NEWS | p. 4
Students can get free food at the Shark Pantry
THURSDAY
AUG. 15, 2024
FEATURES | p. 15
Fresh picks: What's new at NSU's farmers market?
ARTS | p. 17
Ten art venues to visit in South Florida
THE CURRENT
NSU's student-run newspaper, housed in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts
Making memories at campus events
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NSU students wave from a float in the 2023 Homecoming parade.
By Bryce Johnson and Marlee Card
Events like Sharkapalooza, Fins Festival, Homecoming and CommunityFest can be a way for students to learn more about organizations, meet new friends and participate in activities.
Gerard Wheeler, assistant dean of Student Engagement, hopes that the events enhance student engagement on campus.
“Our goal is to be a full student-run
office, and we're just here to support you and eliminate barriers. So a lot of the events, our student groups, we encourage them to take the lead, so they're in the forefront of planning the event to get that experience,” Wheeler said.
These events are hosted by the Office of Campus Life; The Inter-Organizational Council; The Undergraduate Student Government Association; and other student groups.
Waves of Welcome hosts several events at the start of the fall
semester, lasting two weeks. During Waves of Welcome, Sharkapalooza takes place with almost 3,000 people attending each year.
Tamara Lumsden, assistant director of Club and Organization Engagement, said Sharkapalooza caters to first-year students, with more than 160 organizations participating to recruit new members.
The event includes local food vendors, fraternity and sorority life organizations, and performances by student groups.
“We also really curate an
experience while the students are there. We have novelties and attractions, whether it's laser tag or inflatables or a photo booth, whatever the case may be,” Lumsden said. “We do a lot of drawings that happen periodically throughout the night, whether we're giving out gift cards or gift baskets. We've even given out flat-screen TVs, iPads, AirPods, Beats [headphones].”
Sharkapalooza, which was the first event Wheeler attended on campus,
See EVENTS, page 5
College of Nursing celebrates graduating students
By Bryce Johnson
Three NSU campuses -- Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Fort Myers -- hosted the biannual Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing pinning ceremony in May 2024 at the Rick Case Arena. This was the first time the campuses hosted the event together.
Stefanie La Manna, dean of the College of Nursing, said the ceremony honors graduating nursing students by having them take a pledge, light a lamp and receive a nursing pin.
remember mine 30 years ago,” La Manna said. The lamp represents Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, who used a lamp as light when she comforted soldiers in the Crimean War.
“When she brought the lamp to the wounded soldier, she was noted as the lady with the lamp,” La Manna said. “This tribute and dedication has been continued in all nursing schools.”
go. I
“It's just a tradition in all nursing schools no matter where
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NSU students compete in the 2023 Homecoming raft race.
you
PHOTO BY BRYCE JOHNSON
Megan Nelson, 2024 NSU alumna, gives a speech at the College of Nursing pinning ceremony in May 2024 at the Rick Case Arena.
THE CURRENT
The Student-Run Newspaper of Nova Southeastern University @makonews / makomedia.nova.edu
Located in the Don Taft University Center Room 328
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Bryce Johnson Editor-in-Chief
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Francesca Abarca Features Writer
Alex Hernández Music Writer
Bella Giaquinto Sports Editor
Isabella Fernandez de Cueto Assistant Sports Editor
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Adam Sadik Health Writer
Luqman Gbenro Reporter
Ronald Martinez Reporter
Allen Worrell Web Editor
Kai Dear Business Manager
Andrew Rose Social Media Manager
The Current serves Nova Southeastern University from its location in room 328 of the Don Taft University Center. The Current is NSU’s established vehicle for student reporting. All community members are invited to contribute. Editorials, commentaries and advertisements in this publication reflect the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University or its officials, The Current or other advertisers. The Current will not publish unsigned letters except under special circumstances at the discretion
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Chris Delboni Mako Media Network Director
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Joyce Moed The Current's Faculty Adviser
Dr. Eric Mason Digital Faculty Adviser
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Dr. Aarti Raja Science/Health Desk Adviser
Dr. Shanti Bruce Chair, Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts
Letter from the editor
Dear Readers,
Welcome back, Sharks! I hope you enjoy the semester's first issue of The Current, NSU's student-run newspaper. I'm Bryce, The Current's editor-in-chief, and I look forward to seeing you throughout the academic year.
If this is your first semester at NSU, welcome! Feel free to make the most of your time on campus. There are exciting events throughout the year, like Sharkapalooza, CommunityFest and the STUEYs.
If you're returning to NSU, this year has plenty of upcoming changes to be on the look out for. Harry Moon, NSU's executive vice president and COO, will become the next president on Jan. 1, Chickfil-A is opening in the University Center in August, and for the first time, Mako Radio will be the official Florida headquarters for College Radio Day on Oct. 4.
I'm also excited to share our second sports insert, included with our first issue. Inside, you'll find everything you need to know about NSU Athletics, like women's tennis and swimming winning NCAA Division II National champions in May.
The Current is part of Mako Media Network, also home to Mako TV, NSU's student-run newscast, and
Mako Radio, NSU's student-run radio station. If you'd like to learn more about any of the three outlets, stop by our office in the Don Taft University Center, Room 328 when you can. We'd love to have you!
On behalf of everyone at The Current, thank you for allowing us to be part of your day. Be on the look out for our next issue on Sept. 12!
Happy reading, Bryce Johnson
An exciting new academic year at NSU
By President George L. Hanbury II
Let me be the first to welcome our new and returning Sharks for the start of the 2024-25 academic year at Nova Southeastern University.
trading floor is home to the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship’s Student-Managed Investment Fund, which allows students interested in trading investments the opportunity to apply the theories they learn in the classroom into actual practice. I urge you, if you have the time, to stop by the DeSantis Building to have a look at this new space. Jan. 1, 2025 will be the time for me to step down as your president. It has been my honor and privilege to see so many of you grow and develop into leaders as you have worked to fulfill your academic goals and aspirations.
of the Editor-in-Chief. The Current reserves the right to edit. Contributing writers must not be directly involved with their coverage. Coverage by contributing writers must be meaningful and of interest to the NSU community. The Current reserves the right to edit, publish, or deny submitted works as it sees fit. The Current shall remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility or otherwise create bias, real or perceived.
NSU had some notable achievements in the previous academic year, including two NCAA Division II national championships in women’s tennis, and women’s swimming. The championship is the first in program history for the women’s tennis team. However, it’s the second consecutive title for the women’s swimming team. NSU has now won 13 Division II National Championships in seven sports (baseball, men’s basketball, men’s golf, women's rowing, women’s golf, women’s swimming and women’s tennis), and I’m proud of the hard work by our student-athletes, as well as our athletic coaches and staff.
We opened the Jerry Taylor and Nancy Bryant Trading Floor, a state-of-the-art learning space in the Carl DeSantis Building. The
Although I am stepping down as president and CEO, I’ll be transitioning to a new role at NSU as chancellor of a new institute - the Hanbury Institute for Leadership and the American Dream. This institute will take a blend of wisdom, practical experience, and a multidisciplinary approach to transformational leadership education. I will be sharing more information on this essential topic as it develops.
As your president, I wish you all the best for this academic year. Together, we’ll take NSU to new heights and show the world what it means to be a Shark.
Fins up!
George L. Hanbury II is the President and CEO of Nova Southeastern University.
Bryce Johnson, editor-in-chief of The Current
Say what you mean and mean what you say
By Terry Savage
Arriving at a university such as ours can feel challenging. The campus is lush with Floridian beauty, in its architecture and with its palm trees, its fountains, and the sound of water. It is also populated with people set on living out their passions: preserving turtles, tagging sharks, healing people, healing other species of life, hitting a baseball to Bermuda and beyond, making music, making people laugh from behind a microphone, debating global crises in faraway places that somehow reach, wrenchingly, into our souls.
And amid this, there is the learning, with all the seemingly endless new information to take in. It’s a lot to absorb, and process.
Yet being a student is not only about taking in, getting more. It is also about what you put out –whether you're writing exams or in the patience entailed in mentoring or simply in your response to the challenges that come, inevitably, as you grow your dream.
And in what you give out, words matter.
Ask anyone who has had to protest their innocence in a court of law how they felt when the verdict “not guilty” was finally uttered. Ask a loved one whether it helped when, after you took responsibility for some thoughtless act, you said, “This is on me, I did this, I’m sorry.” Or ask a kid their favorite word and watch the smile that spreads through their face.
I recall from my own student days in southern Africa a campaign against date rape on campus. The slogan for which ran, “Coffee means Coffee and No means No.” An invitation to a beverage, to a meal, or to study together is only that: it is not sexual availability.
Saying what you mean and meaning what you say: it’s a basic skill worth cultivating. It demands
courage and it improves mental hygiene. It clears space to enjoy what you really value. It gives a clearer – bolder – mind in your work. It makes for dependable friendships and enables us to see that smarmy humor that belittles another person for what it is: a cheap shot. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
For words are action. Words produce outcomes, whether hurtful or helpful. It is therefore chilling, no less, as we head into elections in the U.S. and elsewhere, to continually hear the comment, “I would rather have a leader who mouths off speaking ill of others and does good than one who speaks articulately and does badly.”
That’s like saying, I would rather have a poisoned tree spewing poison with tasty fruit than a healthy tree that provides little fruit.
Democracies have a way of producing leaders who are both articulate and effective in their actions. These are figures who seem to embody much needed values and are then able to grow public consensus around those values and turn those values into policy – into decent politics.
Think Martin Luther King’s dream of a day when people would be judged “not by the color of their
skin but by the content of their character.” Or New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden, after that country’s first mass shooting in over 20 years, vowing not to give the man who had attacked two mosques any celebrity by ever uttering his name: “speak the names of those who were lost,” she said, “rather than the name of the man who took them.” Or think Kwame Nkrumah shouting “Free at last!” tears streaming down his face, as the British flag was lowered for the last time and Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to end colonial occupation.
The words of great leaders define a moment in history. So do the words of leaders who foment xenophobia and hatred. Glib spectacles of public loathing and ridicule of political opposition is not leadership. It’s toxic. It applauds a brazen dearth of human empathy. And it leads nowhere but nihilism.
Dr. Terry Savage, an associate professor in Halmos College’s Department of Conflict Resolution Studies, has researched and worked on the politics of reconciliation in the African Great Lakes region, Kurdistan, Nepal and the Maghreb.
