Flamingo Road Nursery brings fall to South Florida
ARTS | p. 6
NSU Art Museum showcases Latin American art in ‘Shared Dreams’ exhibition
SPORTS | p. 9 FEATURES | p. 5
Sophomore star leads the charge for NSU women’s soccer
THE CURRENT
NSU president shares his address at State of the University
By Antonio Miguel Escorzon
Dr. Harry K. Moon, president and CEO of Nova Southeastern University, gave his State of the University address on Oct. 1 in the Rick Case Arena in the Don Taft University Center.
“Nine months ago, when I had the honor of becoming NSU’s seventh president, I made some promises and set some goals, and I’m here today to reaffirm those promises and to report our progress in pursuing those goals,” Moon said.
A major part of Moon’s vision is to accelerate the time students take to complete their degrees.
“This semester, selected students began to receive their combined bachelors’ degrees in medical professions and others, compressing the time for completion from eight years to six years, and lowering the cost and debt burden for our students,” Moon said.
Moon hopes expedited learning can be extended to other programs, such as law, business, healthcare, computing and education.
“This is a wave of the future, and NSU is clearly among the first to catch that wave, but we’re pursuing excellence in everything we do, and that includes our commitment to become a catalyst for Florida and the world’s ocean economy,” Moon said.
Moon also highlighted achievements, such as the university becoming a Research 1 institution and the Carnegie Classification designating NSU as an “Opportunity College and University,” recognizing it as a model for how campuses foster student success.
Moon hopes NSU becomes one of Florida’s top private research universities and a champion contributor to the ocean economy.
“We are building and delivering on our status as a leading research university by increasing our human health clinical trials, fostering the ocean economy, climate readiness and generating much needed innovations in breakthroughs that benefit our society,” Moon said.
PHOTO BY MARLEE CARD Razor the Shark joins the DCMA dancers on
PHOTO BY ROSELINE JEAN-PIERRE
Dr. Harry K. Moon, president and CEO of Nova Southeastern University, gives a “Fins Up!” on Oct. 1 at NSU’s fall State of the University.
THE CURRENT
The Student-Run Newspaper of Nova Southeastern University @makonews / makomedia.nova.edu
Located in the Don Taft University Center Room 328
NEWSROOM
Phone: 954-262-8455 makonews@nova.edu
Antonio Miguel Escorzon Editor-in-Chief
Victoria Ruiz Graphic/Web Designer
Lila Taricco Graphic/Web Designer
Isabella Fernandez de Cueto Sports Editor
Marlee Card Reporter/Music Editor
Alexandria Munroe News Editor
Daria Gross Reporter
Isabelle Moreno Reporter
Sneha Subhash Health Writer
Samiksha Chemukula Health Desk Intern
Roseline Jean-Pierre Photojournalist
Madison Kasper Reporter/ Visual Journalist
Allen Worrell Web Editor/Reporter
Kai Dear Business Manager
Monica Kobierowski Assistant Business Manager
The Current serves Nova Southeastern University from its location in room 328 of the Don Taft University Center. The Current is NSU’s established vehicle for student reporting. All community members are invited to contribute.
Editorials, commentaries and advertisements in this publication reflect the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University or its officials, The Current advisers or advertisers. The Current will not publish unsigned letters except under special
BUSINESS & ADVERTISING Phone: 954-262-8455 thecurrentad@nova.edu
Liv Zolk Distribution Manager
Amaia Flores Social Media Manager
Yasmin De Andrade Rodrigues Assistant Social Media Manager
Chris Delboni Mako Media Network Director
Mike Lynn Mako Media Network Assistant Director/ Music Desk Adviser
Dr. Megan Fitzgerald Mako Media Network Faculty Adviser
Joyce Moed The Current Adviser
Dr. Mario D'Agostino Sports Desk Adviser
Dr. Aarti Raja Science/Health Desk Adviser Dr. Eric Mason Digital Adviser Dr. Shanti Bruce Chair, Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts
Letter from the editor
Dear Readers,
Hello there, Sharks! I hope you enjoy reading the semester’s fourth issue of The Current, NSU’s student-run newspaper. I am Antonio, The Current’s editor-in-chief.
Mako Media Network traveled to Washington, D.C. for MediaFest25 from Oct. 15-18. We won 15 awards, which includes the Mako TV staff winning first place for Video Newscast and Mako Radio’s “Off the Record” crew winning first place for audio newscast. You can read more on our website: makomedia.nova.edu.
In this issue, we covered Dr. Harry K. Moon’s Oct. 1 State of the University address and College Radio Day’s celebration.
