The Hofstra Chronicle, April 9, 2024

HEMPSTEAD, NY

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE

KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935

PHOTOGRAPHY

TUESDAY April 9, 2024

OPINION

You should care about the TikTok ban

By Tom Norman

ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR

Recently, the House of Representatives passed a bill to ban TikTok in the United States. They are concerned about the social media app’s parent company, ByteDance, which is based in China. The concern

is that due to Chinese national security laws, ByteDance could theoretically be forced to give up any kind of user data that China may want.

The bill has made it to the Senate, and if they pass it, President Biden has said he plans on signing it into law, according to

AP News. The quick passage of this bill should be very alarming to you, as it is to me. I would go as far as to say the bill in question is a direct violation of the First Amendment. Additionally, I doubt that this law would stop at just TikTok.

This is not the first time the government has tried to ban TikTok. They have had an ongoing (and so far, losing) battle with the app since former President Donald Trump was in office in 2020. Even last year, the House tried passing the “RESTRICT Act,” which would give the government the power to “identify and mitigate foreign threats to information and communications technology, products and services.” However, according to congress.gov, it has yet to move past simply being introduced.

By Nick Mongiovi STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra University softball team won the final game of their three-game series against the North Carolina A&T State University (NC A&T) Aggies 6-3 on Sunday, April 7. With this win, the Pride improved to 13-17 overall and 11-4 in the

Coastal Athletic Association. NC A&T fell to 8-26 overall and 2-13 in the CAA.

For the second straight weekend, Hofstra swept their CAA series, improving the team’s winning streak to six straight games.

“The confidence is really great,” said Hofstra head coach Adrienne Clark.

“We are continuing to build with each game, learn different things, and while we’re still making some mistakes here and there, we’re learning and growing from them. As long as we keep that mindset, I think we’ll continue to build.”

The potential TikTok ban is concerning for everyone.

Photo courtesy of Nik on Unsplash

SPORTS

On Monday, April 8, Hofstra students witnessed a solar eclipse from campus. This event was special since this has been one of the only times an eclipse has been seen in

major cities in North America.

Alliance and Vander Poel Halls closed next year for renovations

By Donald Proctor

and

CHRONICLE

Poel Halls will be closed for repair during the entire 2024-2025 school year. Over the summer, new turnstiles will be installed in the remaining four towers in time for this fall.

The two towers will receive waterproofing work already seen in Constitution and Estabrook Halls. The flooring and lighting

in corridors and common areas will also be renovated.

More obvious cameras will be added to bolster security efforts in the lobbies of all six towers.

The Physical Plant department of Hofstra University facilitates all structural work on campus and cites wind-driven rain as one of the most prominent causes for the upcoming repairs.

This past year brought no shortage of torrential downpours and

flooding to Hofstra, and these fixes are arriving in good time to nurse some ailing rooms.

“The windows are a problem, I always hear the wind,” said Nicole Miller, a resident of Alliance Hall and a sophomore biology major. Miller has dealt with multiple leaks and is one of numerous tower residents who have had to contend with water damage and accompanying issues like mold growth.

Workers will begin in June, caulking fissures in windows and concrete as well as sealing the roofs of both towers. Luxury vinyl plank flooring with a wood-like appearance will replace aging carpet and vinyl tiling, while brighter LED lighting hopes to put forth a friendlier tone than the current fluorescent hues.

After students move out of their buildings in May, the Physical Plant and Residence Life departments will conduct their annual room condition reports to evaluate each unit for paint chips, holes and furniture damage.

The current gates will be removed in favor of swinging “optical” turnstiles. The acrylic barriers resemble those in the New York City subway. Two small doors will open to allow all building residents to enter using the same entrance.

According to Joseph Barkwill, the vice president for facilities and operations at Hofstra, changing the turnstiles aims to increase accessibility and functionality.

Some of the upcoming additions have already been installed elsewhere on campus. New

The two halls will be closed in the 2024-2025 school year due to repairs being added to update the building.

Photo courtesy of Anthony-22 on Wikimedia Commons

Hofstra students prepare for the upcoming presidential election

By Jessica LeMay

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Over the past couple of elections, presidential candidates and the media have been trying to increase the number of young voters. Hofstra students have also been partaking in this movement by setting up a register-to-vote drive of their own.

more information.

Student volunteers shared why they are committed to helping other students register to vote.

“Our age demographic is the least likely to be participating in voting, and I think it’s important for students to have their voices heard and to be a part of the election process,” said volunteer

dorm, live on campus and live in residential buildings, they need to put in that little bit of extra effort to request absentee ballots,” said volunteer Hamna Hasque, a junior political science major.

At Hofstra University, over 50% of the students are not residents of Long Island, and many students have to use absentee

“ [Voting is] the only way that you can have your voices heard if you amplify them ... Find something that you care about, that you can articulate to people around you, and go out and get other people to vote. ”

With election day approaching, the Hofstra Center for Civic Engagement has set up a weekly table in the student center to assist students in registering to vote. At the table, volunteers are educating students on their voter needs, providing them with an absentee ballot and directing them to online websites for

Laike Jerome, a senior political science major.

A recent study from Harvard University found that only 49% of eligible voters aged 18 to 29 plan to vote in the upcoming presidential election. That number is significantly lower than the 2020 election.

“Especially for students who

ballots or travel home to vote.

“Students generally don’t know too much about voting itself; it is important we establish a culture,” said Rosanna Perotti, a political science professor and head faculty member of the Center for Civic Engagement. Perotti, who teaches a class

Graphic designed and information compiled by Sophia Guddemi

Hofstra students volunteer to assist with early voter registration.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Le May

CONTINUED FROM A2

Hofstra towers recieve turnstile upgrades

monitored by an entity like Public Safety but will serve as an investigative tool following incidents. However, the noticeably larger cameras are meant to be seen and deter unwanted activities.

This year is the first that two towers will be repaired simultaneously. The $3.5 million allocated in 2022 to fix the towers was set to be spent over six years, but flex-

about $583,000. Between the first two towers renovated, $1.16 million was spent, and that same number is anticipated for the next two, according to Barkwill.

Current Vander Poel residents have been given the option to dorm in Nassau Hall, a suitestyle building that has been configured to accommodate residents of the closing honors college tower. Vander Poel residents relocating to Nassau will not see a change in their housing costs.

According to Barkwill, Physical Plant conducted reports in 2022 that identified Constitution as the tower with the most damage from leaks. Constitution was closed and renovated that year, followed by Estabrook in 2023.

After these renovations, En-

Housing accommodations for 2025 will determine whether the last two buildings will be repaired at the same time. Residents of Bill of Rights and Enterprise have also experienced their fair share of leaks.

Physical Plant said that the waterproofing measures are intended to last roughly ten years, and students hope the coming changes will make for a happier and drier home.

“ We work with our peers [in other departments] to look at the buildings and see what the students tell us. ”

lighting and flooring in Hofstra’s towers were received well, paving the way for these fixtures to arrive at the towers.

“It is not just us,” Barkwill said. “We work with our peers

CONTINUED FROM A3

[in other departments] to look at the buildings and see what the students tell us.”

As for the new cameras in tower lobbies, Barkwill noted that they will not be constantly

ibility in the budget and housing numbers have allowed plans to accelerate.

Each tower’s upgrades cost

terprise and Bill of Rights will be the last towers to close for repairs during the school year of 2025 and potentially 2026.

Cultivating a voting culture at Hofstra

on elections and voting behavior, said people who start voting at an early age are more likely to continue to vote when they are older.

Historically, young voters have not participated as much as the older generations. “Young voters proportionally are so

underrepresented in the electorate yet they will be affected by policies that are being enacted by older officials,” Perotti said.

According to the Pew Research Center, the average age of a United States senator is 57 years old. These legislators agree on laws that will last for young peoples’ entire lifetimes but only a third of their own.

Lawrence Levy, the executive dean of suburban studies of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra, said that students typically know less than the average voter because of their busy schedules.

“[Voting is] the only way that you can have your voices heard

if you amplify them,” Levy said. “Find something that you care about, that you can articulate to people around you, and go out and get other people to vote.”

Students are encouraged to visit Hofstra’s Center for Civic Engagement table in the student center during common hour. The table will be available once a week.

Oct. 26 is the deadline for absentee ballot applications in the state of New York. You can visit vote.org to find all information on voting. For more information on voting in New York State specifically, you can visit elections.ny.gov.

As the population of young voters decreases each year, there is concern for hearing young adult voices during the 2024 election.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Le May

Across Hofstra’s campus, many buildings are under construction in order to make updates for safety and aesthetic reasons.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra University

Relocation for Hofstra’s honors college students

By Matt Fisher STAFF WRITER

Hofstra University has announced plans in February to

the 2024-2025 school year to undergo renovations.

Vander Poel Hall is a dormitory that exclusively houses

whenever it rains,” wrote Frisina. “A year is what it takes to fix the leaks which are now so extensive some 45+ rooms can’t be occupied.”

Since the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic school year, numerous residents of Vander Poel Hall have reported room leaks due to heavy rain.

“My room has flooded multiple times over the course of

Vander Poel residents have also expressed concern about their safety regarding the state of their tower.

“[The flooding] has created an overall sense of worry among Vander Poel residents, as we all have to consider the integrity of the building and the safety of ourselves and personal belongings,” said Caroline Cassidy, a freshman double majoring in linguistics and mathematics.

“It’s frustrating that we have to think about this along with all the other typical worries of a college freshman.”

The renovation, also including Alliance Hall, is part of a larger ongoing tower renovation project that began two years ago with Constitution Hall, followed by Estabrook, which has been under renovation this year.

According to Joe Barkwill,

offline at once; a direct result of the massive influx of rainfall recorded this year.

To combat the flooding, Barkwill says the exterior of the towers will receive drastic fixes.

“These towers were built in the ‘60s,” Barkwill said. “So just like we did with the library, we have to go on the outside, caulk the windows, we do the fissures in the concrete and then we put a water sealant on the building.”

Next year, Hofstra will house its honors students in Nassau Hall. Current residents of Vander Poel were given first pick of rooms in the complex, and will pay a price comparable to what they have been paying in their current tower.

Nassau Hall is not becoming the permanent honors college housing as students will be

“[The flooding] has created an overall sense of worry among Vander Poel residents, as we all have to consider the integrity of the building and the safety of ourselves and personal belongings.”

renovate two of its high-rise residence halls. In an email sent on Feb. 23 by Rabinowitz Honors College Dean Warren Frisina, residents of Vander Poel Hall were alerted that the tower will be going “offline” for

Hofstra’s honors college students. In the email, Frisina outlined reasons for the renovation, citing flooding as a primary cause.

“Let’s start with the way the water leaks into the building

these last two semesters,” said Gabriella Luca, a freshman bioengineering major. “It has been a major inconvenience having to worry about what I leave on the floor and considering when it rains so nothing gets damaged.”

On April 8, at 4 a.m., the RSR working in Bill of Rights Hall reported to PS that two HU students and a non-student failed to comply with

the vice president of facilities and operations, the order in which towers are selected for renovation is determined by the number of leak reports received.

However, next year will be the first year two towers go

returning to Vander Poel during the 2025-2026 academic year. Next year, honors students will be able to take advantage of Nassau’s amenities like the outdoor courtyard and newly remodeled kitchens.

On April 8, at 11:14 p.m., the RA in Utrecht House reported to PS

Public Safety Briefs

Hofstra guest policy and verbally harassed the RSR. The non-student was banned from campus, and the two students were issued referrals to CS for their actions.

Key:

PS – Public Safety

HU – Hofstra University

UFD – Uniondale Fire Department

NCPD – Nassau County Police Department

CS – Community Standards

On Thursday, March 28, at 9:30 a.m., the fire alarm at Stuyvesant Hall sounded due to an unknown cause. Thirty-two people were evacuated within two minutes without incident. PS, Plant and UFD responded. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

Compiled by Moriah Sukhlal

pulling out of a spot on the right passenger side when it swiped the driver’s side bumper of vehicle two, driven by another HU student. There were no injuries. NCPD responded, but no report was taken.

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

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

On Thursday, March 28, at 10:45 p.m., in the Netherlands South parking lot, vehicle one, driven by an HU student, was

and verbally referred to CS.

that, while conducting rounds, there were loud noises coming from a room. PS responded and discovered open bottles of alcohol. Six students were issued referrals to CS.

Hofstra Dome sounded due to vaping in the restroom. There were no people in the building at the time. PS, Plant and UFD responded. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

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

On Friday, March 29, at 6:39 p.m., Residence Life called PS to report that an electric scooter was found in the common area of Tilburg House. The owner of the scooter was located

On Monday, April 1, at 4:15 p.m., the fire alarm in Alliance Hall sounded due to an unknown cause. Forty-two people were evacuated within two minutes without incident. PS, Plant and UFD responded. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On Monday, April 1, at 5:39 p.m., the fire alarm in the

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

Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle

Hofstra’s Rabinowitz Honors College students will relocate to Nassau Hall while renonvations take place in Vander Poel Hall.

Photo courtesy of Matt Fisher

FEATURES

Personal Essay: Government-assigned birth chart

By Anna DeGoede EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I’m a Leo sun, Virgo moon and Scorpio rising. If you’re an astrology fan, you could do the math or look at the charts and figure out when my birthday is. You could tell me that my birthday is in August, and maybe even narrow it down to the dayAug. 10.

However, you’re likely not going to guess the actual date correctly, but I wouldn’t be able to tell you if you did. Aug. 10 – the date that is printed on all my government documents – is many things, but it’s probably not my birthday.

This fact isn’t explained by a hospital error or forgetful parents, but rather with a bit of a history lesson and the fact that I was adopted from China when I was thirteen months old.

In an attempt to decrease China’s booming population in

By Makenzie Hurt OPINION EDITOR

ITA Kitchen serves up delicious Italian dishes at their four Instagram-worthy locations across Long Island. I’ve visited their Garden City location more times than I can count because it offers more than amazing food every time. Before I get into all the other qualities of ITA Kitchen that make it a must-visit spot, I need to sing some praises for the food.

The restaurant serves traditional and modernized Italian dishes that make it difficult to choose just one. Perhaps their most famous appetizer is their Jules’ Carrozza. The dish is a fried Italian grilled cheese sandwich stuffed with mozzarella and smothered with vodka sauce. If you go with a group, you’ll need to order at least two.

It’s easy to fill up on appetizers with their heaping portions and waitstaff that will encourage you to try everything. And if you’re really feeling fancy, order their tableside mozzarella. It’s like going to a Mexican restaurant and ordering tableside guacamole –they hand stretch the mozzarella

1980, the Chinese government had a rule that families could only have one child. As a result, families would often give up their children because they couldn’t risk being punished for having more than one.

I don’t know the specifics of my case, but I am fairly certain that this rule is what led to what I jokingly describe as my “villain origin story,” which came with the added benefits package of an enigmatic birthday.

I like to imagine that the orphanage caregivers who needed my birthday for paperwork sized me up and said, “Seems about three weeks old to me.” After all, I didn’t arrive clutching a birth certificate in my free hand.

There are a few rules about numbers in China (which, like everything that has to do with China, I had to look up, so don’t quote me on this): even numbers are luckier than odd, and

one should always give gifts in even numbers. Even numbers are lucky but not in multiples of four. Aug. 8 or Aug. 12 would’ve been out of the question for a birthday, I suppose.

So, just like that, Aug. 10 magically went from a date that would have probably meant nothing to me in another life to the day where I’d eat Rice Krispy cake with my fingers when I was five and get way too wasted on just a half of a glass of rum my brother bought for me when I turned 21 – all because some person I will never meet decided to give me that date to have forever.

Thinking back, sometimes I wonder if the people who selected the date had a hunch that whatever birthday they gave me would be one of the last things about the pre-adoption years of my life that I would carry with me. I certainly can’t speak Man-

darin, and I remember nothing about living in China. But back to the astrology issue –while I’m likely a Leo, just because they probably didn’t misestimate my age far enough to turn me into a Virgo or a Cancer, I’ll continue to bring up the potential discrepancy just to confuse the astrology fans in my life. I’ll also keep putting down random birth times just to see what my new signs can turn into.

Maybe one day I’ll get my birthday and birth time correct, but the chances of that are astro-

Chron Critiques: ITA Kitchen

right in front of you.

I’ve ordered a few different dishes over my visits to ITA Kitchen, so I can confidently say that every dish they serve is excellent. Everyone loves their spicy rigatoni, and the baked chicken parmesan is also a fan favorite – and they’ll even make it with vodka sauce. If you’re anything like me and you love truffles, you’re in luck. ITA’s burrata ravioli is stuffed with ricotta and served in your choice of a decadent truffle cream sauce or their signature vodka sauce.

Another ITA signature is the add-on option to “crown” your dish. If you do, you’ll get a giant slab of fried mozzarella atop your food.

If you aren’t a fan of pasta, they also offer giant salads, chicken, pork, beef and fish dishes. Another popular option for those who don’t like pasta is the ITA smashburger. However, it’s not your typical smashburger: ITA’s comes with two patties stuffed with melted mozzarella, stracciatella cheese and candied prosciutto.

To wash your food down, you can choose from the mouthwatering drink menu. While serving

modern takes on classic Italian drinks like limoncello martinis, negronis and aperol spritzes, they also offer espresso martini flights and sangria flights. For an after-dinner drink, don’t hesitate to order the rainbow cookie martini.

As if you couldn’t get any more full by the time you’ve finished your entree, prepare to get dessert. If there’s anything I have to recommend, it’s the cannoli crumb cake. A massive scoop of ricotta is served between two slices of heavenly crumb cake and dusted with powdered sugar. No amount of fullness can stop me from eating that cannoli crumb cake.

They also serve pistachio cheesecake, affogato, tiramisu and fried rainbow cookies. Unfortunately, I’m usually so full by the time I’ve finished my entree that I haven’t been able to try all of their amazing desserts, but it’s definitely on the bucket list.

If you go to ITA on a weekend, dress your best and prepare to get loud. The restaurant transforms into a sit-down club vibe. If it’s a party member’s birthday, you’ll know right away. The music starts to blare and waitstaff dance over to their table with giant

sparklers. Everyone has a smile on their face.

Every single member of ITA’s waitstaff, kitchen staff, bartenders and managers are excellent. My go-to waitress, who I won’t be naming, always remembers my group no matter how busy it gets and how long it’s been. She always encourages us to try new things and will customize our orders however we like every time.

nomically low, as they say. There are just too many days in a year and too many hours in a day. The lunar calendar may have had something right when it made zodiac personality traits correspond with birth years rather than birth days. The only thing I know for sure is that I was born in the year of the horse: another of the few things China gave me.

are not always large enough to fit the massive amount of food my friends and I inevitably order. Three people seated at a four-person table still doesn’t give us enough room to fit our surplus of food, but maybe that’s our own fault.

The atmosphere also makes for a great experience. In their Garden City location, there is a giant neon sign, perfect for taking photos, that reads “Parmesan Dreams.” The seats are comfortable, the lights are never too bright or too dark, and it’s extremely clean.

My one gripe is that the tables

I recently went to try a new restaurant, and when my friends and I left, I said, “We should’ve gone to ITA again.” If you are a current student at Hofstra and not a Long Island local, I would highly encourage you to spend a night out at ITA Kitchen before you graduate.

Makenzie Hurt / The Hofstra Chronicle

Anna DeGoede / The Hofstra Chronicle

FEATURES

Personal Essay: What earning the Presidential Service Award taught me

By Matthew Adarichev STAFF WRITER

In March 2023, I stepped into a soup kitchen in Hempstead for the first time, hoping that some volunteer work would be a revitalizing breath of fresh air from the typical rhythm of college life.

Only one year later, I visited the Long Island Ethical Humanist Society to receive our nation’s highest federal volunteer service award: the gold-level President’s Volunteer Service Award, given for 250 hours of volunteer service within a one-year time period.

I am proud of my achievement and I was honored to receive such a prestigious award as a representative of the Hofstra community. I would like to share some of the things I learned in the four places that I volunteered, and make a case for why I think anyone reading this should give volunteering a try, even just once.

My journey began at the Mary Brennan INN Soup Kitchen. Anyone in need of a hot meal can go to this soup kitchen without fear of being turned away.

Every time I came to the INN, I would do a different job. Sometimes I would sort cans, and other times I would make bags to be handed out or prepare food and give it to guests arriving

By Aidan Judge ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

god, i’m sick of lavender iced blues without a way to break through to the sky

your chilled hand on my broken shoulder

forever indebted to the grip of a strained muscle

i call you on the phone like it means something to you

but every shrill of a lifeless dial tone means everything to me

if you saw me open-hearted on the cold floor

i cannot imagine that your veins would flutter so deeply debilitated by the

at the INN. When handing out food and taking orders, I had an additional opportunity to practice my Spanish skills with many of our guests.

After a while, it dawned on me that there was a lot more to running this soup kitchen than the quick handoff of food that you see. Behind the window, there was a whole group of wonderful staff and volunteers putting in hard work doing many of the difficult tasks necessary to allow us to distribute food, clothing and books to Long Islanders.