I have fallen in love with reading again because of the Off-Campus Series
By Brielle Aguayo
Two words: steamy and romantic. This is the best way to describe the Off-Campus Series, written by Elle Kennedy. This series has five books: “The Deal,” “The Mistake,” “The Score,” “The Goal” and “The Legacy.” This series, and specifically “The Deal,” went viral on TikTok last year because of the love the readers have for the characters. At the end of each book, Kennedy shares why she loves each character she created.
I have always loved reading books, but due to time constraints, I had fallen out of love with reading. But as a hopeless romantic who loves a
good cheesy romance story, I have fallen in love with reading again, thanks to Kennedy.
Each of the first four books focuses on a different couple as their relationships develop while in college.
The last book, “The Legacy,” provides life updates on all of the couples’ experiences.
What I love so much about these books is the girls in each story: Hannah Wells, Grace Ivers, Allie Hayes and Sabrina James, all have different looks, passions and majors.
For example, Wells, the protagonist in the first book, “The Deal,” is a music major in college whose goal is to produce music.
I was also impacted by each of the characters' vulnerabilities, which made it easy to relate to them.
Wells dealt with issues regarding intimacy, which made it hard for her to trust anyone and open up. As young women, it is easy for us to relate and accept our vulnerabilities. Reading “The Deal” makes us feel less alone while connecting to Wells on a deeper level.
Even though she is a fictional character, I was rooting for Wells to have happiness and find the right way to be loved. This is when she found Garrett Graham, the male protagonist in “The Deal.” Graham became known as “the best book
boyfriend,” a viral phrase that blew up on TikTok because of his undeniable charm, wittiness and flirtatious personality, which got him the attention of the female gaze.
Graham is known in “The Deal” and throughout the Off-Campus series as a rising hockey star whose dream is to play for the NHL. He was struggling in classes, which wasn't good for his GPA. In order to play hockey, that problem needed to be fixed as soon as possible. Wells ends up tutoring him, and they form a friendship by helping each other along the way.
The vulnerability shown in these books made it easy to connect and relate to these characters. I found the depth of each character inspiring, whether it was their unique personalities or the fact that we are given an inside look into what they have been through.
For instance, John Logan is another hockey player in the group and, like a lot of the other guys, he has charm and good looks, however he also has a heart-wrenching backstory.
His dad is an alcoholic, which made his childhood difficult. Addiction is never easy to be around. I was not only rooting for Logan, but I was mesmerized by his story because it felt real.
When an author can make someone feel for characters and relate to them, it's the best way for them to gain an audience of supportive readers.
Kennedy explained on the app Goodreads that inspiration for the series began with the first book “The Deal.” She loved the characters so much she wanted to write books for all of them. It can be difficult to hold an audience's attention for one book, let alone a series. I was hooked the second I began this series because of the characters. I was rooting for all of them. I genuinely thought of them as real people because of their relatable experiences and personalities. I am a die-hard fan of romance books. As I have gotten older and am now in a healthy relationship, I can appreciate the small moments, the climax of different love stories, but most importantly, the dedication and passion that goes into making these characters feel real and special -- because they are.
Brielle Aguayo, senior communication major, is The Current's art director and reporter.
Megan Nelson, 2024 NSU alumna, was the student speaker at the pinning ceremony.
“It’s a tradition at every pinning ceremony. They have a student speaker come and speak on behalf of the graduating class,” Nelson said. “It was really a surprise for my family, so I didn't tell any of my family that I was doing it, so I was really nervous.”
About 1,400 graduate and undergraduate students are enrolled in the Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing across six of NSU’s
campuses. Various degrees are offered, each taking a different amount of time to complete - from a year-and a-half to five years.
“It’s an extremely rigorous program. It’s very, very difficult. It challenged me in every way possible, physically, emotionally, mentally,” Nelson said. “I am already starting to miss it. I really do like being in school and I like learning. While it was really, really difficult and challenging, I did overall enjoy it.”
This past year, the college
Students can get free food at the Shark Pantry
By Bryce Johnson
The NSU Shark Pantry provides students with free food, canned fruits and vegetables, ramen, bread, milk, cereal and eggs weekly. Additionally, the pantry offers toiletry items and feminine hygiene products.
Meline Kevorkian, NSU associate provost and dean of the College of Computing and Engineering, had the idea for the Shark Pantry when she noticed some students struggling with providing food for themselves. In 2021, the Shark Pantry was introduced to combat food insecurity and give students access to free food.
By presenting their SharkCard at the Shark Pantry, students can fill their bags with up to 10 pounds of items per week. Some items, such as bread and milk, can only be taken once per week. Others, like ramen and canned meats, can be taken twice per week. Up to five toiletry items can be taken per week.
The Shark Pantry is on the second floor of the Don Taft University Center by the side of the RecPlex. Its hours are Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. During the summer,
the pantry is open only on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The pantry is supported by sponsers like Publix, Pepsi and Trader Joe’s. NSU’s Greek Life also hosts canned food drives that get donated to the pantry. To donate to the Shark Pantry, items can be dropped off in labeled boxes across campus, including in the Carl DeSantis building, Horvitz Administration building and the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center.
The Shark Pantry welcomes student volunteers to help restock items, maintain the pantry and promote its work at university events.
For more information:
Students interested in volunteering or learning more about the Shark Pantry can send an email to foodpantry@nova.edu, join its GroupMe or follow its Instagram account at nsufloridafoodpantry.
patients holistically.
“I talk to a lot of people in the College of Nursing now. I tell them the most important thing that you have to do is to manage your time and to take time for yourself, because the work will always be there and it's never going to stop,” Nelson said.
La Manna, who is also a nurse practitioner in infectious disease, started working at the NSU Palm Beach Gardens campus 12 years ago as a faculty member. She became the dean on July 31, 2023.
“It has been exciting for me because I could get involved and see all the students, undergrad and grad, go to all the campuses,” La Manna said. “I love it. I love the faculty. I love nursing. We're going to blossom even more.”
increased its score in the National Council Licensure Examination, a nationwide exam every student must pass to practice nursing, to an average of 95%.
“They can't practice without passing the NCLEX, which is very important, because if we get below an 80%, we're in jeopardy of going on probation with the Florida Board of Nursing. That's how serious it is,” La Manna said.
Nelson said the College of Nursing prepared her with clinical experience and taught her to look at
Get to know the regional campuses
By Bryce Johnson
NSU has regional campuses across Florida, in Denver, Colorado and Puerto Rico. Each campus provides valuable resources to students, said Minerva Jaimes, senior director at the NSU Miami campus.
“The regional campuses extend university programs and resources to their respective communities by offering convenient day, weekend, evening, on-campus or online classes,” Jaimes said. “Additionally, our campuses are proud to provide extended support to our students who are enrolled in fully online programs.”
Denver Regional: The Denver Regional Campus in Colorado offers a master's program in anesthesiologist assistant, as well as online classes in business, education, health science and more.
Fort Myers: The Fort Myers Campus offers degrees in nursing and physician assistant, as well as online classes in business and counseling.
Jacksonville: The Jacksonville Campus has master’s degree programs in anesthesia and physician assistant.
Miami: The Miami Campus has degree programs in nursing, education and counseling. The Miami Campus also houses The Institute
for Neuro-Immune Medicine, a research and treatment center for neuro-immune disorders.
Miramar: The Miramar Campus offers nursing masters' degrees and advanced professional studies. The Miramar campus extends university programs and resources to the surrounding community.
Orlando: The Orlando Campus offers degrees in business, counseling, education and physician assistant.
Palm Beach: The Palm Beach Campus offers degree programs in business, nursing, pharmacy and respiratory therapy.
Tampa Bay: The Tampa Bay Campus offers degrees in anesthesia, cardiovascular sonography, counseling, family nurse practitioner, foundational and integrated medical sciences, international dental program, nutrition, occupational therapy, osteopathic medicine, physical therapy and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Its Dr. Kiran and Pallavi Patel International Dental Program helps international dental students with advanced degrees obtain the degrees they need to practice in the United States.
Puerto Rico: The Puerto Rico Campus offers degree programs in pharmacy, biomedical sciences and education.
PHOTO BY BRYCE JOHNSON
Graduating nursing students light candles as part of the College of Nursing pinning cermony in May 2024.
also features the student organization fair, where students can find clubs and organizations that make NSU their home-away-from-home.
“It was the most packed thing I've ever seen in my life, because it was in the arena at the time, so there were so many people,” Wheeler said. “For the most part, I loved it because I got to see how many clubs and orgs we had, how many students were engaged.”
Wheeler’s favorite event is Homecoming, which typically last for a week in November. The Homecoming events include the tailgate, parade and Greek Stroll Off. On Saturday, either a yacht party or concert is held.
“I want to see Homecoming huge to the point where alumni are 100% coming to Homecoming. So for my undergrad, I still go to Homecoming, like to this day, years later,” Wheeler said.
CommunityFest, another event hosted by Campus Life, is tentatively scheduled for February 2025. Around 7,000 people attend CommunityFest annually. It offers free food, games, a petting zoo and the chance to win prizes.
“It's really a community-family vibe that we put out there so that we can welcome our internal and our external community to come in and see what NSU has to offer,” Christina Rajkumar-Castillo, director of student engagement for the Office of Campus Life and Student Engagement, said.
Other events include the Affinity Graduations, which hosts several smaller graduations for students
NSU students ride one of the attractions at the 2024
an annual event hosted by the Undergraduate Student Government
of marginalized groups, such as the Black or LGBTQ+ communities; WaterWorks, an event that takes place at the end of Waves of Welcome with water slides and food trucks; the annual Student Life Achievement Awards (STUEYs), an event that recognizes students, staff and faculty members; and Block Painting, where clubs and organizations paint a block outside of the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center.
Lumsden's favorite events are Block Painting and All Fins In - The Ultimate Service Project, where several students participate in an annual day of service.
“Even though it has a functional purpose, like we want them to be more civic-minded and give back to the local community, it does seem like they genuinely want to do service,” Lumsden said.
For Rajkumar-Castillo, it's important for students to be at the
forefront of the events.
“Our ultimate goal with any event that we put on is, we want it to be something our student population wants to be a part of, be proud of,” Rajkumar-Castillo said. “That's the whole intention of what our office does, is programming that our students want, especially programming that they want to lead themselves.”
Sharks Speak: What advice would you give to incoming first-years?
“Really make the most out of [college], because that's what I did. I got involved in the campus Math Club, [NSU_eHackers] and the Cyber Security Club, and that really helped me. Obviously while not burning yourself, make the most out of this time,” said Diana Dancea, senior computer science and math major.
