The Lehman Art Gallery’s New Spring Exhibition Opens

The Beeutiful Bronx by The Royal KingBee
Photo by: Monserrate Godinez

By Monserrate Godinez

“The Painted Word: Text, Gesture, and Expression in Contemporary Art” opened on February 11 as the newest exhibition in the Lehman Art Gallery, exploring the deconstruction of language through diverse art forms and inspiring the community with artwork from both famous and emerging artists.

When asked about how he hopes the exhibition speaks to both the Lehman and Bronx community, director of the Lehman Art Gallery, Bartholomew Bland, said, “It works wonders for our design students.” Referencing the playwriting festival held in the gallery in 2024, he added, “I hope we get classes from the English department." He hopes that the exhibit will inspire Lehman students to create and make the general public think about language and the way we use it more deeply.

Maribelle Ceballos, one of the curatorial registrars and researchers, said, “The word fine art isn’t what certain companies and institutions want you to think. As someone from the Bronx, graffiti comes up. I want this to show people that fine art is stuff that comes from low-income places, from people who are not formally trained.”

Both Bland and Ceballos pointed toward the mural on the rotunda as the piece that best encapsulated the theme of the exhibition. “It’s so big, you’re surrounded by the Bronx,” Ceballos said.

The Beeutiful Bronx mural greets guests as they step into the gallery. Painted on the rotunda of the art gallery by a local Bronx artist, The Royal KingBee, the mural displays different neighborhoods of the Bronx and nearby communities inside his iconic honeycomb design. The rotunda makes it so the mural encompasses viewers, with different neighborhoods all highlighted in unique fonts designed by KingBee.

The exhibit features many more graffiti artists and their work that can be considered unconventional. One of these is Voices Carry by Lee Quiñones, a piece done on plywood with enamel, spray paint, ink marker, pencil, and paint markers. It is a collaborative piece that is a collection of messages and signatures from many different artists.

“Like the title implies, both in letter form and in human form on the 
surface, this work is the mark of my studio practice,” said Lee Quiñones about the piece on his Instagram. He refers to the voices that carry etched on the plywood and the voices that carry physically, in collaboration, in connection. 

The exhibition runs from February 11 until May 2.

Rising Financial Stress affects Bronx College Students' Mental Health

Photo from Lehman Website

By Jennifer Estrella

As mental health challenges continue to rise in the Bronx, college students across the borough say the pressure of working full-time, supporting their families, and keeping up with classes is pushing many to seek counseling or step away from school entirely.

Karen Salazar, a 29-year-old Bronx college student and mother of two, said she paused her studies before her final semester after developing anxiety.

“I was working full time, taking classes, and taking care of my daughters,” Salazar said. “I felt like I was constantly behind. I couldn’t sleep. It just built up.”

For Salazar, rising rent, grocery bills, and transportation costs made it harder to focus on school. “You want to finish,” she said. “But when you’re stressed about money all the time, it affects everything.”

Jessenia Fajardo, a student at Lehman College, said many students 
are constantly worrying about basic needs before they can even think about their coursework.

“The cumulative impact of unmet essential needs leaves your mind thinking more about ‘Where am I going to get the money to pay my light bill?’ instead of thinking about reading Shakespeare,” Fajardo said. “Your brain stays stuck in survival mode.”

That constant pressure often affects academic performance, she added. “That kind of overthinking leads to anxiety, depression, and procrastinating on schoolwork.”

Jaylene Rodriguez, a New York Police Department officer who works in the Bronx and a former Lehman College student, said financial strain and emotional distress are often connected in the 
communities she serves.

“A lot of people are overwhelmed,” Rodriguez said. “When someone is juggling bills, childcare, and school, stress builds up fast. It doesn’t just disappear.”

In the study, Association Between Food Insecurity and Mental Health 
Among College Students in the Bronx, New York (NY), by Brown et al., the researchers identified a strong link between financial insecurity and mental health struggles among students.

Marta Gil, a psychologist with 15 years of experience working with college students in the Dominican Republic who now resides in the Bronx, said those findings mirror what she has seen professionally and personally. Her daughter currently attends college in the borough.

“Students today are not just students,” Gil said. “Many are providers, caregivers, and full-time workers. When basic needs are unstable, anxiety becomes almost inevitable.”

“They keep pushing through exhaustion,” she emphasized. “But long-term stress eventually impacts performance, health, or both.”

Although there are resources aimed at helping students, such as Lehman’s Counseling Center, many students may not know how to access them or may not have the time.

“I wouldn’t be able to name them specifically off the top of my head, but I know the school does have resources,” Fajardo said. “The real 
question is whether students know about them, feel comfortable accessing them, or even have the time to go.”

“Schedule flexibility, online classes, weekend options, weeknight classes, and those things matter,” she said. “And honestly, more grants and scholarships would make a real difference.”

Photo from Lehman Website

Lehman College’s Food Bank Improves Students Quality of Life

Photo by Jada Duffus

By Jada Duffus

Herbert H. Lehman College’s Food Bank is often open on Wednesdays and Thursdays in Room B015A in the Old Gym basement. The bank provides students with access to fresh produce, grocery bags, and grab-and-go items to fuel students. During spring 2026, the food bank experienced an increase 
in numbers due to many current issues increasing food insecurity.

Dr. Jay Jones, director of Student Support Services Programs, said, “We have seen a steady increase in students seeking support as a result of rising financial instability, challenges with SNAP 
benefits, and increasing fears about their future.” She also mentioned that awareness within the campus, as well as destigmatizing getting help, has urged more students to seek to use this resource.

Gabriela Rodriguez, who manages the operations daily, noticed a rise in 2026 during the spring as well. “Some students have mentioned the SNAP benefits caused them to have less access to food and would come to the Food Bank just to find their dinner 
that night.” She also talked about some students living in shelters and not having access to a stove or fridge, along with not being able to store frozen food.

Sabrina Garcia, a Lehman College student, said, “Lehman’s food bank currently supports students on campus by providing food and pantry items for those in need. Because the prices have 
increased, it is more difficult to obtain donations from food vendors.” The Lehman community can contribute by adding members to help with donating cans and jarred goods with other pantry items.

“Food insecurity at Lehman College is closely tied to the rising cost of living and education, with increasing tuition, housing, transportation, and grocery prices forcing many students to choose between basic necessities,” Dr. Jones said.

However, increased demand has created new challenges for the food pantry to support the community. “One of the primary challenges we face is navigating the high cost of food, which increases our required spending to maintain a diverse range of options for our students,” Dr. Jones said.

Rodriguez also mentioned how infrastructure and space limitations can have a negative impact on the operation. “The biggest challenges we are facing are [a lack of] Wi-Fi connection, space 
in our freezers (this causes us to order less frozen items), storage 
space in general, and the check-in process. All of these have been brought to light, and it’s under review,” Rodriguez said.

Monetary donations are essential because they extend the bank’s budget, allowing the team to support more students at Lehman. “Cash contributions also allow us to purchase specific high demand items we know students need and allow us to consistently stock 
culturally diverse food options that may not always come through traditional donations,” Dr. Jones said.

“Students today are not just students. Many are providers, caregivers, and full-time workers. When basic needs are unstable, anxiety becomes almost inevitable.”
— Dr. Marta Gil, psychologist

Photo by Jada Duffus

Homelessness Keeps Rising in New York City

Photo from Lehman Website

By Arlin Rodriguez

Homelessness within New York City and the Bronx in 2026 continues 
to rise, with residents and social workers noticing inflation, high rent, 
and limited access to mental health services as key factors contributing to the increase.

According to Claudia Mendez, a Bronx social worker and Lehman College alumna, “Homelessness increased in 2024, and with 2025 data expected later this year, I would not be surprised if that upward trend continues. Both children and adults are being significantly impacted, facing instability that affects their health, education, employment opportunities, and overall well-being.”

Mendez also said that service reductions are worsening the crisis. “Many communities are seeing reductions in services and funding that are meant to address homelessness,” she said. “When support systems are cut back while the need continues to rise, it creates an even greater challenge for individuals and families trying to regain stability.”

Bronx resident Diana Barrientos, who works in social work administration, pointed to the cost of living in New York City as still being too high—even for those living alone. “In New York City, the rent is way too high,” Barrientos said. “The wages don’t equate with the standard of living, which causes people to not be able to pay their bills and, ultimately, sometimes even getting laid off and not being able to have a place to live.”

Recent extreme winter conditions have highlighted the risks faced by people experiencing homelessness. A February report from The 
Guardian noted that at least 17 people died during severe cold weather in New York, with 13 deaths linked to hypothermia. Additional reporting from THE CITY found that city officials were questioned during a City Council hearing tafter multiple cold-related deaths among people experiencing homelessness during the January–February cold snap.

Community members also emphasized the connection between 
homelessness and limited access to mental health care. Barrientos described barriers people face when trying to seek support. “Some 
people don’t know where to look, especially in a time when they’re too 
lost in their mind.”

“When support systems are cut back while the need continues to rise, it creates an even greater challenge for individuals and families trying to regain stability.”
— Claudia Mendez, Bronx social worker and Lehman College alumna

Jayla Booker, a Lehman College public health major who lives and works in the Bronx, said community advocacy could help reduce those barriers. “What communities can do to make mental health more affordable is to use their platforms, if they have one, to advocate how important mental health is,” Booker said.

Mendez suggested partnerships with established agencies to expand access. “Communities and organizations can improve access to mental 
health care by building strong connections with agencies that provide 
free or low-cost services,” she said, citing groups such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the New York State Office of Mental 
Health. She also noted that resources such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis 
Lifeline offer free, 24-hour support.

“Food insecurity at Lehman College is closely tied to the rising cost of living and education, with increasing tuition, housing, transportation, and grocery prices forcing many students to choose between basic necessities.”
— Dr. Jones, Director of Student Support Services Program

History, Justice and the Next Generation: A Black History Month Call to Action

Photo By Amadou Kane

By Amadou Kane

On Feb. 19, Urban Male Leadership students from Lehman College attended a Black History Month program at Queens Theatre in partnership with the Macon B. Allen Black Bar Association to examine the legacy of Black legal advocacy and its influence on the future of justice.

The event was organized around the theme that the struggles and achievements of Black Americans in the past have shaped the present, and the actions taken today will shape the next generation. Organizers said the program was especially important during Black History Month because it encouraged students to see history not as distant events, but as a living foundation for their own ambitions. By connecting Urban Male Leadership students with Black judges and attorneys, the gathering aimed to inspire young people to believe they can make a difference in the courts and in the legal profession while continuing the work of those who came before them.

The program comes as conversations about racial equity, access to justice and representation in law continue nationwide. Black Americans remain underrepresented in the legal field, and speakers 
emphasized that visibility and mentorship are essential for building confidence and opportunity among students of color. The partnership between Lehman College and the Macon B. Allen Black Bar Association highlighted how education and community leadership can 
work together to address long-standing barriers.

“Today, more than ever, it is so important that we continue to come together, engage in collective sharing of information and coordinate efforts to help move this country toward a more civil and just union,” said Jawan Finley, president of the organization that helped coordinate the event. Finley said this year’s Black History Month focus was on a century of Black excellence. The event featured visual displays to highlight how history connects to lived experiences.

Finley said, in reference to a quilt that was displayed, “The people that 
you see on that quilt, one of them was my grandfather. He fought 
in World War II.” She explained that her grandfather served during a 
time when segregation still existed in the military, demonstrating how 
Black Americans defended democracy abroad while facing discrimination at home.

Justice Janice A. Taylor placed the event in a historical context, emphasizing the deep roots of Black legal leadership in Queens. “All Black history in this country is American history,” Taylor said. She traced the origins of Black History Month to historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926. Additionally, Taylor described how early Black attorneys worked through the NAACP to fight for school integration, community employment and educational access.

“These attorneys worked to get jobs in African American neighborhoods, prevented the expansion of the Clearview Expressway through Black communities and fought to change the 
original location of your college from College Point to Jamaica,” Taylor 
said. She added that the Macon B. Allen Black Bar Association, founded in 1971, became a central force in advancing civil rights and professional opportunity for Black lawyers in Queens.

Honorable Cassandra A. Johnson focused on the importance of trust in the legal system, particularly for families navigating loss through Surrogate’s Court, saying, “The court is not merely validating a document. It’s protecting the decedent’s expressed intent.” She noted that historical discrimination has shaped how many Black families experience courts. “For some families, walking into a courtroom is not a neutral act. It’s shaped by memory,” she said.

John Jay College senior Rugens Jean Baptiste said seeing Black judges 
and attorneys changed how he imagines his own future. “There was a time in this country where Black lawyers were not allowed to go into certain courts,” Baptiste said. “Representation is not abstract. It changes what you believe is possible.”

Baptiste described his recent internship in Queens Supreme Court 
and the impact of watching a Black woman judge lead a courtroom, saying, “Justice does not happen by accident. It requires discipline, clarity and courage.”

Organizers said the event demonstrated how Black History Month can 
serve as both reflection and motivation. By showing how past struggles shaped the present, the program aimed to empower a new generation of leaders to pursue careers in law and public service with purpose and confidence.

UMLP Injects Funding to Support Lehman Students

Members of the Urban Male Leadership Program attend the 10th Annual Awards & Scholarship Brunch. Photo: Lehman Multimedia Center

By Daniel Douglas

Amid growing concerns over federal funding cuts under the Trump administration, the Urban Male Leadership Program at Lehman College marked the return of its largest fundraiser, its annual brunch, after a six-year COVID-19 pause. UMLP aims to surpass the $20,000 raised at its last in-person brunch during its 10th Annual Awards & Scholarship Brunch on Feb. 7 at Eastwood Manor in the Bronx.

The fundraiser comes as the City University of New York system faces uncertainty in federal support. In 2025 and 2026, dozens of CUNY research projects were threatened after federal grant cancellations put millions of dollars at risk, prompting the university to launch a “Research Bridge Fund” to sustain affected work.

“We understood how important this was not just for us, but for the organization itself and for future generations.”

-Ferdinand Essizewa, Lehman Alumnus

Increasing tuition and cost of living in the Bronx add to the financial strain on students. According to CUNY data, most undergraduates come from households earning less than $30,000 annually, making scholarships and private fundraising essential to closing financial gaps.

“We do receive money from the City Council and the state, but those tax levy dollars can only be used for operational expenses,” said Dr. Jermaine right, vice president for student affairs at Lehman. “With the fundraiser dollars, we’re able to provide scholarships for books and tuition - things that help students make it to the finish line.”

Proceeds from the event will go directly to programs and services that help students succeed beyond the classroom, filling gaps that government funding cannot cover.

“The funds raised today will support our spring induction ceremony and other student programming,” said Adeleke Akano, student life manager for UMLP. “It’s an example of what happens when the community comes together to support our students.”

Students and alumni said the program also provides mentorship and leadership opportunities.

Gabriel Bencosme, a Lehman senior graduating this semester, said UMLP transformed his college experience.

“All I wanted was a bachelor’s degree,” Bencosme said. “I had no intention of joining programs or finding a community.”

But through UMLP, Bencosme said he gained mentorship and professional preparation that extended beyond academics.

Alumnus Ferdinand Essizewa said the program’s fundraising and mentorship model helps support future students.

“We understood how important this was - not just for us, but for the organization itself and for future generations,” Essizewa said.

As federal funding remains uncertain, UMLP leaders said expanding scholarships and strengthening community partnerships will remain central to helping more Lehman students graduate.

The Urban Male Leadership Program supports students at Lehman College by strengthening academic skills, leadership development and personal growth. With a focus on historically underrepresented Black and Latino males, the program aims to improve retention and graduation rates while fostering a strong sense of community, making events like the annual brunch a critical investment in student success.

Lehman College Faculty Begins Initiative to Experiment with AI Education

Image from Wikimedia, by JPxG

By Savon Williams

On Feb. 20, a meeting held for Lehman College’s AI Month demonstrated ways AI can be integrated into the classroom through a series of experiments showcasing new, inventive implementations.

According to data from Campbell Academic Technology Services, on 
average, students are using AI more than faculty, leading to a difference in use of up to 40%. The experiments by the faculty present an opportunity to bridge how education is evolving within a year. The goal of these experiments is to highlight the importance of students’ original ideas and develop new ways to encourage students to think critically.

“I strongly encourage students to experiment, but also privilege and 
prioritize your point of view,” said Asma Neblett, student support 
and academic resource specialist and facilitator for the first AI Month 
event. The series of experiments feature new, inventive implementations that show potential in classroom use.

Nicole Walker, a Lehman adjunct lecturer for English composition, conducted an experiment that involved creating an application that 
would visualize a series of thought processes of each student for the purpose of highlighting the importance of a student’s own personal capabilities of output in comparison to the process of using AI. The application was created through long conversations between ChatGPT and Claude, but the result had a mixture of compilations.

When asked about the concerns about using AI, Nicole Walker said, “It’s hard not to think of the ethical repercussions. At the same time, I do feel that I need to get ahead of it.”

Patricia Gonzalez Periche, a Lehman chemistry lecturer, presented 
an experiment that involved using AI to grade open-ended questions 
for a class of more than 100 students. The results of the AI grading 
were compared to a series of other professors who were used as the 
control group. The scoring between the human and AI grading resulted in similar outcomes, although the AI avoided scores that were too high or too low, even if the professors agreed that a student deserved that grade.

While ChatGPT offered a variable experience as a grader, Periche noted that students may not be fond of the idea of professors using their grades for an AI tool, saying, “Are the students going to be OK with us inputting their responses if we decide to use this in our classrooms?”

John DeLooper, a Lehman online learning librarian, informed the panel on the difficulties of searching in the era of web browsing-integrated search engines. “There’s a greatly increased need to examine searches critically,” said DeLooper. “It’s harder to find whether there’s a consensus of ideas or lack thereof.” 

By assuming the role of a student during his presentation, DeLooper 
argued that inclusion in these AI systems is an involuntary practice that must be acknowledged.

Syrian Documentary Shows What ‘Disappeared’ Means

Still from Portrait of Michel by Christine Gedeon

by Daniella Billini

On Dec. 8, the first anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, the departments of Journalism and Media Studies and English screened A Portrait of Michel, a riveting and eyeopening film that allows the audience to experience a glimpse of what took place under that regime, followed by a Q&A with the director. The 44-minute documentary unfolds the life of Dr. Michel Saadé, who was forcibly disappeared in 1978 by security forces of the Assad regime, and the investigation of the documents he left behind in France, Lebanon, and Syria, pursued by his niece, the Syrian-American director of the film, Christine Gedeon.

By centering Michel’s personal life and the hole his disappearance made in his extended family, the fi lm sketches lightly but clearly the cruelty of the Assad regime, which ruled Syria for more than 50 years and was known for forced disappearances, torture, strict surveillance, and many more horrors. In early 2011, Syrians took inspiration from protests across the region known as the Arab Spring, and started their own mass protests against Bashar alAssad, the son of Hafez alAssad, who ruled from 1971 to 2000. These demonstrations were met with the mass killing and arrest of protesters, which fueled the uprising and became the Syrian civil war. After the regime fell on Dec. 8, 2024, the Human Rights Foundation estimated that more than 150,000 people were forcibly disappeared, and another 306,887 civilians were killed between 2011 and 2021.

Watching the film, I was deeply moved by the level of craftsmanship and thought that went into telling such a story as this. Mostly in black and white, except for some older footage that came from an 8mm family fi lm, the documentary does not follow a linear timeline of events. Rather, it deploys a poetic mode that feels more like a montage of photos chronicling the life of Michel. Along with the mainly black-and-white footage, the sound design was also stark. Unlike conventional films, there was no music.

Gedeon, the director, stated that it purposely did not include music because adding music along with the interviews and text in the film “would feel so forced.” Its use of silences between the texts of the interviews makes the viewer slow down and take the time to process what was really going on. “I wanted people to reflect,” she explained, “and look at that object, and that piece of paper.”

“Christine Gedeon committed to doing the brave work to help find closure for her and her family.” — Kris Aponte, Lehman sophomore in Education

Kris Aponte, a Lehman sophomore in Education, said, “The silence signified moments of despair, as well as acceptance for a family that may never have answers. Christine Gedeon committed to doing the brave work to help find closure for her and her family, and did so graciously.” Another student who attended the screening, Christopher Crum, said, “It was emotional, creative, and really grabs its viewers' attention.”

“I am highly delighted that the Lehman faculty was able to show this documentary as many times films like these are shown for the first time internationally,” said James Mahon, the dean of Lehman’s School of Arts and Humanities. “The black and white of the film is very reminiscent of old Hollywood movies.”

Gedeon added that the fall of the regime had made it possible for her to show the fi lm inside Syria, which would have been unthinkable over a year ago. “I actually showed this fi lm in Aleppo, and many people told me that they know someone who has been disappeared.” The story of Dr. Michel Saadé is only one of many stories that have been told, but there are many others that haven’t.

Lightning Strikes Again as Lehman Claims CUNYAC Soccer Title

Caption: Players celebrating with Muneum Alhassan (number 22), the goalscorer of the match, after the fi nal whistle (Photo Credit: Adolfo Miliano)

By: Dylan Febus

Three years after taking their last title, the Lehman Men’s Soccer Team won their 5th collective CUNYAC championship after defeating the City College of New York (CCNY) in the final on Nov. 8 at York College. A single goal was scored by Muneum Alhassan in the 70th minute, which was all the team needed to take home the win.

“We were all locked in. We fought so hard to reach this game,” said Ashraf Abubakar, the highest goal scorer for the men’s team in 2025 with 6 goals and 1 assist to his name. “It’s my first season, and I’m the top scorer. I am happy. I didn’t reach it because it was only me; it was all teamwork.”

Led by coach Toma Gojcevic, the team has made it to four overall finals in the last 5 years and won 2 of them. The Lightning’s record in the 2025 season was 10 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses, and their CUNYAC record was 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. The Lightning also had the best defensive record of the season, with only 12 goals conceded throughout the championship, while the highest goal contributor on the team was Brandon Dennis, with 3 goals and 4 assists.

Brandon and his twin brother, Cameron, spoke about their contributions to the team’s win. “I have to give all my praise to my teammates,” Brandon said. “All I do is ensure that, as a team, we are doing well. I just want to see the team be successful.”

Cameron doubled down on his brother’s claim about the team’s chemistry. “To be honest, this team has been one of the best teams I’ve been in since I’ve been at Lehman.” These points by the Dennis brothers demonstrate the heart and system of the Lightning, combining the team’s chemistry and work ethic into being the best team they could be.

The MVP of the championship match was awarded to defender Lance Brdaric, an international student from Düsseldorf, Germany. “This [win] is not because of me; this is because of the whole team,” he said. “This is just the reflection of the entire squad. I am happy about it, but this has nothing to do with me specifically; this is all the team.” Like his teammates, Brdaric made it clear that the Lightning’s combined effort and dedication are what
led to the win. He added, “Coach ‘G’ is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. He brought me here. He’s the reason why I am here, and I couldn’t be happier today.”

Toma Gojcevic is the head coach of both the men’s and women’s soccer teams at Lehman and the person responsible for this year’s championship. After achieving his 4th title with the men’s team since joining the squad in 2014, Gojcevic credited the team for the hard work they put in. “We have a great balance in the team; there are no issues, everybody loves everybody, everybody pushes one another, and it’s been a really special year.”

Their job wasn’t finished, however, as their next objective of emerging victorious in the 1st round of the NCAA Division III Tournament had yet to be accomplished. No CUNY soccer team has made it past the first round of the NCAA tournament, and this has been Gojcevic’s goal since the start of the season. “The first time we met as a team to practice, we sat down for 15–20 minutes: our goal was to get to that final, win the final and get into the NCAA tournament,” Gojcevic said.

The Men’s Soccer team ended their season Nov. 15 after falling short to Wesleyan University in the NCAA Tournament. Although their objective of clearing the first round of the NCAA wasn’t reached, the Lightning will be the team to beat next season as they defend their CUNYAC title.

“This is not because of me; this is because of the whole team.” — Lance Brdaric, international student from Düsseldorf, Germany, and Lehman Lightning’s MVP of 2025.

Lehman’s Flag Football Offers a Field of Opportunity

Lehman students participating in a game of Flag Football in Harris Park. (Photo credit: Brandon Coombs)

By Dylan Febus

Safiyah Dimson created the Lehman Flag Football Club a year ago to center
teamwork, inclusion and competition. Open to anyone willing to participate
regardless of skill level, the club has gathered a steady following since its
inception, with over 40 students getting involved.

Dimson stated that she always had a hand in sports throughout her academic career through volleyball and flag football, with the latter being her first sport. “That just ended up being a sport I ended up liking,” she said. Then she “came to Lehman and saw there was no football, no
nothing … there were no other outside activities.” Once she started the club
and became its president, she gained three recruits.

One was Aaron Recalde, the club’s vice president, wide receiver and recruiter. In terms of recruitment, Recalde said he “meets people where they’re at” by understanding someone’s skill level or feelings toward the
club and discussing how he managed to overcome certain adversities that allowed him to assist members of the club. “I ask them how open they are to playing football … if they say they don’t have experience, I tell them, ‘Me too.’ I don’t want them to feel singled out.”

One measure taken by the board to ensure every member has time to
participate is holding club meetings on Friday afternoons, with the goal being for members to show up for the group itself. “Who wants to come to school on a Friday? I believe that it’s because we created something,” Dimson said.

As the year progresses, the board for the Flag Football Club is looking to host events on and off campus to continue growing the club’s popularity. The club is always interested in newcomers who want to help establish the club’s presence and legitimize the sport as an official team at Lehman. Dimson stated, “This semester, I want to ensure that we grow our social media presence … I really love the idea [of being a CUNY sport].” The
existence of a club like this brings about an opportunity to change the landscape of CUNY sports, and Dimson hopes that it will begin at Lehman College.

Undergrad Majors & Minors Fair Orients Students

By Mahdi Mahi

On Oct. 23, students filled the Apex gym building to explore the academic programs Lehman offers at the college’s annual Undergraduate Majors and Minors Fair. Hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Academic
Advisement (OUAA), the fair was designed to help students discover different majors, minors and career pathways that match their goals and interests. The event featured staff, advisers and student representatives
who handed out pamphlets and answered questions.

For Aliyah Alisa, a nursing major, the event was a great aid. “I already knew I
wanted to go into nursing, but talking to the faculty helped me understand
what classes I should focus on and how to prepare for the clinical...It made
me feel more confident about the path I've chosen.” Alisa added that the fair
also helped her build a network of support. “I spoke with a few upperclassmen who told me what to expect during clinical rotations.
Hearing from other students who had gone through the same experience makes it feel less intimidating.”

Some students came to confirm their choices, while others were searching
for direction. Mariana Ceesay, a computer information systems (CIS) major, said she wasn't sure if she had chosen the right field, but the fair helped her see the possibilities within her major. She explained, “Before coming to the fair I thought CIS was just about coding. After speaking with one
of the faculty I learned it’s a mix of technology and business. There are so
many career options from data analysis to system management. That made
me even more excited about what I'm studying.”

She also discovered valuable information about development opportunities. “One of the department advisers told me about the internship programs that connect[ed] with my field. The fair really opened my eyes as it’s not just about taking classes, it’s about getting experience that prepares us for real jobs.”

For Eric Santiago, a business administration major, the fair provided a clear picture of how his coursework connects to his career goals. He shared, “I've always been interested in business and entrepreneurship. I got to talk to the faculty from the economics and business department who
explained how the courses I'm taking now build the foundation for management and finance careers.” That made him think more seriously about going to graduate school after Lehman. Santiago said the event also
revealed new academic options he hadn't considered before. “I didn't realize there were so many different paths in business administration. Learning that I could focus on marketing or management made me feel
like I have more control over shaping my education.”

Sakib Uddin Shiker, a psychology major who works as a college assistant for the Office of Undergraduate Academic Advisement, worked at the fair. He remarked, “My advice [for] students would be to plan ahead and not wait until the last moment on anything. They should be getting early advisement before registration starts and should pick their majors ASAP so that their
goals are clearer and can lead to a smoother journey.”

Beyond academic exploration, the fair fostered a strong sense of community, with students from different disciplines sharing experiences and supporting one another. “Even though we all have different majors, we’re going through similar experiences trying to find what fits best for us,” Ceesay said. “The fair showed me that college is not just about getting a degree. It's about exploring who you are and what you want to become,” Alisa said. “It's nice to know that Lehman gives us the tools to figure that out.”

“Even though we all have different majors, we’re going through similar experiences trying to find what fits best for us.” — Mariana Ceesay, CIS major

CUNY Doubles Down on Support for Immigrant Students

By Gilbert Areizaga

This year, in response to immigration policy changes made by the current federal administration, the City University of New York, or CUNY, launched the CUNY Immigration Assistance Project, or CIAP, whose services provide free immigration and legal support to CUNY students and their families. Dr. Jermaine Wright, the vice president of Student Affairs, was among the staff who worked closely in the project’s development and commented,
“This is an important initiative and a tremendous resource for our students and their families. This program reflects CUNY’s deep commitment to supporting immigrant students and ensuring that every member of our diverse community has the opportunity to pursue their educational goals.”

Immigration services already existed at CUNY, but with the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants, some students are now at greater risk of deportation. While CUNY’s Citizenship Now! program aids students in becoming citizens, gaining citizenship for their family, renewing immigration documents and more, CIAP complements these preexisting
services by providing help in more time-sensitive situations like court hearings, detainment and travel.

Immigrant and undocumented students account for a sizable portion of CUNY’s student population, and Lehman College has also  begun to increase support for immigrant students. On Tuesday, Oct. 7, the school hosted a webinar by the Immigration Defense Project, or IDP, called “Keeping Our Communities Safe,” which focused on what to do when confronting Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, agents.

The linchpin of this presentation was the message “We Keep Each Other Safe.” Led by William Depoo, an organizer working with the IDP, the meeting gave brief historical background on U.S. immigration policies and agencies before reviewing how ICE operates, including how agents choose who
to pursue and what tactics they use to detain someone. Depoo followed that with a “Know Your Rights” presentation, laying out what rights citizens, regardless of immigration status, are able to invoke in the home, in their car and in public. The section included scripts and information about what
ICE can and cannot do. Depoo made a point to tell the participants, “Do not
leave any passports or foreign documents at home.” In the event of a search, any documents found can be used in court hearings. These could be hurtful to someone’s case, especially if ICE has access to other records like court dates and previous addresses.

Depoo also explained what someone should do if they or someone they know is detained, including instructions on the best way to act in the moment and resources such as ICE’s detainee locator. He emphasized the need for a safety plan, as well as a strong urge to refuse to sign any documents or speak to agents before seeing a lawyer.

Depoo closed with what to do if someone is a witness to ICE activity. In reporting an ICE incident, he advised that bystanders should supply all parts of the acronym SALUTE, which stands for size, activity, location, units/
uniforms, time and equipment. He also reviewed citizens’ rights, such as the
right to record, what ICE is legally allowed to ask of you if they confront you
and what not to do during a confrontation, like reaching for your pocket.

“We want Lehman students to know that we are committed to supporting them on their journey to degree completion and will work to mobilize our resources to ensure they have the support they need to succeed,” said Suzette Ramsundar, director of Campus Life.

“We want Lehman students to know that we are committed to supporting them on their journey.” — Suzette Ramsundar, director of Campus Life

Lehman Students Donate Blood to Save Lives

By Mahdi Mahi

On Nov. 13 in the Music Building East Dining Room, Lehman College once again served the Bronx community with a campus-wide blood drive, open to all students, faculty, staff and local community members. Organized by the Student Government Association (SGA), the Nursing Students Association (NSA) and the Minority Association of PreHealth Students (MAPS), the event continues a longstanding Lehman tradition rooted in community service
and public health advocacy.

The urgency for these donations has increased since the New York Blood Center (NYBC) recently declared a blood emergency, citing a sharp drop in local donations and dangerously low reserves, particularly for type O blood, a universal type essential in emergencies. Currently, their inventory for O- has dropped to a critically low 2-day supply, while overall collections are nearly 20% below hospital demand. In New York, blood remains a lifeline, with the NYBC reporting that nearly 2,000 donations are needed every day in the New York/New Jersey area to support patients in need, from trauma
victims and surgery patients to cancer patients, newborns and women giving birth.

“This is one of the most impactful events Lehman College hosts each semester,” said Emily Santos, a senior nursing major. “I can see students who are nervous, students who are excited and students who have never donated before. But once they realize they’re helping save lives, you see
their whole attitude change.”

Carlos Martinez, a biology major at Lehman, said he sees the event as both a service and a learning experience. “A lot of us here are going into healthcare, so understanding the importance of blood donations is huge,”
he said. “But beyond that, it shows how powerful community action can be. Lehman isn’t just a college, we’re part of the Bronx and we take that responsibility seriously.”

Students who volunteer also feel deeply connected to the mission. Volunteers help check in donors, guide them through the process and provide emotional support to first-time donors. All donors were encouraged to bring a photo ID, eat food beforehand and stay hydrated. “It’s powerful to witness someone’s first donation,” said one student volunteer. “Their nervousness turns into pride.” 

Students who have participated in past years continue to highlight how meaningful the experience is. “I donated for the first time last spring,” recalled Ariana Patel, a sophomore student at Lehman. “I was scared, but the volunteers were so supportive, and afterward I felt proud. Knowing that your blood could save someone’s life … it hits differently. That’s why I’m coming back again this year.”

Because of this tradition, Lehman’s SGA, NSA and MAPS have increased outreach by distributing flyers, visiting classrooms and speaking with student clubs. Their goal is not just to reach a target number of donations
but to educate the community about blood shortages and how even small actions like one donation make a big difference. As Lehman continues its legacy of public service, this blood drive is a powerful reminder that ordinary people - students, neighbors and friends - can make extraordinary contributions that strengthen local hospitals, support emergency care and build a more resilient health system for the Bronx and all of New York City.

“Even one donation can help multiplet people,” said student Jason Nguyen. “We want everyone to understand why these shortages happen and how they can become regular donors, not just at Lehman, but for years to come.”

“Once they realize they’re helping save lives, you see their whole attitude change.” - Emily Santos, senior nursing major

Club Presidents’ Summit Planted Seeds of Growth

Student leaders gathered in front of the Student Life Building • Photo by Mildred Perez

By Iffath Liaquat

At the close of the fall semester, many student leaders are still fond of the
lessons and insights they received three months earlier at the Club Presidents’ Summit. Held on Sept. 19 in the Student Life Building, it was
meant to aid student leaders in their pursuits at Lehman.

Looking back on the impact the event had, Omadai Sukul, president of the Spoken Word & Speech Language Pathology Club (SWSLP), said, “As a student leader, I feel supported thanks to Mr. Charcape, Ms. Ramsundar
and Mr. Gasque for helping me transform my ideas to life.”

Her biggest takeaway was the speech given by Dr. Moyagaye Bedward, the
assistant director of Campus Honors and Scholar’s Engagement (CHASE).
“She spoke about taking advantage of scholarships from the Office of
Prestigious Awards. They have different scholarships available for [all students], no matter their standing.”

At the summit, Bedward encouraged everyone to visit the office.

“As student leaders, you know what it’s like to put in the extra effort and not just commute to and from the college, which we all appreciate,” she said. “When I was a student at Queens College, I didn’t know about the available resources at my campus, but I was practically raised by [the Office of Campus Life]. By using my experience from being involved in many clubs,
I was able to receive a lot of awards to help pay the cost of graduate school.”

Bedward also shared multiple stories about previous student leaders at Lehman who had won prestigious awards, one such example being Emile Zounon. “He’s on the cover of the flyer advertising this event. He was a part of SGA and advocated for some important changes, such as the increase of SGA members’ pay. [Zounon] during his time at Lehman was accepted into the Schwarzman program [a highly competitive business study abroad
opportunity], which helped his application to Harvard.”

Suzette Ramsundar, director of Student Life, invited each attendee to share a little bit about themselves, then introduced three special guests. “Please welcome the Vice President and Assistant Vice President
of Student Affairs, Dr. Wright and Dr. Walker. And finally, Dr. Delgado, president of Lehman College. These people took some time off their busy schedules, some of them even missing some meetings, so please give them a warm welcome.” Each guest then shared their own personal experiences from college and gave the leaders their support and acknowledgement.

Reviewing what stuck with him from the summit, Anthony Stone, secretary of the Earth/EEGS Club and treasurer of the Boxing Club, said, “I learned [from the event] about cooperating with others, organizing events and volunteering in the community. The advice for the other students would
be to love life to the fullest, keep moving forward and don’t let your dreams be dreams, make them real.”

For Sukul, her learning process of opening up to other students was what
she wanted to pass on to her peers. “My advice is to give others the opportunity to get to know you,” she reflected. “I was so introverted
and didn’t network when I was a freshman and sophomore. Unknowingly to me, I doubted myself and thought I didn’t fit in because of my ethnicity and culture.”

Preston Blake, a student leader at ColorStack x CS Club and BoxingKaraoke, agreed. “You’re a part of something greater at Lehman, so be your best self and lead with power and pride.”

“Give others the opportunity to get to know you.” - Omadai Sukul, president of SWSLP

Experience Required: Lehman Helps Students Get a Foot in the Door

Image from Lehman College Website

By Rachael Guzman

Genier Medina, a high school senior interested in attending Lehman College, said he finds the prospect of entering the job market intimidating. “I am afraid of entering this new chapter of my life with no experience in my future interest in work. What if it ends up not being what I really want to do? I have no way of testing the waters without the opportunity for experience.”

In response to the fears and challenges students face in securing meaningful professional experience during their time in college, Lehman College’s Career Exploration and Development Center is taking active steps to help bridge the gap. On Nov. 24 at 2 p.m., the center hosted a “How to Land Your Internship” virtual workshop designed to provide students with practical strategies to navigate the competitive internship market.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 66.9% of
2024 graduating seniors participated in an internship during their college
careers and had undergraduate starting salaries of about $70,000, highlighting the utility of internships.

Luisiana Baez-Canela, senior internship specialist at Lehman College’s Career Exploration and Development Center, explained during the workshop that “when you’re applying for internships, remember you must follow the company’s recruitment schedule, not your own. So, you want to start applying at least one semester prior to when you want to do the internship — not one semester before you graduate.” To make the process easier, she broke securing an internship down into four steps.

“The first step of the process includes asking yourself questions like: What is it that you’re looking for? What do you want to get out of your internship?” After identifying “specific skills and competencies that are important for the career field you want to go into,” she recommended
making a list of organizations offering internships. “The internships at large
companies are going to be more competitive because more people are applying for those roles, so it’s important to be realistic about your expectations.” Lastly, she said a career specialist can help tailor a resume before it is submitted.

Fanta Fofana, a junior at Lehman College, said this structured approach helped her reframe a process that had left her feeling lost and alone. “I have found it very challenging to secure internships and a job. Going
through the interview process, I feel that I did well, but once I get an email
back that I wasn’t qualified for the position, it hurts differently. Most of the time you think about what you possibly did wrong during the interview process that you weren’t able to secure a spot,” she said.

“Lehman College helps provide enough support in helping students find real world experience. Students just need to be willing to ask professors about other opportunities that can help them out in the real world. Another example of events they have are career fairs, where they encourage students to come and connect with employers for job and internship opportunities.”

Medina concurred. “It brings me comfort knowing that I am going to a school that cares about helping me succeed after I leave their campus. Workshops like that tell me that Lehman does care and add another reason why I want to attend.”

“Students just need to be willing to ask professors about any other opportunities that can help them out in the real world” - Fanta Fofana, Lehman College junior.

The Infiltrators Shines a Beacon of Hope in Dire Times

Protesters in Times Square gather to demonstrate against ICE and deportations. The sign reads: Stop the deportations: Immigrants are not criminals!
Shot by SWinxy.

By Eli Kowar

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, Hostos Community College in the Bronx screened the Sundance Award-winning film The Infiltrators and featured a discussion with Marco Saavedra, the man centered in the film.

Using a mix of real footage shot by the National Immigrant Youth Alliance, or NIYA, and re-enactments of what happened behind detention center walls, the docudrama follows Saavedra and NIYA member Viridiana “Viri” Martinez, who turned themselves in to Border Patrol to infiltrate the Broward Detention Center in Florida in order to expose its practices. Many NIYA members fell under the criteria for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, better known as DACA, yet they were still at risk of being deported.

Why put themselves in this situation? NIYA’s leader, Mohammad Abdollahi, explained, “The one thing that every undocumented kid is told: ‘If you see a police officer, run and hide, because you could get turned over to immigration.’ What we learned is that to actually have power as an immigrant, you have to do the exact opposite. Once we had the safety of knowing that we could not be deported, we had infinite possibilities.”

The Infiltrators gives insight into what it is like to be treated as a criminal for simply existing. The detainees are, more often than not, people who don’t understand the system and don’t have the financial means to afford experienced lawyers who do. 

Many of them spend years behind bars for no crime at all, awaiting their turn to be escorted onto a plane and deported back home — a warzone for some, a death sentence for others. With support from NIYA, Saavedra and Martinez were able to free up to 70 other undocumented immigrants.

In a time when anti-immigrant sentiment has run rampant, and the current administration is openly targeting undocumented immigrants and allegedly kidnapping them off the streets in broad daylight, the film offers a ray of hope. Christina Torres, a recent BCC graduate, former secretary of anti-racism club Common Ground, and one of the event’s organizers, said, “This film [is] so relevant for today’s political climate as immigrants are under attack with little to no legal protections. ... Immigrant hate has always been prevalent in American history. However, I do think that the underlying theme of organizing, specifically student organizing, should be discussed more. Many people, young and old, often feel helpless in regard to the wrongdoings of our governments. Marco and Viri were fearless and selfless when they infiltrated the detention center, and it is that fearlessness we all need to follow and aspire to.”

Torres encouraged students to take “Know Your Rights” cards o share amongst their peers, and her passion and vocal courage embodied what The Infiltrators represents. “I believe racist immigration policy is not new — it’s part of the history of this country and capitalist exploitation,” said Joan Beckerman, adjunct lecturer at Hostos, faculty advisor of Common Ground and member of the Hostos BX Action Committee who also helped make the event possible. “But the movement to defend immigrants and stand up against ICE is so necessary!”

During a post-film discussion, Saavedra, who now runs his family’s restaurant La Morada in the Bronx, said, “I think that when you are detained, the temptation is depression and to just shut down, and I think also we were trying to leverage the fact that you tried everyone. You tried the pro-bono attorneys ... you tried to be nice to your ICE agent; you tried to talk to the judge. What do you have to lose if you believe in organizing? It’s a big jump, but the choice is there. It’s also just to restore that agency to the individual, to say there is still something you can do.”

“What do you have to lose if you believe in organizing?” - MARCO SAAVEDRA, ONE OF THE INFILTRATORS’ PROTAGONISTS

Smart Cities Opens the Next Chapter of Creative Expression

Time of Red seven channel video installation
Photo by: Danielle Rodriguez

By Danielle Rodriguez 

Walking into the Smart Cities exhibit felt like stepping into a sensory vortex, an electrifying collision of light, sound and digital architecture that left me both overwhelmed and intrigued. Initially, the idea of AI-enhanced art made me uneasy: Was this the beginning of art’s dehumanization? Would machines replace the soul of creation with soulless algorithms?

But Smart Cities doesn’t erase the human, it reframes it. It invites us to reconsider the role of technology not as a threat, but as a tool. The exhibit doesn’t glorify AI; it integrates it, challenges it and ultimately reclaims it for the artist.

Bartholomew Bland, Lehman College’s art director, empathized with this tension. “Smart Cities encompasses the urban experience and the technology that is taking over the art space,” Bland said. “AI poses a great challenge to artists of our time as they have to now struggle with how to respond to AI when it devalues their skills. It brings to question why would you need a person to create anything for you when all you need is a good enough prompt to generate anything you want.”

One particularly provocative piece highlighted this conflict through the repurposing of photographs taken in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster. “These images,” Bland explained, “have since been scrubbed and reconfigured by AI to generate maps for video games and other digital media. When AI reuses such emotionally and historically charged material, does it diminish the lived experience it was meant to preserve?” Bland’s commentary invites reflection on how AI’s capacity to remix existing works may challenge not only artistic integrity but also the ethical boundaries of intellectual property.

Curator Naivy Perez offered a more tempered perspective. “There’s a lot of spectacle around AI,” she said, “but at the end of the day, it is just a tool.” For Perez, technology is no different than oil paint or charcoal — it’s a medium, not a menace. “I’d love to see more shows like Smart Cities in contemporary spaces,” she added, “but without the sensationalism. I want it to be more meaningful and less like a gimmick.”

That openness to innovation was especially evident in younger viewers like Lismar, a Lehman student who embraced the exhibit’s fusion of art and technology. “I felt that the show was really interesting. It defied my expectations on what an art show would be,” she said. “It was a lot more interactive than I was expecting and I learned a lot about architecture and the new age of technical art.” For Lismar, Smart Cities wasn’t a threat to traditional art; it was a gateway to deeper engagement that made her want “to see more digital shows in contemporary museums. These kinds of shows have so many more elements to them and give artists more tools to work with than traditional still mediums.”

Fellow attendee Saralinda Lichtblau approached the exhibit with curiosity and reflection. “With AI we have to learn how to identify it so that we can learn from it and so that it can learn from us,” she explained. “Artists must maintain their skills and craft so that they can better integrate AI in their creative process and enhance their creative visions.”

Camille Eskell, art curator, raised critical questions about the nature of AI and art. “I find AI art as a double-edged sword,” she said. “It can be so realistic that it is difficult to tell what is real and what is fake, but as a tool it can be a great way for artists to enhance their vision. But it can never replace the heart and soul of an actual human artist. It can be mesmerizing, but it is almost like entertainment and begs the question of is it art or is it entertainment? Is the future of art to be both art and entertainment?”

Smart Cities doesn’t offer easy answers. It neither pretends AI is harmless nor demonizes it. Instead, it presents a landscape in flux, one where artists must adapt, evolve and assert their humanity in the face of technological transformation

What struck me most was how the exhibit reframed my own skepticism. I entered fearing that AI would strip art of its soul. I left believing that, in the right hands, it could amplify it. Anyone can type a prompt, but only an artist can push the boundaries of creation. Smart Cities proves that when AI is wielded as a medium, not an entity, it can become a canvas for human ingenuity.

“AI…can never replace the heart and soul of an actual human artist.” - CAMILLE ESKELL, ART CURATOR

The Artist Becomes the Tool: The Impact of AI in the Art Worl

Machine Hallucinations by Refik Anadol, an art installation that ran from September 5th, 2019 to February 5th  2020 at Artechouse NYC, that utilized A.I. algorithms in a form of 'data painting.'

By Eli Kowar

Two new galleries, Offline and Heft, launched in April on the Lower East Side and specialize in digital art, or “NFTs, non-fungible tokens,” and AI art. However, AI is divisive in the art world. While some believe it is a tool that will open a world of possibilities for artists, others believe that the use of AI in creative fields devalues human talent and lacks the depth and complexity that human-made art has, and maintain the position that NFTs pose a 
danger to the average digital artist’s livelihood.

Quite a few artists have claimed that their own art has been stolen and is being minted as an NFT by 
someone else and sold on platforms like OpenSea and Twinci, which are notorious for being loosely regulated and plagued with scams, according to Jacklin Kwan in Wired magazine. The NFT marketplace is unregulated, and some artists have reported fraudulent sales, forcing these platforms to take the art down, only for scammers to reupload the stolen work elsewhere. These artists make nothing from these sales and instead are forced to keep an 
eye out for their own work on unauthorized marketplaces to prevent future theft, which is not realistic in the long term, as these artists often lack the time and resources to pursue legal action.

Another common critique of wholly AI-generated art is that although the work may look aesthetically pleasing, upon 
closer inspection it tends to be shallow, relying on patterns and repetition, making many generated pieces imitations of more complex art. David Schwittek, an associate professor of art at Lehman College, said, “AI only repackages the human creativity in its training data — it has no integrity, no lived experience, no conscience. Human artists also synthesize influences, but we do so through intuition, error, emotion, and often from places even we can’t fully explain. AI’s process is purely programmatic. While the outputs may look creative, they lack the depth and meaning that comes from being made by a living, feeling person.

In short, AI only outputs what it is fed and what it is trained on. As AI art generators grow in popularity, artists face a new form of theft: theft of art to be scanned to train these tools to mimic their styles.

But how can artists opposed to AI generators being trained on their work without their permission protect themselves?

Jonah Brucker-Cohen, an award-winning artist and associate professor at Lehman College, said: “Artists have a few ways to keep AI from training on their art. They can use tech tricks, legal options, and team up with others. Adding copyright info or Do Not Train tags to files tells everyone who owns it and what they want. Also, tools like Glaze and Nightshade can mess with images just enough to confuse AI. Putting work on sites that block scrapers is a good idea, and sending takedown notices if someone uses your work without asking also helps. Joining groups that push for clear rules about how AI datasets are made can make a difference too. It’s about owning your work, deciding where it goes, and making sure AI needs your permission to use it.

“It’s about owning your work, deciding where it goes, and making sure AI needs your permission to use it.” - JONAH BRUCKER-COHEN, AWARD-WINNING ARTIST AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT LEHMAN COLLEGE

When asked if he thought that AI would devalue the time and skill of a human artist, Bartholemew Bland, executive director of the Lehman College Art Gallery, responded, “There is still the desire for the artist’s hand in work. So, whether it’s a print or a lithograph ... or whether it’s a photograph or poster of something, there’s always this sort of distancing from the hand and the desire to see the hand sort of make ... somewhat sort of religious desire to make the object precious. And that’s very powerful, I think ... I don’t know that AI necessarily undercuts that.”

Simply put, the need to create is human. No AI can take that away from us.

CUNY Doubles Down on Support for Immigrant Students

CIAP Banner

By Gilbert Areizaga

This year, in response to immigration policy changes made by the current federal administration, the City University of New York, or CUNY, launched the CUNY Immigration Assistance Project, or CIAP, whose services provide free immigration and legal support to CUNY students and their families. Dr. Jermaine Wright, the vice president of Student Affairs, was among the staff who worked closely in the project’s development and commented, “This is an important initiative and a tremendous resource for our students and their families. This program reflects CUNY’s deep commitment to supporting immigrant students and ensuring that every member of our diverse community has the opportunity to pursue their educational goals.”

Immigration services already existed at CUNY, but with the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants, some students are now at greater risk of deportation. While CUNY’s Citizenship Now! program aids students in becoming citizens, gaining citizenship for their family, renewing immigration documents and more, CIAP complements these preexisting services by providing help in more time-sensitive situations like court hearings, detainment and travel.

“We want Lehman students to know that we are committed to supporting them on their journey.” — SUZETTE RAMSUNDAR, DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS LIFE

Immigrant and undocumented students account for a sizable portion of CUNY’s student population, and Lehman College has also begun to increase support for immigrant students. On Tuesday, Oct. 7, the school hosted a webinar by the Immigration Defense Project, or IDP, called “Keeping Our Communities Safe,” which focused on what to do when confronting Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, agents.

The linchpin of this presentation was the message “We Keep Each Other Safe.” Led by William Depoo, an organizer working with the IDP, the meeting gave brief historical background on U.S. immigration policies and agencies before reviewing how ICE operates, including how agents choose who to pursue and what tactics they use to detain someone. Depoo followed that with a “Know Your Rights” presentation, laying out what rights citizens, regardless of immigration status, are able to invoke in the home, in their car and in public. The section included scripts and information about what ICE can and cannot do. Depoo made a point to tell the participants, “Do not leave any passports or foreign documents at home.” In the event of a search, any documents found can be used in court hearings. These could be hurtful to someone’s case, especially if ICE has access to other records like court dates and previous addresses.

Depoo also explained what someone should do if they or someone they know is detained, including instructions on the best way to act in the moment and resources such as ICE’s detainee locator. He emphasized the need for a safety plan, as well as a strong urge to refuse to sign any documents or speak to agents before seeing a lawyer.

Depoo closed with what to do if someone is a witness to ICE activity. In reporting an ICE incident, he advised that bystanders should supply all parts of the acronym SALUTE, which stands for size, activity, location, units/uniforms, time and equipment. 

He also reviewed citizens’ rights, such as the right to record, what ICE is legally allowed to ask of you if they confront you and what not to do during a confrontation, like reaching for your pocket.

“We want Lehman students to know that we are committed to supporting them on their journey to degree completion and will work to mobilize our resources to ensure they have the support they need to succeed,” said Suzette Ramsundar, director of Campus Life.

Undergrad Majors & Minors Fair Orients Students

Participants gathered at the fair • Image provided by the Lehman College Website

By Mahdi Mahdi

On Oct. 23, students filled the Apex gym building to explore the academic programs Lehman offers at the college’s annual Undergraduate Majors and Minors Fair. Hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Academic Advisement (OUAA), the fair was designed to help students discover different majors, minors and career pathways that match their goals and interests. The event featured staff, advisers and student representatives who handed out pamphlets and answered questions.

For Aliyah Alisa, a nursing major, the event was a great aid. “I already knew I wanted to go into nursing, but talking to the faculty helped me understand what classes I should focus on and how to prepare for the clinical...It made me feel more confident about the path I've chosen.”

Some students came to confirm their choices, while others were searching for direction. Mariana Ceesay, a computer information systems (CIS) major, said she wasn't sure if she had chosen the right field, but the fair helped her see the possibilities within her major. She explained, “Before coming to the fair I thought CIS was just about coding. After speaking with one of the faculty I learned it’s a mix of technology and business. There are so many career options from data analysis to system management. That made me even more excited about what I'm studying.”

She also discovered valuable information about development opportunities. “One of the department advisers told me about the internship programs that connect[ed] with my field. The fair really opened my eyes as it’s not just about taking classes, it’s about getting experience that prepares us for real jobs.”

“Even though we all have different majors, we’re going through similar experiences trying to find what fits best for us.” - MARIANA CEESAY, CIS MAJOR

For Eric Santiago, a business administration major, the fair provided a clear picture of how his coursework connects to his career goals. He shared, “I've always been interested in business and entrepreneurship. I got to talk to the faculty from the economics and business department who explained how the courses I'm taking now build the foundation for management and finance careers.” That made him think more seriously about going to graduate school after Lehman.

Santiago said the event also revealed new academic options he hadn't considered before. “I didn't realize there were so many different paths in business administration. Learning that I could focus on marketing or management made me feel like I have more control over shaping my education.

Sakib Uddin Shiker, a psychology major who works as a college assistant for the Office of Undergraduate Academic Advisement, worked at the fair. He remarked, “My advice [for] students would be to plan ahead and not wait until the last moment on anything. They should be getting early advisement before registration starts and should pick their majors ASAP so that their goals are clearer and can lead to a smoother journey.”

Beyond academic exploration, the fair fostered a strong sense of community, with students from different disciplines sharing experiences and supporting one another. “Even though we all have different majors, we’re going through similar experiences trying to find what fits best for us,” Ceesay said. 

“The fair showed me that college is not just about getting a degree. It's about exploring who you are and what you want to become,” Alisa said. “It's nice to know that Lehman gives us the tools to figure that out.”