Then I learned my first lesson: things that are worthwhile often require a lot of effort.

That April, I began volunteering as a member of a hiking group of middle and high school students with special needs. I would help the staff coordinate our hikes and keep the hikers safe.

I enjoyed talking with and inventing stories with our hikers. Oftentimes, they would ask for my advice. I enjoyed observing how people who are younger than me interact with the world as well as their phones. Though I wasn’t much older than them, they still called me a “boomer” because I didn’t know their new slang or ways of doing things.

During my time as part of the hiking group, I learned even more lessons: there is a value

in listening, compassion goes a long way, staying in the moment can be helpful and nature can have a positive impact on you.

Over the summer, I began to volunteer with the Book Fairies, a book warehouse in Freeport, New York. We would recycle or sort books donated to us to be resold or given to schools with book shortages on Long Island. Some were even sent overseas. The whir of quickly sorting books (once I got the hang of it) was pleasant and so was the company. The majority of volunteers at the warehouse were retirees, and in my conversations with them, I got a glimpse into the past.

Twenty-five cent candy, a guy’s first date falling asleep at the original screening of “Star Wars,” stories of lives, families and careers well-lived. They provided practical advice as people who have lived longer than me and were a fantastic and cordial group to work with.

Working there taught me the importance of listening to those with experience, the value of working cooperatively, and to have compassion and understanding for anyone you meet.

Finally, I spent a brief stint at the Friends of Hempstead Plains. The organization is devoted to maintaining the grounds of the last remaining segment of the

once-expansive plains of Hempstead.

I worked days under the hot sun, manicuring the area around the center, removing weeds, wandering the plains and learning more about the native species still roaming there. In the brief time I spent there, I learned a tremendous amount about biology and conservation.

Working there, I pondered whether it really was worth it to remove swaths of such a large and beautiful natural setting in the name of modernity.

Through these four organizations, I logged hours on a timesheet, eventually accruing enough to secure the gold-level President’s Volunteer Service Award. The ceremony, held Feb. 18, was a blast. I got to meet the other fourteen talented individuals who received the award this year. I received a beautiful medal (currently hanging on my wall) and a lapel pin.

I also received commendations from numerous local and federal legislators. I would like to thank Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, New York state Senator Kevin Thomas, Congressman Anthony D’Esposito and President Joe Biden for their various awards and letters of recognition.

Most important of all, I would like to thank the Long Island

Poem: but daddy i love him

shine of the sky that your thunderstorm drowns my baby away there she goes down the river and into the chute where the only vivacity comes from the taste of heated, burgundy blood

i want to be consumed by the tails of your breath watch my eyes dim, my teeth sink into my rotted corpse, watch my hand reach out to you

i see you, asleep, in the white sheets while the tone whistles and the color of your skin fades into me for now that you are gone i can breathe with minute labor one peaceful, crisp breath

until i wait for my own clear sky

not a soul around to judge us as our remains bloom into soil

Volunteer Center and its President’s Volunteer Service Award coordinator, Patricia Force, for guiding me throughout my volunteer service and the Long Island Ethical Humanist Society for hosting the awards ceremony.

You may be surprised to know that I learned quite a few professional skills during my volunteer service. You may also be surprised to know that it was an excellent networking opportunity which gained me many new contacts. I now have quite a few things to add to my resume.

But volunteering gave me more than an award – it gave me life lessons. The things I learned forced me to grapple with questions of respect, decency and the biggest question of all: how to treat others and yourself with kindness and dignity.

It opened my mind to the world in a way I don’t think could be done in a classroom or at a job, and that type of perspective is valuable. If you have the time, you deserve that for yourself. And I can guarantee you’ll have fun volunteering regardless of whether you pursue a service award or not.

i’m sorry.

Photo courtesy of Kat Kelley / Unsplash

M AN ON THE U NISPAN

What were you doing during the earthquake?

By Zoe Casselman, Makenzie Hurt and Tim Daly FEATURES EDITOR, OPINION EDITOR AND ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR

“I was sleeping, but I just thought people were having really rough sex next door because it’s happened before. So when my bed was shaking, I was like, ‘What is going on?’”

- Clara Pedro, sophomore

“I was sleeping, I think.”

- Sadera Jadotnarain, freshman

“I was brushing my hair in the bathroom with the door open, but I thought it was someone in the vents. I was like, ‘Who’s in there?’”

- Lilly Jensen, junior

O verheard @ h O fstra

“Is that person a ‘Warriors’ cat or something?”

“Get your sexual mind out of here, you beast!”

“That’s the shit that gives you listeria, but I would buy it.”

“You may only be attracted to women, but you aren’t fully straight.”

“I’m talking about apple juice because I’m horny.”

“Every now and then I touch my balls to make sure I have two of them.”

“Saw a guy on Hinge who said he was ‘apolitical,’ but he’s in a theater program. Whiplash!”

“Were you here when I was talking about hardcore porn?”

“I have what they call ‘effortless asexual rizz.’”

“He’s breastfeeding a stuffed animal!”

Spread by Audra Nemirow

Zoe Casselman / The Hofstra Chronicle

By Julian Rocha MANAGING EDITOR

When my friend invited me to go out to Huntington with him and a mutual friend for sushi, I was somewhat apprehensive. Sure, I love Japanese food just as much as the next guy, but I had yet to really explore Suffolk County up until that point – and traveling nearly an hour each way just for dinner is not something I normally do. However, Akebono is well-worth the trip, as the customer service and quality of food is a step above most other restaurants I have been to.

At Akebono, the restaurant feels more like a dining room table than anything else. The employees certainly go above and beyond to tend to the customers, acknowledging many of them by name and treating them as though they are family.

Despite never having set foot in Akebono or even the town of Huntington before, I immediately

FEATURES

Chron Critiques: Akebono Fusion Sushi

felt welcome, as though I were eating at a friend’s house. With enthusiastic employees and cozy booths, it provided a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of New York City restaurants and the limited and stifling options of on-campus dining.

The abundance of menu options overwhelmed me at first, but per my friend’s recommendation, I decided to start off with a few small dishes. The miso soup and green salad were both excellent starters, as they settled my growling stomach and the fresh ingredients made me hopeful for the rest of the meal.

The garlic edamame, however, was certainly one of the best vegetable appetizers I have ever had. It was piping hot and perfectly seasoned, with the garlic just about melting in my mouth. Throughout the meal, my friends and I found ourselves continuing to snack away at the once-heaping pile as it was just too tasty to waste.

Most people probably don’t think to order pizza when at a Japanese restaurant, but at Akebono, the sushi pizza is a must. The scallion pancake crust was topped with various sauces, tuna and fish eggs. The flavors and textures were vibrant and combined to make the perfect shareable dish.

When it came time to order an actual entree, I uncharacteristically opted to order the chicken katsu instead of sushi. This decision was worth it, as the dish was simple yet hearty and certainly not as oily as many other katsu dishes in the area.

After all these dishes, the employees surprised me and my friends with the fried green tea ice cream for dessert. It was certainly one of the most unique desserts I have ever had, but the flaky coating and the tart and creamy filling perfectly balanced each other out.

Akebono, despite all the solid menu offerings and friendly staff,

was oddly empty. Perhaps it was just a quiet night, but the quality of the food was worth waiting for in a line that stretched out the door.

The unsuspecting exterior and tucked away location of Akebono means that many people in the area probably drive right past it. However, it is the type of restau-

Chron Cooks ft. Ethan Albin: Roasted Garlic Butter

By Ethan Albin

OPINION EDITOR

Want something simple and easy that will elevate every dish you put it in? Well, this roasted garlic butter is incredibly low effort and tastes fantastic. I use it as a replacement for cooking sprays and oils to provide a lovely garlic taste, but you can also slather it onto your favorite slice of sourdough for a yummy treat.

Ingredients:

1 whole head of garlic

1 stick of salted butter

Drizzle of olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

rant that one would expect to be a community staple. Anyone in the Huntington area (and with a car) should stop by Akebono for a tasty, relatively affordable meal in a cozy, quiet establishment. Akebono Fusion Sushi is located at 252 Broadway, Huntington, NY, 11743.

1. Leave butter out to soften to room temperature.

2. Preheat oven to 400 F.

3. Chop off the top of the garlic head, drizzle with oil and then wrap in aluminum foil. Place in the oven for 30-40 minutes, checking every 10 minutes for brownness.

4. Once roasted and out of the oven, remove garlic from tinfoil and let cool for 5 minutes.

5. Add softened butter to a bowl and squeeze the roasted clove into the softened butter, using a hand mixer or fork to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.

6. Scrape the mixture out of the bowl and into an airtight container and enjoy!

Julian Rocha / The Hofstra Chronicle

Ethan Albin / The Hofstra Chronicle

‘TOTALITY’ COOL: SOLAR ECLIPSE IN SIGHT

On Monday, April 8, people all around North America witnessed a partial solar eclipse. In Hempstead, students, faculty and community members gathered outside Hofstra Hall to witness the rare celestial show. Around 89% of the sun was covered for viewers on Long Island which peaked around 3:27pm. The Department of Physics and Astronomy hosted the watch party and provided attendees with specialized and approved eyewear.

Spread by Annie MacKeigan

Annie MacKeigan / The Hofstra Chronicle

Annie MacKeigan / The Hofstra Chronicle

Annie MacKeigan / The Hofstra Chronicle

Annie MacKeigan / The Hofstra Chronicle

Annie MacKeigan / The Hofstra Chronicle

Annie MacKeigan / The Hofstra Chronicle

Annie MacKeigan / The Hofstra Chronicle

Annie MacKeigan / The Hofstra Chronicle

Annie MacKeigan / The Hofstra Chronicle

Arts And EntErtAinmEnt

BookTok builds a new community for readers

By Josie Racette COPY CHIEF

One might wonder how readers find new books to read. Some people may say Goodreads or Barnes & Noble’s display tables, and that is true. However, in this age of technology, many readers will say BookTok.

BookTok is a popular subcommunity of content on TikTok that is meant for readers, writers and all fans of literature. BookTok creators post reviews and recommendations for readers as well as additional videos about books, characters and authors.

Coming up with new tactics to keep books and series in the current trends includes posting on social media platforms including X, Instagram and TikTok. Authors and publishers post new content about books and series on these media platforms and often have influencers discuss those works themselves.

BookTok’s influence took off during the COVID-19 pandemic because people were trapped in their houses and reading more than usual. It grew as an internet sensation through 2020

and 2021, and publishers began reaching out and asking creators to read and review their upcoming works.

BookTok became a huge influence in 2023 and 2024, inspiring the birth of a new genre, romantasy. Romantasy is a combination of fantasy and romance with a little “spice,” a BookTok term for books with adult content. Books within the genre include “Throne of Glass” by Sarah J. Maas and “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros. For fans of young adult and dystopian literature who are now in their early or late 20s, romantasy is the hot new genre.

BookTok also has smaller subcommunities for books focused on the LGBTQ+ community and books with adult romance. Books in this romance genre include “Icebreaker” by Hannah Grace and “The Love Hypothesis” by Ali Hazelwood. What seems like simple romance books with the normal enemies-to-lovers trope are actually full of much more intimate relationships. For LGBTQ+ book recommendations, the “Heartstopper” series

by Alice Oseman is in almost every video BookTok has to offer on the category. “One Last Stop” by Casey McQuiston is another popular recommendation for readers.

All these works became popular due to the social media content created around the stories. The works are a couple of years old now but are still mainstream within BookTok content and recommendations.

Booktok is typically filled with book recommendations, hauls and bookcase setups. Many BookTokers show off their color-coordinated bookcases, decorated with string lights or other things that hang between the shelves. Other BookTokers post videos with captions like “If you’re a fan of this book, check out these books” and so forth.

TikTok’s main demographic is people between the ages of 18 and 25, which causes a focus on readers in that age group on BookTok. This can include young adult fiction, but it also includes the newer genre of new adult fiction. New adult is a genre commonly meant for read-

ers who “graduate,” per se, from reading young adult fiction. In brick-and-mortar stores such as Barnes & Noble or Target, there are frequently displays of BookTok books. The most popular works on those displays are new adult books and authors, which gain popularity due to the large BookTok community.

BookTok videos are entertaining, but once they all recommend the same books over and over, it can become a problem. Books that are oversaturated on BookTok can turn readers away and cause an overhype that certain books don’t necessarily deserve.

BookTok has become a useful way to promote and pull readers into new genres and to get them to read new books and series. This allows for new readers to easily find a book put forth by one of the influencers and to further promote reading in a technological age.

‘Strong’ performances in ‘An Enemy of the People’

By Julian Rocha MANAGING EDITOR

When one sits down in the Circle in the Square Theatre for a date night on Broadway, the last thing you would expect to see is the ensemble dumping bucket after bucket of ice over actor Jeremy Strong’s head.

Starring Strong, Michael Imperioli and Victoria Pedretti, “An Enemy of the People” is full of surprises and is well worth checking out. Environmentallyfocused patrons will find the show particularly entertaining, as the show is a crusade to tell the truth about pollution. It evokes memories of watching “Erin Brockovich” and reading stories about Steven Donziger.

Seeing as this show is a recent adaptation of an older production, there are clear allusions to the current climate crisis, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pollution and cover-ups are nothing new, but the language used to describe it was similar

to that used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in early-mid 2020, as well as that of Greta Thunberg and her cohort of Generation Z activists.

The plot largely follows a scientist, Thomas Stockmann, who attempts to warn the public about the dangers of a poisoned body of water, only to become ridiculed and shunned by the public. Furthermore, it is a story of betrayal, with Stockmann, played by Strong, struggling to know exactly which people in his life he can trust.

One of the highlights of an allaround great show was Michael Imperioli’s performance. With contrasting previous roles on shows such as “The Sopranos” and “The White Lotus,” he dove deep into pure villainy. With the ability to alternate between smugness and pure rage throughout the show, he clearly proves that he is much more than a television actor.

Although there is no true

intermission during the show, there is a brief pause with a clever product placement quite literally coming down from the rafters. Running only two hours long, this pause serves more to introduce a new set piece than to provide a true break from a thrilling plot.

The Circle in the Square Theatre is one of the most unique Broadway venues around, as the layout is more like a basketball arena than anything else. With ascending rows of seats on all four sides of the stage, the presence of each performer was more important than usual. From the leading roles down to the smallest extras, no person was wasted on stage, with constant movement and minute communication through body language.

Despite this unconventional layout, each seat in the house provides an incredible view in its own way. Being so close to some of the most well-known (and perhaps most memed) performers

Quick Hits

in show business can make for a truly intimate theater experience and one that audiences will never forget.

The venue’s small space meant that stage dooring after the show was an absolute necessity for the evening. Nearly every member of the cast graciously provided their time to interact with and sign the Playbills of dozens of patrons crowded around the doors.

Fans of contemporary social commentary disguised as a historical fable will enjoy “An Enemy of the People.” Full of witty, fast-paced dialogue, tense drama and outright absurd humor, the show is full of surprises and worth the watch. Only on stage until June 16, tickets are limited. You wouldn’t want to miss out on a rare chance to meet a truly talented cast.

Courtesy of People

Billie Eilish announced her next album “Hit Me Hard and Soft.’’

“COWBOY CARTER” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Morgan Wallen was arrested after having an outburst at a Nashville bar.

Courtesy of ABC News

Courtesy of WKRN

Courtesy of IGN

Courtesy of Vulture

Jonathan Majors was sentenced to one year of counseling following his arrest.

Universal unveiled plans for a “How to Train Your Dragon” land at a new theme park.

‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ masters animated storytelling

By Anna DeGoede EDITOR IN CHIEF

Eighteen years after the first film kicked its way into theaters, the fourth installment of the “Kung Fu Panda” franchise, titled “Kung Fu Panda 4,” was released on March 8. Right from the get-go, “Kung Fu Panda 4” stepped away from its dependency on the star-studded martial arts group the Furious Five. Instead, the film gave its titular protagonist Po (voiced by Jack Black) a new task: hanging up his hat and becoming the spiritual mentor to the next Dragon Warrior.

This duty is quickly interrupted by the sinister plots of the Chameleon (Viola Davis), a magic-wielder looking to steal the kung fu skills from past kung fu masters and take over the surrounding cities and villages.

Along the way, Po is joined on his quest to stop the Chameleon by Zhen, a trickster fox (Awkwafina) and his two fathers, the goose Ping (James Hong) and the panda Li Shan (Bryan Cranston). Another notable returning character is Master

Shifu (Dustin Hoffman).

It was difficult to judge expectations for the film, considering most of this generation has been with the franchise since the first movie came out in 2008. The loss of the Furious Five, who appeared in this film only as cameos, felt like it could signify the end of the franchise’s long reign as a classic animated series.

Despite the challenge of impressing a die-hard audience, “Kung Fu Panda 4” was able to successfully pass the mantle on from the legacy of that dynamic group of martial artists and allow Po to stand mostly on his own as the protagonist of the series. With a unique sidekick in Zhen, a thief and an outsider to the Valley of Peace, the film allowed Po and company to grow beyond the

limits of the previous movies and expand into a wider understanding of the Kung Fu-niverse with a trek to a new location and new host of obstacles.

Though Zhen’s character seemed easily readable as a

ing their narrative weight.

Knowing that the audience is familiar with the intimidating prowess of villains of old, returning cameos by past villains Tai Lung (Ian McShane), Lord Shen (Gary Oldman) and Kai (J.K. Simmons) provided high stakes to the Chameleon’s insidious goal of harnessing their power without overshadowing the true arcs of the actual protagonists.

shifty, back-stabbing archetype at the beginning, through heartfelt (though not profound) bonding, the movie was able to successfully subvert the expectations of even the most suspicious audience-goers. As a result, the climatic confrontations between Po, Zhen and the Chameleon shocked viewers while still earn-

Of course, the “Kung Fu Panda” franchise wouldn’t be complete without an iconic score. Reprisals of the franchise’s most famous piece, “Oogway Ascends,” helped to center the audience in its musical voice, while a clever instrumental spin-off of “Crazy Train” rewarded those who were paying even closer attention to the score with a fun treat during a chase scene.

The only major critique is that “Kung Fu Panda 4” struggles to adapt animals to a humanlike society without delving into stereotyping. “Zootopia” is similar example of this shortcoming. The most glaring flaw is that characters admit to having trouble telling Po and his father, Li Shan, apart simply because they are both pandas.

Overall, the film attacks (and conquers) some of the hardest questions for franchises lately: how to pay tribute to a faithful fan base while passing the narrative baton on to a new generation. “Kung Fu Panda 4” is aided in its success by improved animation technology helping the copious amounts of fight scenes pack a visual and comedic punch, as well as a new sense of maturity in a franchise that has always leaned heavily toward its humor.

Studio Ghibli’s latest is a surreal Oscar-winner

By Nell Stultz

COPY CHIEF

Nearly a decade after announcing his retirement, celebrated filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli released “The Boy and the Heron” in Japan in July 2023 and in the United States in Dec. 2023. The film was written and directed by Miyazaki, who earned his second Oscar after “The Boy and the Heron” won the 2023 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

“The Boy and the Heron” is a sprawling tale in complicated worlds – both real and fantastical – featuring a young boy named Mahito (voiced in English by Luca Padovan) who moves with his father Shoichi (Christian Bale) to the Japanese countryside in World War II after his mother dies. Shoichi remarries his late wife’s sister, Natsuko (Gemma Chan), who disappears into the forest, prompting Mahito to begin

an epic quest for her – all the while accompanied by a magical Grey Heron (Robert Pattinson).

While just as fantastical as Ghibli’s usual fare, “The Boy and the Heron” is perhaps one of the most unsettling films by the studio. The first quarter of the film is slow-moving and melancholy as Mahito adapts to his new life in the countryside, avoiding his newly-pregnant stepmother and purposefully injuring himself with a rock to escape school. All the while, he’s taunted by the Grey Heron in brief, eerie bursts. On rewatches, the slower pace of the beginning makes the film drag, but on a first watch with little known about the film, it forces audiences to the edge of their seats in anticipation

of what’s to come. In the quest for his stepmother, Mahito embarks on a journey into a surreal, dreamlike world. Since Mahito’s goal of retrieval is simple, the film instead builds wonder through its incredible world-building in the strange place where Mahito finds himself. The rules and logic of the world are unclear, and Mahito’s journey is filled with moments of joy and respite as quickly as it is with overwhelming despair and violence – and parakeets. The lack of logic leaves space for a strong, emotional thematic base, as Mahito comes of age and

grapples with mortality, loss, the horrors of war and the possibility to build a better future on his otherworldly journey.

The film’s strange, ethereal nature is perfectly complemented by longtime Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi’s subtle score, often featuring only a chorus and piano. Hisaishi’s musical cues create further depth and emphasis for many of the film’s more unsettling moments, including many of the Heron’s early appearances, along with creating a sorrowful and beautiful theme for Mahito and his mother that builds as the film progresses.

Beautiful landscapes and rich, colorful characters and creations are the standard for Studio Ghibli, and “The Boy and the Heron” does not disappoint on that front. There’s something new to notice on every watch, and the plentiful details immerse the audience into the surreal story. It’s also supported by the rest

of a star-studded English voice cast, including Dave Bautista, Florence Pugh, Mark Hamill, Karen Fukuhara and Willem Dafoe.

The story’s resolution may not make the most sense –Miyazaki’s remarks were read after an early preview of the film, saying, “Perhaps you didn’t understand it. I myself don’t understand it” – but it’s certainly something satiating to chew on.

The inexplicable nature of the film only enhances the layered and complicated themes that it presents, ultimately culminating in a bizarre, heart-wrenching story full of the same Ghibli magic that has captivated audiences for decades – and hopefully will for many more.

“The Boy and the Heron” returned to North American theaters on March 22 following its Oscar win on March 10. Its release on streaming services will be announced later this year.

Photo courtesy of The New York Times

Miyazaki is credited for 37 previous animations.

“Kung Fu Panda 4” has earned $376.8 million in the box office.

Photo courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter

Reminiscing on the wonders of ‘BoJack Horseman’

By Frankie DiCalogero SPORTS EDITOR

When “BoJack Horseman” first hit the scene on Netflix in 2014, the adult animation psychological comedy-drama opened to mixed reviews. However, from the midway point of Season 1 all the way to the Season 6 series finale, the show’s legacy cemented itself among greatness.

The psychological aspect of the show, especially for an animated series, was shocking to behold. The level of real-life issues that are seen in society and common in our personal lives, coupled with great comedy, were a golden recipe for success.

The show’s titular character, BoJack Horseman, is a selfhating alcoholic who was well known for his starring role in the show “Horsin’ Around” during the prime of his acting career. BoJack’s depressive attitude to fame, his life and the world around him is what transformed the series into what it is recognized as today.

A main character like BoJack, someone who you can’t necessarily root for but can understand their struggles, shows how complex the show is. Every character of the show has their flaws.

The first major theme that was explored in “BoJack Horseman” was the theme of morality, combined with the overall human condition. When BoJack meets Diane Nguyen, a human ghostwriter, he struggles greatly with his morality. His brash persona is a turn-off, and quickly makes Diane’s job as a ghostwriter for his book a challenge. The idea of BoJack’s true self being put out for everyone to read was something he had to get adjusted to.

BoJack’s morality is coupled with his emotion (or rather, lack thereof). He holds it in, not wanting his personal struggles to cloud what the world knew him to be. It was the truth of falling off the face of the earth and spiraling out of control that BoJack tried to avoid admitting to himself.

Perhaps the most impactful theme of the series is its depiction of mental health. Loneliness, addiction, divorce, death and society are the main talking points of

this conversation within the show.

The loneliness aspect invades every main character’s line of thinking at some point. For instance, BoJack’s loneliness kicks off a whirlwind of emotions that leads him to discover that he does have issues. His loneli-

Princess Carolyn’s character is one that took time to get into, but once you understood her history and what her role was meant to be, the pink cat is a character that is valuable, to say the least.

The whole point of Princess Carolyn’s story was that no matter

highlights of “BoJack Horseman” is that it explores the idea of sexuality and makes it a natural thing, not a forced storyline. The series was praised for its depiction of homosexuality, lesbianism and asexuality in particular.

“BoJack Horseman” addresses

ness reaches the point of depression and anxiety and extends his addictive personality into almost everything he touches.

“BoJack Horseman” successfully explores how loneliness can come in many ways, highlighting how age, self-image and even sexuality can play a part in that discovery. The show does a tremendous job of carefully choreographing BoJack as the primary depiction of depression.

A key of the show’s fundamental fabric is Princess Carolyn. The first season for her is all about her age and how she feels like her life has become uninteresting and lacks any real heart because of how dedicated she has been working. For instance, there’s this great and memorable scene where it’s her birthday and she’s not happy or excited. She’s tired because it’s yet another year of her feeling unaccomplished.

how much you care for someone or how much you do for someone, there are just some people who can’t be saved. Her relationship with BoJack is a complicated and messy one since she was previously his agent. But the charm is the fact that despite feeling unfulfilled, she still puts people above herself. It’s what they want, not what she wants.

It’s so relatable that I believe Princess Carolyn’s arc is one of the best told on television. Her story is one that very clearly has a beginning and an ending. She eventually works her way into putting herself first, by wanting to start a family, getting married and leaving the series finale with probably the most well-rounded character development.

Todd Chavez’s character and issues focus more on his sexuality and his estranged relationship with his parents. One of the

in reality, they’re frustrated and trying to figure out any way possible to get out of this situation, all to save face and make money.

Another episode that is most exemplary of the themes of “BoJack Horseman” is “Thoughts and Prayers.” This episode discusses mass shooting and gun violence in the United States. The title puts emphasis on the reactions political figures have when these shootings happen and become regular occurrences in our society.

As it addresses real-life issues while also factoring in the comedy aspect of the show, the episode uses the sexism found in the world to further expand on gun violence. It promotes two causes at once, with the story being about how the government and its people want to ban guns simply because women have access to them.

Finally, it’s important to focus on the theme of addiction in “BoJack Horseman.” BoJack’s addiction to alcohol and drugs leads to overdoses and addiction to painkillers. It leads to the deaths of characters and is the main cause for everything going wrong in BoJack’s life.

many hot-button issues that are found in the political and entertainment worlds. One episode in particular, “Hank After Dark,” inspects when prominent figures, particularly men, still receive awards despite past bad behaviors, such as sexual harassment, and follows the #MeToo Movement.

With that story, Diane is the woman who tries to expose Hank for his past actions. Instead of society uplifting Diane and appreciating the due diligence in trying to stand up for women, she receives death threats and hate mail and is specifically told to stop talking about the allegations since a new show is about to come out starring Hank.

This highlights how many media networks and people don’t actually care about solving workplace issues. They want people to “think” they are doing so when

When talking about this series, the scene that is most familiar with fans – and even non-fans – is in the second-to-last episode of the show. The episode is called “The View from Halfway Down” and wraps up the main story with a touching yet realistic conclusion. BoJack, who thinks he has just died, is confronted by all the people he’s wronged or lost.

The episode received widespread acclaim and is the culmination of the titular character’s story.

The fact that a show structured like this can do a better job explaining so many issues in the world than live-action shows is extraordinary.

There is no other show quite like “BoJack Horseman,” and I truly believe it is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys shows that make you think, learn and laugh and, most importantly, leave an impact. I know it left one on me.

The show was created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, who also works on two other animated series: “Undone” and “Tuca & Bertie.”

Photo courtesy of Entertainment Weekly

The views and opinions expressed in the Opinion section are those of the authors. They are not an endorsement of the views of the Chronicle or its staff. The Chronicle does not discriminate based on the opinions of the authors.

Religion does not give you an excuse to be a bad person

By Ethan Poole

People doing or saying something cruel to others in the name of Christianity is a tale as old as time, but it seems to be happening much more often in recent days.

I want to be very clear: this is not a blanket statement about all Christians or even the majority of them. I have several friends and family members who are very dear to me and who are devout Christians. Instead, this is about those who spread hate in the name of Christianity or do nasty things and attempt to use their religion as justification for those actions.

In one of the most obvious examples, religion has been used to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people for decades now. A specific instance was a

baker refusing to make a cake that was meant to celebrate the transition of a transgender customer. While I believe that private business owners have the right to serve whom they choose, I also believe that refusing to serve someone because their private life is supposedly “against their religion” is absurd. Actions like this not only create hostile environments for LGBTQ+ people, but they also normalize hate and encourage other likeminded individuals to be bolder in their hateful actions.

It is a near-universal experience for atheists and people who follow other religions to deal with Christians, either online or in person, who refuse to accept that there are other viewpoints in the world. At work, I’ve had multiple customers decide to hold up the line to try and

preach to me and convert me and my coworkers to their religion. I’ve always found people acting like this to be incredibly ironic, as many of the people who try to push Christianity on unwilling people are also the first to throw a fit when a person or entity even thinks of saying something that goes against their specific worldview.

Whenever pro-choice rhetoric or other supposedly “anti-Christian” issues are shared, hard-core Christians will often come out in droves, begging to “not have it shoved in their face” when many of these same people are guilty of doing that exact thing just to push their religion.

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Curt Schilling is a prime example of a Christian using his religion to justify poor actions. Schilling

has been embroiled in constant controversy for the last 15 years. Ranging from his 38 Studios debacle in Rhode Island to his comments on the Jan. 6 riots, he has kept media attention on him even after his retirement.

Most recently, he revealed to the world that his former teammate Tim Wakefield and his wife Stacy Wakefield were both fighting cancer. He admitted that he did not believe they wanted this information shared but in his words: “As a Christian and a man of faith, I have seen prayer work, so I’m going to talk about it.” Schilling revealed intimate details about the Wakefields’ health struggles, including the fact that Tim had surgery and that Stacy had pancreatic cancer.

Tim Wakefield died from cancer just three days after

Religion isn’t finite

By Makenzie Hurt

I grew up attending Catholic school and was raised by a Catholic family. Every night we would say the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be and a prayer that we made up that read, “Dear God, please watch over everyone in the whole wide world and please make sure we are safe and sound and happy and healthy. God bless us and guide us, watch over and protect us.”

My mother always encouraged me to love everyone and to not judge anyone. As a result of witnessing Catholics being portrayed negatively or seeing Catholics who did portray negative stereotypes, I disconnected from my religion and neglected to share my background with others for a fear of being judged.

I’ve been in a lot of debates

recently regarding the belief that Catholics are hateful, judgmental people. Yet, out of anything, as I reconnected with my religion in college, Catholicism has taught me how to become a more loving and open-minded person.

The church by my house has a progress flag hanging by its door with a sign saying “all are welcome here,” which was my first reminder that Catholicism is not a finite subject. I am prochoice and a large supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community, and I don’t think these attributes impact my faith or vice versa.

Additionally, I do not look down on others for not agreeing with my religious beliefs. To me, it’s like having a favorite color. I like pink, whereas you might like blue or no colors at all. These things do not impact my daily life at all.

Pew Research has found that

there are around 1.1 billion Catholics worldwide. There are negative people in every group, but I can assure you that not all Catholics are angry, hateful people. In fact, the Bible states in 1 Corinthians 13:4, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.”

