The Hofstra Chronicle, March 1, 2022

THE HOFSTRA

HEMPSTEAD, NY VOLUME 87 ISSUE 9

CHRONICLE

TUESDAY March 1, 2022

KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935.

OPINION

West needs to be cautious of a sanction war

By Daniel Cody O PINION E D I TO R

Russian troops secured their position in a disputed part of southeastern Ukraine last week, pushing forward while millions watched news packages of large tanks and convoys cutting through foggy wheatfields. The Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic, breakaway states forming what we know as the Donbas, a Ukrainian portmanteau for “Donbas Coal Basin,” or “Donetskyi vuhilnyi basein,” will soon be de facto annexed into the Russian Federation while the West is reeling, mounting political and economic pressure on Russia to refrain from any further military action in Ukraine.

Since, the Russian military has entered the two largest cities, Kyiv and Kharkhiv.

Violence, explosions and debris cover streets. Willing Ukrainians have been told to fight or assist the military in defending against Russian offensives.

The Russian Duma, or lower house of parliament, voted to “recognize the independence” of Donetsk and Luhansk on Tuesday, Feb. 22, a measure that was approved unani-

mously with applause. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged his citizens to leave Russia immediately, and the Ukrainian legislature voted to sustain a 30-day state of emergency. In past statements, the government has maintained a strong stance in favor of diplomatic action.

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Netflix returns with season two of ‘Love is Blind’ as long as they have a good personality.” Well, Netflix’s E NTERTA I N M E N T E D I TO R “Love is Blind,” which premiered in 2020, proved that There’s a mentality that al- that statement actually does ways makes its way into the have some weight to it: you mind of someone attempting can fall in love with someone to navigate the dating scene: just based on personality and “I don’t care about looks live happily ever after.

The second season of the series (which premiered on Friday, Feb. 11), however, does not prove that.

After the success of the first season, Photo courtesy of Vanity Fair Kyle Abrams and Shaina Hurley met for the first fans waited time after tallking to each other behind the wall. two years after A SSISTAN T A RT S A N D

Hofstra draws in students for blood drive

Photo courtesy of Pixabay The sun sets over the Kyiv, Ukraine prior to the war.

A&E

By Aidan Judge

NEWS

the announcement in March 2020 that the series would be renewed for both seasons two and three. The series’ first season saw six couples form, two of which ended up tying the knot at the end of the ten episodes (and for the record, both couples are still together today).

In season two, another six couples were brought together. However, the couples this season definitely don’t have the charm and feeling of true love that was very present in the show’s first season.

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Cody Hmelar / The Hofstra Chronicle Junior Hayden Vogel (left), gets his blood drawn by Eazyara Peña (right), a donor specialist at the New York Blood Center.

By Megan Naftali A SSISTA NT N EW S ED ITO R

Hofstra University, in collaboration with the New York Blood Center, held a blood drive on Thursday, Feb. 24, amidst the first ever national blood emergency, declared by the American Red Cross at the beginning of this year.

The blood drive was an allday event in the Multipurpose Rooms in the Student Center.

By the end of the day, 214 pints of blood had been collected.

“We always have a goal.

Some people will say, ‘Oh, let’s try to reach for 500 [pints],’” said Elizbeth Lorentzen, the manager of learning and development at Hofstra. “Realistically, 350 pints seems to be our goal, but because this is our first [blood drive] back, we probably won’t reach 350, but again, every pint counts.”

Typically, Hofstra will have a blood drive each semester, but due to COVID-19, this is the first one at the university in two years, according to Lorentzen.

“We are all vaccinated, [COVID-19] numbers are going

down and the [need for blood] is so great,” Lorentzen said.

“That’s why we brought it back at this time.”

Health and safety protocols were put in place to ensure the safety of staff and students.

“There are less beds, this way we can have things spread apart and all of the internal staff have to be wearing a special mask,” Lorentzen said.

Two types of procedures were offered at the blood drive on Thursday, one of which was the whole blood procedure.

“In a normal whole blood procedure, we take your platelets, your plasma and your red cells,” said Doreen Fiscina, account manager at the New York Blood Center. “That’s why we say you could save three lives after we collect your blood. We bring it back to our lab in Westbury and separate the components.”

The second type of procedure is called the double red procedure, which has certain height, weight and blood type requirements, according to Fiscina.

“With a double red cell dona-

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A2 • MARCH 1, 2022

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THE CHRONICLE

NEWS

Hofstra and New York Blood Center hold blood drive during national blood emergency CONTINUED FROM A1 tion, we’re taking your red cells and we’re giving you back your platelets and plasma. We’re taking double the amount of red cells, so this way, the recipient is receiving the red cells from the same donor as opposed to multiple donors,” Fiscina said.

“It’s better for the recipient and it’s better for us because the O negative, O positive and A negative blood that we need the most. We’re getting double the amount of it.”

Deandra Baker, a freshman biology major, donated blood for the first time as community service for the track team.

“It’s something that may not be for everyone, but if you have the opportunity to donate blood, it’s always good to give back and do your share,” Baker said.

The national blood emergency hinders blood centers from helping fellow blood centers during times of need.

“Usually what happens is if one location in the country has a fire, hurricane, mass shooting, etc., the blood centers around them can supply blood to [that

area]. So, if you take Hurricane Sandy, we couldn’t go to certain locations because there was no electricity, or you couldn’t get through or the buildings were gone. We were able to reach out to other blood centers for help,” Fiscina said. “With the pandemic, everybody is experiencing the same problem at the same time, so there’s no one who could help one another.”

Some Hofstra students were glad to be able to give back during a time of need.

“It’s a humbling experience to be able to donate, because we can’t even fathom all the people who need blood,” said Naomi Brill, a second-year graduate student in the creative art therapy counseling program.

“I’m really grateful that I’m healthy enough to donate blood, and it’s something everyone should do, to just take a moment and realize how lucky we all are for those who can donate.”

There are reasons why a person may be ineligible to donate blood. Some of which include having been to certain countries, being under 110 pounds and getting a piercing with a reusable

Photo courtesy of Cody Hmelar The New York Blood Center collected 214 pints of blood at the Hofstra blood drive.

instrument within three months of when you want to donate, according to Lorentzen.

Ivleen Singh, a junior in the physician assistant program, successfully donated blood after attempting to in the past and getting denied for having piercings.

“I’ve always wanted to [donate blood]. I’ve come here multiple times, but I usually get sent back because I’ve gotten piercings,” Singh said. “I couldn’t fulfill the requirements, but I’ve always wanted to donate because I feel like if I could help someone, then why not?”

If you are unable to fulfill the requirements to donate blood, there are other ways to help, according to Lorentzen.

“Getting the word out and raising awareness that the country has a critical shortage right now is a tremendous help,” Lorentzen said.

If you are interested in donating blood or seeing if you are eligible, you can go to the New York Blood Center’s website at www.nybc.org/donate-blood/.

President Poser shares her purpose with Hofstra students and staff

By Sayo Adeniji S TAF F WRI T E R

President Susan Poser spoke to Hofstra University students and staff members last week about the personal and professional experiences that have shaped her into the person she is today. Poser was the guest speaker at a “Seeking Purpose” series event on Wednesday, Feb. 23, in the Student Center Greenhouse.

“Perhaps it is those bumps, those inflexion points, when you don’t get what you want and what you had hoped for, or when you had to make a choice to leave something behind that teaches us the most about our purpose,” Poser said. “Because it is what you do after that happens that really matters.”

Poser said her academic journey began alongside her husband, Stephen, who she moved

to different states with as new professional opportunities came up for him. The couple moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in April 1993 after Poser’s husband got his first job as assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Nebraska.

“We flew out to Nebraska on, of all days, April Fool’s Day of 1993,’’ Poser said. ‘‘A little part of me thought that this was actually his idea of a bad joke, and it was going to surprise me when the plane landed in Cancún.”

When Poser and her husband settled in Nebraska, Poser didn’t know what the future held for her professional aspirations.

“I thought my career was over before it began,” Poser said.

“And yet, 17 years later, I was the dean of the University of Nebraska College of Law and we had two teenage girls thriving in Lincoln.”

While on a sabbatical from teaching in Nebraska in 2006, Poser said she opened a universitywide email by chance.

The email Photo courtesy of University Relations was from the univer- President Poser expresses her purpose to students. sity chanceladministration.” lor, and it indicated that he was Poser said she did not have looking for a new associate to previous experiences that were the chancellor. directly related to the role.

“I had not heard of this posi“Before that job, I could not tion or the person in it, even have told you what a chief of though it turned out he was staff to the chancellor was, something of a legend at the never mind what a provost or a university,” Poser said. “But chancellor, which is essentially the job looked interesting, so I the equivalent of a president, applied, and lo and behold, I got CONTINUED ON A4 it and discovered educational

THE CHRONICLE

MARCH 1, 2022 • A3

NEWS

Civil rights attorney discusses vigilantism in the justice system to Hofstra students

By Moriah Sukhlal NEW S E D I TO R

In honor of Civil Rights Day, the Center for “Race,” Culture and Social Justice, the Center for Civic Engagement and the Hofstra Cultural Center hosted a Civil Rights Day Keynote Panel on Wednesday, Feb. 16.

The panel was held to discuss the commencement of the civil rights movement, which stemmed from the creation of the 13th Amendment, the foundation of Black Codes and the KKK Act of 1871. The two guest speakers, Frederick K. Brewington, a civil rights attorney, and Mark C. Niles, a professor of law at Hofstra University, discussed vigilantism’s historical and current implications against people of color.

According to Cornell Law School, vigilantism “describes the actions of a single person or group of people who claim to enforce the law but lack the legal authority to do so.”

“I firmly believe we should not be shielded from the discomfort of our history or our present,” said Philip Dalton, professor of writing studies and rhetoric and director of the Center for Civic Engagement.

Dalton cited the killings of Trayvon Martin and Ahmaud Arbery, two Black men who were targeted by white men.

Additionally, Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot three people at a racial justice protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was used as evidence of continued racially-motivated vigilantism in today’s society.

The panel discussion began with a historical overview of civil rights history and New York State’s civil rights laws.

“There are all kinds of issues about racial discrimination and racial violence long before we got to the Civil War,” Niles said.

“Beyond the black and white racial issues and ways in which civil rights issues have addressed things like sexual orientation and disability,” Niles said. “When we talk about civil rights, we are not just talking

about race, even though that was maybe the foundation for them.”

Students found that learning about these laws gave them a better understanding of how they are being implemented.

“Seeing the specific laws that [dealt] with things that I already know generally about was useful,” said Sarah Holmes, a junior criminolPhoto courtesy of the Hofstra Law School ogy and public policy major.

Frederick Brewington, civil rights attorney, hosts a discussion at Hofstra University on vigilantism’s effect on people of color.

“I think it kind Students at the event wondriven by hate for any of the no- conduct,” according to Brewof reiterates an dered how people within these tions stated above. ington. interest in law for me because groups can fully protect themBrewington discussed real Although the charges against that’s where ultimately all the selves legally. situations, beginning with an Mr. Benny were entirely decisions [are] made.”

“How do we fight blatant anecdote from a client, Mr. dismissed, he is left with the Based on the increase of hate racism and islamophobia?

How Benny, who was waiting outside difficulty of proving that the crimes since 2019 and their do we fight it in the law?” said of a bar that was closed due to officer’s actions were based on association with vigilantism Zainab Mozawalla, an undecida fight.

When the police officers racial discrimination. against people of color, Niles ed freshman, who is advocating arrived, instead of approaching “Judges get challenged. They explained the circumstances

“Judges get challenged. They must be challenged. We must challenge the systems and institutions that allow the perpetuation of systemic issues.”

surrounding the first hate crime laws passed in 1968, entitled USC 245 Violent Interference with Federal Protected Rights.

