The Hofstra Chronicle, October 31, 2023

HEMPSTEAD, NY

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE

INFORMED SINCE

Hofstra students say ‘Hi, Barbie’ during screening in Pride Park

By Lily Spinda

NEWS EDITOR

On Friday, Oct. 27, Hofstra students dressed in their glamorous pinks and snuggled close

to the firepits in Pride Park as they watched this summer’s sensational hit movie “Barbie.” The showing was one of the many Movie in Pride Park events hosted by the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement (OSLE). This is OSLE’s second annual year hosting these movie screenings.

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‘1989

TUESDAY

October 31, 2023

(Taylor’s Version)’ re-ignites pop royalty A&E

By Aidan Judge ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Few artists could find a seamless way to connect items like Polaroids, seagulls and pen clicks. In 2014, music industry topliner Taylor Swift did just that while transforming her career into an eclectic, synth-

SPORTS

infused pop masterclass with the release of “1989.” Before the release of the Grammy-awardwinning record, Swift flirted with unique, distinct genres as she began to progress into a fully-fledged pop star (songs like “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and “22” from her previous album tested the pop waters with her loyal country audience). Nine years to the day of the original release of “1989,” Swift has taken back her iconic record with “1989 (Taylor’s Version).”

When Swift first announced that her first six albums would be re-recorded in 2019 to gain ownership of her master recordings, doubt and disbelief shrouded the minds of music critics, fans and other artists in the field. After receiving encouragement

Women’s soccer eliminated in CAA semifinals

By Marisa Dambach STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra University women’s soccer team lost to the Monmouth University Hawks 2-1 in overtime in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) semifinal at the Hofstra Soccer Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29. The Hawks move on to the championship while Hofstra finishes their season.

“Tough one. I thought we played well, especially the first half,” said Hofstra head coach Simon Riddiough.

“I thought we created enough chances to put the game away, but when you don’t, there are teams that are good enough, especially at this level, to manipulate the situation and find themselves back in the game. That’s what Monmouth did. We changed systems, we adjusted, and they had one really good chance, and they put the game to a tie. Today wasn’t our day. Proud of the team but disappointed in the result, but that’s

the play of soccer.”

The Pride kicked off the scoring first as they scored 22 minutes in. Sophomore midfielder Millie Davies took a left-footed shot from outside the box that soared in and bounced off the crossbar.

Sophomore forward Thorhildur Thorhallsdottir collected the rebound before taking a touch toward the center of the six-yard box and then shooting the ball back in the opposite direction past the keeper and scoring. This marked Thorhallsdottir’s fourth goal of the season.

In the 76th minute, Monmouth scored their first goal to tie the game. Off a throw-in, freshman midfielder Liza Suydam went around a defender and fired a shot into the upper far corner of the net to tie the game up 1-1. This was Suydam’s seventh goal of the season.

Hofstra had a chance to end the game with a win in the 80th minute as sophomore midfielder Aimee Hodgson put up a shot, but it wasn’t on goal, launching the two squads into overtime.

The first overtime period resulted in a 1-1 stalemate. The second overtime period held a different story.

The Hawks’ game-winner came in the 107th minute.

Senior defender Chloe Ferreira found sophomore forward Summer Reimet running into the box. Reimet took the ball around graduate goalkeeper Skylar Kuzmich and shot the ball into the net for the winning goal. This was Ferreira’s third assist and Reimet’s third goal of the season.

Hodgson had a shot following Reimet’s goal to try and tie up the game again, but her shot went out top, giving Monmouth

to re-record her material from fellow pop music professional Kelly Clarkson, Swift turned the “Taylor’s Version” project into a musical marvel that had never been seen before. Beginning with the release of “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” in 2021, Swift’s re-recording project blasted her into super-stardom similar to what she had achieved in 2014, when “1989” took her name to the top of the charts three separate times with “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space” and “Bad Blood.” It was no doubt that Swift had massive shoes to fill with “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” After a highly anticipated fouryear wait, Swift’s second attempt at “1989” is unfortunately a bit underwhelming in some areas but excels in others.

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the 2-1 win.

Both teams finished with 12 total shots. Hofstra had four on goal while Monmouth had three. Kuzmich finished with two total saves. Opposing junior goalkeeper Cassie Coster also had two for the Hawks.

Fouls were prevalent in the game as Hofstra had 19 total fouls and Monmouth had 17. Davies was also issued a yellow card for the Pride in the 64th minute.

The Pride finished their season with an overall record of 12-5-1 and a CAA record of 9-2-1. The two-time defending CAA champions are out of the playoffs while Monmouth moves on to play Towson in the championship.

The game was Hofstra’s first-ever loss to Monmouth.

Photo courtesy of courtesy of Evan Bernstein / Hofstra Athletics

Taylor Swift is expected to sell over one million units of “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” in the album’s first week.

Barbie (Margot Robbie) drives out of Barbieland with Ken (Ryan Gosling).

Photo courtesy of People

Photo courtesy of courtesy of Rolling Stone

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Business Manager Moriah Sukhlal

News Editors Moriah Sukhlal Lily Spinda

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A&E Editor Aidan Judge

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Students favor ‘Barbie’ over Halloween-themed screening

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For many of the students in the audience, this was not their first time watching “Barbie.”

“…[Barbie] is a movie I genuinely have enjoyed and have been meaning to watch again but have not had the time to,” said Alison Briskie, a junior forensic science major with a minor in criminology. “Having the opportunity to watch it again for free outside with my friends sounded like such a fun time and great night.”

This was the second time watching the movie for Emilee Haney, a freshman Spanish major with a pre-med concentration. “For me, there’s a lot of nostalgia tied to this movie, as I grew up playing with Barbies. I like that although it’s a lighthearted film, it’s also empowering,” Haney said.

Students danced the night away as the opening scene aired on the projector, starring Barbie (Margot Robbie) and her crew in Barbieland. Some students sat

near the firepits to warm up and get cozy, while others sat on the lawn, sharing blankets with their friends. A few students were dressed in shirts that said “Hofstra” in the iconic Barbie font.

“The popcorn was lovely, the fire was wonderful and the shirts were a great touch. I’d love to see more events like this closer to Thanksgiving break or in the spring semester when it gets warmer,” said Lee Cusack, a freshman audio/radio and production major with minors in LGBTQ studies and information systems.

Some students noticed that last Friday’s movie choice for this month was only a couple of days away from Halloween, yet Barbie is a far pick from a Halloween-themed movie.

“We had planned to host a Halloween-themed movie,” said Taylor Maultz, the associate director of Student Leadership and Engagement. “Barbie was originally scheduled to be shown earlier in October. Because it was doing so well

Ski Mask The

By Jasmine Sellars STAFF WRITER

Music Fest came to life on Friday, Oct. 20, with exhilarating performances from headliner Ski Mask The Slump God along with cupcakKe, Official X and The Nice Guys, femdot. and CIV. Organized and hosted by Hofstra Concerts, the celebration took place in the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex, featuring a variety of songs and dance presentations for students and their guests to enjoy.

in theaters, the release date for streaming was pushed out, and that pushed back the date of our screening.”

“I would love to see more themed movies that correlate with the time of year,” Briskie said. “For example, around the holidays, it would be cute to put on a classic Christmas movie to watch.”

Other students were relieved to see a non-Halloween-themed event. According to Cusack, who is not the biggest fan of Halloween or horror movies, they were “incredibly excited to see Barbie.”

“There’s already a lot of events around campus showing Halloween-themed movies … Showing the Barbie movie was a breath of fresh air compared to all the Halloweentown marathons and such,” Cusack said.

“We are still working out the best way to select movies,” Maultz said. “Currently, we work with a movie distribution company that provides us with box office statistics and release

dates. From there, we work as a team to select movies and dates based on our events calendar and the availability of highlyrated films.”

As the winter season approaches and the weather gets colder, there comes a conflict in scheduling more movies in Pride Park.

“Our Movie in Pride Park series is ending due to the colder months approaching. While we don’t have any more movies scheduled for this fall, we do plan to resume the movie screenings in the spring,” Maultz said.

With the upcoming movie screenings in the spring, some students hope for more seasonal movies with a wider genre.

“Personally, I would love to see more light-hearted comedy movies or movie musicals,” Briskie said.

For more updates on “Movie in Pride Park” events, visit the Hofstra events webpage.

Slump God headlines Music Fest

The concert included a heartfelt setlist from Ski Mask, who commemorated his late friends and fellow rappers XXXTENTACION and Juice WRLD.

XXXTENTACION, formally known as Jahseh Onfroy, was murdered in a shooting in June 2018. Juice WRLD, also known as Jarad Anthony Higgins, died after an accidental overdose of painkillers in Dec. 2019.

“For our setlist, usually we do a tribute to X and Juice,” Ski Mask said. “Then we also want to play the nostalgic songs that people usually know and mix it up with some new stuff. No one else would really have the say to play X and Juice songs and have people vibe out to it in the way I can because I was really close to them. So we’re the best people to do it.”

“My favorite part had to be

[the] start of Ski Mask’s set when he was paying homage to X and Juice WRLD,” said Maria Moreno Suarez, a senior Latin American and Caribbean studies major. “They were a big part of my middle and high school life, and you don’t really hear their music anymore, so I thought that was beautiful.”

“My favorite song that X and Ski Mask made together is ‘Take A Step Back’ because I used to be a big fan of theirs,” said Olamide Oluwafemi, a junior nursing major. “The energy between that song and ‘Look At Me’ was unmatched and so memorable.”

Ski Mask is an American rapper who gained recognition after forming the hip-hop duo Members Only with XXXTENTACION in 2014. His third mixtape as a solo artist, “Beware the Book of Eli,” peaked at No. 6 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the US Top R&B/ Hip-Hop Albums in 2018. His setlist of the night featured hits such as “Catch Me Outside,”

“BabyWipe,” “Faucet Failure,” “Unbothered,” “Carbonated Water” and countless others.

“CupcakKe set the tone, and Ski Mask showed his respects to X and Juice WRLD and all of their fans,” said Kevin Sikanartey, a sophomore marketing major.

CupcakKe’s astonishing performance left the Hofstra crowd in a frenzy, with her popular hits like “Deepthroat,” “Cpr,” “Duck Duck Goose,” “Vagina,” “Old Town Hoe” and more. The rapper captivated students (and probably stunned public safety officers) with her fierce and sensuous lyricism, which was flooded with messages of sexual liberation.

“I am proud of everything I do,” cupcakKe said. “I let the public do what they do. I know that everything I put my time into is worth the attention every time. What the public chooses is what they choose. I know that everything I do is to the best of

Hofstra’s 2023 Music Fest kicked off with several artists, including Hofstra student OfficialX.

Lindsey Lolkema / The Hofstra Chronicle

Bestselling author and editor visits Hofstra

By Giovanni Salsa STAFF WRITER

Hofstra University’s 20th Annual Great Writers, Great Readings series hosted Adrienne Brodeur, author of “Wild Game” and “Little Monsters,” on Monday, Oct. 23. This Great Writers event was hosted by Hofstra’s English department and the Cultural Center and curated by Professor Martha McPhee. The event was hosted in two parts, the first at Hofstra Hall where students were given the oppor-

During the event, Brodeur opened by reading aloud an excerpt from her novel, “Little Monsters.” She read the opening, which was from the perspective of the character Adam, a whale scientist on the verge of turning 70 who wants to crack the code of whale language.

“Adrienne Brodeur’s reading was beautiful; both the words and her dialect were gorgeous. She answered questions so thoughtfully. It was a pleasure to attend,” said Valerie Langlois, a

director of the coming-of-age film “Edge of Seventeen,” Kelly Fremon Craig. There is little information on the development of the project as of now, but fans of the memoir are waiting in anticipation for the feature adaptation.

Brodeur also founded the literary magazine Zoetrope: All Story with the acclaimed filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, the director of “The Godfather” and a Hofstra alum.

When asked about the

“Brodeur also founded the literary magazine Zoetrope: All Story with the acclaimed filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, the director of ‘The Godfather’ and a Hofstra alum.”

tunity to personally ask Brodeur questions. The second and main event was hosted in the Guthart Cultural Center Theater where Brodeur took part in a Q&A.

Brodeur is an American author and editor, having worked on publications such as The New York Times, Vogue and O, The Oprah Magazine. Brodeur celebrated the recent release of her novel, “Little Monsters,” which was released in June. The novel is a culmination of characters, each having their own segment and voice to tell their story. The story is a tale about family drama, secrets and Brodeur’s comfort setting of Cape Cod.

senior filmmaking major.

“I liked that she opened up by reading the opening to her book. The event was very fun and engaging,” said Cameron Trotter, a junior filmmaking major.

Brodeur’s best-selling memoir “Wild Game” talks about her childhood and being caught up in the midst of her mother’s major secret. The book centers around the idea of keeping secrets and how if they are not maintained and tended to, they will be uncovered. It is a personal story about her childhood and the experiences that resonated with her.

A Netflix adaptation of “Wild Game” is in the works by the

multiple points of view within her novel “Little Monsters,” Brodeur responded, “We had a moment of wondering why we started with Adam, but Adam just demanded to be on the page early. It’s interesting because, at one point during the revision process, the book isn’t any one character’s book, but if you had to say it was a particular character, it is more of Abby’s book.”

Throughout the event, Brodeur displayed a deep commitment and care for her characters, and she mentioned that she has conversations with them to help develop their personalities and storylines.

Hofstra English department professor Martha McPhee (left) with author Adrienne Brodeur (right).

Giovanni Salsa / The Hofstra Chronicle

Hofstra panelists emphasize need for gun control

By Megan Naftali STAFF WRITER

On Wednesday, Oct. 25, Hofstra University’s Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) held a panel discussion titled “Empowering Change: Long Island’s Call for

Safety and a former deputy police commissioner for Suffolk County, talked about how certain legislations aided law enforcement in reducing gun violence.

In 2019, former New York

public safety to file an ERPO to prevent students from purchasing or carrying guns, according to Skopek.

and that was of mass shootings that happened in affluent white communities,” Contreras said.

“I felt that the violence that was happening every day to Black and Latino communities and communities that are underserved financially is going under the radar.”

This prompted Contreras to create Youth Over Guns to raise awareness of gun violence in Black and Latinx communities because he believes the first step to combating the epidemic is coming together as a community.

violence, which can have longlasting effects.

“Collective trauma differs from individual trauma in the sense that collective memory persists beyond the lives of a direct survivor of the events and is remembered by group members that are removed from the terrible event in time and space,” Brown said. “The effects of such experiences may be devastating and life-changing for generations to come.”

Students involved in CCE who have an interest in advocacy attended the discussion. Leah Wrazin, a junior political science major with minors in criminology and civic engagement and the president of Hofstra University Students Demand Action, helped set up the event.

Gun Control.”

That same day, a gunman fatally shot 18 people and injured 13 more during a shooting spree at two locations in Lewiston, Maine, which became North America’s eighth and most deadly mass shooting this year, according to The New York Times.

Each of the three panelists discussed important aspects in trying to combat the gun violence epidemic plaguing the United States from law enforcement, community and education perspectives.

James Skopek, the director of operations at Hofstra Public

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) legislation into effect, also known as the Red Flag Law. The law allows courts to issue an ERPO, which temporarily prevents people who pose a threat to themselves or others from buying or possessing firearms.

Police, district attorneys, school administrators, health care practitioners, family and household members can file a petition with the state Supreme Court if the person is believed to be a threat to themselves or others. The law extends to campuses, so faculty can work with

“You cannot be reactive,” Skopek said. “You have to be proactive in the world we live in today.”

“If you are looking at the news today, and you are upset, sad or angry about the war happening overseas, then know that there are bullets flying in many communities across our country,” Contreras said. “There are wars happening in our communities, and children are losing their lives because there’s not enough support for the right programs to be funded or the right pieces of legislation to be passed. The way we change that narrative is by organizing and going out to vote.”

Joel Brown, an assistant

“This can happen to any of us at any moment,” Wrazin said. “My mom is almost 70, and she talks about what I would do if I go to work and there’s a shooter. I worked in a biomedical lab in a building made of glass. Not only did we have worries with infectious diseases that we handled, but we also had to think about what we would do if

“There are wars happening in our communities, and children are losing their lives because there’s not enough support for the right programs to be funded or the right pieces of legislation to be passed. The way we change that narrative is by organizing and going out to vote.”

Ramon Contreras, the founder of advocacy group Youth Over Guns, enforced the idea that people within their communities need to join forces to combat gun violence. When Contreras was in high school, an 18-yearold classmate was fatally shot in the chest on his way home from a party. A few months later, the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, occurred.

“As the country was seeing a rise in advocacy and finally paying attention to the issue of gun violence, I noticed that there seemed to be only one perspective that is being told

professor in the counseling and mental health professions department at Hofstra, talked about how becoming more educated on the topic of gun violence, especially when it comes to misconceptions about mental health, is significant.

“The first myth I want to debunk is that gun violence is a mental health issue. That’s not true,” Brown said. “Individuals with mental health challenges are far more likely to be the victim of gun violence than the perpetrator.”

Brown stated that an entire community can be affected by a traumatic episode of gun

somebody [came] in or there’s a shooter on the roof. You kind of feel like a victim of society and also like a potential victim at any moment.”

Paris Martinovich, a senior criminology major and CCE fellow, urged students to continue the discussion outside of the panel.

Martinovich advised students to “be active citizens to contribute to their local, national and global communities and to continue the conversation outside of these doors about how we can understand these issues and how they relate to our lives.”

From left to right: Will Germaine, a senior community health major with a minor in chemistry; Joel Brown, an assistant professor in the counseling and mental health professions department at Hofstra; Ramon Contreras, the founder of advocacy group Youth Over Guns; and James Skopek, the director of operations at Hofstra Public Safety and a former deputy police commissioner for Suffolk County.

Megan Naftali / The Hofstra Chronicle

my ability.”

Students sang their hearts out to a talented Music Fest line up

CupcakKe, an American rapper and singer, rose to prominence with her second mixtape “Cum Cake” in 2015. She is most recognized for her unapologetic lyrics, hypersexualized music and assertive persona.

“I feel like ‘Grilling N****s’ is the best song for people to listen to if they’re new to my music,” cupcakKe said. “It’s just a hype song, and it’s for both females and guys. You can just turn that bitch up.”

“Each performer at Music

Fest set the mood for the next, but cupcakKe’s lyrics and the faces of people who have never heard her music before was the highlight of the night,” Suarez said.

The festival also welcomed OfficialX, also known as Xavier Bell, who is a junior music business major at Hofstra and the lead rapper of the band OfficialX and The Nice Guys. The band’s setlist included popular songs such as “Stomp,” “Love & Affection,” “Locked In,” “Sum Slight” and many more. “I felt very empowered and confident on stage. Hearing all

of those screams and cheers just did something to me, it was a feeling I can’t explain,” OfficialX said.

“I loved OfficialX’s performance. My favorite song from the show was ‘Throw It Back,’” said Shenelle Miller, a senior marketing major. “He did such a great job, and I’m so proud of him.”

The Hofstra Concerts team was also a crucial part of the planning stage for the festival and aimed to create an inclusive and entertaining experience for both students and guests. The long-awaited appearances from

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 non-student was banned from campus, and the two students were issued referrals to CS for their actions.

corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

Ski Mask and cupcakKe were postponed in May after weather conditions led to the original show’s cancellation.

“Working as the hospitality chair for Music Fest was an experience I will never forget,” said Lily Anzalone, the hospitality chair for Hofstra Concerts.

“We’ve been working on this event for a long time since it was rescheduled, and as a team, we are so proud of what we accomplished not only for us but for the student body as well.”

To close the dynamic performances, Ski Mask and cupcakKe left motivational mes-

sages for students, musicians and supporters alike.

“Stay consistent. Weigh your options as best as possible. And just know that in 2023, most of the things a label can do, you can do for yourself,” cupcakKe said.

“Finish whatever you’re doing. If you’re in school, finish that,” Ski Mask said. “Find something that you really like … all it takes is practice and actually doing it. I’m a really big believer of karma, and I think whatever you put in is what you get out.”

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.

Public Safety Briefs

Compiled by Moriah Sukhlal

On Oct. 23, at 6:10 a.m., a Plant employee reported to PS that they discovered damage to the brick wall by the law school ramps.

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

an HU student reported to PS that they parked their vehicle in the Hagedorn Hall parking lot in the morning. Upon return, the student discovered that the passenger front door had a dent. Police assistance was declined at the time.

light pole lens fell off of the

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 non-student was banned from campus, and the two students were issued referrals to CS for their actions.

On Oct. 20, at 12:14 p.m., PS responded to Margiotta Hall on a call that a ball accidentally struck the north side glass door, causing it to break.

On Oct. 24, at 1:40 p.m., two witnesses observed a vehicle, identified as vehicle two and registered to an HU student, hitting another parked vehicle, identified as vehicle one and also registered to an HU student. This caused damage to the left quarter panel and bumper of vehicle one. Hempstead Police Department was notified.

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 Oct. 21, at 8:48 a.m., the fire alarm in Suffolk Hall was activated due to an unknown reason in the RA office. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated within five minutes without incident. PS, Plant and the UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On Oct. 25, at 7:59 a.m., an HU student reported to PS that their bicycle was stolen from the bike rack at the rear of the Axinn Library sometime between Thursday, Oct. 19, and Tuesday, Oct. 24. Police assistance was declined at the time.

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.

Three students were referred to the CS for their actions.

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 Oct. 22, at 5:52 p.m., an HU employee reported to PS that there were unauthorized flyers posted on the wall outside of the Netherlands core. The flyers were removed, and an investigation is being conducted into the matter.

truck and struck a vehicle that was driven by an HU student, causing minor damage to the front of their vehicle. There were no injuries, and police assistance was declined at the time.

On Oct. 25, at 9:32 p.m., while conducting a search of Hampton House during an activated fire alarm, the smoke detector in a room was found to be wrapped up in a plastic bag.

On Oct. 25, at 9:53 p.m., the fire alarm in Hampton House was activated due to haircare products. 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 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 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 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 Oct. 22, at 12:14 a.m., the fire alarm in Bill of Rights Hall was activated due to hair products in a room. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated within two minutes without incident. PS, Plant and the UFD responded to the location. The situation was

On Oct. 25, at 8:18 a.m., an HU employee reported to PS that an unknown person attempted to gain entry to their vehicle that was parked in Hagedorn Hall but was unsuccessful. The suspect unplugged the vehicle from the electric vehicle charging station and left the area on foot. An investigation is being conducted into this matter.

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 alarm was reset.

On Oct. 25, at 11:12 a.m.,

On Oct. 25, at 3:15 p.m., an HU student reported to PS that they parked their vehicle in the Netherlands South parking lot around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24, while returning to their dorm room. Around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25, they saw a post on Snapchat stating that the alarm of a vehicle matching the description of their car had been going off. The student checked on their vehicle and discovered that their windshield had been broken in three places and the engine would not start. An investigation is being conducted into this matter.

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.

On Oct. 25, at 4:42 p.m., an HU Plant employee reported to PS that while traveling eastbound on Hempstead Turnpike,

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

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

a

Hofstra

Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle

FEATURES

Personal essay: My concert-going mission

By Zoe Casselman FEATURES EDITOR

One of the first real concerts I ever attended was to see Alex G in June 2022 for my friend’s 20th birthday. I had little idea who Alex G was at the time, my only association with the name being one that came up on the music player in my friend’s car every so often.

He was the opener for a different artist’s show, but the second he came out on stage, picked up his guitar and started singing, I was a different person. The sound and the lyrics completely mesmerized me.

After just the first song, I leaned over to my friend and asked him who was playing so I wouldn’t forget. I knew I wouldn’t – I was so moved –but something in me told me I had to make sure. I wrote the name in eyeliner on my arm. In retrospect, I definitely could have just looked it up after, but it felt so unbelievably important in the moment to inscribe it on myself so I remembered.

At home after the show, the first thing I did was look up Alex G, lay in my bed and listen to as much of his discography as I could before I fell asleep, but nothing compared to hearing it live.

That summer, the same friend introduced me to the Ohio hardcore scene, which is very different from the concert experience of Alex G. I didn’t yet know much about hardcore artists, music or the culture, but it was another opportunity to go to a live show, so I was more than willing.

I went to a couple of smaller shows with him beforehand, but the first big hardcore show I went to was this past summer at Ace of Cups in Columbus, Ohio, just a short walk away from Ohio State University.

Hardcore shows are a bit different from your average concert, since there are often four or five bands on the lineup and their sets are usually only about 30-45 minutes. I discovered the opener for this show myself a couple

of months prior, so I was wildly excited to see them live, practically trembling in my cargo pants waiting in line.

At hardcore shows, once you actually get into the venue, the show likely won’t start for another hour or so, something my friend affectionately deems

stage, the energy was entirely different. It was like everyone in the room had suddenly been struck with live wire and the only way to not be electrocuted was to yell and mosh and go absolutely insane. So we did.

To this day, that is one of the most fun shows I have ever been

The Ohio hardcore scene is vibrant, close-knit and so involved, so whether you’re seeing a show in Cincinnati, Columbus or even Cleveland, you are bound to see at least one familiar face.

It took me a while to find it, but I have learned the Brooklyn and Long Island hardcore scene

“No matter if I’m in Ohio or New York, if it’s an indie show or a hardcore one, I always feel the same way after a concert: small.”

“running on punk time.” We were some of the first people into the building right as the doors opened, so we secured a spot directly front and center, the top of the stage just lower than our chests. We waited, aimlessly talking amongst ourselves and other concertgoers. But again, as soon as time was up and the opener, Fleshwater, walked on

to. Throughout the different acts, I stage-dived five different times, even flipping off of it at one point, got bruised, battered and absolutely beat up. I ended up leaving the show with a bust lip and a shoe mark on my face, but I can confidently say that may be one of the best nights of my life. Since then, I have been a fiend for specifically hardcore shows.

with at least one new injury, you should ask for your money back. Concerts, specifically hardcore shows, are also amazing ways to meet new, interesting people. I haven’t gone to a single hardcore concert and left without talking to at least one new person, learning about them, their lives and how they got into hardcore. In my experience, poeple at hardcore concerts are more than eager to come up to you and strike up a conversation between sets, whether they like your outfit or they think you looked cool in the pit. I’ve gone up to my fair share of people as well, talking to random strangers like old friends. There is just something so special about this concert culture and environment that it makes everything and everyone feel magnetic.

The culture is one of the most kind and accepting, even if the sound would convince you otherwise. If you fall down, people around you will stop whatever they’re doing to make sure you get picked right back up. I’ve fallen my fair share of times, and usually, someone has just lifted me up by my armpits like a little baby and put me back on my feet.

is just as crazy and exciting. This past weekend, I attended an amazing show at The Brooklyn Monarch, getting to see Fleshwater for a second time. I pushed, shoved, stage-dived, moshed and got landed on quite a few times. I left with a handful of new bruises and my entire body aching, but if you go to a hardcore show and don’t leave

No matter if I’m in in Ohio or New York, if it’s an indie show or a hardcore one, I always feel the same after a concert: small. Whether I know the band or not, once the lights dim and someone with some sort of instrument comes out onstage, the environment is electric. Suddenly, I’m no longer me, waiting for the music to start, playing on my phone or aimlessly talking to whoever I’m with to pass the time. Instead, I become just another member of the screaming crowd, another face in the sea of people eager for music. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. At this point, I have seen so many great artists and bands perform live. Concerts have become such an important part of my life, and I’m already looking forward to the next one.

Photo courtesy of ActionVance / Unsplash

FEATURES

Saint Martin: A different kind of Halloween

By Lisa van Pieterson and Esmee van Branberg STAFF WRITERS

The fall season is in full swing, and the annual fall events have begun. You probably got dressed up to celebrate Halloween or visited a pumpkin patch to get yourself a pumpkin.

However, Halloween is not the only celebration during this time. In some parts of Europe, people are celebrating St. Martin’s Day – or Sint Maarten in Dutch.

St. Martin’s Day happens every year on Saturday, Nov. 11. Children aged 4-10 will walk by houses with lanterns and sing songs. In exchange, they receive candy. It is almost the same as trick-or-treating.

St. Martin was a soldier in the Roman army and lived in 316 A.D. He was born in Salvaria, Hungary, and was the son of a rich merchant. One night, Martin and his companion soldiers searched for a place to stay, and they came across a city called Amiens in France. Before passing the city walls, Martin saw a poor man in a dark corner. He

asked if Martin had any money or food to spare.

Martin did not have any of these things and grabbed his sword. He cut his cloak in two and gave one half to the man without any hesitation. Even before the man could thank Martin, he was already galloping into town after his companions.

Martin found his companions in an inn, and they wondered what happened to Martin’s cloak. He told them the story and said, “I would have done the same for my loved ones.”

That same night, Martin dreamt of a radiant apparition that litsss up his entire room. He heard a voice; it was the voice of the man he gave his cloak to. He spoke gracefully to Martin and said, “It is me, Martin, I am the dear God.”

This dream made such an impression on Martin that he got baptized and left the emperor’s service as soon as he could. From then on, he only wanted to devote his life to goodness, love and caring for people. He then became a bishop.

Besides being known for his

kindness to the poor, the bishop was above all known for the miracles he would perform. Not only could he heal the sick, but they say he could even bring the dead to life.

St. Martin’s Day is mostly celebrated in Belgium, Northern France, Hungary, the Netherlands, some German-speaking areas and on the island of Sint Maarten. Christopher Colombus gave this name to the island, now called Nevis, when he anchored on Nov. 11, 1493. This day was known as the feast day of Saint Martin. However, because the islands were small and poorly charted, the name was accidentally transferred to the island now called Sint Maarten.

St. Martin died on Nov. 8, 397, at 80 years old. The reason we celebrate him on Nov. 11 is because that is the day that he was buried.

It used to be a religious celebration, but nowadays Sint Maarten is just a fun and festive event for children celebrated with peace fires, parades and going door-to-door with lanterns. These lanterns are usually made

school.

When you walk around with your lantern, you sing one of a few special songs, and you get candy or fruits, especially mandarins, in return. Even though this celebration has a great history, most children don’t know where it comes from.

Here is an example of a Dutch Sint-Maarten song:

“11 November is de dag dat

Poem: fortune teller

mijn lichtje, dat mijn lichtje, 11 November is de dag dat mijn lichtje branden mag.”

Translation:

“November 11 is the day that my lantern, that my lantern, November 11 is the day that my lantern may burn.”

By Aidan Judge ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

to be struck by paradise in the midst of a freezing autumn snow

set free by november waves crashing onto supple mounds of sand

the unbroken feeling of voracity tearing through

and the burning sun extinguished by a crystal-lined spring

one who breaks through the ivy wall is met with thorns of opacity and contrition

a semblance of unity

under a carcass made from dusted bones.

saw a full moon in december

weaved into a violet satin sky

the tide is bending towards your palm and suddenly, i’m doing alright

you forget how curious the night can make you

thoughts wondering into space between trees

feels like my only chance was when the stars were running away

sliding across the sun and into your painted jeans

don’t hurt yourself, be strong and tall

let go into the galaxy, away from it all

your eyes are a mosaic made of blue and gray

by the kids themselves in

Photo courtesy of Sierra NiCole Narvaeth / Unsplash

Photo courtesy of Sylwia Bartyzel / Unsplash

M AN ON THE U NISPAN

What is your favorite Halloween costume that you have ever worn?

By Zoe Casselman and Alex Ferreira

FEATURES EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER

“I was my mom [in] like junior year of high school, so I wore one of her nightgowns and a bonnet, but my most vivid costume memory is Halloween 2009, right after ‘The Dark Knight’ came out and I was the Joker. Instead of makeup, I had a really thick rubber mask and almost passed out.”

- Jaylen Oneel, senior

“So this was my second Halloween ever. I went to boarding school in the UAE, so I was an Arab sheikh for Halloween, and I didn’t have to spend any money because I already had a thawb.”

- Aajmayeen Haque, junior

“I wore a skull mask and I was a ghost, and I scared a bunch of kids in the neighborhood.”

- Anushka Parab, junior

O verheard @ h O fstra

“That was the exact moment I realized Steve Carrell is Gru from ‘The Incredibles.’”

“I had to pretend to be a fox for my midterm, but no, I’m not a furry.”

“Nice costume, officer.”

“I’m not changing your diaper; I’m just a teacher.”

“Uma Thurman is texting me right now. I literally could not be better.”

“Are you cheating on me? During the FNAF movie?”

“You gotta have refreshers at an orgy!”

“I don’t have ADHD. But I have many other issues.”

“I tuned in at nipples.”

“It’s in my cooter, oh my God.”

Spread by Audra Nemirow

Zoe Casselman / The Hofstra Chronicle

Chron Cooks ft. Hayley Kastner: Boston Cream Pie

By Hayley Kastner

Like the Dunkin’ donut that sports the same name, this combinaition of chocolate, pudding and cake is not only delicious but also a fun and simple make! While my mom’s Boston cream pie is a staple Thanksgiving dessert in my family, this sweet treat is perfect for any occasion.Whether you’re celebrating your birthday, preparing a fun dish to bring to a party or just craving something sweet, this Boston cream pie is a tasty treat that everyone will love!

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix

2 packages of Royal Brand Vanilla Pudding mix

4 cups heavy cream

3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

3 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup powdered sugar

3-4 tablespoon warm water

Instructions:

1. Prepare cake per instructions on box in a 10-inch round pan. Cool thoroughly. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in freezer 20-30 mins before ready to fill and glaze to make it easier to cut in half

2. In a large mixing bowl, add both packs of pudding and then pour in the heavy cream. Beat on a lower speed to mix pudding powder and cream. Increase the speed to high, and beat until thick. The consistency will be thicker than whipped cream because of the pudding, but don’t go until it’s as thick as butter. I usually stop when I start to see thick ribbons forming as I’m beating.

3. Use a serrated knife to cut the little hump off the top of the cake in order to make the top level. Then flip the cake so the top is the bottom and the bottom is now the top. Then cut the cake in half. Take off the top layer and set aside.

4. Spread pudding on top of the bottom layer. I usually use about three-fourths of the pudding.

5. Once filled, place the top layer on top of the layer of pudding.

6. Use a 1-quart stock pot and, over low-medium heat, melt chocolate and butter. While the chocolate is melting, heat a cup of water for one minute in the microwave. I only use a few tablespoons, but I find it’s easier to get the right temperature this way. Once chocolate is melted and smooth, move off heat, add vanilla and stir.

7. Gradually add powdered sugar and stir. You will eventually get a thick, somewhat crumbly ball of chocolate. Add 3 tablespoons of the warm water, and stir with a fork or small whisk on the stove over low-medium heat. Keep adding a little water as needed, and whisk until the chocolate sauce is smooth, shiny and at a consistency where it could be poured.

8. While the chocolate sauce is still warm, slowly pour and spread evenly over the top of the cake. It will drip down the sides a bit.

Photo courtesy of Hayley Kastner

Endless Fall Fun

Hofstra’s Campus Dining held its annual Fall Fest this past Wednesday, Oct. 25. Taking place in Pride Park, the event hosted a multitude of vendors giving away free food and drinks. The festival also held a pumpkin painting contest and a Rice Krispies Treat decorating contest.

Spread by Emma Fabilli

Photo by Emma Fabilli / The Hofstra Chronicle

Photo by Emma Fabilli / The Hofstra Chronicle

Photo courtesy of Alexander Ferreira

Photo courtesy of Alexander Ferreira

Photo courtesy of Alexander Ferreira

Photo courtesy of Alexander Ferreira

Photo courtesy of Alexander Ferreira

Photo courtesy of Alexander Ferreira

Arts And EntErtAinmEnt

‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ re-ignites pop royalty

CONTINUED FROM A1

Without a doubt, it’s difficult to recreate the magic of the original “1989” album due to all its iconic riffs, details and singalong moments, but Swift has proven that she can make magic happen twice with her previous, highly acclaimed re-records like “Red (Taylor’s Version)” and “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).” Swift’s second iteration of “1989” can fall a bit flat in areas where it needs to succeed but soars the record to new heights in unexpected areas as well. In terms of the hits, Swift struggles to copycat iconic songs like “Blank Space” and “Style.”

“Style (Taylor’s Version)” adopts some new changes to the song that makes for a less lively and entertaining listen in comparison to the original, such as replacing the iconic guitar-riff intro with a tinny, cover band-esque iteration that doesn’t evoke the same feeling as the original. Similar situations exist in “Blank Space (Taylor’s Version),” especially with the demotion of the iconic pen click

sound effect that exists with the original, as the new iteration is significantly less crisp and noticeable.

Not all is lost with the recreations of the original tracks, however; tracks like “Shake It Off (Taylor’s Version)” and “Out of the Woods (Taylor’s Version)” mainly stay on par with their 2014 counterparts, while lesser-known songs like “Welcome to New York (Taylor’s Version)” and “Clean (Taylor’s Version)” benefit from Swift’s mature, contemporary vocals alongside refined production details. Vocally, all of Swift’s rerecorded music sounds great, but the absence of original producers Max Martin and Shellback is glaringly obvious when listening to the finer details of the track production.

The “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” vault tracks are where the record really begins to shine. Five scrapped tracks from the original album’s release bring a lustrous energy to the album that didn’t exist within the original 16 tracks. All five additions to the record through the vault enhance

the pop experience that is “1989.” Swift’s synth-y, dreampop concoctions create a new vibe for the album that emphasizes its bright, enticing themes of new beginnings and healing from troublesome relationships. In particular, “Now That We Don’t Talk (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” and “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” highlight anger and wondering what could have been with a luscious, popperfect synth backdrop combined with sharp, clever lyrics. Swift’s vocals and delivery on the prechorus of “Now That We Don’t Talk” especially stand out, with Swift tapping into her higher register to deliver a breezy, ethereal performance with deepcutting lyricism.

“Slut! (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” is an interesting divergence from Swift’s usual songwriting, with an intense, unapologetic discussion on how slut-shaming is no longer at the forefront of the pop star’s mind if she has someone who matters more than words can describe. Swift also touches on themes of

longing and passionate adoration with “Suburban Legends (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” and “Say Don’t Go (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” both worthy additions to the “pop bible” – as “1989” has been dubbed.

Ultimately, “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” is a bit of a mixed bag in terms of quality and staying true to the original project. It’s not perfect in the recreation of its original roster, but Swift does add new tracks that pack a pop punch and enhance the quality of such a well-established record.

While it’s not Swift’s finest rerecorded album, “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” will undoubtedly reintroduce the iconic 2014 record to Swift’s ever-growing fandom as she skyrockets to new heights of fame, fortune and universal acclaim. And who knows?

Maybe Swift’s re-recorded projects are a preview of what’s to come for new records in the future – or maybe we’ve all become far too accustomed to Swift’s typical Easter egg hints.

‘Big Mouth’ goes to high school in Season 7

By Frankie DiCalogero SPORTS EDITOR

Another successful fall release for the acclaimed adult animated comedy “Big Mouth” is officially in the books. The seventh season was released on Friday, Oct. 20, with all its main and recurring characters once again returning.

This season saw the main characters graduate middle school and spend their final summer together before their lives potentially change in high school. For Nick Birch (Nick Kroll), his summer was quite different than everyone else’s as he prepared to not go to the same high school as his friends. Instead, he was convinced to try out a private high school, partly because he hit it off with Dani (Zazie Beetz). Meanwhile, Andrew Glouberman (John Mulaney) dealt with many obstacles throughout the season. Andrew struggled with adjusting to high school without his best friend,

Nick. Most importantly, Andrew feared going to high school due to accidentally touching high schooler Pumbaa’s (Jon Daly) girlfriend Timon’s (Chole Fineman) breasts during orientation. The tumultuous conflict was one of the funnier aspects of the season, as Pumbaa vowed to beat up Andrew on the first day of high school because of this, which he did.

Jessi Glaser (Jessi Klein) went through a similar experience during her summer before high school. Jessi contemplated what friend group she would join. She was originally aligned with the popular girls until a change of heart with her former nemesis

Lulu (Stephanie Beatriz), a high schooler who dumped a black drink on Jessi’s head during orientation. However, Jessi and Lulu eventually reconnected after Jessi learned more about Lulu’s past. When high school began, Jessi was with the outsiders, a group of pot-smoking,

class-ditching troublemakers.

Jay Bilzerian (Jason Mantzoukas) and Lola Skumpy (Kroll) continued their on-andoff relationship. To get back at Jay following their breakup, Lola gets together with Jay’s brother Kurt (Paul Scheer). Both characters continued to be the biggest comedy relief of the show, as both Jay and Lola have impeccable animated chemistry and always deliver with their storylines.

Let’s not forget Missy Foreman-Greenwald (Ayo Edebiri), who began the season still in a relationship with Elijah (Brian Tyree Henry). Despite their relationship ending on a high note in Season 6, Elijah’s asexuality continued to cause trouble for Missy, as the two eventually seperated due to Elijah going away for the summer. At the end of the season, Missy struggled to even walk into high school, eventually missing the first day and instead

Quick Hits

be home schooled for the time being.

One negative for the season would be the decrease in screen time for Matthew MacDell (Andrew Rannells). Despite not being heavily featured this time around, Matthew still had some important moments, such as his family finally accepting his sexuality and his parents teaching their daughters that it’s okay to be gay.

If you’re a fan of “Big Mouth” and wondering if Season 7 does the trick once again, it definitely does, but don’t expect an A+ body of work. Instead, limit your expectations just a bit and you won’t be disappointed, as is normal with “Big Mouth.” The longest running animated show in Netflix history will only be back for one more season, as “Big Mouth” was renewed for its eighth and final season in 2024.

“Five

Courtesy of IGN

Courtesy of People

Actor Matthew Perry died on Saturday, Oct. 28, after allegedly drowning.

Britney Spears released her memoir “The Woman in Me” on Tuesday, Oct. 24.

Kim Kardashian released her first menswear line in her SKIMS clothing collection.

Paul McCartney will complete an unreleased Beatles song from 1970.

Courtesy of People

Courtesy of Business Insider

Courtesy of People

Descend into madness and hell with these unsung horror films

By Michael Gaborno STAFF WRITER

There are too many horror films to count that would be appropriate for a Halloween viewing through splayed fingers and squinted eyes in a dark room. Given the season’s celebration of the macabre, unorthodox and otherworldly themes, settling in for some onscreen frights on Halloween night is one of the best ways to honor the holiday.

There are the unforgettable classics that have long haunted audiences, such as the original “Halloween” or “The Exorcist,” and some fresh favorites that have injected new blood into the genre, such as “Barbarian” or “Hereditary.” However, viewers willing to plunge into the deepest, darkest depths of cinematic horror will find a startling excess of films that have yet to break into the minds of the mainstream. It’s difficult to mention one without thinking of at least 10 others that should also be spotlighted, but for now, the following five films are among the most deserving of attention and admiration.

“Braindead” (1992) directed by Peter Jackson

Where to watch: YouTube

Before helming some of the most massively revered films of all time with “The Lord of the Rings,” director Peter Jackson started out in trashy, low-budget horror flicks, one of which is the zombie comedy gorefest “Braindead.” With an unwieldy concoction of delirious slapstick and

wall-to-wall viscera, it’s perfect.

“Cure” (1997) directed by Kyoshi Kurosawa

Where to watch: Apple, Prime Video and Vudu Arguably one of the scariest films ever made, “Cure” illustrates the investigation into a bizarre series of crimes where the murderer is found next to their victim with no recollection of their actions. In what served as a precursor to the J-horror boom of the early 2000s, Kurosawa mines devastating horror out of his mystery box concept with a richly detailed atmosphere and unnervingly impressionistic storytelling. It’s very much on the quieter and slower side, but as a result, it subtly seeps into the viewer’s mind until it is far too late.

“Deadstream” (2022) directed by Vanessa Winter and Joseph Winter

Where to watch: AMC+ and Shudder

“Deadstream” serves as an answer to the question of what it would look like if Sam Raimi directed a found footage film. Taking the point of view of a problematic YouTuber who livestreams himself in a haunted house to make a comeback, the film takes its potentially eyerolling premise and runs off with it in a gleefully devilish fashion. It’s relentlessly funny and scary in equal measure, loaded with impressive practical effects and set pieces, and above all, suggests a bright future for its crew and subgenre.

“Isolation” (2005) directed by Billy O’Brien

Where to watch: AMC+

This Irish sci-fi creature feature is a very mean, very nasty and efficiently executed thriller that surprisingly makes some poignant commentary on the ethics of animal testing. O’Brien seamlessly fuses old-school tension-building with delightfully icky special effects, and the film is brought to life even more effectively thanks to an outstanding cast.

“The Empty Man” (2020) directed by David Prior Where to watch: Hulu Based on a comic book, the just over two-hour movie was plagued by production issues (leading it to be dumped into theaters in the middle of lockdown). “The Empty Man” may not initially seem like a sure thing for most viewers. However, the end result wound up being one of the most memorable, unique and effective genre outings of the 2020s (as well as one of the most gorgeously shot), and thankfully, it has found a bit of a cult following after home release. From its boldly unconventional 20-minute cold open to its truly mind-blowing finale, the film is an ambitious and eerie odyssey that twists and turns as much as it terrifies.

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is Scorsese’s latest masterpiece

By Jason Fields STAFF WRITER

For many filmmakers, their twilight years are a period of slowdown and downsizing with smaller, less ambitious works replacing the grand epics and massive swings that defined their careers. That makes Martin Scorsese’s recent film run (starting with “The Wolf of Wall Street” in 2013 and continuing with “Silence” in 2016 and “The Irishman” in 2019) all the more remarkable. As he approaches his eighth decade, his films have only grown in ambition, subverting the genre convention he had helped popularize with his most famous works to tell a grand, interwoven tale about the history of America and how it is entrenched with exploitation and violence. Even with that in mind, “Killers of the Flower Moon” stands out as a darker, bleaker beast than most of Scorsese’s filmography and is all the more powerful for it.

Primarily based on David Grann’s nonfiction novel of the same name, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is centered on the Osage Reign of Terror, a period in the 1920s where, after discovering oil on the land in Oklahoma they were forced to call home, the Osage tribe became “the richest people per capita in the world.” This wealth and power was short-lived, however, as white interlopers used any means necessary to obtain the land rights that the Osage had taken great precautions to keep within their tribe.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” uses its origin source as more of a jumping-off point than a blueprint. While the novel focuses on the formation of the FBI and their investigation into the murders, Scorsese (who cowrote the screenplay with Eric

Roth) focuses primarily on the murders themselves, forcing us to watch as William “King” Hale (Robert De Niro) and his dimwitted nephew Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) lead a scheme that eventually implicates the entire white population of the Osage Nation. It’s a brutal, unforgiving approach, giving us little comfort as we see the violent mundanity of white supremacy.

The film’s sympathies lie entirely with the Osage people, whose tragedies are juxtaposed with their defiant rejection of the encroaching Westernization of their culture. This is best exemplified by the character of Mollie Burkhart (played with conviction and nuance by Lily Gladstone), who, even as the main target of Hale’s murderous scheme, retains her strength and dignity without becoming a cipher or stereotypical portrayal. In fact, she is the closest “Killers of the Flower Moon” has to a moral center, which proves to be grounding as the narrative curdles further.

It is telling that Scorsese eschews any form of mystery in the telling of this story; he is on record saying the film is “not a whodunnit, but a who-didn’tdo-it.” The FBI, represented by detective Tom White (Jesse Plemmons), does not arrive until well into the film’s 206-minute runtime. As such, Scorsese asks audiences to spend time with arguably his most villainous characters, all while denying us the thrilling pleasures that we would expect from his films (anyone looking for the brutal thrills of Scorsese’s other crime epics may be wise to temper expectations). Even more so than the rest of his recent work, “Killers of the Flower Moon” finds Scorsese subverting his own filmography for a grander narrative on America’s violent past; it is uncomfortable viewing, but it might be one of his most essential to date. For a filmmaker of his age, that’s one hell of an achievement.

“Isolation” was screened at Fantastic Fest in 2006, where it won three awards, including a “horror jury” award for best picture.

Photo courtesy of GBHBL.com

“Killers of the Flower Moon” has the largest budget of a film ever produced in Oklahoma, with a budget of $200 million.

Photo courtesy of The New York Times

By Anna DeGoede EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Grammy-award winning a cappella group Pentatonix released their eighth holiday album ahead of their “The Most Wonderful Tour of the Year.” The album, titled “The Greatest Christmas Hits,” features a combination of old Pentatonix standards and new covers.

The first 24 songs on “The Greatest Christmas Hits” are just that – Pentatonix’s greatest hits. With familiar tracks like their Grammy-award-winning “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and viral music video stand-out “White Winter Hymnal,” the first half of the album feels more like a fancurated playlist than a new album. While including the songs makes the title “The Greatest Christmas Hits” accurate, as most of the songs are Pentatonix’s best covers, the concept is not revolutionary for Pentatonix. In 2017, they released “A Pentatonix Christmas Deluxe,” which also pulled older tracks from previous albums and combined them with a few fresh songs. If audiences relied on physical

Pentatonix: The greatest Christmas misses

album copies alone to listen to Pentatonix’s music, the decision to pack the album with mostly older songs would make more sense. However, streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube negate the need to include old hits that fans might have missed out on – they can just look them up. Unfortunately, it looks like this year’s album release will have to hope that people will stick around for the new tracks.

The first new recording on the

album, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” falls rather flat. Its basic, Christmas song background vocals and over-belting from lead singer Scott Hoying feel rather uninspired, especially after listening to Pentatonix’s best songs right before. The next song, “Pure Imagination/ Christmas Time Is Here,” is the most musically innovative of the new tracks. The eerie tones of “Pure Imagination” combined with the familiarity of the classic “Christmas Time Is Here” makes for a fresh, suspenseful rendition of both songs. The two are featured individually before combining at the end to form an intriguing new melodic interplay. Though the mash-up would not play well on the radio, it’s a cool display of Pentatonix’s ability to seamlessly weave songs together.

“Please Santa Please” might be the only song on this album to successfully capture Pentatonix’s contemporary holiday mood without being obnoxious about it. Led by mezzo-soprano Kirstin Maldonado, “Please Santa Please” is high-energy and radio-ready. In jarring contrast, “O Little Town Of Bethlehem (with Elvis Presley)” is the exact opposite. Its old-timey tone meshes poorly with the rest of the album. Presley’s vintage style also clashes with Pentatonix’s determination to put a new spin on the song. While their background vocals and group sections work well on their own, the song feels disjointed and unnecessary when combined with Presley.

“Kiss From A Rose” and “Children, Go Where I Send Thee” continue to struggle. The rocking, straightforward atmosphere of “Kiss From A Rose” is a great cover overall but doesn’t mesh with the more pop-heavy hits from the rest of the album. “Children, Go Where I Send Thee” has a lot of momentum and a unique, anthem-like style, but it is so repetitive that it could have ended

after the four-minute mark.

The album manages to close out with the strongly nostalgic track, “Little Toy Trains,” which is one of the few newer songs to successfully conjure nostalgic holiday memories like Pentatonix’s past albums. However, after the three previous clashing tracks, it’s a case of too little, too late for “The Greatest Christmas Hits.”

Overall, the album would have been much more successful if it figured out which holiday atmosphere it wanted to invoke and focused on presentation. In leaping from hymn-inspired covers to crooners with Elvis Presley to pop-y “I want” songs, the new pieces suffer from getting slapped together at the tail end of the album with no rhyme or reason to song order or tone, leaving audiences longing for Pentatonix albums of Christmases past.

Happy Halloween from The Hofstra Chronicle! Not pictured: Abby Gibson, Andrew Fantucchio, Moriah Sukhlal and Olivia Hillestad.

Photo courtesy of Penn Live Pentatonix has not released an album of original music since 2021.

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.

Think twice before enrolling in a remote class

By Tom Norman and Ethan Albin

“Ok, everybody, cameras on,” is something you are all probably sick and tired of hearing. Zoom classes are a twisted excuse for teaching that has been etched permanently in our minds since the pandemic. These groggy online lectures were a staple of 2020, and most of us have left those memories in the past where they belong.

Some of us, however, still must endure these tedious wastes of time. The difference between a real class and whatever laggy monstrosity some instructors have us sit through is astronomical. Zoom classes are a relic of the past and have long outlived their necessity.

Why do some instructors still choose to operate their classes like this? Well, some have legitimate health concerns that impede their ability to physically teach a class. Though, in a scenario like that, I would argue that

By Anna DeGoede

Why are people so fascinated with stories about other people suffering in horrible ways? According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, 24% of the top-ranked podcasts in the US are true crime, with politics and government coming in second with 10%.

Jean King of Psychology Today suggests a few reasons: true crime presents a compelling narrative, reminds audiences of their good fortune, gives people the chance to explore a dark side of their personality and allows them to participate in a forbidden part of society.

So this raises the question: when does this morbid fascination with the macabre turn from innocent curiosity

that explanation is at least respectable. What’s not respectable is using it as an excuse to live somewhere else while still pretending like you are providing the same level of education.

Whether these educators want to admit it or not, sitting in a Zoom class has been proven ineffective compared to their in-person counterparts. The Brookings Institute found that “online coursework generally yields worse student performance than in-person coursework.” Author Stephanie Reigg Cellini stated that 2020 evidence displayed that “the switch to online course-taking in the pandemic led to declines in course completion.”

It’s not surprising that students struggle with virtual learning, as classes are the last thing on one’s mind when completing schoolwork from home. If sleep-deprived students are set up just mere feet away from their beds whilst tuning into a droning lecture via a laptop, what’s

stopping them from lying down to catch a few Zs? Within the confines of a classroom, students must be attentive and focused because participation and discussion are such a large part of grading. However, students who must participate in virtual classes don’t feel the need to contribute, as staring at a computer doesn’t motivate students the same way inperson classes do.

No one is inclined to participate while behind their screens. Studies done by Frontiers show that “students reported decreases in live lecture engagement and attendance, with 72% reporting that low engagement during lectures hurt their online learning experience.” Listening to professors wax poetic with little to no discussion isn’t feasible for online learning. Within the confines of a classroom, thoughtful and mindful discussion takes place, which allows students and educators alike to flourish. It’s not the case for classes taught

via Zoom, as most professors lecture from start to finish, often asking for questions or thoughts only once or twice a class.

As Hofstra students, we cannot and should not be forced to learn behind computer screens. It is abhorrent that students must take certain classes virtually as they aren’t offered otherwise. Several classes here at Hofstra University are subject to this.

MASS 104, Media and the Law, is only offered as a distance learning option this upcoming spring semester – same thing with GEOG 106, Urbanization in the Developing World. Plenty of health science and STEM classes also fit into this box. It isn’t right that classes that are so important to working within one’s respective field are only offered as a distance learning option.

Perhaps it’s the only option for the professor teaching it, but classes that are subject to such styles of learning shouldn’t be priced the same as those

The crime of the true crime genre

into making an unethical spectacle out of death?

The problem with many true crime stories boils down to a lack of respect for the victims and their families.

One of the most recent failures was from Netflix. For the show “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” the company neglected to obtain permission from the sister of one of Dahmer’s victims to feature a depiction of her testimony.

In an essay for Insider, Rita Isbell, the sister of Errol Lindsey, wrote that she felt as though she were “reliving it all over again,” and that the depiction “brought back all the emotions [she] was feeling back then.” Isbell said she was never contacted about the show’s production, and her consent was never granted on using herself and her late

brother in the portrayal.

To avoid re-inviting trauma, a victim or their family members should have every authority to say “no” to coverage of a case. If the family wants to be involved, that’s their choice – such as in the recent University of Idaho case, where four college students were killed in their off-campus apartment. Family members of two of the victims agreed to be interviewed in a CBS documentary about the killings.

Some popular true crime podcasts omit the names of victims or witnesses altogether to protect their identity, while some true crime videos censor photos of children and feature crime scene photos that don’t make a spectacle of the actual death itself.

Even with these precautions,

held in person. The tuition for new students at Hofstra University for the 2023-2024 year is estimated to be $55,450 by university admissions. So between two semesters, most students take ten classes for a total of 30 credits, which comes out to $5,545 per class on average.

Paying just over five grand to sit on Zoom and listen to a professor yap while flashing through PowerPoint slides isn’t justifiable. Since spring 2024 registration is in full swing, if you find yourself looking to take a Zoom class, maybe wait for them to be taken more seriously by instructors before you think the difference between distance learning and in-person courses is minuscule.

Tom Norman is a sophomore and Ethan Albin is a junior. Both men are journalism majors, and you can find them @_tomnorm and @ethanalb on Instagram.

is there truly a “good” way to consume true crime content? Is it better to leave these stories untold out of respect for the dead? Though the easier moral answer is yes, there’s still some value to consuming information about true crime cases.

Season 1 of the podcast

“Serial” covered the 1999 death of Hae Min Lee and the arrest of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, who was charged with first-degree murder. According to a New York Times article, the podcast revealed that there was a witness who could provide an alibi for Syed who had not been called to testify at the original trial. The podcast also called into question cell phone records and a lack of DNA evidence testing.

Though Syed’s sentence was not overturned and his request for a new trial was rejected

by the United States Supreme Court, the podcast served a key role in creating a possibility for the re-examination of evidence. The benefit of the true crime genre can be to help shed light on cases that deserve more attention.

The next time you consume a true crime podcast or documentary, you don’t have to constantly ask yourself whether it’s ethical or not, but you should be critical of its presentation, just as you would every other piece of media. Is it respectful? Does it have diverse perspectives? Is it wellresearched? Why are you really interested?

Anna DeGoede is a senior journalism major with a minor in fine arts.

Tom Norman is a sophomore journalism major. He can be found @_tomnorm on Instagram.

10/31 Chron Crossword

Across

3. Next holiday after Halloween

5. Bobbing for ___

6. 1973 film that caused some viewers to faint

9. Popular Halloween flavor

10. R.L. Stein's spooky children's books

12. What ghosts say to scare people

15. Many the characters of "Twilight" are ___

Down

1. Halloween figure who flies on a broomstick

2. One of the most popular candy bars

4. Most popular kids’ Halloween costume

7. Street that Freddie Krueger terrorizes

8. What do trick or treaters want?

11. Most popular costume predicted for 2023

13. Nocturnal flying mammal

14. What some pranksters throw on trees and lawns on Oct. 31, abbrev.

16. Stephen King novel about an evil clown

Graphic by Makenzie Hurt / The Hofstra Chronicle

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.

The RSR changes are detrimental to students

By Ava Dela Pena

Students have complained about the changing hours of duty for Resident Safety Representatives (RSRs) and their impact on student safety, but the RSRs who must sit behind glass panes for eight hours a night, making less than a hundred dollars per graveyard shift, have become the misunderstood victims. The impact this change has had on RSRs themselves has gone unreported.

On Aug. 25, Beth McGuire, the executive director of campus living, emailed students explaining that RSRs would no longer be on duty 24/7. Instead, RSRs would be on duty only from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. Typical RSR shifts last 4-8 hours.

This change hit RSRs hard as they had no prior knowledge of the change in hours. While RSRs could previously squeeze in a shift between classes or

have a few daytime shifts during the week, this change meant that only RSRs who clocked in at 5 p.m. would avoid graveyard shifts.

The change in policy has caused a limited availability of daytime shifts, meaning that many RSRs mainly work night shifts. They work from dusk to dawn on weekdays and still have classes to attend in the morning.

The impact of this is startling – working all night either means sleeping all day or not sleeping at all. According to Healthier Workforce UK, “the body doesn’t have sufficient time to recharge” when graveyard shifts interfere with the ability to get quality sleep. This, in turn, causes a “risk of mental health issues, such as depression and mood disorders increasing.”

Sophomore Phoenix Schulden explained why they chose to quit their job as RSR. After enjoying their time as an RSR in spring 2023, the change

in policy this fall semester caused their mental health to deteriorate.

“I wasn’t getting enough sleep for the day, so I was really overly anxious, and I was falling into a deeper depression,” Schulden said.

They said that all their shifts went past midnight, with most of their shifts being 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

“The hours that I was working, I couldn’t maintain them,” they said. “I couldn’t balance it with schoolwork and just being a person. It just made it really hard to function.”

They quit earlier in October but know several other RSRs who have quit as well. Before they put in their two weeks, they claimed they were constantly asked to pick up more shifts to cover others who had also quit after having enough of the strain of the job.

For a job that Hofstra requires to be constantly staffed during their hours of duty, Hofstra does little to support

their employees. RSRs make a measly $12 an hour. On Long Island, the minimum wage is $15 an hour.

Many jobs on campus offer less than minimum wage, which is legal according to the U.S. Department of Labor under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This provision allows employers to pay fulltime students at least 75% of minimum wage on college campuses.

Perhaps one could argue that $12 an hour is reasonable compensation for other oncampus jobs that require little effort by their employees. Hofstra demands a service from RSRs, who play a vital role in maintaining campus safety, and with that role comes lapses in mental health. Paying so much under minimum wage for such a taxing job leaves many wondering if the 4-to-8-hour shifts are even worth it.

If more RSRs quit, then it will be harder and harder to cover the gaps they leave

behind. Not having enough RSRs on duty is a security risk to the hundreds of students living on campus who have already been failed by the change in policy.

If Hofstra really values their workers, as well as the safety of students who dorm on campus, they need to recognize the importance of the role that RSRs play as employees. Demanding full-time students to constantly work graveyard shifts for a pathetic $12 an hour just goes to show how little they respect their student workers. Refusing to adequately compensate them for their sleep deprivation, mental health toll and energy may not be illegal under federal law, but it is ethically dubious at best.

Ava Dela Pena is a sophomore journalism major. You can find her @avfruko on Instagram.

Flat Earthers spread their misinformation for attention

By Thomas Saxa

It’s a given in society that people will twist their ideals or just flat-out lie to be believed. People do this anytime they tell someone that their shirt looks good when it doesn’t or when people slightly shift or hide their political beliefs to fit in with a group. While this is all generally harmless, what if there was a group of people whose entire motive was to lie to find a community and seek attention?

Throughout history, it was widely believed that the Earth was flat until the Greek philosopher Aristotle provided strong evidence proving otherwise. Despite this proof, there has been an enduring group of believers known as flat Earthers. These people gathered to form a group known as The Flat Earth Society which saw a revival in 2004. The organization holds the belief that

the true shape of Earth is being concealed by the government in some sort of mass conspiracy because governments need to brainwash the population to gain more power and make a profit. Ironically, they’re the ones who are spreading false information, as people like Michael Marshall or even Kyrie Irving use their large following to spread this conjecture. Not only that but thousands of people attend the Flat Earth International Conference, showing that there is a bizarrely large group who hold these beliefs.

I don’t need to explain how I know that what they believe is false. Flat Earthers repeatedly attempt to prove their theory and in the process only prove how the Earth is round – like in the case of Bob Knodel. He wanted to prove the Earth was flat by using two beams of light at opposite ends of the Earth to prove there was no

15-degree-per-hour drift. This experiment led to one of the funniest moments of scientific ineptitude I’ve ever seen where Knodel adjusted the light to, you guessed it, 15 degrees. Knodel seemed completely ignorant to the result, even though he then conducted another test with a $20,000 gyroscope only to get the same result. The fact that Knodel can prove himself wrong this many times and still be completely stuck in his beliefs proves that he can’t truly believe that the Earth is flat.

So why do they lie about the Earth even though they have no evidence? Well, they do it for a community. The flat Earth community is a small but passionate one where their nonsensical beliefs lead them to find friends among like-minded people. The reason that a person pretends to like a gift may be the same reason that someone claims that they think the Earth is flat.

The second, more obvious reason is attention. In the TikTok era, attention is a currency, so of course people would be throwing out wild theories for the attention of the media. Flat Earthers have been the center of numerous articles, YouTube videos and even an entire Netflix documentary. The fact that they have these things to gain leads me to believe that most of them generally don’t believe any of the garbage they spew; they just want to gain from it.

When flat Earthers spread their rhetoric on social media, gullible and uninformed people are susceptible to it. It’s like the recent anti-vax movement: they both involve an objectively proven concept being challenged with no evidence. Their efforts have shown to be somewhat effective, as around 10% of respondents in a recent poll said

that they believed in one of the three largest conspiracies (flat Earth, anti-vax or the moon landing). If more people begin to believe these false claims, it may lead to an uninformed and mindless society.

Modern flat Earthers have virtually no reason to believe in their cause. They have so much evidence to the contrary, yet they stubbornly stick to their beliefs for attention and a sense of community.

Thomas Saxa is a freshman film studies major who specializes in op-eds and all things hot takes. Find on him on Instagram @Tbone-saxaphone or on Snapchat at tommysaxa.

Pride enters playoffs as regular season champions

By Arcangelo Iurato STAFF WRITER

The No. 22 Hofstra University men’s soccer team concluded their regular season with a 2-1 win over the Northeastern University Huskies at Parsons Field in Brookline, Massachusetts, on Saturday, Oct. 28.

The playoff-bound Pride finished with a 5-1-2 conference record, an 11-3-4 overall record and has won the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) regular season title for the second time in three years. They share

that title with the Monmouth University Hawks, who also finished the regular season with 17 points.

The visitors got off to a fast start with two goals in the opening six minutes. Their first corner of the game resulted in their first goal of the game, as a cross swept in by midfielder Eliot Goldthorp was headed in by defender Pierce Infuso at the near side, his second goal of the season. Three minutes later, a long-ball by defender Stefan Mason was once again headed into the back of the net, this time by leading-scorer Ryan Carmichael. The senior striker leads the conference with 12 goals and 28 accumulated points.

Northeastern got themselves back in the game with a goal from forward Sebastian Restrepo in the 52nd minute. The Huskies had a free-kick opportunity in a dangerous area after a handball from Hofstra midfielder Joe Wright.

Restrepo buried the kick into the far upper left corner where goalkeeper Wessel Speel was unable to reach.

The home side fought back despite being sent down to 10 men earlier in the match after there was shouting and shoving following a play. Senior Federico Tellez was sent off as a result, which gifted the Pride a one-man advantage; however, the away side didn’t get away without caution as Goldthorp was given a yellow card for his part in the altercation with Tellez. He was substituted off shortly thereafter and didn’t return to the game. His appearance only lasted 20 minutes, but his two assists prior to his early substitution added a couple more points to his season total.

The Pride ultimately failed to find a third goal and had to fight in order to seal the deal on a win that clinched the top seed in the conference. They forced nine saves out of Northeastern

goalkeeper Gregor Shaw, a season-high for the graduate student. Despite his and the defense’s best efforts to stay in the game amid a numerical disadvantage, the Huskies’ loss officially knocked them out of playoff contention, ending their season with a loss at home.

As for Hofstra, their story continues into the postseason. With their latest victory, they clinched a first-round bye and will play their next match in the CAA semifinals.

Due to their first-seed status, the Pride is guaranteed homefield advantage throughout the tournament. They’ll have to wait and see who their opponent will be, but the path towards a third consecutive conference ring can’t be any clearer. For the second time in three years, the conference championship will go through Hempstead.

Hofstra enters the CAA tournamnet as the No. 1 seed for the second. time in three years.

