‘’Framing the Female Gaze’’ Shows the Beauty of Femininity

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By Amber Castillo 

The 20th-anniversary season of Lehman Stages showcased an event that explored various perspectives of womanhood. Titled "Framing the Female Gaze," the event featured a series of three immersive plays; ‘’Who's Gaze is it Anyway?", "Ready or Not", and ‘’Adulting.’’ Written and performed by The Bronx Repertory Company. Lehman's signature Art Gallery was transformed into a beautiful environment that showcased vibrant artworks, depicting sexuality and body positivity. The plays captivated the audience with their humor, emotional depth, and authenticity, which helped manifest what it truly means to be a woman. 

The debate around womanhood and its impact on society is a prevalent topic in today's world. The plays cover many areas, such as the importance of historical figures like Joan of Arc, marriage, religion, and even racial identity. The event had a diverse perspective on what lies beneath the surface of a woman's life. Women have become more vocal and willing to speak up about their struggles and successes, challenging the presence of immense patriarchy where stereotypes are often enforced. Erica Arakawa, 58, the mother of Alexa Downing, the writer of the first play "Who's Gaze is it Anyway?" expressed her admiration for her daughter's vision. She said, "It was really touching to see the influences of her own being. It was exciting to witness the next generation of creative women writers. I started crying; it was amazing to see my daughter be creative and express herself." 

"Framing the Female Gaze" was an excellent example of how the creative arts can highlight important issues. The play "Who's Gaze Is it Anyway?", explores the different perspectives of women throughout history. "Adulting" portrays the struggles of two adult women trying to connect after one of them deals with the death of a family member. "Ready or Not" delved into the dating lives of women and the challenges they face in maintaining their friendships when drama arises. Each play was more captivating than the last, with the actors bringing unique twists and quirks to their characters. Cleo, the modern woman in "Who's Gaze Is it Anyway?" was vocal and confident in her beliefs and dedication to her family. Mariam in "Adulting" had playful banter with her friend Liz while trying to maintain a dignified demeanor during a funeral. And Rosalita in "Ready or Not" provided humor and drama with her lively and amusing antics. The event was an emotional rollercoaster with the audience on the edge of their seats. 

Family, friends, fellow artists, and even aspiring actors all came to appreciate the plays. The presence of art, through expression, was significant in promoting growth. AI has become a rampant phenomenon that has affected the way both writers and actors approach their work. Despite the ongoing battle between the rise of robotic intellect and human innovation, the audience came to provide support to a community willing to go above and beyond to express their passion for their craft. Camille Capers, 25, an actor as well as a friend of one of the cast members, emphasized the importance of her stance, stating, "I think TV, film, and theatre are so important. People have an innate desire to create and tell stories, so I just hope that it continues." 

At the end of the night, the actors all bowed before the audience, and the event ended with a round of applause. The desire to rebel, excel, love, fight, and even embrace one’s flaws has always been prevalent in femininity. Despite the ongoing oppression, women continue to prevail and thrive. In the words of Cleo, "Are we not human first, before anything else?" 

From Boardroom to Campus: Our Exclusive Interview with KPMG’s US Chair and CEO (Copy)

The Merdian Interview KPMG CEO, Paul Knopp (Photo Credit: NY Jobs CEO Council)

By Thomas Bonner

On Tuesday, February 6th, the US Chair and CEO of KPMG, Paul Knopp came to Lehman College for an exclusive conversation with President Fernando Delgado. The event was organized by the nonprofit organization, New York Jobs CEO Council, whose goal is to provide equal opportunities and break down barriers for New Yorkers from all backgrounds. As a council member, Paul Knopp, along with other business leaders has committed to diversifying his workforce by recruiting from underrepresented talent pools. During his visit, The Meridian had the privilege of conducting an interview where he gave his unique perspective on important topics that are sure to benefit and interest the Lehman community. Although he lives a busy life, he showed up with a willingness to listen and approached each question with an open mind. Based on the information and guidance we received, Lehman students can be reassured that there is great potential within all of us.

Paul Knopp emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion at KPMG

The Meridian: “How do your values personally, and at KPMG, help make people from all backgrounds feel more included in your company?”

Paul Knopp: “It's a great question, our values at KPMG are integrity, excellence, courage, together, and for better. When I think about inclusivity and equity, it is important to help everyone at work feel comfortable. In today's world, you need more equity and inclusion to make sure that talent can rise to the top of the organization. We spend a lot of our time talking to our people about the importance of those values. What's important to us is the recognition that a lot, if not all, of what we accomplish as an organization is accomplished in a team environment.  Therefore, [we have] to ensure that people know what it means to live the value of together and for the better. That is critically important to the success of the organization.”

