The Hofstra Chronicle Nov. 16, 2021

THE HOFSTRA

CHRONICLE

HEMPSTEAD, NY VOLUME 87 ISSUE 6

TUESDAY November 16, 2021

KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935.

SPORTS

Hofstra blanks Providence to secure trip to NCAA Second Round

“It’s something that we’ve been striving to do when I’ve been here and since [head coach Sam Lopes has] been coach, so I think Evan Bernstein / The Hofstra Chronicle we have The Hofstra women’s soccer team defeated the Provito be very dence College Friars on Saturday, Nov. 13. proud of ourselves

By Will Wiegelman for that aspect.” The Friars have SPORTS E D I TO R yet to score a goal in an NCAA The Hofstra women’s soccer Tournament game. team defeated the Providence College Friars 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 13, at Hofstra Soccer Stadium. It was Hofstra’s second time in three years hosting an NCAA Tournament game after defeating Loyola Chicago 1-0 in overtime in 2019. Providence was making its secondever NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 1993.

“I think [making the NCAA Tournament is] an enormous accomplishment,” said Providence CONTINUED ON A16 midfielder Alexis Rothmann.

NEWS

Antisemitic vandalism found on campus

By Marjorie Rogers NEW S E D I TO R

As originally reported by The Hofstra Clocktower, Hofstra students discovered a swastika drawn in dirt on the side of Constitution Hall on Monday, Oct. 18.

“Hofstra denounces antisemitism and all forms of discrimination and hate and we stand with our Jewish community members,” said Hofstra University President Susan Poser

in a statement released after the incident.

Similar occurences in the past happened during Rosh Hashanah in September 2020 when residents of Constitution Hall discovered a swastika carved into the elevator wall. On Oct. 3, 2020, residents found an additional swastika carved into the same elevator along with the word “Bibi,” a nickname for Benjamin Netanyahu, the then-

CONTINUED ON A2

NEWS

Policy takes jab at unvaccinated professor, students feel side effects

By Lilly Mullaney

SPEC IA L TO TH E C H R O N ICLE

In August, Hofstra updated their COVID-19 vaccination policy to require all faculty to be fully vaccinated by Friday, Sept. 17, in order to be allowed on campus for the fall semester. Some students returned to campus only to find out they would have to temporarily return to virtual learning for some classes due to this last-minute policy change.

According to junior music education major Tara Lacognata, adjunct associate professor of writing studies and rhetoric Sheryl Williams cancelled her first public speaking class of the semester. With no explanation, she failed to show up to the next two class sessions. Lacog-

Marjorie Rogers / The Hofstra Chronicle Students in Williams’ classes were left without an instructor for two weeks.

nata later found out that these unexplained class cancellations were due to her professor’s vaccination status.

“I don’t know [the professor] so I respect her decision, but being on the receiving side

of all of it was frustrating,” Lacognata said, who found out from an email sent out during the third session that the course would temporarily be online

CONTINUED ON A4

A&E

Taylor Swift releases “Red (Taylor’s Version)”

bum masters by record executive Scooter Braun.

Swift set out on a mission to recreate the albums she no longer owned, beginning with “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” in April 2021. With her first re-release of “Fearless,” Swift brought Photo courtesy of The Ringer new life to her Taylor Swift released “Red (Taylor’s Version)” on sophomore Friday, Nov. 12. album and added

By Aidan Judge improved vocals and wildly SPECIA L TO TH E C H R O N ICLE detailed instrumentation to In late 2019, country-turnedclassics like “Love Story” and pop sensation Taylor Swift “You Belong with Me.” So, announced she would re-record did Swift do the same with her her first six studio albums in re-recorded “Red” album? The lieu of the purchase of her alanswer – a resounding yes.

“Red (Taylor’s Version)” boasts an epic 30-song tracklist, with 21 re-recorded songs from the album’s first release in 2012 and features nine brand-new tracks that are “from the vault” – or, in other words, tracks that were meant to be on the original “Red” album but were ultimately cut from the tracklist.

Each song represents a different aspect of the feeling of heartbreak, as “Red (Taylor’s Version)” is a classic break-up album. Swift’s abilities as an accomplished songwriter shine bright on this record, where she showcases some of her most honest, raw and blunt lyrics ever.

CONTINUED ON B2

NEWS

A2 • NOVEMBER 16, 2021

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Editors-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief

Hofstra students fed up with lack of response to recurring antisemitic vandalism

CONTINUED FROM A1

Melanie Haid Micaela Erickson Drashti Mehta

Managing Editor Managing Editor Jessica Zhang

Gabby Varano Secretary

Visvajit Sriramrajan Business Manager

Robert Kinnaird

Business Manager Jacob Editor Lewis News

Annemarie LePard News Editors

Assistant News Editors Madeline Armstrong Ahjané Forbes Ahjané Forbes Marjorie Rogers Marjorie Rogers Samantha Sivert

Assistant News Editor A&E MeganEditors Naftali

Victoria Bell A&E Editors Eleni Kothesakis

Victoria BellEditor A&E Assistant Eleni Kothesakis

Jacob Huller

Kat Salmon Assistant A&E Editor Kat Salmon

Sports Editors

DavidEditors Lazar Sports Anthony Roberts Anthony Roberts

Assistant MikeSports SenatoreEditor Will MikeWiegelman Senatore

Assistant Sports Editors Features Editors Max BettyEdelman Araya Andrew Fantucchio Audra Nemirow

Assistant Features Editor Features Editor Micaela Erickson Audra Nemirow

Op-Ed Editors Assistant Features Editors Visvajit Sriramrajan Anna DeGoede Jessica Zhang Julian Rocha Daniel Cody

Opinion Editors Copy DanielChiefs Cody Yashu Pericherla Elizabeth Turley

Odessa Stork

Assistant Opinion Assistant Copy Editors Chiefs Dickinson-Frevola Antonia Moffa Sybille Rateau

Julia Razzante Copy Chiefs

Multimedia Editors Antonia Moffa Robert Kinnaird Julia Razzante Adam Flash Assistant Chiefs Talha Copy Siddiqui Kayla Blonigen

Visvajit Sriramrajan Social Media Team

Elizabeth Turley

Multimedia Editors Tori Licata Adam Flash Tino Pattigno Jacob Lewis

Jack Brown

Anthony RobertsEditor Assistant Multimedia Alexis Friedman

Editor-at-Large

SarahMedia EmilyManager Baum Social Tori Licata

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THE CHRONICLE

Photo courtesy of The Hofstra Clocktower A swastika was found on the side of Constitution Hall.

prime minister of Israel.

A swastika was found spraypainted on the side of the Nassau-Suffolk residential complex in 2019, making 2021 the third year in a row that at

least one swastika has surfaced on Hofstra’s campus, according to The Hofstra Clocktower.

Former University President Stuart Rabinowitz wrote a similar statement following the 2020 incidents.

“There is no place for antisemitism or any other form of discrimination at Hofstra University,” Rabinowitz said in a statement from Oct. 8, 2020.

Some students believe this string of antisemitic vandalism incidents is a recurring pattern for Hofstra University.

“I think it’s a Hofstra problem,” said Amanda Leperauge, a junior criminology and sociology double major. “All three years I’ve been here, they’re

like ‘Sorry. This doesn’t represent Hofstra’s values,’ in an email, but that’s not enough.”

Leperauge said the University needs to take bigger steps to stop antisemitism on campus, citing her frustration with these recurring vandalism incidents.

“Why is it not stopping?”

Leperauge said.

Other students say they feel unsafe being on campus with the culprit(s) still uncaught.

“It’s bulls--- and it’s scary,” said Chloe Selzick, a sophomore drama major. “Third year in a row and still nothing has been done about it. And it’s in the same place.”

According to a representative from the Office of Public Safety,

the Oct. 18 incident is still being investigated in cooperation with the Nassau County Police Department.

“I feel like if there was a formal investigation, they should tell us about it,” Selzick said.

Selzick hopes that whoever is responsible for the vandalism is caught.

“If it’s one person, that’s easier to deal with. If it’s a group of people, that’s worse,” Selzick said. “I don’t want to believe that there’s a group of people that wants to do that at this school, but it’s not hard to believe given the state of the universe right now.”

Students compete in “Shark Tank” style competition

By Madeline Armstrong NE WS E DI TOR

Hofstra students from all different majors and years competed in a “Shark Tank”-style competition. They pitched business ideas to a panel of judges in two minutes for the chance to win up to $600.

The Hofstra-Digital Remedy Venture Challenge is an annual entrepreneurship competition administered by the Hofstra University Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. It’s made possible by Mike Seiman, CEO of Digital Remedy and a Hofstra board trustee.

Different business ideas were presented at the competition, from a car that will not start unless the seatbelt is buckled to an app that functions as a car management personal consultant. Aleena Joggy, a sophomore business management major, came up with “AutoKnow” as an assignment for her Entrepreneurship 115 class.

“It’s very common for [it to get] passed on to the men to take care of any problem that you have with cars,” Joggy said.

“That idea always bothered me.”

She said that she has always strived to be independent in being responsible for her own

vehicle, but many people she knows are not the same way.

“My friends [are] completely opposite,” she said. “They were like, ‘You do your stuff by yourself? I always give it to my dad [or] my uncle.’”

Therefore, working with Matyson Foley, a junior accounting major and a student in Joggy’s class, she created the “AutoKnow” app that provides accurate information for any car maintenance issues a person may have, and it can even connect them to a professional for help. Even though Foley and Joggy did not place, they have hopes to consider pursuing AutoKnow.

Tori Bien, a sophomore public relations major, entered this competition under slightly different circumstances than most of the students. “I decided to actually do this competition at about 11 o’ clock ... the night before,” she said.

Bien said that she happened upon the competition in a weekly email sent out by the Hofstra Office of Student Leadership and Engagement and decided to enter with an idea she had mulling around in her brain: the curved barbell.

According to Bien, the traditional barbell can damage the

body and a curved one works better and minimizes injuries.

Bien ended up winning second place in the competition, winning $300. “It was such a shock,” she said. “I really didn’t expect much, especially when I got there and saw my competition.”

Bien encourages people who may feel underqualified to step out of their comfort zone and put their ideas out there if they have them.

“If you have an idea and you think it may have a little bit of an edge, you should just do it,” Bien said. “Try your hardest, do your research, gain the confidence and I think you can do anything.”

The third-place winner of $100 was Yash Shah with his idea “Barhop.” According to Shah, a designated portion of the bar would be a locker space.

People would order drinks from the app on their phones and be able to pick it up from the locker.

“This locker space will allow the customers to order from anywhere in the venue, place it securely on your mobile device, pick up your drink and go,” Shah said. “Thus, increasing serving capacity for the venue, increasing revenue flow,

improving safety standards and improving the customer experience.”

Nolan Quon, a junior mechanical engineering major, won the first-place prize of $600 with his idea “Panco.” “Panco” is an automated wok that cooks food on its own, reducing the need for human workers in Chinese restaurants. Quon has already been in conversation with Panda Express on if and how they would utilize this service.

“Technology has always taken over,” Quon said. “With automation, it’s not a question of if it will be successful, but when it will happen and who will deliver it.”

Several other pitches were presented by students that Sharon Goldsmith, executive dean of the entrepreneurship and business development department, found “impressive and creative.”

Seiman encouraged all students to stick with their business ideas no matter the result of this competition. “First time may not work, the second time may not work, the 100th time may not work,” he said. “But ... if entrepreneurship is in your blood, you’ll stick with it and eventually you will reach your goals and dreams.”

THE CHRONICLE

NEWS

“Closer to the water’s edge”: The Shinnecock’s efforts to restore its eroded shoreline

Photo courtesy of Newsday

The town of Southampton on Long Island surrounds the Shinnecock Indian Reservation.

By Eric Munson SPEC IA L TO T H E C H R O N I CL E

Shavonne F. Smith, the director of the Shinnecock Environmental Department, spoke to students and faculty on Wednesday, Nov. 10, as a part of Hofstra’s “Science Night Live” series. The event, entitled “Protecting Shinnecock Homelands,” was hosted by the Office of Intercultural Engagement & Inclusion (IEI) in the Helene Fortunoff Theater located in Monroe Lecture Hall.

Smith began her presentation with a brief introduction about the Shinnecock tribe, including their history, culture, language and geography.

The town of Southampton surrounds the Shinnecock Indian Reservation and is “actually on the ancestral lands,” according to Smith.

“At one point in time the Shinnecock Indian land went from East Hampton Township all the way to Brookhaven,” Smith said. “Today there’s roughly about 1,000 acres left.”

Smith said that her focus is addressing the climate change issues facing the Shinnecock lands, such as shoreline erosion, sea level rise and harmful algal blooms.

“I had worked with a GIS consultant and he helped me identify, along our shoreline, [that] at some points there was up to 150 feet of loss of sand,” Smith said.

Smith also talked about the importance of oysters, both as a

food source and as an important part of the environment. Part of the Shinnecock restoration work involved the construction of what Smith called “oyster reefs.”

The oyster reefs consist of numerous massive bags filled with fossilized shells that were taken to a local hatchery. The oyster larvae were released onto the bags in the hopes that the oysters will “live, thrive and continue to grow,” Smith said.

“Originally, when this project ended, the oyster reef was 150 feet long and it was about three or four stacks high,” Smith said.

“Ever since that project has ended, we just continue adding bags.”

However, local surf clams are used in place of the fossilized shells. According to Smith, the Shinnecock Indian Reservation has about 200 homes and about 50 of them are close to the shoreline. “Originally some of the homes weren’t as close to the shoreline as they are now,” Smith said, “but due to erosion and continued loss of land, they’re getting closer and closer to the water’s edge.”

Algal blooms have been appearing more frequently in the news across the country.

According to Smith, there is a species of algae that can cause “paralytic shellfish poisoning” if filtered through shellfish and then ingested by humans.

Smith said that the Shinnecock Environmental Department fluctuates between three and five staff members and usually lacks the necessary

manpower for its initiatives and projects. This is why the organization has to work with other groups.

Jase Bernhardt, an assistant professor of geology at Hofstra, found the event fascinating and relevant to his work as the director of sustainability.

“It’s just great to hear different perspectives,” Bernhardt said. “You just don’t necessarily speak much with the Native American nations here around New York and the Northeast, so it’s great to hear what they’re working on.”

Natalie Correa, a sophomore sustainability studies major, said she wanted to learn about the different areas that sustainability can be applied to.

“I could really see how this is something that we should bring to the American perspective and truly recognize that this is our environment,” Correa said.

“This is where we’re living and it’s important to take care of that, not just for ourselves, but for our youth and for the organisms around us.”

Triniti White, a senior health science major who serves as the diversity peer educator for IEI, helped to coordinate the event.

“If you think about just the names of towns on Long Island, a lot of them are [related to] Native American tribes,” White said. “So we were trying to figure out where we could reach out to do something in honor of this month and commemorate those certain parts [on] Long Island.”

White said that she enjoyed Smith’s lecture and although the focus of the lecture was climate change, she really enjoyed the culture, history and heritage of the Shinnecock.

“I definitely believe that the whole aspect of climate change is of importance,” White said, “but carrying down [Native American] history and knowledge is also important.”

NOVEMBER 16, 2021 • A3

Investigative journalist shares exposé on processed food industry

Photo courtesy of Unsplash Journalist Michael Moss spoke to students and faculty about the dangers of the food industry.

By Marjorie Rogers N EWS ED ITO R

Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Michael Moss visited Hofstra on Wednesday, Nov. 10, to deliver a lecture on his investigations into the food industry.

Moss, who recently authored “Hooked: Food, Free Will, and How the Food Giants Exploit Our Addictions,” shared some of his findings, explaining that food companies use optimized ratios of salt, sugar and fat to create products that customers will become hooked on.

“They had us convinced that everything we eat should be sweet,” Moss said, explaining how sugary processed foods have changed American eating habits. “Yogurts came to have as much sugar per serving as ice cream. Spaghetti sauce ended up having the equivalent of [an] Oreo cookie’s sweetness.”

According to Moss, Americans have grown accustomed to consuming high amounts of sugary foods, which decreases a person’s sensitivity to other tastes, such as bitterness and sourness. He explained what happens when somebody eats a vegetable after a high dosage of sugar. “Your brain goes into rebellion mode and asks you ‘God, where is that sweet stuff?’” Moss said.

Moss then shared his findings on how processed foods optimize fat content to hook consumers. He spoke about how the feeling of fatty foods in the mouth can be satisfying.

“It’s that luscious feeling you get when you bite into a cheese sandwich,” Moss said, as he explained the optimal ratio of fat in most processed foods. “[Food companies] are hitting 50% of the calories with fat.”

In addition to sugar and fat, Moss reported that salt content plays a major role in engineering processed food products. He said investigating salt content in processed foods was a pivotal moment in his reporting.

“Salt adds texture and solubility to their products,” Moss said. He shared that during his investigations, he had the opportunity to test many salt-free versions of popular processed food products. He discovered that adding salt to food compensates for blandness and can even mask a product’s underlying, off-putting flavor. “Salt adds color and taste to their otherwise tasteless products,” Moss said.

Several students attended the lecture as part of their food studies class to further their understanding of the curriculum.

Isabel Dazza, a sophomore TV production major, stated, “We’re learning about the political [elements] behind [food]. For example ... sushi. The white [and] the red symbolize the Japanese flag,” she said.

For some students, Moss’s findings on the food industry confirmed many of the concepts explored in their food studies class.

Hannah Buckley, a senior criminology major, said, “There’s inside and outside power related to food. The choices that we make are individual in the sense that our culture dictates it, so we feel drawn to do certain things. Outside [power] would be institutional.”

A4 • NOVEMBER 16, 2021

NEWS

THE CHRONICLE

Students left hanging by vaccine policy CONTINUED FROM A1 while a replacement instructor was found.

Williams did not respond to requests for comment on this series of events.

According to Lacognata, the University replaced Williams as the course instructor after a single online class session.

However, with the new professor came an altered course, and students learned that they no longer needed the $30 textbook they had purchased under the original professor. Students

in the public speaking class were also two weeks behind on course material, and shifting assignment deadlines created stress for several people.

“Hofstra’s last minute policy change is unfair to all parties,” said Vy Ho, a sophomore accounting major in the public speaking class. “We sat in multiple classes for nearly the full class time without any form of communication from Professor Williams and paid for it.”

Other students felt frustrated

with Williams for not communicating with the class. “[Williams] put it on us to figure it out,” said sophomore public relations major Beau Dragone. He explained that the confusion led him to consider switching out of the course or looking for a new class to fulfill his degree requirements.

Many anticipated the update to Hofstra’s vaccine policy in August, including adjunct professor of writing studies and rhetoric Lori Brannigan-Wis-

niewski, who made sure to be fully vaccinated by July. However, it was not an easy decision for Brannigan-Wisniewski to make.

“I have an autoimmune disorder and was concerned about my health,” BranniganWisniewski said. “It took me a long time to decide to get the vaccine. I made my decision when I saw too many friends sick for many months.”

In a statement, the University said, “We’re very proud of the

way the campus community has cooperated with our health and safety protocols, including the vaccine mandate – 100% of faculty and students have complied with the mandate. All classes are in session and meeting as appropriate.”

Author discusses Long Island migrant labor camps This event was presented

by Hofstra’s Labor Studies and the Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS) program in collaboration with Long Island Jobs with Justice. In attendance were several labor studies, rhetoric & public advocacy professors and students. Torres stated that the purpose of his book is to “identify the Photo courtesy of the Hofstra Cultural Center labor camps Mark A. Torres discussed his upcoming book with that existed in Hofstra students and faculty.

Suffolk County during the 20th century, discuss the impact on the inhabitants of

By Moriah Sukhal these camps and the surroundSPEC IA L TO T H E C H R O NI CL E ing communities, introduce outspoken critics of the migrant Mark A. Torres, attorney, labor camps as well as the labor advocate, author and general system practiced at the time and counsel to Teamsters Union Local 810 discussed his upcom- to explain the factors that led to the ultimate decline of the ing book, “Long Island Migrant camps.”

Labor Camps: Dust for Blood,” Torres also said that the story during an event held on Zoom of the labor camps cannot be hosted by the Hofstra Cultural told “without a basic underCenter on Thursday, Nov. 4.

standing of the importance of agriculture – mostly the potato.” “[The] Suffolk County Farming Bureau created an industry out of the agricultural success [of the potato],” Torres said, “and it was formed for the collective interest of the growers.”

This success in agricultural output resulted in high demand for labor.

As a labor attorney, Torres stated that he was interested in the laws that permitted the operation of the migrant labor system. Torres cited the most relevant labor law of that time that still exists today, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), was established in 1935. Although this law was created to protect labor workers and improve their conditions, Torres said that it is not entirely effective. “Sadly both then and as of today, agricultural workers are specifically excluded from the NLRA,” Torres said.

Torres also said that this system persisted because most workers were out-of-state citizens and did not have voting rights. Due to the “need to accommodate [a] thousand migrant workers during the harvest seasons,” New York state began using mobile labor camps, which led to the rise of the labor camp era.

Torres further explained that the general conditions of

the camps are “best described from poor to terrible.” He then described camp conditions by retelling the stories he had heard from interviewing citizens who had lived in labor camps during that time. For instance, he described the inflated prices that workers had to pay to obtain food, living expenses and a school for migrant children that was not in “optimal conditions for learning.”

Torres then shifted to describing the economic system of the labor camps as a “cycle of perpetual debt.” He explained that crew leaders would exploit workers’ labor and remove large amounts of their paychecks due to “hidden fees,” such that workers received “low earnings.” His book describes the themes of “theft, violence, manipulation and exploitation” that were prominent in the labor camps.

“I [think] it is crucial to discuss and inform people about migrant labor camps,” said Manpreet Kaur, a freshman biology major. “It was quite disheartening to learn about how the crew leaders were taking advantage of the workers.”

Torres concluded by speaking about the psychological effects and the toll that camp life had on migrant workers. Aside from the low life expectancy and the hazardous work conditions, he

said there were “simple things” that could have helped the workers, such as health care.

Fortunately, he noted that in 2020, New York state passed the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act that “enabled many farmworkers to enjoy benefits in joining a union, wages and conditions.”

Dr. Mary Anne A. Trasciatti, a professor of rhetoric & public advocacy, regarded the topic of the migrant labor camps as “a really timely subject” and said, “I think we really need to mark this history.”

Raquel Brown, a freshman engineering major, said she found the presentation very informative and valued the “insight on the migrant labor camps.”

Torres’ book is the first to cover the dark and complex history of the migrant labor camps that endured for more than half a century and explore the labor system that existed during that time. His book will be published on March 22, 2021, by The History Press.

THE CHRONICLE

Students shake their rakes for charity

NOVEMBER 16, 2021 • A5

NEWS

Public Safety Briefs

Compiled by Megan Naftali & Julian Rocha On Nov. 2 at 11:40 p.m., a student who was skateboarding near the Netherlands claims they were hit by a gray vehicle, which then left the area. The student had no severe injuries, only a scuffed right foot and right arm. The student signed a medical release form and an investigation is being conducted into this matter.

