The Hofstra Chronicle, December 5, 2023

HEMPSTEAD, NY

VOLUME 90 ISSUE 7

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE

Concerns of Islamophobia and antisemitism cause fear among students

By Sophia Guddemi ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

After the escalation of the Palestine-Israel conflict in October with the beginning of the IsraelHamas war, both Muslim and Jewish students have reported an increase in discriminatory acts and feelings of fear both on and off campus.

Zainab Mozawalla, a junior political science, economics and global studies triple major, expressed that after the Oct. 7 attack, she noticed a rise in hate towards Muslims. Mozawalla is a hijabi Muslim and a member

of the Muslim Student Association and the Middle Eastern North African Student Association, among other organizations on campus.

In an instance off-campus shortly after the attacks, Mozawalla was approached by an unknown woman who yelled at her, “You support terrorism. You are a terrorist. You are a murderer,” which was then followed by a man repeatedly saying, “Shut your mouth.”

“As a 19-year-old, when a grown man is being so aggressive with you, you are scared,”

Mozawalla said. In the moment, she was frightened but didn’t recognize the severity of

By Michelle Rabinovich SPORTS EDITOR

Imagine a Division I basketball program. What public figures come to mind? Are they famous head coaches like Rick Pitino, Coach K or Kim Mulkey,

TUESDAY December 5, 2023

or larger-than-life players like Zach Edey or Caitlin Clark?

While big names like these attract plenty of attention, there are plenty of people involved who aren’t so visible – like the folks who set up the whiteboards and chairs for coaches and players in the locker rooms for halftime debriefs.

Enter the student managers. You won’t find them on the stat sheet after the final buzzer, but that’s not to say that they weren’t involved in every play of the game.

Bugs, plastic and critical violations in the student center

By Lily Spinda NEWS EDITOR

This fall semester, Hofstra students have been outraged and consistently voiced their thoughts on the high food prices and quality of food served on

campus. However, another important concern is what some students have found in their on-campus food, including but not limited to plastic, hair, an insect and a wasp. On Oct. 2, the Nassau County Department of Health conducted a food service establishment inspection at the Student Center Café in which three critical violations were found.

Two of the violations included “Improper Cooling and Refrigerated Storage of Potentially Hazardous Foods” and “Improper Hot Holding of Potentially Hazardous Foods,” as labeled on the Freedom of Information Act request which can be publicly requested. However, the Nassau County Health Depart-

ment did a follow-up inspection on Oct. 17 in which no critical violations were found.

On Nov. 18, Tainaya White, a junior pre-health major with a concentration in disability studies, found a dead insect in her chicken that she received from the Student Center Café. She sent a text to the Student Advisory GroupMe, a group chat where selected Hofstra students and faculty can communicate campus-related issues. She included a picture of her food along with her concerns over this hazardous issue.

White explained that she went to the Student Center Café around 7 p.m. but wasn’t hungry at the time, so she waited until 10 p.m. to open up her food that she bought earlier. As she began to eat her food, she realized something was wrong.

“Initially, I just assumed it was seasoning on the chicken, such as thyme or rosemary, but as I looked closer, I realized it

was a bug,” said White. “Utter disgust and shock was my initial reaction. Because how could something like this get missed?”

Due to the incident, White said that she was paranoid and avoided eating from the Student Center Café. Instead, she started looking into alternative dining options. “I have now started eating back at the [Student Center Café] because I can’t spend money on DoorDash everyday, but I have been wary and paying attention even more to what I’m being served,” White said.

When questioned about bugs being found in food at the Student Center Café and the violations they received, Campus Dining responded with the following statement:

“Campus Dining has been the proud dining services provider on campus for the past 14 years.

Chef Vince Picciotto and his team of culinarians take great pride in creating safe and exceptional dining experiences for the

Hofstra community and serve over 62,000 meals per week.

“The health and well-being of the campus community is of paramount importance to our team. Rigorous quality checks, detailed production records, food safety logs and ongoing training are assurances inherent in our daily operations. In addition:

“All Campus Dining Managers are trained and certified in food service safety with the Nassau County Department of Health as well as ServSafe.

“All Campus Dining culinarians and back of house supervisors are also trained and certified in food service safety with the Nassau County Department of Health as well as ServSafe.

“All Campus Dining team members must undergo regular food safety training.

“All equipment is regularly cleaned, disinfected and sanitized at the end of each shift.”

An insect discovered in a cooked chicken served at the Student Center Café.

Hofstra students report facing Islamophobia and antisemitism on campus.

Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman

Photo courtesy of Tainaya White

Photo Courtesy of U.S. News & World Report

Hofstra alum compares the life cycle of a handbag to life post-grad

By Annie MacKeigan ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

On Tuesday, Nov. 28, Hofstra alum Thomas Craig of the class of ‘06 returned to the Guthart Cultural Center Theater to speak as part of the Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (HCLAS) Executive Speaker Series. Craig has worked as the vice president of global planning, allocation and operations for Marc Jacobs since March 2021.

Craig opened the panel by emphasizing the environmental thinking that goes into supply chain management, specifically for Marc Jacobs.

“I pride myself on doing a good job, really trying to make sure we’re not wasting products,” Craig said. “The fashion industry is the second-worst industry for climate change, and that is something that is on my mind all the time.”

Craig described his work as being similar to seeing handbags through their life cycle. HCLAS Dean Eva Badowska, who directed the interview portion of the event, was particularly interested in this comparison. Craig described a few of the phases as “active, then there is markdown and death.”

Craig also gave advice to students about their future careers.

“[The first] 18 months is key. If you do not get promoted, leave,” Craig said. He noted that moving around jobs will help immensely with networking in post-grad.

Craig emphasized the importance of curiosity and how it will help students land a job.

“When I’m looking to hire someone, I don’t really care what they majored in so much,” Craig said. “I’m more interested to see that they are hungry to learn.”

“We try every semester to bring an alumnus or alumna back to campus to feature their spectacular rise in career after Hofstra,” Badowska said. The Executive Speaker Series serves as a tool for students of many different disciplines to have a talkback with a current industry professional. They also provide students with networking opportunities.

Vandalism in Enterprise Hall

By Giovanni Salsa STAFF WRITER

On Nov. 18, Public Safety received reports of vandalism that occurred in Enterprise Hall. These reports consisted of damage in the laundry room and bathrooms on multiple floors in the dormitory. The electric panel in the laundry room was pried open, and two of the dryer doors were damaged. On the

second-floor bathroom, one of the shower curtains was ripped out and one of the toilets was clogged from a trash bag.

On Nov. 20, Enterprise Hall residents received an email from the building’s resident director, Tasmeem Mahmuda, where she alerted the residents of the vandalism. The email detailed the vandalism and urged the perpetrator(s) to respect the liv-

“I came here because there was a supply chain professional coming to speak,” said Shae Parham, a junior supply chain management major who is also is involved in various supply chain classes and clubs on campus. “It’s a smaller major, so we don’t always have speakers in the industry, so I was excited to have someone in the field who was coming in.”

“I have an interest in sustainability and finance,” said Chris Schwartz, a junior finance major who is looking to pursue a career in the same industry as Craig. “I thought it would be interesting to see how the industry conducts its business, since it’s a very manufactured and carbon intensive industry.”

“I really appreciated the advice,” Parham said. “I also appreciated the transparency overall. I really feel like taking what you learn from this [school], and the name of [Hofstra] does make a difference.”

ing space.

Some students came across issues with their day-to-day tasks due to the vandalism, and many are speculating what the cause could be.

“I know that after the email was sent, the machines were still broken, which made it annoying to dry my clothes,” said Kobe Germain, an Enterprise resident and junior filmmaking major.

When asked about the vandalism, Jovanni Ortiz, the assistant director of public safety for community engagement and transportation, offered a statement by Public Safety.

The statement read, “At approximately [midnight] on Saturday, November 18, 2023, Public Safety responded to the laundry room in Enterprise Hall on a call that an unknown person(s) clogged the sink with paper towels, left the water running and the electric panel and paper dispenser were pulled open. The Plant Department was notified for a clean-up and to inspect the electric panel. After conducting an investigation, the

unknown person was identified as a Hofstra student, and they were referred to the Office of Community Standards.”

Some students say that the bathrooms are constantly being vandalized and that Saturday’s incident was not an isolated event. While some students believe that these acts are a string of pranks, others simply hope for these occurrences to end.

“It doesn’t seem like any students are being harmed or targeted, so I’m not scared as of right now, but I do hope this behavior does not continue and is an isolated incident because I enjoy living in Enterprise,” said Gigi Ortiz, another Enterprise resident and junior filmmaking major.

The person who was involved in the incident is unknown to the public, but Public Safety confirmed that they identified the individual as a Hofstra student and that they have been referred to the Office of Community Standards, as noted in the statement.

Thomas Craig, BA ‘06, sits with Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Eva Badowska on the Tuesday evening panel for the Executive Speaker Series.

Photo courtesy of Annie MacKeigan

An email was sent out by Tasmeem Mahmuda, the residence director of Enterprise Hall, addressing the acts of vandalism.

Giovanni Salsa / The Hofstra Chronicle

Students express concerns over lack of support in light of conflict

CONTINUED FROM A1

the situation until later. “It was more of the effects after that really traumatized me because when I would go out anywhere, I started noticing more of the looks and the little things,” Mozawalla said.

She began feeling afraid to leave her car in unfamiliar areas due to concerns of potential reactions to her.

“Any time I walked out of my house, I would look around because I feel so unsafe,” Mozawalla said. “After Oct. 7, it triggered this domino effect.”

Mozawalla’s other hijabi friends on campus shared with her that they also noticed an increase in suspicious looks from others as they went about their day. As a result, they have felt unsafe both on and off campus.

“This just happened to me, but I know so many people who are scared to say their story,” Mozawalla said. “I know two hijabis who were hate crimed on campus. I do not know their stories, though, because they were even scared to tell me.”

The Hofstra Chronicle could not confirm these incidents or reach these individuals for comment.

Tal Heyman, a senior public policy and public service and English double major, also expressed her experience with antisemitism recently as a firstgeneration Jewish American.

Heyman, who is also a member of Hofstra Hillel, said, “Thankfully, Hofstra has been pretty good at [keeping] hate off campus … however, there have been a few swastikas engraved in elevators and some inciting comments on Hofstra’s official Instagram account.”

Heyman said that she has experienced backlash when sharing her opinions on her own social media profiles. One Hofstra alum reached out to her through her direct messages to harass her.

“[I] almost blacked out because of how stressed I was,” Heyman said.

