Dream Act Finally Passes in New York
by Zarin Siddiqua
“DACA students’ lives should be valued. It is important that they have equal opportunities such as access to Financial Aid that will open their doors to success,” said Kayla Bannered, a Lehman Student majoring in Sociology.
Those opportunities are now closer to being realized in New York. According to the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, in June of 2019 the Democratic party was able to pass legislation to approve the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. This program aims to help undocumented youth who came to this country under the age of 18 gain legal status, education and work permits. It also promises undocumented students access to grants and scholarships that support higher education cost.
The battle for the DREAM Act has been fought for decades. According to the Immigration Council, then-president Barack Obama first proposed to protect Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients in 2010, which sought to prevent their deportation and help them get work permits. Eight years later, the Democratic party won the New York State Senate and one of its first priorities became the protection of undocumented immigrants.
Gaining a college education has always been difficult for Dreamers because they don’t get financial aid or tuition assistance programs. This means that undocumented students face many more challenges. According to the New York State Dream Act, about 8,300 DACA students attend public institutions for higher education in New York. The City University of New York (CUNY) along with Lehman College have provided an excellent support and resources for these students to thrive.
CUNY Citizenship Now provides free immigration-related consultation, assisting undocumented students with applications for citizenship and educating them about their legal rights and access to higher education. Lehman College also holds different events and sessions to educate dreamers about DACA Debrief, immigration guides and Legal Resources presentation. Lehman also stays committed to supporting the Dream Act through The Lehman Dream Team, created by undocumented students and their allies to make a safe and friendly environment for students who live in the shadows.
According to the news website Thinkprogress, assemblywoman Catalina Cruz suggests that because the approval of the Dream Act proposal took almost decade, it will take more years to be finalized. Cruz herself was undocumented when she first arrived the US, and experienced firsthand how limited resources created great struggles for her to obtain a higher education.
“I hope the Dreamers get every opportunity that they deserve just like every other student in America, because they too are American,” said Bricenia Diaz, a Lehman sophomore majoring in Psychology and minoring in Middle school and High School Education.
Some Lehman staff suggest the officialization of the Dream Act will result in more successful graduations within CUNY. “It would be nice to see a change in some demographics in the CUNY system,” said Mark Keegan, a professor of history at Lehman College. Getting access to more opportunities will allow more people to attend college and have a career.
“Shazam!” Delivers DC Its First Home Run
By Michael Omoruan
The latest installment in the DC Cinematic Universe is here and it brings out the inner kid in all of us. Though a superhero film on the surface, at its core “Shazam!” is about family and finding one when you least expect it. There are very few movies being made currently about adopted children, let alone a superhero movie. The film has just the right amount of realism in it, even with magic wielding characters.
Released on April 5, “Shazam!” tells the story of a foster kid named Billy Batson (Asher Angel) who has recently been adopted by the loving Vasquez couple. His first thought of the couple and the other children they have taken in is that they are just another family that he wants to escape. However, after befriending Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer), Batson starts to grow attached to his new home.
After fending off some bullies that start beating up Freddy, Billy tries to lose them. When he does, he soon meets an old and withered man named Shazam the Wizard (Djimon Hounsou). The wizard has been looking for so-called “champions” to take on his role for ages and believes he has found one in Batson. After much-expected hesitation and questioning, he finally succumbs to his demands when he is asked to speak his name. When he does, the power of mythological gods who make up his name, such as Achilles and Mercury are imbued in him before he becomes his adult self, played by Zachary Levi. The film’s plot is reminiscent of 1988’s “Big,” starring Tom Hanks and even makes a quick reference to it during a fight scene.
Angel as Batson plays the role of a foster kid well, especially when his character hesitates to hang out with or acknowledge the kids he meets at the Vasquez residence. When Batson becomes Shazam, Levi’s attempts to recreate or mimic Angel’s acting choices and lines are believable. He nails the comedic scenes very well, which makes sense given his background in shows like NBC’s “Chuck” and movies like Disney’s “Tangled.” It feels very much like what a kid given powers in the modern day and age would do. The serious scenes are effectively moving, such as when Freddy feels that Billy has let the powers he’s been granted go to his head.
Sandberg knocks it out of the park once again. After helming horror films like “Lights Out” (2016) and “Annabelle: Creation” (2017), “Shazam!” marks his first foray into superhero films. An increasing trend has begun that more and more well-known horror directors are being given the reigns to direct big-budget superhero films. Notable examples are James Gun’s “Guardian of the Galaxy” films, James Wan’s “Aquaman” (2018), and Scott Derrickson’s “Doctor Strange” (2016). Sandberg’s background in horror shines through in his lighting choices and use of dark imagery and cinematography when filming Mark Strong’s character, Doctor Sivana. Sivana’s powers are similar to that of Shazam’s, but also include the ability to conjure huge beasts that represent each of the seven deadly sins.
Once offered the same abilities as Batson by Shazam the Wizard, Sivana was unable to resist the temptation of stone gargoyle-looking creatures and is cast out. Sivana grows up to become obsessed with returning to the Wizard, interviewing potential champions to find out how to return to him. After returning to him, he embraces his role as a villain and starts exacting revenge on those who mocked him. The film touches on the theme of embracing family through Billy’s journey to find his biological parents. The acting chops of the main cast and the screenplay, written by Henry Gayden, are executed near perfectly.
Shah Mazhar, a mathematics major at Queens College, said, “I felt like a kid watching it and it was super comic accurate.” Daniel Encarnacion, a computer science major at Lehman, said, “I really enjoyed it. I thought it was well rounded, lighthearted, and funny but also had some deeper moments as well. Honestly it was the best movie DC has done. In my opinion, it was better than Captain Marvel because Zachary Levi was able to be a more endearing character.
Grossing $125 million domestically and over $200 million in foreign box offices, it comes as no surprise that audiences everywhere are falling in love with this film. If you dig superhero films or are just a sucker for heartfelt family films, check this one out at your local theater.
The cast and crew of Shazam at Wondercon: (L to R) Stars Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, and director David F. Sandberg. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Reel Abilities Festival Celebrates Diverse Capabilities
by Nelson N. Fernandez
As a tribute to Disability Awareness Month, the Student Disability Services Department at Lehman College hosted the seventh annual ReelAbilities Film Festival, on April 3 and 4. The festival included four feature-length and seven short films that inspired nearly 200 viewers in attendance to change their perspectives toward people with disabilities. Each screening was followed by brief discussions with the filmmakers.
The feature documentary, “America,” focused on an elderly woman with dementia named “America” as her grandsons struggle with the challenge of caring for her. impressed Sebastian, an audience member who also helped with setting up the event at Lehman College, he stated that they have “never seen such a film where we see through the point of view of the caregiver.”
Shorter films such as “Shakespeare in Tokyo” and “JMAXX and The Universal Language” were also screened. These films touched on other illnesses such as down syndrome and autism. Sebastian thought the shorts were “heart-warming and entertaining.”
Another audience member, Joe Ottenthal, an elementary school teacher in the Bronx, said he was “happy to have found and attended [the festival] for the first time. The shorts were outstanding” and that “bringing visibility to people and students with disabilities and special needs is an effort that is near to my heart.”
Merrill Parra, Director of Student Disability Services and the developer of the festival at Lehman, stated that “the festival embodies the mission of Lehman College, as a cultural center for the Bronx, and its values of inclusion and diversity.”
Shakespeare in Tokyo (2018)
Jmaxx and the Universal Language (2017)
America (2019)
In “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” Poor Writing Tarnishes a Captivating Plot
By Teresa Fanzo
On October 26, 2018 Netflix introduced a new original series, “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”. The show has received an 82% from Rotten Tomatoes, a website that averages critical ratings. Some viewers, however, felt this high score was undeserved, largely because the first two seasons feel like different entities. Season 1 was very good in comparison to Season 2: the plot was not all over the place and people enjoyed watching it and were excited for more. Sadly, season 2 is a let-down. The show has interesting plot lines, but this is lost on audiences because of the poor dialogue and in some cases bad acting.
Dramatic scenes that should be moving are often perceived as cringey because of corny delivery. The show has fallen victim to the constant use of full names as a tool to express importance; however, this is done so often throughout the show that it has lost its power and effectiveness. This overuse extends to two episode titles: “The Passion of Sabrina Spellman” and “The Miracles of Sabrina Spellman”. This could have been very clever, but the two episodes are not a part 1 and part 2, just random episodes unrelated to one another. This ultimately takes away from the scene as the overuse of full names is downright annoying.
In a dramatic scene, Sabrina finds out that she is the daughter of Satan. This was a shocking revelation that could have been a very emotional moment. However, when Lucifer tells her ,“You will blow the horns of Gabriel for me...You will wear the crown, you will sit on the throne...”, she responds, “Sorry, but I have school.” The quirky line does not land well and robs audiences of that intense reaction. It seemed eerily similar to Peter Parker and Tony Stark’s interaction in “Captain America: Civil War”, when Tony asks Peter to go to Germany with the Avengers and Peter responds, “I can’t go to Germany, I have homework!” There, it works because the scene was comedic and silly one liners are expected from those characters. When Sabrina responded that way, it did not seem like her: she has never made school a big priority and is not a very funny character.
Madison Morales, a sophomore studying Social Work, said, “Lucifer starts laughing and I did too, but rather than laughing with the character as the showrunner’s intended, I laughed at the absurdity of the statement.”
Overall, as a follow up to the first season which was beloved, the second season feels very disconnected. It relies on shock value with many scenes that seem to be filler for the one event they were leading to, and whole episodes that feel like the finale because of how dramatic and “twisty” they are. While it had the potential to be great and continue in the same fashion as season one, season 2 lacks cohesion, which results in a messy plot and an unsatisfying viewing experience.
Beyoncé’s “Homecoming” Brings #Beychella to Netflix
Beyonce’s “Homecoming” is a celebration of historically black colleges and universities.
By Mayte Peña
Highly anticipated by fans and critics alike, Beyoncé’s performance in Netflix’s “Homecoming” is a celebration of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Premiering April 17th on Netflix, the concert film highlights Beyoncé and her performance at the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
Beyoncé explains in her documentary that when she decided to do Coachella, it was important to her that she bring her community to the music festival. From dancers, backup singers, and the band itself, the whole crew was transformed to resemble a student body. In “Homecoming”, Beyoncé features a new sorority, Beta Delta Kappa (BAK). She proudly wears the sorority letters on her custom-designed yellow hoodie.
The star grew up in Texas and always dreamed of going to an HBCU. Despite her original plans, My college was Destiny's Child,” she says within the film. She expresses satisfaction with what she’s been able to accomplish, given her humble beginnings: “It’s hard to believe that, after all these years, I was the first African American woman to headline Coachella.”
The documentary emphasizes how hard Beyoncé worked to bring an amazing performance to Coachella, which was her big return to the stage. We all know that Beyoncé can pull off a great show, but she explains how her first-time back home was not easy. The documentary shows how the singer struggled with her body during her first rehearsals after giving birth. She explains, “I wasn’t feeling myself”.
After giving birth to her twins, Rumi and Sir Carter, her body was not the same, and she struggled with high blood pressure and toxemia. The latter is a condition in pregnancy, also known as preeclampsia, characterized by abrupt hypertension a sharp rise in blood pressure, albuminuria leakage of large amounts of the protein albumin into the urine and edema swelling of the hands, feet, and face. According to google.
But after all her hard work, her two-hour Coachella performance was no exception to her amazing performance record. Hit songs like “Crazy Love” Freedom” Formation” among others had fans and the whole Coachella audience on their feet, dancing and enjoying the performance.
For the last set, she brought to the stage her two best friends and ex-members from the girl group Destiny’s Child: Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland. For one night the girl group reunited for a couple of songs with famous hits like “Lose My Breath”, “Say My Name”, and “Soldier”. Old fans of Beyoncé and the group were shocked by the unexpected reunion and welcomed the trip down memory lane.
“I enjoyed the performance.” said Liselotte Fana, 22, a dance major at Queens College who currently works as a dance instructor at Planet Fitness. “It was about everyone on stage and that made it a very wonderful performance.”
Fana’s favorite part of the film was Beyoncé explaining the process of coming up with the playlist, choreography, and visuals to portray message she wanted to give to the audience. She said, “since I choreograph myself, I got inspired to make my own version of the choreos.”
"Avengers: Endgame" is the Brilliant Send-off Fans Deserve
By Zoe Fanzo
“Avengers: Endgame” broke numerous box office records, making an astounding global $1.2 billion in its opening weekend. It is now the second highest grossing film in history, having surpassed James Cameron’s “Titanic.”
In 2008, Marvel Comics risked everything by launching their film studio’s cinematic universe. After selling off many of their famous character properties, such as the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, Marvel Studios was left with only a handful of characters to work with. Robert Downey Jr., who some considered to be a liability based on his troubled personal life and past addictions, introduced the world to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with his portrayal of Tony Stark in 2008’s “Iron Man.” This was a risk that ultimately paid off for the studio, and now, after 11 years and 22 movies, the acclaimed Infinity Saga has drawn to a close with “Avengers: Endgame.” The film marks the conclusion for many of the franchise’s characters and storylines, closing out the first three phases of the MCU with emotional maturity and sincerity.
“Avengers: Endgame” picks up in the immediate aftermath of 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War,” which featured a shocking cliffhanger where antagonist Thanos successfully used the six Infinity Stones to wipe out half of the universe’s population with the snap of his fingers. At the start of the film, the team assembles to strike back at Thanos with urgency, but when they arrive to his sanctuary planet, they find him half crippled and without any of the stones. Enraged, Thor decapitates Thanos, the team returns to Earth, and the film then jumps ahead five years into the future. The time jump is bleak, and it sets the dark tone of the film with shocking precision.
A new hope comes to the team when Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man, portrayed hilariously by Paul Rudd, shows up at the Avengers Compound. For the last five years, he had been trapped in the quantum realm, a version of the universe on a subatomic scale. Tony Stark, the smartest mind on the team, is initially hesitant to help them harness quantum time travel, but the memory of his former friend and mentee, Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, finally prompts him to develop a stable method.
Using the technology Tony developed, the team devises a plan to visit moments in which their past selves encountered the various stones. The time heist sequence revisits scenes from past films in the MCU, ultimately serving as a functional plot device while also paying homage to the last decade of movies. The sequence is very satisfying for fans who have invested years into memorizing the many plot lines, characters, and intricacies of the MCU. When they return to their present timeline with the six stones, chaos ensues.
After the team regains their bearings, the compound is suddenly attacked by a massive alien army. The Avengers seem vastly outnumbered and out of their depth, until through a deft plot twist a massive army of the previously fallen heroes appears on the battlefield, ready to do whatever it takes.
The ensuing action sequence is perhaps the highlight of the film, as it is the culmination of the entire franchise. The imagery evokes the same beautiful and chaotic energy as a full-page comic illustration, with all of the many MCU heroes together for the first time, charging at Thanos and his army. The sequence features many satisfying moments for fans, with Captain America wielding Thor’s hammer, a heart-wrenching reunion between Iron Man and Spider-Man, and the iconic battle cry which fans have waited years to hear uttered on screen, “avengers assemble.”
The climax of the battle comes as Tony Stark realizes what he has to do to defeat Thanos. In a moment which feels full-circle and gratifying, the once egotistical Tony Stark wields the stones on his metal glove with purely sacrificial intentions and he declares the famous last words of the film which kicked off the franchise, “I am Iron Man.” With that, he dusts Thanos and his army, thus sacrificing his life for the greater good. As he fades into death, he is surrounded by the people he loves, and he is finally able to rest knowing that they are safe.
“Avengers: Endgame” is a tragic yet gratifying send-off for the character of Iron Man, and for the first three phases of films. Once self-obsessed and unwilling to work with others, Tony’s growth over the course of the films has felt natural and tangible. Tony Stark fades away with the knowledge that Thanos will never again pose a threat to his reality; his team, his wife and daughter, the world he has fought to protect for so long has been made safer with this ultimate sacrifice.
This is an end which is admittedly difficult to watch for fans who have loved and grown with Tony, yet it is a moment that feels completely necessary and earned. It is difficult to imagine an ending which could offer greater finality to this world of heroes, and fans will surely remember the Infinity Saga as one of the greatest cinematic epics of this generation.
Bronx Bodegas Cater to Potentially Harmful Hookah Habit
Bodegas throughout the Bronx sell hookah products, which can have harmful health effects. Photo credit: Getty Images
By Barbara Sam
The new social trend of smoking hookahs, or water pipes containing tobacco, is making teens and young adults especially vulnerable to health risks. Hookah and e-cigarettes are not traditional cigarettes, but they also contain the highly addictive substance known as nicotine. A recent study published in the American Heart Association’s Journal states that smoking tobacco in water pipes results means inhaling toxic chemicals that may harm the heart, at levels that exceed traditional cigarette smoke.
Smoking already endangers teens in particular. A recent study reported that one in every five high school students uses e-cigarettes, a habit heavily encouraged by flavored tobacco marketing, social media promotion and misperceptions regarding its addictive potential and health effects.
Teens and young adults are more prone to becoming addicted to nicotine from excessive smoking through the use of hookah and e-cigarettes. The National Academy of Medicine study found that increasing the age that one can purchase tobacco to 21 results in less smoking. For years, tobacco companies have created advertising campaigns targeted towards teens and young According to a 2014 Cigarette report by the Federal Trade Commission the tobacco industry spent $9.1 billion on marketing for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products.
Today, tobacco has been camouflaged with flavor, which causes more people to be less concerned with the idea that they are smoking non-traditional cigarettes. There are many misconceptions about the addictive potential and potential adverse health effects of the use of flavored of tobacco. the Center for Disease Control 2017 survey concluded, 19.3% of New York high school youth reported they used tobacco product, including e-cigarettes. Among New York high school youth, 5.5% reported to smoking cigarettes.
The popularity of water pipes has also increased demand for hookahs, which are available along with an assortment of flavored vapes and electronic cigarettes at local bodegas in the Bronx. In Kingsbridge bodegas, just blocks away from the Lehman College Campus, there is a lot of foot traffic,. Many customers are shopping not for candy but instead for hookahs and accessories as well as cigarettes. Several stores in the neighborhood contain display cases filled with flavored vapor cartridges, smoking accessories and full hookah bowls.
Millie Anaya, a Bronx Resident, came to a bodega on Fordham Road to buy blueberry flavored tobacco to smoke hookah at home. “They have what I need here, and it’s closer to my house. Its convenient, I get off the train, I buy and then go home.” Anaya added that although she smokes and enjoys hookah with flavored tobacco, either alone or with friends, she does not smoke cigarettes.
Minutes later another young woman and student at Mercy College came into the same store to buy charcoal for her hookah bowl. Within 20 minutes of standing inside the store more than one third of the customers came into the store solely to buy a tobacco related product.
Financial Planning Helps Students Avoid Pitfalls
2019 Costs of Attendance | CUNY Lehman College.” College Tuition Compare, www.collegetuitioncompare.com/edu/190637/cuny-lehman-college/tuition/.
by Nelson Fernandez
College is a great investment, but students may undergo financial stress. Before and throughout their college career, students should have a budget plan. Undergraduates of Lehman College face an average annual tuition of $7,210 for New York State residents, and $14,880 on average for out-of-state students.
Students have the option to either request a loan or apply for financial aid through FAFSA if they are eligible. Before making that choice, students discuss with their parents or guardian which option is best for them.
Students may have to work part time in order to afford public transportation and food on campus, and to budget the time to study and complete assignments for classes. Creating a schedule in advance can help students manage these demands, as can a financial budget.
When enrolling in courses for the following semester, students should calculate the costs for each class, including food and round-trip transportation costs. Some students suggest using budget apps to help. “I have a better idea of how I spend my money now that I have this app called Mint which helps me budget,” said Davidia Boykins, a Lehman English major minoring in Biology. “Also, it shows me where I should cut down on spending money.”
According to Lauren Schwahn in NerdWallet, students “don’t have to go through a grueling process, like filling out a spreadsheet every day; you’ll have enough homework. Just set aside some time at least once a month to review your money situation. Budgeting apps and online banking can help make the process more manageable,” (2019).
Still, managing costs can be a struggle for students. Zarin Siddiqua, an English major minoring in education, comes to Lehman all the way from Queens. She explained: “I struggle with food. I’m always buying food because I come all the way from Queens, and I must leave my house early in order to get to school. Sometimes, I will meal prep overnight but that’s only if I’m able to get home from work before 12 in the night and I’m not tired.”
Textbooks can be quite expensive too, especially for science and math courses. Renting out textbooks from the college’s bookstore or from Amazon and Chegg can help save some cash.
Students who apply for FASFA may receive a refund check mid-semester; it is highly recommended that they save it in a bank account. A student bank account includes benefits such as discounts on clothes and accessories via CUNY e-mail.
Steven Roa, a Lehman English major, receives financial assistance and stated, “I save the refund I receive in my savings for future emergencies and for my aspirations. Sometimes I spend money on food. And other times I spend on needs, such as a bike.”
Lehman Professor Fired After NYPD Charges Him with Arson, Trespassing
Marc Lamparello. Photo credit: Lehman College
by Felicha C. Stevens
A part-time Lehman College philosophy professor was charged with attempted arson, trespassing and reckless endangerment at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, two days after an electrical fire destroyed much of the 800-year-old Notre Dame’s Cathedral in Paris on April, 15, 2019.
Marc Lamparello, a 37-year-old Hasbrouck Heights N.J. resident, taught online classes as an adjunct lecturer at both the Lehman College and Brooklyn College philosophy departments. On April 17, 2019 Lamparello was arrested on Fifth Avenue and 50th Street near the Cathedral, while carrying four gallons of gas, two bottles of lighter fluid and a plastic bag.
A security guard who works at the church spotted Lamparello as he entered the church with the items in his hands. During his questioning, he alleged the Cathedral was a shortcut to his car parked on Madison Avenue, which needed gas. But after searching his vehicle, the police found his car tank was full, debunking his alibi. Two days before Lamparello’s arrest at Saint Patrick’s cathedral, he was also apprehended at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey for not adhering to their closing-time schedule.
Since being charged, Lamparello has undergone a psychiatric evaluation at Bellevue Hospital and has since been fired from both Lehman College and Brooklyn College.
“It’s really weird because he was a philosophy professor, what were his ideas when he was doing that?” said Lehman sophomore Gianna Gonzalez, a 19-year old Film and Tv Studies major. “That’s a danger to us, as students because he’s in the same campus as us. And what example is he giving his students?”
“I was very surprised when I found out he was a Lehman professor,” said Lehman junior Breny Zunaga, a 25-year old Dietary major, and Manhattan resident. “Actually, it’s not that surprising now days because there are a lot of crazy people in the streets.” He heard the news through an email sent by Lehman College Vice President Jose Magdaleno, which stated that since Lamparello was a professor on campus they were going to find another professor to substitute his class because there were still students taking that class,” Zunaga added.
Shortly after this incident, three predominantly African American Baptist churches were burned down in Louisiana as hate crimes within 10 days of each other. Holden Matthews, 21, son of a local sheriff, was charged with these hate crimes.
“I don’t understand why hate crimes are done,” Gonzalez commented. “I think people should respect others for who they are, if you don’t like them because of that then don’t talk to them.”
“I’m a Christian and we believe that’s not right. We should care for each other instead of hating each other,” said Zunaga. “It doesn’t matter what religion we practice, we are all human beings, and we deserve to be treated with respect and love.”
In the wake of these crimes, New York City’s temples, churches, and cathedrals have been under high supervision by the NYPD to detect nearby suspicious activity.
Sarah Ramsey, a spokesperson for Lehman, said the school is aware of what happened at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and is “taking appropriate steps to terminate the individual's employment with the college.”
CUNY Has a New Latino Chancellor
By Sally Barrilla
On May 1st, 2019, Dr. Matos Rodriguez became CUNY’s first Latino chancellor.
Rodriguez, who is Puerto Rican and a former president of Hostos Community and Queens Colleges, was approved without opposition by CUNY’s fourteen-member board of trustees, students, and faculty.
Several Lehman students and faculty reacted positively to his appointment and wondered what changes he will bring to CUNY.
“I believe it’s wonderful for CUNY to appoint its first chancellor of color,” said Dr. Melissa Castillo Planas, an assistant professor of English at Lehman College. “My greatest hope is that this election brings a more effective leadership that rethinks and questions the culture at Lehman College that is largely ignoring its responsibilities as a Hispanic Serving Institution in terms of curriculum, advising and faculty hiring,” she added. “Also, I would love to see diversity movements that reverberate all throughout CUNY, especially Lehman.”
Lehman student Otto Conde also expressed excitement. “Color is a huge deal in the country; I think the impact depends on the town or borough the chancellor decides to focus on. Whatever area he chooses will help people of color to increase their experience and chances of finding work and economic stability in no time without a waitlist.”
Rodriguez has a master’s degree from Yale and a PhD from Columbia University, and is board chairman of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. that aims to increase the enrollment of Hispanic students in higher education.
During his five and six-year presidencies of Queens and Hostos Community Colleges, his work was recognized to have transformed both communities for both students and faculty. He is also well known for expanding the minority students’ retention rate at both institutions which granted him several awards. Also, his commitment in reconstructing the way minority students view CUNY as a community increased his reputation, but it also ensured CUNY is helping students create achievements.
According to QNS, Rodriguez said, “I am deeply grateful and tremendously excited to lead the nation’s foremost urban public university, particularly at this time when our mission and commitment to excellent public higher education has never been more vital. This is an extraordinary opportunity for anyone who is passionate about the role CUNY plays in the lifeblood of the city, anyone who is deeply committed to opening the doors of educational excellence and economic and social mobility to all the people of New York,” said Rodriguez.