THE HOFSTRA
HEMPSTEAD, NY VOLUME 87 ISSUE 7
CHRONICLE
TUESDAY December 7, 2021
KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935. Features
NEWS
New COVID-19 variant Hofstra professor competes on “Jeopardy!” on the rise
by Omicron. It is still unknown whether the current COVID-19 vaccinations are effective against Omicron. “I believe without the ability to control the spread of the virus, we’ll continue to see the rise of more, and potentially even more dangerous variants,” said Pavit Suri, a senior biology and philosophy major. “New variants such as the Omicron variant suggest that the pandemic isn’t necessarily over.” On Monday, Nov. 29, President Susan Poser sent an email to the Photo courtesy of Pexels student body following New COVID-19 variant Omicron appears in the Thanksgiving break. the United States. It outlined the risks of Omicron and the recent By Madeline Armstrong increase in COVID-19 cases NEW S E D I TO R internationally. She emphasized that Hofstra remains safe, with With much of the world low rates of COVID-19, but stuvaccinated against COVID-19 dents should continue to follow – 466 million doses have been the current protocols and get a given in the United States booster shot if they are eligible. alone, according to Our World According to the Safe Start Data – protocols and regulations website, there are currently two have begun to diminish. Howstudents on campus, 18 students ever, a new variant of the virus off campus and nine employees labeled as Omicron popped up who have tested positive for in South Africa on Friday, Nov. 26, reminding everyone that the COVID-19. As of now, the current Hofstra COVID-19 safety pandemic is not over. protocols will remain the same. Omicron began emerging “The existing protocols have around the world, spreading been working. Our COVID-19 to 24 countries including the rates are very low,” said Karla United States. The first U.S. Schuster, assistant vice presicase was found in California on dent of University Relations. Wednesday, Dec. 1, in a fully “We are monitoring the situavaccinated individual, accordtion very closely [and] we’re ing to the Centers for Disease prepared to make adjustments Control (CDC). as we need to.” This new variant has an Some students see the increased risk for reinfection, potential for the University to according to the World Health begin to roll back some of the Organization. Essentially, people who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 CONTINUED ON A2 could be easily reinfected
By Anna DeGoede
A SSISTA N T FEATU R ES ED ITO R
A professor whose audience usually consists of a room full of 30 tired college students found herself in front of an entirely new set of attentive listeners this fall: the crew and participants of the Professors Tournament of “Jeopardy!” For Lisa Dresner, an associate professor of writing studies and rhetoric at Hofstra and director of Hofstra’s LGBTQ+ Studies Program, competing on “Jeopardy!” this year is the culmination of decades of audition attempts for the show.
Photo courtesy of Jeopardy Productions, Inc. Hofstra professor Lisa Dresner appeared on the Professors Tournament of “Jeopardy!”
CONTINUED ON A6 A&E
On first album in six years, Adele shows vulnerability on “30”
Photo courtesy of The Ringer Adele’s new album “30” is currently No. 1 on Billboard 200.
By Eleni Kothesakis A RT S & E N T E RTA I N ME N T E D I TO R
After six years since the release of her third album, “25,” Adele has made a triumphant return to music with her new album, “30.” The 12-track album currently sits at No. 1 on
the Billboard 200 and is being hailed by some as Adele’s best work to date. Adele has experienced many highs and lows during these past six years since the release of “25.” In 2018, Adele married her partner of seven years and the father of her son,
Simon Konecki, but after a year together, the couple separated. Adele uses her latest album to reflect on the pain and loneliness she felt following their separation and divorce. With every lyric, Adele is giving a part of herself to her fans, making this her most personal album yet. The opening track, “Strangers by Nature,” is a beautiful and complex song that shows just how much thought Adele put into the order of her songs. This whimsical and mysterious song feels like an overture to a musical with its various music styles and poetic lyricism. “Strangers by Nature” is Adele in the purest form – a performer that drips emotion with every lyric and note.
CONTINUED ON B2
A2 • DECEMBER 7, 2021
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NEWS
THE CHRONICLE
Hofstra reiterates its commitment to public health measures in light of Omicron CONTINUED FROM A1
COVID-19 safety protocols. “I appreciate the strict standards that Hofstra is employing,” said Kelly Barnes, a freshman political science major, “but I believe that the effect on the students is becoming exhausting.” At this time, the University plans to continue with the same protocols next semester: All students must be masked indoors, all students must be vaccinated and random COVID-19 surveillance testing will be conducted three times a week, according to Schuster. “The University wants to say
thank you to the entire campus community because our COVID-19 rates are low and our campus is safe,” Schuster said, “and that’s because ... the entire on-campus community has really stepped up and is complying with all of the protocols.” Overall, many students are satisfied with measures Hofstra has taken, but there have been some requests for the University to provide booster shots to students. “I’d like to see Hofstra offer booster shots on campus,” Barnes said. “I think a lot of students would get them if it was easier.”
According to Rob Stahl, director of Student Health and Counseling Services, they do not plan to offer booster shots to students at this time, but may reevaluate next semester if there is a need. He encourages students to get their booster shot if they are eligible since the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine declines significantly after six months. “Vaccinations work. Wearing a mask works. Washing your hands works. Not being in intensely crowded areas all the time helps. Following the advice of educated medical professionals helps,” Suri said. “I know
we’ve been in this pandemic for a while and I know we want to get back to normal, but we’ve been doing this together, as a community, for almost two years now. So, if we just hang in there, things will get better.” COVID-19 continues to afflict many across the world and the Omicron variant continues to spread throughout the United States. Schuster said it is important for the Hofstra community to “stay vigilant and stay informed” as the world continues to navigate the pandemic.
Senior send-off: So long, and thanks for all the fish! By Marjorie Rogers NE WS E DI TOR
In Douglas Adams’ novel “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” omnidimensional beings built Deep Thought, a supercomputer, to figure out the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything. Deep Thought spent seven and a half million years calculating the answer, which turned out to be 42. At the end of a long wait, these beings were quite disappointed in the seemingly meaningless answer they received. “I think the problem, to be quite honest with you, is that you’ve never actually known what the question is,” Deep Thought said. “Once you do know what the question actually is, you’ll know what the answer means.” Hofstra is a place where quite a lot of answers buzz around, and it’s often difficult to hear its poorly-worded questions over the noise. Fortunately, the Chronicle office is a pretty quiet place. I’ve asked questions during my time with The Chronicle. Amid the pleasant sounds of punny headlines, witty banter
practicing with no masks on, to a professor filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, our section has asked all of the right questions. Our News section has kept this school in check since 1935. Since then, Hofstra has gone from a small extension of New York University Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle with 150 – and yes, even the occasional students to a aerial potato – exchanged on medium-sized university with a layout nights, we’ve also $637.1 million endowment. Far asked a lot of good questions beyond covering events, we inas a section. We’ve asked the vestigate real, impactful stories who, what, when, where, why and serve as an irreplaceable and how about any number voice for thousands of students of events. From Netherlands and faculty. The importance residents finding mice in their of our duties as a section has dorms, to Hofstra sports teams
grown with the University, and we will continue to pass the torch down to future students. As we dive deeper into the digital age and stray further away from print media, we must remember to look up every now and then and tune into the world around us. As the sand in the world’s carbon hourglass slowly trickles out, we must continue to boldly raise our voices, never accepting nonsensical answers. Our role as journalists is to understand and ask. Now, more than ever, we must press on with that mission. To The Hofstra Chronicle, thank you for giving this News section room to think outside the din. To e-board members I’ve served with – both past and present – thank you for sharing your questions with me and inspiring me to ask a lot of my own. And to my News team, thank you for always bringing good ideas and good vibes to the table. I couldn’t have asked for a better group to work with. Never stop questioning. And if you ever want to run anything by me, feel free to call the Restaurant at the End of the Universe. I’ll be there.
THE CHRONICLE
NEWS
DECEMBER 7, 2021 • A3
Hofstra gets the scoop on Ben & Jerry’s McCarthy discussed how a company’s values can attract customers. “The reality is we know that people who understand our values are much more bonded to our business and our brand,” McCarthy said. Ben & Jerry’s made the decision to stop selling their ice cream in parts of Israel, as they Photo courtesy of Rob Olivera believe such action aligns Ben & Jerry’s CEO Matthew McCarthy spoke to Hofstra students virtually on Wednesday, Nov. 17, about the importance of with their core companies fighting for social justice. values, acMany students believe that Matthew Adarichev, a sophocording to the By Megan Naftali social justice has a vital role in more public policy major, has a July 19 statement made by the ASSISTA N T N E W S E D I TO R running a business and apprediffering view from McCarthy company. ciate Ben & Jerry’s for standwhen it comes to the social Over 30 states have antiDecisions made by Ben & ing by their mission since the justice stance. boycott laws that penalize busiJerry’s, an ice cream company creation of the company. “I am extremely skeptical nesses for boycotting Israel. One owned by Unilever, in the name “Recent trends and external about the shareholder model of these is New York, which of social justice have become controversial. On Wednesday, Nov. 17, Hofstra University hosted a virtual event run by the Center for International Financial Services and Markets and the Frank G. Zarb School of Business. At the event, Ben & Jerry’s CEO Matthew McCarthy talked to students about the importance of running a business with personal purpose. “For most of my career, purpose related [issues were] non-issues. What mattered pressure have forced companies of running a business, which has proceeded in divesting over was growing, making money to restructure their practices to states that companies ought $100 million from Unilever in and winning in the marketimplement social and environto be socially responsible and pension funds as a result of the place,” McCarthy said. “Now mental accountability,” said Jyo- support causes, because most of decision, according to the New we have fully entered a time ti Agrawal, a first-year graduate the time, this is not done out of York Post. when businesses that don’t do student earning a master’s in the kindness of the company’s Many proponents of Israeli something in addition to whatcybersecurity. “However, Ben & heart,” Adarichev said. “This policy argue that the Boycott, ever their product or service is Jerry’s role as corporate activis done, and McCarthy even Divestment and Sanctions designed to do, meaning if they ists began over thirty years ago, admitted it during the talk, as a (BDS) movement is a modern don’t do something that addresswhich is extremely commendmarketing strategy to increase instance of antisemitism. Ben & es a real social or climate issue, able, as this was uncommon in customer loyalty, conduct good Jerry’s denies the idea that their they’re probably dead and they corporate culture back in the PR and ‘increase profits,’ as he decision to boycott Israel is an just don’t know it.” late 1980s.” said.”
antisemitic act. According to Sean Greenwood, the public relations director at Ben & Jerry’s, “our co-founders Ben and Jerry said it best in an opinion essay for The New York Times: ‘The company’s stated decision to more fully align its operations with its values is not a rejection of Israel. It is a rejection of Israeli policy, which perpetuates an illegal occupation that is a barrier to peace and violates the basic human rights of the Palestinian people who live under the occupation. As Jewish supporters of the State of Israel, we fundamentally reject the notion that it is antisemitic to question the policies of the State of Israel.’” “There’s a difference between critiquing and being an antisemite. Ben & Jerry’s is definitely going a step beyond critiquing Israel,” said Mindy Perlmutter, the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island. “They are putting Israel in an antisemitic light, a hateful light and it’s not factual.” During the virtual event, all questions were asked through the chat function. Someone
“Recent trends and external pressure have forced companies to restructure their practices to implement social and environmental accountability.”
posed a question regarding Ben & Jerry’s decision to stop selling in Israel; however, the question was left unanswered, as the meeting ended about 15 minutes before the advertised time.
