HU student, and vehicle two, driven by an HU faculty member, collided, causing damage to the rear bumpers of both vehicles. There were no injuries, and police assistance was declined at the time.

On Sept. 12, at 9:30 a.m., an HU student reported to PS that they parked their vehicle in front of Stuyvesant Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, around 9 a.m. When they returned the next day, the student discovered damage to the rear passenger side fender. Police assistance was declined at the time.

On April 8, at 11:14 p.m., the RA in Utrecht House reported to PS that, while conducting rounds, there were loud noises coming from a room. PS responded and discovered open bottles of alc

On April 8, at 4 a.m., the RSR working in Bill of Rights Hall reported to PS that two HU students and a non-student failed to comply with Hofstra guest policy and verbally harassed the RSR. The nonstudent was banned from campus, and the two students were issued referrals to CS for their actions.

On Sept. 9, at 5:49 p.m., a non-student reported to PS that they parked their vehicle in the East Circle Parking Lot around 11 a.m. When they returned around 1:45 p.m., the nonstudent discovered damage to the left side of their vehicle. Police assistance was declined at the time.

On Sept. 15, at 1:00 p.m., an HU student reported to PS that they had parked their vehicle in the Colonial Square West parking lot. Upon return, the student discovered damage to the rear passenger side fender. Nassau County Police responded and took a report.

On April 15, at 10:19 a.m., the fire alarm in New York House was activated due to burnt food in the kitchen. The alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated. PS, the plant department and the Uniondale Fire Department responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On Sept. 16, at 10:05 p.m., PS responded to Bill of Rights Hall on a call that there was a strong odor of marijuana emanating from a room. An HU student residing in the room admitted to smoking marijuana and was issued a referral to CS.

On April 15, at 6:53 p.m., an HU student reported to PS that they lost their wallet containing their driver’s license, Hofstra ID, debit card and cash. The wallet was lost in a location off campus. The NCPD responded and took a report.

On Sept. 12, at 2:45 p.m., an HU student reported to PS that a vehicle registered to another student parked their car illegally within a few inches of their vehicle. Vehicle one had damage to the driver’s side door. Vehicle two had paint matching the other driver’s vehicle on the front side fender. Hempstead police responded and took a report.

On April 8, at 11:14 p.m., the RA in Utrecht House reported to PS that, while conducting rounds, there were loud noises coming from a room. PS responded and discovered open bottles of alcohol. Six students were issued referrals to CS.

On Sept. 10, at 2:30 p.m., an HU employee reported to PS that while entering parking field 2B, their vehicle hit into the chain of the parking lot, causing scratches to the roof and right front fender of the vehicle. Police assistance was declined at the time.

On Sept. 17, at 8:40 p.m., a fire alarm at Utrecht House was activated due to burnt popcorn. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated within three minutes without incident. PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On April 16, at 9:44 a.m., an HU student reported to PS that some of their laundry was missing from the laundry room in Alliance Hall. The student requested a police response.

On Sept. 12, at 11:58 p.m., a fire alarm at Stuyvesant Hall was activated due to an unknown cause in a room. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated within four minutes without incident.

On April 11, at 10:20 a.m., an HU plant employee reported to PS that he accidentally damaged a vehicle owned by another Hofstra employee on Holland Road while working on the main campus. The owner of the vehicle was notified about the damage and responded to PS.

On Sept. 11, at 11:00 a.m., an HU staff member reported to PS that they parked their vehicle in the parking lot south of the David S. Mack Sports & Exhibition Complex at around 9 a.m. Upon returning, the staff member discovered that their left rear window was shattered. Police assistance was declined at the time.

On Sept. 11, at 3:00 p.m., while backing up in the law school parking lot, vehicle one, driven by a Compass employee in a Compass vehicle, struck another vehicle, driven by an

On April 16, at 10:26 p.m., an HU student was issued a referral to CS for swiping an unknown person into Netherlands South.

PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On Sept. 13, at 12:29 p.m., a fire alarm in Memorial Hall was activated due to the poll station outside of a room. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated within four minutes without incident.

On April 11, at 2:18 p.m., it was reported to PS that an unknown person wrote messages in chalk on the sidewalk on the south side of Hofstra Hall. Photos were taken of the graffiti, and an investigation is being conducted into this matter. The plant department was notified for cleanup.

On Sept. 17, at 8:43 p.m., a fire alarm at the Graduate Residence Hall was activated due to a perfume product in a room. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated within three minutes without incident. PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On April 17, at 9 a.m., an HU student reported to PS that an unknown vehicle struck their vehicle in the law school parking lot. The student had a dashcam video, and the Hempstead police responded and took a report.

On April 18, at 4:08 p.m., an HU student was issued a referral to CS for giving their Hofstra ID to a non-student so they could enter Colonial Square East.

PS, Plant and HFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On Sept. 14, at 12:45 p.m., an HU student reported to PS that they parked their vehicle in parking field 2A on Wednesday, Sept. 13. When they returned later that day, a note was left by another student on the windshield stating that they saw a vehicle hit the car and then leave the scene. There

On April 12, at 9:50 p.m., the fire alarm in Estabrook Hall was activated due to hair care products. The alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated. PS, the plant department and the Uniondale Fire Department responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire

On Sept. 18, at 11:08 a.m., the fire alarm in Memorial Hall was activated due to the poll station near a room. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated within 10 minutes without incident. PS, Plant and HFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On April 18, at 10:40 p.m., the fire alarm in Bill of Rights Hall was activated due to hair care products. The alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated. PS, the plant department and the Uniondale Fire Department responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On Sept. 18, at 7:02 p.m., the fire alarm in the University Club was activated due to vaping in the bathroom. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated within two minutes without incident. PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On April 20, at 5:40 p.m., an HU student reported to PS that, upon returning to their vehicle that they parked near the student center bus stop, they discovered damage to the front passenger side bumper. Police assistance was declined at the

Students learn about a variety of different cuisines and form new relationships while waiting in line for free food from local vendors.

Photo courtesy of Annie MacKeigan

By Gabriel Prevots SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

College is a great time to experiment with new fashion styles, but often, certain conventions dominate the campus. If you’re walking across the Unispan, most of the T-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, jeans, tank tops and other clothes students wear all blend together, simply because one expects them.

As a result, it comes as a surprise for many students when freshman Edward Preble walks past them in his three-piece suit and fedora, carrying a brown briefcase.

Preble’s interest in vintage clothing started young. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, to immigrant parents, Preble’s fashion choice has always been a subject of interest for those around him.

“I would go to school in loafers, and all the kids would call me Grandpa shoes, but I didn’t mind too much,” Preble said.

However, Preble’s interest in the vintage aesthetic is not confined to suits and ties. His passion is singing jazz music,

specifically the slow, crooning style of such singers such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Bing Crosby. Although he may bear the resemblance of the legendary Sinatra with his combedback hair and a fedora atop his head, Preble’s goal is to be his own performer.

“I’m trying to find my own voice, my own sound, because I don’t want people coming up to me and saying, ‘“You’re like Sinatra; you’re like an impersonator,’” Preble said. Preble’s distinguished look and musical talent have earned him a sizable following on TikTok, with about 30 thousand followers and tens of thousands of views on many of his posts. Dressed in his customary suit and tie, he mainly records short covers of jazz songs.

FEATURES

This Hofstra Life: Edward Preble Hofstra fairy tale: Connected by music

By Lisa van Pieterson

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Once upon a time, a little sparrow was sitting on a windowsill, peering into a dorm room at Hofstra University. In that room stood a boy with his trumpet. He turned on some music and took a breath.

His room looked like a normal boy’s room with a photo of his family on his desk. Next to it was his notebook with the name Jace on it. He continued improvising to the tunes of Wynton Marsalis. With his eyes closed, his fingers danced gracefully over the trumpet’s valves. The notes took him to another place.

Jace felt incredible and was playing as though he was standing on a small stage in some rustic old bar, tucked away somewhere in the heart of Manhattan. As his eyes began to open, he realized that the

his image. Instead of the foam soundproofing that most modern singers and musicians use for recording, Preble prefers wood paneling for the warmer, resonant tone it creates. He also performs and records with a clas-

songs, Preble hopes to do more interpretations of modern pop music through the lens of jazz.

“You can change up the lyrics, change up the tempo, and you can make it your own, and that’s what I love about it,” Preble said.

When recording his music, Preble stays consistent with

sic ribbon microphone, the type that crooners in the ‘40s and ‘50s used. Lastly, Preble refrains from using autotune to keep true to his style. “I want there to be little mistakes [to] keep it human,” Preble said.

In addition to covers of older

Despite the perceived connection between his style and song, Preble distinguishes the two as totally separate from each other.

“My appearance is actually not related to music at all. Even if I didn’t do music, I would [still] wear this at the same time,” Preble said.

