The Current Vol.36 Issue 8

NSU women’s swim wins fourth consecutive national championship

By Isabella Fernandez de Cueto

By

@nsu_makonews / makomedia.nova.edu

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NEWSROOM STAFF

Antonio Miguel Escorzon Editor-in-Chief

Victoria Ruiz Art Director

Lila Taricco Art Director

Constanza Andujar Reporter

Marlee Card Reporter/Music Editor

Samiksha Chemukula Science/Health Writer

Isabella Fernandez de Cueto Sports Editor

Daria Gross Reporter

Bryce Johnson Film Critic

Madison Kasper Reporter/ Visual Journalist

Isabelle Moreno Reporter

Alexandria Munroe News Editor/Feature Writer

Sneha Subhash Science/Health Writer

Allen Worrell Web Editor/Reporter

Amaia Flores Social Media Manager

Yasmin De Andrade Rodrigues Assistant Social Media Manager

Krish Lalwani Business Manager Liv Zolk Distribution Manager

Chris Delboni Mako Media Network Director

Mike Lynn Mako Media Network Assistant Director/Music Desk Adviser

Dr. Megan Fitzgerald Mako Media Network Faculty Adviser

Joyce Moed The Current Adviser

Dr. Mario D’Agostino Sports Desk Adviser

Dr. Aarti Raja Science/Health Desk Adviser

Dr. Eric Mason Digital Adviser

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

Letter from the editor

Dear Readers,

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

We have spotlights on Dr. Eric Stelnicki, NSU donor and professor who is running for Florida’s 100th District in the House of Representatives, as well as Olympia R. Duhart, professor of law, who became dean of the Shepard Broad College of Law this semester.

It is also Women’s History Month. We have a “Sharks Speak” on students’ thoughts on women’s equality in the workplace.

You will find more on NSU women’s swim winning its fourth consecutive national championship.

I am excited for this last half of the semester, particularly for the upcoming Student Life Achievement Awards. It will be my first time attending the event.

The Current is part of Mako Media Network.

MMN also includes Mako TV, NSU’s student-run broadcast news station on YouTube, and Mako Radio, NSU’s student-run radio station on 88.5 FM. If you have questions, comments or story pitches, you can find us in the Don Taft University Center, room 328. On behalf of everyone at The Current, thank you for reading and making us part of your day.

Take care, Antonio Miguel Escorzon

scholarships, mentorship and shadowing opportunities. Donating to the Amanda M. Delboni Journalism Endowment Fund supports NSU journalism education and prepares students for industry careers. AMANDA M. DELBONI JOURNALISM ENDOWMENT FUND

program, including

Amanda M. Delboni Journalism Endowment Fund was established to support NSU’s

The Current is Nova Southeastern University’s established vehicle for student reporting.

Editorials, commentaries and advertisements in this publication reflect the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University or its officials, The Current advisers or advertisers. The Current will not publish

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The Current reserves the right to edit, publish or deny submitted works. The Current shall remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility or otherwise create bias, real or perceived.

Law professor becomes new dean of the college of law

By Antonio Miguel Escorzon

After being named dean in January, Olympia R. Duhart, professor of law at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law, realized the position sets the tone for the college.

“My leadership philosophy is really rooted in empathy, gratitude and community, so that is the tone that I hope will infuse the work that we do,” Duhart said. “I think it’s really key that we work together as a community.”

As interim dean, she enjoyed thinking of creative solutions to improve the college.

“The thing I most enjoyed was the ability to engage with people from all aspects of the law school and our broader law school

FROM THE FRONT

community,” she said. “We have people who are really committed to improving the law school, who love the law school. I got a chance to engage with them, students I ordinarily wouldn’t connect with, faculty members, with staff members and our alumni.”

Sophie Hayman, third-year law student, said Duhart taught her the importance of networking. Hayman had Duhart as a professor in a Legal Research and Writing course.

“She invited a lot of past students who are now working in the legal field to come back and talk to us and tell us how things we learned in law school will translate to the real world,” Hayman said. “She definitely taught me to keep in touch with your network.”

Duhart received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Miami in 1989. She worked

STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY

In his speech, Moon said the university’s Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching recognitions for R1 Research, Opportunity and Community Engagement, show how NSU delivers significant outcomes.

Moon said he wants NSU to be a catalyst for students to lead in their careers and personal lives.

“NSU prepares many talented, highly accomplished graduates in many high-demand careers. More and more employers are choosing to invest in NSU to support those students and our mission,” he said.

Moon said he also plans to elevate NSU’s position in climate science and the blue economy, which looks into marine ecosystems’ health.

“We envision a future presence in Greenland, helping us better understand the forces changing our coastline,” he said. “Other NSU scientists, researchers and partners are collaborating on solutions that strengthen coastal resiliency, protect marine ecosystems and advance sustainable innovation. That’s the opportunity that drives our focus on the blue economy and the importance of the health of our oceans.”

Moon said another priority for the

university is to grow NSU Health’s clinical research and services.

“With our multi-disciplinary breadth and our multiple locations across Florida and into Colorado, Nevada, and Puerto Rico, NSU is positioned to significantly expand our clinical enterprise,” he said. “Growth in this area attracts major industry investment. It accelerates discovery, and most important, it brings innovative treatments to patients sooner.”

During the address, members of The President’s 64, NSU’s body of student leaders, were recognized in a video Moon shared.

Alexandra Lens, fourth-year graduate student in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program and member of The President’s 64, was among the students.

“It was a very nice full circle moment to see my story shared here at the school and, hopefully, inspire other people to come here as well,” she said.

After the address, Daniel J. Alfonso, executive vice president for Facilities Management, Public Safety, and Business Services, said that Moon’s talking points about the blue economy stood out to him.

as a teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School from 1994 to 2000.

“By the time I went to law school, I had two kids, and I was married,” Duhart said. “My plan was to go to law school locally, so I could keep working at Douglas and go to law school at night.”

She earned her Juris Doctor of Law from the Shepard Broad Law Center in 2003.

“I left my job and took a huge leap and went to school full time,” Duhart said. “I’m really glad I went to Nova because I made the best relationships with the professors, with the community and even with the staff members when I was a student.”

Duhart started teaching at the Shepard Broad College of Law in 2005.

Kathleen Klimek, third-year law

student, said what stands out about Duhart is how she built a connection with her students.

“She takes the time to help you and get to know you,” Klimek said. Hayman is excited Duhart is the new dean.

“She has been a part of the Nova community for a long time, and she really knows the school so well and knows the community so well,” Hayman said. “I think it’s really going to be a very positive change for the school.”

Duhart hopes the law school’s community reaches its potential.

“I want us to really step into the potential that we have,” she said. “With reputation, bar passage, fundraising, employment, community and with service to the community, I think that’s my primary goal, so that everyone immediately associates us with excellence.”

“The biggest takeaway for me is how important it is that we understand what is happening, and then ask, ‘What are we going to do to mitigate the impacts of what is happening?’” Alfonso said.

Akhil Revuru, senior biology major and Undergraduate Student Government Association residential senator, said students should attend events like the State of the

University.

“It’s important for the president to reach out to the students and investors to disclose what his future plans are for the university, what has happened and what will happen,” Revuru said.

Nova Singers celebrates 50 years

By Constanza Andujar

The Nova Singers, a community choir supported by NSU, celebrated its 50th anniversary this month.

In 1976, the late Peggy Joyce Barber, then choir conductor at Stranahan High School, realized that her students did not have a space to continue singing after graduating. With the help of then NSU President Abraham S. Fischler, she founded the Nova Singers.

“Peggy’s vision for the Nova Singers really was to keep choral music alive in Broward County,” Chuck Stanley, one of the first members and current artistic director, said.

As part of the anniversary, the Nova Singers held concerts March 13, March 15 and March 17, where they performed “Mass of the Children” by Sir John Rutter with the Florida Singing Sons, who also celebrated 50 years.

During the concert on March 15, Dean Trantalis, mayor of the City of Fort Lauderdale, issued a proclamation for both choral groups in recognition of their golden anniversaries.

The Nova Singers’ recognition has extended beyond Broward County, with multiple European tours.

Melissa Dore, director of Academic Support and Administration in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences,

has been part of Nova Singers for 34 years.

One of her favorite memories with the group is singing at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican in 2006.

“You gotta admit, it’s pretty cool,” Dore said, “when we got to go and line up and be in the place, even though almost none of us were Catholics.”

In 2024, Dore was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. She is now in remission, but she remembers how Nova Singers supported her during that time.

“When I got sick, it was amazing how many people came and sang at my house,” she said. “We think of our selves as a family.”

Stanley said that Peggy empha sized the idea of not being just a choir, but a family.

“We’ve been through lots of wed dings and deaths and diagnoses and medical emergencies,” Stan ley said. “Twenty-five percent of the Nova Singers today have been in the group for 20 or more years, because when people join, they just stick around.”

Dore said that Stanley has been one of the main reasons she has stayed for more than three decades.

“Chuck gives us pieces that we know, but also, he gives us pieces that challenge us,” she said.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

NSU News Recap

By Alexandria Munroe

“Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind” Banned Books Discussion on “Sunrise on the Reaping”

On March 11, NSU’s Center for Applied Humanities hosted its final panel in its banned books series, “Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind,” which was in partnership with the Lifelong Learning Institute in the Adolfo and Marisela Cotilla Gallery. The final edition of the year focused on Suzanne Collins’ works: “Sunrise on the Reaping” and themes from “The Hunger Games” series. The event was also the

The biggest challenge, Dore said, was “Jubilate Deo” by Dan Forrest, a piece in seven different languages that they performed at Carnegie Hall.

Stanley was named director in 2010 by Peggy when she retired, and since her passing in 2024, he keeps her legacy present.

community building.”

Stanley said he is awed by the longevity of the group.

“Who would have thought in 1976 that we’d still be doing it 50 years later, and it would still be fresh and it’d still be new?” he said.

Almost half of the members have

The NSU Math Club hosted its annual Pi Day Celebration outside of the Parker Building on March 13 in collaboration with the Department of Mathematics. The celebration included a “best math joke” contest and a costume contest. Sophia Prudhomme, younger sister to Hannah Prudhomme,

final discussion moderated by Alexis Lass, second-year graduate student in experimental psychology and the founder of the series.

Lass said that discussing the controversial themes in banned books is an important step to understanding the real-world ideas they reflect.

“If we don’t discuss banned books, then they’ll stay banned, and we won’t know problems that are emerging in society,” Lass said. “If we can’t recognize them in a literary form, then we’re not going to be able to recognize them in real life.”

junior mathematics major and president of the math club, won the “best math joke contest.” Erica Farago, faculty member of the NSU University School won the costume contest.

Hannah Prudhomme said that hosting the annual Pi Day event helps bring awareness to their organization.

“We just get to bring people together and celebrate eating pie,” she said. “It’s always super fun.”

“That tells me that people are still wanting to sing,” Stanley said. “That

Farquhar Honors Program and DCMA “WE’VE ALWAYS BEEN H E R E” Exhibition

On March 13, the Farquhar Honors Program and the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts hosted the opening of “WE’VE ALWAYS BEEN H E R E,” an exhibition of photographer Marc Hauser’s work curated by Isabella Giraldo, second-year graduate student in the Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media master’s program. During the opening, Giraldo said that the exhibition

features photographs from Hauser’s collection that highlight everyday subjects rather than the celebrity and commercial work he did during his lifetime.

She said working on the exhibition as her internship changed the way she approached interpreting art.

“I think as humans, we try to explain the unexplainable or put an explanation to things we don’t understand,” Giraldo said. “The biggest lesson I learned is to kind of let the images speak for themselves.”

OH, THE PLACES TO GO!

One man’s hobby turns into a local landmark at Butterfly World

By Marlee Card

3600 W Sample Road, Coconut Creek, FL 33073

“Mr. Ronald Boender described it as one man’s hobbies gone wild, and it was his dream that it would be a beautiful public attraction, but also he wanted it to be a center for research and education, that would include a butterfly farm,” Jackie Minett, a tour guide at Butterfly World, said.

Today, the property streches 10 acres of aviaries, including a large butterfly aviary and three bird aviaries, along with botanical gardens and research facilities. Educational programming remains central to its mission.

“Butterfly World educates hundreds of younger generations. We’ve probably educated millions,” Minett said. “We have educational tours for school children, garden clubs, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts.”

Beyond group programming, Butterfly World also offers guided tours for daily visitors, allowing guests to engage directly with staff throughout

them,” Minett said.

A large part of the garden’s educa tional outreach is the national “Bring Back the Butterflies” campaign, a regional butterfly gardening guide that outlines specific nectar and host plants designed to help restore but terfly populations.

“We have different regions because there are different plants and differ ent butterflies in different places. And it will tell you exactly what you can plant to get the butterflies. The more you plant, the more you are going to bring them back,” she said.

One of the elements Boender envisioned at Butterfly World is the immersive sensory experience visitors encounter upon arrival.

“When you come here, you have all your senses engaged. We’ve got beautiful classi cal music, which is kind of synergized along with the beauty of the plants

Sharks Speak: Have women achieved equality in the workplace?

BY DARIA GROSS

“I would say we have made significant progress. In my own experience, when it comes to work, there hasn’t been a moment when I feared for myself or my position. There is still, however, always some hesitancy when applying for work. Just out of not getting a role because of my gender, I still worry about that sometimes.”

Tyriana White, senior Art + Design major

“I’m from the Bahamas, so there’s so much work to be done in the Baha mas regarding women, equality and payments and wages, [but] I think in the U.S., it’s done a great job getting women on par, getting women paid. I think we’re doing what we can by creating the safe spaces, and saying it with our chest, saying, ‘Hey, like, this is wrong.’ And then not only saying it, but creating solutions.”

Alexandria Reckley, sophomore healthcare administration major

“I would say no, due to a lack of trust. I don’t think many males or, I would say, higher up females who are selfish, trust other women when it comes to the workplace. They feel intimidated when a new woman comes in and is working as well, but they see it as ‘I’m taking your place.’”

Pulane Hill, junior marketing major

“I think we’ve made steps in the right direction; it’s not how it was decades ago, but I feel there are still some systemic inequalities. People ask, ‘What makes a great leader, good business person, or CEO?’ These [still] can come off as masculine qualities. We’re heading in a better direction, but there’s still work to be done. ”

Ari Allon, senior legal studies major

Donor spotlight: Plastic surgeon runs for Florida representative seat and establishes endowed fund at NSU

By Antonio Miguel Escorzon

Dr. Eric Stelnicki, professor in the NSU College of Dental Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine and Physician Assistant Program, is running for Florida’s 100th District in the House of Representatives in Tallahassee in November.

“There are no medical degree physicians that are currently serving in the Florida House, and as a result, all the healthcare bills and decisions that are being made up in Tallahassee are being made with a void of knowledge of medicine,” Stelnicki said.

Stelnicki decided to run after almost getting paralyzed in August 2023 in Wyoming.

“First, I thought I was going die,” Stelnicki said.

He and his wife, Melissa Joy Stelnicki, were horseback riding when he was thrown from the horse and broke his back.

“We went through many scary nights and weeks where we didn’t know what was going to happen. He really was a fighter, and he went through a lot from that — to being in the intensive care unit to being in a rehabilitation unit and working to get himself back to where he is today,” Melissa Joy Stelnicki said.

After being treated for three months and fully healing from the accident, Eric Stelnicki established the Dr. Eric

Stelnicki/KLS Martin Group Endowed Fund for Craniofacial Research at NSU last June to make sure research for craniofacial defects in children continues. The endowed fund will not be administered until next year.

“We have amazing faculty and amazing students that come through here, a lot of whom are involved in the craniofacial programs through the schools, and I wanted to have a motivation for them to continue to push the frontiers of that branch of medicine,” Stelnicki said. “The only way to do that is to create a forever fund that will always throw off money, always have a research scholarship for them that will motivate people every year to come up with new ideas to push the frontiers of that branch of medicine.”

Stelnicki earned his bachelor’s degree in medical science in 1987 and his medical degree in 1991 from the University of Florida.

He was inspired to become a crainofacial plastic surgeon after watching a doctor treat a child with orbital hypertelorism, a condition where the eyes are extremely wide set, which threatened one of the eyes to go blind.

“It saved that child’s vision and it significantly normalized that child’s face. It was a long surgery, but it was one that was truly life changing for that child. It was something that I knew after those life changing procedures that I wanted to be involved in,” he said.

Melissa Joy Stelnicki, who is also getting a nursing Ph.D. from the

University of Central Florida, said the endowed fund in conjunction with NSU will hold a special place in their hearts.

“I’m just really excited that we could get this going, and I just hope it takes off,” she said. “Research is very important and on the forefront of my agenda because that’s how you advance things: something that would affect this population in a positive way through research.”

Dr. Chad Perlyn, executive vice president, chief medical officer and executive medical director of NSU Health, and dean of the Dr. Kiran C.

Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, said he is excited to see there will be funds available to support craniofacial research.

“I think this is a fantastic opportunity for the university, its students and faculty to be able to pursue excellence in research and clinical care of children with facial differences,” Perlyn said. “The strengths of this university across the dental school, the nursing school, the medical schools and all our other health professions really allows a tremendous ability to both study and care for kids with these types of issues.”

Juried Student Art Exhibition returns to UC Gallery 217

By Alexandria Munroe

The 17th Juried Student Art Exhibition is running from Thursday, March 26 to Thursday, April 23 in the Don Taft University Center Gallery 217.

L’nique Noel, gallery manager of Gallery 217, said the exhibition is a good opportunity to highlight the work of students in the Art + Design program.

Noel said that submitting work to the exhibition allows students to see their

work displayed publicly alongside other artists.

“Seeing your work on the wall and with other pieces is a different experience than seeing your work by yourself,” Noel said. “I think it creates a drive in them to want to continue to put their work out there if they haven’t before.”

Sophia Dakkuri, senior Art + Design major, won 1st place in last year’s exhibition with her piece, “Sometime in the Morning.” She said she was surprised when her name was announced.

“Over the other years, I only got

Honorable Mentions, so when I heard my name for first place, I couldn’t believe it,” Dakkuri said. “It felt good and made me feel like I belonged there.”

She said that simply being included in the last three Juried Art Exhibitions alongside other student artists has been an honor.

“There are all these amazing artists that get accepted, so I just feel proud that my work also got accepted,” Dakkuri said.

Dakkuri said that submitting her work to the Juried Art Exhibition has

made her more thoughtful about the work she shares with others.

“The work I produce and show to people, that’s a reflection of who I am,” Dakkuri said. “It makes me look at it and be like ‘Am I really proud of this?’ before I showcase my work.”

Free and open to the public.

Don Taft University Center Second Floor Gallery 217

Shark Talent brings the heat with “INFERNO”

By Alexandria Munroe

Razor’s Edge Shark Talent hosted its winter showcase, “INFERNO” on March 20 in the Black Box Theatre and Performance Theatre. The showcase was the largest in the program’s history with 32 acts.

Kyra Triepke, senior human nutrition major and editor for Mako TV, is the co-chair of the Shark Talent performance committee alongside Olivia Knerr, senior double major in dance and exercise & sport science and reporter for Mako TV.

Triepke said the theme was chosen because they wanted the showcase to be energetic and engaging for the audience and the performers.

“Our slogan was ‘Come watch us bring the heat,’” Triepke said. “We were just joking around, saying we want it to be like fire, like super fun, but then we took that and we turned it into ‘INFERNO.’”

Triepke said this year’s showcase is particularly special due to the large number of graduating seniors. There are 13 seniors leaving the Shark Talent Program, making it the largest graduating class in the program’s history.

“It’s sad that the program is going to get so small so quick,” Triepke said.

In addition to planning the showcase, Triepke performed in two pieces in the showcase. She was a part of the senior piece that closed the show, and a tap number called “Rhythm of

Triepke said working on these pieces with her fellow seniors was bittersweet.

“My favorite part is just getting to collaborate with everyone that I enjoy working with so much one more time,” she said. “Who knows when the next time I’ll see these people again will be after this semester is over?”

The showcase included an art gallery hosted in the Black Box Theatre.

Paula Corrales Marco, senior marketing major, was the art gallery

said. “I think it’s a good experience to show everyone’s art, especially to show the talent that many students have and their passion about the arts.”

She said that her favorite part of being the curator was working with other students on the curation process. “It requires time and effort and I couldn’t do it without the team,” she said. “It’s great that all of us can help each other, especially with the lights and sound and [deciding] where we are going to put the piece depending on the colors.”

Knerr said the showcase helps entertain students and reflects the love that the everyone has for the arts.

“Nova is known for the academics and [sciences], but we’re also known for entertainment, and we’re known for having a greater student body that loves the arts,” she said. “Keeping performances alive and really entertaining the community is so important.”

From

sophomore marine biology major and Noelia

senior theatre major, perform during a dress rehearsal for the Shark Talent showcase called “INFERNO” on March 19.

NSU Veera brings classical Indian dance back to the competition stage

By Alexandria Munroe

After taking a year off due to a lack of available team members, NSU Veera, a classical Indian dance team, returned to competitions this semester.

Harani Athwale, senior biology major, is one of the three captains of NSU Veera along with Gomahi Dutta, sophomore biology major, and Amala Vadukumcherry, senior biology major. She said going to competitions allows NSU Veera to showcase its work on a larger stage.

“It feels good to bring back the spirit of showcasing what our school

MUSIC

has to show in a competitive setting,” Athwale said. “Competing lets us represent Veera beyond just our campus.”

As the only captain who has been to competition before, Athwale said that the experience of going to competition goes beyond performing on stage.

“I feel like you become closer as a team through all the late night or early morning practices and [through] getting to know each other while learning choreo,” Athwale said. “I feel like it’s important to have that interaction and connection.”

Athwale said that competing also gives them the opportunity to connect with teams from other universities and experience the larger classical Indian dance community.

“We have mixers where we have dinner with them, we play games and we decide the order of the dances by who wins,” Athwale said. “I really like that sense of community, but also the friendly competition that’s established between us and the other teams.”

NSU Veera’s competition choreography focuses on the classical Indian dance styles of bharatanatyam and kuchipudi. Dutta said these two styles of dance are meant to portray cultural stories rather than simply entertain.

“Each step and expression actually means something,” Dutta said. “It’s not just movement. You’re telling a story the entire time.”

Dutta said that they want their performances to give people a better

The 2000s Coffeehouse Era: Where Did That Sound Go?

By Marlee Card

The iconic sounds of the early-tomid 2000s: “Put Your Records On,” by Corrine Bailey Rae, “Suddenly I See,” KT Tunstall, “Don’t Know Why,” by Norah Jones and “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me),” by Train defines what I like to describe as the “2000s Coffeehouse Jam.”

This was the kind of music your mom might have been playing in the kitchen, your older sister had on repeat in her room or the songs that filled the radio. It blended folk, pop and soft rock with warm acoustic guitars and strong piano lines. The vocals were honest and raw, they were authentic, easy on the ears, and not so much overproduced - or inappropriate.

But we don’t necessarily hear songs like that anymore or see those artists as much. So where is that sound today?

Well, the industry shifted. By the late 2000s and into the 2010s,

mainstream pop began favoring heavier production, electronic instrumentation, hip-hop influences and highly auto-tuned vocals. Streaming platforms and algorithm-driven discovery rewarded songs with immediate hooks and strong replay value, often pushing acoustic-driven tracks out of the spotlight.

Some artists from the early 2000s still are around today. John Mayer, whose most recent album “Sob Rock” was released in 2021, continues to carry the singer-songwriter idea forward. Adele, who debuted in 2008, continued to command attention through her Las Vegas residency that ended in November of 2024.

As for the genre, it changed into what we know today as “indie artists.”

Much of what once dominated Top 40 radio migrated into what we now call indie or alternative. I believe

much of today’s equivalents live on streaming playlists under artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Noah Kahan and Hozier. These musicians prioritize lyricism and acoustic textures creating modern sounds that are still authentic. And maybe this shift is more about how we consume music than about the music itself.

In the early 2000s, discovery happened through the radio, CD racks at Target, burned mixes from friends or VH1’s Top 20 Video Countdown. You heard them in coffee shops, bookstores and dental offices. The exposure was communal and slow-burned.

Today, music is personalized. Algorithms study listening habits and give users a highly specific playlist: “Daily Mix 1,” “acoustic study vibes,” “indie folk chill.” The coffeehouse jam genre didn’t die, but instead changed to the modern times. Instead of a handful of

understanding of the different styles of Indian dance.

“I think when people think of Indian dance, most people think of Bollywood,” Dutta said. “I hope that people can get a different perspective and an idea of how diverse Indian dance culture is.”

Athwale said that being able to share their work and cultural stories with a live audience is what makes performing worthwhile.

“There’s a different dopamine rush on stage. When your choreography and story finally come to life in front of an audience, it’s a completely different feeling,” Athwale said.

artists dominating radio with a warm, acoustic sound, thousands of smaller artists now exist in digital micro-scenes.

In the end, the early 2000s acoustic revival wasn’t necessarily just about sound, it was about music that felt intimate even when it played on mainstream radio. While the industry’s structure has changed, the want for storytelling and authenticity hasn’t. And the “2000s Coffeehouse Jam” may no longer dominate Top 40 radio, but it still lives in curated playlists.

Lately, I found myself craving the nostalgic sounds of the early 2000s - so Spotify has algorithmically created a playlist for me titled promptly: “2000s Coffee House Mix.” So maybe it’s not that these artist or this genre has gone away, but instead its changed and evolved as the industry, listeners or up-and-coming artist change themselves.

One Oscar After Another: A review of 2026’s Best Picture winner

By Bryce Johnson

“One Battle After Another,” directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, took home several Academy Awards on March 15, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture. I saw the movie when it was released out in September, and my feelings about it have largely remained the same. It’s a wellmade film that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

In “One Battle After Another,” Leonardo DiCaprio plays Bob Ferguson, an ex-revolutionary who has to get back in the action when his daughter, Willa, played by Chase Infiniti, is hunted by the military. The cast also includes Teyan Taylor as Perfidia,

Willa’s mother; Benicio del Toro as Sensei Sergio, Willa’s karate instructor; and Sean Penn as Colonel Lockjaw, a military leader who hunts Willa throughout the movie.

“One Battle After Another” delves heavily into racial and ethnic themes, and it was nice that you could see it inform almost every character’s decisions. As a Black revolutionary, Perfidia wants to help underprivileged communities, even if it puts her

family at risk. Sensei Sergio holds a shelter for undocumented immigrants and wants to help everyone who comes his way.

It even informs Col. Lockjaw, who has an overall distaste for Black people until he meets Perfidia.

As he was hunting Willa, I was hoping he’d have a change of heart and embrace the uniqueness of

different communities, so I liked how I was invested in so many characters’ narratives.

The energy throughout the movie also feels real and like you’re actually there. From when Bob is desperately trying to charge his phone to find Willa, to the tense car chase scene near the end of the film, it feels like everything is constantly moving. Even though it’s more than two-and-a-half hours long, it feels much shorter because every scene is energetic and working toward the end. It did feel like some characters didn’t get a satisfying conclusion, like Sensei Sergio and Deandra, Bob and Perfidia’s old friend played by Regina Hall. You don’t see them again after certain points, and I wish the movie had done more to follow up on them.

Overall, I enjoyed many Best Picture nominees this year, but I’m happy that a movie as smart and full of heart as “One Battle After Another” won. If you’d like to watch it, it’s now streaming on HBO Max.

Social media is killing the album-listening experience

By

Valentina Di Guida, 21-year-old figure skate instructor and Florida International University alum, said that the music choices used in her figure skating routines depend on what is popular on social media.

“I’m basically waiting for the

‘TikTok part’ of the song. If it doesn’t hit quickly, I lose interest, sometimes I don’t even like the whole song. The snippet just gets stuck in my head, and I feel like I need to add it,” Di Guida said. “We’re so used to consuming music in tiny highlight clips that sitting through a full song almost feels long.”

A 2020 study published by PLOS One, a peer-reviewed journal published by the Public Library of Science by Montecchio, Roy and Pachet. found that most users skip songs within the first 30 to 45 seconds,

demonstrating shorter attention spans in the age of social media.

Di Guida said she feels her attention span has shortened regarding consuming music.

Oscar Santamaria, senior communication major, said social media has led audiences to expect singles from artists, rather than a full body of work.

“They condition you to expect immediate payoff and reduce patience for slower songs. Singles feel more important now; albums seem secondary unless you’re already a fan,” Santamaria said. “Many albums feel like loose collections of songs rather than cohesive statements. The viral snippet often satisfies the curiosity on its own. Often the snippet is the highlight, and the full song feels

underwhelming.”

A 2024 study by Glorious Noise showed albums sales went from 785 million to 78.5 million from 2000 to 2024, making it 10% of what it used to be.

Santamaria believes social media is responsible for fewer people listening to full albums, as many have got used to platforms creating playlists for them based on singles.

“Short-form content has made me chase moments instead of full albums. My last full album’s listen felt intentional, not something that happens naturally anymore,” Santamaria said. “TikTok, Reels and Spotify playlists usually come after the song is already trending. It’s made listening more fragmented and less immersive overall.”

Libraries serve as hubs for learning, creativity, and connection, helping people of all ages explore new ideas and opportunities. Please take advantage of the resources the NSU Libraries have to offer.

NSU Health Pharmcy offers new on-campus delivery

By Antonio Miguel Escorzon

The NSU Health Pharmacy at the Davie/Fort Lauderdale campus recently launched its on-campus delivery service. The pharmacy is located inside the Sanford L. Ziff Health Care Center.

Goar Alvarez, assistant dean for Pharmacy Services, said since the COVID-19 pandemic, he thought about having a delivery service for the NSU Health Pharmacy.

“I tried to get deliveries started because of what I perceived to be a great need,” he said. “Obviously, people didn’t want to come out, and so we thought it would be a great service to do that. Then lately we were able to move that forward and make this service available.”

The NSU Health Pharmacy is a full-service and community pharmacy.

HEALTH UPDATE

“We fill prescriptions, we do immunizations, we do compounding, which is making medications from scratch in dosage forms that might not be available commercially,” Stephanie Michaels, clinical assistant professor and pharmacist at the NSU Health Pharmacy, said. “We provide counseling, we go over medications with you. We do everything and more that your traditional pharmacy does.”

Michaels said that they are always thinking of new ways to serve the NSU community.

“A couple times a year, we brainstorm to think of services, and this has kind of been on our minds for a while now,” she said. “It is a service that many other pharmacies use.”

Alvarez said convenience also inspired the new delivery service’s creation.

“Sometimes it becomes difficult to

get to the pharmacy, so the delivery service just adds one more availability for patients to get their medications,” he said.

Michaels said the delivery service allows patients to get what they ordered the next day through in-person couriers. Certain medications such as controlled substances and those requiring refrigeration is not deliverable.

“They would just need to call us and let us know that they want the medication delivered,” she said. “As long as they are eligible, which would be for, as of now, students residing in the dorms, faculty and staff on campus.”

Constanza Andujar, sophomore political science major and reporter for The Current, lives off-campus and cannot use the delivery service.

“I hate to have to get out of bed to go to buy things to feel better, so the delivery service would be great if it

could get off campus at some point,” Andujar said.

Alvarez also hopes the service can expand in the future.

“I’d like to explore ways to deliver to our patients’ homes or to their other work areas. For example, other institutions in the vicinity,” Alvarez said.

The NSU Health Pharmacy welcomes feedback from the NSU community on how the delivery service can evolve.

“We’re hoping to expand it outside of just students in the dorms right now, since that’s the easiest way to start,” she said. “Hopefully, we can expand it to more students, and we can possibly expand it to off-campus housing within a certain radius in the future.”

Healthy habits for National Nutrition Month

By Madison Kasper

March is recognized as National Nutrition Month. According to eatright.org, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics established National Nutrition Month in 1973 to make people more aware of healthy choices. As a part of Mako Media Health Update, Aarti Raja, biology professor, discusses good habits in regard to nutrition.

Q: Why is this month celebrated?

A: It was set up as a month of nutrition just to make people more aware about healthy choices and so that people can make better

Q: How does proper nutrition affect energy levels?

A: Good nutrition actually boosts our energy levels. It is important to have good nutrition because it helps us maintain a steady level of glucose in the body, and it also benefits our brain.

Q; A lot of people struggle with eating healthy on a budget. What are some affordable options?

A: Some of the healthy options are ensuring that you make choices which include things like high pro-

When you’re on a budget, that’s, of course, always something to keep in mind. But there are ways that people can go about getting those good nutritional foods. The key is really planning everything out. Thinking about it in advance and also thinking about buying the off-brand products, going generic products, your local stores’ products. Those become a little more affordable. But again, to do that, one has to really be mindful of what they’re consuming and also really plan their day, their meals out.

Q: With social media expanding, how can someone know what information to trust and

publishing articles? Are they peer review publishing? Are these articles somewhere? That kind of adds credibility. Doing a little bit of research helps a whole lot.

Q: How can busy students or working adults make healthier choices with a tight schedule?

A: The key to the biggest issue with nutrition often is two things time and money. A good way to balance this is prepping, and I know a lot of students and even young professionals, meal prep, for example. When you have some downtime, perhaps over a weekend, do the

NSU basketball competes in NCAA South Region Tournament

By Isabella Fernandez de Cueto

All-Tournament Team.

The No. 10 women’s basketball team lost 73-70 to the No. 1 seed and tournament host Alabama-Huntsville in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on March 15, ending its season 28-5 with a 16-4 conference record.

The Sharks won the SSC Tournament for the first time since 2015 on March 8 after defeating Florida Southern 78-74 at home. Bridie McCann scored 28 points in the final and was named Tournament MVP, with Kaliyah Morales and Taydra Simpson joining McCann on the

The team earned the No. 5 seed in the NCAA South Region Tournament and faced the No. 4 seed Miles on March 13, winning 91-71. Six Sharks scored double digit points in the team effort win, with Morales leading the team with 20.

In its Second Round matchup against Alabama-Huntsville, Morales and Anaia Hoard combined for 33 points and 13 rebounds. Huntsville took a three-point lead with seven seconds left and were able to hold onto the lead, ending the Sharks’ NCAA campaign.

The NSU women’s basketball team celebrates winning the Sunshine State Conference Championship against Florida Southern College on March 8.

The NSU men’s basketball team holds up the South Regional Championship trophy celebrating its win against the University of Alabama in Huntsville on March 17.

Sports Shorts

By Isabelle Moreno

Women’s Tennis, March 22

The No. 3 women’s tennis team defeated No. 17 Flagler 7-0 with strong performances across the board. Kristyna Hranacova, Katja Markus, Chloe Henderson, Jana Boegner and Noémie Dadoun all earned singles wins, while the Sharks swept all three doubles matches.

Women’s Tennis, March 21

The No. 3 women’s tennis team dominated Saint Leo with a 6-1 victory at home. The Sharks swept doubles and got key singles wins from Kristyna Hranacova, Katja Markus and Chloe Henderson to secure the win.

Baseball, March 20-21

The baseball team split a threegame series with No. 22 Rollins at home. Rollins took the opener 6-3, but the Sharks bounced back with back-to-back wins the next day, 3-1 and 14-5. Michael Arnold and Roylan Quevedo each hit key home runs in the second game, while Emilio Gonzalez drove in six RBIszzzz in the

series finale as the team exploded for 14 runs to cap the sweep.

Softball, March 20-21

The softball team swept Rollins, winning 8-2, 15-0, and 12-4. Christina D’Agostino led the way with three home runs, including two grand slams, totaling 12 RBIs, while Destiny Lewis added a homer and five RBIs. Ana Richiez and Gracelyn Wallace combined for two wins and a shutout, keeping Rollins off the board in Game 2.

Men’s Track, March 20-21

The Nova Southeastern men’s track team competed at the UCF Black & Gold Challenge with Marcus Tortorella leading the way, winning the 5000m in a new school record of 14:51.50. Marc Gonzalez finished sixth in the same event with a personal best of 15:05.60. Seth Roque-Munoz made his 10,000m debut, placing 15th with a time of 32:14.79.

Women’s Track, March 20-21

The Nova Southeastern women’s

The No. 1 men’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the fourth straight season after defeating Black Hills State 76-66 in the NCAA Elite Eight on March 25 in Pittsburgh. Ross Reeves led the Sharks with 31 points, with Jaxon Nap adding 13 points and 10 rebounds. It faces Lander in Pittsburgh on March 27 at 8:30 p.m.

The Sharks took the SSC Championship for the fifth consecutive season in dramatic fashion, defeating Palm Beach Atlantic in overtime. With Palm Beach Atlantic leading in the last seconds of regulation, Reeves, who scored 29 points and was named Tournament MVP, scored a game-tying three pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime, where the Sharks pulled away the victory. Dallas Graziani and Ryan Davis joined Reeves on the All-Tournament Team.

Boasting a 27-1 record and a No. 1

national ranking, the men’s basketball team earned the No. 1 seed in the NCAA South Region Tournament and hosted the tournament. It faced No. 8 seed Morehouse on March 14 in the First Round, which resulted in a 94-60 win, with six Sharks scoring in double digits. The Second Round saw a 98-85 victory for the Sharks over No. 5 seed Montevallo on March 15, in which Davis became the all-time winningest player in program history.

The team won its fifth straight NCAA South Region Championship and punched its ticket to the Elite Eight following a 79-63 win over No. 7 seed Alabama-Huntsville, extending its home game winning streak to 105. Dallas Graziani scored 30 points, and Ross Reeves scored 20 points as Graziani earned Most Outstanding Player in the South Region Tournament, and both were named to the South Region All-Tournament Team.

track team competed at the UCF Black & Gold Challenge with standout performances across distance and steeplechase events. Bella Ascone set a personal record and a new school mark in the 2000m steeplechase, finishing 12th in 7:30.79. Leena Saidi placed fourth in the 10,000m (36:32.96), while Isabella Grant also finished fourth in the 5000m with a PR of 17:52.73. Ally Jakubiak added a top-10 finish in the 1500m, crossing the line ninth (4:58.06).

Women’s tennis, March 18

The No. 3 women’s tennis team fell 4-3 to No. 5 Embry-Riddle on the road. The Sharks earned singles’ victories from Kristyna Hranacova, Katja Markus and Noémie Dadoun but were unable to secure the doubles point.

Men’s basketball, March 17

Women’s golf, March 16-17

The No. 10 women’s golf team finished sixth out of nine teams at the Peggy Kirk Bell Invitational (+37/375/402). Maria Torres-Lobato (+6/75/75) finished in fourth place overall and Alexandra Remaklus (+8/69/83) finished in eighth place overall.

Men’s basketball, March 15

The No. 1 men’s basketball team defeated Montevallo 98-85 in the NCAA Second Round to advance to the South Region championship. Ross Reeves led the Sharks with 28 points, while Dallas Graziani added 20 points, six rebounds and five assists, and Jaxon Nap recorded a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Eli Allen also contributed 19 points.

The No. 1 men’s basketball team defeated Alabama-Huntsville 79-63 in the NCAA South Region championship, securing its 105th consecutive home victory and its fifth straight trip to the Elite Eight. Dallas Graziani led the Sharks with 30 points and five steals, while Ross Reeves added 20 points and Jaxon Nap contributed 12 points and seven rebounds.

WOMEN’S SWIM

Coach of the Year, said the team’s performance at the championship meet was consistent.

“It was everything that we had planned and executed throughout the season, just at a higher level on the biggest stage,” Hewitt said. “It was a team effort—if we slipped up in one spot during the meet, there was a pretty good chance that we already sort of made up for that. We definitely had swims up and down the team and across the board every day that gave us the opportunity to come out on top.”

The national championship meet took place in Evansville, Indiana from March 10-14. The Sharks scored 486 points overall and won eight individual

national championships. Maya Esparza, senior sports management major, is a part of the 200-yard medley, 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle relay teams that all won first place and broke NCAA DII records in their respective events.

“If I could tell Maya from freshman year, even Maya from sophomore year, the things I’ve accomplished for this team, I would never believe you,” Esparza said. “I never knew how much I was capable of and it’s so cool to see all of the countless hours of hard work come together in my four years has been so incredible.”

Kristina Orban, sophomore business

individual national championships and was part of three out of four relay teams that won first place.

“It means a lot to be a part of this and to contribute and give my part. Having this success makes us motivated going forward, so I think this performance was important for me because that’s what keeps me excited and wanting to do it again and again,” Orban said. “We always have so much fun, and we always say, ‘if you have fun, you swim fast’ and we always try to remind ourselves of that and the results come.”

NSU women’s swim becomes the first program to win four consecutive national championships since the women’s golf team during 2009-2012. Despite having

different athletes on the team out each season, gram has been able

“I think every athlete that comes through the program understands that they’re a part of something bigger than themselves, and that is not something you can necessarily teach. They understand there’s a time-honored tradition, and they’ve developed grit and hunger in their mindset,” Hewitt said. “Something I always say is ‘someone else’s success on the team isn’t going to come at your expense, let yourself see your potential in your growth’ and I think that has been resonating here because they look at how successful the program has been and see their potential in that success.”

winning its 4th consecutive national championship on March 14.

NSU men’s basketball makes history by securing 100th straight home victory

By Madison Kasper

Nova Southeastern University’s men’s basketball team extended its undefeated home streak to 100 games, defeating Rollins College 104-91 on March 3 in the first round of the Sunshine State Conference tournament. The Sharks have not lost at home since 2020.

Jim Crutchfield, head men’s basketball coach, has been leading the program for all 100 wins. He said this record is special because it is shared among many different people.

“A lot of awards are about one person or one team. This team won the 100th game here, but that award is being shared by so many assistant coaches that I have had that have moved on and so many players that have played here and graduated,” Crutchfield said. “A lot of people had a hand in this.”

The Sharks hold the longest home winning streak in NCAA Division II men’s basketball. The all-time NCAA record is currently held by the Division I University of Kentucky men’s basketball team, which won 129 consecutive home games between 1943 and 1955. Every current player on the NSU men’s basketball team has never lost a game at home. Ryan Davis, senior communication major, said he is living in the moment and credits all his former teammates and coaches who have

been a part of the program for helping them get there.

“I am so proud of this program. I came in as a freshman, and this is my 100th win here and it’s crazy to say it but I have never lost in this building,” Davis said.

Nick Smith, associate head men’s basketball coach, said the fans and the NSU community play a big role in this streak.

“It’s the fans. Our guys are playing in a system that involves crazy energy all the time. We got DJ Romero up there firing up the crowd and our guys, as well. It’s such a big home court advan tage for us,” Smith said.

RJ Sunahara, assistant men’s bas ketball coach, said that trusting Crutch field’s process is part of what has led to the team’s success.

“He puts a lot of trust in his play ers. He is a guy who doesn’t like to have too much control, but he has control when he needs it,” Sunahara said. “He has built this awesome sys tem that has been super successful.”

Smith and Sunahara have contrib uted to the streak in two roles—first as players, and now as coaches. Smith said it’s an incredible feeling to be a part of this winning streak.

“Seeing how much this place has evolved in nine years, seeing

the fans out here tonight. It’s so great to see that my alma mater is a basketball school now. To have 100 wins is special,” Smith said.

Sunahara said as the 100th game was approaching, it put a little bit more pressure on the team, but as a staff they didn’t talk about it.

“It’s kind of just playing the next game. The next game is an important game, just having that next game mentality,” Sunahara said.

The team played its last home game of the season on March 17 securing its 105th consecutive home win.

APRIL EVENTS CALENDAR

THURSDAY 9 Crystal Gayle

8 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

FRIDAY 10 Fin Films Movie Night

6 p.m. - Carl DeSantis Building, Room 2073 Paint Like a Pro 6 p.m. - Mako Hall Multipurpose Room

Student Choreography Showcase

7:30 p.m. - Don Taft University Center, Performance Theatre American Patchwork Quartet

7:30 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

THURSDAY 2 Fin Films Lunch Watch Party 12:30 p.m. - Carl DeSantis Building, Room 2061 SATURDAY 11 Student Choreography Showcase

7:30 p.m. - Don Taft University Center, Performance Theatre MONDAY 13 Digressions Literary & Art Journal Volume 23 Launch 5 p.m. - Don Taft University Center, Gallery 217

WEDNESDAY 15 The Reel Movie Night: Wall-E 6 p.m. - Mailman-Hollywood Auditorium

THURSDAY 16 Fin Films Lunch Watch Party 12:30 p.m. - Carl DeSantis Building, Room 2061 FRIDAY 17 Celebration of Student Writing 10 a.m. - Don Taft University Center Spine

MONDAY 20 Block Party Pre-Waivers 11 a.m. - Don Taft University Center, Athletic Hall of Fame

Neon Night Pre-Waivers

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

Block Party

6 p.m. - Don Taft University Center, Shark Circle

WEDNESDAY 22 Farmer’s Market 3 p.m. - Alvin Sherman Library Walkway

THURSDAY 23 Graduate Finale & Drone Show Pre-Waivers!

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

FRIDAY 24 Graduate Finale & Drone Show Pre-Waivers!

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

Fin Films Movie Night 6 p.m. - Carl DeSantis Building, Room 2073

Graduate Finale & Drone Show! 7 p.m. - Shark Circle

Spring Music Concert

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

SUNDAY 26 Sensory-Inclusive Performance: Elephant & Piggie’s

10:30 a.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are In A Play”

1 p.m. - Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

MATH CORNER

Please send your answer (no need to send any additional scratch work or justification) to Dr. Jason Gershman, chair of the Department of Mathematics, at jgershma@nova.edu no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15. The correct answer to this question will appear in the next issue of The Current in the winter semester. All members of the NSU community are invited to submit their answer and participate. Every member of the NSU community who submits at least one answer during the 2025-2026 school year will be invited to attend a celebration in April as part of Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month.

A 1000-seat theater needs to number its seats from 1 to 1000. They hire a sign company to do this. A sign company thus needs to print all of the digits individually for each of the numbers from 1 to 1000 (endpoints included.) How many 1’s do they need to print?

Answer to the question from the last issue: 2 minutes (9:59 and 10:01)

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