A4 • DECEMBER 7, 2021
NEWS
THE CHRONICLE
THE CHRONICLE
In-person learning takes toll on students
By Elisabeth Ford
SPEC IA L TO T H E C H R O NI CL E
As students and professors worry about the presence of COVID-19 on campus, they neglect to acknowledge another threat plaguing Hofstra University: student burnout. As the fall 2021 semester ends, students are mentally drained from running around campus to fulfill their busy schedules, in contrast to the sedentary past semesters online. While burnout is not new to college students, many feel that the transition back to in-person classes has added new stress to their academic lives. “I haven’t been to my 9:40 a.m. [class] in a couple of weeks because I just can’t wake up. I need to catch up on sleep, I need to keep my social life active,” said Beau Dragone, a sophomore public relations major. Dragone is one of multiple students who has spoken up about struggling to finish classes. Some students have found it draining to go back to in-person learning. “It was [a] much harder adjustment to go back with in-person instruction and going back to traditional study habits and test taking than I thought [it would be],” said Colin Fitzsimons, a sophomore business major. While feeling the effects of burnout, students have found it hard to take care of themselves whilst maintaining a good grade point average. Fitzsimons remembered an instance this semester when he took a traditional written test with a very strict time frame, admitting that the abrupt transition from online tests to in-person tests was stressful. The results of the test reflected how unaccustomed the students were to in-person examinations, as “the majority of the class scored less than 20% on the test,” according to Fitzsimons. Other students emphasized the toll in-person learning is taking on their mental health. “Learning how to balance your mental health between all your classes starting back up
again and having a social life is just a lot to handle,” said Alice McKay, a sophomore in the BFA directing program. As a student in the drama department, McKay has found it difficult to balance work, department activities and late-night rehearsals every day. “It’s just a lot to take on all at once.” While the student body is stressing over the inevitable week of finals, professors are now noticing the changes in their students. Ashlie Klepper, an adjunct professor of writing studies and rhetoric, said that she got much more enthusiasm from her classes when she asked how they were doing in the beginning of the semester. “Now when I ask, there are a lot more shrugs and a lot less for them to share,” Klepper said. “It’s a clear sign that the burnout has arrived.” Although students and professors are finding the transition hard, it seems they all can agree that there are benefits to being back in person again. “I am feeling far less burnout now that I am back to in-person teaching,” Klepper said. “In a way I’m like a stand-up comic, I work off the energy in the room.” Dragone finds that there are mental and physical benefits from having to go to class in person. “I see sunshine and take walks instead of sitting at my desk,” Dragone said. While Dragone feels his walks to class help him decompress, he still thinks there are ways Hofstra can combat their students’ burnout. “A break once in a while to not have to worry about class for one day is something that helped a lot last semester,” Dragone said, reflecting on last year’s mental health days. McKay described a time where her professor had stopped a lecture to question the students about being so tired. “I think that it just takes understanding from the students and the faculty that everyone is really struggling right now,” McKay said.
DECEMBER 7, 2021 • A5
NEWS
Public Safety Briefs
Compiled by Megan Naftali & Julian Rocha On Nov. 20 at 11:40 a.m., the fire alarm in Shuart Stadium was activated due to cooking steam. PS and Plant personnel responded to the scene and a search of the building was conducted with negative results. On Nov. 21 at 12:21 a.m., the Enterprise Hall RSR reported that a student swiped two non-students into the building. The two non-student guests were escorted to the Hofstra Information Center and banned from campus. The student was issued a referral to CS. On Nov. 23 at 5:30 a.m., PS discovered yellow spray paint graffiti in the West Unispan elevator on the south side. The plant department was notified for cleanup.
sdfjs;dlfjk;sldkfj;aldfjk On Nov. 23 at 6:17 p.m., a faculty member reported that the chair from their office was missing. A search of the building yielded negative results. On Nov. 29 at 8:24 p.m., a banned former student
was found sleeping in the Student Center. The former student was transported to the counseling center and then transported to NUMC in a Northwell Health ambulance. On Nov. 30 at 5:11 p.m., a fire alarm sounded in the Hofstra Arena due to steam from the shower in the basketball locker room. The building was evacuated within three minutes without incident. PS, the plant department and the Uniondale Fire Department responded. A search of the building proved negative results. The situation was corrected and the fire alarm was reset. On Dec. 1 (NTG), a student reported to PS that while studying in a room in the library, an unknown man knocked on the door requesting to use the room. The male appeared to be intoxicated and inquired about getting a key for the room. The man left the location. PS conducted a search of the building with negative results. On Dec. 1 at 3:27 a.m.,
a fire alarm was activated in Constitution Hall due to an air mist machine in one of the rooms. The building was evacuated within three minutes without incident. PS, the plant department and the Uniondale Fire Department responded. The situation was corrected and the fire alarm was reset. On Dec. 2 at 4 p.m., PS responded to the Utrecht House in the Netherlands due to a call stating that there was an odor of marijuana emanating from a room. Upon entering the room, PS observed a pipe by the window in plain sight. The occupants of the room were issued referrals to CS. On Dec. 2 at 5:11 p.m., a fire alarm in the Student Center was activated due to burnt food at the sushi kiosk. The building was evacuated within eight minutes without incident. PS, the plant department and the Uniondale Fire Department responded. The situation was corrected and the fire alarm was reset.
Key PS - Public Safety CS - Community Standards NUMC - Nassau University Medical Center NTG - No Time Given Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle
A6 • DECEMBER 7, 2021
FEATURES
THE CHRONICLE
Hofstra professor on “Jeopardy!” for 500: Who is Lisa Dresner? CONTINUED FROM A1 “I started trying out in the late ‘90s. At that point, people had to try out for ‘Jeopardy!’ in person,” Dresner said. “As far as I know, there were no internet tests to even start the process at all. There was one point where I was in southern California and I went to the studios to take the test in-person and I didn’t do very well.” In the 2000s, Dresner took another test, online this time, before attending an in-person audition in New York. Unfortunately, she said that the audition “didn’t go very well.” Dresner’s next attempt in the 2010s went more successfully. Despite making it through another online test and having a successful audition in Rhode Island, Dresner still did not appear on the show. “Even if you’re successful, it doesn’t mean that you’ll necessarily get chosen to be on ‘Jeopardy!’ during that cycle,” Dresner said. “What they used to say is that ‘If you don’t hear from us in a year and a half, try out again.’” During the pandemic, “Jeopardy!” transitioned from holding set rounds of online testing to a take-at-any-time test. After taking the test, Dresner went through Zoom auditions before finding out later that she was going to be on the show. “I got a text and then set up a phone call in September, in late September, and it was amazing,” Dresner said. “It was a dream come true.” Even though Dresner worked for years to get the chance to appear on “Jeopardy!” she wrestled with the choice to attend the show or not. “I wasn’t even sure I was going to say yes because I was nervous about going there
and doing this during the pandemic, but they absolutely took it seriously,” Dresner said. “And I’m really glad that I went.” Despite strict COVID-19 regulations, testing and social distancing, Dresner was still able to connect with her fellow contestants. “We talked a lot and there was a lot of joking around, and a lot of people being really support-
would do the wave. And we all did the wave when the person got called.” To prepare for the show itself, Dresner has done her best to maintain an understanding of a wide range of different topics. “I have been studying for decades for ‘Jeopardy!’” she said. “For years I’ve been trying to keep up with sports news, for example, which is not one of my deep in-
people might not think about: buzzing in. “When you buzz in on ‘Jeopardy!,’ you have to buzz in with the timing that’s right,” Dresner said. “If you buzz in before the question is over, it actually locks you out for a little while. That’s what I knew I needed to practice. I was at home with my ballpoint pen watching episodes of ‘Jeopardy!’ and trying to time
Photo courtesy of Jeopardy Productions, Inc. Dresner on “Jeopardy!”
ive to other people,” she said. “At one point they were calling people to go play their rounds and someone said, ‘I hope when they call me that somebody
terests ... And I do try to keep up with cultural things in areas that maybe I’m not the strongest in.” One of the elements she focused on was one that most
when I rang in to right when the question ended.” Although Dresner could not discuss the details of the actual competition, she said that
some aspects of the “Jeopardy!” process surprised her. “It was very exciting to see the actual ‘Jeopardy!’ set up that you see on TV,” she said. “And we actually got a bonus set because our green room was the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ set.” Dresner said one of the appeals of “Jeopardy!” was what Alex Trebek, the original host of “Jeopardy!,” brought to the show. After Trebek’s death, his influence still lingers on set. “The person who did my hair said she had done Alex’s hair for 38 years,” Dresner said. “I feel like the spirit of Trebek is still with the production. They really are trying to make it worthy of him. They’re doing it in his honor.” Even without Trebek, the show still creates a memorable, warm atmosphere. “People talk about the ‘Jeopardy!’ family and how, once you’re a part of ‘Jeopardy!’ you’re always a part of the ‘Jeopardy!’ family,” Dresner said. “I can see how people feel that way. That is kind of the vibe of the production, that they’re a big, kind family of people.” While joining the “Jeopardy!” family took her longer than she might have wanted it to, ultimately, Dresner’s experience with “Jeopardy!” reminds her of the value of persistence. “Just because you don’t have your dream come true right away, that doesn’t mean your dream will never come true. It just means it might take a lot of tries,” she said. Dresner appears on Wednesday, Dec. 8, in the third of five quarterfinal rounds in the Professors Tournament of “Jeopardy!” The entire tournament runs from Monday, Dec. 6, to Friday, Dec. 17, on KABC-TV ABC at 7 p.m.
“Just because you don’t have your dream come true right away, that doesn’t mean your dream will never come true. It just means it might take a lot of tries.”
THE CHRONICLE
FEATURES
DECEMBER 7, 2021 • A7
LEAF branches out with sustainability initiatives By Dickinson-Frevola ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR
To younger generations, “There is no planet B” is a phrase as common as saying good morning to a neighbor, and the fear of a dying planet is as familiar as pre-exam nerves. We live in a time where students will go straight from class to protests, carrying signs with their backpacks as they beg for those in power to care about their futures. With each new generation entering a world edging toward the brink of climate catastrophe, a general consensus among young people is asking “Why hasn’t more been done already? And why are we the ones on the front lines, begging for change?” Hofstra Leaders for Environmental Action and Fellowship (LEAF) is a relatively young club on Hofstra’s campus. The club as it currently exists was developed by its executive board during quarantine, after Hofstra seniors Annalisa Peña, a public relations major, and Page Swinerton, a public policy and public service and global studies major, met to talk about their desire for a club focused on sustainability to have a larger presence on campus. The desire to do something, says Swinerton, the president of LEAF, came on the heels of the 2019 United Nations announcement that humanity only had 11 years to reverse the impacts of climate change before the damage was irreversible. “I just felt my stomach drop,” she said. “I knew it was bad, but I didn’t know it was that bad. My heart dropped, and I knew that I couldn’t just not do anything.” At the most recent United Nations climate summit, world leaders stated that they hope to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2100 in order to mitigate catastrophic environmental decay. Increased warming will lead to loss of biodiversity,
increasingly frequent storms and mass flooding in densely populated areas, according to reports from NPR. One report indicates that without large-scale change, the planet is currently on track to warm by 3.6 degrees by the end of the century. “One thing the paleoclimatology course [I teach] has taught
where members learn to grow and cultivate their own plants. According to Swinerton, “LEAF exists so students have a space to do something and try to make a difference, and to congregate with students who feel the same.” “I’ve found a club I really click with because there’s so
neutrality proposal and petition, which aims to encourage Hofstra to recognize the role it plays in contributing to climate change. Similar to the Paris Agreement, the proposal aims to get Hofstra to cut its carbon footprint over time. The full proposal outlining these plans will be available to the public in spring 2022, with
Photo courtesy of Annalisa Peña LEAF at the climate march.
me is that the Earth will be here; it will evolve and adapt. It’s just a question of how much human suffering are we going to let happen in the meantime,” said
many people I know that don’t care as much about sustainability to get angry about it with me,” said sophomore public relations major and sustainability studies
plans for LEAF to send a petition to the student body during the fall 2021 semester. “There’s the day-to-day changes that are definitely important,
LEAF concerns recycling and waste management on campus, with more research needing to be done, according to Swinerton. The third initiative is the revival of the on-campus student garden next to Stuyvesant Hall, which aims to collaborate with other organizations, like Hofstra’s Culinary Club, to encourage students to learn how to grow their own food. The greenhouse, according to LEAF representatives, will also help to teach students about the importance of cultivating natural biodiversity. In tandem with these initiatives, LEAF meets regularly to discuss green strategies and attend local protests and marches. Recently, LEAF participated in the first global Youth Climate Strike since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The event, organized by Fridays for Future, took place in New York City and allowed students to march from City Hall to Battery Park to “demand intersectional climate justice” and highlight those most affected by climate change, according to event organizers. “At the end of the day, we’re just students while we’re doing all of this work,” Brin said. “We’re trying to be the voice for the student body to put sustainability to a higher standard. If we were to successfully pull this off, it would be an amazing precedent. That’s my goal anyway – to set goals and be the reference for other schools to adopt sustainable practices.” “Being loud and speaking up for what you believe in and for others is the only way we will make change,” Swinerton said. When asked how she copes with the stress of the climate crisis, Swinerton acknowledges that “it’s very easy to feel hopeless.” But, she adds, “we have so much more power than we think.”
“It’s really nice to have people my age who are just as angry but also just as driven to do something. It’s healing.” Emma Farmer, a professor in the Geology, Environment and Sustainability department at Hofstra. Driven by these concerns, LEAF members meet to strategize activism, in addition to hosting conversations about how to adopt sustainable change in day-to-day life and workshops
minor Lily Brin. “It’s really nice to have people my age who are just as angry but also just as driven to do something. It’s healing.” Moving forward, LEAF has three initiatives to promote sustainability on campus, led by three committees. First and foremost is the Hofstra carbon net
but in terms of climate change, I think the biggest impact we could make would be with our investments,” Farmer said when asked about how students can push for change on their campuses. “A lot of schools are divesting from fossil fuels.” The second initiative from
FEATURES
A8 • DECEMBER 7, 2021
MAN ON THE UNISPAN
What’s the worst gift you’ve ever received? By Audra Nemirow and Julian Rocha
THE CHRONICLE
Overheard
at
hofstra “Who the fuck is playing music? Oh. It’s a radio station.”
FEATURES EDITOR AND ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR
“I still like oral sex. But what do I know, I’m not a comm major.”
“Somebody please slap me.”
“A pair of wool socks that I’ve never worn before.” -Colley Bell, sophomore
“I used to be addicted to the hokey pokey, but then I turned my life around.”
“This woman who, like, I’m dating now, I guess.”
“A person got me shoes that weren’t the right size.”
“Whitewashing history except it’s done by people in New Jersey. Jerseywashing.”
-Kenrick Dessin, junior
“Only I could possibly receive a platonic hickey.”
“Who wears pink on a Thursday? That’s for Wednesday.”
“I think the oat milk landscape is broadening.”
“A pair of socks.” -Hayley Judice, freshman
“That was probably the rudest thing anyone’s ever said to me ... today.” Julian Rocha / The Hofstra Chronicle
Spread by Audra Nemirow
THE CHRONICLE
DECEMBER 7, 2021 • A9
FEATURES
Senior send-off: Anyway, don’t be a stranger
By Micaela Erickson EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
I wouldn’t have believed for even a minute that I would close my time at Hofstra running The Chronicle. At the beginning of quarantine, my mom asked me if I was going to get more involved in the paper. It was the second semester of my sophomore year, and I was pretty convinced I’d missed the opportunity to snag an assistant position or climb any sort of rank beyond being a staff writer. Come May of that semester, I had joined the editorial board as an assistant in the Features section. The last year and a half has been a whirlwind, but my time at Hofstra has truly been better thanks to The Chronicle. I didn’t start my time at Hofstra in the school of communication. I found my way to the Herbert School following a semester-long stint as a drama major. Theater was an important part of my life for 10 years, but
By Jacob Lewis
I realized somewhat quickly that it was time for that chapter to close. My first experience with journalism was during my senior year of high school, where I was a student theater critic for The Cappies. I hated it. It probably was due to the fact that I was driving across my home county to review mediocre high school theatre productions, but it was not my thing. A year later, I was writing almost exclusively for The Chronicle’s Arts & Entertainment section. Turns out it’s a lot easier to write about things when you actually enjoy them. I was extremely intimidated by the paper prior to joining it. It seemed like the most legit thing you could be involved in, and I had no clue who to talk to or where to start. I’m so glad I did find those “right people” to reach out to. From writing for A&E
catastrophes and other general nonsense have been far more enjoyable thanks to your humor and support. I will miss the constant of coming into the office and knowing I will see one or both of you (BTW we still need to get hot pot or something). To Drashti, for humoring my millions of questions and being endlessly kind. A huge thank you to the professors and other organizations on campus that made my time here so much more positive and fulfilling. Thank you to Professor Brian McFadden for all your support as faculty advisor to The Chronicle, Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle the layout night snacks and the class I always I want to take some time and look forward to attending. I’m bummed I didn’t find my way to thank Jess and Vis for being the best team these last ~six months. media studies sooner. Thank you to Professor Carol Fletcher and Late nights in the office, budget to Opinion, News and Features, I’ve loved my time with The Chronicle and the people I’ve met along the way.
Dr. Andrea Libresco for being wonderful teachers and for the support over these last couple years. Thank you to the past and present members of Zeta Phi Eta and everyone at the Center for Civic Engagement. You have all made my time at Hofstra worthwhile. Coming into my time as Editor-in-Chief, I was terrified. Having next to no experience with the layout nights of pre-pandemic times, I was convinced I was going to screw up. After the first issue, I realized I was overthinking everything (as I usually do). The process for exporting and uploading was not as daunting as it seemed on paper. Seeing the creation of the paper all the way through is so rewarding, even if it means getting home at 4 a.m. on a Tuesday. I wouldn’t trade this past semester for anything. I know this paper is only going to continue to grow and thrive, and I am so excited to see what you all do next.
Chron Cooks ft. Jacob Lewis: Latkes
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Ingredients:
Instructions:
1/4 cup milk
1. Pour all ingredients into blender.
2 eggs 3 cups raw potatoes, diced 1 small onion, quartered 3 tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking powder Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle
Passed down from generation to generation, every Jewish family has their own variation on the latke recipe. During Hanukkah, the traditional potato pancake is a reminder of the miracle of the oil in the Temple burning for eight nights, and it pairs well with applesauce. Some are crispier, some are fluffier, but all are delicious.
2. Cover and run through until all potatoes have gone through blades. Be careful not to over blend. 3. Slowly pour batter in small quantities onto a hot, greased frying pan or griddle. 4. Fry until one side is golden brown, and then flip until other side is the same color. 5. Serve hot. Applesauce may be added to taste. 6. Enjoy!
Happy Hof-Days!