Even though he may be the only Hofstra student who wears a suit every day, Preble is not alone in his appreciation for the vintage aesthetic. Around the world, those who dress in the

style of the ‘40s and ‘50s have formed a small but connected community.

“A lot of people around the globe, and especially in New York, dress old-fashioned,” Preble said.

Preble commonly encounters misconceptions from others about the way he and others who share his interests dress. For instance, people often equate old-fashioned attire with support for the beliefs of the past.

“A lot of people like to throw things around like we’re racist or believe in segregation, we wanna go back to those times, but the term we like to use is ‘vintage vibes, not vintage values,’” Preble said.

Now, as a student at Hofstra, Preble plans to harness his talents to pursue a career in music performance. He hopes to eventually join a jazz band, continue learning and improving, and make his own way in the world of jazz music. “I hope to gauge a lot of information from professors, do a lot of performances here on campus and better myself as a person,” Preble said.

sparrow was looking at him. The sparrow shifted its head, extended its wings and flew away. Jace stared at it until the bird vanished from his sight.

On the other side of campus lived a girl named Anna. When she opened her window, Jace’s jazz melodies filled her room. It immediately reminded her of home. Anna’s father would always play jazz records.

Stirred by the familiar tunes, Anna made her way outside towards Colonial Square, where the music came from. Luckily, the gates were open. Standing in Colonial Square, she found herself surrounded by the enchanting trumpet melodies that seemed to dance around her.

Anna, who had been momentarily lost in the enchanting music, found herself outside C-Square when the music abruptly stops. She blinked, returning to the present moment, and

noticed that the trumpet melodies have gone silent. She saw a sparrow flying by into the horizon.

In the meantime, Jace, after his encounter with the sparrow, continued to immerse himself in the world of music, playing his trumpet in the comfort of his dorm room. Without him knowing, his enchanting notes had drawn the attention of a certain someone – Anna.

As he lost himself in his improvisations, his trumpet served as a channel for his emotions. Each note he produced was a mirror of his soul, guided by the timeless melodies of Wynton Marsalis.

Anna, driven by an irresistible curiosity, embarked on a quest to trace the origin of this captivating music. She walked a path leading to Cambridge House, following the echoes of the trumpet that lead her closer to the source. Finally, she stood in front of the

window of Jace’s dorm room, her heart quickening as his music washed over her like a gentle wave.

Jace, still slightly lost in the world of music, sensed a subtle shift in the atmosphere. Slowly, he opened his eyes and saw Anna. Their eyes crossed, and a timid yet warm smile graced Jace’s lips. He lowered his trumpet, breaking the musical spell momentarily.

Anna broke the silence and asked what Jace’s name was, telling him how his melodies brought forth memories of home. Jace felt touched by Anna’s sweet words. In response, Jace shared his passion for jazz and how it allowed him to express himself. He had never met a girl like Anna and asked if she wanted to have dinner at HofUSA. They both decided on curly fries for their meal, and the conversation flowed smoothly. Time

flew by, and before they knew it, it was already 3 a.m., prompting them to reluctantly bring their delightful encounter to a close.

As the days passed, Jace and Anna’s friendship flourished. They dedicated hours to sharing stories, walking around the campus and, naturally, immersing themselves in the world of music. With each passing day, their bond deepened, and in each other’s company, they discovered a safe space.

In the end, what had commenced as a fortuitous encounter, orchestrated by the enchanting power of music and guided by destiny’s hand, transformed into a heartwarming friendship that held the promise of something even more enchanting – a love story, intertwined with the timeless melodies of their hearts.

Photo courtesy of Edward Preble

By Trevor Johnson SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Whether it’s hanging decoratively on a wall or being spun on a turntable blasting through stacked speakers, vinyl is making a comeback. Digital access seemingly shoved physical copies of music into the niche, but now sales are the highest they’ve been in years. Lying at the commercial center of New York City is Rough Trade, located right next to Rockefeller Center.

Though the shop started in the United Kingdom and is most prominent there, Rough Trade was brought to Manhattan and has established itself as one of the most notable record shops in the area, offering a relatively wide range of music to choose from.

After pulling open the heavy double doors, I was shocked by the tiny room I had entered. For a place that managed to host IndiePlaza, a large full-day free event with many mildly popular bands,

FEATURES

Chron Critique: Rough Trade

I was expecting a massive warehouse or at least numerous floors of products. Then again, most record shops are small, so I did not mind its compact size. The more important judgment is what they have in stock. Rough Trade categorizes the many genres it has into mostly specific sections; separating artists who, to some, may sound similar but fall into a different scene entirely.

Despite this, Rough Trade does fail when it comes to its alternative section, which, being one of the larger areas, seemingly muddles together a large range of music into one general category.

Among this confusion, I managed to find the newest album from an up-and-coming yet small band called Hello Mary in which two of the three members, just now barely graduating high school, have over 21 thousand monthly listeners on Spotify. While I was shocked at some of the small-time artists I managed to find, Rough Trade lacks in its merchandise overall. There

was a handful of underground artists presented, but when compared to most record shops, the selection was minimal. Part of this is because Rough Trade lacks a stock of used vinyl.

There is a small section where one may buy a few used vinyls of mediocre quality with barely any discount. Many record shops I have been to include a massive range of old and used vinyl which can be bought at a fraction of the original price. In these shops, many of the vinyls are vast and varying in popularity, allowing one to discover artists they have never and would not have otherwise known. Discovering these albums and artists is one of the greatest joys of vinyl shopping with many enthusiasts spending hours flipping through the selections at the chance to dig up a rare treasure.

In its current essence, Rough Trade is more on the spectrum of a chain brand than an independent record shop. One of the first things you see when

entering the store is its gimmicky photo booth, sitting in front of a massive wall of customers and celebrities who have come to take a picture and have it placed on the wall.

I am guilty of using it, because it is a fun addition, but it is very exemplary of Rough Trade being more of a brand than a simple indie record shop.

Rough Trade is also known to host numerous events and

concerts in the area, such as the recent IndiePlaza, a listening party for artist Mitski’s newest album and an upcoming event for Slaughter Beach Dog. However, all this is not to discourage one from going there, as it is a great entry-level and easily accessible place for many who are just starting on their vinyl obsession to obtain a relatively good range of music, both popular and underground.

Chron Cooks ft. Lilly Mullaney Lava Cake

By Lilly Mullaney

If you want an individual-sized, warm, molten lava cake in just under 20 minutes, then listen up. This recipe was given to me by a friend I met while studying abroad in Paris this past semester, and it has become my go-to when I want to reward myself with a little something sweet. I’m sharing it now with everyone because we all deserve a little treat after getting through syllabus week.

All you need is an oven, two bowls and a ramekin or some other small oven-safe container.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 full eggs

2 egg yolks

1 whole chocolate bar (milk/dark/semisweet)

1 whole stick of butter

Instructions:

1. Mix flour, sugar and eggs in one bowl.

2. Melt butter and chocolate separately (melt however you please – my suggestion is in 10 second increments in the microwave).

3. Mix butter and chocolate together in a second bowl.

4. Mix together both bowls to make the batter, and pour into your ramekin.

5. Bake for 10 minutes at around 400°F or 425°F, depending on how gooey you want the center to be.

Photo courtesy of Lilly Mullaney

Zoe Casselman / The Hofstra Chronicle

M AN ON THE U NISPAN

What is your favorite scent?

By Zoe Casselman FEATURES EDITOR

“The first thing that comes to mind is

That’s the first thing I smell in my house.”

O verheard @ h O fstra

“Bad idea to have only Zoloft and coffee for breakfast.”

“That’s what bothers you about R. Kelly? That he’s a mansplainer?”

“Can you participate in Christian girl autumn? You know, because you’re Jewish?”

“I

“OW! The couch just spread my asscheeks.”

“Instead I’m listening to Lana Del Rey with the communist.”

“I dry swallowed Lactaid.”

“I can be a feminist and still think that some women are stupid.”

“One of them needs the electric chair and the other needs a lethal injection.”

“Deadpool and Mountain Dew are valid ‘Warrior Cats’ names.”

“You addicted to that app like I’m addicted to your mom.”

Spread by Audra Nemirow

like the smell of sugar cookies.”

- Kobe Germain, junior

mint.

- Dylan Taganas, junior

“Well, there’s this fragrance they spray in all the stores in Brooklyn called Sental 33 by Le Labo. I like that.”

- Brooke Baker, sophomore

Zoe Casselman / The Hofstra Chronicle

By Zoe Casselman FEATURES EDITOR

Chron Cooks ft. Zoe Casselman Pumpkin Pie

Even though the weather lately hasn’t exactly screamed “fall,” this easy recipe will certainly get you in an autumnal mood. If you have been influenced by the yearly pumpkin craze at every bakery and coffee shop, this delicious pumpkin pie recipe is the perfect way to satisfy your yearning for cool weather and changing leaves. With no hassle and only a few simple ingredients, you’ll be enjoying a fresh, warm pie in no time.