Photo courtesy of University Relations Hofstra students participate in annual Shake-a-Rake community cleanup program.

By Julian Rocha

ASSISTA N T F E AT U R E S EDI TOR

Students representing dozens of Hofstra’s student organizations spent the day raking leaves in the Hempstead area on Sunday, Sept. 13, as part of the 12th annual Shake-a-Rake community cleanup program benefiting the elderly and people with disabilities. Wielding rakes and gloves, students carpooled to assigned locations in Hempstead and Uniondale with other members of their organizations to rake leaves for local residents.

“I really like the volunteering aspect [of the event] and contributing to my community with my friends,” said Stephanie Hallahan, a sophomore speech pathology major. “I enjoy giving back, especially in an area that has been so heavily impacted by COVID-19.”

Samantha Senra, a junior industrial engineering major and the president of club volleyball, stressed the power of strength in numbers when helping the community.

“My favorite part of Shakea-Rake is how it brings the community together to support a good cause,” Senra said. “It’s very important, especially as a leader of a large club with the capacity to make a pretty good dent and help the community out in a positive way. I really value that, and this experience has shown that not only can everyone give back, but everyone has a good time doing it.”

Even though the primary

focus of the Shake-a-Rake event was to serve the community, it also served as an opportunity for students to bond with their fellow club members outside of meetings and practices. To Logan Verderosa, a sophomore speech and hearing sciences major, it was a win-win situation.

“I really liked coming with my friends and hanging out and having a good time while still getting the work done,” Verderosa said.

Verderosa also stressed the importance of young people getting involved and helping others, especially given a large portion of the yards raked during the event were owned by elderly people, who are unable to do so themselves. “I like seeing other young people and college students getting out in the community to help out,” she said.

Kaitlyn Redican, a junior psychology major, pointed out that community service is a great way to remind students to pay it forward to those who may have fewer opportunities. “It is important, especially at a private institution where we have a lot of privilege, to connect with the local community and give back,” she said.

On Nov. 3 at 3 p.m., an individual reported that an unknown vehicle with a “Monster” logo approached them. The interaction made the individual feel uneasy. PS is investigating this matter.

On Nov. 4 at 4:30 p.m., one of the RSRs in a booth on the north campus reported that a student had made discourteous and threatening remarks to them. The student was then sdfjs;dlfjk;sldkfj;aldfjk referred to CS. On Nov. 4 at 7 p.m., two non-students were found smoking marijuana on the west unispan. They were transported to the Information Center and banned from campus.

On Nov. 5 at 11:52 p.m., the smell of marijuana was reported emanating from a room on the north campus.

The individuals admitted to smoking, and they were issued a referral to CS. On Nov. 6 at 11:41 p.m., an individual was caught trying to enter the north campus without an ID. They fled the area and their license plate number was taken down. An investigation is currently ongoing.

On Nov. 7 at 12:10 p.m., an individual reported what appeared to be drugs and a note on one of the ZipCars on campus. The property was destroyed and the note was taken by PS. The Nassau County Police Department responded to the incident.

ambulances responded to all of the incidents.

On Nov. 8 at 11:14 p.m., an individual on the north campus reported having a seizure. A Northwell Health ambulance responded and took them to the hospital.

On Nov. 8 (NTG), a fire alarm went off in the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication. PS, Plant and the Hempstead Fire Department responded. An investigation was conducted with negative results and the system was put back online.

On Nov. 7 at 2:30 p.m., two rugby players were tackled by their teammates.

One hurt their right chest and shoulder area while the other received a cut with an injury to their head. Shortly after, a third player was tackled by their teammate and hurt their right elbow. Northwell Health

Key PS - Public Safety CS - Community Standards NUMC - Nassau University Medical Center NTG - No Time Given Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle

A6 • NOVEMBER 16, 2021

FEATURES

THE CHRONICLE

No judgment: Moot Court lays down the law

By Julian Rocha ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

At Hofstra, there is no shortage of students seeking to build skills that prepare them for the workplace. Founded just a few months ago, Moot Court is an organization centered around exactly that, but primarily for the legal field.

Even though this is the club’s first semester in operation, its establishment was first discussed back in 2019.

Senior political science and public policy major Patrick McCabe, president of the club, mentioned how, at the time, Hofstra did not have any legal-oriented organizations. McCabe and a few of his peers decided to take initiative to change that.

“We wanted to do this because there were other students who felt the same way we did,” McCabe said. “They wanted something to help solidify their future in a legal career by gaining the tangible skills needed.”

Although the club is focused on legal proceedings, McCabe stressed that participation is not limited to pre-law or political science students.

“Even though we are legally oriented, there is a large set of skills that are applicable in different settings,” McCabe said.

By Lilly Mullaney

“We have a wide-ranging group of majors in our club because I think they’ve realized that in terms of the writing, oral advocacy and public speaking skills you gain over time, they are very wide reaching. [Moot Court] is a forum to argue with legal principles that also strengthens your writing and public speaking skills. It keeps you thinking on your toes and just being fast in the way that you structure and

from other schools looming in the horizon. These competitions are sponsored by the American Moot Court Association (AMCA), the national governing body for Moot Court. As the club picks up traction over the next few weeks and months, McCabe hopes the club can obtain membership so they can compete against other universities.

Sage Wenninghoff, a sophomore majoring in philosophy

different classes than her, so by participating in Moot Court, she has developed strong connections with pre-law students from a variety of majors, who she hopes can serve as professional contacts in the future.

Another aspect Wenninghoff appreciates about Moot Court is its encouraging environment.

“Moot Court allows people to become confident in their analytical and speaking skills,”

“Moot Court allows people to become confident in their analytical and speaking skills. It also provides a safe space for people to think out loud and create discussions from those thoughts.” create your arguments.”

McCabe noted that the argumentative skills practiced in Moot Court carry over very smoothly into the classroom.

“When you have to write a paper,” he said, “you need to be able to make a strong point and back it up with proper evidence.

Moot Court does a good job in preparing [you for] that.”

Members of Moot Court learn and practice their skills against each other every week, with potential competitions against clubs

and rhetoric & public advocacy, and the event chair of Moot Court, became involved with the organization in a similar fashion as McCabe. “I’ve always been involved in these types of clubs,” Wenninghoff said. “I was in mock trial in high school and plan on going to law school, so Moot Court seemed like a great fit for my interests.”

Another benefit Wenninghoff enjoys in Moot Court is meeting people outside her major. Many of the other club members take

Wenninghoff said. “It also provides a safe space for people to think out loud and create discussions from those thoughts. These are skills that can be applied in many places in life, but especially in interactive classrooms that encourage students to contribute their own thoughts.”

Both McCabe and Wenninghoff have long been interested in the legal field and pre-law organizations, but this is not the case for all Moot Court members.

Melanie Quackenbush, a

sophomore majoring in global studies and public policy & public service, did not intend on joining Moot Court, but after tagging along to a meeting with a friend, it fascinated her. Like Wenninghoff, she felt drawn to the supportive and fun environment, and the court cases the club studies piqued her interest in the legal field.

As a social science student, many of the topics Quackenbush learns in her classes intersect with the legal field. When participating in Moot Court, she seeks to bring in her existing knowledge while applying new skills from her classes.

“Learning more about judicial law and history helps give more context to a lot of the things that I learn, and gives me another lens to look at things through,” Quackenbush said. “It has also given me space to develop my public speaking skills, which is always helpful in the classroom.”

Being a new club has not prevented Moot Court from gaining members, as it has over 30. Focusing on skills useful in and out of the classroom, all members can expect a fun yet enriching challenge.

Reshaping Form, Hofstra’s art club

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

After the COVID-19 pandemic hit the club hard, Form Club is restarting at Hofstra’s own Calkins Hall.

James Lee, professor of fine arts, design and history and the faculty advisor for Form, kept the club alive as much as possible during the pandemic but said that Form will always be student-run and designed. While Lee said that he kept Form from “falling away” the past year and a half due to COVID-19 by keeping the gallery and installation aspects of the club alive, he gives all the credit to the student artists who contributed their work and kept creating amid the chaos.

Earlier this semester, Lee

brought the idea of possibly restoring the club to its full glory to his advanced painters. Kelly Elkowitz, a junior fine arts major and Beauvoire Jean-Charles, a sophomore health science and fine arts major, were two out of the group who felt passionately

Hofstra and create a welcoming space for students to join in and learn more about art.

Elkowitz and Jean-Charles are the acting president and vice president. They have already rewritten the club’s constitution, shaping what they want Form to

environment. Its basic goal is to be an artistic community for all majors. Elkowitz said she is excited to bring an artistic community back on campus.

“We have a city overflowing with art in our back pocket,” Elkowitz said. Elkowitz and Jean-

“Form aims to become a safe and focused yet informal space for art outside of the classroom environment. Its basic goal is to be an artistic community for all majors.” about turning Form into something great.

Since the club was placed in the hands of Elkowitz and JeanCharles they have been working to spring their ideas into action, jumpstart the art community at

be about. Their goal for the club is to create a safe space for all majors to participate and tap into their creative minds.

Form aims to become a safe and focused yet informal space for art outside of the classroom

Charles hope to take advantage of New York City’s art world.

For one of the first club events, Elkowitz and Jean-Charles plan to have a New York City trip to an art gallery. They feel that will draw the attention of students

interested in the art world to join Form Club.

“Another thing I hope to show is that art goes beyond traditional mediums,” Jean-Charles said.

Jean-Charles hopes to achieve this by incorporating unusual and unique mediums into Form’s meetings, not just classic sketching and painting. Elkowitz and Jean-Charles are currently discussing the possibilities of sculpture and ceramics as well as collaborating with other clubs for events and possible activities.

The club was not able to resume until November after new club orientation. Once weekly meetings begin, get ready for paint nights, NYC gallery trips, critiques, in-school installations and other exciting events!

THE CHRONICLE

NOVEMBER 16, 2021 • A7

FEATURES

T h i s Ho f s t r a L i f e :

Ju s t i n S h a h

By Gayathri Suresh SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Music is everywhere, from the farthest corners of the Earth to the paths on Hofstra’s campus.

Music tells a story. It allows for expression and creative freedom, but it also provides an escape from reality. Many people choose music, but for Justin Shah, music chose him.

Justin Shah is a senior music education major. From a cappella groups to statewide music conferences to Hofstra Safe Start campaigns, Shah is very involved in his community and has gained a truly unique music education.

“The Hofbeats and The Hofstra Dutchmen [have] helped broaden my horizons musically into the a cappella world as well as the choir and band world in which I was very, and still am, very familiar with,” Shah said. “I am in Hofstra ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) and Hofstra NAfME (National Association for Music Education), two pre-professional music education clubs where I have made many connections in the music education field through guest speakers and conferences in Rochester.”

However, like many students, Shah didn’t always know what he wanted to do in his future. For most of his childhood and middle school years, he did not know that music would become his true passion.

“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, but I always tossed and turned between all these different subjects I might be interested in,” he said.

Shah was involved in music from a young age, experiencing

Photo courtesy of Gayathri Suresh Justin Shah is a senior music education major.

both the choir and band worlds.

In the ninth grade, he was selected for the most elite choir in his high school. This was one of the most influential moments of his

Brad Drinkwater, became his inspiration and role model.

“With an amazing director [whom] I still look up to today, I knew that music was where I was

high school. I have maintained a strong relationship with him from then all the way up until the present.”