Hofstra University celebrated the start of the holiday season with the annual lighting ceremony and window painting during the first week of December. Throughout the week, various student organizations competed for the best holiday-themed window. Alpha Kappa Psi took home first place with its Chinese New Year painting. Zeta Phi Eta and Student Government Association garnered second and third place, respectively. The week culminated in the lighting of Hofstra Hall.
Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle
Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle
Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle
Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle
Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle
Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle
Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle
Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle
Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle Spread by Alexis Friedman
Arts and Entertainment
VOL. 87 ISSUE 7
Adele cries her heart out in latest album, “30” B2 Courtesy of USA Today
B2 • DECEMBER 7, 2021
A&E
THE CHRONICLE
Adele’s vocals soar on latest album, “30”
CONTINUED FROM A1
Her second song on the album is her single, “Easy on Me.” Compared to the rest of the album, “Easy on Me” is the most similar to the songs on her previous albums. It serves as bait to lure people into the album with the classic Adele sound, before really showing them her range and musical prowess. “My Little Love,” the third song on “30,” is about Adele explaining her separation with Konecki to her son, making this her most personal song on the album. Adele has always been honest and emotional in her music, but “My Little Love” is a whole new level of raw for Adele. Laced throughout the song are snippets of conversations between Adele and her son where she tells him “I love your dad because he gave you to me.” While “My Little Love” is one of the sadder songs on the album, Adele makes a sudden jump to a more upbeat tempo with “Cry Your Heart Out.” The song is an unexpected, jazzy turn for the album, showing more of Adele’s range in musical style. While it
is stylistically different than the ally a song about self-doubt and first three songs on the album, learning to live with yourself. the common theme of feeling She sings “So I hope I learn to overwhelmed is present. get over myself / Stop trying to Adele transitions into another be somebody else / So we can upbeat song, “Oh My God,” love each other for free.” The where she moves on a bit from six-minute soft ballad was origiher heartbreak and goes into the nally intended to be 15 minutes feeling of long, and finding many fans unexare hopeful pected that Adele romance will follow following in Taylor this chalSwift’s lenging footsteps time. This and release is best the extendcharactered cut. ized in “All Photo courtesy of CNN her lyrics, Night Adele announced that she will begin a Las Vegas “Wish that residency at the Colosseum of Caesars Palace Parking,” I would let Hotel starting in 2022. “Woman you break Like Me” my walls / But I’m still spinning and “Hold On” follow “I Drink out of control from the fall.” Her Wine.” While these songs are following song, “Can I Get It,” is beautifully sung and composed, similar lyrically to “Oh My God” the real powerhouse track on in that sense. the album is the second to last One of the most anticipated song, “To Be Loved.” With songs of the album, “I Drink just a simple piano backtrack, Wine,” is a standout. What many the ballad perfectly highlights assumed would be a fun, upbeat Adele’s talents, cementing her as song about drinking wine is actu- one of the strongest vocalists in
the industry. She closes off her album with “Love Is a Game.” Starting with “Strangers by Nature” and going on this journey with Adele throughout her album, “Love Is a Game” feels like the end of a movie when the screen fades to black and the main character walks into the sunset. It perfectly wraps up this story of heartbreak and healing that Adele has woven into every song on the album. Adele’s “30” is arguably the best album she has ever created, and it’s easy to tell early into the album that she is no longer the same woman she was when she released “25.” Beyond the changes in her personal life, Adele is experimenting with her music and creating a unique sound that no other artist has. Through “30” she has crafted a narrative based on her divorce that reads like a story across every song. Anyone listening can hear the raw emotion that was poured into this album. Adele’s new sound is exactly what fans have been waiting for, and it will be exciting to see how her music grows along with her in this new phase of her life.
The Beatles’ “Get Back” documentary hits Disney+ By Chloe Tomasso STAFF WRITER
Peter Jackson’s three-part documentary of The Beatles’ footage of their “Get Back” sessions aired on Disney+ Thanksgiving weekend. After Jackson came across 60 hours of footage from the filming of the 1970 feature film “Let it Be,” he decided to restore and condense it down to a nine-hour miniseries. The project, which Jackson describes as a “documentary about a documentary,” took him around four years to complete with the help of surviving Beatles, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Richard “Ringo Starr” Starkey as well as the widows of the deceased: John Lennon’s wife, Yoko Ono and George Harrison’s wife, Olivia Harrison. Though the documentary was set to air in 2020, it was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 1970 film, “Let it Be,” showed the group working on their upcoming album with the working title, “Get Back.” The film depicted many tensions between the mem-
who wanted to censor several bers of the group which Jackson moments from the documentary. discovered to be heavily manipuJackson told Radio Times, “The lated when the footage was made Beatles are Scouse boys, and they available to his team. Jackson’s freely swear but not in an aggresversion, which was picked up by Disney+, portrays footage of the 21 sive or sexual way. We got Disney days of studio sessions leading up to agree to have swearing, which I to their think is album, the first the “Let time it Be” for a film and Disney final live chanperfornel.” The mance as streama foursome. ing Most platmateform Photo courtesy of The Independent decided rial used The documentary got a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. to alin the “Let it low the Be” film was not recycled for “Get profanity with a content warning at Back.” Instead, the footage shows the beginning of each part. lighthearted and intimate moments Each episode, which is about of the musicians and those close three hours in length, is filled to them. Every moment of the film with jam sessions of the developis raw and unfiltered, much to the ment of the band’s famous songs original disapproval of Disney+ including the title of the film, “Get
Back,” “Let It Be” and “Don’t Let Me Down.” Audiences see the dynamic between the four members with each other, as well as with the others on set with them. A charming moment in the third part shows Paul and Linda McCartney’s daughter, Heather, dancing around Apple Corps studio while the band plays. The silly interactions between her and Paul McCartney stand out as one of the more joyous parts of the documentary compared to emotional moments shown toward the end of the first part and the beginning of the second. “The Beatles: Get Back” is a wonderful depiction of the famous band toward the end of their run. Fans of the group will appreciate Jackson’s authentic and lengthy footage and those who are not as familiar with Beatlemania will find themselves wanting more. After over 50 years, this is just the thing to popularize the fab four among all generations once again thanks to Jackson’s phenomenal and tireless work.
Quick Hits
Courtesy of The Times of Israel
Broadway composer and lyricist, Stephen Sondheim, passed away on Friday, Nov. 26, at the age of 91.
Courtesy of Glamsham
The first trailer for “SpiderMan: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One),” the sequel to “Into the Spiderverse,” was released on Saturday, Dec. 4.
Courtesy of Biography
Popular teen singer Olivia Rodrigo released the full list of dates for her concert tour, “Sour,” on Monday, Dec. 6.
Courtesy of The New York Times
Marvel announced that there will be a sequel to “ShangChi,” directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.
Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly
Tom Holland confirmed he will be playing Fred Astaire in an upcoming biopic.
THE CHRONICLE
A&E
DECEMBER 7, 2021 • B3
“King Richard” serves up a true tennis tale coaches to take on his daughters while explaining the 85-page plan he made for their future careers. The struggles of finding the opportunities that the incredible talents of the two girls deserve in a predominantly white and rich sport are overcome only by Richard Williams’ borderline obsessive persistence, and Smith is brilliant in portraying Photo courtesy of MARCA that. “King Richard” received a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Though Smith released on HBO Max and has is absolutely sucBy Ilana Rockwell been receiving glowing reviews cessful in pulling off the titular STAFF WRITER and plenty of Oscar buzz. character, the performances “King Richard,” a story folThe movie plays an interestby Saniyya Sidney as Venus lowing the lives of tennis legends ing role by spinning the narraWilliams, Demi Singleton as Venus and Serena Williams, was tive to be told from their father Serena Williams and Aunjanue released on Friday, Nov. 19. Richard Williams’ eyes. In fact, Ellis as their mom Brandi Though only earning $5.7 million the film opens with Richard Williams, are equally as phein its opening weekend from the Williams (Will Smith) attemptnomenal and can neither be box office, the movie was also ing to convince several tennis overlooked nor overstated. The
simultaneous ambition and hysterical fun within their families demonstrates the duality of their positions as both children and professionals, as well as the difficulty of maintaining that balance. There is a plethora of films in the last decade or two that get their inspiration from real events or are marketed as being based on true stories. After a while, this genre can seem tired and beaten down, but “King Richard” seems to inject a life into this particular story that justifies its creation and then some. In fact, it seems almost unbelievable that this story had yet to be told before. Both Venus and Serena Williams are still playing tennis professionally today and are internationally known as being some of the best tennis players in history, not to mention the amount of world records they’ve broken, both individually and as a team. Their incredible skill and dedication is undeniable, but even the players themselves attribute their success to Richard Williams as a coach, as a man-
ager and most importantly as a father. The film’s climax is a match between 14-year-old Venus Williams and the No. 1 player in the world at the time, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, at the 1994 Bank of the West Classic. The tension within these 20 minutes is palpable and it eventually leads to Venus Williams’ loss. Though this may seem an odd way to end the story on paper, it symbolizes something much greater than a failure. Venus Williams’ very presence at her first professional match and her ability to play against such an esteemed player shows the end of her father’s story and the beginning of hers. His goal from the very beginning of the aforementioned opening scene was to get his daughters through the metaphorical door, and the cheers that follow Venus Williams’ exit from the match reflect her success even through her loss.
