Issuu

October 8, 2026

Issue 3, Volume 37

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

NEWS p. 3

ARTS p. 11

SCIENCE AND HEALTH

NSU’s PRSSA chapter selected to host national PR conference

12th Faculty Art Exhibition returns to Gallery 217

NSU expands mental health services for deaf and hard-of-hearing community

p. 12

SPORTS p. 13 Steve Burgess becomes the interim head coach for NSU women’s soccer

Furry friends help ease stress in college FEATURES

By Isabella Perez

Naievy Williams, sophomore biology major and treasurer of Pawsitivity, started to rely on therapy animals when her grandmother passed away in middle school. Williams, who owns a certified therapy cat, finds therapy animals to be a powerful outlet for college students.

PHOTO BY ISABELLA PEREZ

“I feel like in college, we go through a lot of stress, a lot of emotions. Being away from home, you become an adult,” Williams said. “So I feel like having a therapy animal is something that you might think you don’t need, but you do.” Williams said she advocates for students to use campus resources to manage leaving your family

Raena D’Angelo, owner of Peaceful Pony Program, enjoys a moment with Princess, her therapy pony.

behind, anxiety and the stress of finding your place on campus. Certified therapy animals visit colleges, hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities to relieve stress, provide affection and bring emotional balance to people’s lives. At NSU, Pawsitivity, a student-run organization, promotes mental health and reduces

COURTESY OF SIENNA PROVENZANO

student stress through therapy dogs and pet events. Pawsitivity has brought therapy animals to events on campus to provide help for students.

FURRY FRIENDS p. 6

Reporter Isabella Perez, junior communication major and general manager for Mako TV, pets therapy pony from Peaceful Pony Program.

| October 8, 2026

Located in the Don Taft University Center Room 328 @nsu_makonews / makomedia.nova.edu

NEWSROOM

Phone: 954-262-8455 makonews@nova.edu

BUSINESS & ADVERTISING

Phone: 954-262-8455 thecurrentad@nova.edu

NEWSROOM STAFF Antonio Miguel Escorzon Editor-in-Chief

Amaia Flores Social Media Manager

Constanza Andujar Managing Editor

Yasmin De Andrade Rodrigues Social Media Manager

Lila Taricco Art Director

Mirkah Pierre Social Media Intern

Sebastian Castro Graphic Designer

Joshua Hyde Business Manager

Alexandria Munroe Features Editor Samiksha Chemukula Science/Health Writer

Chris Delboni Mako Media Network Director

Daria Gross Distribution Manager/ Multimedia Reporter

Mike Lynn Mako Media Network Assistant Director/ Music Desk Adviser

Kayle Hage Reporter

Joyce Moed The Current Adviser

Isabella Perez Reporter

Dr. Mario D’Agostino Sports Desk Adviser

Bryce Johnson Reporter/Film Critic

Dr. Aarti Raja Science/Health Desk Adviser

Sneha Subhash Science/Health Writer

Michelle Solomon Multimedia Adviser

Jonathan Paul Sports Writer Princess Mari Cabusao Photojournalist Allen Worrell Web Editor/Reporter

MAKO TV

Dr. Eric Mason Digital Adviser Dr. Shanti Bruce Chair, Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts

MAKO RADIO

MAKO NEWS

Letter from the editor Dear Readers, Hello there, Sharks! I hope you enjoy reading this issue of The Current, NSU’s student-run newspaper. I am Antonio Miguel Escorzon, the editor-in-chief. In this issue, you will learn about upcoming events like the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center’s annual book sale and the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts’ Dance Awareness Day. We have stories on Mako Radio’s College Radio Day celebration and a new NSU program offering free mental health services to those who are deaf and hard-of-hearing. While we are in the middle of midterms, I hope everyone is also setting some time to unwind and take a break once in a while. I wish you all success, as the week continues. 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 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

AMANDA M. DELBONI JOURNALISM ENDOWMENT FUND The Amanda M. Delboni Journalism Endowment Fund was established to support NSU’s journalism program, including student scholarships, mentorship and shadowing opportunities. Donating to the Amanda M. Delboni Journalism Endowment Fund supports NSU journalism education and prepares students for industry careers.

The Current is Nova Southeastern University’s established vehicle for student reporting. 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 circumstances at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. The Current reserves the right to edit, publish or deny submitted works. The Current shall remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility or otherwise create bias, real or perceived.

NEWS

COURTESY OF PUBLIC RELATIONS STUDENT SOCIETY OF AMERICA

Kayla McGee, immediate past president of the PRSSA NSU chapter and second-year graduate student in the Composition, Rhetoric and Digital Media master’s program, center, moderates the NSU PRSSA’s chapter “Pizza and PR” event during the winter 2026 semester.

NSU’s PRSSA chapter to host national PR conference By Constanza Andujar NSU’s Public Relations Student Society of America chapter was selected to host “ICON,” an internationally recognized public relations conference taking place in Orlando from Oct. 17-20. “‘ICON’ is the largest annual conference for students and professionals in communication, public relations and marketing. It’s highly recognized because of what it is: students and professionals coming together for a weekend of multiple sessions,” Yasmin De Andrade Rodrigues, senior communication major, social media manager for Mako Media Network and NSU’s PRSSA chapter president, said. The Public Relations Society of America is a national professional organization that connects professionals across the PR and communication

PHOTO BY CONSTANZA ANDUJAR

fields. At the start of the year, four members of the chapter’s executive board presented their proposed agenda, prospective speakers and ideal programming to the national board of the PRSA in a bid to organize the student portion of ICON. “When we saw the opportunity, we were just like, ‘why not try?’” De Andrade Rodrigues said. “I think we just worked so hard for it that when we got the bid and we actually got accepted, we were like, ‘Oh my God, we did it.’” As the host chapter, NSU students will also be responsible for coordinating the sessions, speakers and attendees on site for the PRSSA portion of the event throughout the weekend. Toby Srebnik, Greater Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach Chapters PRSA past-president and professional adviser for NSU’s chapter, has attended ICON for the past five years. He

said the conference is valuable because of its renowned speaker sessions and networking opportunities with professionals from across the field. Srebnik said previous keynote speakers include Lauren Graham, actress known from her role as Lorelai in “Gilmore Girls,” and Emmitt Smith, former professional football player. To start off this year’s event, Tyler Gillum, head coach for the Savannah Bananas, will be presenting the keynote address. “You only get so many opportunities to put on a show like that for people from across the country,” Srebnik said. “It’s a chance for Nova Southeastern to really get their name out there in front of people from all across the country and and get to say, ‘Hey, look what we did.’” For De Andrade Rodrigues, PRSSA hosting ICON is an accomplishment for NSU’s Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts.

The executive board of NSU’s Public Relations Student Society of America chapter poses for a promotional photoshoot.

“We can be a small classroom for PR, for communication or for DCMA in general. We can be relatively small compared to the rest of the university, but we’re making huge things that people should be hearing about, and this is something huge,” she said. Whitney Lehmann, associate professor for DCMA and faculty adviser for the chapter, said that its student organization, PRSSA, gives college students opportunities to network and develop professional skills. Lehmann helped establish the chapter almost 10 years ago. She said PRSSA NSU began with a small class of undergraduates who wanted to establish a chapter on campus. “It makes me incredibly proud to see where the chapter has come, how much it’s grown, how much it’s evolved, and to now have this opportunity to showcase the chapter’s skills and strengths and all of our students’ talents on a global, international stage is fantastic,” Lehmann said.

October 8, 2026

Dance Awareness Day to bring students together at NSU By Alexandria Munroe On Oct. 14, NSU’s dance program in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts will host its annual Dance Awareness Day. The event, which will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., will bring high school and college students together for a day of dance workshops. This year’s event will feature styles such as jazz, ballet, contemporary, hiphop, reggaeton, majorette and more. Workshops will be led by NSU dance students and faculty, along with guest artists from Miami City Ballet and Princess Cruise Lines. Elana Lanczi, associate professor of dance and director of the dance program, said that Dance Awareness Day brings students from different schools together to take classes and experience new styles of dance. “It’s a lot of great energy from all the different schools that come together for the event,” Lanczi said. “You get these classes with a lot of new people that are excited to be there, that want to learn, and you can really just enjoy yourself.” Victoria Velez, senior dance major, helped plan Dance Awareness Day this year. Velez said that her future as a dance studio owner motivated her to

PHOTO BY ROSELINE JEAN-PIERRE

Dancers take a hip-hop class during Dance Awareness Day 2025.

take on a larger role behind the scenes. “I just thought it was time that I take the initiative to plan something that’s dance-related,” Velez said. “I’ve taught dance and manage my studio, but I’ve never had the chance to plan an event like this, so I thought I should take this opportunity.” Velez will also teach tap and jazz funk during this year’s Dance Awareness Day. After taking a tap class taught by Kyra Triepke, an NSU alumna who graduated in May 2026, she said that she wanted to bring the style back to this year’s event. “A lot of people have done tap when they were younger, but they got disconnected from it when they went to

college,” Velez said. “I think tap is a really basic type of dancing, but it’s so intricate, and it can look so beautiful, so I really wanted to bring it back to NSU.” Cheyenne Howell, senior childhood development major, will teach a contemporary class at Dance Awareness Day for the second year. She said her first experience teaching at last year’s event helped her become comfortable sharing her choreography with older students. “My favorite part was just seeing all of them happy to be dancing with each other and getting to watch them do my choreography,” Howell said. “By the end, everyone was just having a

good time with each other and getting to have a small community we built within that hour.” Howell said she looks forward to taking classes in styles that she doesn’t experience in her day-to-day training. “There’s some fun styles that I’ve never done before, like I’ve never done majorette,” Howell said. “So I’m excited to possibly have the opportunity to take classes outside of my comfort zone.” Lanczi said she hopes the event encourages attendees to step away from their usual routines and connect with each other. “I hope they can have time to try something new, to meet new people, and just remember why we dance,” Lanczi said. “It’s an opportunity to get out from behind our computer screens and really engage person-to-person.”

Date: October 14 Time: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Location: Performance Theatre, UC 233, and UC 309 Registration opens at 8 a.m. For more information: contact Elana Lanczi at lanczi@nova.edu

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

NSU Builds for the Future By Antonio Miguel Escorzon New chemistry lab construction at the Parker Building The Parker Building’s first floor is expanding to include a new chemistry lab. Carlos Guiovani Caceros, a project manager in Design & Construction, said the lab is planned to accommodate new students taking lab-based courses. The lab will include a chemical room, a storage room and emergency showers. “My expectation is that the students

get to use the new technology that’s out there in the classroom,” Caceros said. Design & Construction added three fume hoods in the lab for when students mix chemicals. “Those are connected directly to outside air units and fresh air intake units to maintain the fresh air atmosphere in the classroom,” Caceros said. The lab is expected to be open for students in January.

Renovations at Aquatics Complex Design & Construction is renovating the competition lap pool at the Aquatics Complex. Felix Leon, senior project manager in Design & Construction, said the pool is more than 10 years old, and needed to be upgraded for safe use by students and patrons. “We waterproofed the upper deck, which improves the look, but also improves the longevity of that area,” Leon said. “We are also fixing some of

the non-functioning LED lights on the scoreboard.” Leon said Design & Construction will be working to upgrade the pool itself over the summer. The upgrades include resurfacing the bottom of the pool and improving the filtration. “It requires a shutdown of the pool for a few months in order for us to complete the draining of the pool, then the repairs and then the refilling of the pool,” he said. “We’re just doing all the work to make sure it’s in the best shape it’s ever been.”

FEATURES

Alvin Sherman Library to host 34th annual book sale By Antonio Miguel Escorzon and Constanza Andujar Rebecca Grolitzer, administrative coordinator of Technical Services & Collection Development for the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center, remembers the first time she learned about NSU’s annual book sale, when Arisa Carr, collection development librarian, interviewed her. “I would be helping with that,” Grolitzer said. “I was actually very excited because I’m

an avid reader and I like being part of the community.” The library’s 34th annual book sale will take place from Wednesday, Oct. 21 to Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Adolfo and Marisela Cotilla Gallery. “We weed [the books], take them out of circulation,” Carr said. “We get them ready for the book sale.” Carr said the library prioritizes up-to-date materials and newer editions, so older or donated books are sold at the event, with

prices starting at $1. Beyond books, the book sale features an array of items, such as movie memorabilia, audiobooks, posters, CDs and puppets. Akhil Revuru, senior biology major, said the book sale caught his attention last year when he was walking around the library. “I noticed that there were a lot of tables, and a lot of people walking around with bags near the Cotilla Gallery,” he said. “I stopped by to see where people were getting

these bags, and I noticed that there were a lot of tables full of books and DVDs, even toys, and that kind of lured me in.” Scan the QR code to read the full story:

Ahoy Sharks!

Presents

Want to volunteer at the event? nova.libwizard.com/adfc26

FREE

Entertainment Activities Games Food Parking

lib.nova.edu/adfc

Sunday, Oc Sunday, October tober 18 18

12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 12:00

NSU Alvin Sherman Library 3100 Ray Ferrero Jr. Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314

October 8, 2026

6 FROM THE FRONT

FURRY FRIENDS

PHOTO BY ISABELLA PEREZ

People pet Princess, an on-duty therapy 3-year-old pony from Peaceful Pony Program.

Alfredo Betancourt, sophomore political science major and president of Pawsitivity, said he wants to make people aware that they are not alone. “Our main goal is to spread mental health awareness so that students understand that there are resources on campus to help them cope with stress, whether it’s with classes, being away from home, or just anything else that we have going on,” he said. Brian Galea, co-founder of Heel 2 Heal Therapy

PHOTOS BY DARIA GROSS

Dogs, a nonprofit that supports certified therapy dog teams in bringing comfort and healing to the community, and a canine behaviorist, explained how dogs can sense and respond to human emotions. “They can definitely smell it on them, especially if they’re crying. There are stress hormones that people give off, and dogs can smell that, so they can definitely pick up on body language, behavior or voice,” he said. Raena D’Angelo, founder of the Peaceful Pony Program, which provides comfort-based, nonclinical visits with a miniature pony to promote calm and positive engagement, said she began working with a

therapy pony after experiencing the sudden loss of her father. Previously working at a law firm, she witnessed tragic events that affected people’s mental health. Through her work with her pony, D’Angelo finds purpose in helping to bring comfort and joy to others. “Being able to do a positive thing for so many different people going through so many different things has been like, I found my purpose,” she said.

Dash, a therapy dog, visits the NSU Don Taft University Center to help students relieve stress.

COURTESY OF CHRIS DELBONI

Dash comforts families at Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida.

FEATURES

OH, THE PLACES TO GO!

Cultures come together at Yellow Green Farmers Market

3080 Sheridan Street, Hollywood, FL 33021

By Constanza Andujar

Marketgoers pose for a picture with produce at the Yellow Green Farmers Market.

PHOTOS BY CONSTANZA ANDUJAR

Dennis Shattuck, an artist who sells his work at the Yellow Green Farmers Market, paints live in his booth.

Eleven miles from NSU’s Davie/ Fort Lauderdale campus sits one of the largest farmers markets in Florida, with approximately 200,000 square feet and featuring 350 vendors. Gustavo Larrañaga, manager of Yellow Green, said Yellow Green Farmers Market in Hollywood brings together cultures from around the world. “The vendors and the public as well are from many parts of the world and they converge here on weekends. It makes for a really wonderful experience with a very indescribable energy,” he said. The pet and family friendly market has both indoor and outdoor areas, with multiple tiki huts for visitors to sit under and eat in the shade. Featuring a range of products, from fresh tropical fruits to live handmade art, the venue is open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Merceydes Morassi, 42, visits the farmers market at least once a year to stay connected to her Turkish roots. “There’s a lady in [the market] who reads Turkish coffee cups, so we like to come once in a while and get that done,” she said. Her friend, Francheska Van’Es, 38, said that the thing she loves most about the market is the diversity of vendors. Among her favorites are a mushroom stand and a homemade soap stand. “Every time you come, you find a little crevice of something new,” Van’Es said. The market utilizes a month-tomonth contract, allowing for a rotation of vendors. Beyond handmade products and food, visitors can enjoy live music and services such as car washes and haircuts, depending on the month’s vendor lineup.

“Our purpose is to support new businesses, small businesses, focusing on giving them the opportunity to have a space with great exposure to people who come from all over the world,” Larrañaga said. “Vendors rotate, some come and go and others have been here for 16 years, since the market’s opening.” Mariela Tumene, owner of K&K Bohemian Souls, came to the United States from Argentina 25 years ago. She has been selling dresses in the Yellow Green Farmers Market since 2015. She said what began as a one-booth store has now expanded to nine booths. “The market has a very hippie vibe, with very cool and chill people. Everybody is super nice and it’s a healthy vibe: the energy, the natural fruit, the diversity of foods from different countries,” she said.

Marketgoer, right, asks a question to an Exotic Garden employee at the Yellow Green Farmers Market.

Country flags, including ones from Ethiopia, Mexico and Spain, hang throughout the market, referencing vendors’ origin and reflecting the diversity of the Yellow Green community. Larrañaga has been the market’s manager for four years. Originally from Peru, he has been in the United States since 2014, and the market has become a place that reminds him of home. “It reminds me of the experience of Latin markets, for the Latin markets that live here away from their home countries,” he said. Entrance to the market is free, but parking costs between $8 and $15, depending on the lot’s proximity to the entrance. A shuttle cart regularly transports visitors from the farther lots. Parking is free after 5 p.m.

October 8, 2026

COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES

H.E.R. and Liza Soberano in Forgotten Island.

MOVIE REVIEW

‘Forgotten Island’- A strong story of friendship and Philippine mythology By Bryce Johnson

When I heard that Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the directing team behind “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” were developing a new original animated film, I was excited to see what they would come up with. Their latest movie, “Forgotten Island,” is funny, charming and creative in ways that push the limits of animation. In “Forgotten Island,” two best friends in the Philippines named Jo and Raissa have a bittersweet night before Raissa moves away for college. When the two suddenly get

transported to a magical island, their friendship is put to the test as they struggle to find a way back home. It was fun seeing the animators experiment with different styles. For most of the movie, it’s animated like “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and “The Wild Robot.” In other parts, scenes become 2D animated, and there are parts where characters’ heads become chibi-like as if they’re in an anime. Different animation styles were seamlessly incorporated, and I kept wondering how they blended 2D

and 3D animation the way they did. Memories are an important theme in “Forgotten Island.” The trailers for the movie make it seem like the longer you stay on the island, more of your memories fade away. That’s not exactly how it plays out in the movie, and I kind of wish what actually happened was more in line with the trailers. However, it was still good how it played out in the movie, and I resonated with the idea of memories being integral in shaping a person. It was also nice learning about

Filipino culture, from hearing the characters occasionally speak in the Tagalog language to seeing the creatures rooted in mythology in the island. Crawford and Mercado made another successful movie with “Forgotten Island.” It’s full of heart and celebrates friendship. I can’t wait to see it again, and I encourage you to do the same. “Forgotten Island” was released in theaters on Sept. 25.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: The game that started Insomniac’s Spider-Man universe By Kayle Hage With the release of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” in July 2026, fans have been returning to Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man video games. The renewed interest has brought attention back to “Marvel’s Spider-Man,” the 2018 game that started Insomniac’s Spider-Man universe. The game follows Peter Parker as he tries to balance his personal life with his responsibility to protect New York City. Val Olortegui, freshman nursing major, said the game connects Spider-Man’s story with the cinematic experience of the Spider-Man movies. “I think they [Insomniac Games] did pretty well trying to correlate the stories and show who Peter Parker is in

the Spider-Man universe,” Olortegui said. “I love the fight scenes because they are cinematic and make you feel like you are watching a Spider-Man movie while playing the game.” Instead of just watching Spider-Man, players can swing around New York City, fight villains and experience what it is like to be Spider-Man. Insomniac Games developed “Marvel’s Spider-Man,” which was originally released in 2018 for the PlayStation 4. A remastered version was later released in 2020 for the PlayStation 5, featuring improved graphics, faster performance and a new face model for Peter Parker. “Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered” was also released for PC in 2022, allowing more players to experience Insomniac Games’ original take on Peter Parker and Spider-Man. In Steam, “Marvel’s Spider-Man

Remastered” reached more than 10,000 concurrent players in August. Shan Ranganath, freshman biology major, enjoyed the story while playing “Marvel’s Spider-Man.” “The combat is super fluid, and the fast-paced combat always keeps you on edge at all times, combined with the cinematic finishers that end fights amazingly.” Ranganath said. As for the combat system, the game gives players different ways to fight while controlling Spider-Man, including web attacks, punches, dodges, aerial attacks and fighting combos. Players can also unlock different abilities and gadgets, giving them more options when fighting enemies. Khoa Philip Nguyen, junior public health major, said the story of Spider-Man is relatable. “That is why he has been my favorite

superhero. The story of this game was perfect as we follow Spider-Man through various challenges and inspired me to be persistent through my own life,” Nguyen said.

ARTS

Pippin’ takes the stage! By Mako News Staff

Jane Kriosheev, senior biology major, and Max Auferheide, sophomore psychology major, perform a scene from “Pippin.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MORGAN SOPHIA

The Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts presented “Pippin” last weekend in the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center. Students were involved in all aspects of the process, including acting, music, design, management, choreography and crew. A

guest choreographer and an intimacy director added to the students’ educational experience, giving them a taste of industry standards and practices. DCMA faculty Alex Alvarez directed, accompanied by Carlo Ricchi, music director, and Dan Gelbmann, set designer.

From left: Max Auferheide, sophomore psychology major; Tristyn Wamsley, junior speech disorders major; Diana Fernandez, sophomore psychology major; Chelsea Larose, senior theatre major; Mia Simone, sophomore theatre major; Jessie Johnston, assistant choreographer and senior dance major; Jade Gomez, senior theatre major; Suri Jordan, sophomore chemistry major; Nadia D’Orazio, senior entrepreneurship major; Ella Elkoni, senior double major in biology and marine biology; Jerilyn Brown, junior human nutrition major; and Sebastian Baena, senior theatre major.

October 8, 2026

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

NSU celebrates College Radio Day! By Mako News Staff NSU’s Mako Radio celebrated World College Radio Day, an international event with more than 700 college radio stations participating from about 50 countries. On Friday, Oct. 2, Mako Radio staff led discussions based on this year’s theme, “HOPE – Always In The Air!” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Rosenthal Student Center, where Mako Radio’s

station is located. The Kickoff included Dr. Chad Perlyn, NSU Florida’s executive vice president, chief medical officer and executive medical director of NSU Health, and dean of the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine; Jim Crutchfield, head men’s basketball coach; and Kevin Dvorak, executive director of Academic Engagement.

PHOTO BY CONSTANZA ANDUJAR

From left: Trace Franckhauser, freshman cybersecurity management major, introduces College Radio Day to students passing by.

PHOTO BY PRINCESS MARI CABUSAO

Sharks Speak: What does hope mean to you? BY KAYLE HAGE “Hope means finding the good even when things are hard or bad. It means staying positive and believing that things can get better.” Kyle Bell, first-year graduate student in the public administration program.

“Hope means really wanting something to happen and believing that it will happen. For example, you might hope to get a good grade on a test because you really want to do well. Also, hope means having faith and feeling confident that something good will happen. It is like keeping your fingers crossed and wishing for the best.” Mina DeBiase, f reshman biology major.

“Hope is trusting in something you can’t necessarily see. It’s seeing things fail again and again but still believing there’s a chance things could get better because there is a chance that it will work out.” Gabbie Sangster, junior engineering major.

PHOTOS BY TAYLOR MURPHY

“Hope is a feeling that can mean something different to everyone. For me, hope comes from people and the kindness they show. Even something small, like getting a compliment or having someone hold the door open, can give me hope that something good will happen.” Shaurya Walia, freshman biology major.

ARTS

ART BY CARLENE MUÑOZ

12th Faculty Art Exhibition returns to Gallery 217 By Alexandria Munroe The 12th Faculty Art Exhibition returned to Gallery 217 this semester featuring the artwork of Art + Design faculty members including Kandy Lopez-Moreno, associate professor of Art + Design; Kolos Schumy, assistant professor of Art + Design; L’nique Noel, manager of Gallery 217; and others. Along with displaying her own artwork, Noel curated the exhibition, which ran through Oct. 1. She said the exhibition gives students the chance to see their professors as practicing artists in a professional gallery setting. “When I was in undergrad, in grad school, I didn’t get to see my professors’ own work, especially not in a professional gallery setting,” Noel said. “They’re able to make a better connection with going into class and with their professor.” One of the standout pieces in the exhibition was an interactive piece by Sharon Thieman, adjunct professor of Art + Design, that allowed visitors to

write positive words and phrases on a strip of fabric to add to a ball of yarn. Noel said the piece gave visitors an opportunity to spend more time engaging with the art. “I hope that they get to a meditative space within themselves and really reflect on themselves and their day or whatever they’re going through,” Noel said. “When you get to actually sit within the space and spend time, to actually sit down and then get the chance to add to the work, it is a very special thing to do.” Simran Singhal, freshman human nutrition major, participated in Thieman’s interactive piece at the exhibition’s opening event. She said her message reflected her experience adjusting to college as the semester became busier. “I said, ‘Everything will work out,’ because I feel like it’s the time of the semester where things are kind of

ART BY SHARON THIEMAN PHOTOS BY ALEXANDRIA MUNROE

starting to pick up,” Singhal said. “So it was a nice reminder to know that everything will work out in the end.” Singhal said the exhibition appealed to students outside of the Art + Design program because it brought together people with different backgrounds. “I think it brings people together of all kinds,” Singhal said. “It kind of brings all of our different interests and different passions together, and it really keeps the NSU community together as a whole.” Robin Cooper, dean of the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, said exhibitions like the Faculty Art Exhibition give members of the NSU community a space to engage with their creative side outside of their daily work. “I walked [into the opening event], and I encountered another faculty member, and we looked at each other, and we both did a big exhale because it had been a long day,” Cooper said. “It’s healing, and healthy, and meaningful to be able to use different parts of ourselves.

It’s a relief, and just really a beautiful way of having a full experience.” Cooper said seeing faculty artwork can also give students a better understanding of the experience their professors bring into the classroom. “I think, for a student, that’s really cool, because then you know these faculty are bringing that wealth and knowledge and experience into the classroom,” Cooper said. ART BY KOLOS SCHUMY

ART BY L’NIQUE NOEL

ART BY KANDY LOPEZ-MORENO

ART BY GREGG RIVAS

Left: Sofia Capote, junior Art + Design major, and Nicole Capote, junior Art + Design major, participate in Sharon Thieman’s interactive piece during the opening event on Sept. 10.

October 8, 2026

PHOTO BY SAMIKSHA CHEMUKULA

NSU Clinical Psy.D. first-year students Morgan Higgins and Parker Long practice American Sign Language with Erika Lohmiller, a licensed mental health counselor, at Nova Southeastern University.

NSU expands mental health services for deaf and hard-of-hearing community By Samiksha Chemukula A new NSU behavioral health program is providing free mental health services to deaf and hardof-hearing individuals and their families, while working to address communication barriers in traditional mental health care. NSU recruited Erika Lohmiller, a hard-of-hearing licensed mental health counselor, to establish the grant-funded program. The program was developed with David Feldman and Lohmiller through NSU’s College of Psychology. Lohmiller previously spent 22 years as a senior therapist for a deaf and hard-of-hearing behavioral health program at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center in Chicago. The program provides therapy at no cost to deaf and hard-ofhearing individuals, as well as people with deaf or hard-of-hearing family members. Patients do not need insurance or a copayment to receive services. Lohmiller currently provides individual, family and

couples counseling, with sessions offered weekly or biweekly depending on the patient’s needs. Lohmiller said the program addresses a significant barrier within traditional mental health care communication. “There’s not a lot of providers that are fluent in American Sign Language or with some of the disability, cultural aspects of it,” Lohmiller said. Not every deaf or hard-of-hearing person uses American Sign Language, and Lohmiller said South Florida’s diverse deaf community can create additional communication challenges. Deaf individuals from countries such as Haiti, Cuba, Colombia and Peru may use different sign languages. Lohmiller said relying on interpreters during therapy is another challenge. “A lot of times, a hearing provider has a sign language interpreter,” she said. “[It] sounds great, but it’s not ideal to have another person in the room when somebody is divulging their deepest secrets.” Patients may also have to spend valuable therapy time explaining their hearing loss and

communication needs to providers who lack experience working with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Lohmiller’s own experiences with hearing loss have influenced her work. Her hearing became worse during her teenage years, leading her to learn ASL. She said she has experienced feeling isolated and left out of situations because she could not hear certain information. “You know, I can’t just turn on the news,” Lohmiller said. “A lot of things are captioned, but some of the live broadcasts are not.” Those experiences helped shape her desire to improve mental health services for the community. NSU’s undergraduate ASL Club is also working to increase awareness and communication across campus. The club teaches students basic ASL, as well as the deaf community’s culture, while collaborating with other student organizations. Harini Rajendran, junior biology major and ASL Club president, said learning even basic signs can make a difference. “I think our mission is to just

teach basic signs, because you never know when you’re gonna meet somebody who is deaf or hard of hearing,” Rajendran said. Jennifer Dieck, senior speech-language and communication disorders major, said the club also hopes to connect students with the local deaf community through volunteering, fundraising and guest speakers. “Learning a little bit of ASL makes people feel seen,” Dieck said. For Lohmiller, expanding that understanding is just as important as providing therapy. She hopes the program will eventually grow into an established clinic, offer remote services and bring additional therapists into the program. NSU’s program not only aims to expand access to mental health care but also to improve communication and understanding between the deaf and hardof-hearing community and the broader community. “Because without communication, we don’t have anything,” Lohmiller said.

SPORTS

Steve Burgess becomes the interim head coach for NSU women’s soccer By Jonathan Paul NSU women’s soccer has a new leader at the helm. Steve Burgess, longtime NSU soccer assistant coach, will serve as interim head coach for the 2026 campaign. Burgess brings more than 25 years of coaching experience at youth, high school and collegiate levels. Prior to joining NSU’s coaching staff in 2023/2024, Burgess was part of the coaching staff at Keiser University, leading the program to NAIA National Championships in 2019 and 2021, while earning United Soccer Coaches Staff of the Year honors. Last year, NSU women’s soccer finished with a record of 16-1-4 under former head coach, Amy Vaughan, who departed from the club this past offseason for a new coaching role within the National Women’s Soccer League. Burgess is excited to implement his

COURTESY OF NSU ATHLETICS

coaching vision at NSU. “I have been fortunate whether it’s been club, high school or NAIA, I’ve been fortunate to win a few championships in my time, obviously that a goal for me to continue that here, and for the athletes I want them to have the best four years of their life,” Burgess said. Alexa Bereczki, junior exercise science major, is excited for the opportunities that Burgess will bring due to his familiarity with the team’s players and the program overall. In her first two years at NSU, Bereczki earned a freshman of the year award, two AllSSC Second Team honors and a D2CCA All South Region second team honor, all with Burgess on staff. “Change is good. He has been with us, he knows how we play, and he knows who we are as people,

and this gives opportunity to those who didn’t play as much last year to step in and prove themselves and he has a different view on players, so it allows others to step in and play,” Bereczki said. Genesis Hernandez, junior sports management major and former All-SSC first team honors and D2CCA All-South region first team honor recipient, is also confident in Burgess’ approach as head coach this season. “I think he knows exactly what he is doing. Being assistant coach last year, he knows everything we do, he knows how we should play, and I think he has been doing an incredible job, and we all believe in him 100 percent,” Hernandez said. Under Burgess this season, NSU women’s soccer has not lost a match, achieving a record of 6-03. Hernandez enjoys the guidance Burgess has provided to the NSU program for

Steve Burgess, interim head coach of women’s soccer, practices, with his team at the NSU Soccer Stadium on Aug. 21.

many years. “As much as he has helped us this year, he helped just as much last year and the years before that, but since my freshman year he has always been there and has always known what to say in intense moments and moments that we may lose our cool, I feel like he is super good at grounding us,” Hernandez said. By elevating Burgess to interim head coach, NSU women’s soccer is combining past and present successes with future championship aspirations in mind. “I just really want to continue the pathway the team has been on for the past few years, this is going to be my fourth year here and what we have built over the last four years, we want to continue that on for this season,” Burgess said. NSU women’s soccer will face Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach on Oct.10 at ERAU Soccer Stadium.

October 8, 2026

Sports Shorts By Constanza Andujar Women’s golf, Oct. 4 The women’s golf team placed fourth overall at the National Preview at 31 over par. Alex Remaklus led the Sharks, finishing runner-up individually at one under par. Women’s swimming, Oct. 3 The women’s swimming team opened the season at Lynn with a 162.5-99.5 win. The Sharks won the 200-yard relay and 200-yard freestyle relay, as Bree Buchanan, Nika Tomic and Maria Zornoza each won two individual events. Men’s swimming, Oct. 3 The men’s swimming team also won 163-99 in the season-opener at Lynn. Agus Orechia won the 100 and 200yard backstroke events and Ethan Baylin topped the 50-yard freestyle.

Volleyball, Oct. 2-3 The volleyball team lost both matches of its Sunshine State Conference two-match road trip, falling 3-0 to Embry-Riddle and 3-1 to Rollins. Women’s cross-country, Oct. 2 The women’s cross-country team competed at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational at Burke Golf Course, finishing 19th in the women’s race with 421 points. Alayna Stewart paced the Sharks with a time of 18:21.24, finishing 55th overall. Men’s cross-country, Oct. 2 The men’s cross-country team finished 18th in the men’s race at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational with 413 points. The Sharks were led by Marcus Tortorella, who placed 44th overall with a time of 24:53.6. Marc Gonzalez and Andrew

Youssef followed in 56th and 65th respectively. Women’s soccer, Sept. 30 The women’s soccer team stayed unbeaten in the Sunshine State Conference with a 2-1 win against Palm Beach Atlantic at home on Senior Night, recognizing 12 Sharks before kickoff. Genesis Hernandez and Fiona Khankhanian led the team to victory. Men’s golf, Sept. 28-29 The men’s golf team finished fourth overall at the National Preview at PGA National Resort. Jorge Berea led the Sharks tying for 12th overall at one under par after closing the tournament with a one-under-par 71. Men’s soccer, Sept. 26 The men’s soccer team lost 3-1 against Florida Southern for the

Sunshine State Conference. Eduardo Fontan Rodriguez scored the only goal for the Sharks in the first half. Women’s soccer, Sept. 26 The women’s soccer team finished 1-1 against Florida Southern in Sunshine State Conference action at Berend Field. An own goal in the 28th minute gave the Sharks the advantage, before Florida Southern scored the equalizer in the second half. Volleyball, Sept. 25-26 The volleyball team finished 1-1 at home, opening the weekend with a 3-0 win against Saint Leo before falling 0-3 against Eckerd.

EVENTS CALENDAR OCTOBER FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Shark Pride Fridays Noon - Don Taft University Center, Spine Breast Cancer’s A Drag – Beauty, Bravery & Bold Entertainment 7 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

Eva Ayllón & Daniela Darcourt 8 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

TUESDAY

Spooky Slime 7 p.m.. - Mako Hall Multipurpose Room

FRIDAY

Fin Films Movie Night 6 p.m. - Knight Auditorium

20 23 WEDNESDAY

SUNDAY

Cabrini 2 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

28 THURSDAY

TUESDAY

13 FRIDAY

Spooky Cookies 7 p.m. - CLC Courtyard

Immersive Haunted House 6 p.m. - Don Taft University Center, Black Box Theatre

Guest Artist Exhibition: Jade Lilly 5 p.m. - Don Taft University Center, Gallery 217

The Reel Movie Night: The Apartment 6 p.m. - Mailman-Hollywood Auditorium FRIDAY

Shark Pride Fridays Noon - Don Taft University Center, Spine Shark Talent Showcase 7:30 p.m. - Don Taft University Center, Performance Theatre The Rhinestone Cowgirls 8 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

30 SATURDAY

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (18+) 8 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

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, October 28. The correct answer to this question will appear in the next issue of The Current in the fall semester. 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 2026-2027 school year will be invited to attend a celebration in April as part of Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month. In the game Blue-Red Hackenbush, the value of an infinite stack of sticks, containing infinitely sticks of each color, is the total value of the blue sticks minus the total value of the red sticks. Starting from the bottom, each stick is worth 1 before the first color change. At the first color change and upward, each stick is worth half as much as the stick immediately below it. Consider the following stack, in order from bottom to top: 1 blue, 3 reds, 3 blues, 3 reds, 3 blues, 3 reds, 3 blues, with the pattern of the last 6 sticks repeating forever. What is the value of the stack? Answer to the question from the last issue: Answer: 40 (60 – 20 is 40. 150, 50, 20, 60 devices were produced.)

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1 2

4 5

DOWN: 1. This year’s College Radio Day theme. 3. NSU expands mental health services for deaf and hard-of-hearing _________. 4. This art exhibition features various artworks made by _______. 7. This chapter has been selected to host a national PR conference. 9. Alvin Sherman Library to host annual ____ sale.

THE PICO SHOW

8 10

ACROSS: 2. NSU women’s ______ gains new interim head coach. 5. What Awareness Day will bring students together at NSU? 6. This new movie features a strong story of friendship and what mythology? 8. These _____ friends help ease stress for college students. 10. The _______ Green Farmers Market features 350 vendors.

BY LILA TARICCO