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.”

Food Insecurity Grows as SNAP Pause Lengthens

Basic Needs Center Donating to Students

By Mahdi Mahi

From Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, when the federal government was subjected to the longest shutdown in its history, up to 42 million Americans faced disruptions in SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, which provides monthly assistance to help eligible individuals purchase groceries. In New York state alone, about 1.7 million households representing nearly 3 million people rely on these benefits, according to the USDA. At Lehman College, where more than half of students come from low-income or working-class families and nearly 48% of undergraduates experience food insecurity, according to the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute, the disruption hit hard. Even after the USDA announced partial restorations of benefits in some states on Nov. 6, the shutdown left many students unsure how they would afford food.

Baraka Corley, director of CUNY CARES at Lehman College, said, “We know how critical SNAP is for our students. When benefits are delayed or cut, it doesn’t just affect nutrition, it affects attendance, focus and academic success. Our office is working to make sure students know help is available right now through CUNY CARES emergency grants, the Lehman Food Bank and the Basic Needs Center.” The Lehman  College Food Bank, located in the Old Gymnasium Building, Room B015A on the basement level, provides free groceries including produce, canned goods and hygiene items to any enrolled student. Students can visit Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and appointments can be scheduled through the Lehman Navigate app.

According to Anthony Rivera, Lehman’s food bank coordinator, “We’ve already seen a 30% increase in student visits since the beginning of November. Students are worried, especially those who relied on SNAP for most of their meals. We’re trying to make sure no one goes hungry.

Students are still feeling the impact in their daily lives. Maria Gomez, a biology major, said, “SNAP made it possible for me to buy healthy food without worrying about the money. Now that it’s ending, I’ll probably have to cut back on meals or eat less nutritious food. It’s hard to study when you’re hungry.

Ahmed Rahman, an economics student, said, “I work part time and send money home to help my parents. Without SNAP I’ll have to pick up extra shifts. That means less time for classes and homework. The food bank has really helped, but it can’t replace a full month’s groceries.” 

Jasmin Lopez, a computer science major, said, “I didn’t expect this to happen right before the holidays. I’m grateful that Lehman has the food bank and CUNY CARES, but it’s still stressful not knowing if I’ll have enough food next week.”

 “The message we want to send is that help,” Rivera said. 

“Whether you need groceries for a meal or help applying for emergency aid, Lehman has programs ready to step in.

“It’s hard to study when you’re hungry.”- MARIA GOMEZ, LEHMAN BIOLOGY MAJOR

Students Dig In: Unearthing the Hidden History of the Enslaved African Burial Ground

Lehman students participating in Students Uplifting Ancestral Spaces.

By Soleil Hendy

Located in Van Cortlandt Park, along the eastern edge of the Kingsbridge Burial Ground, is a mass grave that was identified in 2019. Inside are bones of young children, men and women, the enslaved Africans who were worked to death on the Van Cortlandt plantation. Of utmost importance to the Van Cortlandt plantation’s day-to-day operations, these individuals were “responsible for its functions and economic gains for over a hundred years,” according to the NYC Parks website.

In unearthing this hidden history, Lehman students bring Black tragedies and accomplishments to the eyes of the world; in doing so, they break the generational cycle of Black stories going unknown and unheard. Audrey Adon, a winner of the Jeanette K. Watson scholarship and the current president of the Students Uplifting Ancestral Spaces club, is one of these student researchers.

“My first encounter with this history in the Bronx was a field trip in middle school. We’d gone to... [tour] Van Cortlandt [and] had gotten to the slave quarters,” she explained. “When I asked about it... they didn’t explain it all... It was the repeated indifference towards this that inspired me to become more involved in the project when the opportunity arose.”

Adon chose to work with SUAS to research and expose more of the stories of these individuals to the light of day, forcing society to engage with and recognize the lasting effects of slavery within America. She worked extensively with Dr. Moyagaye Bedward, assistant director of the Office of Prestigious Awards, and Professor Alice Augustine, founding director of Campus Honors and Student Engagement (CHASE). Together they combed through the amassed documents relating to the Enslaved African Burial Ground; in between archival research, the cohort of student researchers worked on the beautification of the grounds. Audrey said, “I was mostly digging for people’s names… I was given the task of finding people who lived in the Bronx specifically.”

Enslaved African Burial Grounds sign in Van Cortlandt Park

The individual that who stuck out to her most during research was Henry Bikes, an enslaved person owned by Lewis Morris--—part of the family Morrisania is named after—- -who lived to a remarkably old age: around 98 at the time of his death. “It was shocking at the time, especially for an enslaved person. He also fathered over 200 children, which means he was likely forced to procreate by the Morris family.”

The Lehman students and faculty’s research mainly revolves around the Valentine Varian family, with the recovery of a missive from their belongings suggesting the existence of enslaved people on their plantation, who were used as currency in the payment of the debt. Student researcher Anthony Johnson explained how the research was assigned.

"Paula [Swanzy] was doing working with diaries of people who were living there. Amna was doing topology. I did the house structure; how they built it and how they moved it across the street. How they uprooted it, and the structure of how they rebuilt it."

Amna Ishaq, the vice-president of SUAS, chimed in: "We are still in the process of researching, but the most interesting thing I discovered was how the identities of these individuals were stolen from them. These slave owners made their fortunes and grew their businesses on the back of these enslaved people.... but treated them as property."

SUAS members presented all the information at a panel inat a conference at Lehman College on May 13th, in collaboration with the Student Research Advisory Board (SRAB). “I really felt that we had accomplished something big," Amna said.

Augustine spoke about the connection between the hidden histories program and personal spiritual experiences she had while visiting Van Cortlandt Park. “I’ve been walking in this park for a very long time...When I started doing my research I was like ‘This is... [the Van Cortlandt family] burial plot’, and they had a plantation, so where were the bodies of the people that worked the land?”

When they finally had marked the plot of land in Van Cortlandt as the Burial Ground, Augustine would take students and colleagues on walks along Van Cortlandt trails, asking them to walk reverently in the presence of her ancestors.

“It started with Vani Kannan,” (who helped co-create the summer program in 2021, before Bedward assumed Kannan’s role. “[We] started this project because we walked here in the mornings, especially through the pandemic,” Augustine recalled with a kind smile, her enjoyment of her research and appreciation for her colleagues palpable. “I think the Bronx is everything. Even back then we were a haven for people who were resisting in their own way. In the only way they could.”

“WE WERE A HAVEN FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE RESISTING IN THEIR OWN WAY.”

--Michelle Augustine, founding director of CHASE

Inaugural Accessibility Fair Empowers Students

Students bringing awareness about the services available at CUNY

PHOTO CREDIT: VITORIA REIS

By Gilbert Areizaga  

Lehman College, in collaboration with their Student Disability Services (SDS), held their first-ever Accessibility Fair throughout the Lehman campus on August 26th and 27th. Booths featured Information about various disabilities, how Lehman can help students who qualified for disability services, and interactive activities for participants.

Additionally, third- party organizations such as Access VR and Bronx Independent Living Services were present with information and connections to their own resources for students who attended. The fair served not only to inform students about disabilities and how they affect people on a day-to-day basis, but also to highlight the number of resources available to students.

The genesis of this event started with Emily Willen, a master’s student at Lehman College who wears many hats, including Office Manager at the Student Government Association, Leadership Coordinator at the Office of Campus Life, and, in particular, a summer internship with the SDS center. This past summer she conceptualized this event, and, with her wide range of connections made it a reality.

A huge motivation for Willen’s was her own experience with disabilities. With conditions like dyslexia and arthritis, Willen found herself struggling in school. But, as Willen explained, “Accommodations really do make a difference in success. Since I've been getting accommodations, I've been a straight-A student.”

