The Hofstra Chronicle April 28, 2026

HEMPSTEAD, NY

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE

KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935

KYLE headlines Music Fest 2026

By Katelyn Buchalter ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Lights, vendors and students created a lively atmosphere at Hoftra University’s David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex on Saturday, April 18, for Music Fest 2026. Hofstra Concerts organized the live performances so that they included emerging bands Shy Flyer and married, knot, along with bigger artists Daniel Jenkins and Kyle Thomas Harvey, most popularly known as KYLE, who headlined the show.

Hofstra Concerts President and senior music business major Meghan McIsaac and senior Vice President MeiLi Haan, who has a double major in music business and sustainability studies, discussed the preparation for Music Fest and the difficulty around balancing the budget compared to previous years.

“[The Student Government Association] does the best that they can, given what they’re

able to provide to us,” said McIsaac. “They’re trying to [give] as much money to all the clubs, so we’re really grateful for every penny that we get. It’s been

big deal. We [had] some other departments involved as well. Audiology [was] there, handing out headphones [and] earbuds to people.”

“I essentially have one job: that’s to make sure that [students] have fun. ”

especially hard this past year. Again, we’re trying to budget our own money that we have.”

Vendors at the live event included Redbull, Dunkin’ and the Hofstra Audiology Department. HX Hair Salon, which gave out free hair tinsel, and Headcount – an organization dedicated to registering voters – had vending spaces as well.

“Headcount does a lot of stuff with individual concerts, like arena shows and stuff,” Haan said. “So the fact that they’re coming to campus is a

Planning for the event began last summer. Hofstra Concerts e-board members started with a large list of potential performers and trimmed it over the course of the year.

“We start making a list of a bunch of artists – I want to say, maybe 300 plus artists on the list,” McIsaac said. “We just start getting some ideas, and then, throughout the year, the summer, throughout the fall, we start kind of dwindling that down.”

TUESDAY

AND ENTERTAINMENT

Music industry internships help students fulfill their dreams

By Juliana Calcao STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Whether their eyes are blinded by photographers’ flashing lights or by whatever last night’s press release writing grind was, music industry professionals often see their work romanticized.

The reality of a career in music is very different than the one that the tabloids present. Students find that an internship in the music industry is often a lesson of balance between enjoying the glamour and committing to hard work.

Through professional experiences, Lindsay Batzar – a senior media and communications and film studies double major at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania – has learned that her juvenile dreams of working in music are plausible.

Throughout her time at Muhlenberg, Batzar has had a total of three internships in the music industry: two with The Syndicate, an entertainmentbased public relations (PR) agency in Weehawken, New Jersey, and one with Q Prime Artist Management, a music management company in New York City.

These opportunities nourished her growth in the world of PR,

applying and expanding her knowledge from the classroom. She practiced marketing tasks, such as writing blurbs for new releases, researching influencers and artists and pitching decks for events and collaborations.

Kayla Gonzales, a current graduate student at Rutgers University, shares a similar testimony. This May, Gonzales will graduate with her master’s degree in communication and media studies, digital media and strategic leadership communication Gonzales also interned with The Syndicate in 2024, where she had her first red carpet experience at the Libera Awards. The work included distributing press clippings, updating artist reports, managing songs and assisting the PR team with various duties and responsibilities. At the red carpet event, she helped the team guide attendees through the carpet and performed duties in the VIP room, such as handing out gift bags to celebrities.

As the New York Chapter Intern for The Recording Academy – the company that hosts the Grammys – Gonzales became acustomed to a fast pace enviroment of the industry.

CONTINUED ON B3

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Editor-in-Chief Madeline

Managing

Secretary

Method Man joins Hofstra ROTC for a Morning Training Session

By Natalia Rivera ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Excitement filled the air inside The Hofstra Bubble as the Hofstra University’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) unit prepared for its routine morning workout, with special guest Method Man – an American rapper and actor Clifford Smith Jr. – making an appearance.

The program, which has been part of Hofstra since 1951, includes more than 70 cadets from across Long Island and neighboring campuses, including Stony Brook University. Cadets train five days a week between campuses, building not only physical endurance but also a sense of camaraderie in a shared environment. Students from different backgrounds connect and support one another and grow as leaders while balancing the demands of college life.

That sense of purpose and community was on display when Method Man joined the workout session. Method Man is a member of the Wu-Tang Clan, an American hip-hop collective stemming from Staten Island and a native of Hempstead who returned to his Long Island roots to participate.

“I just wanted to come out and be a part of it,” Method Man

said. “This is where I’m from.”

Cadets rotated through multiple workout stations, each led by a student in a leadership role, regardless of rank. The structure followed the program’s goal of developing leadership skills early in training.

Lieutenant Colonel Houng Lee, chair of Hofstra’s Military Science Department, emphasized that leadership opportunities are built into the program from the start.

“Anybody can do it,” Lee said. “Even our MS1 [first-year cadet] freshmen get the opportunity to lead training. That’s how you build confidence early.”

Lee reinforced that ROTC is about more than following instructions, it’s about learning how to take initiative.

“Leadership starts from the very beginning, right?” Lee said. “And it’s not something that’s just only taught, it’s also innate in us. I think anybody has the ability and the desire to [lead].”

For cadets, the experience of training alongside Method Man brought a different kind of energy to the workout while still reinforcing the program’s core values.

Michael Detres, a cadet and senior filmmaking major, said the experience of training in ROTC with people like Method Man and others in the commu-

nity held significance.

“I didn’t have a whole lot of self-confidence in myself,” Detres said. “So having a community here at Hofstra, it was always very uplifting and really forced me to push myself past my previous limits.”

Detres said community events and engagement were factors the ROTC program regularly provides for its cadets.

“I feel like most people are unaware [of what] we do,” Detres said. “And this is just a great way to feel like meeting interesting people. We have people from all across New York and across the country that join us. Sometimes it just pushes people to do stuff that they’re not expected to do in their regular life, and they’ve never tried it.”

Cadet Ronit Malhotra, a junior political science major, said having Method Man work out alongside them made their efforts feel recognized.

“All the cadets here, they put a lot of effort in every day to build themselves up to lead future troops of America,” Malhotra said.

Method Man didn’t just observe, he participated, moving through pushups, weights and conditioning drills alongside ca-

dets and keeping pace throughout the session.

“They’re in much better shape than I am – that’s for sure – as they should be,” Method Man said.

Method Man also reflected on what the experience meant to him personally.

“Well, for one, [there’s] nostalgia of just being back here,” Method Man said. “I played football here [and] had some of my best years here as a youth –a lot of great memories. I was a Hempstead [High School] Tiger, maybe a Hempstead Tiger for life, as well as a New York Jets fan.”

Method Man’s visit came after connecting with First Class Sargent Tracy Jacobson at a local gym, turning a typical morning into a moment that highlighted both the discipline of ROTC training and the strong sense of community within the program.

The session reflected the sense of community and leadership that Hofstra ROTC aims to establish.

“Those who continue to follow will never be leaders because they’ve never experienced what leading is,” Method Man said. “Always be a leader, not a follower.”

By Juliana Calcao STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Implementation of automation continued at May 2026 commencement

Often characterized by a flood of bright blue gowns shuffling onto the stage in single file, Hofstra University’s graduation ceremony is now being overshadowed by another topic: the use of automated systems. This implementation first occurred during the December 2025 commencement ceremony, when automation was used to read off each student’s name. This system will be used again in May 2026.

Jess Eads, the senior vice president for Student Enrollment, Engagement and Success, and her student advisory board currently run a GroupMe chat titled “The Hofstra Pulse Check” – a space for the student body to directly ask questions, voice their concerns and

get them addressed. Students in the channel first expressed concerns about this implementation on Oct. 18, 2025.

“At the graduation ceremony, we are not using [artificial intelligence],” Eads said on Wednesday, April 8, in the GroupMe

are correct here but also understand this is something that has been decided and we have not received any negative feedback after the December graduation ceremony.”

She said that those who attend the ceremony in May are

ment team with their reasons for implementation, which include: Graduates can listen to the pronunciation of their names before the ceremony, allowing them to confirm or correct it ahead of time. Additionally, graduates’ names

“At the graduation ceremony, we are not using [artifical inteligence] ... It is a prerecorded name reader that is reviewed and approved by the graduate.”

chat. “It is a prerecorded name reader that is reviewed and approved by the graduate. The name is then pronounced correctly and appears under your photo as you walk across stage. I want to make sure the facts

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encouraged to provide feedback afterward, which will be taken into consideration for the next cycle.

Later on Tuesday, April 14, Eads sent a message to the GroupMe from the commence

Supporting Your Faculty. Strengthening Your Education.

and degrees will appear on the arena screen and graduates will receive a video clip of their moment crossing the stage.

All of these improvements were allegedly made in response

dance of mispronunciations.

Students are even voicing their opposition outside of the “The Hofstra Pulse Check” group chat.

Taylor Sanders, a December 2025 Hofstra graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, commented on the matter.

“It is important to have your name pronounced correctly during your big day that you’ve worked so hard to get to,” Sanders said. “However, it takes away from a more personal experience of having somebody who may have contributed to your education say your name.”

Mia Santabarbara, a current industrial-organizational psychology and May 2025 graduate student with a degree in business management, also spoke on the subject.

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Implementation of automation continued at May 2026 commencement cont.

CONTINUED FROM A3

“My graduation ceremony was the last ceremony where they had a faculty member read the names of new graduates as they walked across the stage, but in the following semester, I attended a Hofstra graduation ceremony where they used [AI] to read the names of new graduates,” Santabarbara said. “I am glad Hofstra is finding new ways to improve such an important ceremony, especially using technology to eliminate issues such as human error in pronouncing [a] new graduate’s name incorrectly. This being said, the biggest difference I felt was the lack of personalization.”

Santabarbara believes that growing and adapting with new technology is important for human growth but that utilizing this type of technology for such a monumental moment puts a damper on the importance of the ceremony. She stated that there are other ways to eliminate past issues than to have the distinctive AI chatbot voice run the ceremony.

Looking to graduate this May, senior Camryn Bowden, a journalism and political science

double major, also commented on the topic.

“[The AI recorder in the form] didn’t get my name right, and it was kind of annoying to deal with,” Bowden said. “It’s better than having an administrator messing it up, but I still don’t like the idea of AI reading my name on the day that celebrates the connections and relationships I’ve built in my time at Hofstra.”

In the relayed message from the commencement team, there was also an explanation about the inner workings of the automated name program.

The graduation form provides students with three attempts to approve the pronunciation of their name. After those three attempts, they can upload their own audio recording. That recording is then sent to the Tassel platform, where a human in-studio recorder listens and recreates the pronunciation with their voice.

The final version is then matched with the Tassel voice for use during the ceremony.

On the day of commencement, the preapproved recordings are stored locally on a laptop that plays when a QR code is scanned.

According to Tassel’s web -

site, the program uses AI to handle most names smoothly. And when it can’t do that, the voice artist steps in.

Terry Coniglio, the vice president of marketing and communications at Hofstra, echoed Eads’ statement about automation usage at graduation.

“[Hofstra] will continue using its commencement management system Tassel, first introduced at the mid-year ceremony in December, for Spring 2026,” Coniglio said in the statement. “Hofstra does not use real-time [AI] to generate or announce names during commencement.”