“Congress made it a federal crime to use force to willfully interfere with a person because of race, color, religion, national origin or because the person was participating in a federally protected activity,” Niles said.

for Eid al-Fitr to be a holiday in her home school district.

A federal hate crime is an underlying crime with the added aspect of proving that the motivation was “based on racial animus,” according to Niles. Although it is essential to have laws that address hate crimes, Niles explained that it is difficult for prosecutors to prove that a person committed a crime

the individuals responsible for the fight, they advanced towards Mr. Benny’s group of friends.

The encounter resulted in Mr. Benny being body-slammed and flung onto the concrete sidewalk, causing internal and external injuries. Benny and his friends were arrested and charged with “obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and disorderly

must be challenged. We must challenge the systems and institutions that allow the perpetuation of systemic issues,” Brewington said. “If you are not confronted with the realities that our history brings to us, you are just going to allow it to happen.”

A4 • MARCH 1, 2022

THE CHRONICLE

NEWS

Hofstra’s School of Law examines race and disability justice

lead our group as best as possible, but we do not have all the experiences that are needed to [effectively] include everyone.”

During the event, Chin talked about Michael Hickson, a Black disabled man who died in a Texas hospital after contracting COVID-19. Hickson was taken off life support after his doctors determined his ventilator could better Ahjané Forbes / The Hofstra Chronicle serve another, healthy DREAM hosted a family fued event on Feb. 28 with Queer and Trans People of patient. Chin explained Color Coalition (QTPOCC). that these decisions in the medical field have been that meant that one in every 645

By Ahjané Forbes a common occurrence for over Black Americans were dying NEW S ED I TO R 300 years. from COVID.” The COVID-19 pandemic “[In that time] period, they reChin decided to find more started the conversation about ally focused on the racialization information as she felt that the healthcare, medical conditions of disability and the pathologizmedia was underreporting data. and the virus’s effect on various ing of race,” Chin said. “There’s “When [my students and I] racial groups. As part of a series a reason that residents in the read the newspaper, there is no of events during Black History medical field still believe that conversation about how this Month, Hofstra University’s Black and brown patients have pandemic is not just impacting Maurice A. Deane School of thicker skin and don’t need pain people of color,” Chin said. “But Law hosted a virtual event to medication.” people of color live at the interdiscuss the intersectionality of DREAM is trying to spread section of marginalized identirace and disability on Wednesawareness about the dangers ties such as disability, sexual day, Feb. 16. Natalie Chin, people with disabilities will enorientation and gender identity.” associate professor of law and counter as the mask mandate is Claire Toth, a senior criminolco-director of the Disability and lifted in certain public areas. The ogy and linguistics major and Aging Justice Clinic from the group has been vocal about its public relations chair of DisabilCity University of New York stance and frequently scheduled ity Rights, Education, Activism School of Law, was the guest meetings with President Susan and Mentoring (DREAM) at speaker at the event discussing Poser.

Hofstra, said the organization is her research article “Centering “We have really been trying trying to open up the conversaDisability Justice.” to bring it to their attention that tion about intersectionality.

“In March 2020, Black this is putting people who are “Our entire board is saying, Americans represented 12% immunocompromised at risk by look, we are white, we only have of the population, but suffered rolling back these mask manone side of the conversation,” 13.7% of COVID-19 deaths,” dates,” Toth said. “[Our] vice Toth said. “So we’re trying to Chin said. “So, within the year, president is trying to talk about

asking for more flexible attendance and a Zoom option for students because it’s now been proven it’s a reasonable accommodation.”

Marc Rosen, a law student and president of Hofstra Law Disability, Rights and Community, is advocating for Zoom to be an option again for students with disabilities.

“There are plenty of other illnesses and disabilities where you can’t come to campus, but you still need to go to class,” Rosen said. “What we care about is ensuring that now that [the university has] spent the money and they own the equipment, they don’t turn their back on what is reasonable.”

Toth explained that the issues students with disabilities encounter are more prevalent outside of the classroom at Hofstra.

“We noticed that ADA doors are broken in Breslin. You can’t go a week without having someone type in [our group chat], ‘Breslin ADA doors are broken,’” Toth said. “If you try to get to HofUSA to do surveillance testing but you’re in a wheelchair, there aren’t many sidewalks that don’t have a set of stairs. You’re going through the parking lot, which is not a safe option.”

In order to see a change, Jennifer Gundlach, who is an Emily and Stephen Mendel Distinguished Professor of Access to Justice, a professor of law and moderator of the event, ex-

plained that for an organization to move forward, the company should work towards changing who they have making the decisions.

“You need to have individuals with disabilities at the table when you’re talking about design, program development, physical spaces and pedagogical choices with teaching,” Gundlach said. “To me, it’s really important to have those voices at the table to counter that implicit bias exists.”

Students that attended the event were glad that this topic is being discussed.

“Professor Chin’s work is essential. There really has not been enough done to address the intersection of race and disability,” Rosen said. “I’ve worked with plenty of others over the years, who also try to bring attention to these issues, but it’s routinely ignored.”

DREAM is working to bring Chin’s conversation to life by hosting events with other organizations on campus. On Monday, Feb. 28, the group hosted a Family Feud Game Night with the Queer and Trans People of Color Coalition to teach their members and allies about the intersectionality between being a person in the LGBTQIA+ community, a person of color and a person with a disability.

Hofstra students get to know President Poser CONTINUED FROM A2 does,” Poser said. “And even though I had taught undergraduates at Berkeley as a graduate student, I knew nothing of undergraduate retention and graduation rates, of Pell Grants or advisers or residence life or student organizations.”

In that role, Poser said she solved problems every day, one of which was addressing the potential environmental hazard to birds by the release of thousands of balloons in the stadium when

the first Nebraska points were scored in a football game.

Through such experiences, Poser realized that she enjoyed and wanted to pursue leadership roles.

“I loved [my job] and people started to say I was good at it,” Poser said. “And I realized during that time that administration was what I wanted to do.

I felt that I personally could give more back in one of these roles than in writing another law review article, even though I really loved being a law professor.

In short, I found purpose.”

Hofstra staff members appreciated Poser’s stories about how she got involved with higher education. W. Houston Dougharty, the vice president of student affairs, believed Poser’s talk was candid and beneficial for the Hofstra community.

“She was willing to be transparent and honest,” Dougharty said. “She was willing to be herself.”

For Poser, having a clear vision of the future is not the only way of finding one’s purpose.

“Many people believe that they know their purpose before they gain experience, and they set their sights on a career goal and then work toward it. And there’s nothing wrong with that,” Poser said. “But there are some advantages to finding purpose in the somewhat haphazard way that I did.”

Some students said they learned more about Poser and thought her talk was impactful.

“I’m a senior and I’m leaving, but I feel like it’s important to know your president and know

who is the person in charge of your university,” said Alexandra Thomas, a senior sociology and history major.

Other students feel that these types of conversations need to happen more often.

“That presentation could change so many people,” said Abigail Desyr, a freshman drama major. “Change comes in different scales. It doesn’t have to be a big show off, showy thing. It could be as little as just telling someone your story.”

THE CHRONICLE

MARCH 1, 2022 • A5

NEWS

Public safety implements departmental changes in hopes of becoming more personable

By Megan Naftali

ASSISTA N T N E W S E D I TO R

With the arrival of Geraldine Hart, director of public safety, last June, along came new changes to public safety’s training, image and student and community outreach initiatives.

“When public safety pulls up, the automatic reaction is ‘something is wrong;’ we want to change that to ‘public safety is here to help,’” Hart said.

One way in which Hart hopes to improve public safety’s relationship with the student body is with the creation of “Dishin’ with the Director,” an office hour-type meeting held every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in room 111 of the Student Center.

“I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect that [students] are go-

Four students attended the intergenerational communication training session, three of which were a part of the Student Government Association (SGA), according to Sarah Salob, a junior community health major who works with public safety and attended the training event.

“They invited students to go and talk with the public safety officers about your strengths, your weaknesses and the misconceptions of your generation,” Salob said. “You were allowed to talk it through with all of the officers, and we were able to start a conversation and communicate to see our differences, find common ground and be able to respect and understand each other’s perspectives.”

Hart also replaced an associate director role with the manager of community outreach and

ing to take the time out to walk across Hempstead Turnpike to come visit me,” Hart said. “This is more convenient if they want to pop by and talk about an experience they’re having with public safety or if they have a suggestion.”

Another way Hart is attempting to improve public safety is by adding a new curriculum to the eight-hour state-mandated training that officers are required to take once every year.

“We did a [training] piece called ‘Intergenerational Communication,’ which is allowing our officers to see that different generations communicate differently,” Hart said. “We need to understand that and be trained on how to speak to different generations, and the students joined us for that, which was really helpful.”

engagement, served by Jovanni Ortiz.

“The manager of community outreach and engagement is dedicated to having public safety engage with the community, and that is their sole responsibility,” Hart said.

Hart is also determined to soften public safety’s image.

One way she plans to do so is by completely redesigning the uniforms.

“We’ll have a winter/fall uniform and a spring/summer uniform,” Hart said. “It’s really pushing [officers] to get away from the tan uniform. It’s been around for a long time, so it’s time for a change.”

Due to the supply shortage, public safety hopes to receive the winter/fall uniform by the end of the month. The new uniforms will showcase entirely

new colors that will be unveiled at a later date.

Some students believe that once you get to know public safety, it becomes more comfortable to interact with the officers.

“I think there might be a misconception about what public safety is to different students depending on the interactions that they have had,” said Kat Reed, a senior community health major who has worked with public safety since her freshman year.

“I know sometimes coming to public safety can be very scary for some people, but they’re always here to help and willing to make sure you’re okay.”

Public safety is also growing their social media presence, and you can follow them on Instagram and Twitter @HofstraSafe.

Public Safety Briefs Compiled by Megan Naftali On Feb. 8, at 9:30 a.m., a Hofstra student reported to PS that they had parked their vehicle in the Breslin Hall parking lot around 7 a.m. on Feb. 7. Upon returning around 4 p.m., the student discovered damage to the driver’s side door and back door. Police assistance was declined.

Key PS - Public Safety CS - Community Standards NUMC - Nassau University Medical Center NTG - No time given

On Feb. 8, at 10:15 a.m., while pulling into the Suffolk Hall parking lot, a vehicle driven by a Hofstra student struck a parked vehicle registered to another student.

Both vehicles sustained damage and police assistance was declined.

On Feb. 9, at 2:30 p.m., while stopped at the stop sign sdfjs;dlfjk;sldkfj;aldfjk on Northern Boulevard by the Student Center, an automobile was struck by another vehicle driven by a Hofstra student.

Police assistance was declined.

On Feb. 10, at 1:03 a.m., the fire alarm in Jamestown House in Colonial Square was activated due to a water flow issue. The building was evacuated within three minutes.

On Feb. 10, at 1:41 a.m., while conducting a search of Jamestown House in Colonial

Square during an activated fire alarm, PS discovered that three Hofstra students failed to evacuate the building. All of the students were issued referrals to CS. On Feb. 11, at 11:22 a.m., the fire alarm in Shuart Stadium was activated due to a broken pipe in the south concession stand.

The building was evacuated within eight minutes.

within one minute without incident. PS, Plant personnel and the Uniondale Fire Department responded. A search of the building proved negative and a work order request was prepared.

On Feb. 17, at 4 a.m., the fire alarm in the Fitness Center was activated due to a water flow issue on the first floor.

The building was unoccupied at the time. A search of the building proved negative and the situation was corrected.

On Feb. 16, at 5:40 a.m., a Hofstra custodian reported to PS that on Feb. 15, they discovered damage to the door of room 010 in Roosevelt Hall. A work order was prepared.

On Feb. 16, at 6:24 p.m., the fire alarm in Brooklyn House in Colonial Square was activated due to the sprinkler system. The building was evacuated

Alexis Friedman / The Hofstra Chronicle

A6 • MARCH 1, 2022

THE CHRONICLE

FEATURES

Black Student Athlete Association builds community at Hofstra

By Samantha Rose Walker STAFF WRITER

With February being Black History Month, it is crucial to recognize the achievements and progressiveness of Black culture, especially throughout Hofstra.

While Hofstra has numerous groups dedicated to campus diversity, its newest organization is the Black Student-Athlete Association (BSAA).

Its mission is unifying and cultivating diversity by being committed to celebrating Hofstra students and student athletes of color and uplifting the diverse community we live in here at Hofstra.

The organizations’ liaisons are the head coach of the women’s basketball team, Danielle Santos Atkinson, and the head coach of the men’s basketball team, Speedy Claxton.

BSAA holds numerous events ranging from movie nights to celebrations of Black history.

Kayla Stadeker, a junior global studies major and track and field and cross country team member, is also a member of numerous campus groups that promote diversity. Those organizations are Black Student Union (BSU), Black Leaders Advocating for Change and the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE). Stadeker also serves as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

“Some of the Black athletes decided to create the organization because we wanted a space where we could come together and discuss issues that affect us as athletes at a PWI [predominantly white institution],” Stadeker said.

When asked what BSAA means to her, she said, “To me, BSAA means being able to have a safe space where Black athletes feel that their peers are not judging them.”

Charles Small, a senior criminology major, member of the Student-Athlete Diversity Committee and member of the wrestling team, shared his thoughts

on what BSAA means to him.

“It’s a safe space for athletes,” Small said. “There are not that many of us on campus. It’s also a space for us just to be Black outside of the regular interactions we have on campus and to come together and share ideas. There’s

have done an excellent job of being more progressive.

“For the most part, they’ve enabled us very well, just being able to have the organization, funding us and finding sponsors for us,” he said.

In terms of steps taken to

communications major and member of the women’s lacrosse team, shed light on her experiences as a member of BSAA. “To me, it really means a lot because, as you know, I’m on the women’s lacrosse team, and it’s not a very diverse sport ... there

“[BSAA is] truly a safe space, and it truly means a lot to athletes of color to have a safe space on campus and feel supported navigating our time through Hofstra.”

only two [Black athletes] on my team ... there’s less than three on most teams, and the majority of them are on the men’s and women’s basketball teams”.

Despite the lack of diversity regarding Black individuals, Small believes faculty and staff

amplify Black voices, Small said partnerships with other Black associations on campus are helping them move forward as an organization, seeing as they are newer compared to established groups such as BSU and CCE. Kayla Robertson, a junior

are only two Black people on the team,” Robertson said. “So, to have an outlet and a group of people going through the same experience as me at the same time as other athletes of color, Black athletes, means so much.

I can connect to people and can

Photo courtesy of Gabby Ricciardi / Hofstra Athletics Charles Small currently competes for Hofstra Athletics in wrestling.

make friendships easier because we all have busy schedules, so it’s sometimes hard to reach out or make friends, so it’s just really special to have a sense of community in the student-athlete world.”

Robertson added that it could be challenging to have conversations regarding people of color when most of the people on campus are not of color.

Hence, topics such as feeling lonely, non-Black people saying the N-word and not always relating to teammates are joint discussions throughout the organization.

Robertson also mentions the organization shrunk in numbers due to the number of people that graduated. “There have been ups and downs as we’ve grown the organization, but we’ve been navigating through that by filling in executive board and membership in general,” she said.

“It’s truly a safe space, and it truly means a lot to athletes of color to have a safe space on campus and feel supported navigating our time through Hofstra,” said Robertson on what she would like people to know about BSAA. “So to people who maybe are nervous about coming to meetings, programs, or anything like that, I would say that just give it a try. You’ll really see how much you’re missing out on a sense of community and people that always have your back and support you no matter what.”

For the most part, athletic administrators have been highly supportive of BSAA, and members feel their voices are being heard. BSAA is preparing to hold more events and programming for Black athletes on campus to be more progressive.

By bringing more awareness to organizations like BSAA, Hofstra Athletics is doing its part in showing its continued commitment to diversity, inclusiveness and gender equity among student-athletes, coaches and staff.

THE CHRONICLE

FEATURES

MARCH 1, 2022 • A7

T h i s Ho f s t r a L i f e : Ma r g o L at t y

By Julian Rocha FEATURES EDITOR

An institution should be accessible to everyone it is intended to serve. However, Hofstra still has instances of ableism on campus. Ableism is not an issue that exists in a vacuum, as it often intersects with race, gender and other identities. Margo Latty, a sophomore majoring in community health, has made this a focus of their advocacy as a student leader.

Formerly a member of DREAM (Disability Rights, Education and Mentoring), Latty felt as though their voice was not valued by the organization. “I was involved with [DREAM],” Latty said, “but I had a quarrel with the president, and as a Black person with disabilities, I didn’t feel represented or cared about.”

Latty emphasized that they hold no hatred toward DREAM or its members, they simply hope that it will be more inclusive toward the diverse student population.

Since stepping away from DREAM, Latty has focused their advocacy and educational efforts toward working with Intercultural Engagement and Inclusion (IEI).

“If people want me to address something, or make a program about a certain issue,” Latty said, “I’m here for that. I can try to do that to educate the student body.”

As someone who has worked with many different groups

and demographics of people on campus, Latty asserted that the Hofstra administration could and should do more to help students of color and those with disabili-

campus, because we can tell that you don’t care about us.”

Given the recent change in Hofstra’s policy on face coverings, Latty believes that the

be selfless.”

In addition to the ableism at Hofstra, Latty believes there is a lack of racial equity on campus. “I’m always the only Black person in the classroom,” Latty said. “I’ve had people just talk about enslavement as if it’s no big deal, as if generational trauma does not exist and how Black people [do not] have to constantly think about it.”

They also mentioned the lack of Black representation among university faculty as something to be aware of. According to the Hofstra Office of Diversity and Inclusion, in 2021, only 4.17% of faculty identified as Black, compared to 76.25% of faculty who identified as white. “You definitely know that since there is no diversity training, no white professors give a crap Jacob Lewis / The Hofstra Chronicle about you,” Latty said. “You feel really uncomfortable in illnesses are more at risk for a classroom, and they don’t do COVID-19,” Latty said. “I know anything about it. It’s as if Black people who can’t have a life on students say something, and you campus because the student body definitely feel like you’re not a does not take COVID-19 seriousmain priority.”

Latty, a student with dyslexia, asserts that their work as an advocate for students with disabilities, and of color, is to help foster a more equitable community. “My dyslexia has many different symptoms involved,” they said, “and it comes out and it may not seem good, but I know what I’m saying and doing. I ly and does not wear a mask. I have this job for a reason, and wish there was more seriousness I do this research for a reason, [placed] on COVID-19 and the so what I’m saying comes with mask [mandates] and thinking context involved.” about those who are actually at risk instead of being selfish, because at this time we need to

“As someone who has worked with many different groups and demographics of people on campus, Latty asserted that the Hofstra administration could and should do more to help students of color and those with disabilities.”

ties. “With an emphasis toward Susan Poser,” Latty said, “do not make your entire inauguration week about disabilities and then all of a sudden not care about them. Actually do your job and care about minorities on this

university is simply not taking the needs of immunocompromised students into consideration. “[President Susan Poser] made this statement about not wanting to have mask mandates forever, but people with chronic

Interested in writing for features? Email us at chroniclefeatures@gmail.com for more information on joining our section!

A8 • MARCH 1, 2022

FEATURES

MAN ON THE UNISPAN

If you could create a class, what would it be?

By Audra Nemirow

THE CHRONICLE

Overheard @ hofstra “I can’t believe I just flashed our entire sorority.”

FEATURES EDITOR

“She was essentially a side piece and she was fine with that, but she didn’t have a side piece of her own.”

“A Rocket League class ... [Rocket League] is this insanely high-skilled, high-IQ game on Xbox, Playstation, all of that.”

“I did hold a kid over a canal once.”

-Mason Tatafu, freshman

“I bet if there were no lights it would be pitch black.”

“I need to start wearing my retainer again.

I haven’t worn it since the Trump administration.”

“A gaming, like ESports class ... I think it’s just a different thing that most college students would like. ”

“I always have a boyfriend. Every day there’s a new one.”

-Francisco Janeiro, freshman

“I don’t even salt my pasta water which I know is a sin.”

“Drink if you’ve ever been caught watching porn.”

“I think Joan of Arc is fine.”

“A TV development type of class where you learn what development executives do, how they choose what scripts are actually going to be made ... all of the steps up to writing [a TV show].”

-Skye Boomer, senior

Audra Nemirow / The Hofstra Chronicle

“If someone ever asks ‘Is this seat taken?’ say ‘I’m saving it for Jesus’ and they’ll leave you alone.”

Spread by Audra Nemirow

THE CHRONICLE

MARCH 1, 2022 • A9

FEATURES

Personal essay: On trains

By Audra Nemirow FEATURES EDITOR

When I look back on this time, I will think of myself in the third person, tenderly. “She was the girl on the train, always in motion,” I will think at some calm moment in the near future. Yes, there is a future, I must remind myself.

On trains, there is always a future. The train will arrive at Penn Station at blank time; it is certain. Life can be planned with mathematical precision.

Everything can have a beautiful, predictable tempo. When I take a train, I become part of that strict tempo. I lose the desire to travel without a plan. I find that I hate having to kill time, and so I become very efficient. The lady becomes the train.

Trains are time-bound, like fate. They make me believe in destiny, that I have a destiny; they remind me that all through high school, I could hear train

whistles from my childhood bedroom, perhaps to warn me about my immutable future. Maybe I was always supposed to be here.

When I arrive at the train station, which is perpetually

was inseparable from the relentless advance of the train. But this thought is a touch of melodrama.

I am aware of how ridiculous I am, how excessive. Only, I am afraid of ending up like her, with

endings. Let’s think about beginnings instead. I remember the first time I took a train by myself. It was oddly exhilarating, like the first taste of freedom. I sat backwards so that the train’s

“On trains, there is always a future. The train will arrive at Penn Station at blank time; it is certain. Life can be planned with mathematical precision.”

under construction, I always walk to the farthest point on the train platform and think of Anna Karenina, her figure obscured by steam. I think about how she could not escape her fate, which

a destiny that is so definitive, with a destiny that puts an end to everything. As much as it scares me, I do, in fact, like the idea of tomorrow.

But let’s not think about

destination was behind me, so that places receded instead of appeared. And I was terribly aware of my surroundings, desperate to get off at the right stop.

I couldn’t relax. But later, as the

train trips increased in frequency, they all started to blur together, and I stopped remembering them. Maybe I would remember the wonderful instances of sitting on a double decker train, but that was it. I remember the destinations too, but I remember them as entirely separate from the train rides, as though I simply appeared in the city, growing out of the cracks in the pavement like a flower.

I’d like to take a long train ride all the way to the end of the line. Or, even better, a train going nowhere. And maybe one day, it will turn out that time was a false religion all along. There will only be the present tense, no past, no future. If I eliminate the past and future tenses, if I eliminate language, then I do not exist at all except in a gorgeous blur.

And that day, the train will follow no timetables, the train will never stop, just continue with its beautiful tempo of wheels. Into infinity …

Chron Cooks ft. Yashu Pericherla: Banana Bread à la The Hofstra Bread Society

By Yashu Pericherla OPINION EDITOR

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or coat a loaf pan with non-stick spray, then set aside.

3 large ripe bananas 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup granulated sugar (recommended: 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup dark brown sugar instead) Yashu Pericherla / The Hofstra Chronicle

Banana bread has always been the ultimate comfort food. The Hofstra Bread Society baked banana bread last Wednesday; it was a wonderful experience and a huge success!

President and founder Natalie Correa conducts meetings through the Stuart and Nancy Rabinowitz Honors College, but everyone is welcome to join.

Recipe adapted from The Salty Marshmallow.