Willen said that stigmas and a lack of understanding of resources account for a sizable chunk of missing enrollments in disability services and college as a whole. Vitoria Reis, a student at Lehman who acted as a manager on-site for both sessions, concurred,. “When I entered Lehman, I don’t think I knew the challenges. I didn’t really know how to navigate it…I didn’t really know how they could help me.”

Student managing a table at the fair

“SO MANY STUDENTS ARE ASHAMED OF HAVING A DISABILITY BY THEIR NAME.”

--Emily Willen, a master’s student at Lehman College

The same rings true for Christian Chavez, a freshman at Lehman who, when asked if he knew about the offered services, said, “No. I saw the wheel chairswheelchairs and the ramps, and I thought, ‘Oh people who can’t walk or are paralyzed.’. But after seeing this it makes me realize that this school genuinely wants people to feel more welcome.”

To register for disability services, a student must first recognize that they have a disability. The fair sought to give visibility to these issues and their related services through tables highlighting different types of disabilities, including visual impairments, hearing, and energy. Some tables included an interactive experience, a core part of the fair that helped to start to "building that empathy," as Reis put it. One such experience was a blindness simulator, where participants wore blindfolds and tried to walk a short distance with a white cane. Another table had spoons that visitors could decorate and keep as part of a demonstration of spoon theory, a philosophy that helps illustrate how people with chronic illnesses need to more strictly manage their time, with spoons representing to how much energy a task takes to complete. Other tables included tools available to students, such as a pen that writes and records phrases, or buttons that can represent different words or sentences.

“So many students are ashamed of having a disability by their name,” Willen said, and just as many don't know that they do not have to struggle through their academic careers, or even their lives, without ever receiving help. But help is not only available, it is a driver of real change. To empower more students, Willen also hopes to bring a fair like this to more CUNY campuses. Because, she said, when she tells people she has a disability, the most common reaction is shock that she is able to do so much.

"And that's the whole point. People with disabilities CAN do things."

Students Share Ideas and Lunch with Lehman’s President

Students attentively listening to the President mid-conversation

PHOTO CREDIT: MILDRED PEREZ

By Iffath Liaquat

On Sept 3, the weather was sunny as students and faculty filled Shuster Hall, grabbed a bite to eat and sat down to meet the President of Lehman College, Dr. Fernado Delgado.

Suzette Ramsundar, the Director of Student Life, asked everyone to introduce themselves as well as ask a question as they went around the table and got to know Lehman’s fourth president better.

With over 20 years of experience in academia, Delgado told a student who asked how he liked his job, “[Being my] 6th institution, this [was] the easiest transition...I love Lehman. You students are fantastic."

He also recalled back when he was a grad student, there were a few roles models who looked like him, which inspired him to do more. “In higher Ed, there are few of us,” he said, adding that we all “need more role models...I wanted to [be] that.”

Edwin Cruz, a 61-year-old sociology major at Lehman, also shared his unique journey in education. Now in his last semester of his senior year, he explained: “I wanted to go back to school. School was such a blast for me, and maybe I want to pair it with traveling. I wanted to keep myself occupied.”

Mary Morphine, Lehman’s Student Parent Coordinator, resonated with Cruz’s story and passion for learning, stating, “I personally relate to your story.” Unsure about going to college when she was younger, Morphine chose going directly into work instead. However, after a few years, she realized that she wanted to give higher ed a chance. After transferring from Brough of Manhattan Community College to Lehman, she continued working here ever since she got started as an active student leader and founder of the club Empower U. Morphine shared her plans to become a PhD student, emphasizing, “Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world.”

Her friend Brittany Lazano, vice president of the Student Government Association, brought awareness to some helpful resources to support students, explaining how the SGA helps allocate funds and student representation, while highlighting CUNY Cares. “Just let us know what you need, we’re here for you,” Lazano said. “SGA can help you [be] the change on campus."

“EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON TO CHANGE THE WORLD.”