We have stories about the Tutoring and Testing Center’s additional study space in the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center. We also covered how OneBlood, a nonprofit blood supplier, is receiving blood donations from students.
You can read about the new “Shared Dreams” art exhibition showcasing Latin American art donated by Stanley and Pearl Goodman, former Fort Lauderdale residents and long-time art collectors.
You will find out more about sports science’s role in NSU Athletics and the progress of the men’s and women’s golf teams this season.
The Current is part of Mako Media Network. MMN also includes Mako
tion on 88.5 FM. If you have questions, comments 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.
Take care, Antonio Miguel Escorzon
circumstances at the discre tion 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 submit ted 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.
FROM THE FRONT
STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY
Jaslyn Jimenez, a graduate student in the master of business administration program and member of The President’s 64, said Moon’s address to the NSU community surpassed her expectations.
“His speech today was very inspiring, kind of showing us what his plans are for the future and all of the new things to come,” Jimenez said.
Moon thanked NSU students, faculty, his executive leadership team, staff, donors and alumni for their leadership and support.
“Our shared strategic vision and dedication is strengthening not only the colleges and the divisions, but our university as a whole,” Moon said.
Daniel J. Alfonso, executive vice president of Facilities Management, Public Safety, and Business Services, said he likes how Moon emphasizes teamwork.
“It’s going to take all of us together to bring forth the effort to overcome challenges,” Alfonso said.
Mako Media Network Brings Home National Awards
Associated Collegiate Press. The annual convention, which took place in Washington D.C. from Oct.
and
Tutoring and Testing Center services open in the Alvin Sherman Library
By Daria Gross
At the start of this semester, the Tutoring and Testing Center on the second floor of the Student Affairs Building expanded to include the fourth floor of the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center, Room 4035.
Eric Gommermann, assistant director of Academic Support Services at the TTC, said the Center needed a larger location for students because the floor in the Student Affairs Building only catered to one-on-one tutoring.
“This new space is movable. It allows us to host meetings and events there,
which helps with our reach to students and being more efficient with the services we provide,” Gommermann said.
Lennsa Saint Jean, sophomore pre-nursing major, said the library room brings a new aesthetic.
“It’s a great study environment, and with all the student interaction, it creates a comfortable space for me,” Saint Jean said.
Gommermann said by utilizing this new additional room it helps achieve many academic success goals, such as student tutors putting their skills to work.
“Knowing that we are an awesome resource for students and are highly
effective at what we do, [is] ultimately allowing us to shine,” Gommermann said.
Aniruddh Mehra, senior double major in neuroscience and biology, is a tutor in both locations. He said he likes continuing to help students, regardless of the new changes.
“Having students get that ‘aha moment’ when they finally understand a concept that they’ve been struggling with for so long is the most gratifying thing, and it’s what drives me to be here,” Mehra said.
Students can register for both group sessions or one-on-one appointments through the online portal in Navigate.
For more information about one-on-one tutoring:
Hours:
Monday - Thursday (By appointment) 9-11 a.m. and 2-6 p.m. Friday 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (Drop-in only)
Monday and Tuesday 7-10 p.m. (Virtual appointments)
PHOTO BY ROSELINE JEAN-PIERRE
Attendees gather for NSU’s fall State of the University address.
COURTESY OF MAKO MEDIA NETWORK
Mako Media Network received 15 awards at MediaFest25, a joint convention among the College Media Association, Society of Professional Journalists and
15-18, brought together student journalists and advisers from across the country for journalism awards, educational panels
professional development opportunities.
The Current FEATURES Spotlight: Andrew Koenig offers CITY Furniture scholarship
By Antonio Miguel Escorzon
Andrew Koenig, CEO of CITY Furniture and NSU entrepreneurship school alumnus, established the CITY Furniture Scholarship Fund for the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship as a way to give back and help propel students forward.
“I believe the scholarship’s going to make those individuals that win it just better human beings. I am grateful for companies like CITY Furniture that believe in them and support them and want them to do great things,” Koenig said. “That’s our way of trying to pay it forward and we hope they do the same in their own special way.”
Koenig earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance at Elon University in Elon, N.C. in 2005. He graduated from the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship with a master of business administration degree in 2006.
NSU’s
By Alexandria Munroe and Daria Gross
Koenig said that his education at the Huizenga College prepared him to become a leader in the professional business world.
“We all had to develop our own business idea and build their own business plan, and going through that process of what it takes to become an entrepreneur was extremely helpful for me,” Koenig said. “It got me better educated on how to run CITY Furniture. It was a really good entrepreneurial education for me.”
After graduating from NSU, Koenig became an accounting intern and later became employed in the operation’s department for CITY Furniture. In 2018, he became chief operations officer. A year later, he became president. Then, in 2022, he became chief executive officer.
From September 2020 to April 2024, Koenig was on the Board of Governors, now known as the Board of Advisors of the H. Wayne Huizenga College of
Business and Entrepreneurship.
Andrew Rosman, dean of the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, said the scholarship, founded in 2021, allows undergraduate students in the college to get support in pursuing their educational goals.
Rosman said Koenig’s commitment to philanthropy and community prompted Koenig to gift the business college with the CITY Furniture Scholarship Fund.
“Andrew’s gift to Nova, his alma mater, to help support students, is helping students who don’t have the resources themselves to achieve an undergraduate degree,” Rosman said. “So he’s basically making it possible for students to be able to fulfill the things that he’s been able to accomplish in his life.”
Koenig said entrepreneurial students at NSU should use their time wisely.
“Once you jump into the business,
it’s hard to come out,” Koenig said. “You take those lessons and apply it for the real world. Don’t waste a second while you’re here.”
annual Dance Awareness Day
NSU’s dance program in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts hosted its annual Dance Awareness Day on Oct. 15, bringing high school students, NSU dancers and community members together for a day of classes and performances.
The event is an important way to connect with the larger South Florida dance community, Elana Lanczi, associate professor and director of the dance program, said.
“I love that some of my dance majors get to lead workshops, so that they get that experience,” Lanczi said. “It’s very exciting to have a lot of people here dancing and people who love to dance here together.”
This year, Princess Cruise Lines was a major sponsor of the event. They taught classes, and their Majestic Princess cast gave a special performance and Q&A session at the informal showing.
Miami City Ballet member Bradley Dunlap also taught a class for Dance Awareness Day.
Cheyenne Howell, junior child development major and dance minor, said that having Princess Cruise Lines sponsoring the event is beneficial for students, particularly the high schoolers attending the event.
“It’s a great opportunity for the high schoolers to know that dance is beyond
just football games, competitions, and high school,” Howell said.
Howell, who also taught a contemporary dance class on Dance Awareness Day, said she was inspired to teach after taking classes from older students in the past.
“It was really inspiring to watch them while I was a freshman, and it’s pushed me to teach this year,” Howell said. “It’s a great opportunity to practice my
choreographing skills and see what it looks like for my choreography to be on other dancers.”
Alonzo Williams, NSU alumnus and adjunct dance professor in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts, has been teaching at Dance Awareness Day since he was a student. He said his favorite part of the event is interacting with the high school students and seeing their excitement.
“A lot of the times when we get older, especially in our college years and beyond, [we] kind of forget the beauty and fun of dance,” Williams said. “They have the opportunity to connect with college professors as well as other professionals in the dance world to just learn and grow.”
Lanczi said she hopes to see more local dancers participate in Dance Awareness Day in the upcoming years.
“It’s an opportunity for people to try something new that they haven’t tried yet,” Lanczi said. “I’d love to bring in more students from around Broward County.”
By Antonio Miguel Escorzon
Carlos Guiovani Caceros, a project manager in Design and Construction, said renovations for two rooms in the Parker Building are in the design phase to accommodate lab-based courses.
Caceros said that due to the number of students in the program, additional chemistry and physics labs were needed.
Two rooms in the Parker Building
will become one large room after taking down the wall that separates them, he said.
“It’s going be one classroom that will house 24 students plus the instructor,” Caceros said.
The classroom will be a chemistry lab.
“It’ll have its own chemical room, its emergency shower and new bench seating for the experiments,” he said.
On Oct. 3, the Don Taft University Center clubroom on the second floor of the UC was renovated.
The clubroom has been renamed the Tate Family Championship Club, after Kenny Tate and Sandy Tate, NSU donors.
“It’s a multi-purpose space that will allow different parts of the community to come together for not only learning, but festivities,” Kristy Martinez, a project manager in Design and Construction, said.
Martinez said next steps are to add furniture back into the room.
“It elevates the amazing arena we have, so I think it’s just a timely upgrade and refresh to something that is just such a big part of our university,” Martinez said.
“Under Construction” is a series that informs readers about construction and renovation projects on NSU campuses.
PHOTO BY ANTONIO MIGUEL ESCORZON
From left: Saara Juman, Mako TV Donor Connect host, prepares to interview Andrew Koenig, CEO of CITY Furniture and NSU alumnus.
PHOTO BY ROSELINE JEAN-PIERRE Dancers take a hip-hop class during Dance Awareness Day.