“I know now that music is my

musically and non-musically,” Shah said.

Shah chose Hofstra University to follow and explore his passion for music. At first, campus life and college classes were a little tough to navigate, but this allowed for a truly unforgettable education.

“Hofstra has helped shape my interests in music in so many ways,” Shah said. “I learned more about music in my first year of college than I ever have in my life. And that goes with the wide variation of music Hofstra has to offer as well.”

The classes and music-related activities on campus provided not only the fundamentals of music and teaching but many precious life lessons.

“Music has also taught me that practice really does make perfect.

I was the worst piano player, but I played for 20 minutes each day, and I got better. And that can be with anything – work, studying for math – anything. You can really do anything if you practice and put your mind to it.”

While it can be hard for students to get involved on campus, Shah used his love for music to create a truly valuable community at Hofstra, and he has made himself an indispensable part of this community, becoming president of two of the a cappella groups on campus: The Hofstra Dutchmen and The HofBeats.

“Singing is obviously a huge part of my career and my life,” Shah said, “so just being in a room with a bunch of guys, hanging out, having fun, laughing, cracking jokes, but also singing and making music ... I wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world.”

“I know now that music is my passion and that I don’t belong anywhere else other than the music classrooms, teaching students everything they’re capable of musically and non-musically.” life. From the first day, he knew that he had found his place in the world and that music would be his future. His choir director,

meant to be,” Shah said. “Mr. Drinkwater was the most sarcastic, funny and welcoming teacher I encountered all throughout

passion and that I don’t belong anywhere else other than the music classrooms, teaching students everything they’re capable of

FEATURES

A8 • NOVEMBER 16, 2021

MAN ON THE UNISPAN

THE CHRONICLE

Overheard

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food and why?

at

hofstra

By Anna DeGoede and Julian Rocha

“I just had four Smirnoff Ices ... that’s what we call white girl wasted in this house.”

ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITORS

“Is it really Halloween if you’re not dressed slutty?”

“I haven’t felt an emotion in years.”

“Mac & cheese, because my sister makes really good mac & cheese.”

-Olamide Oluwafemi, freshman

“That pitch is not BDSM compliant.”

Person 1 “Does the McRib have bones in it?”

Person 2 “Stuffing, because it was always my dad’s favorite.”

-Samantha Khan, freshman

“No. It’s a sandwich. Why would a sandwich have bones in it?”

Person 1 “Because it’s a rib!”

“I have the power to hurt your feelings but I’m choosing not to.”

“No, I do not know how to train men.”

“Sweet potatoes, because they just taste the best.”

-Dashawn Johnson, sophomore

“I have three different bloodlust playlists depending on who I want to hurt.”

Julian Rocha / The Hofstra Chronicle

Spread by Audra Nemirow

THE CHRONICLE

NOVEMBER 16, 2021 • A9

FEATURES

NOAH: New opportunities for success at Hofstra

By Ariadne Morales SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

The faculty of the New Opportunities at Hofstra Scholars Program (NOAH) supports Hofstra students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds financially, academically and socially.

The program covers four years and one extra semester along with room and board, tuition, a meal plan and money for books and supplies. Additionally, students are given resources such as mentoring, tutoring, academic and personal counseling, along with financial, graduate school and career advice.

The administrative staff consists of Roosevelt Smith, the associate dean and director, Deysi M. Aguilar, assistant dean and Alejandra Arce, assistant to the director. Both Smith and Aguilar have been in the NOAH program

By Audra Nemirow

themselves as students at Hofstra University.

“Not only are Mr. Smith and Mrs. Aguilar there for me for academic advice, but also for personal advice,’’ said Francy Caceres, a sophomore business major.

Students are required to participate in a five-week summer

supports you in the best way.

They support you strongly in the sense [that] they have access to a lot of resources and they’ve been through the NOAH program themselves,” said Eric Moreno, a sophomore secondary education major. “This gives them the understanding of what we have been through and allows them

the faculty and administration are people of color because they know what we go through on a daily basis. No one knows struggles like we do, so to have someone that we can trust and count on, that probably went through the same upbringing or troubles, is very important, just for us to feel comfortable with

“No one knows struggles like we do, so to have someone that we can trust and count on, that probably went through the same upbringing or troubles, is very important.” program before beginning school in September, where they are taught discipline and leadership skills. Here, they learn to become like a family.

“They are very helpful at trying to figure out what you like, what motivates you and what

to perform better in the administrative area so they know what they are doing and what they are talking about.”

Moreno also spoke on the importance of diversity within the program.

“I feel that it is important that

each other,” Moreno said.

Students within the program appreciate having faculty who can relate to their backgrounds.

“I remember starting the summer program and feeling very intimidated, but what made me feel really comfortable was

that everyone including faculty and students were similar to me.

They came from places that I am familiar with such as Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx,” said Yohelis Polanco, a junior finance major.

The NOAH program has not only given students the opportunity to succeed academically, but it has also given students the chance to formulate social connections.

“We are able to serve as a support system for each other, even with staff we know they will always be there for us and have a built-in family. We refer to each other as NOAH brothers and sisters, which allows us to lean on each other during times of difficulty and help each other get back up,” Polanco said.

Chron Cooks ft. Audra Nemirow: Cheese and Fruit Board

FEATURES EDITOR

Ingredients:

3 small wheels cheese 1 bag grapes 7 figs 1 box strawberries 1 box blueberries Olive oil (to taste) 1 loaf crusty bread (preferably some type of baguette)

Instructions: Audra Nemirow / The Hofstra Chronicle

I will accept any excuse to eat cheese, but there is something dignified about pairing it with fruit and eating it off a wooden board ... it’s at least more dignified than eating it shredded and straight out of the package. This is to say that you can consume this form of cheese in front of people; you might even whip this up for a festive gathering, say, Thanksgiving, tricking your friends and family into thinking you are finally a real grown-up.

The ingredients on this list are interchangeable, but they are just some of my favorites. And you can, of course, acquire the ingredients anywhere from the most pretentious supermarkets on planet Earth (cough, cough, Whole Foods) to our very own Hofstra campus.

1. The most essential element of a charcuterie board is the board. If you don’t have a specific charcuterie board, any wooden cutting board is fine. A really big plate is fine as well.

2. Prepare your ingredients one at a time, starting with a small bowl of olive oil for dipping the bread. This should be placed at the center of the board.

3. Now for the most important part: the cheese. Cut each wheel of cheese into pie-like slices and space the cut wheels evenly on the board, but make sure you leave a space for the bread!

4. Wash the fruit.

5. Separate the grapes into manageable bunches and place them in any large spaces between the cheese. Think of the grapes as a sort of divider between the cheeses.

6. You can cut the strawberries and figs if you wish, but it can also look quite charming if you place them on the board as is. Arrange strawberries, figs and blueberries around each sliced wheel of cheese.

7. Slice your bread and place it in the empty corner you set aside for it.

8. Place several small knives and forks around the board and enjoy!

Pride Powers through Playoffs Hofstra University hosted numerous playoff games this weekend. Women’s soccer dominated Providence College in a 3-0 NCAA tournament first round win on Saturday, Nov. 13. The following day, men’s soccer won the CAA Championship game 3-2 on their home turf against Elon University while club rugby beat Springfield College 22-15 across the turnpike at Shuart Stadium. Women’s soccer advances to play the University of South Carolina in Los Angeles this Friday, Nov. 19, club rugby travels to Malden, Massachusetts, the same weekend to face Endicott College and the men’s soccer team will face Lipscomb University at home in the first round of the NCAA tournament Thursday evening.

Adam Flash / The Hofstra Chronicle

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle

Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle

Photo courtesy of Tom Grady

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle

Photo courtesy of Tom Grady

Adam Flash / The Hofstra Chronicle Spread by Jacob Lewis, Alexis Friedman and Adam Flash

Arts and Entertainment

VOL. 87 ISSUE 6

“Red (Taylor’s Version)” breaks records B2 Courtesy of NME

B2 • NOVEMBER 16, 2021

A&E

THE CHRONICLE

“Red (Taylor’s Version)” breaks records

Photo courtesy of NME Taylor Swift released the music video for “I Bet You Think About Me” on Monday, Nov. 15.

CONTINUED FROM A1 However, not only is a wide range of emotions displayed throughout the album, but the record is also sonically diverse.

Ranging from pop classics like “I Knew You Were Trouble” to country ballads like “Better Man,” “Red (Taylor’s Version)” truly has something for everyone.

Each of the re-recorded songs on the album is mostly faithful to the original. It’s a bit of a shame that some of the classics like

“22” and “Everything Has Changed” have a bit of a different sound now that Swift’s vocals have become much deeper and mature, but the difference is worth it for her to own her music again. Not every song on the record has stayed the same or worsened – in fact, a good majority of them have vastly improved.

The album’s title track in particular has many layers of added instrumentation and production elements such as sharp violin and

twangy pop-rock guitar, making the listening experience of a classic song even more enjoyable than before. Other lesser-known deep-cuts such as “Treacherous,” “Holy Ground” and “Starlight” see improvement as well, benefitting from Swift’s deeper 2021 vocals.

The “From the Vault” tracks, however, are the highlight of the record. In both lyricism and production, Swift adds a handful of excellent new tracks to an already strong album. The vault tracks have a wide range of diversity as well, from the sunny and poppy “Message in a Bottle” to the harmonica-filled country tune “I Bet You Think About Me,” featuring country superstar Chris Stapleton. “Nothing New,” featuring alternative artist Phoebe Bridgers, also provides a different sense of heartbreak than previous songs on the album, discussing Swift’s fear that no one will love her again when she’s “nothing new.” However, there’s one vault track in particular that stands out from the rest.

“All Too Well (10 Minute Version),” is Swift’s magnum opus re-imagined to the fullest extent. The grand five-minute heartbreak ballad from Swift’s original album now doubles in length, with new lyrics expressing the singer’s everlasting pain from a shattered relationship.

Swift becomes brutally honest on this track, belting lyrics like “But all I felt was shame and you held my lifeless frame.” The song truly needs to be heard in its entirety to appreciate Swift’s expression of her feelings.

Overall, “Red (Taylor’s Version)” offers a wonderful listening experience, even if the tracklist is a bit lengthy. The classics are just as good as they were before, and Swift’s new material elevates the feelings you experience. Once again, Swift proves that she is one of the greatest songwriters of our time, and it’s impossible to not be excited to see what she does next with the rest of her early discography.

“Eternals”: Most diverse cast in the MCU

By Taylor Nicioli STAFF WRITER

The newest movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), “Eternals,” premiered this past weekend, and while it contained many firsts, it had some critics and viewers feeling as if the film’s runtime was “eternal.” Moviegoers were able to see the film starting Thursday, Nov. 4. Despite a $71 million debut, it fell short of other MCU entries.

Compared to the other pandemicera releases, “Black Widow” at $80 million and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” at $75 million, the box office numbers were lackluster in Marvel’s eyes, but “Eternals” has still managed to land the fourth-best launch of the year.

The movie features Marvel’s first sex scene between superheroes, and, arguably most importantly, the first gay kiss on screen. While it feels like these came a tad too late, “Eternals” was a good pick to feature the better-late-thannever firsts. Directed by Academy Award-winner Chloé Zhao, the film’s cast includes Marvel’s first Asian American female protago-

nist, Gemma Chan, as well as Deaf actress Lauren Ridloff and further representation of the Asian, Black, Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities.