Ingredients:

1 15-ounce can of pumpkin puree

1 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk

2 large eggs

1 9-inch graham cracker crust pie shell

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

Optional:

1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie seasoning

Whipped cream and/or vanilla ice cream

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.

2. Mix pumpkin puree, condensed milk, eggs and cinnamon in a large bowl.

3. Pour the mixture into the pie tin.

4. Bake for 15 minutes, then turn the temperature down to 350°F and bake for 35 more minutes.

5. Test the center of the pie by inserting a fork into the center. If the fork comes out clean when removed, remove the pie from the oven. If there is still filling on the fork, bake in two-minute increments until the fork comes out clean.

6. Let cool for at least an hour.

7. For an extra treat, add whipped cream and/or vanilla ice cream on top.

8. Serve and enjoy!

Zoe Casselman/ The Hofstra Chronicle

back-toschool fun in studio A

The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication held its annual Welcome

Back Backlot Barbecue on Wednesday, Sept. 13, to celebrate the start of the fall semester. Students and faculty of the Herbert School enjoyed free food and music from DJ Whutever. The barbecue concluded with an annual tradition: students getting a chance to “dunk” Dean Mark Lukasiewicz.

Spread by Emma Fabilli

Photo by Emma Fabilli / The Hofstra Chronicle

Photo by Emma Fabilli / The Hofstra Chronicle

Photo by Emma Fabilli / The Hofstra Chronicle

Photo courtesy of Alexander Ferreira

Photo courtesy of D’Angelo Guevara

Photo courtesy of D’Angelo Guevara

Photo courtesy of Cameron Trotter

Photo courtesy of Cameron Trotter

Arts And EntErtAinmEnt

The Museum of Art at 60: A celebration of Hofstra

CONTINUED FROM A1

Usually, one person or a small group curates a show, but for “The Museum of Art at 60,” staff considered student engagement, the community and faculty in its outreach when finalizing a list of 10 guest curators, all with non-art backgrounds. The curators included a New York state assemblywoman, a local elementary school teacher and a previous Hofstra graduate. There were additional contributions from the provost and university faculty, including members of the Center for “Race,” Culture and Social Justice and the creative arts therapy program.

The beauty of many backgrounds is the different perspectives, split into 10 themes, including “Our Planet,” “the Year 1963,” “Nature and its Beauty,” “Wood as a Subject” and the inclusion of Gordon Parks’ social issues of race and music among other wonderful themes to view.

The exhibit was initially scheduled to take up both of the museum’s spaces, allowing for even more guest curators which

may have included students. Unfortunately, the ongoing renovations to the Axinn Library meant the David Filderman Gallery would be closed until they are completed. In the meantime, the staff has learned to adapt and maximize their available space in the Emily Lowe Gallery, accounting for the 110 individuals at its opening reception, which is a remarkable feat

intentionally designed their space to enhance your experience but are still very aware of their neutrality.

“We want to present, we don’t want to preach,” said Sasha Giordano, the director of the Hofstra Museum of Art. “We’re celebrating our collection. We want to look at it in a different way, tell as many stories and reach as many people as we can

considering the limited area. As for the pieces themselves, it won’t be long before something will draw you in. The staff

because that’s our responsibility.”

Each semester, the museum has a limited number of positions available for students to apply to

be gallery assistants or student volunteers, along with a credited internship program.

Soon, the museum will host two events to welcome the public for a night of connections and conversation. On Oct. 4, from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Emily Lowe Gallery, the museum will be hosting a public program, “Conversation with the Curators,” where some of the guest curators will present and discuss the process of their selections.

Additionally, on Nov. 2, from 5 to 6 p.m., the museum will host “History of the Collection,” an evening focused on the history and development of the museum and its collection from its formation in 1963 to the present.

So, while you have the chance, lose yourself and take advantage of the connections supplied to you in the beauty of creativity, history and culture waiting for you at Hofstra’s art museum.

Mitski takes us to ‘Heaven’ in new album

By Nell Stultz COPY CHIEF

Singer-songwriter Mitski’s new album, “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We,” is a sweeping, lush experience that clocks in at just over 30 minutes. Released on Friday, Sept. 15, the album is Mitski’s seventh and continues to exemplify her remarkable lyricism and skill for transporting listeners to an entirely new world.

Mitski’s previous albums have ranged in genre from chamber pop to indie rock to synth-pop, but “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We” is instead a slow, simmering Americana and country album that relies on the sounds of steel guitar and organ as easily as it does a full orchestra. “Heaven” opens with a characteristically country guitar twang before devolving into a symphony toward the middle – still with a country influence.

“My Love Mine All Mine” is a slow ballad of romantic pos-

sessiveness; “I Don’t Like My Mind” is a loud, wailing tale of desperate overworking, all with the feeling of old-school country.

The Americana influence isn’t solely limited to the instrumentation: the entire album brings imagery of the Wild West and romantic notions of westward expansion. “Freight train stampedin’ through my backyard / It’ll run across the plains like the new buffalo replaced,” Mitski sings on “Buffalo Replaced.” The romantic world Mitski builds in the album feels new and untouchable, a place for the narrator and their lover to exist away from the hustle and bustle of life in the city.

However – as with the unreality of the romanticism of westward expansion – this place doesn’t really exist. The solitude of the West is often lonely, leading to the narrator in “The Frost” singing of the lost love of a friendship while having to confront the empty world on

their own, wishing for someone to share in their memories.

Mitski also grapples with themes of demons and fallen angels, creating an occasionally Southern gothic or ghost town feel to the album. These demons can be the nighttime devil the narrator sells their soul to in “The Deal,” or, more frequently, the narrator themself, a wrathful, fallen-angel alcoholic in “Bug Like An Angel” or a betraying god – complete with the baying of angry hounds – in “I’m Your Man.” Mitski moves between the light and the dark masterfully, weaving together stories of love,

Quick Hits

betrayal and loneliness.

As short as some of the songs are – most are under three minutes – the album is transportive, leaving listeners wanting more without feeling like it was underdeveloped or lacking. Each song is exactly where it should be on the track list and contributes to the full journey. “Star,” which was released as a single and, at the time, felt strangely underwhelming despite the sweeping symphony it contains, shines in its place toward the end of the album. The song’s grandiose orchestra is a perfect culmination of the eight tracks that came before it.

The final track, “I Love Me After You,” closes out the album with a mildly eerie but ultimately loving feel, drawing on the themes of possession as Mitski sings of being king of all the land. The land may be inhospitable, but so are we, and Mitski seems to find comfort in this shared carving-out of space.

2024 Super Bowl halftime show headliner.

Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly

Courtesy of People

The WGA is nearing a deal that could potentially end their nearly 150-day strike.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were spotted leaving the Sunday, Sept. 24, Chiefs game together.

Usher has been announced as the

Emma Roberts sparks controversy after transphobic comment.

Hofstra’s art musuem is one of Long Island’s largest collections of art.

Courtesy of Newsweek

Photo courtesy of Alexander Ferreira

Sophie Turner will sue Joe Jonas following their divorce.

The album title originated from a joke during the pandemic.

Courtesy of Billboard

Photo courtesy of Rolling Stones

Courtesy of X.com

WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike enters new negotiations

By Giovanna Salsa SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

The film industry is crumbling after unions have agreed to strike against unfair wages. After countless complaints from writers receiving next to nothing in payment for their work, such as residuals from streaming services and the ongoing threat of AI technology potentially replacing their jobs, it was time to speak out.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) are unionized organizations formed to protect writers and actors from being exploited within the industry. The WGA strike began on May 2, and the SAG-AFTRA strike began shortly after on July 14.

This isn’t the first time that writers and actors have gone on strike against corporations, and anytime a new medium of entertainment or ways of making it comes out (especially if there are no laws behind it to protect

workers, like with artificial intelligence), members of the industry have struck against it.

The rise of streaming services in recent years has taken a huge toll on writers, actors and their pay. With artificial intelligence becoming more prominent within our society, many have begun experimenting with its capabilities.

Workers within the film industry, especially writers, fear that this technology will eradicate the need for writers. This has become problematic for the direction of the strike and the ongoing negotiations with corporations.

video game industry to strike as well due to the fact workers in the interactive media industry receive the same harsh treatment as the writers and actors in film.

members to vote for the union’s right to strike to use it as leverage against corporations.

Despite these billion-dollar companies consistently making a fortune with the media that they put out, the same people who make those products are still financially struggling and living paycheck to paycheck.

Many are trying to push the

The threat of AI and recreating people’s likenesses for video games – on top of little to no pay from residuals after a game’s release – has angered many workers. SAG-AFTRA asked its

The injustice of the matter has clearly displayed the pure greed of major corporations harboring most of the money for a select few higher-ups and paying a fraction of the rest to the workers behind the projects they release.

