The Hofstra Chronicle, February 6, 2024

HEMPSTEAD, NY

VOLUME 91 ISSUE 1

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE

KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935

Guys, stop being emasculated by food

By Ryan Monke STAFF WRITER

Picture this: it’s been a long day. All the hours spent facing the harshness of life have left you worn out and hungry. You could use a good meal. With a rumbling stomach, you sit down with tonight’s dinner. All is well

until you feel a creeping insecurity swirling around your food. You start to feel the eyes of everyone around you scrutinizing what you’re eating. Suddenly self-conscious, you ask yourself: am I eating a “girly” meal? Sure, that example may be slightly extreme, but it presents a legitimate issue. Boys and

girls are raised to eat differently, and gender stereotypes and stigmas surrounding food put unnecessary pressure on people to “eat like their gender.”

Stereotypically masculine meals are often larger and characterized by protein-rich, heaping portions of meat, spice and fat. Stereotypically feminine meals are often smaller, lighter, subtle, sweet and more vegetable-based than “masculine” foods.

As a result, meals such as steak and potatoes or burgers and fries are classed as masculine, while salads, yogurt and many desserts are seen as feminine.

Current stereotypes surrounding food come from a long history of archaic gender roles and unhealthy beauty standards steadily reinforced by the media.

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Hofstra

By Frank DiCalogero

SPORTS EDITOR

All season long, the Hofstra University men’s basketball team has consistently been paced by star Tyler Thomas. On Thursday, Feb. 1, Thomas added another chapter to his celebrated Hofstra career, hitting a fadeaway jumper with two men on him to give Hofstra the lead with 0.4 seconds on the block,

TUESDAY February 6, 2024

sealing the game for the Pride to win the battle for Long Island over the Stony Brook University Seawolves, 72-71.

“I saw space on the baseline, and I just had to get the shot off,” Thomas said.

“If anyone deserved that shot to go in, it’s [Thomas],” said Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. “The work that he puts in on a daily basis, he deserved to make that shot, so I’m extremely proud of him and happy for him.”

Thomas finished the game with back-to-back 20-point outings, scoring 26 points on 10-21 shooting and adding six rebounds with three assists while playing all 40 minutes of the game.

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Poser faces new challenges in developing Nassau Hub controversy

By Giovanni Salsa and Madeline Sisk

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR AND COPY CHIEF

In April 2023, Hofstra University sued Nassau County over the state’s open meeting laws after failing to notify the public of a gathering to discuss Las Vegas Sands’ inclusion on the lease of the Nassau Coliseum (Nassau Hub). The case stems from controversy regarding the development of a casino close to Hofstra’s campus.

Regarding the case, Terry Coniglio, the vice president of marketing and communications at Hofstra, said, “Hofstra University has made its position clear; for many reasons, a casino

should not be located across the street from approximately 30,000 college and high schoolaged students between Hofstra, Nassau Community College and Kellenberg Memorial High School.”

On Nov. 9, 2023, New York Supreme Court Justice Sarika Kapoor ruled in Hofstra’s favor, nullifying the progression of the new lease. The university has since upheld its stance of not wanting the casino built.

“The Nassau Hub is not an appropriate place to site a casino development for a host of reasons,” said Susan Poser, Hofstra’s president, “because

Tyler Thomas averaged 24 points and six assists this week.

Stereotypically feminine meals are often smaller, lighter, subtle, sweet and more vegetable-based than “masculine” foods.

Photo courtesy of Dmitry Dreyer on Unsplash

Photo courtesy of Matteo Bracco

Hofstra

Giovanni Salsa / The Hofstra Chronicle

Hofstra hosts 2024 Long Island Ethics Bowl

By Moriah Sukhlal NEWS EDITOR

While the world woke to a blustery morning on Saturday, Feb. 3, excitement imbued the Multipurpose Room of the Sondra and David S. Mack student

center as high school students prepared for a competitive yet enlightening day. Students and coaches from 24 schools across Long Island gathered to compete in the 2024 High School Ethics Bowl. Faculty and stu-

dents from Hofstra’s philosophy department assisted as moderators and judges.

Differing from a debate, the Ethics Bowl challenges students to think critically and deeply about current societal and

personal issues while appreciating diverse perspectives as they participate in a civil discussion. Students are not forced into adversarial positions but are free to defend whichever position they believe is ethically just. Although the event was hosted as a competition, opposing teams worked alongside one another to explore ethical issues presented as case studies to enable each other to reflect and consider how their beliefs would resolve an ethical dilemma from multiple perspectives. To win, teams were required to demonstrate multifaceted and perceptive thinking.

“The goal is to help students see that there’s a deeper philosophical way of looking at the world,” said Roberta Israeloff, director of the Squire Family Foundation and co-founder of the National High School Ethics Bowl. This event was adapted from the Association for Practi-

Students from Bethpage High School celebrate their victory as finalists of the 2024 Long Island Ethics Bowl.

Photo courtesy of Matthew Cusumano

Further developments in casino case stir concern among students

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it would create serious dangers and hazardous conditions for our community – including gambling addiction, crime, traffic congestion and pollution.

Some students agree with Poser’s views.

“The casino issue has caused students at Hofstra to feel unsafe because we don’t know the people surrounding our area and who’s going to be able to come into our campus,” said Zainab

an email from Hard Rock, a competitor to Las Vegas Sands that has expressed interest in building a casino in Queens .

“We found that Hofstra University and one of the competitors to Las Vegas Sands were working in coordination and some might even say collusion,” Blakeman said, also calling for Poser to be subpoenaed to answer questions regarding the incident.

However, Hofstra is not copied on this email, nor is there

opposed to bettering the Hofstra community.

“Poser shouldn’t be using her case with the casino to diminish different cases Hofstra’s having,” said Alma Glavatovic, a senior psychology major. “She should be focusing more on Hofstra and the things that are going on internally rather than focusing on her personal values and herself over Hofstra as a whole.”

The controversy has been a topic of discussion among

“The casino issue has caused students at Hofstra to feel unsafe because we don’t know the people surrounding our area and who’s going to be able to come into our campus . . . It’s just going to cause more issues for students and also the Hofstra community and our area.”

Mozawalla, a junior political science and global studies and economics major. “It’s just going to cause more issues for students and also the Hofstra community and our area.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has been vocal in his disagreement with Poser. In his latest accusation, Blakeman claimed Poser has ulterior motives for opposing the casino at a Nassau County Legislature meeting where he shared

any evidence that Hofstra is involved in discussions with Hard Rock. As a result of appeals from Hofstra, the subpoena has been blocked until Monday, Feb. 26.

While much of Poser’s opposition stems from outside Hofstra, students have also expressed apprehensions regarding the case. A major concern among students is that much of the university’s time and effort is being spent on the lawsuit as

students and the community since its very beginning. With Poser being the face of the case and the university itself, the criticism she’s been facing and the negative attention surrounding the situation have left many eager to see a conclusion to this legal battle.

Graphic designed and information compiled by Sophia Guddemi

Hofstra students express their concern about the possible establishment of a casino at the Nassau Coliseum, saying that the casino may warrant the surrounding areas unsafe for students.

Giovanni Salsa / The Hofstra Chronicle

Young minds engage in the philosophical discourse about ethics

cal and Professional Ethics Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl. What began as a lesson plan by philosophy Professor Robert Ladenson of the Illinois Institute of Technology expanded to a national collegiate event seeking to promote rational skills and virtues among students.

phy major and moderator for the event. “Ethical issues are taking something morally significant and debating on set principles or rules.”

Throughout the day, teams discussed a wide range of topics, including the virtues of misinformation in social media, the

the judges. “It comes down to if the teams can follow a logical argument, if they can recognize contradictions [and] fallacies, if they can go from one premise [to] another to a conclusion, [and] how well they respond to counterarguments and questions,” said Benjamin Morawek,

thing the first time around,” Morawek said.

Zahreena Rahimi, a junior philosophy and economics student, volunteered to be a moderator since she appreciated “seeing all the high school students being passionate about what they like and the hard work they put into [discussions during their rounds].”

At the core of the Ethics Bowl is the value of both expanding on students’ intellectual capacity to think ethically about societal dilemmas and equipping them with the tools needed to mediate a reasonable answer and discuss their perspectives. According to Israeloff, the Ethics Bowl also serves as a way for students to express their opinions on everyday issues that they might experience, bear witness to, or would have never otherwise been exposed to. “We introduce the philosophical lens – we call it the way of looking at the world and seeing that at the root of everything important is a philosophical issue,” Israeloff said.

Students, such as Shayla Zheng of Roslyn High School, found value in their voices being heard and the ability to use their acquired skills to participate in

who may have differing views, whom she can learn from and expand her understanding of the world. “Ethics is a way to better understand the world, how you are a part of it and how the world around you works and how you should work with it,” Fields said.

The event also allowed students to become acquainted with philosophers from a wide range of fields and universities.

“Professionally, I’m a psychologist, so human behavior is extremely important to me, and I believe that I have to live my life a certain way and that is to be a very moral and ethical person,” said Dr. Stanley Zwick, an Ethics Bowl judge. “[Ethics] is a certain kind of moral code, a way that is appropriate for people to live their lives which always involves consideration of both parties, being able to empathize with other people – that, at its core, is to be ethical.”

All but four of the 24 schools participating in the Bowl entered two teams, the maximum number allowed. At the end of a long day, Bethpage High School was declared the winner, followed by Oceanside High School as the runner-up. Roslyn High School and the Stony

“[Ethics] is a certain kind of moral code, a way that is appropriate for people to live their lives which always involves consideration of both parties, being able to empathize with other people – that, at its core, is to be ethical.”

The Squire Family Foundation was established in 2007 by Gary Squire, an attorney and businessman who attended Syosset public schools and later studied philosophy in college and graduate school. “[Squire] thought that philosophy should be included in K-12 education,” Israeloff said. “We chose ethics because it is an accessible way to enter the larger discipline of philosophy.”

“Ethics is the study of how people ought to act,” said Kennedy Delaney, a senior philoso-

right to use college consultants to boost college applications, the morality of owing reasonable resale value, the navigation of benevolent deception, the ethics of using artificial intelligence to create art and many more complex ethical cases. Since the Ethics Bowl does not require teams to be oppositional, judges were more critical of the justifications of a team’s position on a case, how both teams interacted and learned from each other, and how they responded to questions from

a second-year law student and judge.

Overall, Morawek looked for a spark in students as they sought complex truths and answers to big societal questions. He reflected that participating in the Ethics Bowl requires respect for the process of engaging with difficult topics and arriving at reasonable answers. “[It requires] opening oneself up to learning new things, and that takes a lot of humbleness and recognizing [from students] that [they] might not know every-

civil discourse about ethical issues. “I value [ethics] because it is wide-reaching and [considers] real-world issues. It is a big factor that plays a role in society,” Zheng said.

