The Hofstra Chronicle, November 14, 2023

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE

Hofstra goes for the three-peat as CAA champions

By Arcangelo Iurato STAFF WRITER

Frigid temperatures could not lower the energy at Hofstra Soccer Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, as the top-seeded Hofstra University men’s soccer team clinched their third consecutive conference title. The 2-1 overtime win over the Monmouth University Hawks in the 2023 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) championship final in Hempstead, New York, was the Pride’s seventh CAA title in program history and the third in as many years.

“I think the fans had to be incredibly entertained with the game overall,” said Hofstra head coach Richard Nuttall. “I’m just so proud of our boys, a little bit emotional to be honest. If you look at the whole season, I believe we deserved to win the championship.”

Reigning CAA Player of the Year Eliot Goldthorp scored the winning goal for the Pride in the first half of overtime with a free kick sent directly to the left corner of the net. The junior wing-back netted his eighth goal of the season and ran straight to the sold-out crowd to celebrate with the home fans in attendance.

“A fantastic free kick,” Nuttall said. “[Eliot] is a special player, we know that.”

Hofstra spent the entire second half of overtime playing back and defending their own net. Monmouth fired six shots in the final 10 minutes without any response, but the visitors weren’t able to break through due to efforts from goalkeeper Wessel Speel and the rest of the defense. In one instance, defender Jack O’Malley managed to clear the ball just before it was about to cross the line.

“It was like the Alamo for the last five or six minutes,” Nuttall said.

Hofstra initially took the lead in the 20th minute with a goal by striker Teddy Baker, his third of the season. The advantage lasted up until the final 10 minutes when Stefan Mason committed a foul inside the penalty area. Monmouth was awarded a spot-kick and a numerical advantage as Mason, one of the Pride’s starting captains, was shown his second yellow and sent off as a result. He was the only one to receive his marching orders in a game that included nine bookings.

Ben Zakowski buried his penalty into the top-left corner

to get the visitors back to level terms. The Hawks used their newfound momentum and pressed the opposing goal for a majority of the time until Goldthorp sent the crowd into a frenzy. They outranked the hosts 23-7 in total shots and 6-3 in shots on goal.

“I’m so proud of the way we reacted,” Nuttall said. “We defended like demons. We got the go-ahead goal.”

It was a night that the program can back on and see as a classic.

“I’ll never, ever forget how we won today,” Nuttall said. “I’m happy for the three-peat, but I’m happier for the players and getting back to the NCAAs.”

Democrats lose on Long Island, make gains elsewhere NEWS

By Matthew Adarichev STAFF WRITER

On Tuesday, Nov. 7, American voters participated in elections

for governors, state legislatures and referenda in states including, but not limited to, Virginia, Ohio and New York. Nassau County voters chose their county legislators, town supervisors, councilmembers, mayors and various other administrative positions. In the neighboring Suffolk County, voters also chose the next county executive. All

OPINION

Hofstra’s name-change procedure desperately needs a

change

Updates:

The NCAA Selection Show was on Monday, Nov. 13.

The Pride were nationally ranked as the No. 14 seed, where they received a firstround bye for the first time in program history.

With the bye, Hofstra is set to play the winner of Bryant University vs. Yale University from the first round.

Hofstra will host the NCAA event on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 6 p.m. for the first time since 2021.

This is Hofstra’s eighth NCAA appearance in program history.

By Lee Cusack

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

My name is Lee Cusack. I am nonbinary, I use they/them pronouns and I use a new name. I’ve used this name publicly since I was 13, but I’ve never legally had my name changed. In my home state of Massachusetts, the process can take upwards of three months, requiring a petition to file a name change, a background check, an advertisement in

the local paper (or a signed affidavit waving this step), and a court date and ruling. The process costs around $170, or $350 if fees for replacing the name on documents such as a driver’s license, passport and birth certificate are considered. After all those steps are taken and the initial fees are paid, the name change can still be rejected with no refunds. To be quite honest, I do not have the patience, time or money for this process. Especially now that I attend college in a different state, there’s no guarantee that I could be in Massachusetts on the court date they would give me.

Hofstra’s name change system does not do justice to the nonbinary and transgender students it mainly serves.

Photo courtesy of Lady in Red via Flickr

This is the third conference championship in as many years for the Pride.

Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman / Hofstra Athletics

Republican Ed Romaine beats Democrat Dave Calone in race for Suffolk County executive.

Photo courtesy of Ed Romaine via Facebook

Republican party maintains majority in Long Island election

New York voters voted on two constitutional amendments dealing with debt limits for schools and municipalities, both of which overwhelmingly passed.

though Democrats are a plurality of registered voters in the County.

New York State and Nassau County Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs provided context for Tuesday’s results.

Mississippi, a state that hasn’t voted for a Democrat for president since 1976. Democrats also flipped the lower house of the Virginia state legislature.

Six Hofstra students were interviewed about

issues, including support for abortion, rights for Palestinians, a desire for strong market growth, fighting climate change and economic inequality. Regardless of their top issues, rejection of partisan politics was a common theme among those interviewed.

“I’m not a Republican or Democrat. I don’t have loyalty to any party,” Augustine said. “If a candidate aligns with [my] values, that’s what I’m choosing for.”

When asked why young people did not vote, skepticism about the ability of young people to impact the political process came up again and again. Aidan Kaplan, a sophomore geographic information systems major, said that the state of national politics is to blame for low youth turnout.

“Young voters see the state of politics in this country and feel that voting won’t change their daily lives,” Kaplan said. Nevertheless, all students interviewed believe that there was power in voting. While they

“We’re given the right to vote for a reason . . . It’s our responsibility to vote for ourselves and future generations.”

It was a tough night for Long Island Democrats. The Republican party maintained their majority in the county legislature by a 12-to-7 margin. Incumbent Republican town supervisors and councilmembers were all reelected by wide margins, often by 20 points or more. Republicans unseated a Democratic town councilmember in North Hempstead, and in the biggest news of the night, Republicans won the Suffolk County executive’s seat for the first time in 20 years. Democrats are a plurality of registered voters in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

The losses continue a trend dating back to 2021 of retreating Democratic power and the ascendancy of Republican control on Long Island, even

“The Nassau Republicans raised over $4.5 million [compared to the Nassau Democratic Party’s] under-$1.1 million,” Jacobs said. “In spite of that, with Republicans outspending us 4-1 … we stopped their number-one goal of winning another seat to give them a super majority [in the county legislature].”

Long Island’s election results notwithstanding, Tuesday was arguably a big win for Democrats nationwide. Ohio voters codified the right to an abortion in the state after the 2022 Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson ended the federal right to an abortion. In deep-red Kentucky, Democratic Governor Andy Beshear was reelected, and a Democrat almost became governor of

Tuesday’s elections. All six were engaged with political issues and provided valuable insight; however, two students interviewed were not aware that there were elections due to a lack of social media presence by local politicians, according to the students.

Ruben Augustine, a sophomore finance major, saw nothing on his social media about the elections. Rayan Bhatti, a freshman computer science major, said it was time for politicians to start establishing a presence on social media to court younger voters.

“That’s where the eyes are, on the screens, so that’s where the politicians need to go,” Bhatti said.

Hofstra students were passionate about a variety of

acknowledged that many young people feel that voting does not matter, they believe this perception needs to be strongly challenged, setting a hopeful tone for the political future of Generation Z.

“We’re given the right to vote for a reason,” said Julia Fielding, a freshman public relations major and leadership studies minor. “It’s our responsibility to vote for ourselves and future generations.”

Photo Courtesy of David Goldman via AP Photo

New affordable dining options come to Hofstra

By Camryn Bowden

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Over the past couple of weeks, students have seen a new promotion offered at the Student Center Café and Bits & Bytes. The $7 value meals program introduces a range of different meals from a variety of cuisines served to students for $7.

“The creation of these meals is in response to our ‘you spoke, we listened’ campaign where we asked students what they wanted to see more of in dining,” said Lexis Meehan, the marketing

spend so much,” said Reagan Pearce, a freshman filmmaking major. “There’s no portions lined out [for how much money to spend on a daily basis] … So I’m having a hard time managing money and getting food I actually need. But I feel like with the little $7 value things, they already do it for you.”

John Ferreti, a junior film studies and production major, recognizes the positives of the program. “It sounds like it just makes it a lot easier for a lot of

something for $7, I think that … they seem cool.” Georgy said there are some complaints that she has for the program. “In terms of variety, it is a little bit limiting … different people have different needs.”

Another one of the complaints from students was that the program took so long to arrive at campus. With the higher cost of food on campus, many students are glad that a solution has been offered.

“Personally, I do think it took a long time to be implemented,

“The creation of these meals is in response to our ‘you spoke, we listened’ campaign where we asked students what they wanted to see more of in dining.”

manager for Hofstra Dining.

The program applies to meals throughout the day, including breakfast sandwiches, pizza, tacos and chicken tenders.

Meehan also said that the creation of this program came directly from student involvement. “Students with limited dining dollars desired access to composed meals at a lower price point in order to stay within their daily budget,” Meehan said.

“I’ve been having a really hard time keeping track of all my money, and I feel like I

students who can’t put as much money on their card as they otherwise could,” Ferreti said.

“Within the first week of this program, over 800 meals were sold across campus,” Meehan said. “We are grateful for the feedback provided by the Hofstra community and are excited to see this program evolve.”

“I didn’t expect to, as a commuter, be here for three meals,” said Giovanna Georgy, a freshman psychology major. “That was very unexpected to me … to be able to at least get

just because, from my perspective, my dining dollars are done,” Georgy said.

“It’s been two years since the real spike [in prices], ever since post-COVID is usually when it got a lot worse from what I’ve noticed,” Ferreti said. “I would say a lot of students who complained the most are also definitely on their way out, so they’re more frustrated.”

“It’s a cheaper option than normal … this semester is more expensive food-wise than other semesters,” said Kyleton Quach, a sophomore film major.

Graphic designed and information compiled by Sophia Guddemi

Ongoing promotion for the $7 value meals can be located in the student center, highlighting the various costeffective options present in the café.

Photo courtesy of Camryn Bowden

Redefining the meaning of home

By Moriah Sukhlal NEWS EDITOR

The feelings of home and familiarity come to the surface through various thoughts and emotions. The emotional experience associated with defining home may range from a particularly warm feeling of safety to a specific smell, place or individual. Without a doubt, the meaning of home differs for each person.

Anjuliet G. Woodruffe, a postdoctoral fellow at the

circle. Woodruffe received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Hofstra University and taught as an adjunct faculty member before receiving her doctorate from the University of South Florida.

Lisa Merrill, a writing studies and rhetoric professor, described this remarkable homecoming in her introductory remarks as she recalled being Woodruffe’s mentor and watching her blossom into the scholar she is today.

“Under the African American

racialized class and gendered understandings and practices that speak to me about my experience as an immigrant other in the United States,” Woodruffe said.

Throughout her presentation, Woodruffe examined the concept of home in relation to its affective entanglement on diasporic bodies. She shared her immigrant experience and how that impacted her understanding of home as a space, not a place. When Woodruffe first started her academic career as

becomes heightened due to the need to adjust to new places with different values, beliefs, traditions and customs.

As Woodruffe recounted her struggles with her dual identity and definition of home, she explained that individuals are connected to places through sensory responses. “How we respond to space is more ambiguous, yet specific to the individual based on their knowledge and experience of a place,” Woodruffe said.

Moreover, Woodruffe contextualized her definition of home as a space with the theories of other autoethnographers and sociologists. While sociologist Stuart Hall argued that we are products of the routes we have taken, Woodruffe claimed that rootedness guides how we engage. “My attachments to home travel with memory so intensely that, like Sarah Ahmed says, the physical sense of moving through space is enough to trigger a memory of another place,” Woodruffe said.

For Woodruffe, this occurred each time she traveled through the subway and heard someone playing the steel pan, reminding her of her home in Trinidad.

Ultimately, Woodruffe concluded, “Although I can adapt to new ways of being,

connected with the words that Woodruffe used to describe the struggles, victories and lessons she learned throughout her life.

“My favorite part of the event was her bio poem,” said Tatyana Hudson, a junior drama major and a history and educational studies minor. “It was the most memorable because she was vulnerable and open.”

Woodruffe’s bio poem also inspired feelings of affinity as audience members connected with her Trinidadian roots.

Rhean Bellille, a junior criminology major, redefined her understanding of home in light of what Woodruffe shared. “A place of home is a space where memories lie, the feeling of comfort is captured and being able to be one’s self is a main feeling,” Bellille said.

Hofstra faculty members also connected to Woodruffe’s research. Veronica Lippencott, an adjunct associate professor of global studies and geography and director of Africana Studies, viewed Woodruffe’s theory of home as a space through a geographic lens. “One of the important concepts in human geography is [a] ‘sense of place.’ It is the emotions someone attaches to an area based on their experiences,” Lippencott said. “Place can be applied at any scale and

“How we respond to space is more ambiguous, yet specific to the individual based on their knowledge and experience of a place.”

Charles Phelps Taft Research Center at the University of Cincinnati, defines home as a space. On Thursday, Nov. 2, Hofstra’s Africana Studies Program and the department of writing and rhetoric presented “Reimagining Home as a Space, not Place.” This event featured Woodruffe’s autoethnographic research to redefine the meaning of home from a transnational feminist framework. This momentous occasion was also marked as a period in Woodruffe’s academic career that has come full

philosophy of ‘each one, teach one,’ I have been influenced by the wonderful work [Woodruffe] has done as a student as well as a colleague,” Merrill said.

Woodruffe theorized home as a space from a transnational feminist framework. According to Woodruffe, the term transnational characterized her dual citizenship as a Trinidadian by birth and American through naturalization and her mobility across territorial, social and aesthetic borders.

Furthermore, it encompassed her “intersectional set of

an international undergraduate student from Trinidad, she struggled with “nowhereism,” which can be described as the “sense that I don’t feel attached to any one place because I have no real roots there,” Woodruffe said.

She described that being away from Trinidad, the only home she had known until that point of her life, created a dissonance related to loss, including the “loss of cultural connections, interpersonal connections and loss of social support.” Emotional dissonance

home as an essential state of being, traveling as interiority and [the] recreation of the home is an ongoing subjective process of reconstructing familiarity and safety while simultaneously adapting, acculturating and figuring out how to assimilate.”

Woodruffe concluded with a critical poetic autoethnography in the form of a bio poem to narrate her experiences as a transnational woman living in a space between two lands.

As Woodruffe read her bio poem, the audience sat mesmerized as they reflected and

does not necessarily have to be fixed in either time or space.

Dr. Woodruffe uses the terms “space” and “place” a little differently than a geographer, but the essence is the same.”

Recently, Woodruffe and Merrill collaborated to research links to Edmonia Lewis, a nineteenth century Black and Native American sculptor who received national and international acclaim. Woodruffe and Merrill’s work is still ongoing as they research Lewis and other aspects of Black history and the diaspora.

Professors Lisa Merrill (left) and Veronica Lippencott (right) were proud to welcome Anjuliet Woodruffe (middle) back to Hofstra University.

Photo courtesy of Veronica Lippencott

Students frustrated after Hofstra closes down campus salad bars

By Giovanni Salsa STAFF WRITER

With the recent controversy regarding the increase in food prices on campus, students have expressed frustration due to the salad bars in Bits & Bytes and the Student Center Café being closed for several weeks without notice. On Oct. 24, Chermele Christy, the associate dean of students at Hofstra University, reached out to the Student Advisory Panel GroupMe to announce that the salad bars in both locations will be closed until further notice due to complications with the machinery.

“The salad bar in Bits & Bytes is currently out of service due to a faulty compressor, and the salad bar in the student center has reached its life expectancy and will no longer hold temperature below 40 degrees,” said Michael Ogazon, the director of budget and administrative services at Facilities and Operations.

A new compressor was purchased and installed for the salad bar at Bits and Bytes on Wednesday, Nov. 8, and the salad bar has been reopened since Thursday, Nov. 9.

The replacement process for the salad bar in the Student Center Café is much more complicated than just a technical issue.

“The salad bar in the student center is a bit more complicated,” Ogazon said. “This unit is over 25 years

old and has reached its life expectancy. The unit is scheduled to be demolished and discarded during the Thanksgiving break when student population is low, which will also provide the time to make necessary repairs to the space. The university has purchased four new salad bar units that will service the campus community.”

The temporary closure has raised concerns among the Hofstra student body who were looking for healthy alternatives for the time being.

“The shutdown of these salad and fruit stations across campus definitely concerns me to a large degree,” said Ashley Blum, a sophomore pre-med health sciences major. “As someone who has been trying to be much more health conscious, it’s already extremely difficult to find healthy options on campus, and now we practically have none.”

Some students had no knowledge of either salad bar being closed or why they were shut down. Many students were upset that Hofstra did not send out a mass email to all students regarding the reason why the salad bars were out of order and when they were expected to return.

“I feel that it was deceptive and unacceptable for Hofstra to take away such a massive healthy option for students without properly informing them,” said J.J. Vogt, a junior film and criminology student.

Blum, who is an active member in the Student Advisory GroupMe, was also upset with how the information was presented.

“I feel that an email could’ve been sent out to all students regarding the issue, since the topic of healthy food options on campus doesn’t just relate to us students who are in the student advisory board chat,” Blum said. “Students who don’t have access to that chat had to find out ‘through the grapevine’ and through second-hand sources, rather than hearing it from administrators or dining staff.”

Ogazon stated that Compass Dining opened a smaller salad bar in the Student Center Café at G8 and smaller pre-packaged salads have been increased in production across campus.

Regarding the rising prices in food at Hofstra, a $7 value meal has been put into place in the Student Center Café and Bits and Bytes to offer cheaper meal options for students who are running low on their meal plan. Ogazon stated that this combo meal option was based on their meeting with frustrated students on Oct. 10. For more details, see the Chronicle’s articles “Hofstra students voice their outrage about food price inflation” and “New affordable dining options come to Hofstra.”

Public Safety Briefs

Compiled by Moriah Sukhlal

declined at the time.

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 Nov. 1, at 4:15 p.m., a non-student reported to PS that they parked their vehicle by Stuyvesant Hall. Upon return, there was a note on the windshield from an unknown person stating they witnessed another vehicle hit it, causing damage to the driver-side rear panel. NCP responded and took a report.

On Oct. 27, at 10:21 a.m., the fire alarm in Cambridge House was activated due to burnt food. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated within 10 minutes without incident. PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

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. 30, at 5:20 p.m., an HU student reported to PS that they discovered their bicycle lock had been cut and their bicycle was missing from the bicycle shelter outside Netherlands South. Police assistance was declined at the time.

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

On Oct. 31, at 10:41 p.m., an HU student reported to PS that they discovered their bicycle lock had been cut and their bicycle was missing from the bicycle rack outside Axinn Library. Police assistance was declined at the time.

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

On Nov. 2, at 8:05 p.m., an HU student reported to PS that while traveling southbound on California Avenue across Hempstead Turnpike, their vehicle was struck by another vehicle which was traveling northbound on California Avenue and attempting to make a left turn onto Hempstead Turnpike. The driver of the second vehicle left the scene prior to exchanging information. The first vehicle sustained damage to the front of the car, and there were no injuries. NCP responded and took a report.

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 Nov. 3, at 2:15 p.m., an HU student reported to PS that they parked their vehicle by the Colonial Square east gate. Upon return, the student discovered damage to the driver’s side door. Police assistance was declined at the time.

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 April 8, at 11:14 p.m., the RA in Utrecht House

On Nov. 1, at 2:00 p.m., an HU student reported to PS that they parked their vehicle by HofUSA. Upon returning to their vehicle, there was a note on the windshield from an unknown person stating they witnessed a separate vehicle hit it, causing damage to the rear bumper. Police assistance was

On Nov. 4, at 11:49 p.m., an RA in Utrecht House reported to PS that while conducting rounds, they observed that the door to a room was propped open and there was alcohol visible inside a common area. Upon the arrival of PS, the door had been closed, and there was no alcohol observed in plain sight. The student occupants of the room were reminded of Hofstra’s policies.

On April 14, at 5:25 p.m., the fire alarm in Hampton House was activated due to burnt food in the kitchen. The alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated.

Nassau County Police

RA – Resident Assistant

Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle

Photo courtesy of Giovanni Salsa

Due to the salad bars closing, the one in the Student Center Café has been replaced with beverages and fruit.

By Michelle Rabinovich SPORTS EDITOR

Be patient with me here. After I watched “Barbie” and debriefed with my best friend, we agreed that I tend to let my pursuit of journalism take up a hefty chunk of my life – even if it comes from a place of deep love and passion. The movie showed me that women were more than the professions they occupied, which is something I feel that I fail at spectacularly. I said to myself, “Holy sh*t, I’m hiding behind my work.”

So, when you remove my studying and pursuit of journalism, who am I? I’m not always sure.

Since I can’t do anything alone, I asked my mother this question. She didn’t even blink when she said, “смотря с какой стороны подойти,” which translates to, “Depends from which side to approach [this question].” So, let’s look at this from a few angles. What else do I hide behind?

Let’s start with the obvious: my work. I have been an aspiring journalist for some time now – my passion for the pursuit of truth intersecting with my love for sports. I can’t imagine a life without The Hofstra Chronicle; hearing and writing people’s stories started a fire in my heart that I don’t plan on letting die anytime soon. Am I just a reporter? Writing, hitting backspace and writing again – is that it? Obviously I know how silly it sounds – I’m only 20 and I have my whole life ahead of me to figure out “who I am,” but I think it’s time I start to peel back my own layers. You’re welcome to stay for the journey. I’m nervous too.

FEATURES

Personal essay: Who am I?

member of a generation that’s all about talking about their feelings, I suck at it.

But I remember when I had this sh*tty feeling about my sense of self. At my first on-site for the sports section, I shadowed an editor who was also involved in WRHU. I didn’t know much

ing someone in the radio station all there is to me?” Obviously, there’s a clear-cut answer to this: absolutely not. I’m too fiercely independent for that. I would single-handedly set feminism back 50 years if I said otherwise. That puts those anxieties to bed very nicely, but it’s still on my mind

My parents immigrated here from the USSR, so the language spoken at home in Brooklyn is Russian. I switch back and forth between English and Russian on the phone with my parents and curse in Russian (sorry, Mom) when I’m tired, angry or frustrated. It’s natural to me.

“Just like how the Barbies in the ‘Barbie’ movie weren’t one-dimensional, neither am I. We are not just our craft, but the sum of our passions, our fears, our regrets, our ambitions, our angers, our past experiences and everything in between.”

– heartache, writer’s block or anxiety from midterms. The two are inexplicably intertwined in my mind: the Eastern bloc and muscling through. Surrender is not an option. The women in my life have never given up in their struggles, from communism to making it in this country as immigrants; I’m not about to start. Maybe it’s the stereotype, maybe it’s true to life. So maybe I put myself behind that kind of mentality, that giving up isn’t an option in the multiple-choice test of my life. But to the root of the question, honestly, I’m still not sure. Ask different people and you’ll get different responses, but writing it all out proved to me that, at my core, I’m a writer who cares about more than what she writes about. Just like how the Barbies in the “Barbie” movie weren’t one-dimensional, neither am I. We are not just our craft, but the sum of our passions, our fears, our regrets, our ambitions, our angers, our past experiences and everything in between. Why did it take me this entire article to realize? Say it with me: I don’t know. Frustrating, I know. Welcome to my world. Nowhere is the mention of all the people I’ve loved in the past, the concerts I’ve lost my voice at, the movies that have brought me to tears, the books that made me fall in love with reading and writing, my mistakes and regrets, my moments of pride and joy shared with family and loved ones, and so much more.

I can say with a clear conscience that I don’t know how to deal with difficult feelings. For a

about the guy, but we had a mutual friend – my boyfriend at the time. He gave me an epithet when introducing me to others: “this is Michelle, [so-and-so’s] girlfriend.” I’m not upset by this comment anymore, but it made me wonder, “Is the fact I’m dat-

pretty regularly. Here in the Chronicle, after having worked shoulder-to-shoulder for over a year with the same editor who taught me everything I know, he gave me another epithet: “the Russian.”

Linguistic implications aside, it’s a comfort to me. If I get close to throwing in the towel, I think of my mother and my grandmother’s little Russian phrases that have all taught me to keep pushing on until the bitter end of whatever I’m enduring

So, who am I? I am a ridiculously proud daughter of Soviet Jewish immigrants, to start. A life-long reader and learner, second. A writer, third. And someone trying to see beyond her love or work. A million other things follow to form a complete and complicated person on this floating rock in space.

Michelle Rabinovich / The Hofstra Chronicle

By Fawwaz SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

As we begin to see finals week looming into the horizon, we find ourselves already overthinking and, dare I say, stressing. As someone who works tirelessly to offer others new and unconventional ways to seek self-care, I shy away from the typical advice. The advice, as we know, is typically to get enough sleep, eat well, exercise and – ever-so-popular – “relax.” Needless to say, I don’t completely denounce these traditional methods on bettering your outlook as a college student, but I want to give my readers a new and perhaps eccentric way to improving your emotional and internal health as you approach the challenges of being a college student.

Yoga and meditation: I can hear the sighs and groans of many as I write this article. I urge my readers to take this first step liberally and enthusiastically. Yoga and meditation are perhaps overlooked and considered a dull affair. Some of the typical concerns or criticism I hear about this internal exercise are “I can’t stand the deafening silence,” or “What’s the point in humming as you cross your legs?” I was once a negative critic of such physical and mental exercises, but after many trials, I found that daily meditation and yoga, especially

By Zoe Casselman

FEATURES EDITOR

I spend my days seeing the sunlight in slivers,

peeking through the blinds.

I’ve confined myself to this room

like it is my cell

and I see the sun only from the window the lines of light uniformly spread against the concrete

FEATURES

Personal essay: A guide to self-care

in the morning, has immensely helped ease my mind. The beauty of this method is that it is open ended with no rules whatsoever. It is yours for the taking, and you have the liberty to experiment; try all sorts of meditation and hone in on whatever process works for you.

It’s completely normal to feel confused as to where to start. I highly suggest that you follow yoga instructors online. Karma and Luck is a well-known brand that focuses on healing jewelry. But they also offer weekly morning yoga sessions on their Instagram that are free of charge! I have personally attended many of their yoga sessions, and I can confidently say I left each session feeling relieved and tension-free.

Skincare: Now that you have worked on internal cleansing with yoga and meditation, it’s time to begin the exterior cleansing. Being told to work on your skincare probably doesn’t come as a new notion because we all should have already established a skincare routine that best works for us. However, on days where you feel significantly stressed, attempt to be adventurous with a new skincare routine. Pushing your boundaries with skincare means trying something that might be out of the ordinary for you, like feet or hand masks that feel absolutely divine! Try cucumber peels over your mud

mask or face steams over your sink. Skincare is so much more than just exterior maintenance; instead, it is a state of mind.

Put down your phone: Electronic devices have become an essential part of our lives, and as college students, we rely on our phones heavily.

Electronics have become so essential that letting go of them can trigger feelings of withdrawal. Don’t be alarmed if that happens, but try to designate one day of the week where you limit your electronic usage. Put down your phone; let your family and friends know you’re having a day off. Use that day to journal, draw or even read. Get lost in pages instead of TikToks or Instagram Reels. Believe me when I say that one day with limited use of electronics is one of the quickest ways to alleviate the mind of any stressful thoughts.

Use nostalgia to your benefit: Being on a college campus, we often encounter students from all walks of life. Most of us are far away from home, therefore we yearn for nostalgic things that bring us familiarity. Nostalgia when you are away from your comfort place can be hard to process, but using nostalgia to your benefit is possible and achievable.

I discovered that if you play something that brings you to a place of comfort in the back-

ground, the nostalgia of it can help you study and retain information. I was a little skeptical of this at first, but there’s no harm in trying. Growing up, I was the biggest Scooby-Doo lover there was, and hearing the theme song alone brought me back to a space and time in my life where I was at my happiest. I split my computer screen into two, having an essay I had to complete on the left and Scooby-Doo playing on the right. While it was slightly distracting at first, the nostalgia worked its magic. It put me at ease where I found myself writing my essay without feeling distracted by the investigative talking dog.

Although I can’t wholeheartedly claim that any form of nostalgia will make you retain your studies better, the major

Poem: Isolation

warming the cool rock

the blinds click with each stretch further

they’re so warm

I push them open until the sunlight burns it is too hot to handle

the blinds click closed I recede

back into my thin strips of sun,

scorched and seething

theme in all of this is to try. Try out having a nostalgic show in the background as you study, and if that doesn’t work, try having nostalgic sounds, music or even smells!

I would like to leave everyone with a final quote from Jane Austen that has always aided me through tough times. She says, “Run mad as often as you choose, but do not faint!” The way I interpret this quote is that you may be brought down once or twice, and that’s alright. “But do not faint” alludes to not staying down and succumbing to failure. The moment you “faint” is the moment you give in to defeat. With that, I hope these tips help you as much as they helped me.

Courtesy of Carlos Felipe Ramírez Mesa / Unsplash

Courtesy of Camille Brodard / Unsplash

M AN ON THE U NISPAN

If you could see any musical artist, dead or alive, who would it be?

By Zoe Casselman and Frankie DiCalogero FEATURES EDITOR AND SPORTS EDITOR

“I’d

O verheard @ h O fstra

“My hamster bit my lip. That was my first kiss.”

“Yesterday when I was in the shower I convinced myself that Golden Freddy was on the other side and I had to check.”

“They played this game in elementary school called ‘Tommy tag’ where the point of the game was to run away from me.”

“It’s a personal goal of mine to never be in that small of a space with that many other dudes.”

“You have sprinkles on your butt, dude.”

“How were they exchanging juices if it was on FaceTime?”

“My boyfriend makes thirst traps. How do I tell him he’s ugly?”

I didn’t say Prince. ”

“British penises are so underdeveloped.”

“They don’t think you’re a professor, they think you’re a daddy.”

“Oh, that’s boobs.”

Spread by Audra Nemirow

“This is hard. I feel like my boyfriend would be mad if

- Nour Beydoun, junior

“A Boogie Wit da Hoodie for sure.”

- Shir Wortman, freshman

probably say Mac Miller.”

- Matthew Sehembri, freshman

Zoe Casselman/ The Hofstra Chronicle

FEATURES

Chron Cooks ft. Josie Racette: Homemade apple pie

By Josie Racette ASSISTANT COPY CHIEF

If someone were to ask me what my favorite fall food was, I would immediately respond with my mom’s homemade apple pie. While the dish is delicious, the real enjoyment is being able to bake it with my mom and sister during Thanksgiving break. It is best to prepare the pie the day before baking it, but that’s part of the enjoyment of preparing any Thanksgiving dish. I hope you enjoy it as much as do!

Ingredients:

For pie crust:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons white sugar

2 sticks 8-ounce cold salted butter

½ cup ice water

For pie filling:

7 cups or 3 pounds Cortland apples

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup white sugar

½ cup brown sugar

1-2 teaspoons cinnamon

½ teaspoon ginger

¼ teaspoon clove

3 tablespoons flour

Instructions:

For pie crust:

1. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

2. Cut the sticks of butter lengthwise, dice and add into flour.

3. Using your hands, break up the diced butter into pea-sized, flour-coated pieces.

4. Add 1-2 tablespoons of cold water at a time to the bowl until it forms a shaggy ball of dough.

5. Put the dough on the counter and shape into 2 flat disks. Cover with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight.

6. When ready to assemble, roll out dough disks on a floured surface until each is big enough to fit your pie dish with extra over the sides.

Instructions continued:

For pie filling:

1. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except apples and butter.

2. Peel, core and slice the apples into ¼ inch to ½ inch slices.

3. Mix the apples into the bowl of sugar and spices.

For assembly and baking:

1. Add the apple pie filling to the prepared pie crust, and top with diced butter before covering with the remaining dough disk for the top crust.

2. Trim the extra crust off with clean scissors or a knife.

3. Wet the bottom crust edge to seal the top crust, and crimp the edges together with a fork.

4. Add 3-5 steam vents/slashes on the top with a knife.

5. Brush with cream or milk, and sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired.

6. Freeze the pie to bake frozen later, or chill it in the freezer while preheating the oven.

7. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400°F.

8. To prevent spills from burning, place a baking sheet under the pie and put it on a rack in the lower third of the oven.

9. Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes and then at 350°F for 30-45 minutes. Add aluminum foil to cover the crust edges if the crust is over-browning during the second half of baking.

10. Let cool for 1-2 hours.

11. Cut, serve and enjoy!

Josie Racette / The Hofstra Chronicle

Fired up with the Hofstra Pride

This Thursday, Nov. 9, Hofstra Athletics hosted its second annual Winter Sports Bonfire to celebrate the start of Hofstra’s winter sports season. The event featured performances by the Hofstra Pep Band, the Hofstra Cheer Team and the Hofstra Dance Team. Students got the chance to meet the men’s and women’s basketball teams and the wrestling team.

Photo courtesy of D’Angelo Guevara

Photo courtesy of D’Angelo Guevara

Photo courtesy of D’Angelo Guevara

Photo courtesy of Annie MacKeigan

Photo courtesy of Annie MacKeigan

Photo courtesy of Denivia Rivera

Photo courtesy of Denivia Rivera

Photo courtesy of Denivia Rivera

Arts And EntErtAinmEnt

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ smashes box office

By Giovanni Salsa STAFF WRITER

The recent release of the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” movie on Oct. 27 has reignited the franchise’s popularity, and fans of the games swarmed the theaters. The majority of the fans of the original game of the same name, which came out on Aug. 8, 2014, are now adults; however, the film’s financial success at the box office proves that older fans were still eager to rush to the theaters to see it.

“Five Nights at Freddy’s” started as a point-and-click survival horror game created by Scott Cawthon. The player is a security guard trying to survive the night shift at Freddy Fazbear’s pizzeria and needs to survive from midnight to 6 a.m., or nearly nine minutes in the game, constantly checking their surroundings utilizing cameras, lights and doors, and hiding from animatronics that are trying to kill the player.

The story behind the game has drastically evolved over the course of nine years. The story of the first game is simple: a night guard is trying to survive five nights at the pizzeria as he is trying to protect himself from possessed animal-themed animatronics. The sequels expand on the lore of this world by introducing the creator of the animatronics and pizzeria, William Afton, who serves as the primary antagonist of the franchise. The franchise spans over 13 games,

By Abby Gibson

ASSISTANT ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

EDITOR

Record labels are discussing a big change in the world of rerecording albums as the success of Taylor Swift’s “Taylor’s Version” releases increase. With Swift’s fourth re-recorded album released on Oct. 27, “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” record labels are discussing adding a clause to contracts for new signees to ensure that they do not rerecord albums for 10 to 30 years after they depart from the label. In some cases, labels are not allowing for artists to rerecord albums at all.

The process of rerecording an album was introduced in the 1960s, largely attributed to Frank Sinatra and The Everly Brothers. The Everly Brothers rerecorded their albums after switching record labels, and Frank Sinatra did so after creating a label of his own. Rerecording albums and songs can result in higher

including spin-offs and 28 books.

The success and popularity of “Five Nights at Freddy’s” is largely owed to the YouTube gaming community, specifically Mark Fischbach, known professionally as Markiplier, and Matthew Patrick, known as MatPat.

Markiplier’s countless videos and series playing every installment of “Five Nights at Freddy’s” since the launch of the first game has accumulated hundreds of millions of views, with his first video gaining 114 million views alone.

MatPat, who runs the Game Theory YouTube channel, is often credited for being the reason that the lore of “Five Nights at Freddy’s” is so expansive. He got this recognition for being one of the first people to theorize about what the story was and where it was headed

The future of rerecords

royalties when used in commercials, films and movie trailers. Typically, they are done either to make more money or, in Swift’s case, to regain control of the master recordings.

Master recordings – the original recordings – are important for the artist both for historical and financial purposes. Most labels own the masters of their artists, but artists are finding it more important to own these masters themselves. Pop singer Prince commented on the importance of owning masters for an artist in 1996 in an interview with Rolling Stone: “If you don’t own your masters, your master owns you,” he said. Newer artists, such as Olivia Rodrigo, are making sure their contract states that they own the masters to their recordings to avoid a challenging situation.

The reasoning behind Swift’s rerecording path was due to her master recordings being sold to Hollywood manager

after the release of the first game. MatPat is even featured in a cameo in the film as a waiter.

According to interviews with Cawthon, Markiplier was supposed to film a cameo as well but couldn’t because of scheduling conflicts with his own film.

The movie had a budget of $25 million, and in just over two weeks after release, it has grossed a domestic total of $113 million and a global total of $231.9 million. The film is breaking box office records and is the highest-grossing horror film of 2023.

It is safe to say that the movie alluded to a potential sequel, or multiple, throughout the film. When asked about a sequel and the future of the franchise, the film’s director, Emma Tammi, told Variety, “We’re definitely excited to keep making more movies in this world, should we be lucky enough to do that.” It is evident that the filmmakers want to further explore and expand on the film adaptations of the games, leaving audiences with the promise of more to come.

Quick Hits

Scooter Braun. When Swift left Big Machine Records in 2019, Scott Borchetta (Swift’s former advisor at Big Machine) sold her original recordings to Scooter Braun behind her back. This led to Swift going down the path to taking back her music. Swift has seen her “Taylor’s Version” rerecordings become even more successful than the originals and cause a resurgence of her popularity far beyond what the albums once were.

With Swift’s rerecordings, her original albums have seen a drop in revenue. Since “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” dropped, sales of the original have decreased by 44%. By controlling when the artists rerecord their music, or if they can at all, they also control where and who the revenue goes to.

Swift rerecording her first six albums has arguably been one of her most successful business moves. Each rerecorded album has done better than its original,

which says enough on its own. Labels are most likely fearful of their artists going to another label and following in Swift’s footsteps. In an article for Billboard, Steve Knopper wrote, “Today, attorneys are receiving label contracts that expand that period to 10 or 15 years or more — and the attorneys are pushing back … It could have been five to seven years from the release date of the original or two years after the contract expired.”

Now that things are evolving in the industry, it is creating another step in contracting an artist to a label. Swift could be the last artist to have the freedom to rerecord their music in as little as five years from the original music being released. While record labels fight to have their artists wait, the attorneys will be giving them a run for their money. Swift is once again influencing the business side of the music industry, and time will tell if it is for the better or worse.

Courtesy of US Weekly

Courtesy of People

SAG-AFTRA has ended its actor’s strike after nearly four months.

Influencer Luana Andrade has died at 29 after liposuction surgery.

The first “Mean Girls” movie musical trailer was released on Wednesday, Nov. 8.

“The Marvels” has lowestever opening for a Marvel film at $47 million.

Courtesy of IGN

Travis Kelce traveled to Argentina to see Taylor Swift perform for the first time.

Courtesy of Insight News

Courtesy of LAist

A sequel is expected to be in development for the movie franchise.

Photo courtesy of IMDb

By Aidan Judge ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

With television and film content running short due to the SAGAFTRA strike, uncertainness is looming over the entertainment industry. In this trying time, everyone could use a laugh, which is exactly the mission of American High.

Founded by Jeremy Garelick (previously known for his work on “The Hangover”), American High is a modern projection of quick-witted, fast-paced comedy. Utilizing Gen Z’s zany sense of blunt, uber-relatable humor, American High’s content expands from its increasingly popular social media pages to full-length motion pictures on Hulu. Before making an even bigger name in 2023 through their social media pages, American High was responsible for a wide range of opportunities and exposure for contemporary comedy royalty. Most notably, American High’s “Big Time Adolescence” (a Hulu original film) stars comedy megastar and former Saturday Night Live actor Pete Davidson in his

Introducing American High

first leading role and executive producing role in a major motion picture. Davidson’s Hulu film wasn’t the first time American High had made an impact in the world of streaming and comedy. In fact, the company also created and produced one of the very first Hulu original films, “The Binge,” in 2020, directed by Garelick. There is a unique component of American High’s creation culture that simply cannot be overlooked: its setting. American High has the unique distinction of being a production company that sets its films in an abandoned high school, adding a sense of realism and dedication to all of their content. Their social media content is also produced there, distinguishing American High from their counterparts in terms of uniqueness and sheer dedication to creating real and relatable comedy content for all.

Following the huge success of “Big Time Adolescence,” American High has produced a whopping 12 Hulu originals following an eight-picture deal with the streaming service and most re-

‘Attack

By Giovanni Salsa STAFF WRITER

“Attack on Titan” has finally come to an end after being on the air for over 10 years. The anime, based on the manga of the same name, tells the story of oppression, the cost of freedom and the endless cycle of violence. The series has gained immense popularity over its run, and due to its complex themes, it has sparked up discussions and debates that are still ongoing even after the final episode has aired.

The finale, titled “The Battle of Heaven and Earth,” clocked in at one hour and 25 minutes and finally saw the conclusion of the story and its massive cast of characters after the final season being stretched over three years.

“Attack on Titan” follows the story of protagonist Eren Yeager as he grows up in a world where humanity is confined and trapped behind a series of walls that protect them from massive humanoid

cently released “Miguel Wants to Fight” on Aug. 16. After finding such great success with their original films, American High seized an opportunity that changed the game for the production company – expanding to social media.

When the WGA strike began in May, writers and production teams across the country reached a stalemate in deciding the next step. What kind of content could be produced in such a time? Well, American High took a leap of faith that worked tremendously in their favor and launched American High Shorts and American High Digital. Social media intertwined with American High’s Gen Z-style humor was the perfect substitution at a time when major content wasn’t being produced.

Within the first few months of the launch of American High Digital, the production company amassed over 500,000 followers, notably going viral for their “Alpha Dads at a football game” Instagram reel, parodying stereotypical dads at football games for their sons. Just recently, the company hit a milestone of one

million followers on TikTok, a testament to the hardwork and dedication from the pages stars and producers. Creating shorts with American High’s flare and style is the perfect outlet-quick, short-form material that packs a punch and receives instant feedback for the creators in the comment section, something that isn’t available for their major projects during the strike. All of American High’s content connects relatability and humor to the commonality of the high school experience, something all of its viewers can tap into and appreciate. Content creation is a weekly, almost daily occurrence for those at American High. President Will Phelps and American High digital director and producer Axelle Azoulay said in an interview with the Chronicle that their creation and production models mirror the success of “Saturday Night Live,” with five core members making up the main cast of American High’s digital content and guest stars appearing in their shorts every week (which American High has booked through the end

of this year already). Each week of creation for American High is jam-packed. Monday is dedicated to brainstorming in the writer’s room, Tuesday to writing, and Wednesday through Friday to shooting the shorts. At the end of the week, up to 60-70 shorts can be produced and are ready to be posted on American High’s social accounts. American High’s main five cast members have received opportunities outside of the socials as well, as they starred in American High’s latest Hulu original film.

So where is American High headed next? Azoulay confirms there is an American High podcast on the way where hosts and guests will tap into their past high school experiences and discuss their wonder years. A music video was just released with Grace Reiter, a first for the company. With content being produced in all major media forms, American High is a comedic force to be reckoned with, so don’t be surprised if your For You page is flooded with their witty, one-of-a-kind content soon.

on Titan’ finale wraps iconic series

monsters called Titans. Following the destruction of his home in the pilot episode, Eren promises to kill all the Titans, and with each episode, there is a new twist or turn that keeps the viewers engaged.

Many people regard Attack on Titans as one of the best anime shows ever made. It is highly praised not just for its complex and nuanced characters and plots, but for its animation as well. The show began under the Japanese animation studio WIT Studio, which animated the show until the end of Season 3. Right before the completion of Season 3, the showrunners consulted with WIT Studio and concluded that they wanted the final season of the show to signify a turning point in the story. They expanded the

show’s scale by switching to the studio MAPPA.

In an article with Newtype magazine (shared by Yutsomi Chan on Medium), “Attack on Titan” producer Kensuke Tateishi spoke about the difficult process of finding a new animation studio to helm the final season.

“Through many talks with WIT Studio, we understood that the continuation would be difficult, so we looked for a new studio,” Tateishi said.

“The only studio that said they would consider it was MAPPA.

When we talked to WIT about it, they said they could rest easy knowing it was in MAPPA’s hands.

The producers agreed, so the production shifted to MAPPA.”

Despite the show having switched animation studios, it has maintained consistency regarding quality and spectacle. However, the shift in studios saw the inclusion of more 3D animated

sequences as opposed to the prior seasons, which heavily focused on 2D animation. Some had complaints about the shift, but overall, it was received positively.

“Attack on Titan” has captured the imagination of its viewers in almost every aspect of its storytelling. It is a perfect entry-level series for those who are interested in watching an anime series but don’t know where to start, as the story is very contained and focuses on telling a story from start to finish rather than overstaying its welcome. It is passionately crafted, and it shines within each frame of the show.

Those who are interested in watching the full series can find it on Hulu, Crunchyroll and Funimation. The first season is on Netflix for anyone interested in a “trial experience.”

The series ran for a total of 88 episodes by the end of its run.

Photo courtesy of Crunchyroll

The poignancy and power of Coppola’s ‘Priscilla’

By Nimba Mahlati

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

In 2022, Elvis Presley reentered cultural consciousness through the flamboyant eyes of Baz Luhrmann. Austin Butler’s portrayal – and the exuberant stylistic elements of the film – depicted the well-known and beloved Elvis. Sofia Coppola’s new film “Priscilla” demands her audience of something greater: nuance. She demands the King of Rock to be seen through the eyes of his ex-wife, Priscilla Presley. Represented in this movie is a farmore nuanced and loveable icon because he is understood through the woman who loves him. What’s more, Coppola is able to acutely delineate how it is that a woman can lose herself in love and crafts a sophisticated story that honors the lived experiences of women.

Priscilla, tenderly played by Cailee Spaeny, embarks on a physical metamorphosis to become the ideal woman for Elvis.

Like her husband, Priscilla takes on a larger-than-life persona: thicker, darker hair; overdrawn eye makeup; pageantry and showmanship. In this transformation, she

forsakes not just her preferred clothing choices and aesthetics, but herself entirely. This leads her to become beholden to Graceland, a woman wholly consumed by her persona. These seemingly insignificant sacrifices act as stepping stones for her journey into the dark

world that soon becomes her life. In other words, the film depicts a Dante-like descent into, through and out of “Priscilla.” Priscilla is not a woman, or even a person, but an object of affection and service indebted to her husband. In illustrating Priscilla this way, Coppola

is able to resonate deeper sentiments about the costs of womanhood.

Ironically, the film exhibits Priscilla’s emotional turmoil through music. The score, which is highly intentional and subversive, serves to inform the audience of Priscilla’s inner feelings and the ultimate direction of her journey. Music supervisor Randall Poster departs from the traditional original score and opts for musical vignettes complemented with modern electronic tracks, characteristic of Coppola’s style. These musical choices create the atmospheres that surround the critical moments of the film, evoking pathos, joy, oppression and other emotional states effortlessly. Through the minimalistic camerawork, Coppola exacerbates the isolation of this woman alone in a man’s world – the frames in Graceland often are replete with the boisterous Memphis Mafia while an isolated Priscilla dwindles by the wayside. Furthermore, the

camerawork avoids attributing blame for problems such as addiction. For example, one scene in Las Vegas shows a hand offering a white pill, but it never reveals whose hand is extending it. These exonerations are an extension of the perspective through which the story is understood. The film seeks to show the reality of a past and person without judgement or justifications. “Priscilla” allows the breadth and space for the observation of truth divorced from an assessment of that truth, staying true to the beauty of a memoiric portrayal.

The poignancy of Coppola’s “Priscilla” lies in its simplicity. Ultimately, it is the delineation of a woman who fell and lost herself in love that reimagines an idol not sensationally, but intimately. The film stands as a powerful testament to the importance of honoring yourself, self discovery and liberation, understood through the pains of womanhood. For these reasons, “Priscilla” is nothing short of an understated masterpiece.

Photo courtesy of CNN

The film stars “Euphoria” star Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley.

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.

Recent atrocities in Palestine beg for media consciousness

By Giovanni Salsa

Over the past month, the media has covered the major controversy following a series of attacks that reminded the Western world of the horrors that are still at large in Palestine and Israel. On Oct. 7, following over 70 years of military occupation in Palestine, the Gaza-based political and militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel. This has led to a heightened consciousness about the string of events that has divided the world and cost the lives of thousands of innocents.

The history of the apartheid is long-standing but not complicated. Palestine was part of the Ottoman Empire before being captured by the United Kingdom in World War I. In 1917, during the war, the British government issued the Balfour Declaration to promote the creation of “a national home for the Jewish people” under the terms that it would not disturb the civil and

varying religious rights of the indigenous Palestinians. This was done without the consent of indigenous Palestinians. The region was formally mandated to Britain by the League of Nations in 1922, and hundreds of thousands of people began to immigrate to Palestine.

With growing tension and violence between the Jewish people, Palestinian Arabs and neighboring Arab states, the United Nations proposed a partition plan in 1947 that would divide the region into an Arab state and a Jewish state. Israel declared its independence in 1948, resulting in more conflict with neighboring Arab states. The conflict resulted in the 1949 Armistice Agreements, creating the Gaza Strip and West Bank Palestinian boundaries.

There’s been a rise in confusion regarding the perceptions of the current situation, and many are afraid to voice their opinions for fear of receiving backlash. Israel and Palestine are not synonymous with Juda-

ism and Islam and to support Palestine is not antisemitic. To clarify, Palestine is home to Jews, Christians and Muslims, and to advocate support for Palestine is to advocate for freedom from Israeli occupation. Many people are confused and believe that Palestine is an Islamic state and are using this crisis to project their Islamophobia. In the same sense, some are using the crisis to spread hatred towards Jewish people.

Israel allied with the U.S. soon after its independence in 1949. Since then, the U.S. has supported Israel with over $3 billion annually through the Foreign Military Financing program, which has helped fund the apartheid against the Palestinians. The United States’ support of Israel has shaped the depiction of Israel-Palestine relations, historically and in the present, in the press.

The lack of representation for Palestinian voices in Western media and the killing of journalists in Palestine has severely impacted the

way the public views the crisis and has led to many reducing the genocide to a “conflict” or a “two-sided war.”

Palestinian journalists and other activists have been working to raise awareness of their oppression for decades, and these journalists have helped many to see the atrocities for themselves. Without people actively documenting this genocide, it would be much easier to continue the ongoing onslaught against Palestinians.

On Thursday, Nov. 9, 750 journalists across the U.S. collectively signed a letter that condemned Israel’s targeting of reporters in Gaza and the dehumanization of Palestinians seen in most Western coverage. According to the latest tally from the Committee to Protect Journalists, as of Monday, Nov. 13, 42 journalists and media workers have been killed, mostly in retaliatory strikes by Israel. Many people will dismiss this as an unfortunate casualty of war, but on top of the thousands of innocent

Palestinians who have been murdered in the past month alone, the killing of journalists reporting on this crisis will lead to an even higher death toll.

It is vastly important for the public to be cautious and aware of where they get their news. The spread of propaganda and the United States’ unwavering support for Israel has cost the lives of thousands of Palestinians, which is why we need people to be accurately informed.

Media literacy is now more important than ever, and it is crucial to look deeper into the information presented before forming an opinion – even with this article.

Giovanni Salsa is a history major. You can find him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at GioSalsa1.

Hofstra’s name-change process desperately needs a change

CONTINUED FROM A1

I went through my orientation week at Hofstra with the wrong name, and it was a disaster. The nametags we had to wear had the wrong name. I couldn’t change it as it was laminated and every marker would rub off. The constant reminder of my name to others and covering up of my own name tag was humiliating. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, as I was not yet aware I could have it changed, but I wasn’t willing to do that for the rest of college.

I was incredibly relieved when I discovered that Hofstra could change it in their records for no cost. The paperwork was incredibly simple. It only took around eight days before I was informed that I had a new email address that reflected my

correct name, and I was assured I would have any emails sent to my former email forwarded to this one. However, it wouldn’t be until Welcome Week that I discovered how little had been changed.

When I arrived on movein day, I received my student ID which listed my old name. It was printed on Aug. 10, a few days before I filed the paperwork. This was disappointing, but ultimately, it was bad timing on my end. However, it didn’t stop there. Over the course of Welcome Week, I found more things that hadn’t been changed. I tried to log into Microsoft Office using my email with no luck. It wasn’t until I tried my old email that it worked. Picking up packages from the post office is a hassle because they could be listed under

either name, which confuses the workers when my ID says one name and the box says the other. But the worst and the weirdest was yet to come.

On the first day of school, I had two out of my five classes. My first professor had the correct name on her roster, but in my second class, my professor had the incorrect name listed on his roster. I registered for both classes on the same day, before I had filed my change of name form, so I have no idea why this occurred, but it wasn’t a good sign.

The next day, I had the same issue occur when two of my professors had the correct name and one didn’t. It wasn’t until my composition class that I realized the worst had yet to come. My professor mentioned an essay that he had mentioned in an email to the class which

was due the next time we met. I looked around startled, but nobody else seemed to feel the same way. I asked the person sitting next to me if she had gotten the email, and she said that she had. I was the only person in that room not to receive the email.

After class, I went up to my professor to ask him what contact information he had on file for me, and to my annoyance, it was my former email.

I had been told that all my emails would be forwarded to my new one without issue, but that was clearly not the case and continues to be that way. The most common conversation I’ve had with my classmates is along the lines of: “I didn’t get that email; would you mind forwarding it to me?”

I came to Hofstra hoping

for a new start where I didn’t have to start conversations by explaining I had two names. I didn’t want to be “Lee, who used to be _____,” I just wanted to be “Lee.” Hofstra’s name-change policy is a good start, but until the issues it causes with its systems are worked out, all it’s good for is claiming tolerance without proving it.

Lee Cusack is a freshman audio/radio production major. They’re from the most boring suburb in Massachusetts that you’ll never find.

He can be found @_tomnorm on Instagram.

Tom Norman is a sophomore journalism major.

Crossword 11/14

5. Something baked from scratch

8. "Law and ___"

10. Current Hofstra University men's basketball head coach

12. A symbol of abundance also known as the "horn of plenty”

14. Joaquin Phoenix's 2019 film success

15. ___ Thanksgiving Day Parade

1. Main course on Thanksgiving

2. “Bill ___ the Science Guy”

3. Last name of two famous directors, one a Hofstra alum

4. One of two equal parts

6. Baked good often made with apple, pumpkin or blueberry

7. "___ Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd

9. Squirrels collect these in the fall

11. Hofstra building on South Campus that was originally a gymnasium

12. Bird that frequents Hofstra's campus

13. The ___ is mightier than the sword

Graphic by Makenzie Hurt / The Hofstra Chronicle

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.

Hofstra’s final exam dates are a defeat to everyone

By Alex Ferriera

Like many, my favorite time of the year spans from Halloween to the winter holidays. Yet, over the last few years, it has not been easy to celebrate the things I love most about the holidays while at university. Sure, Hofstra has made some effort, but not nearly as much as they could, which is another problem entirely. We all look forward to finishing the fall semester and using the winter break to properly celebrate while at home.

Hofstra’s students and administration are currently gearing up for the most wonderful yet stressful time of the year. Through it all, the reward of finishing my coursework and heading home to celebrate with family and friends makes the hardships worth it. Just the image of finishing my classes and honoring my favorite holiday

activities leaves me with a feeling of warmth and inspires me to keep pushing through.

While recently making travel plans, I discovered that this year’s final exams are set on Thursday, Dec. 14, Friday, Dec. 15, Monday, Dec. 18, and Wednesday, Dec. 20 – meaning an entire weekend breaks up the final exam schedule.

Yes, that’s right. This year’s final exams will require most students to extend their time on campus and delay the time they could be home. Last fall, exams ended on Monday, Dec. 19, but many students were done with their exams before the weekend.

If your exams only fall on Thursday and Friday, consider yourself lucky, as many of us will have to stay that weekend. But why don’t we have final exams all in that same week? The first week set for scheduled finals, classes will meet regularly on Monday, Dec. 11. However, there will

be no classes for undergraduate courses on Tuesday, Dec. 12, and Wednesday, Dec. 13, as they are the university’s snow/ study/reading days.

I’d rather take my exams during the snow/study/reading dates and have the opportunity to leave earlier. With the inclusion of the weekend, there is a total of four days that prevents students from departing early and celebrating the holiday in their comfort.

Since regular classes are expected to meet on Dec. 11, why not schedule the snow days for Monday and Tuesday? That may allow some flexibility for students to leave.

While everyone’s final exams look different, not everyone will benefit from those four days. Exam preparation involves more than just studying and revising notes. To perform at their best, students must manage their stress and anxiety which requires mental and emotional preparation.

Unfortunately, delaying the exams will only add to their worries, and students may find coping with the added stress challenging.

Additionally, Hofstra’s fall semester began much later than most other universities. Our first day of classes in 2023 began on Sept. 5, whereas many other schools started classes in August. If we began classes earlier, there may have been the potential to have a more organized finals week.

Students are not the only ones impacted by this year’s late exams. Our professors must stay late to proctor our exams, and resident assistants must assist with residents moving out. If there’s anyone who deserves this break the most, it is Hofstra staff.

On a personal note, having a birthday during finals week sounds unlucky, but they’ve worked out the last couple of years that I could celebrate with my family and friends.

My 21st birthday is on that Saturday, and that may mean I have to stay the weekend for my exams instead of celebrating back home. Sure, I can celebrate at Hofstra, but family is important to me and many other students.

Unfortunately, the way the dates work out for the semester’s conclusion is not ideal. At the end of the day, everyone has worked hard the last few months, and that is something that the higher-ups at Hofstra should recognize for students and everyone involved in the Hofstra community. While two days does not seem like much time, in the grand scheme of the holiday season, that’s a significant portion of celebrating what is supposed to be the “most wonderful time of the year.”

Alex Ferriera is a third-year fine arts major with a concentration in design.

Airlines aren’t improving the flying experience

By Estelle Collette

As if the cost of flying anywhere today was not already demanding, passengers are also at risk of being kicked off flights they have already registered for, delayed for hours without clear updates or sent to board a plane just to wait over an hour for the crew to time out. Instead of placing passengers on new flights sooner, people are forced to sit and wait despite the airline knowing the flight will never take off.

Even if a flight does leave on time without delays or cancellations, passengers being forced to either give up their seats or leave involuntarily is not uncommon, as flights are intentionally overbooked. The experience is often not worth the cost, as airlines care more about the profit than making sure people get to their destinations on time.

By overbooking flights, airlines cover the cost of any last-minute cancellations, allowing them to make maximum profit despite leaving other customers without a seat. Oftentimes, this leads to overcapacity and delayed flights. Passengers are forced off their planes, and those offered rewards for giving up seats are unaware of the compensation they truly deserve. Time Magazine stated that between Jan. and March 2022, 7,143 passengers were “involuntarily denied boarding” due to overbooking despite having confirmed tickets and reservations.

These instances can result in passengers missing connecting flights, experiencing further delays and sometimes missing the events they were flying to in the first place. According to the Air Travel Consumer Report from the U.S. Department of

Transportation, the number of passengers involuntarily bumped off of their flights in the first quarter of 2023 had decreased to a “rate of 0.30 per 10,000 passengers” which has improved since last year’s rate of 0.44.

Despite this improvement, according to Air Help, 85% of passengers around the world and “more than 95% of Americans” according to Time Magazine are unaware of potential compensation. Again, 85% of airline travelers across countries and even more travelers in America are at risk of being taken advantage of when problems arise.

Another avoidable inconvenience caused by airline practices is the timing out of employees. Pilots and airline crews have limited hours they are legally allowed to work. The Code of Federal Regulations states one pilot may only fly for up to eight hours of regular

duty and no more than nine. Therefore, if a flight is delayed long enough, it is destined to be canceled as the crew can no longer legally fly the plane. However, this information is not openly relayed to passengers.

This past October, I found myself in this same situation. What first appeared to be an hour-long delay turned into five hours, three planes and a canceled flight. We first boarded the plane from California to New Jersey only to find out there was a problem with the engine, resulting in the deboarding of the plane. The delay continued for two hours until we were told our flight would be departing on a new plane shortly. In the meantime, we were provided $15 meal vouchers which barely covered the cost of an airport meal. The pilot repeatedly assured us we would be leaving soon. After over an hour and a half,

we were told the entire crew had timed out, the flight would be canceled altogether and we would have to deboard for a second time. Thankfully, my group was squeezed onto the last possible flight and made it home after seven hours in the airport and five on the plane with only a compensation of $175.

Airlines need to do better. There is no reason passengers should be placed on a plane the crew knows will never leave the ground. There is no reason people should have to give their seats up due to purposeful overbooking. Rather than prioritizing profit, airlines need to prioritize their passengers.

Estelle Collette is a sophomore filmmaking major with a music minor.

By Dylan Brett STAFF WRITER

Men’s basketball falls short in home opener

Friday night lights.

The Hofstra University men’s basketball team dropped a tightly contested 74-67 decision to the Princeton University Tigers on Friday, Nov. 10, at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex in front of a raucous crowd of over 3,000 fans. The game was promoted as one of the top mid-major matchups of the season and certainly lived up to the billing, as the two sides traded clutch buckets down the stretch and treated the Hempstead crowd to a back-and-forth affair under the

“I’m really proud of my guys; they fought hard tonight,” said Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. “That’s a really good Princeton team. They went to the Sweet Sixteen last year, and they’re going to beat a lot of good teams.”

In the duel, the Tigers also had to navigate a majority of the contest without famed head coach Mitch Henderson, as he was ejected just eight minutes into the game during an apparent argument with the officiating crew.

On the court, sophomore Princeton forward Caden Pierce was the star of the night with a career-high 26 points paired with 15 rebounds. Princeton’s size proved to be a problem for the Pride all night long, as the Tigers relentlessly attacked Jacco Fritz and Christian Tomasco on the inside.

“I think what bothered us the most was playing against their length,” Claxton said. “We knew we had to live with something,

so we wanted to make [Pierce] beat us, and unfortunately, tonight, he did.”

The opening minutes of the second half proved to be the clincher for Princeton, as the Tigers opened the frame on a 12-4 run and led for the final 19 minutes of action. Hofstra trailed by as many as 12 points in the early parts, and just as the Pride appeared to be unraveling, redshirt sophomore Griffin Barrouk jolted his team back to life with a trio of 3-pointers off the bench to bring the deficit as low as five.

“I probably should have gotten [Barrouk] in during the first half,” Claxton said. “He’s been playing unbelievable, and he’s gonna have a big role here this season.”

The Hofstra offense was led by junior forward Darlinstone Dubar, who scored all 18 of his points in the second half and secured a pair of crucial offensive rebounds down the stretch.

“[Dubar] is going to be a

big piece of what we do here,” Claxton said. “That 18 points, we’re going to need that from him on a nightly basis.”

While Dubar excelled in the second half, Tyler Thomas was notably held in check by the Tigers, as the Pride’s new leader scored just five of his 13 points after the break. While Thomas is sure to face intense scrutiny when shouldering the burden of being Hofstra’s top scoring option all season long, his head coach was quick to

shrug off tonight’s performance as nothing more than a cold shooting game.

“That’s not a typical game for Tyler Thomas,” Claxton said. “We’ll bounce back from this.”

The Pride return to the court on Tuesday, Nov. 14, when they travel to Washington, D.C., to face off with the George Washington University Revolutionaries in the Pride’s first road game of the season.

Volleyball ends season with loss to Stony Brook

By Kenny Forman STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra University volleyball team were shut out by the Stony Brook University Seawolves 3-0 in a Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) match on Sunday, Nov. 12, at the David S. Mack Physical

Education Center. This marked the end of the regular season. The Pride finished 18-11 overall and 8-10 in CAA play. The Pride failed to advance to the CAA tournament and finished the season in eighth place out of 12 teams. The top six teams in the conference advance to the tournament, including Stony Brook, who finished fourth with Sunday’s win and improved to a record of 11-7 in conference play.

Despite the loss, Izadora Stedile recorded her 12th double-double of the season, leading the match with 17 kills and 17 digs. Beatriz Alves led both sides with 36 assists along with 11 digs in her 10th doubledouble of the season.

Stony Brook took the first set 26-24. The set was filled with a

lot of back-and-forth action to start before Stony Brook went up 15-12, prompting a Hofstra timeout. The Pride scored the next three points before the Seawolves took the next four to go up 19-15, forcing Hofstra to use their second timeout of the set. Both teams then put their foot on the gas and the set reached 24-24. However, Stony Brook took the next point and then won the set following an attack error from Yagmur Cinel.

The Seawolves won the second set 25-22. Hofstra got out to a hot 6-0 start. The two squads split the next eight points before Stony Brook used their second timeout with Hofstra up 10-4. That timeout refueled the Seawolves as they scored five out of the next six points. Moments later, the Pride went up 18-13. That’s when Stony Brook fired back and tied the score at 19. With the score 2221 in Stony Brook’s favor, the Pride used their second timeout, and the score advanced to 23-22 still in favor of the Seawolves.

Cinel then committed two consecutive attack errors in a row, allowing Stony Brook to pick up their second straight set.

The visitors completed the sweep by winning the third set 26-24. The Seawolves dominated early and promptly went up 13-11 before a Hofstra timeout. The teams continued to trade points before freshman Beatriz Braga recorded her second straight kill to put Hofstra at set point. Stony Brook scored the next point, and Hofstra used their second timeout, still up by one. Braga committed an attack error coming out of the timeout, and

the Seawolves won the next two points on service aces, winning the match.

Following the match, seniors Sarah Pierre and Yagmur Cinel were honored on the court, being joined by friends and families. Pierre accounted for 165 kills in the year through 105 sets played. Cinel finished second on the team with 287 kills in 99 sets played. Both were near the top of the team in points per set.

Hofstra head coach Emily Mansur was not available for comment for a post-game press conference.

Tyler Thomas was limited to 13 points in the loss.

Photo courtesy of Matteo Bracco / Hofstra Athletics

Hofstra finishes the season with an 8-10 record in league play.

Photo courtesy of Lee S. Weissman / Hofstra Athletics

Hofstra wrestlers earn big wins at Journeymen Classic

By Olivia Hillestad

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Members of the Hofstra University wrestling team competed at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic on Sunday, Nov. 12, in round-robin style brackets with Dylan Ryder and Keaton Kluever each beating ranked opponents.

Kluever, a transfer from the University of Minnesota, had an impressive day in the 285-pound weight class, winning all three of his matches by pins. He started his day by pinning North Carolina State University’s Chase Horne in the second period. Following that, Kluever caught Lucas Stoddard of Army West Point on his back just over a minute into the match for the win. In his last match of the day, Kluever faced off against No. 11 Lewis Fernandes of Cornell University. Kluever made quick work of Fernandes, using an overhook and an underhook to throw him straight to his back 43 seconds into the match.

At 125 pounds, Dylan Ryder,

who returned to the Pride after two seasons off, beat No. 20 Pennsylvania State University’s Robert Howard in his subsequent match. Howard earned the first takedown of the match, but when he went for a second takedown, Ryder used a wizzer to lock hands and roll through for a tilt, earning himself seven points in the exchange. Ryder continued to work, earning another takedown in the second period, winning 13-3. Ryder also beat Ashton Jackson of Purdue University earlier in the day, 13-2.

Along with Kluever, Jurius Clark and Joe McGinty also won all their matches. At 157 pounds, Clark beat Zach Karagias and Aaron Faison of North Carolina State University 9-4 and 6-0 respectively before facing Will Morrow of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. An escape and a takedown in the second period allowed Clark to win 5-3 over Morrow. As for McGinty, at 165 pounds, he beat Caden Dobbins of Bloomsburg in a close match, 2-0, before pin-

ning Nico Bogardus of Sacred Heart University a little over five minutes into the match. McGinty ended his day with a 4-2 win over Tanner Craig of Army West Point.

At 141 pounds, sophomore Alex Turley had a set of wins with a fall over Thomas Volpe of Sacred Heart nearly two minutes into the match in an 8-1 decision over Noah Tocaben of Long Island University (LIU). Freshman Jake Slotnick earned two wins at 165 pounds, pinning David Rozenblum of Sacred Heart University at 2:57 and beating Noah Bash of Franklin & Marshall College 7-3.

Team captain Ross McFarland had a strong outting at 174 pounds with a 9-0 win over Purdue University’s Orlando Cruz and a 3-0 win against Luke Rada of Harvard University. McFarland’s one loss was to the University of Pennsylvania’s No. 14 Nick Incontrera. Last season, Incontrera bested McFarland 4-3 at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association champi-

onships. After earning the only takedown of the match early in the first period, Incontrera won again, 5-1.

At 184 pounds, freshman Will Conlon secured two wins, including a 13-0 win over Luke Isaac of Arizona State University. Conlon’s second win was hard-fought over LIU’s Anthony D’Alesio. The two went into overtime with Conlon winning by tiebreaking rules when he got an escape. At 197 pounds, Nikolas Miller had two dominant matches, beating John Dusza

of LIU and Thomas Godbee of Army West Point, both by technical fall, 18-3 and 20-4 respectively.

As for the rest of the team, Justin Hoyle, Noah Tapia and Matthew Waddell each earned a win, while Eric Shindel and Adrian Sans both went 0-3.

The Pride will compete in their first dual meet of the season at home in the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex against No. 8 Ohio State University on Sunday, Nov. 19.

Dylan Ryder beat No. 20 Robert Howard of Penn State 13-3.

Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman / Hofstra Athletics

Graphic courtesy of Dylan Brett

Women’s basketball wins overtime thriller over Wagner

By Michelle Rabinovich SPORTS EDITOR

The Hofstra University women’s basketball team outlasted the Wagner College Seahawks 51-48 in overtime, on Saturday, Nov. 12.

“I thought we got off to a great start,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “It’s the experience of having to gut it out and get an ugly win. It was, by no stretch, a game that we would go back and say, ‘That was a pretty win.’ What I liked is they gutted it out and figured it out and found a way.”

Hofstra center Zyheima Swint shined in the paint with a career-

high 21 rebounds on top of nine points and four assists in the victory.

“Just staying aggressive,” Swint said. “Coach has been harping on me for [rebounding] and boxing out, so I’ve been trying to make that happen as many a time [as] I could.”

On the offense, the Pride had double-digits from three players: transfer senior Brooke Anya, graduate student Sorelle Ineza and redshirt junior Selma Markisic.

“It’s been great having her back,” Santos said. “Another guard in that perimeter that has the experience and the maturity and the ability to be able to contribute to our team and have an impact. It’s always [good] when you have somebody that has battled and defied the odds be able to come back and perform.”

The Pride kept the visitors virtually locked out of the mid-range in the first quarter, jumping out ahead 14-4 after the opening 10 minutes.

In the second half, the squads

traded 11 points each, entering the halftime break with Hofstra in front 25-15.

The team struggled in the third quarter, as the visitors outscored the Pride 23-8.

“Middle of the game, though, we got a little out of rhythm; we were turning the ball over some and that allowed them to get some easy baskets,” Santos said. “They shot the ball 62% in that quarter; we gave them some easy stuff at the rim, some easy in transition, so we know we needed to hang our hat on defense.”

Hofstra recovered in the fourth, outscoring Wagner 10-5. The biggest splash came from Ineza’s top-of-the-key 3-pointer to send the game to overtime.

“I knew we were down three, and the whole game, my teammates were telling me, ‘Keep shooting, it’s gonna fall,’” Ineza said. “And I just had it in me, and I was like, ‘I’m gonna take this one.’”

While the Pride went 17-65 from the floor, they shot 16.7% from the 3-point line.

“We didn’t hit a lot of them,” Santos said. “We’re gonna have off nights, and so that’s what we talked about; when we are off, what else are we looking to do?”

In fact, the focus was shooting in close range.

“If we had 18 [3-pointers] and only 40 shots, then now that’s a problem, but we got up 65 shots,” Santos said. “We talked about wanting to get the ball to the paint and making that an emphasis, but [we have] very capable 3-point shooters, and I know we’ll come right back and have the ability to knock it down.”

The team reconvenes at home on Wednesday, Nov. 15, against the Delaware State University Hornets. Tip-off is set for 11:30 a.m. at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex in Hempstead, New York.

Sorelle Ineza sent the game to overtime with a 3-pointer in the final minute of play.

Photo courtesy of Matteo Bracco / Hofstra Athletics

Graphic courtesy of Dylan Brett

Ryan Carmichael reflects on storied career at Hofstra

By Arcangelo Iurato

STAFF WRITER

In 2020, while playing for the Northern Ireland Football League Championship in Portadown Football Club, Ryan Carmichael was faced with a life-altering decision: continue playing in his home of Northern Ireland or accept a four-year scholarship at an NCAA Division I program.

“I was kind of on the fence whether I was going to come out to the States at all,” Carmichael said. “Then [associate head coach] Stephen Roche came and had a talk with me after one of my games back home. He said he liked what he saw. I ended up having a look into the student stuff. Good area, obviously, in New York. I just decided to come and haven’t looked back since.”

Carmichael, aged 19 at the time, made a monumental decision to fly overseas and join the Hofstra University men’s soccer team. Being at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic added to the uncertainty of his decision.

“I didn’t have a clue what I was walking into,” Carmichael said. “I was nervous going out, and once I arrived it was weird because everything was shut down. There were so many rules every week; we’d train one week and then we’d have to take two weeks off because someone tested positive. I think I ended up in quarantine for two months overall in my first semester. That was probably the toughest part of it.”

Despite the enormous obstacle, Carmichael made himself comfortable in his new home quickly. After all, he joined a program that was not only rich in talent and success, but also in diversity. He assembled with others who came from foreign countries, including many who were also from the United Kingdom.

“I settled in a lot quicker than you’d expect,” Carmichael said. “Two weeks in, I was already pretty settled. You’ve got boys who’ve grown up in the same type of lifestyle you have. When I came in, everybody got on. It was easy to get into the group.”

After a shortened 2020-2021 season, Carmichael played his first full season alongside upperclassmen, including program giants like Matthew Vowinkel and Hendrik Hebbeker. He contributed 15 goals in the Pride’s historic season where they played in the NCAA and continued all the way to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history. A sophomore at the time, Carmichael was able to learn from his more experienced collegiate counterparts.

“[Vowinkel] taught me a lot,” Carmichael said. “He probably doesn’t know he taught me a lot, but just watching him play every day and the way he holds the ball up, I can’t even try to mimic it. He’s a bit bigger than me, so it comes more natural to him.”

Carmichael played his first

and put it wherever he wants, so I just have to stand there and wait for it to come in. I get my goals, and he gets his assists.”

2022 saw Carmichael snatch 10 goals and four assists, along with the honor of being named CAA Player of the Year. All of this was despite the fact that he dealt with a leg injury all season long. He didn’t miss a start as he and Goldthorp led the Pride to a second consecutive conference title. Carmichael took care of his injury over the offseason and ensured himself peak fitness going into his senior year.

with his 43rd collegiate career goal and seven goals behind the all-time leading goal scorer in program history, Stuart Duffin.

“It didn’t affect me a lot,”

“I never expected to be on 43 goals with a couple of games left,” Carmichael said. “I suppose

“I settled in a lot quicker than you’d expect. Two weeks in, I was already pretty settled. You’ve got boys who’ve grown up in the same type of lifestyle you have. When I came in everybody got on. It was easy to get into the group.”

won so far,” Carmichael said. “Ever since I’ve been here, we’ve been consistently good. I think we’ve lost six or seven games in four years. I think being that consistently good is an achievement in itself.”

For the senior, it’s not just the accomplishments on the pitch but also the bonds made off the pitch that have made it an incredible experience. It’s a big reason why he decided to leave Northern Ireland and pursue a career in the U.S.

“You expand your friendship group tenfold,” Carmichael said. “I’ve got friends now from all over Europe, America, everywhere in the world. That’s probably the main thing Hofstra has given me. I can go to visit anybody.”

couple of games as a rightback, and his role was to deliver crosses. He quickly became a prominent presence up-front, and when Vowinkel graduated in 2021, Hofstra head coach Richard Nuttall added an acquisition that completed Carmichael’s role as the striker on the pitch.

Eliot Goldthorp was picked up in the 2022 offseason and transferred from Old Dominion University. Goldthorp became the new winger and played alongside Carmichael. The pair combined for 64 points through 21 games in the 2022 campaign –the wing-back appeared to be the last piece of the puzzle.

“It made my game a bit easier,” Carmichael said. “[Goldthorp] can cross the ball

Carmichael said. “I’d say it probably affected me 10-20%. I was still able to play, but it was tough because I’d have to be in treatment every day, before games and after games.”

He received surgery last Christmas and took about six or seven months to recover. He didn’t play in the spring to prolong his recovery and achieve maximum health going into the 2023 season.

What has taken place since is nothing short of magnificent. Carmichael led the Pride with 12 goals in the regular season. His brace in the conference semifinals against the University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens on Sunday, Nov. 5, officially put him past former teammate Vowinkel in all-time scoring

my second year, when I scored 15 goals, I was thinking maybe if I keep going for a couple years then it might happen. I didn’t expect it.”

All the while, Carmichael enjoyed numerous honors and accolades. He was named to the All-CAA all four years. He started out as a Third-Team and All-Rookie selection before being included in the First Team every year thereafter. He was named to the All-Atlantic Region First Team in 2021 and 2022. He also received postseason accolades as an All-CAA Championship pick for his junior year. However, he considers his greatest achievements to be the ones he made with his teammates.

“The two [CAA titles] we’ve

That leaves one glaringly obvious question for Carmichael: now what?

He still has a year of eligibility and is able to choose whether he wants to graduate from Hofstra this year or play his graduate season with the Pride. Carmichael said he was “on the fence” three years ago between choosing to play in America or remaining in Northern Ireland. He expressed that same feeling for the future.

“I don’t really know what’s going to happen yet,” he said. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

Photo courtesy of Gil Talbot / Hostra Athletics

Carmichael scored 43 goals throughout his four-year Hofstra career.

SPORTS

Season preview: A new chapter in Hofstra wrestling

By Olivia Hillestad ASSSTANT SPORTS EDITOR

For the Hofstra University wrestling team, the 2023-24 wrestling season is marked by big roster changes and a highly competitive schedule.

“We’re going to be young,” said Hofstra head coach Dennis Papadatos. “We have so many new guys coming in, which is exciting, but we also have some upper-class leadership. We’re really happy with the group we brought in and we’re really happy with our returners.”

Graduate student Keaton Kluever’s transfer from the University of Minnesota is a big recruitment win for the Pride. Kluever, who wrestles in the 285-pound weight class, joins the team with a collegiate record of 43-33 and was a 2019 National Collegiate Open runner-up.

“It’s just nice to have one more year of someone who knows how to win at a higher level that has one year of eligibility left, who just wanted to come in and kind of help these guys make adjustments,” Papadatos said. “He’s a good leader; he’s a good kid; he’s definitely about the right things.”

Dylan Ryder’s return to the roster after two seasons off was the other big announcement over the summer. Ryder competed at 125 pounds for the team between 2018 to 2021, amassing a 45-22 record and being a two-time placer at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) championships.

“He looks very good,” Papadatos said. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but man,

he looks ready to go. It looks like he has unfinished business, and he looks on a mission to go finish that business. That time off the mat actually did him good; his body healed up. We expect him to pick up where he left off and go further. That’s what we hope; that’s what our expectation and hope is. So, we will see. It’s great to have him back.”

125 pounds and 285 pounds are not the only weight classes seeing a changing of the guard. Freshman Noah Tapia is anticipated to possibly take Michael Leandrou’s previous starting spot at 149 pounds after Tapia beat fellow freshman Dylan Zenion at wrestle-offs. At 157 pounds, sophomore Jurius Clark beat last year’s starter Joe McGinty and freshman Frank

Chase Liardi can safely be assumed to start at 133 pounds after a dominant wrestle-off performance against freshman Ryan Arbeit. Nikolas Miller also earned a technical fall at wrestle-offs against freshman Gavin Proffitt, as he looks to be the starter at 197 pounds following Trey Rogers’ graduation. At 141 pounds, graduate student Justin Hoyle is secure in his spot, as is Ross McFarland at 174 pounds. Hoyle and McFarland come into the season after both placing seventh at the EIWA championships last season and amassing records of 19-13 and 15-11 respectively.

“Hoyle and Miller looked strong over the summer,” Papadatos said. “Justin Hoyle made a big jump. But off the

has been very good for me.”

Last season was said to have one of the most competitive schedules in the country, and this season’s schedule is even more challenging. The highlight for the season is the dual against Pennsylvania State University, the 10-time national champions,

“My expectations are high. With our very hard schedule, with some veteran leadership and a very young team and new coaches, my expectations are very high.”

Volpe for his potential spot. As for 165 pounds, it’s a tossup between Eric Shindel, who beat freshmen Matthew Waddell and Jake Slotnick and returners Matt Rogers and Greyson Harris at wrestle-offs. And for 184 pounds, freshman Will Conlon beat junior Ericson Velasquez at wrestle-offs, though just like all the freshmen, we won’t know if Conlon will be the starter until the season begins.

As for the rest of the lineup,

top of my head, if I had to say [who] improved the most, [it] is Nick Miller because he seems like he’s filling in that role.”

Hofstra will also see some changes in the coaching staff with former assistant coaches Jamie Franco and Mauro Correnti moving on to coach at other EIWA schools. The Pride will add Charles Small and Codi Russell to the staff. Small, who graduated from Hofstra in 2022 after a very successful 38-27 career, was previously a graduate assistant for Purdue University. Russell graduated from Appalachian State University in 2021, was a four-time NCAA qualifier and is coming off of coaching at the Minion Training Center.

“It feels fresh, and I myself feel energized,” Papadatos said. “The freshness has really been good for me personally, and [for] my mental psyche, I feel like I can coach better. And having Charles and Codi here

in their home gym.

Hofstra’s home duals include No. 8 Ohio State University on Sunday, Nov. 19; Edinboro University on Dec. 10; No. 7 North Carolina State (NC State) University on Jan. 7, 2024; Long Island University on Jan. 27, 2024; and Binghamton University on Feb. 9, 2024.

“In the first semester, we’re wrestling Ohio State and NC State at home,” Papadatos said. “We are traveling to Penn State and wrestling Penn State in Penn State, so we got a schedule, and these guys better be ready to go because we are wrestling. Right now, we have three teams ranked top five in the country on our schedule –two of them at home. So we’re ready, we’re training and we’re ready to go.”

In terms of the larger NCAA, there will also be some rule changes going into the 2023-24 wrestling season: takedowns will now be worth three points

rather than two, referees can award two, three or four points for near-falls, and weigh-in times will now be a standardized two hours or sooner before both tournaments and dual meets. Additionally, some dominant wrestlers have decided to take an Olympic redshirt year in anticipation of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

As Papadatos nears 10 years as head coach for the Pride, his expectations for the program are high.

“We’re so new, I didn’t know what to expect yet because of how young our guys are and how new some of our coaches are,” Papadatos said. “My expectations are high. With our very hard schedule, with some veteran leadership and a very young team and new coaches, my expectations are very high. Higher than it was, even though we were excited about the recruiting class; watching them work for the last seven, eight weeks, I’m like, ‘Wow, we might have gotten this right.’”

Hofstra’s schedule is highlighted by duals with Ohio State, Penn State and North Carolina State.

Papadatos is entering his 10th season as Hofstra’s head coach.

Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman / Hofstra Athletics

Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman / Hofstra Athletics

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE

Hofstra begins journey to College Cup after dramatic overtime victory in CAA

Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein / Hofstra Athletics