--Mary Morphine, Lehman’s Student Parent Coordinator

Lalisa’s Alter Ego

LISA attending Bulgari Studio in March 2024Cares

By Weidy Sosa

Full of hype beat songs and confidence, Alter Ego (RCA Records) is the debut hip-hop/pop solo album by Thai singer and rapper Lalisa Manoban, whose stage name is LISA. Primarily known as a member of the K-pop group BLACKPINK, LISA—like the other band members—has embarked on a solo career despite the group not officially disbanding. A blend of hip-hop and electropop, with some trap influences, Alter Ego celebrates LISA’s newfound freedom, reflects on her influence on K-pop industry, and her identity as an independent “new woman.” While Alter Ego is where LISA declares her independence from the K-pop industry, it heavily relies on its featured artists- -Doja Cat, RAYE, Future, Megan Thee Stallion, and Tyla-- as most of her solo tracks are forgettable.

For example, the leading track in the album, “Born Again” featuring Doja Cat and RAYE, reflects on leaving an old relationship due to her partner’s lack of effort. The song’s intro opens with a single piano key playing accompanied by LISA’s vocals, effectively introducing the religious and sexual themes that are explored, with lyrics such as: “I could've made you pray to / Jesus / Would've showed you to the / light (To the light) / Every single night,” which promises her partner they will nd enlightenment in intimacy with LISA. Overall, the instrumentals of the song are on the simple side, and its upbeat nature complements the empowering tone of the song. However, the excellence of the song is largely due to RAYE, whose vocal performance significantly elevates the piece. While primarily serving as a background singer, her distinctive tonal quality and emotional delivery added depth and resonance, which allowed for the vocals of the three artists to fuse seamlessly, giving the song a heavenly melody. These attributes set this song apart from others in the album and set unrealistic expectations for the rest of the album, as the following songs are not as unique.

The second track on the album, “Rockstar,” follows her signature style— fast-paced, with loud bass--and features her rapping. It is one of the five songs on the album that explores her alter egos, each of which is represented by a different musical style. These personae include a sweet romantic, a Y2K aesthetic and internet obsession, and a “baddie” with a villainous persona. “Rockstar” fits the album’s theme of confidence and empowerment with lyrics like “It's not hype, hype, baby, I'm a rockstar” and the “Every city that I go is my city,” all complemented by the prominent bass. LISA also references key moments that led to her fame, like saying, “Make your favorite singer wanna rap.” Alluding to a 2019 Coachella BLACKPINK performance of the song “WHISTLE,” where many referred to her as “the ponytail rapper,” which made the group skyrocket in fame. She also references her association with luxury brands, saying “Tight dress, LV sent it” meaning Louis Vuitton, a brand she is frequently seen wearing.

A handful of the songs follow a similar recipe, like “Elastigirl,” referencing Pixar’s fictional superhero from the film The Incredibles. In this track, LISA highlights her aesthetic flexibility accompanied by a beat that consists of –once again– a strong bass and drum combo, some percussion aspects, background vocals, and special effects. Continuing the energy, “Lifestyle” is a song about being free, unapologetically yourself, and LISA flaunting her success. With a repeating fast beat the song is reminiscent of trap. “FXCK UP THE WORLD” ft. Future also follows a similar theme, where LISA tells off her haters in what is arguably the most ‘hip-hop’ track in the album, full of special effects, and a jumpy melody.

Alter Ego was LISA’s chance to redefineher identity but instead she keeps performing the tough girl persona that she played in BLACKPINK. Many of the songs in the album are generic Hip-hop songs filled with cliché mottos said by renowned hip-hop artists like, “They want the old LISA, then listen to my old shit” as she sings in “FXCK UP THE WORLD.” Statements like this are usually made by artists with extensive discographies, but she doesn’t have one. One could argue that her BLACKPINK days count, but that keeps her tethered to the group she’s clearly trying to build a persona away from.

“STATEMENTS LIKE THIS ARE USUALLY MADE BY ARTISTS WITH EXTENSIVE DISCOGRAPHIES, BUT SHE DOESN’T HAVE ONE.”

Wrapping in and as Art – A Review of the Exhibition at Lehman’s Art Gallery

Antonio Santín’s painting Annus Mirabilis (2015), Lehman College Art Gallery

PHOTO CREDIT: TABEA WECZEREK

By Tabea Weczerek

The word “wrapping” usually evokes gifts. But the art exhibition “Surprises Unknown: The Art of Wrapping,” at the Lehman College Art Gallery, invited viewers to think far beyond decorative paper, ribbons, and shiny bows. Featuring the work of 35 artists, the group show displayed a mixture of different art forms: paintings, photography, lithographs, figures, and objects made of materials such as marble or wood — all explored the concept of wrapping as both a physical act and a metaphor. What is wrapped? How is it wrapped? And what materials were used for wrapping? Also, what is concealed and unveiled? These were just a few of the questions the exhibition unpacked through the art. The gallery director and curator of the show, Bartholomew Bland, was inspired by the still-life artwork of American painter Wayne Thiebaud. “I thought it would be so interesting to do a show on wrapped packages, still life, and that gradually merged over time into the wrapped object itself,” said Bland on a gallery tour. According to him, the art show’s theme is the tension between expectation and anticipation — and a dread of that. While some of the wrappings were more straightforward, such as the paintings of meticulously wrapped presents by Ray Kleinlein and Sarah Hobbs, other artworks were more multifaceted and contrasting. They demonstrated the emotions a certain concealment may elicit. One of these extraordinary and fascinating works was Antonio Santín’s painting Annus Mirabilis (2015). From afar, it looked like an embroidered rug, but up close, it became clear that it was a trompe l’oeil painting made by layering thick oil. The technique creates a three-dimensional eff ect that suggests a fi gure is concealed underneath the painting.

Humaira Abid’s carved wood objects titled Zaad-e-raah (2020) and Fragments of Home Left Behind II No. 3 (2019-20), Lehman College Art Gallery

Similarly, two differing artworks composed of bundles offered different meanings and emotions: one evokes excitement and pride, while the other elicits sorrow and melancholy. Humaira Abid’s Zaad-e-raah (2020), meaning “Provisions for a Journey,” presents a sack meticulously carved from pine wood. A wooden rearview mirror accompanies this detailed and beautiful object. In the mirror, three figures — one carrying the sack — make their way through the water, evoking displacement and survival. The simplicity and necessity of this sack was contrasted by Leeah Joo’s nearby oil on canvas titled Pojagi Throne (2017). The attention in her piece is on the colorful, printed fabric used for wrapping rather than its contents. Joo’s realistic painting captures the luminous, fabric-wrapped pojagi, a traditional Korean wrapping cloth, in bright, saturated colors. While Abid’s piece is grounded in necessity and survival, Joo’s work is celebratory, honoring the aesthetics and traditions of her culture. The transition of a concealed object from a source of curiosity to one of anxiety reveals the fine line between astonishment and threat. Among the renowned artists featured in the exhibition is Christo, who is internationally recognized for his public wrapping of buildings and landmarks. His contributions to the exhibition include sketches, photographs, and photomontages of his plans for wrapping trees, monuments, and buildings. In the show, his lackluster work is overshadowed by the other artists and holds less prominence in comparison. His drawings offer insights into his visions for large-scale projects, but ultimately, his work impresses more outside of the art gallery.

When does a concealed object turn from mysterious and amusing, as with Christo’s work, to something that produces anxiety and fear? The thought-provoking artwork by Robert Attanasio shows two photographs, each titled Suspicious Package (2005 and 2006). One photo depicts a paper bag with contents, seemingly abandoned at a public transport station. The other shows a box-shaped object wrapped in dark plastic and left on the side of the street. In these settings and contexts, wrapped objects no longer evoke curiosity but trigger discomfort. The tension arises not from the objects themselves but from their placement, revealing how context changes perception.

The exhibition was wrapped up with a dance performance choreographed by Cordelia Voghnout and Tae G. Kim, and a post-show discussion by the Herbert H. Dance Company. In a lively performance filled with unexpected and surprising movements, dancers Caroline Roque Barreira, Kimberly Garcia, Wilson Hernandez, Sky Mercado, and Cordelia Vohnout embodied different emotions evoked by concealment and revelation. From the big Rotunda site-specific installation at the entrance to small objects and large paintings on canvases, “wrapping” is a versatile, meaningful, and emotive theme explored in and through an intriguing group show.

“WRAPPING IS A VERSATILE, MEANINGFUL, AND EMOTIVE THEME.”

“The Palestine Exception” Brought to Students Despite Pushback

Poster advertising screening of The Palestine Exception

By Gilbert Areizaga

On March 26, Lehman College hosted a screening of the film The Palestine Exception in collaboration with the Center for Human Rights and Peace Studies, the Professional Staff Congress (PSC-CUNY), Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), Students for Justice in Palestine, CUNY Faculty & Staff for Justice in Palestine (FSJP), and Bronx Neighbors for Palestine. It was followed by a panel featuring co-director of the film Jennifer Ruth, Hunter College professor and JVP Emerita member Rosalind Petchesky, and Reem Ockeh, a member of the Lehman chapter of SJP.

The Palestine Exception focuses on the many student protests for Palestinian rights that have taken place across the country, with the “exception” referring to the seemingly disproportionate actions taken against students at these protests compared to those for other issues. Through interviews with staff and students subjected to harsh encounters with law enforcement and questioning by government officials, the film highlights how policed these protests are—stating that between 2023 and 2024, 3,100 students were arrested during these protests. The movie also draws parallels to other student and Civil Rights protests of past decades, such as those held against the Vietnam War. It compares the punishments students have received for being pro-Palestine to those experienced during McCarthyism and argues that free speech and academic freedom are in danger now more than ever.

During the panel discussion, co-director Ruth said that the decision to film at Hunter and to offer to screen this event at both public and private universities, including Lehman, was made to show that this issue is not just for “elite students,” but rather that student efforts are taking place all over the country at all levels, with some of the largest encampments being at smaller schools. Petchesky elaborated further, saying that one of the target audiences of this film were “liberals who want to speak up but are afraid to be called antisemitic.” She also added that, as a Jewish person, it is harder to navigate these conversations with other members of the community, but by finding an opening with relatives such as, “I’m Zionist but I hate Netanyahu,” the discussion could begin. She went further, saying that to support Israel at this point would be “supporting ethnonationalism and settler colonialism.”

“STUDENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS.” – Ruth Wangerin, Lehman anthropology professor and PSC CUNY member

The war in Gaza is one of the most contentious issues of the day, and the Lehman screening met with pushback prior to the actual event. One of the organizers, anthropology professor and PSC member Ruth Wangerin, shared that a number of posters advertising the event were torn down and replaced with a printout titled Crimes by Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas (short list)—followed by several lines of statistics such as “SYRIA: 400,000 ARE KILLED,” with no source cited, and the injunction: “Do not fall victims of anti-Semitic propaganda!!!” Three members of the PSC also voiced disapproval of the union’s decision to sponsor this event. One, who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of this topic, stated, “Showing controversial political films on campus can be fine, depending on the context. But I don’t believe that publicizing the showing of this particular film was the proper role of the PSC union. There are labor/workplace issues that should be the focus of the attention of the union.” The other two members agreed, with divisiveness among students being their next biggest concern.

Given these objections, Renee Bell, a math professor at Lehman and one of the organizers of the event, said, “I was a little bit worried, but I’m in a much more secure place than the students who have a lot more on the line, and that inspires me to do something like this.” Wangerin added, “What I had in mind was to do it. To say ‘We can do it. The sky will not fall.’”

Responses to the film were mixed. One attendee stated, “It should be justice for Palestine and Israel.”

One Lehman student who attended the screening, Mohamed Morshed, said he related to the film’s message. “I’ve experienced this type of silencing and oppression,” he said. “I remember at my graduation last year I held up the Palestinian flag. I saw later on YouTube that they cut it [out].”

The goal of the event was to get as many eyes on this issue as possible, so that more people would be able to gain insight into student protests—why they are happening and what the consequences could be. Wangerin stated, “Students have a right to talk about these things. They have a right to participate, not in an underground, but an open, aboveground major event… It’s important to establish that this is okay, this is normal to do, this is what university students do.”

Campus Life Celebrates Student Leadership

Multiple student leaders, including Sukul, displaying certificates

PHOTO CREDIT: MILDRED PEREZ

By Iffath Liaquat 

On April 30 in Lehman College’s Student Life Building, Campus Life & Student Affairs hosted a celebration bedazzled with balloons and fancy decor to recognize the hard work student leaders dedicated throughout the spring semester.

Campus Life staff announced the award winners, such as "Club of the Semester" and "Most Engaging Club," and went from table to table, allowing guests to shout out their club's name. They also awarded certificates to students who completed one or more of the leadership programs during the spring semester and called up student leaders graduating this semester to bestow them with honor cords to wear to graduation. Professional photographers were available to snap headshots for students’ LinkedIn profiles.

Yasiris Bonilla, the president of a new club, BoxingKaraoke, received multiple awards for it, including “Best New Club” and “Club Leader of the Semester.” Bonilla noted, “I started this club for my passion for singing and boxing, and I’m grateful for the recognition.” The vice president of the club, Omadai Sukul, was also a participant in the Introduction to Leadership, a mentor at Urban Male Leadership Program, and a volunteer
coordinator.

“I was then introduced to the Urban Male Leadership Program by a friend,” Sukul said. “I looked around and found strong, dedicated students who are driven to become someone in life. These are mentors and mentees who know that there are no limits to their potential.” She expresses indebtedness for all that UMLP and leadership programs had done for her. “David Charcape [told us that] ‘Leadership is the ability to inspire, influence, and guide others towards achieving a common goal or vision.’ He educated us [on] how to always appreciate others for their excellence and celebrate victories by showing that I care.”

Owoaje posing with student leaders

Oluwabusayomi Owoaje, an upper sophomore majoring in biology who participated in the Leadership for All in Fall 2024, has since joined the Student Government Association as a senator for the 2024-25 academic year and is a Crisis Text Line volunteer counselor. Owoaje is also the secretary of a new club, Voice of Impact, a place for peers to exercise their right of speech and spread awareness of current issues. “Knowing me, a year ago, I would have never [seen] myself in these positions. [Taking the Leadership for All program] was really eye-opening because I never truly saw myself as a leader, or rather, I never knew I was capable of being one. [It improved my] knowledge of the qualities of a leader and my desire to make a change.”

Dr. Narain holding a certificate next to Suzette Ramsundar

Dr. Shantusha Narain, MD, a participant in many leadership programs since 2012, said joining them helped her skyrocket her career in medicine, making her a strong candidate for medical school. “At first, I was skeptical because I had so many responsibilities under my belt,” she said. “I became convinced when I found out that the sessions were available at a time when I didn’t have classes... and that they were going to provide the textbooks and materials... That was one of the best decisions I made... I started doing community service projects and giving back to the community... I began to realize that my voice matters.” Dr. Narain advises students that “leadership doesn’t end when you finish your degree; it keeps going and makes you stand out no matter what career choice you have in mind.” Emily Willen, who is pursuing a master’s in Health Education and Promotion, participated in multiple leadership programs before becoming the Leadership Coordinator. She said her academic and social journey has improved since she joined these programs, which broke her way into many leadership positions on campus. “It raised my confidence and self-esteem... I went from being too scared to order food at a cash register at a restaurant, to giving a TEDxCUNY talk.” For students wanting to take on leadership roles, Willen advised,
“My advice is to expose yourself to different opportunities. Every experience counts and can build towards someone
developing and harnessing leadership skills... I always try to connect students to opportunities in which they’re passionate, and it gives me joy to see them get these opportunities so that they can thrive outside of the college.”

“LEADERSHIP DOESN’T END WHEN YOU FINISH YOUR DEGREE.” – Dr. Shantusha Narain, MD