Grammy nominations recognize 2021’s pop superstars By Aidan Judge STAFF WRITER
The Recording Academy revealed its nominations for the 64th Grammy awards on Tuesday, Nov. 23, highlighting the year’s most popular artists. The ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, will commemorate music from the past year. Unlike past years, the “Big Four” categories (which includes Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist) will expand from eight to 10 nominees, with the Recording Academy stating there were “many artists” who showed excellence in music this year and they felt the need to expand the categories. R&B artist Jon Batiste earned the most nominations this year, scoring nods in 11 different categories including Best New Age Album, Record of the Year and Best Music Video. Second place was tied between pop superstars
Justin Bieber, H.E.R and Doja Cat, with each receiving eight nominations. Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo trailed not too far behind with seven nominations each. Predictions have already begun rolling out for the 2022 ceremony, with many focusing on the highly coveted Record of the Year and Song of the Year awards, as well as the award for Album of the Year. Record of the Year is a particularly competitive environment for the 2022 awards, with Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles such as “drivers license,” “Leave the Door Open,” “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” and “Peaches” going head-to-head. Shockingly, legendary Swedish pop group ABBA received their first-ever Grammy nomination in this year’s Record of the Year category, for their single “I Still Have Faith in You” off their first album in four decades, “Voyage.” Song of the Year looks to be similar to this year’s Record of the
expanded major categories, it Year category, with hits like Ed work to be recognized and awarded seems like the Recording Academy at the ceremony. Whatever hapSheeran’s “Bad Habits” and Doja is ready to see major artists comCat’s “Kiss Me More” looking to pens, the ceremony is sure to excite snag the title. Album of the Year’s viewers. pete for these coveted titles, and 10 nominees also prove to be parmany artists seem to already be on ticularly competitive, with monster their game, campaigning for their projects like Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever,” Olivia Rodrigo’s “Sour,” Lil Nas X’s “MONTERO” and Taylor Swift’s “evermore” all in the running to earn the Grammys’ most coveted title. Other categories outside of the “Big Four” include Best Pop Vocal Album, whose nominations include Ariana Grande’s “positions,” Best Pop Duo/Group Performance including BTS’s “Butter” and Best Pop Solo Performance including Justin Bieber’s “Anyone.” The 2022 Grammy Photo courtesy of Essence Awards have certainly set Doja Cat’s 2021 release “Planet Her” has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. the stakes high. With newly
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Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss took nothing like seeing it performed Avril Lavigne, Adele and Alicia this history that has painted these Keys, when writing the music sung in person and laughing along with women in a bad light and changed the audience at Boleyn’s spitfire by each queen. the narrative to show how these attitude. From heart-wrenching to hilariwomen were used as pawns by the Jane Seymour’s emotional ous, each solo left the audience in King. They are so much more than “Heart of Stone” and Katherine awe. A particular standout was just some Howard’s of Henry’s heartbreakwives. ing “All You The musiWanna Do” are other excepcal numbers, including tional songs “Ex-Wives,” that, while “No Way” and great on their “Get Down,” own, are amare all incredplified through the wonderful ibly catchy performances and genuby Abby Muelinely fantastic outside of the ler as Seymour context of the and Samantha musical. If not Pauly as HowPhoto courtesy of Broadway Shows for their lyrics “Six” debuted in Cambridge & Edinburgh, U.K., in July 2017 and began preard. The final views in the U.S. on Feb. 13, 2020. about life performance in the 16th of the show, century, the pop ballads sung by which has come to be known as the Anne Boleyn’s “Don’t Lose Ur the group could easily be compared Head,” which gained popularity on Mega Six, was an electrifying cap to the songs that are topping the to an already excellent production. TikTok a few months back. While charts today. Marlow and Moss Because the show has a concert the snippet seen in the short-form have taken inspiration from modsetting, the stage is bare with just videos was enough to get people the band occupying the space. hooked on the show, there truly is ern musicians, including Beyonce,
Rather than a flashy set with unnecessary props, the real draw to the stage is the costumes worn by the queens. The six queens are adorned in sequins and rhinestones, making their costumes, by far, some of the most elaborate and eye-catching on Broadway today. Despite their modern elements, their structure – including puffy sleeves and corsets – still brought a historical 16th century context to their attire. From the moment the lights go down in the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, there is a palpable electricity in the air. It’s similar to the anticipation people feel when waiting for a musician to start their concert. It’s hard not to grin as these charismatic queens take the stage and spend 80 minutes roasting their exhusband. While “Six” doesn’t have an intermission, the show easily keeps people’s attention from start to finish. With the electric music, beautiful costume design and the heart that has been poured into it, “Six” has proven to be a one-of-akind musical production.
B4 • DECEMBER 7, 2021
Wives of Henry VIII tell their story in Broadway’s “Six”
By Eleni Kothesakis
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
The six wives of England’s King Henry VIII have made their royal arrival to Broadway. The latest hit sensation, “Six,” follows the lives of Henry’s six wives as they battle it out to see who had the worst marriage and ultimately lived the worst life. The Broadway production is unique in that it resembles a concert. Following their opening number, aptly titled “Six,” the queens introduce themselves as if the audience is attending a show on their tour. They quickly begin to bicker and argue about who’s had it worse. Each queen decides to perform a solo to sum up the challenges they faced while being one of Henry’s wives, and whoever is deemed to have had it worse based on this solo will be crowned the lead of their band. While the lives of Henry’s wives are well known, their stories are retold in a way that is relevant to today and the musical provides a lens into the history that many may not have known. Creators
“Voyage” is ABBA’s Entry Into New Territory By Daniel Cody OPINION EDITOR
ABBA released its ninth album, “Voyage,” on Friday, Nov. 5, fulfilling a much-anticipated reunion. Embodying the group’s usual upbeat, operatic melodies with new instrumentals, “Voyage” is truly unchartered territory. After the group went on break for an undetermined amount of time, ABBA announced a concert residency at Queen Elizabeth Park in London, featuring new “ABBAtar” holographs of the group at their prime. “Voyage” is a trip through memory lane, and yet as the group emphasized in an official YouTube video, they are truly experimental. Naturally, ABBA reaches new heights in crafting their grandiose tone in “Voyage,” and it reflects in the group’s current popularity. They remain one of Universal Music’s star artists, after a career of 385 million records sold worldwide. The album begins with the light ballad “I Still Have Faith in You,”
driven by inspirational lyrics that invoke a distinctly ABBA style, with tantalizing chord progressions complimented by signature instrumentals. ABBA has conveyed their point: They do “believe in you,” and while of course the sweetly sung “I Still Have Faith in You” doesn’t arouse the tone of previously high-intensity music the Swedes are known for, there’s still grounds for appreciation. “When You Danced with Me” also rings more sentimental, similar to the alternating emotions in songs like “Chiquitita,” or the more sorrowful tracks in “Thank You for the Music.” The album rotates between the highs and lows of ABBA’s style, sinking into somber tones and skyrocketing back into inspirational lyrics. “Little Things” is a perfect Christmas song, but the album refrains from picking up steam until “Don’t Shut Me Down.” The beginning’s folkloric elements dissolve into the angelic harmony of vocalists Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Yet, the
operatic rock, a staple of ABBA’s normal sound doesn’t manifest until “No Doubt About It,” contrasts with the delicately classical “Bumblebee,” showing ABBA’s sporadic tendencies throughout “Voyage” and their discography. The album has a clear classical influence, but the piano and flute, coupled with synthesizers and guitar, blend the mass of instrumentals into the truly untouched genre. ABBA has proven they are masters of sound and lyrics, creating an intricate yet bold sound that remains iconic in pop culture. “Just A Notion” brings forth the romantic, bouncy and hopeful sound found in ABBA’s high-emotion melodies, which alternates from folk to classical throughout the album. ABBA’s staccato piano beat compliments their vocals perfectly, and the beginning of “I Can Be That Woman” perfectly blends it with the acoustics typical of the group. However, the ending of the album changed the course of “Voyage” from homage to
experiment. The ending of “Voyage” showcases the album’s true complexity. “No Doubt It” blends the unlikely yet complementary sounds of banjo and guitar, but the following track, “Ode to Freedom,” creates a sense of ceremonious hopeful curiosity. The ending of “Voyage” leaves
the listener with bittersweet feelings. ABBA is timeless, but its intent is to display gradations of contrast and harmony. “That’s why there is no ode to freedom / Truly worth remembering / I wish someone would write / An ode to freedom that we all could sing.”
Photo courtesy of Knoxville News Sentinel ABBA is an acronym of the first letters of the members’ first names arranged as a palindrome.
A12 • DECEMBER 7, 2021
OPINION
THE CHRONICLE
The views and opinions expressed in the Opinion section are those of the authors. They are not an endorsement of the views of The Chronicle or its staff. The Chronicle does not discriminate based on the opinions of the authors.
Senior send-off: English major successfully infiltrates university newspaper administration By Jessica Zhang The Chronicle was one of the very first things I signed up for at the club fair. I was fresh out of being a sports (don’t ask) section editor at my heavily censored high school newspaper, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to cry over InDesign spreads at all hours again. I figured I would just sign up for whatever sounded like the most low-commitment position possible. A little over three years later, I’m finishing up my tenure as Managing Editor, so ... plans change. These past two years on The Chronicle’s e-board have been a whirlwind, to say the least. I never imagined that I would only get a taste of the weekly printing schedule and the office bonding before we would be thrown into absolute chaos. Now that we’re back in the shiny new office, it feels like I emerged from a fugue state into a parallel universe, and I’m so proud of everyone on this
e-board for adjusting to all this with minimal complaining. Not to brag, but with such an atypical background and trajectory, I was worried that no one knew enough about me to trust me to run the whole newspaper. May’s election felt more like a “Nice to meet you” than a “Vote for me, please.” Maybe that’s why I still get excited when people ask me for help, so keep doing that. Now for the thank you section! To Dan and Yashu: My Op-Ed/Opinion darlings, thank you for letting me yell at you over Zoom and for being patient with me when I made you scroll all the way across the page just for a comma every five minutes. We’ve been through a lot together, and that’s helped to make you two the amazing editors that you are today. I wish you and the rest of the section only smooth sailing ahead. To Vis: Thanks for letting me accidentally follow in your footsteps, but I signed up for Copy first, so who’s following who?
Anyway, you’ve been such a great friend these past two years, so don’t forget to keep in touch when you (re)enter your Southern and/or Midwest era. To Micaela: I knew I wanted
Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle
to work with you when I first heard that you were thinking of running for Editor-in-Chief. No idea why because we barely knew each other, but, at this point, we probably already share the same brain. Thank you for the immense trust you’ve put in
me for the past few months and for putting up with my neverending commentary when we read articles together. To everyone else: We might not necessarily be the bestiest of besties, but I appreciate and admire every single one of you. Thank you for your dedication during these weeks and for remaining relatively positive whenever layouts run late into the night. Shout out to the Social team for making sure we stay relevant, and shout out to Eleni for making sure we have fun. A special shoutout goes to Brian McFadden, our faculty advisor who has showered us in very welcomed Milano cookies layout after layout and has generally gone above and beyond for this paper to the point where we’re more worried about him than he is about us. I had no idea as a freshman that you would be stuck with me for so long in so many different contexts, so thank you for not getting sick of me through the 2018-2021 of it all.
