The Hofstra Chronicle May 4, 2021

T H E HOFS T R A

HEMPSTEAD, NY VOLUME 86 ISSUE 8

CHRONICLE

TUESDAY MAY 4, 2021

KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935.

NEWS

NEWS

President Stuart Rabinowitz reflects on Hofstra announces in-person commencement 51 years at Hofstra

By Melanie Haid EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

After being part of the Hofstra community in many roles for over 50 years, Hofstra University President Stuart Rabinowitz announced his retirement; and a year later, looks back on his time

Photo courtesy of University Relations

President Rabinowitz began at Hofstra University in 1972.

in various leadership roles, as well as the surprising direction that his last year took with the pandemic.

“It was sort of unexpected,” Rabinowitz said over a Zoom interview. “In September. of 2019, everything was going great … I really thought that when I let somebody else take the reins, that this year, 2020-2021, would be very easy for me, and then boom!”

The University’s partnership with Northwell Health, which came out of the creation of the medical school during Rabinowitz’s tenure as president, was instrumental in the University’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s a great partnership, not

just because of the [medical] school and the nursing school, but because they helped lead us through this pandemic with expertise.”

When Rabinowitz began in 1972 as a member of the law faculty, and later the dean of the law school, things were much different than they are now, he says. When he began as president in 2001, he wanted to emphasize becoming a “great” university – rather than just the best university on Long Island or a good regional university – and focusing on Hofstra’s graduation rates and retention rates. The average high school GPA of incoming Hofstra freshmen has risen in the past 20 years from

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A&E

A new star-spangled man with a plan hits Disney+

By Mac Sykes S TA F F W R I T E R

Photo Courtesy of Games Radar “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” is a continuation of the Marvel Universe on Disney+, following the highly popular “Wandavision.”

On Friday, April 23, Marvel’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” miniseries came to an end. The show consisted of six episodes total and was exclusive to the Disney+ streaming platform. Unlike the previously released series from Marvel, “WandaVision,” which had a zany, unique approach to its narrative, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” feels like a traditional action serial film from the fifties, split up over the course of weeks in telling the story. Nearly two years have passed since the release of the last Marvel movie in cinemas as a result of many being pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For now, this is the best return we could ask for.

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By Taylor Nicoli

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE\

On Wednesday, April 21, the Hofstra University Office of the Provost released new details concerning this year’s commencement ceremony.

Current seniors, as well as Spring ‘20 and Fall ‘20 graduates, are invited to attend a slightly larger, inperson outdoor ceremony this year, with COVID-19 safety guidelines in place and a guest limit of two per student.

Prior to these updates, the commencement ceremony was limited to graduating students only, and any friends and family were to attend remotely through a live broadcast. The University sent out the email containing these previous guidelines on Tuesday, April 6, and in reference to the rules, stated, “We know this will be disappointing news.”

Many graduating Hofstra seniors are looking forward to having a graduation ceremony more similar to the ones held prior to the pandemic.

“I was feeling really sad about having to graduate in an empty stadium without my family there,” said Maya Brodtman, a senior early childhood and childhood education major.

“Now that I know I have two tickets, I’m feeling extra excited about getting to walk across stage and spend the day celebrating with my parents.”

On Monday, April 12, New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo released the new guidelines for all New York commencement ceremonies. These guidelines, effective Saturday, May 1, state that in-person ceremonies are allowed, but outdoor and indoor venues will be at limited capacity depending on their size, as well as a limit of two attendees per student. Proof

of a negative COVID-19 test or vaccination will also be required, as well as face masks, social distancing, a health screening and contact tracing information.

Gabrielle St. Léger, dean of students and assistant vice president for Student Affairs, said that there was always a desire to provide students with an in-person graduation, and administration was just waiting for the guidelines to do so.

“The year has been very challenging and to have this be the end result, where we’re able to fulfill this promise, is good,” St. Léger said. “We want to celebrate our students and we want to celebrate the families.

We want to make sure that they have that moment.”

Other departments are also working to hold up their own graduation traditions. The Hofstra University Honors College will be hosting three events before each of the main graduation ceremonies, where office members will hand out medals to the graduating students.

“The HUHC deans and staff are all happy that students will get to have something very close to the ceremony they’ve looked forward to for the past four years,” said Vimala Pasupathi, associate dean for the Honors College. Pasupathi also said that while these short ceremonies will not be an exact replacement of their former graduation events, members of the office “will be right there by the stadium to show how pleased we are to play a part in their success as they prepare for their next steps.”

Commencement ceremonies will take place over several days toward the end of May. Spring and Fall ‘20 graduates

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NEWS

A2 • MAY 4, 2021

THE CHRONICLE

Some universities will require students to be vaccinated in the fall

By Victoria Wetmore SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

203 Student Center hofstrachronicle@gmail.com

Editors-in-Chief Melanie Haid Drashti Mehta Managing Editor Visvajit Sriramrajan Business Manager Robert Kinnaird News Editor Annemarie LePard Assistant News Editors Ahjané Forbes Marjorie Rogers Madeline Armstrong A&E Editors Eleni Kothesakis Victoria Bell Assistant A&E Editors Jacob Huller Kat Salmon Sports Editors Anthony Roberts Mike Senatore Assistant Sports Editor Will Wiegleman Features Editors Betty Araya Audra Nemirow Micaela Erickson Assistant Features Editors Julian Rocha Anna DeGoede Op-Ed Editors Jessica Zhang Daniel Cody Assistant Op-Ed Editors Yashu Pericherla Aja Ward Copy Chief Odessa Stork Assistant Copy Chiefs Antonia Moffa Julia Razzante Multimedia Editors Robert Kinnaird Adam Flash Talha Siddiqui Assistant Multimedia Editor Jacob Lewis Social Media Team Gab Varano Tori Licata Anthony Roberts Editor-at-Large David Lazar The Chronicle is published on Tuesdays during the academic year by the students of Hofstra University. The Chronicle is located in Room 203 Student Center, 200 Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y. 11549. Advertising and subscription rates may be obtained by calling (516) 463-6921.

The Chronicle reserves the right to reject any submission, in accordance with our written policies. All advertising which may be considered fraudulent, misleading, libelous or offensive to the University community, The Chronicle or its advertisers may be refused. The products and opinions expressed within an advertisement are not endorsed by The Chronicle or its staff.

Nationwide, colleges have started to reveal their plans for the upcoming semester, most on track to reopen completely.

In an effort to ensure the safety of their faculty members and students, 14 colleges and universities including Duke, Cornell, Brown, Northeastern and Rutgers, have informed students that they need to have a COVID-19 vaccine to return to campus next fall. Hofstra has yet to announce if they will follow suit.

“I think Hofstra should require students to submit proof of a COVID-19 vaccine to attend in-person classes,” said Brendon Kaas, a sophomore mechanical engineering major. “It would definitely make me feel safer.”

As of Monday, April 19, all 50 states opened vaccination eligibility to everyone ages 16 and up. In an effort to achieve herd immunity, universities are providing easy access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Over 100 universities, including Hofstra, have turned into pop-up vaccination sites to expedite the vaccination process.

“Hofstra offering the vaccine to students was incredibly helpful,” said Taylor Demers, a freshman pre-physicians assistant studies major. “I feel like I wouldn’t have been able to get it so quickly [otherwise].

Requiring up-to-date vaccinations is not new at Hofstra.

The University, along with most other institutions, requires proof

of at least one vaccination for enrollment. For schools like Duke and Cornell, this is simply adding another vaccine to an already established system.

Other universities with more lenient policies are facing backlash from students as they place holds on registration and on campus living options.

The COVID-19 vaccine falls through the cracks of previous legislation set in place. Since the vaccine has only been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug

ment has final rulings over university guidelines.”

When it comes to localized discussions, private universities usually have an easier time than public schools when it comes to making controversial decisions.

The anti-vaccine movement is one of the several foreseeable groups prepared for legal argumentation.

The court system is familiar with sudden vaccination mandates. In Jacobson v. Massachusetts (1905), the Supreme Court

Photo courtesy of Victoria Wetmore Photo courtesy of Victoria Wetmore COVID-19 vaccines were offered beginning April 6.

Administration (FDA) under an emergency use authorization (EUA), there will be difficulties in actually enforcing it.

The power to enforce student vaccinations comes from the previous plans set in place by a college and must follow federal and state regulatory laws.

“There is no reason that the state could not impose mandatory vaccinations on everybody in the state if they wanted to,” said Eric Lane, professor of law and public service at Hofstra.

“However, the federal govern-

upheld the authority of the state to enforce vaccination laws. The decision asserted that individual liberty is not absolute and is subject to state power. Nonetheless, the federal government will provide accommodations for those who refuse a vaccine for both medical and religious reasons.

There are also concerns regarding the vaccination of international students. Most of those who have remained home for the semester have either struggled to find a vaccination site or have

received a shot, such as the AstraZeneca vaccine, that has not yet been approved for use in the United States.

“Both my parents and myself have not received it [the vaccine],” said Alistair Lee, a senior political science major. Located in Hong Kong, Lee’s travel status is currently restricted to Level Three, where citizens should “reconsider” travel.

These unclear guidelines have hindered families from moving throughout the country.

“There are still mountains of safety concerns,” Lee said.

“Hence, I would still opt for online courses.”

Some schools have begun to offer incentives to students who comply with vaccination mandates. For example, Dickinson State University in North Dakota is exempting students from a campus mask mandate two weeks after they are fully vaccinated.

With the lack of details regarding the coronavirus vaccination, all universities, Hofstra included, are making sure to prepare students with as much information as possible before the end of the semester.

“Given the widespread availability of the COVID-19 vaccines, we expect all members of the Hofstra community to be vaccinated before the fall,” said Karla Schuster, assistant vice president for University Relations. “The University, in consultation with its partners at Northwell Health, will make a determination about requiring the vaccination shortly.”

Despite COVID concerns, Hofstra graduates are allowed to walk CONTINUED FROM A1 will be provided with an earlier time slot for their in-person ceremony on Monday, May 24.

“Sometimes it doesn’t even feel like I graduated,” said Allison Silva, a Hofstra University alumnus that graduated in May 2020. At the time, many graduating seniors expressed their disappointment in the lack of an in-person ceremony. “I know that it wasn’t anyone’s fault because

we were in a global pandemic, and still are, but I still get upset knowing I missed out on such an important ceremony,” Silva said.

Many students have said that they prefer these changes in commencement plans. “It’ll be nice to be able to be sent off with an actual graduation instead of coming back at a later year,” said Gregory Quintanilla, a senior computer science major.

Quintanilla will be bringing his parents, using his two

guest tickets. However, other seniors had a more difficult time choosing their two guests.

“I think I’ll just be bringing my mom to the ceremony,” said Madison Spence-Moore, a senior film major. “This was a tough decision to make since I have three little sisters who I’d love to bring, but it just isn’t feasible.”

Hofstra University is adhering to the two guests per student guideline, as well as all other New York State

guidelines. Masks must be worn, and physical distance will be maintained throughout the ceremony. All attendees, including graduates, will have to abide by current COVID-19 guidelines. “We are going to safely have our commencement.

It’s going to be a wonderful time and Northwell is going to help us do that,” St. Léger said.

THE CHRONICLE

NEWS

MAY 4, 2021 • A3

A look back at President Rabinowitz’s time at Hofstra

CONTINUED FROM A1 about 2.6 to now 3.7, with the highest graduation rate in history this August.

“There is still a lot of work to be done,” he said. “But it’s a combination of providing scholarship aid and raising money for the students to attract the best and brightest, and raising our stature and public visibility – like [by] hosting three presidential debates, and things like that. We’ve seen a lot of progress but there’s plenty of work left to do for the new president, so she shouldn’t be bored,” he said of his successor, Dr. Susan Poser.