Flamingo Road Nursery brings fall to South Florida
By Marlee Card
Pumpkins, hay bales and palm trees come together at Flamingo Road Nursery’s 17th Annual Fall Festival.
Until Sunday, Nov. 2, the nursery’s 10-acre garden turns into a festival with fall décor, pumpkin painting, hayrides and family activities that bring autumn to South Florida.
Lyz-Stephanie Durand, event coordinator and NSU alumna, said the festival combines classic fall staples like pumpkins, scarecrows and autumn colors, with local touches to match Florida’s climate.
“We always say, ‘it’s Florida fall,’” Durand said. “We serve frozen apple cider because we know it’s Florida, but we still want that classic apple cider flavor. Everything is a mix of traditional fall with a Florida twist. We go all out with our décor, and people feel instantly immersed when they walk in.”
Durand emphasizes the festival’s sense of community and diversity.
“It’s a big community feeling,” Durand said. “You’re connecting with everyone in your area. You see so many different types of people, and especially for South Florida students, it’s a great way to appreciate the diversity of where we live.”
Between the hayrides and frozen apple cider, the pumpkin-painting tent has become a main attraction.
“The weekend is the busiest,” Durand said. “Every year, every square inch of this place fills with
family and friends,” she said. “Also, it’s great for family photo shoots.”
Admissions prices are $15 and come with two tickets families can use on pumpkin painting, the hayride, picking up a frozen apple cider, popcorn or other food items. This year, the nursery expanded the paint tent, dining area and added a beverage station.
“It’s beautiful and magical,” Durand said. “People get to take the best photos, and they’re not going to find this anywhere else.”
For more information: Address: 1655 S Flamingo Rd Davie, FL 33325
Phone: 954-476-7878
Hours: Everyday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
families, couples, and friends, not just kids. It’s all ages.”
Caitlin Baisly, a Broward County local who works at the festival, said that there is something for everyone.
“Its super cute, it’s fun, great for
Sharks Speak: What are your thoughts on hurricane season?
“I’ve lived in Miami my whole life, so I’m not too worried about it. I know what to expect, so I’m not too worried. It’s nothing too crazy. For people that haven’t lived here, it can be kind of scary — all the rain, thunder and everything, especially because it’s a flood zone. It would be something to worry about if you’re not from here. To prepare, I would just get a lot of water, get a lot of food, just stock up, because you might be contained for a couple of days, maybe a week at most. And then just stay calm because everything will go back to normal.”
Maalav Patel, freshman psychology major.
BY DARIA GROSS
“I would say that hurricane season can sometimes be scary and anxiety-inducing for me. I’m an out-of-state student from Pennsylvania, so before coming to Florida, I was not familiar with hurricanes, and it can definitely be alarming when one comes up randomly. But I think that education on hurricanes, especially for out-of-state students, would be good for the university to have, because, as I said, if you’re not from here, you’re not really aware of them and how to manage them. So I think education would be a good resource for students.”
Caroline Miller, sophomore political science major.
“I’m from New York, so I’ve only been through one major hurricane, Hurricane Sandy, when I was younger. And it’s funny because getting prepared for it can be crazy, but during it, the community can come together and actually grow, and so even though some destruction is really poor and it’s really sad to see, the community that comes from it can sometimes be beneficial. So there’s ups and downs just like everything.”
“I think it’s exciting because a lot of water starts pouring from the sky. The streets flood up a little bit. You have to watch your socks because they get wet. But, as much as it’s fun, you also have to take some precautions: make sure you have drinking water and make sure if you’re living on the first floor, your doors are boarded off to have some water protection. But other than that, I think you can still have a lot of fun during hurricane season.”
Shreeji Patel, senior neuroscience major.
Jennifer Dieck, junior speech pathology major.
PHOTO BY MARLEE CARD
Festival attendees exchange tickets for the pumpkin painting activity during Flamingo Nursery’s Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 11.
The Current ARTS
NSU Art Museum showcases Latin American art in ‘Shared Dreams’ exhibition
By Alexandria Munroe
The NSU Art Museum has unveiled “Shared Dreams,” a new exhibition showcasing a selection of Latin American art donated by Stanley and Pearl Goodman, former Fort Lauderdale residents and long-time art collectors.
For decades, the Goodmans traveled the world together collecting art from auctions and galleries that were artistically pleasing to them until they decided that their collection needed a central theme.
“Eventually it dawned on us that if we’re going to do this, that we have to focus down, that we have to collect something that’s specific,” Stanley Goodman said.
Their life in South Florida, and Pearl Goodman’s relatives in Mexico, inspired them to focus on Latin American modernism. As their interest in the style deepened, the Goodmans said they began to study art history to determine which artists best represented each country.