This semester went by in a blur, but I will forever treasure these seven issues because I know how much work you all put into them. That’s all from me; time to graduate and leave this happy little bubble. See y’all later.
Jessica Zhang is a senior double major in publishing studies and mass media studies with a minor in sociology. She serves as Managing Editor of The Chronicle.
Senior send-off: See you space cowboy... By Visvajit Sriramrajan Three years ago, I walked into The Chronicle’s ramshackle office for the first time to speak to James Factora, editor of the Opinion section at the time, about an article pitch which eludes me now. As a spreadsheet of claimed pieces populated on their laptop, I took a moment to sponge up the brown flooring, antiquated computers, mangled chairs and discolored couch cushions that comprised the space. Since then, our floors have whitened, the computers have been upgraded, our new chairs have instruction tags dangling beneath them and only the soulless cushions remain on a similarly soulless sofa. Months turned into years and I don’t think I could have ever guessed the roles I’d fill at The Chronicle, the impact my words
would have on those around me or the balanced diet of poignant, peculiar, heartwarming, funny and downright awful stories I’d end up consuming in an array of editorial positions. I’m proud of the vibrant variety of stories I’ve commissioned or edited at the paper, from compelling op-eds and sharp reporting to remarkable reviews and extraordinary spotlight pieces. Over these semesters, I’ve also learned to better face situations beyond my scope of control. There have been numerous instances when I was unable to get ahold of a writer to clarify a sentence, received a less than favorable grade on an exam or dealt with difficult decision making of some sort. Proaction can be beneficial, but there’s only so much we can do. When things fail to lie within our grasp, or when things are
said and done, we should be at liberty to take a deep breath and laugh at the absurdity of it all. This simple lesson became an especially important one over the past couple of years in a way that nothing I learned about journalistic guidelines or career growth in my classes ever did. None of us could have predicted the pause of the world the pandemic brought about. Before the University closed indefinitely 21 months ago, I remember spending the evening with fellow editors in the office, anxious about what tomorrow would hold. In the months that followed, so many of us struggled in different ways, both as editors and in our personal lives, but in the end, things ended up okay. And with the right blend of tenacity and self-care, I know things will remain so. There are many people I’d
like to thank: Odessa and Liz for sparking my interest in the pursuit of copyediting, Eleni for fueling my compulsive shopping and video game playing habits, Dan for his sporadic, semi-satirical monologues about Greek politics, Antonia and Julia for being extremely funny and Micaela and Jess, who’ve put in lengthy hours to ensure the paper is published in the face of incredible difficulties. I’d also like to thank Taylor, whose unwavering charisma has had no parallel since. And, of course, Brian McFadden, our incredible faculty advisor who’s been there for us through thick and thin, whether through a steady supply of snacks on layout nights or administrative advice in tough circumstances. As I leave The Chronicle’s office for perhaps the final time, I am not quite sure how to feel.
Much of this journey has been an uphill climb, yet I’ve met wonderful people and learned a lot along the way. The past years, although imperfectly chaotic and bittersweet, fundamentally shaped both the paper and myself, and something about that fills me with determination.
Visvajit Sriramrajan writes about politics and the environment. He serves as the Secretary and an Assistant Copy Chief of The Chronicle.
We are looking for pitches! Email us at huchronicle.op.ed@gmail.com with ideas.
THE CHRONICLE
OPINION
DECEMBER 7, 2021 • A13
Comic: It’ll stop any day now
Comic courtesy of Dickinson-Frevola
Awkward people aren’t the enemy – we should strive to be socially harmonious By Marjorie Rogers A timid little girl walked into class on the first day of school sporting thrifted clothes and oversized glasses. Her classmates laughed at her outdated attire and she sprinted for the doorway as she felt a sudden, insurmountable wave of embarrassment. Through teary eyes, she had misjudged the trajectory of her escape route, hit the wall and fell to the ground. She had always been a target for ridicule, and this incident only fanned the flames. The embers from that fire were never quite doused. She continued to struggle with self-esteem throughout her life. Scared to confront the world authentically, she hid behind a carefully crafted public persona and never let anyone see behind the curtain. She pushed away her friends and loved ones, claiming they, too, were an embarrassment. Meanwhile, she sought superficial approval from various cliques and ingroups. Embarrassment, as defined by Psychology Today, is “a
response to something that threatens our projected image but is otherwise morally neutral.” Shame, in contrast, is “a response to something that is morally wrong or reprehensible.” Why do human beings have a tendency to shame others for being socially inept? From an evolutionary standpoint, teamwork has been beneficial to our survival as a species, and when social ineptitude becomes a threat to the group’s survival, shame is deployed to stop the threat. As societies change, so does the role of shame. Cultures that tend to be more individualistic place less of an emphasis on shame overall than cultures that value social hierarchy and conformity, many of which are rooted in Confucianism. Li, a recurring idea in Confucianism, consists of the norms of proper social etiquette. It goes hand in hand with the Confucian virtue ren, which concerns altruism. When asked to describe ren, Confucius replied, “Conquer yourself and return to li: that is ren.” Under Confucianism,
the individual certainly has a moral obligation to strive for harmonious social interactions. One could argue that social ineptitude is not morally reprehensible unless the inept behavior causes others harm. This, naturally, depends on the people involved. Gauging morality boils down to a
“Why do human beings have a tendency to shame others for being socially inept?” matter of personal principles and people’s predetermined judgement – the basis of which is their own prejudice. Since expectations vary infinitely among individuals and groups, one is bound to slip up at some point. Social awkwardness in a heterogeneous society is inevitable and should not be a source of shame nor a muse for external judgment. Social laws and perceptions define a person’s social image, which is why it can vary greatly across cultures
and societal classes. When an individual’s principles misalign with cultural norms, we begin to see a breakdown in the social fabric. A person may be socially well-rehearsed in one circle, but then leave the circle and find that they often miss the mark in others. Social ineptitude is not always a selfish refusal to put others at ease. Rather, it is quite often a simple miscommunication between humans. Unlike shame, embarrassment is an anxious response to a potential threat to self-image; it protects the individual from accepting vulnerability in the face of cringy circumstances beyond their control. Although natural and normal, it is ultimately a self-inflicted punishment. The more a person concerns themselves with how others may perceive them, the more intense the embarrassment will be when they are, inevitably, less than perfect in a social situation. Across cultures, societies and the spectrum of neurotypicality, there is great social variation within the human species. Although shame and
embarrassment are natural, it is important to keep these feelings in check. Social interactions are improv scenes, and awkward moments are neither a moral failing nor an intellectual failing on an individual’s part, but a hiccup between players. We can level the playing field for all by learning to roll with the punches and embrace life’s awkward moments, raising our recurring concerns with others in private. Perhaps if those children had been more open-minded, that girl wouldn’t have anxiously hit a wall. And perhaps had that girl realized she did nothing more in that moment than make a very forgivable mistake, she could have avoided a lifetime of unforgivable ones.
Marjorie Rogers is a senior journalism major from Black Mountain, North Carolina. She is a bold voice in the Hofstra community who seeks justice and truth.
OPINION
A14 • DECEMBER 7, 2021
THE CHRONICLE
The safest county in America has a serious problem with police accountability By Micaela Erickson At the end of September, Nassau County was named the “safest county in America” for the second year in a row. Coincidentally, the police department of this very same county was sued by the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) days after for withholding misconduct records dating back to 2000. How can Nassau County tout being “the safest in the nation” when its police refuse to be held accountable? “You make a claim that the county is the safest because you are looking at crime statistics, apparently, and don’t include criminal acts by police officers in the realm of police brutality,” said Susan Gottehrer, director of the Nassau County chapter of the NYCLU. “If you’re not
By Gabrielle Pascal When I think of “cancel culture,” images of news broadcasts, explainer pieces of its futility, politicians invoking its name in light of a scandal and social media posts about how it’s all a grand conspiracy by the left to destroy the reputations of beloved celebrities flash in my head. The most negative connotation in my mind comes from how I’ve seen some media outlets use “cancel culture” to perpetuate fearmongering; when they find themselves being called out, the perception of a corrupt “cancel culture” becomes an excuse. The new boogeyman for conservatives seems to be a mindless “woke mob” that is attacking the right to free expression and bullying right-leaning voices into obscurity. In actuality, however, I find that this political tactic has the potential to amplify a chilling effect of its own on free expression that should concern liberals and conservatives. The only way we can solve this is by changing
going to include police officer behavior when you make the claim of the safest county [in America] ... Then that claim might make sense to you.” The so-called safest county in America spent an estimated $55 million on payouts for police misconduct victims between 2015 and 2020. Buying silence is not a replacement for community safety. People of marginalized identities are far more likely to experience police violence, and Nassau County legislators and Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) fail to acknowledge how over policing and lack of true accountability do nothing to protect these groups. Nassau County is only safe for those who will never have to deal with violence at the hands of the police. The corruption within NCPD
runs deep and goes beyond this lawsuit. With no external entity to evaluate the behavior of police, they are left to examine their handlings (or rather mishandlings) themselves. This further cements NCPD’s ability to evade accountability. Why protect your community when you can keep your fellow boys in blue comfortable? The passage of the Police Statistics and Transparency (STAT) Act – an act that requires New York State to collect and report demographic data of people arrested and charged with a misdemeanor or violation – in 2020 made some improvements for police accountability. However, this act is not as allencompassing as Nassau County police reform advocates had hoped. Prior to this act being put into place, the NYCLU found
that NCPD failed to report any data on demographics of arrests or present disparities. Gottehrer stated officers were not even collecting this information, nor were they required by the state to collect or report this data publicly. The passage of the STAT Act is a hopeful step forward in transparency and accountability within policing, but there is still more to be done. Nassau County’s own plan for police reform, passed in March 2021, feels like little beyond optics. NCPD plans to issue biannual reports on use of force and bias incidents and hate crimes among other face-saving initiatives, but there is still no outside force – or anyone with power at least – working to hold police accountable. True transparency and accountability starts with fulfilling FOIL requests like that
The complexities of cancel culture
how we perceive and speak to one another. This semester I’ve had the chance to intern at PEN America, a nonpartisan free expression organization that works at the intersection of literature and human rights to promote free expression in the U.S. and around the world. During these months, I’ve learned how “cancel culture” is an idea frowned upon by all sides of the political spectrum. It isn’t just the right worrying about its implications on free expression; those on the left have similar concerns. Nicholas Perez, PEN America’s manager for free expression and education, shared with me, “It’s clear that society and young people especially are yearning for mechanisms of accountability that can empower marginalized voices, and I feel that all sides of the political spectrum have work to do in order to pursue accountability through more humane interpersonal discourse that leaves room for fallibility, humility and empathy.” I agree. I feel that our society
has morphed into a space where everyone thinks that their opinion is the right one. We exist in echo chambers where we are fed algorithms and posts that preserve our worldviews, rather than expand them. The intersection of social media and cancel culture cannot be ignored, especially when we look at how they have evolved in our society. Social media is the new global platform for public shaming, where those with opposing views are essentially demonized. If someone disagrees with someone else, it is no longer a cause for discourse: instead the “other” is immediately deemed “wrong.” An online article from The Conversation titled “The Shame of Public Shaming’’ writes that “the word criticism is important ... we need to think about when public criticism is fair and fitting, when it becomes disproportionate, and when it spirals down into something mean and brutal.” The effects of “cancel culture” extend beyond mainstream celebrity ousting to smaller interpersonal
relationships. Countless times, I’ve witnessed friends or close family members express intentions to remove someone from their lives because they’re from the left or the right; and if they don’t, they’re an enemy. As someone who grew up in the digital age, I have definitely played into this phenomenon. My own social media feeds me news from sources that share my political leanings; it makes me believe that I must be correct and others wrong. And in the past, I’ve been conditioned to view those who disagree as other, rather than just another human. I’m not saying that we should accept those whose views are truly abhorrent or who are abusive. Not at all. In fact, if those who disagree with us refuse to extend empathy being offered to them, I question the point of continuing to engage in those conversations. Especially in cases of abuse, removing that person from our lives can be necessary for safety. I do not claim to have all the answers, but I do believe that
Have an opinion? We want to hear it. Email us at huchronicle.op.ed@gmail.com
from NYCLU. That’s how you actually ensure all members of a community are safe. Not with payouts or by sweeping misconduct under the rug.