With so many backgrounds represented, as well as a notably wider age range, “Eternals” features one

beasts called “Deviants.” “Eternals” is not only an origin story for Marvel’s newest superheroes, but it also creates theories for the creation of the entire cinematic universe. The movie checked the boxes for the number of action, ro-

Photo courtesy of IndieWire “Eternals” stays strong with box office numbers reaching $27.5 million.

of the most diverse casts in MCU history.

The film is the 26th addition to the MCU franchise and introduces 10 new superheroes made up of a race of immortal beings whose only intent is to protect Earth from the human and society-destroying

mance and family comedy scenes Marvel deems to be appropriate, but many felt it was heavy on introductions and tried to crowd too much into one sitting.

Furthermore, critics found the characters on the intense side to lack any charisma that would have

added the extra drive needed to push certain scenes, and the extensive amount of flashbacks were of no help either. The movie explores a huge timeline, ranging all the way back to 5,000 B.C., and while it aims to show the importance of the superheroes being introduced, many found it underwhelming. The greatest message “Eternals” brings to us is the question of existence and human purpose, which is hard to answer after being presented with the aftermath of Hiroshima and hearing the cries that “they’re not worth saving.”

As Marvel enters its Phase 4, diversity is proving to become an important part of the franchise’s casting decisions; however, despite the effort to make their viewers feel more seen, “Eternals” is not what many had hoped for. The movie has a low score of 47% on Rotten Tomatoes, is said to have major pacing issues with the staggering two-hour, 37-minute runtime and is overstuffed and forced. It seems the most exciting and talked about part of the movie is the end scene, featuring major celebrity Harry Styles.

Quick Hits

Courtesy of NPR

On Friday, Nov. 12, Britney Spears’ conservatorship officially ended after 13 years.

Courtesy of People

Paul Rudd was named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2021.

Courtesy of The Knot

Paris Hilton married Carter Reum on Thursday, Nov. 11, with notable celebrities in attendance including Kim Kardashian and Kim Petras.

Courtesy of GMA Network

Avril Lavigne released new single “Bite Me” after signing with new label, DTA Records.

Courtesy of Yahoo!

Harry Styles announced his new beauty brand, Pleasing.

THE CHRONICLE

A&E

NOVEMBER 16, 2021 • B3

Astroworld tragedy raises questions of concerts’ preparedness

By Mike Senatore SPORTS EDITOR

When 50,000 people packed into NRG Park in Houston, Texas, on day one of Travis Scott’s annual Astroworld Festival, there was no telling the tragedy that would unfold that night. With 10 people dead and more than 300 reportedly treated for injuries, the biggest question being debated since Friday, Nov. 5, has been, “Who’s to blame?”

That question has quite a few different answers, some more nuanced than others. The first subject of the subsequent finger-pointing was the man who conceptualized the festival, Scott himself. As more and more footage and firsthand accounts of the performance were spread online, it became increasingly clear that Scott was aware of the disastrous events occurring in the crowd. Videos showed Scott performing as audience members were attended to by medical staff within his line of sight. More footage from the concert showed Scott temporarily pausing his performance for injured or

By Ilana Rockwell

actually came to an end. unconscious people in the crowd said, there was surely a more These arguments often don’t to receive medical attention. preferable way to handle the consider the potential dangers Despite these sporadic pauses crisis than continuing the perforpresented by an early ending to in the show, many have argued mance and largely ignoring the the show; premature exits by artthat Scott should have taken it dangers it exacerbated. ists at their own concerts have, in upon himself to end the perforFirsthand accounts from mance premathe crowd have turely and to described the staffhalt any further ing and equipment injuries. When situations at the more footage festival as worse went viral showthan inadequate, ing audience with a negligible members pleadnumber of medical ing with concert personnel on hand staff to stop the and insufficient performance, medical equipstressing the ment. Attendees in urgency of the the medical field safety concerns, reported stepthe pointed ping in to assist fingers moved the skeleton crew to Live Nation, actually assigned the company that to the event, and Photo courtesy of NPR organized the even some conThe death toll has risen to 10 victims after the events of Astroworld. event. According certgoers outside to Houston Police of the medical Chief Troy Finner, members the past, led to riots or violence. field took it upon themselves to of the production team were In an already-dangerous environ- perform CPR on those who were informed by Houston Police not receiving timely attention. ment like that of the Astroworld Department personnel that an The lack of emergency preparedcrowd, an early exit from Scott audience member was receiving ness put everyone in attendance could have easily led to even CPR well before the performance more fatalities. With that being at further unnecessary risk.

Questions regarding overcrowding have also been asked of the event’s organizers. While NRG Park is capable of accommodating up to 200,000 people, the 50,000 who bought tickets were joined by hundreds of others who reportedly hopped barricades to enter the park. The crowd’s unruliness had been expected by event staff, but the possibility of a crowd surge or similar dangerous crowd conditions were allegedly not a focus of the planning process.

With a lawsuit already filed against Scott and Live Nation by Thomas J. Henry, who claimed on Wednesday, Nov. 10, to have approximately 110 clients involved with the suit, the findings of the ongoing investigation could have huge implications for how concert organizers operate moving forward. Although Scott’s Astroworld merchandise often reads, “Wish you were here,” it’s clear that many in attendance that night are now wishing they never went.

Kristen Stewart surprises audiences in “Spencer”

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

“Spencer,” released on Friday, Nov. 5, and spearheaded by American actress Kristen Stewart and directed by Pablo Larraín shows a completely new approach to the story of the People’s Princess.

The movie takes place all within a three-day period during the royal family’s Christmas celebrations in 1991, right before Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ divorce. The movie opens up with the delivery of ingredients for a dinner feast accompanied by eerie music. The entire soundtrack was composed

by Jonny Greenwood, lead guitarist for English rock band Radiohead, who filled it to the brim with dissonant strings that sound like they’re about to snap, which only aids Larraín in creating a general sense of unease, anxiety and physical tension for audiences in the best way possible.

Though the late Princess Diana only passed 24 years ago, she has already been portrayed a countless number of times in all forms of

media. Her death only aided her longevity as a public figure, and in many ways, she has become more of a symbol than a person. Despite the many iterations of the “important” events of her life, this film about seemingly no events at all is nothing short of a psychological thriller dressed up as another historical biopic.

This “dressing up” of sorts could, of course, never have been successful without the literal costuming. Not only are the outfits that Stewart wears in the film, including an exact replica of Princess Diana’s wedding dress from 1981, nearly identical to the photos from these exact days, they serve an important narrative role as well. The dresses and pearls, beautiful and soft as they are, become yet another prison for Diana and the tags on each bag designating exactly when and how to wear each outfit become the shackles.

The film’s casting was met with mountains of doubt by audiences and critics alike, with many questioning Stewart’s ability to

tackle the simultaneous fragility and strength of Princess Diana in such a tumultuous time of her life.

Stewart is perhaps still most wellknown (over a decade later) from her leading role in “The Twilight Saga” portraying Bella Swan. This double standard for Stewart and “Twilight” costar Robert Pattinson could perhaps be accredited to the fact that Stewart is not one to disappear into her roles. Pattinson transforms himself mentally and physically in each role, erasing his entire psyche to the point just before madness, continuously providing a high-tension chaos factor in his performances that demands audiences’ attention through its addicting unpredictability. Stewart, on the other hand, seems to always take a more guarded approach, never being able to fully be rid of her own mannerisms, enticing viewers instead with the task of unpacking her emotions themselves. In this way, there is no role better fit for her than Princess Diana herself.

As both the titular character

speaks with her eyes looking up and the role with by far the most through her fringe. She walks and amount of screen time, Stewart’s sits as though she’s only exactly as performance was crucial not just for reviewers ready to rip her apart proper as what is required of her.

Stewart’s absolute mastery of the all over again, but also for the smallest yet most quintessential overall impact of the film itself. details that distinguish Diana as an Many predicted that her performance would be solely responsible individual are what allow for the authenticity of her larger-than-life for the film’s downfall, but in and emotional scenes to be sucthe end, it is its greatest triumph.

Stewart perfects not only the cessful, and thus, ultimately, the soft-spoken posh English accent film itself as well. but also the inherent melancholic nature of Princess Diana’s inflection. She mumbles half her sentences and then seems to gain confidence halfway through, interjecting as though she’s constantly interrupting herself. She tips her chin Photo courtesy of NBC News down and Kristen Stewart is best known for portraying Bella Swan in “The Twilight Saga.”

B4 • NOVEMBER 16, 2021

A&E

THE CHRONICLE

“Love Hard”: a cookie-cutter rom-com that romanticizes catfishing

Photo courtesy of Cosmopolitan “Love Hard” is currently in the Top 10 on Netflix U.S.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

By Kayla Blonigen ASSISTANT COPY CHIEF

“Love Hard” appears to be a beautiful love story between Natalie Bauer (Nina Dobrev) and Josh Lin (Jimmy O. Yang). The

unpredictable couple met on a dating site after countless failed dating encounters on Natalie’s part. She thought Josh was the man of her dreams and risked everything to fly 3,000 miles from California to New York to surprise the “love of

over it rather quickly. Josh barely comes clean to everyone in Josh’s her life” for Christmas. shows remorse for how he treated life by expressing how sorry she Upon arrival, Natalie quickly Natalie, and in the end, everyone was for pretending to be someone realizes it was all a mistake when makes him out to be the victim. she’s not and everyone sympashe sees Josh for the first time in Although it was Josh’s personal- thizes with Josh. They actually person and his face is far from the one in the profile. After running feel sorry for the guy that catity that Natalie fell in love with away from her problems and headin the first place, she was flat out fished a girl and caused her to fly catfished. He used his elementary 3,000 miles to surprise him. Even ing to the local bar to get drunk, she sees the “real” Josh, a.k.a. Tag. school best friend’s images to draw though it was obvious this was the direction “Love Natalie and Josh Hard” was going strike a deal in, it was still where she will “Josh barely shows remorse for how he treated uncomfortable to pretend to be his Natalie, and in the end, everyone makes him watch. girlfriend until out to be the victim.”

The movie Christmas, and itself had subpar he will help her writing, average get with Tag. acting, cliché undertones and of It was completely obvious from women in, which is what caused course your classic Christmas romthat moment that Natalie would Natalie to swipe right. By havcom plot points. It was an average, end up falling for the real Josh ing the two leads end up together, run-of-the-mill romantic comedy, instead of Tag. Just like most other Netflix is romanticizing catfishing, even though it lacked comedy and cliché Christmas rom-coms, almost which is simply not OK. The plot the romance was all wrong. the entire movie is predictable. sends out the wrong message that If you are very much into ChristWhat is different about “Love even if you catfish someone they Hard” is the way they discuss the could still end up falling for you. mas rom-coms, unfortunately, matter of being catfished. Yes, Rewarding the catfisher is never “Love Hard” is a letdown.

Natalie expresses feeling betrayed the answer. and hurt, but then she seems to get In one of the final scenes, Natalie

Snail Mail weaponizes sapphic yearning on “Valentine”

By Antonia Moffa COPY CHIEF

Lindsey Jordan of the indie rock project Snail Mail released her sophomore album, “Valentine,” on Friday, Nov. 5. The 10-track effort is just over half an hour long, but for what it lacks in length it certainly makes up for in lyrical depth and honesty. Listeners are taken on a journey through the stages of grief after any breakup: initial anger and denial, bargaining and eventual acceptance.

If Snail Mail’s 2018 debut “Lush” was a perfect representation of the boredom of being a teenager in the suburbs, “Valentine” is a just-as-fitting portrayal of the confusion of navigating the social conventions of early adulthood. Its title track starts off the album with a bang, combining bold guitar reminiscent of “Lush” with Jordan’s dramatic and desperate pleas to an ex-lover: “So why’d you wanna erase me, darling valentine? / You’ll always know where to find me when you change your mind.”