Paul Knopp recently joined the Board of Healthy Minds, a nonprofit that's focused on the destigmatization of mental health and emotional well-being mostly among Gen Z and Millennials.

M: “Why is destigmatizing mental health in the workplace so important to you?”

PK: “So, destigmatizing mental health is special to me personally, but it's also very special to KPMG. We all struggle with our own emotional and mental health, every one of us. We all know somebody who struggles even more than we do with their emotional and mental health, so it can be very personal. We recognize that we work in a very stressful world where business burnout can certainly happen.”

M: “Especially around tax season.”

PK: “Yes, tax season or deadlines in audit or big complex consulting projects. What we've learned, particularly during the pandemic, is that a special focus on emotional and mental health is critically important to [our] success down the road. For instance, employee assistance programs for caregivers and parental leave for healthcare. How much are you working? How many meetings are you in? How much personal time off have you taken? At KPMG, it's critically important to check in on each other, and make sure that we all feel like we are in an environment where we value emotional as well as physical health.”

KPMG recently invested around $2 billion in Microsoft's Open AI.

M: “What should current students and graduating students know about the future of AI and its potential impact on the job market?”

PK: “Let me just kind of signal the importance of generative AI. We developed that $2 billion enhanced alliance with Microsoft not only on generative AI but [to] also enhance cloud platforms for the future. [We also named] a digital innovation and AI leader for KPMG that's on our management committee. It's a brand new role, and to give it real importance and show how critical it's going to be.”

“We also developed an AI framework because we need to make sure that AI is used safely and ethically in a trustworthy manner for our clients. We did all that because generative AI is going to be truly transformative when it comes to the business world, as well as any aspect of any sector or industry that's out there. It's going to be a huge disruptor, so we're training all of our people on generative AI, so they can appreciate its importance and use it to upskill and rescale to meet the needs of the future.”

“A future that’s driven by a more technological approach to solving problems with recognition that we don't think it's a job taker. It's a job maker. we don't think that it's going to reduce employment over time; we think it's going to enhance employment over time. It's going to cause our people to do less mundane and routine things in less time and have more work-life balance as a result.”

A new “Information Systems and Controls” discipline has been added to the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam this year.

M: Do you think the worldwide adoption of technology is why they're introducing this new discipline to the CPA exam?

PK: “I graduated from a university 41 years ago and in those days, information systems were in themselves, were nascent. And now, in finance, accounting, and the business world, everything is driven by the technology you have. So the formulation to include that area of expertise in the CPA exam is the recognition that you must have an understanding of technology, the risk of technology, and the controls around technology to be successful. Ensuring that you can deliver whatever service is going to be in your purview in terms of your career.”

“For instance, if you're going to deliver audits, you can't successfully deliver audits without understanding the risks and the strategies of the organization. You have to understand their technology, whether they're using SAP or Oracle for the ERP system or something like Workday for their HR capabilities or Salesforce for their front office capabilities. You've got to understand all aspects of what's happening. Regardless of what the information system is, you've got to be prepared to be able to understand the risk of the system, the controls around the system, and what the system can deliver to the organization. Whether you're going to be an auditor, a tax professional or you're going to work in the industry, it's a recognition that both technology and data are going to become much more important to our success in the future.”

M: “What would your advice be to graduating students and current students?

PK: “Whether you major in a technology-related field –  it doesn't matter what you're majoring in – you should try to understand what technologies are emerging. Not only technology that’s present today but you should try to understand where technology is going. The one thing you can rest assured is that technology, whether you're a nurse, accountant, investment banker, or engineer, is going to touch what you do in a really meaningful way.”

Thomas Bonner

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Embracing Opportunities as a LEAP Student Ambassador

By Maria Campos

As a sophomore accounting student, navigating the world of academia can be quite intimidating. At the same time, it is an exciting process every college student must face to achieve academic and career success. Being college students, we should not only focus on our classes and assignments; but also take advantage of all the extracurricular opportunities our campus offers.  Since pursuing a business degree, I have had the opportunity to engage with the School of Business and have been appointed as a Student Ambassador for the LEAP program (on the Suitable App). 

I have witnessed firsthand the positive impact this platform has had on Lehman students, from helping them discover internships to facilitating meaningful mentorship connections. This app tracks events on and off campus to help us develop professional, leadership, and self-development skills. This program has proven to be an indispensable tool for networking opportunities, connecting me with peers, faculty, and business professionals!

These experiences have not only boosted my resume but also instilled in me a sense of confidence and empowerment that will undoubtedly serve me well in my future career endeavors. I eagerly look forward to continuing my journey as a LEAP Student Ambassador and helping more students unlock their full potential through this remarkable program.

Does Lehman have a Cheer Team?

By Astride Toh

"Lehman has a cheerleading team?!" is an exclamation often heard from Lehman students. However, walking the halls of the APEX center, you will see posters of teams from past decades. Teammates are seen sporting blue, white, and gold uniforms, with varying designs.  The team was formed in 1994; they placed in the top three cheer teams six times and won four conference championships. During the beginning of the pandemic they remained active, with their last update being a post on their Instagram from 2020: (“Tryout videos due JUNE 12th (Friday) ... Email for all the information you will need!” read the post. While Lehman’s athletic teams resumed their seasons in 2021-2022, the Lehman Lightning cheerleaders did not. However, two seasons later in 2022-2023 they returned as the Lehman Cheer Squad.   

During the pandemic, sports seasons halted due to the college’s shutdown. However, the cheerleaders continued raining. Jasmine, a senior, joined the team as a freshman in the summer of 2020. "We all met on the running track near Yankee Stadium, and we had practiced there once a week.” The practice consisted of stretches, cardio work, dance numbers, and stunts. Jasmine joined the team through virtual tryouts. Interested students “were sent a video of a cheer, chant, and a [step by step] dance routine” to copy. This experience offered some enjoyment for Jasmine, who started her freshman year remotely. She described being on the cheer team to be "really fun".    

 Why did the team continue operating during a time of uncertainty for sports? Former coach and Captain Natalie Leon were unresponsive. However, the predecessor coach Juliette St. Fleur who assisted the team explained: "…We thought there was a possibility of the season resuming as did many athletes." Ironically, COVID had little to do with their disbandment. The main cause was “a couple of the captains graduated, and the coach is no longer around”, explained St.Fleur.   

In Fall 2022, Zayneb, a junior, received a text, “Hey, I’m restarting the cheer team. Would you be interested in joining?” The text was from her high school friend, sophomore Mijhani, who previously held an interest in joining the cheer team. While the team was skilled and dedicated, it did not have the inclusion she expected. The pictures and videos of previous teams showed members that had a range of different physiques. “So, I wanted to make a team where more students saw themselves,” Mijhani admitted.   

Due to Mijhani not being a licensed coach, this athletic team became a student club, hence the name “Lehman Cheer Squad.” Director of Athletics, Ryan McCarthy, further explained the difference. “A student club is not funded by the athletic department nor compete against teams in the National Collegiate Athletics Association [or the CUNY Athletic Conference].” However, cheer teams can participate in CUNY’s athletic conference, CUNYAC, because the NCAA does not have a cheer division. Unfortunately, because cheer programs dissipated across CUNY, the conference’s last competition was in 2019.    

“The cheerleaders have always been under athletics, so this is the first time we have them under the Office of Campus Life (OCL),” explains David Charcape, Assistant Director of the office. They formed an executive board with Ryan McCarthy as their club advisor to establish themselves as a club.  The budget for student clubs was cut short this year, with the OCL notifying clubs of smaller funds. Normally, unused funds are transferred to the following semester. However, this year’s cuts eliminated that option. Even before the cuts, the funds could not cover the cost of their uniforms, which is $66 for a complete set.  For a team of 12 to 26 individuals, the total ranges from $792 to $1,716 per semester. To subsidize the cost, the cheerleaders have bake sales and sell cooked meals on campus.   

Their efforts have brought vibrancy to the Lehman campus. They hosted a cooking competition, a holiday show, and a self-care event.  They also cheered at home games and performed at the school’s pep rally and holiday show. Their impact has gained recognition. “We in Athletics are really glad to have them at our games.” expressed McCarthy.  “They were the best part of the prep rally,” expressed an attendee. Despite their celebrated performances, Mijhani expressed a desire for more support saying, “The road’s been rocky, but enjoyable …it’s the love for what the team does.”  

 In Fall 2022, the team faced a decision whether to search for a coach and become an official athletic team or continue as a club. Mijhani declared, “I’ll stand by whatever decision the team takes.” Ultimately, the team decided to remain a club, defending the collective dedication and the team bond they developed.  

Their dedication and teamwork of the cheer squad are constant. “They have really strong student leadership, have been very self-sustaining, and …  progressed a lot,” testifies McCarthy. Zayneb, the Vice President of the squad, said “Cheer is my way of being active…I don’t want to leave college not doing anything.” Freshman Gwendelyn supports the statement adding “Being part of a team, preparing for a game, attributes to fun in college, and gives something to look forward to.” Jaylin, also a freshman, believes that being part of a team teaches one how to stick together and the importance of boundaries, ending with “don’t let the stigma of cheerleading scare you. Presentation does matter, as you see our outfits or attitude but get to know us.” Jessica, a freshman, verifies that “getting to know them opened her up to not being scared to converse with other people.”