Micaela Erickson is a senior journalism major with a minor in civic engagement. She serves as Editor-in-Chief for The Chronicle.
humiliating and demonizing those with opposing views is not right. I’m not saying that we should accept hateful people in our lives, or ignore and stop fighting against oppression, but I do believe there should be more room for empathy.
Gabrielle Pascal is a senior with a major in English literature and a concentration in creative writing.
THE CHRONICLE
DECEMBER 7, 2021 • A15
SPORTS
Pride Performer of the Week
Anthony Roberts / The Hofstra Chronicle
Ray hits dagger as Hofstra holds off late Princeton rally By Blake Waldron STAFF WRITER
Aaron Estrada tied his career high of 20 points to go along with seven assists, as the guard shot an efficient 9-for-15 from the field while playing all 40 minutes to lead the Hofstra men’s basketball team to a fourpoint victory over the Princeton University Tigers, 81-77, on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. “Hell of a win,” said Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. “That is a really, really good
team. They pose so many challenges that you cannot relax for a split second against them.” Estrada scored 18 of his 20 points in the first half, finding success once again in his second consecutive game as the Pride’s primary ball handler. “My versatility really makes it harder for the defense to guard me,” Estrada said. “I can shoot, I can go off the dribble and I look for my teammates as well.” With 25 seconds left in the game, and Hofstra clinging to a 78-77 lead, Hofstra senior guard Zach Cooks drove from the right wing deep into the paint, taking Princeton guards Ryan Langborg and Ethan Wright with him. When Wright followed Cooks into the paint, he left the Pride player who has made the fourth most three-point field goals in program history, Jalen Ray, who relocated from the right corner to the right wing where Cooks
hit him in stride. Wright tried to recover, but it was too late. Ray banked in the three, giving the Pride an 81-77 lead with 18.9 seconds remaining. “[Ray] took a shot in a pressure situation and made it,” Claxton said. “That speaks volumes to him.” Ray’s three-pointer was his second of the game as he finished with eight points and seven rebounds. Cooks, who assisted on the play, tied his teammate Estrada for the gamehigh in assists as both guards tallied seven. As a team, the Pride set a new season high in assists with 22. Cooks contributed defensively as well by recording four steals. At halftime, Hofstra held a 50-34 lead following a pair of free throws made by Ray. That lead grew to a game-high of 19 with 15:50 to go in the second half following a strong finish from Omar Silverio at the
rim in transition. He then made the following free throw to complete the three-point play. However, it wasn’t long until the Pride saw their lead begin to dwindle. By the 12:42 mark, Langborg had the lead to just 11 after his layup made it 61-50. With 4:25 to go and the Tigers still down by 10, junior forward Tosan Evbuomwan buried a jumper to spark a 7-0 Princeton run that culminated in a layup by Matt Allocco, making it a one possession game with 2:05 left at 76-73. On the following possession, Hofstra was able to pass the ball ahead to Darlinstone Dubar who finished on the right side of the basket to make it a two possession game, 78-73. Princeton would have it within one point after a pair of layups in the final minute but that would be as close as they would get. Ray’s three moments later would seal their fate. The Pride led for nearly
the entirety of the 40 minute contest, only trailing for mere seconds following the opening tip off. Dubar only missed one shot, going 7-for-8 from the field on top of two blocks and two steals, while Silverio shot 5-10 from the field for 17 points and pulled down five rebounds. For Princeton, guard Jaelin Llewellyn scored a team-high 24 points, making nine of his 16 shots. Wright totaled 13 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, while Langborg had 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Evbuomwan was able to contribute 14 points as well. “I’m proud of my guys,” Claxton said. “They really defended against a really, really, really good quality team.” Hofstra’s victory pulls them to an even 4-4 record while staying undefeated at home this season. The loss drops Princeton’s record to 5-3.
A16 • DECEMBER 7, 2021
SPORTS
THE CHRONICLE
Men’s basketball overwhelms Bucknell, earns fourth-straight win By Will Wiegelman SPORTS E D I TO R
The Hofstra men’s basketball team took down Bucknell University 88-69 at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex on Saturday, Dec. 4. It was the program’s first win over Bucknell since its 1997-98 season opener when now-head coach Speedy Claxton led the way with 20 points. This game had Aaron Estrada pacing the Pride with 24 following up a 20-point performance against Princeton on Wednesday, Dec. 1. “[Estrada] was fantastic,” Claxton said. “I did want to see him have a breakout game and now he’s had two, hopefully he can continue this trend.” The first half was one of runs and it began with Hofstra
scoring the game’s first eight points. Bucknell answered with 10 straight points of its own, capped off by seven-foot-tall Andre Screen’s dunk. “We stopped driving the basketball and we were settling for jumpers and settling for the shots they wanted us to take and not the shots we wanted to take,” Claxton said. “Once we got back to doing what we do, it was a wrap after that.” The Bison continued the run which was capped at 25-9 over a span of 7:52 and resulted in their largest lead of the afternoon, 27-17. From there, Hofstra embarked on a run of its own. Abayomi Iyiola scored eight of the game’s next 11 points to get it started. Those were the only four shots he took all game to go along with six rebounds, four of which came from the offensive glass. “[Iyiola] was huge,” Claxton said. “He came in when our energy was lacking and that’s what he brings to the table. Once he got into the game, he changed the ballgame completely.” In his 18 minutes, Iyiola also opened opportunities for some of Hofstra’s prominent scorers like Zach Cooks, who finished
second on the Pride with 19 points in the contest. “I’ve known [Iyiola] for many years now, even before we even got up here,” Cooks said. “He just wants to come in, set screens and roll. You tell him ‘You just screen’ and then come off it and score and he gets rebounds.” The Pride finished the run scoring 11 of the first half’s final 12 points capped by Omar Silverio’s corner three that got the student section going. It was Silverio’s second three-pointer in a row after starting the game 0-3 from deep. He finished 4-9 from beyond the arc in the game. Hofstra took a 39-33 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Pride pulled away in the second half thanks to a couple more runs. The largest was a 12-0 run that started just past the halfway point of the second that pushed the lead to 77-57, which was Hofstra’s largest of the game. Jalen Ray picked up six of his 12 points during the run. From there, the Pride closed things out with relative ease, much to the delight of the student section who went crazy after a highlight-reel alley-oop from Estrada to Darlinstone
Dubar. With the win, the Pride completes its first homestand of the season at a perfect 4-0 to move above .500 for the first time this year. “Whenever you play in front of your home fans, it’s going to boost you up,” Claxton said. “Our fans have been great thus far and hopefully, that continues.” A big part of the recent success stems from the defense which gave up 69.75 points per game during the homestand. “I’m not worried about
offense,” Claxton said. “[On] offense, we’re going to be fine, we have weapons, but if we buy in on the defensive end, we have a really, really special team and, to these kids’ credit, I think they’re finally starting to see that.” The Pride will look to extend its winning streak to five on Wednesday, Dec. 8, at Stony Brook University for the Battle of Long Island. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
Hofstra Athletics Ray moved into 14th all-time in scoring at Hofstra with 1,430 career points.
Hines drops 17 as Hofstra falls in overtime at Howard
By Andrew Allegrini STAFF W R I T E R
The Hofstra women’s basketball team suffered their third loss of the season by a close score of 64-62 in overtime against Howard University, on Saturday, Dec. 4, at Burr Gymnasium in Washington, D.C., as Destiny Howell was able to hit a last-second layup to secure the win for the Bisons. “Obviously not the result that
we wanted, but I am proud of the way we came back and fought in the second half,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “Every game is not going to be pretty, but we came back and controlled the second half and played harder.” Howard started off strong by taking an early 17-4 lead to begin the game. They remained dominant throughout the first half and went into halftime up 28-15. Hofstra proceeded to mount their comeback in the second half as they were able to cut the lead to five with a minute left to go in the third. Jaylen Hines led the Pride in scoring with 17 points to go along with 13 rebounds; her first double-double of the season. Hofstra started off the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run, led by Vanerlie Valcourt. Both teams
traded baskets throughout the quarter until the score was even at 53 apiece. With 17 seconds left, Hoftsra’s Jakayla Brown hit a jumper to give the Pride a two-point advantage. Brown totaled a double-double as she ended with a very respectable 14 points and 12 rebounds. Howard responded quickly, however, as Krisly Marsh made a layup with three seconds remaining to send the game to overtime with the score even at 55 a side. The Bison outscored Hofstra by a narrow two-point margin in the extra frame to secure their fourth win of the season. Howell led Howard in scoring, ending with 17 points and four rebounds. Howard’s bench outscored Hofstra’s by a 10-point margin, 17-7.
