The Current Issue 1 Vol 36

FEATURES | p. 11

ARTS | p. 14

New programs arrive to Shark Dining

NSU’s spring concert takes the stage

MONDAY

AUG. 18, 2025

SPORTS

Extended Coverage

THE CURRENT

p. 16 VOLUME 36 ISSUE 1

NSU's student-run newspaper, housed in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts

NSU’s Theatre program prepares students for the industry

COURTESY OF MORGAN SOPHIA PHOTOGRAPHY

Students perform in the production of “Cymbeline.”

By Brielle Aguayo NSU’s Theatre program in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts is focused on preparing students for realworld industry work. The program

collaborates with professional theater companies, working professionals and guest artists, with students producing all parts of a show, both onstage and backstage.

Alex Alvarez, associate professor in DCMA, said what makes the

NSU Theatre program unique is the people.

“It allows for all kinds of people who are curious about having careers in theater, people who want a release or some relief from their STEM classes and people who just

want to kind of try a little something,” Alvarez said. “We invite everyone to audition for all of the shows that we do. We don’t exclude, and it’s not just theater people.”

In winter 2025, Alvarez invited Nicole Stodard, adjunct professor in DCMA and producing artistic director of Thinking Cap Theatre, to direct “Cymbeline,” so students could experience working with other producing directors.

Also, NSU Theatre has been able to partner with City Theatre Miami to help students engage with real professionals, so they know what to expect and enhance their skills.

“I think that’s a big deal, and it’s not been done at NSU before, and, perhaps, it feels like it may have flown under the radar a little bit when it’s such a monumental thing that we did,” Alvarez said. “We have brought in professionals to music direct here, we have invited intimacy directors and power dynamics workshops, which are done in the professional world now.”

See THEATRE, page 13

On-campus resources help students professionally and academically

By Antonio Miguel Escorzon With courses starting today, the Center for Academic and Professional Success, the Writing and Communication Center and the Tutoring and Testing Center are three on-campus resources available for students to help them professionally and academically.

Johnny Kevorkian, associate director of Employer Relations for the Center for Academic and Professional Success, said CAPS helps students and alumni with academic and career advice.

“I think it’s so important to use [CAPS] resources because college isn’t just [about getting] your grades [or getting] your classes. It’s building your experiences well in school to supplement what you’re learning,” Kevorkian said.

CAPS assigns career and academic success coaches to undergraduate

students for academic and career advising.

“I always recommend meeting [in] your first year with your CAPS adviser to develop a career plan as well as an academic plan and finding ways to really supplement your academics with experiential learning,” Kevorkian said. “I would say they are your partner, your guide from freshman year to senior year.”

Kevorkian said students can also use CAPS advising for professional development.

“Getting experience on your resume, and even if it’s not exactly in your major, but just getting professional experience is so valuable and just as valuable as getting a degree,” Kevorkian said.

The CAPS office is located in the William and Norma Horvitz Administration Building.

See RESOURCES, page 4

PHOTO BY MADISON KASPER

From right: Writing and Communication Center consultant Gabriella Rahaley, sophomore secondary social studies education major, helps Lucy Correa, freshman biology major, during the 2025 winter semester.

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The Current | August 18, 2025

THE CURRENT The Student-Run Newspaper of Nova Southeastern University Located in the Don Taft University Center Room 328 @makonews / makomedia.nova.edu NEWSROOM

Phone: 954-262-8455 makonews@nova.edu Antonio Miguel Escorzon Editor-in-Chief Nicole Gomez Art Director

BUSINESS & ADVERTISING

Phone: 954-262-8455 thecurrentad@nova.edu Allen Worrell Web Editor/ Reporter Kai Dear Business Manager

Victoria Ruiz Graphic Designer

Liv Zolk Distribution Manager

Lila Taricco Graphic Designer

Amaia Flores Social Media Manager

Isabella Fernandez de Cueto Sports Editor

Yasmin De Andrade Rodrigues Assistant Social Media Manager

Eric Tovin Sports Writer Marlee Card Reporter/Music Editor Alex Munroe Reporter Brielle Aguayo Reporter/ Photojournalist Bryce Johnson Reporter Daria Gross Reporter

Chris Delboni Mako Media Network Director Mike Lynn Mako Media Network Assistant Director/ Music Desk Adviser

Letter from the editor Dear Readers, Hello there and welcome back, Sharks! I hope you enjoy reading the semester’s first issue of The Current, NSU’s student-run newspaper, and find it a great opening for the semester. I am Antonio, The Current’s editor-in-chief and a first-year graduate student in the Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media master’s program in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts.

For our new students, you will find out about events and resources for the start of this semester. We have articles about the new Undergraduate Student Government Association administration, the new fraternity Phi Kappa Tau, Shark Dining activities for the academic year and the Cathy J. Husman Fine Arts Gallery in the Alvin Sherman Library.

For returning students, there are events covered from the previous academic year, such as the spring concert and STUEYs. With classes starting, you can read more about the Center for Academic and Professional Success, the Writing and Communication Center and the Tutoring and Testing Center, as well as learn about study spots in the Shepard Broad College of Law, Alvin Sherman Library and residence halls.

This issue has stories about NSU Theatre students collaborating with the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and preparing for the theater industry.

Antonio Miguel Escorzon, editor-in-chief of The Current.

You will also find out more about the new women’s basketball coach Heather Macy and a special column from our former sports editor, Bella Giaquinto, in our special sports section.

The Current is part of Mako Media Network. MMN also includes Mako TV, NSU’s student-run broadcast news station on YouTube, and Mako Radio, NSU’s student-run radio station on 88.5 FM. If you ever have any questions, comments, concerns or story pitches, you can find us in the Don Taft University Center, room 328.

On behalf of everyone at The Current, thank you for reading and making us part of your day.

Dr. Megan Fitzgerald Mako Media Network Faculty Adviser Joyce Moed The Current Faculty Adviser

Guest Artist Exhibition - Nathalie Alfonso Sept. 25, 5 p.m.

Don Taft University Center - Gallery 217

Dr. Mario D'Agostino Sports Desk Adviser

College Radio Day 2025 Oct. 3, 10 a.m.

Rosenthal 140

Luqman Gbenro Reporter

Dr. Aarti Raja Science/Health Desk Adviser

College Radio Day After-party Oct. 3, 4 p.m.

Shark Circle

Sneha Subhash Health Writer

Dr. Eric Mason Digital Faculty Adviser

Anaum Hussain Columnist

Dr. Shanti Bruce Chair, Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts

Hannah Krebsbach Reporter

Roseline Jean-Pierre Photo Journalist

Rent: A Musical Oct. 3 & 4, 7:30 p.m. - Oct. 5, 2 p.m.

Don Taft University Center - Black Box Theatre Dance Awareness Day Oct. 15, 9 a.m.

Don Taft University Center and the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center Shark Showcase Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m.

Don Taft University Center - Performance Theatre

Madison Kasper Reporter/ Visual Journalist 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

Take care, Antonio Miguel Escorzon

special circumstances at the discretion 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.

Mayfly Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m.

Don Taft University Center - Black Box Theatre 12th Faculty Art Exhibition Nov. 13, 5 p.m.

Don Taft University Center - Gallery 217 Peace Concert - Seasons of Love Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m.

Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center Music for the Season Nov. 20, noon Alvin Sherman Library - Cotilla Gallery DanceWorks Nov. 21 & 22, 7:30 p.m.

Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

The Current | August 18, 2025

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The Current

OPINION

Video game prices

By Anaum Hussain Video game prices have been increasing steadily throughout the past few years — from $40 during the Nintendo 3DS era, to $60 during the Nintendo Switch era, and now to a maximum of $80 for the Switch 2 era.

Prices have become truly

ridiculous. For instance, the base prices for the new Switch 2 is $450 and the PlayStation 5 is anywhere from $390 to $670. Still, these consoles require a separate disc drive to play physical games. Also, an Xbox Series S or X costs anywhere from $300 to $700 (with the $300 option still unable to play physical games).

And that’s not even including all the surcharges that gaming companies like to charge.

For just online service, Nintendo charges $20 a year, PlayStation charges $80 a year and Xbox only offers their Game Pass for $9.99 a month, which adds up to about $120 a year. It’s slowly becoming a hobby that only the wealthy can afford, not the average broke college student, or parent trying to buy a game console for their kids.

Some may argue that the prices of everything has gone up. This isn’t unreasonable. A dollar doesn’t

stretch as far as it used to due to inflation, and so the price of everything has gone up.

However, if prices go up and the federal minimum wage hasn’t, then it slowly creeps gaming into an unaffordable hobby for the average person.

And even right here in Florida, where the minimum wage will go up to $14 an hour in September, that’s still about six hours of work to afford the new physical copy of Mario Kart World.

Additionally, in Pennsylvania, the minimum wage is still $7.25 an hour. If someone wants to purchase the new game and is earning minimum wage there, they have to work more than 11 hours just to afford it.

Some may say just buy indie games and support small developers — not games by large AAA studios, but it’s simply not profitable to make a $30 indie game for

children. How can the indie game companies compete with Mario when he’s so quintessential when thinking of children’s games?

Video games are very near and dear to my heart, and I’ve played almost every genre you can think of. Pikachu and Eevee have been my buddies since I was in middle school. But when Pokémon Moon was $40 and a physical copy of Pokémon Legends: Z-A is shaping up to be anywhere from $70 to $80 on the Switch 2, it makes this hobby that’s so near and dear to my heart hurt my wallet way more than I would like — and I don’t know how much longer it will be sustainable.

Anaum Hussain, junior communication major, is a columnist for The Current.

Review: ‘News Without a Newsroom,’ through the eyes of a college journalist

By Bryce Johnson Before I became a journalist, I remember playing the video game “Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite.” In that game, when journalist Frank West is afraid an enemy might kill him, the superhero Iron Man says to him, “Well, they say journalism’s a dying profession.”

The game was released in 2017, and I’ve thought about Iron Man’s line for years since then.

Is journalism really dying?

That line becomes even more prominent in our current climate, especially with the release of “News Without a Newsroom.”

Directed, written and produced

by Oana Martisca, “News Without a Newsroom” is a documentary that presents the changing landscape of journalism. It shares the changes in how information is shared, and how the audience receives that information. The film had its world premiere at the

Bill Cosford Cinema as part of the 42nd Annual Miami Film Festival.

Some of my greatest memories as a college journalist were made in my newsroom. I gained valuable insights from my advisers and peers. I formed meaningful connections with intelligent and dedicated people over several years, and that is only possible because of our physical newsroom. When I watched “News Without a Newsroom” for the Miami Film Festival, it was fascinating to see how newsrooms used to be, and heartbreaking to see what they’re becoming.

The beginning of “News Without a Newsroom” shows the demolition of the Miami Herald’s old newsroom. Since we’re also based in South Florida, it made me think, what if that were to happen to our newsroom at Mako Media Network? Our newsroom is directly situated on campus inside the Don Taft University Center. Journalists need a similar space, to build camaraderie among each other and to be able to get to sources more quickly. “News Without a Newsroom” demonstrates the impact of having a space.

I liked that “News Without a Newsroom” featured conversations with seasoned journalists like Martin Baron, Sarabeth Berman, Martin Fletcher and Leonard Pitts.

They all give their perspective on journalism and describe how it’s a constant flow of information, how it needs to be quick and accurate, all day, every day. It’s hard, especially in a world where artificial

intelligence and social media are growing rapidly. “News Without a Newsroom” asks, why do journalists matter? What is the point of our work, when anyone can do it much faster in today’s digital age, using their own phones or generating pictures and stories with AI? My takeaway is that journalists can go more in depth with a story.

“News Without a Newsroom” explores the consequences of investigative journalism and whether the risk of digging too far for a story is worth it. It shares the importance of upholding

journalistic integrity, which becomes easier with the support of a full newsroom.