Photo courtesy of Matteo Bracco / Hofstra Athletics

Hofstra triumphs over Campbell in five-set classic

By Aaron Diaz STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra University volleyball team triumphed in a five-set win to complete a weekend sweep over the Campbell University Fighting Camels on Sunday, Oct. 29.

“This is our first [five]-set win of the year,” said Hofstra head coach Emily Mansur. “We are very excited about that because we are going to need that as we move on through the season. It’s two comparable teams, and Campbell definitely

played their game today, which was a little bit different than yesterday, so it’s a nice win to have.”

The Pride entered the series on a downhill tread but picked themselves up with Yagmur Cinel’s team-leading 15 kills.

Clara Bal and Izadora Stedile also came in clutch with 10 kills each.

“For [Cinel], what a great weekend for her,” Mansur said. “It was really, really cool to see; she started a little tough today, but then she just moved up and played a really good game. And [Stedile] came into a really tough situation and helped change the momentum and carry us to this win.”

Hofstra still stands atop the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) at 18-7 but remains stagnant in conference play at 8-7.

Hofstra and Campbell worked themselves into a fiveset game with the Pride taking

the second and fourth sets 25-21 and 25-18. At the same time, the Camels stayed out in front with first and third set wins, 25-16 and 25-23.

The Pride got things going in the fifth set by attacking the court first from two errors made by Maddie Converse for Campbell, 2-0. The Camels answered with two kills by Gwen Molkow and Converse with an attack error on Stedile to climb up 3-2.

Hofstra continued to trend upward and took the lead again 5-4 off a fierce Sarah Pierre kill. Things got interesting when each team encountered tense back-and-forth scoring until Hofstra scored two straight on an error and a Cinel kill making it a 10-9 game. Back and forth scoring continued again as they traded kill for kill with the crowd roaring on. Campbell tied the game at 12 off a defensive miscue from Stedile.

Both teams tied the fifth set 11 times for an only 15-point match.

The two biggest stars of the day came in clutch with three straight kills, two coming from Cinel and the other from Stedile, to bring the beat down and win the set and match 15-12 over the Camels.

Hofstra has just four games remaining in the regular season, and each weekend is as important as the last coming down the stretch.

“It’s crucial as there is

nothing set yet,” Mansur said. “So this is a great win, and we celebrate today, but at the start of next week, we have a new opponent and a whole new focus because it is super important as to where the CAA standings are right now.”

Hofstra will take a trip down to South Carolina as they go up against the College of Charleston Cougars in a weekend series on Saturday, Nov. 4, and Sunday, Nov. 5. The first game is at 1 p.m. and the second game is at 12 p.m.

Field hockey looks to 2024 in finale victory over Rider

By Olivia Hillestad ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The Hofstra University field hockey team ended the 2023 season with a win over Rider University at home on Sunday, Oct. 29. The Pride beat the Broncs 2-0, ending the season with an overall record of 6-12 while Rider closed out their season 7-11.

“Great way to end the season on a win and to celebrate the seniors,” said Hofstra head coach Courtney Veinotte. “This group is special to me; they’re my first full recruiting class. They’ve just been completely consistent and led this group, and it’s been a pleasure working with them.”

Goalkeeper Meghan Reilly earned her first career shut-out on her senior day. The Pride also honored team captains Samantha Spera and Gabriela Espinoza along with seniors Cami Valor and Liv Truong.

Junior Tara McNally scored both goals for the Pride with two assists from sophomore Jamie Mc Millan. The first goal was scored in the second quarter from a give-and-go following a corner that was inserted by Teresa Karoff. The second goal came during the fourth quarter when the duo scored once again off a corner after

McNally’s shot deflected off a Rider player’s stick and into the goal over goalkeeper Carlee Fulton. McNally ended the season with six goals to lead the Pride in scoring and Mc Millan finished tied with Kesia Richardson with five assists each.

“They put a lot of time into practicing those set pieces, so to see it come together, I know it’s relieving to them,” Veinotte said.

During the third quarter, the Broncs appeared to tie up the score with a shot by Willemijn Ephraim that went into the goal but was determined to be played too high. The Broncs had briefly had another chance during the last three minutes of play from a corner, but the shot that was deflected to keep the final score at 2-0.

Hofstra ended with 11 shots, three from McNally and two from Jaime Lewis. Rider ended with four shots, and both teams earned three penalty corners. Three cards were given during play: a green card to Valor in the third quarter, a green card

to Rider’s Valeria Perales in the fourth quarter and a yellow card to Karoff in the fourth quarter.

The game marked the end of the 2023 season for the Pride, who failed to qualify for the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) championships.

“Obviously, we’d all be doing anything possible to be playing next weekend, but with that being said, [I’m] very, very proud of this group,” Veinotte said. “They’ve changed our style of play; they are a very connected passing

group. I think the next thing for us is just finding the back of the net; we’re there, we’re finding opportunities; it’s just those goal scoring moments.”

The Pride concludes the season with a total of 28 goals, 1.56 goals per game and 167 shots.

Monmouth University, Drexel University, the College of William and Mary and Northeastern University qualified for the CAA championships and will begin play on Friday, Nov. 3.

Hofstra has not had a winning season since 2015.

Photo courtesy of Lee S. Weissman / Hofstra Athletics

After a pair of wins, the Pride is fourth in CAA standings.

Photo courtesy of Matteo Bracco / Hofstra Athletics

Mathilde Braithwaite finding her place in the starting lineup

By George Hatzadony STAFF WRITER

Since leaving Denmark to come to Long Island and join the Hofstra University women’s soccer team, it’s hasn’t all been smooth sailing for junior Mathilde Braithwaite. In her first two seasons with the Pride, the forward sporadically registered minutes on the pitch. Braithwaite was set on being a starter entering her third year.

“It was a goal for me,” she said. “I set for myself that I wanted to be starting when we came back.”

A setback at the beginning of her third year was tough for the junior. However, an earlyseason opportunity arose. When Hofstra traveled to Teaneck, New Jersey, to take on the Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights, sophomore Margaret Peterson was forced off the field due to injury 15 minutes into the match – enter Braithwaite.

“When [Peterson] went down, I didn’t actually see it happen because it was out of play. Then I just heard my name being called to warm up,” Braithwaite said. “I wasn’t really ready to go on the field. I was nervous; it was early in the game [and] I hadn’t really played that many minutes yet.”

Braithwaite was suddenly a starter for the Pride and continued starting all remaining regular season games.

“It’s very different,” she explained. “You’re used to being on the bench, but actually being on the field, you feel like you’re contributing more to the team.”

Braithwaite also acknowledges her teammate Peterson, whose torn ACL

and meniscus ended up being season-ending, leaving way for Braithwaite to step up.

“I feel very sad for Maggie; I feel like I’m playing for her as well,” Braithwaite said.

Though Braithwaite was put into the limelight quickly and unexpectedly, she was ready for the opportunity due to her preparation during the offseason.

“I stayed here [at Hofstra] over the summer to prepare myself the best I could,” Braithwaite said. “I wasn’t starting in the first few games, but it kept me motivated to prove that I could be playing in the starting position.”

Last season, Braithwaite played in 14 games, coming off

listened because there is always opportunity for you to go on the field when you aren’t starting.”

Then after two years, on Sept. 3, Braithwaite achieved a personal goal and made her first start for the Pride.

“It was crazy. I set that goal for myself, but to actually see my name in the starting lineup, doing the warmup that the starters do because we do separate warmups – I mean, I was just smiling,” Braithwaite said. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is what I have been fighting for.’ It was a great feeling.”

Braithwaite also recognizes that there are major differences between being a starter and being a backup and does not take her opportunity for granted.

is so supportive,” Braithwaite said.

Braithwaite was also very open about her ever-evolving relationship with Hofstra head coach Simon Riddiough.

“It’s definitely become

“I stayed here over the summer to prepare myself the best I could. I wasn’t starting in the first few games, but it kept me motivated to prove that I could be playing in the starting position. ”

the bench in all games. But she acknowledged the importance of supporting her teammates and being attentive, even when not starting.

“Being on the bench and cheering for your teammates is really, really important,” Braithwaite said. “I’ve always

“You have so much more responsibility, so even if it’s what I eat in the day, or who we’re playing, it’s about preparation,” she said. “I’m taking care of my body in a different way than last year; I’m doing my best to pay more attention.”

Along with becoming a starter and the changes that come with that as a player, it can be difficult to deal with the pressure. Having support from all around is important, and Braithwaite said her team is incredibly supportive of each other.

“My team is very supportive. They’re either telling me I’m doing a good job or seeing the work I’ve been putting in, really pushing me on. Everyone’s got tips and tricks; the whole team

better, I know [Riddiough] last year didn’t expect me to be a starting player for sure, and that motivated me to say ‘I really need to step up this year,’” Braithwaite explained. “We’ve gotten a better relationship in the sense that I am stepping up to the expectations that he has for me.”

Stepping into a teammate’s spot is difficult, but Braithwaite has not let the pressure of the opportunity affect her.

“Obviously there is the pressure that I need to do well, but at the end of the day, it’s just, go out there and do what I’m good at,” Braithwaite said.

Playing on her preferred right wing has been a key for her good form, allowing her to use her speed to her advantage.

“I’m right-footed, but I really like it because I get these oneon-one situations a lot and that’s what I’m really good at, because most time I am faster than the left back that is up against me,” Braithwaite explained. “It’s definitely my strength, so I think the right wing really fits me well – either slotting in some passes or shooting when I get the opportunity.”

Since coming into the team, Braithwaite has proved she deserves that starting right wing position. In her 13 starts this season, she has provided four assists while also scoring twice.

“My confidence level is through the roof now; I was very nervous in my first games, and I think you could tell,” she said. “Now I have that confidence, and I’m ready to go from minute one.”

The winger looks to continue her fine form into next season after a tough 2-1 loss to Monmouth University Hawks in the Costal Athletic Association semifinals, ending the Pride’s 2023 season.

Braithwaite took 12 shots on goal throughout this season.

Photo courtesy of Jim Agnew / Hofstra Athletics

Braithwaite recorded eight points in 18 games in 2023.

Photo courtesy of Jon Reiss / Hofstra Athletics

Hofstra looks to carry late-season success into 2023-2024

By Frank DiCalogero

SPORTS EDITOR

Despite finishing with a 12-20 record last season, the Hofstra University women’s basketball team’s final imprint on the season was a positive one, becoming the first 12-seeded team in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) women’s tournament history to make it to the quarterfinals. That energy is central to the 20232024 campaign.

“I definitely think that momentum has carried over; all year, last year, we preached about the potential of our team,” said head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “When we were able to put it all together, what that could look like and how fun that could be, I was so happy for them to be able to experience that before ending the year. With that, the returning players have come back so much hungrier and more determined to see that come about a lot sooner in the CAAs as opposed to waiting until the end of the year.”

This season, Hofstra will take to the court with a very familiar set of players, as three of their top four scorers from a year ago are back with the Pride. Sorelle Ineza, the 5 foot, 7 inch guard from Langueuil, Quebec, is entering her final season with Hofstra, as the graduate student is setting her sights on one last ride in Hempstead.

“I love this program; it means so much to me,” Ineza said. “I’ve been here since [I was a] freshman, so it was only right for me to stay here and finish it all off with Hofstra. Having a support system, my coaches, my teammates, they’ve always been there for me.”

Ineza has improved in nearly every aspect of her game since coming to Hofstra. Last season, she averaged 10 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, as well as 17 steals throughout the course of the season.

fully embracing her expanded role as the leader for the up-andcoming and returning women.

“I’ve felt like every year since I’ve been here, I’ve always been molded into growing, becoming a leader,” Ineza said. “Every year I’ve been impacted by so many people; my old teammates, the seniors that came before me, I’ve learned so much from them. This year I’m just trying to lead the next generation, our freshmen [and] underclassmen, with the help of my teammates.”

Ineza wasn’t the only player who led the team in more ways than one; freshman Emma Von Essen showcased a wide range of abilities at Hofstra. Von Essen averaged 7.5 points per game but lead the team’s 3-point shooting with 49 made shots from deep. She fleshed out her potential

excited about what’s to come.

“It’s been great; I really enjoy this team, the way they’ve come together, the way they connect on and off the floor –[it] has made it a different experience, and that’s been fun to watch and see,”

Santos Atkinson said. “They are working extremely hard, and that is the one thing as a coach that you always want. You want to be coaching the concepts and the philosophies of what it is that we’re trying to do and not wanting to have to coach effort, and this team’s done a great job

Longwood University, creates an athletic and versatile asset on the inside. Anya averaged 7.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and showed her strength on the defensive end with two steals per contest.

to make an immediate impact. Carter is also a proven winner, having been named an All-Star at the Canadian National Games and winning the bronze medal at the U16 International Basketball Federation games.

“The few things that we can control is how hard we play, the effort that we give, the energy that we give and what we’re willing to give to our teammates.”

For Ineza, with her bidding farewell to Hofstra when the season concludes, she is poised to bring the CAA championship to Hempstead and is on all accounts grateful for the opportunities the Pride have given her.

This year, there’s another facet for Ineza to develop: her leadership. With Brandy Thomas, last year’s leader in number of points earned, gone, Inzea is

in the CAA tournament with game-winning baskets in the first-round matchup against UNC-Wilmington and in the quarterfinal upset over North Carolina A&T State University.

With this, Von Essen knows that teams are becoming aware of her strengths on the court.

“In the offseason, I know I’m not going to get those easy shots anymore because they’re going to label me as a shooter, so I’ve just been trying to create different options and getting my conditioning up as well,” Von Essen said. “But I know they’re gonna be close to me, so I might have an opportunity to go by people now more easily.”

With practice underway and the season rapidly approaching, the Hofstra coaching staff is

with coming prepared and ready to go every day, not forcing us to have to coach that effort.”

Practice has also led the way to discovering new faces for the upcoming season – players that are being built up to take the next step forward.

“Brooke Anya for us has just been a physical force down low; she’s been great coming in and being that secondary presence in the paint, along with Zyheima [Swint],” Santos Atkinson said. “[Anya]’s been great to see, she’s been great to coach, she wants to be great and so she wants to understand how [she] can get better. We feel as though she’ll come in and be a great impact for us.”

The addition of Anya, a 5 foot, 11 inch senior transfer from

“On the perimeter, we’re a lot more athletic, and so with the guards that we’ve brought in have been really helpful with Tionna [Baker] and Micaela [Carter]; they’ve helped us in that athleticism and really being able to pressure the ball,” Santos Atkinson explained. “[Carter] helps us as another point guard, being able to push the ball at a good tempo and having the ability to score and get downhill to create for others.”

Baker makes her way to Hofstra from Cleveland State Community College, where she put up an impressive 18 points per outing.

Carter, a freshman from Brampton, Ontario, averaged 12 points per game in high school and is already being looked at

“Every year the goal is to win a championship, and especially this year with it being my last year,” Ineza said. “Personally, I just want to be remembered as a good leader, a good person and a good player on and off the court. Someone who just enjoys life and brings the energy every day. The smile on my face – you’re never gonna catch me without a smile. And I just want to say thank you to Hofstra. They’ve invested so much in me, basketball wise, personal development wise, everything.”

The Pride has a contagious way to spread energy among the players and the game.

“One of the things we talk about are the controllables,” Santos Atkinson said. “The few things that we can control is how hard we play, the effort that we give, the energy that we give and what we’re willing to give to our teammates. That’s what I want to see us doing at an all-time high. When you’re doing those things, the other things fall into place.”

Photo courtesy of Hostra Athletics

Danielle Santos Atkinson is entering her fifth year at the helm with a 31-79 record.

SPORTS

What are the next steps in Claxton’s third year as head coach?

By Dylan Brett STAFF WRITER

Expectations within the Hofstra University basketball program were set sky high when longtime head coach Joe Mihalich passed the torch to program legend Speedy Claxton in 2021.

In two short years under their prodigal son, the Pride has racked up a pair of 20-win seasons, a Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) regular season title, back-to-back conference Player of the Year awards and a postseason win over a power conference team. Claxton’s success in Hempstead has resulted in a lucrative contract extension, causing those expectations to hit record heights as the program heads into its third year with Claxton at the helm.

Despite a significant amount of roster turnover, Hofstra enters the 2023-2024 season driven by the feeling of unfinished business, as this group aims to avenge an early tournament exit and reach their first NCAA tournament since 2001.

At the center of Claxton’s immediate success has been back-to-back CAA Player of the Year Aaron Estrada, who departed for the University of Alabama this offseason after a legendary run wearing the Pride’s blue and gold. In doing so, the Woodbury, New Jersey, product leaves a gaping hole in the middle of this Hofstra rotation.

“Estrada meant everything to us, and those shoes are going to be hard to fill,” Claxton said. “He’s definitely going to be missed, but that’s what college basketball is all about. Other guys have to get better and step up for us.”

Estrada’s departure puts fifth-year senior Tyler Thomas in position to play the hero for Hofstra. Despite playing second fiddle to Estrada throughout last season, Thomas proved to be one of the biggest hidden gems in the transfer portal, notching 16.5 points per game and posting the nation’s 90th-best effective field goal percentage after arriving at Hofstra from Sacred Heart University.

Although Estrada may be playing in Tuscaloosa this season, Thomas plans to adopt key facets of his predecessor’s game as he attacks the new season.

“Most of the things I took from [Estrada] are going to be seen moving into this year,” Thomas said. “Some of his movement patterns, stop starts, his hesitations; he’s a very shifty player and I was trying to study that going into this season.”

With Estrada’s departure allowing Thomas to move up in the pecking order, junior forward Darlinstone Dubar should experience a similar phenomenon. Standing at 6 feet, 8 inches, Dubar presents an intimidating blend of size and athleticism, as he shot 38.6%

posted averages of 6.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per contest. The next step in Carlos’ growth will be to improve on a subpar true shooting percentage of 47.3% to round out his offensive game. Claxton sees the point guard’s ascension to stardom to be an inevitable conclusion.

“[Carlos] has been here in the gym all summer long, and I know he’s going to take a huge jump because of it,” Claxton said.

Hofstra brought in a pair of experienced transfers to anchor their frontcourt last season, and the success of Warren Williams and Nelson Boachie-Yiadom spurred Claxton and company to go a similar route with Canisius University’s Jacco Fritz and Iona University’s Silas Sunday.

Claxton said. “With his size and skillset, at some point in his career here, he’s going to blossom.”

While the likes of Thomas and Dubar will handle the bulk of the scoring, the wing duo of Bryce Washington and German Plotnikov are poised to provide the Pride with some strong 3-and-D minutes in support.

Plotnikov, a junior college product from Minsk, Belarus, quickly established himself as one of this team’s most valuable inside-out defenders but underwhelmed with a mark of 29.2% from deep. The 6 foot, 6 inch weapon shot 40.2% from the outside at North Platte Community College two seasons ago, leaving optimism for an uptick in shooting this year.

“This is what we do here: we’re about building champions, winning championships and that’s never going to change.”

from downtown last season in addition to a 60.8% conversion rate in the paint. The Iowa State University transfer will likely wear many different hats based on Hofstra’s opponents this year, as he’s demonstrated the ability to be efficient both on the wing and at the small forward spot. In preparation for his new role with the Pride, Dubar has opted to spend the offseason working on the physical side of his game.

“We’re looking for him to have a big year, and I think he will,” Claxton said.

If any player on this roster embodies “New York tough,” it’s Jaquan Carlos, a scrappy 6-foot point guard from Brooklyn that willed his way onto the CAA’s all-defensive team last season while simultaneously quarterbacking Hofstra’s offense. Carlos was used on 15.9% of possessions and took 13% of Hofstra’s shots when on the court, yet still

Fritz presents the Pride with a unique opportunity to stretch the floor at 6-10, posting Canisius’ second-best assist rate and shooting 42.3% from beyond the arc.

“Fritz is very similar to [Boachie-Yiadom], and that’s one of the main reasons we recruited him,” Claxton said. “He’s a different kind of five that can excel on the perimeter. He’s got a high IQ, can pass the basketball and shoot it from three. He’s going to provide a brand-new dimension to our offense.”

Despite not seeing much game action at Iona last season, it’s clear to see that Sunday brings a much more physical presence to the rotation at 7 feet tall and 270 pounds. The Lucan, Ireland, native also becomes the first seven-footer to wear a Hofstra uniform since the 1992-93 season.

“[Sunday] is the type of guy that you don’t see around here,”

return to his home state of New York after playing sparingly. The 6 foot, 9 inch forward demonstrated fluid passing ability and a smooth stroke from downtown, giving Hofstra more opportunities in terms of spacing the floor. Parnell aims to give this group more shooting flexibility after knocking down 40% of his 3-pointers at Eastern Florida State College.

“[Wilmoth] is something we’ve never seen here at Hofstra,” Claxton said. “A guy that’s 6 [foot,] 9 [inches] and can play on the perimeter, we’ve never had that here before.”

While the level of unique talent coming to Hempstead is noticeable, Claxton understands that adding four new players from across the country presents its own set of challenges.

“We’ve got to work on our chemistry overall,” Claxton said. “We’ve got a lot of new guys, a lot of new faces, and chemistry is everything when you play the way we do.”

“[Plotnikov]’s the kind of guy that gets better each and every day,” Claxton said. “He’s been shooting the basketball much better than ever before, and we’re expecting big things out of him.”

Washington, a graduate student and University of Pennsylvania transfer, played just 11 minutes per game as a senior last year but delivered when called upon, shooting 38.1% from downtown as a reliable catch and shoot piece.

“We need [Washington] here, and he’s going to be a much more important piece of the puzzle,” Claxton said. “He was our seventh man last year, and we’re going to count on him to be consistent every night.”

Hofstra rounded out their roster by adding a pair of unproven transfer options in Myles Wilmoth and Eric Parnell. Wilmoth spent the first leg of his college career at Butler University but opted to

Expectations can be difficult to manage for a team losing its best player after falling short in the conference tournament. Hofstra didn’t receive a single first place vote in this season’s CAA preseason poll; instead, the Pride was picked to finish fourth by the conference’s coaches and media. While others may be painting a grim outlook for the Pride this season, this group remains steadfast in their pursuit of the ultimate goal.

“This is what we do here: we’re about building champions, winning championships and that’s never going to change,” Claxton said. “We fell short the last two years, but we’re confident we’ll be back stronger and compete to win a championship.”

Over the course of the last two seasons, Claxton and company have hammered down the framework to build a perennial contender in Hempstead. With a winning culture already in place and an extensive catalog of accomplishments already in the rearview, the only thing left for this team to do is prove the pundits wrong and claim that elusive ticket to the big dance.

Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein / Hofstra Athletics