The Hofstra Chronicle, February 15, 2022

THE HOFSTRA

CHRONICLE

HEMPSTEAD, NY VOLUME 88 ISSUE 1

TUESDAY February 15, 2022

KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935.

NEWS

Hofstra mask policy adjusted

By Dickinson-Frevola

Following Hochul’s announcement, Hofstra University President Susan Poser issued a statement to the student body, stating that the administration would be reevaluating the school’s mask policy Adam Flash/The Hofstra Chronicle in the coming weeks, Hofstra President Susan Poser speaks at a Student Government Association (SGA) meeting. in tandem with conversations with NorthNew York Governor Kathy well Health. While masks are Hochul has announced the end still required in classrooms of the indoor mask mandates, and administrative buildings effective on Feb. 10, adding that the state could reassess the on campus, Poser announced that mask requirements for mandate in March, depending on reported numbers moving CONTINUED ON A3 forward.

M ANAG I N G E D I TO R

OPINION

The price I pay for education should not be my life or the lives of others

announcement in 2020, over five and a half million people have perished as a result of the disease or associated conditions. Last week, President Susan Poser sent an email to the Hofstra body, lifting mask mandates for spectators in Photo courtesy of Reuters the Mack Arena, an indoor locaHofstra students disagree with new controversial tion. Attendees mask policy. are still required

By Haley Kugler to show proof of vaccination SPECIA L TO TH E C H R O N ICLE prior to entry, which is about as effective as putting a tank top on We are approaching the to go outside in the snow. The second anniversary of the virus does not care if the student classification of COVID-19 as body is vaccinated against the a pandemic. Since the initial variants, or if you sit six feet

Features

Professing their love: Gail and J. Bret Bennington

Julian Rocha / The Hofstra Chronicle Gail and J. Bret Bennington in Breslin Hall.

By Julian Rocha FEATUR E S E D I TO R

College is often a place where people fall in love. Perhaps two lab partners have chemistry together in more ways than one,

or maybe the next person in line at Starbucks is a total catch.

However, this phenomenon is not limited to students, as professors also fall for each other.

J. Bret Bennington, chair of the department of geology, environ-

ment and sustainability, and Gail Bennington, an adjunct professor in the same department, are a prime example of this.

A Hofstra graduate with degrees in geology and science education, Gail Bennington began working as a high school earth science teacher shortly after finishing college. One of her former professors invited her and two other students to go on a field trip with the Hofstra geology department. “When I got on the bus,” Gail Bennington said, “I sat next to Bret, and I had never met him before.

We started chatting, and we got along great.”

CONTINUED ON A9

away from one another without masks on. Diseases spread with contact are exacerbated by exposed pathways – specifically, the nose and mouth.

The aforementioned email also included discussions that Hofstra would be “reevaluating” its mask policy following the actions of Governor Hochul and discussions with Northwell Health.

“I can no longer say I am proud of this university’s response to such a deadly communicable disease.”

CONTINUED ON A12

A2 • FEBRUARY 15, 2022

203 Student Center hofstrachronicle@gmail.com Editor-in-Chief Editors-in-Chief Anthony MelanieRoberts Haid

Drashti Mehta

Managing Editor

Dickinson-Frevola Managing Editor

Gabby Varano

Secretary Julian Rocha Business Manager

Robert Kinnaird Business Manager Jacob Lewis

News Editor

Annemarie LePard News Editors

Assistant News Editors Madeline Armstrong Ahjané Forbes Ahjané Forbes Marjorie Rogers Assistant News Editor Samantha Sivert Megan Naftali

MoriahEditors Sukhlal A&E

Victoria Bell A&E Editors Eleni Kothesakis

Victoria Bell A&EEleni Assistant Editor Kothesakis

Jacob Huller Kat Salmon Assistant A&E Editor Kat Salmon

Sports AidanEditors Judge

David Lazar Ilana Rockwell Anthony Roberts

Sports EditorsEditor Assistant Sports Mike Senatore Senatore Mike Will Wiegelman

Features Editors

Assistant Sports Editors Betty Araya Max Edelman Audra Nemirow Andrew Fantucchio

Assistant Features Editor Micaela FeaturesErickson Editors Anna DeGoede

Op-Ed Editors Audra Nemirow

Visvajit Sriramrajan Julian Rocha Jessica Zhang Opinion Daniel Editors Cody Daniel Cody Yashu CopyPericherla Chiefs

Elizabeth Turley

Assistant Opinion Editors Odessa Stork Marie-Sybille Rateau

Hofstra convenience stores inconvenience students due to a “miscommunication”

By Megan Naftali

AS S I S TANT NE WS ED ITO R

Days before the spring 2022 semester commenced, frustration ran throughout the Hofstra University student body, as a new meal plan policy was implemented.

“Non-food items CANNOT be purchased using your meal plan,” read signs posted at the Starbucks in the Student Center and other on-campus convenience locations, such as Dutch Treats and the Netherlands Core.

Kayla Johnson, a senior criminology major, saw one of the signs in Dutch Treats on Friday, Jan. 28. Out of shock, Johnson took to her social media accounts to talk about the new policy.

“I posted it on my story about how shocked I was, and there was an outpour of students that were commenting on it,” Johnson said. “I was like, ‘okay, I’m not the only one who feels this way, so let me make a petition.’”

Johnson created a Change.org petition on the same night she saw the sign. By the first day of classes, the petition had reached over 1,500 signatures, and the policy was overturned by Hofstra’s Compass Dining Services.

“WE DID IT Y’ALL!!!

Hofstra has reversed this policy

Assistant Copy Chiefs Antonia Moffa Copy Chiefs Julia Razzante Antonia Moffa Julia Razzante

Multimedia Editors Assistant Chiefs Robert Copy Kinnaird Annabel AdamHofmann Flash NellSiddiqui Stultz Talha

Multimedia Editors Social Media Team Adam Flash Elizabeth Turley Jacob Lewis Tori Licata Alexis Friedman Tino Pattigno Brown SocialJack Media Manager Anthony Roberts Tori Licata

Editor-at-Large Editor-at-Large

Sarah Emily Baum David Lazar The Chronicle is published onTuesdays during the academic year by the students of Hofstra University. The Chronicle is The Chronicle is published on Tuesdays during the academic year by the located in Room 203 Student Center, 200 Hofstra University, students of Hofstra University. The Chronicle is located in Room 203 Student Hempstead, N.Y. 11549. Advertising and subscription rates Center, 200 Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y. 11549. Advertising and may be obtained by calling (516) 463-6921. subscription rates may be obtained by calling (516) 463-6921.

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

THE CHRONICLE

NEWS

By Moriah Sukhlal

and students are now able to purchase toiletries and cleaning supplies from Dutch Treats and The Netherlands Core again,” Johnson wrote in an update to the petition on Monday, Jan. 31.

The Compass group decides whether to implement new campus dining policies at Hofstra, and the signs that were put up

vices at Dutch Treats, to charge for non-food items separately so that students couldn’t pay using their meal plans, according to a current Compass employee who would like to remain anonymous. Leonardo declined to comment.

“We were told not to check stuff out that is not food,” the

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle Signs read at several locations across Hofstra’s campus that students could no longer purchase non-food items with meal plans.

were not part of a policy change, according to Jose Rodriguez, resident district manager of Compass.

“It was a miscommunication between staff. Someone got confused, thought that was a new policy and put signs up,” Rodriguez said. “We want the best for our students, that’s why we took the signs down right away.”

However, Dutch Treats employees were told by Kim Leonardo, director of dining ser-

Compass employee said. “They said it’s our responsibility [to make sure] it doesn’t [scan] because it will still ring up if it is accidentally scanned.”

It is unclear who in the Compass staff is responsible for this miscommunication or who put up the signs. The Compass employee also stated that Rodriguez called to reverse the alleged miscommunication two days after the petition was created.

New York City was predicted to amount to 10 inches, with 16 inches expected on Long Island, according to the New York Times. While other areas in Nassau County received more than a foot of snow, Hempstead received less than six inches.

The storm that occurred was identified as a nor’easter bomb cyclone. “[A nor’easter] brings winds from the northeast direction to us here in New York and Long Island when it strikes and also moves to the Northeast, sort of parallel to the U.S., midAtlantic and northeast coast,” explained Dr. Jase Bernhardt, assistant professor of geology, environment and sustainability

at Hofstra University.

The classification of the nor’easter storm being a bomb cyclone resulted from the rapid decrease of the air pressure over 24 hours. “If a storm is considered a bomb cyclone, that means it’s strengthening very rapidly and will probably bring significant impacts,” Bernhardt said.

Although eastern Long Island suffered from the storm’s significant impact, western Long Island, including New York City, did not suffer from extreme weather conditions.

“We weren’t quite in that jackpot zone of 2-plus feet of snow ... Also, the winds here weren’t that bad because the

Compass is offering a refund to student who were charged for non-food items.

Caitlin Fitzpatrick, a sophomore creative writing major, was aggravated by the situation and believes more should be done to prevent these types of mishaps.

“They should have thought through it before implementing it,” Fitzpatrick said. “Staff should have to check on it before immediately releasing it, so if it’s a staff problem, then that’s an oversight on their part, but it made us suffer.”

Lens Louis, a senior criminology major, does not believe that this was a mistake.

“It seems like somebody is probably just trying to change the narrative of what they were trying to do,” Louis said. “As a student, from what I’ve seen, and from that [sign], it is clear that they were trying to make students purchase these items with their own personal money [instead of] their meal plan and I don’t think that it was a miscommunication. Like I said, the message was clear, it was delivered and we just didn’t accept it.”

Students can contact Rodriguez at Jose.Rodriguez@ compass-usa.com for a refund or credit if they were personally charged for a non-food item.

Nor’easter storm raises concern for Hofstra Students

AS S I S TANT NE WS ED ITO R

As Hofstra students began returning to campus during the last week of January, many encountered flight cancellations, delayed commutes, and geared up for a potentially dangerous storm.

Many warnings were issued concerning a nor’easter storm due to a growing snowstorm that was predicted to hit the midAtlantic, Northeast and New England regions. Within New York, blizzard warnings were issued as Governor Kathy Hochul announced a state of emergency on Friday, Jan. 28. Snowfall in

storm was strengthening a bit further away from us,” Bernhardt said.

Amid the concern brought by the nor’easter storm at the beginning of the second semester, Hofstra adopted a new school closure policy. Due to the lack of instruction that occurred during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many New York state schools have canceled snow days to recover. Traditional snow days would result in a suspension of university activities; however, the new policy emailed to students stated that Hofstra would move to an on-

CONTINUED ON A4

THE CHRONICLE

NEWS

FEBRUARY 15, 2022 • A3

Hofstra reconsiders mask guidelines following the end of NYS mandate

CONTINUED FROM A1 all Mack Arena athletic events would be lifted effective immediately, as well as in communal spaces in residence halls. Food and drink restrictions were also lifted, according to an email sent to the student body on Feb. 14.

“I think it’s really irresponsible for them to be removing mask requirements, specifically for events involving the general public,” said Ally Herrington, a freshman publishing major.

“Even with proof of vaccination, we can’t guarantee people attending are adhering to safe mask use. Considering the Omicron spikes over winter break, it feels like inviting another increase.”

The national peak hit hardest in mid-January, with more than 80,000 reported cases across the country. Currently, New York faces a daily average of 1,353 cases over the last seven days, with at least 67 hospitalizations and 32 confirmed deaths. In turn, numbers in Nassau County have dropped 64% in the last two weeks.

“I just think it’s very insensitive [towards] people who have pre-existing conditions,” said Tal Heyman, a sophomore public policy and public service major. “You can’t see my preexisting condition, but I have lower iron and oxygen levels, and when I get sick, it’s worse than if another person got sick.”

Outside of concerns for her health, Heyman mentioned unease about falling behind in her coursework if she were to get COVID-19, saying missing a week of classes and having no remote option to stay involved would make it difficult to learn

and complete work on time. This sentiment was later echoed

by Kadaline Jackel, a senior psychology major and the president of the Disability Rights, Education, Activism & Mentoring (DREAM) organization on Hofstra’s campus.

“I think [removing mask requirements] is very danAdam Flash / The Hofstra Chronicle Photo courtesy of Rob Olivera gerous and irresponsible, On Feb. 10, Hofstra SGA held a senate meeting to discuss New York State’s mask mandate change by Governor Kathy Hochul. and it contradicts what’s concerned about the changes in body, Poser was transparent attention to the fact that quaranin the best interest of not only mask guidelines to be vocal and about the decision-making tine housing is not accessible to disabled students but everyone,” reminded the room that everyprocess, providing statistics to students with physical disabiliJackel said. “Rates and cases one was entitled to wear a mask support the changes in mask ties. are going down because we are if they chose. protocols and stating that the “It’s not fair for the university wearing masks.”

“What I am being told, from policy would be adapted as and President Poser to equate Hofstra’s Student Senate a public health point of view, needed. Surveillance testing will our needs with the wants of met on Feb. 10, where Poser is that we might not need these also be increased from 8% to those who feel that masks are no addressed questions about the anymore,” Poser said, gesturing 15%. longer necessary,” Jackel said.

Mack Arena email, saying the to her mask. “On the other hand, While Poser emphasized that “We should be listening to the administration was consultwe have older people on this only a few policies had changed, needs of all students, and I think ing with Northwell Health to campus, we have immunocomDREAM representatives have that needs to start with the most determine a course of action for promised people on this campus, spoken out against any broad vulnerable, and I don’t think the university is currently doing that.”

“I hope the administration takes this as a conversation to have moving forward,” said Hall.

“We would love to meet with those who are making these decisions, not only to discuss the mask issue but also what disabled students face on a regular basis.” the future. Whatever is decided so it’s complex. And I must say sweeping changes, establishDREAM representatives plan would be subject to change honestly, the answer right now ing that disabled people have to meet with the vice provost’s depending on how COVID-19 may be something with a lot of been left out of conversations office to discuss attendance polinumbers in Nassau County gray areas, as we move – hopesurrounding these changes since cies and remote options in the performed in the coming weeks, fully – towards the end [of the beginning of the pandemic. coming weeks, while on-campus Poser told the room. AdditionCOVID-19].”

DREAM Vice President Brie students can expect to start seeally, she urged students who felt In her email to the student Hall, a drama senior, brought ing full faces more often.

“It’s not fair for the university and President Poser to equate our needs with the wants of those who feel that masks are no longer necessary.”

A4 • FEBRUARY 15, 2022

THE CHRONICLE

NEWS

Justice Stephen Breyer retires from the Supreme Court

By Michelle Rabinovich

with a press conference.

Breyer’s retirement announceSPEC I A L TO T H E C H R O NI CL E ment did not come as a shock to the legal field, as Breyer stated that he didn’t “want to stay on the Court until [he] die[s],” in an NPR interview.

“All that’s going to happen, Courtesy of Steve Petteway and the Collection of the assumSupreme Court of the U.S. ing that Justice Stephen Breyer retires from the Supreme Court of President the United States, leaving an opening for a new justice to be Biden’s appointed. nominee gets confirmed, is one liberal Justice Stephen Breyer anjustice will be replaced with nounced his retirement from the another liberal justice,” said Supreme Court on Thursday, Jan. 27. President Joe Biden im- William Schaefer, a political science professor at Hofstra mediately addressed the nation University. “If Justice Breyer regarding Breyer’s retirement

were to have passed or retired if the Democrats lost control of the Senate, then they would not be able to get their replacement.”

With Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death resulting in a conservative replacement, there was pressure from social activists for Breyer to step down while Democrats control the Senate and can appoint someone before the upcoming midterm elections this November, according to Katie Rogers and Charlie Savage from the New York Times.

“So many people were leaning on Justice Breyer to retire given that there’s such a huge possibility that the Senate is not going to be in the hands of Democrats next time,” said Hofstra political science professor Rosanna Perotti.

This vacancy will give Biden his first Supreme Court justice pick, and the opportunity to make good on his campaign promise of appointing the first ever Black woman.

“The person I will nominate will be someone with extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity, and that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated

to the United States Supreme Court,” Biden said in the press conference.

“If an African American woman is appointed to the Court, that is still a big deal for America, and still a monumental thing to happen, even if it doesn’t change the amount of liberal votes on the Court,” said Caleb Rockhill, a sophomore political science, rhetoric and public advocacy major.

Darian Rodriguez, a freshman political science and contemporary issues in law, ethics and politics double major, highlighted the significance of having a person of minority background go up for nomination for the highest court of the land.

“It shows how we’re moving forward as a country,” Rodriguez said. “Now we have people [who are] minorities that [are elected] to the Supreme Court and it’s not something controversial, it’s not something that’s going to blow this world up.”

Hofstra students support having a diverse Supreme Court in the coming months.

“I think having a more diverse Supreme Court is very important, having different experienc-

es, different beliefs and different ideologies,” said Fatima Kasher, a freshman political science major. “That’s really important because that represents what America is as a whole. Having a more diverse court definitely enhances what America is all about.”

Some of Breyer’s most famous moments on the bench include authoring a majority opinion protecting abortion rights against a Nebraska law in 2000, casting the decisive vote in the 2005 opinion for the Ten Commandments case in Texas and writing a dissenting opinion about how unconstitutional he believes the death penalty is.

Eighty-three-year-old Breyer has served on the court for nearly three decades. He was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter. Fourteen years later, President Bill Clinton appointed Breyer to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1994.

Extreme weather affects Hofstra students’ well-being CONTINUED FROM A2 line forum and conduct classes or meetings through Zoom.

“When campus closures occur because of snow or other inclement weather, instructors may hold classes remotely. The decision to do so is left to the discretion of each professor and will be communicated to you in a timely manner,” announced the university in the new policy.

Though many students are content with the new policy, others are still concerned with the implications of virtual learning.

“I was not a big fan of virtual learning,” said Vincent Capone, a freshman electrical engineering major. “It [is] harder for me to focus for some of my classes.”

Currently, the university has measures in place for students facing difficulties that may hinder virtual class attendance and urge students to communicate with their instructors. Syeda Aqsa Ali Qadri, a pre-physician assistant studies major, contends that snow days do not need to be suspended entirely.

“Snow days give students a chance to complete assignments and study on their own,” Qadri said.

Additionally, winter can be a difficult time for students, even without the major weather events. A lack of sunshine caused by weather conditions can lead to seasonal affective disorder, also known as seasonal depression.

“Studies have found that our

internal clocks naturally follow the day and night cycle,” said Mark Serper, professor of psychology at Hofstra.

Hormones and other neurochemicals are attuned to this cycle. According to Serper, a common example is that the body will produce melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone and neurotransmitter that regulates a person’s mood, during the evening while reducing the amount of serotonin.

“The nor’easter and other cloudy or stormy days reduce our sun exposure and certainly affect serotonin levels, as well as the production and release of other neurohormones,” Serper said. “[This effect may] increase sadness in those who are vulnerable.”

The symptoms of seasonal depression include low energy, sleeping longer hours, increased weight or appetite, feeling slugPhoto courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmogish, difficulty spheric Administration concentrating, Satellite image of the nor’easter storm over the northeastern U.S. feeling hopeless, unworthy loneliness,” said Laura Simonor guilty and losing interest in Pearson, a PhD student in clinihobbies or activities. Additioncal psychology. ally, feeling depressed daily or Students may not only need thoughts of suicide or death are the snow days to academically also common symptoms, acrecuperate but also as a self-care cording to Serper. day. Nevertheless, Simon-Pear“Students may be spending son is happy to remind students more time alone or on social that there is good news: “Spring media as a result [of seasonal is right around the corner now!’’ depression] and this can lead to increased feelings of sadness or

THE CHRONICLE

Hofstra professors debate “Red Wave”

By Roksana Amid STAFF W R I T E R

On Wednesday, Feb. 9, Hofstra University’s Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) hosted a conference during which professors and students discussed the outcome of Long Island’s local 2021 elections, calling it the “red wave.” Professor of writing studies and rhetoric and director of CCE Philip Dalton, professor of writing studies and rhetoric and director of labor studies Mary Anne Trasciatti, and professor of political science Rosanna Perotti delved into local voting patterns between Long Island Democrats and Republicans.

While this academic conference was mandatory for some political science classes, students like Bryan Perez, a junior political science major, wanted to take this opportunity to understand politics better.

“Since I’m very motivated with politics, I’m very interested in the political process itself, especially in the divided times we’re living in right now. [I’m here to] get a better understanding of policies and what’s going on,“ Perez said.

Other students wanted to hear how all three professors interpreted the results of the election.

Ryan Fallert, a senior rhetoric and linguistics major, stated that his interest in the conference went beyond academia.

“I’m hoping to [get] some understanding about if this was a red wave and what [we can] expect from the future if it wasn’t,” Fallert said. “I’m looking forward to a career in politics or being an active ... civilian. It’s important to have that sort of understanding.”

The conference opened with breakdowns of voter political alignment and demographics to provide a deeper explanation of the red wave. Dalton proposed that the Long Island election results were a “Blue Slumber,” meaning that not as many Democrats showed up to the polls as did in 2017. Registered Democrats have an edge over Republicans in terms of amounts of registered voters. Since 2018, Democrats have seen an 8.75%

growth and the GOP has seen a 0.50% growth rate in Huntington, according to Dalton.

Dalton partially credited the use of fusion voting, which allows candidates to run on multiple ballot lines at once, to the red wave, but also addressed the fact that Democratic turnout for Huntington decreased from 41% in 2017 to 35% in 2021. Dalton stated that both Nassau and Suffolk counties tend to shift, and that Republicans and Democrats don’t restrict themselves to only voting within their parties.

“It’s hard to conclude that an overwhelming surge of Republican voters affected the outcome of the 2021 election in Huntington,” Dalton said.

Perotti agreed with Dalton’s conclusion in regards to the lack of Democratic turnout for the 2021 elections. She explained that lower voter turnout means a smaller number of people have the power to change the outcome of an election.

Perotti emphasized that in Brentwood, the 9th district in Suffolk County, the percentage of registered voter turnout was 4.9%, with only 4,855 ballots cast.

“In that kind of a situation, just a few votes really count,” Perotti said.

Trasciatti believed that the phrase “red wave” is hyperbole.

Her analysis was that the media is looking to generate headlines in an off-year election to appeal to their audiences.

“The two-party system is a mess in the U.S.,” Trasciatti said. “It is also clear that something is going on politically, some kind of realignment.

People are frustrated. And in my opinion, both parties are to blame.”

Students like Yousef Harhash, a junior political science major, share the same sentiment.

“I still need to conform to a party,” Harhash said. “[The professors] were talking about fixing the party from the inside out, which I think is possible, but what can I do about it today?”

FEBRUARY 15, 2022 • A5

NEWS

Public Safety Briefs Compiled by Megan Naftali

On Jan. 26 at 12:15 p.m., while traveling northbound on Uniondale Avenue, a Honda driven by a non-Hofstra student was struck by a Jeep driven by a student who was exiting the Uniondale Avenue gate heading east, causing the Honda to collide into a Hofstra fence. NCPD responded and took a report.

On Jan. 27 at 10:45 p.m., PS was notified that there was an accident involving two vehicles driven by nonHofstra students. The cars collided and caused damage to a Hofstra fence by Fulton Avenue. NCPD responded and took a report.

On Jan. 28 at 6:26 p.m., it was reported to PS that since Jan. 24, there was an odor of marijuana on several occasions while passing sdfjs;dlfjk;sldkfj;aldfjk through the Netherlands Core.

An investigation is being conducted into the matter.

On Jan. 31 at 12:51 p.m., a student reported to PS that they parked their vehicle in the parking lot adjacent to Uniondale Avenue at 11:30

a.m. Upon return, the student discovered damage to the front of their vehicle. Police assistance was declined.

On Feb. 1 at 11:15 p.m., a non-Hofstra student was found trespassing in room 127 of the Student Center during secured hours. The non-student became combative with PS. The NCPD responded and arrested the non-student.

On Feb. 2 at 1:20 p.m., the fire alarm in Bill of Rights Hall sounded due to a curling iron in a room on the sixth floor. The building was evacuated in three minutes without incident. PS, the Plant Department and the Uniondale Fire Department responded. A search of the building proved negative, and the situation was corrected.

On Feb. 2 at 5 p.m., a student parked their vehicle outside of the lines in parking field two, and a boot was placed on their vehicle. The student reported to PS that the boot damaged his tire. This was addressed by the officer on scene.

On Feb. 3 at 12:30 p.m., a Hofstra faculty member reported that a list of department staff names posted on a white board had been altered to include offensive last names by an unknown person. An investigation into the matter is being conducted.

On Feb. 3 at 4:18 p.m., a fire alarm in Memorial Hall activated due to unknown reasons. The building was evacuated within eight minutes without incident. PS, the Plant Department and the Uniondale Fire Department responded. A search of the building proved negative, and the situation was corrected.

On Feb. 5 at 4:15 p.m., while traveling eastbound on Northern Boulevard, a vehicle was struck by another vehicle driven by a Hofstra employee.

The first vehicle sustained damage to the driver’s side door. The second vehicle sustained damage to the passenger side bumper. There were no injuries and NCPD responded and took a report.

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

A6 • FEBRUARY 15, 2022

THE CHRONICLE

FEATURES

T h i s Ho f s t r a L i f e : S o n g w r i t e r S p o t l i g ht

♫

By Marie-Sybille Rateau ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR

Getting involved in the music industry is no easy feat; however, in just his first year as a college student, Xavier Bell, has made great strides. The freshman music business major from Baltimore has become well known by his stage name, OfficialX. During the fall 2021 semester, Bell won a contest on a radio station called i108.3 WHIZ-DB, which earned his song “Love & Affection” a spot in their regular rotation.

“Afterwards, I saw the views go up a lot, not just [“Love & Affection”] but on my other music videos that are on YouTube,” he said. “I began to get more followers and more reposts, more notoriety with the song. That really did something for me.”

Bell thinks of God as his biggest supporter, along with his

Xavier Bell, aka OfficialX

family members, but he also says that he’s felt a different level of support since he’s come to Hofstra.

“Before coming to Hofstra, I wasn’t the most confident with my music,” Bell said. “It was always something that I stopped and started doing, and it was always something that I was never serious about, because I was always afraid of judgment.

It is a competitive field, and it shouldn’t be, because at the end of the day, it’s all about talent.

I would say coming here and seeing people really rock with my music really does something to me.”

The rapper says that the support he’s felt hasn’t come exclusively from Hofstra, but throughout New York, as he’s made connections with different people within the state.

Bell acquires inspiration for his lyrics in his everyday activ-

ities and routines. “I’m in the shower, and next thing I know these bars will just come to my head. That’s somewhere where my creativity really starts,” Bell said.

He also gets inspiration while listening to other genres of music. “If I’m listening to gospel music, I’ll just start hearing these bars in my head,” Bell said.

Bell doesn’t just want his growing audience to enjoy the melody or rhythm of his music; he wants the message in his lyrics to resonate with his listeners.

“I want people to feel good. I want them to feel the way I feel when I’m making it,” he said.

“If it’s a song where I’m feeling myself, and I feel like I’m hot stuff, I want the listener to feel that way ... I want people to be able to relate to things that I’m saying.”

His first live performance was at a campus event hosted by the

Hofstra NAACP chapter. “I was nervous,” Bell said. “I was like ‘I hope that they like me. I hope that everyone is engaged ... and I hope that they can hear what I’m saying.’”

Despite it just being a campus event, it was Bell’s first live performance as OfficialX. He remembered feeling validated afterwards by the reactions of the people who attended the event.

“It was like ‘Wow, I must have [done] something,’” Bell said.

Bell has multiple musical inspirations, including Michael Jackson, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Kanye West. In the future, he wants to collaborate with Nicki Minaj and Justin Bieber on different works.

While writing his music, Bell likes to include the Spanish language wherever he can. To him, incorporating Spanish into American music is something that not too many other artists are

doing. He also feels that doing this will broaden his audience, as his music can resonate with Spanish speakers along with English speakers.

Bell heavily integrated Spanish into his most recent song, “Sum Slight,” which was released on Friday, Feb. 11. He planned to include the language in his song even before it was written.

“I knew I wanted to have Spanish in it somewhere, but I didn’t know exactly where,” he said. “It took me eight months to get this song together.”

When he came up with the beat, Bell was at a point in his life when he felt like he did not have anything special to rap about.

“As time progresses you experience things,” Bell said. “Your mindset really grows, and I feel like that happened to me.”

“Sum Slight” is currently out on all streaming platforms.

Jordan McLaughlin ♫

By Anna DeGoede FEATURES EDITOR

While most college students put music on in the background while they study, sophomore drama performance major Jordan McLaughlin creates her own, by writing and co-producing songs in her free time.

McLaughlin’s newest song, a single titled “Honeybees and Roses,” was released on Monday, Feb. 14. “Honeybees and Roses” is McLaughlin’s second venture into the music producing industry. Her first release was a four-song EP titled “Is This the End?”, which was released on Dec. 1, 2021.

At first, McLaughlin had no plans of releasing music on Valentine’s Day. In fact, she was not sure if she was even going to release a single.

“I have a whole lot of songs that I haven’t recorded or anything just sitting there,” McLaughlin said. After exper-

imenting on some songs with Benjamin Kaplan, her producer, the two decided on “Honeybees and Roses.”

The release date, though, was McLaughlin’s mother’s idea.

“She said it would be really cute if we released [“Honeybees and Roses”] on Valentine’s Day because it’s a song about love,” McLaughlin said. “It’s not necessarily a love song, but it’s a song about love.”

Although McLaughlin only started releasing music within the past year or so, her journey to writing and producing her own music began when she was much younger. “All of my friends played sports and stuff, and that was not my thing. Then I started doing music and realized that I really liked to sing,” she said.

After being introduced to musical theater, McLaughlin started taking voice lessons and participating in the music program at her school.

“[Music’s] always been a little bit of a coping mechanism, whether it’s like listening to music, writing it, just singing someone else’s music, it’s all kind of relaxing to me,” McLaughlin said. “It kind of feels like a form of journaling when I write music.”

Despite her longstanding appreciation for music, until recently, McLaughlin never envisioned herself writing her own songs.

“That sounded kind of ridiculous to me,” McLaughlin said.

“But then in quarantine I was inside for a year, and I was just like, well, might as well try. I feel like it’d be fun.”

After writing several songs during the pandemic, Kaplan asked McLaughlin if she was interested in producing some of her songs for fun. Eventually, four songs rose to the forefront to become McLaughlin’s EP “Is This the End?” “The first three songs on the

EP I wrote in quarantine before,” McLaughlin said. “I just kind of had an idea for a song and I just started playing around with different chords on my guitar and made it into a song.”

“Easier to Be Mad,” the fourth song on “Is This the End?”, was added later.

“I had just gone through a break-up, and I was like, ‘I’m angry writing music now,’” McLaughlin said. “And then I played it for [Kaplan] and he was like, ‘Can we please do that one?

That’s my favorite yet.’”

Initially, McLaughlin found “Is This the End?” difficult to produce; the EP was her first time recording music with the intent to release it.

The process for “Honeybees and Roses” was another story.

With more knowledge about the process, McLaughlin was able to let go of her perfectionism as they produced the single.

After creating, producing and

releasing her EP and single, McLaughlin’s perspective on music has transformed from using songwriting as a coping mechanism to seeing it as more meaningful.

“Now I don’t only do it when I need a coping mechanism. I do it for fun when I have an idea.

Music has always meant a lot to me. I grew up around music and have been doing it for a while, so it’s kind of a no-brainer to go back to that as something that’s really important to me.”

While McLaughlin isn’t certain when she’ll release new music or if she’ll pursue it as a career, she plans on continuing to write songs in her free time.

Links to her music, including her newest single “Honeybees and Roses,” can be found at linktr.ee/jordanmclaughlin or by searching for Jordan McLaughlin on most music streaming platforms. She is also on Instagram @jordanmclaughlinmusic.

THE CHRONICLE

FEATURES

By Adam Flash

FEBRUARY 15, 2022 • A7

Hofstra Bread Society is on the rise

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

For members of the Hofstra Bread Society, baking bread is a labor of loaf. The club, currently run through the Stuart and Nancy Rabinowitz Honors College, centers around anything and everything related to bread, from baking it to discussing its larger societal impacts.

“Bread is such a unique food.

It’s integral in holding commu-

bake bread when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and now hopes to pass along the skill to others.

“I love sharing that skill with people ... especially with the common mindset of the typical American college student not really knowing how to cook,” she said.

“If you can get free food and you can learn something, especially a life skill, definitely come. This is something that you can use ongoing,” Correa added,

“Bread is such a unique food. It’s integral in holding communities together on [different] levels.” nities together on [different] levels,” said sophomore sustainability studies major Natalie Correa. “There’s so much history behind it.”

Last fall Correa co-founded the club and currently runs the whole operation. Having had a passion for cooking as early as middle school, Correa learned how to

encouraging people to join the Bread Society.

Their first event of the spring semester, held on Wednesday, Feb. 9, saw members making pretzels and casually debating topics like what defines bread.

Questions like “is cake considered bread?” sparked conversation.

“It’s so interesting how we get this instant community around bread.

Everyone feels like they belong,” said Nicholas Lucchetto, a freshman geography major, of his first event with the club.

In addition to the types of bread baked, Correa hopes to globalize HofsAdam Flash/The Hofstra Chronicle tra Bread Hofstra Bread Society president Natalie Correa handles a loaf of bread fresh out of the oven.

Society discussions, meetings outside of the kitchen. come, Correa says they want to exploring ideas of how bread dif- Last semester the Bread Society become as accessible as possible fers and shapes communities and held a Thanksgiving potluck and and share their love of bread with traditions around the world. an “Aladdin” movie night, disthe community. They’re also Correa also noted that she’s cussing afterward the influence looking for people to help form fascinated by bread’s impact on bread can have on someone’s a club executive board and for modern culture, from religious livelihood and the narrative of a other clubs interested in collabtexts to pop music to the lanfilm. orating. guage we use every day.

“What I like most about the The Hofstra Bread Society “It’s so interesting just thinkclub is it’s always so laid back. hosts their next meeting on ing about terms like ‘let’s get It’s something that you can just National Banana Bread Day, this bread,’ ‘make that dough’ or go to and have fun and meet Wednesday, Feb. 23, with more ‘let’s break bread together,’” she people and do something you club information found on their said. normally wouldn’t be able to Instagram, @hofstrabreadsociety, The club hopes to continue do,” said freshman political or by email at hofstrabreadsocioffering science major Kelly Barnes. “It’s ety@gmail.com. a wide very much a community-building “Natalie knows what she’s variety thing.” doing. She’s the right person to of events The club hopes to expand into be leading this, and I’m so glad from bakan official, university-funded she put in the effort toward it,” ing-based organization. While non-Honors Barnes said. ones to College students are already wel-

“If you can get free food and you can learn something, especially a life skill, definitely come. This is something you can use ongoing.”

Adam Flash / The Hofstra Chronicle A Bread Society member puts chocolate chips on pretzels.

A8 • FEBRUARY 15, 2022

FEATURES

Finding chemistry while teaching sustainability CONTINUED FROM A1 As the two became intertwined in their professional lives, they hit it off in their personal lives as well. Gail Bennington brought J. Bret Bennington into one of her high school classes to speak to her students, and their love blossomed from there.

A year later, they became engaged. The following year, they celebrated their wedding, and they have been together ever since.

The Benningtons agree that being so close with each other, both professionally and personally, has been very beneficial.

“At any extracurricular field trips, hikes, whatever I do with our students,” J. Bret Bennington said, “Gail comes along, and she’s obviously an asset because she knows a lot about the outdoors and geology.

And the students benefit from having both of us participating in things.”