Lyrics throughout “Valentine” cement semi-pathetic devotion to a lost love as one of the

album’s core themes. On “Forever (Sailing),” the song’s soaring back-and-forth movement is coupled with sentiments of grand obsession: “I’ll chase you from the city to the sky / And lose myself for you a thousand times.” Jordan flirts with death after ending a relationship on “Headlock” – “Thought I’d see her when I died / Filled the bath up with warm water / Nothing on the other side.”

Perhaps the most poignantly pitiful line comes on “Automate,” in which Jordan declares to an ex that “I’m like your dog / Only I know you’ll be sweet if I stay.”

Though heartbreaking, Jordan’s vulnerability on “Valentine” is admirable and makes the album more of a gem.

The album’s second single, “Ben Franklin,” is an introduction to Snail Mail’s new R&B-esque sound, a clear departure from the dominance of DIY guitar riffs on “Lush.” This song shows Jordan attempting to appear cocky and totally over a past relationship (“Got money, I don’t care about sex”), but she is definitely not: “Moved on, but nothing feels true / Sometimes I hate her just for not being you.”

One of the most relatable tracks on the album, “Ben Franklin” gives Jordan the space to begin revealing a bit about her struggles: “Post-rehab, I’ve been feeling so small.” She further alludes to her substance abuse issues on “Automate” – “One more drink ‘til / I can lay beside you.”

And while using alcohol to cope with the pain of a breakup isn’t necessarily the healthiest choice, Jordan’s honesty will certainly resonate with listeners.

At its core, the sentiments presented on “Valentine” are outrageous, but they feel completely acceptable within the world constructed around the album. The grandeur and drama of Jordan’s lyrics is reflected in the overall aesthetic for the album art and the music videos for “Valentine” and “Ben Franklin.” The album cover features Jordan against a red background, wearing a frilly, overthe-top pink suit, and similar outfit choices are used in the “Valentine” music video, which is set during the Victorian era (think “Portrait of a Lady on Fire”) and features Jordan enacting revenge against her lover’s male suitor.

Jordan’s efforts to curate

an entire universe in which “Valentine” exists stand in stark contrast to the youthful simplicity of “Lush” and show her growth as an artist. Her inclusion of different instruments and sounds throughout the album, such as the full orchestra on the moving ballad “Mia,” the solo cello on “Light Blue” and the stripped back acous-

tic guitar on the sweet “c. et al.,” serve to enhance the complexity of the emotions she conveys through her lyrics.

“Valentine” is the culmination of Snail Mail’s maturation from a teenage band (albeit a really, really good one) to a refined and fully formed musical project.

Photo courtesy of The Guardian Snail Mail performed on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” singing the title track “Valentine.”

OPINION

A12 • NOVEMBER 16, 2021

THE 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.

Diversity wins. Your new mayor is a vegan cop

By Dickinson-Frevola

New York City is saying goodbye to former Mayor Bill de Blasio, as former police captain and Democratic New York State senator Eric Adams was elected to New York City mayor on Tuesday, Nov. 2, defeating Republican Curtis Sliwa. His election to office marks the second instance of a Black person holding the mayoral position.

While he does not take office until Jan. 1, Adams’ office will inherit a wide range of issues from former Mayor de Blasio, including concerns about crime, COVID-19 handling, environmental concerns and criminal justice reform. As such, it’s time for everyone’s regularly scheduled reminder that you shouldn’t stop being invested in politics just because a Democrat is in office.

Let’s look at his policies.

Kicking off the U.N. Climate Summit COP26, Adams has made it abundantly clear that he supports cryptocurrency, the mining of which poses immense detrimental effects

on the environment. For a city that has sworn to take action against climate change, including Mayor de Blasio’s previous plans to reduce New York City’s greenhouse gas emissions, the hypocrisy of Adams’ willingness to take his first three paychecks as mayor through Bitcoin cannot be overstated.

The main controversy surrounding Adams’ election ties back to his time on the police force and what his plans to “reform police” mean for the future of the city. Following years of increasing backlash toward police in the wake of immense national systemic violence, Adams conducted his campaign under the notion that he wanted to change the system for the better from the inside, citing his own experiences with police brutality and his desire to reform the system that has proven time and time again that it will not and is not legally required to protect civilians.

Despite this, Adams has made it clear he finds controversial tactics such as “stop and frisk” policies to be an effective tool

for police, though he’s promised not to allow the practice to be used discriminately as it has been in the past. These are bold words from a man who testified against the unlawful use of such tactics in court, according to reports from CBS. Considering cops’ tendency to turn off or cover body cameras, one must wonder what kind of accountability Adams expects in these practices.

“It’s time for everyone’s scheduled reminder that you shouldn’t stop being invested in politics just because a Democrat is in office.”

By extension, following a closed-door meeting with Black Lives Matter of Greater New York organizers, Adams has said he plans to support plainclothes, no-gun units to “keep the city safe.” Again, considering the frequency at which police abuse

and kill civilians without using guns, Adams’ assertion that “[his] city will not be unsafe” may seem baseless to those low income communities and communities of color who will face the brunt of this new wave of policing.

Adams’ election is a disappointment for many progressive and leftist groups, who hoped that the future of electoral politics would prioritize radical reform of the criminal justice system following calls for defunding or abolishing the police. While Adams seeks to find a balance between fighting crime and ending racial injustice in policing, many feel there is little to no hope in reforming a system that was built on the foundations of white supremacy and anti-working class sentiments.

Proponents of Adams’ policies will opt to use euphemistic language to discuss his inauguration. How could his administration pose a threat to environmental sustainability when he’s a vegan? How can his administration uphold some

of the most historically violent and discriminatory police forces when he’s a Black man and a former cop? How could the police forces under his administration continue ableist violence when he himself has a learning disability?

As should be said with every passing election: Being of a certain identity does not mean someone will adequately represent everyone who also holds that identity. It’s not enough to feel satisfied simply because our public officials are “more diverse” as they uphold the systems that protect those in power at the cost of the wellbeing of our fellow citizens. We must never become so complacent that we feel like we “don’t have to worry about politics anymore,” the way so many people did following President Biden’s inauguration. If you think that what is going on in politics doesn’t affect you, you aren’t paying enough attention to how it affects others.

Dickinson-Frevola is a senior journalism major from Lake George, New York.

Break up with Barstool

By Micaela Erickson Barstool Sports is a plague among young men. The brand is built on toxic masculinity, racism and misogyny. People – more specifically white, college-aged dude bros – eat it up. This past week, Insider released a story involving sexual misconduct allegations against Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports and Assholein-Chief. These allegations – which Portnoy adamantly denies – are infuriating but ultimately unsurprising. This is a man who built an empire on harassing women on the internet. One would hope that allegations like these would encourage people to finally jump off the Barstool bandwagon. However, die-hard fans, or “Stoolies,” uphold the

vile standards which Barstool and Portnoy pride themselves on.

Portnoy’s a real stand-up guy who knows his audience. Whether he’s making rape jokes, saying derogatory things about women or using racial slurs, his fans are ready to stand by him and attack anyone who dares to criticize their fearless leader. Portnoy famously deemed himself “uncancellable” in 2020, and that unfortunately seems to remain true today. His adoring cronies stuck by his side and “canceled cancel culture” by buying record numbers of his likely mediocre frozen pizza.

A strange response, but what else would you do when your idol is face to face with “woke cancel culture?”

It’s a shame – again, no surprise – that this 44-year-old man child has so many people in his corner. Portnoy’s culture of misogyny and abuse is an 18-year tradition, and he’s recruited the best and brightest to help him further his agenda.

He and his cohorts have said and written some pretty horrific stuff in their time with Barstool. Highly inappropriate comments about minors, transphobia, antisemitism, ableism ... the list goes on seemingly forever. What’s even crazier is the sheer number of women who work for the company.

Their management team bravely asks, “How can our company be misogynistic when it’s run by women?”

Erika Nardini became Barstool’s CEO in 2016. She

seems to love the culture there.

In May, Nardini was quoted in a Forbes article saying, “One of the greatest things about Barstool Sports is that we embrace people from all different places, with different ways of thinking.” Erika, I don’t know if you should embrace Barstool’s record of racial slurs and sexual harassment. Those are not “different ways of thinking.” That’s just being a piece of shit, and enabling that behavior is disgusting.

The fact that this company remains successful is mind boggling. Sure, a casual sports media outlet is something people can get behind. But everything else Barstool and Portnoy stand for reflects issues and bigotry that run deep in the U.S. as a whole. The

way Stoolies have reacted following the allegations against Portnoy reemphasizes the lengths his fans will go to defend predatory behavior.

It’s hard to say what the final straw will be for Stoolies – if there ever is one. Even if these allegations manifest a reckoning for Portnoy, the culture he’s established goes far beyond his presence at Barstool. There is nothing about Portnoy or Barstool that is worth defending. Supporting Barstool does nothing but show that your morals are as low as theirs.

Micaela Erickson is a senior journalism major with a minor in civic engagement.

She serves as Editor-inChief of The Chronicle.

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THE CHRONICLE

NOVEMBER 16, 2021 • A13

OPINION

The drinking age should be lowered

By Lincoln Anniballi The United States is an outlier in many things, and our minimum drinking age is no exception. Only four other countries have a drinking age as high as 21, with some European nations having one as low as 16. A drinking age shared across all 50 states today is a concept that is fairly modern but a reflection of the past.

Following the end of prohibition in 1933, nearly every state implemented a drinking age of 21, yet for a brief period in the 1970s, states’ drinking ages varied between 18 and 21. In 1968 when the 26th Amendment was ratified, lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 as a reaction to the draft, states felt it was unjust that 18-year-olds could vote and go to war but were still denied the right to purchase liquor.

Between 1970 and 1980, most states lowered their minimum drinking age to 19, with some retaining the 21 minimum and

others even going to 18.

Following a rise in fatal accidents and a sharp increase in public pressure, Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act which required states to raise their minimum age to 21 or face penalties, including a loss of funds for highway repairs. While the law faced some resistance, eventually in 1986, every state had caved and implemented a minimum drinking age of 21.

While raising the drinking age was effective in lowering the number of fatalities caused by drunk driving, the conditions of the 1980s are much different than the norms of today.

While driving fatalities did decrease following states’ implementation of the higher minimum age, drunk driving deaths continued to decrease long after the last state implemented the 21 age minimum.

Since 1991, drunk driving fatalities have decreased significantly, making it clear that, while low-

ering the drinking age certainly led to a sharp decrease in drunk driving deaths in the ‘80s, it is not the only factor.

Harsher laws, media and public awareness campaigns and better health education can all be better accredited for the

“The unregulated nature of illegally obtained alcohol increases the risk of beverages being laced with incapacitating agents, like sedatives or psychoactive drugs.”

continued drop in drunk driving deaths. With young people better educated on the risks of drinking and the dangers associated with drunk driving, a drinking age so high does more to endanger youth than it does to

protect them.

As nearly every college and high school student knows, getting access to alcohol while underage is relatively easy.

Research suggests that 80% of underage college students in the United States drink illegally, allowing them to be put in unsafe situations. The unregulated nature of illegally obtained alcohol increases the risk of beverages being laced with incapacitating agents, like sedatives or psychoactive drugs. The fear associated with getting caught drinking stops young people from seeking appropriate help for incredibly dangerous situations.

In 2021, most underage drinkers know how dangerous drunk driving is. Drinkers have options that were unavailable to other generations, like rideshare apps, for example. In the 21st century, there is no reason young people should be subject to unsafe conditions because of a drinking age that high.