“Our aim was to get the key people in each one of the Latin American countries,” Pearl Goodman said. “Once we started studying, we picked up those bits of knowledge.”
Stanley and Pearl Goodman’s
donation to the NSU Art Museum includes works from artists like Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Fernando Botero. The 88-piece “Shared Dreams” exhibit features art from a variety of decades and Latin American countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Cuba and Uruguay.
Bonnie Clearwater, director and chief curator at the NSU Art Museum, said the exhibition highlights how artists fleeing wars or
political disruption in their home countries channeled their feelings of displacement into new art styles.
“We wanted to show that art travels, artists travel, and ideas circulate,” Clearwater said. “Something new came out of that.”
The exhibition also explores how artists influenced one another across borders, connecting movements and ideas that were developing through Latin America, Clearwater said.
“There’s this fascinating idea of interconnectedness,” Clearwater said. “It’s like standing in the middle of a room where everyone’s having a conversation, and we wanted to get that dialogue going.”
Clearwater said that “Artes 110 (Arts 110),” a painting by Leonora Carrington, is a standout piece in the exhibition. Carrington was a British-born artist who relocated to Mexico during World War II. The painting represents her flying through the air, fleeing from a place that is crumbling.
“It’s one of the first paintings she made when she relocated to Mexico,” Clearwater said. “She stayed there for the rest of her life, and you can see that she really felt at home in her country of choice.”
Beyond the exhibition, the donations helped establish the Goodman Study Center for Latin American Art and The Annual Stanley and Pearl Goodman Lecture on Latin American Art.
“The goal was to build a collection that would be comprehensive and meaningful to donate to the museum as a whole, both for the public to view and for study by students,” Clearwater said.
The timeline of Fleetwood Mac
By Marlee Card
The iconic Stevie Nicks has done more than a dozen tours since 1981. Now at 77 years old, she is on her 2025 tour. Much of her fame comes from her work with the 1960s band Fleetwood Mac. Many, like myself, often don’t realize who or what Fleetwood Mac was before it was mainstreamed.
Fleetwood Mac was formed in London in 1967 as a blues rock band led by guitarist Peter Green, drummer Mick Fleetwood, and guitarist Jeremy Spencer. Green first gained attention as a member of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers before forming Fleetwood Mac. His songwriting and expressive tone earned Green praise from fellow musicians, including B.B. King. He wrote early hits such as “Black Magic Woman” and “Albatross,” which gave the band recognition before its later success in the U.S.
But when Green left the band in 1970 due to mental health issues and drug issues, the group went through several lineups, each experimenting with different sounds but maintaining a reputation in the British blues and rock scenes.
That blues and rock sound changed not too long after. In 1974, drummer Mick Fleetwood invited guitarist Lindsey Buckingham to join the band. Buckingham agreed, but only if his musical and romantic partner Stevie Nicks could join as well. Nicks’ mystical stage presence and distinctive songwriting quickly became central to the band’s identity and shifted
its sound toward rock and pop.
This lineup produced some of its most successful albums, including its self-titled album, “Fleetwood Mac” 1975 and “Rumours” 1977, which sold more than 40 million copies worldwide since 2023.
Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, and John McVie became known as
the classic lineup and remained mostly stable through the late 1970s and early 1980s. However, the relationship between Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks soon became a focal point of the band. In 1976, just before the production of Rumours, their relationship fell apart. The emotional turmoil that followed fueled some of Fleetwood Mac’s most iconic songs, including “Silver Springs,” “Dreams,” “The Chain” and “Go Your Own Way.”
Throughout the years, members left and rejoined at different times. Buckingham left in 1987 but returned in 1997, and Nicks took occasional breaks for her solo work. While other musicians filled in for tours and recordings, this core group defined the band’s signature rock and pop sound that brought them international fame.
Hits like “Dreams” and “Rhiannon” are featured on Nicks’ current tour. From Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks established a successful solo career, releasing multiple albums. Her distinctive voice and stage presence continue to influence new generations of musicians, keeping both her and Fleetwood Mac relevant in popular culture today.
PHOTO BY MADISON KASPER
Mike Lynn, assistant director of Mako Media Network, plays Fleetwood Mac vinyl records at Mako Radio.
PHOTO BY ROSELINE JEAN-PIERRE
Danize Diaz-Obama takes in “Agua (Water)” by Mario Carreño Morales in the ‘Shared Dreams’ exhibit in the NSU Art Museum.
