Vol.36 Issue 9

April 16, 2026

Issue 9, Volume 36

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

NEWS p. 3

ARTS p. 9

SCIENCE AND HEALTH p. 12

SPORTS p. 13

NSU Health celebrates Interprofessional Healthcare Month

Digressions Literary & Art Journal debuts Volume 23

Food as an afterthought: Have disordered eating habits been normalized?

Gianna Russo turns setback into senior season comeback

NSU celebrates the STUEYs

By Antonio Miguel Escorzon Matthew Struble, senior education major, won the Student of the Year award at the 28th Annual Student Life Achievement Awards.

The STUEYs, which took place on Tuesday, April 7 in the Rose and Alfred

WINNERS

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

Seth Mangasarian

Miniaci Performing Arts Center, recognizes members of the NSU community, including students, professors, alumni, executives and administrators.

The NSU Mako Band performed throughout the event.

ALUMNI OF THE YEAR

SCAN FOR A DETAILED LIST OF WINNERS

Wendy Garrido

ATHLETIC TEAM OF THE YEAR

Men’s Basketball 2024-25

CO-CURRICULAR ADVISER OF THE YEAR

Marilyn Uzdavines

EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Elizabeth Shepherd

GRADUATE ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

Student Chapter of Doctors Without Borders PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR

Elda Kanzki-Veloso

REGIONAL CAMPUS STUDENT OF THE YEAR Neslihan Caliskan STAFF PERSON OF THE YEAR

Marci Bulterman

STUDENT GOVERNMENT OF THE YEAR Halmos College of Arts and Sciences Student Government Association STUDENT OF THE YEAR

Matthew Struble

UNDERGRADUATE ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

S.E.A. Board - Student Affairs REGIONAL CAMPUS ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

Student Nurses Association, NSU Fort Myers COURTESY OF SAINTVILLE IMAGES

Matthew Struble, senior education major, speaks at the 28th Annual Student Life Achievement Awards after accepting the Student of the Year award.

JUAN PABLO CORREA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Donavan Rahming

National organizations come to campus to create an open conversation about politics NEWS By Marlee Card When Gabriella Flora first came to NSU, she noticed political dialogue did not have a strong presence on campus.

“Besides this semester, there’s not been a time where political talks have really been encouraged or had a place to start a dialogue,” she said.

Flora is a junior double major in biology and marine biology, and DJ at Mako Radio. She is also the founder of the student-run club, Students for Social Change.

“From the works of my club personally, I think we’re starting to see a little more of people starting to recognize that there’s an issue, recognize that politics is involved in our lives

whether we like it or not. And now we have all these clubs here as well,” Flora said.

Now, with the arrival of two national organizations this semester, the American Civil Liberties Union and Turning Point USA, students will have more opportunities to engage in political conversations and advocacy on campus.

“I do think we are in the beginning stages of starting real change and real open discussion that has not been here in the past three years I have been a student,” Flora said.

Brianna Muñoz, junior psychology major and founder of the ACLU of NSU, said the chapter’s goal is to

create a space where students can come together to discuss issues of rights and civic participation.

“I want to bring myself and other people who are interested in defending civil rights, while also protecting Americans, together on campus to, first of all, get people out to vote, because voting is where it all begins, but also how we can protect each other legally on campus,” Muñoz said.

The ACLU is a nonprofit, legal advocacy organization focused on protecting civil rights and liberties.

“What’s really important is education and community because those are the two biggest things that help us learn and create change. If you have

both, people are more likely to work together toward a common cause,” Muñoz said.

The group’s priorities include defending free speech, constitutional rights, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, voting rights, women’s rights, student rights, immigrant rights and prisoners’ rights, Muñoz said.

Alongside the ACLU chapter, Turning Point USA is returning to NSU after closing the chapter in 2018.

Turning Point USA is a nonprofit organization that aims to engage students in political and civic life.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS p. 4

| April 16, 2026

2

Letter from the editor 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

Victoria Ruiz Art Director

Yasmin De Andrade Rodrigues Assistant Social Media Manager

Lila Taricco Art Director

Krish Lalwani Business Manager

Constanza Andujar Reporter Marlee Card Reporter/Music Editor

Liv Zolk Distribution Manager

Samiksha Chemukula Science/Health Writer

Chris Delboni Mako Media Network Director

Isabella Fernandez de Cueto Sports Editor

Mike Lynn Mako Media Network Assistant Director/Music Desk Adviser

Daria Gross Reporter Bryce Johnson Film Critic

Dr. Megan Fitzgerald Mako Media Network Faculty Adviser

Madison Kasper Reporter/ Visual Journalist

Joyce Moed The Current Adviser

Isabelle Moreno Reporter

Dr. Mario D’Agostino Sports Desk Adviser

Alexandria Munroe News Editor/Feature Writer

Dr. Aarti Raja Science/Health Desk Adviser

Sneha Subhash Science/Health Writer

Dr. Eric Mason Digital Adviser

Allen Worrell Web Editor/Reporter

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

MAKO RADIO

MAKO TV

MAKO NEWS

Dear Readers, Hello there, Sharks!

I hope you enjoy reading this semester’s last issue of The Current, NSU’s student-run newspaper. I am Antonio, the editor-in-chief.

We covered the latest on-campus events like the USGA elections and Interprofessional Healthcare Month.

There are ongoing renovations at the Cathy J. Husman Fine Arts Gallery and the student residence buildings. Mako Hall will also have a new lounge and event space: the Shark Cove.

The overall academic year has been a thrilling journey for me. The Current grew with strong visuals from our Art Desk and photojournalists. We started series like “Oh, The Places To Go!,” “Movie Review” and “In Case You Missed It” to bring more community stories to NSU. I immensely appreciate serving as your editor-in-chief throughout this academic year.

Thanks for picking up the

paper. You will find strong reporting by our journalists in Mako Media Network.

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.

Happy summer, 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

3

NSU Health celebrates Interprofessional Healthcare Month

By Antonio Miguel Escorzon Judy Paul, mayor of Davie, signed an official proclamation to recognize April as Interprofessional Healthcare Month and NSU’s commitment to collaborative healthcare.

Daniel J. Alfonso, executive vice president for Business Services, Facilities, and Public Safety, and Davie council member, presented the proclamation to Dr. Harry K. Moon, president and CEO of Nova Southeastern University on March 18.

“My wife [Claudia] is a nurse, so we’re going to recognize the fact that healthcare professionals work in a team,” Alfonso said. “Acknowledging the fact that these folks need to come together to deliver excellent health was a no-brainer.”

Elizabeth Swann, director of Interprofessional Integration, said interprofessional education allows two or more professions to learn from, about and with one another.

“NSU Health has over 70 clinics that serve our community. So, this proclamation is a public notice of how NSU bridges the gap between the academic, didactic portion and the clinical portion of healthcare, from an interprofessional lens. That means we work better together in healthcare at NSU,” Swann

said.

The “Rapid Teaming” Simulation on March 19 kicked off the celebration. The event, held in collaboration with the Speech-Language Pathology doctoral program, took place in the Jim and Jan Moran Family Center Village.

Students were split into teams and tasked with building a tower from “Tetris” blocks in five minutes.

Stacy Thomashaw, first-year doctoral student in the Speech-Language Pathology program, said she loved learning about teamwork from her group.

“Teamwork is the critical element when it comes to taking care of any patient,” she said. “The collaborative approach to care is what ultimately ensures us a safe patient outcome.”

On April 3, the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine hosted its “Public Health: Addressing Campus Tobacco Use & Vaping” case competition in partnership with the Accelerated Dual Admission Program. Fifteen groups of undergraduate students of various majors presented posters exploring solutions to vaping.

Izzy Mackenzie, sophomore public

health major, was one of the students who competed.

“I think that definitely we need to start looking at preventative care when it comes to this, and really educate yourself on the actions that you’re doing, the substances that you are using,” Mackenzie said.

Steven Zucker, associate dean for Community Affairs and director of the Area Health Education Center program, said the student posters impressed him.

“The quality of their work was superb, and I’m actually very excited to study these ideas even further and implement many of these ideas, hopefully with the help of these students, going forward into next year,” he said.

The three winning teams will be

announced later this semester.

Other activities celebrating the month include the Speech-Language Pathology Case Competition: Empowering Communication and Independence PostStroke on March 20, and the Interprofessional Diabetes Education and Awareness community session on April 11.

PHOTO BY ANTONIO MIGUEL ESCORZON

From left: Stacy Thomashaw, first-year doctoral student in the SpeechLanguage Pathology program, and Leslie Jefferson, first-year doctoral student in the Speech-Language Pathology program, build a tower with “Tetris” blocks, as Elizabeth Swann, director of Interprofessional Integration, oversees them.

PHOTO BY MADISON KASPER

NSU President Dr. Harry K. Moon shakes Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s hand after introducing her at the check presentation on April 8.

Florida Congresswoman presents check to NSU executives for brain cancer research

By Antonio Miguel Escorzon Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz from Florida’s 25th District, acquired $1,031,000 in federal funding for NSU to purchase equipment for brain cancer research.

“Brain cancer is one of the most challenging diseases to treat, despite it being relatively rare,” Wasserman Schultz said. “I’m bursting with pride that NSU is in the forefront of this research.”

The check presentation took place on April 8 in the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation, with Dr. Harry K. Moon, president and CEO of Nova Southeastern University, and Dr. Chad Perlyn, 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, who also spoke at the event.

“What this funding will go to is to fight cancer. Cancer doesn’t

discriminate. It affects the old, the young,” Moon said. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what your background was, and in this case, glioblastoma, which is a particularly pernicious type of cancer, claims people’s lives in a very impressive fashion.”

Regina M. Graham, researcher and associate professor in the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, said the next phase with the funding is getting a small animal imager, which visualizes nanoparticles that destroy cancer cells.

Perlyn said the investment in Graham’s team will help pioneer a nanoparticle-based drug delivery system to improve cancer treatment.

“The resources provided, through this support, will allow our team to acquire critical state of the art imaging and laboratory technologies that will accelerate translation from the bench to the bedside,” he said.

The funding is especially meaningful to Wasserman Schultz, as a breast cancer survivor.

“This funding will go to a researcher that has been able to make tremendous progress in getting the drugs across the blood brain barrier, but needs the equipment to actually be able to put it into practice, and do enough testing and more research to ensure that it can be taken to the next level,” she said.

PHOTO BY MADISON KASPER

NSU President Dr. Harry K. Moon hugs Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz while presenting the $1 million check on.

April 16, 2026

4 FROM THE FRONT

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS According to the Turning Point Students website, “Students are equipping the next generation with the tools and knowledge to defend and promote conservative values on campuses across the country.”

Morgan Vile, senior psychology major and president of the TPUSA chapter at NSU, said the organization focuses on encouraging student involvement and discussion.

“Turning Point is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating students about the importance of economic freedom, individual liberty, and constitutional values,” Vile said.

She said the organization encourages students to take an active role in political and civic issues on campus.

“Ultimately, TPUSA exists to inspire young people to become active participants in shaping the future of our country by defending the principles that make America free and prosperous,” she said.

Timothy Canova, professor of law and public finance at NSU’s Shepard Broad College of Law and faculty adviser for the chapter, said the organization aims to create open dialogue on campus.

“What they have in mind is to have a dialogue on campus, to explore the issues, not just from one perspective, but to have dialogue on a lot of issues,” Canova said. “They don’t have to agree with each other. We can disagree with each other, but be respectful of each other. And it’s OK to hate the message; don’t hate the messenger.”

He emphasized the importance of in-person conversations.

“It’s on campus, it’s in person, it’s face to face,” he said. “The hope is

that it creates more discussion, people using their ears as much as their mouths, listening and trying to understand each other.”

Vile said her goal in reestablishing the chapter is to promote open discussion among students.

“I wanted to bring a Turning Point chapter to Nova because I think open discussion is something that’s really important at this age and is missing on a lot of campuses. People should be able to share what they believe without feeling judged or shut down. I want to help create a space where students can talk about different ideas, challenge each other, and keep an open mind, even when we don’t all agree,” Vile said.

While the two organizations approach civic engagement from different perspectives, both emphasize the importance of student involvement and open dialogue.

“I want other students to understand that our chapter is about more than just one perspective. We welcome anyone who comes with an open mind and a willingness to engage in meaningful, safe discussions,” Vile said.

Muñoz echoed that message, encouraging students to remain open-minded.

“Definitely do your own research, but always expect to learn something new,” Muñoz said. “Always be open to change and grow, always be respectful, but never stop fighting for what you believe in, because that’s the most important thing you can ever do.”

Ritchy Laguerre, assistant director of Club and Organization Engagement, who oversees the approval of clubs on campus, explained how these

chapters allow students to have their voices heard.

“When it comes to these clubs that are now on the campus for the student body and the people on this campus, it just shows that students are now being able to get their voices heard,” he said. “They’re now trying to make sure that whatever’s going on, they want to make sure that they’re able to talk about it, to speak about it.”

Ransford Edwards, assistant professor of history and political science in the Department of Humanities and Politics, said student political activity on campus reflects what is currently happening on a national level.

“When politcal issues in society are stable, there is less particpation,” he said. “But when things are a little bit off, and there is something going on in the media, then we also can see that reflected in how students start to think about their political activity.”

Edwards also emphasized the importance of student-run organizations in open dialogue.

“The campus caters to different demographics, so to have Turning Point, ACLU, NAACP or Black Student Union, all of them should be included in this conversation,” Edwards said.

Kendall Knutzen, freshman environmental science major, believes open dialogue between organizations is important for overall political education.

“It’s important, so that people can learn from each other and come to group conclusions instead of staying divided over things that usually occur because people are misinformed,” she said.

Flora said bringing national organizations to campus can create new opportunities for students.

“Bringing in national organizations of really any kind can be somewhat beneficial because it connects students with broader resources and provides different opportunities,” Flora said.

However, she also expressed concern about how some organizations may influence campus dialogue.

“I do think that political discussion is needed, but I also know that Turning Point historically has a lot of ideologies attached to it that could blur the line between personal bias and political influence,” she said.

On Feb. 17, the Change.org petition titled “Ban TPUSA at NSU,” was created by an anonymous person, to support the removal of TPUSA at NSU. The petition currently stands at 88 signatures, with the last being more than a month ago.

The issue statement of the online petition states: “Our university should be a safe haven for open-minded discourse and inclusive dialogue, rather than a platform for divisive ideologies that marginalize and alienate members of our community.”

Vile emphasized that Turning Point at NSU aims to get students more involved and welcomes those who may disagree to start a conversation.

“If someone comes to talk to us respectfully and with an open mind, we’ll do the same,” she said. “At the end of the day, we’re just trying to show people who we really are, not what people assume we are.”