Coniglio also emphasized that graduates are invited in advance to review, correct and confirm the pronunciation of their name, with all recordings finalized and reviewed by staff ahead of time.

“Graduates cross the stage, shake hands with the president and their dean and are individually recognized,” Coniglio said. “This approach helps ensure accurate pronunciation while enhancing the ceremony with [the] graduate’s name displayed on-screen, and each graduate receives a video keepsake of their big moment.”

KYLE headlines Music Fest cont.

The hosts, senior television business major Richie Castronova and senior writing for the screen major Brooke Baker, began their own preparations early by organizing routines and coming up with jokes for the big night.

“Baker and I performed a bunch on [Thursday Nite Live] together,” Castronova said. “[She] and I consistently do banter back and forth and have been doing sketch comedy for the past three years, so being able to integrate that into those breaks and being able to just play with the crowd – I think is going to be the way that we’re going to hype them up.”

For both hosts, the event had a greater meaning, since it is one of their last Hofstra performances before they graduate in May.

“There’s been things that I haven’t even expected to do that I’ve gotten the honor and privilege to do,” Baker said. “This is

just a great culmination of giving back to a community that shaped me and I love so much.”

The band Shy Flyer opened the event with Alternative Rock songs like “Uncle Steve,” and songs from their album “The Sky is Defiance.”

Married, knot won the opportunity to play at Music Fest by majority student vote at Hofstra Concerts 2026 Battle for Music Fest earlier in the semester on March 7. The band describes their music genre as “shoegaze.”

“The term ‘shoegaze’ is derived from bands in the late [1980s], early [1990s], that were probably staring at their pedal boards instead of, like, the audience,” said married, knot drummer and senior accounting and music business double major Vincent Castelli. “So, there’s a big focus on effects and making sure you tap things at the right time.”

Before headliner KYLE took the stage, Nashville-based artist Jenkins hyped up the crowd

Music Fest 2026 gave upcoming bands the opportunity to gain exposure within

sity community and beyond through engaging performances.

through narrative-based songs.

Jenkins explained his perspective on songwriting and his background with it.

“It really, actually, goes back to fourth grade for me, like, in writing class, when I was taught to explode the moment,” Jenkins said. “I feel, like, I think the best songs are the ones that are about the most specific thing that

just exploded into, like, a three minute song.”

KYLE, a Recording Industry Association of America certified Diamond artist, ended the night with spirited energy, singing hit songs like ‘iSpy’ so that attendees could sing along as well.

“You never know what the crowd is going to be,” KYLE said. “You never know how

Public Safety Briefs Compiled by Katelyn Buchalter

Key:

PS – Public Safety

HU – Hofstra University

NCPD – Nassau County

CS – Community Standards

On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 9:53 a.m., a Plant employee reported to PS that they observed a vehicle in the East Circle parking lot strike a parked vehicle registered to an HU student and then leave the scene. Police assistance was declined at the time.

On Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 11:15 a.m., while traveling southbound in the parking lot by the Physical Plant building, vehicle one, driven by an HU student, was struck by vehicle two, driven by another HU student. Vehicle one sustained damage to the front rear driver’s side door, and vehicle two sustained damage to the front bumper. There were no injuries. NCPD responded and took a report.

On Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 10:35 p.m., the top part of the telescope dome at the HU Observa-

tory was dislodged from the tractoring during an astronomy class. There were no injuries. Plant personnel responded to make sure that the telescope was secured properly.

On Friday, April 10, 2026, at 6:25 p.m., PS responded to Kushner Hall on a call that there was a former HU student in the first floor bathroom shouting profanities. Emergency medical support responded, but the former student refused medical attention. The former student left without incident.

On Monday, April 13, 2026, at 8:55 p.m., while traveling northbound down Liberty Avenue on HU north campus, vehicle one, driven by an HU student, collided with vehicle two, also driven by an HU student, which was backing out of a parking spot. There were no injuries. NCPD responded and took a report.

On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 5:35 p.m., PS responded to Pride Park on a call that there was an altercation involving HU students. This matter was referred to CS.

many of them even know you or even know your song, so I try to put something in college sets where it’s, like, ‘this is gonna be entertaining, no matter what.’ Because I essentially have one job: that’s to make sure that [students] have fun. That’s literally the whole thing.”

On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 5:39 p.m., an HU vehicle struck a light pole near Constitution Hall. An electrician responded to the scene and secured the area. Plant was notified to replace the light pole.

On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 11:18 p.m., a non-student entered the Sanford S. Hammer Computer Lab and asked students for their computer login information. The non-student was escorted into the HU Information Center and banned from campus.

By Ryan Monke MANAGING EDITOR

“There’s no shortage of coverage you can find about the political instability, about the gang violence [or] about all these different ‘-isms’ that come into play when looking at geopolitics in Haiti,” said Vania André, professor at Hofstra University’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication. “For us, we’re always thinking about what we can cover that nobody else is covering.”

André has spent the last 14 years serving as editor-in-chief of the Haitian Times, alongside her current role as an assistant professor of journalism, media studies and public relations at Hofstra, where she teaches in the same classrooms she sat in as a student not so long ago.

Initially coming to Hofstra with the intention of studying print journalism, André was guided into a double major in public relations and psychology by the notion of better career opportunities. While she took a focus on storytelling, writing and the study of relationships through her coursework, André maintained her proximity to print journalism through “journalism-adjacent” extracurricular activities.

Upon receiving her undergraduate degree in 2010, André jumped into the field with her first job at the NBC News Media Desk. She also worked as a reporter for a hyperlocal news site, All Media NY Inc. With early career opportunities in journalism, the idea of returning to journalism school began creeping into André’s mind. She was further encouraged by Professor Kristal Zook, with whom she had worked with as an undergraduate research assistant.

“I took it as a divine sign from God, and I came back for [a master’s in] journalism,” André said.

When the former editor-in-chief of the Haitian Times stepped down and faced the possibility of closing the newspaper’s doors in 2012, due to declining advertising and rising economic concerns stemming

FEATURES

This Hofstra Life: Vania André

from the 2008 stock market crash, André’s name was floated by a mutual friend.

That friend made the introduction, hinting to the outgoing management of the Haitian Times, “This may be an answer to your problems.”

What followed was a rejuvenation of the Haitian Times with André at the helm. Now fully digital, the Haitian Times has continued local coverage while expanding to international markets, covering Haitian news and the Haitian diaspora in several localities across the United States and Canada.

With a focus on the representation and informational needs of the Haitian community, André stressed the importance of trust in the Haitian Times as a community institution.

“There’s a lot of conversation and research about how people don’t trust the media,” André said. “I think it’s really important for folks to make the distinction between national media and their community media outlets in terms of who values trust and why.”

Without the trust of their communities, newspapers like the Haitian Times would not have the support needed to continue, she noted.

“People very much trust their small community, local papers [and] that trust is important for people to communicate amongst their peers because that’s how we

stay sustainable,” André said.

While many news outlets prioritize eye-catching headlines that often relate to crime and disaster, the Haitian Times has a clear focus on human interest and community engagement.

“We prioritize stories that have a strong human-interest element that speaks to how the Haitian community is impacted, whether locally or as a diaspora at large,” André said.

By keeping this targeted focus, the Haitian Times is able to build a relationship with the community, serving their specific informational needs.

While the Haitian Times covers the news in Haiti for immigrants who want to keep up with their country of origin, much of the Haitian Times’ coverage focuses on news relating to the Haitian diaspora stateside.

“The Haitian diaspora is a really unique one in the sense that we have a very broad footprint,” André said. “Haitians go everywhere. Haitians are assimilating to the cultures that they’re in, but then still bringing their culture with them. We’re creating ‘third culture’ children.”

In the context of Haiti, the term “third culture” children refers to the children of Haitian immigrants growing up in a new culture while being raised by parents who represent a different one. For Haitian immigrants and children of immigrants, the Haitian Times can serve as a relevant

grant and support Trump?’”

While any perspectives published by a pro-Trump organization might be widely unpopular among the Haitian Times’ editorial staff and readership, André saw it as a reminder of the diverse perspectives among the Haitian community.

“If we are following the tenets of journalism and being fair, there’s no reason why we should not publish their op-ed,” André said.

Similar to the New York Times, the Haitian Times frames itself as a newspaper of record.

cultural news source that helps readers maintain their cultural identity in new environments.

Throughout her time at the Haitian Times, André has grappled with the difficulties of running an ethnic media outlet in a fragmented media and political landscape.

“We’re taught that our role as reporters and folks in the media is to be unbiased,” André said.

“I push back, and I say our role is not to be unbiased, but our role is to be fair. By the nature of the angle, you’re taking on a story; you’re already exposing an innate bias.”

While André strives to ensure editorial objectivity rather than veering into advocacy, she acknowledges that representing the perspectives of the Haitian community often makes neutrality impossible.

“I think it’s because of the nature of the coverage that our stories are naturally going to take because of where the Haitian community is in the whole immigrant and immigration conversation,” André said.

In 2025, the Haitian Times was approached about the possibility of publishing an open letter to President Donald Trump written by a representative from the organization Haitians for Trump.

“Haitians for Trump [is] a very divisive community within the Haitian community,” André said.

“A lot of people are like, ‘How can you be Black, Haitian, immi-

“It’s about us showing what is happening in public discourse, and if [Haitians for Trump] is part of it, I don’t think it’s our role as editors to not highlight that,” André said. “We need to document what’s happening, and this is a part of the conversation.”

One of the ways André has increased editorial transparency is through the implementation of the “Inside the Haitian Times” blog, where editors can explain certain editorial decisions, such as deviations from the newspaper-standard AP style.

“We have these conversations around our coverage.” André said. “[There are] things that our editors feel really strongly about, and I’m like, ‘This is your personal perspective.’ There wasn’t a neat place to reflect that in the story, and so out of that came the blog where we can have an opportunity to explain outright some of the decisions that we’ve made.”

André takes these lessons into the classroom, where she primarily teaches public relations. Being in the field, she can complement theory with real-world experience.

“People are pitching [to] me, I’m bringing it into the class and showing, ‘This is a pitch I wouldn’t take because of xyz,’” André said. “I have a lot of current examples literally every day that I can pull from to help my public relations students think about how a reporter, editor or publisher would be thinking about something.”

By Hannah Mudry FEATURES EDITOR

The First-Gen Den is a space for first-generation students to feel welcome around campus. Created by the First-Gen Pride Committee, the hope is that first-generation students find the space and feel at home within it.

“Having such a space in [room 219 of the Sondra and David S. Mack] Student Center … gives first-gen [students] a place to eat, study or simply hang out,” said Russ Smith, senior assistant dean of students and director of the Office of First-Generation Support and Engagement. “The creation of a staffed lounge for first-gen students was a long-time goal of the committee, and we were finally able to make that happen.”

The First-Gen Den offers a space for students to interact with faculty or staff in a casual, comfortable environment. The room features couches, chairs and table seating options.

“Every day [looks] different, but [the First-Gen Den] tends to be more of a quiet, chill space,”

By Hannah Mudry FEATURES EDITOR

Active Minds is a student organization with the goal of bringing mental health awareness to Hofstra University’s campus.

Social Media Manager and Public Relations Chair Kaylee Desmarais, a sophomore psychology major with a women’s studies minor, joined the organization because she saw how powerful the club can be at destigmatizing talk around mental health. As a psychology major, she recognized how the group can help her flourish in her field by understanding the process of removing associations of shame or disgrace from a person, condition or group.

“As a member of Active Minds, I get to see the value in helping other students,” Desmarais said. “This is a good starting point for a career in psychology.”

Although there are many psychology students within the organization, anyone can join Active Minds as a member or just pop into

FEATURES

HofSpots: First-Gen Den

Smith said. “You will find students working on papers at the computers, studying or eating at the tables, and lounging, chatting and charging their devices on the couches.”

Smith mentions that other students have become more aware of the space, asking to shoot film projects or host Student Government Association committee meetings there. The First-Gen Pride Committee stays active on social media to promote the space, but Smith finds that most students are invited by him or their friends.

“I hope that more and more students find the space and make it their home base,” Smith said. During midterms and finals week, the First-Gen Den hosts study sessions, supplying students with free snacks, study supplies and a comfortable setting.

“We also have a program series called ‘Chat N Chill’s,’ where I invite campus resources to come hang out in the space for a few hours and be available for any students who may have questions,” Smith said. “This

year we’ve had Student Financial Services, [the Center for University] Advising, the Writing Center, the Center for Academic Excellence, [the Office of Study Abroad Services], [Residence] Life, Orientation and others. Even Senior Vice President [for Student Enrollment, Engagement and Success] Jess Eads has done her office hours there to meet with students.”

Outside organizations have also been hosted in the First-Gen Den. Hofstra alum Amy Flores hosted financial literacy workshops in the space, using her career at Chase Bank as a guide. Enterprise and Northbridge Capital each came to the space to talk about internships and career development. Northbridge Capital selected four first-generation students to attend a full day summit in New York City and paid them $300 each for the day.

“I think the most rewarding part of my role is that I’m in the process of creating it,” Smith said. “Hofstra has never had a professional staff member focused on first-gen initiatives before.”

Smith conducts research, talks to students and designs programs, spaces and training, all focused on first-generation students.

“It’s very creative, and the fact that I’m doing it because I was a first-gen student and understand the experience is very rewarding,” Smith said. “I love working with first-gen students, especially when I see the barriers between student, administration and faculty begin to crumble. No matter how big someone’s title is, or how intimidating their business suit is, they were once a student just like you – and many of them were first-gen also.”

The First-Gen Den was established after the First-Gen Pride Committee spent years coordi-

Club Feature: Active Minds

an event. The club’s social media pages remain active by promoting upcoming events, sponsoring educational content and giving shoutouts to members.

Typically, events focus on relaxation and awareness.

The club’s highest attendance was during their Mocktail Making event for alcohol awareness month. They’ve hosted other tailored events like Color-Your-StressAway, March Meditation and Study Spots to keep students comfortable in the taxing college environment.

Although students can find Active Minds through their strong online presence, the club is also recognizable through their collaborations with other organizations, like Alpha Beta Theta, clay club, psychology club and many more.

“I typically make all the flyers and communicate with other clubs about advertising, just to try and get our word out there – get our message out there,” Desmarais said. “If you see a post about Active Minds, I usually make it. I also communicate with the [public

relation] chairs of other organizations [who we work with] to make sure that we’re all on the same page and keep up expectations and make sure we’re meeting those expectations.”

Every event begins with the executive board introducing themselves so new members understand how each member contributes to the development of their organization. President Jay Tenreiro is a freshman human factors and usability studies major; Vice President Allison Doan is a senior psychology major; Treasurer Alex DeEmedio is a sophomore psychology and drama double major; Secretary Nicole Ottavio is a freshman psychology and drama double major. The entire executive board is equipped to direct students to any resources they may need in a position of mental crisis and works to make students feel comfortable with their organization.

The organization is currently in the process of increasing their recruitment. Seeing an average of 10 students per meeting, the group is

trying to boost the number of students at each event. Their highest attended event, Mocktail Making, hosted 30 students.

“[Recruitment] is on the up-andup,” Desmarais said. “We have an E-board meeting every week to discuss different recruitment tactics. We’ve been picking up on social media, and we’ve been tabling a lot.”

A big recruitment opportunity for the organization comes from tabling in the Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center. During

nating places for first-generation students to use. This committee is responsible for establishing the First-Gen Living Learning Community in Amsterdam House in the Netherlands complex, which was the first residential community for first-generation students on campus.

“As first-gen students, we often don’t know how things work or how to navigate specific processes,” Smith said. “It can be intimidating to ask for explanations, so my hope is that the First-Gen Den is the kind of place where you can go and get your questions answered – either by me or by another student who had to figure it out before you.”

Stress Less Week, from Monday, April 27, through Friday, May 1, Active Minds is tabling not only to provide stress-buster activities, but to also encourage students to join their small organization.

“Moving forward, we want to expand the variety of events we offer,” Desmarais said. “For next year, we’re looking at inviting a guest speaker and expanding our resources to national hotlines. Our biggest goal is still outreach but also to expand the events we have and expand our campus presence.”

MAN ON THE UNISPAN

“If your spring semester were a movie, what would the title be?”

By Denivia Rivera FEATURES EDITOR

“The fall off.”

- Luke Aldieri, freshman

O verheard @ h O fstra

“Starbucks has a big fat boner for Ringo Starr.”

“It’s gonna suck when I have to kill you guys in the race war.’”

“I really have to pee but like I don’t. It’s like a phantom piss.”

“Redemption.”

- Ania Alekseyev, freshman

“The hangover.”

- David Parmegiani, sophomore

“Just sit and listen, I’m gospeling to you.”

“So yeah, I haven’t decided if I’m gonna drive into a tree on the way home or not.”

“I think Harry Styles would speak at [Barack] Obama’s funeral.”

“I’d make a phenomenal Jewish grandma.”

“Who was listening to Megan Thee Stallion and thought ‘The Pope?’”

“Man, you know what I would have told her? Squids in the ocean everywhere. There are squids everywhere, everywhere in the ocean.”.”

If there’s something funny you overhear, you can now submit it here!

By Danie Henry SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Concerned by dwindling customers at local restaurants due to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity, Hofstra University alumni Heidi Sanft began dining at Spanish restaurants on Long Island this past February to show support.

Controversy has swirled around ICE since its inception. Criticism of the organization has grown louder, though, since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, due to the administration’s promotion of a “mass deportation” policy and multiple violent incidents involving ICE agents, including two fatal shootings that occurred in Minneapolis earlier this year.

Sanft, 69, is a longtime resident of Uniondale, whose parents moved to Long Island from Brooklyn when she was a small child in 1967. Sanft’s deep ties to her community make her feel skeptical of ICE and what they could do to Uniondale’s immigrant population.

Since February, Sanft has visited Uniondale restaurants every Monday for a meal. The businesses told her they have noticed a decrease in customers since the ICE sightings.

Sanft, who is the vice president of the Nostrand Gardens

FEATURES

Alumni Feature: Heidi Sanft

Civic Association in Uniondale, read a Newsday article late last year about restaurants in Uniondale and Hempstead that historically serve Hispanic customers

at their locations. Sanft believes that everyone should be treated equally. From her experience living in a diverse neighborhood, she believes that America is the

“She wanted to financially support restaurants by eating meals at their locations. Sanft believes that everyone should be treated equally. From her experience living in a diverse neighborhood, she believes that America is the land of opportunity that should promote equal and fair treatment.”

and are struggling financially due to ICE’s presence on Long Island.

She wanted to financially support restaurants by eating meals

land of opportunity that should promote equal and fair treatment.

“I just think it’s so wrong on so many levels, the way this thing is being handled,” Sanft said of the

unlawful arrests and detention of immigrants by ICE.

While helping run the Civic Association’s monthly meetings at the Van Ness Fire Station in Uniondale, she has heard many stories of ICE sightings. Community members say that they are afraid to leave their homes in fear of encountering officers. According to Sanft, the number of Uniondale students has decreased due to families choosing to self-deport to other countries.

Sanft wanted to take initiative – so she announced at the February Civic Association meeting that she would begin to attend local restaurants and invited anyone who wanted to support the cause to join. Every Monday around 5:15 p.m., she visits a local Uniondale restaurant for dinner. Her first stop was The Dominican Restaurant on Front Street. She plans to pick up and move locations when the initiative builds momentum and gains more support.

So far, three people have shown interest in the cause since she started. Valentina Goris, Uniondale High School student board member representative, and her sister attended the first dinner with Sanft. At the second dinner, Sanft caught a community member heading inside to meet her as she was heading out with takeout from the restaurant.

“I’m doing this on my own,” Sanft said. “If people come, great; if no one comes, I just get takeout. It’s just my way of saying that I care and I want these restaurants to survive.”

No one who Sanft knows personally has been detained by ICE, but she compares the wrongful discrimination and injustices against people to the Holocaust and recognizes how her family suffered during World War II. Her concern comes from keeping up with the news and “seeing people being ripped off the streets.”

Communities have been very aware of ICE’s presence. According to News 12 Long Island, the advocacy group Islip Forward expressed their concern by sharing photos of masked immigration officers appearing near schools. Similar sightings

were reported in Hempstead near a middle school as well.

Long Island Advocate also reported on the large makeup of labor that undocumented immigrants perform on the island. Long Island relies heavily on labor, taxes and consumer spending from immigrants, with an estimate of 100,000 undocumented immigrants calling Long Island home.

Long Island ICE Tracker, an Instagram page dedicated to posting ICE sightings on Long Island, has amassed over 28,000 followers. This page is a campaign of Islip Forward, an activist group focused on justice, community and action, according to their website. The Instagram page also advertises their ICE tracker app, which is a free and anonymous place to report sightings. As of late April, the app reports 769 confirmed sightings, with pictures, time, date and location of all things relating to ICE, whether it’s a labeled or undercover car, officer or an active detaining.

Sanft does not necessarily see what she is doing as activism, but as a way to support businesses who may be in need.

Disclosure:

The author attends the monthly Nostrand Gardens Civic Association meetings.

Hofstra University community gathered in Pride Park on Wednesday, April 22, to protest the hosting of two Israeli Defense Forces soldiers on campus by Students Supporting Israel. The protest, led by Student Voices for Palestine (SVP), lasted roughly three hours and featured speeches by SVP leadership and handmade signs by protesters.

Pride Park Protest

FORMATIONS

FORMATIONS

Arts And EntErtAinmEnt

'Michael' divides critics and fans

By Kimberly Lopez ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

*SPOILER WARNING*

Released on Friday, April 24, “Michael” drew anticipation since before its release thanks to dedicated fans itching to watch the biopic on “The King of Pop,” Michael Jackson played by his nephew, Jaafar Jackson.

The current critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes for the movie is just 38%, while the audience score is 97%. With such a drastic gap of percentages, I wondered what caused this divide.

Critics claimed that the movie was too focused on Jackson himself, leaving no development for other characters, like his brothers. I find this critique interesting as the movie is called “Michael.” I sure would hope that he is the focus.

While most die-hard Jackson fans are loving the biopic, others had concerns about crucial information that the movie missed out on.

An essential part of Jackson’s

life that was not touched on was his role as the scarecrow in the 1978 film, “The Wiz.” Instead, there is a gap between when Jackson is working alongside his brothers as part of The Jackson 5 full time and when he started working on his album, “Off the Wall,” with iconic producer Quincy Jones.

I think that “The Wiz” is a very important arc in Jackson’s life for many reasons. Meeting Jones, the film’s music supervisor, on the set of “The Wiz” is one of the major reasons why people wish it had been included. We, as the audience, got no introduction to Jones before jumping right into making Jackson’s debut album. This leads to another issue the film ran into: legal problems.

Diana Ross was set to be played by Kat Graham, but the actress took to Instagram and X to reveal that “legal considerations affected a few scenes, including the ones I filmed with an incredible cast.”

There are many reports that claim that, before legal troubles, the movie was over three hours long.

Despite all this, I believe “Michael” is a solid music biopic.

It is hard to capture a life like Jackson’s, especially in just over two hours. The film ends with Jackson touring his album “Bad,” which isn’t that far into his stacked career.

The film revolved around the earlier conflicts Jackson had to deal with, such as separating himself from his brothers, the tragic Pepsi commercial and the tough way in which Jackson was brought up by his father, Joe Jackson (Colman Domingo).

Delivering a haunting performance as Jackson’s father, every time Domingo appeared on screen, you anticipated his words with anxiety.

Words are not enough to describe Jaafar’s acting. He delivers a stellar performance that proves that, as Jackson’s nephew, he’s a Jackson himself. There were times when the camera would pan out and you would see Jaafar get completely lost in Jackson’s character. It is

clear he studied Jackson’s mannerisms and talent extensively, and it sure doesn’t go unnoticed.

Other things in the film that I felt were importantly highlighted is Jackson’s humility, as he was always giving back to kids in need while visiting hospitals, as well as Jackson’s vitiligo, something that is often misunderstood by the media.

At the end of the movie, there is a line that reads, “His story continues.” Deadline reported that Adam Fogelson, Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Chair, confirmed potential plans for a sequel during an earnings call.

“I can tell you that the creative team is hard at work making sure that we’re in a position to deliver more “Michael” soon after we release the first film," Fogelson said.

If you’re a fan of Jackson, this will be a treat no matter what. Critics will always have something to say, so it’s best to go into the theater and enjoy his everlasting spirit above the usual chatter.

A first look at 'The Testaments'

By Hailey Hernandez SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

After a six-season run, “The Handmaid’s Tale” came to an end in May 2025, but its finale left a lot of questions about Gilead and the fate of the characters. On Wednesday, April 8, the sequel series “The Testaments,” based on author Margaret Atwood's 2019 novel of the same name, premiered its first three episodes on Hulu.

“The Testaments” will test a new generation of young women in Gilead, including Agnes MacKenzie, also known as Hannah, June Osborn’s (Elizabeth Moss) lost daughter. Agnes is played by Chase Infiniti. This series is said to explore the downfall of Gilead through new perspectives. Streaming on Wednesdays, there are currently five out of ten episodes available on Hulu, but even with that, there is plenty to unpack.

Unlike Atwood’s book, which

took place 15 years after “The Handmaid’s Tale,” the show takes place about four to five years after the events in “The Handmaid’s Tale.” “The Testaments” picks up shortly after the War of Massachusetts, which was depicted in Season 6 of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Despite efforts to resist and rebel in the previous series, “The Testaments” exemplifies how strong and powerful Gilead has remained. Nevertheless, Mayday – an underground resistance group – persists fiercely in fighting back against Gilead’s oppression. While “The Handmaid’s Tale” was a series on how to survive an authoritarian regime, “The Testaments” is more about how to run one, as there is a big emphasis on teaching the young girls how to obey and conform to the oppressive society. Even so, the show is undoubtedly still about survival, as all the female characters are constantly vulnerable to the cruel way of living in Gilead. As the series gets deeper into the

story, the experiences each of the women are forced to go through become darker.

Set within the separate women’s sphere, the series mainly follows Agnes and her friends at the Gilead preparatory school. Some of the characters include Becka (Mattea Conforti), Shunammite (Rowan Blanchard), Huldah (Isolde Ardies) and “Pearl Girl” Daisy (Lucy Halliday), who joinsthe crew later on. At a school run by Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), the girls are taught embroidery, flower arranging and how to properly run a household.

The girls are separated into different groups by the color of their clothes: young girls wear pink, older girls wear plum and girls “ready” for marriage wear green. There are also the girls from out of Gilead that are recruited by missionaries, the “Pearl Girls,” who wear white. The series does a good job of descriptively breaking down the hierarchies in regard to the daughters and

Quick Hits

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young girls of Gilead.

“The Testaments” gives viewers a closer look at what life is like in Gilead. The episodes give glimpses of experiences different characters have gone through in the duration of the years that followed the War of Massachusetts. There is a highlight of Aunt Lydia’s position of power as well as her relationships with other aunts and authoritative figures.

A big theme throughout the series so far is that of growing upand preparing to become the perfect wife. Agnes and her closest friend, Becka, actively bond over and grapple with their journey to becoming wives. Aunt Lydia also tasks Agnes with helping Daisy fit into her new life in Gilead as Daisy has come to Gilead from Canada.

Given the details shared about Daisy, there is lots of speculation about whether she is actually June’s daughter, Nicole, but like many other mysteries, nothing has been confirmed quite yet.

Editor's Picks

VIDEO GAME

'Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream' (2026)

Creator: Nintendo

MOVIE

'Thunderbolts*' (2025)

Director: Jake Schreier

BOOK

'Is This A Cry For Help?' (2026)

Author: Emily Austin

'The Great Divide' (2026)

Artist: Noah Kahan

SONG

'Drop Dead' (2026)

Artist: Olivia Rodrigo

Music industry helps fulfill dreams cont.

By Juliana Calcao STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

CONTINUED FROM A1

“The first day I walked into the office, my boss came up to me, and she said, ‘Hey, by the way, we offer all of our interns and staff members tickets to the Grammys if they want to go. So, are you interested in going?’ So, obviously, I can’t turn that down,” Gonzales said. “So, I was like, ‘Yeah, of course. Like, I would love to go.’”

During her time at the Grammys, Gonzales saw the signs for Sabrina Carpenter’s set being painted, as well as Carpenter herself. She was stationed directly in front of the primary dressing room and one of the side stages. Gonzales got to see other celebrities, like Conan Gray, Ice Spice and Sexy Redd. “They would also walk back the other way if they were going to the red carpet section,” Gonzales said. “We got to meet all the other celebrities who weren’t coming in, like Ariana Grande, people from the BLACKPINK team and some of the KATSEYE members. It was just really cool to be there.”

Gonzales has also been a fan of Tate McRae for years, whom she met in 2019 at one of her New York concerts. It felt like fate when, years later, as an intern, she got to see her favorite celebrity at the Grammys from a new perspective.

“To know that I’d be working alongside [McRae] and her team just a few years later at the end of my college career – that just blew my mind,” Gonzales said. “You’re in this space with all of your favorite artists, and you’re just chit-chatting with them. So that was one of my big, big ‘pinch me’ moments.”

Gonzales advises aspiring music professionals to be nice to everyone they meet, especially celebrities.

“They don't want to be fawned over while they’re in their workspace, especially if they’re backstage, and they’re tired,” Gonzalez said. “They don’t want to put on a facade for anyone. That’s the first thing

that we learned, which is don’t bother them; don’t take pictures; don’t ask for autographs. Just stand there. Say 'Hi', let them do their thing.”

Batzar also met her favorite artist, Lady Gaga, while working as a volunteer at the 2026 Grammys. She recalled how the red carpet was split between the event and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Batzar saw these kids’ wishes come true, watching as celebrities came over and interacted with them, taking pictures and signing autographs.

“Lady Gaga was the person who was [at the red carpet] the longest,” Batzar said. “I really got to see her stop by every single person and sign autographs, take pictures and give hugs. One thing that you don’t really realize is that the artists have teams that pull them away and try to get them through the red carpet as fast as possible, so when Lady Gaga and other celebrities would stay there and spend time with the fans, they were kind of fighting with their team like, ‘No, this is important to me. Don’t rush me yet; I'm not ready.’”

Christine Gangelhoff is a music professor with experience teaching at institutions in the United States and abroad. Gangelhoff prefers not to disclose her current institution because she is not speaking as a representative of the university. She is also the founder of SoundPath Consulting, where she advises students on music industry pathways, including internships.

One piece of advice Gangelhoff typically gives her students before their first internship is to “Treat an internship as a chance to learn how the industry actually works, not just to collect a name on your resume.” She believes that even in an entrylevel role, students can learn a lot by managing deadlines, communicating under pressure, being accurate and understanding which parts of the process are visible to the public versus handled behind the scenes.

Gangelhoff also feels that the “ultimate internship experience” could be with any company or organization. What matters is that the student gets a close-up view of the process from planning to execution. In internships, students encounter deadlines with consequences beyond grades, learn to work within someone else’s system and management style and contribute to a process where their accuracy, responsiveness and judgment affect other people’s work.

“In live events – marketing, publicity, management or operations – the value comes from seeing the coordination, revisions, deadline pressure and behind-the-scenes problemsolving that shape the final result,” Gangelhoff said.

Gangelhoff stresses that music careers rarely follow a straight line. She instills transferable skills, emphasizing to her students the importance of problem-solving, reliability,

adaptability, sound judgment and collaboration.

“In a field where so much depends on timing, detail and collaboration, people remember who is prepared, who handles pressure well and who can be trusted to do their part,” Gangelhoff said.

For students going into their first internship, she finds that they assume a music apprenticeship will be glamorous or always creatively involved. According to Gangelhoff, they often involve logistics and working on details. She noted that students come back from their first real-world experience surprised by how administrative or fast-paced the work felt. However, she stated that they “usually recognize that the experience gave them a more realistic view of the field.”

Gangelhoff finds that internships expose students to roles that they may not have considered and give them a clearer sense of what fits best with them.

“A student who thinks they want artist-facing work may realize they are better suited to event operations, publishing, licensing, marketing or project management,” Gangelhoff said.

Overall, Gangelhoff finds that although students can learn about the music industry in class, an internship lets them experience its real demands, which makes the experience priceless.

Andrea von Kampen nurtures music and community

By Abby Gibson ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

In an era filled with constant noise and political division, folk singer-songwriter Andrea von Kampen is on the path to finding connection through music. She has not only built her career not just on melodies, but also by creating a space where listeners can feel understood, reflective and less alone.

In between the United States and United Kingdom legs of her “Songs for Hope and Change” tour, she hopes she has provided, “some respite and community with like-minded thoughts and songs.” The U.S. leg of the tour ran from March 13 through March 22, with stops in cities including New York City; Exeter, New Hampshire; South Burlington, Vermont; Putney, Vermont and Saratoga Springs, New York. She plans to continue the tour in the U.K. throughout August.

Amid deep political division in the U.S., von Kampen is using her music to address issues like climate change and gun control,

turning her performances into a space for reflection, shared awareness and engagement.

“I think people feel very hopeless right now,” von Kampen said. “But our collective power for change is stronger than we realize. Music can be such a powerful tool in that.”

“[People] debate politics, but [they] feel music,” said Tracy Lamourie, founder and managing editor of Lamourie Media.

“A song resonates in a way that a political lecture never will.”

On stage, von Kampen finds that this community-oriented connection feels tangible.

“Seeing the music be enjoyed by actual humans in real time is so special,” von Kampen said.

With music being taken in through social media and streaming services, live performances from the artists can offer something rare.

“That real connection is something that’s getting harder and harder to find,” von Kampen said, naming it one of the most rewarding parts of touring.

Her desire to build a sense of community through her music can be traced back to her upbringing

in a small town outside of Lincoln, Nebraska. Musical talent was not uncommon in the von Kampen household: the artist’s father was a college choir director, her mother a flutist and her three siblings were all musically inclined.

“Music was sort of the family business,” von Kampen said.

While her childhood home was filled with jazz, classical and choral music, von Kampen found her voice in something else.

“What came naturally was folk and it worked really well for my voice,” von Kampen said.

James Fleege, an audio engineer who has worked with von Kampen for over five years, notes that the production is what makes her music stand out.

“I like capturing real instruments, there’s a real person playing the guitar, a real person playing the piano,” Fleege said. “It’s more stripped down … more organic.”

That organic quality is what helps to showcase von Kampen’s songs’ emotional honesty. When producing a song, Fleege makes sure to focus on preserving the feeling of the performance.

“It doesn’t have to be this super

polished sort of sound,” Fleege said. “Embracing some of that organic element … can help bring those songs to life.”

In von Kampen’s recent work, this approach shines through, as her music explores more political themes surrounding gun control and climate change.

“I felt like it was irresponsible not to start speaking out,” von Kampen said. “If you’re a thinking, feeling person, it’s unwise not to be speaking out at this point.”

In 2025, von Kampen released an EP titled “Before I Buy A Gun.” The title track was inspired by a conversation with a friend who suggested that, given the current political climate, they might consider owning a gun for protection. The idea initially caught von Kampen off guard, especially as she viewed the friend as politically progressive. The moment showed von Kampen how deeply fear had arisen for her friends to consider gun ownership.

“There has to be a better way to protect ourselves,” von Kampen said. “Being integrated in your community, that’s what builds resilience.”

The recording process for the song reflected this sentiment.

“We started that song with just [von Kampen] in a room by herself singing the lead vocal … one take all the way through,” Fleege said. “That’s the vocal that’s on the record.”

The instruments in the record were added after vocals but supported the intimate and meaningful emotions within the initial performance.

Lamourie says music is uniquely effective when it comes to translating more complex political issues into something personable and relatable.

“It [brings] big issues to a human level,” Lamourie said.

The invitation to listeners to learn and reflect on issues is a core factor in von Kampen’s work. Wherever she’s performing, she wants to make sure she leaves an impact.

“I hope people leave [my shows] feeling a little lighter,” von Kampen said. “Like when you finish a good book, you have a little glow in your heart for a few days.”

'Becky Shaw' brings romantic chaos to Broadway

By Kimberly Lopez ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Dark comedy play “Becky Shaw,” written by Gina Gionfriddo, is back on Broadway. First premiered in 2008 at the Humana Festival of New American Plays, it is given new life with its 2026 Broadway debut at the Hayes Theater. I had the lovely opportunity to see the show during its previews. It opens with a scene between Suzanna (Lauren Patten) and Max (Alden Ehrenreich). This was Ehrenreich’s Broadway debut. Suzanna is in a sorrowful state amidst the death of her father, while Max tries to speak business as the family’s financial manager. They’re supposed to meet with Susan (Linda Emond), Suzanna’s mother and hilarious comedic treat. Emond’s character is reminiscent of Jane Fonda in “Monster-in-Law.”

Even describing Suzanna and Max’s relationship is complicated.

He’s the family’s money advisor, yes, but Suzanna’s family also adopted him at a young age due to his unfortunate childhood. He and Suzanna became close friends over the years.

Patten and Ehrenreich’s chemistry is almost intoxicating. Suzanna had confided in Max fully by the end of the night, crossing the line from friendship to lust. Max tells her, “It doesn’t have to change anything,” but that tale is as old as time.

In the next scene, to the audience’s shock, Suzanna is married. Though it is not the face we thought we’d see as her husband, instead, it’s someone named Andrew (Patrick Ball). This was Ball’s Broadway debut. She met Andrew on a ski trip, which Max encouraged to free her mind during her depressive episode. This leads us to the play’s main premise: a blind date gone terribly wrong. We finally meet Becky Shaw (Madeline Brewer) as she’s set up on a blind date by

Andrew and Suzanna. “Becky Shaw” is Brewer’s Broadway debut. Andrew met Becky while working at his office job and now has set her up with Max.

To put it simply, Max is a douche. We learn this seconds after he first steps onstage. Then, here comes Becky, in a frilly, colorful dress, radiating whimsical energy. Obviously, it’s not a match. While appearing unthreatening at first, Becky soon becomes the core conflict of the play, ruining multiple relationships.

No one in this play is someone you can fully root for. They’re all insufferable in their own ways and are grappling with various issues. Andrew has a savior complex toward lost women, Max is a prick, Becky is manipulative and a little psychotic at times and Suzanna clings onto concepts instead of following her heart. At times, I felt like I was watching an episode of “Sex and the City,” and I mean this as a huge compliment.

The production kept it simple.

There weren’t too many setting changes, just the occasional apartment swap or a subtle scene in the park with only a bench. This really helped to immerse you more in the performances instead, as nothing else was there to distract you. Scenes lasted awhile, as well, with Act I only having two scenes before intermission.

To me, Ehrenreich as Max was the highlight of the show. Weirdly, he was somehow the heart of it.

Ehrenreich put on a masterful performance during his Broadway debut. Between the dark humor, being a scoundrel and the intense breakdown at the end, he kept me on my toes the whole time.

The production kept me thinking for a long time after my initial viewing. It was addictive, and all the actors were wonderful. If you have the opportunity, give “Becky Shaw” at the Hayes Theater a visit before its final show on June 14.

The views and opinions expressed in the Opinion section are those of the authors. They are not an endorsement of the views of the Chronicle or its staff. The Chronicle does not discriminate based on the opinions of the authors.

By Jesse Silver SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

In the Fall 2025 semester, Hofstra University rolled out a new initiative that placed Artificial Intelligence (AI) front and center on campus. Among these changes was the introduction of AI as a key part of Hofstra’s graduation ceremony. During the December 2025 Commencement Ceremony, AI was used in place of human speakers to read out students’ names. This change was met with widespread backlash from students, with many lobbying against it, expressing a strong preference for human readers. Students lobbied with the Student Government Association, and one student even created a petition against the AI voice that currently sits at 627 signatures.

Despite all the pushback, the

AI shouldn’t be at my graduation

school isn’t budging. As of this article’s writing, the school has not announced any plans to return to the use of human readers, instead preferring the usage of Tassel, an AI-driven platform. Tassel is a platform that helps schools optimize graduation with Hofstra seemingly adopting it going forward.

As quoted directly from Tassel’s website: “AI handles most names smoothly, while our voice artists step in for those that need extra care, keeping the ceremony personal and consistent. Through AI utilization, we’ve made this service accessible to more schools, so every student can hear their name said right on their big day.”

Hofstra has taken the reading of students’ names out of their own hands, instead choosing to outsource it entirely.

For a student like me, this change is a slap in the face. For

me, graduation day is special. It has taken me six years to get my undergraduate degree, and I had to go through a lot to get here. I have transferred schools, changed my major four times, battled health issues and much more. I am the first of my siblings to get a bachelor’s degree. Graduation was meant to celebrate my accomplishments with those in my community who have been with me for the past four years. Instead, my name will be read by either an AI voice or recorded by someone at Tassel whom I have never met. A ceremony that was meant to be an intimate moment of accomplishment has been turned impersonal in the blink of an eye.

Hofstra said the change to AI was made to ensure that all students’ names are pronounced properly at graduation. Many students, however, including

myself, have found that the AI that the school has adopted is incapable of this task.

When I signed up for graduation this fall, I was asked to input my name, and every single time the AI was unable to get my name correct. I do not have a name that is complicated or difficult to pronounce; my last name is “Silver.” Yet, the AI continuously got the inflection wrong. Upon asking other students, I found that I was not alone in my struggles.

“It worked for me, but at least two of my friends couldn’t get the AI to read it right no matter what, so clearly it’s not very useful, and the fact that they’re pretending that it works is a little short-sighted,” said Mick Crayn, a senior anthropology and English double major. When it comes to the complaints from students about the use of AI at graduation, many

Love is all around you

By Ricky Hubert STAFF WRITER

Some of the most discouraging statements I’ve heard during my college career were those that dismissed the concept of love. These comments usually came from people who were dissatisfied with their romantic lives. Love lives are often classified as romantic love, but I’d like to use this forum to change the narrative on that, especially for Hofstra University students.

Despite being a single person, I feel I have an active “love life” because of all the love I’ve been shown by the people around me, some of whom I met at Hofstra of all places. A friend I met through Hofstra said that my birthday was marked off on his calendar as an important date since 2024. This, of course, warmed my heart and made me feel

very special.

I don’t believe I’m alone in these instances. In fact, I know I’m not. Hofstra senior health sciences major Ashley Blum said that fellow senior audio/ radio productions and studies major Alex Hoy was the first friend she had at Hofstra who made her feel cared for on a deeper level.

“[Hoy] is one of those people who I know is always there for me and I know every time I see him, I’m going to have a good time,” Blum said.

“There’s so much laughter with [Hoy] as my friend. He’s met my parents; he’s come to my house. I just love getting closer to him.”

Hoy concurred with some of the riotous belly laughter that Blum described.

After the laughter died down, Hoy added that the duo has relied on each other in some of the harder moments

and shared tears in addition to all the laughs.

“[Blum] is one of those people I can call and I know will just listen to me, not try to give me advice at that moment,” Hoy noted. “Although, I know when I want advice, I can call her and get that too, but sometimes you need someone just to listen, and [Blum] does that for me.”

Hofstra junior sports media major Piper Cherry and senior journalism major Alexa D’Amato shared similar sentiments about their bond. D’Amato called their relationship “deep, emotional and powerful,” while Cherry added she saw them “being friends forever.”

What struck me most about the conversation about their friendships was that both pairs used common words to describe how they feel toward the other. Blum and Hoy

reflected on the “comfort” they have from knowing they can rely on each other through good times and bad. Hoy states specifically he has Blum on “speed dial.”

D’Amato and Cherry called their friendship, “easy.”

“It’s so easy being [D’Amato’s] friend; it’s such an important relationship in my life,” Cherry said. “I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

Similarly, D’Amato said about a visibly verklempt Cherry, “I’ve had best friends before [Cherry], but having [Cherry] in my life made me realize how easy it is to love someone, how easy it is to know what she likes [and] what she dislikes. It’s very easy to love [Cherry].”

Love truly is all around us here at Hofstra and throughout the worldI’m sure those reading this have stories of

of us simply feel unheard. The administration remains rather vague about what is happening at graduation. The concerns that I and other students have are very real: Is AI still being used? How will my name be presented at graduation if the AI gets it wrong? Will there be an option for a human to read my name instead of AI? All of these were questions that I presented to the school, expecting a very simple answer. Instead, I was left with more questions and less answers.

Jesse Silver is a senior religion and contemporary issues major. You can find him on Instagram @ohiocreature513.

their own “love lives” that this article reminded them of. Love comes in many different ways and it’s up to us to look for it, soak it up and enjoy it to the fullest.

It probably won’t look like what you had in mind, and that’s okay. Some might say that’s actually the joy of life. The people profiled in this article say it brings them “comfort” or that it’s “easy.”

My word for it is “beautiful.”

Love in all its forms is beautiful, and each of us gets the chance to step out into the world every day and discover it for ourselves. How lucky are we?

Ricky Hubert is a senior podcasting & audio storytelling major. You can find him on Instagram @therichardhubert.

OPINION

The views and opinions expressed in the Opinion section are those of the authors. They are not an endorsement of the views of the Chronicle or its staff. The Chronicle does not discriminate based on the opinions of the authors.

Spiritual Successor

ACROSS 1 Shove

5 Glasgow native 9 Wrath

14 "___ the Unknown" ("Frozen 2" song)

15 "That's not good!"

16 Ballerina's handrail

17 Vessel passed around at the Thanksgiving table

19 Abraham's almost-sacrifice

20 Composer __-Manuel Miranda

21 Listeners

22 Survivor's affliction, for short

23 Disney World multicultural hub

25 Canadian gas station

27 Grand theft __

30 Adolescent

31 Offensive basketball position

33 Cow's remark

35 Artsy NYC neighborhood, for short

36 Pedicure target

37 More than a few

41 Sleep garments for curly hair

43 Singer Rita

44 Flameless smoking device, for short

46 NYC airport on the East River, abbr.

47 Aim for a marathon runner

50 Artemis II org. 54 Base's chemical opposite

55 Charlotte Brontë's Jane __

56 Sits for a portrait 57 Pomegranate morsel

59 30-Across' malady

61 Companion of "ty", in texts

62 Taj __

64 The next world, or where to find the ends of 17-, 31-, and 47-Across

66 Figure skating jumps

67 Over yonder

68 London native

69 Actress Thompson

70 Lowly feudal laborer

71 Witnesses DOWN

1 Baby oinker

2 Like a green banana

3 Position

4 Carpool lane, for short

5 Japanese soup noodle

6 Dance arrangement, casually

7 Jackie O's last name

8 Tyke

9 Somewhat

10 Hempstead's county

11 Earn a diploma

12 Historical chapter

13 __ room (place for pool table)

18 Nevertheless 22 Driver's nuisance

24 "I'll pay"

26 Pretentious person

28 Brisk pace

29 Songs of praise

31 Like Eggs Benedict eggs

32 Percussion instrument hit with a hammer

34 Mineral deposits

37 Couch

38 Ariel's prince

39 Disappears into thin air

40 __ of the valley

42 Prefix meaning tiny

45 Long-necked mammal

48 Beliefs

49 Pollinator's sweet drink

51 Wish, with "to"

52 Front-camera photo

53 Desirable traits

56 According to

58 "Frozen," ice queen

60 Toy brand with foam darts

62 Yoga surface

63 Woodcutting tool

64 Common batteries, for short

65 American weight measures, for short

OPINION

The views and opinions expressed in the Opinion section are those of the authors. They are not an endorsement of the views of the Chronicle or its staff. The Chronicle does not discriminate based on the opinions of the authors.

Obey common courtesy

By Kat Powers STAFF WRITER

In a world where we have tiny, super-speedy computers at our fingertips, people seem to have forgotten about common decency and general societal rules. People need a gentle reminder of said rules.

You need to walk to your right. Always. In a right-central country, this rule has existed for centuries. Why people have forgotten it now is not something I care to delve into. I just care that they rectify their grave mistake.

When it comes to doors, always let people out before you go in. This is a

simple rule that prevents awkwardness at doorways. Whoever is going out of the space goes first. Then, the door is for whoever is going into the space. Rinse and repeat. If you need to stop, pull over. Act as if you are a car. There is no need to take up exorbitant amounts of space in the middle of a pathway or a highly trafficked area, like the Unispan.

The zipper-merging system exists for a reason. For this rule, one needs to act like a car again. Only in special circumstances where people are obviously grouped together do we let large groups walk ahead of us at once. The same is true when driving. It should not be difficult

to change lanes or turn if one utilizes their turn signal appropriately and is adequately aware of their surroundings.

Slow walkers need to stay to the right. Let those of us who are hustling get to our destination on time and get there without weaving between you.

If you have any questions, please refer to the list above. It has all the information you need.

Why accommodations fall flat

By Matthew Carlinsky STAFF WRITER

Kat Powers is a senior English major. You can find her on Instagram @annecatherinehurley.

Exams have always been a pain, as someone with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For the most part, I am like every other neurotypical person when it comes to preparation; I study the material and try everything I can to be ready. When it comes to taking the tests, however, that’s where things are different. Focus is something I inherently struggle with, and it takes me longer than the average person to complete assignments. Thankfully, I receive accommodations, where I am placed in a quieter environment and provided the extra time I

need. However, that is not always what I need, and sometimes it is more of a detriment. If I am in the testing room around the time a lot of classes start, then I hear the shuffling around of 20 students coming in to take their own tests. I understand that’s just how things go, and that it is nobody’s fault, but that doesn’t change the fact that I lost 10 minutes that could have been spent focusing. That is not even accounting for the people who make no effort to at least whisper when talking to the proctor.

To be fair, it is a reduced-distractions environment that is being offered, but I truly do wish it could be a no-distrac-

tions environment. It is even worse during finals. Everyone is stuck in the big multipurpose rooms by the main entrance of the Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center. But the thing is, there is no easy solution to this. It is impossible to have a way to satisfy every person’s needs, at least not practically or efficiently. Do not get me wrong, I truly do appreciate what is able to be implemented for accommodations, but it is hard not to wish for truly ideal circumstances.

Matthew Carlinsky is a senior English major and a computer science minor.

The inequality behind the Strait of Hormuz crisis

By Kripa Thani SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

When tensions flare in the Strait of Hormuz, the headlines usually focus on oil prices, tanker seizures or the risk of military escalation. But for much of the world, especially countries in the Global South, the crisis reveals something deeper and far more unsettling: a system where energy security is unevenly distributed and structurally unfair.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints: a narrow waterway which roughly a fifth of global petroleum passes through each day. Even minor disruptions can ripple across global markets, and those ripples do not land evenly. Wealthier nations have the tools to cushion the blow. Many countries in the Global South do not. While it may be tempting to frame this as a simple story of “dependence” on imported oil, one must understand the real issue is control. Countries across South

Asia, Africa and parts of Latin America rely heavily on imported fuel, yet they have little influence over how that fuel is transported, priced or secured. When a crisis unfolds in the Strait of Hormuz, decisions are made far from their borders, but the consequences arrive quickly at their pumps.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, disruptions in key oil transit routes can trigger immediate price volatility. For wealthier economies, this often translates into higher costs that can be absorbed through subsidies, strategic petroleum reserves or diversified energy portfolios. For lower-income countries, however, the same price spike can strain national budgets, increase inflation and deepen existing inequalities. Take fuel subsidies, for instance. Many Global South governments already spend significant portions of their budgets keeping fuel affordable for their populations. When oil prices rise suddenly, they are forced

into difficult choices: increase subsidies and risk fiscal instability or pass costs onto citizens and face public backlash. Neither option is sustainable. Meanwhile, wealthier countries have built buffers over decades. Strategic reserves allow them to release stored oil during crises; advanced financial systems enable them to hedge against price fluctuations and investments in renewable energy and alternative supply chains provide additional flexibility. These are not just economic advantages, they are forms of resilience that most Global South countries have not been able to develop at the same scale.

The Strait of Hormuz crisis also highlights another layer of vulnerability: limited crisis management capacity. When supply chains are disrupted, countries with stronger diplomatic ties, naval capabilities or influence in global institutions are better positioned to respond. Others are left reacting to decisions they had no role in shaping.

This imbalance is not acci-

dental. It reflects a global energy system built over decades, where infrastructure, investment and political power have been concentrated in certain regions.

As a result, the Global South remains exposed, not because of poor policy choices alone, but because of structural constraints embedded in the system itself.

So what does this mean going forward?

First, energy vulnerability needs to be recognized as a global inequality issue, not just a technical or economic one.

Discussions about energy security often focus on supply and demand, but they should also address who controls the system and who bears the risks. Second, there is a need for greater investment in energy diversification in the Global South. Renewable energy offers one pathway, not only for sustainability but also for reducing dependence on volatile global oil routes. However, this transition requires financing, technology transfer and international cooperation –ß areas where support

has often fallen short. Finally, global institutions must play a more active role in leveling the playing field. Whether through fairer pricing mechanisms, emergency support systems or inclusive decision-making processes, there are ways to reduce the disproportionate impact of crises like those in the Strait of Hormuz.

Therefore the next time tensions rise in that narrow stretch of water, it should not just be seen as a geopolitical flashpoint. It is also a mirror, reflecting how uneven the global energy system really is. Until that imbalance is addressed, crises will continue to hit the same countries the hardest, not because they are unprepared, but because the system was never designed with them in mind.

Kripa Thani is a sophomore political science and economics double major.

By Joshua Deratus STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra University women’s lacrosse team closed out the regular season in dominant fashion on Saturday, April 25, with a 15-2 win over against the College of William & Mary at James M. Shuart Stadium. The win improved Hofstra to 10-6 overall and 6-1 in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play, marking the program’s highest win total since 2019. The Pride will enter the CAA Championship as the No. 2 seed and face No. 3 Towson University in the semifinals.

Pride dominates on Senior Day

The game also carried emotional significance, as Hofstra honored its four seniors – Luchianna Cardello, Julia Harris, Nikki Mennella and Madeleine Rudolph – prior to their final home appearance. Head coach Shannon Smith reflected on the team’s development and impact.

“One of my favorite things as a coach is watching them grow from freshmen to where they are now,” Shannon Smith said. “They’ve grown not just as players, but as people and teammates.”

The Pride took control straight out of the gate with goals from Mennella, Kayleigh Bender and Shannon Steck, putting the Pride ahead 3-0. Despite a late first-quarter goal from William & Mary’s Mila Millhouse, Hofstra responded emphatically, rattling off six unanswered goals to take a commanding 9-1 lead midway through the third quarter.

Shannon Smith liked her team’s energy from start to finish.

“I thought that we came out fast [and] strong, [then] we finished the game fast and strong,” Shannon Smith said. “They really wanted to win for our seniors and get their 10th win of the season.”

The offense surge was led by Mennella who finished the game with five goals and three assists. The senior attacker and three time CAA Offensive Player of the Week this season has been a crucial part of the Prides success this season, Shannon Smith highlighted.

“[Mennella is] so fiery and electric on the field,” Shannon Smith said. “She brings a lot of confidence and excitement to the team.”

Bender added four goals and an assist while Steck and Harris chipped in three and two goals, respectively.

Defensively, the Pride stifled the Tribe to just nine shots and forced 18 turnovers, suffocating the Tribe’s attack throughout much of the afternoon. Hofstra defenders Brighid Smith and Christine Dannenfelser

led the charge, each tallying four caused turnovers. Brighid Smith also recorded six ground balls in a standout performance.

“We were really on them this week,” Shannon Smith said. “They were locked in and did a really great job.

Senior Goalkeeper Cardello anchored the unit with four saves. The Pride dominated possession, winning 15 of 19 draw controls behind strong efforts from Mennella, Rudolph and Dannenfelser.

After William & Mary’s second goal late in the third

quarter, Hofstra once again responded with authority, closing the game on a six-goal run to secure the 15-2 victory.

Despite the victory, Shannon Smith stated the importance of keeping the focus ahead going into the CAA Championship.

“Winning’s hard, so we’re going to enjoy today,” Shannon Smith said. “But tomorrow, we turn our attention to Towson.”

The Pride will take on the Tigers in the CAA Championship Semifinals on Thursday, April 30, at 2:30 p.m. in Stony Brook, New York.

An explosive inning lifts Pride to victory

By Samantha Nadler ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

An 11-run fourth inning propelled the Hofstra University baseball team to a 13-2 mercyrule victory over Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) North Division leader, Northeastern University, on Sunday, April 26.

With the win, Hofstra evened their season series against Northeastern, improving their record to 19-22 overall and 9-12 in CAA play. The Huskies are 25-17 on the season and 15-6 in conference play. The Pride remain in fourth place in the CAA North Division standings.

Nick Reese pitched his career’s first complete game, only allowing two runs – one earned – on three hits in seven innings pitched. Reese gave up one run in each of the first two innings but successfully filled the rest of Northeastern’s box score with zeroes.

Northeastern’s Tyler Harmony opened the bottom of the first

with a leadoff single. Harrison Feinberg followed with a no-out fielder’s choice error attributed to third baseman Gabriel Melara, and Ryan Gerety joined them on the basepath with a walk. Reese gave up his second fielder’s choice ball to the next batter in the Huskies’ lineup, Matt Brinker, who sent Harmony home for an unearned run.

An unorthodox series of events led the Huskies to score their next run in the bottom of the second. Leadoff man Carmelo Musacchia reached first base on a single up the middle, then advanced two bases on consecutive balls in play. Henry DiGiorgio sent Musacchia in to score Northeastern’s second run. DiGiorgio tried to stretch the knock to a double but was ruled out.

The Pride’s bats woke up ready to attack the Huskies’ pitching. Hofstra worked 15 plate appearances while facing a trio of Northeastern pitchers in the fourth inning. Northeastern starter Ryan Griffin hit Danny

Corona and Melara by pitch to open the inning and to load the bases after giving up a first-pitch single to Nick Gallello. After a mound visit, Tyler Cox scored the Pride’s first run after hitting a sacrifice fly to left fielder Feinberg. Nick Biddle walked to load up the bases for a second time in the inning. JJ DeVito then sent Melara home on an error by shortstop DiGiorgio.

The last two batters whom Griffin faced each drove in a run. George Holt lined out to second baseman Charlie Criscola, whose subsequent error gave Gallello a pass to come home. Right after, Michael Brown hit a ground-rule double that sent Biddle home.

Andrew Basel came into the game but got injured before recording an out. Basel reloaded the bases, walking CJ Griggs and Corona then forcing in a run courtesy of Corona. Basel ultimately gave up an RBI single to Melara, a two-run double to Gallello and an RBI single to Cox. Matthew Sapienza, the third

reliever of the inning for the Huskies, gave up a single to Biddle, driving Cox in for the Pride’s last score of the inning. The Pride accumulated 11 runs across the frame.

Hofstra scored twice more in the game. Corona doubled in the top of the fifth to send Griggs home. Then, Melara singled to send Brown home from second base.

Eight members of the Pride’s

starting lineup recorded a hit, seven drove in at least one run and eight members scored a run. Every Hofstra batsman made it on the basepath. Brown, Gallello and Melara led the Pride’s offense, each recording two base hits on the day.

Hofstra takes a quick break from CAA play to host St. John’s University on Tuesday, April 28. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at University Field.

Pride’s season ends against ranked Towson University

By Conner Keough STAFF WRITER

The Hofstra University men’s lacrosse team lost its season finale to Towson University 20-3 on Saturday, April 25. The loss led to their elimination from the 2026 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Championship.

Hofstra needed Fairfield University to defeat Monmouth University to make it into the conference tournament. With a Fairfield win, the Pride would have clinched a berth regardless of the result against No. 16 Towson. Instead, Towson’s top scorers overwhelmed Hofstra’s defense. Redshirt junior Joaquin Villagomez finished

with five goals and five assists, while leading scorer Mikey Weisshaar added six goals and an assist.

Weisshaar remained unbeaten against Hofstra during his four seasons at Towson. In five career meetings, he totaled 18 goals and six assists for 24 points. He was selected second overall in the Premier Lacrosse League draft on Tuesday, April 14, by the Boston Cannons.

Towson controlled every facet of the game, winning 21 of 27 faceoffs, outshooting Hofstra 28-13 and failing just one clear.

Hofstra’s only goals came from Joey DeYoung, Gus Langtry and Drew Bogardus – all of whom are expected to return next season.

In net, Shea Kennedy had his toughest outing of the season, allowing 13 goals with four saves. Senior Jon Singer replaced him in the second half, finishing with four saves and conceding seven goals.

This game capped a seasonending stretch against Towson. The teams also met twice in 2025 – in the regular-season

finale and the CAA semifinal, with Hofstra falling 9-7 and 1110 in overtime, respectively.

Following senior day, Hofstra now turns its attention to replacing key contributors. This was the last game for Trevor Natalie, Blake Cooling, Will Delaney, Anthony Mollica, Trey Parkes, George Gilbert, Matthew Vilas and Singer.

The Pride will need to rebuild its leadership group for 2027, since four captains – Mollica, Cooling, Natalie and Vilas – are graduating.

Mollica, a Massapequa Park native, concluded his career with 104 points on 59 goals and 45 assists, leading the team in scoring in each of the past two seasons.

Natalie, a midfielder from Florida, finished with 94 career points in 54 games. He matched his career-high with 28 goals this season and added six assists, totaling 74 points over the past two years.

Cooling, a long-stick defender, recorded a careerhigh 28 caused turnovers and 60 ground balls while adding three goals. He was

named to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association’s Team of the Week on Monday, April 6.

Vilas, a short-stick defensive midfielder from Ontario, contributed a goal and an assist while setting career highs with nine caused turnovers and 27 ground balls.

Hofstra is expected to see several key players return, including Kennedy, Bogardus, DeYoung, Langtry and Henry

Troy.

The Pride finished the 2026 season 4-10 overall and 2-4 in conference play, missing the CAA tournament for the second time in three years and posting its lowest win total since 2004.

The CAA championship begins Thursday, April 30, in Towson, Maryland, with Towson, Monmouth, Drexel University and Stony Brook University competing for an NCAA tournament berth.

Hofstra swept in Scarlet Knight Classic

By Evan Papadopoulos STAFF WRITER

After a rainy Saturday pushed their scheduled game back a day, the Hofstra University softball team fell 3-2 to Rutgers University in the second game of their Sunday, April 26, doubleheader. Dahlia Palacio scored both runs for the Pride. Madison Steppe appeared in the circle for the Pride, making her 19th start of the season. She entered the game with an 11-4

record and a 3.96 ERA on the season. She pitched four innings, allowed four hits, walked one batter, struck out five and allowed three runs – two earned – in the loss.

Brooke Shifflett stepped in the circle for the Scarlet Knights for her 16th start of the season. She entered the day with a 7-8 record and a 7.00 ERA on the season. She pitched five innings, allowed four hits, walked two batters, struck out five and allowed two runs – one earned –in the victory.

Rutgers got the scoring started early, as Sam Rohwer lifted a leadoff 2-1 pitch over the right field wall.

Hofstra answered back in the top of the third, as Palacio sent a single down the left field line then advanced to second base on a throwing error. She then stole third base and came home on a double to left field by Gabby

Sultan. Sultan later advanced to third on a wild pitch, but Shifflett got out of the inning without allowing another run to score.

In the bottom of the inning, Rohwer struck again. This time, she smashed a full-count pitch from Steppe over the left field wall to give the Scarlet Knights the lead again.

In the fifth, Steppe’s evening ended after she hit the first batter and the second batter reached on an error. Hofstra chose to bring in Kailyn Haig to try and get out of the two runners on, no-out jam. She made it out of the inning, but not before allowing the bases to load, as Hailey Stripling came home on a sacrifice fly to center field by Addie Osborne.

In the sixth, Palacio drew a leadoff walk, then advanced to third base on a single to right by Sultan. This ended Shifflett’s night as Rutgers looked to Marley Caldwell to lock down

the final six outs for the Scarlet Knights. Palacio scored on a wild pitch to cut Rutgers’ lead to 3-2.

Despite allowing the run to score, Caldwell did not allow a single hit and shut down the Pride to earn the first save of her collegiate career.

With the loss, the Pride dropped to 26-21 on the season, while Rutgers improved to 26-25

on the season.

The Pride look to bounce back as they host Coastal Athletic Association North division rival Monmouth University for the final series of the regular season. The series begins Thursday, April 30. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. from Bill Edwards Stadium.

Pride face new-look team due to transfer portal

By Eric Leaf STAFF WRITER

One of the most ubiquitous parts of a college basketball offseason is the chaos the transfer portal creates for every Division I program. In October 2018, Name, Image and Likeness was introduced in collegiate sports, allowing players to receive compensation based on their profile. In 2021, the NCAA removed the mandate requiring a sit-out season for transfers, forever changing the sport and how student-athletes approach their careers.

Hofstra University is no stranger to the portal, with some of its best players – Aaron Estrada, Tyler Thomas and Cruz Davis, all Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Players of the Year – being acquired through it.

Before the portal opened on Tuesday, April 7, the Pride had already lost five players to graduation: Silas Sunday, Biggie Patterson, Joshua Aaron Reaves, Alex Tsynkevich and, most notably, German Plotnikov, who spent the last

four seasons with Hofstra.

CAA Rookie of the Year Preston Edmead announced that he entered the transfer portal on Monday, April 6. The Long Island native helped lead the Pride to their first conference championship since 2020. He punctuated the run with a gamewinner over Towson University that sent Hofstra to the CAA championship game, where he earned tournament MVP honors. Edmead averaged 16.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game this season while shooting 38.7% from three. He has since committed to North Carolina State University.

Another major departure came when CAA Player of the Year Davis announced his decision to enter the portal on Monday, April 13. Davis became the third player to earn the award under head coach Speedy Claxton. The 6-foot-3-inch junior averaged 20.1 points and 4.7 assists per game this season while shooting 40% from beyond the arc. He has committed to Texas Tech University.

“These last two years have been nothing but incredible,”

Davis said in an X post.

“Certainly the best two years of my life! From the moment I arrived on campus I was embraced by this fan base who are the best in the nation. Coach Claxton and the entire staff took a kid from Texas and turned him into a man. We came in with big goals from day one and were able to achieve most of them. Being able to help lead my team to a CAA championship and play in the NCAA tournament is something I will cherish forever.”

The Pride is also losing Brandon Morgan, A.J. Wills, Amir Williams, Jaeden Roberts – who has committed to Western Carolina University – and Victory Onuetu, who is headed to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Between transfers and graduating seniors, Hofstra had 12 departures, with only three players from the 2026 championship roster returning: Joshua DeCady, Trey Boyd III and Carlos Lopez.

Despite the significant roster turnover, the portal is a twoway street, and Claxton and

his staff have built a reputation for identifying and developing talent through it.

Hofstra has added center Imanuel Zorgvol from Youngstown State University, guard Tanner Thomas from Loyola Marymount University – brother of former CAA Player of the Year Tyler Thomas. The Pride has also added guards Justin Moore and Deywilk Tavarez from Loyola University Chicago, center Riley Dunn

from Monroe University and guard Nick Jefferson from Salt Lake Community College.

The Pride will also bring in freshman guard Xavier Blake from The Phelps School.

The 2026 men’s college basketball transfer portal officially closed on Tuesday, April 21 at 11:59 p.m. While players can still commit to new programs, no additional names can enter the portal after the deadline.

Danny Corona: Hofstra’s journeyman

By Samantha Nadler ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Graduate student Danny Corona has quite the baseball resume, which spans across various levels of competition. In his final year of NCAA eligibility, Corona has used his extensive baseball experience to lead a young Hofstra University baseball team to their highest potential.

Corona’s family heavily inspired him to start his baseball career at a young age. His father is a scout for the New York Yankees, and several of his uncles competed across various levels of competitive baseball.

“I was introduced to baseball at a young age by my dad,” Corona said. “I believe I started hitting baseballs and throwing baseballs around the house [at] around three or four years old. My first memories [of] playing

[are] when I was six. I played in a local church league in Manhattan.”

As Corona grew up, he realized how big of a role baseball played in his formative years. He participated in the Under-12 Baseball World Cup in 2015 in Tainan, Taiwan, playing for Team U.S.A. and winning a gold medal after defeating Chinese Taipei 7-2 in the gold medal game.

“[Playing in Taiwan] was just such a cool experience as a 12-year-old,” Corona said. “Playing in a fully packed stadium of 15,000 people – that was an experience you can never get back.”

Corona, a Brooklyn native, recognized his love for baseball and passion for continuing to participate at the highest possible level of competition. So. he decided to leave New York and play in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the Baylor School, a boarding

school with a seasoned baseball program.

“Throughout middle school, I kind of knew I wanted to go to boarding school for baseball,” Corona said. “It’s just kind of hard growing up in New York City. We don’t really have the facilities or the weather that some other players have, so I wanted to give myself the best chance to play at the highest level. So, once I was around seventh grade, I started looking into boarding schools, and, luckily, I got to play with a player who went to the Baylor School. His dad was a coach, so they asked me to come tour, and that’s what led me there.”

While at Baylor School, Corona was part of three Tennessee Division II-AA state championships, where he earned First-Team All-State honors and was rated the No. 161 overall recruit for the 2021 class by Perfect Game.

Corona was drafted in the 16th round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he passed on the draft selection, opting to play at the collegiate level to focus on his education.

“I just felt like going to college and getting the

education and development was the best decision for me,” Corona said.

CONTINUED FROM A17

“For some people, they like to go straight to [professional] ball, and I just felt like I wanted to get my education and just keep developing and eventually get back into pro ball.”

Corona played his first two years of college baseball at Wake Forest University. Between his two seasons with the Demon Deacons, he played 103 games, batted .275, hit 18 home runs and drove in 84 runs.

“[Playing at Wake Forest] was a lot of fun,” Corona said. “It felt like you’re going to the field every day with your brothers, and [it was] a team that everyone felt like you’re best friends with everyone. It was just such a close team.”

Wake Forest was the No. 1 seed in the 2023 NCAA Baseball Championship, and Corona played a significant role in their postseason run. In three games in the Winston-Salem Regional, Corona recorded four hits, three of which were home runs, and drove in 10 runs in a trio of double-digit victories over George Mason University and Northeastern University, earning Winston-Salem Regional AllTournament recognition. Corona belted another trio of home runs in the Winston-Salem SuperRegional in a series sweep over the University of Alabama.

Wake Forest appeared in the lower bracket of the 2023 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, after defeating Alabama. In the Demon Deacons’ first game of the tournament, Corona drove in the go-ahead runs against

of the MLB Draft League in 2025.

The MLB Draft League is a six-team wood bat league that operates as an amateurprofessional hybrid league. It features dozens of the nation’s top draft-eligible prospects. The first half of the season gives players a chance to showcase their skills in an amateur setting while the second half is played after the MLB Draft and reserved for paid players. Playing 15 games between the corner infield and as a designated hitter, Corona opted to retain his amateur status by leaving the Thunder shortly before the league’s break.

No. 8 Stanford University with a two-run single in the eighth inning. Wake Forest finished the tournament third overall, but Corona was proud of his

“The Draft League was amazing,” Corona said. “I didn’t get to play my senior year because I had surgery on my hip, so, at first, it was kind of hard going from not playing at all to adjusting [to] the Draft

I baseball the following season, ultimately making a stop at Hofstra for one final season.

“When I entered the portal, I initially wanted to come close

Going back on his earlier rescinding of an MLB Draft selection, Corona decided to play with the Trenton Thunder

experience was amazing. It felt like what I would assume playing pro ball is like.”

Corona returned to Division

has been laying down the work at first base in a new-look infield makeup this season, only making three errors and contributing to 15 double plays

on the season.

Despite a slow start and an early-season injury, throughout the second half of the Pride’s season, Corona has come out of his shell on the field and is returning to his old self: an offensive producer with refined plate discipline. Corona has used his stacked baseball resume to act as a guiding voice for the Pride.

“[Corona] is a veteran; he’s been around the game for a while, and he’s a leader,” Catalanotto said. “He brings a little bit of calmness to the guys when things are bad. He’s the one that’s talking and trying to lift everyone up, so I really like his leadership.”

Even off the field, Corona feels like Hofstra is the right place to be. Just like Wake Forest, Corona feels like Hofstra baseball has provided him with a familiar environment akin to his first college team. With the Pride clicking at the right moment, Corona is proud to be part of a team that is a cohesive unit on the field and off of it.

“Honestly, on this Hofstra team, I’m starting to really feel that as the season is going on, I feel like we’ve been building a tight bond as a team, and we’re really starting to figure it out,” Corona said.

As Corona prepares for commencement in a few weeks, it remains unclear what his post-graduate plans are. Like his baseball journey, he is taking every opportunity and keeping the same winning mindset, hoping it trickles down to the rest of the Pride.

SPORTS

Carlos Martinez: The road back to the bump

By Shannon Bickert SPORTS EDITOR

There are two words that no pitcher ever wants to hear: Tommy John. Hofstra University baseball team’s Carlos Martinez was forced to sit out a season following his breakout sophomore campaign because of them.

Just after earning First Team All-Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) honors, the pitcher was out for the 2025 season.

In his sophomore year, Martinez tossed to a 4.02 ERA across 78.1 innings. He ranked third in the conference in strikeouts with 95 and transitioned from a bullpen arm to a weekend starter. However, he missed the entirety of the 2025 season recovering from Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) surgery, also known as Tommy John surgery.

Being an active member and leader of the team is important to Martinez. He had to adjust to the new role thrown at him as a vocal leader on the sidelines during the 2025 season.

“It was a difficult role to have, just because I was one of the leaders on the team, but it was also, at the same time, hard for me to communicate, knowing that I’m on the sidelines and everybody else is playing,” Martinez said. “Just trying to get comfortable with being a leader in that situation was a little difficult, but it was something that I did overcome.”

had to undergo rehab on his elbow. The recovery process for Tommy John surgery is long and grueling; it usually stretc over at least 12 months. Martinez had to focus on attending physical therapy so that he could get back on the mound.

“It was really tough mentally, mostly,” Martinez said. “You go into physical therapy, and you go twice a week and try to make the most of it, try to get stronger,

during his arm’s rehab. He had teammates who went through the same surgery, so he picked their brains on ways to make it through.

“I definitely asked [my teammates], even previous guys that were on the team before, just kind of seeking advice, seeing what they did [on a] day-to-day basis, just to pick certain situations out to see if it would work for me,” Martinez said.

fanning five hitters.

The first start was just the beginning – Martinez still had to monitor his health and ramp up before going deep into the games. Martinez started the season tossing 68 pitches against the Bulldogs and increased his pitch total by approximately 15 pitches every one to two weeks, depending on how his arm felt.

most pitches he has yet this season against the Seahawks, with 116 pitches.

While adjusting to a new role on the team, Martinez

just needed to trust myself, knowing that I was gonna put in the hard work to get better and get on the field and help the guys win games,” Martinez said. “So, just having them behind me really [helped] me get through the process.”

Martinez wasn’t alone

The team was not the only something out of him, he would be there and help it.”

After a year of recovery, Martinez took the rubber for the first time against No. 4/6 Mississippi State University on opening day. Despite not pitching in regular-season action for an entire season, Martinez was trusted with the ball against one of the best teams in the nation.

“[Getting the opening day start] means everything to me,” Martinez said. “I mean, I’ve been waiting a year to go out there and play, so the fact that I can get into the first game and go out there and show them that I’ve been working hard … just proved to everybody that I belong on a field with a team like that.”

Martinez had a strong first outing back in blue and gold, twirling 3.2 innings and

Martinez logged 98 pitches on March 27, a little over a month after his first start of the season. After that start, he recorded three straight outings tossing 100 or more pitches.

While Martinez has gotten back to dealing on the mound, he still prioritizes his elbow

“I make sure that I go for treatment,” Martinez said. “We have one of the best trainers in the school, so [I’m] making sure I see her a decent amount of time, just doing any physical therapy stretches or exercises that I need to do to keep to the strength of my elbow.”

Martinez looked stellar in his outing on Friday, April 17, against the CAA’s second-best hitting team, UNC-Wilmington. Martinez allowed just one earned run on seven hits while striking out a career-best 15 batters across 6.2 innings.

“[Pitching against UNCW] felt great,” Martinez said. “It felt like the outings previously felt like I was making steps, and that outing kind of gave me the confidence that I’m starting to get back into where I was [in 2024], and I think it’s gonna lead to bigger things.”

Martinez also threw the

As someone who went through the recovery process, Martinez has a unique point of view on it. As a leader, he used his experience to help those on his team who are currently dealing with their own recovery journeys from UCL surgery.

“I try to give the best advice that I can to anybody that needs help,” Martinez said. “Whenever they have a question or anything like that, I’m always willing to help.”

Martinez is a huge piece in the Pride’s starting rotation this season, primarily serving as the Friday starter during weekend series. Currently, Hofstra sits one place out of a playoff spot and down the stretch are looking to make the final push to be true contenders.

“I’m very confident in the guys,” Martinez said. “I think we just need to play with a lot more intensity, and when that intensity shows up, I feel like there’s not many teams that could beat us in any type of scenario.”

The Pride made the CAA tournament in 2024 and missed last season with Martinez recovering. In Martinez’s start in the 2024 tournament against the College of Charleston, he threw 5.2 innings, only giving up one run and striking out five. Martinez is confident that this Hofstra team is capable of going all the way and wants to put people on notice.

“You should just watch out for Hofstra baseball,” Martinez said. “We’re coming for the ‘chip.’”

THE HOFSTRA CHRONICLE

April 28, 2026

After missing out on the postseason in 2025, the Pride take on Towson University in the Coastal Athletic Association Tournament.