1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2. Add the butter to a large bowl and microwave for 1 minute, or until melted.

3. Mash the bananas into the melted butter with a fork.

4. Add the vanilla extract and egg to the butter mixture and continue mashing until there are no chunks or visible yolks.

5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

6. Mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients with a spatula until fully combined.

7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out cleanly.

8. Enjoy!

‘The Revolutionists’ storm Hofstra “The Revolutionists,” the first of four shows put on by Hofstra University’s Department of Drama and Dance during the spring 2022 semester, opened on Friday, Feb. 25. The two act play written by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Professor Illona Pierce is a feminist story set during the Reign of Terror and features a cast that is small in number but big in spirit. Nicole Cullen, Olivia Keena-Ross, Ashley Riboul and Kylie Cole all shine in their respective roles of ex-queen Marie-Antoinette, playwright Olympe de Gouges, Haitain revolutionary Marianne Angelle and murderer Charlotte Corday respectively. “The Revolutionists” has three evening performances at 8 p.m. on March 3, 4 and 5 and a matinee at 2 p.m. on March 6.

Photos by Jacob Lewis

Spread by Jacob Lewis

Arts and Entertainment

VOL. 87 ISSUE 9

Netflix’s ‘Love is Blind’ shows how love isn’t perfect B2 Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly

B2 •MARCH 1, 2022

THE CHRONICLE

A&E

Netflix’s ‘Love is Blind’ shows how love isn’t perfect CONTINUED FROM A1 It feels as though a lot of the romance is forced, and that many of the couples ended up settling for each other to make it farther in the experiment, rather than because they had actually found their life partner. The poor chemistry between a lot of the singles makes for some very awkward moments, such as contestant Jarrette Jones’ proposal to potential partner Mallory Zapota getting rejected. Jones reattempted to find another partner, asking for contestant Iyanna McNeely’s hand in marriage, making for a bit of an ungraceful love story and leaving viewers wondering if the love between the two is real or not.

In the experiment, singles date “blindly” by talking through a

wall between two rooms. After ten days pass, one contestant proposes blindly to another, making the two engaged before they even meet. If a couple becomes engaged, they are allowed to see each other for the first time. The couples then travel to Mexico for a honeymoon and spend the following four weeks planning their weddings before they make the decision on their wedding day to say “I do” or not.

During this time, a lot of the couples figure out their differences, once again creating awkward situations, like when contestants don’t agree about their hygiene routines (which happened on the first night in Mexico for couple Nick Thompson and Danielle Ruhl). A lot of the couples just did not click

once making it to their honeymoons, with one couple actually splitting before the vacation had even ended. The connections don’t feel as genuine – more like people who were looking for casual relationships instead of committed marriage.

The finale sees only two of the five couples actually deciding to get married come their wedding day. It’s an oddly satisfying and realistic ending to the second installment of the series, and it was interesting to see that a lot of the couples didn’t feel ready for marriage when it came down to the final moment. A lot of conflicts were shown between couples this season (definitely more than in season one), so it feels right to see that most of the couples involved in these conflicts knew that it just wasn’t

their time to get married. The couples that do stay together are the ones with the most chemistry.

Although season two of “Love is Blind” didn’t get the feels going as much as season one did, it’s still enjoyable. No, the personalities aren’t as strong as they were in the show’s debut season, and the couples aren’t as charming or likable, but it’s still a solid ten episodes of television. The experiment definitely works, and it’s heartwarming to see genuine connections form between people without looks playing a part. Some fine tuning to the experiment and stronger personalities would’ve made for an excellent season, but, just like love in the real world, nobody is perfect, and this show certainly reflects that.

Dua Lipa brings ‘Future Nostalgia’ to UBS Arena

By Thomas Doherty SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

March 2020 was rife with disappointment. After the world shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, we were forced to reevaluate the connections we had, not just with each other, but with our work, our health and life itself. In the midst of this chaos, a retro-pop light shined in the form of Dua Lipa’s “Future Nostalgia.” While the world closed down around us and summertime concerts were pushed to the backburner (and eventually taken off the stove altogether), millions tuned in through headphones, speakers and radio to listen to the British-Albanian singer’s sophomore album.

Flash forward nearly two years, thousands flocked to the newly constructed UBS Arena in Elmont, New York to see Dua Lipa perform her Grammywinning album. The hype was intoxicating, as many came out for their first concert since the pandemic began. The audience and stage got warmed up by openers Lolo Zouaï and Caroline Polachek, and then it came to life as the arena lights went dark.

The journey began on Earth, as most do. After the introduction of her dancers and herself in an ’80s

workout video inspired montage, changes, the songs seemed to Dua Lipa took to the stage with blend effortlessly into one anothher performance of “Physical,” er, highlighting Dua’s incredible the album’s second single. creation of her own sonic uniAccompanied by her dancers and verse. Well-known hits from her a background of a neon-lit techdebut album, like fan-favorites nicolor street, Dua made it clear “New Rules” and “Be the One,” that the audience would not be were dispersed throughout. Her sitting back down. “We created bold vocals and upbeat producsomething phenomenal / Don’t tion produced a confident and you proud agree,” display she sang of Dua before Lipa: a burstwoman ing into who one of knows the most who danceshe is ensuing yet is choruses still on the plagued album, by the conanxietPhoto courtesy of Long Island Press sciousies of Dua Lipa concludes her “Future Nostalgia” tour in ly and modern Auckland, New Zealand on November 3. subconlove. sciousThis ly encouraging the audience to vibe of bravado was intermove however they please. rupted only once by the softening As the concert went on, Dua chords of “Boys Will Be Boys,” changed outfits a handful of a social commentary through times: a white bodysuit that song on excusing misogyny in briefly became a dress, a black young men and the consequences blazer ripped off to reveal a pink of having women cater to those two-piece and a bedazzled black societal standards. cutout bodysuit that served as The singer took flight (literher final look. Throughout these ally) in her performance of her

hit “Levitating,” where she flew over the crowd, suspended on a small stage as astrological rainbow projections served as her setting. The crowd knew the lyrics well, and the singer could barely be heard while the entirety of the UBS Arena sang along as they all flew through the Milky Way together.

The title track of “Future Nostalgia” was the penultimate song on Dua Lipa’s set list, in which she reestablished her independence and desire to change the game. For her grand finale, she performed the song that was the album’s lead single, “Don’t Start Now,” a song about rolling our eyes at past loves who want a slice of what they missed out on. With choreography that was familiar to fans and haters alike (if you know, you know), Dua Lipa closed out her show with confidence.

An interplanetary expedition almost two years in the making, Dua Lipa’s UBS performance was just a sliver of her “Future Nostalgia” tour. On the outside, it was laser displays, flattering outfits and a neon-pop aesthetic befitting of its title. On the inside, it was the expression of a woman navigating love, anxiety and healing – and dancing through it.

Quick Hits

Courtesy of Game Rant

Gamefreak has announced Pokémon: Scarlet and Pokémon: Violet, the first Pokémon games to be fully open-world in the main series.

Courtesy of Dispatch

BTS announced on Wednesday, Feb. 23, that they will have a brief Las Vegas residency in mid-April.

Courtesy of IndieWire

Lee Jung-jae and Jung HoYeon from Netflix’s “Squid Game” won outstanding male and female performances at the SAG awards on Sunday, Feb. 27.

Courtesy of NBC News

Actress Amanda Bynes has filed to end her conservatorship after 9 years

Courtesy of The New York Times

In light of recent conflicts within Europe, Russia will officially not be eligible to compete in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

THE CHRONICLE

MARCH 1, 2022 • B3

A&E

‘Inventing Anna’ is not an anti-hero story worth watching

By Eleni Kothesakis ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Fake German heiress Anna “Delvey” Sorokin made headlines in 2018 after scamming banks, hotels and some of her closest friends out of about $275,000 to rise through the ranks of New York City’s social elites. In 2019, she was found guilty of theft of services and grand larceny. Two years later, in Feb. 2021, she was released from prison. Only a year after that, Netflix released a series based on her life titled “Inventing Anna.” The series stars Julia Garner (“Ozark”) as Anna Delvey and Anna Chlumsky (“Veep,” “My Girl”) as journalist Vivian Kent.

Instead of looking at Delvey’s lavish, made-up life chronologically, the show takes us through the perspective of Kent as she uncovers the truth about Delvey’s “real life” through interviews and extensive research for a profile piece in Manhattan Magazine.

Kent is based on Jessica Pressler, a journalist for New York Magazine, who thrust Delvey into the spotlight after publishing the article “Maybe She Had So Much Money

overly theatrical. At times it was interviewing Delvey, her friends She Just Lost Track of It” in 2018. cringe-worthy enough that “InventAt times, it feels like the show is and her colleagues to flashbacks that slowly piece together the really about Kent and not so much ing Anna” felt like a Lifetime verabout Delvey, which is unfortunate reality of Delvey’s lies. The series sion of “American Crime Story” loses its already unstable footing considering Kent is an extremely – it tried too hard but ultimately in its last two episodes as it moves unlikeable character in the series. fell flat.

Chlumsky’s Bad acting overacting and unnecesand dramatic sarily long expressions episodes aside, are distract“Inventing Anna” favored ing, and the sensationalcharacter of Kent herself izing Delvey’s is frustrating fraud and to watch as painting her she starts to as a victim spiral in her instead of the search for the criminal she truth. It beis. Despite being horrible comes clear to her friends, that Kent is her lawyer and not a reliable Vivian Kent, narrator as the series she becomes wants the audiattached to Photo courtesy of Vox Actress Julia Garner met Delvey in prison and learned German and Russian to Delvey on ence to sympaperfect her accent. a personal thize with her. level.

They paint her beyond the publishing of Kent’s The audience is only privy to as this feminist martyr and immiknowledge of Delvey’s life through article and into Delvey’s trial. grant heroine. Painting Delvey, the Despite Delvey’s interesting the information obtained by Kent. criminal and mastermind scammer, life, the series was dragged out and as an immigrant that has fallen The show switches between Kent

victim to the justice system and the gullible elite is a dangerous way to portray her that can leave a sour taste in any viewer’s mouth.

Is the show engaging? Of course.

It’s hard not to be enthralled with the con artistry of Anna Delvey, but the show shouldn’t receive praise because of its subject when it lacks in quality everywhere else.

Delvey’s story has been told before. While it’s entertaining to see her lies unfold, there are countless other avenues to read her story that make this version irrelevant. Save yourself the nine hours it would take to watch the series in full, and instead read Pressler’s New York Magazine article, or “As an Added Bonus, She Paid for Everything” from Delvey’s former friend, Rachel DeLoache Williams, in Vanity Fair.

Anna Delvey is fascinating, and her story is filled with twists and turns that not even her closest confidants could have foreseen.

Unfortunately, “Inventing Anna” does not live up to the hype.

The pop-punk princess of the 2000s returns with ‘Love Sux’

Photo courtesy of People.com

The singer will embark on the “Bite Me Canada 2022“ tour three years after her “Head Above Water“ tour in 2019.

By Kat Salmon ASSISTANT ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Canadian pop-punk princess Avril Lavigne has returned to the airwaves with a bang! Her new al-

bum “Love Sux” was released on Friday, Feb. 25, after nearly three years of no new solo music.

She announced the album’s first single “Bite Me” back in Nov. 2021, right after signing with Travis Barker’s record label, DTA

Records.

This album takes a more mature approach than Lavigne’s previous releases. It has themes of heartache, love and finding oneself.

This compilation of songs shows how Lavigne’s range has grown since her 2002 debut “Let Go.” Twenty years later and she’s still got it!

The first track, “Cannonball,” is very reminiscent of Lavigne’s song “The Best Damn Thing,” because it sounds like a cheer. It starts the album off with a bang, proving that Lavigne is ready to make a strong comeback.