“Don’t feel that 8 a.m. classes are the same as when you took them in high school. You have a lot more independence now, and you’ll probably use that freedom to stay up late. Try to schedule it out for later in the day,” said Som Keshav, senior biology major.
“Do not be afraid. I know that it's a little bit intimidating at first when you see professors and you get kind of scared, and you have a fear of talking to them. But I think one of the most important things in college is to build a good relationship with your professor. So, don't be afraid to ask questions or just talk to them as people. Build meaningful relationships with them. I think that's important because when you do that, you can have that mentorship that can help you later in life,” said Debora McMenamin, senior neuroscience major.
“Try to get as involved as you can on campus and create as many positive relationships as possible. Don’t spread yourself too thin and be sure to attend networking events to learn about new internship and research opportunities offered on campus,” said Colby Holbrook, a senior environmental studies major.
These students graduated in the Winter 2024 semester.
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Fins Festival,
Association.
Greek life at NSU builds leaders and forever friendships
By Brielle Aguayo
The Panhellenic Council, the Collegiate Fraternal Council and the Unified Greek Council represent Greek life at NSU. These different councils make up sororities and fraternities. They are either defined as social-based or cultural groups.
Gerard Wheeler, assistant dean of Student Engagement, said that there is a misconception about people paying for brothers and sisters in Greek life.
“I hear that all the time. I think that fraternities and sororities develop you way more, [and there should be more emphasis] on being able to connect with alumni that are in your job field, and being able to get different scholarships,” Wheeler said.
There are opportunities in the Greek community to earn scholarships. For example, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. has given students up to $10,000 worth of scholarships. These organizations can provide professional development by being a part of them.
Wheeler said that what is portrayed on television about Greek life is not always accurate, including that hazing is shown unrealistically. On television, hazing is portrayed as over-dramatized events, while it can be the simplest things like making a new member do something or making them uncomfortable. While hazing has happened at universities, NSU takes precautions and has the tools to identify what hazing is and how it can be prevented.
“First is identifying what it is. Oftentimes people don't know that they're being hazed and don't know what it is. So that’s why we started last year, 'Greek Code',’’ Wheeler said.
Greek Code is a seminar where students interested in joining can learn what Greek life is like at NSU and the anti-hazing policy. Greek Code will now be called Road to Olympia, and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life will continue to educate the community on
hazing, by explaning what it is and helping prevent it.
The Panhellenic Council has three sororities: Delta Phi Epsilon, Phi Sigma Sigma and Sigma Delta Tau. In the fall, it hosts primary recruitment, a week-long process in which students get the chance to meet each sorority. This recruitment week will take place from Sept. 4-8.
Morgan Anderson, senior environmental science major and Panhellenic president, said the council focuses on National Panhellenic sororities and the emphasis they have on sisterhood.
Sisterhood is one of the main values of the council, and through recruitment, there are opportunities to explore the different elements of each sorority. There are multiple days of recruitment, such as a welcome round, philanthropy round and a preference round where students are invited back. When potential new members are invited back to the preference round, they experience a special ceremony and have the ability to connect more with members.
It’s the last chance to see if they really fit and connect with that specific sorority. During this process, the potential new members will be able to learn about each sorority and see where they have the best connection.
Recruitment can be overwhelming and an intimidating experience, but Anderson said that shouldn't stop people from going through the process.
“Just do it. If any inkling of you has the smallest part of wanting to go through recruitment, do it. You meet a lot of new people, you gain a lot of friends, you gain a lot of experiences and if you decide that it isn't for you, that's OK. But you might find something that surprises you along the way,” Anderson said.
When joining a sorority students not only form friendships but can grow their leadership skills.
Rylee West, junior business management major and vice president of programming, said she never thought that she could come to love an organization so much.
“DPhiE has truly changed my time here at NSU. It has given me countless leadership opportunities and friends that will last a lifetime. I am forever grateful for DPhiE,” West said.
The Collegiate Fraternal Council has two fraternities: Phi Delta Theta Fraternity Inc. and Kappa Sigma Fraternity. This council has week-long events that make up Rush Week, in which students interested in its fraternities meet.
During Rush Week, it focuses on bonding and seeing if potential members are interested in being a part of a brotherhood.
After these week-long events, the fraternities will potentially offer a bid to students interested, and then there is an option to either accept or decline. Members have been able to connect and form lasting relationships in these brotherhoods.
“I love Kappa Sigma because of the friendships I have made over the past few years. Kappa Sigma
provided me with great opportunities to explore leadership, organization rebuilding and collaboration, skills that I will definitely rely on and continue to grow in the future,” Hunter Halstead, alumnus from Kappa Sigma Fratenrtiy Inc, said.
The Unified Greek Council has seven organizations in its council that consist of multicultural Greek organizations encompassing men and women. They are Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc, Sigma Lamda Gamma National Sorority Inc, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc and Lambda Alpha Upsilon Fraternity.
The Unified Greek Council begins its intake process season in the winter semester.
“That means that you want to show interest in the organization, and so they'll give you their list of requirements," Wheeler said. "You turn in the application, you do an interview and then from there, you're selected to start their membership process.”
Taylen Jones, junior psychology major, said his favorite part about being in Phi Beta Sigma is the brotherhood.
“I was kind of a loner [before] I joined my organization. The fact that I have a close knit of people that I can rely on always brightens up my day,” Jones said. “They’re always open to listen and even help me with school and my classes.”
Niah Johnson, alumnus of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc, said the Greek life community creates bonds within the organizations.
“It’s rewarding to see that the work you’re putting in and the time and effort to help someone else,” Johnson said. “Also, with the service that we do, we have philanthropies that are more toward our local community. When you give back, it helps you physically, mentally and emotionally.”
Wheeler said research is the best way to figure out if these
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Members of Greek life pose for a photo on Sept. 10, 2023, during the Panhellenic Council's Bid Day celebration.
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The Unified Greek Council poses for a photo on Sept. 10, 2023, during the Panhellenic Council's Bid Day celebration.
organizations are a fit for students who are interested.
“All the organizations kind of do the same thing when it comes to impacting the community, community service and scholarship. Each one has their own thing that's very important to them,” Wheeler said.
He added that people who are considering joining Greek life should get to know the organizations.
“Greek life is a lifetime commitment and members are part of these organizations for life,” Wheeler said Anne Sylvie Jean Louis, junior psychology major, agrees.
“It goes back to our principles, especially our cultural awareness piece. It’s really important to me to be a part of a group of diverse individuals and the community because the Gammas are all over the place.
I love being able to travel and get to meet new people,” Jean Louis said.
Nicole Shaker, NSU graduate and alumna, contributed to this report.
For more information:
Students who are interested in the PanHellenic Council can email pc@nova.edu
Students who are interested in the Collegiate Fraternal Council can email cfc@nova.edu
Students who are interested in the Unified Greek Council can email ugc@nova.edu
Making the most of your SharkCard
By Roberto Zuniga and Ellen Ely
With their SharkCards, the ID for NSU students, faculty and staff, students can pay for items on campus, use printers, and access the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center.
“The SharkCard is basically one of your lifelines on campus,” Vernol Robinson, director of SharkCard services, said. “It is essential for students to be connected with NSU. You need your card to get around campus, to be able to utilize the facilities, to get into your dorm, access parking areas and many other things.”
The SharkCard, which won first place for best card design in 2019 at the 26th Annual National Association of Campus Card Users, can be utilized for identification, library resources, vending machine purchases, photocopy services, printing services, and building and parking access.
Robinson said students can also
access their meal plans with their SharkCard.
“You want to give students diversity; you want to allow them to explore different options of food and broaden their palate,” Robinson said.
Paula Gaitán, sophomore engineering major, said she uses her meal plan, which are funds loaded on her SharkCard, to buy her groceries at The Market.
“It is extremely useful for this purpose,” she said.
Students with a SharkCard have access to the RecPlex and on-campus events at no cost. They can also borrow books, audiobooks, research papers, video games and other media from the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center.
SharkCards can also be used at select off-campus locations, such as Grubhub (including free membership), Blaze Pizza on 2135 South University Drive, CVS Pharmacy on 4610 South University Drive, Deep Roots Family Wellness on
9532 Griffin Road, This Is Improv on 3161 Southwest 116th Ave. and Auto Repair shop Midas on 4680 South University Drive.
Serena Kline, sophomore law and political science major, finds paying with her SharkCard off-campus helpful because she can pay ahead of time.
“It is tax exempt, if I run out and I want to add more money, I usually don’t use my credit card. I will just transfer to my SharkCard,” Kline said.
Some locations offer discounts to students using their SharkCard.
“They have signs at the places that say if you are a student, just show your ID [SharkCard] and you get 5, 10 or sometimes 20% off. It is good because as college students, we sometimes have tight budgets and not a lot of us have jobs, so even 5% is helpful,” Kline said.
In the future, Robinson hopes that more retailers will accept SharkCards as payment.
“My goal is to have an 80-90% of all retails accepting SharkCard as
payment in a two-mile radius, but it is a slow process, it is something outside of the university’s control,” Robinson said.
If students run out of funds on their SharkCards, they can add more through GET, a mobile app, with no limit as to how much.
“They can not only manage their funds, but also learn more about the SharkCard,” Robinson said. “It is also a benefit for international students because you can add money online.”
If students have questions about their SharkCard, they can contact SharkCard Services at nsucard@ nova.edu. Robinson also suggests going to the website at www.nova. edu/nsucard, which has a section for frequently asked questions.
For more information:
Students can also visit the SharkCard team at the Arena Management suite, on the first floor of the Don Taft University Center.
COURTESY OF SAINTVILLE IMAGES
Members of Phi Sigma Sigma, Sigma Delta Tau and Delta Phi Epsilon hang out on the library quad on Bid Day 2023.
COURTESY OF PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY INC.
The brothers of Phi Beta Sigma pose for a photo at the Delta Phi Epsilon Mr. Fintastic pageant in 2023.
Mako Media Network achieves 'excellence' in journalism
By Mike Lynn
Mako Media Network, recently re-branded from Student Media, is housed in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts.
Now as an academic program in DCMA, MMN won several journalism awards in 2023-2024.
Chris Delboni, director of Mako Media Network, has been leading MMN for two years, and could not be prouder of the changes and accomplishments of MMN staff.
"We won awards, but most importantly, we built a strong team of young journalists and a family," Delboni said.
MMN consists of three outlets: The Current, NSU's student-run newspaper; Mako Radio, NSU's student-run radio station; and Mako TV, NSU's source of student-run broadcast journalism.
Mako News is the digital edition of all MMN productions.
The newsroom can be found in the Don Taft University Center Room 328.
The Current
During the fall 2023 semester, The Current debuted a new layout design and launched a new website, found at makomedia.nova.edu.
Eric Mason, digital faculty adviser, said that the Mako Media website features additional content outside of the printed newspaper.
“If we can't fit it in the paper, we can at least put it on the website,” Mason said.
The Current's reporters and editors cover a wide range of stories, including news, features, health & wellness, arts and sports. The Current's staff also includes an editor-in-chief, graphics designers, a business manager, a distribution manager and a web editor.
Bryce Johnson, editor-in-chief of The Current and MMN graduate assistant, said that The Current made him a better reporter, writer and editor.
“I feel like I'll take the things I learned with me in the future by being a leader and being decisive in what I do,” Johnson said.
The Current publishes every other Thursday, and can be found across NSU's Davie Campus, regional campuses and online at makomedia.nova.edu.
Mako Radio
As a college radio station, Mako Radio receives music submissions regularly and charts up-and-coming musicians with the North American College & Community RadioNACC 200 Chart.
Mako Radio also interviews local and up-and-coming artists who share their music with the station.
“College Radio is supported by the musicians that send in their music and a lot of them - if not, a majority of them - are independent artists,” Alex Hernández, station manager of Mako Radio, said.
Mako Radio has a free-form programming format, where DJs choose their own genre of music to play live on the air, giving every DJ slot a unique identity.
Mako Radio is also regularly commissioned to DJ for in-person events in NSU's community.
Mako Radio can be heard on 88.5 FM Monday through Friday from 6-9 p.m. and during the lunch hour on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday throughout the academic year, broadcasting from the Rosenthal Student Center in room 140. During lunch hour, Mako Radio also has multiple podcasts that can be heard on Spotify, such as “Off The Record,” "The B-Side" and “That's News To Us,” featuring special guests throughout the semester.
Mako Radio can be heard on the livestream at makomedia.nova. edu/mako-radio and on WKPX 88.5FM Sunrise.
Mako TV
Mako TV airs a variety of news packages, focusing on news, sports, health & wellness, and arts. The news packages are included in the bi-weekly, once every other Friday, newscasts, consistent with The Current's publication dates.
Mako TV staff can often be seen covering stories on campus. The
team includes camera operators, reporters, producers and editors, as well as news anchors. They are in the field, in the editing suite or in Mako TV's studio in Don Taft University Center Room 236.
“We do broadcast journalism, so Mako TV prepares me for what I'll be doing in the future,” said Madison Kasper, general manager of Mako TV. “Whether it's production or reporting, I get to do more of that hands-on experience now rather than later.”
Mako TV's news stories can be found at www.youtube.com/@ MAKOTeleVision.
Mike Lynn is the assistant director of Mako Media Network.
For more information:
Mako Media Network is always looking for story pitches and volunteers for all three outlets.
Come visit us in the Don Taft University Center, Room 328!
Mako Media Network Awards
Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists Awards
Finalist for college TV magazine in April 2023.
Finalist for college television newscast in April 2024.
Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards, for Region 3
Finalists for Best Affiliated Web Site
Finalists for Corbin Gwaltney award for best all-around student newspaper (large).
Winner of Retail/Small Business Journalism for Region 3 in April 2024.
SPJ 2024 Sunshine State Awards
Finalist for Student Publication and Website.
Sharks on the Scene program helps students make college memories
By Luqman Gbenro and Elimar Villamizar
The Office of Campus Life and Student Engagement commits itself to providing the complete college experience. Hoping to continue this idea, Campus Life will resume Sharks on the Scene in August.
“S.O.S. is a unique program that many other universities do not offer. We are proud to be able to offer and share in these experiences with our students,” said Christina Rajkumar-Castillo, director of Student Engagement.
Through S.O.S., students
receive discounted prices to different events. In March 2024, S.O.S. included trips to the Hawaii Fluid Art studio, a Drake concert and the interactive art museum ARTECHOUSE.
Jason Bell, Campus Life student staff, considers his work a necessary balance to the academic responsibilities that often consume students’ lives.
“I think it is important to balance [studies] because everyone always thinks work comes first, but relaxation and mental health are just as important as work,”Bell said. Participating in S.O.S. excursions
is a way for students to integrate and make connections. It’s also an opportunity for new students to familiarize themselves with the community in which they’ll spend the next four years.
“We want our students to feel connected not only on campus but also in our community here in South Florida,” Rajkumar-Castillo said.
When it comes to these experiences, no two semesters are the same. Shekhinah Wells, graduate assistant for Special Events and Projects, scouts new opportunities and events before the semester
begins. She and her team keep one ear to the street and another open to student suggestions. She said that at least 90% of the excursions are successful.
“A vast majority of the trips planned have come from student suggestions. Whether it be concerts, professional athletic games or outdoor adventures, they all have an appeal to our student population,” Wells said.
Any students interested in seeing what the S.O.S. excursions have to offer should keep an eye out for updates from Campus Life during the fall semester.
COURTESY
Mako Media staff poses for a photo during the 2024 Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists conference.
Hidden gems to explore on campus
By Ronald Martinez and Anaum Hussain
NSU's Davie campus size may at first feel intimidating to navigate. To help out, here are a few hidden gems that can make the experience better.
The Ann Portfield Digital Media Lab
The Ann Portfield Digital Media Lab is located in room 3017 in the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center.
“[It’s] quiet [and] the only place I can edit with Adobe and Photoshop and Lightroom. There’s a green screen, so I can record and then straight into editing which is time efficient,” Parker Lee, junior communication major, said.
The Digital Media Lab includes a sound booth with a microphone and headphones, as well as computers with various media editing software. The room itself contains a green screen as well as a camcorder and light stands. Open to both NSU students and Broward County patrons, it’s a valuable resource for any students that need a space to create their own digital media. The room can be reserved at the circulation desk on the front floor.
Gallery 217
Gallery 217 on the second floor of the Don Taft University Center frequently exhibits artwork from students, faculty and the community.
“I have gone to 217 several times, mainly when there are new galleries,” Alexa Frank, junior fine arts major, said. “People work in different ways than me. There’s so many amazing paintings, or sculptures and it’s really interesting to just see the dynamics and things people can come up with because we all see the world in different ways.”
Students can submit their artwork to be displayed in some
exhibitions, like the Annual Juried Art Exhibition. Certain exhibitions allow guests to purchase artworks, as well.
The NSU Archives
Ever been curious about NSU’s history? Check out the Archives. Contained within the Alvin Sherman Library, the NSU Archives appraises and collects NSU memorabilia, storing and preserving them. They also have taken in memorabilia unrelated to NSU, such as certain historical artifacts and documents. The archives also include NSUWorks, a repository of journals and documents submitted by students and professors for storage. Following their motto, ‘If in doubt, don’t throw it out,’ the archivists appraise and see the longterm value of something to determine whether to include it in their collection.
Razor’s Lounge
“[This] is a good place to hang out, to study,” Hans Bernard, NSU alumnus, said. “During certain times in the day, it’s good to study in, like if you’re early in the day or late at night because nobody’s going to be in there, right?”
One of the newest renovations on campus is Razor’s Lounge, which was originally known as the Commuter’s Lounge. It is located in the Student Affairs Building. It’s a place for students to relax between classes. Recently renovated, it features seating for roughly 16 students, as well as featuring a TV where they can plug in their computer to display their screen. Although the lounge has its regulars, there’s enough space to find a spot, meet some people and hang out in a comfortable place.
The West End Ave. Deli The West End Ave. Deli is hidden away in the left corner of the first floor of the library, and it’s filled with treats you can purchase. The menu includes cookies, muffins, cakes and deli sandwiches. It is also another possible study location, featuring outlets as well as a café ambiance for those who prefer a less quiet, yet still relaxed environment.
Diya Sodha, junior human nutrition major, likes studying in the Alvin Sherman Library, and the food available there.
“I like the social environment of it all. I don’t like studying in places that are too quiet. I like that there’s another option for food in the building, too,” Sodha said.
Tips for new law students
By Antonio Miguel Escorzon
Many, like Yair Bengio, senior student at the Shepard Broad College of Law, can find entering law school a daunting process.
“In law school, you get a lot of work that needs to be prioritized and handled at different times,” Bengio said. “Managing that can be very stressful.”
Below are some questions that may help new law students be prepared.
Does having a background in law provide an advantage in law school?
While Bengio has a background in biochemistry, he believes writing-based majors can be especially beneficial for law school.
“Majoring in something like English, journalism or any subject that has a lot of writing will be a huge help in law school,” he said. “Even though legal writing is very
different, the practice you get in undergrad can be very helpful.”
Michael Richmond, professor emeritus at the Shepard Broad College of Law, said it is important to be open to new knowledge, regardless of undergrad education.
“The bottom line is: be prepared to learn,” he said.
Richmond also said that majoring in a law-related field in undergrad may be of less benefit than many think.
“The comfort of having law knowledge prior to law school can be deceiving, as overconfidence can be a weakness,” he said.
What do networking opportunities look like in law school?
Marc Consalo, professor at the Shepard Broad College of Law, said that, today, students have ample opportunities to reach out to peers, teachers and legal professionals for help, which was not the case when
he entered school in the fall of 1996.
“It was very different than now,” he said. “The internet and email were still just beginning and communicating with your professors via email was not commonplace.”
The Shepard Broad College of Law also hosts many networking events for law students to stay connected with each other.
Bengio likes that networking events enable students and professionals to meet.
“There are many events offered by the law school where students can interact with Broward County judges and attorneys,” he said.
What are helpful routines to tackle your classes?
Alex Kanner, sophomore student at the Shepard Broad College of Law, likes to keep his academic life organized to reduce class stress.
“My methods to reduce stress are creating a weekly outline, reviewing subject-related videos, creating
note cards, and finding out what the professor is looking for,” he said. “Repetitive memorization is a helpful method to learn coursework.”
Richmond suggested law students practice briefing cases and form study groups.
Consalo had a daily routine to prepare for his classes when he was in school.
“I got to school two hours early before classes began and went straight to the law library. There, I would review my readings from the night before,” he said. “On average I would have 50-100 pages of reading per class, so it required taking notes to remember everything both before, during and after class. Once class was over, I would go back to the library and do the same thing again for the next class.”
He said that memorizing and understanding the course lessons are the best methods to tackle law school curriculum.
PHOTO BY BRIELLE AGUAYO
NSU students enjoy snacks and refreshments at the grand opening of Razors Lounge 2023.