COLLEGE RADIO DAY
By Marlee Card
Mako Radio WKPX 88.5 FM celebrated World College Radio Day on Friday, Oct. 3, featuring in-booth programming with podcasts and talks from campus organizations, followed by an after-party in the Shark Circle that brought students and the community together.
“I felt like College Radio Day was a huge success,” said Ryan Romero, also known as DJ Romi, assistant station manager at Mako Radio. “The whole team really stepped up and did their part in making the event super fun and unforgettable.”
During one of those in-booth segments, Shanti Bruce, chair of the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts, and Robin Cooper, dean of the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, both reflected
on the importance of World College Radio Day at NSU and beyond.
Cooper recalled her own childhood radio experiences, where it was a whole different kind of experience to be connected to the radio. That was what came to mind when she heard about College Radio Day.
“It was interesting how I could have that visceral feeling of the sense of community, of sitting together, listening together, but also how you’re using your imagination and it inspires you to be picturing things and imagining things, ” Cooper said.
Reflecting on the theme, Bruce connected it to her own approach as a leader and educator when “tuning in to the people.”
“I try to listen, to support and to show up. It’s important to me to think about what matters to people, what inspires them and then think
about ways I can support that,” Bruce said.
The after-party featured DJ sets from Mako Radio’s staff, and performances by the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts dance group and NSU’s majorette dance team, Stomp n’ Shake Sapphires.
Local vendors, like Santo Dulce! Churros & Ice Cream and Tropical Oasis Express, provided food trucks.
“The food was amazing, and it really brought more engagement into the event,” Jonesia Martimbor, manager of Mako Radio, said. “It was a successful day and it was great to support our local food establishments in the process.”
Beyond the music and performances, it was also the shared moments that stood out to Mako Radio staff.
“Another special part was when it rained, our very own DJs were dancing in the rain and enjoying themselves and that will forever be a special memory for me because, again to me, that is family, friendship and community,” Martimbor said.
Natalia Vega, College Radio Day director and community outreach manager, agreed.
“My favorite part was spending the day with the radio staff and dancing in the rain with them,” she said.
Mako Radio staff is aiming to engage even more of the NSU community during next year’s College Radio Day.
“Next year, I hope to bring more people together to celebrate our community and music that we all enjoy,” Vega said.
The NSU Mako Band performs at College Radio Day
DJ Romi from Mako Radio brings the music and energy.
Students celebrate College Radio Day.
By Sneha Subhash
Alain Gauthier, account representative of OneBlood. Since 2013, OneBlood has come to NSU and received blood donations from many students and faculty, said.
But that is not enough.
Gauthier said blood banks in Florida are running low, which has been a catalyst for OneBlood’s campaign for more donors.
“Every three seconds, a person in the U.S. needs blood. If you donate today, you’re going to save like three people’s lives,” Gauthier said. “Our role is to find out partnerships in the community, so we can bring buses there, also to recruit and help with the donor information.”
OneBlood, a nonprofit organization operating across Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, is the main supplier of blood to local hospitals in the region.
“Basically what we do is we collect and process blood for all of the local hospitals. All of the blood that the patient received in Florida, in the hospital, that blood comes from us,” Gauthier said. “We collect the blood
The Current SCIENCE & HEALTH Sharks bleed for a cause Understanding sickle cell disease
By Madison Kasper
Sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder that affects how red blood cells carry oxygen, continues to impact students beyond childhood. According to the National Library of Medicine, young adults with sickle cell are less likely to enroll in or complete college due to ongoing health challenges. As a part of Mako Media Health Update, Aarti Raja, professor in biology, discusses sickle cell disease.
Q: What is sickle cell disease?
A: It’s a genetic disease that affects a particular protein called hemoglobin. This protein is present in red blood cells. What happens in this disease is because there is a genetic mutation. The hemoglobin and the red blood cell have a disc-shaped organelle but when there is a mutation in that protein hemoglobin the red blood cell takes on this weird shape which looks like a sickle and that’s why the disease is called sickle cell disease. That becomes problematic because the red blood cell can get stuck when its moving through the body, through the capillaries and because the protein hemoglobin is mutated or changed it doesn’t do a good job of carrying oxygen to all the organs in the body.
Q: What are the symptoms someone might experience from this disease?
and in the community we send it to the central lab and process it. Within 72 hours, it’s back to the hospitals.”
Gauthier said the idea of giving blood may feel intimidating at first for students, but stressed how the process is safe and relatively quick.
“You have to be 16 and older, bring a photo ID, and then answer some electronic screening questions. If you’re cleared, we check your vitals, iron levels, and then the actual donation only takes about 12 to 15 minutes,” Gauthier said.
Students who chose to donate said it felt meaningful to know their actions had real impact.