Gail Bennington echoed her husband’s sentiments, stating, “I think it’s good to be role models too because they see us as a married couple of professors, both dealing with the same topics and sharing the love of geology together. I think that students appreciate it.”

Teaching in the same department means that the Benningtons often see similar familiar faces around campus, with students often learning from them both.

With more of an emphasis on training future science teachers, Gail Bennington noted that many of the student teachers in her classes over the years have been some of her husband’s former students. Additionally, she noted that she and her husband make

an effort to attend each other’s presentations, serving as cheerleaders of sorts.

Working as professors in the geology, environment and sustainability department allows the Benningtons to be actively involved in ensuring that Hofstra becomes more environmentally conscious. Within the past few years, discussions surrounding protecting and healing the planet have become a priority of GenZ and millennials, many of whom are current and former students of theirs.

can do, and what alternatives they have.”

Brought together by enthusiasm toward similar things, the Benningtons enjoy being able to share these interests with each other in a truly special way.

“When Bret and I first met,” Gail Bennington said, “I was an earth science teacher. I was constantly picking his brain for things. Now, we love to go fossil collecting, kayaking and hiking, and we both share the love of nature and plants.”

In J. Bret Bennington’s words, “If you’re a geologist you like to look at and talk about rocks, and people who aren’t geologists don’t understand that. It’s just very nice to have somebody who enjoys the nerdy things that I enjoy.”

Gail Bennington remarked that working in tandem with her husband is good for their personal relationship as well. “We’re very lucky as a couple,” she said, “because I don’t think we’ve ever had a fight. We’ve disagreed a few times, but we get along and we have a passion for the same goals. We have the same hobbies, and we want to make a better world for our children when they’re older. Some people can’t stand being in the same room with each other, especially after COVID, but we enjoy it.”

“We have the same hobbies, and we want to make a better world for our children when they’re older.”

Eager to help in the fight for climate justice, the Benningtons practice what they preach in their daily lives, and they encourage their students and colleagues to do the same.

“There are lots of things that individuals can do to combat [climate] change,” J. Bret Bennington said, “such as burn less fossil fuel by driving less. And when it comes time and you can afford to buy a car, buy a hybrid or an electric car.”

When they don’t need to use their car to get around, the Benningtons are avid bikers.

“We ride our bikes to campus when we can, when the weather is permitting,” Gail Bennington said. “It’s not bad. It’s five miles each way.”

She also mentioned how people can be sustainable shoppers, in addition to being environmentally conscious travelers.

“My own children like to go to thrift shops,” she said. “Go buy second-hand clothes. I just try to make people aware of what they

THE CHRONICLE

Overheard @ Hofstra “Coffee is good when it’s disguised as something else.”

“She can’t help it, she’s straight.”

“The only solution is to girlboss. Remember that.”

“My chiropractor is the sexiest person alive.”

“I can only take so much deadpan whimsy, and then I want to throw up.”

“If you screw my pretzels up, I will kill you.”

“No, ‘Riverdale’ doesn’t make me zen.”

“I’ll slap you with a potato.”

“Sometimes I forget we have a school newspaper.”

THE CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 15, 2022 • A9

FEATURES

Celebrating Black History Month: Hofstra Museum of Art showcases African art

Megan Naftali

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

In celebration of Black History Month, the Hofstra Museum of Art opened the Art of the Dogon exhibition on Tuesday, Feb. 8, showcasing African art in the David Filderman Gallery, located on the ninth floor of the Axinn Library.

“The Dogon are people that are primarily based in the African country of Mali,” said Karen T. Albert, the museum director and curator of the exhibit. “One of the things, particularly with African art, is that most people in the West see it as one thing, and it’s quite diverse. Our collection has more than 70 different ethnic cultures and they could look very different, even though they’re all African art.”

The exhibition showcases 30 out of the 66 pieces of Dogon art that the collection holds, some of which includes jewelry, masks and figurines.

By Anna DeGoede

Dogon art and how they look at the collection manager for the “The Dogon works of art other cultures from their own museum. on view, dating from the 19th perspective, according to Albert.

An objective of the exhibit and 20th centuries, illustrate Philip Arnow, a junior the tremendous richness linguistics major, enjoyed and depth of traditional viewing the exhibit. The cultural practices and art wooden sculptures even forms,” Albert wrote in reminded him of ones at his a statement. “The Dogon grandparents’ house. is a living culture whose “African culture, what this material objects continue represents and where this to be used in rituals and comes from is not something masquerades supporting that I am particularly too spiritual traditions.” acquainted with, so it’s fun The objects were gifted seeing it exhibited here,” to the museum by Roda Arnow said. “The story that Graham, Sol and Joseall of these [objects] have phine Levitt and Dr. and and the text that goes with it Mrs. Pascal James Imperais really interesting to see.” to, but the exhibition goes Angelina Olivo, a freshbeyond just having these man mechanical engineerworks on view. ing major, gets an inside “We have a kiosk where perspective on the exhibit, as you can watch a video of she works at the museum. the objects and masks that Photo courtesy of University Relations “[The exhibition] is you see on display with important because it shows documentation of what A visitor views the Art of the Dogon exhibit. how people are getting the they would look like in history behind [these objects] is to make students think more real life, used by the people that and it gives a certain light to the made them,” said Kristen Dorata, carefully about African and

art,” Olivo said.

Black History Month is a celebration that honors the triumphs and struggles of Black people throughout American history.

“The Black Student Union (BSU), along with other multicultural organizations on campus, have been having fun and educational programs throughout the month of February that have been Black focused,” said Kayla Stadeker, a junior global studies major and the secretary of BSU. The Art of the Dogon exhibit was not coordinated by BSU, but they have many events centered around celebrating Black History Month.

Stadeker believes that it’s great that there is a month dedicated to Black history, but also maintains that celebrating and learning about Black history should go beyond that time frame.

The Art of the Dogon exhibition will be on display throughout the spring semester and will run through Friday, July 22.

Chron Cooks ft. Anna DeGoede: Chocolate Lava Cake for Two

FEATURES EDITOR

Ingredients:

Instructions:

3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (about ½ cup)

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease the ramekins or mugs with butter, then dust the inside with some granulated sugar.

3 tablespoons butter, cubed 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 large egg Anna DeGoede / The Hofstra Chronicle

This rich chocolate cake recipe is perfect for those in need of a delicious dessert to eat alone or with a friend. Double this recipe if you’re in need of a dessert for three or four friends, but use three eggs total instead of doubling the egg ingredients in the original recipe. To further customize, use a flavored chocolate bar instead of bittersweet chocolate or add your favorite extract – my family loves mint!

I recommend having ramekins or mugs that can safely go into the oven.

Recipe adapted from NY Times Cooking.

1 egg yolk ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour Butter and sugar for the ramekins

2. Combine the butter and chocolate in a heat-safe bowl. Set the bowl over a pot of simmering water and stir until the butter and chocolate are completely melted.

3. In a medium bowl, combine the egg, egg yolk, vanilla extract and salt. Whisk until combined, then whisk in flour.

4. Add the melted chocolate and butter to the egg mixture.

Stir until combined.

5. Divide the batter equally into the ramekins.

6. Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges of the cake are firm but the middle remains soft when gently pressed.

7. Remove the cake from the oven. Wait a few minutes before gently removing the cake from the ramekins.

8. Dust with powdered sugar (optional) and enjoy (not optional)!

University Re-evaluates Masking Rules

The university announced on Feb. 10 spectators of athletic events in the Mack Arena are not required to wear masks. However, people are required to do so when in the building at other times.

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle

Hofstra Health Ambassadors have been distributing KN95 masks to the student body for protection against COVID-19.

Hofstra University expects staff and students to wear medical grade masks in accordance with public health guidelines.

In a Feb. 14 email, it was stated that students living on campus no longer have to wear masks in the common spaces of the residence halls, such as elevators, bathrooms, hallways and lounges.

Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle

According to the same email from President Poser, Hofstra is still mandating masks inside academic buildings and classrooms, the library and the student center.

Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle

Eating and drinking indoors is no longer restricted to dining areas but is still prohibited in classrooms and the library.

Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle

Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle

Signage around campus continues to become outdated as new policies are announced.

Spread by Jacob Lewis, Alexis Friedman and Adam Flash

Arts and Entertainment

VOL. 87 ISSUE 8

Mitski makes anticipated return with ‘Laurel Hell’ B2 Courtesy of NME

B2 • FEBRUARY 15, 2022

THE CHRONICLE

A&E

Mitski makes anticipated return with ‘Laurel Hell’ she questions her stance of acclimation and poses herself against her own image.

While this album may have Photo courtesy of NPR brought some of Mitski’s “Laurel Hell” is her highest charting album yet, debutthe most ing at number 5 on the Billboard 200 this week. streamBy Allie Millette lined sounds from the artist, it STAFF WRITER makes its statement with the After almost four years with no refreshing and unrelenting gaze of writing that truly only Mitski new music, renowned Japanese can provide.

American singer-songwriter In the chilling, synth-led Mitski Miyawaki, better known opener, “Valentine, Texas,” the by the moniker “Mitski” to auditone of the album is set. Mitski ences, released her sixth studio sings, “Let’s step carefully into album. “Laurel Hell” approached the dark/ Once we’re in, I’ll the artist’s individualized path of remember my way around/ Who making music through indie-pop will I be tonight?

Who will I and rock-influenced synths and become?” before the song opens chillingly inquisitive songwritlike a bursting flower, throwing ing. It is through these techniques

the listener into the depths of self-questioning before launching head-first into the second song and lead single of the album, “Working for the Knife.” What makes this album stand with such unwavering richness is the duality of each track. While listeners may have been inclined to write off the lead single in favor of the newly released songs, they could find a reasserted truth to this track, as it stands between the opener and “Stay Soft.”

While longtime fans may certainly notice a slight pivot in production style with a lean-in to ‘80s pop sound on this new album, they can still count on Mitski’s ability to pair a footmoving tempo with a gut-punching lyrical progression. This technique is found in “Love Me More,” an unbashful recounting of wanting a love to completely overtake and redefine you to the point of being utterly unrecognizable. Mitski submits herself to vulnerability enough to wallow in the experiences she recounts, but still holds enough of herself

back to keep an air of comfort in carefully controlled privacy.

Stand outs from “Laurel Hell” are “Stay Soft,” which takes the introspective view of a necessary but unfortunate process of hardening oneself to life, and “Should’ve Been Me.” While “Stay Soft” revels in becoming hardened, “Should’ve Been Me” sympathizes with a partner who she was unable to give herself up to emotionally. It is a paradox that Mitski explores with catchy, rhythmic and playful instrumental melody.

Upon a full listen to the album, it could be said that the album is somewhat disjointed, but further surrender to “Laurel Hell” concludes that it is not important.

The sounds of this album that stitch it together give strength to it thematically. This is precisely what breathes life into the album and marks it as such a wonderful piece of music that proves Mitski’s timeless talent and epitomizes her transformative insights.

Bad Suns is back with new album ‘Apocalypse Whenever’

By Kat Salmon ASSISTANT ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

California-based band Bad Suns released their fourth album, “Apocalypse Whenever,” on Jan. 28. Their last full-length release came out three years ago, so fans have been craving something new.

The band did not disappoint as they returned to a new wave-inspired sound that was missing from their previous release.

Six singles were released, which is quite unheard of these days since artists typically want to keep the sound of their albums a surprise.

However, releasing that many singles did not backfire on the band as the unreleased tracks were a breath of fresh air. They sounded like the Bad Suns that fans know and love with a hint of something new.

The first track, “Apocalypse Whenever,” is a song about selfdiscovery. Lead singer Christo Bowman sings, “Life’s not been plenty, but I’m still not ready to die / I’ve never felt so alive.” He notes how life hasn’t been the easiest for him, but he isn’t ready to give up because there is so much ahead of

Photo courtesy of Bad Suns The band opened for Angels and Airwaves in fall 2021 on the Lifeforms tour

him.

“Summer Lightning,” the second song on the album, is about not wanting a summer fling to end, even if continuing the relationship would do more harm than good. This was a slightly different sound for the band because they experimented with autotune. It might have sounded better without the autotune, but it is still a catchy song. Hopefully this song gets some airplay on the radio because it has the potential to become a fan

favorite. It would be interesting to hear this live.

The seventh track, “Electric Circus,” is about a toxic and emotionally abusive relationship. The eighth track, “Nightclub (Waiting for You),” is about holding out for someone who does not put you as their first priority. These aren’t the most memorable off the record – it was a good call that these were not released as singles, because they would not have charted well.

The ninth track and last single

released, “Life Was Easier When I Only Cared About Me,” is about reminiscing about being single and is possibly the best song on the album. It’s upbeat and catchy as hell: everything you need for a song to become a hit.

Their song, “Grace (I Think I’m in Love Again),” is a hidden gem.

Bowman sings, “Make my heart beat / In the backset of your car / I think I’m in love again.” This is the perfect song to listen if you have just entered a new relationship after being in an unhealthy one. It also reestablishes that someone can find love again after a breakup.

The final track, “Symphony of Lights,” is about reassuring your significant other that you will always be there for them. It was a great note to end the record on, showing that Bad Suns is back and ready to share their hard work with fans.

For fans that enjoy indie rock that is obviously inspired by the 1980s, give this record a listen! It is available now on any streaming platform.

Quick Hits

Courtesy of Fortune

The trailer for “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” dropped on Sunday, Feb. 13, during the Super Bowl.

Courtesy of Independent

Kylie Jenner gave birth to her and Travis Scott’s son, Wolf, on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

Courtesy of Breaking Daily News

Euphoria co-stars Dominic Fike and Hunter Schafer confirmed their romance last week.

Courtesy of E!

YouTube personality Trisha Paytas announced through Instagram that they’re pregnant.

Courtesy of TVLine

The Netflix original series “Bridgerton” released a teaser trailer for its second season on Monday, Feb. 14.

THE CHRONICLE

A&E

FEBRUARY 15, 2022 • B3

The 94th Oscar nominations: snubs and surprises didn’t completely lack diversity. Most notably, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi was nominated for Best Director for “Drive My Car.” The Japanese film also got three other nominations, including Best Picture. This is impressive for a film with little to no formal awards campaign and was probably made possible by the Academy’s admission of more international voters.

Troy Kotsur, nominated for Best Supporting Actor for “CODA,” is only the second deaf actor to get a nomination (his co-star, Marlee Matlin, was the first). “CODA” also pulled off a Best Picture nomination, a surprise to those who thought such a small film couldn’t achieve that.

There were many first-time nominees, most notably Beyoncé for her song “Be Alive” from “King Richard” and Billie Eilish for her song “No Time to Die” from the new James Bond film, both in the Best Original Song category. Kristen Stewart and Kirsten Dunst also got their first nominations.

Streaming services were the biggest winners, with seven of the 10 best picture nominees (including the two movies that were released in theaters and on HBOMax simultaneously) distributed by streamers. Streaming movies have been a controversial topic surrounding the Oscars, with many prominent filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg saying that every nominee must have a theatrical run. The Academy dropped their requirement for a theatrical run last year in the wake of the pandemic and kept the new rule for this year.

The Academy previously announced that the Oscars will have a host for the first time since Jimmy Kimmel hosted in 2018. They haven’t definitively settled on anyone, but names such as Pete Davidson, Tom Holland and the trio of Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short have been floated around.

The Academy has also reportedly explored having multiple hosts.

The Oscars will air on ABC on Mar. 27, at 8 p.m. EST.

truly enticing is the fact that each scene as well as figure out who need to consider clues such as scene is improvised. The allure of committed the crime. The first six whether a suspect is left-handed or watching guest stars and Arnett’s episodes released on Netflix with right-handed or whether they can reactions alike to circumstance and guest stars Conan O’Brien, Annie whistle. This easily engages and comedic dialogue is never–ending.

Murphy, Sharon Stone, Kumail captures the attention of its audiArnett’s talent at facilitating each Nanjiani, Ken Jeong and Marence throughout the entire thirtyguest’s improv and shawn Lynch. Every guest pushing them into difbrings their own brand of hilarity to the show, ferent wacky situations which diversifies the pace does not go unnoticed; and characters for each he invites actors and episode within the series. audience alike to relish Kumail Nanjiani took in the amusement of to Twitter to talk about his the moment. An adexperience on the show. “I ditional bonus to this laughed a ton doing Muris, of course, that the audience can enjoy derville w @arnettwill,” laughing with the cast Nanjiani said. “They all when they break durhad a script; I didn’t.

Photo courtesy of About Netflix They yelled ACTION! & ing a bit.

Murderville’s first season was met with positive reviews, I walked into the scene This show also satishaving no inkling of story, scoring an 81% audience approval rating from Rotten Toma- fies viewers who are toes cast, anything. Felt like looking for a show that jumping out of a plane. Without the minute episodes, as some clues are incorporates character building and threat of physical harm.”. the protagonist’s social life into more subversive than others, but Alongside spotting famous acits plot. The arc of Terry Seattle’s all are necessary in order to catch divorce with his coworker, Chief the killer. Often, the show can feel tors and appreciating the humor of Rhonda, played by Haneefah as though one is playing a game of the show, viewers also can try and Wood, weaves itself into the nar“Clue” with some of their favorite figure out the murder for themcelebrities. selves. The show reveals pieces of rative. Chief Rhonda announces The aspect of the show that is evidence as it continues; viewers the real culprit at the end of the

episode; each time she appears, the audience is given a new piece of information on the development of their relationship and lives postdivorce.

Fans online have posted their opinions of the show on popular platforms such as TikTok and Twitter. Some have been ranking their favorite episodes or appreciating the masterful way in which the show balances its many pieces.

Justin McElroy, a podcaster and comedian who co-hosts the show “My Brother, My Brother and Me,” said, “The most interesting thing about Murderville is that clues are really easy to miss when they’re inside setups and punchlines. It’s a really effective hybrid.”

The structure and content of the show itself appeal to a mass audience; currently, the show holds a 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an 86% audience approval score.

Although the show only just finished filming in mid-2021 and was released under a month ago, it has many fans awaiting its renewal for season two.

“The Power of The Dog” led the nominations with 12 nods, including Best Picture, Best Director for Jane Campion and four acting nominations.

Campion is the Photo courtesy of The New York Times first woman Jane Campion’s “The Power of The Dog” earned 12 nomi- to have two nations, the most this year. nominations for

By Caitlin Treacy Best Director.

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE She was also the first woman to be nominated in 1994 for “The The Academy did not fail to Piano.” deliver both serious snubs and “Dune” got the second most pleasant surprises this year. nominations at 10. Shockingly, The 94th Oscar nominations Denis Villenueve failed to get a were announced by Tracee Best Director nomination, which Ellis Ross and Leslie Jordan on seemed like a surefire lock to Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 8:18 a.m. predictors and pundits.

EST. The hosts engaged in light Lady Gaga did not secure a banter while getting help from Best Actress nomination for New York firefighters, Howard “House of Gucci,” despite getting University students and healthlots of nominations from other care workers to announce the organizations. Many thought that nominations. her passionate campaign where

she highlighted the lengths she went to portray Patrizia Reggiani would guarantee her a spot.

“House of Gucci” only got one nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

Other notable misses were Alana Haim for “Licorice Pizza” and Frances McDormand for “The Tragedy of Macbeth” in the Best Actress Category, the latter of which won Best Actress last year and two other times.

Leonardo DiCaprio for “Don’t Look Up” was another snub.

Another huge miss was the lack of people of color in the acting categories. Only four were nominated: Aunjanue Ellis and Will Smith for “King Richard,” Ariana DeBose for “West Side Story” and Denzel Washington for “The Tragedy of Macbeth.”

This is even more egregious considering that nine people of color were nominated for acting last year. Many point out Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga in “Passing” as worthy Black nominees who were unfairly snubbed.

However, the nominations

Will Arnett Murders Role in New Netflix Series “Murderville”

By Lauren Ballinger STAFF WRITER

On Thursday, Feb. 3, the show “Murderville” was released on Netflix. The show stars Will Arnett and is an American adaptation of its British counterpart, “Murder in Successville.” “Murderville” successfully infuses comedy into the whodunnit genre of television, allowing viewers to take a ride into a murder–ridden town with their favorite celebrities as guest stars.

Will Arnett plays Senior Detective Terry Seattle, a jaded, mustachioed detective who, as he says, has never actually been to Seattle.

Arnett, already having an extensive career in comedy himself, combines the best of his witty timing, iconic voice (which viewers may know from Arnett’s previous projects such as “The LEGO Batman Movie” or the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup commercials) and over-thetop theatricality to the role.

Each episode features a new guest star who hasn’t been given a script. Their goal is to participate in the improvisational side of each

B4 • FEBRUARY 15, 2022

A&E

THE CHRONICLE

‘Moonfall’ crashes into megastructure theory

By Alexandra Kline SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

“Moonfall” is a science fiction film directed by Roland Emmerich and was released in theaters Friday, Feb. 4. The film follows the three characters: Brian Harper (Patrick Wilson), a retired astronaut after an incident that occurred in 2011 that cost the life of another astronaut during a routine satellite fix; Jocinda Fowler (Halle Berry), a renowned astronaut that was also present at the 2011 incident and K. C. Houseman (John Bradley), a megastructurist and the first person to realize that the Earth’s moon is out of orbit. Together, the three must work together to save the planet and stop the moon as it hurtles itself into Earth.

The film also follows the survivors on the Earth’s surface.

It becomes difficult for them to survive the moon’s destruction when the loss of gravity and oxygen in

believes the moon to be one of the NASA recorded quakes from the the atmosphere causes problems. closest and most obvious megamoon in the 1970s, stating that it Both perspectives allow the viewwas “ringing like a bell.” ers to see what is happening with structures to Earth. The moon is If the the moon moon is, and the in fact, a destruction megastrucits changed orbit is ture like causing to Houseman the planet. and few The others in the biggest film predict, conspiracy who created theory it and why throughout it is falling the film out of orbit? is that of The film is megastruly captitructures, vating, and which are one cannot planet sized look away architectural for too long Photo courtesy of New Scientist structures for fear of “Moonfall,” which stars Patrick Wilson from “The Conjuring” franchise, opened to mixed reviews at the box office. built by missing aliens. They a crucial are powered by small stars, most piece of information. It is truly believed to be this hollow megalikely white dwarves. Houseman amazing how Emmerich uses these structure, further backed up when

numerous moon conspiracy theories to create this world-ending catastrophe film. The plot and action are easy to follow, and the science is not too hard to understand. The action is also perfectly broken up with Houseman’s comic relief. His anxiety, pill-popping and IBS riddled body make him a great character to root for.

Who created the sentient alien technology that is attacking the moon and trying to destroy all human life? Why does it want to accomplish this? Is artificial intelligence always going to face a danger to humanity? How does the Chrysler Building end up in the middle of a mountain range? Watch “Moonfall” in theaters now to have all these questions about the universe revealed!

MGK and Willow team up for new single, ‘emo girl’

By Daniel Gordon STAFF WRITER

Two years ago, Colson Baker, famously known as Machine Gun Kelly, released his hit album “Tickets to my Downfall.” With a successful attempt to change his career from rap to punk-rock, MGK’s first album post-musical transition made its way to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. With the help of Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, Machine Gun Kelly rose to fame in the world of music.

MGK is set to release his sixth studio album “Mainstream Sellout” on Friday, March 25, just 10 years after the launch of his first studio album “Lace Up” in 2012. Pre-album, MGK has released two singles that give his listeners a look into what to expect, and both are featuring artists. On Aug. 11, 2021, MGK gave his fans, both old and new, a look into what to expect for his new punk-rock-esque album with the release of “Papercuts,” featuring Travis Barker. This single was an intimate look into where life has brought the rapper turned punk rocker. He sang

about his career in the entertainment industry, being a father, and most prominent is his personal knowledge of the hatred he received from his four previous studio albums. His awareness of this hatred and the shift to then being looked up to post-musical genre transition, made it clear that he knows the hard life of being in the entertainment industry and expressed that in one of his two released singles.

His other single, released on Friday, Feb. 4, was titled “emo girl” and features Willow Smith.

This single, also to be on the upcoming album, gives us a dive into the punk-rock attitude that MGK is achieving through his new album.

Describing his ideal woman as an emo girl, Smith also plays a role in the song in which she describes herself as an emo girl, while also saying she is interested in emo girls. Although this song might not seem like it has a lot of significance, in the media, MGK and his relationship with his new fiancée has been making headlines for the past year. In May of 2020 the punk-rocker

Kelly has given his fans someand the newly divorced Megan same soul forming the obscure Fox made their relationship heart that is our love.” In an thing else to look forward to: the public.

Instagram post, MGK explains release of his sixth studio album Almost two years after making that the ring was designed to hurt “Mainstream Sellout” on Friday, their relationship official, MGK when taken off, confirmed by March 25. asked Megan Fox to be his wife ring designer Stephen Webster. under a banyan tree in Puerto Although there is no date Rico on Tuesday, Jan. 11. He for the wedding, Machine Gun proposed to her with a doublebanded ring that connects with magnets: one with an emerald, which is her birth stone, and another with a diamond, which is his birth stone. He describes the two banded rings as “two magnetic bands of thorns that draw togethPhoto courtesy of NME er as two Gun Kelly made a cameo appearance in the recently released final film in the “Jackass” halves of the Machine franchise, “Jackass Forever.”

A12 •FEBRUARY 15, 2022

THE CHRONICLE

OPINION

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

The price I pay for education should not be my life or the lives of others CONTINUED FROM A1 If you gave me a dollar for every time I’ve seen a student or teacher wear a mask incorrectly, I could have paid off some of my student loan debt. The lack of attention and care, from those who wear their masks incorrectly to the complicit nature of those who say nothing about it, is extremely concerning and is no doubt contributing to further COVID-19 restrictions.

As a disabled student, I can only attempt to tell you how infuriating it is to hear another person say they can’t live in fear for the rest of their life, as they leave to go to the movies or a football game. Fear and risk are different for those of us with chronic health conditions and to suggest that masks be disregarded is both irresponsible

and inconsiderate. For the immunocompromised, every day is a possible death sentence, even with the vaccine.

Last December, I said with pride that Hofstra had managed to go an entire semester without closing or sending students home. I can no longer say I am proud of this university’s response to such a deadly communicable disease. I look around in the Student Center and see nursing students not wearing masks correctly. How can this university speak of “pride” with life-endangering behavior taking place?

I do not expect people to be perfect. I certainly haven’t – I’ve gone without my mask when eating in open spaces. But there is a difference between trying and messing up and not even trying to comply with

restrictions. This behavior only extends this pandemic and increases the chance of death.

I want anyone who is considering the pandemic “under

“Fear and risk are different for those of us with chronic health conditions and to suggest that masks be disregarded is both irresponsible and inconsiderate. control” to look into the eyes of a housebound person, a disabled student, a full-time nurse or someone who’s lost family to

this disease and say they’re fine with reducing safety measures.

This disease is not an excuse to revitalize discussions of eugenics, disregard personal responsibility and abandon the right of those around you to protect themselves.

The president’s letter has only validated those on campus who would rather throw caution out the window. It truly enrages me that “reconsideration” is even seen as an appropriate response right now. In no way is it responsible to endanger students under their supervision.

When I chose Hofstra, I considered many things, one being the price of attending.

Despite tuition remaining largely consistent since my freshman year, I can confidently say that the possible price of attending this institution has risen

exponentially with the pandemic. It’s not a price that can be covered by financial aid. This possible cost becomes more and more probable everyday when irresponsible students and faculty walk by me. It is not a cost I want to pay.

The price I pay for education should not be my life or the lives of others.

Haley Kugler is a senior politcal science major and philosophy minor at Hofstra. They are also a Head Peer Educator at IEE where they work on intersectionality and inclusivity.

Biden needs to build back better welfare

By Daniel Cody In conjunction with the People’s Policy Project research, Senator Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Congressman Mondaire Jones (D-NY) introduced the End Child Poverty Act (ECPA) legislation. If implemented, the bill could dramatically reduce child poverty in the United States. The ECPA grows and streamlines the Child Tax Credit expansions under Biden’s recent spending packages and aims to target the poorest filers by issuing payments in the form of a monthly $393 Universal Child Benefit (UCB) beginning at birth. Estimates by the People’s Policy Project have shown that the bill could reduce child poverty by as much as 64%, furthermore cutting “deep” child poverty – the children who live under “half median” of distributed earners

in the population – by as much as 70%.

The End Child Poverty Act would create a Universal Child Assistance program inside of the Social Security Administration. Currently, the SSI Survivor Benefits – or simply military Survivor Benefits – serve as a model for UCB distribution so that in lieu of the typical American tax credit system where benefits are received as a lump-sum refund during tax season, ECPA benefits could be mailed in the form of checks or directly deposited into a personal bank account on a month-to-month basis. The ECPA is on-par with welfare institutions in Europe and elsewhere in North America.

The Deputy Commissioner of Universal Child Assistance would oversee the delivery of benefits to parents and the maintenance of the program’s

bureaucratic structure within the SSA, including fraud prevention and coordination with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for filer information.

Under our current standards of poverty, the UCB could stand to dramatically decrease the parental guardians’ financial burden of raising children,

“We have a religion of individualism that pushes for self-reliance, so much so that it destroys safety nets and demonizes people whose incomes are subsidized by fair policies.” which is the leading cause of material insecurity. This is the critical paradigm shift that must be made: the benefit is for the child. It’s the same

thing as taking social security benefits on behalf of an elderly family member – a point often repeated by the policy work behind the ECPA, Matt Bruenig of People’s Policy Project.

American welfare is overlooked and lied about frequently. We have a religion of individualism that pushes for self-reliance, so much so that it destroys safety nets and demonizes people whose incomes are subsidized by fair policies.

Improvements have been made to the system under progressive leadership, like when Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) created the IRS Court of Appeals or the Child Tax Credit system itself. Even still, the lumbering zombie of the Affordable Care Act, its recent Medicare and Medicaid expansions and the CTC program comprise a significant portion of government

Have an opinion? We want to hear it.

Email us at huchronicle.op.ed@gmail.com

benefits overall.

The procession of this bill is the critical leap to making serious change. Whether it suffers through pointless means-testing revisions in Congress or succeeds and becomes a step toward a fairer economic system, it should be a serious matter for peoples’ claim to act in popularity. There’s room to say that the ECPA reflects a peculiar sentiment from last winter: the American people like checks.

That’s why even a Republican promised them.

Daniel Cody is a senior from Dallas, Texas and Carlisle, Pennsylvania studying journalism and political science.

THE CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 15, 2022 • A13

OPINION

Hofstra-Hempstead “Monopoly” THERE’S NO PARKING! (after 8 a.m.)

RAILROAD:

CHANCE

?

WATER WORKS

The longer version of the shuttle bus.

Your ceiling is leaking, bestie.

Whoops!

Your ceiling is still leaking, bestie.

COMMMUNITY CHEST

There’s no firepits this time. Go to the Monkey Tree.

GO TO JAIL You contracted COVID-19 from a boy with a wallet phone case.

COMMMUNITY CHEST

Forever out-of-service water fountains.

HOFSTRA-HEMPSTEAD MONOPOLY

RAILROAD:

Courtesy of the Opinion Section

That old, wooden LIRR car from the ‘70s that you can catch at Mineola.

RAILROAD:

The exclusive rights to sell life insurance on the Mineola B platform 2a.m.-4a.m. during Greek Easter.

CHANCE

?

Will you graduate on time?

ELECTRIC COMPANY There’s no A/C!

JAIL

(quarantine housing)

LUXURY TAX Tuition increase.

CHANCE

?

Will you get the Hofshits? #roarwithpride.

RAILROAD: The shuttle bus.

NASSAU COUNTY INCOME TAX Welcome to Long Island.

COMMMUNITY CHEST

You get: outdoor firepits.

PASS GO collect $2,000 in student loans.

A14 •FEBRUARY 15, 2022

THE CHRONICLE

OPINION

Pro: Joe Rogan should not be banned from Spotify

By Lincoln Annabali Last week, many musicians, following Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, threatened to pull their music from Spotify if the massive streaming service did not take action to remove or censor Joe Rogan’s Spotify-exclusive podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience” following the show’s continued dissemination of vaccine misinformation.

“The Joe Rogan Experience” is considered to be the most listened to podcast worldwide, garnering hundreds of millions of listeners each month. Spotify purchased exclusive streaming rights to the podcast in 2020 for a reported $100 million and assured both Rogan and his listeners that they would not dictate the content or guests of the show.

Since the start of the pandemic, Rogan has brought on numerous guests to speak on various issues related to COVID-19. He is primarily facing backlash for hosting Dr. Peter McCullough and Dr. Robert Malone – two men who have

repeatedly cherry-picked and misrepresented data regarding the vaccines in order to promote hesitancy towards vaccines.

Rogan himself has not been vaccinated but tested positive for COVID-19 in September.

While he was sick, the podcaster sparked further controversy over his use of the drug Ivermectin which has not been proven to be effective in treating COVID-19.

Joe Rogan is certainly a controversial figure when it comes to the vaccine. It’s clear that his podcast spreads false information about COVID-19 to massive audiences, however censorship by removing his content from Spotify is wrong.

If you don’t listen to the show, you would think all Rogan talks about is politics and COVID-19.

However, out of Rogan’s 58 episodes since October, only three of his guests focused their conversations on vaccines, one of them being CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Joe Rogan is self-admittedly progressive. He supports free healthcare, free education, drug

legalization and increased abortion access. Rogan has introduced his audience to countless leftists, supported Bernie Sanders in 2020 and has admittedly, “never voted right wing in [his] life.” Do those on the left really want to silence someone who promotes liberal ideas to millions who would have otherwise not been interested?

The media’s main goal in targeting Rogan is power. “The Joe Rogan Experience” reaches more people in a single episode than CNN, MSNBC and FOX reach in a day combined. Joe Rogan and other podcasters threaten the monopoly of these archaic and intellectually vapid “news” channels. Highlighting drama about Joe Rogan is yet another push by the media to further the political divide between citizens and increase their audience.

These major networks regularly spread false information whilst violating journalistic and ethical values. The government and mainstream medias’ continued dissemination of

misinformation is what caused people not to trust vaccines at the beginning – not Joe Rogan.

Whether or not Rogan had his podcast, hundreds of millions of Americans would remain unvaccinated. Having guests who have misrepresented COVID-19 data has given Rogan the opportunity to correct those errors and, in the future, have guests who present accurate information, something he has promised to continue doing going forward.

Removing incorrect information eliminates the chance for it to be corrected, allowing lies to fester in private below the surface of public awareness. Rogan has made mistakes in the past that he’s owned up for, providing his listeners with a lesson on his errors and why they were hurtful.

The entire basis of our political and scientific culture revolves around the principle of having open conversations and debates on important topics.

In a culture where it’s shunned to have an opposing viewpoint

to the mainstream narrative, there ceases to be a free and progressive society. Science is a never-ending process, and it’s the challenges and criticisms to prevailing thought that keep it evolving. We need to stop focusing on false and dangerous “solutions” to misinformation and focus on spreading accurate and compelling facts.

Rogan, with hundreds of millions of dollars and tens of millions of fans, will be fine if Spotify de-platforms his content – it’ll be the next creator that speaks against the prevailing narrative that will be punished.

Lincoln Anniballi is a freshman political science major and can be found on Twitter @LincMass.

Con: Joe Rogan should be banned from Spotify

By Kirsten Wheeler

Joe Rogan has come under public scrutiny for spreading harmful misinformation about COVID-19 on his wildly famous, Spotify-exclusive podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience.” Outrage peaked recently when singer Neil Young gave Spotify an ultimatum: either Joe Rogan’s show leaves the platform or his music does. In poor taste, Spotify decided to do the latter, showing that their loyalties lie with the controversial and publicly harmful.

The episode that sparked the controversy dates back to December, featuring virologist Dr. Robert Malone and Rogan engaging in a misinformative conversation about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. The severity of Rogan’s impact should have been recognized and addressed back in January when the episode spurred 270 health

and science experts to sign an open letter to Spotify demanding the show’s removal due how misleading and harmful this information is.

Spotify has recently met with a lot of turbulence since then as other artists are following in Young’s footsteps, removing their content from the platform in protest of Rogan’s show. These artists include Joni Mitchell and Crosby, Stills and Nash. Thousands of tweets have reflected outcry over the decision, with many people claiming they’ve canceled their Spotify subscriptions. Though Spotify will very likely survive this onslaught of disapproval, it should reevaluate this decision if it upsets so many of its patrons. The logical response to any large scale dissatisfaction toward a mega-company like Spotify is compromise. But Spotify is remaining steadfast to

its distasteful business move.

On Thursday, Feb. 3, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek voiced his defense for “The Joe Rogan Experience” on the platform.

Essentially, it was an edgier product in the streaming service market because it was the most-searched podcast on the platform prior to becoming a Spotify exclusive. What followed was an attempt to deter blame through claiming that because Spotify does not have creative authority of the show, it should not be to blame. Rather than trying to own up to the poor decision and reach a solution, Ek tried to play the victim with a “don’t shoot the messenger” narrative.

Ek also claims that there are a number of episodes of the show that are not present on the platform for being too controversial. However, if a platform has to remove multiple episodes

of a podcast for insensitive content, that should be a clear indicator that it shouldn’t be fit for the platform at all. Moreover, if there is still damaging information from a podcast even after a sweep has been conducted, that platform should seriously reconsider its guidelines to ensure public safety.

This isn’t just an issue of offensive content, this is an issue of global wellbeing. In a particularly tense period where everyone’s health is on the line it is imperative that everyone is equipped with the proper information that will keep them safe, especially given how divisive vaccines have become. But as long as this type of misinformation spreads, people are led to believe in certain actions that will put many at risk and only prolong the pandemic. It’s one thing to hurt someone’s feelings, but to potentially hurt

Have an opinion? We want to hear it.

Email us at huchronicle.op.ed@gmail.com

millions of people’s livelihood is on a whole new level of insensitivity and irresponsibility.

Anyone who promotes such things should not have a means of sharing it publicly. Any platform that is willing to promote it should not profit from it.

Kirsten Wheeler is a freshman drama major from the Washington D.C. area. Having been editor-in-chief for her high school’s newspaper, she’s excited to get back into reporting.

THE CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 15, 2022 • A15

SPORTS

Pride Performer of the Week

Men’s basketball defeats Delaware for fourth straight win

By Frankie DiCalogero STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra men’s basketball team pulled away in the second half on Saturday, Feb. 12, cruising to an 80–66 victory

on the road over the University of Delaware Blue Hens. The victory was Hofstra’s fourth straight and improved its record to 17–9 and 9–4 in conference play.

“Great team effort, we had five guys scoring in double figures,” said Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. “I think we had one of our best games on both ends of the floor, offensively and defensively. We said we wanted a statement win, and we got it tonight.”

The Pride started hot out of the gate with a 9–3 lead.

A three–pointer from Aaron Estrada pushed the lead up to

Check out our website: www.thehofstrachronicle.com/category/sports

nine, 16–7, with 14:08 left to go in the first half. The Pride never looked back in the first half, taking its first double–digit lead over the Blue Hens, 27–17, with 7:04 remaining on the clock.

Delaware cut the early deficit, ending the half with six straight points, trailing 39–35 entering halftime. Hofstra shot 42.1% from the field in the first half, while Delaware shot 40% from the field.

Hofstra once again came out hot to start the second half with a 11–4 run, making it a 52–41 lead with 16:49 left to play.

Jalen Ray helped lead the charge for Hofstra with another big three–pointer that extended the Pride’s lead up to 16, its largest of the game, and made the score 65–49 with just over 10 minutes to go.

Delaware looked to stage a big comeback, cutting the lead

down to seven points with 8:15 remaining. The Pride answered back quickly going on a 7–0 run to put Delaware away and collect another strong road victory.

“It’s huge, it’s tough to win road games but we’re road warriors, and I’m so happy for my team,” Claxton said. “It seems like we never play at home so we have to win on the road.”

Jyare Davis led the way for Delaware with 16 points off the bench. Ryan Allen also added 12 points for the Blue Hens.

It was a balanced attack for the Pride, with Aaron Estrada once again leading the way for Hofstra, scoring 21 points with a game–high seven rebounds.

Ray added 14 points, while Darlinstone Dubar put up 15 points, shooting an efficient 7–8 from the field.

“Estrada’s going to garner a lot of attention, so we’re going to need guys to make shots and with those guys making shots, it’s going to be hard to control.”

Claxton added.

Jarrod Simmons and Omar Silverio also came up big for the Pride, with 11 and 10 respectively, as the two combined for 21 of Hofstra’s 23 bench points. Hofstra also came up big in the paint, scoring 46 points from underneath the basket in the game..

Hofstra will continue their road trip on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m., turning its sights to Elon University, as they look to extend its win streak to a season–high five games.

A16 • FEBRUARY 15, 2022

THE CHRONICLE

SPORTS

Hofstra breaks Sacred Heart with trio of hat-tricks

By Will Wiegelman SPORTS E D I TO R

The Hofstra men’s lacrosse team dominated Sacred Heart University 21-9 in a matinee matchup on Saturday, Feb. 12, at James M. Shuart Stadium.

Sophomore transfer Gerard Kane scored a game-high four goals in the first multi-goal game of his collegiate career while senior Dylan McIntosh and sophomore Griffin Turner added a hat-trick apiece.

“I’m proud of the way we handled things,” said Hofstra head coach Seth Tierney. “We have, maybe not a young team by birth certificate,

but sometimes we have an inexperienced team by minutes, games played and for the guys to step up and take care of business really in the first quarter, answer back after a couple minutes in the third quarter and put the game away.”

The Pride’s (2-0) offense came quick out of the gates, scoring on their first three shots.

McIntosh, Kane and Justin Sykes got the tallies, all assisted

by Matt Elder. Elder assisted on two of the next three Hofstra goals as well and finished with five assists in the afternoon.

“Our team just had the scout on them,” Elder said. “We knew that they were going to slide early and if the players got in the right spot, people would be wide open.”

Sterlyn Ardrey scored in the final minute of the first quarter to open up an 8-1 lead for the Pride, but Jake Garb beat the buzzer to give Sacred Heart (01) life heading into the second.

The second quarter was more evenly played, and the Pioneers outshot the Pride 9-8 after being

outshot 16-6 in the first. Senior defender Tom Ford extended Hofstra’s lead to 9-2, 3:30 in on a shot from midfield that deflected off Sacred Heart’s Thomas Houlihan and fooled goalkeeper Alex Pazienza who had come out of his crease to play the ball. Pazienza had replaced starter Nicky LaBanca after the Pride’s fourth goal.

Sacred Heart scored a couple of goals to try and get back in the game, but Turner and John Madsen’s first-career tallies got the lead back to seven for Hofstra, making the score 11-4.

The Pride returned to its dominant form in the third quarter. After trading to start, Hofstra rattled off seven-straight goals with six different scorers to end the third and begin the fourth, making it 15-9.

“After it got a little bit jumpy, to win that [third] quarter 7-1, those guys made a statement upstairs that we’re coming around and we want to win and we know we have to play desperate and I thought we did that,” Tierney said.

Sacred Heart outscored the Pride 4-3 in the final frame, but it was too little too late and Hofstra left the field with a 2-0 opening weekend at home.

With the win, the Pride maintains its perfect 14-0 record against the Pioneers in the teams’ first matchup in nearly 20 years. Mac Gates picked up the victory with six saves on 14 shots in over 56 minutes of work.

The Pride hosts the U.S. Naval Academy on Friday, Feb. 18, at James M. Shuart Stadium.

Game time is set for 6 p.m. “[Navy] played really well after an opening week loss to Mount St. Mary’s, they came back and gave it to Mercer pretty good today,” Tierney said. “Coach Amplo, he’s a Hofstra guy. [Assistant Coach] John Orsen, he’s a Hofstra guy.

They’ve got a couple guys on their team that are Long Island guys. Navy hasn’t been up here in a while; their juice is going to be flowing and we can’t get outplayed.”

Hofstra Athletics Gerard Kane scored a career-high four goals in second game with the Pride.

Strong defense holds early lead as Hofstra defeats LIU

By Michelle Rabinovich SPEC IA L TO T H E C H R O N I CL E

Seamless teamwork and coordination, a strong defense and split-second goals landed the Hofstra women’s lacrosse team a win on Saturday, Feb. 22, when they played the Long

Island University Sharks at the Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium in Brookville, New York.

Their opening game was a smashing success, beating the Sharks 8-5 in enemy territory.

The Sharks scored the only point during the first quarter, but its lead wasn’t maintained for long as the Pride was quick to make a comeback with junior Taylor Mennella tying the game up in the second quarter.

Assisted by Shannon Boyle, Jackie Gatti scored the next goal, starting the lead for the rest of the game. Katie Kelly and Mennella each scored before the end of the second quarter, giving Hofstra a 4-1

Want to cover Division I sports?

Email us at chroniclesports@gmail.com

lead by halftime. Kelly’s goal was the first of her Hofstra career.

After halftime, the Pride scored two more goals consecutively, with Kelly making her second goal of the game, followed by Erin Demek, giving Hofstra a dominating five-goal lead. The Sharks started slowly catching up, scoring at the 8:17 mark of the third quarter and leaving the Pride at a 6-2 advantage.

The Pride suffered a penalty near the end of the third quarter as Kelly was given her first and only yellow card of the game.

That was not enough to break the Hofstra spirit, however.

Less than five minutes into the fourth quarter the Pride scored again, thanks to Kerry Walser, which brought its lead up to five before the Sharks once again answered.

All was quiet on the field when the Pride had a free position shot at 7:44, successfully completed by

Menella, getting the Pride its eighth and final goal of the day. This was her third goal of the day, giving her the second hat trick of her career with the Pride.

The defense had all hands on deck, too, with goalie Jess Smith successfully defending half a dozen shots throughout the game.

The Pride’s next face-off will be against Army West Point on Feb. 19, at 12 p.m., followed by a match against Brown University on Feb. 22, at 1 p.m.

Hofstra Athletics Women’s lacrosse captured first victory of the season over LIU.

THE CHRONICLE

SPORTS

FEBRUARY 15, 2022 • A17

Pride falls to Drexel as offense stalls in fourth quarter

By Will Wiegelman SPORTS E D I TO R

Missed layups and turnovers by the Hofstra Pride helped the Drexel University Dragons earn a 63-47 win in conference play at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Center on Friday, Feb. 11.

The Pride entered Friday’s game against the Dragons looking to push its winning streak to three games. Drexel was aiming to avenge their recent one-point loss against the College of Charleston.

After a defensive stop to begin the game, Jahsyni Knight

gave the Pride the lead with a three-pointer. She then followed up with a steal and a layup, giving Hofstra a five-point lead.

Drexel’s Hannah Nihill put the Dragons on the board with a mid-range jump shot and kicked off a 10-0 run for Drexel.

The Pride and the Dragons battled back and forth throughout the remaining time in the first quarter. At the end of the quarter Drexel led 15-14 against Hofstra.

The opening minutes of the second quarter were also close, as both teams traded baskets and the lead. Then Maura Hendrixson from Drexel scored a three-pointer to tie the game at 23. On the Dragons’ next possession, they took a twopoint lead on a Tori Hyduke mid-range jump shot with 5:05 remaining and soon after that added on with a Jasmine Valentine mid-range jumper.

The Pride’s offense went stagnant as the team missed five straight field goal attempts, until Knight stole the ball from Nihill and hit a fastbreak to

bring Hofstra’s deficit to two.

A little over one minute later, Hendrixson ballooned Drexel’s lead to five with a three-pointer.

Continuous missed shots from the Pride didn’t help in the final minute as the Dragons led the Pride 30-25 going into halftime.

After Hofstra’s Rosi Nicholson went 1-2 from the free-throw line, Keishana Washington connected on a midrange jumper adding to Drexel’s lead. Even after Jaylen Hines added two points for the Pride, the Dragons built up a ninepoint lead.

The Pride’s shooting woes continued in the third quarter, but they were able to cut the deficit to two points with help from Knight, Hines, Zyheima Swint and Selma Markisic.

Ultimately the Dragons held a 42-37 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Caria Reynolds started the scoring in the fourth with a layup, and then went to the free-throw line a little over one minute later, to bring the Pride’s deficit back to two points.

Mariah Leonard added a layup for Drexel, but Rosi Nicholson hit a three-pointer on Hofstra’s next possession to bring the Pride within one point of the Dragons.

That was the closest the Pride got to taking the lead for the remaining time, as the Dragons went on a 12-0 run for the next five minutes.

Hines added a layup for Hofstra with 2:15 remaining to which Drexel responded with a 7-2 run in the remaining time of the game. When the whistle

blew, Dragons had defeated the Pride 63-47.

Knight led the Pride with 14 points and tied a team-high in assists with three. Hines added a double-double with 12 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. “[Jahsyni Knight] played with confidence and that’s what we need her doing,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “She was very aggressive, looking to attack from the start, [and] we’ve got to continue to have that from her.”

Hofstra Athletics Drexel snapped the Pride’s two-game win streak Friday night.

A18 • FEBRUARY 15, 2022

THE CHRONICLE

SPORTS

Aaron Estrada leading Hofstra to the CAA tournament

By Mike Senatore SPORTS E D I TO R

In 2005, a 4-year-old boy named Aaron was putting up shots at a park in Woodbury, New Jersey with his grandfather before heading to school for the day. Seventeen years later, his love for the game remains intact, and Aaron Estrada has emerged as a bonafide star for the Hofstra men’s basketball team in just his first year with the Pride.

Estrada traces his passion for basketball back to both his father and grandfather, having grown up watching his father play and routinely taking trips to the park with his grandfather.

By the time he reached high school, his years of work were already paying off, as he made the basketball team at Woodbury Junior-Senior High School and was breaking school records and leading his team to capture their conference’s championship by his junior year.

When it came time to decide where he wanted to play collegiately, he opted to stay relatively close to home, enrolling at Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City. His rookie campaign with the Peacocks saw him make an immediate impact, playing in 28 games and making the starting lineup in half of those. His strong play in limited minutes garnered him the attention of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, and he brought home the MAAC Rookie of the Year trophy in 2020.

He didn’t stay in his home state for long, though, as he transferred to the University of Oregon for his sophomore

campaign. He was heavily recruited by Dana Altman’s coaching staff, but the transfer was largely inspired by Estrada’s aspirations of playing basketball on a bigger stage.

“What I didn’t know is, I always thought that to get your name out there you had to be playing for the higher [level] schools,” Estrada said. “I got caught up into that, really, so that was one of the big reasons why I left St. Peter’s because I got caught up in my head ...

People were telling me, ‘You’re better than this school, you need to be playing [at a] high-major [school] if you want to go to the NBA,’ so I was listening to that and taking it in.”

The success he found at Saint Peter’s wasn’t so easily replicated in Eugene, Oregon, as Estrada received minimal

men’s basketball head coach Speedy Claxton that made Hofstra his destination of choice.

“From the first time that I got in contact with [Claxton], I knew this is where I wanted to come because they were different from other schools that were recruiting me,” Estrada said. “I had a Zoom call with the coaching staff, and they charted out – nobody had ever done this to me before – they charted out my strengths, my weaknesses, my [statistics] and all that, and then they charted how they were gonna help me to get where I wanted to go with basketball ...

Once they did that, I knew that these guys, the whole coaching staff was invested in me.”

He was convinced. So much so, in fact, that he committed to Hofstra right after the call

Hofstra Athletics Estrada leads the CAA with 18.9 points per game

gives you confidence. When you get confidence, you just play and good things happen, and that’s what’s been happening for me, really.”

Good things happening has become the norm for when

“If everybody buys in, everybody plays their role and does their part, then I don’t think anyone in the CAA can really beat us, honestly.” playing time with the higherprofile Ducks. Tallying just 28 points across his nine appearances for Oregon, and with the coach most involved in his recruitment to the school now departed from the program, Estrada decided it was time for yet another change heading into his junior year.

His decision to return to the tri-state area was made largely in order to bring him closer to home, but it was his conversations with Hofstra

Adam Flash/The Hofstra Chronicle Estrada is having a breakout season in his first year at Hofstra.

ended.

In his first game with the Pride, Estrada made it clear that he was here to shoot. He took 17 shots in the seasonopener against the University of Houston, finishing with 15 points and seven rebounds in the overtime loss. He quickly found his stride offensively, and he became a consistent contributor in the closing months of 2021.

Just before the new year came around, however, Estrada seemed to find another gear, and it’s been pedal to the metal ever since.

“When Zach [Cooks] went down [with an injury], everybody had to really push to give that much more effort because he was the soul of our team,” Estrada said. “Once he went down, somebody had to step up, and Coach Speedy always gave me the confidence.

He always told me, ‘Be aggressive. Don’t be afraid to be aggressive [and] play your game,’ and I feel like when your coaching staff is behind you and they support you a lot, that

Estrada steps on the floor. Since Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play began with the Pride’s Dec. 29 matchup at the College of William & Mary, Estrada has scored at least 16 points in every contest, a streak of 13 games currently. Eleven of those 13 games saw him reach the 20-point mark, and, perhaps most importantly, the team is 9-4 in that stretch, good for the third-best conference record in the CAA. Having earned the nickname “Mr. Mid-Range” for his sufficiency in the nearly lost art of mid-range jumpers, Estrada is a threat to score from anywhere on the court. Despite struggling with his three-point shot early in the season, he’s found his stroke over the past month: after going 0-3 and 0-4 from beyond the arc in games against the University of Delaware and Drexel University respectively, he’s shot nearly 53% from three since Jan. 22, making 28-of-53 shots in that span. During the Pride’s current four-game win streak, he’s shot 55% or better

from deep in each match.

He attributed his regained confidence in his three-point shot to the support he received from Claxton and his entire coaching staff. The danger he’s been posing to defenses from behind the three-point line has given CAA teams headaches when scheming against him.

While three schools in three years might sound like a recipe for disaster for some, Estrada has found his college experience as a whole to have uniquely equipped him for the level of play he’s reached as of late.

“I think I got the experience of every level of college,” Estrada said. “I got the lowmajor, mid-major and highmajor [experiences]. I would say it’s a blessing and a curse, because you don’t want to be transferring [constantly], not being loyal to schools, but I feel like I gained something from each level.”

With the regular season winding to a close and the Pride in position to challenge for the CAA Championship in March, Estrada knows what’s needed of him in order to bring Hofstra back to the dance.

“We’ve got to stay focused and locked in,” Estrada said.

“Stick with what we’ve been doing to win. If everybody buys in, everybody plays their role and does their part, then I don’t think anyone in the CAA can really beat us, honestly. I think we have the best team all-around, from the top of the roster to the bottom.”

THE CHRONICLE

SPORTS

FEBRUARY 15, 2022 • A19

Looking Back and Ahead: Ricky Stamm’s life on the mat

By Samantha Walker STAFF W R I T E R

Ricky Stamm is a New York native and a senior on the wrestling team, currently completing his sixth year of eligibility. He comes from Levittown, where he wrestled at Division Avenue High School for four years and ran cross country for two. In 2015, at the New York State High School Championships, Stamm finished fifth at 138 pounds but placed second at 160 pounds the next year. Stamm was also a three-time league and county champion, and an All-New York and All-American selection in both his junior and senior years.

In addition, he received praise

you’re a little athletic or a little strong, you’re going to beat 90% of the people in high school,” Stamm said. “When you get to college, you know everyone.

You know who was the better wrestler in their county or state.

So, when you get to college, you kind of figure out how to be much more well-rounded.”

He compares aspects of college wrestling to a puzzle.

“It’s having to have all the puzzle pieces as opposed to in high school wrestling, [where] you kind of just needed to have one or two that most people wouldn’t have had,” Stamm said.

In his first year for the Pride, Stamm red-shirted and wrestled unattached at

1-2 and was honored with the EIWA Academic Achievement Award. In the 2018-2019 season, he received Hofstra’s Most Valuable Wrestler award.

In Stamm’s fourth and fifth years for the Pride, which were the 2019-20 and 2020-21 wrestling seasons, he received Hofstra’s Steve Molello Coaches Award while also qualifying twice for the NCAA tournament at 165 pounds.

“It’s interesting because I qualified in 2020 – we’re training, excited to go, and then it got canceled. So then having qualified for 2021 was cool,” Stamm said. “It was one of those kinds of moments in life where, you’re like, wow, this is something that I grew

“In three seasons, we sent one person to the NCAA tournament and then, two years later, we sent seven people in one year, so that was really cool to see kind of the progress on the team.” for being a three-time Most Outstanding Wrestler award winner, a three-year leader in wins and pins for the Blue Dragons and a two-time team captain.

Stamm reflected on his high school days which, to him, feel like forever ago.

“In high school wrestling, one of the major differences is if

157 pounds, recording a 29-11 record. Stamm placed numerous times at various opens and championships.

As a redshirt freshman in his second year, the 2017-18 season, he started at 157 and 165 pounds. Stamm then made it to the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships, where he went

Hofstra Athletics For the 2018-19 season, Stamm was named Hofstra’s Most Valuable Wrestler.

up watching, and now I get to be a part of it. I’m excited to get back there and, you know, actually do well this year.”

Stamm says that qualifying for the NCAA tournament was one of his best memories for the Pride but credits his teammates for helping him get there.

“We were a team that, when I first got here, struggled a lot,” Stamm said. “In three seasons, we sent one person to the NCAA tournament and then, two years later, we sent seven people in one year, so that that was really cool to see kind of the progress of the team.”

“In the same year, we had really good dual meet results and won the last seven in a row,” he added. “So, kind of seeing the program built back up to what it is now is cool to be a part of.”

Stamm also mentions that the number of matches he’s wrestled in was a significant accomplishment.

“I don’t know if I excelled at

Hofstra Athletics Stamm holds a 88-55 overall record in his six years at Hofstra.

it, I don’t even know if you can excel at it, but I’m proud of the sheer number of matches that I’ve wrestled. I’m closing in on 160 college wrestling matches or something, and I think a lot of that has a lot to do with the success that I have had. Every time you get out there, you can look back and figure out what you did right what you did wrong. So, I’m proud that I have so many college wrestling matches under my belt.”

In reference to the 2021-22 season, Stamm revealed how he truly felt about his performance.

“I don’t think it’s a secret that we’ve underperformed,” he said. “I’ve underperformed myself, and our record is not where we expected it to be. But, you know, the kind of blessing and curse about wrestling is that it doesn’t matter too much.

We still think we have five, six guys, who can make the national tournament, and that’s what we’re planning on doing; I think there’s a lot to look back on and a lot to learn from, and I still think the expectation is as high as it was at the beginning of the season.”

Stamm has learned many lessons in wrestling that can be

applied to life.

“I think this has a lot to do with the wrestling, but I assume this has a lot to do with life: there’s going to be times where you’re not doing too well, and things get rough,” Stamm said.

“So, much of college wrestling is just putting your head down and, when it gets tough, just grinding through it.”

Stamm also said persistence is key to not letting negative results affect you and your mental state. It is essential to keep grinding, let things play out and never lower your expectations. His mindset has been crucial to the success he has had during his six years with the Pride.

Stamm hopes to become a high school history teacher and wrestling coach upon graduating.

Back Cover: Men’s basketball showing poise during four-game win streak

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE SPORTS February 15, 2022

ALL IN Men’s basketball finding their stride down the stretch of the regular season.

Hofstra Athletics