As of Wednesday, Sept. 20, rep-

resentatives of the unions striking and the CEOs of Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discover and NBCUniversal resumed negotiations. According to a source from CNN who has ties to the ongoing negotiations, it was reported that the participants left “feeling encouraged” about the future of the strike. This could potentially mean an end to the months-long strike that has already cost companies billions of dollars. A positive outcome to this strike will be beneficial to the writers and actors who can resume their work with the pay they deserve.

Despite these strikes having occurred in the past, this one has sparked the most interest and the sympathy of the public. After months of protests against corporations and ongoing negotiations, many are eagerly waiting for an outcome that gives writers and actors the pay they deserve and protection against the exploitative use of artificial intelligence.

Metallica lights up SoFi with an electrifying celebration of music

By Michael Gaborno STAFF WRITER

Is it hard to imagine a place where everybody is united under one roof, enjoying themselves and each other’s presence? A place where people from every generation, every culture and every background can share the same air, the same food, the same drinks and the same love for one thing? Such a place might be impossible to conceive in a time (and specifically country) as deeply and systemically fractured as ours, but occasionally, there is a grand, unifying force that brings everyone together, even if for only a short amount of time. The heavy metal band Metallica is the biggest in the world for their genre, with astronomical sales and an unbelievably monumental and loyal following. After 40-plus years, 11 studio albums (the latest of which dropped in

April and is currently being supported by the M72 World Tour) and countless live shows and accolades, the 60-year-old members are still performing at the peak of their careers. The band’s earth-shaking performance at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California, is as definitive proof as ever of their mastery over the art of music and performance.

Following the thrilling opening acts of up-and-coming band Ice Nine Kills and metalhead favorite Five Finger Death Punch, there was an extended intermission period before the lights dimmed. As the excitement of the crowd channeled through every single nerve in attendance, AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock and Roll)” rang out as fan photos cycled through on the video displays. Afterward, the notes of Ennio Morricone’s “The Ecstasy of

Gold” (a longtime opening track for Metallica) began to soar throughout the stadium as fans took over with enthusiastic vocalizations of the song’s iconic chorus.

The four band members (singer/rhythm guitarist/frontman James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo) took their place onstage during the track’s denouement, immediately after which they set the stadium afire with “Whiplash,” one of the thrashiest tracks from their debut album “Kill ‘Em All.”

The band continued showcasing their latest release with the stadium-friendly anthem “If Darkness Had a Son.” Hammett and Trujillo then offered up an enjoyable two-minute jam (“Ghetto Funk”) written specifically for the show, preceding a soul-stirring performance of one of their most hard-hitting

and beautiful tracks, “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” from their third album “Master of Puppets.”

The final stretch of the show arrived with the jam from the highly underappreciated “The Outlaw Torn,” which made way for their heavenly cover of “Whiskey in the Jar,” a performance that saw Hetfield at his most deeply felt and passionate. The second-to-last song, the widely celebrated anti-war power ballad “One,” started off with an eye-popping pyrotechnics show, punctuated by those heartbreaking first four notes and ended with every single fan leaping from the ground and embracing the overwhelming madness of its instrumental section.

It is undoubtedly no simple task at all to gather 80,000 people from as various backgrounds as those of the ones in attendance, but Metallica was

able to accomplish this seemingly insurmountable task for two colossal and historical nights for California to relish in, with many more cities having experienced (or about to experience) this same kind of beautiful unanimity.

At SoFi and everywhere else that they have played and will play, Metallica’s rapturous performance serves not only as a lively and impassioned celebration of their densely illustrious career but also as an encapsulation of the power of art and the often taken-for-granted importance it has in building up and holding together a functional society.

For two hours, every single soul in attendance was on the same wavelength, joined together through the mutual understanding of the music that they love. If that’s not a resounding affirmation of true cultural and societal significance, then perhaps nothing is.

The last writer’s strike was in 2007 and lasted for around three months.

Photo courtesy of NBC News

The 2023 VMAs: Celebrating hip-hop, women and Taylor Swift

By Lara Rydesky

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Nearly four million viewers tuned in across multiple platforms to watch this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, which aired on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

The night, hosted by Nicki Minaj, began with performances by Lil Wayne and Olivia Rodrigo, who shocked viewers with staged technical malfunctions in her song “vampire.” Later, Doja Cat showed off her devilish new image with a performance of “Attention,” “Paint the Town Red” and “Demons,” surrounded by dancers in bloody body paint.

Artists from all over the world, and across all genres, performed throughout the night. Demi Lovato, Måneskin and Fall Out Boy brought the rock vibes, while Karol G, Shakira and Anitta represented Latin America.

One of the biggest performances of the night marked 2023 as the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, which was first created at a house party in August 1973. The VMAs honored this anniversary with a ten-minute

tribute featuring hip hop legends DMC, Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Lil Wayne, LL Cool J, Slick Rick and Nicki Minaj. This medley spanned decades of hip-hop and hit classics like Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message” and LL Cool J’s “I’m Bad.”

In her solo appearance, Minaj performed a soulful rendition of “Last Time I Saw You.” She surprised viewers by shedding her statuesque black cloak and finishing off with an exclusive preview of her upcoming album “Pink Friday 2,” saying it “wouldn’t be right” without it.

The show also featured two Kpop performances. Stray Kids, the winner of the Best K-pop award,

exploded onto the stage with their song “S-Class,” while TOMORROW X TOGETHER, featuring Anitta, premiered their new collab single “Back for More.” Two more K-pop acts took home awards: Blackpink for Group of the Year and Jungkook’s “Seven” for Song of the Summer.

Anitta took home the award for Best Latin with “Funk Rave,” beating out big names like Shakira and Bad Bunny. Shakira, in turn, was granted the Video Vanguard, a life-

time achievement award, for her contributions to both Latin and pop music. She also won Best Collab alongside Karol G for their song “TQG.”

Shakira wasn’t the only legend recognized.

The Global Icon award was handed to Diddy “Puff Daddy” for his contributions to hip hop and pop, both musically and in the business. The award was presented to him by longtime friend and collaborator (and fellow legend) Mary J. Blige and his eldest daughter Chance Combs, who stood behind him with his other children as he opened his speech with an affirmation that “love wins.”

New to the VMAs this year was the category Best Afrobeats, which was given to “Calm Down” by

Rema and Selena Gomez.

Throughout the four-hour-long event, three burgeoning artists were featured as part of the Doritos Extended Play Stage: Kaliii, Reneé Rapp and The Warning. Each performed twice, with brief renditions of their most popular songs. Tuesday’s show was also the first in VMA history to feature an entirely female lineup for Artist of the Year. Not only that, but women dominated the main categories in general, making up the majority of nominations for Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop and Best New Artist.

And of course, Taylor Swift swept the ceremony by a landslide, bringing home nine of her eleven total nominations, including the “crown jewel” of the VMAs: the Video of the Year award for her self-directed “Anti-Hero.” Other artists with many nominations included SZA with eight and Blackpink, Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus and Olivia Rodrigo with six each, although none won more than two awards.

Martha McPhee revisits her past and family in new memoir

By Alexandra Kline

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Martha McPhee is a successful fiction writer and has released seven books since her first book, “Bright Angel Time,” was released in 1997. She is also a creative writing professor of 21 years at Hofstra University on Long Island, New York. McPhee, born in 1964, grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, with four biological sisters. After her parents divorced, they both remarried someone with children, leading McPhee to become one of 14 children. McPhee later married Mark Svenvold, a poet and professor, and has two children.

On Tuesday, Sept. 12, McPhee released “Omega Farm: A Memoir.” At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, McPhee and her family moved into her old family home in New Jersey, fondly referred to as Omega Farm, to isolate and take care of her mother who has dementia.

In the memoir, she revisits her past over the span of a year and a half as she attempts to fix up her childhood home. She also struggles with her teenage son, fights against debt and pushes against the memories that Omega Farm brings up. McPhee describes her novel as a “story of going home again, but can you go home again? And what does it mean to go home again?”

Immediately, the reader is shoved straight into the story of McPhee and her family moving into Omega Farm and jumping into the memories of it all. McPhee gives a general description of what Omega Farm is, what

her childhood was like and what she does while there during the pandemic. As the story moves forward, she dives deeper into the details of her life in small pieces that go back and forth between the events of her childhood and the events of the pandemic.

The memoir is not in chronological order, which McPhee uses to her strength. At times, she will

go back to an event already described in an earlier section of the book to dive deeper into her revelations of the event, giving it a deeper meaning than before.

Readers experience these discoveries alongside McPhee, allowing them to resonate more deeply.

McPhee teaches journal writing at Hofstra University as one of her creative writing courses. She mentions in the memoir how her mother first urged her to journal when she was younger. Later, McPhee revisits the memory of her mother telling her to journal

and realizes that her mother was urging her not only to journal but also to find her voice.