Along with the creation of the medical school and partnership with Northwell Health, one of his goals during his leadership was to better support the science departments while still emphasizing a liberal arts education. During his time, the engineering school was founded, and many of the laboratories and buildings were modernized and upgraded with state-of-theart technology. Additionally, a physician assistant (PA) program was started, as well as a graduate nursing program. Still in the works are the development of an

undergraduate nursing program, becomes a focus after he retires, necessarily four-year programs, a physical therapy program, and offering things like certificates which would be good for the more. and badges alongside four-year University and good for the One of the things Rabinowitz degrees. “I think there are a economy. That would have been hopes to leave with the Hofstra million things Hofstra can and my next step.” community after his retirement should explore, and I just ran Most of all, Rabinowitz is is the continuation of ambition in out of time,” he said. His hope excited for this year’s upcoming every aspect in-person of the commencement, University. something he “One of the has always things I ran looked forward up against to since his when I just start at Hofstra. became “It makes it president, all worthwhile was this – that’s what sort of we’re in the disbelief in “business” to the notion do: to help that Hofstra every young had the person that resources comes to us to and reach their full foundations potential.” to be a great As a faculty university. member, he And I think always enjoyed Photo courtesy of University Relations over the seeing his Hofstra University students enjoying the spring weather. past 20 students that he years, that’s changed. I think the was that the Uuniversity can got to know graduate, and now ambition is there, that nothing be more involved in re-training as president, he says that thrill is beyond us, and I hope I’ve people for a new economy, and a is only magnified. “I feel like I contributed to that.” new technological environment. became the step-father of 11,000 Rabinowitz hopes that more “There are a whole slew of students,” he said. options for adult learners other kinds of programs, not As for his retirement,

Rabinowitz’s plan to “slow down” mainly involves no longer having a 24/7 job – something that he says being a college president is, “if you do it halfway right.” He hopes to return to his roots of teaching as early as fall of 2022, tentatively teaching an undergraduate Introduction to American Constitutional Law course, and says he would enjoy working for a non-profit in some capacity.

His tenure officially ends in August 2021, 51 years after he began as a law faculty member.

He hopes that his time at Hofstra has set the foundation for liberal arts as well as sciences, and for the University to reach its full potential as a “great university” – something which he believes it truly can be.

“Nothing’s perfect, but I do think we’ve made a lot of progress and I’m proud of that; and I do leave the University in the very worthy hands of Dr. Susan Poser. It’s been a difficult year, but my prediction is that Hofstra will come out of [the pandemic] better than almost every other local school or school similarly situated, and I think we will flourish.”

Senior send-off: Bye bye baby

By Melanie Haid EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I would not be who I am today without The Hofstra Chronicle. I think that’s a good way to reflect on these past four years and recognize that, through good and bad, the consistency of this club, this paper, this group of people who will be at my wedding and will be my friends for probably the rest of my life on this little planet, has always been there in one way or another.

When I started my freshman year, I got involved in just about everything possible, and The Chronicle was the very first thing. I was the managing editor of my paper in high school, and I had known since I could pick up a crayon that I was going to be a writer (which, over time,

manifested itself into my love for journalism). I pitched myself to be a bi-weekly columnist in the op-ed section in the op-ed editor’s car while doing distro on a Tuesday night, and from then on, I wrote. And wrote. And wrote.

Over the years, The Chronicle office became a place of escape; though the labor of love every week through meetings and 4 a.m. layout nights on Mondays was a stress in itself, it was a stress that I welcomed, and one that I’ll miss forever.

This past year has been heartbreaking. It’s like nothing we could have expected for our final year with the paper, and I am so thankful that those not yet graduating will have the opportunity to return to the office and a sense of normalcy in the

fall. The paper is everything, it’s meticulous reading and researching and focused writing and literally so many meetings all the time, it’s hard decisions, wanting to do what’s best and failing, failing incredibly, and learning.

I’ve learned more from this paper than I have from any class, and any internship. I’ve learned how to be a leader, how to interview, how to write news; how to believe in something, how to love something despite its flaws, how to learn from those around me.

It’s hard to believe that it’s over, and that it’s ending like this. I never got to sit in that chair in the office behind the Editor-in-Chief’s desk, something I’d dreamed about since becoming an assistant for

the news section. I never got to do even half of the things I had planned as a leader in this organization. It’s taught me to be flexible, and I suppose that is the greatest gift of all.

I hope that The Chronicle can continue to be, and return to, what it was when I started.

What I fell in love with. What kept me up for days on end and took everything out of me every week but gave me the best experiences, the best people and the confidence to go on after graduation knowing that I am prepared.

This paper has grown from raising me my freshman year to what now feels like sending my own child off into the world alone. Ask anyone: this paper has been my life for the past four years. Maybe only a small part of

it, but arguably one of the most important ones. Take care of her for me. Hold her to the highest standard. Take not a single moment for granted, and love her with all you’ve got. I know you will.

Melanie Haid / The Hofstra Chronicle

Melanie Haid is a senior journalism major and serves as the Editor-inChief.

A4 • MAY 4, 2021

NEWS

Transgender rights restricted in Arkansas

Photo courtesy of FreePik.com According to The Trevor Project, transgender children are more likely to face violence and experience depression and suicidal tendencies.

By Dickinson-Frevola S TA F F W R I T E R

Arkansas legislators on Tuesday, April 6, overturned Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s previous veto of a bill that sought to restrict gender-affirming care for transgender children. The law, known as the Save Adolescents from Experimentation Act, prohibits doctors from providing genderaffirming care such as puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy to transgender minors. This new law includes those who were already receiving treatment with parental consent, according to reports from CBS News.

This is not the first antiLGBTQ+ law to be considered in Arkansas’ House and Senate, as it followed Hutchinson’s previous support of two other anti-transgender bills. One of the bills allows doctors to refuse treatment to LGBTQ+ people due to their religious beliefs, and another would ban transgender women and girls from participating in women’s sports. These bills follow the introduction of similar proposals in North Carolina, Texas and Michigan. This has made 2021 a record year for anti-transgender legislation, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

Members of the Hofstra community from states that have passed anti-transgender legislation have seen some of the

for trans students.”

In a Human Rights Campaign press release, organizations such as the American Academy

report from Pharma: Technology Focus states that puberty blockers are entirely reversible and are a safe option for transgender children experiencing dysphoria.

While Republican legislators propose that gender-affirming care and policies will harm children, a 2020 report from the Trevor Project found that around 52% of transgender youth had considered suicide in the past year, whereas affirmative care lowered suicidal ideation.

Some Hofstra students say anti-transgender politics have no place in society.

“I believe the mere discussion of anti-trans legislation allows transphobia to be seen as a legitimate political stance instead of the uninformed – or at worst bigoted – opinion which it truly is,” said sophomore television major Mary Gilberto. “It fuels the idea that the existence of trans people is up for discussion instead of recognizing that they

THE CHRONICLE

are real people.”

The Arkansas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union already plans to fight this legislation in court. In a statement released on Tuesday, April 6, executive director Holly Dickson said, “Attempting to block trans youth from the care they need simply because of who they are is not only wrong, it’s also illegal, and we will be filing a lawsuit to challenge this law in court.”

The Hofstra community expresses support for transgender people throughout these spikes in anti-trans legislation.

“People care about you, and people are still fighting for you,” said Jude DeWalt, a freshman communication arts major. “I know it’s hard to deal with a society that rejects you, but you are worthy and deserving of humanity and you are beautiful in your own becoming.”

“I believe the mere discussion of anti-trans legislation allows transphobia to be seen as a legitimate political stance instead of the uninformed – or at worst bigoted – opinion which it truly is.”

effects these laws can have on students. “[After HB2 was passed, and before it was repealed], the only safe spaces for trans students were those where adults [were] willing to break rules,” said Olivia Kinigson, a senior biology major, in reference to some of the anti-transgender legislation in her home state of North Carolina, which passed in 2017.

“Our school administration was making exceptions on the downlow and unofficially said trans kids could use whatever bathroom they identified with. This was definitely not universal, and I think the situation would’ve been worse without school officials making those exceptions

of Pediatrics, the American Public Health Association and the Child Welfare League of America, among others, all spoke out against the legislation, saying, “these appalling proposals would compromise the safety and well-being of the young people we all have the duty and obligation to support and protect.”

Proponents of the law argue that gender-affirming care is dangerous and irreversible.

These claims have been disputed by Politifact, which reports that hormone replacement therapy is not often provided to minors under 16 years old who haven’t shown continuous signs of gender dysphoria. A similar

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons The Trevor Project found that affirmative care lowered the rate of suicidal ideation in trans youth.

THE CHRONICLE

NEWS

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• Choose from flexible, asynchronous courses, taught by a dynamic group of award-winning, full-time faculty.

• Gain hands-on experience through various internships or through graduate assistance programs.

• No GRE required and scholarships available for qualified candidates!

Learn more at hofstra.edu/highered or call 516-463-4723.

MAY 4, 2021 • A5

FEATURES

A6 • MAY 4, 2021

THE CHRONICLE

Senior send-off: The last 1,000 words

Drashti Mehta / The Hofstra Chronicle Drashti Mehta is a senior journalism major and serves as an Editor-in-Chief.

By Drashti Mehta EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I have mentally been writing this send-off since I first became an assistant in 2018. Now that this moment is finally here, I feel unusually emotional and don’t know where to begin. I suppose I could tell you all about our responsibility as journalists.

Discuss the change that the paper has – and will continue – to create at this school. But, all of that has been said and done before.

So instead, I offer you this: When it felt like the world was crashing around me, without fail, The Chronicle was there for me.

On its surface, The Chronicle is a voice of reason, a platform for advocacy, a way to be heard.

For some, it’s just another club tucked away in the corner of the Student Center. But I like to believe I got the best part of The Chronicle. In that small brick-walled office filled with an unreasonable number of chairs, I found something rare: family.

This paper has given me more than my freshman self could have ever imagined. Coming to Hofstra, I was determined to

double major in journalism and political science and become a political correspondent. Today, I barely recognize that version of me. The paper gave me a space unlike any other. I was provided the opportunity to tell the stories of people that felt like their voice was diminished in a crowd. I developed a voice and writing style

the opportunity to see this paper transform in the best way possible. But, all of this experience isn’t necessarily from writing. A lot of it comes from having the privilege of being around a group of people that are opinionated and willing to voice their ideas and concerns to create a better paper.

to actively practice anti-racism in their daily lives.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank the writers that made the paper what it is today, the e-board that put their heart and soul into every article, photo, graphic and social media post and to everyone that played a role in making our office and paper feel like home.

To Betty and Audra, a girl couldn’t have asked for better assistants. It’s been a pleasure watching you both grow into the wonderful editors you are today.

I’m immensely proud of where you’ve taken the features section this past year.

To the incoming leaders, Micaela and Jess, I have no doubt that you two will bring this paper to new heights. It’s not going to be easy to adjust to whatever the Fall semester may bring, but know that you’re capable of handling unforeseen challenges, you are allowed to take a break and I will always have your back.

While this would be a fine place to stop talking, I have a few more thanks that need to be made. Between the onset of the pandemic, and the challenges I faced with the unexpected loss of my father in January, there a few people without whom it wouldn’t have been possible for me to make it through the semester.

First, to my co-editor and partner in crime this year, Mel, thank you for keeping me sane and for giving me the time I

“In that small brick-walled office filled with an unreasonable number of chairs, I found something rare: family.” that’s unique to me. Most of all, I got to experience how rewarding it is to have someone trust you enough to tell their story.

Everything I know about writing, accountability, the inevitable pitfalls surrounding objectivity and dealing with conflict is a direct result of my time at the paper. I have told stories of minority students on campus, taken strides toward creating a more inclusive environment and had

Over the past year, I have had the distinct honor of leading this paper alongside Melanie Haid.

I got a first-hand look at how deeply everyone cares for this paper, and their commitment made this job feel easy. We were lucky enough to have a staff committed to covering the protests over the summer, discussing international politics and critiquing governments in powerful op-eds and continuously working

needed to grieve. You have no idea how much that meant to me.

I’m so grateful to have had you by my side. Reflecting on this year, all the challenges we faced don’t seem so bad because we got through them together. You are one of the most hardworking people I know, and I’m thrilled to see what the future holds for you.

Any fashion publication would be lucky to have you.

Vis and Eleni, there simply

aren’t enough words to explain how much you mean to me and how much I was able to get through knowing you’re always by my side. I can’t wait to see all that you have yet to accomplish, and I look forward to many future conversations on our favorite topic: Hallmark Christmas movies. You both always know exactly what to say. I am always learning and endlessly inspired by both of you. Thank you for giving me the strength and the push I needed to get back into the swing of things.

A special thank you to our copy chief Odessa and the OpEd team for encouraging me to get my opinions out on paper. I have become a stronger person because of all of you. I am also pretty sure that a couple of my pieces may have gotten me banned from ever going to India, but that’s alright. Your encouragement has meant the world, and I know I’m not alone when I say that each of you has had an immense impact on the content we’ve put out this past year.

Lastly, to Professor Brian McFadden, Dean Adria Marlowe, Dean Mark Lukasiewicz, Professor Carol Fletcher, David Henne and Karla Schuster, there genuinely are not enough words to thoroughly express how I grateful I am for each you and the impact you have made in my life. I am eternally thankful for all the advice, laughs and random mid-day conversations. Thank you for continually supporting me and this paper. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Since I have every intention to crash at least a couple of budget meetings, know that this is a temporary farewell. Here’s to 4 a.m. layouts, inevitable InDesign crashes, the cramped office, unruly desk chairs and dingy couches.

To my peers, colleagues and friends at The Chronicle, you have and will continue to create so much change, your voices are powerful and I wish you all the very best of luck.

THE CHRONICLE

MAY 4, 2021 • A7

FEATURES

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

T h e p hy s i c i a n a s s i s t a nt i n t r a i n i n g

Photo courtesy of Lillian Lu Lu is in the final stretch of her studies at the PA Program, and hopes to work at hospital in New York City.

By Audra Nemirow FEATURES EDITOR

Lillian Lu, a junior in the dual-degree Physician Assistant (PA) program, knew that she wanted to go into the medical field as early as high school. But her passion for the essence of her chosen field was part of her long before then. This is not necessarily a passion for science and medicine, but for helping others.

“Ever since I was young, I always knew I wanted to help people, which I know is something you hear a lot amongst people who are studying to go into the medical field,” Lu said.

“But I just feel like there’s a lot of unnecessary suffering in this world, and I feel like going into the medical field is a way that I can play my part in helping other people.”

Lu’s chosen program, the

dual-degree PA program, allows her to get both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five and a half years. After this program, she will be able to help people in a similar capacity as doctors.

Although physician assistants require fewer years of education than doctors and cannot do all the same things, PAs can still prescribe medication, assist in surgery, see patients on their own and give diagnoses.

The science classes Lu has taken are a source of inspiration for her. Classes like chemistry, biology and biochemistry build on themselves, which help her get a wonderful sense of how everything in this world is interconnected.

She knows that she can never learn everything about everything, but this will not stop her from trying, as she knows that new information can only give

her a more interesting worldview.

“Taking almost three years worth of science classes has changed my view of the world.

I’m taking microbiology right now, and it’s so interesting. In microbiology we learn about the biology of bacteria, viruses and whatnot, and we can’t see [these things] but they’re there, you know?” Lu said. “You would never know that there’s such a complex science behind them because you can’t even see them.

That’s what I really like about the classes that I take. You learn about things that you wouldn’t even know were there.”

PA students learn through a combination of traditional lectures and lab classes. Lu finds lab classes particularly helpful because they allow her to apply the information she has studied.

Of course, the pandemic has put a bit of a damper on lab classes, which were temporarily virtual during the stay-at-home period.

In compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, the PA Program was allowed to return to in-person labs beginning in the Fall ‘20 semester.

However, Lu still manages to learn a great amount. Given the circumstances, the pandemic has given her a newfound appreciation for medicine.

role medical professionals play.”

Even before the pandemic, the medical field was known to be very difficult. Although Lu loves her studies, she is extremely aware of the pressures of her path and has already begun to experience them.

“STEM is very, very tough.

And sometimes, it sucks ... I’ll see my friends be able to go out on the weekends and hang out, and I can’t. I have to say no because I have to study, but it’s nothing personal. I have so many things going on at once,” she said.

“I remember, especially before COVID hit, like freshman and sophomore year, I would literally spend so many hours in the library. I remember I ate all three of my meals in the library.

I would just sit in the same spot for 12 hours and just study and do homework.”

Lu also works at a restaurant as a cashier and has to balance her work schedule, studies and social life. But she knows that if she has to choose between the three, school must always be her top priority.

“Sometimes I would have to say no to hanging out with friends because I know that I have to put my education forward,” she said. “I’m studying

life as a PA. Lu aims to work at a large New York City hospital post-grad.

“I’m already from New York City, so I want to stay here,” Lu noted. “I really hope to work in a big medical setting like a hospital ... there’s so many people constantly, not that I think there’s anything wrong with working in a small office setting or small medical practice, but I feel like I would enjoy my work more in a hospital or a bigger setting just because there is so much going on.”

For now, Lu is focused on the next steps of her program and is looking forward to the next two years. The first of which is a didactic year, a period of learning and labs to prepare for her clincal year. The clinical year will allow her to finally apply classroom knowledge in the real world through rotations at several hospitals.

In the meantime, Lu tries to keep herself inspired and push forward despite any difficulties that may present themselves.

“My major and most STEM majors in general, like I said, are really tough,” Lu said. “What inspires me to keep working hard is knowing that I’ve worked so hard to get where I am right now.

So I know it will all pay off.”

“I just feel like there’s a lot of unnecessary suffering in this world, and I feel like going into the medical field is a way that I can play my part in helping other people.”

“Of course, I’ve always had a huge amount of respect for people in the medical field, and have looked up to them and all the work they do. But especially now, I’m so happy that I chose to go down this path because I realize even more now how big a

so hard to become a physician’s assistant, and I know that’s just a sacrifice I have to make.”

The pressures of excelling, the sacrifices that she makes and the fast-paced nature of her restaurant job will give Lu an edge both inside and outside of her

FEATURES

A8 • MAY 4, 2021

Senior send-off: You can’t list your virtues on a resume

By Betty Araya

would be if we all stopped asking whether we deserve what we got, and just said “thank you” that we were lucky enough to have it.

When I first joined The Chronicle, I hadn’t taken my foundational journalism classes yet. I was in a room full of some the most passionate and experienced

room to maintain my convictions. I had teachers and mentors who allowed me to see myself I have always loved school, for what I could do, and finally but unfortunately, my love for stop focusing on the things I learning was warped by an couldn’t. This confidence was overwhelming need to be perfect. freeing, but also humbling. I As young people, I think most of learned I will never be perfect, us have a chip on our shoulder. but I can always bring value.

We have a need to So many people prove ourselves, hate school, but though to who, I think it’s more can sometimes that they hate how be unclear. If you school makes them struggle with this, feel. Use college let this be a wakeas a time to find up call. Spending the value in hard four years basing work, not a deyour self-worth on bilitating chapter an assignment or of self-doubt and what a professor or deprecation. Do peer thinks about the readings; 99% you is a waste of them are intenof time, because tional and you will these things have most likely not get nothing to do another chance to with who you are. explore them. ParMaking a careless ticipate if you have mistake is not a something to say, personality trait, even if you may misunderstanding be wrong. Ask instructions is not questions, even if a character flaw it seems silly. And Betty Araya / The Hofstra Chronicle think. Think about and a letter grade Betty Araya is a senior journalism and global studies double major or GPA is not an what people in and serves as the Features Editor. identity. It’s just your classes say. school. It’s either Think about how it preparation for a career, or the students at Hofstra, and I didn’t relates to the world around you. gaining of knowledge for knowl- know what my place was. LuckThink about the unique ways you edge’s sake. It’s a privilege. You ily, I soon I realized that I didn’t could apply this knowledge. And know how hard you work and owe anyone in that room that think about what your role in what life looks like outside of the justification. What I owed them this world will be, and try not to classroom. If make it strictyour efforts ly self-servalign with ing. your values, Though I then that’s all learned these that matters. lessons during And if they my time here, currently they apply to don’t, you all chapters of can always life. The need change that. for control Imposter syndrome has was my hard work, willingness often follows the need for perfecbecome a common phrase and to ask when I didn’t know and an tion, and if the last year taught us shared experience among many, apology when I made a mistake. anything, it is how little control and I whole heartedly disagree That is what I owe everyone I we truly have. I’m leaving Hofswith its meaning. It implies that encounter, and most importantly, tra unsure of where I will end up, one should always be able to it’s what I owe myself. but clear on who I am. I hope the justify where they are by their My time at Hofstra was not same for everyone. skill set, which leaves little room at all what I expected, but I will for gratitude and humility. After be eternally grateful for it. I years of heartbreak, I began was challenged to let go of my to think how much easier life preconceived notions but given FEATURES EDITOR

“I learned I will never be perfect, but I can always bring value.”

THE CHRONICLE

Overheard Z oo m

on

“I feel like a burrito rolling down the stairway to hell.”

“That’s what I do in the world, I blow minds.”

“So, I think I might be pregnant.”

“I think I’m high on the COVID vaccine.”

“Florida is what happens when you let white people marinate in a bog for too long.”

“Is anyone watching Tracy Turnblad hosting this Hofstra event?”

“Twitter is full of political discourse and gamer rage and it all smells like onions.”

“You’ve never done revenge against someone?”

“It’s actually such a shame that they don’t teach a class about zucchinis.”

“Nothing like channeling the energy of old white men that use a lot of words to say nothing.”

THE CHRONICLE

MAY 4, 2021 • A9

FEATURES

HUHC: Dr. Tomeka Robinson to join the dean team

By Anna DeGoede and Julian Rocha ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITORS

For the past five years, the Hofstra University Honors College (HUHC) has been led by Dean Warren Frisina, Assistant Dean Lauren Burignat-Kozol and Associate Dean Vimala Pasupathi. In June, Pasupathi plans on stepping down from her position and returning to the English department as a full-time professor.

HUHC is a multidisciplinary program that provides students with opportunities to participate in open discussions with peers and faculty, both in honors college seminars and in a semester-long course titled Culture and Expression (C&E). C&E explores topics from the ancient and contemporary eras. HUHC students can also take more rigorous iterations of their normal coursework.

Through its diverse staff and student body, HUHC encourages all participants to look inward and share their experiences and knowledge with each other.

“Being able to teach in Culture and Expression has ensured that I get to work with colleagues in social science departments ... colleagues I don’t actually ever get to talk to about their teaching, about their fields of scholarship,”

By Julian Rocha ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

Pasupathi said. Planning various HUHC courses and speaking with her fellow professors and students has allowed Pasupathi to expand the scope of her interactions on campus.

HUHC continually brings in new perspectives and expertise on various areas of interest.

During Pasupathi’s tenure with the honors college, she taught seminars including Finance in Film, Nonfiction and Italian Comic Books and C&E, which explored themes such as “Crisis and Response” and “What’s Happening To Our Democracy.”

These varied offerings ensure that professors with different areas of interest teach C&E every semester, so that “it’s just not always the same people. Adding new people who haven’t taught for us before is always, I think, a good positive step,” Pasupathi said.

Another benefit that HUHC brings to its participants is a safe and open space to discuss contemporary themes within a historical context. Pasupathi encourages students to grow their confidence through the conversations they have in the classroom.

“C&E is at least sort of a level playing field where you’re just in a class with ... almost entirely first-year students who are new as well,” Pasupathi noted. “And everybody’s just sort of feeling

out their way of being a college student. And I do think it gives people a sort of confidence over time.”

She explained that although it may be subconsciously, students end up using the habits C&E taught them later on in their academic career, regardless of what the subject matter may have been.

“There have been many things that I really loved studying, because a lot of it isn’t in my specific research area and it tends to be stuff I probably wouldn’t have read without somebody pointing it out to me,” Pasupathi said, reflecting on her time in HUHC. Outside of class, Pasupathi had organized an event examining some of the special collections documents at Hofstra. The event explored the history of African Americans on Long Island. She took students to various sporting events and museums in the area to help them gain a better understanding of Long Island’s history.