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

NSU builds for the future

By Antonio Miguel Escorzon

Cathy J. Husman Fine Arts Gallery Expansion The Cathy J. Husman Fine Arts Gallery, on the first floor of the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center, is expanding to include more pieces from NSU benefactor David Husman’s collection. The gallery has pieces from various regions in East and South Asia as well as Western Europe.

Mindy Irwin, a project manager in Design & Construction, said she hopes with the expansion of the gallery the NSU community can appreciate art even more.

“It just goes to show you the pride [Husman] took in what he was collecting,” Irwin said. “I just think that, with the almost doubling

of what’s going to be shown now in the gallery, it’s impressive.”

The project is planned to be completed by the end of April.

College of Dental Medicine Upgrades Design & Construction renovated the College of Dental Medicine predoctoral clinic on the building’s first floor with new dental chairs, re-painted walls and replaced smoke detectors.

Felix Leon, senior project manager in Design & Construction, said the upgrades will allow the College of Dental Medicine students to have a better learning environment.

“The tools with which they’re learning are state of the art tools and state of the art equipment,” Leon said.

“Once they go out into their careers, they’ll have already used that same equipment.”

Flooring Renovations Ayanna Stephens, director of Design & Construction, said there are currently phased upgrades for the floors in Rolling Hills and Mako Hall,

two on-campus residence buildings.

Design & Construction upgraded the Rolling Hills Building A’s first level floors during the spring break.

“We try to do it over the breaks when the students aren’t here, so it doesn’t cause a disruption,” Stephens said.

Yahima Perez, a building manager in University Housing, said the original floors are being replaced because of wear and tear.

“The floors aren’t in the best condition,” Perez said. “We’re looking to make an upgrade that is more durable, will have a longer lifespan and will just elevate the building experience overall for the residents.”

Perez hopes the new floors can better the lives of students on campus.

“The whole point of improving the floors is so that we’re elevating their experience, that they feel like their home is being taken care of,” Perez said. “I believe that when students like where they live, they’re happier where they are. They’re happier going to Nova.”

NEWS

USGA announces 39th administration

5

WINNERS COMMUNITY SENATOR

Lara Santa Ines

By Antonio Miguel Escorzon The Undergraduate Student Government Association announced the Shark Pack party won the election for the USGA 39th administration during the State of the Union on April 10. The election ran from March 30 to April 3.

Jazmira Guzman, junior sport and recreation management major, was elected president. Guzman served as chief of the staff for the 38th administration. Her goal is for students to know more about what the USGA is doing.

“Just making sure that we publicize our Senate meetings every time, knowing where that USGA office is and having that open door policy is my biggest thing that I want to put forward,” she said.

Alina Andrews, junior biology major, was elected executive vice president. She served as president for the 38th administration.

“I loved my term. I wanted to work a little more with the internal parts of USGA,” Andrews said.

Lukah Varghese, junior biology major, was elected chief financial officer. He was CFO for the 38th administration. His goal is to have transparency with students and the NSU Pan Student Government Association about where money is going in the university.

“I want to meet with PanSGA. I want to see if there’s a way for me to sit in those meetings or at least get like a report from the people who

UPPERCLASSMAN SENATORS

Samiksha Chemukula & Sravika Chirla

NON-TRADITIONAL SENATOR

Areebah Khan

VETERAN SENATOR

Keshav Ashok

COMMUTER SENATOR

Silvia Guzman Serrano BUSINESS SENATORS

Anthony Seitz & Kyle Hannan PSYCHOLOGY SENATORS

Xinlei (Wendy) Zhang & Krish Gondhi OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE SENATOR

PHOTO BY MARLEE CARD

From left: Akeziel Edwards, junior double major in political science and international studies, speaks during the Presidential Debate, with Jazmira Guzman, junior sport and recreation management major, for the USGA presidency. Guzman was elected president.

run the finances up there,” he said.

The first Meet the Candidates event kicked off the campaign cycle on March 25. The candidates came from two parties Shark Pack and Shark Print. Three independents also ran. The second Meet the Candidates event was on March 31 in the UC Spine. Guzman said the event allowed students to learn more about the candidates and the parties.

“We have the opportunity to go face-to-face and explain to potential voters what we stand for and what we can do for them,” she said.

Akeziel Edwards, junior double major in political science and

international studies, said he learned communicating with students is useful. Edwards ran for president in the Shark Print party.

“I think being able to talk to students one-on-one gave me an opportunity to hear the feedback,” he said.

Guzman said the USGA is the direct contact for students to voice their concerns.

“It means making change, being innovative, and just doing everything that we can to help satisfy the needs of our students,” Guzman said. “At the end of the day, they are our constituents, and we have to represent them.”

Snehana Chinnola LAW SENATORS

Adriana Pimentel & Gabriella Fonseca EDUCATION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SENATORS

Evelyn Runser & Mirella Pyatkovskiy

COMPUTING, AI, AND CYBERSECURITY SENATORS

Ritanshu Singh & Devika Vikas

ARTS AND SCIENCES SENATORS

Hrishi Paliath-Pathiyal & Mary Henain SORORITY SENATOR

Prerna Singh

INTERNATIONAL SENATOR

Laurel Williams

FRATERNITY SENATOR

Akshan Patel

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

NSU News Recap

By Alexandria Munroe Title IX Sexual Assault Awareness Month NSU’s Title IX office hosted its Day of Action to kick off Sexual Assault Awareness Month on the Commons Lawn, on April 1.

The theme for this year’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month is “25 Years Stronger: Looking Back, Moving Forward” in honor of the movement beginning in 2001. During the kickoff, organizations in the NSU Student CARE Team had tables with games and information on student safety resources.

Natalia Gutierrez, assistant director of Henderson Student Counseling Center, shared information on the four different types of support available to students at NSU. She said events like this are important in addressing the broader impact of sexual assault.

“Unfortunately, the percentages of individuals, regardless of gender, who will experience sexual assault are pretty high in our c o u n t r y , ”

Gutierrez said. “Hopefully, as we have these conversations, we’re reducing the stigma associated with talking about sexual assault and dating violence.”

Throughout the month, the T.I.D.A.L IX Ambassadors will continue to host events focused on education, prevention and available resources. Some ambassadors chose to plan their own events.

Nouha Belghmi, sophomore English major and T.I.D.A.L IX Ambassador, planned a workshop on the

bystander effect and informed consent called “Sharks in Solidarity: Uplifting Survivors of Sexual Assault and Striving for a Safer Community.” The workshop will take place on April 20 in the Carl DeSantis Building Room 1054. She said her goal was to encourage students to take an active role in protecting their community.

“While it’s incredibly important to look at all the things we’ve been able to do through activism, it’s just as important to show how being an active bystander directly translates to deterring sexual assault from happening,” Belghmi said.

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRIA MUNROE

From left, Kayla Fontcha, freshman biology major, and Natalia Gutierrez, assistant director of student counseling at Henderson Student Counseling Center, play a game teaching the four different types of support.

April 16, 2026

6

OH, THE PLACES TO GO!

In the Attic Vintage Store redefines shopping for young women in South Florida

4409 N Federal Hwy #6, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33308

By Marlee Card

COURTESY OF KATELYN SPOHN

In the Attic Vintage Store is a place that young women shop for curated Y2K-inspired secondhand items.

For 21-year-old McKenna Chase and 22-year-old Katelyn Spohn, opening a curated vintage boutique in South Florida gives women a chance to secondhand shop in a way that feels relaxed, unique and fun.

“We keep the store cute and trendy. It’s more appealing to people who don’t want to go to a thrift store that’s filled with people that are shoving everything around.”