McPhee continues to teach Hofstra students the importance of journaling and all of its uses because of what her own mother taught her.

“Omega Farm: A Memoir” has a journalistic feel to it that is appealing and intimate, even including a real entry from one of McPhee’s past journals.

At times, the events and memories of McPhee’s life can appear confusing, but it all comes together in the end as revelations and new details give the story new meaning. She still visits Omega Farm to help take care of her mother but with a new love and respect for her family home.

“Omega Farm: A Memoir” is a great memoir about a woman revisiting her childhood and understanding more about her past and herself in the process.

NSYNC reunited to give Taylor Swift the Best Pop Video Award.

McPhee’s new memoir evokes real emotions from readers.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra News

Photo courtesy of the New York Post

OPINION

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.

Shoplifting isn’t necessarily wrong

By Xavier Suggs

With the intention of not incriminating myself, I won’t regale you with any personal experiences of shoplifting, but I have seen many a person swipe a couple of groceries or stuff clothes into deep pockets. We’ve been taught all throughout our lives that stealing is wrong. I mean, the Eighth Commandment states, “Thou shalt not steal,” and in New York, shoplifting is classified as a misdemeanor which can carry a hefty fine. So shoplifting is wrong, right?

You could probably tell how I feel about shoplifting by the headline of this article. Shoplifting is a crime in name only, like how hopping a turnstile and jaywalking are crimes. They’re technically crimes, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from doing it. There are many reasons that people shoplift: maybe

you’re a kleptomaniac who can’t control your urges, maybe you get a thrill from it or maybe it’s just the most convenient thing to do.

Firstly, we must identify what shoplifting is and how widespread it is. I define shoplifting as discreetly taking a product that you plan to use from a store without paying for it. According to Capital One Shopping, over 9% of the US population, or over 29 million Americans, are shoplifters – so you’ll be in large company.

When you research shoplifting statistics and articles, you’ll find that most businesses conflate the petty and mostly non-confrontational crime of shoplifting with more serious and brazen crimes like violent smash-and-grabs and organized threats. They all get combined into the catch-all term of “organized retail crime.” Retailers have a vested interest in

drumming up moral panic about shoplifting to pressure lawmakers into enforcing harsher punishments and increased surveillance as well as justifying unpopular policies like locking up deodorant and toothpaste as a way to “deter shoplifters.”

The National Retail Federation estimated that only 0.07% of total sales are lost due to the broad crime of “organized retail theft” – hardly a drop in the bucket.

Shoplifting correlates heavily with age. The Office of Justice Programs found that about 67% of shoplifters are under the age of 30 with about 32% of those being teenagers or younger. I’m sure you’ve seen many of your peers shoplift, and I want you to ask yourselves, how many times have these incidents become violent?

An obvious justification for shoplifting is financial hardship that prevents a person from be-

ing unable to afford groceries. We often think about shoplifting as a personal trouble, a failing in an individual’s morality that allows them to shoplift. We don’t evaluate the social institutions that make basic needs inaccessible for many people. One of the most shoplifted goods is baby formula, and it paints a grim picture that such an essential product is so expensive and so scarce that people have to resort to stealing it. So, if you do have the money to buy the goods you need, should you still shoplift? Well, with how unfriendly superstores have become for the consumer, that answer becomes a bit more complicated. Inflation has caused normally affordable items to become overpriced, causing a strain on the consumer. Pair that with understaffed stores that result in workers having too many responsibili-

Viral fame isn’t worth dying for

ties to effectively help customers. And oh, the self-checkout lines – don’t get me started on the self-checkout lines! I mean, they’re practically begging you to shoplift. The only security is an inattentive teenage cashier checking their phone to see when their shift finally ends. But not all shoplifting is created equal. The right and wrong of shoplifting doesn’t come from what you’re stealing or how much you’re stealing but who you’re stealing from. You shouldn’t be shoplifting from your local markets and small businesses that are just trying to make a living. But the megafranchises and superstores are fair game. These companies don’t care about you, only your pockets, so why should you care about their profit margins?

Xavier Suggs is a sophomore sociology major.

By Thomas Saxa

Like many people my age, I often spend hours mindlessly scrolling through TikTok, as I think that some of the content on that app is fairly engaging and entertaining. However, I recently discovered a trend so bizarre and unsafe that it made me rethink my opinion of the entire culture of the app. This trend involved people who would film themselves simply chucking spears into moving cars, leading to property damage, injury and potential death. The fact that something so remarkably despicable can become so popular just goes to show that people will do anything for fame.

These cries for attention masquerading as content are really nothing new. From Evil Knievel motorcycle jumping over a canyon to Logan Paul casually filming a dead body,

people have been risking life, limb and jail time for the attention of the public. The problem we’re facing now is how much of a regular occurrence these are. It feels as though every month there’s a new way in which teenagers are making fools out of themselves.

The most well-known of these trends is the infamous “devious licks” trend, involving kids stealing various objects from schools. While it’s a straight-up illegal action, this trend’s hashtag got over 235 million views, according to CNN, costing millions in stolen goods in the process.

What really perpetuates this is the sad reality that many people find this type of content entertaining. Trends such as the ice cream licking challenge or the Benadryl challenge easily garner hundreds of millions of views. These unthinkable num-

bers tend to coerce people into performing these stunts, throwing their self-awareness out the window to potentially achieve their 15 minutes of fame.

A reason that these trends keep coming up is that the idea of fame is so enticing that people are blinded by the fact that very real damage can be done to them. Take the infamous blackout challenge, for example. This challenge involved people, usually minors, holding their breath to the point of losing consciousness. To anyone else, it would be a careless and inept action, but to children trying to achieve fame, it was just the right move. What seemed to them as a harmless trend naturally led to tragedy, being linked to about 20 deaths of minors.

It’s especially tragic because the creators who do find success from harmful trends don’t

achieve fame in the way they want. The comments on virtually all these videos are mocking and criticizing these creators – some large creators like Ray William Johnson are entirely dedicated to making fun of these kids. The kids expect to have their 15 minutes of fame, but when they get it, it’s filled with ridicule and contempt.

To be clear, I’m not criticizing the concept of viral trends. These trends, when done right, are generally harmless or even beneficial to Internet culture.

For example, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was a net positive in raising awareness for a great cause. It gave exposure to a disease that not many people knew of. A similar thing occurred with the rise of Robbie Rotten memes, allowing his actor, Stephan Karlsén, to get enough crowdfunding for his cancer treatment. While

these are trends that have had a positive outcome, most of them are more incredibly harmful like the ones we see now. With the rise of short-form user-based content, it’s inevitable that more and more of these trends will appear. The more trends there are, the more people must do to get attention, which will lead to content with disastrous consequences. Even people who do get a brief viral hit are mocked for a day and then fade back into obscurity. So please, instead of doing the new TikTok trend, just find another way to get viewers: it might just save your life.

Tom Saxa is a freshman film studies major who specializes in op-eds and hot takes. You can find him on Instagram @tbonesaxaphone or on Snapchat at tommysaxa.

Graphic by Makenzie Hurt / The Hofstra Chronicle

2. "The Twilight ___," classic sci-fi show

5. Musical inspired by a founding father

7. Popular autumn fruit

8. SpongeBob's best friend

10. Country currently attempting to change its name

11. Celebrities Grohl or Franco Down 1. Largest contributor to climate change 3. Italian espresso and gelato delicacy 4. Watch worn by James Bond

6. First name of pop singer who recently released the album "Guts" 8. "___, love and music," Woodstock's slogan 9. Color associated with love or anger

11. One who plays music at a party, abbrev

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.

Ashton Kutcher portrays a character on and off the screen

By Lilly Mullaney

TW: Mentions of sexual assault

Ashton Kutcher and his wife Mila Kunis have received major backlash since their letters supporting former “That ‘70s Show” co-star Danny Masterson were made public. Danny Masterson was convicted in May of raping two women in his home in the early 2000s. Kutcher and Kunis wrote letters to the judge in support of Masterson’s character in hopes of a lesser sentence for their friend. Fans of the show and the couple alike were shocked at the news of these letters –especially in Ashton Kutcher’s case, due to his ever-present media advocacy for women and sexual assault survivors alike. The bottom line is that celebrities are not always who they present themselves to be, and we, as the public, need to continue holding them accountable for their actions.

Kutcher co-founded the nonprofit Thorn with actress Demi Moore in 2009. Thorn is an anti-child sex abuse organi-

By Ryan Monke

zation that advocates for online safety as well as protecting children worldwide from sexual abuse. After the release of Kutcher’s letter, many are looking into the specifics of Thorn and questioning the organization itself due to a lot of vague information about its ongoings. Thorn’s board members defending sexual assault is very concerning for an anti-sexual abuse non-profit. People like this shouldn’t be trusted to save and protect endangered and abused children.