“I joined the club because a lot of my friends were there, but I stayed for the interesting conversations,” said Dora Fields, a student from Northport High School. Fields explained that she enjoyed participating in the Ethics Bowl because it allowed her to meet new students

Brook School were semifinalists. Farmingdale High School was recognized for their quality responses to judges’ questions, and Northport High School won the prestigious Robert Ladenson Spirit of the Ethics Bowl Award. Bethpage High School will participate in the next tier of the Ethics Bowl, taking place later in February. The national championship will occur in April at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Bethpage High School students prepare to debate about the ethical use of artificial intelligence in the semifinals.

Photo courtesy of Wendy Way

On April 8, at 4 a.m., the RSR working in Bill of Rights Hall reported to PS

Public Safety Briefs

Compiled by Moriah Sukhlal

Key:

PS – Public Safety

HU – Hofstra University

UFD – Uniondale Fire Department

RA – Resident Assistant

CS – Community Standards

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

On Jan. 23, at 10:48 a.m., the fire alarm on the second floor of Orange House was activated due to a custodian buffing the floor. Two people were evacuated within two minutes. PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

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

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

On Jan. 23, at 10:10 p.m., the fire alarm in Amsterdam House sounded due to burnt food. Two people were evacuated within five minutes. PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On Jan. 25, at 1:11 p.m., the fire alarm in the Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center sounded due to a heat detector near a freezer. Thirty-five people were evacuated within three minutes. PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On Jan. 25, at 9:39 p.m., while doing rounds, an RA found a bottle of vodka in the common area of a residential suite in Providence House. No students were present at the time.

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

On Jan. 26, at 10:02 p.m., PS received a call from a Hofstra student reporting that there was an odor of marijuana in Suffolk Hall. PS responded but were unable to find the source of the odor. The case is being referred to Residence Life.

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

On Jan. 27, at 10:05 p.m., the fire alarm in Tilburg House sounded due to the cooking of food. Seven people were evacuated within two minutes. PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

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

On Jan. 29, at 11:15 p.m., the fire alarm at Alliance Hall sounded due to burnt popcorn. One hundred twenty-eight people were evacuated within five minutes. PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

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

On Jan. 30, at 12:57 p.m., the fire alarm in the University Club sounded due to hairspray. Two people were evacuated within two minutes. PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

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

On Jan. 31, at 9 a.m., vehicle number one, driven by a Hofstra student, was pulling into a parking spot when it hit the right side of the bumper of vehicle number two, causing scuff marks. No injuries were reported, and there was no police involvement at the time. The driver of vehicle number one left a note with their phone number on vehicle number two.

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

On Jan. 31, at 3:03 p.m., the fire alarm at Stuyvesant Hall was activated due to vaping in a room. Two Hofstra students were verbally referred to CS for their actions. Forty-eight people were evacuated within two minutes. PS, Plant and UFD responded to the location. The situation was corrected, and the fire alarm was reset.

On April 15, at 6:53 p.m.,

Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle

FEATURES

Personal essay: Anxiety is anything but linear

By Aidan Judge ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

If you have anxiety or depression you might be used to words like disgusting, worthless, or degenerate swirling around in your head the same way I am. These are the types of thoughts I encounter daily as somebody learning to live with anxiety and depression, the most classic combination of mental illnesses to plague the minds of hundreds of millions of people around the globe. The intensity of these thoughts can vary, and it can be rare to encounter a long period where they don’t happen. As frustrating and terrifying as they can be, I bring good news with me today – it’s possible to get better, and, contrary to popular belief, it does.

In full transparency, I didn’t know what anxiety and depression were until very recently in my life. I’m not saying that I hadn’t heard of them before, I just truly did not know what those two words meant individually, and I didn’t understand what they meant when they were put together.

What I first learned about anxiety is that it is more than just nerves. Through tough experiences and a lack of selfcare, I have become extremely aware that anxiety is a corruption of small thoughts that can turn even the most confident person of all into the quietest, most petrified mess to exist. That person didn’t look at me the right way? Oh, simple answer. It’s because someone started a rumor about me. After all, I didn’t smile at them correctly and everybody thinks I’m a raging b*tch. Simple thought followed by a simple conclusion.

Ultimately, that’s how anxiety gets you. It turns deceptively simple thoughts into overcomplicated folklore that takes the forefront of your mind. Before you know it, you’ve spun out so hard that anxiety has tired itself out and depression has to take

the wheel.

And of course, depression is much more than sadness. I’d actually argue it can sometimes be the opposite of sadness. Depression is the overwhelming apathy of life. Nothing has mattered, currently matters or will matter in the future, and the only thing that may matter is the amount of sleep I can fit into a single day. At their worst, both of these all-consuming, intense emo-

realize that anxiety and depression tend to make themselves all-defining traits when they’re at their most severe – all emotions completely dissipate, and I become anxiety and depression (which I like to think of as a severe case of emotional main character syndrome).

I realized that there are two ways to go about dealing with this emotional combination. I’ve learned first, I can just let it be

that’s why I need to seek tools to help me deal with it. Once I was able to admit that to myself, my journey of self-help was in full swing, and I began an era of change.

Recently, I found a way to come down from a moment of high anxiety by utilizing green noise, which focuses on mid-frequency vibrations and creates a natural sound that can pretty easily bring me down from a panic

“I thought I was stronger than the worst of my anxiety and depression, and part of the process of learning to heal and seek help is that sometimes, I’m not stronger, and that’s why I need to seek tools to help me deal with it.”

tions completely overtook my life. Personal hygiene was out the window. Procrastinating necessary day-to-day activities was a regular occurrence. I even found myself talking about myself in the past tense, as if I’d passed away and the ghost of my once-bubbly and extroverted personality was buried in the ground of once before. “I used to be so fun,” I would say. “If I weren’t anxious and depressed, I would’ve loved that.”

It wasn’t until my therapist pointed out this past-tense talking behavior that I began to

what it is, which is what I did before seeking help. Yes, the anxiety moment will eventually pass, and yes, I won’t be depressed at every waking moment, but it can get pretty damn close to that. At a certain point, even the strongest individuals can no longer pretend that waking up with an upside-down stomach every single day is okay because it’s not.

I thought I was stronger than the worst of my anxiety and depression, and part of the process of learning to heal and seek appropriate help is to admit that sometimes, I’m not stronger, and

attack (or the start of one). When I’m feeling physical anxiety and can’t find a way to calm down, I’ve found that a quick green noise video through YouTube or music streaming can do the trick: closing my eyes, breathing and letting my body relax as much as I possibly can.

Another way I’ve taught myself how to cope is the idea of not judging my thoughts unless they need to be judged. Let me explain. Say you’re driving down the road, and a car cuts you off. It’s pretty easy to let the anxiety and anger of this moment

overtake you and affect the rest of your time driving. One way that I try to catch myself is by not “judging” that thought (or putting emotion into it) before it gains traction and affects my mental state for the rest of the day. If someone were to cut me off on the road, ultimately this is an inconsequential thing that happens, so it isn’t worth it to judge that thought and get emotional over it. So in this scenario, I would simply say “That person is an asshole,” and move on. They are an asshole, so I’m not putting emotional stock into it. One final way I cope with my anxiety and depression is audio-journaling. This is probably my most utilized anxiety tactic, as it’s easily accessible and able to be done anywhere with just myself and my phone. When I’m having an overly anxious moment or a highly depressed moment, taking out my phone, hitting record and talking into the void can help bring some perspective to unrealistic thoughts or issues. When I’m feeling like I need to let go of what I’ve said, I sometimes have a ceremonious deletion of the recording after I’ve finished, as if I’m metaphorically burning those thoughts away.

So, all of those coping mechanisms can be great, but if there’s one thing that I want to stress, it’s that my progress has never been and never will be linear. When dealing with these things, everybody has ups and downs. There are bad days, including days where I slip up and do something that goes against all the principles I’ve set for myself. And it’s okay! Messing up is what leads to progress, and it is completely fine to have bad moments because they are the catalysts for making me into a better person. With every slipup and correction, I am better than I was before, and that is what makes striving for progress worth it.

Photo courtesy of Tina Sara / Unsplash

FEATURES

Chron Critiques: Kyuramen x TBAAR

By Zoe Casselman

FEATURES EDITOR

In April 2023, famous ramen spot Kyuramen x TBAAR opened in Garden City, hosting a secluded sit-down restaurant on one side of the building and a take-out drink cafe on the other.

My first time coming to Kyuramen, I accidentally entered through the TBAAR cafe side, but the employees at the counter easily led me and my party to the restaurant section through their connected hallway.

The seating is unique in the sense that each booth is isolated from one another, and the only other people you will see while dining is whoever you are with and the waitstaff.

Additionally, the waitstaff will lead you to your table, give you the menus and then instruct you to use a “help button” to call them over once you are ready to order rather than just waiting for them to swing by and ask, which I really enjoyed. The way Kyuramen is set up makes the dining experience feel much more intimate and undisturbed than your typical restaurant. Additionally, service was very quick. It felt like only minutes after we ordered that the food was brought to the table.

The menu is expansive, with a multitude of drinks, omurice, appetizers and small snacks in addition to the extensive ramen

selection. For our first appetizer, I got the steamed pork bao buns.

The bread was thick, soft and creamy yet still did not overpower the other ingredients. The meat itself was tender and practically dissolved in my mouth. With the addition of a piece of fresh, crisp lettuce and secret sauce, the buns were extremely delicious and packed with flavor.

For our second appetizer, I ordered the takoyaki, which was immaculately soft and chewy. The batter was thick and slightly sweet, and the octopus inside was flavorful without being too much.

Surprisingly, after those starters I was not yet full and excited for the main attraction: a bowl of piping hot ramen. It did not disappoint. I got the Japanese curry ramen, and my partner got the classic Tokyo Tonkotsu Shouyu ramen.

The curry ramen came with diced chashu (pork belly), shredded silgochu (hot pepper), half of a marinated egg, bamboo shoots, scallions and a piece of crunchy seaweed. You can ask for the ramen to come without any of the items included, or even extra for a slight additional cost.

The broth was perfectly spicy, smooth and immensely flavorful. I enjoyed it so much that after I devoured all of the noodles and toppings, I lifted the bowl to my mouth and drank it straight from the side. The noodles were

flawlessly cooked, remaining thick and chewy without being too hard or soft. With all of the toppings, my bowl of ramen was spicy, succulent and absolutely divine.

As for the tonkotsu, you have the choice of it being made with either white or black garlic, and we opted for the white garlic which added so much depth to the flavor. The noodles were

meals, one containing an appetizer, drink and bowl of ramen for $24.99, and the other adding a dessert for $27.99. Individual items won’t break the bank either, the cheapest ramen being just over $16.

Also, when presented with the bill, unless you have cash, you pay at the table through the waiter’s hand-held machine, which is nice since there’s no waiting for

your card to come back to you – after you swipe you’re good to go.

Overall, the environment, food and prices make Kyuramen a great restaurant for a night out when you want something nice but don’t want to spend your life savings. I would wholeheartedly recommend giving it a try, since I myself will definitely be going back!

“The way Kyuramen is set up makes the dining experience feel much more intimate and undisturbed than your typical restaurant.”

equally marvelous, and the tonkotsu pork broth was thick, creamy and delightful. Despite the amount I ordered, the bill remained relatively affordable. It wasn’t cheap by any means, but in no way were the prices outrageous. Kyuramen also has combo

Zoe Casselman / The Hofstra Chronicle

M AN ON THE U NISPAN

What is your favorite sea creature and why?

By Zoe Casselman and Abby Gibson FEATURES EDITOR AND ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

“Any one I can see with my glasses on, but also sea otters, because they have pockets for rocks.”

O verheard @ h O fstra

“She gives major Roblox vibes.”

“Let me go grab my ‘Cinderella’ porn!’”

“If I was on bath salts, it would be over for you guys.”

“I’m gonna say stingray. It’s the first thing I could think of. ”

“I am the CEO of boobs.”

“Oops! Let me make sure I’m clothed.”

“What is a 20-year-old doing on a Monday night? Going to therapy! It’s 2024, not 1967!”

“My nipple area is very ballooned.”

“Oh wait, you were here for the lobotomy.”

“Is it a flop or a plop?”

“The new Bachelor is a little man-whore.”

Spread by Audra Nemirow

- Sean Mullen, junior

- Natalie Correra, senior

“Octopi. They just seem so happy and chill.”

- Nick Lucchetto, junior

Zoe Casselman/ The Hofstra Chronicle

Chron Cooks ft. Anna DeGoede: Garlicky Pasta

By Anna DeGoede EDITOR IN CHIEF

Looking for a simple, cheap and flavorful pasta recipe? Look no further than this garlicky pasta recipe, but beware: when I say this pasta is garlicky, I mean that you’ll have to peel and chop 20 cloves of garlic. Don’t worry, though, it’s definitely worth it. Substitute parmesan in place of ricotta if you’re like me and forgot to buy ricotta, and the result is a slightly less creamy, but still delicious dish. You’ll get about six servings if you make the whole recipe!

Recipe adapted from “Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role.”

Ingredients:

1 pound spaghetti or linguine

½ cup olive oil

20 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

⅓ cup finely chopped parsley

1 ½ cups ricotta cheese

Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, then add pasta and cook according to package instructions. Drain the water.

2. Heat olive oil, and add garlic and red pepper flakes in the now-empty pot and cook until garlic appears cooked – roughly 2-3 minutes.

3. Remove from heat, then add pasta, parsley, 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper. Stir until well mixed.

4. Serve the pasta onto plates and top with ricotta and black pepper to taste.

Chron Cooks ft. Zoe Casselman: Turkey Avocado Eggs Benedict

By Zoe Casselman

FEATURES EDITOR

Craving a classic diner breakfast without spending diner prices? I have the perfect thing for you! It may seem like an intimidating dish to make on your own, but with these simple ingredients and steps, you can have a timeless, delicious breakfast in minutes!

Ingredients:

1 English muffin

2 eggs

4 slices of turkey

1 avocado

1 packet of hollandaise sauce mix (I use McCormick brand, but any works)

1 tablespoon butter

Instructions:

1. Crack each egg in individual small bowls or ramekins, making sure to keep the eggs separate.

2. Add butter into a pan, and let it melt. Half the English muffin, then toast both sides of each half.

3. Bring a pot of water to a boil.

4. Once the water is boiling, carefully tilt the eggs into the water one by one. Let cook for 3-4 minutes.

5. Take a spoon and retrieve the eggs from the water, being careful not to break the yolk.

6. At the same time, begin to make hollandaise sauce, following packet instructions.

7. Slice avocado into thin, horizontal slices.

8. Place two slices of turkey on each half of the English muffin, followed by the avocado slices, poached eggs and, finally, the hollandaise sauce.

Anna DeGoede / The Hofstra Chronicle

Zoe Casselman / The Hofstra Chronicle

Welcome Back, Hofstra

The spring semester is back in full swing! The Office of Student Leadership and Engagement kicked off the semester with Winter Warm-Up, which included igloos, ice skating and refreshments in Pride Park. The Spring Involvement Fair brought student leaders from over 120 clubs and organizations, giving students the chance to get involved this spring.

Spread by Annie MacKeigan

Annie MacKeigan / The Hofstra Chronicle

Photo courtesy of Denivia Rivera

Photo courtesy of Denivia Rivera

Photo courtesy of Denivia Rivera

Photo courtesy of Denivia Rivera

Annie MacKeigan / The Hofstra Chronicle

Annie MacKeigan / The Hofstra Chronicle

Annie MacKeigan / The Hofstra Chronicle

Arts And EntErtAinmEnt

‘Mean Girls’ movie musical: a cinematic flop

By Alyssa Inserra

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

The growing world of movie musicals is a diverse and inviting place where beloved musicals come to life on the big screen, thrilling long-time fans. Entering the chromatic, jazzy ambiance of Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land,” viewers are charmed by the beauty and art of jazz and the symbolism of colors. With the release of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Tick, Tick… Boom!” in 2021, one is swept away into the musical, chaotic and heartbreaking story of Jonathan Larson’s life as an aspiring playwright. Each spontaneous break into song makes the film that much more delightful and the theatrical choreography adds another layer of enjoyment.

explores: ending gossip and bullying culture in favor of treating people with respect and kindness.

So, when the new “Mean Girls” movie musical released in theaters on Jan. 12, excitement was brewing to see the rise and demise of Cady Heron and Regina George in a new presen-

tation. Upon leaving the theater, though, many were left with one conclusion- this film deserves a place in its own “Burn Book.”

Tina Fey, who plays Cady’s calculus teacher, Ms. Norbury, was one of the only aspects of the film that did not disappoint. Her blunt humor always got a laugh, whether it was a comment made in Cady’s math class or elsewhere. More specifically, Fey’s address to all the girls in North Shore High demonstrates how multifaceted of an actor she is. Not only is she a guaranteed laugh on screen, but she is also capable of conveying one of the deeper messages that the film

The conclusion of this scene is another reason why some had a very difficult time enjoying the film. Janis, played by Auli’i Cravalho, exposes the flaws that she has seen manifest and surge in both Cady and Regina – two best friends-turned-enemies. She confesses to all the girls that she would rather be her authentic self than try to become someone she is not.

With that, she suddenly bursts into song while prancing through the hallways and classrooms of North Shore High. This is one of the many instances where viewers can easily tune out; it became a chore to bear one more ridiculous song and dance about something that could be displayed through dialogue.

While the purpose of the film is to recreate the Broadway musical on the screen, some choices that were made concerning the songs could have been better. A good example of this

is the song “Apex Predator.” Angourie Rice, who plays Cady in the film, is unable to hit the belting notes, causing Damian, played by Jaquel Spivey, to pick up the slack.

When crafting a movie musical, especially one based on a successful musical, directors need to be sure that the actors that are cast can sing the songs successfully. Otherwise, the film will be left with underwhelming renditions of powerful Broadway hits, as well as abridged versions of songs that fans of the musical were no doubt awaiting hearing in full.

On a five-star rating basis, this production is lucky to walk away with a star and a half. Call it harsh – or, more appropriately, mean – but this movie-musical failed to live up to viewers’ expectations of a dynamic and engaging cinematic experience. In other words, it was so not “fetch.”

‘Barbie’ snubbed at 2024 Oscar nominations

By Abby Gibson ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

The 96th Academy Award nominations were announced on Jan. 23 and have made a splash by leaving out one of the recordbreaking female directors of 2023: Greta Gerwig. Many have been expressing their opinions about how Gerwig was not nominated for the “Best Director” category, despite how much of a hit her movie “Barbie” was. This anger was continued for Margot Robbie, who played Barbie in the film, and was not nominated for “Best Leading Actress.” Her costars Ryan Gosling, who played Ken, and America Ferrera, who played Gloria, were nominated for their respective categories.

“Barbie” was released July 21, 2023, and quickly became the best opening weekend of the year, according to the Los Angeles Times. Many flocked to theaters in pink to watch the feature as the hype for the movie began earlier that year through

Quick Hits

1.

PR tactics like the “This Barbie/ Ken is...” posters. The movie highlighted the basics of feminism by bringing the character Barbie from Barbieland into the real world.

Ferrera gave a speech that became viral after the movie was released regarding a women’s life, and it became, arguably, one of the most talked-about scenes of 2023. Ferrara was nominated for “Best Supporting Actress,” which made people even more shocked to see that Robbie had not been nominated for “Best Actress.”

Was I Made For?”, used at the emotional climax of the film.

After his Oscar nomination, Gosling released a statement regarding his disappointment in not seeing Gerwig or Robbie amongst the nominees for “Best Director” and “Best Actress.” Gosling wrote, “But there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globallycelebrated film.” He even went so far as to say that disappointment would be an understatement regarding their snubs.

Adding fuel to the fire of Gosling’s nomination was the recent win of the movie’s comedic song “I’m Just Ken” at the Critic’s Choice Awards over Billie Eilish’s tear-jerking “What

America Ferrera also shared her disappointment about the lack of nominations for Gerwig and Robbie, saying, “Greta has done just about everything that a director could do to deserve it.”

She called Robbie a “master” actress who possibly made her role seem too easy to those choosing who gets nominated for an Oscar.

This is not the first time the Oscars has been called out for a lack of nominations for female directors. Since the show’s beginning in 1929, only eight women have been nominated and only three have won. Part of the disappointment for Gerwig not getting the nomination is due to her being the first female director to hit $1 billion in the box office. The film was nominated for “Best Picture,” becoming one of three films directed by women to be nominated in this category this year.

“Barbie” is not Gerwig’s first film to have had people saying she was snubbed for a “Best Director” nomination – the other was “Little Women” at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020.

The 96th Academy Awards will air on Mar. 10 on ABC.

Saturday, Feb. 24.

Courtesy of BBC

American actor Carl Weathers passed away on Thursday, Feb.

“Argylle” bombed at the box office, earning $18 million.

Comedian Shane Gillis will host SNL on

“The Traitors” was named the highest-rated reality series currently streaming in the U.S.

Courtesy of Deadline

Taylor Swift announced her new album “The Tortured Poets Department” at the Grammys on Sunday, Feb. 4.

Courtesy of UPROXX

Courtesy of Variety

Reneé Rapp stars as Regina George.

Photo courtesy of Rolling Stone

“Barbie” received two Golden Globe awards.

Photo courtesy of Vanity Fair

Courtesy of IMDb

‘The Holdovers’ shines bright when it’s quiet

By Chris Mezza

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

There is a scene in “The Holdovers’’ in which boarding school teacher Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) asks Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), a troubled student whom he is the guardian of over winter break, what the bottle of pills on his bed is for. Angus quickly brushes them off as being for his “low energy,” to which Paul bluntly responds, “You mean for depression?” Angus changes the subject and walks out of the room while Paul takes a few of the pills.

One may wonder what the tone of this exchange is. Giamatti’s deadpan expression might garner a quick laugh, but it also confirms that his character, while never stating it directly, shares in his student’s state of despair. This scene helps encapsulate the tone of the entire film – that of emotional honesty. Scenes that could play as unsentimental instead come alive with the help of the actors’ acute understanding of the relationship between their faces

and the camera.

In one pivotal scene, the camera slowly moves in on Giamatti’s face, and just from his eye movements and the stillness of his lips, we understand how devastated he is in that moment. In another scene, Tully quietly and ashamedly pleads for his mother to not leave him stranded at school over the holidays. But once again, it is not the words that make this scene emotional but the lingering shot of Tully standing by the phone in deafening silence that follows them.

Holdovers” acknowledges those forgotten at this time of year and subtly examines the idea that while the world is one of despair, compassion can still exist for

gers on another character’s face, Lydia Crane (Carrie Preston). She responds to his outlook by suggesting that if that is the case, then this would be the time for him to do something about it. After all, what else can most of us do but care for the people in front of us right now?

The film takes place in 1970, but its aesthetics never seem too nostalgic in presentation.

go for the holidays, she also stays behind at the boarding school. The camera is as patient with her as it is with its two other leads. She is given the space to grieve in subtle, in-between moments before she expresses anything directly about the devastating matter. Mary’s son had attended the boarding school, and while many of its more privileged students are said to go on to the Ivy Leagues, his socioeconomic background and race led him straight to the war.

The holidays are a time when many feel intense seasonal depression or loneliness, which can be emphasized by the feeling that everyone else has someone to share their time with. “The

those in it. Though the film never preaches this message, it is clearly one of the themes it builds upon. Giamatti’s character rants about how terrible the world is, and even though the film takes place over 50 years ago, his words sound like something you might have read online about the present day. As he talks, the camera lin-

Instead, the film fits more into the decade by replicating the subjects of the films of those times – lost characters in a broken and confusing world.

Another one of the lost souls the film focuses on is Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), the boarding school’s head cook, who has recently lost her son in the Vietnam War. With nowhere to

The film provides no real solution to the tragedy or a Hollywood white savior to step in and help. It is just the sad, uncomfortable truth of the time that her character must deal with this loss.

These moments of uncomfortable truth and the responses of emotional honesty make the film work so well. We all long to see ourselves in fiction, and “The Holdovers” affirms our own humanity in its depiction of and empathy with universal sorrow.

Avant-garde exhibition at the Hofstra Museum of Art

By Alex Ferreira STAFF WRITER

The following interview is with Sasha Giordano, director and co-curator of the latest exhibition at the Hofstra University Museum of Art, “Les Visionnaires: In the Modernist Spirit.” It has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

What is “Les Visionnaires: In the Modernist Spirit” about?

The title, [translated as] the Visionaries, speaks to the artists included in the exhibition and their vision in the late 19th and early 20th century, which was groundbreaking. The term “avant-garde” is a French military term, meaning the “advanced guard.” During times of war, the avant-garde ventured into the unknown and brought new information to the group, believing it would help the group

succeed; the artists in this exhibition identified with that mindset.

To understand the artists, we must put ourselves in their time: the turn-of-the-century. These artists were responding to political and societal events of the late 19th and 20th centuries that required a new way to respond to their rapidly changing world. They rallied against the French academy and traditional art. The [avant-garde] artists focused their interdisciplinary visions and methodologies in a variety of ways, including bookmaking, photography, collage, poetry and film. They worked together, and their collaborations produced new ideas towards art.

How did “Les Visionnaires” come about?

The exhibition was inspired by the Society for French History’s Conference on campus, which is planned with the history depart-

ment chair, Professor Sally Charnow. She reached out to the museum, asking, “We are going to have French scholars and academics on campus. Can we have an exhibition that highlights French culture or intersects with the conference?” … Normally, an exhibition has one curator, but this one was co-curated by myself and Kristen Dorata, assistant director of exhibitions and collections from the museum’s permanent collection and the University’s Special Collections, the Howard and Muriel Weingrow Collection for Avant-Garde Art and Literature. … Several others also collaborated with this exhibit, so much so that I felt that we, too, worked in the spirit of the artists.

Why did the department choose this exhibit, and why is it relevant now?

What makes it relevant now

is reflected in the title: there are two parts, “Les Visionnaires” and the “Modernist Spirit.”

“Les Visionnaires” focuses on the French avant-garde, which intersects with modernism: a movement that is about breaking boundaries, making interdisciplinary connections and thinking progressively. Our world is becoming more interconnected, which relates to the second part of the title, “In the Modernist Spirit.” It’s a relevant exhibition because these artists teach us how to collaborate and show us the results of creative camaraderie.

Why should students be interested in the historical context of French avant-garde?

I think we can all be inspired by the artists included in this exhibition. They show us a methodology of collaboration and camaraderie and how we can

work with our peers to produce something really powerful. That’s an important reminder for young people who get isolated because of social media and the digital content they interface with daily. I think it’s important for everyone to interact with material objects, like the works in this exhibit. For example, the mixed media drawings, posters, film, books, prints and more. I hope they’re inspired by it all.

While you have the opportunity, immerse yourself in the Hofstra University Museum of Art’s latest, “Les Visionnaires: In the Modernist Spirit,” where avant-garde masterpieces intertwine with diverse perspectives.

‘The Holdovers’ amassed $31.2 million in the box office since its release.

Photo courtesy of The New York Times

‘The Iron Claw’ nearly perfects the Von Erich tragedy

By Frank DiCalogero SPORTS EDITOR

The story of the Von Erich family has long been viewed as a story of tragedy, addiction and love that is anything but normal. On Dec. 22, 2023, the anticipated biographical sports drama “The Iron Claw” was released in the United States. Since its release, the film has received acclaim for its emotional portrayal of the family, with the National Board of Review naming “The Iron Claw” one of the top 10 films of 2023.

“The Iron Claw” stars Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Stanley Simons, Holt McCallany and Maura Tierney. Efron portrays the main character of the film, Kevin Von Erich. Meanwhile, White, Dickinson and Simons round out the lead’s brothers, starring as Kerry, David and Mike Von Erich, respectively. McCallany plays the patriarch of the family in Fritz Von Erich, and Tierney stars as his wife, Doris Von Erich.

From the very beginning of the film, the relationship between the brothers and their parents is one

of strength and hope, with that strength coming from trying to break a rumored curse that had adversely affected past generations of Von Erichs. Their hope was to make waves in the professional wrestling scene and to eventually bring home an illustrious World Championship win to their family.

As time progressed and Fritz’s local indie federation grew due to Kevin and David’s success in the ring, and its promotion offered them the opportunity to platform themselves on a bigger scale, with the Von Erichs being groomed as eventual champions of the industry.

Despite Kevin being older, David was viewed as the family’s rising star, and the opportunity to prove himself against acclaimed wrestlers of the time was given to him before it was given to his older brother. Although it was not his time in the limelight yet, he still managed to be supportive of his brother. During this time, Kerry, who had been training for the Olympics, returned home after the United States decided

not to participate. Kerry was then asked by his father to get into the wrestling business, to which he obliged, continuing the family legacy.

With the central theme of the film highlighting the tragedies that overwhelmed the Von Erichs’ lineage, the rise of David to the top of industry in quick fashion proved to be a catalyst for his eventual death. David died of enteritis just before his highprofile match with National Wrestling Alliance Worlds Champion Ric Flair. His brother Kerry replaced David in the match.

That match proved to be legendary, as Kerry became the Worlds Champion, bringing the longawaited title home. Unfortunately, his run at the top was short-lived, as shortly after, he lost his leg in a motorcycle accident.

Kerry’s story also ends in tragedy. Despite making his way back into the ring and joining the WWF, his addiction to painkillers, along with his inability to climb the corporate ladder and eventual release by the WWF, caused him

to commit suicide in the farm of the Von Erichs’ household.

The tragedies, unfortunately, don’t end there. Mike, who originally was passionate for music, also took to the wrestling business following David’s death. He looked to be a promising talent, until a shoulder injury inexplicably caused him to go into a coma. The coma led to a rapid downfall in his mental state, with Mike ultimately committing suicide as well.

With all three of his brothers departed, Kevin is the last of his siblings remaining. Throughout the movie, every tragedy that goes by makes it more clear to him that the “family curse” is real. Despite his life leading to marriage and fatherhood, his depression in not having his brothers by his side (as well as an estranged relationship with his father) continued to be the underlying message of “The Iron Claw.”

Efron’s performance as Kevin was excellent. He was emotionally gripping, raw and innovative in his performance, and he portrayed the character’s hard mindset

surrounding men having to be strong and not show emotion as powerful.

Not only is “The Iron Claw” one of the sadder films of 2023, but its final scenes are some of the best pieces of cinema that came out of the last year.

While “The Iron Claw” is surely one to watch, there are some historical misfires. The most notable is the decision to not depict Chris Von Erich, another brother of the family, who also became a professional wrestler and who also ended up committing suicide.

Despite that, present-day Kevin Von Erich praised the film for its characterizations and the contributions made by wrestler Chavo Guerrero in depicting the story. The only complaint from Kevin, however, regarded the intense depiction of Fritz.

“The Iron Claw” is a terrific film and can be enjoyed by anyone, whether a fan of wrestling or not. It is currently in theaters.

Monsters and drama: The overlooked cinema of 2023

By Michael Gaborno STAFF WRITER

By the year’s end, 2023 arguably became one of the strongest years in film, as there was a plethora of striking works throughout the cinematic spectrum. Legendary auteurs continued to hone their craft across a wide range of stories and genres, and for once, there was no shortage of unique blockbusters. As is the case every year, there were more than a few films that slipped through the cracks and were only known to a niche in the moviegoing population. The following five titles are a fraction of such films.