“Bite Me,” “Love It When You Hate Me” and “Love Sux” will also remind fans of Lavigne’s 2007 album “The Best Damn Thing.” The title track is perfect to listen to if you have had bad luck with a relationship but are better off without that toxic person. It’s basically a nice “f--- you” song to turn up when you see your ex in the car next to you.

The fifth track, “Kiss Me Like The World Is Ending,” is where the album starts to take a more positive turn. It’s about a new

relationship and finding happiness. The track was most likely written when Lavigne started dating her boyfriend, MOD SUN, back in early 2021. He co-wrote and co-produced the album while playing drums on several tracks.

Hopefully this song will get some radio play because it has potential to become a summer hit!

The best song is the album’s sixth track “Avalanche.” It’s the most serious song on the album and is all about realizing that it is completely fine to not be okay.

She beautifully sings, “I say that I’m just fine, but I don’t feel alright on the inside / I say that I’m okay, but I don’t feel okay right now.” Her haunting vocals will resonate with those who are struggling. Sometimes, something as simple as a song can help you realize that you are not the only one who is going through it. Fans of Lavigne’s “Keep Holding On” and “I Love You” will form a

strong connection with her message of hope.

The second-best song is the eleventh track, “Dare to Love Me.” It’s a song about letting your guard down so you can let someone love you. All Lavigne wants is someone who will always love her, even when life gets hard.

Listeners whose hearts have been broken one too many times will connect with Lavigne breaking down her walls. It looks like she found that in MOD SUN! “Love Sux” reestablishes that Avril Lavigne is pop-punk royalty.

It is sure to draw in new and old fans. Plus, fans of Machine Gun Kelly and Mark Hoppus will appreciate their features. The album can be listened to on any streaming platform or bought on CD – if you’re really missing the 2000s.

B4 •MARCH 1, 2022

THE CHRONICLE

A&E

Amazon rolls the dice on D&D series ‘The Legend of Vox Machina’

Photo courtesy of Polygon “The Legend of Vox Machina” will return with a second season in the next few years with a whole different set of villains.

By Anna DeGoede ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

In 2019, a Kickstarter campaign launched by the popular Dungeons & Dragons web series “Critical Role” became one of the most funded Kickstarter projects in history, amassing a total of $11.4 million in a little over a month.

The original goal, which sought $750,000 for a single 22-minute animated special about Vox Machina, the first adventuring party on “Critical Role,” grew into four episodes as contributions

continued to rise. By its end in mid-April 2019, the Kickstarter reached its last stretch goal for 10 animated episodes.

Two years later, “The Legend of Vox Machina” began its release exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on Tuesday, Jan. 25. The first season focuses on the Briarwood arc from “Critical Role’s” first campaign, which originally livestreamed on Twitch from March 2015 to Oct. 2017.

Main cast members Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Liam O’Brien, Marisha

Ray, Sam Riegel and Travis Willingham returned to voice their characters from the first campaign while dungeon master Matthew Mercer voices several characters throughout the show, including villain Lord Sylas Briarwood.

Other notable cast members include Grey Griffin as Lady Delilah Briarwood, Khary Payton as Sovereign Uriel Tal’Dorei and David Tennant as General Krieg.

Although D&D does not have a great precedent for adapting well to the screen (the “Dungeon & Dragons” movie from 2000 has a 10% on Rotten Tomatoes), “The Legend of Vox Machina” successfully translates the many intricacies of D&D combat to animation.

The fight scenes are far more captivating than watching seven adults stress over dice rolls for hours on end – which is the case for those who view “Critical Role’s” Twitch stream.

Despite managing to create intrigue and excitement in this more tedious aspect of watching the “Critical Role” livestream, the animated show’s sweeping scenery falls a little flat. While it is clear

that talented artists developed the imagery of the show, it is beautiful in an almost unrelatable fantasy way.

The first few episodes of “The Legend of Vox Machina” also suffer from a need to define the series as an animated series for adults. Episode one is full of random, gory bar fights and unnecessary curses. This comes as a surprise to both old and new fans, since the original live stream contained nowhere near the same degree of vulgarity.

A few episodes later, the show settles into its shoes. As the characters are given more opportunities to grow, it becomes easier to understand why audience members found them lovable enough to donate millions of dollars to the Kickstarter campaign. However, the characters occasionally suffer from a lack of development and come off as one-note for most of the series in comparison to their livestream counterparts.

While some key moments of growth for the characters are missing, the show makes up for those flaws with the casting for “The

Legend of Vox Machina,” which is spot-on. Jaffe’s performance as Percival de Rolo stands out among the adventuring party, while Griffin’s charismatic portrayal of villainous sorceress Delilah Briarwood brings the darker side of the show to life.

For people who are put off by the idea of sitting down to watch voice actors roll dice together, the show provides the perfect chance to dive into the world of fantasy animation and “Critical Role.” For original fans, it stays true to its source material while not shying away from adding and changing plot points to develop the story even further.

Ultimately, the show’s flaws are easy to forget in the midst of its colorful battle sequences and rousing musical interludes.

Clearly, a lot of passion went into “The Legend of Vox Machina,” and it is hard to dislike something that has been given so much love from its creators and Kickstarter contributors.

Imagine Dragons returns to the stage after four years

By Ilana Rockwell

ASSISTANT ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

American pop-rock band Imagine Dragons has returned to the stage to promote their fifth studio album, “Mercury – Act 1,” through a five-month international tour. Their tour began on Sunday, Feb. 6, in Miami and will end on July 16, in Paris. The group performed at UBS Arena on Long Island on Feb. 14.

This new tour is the band’s first time back performing live since their “Evolve” tour in 2017.

Though they released their fourth album, “Origins,” at the end of 2018, there were no official tour dates in place for it, and then the pandemic hit. Lead singer Dan Reynolds opened the set list by announcing to the audience how much the band has missed this.

“I want to thank you for coming here today. I want you to feel the energy that we feel. Look around you and enjoy, because we’re back together and it’s all going to be okay,” he said.

In fact, the lockdowns elicited

single released from the album, popular hits from throughout the the longest break the band had in her honor. “Wishing you were years, such as “Radioactive” or ever taken since their formation “Believer,” often adding visual in 2008. Previously, they were on around but now it’s too late / My mind is a place that I can’t effects such as raising platforms a constant cycle of writing, proescape your ghost / Sometimes I and explosions of light. ducing and touring for over 10 wish that I could wish it all away Because this particular years. It was clear as soon as the show took place on show began that this Valentine’s Day, has affected the band Reynolds dedicated in no small way. the band’s hit “Next to In addition to the Me” to his wife in the challenges that are to audience surrounded be expected with such by soft pink and an extreme lifestyle purple lights while the change, Reynolds rest of the band came revealed that he lost to the front to sit and both his mother and perform in a small his sister during that circle. While still in time away. His sister, the intimate, acoustic Alicia Reynolds, had setup, the typical rock been battling lymphotone was traded for ma for almost a year Photo courtesy of Just Jared a more traditionally before passing away.

Imagine Dragons recently received critical acclaim for their indie or folk sound, Reynolds was very original soundtrack hit “Enemy” for Netflix’s “Arcane.” much like some of open with the thouthe band’s first songs. Reynolds sands of people watching him as / One more rainy day without you,” Reynolds sang. and his bandmates sang a cover he began to cry while explaining Imagine Dragons tackled of Bob Marley’s “Three Little how much music has saved him. several different emotions Birds (Everything’s Gonna Be He then visibly switched paths Alright)” while assuring fans that and channeled his sadness into an throughout the two-hour long impassioned growl as the band performance. They did not shy they would make it through the performed “Wrecked,” the first away from performing their most hardships of both the pandemic

and their daily lives, echoing Reynolds’ opening speech.

Typically, these attempts to connect to audiences feel out of touch from performers in much more privileged positions than their audiences ever will be.

Reynolds’ absolute honesty and commitment to neither over or under-perform evoked a sentimentality that forced even the most stubborn watchers to pull out their phone’s flashlights and wave it along with him.

Grandparents joined toddlers in standing up for the band’s final performances and were showered by a rainfall of flower petals and confetti.

“Mercury – Act 1” is evidence of yet another era of Imagine Dragons’ mainstream success over the past decade. Though the music is undoubtedly good, the live performances during this tour prove exactly what makes them so intentionally approachable.

OPINION

A12 • MARCH 1, 2022

THE CHRONICLE

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

The West needs to be cautious of a sanction war

CONTINUED FROM A1

Conflict in the Donbas region has persisted since the early 2010s, when the Minsk Protocol established a final ceasefire during the initial fighting in Donetsk and Luhansk before current intervention. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe had stepped in and established the Minsk II protocol in cooperation with French and German authorities in 2015.

Since then, the balancing act of maintaining Zelenskyy’s government and NATO’s slow encroachment into the Russian theater of influence has melted into the status quo. Now, the taboo is revealed, and the Russians have responded. Throughout the last 10 years, the United States has been engaging in military activity all over the Eastern Europe – just last month NATO’s militaristic flirtations with Georgia and Ukraine were stirring tension. Albeit less severe than an invasion, NATO was not supposed to grow postcollapse of the Berlin Wall – and coupled with large-scale military exercises in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria – It is neglectful to

overlook this fact and U.S. presence in the Eastern Bloc not as a peacekeeping force, but a perpetuator of proxy war, and with 26% of Americans saying that the U.S. should “play a major role” in the conflict, according to AP NORC. The United States retaliated last week with an array of economic sanctions against institutions and individual Russian citizens, effectively barring integral banks and state-owned institutions from U.S. markets, looking to the country’s private financial sector as the next target for potential sanctions, according to a White House press release from Tuesday, Feb. 22. Two Kremlin and military-linked institutions, Vnesheconombank and Promsvyazbank, have also been sanctioned. Nord Stream AG, the corporation spearheading a huge cross-Europe pipeline project carrying gas from Russia to Germany, has announced that it will halt construction after being banned from operating in the U.S. The European Union has announced economic sanctions on Russian members of parliament who supported the independence referendum in Donetsk and

Luhansk, which operated as a political green-light for Putin’s military agenda, along with swift action against banks and institutions that cooperate with the financial apparatus of the Russian state and military.

The United Kingdom and European Union banned Russian aircraft and airline giant Aeroflot from landing flights in the British Isles and mainland Europe. Sanctions against financial institutions and highpriority individuals – not unlike those from her American teammate – shall further inhibit the movement of Russian money and people.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson slammed Putin in public comments, saying that he believes in “imperial conquest,” and going insofar to say that allied powers were prepared to exclude Russia from international trade with the United States dollar currency through action in the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, a security network across the globe that is used by large financial institutions to send and receive data and transactions. As of Tuesday, March 1, the Russian sovereign wealth fund, government and other state-affiliated entities

cannot conduct international banking transactions in euros or USD. The ruble is in a downward spiral.

Putin has said there will be a response to sanctions, although it will not be “symmetrical.”

The Russian response to Western outcry is on par with the typical exchange – Putin has declared that, regardless of sanctions, Russia will pursue its defense interests. Reports from American and European newspapers harp the imminent invasion and destruction of Ukraine, the strength and moral vacuum of Putin and the U.S. and its allies battering Russia with a new regime of strict sanctions.

In the United States, we remain comfortable in our homes, reading about tanks on backroads and “saboteurs” in Kyiv – seemingly faraway and unreachable places.

Ukraine is a large grain exporter, and the Russian invasion caused the U.S. wheat futures to skyrocket to a new decade-high.

Russia is a world-class producer of natural gas and oil, and supply-side anxiety caused a barrel of West Texas Intermediate to climb to $91. Some experts are telling CNBC that oil could reach up to $131 as a result of

regional conflict. In July 2008, crude oil had reached $147.