The passage continues, “It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

The idea of “loving thy neighbor as thyself” has greatly shaped my outlook on life. I am no better than any individual based on my persona, upbringing, religious beliefs and more. With this mindset, I’ve enhanced my overall happiness.

My religious beliefs are not

my identity, nor do I force them on my peers. I do feel that claiming that all Catholics and Catholic teachings are malicious is an unfair assumption. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve also experienced hypocritical Catholics. Being raised by a single mom with a daughter attending a Catholic school was not easy for her or myself. It’s hard to say whether this was an act of retaliation against my mom, but each year when she would try to sign me up to be a Girl Scout, they would reject her and say they were full, despite allowing other girls to sign up after she inquired.

Schilling publicized his diagnosis, and Stacy Wakefield died five months later on Feb. 28. Two people who did incredible charity work for the Jimmy Fund, a Boston-based child cancer charity, were deprived of peace in their final days because of Schilling’s actions, all in the name of his God.

Some Christians have good intentions when they act, but they consistently justify their poor actions with their religion. The shortsightedness of some of these people prevents them from realizing how their actions impact others. Until Christians stop imposing their religion on others in this way, people will continue to suffer due to their ignorance and hubris.

Ethan Poole is a freshman sports media major.

In my freshman year at Hofstra, I felt directionless. I felt like my only purpose in life was to work. Now, I feel whole. I try to bring love and joy to those around me, and while I know I don’t always succeed in this mission, it does give me a positive, lifelong goal to work towards.

So before assuming that just because someone identifies with a certain religion, they are bound to have certain views, consider the purpose and feeling of love that may come from religion. I don’t agree with all the teachings of the Catholic Church, but I believe that religion is up for interpretation and can truly enhance one’s life.

Makenzie Hurt is a junior English major and journalism minor.

Other moms were also not always welcoming to her, and witnessing that growing up majorly impacted my outlook on Catholicism. But learning about spirituality, love and karma and meeting kind, supportive Catholics at Hofstra is what led me to come back to my faith.

OPINION

The views and opinions expressed in the Opinion section are those of the authors. They are not an endorsement of the views of the Chronicle or its staff. The Chronicle does not discriminate based on the opinions of the authors.

Chron Crossword 4/9

Across

2. Titular character of this animated superhero show.

5. Lead character in “Despicable Me.”

6. The eldest Heffley brother in “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.”

7. Unit of measurement for the mass of gemstones.

9. Kathy Hochul won this election to become governor

11. Comedian who recently had a skit about croutons.

12. This cheese is made from skimmed milk and has a soupy texture.

13. Premiere condiment brand and the inventor of “kranch.”

14. Nickelodeon show featuring Jeanette McCurdy

Down

1. Rodriguez directed this 1995 film that stars Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek.

3. A greenish hue, or becoming green.

4. Celebrities Eddie and Steve share this surname.

5. Hofstra hall for business students.

8. Scooby Doo’s nephew: ______ Doo.

10. The original map in Call of Duty: Warzone.

Graphic by Ethan Albin / The Hofstra Chronicle

The views and opinions expressed in the Opinion section are those of the authors. They are not an endorsement of the views of the Chronicle or its staff. The Chronicle does not discriminate based on the opinions of the authors.

CONTINUED FROM A1

The “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act” is not just trying to ban TikTok, it is attempting to ban any application from ByteDance, at least until they sell the application in question.

The exact language of the bill is “to protect the national security of the United States from the threat posed by foreign adversary controlled applications, such as TikTok and any successor application or service and any other application or service developed or provided by ByteDance Ltd. or an entity under the control of ByteDance Ltd.”

The bill later states that it gives the government the power to ban any application that they deem is controlled by a “foreign adversary.” There is

You should care about the TikTok ban

no black-and-white definition for what a foreign adversary is here. Sure, you could pick out a few examples, but there isn’t a concrete standard of what makes a country adversarial.

So, what is stopping the government from just picking and choosing who gets a pass and who doesn’t? Better yet, if this bill does pass, what stops the government from passing another bill that takes out the requirement of being a “foreign adversary?”

This new bill feels like another attempt for the government to control what we as Americans can view while being disguised as protecting national security, akin to the Patriot Act of 2001. The Patriot Act was passed just 45 days after the events of 9/11, and it heightened national security within the U.S. However, many believe that the law violated the

citizens’ right to privacy.

The concern over the Chinese government demanding user data is real, but let’s not pretend that American data hasn’t been sold to others before by other Americans. Mark Zuckerberg notoriously got in deep trouble for selling user data from Facebook in 2019.

Even so, ByteDance has always been a Chinese

“Even last year, the House tried passing the “RESTRICT Act,” which would give the government the power to ‘identify and mitigate foreign threats to information and communications technology, products and services.’”

corporation, meaning China could hypothetically have always had as much user data as it wanted – but there are no credible reports of Chinese

authorities ever taking that data.

Many state representatives have been defending their choice to back the bill as them just trying to force a sale.

News flash: that will not happen. The app has over a billion monthly users, while 150 million of those users are American. If you were ByteDance, would you sell your multi-billion-dollar product over being threatened by 15% of your user base? I know I wouldn’t.

While ByteDance may not suffer that much damage, many people make their livelihood by creating videos for the app. TikTok pays two to four cents per 1,000 views. While that may not sound like a lot, if you add up all the views received by creators who post daily, that’s some serious money lost through no fault of their own.

Whatever your personal biases towards TikTok are,

banning it is not a good thing.

A ban of the platform will directly limit your First Amendment rights in the interest of “national security.” While there is currently the benefit of the doubt, I don’t believe it is completely out of the question to see the government attempt to weaponize this law against other apps if it were to pass.

The precedent this law will set is an awful one, and the First Amendment must stay protected.

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

The dangers of glorifying suicide as protest

By Ryan Monke

On Feb. 25, Aaron Bushnell died after setting himself on fire outside of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. As reported by NPR, Bushnell live-streamed his self-immolation on the social media platform Twitch. Before lighting himself on fire, the 25-year-old told his audience that he would “no longer be complicit in genocide.” While engulfed in flames, his cries of “free Palestine!” could be heard through the livestream.

Bushnell is the most recent example of a long history of people using suicide as a form of protest. Suicide by hanging, drowning, hunger strikes and self-immolation have been used to achieve political influence for centuries. The extreme nature of these acts makes them exceptionally effective at garnering attention. However, the recent glorification of suicide as an act of protest is an extremely dangerous precedent to set.

Traditional news outlets and social media wasted no time in reacting to the news of Bushnell’s self-immolation.

The internet quickly became filled with content depicting him as a hero and martyr who laid his life down for a noble cause.

Notable figures such as activist and independent presidential candidate Cornel West made statements in support of Bushnell’s extreme form of protest. “Let us never forget the extraordinary courage and commitment of brother Aaron Bushnell who died for truth and justice!” West said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Online content praising Bushnell’s actions soon translated to in-person events as countless vigils were held across the country honoring what was said to be his “sacrifice.” Local events that could have been focused on humanitarian support and paths to peace turned into the glorification of a suicide

that now has the potential to contribute to more loss of life. Bushnell did not sacrifice himself for his cause. His death will do nothing to combat the violence in the Middle East. The most immediate effect of Bushnell’s self-immolation was diverting media coverage about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. In place of helpful, factual reporting, there has been a wave of social media attention that legitimizes suicide as a form of protest.

On Earth Day in 2022, climate change activist Wynn Bruce performed an act of self-immolation in front of the Colorado Supreme Court as an act of protest regarding the climate crisis. Two years later, the climate crisis is still only growing. Additionally, this was Bruce’s second time attempting self-immolation, the first being in front of the World Trade Center. He was praised for his act but then forgotten.

Bushnell’s suicide comes at a time when matters of mental health and self-harm

are more pressing than ever before. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that suicide rates have been on an incline over the past 20 years in the United States. Taking into account the widely observed phenomenon of contagious suicide, this vulnerability grows increasingly worrisome.

Popularized in the study of terrorism, the “contagion hypothesis” states that media coverage of acts of political violence can serve as motivation for similar movements, leading to an increase in copycat acts of violence. The immense amount of media attention garnered by Bushnell’s self-immolation may be attractive to other individuals who seek to employ similar tactics in their own protests.

Media outlets have a responsibility to denounce self-inflicted acts of violence. Data published by the National Institutes of Health shows direct relationships between

a country’s suicide rates and the portrayal of suicide in that country’s media. The more a country reports on suicides in the media, the higher the suicide rate. Likewise, the more accepting that media coverage is of suicide, the higher the suicide rate.

Bushnell’s self-immolation is nothing short of a tragedy. But while we should mourn the loss of his life, we should also condemn the action that ended it.

The notion that Bushnell sacrificed his life for the betterment of the Palestinian people is foolish and irresponsible. His death has done nothing to bring an end to the conflict in the Middle East; it has only brought more pain to those who knew and loved him. The more we glorify Bushnell’s actions, the more we encourage others to take their own lives in protest.

Ryan Monke is a sophomore mass media studies major and an assistant opinion editor.

SPORTS

Pride sees winning streak halted after Rutgers loss

By Ethan Poole STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra University women’s lacrosse team fell 14-8 to the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights on Wednesday, April 3. The Pride saw their four-game winning streak snapped as their season record fell to 7-5, while the Scarlet Knights ended a fivegame skid and improved to 6-6 on their campaign.

The game was especially important to Hofstra goaltender Luchianna Cardello who matched up against her sister, senior Rutgers goaltender Sophia Cardello. The sisters

are among the most elite goalies in college lacrosse, both ranking inside the top 51 goalies in the country in saves per game. Sophia Cardello had a particularly spectacular performance in net for Rutgers, making 10 saves on 14 shots.

The game was delayed by about an hour due to heavy rain at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey.

When the match began around 8 p.m., Rutgers quickly established complete control of the game, netting four goals before the Pride even recorded a shot on goal and putting another two goals past the net before Hofstra got on the board.

At the end of the first half, Rutgers held a 12-2 lead. The Scarlet Knights were truly dominant in the first half, doubling up the Pride on shots and controlling 10 of the 15 draws.

Cassidy Spilis led the way for Rutgers with five goals, four of them coming in the first half. Spilis passed the half century mark on Tuesday, climbing to

fourth in the country with 51 goals.

Victoria Goldrick and Lily Dixon each assisted on two Spilis goals. Both midfielders added two more helpers for four assists apiece, bringing their season assist totals to 23 and 18, respectively. Goldrick also put the ball in the net twice for her ninth and 10th goals, and Dixon scored her 12th goal of the season to complete a five-point performance.

