THE HOFSTRA
HEMPSTEAD, NY VOLUME 93 ISSUE 10
CHRONICLE
TUESDAY February 24, 2026
KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935
NEWS
Arrest made in 2021 acid attack Pride flag returns following removal at Stonewall involving Hofstra student
By Sahana Shastry NEWS EDITOR
Nearly two years after she was attacked with sulfuric acid in the driveway of her home, Hofstra University student Nafiah Ikram said during a press conference, “To the person that did this, I know that you are going to get
leaving Ikram with severe burn injuries and years of reconstructive surgeries ahead of her. The liquid melted her contact lens, leaving her without vision in her right eye, and gave her second and third degree burns on her face, chest and arms. “One minute, I was a student and a pharmacy [technician],
“To the person that did this, I know that you are going to get your karma one day.” your karma one day.” On Tuesday, Feb. 10, nearly five years after the attack, 29-year-old Terrell Campbell was charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon and unlawfully possessing noxious material. Then 21-year-old Ikram had just returned to her home on Arlington Avenue in Elmont, New York around 8 p.m. on March 17, 2021, when an unidentified male threw sulfuric acid at her,
working 30 to 40, sometimes 50 hours a week, going to the gym,” Ikram said. “And then all of a sudden, [my] whole identity [changed], [my] whole face is burnt. That night I was driving home; I still haven’t driven a car since.” Hofstra spokesperson Neena Samuel issued a statement on behalf of the university following the attack. “We’re shocked by this horrific
attack, and our thoughts are with [Ikram], her family and friends as she focuses on her recovery,” Samuel wrote in the statement. “We are committed to supporting her through that process and will cooperate and facilitate that in whatever ways are helpful.” Ikram was a sophomore community health major with a pre-med track at Hofstra. Despite the life-changing trauma, Ikram made use of student accommodations and returned to her classes to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. “Even back then I would be like, you know, let me make my weakness my strength. So, in that sense, even when it comes to school and stuff like that, I would go in for class even when I had [a] surgical wound in my shoulder,” Ikram said. “I couldn’t even turn my neck. I was still going to class.” A GoFundMe page that was set up to help Ikram has raised over $600,000 thus far.
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Photo courtesy of Arlo Lachenmeyer
Demonstrators wave flags in front of the Stonewall monument in protest of LGBTQ+ flag removal.
By Arlo Lachenmeyer SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
On Monday, Feb. 9, the Pride flag flying over the Stonewall National Monument was taken down by National Park Service (NPS) employees in compliance with a directive from the TrumpVance administration. In response to inquiries from outraged members of the LGBTQ+ community, NPS released a statement on the matter explaining that in accordance with new policies enacted by the current presidential administration,
“only the U.S. flag and other congressionally or departmentally authorized flags are flown on NPS-managed flagpoles, with limited exceptions.” On Wednesday, Feb. 11, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of the bare flagpole on Christopher Street. Jay W. Walker, co-founder of the ReClaim Pride Coalition and the Queer Liberation March, decided to organize the demonstration after hearing that there was an official press conference scheduled for later in the week.
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SPORTS
Speedy Claxton secures 100th win as men’s basketball head coach By Eric Leaf STAFF WRITER
Photo courtesy of Amelia Bashy / Hofstra Athletics
Players spray Speedy Claxton in celebration of his 100th win.
The Hofstra University men’s basketball team continued its surge with a commanding 8268 victory over Northeastern University on Saturday, Feb 21. Powered by the Pride’s electric backcourt tandem, head coach Speedy Claxton secured his 100th career win in just his fifth season at the helm – a milestone that adds another chapter to Claxton’s legacy at Hofstra.
Claxton, who is a former NBA champion and a Hofstra Hall of Famer, continues to add to an already remarkable resume with the program. Under his coaching, the Pride have eclipsed the 20-win mark in three of his first four seasons, and one more victory this year would make his record four 20win campaigns in five seasons, a testament to the sustained standard that he has built in Hempstead. “It means a lot,” Claxton
said. “To tell you the truth, honestly, I had no idea. I’m happy about it. Hopefully, I have many more wins in the bag left.” With the win, Hofstra remained in third place in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) standings, improving to 10-6 in conference play as the postseason picture continues to take shape. “Great road win,” Claxton said.
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