Dr. Tomeka Robinson, professor of rhetoric and public advocacy and director of forensics at Hofstra, will take over Pasupathi’s role as associate dean.

Robinson studied biology and speech communication at the undergraduate level, health communication for her master’s degree and health education for her

doctorate. Her academic fields fall in line with HUHC’s values of interdisciplinary studies. Robinson also leads the debate team on campus. “[Robinson] can continue that work to help students really develop their voice. And I think it’s probably not [a] full coincidence that the debate team also has a lot of students of color involved in it,” Pasupathi said. “Dr. Robinson is committed to improving the experience for students of color and faculty of color. She’s been involved in a lot of different initiatives among the faculty to both support students and also to support fields of study that look at different kinds of minority communities. I think that’s a really important element that she brings.”

Part of the value of HUHC is that it encourages faculty and students to bring their unique experiences to the larger community.

“Talking about some of the ancient African and Asian texts that we may not always think about, I think will be an interesting and new challenge and a different way of approaching some of the same ideas that we’ve thought about,” Robinson said.

Robinson looks forward to encouraging members of the honors college to navigate their differences. “We have to actually

understand where everybody’s coming from ... I think that it’s something that can help shape some of our understandings a little bit more,” Robinson said.

Although she usually examines modern texts, she hopes that diving deeper into unfamiliar subject areas will help foster stronger connections between members of the HUHC community. “[I am] looking forward to working with Dean Frisina and Dean Burignat-Kozol because they also bring very different perspectives,” Robinson said. “I think that there is a lot of opportunity for some great synergy to happen and for us to really push each other to be as good as we possibly can be.”

Robinson ultimately views her upcoming role as “blending things and inviting more people to our team.” In the upcoming academic year, Robinson plans to encourage greater diversity in the honors college curriculum, faculty and students and build on the foundations that Pasupathi built in her time with HUHC. “The more people we have on our teaching team, the better perspectives that our students get,” Robinson said. “And the more interesting things that we can provide from a curriculum standpoint.”

Chron Cooks ft. Julian Rocha: Chickpea Salad Ingredients:

Instructions:

2 cans chickpeas (rinsed and drained)

1. Add the ingredients to a large bowl and mix.

1 small chopped tomato

2. Optional: After mixing, add one diced avocado and gently mix again. The added avocado makes this dish more of a meal than a side.

⅓ cup chopped fresh cilantro ¼ cup finely diced red onion Julian Rocha / The Hofstra Chronicle

This dish, one of my mom’s favorite recipes, is perfect for anyone craving a blend of fresh flavors without having to turn on the oven.

Whether you serve it on rice, between two warm slices of bread or all on its own, this is a very versatile and filling dish!

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1-2 teaspoons ground black pepper 1-2 teaspoons of a favorite seasoning, to taste (Mediterranean sea salt adds a great flavor)

3. All the ingredients can be modified to your liking. This dish is best served at room temperature.

4. Enjoy!

5. Note: Leftovers can be refrigerated and warmed in the microwave for approximately 30 seconds.

The end of

a trebled semester

As the semester begins to wind down, the Hofstra music department is headed outside to perform. Various groups such as the brass ensemble and jazz band have been hard at work all semester long preparing music. Due to COVID-19 protocols, concerts this year are being held outside and/or live-streamed online. While rehearsing, students remain distanced from one another and wear masks when not playing, in an effort to keep themselves and the Hofstra community safe.

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle

Adam Flash/The Hofstra Chronicle

Adam Flash / The Hofstra Chronicle

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle Adam Flash / The Hofstra Chronicle

Adam Flash / The Hofstra Chronicle

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle

Adam Flash / The Hofstra Chronicle

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle Spread by Adam Flash and Jacob Lewis

Arts and Entertainment

VOL. 86 ISSUE 8

The Captain is back

B2

Courtesy of Vulture

A&E

B2 •May 4, 2021

CONTINUED FROM A1 The series follows the Falcon, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), and the Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), after the events of “Avengers Endgame,” with Sam training to take up the Captain America mantle placed before him by Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). Before he can take up the title, the pair set out on a journey that challenges their friendship and character.

The series also sees the return of familiar faces from previous Marvel projects in supporting roles, including Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) and Helmut Zemo (Daniel Brühl), as well as a new Captain America played

by Wyatt Russell.

“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” was a pleasant surprise, and many are hopeful for more content like this from Marvel in the years to come. When initially announced, fans speculated the

The Captain is back

series would be nothing more than a buddy cop show, with the pair likely to get involved in some sort of adventure each week.

Fans also expected lots of witty humor interjected given the relationship previously established between the two in other Marvel films. Overall, a good time, but nothing serious or bringing anything new to the table. Surprisingly, the series is more than this, with the ideas of responsibility, character and what it means to be a hero raised and intertwined throughout the entirety of the show.

Unlike “WandaVision,” which encompassed many different themes, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” had a storyline typical of a hero’s journey, with a complicated challenge in regard to race and difficult decisions placed in front of Sam. Unfortunately, the finale suf-

fers from clutter and doesn’t deliver on the impact writers intended, with too many plot points and themes to be tackled in a limited hour time slot.

Between handling the character development and consequences surrounding this new Captain America played by Russell and wrapping up storylines involving Sharon Carter, on top of proving that a Black man can be Captain America, it became a bit of a mess. Despite the finale not living up to expectations, the series does do what it was meant to do: provide tension surrounding Sam becoming Captain America to a degree that is satisfying enough and leaves us wanting more from this character.

Following the release of the final episode on Friday, April 23, it was announced shortly after by Hollywood Reporter that series showrunner Malcolm Spellman will pen a new Captain America

THE CHRONICLE

Quick Hits movie. While no official reports of the cast have been made, one can assume it’s very likely that Stan and Mackie will both reprise their roles, with the latter’s character having taken up the mantle of Captain America in the finale. Until then, Marvel fans will just have to wait and see what the future has in store for Captain America, the Winter Soldier and all of the other heroes and villains, with numerous shows and movies set to release later this year.

interview, “but everything does happen for a reason. We never expected “Nomadland” to resonate the way it did, but everything worked out.”

This year’s Oscars also had its first Korean Actor to win an Academy Award. Yuh-Jung Youn took home the prize for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Soonja in “Minari.” In the film, she portrays the complicated relationship between grandmother and grandchild, mother and daughter, self and family.

She also received attention for her mention of Brad Pitt, the producer of “Minari,” during her acceptance speech. “Mr. Brad Pitt,” she said. “Finally. Nice to meet you. Where were you while we were filming in Tulsa?” Many entertainment outlets described the encounter as “hilarious” or even as a form of flirting.

It was obvious that this was not an attempt at flirtation, but instead a public acknowledgment of Pitt’s absence from the film.

Interviewers spent much more time asking her about how Brad Pitt smelled than they did about her riveting and monumental win.

The memorable night had a confusing closer. The last category to be announced was Best

Comedian Bo Burnham is releasing a new comedy special on Netflix, titled “Inside,” filmed by himself during 2020.

Courtesy of Hypertext

Photo courtesy of NBC News “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” continues Marvel’s Phase 4.

93rd Oscar’s hosts record losses and historic wins

the most nominated woman at the Oscars within a single year.

Zhao was the first woman of color to win Best Director, taking the award home for her film “Nomadland.”

“Nomadland” is a movie about a woman named Fern, portrayed Photo courtesy of Fox

by Francis Jesse Collins, Stacey Sher and Steven Soderbergh McDormand, who produced this year’s 93rd Academy Awards. lives in her van and travels. Fern

By Lauren Ballinger picks up different jobs and meets STAFF WRITER other faces in the nomadic circle.

Award show history was made The movie is a commentary on multiple times last weekend at capitalism and is an opportunity the 93rd annual Oscar’s ceremoto emotionally connect with a ny on Sunday, April 25. The first counterculture society. It also milestone was made by the actual swept up wins in film festivals all program itself, as viewership the way up to the Oscars. decreased to 9.85 million people, In an interview with Vanity a 59% drop from last year. It was Fair, Zhao says that, initially, the smallest audience in Oscar’s “Nomadland” was not supposed history. to come out in 2020. Due to For those who skipped out on restrictions in editing from the watching the Oscar’s this year, coronavirus pandemic, Zhao here is what was missed. changed release dates around for Chloé Zhao was on a record“Nomadland” and her upcoming breaking streak throughout the movie “Eternals.” night. Before the winners were “One thing I’ve learned is a even announced, Zhao became bit of a cliché,” Zhao said in her

Courtesy of Vulture

Actor and it went to Anthony Hopkins. What is so strange about this is that it’s usual practice for Best Picture to be the final category of the night. With Best Actor moved to the back, it was assumed that this was done because Chadwick Boseman was set to take home the prize for his role as Levee Green in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” The expected goal was a meaningful ending dedicated to the late actor.

With the category move, Boseman’s loss and an NFT bust of Boseman being included in the Oscars swag bag, there was great upset online. Boseman’s family, in an interview with TMZ, stated that they were not upset at all and asked audiences to refrain from calling the loss a “snub.”

There was also criticism of the fact that it was the 93rd Oscars, and the Academy Award is still having stories about “firsts” like Chloé Zhao and Yuh-Jung Youn.

Their accomplishments deserve every bit of celebration they have received and then some.

Hopefully, artists and groups of people who have been marginalized by the film industry will no longer have “firsts,” but instead, receive consistent recognition by audiences and award shows.

“Invincible,” based on the comic book of the same name, has been renewed for a second and third season on Amazon Prime.

Courtesy of The Verge

Disney reached an agreement with Sony Pictures, wherein much of Sony’s theatrical library will be licensed to Disney+ in 2022.

Courtesy of Collider

A revival of the television series “Dexter” is set to premiere in the fall.

Courtesy of Vulture

Steven Yeun has been cast in Jordan Peele’s upcoming thriller alongside Keke Palmer and Daniel Kaluuya.

THE CHRONICLE

By Jacob Huller ASSISTANT ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

At my high school, we had a small newspaper called “The Voice.” It wasn’t the greatest, to be perfectly honest, with the year I joined being the year the school budget cut our ability to print physical newspapers. Plus, there were unfortunately many students whose writing prowess wasn’t up to snuff, but we were stuck with them since otherwise we wouldn’t have any articles.

Still, I enjoyed it and made the best of it, endearing my teacher enough that he made me one of the editors (which more or less involved staying after school on Tuesdays and sitting in the computer lab). I wrote several articles that I was proud of, and even got

MAY 4, 2021 • B3

A&E

Senior send-off: Do a job and do it well one physical issue put out before graduating.

When I got to Hofstra, my mother encouraged me to join anything and everything, including the newspaper. It was instantly welcoming, and I instantly got to work writing reviews. I remember my first articles being reviews of the then-new “Star Trek: Discovery” and the latest episodes of “Steven Universe.” I tried to make it to every meeting of the Arts & Entertainment section, even when nobody was there (which I think earned me brownie points with my editors).

Then one semester I applied for the assistant editor position. I didn’t get it. Then the next semester I applied for it again. I got it! I was excited, to say the least.

As assistant editor, I enjoyed my basic duties of proofreading

articles before they were sent to the copyediting team and putting the articles on the website after they were finalized. I wasn’t too keen on having to attend budget meetings every week (where the main reason for my presence was usually to give my editors ideas for headlines), but I made do and got some fun stories out of it. One time, my editor needed a better picture of Tom Holland in “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” meaning I can now say that I’ve had a newspaper editor demand pictures of Spider-Man, just like the character J. Jonah Jameson.

I am glad I joined the Chronicle, and hopefully I can use the skills I learned during my time here in my future career.

Jacob Huller / The Hofstra Chronicle Assistant arts and entertainment editor Jacob Huller is a film studies and production major and creative writing minor.

