Diversity 2024 - The Statesman

Stony Brook now and then: demographics over a decade

By Sonya Gugliara

Stony Brook University has established itself as a flagship university with trailblazing efforts towards demographic diversity progress.

Praise for the University’s recruitment efforts have not eased, even after receiving recognition from The New York Times for its booming popularity and success. However, evaluating the effectiveness of these efforts in promoting a diverse and inclusive environment is difficult. The Statesman tracked campus undergraduate demographics over the past decade in an attempt to identify possible trends over time.

According to the University’s official fall headcount, the 2013 undergraduate student body consisted of 15,992 students. In 2023, the number of undergraduate students increased by 9.7% to 17,549.

Asian and white students have been the majority of undergraduate students over the past decade. The Black and Hispanic/Latino undergraduate populations have increased slightly over the past decade but are still only about 25% of the population.

In 2013, there were more men in the undergraduate student body than women. Now, women are the slightly more prominent of the two groups.

The total student population (including graduate students) according to the fall 2023 headcount consists of 25,865 students. Of the total student body, the prominent groups are Asian students (39.5% of the population) and white students (39.8% of the population).

In 2021, Stony Brook received a $113 million budget increase in state funding; $60,000 was allocated to student enrollment and $53,000 went to hiring more diverse staff members.

In 2022, Dr. Judith Brown Clarke, Vice President for Equity & Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer for Stony Brook University and Health System, told The Statesman, “There will be more students and they’ll see themselves within their classrooms, within their research and their programming.”

The staff and faculty at Stony Brook is a combination of all of Stony Brook’s employees, including those who work at the school, the hospital and the veterans home.

SASC’s trip to Broadway’s “How to Dance in Ohio” showcased unprecedented autistic representation

By Katherine Kimes

The roar of applause embraces me as fresh tears stain my already damp cheeks. Everyone stands to praise the actors who have brought unprecedented representation of autism to Broadway. On Feb. 8, Stony Brook University’s Student Accessibility Support Center (SASC) organized a trip for students who utilize SASC’s resources to attend one of the last showings of the captivating Broadway musical “How to Dance in Ohio,” which features seven main characters with autism.

SASC offers a variety of services designed to meet the needs of the University’s students with disabilities. Their goal is to “help enable students with disabilities to develop their academic potential, by making their academic experience accessible.” A crucial aspect of their mission is to empower students with disabilities to achieve a “high level of autonomy at Stony Brook and far beyond.” Aside from arranging for accommodations, SASC offers events both on and off campus, including bringing SASC students wellness fairs, sensory spaces and together to enjoy a Broadway performance.

“How to Dance in Ohio” is a beautiful coming-of-age story about seven autistic young adults — Remy, Caroline, Marideth, Drew, Tommy, Jessica and Mel — and their families as they attempt to find their own voices in a severely ableist world. Set in Columbus, Ohio, the main characters attend group therapy at a center called Amigo Family Counseling. To navigate life changes such as claiming one’s power, cultivating meaningful relationships and more, Dr. Emilio Amigo came up with the idea of an Amigo Family Counseling spring formal dance — with some setbacks.

The musical, “based on Alexandra Shiva’s Peabody Award-winning documentary film about the real experiences of autistic young adults,” is infused with refreshing originality, joyful humor, heartbreaking relatability and uplifting themes.

The representation within this musical is a powerful vessel for growth in diversity. Not only are there multiple autistic and

disabled characters, but the cast is diverse in its inclusion of various races, genders and sexual identities.

However, as the musical concedes in its website’s Perspective Statement, autism and neurodivergence are multifaceted and cannot be represented in totality by a limited number of characters. They aim to “bring this musical and these seven characters to our audience not as a representation of all neurodiversity, but from the perspective that this show aims to start a broader conversation regarding autism, disability, and inclusion in the commercial theater industry.”

“How to Dance in Ohio” explores important subjects such as ableism, offering second chances, forgiveness and risks and their consequences, among many others. The performers’ emotional portrayals of each character felt raw and tangible, creating an immersive experience for the audience. The songs “Under Control” and “Building Momentum” elicit an emotionality that is pertinent to the musical’s central themes.

The music was not the only exceptional thing about “How to Dance in Ohio.” The Belasco Theatre’s intentional dedication to accessibility was refreshing. As indicated on their website, the venue is a “certified sensory inclusive venue” by KultureCity, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization that specializes in sensory accessibility programs that strive to create safe spaces in all beloved places.

The venue provides a map in each program to sensory cool-down spaces if audience members need room to breathe or move during the show. The vending booths selling merchandise offer lendable fidget toys, noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses and a printable sensory audio and visual guide that identifies sensory stimuli that audience members can expect during the show.

But the resources don’t stop there, as the venue also offers disability language style guides, access to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and the Careers in the Arts Toolkit: National Endowment on the Arts and Art Beyond Sight.

The “How to Dance in Ohio” venue is a quintessential example of how to successfully implement accessibility resources within an institution. The two cool-down spaces parallel SASC’s sensory room in the Stony Brook Union. The theater constructed not one but two sensory rooms in a building with a mere capacity of 1,016, while the University, for example, has a population of 25,865 students for the fall 2023 semester.

Considering this ratio, implementing sensory rooms or cool-down spaces in each academic building would be a significant step toward increasing accessibility within the University’s campus for students with different sensory needs.

Similar to the way that the theater loaned sensory items like fidget toys to audience members, if a disability-friendly system was implemented in the highly-trafficked Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library, it would also serve to build a more inclusive campus. The system might involve offering resources, services or accommodations to meet users’ needs; it could include various initiatives to ensure it’s a welcoming and diverse space.

Students are already able to borrow Expo Markers at the front desks of the library’s Central and North Reading Rooms, so it makes sense that fidget toys, noise-canceling headphones or sunglasses could also be borrowed for allotted periods of time so that students with sensory disabilities can focus during their library study sessions.

I was incredibly fortunate to experience “How to Dance in Ohio” as one of many wonderful SASC events. It was an extraordinary opportunity to bond with other SASC students, obtain thoughtful insights into the accessibility of Stony Brook campus and experience media that represented neurodivergence in such a productive and entertaining way.

I looked to the audience and witnessed my peers smile as they watched change happen — people with disabilities were being represented in a positive light. “How to Dance in Ohio” is a musical that needs to be seen by everyone. It changed my life, and I know it can change yours, too.

The “How to Dance in Ohio” Broadway runtime officially ended on Feb. 11, and began on Dec. 10, 2023. A documentary film is available for viewing.

Opinion: Florida DEI ban threatens diversity in universities

By Elizabeth O’Connell

“Discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination,” remarks Florida Governor Ron DeSantis when asked to describe his opinion on the initiatives of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). This narrative could not be further from the truth; however, it has been heavily pushed in politics over the past year.

The University of Florida’s Journalism and Communications program published the benefits of DEI programs in their news section on May 20, 2020. Now, more than three years later, that message is under attack. As outlined in their article, the benefits of DEI are both emotionally and academically prevalent; it is difficult to see why Republicans are pushing for the complete removal of such practices.

One must render themselves blind to ignore the blatant removal of fairness and equality programs by our own government.

If DEI initiatives truly do have harmful or useless aspects, why not direct efforts toward mending the weak spots rather than eliminating the programs entirely? Or towards providing an alternate program that has the same values as DEI but is more effective? Neither ofthese changes will be made because the eradication of DEI is all just an underlying ideological push towards the oppression of minorities by the Republican party — as DeSantis ironically claimed the teachings to be during a news conference at New College of Florida in Sarasota.

“If you look at the way this has actually been implemented across the country, DEI is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination,” Desantis said.

Recently, to suppress so-called “wokeness” — a term coined by Republicans to criticize liberal progressivism as radical or unserious — DeSantis and his Republican colleagues signed and backed a higher education law that prohibits the funding of DEI-related programs and courses.

DeSantis claims that the academic push for inclusion and fairness is a mere political move. However, DEI has existed in the United States since the 1960s following the Civil Rights Movement, and it is most certainly not an “ideological” push from modern

Democrats. The frameworks of DEI aim to serve as a method to bridge inequality gaps between different groups in education and the workplace; this is important because it allows for inclusive classrooms, as well as campus and work environments that apply to all groups — especially minorities.

The Republican push for the removal of DEI is cause for concern, as it relies on heightened emotions rather than relying on factual evidence or the personal experiences of students. Why does it seem like the party is trying to fight against equality?

Inside Higher Education reports that DeSantis has claimed that DEI programs and teachings are “wasteful” and “hostile to academic freedom.” This assessment is both

The official playbill of the Broadway show “How to Dance in Ohio” in front of the stage in New York City. Stony Brook University’s Student Accessibility Support Center (SASC) organized the trip for those who utilize SASC’s recourses on Feb. 8. KATHERINE KIMES/THE STATESMAN

SBU athletes: Seawolves in the pros and on the global stage

By Kenny Spurrell Alex Streinger, Cameron Takmil, Nayden Villorente, Matt Howlin and Melanie Karniewich contributed reporting.

Despite not being regarded as a top NCAA Division I athletics program, Stony Brook University has a famed history of its athletes competing on higher levels of their sports.