Nothing will change the fact

that young people are going to drink. The only thing we can do is ensure they’re doing it safely.

To repeat the correct reasoning made by legislators of the 1970s, if you can vote, pay taxes and even be sent to war, then you should be allowed to buy a drink.

Lincoln Anniballi is a freshman political science major.

He can be found on Twitter @LincMass.

Youngkin’s victory should be a wake-up call to Democrats

By Kirsten Wheeler On Tuesday, Nov. 2, Glenn Youngkin caused an upset in Virginia by becoming the first Republican to win the gubernatorial race in the state in over a decade. The GOP newcomer has arrived seemingly out of nowhere and has defined a pivotal moment in Virginia’s political history.

Youngkin is a self-proclaimed hard worker who believes “nothing was handed to him.”

Yet, he somehow came upon a series of successes by attending Rice University on a basketball scholarship, ascending to corporate leadership and raising his poster-board family on a large property, which received a 95% tax reduction in 2020, according to The New York Times. But don’t be fooled by this rich man. He definitely, totally understands the struggles of many working Americans,

because before his privilege kicked in, he worked at a diner (What horror).

Youngkin centered his campaign largely around education, containing his most head-turning proposed policy to “restore excellence in education” by banning critical race theory, despite there being little to no evidence that it was even being taught. This policy, if passed, will be very damaging for the youth of Virginia. Rather than providing students with a more complete and honest context of their country’s history, Youngkin chooses to deprive them of it for fear that they will hate white people. God forbid students learn about racism and start holding people accountable.

It is very telling based on Youngkin’s political donors the type of politician he is and the audience he’s catering to.

Reflecting his long history of

struggling for his accomplishments, Youngkin himself is his own top donor, contributing over $21 million to his campaign. Other top donor industry sectors include private, parochial and for-profit schools, “undetermined” industries and Waffle House. How trustworthy to have a governor primarily supported by himself, the hyper-religious, the anonymous, the profit-driven and the restaurant that is most known for having fights break out.

This election should be a wake-up call to Democrats to get out of their self-destructive habit of inaction fueled by their unearned over-confidence.

Driven by the desire to remove Trump from office, Democrats were a powerful force in the 2020 presidential election.

Riding the high from the momentous victory, it seems that Democratic politicians felt less pressure to push their voters

to the polls this time around.

Meanwhile, Democratic voters seemingly let their guard down, feeling that this election could not be nearly as significant as the previous one. This was furthered by the campaign of Youngkin’s opponent Terry McAuliffe, whose campaign was largely anti-Trump, a rather irrelevant tactic for someone no longer in office. Meanwhile, it seems that Republican voters are making up for their loss by being more active in bringing in Republican politicians elsewhere.

This is the exact fault that caused former President Donald Trump to win the race in 2016.

Too many Democrats didn’t bother to vote because they thought there was no way someone like Trump could possibly win. But their inaction made it a possibility. If Democrats want to prevent potentially problematic Republicans from

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bringing in their radical and divisive policies, then they need to keep their head in the game and urge their constituents to vote, no matter how confident they are in their victory. They can’t give up on the race before reaching the finish line.

Kirsten Wheeler is a freshman drama major from the Washington, D.C. area.

A14 • NOVEMBER 16, 2021

OPINION

THE CHRONICLE

THE CHRONICLE

NOVEMBER 16, 2021 • A15

SPORTS

Pride Performer of the Week

Anthony Roberts / The Hofstra Chronicle

Claxton earns first career win as Pride defeat Duquesne

By Andrew Allegrini STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra men’s basketball team went on the road and defeated Duquesne University 73-63, on Saturday, Nov. 13.

Hofstra was able to gain its first win of the season, rebounding from a close loss to No. 15 University of Houston on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

Hofstra was led by star point guard Zach Cooks, who ended with an emphatic 29 points, seven rebounds and three assists while playing all 40 minutes.

The graduate transfer has been Hofstra’s leading scorer throughout the first two games as he ended with 26 against Houston as well. “[Cooks] is tough man, he’s not scared of the moment.

He lives for games like this,” Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton said.

It was all about the Hofstra guards as the three combined for 57 of Hofstra’s 73 points with Aaron Estrada and Darlinstone Dubar each contributing 14 points of their own. Hofstra dominated right from the start, as they took an early 19-7 lead. They went on to end the first half with a commanding 41-23 advantage.

Hofstra shot the ball extremely well, especially from outside the arc, where they shot a phenomenal 47.6%.

The second half was much closer as Duquesne cut the lead to 47-44 with 12 minutes

remaining in the game.

Duquesne’s Kevin Easley had a solid game, ending with a double-double (14 points and 10 rebounds). Primo Spears led the Dukes in points, ending with 17 points.

Although the Dukes made a late run, Hofstra proved to be too much on the offensive end, going on an 11-4 run, sparked by a Dubar three-pointer. From then on, the Pride owned the lead and went on to win the game 73-63.

Claxton earned his first win as a head coach. The team has looked great on both sides of the ball, while their shooting has been stellar to start the season.

“Truly amazing. These guys, I wouldn’t want to share [this moment] with anybody else.

This team is special, man, they really are,” Claxton said. “I got a bunch of great kids and even though we won the game I still feel like we haven’t played a

full 40 minutes.”

Hofstra evens its record at 1-1 on the season, while Duquesne falls to 1-1. The Pride travels to Iona College on Tuesday, Nov. 16, for a matchup against Rick Pitino and the Gaels.

“We got a tough Iona team coming up [but] we’re going to be prepared for them,” Claxton

said. “We know how good they are and it’s our first time playing in New York so, fans, come check us out. We are something special.”

Hofstra Athletics Claxton celebrated his first career win as a head coach against Duquesne.

A16 • NOVEMBER 16, 2021

SPORTS

THE CHRONICLE

Pride advances to NCAA Second Round for third time in four seasons CONTINUED FROM A1 The Pride got the scoring started in the 27th minute when Lucy Shepherd crossed a ball into the box from the right wing.

Hofstra’s Georgia Brown rose to meet it and scored the header past Emma Bodner to send the home fans into a frenzy. “[Brown] is the future now,” said Hofstra head coach Simon Riddiough. “I thought she played a fantastic game, I think she’s had a tremendous season.”

The Pride doubled the advantage just under five minutes later. Miri Taylor took a corner from the left side and sent the ball into the heart of the goal. Lucy Porter picked it out of the crowd to head home her seventh goal of the season.

“The ball doesn’t usually come to me straight on, it’s meant to go to the back post,” Porter said. “When it came through, I was moving toward it and I knew a flick on was all that crosses really need from

Taylor, so I managed to get a little touch on it and, somehow, it went in.”

The two points put Porter at 123 points for her career, a new program record. She passed Leah Galton on the Pride’s alltime list. “I don’t really focus on those sorts of things but it’s great to have,” Porter said. “I think I’ve cheated a bit because I’ve come back for a fifth year, but I’ll take it.”

The second half began without too much action for the first 11 minutes until a horn sounded that wasn’t from the scoreboard. A lightning delay in the 57th minute sent players, coaches, referees and the 805 fans in attendance fleeing for cover. It was an hour and 32 minutes before play resumed with hail raining down during the stoppage. Eventually, both teams returned to the field along with the sun and were greeted by a rainbow over the David S. Mack Physical Education Center as they warmed back up.

“It was basically ‘find snacks for the girls because they were hungry and just relax and chill out until further notice,’” Riddiough said. “We found out we had 20 minutes to get ready and that was it, basically. Don’t let the other team get a sniff of the goal and we’ll be fine.”

Hofstra was ready to go coming out of the delay. Krista Agostinello got the game restarted with a throw in, and the ball bounced to Taylor near midfield. The Colonial Athletic Association’s Attacking Player of the Year took it from there, dancing through a couple of Friars before depositing the ball into the back of the net to extend the lead to 3-0. The goal came just 13 seconds after the restart.

Hofstra outshot Providence 16-5 with six shots on goal to the Friars’ two. The Pride also out-cornered Providence 9-2. Skylar Kuzmich made two saves for Hofstra while Bodmer stopped three shots for

the Friars. The shutout was the Pride’s 13th of the season, a program record.

Next up, Hofstra faces the University of South Carolina Gamecocks who upset the No. 10 University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels 1-0. UNC was a two-seed in the tournament and had never lost an NCAA first-round game in program history. “We’re not scared of

who gets drawn up against us,” Porter said. “Our game doesn’t change.”

The game will take place on Friday, Nov. 19, at the University of Southern California, the host school for the next two rounds for Hofstra’s quadrant of the tournament bracket.

Hofstra Athletics Taylor’s goal came 13 seconds after play resumed following a weather delay.

Dimitriadis powers Pride to sweep over JMU on senior day

By Anthony Roberts SPORTS E D I TO R

The Hofstra volleyball team has found its rhythm as the team prepares for the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) tournament after the Pride took down James Madison University (JMU) in straight sets on Sunday, Nov. 14, at the David S. Mack Physical Education Building.

Set scores were 25-23, 25-20 and 27-25 as the Pride split the weekend doubleheader against the Dukes to end the regular season.

“A great day for our team.

It’s super special because it’s senior day, and anytime you win against a great team from

the CAA it’s a beautiful day,” said Hofstra head coach Emily Mansur.

Hofstra honored graduate student Ana Martinovic along with seniors Maddie Appleton and Sheryl Mathew as part of senior day for the Pride.

“All three of them have worked so hard for our program. I really cannot thank them enough for the change and bettering of our culture, they put a lot into it,” Mansur said. “I know I’m going to miss them.”

After fending off an early run, Hofstra trailed JMU 18-13 in set one. Bianca Bucciarelli and Martinovic sparked a 6-1 Hofstra run, tying the match at 19 all. After the Pride committed back-to-back errors, Florencia Wolkowyski sparked a quick 3-0 run to pull Hofstra in front 22-21. After another set of errors put JMU ahead, Wolkowyski slammed the door with a kill, clinching the first set for Hofstra.

Coming into the match the Dukes were 15-0 when winning the opening set but 2-6 when

dropping the opening frame.

Set two was another fierce battle as both sides traded points throughout with the difference of the match being an early 5-0 run for the Pride to take a 10-6 lead. At the 14-10 mark in favor of Hofstra, the next 16 points went back-and-forth for each side until JMU snapped the streak with back-to-back points, getting within three at 22-19. Athina Dimitriadis ended all hope for the Dukes with a kill followed by a service ace to finish set two.

Dimitriadis had a career weekend against the Dukes, finishing with 11 kills, four blocks and two aces. She also posted a .714 attack percentage, leading both teams. “[Dimitriadis] played with a lot of heart and we need her to keep that momentum for us,” Mansur said.

Four Pride players reached double-digit kills as Wolkowyski recorded 13 kills, while Martinovic and Zyare Abdul-Rahim added 10 kills apiece.

“This is what we knew from

the first day that we could be,” Mansur said. “I’m so happy that we had the chance to experience this, where our team knew we could achieve this going into next weekend.”

The third set was another close battle, with both sides answering each team’s run.

After a 6-2 Hofstra run put the Pride in front 19-15, the Dukes embarked on a 6-0 run to storm back and take a 21-19 lead.

After Bucciarelli snapped the JMU run, the Dukes went back up by two after a service error

by Hofstra.

Martinovic brought the Pride back within one before AbdulRahim tied the game at 22 all.

After JMU fended off several match points, Dimitriadis ended the set once again with a kill and an ace.