“BlackBerry” directed by Matt Johnson

Available on AMC+ and rental services

The rise and fall of rich people and their companies has long been a popular subject to skew for filmmakers, especially in recent times. Only a few have

been as nuanced and hard-hitting as Matt Johnson’s chronicle of the ill-fated line of BlackBerry smartphones. Powered by a terrific cast propped up by a towering Glenn Howerton and lightning-fast pacing that nevertheless captures the existential doom that comes with the inevitability of its real-world outcome, “BlackBerry’” pulls off the tricky balancing act of being a wildly entertaining yet discomfiting look at the predatory and self-destructive nature of capitalism.

“Fallen Leaves” directed by Aki Kaurismäki Available on Mubi Small in runtime and scope but massive in its personal impact, Aki Kaurismäki’s beautifullyrendered tale of the power of connection amidst a land of capital and societal pecking orders soars on the strength of its gorgeous craft, finely-tuned performances and devastating humor.

It is one of the most delightful and deeply felt films of 2023. To top it all off, it showcases one of the best onscreen dogs in recent memory.

“Menus-Plaisirs – Les Troisgros” directed by Frederick Wiseman

Available in theaters

The four-hour documentary extensively yet passively details the inner workings of a Michelin-starred French restaurant. Capturing everything from the sourcing of ingredients from a streetside market to the tangential conversations between guests likely won’t appeal to everyone’s tastes or schedules. For those willing to make time for it, “Menus-Plaisirs – Les Troisgros” is a monumental achievement in filmmaking – not for any formal ambitions, though it is beautifully shot and cut, but for its substantial ones. Frederick Wiseman shows us everything that makes a restaurant a restau-

rant. The fact that he can spin what we might usually perceive as trivial business convos into engaging foresight into the very livelihoods of these human beings, thus helping us understand our own drives, desires and pursuits of personal fulfillment, is more than commendable.

“Monster” directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda

Available in theaters

The latest work from the master of humanist cinema reaffirms the director’s singular gift for weaving gentle tales of compassion out of the most troubling of situations. It takes on the Rashomon style of narrative storytelling, but instead of merely using it as a gimmick as some modern films do, it urges us to sympathize with and completely understand each character. The way the central conflict unfolds and reveals a host of other truths is nothing short of brilliant, and complete with a talented

ensemble and a touching final score from Ryuichi Sakamoto, “Monster” feels like a defining moment not just for this decade, but for us as human beings.

“When Evil Lurks” directed by Demián Rugna

Available on AMC+, Shudder and rental services

Demián Rugna brings a refreshingly apocalyptic atmosphere to the demonic possession genre with his shocking and unshakable “When Evil Lurks.” That’s not to say the film is about the end of the world, but rather that its tone and plot are so downbeat and bleak and executed with such no-frills nastiness that it can’t help but feel like the end is upon us as we watch. It has jaw-dropping gore and practical effects in spades and this uneasy feeling of helplessness and powerlessness that spreads from the characters to the viewer makes this Argentinian horror leave a terrifying impression.

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.

Guys, stop being emasculated by food

CONTINUED FROM A1

In the mid-20th century, the typical American family was depicted to consist of a breadwinner husband complemented by his wife who took care of the house, children and, of course, cooking. As cooking was perceived as a wife’s responsibility, women were expected to cook to keep their husbands satisfied, being pressured by the idea that if their husbands were not kept plump and happy, they would leave.

Twentieth-century advertising leaned into this fear, with cookbooks published under titles such as “The Way to a Man’s Heart” or “A Thousand Ways to Please a Husband.” Cooking instructions of the time directed women to spring for meaty, hearty meals that would leave their husbands content and full of energy for work.

While they were instructed to keep their husbands full with hearty, often fatty foods, women were led down a different dietary path by harsh beauty

standards. Through the varying standards of the 20th century, women were always expected to be small and relatively dainty, pressuring them into light and delicate foods that would keep them thin. As PBS has reported, magazines and newspaper columns in the 20th century identified lean proteins such as fish or white meats with little sauce, along with new foods like cottage cheese, as “female foods.” While men were encouraged to devour massive, fatty cuts of red meat, women would be seen as out of place for doing the same.

Decades of pressure to adhere to gender roles and beauty standards contributed to gender stereotypes of food being deeply ingrained in society, something that still impacts consumers today. While efforts are being made to tear down the societal restrictions put in place by misogynistic stereotypes, the pressure to behave in a way conducive to your gender is still prevalent – especially in men.

According to a study pub-

lished in 2020 in the research journal “Sex Roles,” young men behaving in a way that could be perceived as “feminine” run the risk of lowering their social status and receiving greater social blame than young women who might behave in a stereotypically masculine way.

Although gender stereotypes surrounding food are increasingly being regarded as outdated, they still have a strong effect on everyday behavior. According to the 2020 study, customers tend to order meals that match their gender stereotypes to convey a positive impression to their fellow restaurant-goers. The irrational fear that ordering a certain meal will cause them to appear feminine grips men across the world. Not wanting to be emasculated by their meal, men are too often held back from eating what they really want.

Recently out to eat with a friend, I felt this dilemma firsthand. Instead of stressing about what on the menu would satisfy the gender stereotype pertaining

to my identity as a man, I chose to order exactly what I wanted to eat. When food was brought to the table minutes later, my dainty crab cakes were dwarfed by the massive slab of salmon belonging to the petite woman sitting across from me. Playfully joking that my smaller and lighter meal emasculated me compared to my friend’s heftier and meatier meal, we agreed on the silliness of these archaic stereotypes.

Pointless gender stereotypes and stigmas also exist within the world of drinks. Drinks are designated as either masculine or feminine, creating an expectation for bar-goers to order a drink that fits their gender. “Masculine” drinks are often more sour, bitter or spicy while “feminine” drinks are more often fruity and sweet. If they want something other than the typical manly beer, men often feel restricted to drinks like an old-fashioned or a whiskey sour. Many men would feel self-conscious ordering a “feminine” drink like a frozen

daiquiri or a cosmopolitan.

Although society might be slowly progressing on issues regarding gender stereotypes, their impacts still affect us daily. Gendered divisions surrounding food create boxes that many struggle to step outside of in fear of social backlash. Foodrelated or otherwise, stereotypes and stigmas that shame men for taking an interest in things historically perceived as feminine reinforce the archaic idea that femininity itself is inherently shameful.

As we progress into a new year, I encourage my fellow men to leave the fear of girly foods in 2023. Order what you want. Who cares what other people think? The only way to progress as a society is if we as men move past the stigmas that plague our dinner tables, and unapologetically embrace our love for dainty crab cakes.

Ryan Monke is a sophomore mass media major.

Educators make the difference in our likes and dislikes

By Ethan Albin

I wasn’t always the greatest student. I recall a meeting with my guidance counselor and parents in high school where my counselor said, “If you don’t turn things around, you’ll be working retail your whole life.” I attribute my academic turnaround to a few teachers, who, after hearing that comment, didn’t allow that to occur.

I attended Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois, a school ranked in the top twenty high schools in the state by U.S. News & World Report. It’d make sense for the teachers to be excellent, right? You’d be mistaken, as many educators at my school approached teaching as a chore. Many simply did the bare minimum, often standing at the whiteboard lecturing on and on while maintaining

low levels of student engagement.

I recall my teachers in freshman and sophomore year falling victim to lazy teaching, and although many classmates struggled to pass, they offered little assistance. This made me despise mathematics completely because I never received the mentoring needed to properly comprehend the subject. I was told by my guidance counselor that I should move to a lowerlevel math class because I wasn’t studious enough to keep up with the class I’d be placed into.

I advocated for myself and demanded to be placed into a precalculus class with a teacher I had heard fantastic reviews about. His name is John O’Malley and he is an awardwinning educator that students love. His impact was immediate. I genuinely understood precalculus one and received an A,

so I was placed into precalculus two, which also yielded an A. O’Malley completely changed how I approached mathematics, and I now feel much more confident in using those skills. He was always patient and understanding with myself and my fellow classmates when we couldn’t grasp something.

A 2019 study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology investigated students’ relationships with their teachers and how those relationships can cause students to take leaps and bounds in their education. The study found that “there is [a] cumulative association between students’ engagement and increasing the number of positive teacher–student relationships across the range of school subjects in students’ academic lives,” essentially meaning that students will perform better when educators make an effort to connect with them.

I used to struggle with public speaking until I took a high school broadcasting class with Daniel Oswald, who walked me through getting over that fear. He encouraged me to join his radio broadcasting class, which I did, even working on the board of 88.5 WGBK and receiving an award for Broadcast Excellence in 2021.

I am a journalism major, so I deal with data-driven stories that can show readers and listeners the effects and impacts of numbers. I can confidently say that if not for the assistance I received from O’Malley, I would not be able to complete the calculations needed for many of my pieces.

As a writer and editor for The Hofstra Chronicle, I’ve published a plethora of articles that utilized data and numbers as a basis for my points. I’ve used those skills to publish detailed statistical breakdowns while

working as a beat reporter for the Hofstra softball team. I’ve also presented my articles over the airwaves on 88.7 WRHU, furthering my career in broadcasting by hosting and producing a talk-show for two years, which I thank Oswald for. Without these educators’ care and effort, I wouldn’t have made it through high school, let alone college. O’Malley rescued me from a hatred of numbers because of the bond he built along with his willingness to supply extra help. Oswald helped me get over a fear of public speaking and inspired me to pursue broadcast journalism as a career. Educators who are willing to connect with their students and make classes interesting and understandable can make all the difference in shaping their students’ futures.

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

Ethan Albin is a junior journalism major.

Across

5. Francis Ford Coppola directed this trilogy and graduated from Hofstra University

6. Paper of Wordle and Connections fame

7. Country known for its waffles

8. ___ mention

12. Star of "Curb Your Enthusiasm"

13. Popular model toy cars

14. "___ is more"

Graphic by Makenzie Hurt / The Hofstra Chronicle 2/5/24, 8:37 PM

Down

1. Hofstra building that was hit by a plane in 1943

2. Reality television show that is "always watching"

3. _____’s Laws of Motion

4. Ex-wife to Elvis Presley

9. Athletic apparel and footwear company that created Sambas

10. City of love

11. This NFL team just advanced the furthest they have ever been in the playoffs

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.

If the NBA is rigged, I couldn’t care less

By Tim Daly

For years, conspiratorialminded NBA fans and even players have talked about the NBA being rigged through claims of biased refereeing and conspiracies about the NBA draft lottery being fixed.