Moving forward, students believe that Hofstra could do

more to support students during this time.

“I want Hofstra to send out an email or report acknowledging how antisemitism and Islamophobia have spiked on campuses and to remain respectful of others, both in person and online,” Heyman said.

Heyman implored others to think about the golden rule and treat others the way they would like to be treated. “Even if they have differing opinions from other students, they should not be harassing the student and be open to other’s beliefs.”

“On campus or in the world, it’s a matter of taking away that fear and making [students] feel safe,” Mozawalla said. “I’m scared. I don’t want to somehow be labeled as something that I am not. It’s a scary world we live in, and it’s a matter of navigating through that.”

“How is that impacting the students on campus? Naturally, fear,” said Ibad Wali, the Muslim chaplain at Hofstra for the Muslim Student Association. “There is a lot of fear. There is a lot of despair due to the lack of leadership [and] lack of support.”

Wali, a volunteer, has had trouble finding time to support all the Muslim students on campus in the past couple months since the conflict escalated. He noted that other schools, including Stony Brook University, have full-time chaplains to help their students.

“As academics and leaders in academia, our goal is to at least have a common ground, which is humanity. That is where we need to start our conversations,” Wali said. “We expect that politics remain outside of our leadership at Hofstra and at any university. If our leadership in academia is influenced by politics, then our academic integrity is compromised.”

As a result of frustration from students regarding the lack of support from the university, the organization Hofstra Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) was formed, including both Jewish and Muslim students. According to the organization, their

goal is to have a platform to amplify the voices of Palestinians and the lives lost. Although the university has not officially recognized the group due to the application deadline for student clubs, the organization did meet with the Student Government Association (SGA) and gained approval to host meetings.

An anonymous spokesperson for SJP informed The Hofstra Chronicle that the group faced issues when they tried to conduct their first meeting. The group had over 60 interested students and had received approval from SGA to meet in an empty classroom. When members arrived to meet in the room, they were met by a Public Safety officer who said they received a call to lock the room because another group was meeting there.

This occurred around 20 minutes before the meeting was set to begin. SJP then changed the meeting location to another empty classroom, where they were then met with multiple Public Safety officers saying they were also sent to lock the doors of that room.

The members of SJP told the officers that they gained approval from SGA to meet in an empty classroom and were then let in to meet. The incident was reported by SJP to the Office of Equity and Inclusion, which promised that this would not happen again and that Hofstra would be supportive of the growth of the organization.

Carolyn Eisenberg, a professor of U.S. history and American foreign policy, is one of 55 Hofstra faculty members who signed a call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before the recent humanitarian pause. She also expressed the importance of students’ awareness of the conflict.

“My biggest concern about students is that they are not paying attention. And they need to pay attention,” said Eisenberg. “They need to form a judgement about what they think about it.”

Graphic designed and information compiled by Moriah Sukhlal

Students hesistant to eat on campus after critical violations

Photo courtesy of Nassau County Health Department

Compass Dining also made clear their consistent association with the Nassau County Health Department, stating:

“Furthermore, we work closely with the local health department and have quality assurance protocols in place using their strict guidelines. Unannounced inspections are conducted regularly and are publicly available on the Nassau County Health Department site. Any violation cited during the inspections are addressed and corrected immediately.”

dropping in a corner of a kitchen, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that can contribute to the occurrences, more or less.”

“Say we found a bug in food … that would be considered an adulteration of the food and that

that doesn’t feel like it’s edible,” Boray said. She considered telling an employee but was unsure of who to talk to or if she would be taken seriously. “I don’t know who I would go to about this, confronting someone is kind of scary … it felt like more

that his door and email was always open if I have suggestions or any further concerns.”

Percy Benedick, a junior film major and drama minor, had a similar experience to White, but instead of finding a dead insect, there was a live wasp in his prepackaged Au Bon Pain sandwich sold at Bits & Bytes.

“I didn’t see [the wasp] at first … it didn’t move and I thought it was dead, but as I was pointing it out to my friend and moving the package, it started moving again. That freaked me out,” he explained.

Immediately, Benedick confronted an employee about this.

“I showed it to one of the [Bits & Bytes] employees who told me to just throw it away and grab a new one … I genuinely could not wrap my head around how they could have packaged that and just let a wasp get in, alive or not,” Benedick said.

Zohrabian explained that while the Student Center Café did receive three critical violations, there was no failure of inspection.

“The inspection from the second [of October] was not a failure level of action. It did

the Nassau County Health Department website for health inspection reports for those that are paranoid of food-borne illness or other related concerns.

“The best way you really want to prevent food poisoning is cooking it yourself. Make sure foods are cooked properly,” Zohrabian said.

Campus Dining encouraged all students to speak to someone with any concerns in order to address the issue most effectively. They stated the following:

“We encourage guests with concerns to bring them to our team, which we treat with the utmost urgency. When a matter is brought to our attention, our team immediately begins a formal investigation by conducting a meeting to obtain all details. The collected information is logged and addressed, and the following additional internal steps are taken:

“Checking to see if any other complaints have been filed about the same food item or dining location.

“Thoroughly inspecting the location and reviewing the production log with the unit and executive chef.

“I realized it was a bug. Utter disgust and shock was my initial reaction. Because how could something like this get missed?”

would definitely be considered a critical violation, the worst that you can get, actually,” she said. “If we receive a complaint about a food service establishment, we’ll go out and inspect that and investigate that claim.”

The Student Center Café also received a non-critical violation labeled under “Inadequate Insect/Rodent Control.”

When asked why this violation was considered “noncritical,” Alyssa Zohrabian, the public health administrator and director in the offfice of communications at the Nassau County Department of Health, explained that this non-critical violation can be a common occurrence in establishments. “Sometimes, [we] see a fly or see … a mouse

Some students were unsure if they should speak up if they encountered inedible objects in their food. Zoe Boray, a junior television production and studies major, found a square piece of black plastic in her food from the YO Bowl station at the Student Center Café this semester. This incident was not Boray’s last time finding plastic in her food, as this was the first out of two times this fall semester.

“I was just chewing my food and then I felt something hard in my mouth. And I was like,

trouble than it was worth. But it did make me question, like, am I going to eat here again?”

As mentioned before, White sent a text to the Student Advisory GroupMe confronting the issue she faced and was met with disgust and shock from other students.

However, after sending the text, she met with the executive chef and the manager of Compass, according to White. She was refunded the entire cost of her meal and was given a $50 meal card to spend anywhere on campus. “The manager was very apologetic and understanding. He explained how they immediately cleaned up the food stations and checked for any bugs,” White said. “Not only that, he reassured me numerous times

require a follow-up from our department,” she stated. “We had a place in our office where the operators took over the initial action and talked about [receiving] compliance on some of the items that were observed.”

“I definitely think they should let students know if there is a critical violation so that they can avoid eating there so that they don’t get sick,” Boray said.

As a commuter, Boray also feels stuck with Hofstra’s dining options. “It’s just that bringing food from home is so difficult, and there aren’t very many good options on [the] Hempstead Turnpike other than fast food.” She admitted that she will have to continue with a meal plan despite continuing to feel “a little scared.”

Zohrabian suggested to check

“Inspecting the rest of the food product in the location for potential issues such as temperature abnormalities or discoloration.

“Contacting the supplier/ procurement department to see if there were complaints about specific food supplies.”

Zohrabian concluded that if any person is experiencing food poisoning to seek medical attention immediately and then call Nassau County Health Department at (516) 227-9697.

For more information on the Nassau County Health Department’s inspections with Hofstra University or to submit a FOIA request, visit https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/1652/HealthDepartment.

The Freedom of Information Act Request explaining the three critical violations the Student Center Café received on Oct. 2.

Guest speaker encourages students to rocket their potential

By Muhammad Maaz

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

On Nov. 29, the Hofstra Graduate Marketing Association (GMA) organized an Executive Guest Speaker Event featuring Phyllis Ehrlich at the Sondra & David S. Mack Student Center. The event transformed it into

a hub of inspiration and professional wisdom.

Ehrlich, a former group vice president for Spectrum Reach, shared her new venture as a career coach as the president of Rocket Your Potential, LLC. Her plethora of experience includes her time as a former executive at the Walt Disney Company and Time Warner Cable Media.

Ehrlich shared her experience with a mix of undergraduate and graduate students from

the Frank G. Zarb School of Business and provided advice on how to best navigate their careers.

Attendees were not only treated to Ehrlich’s advice but also had the opportunity to receive autographed books from the speaker, adding a personal touch to the event.

The event included a discussion about crucial aspects of professional development, urging attendees to embrace self-awareness, recognize the power of networking and trek the intricacies of the LinkedIn landscape.

“We often hear about how we should always give our best and run the extra mile, but very few times we are given the necessary tools to accomplish this goal,” said Sarah Rivera Rios, a freshman marketing major. “[Ehrlich] made sure that everyone in the room took with them a little of her extraordinary knowledge.”

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

Key: PS – Public Safety

HU – Hofstra University UFD – Uniondale Fire

CS – Community Standards

police assistance at the time.

Ehrlich emphasized the importance of adding value to one’s network. According to Ehrlich, students need to consider personal branding and the importance of the “unique selling proposition,” a marketing technique involving making clear how one brand is better than competitors.

In the era of artificial intelligence, Ehrlich provided a unique perspective, encouraging students not to fear AI itself but rather wield its power effectively. Her keynote shed light on the buzzwords of the day, urging students to be “realistic, resilient and relentless” in the face of evolving technological landscapes.

Carla Hamilton, the co-op director of the Zarb School of Business, was excited to attend Ehrlich’s event and hopeful for the continuation of the Executive Guest Speaker Event series in the future.

“It truly was such an honor to have [Ehrlich]. Her advice motivated the students and her published book served as an inspiration to all that attended,” Hamilton said. “Bravo to the [Hofstra] Graduate Marketing Association student leadership for organizing such a fantastic event. I felt so proud to be present at such a wonderful event.”

The event culminated with an atmosphere of inspiration, and attendees felt equipped with newfound knowledge and a drive to implement these insights in their academic and professional journeys.

“The event left attendees with enriched perspectives and a sense of purpose,” said Lalitha Shree Basode, a graduate business operations and healthcare analytics major. “As a participant, I am grateful to be part of the GMA and to have contributed to such a noteworthy event.”

Public Safety Briefs

Compiled by Moriah Sukhlal

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

On Nov. 16, at 7:51 a.m., a Hofstra employee reported to PS that they discovered a broken window at Adams Playhouse.

A work order was prepared to replace the window.

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

were no injuries. Nassau County police responded and took a report.

age was identified as a Hofstra student. They were referred to CS.

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

On Nov. 15, at 12:44 a.m., the fire alarm at Constitution Hall was activated due to smoke from a dryer in the building. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated within five minutes without incident. PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On Nov. 16, at 7:37 p.m., the fire alarm in Cambridge House was activated due to burnt food in the common area. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated within one minute without incident. PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On Nov. 17, at 3:40 p.m., the fire alarm in Bill of Rights Hall was activated due to a hair dryer in a room. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated within six minutes without incident. PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

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

On Nov. 16, at 3 a.m., an HU student reported to PS that they witnessed two vehicles, both registered to students, hit each other, causing minor damage. The owner of the second vehicle was contacted and declined

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

On April 12, at 9:50 p.m., the fire alarm in Estabrook Hall was activated due to hair care products. The alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated. PS, the plant department and the Uniondale Fire Department responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On Nov. 18, at 1:59 a.m., the fire alarm at HofUSA was activated due to possible cigarette smoke in the men’s bathroom. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated within one minute without incident.

On Nov. 17, at 12:30 p.m., while traveling northbound on Oak Street near the Hempstead Turnpike, vehicle one, driven by a student, was struck by vehicle two, also driven by a student who was traveling west-east across Oak Street. Vehicle one sustained damage to the driver’s side rear tire while vehicle two sustained damage to the passenger side front fender. There

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

On Nov. 18, at 12 a.m., PS responded to the laundry room of Enterprise Hall on a call that an unknown person clogged the sink with paper towels and left the water running, causing it to overflow. The electric panel and paper dispenser were pulled open, and there was also a clogged toilet in the handicapped bathroom and a toilet paper dispenser pulled off the wall. Plant personnel were notified for cleanup and to inspect the electrical panel. After conducting an investigation, the individual who caused the dam-

PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reached.

On Nov. 19, at 6:49 p.m., the fire alarm at Vander Poel Hall was activated due to food in a room. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated within five minutes without incident. PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On April 14, at 5:25 p.m., the fire alarm in Hampton House was activated due to burnt food in the kitchen. The alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated. PS, the plant department and the Uniondale Fire Department responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On Nov. 20, at 10:10 a.m., while on routine patrol, PS discovered that the television in the lounge of Enterprise Hall had been intentionally damaged. A work order was prepared, and an investigation has been conducted into this matter.

On April 15, at 10:19 a.m., the fire alarm in New York House was activated due to burnt food in the kitchen. The alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated. PS, the plant department and the Uniondale Fire Department responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On April 15, at 6:53 p.m., an HU student reported to PS that they lost their wallet containing their driver’s license, Hofstra ID, debit card and cash. The wallet was lost in a location off campus. The NCPD responded and took a report.

On April 16, at 9:44 a.m., an HU student reported to PS that some of their laundry was missing from the laundry room in Alliance Hall. The student requested a police response.

On Nov. 19, at 1:32 p.m., while traveling westbound on Charles Lindbergh Boulevard in the left lane, vehicle one, driven by an HU student, was struck by vehicle two, driven by a non-student, which was attempting to make a left turn from the center lane into Mitchell Field. Vehicle one sustained damage to the right rear quarter panel and tire while vehicle two sustained damage to the driver’s side front quarter panel and bunker. There were no injuries. Nassau County police responded and took a report.

On Nov. 20, at 10:09 p.m., the fire alarm in the Hampton House was activated due to burnt food in the lounge. The fire alarm sounded, and the building was evacuated within one minute without incident. PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On April 16, at 10:26 p.m., an HU student was issued a referral to CS for swiping an unknown person into Netherlands South.

On April 17, at 9 a.m., an HU student reported to PS that an unknown

Professor Luke C. Ng (center left) & Graduate Marketing Association members posing for a photo with Phyllis Ehrlich (center right) as they hand over a thank-you plaque.

Photo courtesy of Muhammad Maaz

By Emma Fabilli PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

If you told me when I first got to Hofstra that I would eventually be an editor for The Hofstra Chronicle, I would have looked at you like you had six heads. Writing was never my strong suit, so joining the Chronicle never even crossed my mind. However, as an aspiring photographer looking for more ways to practice photography on campus, when the position of assistant photo editor opened up, I knew I had to jump at the chance to apply.

Once I got the position, a wave of fear and excitement washed over me. I realized I had no idea what I had just gotten myself into. Sure, I loved photography, but I had never done any form of photojournalism before. I never thought I would be taking photos for anything outside of artistic purposes. I immediately became worried that I was not the right person for this job and that the paper had just made a horrible mistake.

Thankfully, this all changed when I went to my first layout. Ironically, my first layout was actually the last layout of the entire year in the spring semester of 2022. I started the night out strong, immediately getting lost trying to find the Chronicle office. I finally got there, but I didn’t know that this was the last layout of the year and also some editors’ last layout ever. I was definitely not prepared for what was about to happen. I stood in the corner of the room, on the verge of tears, listening to people I’d never met before talk about their time with the Chronicle and how grateful they were for it. I knew then that I was going to be a part of something special.

I spent the rest of the time observing everyone in the room working to put together the last issue of the year and having fun along the way. I watched

FEATURES

Senior send-off: Emma Fabilli

as everyone talked and laughed together, and it was clear that everyone was genuinely happy to be there. I could already feel how hardworking and passionate all of the editors were from that very first day, and I left feeling excited and ready to be a member of the team next semester.

promoted to photo editor and faced a new challenge this year – running the section myself. I have never considered myself to be much of a leader, so when I found out that I would now be in charge of the entire section, I was terrified. I owe so much to the recruitment chairs, Aidan Judge

to have had such an amazing group of photographers who were always willing to help me out this year, and I truly don’t know what I would have done without them. I also want to thank the entire Chronicle staff for being so fun to work and spend time with every layout. I

“I stood in the corner of the room, on the verge of tears, listening to people I’d never met before talk about their time with the Chronicle and how grateful they were for it. I knew then that I was going to be a part of something special.”

That fall, I was officially an assistant photo editor. I began attending events to shoot for our spreads. I still remember how nervous I was, but it was worth it when I saw all of my photos in print a few days later. From then on, I continued shooting events and helping to make our spreads, gaining more and more confidence. Eventually, I got

and Ethan Albin, for helping me find photographers for each issue and to the rest of the e-board for being so patient and understanding as I navigated this position. Now, at the end of my time as photo editor, I can confidently say I am proud of the work I have done running the section myself and during my entire time at the Chronicle. I am so grateful

am constantly blown away by the work everyone does for each issue and greatly admire everyone’s love for print journalism. I would be remiss if I did not give a special shout out to the people who have made my time at the Chronicle so memorable. First and foremost, to one of my best friends, Allie Millette, who sent me the information about

the open assistant position in the first place and told me I should apply. Without you, I probably would have never known about the position or joined the paper.

I would also like to thank the past and present editor in chiefs and managing editors – Alexis Friedman, Anna DeGoede and Julian Rocha – whom I have had the pleasure of working under. I could not have asked for a better group of people to have led this paper, and you all have been nothing but helpful, kind and supportive. I knew I could always come to any of you for any questions I had, no matter how big or small, and your dedication to this paper is so inspiring. Shoutout to another of my fellow editors, Aidan Judge, who has been such an amazing help to me throughout my time at the Chronicle. I have never met someone so passionate and dedicated to the work they do both in and outside of the Chronicle, and I am in awe of your immense talent. I am so thankful for the Chronicle bringing us together, and I am so grateful I get to call you one of my closest friends.

A big thank you to two of my lovely friends on the copy team, Nell and Josie, who put up with me and my horrible writing skills. I will truly never understand how you don’t get angry with me, having to always correct my mistakes every layout, and I am especially sorry for the number of errors that are in this piece, which I know there definitely are.

Finally, thank you to Alexis Friedman and Jacob Lewis for hiring me and trusting me to hold this position, and to my new assistants, Annie and D’Angelo, who will be taking over for me after this semester. I am so excited to see where you both take this section and all of the amazing work you will do!

Emma Fabilli / The Hofstra Chronicle

FEATURES

Are students the real magic at Disney?

By Rachael Hajec

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Students all around the world are able to apply during their college careers to be a part of the magic at the Walt Disney World Park in Florida through the Disney College Program. However, are the students the cast members who truly bring the parks to life?

The Disney College Program is a national paid internship opportunity that is a combination of on-site job opportunities and learning new curriculum and continuing college coursework. Students are also drawn in by the idea of receiving cast member discounts, free park entry, merchandise, apartment style living, behind-the-scenes opportunities and more.

In a Walt Disney World News release, they discuss how the program came to be and the main purpose behind it.

“Since it began more than 40 years ago, the Disney College Program has kickstarted careers for many Disney leaders, com-

munity members and industry professionals,” the release reads. “The program can help college students and recent graduates get their foot in the door at one of the world’s most admired media and entertainment companies at Disney, or even set them up with the tools and experience for a successful career at another company.”

Students are able to apply any time of year while they are enrolled in an undergraduate program, or are a recent college graduate, and select a semester or layoff period where they can work in any of the Walt Disney World parks and

resorts. Over 50,000 students apply annually with only 12,000 acceptances.

Lexie Matteo, a former Disney College Program participant and current full-time Magic Kingdom

greeter, spoke about her experience with the program and what helped her make the decision to stay.

“I really liked the freedom and

independence I had here compared to a normal internship, and Disney in general already has a lot of great perks that my old job at home as a school counselor does not have,” Matteo said. “I am getting a higher pay salary and received a raise so that helps a lot, but also this job is much more family oriented for all ages, and I feel a true bond with my co-workers because I have such an inclusive and safe work environment.”

Even though students only make up about 5% of the workforce at Walt Disney World, and some decide to stay full

time after their program is over, could there be any downsides to working at ‘the happiest place on earth?’

Caitleen Aventura, another Disney College Program graduate, also discussed her experience working as a Magic Kingdom park greeter and how there were some abnormal expectations.

“I would say there were definitely a lot of unexpected things, like working until 3 in the morning, but I think I prepared myself for a while by watching YouTube videos with people who have already experienced it,” Aventura said. “I was able to relate to them as some people talked about the downsides of it all because they don’t tell you about the hours you will work so late and how you will probably work over forty hours a week, leaving no time for the actual ‘college’ part of the program.”

Danceworks’ fall show celebrates dance and friendship

By Ava Dela Pena SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

For the members of Danceworks, their annual end-of-semester show marks not only a culmination of their hard work but also a culmination of the friendships they’ve developed through the year.

The show took place on Nov. 21 and Nov. 22 at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse. The club is entirely student-run and is not affiliated with Hofstra’s drama and dance department, meaning that no Hofstra staff members were involved in the making of the show.

Danceworks is potentially one of the largest clubs on campus, according to Danceworks member and junior Grace MacIntyre. The large community generates a massive audience for each show in the two-day run.

“I was so excited to see all my friends on stage,” said sophomore Dalia Shawareb.

The show consisted of 12 dances to the music of artists such as Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Missy Elliot and Kendrick Lamar. Featured dance styles included jazz, hip-hop, tap and contemporary.

“What makes Danceworks’ show different is the audience,” Shawareb said. “It feels like anyone can come and everyone’s having a good time. It’s like a big party.”

In the John Cranford Adams Playhouse, audience members typically clutch signs supporting dancers and call out names of dancers in the show. Each row is filled to the brim with supporters, and the energy is unlike traditional theater etiquette, which discourages any noise, pictures or videos. Instead, at Danceworks shows, audience members cheer and sing along to every song and take videos of their favorite moments, all of which is encouraged by the show’s producers.

“It’s such a breath of fresh air to be in a room with people who love and appreciate you,” said junior dancer and choreographer Aria Moreno. Dancers train for the annual fall show throughout the semester, which builds a sense of community and camaraderie among the dancers.“With Danceworks, there’s a big social aspect,” said junior Christina Panagiotidis. “You get to dance and meet people, too.”

The fall show allows all of the dancers to unite and celebrate with each other. “One of the best parts of the show is seeing my friends perform, too,” Panagiotidis said.

As for the dances themselves, students orchestrate everything from the song choice to the choreography. Moreno said one of her favorite moments was seeing her own co-choreographed piece on stage for the first time during rehearsal. “We were just scream-

ing and grabbing each other, it was just so cool to see it all coming together,” she said. “Dance is really an emotional outlet.”

Although Danceworks may prioritize socialization more than other dance clubs, dancers agree that performing is still the best part of the club.

“My favorite part is the dancing aspect, not even everything

else that goes into being in this club,” Panagiotidis said.

“Coming into Danceworks and getting those opportunities once a semester to be on stage and perform, it brings out a side of me that I forget,” MacIntyre said.

“It’s just so nice; the adrenaline is pumping, you leave stage and you just feel good about yourself.”

Photo courtesy of Rachael Hajec

Photo courtesy of Ava Dela Pena

M AN ON THE U NISPAN

What is your favorite thing about this time of the year?

By Zoe Casselman and Frankie DiCalogero

FEATURES EDITOR AND SPORTS EDITOR

“That it’s hot beverage, hot soup season. I would have it all year round, but hot soup when it’s hot is a lot. I think I’m going to have hot chocolate after this, actually!”

- Cyd Rosenberg, senior

“I like being able to go into the city and see all the lights, the big tree.”

- Skylar Brown, freshman

“Spending time with friends and family. ”

- Mayah Fransisco, freshman

O verheard @ h O fstra

“I used to think Santa Claus was God.”

“It’s giving ‘Human Centipede.’”

“He sucks, put him back in the womb!”

“If there’s a little bit of nipple, it’s always okay.”

“Margaritas are not exclusive to Chili’s!”

“She clocked his ass so hard she might as well have invented time.”

“I got high and literally became the Avengers.”

“There’s literally goats in the fucking woods.”

“I can’t keep track of who’s uncircumsized.”

“Wait, don’t make me do the trolley problem, I’m a vegan.”

Spread by Audra Nemirow

Zoe Casselman/ The Hofstra Chronicle

FEATURES

Chron Cooks ft. Madeline Sisk: Pumpkin Muffins

By Madeline Sisk COPY CHIEF

For as long as I can remember, pumpkin muffins have served as a staple recipe for my family during the holiday season. From bake sales to class parties to holiday dinners, these muffins have become a treat I look forward to making every year. As soon as the weather starts to cool and the leaves begin to fall, I start looking for pumpkin products to appear in the supermarket.

Even as an adult, I get so excited to make them because it reminds me of all the fond memories I have in the kitchen with my mom making dozens upon dozens of these little muffins. In fact, I’m such a fan that I take every opportunity to make and share them with people. This pumpkin muffin recipe has given me a sense of community and joy year after year as I watch each new person’s face light up as they take their first bite. For a period of time, I was glutenfree, so I found that I could adjust the recipe to accommodate that restriction as well. Even for those who aren’t a fan of the classic pumpkin flavor, my hope is that you might just find yourself pleasantly surprised by the rich, yet not overpowering, flavor.

Ingredients:

2 cups of sugar

2 ½ cups of flour (or 2 cups gluten-free flour)

1 ½ teaspoon of cinnamon

2 teaspoons of baking soda

1 cup of vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 15-ounce can of pumpkin puree (I like to use Libby’s)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon and baking soda in a large bowl. I like to use a clear one to ensure everything is properly incorporated.

3. Mix in oil, eggs and vanilla until combined.

4. Mix pumpkin into batter.

5. Grease or add baking cups to the muffin tins.

6. Pour batter into a bag (I use a gallon-sized Ziploc) and cut a small hole in the end.

7. Fill muffin tin cups to three-fourths of the way to the top.

8. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until the inside is cooked through.

9. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before removing from tins. (Unless you used baking cups – don’t let them cool all the way as they will be a lot more difficult to remove!)

10. Serve and enjoy!

Madeline Sisk / The Hofstra Chronicle

Hofstra Holiday Cheer

On Friday, Dec. 1, the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement hosted the 40th annual lighting of Hofstra Hall. Students, parents and families were invited to the event. The event began with the lighting of Hofstra Hall and was followed by holiday activities in the student center. Mascots Kate and Willie attended the event, which included student performances, food and warm drinks.

Spread by Annie MacKeigan

Photo by Emma Fabilli / The Hofstra Chronicle

Photo by Emma Fabilli / The Hofstra Chronicle

Photo courtesy of Alexander Ferreira

Photo courtesy of Alexander Ferreira

Photo courtesy of Alexander Ferreira

Photo courtesy of Alexander Ferreira

Photo courtesy of Alexander Ferreira

Photo by Emma Fabilli / The Hofstra Chronicle

Arts And EntErtAinmEnt

The beloved ‘Hunger Games’ franchise returns

By Abby Gibson ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ASSISTANT

“The Hunger Games” franchise continued on Nov. 17 with the release of “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” a prequel movie to the original trilogy. The new movie, directed by Francis Lawrence, tells the story of the 10th annual Hunger Games, highlighting Coriolanus Snow.

Viewers got to see where the games originated and how things might have evolved into the 74th Hunger Games. With a runtime of two hours and 38 minutes, the movie does not have a dull moment.

The first “The Hunger Games” movie, released in March 2012, starred Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark. It placed fans within the world of District 12 and started with the

74th games. It became a hit, and there has been a movie for every “The Hunger Games” book that Suzanne Collins, the author of the series, has written since.

“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” stars Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird and Tom Blythe as Coriolanus Snow. The pair had great chemistry within the movie, giving viewers a chance to forget they were watching a dystopian movie. Lucy Gray was a character from District 12 with

a love of music, using songs to express her feelings throughout the movie.

Getting to see the background of President Snow was key to understanding where he ended up in later years. Viewers get to see Snow and his older cousin Tigris as kids during the Dark Days, which are the days before The Hunger Games and Capitol existed, and then flash-forward to them living with their grandmother during the preparation of the 10th Hunger Games.

The story is told entirely from Snow’s perspective, which creates a question at the end of the film: what is Lucy Gray’s ending? Viewers see her run off into the woods while Snow attempts to shoot her at the end of the movie, since they initially planned to run away together. She becomes the one person who knows that he has killed three

people in total, which Snow sees as a threat to his power. We eventually see Snow 64 years later, but we never see Lucy Gray again.

The soundtrack for the movie adds to the ambiance of the world. With the folksy musical style, the listeners get a deeper feeling of the world of Lucy Gray and District 12. Collins says she included the music as an essential aspect to Lucy Gray as it is one of the things that haunts President Snow the most. While Lucy Gray might not be remembered, her songs “The Hanging Tree” and “Deep in the Meadow” continue to be known throughout the series.

With $243 million being made at the box office as of Dec. 3, it is the best-performing installation of the movie series in the first week, with the second being “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” coming in at around $158 million.

Quick Hits

‘Saltburn’ is a jaw-dropping psychological thriller

By Frankie DiCalogero SPORTS EDITOR

Nothing could prepare audiences for “Saltburn,” the psychological thriller and black comedy that was released on Nov. 17. The film follows a young university student who becomes obsessed with a wealthy student and his family, ultimately spending the summer with them at their Saltburn estate.

“Saltburn” stars Barry Keoghan alongside Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Alison Oliver, Archie Madekwe and Carey Mulligan. Keoghan, playing the role of obssessed university student Oliver Quick, was truly breathtaking to watch. Keoghan nailed his role and made audiences audibly gasp with his character. Besides Keoghan, the entire cast was tremendous, with Elordi and Pike’s performances being the most notable. Elordi, playing Felix Catton, was terrific. In the beginning, he was a typical rich-

and-privileged jock character who focused on girls over his academics. As the story went on, Felix became a more likable figure, showing his vulnerable side with his history of friends leaving him or only wanting him for specific reasons. His role was genuine, but unfortunately for him, it didn’t end well.

peace, regardless of any traumatic events. Pike put forth a must-see performance.

It’s not only the acting that makes “Saltburn” great. The story, despite leaving the audience with many questions, was quick in pulling viewers in. The story is complex and deep, with underlying messages and feelings that may not be fully seen on the big screen.

Pike played Felix’s mother, Lady Elspeth, and was a loveable personality from the beginning. She was comedic in her relationship with Pamela (Mulligan) and was pure throughout. She was caring for Oliver and tried to keep the family together at

The biggest recurring themes were excess and obsession. Oliver wanting this level of wealth after coming from a poor family is understandable at first, but it also points to a large issue at hand for him: wanting this lifestyle based on his own obsessions. His obsession with Felix coexists with his obsession with

wanting to be at the top of the socioeconomic ladder.

Oliver’s desire also drove him into wanting this status. He’s in love with Felix, but later in the movie, he says that his hate for Felix is stronger than his love for him, believing that people like Felix always have the upper hand and get all the glory.

This obsession is briefly heartfelt, as it originally just comes off as someone who just wants to be friends with the popular crew.

‘Briefly’ is the operative word, though, as “Saltburn” quickly transforms into one of the strangest and most mesmerizing movies of the year.

“Saltburn,” despite being grossly confusing in some ways and leaving questions unanswered, is a captivating mustwatch. No amount of preparation can get you ready for the craziest movie of the year. As the tagline says, “We’re all about to lose our minds” – and audiences sure did.

“The Golden Bachelor” concluded its first season on Thursday, Nov. 30.

Courtesy of Vulture

Courtesy of Variety

Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling will star in an “Ocean’s Eleven” prequel together.

“Wish” opened with only $31.7 million over Thanksgiving weekend.

Taylor Swift attended the “RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ” premiere in London.

Courtesy of The Wrap

Emma Stone hosted SNL on Saturday, Dec. 2, joining the fivetimers club.

Courtesy of People

Courtesy of WTOP

The film has a 64% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, deeming it “fresh.”

Photo courtesy of IGN Nordic

Emerald Fennell has previously directed “Promising Young Woman.”

Photo courtesy of We Live Entertainment

‘Big Brother’ caps off season with historic winner

By Frankie DiCalogero SPORTS EDITOR

The reality television juggernaut “Big Brother” capped off its landmark 25th season by crowning Jagateshwar “Jag” Bains, a 25-year-old truck company owner from Omak, Washington. Bains was not only the first Sikh player to win the game but also the first Sikh player to play “Big Brother.”

The 25th season premiered on Aug. 2 and lasted all the way to Nov. 9, becoming the longest season in franchise history at 100 days. Before its premiere, many fans were clamoring for some type of season featuring previous popular players as a perfect way to commemorate the franchise.

While that didn’t come to fruition, the cast consisted of 16 brand-new houseguests, including Cirie Fields, a decorated reality star who is most well-known for her impressive four seasons on the hit show “Survivor.” Fields became the first Survivor contestant to appear on “Big Brother” and was the 17th houseguest to enter.

Fields was not alone, though, as one of the original 16 houseguests

included her son, Jared Fields.

The duo were miraculously able to keep their relationship a secret from most of the cast throughout the season – a truly impressive feat.

Besides Fields, another notable contestant included Matt Klotz, a Deaflympics gold medalist from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who finished the season as runner-up before losing in a jury vote to Bains. Miranda “Bowie Jane” Ball also made it to finale night, ending up in third place after being evicted by Bains.

Cannon ultimately finished in fourth place, becoming the second-oldest contestant to reach the final four in the show’s history.

“Big Brother” also had its usual

about the gameplay of the cast, highlighting its unpredictability, unique personalities and chaotic live feeds. However, the gameplay in the second half of the season was criticized for being too predictable and boring. It also began a conversation surrounding unequal winners in “Big Brother” competitions.

uest Luke Valentine was expelled from the game after using a racial slur. There were also moments of sexism and problematic behavior from Klotz, Jared Fields and Cameron Hardin, with the latter surprisingly taking home “America’s Favorite Player” during finale night. Many credited this surprising outcome to production giving an undeservedly favorable edit to Hardin on television as compared to what was actually seen on the live feeds.

The season was highlighted for its diverse casting, with nine houseguests over the age of 30 and four over the age of 40. Among them was Felicia Cannon, 63, who became a loveable “meme machine” all season long.

“showmance” of the season, this time in the form of America Lopez and Cory Wurtenberger. Both were able to successfully make it to the jury stage of the season before Wurtenberger was ultimately evicted on day 79. Lopez fell victim to double eviction night just one week later on day 86.

At the beginning of the show, fans and critics alike were raving

Over 80% of the competitions have been won by men, with only one houseguest, Blue Kim, winning a Power of Veto competition. There is clearly work that needs to be done to improve diversity within the show. Season 23 was considered the start of a new era with the rule that 50% of contestants must be people of color finally taking place.

“Big Brother” also came under fire in the first week when houseg-

Despite the negatives, there are definitely positive things to take away from this season. Season 25 was one of the first in a while where viewers could not predict the winner on finale night, with fans split on who should win between Bains and Klotz. Overall, the personalities and great live feeds carried the 25th season to be a mostly enjoyable ride. When looking at this season in a bubble, it was ultimately a successful installment with a heartfelt and historic winner to cap it off.

‘Thanksgiving’ carves up a delectable horror

By Frankie DiCalogero

SPORTS EDITOR

The slasher film “Thanksgiving” was released in theaters on Nov. 17, scoring big with fans and critics alike. The film has notched an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes with mostly positive reviews for director Eli Roth’s latest horror installment while also grossing $36.8 million against a $15 million budget as of Monday, Dec. 4.

The film stars Patrick Dempsey, Nell Verlaque, Addison Rae, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Milo Manheim, Rick Hoffman and Gina Gershon, among others. The story centers around the Thanksgiving holiday, where a secret killer in a John Carver mask is preparing to carve up a group of teens and their confidants after a deadly in-store riot breaks out on the previous year’s Black Friday.

There are many positives to take away from “Thanksgiving.”

For starters, while the premise may be over-the-top and unnatural, it somehow works as the film balances the comedic element to go along with the slasher-style cinema.

The kill scenes within the film are well done. They’re brutal,

unique and a surprise considering the cast isn’t filled with the most top-level or experienced performers. One scene that comes to mind is when the killer bakes a character in the oven like a Thanksgiving turkey.

Verlaque’s role as the lead,

Jessica, is the best throughout. Her performance was as solid as you can get in a horror-type environment. Dempsey and Gabriel Davenport should also be praised for their performances.

There are some negatives to this film. While the acting was

delight

better than expected, it lacked in some areas, as some of the lines felt either forced or just didn’t come out strongly. Some logic and time gaps are missing, mostly during the background of the film and how things occurred on Black Friday.

There are elements in “Thanksgiving” that make it a worthwhile watch. Today, we’ve seen slasher films become secondary to psychological thrillers or horror films that leave you thinking critically. “Thanksgiving” is quite the opposite: it’s a simple movie that gets the job done, bringing slasher films back to how they used to be.

If you like slasher movies, “Thanksgiving” is the perfect movie for you. This film has the potential to bring out the best of the genre, hopefully paving the way for more standalone slasher films in the future.

The franchise will premiere its first holiday spinoff on Monday, Dec. 11, titled “Big Brother: Reindeer Games.”

The film was shot in in Toronto, Ontario, as well as Hamilton, Ontario, in early spring of this year, filming for about seven weeks.

Photo courtesy of Entertainment Weekly

Photo courtesy of Vox

A.I. in the entertainment industry and at Hofstra

By Alex Ferreira STAFF WRITER

2023 has become the year of artificial intelligence. The current phenomenon has rapidly transformed modern technology landscapes and sparked debates across various fields. It is expected that this technology will play a significant role in shaping the future of various industries, particularly the entertainment industry, which is constantly evolving and has emerged as one of the frontrunners in attempts at adopting AI technology.

Since the technology is still relatively new and its capabilities are continuously being explored, there is a possibility that AI could play a significant role in various aspects of entertainment. This has raised concerns among professionals about the potential loss of jobs and the need to adapt to new systems.

Artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry is not a new concept. It has been utilized for various purposes, such as generating creative ideas and improving production effi-

ciency. Although AI is currently employed in specific areas such as search algorithms or language processing, it can also expand to other regions. However, implementing AI in entertainment raises some ethical concerns. For instance, with a simple prompt, executives could create AI-generated content that doesn’t require payment or credit to real people in the future.

One of the first instances of AI possibly becoming a major concern was in the Writers Guild of America strike, in which writers were concerned their jobs would soon be replaced by AI software. The strike was resolved recently, but it was recognized that writers could still use AI technology in their work, leaving the door open for further debate.

“The deal states that writers can use AI if the company consents. But a company cannot require a writer to use AI software,” said Jake Coyle, a film writer and critic, in an Associated Press article.

At the university level, artificial intelligence is one of the most exciting developments due to its potential to enhance the future of

“ChatGPT” is currently one of the largest AI generative softwares on the planet.

communication, including filmmaking and journalism.

“In journalism, I believe it’s reasonable to expect that artificial intelligence will take on a greater and greater role in what commodity news [is]. That is, routine and straightforward reporting that can easily be replicated at greater speed and efficiency by AI,” said Dean Mark Lukasiewicz of

the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication at Hofstra. “In creative fields such as screenwriting and graphic design or production art, artificial intelligence is likely to become a source of first drafts and initial concepts, with a writer or artist taking the AI-generated product and making improvements, edits and modifications to bring the product to its final form.”

Artificial intelligence will soon be embraced at Hofstra University, according to Lukasiewicz. He believes that its impact on students and the industry will be significant.

“I don’t believe it would be wise for the Herbert School, or any other educational institution, to attempt a ban or prohibition on AI,” Lukasiewicz said. “It is destined to be a part of all of our lives, and the sooner we come to grips with what it can – and cannot – do, the better we will all be for it … Exactly how that will unfold remains to be seen, and it will be up to faculty to decide whether AI will play a role and how … Just as computers and the

internet and digitization changed so many roles in the economy, so too will AI.”

Artificial intelligence will bring both challenges and opportunities for students in college preparing for careers in the entertainment industry. Depending on how you look at it, college students may have a disadvantage or advantage. In the future, children will grow up with artificial intelligence and knowledge that we are just now learning.

On the other hand, AI also gives college students today a chance to become some of the first to use the ever-evolving tool in the field and to make a name for our generation. The real test for students our age is adapting to technological advancements, staying informed about AI trends and acquiring relevant skills crucial for success in this evolving landscape.

Photo courtesy of RoutineHub Blog

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.

Trevor Bauer: Please stay away

By Tom Norman

With free agency looming for Major League Baseball (MLB), the season of major “what-ifs” has officially started. One player who is set to be a free agent this winter is righthanded pitcher Trevor Bauer.

The 31-year-old spent the last year pitching in Japan for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, where he posted solid stats for the club. Previously, he pitched for multiple teams in the MLB, including the Cleveland Guardians and the Cincinatti Reds. He even won the National League Cy Young Award in 2020, which is given to the best pitcher in each league every year.

In 2021, Bauer signed a three-year contract worth $102 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Just this past year, however, the Dodgers designated Bauer for assignment – effectively cutting him, according to AP News.

So how did Bauer go from a world-class pitcher to being lucky to get a starting position at the MLB level in under three

years? Well, over the past few years, four different women, per ESPN, have accused Bauer of sexual assault. These accusations led to a subsequent administrative leave and suspension from the MLB as they were looked into, which led in turn to his designation for assignment.

Even before these allegations, Bauer had been known to cause a lot of unnecessary drama, getting into feuds with other star players like Alex Bregman and Fernando Tatis Jr. He also lets some of his obsessions come before the game, like the time he cut his finger open on a drone and had to be removed from the playoff game he was pitching in due to severe bleeding.

In normal circumstances, that would be the end of it, but Bauer’s penchant for drama naturally meant he needed to add more to this story. On Oct. 2, Bauer uploaded a video to his social media accounts in which he detailed the outcome of one of his cases, where he and the alleged victim had agreed to drop their cases against one

another. He used this video to paint the alleged victim, Lindsey Hill, in a bad light to more than 500,000 followers on Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Whether you believe Bauer is telling the truth in that video or not, there should be no circumstance in which Bauer pitches in MLB. I believe there is a detail that was conveniently left out of Bauer’s video.

In Nov. 2021, Hill had a restraining order request against Bauer denied. Many people who defend Bauer believe that this was due to no wrongdoing taking place. However, according to the LA Times, the restraining order request was denied because the judge believed that the two would likely never be in contact again, noting that the denial of a restraining order did not mean that Bauer was innocent of any allegations.

It is also important to note that a case being settled out of court does not mean anyone is completely innocent – it only means that the two sides did not want to take their lawsuit to

Dear readers,

trial. According to reports from the Washington Post, Hill partly did not feel the need to go to trial because of the $300,000 payment she received from her insurance company for the suit.

Even if one of the four allegations was settled, in what world does that make the other three disappear? The mental gymnastics required to believe Bauer is completely free of wrongdoing is mind-boggling.

For the past year, concerns about Bauer’s behavior have been shared between all 30 MLB teams. When a player gets designated for assignment, all 29 other teams have the chance to sign the player for the league minimum salary of $720,000, according to Statista, while the original team – in this case, the Dodgers – must still pay whatever remaining salary was owed to the player. For Bauer, the Dodgers still owed him $22.5 million.

And yet no team signed him. In other leagues, when players have serious allegations come out against them, they still recieve heavy interest from other teams. In 2022, Deshaun

Watson got the highest total guaranteed money in NFL history and the Cleveland Browns gave up three firstround draft picks for him, despite being accused of sexual misconduct and harassment by 26 women, according to Forbes.

Bauer, on the other hand, is clearly not seen as a good enough arm to be worth the risk to sign him. They successfully got him out of the league; now it’s time to keep him out.

However, there have been reports that he is searching for a return to the Majors. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on X that Bauer’s representatives have already been reaching out to teams for a possible career revival.

I believe any team that takes a shot at him will sorely regret it. Even if you can somehow look past his open sexual assault cases, off the field he is a nuisance. All he does is make unnecessary noise, and I find it hard to believe that any team would willingly take him.

Tom Norman is a sophomore journalism major.

By Ethan Albin and Makenzie Hurt

We hope this letter finds you well. Since our tenure as editors began, we’ve written and published some controversial takes – a few that some members of the Hofstra community haven’t taken a liking to. While we understand this, something that we’ve observed is the prevalence to express distaste for a piece’s subject matter without taking any initiative. If there’s a disagreement on a topic or article we’ve published, we call on you, as readers, to write counter-opinions.

The idea of free speech within the realm of journalism is a constant topic of debate. Let us be clear in saying

that we want to publish as many opinion pieces as possible, whether that be on controversial issues in the real world or criticisms of campus policies and issues.

The Opinion section receives a great deal of feedback from our readers on almost every article published. We value what each member of the Hofstra community has to say and advocate for our writers and readers to use their voices to speak up on issues they take within our articles. However, we do then encourage you to write a counter-opinion in response.

We appreciate your critiques, but we ask that you be willing to put your name behind it. You can speak with us in person or via email about writing

something in response.

We acknowledge that most criticism is constructive and helps us and our writers to grow. But it is important to remember that our section is called “Opinions and Editorials.” They are just that: opinions. You can critique our portrayal of issues and the content itself, but we value opinions over everything.

As individuals, we don’t necessarily agree with everything we publish, either. As journalists and editors, we have a responsibility to be unbiased when editing and choosing what is published.

When someone approaches us with an idea for a controversial issue, we always try our absolute hardest to find someone to write a counter

article. It’s our duty as editors to look to cover all sides of an issue. Yet we often struggle to find writers willing to write any opposing viewpoints.

What makes our section so incredibly unique is that there is no definitive truth. We always incorporate hard facts and corroborate evidence in our pieces, but no opinion is the “right one.” That’s the beauty of it.

There is no right or wrong as long as our section guidelines are followed. It’s all dependent on how one’s argument is constructed. How does the writer utilize sources? What are the grounds of the discourse in the first place?

A well-constructed opinion piece sews together facts and evidence with the writer’s takes intertwined.

We aren’t reporting hard news; we look at what’s going on in the world through our lens. Every print edition of the Chronicle has a disclaimer which explains that opinions expressed here are those of the author and those views are not reflective of The Hofstra Chronicle.

We encourage all readers to come and join Opinion and write counter-opinions. Allow your opinions to be heard –someone else who reads your article is likely thinking the same thing.

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

Ethan Albin and Makenzie Hurt are co-editors of The Hofstra Chronicle’s Opinion section.

Holiday Crossword

9. This winter holiday begins on Dec. 26

Graphic by Makenzie Hurt / The Hofstra Chronicle

1. Milk-based beverage often enjoyed on Christmas

5. Christmas celebrates the birth of ___

6. Plant people often kiss underneath during the winter holidays

8. ___ Brown, beloved comic strip character

10. Reindeer who leads the sleigh

2. Popular wintertime flavor 3. Hanukkah is celebrated over ___ days 4. “The first ___...”

6. Candelabra lit during Hanukkah

7. Man who brings toys to “nice” children 8. What a “naughty” child gets in their stocking

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.

By Estelle Collette

Black Friday is designed to lure consumers into spending as much as they can in the least amount of time possible. Through the promise of discounts, limited-time offers and the use of shady marketing to create a sense of urgency, Black Friday continues to scam shoppers year after year.

Oftentimes, discounts come with a fine print promising savings only after spending a certain amount. However, the minimum is typically more expensive than the cost of buying one individual item, pushing customers to spend more than intended for a discount that would not have been enough to cover the cost of the initial item in the first place.

In addition to spending double the money for a quarter of the price off, retailers today are often dishonest when it comes to the sale price in

By Ethan Poole

Black Friday is a scam

comparison to what products are worth. Items are often advertised as significantly more expensive than their market price. The inflated price is then crossed out, and the original true market value is written as a sale price.

According to CBS, this process is referred to as listing anchor prices, which create the illusion of a great deal when, in reality, customers are paying full price. Anchor prices and minimum spending requirements for receiving discounts are not the only things that contribute to the scam of Black Friday shopping.

Half of the Black Friday pressure comes from its image. The entire event has been designed to appeal to mass consumerism, promising cheap holiday gifts, savings on household upgrades and oncein-a-lifetime deals, all painted with festive wrapping to hide the reality that Black Friday prices are often the same or

more expensive than regular prices throughout the year.

In fact, according to CNBC, 98% of Black Friday prices from 2021 were either the same or cheaper throughout the year outside of the shopping event. That means that only 2% of Black Friday sales were genuinely at their lowest price of the year during the event.

Black Friday sales also tend to create environments that build pressure and lead to more impulsive purchases. When breaking down seasonal shopping events in general, a paper from the Journal of Fashion Technology & Textile Engineering discusses the use of marketing techniques that are designed to create a sense of urgency through the presentation of items in limited quantities, available for specific, short windows and the promise of better deals to early birds through a first-come, firstserve ideology. This leads customers to

feel inclined to participate, as they feel they might miss out on an item or discount if they don’t rush to the stores to buy whatever and however much they can.

The possibility of missing sales or limited-edition items, alongside the pressure to be involved, leads people to form lines at all hours of the morning or even camp out the night before. Furthermore, it creates chaos and disorder in the stores themselves, leading to stressful shopping experiences with an almost-competitive feel.

For some people, Black Friday is a social event that is less about the sales and more about tradition when it comes to a day of shopping with friends and family. However, the scale of the event – consisting of masses of consumers in combination with the desire to seize deals before they disappear – leads average shoppers to be taken advantage of, as they overlook whether

the so-called discounts are really honest.

The fact that people wait all year to do their holiday shopping, put off buying more expensive items, and are convinced through marketing and anchor prices that they are saving money, leads Black Friday to become a total scam. The pressure to spend more to save more is simply a ploy to benefit retailers, as consumers are deceived into paying more than items are worth.

Hofstra food posed a serious threat to my health

My name is Ethan Poole. I am a freshman at Hofstra, and I am allergic to eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, watermelon and pitted fruits. As you can imagine, this has made eating on campus a stressful experience, a threat to my health and has greatly limited my food options – even though Hofstra has stated that they practice food safety.

On Halloween, I went to HofUSA to get a late-night snack with a friend. I ordered my usual order of a milkshake and fries and entered my allergies on the ordering kiosk as I always do. About halfway through drinking my milkshake, I noticed the trademark symptoms of the onset of an allergic reaction: an odd dry sensation in my throat, severe stomach pain and nausea. I had

to be transported to the hospital where I was treated and not released until 6:30 a.m. the next day.

This was obviously a traumatic event. I felt terrible for a few days after and had to miss most of my classes for the rest of the week. The allergic reaction and the subsequent illness that followed also contributed to severe anxiety when I am around food, which I am still dealing with a month later.

A couple of weeks later, I was waiting for my lunch at the Netherlands core dining hall, and I again noted my allergies on the kiosk. While I was waiting, I saw the chef flip an egg product on the grill, and then immediately flip my steak and vegetable medley with the same cooking instrument without any effort to wash it or

to change equipment.

Obviously, I did not eat this meal, and I immediately left the hall to collect my thoughts and to get lunch in a place where I knew I would be safe.

I had to be transported to the hospital where I was treated and not released until 6:30 a.m. the next day.

I have had several severe stomach upsets throughout my first few months at Hofstra. I chalked this up to IBS flareups due to the stress of being a new college student or a simple instance of something being too heavy for my stomach to handle. With my new knowledge of the school’s clear lack of food allergy safety protocols in the kitchen, I am left to wonder if these instances were minor

allergic reactions onset by small exposures to my allergens through cross contamination.

Hofstra quite simply needs to do better when preparing food for people with allergies. My hospital visit could have gone in a far worse direction if it was not for my quick action as well as the fantastic care I received. These cross contamination incidents could cause a similar hospital visit for someone with more severe allergies than me or if there was a higher amount of the allergen present in the food. Kitchen workers need to either know how to handle allergies, or they need to inform students that they will be unable to accommodate certain allergies and sensitivities.

Thankfully, the school does seem to be taking these incidents seriously. I recently had a meeting with the campus

dietitian and the executive chef. They assured me that they will be holding meetings with their dining staff to review allergy safety practices and to reestablish the importance of safety for students with allergies. While only time will tell if this was a successful meeting, I was pleased with their response, and I hope that this saga will soon be only an unpleasant memory.

Estelle Collette is a sophomore filmmaking major and music minor. Ethan Poole is a freshman sports media major. You can find him on Instagram @ethan_poole05.

SPORTS

Hofstra picks up on-the-road win over Army

By Aaron Diaz STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra University women’s basketball team cleared a path to victory against the U.S. Military Academy at West Point Black Knights, 5443, on Nov. 18.

“Another win that we gutted out,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “I thought we had a great start to the game; I thought first half, statistically, we were right where we wanted to be.”

Hofstra now stands at a 4-2 record through six games while

Army falls to 2-5 in the season.

Emma Von Essen sliced and diced her way through the field, leading the Pride with 11 points and six rebounds while also clearing her way in the paint and going 5-10 from the floor.

Sorelle Ineza and Zyheima Swint both contributed to the team win with eight points each. Swint also secured eight rebounds behind Anya Brooke, who led the team with nine.

Hofstra only managed to shoot 22.2% from the 3-point line, but the team hit their mark from the field goal range with 40% of their shots, resulting in 22-55 made baskets.

“We had opportunities right there at the rim that we missed, and we want to be able to finish those easy basket opportunities,” Santos said. “We also turned the ball over 16 times, but we had great contributions off the bench to score and execute. We didn’t shoot very well from the [3-point line], but we are very capable of doing so.”

While the offense did not have their strongest showing, the defense is what gave the team their win, as the Pride held Army to 4-18 from the 3-point line and only 22 shots made from the field.

The Knights’ Reese Ericson led her team as the only doubledigit scorer with 11 points and five rebounds. Kya Smith also paced Army with eight rebounds, but their efforts were no match for Hofstra’s suffocating defense.

The Pride held the Knights to less than 15 points in all four quarters and a mere six points in the second quarter alone. Hofstra pulled away in the first quarter, scoring 18 points, but struggled in the third, letting the game slip away by only scoring six points.

“Third quarter we let it get away from us,” Santos said. “Credit to Army and the rally that they had.”

Hofstra’s 18 points in the fourth quarter ultimately pulled

them ahead of Army.

“Going into the fourth we had to sure up those turnovers and limit those 3-point shots,” Santos said. “In the fourth, we didn’t give up any made [3-pointers] and limited the turnovers and the offensive rebounds.”

Hofstra then had a couple of days off to get ready for the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks on Sunday, Dec. 2, for a home matchup in the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.

Emma Von Essen pictured in the Nov. 25 game against New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders. Von Essen averages 13 points per game this season.

Photo courtesy of Stephen Gorchov / Hofstra Athletics

Tyler Thomas leads Pride to dominant home win over USF

By Dylan Brett STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra University men’s basketball team defeated their first power conference opponent of the season, the University of South Florida (USF) Bulls, 82-63 on Thursday, Nov. 30 at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.

The thoroughly dominant performance was evident by the Pride’s 16-point lead within the first 10 minutes of the game. Hofstra then continued to lead by as many as 32 points for the

remainder of the game.

“It was a really good job by the fellas, they executed the game plan to a T,” said Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. “I feel like we can beat anybody.”

The Hofstra offense was once again led by Tyler Thomas, who scored a game-high of 25 points.

Thomas’ season scoring average remained steady at 25 points per game, allowing him to keep his spot as the nation’s leading scorer for another game.

While Thomas retained his title as Hofstra’s senior leader, it was junior Darlinstone Dubar who continued his ascent toward being noted as a nationally ranked player after picking up 24 points and 11 rebounds in the win. Dubar ranks in the top 70 nationally in true shooting percentage over seven games, and his scoring average has already risen by eight points year-over-year.

“The key was just working out in the summer; there’s no secrets,” Dubar said. “I just try

to work hard every day, and I’m getting the results.”

The Bulls entered the match with the nation’s 15th-best 3-point defense, with their opponents shooting at a 22% clip from beyond the arc. Hofstra took USF’s biggest strength and annihilated it by knocking down 15 triples and converting on 50% of their 3-point attempts.

“We work on our shooting every day and we got some really great shooters here,” Claxton said. “When these guys have open looks, they’re gonna go down. Hats off to my guys.”

The Mack saw a strong showing from Jaquan Carlos, who finished with an 11-point, 10-assist double-double. The player is up to a conferenceleading 6.6 assists per game this season, pairing nicely with an assist/turnover ratio of 2.6.

“Knowing the game plan, when I drove, they were going to collapse,” Carlos said. “I played off two feet and looked

for my guys, and they made open shots.”

Hofstra now looks ahead to one of the toughest stretches of the season, as the Pride will spend 16 days on the road with matchups against the Iona University Gaels, Saint Louis University Billikens and Duke University Blue Devils.

Each of Hofstra’s next three opponents ranked in the top 150 on the basketball stats site KenPom at the start of the season. Duke came in 22nd in

the latest Associated Press top 25 poll.

“It was extremely important to get this one,” Claxton said. “You don’t want to be satisfied with what we did [in Florida] and come home with a letdown.”

Hofstra returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 6, against the Gaels, another in-state rival, at the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle, New York. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

Noah Tapia shines for Hofstra in Cliff Keen Invitational

By Olivia Hillestad

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The Hofstra University wrestling team headed across the country to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the Cliff Keen Invitational on Friday, Dec. 1, and Saturday, Dec. 2. While none of the members of the Pride made it to the second day, 149-pounder Noah Tapia upset No. 14 Jordan Williams of Oklahoma State University in the highlight of the tournament for the Pride.

Tapia, a freshman from Moline, Illinois, had his first match of the day against No. 1 Ridge Lovett of the University of Nebraska. Lovett used a cradle to pin Tapia 1:35 into the match to send him into the

consolation bracket. There, Tapia faced Jeff Boyd of The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. With the help of a takedown and near-fall points he earned in the second period, Tapia beat Boyd 7-5.

In the second round, Tapia took on Williams, who came into the tournament ranked No. 14 and as the 11th seed. Williams got a takedown early in the first period, with Tapia escaping before Williams earned another takedown. Tapia responded with an escape to end the first period down 2-6. In the second, Williams chose bottom, and when he got to his feet, Tapia threw him with a body lock to his back to earn four near-fall points and tie the

score 6-6.

In the third period, Tapia got a quick escape off the bottom, with Williams earning a takedown with about a minute left. Tapia escaped and Williams tried to use a duck under to score, but he was countered by Tapia, who scored a takedown to make the score 11-9. Shortly after, Williams managed to get a reversal in the last few seconds to make the score 11-11, with Tapia winning after receiving a point for riding time which made the score 12-11.

Tapia’s day came to an end after a 7-0 loss to South Dakota State University’s Alek Martin.

At 125 pounds, Dylan Ryder earned a win for the Pride over Sacred Heart University’s Jake Ice. Ryder caught Ice on his back to earn a win by fall at 1:07. Ryder’s day came to an end after a close match with No. 25 Diego Sotelo of Harvard University. The score was tied 1-1 until the last minute of the third period when Sotelo earned a takedown to win 5-2.

At 174 pounds, Ross McFar-

land also won a match, beating Noah Blake of the United States Air Force Academy by a major decision 11-1. In his first match of the day, McFarland had a close contest against No. 23 Alex Faison of North Carolina State University. McFarland lost 4-3 with Faison earning his only takedown late in the third period.

The starting lineup continues to shift for the Pride, with Dylan Acevedo moving up a weight class to 133 pounds to represent the Pride at the tournament and

representing the team at 285 pounds. As for the rest of the team, Alex Turley competed at 141 pounds, Joe McGinty at 165 pounds, Will Conlon at 184 pounds and Nikolas Miller at 197 pounds.

The Pride returns to dual meet action on Sunday, Dec. 10, against No. 1 Pennsylvania State University away at University Park, Pennsylvania, at 1 p.m.

Adrian Sans

Tapia was one of three Hofstra wrestlers to secure a match win at the tournament.

Photo courtesy of Lee S. Weissman / Hofstra Athletics

Photo courtesy of Lee S. Weissman / Hofstra Athletics

Tyler Thomas has scored 20 or more points in six out of seven games so far this season.

By Ethan Poole STAFF WRITER

Hofstra can’t stop the 3-pointers from Lehigh

at times throughout the game.

The Hofstra University women’s basketball team dropped their first game of a three-game non-conference homestand by a score of 6856 to the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks on Sunday, Dec. 3. The game dropped the Pride to 4-3 on the season and gave Lehigh a 7-1 record on their campaign.

Lehigh came into the game as a top-100 offensive team in the country, and they showed it with lights-out 3-point shooting and a high-tempo offense that gave the Hofstra defense fits

Lehigh had 13 second-chance points compared to Hofstra’s eight. The Mountain Hawks shot 37.1% from beyond the arc and 37.7% for the game with Ella Stemmer and Lily Fandre leading the way with 16 and 15 points, respectively. Fandre also added seven rebounds for Lehigh.

“[Lehigh] having a chance to get off 35 [3-pointers] and then making 13 is hard to overcome,” said Hofstra head coach

Danielle Santos Atkinson.

The Pride’s offense was stagnant throughout the game, shooting 31.3% from the field and a meager 23.8% from beyond the arc, both figures below the team’s average shooting clips on the season.

A combination of unforced turnovers, poor free throw shooting, several missed open layups and sturdy Lehigh defense led to the Pride’s offensive struggles.

“We missed some shots early; we allowed some scores on their end, and the combination of

that, I think, just got us a little deflated in our shots,” Santos said. “[Lehigh] did a great job pressuring us. We’ve got to be able to focus and finish, we had 64 shot attempts and lots of those being layups. We’ve got to be able to convert on a lot of those layups and be able to finish so we can walk away with a higher shooting percentage and also more points.”

Emma Von Essen tied her career high and was the game’s leading scorer with 18 points on 7-16 shooting. No other Hofstra player was in double figures.

Despite the loss and some occasional lapses, the Pride held the impressive Lehigh offense to their third-lowest point total of the season. The Mountain Hawks came into the game averaging 74 points per game.

“I think we had some lapses defensively and gave up some easy buckets at times,” Santos said. “But overall, we’ve been able to hold teams to a lower shooting percentage; we’ve been able to hold them to below their point scoring. Tonight, I

thought we could’ve done a better job again if we shore up that 3-point line, but they do average 70-something points a game, and for us to be able to hold them below that is a positive.”

The Pride looks to bounce back from this defeat on Thursday, Dec. 7, when they host Iona University at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.

The loss was the Pride’s first at home this season.

Photo courtesy of Stephen Gorchov / Hofstra Athletics

Graphic courtesy of Dylan Brett

By Aaron Diaz

STAFF

WRITER

Yami Cinel caps off farewell season at Hofstra

Yagmur “Yami” Cinel chose to spend the rest of her college career at Hofstra University because of how special it was to play volleyball under head coach Emily Mansur as well as the Hofstra name, but a bitter ending for the Pride in the 2023 season put things into perspective for Cinel’s final season.

“When I started college, all the seniors would tell me, ‘I remember when I was a freshman, and now I’m a senior. The time goes by that fast.’ I never believed it, but now I do understand it,” Cinel said. “I remember when I was a freshman like it was yesterday, and now I’m graduating.”

It was only a couple of months ago when Cinel and her teammates were preparing for their season with high hopes of reaching a conference title, and it very much looked like the Pride could reach the championships early on. However, midseason woes caught up to the team, causing them to miss the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

“Honestly, we had a lot of hope,” Cinel said. “We started the season pretty good, but then things didn’t go well. It wasn’t the best season for us; it was a little bit tough and a little bit unexpected.”

Cinel, one of the Pride’s leaders, came out the gate with her eyes on the prize – until a midseason injury to her hand

limited her playing time. Despite that, she still gave it all she had.

“At some point, you don’t care, especially when you’re a senior; you just want to play and you just want to win,” Cinel said. “I didn’t care because being a senior is a different feeling. There was no way I cannot put my 100% into playing. That was my mindset at the beginning of the season and throughout. Nothing was more important than volleyball.”

That mindset, for Cinel, was one of her strongest attributes in her career at Hofstra. Cinel broke multiple personal records, with 19 kills in a single game and 287 total kills this season. She surpassed last season’s mark by more than 40. Cinel’s presence on the court helped the team play a better brand of volleyball.

don’t have to do everything. I wanted to be that person and leader that helps the team.”

Yami – as she is known by her teammates and friends – brought a plethora of experiences to the team, with the playing style of her home country of Turkey mixed with what she took from playing at the University of Northern Iowa a couple of years ago.

Cinel started her college career playing for the Panthers, racking up 143 kills, 30 blocks and 20 digs in 20 matches. While building up her game in Iowa, Cinel also built herself around

sure we were okay. It was the little things like going over to her house for Thanksgiving because, as internationals, you don’t have your parents here, and when you come here, you don’t know anyone.”

almost my sister’s age, so I am putting them in a position to be like their sister. My sister is my everything, and we have a very good connection. It was important for me to make sure they were all okay.”

“There was no way I cannot give 100% into playing. That was my mindset at the beginning of the season and throughout. Nothing was more important than volleyball.”

Cinel feels that she shares that sisterly aspect with the whole team as one of the leaders, but from a coach’s perspective, Mansur saw something different between Cinel and freshman Nil Kayaalp, the only other Turkish player on the team.

“I mean, that’s what I wanted to do,” Cinel said. “Also, being a senior, I wanted to take more charge and make sure the team knows I have their back so they

the culture of being a leader, something she strove for in her senior year.

Cinel then took her talents to Hempstead to play for Mansur, whom she had made a connection with early on in Turkey.

“When I first came here three years ago, my teammates helped me, but it was mostly [Mansur] who provided a home environment, especially when we met in Turkey,” Cinel said. “She came to Turkey, met my parents and my sister, so that was the reason I chose Hofstra. She was always making

Mansur has been at the helm of the Pride for 10 years, so in a sea of players, Cinel was different, especially in her senior season.

“Yami had a great season. When you look at her numbers, she did a nice job, and the team loved her, which was cool to see, especially when you’re a senior and you are about to leave,” Mansur said. “She put a lot of love and a lot of work into this year, and I think as a coach and as a program we are very thankful for her.”

The imprint Cinel leaves with the team is rooted in how she cares for every member, which ties back to a very special person: her sister back home.

“It’s important to me because I have a sister,” Cinel said. “[My teammmates] are all

“I think she had that with all the players, but she took Nil under her wing,” Mansur said. “Coming into her first year, Nil is super young. It’s hard because internationals are usually older, but Nil turned 18 in America, so it was even a bigger shock for her. Yami took her under her wing and helped guide her, which was cute to see.”

As Cinel leaves the court behind – full of memories both good and bad – what comes next for her remains to be decided.

“Honestly, we’ll see,” Cinel said. “Maybe in business management, maybe I want to play pro, maybe I’ll get my master’s, but I don’t know yet.”

Meanwhile, with her team, Cinel made sure to lay down advice for the future of Hofstra volleyball, transforming a bitter ending to her season into a bittersweet one instead.

“I would say to try to enjoy the moment and make a lot of friends,” Cinel said.

Cinel collected a season-high of 19 kills against the College of Charleston on Nov. 4.

Photo courtesy of Lee S. Weissman / Hostra Athletics

Cinel has the second-most kills on the team with 287.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics

CONTINUED FROM A1

On game day, they’re usually found directly behind the team bench, double-checking that everyone’s water bottles are filled up for all 40 minutes (plus overtime if it goes there) so the team stays hydrated. Well before tip-off, they organize and set up all the stretching bands for the team because they want to see the players at their best as much as the coaches and fans do. They rebound the ball to streamline shoot-around warm-ups. They bring around chairs during media time-outs, and most importantly, they pride themselves in bringing the energy to the Pride.

“After that, it’s really just energy-bringing and being a positive presence,” said men’s basketball manager Zach Oestreicher. “I’m gonna run around with the rebounds and make sure everything runs smoothly behind the bench and making sure that everyone is involved in some way, shape or form. Stat-tracking, giving out guys’ towels during time outs, filling up waters, stuff like that. [I’m] making sure that everyone is active in some regard, to make sure that everyone feels included and feels welcome.”

That’s a feeling that goes both ways.

“They don’t treat us like managers; they treat us as equals,” said Max Greenwald, another men’s basketball manager. “It’s a really amazing thing to experience because they could treat us as people that are below them because, in theory,

A peak behind the benches

we are, but they respect us and what we do.

Greenwald has been in love with basketball for years, so much so that he wanted to pursue it to the top: the NBA. Not landing the junior varsity basketball team in his high school put up a roadblock, but he took it as redirection.

“Being a manager was never really my first intention,” Greenwald said. “I didn’t make [the junior varsity team], but they brought me on as a manager. I still practiced with the team [and] did all that stuff, but it kind of gave me a new look at basketball and how I can still stay involved in something I love so much.”

That courtside view provided a bigger picture to basketball, making it a career

coaching has been a long-term goal for the last few years.

“For me, managing kind of started out as a social thing but became a passion, a love, of mine,” Oestreicher said. “I did my senior internship in high school with the Towson men’s basketball team. I knew coming in that I wanted to be a manager here at Hofstra.”

The Towson, Maryland, native had an easy in at Hofstra. “Coach Pat Skerry put in a word for me with Coach Mihalich, so before I stepped foot on campus as a student, I had already gotten the job.”

Greenwald believes that managing men’s basketball has created a better learning environment than a classroom.

“To me, this job is what you make of it; how much you put in

For Oestreicher, it was about getting involved in what he loves with hopes of pursuing a career in it.

“The team has impacted me [in] a lot of different ways. It’s a full-time job; balancing classes, social life, homework, and this, it’s a lot, and you kind

“It’s really just energy-bringing and being a positive presence.”

that he’s actively pursuing after graduation this December – albeit not one he was considering back when he was a high school freshman.

“I can still stay involved in basketball and just take a different aspect of it, which is coaching,” Greenwald said. For Oestreicher, who is also graduating this semester,

is how much you’re gonna get out of it. All this stuff that we do is just kind of like the behindthe-scenes stuff you don’t really see,” Greenwald said. “It’s taught me [about] becoming a young man and going into the world. A month from now, you know, it’s no more college, no more pick-me-ups: it’s real.

Watching how [Coach] Speedy or Coach Mihalich or Coach Farelly answer questions in interviews, how they treat visitors when they come to practice or other coaches before games or after games. Just the little things that you pick up on over the years and it starts to [come] together; learning your role and playing your role to perfection because that’s what makes a team so great.”

of have to live and breathe this if you want to be engrossed in it,” Oestreicher said. “I feel like I’ve gotten a lot of professional experience and, most importantly, met a lot of good people that I can count on in my life. I have been very, very fortunate to have been with this team for this long.”

Nachelle Milord, a manager on the women’s basketball team, has a completely different story behind her. She wanted to get more involved with campus life. The sophomore came to Hofstra with experience, having been a student manager in high school, and her plans for what she wants to do after her time at Hofstra are already being affected.

“I started thinking more about [sports medicine] after spending more time with the players and the coaching staff,” Milord explained. She entered Hofstra knowing she wanted to study medicine, but she was

unable to pin down a specific field.

Her story completely differs from that of sophomore Chris Crisden Jr., another women’s basketball manager, who found out about management openings in athletics on move-in day after seeing flyers asking for practice players.

“I initially was thinking about being a practice player, but then one of the players asked, ‘Oh, are you interested in being a manager?’” Crisden said.

Each manager has this in common, though: being a part of the managing team expanded their horizons tenfold.

“For me, it helped me break more out of my shell,” Crisden said, citing exposure to a multitude of professions as possibilities to pursue after graduation. “With travel last year, I got to work close with Nick Kapatos, so if not coaching, it would definitely be [public relations], video or marketing.”

So while the starting five is important to the game – don’t forget the folks behind the bench either.

Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman / Hofstra Athletics

Photo courtesy of Lee S. Weissman / Hofstra Athletics

December 5, 2023

UPSET IN VEGAS

Noah Tapia secures upset over No. 14 Jordan Williams in the Cliff Keen Invitational.

Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman / Hofstra Athletics