This past summer, Stony Brook’s men’s track and field distance runner Carlos Santos Jr. represented El Salvador in the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games. In front of 35,000 people in San Salvador, he ran an 8:51.92 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to earn third place and a bronze medal.

For Santos Jr., representing his country on a global stage carried weight.

“Seeing the people, the joy and how much love and support they gave you, that’s what made me fall in love with representing El Salvador,” Santos said in a past interview with The Statesman. “I did it for the country.”

After he graduates, Santos Jr. will train to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Other current Seawolves who have represented their country include a pair of forwards on the men’s soccer team: Moses Bakabulindi and Olsen Aluc. Before putting on the Stony Brook jersey, both played for their native countries’ national teams. Bakabulindi previously represented the Uganda under-17 National Team and Aluc played for Haiti in the 2019 under-17 World Cup in Brazil.

Aluc’s experience gave him an inkling of what post-college soccer entails.

“It’s amazing,” Aluc said in a past interview with The Statesman. “Singing the national anthem, getting goosebumps [and] butterflies. It gave me a hint of what playing professionally feels like.”

Jonas Bičkus is another men’s soccer forward to play internationally. The team’s top scorer for three years running played professionally in Spain for the Levante Unión

Florida DEI ban

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problematic and flat-out hypocritical. These programs and classes are surely not wasteful to the millions of students who have been protected from discrimination or educated on the prejudices that exist in our society. It’s been established that these programs foster critical thinking skills, bias prevention and management and an increase in multicultural competence.

It is hypocritical to claim that the initiatives of the DEI are “‘hostile to academic freedom’” when this higher education law is the real threat; it’s actively censoring this field of inclusive curriculum. Choices are being decided for students without their consent, with both inclusivity programs and educational courses being snatched out of their reach.

The New York Times reported a controversial claim DeSantis made during the bill’s signing, where he said, “If you want to do things like gender ideology, go to Berkeley.” This is a bold statement, considering The University of California, Berkeley is a wellrespected university, with an acceptance rate lower and a graduation rate higher than any one of the many Florida universities.

Going beyond statistics, the school can easily be seen as more favorable solely because

Deportiva and in his home nation of Lithuania for Futbolo klubas (FK) Atlantas and FK Neptunas when he was only a teenager.

“It was a great experience,” Bičkus said in a past interview with The Statesman. “The level is high in both Spain and Lithuania and when you can compete against grown adults, it gives you a lot.”

Along with Bičkus, defender Jon Jelercic also played professionally in Europe in his home country of Slovenia. After playing for the Slovenian under-15, under-17 and under-19 national teams throughout high school, Jelercic had a short stint with Football Club Drava Ptuj in the Slovenian Second League.

The physicality of playing against grown adults at only 19 was challenging for Jelercic.

“I needed time to adapt,” Jelercic said in a past interview with The Statesman. “In [professional] clubs, you’re playing against 35-year-old men. It was much more physical, less tactical.”

In the other locker room, many members of the Stony Brook women’s soccer team have also competed in international play such as a pair of German-born players, defender Catharina von Drigalski and midfielder Linn Beck. Both stars played for Eintracht Frankfurt — one of the most established clubs in the country.

During her tenure with Frankfurt, Beck was starstruck by the players around her.

“It was amazing,” Beck said in a past interview with The Statesman. “I looked up to the players on the team. And even when I got there, there were still a few players that I used to cheer for watching their games.”

Another player, midfielder Kristina Garcia, represented the Dominican Republic under-20 national team in the World Cup qualifiers against the United States in 2018.

Further east, Kristi Boro of the Stony

they promote a diverse and fair campus community through their own DEI efforts and lack of restriction on student freedoms.

It is no surprise that communities are outraged with this bill; students from the Student Government Association and the Black Student Union at Florida International University (FIU) took to social media to issue a statement which reads, “The Student Government Association is saddened to see the closure of FIU’s Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Office of Social Justice and Inclusion. We are distraught that FIU has … to hide its diversity and inclusivity programs behind web pages covered in vague doublespeak.”

FIU is not the only Florida university facing drastic changes; students from the University of Florida (UF) have also noticed the demise of their once-equitable campus community.

“You can notice a clear difference in how many classes they have gotten rid of … it’s super odd,” Misha Abraham, an aerospace engineering major at UF said. “Also, now RAs [Residential Assistants] cannot even mention pronouns when interviewing new prospective

Brook women’s tennis team gained notoriety in her home country. From India, she played for the All India Tennis Association Super Series Tennis under-12 team and the Asia-Oceania World Junior Competition under-14 team.

When Leoni Kunz was just 15 years old, the outside hitter of the Stony Brook women’s volleyball team played professionally in Liechtenstein. She gained invaluable experience playing against adults in Germany.

Many previous players have also gone on to play at professional venues both overseas and in the U.S. Former Stony Brook men’s basketball power forward Mouhamadou Gueye most recently made his debut for the Toronto Raptors in the NBA in February.

Gueye was the second Stony Brook alumnus to appear in an NBA game, following in the footsteps of power forward Jameel Warney. The program’s all-time scoring leader appeared in three games for the Dallas Mavericks in 2018. Warney now plays for the Seoul South Korea Knights in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), where he is a KBL champion and three-time KBL Foreign Most Valuable Player.

Though Gueye and Warney are the only former Stony Brook players to log minutes in an NBA game, many former men’s basketball stars have played professionally overseas. Three recent graduates are currently playing for professional clubs in other countries: former point guard Kaine Roberts for the Hiroshima Dragonflies in the Japan B. League, former shooting guard Anthony Roberts for Alba Fehérvár in Hungary First Division and former small forward Omar Habwe for Astrali in the Georgian A League.

The Stony Brook women’s basketball program has also created some high-level products, as several former student-athletes are playing professionally overseas as well. Former

RA applicants, which is different from how campus was last semester; I remember going to clubs and everyone would introduce themselves along with their pronouns. I guess things are just different now.”

It is both shocking and alarming to see these changes being made on college campuses all around the state of Florida. Why should students want to live and study at universities where they feel as though no one is vouching for their mere existence?

“I think DEI is important because it allows your actual skillset to be recognized despite your background or personal identification, making school more inclusive and enjoyable overall,” Abraham said.

Studies tend to skew towards this view as well. The Higher Education Institute surveyed 55,000 college faculty members and found that 90% of the faculty “agreed that a diverse student body enhances all students’ educational experiences.”

This agreement amongst faculty members is worth more than the opinion of any politician, as they are the ones observing and spending time with the students. They know and feel the difference between a successful, uplifting academic environment versus a

shooting guard Annie Warren — the program’s all-time three-point leader — currently plays for BMS Herlev in Denmark.

Warren’s former teammates — power forward Nairimar Vargas-Reyes and center India Pagan — both play for the Puerto Rico women’s national basketball team. They recently played in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Women’s 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, performing well enough to earn their team a bid to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Vargas-Reyes also represented Puerto Rico in the FIBA under-19 Women’s World Cup and the under-18 World Championships in Mexico City prior to coming to Stony Brook.

The experience was integral in preparing her for the NCAA Division I level.

“It was unbelievable,” Vargas-Reyes said in a past interview with The Statesman. “I never thought that I was going to make the national team. But when I was called out, ‘You made the team, you’re going to have this experience,’ I was like, ‘Wow, this is my time to just shine.’”

Former Stony Brook soccer stars have made it to the professional level as well, with the most recent examples being alumnus defender Stephen Turnbull with New York City Football Club II in Major League Soccer. Fellow former Stony Brook midfielder Leo Fernandes was named the United Soccer League Championship Most Valuable Player for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2022.w

Some other Seawolves in the pros include former offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr. (New England Patriots) and defensive end Sam Kamara (Cleveland Browns) in the NFL, outfielder Travis Jankowski (Texas Rangers) in the MLB and midfielders Challen Rogers (Utah Archers) and Ryland Rees (Philadelphia Waterdogs) in the Premier Lacrosse League.

suppressive one, whereas most elected officials cannot say the same.

Although the issues and policies of Florida’s state government may seem of little relevance to those residing in a different state or country, these oppressive efforts are not being solely contained to the peninsula itself; exactly half of U.S. states have proposed antiDEI legislation — seven have been signed into law, and the rest are awaiting approval.

It doesn’t stop at that. Up until Jan. 21, DeSantis had been running for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election, which not only put him on a national platform but also allowed for the spread of this harmful rhetoric internationally.

He received a decent amount of support, with Americans from across the nation agreeing with both his policies and opinions. If DeSantis or anyone sharing his views were to win the presidency, it is hard not to wonder if these same Florida policies could appear nationwide, and what that would mean for the state of our country. The elimination of DEI initiatives could be just the beginning of a repressive conservative wave crashing down upon all of us.

Preparing for the pageant: Belleza Universal 2024

By Sonya Gugliara

In the weeks leading up to the Latin American Student Organization’s (LASO) annual Belleza Universal pageant, 10 energized and talented contestants reflect on their pageant preparation experiences.

Belleza Universal is far more than a beauty pageant; it is a celebration of cultures coming together at Stony Brook.

“The pageant is really a performance to showcase who you are and really show the world the country that you represent and your ancestral roots,” Paola Castro, a senior psychology major and senior representative of LASO, said. “I think it’s one of the greatest things LASO does for the Stony Brook community.”

LASO first hosted the pageant in 2019, but it was halted by the pandemic until 2022. Now, the yearly pageant is in full swing.

“The girls work really hard,” Castro said. “A lot of them are stepping out of their comfort zone.”

Whoever is crowned Miss Belleza Universal gets a $500 cash prize. The contestants will participate in a series of pageant roundsto show their talents, personalities and cultural pride in front of a panel of faculty judges.

Sitting in on just one of their practices reveals the dedication and commitment of the pageant contestants. Although the girls are technically competing, the nature of rehearsals is nothing but uplifting and supportive.

“I think that’s the sweetest part — seeing everybody become friends,” Sheilly Martinez, a senior political science major and the president of LASO, said. “At the end, you see people’s confidence grow a whole lot.”

This year’s Belleza Universal will take place on Friday, March 22, in the Student Activities Center auditorium. More information can be found on LASO’s Instagram page.

Meet this year’s Miss Columbia. Noreza Norena is a senior biology major from Long Island, N.Y. Although she’s feeling a healthy amount of pre-pageant jitters, Norena can’t wait to show off all her hard work and celebrate various cultures on campus.

“I wanted to get involved my last year in LASO,” Norena said. “I just wanted to showcase my country, my culture.”

Representing Ghana in this year’s pageant, senior political science and business administration double major Janell Boakye is stepping out of her comfort zone and into the spotlight. She encourages others to do the same.

“You don’t want to regret it,” she said regarding missing out on opportunities like the pageant. “I feel like this is my time to really do things I want and just go for it and stop letting fear hold me back.”

The Queens, N.Y. resident plays an active role in campus life. As the president of the African Student Union’s (ASU) dance team L’Afrique and the secretary of ASU, Boakye keeps a busy schedule outside of pageant practices.

Lauren Zou, a senior majoring in chemistry, will be representing China for the pageant. Despite this being the first time having to strut in high heels, the Brooklyn, N.Y. native is excited for the opportunity to show off and embrace her heritage.

“I never actually wore a Chinese dress before, so I’m pretty excited about that,” Zou said. “I think it’s nice to see your country represented because I didn’t get that growing up, so it’s nice to be a part of it.”

Introducing Leslie Mejia! Meijia is a junior majoring in social work and this year’s Miss

Bolivia. When she is not at pageant rehearsals, you can find this Long Islander being a part of Stony Brook’s Undergraduate Social Welfare Alliance.

“All cultures are beautiful,” Mejia said. “I just want to represent how beautiful my culture is as well.”

From the Bronx, N.Y., Ylenia Toledo is representing Cuba in the upcoming pageant. Toledo is a freshman biochemistry major who is an active member of LASO, the Club Swimming team and Pink Gloves Boxing.

“I’m looking forward to having fun with it, getting all nice and dressed for it and having fun with the girls,” Toledo said.

Toledo, who is Cuban, Ecuadorian and was born in Spain, is particularly excited about competing as Miss Cuba this year.

“To me, Cuba’s very special because it’s very underrepresented,” she said. “I want to represent them and just shine light on my country.”

Make way for Honduras’ pageant queen, Samantha Cruz. Originally from the Bronx, N.Y., Cruz is a senior majoring in coastal environmental studies and a member of Pink Gloves Boxing. As well as a way to celebrate her cultural identity, Cruz took Belleza Universal as an opportunity for self growth.

“I joined because I thought it looked like an opportunity to build confidence,” Cruz said.

She notes that the best part of this experience has by far been the friendships she has forged along the way. “It’s so nice feeling like it’s an actual family,” Cruz exclaimed.

Freshman psychology major Karla Wilches will be taking the Belleza Universal stage as this year’s Miss Mexico. Wilches is from Buffalo, N.Y. but recently moved to Texas. She is an active member of the Psychology Student Alliance, LASO and the Pre-Med Society.

As a first-year student, Wilches took this opportunity to push herself out of her comfort zone. “I was a very shy person in high school,” Wilches said. “This has been a very exciting experience for me because I get to make new friends.”

Brianna Chavez is a junior double majoring in mass communication and sociology with a minor in women’s and gender studies. The Queens, N.Y. resident is already adding Miss Puerto Rico to her list of campus identities. She serves as the president of Jubilé Latino, resident assistant in Chávez Hall, member of Planned Parenthood Generation Action at Stony Brook University and member of the Sigma Beta Honor Society.

“I am most excited about seeing all of our hard work as pageant participants come to fruition at the event,” Chavez said. “We have all spent numerous hours learning choreography, organizing outfits and hairstyles, making music mixes, among other things, and I can’t wait to see each of us shine the day of Belleza Universal.”

Last, but certainly not least, senior psychology major Julia Taveras is representing the Dominican Republic in the upcoming pageant. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. and raised in Yonkers, N.Y., Taveras is the vice president of Jubilé Latino.

Taveras is ecstatic about participating in Belleza Universal, as she is looking forward to continuing to bond with the other contestants and LASO members.

“I have a feeling this is going to be an amazing experience,” she said with enthusiasm.

Japanese group DRUM TAO mesmerizes a full house at the Staller Center

By Emily Chao and Christina Marie Mariani

Fusing taiko drumming and martial arts, the dynamic Japanese performance group DRUM TAO returned to the Staller Center for the Arts for a sold-out show on Feb. 3 as a part of their North American tour, coinciding with their 30th anniversary.

Taro Harasaki, the company manager and one of the group’s performers, shared the story of how DRUM TAO began. Inspired by Cirque du Soleil’s show “Mystère,” which also featured taiko drums, founder Ikuo Fujitaka wanted to “create [a] new production or entertainment show using only Japanese traditional instruments,” Harasaki said. In addition to the array of drums, these instruments included a Japanese

harp-like instrument, known as the koto, and bamboo flutes.

In their quest to distinguish themselves from traditional taiko troupes, DRUM TAO incorporates innovative entertainment elements such as eye-catching costumes, props and electric stage lighting.

“The production is very modern and different from previous or past show[s],” Harasaki said. “But still, we try to keep something from the original production 30 years ago.”

From the very beginning of the show, DRUM TAO demonstrates that their performance engages more than just the ears. Through clean and synchronized choreography,

the performers exude strength in their movements, seamlessly transitioning from one formation into another, mixing elements of dance and martial arts. From spinning folding fans to acrobatic flips, there is never a dull moment in the show.

The performers’ immense physicality is never lost on the audience. The demanding nature of the show comes with extensive preparation and training. The cast live and practice at their home base, Tao Village, in the Oita prefecture in southern Japan. Harasaki said that a typical day starts at 5 a.m. with a five-mile run, followed by workouts and rhythmic training involving continuous drumming for an hour. To maintain their

stamina, the performers practice and rehearse for more than 10 hours a day.

Displaying their strength and endurance during the show, one performer exuded a deep bellow as his arms increasingly sped up in rapid drumming motions, becoming a blur of circles.

In the second half of the show, DRUM TAO began incorporating disco music, paying homage to an initiative that began roughly three years ago known as CLUB TAO, in which the troupe brings taiko drumming into club nightlife. During “WAGAKKI BAND II,” performers interacted with the audience, encouraging them to clap along to the beat

Continued on page 6

The contestants of the Latin American Student Organization’s Belleza Universal pageant at practice on Monday, Feb. 19. The pageant will take place in the SAC auditorium on March 22 at 5 p.m. BRITTNEY

DIETZ/THE STATESMAN

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ASA celebrates Lunar Festival event with Lunar New Year-inspired games

By Sarah Cheung

The Asian Students Alliance (ASA) hosted a Lunar Festival for students at Stony Brook University to ring in the Lunar New Year. The event was held in the Stony Brook Union Ballroom on Feb. 7 from 7 to 9 p.m.

Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival, is a 15-day festival that takes place annually between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20 on Western calendars. Many Asian countries celebrate Lunar New Year with special foods and traditions that symbolize prosperity and abundance. The festival marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle and is considered the most important holiday in China and many other Asian communities.

The Chinese calendar follows a 12year cycle of the Chinese zodiac in the following order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. This year is the Year of the Dragon, which symbolizes good luck and strength.

The significance of the Dragon dates back to ancient China when people believed that dragons were gods who controlled the elements of nature. Since then, emperors have used the Dragon as a symbol of imperial power.

Before the event began, eager attendees were given red envelopes, known as hongbao in Mandarin or laisee in Cantonese, with a small twist. Instead of money, the envelopes

DRUM TAO

Continued from page 5

and turning the performance into a communal experience.

Another standout number combined gorgeous koto melodies with a subdued electronic beat. The performers twirled across the stage with paper umbrellas in hand, highlighting the troupe’s grace and lyricism and lending to the group’s overall versatile performance.

Harasaki spoke highly of the ongoing North American tour,

contained a piece of strawberry flavored lucky candy and a food voucher.

In Chinese culture, the color red represents vitality and prosperity. Traditionally, red envelopes containing money are exchanged among family members and friends as a gesture of good fortune and red lanterns are lit up and hung in celebration.

Inside the ballroom, ASA decorated the tables with red tablecloths and jars of fairy lights as centerpieces. An ornate photo booth with a red drape, gold balloons and a “Happy New Year” banner was placed in the back of the room alongside an illuminated wishing tree.

The event kicked off with a series of games inspired by the Lunar New Year. For the first game, each table competed to decode a series of words or phrases, such as “zodiac sign” and “firecracker.”

Another game was akin to scavenger hunting: red envelopes were scattered around the room, each hiding bizarre and daring challenges. Students at tables collected envelopes and performed the tasks inside, like drinking soy sauce, creating a four-line rap about Lunar New Year and performing a TikTok dance unrelated to the holiday. The difficulty of the challenges determined how much “money” they received, and the table

saying DRUM TAO had been performing for full houses of enthusiastic audiences. The Staller Center show was no exception. Audience members clapped along with the beats and erupted in applause after each number, showing their awe and appreciation for the performers.

with the most “money” received food first.

For the last game, each table had 20 minutes to construct a lion head using a cardboard box and construction paper. After presenting their heads to the two judges, the top three teams had the opportunity to perform a lion dance. The winning table received ASA-branded merchandise.

Toward the end of the festival, the club served spring rolls, dumplings, drunken noodles, shrimp chips and oranges. Students bonded over the meal, took photos together at the photo booth and wrote and hung their wishes for the new year on an illuminated wishing tree.

Jing Huang, a junior majoring in business at Stony Brook University, shared that the event served as a connection to her Chinese roots.

“I just transferred here,” Huang said. “I lived in China for 18 years. I came to this event because I wanted to celebrate Chinese New Year. Back home, I celebrate with firecrackers and a big family dinner and I get red envelopes from older people.”

With the inclusion of cultural games, food and activities, ASA’s Lunar Festival was not only a Lunar New Year celebration but a commemoration of diversity, inclusivity and tradition.

Even though DRUM TAO embarks on a North American tour every two years, the last time they performed at Staller Center was in 2020. w

Towards the end of the show, the performers expressed their desire to return in the future before surprising the audience with an energetic encore.

The promise that Harasaki had made during the interview — that the group’s show is full of energy, power and passion — certainly rang true as the audience remained abuzz even after the curtains closed.

A delight to watch, DRUM TAO amazes and transports viewers into a different world with fantastical theatrical flair.

The Japanese performance group DRUM TAO returned to the Staller Center for the Arts on Feb. 3. DRUM TAO incorporated innovative entertainment elements such as their black, white and silver costumes into their performance. PHOTO COURTESY OF AMBER LEWIS/STALLER CENTER

Opinion: Is CAPS effective in considering student diversity?

By Soojin Kang

As a student from a different cultural background, I often find it difficult to open up about my stress because I am uncertain that others can empathize with my experiences. In light of this issue, I believe that race and gender play important roles in the administration of counseling services. Therefore, people from varied cultural backgrounds should have equitable access to quality psychological care that meets their needs.

For those seeking counseling for mental illness or personal struggles, Stony Brook University’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers mental health services.

While alternative counseling services may be costly and distant from Stony Brook, CAPS offers a more accessible and supportive option by being conveniently situated on campus. CAPS provides free care and is located behind the Stony Brook Union building. Indeed, it presents a remarkable opportunity for students desiring on-campus mental health support.

However, given the diverse range of racial, sexual and gender identities on campus, I am uncertain whether CAPS providers possess a full understanding of and are able to advocate for such a diverse student body. Even if they do, students might hesitate to discuss their issues with

someone from a different background.

The study “The Influence of Race and Ethnicity in Clients’ Experiences of Mental Health Treatment” states that clients of racial minorities experienced more issues with race and ethnicity than white clients. This serves as evidence of people of color being uncomfortable with opening up to white therapists.

According to Stony Brook’s Data Warehouse Institutional Research, Planning & Effectiveness Student Extract Files, the highest percentage of undergraduate students in 2023 belong to minority groups; Asian students took first place at 45%. Second place was white at 37%, followed by Hispanic or Latino at 15.4%. These population statistics indicate that there are more students of diverse backgrounds than there are white students at Stony Brook.

Upon reviewing the CAPS website’s “Meet the Staff” section, the majority of the staff are white, with only two people of color on the counseling and psychiatry staff — both with no photos listed. In essence, 45% of Asian students, 15.4% of Hispanic or Latino students and about 18% of other race students have limited options but to seek counseling from white therapists.

The study “Understanding the Psychological Processes of the Racial Match Effect in Asian Americans” argues that clients racially matched with their therapists tend to experience more satisfaction and improvement. However, there seems to be a lack of diversity within CAPS, potentially hindering students from feeling fully comfortable in therapy sessions.

Director of CAPS Dr. Smita Majumdar Das elucidated the ongoing efforts to improve their services to accommodate students of diverse backgrounds.