“I was nervous at first because I had never donated blood before,” Pragya Srivastava, junior biology major, said.
“But the staff made me feel comfortable, and once I realized it only takes a few minutes, it didn’t feel scary at all. The idea that my blood could help someone in a hospital tomorrow was worth it.”
OneBlood also tries to make the experience rewarding in small ways.
“We cannot pay for blood because that’s priceless, of course, because you’re saving lives. But we do have a
gift card. Like today we have like $20 gift card, sometimes a T-shirt or movie tickets,” Gauthier said.
Serena Cibi, junior biology major, said giving blood reminded her of why she wanted to pursue a career in health care.
“When they told me that one donation could save up to three lives, I thought that was incredible,” Cibi said. “I know patients who depend on blood transfusions, so it feels good to actually do something that could directly help them.”
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A: Usually what happens most commonly is when someone has this disease condition, they go through these episodes of pain which is called a pain crisis. Simply because there isn’t efficient transport of oxygen to a vast variety of organs. So, they will have a lot of pain conditions which will lead them to have to go in and out of the hospital to take care of or treat the pain. In addition to that lung problems, kidney problems, and anemia are all complications of the disease because you are not getting oxygen efficiently to your organs.
Q: How is sickle cell inherited?
A: Since it is a genetic disorder, it is inherited from the parents. Usually what can happen is if someone has sickle cell disease that means they got both problematic genes from the two parents.
Q: What treatments are available to help manage sickle cell?
A: Since there are variations there are different types of treatments available. The basic ones would begin with trying to help or ease the pain. So, pain medications will come first to help someone deal with the pain. Then comes things like blood transfusions because the red blood cell isn’t doing the efficient job of transporting oxygen.
Sports science plays vital role in athletic performance at NSU
By Isabella Fernandez de Cueto
Behind NSU’s 15 national championships is the sports science expertise within the athletic department and university, keeping athletes competing at a high level.
“Sports science can be more easily defined as an understanding of the body movement, body mechanics and physiology as it pertains to sport,” said Pradeep Vanguri, professor in the health and human performance department at NSU and certified athletic trainer. “We can find a way to either make improvements on performance and also prevent injury.”
Vanguri said that sports science began to professionalize in the 1950s and has gained traction in the sports world due to the increasing accessibility and prevalence of sports, as well as the rise of wearable technology.
“The access to information with biometric data tracking, such as Apple Watches, Oura rings and WHOOP bands — these are all things that can help individuals find out more about their own body immediately,” Vanguri said. “This is all related to sports science because it’s data-driven, and the data can be used to educate, improve, analyze and understand, giving insight into performance.”
Sports science is also a way athletic departments, teams and organizations can get a competitive edge over opponents.
“It is seen as a way to gain that extra 1%, if we’re talking about wins and losses, the sports medicine, the strength and conditioning side of things, those are areas where you can gain advantage, maximize
potential, where you can win on the margins,” said Dustin Gatens, assistant athletic director of sports medicine.
In NSU athletics, the sports medicine and strength and conditioning departments use sports science daily in working with athletes, in collaboration with various academic programs at NSU, including psychology, nutrition, osteopathic medicine, physical therapy and exercise science.
“We try to take a very holistic approach to the way we treat our student-athletes, and we try to use every resource available,” said Steve Orris, assistant athletic director
for sports performance and student-athlete wellness. “NSU has a lot of programs that we tap into just to try to give our student-athletes everything they need to be successful.”
Some of the different ways athletics utilizes sports science include daily wellness surveys to track how athletes eat and sleep, nutrition fueling stations to provide athletes with healthy snacks for fuel and recovery and functional movement screenings done by Vanguri and the exercise science program to identify imbalances in flexibility and strength. In addition to these screenings, the exercise science
Sport Shorts
By Isabella Fernandez de Cueto
Women’s tennis, Oct. 16-19
Kristyna Hranacova and Katja Markus of the women’s tennis team won the ITA Cup Doubles National Championship. The tandem beat duos from Adelphi (6-2, 6-2), Harding (6-0, 7-6 (7-5)) and Saint Leo (7-6 (7-3), 6-0) on its way to the championship match, where they defeated Barry (6-3, 6-2).
Women’s swim, Oct. 18
The women’s swim team swept a tri-meet, beating St. Thomas 21843 and Barry 220-30. The Sharks were led by Hannah Montgomery, who won the 100-yard and 200yard breaststrokes and helped her group win the 200-yard medley relay.
Men’s swim, Oct. 18
The men’s swim team swept a tri-meet, defeating St. Thomas 165.5-95.5 and Barry 203-52.
Gabe Rzezwicki won the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly and helped his group win the 200yard medley relay and the 200yard freestyle relay.
Volleyball, Oct. 18
The volleyball team earned a 3-1 victory over Embry-Riddle, winning its third consecutive match. Gabrielle Spankus had two careerhighs with 17 digs and eight kills, as well as 42 assists, and Erika Spankus had 16 kills.
Men’s soccer, Oct. 18
The men’s soccer tea tied Embry-Riddle 0-0 in conference play. The Sharks outshot their opponent 10-8, with Santiago Hoyos Lopez and Toga Katsuma recording two shots each.
Women’s swim, Oct. 17
The women’s swim team beat Rollins 204.5-54.5 in its first home meet of the season. Kristina Orban led the Sharks with four
lab also assesses body composition using Bod Pods and DEXA scans. Athletics also has various pieces of technology that measure certain aspects of sport, including but not limited to GPS devices to measure movement and VERT devices that measure vertical jumps, in addition to an underwater treadmill.
“We’re fortunate to be one of the first Division II schools in the nation to have an underwater treadmill, whether it’s used for alternative workouts for our running sports or rehabilitating someone from an injury, it’s a tremendous piece of technology,” Gatens said.
A crucial part of maximizing the advantages of sports science is the relationship between strength and conditioning and sports medicine with team coaches.
“Talking to the coaches and understanding how they want to play and train impacts the way that we prepare and train our athletes,” Orris said. “We want to make sure that our athletes are able to run up and down and be as active as our coaches want them to be and then be able to rest and recover to do it all again.”
The benefits that focusing on sports science offers are not only useful in college sports, but also for life after.
“We’re trying to give the athletes knowledge, experience and tools for when they leave here, for the next 50 years after this. The more active you are, the healthier you are and the better life lived,” Gatens said. “If we’re talking about lifelong wellness, sports science plays into that as far as teaching these student-athletes how to take care of themselves, both during their careers at NSU and beyond.”
first-place finishes, with Zsofia Kurdi, Emilia Ronningdal, Maya Esparza and Hannah Montgomery also earning multiple first-place finishes.
Men’s swim, Oct. 17
The men’s swim team defeated Rollins 157-105 in its first home meet of the season. Paul Huvet-Pansard, Michael Kent, Joshua Parry, Gabe Rzezwicki and Gavin Lindley all had multiple first-place finishes.
Volleyball, Oct. 17
The volleyball team beat Florida Tech 3-1 in conference play. Gabrielle Spankus had 41 assists, Erika Spankus had 11 kills and Olivia Aniol recorded her 400th career block, becoming the third in program history to reach this feat.
Women’s soccer, Oct. 15
The No. 11 women’s soccer team defeated Flagler 3-2 in a
non-conference road game. The Sharks were led by Sofia Suarez, who scored the first goal, and Alexa Bereczki, who scored the game-winner with less than 10 minutes left, with the second goal coming from a Flagler own goal.
Men’s soccer, Oct. 15
The men’s soccer team tied No. 16 Florida Tech 1-1 in an away conference matchup. The Sharks got the equalizing goal in the game’s final minutes, with Santiago Hoyos Lopez converting a penalty kick.
Men’s golf, Oct. 13-14
The No. 14 men’s golf team finished fifth place at the Copperhead Championship (+18/368/362/372). The Sharks had two top-20 finishers including Bruno Marques (+3/71/70/75) and Elias Mardeni (+3/73/71/72).
COURTESY OF NSU ATHELTICS
Dustin Gatens, assistant athletic director for sports medicine, coaches a women’s tennis player at practice on May 22, 2024.
EVENTS CALENDAR
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER
SICKLE AMBITION SOCCER RADIO DREAMS
UNITY HURRICANE TUTORING ENGAGEMENT PUMPKIN
MATH CORNER
CELEBRATION VISION FURNITURE DRIVE PERFORMANCE
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, Nov. 19. 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.
Innocent until proven guilty is a cornerstone of the justice system of the USA. Suppose two independent DNA tests are performed on the DNA found at the scene of the crime with the assumption that presence of a suspect’s DNA indicates 100% guilt and absence of a suspect’s DNA indicated 0% guilt. Suppose each of the two DNA tests has an error rate of 1% (a 1% chance that the result of the test is inaccurate) and that guilt in a court of law is only proven if both DNA tests yield the presence of the subject’s DNA. In this two part question:
a) Find the probability that a guilty man is set free.
b) Find the probability that an innocent man is sentenced for a crime they did not commit.
Answer to the question from the last issue: Only accomplished with 31 big boxes of 31 cupcakes each
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