The second half was significantly better for Hofstra, as they led the shots on goal battle 14-11, burying six of those shots. Despite the solid second half performance, the Pride never managed to truly get back into the game, only getting within six goals of the Scarlet Knights.

Despite the loss, Melissa Sconone continued her redhot performance of the past few games for the Pride, now reaching 30 points in her last six games with a two-goal and oneassist outing against the Scarlet Knights.

Freshman attacker Kristen Redding continued to make an impact in her debut season, putting up two goals to give her 12 on the year.

Luchianna Cardello struggled to keep the ball out of her net in the first half, giving up 12 goals on 13 shots, many of which were point blank. She managed to settle down in the second half, saving nine of the 11 shots

that came her way.

The Pride will return to Coastal Athletic Association play next Friday, April 12, when they will host the Monmouth University Hawks. Face-off is set for 5 p.m. at the James M. Shuart Stadium.

Hofstra has not defeated Rutgers since 2015.

Photo courtesy of Vincent Carchietta / Hofstra Athletics

Second quarter sinks Hofstra vs. No. 19 Towson

By Anthony Hidalgo STAFF WRITER

A nightmare of a second quarter was too much to overcome for the Hofstra University men’s lacrosse team, as they fell 15-11 to the Towson University Tigers on Saturday, April 6.

The Pride ended the game with a 6-0 run but came up short in their comeback attempt against the top team in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).

The Pride is now 4-7 on the season overall with a 1-3 league record. The Tigers improved to 8-3, having won their fourth straight game against CAA opponents.

John Madsen had a teamhigh four goals, reaching 30 goals on the season for his first time at Hofstra. Justin Sykes provided two goals with an assist while Griffin Turner was tied with a game-high six points on two goals and four assists.

Towson’s Chop Gallagher matched Turner’s six points with three goals and three assists, and Mikey Weisshaar led his side with four goals. Joaquin Villagomez and Bode Maurer put in multi-goal efforts as well for the Tigers with three and two goals, respectively.

Hofstra started off going toeto-toe against Towson, scoring three straight goals in the first quarter after falling behind 2-0 earlier in the quarter. Weisshaar’s first afternoon goal tied up the game before Jamison

Gaskins’ third goal of the season gave the Tigers the lead with just 11 seconds left in the frame.

Towson went into the second quarter with momentum and capitalized on it, shutting out the Pride 8-0 as part of a 10-0 run and putting the Pride in a 12-3 hole by halftime.

John Recher was called for a two-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the Pride, which was directly followed by two Towson goals. Villagomez, who assisted on those first two goals, put the metaphorical nail in the coffin with three straight goals to close out the first half.

The Pride could only go up in the second half, outscoring the Tigers 8-3 over the final two quarters, but they were battling on two fronts and fighting against the clock in the final minutes. Madsen brought the score to 15-10 with about eight minutes remaining as Hofstra fought their

way back.

Towson goalkeeper Luke Downs finished with 13 saves on the day, three of them coming down the stretch to cool down the Hofstra offense that was finally gaining some steam.

After the brutal defeat in Maryland, Hofstra will return home to kick off a three-game homestand with a steep uphill battle if they want to make it to

the CAA tournament.

The Pride will host the Drexel University Dragons in their next visit to the turf on Saturday, April 13, from James M. Shuart Stadium, with the initial face-off at 1 p.m.

Hofstra takes down NC A&T for sixth straight win

CONTINUED FROM A1

The Pride was ripping softballs all over the yard, but most of them were at Aggie defenders. In the sixth inning, Hofstra managed to cash in on some hard-to-hit balls. The Pride led 2-0 going into the sixth, and with runners on second and third, Alanna Morse hit a single to score Kayla Wilson and Nicole Cancel. With a 4-0 lead and Morse on second, Chelsea Manto tripled to center field, scoring Morse and giving Hofstra a commanding 5-0 lead. Becca Vaillancourt then grounded out to NC A&T’s Makayla Layton at shortstop, but Manto came

around to score and give the Pride a 6-0 lead.

“Anytime the ball comes off the bat well, and we just miss it, it means that we’re right there,” Clark said. “I didn’t want the approach to change at all; I just wanted them to stick with the process and know that it will eventually fall.”

Julia Apsel recorded her seventh consecutive start in this game and tossed six shutout innings, allowed three hits and one walk while fanning 10 batters for the second start in a row. Apsel struck out 20 NC A&T batters in just about 24 hours.

“[Apsel] has done just an incredible job of making some little adjustments, prioritizing the weight room, getting excited about being strong and having stamina,” Clark said. “I think that the work that she’s done and put in over the offseason and in the weight room is a direct indicator of why she’s able to kind of come out and have back-to-back performances the way that she did.”

Some Hofstra hitters that

have either struggled all season or have struggled over the last few weeks broke out on Sunday afternoon. Gianna Iaquinto, Morse and Wilson all had multi-hit games. Morse went two-for-three at the dish, adding two runs scored and two RBIs.

“[Morse] did phenomenal,” Clark said. “I think the coolest part is when you start to see athletes stay within themselves and stay calm and patient. What stood out to me about [Morse]’s at-bats the most is that she was in her legs and was using her body to hit. Anytime she does that, she has success. She looks so confident, calm and patient up there that it’s really impressive when you start to see those adjustments being made.”

Wilson was a perfect twofor-two in the afternoon, as she added one run scored and one RBI.

Iaquinto went two-for-three and raised her batting average to .107. It was .040 entering the game.

“One of the things Coach

[Kristyn] Sandberg had talked to [Iaquinto] about was being aggressive early at hittable pitches, and I think when [Iaquinto] does that, and she did that today, really good things happen,” Clark said.

The Pride is back in action on Wednesday, April 10, as they head to Brooklyn to take on Long Island University. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

Hofstra’s six-game winning streak is their longest this season.

Photo courtesy of Matteo Bracco / Hofstra Athletics

Photo courtesy of Jon Reiss / Hofstra Athletics

Hofstra is 12-16 all time against Towson.

SPORTS

Santino Rosso is the hero as Pride walks off Delaware

By Aaron Diaz STAFF WRITER

A walk-off single from Santino Rosso in the 11th inning propelled the Hofstra University baseball team over the University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens 5-4 on Saturday, April 6.

“It was a good game,” said Hofstra head coach Frank Catalanotto. “We needed this game badly, and I thought Carlos Martinez pitched a great game. I was proud of those guys scratching those two extra runs in the eighth

inning; I thought those were huge. Obviously a little disappointed we gave up those runs in the ninth. Our team showed resilience and came back.

Santino [Rosso] had a huge hit to win the game, so I’m proud of these guys.”

In the ninth inning, Delaware hit a leadoff double to put Brett Lesher on second, followed by another double down the left field line from Chris Dengler to Delaware within two, 4-2.

Lesher came around to score on a wild pitch and Bryce Greenly shot a single through the left side, tying the game at 4.

“[Mike McKenna] has struggled his last few times out [on the mound],” Catalanotto said. “We’ll have to reassess, see how he’s feeling; if he’s healthy, look back at the games and figure out why he is not being as effective as he’s been.”

With a tie game in extras,

Ryan McLaughlin came in relief to stave off the Blue Hens. McLaughlin finished the day with three strikeouts and one hit in two innings pitched, coming up big for the Pride.

“He was outstanding,” Catalanotto said of his bullpen. “For a freshman, it was impressive for him. Russell Hunter I thought also pitched a couple of really good innings today.”

Now in the 11th, Matt Pelcher started the inning off with a single, putting a runner on the base paths. A wild pitch put runners in scoring position, setting up Rosso at the plate for his heroic walk-off single to keep the series alive.

Although he had the last hit, it was Rosso’s only hit in five at-bats.

“Not [an] ideal start to the day,” said infielder Santino Rosso, who went 0-4 before knocking down his walk-off base hit. “We just tried to stay focused [and] keep our mind on the goal which is win-

ning the game. When I got up in that spot, I knew I had a chance to do it, so any way possible I wanted to get the job done.”

Carlos Martinez started the game for the Pride and continues an impressive stretch on the mound. Martinez allowed four guys on bases and no runs in 5.1 innings pitched.

“He’s been outstanding, pounding the zone; gets a lot of strikeouts and doesn’t walk a lot of hitters,” Catalanotto said. “The thing that I noticed the last few outings is confidence. He seems confident on the mound, whereas last year and the first few starts this year he wasn’t that confident. His stuff is working, his slider is really good, and he’s getting those strikeouts, which are huge.”

All the scoring came late in the game with Hofstra taking a 4-1 lead after the eighth inning, including Harrington’s RBI triple that traveled down

the right-field line.

“I feel like Steve [Harrington] and even [Will] Kennedy are two of our better hitters, and they’re starting to heat up,” Catalanotto said.

“Early in the season, they struggled, and now I feel like they’ve got their feet under them, and they feel good at the plate, they’re confident at the plate. It’s really good to see Steve have some good at-bats and have some success.”

By Aaron Diaz STAFF WRITER

Hofstra drops series finale to Delaware

while picking up five strikeouts en route to the win.

The Hofstra University baseball team dropped the final series game against the University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens 8-1 on Sunday, April 7. Hofstra has yet to win a Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) series this season, currently 3-6 after facing three in-conference schools.

There was no post-game press conference held.

The Blue Hens sent out Dom Velazquez for the start, but relief pitcher Tyler Strechay contributed the most to the Pride’s eventual demise. Strechay shoved for 6.2 innings, allowing only five hits but no runs

The Pride started out hopeful when they put men in scoring position in the second inning.

On a wild pitch, Will Kennedy scored the Pride’s only run of the afternoon. After that, Hofstra left 11 runners on base throughout the game.

Delaware opened their offensive explosion in the third off a bases-loaded, hit-by-pitch scenario, followed by Andrew Amato’s single for a 3-1 lead.

In the fifth, Joey Loynd sent a two-run shot over the left field wall for a 5-1 score.

In the late innings, Delaware continued to pound the ball in the seventh inning, scoring on a sacrifice fly, followed by two singles in the eighth to cap their performance at eight runs.

At that point, Ethan Shaub came in to close the game for the Blue Hens.

Delaware is now 15-14 overall and 5-4 against CAA opponents while Hofstra continues to drop in CAA play.

Two of Hofstra’s players had

multi-hit games: Steve Harrington batted 3-4 from the plate and Penn Sealey slugged two hits in three at-bats.

As for the pitching, starting pitcher Steven Kaenzig’s troubles continued as he received the loss for his efforts this game. He is 0-5 this season and has compiled a 9.79 ERA. Midway through the season, Hofstra’s chance to make a run is fading. The remainder of their schedule is mostly against CAA opponents.