The U.S. should learn from our history and experience as the third-party in overseas conflicts. In lieu of a strategy that could repeat the disastrous material consequences of Iran, Syria and Cuba, America could offer asylum to thousands of migrants heading west to Poland and the E.U., coupled with assistance to governments housing them, before the situation devolves further. The U.S. could offer diplomatic assurance that sanctions will not punish the Russian people, who have protested the invasion in the streets of its large cities. Sadly, I am not sure that this quid pro quo between the treasury and Russia’s doomed and barred central bank will do more than cripple the Russian economy, crashing the ruble and exposing Ukraine to our offensive moves.

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

He serves as an Opinion Editor for the Chronicle.

Satire: Cat Island College, premier college for cats

By Audra Nemirow My cat, Princess Sarah, lives up to her name. She spends her days lounging around my house on various pieces of furniture.

There is her plus-sized cat bed, her American Girl doll bunkbed, various couches … and if she wants to sleep on any surface taller than a foot, she calmly waits for someone to lift her up to her desired destination. Once she sits somewhere, she stays put, except when she rolls around on the living room floor, exposing her stomach in an odd gymnastics routine.

Personal hygiene is too much for Princess Sarah, and she finds no reason to clean herself after she goes to the bathroom.

I have heard that Louis XIV hardly ever bathed, so perhaps

she is following some kind of royal regimen. Her only other activity apart from doing nothing is begging for food and eating it. “Catch your own dinner!” I yell at Princess Sarah when she starts screaming for food halfway through the day.

Once she has her food, the effort of standing and eating is too exhausting, and so she must lay down.

If you ask me, Princess Sarah is a passive aggressive piece of fluff, not a cat. And I want a cat. What can I do about this problem? Is there any solution?

Where are all the real cats? The answer was apparent all along: the real cats are here at Hofstra University. I am speaking specifically of the cat habitat across from the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex, which

I call “Cat Island.” This is a lucrative opportunity for Hofstra: if they turned Cat Island into a college, they could charge tuition for cats like Princess Sarah to learn how to function in the real world.

The cats of Cat Island are some of the most accomplished cats I’ve ever seen. I see them at night, digging for scraps in the garbage. They endure harsh winds and rain. And you know they could catch their own dinner if they wanted to. They are also tough and know how to use teamwork when it really suits them: once I saw a group of them gang up on a giant raccoon who was in their territory.

Not only would Cat Island College give Hofstra the satisfaction of knowing they are producing the next generation

of self-sufficient cats, but it would provide many financial opportunities for Hofstra. For example, the cats of Cat Island College could have their own sporting events, which Hofstra could monetize. And the existence of a mini Pride within the Pride would be a selling point to prospective human students, especially those who would like their pampered cats to get a taste of the real world alongside them.

But it’s not about Hofstra and the money they could make. It’s about education. A good, solid educational foundation that turns lazy cats into smart, cunning creatures. And it wouldn’t be easy, either – especially not for Princess Sarah. I know the other cats would bully her.

“Clean your behind! And stop

rolling around in the middle of the street! You’ll get hit by a car!” they would say in a chorus of meows. Or maybe they would go the passive aggressive route and refuse to let her sit with them on the garbage can. But this would all be for the best, to teach her to toughen up. With Hofstra’s support, Princess Sarah could join the Pride.

One last thing: even if you are a whimsical eight-year-old when you get your cat, don’t give it a royal title.

Audra Nemirow is a senior film studies and production major. She serves as Features Editor for The Chronicle.

THE CHRONICLE

MARCH 1, 2022 • A13

OPINION

Hofstra should make an effort to support Black students and faculty

By Adallis Pantry As we reach the end of Black History Month, connections within the Black community at Hofstra have grown extensively through events hosted by the many organizations on campus. The NAACP, Black Student Union (BSU), African Student Association (ASA) and Caribbean Students Association (CSA) have worked in correlation with one another to create safe spaces that comfort Black students on campus. Unfortunately, they have done so without much help from Hofstra faculty.

The month started off strong with a Black Diaspora Mixer, which brought students of all Afro-ethnic backgrounds together. This event included members of all of the Black organizations at Hofstra, and gave many students, like myself, a deeper look into the smaller ethnic spheres on campus. In a private univer-

sity where the majority of the students and faculty are white, it can be very difficult for students of any color to find a secluded safe space. More events like this continued throughout the month, one of them being the NAACP Image Awards show.

Nominees were voted for by the students through club polls, and winners were selected in various categories such as “Dance Creative,” “Musical Artist and Performer” and “Poetry/Spoken Word Talent.” The Black community at Hofstra was able to come together to uplift and celebrate the accomplishments of each other, by hosting their own award ceremony. Moments such as these are just some examples of how Hofstra fails to recognize the achievements of its Black students, or at least show support.

As wonderful as all the events turned out to be, it is apparent that more support is

needed from faculty and staff in both organizing events and encouraging Black students on campus. Only one event was hosted in conjunction with Hofstra’s Student Government Association (SGA), and it took place during the last

“... Everyone must contribute to make the school a safe and encouraging space for all students of color.” week of Black History Month.

Furthermore, it only lasted for one hour in the afternoon. This event, titled “Black @ Hofstra,” included many faculty members of color networking with students, and had a very impressive turnout.

In the future, Hofstra should work towards prolonging the

celebrations for Black History Month and reaching out to Black students on campus more often, such as sending out newsletters throughout the year to promote events and remind all students of the importance of Black history.

“I hope that faculty shows their full support by promoting and supporting the events curated by clubs,” said Bukky Nwankwo, president of the NAACP. “It would be nice if the administration planned programs of their own rather than just leaving it up to the clubs to create programming.”

Currently at Hofstra, only the faculty members from Intercultural Engagement and Inclusion (IEI) make an effort to support the Black organizations on campus, and more support from student affairs is highly requested by them.

Although Black organizations on campus are responsible for any fun, communal events that take place, Hof-

stra’s faculty and staff could play a larger role in the everyday lives of Black students at the university. In order to ensure that the diversity rates at Hofstra are constantly improving, everyone must contribute to make the school a safe and encouraging space for all students of color. By aiding in the promotion of the Black organizations on campus, students that are currently unaware of these clubs will be able to find and connect with other people of the same ethnic and racial backgrounds as themself, making their remaining time at Hofstra more enjoyable.

Adallis Pantry is a freshman political science major with a double minor in creative writing and journalism.

Ukraine-Russia Crossword

Daniel Cody

OPINION

A14 • MARCH 1, 2022

THE CHRONICLE

On the “Pink” of Disaster: Why We Need to Stop Sexist Pricing

By Sarah Ng According to sources, a person who menstruates uses more than 200 tampons a year and ends up spending $50 dollars annually on tampons. On top of the pounding headache, various body cramps and overall exhaustion when “that time of the month” occurs, people who menstruate must go on the search for period products (something I can vouch for) and break their bank thanks to the tampon tax.

The tampon tax refers to the sales tax on menstrual products, such as tampons and pads, which are considered nonessential items in many states.

It falls under the umbrella term of the Pink Tax, which highlights how women’s products cost more than men’s due to the typical pink color-coding of the products. It is important that

society abolishes the taxing of these products, as it is discriminatory to people who need these products – because they are a necessity.

Taxing these hygiene products furthers economic disparity, biased towards those who can evade these additional fees, and reinforces the stigma against periods. Individual state governments must take inclusive measures to end this burden by passing nation-wide legislation to mark period products as essential items to prevent them from being taxed and up-charged across the entire country.

Viagra, a non-essential product geared towards cisgender men, is considered tax-exempt, indicating the extremely biased nature of the country that is only concerned with men’s convenience. Items like tattoos, piercings, Pop-Tarts and tickets

to sports games – all not vital items – are considered taxexempt in parts of the country, unlike women’s products.

According to a report by Forbes magazine, women’s products cost 7% more on average and up to 50% more overall than similar products marketed toward men which carries over to clothing, toys, shaving products and more. This unjust pricing of products based on gender undermines social progress.

According to the Pew Research Center, “In 2020, women earned 84% of what men earned … Based on this estimate, it would take an extra 42 days of work for women to earn what men did in 2020.” Financial disparity is already prevalent for women in the workforce, and it can be increased when the tampon tax is applied to products. This only diminishes the purchasing power of women

further.

Instead, the list of essential products should include tampons and pads, treating them like toilet paper and other unisex hygiene supplies. In order to protect people who menstruate, the government must pass legislation to make the products tax-free and at a lower price.

Michigan has recently taken necessary measures to do away with the tampon tax, which went into effect last month.

If the reason why ending the Pink Tax is still unclear, look around you. At the very least, your grandmother has had to deal with it, as well as your mom, your aunt, your sister, your wife or your daughter, too.

The country as a whole needs to start marking these items as essential goods, passing legislation to ensure fair pricing and taxing items that are not necessities in everyday life for

revenue.

While you are able to eat a tax-free snack, people are struggling to get a tampon. What can those at Hofstra do to help the cause? To combat the issue of accessibility, the university should install dispensers for menstrual products in the bathrooms on campus. Call out the companies that raise the prices on items for women unlike their male counterparts and be mindful of who you are purchasing from. It is time to put a period at the end of this discriminatory era in history.

Sarah Ng is a freshman journalism major, theatergoer and crime show enthusiast. You can find her on Twitter @SarahNgHoftsra.

Greg Abbott brings shame to democracy

By Yashu Pericherla It seems like half of the articles I write, I write about the pathetic excuse of a man that is Texas governor Greg Abbott.

What can I say, I have a lot of opinions about him! He is a spineless toad who passes legislation that feeds the political machine, and keeps his office despite his unfavorable reputation to a vast proportion of the state’s population.

A few months ago, it was the abortion ban. Before that, restrictive voting laws. This slimy mouthpiece has built a legacy on passing new laws to allow for the oppression of various minority groups. The most recent incident was a letter Abbott wrote to the state’s Department of Family and Protective Services in which he declares that guardians allowing their trans children to seek genderaffirming treatment constitutes child abuse.

Greg Abbott thinks it should be legal to call child protec-

tive services on guardians who love and support their trans kids, following a legal opinion issued by Attorney General Ken Paxton. Abbott is flirting with the idea of mandating that any licensed professional who works with children in any capacity should be obligated to report trans kids to the authorities in order to “protect” them from their “abusive” guardians.

Doctors, nurses, teachers and anyone else who sees kids on a regular basis might have to report trans youths’ guardians or face criminal penalties.

While anti-transgender laws have existed/attempted to be passed in Texas before – for example, the bill regarding trans athletes, the bathroom bill, religious exemptions for commercial discrimination and bans on gender-affirming treatments for youths – this is a new level of horrible. It has already been difficult to exist as a queer person in some parts of Texas, but now Abbott has given his

minions impetus to actively go out of their way to seek out trans youth and punish their guardians for being accepting.

In the midst of reeling over that whole issue, it was also revealed by the ex-ERCOT chief that Abbott ordered power prices to stay at a maximum price cap during the disastrous winter storm last February, in which many people were without heat, running water, electricity and food for days while Texas froze over.

I was attending classes from home during the time and, while the worst my family had to deal with was no hot water, I had friends and neighbors who went without electricity for days due to the rolling blackouts. I knew people who had to barricade themselves in and take every measure to ensure that the cold couldn’t seep any further into their homes. 246 people died and more were brought to unimaginable lows, like multiple counties having to

boil their water before drinking, while Abbott pocketed a few extra pennies.

It’s easy to write off an entire population and generalize the conditions of people with whom you haven’t shared experiences.

It’s easy to say, “this is why I hate the South” or “makes sense, because Texas hates minorities.” In the wake of many states in America passing conservative legislation, this is the rhetoric that is being spread online by people who don’t live in these areas. It seems it’s easier for people who live in blue states to label everyone who lives in red states the same as their government. No amount of “just leave” or “vote them out” is going to work against an institution that has been built on stacks of money so high that hope for a better future seems fantastical.