All in all, “News Without a Newsroom” is an important film for anyone looking to get into journalism. It goes over the drawbacks, how the space has transformed in recent years, and the impact journalists can have on society.

Bryce Johnson is the former editor-in-chief of The Current.

COURTESY OF MIAMI DADE COLLEGE’S MIAMI FILM FESTIVAL

Oana Martisca, director and producer of “News Without a Newsroom,” discusses the documentary at the Miami Film Festival.

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The Current | August 18, 2025

The Current

NEWS FROM THE FRONT

RESOURCES The Writing and Communication Center is another resource for students, located on the fourth floor in the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center. Its staff reviews students’ work and helps them improve their writing and communication skills.

“In the writing center, we take appointments from any discipline on campus. So you can come with PSYCH, you can come with CHEM, you can come with COMP, UNIV, whatever class you’re in,” Cailin Coviella, assistant director of the WCC, said. “We work with students from any stage of their writing, so from inception brainstorming to publishing or turning it in to their teachers.”

Coviella said the WCC offers students individual consultations from student staff members.

“You sit one-on-one with a consultant, and they work with your paper for 45 minutes. So you get one-onone help with your paper,” Coviella said.

Also the WCC has Writing Fellows, student consultants embedded into composition courses, Coviella said.

COURTESY OF NSU PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING, AND CREATIVE SERVICES

A peer tutor helps students at the Tutoring and Testing Center, one of the many student resources on campus.

“You have a friendly face, so you’re not nervous to go do something you’ve never done before. You know someone. They’re in your classroom.

You can meet with them and they know your teacher’s rubrics and your teacher’s specific requests on

that paper,” Coviella said.

Another helpful resource for students is the Tutoring and Testing Center, located on the second floor in the Student Affairs Building.

Eric Gommermann, assistant director of Academic Support

Services for the Tutoring and Testing Center, said the TTC focuses on tutoring students taking STEMbased courses.

The TTC serves as an academic support for students through peer tutoring. Gommermann said peer tutoring is mainly where students meet one-on-one with a staff peer.

He also said the TTC provides other services, such as Supplemental Instruction where a student SI leader is assigned to guide students through course material, Peer Academic Consulting where consultants offer students studying skills and Testing Services where students can makeup exams they missed, take mock exams or be proctored during exams external to the NSU community.

For more information: To make appointments with CAPS and the TTC, use Navigate on SharkLink.

To make appointments with the WCC, visit nova.mywconline.com.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

NSU builds for the future

Construction workers renovate the exterior of the future NSU Health Interprofessional Simulation Complex.

By Antonio Miguel Escorzon Connecting with Daniel J. Alfonso, executive vice president for Facilities Management, Public Safety, and Business Services, The Current introduces this column to inform readers about construction and renovation projects on NSU campuses.

The Office of Facilities Management is expanding and updating the infrastructure at NSU’s Davie/Fort Lauderdale campus throughout the summer and into the fall.

“Our goal in facilities management is to look at the utilization of space and make better use of it,” Alfonso said.

Alfonso said the Design and Construction service is working on completing renovations on the Cathy J. Husman ALS Center at the Center for Collaborative Research, which provides care on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It will be expanding to include patient waiting areas.

Alfonso also said the chiller plant, which provides air conditioning throughout the university and is housed also in the Robert S. Lafferty Sr. Central Energy Plant, will be upgraded to include two 2,300-ton chillers.

“Once we’ve finished that expansion, the chiller plant will provide cooling to 90% of the campus,” Alfonso said.

Construction workers expand the Terry Administration Building first floor.

Ayanna Stephens, director of Design and Construction, said the future NSU Health Interprofessional Simulation Complex, formerly the Miami Dolphins training facility, will have its exterior renovated to look fresh. The interior is planned to include areas such as meeting rooms and a gym for NSU Athletics.

The Office of Facilities Management also bought trailers to be placed at the NSU Baseball Complex for the players to use as locker rooms because current rooms are nearing the end of their life, Alfonso said.

Stephens said the Cultural Living Center, a student housing center, has started a phased renovation to repair

the building’s exterior.

“We upgraded all the windows in the building to impact windows,” Stephens said.

The first floor of the Terry Administration Building is being expanded to double the size of the Shark Dining cafeteria, Stephens said.

Also, the Office of Facilities Management is identifying underused space in the Carl DeSantis Building and planning to start renovations for the College of Computing and Engineering to include student lounge space on the fourth floor of the building.

PHOTOS BY MADISON KASPER

The Current | August 18, 2025 5

NSU welcomes its newest fraternity

COURTESY OF PHI KAPPA TAU

Phi Kappa Tau Coat of Arms.

By Luqman Gbenro Phi Kappa Tau is coming to NSU. The Fraternity and Sorority Life Office confirmed the fraternity is set to expand to campus in the fall as the latest expansion of Greek life at NSU since Sigma Lambda Gamma was established in 2020.

Malik Smith, coordinator of fraternity and sorority engagement, considers the brotherhood a welcome addition to the NSU family.

“Phi Kappa Tau reached out to us,

and at the time, we were looking to expand our fraternities, so it made a lot of sense for us,” Smith said. “We met with them, and what they [said] aligned with NSU. [From there,] we were able to bring that fraternity here to campus and, hopefully, see them flourish.”

Those interested in joining the fraternity are directed to fill out the Phi Kappa Tau interest form in the forms section of the SharkHub website. Smith’s office assists students going through onboarding. The office is involved in several parts of the process, from signing rush forms to educating students about fraternity and sorority life.

“Our FSL 101 course is a mandatory course for any student interested in joining fraternity and sorority life,” Smith said. “In this course, we talk about what fraternity and sorority life looks like here at Nova.

We cover other things like what our hazing policies are and what makes you eligible to join a fraternity or a sorority here.”

Phi Kappa Tau’s arrival is another step forward for Greek life at NSU. Smith believes Greek organizations have much to offer and hopes Fraternity and Sorority Life becomes

one of the biggest offices at NSU. “There are so many benefits to joining a fraternity or a sorority. I’m a part of one myself, and the camaraderie of your peers experiencing the same things as you can be helpful in your matriculation through college,” Smith said. “Our fraternities and sororities offer study sessions and scholarship opportunities.

They always push students to graduate. There are a lot of prestigious people who are members of these fraternities and sororities. So being able to connect with them is just something amazing to see.”

Mossimo Elboukili, senior biology major and president of the Florida Omicron chapter of Phi Delta Theta, said after entering Greek life he did not encounter any stereotypical behavior.

“When I was a freshman coming from New Jersey, I didn’t really know anybody and I didn’t want to join Greek life,” Elboukili said. “I thought it was like what you see in the movies. But then I met a couple of guys, and they were genuine people. It was nothing like all the stereotypes.”

Elboukili said fraternity life empowers him.

“Once I found out Greek life on this campus was about becoming the greatest version [of yourself] and giving back to the community, I realized this was actually something I wanted to be a part of,” Elboukili said. “I learned a lot, not only about myself but about everybody around me. My time management is so much better, and when I put my effort into something, I give it my all because that’s what I learned: there’s no doing something halfway.”

Elboukili believes getting established at a new school is difficult, so he encourages the new organization to connect.

“A lot of stuff is going to be brand new, and what I’d say [to them] is don’t be afraid to come to any of the organizations,” Elboukili said. “Don’t be afraid to go to our adviser, Malik, or even Dean Gerard Wheeler. Everybody in Greek life, no matter what fraternity or sorority, is there to help you. It’s better to ask questions and take bits and pieces from each fraternity and sorority and run with it to create your own path.”

A look at NSU’s study rooms or students who prefer a social environment.

“It’s just a chill space I can work on my assignments with my friends without worrying about being too loud,” Singh said.

Law Library Study Rooms Panza Maurer Law Library Students enrolled in the Shepard Broad College of Law, including undergraduate students in the law major, have access to dedicated study rooms in the Panza Maurer Law Library. These rooms must be booked in advance through the library’s website and can be reserved for up to six hours a day.

“Law students have specific needs that aren’t always covered by what Alvin Sherman has for everyone,” Christian Craig, senior library assistant at the Panza Maurer Law Library, said. “Studying in the law space surrounded by these resources helps them accomplish their goals.”

COURTESY OF NSU PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING, AND CREATIVE SERVICES

A student utilizes one of Alvin Sherman Library’s study rooms available to reserve through the library’s website.

By Alexandria Munroe From quiet, individual rooms to collaborative spaces, NSU offers a variety of study rooms to fill different students’ needs.

Reservable Study Rooms Alvin Sherman Library Study rooms for individuals and groups are on the second through fourth floors of the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center.

Reservations are available on the library website for two-hour blocks up to four hours a day.

“I reserve one whenever I need to focus on a Zoom class,” Geeya Singh, sophomore law major, said.

“It makes it a lot easier, so I don’t have to go home and come back to campus.”

Each room is equipped with seating, a desk and often a whiteboard, with markers available to check out at the circulation desk. These rooms are available to any NSU

student, faculty or staff, along with Broward County Public Library cardholders.

Collaborative Study Room Alvin Sherman Library On the third floor of the library, the Collaborative Study Room is open to all students without the need for a reservation. This space features whiteboards, desktop computers and a variety of different seating options. It is designed for group work, casual meetings

Residence Hall Study Rooms Residence Halls Many of the residence halls on campus include dedicated study rooms in common areas. These rooms are exclusively for residents of the building and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, offering an alternative to studying in a dorm room or the library.

“They make it easier to do my work,” Felix Cesani, sophomore finance major, said. “It’s closer than the library, but I won’t get distracted like I do in my dorm.”

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The Current | August 18, 2025

38th USGA administration addresses its plans for the academic year

By Antonio Miguel Escorzon Alina Andrews, junior biology major and president of the 38th USGA administration, believes one of the crucial issues she plans to address on behalf of the undergraduate student body is housing because of what she experienced the previous fall semester.

“I didn’t receive the housing I wanted [fall] semester,” Andrews said. “I had to choose an off-campus apartment.”

Andrews spoke with Harris Siddiqui, junior biology major and executive vice president, about how they want students to be able to have access to housing on campus.

The administration plans to effectively communicate with the undergraduate student constituents to better address their problems.

“I don’t want [students] to feel as if they are not being heard,” Andrews said. “I want them to feel as if we did everything we possibly could to make sure that they are still having the college experience.”

Lukah Varghese, junior biology major and chief financial officer, feels it is imperative for the administration to uphold the standards of previous administrations.

“I just want to make sure the

students and the E-board feel that we did a great job [with] the position that we were given, and we have continued the legacy of being a good group of people who hold themselves to a very high standard,” Varghese said.

The 38th administration’s inauguration took place in the Don Taft University Center James and Nan Farquhar second floor lounge on April 23 from noon to 1 p.m. Most members are from the Shark Wave party.

Andrews, Varghese and Siddiquiare all members from the party.

Siddiqui said he ran in the Shark Wave platform because he knows them from other clubs and trusts them.

“They are people that really want to put in the work and effort, and a big other reason is probably because of President Andrews,” Siddiqui said.

Siddiqui said seeing Andrews in USGA gave her leadership traits he likes to see.

“She has been part of a lot of different legislations and someone that is actively coming towards bettering the society, bettering the community,” Siddiqui said. “I feel like it is always good for that person to take the lead.”

PHOTO BY MARLEE CARD

Alina Andrews, junior biology major and USGA president, speaks at the first Senate meeting of their administration.

Andrews hopes during her administration the USGA addresses and fixes issues faced by their undergraduate student constituents.

She wants USGA to be known as the group that makes change on campus.

“I just think that we want to be

an open book for these students,” Andrews said. “We want them to realize that we are there to have their voices heard and that we will do what we need to do in order to: fix problems and make the school a better place.”