In this upcoming week, Hofstra has a one-game slate against the Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights on Wednesday, April 10, at 3 p.m. Their next CAA series is slated against the Elon University Phoenix on the road. Elon has struggled this season and is currently on a four-game losing streak. The opportunity will be there for the Pride to take their first CAA series of the year.

Hofstra has allowed eight or more runs in three of their last four games.

Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman / Hofstra Athletics

By Conner Keough STAFF WRITER

Hofstra University men’s lacrosse player Sam Lutfi owns the game-winning goal against Monmouth that ended the Pride’s five-game losing streak and improved their Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) record to 1-2 on March 30.

But before Lutfi could cement his place in school history, he had to pick up a stick in the first place.

“When I was younger my dad put a stick in my hand,” Lutfi said. “I had to be only four or five years old.”

Growing up in Massapequa, New York, lacrosse was a huge part of Lutfi’s life. And even when he wasn’t practicing on the field, he was on the ice.

“I played hockey up until I was in middle school. Hockey is a fast-paced environment, and I feel like the skills translate over,” Lutfi said. “I learned teamwork and communication from playing hockey that I use now in lacrosse.”

By the time high school rolled around, Lutfi dropped hockey to focus solely on playing lacrosse. Ever since then, he only had one school he really wanted to play for.

“In high school I got recruited from other schools, but I knew deep down that I wanted to be here [at Hofstra] the whole time,” Lutfi said. “When Coach [Seth] Tierney called, it was absolutely a no-brainer for me to come here.”

Lutfi made an immediate impact as soon as he arrived at Hofstra. He scored a goal and made three assists in his

Sam Lutfi saves his best for last

collegiate debut against Wagner College on Feb. 8, 2020.

“That day was surreal and unbelievable,” Lutfi said. “I grew up watching Hofstra lacrosse my whole life. So being on the field and not in the stands was a big deal.”

Lutfi cites Tierney as being the main reason for taking his game to the next level in college.

“Sam’s always been a guy who’s lived in extremes,” Tierney said. “I know I was like that. He’s had to learn how to mature his game to be a great player at this level.”

Lutfi’s freshman year in 2020 saw him start in two of the Pride’s seven games and earn 10 points. After a 19-9 win at

When the team came back and put together a campaign to the CAA tournament in his sophomore season, Lutfi himself took a step back with just four points in 11 games.

“When everything opened up again, our team mentality was to enjoy the moment,” Lutfi said. “Don’t take these days for granted.”

Part of that gratitude comes from personal experience with injuries, and Lutfi’s career has been rife with them. He’s torn his labrum three

it,” Tierney said.

At the beginning of the season Tierney mentioned his optimism about the team this year due to their

“Sam had to learn that when you get hurt, it’s not the end of the world, even if it feels like it.”

St. John’s University on March 10, the team’s season came to an unexpected stop as the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“It was hard to wrap your mind around,” Lutfi said. “One minute you’re on the bus home from St. John’s, then the next you’re on a Zoom meeting with the whole team. We didn’t know what was going on.”

times in his athletic career, twice in his time at Hofstra, which limited his time on the field to just 10 games between his junior and senior seasons. In short, he has not played a full season since his freshman year, and he is now a graduate student.

It was that same torn labrum that affected Lutfi this season, postponing his debut until Feb. 24 against Marist College, which saw him net two goals in his return to action. But that wasn’t even the full scope of the battle he faced to get there.

“This injury was tougher mentally than physically,” Lutfi said. “Going through it once is tough. Going through it again was even worse. Having my teammates and the medical team here made my recovery journey easier.”

“Sam had to learn that when you get hurt, it’s not the end of the world, even if it feels like

improved health. A big part of that was having Lutfi at 100 percent.

“We had to change the game plan the last two years without him,” Tierney said. “It’s hard to get into a fight without your best fighters.”

There’s no sugarcoating it: this season hasn’t been easy for the Pride. They’ve experienced a five-game losing streak, their longest in Tierney’s 18-yearlong tenure. Lutfi’s return to form has been a glimmer of hope in the meantime for the program.

Now in his fifth year here, he’s scored a career-high 14 goals and three assists within six games.

“Thankfully, he’s been healthy so far, and he’s been contributing two or three points a game,” Tierney said. “We’re certainly happy he’s back playing with us again.”

Lutfi admitted that the season has gotten away from Hofstra at some points. Starting 0-2 in conference play was not the way Tierney envisioned the season going, especially when their comeback effort fell short by one goal to Fairfield University on March 16.

“There’s been a lot of ups and downs. We went on a little drought after a hot four-game start,” Lutfi said. “But the guys have rallied together. I know we are all confident in each other. We trust each other to pull through this as a team.”

And pull through they did in the biggest way on March 30. The Pride played their most complete game of the season and defeated Monmouth in overtime. Lutfi capitalized on a great pass from John Madsen to sneak the ball between the Hawks’ goalie’s legs to win the game for Hofstra.

“I didn’t know it went in until I saw Madsen jump on me,” Lutfi said. “Credit to my teammates for working the ball around on that possession. I just got into the right place and was fortunate enough to be the one to finish.”

As a graduate student, Lutfi’s career at Hofstra has come full circle, starting from sitting in the stands of James M. Shuart Stadium as a prospective student to being a captain on the field. Lutfi is one of the few current team members left from Hofstra’s 2021 conference championship run and is looking to win one more before the clock strikes midnight.

Photo courtesy of Jon Reiss / Hostra Athletics

Lutfi ranks sixth on the team with 17 points thus far this season.

Photo courtesy of Vince Carchietta / Hostra Athletics

Lutfi has scored nearly as many goals this season (14) as he has his previous four seasons combined (15.)

By Nick Mongiovi STAFF WRITER

Records are meant to be broken, and Chelsea Manto has stepped up to the plate. The Hofstra University center fielder broke the program record for all-time stolen bases with 84 on March 8. That number will only continue to grow as the season goes on, and Manto will likely go down as the greatest base-stealer in Hofstra softball history.

Everybody has their own goals, whether it’s getting their dream job or breaking records in their sport. Manto had her eyes on the prize early on.

“The stolen base record has been a goal I’ve been reaching for since I was a freshman,” Manto said. “It feels so great to be able to accomplish that goal. Stealing bases is what my game is about, as well as getting hits.”

Manto now has her eyes set on 200 hits and is just 20 away from reaching that goal. Even though these are personal accolades, Manto works hard for her team and the rest is just a bonus.

“The more times that I can steal a base, it puts me in scoring position, which is a better position for the team,” Manto said.

Hofstra softball head coach Adrienne Clark is equally as proud of her player achieving the accolade.

“While this is an individual record, it’s a direct reflection of this program and everything we do year after year to push the standards and reach new heights,” Clark said.

SPORTS

Chelsea Manto steals a record

Coaches dream of having a batter that slaps for singles and turns that single into a double by stealing second base directly after.

“I could put her anywhere in the lineup,” Clark said. “Someone with speed, the nine or the one spot [in the lineup] is a great spot for them. When you’re in the one spot, it starts the game, and when you’re in the ninth spot, you turn the lineup over. From that standpoint, to have anybody with her caliber of speed, those two spots are the most important spots to put your speed.”

Manto knew she had what it took to accomplish this goal since she arrived at Hofstra. Clark also saw that potential

‘The possibilities are endless,’ and ‘How do we get her there?’ There wasn’t a doubt in my mind [that Manto could break this record]. When you have the athleticism that she possesses organically, it’s now a matter of coaching her up and putting her in positions to be able to steal bases.”

Base stealing isn’t just running to the next base when the rules allow you to – there’s preparation that goes into it.

“Before the game or when the pitcher and catcher are warming up, I always make sure to look at the catcher’s throw to see what type of arm she has,” Manto said. “Then I try to work on my timing with the pitcher’s release point because being off

the moments as a coach where you get to just be proud. I’m proud of her for what she’s done.”

Players that can break records have something in them that others might not.

“Being able to see her accomplish a feat like this for herself is one of the moments as a coach where you just get to be proud. I’m proud of her for what she’s done.”

from the moment she saw her run for the first time in 2022.

“‘Wow, she’s fast’ – that was my initial impression,” Clark said. “She’s going to make the defenses go crazy with how dynamic she is. When you see anyone with elite speed, I think what any coach would think [is],

by a split second makes a huge impact. When I’m on base and I get the steal sign, I focus [on] second base, while also paying attention to the batter in case they make contact with the ball. I always tell myself, ‘I’m going to get there, I’m going to be safe. I’m going to slide in hard and the player is going to miss the tag.’”

“Anytime an athlete can reach accomplishments like this, it speaks volumes to who they are and the work that they put in,” Clark said. “Manto breaking this record is no different than that. Being able to see her accomplish a feat like this for herself is one of

It could be an elite skill or the ultimate drive to improve, but mostly, it’s the effort they put in.

“Outside of her speed itself, her commitment to the weight room, to her physical performance, being able to be as strong and as fast, speaks volumes to the commitment she’s made to better herself physically,” Clark said. “I think that any time you have athletes that train at an elite level, like [Manto], she’s only gotten faster. I think a direct reflection of that is her getting stronger. For her to make the commitment to be as strong as she possibly can is why I think she put herself in the position for this, in addition to her work ethic.”

Manto didn’t just wake up and steal 85 bases; it took countless hours of hard work in the weight room during the offseason, running the bases during practice, improving all facets of her game and mastering her

craft.

“Last year we focused a lot on getting her to swing harder, stand in and hit some deep fly balls,” Clark said. “I’ll never forget the first time she hit a sacrifice fly in a game; it was the coolest thing ever because we had practiced that all week long and then she immediately hit a sac fly a week later. We [as coaches] said, ‘See, you can do that too.’ So I appreciate her coachability, and I think that is how she has continued to improve in all of her skill sets.”

Manto has advice for the proverbial next generation of hitters and base-stealers:

“The best time to push your limits is during practice, when you’re base running in practice, see how far you can go on a base hit. Push your limits because you’ll surprise yourself; I always surprise myself,” she said. “There are so many parts to the game: hitting, defense and base running, which is sometimes overlooked. If you really focus on base running in practice and hitting the base correctly, taking the best angles, taking the best rounds off base, you’ll surprise yourself when you turn a single into a double in a real game.”

Photo courtesy of Chris Henry / Hofstra Athletics Manto has a career .327 batting average.

Photo courtesy of Matteo Bracco / Hostra Athletics Manto has only grounded into one double play in 563 at-bats.

Pride rolls past NC A&T en route to series sweep and sixth straight victory.

Photo courtesy of Jon Reiss / Hofstra Athletics