Hofstra shot a poor 20% from three, and even though Howard was only slightly better, shooting 22.7% from behind the arc, they were able to knock down those shots when it mattered late, which proved to be the deciding
factor in the game. Following the loss, the Pride now sit at an even 3-3 and will try to rebound on Monday, Dec. 6, when they travel to Baltimore, Maryland, to face Morgan State University.
Hofstra Athletics Hines recorded a double-double wth 17 points and 13 rebounds.
THE CHRONICLE
SPORTS
DECEMBER 7, 2021 • A17
Hofstra wrestling sweeps meet against Duke and American By Max Edelman ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Following a weekend in which Hofstra was soundly defeated by both Rutgers University and University of Wisconsin at the
Garden State Grapple, the Pride successfully took down both Duke University and American University in a tri-meet on Sunday, Dec. 5. Hofstra took both matches and evened their record at 2-2 in the process. Hofstra first saw them take on Duke, and unlike their matches against Rutgers and Wisconsin, Hofstra wasted little time taking control of the contest. Hofstra senior and No. 26 ranked 184-pounder Charles Small put Hofstra on the board first with a 4-3 victory over the Blue Devils’ Vincent Baker. Junior and No. 28 ranked 197-pounder Trey Rogers followed up Small’s victory with a 7-4 victory of his own over Kaden Russell, and redshirt senior and No. 20 ranked 285-pounder Zachary Knighton-Ward would make it three for three for the Pride’s ranked wrestlers as he pinned Duke’s Jonah Niesenbaum. Small, Rogers and KnightonWard’s victories gave Hofstra an early and commanding 12-0 lead over the Blue Devils.
Duke, however, did not go down quietly. The Blue Devils took the following two matches, cutting Hofstra’s lead to three. However, fueled off the victories of sophomore Justin Hoyle, Joe McGinty and forfeit victory by Ricky Stamm, Hofstra was able to hold off the Blue Devils and take their first match of the day and the season 25-19. Hofstra’s match against American wasn’t just their second match of the day, it was also both sides’ first EIWA match of the season. Both teams had already defeated Duke earlier in the day, so Hofstra and American each wanted to make it two for two on the day. Much like they did against the Blue Devils, Hofstra’s three ranked wrestlers built Hofstra an early lead with Small, Rogers and Knighton-Ward each picking up victories over their American counterparts. American took the next two matches, but Hoyle halted American’s attempted comeback with a major decision victory over
American’s Ethan Szerencsits. McGinty, Stamm and McFarland closed out the match with three victories of their own, which gave the Pride a 27-13 victory, as well as a victory in their first EIWA match of the season. With their two victories, the Pride brings their record back to
2-2 for the season as well as 1-0 in league competition. Hofstra will look to take their second league match of the season when they travel to Rhode Island to take on Brown University on Thursday, Dec. 9.
Hofstra Athletics Hofstra opened EIWA play with a win for the second time in three years.
A18 • DECEMBER 7, 2021
SPORTS
THE CHRONICLE
Column: Hofstra is emerging as the soccer dream school By David Lazar EDITOR - AT- L A R G E
Hempstead is a soccer destination. The Hofstra men’s and women’s soccer programs just concluded fantastic campaigns, showing the world that Hempstead should not be messed with. The Hofstra men’s soccer team set team records for goals (56), assists (58) and points (170) in a season this year. Their
18 wins were a team record. Their highlight of the season – besides winning their first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament since 2015 – was shocking 12th-seeded Pennsylvania State University 8-2 in the second round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship on Sunday, Nov. 21. The eight goals were one shy of the NCAA Tournament record, which has been
Evan Bernstein / The Hofstra Chronicle Hofstra women’s soccer earned its fourth CAA title in five seasons.
accomplished four times, most recently in 1978 by Appalachian State University against The George Washington University. No CAA team has ever scored eight goals in one game in tournament history. While the Pride eventually fell in the third round to fifthseeded University of Pittsburgh on Saturday, Nov. 27, they had their longest season yet – and should be proud of their achievements. “We proved we can do it,” said head coach Richard Nuttall. “We’re losing four fantastic seniors, but why can’t we do this again next year? I think this team set the bar for the future. We’re retaining a lot of the squad next year. We’ve got 20 returning great players, and hopefully a few more recruits, to be at this level again.” The Hofstra women’s soccer team should be proud, too. They outscored opponents 51-13 this year, while outshooting their competition 426-131. During the regular season, they earned their highest ranking in program history, reaching No. 10 in the
Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle Hofstra men’s soccer captured its first CAA title since the 2015 season.
United Soccer Coaches Top-25 poll. Their 17 wins were their second-highest ever. They also made some noise in the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship after winning their fourth CAA title in the last five years, defeating Providence College 3-0 in the first round on Saturday, Nov. 13. This matched their best season ever. The Pride’s spectacular run ended in the second round of the tournament in a 3-0 loss to the University of South Carolina on Friday, Nov. 19. “I am unbelievably proud
of this team. I am humbled to be coaching them,” said head coach Simon Riddiough. “These players have set the tone for the future generations of Hofstra programs. We’re going to keep building on it. What this team has managed to accomplish in four to five years is something truly special.” These two elite mid-major soccer programs are making Hempstead a destination – and the best part is, Hofstra is just getting started.
THE CHRONICLE
SPORTS
DECEMBER 7, 2021 • A19
Serge Clement mentoring players with lessons on and off court By David Lazar EDITOR - AT- L A R G E
The year was 2013. Serge Clement sat in the last row of an airplane – listening to music and waiting for his flight to end. Little did he know, his life was about to change forever. A man was trapped in the bathroom, unconsciously contorted between the toilet and the wall. After noticing the commotion, Clement sprang into action. As a crowd of people began to panic, he propped the door open, squeezed in and rescued the man, who was later helped by emergency medical technicians when the plane made an expedited landing. “In this cynical world – with [COVID-19] and the social injustice that’s happening across the country – I had a lot of time to reflect on my life,” Clement said. “That act of kindness wasn’t about any denomination. It was just about helping someone. I seek to serve.” Clement now serves as an assistant coach for the Hofstra men’s basketball team, where he brings the many life lessons he has learned to his players. It all starts in the classroom. Clement mentors studentathletes, making sure they are up to date with their work. “Regardless of whether you’re playing 100 minutes, or you’re
playing negative one minutes, you are here to obtain a degree,” Clement said. “The ball does stop bouncing one day.” Clement can preach it because he has lived it. In his senior year of high school, the young basketball player did not have a scholarship offer. This adversity put him in a funk. His single mother, however, preached the importance of going to school – Clement eventually graduated from SUNY Potsdam with a bachelor’s degree in business economics in 2009 – and helped him snap out of his low. This journey is climaxing in Hempstead, where the Queens native is achieving a life-long dream by coming home. “[Coming to Hofstra] is a dream come true for me personally,” Clement said. “I never thought that my path would end up with me being back at Hofstra. It’s been a blessing and I’m ecstatic to be here. So just thinking about the history at Hofstra gives me chills. That sense of pride makes it all worth it.” Perhaps head coach Speedy Claxton embodies this history more than any other. The Hempstead native graduated from Hofstra in 2000, played in the NBA and returned home as an assistant coach. Now, he is leading his alma mater. “I tell my players that Hofstra is their home,” Clement said.
Hofstra Athletics Clement was named a Top 50 Impactful Mid-Major Coach in 2020.
Marist Athletics Before arriving at Hofstra, Clement spent time as a coach at Marist, Saint Peter’s, Adelphi and SUNY Cortland.
“So, once they graduate and obtain a degree, they can always come back home. So do your work. Maintain relationships with professors. Because no matter what, they will always be celebrated at home for doing the right thing.” One of his first things Claxton did as leader of the program – 15 days after being hired, to be exact – was bring in Clement, who he had known professionally for years, as an assistant coach. “When we forged our connection, it had nothing to do with basketball, even though basketball was the means to bring us together,” Clement said. “It was just more about everyday life.” Clement gave Claxton tips about players, expressed interest in his journey and simply cared about his life, showing this with the occasional check-in. “I never wanted anything,” Clement said. “And that’s the basic building block of any real authentic relationship.” Before getting the job offer at Hofstra, however – while cultivating that relationship with Claxton – Clement was an
important piece of John Dunne’s coaching staff at Marist College. Under Clement, Marist had its first winning season in 13 years and its best conference finish in 14 seasons. Clement – who was named a Top 50 Impactful Mid-Major Coach by Silver Waves Media in 2020 – was the program’s lead recruiter and
consider Hofstra to be ‘Guard University.’” Now, the Pride will look to ascend to a Colonial Athletic Association championship. At 5-4, they have looked good in non-conference play – barely losing to No. 15 ranked University of Houston on Tuesday, Nov. 9, and No. 20 ranked University of Maryland on Friday, Nov. 19. But no matter what happens this season, Clement will look to make a long-term impact on his players – just like he made an impact on that plane ride eight years ago. “We coach with a purpose. We’ve developed respect and a relationship [with each player],” Clement said. “It’s not just a four-year relationship. It’s a 40year relationship.”
“Just thinking about the history at Hofstra gives me chills. That sense of pride makes it all worth it.” focused on guard development, recruiting guard and four-time MAAC Rookie of the Week Ricardo Wright. At Hofstra, Clement will have a similar role working with the guards, at a program that has graduated Justin WrightForeman, Desure Buie and Eli Pemberton since 2019. “We will continue to ascend,” Clement said. “We
BACK COVER: Zach Cooks leads Pride to perfect opening home stand
THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE
SPORTS
Dec. 7, 2021
H ome ‘C ooks ’- ing Hofstra completes first homestand of season with a perfect 4-0 record.
Evan Bernstein / The Hofstra Chronicle