‘Forward we swim,’ the future of NSU’s healthcare president, chief medical officer and executive medical director of NSU Health and Dean of the College of Allopathic Medicine, was a surgeon at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. Perlyn said there was a job opportunity to come to NSU in 2024 as Moon transitioned into presidency.

“I threw my hat in the mix and was very honored to be selected to come to this great university and be able to now put my energy behind this healthcare system and educational system, which I think is just superb,” Perlyn said.

Perlyn said NSU Health allows students to learn through the clinics, as well as for patients to receive healthcare. He said NSU Health was originally designed around the clinCOURTESY OF NSU PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING, AND CREATIVE SERVICES Alexandra Demma, second-year graduate optometry student, performs an eye ics on campus.

Perlyn said as NSU Health grows, exam on a patient. it will come to represent all three parts of the tripartite mission of an

By Bryce Johnson NSU Health is NSU’s healthcare academic medical center. The three system. It encompasses eight col- parts are clinical care, research and During his investiture speech in leges: the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College teaching.

January 2025, Dr. Harry K. Moon, of Osteopathic Medicine, the Dr. Perlyn said NSU currently sees president and CEO of Nova South- Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic more than 200,000 patients eastern University, said hope and Medicine, the College of Pharmacy, annually. trust is the basic tenet for the the College of Optometry, the Ron “That alone is of tremendous benpatient-physician relationship. and Kathy Assaf College of Nurs- efit to the community in terms of “NSU Health will play that trusted ing, the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of the care that they’re able to get, role, to integrate education, research Health Care Sciences, the College of the access to care, the education of and better patient care here and Dental Medicine and the College of future healthcare clinicians and the across our campuses and all of our Psychology. economic engine that NSU Health communities,” Moon said.

Dr. Chad Perlyn, executive vice is for the community in terms of

opportunity. As we grow NSU Health, that impact on the community will grow as well,” Perlyn said.

Perlyn looks forward to seeing how NSU Health grows in the future, from the number of clinics to the number of patients.

“I used to have an expression when I was at the children’s hospital. People would hear me say all the time ‘forward we go,’ as my mantra to continue to drive us further towards excellence,” Perlyn said.

“Since coming to NSU, I’ve modified it slightly since becoming a Shark.

You’ll often see my tagline as ‘forward we swim.’ The Sharks will keep swimming forward because that’s how we thrive.”

For more information: Patients can make an appointment for any of the services NSU Health provides, including dental, physical therapy, eye care and psychology by scanning the QR code below.

The Current | August 18, 2025 7

The Current

FEATURES

NSU unveils Cathy J. Husman Fine Arts Gallery

COURTESY OF WERNER KAHN STUDIO

From left: Melinda Husman and Judy Scott view the sculptures on display in the Cathy J. Husman Fine Arts Gallery.

By Alexandria Munroe Located on the first floor of the Alvin Sherman Library, the Cathy J. Husman Fine Arts Gallery showcases a curated selection of sculptures from a larger collection donated by longtime NSU benefactor David Husman in honor of his late wife, Cathy Husman, who died in 2023.

“Some of these pieces are of unusual quality, some of the rarest pieces in the world, so it’s just wanting people to get the

enjoyment of seeing things that are unusual and that they won’t see anywhere else,” Husman said.

Husman’s relationship with NSU began three years ago while his wife received treatment for ALS through clinical trials at the university. After her passing, he became one of NSU’s top donors, contributing $41 million to the Cathy J. Husman ALS Center, David and Cathy Husman Neuroscience Institute and Cathy J. Husman Fine Arts Gallery.

“She was cared for very well by

Dr. [Eduardo] Locatelli, who’s affiliated with Nova,” Husman said. “That’s part of the reason I believe in this university.”

His most recent contribution was funding the Cathy J. Husman Fine Arts Gallery.

“The items in this room are approximately 30% of what was donated,” Husman said. “Much of the things that are in storage will be brought down here to be enjoyed soon.”

The gallery features hand-selected pieces from a collection of more than 400 ivory and bronze sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries. The collection’s works are from various regions in East and South Asia as well as Western Europe. Each display is organized by geographical location and theme.

“It’s full of things that I’ve collected over a long period of years, traveling the world with my wife,” Husman said. “After [she] passed away, I didn’t want to have them locked up in my condominium, so I decided to give them to Nova so that everyone could enjoy them.”

Mariana García, administrative coordinator in Archives and Exhibits, worked alongside her co-workers Gena Meroth, university archivist, and Bebe Chang, archives and digital librarian, to install the exhibit. In collaboration with Husman, the archives team plans to preserve and rotate the sculptures to ensure their longevity.

“I did a lot of research on each piece, trying to find more information than we had in the appraisal, so that I could do an honest work of describing each object and situating each object within a realistic context,” García said.

A standout piece in the gallery is an Art Nouveau lamp. The lamp is inspired by American dancer Loie Fuller, who is known for her style of silk dancing.

“If I could take one object home, it would be this,” García said.

“They capture the silk and the lightness very well.”

García hopes to develop educational resources for the gallery, including audio guides in both English and Spanish.

“This has become sort of my pet project,” García said. “Now that it’s open, I’m excited to keep expanding it into something even more accessible and meaningful.”

For more information: The Cathy J. Husman Fine Arts Gallery is free and open to the public.

Hours: Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

SharkHub helps students engage on campus

By Allen Worrell Roshan Prabakaran, junior biology major, said using SharkHub made it easier for him to become aware of on-campus events.

“During the orientation and UNIV course [back in 2023], I [was] introduced to SharkHub and its features.

SharkHub has been really easy to access and especially beneficial to the returning and incoming students who can check the location of the events,” Prabakaran said.

Tamara Lumsden, former assistant director of Club and Organization Engagement in the Office of Campus Life and Student Engagement, said SharkHub is a central hub for active clubs and their activities.

“SharkHub is the engagement platform for clubs and organizations,” Lumsden said. “If you are looking for organizations to join,

you have the opportunity to go through [SharkHub’s] organization directory. If you want to be involved and attend events, there’s an event calendar that allows you to see what events are [currently happening] or upcoming.”

Active clubs can go through SharkHub to host events.

“Any organization that wants to host an event on campus has to submit it through SharkHub, so that our reservations team here can process that request for them,” Lumsden said.

Students who want to attend club activities must use their event passes.

“Event passes are a unique QR code to each NSU student,” Lumsden said. “It allows [students] to be able to have their attendance tracked at any event that is approved and registered on SharkHub.”

Students show their passes to the hosts before they participate in the event.

Lumsden said organizations can also host elections through SharkHub as well. Students can vote for Homecoming Court, the Undergraduate Student Government Association administration and Inter-Organizational Council.

“You see each individual user, how they voted [and] what they selected [on SharkHub],” Lumsden said.

Lumsden said students can check and filter organization profiles on SharkHub. “You can check out [organization profiles to] see if that’s something that interests you, and you can even categorize it by your interests,” Lumsden said. “So whether you’re looking for community service org or academic or pre-professional orgs, multicultural org, you

can categorize it to kind of narrow down your search.”

Prabakaran said SharkHub allowed him to participate in on-campus events.

“SharkHub has helped me to engage and involve myself on campus through event reminders and finding organizations to join,” Prabakaran said.

To get assistance with SharkHub, students can go to the Office of Campus Life and Student Engagement located in Don Taft University Center, suite 1235. If organizations are having issues with SharkHub, the best way to get assistance is to contact nsuclubs@nova.edu.

Antonio Miguel Escorzon, editorin-chief, contributed to this report.

8

The Current | August 18, 2025

STUEYs closes out the winter 2025 semester STUEYs 2025 Winners Emily Murphy

Student of the Year Overall

Danielle Broussard

Regional Campus Student of the Year

Animal-Assisted Interventions Organization

Graduate Organization of the Year

Student Events & Activities Board

Undergraduate Organization of the Year Nominees for Student of the Year Overall stand on stage and represent their colleges at the annual STUEYs.

By Bryce Johnson At the 27th Annual Student Life Achievement Awards on April 15, Dr. Harry K. Moon, president and CEO of Nova Southeastern University, said he was proud of everyone nominated.

“As a physician, you’re taught to look at a patient or an individual and assess their vitality, their vital signs or their vigor. And I’m here to tell you that this university is robust.

It is alive. It has great depth. It is a wonderful opportunity for me to be here and help lead this organization,” Moon said.

The STUEYs were presented in the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center. The annual ceremony typically takes place in April and celebrates unique members within the NSU community, like faculty, staff members and students.

Emily Murphy, graduate student in the College of Psychology, was

named Student of the Year Overall.

Michelle A. Clark, dean of the Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy, won the Executive of the Year award.

“Go Sharks. Go Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy. Go faculty, staff, students, go SGA. I appreciate everything that they do in supporting the college and allowing us to be part of this great Shark nation,” Clark said.

The Student Events & Activities Board won Undergraduate Organization of the Year.

“We’ve had so many amazing events this year, and we are so happy that we can contribute to the amazing student life there is here at NSU. Thank you so, so much for this honor,” Avani Kulkarni, senior neuroscience major, one of the STUEYs hosts and SEA Board student director, said.

Luisa Torres, junior marine biology major, was awarded the Juan

Pablo Correa Memorial Scholarship, which was created to honor Juan Pablo Correa, a former NSU student who died in a car accident.

“Just being here makes me think of everything that took me here, like my family believing in me, the decision of coming to a whole different country, being far from them. I just want to say ‘gracias, mommy,’” said Torres from Colombia.

The event also featured musical performances from Megan Bramer, sophomore interdisciplinary studies major, Lauren Arena, freshman pre-nursing major, and Jane Krivosheev, sophomore biology major, as well as from Mako Band and Shark Gold.

Students can nominate professors, alumni, fellow students and staff for a STUEY. Nominations typically open in November and close in January.

Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy Student Government Association Student Government of the Year

2023-2024 NSU’s Women’s Basketball Team Athletic Team of the Year

John M. O’Brien Alumni of the Year

Luisa Torres

Juan Pablo Correa Memorial Scholarship 2025

Ruth Shaw

Staff Person of the Year

Joyce Arias

Administrator of the Year

Taaron Branch

Co-Curricular Advisor of the Year

Clearwater Free Clinic Corporate Partner of the Year

James Munoz

Professor of the Year

Michelle A. Clark Executive of the Year

Shark Gold performs “Sway” by Michael Bublé.

PHOTOS BY BRIELLE AGUAYO

President Dr. Harry K. Moon presents the Student of the Year Overall award to Emily Murphy, graduate student in the College of Psychology.

The Current | August 18, 2025 9

NSU celebrates largest nursing pinning ceremony with more than 300 graduates

Crowd cheers for nursing graduates during the pinning ceremony.

By Madison Kasper NSU’s Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing hosted its largest pinning ceremony in NSU history.

The annual event for graduating seniors marks their transition from students to professional nurses.

The nursing pinning ceremony is a tradition that dates to the 12th century, which symbolizes the dedication of nurses to their

profession.

The Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Fort Myers campuses all came together for this celebration in the Rick Case Arena with more than 300 students graduating this year.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Harry K. Moon, president and CEO of Nova Southeastern University.

“This ceremony represents not only your transition from student to nurse but also your

Sergio Santini, nursing graduate from the Fort Lauderdale campus, celebrates after a family member pins him.

transformation from student to mentor. For you will now go forward and pave the path for others, to make your story part of their story, to expand your reach, your impact, your gift to the world,” Moon said.

During the ceremony, each nursing graduate received a pin, which serves as a badge of honor. The pin is either presented to students by their dean or a significant nurse in

their life.

Along with the pinning, selected students were recognized with awards that celebrated their academic achievements. The students also lit a lamp and took a pledge.

To end the ceremony, everyone watched a video put together by students and faculty of pictures from throughout the students’ nursing school journey.

PHOTOS BY MADISON KASPER

First doctoral Occupational Therapy cohort studies racism Black leaders face

By Bryce Johnson Hanna Forero, Dayeli Magaña, Kyrah Maduro and Lydia Armand are students in the inaugural cohort of the doctoral Occupational Therapy program at NSU’s Fort Lauderdale campus. They presented their research on systemic racism among Black occupational therapy educators and leaders at the American Occupational Therapy Association Conference & Expo in April 2025. Out of 2,115 proposals, their presentation, “Beyond the Surface: Exposing Racism in Black OT Educators’ Academic Journey,” was one of 1,396 to be accepted.

“We presented to over 80 people at the conference and they all were very interactive throughout our presentation,” Armand said. “We had multiple people come up to us after the presentation speaking about their own personal experiences and how our research has helped them and can help them further.”

The students joined Nardia Aldridge, associate professor in the Occupational Therapy program, who was inspired to do the research after the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Aldridge said many Black students didn’t feel a sense of belonging after Floyd’s murder.

“Certain things were expected of them despite what they were going

through after the trauma of watching someone be murdered, a Black man be murdered on national TV,” Aldridge said.

The students used quantitative and qualitative forms of research to gather their results. They first sent out a survey to more than 50 Black occupational therapists individuals via email and social media.

“It was a lot of information and we sort of got into the nitty-gritty things of, ‘OK, you are experiencing racism in your workplace, what kind of racism? Was it microaggressions, macroaggressions? Was it stereotyping, discrimination?’” Forero said.

Magaña said many participants shared that they experienced unfair treatment from their colleagues.

“A lot of them felt like they had to change the way that they dressed, how they did their hair, their mannerisms, how they spoke to others to try to fit in, in a way,” Magaña said.

Maduro said some of the participants didn’t realize they experienced systemic racism in the workplace before. Once the students further interviewed them, the participants began to realize microaggressions they’ve encountered.

“I think a general theme across the board was resilience. They found ways to keep going to work, to be resilient, and found connections in other groups outside of

COURTESY OF NARDIA ALDRIDGE

Nardia Aldridge, associate professor in the Occupational Therapy program, poses with graduate students Hanna Forero, Dayeli Magaña, Kyrah Maduro and Lydia Armand at the American Occupational Therapy Association Conference in April 2025.

their institutions, such as the South Florida Black Occupational Therapy Caucus, or the National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus, or state chapters that they had, where they found belonging outside of the workplace,” Maduro said.

Forero hopes this research can help address and dismantle racism in the workplace.

“As occupational therapists, a big part of our profession is being openminded to help our patients, and it’s important that we implement that with each other within the profession so we can continue growing and having more diversity,” Forero said.

10 The Current | August 18, 2025

Sharks Speak: What advice would you give to incoming NSU students?

“One piece of advice I would give to incoming NSU students is to keep on moving. Holding onto the past, specifically if you are coming from high school, will not allow you to fully flourish into this new milestone.

Make sure that you also stay up to date with due dates as they tend to come and go fast.”

Ahmad Alkabouni, junior political science major.

“A piece of advice I would give to an incoming student is that moving away from your family is difficult, and you can make your own support system. It is very hard to start over in a place that is new and without your original support system, but by expressing that and finding new people, you can build a new support system filled with friends you have made throughout the years.”

“One piece of advice that I would give to an incoming student is to form relationships with your professors.

They can open so many doors for you and let you get involved in projects that you never would think that you could do. Also, they can help you with your coursework and grades.

Finally, find work-life balance. This will be what gets you through undergraduate, I promise.”

“My advice to incoming first-year students would be to get as involved in campus life as you can. The more you put into NSU, the more you will get out of it. Take advantage of (Waves) of Welcome and Sharkapalooza to make new friends, explore new opportunities and see what NSU has to offer. Make the most of your time here and enjoy every moment.”

Avani Kulkarni, senior neuroscience major.

Kamea Peterman, senior psychology major.

Elia Gorelik, sophomore biology major.

BY DARIA GROSS AND KAYLE HAGE

The Current | August 18, 2025 11

FOOD

New programs arrive to Shark Dining

By Antonio Miguel Escorzon Shark Dining will launch new initiatives and projects at NSU this fall.

Ike Reichenbach, director of marketing for Shark Dining, said one of them is dedicated to the incoming students in the UNIV 1000 – First-Year Experience course. Students taking the class will participate in the new program, First Year Eats.

“It really just shows an in-depth look at Shark Dining, so students can experience all of our locations, different ways of placing orders, different menu items [and] how to vote at Student Choice,” Reichenbach said. “All of these options are led through the bingo card.”

The bingo card has information about different experiences at Shark Dining. Once they complete the tasks on the card, they earn credit.

“It involves a bingo card that [students] can compete for both Grubhub credit and class credit,” Reichenbach said. “The Grubhub credit could be used to place mobile orders, so it can be used at any of the Shark Dining locations on campus.”

Reichenbach also said to get new and returning students engaged, events like Joyful and Teaching Kitchen will return, so Shark Dining can continue giving back to the NSU community.

Joyful, the farmers market, will be open bimonthly in front of the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center, Reichenbach said.

“These are great ways to connect with local vendors, get fresh produce, handmade goods, but then [is] also a great way to connect with Shark Dining because we always have an activation there,”

COURTESY OF NSU PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING, AND CREATIVE SERVICES

NSU students gather around a food booth to explore what Joyful has to offer.

Reichenbach said.

The Teaching Kitchen will be hosted once a semester where student can interact with the campus executive chef.

“It’s an in-person class where students work with the chef to create a dish,” Reichenbach said.

Also, every October, Reichenbach said Shark Dining conducts a campus-wide survey to see what can be implemented for on-campus food choices.

Other dining options in the Razor’s Reef, a dining hall in the Don Taft University Center, include Sushi Maki, Ciao Bella, Student Choice, Qdoba, Sambazon and College Ave. Subs.

More campus dining options

include Chick-fil-A, Starbucks and the Market in the University Center, the Monty’s Café/Einstein Bros. Bagels in the Carl DeSantis Building, the kiosk in the Parker Building, and the Supreme Court Cafe in the Shepard Broad College of Law. Maria Fernanda Carriel Sarmiento, third-year psychology graduate student in the Clinical Psychology master’s program, said having various options spread out on campus is beneficial because it gives students easier access to food.

Aside from getting food at the in-person dining options, students can remotely order.

Mike Alkurdi, resident district

PHOTO BY BRIELLE AGUAYO

Razor and Marc Crocquet, vice president of business services, demonstrate how the Starship Technologies Inc. robots’ lock feature works.

manager for Chartwells and Shark Dining, said students can remotely buy food through the Grubhub app to either pick it up or use the Starship Technologies Inc. delivery system robots.

“Grubhub is the main app that the students need to use. We centralized the services to avoid having multiple apps on students’ phones and to avoid confusion,” Alkurdi said.

Benjamin Girgis, sophomore biology major, said ordering through the Starship Technologies Inc. robots can save time for him and other students because they deliver food.

“They can be convenient if you want to be in your room or studying, since you don’t go and order [at one of the dining options],” Girgis said.

Reichenbach said there will be more Starship Technologies Inc. robots come fall.

Shark Dining plans to replace the West End Ave. Deli in the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center with a Vicky Bakery store in the future.

Ayanna Stephens, director of Design and Construction, said there are expansions to the first floor of the Terry Administration Building where Shark Dining’s original dining cafeteria will be doubling in size.

Reichenbach said he liked how Shark Dining has been bringing joy to the NSU community through food service.

“It’s really about making it convenient and accessible for students and so that’s right in line with what Shark Dining wants to do,” Reichenbach said.

12 The Current | August 18, 2025

The Current

SCIENCE & HEALTH

A student’s guide to fitness at NSU

PHOTO BY ROSELINE JEAN-PIERRE

Eve Jones, freshman biology major, works out on the elliptical at the RecPlex, during the 2024 fall semester.

By Sneha Subhash Riya Chelagiri, sophomore biology major, thinks going to the Recreational Complex in the Don Taft University Center is a great way to meet people.

“I didn’t know much about the RecPlex when I first got here, but I went to a couple of group classes with friends, and now working out is something I actually look forward to,” Chelagiri said.

Darrin Dukes, assistant director of

RecPlex Operations, wants new and returning students to know that the facility is more than just a gym.

“The RecPlex offers a numerous variety of different things for students,” Dukes said. “We have group fitness classes, club and intramural sports, and special fitness events and challenges throughout the semester.”

From high-energy Zumba and spin classes to relaxing yoga sessions, there’s a group fitness option for different interests and skill levels.

“The schedule changes every semester,” Dukes said. “Students can always try something new.”

Dukes said group classes are accessible through the IMLeagues website, where students can pre-register using their NSU credentials. Walkins are also welcome depending on space availability.

For students who enjoy competitive play, NSU offers both intramural and club sports.

Intramurals rotate by semester and include basketball, flag football or volleyball. Club sports involve travel and matchups with other universities, offering a more teambased experience.

“Anybody that’s a member here can join those,” Dukes said.

The RecPlex also plans unique fitness events throughout the year, including weightlifting competitions, like bench press, squat and deadlift contests. For those just getting started on their fitness journey, classes introducing students to the gym and its equipment are also plans for the future.

Dukes emphasized that his team is always ready to help new students find their footing.

“For new kids starting out, I recommend speaking with the staff

here about what we have to offer,” he said. “My staff is very helpful with any questions they may have.

And I’m always available for any fitness-related questions as I used to be a personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach.”

Looking ahead, the RecPlex is working on creating a beginner-friendly workout area on the third floor—an effort to ensure all students feel comfortable and welcome, regardless of experience level.

To stay informed about events, updates and schedules, students can follow @nsurecwell on Instagram or check their NSU email for announcements.

“We regularly send out mass emails for any events coming up,” Dukes said. “Whether it’s intramural registration or a pickleball tournament, we try to keep everyone in the loop.”

Dukes also encourages incoming students to try some of everything.

“When you’re a new student, you don’t know anybody yet, so come try out the facility, join intramurals or club sports, and attend group fitness classes. You’ll meet new people and figure out what you enjoy,” Dukes said.

The Current | August 18, 2025 13

The Current

ARTS FROM THE FRONT

THEATRE Sebastian Baena, sophomore theatre major, said the NSU Theatre collaboration of “From Page to Stage: A Program of Short Plays and Musicals” with City Theatre Miami was a huge break into what it looks like to be in the professional world.

He also said he feels prepared for the outside world because of what he has learned.

“Alex Alvarez is probably one of the best acting professors at the school. He has done wonders for not just the students here at NSU, but he’s done wonders, really big things for me,” Baena said. “He made me realize things that I previously didn’t see, techniques and tools that I must use if I want to succeed professionally in the future.”

Baena has been in multiple productions at NSU, such as “Now. Here. This.,” “From Page to Stage: A Program of Short Plays and Musicals” in collaboration with City Theatre Miami, as well as student-run productions from Stage 2, such as “Spellbound” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” He said these experiences are helping him to become a wellrounded actor.

“I want to keep doing all of those other things, theater, musical theater, film, TV, commercials, all that

stuff,” Baena said. “I want to be a part of all that because I feel like that rounds yourself as an actor. I feel like if I abandoned one of them, it just wouldn’t feel right to me.”

Baena has also been able to do projects outside of NSU. “I have filmed four commercials and two feature films. I have been extremely grateful to have the opportunity to partake in theater outside of NSU. Last semester, I was in the world premiere production of ‘One Summer in Brooklyn’ that took place with Not Your Average Theater Group, and now I’m currently in a show with them called ‘Serial Dating,’” Baena said.

Chelsea Larose, sophomore double major in theatre and law, has gotten more involved with theatre at NSU last year.

“For the 2024-2025 season, I’ve been in every show, from doing crew for ‘Page to Stage,’ ‘Improv Jam’ and ‘Spelling Bee,’ to acting in ‘Mayfly’ and ‘Cymbeline,’” Larose said. “I also work in the scene shop, which allowed me to assist in set construction for all the shows, and even the set for the Broward Center pilot show.”

Larose’s experience at NSU helped her get a job last summer as teaching artist assistant for the Miramar

COURTESY OF MORGAN SOPHIA PHOTOGRAPHY

Students perform in the production of “Now. Here. This.”

Cultural Center.

“I will be helping them prepare programming for different visual and performing arts. I have also been attending different theaters and shows to discover more of the South Florida arts scene. I recently discovered one show that I intend to audition for this fall, but I also must be able to focus on my prior engagements,” Larose said.

Alvarez thinks it is important for students to explore but also to find a balance between learning and opportunities in the industry.

“It’s beneficial while you’re in school to focus on learning and growing, and if you also want to do stuff outside, I think it’s important and I think it’s great. Just make sure that class and learning is equally as important as the gig,” Alvarez said.

“It’s really rewarding to see the students create relationships with each other through this art and grow as artists and become more confident, more resilient.”

NSU students build skills and sets in Broward Center collaboration

COURTESY OF TAMMY HOLDER

Students in the technical theatre course at NSU work together to design the set for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts show “Once Upon a One More Time, Jr.”

By Madison Kasper The Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts at NSU collaborated with the Broward Center for the Performing Arts’ production of “Once Upon a One More Time, Jr.” The show is part of the Musical Theater International’s pilot program. MTI is a theatrical licensing agency. The MTI program takes fulllength musicals and adapts them into shorter versions, which the Broward Center presents. Then the Broward

Center offers feedback to MTI participants before the musicals are distributed to theaters.

The Broward Center has been a part of the program since 2018. NSU students in the technical theatre course were given the opportunity to build the set for the production.

Tammy Holder, Broward Center artist-in-residence, supervised the production. She said theater is the ultimate collaborative activity, and everyone is doing what they do for one common goal.

“I thought it was really a neat opportunity for students here at NSU to learn real world skills in scenic design and building sets,” Holder said. “And if this is something that you want to do, this is to make really good connections and give you actual real-world experiences. Putting a set on a stage at the center.”

Dan Gelbmann, associate professor of technical theatre and design, said students got experience working on a professional show and preparing themselves for the community they are joining.

“They get to do all the hands-on work, all the painting and sculpting, and then actually help load it in and bring it over to the Broward Center and be a part of opening night and all that stuff as professionals,” Gelbmann said. “They can learn a lot from me, but they get other perspectives on how other companies run and how other productions run. And that is an invaluable experience for anybody. Just to get more real-world experience.”

Reagan Singer, junior elementary education major, was the student set designer for this project.

Her mentor was Darren Rosen. He feels there is something special about working with the youth compared to professionals.

“I’ve had experience working with professionals as well, but a lot of them feel like they know it already.

Whereas working with kids and students who are absorbed in everything you say, there’s a real thrill to that.

And, when you see the light go on and they get it, as an educator, it’s a great feeling,” Rosen said.

Lys-Nashka Valce, freshman child development major, was in the technical theatre class. She said being involved in the process makes her feel like she is a part of something bigger than herself.

“Theater is not only just like the actors that are on stage, but also the sets, the sound, the music, the lights and everything. So, it just feels like I’m not only building sets, but it feels like it’s something so much bigger.

And I love the opportunity to just get to be a part of that and get to experience that,” Valce said.

Anthony Estrada, sophomore business management major, said that there is a lot that happens behind the scenes that can make or break a show, and set design is one of those things.

“Set design is like when you’re just creating a whole bunch of ideas to make theater come alive. That’s the best way I could put it,” Estrada said.

14 The Current | August 18, 2025

Students attend the Art-mARine Art + Stroll

COURTESY OF KOLOS SCHUMY

Jesse Caruana, junior marine biology major with a minor in studio art, uses a virtual reality headset to create art.

By Hannah Krebsbach For the first time, students from NSU’s Art + Design program participated in the Art + Stroll in downtown Fort Lauderdale. This is the seventh year of the Art + Stroll event.

This event, organized by Business for the Arts Broward, featured an immersive augmented reality exhibition created and performed by the students. The event attracted locals with a lineup of live art performances, an art exhibition and free admission for attendees.

This event provided NSU students with a platform to showcase their innovative work while engaging with the South Florida art community.

Kolos Schumy, assistant professor in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts,

accompanied the students and came up with the idea for a collaboration with his students.

“This was the first time that [an NSU] student group had attended this event, so it was a great opportunity to try something new and put on a public art performance,” Schumy said.

The students were working on art centered around the theme of marine conservation. The artwork featured included an octopus, a diver, an underwater treasure chest and more.

“We had a mission here, which was to use art to promote the importance of protecting what is under the water. I had already done a virtual takeover of the NSU Art Museum with sharks, so I thought ‘let’s take over Las Olas Boulevard’ with marine life as well to bring

awareness to global warming,” Schumy said.

Schumy said this message is how the group came to be named Art-mARine, a blend of augmented reality, global activism and art.

There were four students who participated in this event alongside Schumy, each with their own augmented reality headsets.

Raul Perez, senior Art + Design major; Haylee Kubat, senior marketing major; Jesse Caruana, sophomore marine biology major; and Valerie Thornton, sophomore marketing major, were the four participating students.

Schumy said three of the students were actively creating art while one student was in “spectator mode,” which projected a live view of both the artists and the art.

“The spectator mode or God mode, depending on what type of games you play, showed the augmented reality as well as the people viewing,” Schumy said.

Thornton offered a unique view, which allowed attendees to see the art being created in real time around them in the street.

Attendees could also use an extra headset to view what the artists were working on. This allowed people to become fully immersed in the art by placing themselves into the virtual plane.

“It was a really exciting experience to try something new and to get other people interested in art and design. A lot of people were really interested and asking a lot of questions, so I think people enjoyed it,” Perez said.

Perez said the extra headset enabled people to experience the art in a new way, which ultimately

piqued their interest in art and design. He said the purpose of this group’s involvement in the Art + Stroll was to promote NSU’s Art + Design program.

“We were part of this whole event and pioneering this augmented reality setup where we are all in one room together in order to represent the NSU name,” Perez said.

As well as representing NSU’s Art + Design program, the group also had a specific message they were trying to convey with the art they produced.

The stroll included a fundraiser to raise money to promote art, through the purchasing of art as well as food drink tickets purchased through the BFA. Along with the walk-through art exhibition, the event featured entertainment, such as a violinist and spoken word poetry performances from the Art Prevails Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to artistic expression and community engagement. Live art demos from artist Leonardo Montoya and Oscar Montoya, even dance performances from BreakinMIA. Schumy encourages students to attend the Art + Stroll event not only to support NSU’s art department but also to experience art in ways they have never experienced before.

“An event like this is a great opportunity for people to experience new things when it comes to the arts and I think that is a lot of fun,” Schumy said.

Marlee Card and Madison Kasper contributed to this report.

NSU’s spring concert takes the stage

COURTESY OF BILL ADAMS

The Mako Band, Bossa Nova Chorale and Shark Gold vocal ensemble perform at NSU’s spring concert.

By Hannah Krebsbach NSU’s spring concert showcased students’ talent in full bloom on April 25 in the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center.

The “From Mozart to Motown” concert included student solos as well as pieces by the Bossa Nova Chorale, Mako Band and Shark Gold.

Bill Adams, music and theatre

program director in DCMA, said this broad theme allowed students to perform pieces they are passionate about.

“The students suggest music for the concerts pretty far in advance, so it definitely influences my decision on the theme. We’re all influenced by each other,” Adams said.

The spring concert from last year included music by ABBA, so for this year, Adams said he sought to move to more diverse pieces.

“Last year we did ABBA, so this year we wanted to do something a little more south of the border, more local and diverse,” Adams said.

The spring concert is one of the last events of the academic year hosted by DCMA and serves as a final farewell before summer.

“It’s a very emotional performance because it is the last performance for a lot of students who are graduating, so it’s really important to us,” Teresa Arroyo, sophomore marine biology student, said.

Arroyo said about a quarter of the chorale is made up of seniors so it

was an important performance for them to send off their friends.

“It’s split pretty much quarterly, so we have about a quarter participating who are seniors that will be greatly missed once they graduate,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo is a member of the Bossa Nova Chorale as well as a singer in the spring concert. She said that this is one of the only performances with the Bossa Nova Chorale, so students have been working toward this concert and their pieces all semester.

“This concert is a great way for people to see the wide variety of styles that the music program dips into and all the opportunities in the music program,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo said the spring concert is a fun way to end the semester for both the performers and student attendees.

“I always recommend attending even if you are not a singer or don’t play in a band because you get to see a lot of really cool stuff,” Arroyo said.

The Current | August 18, 2025 15

MUSIC BY MARLEE CARD

Fiona Apple returns, with even more to say

By Marlee Card If you’ve ever taken a listen to Fiona Apple McAfee-Maggart’s discography, there is one trait in all her music that hardly ever goes unrecognized: her mastermind ability to weave together emotional intensity with unconventional music arrangements. From a young age, Apple has used music and songwriting to express trauma from her childhood that not only created poetic albums, but set her aside from the

rising artists in the late 90’s.

After five albums and collaborative singles, Fiona Apple has made a powerful return yet again with her first original song in five years, titled “Pretrial (Let Her Go Home)” released on May 7.

This emotionally charged protest anthem draws directly from her volunteer work as a court watcher in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where she has been observing bail hearings in recent years.

The song highlights the injustices of the cash bail system, particularly its impact on mothers and caretakers who are detained pretrial simply because they cannot afford bail.

The accompanying music video for “Pretrial (Let Her Go Home)” features real footage and images from women who have experienced the injustices of the court system, adding a poignant visual narrative to the song’s message. Apple launched the website lethergohome.org, providing resources for donations, information on local bail funds and guidance on how to get involved in court-watching efforts.

Apple’s latest work is the extension of a career built on vulnerability, defiance and an unwillingness to conform. In 1996, at just 18

years old, she created and released her debut album, “Tidal”—a raw, soul-baring collection of songs that instantly revealed her as a voice unafraid to explore vulnerability, rage and desire. Her contralto voice in her songs adds to the lyrical depth that feel far older than her years. “Tidal” was a critical and commercial success, earning her a Grammy from “Criminal,” featured on the album, and cementing her as an artist who wouldn’t conform to the industry’s expectations.

Conformity wasn’t an option for Apple. Although critics and her team may have tried to put her in a societal box, her following album, “When the Pawn…” shattered any expectations of fitting neatly into the mainstream. Released in 1999, the album’s full title alone, a 90-word poem, was a bold statement of defiance and artistic freedom. The record pushed even further into complex arrangements, raw vulnerability and poetic introspection, proving that Apple was determined to put her own unique sound in the music world. Regardless of industry pressures, she charted and continued to cultivate a following.

For six years, she fell silent until 2005, with her release of

“Extraordinary Machine.” Apple continued to defy expectations with her subsequent albums, each marked by a distinctive sound and emotional depth. In 2012, she released “The Idler Wheel…” a 23-word album stripped down to its rawest form, featuring sparse, percussive arrangements that put her voice and lyrics at the forefront. The record was hailed for its intense vulnerability and inventive songwriting, further solidifying Apple’s reputation as an artist that is unafraid.

Then, after another extended break, Apple surprised fans once again in 2020 with “Fetch the Bolt Cutters.” With unconventional rhythms, found sounds and unfiltered emotion, the album earned her the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album, one of her three Grammy Awards.

Apple has not only pushed musical boundaries, but also confronted societal norms, making a powerful statement about resilience and freedom. Now with her newest release, she reminds us that music can be both a deeply personal expression and a tool for justice. Nearly three decades into her career, she remains a fearless force, unfiltered and uncompromising.

South Florida hosts Candlelight Concerts in atmospheric venues

By Marlee Card Candlelight Concerts, a globally recognized immersive music series, has expanded to South Florida, offering live performances of classical and contemporary music in venues illuminated entirely by candlelight.

Known for its signature ambiance and classical reinterpretations of popular music, the series brings a distinctive live experience to audiences. Performances feature music from a broad range of artists, including contemporary musicians like Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny, as well as legendary figures, such as The Beatles, Prince and Fleetwood Mac. Alexandra Costa, a project manager for Candlelight Concerts, said the format is designed to be both accessible and engaging.

“Performances are shorter, around 60 minutes, and take place in unique, atmospheric venues instead of formal concert halls,” Costa said. “The candlelit setting, combined with musicians who connect directly with the audience, creates an intimate and visually captivating atmosphere that appeals to both newcomers and seasoned concertgoers.”

Hosted in architecturally distinctive spaces, such as churches, theaters and cultural venues, the concerts create an atmosphere shaped by candlelight and acoustic instrumentation. The event has been presented in more than 100 cities and is

COURTESY OF FEVER

Musicians perform in front of an audience during a Candlelight Concert.

produced by Fever, a live entertainment discovery platform.

“These spaces add character, enhance the acoustics and offer a special atmosphere that complements the candlelit setting,” Costa said. “By stepping outside traditional concert halls, we invite audiences to discover music in a fresh and inspiring way.”

Designed for guests ages 8 and older, Candlelight Concerts create a warm and captivating atmosphere that encourages audiences to connect more deeply with the music.

Amelia Blackburn, an attendee at the Coldplay tribute at Savor Cinema

in Fort Lauderdale, said the experience was unique.

“The experience was truly like none I’ve had before, as silly as it sounds,” Blackburn said. “Even without words the music provided such a powerful, and surreal experience.”

Recent programs in Fort Lauderdale include a tribute to The Beatles performed by the Collins String Quartet, as well as a Queen vs. ABBA tribute by the same ensemble. Additional shows included Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and a Bad Bunny tribute in Miami.

“We aim to offer a diverse lineup, from classical composers to popular

artists like Taylor Swift or Queen, so that each concert feels relevant and exciting for the local audience while keeping the Candlelight experience fresh and memorable,” Costa said.

Candlelight Concerts are accessible to a broad audience and feature classical compositions to contemporary popular music.

South Florida performances are scheduled on multiple dates and at various venues. Those interested can buy tickets, view program details and concert schedules on the official Fever website.

“We hope attendees leave Candlelight feeling inspired, emotionally moved, and more deeply connected to music, whether it is their first classical concert or one of many,” Costa said. “Our aim is to make classical music more accessible, emotionally resonant, and unforgettable.”

For more information: Scan the QR code below or visit @candlelight.concerts on Instagram. .

16 The Current | August 18, 2025

The Current

SPORTS

CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS

COURTESY OF NSU ATHLETICS

The NSU women’s swim team celebrates winning the 2024-2025 NCAA Division II National Championship title.

COURTESY OF NSU ATHLETICS

The NSU men’s basketball team celebrates winning the 2024-2025 NCAA Division II National Championship title.

The Current | August 18, 2025 17

Reflections from former sports editor: Bella Giaquinto

By Bella Giaquinto When I first joined The Current in 2022, the concept of a dedicated sports desk was just that — a concept. While there was no established section for sports, I saw an exciting opportunity to cultivate something new. The sports desk began to take shape when Chris Delboni, director of Mako Media Network, entrusted me with the role of sports editor.

The desk truly started to grow with the addition of Dr. Mario D’Agostino, sports desk adviser, and later, Isabella Fernandez de Cueto, who joined us as a dedicated sportswriter. Being sports Bella Giaquinto, editor opened doors to incredible former sports editor of The Current opportunities, allowing me to expand

my reach within Mako TV and Mako Radio, and even get published in the Sun Sentinel. This past year, in particular, I saw significant growth for our sports desk through valuable collaborations with NSU Athletics that brought our access and reporting to new heights (a special thank you to Robert Baroniel, Jon Leatherman and Joshua Leatherman, for their forceful support of this publication and for always making time to accommodate student journalism). The most valuable experience as sports editor lies in the work I’ve done with practicum students. Mentoring and working alongside a multitude of eager practicum students has taught me something new about my writing, reporting

and editing every day. It has been an honor to watch students find their voices as writers and become confident in their sports reportage.

It’s with immense pride that I now pass the torch to Isabella, who will be taking over as the new sports editor.

I have full confidence in her ability to lead and continue the growth we’ve worked so hard to achieve. I am profoundly grateful for every opportunity being sports editor has afforded me.

It’s been an honor to assist in curating this sports desk, work alongside talented peers and mentors, and cover the vibrant sports scene of NSU. Thank you for reading, and I look forward to seeing the sports desk thrive under Isabella’s leadership.

David Chaviano: NSU basketball’s constant for 22 years

By Madison Kasper NSU men’s basketball is constantly changing with student athletes coming and going, but there has been one constant for 22 years.

David Chaviano, better known as “Chavi,” is an equipment room assistant who first started at NSU in August 2003. Since then, he has become the heart of the program.

Chavi’s role is crucial for the team. He said he is always there behind the scenes making sure the players have everything they need.

“When they walk in, they don’t have to touch anything at all. Just play ball, that’s it,” Chaviano said.

PHOTO BY MADISON KASPER

David Chaviano, equipment room assistant, cuts the net in celebration of men’s basketball winning the South Regional Championship title.

“If they don’t have their things, they can’t perform on the floor. It’s like a rock band. If the rock band’s missing an instrument, they can’t perform.”

He is proud to have been at NSU for this long and credits the atheletes as his reason for staying.

“It is the joy and fun that the student-athletes bring out of me. I’m like a little kid,” Chaviano said.

His passion for the team and the program does not go unnoticed by the men’s basketball players, including fifth-year forward Tommy Sala.

“I think it was like the first game.

I didn’t know how intense he was on the sidelines. The first game I was ever dressed for NSU. The ball just gets tipped off, and from right behind me, as loud as I’ve ever heard, ‘Let’s go,’ and I turn around and it’s Chavi,” Sala said.

“It’s been like that from that game on and every game for the rest of my career. That was when I realized how much he really cared.”

Robert “Bubba” Baroniel, assistant athletic director of athletic external affairs, said that Chavi’s smile is what makes him so special.

“The smile opens the gateway to the personality. He is an extremely friendly and joking person. He’s just somebody that you can just talk to and engage with and interact with,” Baroniel said.

Baroniel was a student-athlete on NSU’s men’s baseball team,

PHOTO BY MADISON KASPER

David Chaviano, equipment room assistant, prepares towels and water for the men’s basketball team during the South Regional Championship game.

graduating in 2015. He said student athletes who aren’t on the men’s basketball team don’t always get to know all sides of who Chavi is as a person.

“As a non-basketball student athlete, you don’t really have an appreciation for everything he does. One of my favorite parts about me being a student, my relationship with Chavi is that when I was a baseball player here, we used to shoot free throws once a week, and it would be a best out of five. And I never beat Chavi,” Baroniel said. “So apart from being as awesome of a manager as he is, he’s also that much

NSU Athletics External Team wins national awards

By Isabella Fernandez de Cueto The National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators and Collegiate Sports Communicators recognized the NSU Athletics External Operations team as a finalist for the NACMA Multiplatform Brand Campaign and Membership Drives awards. NSU Athletics was awarded bronze in the NACMA Multiplatform Brand Campaign and Membership Drives categories.

better of a free-throw shooter than most people know.”

Nick Smith, assistant men’s basketball coach, met Chavi when he first toured NSU. “When I came on my visit back in 2017, I introduced myself and we kind of clicked right away and we’ve been best friends ever since,” Smith said.

Chavi said he is a friend of anyone in NSU Athletics. His favorite part of working at NSU Athletics is the people.

“I love these people to death; I wouldn’t trade anything for anything,” Chaviano said.

Robert “Bubba” Baroniel

Assistant athletic director of athletic external affairs

Jon Leatherman

Manager of athletic communications

Kacie John

Former coordinator for revenue generation, marketing and promotions

Joshua Raphael

Athletic communications coordinator

Joe Hausman

Digital media & graphic design coordinator

18 The Current | August 18, 2025

BY ISABELLA FERNANDEZ DE CUETO

2024-2025 Sports Recap

COURTESY OF NSU ATHLETICS

Marco Gueli, forward and senior marketing major, takes a shot on goal against Florida Southern on Oct. 26, 2024.

COURTESY OF NSU ATHLETICS

Gracelyn Wallace, pitcher and sophomore business of health major, throws a pitch against Tampa on April 5.

FALL Women’s cross-country

Women’s soccer

Men’s cross-country

Men’s soccer

Volleyball

The women’s cross-country team won its first Sunshine State Conference championship title in program history and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship for the third time in program history. Jillian Thorning was the SSC individual champion and was named the SSC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year.

The women’s soccer team was a finalist in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament and advanced to the second round of the NCAA South Region tournament, finishing with an 8-6-4 record. Alexa Bereczki won SSC Freshman of the Year, leading the team with seven goals, five being game-winners.

The men’s cross-country team finished in sixth place at the Sunshine State Conference Championships, qualifying for the NCAA South Region Championship, where the team finished 16th and Jaime Blazquez finished in 37th place.

The men’s soccer team finished the 2024 season with a 7-5-3 record and a Sunshine State Conference Tournament quarterfinal appearance. Kevin Rubaszewski and Ade Olumyiwa were named to the All-SSC First Team.

The volleyball team advanced to the first round of the NCAA South Regional Tournament and finished with a 20-11 record. Olivia Aniol earned AVCA All-American honorable mention, All-SSC First Team, D2 CCA AllSouth Region second team and AVCA All-South first team.

WINTER Men’s basketball

Women’s basketball

Men’s swimming

Women’s swimming

The men’s basketball team won its second NCAA Division II National Championship in three years and finished with a 36-1 record. MJ Iraldi won the Bevo Francis Award, becoming the second Shark in program history to do so, also earning SSC Player of the Year, D2 CCA South Region and National Player of the Year and NABC National Player of the Year while leading Division II in points.

The women’s basketball team was a finalist in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament and advanced to the NCAA South Region Championship game, finishing with a 27-7 record. Aubrey Stupp was named to the All-SSC First Team and Payton Graber was named to the All-SSC Third Team and All-SSC Defensive Team.

The men’s swimming team finished in 15th place at the NCAA Division II National Championships, with Luca Alessandrini, Gavin Lindley and Inigo Marina having qualified for the meet. Alessandrini earned All-SSC First Team honors for the third time in his career.

The women’s swimming team won its third consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship, with three individual national title wins that included Kristina Orban, Emilia Ronningdal, Hailey Williams, Ilaria Murzulli, Zsofia Kurdi, Maya Esparza and Maria Goncalves.

Baseball

Softball

Rowing

Men’s track

The baseball team finished its 2025 season with a 26-22 overall record and a fifth-place finish in the Sunshine State Conference. Five Sharks were named to the All-SSC Second Team, with Roylan Quevedo also named to the All-SSC Defensive Team.

The softball team had a 39-16 overall record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA South Regional Tournament. Gracelyn Wallace earned NFCA All-South Region First Team and All-SSC First Team honors and was named to the NFCA DII Player and Pitcher of the Year Watchlist.

