T H E HOFS T R A
HEMPSTEAD, NY VOLUME 86 ISSUE 2
CHRONICLE
TUESDAY October 13, 2020
KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935. A&E
NEWS
Nazi symbolism found in Hofstra theater returns with new prodcution elevator By George Concannon
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Clocktower The swastika, a symbol of anti-Semitism, found in a residence hall, sparked outrage.
By Marjorie Rogers
A S S I S TA N T N E W S E D I T O R
Hofstra officials are investigating two acts of anti-Semitic vandalism that took place in Constitution Hall between late September and early October this year. During the Jewish High Holy Day of Rosh Hashana, residents of Constitution Hall discovered a swastika carved into the elevator wall. On Saturday, Oct. 3, another swastika was found carved in the elevator of Constitution Hall along with the name “Bibi,” a nickname for Benjamin Netanyahu, the current prime minister of Israel. “We condemn discrimination, bias and prejudice in all its forms, and reaffirm our commitment to hold accountable any member of our community who fails to live up to Hofstra’s core values of diversity and inclusion,” Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz wrote in an email to students on Thursday, Oct. 8, addressing the vandalism. “There is no place for anti-Semitism or any other form of discrimination at Hofstra University.” Rabinowitz announced the University’s ongoing investiga-
tion into the two incidents, as well as its plans to reinforce the Code of Community Standards through the University’s “No Hate @ Hofstra” initiative. The latest two cases of antiSemitic vandalism on campus have generated strong responses from Jewish students at Hofstra, some of whom feel frustrated with the University’s response to what they perceive to be a persistent anti-Semitism problem on campus. “‘No Hate @ Hofstra’ is the stupidest thing ever because it’s not going to do anything,” said Maxie DeBiso, a sophomore Jewish studies major. “And you’re never going to catch the person who drew a swastika in an elevator. I’m sorry, you’re just never going to catch that person, so why open an investigation?” Other students feel frustrated with what they say is a consistent delay by the University to comment on anti-Semitic incidents. “What took Rabinowitz so long to even tell us?” said Theo Scheiner, a sophomore biology major and Jewish student at Hofstra. Scheiner pointed out
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Kicking off the fall semester was the Hofstra Drama Department’s first mainstage show, Neil Simon’s comedy “Barefoot in the Park.” The show played from Thursday, Oct. 1, to Sunday, Oct. 4, in the Black Box Theater in Shapiro Family Hall. Simon’s play, originally written and performed in 1963, focuses on a newlywed couple, Corie and Paul Bratter, moving into their first house together in New York City. The couple is joined by Corie’s mother, Mrs. Banks, and they are soon introduced to their eccentric upstairs neighbor, Victor Velasco. Corie, carefree and ever the optimist, decides to set up her mother and Victor on a blind date, and hilarity ensues. Performing a play written by a legendary playwright like Neil Simon is no easy job, but the cast handled it beautifully. Senior Thea Fogel (Corie) and junior Ellis Craig (Paul) ruled the stage in their scenes, under the direction of Rod Gomez.
The two actors’ quick wit and natural comedic timing shone through with this production. Photo courtesy of Hofstra University Department of Fogel and Drama and Dance Craig’s “Barefoot in the Park” was the drama department’s chemistry first production of the Fall 2020 semester. together tworth as Victor Velasco had on stage, considering the polar audiences dying of laughter opposite nature of their charnight after night. Her character’s acters, made their performance quirks and eccentricities comas the happy couple Broadwaypared to the relative normality worthy, and made their break-up of the other characters heightscenes all the more dramatic. ened the comedy of the show, Mrs. Banks was portrayed by and Wentworth’s ability to take senior Margaret Engel, and her a comedic character seriously talent to dig out the nuances of was apparent. her character was especially apRounding out the cast were parent. Engel’s ability to play a junior Ralph Barone Jr. as the character adjusting to the culture Telephone Repairman and senior shock of not only her own life, Autumn Dion as the Delivery but Corie and Paul’s as well, Person. Both Barone and Dion made her one of the highlights more than made up for their lack of the show. CONTINUED ON B2 Sophomore Arianna Wen-
NEWS
Trump supporters neglect to wear PPE
Photo courtesy of NY Post Demonstrators unite to support law enforcement in a Blue Lives Matter protest turned pro-Trump rally in Minnesota.
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