Andrew Rose is a graduate student in the MBA in Marketing program. He is the social media director for Mako Media Network. His hobbies include surfing, videography and traveling. He is from Barbados.
Bryce Johnson is a graduate student in the Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media master's program. He is the editor-in-chief for The Current and graduate assistant for Mako Media Network. His hobbies include reading, writing, drawing and watching movies.
Francesca Abarca is a senior communication major. She is a features reporter for The Current. Her hobbies include going to the beach and baking.
Isabella Fernandez de Cueto is a junior communication major. She is the assistant sports editor for The Current. Her hobbies include playing soccer and pickleball, watching sports and movies, and thrift shopping.
Meet the Staff: Mako Media,
Allen Worrell is a sophomore double major in computer science and education. He is the web editor for the Mako News website. His hobbies include coding and playing video games.
Brielle Aguayo is a senior communication major. She is the art director, reporter and photographer for The Current. Her hobbies include reading, playing video games, going to the beach and getting Cali Coffee.
Ronald Martinez is a junior cybersecurity management major. He is a reporter for The Current. His hobbies include playing video games and music, listening to music and writing.
Adam Sadik is a senior biology and neuroscience major. He is a health writer for The Current. His hobbies include working out and cooking.
Kai Dear is a sophomore entrepreneurship major. He is the business manager for Mako Media Network. His hobbies include playing and watching soccer. He recently moved from Jamaica.
Nicole Gomez is a junior art + design major. She is the graphic designer for The Current. Her hobbies include shopping and watching reality shows.
Luqman Gbenro is a senior communication major. He is a reporter for The Current. His hobbies include graphic designing, making music and wandering around town.
Alex Hernández, also known as DJ Sirena, is a senior double major in international studies and national security. She is the station manager for Mako Radio. Her hobbies include reading books, building music playlists and giving out hygiene items for her nonprofit organization.
Alexandra Acevedo is a sophomore communication major. She is the assistant graphic designer for The Current. Her hobbies include reading, going out and cooking.
Bella Giaquinto is a graduate student in the Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media master's program. She is the sports editor for The Current. Her hobbies include trying new places to eat and painting.
Jonesia Martimbor, also known as DJ Sunshine, is a second-year biology student. She is the co-host and producer of Off The Record and a remote DJ for Mako Radio. Her hobbies include reading, singing, listening to music and playing with her dog Ginger. She is originally from Sint Maarten and Trinidad.
The Current, Mako Radio, Mako TV
Estela Bruno, also known as DJ Vibez, is a senior music major. She is the production engineer for Mako Radio. Her hobbies include playing games, watching movies and reading.
Marlee Card, also known as DJ Mojo, is a junior communication major. She is a remote DJ for Mako Radio. Her hobbies include mixing electronic house music, attending music festivals, reading and watching funny movies.
Carey Courson is a communication major. She is the host of Art of the Matter for Mako Radio and Sharks in the Arts for Mako TV. She is also the administrative coordinator for the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts. Her hobbies include event planning and singing.
Prieto is a sophomore communication major. She is a
and producer for
TV. Her hobbies include going out, practicing makeup artistry, cooking and engaging in theater.
Nathalie Marin, also known as DJ Venus, is a junior communication major. She is the remote coordinator for Mako Radio. Her hobbies include singing and playing piano.
Gabriela Alvarado, also known as DJ G, is a sophomore communication major. She is a podcast producer and a remote DJ for Mako Radio. Her hobbies include doing makeup and going to concerts.
Madison Kasper is a junior marketing major. She is the general manager for Mako TV. Her hobbies include going to the beach, cooking, playing with her dogs and hanging out with her friends.
Potter is a senior communication major. She is a sports reporter for Mako TV. Her hobbies include reading, going to the beach, listening to music and playing guitar.
Weston Clark, also known as DJ Ray, is a sophomore computer science major. He is the music director for Mako Radio. His hobbies include fishing, boating, playing guitar and hiking.
Vega, also known as DJ Naty, is a sophomore communication major. She is a podcast producer and a remote DJ for Mako Radio. Her hobbies include reading, drawing and hanging out with friends.
Mia Alvarado is a senior communication major. She is the anchor and executive producer for Mako TV. Her hobbies include watching the sunrise and sunset at the beach, painting and reading novels.
Jocelyn Saccucci is a junior communication major. She is the senior editor for Mako TV. Her hobbies include editing videos and playing video games.
Zach Mueller, also known as DJ Neptune, is a sophomore engineering major. He is a remote DJ for Mako Radio. His hobbies include playing tennis and guitar, watching movies and fishing.
Amaia Flores is a sophomore double major in dance and communication. She is the assistant social media manager for Mako Radio. Her hobbies include dancing, reading and crocheting.
Raquel Barker is a sophomore communication major. She is an editor for Mako TV. Her hobbies include going to the movies, relaxing on the beach and spending time with those who mean the most to her.
McCall is a junior communication major. He is a videographer and editor for Mako
His hobbies include playing and studying digital and board games, along with making videos.
Matthew
TV.
Veronica
reporter
Mako
Natalia
Emily
Brielle Aguayo: The photographer worth 1,000 words
By Bryce Johnson
Throughout the summer, Brielle Aguayo, senior communication major and The Current’s art director, worked as a photo intern at the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
She took photos of construction sites of upcoming complexes, a soup kitchen, restaurant and a yoga class. Some of her photos were featured on the front page.
“I have loved being a photo intern at the Sun Sentinel. I've been able to not only enhance my skills, but shadow photographers that have given me valuable advice when it comes to taking photos, which is really meaningful to my career and future as a photojournalist,” Aguayo said.
Aguayo first got involved with The Current as a freshman through the communication practicum classes. Before becoming art director, she was a reporter, photographer, opinions editor, features editor and graphic designer.
“I'm in charge of the layout and the design of the newspaper. Within that role, I was able to redesign the layout of The Current and take photos and still report. And I love doing it every single day,” Aguayo said.
As a graphic designer of The Current, Nicole Gomez, junior art + design major, works closely with Aguayo to design the newspaper.
“I definitely learned how to be a better leader from her, just from shadowing her as I work,” Gomez said.
Megan Fitzgerald, associate professor in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts, is the communication program director and Mako Media Network faculty adviser. Alongside working with Aguayo in The Current, Fitzgerald taught her classes like Introduction to Print Journalism and Feature Writing.
“I think she's a good reminder that a smile and a positive attitude can really get you places, take you far, because even in the most stressful times, she keeps her positive attitude, she keeps her smile and she keeps going forward,” Fitzgerald said. “She's just such an integral part of the team. I can't even imagine us doing the paper without her, and her skills have just grown exponentially.”
Chris Delboni, director of MMN, agreed.
“We just selected her for the first MMN 'top pick' award this year. Brielle is bright, dedicated and enthusiastic -- a true team leader. The Current would not be what it is without Brielle. Her passion for journalism always moves me,” Delboni said.
Aguayo remembers when Delboni started at NSU two years ago. It wasn’t easy at first to hear the critiques on her articles. But ever since, Aguayo said Delboni has been her biggest motivator.
“I've dealt with so much selfdoubt and not believing in myself or thinking I'm good enough. So
the fact that she [has faith in me], because I look up to her, means everything to me,” Aguayo said.
The first article Aguayo wrote for The Current was, “More than meets the eye: The maintenance guy,” which spotlighted a maintenance worker in The Commons, in September 2021.
Brielle Aguayo’s mother, Karen Aguayo, said this article is her personal favorite.
“She acknowledged him and how hard he worked, and that touched my heart,” Karen Aguayo said. “See, that's my daughter, helping someone be recognized for their hard work.”
Danna Bertel, NSU alumna and former features editor of The Current, took the Practicum classes with Brielle Aguayo. Bertel remembers when Brielle Aguayo was hired as an editor while still in Practicum.
“I've loved working with Brielle. She was so nice to me when we first met. She was very friendly, and I think it's just been a great time working with her,” Bertel said. “I just looked up to her because I felt like she was always so engaging.”
Brielle Aguayo also has a photography business, @photography. by.brielle on Instagram.
“My goal and dream is to work as a photojournalist for a large mainstream daily newspaper, which I really hope will happen because I love taking photos, and I want to continue that passion throughout my career and life,” she said.
Fitzgerald has faith that Brielle Aguayo will achieve her dream and become a professional photojournalist.
“I have no doubt that she will do whatever she sets her mind to, because I've watched her do it,”
Fitzgerald said. “She's fiercely loyal, and when she commits to something, she commits with her whole heart.”
William Aguayo, her twin brother, remembers how she took pictures for her high school yearbook.
“I'll never forget, my mom and
dad bought her her first real camera. She loved it. She still has it to this day,” William Aguayo said.
Growing up, Brielle Aguayo liked video games, reading, watching movies and being with her family.
“She was my best friend growing up in early childhood. So we were very, very close because elementary school and middle school was a little rough for the both of us, especially me,” William Aguayo said.
One of Karen Aguayo’s favorite memories was in a parking lot when her daughter was 8 years old. They saw an elderly man having trouble walking off of a curb.
“She jumped out of the car. She went and took this elderly man, stranger guy that she didn't even know, grabbed him by the hand. It makes me in tears just because this is just the person she is,” Karen Aguayo said. “And she took him and walked him down the step. And then he felt so relieved, and she felt good in her heart because she helped him, and that's how she is.”
Brielle Aguayo is also part of the Razor’s Edge Shark Talent Scholars Program and Sigma Delta Tau. In Sigma Delta Tau, she is the director of alumni engagement and a “big” to two members, meaning she mentors them and acts as a big sister.
Teresa Arroyo, sophomore marine biology major, is one of her “littles,” or mentees, in Sigma Delta Tau. Arroyo remembers seeing her at the sorority’s Bid Day and going out to Starbucks with her.
“I've learned a lot about college in general, and being a part of a sorority, it's been helpful having her as a guiding light, so I don't go in the wrong direction,” Arroyo said. “She's been able to really help transition me into a new step, and having her as a best friend right there has been really great and something that I didn't necessarily have in the past.”
In Shark Talent, Brielle Aguayo is on the executive board for the social committee and promotes the arts around campus. She also takes
photos for Shark Talent Showcase.
“This past semester, I submitted my work for the gallery, and I got in,” she said. “I submitted two pieces of two dances that were done. And it was awesome to be able to do that, because I've never seen my photography physically on a wall.”
Jaclyn Matheos, junior marketing major, is in Shark Talent with Brielle Aguayo. Matheos is also her other “little” in Sigma Delta Tau. Brielle Aguayo was one of the few people who made Matheos feel comfortable when she came to NSU.