The rowing team placed fifth at the Sunshine State Conference Championship. Emma Hickey received AllSSC Team honors and Milly Murphy received All-Freshman/Novice Team honors.

The men’s track team finished in sixth place at the first Sunshine State Conference Outdoor Track Championships. Julian Granville was named to the All-SSC Second Team in two separate events.

Women’s track

Tennis

Men’s golf

Women’s golf

The women’s track team finished in third place at the first Sunshine State Conference Outdoor Track Championships. Jillian Thorning and Sativa James both won individual SSC titles, with Thorning also winning SSC Distance Runner of the Year and James winning SSC Freshman of the Year.

The tennis team advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship match for the second consecutive year and ended its season with a 25-4 record. Kristyna Hranacova ranked fourth in the nation in singles play, earning her All-SSC First Team in singles, All-SSC second team in doubles and recognition as the ITA Player to Watch.

The men’s golf team advanced to the NCAA South/Southeast Regional Tournament, where it finished tied for 16th place. Bruno Marques received All-SSC First Team honors and was named SSC Freshman of the Year.

The women’s golf team won its first Sunshine State Conference Championship title since 2018 and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship tournament for the third consecutive year, in which it finished in 10th place. Lua Pousa Dacasa earned All-SSC First Team honors.

SPRING

The Current | August 18, 2025 19 VOLLEYBALL

L WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEN’S BASKETBALL

10/18/24

11/3/24

11/15/24

Brittany Landrum: Broke program all-time blocks record (482)

Dallas Graziani: Set program single-game assist record (17)

Scored the most points in a single game in program history (111)

WOMEN’S SWIM

MEN’S BASKETBALL

VOLLEYBALL

2/15/25

11/23/24

2/1/25

Kristina Orban, Zsofia Kurdi, Maria Goncalves, Maya Esparza: Set school and conference record in 200 freestyle relay (1:30.75)

Broke team single-game rebound record (63)

Olivia Aniol: Set program single season block assists record (130)

MEN’S BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S TRACK

MEN’S TRACK

2/22/25

2/22/25

2/22/25 Dallas Graziani: Broke program single season assists record (340)

MEN’S BASKETBALL

3/9/25 MJ Iraldi: Broke program single season scoring record (873)

Jillian Thorning: Broke school record in the 5000 meters (17:02.84)

NSU Athletics Record Breaking 2024-2025 Season

Jaime Blazquez: Set 5000 meters school record (14:55.60)

WOMEN’S TRACK

2/28/25 Jillian Thorning: Broke school record in 1500 meters (4:31.80)

By Isabella Fernandez de Cueto and Nicole Gomez MEN’S BASKETBALL

3/9/25

MEN’S SWIM

WOMEN’S SWIM

3/12/25

3/12/25

Broke NCAA Division II record for most consecutive home court victories (84)

Maria Goncalves, Hannah Montgomery, Kristina Orban and Maya Esparza: Set school and SSC record in 200 medley relay (1:38.44)

Luca Alessandrini: Set school record in 1000 freestyle (9:00.29)

MEN’S BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S SWIM

WOMEN’S SWIM

3/15/25

3/12/25

3/15/25 MJ Iraldi: Broke program single season field goal attempts (621)

Maria Goncalves, Maya Esparza, Zsofia Kurdi, Emilla Ronningdal: Set school and conference record in 400 freestyle relay to win national championship (3:19.09)

Kristina Orban: Set school record in 50 freestyle (22.52)

MEN’S BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S TRACK

MEN’S TRACK

4/5/25

4/5/25

3/18/25 MJ Iraldi: Broke program single season field goals made record (326)

Jillian Thorning: Broke school 800 meters record (2:12.81)

Jaime Blazquez: Set school record in 1500 meters (3:50.18)

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NSU ATHLETICS

20 The Current | August 18, 2025

The Sharky’s honor standout NSU Athletes in 2024-25 season

PHOTO BY MADISON KASPER

Jim Crutchfield, head men’s basketball coach, talks about Ryker Cisarik, fifthyear sport and recreation management major, after presenting him with the 2025 male Golden Shark award.

By Eric Tovin The seventh annual Sharky’s, an end-of-year award show with eight categories recognizing NSU’s student-athletes, took place at the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center.

Dr. Harry K. Moon, president and CEO of Nova Southeastern University, kicked off the award show with a heartfelt speech commemorating student-athletes and the athletics department for all of their hard work.

“Personally, having been a student-athlete, I can share some of the things that they have to go through,” said Moon, a former track and field athlete. “The practice, the work, the academics, and the fulfillment of many, many goals. So, it’s a special time.”

Moon also expressed his plans to continue his support for athletics while also sharing possible future plans as he heads into his first full academic year as president.

“We’re going to grow athletics. We will have a new track program, and we will build a track on university grounds,” Moon said. “I look forward to expanding athletic teams to include a sailing team and beach volleyball, perhaps in the future. I look at its expansion and look at what division we should best compete in and win. We’re assessing that aspect as well.”

Rachel Fineberg, senior woman administrator, title IX coordinator and associate athletic director for

student athlete services, has been coordinating the Sharky’s since its inception.

“I think it’s amazing that we get a chance to intentionally come together and celebrate everything that student-athletes accomplish,” Fineberg said. “As a department we’re all over the place all year, so having the opportunity to get everybody in one spot at one time to sit back and reflect on the year is unique and special.”

The Sharks Supporting Sharks Cup, the only team award of the event, was given to women’s basketball for their attendance at sporting events across all NSU athletics.

The Golden Shark award is chosen among a pool of Ultimate Shark honorees, who are chosen as the top athletes in their respective sports.

The Male Golden Shark went to fifth-year sports and recreational management major Ryker Cisarik, forward on the men’s basketball team and a critical part of its 202425 NCAA DII National Championship squad.

“It’s a cool honor. It’s all thanks to my teammates, being in the right situation, being in the right system, and having the opportunity to grow and excel as a Shark. I’ll forever be grateful,” Cisarik said.

The Female Golden Shark went to senior management major and women’s swimmer May Lowy. Lowy has had a successful tenure having won three national championships and was excited to win the award.

“This is the first time I’m getting any award in the past four years.

Four years later, finally, I’m getting the best one,” Lowy said. “I was nominated year after year and I finally got one. I’m super happy, I worked hard for this.”

The Larry Starr Comeback Award is named in honor of Larry Starr, who helped shape sports medicine at NSU by creating the Sports Medicine Interdisciplinary Team and the strength and conditioning department. The award recognizes an athlete who came back from injury.

The inaugural award was presented to senior criminal justice major and men’s soccer defender Paul Boos-Patton. Boos-Patton missed his junior year due to a torn ACL. However, he was able to fully recover from the injury and returned for his senior season, logging a team high of 1,335 minutes on the field and starting in 14 appearances.

“I think it’s a good feeling to be recognized for this,” Boos-Patton said.

“I think one of the biggest things about receiving this award is being recognized for all the things that you do when no one’s looking. No one sees the comeback process, it’s a lot of work.”

Fifth-year exercise and sports science major and baseball outfielder Justin Wachs received the NSCA Male Athlete of the Year Award, while the NSCA Female Athlete of the Year Award was presented to junior exercise and sports science major and women’s soccer midfielder Sofia Suarez.

“It’s just a small piece of recognition for all the hard work that’s gone into everything I’ve done for the past five years,” Wachs said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do this without all my teammates, coaches, family, friends. Everyone plays a part.”

The Rising Star Award is presented to sophomores and juniors who are climbing the ranks in their respective sports. The Male Rising Star was awarded to sophomore exercise and sports science major and men’s soccer goalkeeper Nikolas Ricardo, and the Female Rising Star was awarded to junior psychology major and

volleyball player Olivia Aniol.

“It feels great. I’m definitely blessed. I wasn’t coming to this unit expecting to make an impact, but I was always ready,” Ricardo said. “So when I got my chance, I just made the most of it.”

The Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award is presented to student-athletes who excel both academically and athletically. The Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year was given to senior marketing major and men’s soccer forward Marco Gueli, and the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year was given to senior finance major and women’s soccer midfielder Saga Björling. Björling balances the two worlds by putting her all into both.

“I guess it’s a combination of being able to do what I love with soccer, which gives me the energy to put all the effort that it takes to get through school,” Björling said. “Also having a support system with everyone around you and everything that NSU offers that helps with being able to perform both on and off the field.”

The Newcomer of the Year Award is awarded to freshmen and transfers who have made an impact in their respective sports. The Male Newcomer of the Year was presented to freshman men’s golf member Bruno Marques, who also earned 202425 SSC Freshman of the Year. The Female Newcomer of the Year was presented to sophomore biology major and women’s track transfer Jillian Thorning, who also earned 2024-25 SSC Runner of the Year.

“I’m super proud of how far I’ve come. This is only my first year here, but I’m just proud of my team in general as well,” Thorning said. “I feel like we came a long way together and I couldn’t have done it without them.

I thank them, my coaches, and everyone who has helped get me to where I am.”

For more information: To stay up to date on NSU Athletics, visit nsusharks.com or follow @NSUSharks on X and Instagram.

PHOTO BY MADISON KASPER

From left, Saga Björling, senior finance major, is presented with the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year award by Deanna Rivero, athletic academic services manager.

The Current | August 18, 2025 21

Back on top: NSU men’s basketball team reclaims national championship title

By Isabella Fernandez de Cueto “Maybe the most exciting basketball program in all of college hoops” is how NCAA President Charlie Baker described Nova Southeastern University’s men’s basketball team at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics & Affiliates Convention on June 10.

On March 29, the men’s basketball team won its second NCAA Division II National Championship in three years, beating California State Dominguez Hills 74-73.

“We’re more than just a team that had a great year, we’ve been at the national tournament and the last three we’ve been in the national championship game,” men’s basketball head coach Jim Crutchfield said.

“It speaks to the program and university more than it does to any specific team because we’ve been comprised of a lot of different players.”

In the season 2023-24, the Sharks advanced to the national championship game and lost in heartbreaking fashion 88-85, after their opponent scored a buzzer-beating three pointer.

“That stung for us, so it’s a good feeling to have gotten ‘revenge,’” assistant men’s basketball coach Nick Smith said. “It gave us a sick feeling in our stomach for the whole year, it’s something our guys didn’t forget and we didn’t want to feel that way again.”

The motivation from the national championship loss appeared evident from the start of the season. The men’s basketball team had a 36-1 overall record and broke the NCAA Division II record for most consecutive home victories on March 9.

Crutchfield said the team lost its five tallest players—Iraldi and Cisarik included— meaning slight adjustments and changes for the Sharks.

“We don’t try to replace guys, we just probably won’t be as big next year. We’ll try to come up with different types of players. One thing is for sure, we’re losing great players, but we’ve had a tradition here of playing next man up,” Crutchfield said. “Those guys are gone, someone else has to step up and our guys know that.”

For the 2025-26 season, the team is adding three transfers and four freshmen. Crutchfield looks forward to seeing how the team will carry its previous success into the new PHOTO BY MADISON KASPER season.