Greg Abbott is seeking reelection in November with the endorsement of former president Donald Trump. On

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the Democratic ballot is Beto O’Rourke, who is most remembered for his presidential candidacy in the 2020 general election. In 2018, he ran against incumbent Senator Ted Cruz and was defeated only by a marginal three percent. While a loss is still a loss, it still spoke of the trend that Texas voters are looking for change.

Greg Abbott is a scourge to democracy. For the sake of all the marginalized communities in Texas, I hope that ousting him as governor this November is only the beginning of the end of his pathetic career.

Yashu Pericherla is a senior English major from Texas. They serve as an Opinion Editor for the Chronicle.

THE CHRONICLE

MARCH 1, 2022 • A15

SPORTS

Pride Performer of the Week

Anthony Roberts / The Hofstra Chronicle

Women’s lacrosse devours Fairfield in home opener

By Michelle Rabinovich STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra women’s lacrosse team displayed its strength, finesse and coordination as a unit on the field with a win over Fairfield University on Saturday,

Feb. 26, at James M. Shuart Stadium.

The first quarter started off slowly, with both teams trading possession multiple times. The Pride scored the first goal of the home-opener 10 minutes into the quarter, followed by another clean goal with 3:19 left on the clock.

The Pride started warming up against the cold weather, with senior attacker Grace Langella scoring her first goal of the season 3:20 into the second quarter. This was met shortly after with a free position goal from the Stags by midfielder Kelly Horning, which was

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

followed by two more free position goals from the Pride’s midfielder Taylor Mennella and attacker Katie Whelan.

“I think the team was moving the ball faster than we usually do [in the first half], which was really great to see,” said Hofstra head coach Shannon Smith.

In the fourth and final quarter, Hofstra scored two more goals, one by Mennella less than four minutes into the quarter. This was her second of the game and ninth of the season. With 8:44 left to play, moving at remarkable speed to Fairfield’s goalie, Langella made her second goal of the game as well as second of the season. This brought the Pride up to nine points, leading with the largest advantage over the Stags by six points.

The Stags didn’t allow that

advantage for long, scoring with 4:37 left to play and then again with 2:45 left on the clock.

Defender Shannon Boyle got a turnover for Hofstra, flying right through the Fairfield attack team to give the Pride another chance at scoring. Boyle’s efforts reached Langella, who took a shot at the Stags’ goalie, who blocked the ball from going past her. This left the the final score at 9-5.

The Pride dedicated their win to Morgan’s Message, an organization that promotes mental health awareness amongst student athletes of all ages. Prior to the start of the game, both teams held a moment of silence for Morgan Rodgers, a Duke lacrosse player who tragically passed away from suicide in 2019, followed by a brief ceremony from the field talking about the

importance of mental health. “[Our] players know that there’s always support … with anything that they’re struggling in,” Smith said. “[The] coaches do a really great job of letting us know that they’re always there for us,” said goalie Jess Smith. “Like Shannon says, if we do need a day, she’s always willing to give someone a mental health day or just talk to them.”

The women’s lacrosse team now stands at a 3-1 overall record, and will next face-off in another home game, against the University at Albany on Saturday, March 5, at 3 p.m. at James M. Shuart Stadium.

A16 • MARCH 1, 2022

THE CHRONICLE

SPORTS

Silverio, Ray power Pride past Tribe on Senior Day

By David Lazar

EDITOR - AT- L A R G E

Just keep shooting. Just keep shooting. Just keep shooting.

The Hofstra men’s basketball team fired off 35 three-point attempts in a comfortable 8367 victory over the College of William & Mary on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.

Senior guard Omar Silverio led the Pride with 20 points while shooting 5-13 from behind the arc. Fifth-year senior guard Jalen Ray followed closely behind with 19 points – 12 of which came from deep.

“That was a great team effort,” said Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. “I am proud of

my guys.”

The seniors stole the show on Senior Day, recording the team’s first 23 points – including their first nine from three different players.

First, Ray made three freethrows after getting fouled by sophomore forward Ben Wight.

Then, Silverio hit a threepointer from the top of the key.

Finally, senior forward Jarrod Simmons put home an and-one.

In all, four seniors – guard Zach Cooks, Ray, Silverio and Simmons – scored 31 of the Pride’s 41 first-half points and 47 of 83 total. The first point by a non-senior came 9:04 into the contest on a layup by sophomore guard Darlinstone Dubar.

“This is my first Senior Day as a head coach,” Claxton said.

“I am glad to be a part of this special [occasion].”

In the first half, 23 of the Pride’s 32 shots came from behind the arc. Without Silverio, the Pride made just two of its 14 attempts from deep in the game’s first 20 minutes.

The Pride was much more efficient from the free-throw

line. Hofstra made its first 10 free throws and went 15-19 overall – its first miss was by redshirt senior forward Abayomi Iyiola just over 10 minutes into the game.

The Pride has the third-best free throw percentage in the country at 80.16%, behind only Villanova University and the University of Portland.

“Free throws are free,” Claxton said. “Everyone likes free things. We have to step up and knock them in.”

While the rest of his team handled the shooting, Kvonn Cramer provided the spark. He came off the bench in the first half and made his presence known with two blocks. Later in the afternoon, he had three dunks in a span of 2:24, which rallied the crowd in Hempstead. “[Having Cramer come off the bench for our team] is everything,” Ray said. “He is gifted. Whenever he is in the game, no one can guard him.

You can’t focus on just one player on the team. You gotta focus on everyone.”

William & Mary was held

the first, with Jaylen Hines accounting for eight of Hofstra’s 17 first quarter points. JMU ended the quarter strong, cutting the Pride’s lead down to three, 17-14, heading into the second.

In the second quarter, the Dukes were able to grab its first lead of the game, 20-19, with 7:19 left to play. The Pride retook the lead, 26-25, after a jumper by Hines. Both teams traded baskets, as neither could get a stop or gain momentum.

James Madison held the slight lead, 33-31, going into halftime.

The Pride kept James Madison in check during the third quarter, as Hofstra gave up only seven points. Hofstra was able to gain momentum in the final minutes of the quarter, with Markisic and Rosi Nicholson leading the charge for the Pride.

A three-pointer by Nicholson gave Hofstra a seven-point lead, 47-40, going into the fourth.

The fourth quarter started where the third ended for the Pride, with Markisic knocking down a three-point shot to make it 50-42 with 9:27 to play. JMU

continued to fight, cutting the lead down to one, 54-53, with 5:58 left on the clock. Markisic responded with her fourth threepointer of the game to bring the lead up to four.

In the final minutes, James Madison made the score 6059 after a three-point shot by Brianna Tinsley. The Pride quickly took the lead back after a layup by Hines, with 1:06 to go. The Dukes then scored six consecutive points, converting on four free throws to make it a 66-61 game with only 14 seconds left. Another layup by Hines made it a one possession game, but James Madison was able to inbound the ball and successfully convert on its two free throw attempts, sealing a 68-63 victory.

For JMU, Kiki Jefferson scored 23 points with six rebounds. Jaylin Carodine had a double-double, with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Tinsley added 14 points.

For Hofstra, Hines had a big day in her final home game, scoring 22 points while shooting

to just 28 points in a blowout 62-28 loss to Northeastern University Thursday evening.

Saturday, the Tribe scored 10 points in 3:41 – and matched their point total from two days prior in just 17 minutes.

They have now lost seven consecutive road games and nine games total, whereas the Pride improved to 11-2 at home this season.

With the win, Hofstra improved to 26-15 all-time against William & Mary. The Pride has won four of the last five and seven of the last nine

meetings between these two teams.

“We gotta come to play no matter who we play against,” Claxton said. “We want to make an effort to come and play the right way.”

The Pride have now clinched the No. 3 seed in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament. They will battle the No. 6 College of Charleston on Sunday, March 6, at 8:30 p.m in Washington, D.C.

Hofstra Athletics Jalen Ray had 19 points in the Pride’s 11th home win this season.

James Madison pulls away from women’s basketball late

By Frank DiCalogero STAFF W R I T E R

The Hofstra Pride women’s basketball team lost to the James Madison University (JMU) Dukes by a final score of 68-63, on Sunday, Feb. 27. The loss dropped Hofstra’s record to 6-18 for the season and 3-13 in conference play.

All eyes were on the seniors, as Hofstra played its final home game of the season and held a ceremony to celebrate the graduating class. The Pride came to play early on with an 11-2 run, capped off by a fastbreak three-pointer by Selma Markisic. The Pride continued to stay in front throughout

10-19 from the floor. She also added nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. Markisic had 18 points and shot 7-13 from the field.

Nicholson added 13 points and six rebounds in the defeat.

“I’m so proud of these seniors and the careers that they’ve had here at Hofstra,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “They’ve worked tremendously hard and not only on the floor but off the floor, in

the classroom, and just to see them shine on their final game here at home was something special. You obviously want to get the win for them on their last night, and we came up short, but [I’m] just really grateful to have had the opportunity to have them on our team and a part of our program.”

Hofstra heads back on the road to take on the College of Charleston on March 3.

Hofstra Athletics Jaylen Hines tied her season-high with 22 points in her final home game.

THE CHRONICLE

MARCH 1, 2022 • A17

SPORTS

Pride weathers Red Storm in Long Island Cup consolation

By Jair Brooks-Davis STAFF W R I T E R

A strong defensive effort and a second-half shutout from Mac Gates helped the Hofstra Pride defeat the St. John’s University Red Storm in the consolation game of the Long Island Cup at James M. Shuart Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 27.

The Hofstra men’s lacrosse team entered Sunday’s game looking to end its two-game losing streak. The Pride lost to the Sharks of Long Island University on Friday, Feb. 25, eliminating them from the championship game.

Sunday’s action started with a faceoff win for Hofstra’s Brian Herber. Both teams exchanged possessions until James Philbin

netted his first goal of the afternoon, giving the Pride a one-goal lead.

Patrick Ednie brought the Red Storm even with the Pride as he found the back of the net, but shortly after Philbin added his second goal of the game for Hofstra, regaining the lead. Ten seconds later, after Herber won the following face-off, Corey Kale collected the ground ball and pushed towards the net and added his third goal of the season.

The Red Storm’s Jonathan Huber made it a one-goal game, again adding his eighth goal of the season, but was answered when the Pride’s Colton Rudd chipped in his third goal of the season, giving Hofstra a twopoint advantage by the end of the first period.

St. John’s Brian Kelly began the scoring in the second period, but Hofstra was able to respond with a scoring run.

Justin Sykes added his first goal of the day off an assist from Rudd, who shortly after was able to find the back of the net for the second time.

Ryan Sheridan joined in on

the scoring action for Hofstra as he added his fourth goal of the season with 8:15 remaining.

Jack Lutfi cut the Red Storm’s deficit to three, but Hofstra’s Rory Jones expanded the margin by netting his sixth goal of the season.

Ednie and Lutfi were able to add a goal apiece for St. John’s before halftime, shrinking the Red Storm’s deficit to two.

After 30 minutes of play, the Pride had an advantage in the ground ball category with 20 to the Red Storm’s 12. They also had better numbers in the faceoff circle, winning 11 to St. John’s five.

The third quarter was a strong defensive showing for both sides, as neither team was able to score throughout the opening minutes.

With 58 seconds remaining in the frame, Gerard Kane collected his first goal of the afternoon to bring the Pride’s lead to three. A few seconds later after a Red Storm turnover, Kane added his second goal of the afternoon and Hofstra had a 10-6 lead heading into the final quarter.

Adam Flash / The Hofstra Chronicle Gerard Kane scored his second hat trick of the season against St. John’s.

The fourth began with Kane adding his third goal, pushing the Pride’s lead to five and Matt Elder pushing it to six with an open-net goal. The Red Storm went scoreless in the quarter as Hofstra defeated St. John’s 12-6.

Rudd tied with leading the team in points with two goals and one assist while Kane led in goals with three.

Herber went 14-22 in the faceoff circle. He led in ground balls, scooping five while Kale, Dylan McDermott, Griffin Turner and Bryan McIntosh each had four. McIntosh led the team with caused turnovers, causing three.

“It’s always good to win. I love our guys and we’ve got to get back to work,” said Hofstra head coach Seth Tierney.

Mac Gates collected 14 saves on the day while shutting out the Red Storm in the second half. It was the first time the Pride held its opponent scoreless in the second half since 2015.

“Credit to Coach [John] Gorman, credit to the defense.

We did a good job flipping in and out of zone,” Tierney said.

The team looks next to March 5, when it will head to Villanova University where it will have its first road game of the season.

Face-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.

A18 • MARCH 1, 2022

THE CHRONICLE

SPORTS

Former MLB veteran Catalanotto takes on new challenge at Hofstra

By Josh Sager STAFF W R I T E R

“Grinders, fighters and prepared.”

That is how Hofstra’s new baseball head coach, 14-year Major League Baseball (MLB) veteran Frank Catalanotto, describes his team. Catalanotto came to Hempstead after coaching just down the road at the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury and leading them to the NCAA Division II College World Series. He has replaced John Russo, the winningest head coach in Hofstra baseball history, who retired after the 2021 season.

“I enjoyed coaching at New York Tech while I was there for a year and a half,” Catalanotto said. “I wanted to stay in college coaching, and being from Long Island made this job very intriguing to me. I figured [coming to Hofstra] was an opportunity to help a program that’s been struggling lately to reach their true potential.”

The Smithtown native was drafted in the tenth round in the 1992 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers and made his debut with them in 1997. He played in the Motor City for three years before being traded to the Texas Rangers prior to the 2000 season. Catalanotto played with Texas between 2000-02, and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays prior to 2003, playing for four years there. He then returned to the Rangers for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. He finished his career with minor league contract stints with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009

and with the New York Mets in 2010, retiring on March 6, 2011.

“I had always dreamed as a kid about being a Major League Baseball player,” Catalanotto said. “I am very fortunate and blessed to have been able to live out my dream, and I have nothing but great memories of my time in the Majors.”

Catalanotto grew up a Yankees fan and idolized the great Don Mattingly, the current manager of the Miami Marlins.

“Him being a left-handed hitter, and myself being a lefthanded hitter when I was a kid, I would always try to emulate his swing,” Catalanotto said. “He would change his swing and his stance from time to time, and I would do the same, whatever he was doing when I was in Little League.”

Those stances might’ve helped Catalanotto in the long run, as one thing that sticks out about him are his statistics. He finished his MLB career with a .291 batting average, and, in the 2001 season, he finished ninth overall in the major leagues for batting average, tied with Hall of Famer Chipper Jones.

“I guess it means you’re doing something,” Catalanotto said.

“That was the year that I really knew, ‘Hey, I belong. I made it and I belong,’ and I’m putting up some numbers and statistics with some of the better players in the league. So, it was pretty awesome to be mentioned to be in the same breath with the Chipper Joneses and Roberto Alomars of the league.”

The new coach still holds two team records for hitting.

He holds a Blue Jays record for most hits in a nine-inning game

Hofstra Athletics Catalanotto brings 14 years of MLB experience to the Pride.

with six, which he set on May 1, 2004, in Chicago against the White Sox. The other record he set is most consecutive at-bats with a hit by a Texas Ranger with 10, setting that in a span between April 21-May 18, 2000.

Neither of these streaks has been broken to this day.

“It’s pretty cool,” Catalanotto said. “Whenever I go to a game and look in any yearbook, obviously my name is still there under those stats, and it tells me that I did some good things in my time in the majors and something [that] as a former player you can look back at and say, ‘Hey, I hold this record for this team.’”

Finally, Catalanotto has also represented Italy internationally in the World Baseball Classic, playing for Italy in both 2006 and 2009.

“I think the World Baseball Classic is great, I think MLB does a great job with that,” Catalanotto said. “It helps promote the game all over the world in different countries and to be able to represent Italy was pretty special. I’m very proud of my Italian heritage, and when they asked me if I wanted to play of course I took that opportunity and I was very excited about it.”

So how does this resume translate to what he’s going to do to lead the Hofstra baseball program starting this season?

Well, he’s starting with the mentality that he’s instilling in the Pride.

“With every team it’s a little bit different, but with this type of team we have to do the fundamental things correctly,” Catalanotto said. “We don’t have a lot of guys on this team that are going to hit home runs, and we’re not going to score runs by hitting three-run home runs. We have to make sure we catch the ball in the field, the fundamentals. If we can throw strikes and make the plays in the field, we’re going to wind up winning a lot of games. That’s what we’ve been preaching since day one.”

Catalanotto and his coaching staff picked two of his players to be captains, and they are expected to be huge leaders for this team on the field, in the

Hofstra Athletics Catalanotto hopes to lead Hofstra to its first winning season since 2012.

dugout and in the bullpen. Those two are infielder Ryan Morash and pitcher Brad Camarda.

“These guys were selected because we view them as leaders, and we view them as guys that not only can be vocal, but they can lead by example,” Catalanotto said. “I expect them to kind of be the conduit between me and the rest of the team, and these guys are on top of everything.”

Hofstra’s baseball team has not been to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) tournament in four years. The last time that the Pride made it was under Catalanotto’s predecessor, Russo, when they made it to the championship before losing to the University of Delaware and the College of Charleston. In the last three seasons, Hofstra has had an overall record of 39-631 overall, and an 18-30 record in CAA play. Despite these numbers, Catalanotto has high expectations for this team.

“I think we can make the tournament and do our best to win the CAA,” Catalanotto said. “I don’t think those are aspirations that are too high. Once you get into the tournament, anything can happen. If we get some well-

pitched games, we can win.

We’re going to start at [getting] to the tournament, that’s what I would like to see from this team.”

And, according to Catalanotto, his team has fully embraced him and his mentality going into the season.

“Since day one, they’ve bought into what me and the coaching staff have been preaching,” Catalanotto said.

“We preach that everything matters, the way you carry yourself on the field, the way you treat people on campus.

Every single thing that you do, just know that it’s important.

And these guys have bought into what we’ve been instructing them on the field mechanically; we’ve been trying to help them mentally. Everyone seems to be on board, and they’re ready for this season.”

Finally, he instilled one piece of advice onto his players he got from one of his managers in the big leagues.

“I had Larry Parish as a manager, and he always told me, ‘Don’t let anyone tell me you’re not good enough to do something.’”

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @HUChronSports

THE CHRONICLE

MARCH 1, 2022 • A19

SPORTS

Silverio cements his legacy with record-breaking night from deep

By Andrew Fantucchio ASSISTA N T S P O RT S E D I TOR

Omar Silverio has played in 71 games and attempted 293 three-point shots while playing for the Hofstra men’s basketball team. And yet, for the senior, one game and 11 shots will forever be etched in history.

On Tuesday, Feb. 15, Silverio knocked down 11 three-point field goals in the Pride’s 97-64 victory over Elon University, simultaneously breaking the record for the most threes made in a single game in the history of both the Hofstra men’s basketball program and the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). In doing so, Silverio cemented a legacy that he had been trying to write for himself ever since he was a boy living in the Dominican Republic.

“Back from where I come from, coming from the DR when I came to the [United States], I just tried to make a name for myself,” Silverio said.

“A legacy is something that is supposed to be continuous, and I think that I’m going in a pretty good direction now.”

When he moved to the United States, Silverio enrolled at St. Raymond High School in the Bronx where he quickly learned that his legacy wasn’t going to be forged on its own.

“It was gritty, and it was competitive,” Silverio said.

“You had to bring it every day because you got some dogs on the other team who would try to bring you down when they played against you ... Everybody wanted to win, and everybody wanted to make a name for themselves and go to a big

school. You just had to bring it every day.”

Initially, Silverio thought of himself as a driver who scored points by cutting to the rim. But when he saw the way basketball was changing, he chose to evolve with the game and added the three-point shot to his arsenal.

“I felt like I had to open up and bring more tools to my game,” Silverio said. “I watched a lot of Steph Curry, and I saw the way the game opened up for him, and I tried to follow the same steps.”

Those steps eventually brought the 6’3” guard to Long Island when he joined Hofstra in 2019, after transferring from the

make smart decisions and take the smart shots.”

Silverio had been averaging 10.7 points per game while shooting 35% from deep for the season. However, in his last handful of games leading up to the matchup with Elon, he had become absolutely frigid. Over the previous month, Silverio had been shooting a dreadful 13% from beyond the arc. For the man who had come to be known as the Pride’s marksman from deep, he had made just six of his previous 43 threepoint attempts, unable to make multiple three-pointers in a game and going without any in three of his last 10 games. “[Silverio’s struggles were]

Adam Flash / The Hofstra Chronicle Silverio has shot 33.8% from beyond the arc across his three seasons with the Pride.

Silverio said. “I had been struggling shooting the threeball, so I came in, and I made

“I was on a mission. I had been struggling shooting the three-ball, so I came in, and I made sure that every shot that I took, I had to make it count.”

University of Rhode Island.

With each season since, Silverio’s role with the Pride has become increasingly defined. Entering this year, he established himself as Hofstra’s go-to man from long range off the bench, with his threepoint attempts per game nearly tripling from 2.32 per game the previous two seasons to 6.25 per game this year.

“The coaches gave me a bigger role on the team this year,” Silverio said. “They give me the freedom to shoot. I take advantage of the work that I put in. I just have to make sure I

Adam Flash / The Hofstra Chronicle In his record-breaking performance against Elon, Silverio scored 40 points while shooting 11-16 from three.

a combination of both him trying to force [his shots] and not seeing the defense well enough,” said Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. “He’s a scorer, and he’s a shooter, so any open look he can get, he’s trying to get his shot up. But those aren’t always good quality shots, and if he’s rushed, the likelihood of him making those shots decline. If he has a wideopen look, he’s going to make it.”

Finally, though against Elon, the skies opened up. The downpour began when Silverio came off the bench with five minutes gone by in the opening half. He hit his first three when Elon’s Hunter McIntosh left him wide-open from 22 feet out and followed it up by draining another from the same spot, this time with Zac Ervin in his face.

Once that second shot went in, it was clear that Silverio’s shooting was going to be a problem for the opponent rather than himself. No matter which member of the Phoenix was guarding him, whether it was in man or zone, Silverio could not miss.

“I was on a mission,”

sure that every shot that I took, I had to make it count.”

At the end of the first half, Silverio had scored 25 points, three shy of his season-high, and had made seven of his eight three-point attempts.

“When I hit my sixth three, it was like a step-back, that’s when I felt like I could get it going [that day],” Silverio said.

“I felt I could make a name for myself in this league and break the record.”

“We knew that he was feeling it at halftime when he had about eight or nine threes,” Claxton said. “We wanted to get him some more quality looks.”

With 11:19 gone by in the second half, while falling away from the basket, Silverio hit his ninth three-pointer of the night, breaking the Hofstra single-

game record of eight in a game, which he had shared with his teammate Jalen Ray and former Pride player Brian Bernardi.

“Whenever a guy is on a streak like that, and he’s making shots at that kind of clip, you want to see him do well,” Claxton said. “Everybody was cheering for him, and every time he had an open look, you felt the energy from the bench. ‘Here comes another one,’ we all said.

It was good to see.”

By the game’s end, Silverio had put on a performance for the ages, breaking both the Hofstra and CAA single-game threepoint records with 11. His 40 points in the contest also tied the season-high across the entire NCAA. In one night, Silverio erased his shooting woes and permanently wrote his legacy in their place.

“I am in the [record book], and it means that my name is going to be there forever,” Silverio said. “Until somebody breaks it, I’m at the top.”

Back Cover: Mac Gates is turning heads early in the men’s lacrosse season

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE SPORTS March 1, 2022

S hutting the G ates Men’s lacrosse goalkeeper Mac Gates is establishing himself as one of the best in the CAA. Evan Bernstein / The Hofstra Chronicle