Spohn said. “You’re not digging through random old T-shirts here.

You’re digging through pieces that are cute and fun but the hunt is still there.”

Since opening in December 2024, In the Attic Vintage Store in Fort Lauderdale has quickly built a following for curated vintage clothing, prioritizing affordability and trenddriven pieces for young women.

“Our brand has always been about affordability and accessibility for people who can’t spend $60 on a tank top but still want to wear cute, trending clothes that nobody else has because everything here is one of one,” Spohn said. “Part of that is everything in store ranges from $8 to $36, with a $5 bin.”

The two have known each other their entire lives and opened the shop over a shared love of thrifting and noticing a gap in the local vintage scene.

“Vintage was very popular, but a lot of vintage stores that we would go into were just a lot of T-shirts and a lot of male-centered clothing.” Spohn said. “We wanted to kind of make it more accessible for women to find cute, girly stuff, like skirts, Y2K, kind of like our style.

We always loved thrifting, and we wanted to make it more accessible for everyone else.”

What makes In the Attic different is its carefully curated approach.

Every item in the store is handpicked by the two owners.

“We literally buy clothes all the time from everywhere, like estate sales, storage units or yard sales,” Spohn said. “Nothing gets in the store without us literally specifically choosing it.”

While the shop focuses on 1990s and early 2000s fashion, carrying everything

from mini skirts or tank tops to lowrise jeans and statement pieces, the owners also prioritize paying close attention to what their customers want.

“We really looked into the different styles that were in the early ’90s, 2000s,” Chase said. “But definitely from our customers, too. We watch them walk in the store, we take stuff from their style, and their style influences us a lot.”

Chase and Spohn are in the same age group as their clientele, giving them a leg up in understanding what their customers look for.

“It’s exciting, especially because there’s no one behind the scenes.

It’s just me and Katelyn. We’re the girls who are showing the clothes on Instagram and then selling you these clothes,” Chase said. “We know exactly what you want, what you’re looking for and are extremely on the trends because we want it for ourselves, and I think that separates us a lot.”

Inventory changes constantly, with new drops every Wednesday and Saturday.

“If you come

on Wednesday or if you come on Saturday, it’s like there’s a new store because there’s all new clothing, and everything gets bought out really quick,” Chase said.

Since opening, the store has continued to grow, thanks in part to social media. The store’s Instagram and TikTok accounts have more than 10,000 followers each, allowing them to create a community of young women both online and in person.

“We posted a few videos and one went locally viral the night before we opened,” Chase said. “The first day, we had a line out the door.”

They use their account to preview the clothes they are selling in store.

“We always try to post all of our new hauls, new drops and stuff.”

Spohn said. “It’s so fun because we’ll have people literally screenshot our videos or pictures and come in the store asking ‘Do you have this?’”

In the Attic has become a space where young women can experiment with their style and feel comfortable doing so.

“I think this place almost feels like a safe place for girls,” Chase said.

COURTESY OF KATELYN SPOHN

Owners Katelyn Spohn, 22, and McKenna Chase, 21, opened their store in December 2024, curating the boutique specifically for young women.

FEATURES

7

Sharks Speak: As a senior at NSU, what has made you most proud?

BY DARIA GROSS

“The amount of lifelong friends that I have made. On the day of my wedding, I think 90% of the attendees will be comprised of the people I’ve met because of how much their friendship and these bonds mean to me.”

“I would say I am most proud of the community I became apart of. I am very proud to make some lifelong friends and have my own little support system that I can rely on.”

Carleah Culmer, senior finance major

Leelakrishna Angadala, senior health informatics major

“Reflecting on the last four years, I think I feel like a completely different person. I am most proud of how much I’ve grown personally and professionally. I am also proud of staying focused on my academic and learn how to become very independent.”

Preya Pandya, senior double major in biology and neuroscience

“I would definitely say that I am most proud of getting out of my comfort zone. I remember back in high school I used to be very shy, and I was afraid to speak with other people. Nova is such a diverse school, and there are a lot of events that allow me to meet new people.”

Roberto Zuniga, senior biology major

Shark Cove brings nightlife to campus

By Constanza Andujar Mako Hall will have a new lounge and event space for students.

The Shark Cove will host its soft opening during the End of Year BBQ hosted by the Office of Residence Life at the Mako Circle from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 23.

One of the founders of Shark Cove, Kaylee Hilyer, second-year graduate student in the master of science in College Student Affairs program, said the space is expected to be open Thursday through Sunday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. to address the lack of late night programming on campus.

“The focus of the project is to create a space to

provide fun events on campus, for everyone, but specifically for our residential population, so that they don’t always feel pulled to head out to Fort Lauderdale, downtown or Miami for the fun parties,” Hilyer said.

Previously, the space was known as the Shark Cage, where students from the Huizenga Business Innovation Academy could manage the businesses they launched as part of their scholarship requirements.

The space has been empty since the requirement of opening a business was removed from the program in 2025.

Caitlin Cabrera, freshman finance major and one of the HBIA students involved in the project, said

the renovation is a collaboration between Residence Life and HBIA. “It’s a good experience for me, because I’m a freshman, so it’s more experience to figure out how to run a new place and how to renovate and how it works behind the scenes,“ she said. “I’ll be there for a few years to, hopefully, keep the business running, so I’m excited.”

The collaboration allows HBIA to maintain its involvement with the space. Cabrera said students from the program will take the lead in the management and daily operations of the Shark Cove.

Hilyer said she hopes the space will improve students’ campus experience.

“We love when students are having fun, but we’re providing them a safer spot on campus, and a

cheaper spot on campus,” she said.

“We did a survey and [the students] gave us a lot of really great activities: trivia nights, movie nights, maybe some craft nights, sports nights.”

Alexandra Doak, sophomore marketing major, said she is excited for sports night, specifically to watch NSU’s basketball teams when they play away.

“I feel like it gives you a new space to do things,” she said. “A new space for everybody to hang out and come together.”

The full programming schedule is anticipated to start in the Fall semester.

PHOTO BY CONSTANZA ANDUJAR

From left: Kaylee Hilyer, second-year graduate student in the master of science in College Student Affairs program, and Caitlin Cabrera, freshman finance major, share a snack while discussing the launch of Shark Cove.

April 16, 2026

8

MUSIC

The sound of Mako Radio: Where every genre lives

By Marlee Card Within the Mako Media Network lies a radio station that thrives on music as a form of individuality, a freeform program where every night show and every DJ brings a different sound, turning the station into a true melting pot of genres. From Afro House to EDM and house, to jazz, R&B and even themed nights like Throwback Thursday, Mako Radio is blending cultures, languages and eras into one stream of sound.

That freeform freedom is what defines the station. No matter when you tune in, you’re stepping into a different atmosphere that is shaped entirely by our very own DJs behind the mic.

The origin of this column was inspired by longtime station manager

Alex Hernández, who gave the radio a space in The Current and allowed us to express our interests in different music topics. Since then, it has become a space where I’ve had the pleasure of sharing my thoughts and feelings on hot music topics I have pondered, rising artists or simply the songs that have been on repeat for me. Under DJ Mojo, I’ve been not only able to share my words, but also my favorite music with fellow DJs and the listeners of WKPX 88.5Fm Sunrise.

As I am graduating this May, this piece will be the last for the music column. I wanted to take a moment and bring it back to its origins and shine a light on the station that has inspired me from day one at Mako Media Network.

Across genres like Classic Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop, Indie or R&B, the DJs of Mako Radio bring the readers of The Current their top songs they have been listening to at the moment.

Through the QR code, I present a curated playlist on Spotify that is a collection of the songs currently on repeat for them. It shows the diversity that defines our station and the sounds of WKPX 88.5 FM Sunrise.

It reflects the personality of our DJs and represents the constant mix of styles and moods that makes Mako Radio what it is. I can always count on our DJs to put on a song I’ve never heard before or a genre I have yet to explore. And as someone who has spent time both listening and

contributing to this space, these picks feel like a reminder of why college radio is so important: music at its core is personal, but here it’s also shared in a community that values connection.

Vibe with Mako Radio!

Scan the QR code to listen to the playlist.

MOVIE REVIEW

‘Hamnet’: A tale worth seeing tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow

By Bryce Johnson When I first watched “Hamnet,” I knew almost nothing about the plot or what it would focus on. All I saw was the poster of Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal’s characters sitting in the forest, and I thought it looked interesting enough to take a chance. In the end, I’m glad that I did, because it ended up being one of my favorite movies of 2025.

“Hamnet” is directed by Chloé Zhao and based on the 2020 novel of the same name. It tells a fictionalized story of historical figures Agnes Hathaway and William Shakespeare, respectively played by Buckley and Mescal. When an unexpected tragedy befalls Agnes and William’s family, they each find new ways to live with their grief and support one another.

For her performance in “Hamnet,” Buckley won the Best

Actress awards from more than 40 different organizations, including the British Academy Film Awards, Golden Globe Awards and the Academy Awards. Having seen the film twice, she deserved every one of those awards. Even though I knew what was coming the second time around, her performance was still powerful enough to make me teary-eyed from beginning to end.

Jacobi Jupe was also notable as Hamnet, Agnes and William’s son.

He’s only 13 years old, but you’d think he was a seasoned professional the way he perfectly translated Hamnet’s love and bravery to the screen.

There are many satisfying and emotional moments that reward the audience for picking up on small details.

As someone largely unfamiliar with the original “Hamlet” tragedy, it was

COURTESY OF AGATA GRZYBOWSKA/FOCUS FEATURES

Jessie Buckley stars as Agnes in director Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet,” a Focus Features release. nice seeing characters love and honor one another in ways only they could.

It made me smile the way characters remembered small things about each other.

In the end, “Hamnet” is a beautiful story that will certainly be on my mind for years to come.

“Hamnet” is streaming on Peacock and also available to rent or buy.

COURTESY OF AGATA GRZYBOWSKA/FOCUS FEATURES

Jessie Buckley stars as Agnes and Joe Alwyn as Bartholomew in director Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet,” a Focus Features release.

ARTS

9

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRIA MUNROE

Janine Morris, associate professor in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts and faculty adviser of Digressions, introduces Volume 23 at the Digressions launch.

Digressions Literary & Art Journal debuts Volume 23

By Alexandria Munroe Digressions Literary & Art Journal hosted its annual launch on April 13 to celebrate the release of Volume 23.

At the event, members of the editorial board, contributors and Janine Morris, associate professor in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts and faculty adviser of Digressions, spoke about their part in creating the new volume.

The annual publication showcases student artwork across multiple disciplines, including poetry, photography, fiction and visual art.

Morris said that the quality of the work they receive increases each year.

“It will blow you away to see how beautiful the pieces are,” Morris said.

“The pieces are just so outstanding.”

This year, the journal accepted its first animation piece, “Rhythmic Gymnastics Gesture Animation,” by Tyriana

White, senior Art + Design major.

Morris said the addition shows how Digressions has been expanding to include more digital work.

“It’s exciting that we have that,” Morris said. “We’ve been able to link to digital-born pieces, and now this animation piece can live online.”

Digressions is compiled almost entirely by students. Its team consists of reviewers, who blind review each piece, and an editorial board, who uses the ratings to decide which pieces are included in the publication, as well as how the journal is organized.

Morris said that her favorite part of this process is seeing the editorial board grow into their roles as a team.

“I love how collaborative it’s been,” she said. “It’s really great to see people’s expertise come out and the things they’re really good at shine through.”

For students on the editorial board, Digressions is also a hands-on learning experience.

Antonio Miguel Escorzon, graduate

student in the Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media master’s program, said that being a reviewer in his first year pushed him to get more involved.

Escorzon is also editor-in-chief of The Current and graduate assistant for Mako Media Network.

“I wanted to do more for Digressions,” he said. “I wanted to learn more about student creators.”

This year, Escorzon oversaw the editorial board as a part of an internship. He said that running the editorial board has given him a unique experience to further his learning in the program.

“Aside from it being an internship, I liked to lean more into the justification side on the reviewer’s end,” he said.

“What I’m learning is how the reviewers are backing up their arguments.”

Sara Menco Arenas, senior communication major, was a member of the editorial board and a reviewer. She said that seeing the work in Digressions has pushed her to grow as an artist.

“I’m just amazed about the creativity,” Menco Arenas said. “It just inspires me to work on my own.”

Menco Arenas has also submitted her writing to Digressions.

Two of her poems, “In Transit” and “Echoes of You,” were published in Volume 22. She said that her favorite part of submitting her art was seeing it in print at the end.

“It’s such a gratifying experience to get to see your name in a product that so many people were part of,” Menco Arenas said. “Once you see your name on that piece of paper with your artwork, it’s going to be worthwhile.”

Menco Arenas said she wants Volume 23 to encourage more students to share their work in future editions.

“I hope they feel inspired, like they should have been part of it,” she said.

“So next time they can be encouraged to submit.”

Stage 2 explores teen life with “Dance Nation”

By Alexandria Munroe Stage 2, NSU’s student-run production company, will present “Dance Nation” on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 19 at 2 p.m. in the Mailman-Hollywood Building’s auditorium.

“Dance Nation” is a play that follows a group of middle school competitive dancers as they navigate friendships, competitions and the pressures of growing up.

Luca Zayas, senior theatre major, is the director of “Dance Nation.” He said that directing a production has given him a new perspective on leadership.

“Directing is like being mama and papa and a babysitter all at

PHOTO BY MADISON KASPER

The cast of “Dance Nation” rehearses a scene from the show in the Black Box Theatre on April 9.

once in a room,” Zayas said. “It’s definitely helped shape me as someone who can manage other people and put something on in a limited amount of time.”

Jade Gomez, junior theatre major, plays Amina in the play. She said working on this show has given her an opportunity to push herself as an actor.

“It’s challenging trying to incorporate these adult topics in the mind of a 13-year-old,” she said. “You don’t know how kids react to these things or how they think.”

As a former competitive dancer, Gomez said she relates to Amina’s struggles with perfectionism in a personal way.

“I’ve been dancing since I was 4, and there were times where I felt the pressure of

others,” she said. “If I made a mistake, I felt like nobody liked me anymore, and I needed to continue to prove myself.”

Gomez said that the show brings attention to sensitive topics that other shows are afraid to address.

“It talks about the struggles that women go through in our early years of life,” she said. “It’s more upfront about that transition from being a kid to starting your teenage years, experiencing new things with your body, and seeing how that affects you in your dayto-day life.”

Nadia D’Orazio, junior entrepreneurship major, plays Zuzu. She said the style of the script has helped her connect the character to her own experience growing up.

“It’s written in a way that feels very natural and

resembles the way I used to talk,” she said. “A lot of the dialogue feels so close to my heart.”

D’Orazio said that this connection to her younger self has changed how she approaches rehearsing.

“It’s less about perfection and more about letting go,” she said. “Learning how to bring out your inner middle school self again.”

Zayas hopes the audience can relate to the characters through the lens of their own childhoods.

“We were all 13 once, and we take being 13 with us wherever we go,” Zayas said.

“I want the audience to be reminded of that feral-ness that we all had inside of us and how we carry that into our adult bodies.”

April 16, 2026

10

Spotlight: Olivia Knerr takes her final bow at NSU

By Alexandria Munroe When Olivia Knerr, senior double major in dance and exercise and sports science, and reporter for Mako TV, entered NSU as a freshman, she came from a competitive dance background with little exposure to concert dance.

She said that her time in the dance program has shifted her perspective on dance to have a focus on storytelling.

“I have a deeper understanding of dance in general,” Knerr said. “I know how to make the audience feel more than just be entertained.”

Knerr came from Missouri to NSU because the Razor’s Edge Shark Talent program offered her the chance to continue dancing after high school with a scholarship.

During her four years at NSU, Knerr said she took opportunities to explore contemporary composition, modern dance and choreography to develop her artistic voice.

As a senior, Knerr has become the co-chair of the Razor’s Edge Shark Talent performance committee and choreographed multiple dances for her peers.

Kyra Triepke, senior human nutrition major and editor for Mako TV, is the other co-chair of the Shark Talent performance committee. She met Knerr when they were both freshmen and joined Shark Talent.

Since then, Triepke said they have become close friends. She appreciates the amount of love and loyalty Knerr shows.

“If you’re someone in her life and she cares about you, she’s going to ride for you no matter what,” Triepke said. “If anyone has the chance to hang around her, they should take it because she cherishes her friendships.”

For her final showcase, Knerr served

as one of 12 choreographers for this year’s Student Choreography Showcase.

The showcase took place on April 10 and 11 in the Performance Theatre in the Don Taft University Center.

Knerr said her piece, a jazz dance set to “MAMMAMIA” by Måneskin, was inspired by the song’s commentary on media perception and public opinion.

She said her dance was meant to mock exaggerated narratives and question what society considers to be acceptable.

“The underlying project of it all is to say exactly what the song is saying by mocking the media and exposing rumors,” Knerr said. “The costumes that I have them wear do the same thing that [Måneskin] wanted to do for the song and [they’re] mocking what’s right and what’s wrong.”

She said she chose to use this concept for her last showcase to recognize her growth as a dancer.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for so long, and I feel like I’ve grown enough to have mature movements in this.”

Elana Lanczi, director of dance and associate professor in the department of Communication, Media, and the Arts, said that Knerr stands out from other dancers due to her ability to connect with people.

“She’s a very strong performer, and she has a great stage presence,” Lanczi said. “You can really feel everything through her performance,

her movement and her choreography.”

Alexa Ybarra, sophomore criminal justice major and reporter for Mako TV,

was a dancer in Knerr’s piece. She said her favorite part of having Knerr as a choreographer was the comfortable environment she created in rehearsals.

“She really listens to you, and not every single choreographer listens to you, so it’s nice to have that relationship,” Ybarra said.

Ybarra said Knerr has inspired her to be more confident and open to growth.

“She is very outgoing, and she is not scared to mess up,” Ybarra said. “If she does mess up, she takes the critique and applies it. I really look up to her with that.”

Knerr said one of her favorite parts of student-run productions like the Student Choreography Showcase was the way that working with her peers influenced her choreography and performance.

“Being able to trust one another and feed off of one another’s energy brings a whole new perspective,” she said. “I always

come back feeling inspired, feeling that I’ve never seen these things before.”

Knerr said that preparing for her last showcase was an emotional experience because it marked the end of a chapter.

“It’s bittersweet because I am going to miss all of these opportunities that I have been given throughout my four years,” she said.

One of these opportunities is a chance to study abroad in London at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance under Brooke Winder, a former dancer and physical therapist for performing artists. Knerr said she is looking forward to blending both of her majors and passions together.

“I’m really excited to see how they move and how they interpret dance,” she said.

“But I’m also excited to see dancers in a new light as athletes and see how science can really help them.”

Due to this and her other accomplishments, Knerr was selected as one of two outstanding students for the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and will be recognized at her commencement ceremony.

Looking back on her time in the program, Knerr said she’s most proud of the impact she’s been able to leave on others.

“I’ve seen in the past how great dancers and great minds and great creators are so close-minded,” she said. “I think I’m most proud of the kindness that I spread and my openness to new ideas.”

COURTESY OF ALONZO WILLIAMS

Olivia Knerr, senior double major in dance and exercise sports science, dances during the promotional shoot for the Student Choreography Showcase.

11

Congratulations Graduates!

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April 16, 2026

12

Food as an afterthought: Have disordered eating habits been normalized?

By Sneha Subhash and Constanza Andujar For Mora Sampaio, junior communication major and international student from Argentina, healthy eating habits became a priority as she got into fitness when she realized she didn’t feel comfortable with how her body looked.

When she started college, her relationship with food changed.

“I stopped having some meals and I started snacking more,” she said. “My roommates snack all the time, and they don’t eat full meals, so I started doing the same thing.”

Sampaio said that she frequently visits a nutritionist, and as the president of Girl Gains, a women’s fitness club, she understands how important healthy eating habits are, but also how easy they can fall apart when life gets busy.

“Sometimes my feelings or what I have to be doing on a daily routine

are more important than eating a full meal,” Sampaio said. “I know that I need to be eating at least four meals a day, even if I don’t do it.”

Marilyn Gordon, associate professor at the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, registered dietitian nutritionist, said many college students simply do not make time for meals.

“Food has become just like an afterthought,” she said. “It’s on the run: ‘I get it when I can.’”

For many college students, eating is not something they plan.

It is something they squeeze in while rushing from obligation to obligation.

Sampaio said she sees those habits everywhere, not just in herself.

“I do think it’s more common nowadays,” she said. “Sometimes it’s the easier way. Many people have a really busy schedule. Having extra time to cook or make good choices is kind of hard.”

She also pointed to social media, where “what I eat in a day” videos

and idealized body standards can shape how students think they should be eating.

According to a 2025 article published in the Journal of American College of Health, 83% of college students were predicted to exhibit one or more disordered eating attitudes.

Hadley Day, senior human nutrition major, said many people do not realize there is a difference between a clinically diagnosed eating disorder and disordered eating. “[Disordered eating] is more of just having an altered mental status or viewpoint when it comes to food, possibly exercise, maybe hunger cues, and knowing when someone’s satiated or satisfied,” she said.

Gordon said students often assume eating-related struggles only look serious when they fit a stereotype. She said in reality, disordered eating can affect anyone,

regardless of age, gender, appearance or weight.

“It’s really eating behaviors around food, the thoughts about food,” Gordon said.

Day said normalizing these habits can increase the risk for longterm complications, particularly affecting menstruation, fertility and mental health.

She said many of the “rules” surrounding food and eating habits are based on perception rather than fact.

“There are no bad or good foods,” Day said. “Food is food, regardless, it just depends on which food can make you feel better.”

Gordon said she understands why students might not prioritize healthy eating habits, but she hopes they realize the importance of daily nutrition.

“The food that they eat will be the things that fuel their brain, and their brain is the most important computer they’ll ever work with,” Gordon said.

SPORTS Team songs power NSU athletics

By Isabella Fernandez de Cueto Music has always been a mainstay in community and pop culture, used as a way of bringing people closer and relating to one another. Music in sports is no different, as several programs at NSU have “team songs” they like to listen to together. For the four-time national champion women’s swim team, the song this season was “Anything Could Happen”

by Ellie Goulding.

“We were ranked second in every single poll that came out, and we aren’t a team to ever get down on ourselves so we found a lot of comfort in the fact that anything could happen and we said it all the time that it became like our catchphrase,” Maya Esparza, senior sports management major and member of the women’s swim team, said. “We would listen to the song in the car on the way to each meet, and I would listen to it in my headphones. We related a lot to the lyrics because it represented us and the fact that everyone had counted us out.”

A team song is a common theme for the women’s swim program. Last season, its song was “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus. Esparza said the team chose this song during the conference championship meet after earning second place.

“We specifically liked the part in the song that goes, ‘There’s always gonna be another mountain, you’re

always gonna want to make it move, always gonna be an uphill battle, sometimes I’m gonna have to lose’ because we always talked about how it’s the battles that win the war. We would genuinely play ‘The Climb’ at every single practice before nationals and everyone would sing it. Even our coach was singing it,” Esparza said. “At nationals, we put in a song request for them to play ‘The Climb’ and our entire team came around and we all sang every lyric with each other, I literally get chills talking about it because it was probably one of the most amazing things I had ever been part of in my life. Later that day we were able to come back after being down and won by like eight points.”

The two-time national champion men’s basketball team’s song is “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac. It comes from a moment last season in the NCAA Final Four matchup against Washburn.

“We listened to that song before the Final Four game last year, and we ended up winning that game by like 30 and it was supposed to be a really good game,” Ryan Davis, senior communication major and member of the men’s basketball team, said. “A tweet got tweeted out after that game saying something like ‘Washburn’s in trouble, NSU’s in there listening to ‘The Chain’ before the game’; so ever since that tweet came out it’s been

our team song.”

Davis said the team has kept this song all throughout this season as a reminder of their ability to play at the highest level.

“It brings back a great memory from that game, and it reminds us that we can dominate a team of Washburn’s caliber like we did, so I think that song just brings back great memories in that way and it brought everyone together that was on that team and that’s still playing now,” Davis said. “It’s our song and we’ll always think about that when that song comes on.”

The NSU baseball team has a song inspired and started by its head coach, said Roylan Quevedo, senior sports management major and member of the baseball team.

“We listen to ‘The Rain’ by DMX because our coach loves to blast the song when we win, and we just start singing along with him,” Quevedo said. “The song definitely gets everyone together and hyped before and after the game, so we’re always listening to it no matter the outcome.”

Like many athletes, Quevedo regularly listens to music before he plays.

Every batter in baseball has a walk-up song that is played when they walk up to the plate, and Quevedo’s is a worship song called “WALK” by Hulvey and Lecrae.

“I chose it because it represents my

walk with Christ, my Lord and savior, so every time I go up to the plate I start praying and listening to the song and honestly that is what motivates me to go up there and hit,” Quevedo said.

Men’s basketball “The Chain” - Fleetwood Mac

Women’s basketball “POP DAT THANG”- DaBaby

Baseball “The Rain”- DMX

Men’s golf “SINSENTI” - Jezzy

Women’s golf “Superman Sin Capa” El Super Nuevo

Swim “Anything Could Happen” Ellie Goulding

Women’s soccer “EoO” - Bad Bunny

Volleyball “Teach Me How to Dougie” Cali Swag District

SPORTS

13

Gianna Russo turns setback into senior season comeback

By Madison Kasper After suffering a season-ending injury last year, senior infielder Gianna Russo is back for her final season determined to make the most of her time back on the field.

“I know I’m not the same player, but I believe that I’m the best I can be for what I have overcome,” Russo said.

Russo broke her arm after being hit by an inside pitch when she was batting. Nobody knew

the extent of her injury until she went to the emergency room that night.

“We all thought it was just a bad bruise. And unfortunately, as we all know, it ended my actual season,” Russo said. “I went to the ER immediately after, my arm didn’t swell or anything when all that happened and then [after getting the scans back] it was actually split in half.”

Cheyann Sales, athletic trainer at NSU, said Russo handled every setback with grace and determination.

“There’d be days where we were good on the field, and we got through a lot, and then we’d have to back off the next day because, just different inflammation or whatever kind of set in,” Sales said. “But every day she kind of came back and handled it and took what life was throwing at her and went hard with it every day.”

Russo’s dad, Mike Russo, said she was a fighter throughout her whole recovery and never gave up.

“She went into surgery with a smile on her face and came out with one too.

She has an amazing attitude and faith,” Mike Russo said.

At the beginning

of this season, Russo was awarded with the Dr. Larry and Linda Starr Comeback Student-Athlete Endowed scholarship.

“There is no one more deserving because she works so hard every day through her rehabs, through her treatments, through the doctor’s appointments just to be better and get stronger,” Sales said.

Russo said it meant everything to be recognized as the best candidate for this award because of how hard she worked to get back.

“It honestly brought me to tears, because no one really knew what I went through those nine months that I was in recovery,” Russo said.

Russo transferred to NSU for her sophomore year after playing her first year at Abilene Christian. Two major factors of why she came to NSU were that she has always wanted to play where there are palm trees in the outfield, and head coach Julie LeMaire.

She said that she agreed with a lot of LeMaire’s coaching tactics and winning mentality from the prior season.

“It was really Coach LeMaire’s dominance in that whole entire season.

And I wanted to be part of it,” Russo said.

LeMaire said the thing that sticks out most about Russo is that she is a good teammate.

“She’s very encouraging. I think getting injured last year was very tough on her, but she took on a good role as someone that was an everyday starter

that then became one to be encouraging in the dugout, which is a tough transition to make. But she did it and took it in stride,” LeMaire said.

Russo has been playing softball since she was 4 years old. She said her parents have been her biggest inspiration.

“They are the ones who have pushed me the most to be where I’m at,” Russo said. “They’re my biggest supporters and my biggest fans. And for that, I’m so grateful.”

Russo’s mom, Christine Russo, said getting to watch her daughter play has been the highlight of her life, especially because she played softball.

“She’s my favorite person in the whole world. She is my best friend,” Christine Russo said. “I was a catcher and my sister Debbie was a shortstop, and we both say she is the best of both of us.”

This season, Russo has started in 37 games, recording 23 RBIs and six home runs. Russo said the word she would use to describe her comeback this season is resilient.

“There are so many ups and downs throughout the season, but my sheer love for the game and how hard I want to work to improve myself keeps improving every day, which makes me so sad that I’m retiring this year. But it’s very bittersweet as well,” Russo said.

PHOTO BY MADISON KASPER

Gianna Russo, senior business management, hits against Palm Beach Atlantic `University on March 28.

Superstition is part of the game across NSU athletics

By Isabella Fernandez de Cueto NSU men’s basketball achieved 100 straight home victories on March 3. On the road to this milestone, Shark fans were nervous to even acknowledge the streak, in fear of “jinxing it.”

“As a marketing person, I battle at times with the idea of promoting that we’re on a 100-game win streak because I don’t want to be the one that jinxed it, and when I first started this role two years ago I wouldn’t talk about it but then I recognized that I needed to talk about it because our fans needed to know where the streak was at,” Robert “Bubba” Barionel, assistant athletic director of athletic external affairs, said.“If I’m talking with someone and they don’t know who our team is one of the first things I’ll say ‘we’re on a 99 game-win streak’ and they’ll be like ‘well, don’t jinx it.’”

Superstition has always been engrained in sports culture. Sports fans have a variety of traditions that they believe bring their team good luck.

For Riley Zolk, senior neuroscience major, the tradition is the clothing she wears to watch her

favorite team play.

“I alternate the same two Philadelphia Eagles T-shirts every Sunday throughout the season, no matter the type of game,” Zolk said.

“One time I didn’t wear the correct shirt and they lost, but when I went back to wearing my shirts they went on to win the Super Bowl.”

As an athlete, superstition looks a bit different, such as a consistent pregame or postgame routine.

“I think there’s a line between superstition and routine that I think they can kind of flirt with each other, where you have a routine and because you follow that to the T it can almost be called superstition because you do it over and over again,” said Barionel, who also played on the NSU baseball team from 2011-2015. “Like if I ever threw a pitch, I would always go back off the mound the same way, I listened to the same playlist right before the game.”

Like Barionel, Kaliyah Morales, sophomore communication major and women’s basketball player, also has her various routines that she said she always has to do in order to be at her best.

“Before the game, I always pray during the national anthem because it helps me relax and bring my heart rate down,” Morales said. “I also wear the same socks for home games and practices, I’m also not on my phone much two hours before the game.”

Gianna Russo, NSU softball player and senior business management major, said that there are superstitions across the entire sport of softball in which she actively believes.

“In softball there’s a giant unspoken rule that on gameday before the game starts, you don’t step on the foul line because your team might lose or something bad is going to happen,” Russo said. “Another one is that if someone’s throwing a perfect game or no hitter, you don’t say it out loud, otherwise the next person is going to get a hit.”

Routines and traditions surrounding sports may not guarantee a win, but they are part of what makes sports culture so unique.

As NSU teams continue chasing national championships and extending historic streaks, superstition will likely remain part of the experience for both athletes and fans.

April 16, 2026

14

Sports Shorts

By Isabelle Moreno Rowing, April 11-12 The rowing team competed at the Knecht Cup Regatta, earning a firstplace finish in the Women’s Club Four Division I/II Heat 2. The Sharks won their heat in 8:14.25 with Margianna Petridi, Jordan Maruskin, Lucia Allen, Gianna Middleton and Chrysta Snair competing. They went on to finish second in the final at 8:30.14. In the Women’s Club Eight final, the Sharks placed third with a time of 7:59.08.

Men’s track, April 11 The men’s track team competed at the University of Miami Hurricane Alumni Invitational. Joseph Pinheiro finished fifth in the 400m hurdles and ninth in the 100m hurdles, and the relay group of Phillip DiMarco, Andres Agudelo, Jailen Sinclair-Bergin and Julian Granville finished second in the 4x400.

Women’s track, April 11 The women’s track team competed at the University of Miami Hurricane Alumni Invitational. Arianna Bittner finished fifth in the 400m hurdles, Jasmine Davies placed eighth in the 400m and the relay group of Bella Butler, Davies,

Aaliyah Jordan and Sativa James placed second in the 4x400.

Baseball, April 11 The baseball team lost both games of a doubleheader against Tampa, falling 5-4 in 10 innings in the first game and 3-2 in the second. In Game 1, the Sharks took a 4-2 lead in the eighth inning, but Tampa tied it in the ninth and won it in the 10th.

In Game 2, NSU led 2-1 before Tampa scored twice in the ninth on a two-run home run to complete the sweep.

Softball, April 11 The softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader at Tampa, falling 3-1 in the first game and 7-1 in the second.

In Game 1, the Sharks took an early lead in the second inning before Tampa responded with three runs in the third.

Ana Richiez’s sacrifice fly in the seventh inning gave NSU its lone run in Game 2.

The Sharks finished the day with 11 total hits across both games.

Women’s tennis, April 11 The No. 4 women’s tennis team fell 5-2 at home to No. 1 Barry. The Sharks earned the doubles point with wins from

Kristyna Hranacova and Katja Markus at No. 1 and Jana Boegner and Priscila Janikian at No. 3. The Sharks picked up one singles victory from Amina Sagadiyeva at No. 6, but Barry took five of six singles matches to secure the win.

Baseball, April 10 The baseball team beat Tampa 1-0 at home. The Sharks scored the game’s only run in the first inning on an Emilio Gonzalez solo home run. Nick Manning earned the win after striking out eight over 6.2 scoreless innings, and Ricky Gonzalez recorded the save as NSU limited Tampa to four hits.

Softball, April 10 The softball team fell 2-1 at Tampa.

The Sharks scored their lone run in the sixth inning on an Abbey Moore RBI double that brought home Christina D’Agostino. NSU finished with three hits as Gracelyn Wallace took the loss, allowing two runs over six innings.

Baseball, April 7 The baseball team split a doubleheader against No. 4 North Georgia, falling 2-1 in the first game before winning

16-5 in the second. In the opener, the Sharks scored their lone run on a Jorge DeGoti solo home run and were held to three hits. NSU responded in the second game, scoring 11 runs in the first inning and five more in the third. Anthony Stinson hit a two-run home run, and Manny Ramirez Jr. went 3-for-4 with three RBIs for the win.

Rowing, April 4-5 The rowing team earned two firstplace finishes at the D2 Invitational in the Varsity 4+ events. The Sharks won Event 5 and later won Event 8, narrowly defeating Embry-Riddle by 1.5 seconds.

NSU also competed in the Varsity 8+, finishing eighth.

Women’s basketball, April 3 Heather Macy, women’s basketball head coach, stepped down from her role and accepted a head coaching job at Georgia Southern. Assistant coaches Josie Earnhardt and Abria Trice have also departed with Macy.

EVENTS CALENDAR

APRIL/MAY FRIDAY

17

Celebration of Student Writing 10 a.m. - Don Taft University Center Spine

FRIDAY

24

Graduate Finale & Drone Show Pre-Waivers!

11 a.m. - Don Taft University Center, Athletics Hall of Fame Fin Films Movie Night 6 p.m. - Carl DeSantis Building, Room 2073 Graduate Finale & Drone Show!

7 p.m. - Shark Circle

MONDAY

20

Spring Music Concert 7:30 p.m. - Don Taft University Center, Performance Theatre

Fuel Up For FinFest Week!

11 a.m. - Shark Circle

SUNDAY

WEDNESDAY

22 THURSDAY

23

Farmer’s Market 11 a.m. - Alvin Sherman Library Walkway

Graduate Finale & Drone Show Pre-Waivers!

11 a.m. - Don Taft University Center, Athletics Hall of Fame

26 WEDNESDAY

29

Sensory-Inclusive Performance: Elephant & Piggie 10:30 a.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are In A Play” 1 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

Denim Day Noon - Don Taft University Center Spine

15

MATH CORNER The Current partners with the Department of Mathematics, housed in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, to offer readers a math-based question every issue.

Janae Curtis, junior public health major, is this year’s contest winner. She answered every question correctly.

Rahul Pandit, junior chemistry major, was the runner up.

On Wednesday, April 22 from noon to 12:50 p.m., in the Parker Building, the Department of Mathematics will host its end of the year celebration where Curtis will receive her gift card prize.

Stay tuned for the next Math Corner question, which will be in Issue 1 of the fall semester.

Answer to the question from the last issue: 301

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SUPERSTITION EATING SETBACK DANCE DIGRESSIONS

TOMORROW GENRE NIGHTLIFE REDEFINE ADMINISTRATION

ORGANIZATION CONGRESSWOMAN RADIO POLITICS VINTAGE

OMIC

STAGED GRADUATION

BY LILA TARICCO