“She basically made me who I am because she helped me grow,” Matheos said. “She never failed to make me feel comfortable. And I don't know what I would do without her, and I don't think I would be here without her. And that is me being serious because she has helped me through a lot.”
Brielle Aguayo has also helped Mako TV and Mako Radio, the other outlets of MMN.
For Alex Hernández, Mako Radio station manager and senior double major in international studies and national security, Brielle Aguayo helped her DJ and take pictures during her interviews.
“One of the biggest interviews that I ever had was this one for HARIZ, who is an indie singer. And Brielle was the one that was taking the photography for it. She was so organized, and she made everybody feel so comfortable. She just brought a good energy,” Hernández said. “I've learned to respect her as a coworker, but I've learned to appreciate her even more as a friend, and I hope that she knows that she's so loved all around the office.”
Joyce Moed, associate lecturer in DCMA, frequently works with Brielle Aguayo as The Current’s faculty adviser.
“I feel like I know two different sides of Brielle, like as a student and also as a friend,” Moed said.
Moed has taught a course with her in almost every semester since she was a freshman. The first class was Public Speaking.
“Whenever she spoke, everybody really listened to her, and it was quiet in the room when she was speaking because she has a way of really getting people interested in what she's talking about,” Moed said.
Brielle Aguayo is thankful for everyone who impacted her at NSU, including Shark Talent, Sigma Delta Tau and Mako Media Network.
“My senior year is going to be a hard one because I don't know how I'm going to leave so many people who have literally changed my life,” Brielle Aguayo said. “I thank the NSU community for always supporting us, and I want people to know that journalism matters and that there are student journalists who are willing to tell stories, so please listen to them.”
PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA ACEVEDO
Brielle Aguayo, senior communication major, practices her photography skills outside the Don Taft University Center.
Spotlight: NSU law student attends nationwide diversity initiative
By Bryce Johnson
In the winter 2024 semester, Julissa Perez, second-year law student in the juris doctor degree program at NSU, was one of 20 students chosen in the U.S. for the Shook Scholars Institute in Kansas City, a diversity initiative by law firm Shook, Hardy & Bacon.
“They fly us in and they teach us a variety of career skills. We sit on panels, we learn intensive cross examination, how to review a case. We get to network with local judges and attorneys that are a part of the firm. And it was just a real professional growing experience,” Perez said.
At the Shook Scholars Institute, Perez attended a keynote speaker session by Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City. She also worked closely with a mentor, who helped her build her resume and apply for a position at Shook.
“We connected with so many people who genuinely cared about up and coming professionals and sharing their wisdom and helping us,” Perez said. “It's just so invaluable having somebody on the inside who wants to take you under their wing
and show you the ropes essentially. It was huge. So that's what makes Shook different.”
The Shook Scholars Institute is open to first-year law students in the U.S. While Perez was hesitant to apply for the program, Laura Varela, assistant dean of Career and Professional Development in the NSU Shepard Broad College of Law, gave her the encouragement to do it.
“We had to fill out an application, send in the grades that we got for the first semester, and write an essay on how we feel we would contribute to diversity in the legal profession,” Perez said.
Perez is Puerto Rican, a first-generation professional and a disabled veteran. Originally from Connecticut, she was drawn to NSU because of the welcoming atmosphere.
Carlota Toledo, former professor of practice in the College of Law, remembers how nervous Perez was when she first met her.
“Honestly, I just really think her confidence level has skyrocketed,” Toledo said. “She wasn't very sure about whether or not she had the chops, if you will, to be an attorney, to even be a law student. And
now, I've seen her blossom into this empowered, confident, young Latina woman that's just going to kick down doors and be an advocate.”
Perez’s hobbies are shopping, listening to true crime podcasts, dancing and watching movies. In the future, Perez wants to start a scholarship for aspiring Puerto Rican law students.
“Yes, there is a Hispanic community in law school, but I think people make the mistake of thinking that every Hispanic culture is the same. Being Puerto Rican, being Mexican, Dominican, Cuban, it's all different. And looking around and realizing I'm the only Puerto Rican person in my class, at first it upset me, and then it turned into ‘I want to change that,” Perez said.
The Writing and Communication Center enhances students’ professional skills
By Brielle Aguayo
The Writing and Communication Center, located in the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center, is nestled on the left side of the fourth floor in room 430. The WCC welcomes undergraduate students, graduate students and professors to help them work on writing projects and develop strong writing habits.
“Everyone that works at the WCC at every level are the peers of the students that they're working with, it's people that understand where you're coming from and are where you are,” Cailin Rolph, assistant director of the WCC, said.
Rolph also said that the peer-topeer connection is helpful when getting guidance from a writing fellow.
“They understand where you are coming from because they have been through similar struggles as students themselves,” she said.
The WCC offers writing assistance for composition assignments, research papers, chemistry lab reports, biology lab reports and more. The center has trained consultants who can also assist graduate students with thesis papers and dissertations.
There is no limit to how many appointments undergraduate students can make, but graduate students can only make three a week due to high demand. There is no cost to make an appointment at the WCC. Appointments can be scheduled on nova.mywconline.com.
“You log in, and then you click
which schedule you're going to be on. So, if you're undergraduate, you click the undergraduate schedule. If you're graduate, you click the graduate schedule. We have a third weekend schedule for undergraduates that is online, and you'll see who's open and who's not,” Rolph said.
If students cannot find an available appointment online, they are more than welcome to contact the center directly.
Kevin Dvorak, executive director of the WCC, said the center aims to be accessible for everyone.
“We provide assistance on site and online, and students are able to choose which one at both levels and if students need any other types of accommodation, we work with them individually on a case by case scenario, making sure that each person has what each person needs,” Dvorak said.
Dvorak is proud that the center has been able to help students and have a positive impact on writing throughout the university.
“We have what we believe to be the country's largest first-year writing fellows program. Meaning we are embedded in all sections of ground-based COMP and we are connected in all sections of BIO 1500 and CHEM 1300,” Dvorak said. “Our fellows program serves 2,000 students, but when you count them individually and all of those sections, [there are] about 3,000 to 4,000 students each year. All of whom are either required or close to required to visiting us.” Dvorak said the WCC prepares students for their
futures, allowing them to get professional experience while helping others.
“The WCC is a fantastic place to work for professional development. We cover all of the career competencies and so when people graduate having worked with us, they leave sometimes with 200-300 hours of consultations. Those are one-onones where they help other people. So when they're thinking of going into fields like dentistry, medical professions or even law, that's what they're going to be doing, they're going to be working with clients,” Dvorak said.
By Nicole Gomez
Being a Junior Art + Design major and working at the Writing and Communication Center, I was honored when I was asked by Kevin Dvorak, executive director of the WCC, to design and create a painting for the center. The goal of this painting is to create a more vibrant and inviting space for people visiting the center. Colors within the painting are taken from items within the center to create a cohesive color scheme throughout the space. An abstract stylistic approach was used when designing the painting to allow people to create their own idea of what it represents. The painting was also designed with the intention to have people take pictures in front of it, bringing in more people to the center.
For more information:
The WCC is located on the 4th floor of the Alvin Sherman Library, Room 430. The hours are:
COURTESY OF JULISSA PEREZ
Julissa Perez, second-year law student in the juris doctor degree program, attends a keynote session by Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City.
PHOTO BY BRIELLE AGUAYO Nicole Gomez, graphic desginer for The Current, is painting on her canvas.
Bryce Johnson: Mako Media Network’s man of many hats
By Brielle Aguayo
Walking into The Current’s newsroom can be chaotic, with the graphic design team laying out the paper and scrambling to fit photos, reporters clicking away at their keyboards and constant meetings in a bustling energetic atmosphere. It can be overwhelming. But anyone who walks through the door and into the chaos will also find a quiet presence in the corner of the newsroom. A voice full of comfort and warmth, Bryce Johnson, Mako Media graduate assistant and editor-in-chief, is The Current’s calm in the storm.
“Bryce is a man of many hats. He pretty much can excel in any challenge. He has covered major stories with huge expectations and handles all of it with excellence and integrity,” Mike Lynn, assistant director of Mako Media Network, said. “No matter how high the stakes are, Bryce can handle them, whether it is meeting a celebrity for an interview or meeting with the president, he can translate all of his ideas in a clear and cohesive way,”
Johnson, a graduate student in the Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media program, first began his journey at Mako Media Network his junior year through a recommendation from his professor, Megan Fitzgerald, who saw his potential in her Introduction to Print Journalism course.
“Bryce was initially shy in class, but his writing made him stand out almost right away,” Fitzgerald said. “He has so much talent and an ability to take feedback and run with it--always coming back with something stronger.”
Johnson registered for the course because he needed an ExEl credit and by joining the course he was able to receive one.
“So, I wrote some articles for the class,” Johnson said. "After the class ended, Dr. Fitzgerald suggested that I come to The Current as a reporter, and it made me want to join, because she was so nice and
the people there were nice too, and it felt like it was a place where I could really learn and grow.”
Soon after joining as a contributing writer, Johnson grew into other roles, such as copy editor and managing editor, but his current leadership role as editor-in-chief is what has helped him gain the most experience.
Like Fitzgerald, Chris Delboni, director of Mako Media Network, immediately saw his potential when she came to NSU two years ago.
“There was no doubt in my mind Bryce would be an incredible editor-in-chief," Delboni said. “He has a level of attention, promptness, professionalism and kindness, a combination I have never seen in one person. He is a brilliant journalist and an amazing human being.”
Johnson appreciates the diversity of coverage in this role.
“My favorite thing about being EIC is that I get to work with so many stories. I like getting different people's perspectives and helping them because I feel like, if I were just a contributing writer, I would just come in for the [newspaper meeting] and then go back out,”
Johnson said.
Being EIC has helped him form strong bonds.
He said he likes to see people grow and that it's inspiring watching people progress in such a short time.
Johnson reports on different stories like news, features and arts and entertainment, but his favorite types of stories are personality profiles.
“I really like the profile that I did on Alex Hernández for Mako Radio because I think that was the first time I interacted with her, and I learned a lot about her, like how she went to Colombia and how she had her nonprofit and was able to distribute things to children in need. I like learning all about the things that she does, and I feel like that experience helped me become more knowledgeable of her and
Mako Radio,” Johnson said.
Personality profiles have allowed Johnson to build connections with people like Gerard Wheeler, assistant dean of Student Engagement, who opened up to Johnson about his life and passion for student engagement.
“It was fun learning about him and the impact he had on so many students, and getting to talk to them and the faculty here and how much they admire him," Johnson said. "It was like, nice and heartwarming to see.”
One of the biggest challenges Johnson faced was multitasking by editing stories, while reporting on others. But he has learned to stay focused and pace himself.
“I am very proud of how Bryce handles major stories, and in some of the most intense and time sensitive situations can stay focused and calm and deliver the same level of high quality work that he always does,” Lynn said.
Johnson said his most challenging article was on the 2023 pronoun policy implemented at NSU, which allows students, faculty and staff to specify their preferred names and pronouns on their SharkCards, emails, and Canvas accounts.
“It was interesting seeing how the policy impacted them and their different opinions on it. I had to be careful to make sure that I attributed the correct wording and pronouns to the correct individual and make sure that no one was disrespected even if unintentionally,” Johnson said.
When he’s not writing and reporting, Johnson helps reporters with their articles and gives them guidance.
“Bryce definitely helped me with more technical writing because, since he edits my stuff, I know how to write better, and he's a really great writer,” Danna Bertel, The Current's former features editor, said. “Through him, I can learn a lot more about how to better write an article.”
Bertel added that Johnson is
always there when reporters and staff members need assistance.
“There was a time that I couldn't make it to an interview, and I asked him if he could interview that person for me. He right away helped. He's definitely helpful and is always open to helping you out with anything that you need. I found that really nice to have, especially when someone's above you,” Bertel said.
Other than working at The Current, Johnson loves to read, draw, write, watch movies and play video games. His dream is to be a children's book author after graduate school and one day, maybe, even write movie scripts.
“My favorite movie is Spiderman: Into the Spider Verse, and when I saw the animation and the writing, it was so inspiring and unique. It made me want to be a part of something like that, I think I would love to maybe be a writer on something like that film or anything,” Johnson said.
Sabrenda Adkins, Johnson’s mother, also wants him to continue to pursue writing and is proud of how much he has grown.
“I'm proud of his dedication, both with the newspaper and personally, because he's been journaling since he's been in elementary school. I like his dedication to just the art of writing, he writes everything and so that's what I'm proud of, his dedication to writing.”
Being a part of Mako Media Network has given Johnson the opportunity to practice his writing while also being a crucial part of The Current's leadership team.
“Bryce has a heart of gold and is genuinely invested in everything that you share with him, and he'll ask you, he'll touch base with you and follow up about things that you shared with him,” Lynn said.
COURTESY OF PAULINA RIOJAS Bryce Johnson, Mako Media's graduate assistant and editor-in-chief, interviews Angelica Aristizabal, licensed clinical social worker.
PHOTO BY BRIELLE AGUAYO
Bryce Johnson, Mako Media's graduate assistant and editor-in-chief, edits an article on his iPad.
Shark Dining gives updates on Chick-fil-A, Starbucks and
By Bryce Johnson
On Aug. 19, Shark Dining will officially open Chick-fil-A across from Razor's Reef in the UC, where the Flight Deck lounge was.
Mike Alkurdi, general manager of Shark Dining, said students can look forward to Chick-fil-A’s full menu at breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday.
“They can expect Chick-fil-A customer service, well-known for excellence,” Alkurdi said. “Flight Deck used to be the hub for students. You can expect that to remain the same. It will continue to be a destination for lounging and seating.”
Orders can be placed ahead of time through Grubhub. There will also be four point-of-sale systems to manage the number of customers.
“We anticipate for it to be extremely busy. We think all the
students are going to come in," Alkurdi said. “It's going to be popular.”
The HPD Cafe in the Terry Administration building is also receiving updates, with construction taking between 18 months to two years. Alkurdi said students will still have dining options during construction, like food trucks and popup carts.
“The future of HPD will look extremely different than it is right now. It's going to have many options, such as Sambazon, Sushi Maki, a pizza station, grill station and even potentially Starbucks,” Alkurdi said.
Other Shark Dining options are Starbucks in the University Center, Einstein Bros. Bagels/ Monty's Café in the Carl DeSantis building, the kiosk in the Parker building, the Supreme Court Cafe in the Shepard
Sushi Maki
Broad College of Law, and West End Ave. Deli in the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center.
Razor’s Reef, a dining hall in the University Center, features options such as College Ave. Subs, Qdoba, Ciao Bella, Sushi Maki, Razor’s Bites and Student Choice, which regularly changes its menu based on student votes.
“We're working on menu enhancements for all the locations here and there. We're trying to add more bread varieties at College Avenue Sub. We're trying to make sure our pizza dough is better to have better quality pizzas. Sushi Maki will be hopefully featuring a hibachi menu item,” Alkurdi said.
Alkurdi said Shark Dining routinely listens to student feedback. Changes that were introduced to Shark Dining because of feedback
include the ice cream machine with toppings in The Market, boba iced tea to Sushi Maki and a specialty tuna sandwich to College Ave. Subs.
Fresh picks: What’s new at 'Joyful,' NSU’s farmers market?
NSU students gather around a food booth to explore what Joyful has to offer.
By Francesca Abarca and Luqman Gbenro
Joyful, a joint effort and farmers market between Shark Dining and Business Services, will be back on the NSU Davie campus this fall.
Local businesses come bi-weekly to bring food and novelties available for purchase.
Ike Reichenbach, director of marketing at Shark Dining, said the farmers market is an opportunity for Sharks to connect.
“We have lots of campus partners and community partners who
help make it happen. Bringing joy through food, in one sentence, is what the joyful farmers market will be,” Reichenbach said.
There are external partners like Celsius and Dr. Pepper, as well as internal partners like student government.
“All the partners are extremely valued and important to us. I look forward to having more people sign up to be a partner in that even,” Mike Alkurdi, general manager of Shark Dining, said.
Vendors like Jesus Garcia and Kerly Ochoa Vivas appreciate the
opportunity to bring their passion to an audience it will resonate with.
The couple co-own Candy Plush, a dessert shop that specializes in colorful decor, creative drinks and fun crafts.
“[The shop] is big with young people, and since we work in an area where there are a lot of kids, we decided to bring out our artistic side,” Ochoa Vivas said.
The farmers market originally started last winter semester. Alkurdi looks forward to seeing it grow in the future.
“We look forward to seeing the
crowds, the students and everyone at this community enjoying and participating in it,” Alkurdi said.“It was extremely popular last semester that we promised to keep up with it and be consistent as we go forward.”
Students are encouraged to attend this community event bi-weekly from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. in front of the library quad.
PHOTO BY FRANCESCA ABARCA NSU students wait in line for boba tea at Joyful.
Ways to stay healthy on campus
By Adam Sadik
As students return to campus after summer break, they can inadvertently bring back with them unwelcome guests known as pathogens.
Kaylee Hilyer, graduate student in the College Student Affairs program, is the graduate assistant for Shark Talent. When she's sick, she misses out on school and work.
“For me, academics is also work because I'm learning while I'm doing my job. So if I can't function at work, I am missing out on double learning,” Hilyer said.
If students feel sick, Santanu De, assistant professor of human biology in the Department of Biological Sciences, encourages them to see a doctor as soon as possible.
“Get any recommended tests
or blood work done at the earliest possibility. If feeling unwell, it is important to ensure if and how long to refrain from in-person classes and reporting promptly to NSU's student disability services office, who can inform the course instructors about any accommodation appropriate for classes or assignments or tests that might be needed,” De said.
In the case of contagious infections, De said that students should consider wearing a mask to minimize the spread in the community.
De emphasized the importance of healthy lifestyle habits.
“Increasing the daily intake of fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oil, milk, eggs, whole grains, etc., and at least eight glasses of water and seven hours of sleep every day are clinically
recommended by doctors,” De said.
These simple but effective measures can support the immune system and improve overall health. However, fostering a healthy environment is not just an individual effort but a collective one.
NSU has different services that promote students' health and well-being, such as clinics and pharmacies on campus.
“They're also helping our physical health through the food pantry, because if you're hungry and you're not doing good because you can't eat, you're not going to do good academically,”Hilyer said.
De stresses that while he appreciates what the administration and faculty of NSU have done to create a healthy campus, he feels that there is more work to be done.
“Everyone should come together
to contribute in whichever way possible,” De said. “There is always room for improvement. If there is a way to provide feedback on a timely basis on how the students and faculty are feeling about the total health and safety of NSU, it should be utilized.”
Bryce Johnson, The Current's editor-in-chief, contributed to this report.
Ten art venues to visit in South Florida
By Danna Bertel and Kayla McGee
South Florida offers several museums, performances and events that people can take advantage of, whether it's on campus at the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center, or off-campus in Miami-Dade or Broward County.
Miami-Dade County
Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center
10950 SW 211th St, Cutler Bay, FL 33189
Formerly known as the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, the Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center is located in Cutler Bay. The center presents national and international artists in music, dance and theater. Some of its past events included a performance by Dimensions Dance Theater of Miami, and the Classic Albums Live band performed songs by Pink Floyd and “One Night of Queen.” Ticket prices can range from $25 to $50.
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County
1300 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts houses free events that celebrate diversity using the arts, such as Heritage Fest and CommuniTEA Dance. Its next event is Art + Mind Day on Aug. 17 at 10 a.m., featuring a free day of poetry, music and dance performances.
Superblue Miami
1101 NW 23rd St, Miami, FL 33127
Superblue Miami is an immersive art experience, where those who attend can walk through the art that surrounds the space. This
experience includes a mural and a mirrored labyrinth. A guided tour is available in both English and Spanish. Superblue is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Friday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. On Sunday, Superblue is open from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tickets cost $32; Florida resident price is $29.
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science 1101 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science museum focuses on science where those attending can learn about the biology of the human body, solar system, and the physics of flight through interactive exhibitions and shows. The museum is also a planetarium and an aquarium. A past exhibition includes life-sized models of sharks and shark skin recreations. Tickets are $29.95 and group discounts are offered. This museum is open from Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Pérez Art Museum Miami 1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
Pérez Art Museum Miami is a modern and contemporary art museum that exhibits international art. Some of its past exhibitions include the works of Brazilian artist Marcela Cantuária and local artist Jason Seife. This location also has a restaurant called Verde with indoor and outdoor seating. The museum offers public tours on a first-come first-serve basis, which are also available in Spanish. Tickets are $18 and are $14 for students. The museum is open from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday to Sunday and Thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. The museum is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Wynwood Walls 2516 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127
Wynwood Walls is an outdoor museum that consists of murals and street art. The murals found in Wynwood consist of graffiti, abstract painting, pop art and sculptures. General admission is $12 and is $5 for students. The museum also offers apparel, figures, books and tours to explain each mural showcased at Wynwood Walls. The tickets are available to purchase online through its website, https://thewynwoodwalls. com/admissions/. The museum is open Sunday to Thursday from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Broward County
Broward Center for the Performing Arts
201 SW 5th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts showcases Broadway musicals, operas, ballets, concerts, plays, multicultural performances, lectures, workshops and educational events. Prices vary, but students are offered discounted tickets at select showings with their student ID. It also offers free, behindthe-scenes public tours that are available on the first Sunday of every month during the Sunday Jazz Brunch. They depart at 11:30 a.m. from the main lobby of the Au-Rene Theater. No advance reservation is necessary.