While the NBA is not faked like the WWE, where players know about and contribute to predetermined results, many believe that the league has its ways of impacting the results through biased refereeing in playoff games.

Per ESPN, these speculations grew after the now-disgraced former referee Tim Donaghy altered the outcome of games between 2003 and 2007 to profit from gambling on them. For years, the NBA maintained that no games were ever altered. However, those involved maintain that the NBA directly worked to stop the investigation from progressing which put the league’s integrity into question.

There are also popular conspiracies about the rigging of

the NBA draft lottery. According to Sports Illustrated, the first and perhaps most infamous draft lottery, the 1985 NBA draft, drew allegations of being rigged when David Stern, the commissioner of the NBA at the time, selected a bent envelope during the drawing. That envelope contained the name of the team that would draft the top pick in the NBA – that year, the top pick was Patrick Ewing.

The video for the lottery shows that the envelope had been slammed against the wall as it was inserted into the box it was to be drawn out of, leading it to have a bent appearance. When the New York Knicks were awarded with the first pick off of the bent envelope, it raised suspicion.

The outcome of the 1985 NBA draft restored the Knicks as a franchise and created another major competitor out east. If the draft was rigged, it helped them avoid an era of irrelevance after losing their star, Bernard King. Drafting a franchise star in Ewing brought forth one of the most

memorable eras of Knicks basketball, and in turn, Ewing became a household name. One must wonder if he would still be remembered as one of the essential players of the 1990s if he had been drafted to the Indiana Pacers, for example.

As a fan, however, these allegations of rigging are a nonconcern. I would even advocate that these decisions enhance the game and make it more entertaining.

The NBA’s biased refereeing in playoff games was discussed on a recent episode of Gilbert Arenas’s podcast, suggesting that they believe that the NBA’s refereeing in playoff games is impartial to help the league’s marquee markets and create interesting playoff matchups.

Former Philadelphia 76ers player Evan Turner, who guest starred on the episode, recalled advice he received in his second year of playing from veteran member Elton Brand. Before facing the Boston Celtics in an elimination playoff game in 2012, Brand told him, “You know we’re gonna have

to win by 15 just to win by one.”

And his reasoning justifies the act, with Brand supposedly telling Turner, “This is the NBA; it’s entertainment. Would you rather watch the Celtics or the [76ers] play the [Miami] Heat? I’m on the team; I wouldn’t even watch the Sixers play the Heat.” Even the players acknowledge that the NBA has some entertainmentfocused components in its refereeing.

While the financial motivations behind this may be slimy, the resulting product that the fans get is better. Game sevens are much more entertaining than a team getting eliminated in six games. The Paul PierceKevin Garnett Celtics matching up against LeBron James in Miami is a much better series than watching the Heat crush the 76ers.

The draft lottery also has many conspiracies surrounding it, due to how the event is often televised but not aired live, giving the appearance that something shadowy is go-

ing on behind the scenes. But even if it is true that the draft lottery is fixed, this type of rigging also serves to improve the league. By assembling the league’s young stars with the team most suitable for the viewers’ entertainment and past increasing parity, it could give teams that are unpopular as free agency destinations, like Cleveland, Minneapolis or New Orleans, superstar players that they would be unlikely to ever acquire if not through the draft.

When the league helps out its large markets, it engages more fans. The league is more enjoyable when fans are involved and interested, and sometimes giving the big market teams special treatment helps make this happen.

What makes the NBA special is not the fairness of its competition, but the moments that create stories and memories for the fans, whether they occurred spontaneously or were contrived by the league.

Tim Daly is a sophomore journalism major.

Substances shouldn’t supplement one’s own creativity

By Tim Daly

Despite all the negative presumptions that exist around substance use, there is a persistent idea that substance use makes people more creative that is deeply ingrained in our society, especially in the art world. This notion comes from the numerous artists who are famously users of drugs, leading people to conclude that the common correlation between the two is actually causation. For example, many attribute the drastic changes to the music of the Beatles to the band’s experimentation with LSD.

This misconception is often perpetuated by the artists themselves, as some creative people prefer to work while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, claiming their creative output is better while inebriated. Because

of this, many young creatives turn to substances, hoping that it will help them create in the same way the artists they idolize do. Yet this popular belief is not backed by scientific evidence and likely came to be due to some variables that link creative people to substances. When it comes to cannabis, there is little evidence backing the idea that it promotes creativity. In fact, there is more evidence that it harms creativity. A 2014 psychological study from Leiden University showed that heavy cannabis use impaired divergent thinking.

A 2017 study from Consciousness and Cognition showed that while alcohol can increase creative problem-solving, it does not affect an aspect of creativity called divergent thinking. Even the slight increase in creative problem-solving is

offset by how executive control is impaired by alcohol, which impacts your ability to organize your creative thoughts in a way that is digestible to others.

The one drug type that may have some positive impacts on creativity is psychedelics, but even in this case, the evidence is spotty. A psychiatric study published in Translational Psychiatry in 2021 showed some increases in aspects of creative thinking both during and after the use of psilocybin, a psychedelic prodrug. This study gave its participants a microdose of the substance, and the results suggested that the impacts on creativity from psychedelics don’t come from the “trip” itself but from the neuroplasticity that the substance promotes. The study concluded that while effects on participants’ creativity may have occurred, there were

more variables involved.

The point stands that there is not enough solid evidence to indicate that intoxication promotes creativity. Artists may incorrectly come to this conclusion because they feel heightened sensation while under the influence.

But if there is no causational effect of substance use on creative insight, there must be something else causing this link, as substance use and the art world are still deeply intertwined. Many revered writers like Charles Dickens, Hunter S. Thompson and Ernest Hemingway used drugs. When it comes to the music world, the link is even stronger – especially in the genre of rock and roll, which has a historical relationship with the beginning of pro-substance social movements.

What has led to this connec-

tion may be correlating factors that link substance use and creative people, none of which have anything to do with creative insight being gained from the substance use itself. Those who take emotional refuge in the world of the imaginary may also look to escape reality in other ways, including seeking an altered state.

For anyone looking to become more creative, there are sciencebacked solutions that mostly involve taking care of your physical and mental health. Being mentally well and getting proper sleep are crucial to cultivating a high creative output, and risky substance use can impact your ability to do these things.

Tim Daly is a sophomore journalism major.

SPORTS

Pride offense explodes in season-opening lacrosse win

By Conner Keough STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra University men’s lacrosse team handed the Wagner College Seahawks a thorough 21-9 defeat on Saturday, Feb. 3. This marks the first time the Pride has won a season opener since 2022, when Hofstra defeated Merrimack College 8-7.

Junior midfielder Rory Jones led the scoring with eight goals, tying Ryan Tierney for secondmost in a single game in Hofstra lacrosse history. Attacker Colton Rudd added five goals and two

assists of his own in this landslide victory.

“Today it was [Jones]’s turn,” Hofstra head coach Seth Tierney said about his offense. “[Jones] took a lot of hands-free shots today; he was moving without the ball and putting himself in a position to score as many as he did.”

The Seahawks got off to a fast start with a goal by Conor Julich just 31 seconds into the game. Jones responded under a minute later. The Seahawks added another goal on the next possession, but after that, the energy shifted.

The Pride had more adrenaline on the next faceoff. Trevor Natalie recovered a ground ball and scored on his shot. Rudd scored just 15 seconds later. Before the Seahawks knew it, the Pride started a 10-0 scoring run with two goals from Rudd, one from Natalie, five from Jones and two from John Madsen. The scoring run extended into the second

quarter, forcing Wagner to make a substitution in goal.

“It’s so easy to play with your best friends,” Jones said. “Today happened to be my day, but anyone on this team can do it. We weren’t scoring many unassisted goals. As a unit, we worked together to find the best opportunity, and those chances paid off.”

Wagner broke the scoring drought with goals from Nick Martini and Carson Skinner. The Pride answered back with four of their own, spearheaded by two goals from Rudd. Hofstra led 15-5 at the half.

The Pride opened the third quarter with another goal from Jones 35 seconds into the half. After that, it was time to test the durability of the team’s depth.

The large lead for the Pride changed the level of intensity for Hofstra, allowing Wagner to have consecutive good possessions. Sean Henderson made his mark on the game, saving four shots in a row and

seven total as he held the Pride’s defense.

The depth offense did not disappoint, outscoring Wagner 6-4 in the second half.

University of North Carolina transfer JT Roselle caused three turnovers and added an assist in his first game in Hempstead. Sophomores Vincent McDermott and Dylan Sebastian scored their first career goals for Hofstra as additional points of pride.

“We played a lot of the guys

today, and I really like seeing how many different players got at least a point tonight,” Tierney said. “I’m hopeful that whoever got time today will continue to fight for playing time. I’m proud of them.”

The next time the Pride takes the field will be on Saturday, Feb. 10, against the United States Naval Academy Midshipmen. The opening faceoff from Annapolis, Maryland, is at noon.

Hofstra is 3-0 against Wagner in all-time meetings between the two schools.

Photo courtesy of Lee S. Weissman / Hofstra Athletics

Graphic courtesy of Dylan Brett

Hofstra roars back for dramatic win over Stony Brook

CONTINUED FROM Al

The iron man of the team was also aided by a near triple-double performance by Jaquan Carlos. Carlos had 11 points on the night to go along with his 10 assists and nine rebounds with an impressive zero turnovers to show for it. While the ending of the game was filled with satisfaction by a rowdy crowd at the David S.

Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex, the first half was a different story for the Pride.

Stony Brook controlled the majority of the first half, being led by guard Aaron Clarke who had 11 points in the first half. Clarke would finish the night with 18 points off 6-14 shooting from the field.

The story for the Seawolves in the first half was their red-hot start from beyond the arc. Stony Brook held a stellar 8-14 from 3-point range after 20 minutes, with three of them made by Clarke. Because of that, Stony Brook took a 41-31 lead going into halftime.

“They shot the ball extremely well from 3-point land,” Claxton said. “We

were there on the closeouts but hats off to them, they really shot it well tonight.”

The early stages of the second half were more of the same for Stony Brook, with more attempts from downtown going in, as well as getting to the freethrow line early and often. This led to the Seawolves taking their largest lead of the game, 44-31 with about 18 minutes left in the game.

After some back-andforth possessions, the Pride found their rhythm with German Plotnikov accounting for six shots in a row, including an and-one and a 3-pointer, to give Hofstra a one-point lead with just over 5 minutes on the clock. Plotnikov had 17 points on an efficient 6-9 shooting, with four

of them connecting from outside.