“CAPS has made significant improvements to increase the compositional diversity among staff, having recruited several counselors of color over the past year and hired an Assistant Director of Equity and Inclusion to further our commitment to provide culturally competent care for all our students,” Dr. Das said. “Our counselors at CAPS work diligently to increase their cultural humility to work effectively with our diverse student body.”

Dr. Das’ words call attention to CAPS’s acknowledgment of the lack of staff diversity and highlight efforts to improve service issues. This shows a promising start toward enhancing student access and utilization of CAPS services, potentially benefiting the broader academic community.

Moreover, even though the undergraduate student population comprises a spectrum of gender identities, all the counselors and psychiatrists are female. The bond between the students and therapists may be the most important thing in counseling, but students who prefer specific gender or LGBTQ-identifying therapists might not have a chance to get their preferred therapists on campus.

“Although choosing a therapist whose gender and/or race is similar may increase the level of comfort and feelings of safety, it is critical for students to access the service they need and not be deterred by the color or background of their therapist,” Dr. Das said.

While it is undeniable that some students can have a positive and cost-effective experience with CAPS, Stony Brook University’s mental health community needs to dedicate itself to diversifying its staff. I believe that CAPS needs to proactively hire counselors of color and gender minority, and counselors should be trained well in understanding and communicating with people of different backgrounds. By reflecting the student body, CAPS can be a better place for all students, regardless of their cultural background or gender identity.

The state of campus diversity and inclusivity efforts — where do we go from here?

By Sarah Chaudhry

Stony Brook University has made several strides toward diversifying its campus and promoting inclusivity in recent years. According to Vice President for Equity & Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer for Stony Brook University and Health System

Dr. Judith Brown Clarke, the University is taking the proper steps forward when it comes to advancing the progress being made.

“There is no right way. We’re always evolving,” Dr. Clarke said. “What we are working hard on in this office is how we get people to create a sense of belonging in an environment that may be flawed. You can be in an environment that may not fully affirm you or have a lot of noise with different perspectives on identities, issues and topics.”

Dr. Clarke discussed diversity and inclusivity holistically, explaining that they were two very different yet equally important objectives for the campus.

“[Stony Brook is] an extremely diverse campus within our student population, faculty and staff, medical staff, patients, and communities we serve. You can see how diverse we are by just walking outside,” she said.

As of fall 2023, Stony Brook’s undergraduate student body is 45% Asian, 37% White, 15.4% Hispanic or Latino and 9.7% African American or Black. Other ethnic groups make up only 1.4% of this population and 6.2% of the student body falls into the “unknown” category.

Dr. Clarke stated that the University is doing “extraordinarily well with diversity” and that the campus “can’t get any more diverse,” comparing the student, faculty and staff body to the United Nations.

“We have student clubs, cultural clubs, performers that come to the Staller and Wang Center, from the classes you can take to learn about local and global perspectives; we listen to what students and faculty want, and try to find ways to do so. We work to make sure that the dining halls have halal, kosher, etc.,” Dr. Clarke said.

Dr. Clarke pointed out that the University has clubs for religions, communities and cultures, and that new clubs are constantly being made to match the campus diversity and promote inclusivity. She referenced how the administration is constantly looking for ways to create new types of classes based on student and faculty feedback to continue exposing students to new things. One way this is facilitated is through the Stony Brook Curriculum requirements.

She described that the campus views inclusivity as “how this diversity comes together in a way that enriches campus community ... learning and understanding new perspectives and strategies, modeling and understanding other peoples’ truths.”

Dr. Clarke stated that the University must continue to promote, recognize and celebrate diversity, all while supporting the people bringing diversity across all spectrums.

“With hope, everyone and anyone can strive to be at their fullest potential despite the flaws of their environment,” Dr. Clarke said. “With hope, students, staff, and faculty can make changes, have success, and create the impacts and changes on the environment that they want to see.”

But for students like Amanda Wang, a junior psychology and Spanish double major, “hope” is not quite enough.

“[Dr. Clarke] has a lot of power as an administrator of Stony Brook University,

so she should really be advocating for lower tuition, more scholarships, looking at … what ethnicities are there and maybe why some ethnicities are at that level,” Wang said. “And how we can change that so that maybe these types of ethnicities are not marginalized.”

While the University has enacted several diversifying efforts, there is still work to be done to ensure that the school evolves to the inclusive environment that administration has been striving for.

Vice President for Equity & Inclusion Dr. Judith Brown Clarke at “The Unique Challenges of Reporting on the 2024 Election” talk on Thursday, Feb. 22. Dr. Clarke believes the University must continue to recognize and celebrate diversity across all spectrums. BRITTNEY DIETZ/THE STATESMAN