Senior send-off: You and I will always be back then

By Robert Kinnaird

pus organized by The Jefferson Has Gotta Go team to have that statue removed from campus. It When I joined the Chronicle felt important. It was important. during my freshman year, I I wasn’t covering the story or wanted to be a journalist. I didn’t working as an organizer, being the put much thought into why. I liked newest person in the office. I was politics, I was good at writing and just editing photos and putting I knew some great people in the them together in for the spread, major. I jumped in immediately, but I was in the room where we getting invited onto the editorial decided how it was covered and I got to be part of the conversation about how we present this story.

The same semester, a kid from our school went onto Fox News and lied about what the protest was trying to accomplish, getting more nationwide attention on the protests. The school released a statement that included an organizer’s contact inforPhoto courtesy of David Henne mation, leading to emails Multimedia Editor and Business Manager Robert Kinnaird has been a member of The Hofstra MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Chronicle since their freshman year.

board of the Hofstra Chronicle before I even officially declared the major. I was invited to join the multimedia section after writing a few pieces for the paper by my friends Jesse Saunders and Peter Soucy who were editors of the section. I did my first real work for the Chronicle for a spread about a protest on cam-

containing death threats being sent to the student. You quickly learn that it matters how we cover stories when that happens. Student journalists usually get that, and there’s no better time to learn that.

We rub shoulders with the same people we interview in classes, on campus, at parties. We know exactly how human our subjects are, and we understand they aren’t there to be interviewed, quoted, then ignored.

I remained with the multimedia section during my time with the Chronicle, adding on the responsibilities of Business Manager along the way, as well as writing for the op-ed, news and arts and entertainment sections. I learned more in the first few months with the paper than I ever learned in the School of Communications.

James Factora, Jill Leavey and Katie Krahulik helped me through some of my earliest stories while Peter and Jesse helped me develop a sense of style in the multimedia section and taught me how to use a DSLR and InDesign.

My time with the Chronicle also taught me that there isn’t much in the way of good journalism out there. I love the Chronicle and what it represents, but at times it seems our industry rarely gets better than the work of student

journalists, not in terms of technical skill or access to resources, but in terms of honesty. There are no advertisers to cut us off if we push the wrong buttons, no financial interests paying students to be talking heads like Tucker Carlson or Chris Matthews that say what their audiences want to hear. At most, we have uncooperative administration making our stories hard to tell or a frustrating section editor. Student journalists have a unique opportunity to tell the truth if they are persistent and driven. I will always remember the Hofstra Chronicle as the thing that made me love what journalism could be, and I’m certain I won’t find something like this again.

I look forward to the future of the Chronicle, with my section going to the incredibly capable hands of now senior editor Adam Flash and Jacob Lewis, our newest and incredibly promising member. Visvajit Sriramrajan, Micaela Erickson, Jess Zhang ... I have the utmost faith in your leadership and look forward to what you accomplish together. You all are returning to a post-pandemic print schedule, our first in over a year, so good luck you guys, I believe in you.

A&E

B4 •May 4, 2021

THE CHRONICLE

‘Shadow and Bone’ pays tribute to the Leigh Bardugo’s ‘Grishaverse’

By Allie Millette STAFF WRITER

Netflix’s “Shadow and Bone” has rightfully earned its spot among the top trending television shows within the past week. This story is filled with thrilling twists and miraculous displays of magic and finds its home in an inventive high-fantasy universe.

The show is set in the Grishaverse, a fictional world imagined by author Leigh Bardugo, where characters are divided by both land and ability. A complex world with its own systems, governments and statuses, citizens find themselves separated into two categories: Grisha and non-Grisha. Grisha are humans with the ability to control matter in three different states.

Corperalki can control the human body, Etherealki can control the elements of air, fire and water, and finally, Materialki can control elements such as glass and metal.

Non-Grisha are humans without these abilities and while Grisha are revered by some, they are hunted and despised by others.

Primarily, Grisha are blamed Alina uncovers an ability previ(Ben Barnes), who takes her unfor the deadly black mass that ously unknown to her. As her life der his wing to train and educate tears across terrain and separates is turned upside down by this her on her new ability. the country The story of Ravka, successfully known as The weaves those Fold. This pulled from is where the the Grisha story opens on novel trilAlina Starkov ogy, which is (Jessie Mei Alina’s story, Li), a cartoginto that of rapher serving the “Six of in the army Crows” duoloalongside her gy. The events lifelong friend involving Mal Oretsev the Crows, a (Archie Remisfit band of naux). When criminals hailMal is chosen ing from the as a member fictional city of the crew of Ketterdam, tasked with come before crossing The those featured Fold, Alina in the book. finds her way This gives onto the team. dedicated fans Photo courtesy of NPR Inside, inhua glimpse into “Shadow and Bone” is currently on Netflix’s “Top 10 in the U.S.” list. man monsters the previous known as untouched past volcra attack the fleet, causing an discovery, she finds herself beside of heartless schemer Kaz Brekker unfurling of chaos, during which (Freddy Carter), knife-wielding the mysterious General Kirigan

spy Inej Ghafa (Amita Suman) and sarcastic sharpshooter Jesper Fahey (Kit Young). The backstory of heartrender Nina Zenik (Danielle Galligan) and Drüskelle Grisha-hunter Matthias Helvar are also featured.

Perhaps the successful captivation of the Grishaverse lies in the close hand Bardugo played in development and production, or perhaps in the intimate attention detail that was given to the world and the characters throughout the process. Either way, the show marvelously captures the essence of the Grishaverse and the intricacies and nuances that fans are so heavily attached to. Specifically, the casting of Kaz, Inej and Jesper felt like a seamless transfer from book to screen. The witty banter and sarcasm will leave fans of the books satisfied while engaging an entirely new group of admirers of the characters and the story.

Other film to screen adaptations should look to this series as a prime example of how to create a successful, fulfilling adaption of an established and admired piece.

The Offspring is back with ‘Let The Bad Times Roll’

By Kat Salmon

ASSISTANT ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Almost 30 years since The Offspring dominated the grunge scene with their album “Smash,” the band has released yet another album. Their tenth studio album, “Let The Bad Times Roll,” was released on Friday, April 16. This was a long-awaited release, as it has been nine years since their last album that was released in 2012.

Plus, this is their first release with their new label, Concord Records.

The two singles that were released in 2021, “Let The Bad Times Roll” and “We Never Have Sex Anymore,” are reminiscent of the band’s 1998 album “Americana.” These singles joined their 2015 single “Coming For You” on their latest album.

The first track, “This Is Not Utopia,” is a very political song to start off the record. Its lyrics assert that the roots of America are flawed and the wait for change has taken far too long. Given the

recent unrest in the U.S., this song puts those feelings of oppression in a punk song.

The third track, “Behind Your Walls,” tackles depression. The narrator wants to know what he can do to reach out to someone before it’s too late. Something is obviously wrong and all he needs is a sign. Anyone who has been in a similar situation will be able to relate to the haunting lyrics.

The fourth track, “Army of One,” is about prevailing when you feel the world falling apart around you. The world can suck but all you need to do is your best to make through – even when times are tough.

The most random track is its eighth track, a 60-second instrumental called “In The Hall of The Mountain King.” It leads into the ninth track, “The Opioid Diaries” which is about addiction – a topic the band has written about numerous times.

Another political song on the record is the tenth track, “Hassan Chop.” In an interview with Apple

Music, lead singer Dexter Holland said, “I wanted to write a song about what was going on in the Middle East, and ISIS in particular, just how brutal it’s gotten over there.” The title of the song actually comes from an old Bugs Bunny cartoon, “Ali Baba Bunny.”

Holland said, “No one knows what it is except for 50-year-old guys, but it was a great cartoon.”

The album’s 11th track, “Gone Away,” should sound familiar to fans because it was originally on the band’s 1997 album, “Ixnay on the Hombre.” For this record, they stripped it down to a piano ballad.

The ballad is very reminiscent of Gary Jules’ 2001 cover of “Mad World.” This is going to be one of the gems from the record because while it may be an oldie, it’s still a goodie.

The final track, “Lullaby,” is basically a reprise of “Let The Bad Times Roll.” It reiterates to fans that sometimes you really need to say “fuck it and let the bad times roll.” Life isn’t always going to be easy. Sometimes, it’s just going to

get really messy and that’s completely okay.

This record can be listened to in under 45 minutes, so listeners are bound to find at least one song that sparks their interest. The Offspring is back and ready to show people

they are here to stay. It currently charts in the Top 10 on the iTunes Rock albums. Listeners can stream the album on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon. CDs and Vinyl can also be bought, if you want to go old-school.

Photo courtesy of Music Junkie Press The Offspring debuted as No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Albums Chart.

OP-ED

A12 • MAY 4, 2021

THE CHRONICLE

The views and opinions expressed in the Editorial 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.

Senior send-off: I know I wouldn’t change a thing

By Odessa Stork

I’ve tried to write this maybe six times in the past couple of days, and every time I end up lost in thought, or staring at my computer or deleting everything I have and starting over only to hate it and delete it and start over again.

I don’t know how to turn my four years of college – or my three years at The Chronicle – into a neat, cohesive story full of life lessons and funny anecdotes about friendship and growth, and every time I think about all the loss that the world has seen in the past year, I just feel swallowed whole. So, in the spirit of not forcing words that so strongly seem to wish to remain unwritten, I’ll only say what I know for sure.

1. If you’re having a weird time in college, you’re not alone. There’s no such thing as the “best years of your life.”

Opportunities only ever come with setbacks, and joy only ever seems to come after things have

been thoroughly awful, too. You can’t separate out the good from the bad, as tempting as it might feel to try.

2. If you haven’t found your people yet, keep looking just a little bit longer. They’re probably right around the corner. I’ve met some of my best friends through The Chronicle, and I’m so thankful that I pushed myself to get involved with this paper when I did. Good people are out there, and they care, and you deserve to meet them.

3. The career-climbing mentality that seems to dominate most college journalism programs is ridiculous and terrible. Your self-worth is not defined by your ability as a reporter, or your connections or your resume, and anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is probably also ridiculous and terrible. Take time to think about what it is that you want for yourself and why. Be kind to people because you want to, not because they

can offer you things.

4. Write the piece you’ve been meaning to write. Vulnerability is cool and being earnest is not cringey. I didn’t write my first piece for The Chronicle until the end of my junior year in

Odessa Stork / The Hofstra Chronicle

March of 2020, but the feeling of people connecting with my words was electric and I haven’t looked back since. I’m so thankful for everyone who encouraged me to keep writing and assured me that my words had value when I doubted myself. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I stayed afraid of putting my heart on the page

and my feelings on the internet.

That being said, though, not everything has to be a story, and not every lived experience has to be shared with the world or capitalized on. Sometimes our experiences are too murky to make sense of, and that’s okay, too.

5. Being a good journalist means getting with the times. In my time leading The Chronicle’s Copy Board, we’ve made strides toward more inclusive, thoughtfully-worded reporting.

The norms of journalistic coverage are not set in stone; they exist to be adapted as language and culture shifts and evolves. As new generations of writers and editors take the lead at this paper, my wish is that The Chronicle continues pushing boundaries and demanding that the important stories be told with care and precision. Language matters!

To Antonia and Julia, I have no doubt that our Copy Board is in good hands with you both leading the way. I can’t wait

to see what you do in the next few years and I can’t thank you enough for all the laughs, edits and friendship.

I’d also like to give a special thanks to Hofstra professors Kelly Fincham from the journalism department and Anthony Dardis from the philosophy department for believing in me and supporting my work during my time at Hofstra.

In the end, I guess it’s all just very bittersweet. The difficult parts of these past few years might sting right now, and they do, but I’ll always cherish the meaningful connections I’ve made at The Chronicle and with friends and faculty.

Odessa Stork is a senior with majors in journalism and philosophy and serves as the Copy Chief for The Chronicle.

Comic: One year later ...

Comic courtesy of Dickinson-Frevola

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Email us at HUChronicle.Op.Ed@gmail.com

THE CHRONICLE

MAY 4, 2021 • A13

OP-ED

Senior send-off: If you can make it to 500 words please do

By Talha Siddiqui The first time I came into The Chronicle office was a mess. I had no idea where to go, and even with the instructions on how to get to Room 203, I wandered lost and confused around the second floor of the Student Center before finding the office in the corner of the hallway. It would eventually become the same office where I would stay late completing spreads, doing work for classes and even just sitting talking to the other editors, many of whom would end up becoming friends that have left a lasting impact on me and have shaped me as a person.

When I finally met the two editors that offered me the position to be an official member of The Chronicle, Robert Kinnaird and Peter Soucy, I was anxious. Not

knowing anybody in the office I felt out of place as a nonjournalism student. I didn’t expect to get this far and figured the most that would happen is submitting a handful of pictures for each issue here and there. I saw the effort the two of them, and the rest of the editorial board would put into their work and the layout every Monday night, with the clear goal of having that issue be their best work yet.

This was something that I wanted to implement into my own life and work, and over the next two years would draw inspiration from as I watched all my colleagues advance and progress in their academic and professional careers.

The Chronicle gave and taught me a lot. It gave me a safe space to complain about the many issues that plague Hofstra University and its departments.

The Chronicle taught me how to work with others, and I mean genuinely work with others.

Not just struggle through it for a semester and never see them again, as is the case with many classes. It taught me how to be a better photographer. I learned

Talha Siddiqui / The Hofstra Chronicle

how to use new features of Photoshop I never used before, take photos in environments where I can’t stage the shot or ask someone to move out of the way, having to sift through hundreds of photos before I can

find even a handful of useable ones.

The past two years with The Chronicle have not gone how I thought they would. After being forced out of our cramped but beloved office, I had to finish the last three semesters of college from my bed. We had to complete all the remaining spreads late at night over Zoom, instead of being side-by-side.

It was a struggle to work off of one screen, when you can’t describe what you’re trying to say and losing your sanity as each minute ticks by closer to midnight on Saturday night.

I could not have done it without my co-editors Robert Kinnaird and Adam Flash, and our new assistant Jacob Lewis, who has been picking up my slack since he joined.

And thank you to the op-ed section for dealing with my ridiculous comments over the

past two years, being tortured by whatever ideas left my mouth as they were forced to be seated next to the multimedia computer.

Thank you to The Chronicle and everyone who I met through it for giving me a place to go every Monday after classes, a place where I made new and long-lasting friendships and a place where I felt I was welcomed even if I didn’t fit the mold of a journalist.

Talha Siddiqui is a senior sociology major and a Multimedia Editor for The Chronicle.

2021 Oscars prove the Academy’s need for reform yet again

By Yashu Pericherla Viewers’ growing resentment toward the Oscars and the Academy that decides what is deserving of acclaim in the film industry has been a steady fixture for a while, but apparently nobody learned from past mistakes this year. In fact, it seemed like they wanted to make things even worse. While there were some good moments during the 2021 Oscars – Daniel Kaluuya’s Best Supporting Actor win, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson winning Best Hair and Makeup for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (the first time any Black woman has ever won that category), Chloé Zhao breaking the glass ceiling as the first Asian woman (and woman of color) to win Best Director for “Nomadland” – there was much controversy around the Best Actor award’s unexpected result.

To kick off the horrible night, the overwhelmingly white Academy decided to honor beloved actor Chadwick Bose-

man, who unfortunately passed away last year, by gifting all the nominees with a non-fungible token (NFT) of the late actor.

An NFT is basically any type of digital art that is unique and cannot be replicated, serving as a digital version of an auction.

NFTs have grown in the last few years alongside the cryptocurrency technology that fuels them, and they are proving to be a disastrous development for the world’s ongoing ecological downfall. Many climate activists and even digital artists have shunned NFTs, but the fact that the Academy – a considerable cornerstone in the arts world – thought it would be good to add one to every Oscar nominee’s goodie bag reflects how unconcerned rich, white elites are about anyone other than themselves.

The NFT in question is a digital animated bust of Boseman created by the artist Andre Oshea. Moving past the egregious error of commercializing a deceased Black person’s

likeness – an issue America has seen much of recently – the 3D model itself wasn’t even Oshea’s original creation. It was taken from a royalty-free website where it was listed for $50 (reportedly uploaded onto

“This past year has given us ample opportunity to cultivate compassion for others, of which that weekend’s events show no evidence.” the website without the original artist’s license), on top of which Oshea added a few filters and redesigned. The final product is listed at $1.2 billion, and Oshea was set to auction it off on the blockchain e-commerce platform Rarible. After backlash, he has since taken it down, and reports state that 50% of the money received will be donated

to the Colon Cancer Foundation.

To go along with this disgusting commodification, the Oscar producers also switched the order of awards, placing the Best Actor announcement at the end. Boseman was up for the award posthumously, and the switch increased anticipation for his win, which is why it was a major shock to everyone when the award was given instead to Anthony Hopkins for his role in “The Father.” To add insult to injury, Hopkins wasn’t even there to accept the award, as he has a higher risk for contracting COVID-19. The Academy would not give him provisions to attend via Zoom or even pre-record a speech in case he won, leaving him to post his thank-you the morning after via an Instagram live, where he also commemorated Boseman.

The Academy is guilty of many things: the horrible mistreatment of Chadwick Boseman’s image, the commercialization of Black death, supporting ecological degradation

and disregarding COVID-19 safety measures, to name a few.

This overall selfish disrespect is a systemic symptom of rich, white elites unwilling to care for anyone beyond their peers.

This past year has given us ample opportunity to cultivate compassion for others, of which that weekend’s events show no evidence. The calls to dismantle the Academy, or at least revamp it, have been echoed for years – and it’s high time we are heard.

Yashu Pericherla is a junior English major from Texas. She primarily writes about pop culture and politics.

OP-ED

A14 • MAY 4, 2021

THE CHRONICLE

Influencers are not your friends, even in a pandemic

By Daniel Cody

Many of us college students come in looking for brighter futures, a stimulating education and a fresh start. I was certainly one of those hopefuls, and my first two years at The Chronicle have given me insights like no other. As we send off our wonderful and intelligent seniors into the great beyond of post-graduation life, there comes a need for reflection. The end years of their college experience have been hampered by the pandemic and its consequences, and our generation’s unprecedented yearning for connection might have us looking in all the wrong places.

The internet is very parasocial, meaning that it replicates an intimate relationship between consumers and producers of content.

Our attraction to social media influencers is a parasocial bond, basing itself in a resonance

between the ideality and unique flair of influencers’ media and their consumers. This has its consequences, as parasocial relationships are not typical bonds between regular people: they’re isolated, curated snapshots of influencers’ lives.

In a sense, an influencer only exists as an idea, a halfway constructed psychological schism within the brain. The “socialization” between a consumer and an influencer is highly limited, if not completely fake.

Lacan, a French psychologist, created the principle of “manque-a-etre,” which roughly translates to “want-to-be.”

This is the manifestation of desire through void, or “lack.”

It is the barest form of human functioning. As humans, we strive toward an ideal beyond our shadowy Freudian id, sifting through arcane or animalistic emotions deep within our psyches to behave

within the boundaries of social conditioning.

To draw simple conclusions, the internet has plagued our brains with new norms and boundaries. We are divorced from the desires of the past. When the internet became parasocial through individualized profiles and interaction, we entered a new era of communication, breaking down the boundaries of existing social law.

Instead of abiding by the norms of real, human conversation, we are gradually shifting to communication with profile interfaces, built with misconceptions and loose connections to vaguely defined archetypes. Camille Paglia, a controversial writer and public intellectual, defines these concepts as the Freudian “family romance.”

When it comes to politics, this shift is hard to miss.

Culture wars rage and

ideas of accountability and progressivism are at constant war with establishment liberalism, projecting contemporary issues into the public eye through Twitter spats and tabloid reporting from sites like the New York Post and Daily Mail.

The dirty underbelly of power has always been exposed through gossipy socialites and invasive media, but when the borders between contrived personality and actual personhood are blurred, politics becomes divorced from material condition or liberation. It gravitates to a politician’s cult of personality – reflected in many people’s idolization of figures like Vice President Kamala Harris or Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Acts of legislation become worthless beyond their codified media narratives. Feasibly, the New York Times has more political power than most

members of Congress.

While my fellow members of Gen Z like to think of ourselves as the antedote to our predecessors’ problems, I find it hard to be so optimistic.

To consider ourselves uniquely qualified healers – especially through the internet and its adjacent mosaic of counterculture – is missing the point. Humans are creatures of their environment, and if the internet is pushing us toward declarations like, “You can be a different person during the pandemic,” we are treating parasocial relations as the norm and misinterpreting what it means to be a person.

Daniel Cody is a sophomore journalism major from Dallas, Texas, and Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He serves as an Op-Ed Editor for The Chronicle.

The pandemic has highlighted flaws in professors’ teaching

By Jacob Lewis

After over a year of distanced learning, nearly everybody is itching to get back into the classroom full-time. As a first-year student, all I know about how Hofstra functions is within the context of the pandemic, but I desperately want the traditional college experience I’ve heard so much about.

From both what I’ve observed and what I’ve been told, the degree to which professors have managed to adapt their curricula to the hybrid model is highly variable. I’ve had professors who have flat out said a student should drop the class if they’re not comfortable being in-person because they refuse to change their exercises so that they can be done virtually, and I’ve also had professors who have been relatively successful teaching over Zoom (although they bemoan the fact

that they have to do it).

While conducting class over a webcam obviously has its challenges, I’ve realized that the biggest mistakes professors are making don’t have to do with the online format at all – it’s to do with their unreasonable expectations about how students should function.

All my professors save one mandate that our cameras are always turned on during a Zoom class, claiming that it is to ensure that everyone is present. While upon first glance this may seem like a strictly digital issue, this rule is actually an extension of the unflinching mandatory attendance policies that have existed for decades.

My question is: why are attendance policies a thing?

Why is there an expectation that students are to be present for every class without fail? Professors can cancel or modify class without

providing a reason, so why aren’t students given the same leeway? If the pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s that the unexpected happens all the time and that sometimes you need to put your health first.

Whether being present means logging in on time or having

“Why is there an expectation that students are to be present for every class without fail?” the camera turned on and dressed business casual, it’s unreasonable to believe that the students have the capacity – physically or mentally – to always do so.

Attendance isn’t the only thing that professors preach yet fail to practice. Despite the mental toll the pandemic has

levied on everyone in the past year, they still rapidly assign work with harsh deadlines that often fall on days when the classes don’t meet. With the advent of modern technology, there is increasingly less leniency for when students are expected to work. There seems to be an invalid assumption on the part of the faculty that students should now have more free time and can submit multiple assignments weekly, at the professor’s leisure. The same professors who believe this to be true are also notorious for taking weeks to return comments and post grades. Why should we be penalized for being late to turn in work when they are no better? Punctuality is important but being a day late shouldn’t warrant a failing grade, especially when the entire world’s timetable is in flux.

I will say that some faculty members are incredibly

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Email us at HUChronicle.Op.Ed@gmail.com

compassionate and willing to work with students when problems arise. Unfortunately, they seem to be the exception and not the standard. The pandemic has turned the world upside-down, but in some cases, it hasn’t changed things enough.

Almost everyone at Hofstra is paying tens of thousands of dollars to attend and yet the school is unwilling to accommodate for students while they are struggling.

What I’m asking for from Hofstra is to give us a little leniency, which I don’t think is too much to ask for. After all, a little leniency goes a long way.

Jacob Lewis is a freshman film studies and production major from Scarborough, Maine. His social media handle is @jacoblewismedia.

THE CHRONICLE

SPORTS

MAY 4, 2021 •A15

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SUMMER!

Stay on track with classes and credits during Summer Sessions 2021: • Session I: May 25 – June 29 • Session II: June 30 – August 4 • Session III: August 9 - 27

Each session offers a wide-range of undergraduate and graduate courses – now offered in-person and online – for continuing Hofstra students. Many classes even fulfill distribution requirements!

REGISTRATION IS UNDER WAY Visit hofstra.edu/summer or email summer@hofstra.edu for more information.

Ad_SummerSession2021_HUChronicle_C.indd 1

3/19/21 2:28 PM

SPORTS

A16 • MAY 4, 2021

By Gab Varano

THE CHRONICLE

Senior Sendoff: More than a byline

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

I grew up thinking that in order to be a journalist, I needed to have my name attached to hundreds of articles.

That’s why most people join The Chronicle in the first place, right? To get their work published week after week online and in print. Some use it to get ahead in class, others use it to build a portfolio and then there’s the rare few who join to tell stories. I’m proud to say I’m one of the few, as are the members that make up The Chronicle’s editorial board – past, present and future.

It’s weird to think that the whole reason I’m a journalist today is because I decided it would be fun to write about sports for two weeks in the middle of the summer, but every day I thank my middle school self for doing so. I experienced my first taste of journalism at a camp called Write on Sports.

The camp’s mission was, and is, to inspire students to write by writing about something they’re passionate about: sports.

TL;DR: I was inspired.

I wrote a feature story that I planned, researched, drafted and revised, wrote “spot stories,” that I can only now describe as game recaps, complete with ledes, deks and quotes. I made a video arguing whether or not dance was a sport and forced my

friend to be “Chad the Football Player,” who was very against dance in the world of sports for balance’s sake.

Guest athletes and journalists took time out of their days to hold mock interviews, sharing their stories and crafts with middle schoolers and allowing students to ask questions. I was thrown into my first media scrum the second day of camp, even though I didn’t know what it was then. I was terrified of approaching strangers, especially ones who seemed so important, but 13-year-old me found the courage to ask the questions I wanted answers to every single time – and I loved it.

Only now do I realize how privileged I was to interview and speak with the likes of NBC Sports’ Peter King, Sports Illustrated’s Jenny Vrentas and then-MLB.com’s Lindsay Berra – journalists I look up to now – at such a young age. For them, being a journalist was about more than a byline, and it showed in their willingness to give back to the community and inspire the kids who might take their jobs one day.

Fast forward to my freshman year of college, The Chronicle comes into my life. I joined the copy section, mostly so that I didn’t have to talk to people.

Grammar seemed like the safest way to get involved until I managed to interview someone, go to a game or find a hot take. (I

firmly believe that The Chronicle would fall apart without the copy section, and that it’s the furthest thing from safe because correct grammar is hardcore, but freshman year me didn’t know any better.)

Four years later, the Oxford comma is my mortal enemy and I think I’ve written two articles for the paper, not including the recipes in my @GabGrabsGrub column. For a long time, I was worried that I was a bad journalist for not reporting and writing articles.

Yet, in the time I spent not writing, I edited hundreds of articles and sharpened my AP style and grammar knowledge, engineered, produced and reported for New York Islanders broadcasts, interned with the NBC News Social Media team for two semesters during a period of time that will surely go down in history and took on various leadership positions in a number of organizations, all while somehow finding time to do schoolwork.

I’ve done all of the things that I did in middle school at a two-week summer camp but on a bigger scale, and I’m a better journalist for it. Over time, I’ve learned that journalism is about more than getting bylines: it’s about finding ways to creatively tell and contribute to the stories that matter, regardless of the medium.

For me, there was never some

Gab Varano / The Hofstra Chronicle Gab Varano is a senior journalism major and the social media editor.

big moment or revelation where I knew I had to become a journalist. I just never thought of being anything else. And it’s the small moments – the physical pain I experience when commas are outside of quotation marks, the nerves I get before engineering a New York Islanders game broadcast, the thrill (and fear) of sending a tweet from NBC News’ Twitter account to over 8.4 million followers – that confirm I’m where I belong.

After all, as a middle schooler, when you write a game recap from the perspective of a literal

baseball while wearing a shirt that says, “One in a Minion,” with blue plaid Bermuda shorts and people still compliment you and your writing, it’s pretty much meant to be.

And for me, The Chronicle was meant to be. I never thought of doing anything outside of the paper, but I was fortunate enough to have the support to be able to. This newspaper has been, and always will be, more than just a byline; it’s home.

SPORTS

THE CHRONICLE

MAY 4, 2021 •A17

Family, friends, coaches and lacrosse all mean a lot for Michael Altmann

By Jair Brooks-Davis STAFF WRITER

Michael Altmann’s final goaround with the Hofstra Pride means a lot to him, especially after his 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19.

Michael was adopted at two months of age and grew up in Severna Park, Maryland with his brother, Nick, and parents, Lawrence and Mary Altmann.

The parents introduced the brothers to lacrosse and taught them the game.

“I had a stick but then I started playing organized lacrosse at around four or five years old in Scoopers where everyone was running around and chasing the ball,” Altmann said.

Although Altmann was developing his love for lacrosse, it didn’t stop him from other sports too. He played football in the fall and chipped in 17 goals and 32 assists for the hockey team. He was an All-American along with being an All-Maryland first-team pick as a senior.

Altmann was successful on the field, but his recruitment for college lacrosse wasn’t exactly what he expected it to be. His older brother was a member of the Pride men’s lacrosse team and Michael had an idea for where he wanted to play. He committed to Hofstra before his senior year in high school.

“I was a late-bloomer. I’m forever grateful to Coach [Seth] Tierney to play at Hofstra,” Altmann said. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Altmann came to Hofstra University in the Fall of 2016 as a freshman. His teammates helped him get acclimated to the faster pace of the New York City metropolitan area. He was roommates with Eric Wenz, and he developed a bond with classmates Riley Forte, Ryan Tierney and Bobby Casey. Upperclassmen like Josh Byrne and Brendan Kavanagh always made sure to include Michael and help him feel welcomed and comfortable within the team.

“I remember as a freshman after a team meeting, I think I was one of the last guys in the locker room and I was getting ready to go back to the dorms

and Josh Byrne asked me if I needed a ride,” Altmann said.

“Chopping it up with him during the car ride meant a lot.”

Altmann appreciated his time with his teammates throughout his freshman year, but made sure to be ready for his first lacrosse season. With Liam Blohm suffering an injury, Altmann saw his playing time increase. He played in 12 games for Hofstra and he recorded his first collegiate point with an assist against the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

His team finished 3-2 in conference but unfortunately lost in the first round of the playoffs to the University of Massachusetts Minutemen on a last-second shot. Altmann used the loss as motivation for his future during his time at Hofstra.

“We were one of the hottest teams in the country that year.

We were riding on guys like Josh Byrne and Ryan Tierney,” Altmann said. “We had a really strong defense with Tanner Griffin, Brett Osman, Michael Diener and a great goalie in Jack Concannon.”

Toward the end of Altmann’s freshman year, he sustained a back injury while working out.

He managed to play through the injury during the season and hoped to recover over the summer. In the fall of his sophomore year, he had to have a microdiscectomy to adjust his back.

Luckily for him, he managed to play in 13 regular-season games for the Pride. The team was defeated by UMass once again in the semifinals.

“Losing to them a second year in a row was tough,” Altmann said. “There is definitely more intensity heading into those games. It was unfortunate for the seniors at the time. It was definitely heartbreaking.”

After two tough ends to his first seasons, Altmann was always ready to make a significant impact on the team. In his junior campaign, he had two goals and an assist while also being 31st in the country with 23 caused turnovers. The repetitions and the practices will always stick out to him as he improved heavily.

“I’ve got to give credit to the scout guys. They’re going to

give you a good look at what you’re going to cover on gameday,” Altmann said. “Guys like Joey Elarde, Liam Muldoon, Bryce Tolmie, Matt Elder, Nick Williams and James Kitchen all pushed me to be better and prepared for games.”

The Pride didn’t make the postseason in 2019, meaning Altmann had to wait until 2020 to lead his team to something memorable and special. He was named team captain for his senior season. He felt great about the roster and knew the team had the potential to go far. Throughout the first seven games of the season, he attributed three goals and four assists while picking up 25 ground balls.

The Pride were 4-3 after a 19-9 win against St. John’s University on March 10, 2020 but on the bus ride back, the COVID-19 pandemic began and changed the projection of Altmann’s senior season.

“I looked across the aisle at Riley Forte and I said, ‘That’s the lacrosse game we played,’ and it started to become a reality,” Altmann said. “It was kind of an eerie bus ride home. There were a lot of unknowns.”

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) canceled the 2020 season due to the ongoing pandemic. It was a crushing feeling for Altmann, as he didn’t know what his future was in regards to his lacrosse career.

“Safety is the number one concern. It was heartbreaking as a senior, not knowing if you played your last game as a Hofstra men’s lacrosse player,” he said.

As time progressed, Altmann went home to see his family.

With the talk of the NCAA granting college athletes another year of eligibility, he spoke to classmates Tierney, Forte and Casey about what the future may hold and if they will come back and get another chance for the Colonial Athletic Association championship as graduate students.

“Between Riley Forte, Bobby Casey and Ryan Tierney we had unfinished business and we all wanted to come back and

suit up for the men’s lacrosse team again, try to win a championship, and leave a legacy,” Altmann said.

Prior to COVID-19, he didn’t think much about pursuing his master’s degree, but with another chance of eligibility and to learn he took it into deep consideration. He was supported by his parents who were proud of his viewpoint of life beyond college and what the degree could mean for his future. He also had conversations with head coach Seth Tierney about coming back.

“Coach T is very approachable with stuff like this. He agreed that coming back for a master’s might be a great opportunity,” Altmann said.

Altmann was the team captain once again for the 2021 season.

He tries to be approachable for younger players either on the field or off the field. After seeing what guys like Byrne and Kavanaugh did to lead he tries to help his teammates as best as possible.

“You don’t have to wear a C on your jersey or have to be a captain to be a leader and I think we have a lot of guys in the locker room that are solid and help the younger guys,” Altmann said. “That’s a part of having a good team, we have so many leaders. And we are more of a family more than a team.”

Altmann is appreciative of what Hofstra’s administration has done for him and the team he loves so much. The team gets tested daily and the coaches make sure to implement safety regulations for the players and staff. He’s thankful for the efforts of Jay Artinian along with Jimmy “Weights” Prendergast.

The thing that Altmann misses about the normality of a season is team bonding and getting to know everyone. Due to COVID-19, there is a limited amount of time in the locker room and players don’t get to relax and hang out with one another. This is particularly difficult, as he looks at the team as more than just friends or teammates, he views them as family.

“Coach T is a father figure to me. We don’t always necessarily agree on everything but I know

he sees potential in me. He’s one of the best coaches in the game I’d say,” Altmann said. “When the time comes, Riley Forte, Ryan Tierney and Bobby Casey are guys that are going to be a part of my wedding. Those are guys that would take their shirt off their back for me and I’d do the same for them. A friendship that would last a lifetime along with Joey Elarde, Dominic Prior, Michael Peco and Sean Paton. I’m forever grateful for my time here at Hofstra.”

He appreciates the inspiration and opportunities his mother and father have provided him with. “My mom and my dad are my number one supporters.

I could play my best or worst game ever and they wouldn’t look at me any other way,” Altmann said. “They’ve been supportive of me with lacrosse and life in general.”

In the summer of 2020, Altmann researched and was able to find his birth mother. He’s involved her and made her a part of his life. “I’m blessed as far as support from family. They’ve been there every step of the way,” Altmann said. “My mom, my dad and my birth mom are my biggest supporters on and off the lacrosse field. I’d like to give all credit ... to them, my teammates and my coaches.”

Two years ago, Altmann became an uncle and hopes to one day, teach his nephew, Ezra, the craft of lacrosse.

“In my future, I’d love the chance to help other African American young men enjoy the game I have a passion for,” Altmann said.

Michael plans to be a marketing coordinator at Buch Construction in his future. Lacrosse has taught him plenty of life skills and given him lifelong friends and opened great opportunities for him. He will always cherish his time at Hofstra University.

SPORTS

A18 • MAY 4, 2021

THE CHRONICLE

Parrella poised to add ‘champion’ to her everlasting legacy

By Anthony Roberts SPORTS EDITOR

Since her rise to stardom freshman year, Alyssa Parrella has become royalty in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).

Throughout her five years with the Hofstra women’s lacrosse program, Parrella has emerged as the Colonial Queen, amassing a career that the CAA has never seen before.

“The first time I saw Alyssa play [I was] thoroughly impressed with her overall athleticism, speed and her tenacity on the field,” said Hofstra head coach Shannon Smith. “I knew that she could be a player that could be one of the best to ever play, and we really wanted to get her to Hofstra.”

For Parrella, the decision to come to Hofstra was a perfect fit for not only her playing style, but also for being close to home.

“I’m such a homebody. I like to be close to home, so coming to Hofstra gave me the opportunity to still be close to home, and I just loved the campus when I came here. I also played for Shannon [Smith] when I played for travel,” Parrella said.

“I always got along with Shannon and I looked up to her and felt she was such a great coach so it was really exciting to be able to play for her when I got

to college.”

Throughout her five-year reign at Hofstra, Parrella has accumulated 257 goals and 345 points, ranking her as the alltime leader in career goals and points in both Hofstra and CAA history. Her 88 assists and 189 draw controls rank second and third, respectively, all-time in Hofstra history.

“It really says to me that all the hard work that I’ve put in from the beginning has really paid off,” Parrella said. “All of the records are amazing and I don’t think it will really hit me about how much I’ve been able to accomplish until probably I leave Hofstra and it’s all over with.”

“It just brings so much recognition to Hofstra University and the Hofstra athletic department.

Alyssa is not only going to be the best player out of the Hofstra women’s lacrosse program but she’s the best player ever in the CAA history,” Smith said.

Even with all of the accomplishments and records to her name, Parrella’s resume is not complete. Now, Parrella and the Pride have their minds set on winning the CAA title.

“My main focus right now [is] to win a conference championship with this team,” Parrella said. “It’s the reason why I came back for my fifth year.”

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle Parrella is the all-time leading goal scorer in Hofstra and CAA history.

After the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Parrella, along with Alexa Mattera and Darcie Smith, all announced their return to the Pride this season after being granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA. “I always joke around and say I don’t know what my decision would have been if they hadn’t come back too,” Parrella said.

“They’re my left-hand and right-hand man, literally with Alexa being a lefty and Darcie being righty. It’s really cool to have this opportunity to play with them. We’ve been by each other’s sides since the beginning.”

This season, the three have marched the Pride back into the CAA Tournament, where Parrella, Mattera and Darcie Smith look to give it their all.

“We just want to be able to give our team everything we can and leave everything that we have out on the field,” Parrella said.

Hofstra enters the tournament as the No. 4 seed after going 6-5 on the season (2-2 CAA).

Hofstra has won three of the last four games and ride a two-game win streak after back-to-back wins over Towson University.

The stretch also includes a win over James Madison University, who the Pride lost to in the 2019 CAA championship game.

“Anyone who has played in conference play or especially in the CAA knows once we get to this point in the season, it is a bloodbath,” Parrella said.

“It becomes a totally different game and a totally different animal so I think it’s really important for us to set a standard for ourselves, but still keep set on one game at a time.”

Since freshman year, Parrella has been at the forefront leading the Pride. Now, she wants to teach the underclassmen and give them as much tournament experience before they take over next season.

“This year I’ve been trying my best to kind of just help lead the freshmen and [help them become] comfortable on the field,” Parrella said. “It’s also really important for them to just enjoy every moment and have fun out there because the

time does go really, really fast.

It’s going to be the best years of their life so I’m really excited for them.”

Since freshman year, Parrella has been working on becoming more and more of a vocal leader for the Pride and now has them ready to take on whatever lies ahead.

“It’s just been incredible to watch the growth of her leadership and now she’s like a second coach on the field,” Smith said.

“Whether it’s in huddles at practice or during the game or on film session she’s a second coach out there. She’s always wanting to help her teammates and giving them feedback and giving them tools to allow them to grow.”

A large part of Parrella’s success has come from the help of Smith, who continually is setting higher goals for Parrella to help evolve her game year after year. This season, Parrella has 41 goals and moved to 12th alltime in NCAA history with her 257 goals. During the Pride’s regular season finale against Towson, Parrella surpassed Smith in the career goals mark.

She now sits 16th all-time with 254 goals.

“Whether it’s on the field or off the field, I can always go to Shannon for everything and anything. She has taught me so much,” Parrella said. “I looked up to her as a player and coach.

She is absolutely amazing and she gives everything she can to her players. Anything you need to do or learn, she’ll help you with it. I’m just really happy I was able to play for her for these five years.”

Leading Hofstra one last time, Parrella and the Pride know what it’s like to make it to the tournament. Last time in the 2019 CAA Tournament, the Pride squared off against Towson in the semifinals, a game that Parrella will never forget.

“The semifinals my junior year when we beat Towson – that was an incredible game.

And also to the dramatics of having to wait a couple hours for a rain delay and just being in that locker room and having to stay hyped up,” Parrella said. “It was the first time we’ve gotten that far in the conference

tournament. That was the first time I was able to be there and it was such a great memory. I’m really happy to be beat them that year.”

This time around, Parrella wants the Pride to come out on top, a feat Hofstra hasn’t accomplished since 2007.

“It’s really important for us to play our best lacrosse at this point in the season,” Parrella said. “There’s really no room for mistakes at this point, so just being able to make sure that [at] our practices we’re going as hard as we can in order to have the best games we can moving forward.”

With the games winding down in her Hofstra career, Parrella is ready for what’s next. Although the future is uncertain for Parrella, if an opportunity arises to play lacrosse, she is ready for it.

“It’s kind of weird to think about not having any sports in general. I’ve been playing lacrosse for so long, but even just not having any type of sports moving forward is kind of crazy to me. I’m pretty open to anything that may come about in the future so I’m excited to see what happens,” Parrella said.

“If there’s any chance to play lacrosse in any sort of way, I’m really open to do it.”

As Parrella prepares to pass the crown down to the next group, her legacy is forever engraved in the Hofstra and CAA record books. Her impact on Hofstra lacrosse will serve as the model of excellence and what future athletes will strive for.

“I think that they’re going to look back at the legacy that she left here with her leadership, her work ethic and the impact that she made on her teammates around her, but also the legacy in terms of how she left the program,” Smith said. “She put Hofstra back in the national ranking and she put Hofstra at the top of the CAA and she’s made a huge mark in our program. There’s going to be players that are going to want to come here to be an Alyssa and I think that’s incredible.”

SPORTS

THE CHRONICLE

MAY 4, 2021 •A19

Ryan Tierney etches his name in Hofstra history books

By Anthony Roberts SPORTS EDITOR

Like father, like son, Ryan Tierney has followed in the footsteps of his father, Seth, in their total commitment to the sport of lacrosse. While their time as part of the Hofstra men’s lacrosse program has been especially unique, the father-son dynamic shares the same philosophy: lacrosse on the field, family at home.

“There’s one rule that we set before I got here: we’re gonna leave it on the field,” Ryan Tierney said. “We’re going to talk about lacrosse only when we get on the field and then [as] soon as we get off the field after practice or a game, then we let it go. We go back to father and son.”

Before committing to Hofstra, Ryan Tierney’s collegiate career was boiled down to two schools. Playing at the University of Denver for his uncle Bill Tierney, or playing at Hofstra for his dad.

“The end of my junior year, I decided to commit to Hofstra,” Ryan Tierney said. “I walked upstairs to my parents’ bedroom and I said, ‘I don’t want to go through this process anymore. I know where I’m going, I want to go to Hofstra.’”

“The thing that trumps everything is we have an opportunity to do this together,” Seth Tierney said on Ryan’s decision.

“There’re classrooms, there’s

books, there’s teachers in every university. There’s a field and there’s a team everywhere you go. What isn’t there are the memories that [Ryan and I] can make together that will last a lifetime.”

While on their field, the relationship is the same as any other player, something Seth Tierney has tried to manage since Ryan first came to Hofstra.

“One of the administrators when Ryan first got here pulled me into his office and he just said, ‘You’re probably going to be harder on Ryan, and you can’t be. Then you’re going to flip over and you’re probably going to be softer on Ryan, and you can’t be,’” Seth Tierney said. “I had to manage that, and I wanted to manage it as best as I could.”

In five years with the Pride, Ryan Tierney has amassed 162 goals ranking first all-time in Hofstra history and tying the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) record. His 247 career points ranks first all-time in both Hofstra and CAA history.

“I’m happy and proud of the records that he’s broke.

You’ll never hear either one of us talk about them because someone else is going to break them in years to come. Records are made to be broken,” Seth Tierney said. “If he’s helping a young kid out with shooting and my wife and I get a text about what type of person Ryan is and how he’s made an impact on

their son. I’m thrilled and I’m humbled every time we get one of those texts.”

Even with the record to his name, Ryan Tierney now has his sights set on the CAA title.

“There’s always been that goal of achieving those records, but it’s just the goal of winning at the end,” Ryan Tierney said.

“Very few teams can end their season on a win and we want to be one of them.”

After missing the CAA Tournament in 2019, the Pride is back in this season’s tournament as the No. 4 seed. This year the tournament will be held at Hofstra and the Pride will face the No. 1 seed, the University of Delaware.

“We want to keep pushing through this thing as far as we can go and hopefully play our best lacrosse [in] the next couple games,” Ryan Tierney said.

Making it to the tournament was not an easy task, however, all the Pride’s games came down to the wire at the tail end of the season. Hofstra found themselves behind Fairfield University before rallying for a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

“It tells us that greatness is there. You’ve got to show up on time and we can’t allow teams to get that first jump on us anymore,” Ryan Tierney said. “We’ve been doing it all season and we’ve been we’ve been working on it, but we need

Adam Flash / The Hofstra Chronicle Ryan Tierney broke the all-time record for career points in both Hofstra and CAA history.

Hofstra Athletics Ryan Tierney has 162 goals and 247 points in his career.

to put our work to work. If we play like we play in the second half for the whole game, it’s a different game.”

The following day, the Pride awaited the results of the Drexel University and Towson University game. A Drexel win would guarantee the Pride a spot, but a Towson win would force a three-way tie with Hofstra, Towson and UMass, forcing the tiebreaker rules to decide who made it.

“I’m different than most people; I [didn’t] even want to watch the game. I don’t want the ups and the downs and stress for two hours that I really can’t control or contribute to,” Ryan Tierney said. “Whether it’s a good outcome or a bad outcome but we’re going to be there together as a team.”

The outcome was in fact good news for the Pride, as Drexel rallied to beat Towson, securing Hofstra’s spot in the tournament. Now, Ryan Tierney is looking to lead the Pride back to a championship before passing the leadership roles to the next group.

“I’m going to try to pass that torch on and have them live with no regrets,” Ryan Tierney said. “I want them to have fun, but I also want them to put in the work that’s needed to be great.”

While his time at Hofstra is winding down, the future for Ryan proposes new opportunities after being selected in the second round of the 2021 Premier Lacrosse League College

Draft by the Whipsnakes.

“It’s a surreal feeling. You never really know because of what the teams need so you never really know who’s going where,” Ryan Tierney said.

“Even the players that they predict, they don’t go, so it’s really crazy feeling. I’m really excited for that next chapter, but I don’t want to close the chapter on this one yet.”

“The 16th pick came up and when his name got announced as a parent when you look into your child’s eyes, and there’s talking without speaking,” Seth Tierney said. “That’s what my wife and I saw. We saw the excitement, we saw the culmination of 15 years of hard work to get to this point to get drafted.”

Although Ryan Tierney looks forward to what’s next, he’s ready to lead the Pride through the CAA Tournament. Regardless of the outcome, his name will forever be in the Hofstra and CAA record books.

“If he’s fortunate enough to make a dress squad for the Whipsnakes, you know there’s a good chance I’ll be sitting at the 50-yard line at the scorer’s table,” Seth Tierney said. “Either talking to the TV trucks or helping with the officials and I’ll be out in front row seats to watch his next is next phase of life.”

Seth Tierney added, “On a humorous note, he’s Coach Stagnitta’s problem now he’s not my problem anymore.”

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE

Sports

May 4, 2021

N ext S top : CAA T ourney Hofstra men’s and women’s lacrosse teams look to make noise at the CAA tournament this week.

Adam Flash / The Hofstra Chronicle