The Pride finished the regular season with a 14-13 record (8-8

CAA), while JMU’s ends with a 17-7 record (11-5 CAA).

Although tied for second in the CAA with Elon University, JMU will not compete in the CAA tournament after the CAA ruled JMU ineligible to compete in conference championships.

The decision comes after JMU announced a withdraw from the CAA to join the SunBelt.

Hofstra earned the sixth seed in the CAA tournament and now heads to Towson, Maryland, as they face the No. 3 College of Charleston on Thursday, Nov. 18, at SECU Arena. The Pride will eye its first CAA Championship since 2018; Towson has won back-to-back CAA titles and is the overall top seed in this year’s tournament.

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THE CHRONICLE

SPORTS

NOVEMBER 16, 2021 • A17

Vowinkel’s two goals clinch Pride’s first CAA title since 2015

By Josh Sager STAFF WRITER

The wait is over for the Hofstra men’s soccer team. After five years of heartbreak, the Pride won the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championship on Sunday, Nov. 14. The Pride took down the Elon University Phoenix 3-2 behind a brace from Matthew Vowinkel.

With this win, the Pride are on to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament for the first time since 2015 and for the fifth time in program history.

The Pride has also extended its

unbeaten streak to 15 games and set a program record with their 16th win of the season, which topped a record going back to 1968.

It didn’t start out pretty for the Pride, as they gave up a goal to Elon just 5:44 into the game.

Vemund Hole Vik headed a corner kick from Jannik Videbaek past Wessel Speel. Hofstra had four shots on goal in the first half but could not capitalize.

“We really have to give a lot of credit to Elon,” said Hofstra head coach Richard Nuttall. “They thought [about] how they were going to play against us. They got the goal off a set piece. Then they defended valiantly, we should’ve gotten one or two in the first half, we didn’t.”

The second half is where Hofstra shined. At the 52:30 mark, Vowinkel headed in a cross ripped in from the near side by Ryan Carmichael to even the score at one. The tie didn’t last long, as Stefan Mason took a free kick from just to the right of the 18-

yard box that found its way to the back of the net.

“I have to give a lot of credit to my coach Nuttall,” Mason said.

“At halftime, he mentioned a little tactic about just stopping just before you take the free kick, and then going back and then taking it.

This is just so it adjusts their back line and their goalkeeper. If I’m being honest, I was aiming for the back area, whether that’s the back post for a header or in the goal.”

Vowinkel sealed the deal in the 72nd minute, as Francesco Perinelli sent a pass to Storm Strongin, who in turn dribbled into the box before passing it off to Vowinkel. This was Vowinkel’s second of the match as well as his fourth goal of the tournament.

This was also his second straight game with a brace.

“For me, he’s been hot all season, it’s just that a lot more people are marking him and worrying about him,” Nuttall said.

“The attention he gets leaves room [for] your Carmichaels, your [Hendrik] Hebbekers, your

Strongins and the midfielders going forward. His first header was professional level attacking the ball.”

Elon’s Jack Edwards scored one more to make things interesting with 11 minutes to go, but that was all the damage that the Phoenix could do.

As the final seconds ticked by, and as the final whistle blew, Vowinkel collapsed on the pitch in jubilation.

“When I fell to the ground, I let

out five years of pure enjoyment,” Vowinkel said. “It just felt really good to lay there, take it all in and breathe the fresh air.”

Vowinkel was named the Most Outstanding Player in the Tournament. Vowinkel, Mason, Perinelli and Roc Carles were all named to the All-Tournament team.

The Pride will host Lipscomb University on Thursday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m.

Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle The Pride has captured five CAA titles since 2004.

A18 • NOVEMBER 16, 2021

SPORTS

THE CHRONICLE

Hofstra wrestling ready to be back after successful 2020-21 season

By Samantha Walker STAFF W R I T E R

With the official start of wrestling season last week, Sunday, Nov. 7, the Pride competed in the Clarion Open in Clarion, Pennsylvania, against top teams across the nation.

Bloomsburg University, University at Buffalo, Clarion University, Hofstra University, Kent State University, Lock Haven University, University of Maryland, U.S. Naval Academy, University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University are the 10 teams that wrestled on nine mats inside Tippin Gym. Pittsburgh is ranked No. 15 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association preseason poll, while the Naval Academy received 18 votes and West Virginia and Hofstra are in the poll’s receiving votes category with one.

Coach of eight years Dennis Papadatos reflected on the past two seasons and his expectations for the 2021-22 season.

His overall goal is growth and health. “I don’t like expectations, it’s early ... I’m hoping that we’re healthy,” Papadatos said. “My expectations are to, you know, keep progressing as we have over the last few years, to be better again and make sure

we have our lineup the way we want it. So it’s kind of ... hard to say what expectations are. So we had a good year two years ago, we had a good year last year and I expect to have a good year, if not better. To quantify it is difficult. It’s just so early, and we’re competing this weekend, and we still have some guys out. So I have just been more focused on developing some of the new guys [and] getting some of the guys that have been around, you know, for a long time, just making sure they feel good and are healthy because they’ve been through the grind so much.”

Papadatos felt confident enough to leave it up to the team to decide as far as captains go.

According to Papadatos, the criteria to keep in mind while making this decision were “Who do you want leading you?” and “Who do you want representing you as a Hofstra wrestler?”

“I feel like over the last two years, we’ve changed, you know, the culture of our program, and I trust our guys, and I trust the guys that we brought in,” Papadatos said. “If the guys want those guys to lead them, then I’m going to let their voice[s] carry through.”

When it comes to the com-

Hofstra Athletics Papadatos had seven wrestlers qualify for the 2021 NCAA Championships, the most in a season since 2011.

petition, coming out victorious won’t always be the easiest with teams such as Arizona State University, Virginia Tech, Penn State University, Cornell University, University of Northern Iowa, Rutgers University and University of Wisconsin on the schedule, which are all top 15 programs. Although these schools are competing at such a high level, so is Hofstra, with seven NCAA qualifiers from last season, “We [have] got a little bit of a target on our back right now,” Papadatos said. “We

haven’t wrestled with the target back on our backs in a while, so I’m hoping the guys respond well. The competition will have no choice but to keep Hofstra on their radar.”

Coach Papadatos remains optimistic for this season, especially with eight newcomers, seven first-year students and one transfer, bringing depth and competitiveness to the team.

The Pride continues the season with several opens and also a matchup at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey,

with both Rutgers and Wisconsin on Nov. 27.

Hofstra is on the road until the first home matchup, when the Pride take on Bucknell University on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. The match is the first of four consecutive home matches for the Pride.

THE CHRONICLE

SPORTS

NOVEMBER 16, 2021 • A19

O’Brien’s dream of playing division one field hockey complete

By Jonathan DeSousa STAFF W R I T E R

This year marked the fifth and final year for Hofstra field hockey veteran defender Frankie O’Brien. A native of Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, O’Brien played field hockey for Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, where she flourished offensively. Throughout her high school career, O’Brien put up 57 goals and 34 assists. She tallied 20 goals and 15 assists during her junior year. She one-upped herself as a senior with 29 goals and won the Nick Salamone Most Outstanding Athlete Award.

As O’Brien is from Pennsylvania, you may wonder what made her pick Hofstra. Why not take a chance to play for the Drexel University Dragons? Or the Lafayette College Leopards? Or the Bucknell University Bison? O’Brien, like many athletes, wants to win. Before O’Brien made her decision, she recognized that Hofstra was a nationally ranked team and consistently Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) tournamentbound under former head coach Kathy De Angelis.

“The difference with Hofstra was the intensity they had,” O’Brien said. “I was sitting in

this pregame meeting for my visit here, they didn’t play that well, and [De Angelis] didn’t glaze over it, she ripped them apart, like, ‘This is what we’re going to do to fix this.’”

The success Hofstra had didn’t last too long after the game-changing duo of Claudia Marin Samper and Stella Schoen graduated. The duo ranked first and second in the CAA in goals scored; however, the team was derailed from back-to-back 8-1 losses to close out the regular season against the James Madison University Dukes and again on the road against the eventual CAA champion University of Delaware Blue Hens, being eliminated in the first game of the 2015 CAA tournament.

Since the last playoff run for Hofstra field hockey, there have been some games worth remembering for different reasons despite the lack of playoff action. When O’Brien made her collegiate debut in 2017, she went back to her home state of Pennsylvania to face off against Lafayette College. Crazy enough, her fifth and final year saw her go back to Fisher Stadium to start the season against the exact team she kicked off her college career against.

“What do you know – we started off [against] Lafayette in

Hofstra Athletics In 2017, O’Brien was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team.

my fifth year here ... it’s like a full circle,” O’Brien said.

However, those were only a couple of games out of the five she remembers. Frankie won’t soon forget about Hofstra’s statement 1-0 shutout win over the James Madison Dukes at Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium during her sophomore year season in 2018. “That’s the first time I’ve ever seen Hofstra step up to a top 20 team and beat them,” O’Brien said.

The last two games the defender recalls were both losses against the perennial CAA champion Delaware. O’Brien isn’t fazed about mentioning losses, because she feels the experience was good for growth.

“We lost [to Delaware] but we were fighting so hard and I just didn’t know what was going to happen,” O’Brien said. “I thought they would do full circle on us and I think we gave them a great fight this year.”

“It was so fun to play too, after those games you can’t even be mad. You just have to be proud of how far we’ve come,” she added.

Speaking of the fierce young core this team has established, including Eline Oldeman, O’Brien has nothing but optimism for the future and believes the best is yet to come.

“I think they built a great foundation and they’re pulling in people that just want to work hard, and, like I said, have fun,” she said. “If you’re going to work yourself into the ground every day, do it for a purpose.

Do it because you’re ultimately getting better no matter if it’s mentally, physically or as a team.”

Out of the 31 goals scored this season, the freshman Lara Borensztein, Simryn Desai, Lieke Gorsse and Oldeman combined count for more than half with 17 goals.

Playing field hockey here for five years, O’Brien has encountered many different personalities, which has helped her make some personal adjustments of her own. The only teammate she’s had throughout her time on the team is goalie Cecelia DeSimone.

“Probably playing with well over 80 people at this point, all

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle O’Brien was second in the CAA in defensive saves, with four in 2018.

very different personalities, only staying for one year, staying for two or staying for all four, every single person I’ve met here, I’ve pulled a piece from them,” O’Brien noted. “Just shaping character and learning to be a better person and better team depending on their needs and what they taught me.”

Mentoring and teaching others has always been a natural desire of O’Brien’s.

“I thought I wanted to be some type of teacher, so I came in here as a global studies major,” O’Brien said.

However, her life-changing experience outside of a classroom helped clear her vision.

“It was my dream to play division one field hockey. The first coach to make it possible was Kathy De Angelis,” O’Brien said. “But when the switch came from [De Angelis] to Courtney [Veinotte], she fueled that fire for me and was like, ‘You can be so much better, you can continue to grow as a player’ and I think that growth happened between my junior year and this

year and from freshman year I was just so happy to be on the field.”

O’Brien aspires to one day become a field hockey coach herself. She was given the nickname “the mother hen,” as she only serves to help nourish her teammates who have become her family. She is also president of the Hofstra Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Her five years of service are only the beginning of what her legacy will one day be. From player to coach, from one chapter to another, O’Brien has worked tirelessly and as a result gets to live her dream every day.

BACK COVER:

Men’s Soccer rallies past elon for caa title

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE

SPORTS

Nov. 16, 2021

K ings of the C olonial Men’s soccer crowned champions of the CAA for first time since 2015 after defeating Elon 3-2.

Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle