November 2019 News Lehman Meridian November 2019 News Lehman Meridian

Lehman Students Angered by Reversal of LGTBQ Rights

The Trump Administration will strip away nondiscrimination requirements. (Photo Credit: Evan Vucci)

The Trump Administration will strip away nondiscrimination requirements. (Photo Credit: Evan Vucci)

By: Jaquira Truesdale 

On Nov. 22, the White House will strip away nondiscrimination requirements for LGBTQ citizens, and Lehman students are outraged.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, the legal change will allow the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grant recipients and foster agencies the right to discriminate against LGBTQ citizens. The change comes despite protests from thousands of protesters who surrounded the United States Supreme Court in Washington D.C. to defend the rights of one transgender individual and two gay men who were fired due to their sexual preferences.

Many Lehman students who identify as LGBTQ members have been victims of discrimination and feel outraged by the reversal of legal protection.

Davaughn M. Riley, 23-year-old senior at Lehman and president of the LGBTQ Alliance who defines himself as a homosexual man told the Meridian, “I think what 45th President Donald Trump is doing is disgusting. He is revising all the work that has been done in our community by us and allies. It’s as if we’re seen as second-class citizens because of how we identify.” 

Growing up, Riley dealt with a fair share of discrimination from men who questioned his manhood, seeing him as less than, never considering him “one of the boys” and condemning his sexual orientation.

“Normal things like housing, healthcare, marriage or being able to walk down the street holding our partner’s hands are the rights we deserve,” he said. “The fact that this can be robbed from us is disheartening. The only thing being reinforced is toxicity and malicious behavior.” 

In New York and other states, laws protect people against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. According to nyc.gov, anyone experiencing discrimination at work, in housing issues, in public or anywhere else can file a complaint by phone or online.

About 46 percent of the LGBTQ community live in states where discrimination is protected, according to the Movement Advancement Project. Six percent live with little to no defense in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Dakota, while 28 states do not offer LGBTQ people any legal protections against discrimination. On the federal level, LGBTQ Americans are not protected in every corporation and were not protected under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

In New York, there are still people that get discriminated against based on their sexuality who might be afraid to come forward and file a complaint.

Riley told the Meridian he was judged at his own workplace due to his sexuality. “When it comes to lifting and moving things, my coworker thought that because I was gay, I was made of glass and would break if I moved something heavy,” he said. 

Other Lehmanites who support the LGBTQ community also feel frustrated with the laws and believe their rights should be legalized.

“It makes me concerned for society, really, that people still cannot fully accept each other based on sexual preference,” said K’nicia King, a 25-year-old Mercy College graduate and bisexual woman who said she has never been discriminated against based on her sexual orientation. “It makes no sense that people are still treating their colleagues and coworkers as outsiders when their lives are basically their own business.” 

We should all be able to love who we want to love.
— Patricia Rodriguez, 19, a Lehman sophomore majoring in biology.

“I feel like it’s unfair. Why am I a citizen of this state and yet my rights can’t be upheld because I choose to like the same gender? It’s dumb,” said Britny Toussaint, 21, a junior psychology major who identifies herself as pansexual. “I have never experienced sexual orientation discrimination, but it frustrates me to know the LGBTQ community is constantly judged for who they are.”

“It’s horrible that that even happens at the workplace. It’s 2019 and the fact that the world can’t even accept others is very sad,” said Patricia Rodriguez, 19, a Lehman sophomore majoring in biology. “I support the LGBTQ community with open arms. Love is love, right? We should all be able to love who we want to love,” she said.  

The LGBTQ Pride Flag at the Lehman campus (Photo Credit: Perla Tolentino)

The LGBTQ Pride Flag at the Lehman campus (Photo Credit: Perla Tolentino)

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Indigenous Communities Fight to Ban Columbus Day

Indigenous People’s Day at Randall’s Island (Photo Credit: Jeremy Dennis)

Indigenous People’s Day at Randall’s Island (Photo Credit: Jeremy Dennis)

By July Torres

Lehman students stand with efforts to remove Columbus Day as a federal holiday.

“What Europeans did to Native Americans shouldn’t be celebrated,” said Jocelyn Rodriguez, a Lehman freshman majoring in social work. “I mean, there were people there already, so he didn’t discover anything. He was simply lost.”

“A bunch of people were enslaved and killed, and we celebrate a day in honor of him discovering the land. Celebrating a holiday that has a murderer isn’t right,” said Gianna Gonzalez, a junior film and television studies major. “While changing it isn’t going to bring them back, it is a way to remember what happened in the past.”

The state of New York still recognizes Columbus Day despite years of critique and recent protests at Randall’s Island where New Yorkers gathered this October to celebrate indigenous people from around the world. Attendees celebrated by appreciating Native American culture, such as traditional wear, music and food. Mayor Bill De Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo, however, attended Manhattan's Columbus Day Parade instead.

The founder of the Indigenous Peoples Day event in New York City, Cliff Matias, told the New York Times he is not surprised politicians did not show up. He expressed his excitement seeing indigenous people and allies gathered.

“This isn’t a day about protesting Columbus, it’s about celebrating indigenous people,” Matias said. “But look around. There’s an eclectic mix of people here. Indigenous. Black people. Anglos. Allies from around the world. That makes it special.”

States can choose not to observe federal holidays, and CBS News reported that as of 2019, 13 states recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day over Columbus Day, including Maine, Michigan, Alaska and South Dakota, the first state to recognize it in 1990.

As the movement for indigenous recognition continues to grow, Indian Country Today, a digital indigenous news site, compiled a list of several places in America that were holding events in support of native peoples. New York, Delaware, and Washington D.C., all held events

On Oct. 14, Lakota/Mohawk journalist Corinne Oestreich-Rice took over the Twitter account of AJ+. “Although Native Americans have discussed Indigenous Peoples’ Day since the 1970s, the movement gained popularity when Bay Area Natives pushed back on a planned reenactment of Columbus’ arrival,” she wrote. “After this, other cities in America followed suit to highlight that Native Americans are still here, and refuse to celebrate a murderer.”

Oestreich-Rice said, “As Indigenous people of an occupied land, they expect and demand the recognition and respect of those who occupy it. The Natives are also standing up and demanding an end to the trend of Native mascots.”

The Natives were here first. They should be recognized.
— John Perez, a Lehman junior majoring in English.

Native American groups believe that Columbus’ arrival ushered in genocide and that Columbus Day celebrates 500 years of colonial oppression, according to ThoughtCo. However, contrary to popular belief, in places like the Caribbean, indigenous people did not become extinct.

The leader of the Taíno Indigenous, Jorge Baracutei Estevez, told National Geographic that the population did decrease. “The Taíno were declared extinct shortly after 1565 when a census shows just 200 Indians living on Hispaniola, today the Dominican Republic and Haiti.” He claims that Taíno still exist because he believes that many of them ran into the mountains.

Deb Haaland, one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress, told NBC News, “Indigenous Peoples' Day is about acknowledging indigenous peoples' complex history in this country and celebrating the culture, heritage and strength of native communities everywhere.” As for Columbus Day, Haaland believes that, “Celebrating Columbus Day continues a dangerous narrative that erases Native American voices and minimizes the federal government’s attempt at genocide and forced assimilation.”

John Perez, a junior majoring in English, told the Meridian, “The Natives were here first. They should be recognized. Why not? This land belongs to them. We should celebrate their history and their culture.”

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Kingsbridge Nail Salon Offer Spa Experience Never Seen in the Neighborhood

Walls were uniquely designed with brush paint-drips, inspired in the name of the business. (Photo credit: Perla Tolentino)

Walls were uniquely designed with brush paint-drips, inspired in the name of the business. (Photo credit: Perla Tolentino)

By Allen Mena & Perla Tolentino

“Their design called my attention as I was passing by. It looks different than anything I've seen in this neighborhood,” said Johana Brea, a Bronx resident who works in Carman Hall, of Nail Drip, a Dominican family-owned nail salon that opened about three months ago on Kingsbridge Road. “It looks high-class, not something common around here; it’s interesting to see new things are coming to the Bronx,” she added. 

Located on 61 East Kingsbridge Road, within Lehman’s vicinity, the salon offers spa-like services and an aesthetic room for waxing and other eyebrow embellishment services.

“This nail salon creates more jobs for young people in the area and the salon inspires young people to open up their own businesses,” said the salon’s owner and Bronx resident, Damaris Marcelino. “I believe that through effort and work everything is possible, even running a business like ours. I always think about the future in difficult moments.”

Lehman students also think highly of this new salon’s offerings.

 Natalie Ramos, a 20-year-old Lehman psychology major who is also a fan of nail art said, “It’s different, fancy and pampering; they seem more clean, trustworthy and dedicated to their clients.”

“In my opinion this is wonderful: a new nail-spa that is innovative and implements new techniques that we have never experienced here in our neighborhood, said Diana Hernandez, 37, a sociology major and Lehman sophomore. “This is a refreshing new start for a business.”

“I find it very nice to see this kind of concept in the Bronx. I enjoy this new surge in customer service; especially because people think negatively about Bronxites. This shows that we can get quality service without having to go to Manhattan,” said Unequa Figueroa, a 26-year-old philosophy major and Lehman senior.

Beyond design and hard work, product quality also forms part of the salon’s mission.

“Our wax soothes the skin, preventing irritation, and it’s such a soft product that it peels-off itself. We can take it off with our hands. This makes us unique because not many places use it,” said Cristal Pena, wife of the owner and co-manager of the salon. “Our spa pedicure gel is made out of fruits and flower petals that help reduce foot odor and sweat.”

 “I have been working with very high-end esthetics businesses since 2011, and what I really like about Nail Drip is that it feels like family. We are trying to bring high-end services to an area where people don’t visualize it as possible,” said Chrisal Martinez, 26, who works as the salon’s cosmetology specialist in charge of body waxing, keratin lash boosting and lifting, and eyebrow shaping.

Wine offered to clients is one of the “spa-like” aspects of the salon; the wooden sliding-door in thebackground leads to the esthetics room. Damaris Marcelino, mother of the owner, handing wine to the client. (Photo Credit: Hector Bello)

Wine offered to clients is one of the “spa-like” aspects of the salon; the wooden sliding-door in thebackground leads to the esthetics room. Damaris Marcelino, mother of the owner, handing wine to the client. (Photo Credit: Hector Bello)

Martinez, who holds a New York State cosmetology license, confirmed that facial services will be offered in 2020. The salon also plans to be the first in the area to digitize their services.

“We are preparing to make a difference in the nail salon industry,” explained Joel Marcelino, a digital design graduate of Westchester College and the younger son in the family who oversees the salon’s marketing. “We plan to launch an interactive website where customers can try on nail polishes and designs. When the customer makes a selection, their color choice will be sent to a technician who will assist them based on their needs.”

 “I gave up a franchise to come help my family with the business. We want to bring relaxation to the community and drive off the attention from crimes and alcoholism. I dream to teach the importance of the economy to young people, to help them understand that a nine to five job won’t always be the dream career.”

Andrea Valles, a 30-year-old employee, complimented the store’s cleanliness and perks. “Hygiene is key here; this is one of the most comfortable places I’ve worked in. The service is excellent. We always offer our customers coffee, wine, water, and the best part is that it doesn’t come from your budget.”

Shanae Casson, a 35-year-old Bronx resident, agreed. “I’ve been to all nail places in the neighborhood, but most are dirty and the staff is rude. At Nail Drip they always welcome me with a smile, and talk to me while doing my nails instead of rushing me out. I’m always served coffee, wine, juice or water. Their work is great and the prices all wonderful. I would always come here.”

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Jerome Park Reservoir Renovation Raises Concerns about Access

Lehman’s faculty parking lot, located on the east side of the South Basin of the reservoir. (Photo Credit: Lysa Vanible)

Lehman’s faculty parking lot, located on the east side of the South Basin of the reservoir. (Photo Credit: Lysa Vanible)

by Lysa Vanible

Jerome Park Reservoir has been under construction for close to two decades, making the presence of huge bulldozers, Ford F250 vehicles, and workers equipped in orange safety vests routine for area residents. Managed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the 15-million-dollar rehabilitation includes gatehouses, installation of new, lower fencing, and upgraded security infrastructure and is scheduled to continue through 2021. But some contend that the upgrade of this historic site does not guarantee free access to the reservoir’s amenities by locals. 

The reservoir can hold up to 773 million gallons of water and supplies 10 percent of New York City’s water supply, according to the DEP’s website. The newly renovated Croton Branch aqueduct discharges into its southern end through two brick-lined aqueducts forming a horseshoe shape, a fitting reminder that the site originally housed the Jerome Park Racetrack where the Triple Crown was run.

Professor Hari Pant, chair of Lehman’s environmental science department, explained the importance of reservoirs is due to the scarcity of freshwater.

 “Only a small fraction of the earth’s water is freshwater; 97.4 percent is salt-water, 2.6 percent is freshwater. Out of 2.6 percent of freshwater, about 1.98percent is in the ice and snow, such as ice sheets and glaciers, among the other 0.59 percent in the groundwater, which leave a tiny fraction of the freshwater in lakes, rivers and the atmosphere.” Reservoirs, he added, “are a small part of the water supply system in the world. The Western part of the United States is much drier compared to the Eastern part of the United States, hence there are more viable freshwater sources here.”

Professor Yuri Gorokhovic, an instructor in the environmental science department at Lehman until 2000, was employed by DEP for nine years as a manager of Geographic Information Systems in the Division of Water Quality and Control.

“The Bronx Jerome Park Reservoir is filtered at the Van Cortlandt filtration plant to remove solids like sand and mud,” he explained. “The other kind of filtration is called microfiltration, which is a process when the water is filtered to strip the suspended solids from bacteria. The job of the DEP is to keep the water clean for all residents of the Bronx.”

Air Force veteran and resident, Edward Sliva, 88, said “I’ve lived here for 30 years with my three sons and wife. The construction has been going on since my grandson went to DeWitt Clinton High School and after he graduated from four years of Lehman College.”

Others expressed concerns about access.

Lehman freshman Casselina McCord, 18, said, “as a resident of the Bronx, I have concerns about the access for the community to the reservoir’s resources to learn from this basin, so that the people would know more about what it is and how the process works. I am enrolled in an environmental science course, and it’s really about the people who have the power to do something; the people of the Bronx.”

Lehman environmental science major and international transfer student Dabibe Bardgoi, 26, said, “I am an environmental science activist; I want to protect the earth against climate change. The construction is good for the area. It won’t be good for consumption if the reservoir isn’t protected. We have to be careful of pollution.”

Pant warned: “If we don’t pay attention in protecting our freshwater sources, the world may face severe shortages of it, soon in the future.”

Reservoir Avenue view at the South Basin (Photo Credit: Lysa Vanible)

Reservoir Avenue view at the South Basin (Photo Credit: Lysa Vanible)

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'Joker' Gives a Chilling Portrayal of Mental Illness

Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Joker’ (Photo Credit: Warner Bros. )

Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Joker’ (Photo Credit: Warner Bros. )

By Keisha Paul

A gripping psychological thriller, “Joker” is a must-see for the uninitiated, as much as for DC fans who will appreciate the effort put into the eccentric portrayal of the Joker as a known villain in the DC universe. Other fans may find the portrayal of psychological imbalance intriguing, and possibly relatable.

The film was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Films, and Joint Effort. It was written by Todd Phillips, known for “Old School” and “The Hangover;” and Scott Silver, known for “8 Mile” and “The Fighter.” The iconic movie is on track to become one of the most profitable superhero movies in history, according to Variety. It surpassed gross estimates of approximately $90 million during its opening weekend in North America on Oct. 4, later becoming the seventh highest-grossing film of 2019 with a total of $849.1 million recorded worldwide.

Through the main character, Arthur Fleck, it explores the circumstances and living conditions of the Joker who would someday become Batman’s most well-known nemesis. Set in Gotham City in 1981, the film grants audiences a glimpse into how traumatic life events can cause and worsen mental illness. A failed stand-up comedian, Fleck lives with his aged mother in poverty in a high-crime area. He also suffers from an uncontrollable nervous system disorder that causes him to laugh during inappropriate situations. Despite his troubles, he continues to write jokes, take care of his mother and see a therapist to try to overcome his issues.

However, multiple incidents make him bitter and angry, bringing him to his breaking point. At the beginning of the movie, he is attacked by a group of kids while advertising for an entertainment company. The kids steal his sign and beat him with it. When his boss scolds him for not returning the sign and abandoning his shift, he tries to explain what happened but to no avail. His boss demands that he either gives the sign back or pay for it out of his paycheck.

On his way home, Fleck witnesses three guys harassing a woman on the train. He tries to ignore it, but due to his disorder, he laughs uncontrollably. Subsequently, the men turn their attention towards him and beat him violently. In what is considered the key turning point of the film, Fleck commits his first offense and feels liberated because of it.

Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Joker’ (Photo Credit: Warner Bros. )

Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Joker’ (Photo Credit: Warner Bros. )

Fleck’s transformation is a thrilling experience to watch as his suppressed feelings of wanting to retaliate towards his offenders are finally released. In this eerie scene, the music and Fleck’s dancing show the dark path Fleck has descended upon.

Understanding the Joker and his motives is difficult when there are no known reasons for his behavior. The film gives us the background story that we’ve all been missing, and seeing it in the theater makes the experience more exciting with the amplified sound system. Throughout the plot, the music paired with the Joker’s unique dance routine plays a key role in the tone of the movie.

What stands out the most is the effort put into Fleck’s physical appearance. He was really skinny, which shows that not only was he physically deprived because of his poor economic status, but he was also emotionally deprived of healthy relationships throughout his life. Arthur’s mental disorder and reliance on social services and medication are issues that many impoverished people face today. Overall, the movie is worth seeing as viewers finally understand how Arthur Fleck becomes the Joker.

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Suffering in Silence: Uyghur Muslims Kept in Concentration Camps by China

A protest outside the Chinese Embassy in London. (Photo Credit: Karl Nesh)

A protest outside the Chinese Embassy in London. (Photo Credit: Karl Nesh)

By Zarin Siddiqua

“It’s heartbreaking seeing that no one is aware of what’s happening,” said Ghofran Nagi, an undecided sophomore at Lehman, of China’s systematic targeting of its indigenous Muslim populations. “I wish that people would share this with others and come up with ideas to spread awareness and hopefully attract important people to make a change. It’s horrible that in today’s world, people still have to hide who they are and what they believe in to stay alive.”

Since 2017 over one million Turkic Uyghur Muslims, one of China’s ethnic minorities, have been detained in its Xinjiang region, where over 10 million Uyghurs live, according to the New York Times. It reports that in these camps, captives are forced to give up their native language and religion and are subject to political indoctrination.

In mid-November, the paper published an exposé of China’s policies based on over 400 pages of official documents that describe atrocities committed against Muslim communities who suffered a previous lack of media coverage that contributed to widespread ignorance of their plight. According to Foreign Policy, China long denied that the re-education camps even existed. The Journal of Political Risk also reported that the Chinese government has sought to counter human-rights accusations over its re-education and internment campaign through elaborate propaganda.

However, Humaid Sabi, a senior lawyer, told Business Insider that a "very substantial number" of prisoners were "killed to order" by the Chinese government. They were "cut open while still alive for their kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs, cornea, and skin to be removed and turned into commodities for sale," the report said. Chinese Tribunal, a human rights charity that investigates these issues, reported that body parts were then used for medical purposes. According to the New York Times “Many members of the Uighur ethnic group living in exile are worried that their relatives back home in China are locked up in internment camps — or dead.”

Muslim community and the members of Lehman’s Muslim Student Association are crushed by these inhumane events.

 “What's going on around the world is devastating to anyone who has an open mind and an open heart,” said Ala Rashed, psychology and media communications senior and vice president of Lehman’s Muslim Student Association (MSA). “What you are left with are people suffering. I don't even use the word dying because I feel like death for many of our brothers and sisters is their ultimate relief, as unfortunate as that sounds.”

 The lack of access for foreign and Chinese press who want to cover stories in Xinjiang also makes it hard to know what is going on in the region or even predict the future, Foreign Policy News reported. The resulting lack of outcry has been observed on a global scale.

“There has been a worrisome silence from many countries, particularly Muslim-majority countries like Saudi Arabia and Indonesia that one might think would be concerned about the plight of Uighurs,” officials at Northeastern education news reported, “Some argue these countries value economic ties with China over religious solidarity with the Uighurs.”

Activists in Brussels, Belgium protesting China’s oppression of Uyghur Muslims. (Photo Credit: Radio Free Asia)

Activists in Brussels, Belgium protesting China’s oppression of Uyghur Muslims. (Photo Credit: Radio Free Asia)

Lehman students are also upset by the current oppression against China’s Muslim community.

Foulemata Camara, a biomedical science major at Lehman said, “People sometimes tend to forget the meaning of practicing any religion you want. No one ever deserves to be treated that way just because of a religious choice.”

“We are not warmongers... our leaders and our haters have portrayed us as such and it kills me,” said Rashed. “However, hope is not lost”

“I have friends that are scared of what is happening. They are scared to practice their faith freely without feeling that they might get attacked,” said Bricenia Diaz, a Lehman junior majoring in Psychology. “We are in the 21st century and history is repeating itself and the world is letting it happen. We are all aware of a similar genocide. Why is the world still quiet? How many more people have to die?”

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Devastation from Climate Change Leads to Protest

Protesters demanding action to combat climate change (Photo Credit: Zarin Siddiqua)

Protesters demanding action to combat climate change (Photo Credit: Zarin Siddiqua)

By Zarin Siddiqua

“Climate change won’t discriminate against religion, politics, race, or age,” said Danysha Reyes, a junior English and philosophy major at Lehman, who joined the New York global climate strike with other CUNY students and local residents on Sept. 20, 2019. She was one of about 7.6 million people from 150 countries who joined the biggest climate mobilization in history, initiated by Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist. “If we don’t take care of the earth now, everyone will be directly affected,” Reyes explained.

Lehman students are not only at the front lines of climate activism, but they are also among those most directly impacted by the growing threat of climate change.

Jennifer Monique, a Lehman senior English major, described how her family in Puerto Rico was affected during Hurricane Maria. “I have a sister who has two children, her husband, and her ailing mother, who had no access to clean water. We were unable to get in contact with my uncle, unaware of what happened to him.” Monique added: “I think global warming is definitely real. I think that we should take some sort of action toward helping our planet survive.”

Meanwhile, storm intensity and damages continue to increase. The cost of the devastation from Hurricane Dorian totaled more than $40 billion, according to the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Lorenzo, a powerful storm that reached category 5 overnight, was registered as the strongest recorded hurricane in the north and east Atlantic basin and is listed among the rare and most intense category of storms, CNN reported.

According to the Washington Post, more storms like Lorenzo will continue to form. Already, 15 storms, including about eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes are predicted to hit coastal and inland communities, according to a 2019 hurricane season forecast of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center.

Lehman students also expressed concern about other natural disasters tied to global warming, including increased fires in California and animal extinction.

These fears are heightened in light of President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the United Nations’ Paris Climate Agreement, an international effort to combat climate change. Trump is among the administrative officials who don’t see climate change as an immediate crisis, according to ABC News.

Protesters demanding action to combat climate change. (Photo Credit: Zarin Siddiqua)

Protesters demanding action to combat climate change. (Photo Credit: Zarin Siddiqua)

Commenting on the need to address the global crisis, Lehman junior accounting major, Miguel Batista said, “Instead of having wars, and discriminating against each other, we should be working together to save the only planet that we live in.”

“My grandma’s house was destroyed when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. All of our sentimental things went along with it, and it was really hard for them. We weren’t able to contact them for months, and we didn’t know if anyone was alive or dead,” said Marissa Morales, a Lehman senior English major. “I very much believe that this is because of global warming and we need to do something to stop more natural disasters from happening.”

To take concrete steps in that direction, Lehman initiated a Puerto Rico service trip to rebuild homes and provide help for the Puerto Rican community after Hurricane Maria damaged much of it in 2017. Under the program called Leadership Involve for Everyone (L.I.F.E), Lehmanites travel the country during spring breaks, in collaboration with CUNY Service Corps Puerto Rico, who served during the summer.

“We created a garden, so people have access to food if there is another storm,” said Lehman senior theater major, Quameisha Moreno, who was one of the participants. “We only help when the damage happens, but what about after? Why should we wait for something to happen? Why not prevent the world from the damage?”

Reyes also affirmed her commitment to activism for change. “We have to realize that global warming is about the world, not just one country. People sense the urgency when millions stand united, despite skin color and ideologies in a country so politically-charged,” she said. The climate protest “was an amazing and empowering experience to stand up for this world and the people in it; I hope to do it again.”

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Netflix Documentary Shows Women Winning

The four congresswomen who star in the documentary “Knock Down the House” (Photo Credit: Netflix)

The four congresswomen who star in the documentary “Knock Down the House” (Photo Credit: Netflix)

By Nelson Fernandez

“Knock Down the House” is a fantastically moving and ground-breaking narrative of resilience and determination. Starring congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Cori Bush, Paula Jean Swearingen, and Amy Vilela, the May 2019 Netflix original documentary shows women and working-class people of America fighting for a voice in politics. Directed by Rachel Lears, the film is emotionally powerful and resonant as it follows women from New York, West Virginia, Missouri, and Maryland who share the main goal of winning an election.

The stories of these women are presented in a non-linear order, starting and ending with Ocasio-Cortez. They give an inside look into the lives of Bush, Vilela, and Swearingen, and how their struggles inspired them to enter politics and seek to enact change. Shifting back and forth between each woman’s perspective and personal and political motivations, the film does a good job showing how these brave women rose to prominence behind the scenes.

The film opens with Ocasio- Cortez applying makeup as she addresses the double standards and social expectations faced by businesswomen regarding dress code that is not faced by men. Old clips then show her working as a bartender in the Bronx while talking about the mistreatment she received from co-workers and clients in the workplace.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is victorious in “Knock Down the House” (Photo Credit: Netflix)

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is victorious in “Knock Down the House” (Photo Credit: Netflix)

Ocasio-Cortez states that partisanship between the Democrats and Republicans is not the focus of her campaign; her focus is bridging the divide between the working and upper classes.

The documentary also shows how she and the other three politicians reach out to citizens from their hometowns and gain the support necessary for their campaign. Swearingen, for example, decided to run because she witnessed firsthand how lack of adequate healthcare impacted many residents of her small hometown in West Virginia.

These residents were ignored by the government as they became ill and died of cancer. The film takes the angle that these women ran their campaigns to take power back for their citizens, not for personal gain. Ocasio-Cortez shows that even a top-positioned Democrat with millions of dollars from supporters and huge cash premiums can’t withstand the intensity of working individuals banding together.

To reinforce this point, the film closes with Ocasio-Cortez winning the 2018 debate, where she shares a heartwarming story about the time her late father took her on a trip as a child to the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. There her father told her in reference to the House of Representatives, “This is all ours.”

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Exceeding Expectations, “IT” Sequel Floats to Top of Box Office

The official theatrical poster for “IT Chapter Two” (Photo Credit: Collider)

The official theatrical poster for “IT Chapter Two” (Photo Credit: Collider)

By Michael Omoruan

After facing a notoriously fearsome clown, the Losers Club has come back 27 years later, following their oath to put an end to him someday. In “It Chapter Two,” released on Sept. 6, 2019, two years after the first film, Pennywise the Dancing Clown once again returns to Derry, Maine to feed on the inhabitants’ fear. Much of the film is really well made, blending humor and horror as skillfully as in the first film.

Almost too well, since according to Entertainment Weekly, playing Pennywise left Swedish actor, Bill Skarsgard with very strange Pennywise-filled dreams. “Every night, he came and visited,” said Skarsgard. Pennywise’s scares in the film are executed with an intensity that even shames the 1990 television movie. All the film’s special effects show advancement in technology and make you really empathize with the characters fighting the clown.

Now adults, the “Losers” Bill Denbrough, Ritchie Tozier, Ben Hanscom, Stanley Uris, Eddie Kapsbrak, Beverly Marsh, and Mike Hanlon reunite to face off against Pennywise once and for all.

Most of them seem to have moved on from their childhood days in Derry. Ritchie is now a headlining stand-up comedian, while Ben Hanscom leads an architectural firm. Only Mike played as a kid by Chosen Jacobs and as an adult by Isaiah Mustafa, has stayed behind.

The IMAX poster for “IT Chapter Two” (Photo Credit: Collider)

The IMAX poster for “IT Chapter Two” (Photo Credit: Collider)

In the first film, Mike worked on his grandfather’s farm. As part of one of the only minorities living in Derry, he fell victim to racism and bullying by Henry Bowers and his cronies. Shortly after, he joined up with the Losers. In the sequel he now lives a reclusive life, listening to police scanners for reports of potential Pennywise attacks. When he overhears an incident involving the murder of two gay men, he calls each Loser to convince them to come back home.

Though most show apprehension or even forgetfulness of the pact they made almost three decades ago, eventually all but one agree to find time to head back to Maine. The scene of their reunion offers great levity, mainly through Ritchie’s sense of humor. Played as a kid by Finn Wolfhard and as an adult by Bill Hader, he begins cracking jokes at the Losers’ expense and gets the audience laughing along with him.

Many of the characters from the first film return, even if just for brief appearances. Beverly’s dad returns in a flashback scene where he continues to torment her for looking so much like her mother. Eddie’s mom makes a hilarious yet almost sad appearance as Eddie’s wife, implying she was the only woman he could ever get close to.

The skillful casting is another highlight, especially James Ransone, who plays older Eddie, and Jay Ryan as older Ben. They resemble their young counterparts so accurately they look as if they were relatives. Another old face to return as Henry Bowers. Since he killed his father on Pennywise’s orders in “Chapter One,” he has become the clown’s henchman, breaking out of an asylum to try to kill each Loser one by one.

Pennywise, for the most part, plays mind games on the losers that are downright cruel, including when he taunts Bill with the memory of losing Georgie. While Curry’s interpretation of Pennywise in the first version is more like an ailing father figure, in this second film, Skarsgard has a youthful demeanor that makes his luring and terrorizing of the kids a lot more believable and scarier. He also isn’t as hammy as the 90s Pennywise when delivering lines of dialogue.

The phenomenal acting, special effects and makeup were always of high quality, and the film’s music, composed by Benjamin Wallfisch, keeps you in a constant state of unease. Make sure to keep an eye out for cameos from director Andy Muschetti and “IT” writer, Stephen King. This film was made to be watched in theaters, so enjoy!

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October 2019 A&E Lehman Meridian October 2019 A&E Lehman Meridian

Season 3 of ‘Stranger Things’ Returns With its Nostalgic 80’s Vibes, Only to Make Fans Wait for the Next Season

“Stranger Things 3” (Photo Credit: Netflix)

“Stranger Things 3” (Photo Credit: Netflix)

By Sumana Ali

The Upside Down and its creatures have returned to Hawkins, Indiana in the third season of Netflix’s original series “Stranger Things”. Complete with nostalgic 1980’s vibes, malicious Soviet Russians, shopping malls and throwback soundtracks, Season 3 is a blast from the past that stays engaging despite being somewhat redundant at times.

As usual, the well-directed and cleverly calculated eight-episode installment features new characters and heartbreaking deaths, leaving audiences craving more of the small town and its residents.

Though it has a fair amount of surprises, excitement, and drama, the season opens with a strange sense of normalcy. Previously younger characters like Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Mike (Finn Wolfhard) start dating, while the older characters like Steve (Joe Keery), Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) juggle challenges at work after high school. Things quickly shift into high gear when Will (Noah Schnapp) starts sensing that the Demogorgon has returned.

Indeed it has, since the bad- boy resident, Billy (Dacre Montgomery), one of the most hated characters on the show, is possessed by the Dem gon. Now for the first time, Billy is given a chance to gain audience sympathy, and his character development and ultimate fate were met with mixed feelings from longtime fans. Montgomery’s performance is definitely one of the best things about the season.

Though a bit odd at first, the storyline remains engaging throughout, with charming team-ups between characters, stunning visual effects, and action weaving together separate, entertaining storylines that eventually converge in the finale. As in previous seasons, Dustin and Steve together make a pretty hilarious team but paired with Erica (Priah Ferguson) and a new addition to the quirky team, Robin (Maya Hawke), the comedy of the season was really elevated.

Max, Will, Eleven, Mike, and Lucas in “Stranger Things 3” (Photo Credit: Netflix)

Max, Will, Eleven, Mike, and Lucas in “Stranger Things 3” (Photo Credit: Netflix)

The audience also gets to laugh at fan-favorite conspiracy theorists like Murray Bauman (Brett Gelman) chasing evil Russians with Jim Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder). Though Hopper and Joyce meet an unexpected fate, it feels heartfelt all throughout.

Nonetheless, the season is very emotional and serious at times. Characters are given a chance to develop in meaningful ways through the plot, the brilliant script and fantastic acting. The season finale includes the death of a major character, and the cast mourns.

However, since the creators chose not to show the death on-screen, it’s unclear if the person in question is really dead. Especially since in the ending credits it’s revealed that the Russians have an American prisoner and creatures from the upside-down in a secret Russian base.

Though the season can feel a bit mediocre at times because of the seemingly repetitive storylines, there is a fair amount of character development and visual effects to compensate for that. Other than these elements, nothing really significant happens, although it was very hyped up. Compared to previous seasons, it could have been more exciting, but its fast pace keeps it interesting. Overall, it is a solid B+.

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October 2019 Lifestyle Lehman Meridian October 2019 Lifestyle Lehman Meridian

Growing Number of Lehman Students Win Prestigious Awards

A staff member of the Office of prestigious awards talking to students about the Jeannette K. Watson fellowship (Photo Credit: Mayte Peña)

A staff member of the Office of prestigious awards talking to students about the Jeannette K. Watson fellowship (Photo Credit: Mayte Peña)

By Beauty Kolade

“It felt so great to know I won, and I didn’t have to pay to study abroad,” said Bolanle Olatunji, a 22-year-old health services administration senior at Lehman who won both a Gilman and a Chancellor Global scholar- ship in the spring of 2019.

Olatunji is one of more than 50 Lehman students who were granted major awards for the 2018-2019 academic year, including Fulbright fellowships, National Science Foundation awards, Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) fellowships, National Institute of Health Summer Internships, National Institute of Health Summer Internships, Jeannette K. Watson Fellowships and Chancellor’s Global Scholarships. In the last year, the numbers have continued to grow.

“For the 2017-2018 academic year, we had $750,000 in awards given; for the 2018-2019 academic year, we had $2.3 million,” Lehman’s Office of Prestigious Awards (OPA) Director Alice Michelle Augustine told the Meridian.

“Awards I have seen Lehman students win the past few years are definitely Jeannette K. Watson fellowships, NSF, REU and a giant increase in Fulbright’s awardees,” said Augustine, who herself won a Jeannette K. Watson fellowship as a Lehman student. Augustine was recognized at Lehman’s convocation ceremony on Sept. 18 for her contribution towards students’ success and outstanding performance at Lehman.

Vladyslav Bodnar working at a radiochemistry lab at Brookhaven National Laborator (Photo Credit: Beauty Kolade)

Vladyslav Bodnar working at a radiochemistry lab at Brookhaven National Laborator (Photo Credit: Beauty Kolade)

Lehman students and alumni agreed that more students are participating in the awards process.

“We have seen a major increase in students not only applying for awards but winning them,” said Hillary Frank, an OPA staff member, Lehman graduate and Jeannette K. Watson award recipient. She attributed this partly to outreach, “Through in-classroom presentations and events, such as the Prestigious Awards day, we encourage students to come and see the awards.”

Student winners praised the opportunities the awards provide for them.

“This was an advancement towards my career goal; I want to travel to different countries working with a Master’s in public health,” said Olatunji, who used both her scholarships to embark on a study trip to Spain in the summer of 2019.

Vladyslav Bodnar, a 21-year-old chemistry senior who won an REU award in the spring of 2019 funded by the U.S. Department of Energy said, “It was very nice to win this award, it made me feel worthy and motivated to pursue my chemistry career.”

Bodnar aspires to be a radiochemist and had the privilege to work with great scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory for 11 weeks in the summer of 2019. He explained that his project “was focused on evaluating two resins based on hydroxamate functionality, to conveniently diagnose cancer through radionuclide generator.”

A Jeannette K. Watson Fellow winner, Rene Clever, worked on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and helped with the development of two courses at IBM during the summer of 2019. The 20-year-old computer science major and business management minor won her three-year fellowship in the spring of 2019. She credits “a boot camp hosted by the [OPA],” with helping her access the award process.

As an NSF awardee, Rawan Aldasooky worked at Columbia University during the summer of 2019, where she worked on the fabrication of glycan microarrays, a technology that would allow for the rapid analysis of glycan mediated biological processes. The 20-year-old senior chemistry major won her award in the spring of 2019 and said it helped clarify her future career path. “I was contemplating if I would pursue an MD-Ph.D. degree,” she said, “but my summer experience helped me realize that I do not want to pursue a Ph.D. degree in the future.”

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October 2019 News Lehman Meridian October 2019 News Lehman Meridian

District 15 Candidate Prioritizes Student Debt Relief

A campaign event for Jonathan Ortiz (Photo Credit: Hector Bello)

A campaign event for Jonathan Ortiz (Photo Credit: Hector Bello)

By Hector Bello

Jonathan Ortiz is running for Bronx District 15’s Congressional seat in the 2020 Democratic primaries on a campaign to eliminate student loan debt, and Lehman students welcomed the initiative.

“We signed contracts to get loans that we didn’t fully understand; we can’t get rid of debt through bankruptcy,” Ortiz told the Meridian in an August team meeting at his Soundview residence.

The Democratic candidate said high school graduates feel less motivated to pursue higher education because they fear the consequences of student loan debt. “One of the main reasons why I am trying to eliminate student loan debt is because it keeps families from getting decent homes and might also contribute to depression,” Ortiz said.

If elected, he plans “to help Congress tax five percent of the wealthiest citizens across the country and use that money to eliminate the debt.” He compared his idea with Elizabeth Warren’s plan of funding student loan debt forgiveness programs by using a two percent annual tax on people whose fortune exceeds 50 million dollars.

“I think it’s pretty cool that Ortiz is trying to relieve student loan debt, which prevents most people from continuing their education. I have a $30,000 debt, and it adds more hardship to my future career plans,” said Lehman junior and studio art major Liz Thomas, 26. “After college, people try to be independent; debt is blocking my independence.”

After college, people try to be independent; debt is blocking my independence.
— Liz Thomas, studio art major.
A campaign event for Jonathan Ortiz (Photo Credit: Hector Bello)

A campaign event for Jonathan Ortiz (Photo Credit: Hector Bello)

Other Lehman students and alums agreed that student debt is often prohibitively high.

“My debt is really high compared to my income, which makes it really hard for me to purchase a home; I will have to rent forever,” said Elise Rodriguez, a 31-year-old who participated in Ortiz’s meeting.

Rodriguez could not graduate from her community college because of student loan debt, explaining, “I’m forced to be in an income-driven repayment plan because I don’t have enough money. I would love a loan forgiveness plan; I wish I was more educated about this before.”

Student loan debt is a problem that currently affects thousands of students across the state. The Department of Consumer Affairs stated that in New York City, more than one in six, or approximately one million adults, have at least one student loan debt that collectively amounts to $34.8 billion. Bronx’s District 15, which houses 731,101 residents, is one of the poorest in the country, with a median household income of $23,894 per year; this includes Lehman’s neighborhood, Bedford Park.

Some neighborhoods within the district include Mott Haven, Hunts Point, High Bridge, University, West Farms and Fordham, where only 10 out 60 percent of high school graduates hold college degrees, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

At Lehman, 21 percent of all undergraduate students, including freshmen, utilize federal student loans to afford a college education, College Factual reported. Lehman’s onine financial section advertises that borrowers have a fixed interest rate of 3.7 to 4.4 percent based on the first disbursement date. But many Lehman students say the entire system of student loans should do better.

“I think student loans are a travesty,” said Lehman senior and journalism major Wayne Townsend. “We’re an advanced, rich and developed country, so education should not be a capitalistic industry!”

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Lehmanites Question Petition to Troll Trump with Street Name Change

Trump Tower. (Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com)

Trump Tower. (Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com)

By Sally Barrilla

A petition to rename the section of 5th Ave. that runs along Trump Tower after former President Barack Obama has gone viral, but Lehman students are divided on its impact.

Created by award-winning director and actor, Elizabeth Rowin via the sociopolitical advocacy platform MoveOn.org, the initiative calls for the stretch of 5th Ave. between 56th and 57th streets to be renamed President Barack Obama Avenue. By the end of September, it racked up 446,539 signatures.

Rowin claims that she was motivated to create the petition after reading an anti-Trump tweet and thought she could use the opportunity to poke fun at him. The British actress told the Washington Post, “Trump uses Twitter so much to tweet and bully people. I thought it would be fun to troll him back.”

Lehman students, however, are ambivalent about the name change protest.

“A name change isn’t going to wake people up to madness that’s happening nor will it urge people to vote or register to vote,” said English senior at Lehman, Davidia Boykins. “I think this will be an insult to Obama. Trump is work- ing his hardest to destroy everything Obama created and awaken more discrimination.”

“I feel like it will have very little to no impact in New York City, but it’s a big slap in Trump’s face, so go for it.”
— Shomari Dixon, Lehman junior biology major.

“I can’t speak for all Trump supporters, but from what I’ve seen, Trump supporters can be pretty extreme. I can definitely see a big protest happening soon.”

At least one Lehman faculty member also pushed back on the proposal. “Naming a street after Obama, regard- less of Trump, seems wrong to me. Obama is a war criminal, an enemy of immigrants and the working class in general,” said philosophy professor Russell Dale. “It is part of the way United States’ society functions that a criminal like Obama is perceived and treated somehow gentler than some other criminal like Trump.”

Even if it has popular support, the petition might be challenging to pass in New York’s City Council, since according to USA Today, the honoree must already be deceased in order for a street to be named after them.

Meanwhile, New York City Council Speaker and City Council Member of District 3, Corey Johnson, a well- known fan of Obama, like- wise does not support the petition nor think it’s effective to oppose President Trump.

“I am not positive this is the best way. The Obamas epitomize class, dedication to public service and respect for the Oval Office,” Johnson told ABC News. “I’m pretty confident we can find a better way to honor the greatest president of my lifetime, than by trolling the worst president of my lifetime.”

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Lehman Completes Renovation of Performing Arts Center

A view of the additional 5,595-square-feet-expansion of Lehman’s Center for the Performing Arts. (All photos by Deanna Garcia)

A view of the additional 5,595-square-feet-expansion of Lehman’s Center for the Performing Arts. (All photos by Deanna Garcia)

By Deanna Garcia

On its 40th anniversary, Lehman’s Center for the Performing Arts celebrated the completion of a $15.4 million renovation with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 19.

Started in November of 2017, the upgrades include a 5,595-square-feet expansion of the lobby, a new box office, handicap-accessible enhancements to the hall’s floors and 2,276 seats, new ramps, new restrooms and elevators that ascend to the balconies.

Lehman students praised the transformation of the center, which bills itself as the largest entertainment venue in the Bronx.

“When you think about the Bronx, you don’t think about an amazing space like this, especially at Lehman.”

-Johana Gracia Lara, senior music major.

“It makes me even happier that I attended here. It’s just rare to even have something beautiful and a legitimate performing arts center here in the Bronx.”

One of the ramps in the Center for the Performing Arts.

One of the ramps in the Center for the Performing Arts.

“It’s something in our backyard and something that we have a personal attachment to as students who attend this college,” said Kassandra Montes, a Lehman biochemistry and philosophy senior. “So to have other college students come to our campus and say, ‘Wow your college is amazing,’ that’s great gratitude to us.”

“Most of us can take the bus or walk here instead of preparing one day to travel all the way to Lincoln Center,” said Lehman biochemistry senior, Tarialy Hernandez, about the convenience of the center.

According to the center, over 200,000 visit it between September and early June; visitors come from Manhattan, Westchester and even Connecticut. Lehman officials said the renovation’s main goal was for the center to be more compliant for Americans with Disabilities (ADA).

“In 1980, people weren’t thinking about handicapped people as much as we do now,” said Executive Director of Lehman’s Center for the Performing Arts, Eva Bornstein. “Now people are becoming more aware that handicap individuals need access to the same seats and bathrooms as anyone else.”

All costs of the upgrade were covered by the Office of the Governor, the New York State Legislature, the Bronx delegation of the New York City Council and the Office of the Bronx Borough President. The center will receive additional funding with a seat naming initiative.

Goya Foods Inc., the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Department, the New York State Council on the Arts, Con Edison, The Hyde and Watson Foundation, the Havana Café and the Friends of Lehman Center all support the center as sponsors for the 2019-2020 season.

The newly renovated seats in the Center.

Bornstein told the Meridian that she wants more national companies to perform at the center. “I’m excited because we get to bring all of these fantastic events from around the globe to the Bronx,” she said. “I think it’s important that people on campus know something about the Lehman Center. This would be a great opportunity for students and faculty to explore their own college.”

Many took this opportunity at the grand opening, where attendees included Lehman President Dr. Daniel Lemons, CUNY Chancellor Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodriguez, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and city council members. Lehman’s Urban Male Leadership Program offered tours of the new renovations, and the Lehman Student Jazz Ensemble played live music.

“One, if not the major ingredient of our DNA is music,” said Diaz Jr. about the influence of music on Bronxites.

As they carry on this legacy, some Lehman students are excited to start rehearsing at the center.

“It’s just really nice for me because as a senior, I get to still perform in in this new renovated space now,” Gracia Lara said. “Hopefully I can continue to work in my career and come back here to actually perform.”

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October 2019 Lifestyle Lehman Meridian October 2019 Lifestyle Lehman Meridian

“La Casa de Papel” is Netflix’s Most-Watched Spanish TV Series

Fans of “La Casa de Papel” dress up as characters at New York Comic Con 2019 (Photo Credit: Mayte Peña)

Fans of “La Casa de Papel” dress up as characters at New York Comic Con 2019 (Photo Credit: Mayte Peña)

By Mayte Peña

“It has intrigue, action, love... What else do we need?” said Lehman’s 22-year-old junior psychology major, Jaden Reyes of the Spanish crimedrama “La Casa de Papel” (Money Heist). Reyes hailed it as “one of the best television productions I’ve ever seen.”

Reyes is not alone in her enthusiasm. Two months after its third premiere, it remains one of the most-watched foreign language-streamed Netflix originals; its watch rate of 34,355,956 household account views was reached within just the first week of the season on July 19, 2019.

The series’ third installment also reached non-Spanish speaking countries like France, Italy, Portugal, and even India, according to entertainment news source Variety.

Spanish television producer, writer, series creator, scriptwriter and film director, Alex Pina originally planned to launch the series on Spanish television network Antena 3. Netflix was granted global streaming rights and decided to divide the original 15 episodes into 22 shorter episodes across two seasons, released worldwide on Dec. 20, 2017, and April 6, 2018, respectively.

These seasons introduced the audience to the famous criminals who execute the biggest robbery in the history of Spain. After months of preparation, they steal €2.4 billion and Stam Factory, while wearing red jumpsuits and masks like those of Spanish painter, Salvador Dali, an outf it that becomes a symbol of resistance later in the series.

The iconic criminals protect their identities by using the names of famous cities that they would like to visit, such as Tokyo, Nairobi, Berlin, and Rio. Mastermind, Sergio Marquina (Alvaro Morte), known as El Professor is the only exception in the group.

(Photo curtesy of La Casa of Papel’s Instagram)

(Photo curtesy of La Casa of Papel’s Instagram)

“I admire the character of the Professor,” said Reyes. “He is not just the mastermind behind the robbery who’s ensuring nobody sabotages the plan, but he also cares for the band members.” Other Lehman students said that they loved the production’s plot intrigues.

“The show is really great and completely different from anything I have seen on TV,” said 21-year-old senior journalism major, Lili Stevens. “‘Money Heist’ gives a message to society: [it] is important for everyone to stick together, otherwise things may not go as planned.”

This is evident after the first robbery when all the characters’ vacations are interrupted once Rio is captured by police officials. Another organized robbery is held to negotiate 13 Rio’s freedom. The series’ ending could form a bridge to a possible part four, rumored to air at the end of 2019, according to The Digital Weekly.

“The direction, actors and plot are all part of an incredible production that keeps us wanting more with no disappointments. I like Tokyo and Nairobi. Both characters have terrific, compelling and powerful backstories,” said senior journalism major, Paola Pontier, 24. “I believe that the resistance movement serves to encourage people to fight back [against] the system.”

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September 2019 Arts Lehman Meridian September 2019 Arts Lehman Meridian

Video Game "Fire Emblem: Three Houses" Proves Knowledge is Power

Official art for Fire Emblem: Three Houses. (Photo Credit: Intellifence Systems)

Official art for Fire Emblem: Three Houses. (Photo Credit: Intellifence Systems)

By Nelson Fernandez

Originally released for the Nintendo Switch game console on July 26, 2019, Fire Emblem: Three Houses offers players the role of the protagonist, allowing them to teach characters how to fight on the battlefield through social and strategic aspects, and improve their critical thinking and leadership skills. 

 Fire Emblem: Three Houses was developed by Intelligent Systems and Koei Tecmo, who worked on making it a unique gaming experience. 

 The three houses, called, Black Eagles, Blue Lions, and Golden Deer, represent kingdoms in which the different characters become students who rely on players to gain specific knowledge. For example, Edelgard, a female leader of the Black Eagles, wishes to learn how to be a good leader and fight with an axe; the player must teach her how it’s done.

As professors, players can make each of their character-students stronger by building their motivation. When not on the battlefield, gamers can explore the school and focus on making characters bond, eat together or exchange gifts and lost items found around the academy. The premise of the game almost reflects school life.

An example of the game’s battles. (Photo Credit: Intellifence Systems)

An example of the game’s battles. (Photo Credit: Intellifence Systems)

During a battle, players solve a puzzle by deciding where to move their army of soldiers in training. When a student fights and defeats an enemy, they gain experience through level-up points that increase the characters' stamina and skills. In real life, students learn and grow the more they study, and the same is true of the students in the game.  

Fire Emblem: Three Houses also helps with reflexes and reaction time. During the battle, it is suggested to watch carefully where the enemy team moves, as well as their actions. This is so that when it is a player’s turn again, he/she will know what to do to counter them.Fire Emblem: Three Houses includes a myriad of dialogue scenes with full-voice acting. 

Student stats and relationships increase after bonding or gift-giving. (Photo Credit: Intellifence Systems)

Student stats and relationships increase after bonding or gift-giving. (Photo Credit: Intellifence Systems)

The story builds slowly keeping players entertained through well-written lines and diverse characters. After a duration of time, the game tracks separate stories depending on which house the player chose at the start, guaranteeing plenty of replay value. 

 Fire Emblem: Three Houses was the highest-rated video game of the summer, rated 9.5/10 by ING and reviewed as a 4.5 star game by over 1,000 customers as seen on Best Buy and Game Stop's websites.

 One Lehman student who plays the game also gave it high praise.

 “I enjoy strategic role-playing games during my free time,” said Anthony Vasquez, a 23-year-old films and television senior at Lehman. “This game helped me look at problems from different angles and tackle them based on what is the best solution.” 

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September 2019 Arts Lehman Meridian September 2019 Arts Lehman Meridian

Fans Mourn the Loss of Disney Star

Cameron Boyce (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

Cameron Boyce (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

By Mayte Peña

Well-known for his rolesas Luke in the Disney Channel show “Jessie,”andCarlos from the “Descendants”franchise,20-year-old American actor, Cameron Mica Boyce, died in his sleep on July 6, 2019, leaving millions of fans heartbroken.

 A Boyce family spokesperson told ABC News thatthe actorpassed away due to an epileptic seizure, an ongoing medical condition that the young starsuffered from since childhood, despite years of treatment. 

Lehman students were among his fans in mourning. Lehman student,Natalia Palacios, a 21-year-old senior dance major, said that she didn’t know that Boyce had suffered from epilepsy. “I feel like he really hid it so well even from his friends.”

At age 9, Boyce made his acting debut in the 2008 horror film “Mirrors.” In 2010 he appeared in the blockbuster comedy “Grown Ups” as one of the sons and joined the Disney family as Luke Ross on “Jessie,”which ran for four seasons. His fame grew in 2015 when he became part of the “Descendants” world, a Disney trilogydirected by Kenny Ortega,which follows the children of the Disney villains. Boyce played Carlos de Ville, son of the “101 Dalmatians” villain, Cruella de Vil.

 On a Disney Channel marathon of the “Descendants”movies, the final movie had 8.43 million viewers according to Hollywood Reporterand featured a tribute to Boyce. The Boyce family created the Cameron Boyce Foundation in his honor. Its mission repeats a phrase Boyce used when receiving an award. He hoped to keep at-risk teens and adults off the streetsandto provide “young people artistic and creative outlets as alternatives to violence and negativity.”

Lehman sophomore and psychology major Jade Pratt, 19, said, “Cameron was so talented, and it saddens me that we can’t see how he would have blossomed.” 

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September 2019 Arts Lehman Meridian September 2019 Arts Lehman Meridian

"Past Perfect Life" Shows Teen Finding Her Truth

“Past Perfect Life” by Elizabeth Eulberg (Photo credit: Mayte Peña).

“Past Perfect Life” by Elizabeth Eulberg (Photo credit: Mayte Peña).

By Mayte Peña

Inspired by a true story, author Elizabeth Eulberg’s new novel “Past Perfect Life” tells the story of a teenage girl named Alisson Smith who lives a good life with her dad and friends in Valley Falls, Wisconsin until she discovers her father actually kidnapped her when she was 3. 

Released on July 9, 2019, the novel examines the strong, heartfelt father-daughter bond that exists between Ally and her father, as well as her attempts to find herself again after all the lies. 

In all of her ten-adult books, Eulberg depicts strong female characters who do not worry about boys, but rather focus on real problems like identity, self-love and solidarity between girls helping each other and not competing against one another. Readers can connect with the characters and themes of parenthood, friendship, and the meaning of family.

Ally is supported in her journey towards her family’s truth by Neil, a close friend who is interested in her, and Ally’s mother, a selfish and unsympathetic woman when she’s first introduced. As she goes through the challenges of moving in with her mother and adjusting to her new life, her best friend Marian is always ready to help however she can. While Ally’s relationship with her biological sister, Sarah, is strained at first, the blossoming relationship between the sisters who never had the chance to meet in the past is fresh and satisfying. Ultimately Ally adjusts to her new life, and her aspirations motivate her to continue going after what she wants.

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September 2019 Arts Lehman Meridian September 2019 Arts Lehman Meridian

"Toy Story 4" Hits Close to Home

Official Poster for “Toy Story 4.” (Photo Credit: Disney/Pixar)

Official Poster for “Toy Story 4.” (Photo Credit: Disney/Pixar)

By Keisha Paul

Pixar released the latest installment of the “Toy Story” series on June 11,2019. Based on a screenplay by Andrew Stanton, the film acts as a continuation of “Toy Story 3.”It was directed by Josh Cooley, known for movies, such as “Up,” “The Incredibles,” and “Inside Out.” Cooley told Los Angeles Times in an interview that a fifth “Toy Story”movie has not been discussed yet.

The movie serves as a heartwarming reminder that support from strangers or friends can make anyone feel more comfortable in unpleasant situations. It picks up where “Toy Story 3” left off, when Andy, now 17 and moving away for college, decides to give his toys away to a new character named Bonnie. As “Toy Story 4” begins, it becomes clear that 5-year-old Bonnie plays with most of her toys and not Woody, who waits for Bonnie to play with him again, while other neglected toys comfort him. 

This sets the stage for the movie’s recurring theme of self-reflection, acceptance and inner growth. Forced to realize that he’s no longer the favorite toy, Woody makes it his new purpose to make Bonnie happy by convincing her new toy to stay with them. As the plot unfolds, Woody becomes a guide and helper to Bonnie and other toys new and old.

Other scenes show characters like Little Bo Peep, Buzz Lightyear and a new character, Gabby Gabby, undergoing their own self-discovery and helping each other along the way. Little Bo Peep was given away to an antique shop in previous episodes, and had to learn how to live away fromWoody, who she now runs into after escaping the shop. Despite enjoying her new life as a lost toy, seeing Woody again brought up sad memories about their separation. However, she refuses Woody’s proposal of living together again and continues to travel the city on her own. 

Meanwhile, Buzz Lightyear(who unlike Little Bo Peep, stayedwith Woody), didn’t understand what having an inner voice entailed. In challenging situations, he would press his talk button and follow what it said as if it was his own voice. By doing that, he discovered his real inner voiceand trusted it as a guide to making good decisions.  

Gabby Gabby, on the other hand, dreams of taking Woody’s voice box and using it to finally be adopted. Thrown away by the shop keeper’s daughter, she is heartbroken, but ultimately finds a loving home with a girl who lost her parents. 

Anyone who has ever felt lost or lonely can relate to the struggles that these toys face. 

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Lehmanites Urgently Want Better Gun Control

Protesters demanding stricter gun laws in the wake of tragic mass shootings (Photo Credit: Progressive.org).

Protesters demanding stricter gun laws in the wake of tragic mass shootings (Photo Credit: Progressive.org).

By Zarin Siddiqua

August’s series of alleged hate-crime shootings have left Lehman students feeling sadness and panic about lack of adequate gun control. 

Most recently, on Aug.31, sevenpeople were killed and many injured by a shooter in Odessa, Texas. Four weeks earlier, shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohiotook place less than 24 hours apart. On and off Lehman’s campus, these tragedies further sparked the continuing debate about gun laws and other initiatives that can prevent massshootings.

Many students agreed that recurring violence has increased their levels offear; “Every time I am in the classroom or at a mall, I fear something terrible is about to happen,like someone is about to burst through and that will be my last day,” said Miguel Batista, a Lehman junior and accountingmajor. 

“I worry about my little brother and sisters whenever I drop them off at school,” said Brecenia Diaz, a Lehman student majoring in Psychology. “School should be a fun and safe environment, and I feel scared for them.” 

“My college campus is beautiful. I love it, but it is an open campus just like every other CUNY and I fear something might happen any minute,” said English major, Roxann Turner. 

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, there have been 32 mass shootings in 2019, but the number of gun attacks exceeds 250. According to a report from Vox Media there has been a total of 2,184 mass shootings in the U.S. since Sandy Hook. 

To try to address the ongoing threat of shootings, organizations around the country are taking various initiatives. 

Parkland students started a protest for a better gun law to make students feel safe by enforcing stronger background checks. According to the Washington Post, the Trump Administration has recommended arming staff. Some Lehman faculty, however, think the solution to campus security lies in better laws. 

“School should be a safe learning environment. Arming teachers would not solve the gun problem in the United States. As Martin Luther King Jr.said, ‘don’t fight violence with violence.’ Instead of having more guns, we as a country should focus on reducing them,” said William Fisher, Lehman professor of English. 

Voters are now looking to 2020 presidential candidates to provide a definite solution. 

“I will be able to vote this year.I always listen to what each candidate has to say about the gun control in America, and I want the next president to take serious action against gunviolence. We can’t be living in fear,” said Kayla Bennerd a Sociology major at Lehman. 

But with elections still over a year away, anxiety about gun violence is driving businesses to make profitable offers now. 

Retailers such as Office Depot, Office Max, and Macy’s are now selling bulletproof backpacks as a back-to-school supply, with prices ranging between $150 and $200, according to CBS News. The backpacks are advertised as protection forstudents if they hold it in the right position.

At least one Lehman student scoffed at this marketing ploy. “We need stronger gun laws, not a backpack. How would we know where to place the backpack during a panic?” said Psychology major Brecenia Diaz. 

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