On Friday, Sept. 15, Kutcher stepped down from his position at Thorn and, in part of his release statement, said, “As you know, I have worked for 15 years to fight for people who are sexually exploited. Victims of sexual abuse have been historically silenced, and the character statement I submitted is yet another painful instance of questioning victims who are brave enough to share their experiences. This is precisely what we have all worked to reverse over the last decade.”

This apology seems ingenu-

It’s

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” If you’ve spent any time near the professional world, this is a phrase you’ve almost certainly heard. It’s a reminder of the importance of networking, but for many college students, this saying represents a major problem in the system of internships and work experience. College students are constantly reminded of the value a quality internship can carry through the industry experience it gives and the relationships it can foster. Yet, unpaid internships restrict many of these opportunities to only those students who can afford them, leaving students from lowincome backgrounds at a major disadvantage.

The ability to take part in an unpaid internship is a privilege that not everyone has. Looking

ine and dismissive of the harm he has done not only with the character statement but also his 25-year-long friendship with Masterson. Not only did the friendship not waver, but Kutcher also came to Masterson’s defense via character statements. His and Kunis’ apology was also released within days of the public reading his statement supporting Masterson. So how is anyone supposed to believe this complete change of heart on the subject?

Not to mention, Kutcher quoting his own statement as a “painful instance of questioning victims” shows his full capacity for understanding exactly what he did and the impact of his letter. Why would he write it in the first place? I would hope the founder of an anti-sexual abuse organization would know better than to question victims and write in direct support of a convicted rapist.

It is still unclear whether the couple knew that these statements would become public,

but many agree that they don’t think they would have written them if they knew they would be seen by more than just the judge, especially due to Kutcher’s position with Thorn. This character statement, along with his continued relationship with Masterson, makes Kutcher’s work with Thorn feel incredibly ingenuine. Since the release of the character statements, many people have taken it upon themselves to do a deep dive into Kutcher’s personal history. Kutcher and Kunis say they were close at the time of filming “That ‘70s Show,” and she really looked up to Kutcher as a “big brother” and “role model” on set and that years later they met again as adults before kindling their romance.

Yet when examining old interviews, there are many comments made about underage Kunis by Kutcher that are very uncomfortable and not very “big brother”-like. In one clip from “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” Kunis stated that, while filming their first on-screen

kiss, Masterson made a $10 bet with Kutcher that he would “slip her the tongue” since it was Kunis’ first kiss ever at 14 years old. Kutcher is also on tape saying the only reason he agreed to a certain interview was because Kunis, then 15, would be sitting on his lap. He also stated on television how he was “counting down the days” until Hillary Duff turned 18 when he was 24.

These frankly uncomfortable and inappropriate comments from Kutcher and Masterson make Kutcher’s future role as founder of Thorn and identity as “the good, nice guy” very questionable. They seem like a blatant cover-up for his past and current behavior. Kutcher’s inappropriate comments, along with his recent character statement in defense of Masterson, is a harsh reminder that celebrities aren’t always who they portray themselves as.

Lilly Mullaney is a senior journalism major with a minor in fine arts. You can find her on Instagram @Lillymullaneyy.

time to get rid of unpaid internships

at their summer prospects, students with deep bank accounts can feel free to explore all the opportunities an internship can offer. Sure, dedicating your time and effort to an internship that doesn’t pay is far from ideal; everyone wants to be paid for their work. But students coming from wealth can often shrug off this grievance. The glamorous internship that might boost them to the job of their dreams is too good of an opportunity to pass up. After all, they can ride the privilege of their family’s bank accounts for one more summer. However, while looking for summer internships, many students find themselves weighed down by financial responsibility. With the same aspirations as their classmates, students from less wealthy backgrounds cannot take advantage of the same opportunities. Not everyone can work for free. Countless

students need to keep working to pay their tuition or rent and sometimes help support their families. Confined to paid internships and jobs, many students are unable to accept an unpaid internship, running the danger of missing out on a key step of the ladder to success.

Of course, not all internships are unpaid. Paid internships allow students to take advantage of professional opportunities with fewer financial worries than an unpaid internship. Whether it is paid or not depends on the field and purpose of the internship.

The U.S. Department of Labor outlines the “primary beneficiary test” to determine whether interns at for-profit organizations are owed pay. If the employer gains most of the benefits from an intern, the intern is considered an employee and is entitled to compensation. However, if

the employer can argue that the intern benefits more, the employer has no obligation to pay them. Additionally, internships at nonprofits or organizations in the public sector are not required to pay their interns at all.

Put simply, the internships designed to be the most beneficial to the intern are often unpaid, leaving students who cannot afford the opportunity at a major disadvantage.

It’s important to take note of the recent efforts to pay interns who have previously been unpaid, primarily in the public sector. A 2018 tweet by US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DNY) called out her colleagues in Congress for not paying their interns as her office vowed to pay theirs. The White House recently boasted that all internship programs in the executive branch would be paid, a departure from the previous norm.

Yet, despite these efforts, unpaid internships are still painfully prevalent. According to PBS, 47% of interns in the U.S. in 2022 were unpaid.

Not only are students losing opportunities due to unpaid internships, but the internships are limiting their talent pool by not accommodating students who don’t come from wealth. If unpaid internships remain as common as they are, the impact of leaving low-income students at a disadvantage will continue to contribute to the lack of representation in the highest levels of various professional fields.

Ryan Monke is a sophomore journalism major. You can find him @rjmonke on Instagram.

Hofstra field hockey beats LIU 2-1 in double OT

By DJ Proctor SPECIAL

On Friday, Sept. 22, the Hofstra University field hockey team earned a dramatic victory at home in double-overtime against the Long Island University (LIU) Sharks by a score of 2-1. Beating the Sharks elevated the Pride to 4-4 on the season and 4-0 all-time against LIU.

“It’s really a battle of who can stay the most composed

yet take advantage of attack opportunities,” said Hofstra head coach Courtney Veinotte. “That second overtime period, that’s what we talked about. Their goalkeeper did a great job of challenging our circle play, so we should connect and connect early in the circle, and that’s exactly what that second overtime goal was.”

Despite the gray skies, a slow start on the attacking end didn’t make for a dreary day, for the field hockey team. Hofstra outshot LIU 7-5 but couldn’t get on the board throughout the first 45 minutes. During this time, freshman Hella Vorpagel held down in the net with three saves. The Hofstra offense dialed it up in the fourth quarter after a tenacious effort by the defense kept the contest tied at zero through three periods of play.

An unassisted goal by LIU’s

Emilce Paez saw a quick response by the Pride, as the offense capitalized on a penalty corner with their first goal of the game by forward Teresa Karoff. Karoff inbounded the ball to Jamie Mc Millan, whose pass to Tara McNally found Karoff open to score, tying the game with under a minute left in regulation.

“They executed a beautiful penalty corner that we scouted in pregame; it just showed the kind of discipline and fight we have in our team right now,” Veinotte said.

Through 15 minutes of overtime, the Pride fought their way to an opportunity in the middle of the field – a backhanded assist from forward Jaime Lewis spun captain Samantha Spera into her fourth goal of the season. Hofstra outshot LIU 12-9 and gained six penalty corners to LIU’s two.

Vorpagel ended with five saves.

“[The team is] very hard on themselves,” Veinotte said.

“They want more for this program, and they want to win.

It’s a fine balance beam to keep them hungry and motivated but also celebrate these really good opportunities. Our message after the game is to enjoy your family

and friends tonight, but back on Monday, we show up, and we’re back to work.”

The Pride will be back at home Friday, Sept. 29, at 3 p.m. to return to Coastal Athletic Association play against the Drexel University Dragons.

Hofstra has conceded one or fewer goals in all four of their wins this season.

Photo courtesy of Matteo Bracco

Carmichael’s brace secures win for Hofstra

By Arcangelo Iurato STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra University men’s soccer team defeated the College of William & Mary Tribe 2-1 at Hofstra Soccer Stadium in Hempstead, New York, on a rainy Saturday, Sept. 23. The Pride secured their first Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) win of the season and improve to 1-0-2 in CAA play. Their overall record improves to 6-1-2.

“As you can see, those were difficult conditions today,” said Hofstra head coach Richard Nuttall. “The ball was flying all over, but I’m super, super

proud of our boys and the way they stuck to the task. In the second half, there were times when I thought we were very good to almost brilliant in certain occasions.”

Striker Ryan Carmichael scored both Hofstra goals. His second arrived off a header in the 87th minute to win the game for the Pride. The assist was provided by midfielder Eliot Goldthorp. Carmichael initially gave the Pride the lead right on the hour mark off a long ball from goalkeeper Wessel Speel. The senior keeper was credited with a rare assist as the reigning CAA Player of the Year chipped it over Tribe goalkeeper Cole McNally to make the score 1-0.

Carmichael is the leading scorer for the Pride with seven goals and leads the CAA standings in individual scoring with 18 points through nine appearances. This was his second game-winner of the season.

“The first thing you’ve got to say about Ryan [Carmichael]

is that he’s a unique character,” Nuttall said. “Nothing seems to ever faze him. I think the second thing you have to say is that he’s an elite athlete who’s got a tremendous amount of ability. For me, I can’t see a better center-forward in college soccer than Ryan Carmichael.”

Hofstra allowed their conference rivals back into the match seven minutes after they took the lead, as a defensive error led to an equalizer. Tribe midfielder Ian Krajna took the ball away inside a dangerous area and scored into an open net as Speel wasn’t able to recover the loose ball.

“Hesitancy cost us that goal,” Nuttall said. “I think we just weren’t sure enough, but it was difficult conditions so the ball slides all over and I think the ball came off one of our players to present them a chance. Sometimes, that happens in these difficult conditions.”

Hofstra played the majority of the second half without center-back Bjorn van

Gorkom, who went down with an apparent knee injury in the first few minutes of play after intermission. Gorkom is one of seven graduate students on the roster and is a regular starter for Nuttall’s side.

“I don’t know a lot, I think it’s a soft tissue injury, hopefully,” Nuttall said. “Our trainer, Rob Sullivan, he’s one of the best I’ve ever seen, and he’s brilliant at bringing people back. If anyone can get him back playing, he will, and hopefully, it’s not as bad as it

may seem.”

Despite the tough weather conditions, the rare error at the back at a crucial stage of the game and an injury to one of their most experienced defenders, the Pride got back in the driver’s seat and snatched a notable victory to avoid a third consecutive tie to begin conference play.

“It’s a wonderful win to get us back in with a chance of getting in the top two or three in the conference,” Nuttall said.

Carmichael’s 36 Hofstra goals in his career is sixth most in program history.

Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman / Hofstra Athletics

Hofstra women’s soccer defeats UNCW 2-1 with late goal

By Marisa Dambach STAFF WRITER

On Sunday, Sept. 24, the Hofstra University women’s soccer team increased their unbeaten streak to seven in their 2-1 win over the UNCWilmington (UNCW) Seahawks in a Coastal Athletic Association matchup.

The Pride improve to 7-2-1 overall and 4-0-1 in conference play. UNCW dropped to 3-6-1 overall and 2-2-1 in conference play.

Seahawks midfielder Viktoria Hankova scored the opening

goal with an assist from forward Issy Bryant in the ninth minute. Hankova received the ball from Bryant on the right of the box and got behind Hofstra’s defense to fire a right-footed shot in the net. UNCW took the 1-0 lead.

The Pride responded all the way in the 54th minute. After a foul on Hofstra, midfielder Aimee Hodgson stood over the free kick. She sent a rightfooted curler into the box, where she found the head of midfielder Olivia Pearse, who redirected the ball into the back of the net for her second goal of the season.

Sophomore forward Mathilde Braithwaite scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute. Another sophomore forward, Thorhildur Thorhallsdottir, received the long ball and dribbled up the left flank before cutting toward the middle. Thorhallsdottir then played the ball across the box to a sprinting Braithwaite, who took one touch to put the ball in the back of the net for her first-

ever goal.

Graduate goalie Skylar Kuzmich also recorded two back-to-back saves: one in the bottom center in a shot from forward Kayla Burroughs and the other from Kenady Adams where she shot towards the top left.

The Pride finished with eight total shots and three on goal, while UNCW had six total shots and five on goal. Pearse and midfielder Dagny

Run Petursdottir led the team in shots with two each.

Kuzmich made four saves for the Pride, and UNCW goalkeeper Hanna Wise made one save on the afternoon.

Both teams finished with three corner kicks.

The Pride returns home on Thursday, Sept. 28, to face the College of William & Mary Tribe at the Hofstra Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m.

Hofstra volleyball suffers first CAA defeat of season

By Aaron Diaz STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra University volleyball team lost their second game of the season on Sunday, Sept. 24, against the Northeastern University Huskies in straight sets, putting their overall record at 13-2 and conference record at 3-1.

Although they defeated the Huskies the day before with a 3-1 score behind a stellar game from Clara Bal and her seasonhigh 20 kills, the Pride was just off the mark in their second

Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) matchup of the season.

The Pride failed to secure high stats in most categories, totaling only 12 kills from Izadora Stedile, four aces by Nil Kayaalp and three blocks in the entire game. Hofstra did hold each match close, losing within four points in all three sets.

In the first match, both teams were neck and neck. With a 9-8 lead, the Pride started to steer away and leave the Huskies behind, pushing to a 15-10 lead by kills from Stedile, Emily Nunes and Yagmur Cinel.

Hofstra maintained a 2018 lead until consecutive attack errors tied the game for Northeastern at 20-20. The Huskies capitalized and encapsulated multiple kills from Julianna Truscott and Defne Arliel to overtake the Pride 2523 in the first set.

Hofstra again had a quick head start in the second set, scoring quickly and staying one step ahead of the Huskies

off multiple kills. Northeastern geared up and used three attack errors and three kills from Arliel to take a 16-10 lead.

Since Northeastern had the upper hand, Hofstra made things interesting late in the set with Bal and Iyanna Garvin slamming a kill over the net to tie the game 22-22. However, Hofstra’s defense slipped yet again and let three straight attack errors cost them the match, 25-22.

With their backs against the wall, the Pride remained steady heading into the third set, keeping the pace with Northeastern. Hofstra again started off hot all the way to a 9-5 lead behind a Bal kill. The Huskies remained close behind, with help from a strong hand by Truscott and a depleting Hofstra defense.

A Stedile kill tied the game at 18-18, but multiple attack errors continued to bite the Pride back. Another attack error touched by Bal ended the set 25-21 for a 3-0

defeat.

Northeastern now stands at 7-5 overall and 3-1 in conference play. Arliel led the team with nine kills, and Nyla Shepard led the defense with six blocks.

Hofstra will head back home in their anticipated matchup against the reigning CAA champions, the Towson

University Tigers. The twogame series starts on Saturday, Sept. 30, with the serve set for 1 p.m.

Kuzmich posted 61 saves with a 0.735 save percentage this season.

Hofstra is 11-2-2 all-time against the Seahawks.

Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman / Hofstra Athletics

Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman / Hofstra Athletics

Photo courtesy of Ariel Fox

Braithwaite’s first career goal was the game winner for the Pride.

Albert Kang helping the Pride conquer the CAA once again

being a well-rounded player,”

Kang scored his first ever goal for the Pride in an away match against the Providence College Friars, doubling his side’s lead to 2-0 in the first half as they came away with a 4-2 victory. It was Kang’s best individual performance of the season as he also came away with an assist, totaling three points in one game. He then picked up two more points with an assist in back-to-back games against the University of Maryland Baltimore County and Campbell University. He accumulated five points in his first eight games and is fourth on the roster in terms of individual scoring.

Kang was one of six players to start each of the Pride’s first eight games of the season, playing all 90 minutes in the first four fixtures. His most significant stat has to do with playing time. He has totaled 675 minutes in eight matches and has the most minutes out of any midfielder on the roster, outlasting runnerup Eliot Goldthorp by 94 minutes. His endurance has been fascinating to witness.

“A lot of it is adrenaline,” Kang said. “You try to prepare yourself the best you can so that when you’re on the field, you feel good and fresh.”

Kang’s role on the field is to help create chances and occasionally contribute to the scoreline; however, most of his work is done on the technical side of the game, in aspects where many fans don’t see with the naked eye.

“One of my strengths is

Kang said. “I think that’s very important as a midfielder and in the system that we play. Having technical moments, moving the ball, getting assists and goals in the final third, but also doing the defensive work, picking up in the box, defending one-vone, picking up loose balls. I’d say that’s a strength of mine and something that’s highly emphasized at Hofstra.”

Nuttall has spoken highly of Kang’s fitness and athleticism, key aspects of being able to run for as long as he has in as many games as he has played. Nuttall, in his 35th season with the Pride, has called Kang a “terminator” and claimed he is “the fittest man you’ll ever see in your life.”

Two,” Kang said. “Being able to get 90 minutes under my belt week in and week out, that definitely helped build that foundation over the summer.”

Given all his strengths and abilities, Kang acknowledged some of the areas where he feels he needs improvement on the pitch.

“Some of my weaknesses are aerial duels,” Kang said. “Trying to win headers in the middle of the field, whether it’s a second ball or off a cross defensively or offensively. Also, trying to be more clinical in the final third. I’ve had a couple of chances that I definitely could’ve converted.”

Imperfection is a way of life. Kang has seen enough to recognize that there is no

After back-to-back titles, the team placed first in preseason polls.

well as how cut-throat college soccer can be. It’s about trying to find that level of consistency within a very hectic and chaotic schedule.”

Kang’s outlook on life has certainly been impacted by his

“One thing that I live by is that hard work pays off. There have been times where I felt like I really wasn’t going anywhere with soccer, but I just kept with it... I think it’s just the results of hard work, and I think that applies to all aspects of life.”

do that, it’d be nice to receive a home bid, being in the top-two of the CAA or to get the first-round bye. Second, to do well enough in the regular season to get an at-large bid in case we don’t win the CAA championship.”

Hofstra tied their opening two conference games of the season and are a bit behind pace but have time to catch up. Kang believes there’s a lot in store despite a slow start.

“I think we have the talent to go very deep in the NCAA tournament,” Kang said.

Kang credits his time with the Rough Riders for having the energy it takes to compete at the collegiate level. His efforts earned him the title of players’ player of the year in 2022, as voted on by his teammates.

“I was playing USL League

clear-cut answer to anything, but there are ways to handle tough situations.

While he’s enjoying his start to a short life at Hofstra, much of his experience comes from his time at Loyola Maryland, where he made 60 appearances and 36 starts throughout four years for the Greyhounds, including a shortened 2020 season.

“Everyone says this, but until you experience it you don’t really get it,” Kang said. “The season is so short. Days can feel long because of training, class, you’re fatigued, but you blink and you’re already in the playoffs, and your season’s over. I think the main thing is to enjoy every game and make sure you’re doing everything you can because it really does fly by so fast. That’s probably the biggest thing I learned over the four years at Maryland, as

time on the field, from playing as an undergraduate student at Loyola to playing for the Rough Riders and finally to playing as a graduate student for the Pride.

“One thing that I live by is that hard work pays off,” Kang said.

“There have been times where I felt like I really wasn’t going anywhere with soccer, but I just kept with it. I kept trying to work hard, and I got what most people would consider to be a lucky break, but I think it’s just the results of hard work, and I think that applies to all aspects of life.”

With only one year of eligibility, Kang plans to achieve as much as he can with the team. As they approach the midway point of the season, there are a couple of ideas in mind for the midfielder.

“Two main goals right now,” Kang said. “First one: win the CAA championship. In order to

“Whether that’s the Sweet 16 or the Elite Eight, or even winning it all. I think this team has the potential; we just need a click.” Kang has already shown the ability to make a difference. He looks forward to helping the Pride reach its main objective and beyond. Even the smallest victories on the pitch for Kang have helped determine the overall product for Hofstra men’s soccer. With many more games to be played this season, the future looks bright for a young man on the tail-end of a memorable collegiate career.

Kang is one of seven graduate students on the Pride men’s soccer team this season.

Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman/Hofstra Athletics

Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman / Hostra Athletics

Volleyball’s front row is killing the game

By Aaron Diaz and Michelle Rabinovich STAFF WRITER AND SPORTS EDITOR

The Hofstra University volleyball team has had a redhot start to the season, posting a 13-2 overall record and going 3-1 in league play. To those that have been watching the team for some time, it comes as a stark contrast to the start they had last year, going 5-8 and 2-0 in the same first month stretch of the season.

After turning their season around with a historic 12-game winning streak, their 2022 season ultimately ended in a brutal five-set upset in last year’s conference championship. That means for the 2023 season, head coach Emily Mansur wanted change.

Line item number one for Mansur’s squad: better communication.

“We knew last year we were not good at [communicating]; one of our big downfalls was not necessarily our communication, but our presence,” Mansur said. “When things were good, we were very good; when things got tough, we were very quiet, so this is something that, from the beginning, we made a priority to get better.”

Enter Clara Bal, Yagmur Cinel and Izadora Stedile: the team’s top three offensive players, thrust into the spotlight with their repeat appearances on the stat sheets.

“We always like to play and practice out loud,” Stedile said. “Even with communication, which we sometimes struggle with, we like to have open communication, so we can build on that during practice.”

balanced last season with 240 kills and 182 digs, is “ready to kill” coming into this season.

“I think it’s going to be much better this year,” Cinel said. “We are still early in the season, so it’s too early to say, but I do feel very confident. I think this is going to be the year that we are [going to] dominate.”

Cinel also has versatility at the forefront of her mind.

Bal took being communicative and expressive to the next level – the next decibel level, to be specific.

“Being loud is part of my personality, especially at practice, and I think it gives

“I also want to try and do a couple of more things besides kills, like service aces and blocking,” she said. “Try to expand on everything, I hope.”

Something that all three of the attackers have in common is that they know how to be held accountable for the environment

me, they trust me in return, and that helps me trust myself.”

In Cinel’s case, she sees that having that trust motivates everyone to be better.

“We’re together a lot, and of course we want to win, it’s fun to win,” Cinel said. “We are just so ready to go for it, so even the little things we do inside and outside of practice motivates us.”

Bal, who had a career-high in kills this past Saturday, Sept. 23, knows that this trust goes hand-in-hand with her ability to go beyond her limits.

“When I’m playing, I know that I don’t limit myself to one type of hitting, and I think that makes me better in

“I think the really cool thing about this offense is that it’s about everyone ... It’s all of [the players], and that, I think, is what is going to help us be successful this season.”

another taste to practice,” Bal said. “When [spectators] come to our games, they probably think I’m extremely loud, but it also creates this energy for the team.”

Last year, the Pride sat and watched their conference rival, the Towson Univeristy Tigers, win their fourth consecutive conference championship. Right after, Hofstra witnessed one of its best players in the 2022 season transfer to the Tigers during the offseason.

“I think [Zyare Abdul-Rahim] was for sure a big part of this team,” Mansur said. “Just like any player that transfers or leaves, they take with them whatever it is that they bring into our program. So the day that she came in [and] said, ‘Hey, I’m going to leave,’ our focus was [instantly], ‘Hey, what do we need to fill that hole?’”

With a huge role to fill, Bal, Stedile and Cinel all have their different ways of coming together on the front row.

Cinel, who had a well-

they’re in.

“We, as hitters, take more responsibility, putting the team on our shoulders; it’s important that we have to take accountability and responsibility on the court,” Bal said. “We don’t blame each other for mistakes, we take accountability. Not every set is going to be perfect, not every pass is going to be perfect, but as we say on the court, we always try to better the ball that was touched before.”

Being louder and a more versatile player isn’t everything, though. Sometimes it comes down to how a person feels about their own game. For Bal, knowing that she has her teammates’ trust is what reassures her on gameday.

“I feel like since I trust the people around me so much, and in return they trust me, [so] it really helps me trust myself too,” Bal said. “It’s this trust where we all know that we have someone to back us up if we’re not having our best day. This is by trusting the people around

different environment.

“Personally, I’m more motivated this year,” said Stedile. “Because last year, I was seeing how things go, making sense on how everything works. It’s very different from the way we play back at home, and now I’m more into the game, and having connections with my teammates makes everything better too.”

As the team continues to steamroll through the season, with multiple win streaks on their resume, the Pride continues to build the mindset of sharing the wealth, further bolstering Mansur’s confidence.

“We don’t depend on one person,” she explained. “It’s not just one player, it’s three or four players at all times which gives everybody a chance to be better, because it’s not just depending on one person to get kills.”

Something that Mansur particularly relies on is the team’s “volleyball IQ,” as she put it, specifically to compensate for their lack of height.

general,” Bal said. “I felt like my repertoire [grew]; there’s a different type of trust between players, especially the attackers. I have this freedom of hitting new shots or something that is sometimes a little risky because I know if I miss, the person after me is [going to] put the ball in and still be aggressive.”

The general consensus: when you feel good, you play well; when you play well, your confidence builds. That’s where this team is right now, as confident as ever. But that doesn’t show up from nowhere – Mansur is also part of that confidence.

“[Coach] motivates us a lot, and I think we have a pretty unique communication with Emily,” Cinel said. “When you have those tough moments, she understands and motivates you personally. It’s good to have that good communication with your coach.”

With that confidence also brings a new aspect to the players’ personal game, as they’re more comfortable in a

“We are very short, we are a little bit undersized, which means we just have to be a little bit more efficient and faster,” Mansur said before chuckling. “Where we have made the decisions of maybe not going for so much height but more of volleyball IQ. This is the smallest that we have ever been, but they are playing really well.”

Team effort is important when every person clocks in.

“If I see a teammate playing the same position as me, creating more [scoring opportunities] or being efficient or working really hard, it’s going to push myself to work harder,” Bal said. “It creates this environment of good competition between the players; we compete in a healthy way.”

“I think the really cool thing about this offense is that’s about everyone,” Mansur said. “It’s about Bea [Alves], who is our setter. It’s about both of our liberos. It’s all of [the players], and that, I think, is what is going to help us be successful this season.”

Despite winning back-to-back titles, Hofstra was ranked third in the preseason CAA poll.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE

September 26, 2023

C limb to the t op 25

Hofstra men’s soccer enters national rankings amidst seven-match unbeaten streak.

Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman / Hofstra Athletics