“I think the first half, I didn’t take a couple of the shots, passed up on them, but then Coach Speedy kept telling me to shoot the ball, and it shows how much he believes in me, so whenever I caught it next time, I just kept shooting,” Plotnikov said.

The tight lead quickly vanished, as Stony Brook guard Tyler StephensonMoore drilled two jumpers in a row to put them back in front.

With the crowd on their feet and less than a minute to go, every possession felt significant. The Pride was gunning to retake the lead and shock the Seawolves, while Stony Brook was hoping to get to the foul line and walk out of

Hempstead with the victory.

Despite missed opportunities by Hofstra, they had one last chance to win the game after a missed free throw by Clarke.

Darlinstone “Dstone” Dubar corralled the rebound and sent the pass right to Thomas. Thomas faked going through the paint and instead settled for the fadeaway jumper off the baseline, drilling it to send the Hofstra faithful into a frenzy.

“Proud of my guys,” Claxton said. “Big win, you know we were down 10 going into halftime and we could’ve easily quit. Shots weren’t falling and they were killing it from 3-point, but this team didn’t quit and I’m extremely proud of them.”

Hofstra freshmen have strong showing at Edinboro Open

By Ethan Poole STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra University wrestling team traveled to Pennsylvania to participate in the Edinboro Open on Saturday, Feb. 3. The team’s freshmen once again impressed crowds, leading the Pride to 13 of their 15 total victories on the day. It was once again the Noah Tapia show, as the freshman went 4-1 in his bouts on the day, not counting a no-contest he received due to NCAA-imposed match limits. After losing his first bout to unattached Edinboro University’s Amonn Ohl, Tapia won his final four matches, placing sixth in the

149-pound weight class. Tapia defeated unattached Jack Marlow and Jack Pletcher, both from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as unattached Central Michigan University’s Louden Stradling and West Virginia University’s Michael Dolan. Tapia’s performance on Saturday improved his record to 15-10 this season.

Frank Volpe had a very impressive showing as well, going 3-2 and reaching the quarterfinals of the 157-pound weight class, winning matches over unattached Edinboro’s Steffan Lynch and Cleveland State University’s Andrew Parish. Volpe defeated Cleveland State’s Nick Abounader in the

consolation bracket. Volpe fell to Nassau Community College’s Kris Ketchum in the quarterfinals and unattached Edinboro’s Matthew Leehan in his final consolation match. These were Volpe’s first official collegiate victories, as he wrestled unaffiliated at prior tournaments. Volpe’s official season record is now 3-5.

Redshirt freshman Alex Turley made the quarterfinals as well for the 141-pound weight class. Turley’s total record was 2-2 on the day, winning his first two matches before dropping his quarterfinal match and his consolation bout. Turley won over the unattached Chase McLaughlin and Ryan Aquilani from Gannon and Kent State University, respectively. His losses were to the University of Maryland’s Dario Lemus and Binghamton University’s Ivan Garcia, who both wrestled unattached. Turley now sits at 6-15 on the season.

No other Hofstra wrestlers managed to win more than one match on Saturday, but Jake Slotnick, Greyson Harris, Eric Shindel, Will Conlon, Gavin Proffitt and Nikolas Miller each took home a win. Shindel and Miller were the only non-freshmen to win a match. Conlon entered his 184-pound bracket as the fourth seed, and Proffitt was the fifth seed in the 197-pound bracket.

The Pride as a team finished the day with a 15-27 record.

Hofstra will return home on Friday, Feb. 9, to host Binghamton at 6 p.m. at the David S. Mack Physical Education Center. This marks their final home dual meet of the season, as the team will honor their seniors with senior night festivities before the beginning of the match.

Tapia has more match wins than any other Hofstra wrestler with 15.

Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman / Hofstra Athletics

SPORTS

Home crowd lifts Hofstra to statement win over Towson

By Dylan Brett STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra University men’s basketball team may have only had five players on the floor, but an army of 3,743 stood behind them as they fought to earn a 59-56 victory over Towson University at the sold-out David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex on Saturday, Feb. 3. The victory marked Hofstra’s fifth in six games, as the Pride improved their record to 6-4 in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play.

“Great job by my guys; that’s the way to protect home court,” said Hofstra head coach Speedy

Claxton. “This was an extremely important week for our season, and I’m happy that we got two [wins] and played the way we played.”

An artist couldn’t have painted a better atmosphere for Hofstra’s winter homecoming, as a capacity crowd of students, alumni and fans alike roared the Pride to an upset victory over the 7-2 Tigers, snapping their five-game win streak.

“When we can play in front of a crowd like that, that’s gonna be our sixth man,” Claxton said. “Our guys deserve to play in front of crowds like that. That’s a great college basketball atmosphere and a real homecourt advantage.”

On the court, Tyler Thomas announced his arrival on the national stage with 23 points on 53% shooting in a statement performance. Hofstra’s star senior used Saturday’s strong showing to punctuate a weekend to remember, as he racked up 49 points and 13 rebounds while knocking down a pair of gamedeciding shots. After an ice-cold

start to CAA play that included a 2-25 stretch from downtown, Thomas now appears to be turning a corner when it matters most.

“Oh, you mean Big Shot Ty [Thomas]?” Claxton said. “That’s what we expect; him making that game-winner against Stony Brook was extremely important, and I think that carried over today.”

While Thomas has garnered national attention for being one of the nation’s most prolific scorers, he added a new dimension to his game on Saturday with nine assists: the highest total of his Hofstra career. Thomas has been at the forefront of an offensive renaissance over Hofstra’s last six games, as the Pride have assisted on over 55% of their made field goals in that time.

“I’m just trying to take what the defense gives me every night,” Thomas said. “They really try to get the ball out of my hands quick, and my teammates made shots tonight.” It’s not often that teams pull

out a victory when posting their second-lowest scoring total of the season, but that’s exactly what the Pride did, as they doubled down on defense and rebounds against the league’s top rebounding team. Towson’s grueling pace and physicality slowly ground the game into a complete slugfest, but the Pride stood tall and went toe-to-toe with the Tigers on the glass despite punching above their weight.

“We showed a lot of toughness, and that was the number one key going into the game,” Claxton said. “We knew we had to be the tougher team, and I thought for 40 minutes we were.”

With points at a premium, Hofstra’s bench put forth a valiant effort with a myriad of crucial plays in all facets of the game. Khalil Farmer and KiJan “KJ” Robinson helped keep the Pride within striking distance with a trio of buckets towards the end of the first half, while Silas Sunday tallied two blocks across a ferocious second half

on the defensive end.

“Khalil and KJ gave us great minutes off the bench in the first half, and Silas was huge,” Claxton said. “When you’re playing against their bigs and physicality, we needed him tonight and he stepped up in a big way.”

As for Hofstra’s starters, Darlinstone “Dstone” Dubar reached double figures for the 24th consecutive game with 14 points on an efficient 5-11 from the field. With Thomas taking the reins as the Pride’s primary facilitator, Jaquan Carlos slid into the shooter’s role and knocked down a pair of gamechanging 3-pointers.

Hofstra has miraculously climbed above .500 in league play for the first time this season after a disastrous 1-3 start, putting them in position to compete for a double-bye in the CAA tournament. With just two games separating the conference’s top six teams in the standings, a memorable conclusion to the season is undoubtedly in store.

Pride vanishes in second half for blowout loss

By Samantha Nadler STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra University women’s basketball team dropped their eighth consecutive game on Sunday, Feb. 4, in a Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) matchup at home against the University of Delaware. The Fightin’ Blue Hens ran away with an 82-59 victory over the Pride, continuing Hofstra’s cold streak.

Both Hofstra and Delaware now find themselves in the lower half of the CAA standings. Hofstra is 7-13 overall with a 1-8 record against CAA opponents, dropping down

to the lowest spot in conference standings. Delaware, holding an 8-13 overall record and a 4-5 record against CAA foes, sits slightly higher at No. 10.

Emma Von Essen bounced back from the Pride’s contest against Stony Brook University when she scored five points and was 1-11 from the 3-point line. Against the Blue Hens, she led the Pride with 19 points and three assists, going 5-13 in 3-pointers. Sorelle Ineza followed Von Essen with 16 points, while Brooke Anya scored 14 points and led Hofstra with six rebounds and two blocks.

Despite Anya’s rebounding effort, as well as Ally Knights and Ja’Miyah Bryant each collecting five rebounds, the Pride had difficulty keeping possession. The Pride only collected three steals, compared to the Blue Hens’ 10 steals. Hofstra allowed 23 turnovers, which accounted for 27 of Delaware’s points.

“Defensively, we gave up a

lot of easy buckets throughout the game,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “Way too many points in the paint, way too many points off offensive rebounds.”

While three members of the Pride left the game with doubledigit scoring, five Blue Hens scored at least 10 points. Ande’a Cherisier led the Blue Hens with 17 points and seven rebounds, only missing one field goal. Chloe Wilson followed suit, scoring 13 points and putting up four rebounds. Wilson’s field goal with 8:44 left in the third quarter propelled Delaware’s second-half offense and took the lead from the Pride for the rest of the game.

Whistles were constantly blown throughout the game, affecting both the Pride and the Blue Hens. Nakiyah MaysPrince and Klarke Sconiers, both who tallied 12 points for Delaware, each received four personal fouls. Anya and Zyheima Swint, who made one steal for the Pride, were

also issued four personal fouls. Knights, the game leader with six assists, fouled out with 22 seconds left of the game.

“When you don’t have that [uninterrupted] flow throughout the game, it’s gonna affect your rhythm and obviously your chemistry and rotations when you have people in foul trouble,” Santos said. “When there’s a shift in calls or when there’s a shift in allowing [the game] to be more physical or calling it tighter, we’ve got to adjust a lot sooner.”

“We’ve got to lock in

and continue to create those moments where the other team makes their run, where there’s some adversity and challenges, and be able to overcome that adversity and those times throughout the game so we can get back to doing what we were doing to get us in the position we were in,” Santos said.

The Pride looks to rebound their season when they travel to Towson University for a Sunday, Feb. 11, matchup against the Tigers, a team Hofstra defeated via a buzzer-beater during their last meetup on Feb. 9, 2023.

Photo courtesy of Matteo Bracco / Hofstra Athletics

The Pride suffered their eighth straight defeat in CAA play.

Men’s lacrosse refreshed and renewed for 2024

By Conner Keough

STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra University men’s lacrosse team hasn’t seen the conference tournament since the 2021 season, where the season ended in the championship round. After suffering back-toback losing seasons for only the second time in his 18-year tenure, head coach Seth Tierney says that the men’s lacrosse team will look different in 2024.

It starts with an arduous outof-conference schedule.

“We’re definitely excited about it,” Tierney said. “It’s the program’s first time going down to Navy and getting to play at Marine Corps Stadium. Playing at Rutgers, then home against the University of North Carolina and Yale make for a great test.”

The Pride are set to play four teams ranked inside USA Lacrosse Magazine’s preseason top 20. North Carolina has long been known as a lacrosse powerhouse with five national titles and a Final Four appearance as recent as 2021. A few key players remain from that team, including graduate student Lance Tillman, who scored 36 points last season. And it’s not like Hofstra can let down its guard once conference play starts; they welcome No. 10 Yale University in the middle of conference play. Tierney doesn’t mind the added difficulty to the schedule, though.

“There’s a yin and a yang aspect to having a very difficult out of conference schedule,” Tierney explained. “There is more than one way to arrange your out of conference schedule. I prefer to challenge my team regardless of the results. I know these tough games early in the season will help us grow before March 16 when our conference opens up against Fairfield.”

The ultimate goal for this season is to return to the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) tournament, but it won’t be easy to make the tournament while playing teams like University of Delaware and Stony Brook University to close out the season. Delaware, last year’s

conference champions, came into the season ranked No. 16 in the preseason poll. The Pride fell by one goal to Stony Brook in an intense win-or-go-home game, the victor being the last to enter the league tournament. The result was a devastating loss to the program.

“The CAA is always a brawl,” Tierney admitted. “There’s always yelling, screaming, fighting and physical play. There’s always one-goal games.”

The Pride are ready to exact revenge on how last season finished. Hofstra did not qualify for the conference tournament with a CAA record of 3-4.

In response to last season’s unsatisfying end, the team has adopted a new philosophy.

“We were disappointed we lost in a tie breaker to miss the

Injuries will happen,” Tierney said. “Unfortunately, we’ve had the worst of it the last two years. But before we left for the break, I had a conversation with the other coaches about who was the next guy in. Who’s the next attacker we put in? Who’s the next midfielder? Who is the next defender? No team is playing at their best when their top players are injured. So as a team, we focused on preparing everyone to see the field. If one of our top three at a position goes down, I’m confident that who we put in will fill the void well.”

That doesn’t mean anyone’s given up on the team yet –certainly not Tierney himself.

to ourselves what kind of team we are gonna be,” Tierney said. “Are we gonna come back strong and ready to put in the hard work?”

Looking ahead, it’s a matter of who’s going to be on the turf and how they’ll learn and grow while

“Tough times don’t last, tough people do.”

CAA tournament,” Tierney said. “This year we’re remaining focused. The guys understand that just because a game is at the beginning of the conference schedule, it should [still] be treated like it’s your last game. You have to make every game the most important game of the season.”

Tierney got the guys to understand that no game is a “gimme.” In terms of the off-season, he hasn’t focused too much on skills and drills. Instead, Tierney has spent the fall preparing the guys for the season ahead, especially after dealing with serious injuries the last two seasons. This off-season’s goal was to stay healthy in the fall and focus on team depth.

“This is a contact sport.

“Tough times don’t last, tough people do,” Tierney said. “We are a team of tough people, and we won’t let injuries ruin our season again.”

Despite the team being the healthiest it’s been in several years, according to Tierney, they are also idle coming back from winter break. The fall season back in October was a good test for the Pride to get their feet wet. Tierney worried about how little time they had before their first games; the team had a “short runway” with their first practice on Jan. 17 and the first scrimmage 11 days later.

“We don’t have a lot of days. We don’t have a lot of time. These practices aren’t about proving to everyone who we are. This short time is about proving

they’re on it.

Tierney will be looking to his upperclassmen captains to lead this team on and off the field. One of them is face-off man Chase Patterson, joined by sophomore Blake Cooling and graduate student Sam Lutfi.

“I know these guys well and they want to be here,” Tierney said about the team. “They want to be part of the mission. And when we all work together, the team buys into the mission.”

Among the transfers is JT Roselle, a defender native to Long Island. His last season was at University of North Carolina and the previous three were at Marist University. The graduate student will add to a defensive line that ranked first in the CAA in goals against last season. In

his career, Roselle has recovered 99 ground balls.

“We’re very excited to see what the long stick midfielder can do,” Tierney said. “He’s done a wonderful job in his time at Marist and North Carolina. This is his last year of college lacrosse. He will bring so much experience to help our freshman recruits.”

The freshmen are not to be slept on, according to what Tierney saw after the HEADstrong Foundation scrimmages.

“In goal we brought in Shea Kennedy; he’s been impressive,” Tierney said. “He’s played better than our expectations could have ever thought.”

The freshmen are able to learn from their upperclassmen this year.

“We brought in two faceoff guys, Chandler Caster and Owen Bosak. With them to come in behind Chase Patterson is perfect; they have a seasoned veteran to learn from,” Tierney said. “And on defense, Colin Roark and Kyle O’Grady have done a good job adapting to the college level.”

All that’s left is to get to the field and see if that team will play up to that potential.

“I’m excited for us to be here,” Tierney said. “As a coach, it drives me crazy sitting in a chair and doing things that don’t involve a whistle and teaching. I’m excited to see how what we did in the fall translates to the season. We’re ready for the season.”

Photo courtesy of Lee S. Weissman / Hostra Athletics

Seth Tierney is entering his 18th season as the Hofstra men’s lacrosse head coach.

SPORTS

CAA softball champs look to defend their title in 2024

By Nick Mongiovi STAFF WRITER

Last season, after the Hofstra University softball team secured a Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) championship title, they took a trip to the NCAA tournament. While things didn’t go as planned in the big dance, the Pride heads into the highly anticipated 2024 season poised to make another run.

“Last year is in the past, and what we did was amazing,” said Hofstra head coach Adrienne Clark. “It allowed us to build some additional confidence in ourselves and get to experience something that not everyone gets to experience. We are in a new season, a new year. I see it as another opportunity to find a way to excel and win another championship. We’re trying to reframe the mindset around building off the momentum and the confidence that we built while also embracing the new challenge that lies right in front of us.”

This season, the Pride will be without standout middle infielder Meghan Giordano. Giordano joined Clark’s staff as an assistant coach this past summer. Giordano slashed .341/.450/.695 last season while also hitting 15 homeruns, and finding just one player to make up for that kind of production is improbable.

“I think it will be a combination of people,” Clark said. “Aliya Catanzarita is in position. She’s done nothing but continue to improve her offensive game,

and you saw that in the conference tournament. I think she’s starting to find that consistency within her process, and I do anticipate that she’ll have a standout year. Becca Vaillancourt and Olivia Malinowski both have capabilities of elevating their game. We have Brianna Morse, who has tremendous power in her bat, and I think we’ll see a little bit more from her as well.

I anticipate that we also have a couple of freshmen that have a lot of power in their bats: Chelsea Villar, Gabriella Sultan and Dahlia Palacio.”

The Pride has 15 returners and seven additional freshmen. Clark highlighted some freshmen who could make an immediate impact this season.

“[The freshmen] all kind of

defensively, and the strides she’s made have been really impressive.”

One returner who shined under the brightest of lights in 2023 by being a part of the CAA All-Rookie team is Alanna Morse. The all-around infielder showed promising potential at the plate by slashing .284/.329/.377.

“[Alanna Morse] started every game for us last year,” Clark said. “She is so dynamic defensively that you can put her anywhere on the field. Offensively, we found a really good spot for her in the bottom of the lineup where she got to see favorable pitching and had a ton of success. She’s going to be a fixture in the lineup.”

Graduate infielder and utility Chelsea Manto had an

final stretch last season. The southpaw’s explosiveness inside the circle could help this team get back to the NCAA tournament.

“I don’t anticipate her slowing down in any way,” Clark said. “She is so strong, so explosive,

“Last year is in the past, and what we did is amazing. It allowed us to build some additional confidence in ourselves and get to experience something that not everyone gets to experience.”

did [stand out this offseason] in their own ways,” Clark said. “Lily Yepez is really fast, has a strong arm, and she’s a slapper, and I anticipate a lot of good things from her in a variety of ways. In addition to that, I’m curious to see how Mackenzie Fitzgerald comes into her own. Nicole Cancel is phenomenal

impressive 2023 campaign and was credited with the All-CAA First team honor. Manto slashed .301/.326/.352 while also stealing 27 bases. Replicating a season like that could bring this team right back to the top of the CAA and possibly the NCAA tournament.

“We do prepare ourselves over the offseason by hitting live off our own pitchers, and they do challenge us because they know our strengths and weaknesses,” Manto said. “Hitting is just as much physical as it is mental, so I believe in having a positive mindset while also having confidence in myself, helps me get back into the swing of things.”

Senior pitcher Julia Apsel was leaned on heavily down the

and she’s taken her game to a whole new level for herself. The confidence that it’s building and the speed and power in which she’s generating, I anticipate us having that throughout the course of the year.”

Apsel isn’t the only name to watch out for when it comes to the pitching staff. Other names that can make huge leaps this season include Anna Butler, Annabella Pisapia, Marisa Ogden and Haley Venturini.

“We have an incredible pitching staff,” Clark said. “I’m hoping we can keep them all in a really strong place and try to minimize any sort of fatigue throughout the season because we have a stacked pitching staff.”

Hofstra starts their season with a trip down south to the Sunshine State to take on the University of Illinois Chicago on Friday, Feb. 16, in the Fonseca Memorial Tournament at the University of South

Florida. After that tournament on opening weekend, they will compete in two other invitational tournaments: first the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks Classic, then the University of Texas Longhorn Invitational. These programs in the southern part of the United States are playing year-round, so playing them early before conference play can set the Pride up for potential success come March. Some of the teams on the Pride’s schedule don’t play year-round, but these games tend to be littered with some of the top competition in the country.

“When you start out of the gate with the best of the best, it really helps get our underclassmen to understand the speed of the game and how it’s played at a high level,” Clark said. “In addition, it challenges our returners to understand that while they did some really cool stuff last year and had a lot of success, so has every other team in the country. So when you get to open up play in good weather and play that strength of schedule, I think as hard as it is because the wins and losses may not go in your favor, it gives you this experience that provides you with some confidence as you go into conference play.”

The season is just under two weeks away, and this team may have a target on their backs as the defending CAA champions. Conference play begins on Friday, Mar. 8, against Towson University, and the home opener is Friday, Mar. 15, against Drexel University.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics Hofstra last won two CAA champonships in a row in the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons.

The 2022-2023 CAA title was Hofstra’s CAA-leading 13th softball championship.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics

Photo courtesy of Matteo Bracco / Hofstra Athletics