NSU Art Museum
Fort Lauderdale
1 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Located in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale, NSU Art Museum
Fort Lauderdale is home to more than 7,500 works in its permanent collection. It is open to the public and free to NSU students, featuring a diverse collection of contemporary art, along with temporary exhibitions, educational programs and lectures. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon - 5 p.m.
Museum of Discovery and Science
401 SW 2nd St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
The Museum of Discovery and Science is an interactive science museum located in Fort Lauderdale. It features over 20 interactive exhibits, educational programs and a five-story IMAX 3D Theater. It has a collection of Floridian animal species. The museum frequently organizes demonstrations and meet-and-greets centered around animalsIt is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m with extended IMAX hours on most evenings. Adult tickets cost $24 - $27.
Art and Culture Center/ Hollywood 1650 Harrison St, Hollywood, FL 33020
The Art and Culture Center/Hollywood presents contemporary gallery exhibitions, live stage performances and educational programs. The center is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The gallery is open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 adults, $5 for students and free for members.
COURTESY OF JADE EDWARDS Sebastian Baena, sophomore theatre major, observes the tank at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science.
COURTESY OF ALEX HERNÁNDEZ
Yayoi Kusama: Love is Calling exhibition at the Pérez Art Museum.
By Alex Hernández and Bryce Johnson
On Oct. 4, Mako Radio will host the 14th annual World College Radio Day, an all-day event with over 1,700 stations participating nationally. In the past, Mako Radio has celebrated World College Radio Day, but this year marks its biggest national event, as it was selected to represent Florida, collaborating with 30 other student radio stations in the state.
The story behind Alex Hernández, Mako Radio’s station manager Mako Radio selected as Florida headquarters for College Radio Day
By Bryce Johnson
Alex Hernández, senior double major in international studies and national security, is Mako Radio's station manager. As DJ Sirena, she built her radio personality around her love of the ocean and mermaids. With the tagline "music from the seven seas," she plays international music like k-pop, Latin rock and French folk.
“I've always loved mermaids as a little girl. I think they're a symbol of empowerment and beauty and intelligence, but they're also mysterious, and I like that about them. And even more so, as an adult, I just have never lost that wonder,” Hernández said.
Her love of mermaids also influenced her nonprofit organization Sirena’s Grotto, which provides hygiene products to those in need. Sirena's Grotto also has a base in Colombia.
“It's just what I'm super passionate about. I think everybody should feel clean, and how much more clean can a mermaid be? She's always in the water,” Hernández said.
Hernández has been a DJ at Mako Radio for three years.
“I was a very passionate DJ and I trained under the last station manager. And I guess they saw some potential, and two years later, now I'm station manager,” Hernández
The theme for this year, “The Soundtrack of Democracy,” was chosen by the College Radio Foundation, which founded World College Radio Day in 2010. To coincide with the theme, Mako Radio will advocate for students to vote in the presidential election in November, hosting a variety of events and activities on air and on campus.
According to the College Radio Foundation's website, World College Radio Day aims to achieve unity
among college students, pioneer a yearly cause, and champion advocacy by speaking on various topics on air. World College Radio Day also tailors the music that is played throughout the day to theme alongside speakers who will move forward the ideas of “The Soundtrack of Democracy.” For students at NSU, World College Radio Day can give them an opportunity to have their views and ideas heard.
said. “I'm really honored that I have that opportunity because it's been just a blast.”
As the station manager, Hernández answers emails, books interviews and oversees the DJs within the station. She has also interviewed artists and celebrities, like Arts Fishing Club, Dayglow, HARIZ and John Cena.
“I've been able to create a really tight-knit community and brand identity for Mako Radio. We're known as the diverse station. We play music from all types of artists, all types of singers, all types of
people. And we have DJs from all backgrounds,” Hernández said.
Gabriela Alvarado, sophomore communication major, frequently worked with Hernández at Mako Radio.
“I wish everyone could have an Alex in their life. The energy and passion she carries is so powerful it truly inspired me to find my voice and a role in something as great as Mako Radio,” Alvarado said.
Brielle Aguayo, senior communication major and The Current’s art director, worked with Hernández on several interviews and
MAKO RADIO DJ INFO
For more information:
To listen World College Radio
For those who are interested in participating, head over to Rosenthal Room 140.
Alex Hernández, DJ Sirena
Anthony Greaves, DJ Ant
Ashianna Trivedi, DJ Lyric
Estella Bruno, DJ Vibez
Gabriela Alvarado, DJ G
Marlee Card, DJ Mojo
Meadow Gallegor, DJ Onyx
Natalia Vega, DJ Naty
Nathalie Marin, DJ Venus
Weston Clark, DJ Ray
Will Rupprecht, DJ Mountain
Zach Mueller, DJ Neptune
took photos for her. Aguayo said Hernández is one of her biggest supporters of her photography.
“I have learned to be more confident in myself and I have learned to never give up, which is something that I've always struggled with, but Alex makes you feel like you can do it. She's very sweet and kind,” Aguayo said.
In her spare time, Hernández likes reading, working with Sirena’s Grotto and serving at her church.
“We serve the community, giving them hygiene or food or prayer, like whatever they might need. And it kind of goes hand in hand with what I already do with my nonprofit, but I work with my church to also provide it,” Hernández said.
For those interested in Mako Radio, Hernández encourages them to visit the station in the Rosenthal building, Room 140.
“I really love this school, I hope that anybody who's interested in the arts or maybe feels like they don't have a place in the arts because they don't know how to do art, they should try to get involved. There's a space for you,” Hernández said. “I feel really honored to be attending NSU since we're a Hispanic-serving institution. And as a Hispanic, I feel like I've gotten so many opportunities to show off that we can do so many things. We're so cool.”
Day live, tune in to Mako Radio on WKPX 88.5 FM Sunrise.
Instagram: @nsu_makoradio
PHOTO BY BRIELLE AGUAYO
Alex Hernández, senior double major in international studies and national security, DJs alongside Mako Radio staff outside the Rosenthal Student Center. DJs Music Genres
Genres
NSU welcomes South Florida’s first professional women’s soccer team
By Bryce Johnson
Fort Lauderdale United FC, the first and only women’s professional soccer team in South Florida, will have its home opening game on Sept. 29. Its stadium will be the former Miami Dolphins Training Facility at NSU, on 7510 SW 30th St., Davie, FL 33314.
Fort Lauderdale United FC is part of the USL Super League, a professional women’s soccer league. Its opening game will be against Dallas Trinity FC in the evening at its newly renovated stadium. Tickets are available for purchase as single game or for the season, with NSU students eligible for special pricing.
Darryl Campbell, head of marketing and brand at Fort Lauderdale United FC, said the stadium will have grass instead of turf and a 6,500-seating option. This is the second team in the nation to make
LOOK INSIDE
a facility that has a women-friendly environment, after the Kansas City Current soccer team.
Luana Grabias, NSU alumna who graduated in May 2024, is a forward for Fort Lauderdale United FC. Originally from Brazil, Grabias played soccer for two years at NSU.
“I've been working so hard to sign a pro contract, so I think I achieved my goal because I was planning my whole career being a soccer player,”
Grabias said. “I'm really proud of myself and I love being in a team, being a professional soccer player.”
Grabias said playing soccer has made her a better person and given her a better connection to her mom.
“Now that I live so far away from her, I know how much I care about her, how much I need her in my life. And if it wasn't for soccer, maybe I would be living with her still, and I wouldn't see that feeling,” she said.
Campbell was interested in
Inside this year's first issue is the second Sports Special Section created by The Current. This special section contains a letter from our Sports Editor Bella Giaquinto, an overview of the athletics teams, articles on women’s swimming and women’s tennis winning a NCAA national championship, an in-depth look at NSU athletes who went pro and much more.
working with the team because of his love for soccer.
“Soccer is one of the most important things to me, and because it's taught me so much, I want to try everything in my power to instill this into the youth and give people an opportunity to have the experience I had growing up,” Campbell said. “This is larger than myself and everybody that's a part of this. This is subsequently for generations past us.”
Fort Lauderdale United FC will also work with NSU to offer internships to be listed on Handshake. The interns will be placed in the front office and the sporting office.
“Front office would be your marketing, your PR, your business, your analytics, your strategy, so forth. And then on the sporting side, you would have mental health, physical therapy, coaching, that kind of setup,” Campbell said.
For students who are interested in playing soccer, Grabias encourages them to not give up.
“I had like 1 million reasons to stop playing soccer and I didn't. And look where I am now. I just graduated because of soccer, I signed a pro contract because of soccer,” Grabias said. “I play for a national team because of soccer, because I didn't give up, but I've been struggling so much since I was 11, 12 years old and I'm 24 now.”
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MATH CORNER
Please send your answer (no need to send any additional scratch work or justification) to Dr. Jason Gershman, chair of the Department of Mathematics, at jgershma@nova.edu no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The correct answer to this question will appear in the next issue of The Current.
All members of the NSU community are invited to submit their answer and participate. Every member of the NSU community who submits at least one answer during the 2024-2025 school year will be invited to attend a celebration in April as part of Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month.
The undergraduate student who submits the most correct answers during the contest year will receive the grand prize of a $50 gift card courtesy of the Department of Mathematics. If, at the end of the contest year, multiple students are tied for the contest champion, a tiebreaker question to determine the grand prize winner will take place where the fastest person to answer correctly wins the grand prize.
April 20, 2024 through April 29, 2024 featured 10 straight 5-Digit Palindrome Days when the month-day-two digit year are written out numerically (42024 is read the same forwards and backwards as are 42124, 42224, …, 42924.) What is the next date, after April 30th 2024 that the next Palindrome Day will occur with month-day-two digit year.
Hint: It’s a 4-digit palindrome (with a one-digit month, one-digit day, two-digit year.)
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