NSU men’s basketball team celebrates with its NCAA national championship “Once you experience playing for trophy at the welcome home event on March 31. the national championship, it makes you want to get there again,” Crutch“Our guys did a really good job the team will be without MJ Iraldi field said. “I’m hoping that the guys staying super locked in the entire and Ryker Cisarik—two key players that were here last year feel the same year,” Smith said. “It’s exhausting from the Sharks’ championship run. way about this year.” the way we play sometimes, but it’s a Iraldi earned Sunshine State ConThe men’s basketball team will testament to them and just how hard ference Player of the Year, All-SSC open its season in November playthey work throughout the season.” first-team honors, NABC National ing the style of basketball Shark fans Maintaining their high perfor- Player of the Year, D2 CCA South know and love. mance and reputation speaks not Region Player of the Year and won “Coach Crutchfield isn’t a firm only to how well they play basket- the Bevo Francis Award, while aver- believer in saying our goal is to win a ball, but also to their resilience and aging 23.6 points per game, 6.4 national championship. We want to ability to rise above the pressure that rebounds and 2.9 assists, and break- put out a team that is fun to watch, comes with being a top program. ing the program’s single season fast-paced and just a bunch of good “It’s more difficult for us to do that scoring record. Cisarik earned All- guys that play the game the right because we have a target on our back SSC second-team, All-SSC defensive way,” Smith said. “We want people right now; everywhere we go, it’s a team and D2 CCA All South Region to see a team that plays way harder big game for the other team to knock second team, while averaging 18.8 than the normal team.” us off, so it’s a tribute to the players points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. to be that consistent,” Crutchfield “In the system and style of basketEric Tovin contributed to this said. “We’re privileged to have that ball we play, you can plug in differ- report. pressure because we put ourselves ent guys,” Smith said. “We feel like in a good situation.” the new guys will bring it as well as Looking at this upcoming season, the guys that are returning.”

Athletics introduces new ticketing system it easier than ever for our supporters to get in the building and be part of that experience,” Nick Smith, assistant basketball coach, wrote in an email to The Current. “It’s going to elevate our game-day atmosphere and help give our student-athletes the kind of home-court advantage they deserve.”

The platform is called Glitnir Ticketing. It was initially used for minor league baseball, and has expanded to college athletics, including Division I schools Gardener-Webb University and the University of North Alabama. Through Glitnir, students, faculty and staff make an account using their university credentials and are able to buy and access their PHOTO BY BRIELLE AGUAYO tickets directly on the platform.

Students attend a men’s basketball game, one of the sporting events that can be Students will get an additional free found on Glitnir Ticketing. ticket to every game, while faculty and staff get four additional free

By Isabella Fernandez de Cueto Beginning in the fall, men’s and tickets. women’s soccer and basketball, “We’re really excited about having NSU Athletics is transitioning volleyball, baseball and softball will this new ticketing platform because to a new ticketing system for stu- be impacted by the new ticketing it’s going to allow us to create a betdents, faculty and staff to buy tick- process. ter experience for our customers ets for on-campus sporting events.

“This new ticketing system makes throughout the checkout process of

buying tickets, and it also gives us the ability to do more with ticketing,” said Robert Baroniel, assistant athletic director of athletic external affairs.

NSU Athletics saw a 35.6% increase in total fan attendance during the 2024-25 season, Baroniel said, and had a record-breaking attendance night on Nov. 15, 2024 during the men’s basketball homecoming game. Baroniel is hopeful that Glitnir will continue positively impacting attendance.

“The system is going to give us the ability to track our customers and communicate with them better.

We’ll be able to remind them about what’s going on and let them know about upcoming promotions,” Baroniel said. “We’ll be able to manage them through this ticketing platform which I think will lead to better attendance and more revenue.”

This platform will be seen across other ticketed events at NSU, including at the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center and NSU Art Museum.

22 The Current | August 18, 2025

Mindset and motivation drive NSU women’s swim team to third national title

By Madison Kasper Nova Southeastern University’s women’s swim team won its third consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship during the 2024-25 season.

Ben Hewitt, head men’s and women’s swimming coach and College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America DII Women’s Coach of the Year, said that maintaining this level of success through the past three seasons has been dependent on the mindset of living in the present.

“What we’re trying to accomplish is always about going and doing something and being present in the moment, and not so much about resting on the laurels of past successes,” Hewitt said. “Wiping that slate clean, because each year’s a new team, and we want to do something really special with that team, and do it in a different way, so just making sure that we’re ever present in our quest to be the best version of ourselves.”

Hewitt said that the 2024-25 team was self-motivated, but what really helped them was finishing second in the SSC championship meet, which is something the team is not used to, having won the previous three meets.

PHOTO BY MADISON KASPER

Women’s swimming was recognized during halftime of the NCAA South Regional Championship basketball game for winning its third consecutive national championship.

“It was an eye-opener, but they could also see how things really could come together, and they were just hungry enough because coming up short sometimes is the best thing that can happen to you, because it’s humbling and it’s motivating,” Hewitt said.

The team went into the final day of the national championship meet being down by five points. It came down to the last event, the 400 Freestyle Relay, which consisted of Zsofia

Kurdi, Emilia Ronningdal, Maria Goncalves and Maya Esparza. They ultimately finished in first place, setting an NSU and SSC record and securing the national championship.

Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year, Kristina Orban said that her most memorable moment from the meet was when she realized the team won, along with her individual win in 200 freestyle.

“That’s an unforgettable moment, when you know what you’ve been

working for and everything you’ve put time into is paying off and you’ve succeeded. It’s just an amazing feeling.” Orban said.

Win or lose, Hewitt was proud of the team and was more than happy to celebrate all they accomplished.

He also said that being vulnerable is what brought him closer to the team.

“We don’t always get somewhere by hiding ourselves and not giving of ourselves, and just kind of expecting others to do things for you. I think showing how much they mean to me, even if it’s hard to show that as a male in their 40s,” Hewitt said.

“Caring about their successes and realizing that you’re actually giving them a life changing experience, not necessarily just because they won national championships, but you see them grow up before your eyes.”

While winning its fourth consecutive national championship next season is on their minds, Orban said having fun is something that this team valued, and she is planning to bring that into next season.

“No matter how stressed and nervous we are in the situation, we just have to keep in mind that we are there for each other and having fun is a way for us to ease up and make every meet and every moment memorable,” Orban said.

Women’s basketball welcomes new head coach

By Isabella Fernandez de Cueto Hired in April 2025, new women’s basketball coach Heather Macy kicks off her 26th year of coaching at NSU. Macy’s collegiate basketball career started as a player at Greensboro College. She played there from 19962000 and is eighth in program history for three-point field goals made and ninth in games played, which earned her an induction into the Greensboro College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.

“I don’t think there was ever a question that when my playing career ended that I would stop being around the game, so coaching became a natural progression,” Macy said.

Macy started off as an assistant coach at Catawba College in 2000 and subsequently had assistant coaching positions at Lenoir-Rhyne University, High Point University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Macy became the head coach at Pfeiffer University in 2005 and since then has served as a head coach at East Carolina University, where she is the all-time winningest coach. Macy was also a head coach at Francis Marion University, Spartanburg Methodist College, Greensboro College and Barry University.

“I’m proud to say I’m one of the

few coaches who has coached Division I all the way to junior college as a head coach,” Macy said. “I’ve been able to see a lot of different levels and players and why they may or may not be successful.”

Macy cited several reasons for deciding to come to NSU after coaching two seasons at conference rival Barry.

“This is such a prestigious institution at an elite level where I get to work with amazing people every single day in an amazing area of the country,” Macy said.

Her experience at Barry gives her advantages she can use during her time as a Shark both on and off the court.

“I have some familiarities with the teams that we’re going to play against, but I also better understand the state of Florida and how to travel, for example when you’re traveling where you should eat and stay and those kinds of details,” Macy said.

Despite having more than 350 career wins, Macy wants her legacy as a coach to be more than her victories.

“What I’d like to be remembered by is not all of the winning, but as someone who found ways to help people be successful every single day,” Macy said. “I love being around my players.”

In addition to her basketball

career, Macy is the author of two books and the founder of the Two Feet In organization, which are centered around helping athletes use emotional intelligence to enhance their performance. She implements this knowledge into her coaching.

“I’m an emotionally regulated coach, so as that filters down to our staff and athletes, I think that creates great consistency,” Macy said.

“When you have consistency of performance and attitude, you typically have a great group that works every day to become the ultimate teammate.”

The NSU women’s basketball team ended its 2024-25 season with a 27-7 record and advanced to the Sunshine State Conference tournament final as well as the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament. Macy hopes to build on the program’s success.

“When joining an athletic department with this kind of reputation, the goal is to win every single game day and win championships,” Macy said.

Ryan Romero, interim director of athletics, is confident in Macy’s capability to help the team succeed.

“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Coach Heather Macy to NSU. She brings a wealth of experience, a clear vision for excellence, and a passion for developing student-athletes both on and off the court,” Romero

said. “Her energy and leadership are exactly what we need as we take the next step forward with our women’s basketball program.”

COURTESY OF HEATHER MACY

Heather Macy coaches a game at her previous college, Barry University.

For more information: To keep up with the women’s basketball team, follow them @NSU_WBasketball on X and Instagram.

The Current | August 18, 2025 23

EVENTS CALENDAR AUGUST

FALL 2025

MONDAY

18

Fins Up! Semester Kick Off! Noon - Athletic Hall of Fame, Don Taft University Center

17

Shark Showcase 7:30 p.m. - Performance Theatre, Don Taft University Center

FRIDAY

22

Sharkapalooza 7 p.m. - Bill Gessner Sports Complex

SATURDAY

25

Mayfly 7:30 p.m. - Black Box Theatre, Don Taft University Center

FRIDAY

29

Water Works 8 p.m. - Alvin Sherman Library Quad

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Harlem After Dark: An Uptown Jazz Party 8 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

30

SEPTEMBER THURSDAY

25

Guest Artist Exhibition - Nathalie Alfonso 5 p.m. - Gallery 217, Don Taft University Center

SATURDAY

Block Painting Arts Festival 11 a.m. - Alvin Sherman Library Quad

27

OCTOBER FRIDAY

3

SATURDAY

College Radio Day 2025 10 a.m. - Rosenthal 140 College Radio Day After-party 4 p.m. - Shark Circle Rent: A Musical 7:30 p.m. - Black Box Theatre, Don Taft University Center

4

Rent: A Musical 7:30 p.m. - Black Box Theatre, Don Taft University Center

SUNDAY

Rent: A Musical 2 p.m. - Black Box Theatre, Don Taft University Center

5

WEDNESDAY Dance Awareness Day

15

9 a.m. - Don Taft University Center and the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

FRIDAY

31

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 8 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

NOVEMBER THURSDAY

13

12th Faculty Art Exhibition 5 p.m. - Gallery 217, Don Taft University Center

FRIDAY

14

Peace Concert - Seasons of Love 7:30 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

THURSDAY

20

Music for the Season Noon - Cotilla Gallery, Alvin Sherman Library

FRIDAY

21

DanceWorks 7:30 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

SATURDAY

22

DanceWorks 7:30 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

SUNDAY

Crystal Gayle: Legendary Music Icon Live in Concert 2 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

23

The Wheeland Brothers 8 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

DECEMBER SATURDAY

6

Grand Kyiv Ballet: The Nutcracker 7 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

24 The Current | August 18, 2025

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GAME HOUSING JOURNALIST FRATERNITY RESOURCES

ADVICE UNVEIL RECORD GALLERY SHARKHUB

DINING FITNESS PINNING SHARKYS CHAVIANO

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. 10. 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 2025-2026 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.

I hope everyone had a relaxing summer. One fun summer flick, The Luckiest Man in America, was based on Michael Larson’s 1984 appearance on the game show “Press Your Luck.” In studying VHS tapes he made of prior episodes, Larson discovered that seemingly random patterns on the game board were not random and were pre-determined sequences. He used this knowledge to win over $110,000, a daytime television record, by always avoiding the dreaded “Whammy” on 46 straight spins on a game designed to have contestants land on a Whammy in 1 out of 6 spins. Find the probability (as a fraction or as a decimal rounded to 3 places) that a contestant without Larson’s knowledge, thus playing as designed, avoids a Whammy on 46 straight spins.

THE CURRENT’S COMIC

MAKO’S AUTOGRAPH

BY NICOLE GOMEZ