THE HOFSTRA
HEMPSTEAD, NY VOLUME 92 ISSUE 7
CHRONICLE
TUESDAY December 10, 2024
KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935 NEWS
The power of music: Honoring Pete Teleha’s legacy through song
By Gianna Costanzo ASSISTA N T C O P Y C H I E F
Students and staff at Hofstra University continue to honor the life of a classmate, 12 years after his passing. Pete “Too Tall” Teleha was a rising junior at Hofstra when he passed away in the summer of 2012. The loss was felt throughout the entire university, as he was an active member of five on campus organizations and a valued friend to many. Twelve years later, his alma mater continues to honor his life and legacy through the annual “Just Sing Memorial Concert,” which is hosted by Hofstra’s chapter of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and the Hofstra Dutchmen. The concert featured performances from all of Hofstra’s a cappella groups: The Hofbeats, the Hofstra Dutchmen, Makin’ Treble and Sigma’Cappella. “As the years go on, we find ourselves in a position where
no active brother has had the privilege of personally knowing [Teleha], but through this concert, his legacy lives on,” said Ryan Farello, a junior finance major and the current president of Phi Delta Theta. Teleha’s passion for music and involvement on campus inspired this philanthropic event. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta, Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honors Society, Hofstra Vocal Jazz Ensemble, the Hofstra Dutchmen and Sigma’Cappella. “This concert shows that [Teleha] left his mark on the school,” said Aidan Schroh, a junior music education major and president of the Hofstra Dutchmen. “I’m sure I speak for all of the performers here today when I say it’s an honor to sing at this event every year.” Each year, all the proceeds from this event go toward the Pete Teleha Memorial Fund, which is sponsored by Hofstra’s
Rabinowitz Honors College, however, raising money was secondary to the primary goal of the night. “Our biggest goal is mostly just getting everybody together and sharing [Teleha’s] story and spreading the message of positivity and togetherness that [Teleha] brought to Hofstra,” said Zach Kiekhaefer, a senior music Photo courtesy of Gianna Costanzo // Hofstra Chronicle business major and The members of Phi Delta Theta pose for a picture in shirts that read “Too Tall” on the the fundraising back, which was Teleha’s nickname. chair and parent lowed audience members to get us the honor of passing on his secretary for Phi appreciation of music and perDelta Theta. Kiekhaefer is also a to know who Teleha was before formance, both to new members senior member of The Hofbeats. his tragic passing. “[Teleha] was not only a of our group, as well as the A video projection of Teleha’s Dutchman, but he was one of audiences that we perform for.” friends and family welcomed the founding members of the Each year, the Dutchmen audience members into the group,” Farello said. “That gives honor Teleha’s legacy through Student Center Theater. This al-
CONTINUED ON A4 SPORTS
By Anthony Hidalgo STAFF W R I T E R
After an 0-4 road trip, the Hofstra University women’s basketball team broke their four game losing streak with a 55-52 win over Howard University on Sunday, Dec. 8. The Pride is now 3-5. Howard’s losing streak now sits at three and their record is 5-5. LaNae’ Corbett had a careerhigh 17 points and seven rebounds to go along with a career-high two steals. “I basically felt like I was just unstoppable,” Corbett said. “My team gives me confidence like ‘go ahead, you got it.’ So, I feel like just having the confidence, and going in and driving because if I miss, I got somebody
Hofstra snaps four game skid with win over Howard to get the rebound.” Chloe Sterling provided a strong first half performance, scoring 10 of her 13 points in the first two quarters while grabbing eight rebounds and a team-high four assists. Howard was led by Zennia Thomas, who notched a doubledouble with 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Tyana Walker matched Thomas with 15 points on 47% shooting off the bench. Destiny Howell, the Bison’s leading scorer, was held to just 11 points on 4-of-16 shooting The Bison jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead to open the game, but Corbett got the Pride offense rolling with a short-range andone jumper. A pair of 3-pointers
from Sterling helped the Pride jump out to a 12-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. “I just think this team fought,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “There’s a lot of good, a lot of areas of growth in this game.” Corbett continued her offensive assault with back-to-back layups to open the second quarter. Emma Von Essen assisted on both baskets as she tied her career-high with four assists, still impacting the game despite a 2-12 shooting night. Hofstra extended their lead to seven points midway through the quarter, but Howard responded in kind with a 6-0 run. The Pride finished the half, grabbing four offensive re-
bounds in the final two minutes and earning two trips to the charity stripe en route to a 28-24 lead. Both sides struggled to start the third, scoring just one point on a combined 0-for-11 shooting. Walker finished the quarter strong, including a pair of layups in the final two minutes to bring her side within two. Three points from both Corbett and Micaela Carter down the stretch helped to maintain Hofstra’s lead as the Pride entered the fourth quarter with a 41-35 advantage. Howard scored eight of the first 10 points in the fourth to tie the game at 43 apiece, but a 3-pointer from Von Essen put the Pride back on top. With the
score at 48-45, neither team scored for over three and a half minutes until Sterling hit a jumper to put the Pride in front by five with a minute left. Howell tried her best to mount a comeback for Howard with five points in the final minute, hitting her only 3-pointer of the game with 10 seconds left to bring the Bison within one point. The Pride knocked down seven of eight free throws in the quarter with Von Essen and Carter hitting a pair of free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory.